National Republican., 1883-07-20
TIE scuon1 TRUSTEES.
Meeting of CoIored People 20 Express
their Indignation at the Recent Ap-

Meeting OF CoIored People 20 Express
their Indignation at the Recent Ap-
pointments.
The recent action of the commissioners in
appointing all three of the colored trustees
of public schools from one section (West End)
is u cause of great dissatisfaction among the
colored people residing east of Seventh street
and having children attending the schools in
that section. The feeling Is running so high
that ex-Trustee johnson, Lewis, Wilkinson,
Collins, and Smith, in common with other lead
ing colored citizens residing and having chill
dren in the eighth school division are consider
ing the proprcty of calling meeting for the
purpose of allaying the feeling, and bringing
about q better condition of affairs so as not
to affect the attendance or discipline OF the
schools The feeling, which is very bitter,
took shape last night in part at y meeting
held at Jackson hall, which was filled at an
early hour On short notice by a class of citi-
zens not generally seen Mt public meetings.
The meeting was organized by calling MIR.
Peter c. Bell to the chair, and electing MIR.
Charles L. Williams secretary. Prayer was
offered by Rev. William A. Abbott, after
which the chair stated the meeting was
called for the purpose of entering protest
against the insult offered by q majority OF the
district commissioners in placing man over
the educational interest of the cOlored chill
drcn who was colored man when he wanted
an office and an apology for white man
whom seeking white society. Mr.. John +.
Smith addressed the audience at length and
concluded by saying that as DIR. Purvis sent
his mixed children to u mixed school, he
should lie assigned as trustee to the school i'll
the Franklin building where his children
attend, and not be placed over colored schools
where he is not wanted. On motion of MIR.
a loo. NE
Messrs. A. b. Chew, r. f. McKim, and g. Lewis
was appointed to draw up resolutions ox-
pressive of the sentiment of the meeting
During the absence of the committee speeches
were made by u number of gentlemen, the
general tenor being the assignment of persons
living miles away from the school section and
of questionable standing as colored men. One
speaker, Mr.. Gassaway, stated that if the col
orcd people, after having built up thoir school
system, were to have white man placed
over them, he preferred simon pure white
man to "a dolly Warden" mixture like Dr.
Purvis
The committee reported the following reso-
| lutiOns, which were debated at length and
unanimously adopted:
Whereas the duty of supervising and teaching
the colored schools of the District of Columbia un.
der the direction of colored trustees was imposed
upon the colored people some years ago;
! And whereas the cOlored people assumed this
| duty, and have heretofore performed II in good
| faith, md have brought these schools TO high
| degree of excellence and efficiency, extorting
commendation from educators both home and
| abroad;
! And whereas the performance of this duty has
! tended TO demonstrate the fitness of cOlored men
| for the conduct of educational affairs, aud has
| been q practical school in which they have been
learning the duties and responsibilities of a free
| people;
And whereas the striking down of the separate
existence of these schools ut the present time, un-
der the pretcnse Uf placing over them "batter
men," is likely to resultas it has resulted, we are
! Informed, IN New York clty-in displacing the
| colo, Ell teachers;
| And whereas these schools have attained their
present high standing under u system Of local
representation on the school board, each division
being allowed one or more trustees from its own
people.
Aud whereas this custom of appointing the
trustees from the residents of the divisions where
they are to serve has never been departed from
for the colored schools until helate appointments
were made: therefore
Resolved, That we as residents, parents, and tax
payers in the eighth school division least half Of
rVhv city and South Washington respectfully bnl
earnestly protest against the action of the com
! missiouers denying to us resident trustee, aii6
sist upon striking down local representation io
the colored schools on the school board.
R .sOtUCd That any attemp! to break up thu
separate rgnnZation OF the colored schools at thu
present time aud to merge them i'll tile whit
schools, the inevitable result of which will be I,
muster out aud discharge the coored teachers-i
hostile to the best Interests of The colored people
| and likely again TO stir M race prejudice, nov
happily dying out, and soon, we hope, 10 b.
! buried and forgotten.
! ResolUed, That Messrs, ]. d. Clark, Simol
Winters, and J. Nathan Davis be and they arr
| hereby appointed committee TO confer with simi
lar committees i'll other sections of the eighth di
vision to devise plans for laying their grievance