Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-09-11
wEcRo SCHOOLS.

The Rsnublican refers TO the question oil the
Board Of Pablic Education taking charge OF the
Howard Schoor in this city, an institution
erected for the education of negroes, which ha
caused the Board and the City Council, conside' !.
abIe difficulty at various times during it's exis-
teuce, aud which has been The recipient of 81 900
annually from the City Council for lis support,
and say
mTuR Howard ScuoOI.--The cxPecieucy OF
the board of Education taking charge Of the How
ard School and providing for the education OF the
colored children Of this city, will be discussed al
the meeting Of the Board on the 22nd inst. Inc
chief objection to the proposition arises from the
nroyision in the charter coniuiDg their duties TO
white children. Il is contended, hoWcycE, thAt
the provision is unconstitutional, and conse'
Quenily not binding. The members however
lnust Judge Of this themSelves few years ago
the question was discussed, when was declued
by a large majority to closely adhere to the pro
visions Of the charter, and leave colored parents
nav the education of their children or trust 10
The charity of the public. The Legislature has
steadily refGsed to permit taxation Tor the pchent
of this portion of our community, and lhe lFlenus
of education consider the matter so grlevous thai
1t should not be submitted To any longer
So far as wa can leasn no damage has resulted
from the courss of the Board of Education so far
Aud IL would b. well for that body to be sure
question we are told it will discuss on the 22d
We have ne doubt that the majority OF the gen.
usmen comprising the Board are disposed TO DO
what seams right But owing to the uHsetllea
condition of things if Is difficult TO determine ex-
actly what their real duty is in the premises.
They have taken certain obligations, which reet
upon them in full force. They cannot shake of
their oaths Of ofRce, which bind them to certain
we'll defined duties. Can they discharge duties
that are not clearly ascertained. wAen by doing %
they break obligations that are clearly knel1n and
uHdeystood, while at the Same time they will not
settle the question that is raised by the action OF
Congress in amending the constitution of the
United StatesS We do not understand that the
question of mixed schools is to be discussed on
the 22d But it seems to US that that question
should be settled before the Board can be fairly
REQUIRED to take any other course than it has fol-
lowed. After the Congress of the United States
or the Courts have clearly deilued the amendment
10 the constitution, or the laws as to the educa-
tion OF the negroes. the Board OF Poblic Eiuca-
ton will be able to act understandingly. Bot it
seems to US that they not bound to violate the
oaths taken upon entering upon their duties un-
til they know what is clearly right in the matter,
On this very question the wLele country is
in difficulty, and there Ia yet no uniform and
established policy. The Board can, therefore,
very well afford to wait, and not pursue a course
that is quite os much variance with the constr.
tuition Of the United States as that which it has
been pursuing for the past year or two.