Moonlight Schools Held At Rosman In Late 1914

The illiteracy rate among adults in North Carolina was significantly higher than the national average during the early 20^th century.  According to the Bureau of the Census the national percentage of adult illiteracy was 11.3 percent in 1900.  In North Carolina illiteracy was 30.1 percent.

It was fairly common for children to receive limited formal schooling prior to 1900.  Schools often operated for six or eight week sessions, scheduled around planting and harvesting or based on availability of teachers.  Many students in rural areas were too far from a school to attend regularly.  In addition, parents frequently needed older children at home to help support the family in various ways.

During the second decade of the 1900s programs were established throughout the state to provide education for adults who had received limited schooling.  They were instructed in reading, writing and basic arithmetic using materials of interest to them such as newspapers, letters and the Bible.  Participants were also taught skills like household management, including finance, nutrition and first aid.  The goal was to meet the needs of those attending.

These night schools, sometimes referred to as moonlight schools, were held sporadically in Transylvania County.   The first mention of night classes in the county was in late 1914, taught by faculty at the Rosman School.

Traditional students at the old Shoal Creek School.  Teachers
were Janie Gillespie, Janie Matthews and Jessie Matthews. 
Photo courtesy: BalsamGrove Community Center
and Bernice Powell.

In January and February 1915 Miss Fay Moses operated a moonlight school at Shoal Creek three nights a week.  She reported that many of her students worked 10-hour days in a logging camp and then walked three miles over the mountain to attend classes from 7:30-9:30 pm.  The closing program for the session included a short program from the children of the day school and a play by the night school students.

Prof. W.L. Carmicheal reportedly taught moonlight school classes at the Rosman School in 1919.

In the 1920s several women’s clubs worked together to expand educational opportunities by supporting a community night school for adult education classes at Brevard High.  During the Fall 1926 session, Miss Mary L. Butler, Blantyre School Principal, was the head teacher at the Brevard moonlight school.  Mrs. Kathron White and Mrs. Nancy Neel were assistant teachers.  Classes were held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for six weeks.

Rosenwald School Principal J.M. Harris organized a night school for members of the African American community in 1931.  Harris and Mrs. Ethel K. Mills taught reading, writing and the fundamentals of arithmetic, history and geography.  The school operated two nights a week and was very successful.  State Inspector of High Schools, J. Henry Highsmith commended the Rosenwald Night School for its work.

Although illiteracy rates across North Carolina had dropped to 11.5 percent of those over 15 years of age by 1930 it was still well above the national rate of 4.8 percent.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.