The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-03-10

iuo Soinpiulut ny TIC COIOTtu ptOple
that their schools are not graded as the
white schools are, is not well founded. A
comparison between these schools shows that
the grades are the same so far as the intel
lectual compacity Of the colored children
will permit it 10 be. First and second
reader classes are taught in the rooms Of
Misses Armstrong, Hotchkiss in the white
schools, and by Miss Reed in the colored
schools. Third reader, spelling, Roman
notation, oral geography, etc, in the rooms
of Misses Whitacre, Burton, Sheppard in the
white schools, and by Miss Duggett in the
| colored schools. The Fourth grade 10
taught by Misses Whitacre and Burton at
the High school; by Mr.. Baily at the col
ored school and by Miss Molie Riley at the
Thirteenth street school. This grade alone
is taught by one teacher in the colored
schools, while in the white schools the
same teacher has charge of this and several
others besides. In this instance, therefore,
the colored school has the advantage over
the white. In the white schools the Fifth
anC Sixth grades are taught; in the colored,
the Fifth anti Seventh. The Sixth is not
taught in the colored schools because there
are no scholars qualified Tor this grade
they are either not far enough advanced for
this grade, or they are qualified for the Sew
enth grade into which they are admitted.
The reason of this break is. that for several
months last year the colored children did
not attend school at all, although their
school was open, teachers all at their posts
and fires built every morning, and when
they finally resumed their studies it was
found that they had retrogarded. To this
Interruption in attendance and to irregular
attendance generally, is chargable, in a
great measure, the fact that the colored
children did not advance more rapidly in
their studies. And in view of the fact that
there are no scholars in the colorcd schools
qualified tor the Sixth grade, and less than
dozen who come once in while to pursue
the studies of the Seventh grade, the de-
mand for a High school department in the
colored schools, made in the recent petition
to the board, seems very ridiculous. But
to compare the advancement made by col
ored children with that of the white chill
dren, and then TO blame the difference
which is, Of course, against the former,
upon the school board and the teachers
and conditions of the colored school, is still
more ridiculous and unjust To expect
that colored children as whole, with their
generally rude surroundings and mode OF
life and influences at home, with no assist
ance and but little if any urging from their
parents, should advance as rapidly in their
studies at school as do white
children, who are as much or
more Sin school" at home than
they are when in their seats at the school
house, is extremely unreasonable. That
colored parents are not able to give their
children and the teachers the assistance
that white parents give their children and
their teachers, is not the fault of the school
board or the teachers, and therefore the
comparatively slow progress of the colored
school children, which is the natural result
of such inability, is chargable to their
parents alone.