New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-30
proceeded to the Office of the Journal and
called the delinquent to an account in no
very mild terms.
DAVID T. S. FULLER, Paris.
summer school Building.
WAsH1NeroN. D. C.. Mav !


To the Editor Of the Nep National Era:
Leaving the Executive Mansion after an
interview with the present incumbent of the
Presidential chair in laconic.. periods concern.
ing the vital interests of the nation, we wend
our way through Lafayette Square amid its
evergreens and along its winding paths and
artistic plats of grass until we enter 10th
street, when our eyes behold one of the most
magnificent public edifices in the city, sit
uated on the corner of 18th and L streets.
On inquiry we are told this building is to be
known as Sumner School, being erected in
honor of the country's patriot, and in esteem
and deep gratitude Cor the indefatigable
labors of him who is the answering friend of
the oppressed race in this country and the
advocate of the just principle of equality be-
fore the law, which by night and day, amidst
scorn and dersion, in health and in sickness,
he has sought to establish in the practice of
the nation and in the hearts of its legislators.
This school, we learn, is the outgrowth of
necessity and the realized condition of the
schools in which all children were taught.
Two members of the Board of Trustees for
colored schools, Messrs. Wormley and Sy-
phax, became convinced, soon after their en-
trance upon their labors, that the miserable
places in which colored children were then
taught were not a means of improving their
inmates intellectually, morally, nor physi-
cally; but to the contrary, they were a
seeming badge of past life of servitude.
They resolved henceforth, thatas opportunity
offered itself, they would cause to be pulled
down these buildings, disgraceful to the city
and injurious to the children; and in their
stead erect buildings in conformity with the
spirit of the time and in harmony with the
principle of equality, which was to be the
foundation-stone of each and every one of
such buildings during their term as guardians
of the interests and promoters of the welfare
of young but inseperable portion of the
great Republic. This was met with objec-
tons from quarter in the board, whose
earliest principles have been, that the negro
has no rights nor privileges which should be
enjoyed in common or equal with the white
man. The motto here is 'let well enough
alone," the present schools for negroes are
good enough.
At this time the board lost a valuable
member in the person of Mr.. Syphax, whose
time had expired, but whose heart is to-day
yet pulsating in the spirit of advancement in
every degree and shape for the uplifting of
once down-trodden race.
But the indomitable spirit of a young and
vigorous member in the person of Mr.. VIM.
H. Wornley was not to be allayed by such
futile objections against principle of right
and equality. He was not to be hoodwinked,
and so not see that the objection was blow
at equality in school buildings. Willing to
be free and equal, he first struck the blow
himself, and by powerful argument, and
persistency of purpose on the part of Mr..
Wormley, we have this beautiful school build
ing, a grace in the city of Washington and
fit tribute to him whose name it bears.
This building contains eight recitation
rooms, large and commodious in size. One
large room is set apart as a grammar school
in which advanced pupils from the lower
grades can be prepared, either for college or
any vocation in business life. There is also
spacious room with splendid decorations
and commodious seats for congregating
teachers and pupils, as well as for public
speaking on certain occasions; and if the
reader had been half as fortunate as the
writer to have viewed this building from the
inside, he would have been struck with its
grandeur, pleased with its design, and re-
joiced in its purpose. The basement is in
tended as play ground for the pupils, and we
have only to regret that there is plan of
separating the sexes during play hours, or at
any time. 1t is wrong to presuppose harm.
Teach children to understand that they are
responsible to themselves first, and then to
their fellows for every act of omission or COM
mission relating to their moral conduct.
Grow them side by side, learn them to feel
each others woes and enjoy pleasures in
common.
In front of this building is a magnificent
tower in which are set clock and school
bell. The site is one of the most pleasant
and best suited for a school, and let the
blame or credit rest on the shoulders of
Messrs. Wormley and Syphax. The latter
is inevitable. This building overlooks the
greater part of the city and from its tower
may be seen the spotless dome of the capitol,
upon whose top stands the image of the
Goddess Of Liberty, fit ensign of the ma
TONS theory.
Mr.. Wormley, full Of ideas, replete with
advancement and improvement, believed
that a school house should not only be place
for children to enter, in which pure air circu-
lates, so conducive to good health, and proper
apparatus is furnished equal with other
schools of the fair sex, but also that a school
house should inspire its inmates with laudable
pride. Teaching the scholar by its condition,
to be ashamed to enter its doors with dirty
hands or soiled garments. Silently teaching
equality to the scholar, by placing like facil-
ties, privileges, and conveniences in his course
of education with others of a fairer hue. Thus
growing our little ones strong in the knowl-
edge of equality in manhood, and not dwarfed
in self-respect. That the teachers may also
feel stimulated to make their scholars tally
in intelligence and learning with the grandeur