National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-18
THE COIORED SCHOOLS
REPoRrs OF TEE sUPERISrENDEN7
AND TREASURER.


AENr OF ATTENDANCE AND PROGRESS
LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTING
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS.
TIA hoard Of trustees Of the colored schools o
the District held business session last evening
At the Sumner school building.
A prayer was offered at the opening Of IN,
meeting BY the Rev. Walker Lewis. Mr.. Ryder
prssided.
Amer prayer, Mr.. johnson, In behalf of tn,
treasurer, pfetented the following statement Of
the recei9ts and expenditures Of the past year
showing balance in tax lien certificates Oh
t2o6S.l3.
wksHySerox, D. e, April n II ~ Srs,.
ess ~ oo-sa sS s ~ Sto and George
gErIExEE: have the honor to ssSm IT, ne Re
eolored schools Of Warrington and Georgetown:
Amount received from the comptroller o. me DIS
S ;sl 5As Sss ss amount reesised from N
ia LINKING fund eommission, tle,S1s 81; amount
ess,Ssd a rs % SAIL Amount sSpendsd as psi
order Of beard, go, So2A, leaving balance on
bapd In tex lien certificates Of q oeSls
Fuf other Information your attention 10 directed
othA accompanying detailed ttatsmsnt
Yours, respectfully,
A detailed statement Of the expenditures for
the year ending March 20, ls7s, was submitted for
the action OF the board, and was referred TO the
superintendent, @. T. Cook.
mIttee on annual reports, addressed &C tho Cover
Dcr OF the District, was read and requested TO be
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF TRusrEzs1
OF CoLoRIp SCHOOLS,
ION. Syt4 s5IS CS *: R 81 s
SIR: in compliance with an act OF Congress, en-
TILED "An act governing the so!GTsd sSsS % 2,
:, lsTs the board Of trustees have the henor 20
submit the annual report Of sAid schools for the
saSs made eds rscusnt visit: ali lie schools At
each visit It has been their object 70 inspire the
pupils with q stronger desire and fresher teal -
SSs Z, 4o4 Sss.r SusS nforma
ton as they could IN regard to the condition and
In ts n OOnnSSsion they would say tia. personal
observation has confirmed them IN the opinion
that the past year has not only been one Of pros
Per,y q S,s sns ~ sSTSnce ~ preyious ysasS
All are ready 70 admit that the character Of tho
school must depend upon the efficiency Of he
teacher; hence the board have deemst 10 their
duty, In many instances, to demand broader
culture and higher qualification IN the teacher
This action has given new impetus g some Of
70 success. The teachers employed have, IN gen
eral proved themselves 10 be earnest toilers and
hibitsd excellent skill in lmparths Instruction in
inspiring their pupils with an ehthusiasm that
led to more studfopI habits, and In maintaining
kind, yet wholesome discipline. In review Of
the record OF their lsbors the board cannot do
otherwise than attribute to their nnremitting as
AQultT mCCh OF the SUCCESS Win ulCn Inc sc0OOll
were crowned the past year.
Much has been said IN reference to discipline,
and many suggestions made as 20 the manner Of
securing the desired end. The board are free to
express themselves as opposed in general @ the
InAletiO8 of corporal punishment: Moral forces
discipline. The fear Of physical suffering IL Q
very bad mstive to be brought TO bear upon the
child 70 deter iE from vice or idleness. Those
bed by Kind and judicious measures 70 awaken Q
spirit Of enthusiasm, and TO win the respect con-
fdence and affections Of their pupils When these
No parent should allow bis child 10 grow up
with his mind unimproved, and thus subject him
me GIsea ob,T sSSSTeS yie.s He shsuId
see that his child Is constantly In school, arouse
both teacher and scholar to greater zeal and
sSTd TitS eonssat Vigilance and the greatest
ready, at all times, to make any sacrifice for tho
advancement OF his child in mental and moral
culture. But the board regret TO state that some
of the schools scarcely parent or guardian has
ever visited, in which schools they could not fail
to notice q large want Of real life and spirit In
both teacher and scholars, while those schools
which showed frequent visits from parents almost
invariably evtneed the opposite. The trustees
would consider themselves recreant TO the sacred
trust conded to them IL they failed to call atten
ton the urgent demands for additional school 90
commodRtiCn.
