Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-02-11
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

We understand that public school
system is established for the good of
the whole people, that the poor may
be benefited as well as the rich, the
black as we'll as the white. The
school laws of our State makes equal
provision for both races, but the
colored people have just cause to COM
plain of the unfair administration of
this, as many other laws.
In many counties of this State, the
county superintendent takes to himself
the power to fix the salary of all
colored teachers, by writing it on
their certificates. This we hold is a
violation of the law, and an insult to
the teacher. Other county boards
have gone so far as to say no first
grade teacher (colored) shall be paid
more than thirty dollars. The COM
mitteemen are wholly disregarded in
fixing the salaries, yet they say in
special cases they will allow more.
These special cases are usually white
persons.
We have noticed that the old dodge
of some years ago has played out.
A few years ago some of the exami-
ners would not give a colored appli-
cant frst-grade certifcate-it mat
tered not how well he answered the
questions, but time has about passed,
and in counties like Union, Cumber-
land and some others the colored teach
ers are actually superior to the whites.
But, some say the whites are right
ly entitled to the most money because
they pay the most taxes. That is not
so and very foolish view to take of
it. We are all citizens. Can a
State justly divide its tax-list by the
color line! Why Mr.. A, a white
man, pays taxes on $40, 900; Mr.. B, a
white man, pays taxes on $75 worth of
property; Mr.. C, colored man, pays
taxes on $500 worth of property; Mr.
d, colored man, has no property.
Each of these four men pay 81 poll
and each have three children of school
age; now how are you going to draw
the line? Why give Mr.. B the bene-
fit of Mr.. AS money in preference to
G or d? Some colored school teach
ers are silly enough to neglect their
duties in making the proper demands
for the schools, because the white
folks pay the axes"
Some Of our school teachers need
to have a little more manhood and com
mon sense. They should endeayor to
get the benefit Of all the county money,
but schools should not be allowed
to stop at the end of six or eight weeks
Teachers should make sacrifice of
their time for the good of the chill
dren: and should be careful to sacri-
fee no principal or manhood 1t is
said that we have one of the poorest
school systems in the country. If that
be true, then we must have poor law
makers, poor teachers or very poor
people. The time is now upon us when
the children must be educated and if
parents cannot get the advantage of
schools here, we do not hesitate to say
they should 60 to States where there can
This is fast age and free schools are
necessity. If one class is allowed
to enjoy them while they are kept
from another class, they are to the lat
ter class a burden and curse.
Let the colored teachers prepare
themselves for first grade teachers GER
tifcates; let them demand first grade
teachers pay and let them get it..
Our graded school teachers here in
this city are over worked and half
paid. It is the duty Of the citizens to
see to it that their teachers arc well
paid.
New England Letter.