The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-04
THE SCHOOL BOARD.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO DE SEPARATED
As TO RACES.
nut the High schools Arc Not to be
Abolished.

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Abolished.
The School Board met last evening in the
Council Ohamber. Present-Hon. r. j. Semmes,
Hsssinger, BARLEY, Mitchell, Seaman, Craig,
Rogers, swsrbrick, Fayerwesther, Tour ne,
autheim, Collins, Handy, Martinez and Ospde-
vile.
The reports of committees were Fl ret called for.
The Committee on Finance reported, through
it's chairman. that the rolls for July and August
for rent should be paid.
He also reported q resolution to pay fifty per
cent of the roll for August, 1875.
The resolution was carried.
For September, 1876, he reported that there
was now on hand an amount sufficient to pay
shout 80 per oentum, but, inasmuca as funds
would probably be coming in, he thought 1t best
to wait until next meeting.
The Committee on Furniture and Supplies re-
ported o resolution asking leave to purchase GER
tain furniture for the McDonogh No. 7 School,
which resolution was TO be laid over until the
next meeting and to advertise for proposals
Adopted.
Mr.. Craig stated that the furniture in Franklin
School was in deplorsble condition.
The same committee offered resolution au-
thorizing them TO advertise for proposals for fur
nishing three thousand barrels OF coal. Adopted.
Mr.. Mitchell reported on behalf Of the Com
mittee on Normal and High Schools, = recon-
mepdation relative TO the propriety Of admitting
certain pupils who had not filed their full time
for diplomas, after an examination, which was
adopted.
Anumbsr Of petitions were read and referred
to appropriate committees.
The following petition, numerously signed,
WAS thea presented by Mr.. Martinez:
To the Honorsble the Members of the Board of
School Directors OF the city OF New Orleans:
Gentlemen-Y Your memorialists and petitioner .
represent large cass OF your fellow citizens
and constituents, to whose interests, in your
official capacity, you are assumed to have regard.
At called meeting OF your board. held on the
night of the 22d ultmo, at your usual place of
sssemblage-the City Hall--Mr. Arohib AID
Mitchell, chairman OF a special committee, pre-
sented report in which 1t is stated:
"Personal observation and universal testimony
concur to establish the fact that public education
has greatly deteriorated since colored and white
children were admitted unfortunately into the
same schools. 1t IL not the province OF this com.
mittee to investigate the cause which prevents
the different races from receiving all the advan-
tages OF q public education under those circum-
stances is it for us to say whether the obiec-
ton to daily social intercourse in our schools,
which exist between the races, is 9 prejudice or
an instinct. but We recognize the fact, and that
1t hiss to very considerable extent impaired the
efficiency Of our public schools, which II 10 the
primary duty of this board TO promote.
The evils which have arisen from The jll-ad-
vised action of our predecessors In forcing tho
children OF both races into the same schools are
threefold.
|. From many Of the schools the turbulent
spirit OF the white boys has partially and In some
cases entirely excluded colored children. ana of
course from al The benefits Of public education.
O. large number Of the children-of that class
which is most benefited by public educstion-
tsges, in consequence, OF the repugnance on the
part Of their parents to permit their children to
miDgle socially with another race.
3: The greatest drawback upon the efficiency
OF those OF our public schools in which the two
1 aces are mingled arises from the impossibility
OF maintaining discipline without exercising
degree OF severity that would destroy or greatly
impair their utility. Good discipline, manifested
by snbordination, obedience and good order,
your ,mmittee regard as absolutely essential to
the efficacy OF any system of education, but dis
cpine must be maintained without severity, else
order is purchased at too high q price. With
undue severity school becomes hateful prison. |
and study repuleve from association. Proper
discipline can only be maintained by wise and
kind firmness.
The constant antagouism exhibited in quar- |
rsls chickering's aud dissensions bstween pupils |
OF the different races, both inside and outside OF
the schools, that-ostrscism: attended with hu. |
one race pfIicts upon the other |
and which cannot be remedied by the best Of |
teachers, convince your committee that the edn |
cation Of both races wouid be greatly promoted |
by conducting it in separate schools.
We recommend this course with less reluctapce |
as we are assured that at least nine-tenths Of |
both races warmly approve 1t. Your committee,
therefore, unhesi atiDgly recommend separate
schools for the two races, in which each shall re-
ceivs precisely the same opportunities Of obtain
ing an equal education" y
Besides the foregoing reasons which your com.
mittee deem ample to warrant them In recon
mending that white and colored children be edu-
, tied apart from each other, they are confirmed
IN their belief Of the wise policy of this plan by
The examples OF the great ciries Of New York,
Philadelpha and Oincionati--whose school re.
ports are before us-in which it appears that
separate schools for the two races form part Of
their system OF public eduoston.
Your committee in dismissing this subject
would remark, that if feelings exist which i'm
properly ALLEVIATE the two races, reasoning az
veil as all historical evidence have clearly proven
hat laws or coercive force OF any kind, instead Of
'radicating them, will on the contrary, strength.
IN and perpetuate sentiments. which il not be
ounded on reason, would gradually fade away
Ind be forgotten.
In reference to this recommendation of your
and the proposed action OF your board,
fouT petitioHeIs, NJ Coequal CltlIenB, against
whose rights and whose privileges your board
onemplates grave wrong and palpsble injus
ice. submit that the arguments used in the fore.
,oiDg excerpt OF your report are based On an
ntlre obliviousness OF the laws creating the
,ublic PchoOl system in Louisiana and q disre-
,ard Of solemn oath OF office.
The fourteenth amendment Of the constitution
Il the United States declares that "Atl persons
orn or naturalizsd in the United States, and SUBJ
act to the jurisdiction thereof citizens OF the
United States, and OF the State wherein they re-
ide. No State shall make or enforce auy law
,hich shall abrdge the privileges or immunities
citizons OF the United States" etc. Article
wo OF the constitution OF Louisiana decl. .res
hat "AH persons, without regard to race, color
r previous condition, born or naturallzed in the
United States, and subject to the jurisdiction
hereof, and residents Of this State for one year.
re citlzens OF TINS state. They
hall enjoy the same civil, political and public
ghts and privileges, and be subject to the same
aims and penalties" Would the board be will
'g to make the pains and penalties different, or
lake a distinction in the obligations OF colored
tlzens to the government
Would it be willing to reduce the apportion.
nf tho Skatafx -, |