Daily Republican., 1880-03-17

EDUCATING COLORED Folks.
Almost Midnight session-Do ths
Howard school COMMITTEES Lie
COIored ministers Accused Oi
NOn-perf0rlnancc Of Duty--A DIS
graceful Adjournment.
Last January, on the first day of tie
month, the colored citizens of Whining.
ton held meeting for the purpose Of
commemorating for the purpose Of
emancipation. AT this meeting consider
able dissatisfaction as to the condition
of Howard School, No. 10 was manifest
ed, and in order to dispel this dissstis-
faction q committee consisting of nine
persons, was appointed to inquire about
the matter. This committee, however,
appointed sub. committee, numbering
three persons, to take the matter into
consideration.
Last evening was the time announ-
csd for the subcommittee to report.
Quite large assemblage was present.
Rev. Mr.. Ruley was appointed chair.
man and L. p. Henry acted as Score
tary. The meeting was held in the
main audience room OF the A. u. M. L.
Church, French street. above Eighth,
and was opened with devotional exsr-
cises by Rev. Mr.. Chippey. The noises
occasoned by shouts, clapp!ng OF
hands and the stamping of feet in the
basement Of the church were a iitful
contrast to the noise which occurred at
the adjournment Of the educational
meeting.
Mr.. Gustus said that as the eolored
people had no representation in the
Board of Education, they should do
something which would give them a
hold on the board. Years ago nerely
by paying the county tax he was per
mitted to vote at the school election,
but, said he, "the Legislature disfrsn-
chised the colored citizens; it would
not let them pay any schooltax after
wards, and therefore they were not
entitled to a vote at the school election
but now a school tax was paid and
the taxpayers should vote at the next
election"
Mr.. l.. P. Henry, the Secretary, read
the following report
WILMINGTON, Dell, July 2S. 70.
To THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS ON
THE BOARD or EDUCATION Your COM
mittee to whom Was referred the petit
tion Of Rev. Alfred Lee and others,
asking for the granting of additional
educational advantages to the colored
pupils in No. IL school, would respect
fully report that after careful inquiry
they find:
LIST, That the great obstacle in the
way Of the promotion and progress Of
the scholars of this school Is the irreg.
ularity in the attendance. Fer the
last year there was an enrolment Of
J93, an average number belonging Of
295, a most discouraging showing. The
tsachere Justly complain that very often
about the time ascholsr gets we'll under
way in the different classes, he or she
leaves the school, sometimes not to re.
turn at all, and frequently not until
after the expiration Of several months,
In some instances, it is probable that
the older scholars have to leave to &C
to work, bst your committee feel sure
that in very many instances the par.
ents Of the children do not understand
that the regular attendance Of each
scholar is OF the first and greatest i'm,
portance to its successful progress. I'm
til this is understood by the parents,
and the regular attendance of each
scholar enforced by them, we can see
no way ofimproving the school over its
record of the last four years.
End, We find the school under the
management of Miss Sallie A. Miller
principal, and her assistants, well-di'
rectsd and much careful personal at
tention given to the advancement o.
the scholars. Beginning in the lowest
rooms with the most primary scholar,
the scholars are taught spelling, read
ing, writing and arithmetic, until steI
by step they are brought to Miss
Kruse's room where geography is in
troduced together with more advanced
grades of the former studies. In Miss
Miller's room grammar is taken up, and
the other studies are about the same as
in the grammar schools of the city gen
orally. The scholars in this room art
divided into a great many classes, be-
ing broken up by 80 many scholars
leaving, but in this way the brigh'
scholars are not retarded by the dul
ones.
Your committee see no need for tbs
present of enlarging the building. Al
no time during the last year have all O.
the seats (330) beeu occupied, and fur
ther, there are not enough funds in
possession Of the Board to warrant such
an expenditure this year. Experience
mas shown that very few Of the schol-
ars have ever thoroughly mastered the
present course Of study, and there are
very few cases when scholars could
have been found for an advanced course
but your committee are convinced that
with regular and systematic attend
ance and advanced and higher grade o.
study will be needed in the near fu.
ture. When such an emergency arises
the addition of class room, with the
services Of a substitute to teach for O
part Of the school year, we think will
meet every requirement, and we shall
to glad to see such progress made as
to necessitate this Improvement during
the coming winter months.
The inquiry Of your committee has
emphatically shown that No. 16 is do
ing most excellent work. In many
cases scholars by careful and diligent
study show really wonderful progress,
and habits Of system and regularity are
indicated generally which cannot but
be Of great advantage to these pupils in
after life. Whenever there are short