New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-26
COLoRED PEOPLE AND THE CLASSICS.
SOME REFLECTIONS CAUSED BY REPORT AT
THE PITTsBURG ANNIVERSARY MEETING.

SOME REFLECTIONS CAUSED BY REPORT AT
THE PITTsBURG ANNIVERSARY MEETING.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: A recent report on the education OF tho col.
ored people presented at the Baptist anniversary.
now Ia session at Pittsburg brings out some inter-
esng facts on a much controverted point. The com.
mitee presenting the report education had visited
the great educational centres among the colored
people, namely, Richmond. Washington, Raleigh,
Columbia. Atlanta also Hampton Institute. The
committee speak specialists rather than theo-
rlss. and what they have said In particular Is true
of educational facilities among colored people gen.
orally, whatever may be the fostering agency.
The following Is part of the report read BY Presi-
dent 3. L. Whitman Columbian University. WASH
tngton D. c.:
The impression has gone abroad that in the
home mission schools large amount OF time and
money is given to the study and teaching OK me
that the total salaries OF all teachers in the schools
was sloi2s; of this total 80 per cent was charge.
able TO Latin and 2 per cent to Greek. or "a per
cent chargeabe to English and general work. The
committee is OF the opnion that in catalogues and
announcements the emphasis should be laid upon
the courses which constitute the main work OF the
schools.
Certainly this report makes interesting reading.
since 1t is the index finger to the whole course OF
education In this country for the colored people.
This report allays the fears Of friends at the
North that the colored people being "over.
educated; 1t shows. also, that there need be no
fears entertained about the rival education OF the
races at the South. Those friends OF the colored
people who believe that classical education Is not
only impracticable but tends spoil this particu-
lar people, and those enemies OF the people who
argue mediocrty and race inferiority. will
smile complacenty at this report.
The question arises II the study OF Latin and
Greek is such dangerous element TO tnfuse into
normal brain, why have sc per cent OF such dan.
gerous Harrington 1t is little enough-in our In.
stitutions? The colored people are already danger
Gus enough In their constituency without add-
tonal forces. II Is admitted that we are down."
ard have been down fer centuries II seems, from
fast by force OF Latin and Greek culture. At best
the committee does not express great faith IN tho
ability OF tire colored people. else there would have
been no apology made for an ncurson OF Latin
and Greek studies.
The unvarnished English OF the committees idea
may be thus stated: We are OF the opinion that II
"a DANGEROUS to force too much classic culture on
this lately enancpated race, for some reason left
admit that this class OF people have saown wonder
fuI ability In mastering the classics all things
being equal The report cannot say that the study
c. the classics is impracticable since such con-
ciusion would apply with equal force to white
schoos Nevertheless. sympathze with the com.
mittee drafting this report, for they must feel.
necessarily. the pulse OF popular sentiment, whether
their posl,ion may be sustained logically or not
Yet we do believe that the good sense OF the
North the welwlshers OF the South have gone
mad or grown narrow because the colored people
are advancing too fast and TOO fine" They rather
lament the opposite fact. II cannot be denied.
though that some OF our most enthusiastic educa.
tors have had a horror OF teaching colored youth
the classics. For one am no Judge OF the classics.
should be educated as people. and not as partcu.
lar people with particular education and that
s srsss and adapaSi,ies 1t + high time that this
stamp OF race inferioriy should be removed. which
s sss 0fs Ss dpo IN IN this we mean no
whatever the goodwill and sincerity OF the Pitts.
oq prncIpal cSoctaw Institute Oklahoma Tsiritcry
Baltimore. May y ISV-