The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-15
THE RACE ISSUE IN The
SCHOOLS,
Attempt to Place Sixteen Negro Girls in
the Girls Upper High School.
The Young Ladies Indignantly Withdraw
and Protest.
Great Excitement in the Schools.
The Movement to be Generals

III AWONCIuCAS " w oShNA~'s
AT last the race-issue has been definitely
raised, and, we trust, it has at last been de-
finitely settled The public schools Of this
CITY. under Radical management, have be-
come stencil in the nostrils Of decent peo-
pie, and it has been a matter of great wonder
ment to us that white parents did not with
draw their children from influences that were
necessarily debasing and corruptlng.
The moment that the drunken and incapable
negro Brown was appointedas Superintendent
of Education, the white children should have
been withdrawn in a body, for it was proof,
conclusive, that the schools were to be used
for political and partisan purposes, and were
to be made the means for carrying out the pet
Radical dogma Of the social equality Of the
races.
This idea Brown has steadily and persist
emily labored to make an accomplished fact,
and has gradually worked into a number of
schools colored children. At first he moved
cautiously, and only put in light-colored mu-
lattoes, then he tried children Of a darker hue,
until, finally, he succeeded, in few instances,
in placing negro girls as black as ebony side
by side with the fairest Caucasians.
"Reminiscences were made and in q great
many instances white children were with
drawn and sent to private schools OF taught
at home. Nothing has served to move Brown
and the board from their purpose. They had
the power, they thought to mix the schools,
and they proposed to MIX them.
The BULLETIN in this matter has stood
alone. We have constantly combated the
vicious practice, and have frequently repre-
scented that it was far better that the schools
should be temporarily broken up than that
they should be continued under the present
debasing and demoraiizing influences. The
present movement, therefore, we hail with
great satisfaction, and trust that at last we
will rid our city OF this incubus on our ad-
vancement
Yesterday morning the first gun in the war
against this outrageous attempt to mix our
schools was fired by the brave and high
spirited young ladies' Of the Fourth District
High School,
About 8 o'clock, it appears, some sixteen
dusky daughters Of African descent appeared
in the school-room, and requested to be adj
mitted as pupils.
It was evident from such number making
application at the same time that it was the
result Of some preconcerted scheme, origina-
ting probably in the School Board, and this
school was chosen as the battle ground where
the issue was to be decided, and it it is well
that it was SO.
No sooner had a full appreciation Of the
fact dawned upon the young ladies who are
pupils there, under Mrs. Mcdonald and Miss
A. Seymour, than they arose in body and
protested against such a violation Of every
sense Of propriety. They one and all then
and there informed their teachers that they
would withdraw in body should the negro
girls be admitted.
The excitement ran high, the girls utterly
refusing to take part in the usual exercises
until the question was definitely settled. At
this juncture Oily Cannon Boothby put in
an appearance, possibly already cognizant Of
the move, and endeavored to restore quiet.
He stated that if the young ladies would re-
turn to their studies he would see what could
be done.
This did not in the least deceive The
scholars. who, with that pride and dignity for
which our Southern girls are noted, indig-
nantly refused to be quoted by the ambiguous
promises Of the insinuating Boothby. The
gallant superintendent seemed non-plused,
completely COMPOUNDED. The stand taken was
entirely unlocked for, he could not realize his
own situation and so he left the field. The
young ladies withdrew and drew up and
signed the following protests:
re the Board of School Directors:
We, the Seniors of the Upper Girls High
School. having passed creditable examina-
tons, in order to graduate. do hereby most
emphaticaHy decline to receive our diplomas
unless the question brought up this day, the
14th December, 1874, with regard to our
school being nired, is decided before the ap-
pointed time 1or our graduation, December
%, 1874.
The Junior and First Year Classes refuse to
attend this school until the decision is made.
lllS AFFAIR uaS Deeu COuuucteu luueptH-
IDENTIFY OF any teacher in the school:
Signed by members of Senior Glass
Margie E. Spearing, Minnie H. Anderson
Alice Lambertono Lou C. Jenkins,
Molly Lesslyes kowena p. Brennens
Anna Biscoe, Armide White,
Edith HathOrn, Lizzie Woods,
Honora Goodwyns Nellie Blackadder,
Annie NJ. Parker Ella Martin,
N. Eldridge, Sara SIMON,
Miriam Emanuel, Emma Mensman,
Emily Keller. Ruth johnson,
Ida Perkins. Mary Larkin.
Charlotte Stewart, Fannie Causse,
Florence L. Smith, Amelia Mathews.
Susie Benton. Ida Bernard,
Lydia z. Lambert, Gussie Jourdan.
Katie Smith, Maggie Barrett.
Orena Taylor, Lydia LIE Favor,
Emily G. Dwyers Georgia Wilson,
Bella Feeley. Emma Rebentlschs
Susie Smith, Emma DeRussy.
Florence Lambert, blanche Wilmer,
Ida Rushae Sophie DurbridYe,
Katie Corr Elite Hazard.
Octavia Cheless Florence Hale
Louisa le.. Georgia Porter,
Mary Red,icho Alicia Rennyson.
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