The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-02
VIEWS OF TINES READERS
ON THE ISSUES OF THE DAY

headed ..Fierce Feud About Schools in
New Kent County, &c, which think
should not be allowed to pass by unno-
ticeo, ard I beg that you allow this
place in your paper
In the first place there is no uncommon
trouble in the district about schools. only |
a difference of views among the people |
of the Brakeman School District us to |
the location of school-houSe. 1t IS
true that a mystery surrounds the burn
ing of the Brakeman schcol-house, but |
suspicion rests upon no one that nave
heard of. In regard to the burning OF
Barhamsvile school, there is not the
slightest doubt as to the origin, as 1t
was burnt about IL o'clock in the day
while school was in session and was OBJ
served first in the top of tho building. |
The county uperntendent knew this when
he made the statement imputed to MN
by the writer of this article. that both
houses were mysteriously burnt. II IS
absolutely false that there is any con-
tention whatever between the neiShbor-
hoods of Barhamsvile and Brakeman,
and has never been. About eight years
ago the people in the Brakeman neigh
borhood asked to have school in their
midst; the District Board declined TO
establish one. on the ground that the
means at their disposal did not justify
it and that the place they wanted 1t was
too near to the Bartamsvihe school. n
Board of reference was called and a
school was established by shortening The
term of all the schools and reducing the
salaries of the teachers This made the.
fourth white school Last Year it be-
came necessary, OH account OLA falling
off in our school population TO reduce the
schools in order to meet the lcSalTcduire-
lnents under the law, and the District
Board combined two colored schools ana
enlarged the house to accommodate the.
children making only two schools for the
colorcd people After the Brakeman
house was burned the patrons naturally
wished it rebuilt. The attention of the
District Board was attracted to that part
of the Constitution relating to public
schools, and being impressed with the
idea that they We're discriminating too
freely in the division OF the schools be-
tween the races they declined to rebuild
until they could get some advice on the
subject; however. they rented a house
and started the school. In the meantime
a meeting of the patrons of the BarllauS-
VILE and Brakeman schools was advised
TO consider the above and see If some
satisfactory arrangement could not be.
made to combine tho{ two chools, but
nothing was accomplished / went to
Richmond TO consult tho State Board.Sl
did not see any OF tlIei members of the
Board, but saw Mr., Brent, the secretary.
I stated my trouble to him. / came
home and reported the result of my con- 1
ference to the Distrct.Board, and they
decided to rebuild. We consulted with
a large majority of the: patrons as to
whateplace they desircdSthe house &huils
as there had been some talk by parties
living%in and around Plum Point to put
the hoilsc closer 10 them.
Patrons rcscntng%ninetcen children
attcndingaschool said put it back on the 1
very same spot where the old one was
burned and a contractsswas let+zto that
effect under specifications that the con-
tractor would furnish 3alI material and
build the%house for the sam Of Sl40.s Nj
ter the house was about three-tourths
completed q. Board fSsFcference was
called askinGEtke removal of the house 4
nearer PumsPoint The: Board met de-
cember 18TH There were only two of
the advocates for moving the house pres
ent one of whom was not a patronot any
school and would not probably be Tor scV-
eral years. his CHILDREN being 50 young. 4
The other gentleman did everything III
his power and means to establish the
school eight years agoS!Where 1t lcW
stands There were five patrons pres
ent, VINO testified that tho house should
remain where it is, hut the Board I
decided that the school was improperly
located when it was first built, and
should be removed one and half or two
miles nearer to Plum Point. The con-
tractor suspended work for week or
more no place having been designated to
build the house. The superintendent had
never visited that section of this county
and it looked to him that no place would
be found in any reasonable time, so he
completed his contract. The Board re-
ccivcd the house and paid the contract
price a petition, asking the county SUI
peritcndcnt to grant a new hearing III
the case, signed by eight patrons repre-
senting twenty children attending school
out OF an enrolment of twenty-four, was
returned with the information (after con-
sultation with Mr.. Brent that no re-
hearing could possibly be had from the
decision of the Board OF Reference.
Yours truly
S. IGoDDIN.
Barhamsville, Va, Jan. ., 1902.