Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-02
THE BOARD ANSWERS
REPLY OF The CITY SCHOOL AU-
THoRlTIes TO pOWHATAN CLUB.
WI, white Teachers Are Not Employed
IN Colored schoois-The Duty
of the Board.

Tho following communication has been
adopted by tho City School Board. and was
forwarded to Mr.. Preston Belvin yesterday
afternoon:
hon. Preston Bcirin, Chairman Committee is''a-
tan Cub:
pear sir,-In response to the request on your
club urcsertef by your committee at our last
meeting 10 tho eject that VIC substitute VINO
teachers for coiored in our colorod schools wo DC
s.rc 70 present the following consicofaiions
/. We are sworn officers OF tho CotnIi ' IL
wealth, and 70 Is necessary tor us therefore 20
look at your request ia the light OF oar oiiiciol
oa'hs 10 room r. left fo- tho exercise o. pct-
~onai preference; wc are bound 70 look az inc
matter In reference TO ne goa OF INC s0u'''
system and Of the community at large
2. The foundation upon which the existence OF
tho pubIic's ,hoOls rests Is the good OF the state
Their existence IA justified by mo exgecti,ioh
that they win provide good clii@cas. they 90
cxneciei TO incucrte virtue Gni promote intob-
cence--in other words. 20 prepare boys ana girl'
20 become good and useful members Of inc com
mnnity. Hnw best 20 40 this is tho one question
FACING RESPONSIBILITY.
2. The heroes are among us md We recog-
nize II l. oui d.ty 20 mako OF thom the hcss
possible citih'ns. its wcll-esabli.hei riinci-
lo that the lest citzcns are those who CON Dlno
with moral ana intellectual worth the bbihty 70
direct with wise ssi.-cOntrol ttotr own aiai -.
! This CONDITION for tho neg ocs can only be Sc
cured by tn owing upon them, so iIr rs a,'roius
with prudence, tho responsibility Il iheir o .
| elevation. oar colorcd teachers at- under iae
direction q n white principal Who hca charge o,
| the building, who insiructs ihcm in correct
| methods OF teaching and discipline, nnd VINO
| secs that nothing improper ID allowed.
NOT CONGENIAL 10 WHITE TEACHERS.
| a. For n number Of years VIC had white teach-
| ers In onr coiored schools. 1hey deserve Oh
| praise for the excellence Of their work but IL
was mover congenisl, and in almost every case
| was accepted simply as stcpplue-stohe 70 d
| ro,si.icn in the white schools such cEt9S as
visiting the homes Of tho children and I'M III
way securing the co-operation Of the parents they
| could cot he expected to perform. An impof,lht
| result Vas that the cOlored schools were iaigcIy
! taught by inexperienced young teachers, ana
these were greatly tra.nineled in their WORK ny
the necessary surroundings.
CAPABLE AND PAISsTAKISG.
=. The coored teachers Ia our employ nave
| shown themselves capable. painsiaking. aubl-
| tious 10 excel, and careful OF both the ihtoi-
| lectual and mora! Improvement OF fhcir pupls'
They take pride in their positions end arc salts
| fed: they are anxious 10 do the best for their
race: they are diligent students Of methods
| thoy are in sympathy with their pupils and on
| the same social plane, and by visiting among
tho patrons Of their schools exercise an lnnIencc
| that is impossible 10 a white teacher. We have
an excellent corps OF colcrcd teachers th'y arc
steadily improving by study and experience, ana
| the schools are getting the benefit ot their H.
creasing efficiency.
CAN DO MORE EFFECTIVE WORK.
g. We have carefully considered the whole
question In the light Of the results 70 DC accom-,
plished and OF our duty rs pubic oncera' ana
| lind ourselves unable 10 reach a conclusion that
the bes, interests OF tho schools and OF the COM
| rnunity would be advanced by n compliance with
| your request. Taxing all circumsiances mo
! consideration, 1. ia our Judgment that colored
| teachers can do moro effective work In colored
| schools. .
| A NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CORRECTED.
7. We beg In conclusion 70 correct q mlsappre-
hension into which your commute has fallen on
| several points: a. III the principals OF our
| schools are white men, we have no cOlored prln-
| cipas Ca OF the eighty-four colored teachers
eniployed in our schools last session eghty-ihroe
| we're educated AZ our ColOred High and Normal
! School, which school was accepted as giit In
| 1873 by the city Of Richmond with pledge 10
| maintain end develop II as Il High and Normal
| School, which implies that they were 70 be edu-
| Gated as teachers. 81 OF tho white teachers
| now ctnploycd at tho COlorcd High and Normal
| school ONLY one il Of "foreign" birth. she is n
| native OF New York, but has long been resident
| of Richmond and identified with its interests.
| With considerations Of highest esteem, yours
respectfully, -
SCHOOL BoAED OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
At the conference between the commit.
| tee of the Powhatan Club and the School
Board touching this matter, which was
| held over q month ago. there were nine
members of the board present. or these
only two-May or Ellyson and Sir. j. Taylor
! Stratton-voted for the clubs proposition.