The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-05-05
GaIiforlia Correspondence.
Our Sam Francisco Letter.
SAN FRANcIsco, April 5. 1860.

DAN FRANCISCO, dpTl " low.
Mr.. EDIToR:--A duel was expected to
have come off near this city at an early
hour on the morning of Il 18th ult., be-
tween two of our very useful young men,
for trivial cause. One of the parties was
j. W., OF Sacramento, who has recently
returned from visit to the Atlantic States,
and the other r. VS., of Sierra coun-
ty. The friends of each partyin this city,
however, succeeded in efecting a compro-
mise between them before the time ap-
pointed for the meeting, and on the 9th
they both returned to Sacramento on the
same boat.
A large meeting was held in Zion
Church on Monday evening, the 26th ult.,
by the parents Of children attending the
public schools, and of those friendly to ed
ucation. The committee appointed at a
previous meeting made the following re-
port:
At meeting of the colored citizens
held on Monday evening, Feb. 29th, in the
public school room, to consider the condi-
ton and wants of the school and what
should be done to promote its welfare, the
undersigned were appointed committee
to confer with parents and guardians of the
pupils, and with the friends of the school
and teachers, and to recommend such a
course as they shall deem for the best good
of the school.
For nearly six years this school has
been established, and we remember that it
was not without considerable effort that
we were able to secure it. AS at first there
were those who opposed it, so now there
are those who would be glad to see it abol-
ished. A proposition has been made to
abolish the Chinese school, and it has been
plainly intimated that there is lack of in
terest in the colored public schools among
our own people, as shown by the fact that
many parents have taken their children
from it and sent them to private schools,
leaving it but thinly attended. Now, if
this state of things continues, the Board
will regard it as truth that we care but
little about the school, and as furnishing
them with just reasons for withholding the
appropriations by which it is sustained,
and letting us pay wholly for the school
ing of our children. The school is now a
fixed fact-one of the public institutions
of the city-and it would be deplorable if,
in consequence of neglect or indifference
on our part, the Board should withdraw
their support from it.
Your committee do earnestly declare
that it is the duty of parents and guardi-
ans to visit our public schools freely, topper
sonally acquaint themselves with teacher
and scholars, with the forms of govern
ment and method of instructing, the de-
pertinent and Improvement of the latter,
and the wants of the school; that they
cooperate with the teacher in his efforts to
carry it on, and to raise its character to a
higher standard; and to send their child
rem and see to it that they attend punctu-
ally and regularly. 1t is desirable that,
during the next four months, the school
should be filled to its utmost capacity. Be-
fore the close of the next summer term, we
hope to see the school SO full that it may
be necessary to petition the Board of Edu-
cation to employ an assistant teacher. We
are confident that when they shall see the
school filled-that we are earnestly inter-
ested in its permanence and character, and
that it requires more special care and at
tention at their hands, they will not only
give us an assistant, but furnish such 9th
er accommodations as the school may re-
quire. To ask now for an assistant, in
view of the present average attendance,
would be premature movement.
There are between two and three hun
bred colored children in San Francisco,
probably not more than one half of which
are in school, public and private. If an
objection to sending larger number to
the public school has been that one teach
er could not attend faithfully to them, let
us ask for an assistant; but let not your
children grow up without schooling. Gre
ate the necessity for an assistant, and then
petition for one In the meantime, your
committee recommend that something be
done Immediately for the comfort and bet
ter convenience of the scholars and teach
er as they are. The school ought to be
furnished with good set of maps, black
boards, and globe, all of which articles
are needed by the scholars for reference
and the illustration Of those subjects taught
in the school.
When it is remembered that pupils pass
four hours a day for five days of each
week in the school room, it should be a
matter of some interest to us to make it
comfortable and attractive to them. Your
committee propose that piano or melode-
on be purchased and placed in the school
for the use of pupils. FL. B. James, Esq,
ex-superintendant of public schools, pro-
posed this very thing only a few months
since. At the same time he suggested that
the scholars might give an exhibition at
the close of the term, and from the pro-
ceeds furnish themselves with an instru-
ment. This course has been pursued by
other schools, so that in recommending it
here we have the example of other schools.
Your committee cannot close without
again recommending to the parents and
ouard;arC re tba ,rD;lc apd +ha friando af