The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-29
FINAL REPORT
To BE AWAITED
FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE
BEFORE BOARD OF EDUCATION
ACTS ON MANUAL TRAINING.

The Cost of Manual Trimming and n
Manual Training Teacher Col.
Mercer Favors EGufpPing Two
schools, One for White Children
and One for NegrOes-WOuId Make
Manual Training Optional with
the whites But Compulsory with
the Negroes.
No action will be taken by the Board
Of Education regarding the building Of
manual training schools and the en-
ployment OF teachers until the Fl
nance Committee has made its re-
port az the June session.
The action of the grand jury in rec
ommending an appropriation Of $500
for the schools was indinerently re-
ceived by members OF the board. The
Finance Committee had asked for an
appropriation Of $1,000, and until il re-
ports, no opinion would be expressed
regarding what would be done with
the lesser amount.
The fact that the trustees Of Chat
ham Academy appropriated 81, 500 for
the purpose OF equipping a manual
training school makes little difference
al this stage Of the proceedings.
Though this brings the total amount
available up 10 5000, il is not yet
known by the members of the board
whether the Finance Committee con-
sidered this appropriation in making
up their estimate
The manual training school at Be
thesda represents an investment of
1000 A careful investigation has
shown that a competent white teach
er cannot be secured under $500. AL
OF these facts will be taken UP at the
June meeting Of the board and the
question Of manual training thorough
ly discussed.
Col Mercer's Opinion.
When asked for an opinion regard
ing what would be done in the matter,
Col. George A Mercer. president of
the board. said:
I am unable TO state what will be
done until We have heard from the Fl
nance Committee. The entire matter
was practically left in its hands at the
May meeting of the board. The mem
bers estimated that il would require
az least $1,000 to put the system into
effect.
The grand jury has seen fit 10 cut
this amount down by $500 II is true
that $500 was appropriated for man.
ual training purposes by the trustees
Of Chatham Academy. but until the
committee reports cannot say wheth-
er il included this in its estimate. Or
overlooked il. Everything depends on
the report Of the committee.
He FavOrs Two schools.
Personally, I am in favor of two
schools one for the white children and
one for the colored. Both schools
should be in session in the afternoon,
as il would be urwise to interfere with
the morning work Of the schools. As
matters now stand we spend only four
hours and forty minutes in actual work
for five days of the week, and TO Ices
en- the number of hours would be detri-
mental.
7 would have the subject Opt onal
with the white children, but compul-
kory with the negroes. The negroes
will never be anything but industrial
workers. and therefore the work is OF
especial benefit to them. The white
children are fitting themselves for
business and professional work and
therefore the manual training does not
mean SO much TO them
Superintendent AshmOre Retfcent.
Supt. OLs AshnlOre was TellCeAt
about expressing an opinion as TO what
would be done He took practically
the same ground as did Col. Mercer,
stating that he could not say what
would be done until the report of the
Finance Committee had been heard.
Until the Finance Committee re-
ports" he said. we can do nothing.
We have left everything in its hands
and must wait its report. The commit
tee was instructed to report at the
next meeting of the board, and until
that time I DO not care TO express an
opinion"
The appropriation of $500 for re-
imbursing the board for loss of moneys
through the removal Of High School
tuition fees was favorably received. 1t
is now regarded as practically certain
that all charges will be removed at
the June meeting of the board.