Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-14
AFTER THE COLORED TRUSTEES.
Colored Citizens Complain Of the School
Management.

Management.
| MEETING At THE METROPOLITAN AXE. CHURCH
LAST NraHr-A STORM RAISED OVER THE AP-
PorNTMENT OF TEAcHERs-A COMMITTEE TO
SEE THE COMMISSIONERS.
There we're nineteen gas jets blazing away
In the basement lecture room Of Metropolitan
A.M.E church last evening at 7:30-the time
appointed for the assembling together Of col
| ored citizens who thought the school trustees
had not treated them fairly-and for nearly an
hour later it looked as though each person
present would be able to have exclusive con-
troll Of at least one light. One old gentleman,
who was 30 stirred up by the action Of the
trustees that he was on the ground at 7:15, re-
marked to STAR reporter at o'clock that his
fellow-citizens did not seem to be very indig-
nant. He was wrong; they were very indig-
nant, but they remembered the biblical pre-
cept and were slow to anger. W. G. Chase was
one OF the first on the ground, and arriving at
Thomas H. Clark and NJ. NJ. Holland Then
came quite a large crowd Of well-known col
ored citizens, and in little while there was an
audience large enough to dub itself . mass
meeting.
At $40 W. T. Stewart called the meeting to
oIucE anu gave way 10 rev. Mr. Seoul VINO
onered brief petition for heavenly guidance.
STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCES.
The call for the meeting was then read by T.
b. Clark. TWAS lengthy document, which
commenced by stating that the present system
Of school administration DEGREES one school
year to each grade. Eight grades in the COM
mon schools and a three-year's course in the
high school made up a total Of eleven years Of
consecutive study before an education was
completed ESQ far as it could be in public
schools). The call then went on to recite the
fact that the legislative assembly of the Dis
trict enacted law to provide for the establish
ment of a normal school, and in that statute
stipulated that graduates Of that school must
have preference over all other candidates for
teacherships in the District. This law" con-
tinued the call, "has always been strictly ad-
hered to until within the last two years, when
the trustees Of the sixth and seventh divisions
refused to conform to its mandates, and, in
order to conceal their transgression, sought to
obtain from the board of trustees an edict by
liDitum against graduates Of the colored nor
NAL school Is this fair? Is this Just? Trus-
tees instltuting a ruling in direct hostility to
the form Of the law; trustees appointed to
devise means by which the welfare Of
the colored families of tfMs community might
be promoted thus robbing the children of their
rights. Do not such methods demand a speedy
denunciation? Should not such steps be taken
by which the prerogatives of taxpayers will
remain intact and inviolate? This outrageous
procedure on the part of the two trustees referred
to caused widespread complaint and in cases
distress to parents and guardians of pupils who
had at great expense maintained their children
at school throughout the prescribed course,
fondly hoping that they would be appointed
teachers il their services were needed But
experience has taught Us otherwise. We have
seen graduates of the normal school THRUST
aside, their rights ignored while vacancy after
vacancy in our schools has been filed by talent
from among q Wholesale importation which
these two aforesaid trustees have been carrying
on" The statement was then made that the
District Commissioners being made aware Of
this violation OF the law. issued an order direct
ing that no contract for the ensuing school year
be made with those who had been illegally ap-
pointed, but the trustees to whom reference
has been made "defantly ignored" the order
OF the Commissioners and "again violated the
law"
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The object Of the meeting was to protest
against the unlawful exclusion Of graduates Of
the normal school from positions which were
undoubtedly theirs. The general administra-
ton OF matters pertaining to the colored schools
was touched upon and the opinion was en-
phaticaIly stated that no good can come of the
bitter controversy inaugurated by the trustee
Of the seventh division in his efforts to have
abolished the Office OF superintendent Of COL
ored schools. The superintendent was eulo-
gized and the statement was then made that
he had been ignored-'has not been
consulted upon matters pertaining to
his Office, and hence we have had confusion,
insubordination wrangling and scandals in our
schools, to their detriment and to the certain
loss OF their control, unless q speedy change is
made. We furthermore desire that the marking
OF the pupils in our normal school, whereby
their class standing is fixed. shall be done daily
lOnaaflv hat w 10
made it be open to the inspection of the public
We condemn the practice Of the principal Of
the normal school in neglecting her daily
duties in the marking Of pupils. We denounce
the method Of marking the pupils at the end of
the year as the likes and dislikes of the prin-
cipai see at. The confidence of the public has
been lost to the principal of the normal school
and much dissatisfaction has been engendered
by her questionable methods Of marking We
seek to have justice done to all and want each
pupil to stand upon his or her merits"
On motion of w. G. Chase Col NJ. NJ Hol-
land was elected chairman, and soon as he
had been conducted to his place he said the
duties we're dstasteful to him, but they were
ket when he was but sixteen years Of age
There was little competition for the honor of
being secretary, ]. w. Cromwell and Thomas
H. Clark being the candidates. The latter was
victorious.
The following persons were appointed COM
mittee to draft resolutions: W. A. Stewart W.
G. Chase, Thos. H. Clark, ]. Myers and Carter
A. Stewart, ST.. They retired to a class room,
and while they were absent resolution offered
by w. r. Schooler, thanking James H. Smith
for the work he has done in behalf of public
schools, was adopted
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The committee on resolutions then returned
and made q report stating that it was necessary
that the men elected to fill the offices Of trus-
tees should have an intelligent understanding
Of the laws relating to educational matters in
the District and q wholesome respect for the
same. The present board, they said, did not
possess those important qualifications, and it
was therefore absolutely necessary that radi-
cal change be made in the personel of the
present board. 1t was then resolved that the
District Commissioners be urged to reorganize
the colored portion Of the school board and to
select in the place of the incumbeuts practical
and competent men who have an intelligent
comprehension Of the school laws and who
will exercise patriotic and upselfish enforce
ment Of the same. 1t was also resolved that
the unqualified support of the meeting be
given the recent order Of the Commissioners
respecting the preference that should be given
TO normal school graduates.
THOUGHT THEM LITTLE HARsH
Rev. Mr.. Scott said he thought some of the
words used were rather harsh. While he was
in hearty sympathy with the injured and me-
Il ~k~l- 49, - -