Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-09
SEPARATE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS
qEpaPATE gruOOJe


We are glad to know that the Legislature is
more friendly disposed to the colored people
than the Sussex Journal, and more willing to do
something for their edu cational advancement.
The Journal utterly misconceives the scope and
purpose of the Civil Rights bill as it has passed
the lower House of Congress, and it's prejudices
are so bitter and unrelenting-its antpathy 30
strong against the education of coored people
to the end that they may become better citizens
that rather than allow them an opportunity
for elevation it would " abolish the whole school
system Of the State" The Civil Rights bills
takes no cognizance of the schools, requires
nothing in common in education between the
races, and is as silent on the subject as the very
tomb. The clause in the bill which related to
education was stricken out entirely, 80 that the
matter remains just where it was before the
bill was introduced, or the slaves emancipated
even.
The Legislature has taken step in advance
of all it's predecessors in the matter not only OF
the education of colored children but in provid-
ing better school system for the State. We
sincerely hope it will not relax its effort in either
case, but will produce something real and tangi-
BILE out Of the several methods proposed Bat
III uoaillb hitu suuloCL We MOulu
suggestion or two with more immediate refer
ence to the colored schools. And first we would
advise that in the preparation of the educational
bill the white and colored schools be kept sepa-
rate in their management, or the authority which
directs them. Those to whom will be commit
ted the care of the white schools under the i'm
proved system, assuming that this system will
be somewhat of the form at present proposed
will have abJut as much as they can well attend
to without the additional oversight of the color
ed schools. 1t must be remembered that almost
any system which is adopted having for its OBJ
lect thorough State organization, will be ali
entirely new creation, and will for this
reason be the more difficult OF
management. Ii will not be
as though We had had an efficient system, and
were only amending it, for in this case there
would be only slight change in form. and those
WHO were directing the system could very well
assume the additional burden of new schools.
Further, it is doubtful whether, with the pre-
judices which now exist, a number Of gentlemen
could be selected by the party in power WHO
could give that impartial and direction to
the colored schools which they require. To
most men of that faith the duty would be very
disaSreeable one. and might prevent for this
reason the selection OF those b)st qualified for
the work. Separate management would also
relieve the white school system of all tants Of
mixture, and thereby allay an opposition which
might be raised with serious results against an
improvement which is sadly needed. As in the
Civil Rights bill the section in relation to schools
was erased for the obvious good of the educa-
tonal interests in the South, so would we have
the white ard colored systems in this State di-
Vorced for the present that no obstacle may be
placed in the way of educational advancement
Perhaps the best thing that could be done for
both classes of schools would be to accede to
the wishes of the colored people and tax them
in the manner which they propose paying over
to them for their own use the sum thus raised.
The amount ofpoll tax which they pay to the
State might very properly be all
ded to this fund, iuasmuch as it
would necessarily be small,
AMI with the two united they would have very
respectable sum for the carrying Oh of their
SCHOOLS. AS for the management of this fund
we rather like the suggestion which is made,
VIZ to place it at the disposal Of the Delaware
Association for tie Moral improvement and Ed
ucatlou of the Coiored People, if 1t will accept
the trust and undertake to apply it to the
schools Under the direction of this Association
the colored schools have been brought to their
present attainments With an increased sum of
money! have no doubt the Association would
establish new schools, improve those already in
existence, and altogether labor in way which
would be wholly acceptable to the colored people,
Insure an neconomic.application ofIthe educational
fund and prevent all embarrassment which
might arise from placing the colored schools un-
der the q In H., IL L l.---