Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-02

The New school Trustee and the Mixed
school QuestiOn-His Effort 70 Secure
His Sons Admission to . White
school.

The appointment of Prof. j. M. Gregory, OF
Howard university, as member of the school
board has revived interest in the effort which
he made in 1882 TO secure the admission of his
son to the Prescott building, one of the white
Schools located in the county. The legal pro-
ceedings begun by Prof. Gregory to secure the
admission of his son to the school, and to test
| the right of the authorities to discriminate
against the admission OF anychild to any school
on account of color, are still pending. ProL
Gregory's appointment has excited some COM
ment among persons who regard it as an evil
dence OF desire to establish mixed schools. The
| record of the case of Prof. Gregory's son, as 1t
appears in the minutes of the school board, is
as follows:
schools, at the meeting of the board September
2Sth, 1882, reported that public policy de-
manded the transfer of Eugene NJ. Gregory rom
Lhe Prescott building, and that he had tnere-
him."
James NJ Gregory's communication was read
respectfully demanding his sons readmission
IN SAID school, and praying that if 1t is the mnu
OF the board to exclude said child on account OF
Its color, resolution declaring the exclusion to
De on that ground may be passed"
Mr.. Cragin offered the following:
local committee, in transferring Eugene M:
by this board"
"Gen. Birney moved to amend this resolution
by substituting the following:
w hereas section 1872 of the Revised Statutes
OF the District of Columbia provides in effect that
coiCred parents residing in the District outside
OF the cities OF Washington and Georgetown
shall have the privilege Of placing their children
In the schools provided for cOiOred children,
and said section remains unrepealed, and the
question of its unconstitutionaiityi is one for
the courts and not for this board; and whereas
the facts have been ascertained by member of
the local committee and are established by a
letter from Professor Greaory to this board,
Resoloed That the action Of member OF the
| rQfnSinD Q6miftQnnn
Eugene NJ. Gregory into the Prescott school, a
school provided for the white children, is hereby
under the statutes to place his child in any of
the schools in the District outside OF the cities
OF Washington and Georgetown, provided Tor
colored children, with the consent of the school
board
Mr.: Brooks moved to amend the resolution
by adding"all cOlored children attending white
schools, and all white children attending col
ored schools, in violation OF law, be transferred
order.
The resolution of Gen. Birney was then
unanimously passed.
At special meeting Of the school board, De-
cember 26, 1882, communication from the
Commissioners, signed 81. b. West, president"
was received allied attention to
the suit of j. NJ. Gregory agt the board of public
would be glad to have the trustees of the public
schools assist in the matter by such representa-
i've as they may supply"
On motion of Mr. Warner, Messrs. c. NJ. Mat
theWs and 3. G; Lovejoy were selected to repre-
sent the school board.
These two gentlemen assisted Mr.. Francis
Miller, assistant attorney for the District, in
preparing the peadngs.
The suit never reached a final and full hearing.
WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS SAY.
Commissioner Webb said yesterday in refer
ence to the appointment of Prof Gregory as a
school trustee that at the time the appoint
ment was made he had no knowledge that
Prof Gregory had sought, by legal proceedings,
to secure the admission of his children to a
white school, and therefore his appointment
did not mean that the Commissioners favored
mixed schools. AS to the proposition to have
only one superintendent over all the schools,
both white and coiOred, he said it originated
with the Secretary OF tie Treasury as meas
ure OF economy.
Mr.. Edmonds said also that the question of
mixed schools had not entered at all in the
| question of Prot. Gregory's appointment or the
proposition to consolidate the two superin-
tendencies