Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-26

In our last issue we merely announced
the fact that the State Board of Education,
composed of Governor Cameron, Attorney
General Blair and State Superintendent of
Schools, R. r. Farr, had appointed Rev.
A. P. Funkhouser Superintendent of
Schools for Rockingham. At the same
time we published card from Professor J.
Hawse, pres ent Superintendent, to the eff
feet that he had received the unqualified
endorsement of 172 out of total of not
more than 1870 teachers Of the county, and
every one of the School Trustees of the
county, for his reappointment.
We understand that Mr.. Funkhouser
was not even the second choice of the teach
ers for the position to which he has been
appointed, and in consequence great dissat-
sfaction has been expressed at the arbitra-
ry action of the Board in thrusting upon
them man whom they deemed unsuited
to hold this responsible place. The teach
ers and the people are outspoken in their
expressions against this injustice, and they
appear to be realizing the dangers to which
our school system is liable under the adj
ministration of Malone 81 Co. We learn
that in addition to other objections urged
against Mr.. Funkhouser, it is charged that
short time ago, when he was conducting
a private school in this county, he Invited d
colored man to the table with his family
and several young ladies who were under
his charge, and that the invitation was ac-
cepted, and that he did sit down and eat
with this colored man.
1t may be we'll to mention here that this
private school has since been purchased by
joint stock company, and is now most sue
cessfully conducted by gentlemen who, we
know, condemn this act of Mr. Funkhouser
as much as we do.
If this report be true, and we have never
yet heard it denied, then indeed does it
look as if the appointment of the negroes
on the school board of Richmond city by
Governor Cameron and his associates is but
the initiative step towards Africanizing the
school system of Virginia. Mr.. Funkhouser
was evidently, it occurs to us, appointed,
not because of his peculiar fitness for the
discharge of the duties of the office-not
because he was the choice Of the teachers of
the county, but because he was a Malone
man, in full accord with his ideas of subor-
dinating tie white people of the State to
the colored man. Malone would not dare
appoint colored man to the position of
Superintendent of Schools of this county,
but he selects white man who has shown
W
he tiayeis not only political, but social
equality Of the races. and forces him upon
the people of Rockingham against their
most earnest protest, as expressed through
the teachers of the county, and we do not
wonder at the feeling this sample of Boss
ism has aroused.
There are hunters of men who have done
their full share of work in the past for the
advancement of REIMBURSEMENT in this coun-
ty, who are capable of filling this position,
who do not, and never will, endorse the
sentiments of Mr.. Funkhouser as indicated
in the act above mentioned, and some of
them were applicants for the place, and
were endorsed by large number of good
citizens of Rockingham, but Mr.. Funk
houser's social equality prediction, and
the additional fact that he is near rela-
tive of Judge John Paul. seem to have out
weighed any of these considerations, and
he was appointed by this State Board of
Education, who, only few weeks ago,
without reason or excuse, put two colored
men upon the school board of the city of
Richmond, whose duty it is to examine all
the schools of that city.
In all honesty and candor we say to the
white people of this county
''Can such things be,
And not excite our special wonder ?''
Is it not time you were looking to your in
terests, and the interests Of your children,
who are to be educated at the public schools
of the county? If Mr.. Funkhouser wants
to place himself upon an equality with the
colored man, he can do so, but Governor
Cameron and his associates have not the
right to place such man at the head of
the schools of our county, and in doing SO
have offered an insult to Ito white people
of Rockingham.
If this charge that is being made against
Mr.. Funkhouser i. e., that he did invite,
and did sit down at his own table and eat
with colored man, is incorrect, we tender
him the use of our columns to make the
correction.-R Rockingham Register.