The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-11-27
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ELKTON, NOVEMBER ~, 1869.
Schools for Colored People,

Schools for Colored People,
NEAR SHARPTowN, Nd, Nov. IS, 1859.
Messrs. Editors Baltimore american
Dear Sirs-Will you please be SO kind as
to inform me by return mail if there are
any funds for aid of colored schools, APP
propriated by any society or bureau in the
State of MARYLAND? The colored people
here, including myself, wish to start a
school for our children, but are not able to
raise all the funds that will be needed to
run it three months. Many of us have to
nav a school tax to maintain the public
schools of this State, yet we do not receive
a cent in return. l pay from four to five
dollars for school purposes every year, yet
my children are growing up in ignorance,
having never been to school, except Sab
bath school, in their lives. think if they
could get some education it would make
them better citizens when grown up to
manhood and womanhood. think they,
with Others would reverence and respect
the laws of God and man moro than totally
ignorant people are likely to do.
Now. dear sirs, if you know ofany source
from which we, as law-abiding people, can
get little help to start school, we can
raise the balance to run school three
months, or longer, perhaps.
Please write to me by return mail, and
give me all the information you can in re-
ference to the subject in question.
Very truly, yours, &c,
L. B. (colored.)
COMMENTS OF THE AMERICAN.
We print the above not only that, by
the eve and enlist the sympathies of those
who have the ability to help these colored
people in the education of their children,
but also for the purpose of directing atten-
ton to the gross injustice which is prac-
ticed in all the counties of the State by de-
nying to these people their share in the
public educational fund, and in otherwise
throwing obstacles in the way of their OBJ
tanning instruction There are throughout
the State thousands of colored men, small
owners of real estate, who are taxed for
the support of schools to which it is forbid
den that they shall send their children
But these exceptional cases by no means
represent the full extent of the outrage.
We give place to the above letter, with
some of the comments Of the american, as
showing the cry that is going up from the
colored people, for simple justice in the
matter of allowing them at least that por-
ton of the school fund which they pay into
the treasury of the counties, to assist in
educating their children. 1t is burning
all the wealth and property of the State,
should withhold the paltry pittance of
school tax paid in by the colored people,
and apply it to the education of white chill
dren. If the theory is sound that popular
and universal education of the white race
diminishes vice and crime, poverty and in
dolence, and adds to the capital as we'll as
the morals of the community, benefiting in
two-fold manner the State, what argu-
ment can there be adduced which would
deny the same universal benefit to the
children of the colored race? 1t is as ne
cessary to the welfare of the State, that
they should be protected against the seduc-
tions of crime, and enlisted and strengthen
ed in the cause of industry and moral ele-
walton.
Our report of the proceedings of the
School Board shows that portion of the
colored people of this county are making a
which we trust, and do not doubt, will be
favorably considered by the Board.
If the popular feeling of the day is op-
posed to colored children attending the pub
lie schools devoted exclusively to the edu-
cation of white children, thirty years ago
both attended the same schools in this
county and nothing was said against it
let there be separate schools established for
colored children. 1t is question some
times discussed whether boys and girls
should attend the same school. Certain it
is that separate schools for each would not
interfere with each acquiring an education;
the question of economy is the main one to
determine. The fundamental principle is,
that all classes and sex should have the adj
vantage of a liberal education, without dis
tinction of sex or color, controlled only by
the ability of our systems of public schools
to impart the needful amount of learning.
We owe the next generation an education,
that will fit them to take higher position
in the civilization of the world than their
ancestors. This is all we can give them
What we leave of material wealth they are
bound to inherit anyhow. For the indus
try as we'll as the moral benefit of the State,
the present generation owes an education,
the best it is possible to give, to the rising
generation, without regard to color, sex OF
condition in society. The arrangements
adopted for effecting the noble work are
unimportant and incidental.
eB In another column of this issue will