Daily Republican., 1880-01-26
YRsTRRD2Ns NEWS.
THE COLOKED PEOPLE.
An Exclusive Comm unity The
COuditlOn OF the Schools.


Condition OF the Schools.
Henry C. Conrad, Esq, Actuary OF
the Delaware Association for the educa.
tion of the colored people, made his
second visit down the State this week.
Yesterday he returned. In converse
ton with him the REPUBLICAN learned
that the condition ofthe children men
tally, over previous years, was greatly
improved, and that the aptness with
which the scholars grasped their tasks
was remarkable, Indicating bright
and promising future in the condition
of the colored people Of the State.
In Dover there is very good school
taught by Miss Clara N. Draper, in
which there is some sixty children. 1t
is commodious two story frame build
ing with every convenience. Next to
the Howard school of Wilmington this
is the best school in the State. Fork
Branch school at DuPont's station, 3
miles from Dover, has fifty scholars.
Here exists peculiarity which is un-
known In any other districts. The
people of Fork Branch are an exclusive
community and what is more strange
are all nearly white.
They hold themselves aloof from as
sociation with their darker brethren,
and their manners and peculiar social
ideas make them interesting subjects
of study. In some instances their fea-
lures are as strongly marked and un-
mistakably Celtic as many OF those who
boast pure Irish origin. The children
of the school partake of the same indi-
viduality.
They are orderly and naturally
bright, and give every evidence Of an
innate desire for culture born into
them through contact with their white
and more enlightened neighbors. The
school has only been going but short
time, but in that time the result has
been most satisfactory.
About mile and half below Leipsic
is situated another school. II is held
in Grimes Chapel. There are between
thirty-fve and forty children. The
school is in fair condition. At Harring-
ton there are two schools, the peculiar
feature of which is the attendance of so
many large scholars.
Near FELTON, is the Plymouth school
which labors under considerable in
convenience. There are forty-fye
scholars who are packed in a room
ls y lS feet. When the school is
in session the space is so cramped
that the teacher finds trouble in hear
ing recitations. Notwithstanding the
drawbacks the scholars labor under
they seem desirous to attend and being
dilligent are advanced in their studies. |
The Magnolia school being in thick
ly populated neigh borhood is fairly at
tended, there being thirty-fve OH
daily average. At Williamsville, in
the southern part Of Kent County, is
another school in about the same con-
dition. Three miles from Seaford is
the Concord school. There Mr.. Conrad
said he found very fine lot of child
ren. This particular institution has
been herett fore considered by the As
soclatlOn as the weakest school in the |
State, but under the tuition of Miss
Elle K. Wright, Of Philadelphia, 1t has
been brought up to the standard and |
considering the fact that the scholars
have only had three months of school |
ing in the winter and some seasons
none at all, he looks upon the progr ess
as being remarkable.
In one district exists misunder-
standing; and that is at Frederick
where the people insist in keeping
teacher who is not only deficient in
the rudiments but is totally unfit for
child training. The teacher is an old
man well thought of in the community
and for whom the actuary holds the
greatest respect, but owing to his ina
Oility the officer will not second the
representation and hence the misun-
1erstanding. The association with
holds cid and in the meantime the
expenses are borne by the parents of
he scholars.