Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-02
The CoIOred Public Schools

Last evening, IN adjournei meeting of c,,
ored citizens was held at Zion Wesley Cbnrcb
ON ID street, between ID and 81, \. w. for the
purpose Of taking some action in reference 70
the alleged mismanage ment of the colored pnb-
re senools py tae present Board of Trustees
Inc audience was very large and respectable
one, including both sexes. MANY prominent
eoiorsd men were present, among them j. H.
BLOOMS, W. ID. Brown, J. l.. Clark, Geo. +. Gar
rett, X. w. L )mpkins j &. r. ". Wilkinson Mar
cellns West. Arch. Lewis, VIM. III. Smith, j. W.
Freeman, henry johnson, Rev. j. b. Trusty
pastor OF the church, ex-Trustee Alfred Jones
r.. A watson. Rev. James Reed and Alex Hen
dersOn. At s.3J the meeting was called 10 order
by the secretary. Mr.. X. w. Tompkins and Ell
der Trusty opened with prayer.
TIE rEU sTEEs To BE CALLED ON.
Mr.. j. 4. y. wilkinson was called to the chair
and stated the object of the meeting, when Mr..
W. ii. smith offered resolutions thsf: Whereas
there exists undouhted dissatisfaction among
The citizens Of Washington and Georg etown in
regard TO the management and conduct of the
trustees OF colored schools of the cities
oS Ihe summary dismissal of some of the most
eincient teachers. and the removal of the late
superintendent OF said schools without any visi-
bic cause; and whereas We, the people, being d.
rectly interested in the educational advance
ment OF our children, and being profoundly az
grieved at the said removals OF said teachers aud
superinten dent, thereby making IL appear to the
puoiic that these removals were because of their
mtmelency and incompetency in the discharge
or their duties as teachers and superintendent;
therefore q committee to consist of nine. seye
from Washington and two from GeOrgeto W. be
appointed at this meeting, 20 address respectful
ly the board of trustees of colored schools oral
ally or In writing requesting them to furnish the
causes, II any, they have for the removal of said
iCachers and superintendent and that the sec.
etary be authorized to communicate with and
L arsm1t these resolutions to the board OF trus-
trees OF colored schools requesting them to name
the time most convenient to them to confer
with said committee, and that said commits, be
instructed to report at the next meeting; SAID
meeting TO be subject to the call of the presi-
dent.
THE oNK-MAN POWER.
Mr.. y. IL. Brooks said they, being taxpayers
mad right TO call on these trustees. He had
seen the power OF the trustees conferred in one
man, who sways the board. He proposed to tell
why they oppose Trustee Syphax.
shfHAXs QUALIFICATIONS DISCUSSED.
When the trustees were allowing quarrels to
enter The board the cOlored people were dis
graced. Syphax tried to keep MIR King out
and he, lthc speaker,l with others, went to
General Howard to keep HIM out but King
Proposed tnat he should be allowed to remain
three months. 1t was not three months when
SyphaN proposed to act with him, and when
they elected Cook he kept away, and then he
Tell out with Jones. Then Mr.. Cook said he
could not continue unless he could do his best
for the schools. He 1.-THE speaker was not op-
posed TO Mr.. Syphax, with whom he had never
had a word OF difference.
sYPHAX GRADUATED AZ ga WAITER"
MT. Syphax might have some qualifications
for the position, but he did not think that he
was any more in place as trustee than he 1.-THE
~
The speaker warmly defended Mr.. Jones' In
the iace of the recommendations of Mayor
Bowen and q majority OF the Councils, Mayor
Emery and Mayor Sweeny that Mr.. Jones be
reappointed, he, when he found that he could
not lie treated with respect by Syphax, with
drew his application in favor of General How
ard Mr. Brooks here read a letter of Mayor
Bowen's endorsing Mr.. Jones, also, one from
Mayor Sweeny.
