The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-02

Answer OF tho CITY school Board TO the Pow
hntan Club.


hntan Club.
The following communication Was adopted
al the last mesting Of the City School Bosri
and sent TO Mr.. Preston Belyin, the president
of the club: -.
In response TO the request of your CLUB
presented byYour committee at our last NEE :
ng, 10 the effect that we substitute wh,te
teachers for oolored in our colored SCHOOLS
we desire 10 present the following consldera-
tons:
/ We are sworn officers of the Common
wealth and il is necessary for us, therefore,
to look at your request in the light OF our ON
cial oaths No room is left Tor the exercise OF
personal preferences: we are bound 70 LOOK ht
the matter in reference 10 the good OF inc
school system and of the community at large.
2. The foundation upon which the existence
Of the public schools rests is the good OF the
State. Their existence is justified by the ex-
pectation that they will provide good citizens;
They are expected 70 inculcate virtue ana
prom g. intelligence-iD other words, 70 pre-
pare boys and girls 10 become good ana use
full members Of the community. How best 10
do this is the one question before us.
3. The negroes are among us and NO re-
cognize it as our duty TO make OF them the
best possible citizens ltis wel-estaolshed
principle that the best citizens are those VINO
combine with moral and intellectual worth
the ability 10 direct with wise self-control
their own Affairs. This condition for the ne
groes can only be secured by throwing upon
them 50 far as accords with prudence. the
responsibility Of their OVID elevation. Our
colorad teachers are under the direction OF a
white principal, who has charge OF the ouild.
ing. who instructs them in correct methods OF
teaching and discipline and who gees that
nothing improper Is allowed.
4. For a number of years we'had white
tnan ~. orff. CO.
deserve all praise for the excellence OF their
work but ii was never cOngenial. and ID al
most every case vas accepted simply as step
ping-stone to position in the white schools.
Such duties as visiting the homes OF the
children. and in this way securing the coop
Grafton of the parents. they could not DC e1-
pected 10 perform. An important result was
that the colored schools were largely taught
by inexperienced young teachers, snd these
were greatly trammeed n their worK DY the
necessary surroundings.
g. The colored teachers in our employ
have shown themselves capable. palns-taking.
ambitious To excel and careful OF DoIh lhe
intellectual and moral improvement OF their
pupils They take pride in their positions
and are satisfied they are anxious TO do the
best for their race. they are dillgent students
Of methods. they are in sympathy with their
pupils and on the same social plane, ana ~
visiting among the patrons OF their schoois
exercise an lnnueuce tnhL IS lulpDSsiOAo ~ "
white teacher. We have al excellent corps
of colored teachers, they are steadily improy-
ing by study and experience and the schools
are getting the benefit Of their increasing
efficiency.
6. We have carefully considered the whole
question in the light of the results to be &C
complisbed and of our duty as public officers.
and find ourselves unable TO reach conclu-
sion that the best interests OF the schools and
Of the community would be advanced by
compliance with your request. Taking all
circumstances into consideration. 1t IL our
judgment that colored teachers can do more
effective work in colored schools.
7. We beg in conclusion TO correct misap-
prehension into which your committee has
fallen on several points. %, All the princi-
pals of our schools are white men. We have
no colored principals. On. OF the - colored
teachers employed in our schools last session
50 were educated at our C0lored High and
Normal School. which school was accepted rs
a gift in 1875 10y the city Of Richmond, with
pledge 20 maintain and develop 1t as high
and normal school, which implies that they
were % be educated as teachers l3). Or the
white teachers now employed at the Colored
High and Normal School only one IS OF
foreign" birth. Size IS a native OF New
York, but has long been a resident OF Rich
mond and identified with its interests