The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-21
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY q, 1904
Education for the Negro,

Education for the negro.
we print today letters from number
#of distinguished educators in Richmond
4 reply to the question: do you thl ~: \
that education helps the negro TO be a
eB,ei+er citizen 2" In sending out these
letters we did rot Intentionally select
,hose who would give an affirmative re-
LII. = was not our purpose to procure
argument in favor Of negro eoucu l1%'
NJ a. much as At was to ascertain the views
$,,, ,,rom,nent teachers on that subject
Put It so happens that every one OF oalrs
s3corres pondents docs make an aitrma. '
reply. and does make ar. argument AZ
favor Of training the negro
IL, The replies are all instructive, ana ana theS
X should be read with care we are spe-
c,allv interested in the communication OF
3sunerintendent Fox who is in better
nosition, perhaps, than airy man IN F'ch-
.mond To observe the effect OF educa'loh
&,,,nnn the negro race. 1t Is also interest
@,nr and significant that Mr.. Dana I'll.
Fucker. principal Of the West End pub
@,,c school, follows much the same line
~ /, rr,ment as that employed by Super.
,rtendant Fox. Each observes from the
Same no,nt of view, and each reaches
the same conclusion, that education OF
the right sort has much the same effect
,,non all who receive 1t, no matter to
what race the recipients may belong,
MBeth Mr.. Fox and Mr. Fucker speak
of the r.egro In slavery, and MI Rucker
well says that the negro slave was IN "a
sense educated. We go farther and re-
,,eat what We have said time and again
SSin discussing this question, that the negro
8fslaye was spenddly educated First Of
TAIL he was taught the great lesson gu
7tobedience: then he was taught good man :
$Fncrs; Their he was taught to tell the
tt;sruth: then he vas taught TO keep his
hands from picking and stealing; and,
last Of all, he was well Instructed ~
manual training. Time and again has
the question been asked: Howis it that
There are mary negro brutcs III she
Land to-day prowling around and look
i ing for defenseess victims, while TINS
the days of slavery? We have already
given the answer. The negro slave was
taught good morals and good manners,
and he would have sacrificed his life
tin defense OF the honor OF any lady mem
81 Der of the family to which he belonged.
ID But since the war the negro has had
very little of that sort of training Sc
&E far from being reared in al atmosphere
of restraint he has been turned loose
4sas n rule, as an unbridled colt, to roam
lat large to follow his own natural III
0stincts, and to satisfy his appetltes as
the opportunity occurred That mar
by nature savage and brutal reared uil-
ia der such circumstances, should grow vi
ITO be more savage and more brutal J:
mot strange. The strange thing is tina
negroes. thus reared, are net worse thar
they are.
We have absolutely no doubt that cdu
"a cation of the right sort Is as good TO-
MI the negro as it is for the white man, an'
We have no doubt that the negro rae
needs such education worse than III
white race needs it. The argument tina
the negro is to be improved by with
holding from him education is rot onl
palpable contradiction, but it Is IN
argument of recklessness. AS well argu
that public safety Is TO be promote
byaturning loose In the South thousand
y and millions Of unframed lions and tiger
from the wilds of Africa. The regroe
are here. and here TO stay, and we mus
endeayor 10 teach them and to trai
them to DO good and useful citizens
Mr.. Fox and Mr.. Rucker both call al
Eieption 10 the conduct OF properly edl
@ catca negroes In this community, q
compared with the conduct Of untraiEe
Z bruies of the race Mr., Fox says thf
his experience with the graduates of II
Normal School is very satisfactory; thi
b at the close of the last session It's gradl
VI ates n,anbered GG6. and that these, wit
83 rare exceptions, have taken good pos
Mons in the community, and are ,exe
81 cising a conservative influence, beir
leaders in all good works among the
race Mr., Rucker directs attention
the same fact. and speaks also Of 4
good conduct of the graduates of t
Hampton Normal School.
This brings ms at last TO the most il
portant question OF all--thc right SC
Of teachers, Place at the head Of I
negro schools men ard women OF go
moral character, and they will be sure
reach the children committed TO tht
lessons In manners and morals, and su
u instruction is bound 10 impress the neg
race.
Rs Observation-Disclosures