Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-15
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Lengthy Session Of Board of
School Trustees.
Committee of CoIoicd Teachers Petition
for Another school Report of School
Census appointment of CoIored Substi
tutcs Assignment of Teachers.

The School Board met in regular
monthly session at o'clock y. m. yes
terday with the president, MIR. John
u. Whitehead, in the chair. and the fol-
lowing members present: Messrs.
East, Greenwood. McCurdy. Morris.
Minter, Pamplin, Randolph RuGin.
Rowland and Taylor. Superintendent
Dobie was also in attendance.
The minutes of the last regular meet
ing were read and approved.
PETITION FOR COLORED SCHOOL
. superintendent Dobie said that there
was committee OF colored ministers
present who desired to be heard by the
Board on Il matter Of interest to the
colored citizens of Norfolk.
On motion. they were allowed fifteen
minutes to present their cause before
the Board.
The committee were as follows: Rev.
r. II. Mitchell. d. D., of the Bank
Street Baptist Church: Rev. Madison
Lewis, of Calvary Baptist Church.
Rev. William j. Burke. of Grace Epis-
copai Church. and Or. Philip l.. Bar
bour. prominent colored physician
Dr. Mitchell was the first speaker.
He said that he and his associates APP
peared before the Board in the matter
OF the establishment of another pub
lie school i'll the Fourth Ward for col
ored children. He read a petition sign
cd by over one hundred residents of the
ward, who were property owners.
praying the Board TO grant them the
use OF the old Third Ward white school
building on Queen street for the cstab-
lishmcnt of the additional school. He
said he made this request in the inter
est of good citizenship, that the Grim
inal records of the city showed that the
amount of crime committed was done
by the colored people. and his desire Tor
THIS school was that Il proper school
training might be afforded the large
number OF colored children who are
now deprived OF these advantages, and
in order that they may be educated to
the highest type of good citizenship
Rev. Mr. Mitchell was followed by
Dr. Barbour, who gave IL very accurate
statement OF the number OF colorcd
children who are deprived of school
facilities, estimating the number by a
close calculation 10 be between 1900
and 1900. He urged the Board to IA
vorably consider the petition as a
means OF elcVatinG the children OF the
colored race to the highest moral
standard that they might have the OPP
portunity of becoming useful citizens.
lie said that If they could get the use
of the old Queen Street School building
1t would enable them to accommodate
about 800 pupils. thus reducing the
number of children without school ia
cilitieS to go.
Mir. Ruiiin asked DR.. Barbour why Il
was that soon after the opening of the
coiored schools that so many children
We're dropped from the roles. The
Doctor replied that this was probably
due to the fact that the parents OF
these children were unable to provide
the necessary clothing to send them to
school when the weather becomes cold
Rev. Madison Lewis and Rev NVm
p Burke endorsed all that had been
said by the speakers who preceded
them. only adding that they hoped the
board. In its wisdom and generosity
Will grant the plea OF the petitioners
guaranteeing to keep the school filed
President Whitehead stated to them
that the board would consider the mat
ter later on dcring the session.
Several applications for positions as
teachers and substitutes We're received
and placed on file.
ASK FOR INCREASED SALARY
~ communication from Mr.. Geo. Mex
Bain. principal of the High School, and
the principals of the schools of the
four wards in the old city. asking for
such increase of salary as the board
may deem just owing to the multipli-
city of their duties. was. on motion of
Mr. Minter. referred to the Finance
Committee for Investigation and re-
port.
ANNUAL SCHOOL CENSUS.
The annual report of the school CEN
sus was submitted by Superintendent
Dobie. 1t showed the following: White
children. 1883; colored. 1856. Total 12.-
PA. This is for children between the
ages of and 2t years
Norfolk school census for 1895 showed
n total of 1O.257. The increase for this
year Is .957.
Bills amounting to s7S3.G2 were ap-
proved and allowed.
The contracts for fuel for the com
ing year were awarded as follows:
Coal to the Francis De Cordy Coal
Company: for wood. to X. T. Grant
the lowest bidders.
SUBSTITUTES RECOMMENDED.
Tho Committee on Text Books and
Teachers recommended for appoint
mcnt as substitutes for tho colorcd
schools a. NJ. Carter. G. T.. Moore and
Rcbccca Grant. Misses Carter and
Grant were elected.
ELECTION OF JANITORS.
MesSrs. G. w. Hickman. George l..
Cuthriell. n. II. Moran. Edward Church
and II. r. Smith were elected janitors
of the schools. y strong plea was made
by Mr.. Minter for the re election OF
Mr. Cuthrcll.
a Legal. QUESTION.
The question was raised by Or. Nc
Curdy of the residence in this city of
Carrie WinSticid. colorcd who was
elected AT a former meeting of the
board as teacher III one of the colorcd
schools. with whom a contract had been
entered into by the board. An effort
was made To declare tho position
vacant and elect some one else. but the
point was made that II contract having
been made With her. she will have
grounds for legal claim for her salary
if she is dismissed without cause.
After considerable discussion the
matter was referred TO the Committee
on Teachers and Text Books TO asccr-
tain whether or not she resides in Nor
folk.
ASSIGNMENT OF TEACHERS.