Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-21
COLoRED SCHOOL INTERESTS.


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Proceedings of the Educational oonven.
ton OF Coiored Citizens Held ut Dover
The Coiored Teachers Institute.
The Educational convention of the
colored citizens of the State assembled
at Memorial Hall, Dover, February eth.
The meeting was called to order by w.
II. o. Ennis of Delaware City, and
Prof. s. l.. Conwell of Dover was made
temporary chairman. Committees on
credentials and permanent organization
were appointed, and $. V. B. Carly, w.
II. o. Eunis, A. d. Mcpherson johnson
of New Castle county; Il. Marsh
Williams, S. l.. Conwell, Benjamin
Thorp of Kent, and S. L. Parker, James
Achan, William Button Of Sussex, were
appointed committee on resolutions.
At the afternoon session the commit
tee on permanent organization reported
the names of d. p. Hamilton of Will
mington, chairman; Prof. l.. o. Hoe.
land of the State Agricultural College,
secretary, and w. II. o. Ennis, Joseph
p. Bell, $. L. Parker as vice-presidents
of the convention. The report was
adopted.
AT the invitation of the president, Dr.
Ebert of Wilmington, addressed the
convention. He urged the importance Of
education and the necessity of unity
among the people Of his race, which was
heartily applauded. l. Honor Posey of
the same city, followed in similar
strain.
The resolutions were then reported
by I. Marsh Williams Of Smyrna in a
| brief speech. He spoke of the wretched
condition Of the schools in the counties;
of the dilapidated buildings, many
almost unfit for school purposes, the re-
mainder being churches or halls; of the
short terms, averaging about five months;
| of the meagre salaries paid the teachers;
of the almost total lack OF school appli-
ances and facilities; of the alarming ex-
tent of illiteracy in the State.
Attention was called to the fact that
during the last decade, illiteracy among
the colored people of this State had de-
creased proportionately less than in any
other State of the Union similarly con-
| ditioned.
The speaker said in part: "Therc are
in this State about 5000 colored
children of school age, who have never
seen inside of schoolhouse, rushing to
meet the twentieth century, that CEN
tury, which, whatever else it means,
certainly means a greater intensity in
the race of life and a keener and wider
demand for intelligence"
On the subject of illiteratc suffrage,
the speaker said: 1.-THE illiterate vote of
this State, which holds the balance of
power and controls the business and
other legislation of the State, is no:
growing less, but is steadily on the in
crease"
The resolutions, which expressed the
deplorable condition of the schools, and
asking the immediate and greater aid of
the State in the work of Improvement
were adopted.
A committee was appointed to memo
rialize the Legislature and the conven-
ton then adjourned sine die.
coLoRED TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
The colOred teachers of the State held
their annual institute at Dover, on
February 9th, 9Th and 9Th.
Il. Marsh Williams of Smyrna was
elected president. Addresses were de.
liverod by Superintendent g. g. Tindall,
Professor j. Il. Carroll, the Rev. S. p.
Hood, the Rev. w. l.. S. Murray, Presi-
dent Wesley Webb of State College, the
Rev. +. B. Short, Bishop Coleman and
Henry 9. Conrad.
Speaker Ii. II. McMuilen of the House
of Representatives presided over the
exercises on Wednesday evening.