The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-09-30
EDUCATION OF THE NEGROES
Mississippi's Secretary OF State Cor.
rects Some Misapprehensions

Colonel ]. L. Power secretary of state
of Mississippi has written a letter to the
editor of the Watchman a Baptist paper
published in Boston, Mass, in which he
says:
1t Is less than nine years since the in
telligent white people of Mississippi were
represented in constitutional convention
that ordained the continuance of "a uniform
system of free public schools for all chill
dren between the ages of five and twenty
one years.: that the schools shall be MAIN
tanned four months in each scholas tic year:
and that the common school fund shall be
distributed among the several counties and
separate school districts in proportion to
the number of educabe children In each.
THE legislatures of 1892, 1894, 1896 and 1898
have steadily increased the appropria lions
for public sohools-the approprla lions for
1898 and 1899 being $4,000 for each year.
These appropriations. as you doubtless
know, are distributed semi-annually
through the auditors office, to the several
counties according to the number of ,du-
cable children in each. regardless of color.
''Now, while the letter and spirit of The
constitution and the laws relating to the
distribution of the school fund tolerate no
discrimination, the practical operation of
the law does work discrimination against
the white race in many localities, and this
Is one of the chief causes of discomfort.
1t is because of this that there is some de-
mand for the repeal or amendment of sec
ton 2O6, SO that the fund may be more
equttably distributed-that the terms of
schools in the black counties be not extend
ed and the salaries of colored teachers in
creased, while in most of the counties of
white population the school terms are re-
stricted to the constitutional period-four
months-and salaries are less than in The
black counties.
I'm Bolivar county, for instance there
are 10,712 educable children. The number
of edncable white children enrolled in this
county is G53, of negro children, :, 1892: total
6,O54. So that in this black county there
are 4.667 educable children not enrolled in
the public schools, and yet the per capita
distribution of the fund this year sent SIS
AIS 80 to Bolivar county. In this county
tBoliVar the per capita to each child in
average attendance is S4.S2. In Washing
ton, another black county, the average is
SS7. In Adams. black county, the average
is Sill. In Issaquena, $S.9l. In Jasper,
white county. the average is only $346; in
Jeake white, SO 49, in Marion, white So So
In lssaquena. black, the average MONTH
ly salary paid colored teachers is 800 "A.
In Lawrence, white, the average monthly
salary paid white teachers is $2S.05.
Il have now before me letter addressed
to me as a member of the state board Of
education from a gentleman in Washing
white children in his neighborhood are
'uniustly and unlawfully Disseminated
against and there has not been a white
public school in operation in that township
for the last fifteen years. and during all
that time that the negro schools have been
hourshing, and we have paid the taxes to
support them The county superintendent
is a white democrat.
These facts and figures will indicate to
you the reason why there is a growing
sentiment in favor of so readjusting the
distribution of the school fund as that
those who actually attend school may be
the benefciaries: and not send say. $50 900
to county where less than one-half of the
children attend school, the surplus to be
applied I'm extending terms and increasing
salaries
THE editor of the Waterman may rest
assured that the negroes of Mississippi ARE
to enjoy the rights of citizenship guaran-
teed them under the constitution. The
constitution of 1896 was framed by the best
element of Mississippi citizenship: J. u.
Gecrse, Wiley p. Harris, James l.. Alcorn,
! w. S. Featherston, Il. l.. Mudrow, A. ].