The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-04
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combination OF strength. . concentration OF
fo1oes ss that will resist al Efforts to oggose o
attending ate public schools st m expense Of over
s3OOs00O. To-day with 10 coo children, by the 90
cession OF colored children, We find desire 20
Guy down that sum TO s250,000 We retreneh,
Without further DEPRESSING on the time Of the
board, permit me to cay, iu conclusion, thst can
not SIT here and oouDtenanoe, either In word or
| action, violation OF our oaths.
Mr.. Mitchell. as chairman Of the special conr-
mittee, then offered the following:
Whereas, this board, Ia the perform suoe OF it's
paramount duty, which is TO give the BEST edu-
cation possible with the means at it's disposal, 10
the whole population without regard to rsoe,
color or previous condition, is assured that this
end can be best attained by educating the Diff
ferent races In separate schools; therefore be it
aided and assisted by the Superintendent, be sa-
thorized and instructed to take suoh steps dur
ing vacation as may be necessary to carry this
object into effect. t
Mr.. Mitchell then said chat IL had been re-
marked thst this movement was unconstitutional,
but he had taken the advice Of prominent lswyers
and their opinion was that the public schools
were not established under the State laws, and
that they were municipal corporation. He did
snd could no. see that there was any intention 10
make any difference between the races In this
resolution. For instsnce as an illustration, sup
pose differences occurred between the Csthoiic
|
it became necessary for separation 10 be made.
could il be said that there was any infringement
OF rights2
He believed II q separation was not had IA
would surely effect denial OF eduoation eventrt-
ally. This result would come surely IL the two
races were kept together, for In a past Hepub-
lican regime, when all the Metropolitan police.
fully armed, could not entirely protect colored
scholars, what would IL be now7
He would obey the constitution as far 40 he
knew 1t, and bis own construction was the only
responsibility he was hsld TO,
=, He knew that there was az alienation between
the races, and that fact could not obliterated.
Mr.. Coleman asked that the resolution be re-
ferred TO the committee on teachers.
MIR. BARLEY asked whether or not IL ought.to
go TO the committee on rules snd discipline.
Mr.. Coleman replied he felt thst ii should 20
to the committee on teachers, AZ that was the
proper reference.
Mr.. Craig spoke in favor OF reference, bus
wanted it made more broad He was In favor of
q high ''caresring" grade Of schools, and be sels
both races could get along together IL the polit-
clans would die ont, himself included. He ex-
pected to look down from heaven with Oscar
Dunn, that saint, and see white boys and black
to Africa. He wanted sxpansiveness.
Mir. Gutheim offered an amendment that the
part OF the resolution relative TO the separation
of the schools be included In the resolution.
Col. Collins asked fyr intormstion. He wanted
TO know what would be the effect Of the resoiu-
tion, and whether the question would not come
up again.
The chairman, Mr.. Ssmmes, said the effsot OF
the resolution was to send the whole matter to
the consideration OF the committee.
Mr.. Collins said then that he would oppose the
resolution, and he thought that the resolution
msnt. II had been tried by the old board, and IL
was not matter OF suimise. In his own district
he had visited schools where the children we're
not mixed, and the scholars we're rernaikablY,
advanced.
Mr.. Martinez favored the passage Of the res6-
luton.
Mr. Mitchell opposed The reference 10 COM
mittee. He felt that the board ought to face the
question now, for IL would come up again. He
the advarcement Of colorsd pupils, especially In
the Clio school. He had cathsohised over hun-
dred teachers, and they agreed that the purposes
OF education would be better carried out by dvid-
could say there was any difference made in favor
OF either race.
The resolution and report of the special com
mittee OF the last meeting was not referred.
The question On the resolution itself then
came up.
Mr.. Martinez moved 10 strike out that portion
OF the resolution stating that IL would best serve
the interests OF the people by educahng the coll
ored children in separate schools.
The amendment wss losM
On the original resolution Mr.. Martinez called
the yeas and nays, that his vote might be re-
corded,
Collins, Ferguson, Gutheim, Handy, Hassinger,
N Mitchell, seaman, Swsrbrick, OBrfen, Lanaux-
Ia.
Nays Martinez, Faysrweather, Tourne--3
Mr. Mitchell then offered the following:
Whereas, in consequence OF financial embar-
and for other reasons, this board
deems It expedient TO abolish the high schools;
therefore. be it
ResoiUed, That the committee on school
houses. in conjunction with the Superintendent,
be authorized and instructed to carry into effect
The intentions OF the board in the premises.
MIR. Gutneim offered the substitute that the
exists, be maintained FOR the current school year
In support OF his substitute he said that he
regretted that he differed with the committee.
He was sorry to see that an effort was made to
tho suppositlon that there were not funds enough
% support them; that the board was bound 10
AXE only what the city government, in its
charity, might give.
pair and there would be left funds enough TO sup
port the high schools az now.
He admitted that in part 1t was true that the
children attending the high schools were Of
parents who could afford to send them TO other
Institutes, but on Inquiry he found that many
,oor children received their EDUCATION in them.
Other cities proud OF their high schoois,
IND why should we cut them off, The question
8 simply one OF expense, nothing else, and he
maintained the board had the means. From tho
lily came 5,000 and from the State $4,000,
md Che scholastic expense would not amount to
hat. There was necessity for cutting down
he high schools, and it would be dificnlt to care
or the teachers in them.
Mr.. Mitchell responded as to the question Of
Expense.
Rev. Mr.. Gutheirn said that the law gave the
275, 90, and he would like to hear the opinion OF
he President, MIR. Semmes, on the subject.
Mr. Semmes said that under the law the city
vas bound to raise the 1916, 900 and a writ or
aandamus would compel IL.
DIR. Seaman staked that tho annrnnr;e tim ~
275 600. il needed, was due the public scnooIs
He stated that the city Administrators had rot
ct been applied 10, and as they had balance Of
l5o,Oo0 OF recent surplus would undoubt-
dly aid the School Board.
Mr.. Fsyerweather said that it should be the
r1de OF every man to point to the high schools
the city. Applicants TO the position Of tsscn-
re- II graduates OF our high schools, always re-
e1ved more attention than IL from any other
ource.
MIR. Fergnson wanted 10 know whether it was