Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-20
The Peabody Fund-Mixed Schools

New YORK, Oct. lS-Dr. Sears in his an
nual report to the Trustees OF the Peabody
Education Fund, says the period OF htteeu
mouths past has been one OF signal success 10
soue of the more northerly States, while 10
those further south no ground has been lost
The public mind in nearly all Of these States is
more or less imbued with the doctrine of free
schools. Within period OF about seven years
q new system of free schools has sprung up 10
every one of the Southern States. The great
obstacle now to be overcome IN maintaining
schools is the deep. seated aversion to taxation
prevalent among the people. The good system
of public schools in Tennessee would not have
been 10 existence but for this Board, and the
same is true of the system OF Virginia. VI u
Virginia $3S, ,425 has been distributed. In
North Carolina the want of active county su-
pervision has been very greatly tclt IN admin
istering the fund. Twelve thousand three hun
dred dollars have been distributed IN South
Carolina. Except in the city of Charleston,
scarcely any schools are kept throughout the
wear. Georgia is feeble and falterlug in its
action. Ten thousand three hundred and fifty
dollars have been distributed in this State.
Florida, on its own account, raised $4,000
this year for its public schools. The contrl-
buttons from the Peabody fund were Sl0,-
2UU. OF Alabama little is to be report
ed, except partial recovery trom the luac-
tivity oil the preceding year. The amount
of the Peabody fund distributed was $4,000.
Iu Mississippi educational matters have met
With unexpected success. lu Columbus the
public schools have Supplanted the private
schools, and have met with general favor. The
same is the case in Natchez, Meridian, and
other cities. The amount distributed, S44 900.
In Louisiana So, $50 was distributed; 10 Ar
kansas, $500; in Tennessee, $50, S00 in West
Virginia, $4,000; none in Texas.
The committee Of the Peabody fund trustees,
consisting of William Evarts, John II. Clifford,
aud Samuel Wbetmore, appointed to consider
the subject of mixed schools in the South, re-
port that after the most careful comparison OF
Opinions, and the most so!icltous consideration
OF all the elements Of the discussion affecting
the interests of education 10 the various States
for their white and colored population, have
unanimously come to the conclusion that the
prospects and hopes of the public systems OF
education a1 the South will receive a serious it
not fatal blow from any Legislature which
should make such systems of education malu-
tauabe only on a scheme Of mixed schools as
the organization required for such public edu-
cation, The Board are Of the opinion that
while Justice and public duty as we'll as the 10
terests and feelings Of the white and colored
people of the South concur in demanding sy:
TEN OF public education which should give
equal opportunities and equal advantages to
the children of either color, that 90 such result
would be promoted by the compulsory system
ofmixed schools. The committee in conclu-
sion say these views are fully set forth in the
report of the general agent, which is accepted
and approved as expressing the unanimous
opinion of the trustees.