The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-16
TaE COLORED TEACHERS.
Teachers Association Elects CfiCers and Will
Adjourn Today.


The North Carolina Teachers Associa-
ton had a day of sightseeing yesterday
after the selection of officers and the read
ing of reports. The next meeting will be
held in Concord at Scotia Seminary next
June.
For the ensuing year w. G. Pearson, of
Durham, was reelected president and the
following elected: T. S. Imboden of En-
field, secretary; Rev o. Faduma, of Troy,
treasurer; DR.. N. F. Roberts, of Shaw
University, c. M. Eppes, of Plymouth,
and H. E. Hagan, of Go,dsboro, vice
presidents. The reports showed sixty-fve
members present and the finances in good
shape.
The members Of the association yester-
day visited Pullen Park, the State Capitol
and the Museum 1t was a day of sight
seeing after business was over
Today the annual sermon will be
preached by Rev. J. E. King, of St. Am
brose church, Raleigh, at 1920 and at
night there will be a general discussion
on temperance led by T. S. Imboden, of
Enfield.
In an address by E. A. johnson, of Raj
eigh, on Compulsory Education in North
Carolina during the meeting, he said
North Carolina stands in illiterary of the
white population second of the total pop
ulation tenth in the Union. Since 1890
white illiteracy has been reduced from
1877 per cent to the present rate of 1875
per cent. Negro ilhteracy from COL per
cent to the present rate of 47.6 per cent.
1t viii thus be seen that in ten years the
whites have reduced their illiteracy 3.6
per cent, while the negro has reduced his
1875 per cent Working at this pace, for
ty years longer the negro will have en-
tirely wiped out his ignorance or reduced
it to a minimum.
The average white illteracy in the u. S.
is 6.2, the average negro illiteracy is 44.5
per cent. The total illiteracy of white and
colored is 1917 per cent
Among the white population of the
country, North Carolina whites stand next
to the head of the list in illiteracy: among
the colored North Carolina colored people
stand No. in the list; and the per cent
of white illiteracy in North Carolina is
more than three times as great as that of
the average white illiteracy of the United
States. These figures show large job of
house cleaning on the part of both races.
The per cent of attendance OF the COlOred
children last year was %, and Of the white
children $50, showing that the whites are
ahead of the colored three per cent, and
here is where the colored teacher must
put more emphasis in his work in the flu
ture. Too many Weary Wilies put their
hands to the educational pillow and then
turn back.
The white boys go to school better than
the girls by a difference Of over 10000 in,
the whole State; while the colorcd girls
attend better than the boys by differ
cnce of over six thousand.
l find four counties where the pay Of
the colored teachers exceeds that Of the
whites
There are 1876 first grade teachers LIB
second grade, and 212 third grade colored
teachers. There are 100 more males hold
ing first grade certificates than females,
and about one thousand more females
holding second grade certificates than
males.
The female teachers form themselves
into three classes, the bread winners, the
sCm-bread winners, and those who work
for luxuries. Men who are expecting to
obey President Roosevelts injunction to
get married and try to rear families have
had to leave the school room. They can
not compete with teachers who are will
ing to work for low wages.
There is need of heroic efforts to trans
fer some of the large number of second
grade to the first grade class Of teachers
There is need of better attendance, only
about one-half of the children enrolled
being in attendance There is need of lon
ger school terms the average in the rural
districts being only fourteen and one-half
weeks.