Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-13
MIXED SCHOOLS.
The Work OF Breaking up the
Schools Progressing.

DehOOIh EEoBFtShh6s
From the New Orleans Picayune.l
Monday is the day fixed for admission
Of new pupils ints our public schools
Until recently this day was always a vel
come one to the teachers, for though
through the admission of new pupils ad-
ditional cares were imposed upon them,
they found themselves compensated by
seeing the field Of their usefulness en-
larged. Times have changed The
teachers in the public schools look now
upon the day which makes it incumbent
upon them to receive new pupils with
apprehensions as grave as they are only
too well founded. Some of the Ward
Boards, which for the time being are
controlling the scholastic affairs in New
Orleans, are precipitating matters by yea
lousy obeying the instructions received
from Thomas W. Conway, the State
Superintendent of Education, which Off
cial, as our readers know, has, through
the instrumentality of some of the mem
bers of the Ward Boards, succeeded in
forcing negro children into the white
schools. The mixed school question
being thus suddenly brought to an issue
has done much toward interfering with
the pursuit of studies in those schools
where negroes have been admitted. In
fact, it is feared that should the work of
mixing the schools progress--and there
are we'll founded fears for tit will
result in breaking up our public school
system. The information we received
and the observations we had occasion
to make during a visit at several schools
yesterday, would at least foreshadow so
disastrous a result 'f
At the Bienville Boys School, on the
corner OF Bienville and Robertson streets,
out of 269 pupils only l26 were present
yesterday; l42 have left the school in
consequence of negro boys having been
admitted. In addition to the negroes
who we're received into this school last
week, four more were admitted yester-
day. Mr. Cross, the principal of the
school, showed us the rules and regula-
tons posted up in the principals room
some time in last December by order of
Thomas w. Conway, which make it in
cumbent upon the principals of the pub
lie schools to receive pupils without
distinction of race, color or previous
condition"
AS stated by us on Sunday, it was con-
templated by the School Directors Of the
Fourth Ward to continue on Monday
with the outrageous work of mixing the
schools, by forcing the admission of ne
gro girls into the Robertson Girls School,
1t appears, however, that they have seen
fit to postpone carrying their design into
effect. Mrs. Dora Miller, the principal
of the school, not wishing to take upon
herself the responsibility of admitting
colored pupils, had applied to Il. r.
Adams, the President of the Fourth Ward
Board, for instructions. She felt some
what relieved by being instructed
not to receive any new pupils
neither white nor colored--until further
orders. On the strength of these in
structions she refused admission to four
colored girls who applied yesterday, and
referred them to the Ward Board. Mrs
Miller told us that the girls in her school,
yesterday morning, declared their deter
mination to leave the school at once
should any colored pupils be admitted.
Several girls have already left, appre-
hending that this will be the case
We are further informed that Mr..
0'Brian, the principal of the Custom
house school (colored) has received Or
ders from the Ward Board to transfer
the colored girls in his school to the
Robertson school. 1t is earnestly to be
hoped that the order will be counter
manded