National Republican., 1882-10-24
The White and Colored Schools.


School Trustees in a most commendable
spirit and between the two there is no
lrreconcilablo difference-indeed there
is no difference as to the object to be at
tained. The two reports differ as to what
Is the present law on the subject, the ma
jority contending that "in view of the
abolition by Congress of every essential
element of the system of separate reve-
nues for colored SCHOOLS, as established
by the acts of 1864 and 1866, and the es-
tablishment by law of system of APP
preparations totally inconsistent there
with, it is submitted that said
acts have been repealed, and that
the system of separate revenues has
no existence in law" The minority of
the committee take issue with this, and
contend that the legislation in question
is simply change of system and not of
law, and it is held that the apportion-
ment of the fund between the colored
entire as it stood under the acts of June,
1864, and July, 1866" We do not desire
to discuss the present law, but rather to
speak of what would seem to be fair and
equal distribution of the school fund.
The black child must have dollar for dol
lar with the white child, of the same
grade, and each grSde must be open 10
black and uhite child upon the same
conditions. The advocates of an
equal amount for each child attend
ing school would seem to ignore the
difference in the cost of instruction of
different grades. Each grade should
have the same amount expended upon it,
per capita, in the colored rs in the white
schools. But this would not be givingan
equal amount to each one fall the school
going children in the District For ex-
ample, if instruction in the eighth grade
| cost, as is stated, $50 year for each
pupil, and if instruction in the first grade
cost but $3.50 for each pupil, then it
would not be reasonable for the parents
of white children in the first grade to
demand for each child there as much as
| is expended for colored child in the
| eighth grade. In other words, three COL
ored children in the eighth grade now
| ilttNt NOo ~ ADSIuCb Ou llltlT III
struction. Eight white children in the
first grade have only the same amount
of $50 expended on them. This is right.
| If, then, it so happens that on an average
there are more colored than white chill
dren in the lower grades, and more white
children than colored in the higher
grades, then it would be unjust for the
school fund to be distributed per capita.
Dollar for dollar far each child of the same
grade, and each grade open to each child
upon equal conditions. This would seem
to be exact justice. A father provides
equally we'll for all his children when he
provides for the differing wants of each
The elder ones will cost more than the
younger and so the instruction of the
most advanced pupils in the public
| schools, whether black or white, will cost
more than that of the beginners.
If there is any ambiguity in the pres
ent law the next Congress should remove
it,. Our colored people here are not con-
ccrned over the non-essential of whether
their children shall sit in the same rooms
with white children, SO long as separate
schools do not imply any degradation of,
or discrimination against, their race, but
they are properly jealous of any advan-
school buildings, the system of instruc-
ton, the capacity and fidelity of teachers,
or any other matter or thing whatsoever.
They will not, we feel certain, ask any
advantage themselves. If the present
law, as they understand it, is unfair to
the whites, in giving their children
less than dollar for dollar for each
child of the same grade" then they will
cheerfully consent to an equalization.
They are strong enough to demand what
is right, self-respecting enough to submit
to nothing that is wrong, and generous
and just enough not to claim any advan-
| tage. We agree most cordially with the
views so well expressed by Mr.. Henry
Johnson, in the concluding portion of
his minority report to the school trustees,
us follows:
| The report concludes by urging that the provi-
sions of the law relating to the apportionment as
| 1t exists be enforced that If good reasons exist
for incr casing the ratio to be expended upon one
| class and decreasing that 10 be expended upon
the other, such reasons should be plainly stated
and legislation secured that the ratio for each
shall be definitely determined, and that the
American people owe to the colored people debt
they can pay in no other way than in seeing that
their educational facilities are such will enable
them TO cultivate their faculties to the highest
degree and all authorities having the admins
tration Of their schools In charge should be in
defagable in their efforts to amplify their means
of Improvement to the highest possible attainment