The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-07
OPPOSE DIVISION
OF SCHOOL FUND
ABANDON NEGRO EDUCATION.
COL. GEORGE A. MERCER SAYS IT
WOULD BE BAD MOVE.

Experiment of Educating Blacks Is
Yet Incomplete and of Doubtful
Issue, and should Not Be Dropped
Until Success or Failure Is Ger
tain-Ehect of Discipline Upon Ne
gro Cannot but he for GOOd-Su-
perintendent AshmOre Doubts
Wisdom of Any Change.
The plan to divide the school fund Of
the state and apportion it between the
whites and the negroes according to
the amount of taxes paid has not met
with general approval by Savannah
educators. Those who were consulted
on the matter yesterday took positions
against a division.
The matter was brought before the
public by the action of the General
Assembly in recommending a constitu-
tional amendment to provide for such
a division of the fund. The ground
taken by the supporters of the move to
divide is that it is unjust to make the
taxpayers pay for the education, not
only of their children, but of the chill
dren of mountaineering fathers.
Col. George A. Mercer, president of
the Board of Education, in speaking of
the proposed change, said:
Il do not believe in the separation of
the school funds. Such a course would
mean practically the abandonment of
the education of the negro and 1 do not
believe that the time is yet ripe for
a
ed schools save those that were sup
ported by the negroes themselves,
there would be no schools. The Sa-
vannah blacks, for instance, not only
could not support one school, but l
doubt if they could support a single
class on the lines and of the standard
that they now are.
IF we educate only the children of
those who pay taxes, which is prac-
tically what the change is driving at,
1T would be necessary to abandon the
education of the children of the poor.
And this is just what we do not wish
to do. The children of the rich can
secure a private education, but public
education is provided for those who
cannot afford such a course of train
ing.
Issue Not Yet Decided.
1T is true" continued Col. Mercer,
that the experiment of educating the
negro is still a matter of doubt. The
result is doubtful, and 1 am not able
to say whether it will be a success or
failure. But while the issue is yet
doubtful, and while the experiment in
his education is still incomplete, l be-
lieve we should continue to educate
him. When we are certain that edu-
cation fails, then it is time enough to
stop appropriating money for his edu-
cation.
"a peculiar thing about the negro is
his deep reverence for his teachers and
preachers. Thus in the schools for the
colored children, you will find very
that in the white schools. The effect
of this discipline is of inestimable bene-
fit, in my opinion.
days in the week, the COL
ered children are under the influence
of this discipline. The effect of this
training, even if nothing at all is
learned from the text books, and the
instruction of the teachers, is to be of
great benefit.
otherwise the children would be on
the streets and we would have a gener-
alton of ignorant hoodlums that would
be unbearable. In my opinion, let US
continue educating them till we are
certain that the experiment has
failed"
Supt. Ashmore's Opinion.
Mr. Otis Ashmore, superintendent of
public schools, declined to discuss the
matter at length. though he stated he
doubted the wisdom of dividing the
fund. In speaking of the matter. he
said:
II doubt the wisdom of any change
in the present system. The subject
is by no means a new one, the atten-
ton of the general public, and of the
Legislature having been attracted to
it several times. 1t has been thorough
ly threshed over and the arguments
pro and con have been often before the
public.
II can not discuss the matter at any
length at this time. You may say that
j doubt the wisdom of the proposed
change, and am not inclined to be-
lieve that it is a good thing for all
concerned"