The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-11


ton and contempt,for they would not
only, without cause, and for personal
qualification, break up the colored
schools and cause them to grow up in
4 ignorance, but would also throw fire
I brand into the white school, and there
by break it up also. Wherefore, we
feel justified in saying that he, or they,
who would engage in, or encourage
such course, are enemies to their
own race, as well as the colCred race,
and in our opinion vastly below either
Now what should be done to remedy
this wrong, for it should be rene
died if possible. These colored chill
dren should not be punished by the
foolishness Of their parents, nor the
wickedness Of designing partisan POI
iticians. It won't do TO let these
children grow up in ignorance, nor
will it do to attempt to send them in
to the white school, for if there was
law to justify it, as there is not, still
it should not be done, and were | a
colored parent Of such children, the
last thing ] would consent to would
be to let my children go there, to be
the butt and sport Of white children,
as they certainly would be, and that
too Of the children Of the very par
ents who now advise the colored chill
dren to go there.
He that thinks that either colored
or white children have the right I'M
der the Fifteenth Amendment or any
other Amendment or law, to attend
school against the consent of the
school authorities, are mistaken. All
must have school provided for them
it is true, but these schools are placed
under the control Of the School Com
missioners or authorities, who alone
can direct where the scholars shall
go. This they can do as to white
children, where there are more than
one school house or apartment in the
District; and 50 can they do as to
colored children also. Nay, further
even the school commissioners or
trustees have no authority under cur
law to send white and colored chill
dren to the same school. And the
more clearly SO, when, as here, the
enumeration shows that the colored
population are entitled to a separate
school Of their own, and one is &C
cordingly provided for them. Nor will
it do to give way to, or crafty unwise
and suicidal notions Of colored par
ents, any more than Of white parents,
by allowing them to control the school
board in the selection OF teachers, and
to refuse to send their children unless
they cen get rid Of the teacher given
them, and get such teacher as they
may want-for this would break up
all school order, discipline and gov
ernment. Nor will it do to allow
these white malcontents or mischief
makers to do the same thing, for the
same reasons intensified.
Then what should be done in the
promises? The only way out that we
can see, to do complete justice to all,
and yet for the School Board to main
tain its own dignity and authority, is
for the Board to direct the teacher so
employed (unless charge, such as
the law directs or allows, is made
and proved against him, showing
him unfit to longer teach) to resume
his duties as such teacher at GER
tain time, to be specified, and give
notice to the colored parents thereof,
and request them to send on their
children accordingly. And then, if
they still refuse to send or ill their
complement, within q reasonable time
so as to show determination not to
DO so, then to discontinue and close
said school for the year, and throw
the responsibility thereof where it
properly belongs. This is whaG we
would do if we were the Board, and
what we believe the Board should do.
A FRIEND OF THE WHITE
AND THE CoLoRED.
MorgdntOtcR, Dec Sd, 1880
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.