National Republican., 1884-01-23
THE COLORED SCHOOLS.
Statistics Showing Their Progress Since tho
Beginning in 1852
The Introduction OF a Mechanical Branch
in the Instruction.

Tho colored people since their emancipation
in tho United States nowhere else show so
many evidences of enlightened progress or
ability to absorb the civilization with which
they are brought in contact as at the capital
of the nation. Their progress here is now
noted aud carefully studied over the whole
world by statesmen and philosophers as the
practical solving of most difficult problem
in social science and tho civil and political
relation OF the two races in this country This
happy change in the status olthe colorcd people
here ia due entirely to the enlightened policy
of public education. Previous to 1S62 there
wero no public schools for colOrod children.
The acts off congress of 1862 1864, 1866 and 1873,
providing Tor the education OF the c0lorcd
children In the District of Columbia, and di.
viding the school fund equally between the
two races ought to serve us the model legis-
lation II separate schools are to be provided.
aud II is the best legislation for all concerned
that could be had here. The quiet
but highly important work Of organizing
the colored schools taking the hordes of un-
couth children just rescued from slavery,
subject TO no wholesome restraints and with
no proper home training, having known and
seen nothing beyond tie terribly immoral
teachings of slavery has been a herculean
task, and the work of the trustees and super
intendent will be fully appreciated in the
future when the importance of it is fully
known by the people.
Tho effects of the discipline of these schools
upon the children has been the bulwark that
saved the recently emancipated from uni
versal ignorance, sloth, and crime in this
district. The task Of their partial training
has been a difficult and thankess one, the
colored people Themselves in many cases
not showing appreciation and gratitude
those linn,
for their welfare. Such cases, how
ever, are exceptions. As rule,
public education is highly estimated, and re-
ceivcd with grateful sense of its important
benefits to their children.
These benefits can b st be understood by
referring to q few figures. At the beginning
In 1862 the colored schools started with less
than 100 pupils upon an expenditure of $d0O.
There are now 1852 pupils and 179 teachers,
expending annually over Sl50O00 for their
support
The effects of education in these schools, as
shown in the colored churches, Sunpay
schools, and homes, can only be appreciated
by those who knew and saw what these places
were under slavery
The tendency is to make the schools com
mon and break up all distinction but it is
thought by many that in the present state of
public opinion, IL is bettcr to have an equal
division of the school fund and provide sepa-
rate schools, and employ competent colorcd
teachers who will show by examination the
same qualifications as those employed for tho
whites. Now, one examining board is pro-
vided for all, and white aud colored are
examined at the same time and place,
they receive certificates Of the same value,
and are paid the same salary for like work.
The determinations of Maryland and Nir-
ginia and other states against col
ored teachers arc not practiced here--
bapna a tnapharcIin in e,I,o
here is much sought after, and they have the
cream of female scholarship from the north
ern and western states, where the colOrcd
people have been enabled to educate their
daughters for teachers.
About four-flths of the colored teachers
teach also in the Sabbath school more than
two-thirds are members of Christian
churches, great number are commercially
assisting to support aged parents, and edu-
eating younger brothers and sisters, aud some
have and are now supporting deserving pupils
in INDECENT circumstances. ~ (
The education Of the colored people here
has advanced SO far that all grades taught in
the public schools are represented in their
schools, and it is now u matter of great con-
cern to apply or direct their ed
ucation to practical usefulness.
The industrial and mechanical
features of education are now engaging the
attention OF the trustees and superintendent.
aud the important question is being carefully
studied how far they can recommend an in
PRODUCTION Of the industrial and mechanical
features in the prescribed course. Assuming
n certain amount of education is necessary
for every pursuit and intelligent citi-
zcnship, it will always be prime re-
quirement to teach the letter up to at
least our fourth and fifth grades,
securing to all, however the opportunity of
n thorough grammar and high school educa-
tion who may elect TO take it, The country
has no peasant class, the schools do not edu-
cate specially for mechanical labor and posi-
tions of mcnial service. Every boy and girl,
II he or she has the talent, can climb up to the
highest round of the ladder, but the mind
and heart are educated to esteem labor hon
orable and necessary, that the chief object Of
education is to do something that is necessary
and useful to mankind and that will support
them hOnorably. A school has been started
in one of the vacated school rooms corner of
Nineteenth and III streets northwest, and one
at the Sumner to teach sewing and Othes
light Industrial pursuits.
''BuCUII-pAIRIn - Great Kidney n nd UrinaryCu re