The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-13


I.I ..g wAsHiSoros, ID. u, Oct 3, 1900.
Mn. EDIroR; As the question Of mixed
schools seems to engage considerable Of pub
lie attention, and as your paper seems 70 DO
the medium for the agitation of the subject
will you please give this article q place 10
your columns. ..... .s,-r4
It seems to me the agitation Of this ques.
ton Is uncalled for, aud perhaps has arisen
more from the fact OF there being tro boards
Of trustees, Zone for white and ono for col
ored schools than from any other cause,
unless u u 70 mako political capital, and
give prestige 70 few small politicians, who
ass anxious to gain popularity among the
their behalf, and therefore advocate " mixed
schools"
There Il no doubt In my mind that tho
schools, both white aud colored, should be
consolidated under ono board Of trustees and
one superintendent, and believe Il would In.
crease tho efficiency Of tho schools II this
system wa adopted. Tho board Of trustees
need number no more than Il docs At present;
but to mako tho plan fair and Just to tho col
ored population, they should be represented
In the board BY fair proportion OF colored
men, and those mon should DO appointed for
their knowledge aad experiences In school
matters. Tho superintendent should DO 80
lectcd for his fitness for the position without
regard to race or color. 10 ~
This being accomplished, II seems to me
the question Of mixed schools would soon die
out, and there would be no necessity for re-
wing II, as all would be placed upon the
same footing, and there would be no cause
for complaint sad no question OF inferiority.
AO "A a n 4 Ra Ia thora L. dnat~<
the part Of the scholars or teachers for this
proposed change. The colored people do
not ask for It, and am informed do not
wish u, but on the contrary prefer separate
schools, and think them more efficient, and
only advocate mixed schools where they
cannot have them separate, prefcrring them
To none.
Tho white children especially do not de-
sire this change, and speak their mind freely
upon the subject There seems TO be an an
upathy against q social Intercourse with
them, such as would result from attending
the same school. II Ia doubtful, II under
these circumstances, It would be advisa.
bio to bring about q conflict Of this kind,
and thus retard the efficiency Of the schools.
can think OF nothing which better ex-
presses an objection to this change than q
reply my father used to make In answer To
some change might suggest In my future
plans.
It was this; "You had better let well
enough alone;" which think is quite ap.
plicable. 30 long rs there 10 no objection
to the present system, why change 1t for ons
which may be the source Of much evili
can SEQ no benefits 10 be derived from
this plan over the present. II certainly can
| not reduce the expenses, as the same mum
Der Of separate schools can be sustained 70
the same sum as like number Of mixed
and do not sec how Ii can improve the Ell
cheney Of them. IL .rn.
So Ear a. can learn, those who advocat
this change give no satisfactory reason 70
1t, and 1t seems to be wholly for politica
effect. There certainly can be no necessit
| for the change, and the contemplation Of
bill Of this kind may we'll be clsssed "reck
less legislation"
This article Ii not written with any spiri
OF envy or malice toward the colored race
or to cause any unpleasant feelings.
have always stood ready to assist them
In all their rights and privileges, and do no
| believe In "class legislation" But we can
not disguiso the fact that there 10 a certain
rcpugnance against close social association
Of tho two races, such - would DO brought
about by this indiscrimInate mixture In the
public schools. Let them have their school,
conducted upon the same plan - the white,
and, a. have hero suggested, controlled by
the same board Of trustees, there can then
be no cause Of complaint.
/ believe shall be sustained In these
views by majority Of the patrons OF the
echools. both white and colored ID.