The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-15
NEGRO EDUCATION IN GEORGIA.
The First Schools For the Negro in
Georgia Were in Savannah.


Richard r. Wright, president of the
Georgia State Industrial College for the
education of colored youths, has
written brief historical sketch on
the education of the negro race in Geor-
gia, which presents many interesting
facts with regard to its management and
progress since the war.
Inc monograph was written in COM
pIlance with request from DR.. j. l.. NJ
curry Ior concise and true statement of
What mas been done for the education of
The negro lii Georgia since 1861.
President Wright has devoted the
greater part of his life to the work OF
educating his race, and he is in a position
TO present the facts and statistics with
regard TO the progress of its education in
the south.
COlored schools in Georgia. he saws.
had romantic beginning, and the first
one was established in Savannah. The
urst conference between white and col
ored men IN the state was held in the old
Green mansion, in December. 1864 Al
most 100 years before this conference
laws IN Georgia made it a penal ofense to
teach the negro to read and write. This
conference, however, ACCOMPLISHED the
purpose for which il was assem- bled, and
1t was decided to have schools opened at
once for all colorcd people who would ap-
ply. Early In January, 1865, teachers
We're examined here for the work Clan
deStlne schools for the negro were held
before the war
The first schools were esta blished here
in 1868, in the old BRYAN slave mart and
. the basement of the First African Bap-
fist church. The enrolment even in that
year was over 500. The teaching was of
crude and elementary kind, as the ne
groes were taught by those of their own
race. Later the schools were taken
charge of by the American Missionary
Society. From 1855 to 1871 the most DOW
erful agency that aided the negro in edu-
cation was the army. The first so-called
school house at Cuthbert, Ga, where the
negro entered, scarcely had one of its
SIDES covered or weatherboarded The
pupils were aged from 8 to 20 years. The
next was an abandoned box car in At
lenta
The public school system, which, by the
constitution of 1868. was made free for all
the children of the state, was organized
two years after the adoption of this con
stltutlon. The first public schools were
taught In the state in 1871. They were
suspended in 1872 on account of lack of
funds to carry them through, but they
were resumed the following year, and
have been continued up to date. In 1865
there were not more than 100 cOlored peo-
pie III Georgia who were capable of
teaching primary school, but the num-
Der more than quadrupled in five years.
In 1871 there were enrolled in the public
schools 1864 colored children. in 1880
there were enrolled So, 500 colored chill
dren, and the enrolment for,l89 was 1873
~ an increase of over 1900 for each of
the past ten years.
The city public school systems have
gradually taken the work forward and
increased the facilities for the education
OF the cOlOred race, and the universities
which have been established by both
northern and southern capital, have car
ried forward the branches of higher edu-
cation, until now there is no difference
between the facilities in point of advance
ment afforded the negro and the white
races. The work of the past few years in
extending the advantages of higher edu-
cation to the negro is familiar to all who
have taken an interest in educational
matters in the state
President Wright has received the fol-
lowing letter from Gov. Northen, compli-
menting him on his work:
State of Georgia, Executive once, Atlanta.
April ID, 1S94.-PrOf. r. r. Wright College
Ca; Sri beg ty thank you for your
monograph on Negro Education in Georgia
which l have just received. From a cursory
glance over its contents, | think that il will
be OF great service to me. and | take the lib
erty, therefore, 'of asking that you send me
about dozen or fifteen copies. If you can
do this, shall appreciate the kindness very
much.
You have undertaken needed and useful
work in thus treating the subject of negro
education in this state. 1t is subject but
little understood and much abused in the
north and east, and hope that your little
book and any further work that you may do
in this direction may be che means of throw
ing some light upon the true conditions.
n mi = lii
your work in this field, | am, very truly. etc,
w. j. NORTHEN. Governor.