New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-14
OBERLIN COLLEGE. ONO. Dec

OBERLIN CoLLEGE, OHIo Dec. D, 1911.
TO the Editor of the New National Era:
In the numbers of your paper for NovembeI
25d and Both, | observe communications crit
cisiDg the Faculty of Oberlin College for not
employing colored students as assistant teach
ers in the Preparatory Department. The com
plant seems to be made in good faith and a
kindly spirit, and is, therefore, entitled to
some attention from us.
The facts are that we employ thirty to forty
students from the Theological classes. and the
two higher classes of the College and the La
dies courses to teach in the least advanced
classes of the Preparatory Department. These
students are selected with reference to Chris
tian character, scholarship, aptness to teach
and general personal influence and power.
The selection is the result of comparison of
views on the part OF all the Professors, so that
the responsibility is shared by the faculty as
body. About one IN tve of the members of
those advanced classes secures situation as a
teacher. Others who are not approved as
teachers sometimes think themselves worthy.
while some who are approved fail to obtain
iOr
them.
In the classes from which the assistant
teachers are drawn, there are at present one
hundred aud sixty five members and, if
have observed Alright, only four of these are
coiored. Unless these have standing above
the average of their classes, they would not
naturally furnish teacher. In general our
coored pupils do not reach such a standing
Defects in early elementary instruction, espe-
cially in spelling and pronunciation, are apt
to follow them and mar their scholarship.
This is not universal, but is somewhat general
Such disadvantages will no doubt disappear
in few years. 1t should not appear strange
thing. then, that at present we have no colored
student employed as teacher. In 1866 we
did employ Miss Fanny NJ. Jackson, now a
distinguished teacher in the Colored High
School of Philadelphia. IF she were here to-
day she would have high place offered her
among our teachers without a moments aues-
ton. Nothing could have pleased us more
from that day to this than to have colored
pupils who could follow in her footsteps The
simple and only reason why we employ no one
of the four now in these colored classes is that
the prospect of their success does not seem to
warrant it. Their judgment in the matter
might differ from ours but we are obliged to
act upon our own. We have never assigned
as a reason that it was "inexpedient to employ
colored teachers" or that "the College could
not bear the pressure No such thought has
been in our hearts. We have thought it mex
pedient and wrong to employ a colored teacher
whose success was doubtful, and sustain him
in the position by the authority of the Col
lege. A failure of c0lored teacher would be
a sad misfortune to all concerned, especially
to those of his own color who are to come after
him. There is more at stake in such case,
and there is reason for greater care and caution.
do not think we have been over cautious in
the matter. If so, you will permit me to say
that it is not because we have been lacking in
our honest purpose to do the best possible for
our colored pupils, and to open to them every
possible door to usefulness and improvement.
We have shared in their reproach too long n ot
they are called to bear. We must ask them
to trust US still. Kossuth has we'll said, "Sus-
picion is a bad counsellor the wisdom of
charity is better"
JAS. III. FAIRCHILD,
President Oberin College.