The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-01
NegrophobIa In Teachers Iustltute In
This County.

Negrophobia In n Teachers Institute In
This County.
Letter In ths wsll.harg Herald.
The teachers Of Ohio county met In the
institute at West Liberty, on Saturday,
January 25th. TheC County Superintendent
being absent Mr.. Brooks Hedge was called
to the chair MIR. Frazier Gardiner was
appointed Secretary. The morning ses.
sion was devoted to the appointment Of
committees and discussions. The after.
noon session convened at one o'clock, and
shortly after colored teacher, from the
colored school Of West Liberty, entered
the assemblage and took his seat quietly
by himself. His very presence seemed to
contaminate the air, in the estimation Of
some Of the teachers, and resolution was
brought before the institute to the effect
that he should not remain. A warm de-
bate followed participated in by Messrs.
Weidman, Hunt Dunlap, Curtis, and Nc
Cannon Of Ohio county and Mcfarland
ot Brooke county.
During the debate one of the prrtiCi.
pants asked the colored gentleman II he
came in their midst as q member OF the
institute or spectator. His reply was
that he came merely Us q spectator. The
vote was then taken which stood, three in
favor OF tue resolution and four against it;
but the Chairman decided it q tie vote.
When asked how that could be, his reply
wis that he had voted in favor OF the re-
solution. Then followed wrangle about
parliamentary rules, and more discussions
upon the resolution. A second vote
was taken which was unanimous in op.
position to the resolution; but a move
ment was made on the part OF some OF the
teachers to leave the institute, whereupon
the colored teacher took his hat and res
pectfully departed.
The school law provides for the colored
schools, allowing them school building
in any sub.district which can enumerate
twenty-five or more colored children with
in the school age. It also allows color
cd person ofgood, moral character and re-
quisite scholarship to become teacher in
the schools Of the State. It furthermore
requires each teacher to attend teachers
institute two days for each month taught,
but not to exceed eight days in each
school year, which, il he fails to do, the
Secretary OF the Board ot Education in his
township is instructed to make pro rata
reduction for the amount OF his non.at.
tendance from his salary.
j, Had this Colored teacher appeared as
participant in the institute, the resolution
would have been carried, for many OF
those who voted against rejecting him us
spectator. would have voted in favor OF
ejecting him as a member OF the institute. |
So that unless the County Superintendent
secs fit to hold an eight days session for
his especial benefit, the Secretary OF the
Board OF Education must deduct from his |
salary the amount OF eight days teaching.
The Teachers Institute Is not secret or
ganization, and il the fifteenth amendment
to the Constitution OF the United States
makes thecolorcd man bona tide citizen
of the United States, and the laws OF West
Virginia allow him TO become teacher OF
the public schools in this State, he cannot
be excluded as member Of the Teachers
Institute, simply because OF his color.
While the law OF West Virginia provides
for separate schools for the colored child
ren, it provides for but one institute for
the teachers without respect to color.