Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-01-23
Civil Rights Bill.

It is generally conceded that tho offensive
clauses in the sGivl Rights bill in relation
to compulsory mixed schools will be vigorous
ly attacked in Congress, and will be passed, If
Mt all, by some sharp trick. 1t is dangerous
hrebrand and we cannot depend entirely on
the vigilance of our legislators and their abili
ty 10 quench it. Therefore, the suggestions
made in the report OF the School Board are
timely in view of future difficulties. This
issue has been attempted to be forced upon the
people in California, and is vigorously resist
ed. The Board Of Education has ordered ne
gro children admitted into the white schools
This is in Sacramento. The same question had
been before the San Francisco Board OF Eduea-
ton. That decided agant the negroes nd
mission into the white schools; but the ne
groes have carried the matter into the Supreme
Court, aud are awaiting decision. But in
this conflict between colors and races III Sac
rameno the teachers of the public schools are
in lamentanle dilemma. The Board of Edu-
cation appoints them, but the Superintendent
of Education who resists the order OF the Board
as unauthorized and unwise, is required by
law to sign the certificates for the teachers
pay, and il he refuses they cannot draw their
salary. Should the teachers follow the di-
rection of the Board, the Superintendent may
close the purse of the city against them
Should they obey the Superintendent, the
Board may discharge them. And the Board
| and Superintendent are at war, and the poor
Woodworking teachers are liable to be slaugh-
tered by both oelligerent powers. They are
not learned enough to know exactly what to
do, aud the citizens are much divided in SEN
timent upon the subject.-BaIto. Gasette.
| In connection with this subject we copy the
following extract from the Report of the State
Board of Education for Maryland
! AT the present moment it is the opinion of
! those best qualified to judge, that the Civil
| Rights bill will not pass, at least with the
offensive school-feature unmodiGed. But we
know not what day may bring forth, ana it
| is the part of wisdom TO be prepared for disa-
greeable possibilities.
There is no danger of having mixed schools
| in Maryland, whatever laws Congress may
make Before such a change could take place
there must be a social revolution, such as acts
of Congress may retard, but cannot hasten
When the black race shall have risen to the
same social level us the " hite race, it will need
no Civil Rights bill TO give them equal privi-
leges in the same school. But, until that time
shall come, Congress might as well pass law
that oil and water shall stand at the same
height in the same bottle. Legislate as we
! please, each will take its own level, in obedi-
ence 20 natural laws; and agitation cannot
produce mixture, though it may prevent a
/ settlement
There is no evidence that the colored people
in Maryland desire admission into the white
sch 5ols, and there is reason to believe that
even in the event of the bill passing in lis pre-
sent shape, firm and judicious management
would preserve our school system intact. But
as it is impossible to provide definitely for all
contingencies by State legislation, we recon-
mend that the Governor Of the State and the
Attorney General be added to the State Board
of Education, and that the board thus consti-
tuted shall have power to enact bylaws for
the administration of the public school sys-
TEN, and 10 close any school, and to suspend
or remove any teacher, when they consider it
necessary.