Too Many Counties
Sonu» comments on I he* cost of inain-
laiiiiiig numerous units.
«»/
PAUL PLEASANTS
Mecklenburg and Charlotte will con¬
solidate their county and city school
systems, making it the largest public
school unit in the state. In Forsyth, a
similar merger is being studied, and
some Guilford people are discussing
the merger of Greensboro. High Point
and county units.
State School Superintendent Charles
Carroll, in his bulletin, says such a
consolidation is a "commendable ap¬
proach" to better education.
But community rivalry, local pride
and other factors have maintained
some extreme examples of division.
For example. Robeson County has
a county school system and no less
than five city systems — six in all.
This is a school system for every 14,628
persons. A more dramatic example is
Cherokee County, with a population
of 18.294. served by three school sys¬
tems — or one for every 6.089 citi¬
zens.
If Mecklenburg were to provide a
system for each 6,089 of its citizens,
it would have 32 school systems in¬
stead of one.
Caesar Cone of Greensboro once
pointed to the necessity of consolidat¬
ing small counties if they ever were
to share some of the economic ad¬
vantages of populous Piedmont coun¬
ties. Not only school systems, but other
governmental departments.
He said that if Guilford had govern¬
ment in the same ratio that. say. Curri¬
tuck has. the citizens would be taxed to
hire 30 sheriffs. 30 tax collectors. 30
welfare officers. 30 clerks of court and
so on. not to mention 30 school super¬
intendents.
He argued that sparsely populated
counties could immediately increase
the effectiveness and economy of their
governments by consolidating with
similar counties.
At the same time, he admitted poli¬
ticians would die in their tracks rather
io
than permit any such consolidations to
take place.
So this is pretty much of an aca¬
demic suggestion, at least this side of
the millcnium. But intra-county school
consolidation is not, as history proves.
The Mecklenburg merger has been
preceded by others. One of the most
successful was the Wilmington - New
Hanover merger. All the units in John¬
ston have been merged, and also those
in Duplin.
Supt. Carroll admits there "may be
some disadvantages" to consolidation,
but presents a strong argument for it:
"It is believed that administration
would be simplified in dealing with
county commissioners, boards, and
agencies, long-range planning, espe¬
cially along the fringe areas of growing
towns and cities, would he simpli¬
fied; buildings would be better pre¬
served by a single maintenance staff
to look after plumbing, heating, and
electrical facilities; and transportation
routes would be planned with less
travel. Under the merged system, the
division of the tax dollar would be the
responsibility of the board of educa¬
tion and the pressure of spending local
funds on a per capita basis rather than
on the basis of need would be re¬
duced. And most important of all, it
is believed that improved educational
opportunities would accrue to a larger
part of the student population."
Statetl Well
The population of the U. S. is ex¬
panding at a record rate. Despite what
snobbish Europeans say, Americans
arc a very well-bred people. — C'luin. g-
ing Times.
It’s easier to believe a lie that one
has heard a thousand times than to
believe a fact that no one has heard
before. — Grit.
Myths
of the
Cherokees
The Deluge
A long time ago a man had a dog.
which began to go down to the river
every’ day and look at the water and
howl. At last the man was very angry
and scolded the dog, which then spoke
to him and said: "Very soon there is
going to be a great freshet and the
water will come so high that every¬
body will be drowned; but if you will
make a raft to get upon when the rain
comes, you can be saved, but you
must first throw me into the water."
The man did not believe it. and the
dog said, "If you want a sign that I
speak the truth, look at the back of
my neck." He looked and saw that the
dog's neck had the skin worked off
so that the bones stuck out.
Then he believed the dog. and be¬
gan to build a raft. Soon the rain came
and he took his family, with plenty of
provisions, and they all got upon it. It
rained for a long time and the water
rose until the mountains were covered
and all the people in the world were
drowned. Then the rain stopped and
the water went down again, until at
last it was safe to come off the raft.
Now, there was no one alive but the
man and his family, but one day they
heard a sound of dancing and shout¬
ing on the other side of the ridge. The
man climbed to the top and looked
over; everything was still, but all along
the valley he saw great piles of bones
of the people who had been drowned,
and then he knew that the Ghosts
had been dancing.
THE STATE. DECEMBER 26. 1959
