The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-10


ton Of manual training into IS these
schools. I.
EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO.
What has Just been said is declared TO
be specially true Of the schools for col;
nred children. Dr. russell, principal OF
the champion Normal and Agricull t t.al
institute, is quoted from his annual rt-s
port for 1S97,sS as. saying: .'The young
negroes are coming, out of q the public
schools OF Virginia cities and couH1ties
with some slight knowledge Of books but
with no handicraft United for the
Snlenial pursuits in which their parents
engaged, and in which, from the ma ture
( OF things, they must also engage It they,
are to work at al, they grayitate to the
cities, and in many instances become
yagabonds and criminals.
The superintendent says that IN 6 tue
light of present information it must be:
confessed that the negroes of the soatil
are rot making such progress In moral
and mental development as the advocates
of public education had hoped. The edu-
cation the TIesro is receiving makes MN
dissatisfied with the mental pursuits IN
which his father engaged, and in which
he must engage. if he is to make an nom
cat living and become a useful member
Eofi.the community in which h. lives.
An interesting passage from the report
is the following:
From the statistics furnished this
office by Coionel Morton AIarye, the able
and accomplished Auditor Of Public Ac-
counts, 1T is safe to say that the negroes
of Virginia cost the State annually about
ore-half million dollars in excess OF the
entire amount of taxes paid into the
treasury by them. This is not an en-
courasing state of affairs we must,
however, not forget that the negroes, III
4 F. r A.. -, frr NJ
have had to contend in their struggle
for material wealth with the most power
=ful and progressive: race of the Worid.
But the fact that they are still making
h,1t-little zJrogrcss.e and in some instances
show evident signs of retroSression oe-
man5s that the most enlightened thought
and the wiscst counsel be employed 10
find a remedy for. the existing evils. Al
will agree that Ignorance is not tne
remedy"
a REMEDY SUGGESTED
Regarding q remedy for the evllss Jus.
mentioned this superintendent concluaes
discussion of the problem of negro Eau-
cation in the following words:
aside from any question OF apstract
right, we should see to 1t that these
neople are educated to q moderate dcsi'e
Of intelligence, ard that they have such
Instruction in industrial training as 70
make lncrn thrifty III -EaDltS dIiu u '>iN,
tive in labor This much, at ieast. We
owc 10 them. to ourselves. and TO the
generations that are to come aiter US.
The remedy proposed may not cure an
tho evils but ii is the hest that has YET
l,cen suggested The Hampton Norman
and Agricultural Institute mas peeii
preaching this gospel and practiclhs ln's
doctrine almost from its founoalloii: .iie
Miller School OF Albemarle is llHil'S
monument to the wisdom of this pohcS'
and would urge the General Assembly,
70 se, that ample provision is made Tor
Introducing this kind OF training mo l.le
Normal and Collegiate Institute at
tersburg. The introduction OF lnous'l, ID,
training into all the common schoois'
for. white as we'll as for colored chlloHeii,
should be accomplished as soon as i'oss'-
HE. Surely there is salvation IN II.
The report includes with Parasrapn
devoted to discussion of text DOORS. s .heir
a6ontion. and their cost. which is htteen
Or twenty per cent. less tnan u.,aei
CORNER contracts: history OF the l.l.el,
ary Fund. Peabody Scholarship ot''e
INSTITUTIONS. official visitations, etc.
The report recommends coei ,,s.. 40.
of three persons to revise and codlty ths
school law tefore the next General as
semb!y. oo,,r,oes the
a passage at the close encourases '-i1
ast,h,ishnent OF school libraries.