The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-02
CLANDETINE SCHOOLS.

From the Bulletin of \ ant 'iversity.
Perhaps it may be well to call atten.
tion to and explain the astonishing
fact that after the war there could be
found few, or, rather, for that early
period, so many, colored men and
women capable of beginning the schoo,
work even at the A B c point.
This was due to many influences,
open and secret. Among the favoring
influences, first. was the fact that many
humane masters taught their slaves,
and others winked at the violation Of
the law which forbade the teaching Of
slaves and permitted their children to
instruct a favorite slave to read and
authority IL educational matters
taught their slaveD to read and write,
rendering themselves liable to be pun
ished as violators of the law on the
statute book. The Christian instruc-
tion of the slaves was encouraged and
directed by many Christian bodies. In
deed, in the act permitting the intro
duction of slaves, Christian training
was enjoined upon the slave masters.
Rev C. C. Jones, father of the late his
torian Jones, and Rev. Josiah Law,
both among the most distinguished
ministers of the state. were engaged to
devote their time to this work.
Again, it is known that when negro
slavery, at first prohibited, was finally
introduced into Georgia in 1749, many
of these slaves came from South Caro-
lima As in 1744, a negro school was
opened in Charleston, it may be in
ferred that some of these slaves must
have brought with them to Georgia
some knowledge of reading and writ
ing. The Charleston school was still in
a fourishing condition in 1852, and
was taught by an educated negro,
likely from England. Although it was
for free negroes only, many slaves. who
even then hired their time. sent their
children to this school In time other
schools were opened, and number OF
colored persons from Savannah and
Augusta, Ga, sent their children to
Charleston to be taught
According to tradition some of these
students returned and opened schools
III Ia aug N-st1- -'p CHNf
however, was lawfully permitted to
give book instruction to slaves, not
even in any one OF the three Rs What
ever was done in this way was done
clandestinely. and Il discovered, was
sure to get its author into trouble
There We're, nevertheless several
schools kept clandestinely in Augusta
and in Savannah. Another class OF
teachers were the poor whites. who
eked out miserable living by clan
destinely teaching free negroes and
slaves Some Of them might well De
5enominated, not ''oid field schools.
but ''old chip schools" When some
aged. impecnnious white lady would
agree TO teach the children Of sueh
slaves as had hired their time, the cnii-
aren were said to go TO her house ia
pick up chips" They were bnsily en-
gagged in this work when an officer was
likely to be around
The most noted OF these ciandes.ine
schools for colored children was taught
by colored man in Savannah II was
opened in ISIS OF 1919 by a colored
Frenchnzn named Julian FroHmont-
sine, from San Domingo. Up 20 iSs2
this school .as taught openly, fer be-
fore that date the laws OF Georgia did
not forbid the teaching Of free person
Of color. In referring 20 this prohie-
tory Law. IL justice il ought to De aa-
ait.sd that the requirements of the
institutions Of slavery" were such that
/: would have been uawise 20 under
take 20 maintain the system Of slavery
and run the risk ot having the slaves
read such literature as began then 20
he circulated By ti1e ah-o'itionssss II il
proper. also, TO add tha. many slave
holders a.d 10. share this fear. and
were willing. in the face OF slavery. TO
give their slaves elementary teaching
ir reading and writing.
After December - Is2a. i was made
penal otsease 70 teach a negro ar free
person of color 10 read or write Hence
srozn that time all negro schocls xexs