MIR. west.-"Oh, he's a good democrat
THE REMOVAL or TEACHERS.
r nER enpfi
arbitrary conduct of Syphax, said that they
were here to protest against the removal OF Il
teachers 1t had come down to this, il you speak
against Mr.. Syphax he will turn your sister out
Of her place if she has a leadership. They had
no business TO disagree with Mr.. Syphax. The
teachers had been dismissed without any
chaIge and some OF them had passed excellent
Let the teachers 20 in on their
merits, and not because Syphax can pat them
Old the shoulder.
Mr.. Henry johnson was afraid that Aese res
olutions would be - loves labor lost ;" but they
had the right to inquire the reasons why Mr.
Cook Was removed as well ds the teachers. IL
W as not necessary to speak of Mr.. q. Z. 4. Cook,
out he desired TO enter a protest against the
removal OF n ladies, and they had the right to
demand to know why they have been removed.
out OF 20 teachers, only . are credited to
Second, none from Third, from Fourth from
Fifth, none from Sixth, z from Seventh and
from Georgetown. He believed in exhausting
home material first. The differences com
I ass an examination, and yet SyphaN insisted
on the appointment of some OF them. Mr.. Cook
protested, ard Mr.. Jones and Mr.. King sup
ported him. Since then Mr.. Cook had an in
yeterate enemy, who had said once that be
would join the powers ruling below in defeating
Mr. Cook. The speaker warmly urged that the
resolutions should be adopted.
POLITICS AND THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
Rev. James Reid said that at the last meet |
Ig, although lie was ia favor of An investiga- |
-n, TIE language was SO infammatnry he |
doubted whether they would accomplish ar-
hing. The trustees ba' III ...antage: thew
ave the appointing power. He was Sorry to |
&c that politics had been brought into these |
meetings, and he believed that the manner in |
; hich they had been conducted was calculated |
o kindle up flame. He would not have his |
ace divided, and If they were not q unit he |
doubted whether they would succeed. What is |
be use of demanding anything from the Secre |
airy Of the Interior when the messerrer there '
RS more control than a chief clerk ihis NJ. I
.,,- "@se IN most all the Departments. Il
Mr.. Brooks mats net true Of the Navy
Del artment"
REEDS BACKDowN.
Nr. X. ". Tompkins expressed his astOnish,
reDt at the remarks OF Mr.. Reed, who had been
,ne CT the principal movers in these meetings,
md the same questions DISCUSSED to- night had
very extreme radical.''
Mr.. Reed replied flat he had since read the
law, and the trusts es lad the power which they
Mr.. West reese to q point of order. Voices
u Sit DOWN. want 10 see everything tair and
square,. The Chair" Mr.. West will come to
oruer.'l l want to see the people act, in or
der IA voice-"Why don't you sit down.
Mr.. Freeman suggested. ii they would hear
Mr.. West out there would be no trouble.
The Char.-"Weu Mr.. West has the floor"
Mr.. West continued, saying that they pre-
tended TO be In for reform, and had got reform,
IS rome body was sore.
Ar. Tompkins said that he had got his cue
from the Sunday Chronicle, and continuing, said
that the rights of the people had been violated.
Mr.. West.-"You helped to violate them
DID sYPHAX VOTE FOR EMERY?
Mr.. Henry johnson said ii there were pOlitics.
in this movement they would not be here, FOR
Syphax was on the same eide.
Mr. West.-''I deny 1t; Syphax is republ-
can, not a democrat"
MIR. Watson.-"He voted for Emery"
MIR. West denied this also.
The Chair here eaid he would allow no further
allusion TO politics.
Rev. James Hughes said he had the greatest
confidence in Secretary Cox, and believed in
agitatiDg the question. He believed in putting
the right man in the right place, but such was
not the case in reference to some members q
the board OF trustees, for some had not spent a
year IN the schools during their lives.
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Ii being near ten O'Clock, Mr.. Smith called
the previous question, and the resolutions were
adopted.
Mr.. Brooks said the trustees had been invited
IN me he had haa 70 fla forn