New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-18
Common schools.

The citizens of Poughkeepsie, n. Y, have
made the schools supported at public expense
free to all, without regard to accidents o
birth, such as red hair, deformed limbs, or colol
of the skin. On the appearance of colored
children at one Of the schools, the teacher,
Miss Lydia Vail, seeing that their approach
ing the school-house was the signal for demon
STATIONS on the part Of the children of the
superior race" not calculated to engendel
harmony, met the colored children and led
them through the crowd of white children tc
their seats in the school-room. The New
York Ereaing Telegram says:
Miss Wallis determined manner saved a
scene and saved the honor of the school. I'm.
mediately all the children were called in and
took their seats in the same room. All of
them cast side glances at the colored girls,
and broad grins were visible upon all of their
countenances. The colored girls stood the
ordeal well, behaving themselves in quiet,
modest manner. After perfect quiet had been
restored, the children were classified, jose
phine Rhodes, the Oldest colored girl, being
put in Miss Vickie Sergeant's class, which
numbers about thirty. Her class soon went
to the classroom she along with the rest,
where she was sandwiched between two
white children, anil again there were smirks,
smiles, and nudges, but nothing more. When
recess arrived the cOlored girls did not 90 out,
they evidently not wishing 10 rush their pres
ence on the playground so soon. At quar-
ter before twelve they were allowed to 90
home till afternoon, and after they were gone
the white children were called to order, when
the principal requested any child whose feel
ts.vo Ixn1 L.,.N - - IL. n
About forty children were present, but only
one hand was raised. Misc Vail asked its
owner, little girl, to state her grievances, but
she dropped her hand and said nothing. 1t
is stated, however, that her father will take
her from the school,"
The little girl who dropped her hand and
said nothing in response TO the inquiry of
Miss Vail WAS no more at loss for a reason
able objection to the colored children than
are all other prejudiced, insane opponents of
equality in the enjoyment Of public rights |;
she knew of no real objection, and was too
disingenuous to invent one. The colored
children behaved themselves in "quiet,
modest manner" so that nothing IN their be.
havior could be Objectionable. We would
like the Washington Republican-as il is the or
gan Of the enemies to equality in the enjoy
ment of public rights-to tell us what reason
able objection can there be to the instruction
of coiored children and white children to-
gether, where the colored children behave in
quiet and modest manner" even while
being made the recipients Of uncouth and low
Jlbes OF the superior race" Was not the
behavior Of the colored children at the school
in Poughkeepsie more elevated and refined
than that Of the white children, who cried
out at their approach, "here comes the Mo-
docs" and hurled haunting epithets at themo
Can contact with such modesty and refine
ment as these colored children exhibited at
a time when resentment would have been as
justiliable contamnate and injure the white
children: Was not the modesty and good
behavior Of the colored children more in
keeping with that Of the teacher than WAS
the department Of the " superior Children
who hooted at and danced around the colored
children as would the Modocs around priso-
ner awaiting torture? Can il be that the
intelligent aud enlightened white people Of
IBIS country are 10 forever contend that mod