Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-08-03
The New Plan for Separate School
Systems.

OPINIONS OF PROMINENT COLoRED
The new departure taken by the Demo-
cratic State Convention at Lynchburg,
found in the pledge of that party to give
the colored people their pro rata share of
the school money, with the entire control
of the schools OF their own race with col
ored teachers, school trustees and so forth
involved such important educational In
forests and SO powell withal, that the VIM
DICTATOR on Tuesday obtained the views
of the colored clergy of stanton on the
probable effect OF the plan.
Rev. R.. Fl. Porter, pastor of Mt. Zion
Baptist Church, and whose position for
two years past as President of the State
Association of the Colored Baptist Church
in Virginia, has given him large opportu-
mites to judge OF tbs effect, said the plan
was an admirable one. 1t would, he said,
largely increase the individual interest OF
the co.ored race in the schools when put
under their own control. And further
he thought it would largely aid in giving
the race proper appreciation OF the
responsibilities of citizenship when so i'm
portant matter as the education OF their
own children was entrusted to their own
exclusive control. He thought from his
knowledge of the views of his race in Vir-
ginia that the proposition would be heart
lily acceptable to them in every part OF
the State 1t would also act az stimulus
to the young Of his race to study and ht
themselves for teachers under a plan tina.
would open to them a new field and one
hitherto closed. Mr.. Porter said, as a
minister he had no politics, but such pro-
position as this, fraught with so much
good to the future of his race, he heartily
endorsed coming from any political party.
Rev. j. H. Rlddick. pastor of the Au-
gusta Street M. e. Colored Church, for
merly teacher himself. said such plan
of education in Virginia would be Of in
calculable benefit to the colored race. He
fully appreciated the weight of RESPONSE
bility which the acceptance by the colored
race in Virginia of the exclusive control
of the education of their children involved
but he was fully convinced that they would
be equal to it. Like Mr.. Porter, he thought
the throwing open of the positions of
teachers would be great stimulus to the
young to qualify themselves. There need
be no apprehension of the plan not being
carried out successfully, for if the colored
ho po0oaQitU nf obtain.
ing aid from experienced white educators,
there would be no difficulty in their get
ting all that they needed. He warmly en-
dorsed the proposed plan and had no doubt
the colored people throughout the State
would endorse it as cordially as himself.
Rev. W. Simpson, of EbeneZer Baptist
church, said it was what the colored peo-
pie had long felt the need of. 1t had been
very discouraging to their young men and
women, to fit themselves some at colleges
in the north-for participating in the work
of educating their race and on coming
home find themselves debarred from that
participation. He thought the plan would
prove a great thing for the colored people
of Virginia and he bad no doubt that they
would almost unanimously endorse it.
Rev. J. Strange of the African N. E.
Church, said that he believed the plan
named was earnestly desired by the color
ed people of the whole State. Colored peo-
Pile, he thought, would take far more and a
much deeper interest in their schools if they
were conducted by competent teachers and
trustees of their own race. He gave the
plan his hearty endorsement.
Mr.. r. q. O. Benjamin a colored attor-
ney-at-law and graduate Of Lincoln Col
lege. Penna, was warm in his approval of
the plan. He thought it would be of the
greatest benefit to his race and would be
the most acceptable thing to the colored
people of the State at large. 1t Was plan.
he said, that be hoped would be adopted
throughout the entire south.