The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-17

anu tH0 COmuOn SCHOOLS lurnlSleu Tue
means for every man to acquire knowledge
and make himself useful in the world
We live in favored age, when every man
has wonderful opportunities for improve
ment, and the means at hand for rising in
the world, if he will only avail himself of
the privileges which lie at his door. He
presented home, the family government, as
u type OF all good government, where each !
member of the family must act we'll his
part, and show that he is fit to exercise the |
through Hon. S. NJ. Etter, our state SUI
perinteudent of schools, for statistics for
their information, and that gentleman had
kindly furnished him letter which he
would read
STATISTICS OF COLORED SCHOOLS.
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF EDUCATION,
WASHINGTON, ID. c. July l2h, 1879, J
DEAR SIR-Your note of the 9th, with
an Enclosure requesting statistics of the
colored schools in the United States, is
just received. In reply | would respect
fully say that full statistics of such schools
| cannot be given by US, because they are
not received. In the state reports on ed
ucation from the old on-slaveholding
states there is rarely any separation of
| these schools, with their pupils, from the
others belonging to the common school
| system: and in several OF the former slave
states there is no such separation-nOne,
for example, in Alabama, Florida, Ken
lucky, Louisiana, Mississippi or Texas.
Aud even in the states which do make
returns on this point there is considerable
difference as to the character of the re-
turns. Such as we have, we give
| For instance, from Delaware we have,
from the secretary of a society which thus
far has attended to these schools, report
of / ,l25 colored pupils in % schools, under
as many teachers; from Georgia, of 81
POI cDlored pupils enrolled in 60 schools,
number OF teachers not given; from South
Caroline. of 56,249 such pupils under 9l4
ocOiOred teachers, number of schools not
Y given; from North Carolina, in 1873, of
40, AIS pupils in TAG schools, number of
teachers not given; from Virginia Of 1894
schools, with 400 colored teachers, for a
colored school population Of III, 3l7; from
Tennessee, Of 933 schools. with 985 teach,
ers, for colored school population of
100000; from Missouri, of 232 schools for
80, AL colored children; and in West Vir-
, einia of 4,46l such children in 63 schools.
Alabama simply reports a state appor-
tionment of Sl63, 459 for colored school
population of 1896. Arkansas had nc
e public schools of any kind to report fol
a 1874, and in Kentucky those for coloreC
+ people were only put into operation in thai
E year, under new law.
h Alabama sets good example to thu
n other states in sustaining or aiding to sus
tain, normal schools for the training o
n colored teachers, one at Marion, the othe
; at Huntsville, with about 200 pupils an
j nuaily in the two. Maryland also has hat
! one, with 246 pupils: aud New York Cit,
d one, with from Is to 20 One is sustained
v by the colored people themselves at JET
: ferson City, Missouri; and others for then
at Lincoln University, Oxford, Pennsyl
vania; Wilberforce University, Xenia
). Ohio; Fisk University, Nashville, Tennes
" see; Freedman's Normal Institute, Mary
1t vile in the same state; Nashville Norma
Is aud Theological Institute, Nashville, Ter
r uessee; Tougalos University, Tougalos
.. Mississippi; Straight University, New Oh
" leans, Louisiana; Taladega College Ia
L. ladega, Alabama; Atlanta University. Al
p lanta, Georgia; Shaw University, Raleigh
#, North Corolina; and 10 Is schools wit
=, normal departments sustained by tn
. American Missionary Association in differ
Sc ent southern states. One established fC
a them by the Protestant Episcopal Churc
d, at Raleigh. North Carolina, is believed t
or be also still in existence; while at Peters
burgh, Virginia, MIR. Ct. Cook, a colorc
~ minister of that church sustains one.
he In all the above mentioned Universitie
d. and Colleges, too. the colored people hay
- admission to the advantages of superic
instruction, as also, at Berea College. B.
rea, Kentucky; Central Tennessee Co
lege, Nashville, Tennessee; Alcorn Tn
ri versity, Mississippi; New Orleans and l.
N land Universities. New Orleans, Lonisian;
er and the State University of South Carol
N Ia, at Columbus.
=, Trusting that this information may
40 sufficient for the purpose indicated, [ an
I'd very respectfully your obedient servant,
VS. CHARLES WARREN,
ao Acting Commissioner of Education.
8 Hon S. NJ ETTER,
ne State Supt. of Public Instruction,
ed Springfield, Ill.
ed Mr.. Blackburn said he dcsered statisti
ok of school property belonging to the colore
30 people, but the imperfect returns fro
!, states rendered such statistics unattai
er able at present. He commented on Il
ch statistics furnished, showing what was nc
pi being done to elevate the colored race, al
1el stated that Alabama was entitled to prai
.oo as being the first state to appropria
'a' means for colored schools
RS We have not space for full synopsis
ne his remarks, but he closed with son
,il- practical observations which should be us
"A full to the colored people, and an admot
III ton to demagogues. He said the way
he be respected is to respect yourself v
aid are followers of the Anglo-Saxon rae
ere Let US follow them in procuring wealt
- Jas we'll as in other matters) for that brin
" power and position. Frugality, econon
led and industry, in country like this, "
to do the work. As to the social status
,en the colored race, that was a probe
-: which would solve itself. Let well enou
us alone. No law can regulate that If
out gentleman saw fit to invite c0lored pt
the son to his house or his table, that was !
ex. business. If he did not, or did not desi
- association with US. We have no right
'e'' complain. The privilege of choosi
their own society belongs to all N;
s a kind-no law can force a chanl
IN aud the men who urged laws to regula
q social affairs were the verriest demagogu
Vi in the world, and every colored pers
ATS should shun them. Let us make oursely
md worthy and intelligent men and womt
ter and accumulate by our industry, frugali
nor and honest lives, the means to live, and
wei the rest Will take care of itself.
The orator was well received, and