Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-19
Ex-trustee Brooks and Trustee Francis.

htLIy VI. LeNlS, lOt 20, Dl z, lrlulUdu; SZ,bUU.
Ex-trustee Brooks and Trustee Francis.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
In the interview of DIR. John r. Francis,
published in THE STAR he assumes to speak
upon a subject that he knows very little about
When the doctor says that the colored schools
have not been the equal of the white for Ne
last ten years, it becomes necessary to tell him
that he knows very little of either the white or
cOlored schools; he has not visited them and he
does not know to-day the system of public
schools in force in this District DIR. Francis
does not, as he supposes, get knowledge of
these schools because he has been appointed a
trustee. A knowledge of these schools re-
quires that they should be visited and studied.
If there are inequalities in the schools at the
present time, it shows plainly that Dr. Francis
has not and is not doing his duty a member
of the board this fact is well-knOwn. 1t re-
quires a great deal of sunselfish labor on the
part of citizen to fill the Office of school trus-
tee, and the doctor will not deny that he has
utterly failed to give the time and labor neces-
sary to the discharge of the duties of a trustee
of public schools upon the plea that he could
not afford it, and that it would be pecuniary
loss to him.
We have had the doctor over the schools for
the past two years, but we have not heard of
his efficient services in the school-room nor in
the board. The school records will show that
DIR. Francis has made fewer visits than any
preceding school trustee in the history of the
schools and in eight-tenths of the schools of
his own division he has never been at all. 1t
is high-handed assumption for him to speak of
the efficiency or inefficency of the public
schools because he really knows nothing about
them. DIR. Francis mistakes larger buildings
and a more complete school apparatus i'll the
white high school, which represents greater
degree of auxiliary help from the well-to-do
classes, as being conclusive evidence OF the
superiority of the white over the colored; the
doctor does not seem capable of recognizing
the difference in the condition of the two
classes OF citizens represented in the two high
schools. If the doctor means to say that the
superintendent, supervising principals and
teachers of the colored schools are not the
equals of similar officers and teachers in the
white schools we can better understand him,
and he will have the board, the Commits
sioners and host of others who know our
school system to rise and contradict him; he
will find that several committees of the board
composed entirely of white men, differ with
him on this subject.
1t is true that the recent controversies among
the teachers was allowed and encouraged by
the course of DIR. Francis. and the board and
the public are sick of the whole affair; but no
evidence connects the Office of the superin-
tendent with the high school controversy. 1t is
in the course pursued by the doctor in attempt
| ing to play the role of supervising principal
and superintendent without being competent
to perform the duties of these officers that is
one source of trouble. Had the doctor admin
istrative ability, he would not suffer minor
matters of school discipline to be paraded be-
fore the public and magniied to serious
| troubles in the schools. 1t will be a shame for
the board or the Commissioners to allow the
harmony of our excellent school system to be
disturbed, as is proposed by DIR. Francis, who,
/ like some few other colored people here, think
the time has arrived for them to have mixed
| schools the surest means of social recogni-
| ton by the whites, not caring for the masses of
/ the colored children. JOHN Ii. Brooks.