National Republican., 1883-11-22
THE STEVENS SCHOOL.
The COlOred People Thoroughly Aroused to the
Danger
Action OF the Mass Meeting Last Night In
Relation to It.

A large and intelligent mass meeting, COM
posed chiefly of the leading colorod citizens
of tho seventh school division, was held nc
the Nineteenth Street Baptist church last
night TO discuss the condition of the Stevens
school building. There were many ladies
present, and most of the persons partioipat-
ing had children in that school.
Tho meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev. Walter Brooks, pastor of the church,
after which Rev. Mr. Brooks was elected
chairman and Mr.. Ellis Martin secretary.
Mr.. Thomas Martin briefly stated the object
of the meeting, which was to have tho build
ing made temporarily secure, and then to OBJ
tain the building of u new school house. An
invitation being extended to Trustee John H.
Brooks to fully describe the condition of the,
building that gentleman requested tho sqcro-
tary to read the REPORT of the local committed
made to the school board on the thirteenth.
instant. Mr.. Brooks then briefly, but forci-
bly,, addressed the meeting IL was in tho
interests of the 900 children who were pupils
at tho Stevens school that he mado the re-
port. He remarked:
Idonot hesitate to sny that while perhaps we may
have great majority opposed to mixed schools.
that that majority of our citizens do not desire
that any odOus discrimination shall be made, ana
the colOred children denied what is Justly duo
them. ~
Now my fellow citizens we can accomplish
nOlnlns Dy tnrcutS nOr Dy uni niulrly nor untruth-
fully representing our needs; therefore advise
That reasonable, just, and firm demand should be
made, based upon the facts In the cnse. You owe
1t TO your selrespect, to your natural interest in
your offspring, to the health and welfare of the
whole community, and anove al, to the lives of
the children who are in this building
The public schools of this district are, perhaps,
the most important public institutions; all citi-
Zens are interested in their welfare, but the COL
orcd citizens are especially Interested; their future
prosperity and usefulness depends largely, If not
wholly, upon the public schools.
Mr.. Wallace Grant then offered n series of
resolutions, reciting the condition of tho
Stevens school, and protesting us parents and
citizens against the present condition of the
building, aud resolving that
We respectfully call the attention of the honor
able commissioners to the condition of this build
Ing as officially set forth, and declare that IL is In
furious
l. In congregating large number of children
In an unventilated building, in which they are
daily poisoned by foul air.
o In the weak and unsafe condition, which en-
dangers the lives of our children by the great
probability of accident, and consequent panic.
g. In the injury done the health and morals of
anxiety that injury viii come upon them, by the
breaking of some part OF the building, ana iii not
providing decent accommodation, or the neces-
sary and proper school facilities, such as are
given iu otner school buildings for the comfort
and convenience of the pupils attending the pub
lie schools
L. Reso,ved, That the report of the local COM
miltee of the seventh school division as to the
condition OF the Stevens building is correct and
that 1t was his duty to submit said report to the
board and commissioners.
8. ResoitCd. That We most urgently and earnestly
request that the Stevens building be repaired and
rendered safe to Life of teachers and pupils ut
once, for tho present school year, and that the
present building then be torn down and the ma
tcrials used in the construction of a twelve room
building.
ResO,Ged, That u committee Of five be, and Is
hereby authorized to be appointed by the chair
to present these prenmbes and resolutions to the
honorable commissioners of the District of Co.
lumbia.
The resolutions were discussed by the meet
ing in u dignfed and temperate butt firm
manner Rev. Sandy Alexander, Joseph II.
Jackson, Charles Syphax, DIR. Francis, Thomas
Wright, G. w. Stewart, and Mr.. Williams
were the principal speakers. They cordially
responded to the suggestion of Trustee Brooks
that tho colored people should hold on to
their school sites. Nearly all had children
in the Stevens school, and spoke feelingly of
the fact that since attending this school they
had become broken in health. GI6E9p
The resolutions wero unanimously adopted,
and the chairman appointed as the ,sommis-
tee Messrs. Joseph II. Jackson, 1Thohias
Wright, William g. Dupoe, and Rev. Sandy
Alexander. To these the meeting, by unani-
nous vote, added tho name of Rev. Walter
Brooks as chairman. Adjournment was then
had.