Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-10-27
n. ", Penn. 4 OHIO X. X.
MINED SCHOOLS AGAIN.
TJE JsNID OUES fIOS BEFOR RE
JHE ScrpOT BOIRD ONCf MORE.
a H"suiutipn to Exclude Colored Childrer
From All 'he schools but the rI-Hsanr
St,""t building Promptly voted Down
4 J nj or Di.rharg.d.
UleYe. Coz. ON 4 Ind. II. K.



Al nj or Di.charg-d.
From Morning Editioul
The regular meeting OF the board Of edu-
cation last evening was a lively and spirited
one. The vexed mixed school question came
in for share OF attention, and question in
which party lines were closely drawn also
elaine d considerable time. President Burns
was in the chair, and all the other members
but Messr3. Bell, Coles and Shewal,rr were
present.
Mr.. Martindell sprung the mixed school
question by moving that "all the colored
Chiidr' n attending the eastern, western, north
ern and southern buildings, and the Clifton
street, Dibert street and Shafler street build
ngs, be sent to the Pleasant street building,
and that the superintendent be instructed to
have it done within five days from the adop-
ton OF the resolution Mr. Marindell did
not speak in support OF his proposal. Mr..
Warren opposed the scheme, saying:
"The situation after the schools were well
under way this year was rs follows: The
Pleasant street house was crowded in some
OF the rooms beyond its seating capacity
In some OF the rooms in other buildings there
were vacant seats 1t WAS an impossibihty
for the board. with its present resources, to
provide any additional school facilities for
any class of pupils, black or -hite. II would
have been the grossest injustice to compel
children from the Oakland, Shafer, Dbert,
NorDheru, or any other district, to 90 by the
buildings nearest to the u, in which there
were vacant seats in rooms OF the grades to
which they belonged, to the Pleasant street
house, where there was no room for hem
when they got there. Such a course would
not be providing equal school facilities
for all. We could not pursue such a course
without proving recreant to our trust and vi
oatlng our Oaths OF office.
A word with regard to the financial situa-
ton. Bonds 10 the amount Of $40, 900 have
mstured the present month. An extension
OF sixty days has been obtained in order that
we may be able to pay them from the Decetn-
ber taxes. II this extension had not been
obtained, we should have had to pay them
when due, and then we should not have had
money in the treasury with which to pay the
teachers when the next instalment OF their
salaries becomes due Nor is this because we
pay high salaries. | have compared the sala-
ries we pay with those paid 10 Columbus and
Dayton, and we pay lower salaries than do
the cities mentioned. When we compare sal.
aries OF teachers in our public schools with
those paid iu the private schools of our own
and other cities, the comparison is still more
in our favor.
In view Of this situation what has the
board doneP While retaining the Pleasant
street district as il always has been, the beard
has voted to slloS pupils from that building
"to attend school in the buildings nearest to
htr ha "A al, 40 II.I
aud that the superintendent be authorized to
admit such as the grades will well accommo-
date" SIMPLY this pupils who would other
wise be compelled to go long distances past
buildings where there was plenty of room
for them, to the Pleasant street house, where
there WAS no room, are allowed to enjoy the
facilities which are at our command. Any
other cOurse would be acting the part of the
dog in the manger, which would neither eat,
himself nor let others eat.
What has been the effect of this action
, Has 1t broken up our schools Have large
numbers been withdrawn, as was threatened ?
As ~ matter Of tact, we have more children in
our schools than ever before. In one in
stance, after few coored pupils had been
admitted, irsteGd OF there being II stampede,
white children came until the room WAS
more than full. The same parties who de-
Clhltl that "Hllt pupls "Oulu desert Tue
schools if a few cOored pupils were admitted,
now demand that the few COlOred pupils shall
be sent out in order to accommodate the
white children who are eager to go in
spite OF the presence OF the colored children.
True, n few pupils have been tnken out. ln
one instance teachers tell me that white
family which lives in house with COlored
f.mily has taken children out OF school b..
Cause COlOred pupils were admitted. In
other cases ! know OF shittess white
families, who are ready to try to borrow
money OF more thrifty colored neighbor, v hC
have taken children out OF school because
i,w children OF color have been admitted
It looks as If they feared that their own chi
dren would not hold their own with those o
their neighbpTs who happen to have Il lttl'
darker skin. The children which have beef
admitted, are for the most part well behaved
One teacher tells me that the COored childrei
more frequently say "thsnk you FIR littl
acts of kindness than do the white children
Another teacher says that her six or NOR
coIored pupils do not begin to give her tn
trouble which the one did who left becaus
they came in. These pupils are general
clean and tidy, while in one instanC
al least child whose parents ar
bitterly opposed TO the present Al
rangcment came to school with such sole
hands that the teacher told him II he cam
in that condition again she should send hi
home to be washed.
The present plan 10 working admlrabl