New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-05
speech Of Gr0rse +. 7. Cook. Esq,
at ttse Dedication Of SUM-
-rr ucr school.

trict of Columbia removed the political nm
drances to the establishment of a system Of
free schools for colored children. In conson'
ance with that act, on the 2lst oil May IN the
same year Congress passed an act requiring
that "ten per centum OF taxes coliecteu IRON
persons of color in Washington ana george
town be set apart for the purpose Oh initiating
a svstcm of urinary schools for the education
of colored children" residing in these cities,
and contided the trust to the trustees OF pub
lie schools in the two cities. In July OF the
same wear the control was transferred by
Congress to a special board, to be known as
he "Board of Trustees of COlOred Schools
COR Washington and Georgetown" On ac-
count of the inadequacy of the funds the first
school was not organized until March, 1861.
1t was located IN the eastern section OF the
city, and placed under the instruction OF the
principal elect of this building. In June,
1854, Congress more literally provided for
the education of the large cOlored school pop
ulation i'm requiring that such proportion OF
all school funds raised in Washington and
Georgetown should be set apart for co!ored
schools as the number of colored children be-
tween the ages of six and seventeen bears to
the whole number of children but owing to
adverse constructions placed upon this act
by the municipal authorities of this city, the
immediate benefit expected from its provi-
siOns was delayed.
From the close of the school year lS61-GS,
when the funds became available and the
board partially freed from the annoyances
and hindrances to which it had been sub
jected since its creation, can be best traced
its contribution to the great work of public
education in this community. From seven
teachers employed by the board at the close
of the school year lS6G-G7, the number has
:,,,~ IT, ,1,,, h.,,,-
bred children were provided for by the board.
Of the nine thousand colored children of
school ages, about four thousand received
more or less instruction from public colOred
schools during the last year. From five
school buildings in lS67-6S owned by the
board, containing thirty-siX rooms, the num-
Der has grown to nine buildings, containing
seventy-seven rooms. OF the five buildings
of the former period two have given way to
structures which in convenience, comfort,
finish, and architectural beauty reflect credit
of a very high order; and there is further
congratulatory cause in the fact that each
succeeding building has, in its greater excel
lence, indicated continued progress. The
first school house was built in the winter of
1906 in the Third school district, and con-
tanned four rooms, two of which were ill
adapted to school purposes, and the internal
order.
In that building we recognize the ignorance
OF necessity and poverty of the past, and
leave it wiser and more appreciative of the
wisdom and bounty Of the present; in this
convenience and the physical comfort of
teacher and pupils have been considered as
important conditions of good school. In
this building experience will quickly teach
that children, in consideration of the care for
their physical welfare, will acquire habits Of
regularity in attendance, study harder, learn
more, evince a nicer sense of proprietv, a
more cheerful spirit and develop higher
character.
This building, though not first in school
capacity, has greater cOnveniences and in
every way is best adapted to the purposes for
which it was erected. An inspection will
show that in its construction the best mate
rails have Leen used, and that the work has
been done in substantial and workmanlike
manner. Its design and architectural pro-
portions are such as will scarcely fail to at
tract attention and elicit commentator.
From the grade of the primmer the schools
have proceeded step by step to the thresh-
old of the high school course. In point of
department they will compare favorably with
the best of the country. In discipline, as
indicated by attendance, they have had a
steady and healthy growth, and the results
of the past year, in this respect, assign them
to the first rank.
To the gentlemen who have composed the
Board of Trustees of Colored Schools for
Washington and Georgetown during its ex-
istence, for their arduous and pecuniariy
uncompensated labor, their untiring zeal and
persevering efforts in bringing the schools to
their present degree of excellence, too great
praise cai.nOt be given. Iassure you, friends,
that none more than they realize the neces-
sity for the attainment of greater excellence,
and are more solicItous of your hearty CO.
operation, and none are more sensible of the
increased responsibilities and obligations
evolved in the erection and acceptance of
this structure, so beauti ful and grand in its
p-rr"rtions, and yet so honored in the name
it bears-Sumner.
many u1 .ou, as to me, some very lively
recnllections arise to mind. The great change
On this spot carries me back, and have no
doubt two of the gentlemen with whom am
originally connected, to the days of boyhood.
The damming up of the stream at the foot of
the hill for the mud and sand bath, the row.
ings in quest of the lark and the killdee, the
frog and the leech, and before knowledge
of its theory, the practical demonstration of
the power of the lever in the use of the
fence-rail in turning over the boulder for the
snake-all within this square--are as fresh
70 me as if they happened but yesterday.
On this hill some of you, have no doubt.
witnessed and enjoyed-less than one score
years ago, when a score would outnumber
the entire police force of Washington, and
when the police officer seldom strayed into
the city-the frequently-fought miniature
battles between freedom and oppression.
How scores arrayed on each side, armed with
stones and clubs, every man IN his own face the
color. bearer of his respective side, with lines
thus distinctly drawn, were engaged in strife
for hours, up and down on this hill, with
varying success. How changed! From rude
nature We come to ruder art in the structure
of barrack material, now happily no more,
and from that structure we now come to one
which we would recognize as the external
symbol of the attainment of degree of
refinement and intellectual progress, Of which
a people should feel proud.
"Liberal'' Consistency!