The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-30
Negroes and tho Public schools I'm
Washington.
fXashinrinn Pnetl


There was special meeting OF the School
Board last evening at the Franklin School
building 10 consider the matter OF the re-
moval Of the child OF Professor Gregory, a
colored teacher in Howard University,
from the Prescott building, school In
Washington county, designated by law Tor
white children.
Mr.. Warner stated that he had ordered
the removal Of the child-not upon the
ground Of color, but upon that OF policy.
Ue~found the child 10 be a disturbing elc-
ment in the school. Thirty-one pupils bad
been already removed by their parents,
more threatened TO follow, and the dissolu-
ton or serious gripping OF the institution
seemed unavoidable unless this course were
taken. He would have done the same
thing had the child in question been Irish,
or German, or Italian.
DIR. Cragin offered a short motion, the
substance OF which was 10 the effect that
the Board sustain Trustee Warmers action
in ordering the removal Of the child upon
the ground Of "policy." Mr.. Brooks (col-
ored) made spicy speech. referring to the
numerous previous questions OF IKE
character which have arisen from time to
time in years gone by, and warmly charged
the Board with manifesting cowardly
spirit in thus attempting to cloak behind
rusc OF "policy" assmove which every
member knew himself was on account OF
color. lie asked that the Board come out
manfully and show its hand, and not sneak
behind "policy" game.
The discussion after this grew rather
warm. Each member OF the Board vented
his opinions. Mr.. Brooks made second
speech, in which. he said he would like to
see settled just then and for good the dill
cult question Of .'who's white and who's
black" lie also took occasion TO use
words 10 the effect that very many
of the best and wealthiest fam-
lies Of Washington and Georgetown
have colored blood running in their
veins under the working Of the "Ameri-
can bleaching process" and that il would
lie highly interesting 10 fix the line OF de-
narration. General Birney vacated the
chair i'm favor Of DR.. Cragin, and offered
the following as substitute to DR.. Cra-
gins motion, with the consent OF the lat
ter:
Whereas section 2S2 OF the Revised Stat
utes of the District of Columbia provides
i'm effect that colored parents residing in
the District outside the cities Of Washing
ton and Georgetown shall have the privi-
Ieee OF placing their children in the schools
provided for cOlored children, and SAID
section remains unrepealed, and the ques-
ton Of its constitutionality il not one for
the Board, but for the courts; and whereas
the facts i'm the case have been ascertained
by the local committee, and are established
10y the letter Of Mr.. Gregory to the Board,
ResOlred, That the action Of member
OF the local committee in refusing admit
lance to Eugene VI. Gregory into the Pres
colt school-a school provided for white
childrcn-is hereby approved, and that
Professor Gregory has the right under the
statutes 10 place his child in any OF the
schools in the District outside OF the city
OF Washington and Georgetown provided
for cOlored children.
IL was adopted.