dren Of school age, and but room for not half the
number, they cannot in justice to that which they
deem paramount to minor considerations, refrain
from again calling attention to the imperative
necessity Of providing accommodation for the
thousands Of eager and thirstipg minds, DESTROYS
Of enjoying the Dement'S Of education. In this
tending the procuring Of the means necessary to
accomplish The desired object, and wish to be
conftituted authorities in the District Of Colum-
bia, but on the contrary, desire to Gttest to the
ea4nestness, faithfulness and general interest
the full extent of their ability The peculiar cir
cumstances under which many in attendance
n the schools came into our MIDST Is 80 patent
one OF the consequent events Of the recent sec
tiOnRl strife in our country.
Humanity, as well as the material interests Of
our common country, demands that provision
should be made to educate those who, clothed with
all the responsibilities attending full citizenship
are to take no insignificant part in framing and
executing the laws OF the nation. In reference to
The support given by the citizens Of the District Of
praise, considering the population and the many
disadvantages which surround them. The sub
Etan.ial evidence Of the taxpayers Of the District
attested by the hne and fSrge school edihces
erected at cost OF Thousands e dollars, and sup
piled with all The modern sehoal conveniences;
also, by their furnishing the meaLS necessary for
the education Of the children. The burden seems
greater when 1t Is considered that It has been
sustained within period OF ten years, in which
time the schools have increased from one school,
with an average attendance Of 20 pupils to sew.
enty-hye schools, with an average attendance Of
ingly seen i0 the amounts received and expended
annually for the support Of these schools.
1t is learned from previous reports that the en-
tire amount received from the cities Of Washing
ton and Georgetown for the year 1s62o3, was
t735.se, while for the year ls7l-T2 there were ex-
pended el2o ,O06.Sl As large as the increase ap-
pears 1t is still Insufficient to meet the constant
growing demands for increased school facilities.
Simple justice 70 the tax-paying portion OF our
cord the fact Of their perfect willingness TO con-
tribute for the maintenance Of these schools. In
this connection the board cannot forbear express
ing their deep regret at the apparent indiffer-
ence shown by the General Government, which,
considering all the attending circumstances,
q very large percentage Of those enjoying the
beReht Of education, as afforded in the schools
under their control. They have no hesitancy In
tbs General Government to provide for the edu-
cation Of its wards is too plain TO admit Of sue
The least under the circumstances to be ex-
pected from them Is to furnish the means 10 edu-
cate the children OF those thrown upon the COM
and by 30 doing TO assist them to reach that
higher plane Of cultivation contemplated BY be-
also to throw that additional protection aIonns
the morals Of the community which Is found in
the etheaey Of education In supPressing vice and
just Determinations, they cannot refrain from
directing attention to the prodigAl hand which
nopolIes and votes large subsidies To equally
wealthy steamship companies, but refuses 70 con-
tribute even q widows mite" for the dissemina-
ton Of knowledge among the children Of those
who, through circumstances over which they had
no control, were held for long series Of years In
bondage Of Q nature to forbid the acquisition Of
knowledge through the ordinary channels and
even to deny the comfort Of communing with their
Maker through holy Writ-the beacon-li light to
virtue, faith, and salvation, and the common
property Of mankind.
For more minute detail Of the workings Of the
schools, the board respectfully ask careful con-
sidoration OF the report Of the superIntend emit,
who has performed his laborious duties with un-
refnitting devotion and with great apparent use
fulness. They believe that few public servants
anywhere could show better record OF faithful
ness or success. In conclusion, they desire to
press their acknowledgements to oar earnest and
faithful representative in Congress, Gen. N. p.
Chapman, for his unceasing and untiring efforts
in endeayoring 70 get Just recognition Of the
duty that the General Government owes oThe
local government and for lis persistency In
claiming that the same consideration be shown to
the people Of the District OF Columbia, In the
way of appropriating lands for educational pur.
poses, that has been 70 chose Of other sections Of
our country.
By order Of the board.
GEORGE W. SMITH,
HENRY JOHNSON,
Committee on Annual Reports.
On motion Of Mr.. johnson, the superintendent
was instructed to procure the printing Of 500 Of
the annual reports. There being no other busi-
ness to transact, the COMMITTEES adjourned.
INTERESTING REPORT or SUPERINTENDENT COOK