Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-28
Public schools.

The following paper was submitted in
the Board of Aldermen, on Tuesday night,
by j. G. Mckee, Alderman from the
tenth ward:
REPLY TO THE PROTEST OF THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION AGAINST THE CELL TO
INCREASE THE FACILITIES FOR THE
EDUCATION OF THE CoLoRED CHILDREN
OF THE CITY,"
Mr.. CHAIRMAN.-This protest ia what
might be expected. 1t is a notorious fact
that the Board Of Education accepted
with extreme reluctance the inevitable
necessity of allowing the colored children
any schools.
In most instances, "it is easier for a camel
to go thro' a needles eye" than for this
class of men to disconnect, from the human
property lately wrested from their poses
sion, the idea of chatelhood And il il TO
be expected that the same Board will resist
every step towards extending TO the colored
scholastic population their fall measure of
impartial Justice.
This Board during all the former years
of its administration, never hinted at
colored schools, never countenanced the
COiOlOu oCuOOlS, I'LL tie HDTlIlR OIL
1867, when lin February 18th, the coIored
people were enfranchised, and when lin
March 5th,) the common school law was
passed, requiring every city, etc, to take
enumeration of its colOred scholastic popu-
latiOn, and open one or more schools for
them when the whole number exceeds
twenty five. A refusal to conform to this
requirement Would forfeit to the Nashville
schools annually from $l2, 600 to SIC, 1000,
her quota of the school fund of the State
This potent argument greatly enlarged the
6eHeUOtencs of our Board of Education to-
ward the colored children The franchise
act had also very happy effect in the
same direction. The voting chattel, hold
ing the balance of power, must "be voted"
by his former master, but he will not vote
for party that denies him a school
hence, during the short "honey moon
while the Conservative party called him
fellow citizen and brother" the bill was
recommended by the Board of Education,
and passed by the City Council, opening
the Bellevue and Lincoln schools 10 the
cOlored children.
Those who observed the stormy passage
Of that bill, will remember that the neces-
sity Of the bill was bitterly deplored, that
the most cogent arguments in its favor, re-
lated to getting the colored people from
under the influence of Yankee ennis.
saries," and teaching them ourselves, as
it ought to be done" and that through the
whole debate noman dared to advocate it
as an act OF Justice or humanity to the
colored people themselves. In keeping
with the arguments, Just so much of school
advantages was furnished them as would
secure the State fund, and from these
schools those teachers were excluded who
had secured their children'7 confidence by
laboring for them when their reward was
Teproof aud scorn.
The managers of the mission schools did
all in their power to aid in filling up the
city schools. Some Of them withdrew al
together, and the others postponed their
time of opening till the Lincoln school
was full, and the Bellevue nearly so.
Yet on opening the two mission schools
that remained unchanged, so many still
Aocked together, that scores were weekly
sent away and urged TO go to the Bellevue
school. For reasons best known to ihem4
selves, most of them preferred lying ont
of school altogether, and are doing so still.
With these facts before Won, sir, Won are
prepared 10 take the dimensions of the
protest, as We review It's main points in
order.