The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1906-11-01
ANOTHER SERIOUS PHASE.

LILO Aoi4UWAuS aIblClo from Gn0
jackson News presents another serious
phase Of the Italian labor proplem:
The State Board Of Education to
day ruled that Italian children are
entitled to attend white schools, and
that the board has no authority to
establish separate schools for this
rapidly growing GLASS Of citizenship
in the delta.
The matter was brought up on .
petition Of the trustees Of the public
schools ut Shelby, Bolivar county,
Messrs D. H. s. Cox, J. P. Lauder.
dale and s. s. Martin, addressed to
County Superintendent Of Education
Thos. s. Ovens, and in full a. fol.
lows:
There is great deal Of complaint
from the patrons of our school against
the Italian children attending the
public school here and we would be
glad for You to Investigate the matter,
and. If possible, 50 arrange the matter
as to give separate school for the
1Caucasian race, and also one for the
1talians. race. We have sufficient
shildlen Of school age Of either race
to maintain school average and We
could easily arrange for proper school
building for the Italians, provided
you see your way clear from : legal
standpoint to establish it. We believe
that this arrangement would also be
more satisfactory to the Italians. AZ
they are naturally inclined to be
clannish, and in this way would be
placed to themselves where they
would feel perfectly easy
In reply to the above petition
County superintendent Ovens ssnt
the following reply:
81 beg to advise that section 1895
Of the code Of 1892 provides As fol.
lows: Separate districts shall be
made for the schools Of the white
and oolored races There IL no other
provision for dividing the schools Of
the white race as to separate for
eigners from native white children.
I'have had this question submitted
to me several times before, and this
has been my opinion to trustees on
former occasions. have no doubt
but what better results could be had
in the schools II they were separated.
but unfortunately am forced to fol.
low the law, and not my individual
opinion should like very much to
give the relief that you ssk, but my
hands are tied by the law.
I'VE are all liable to err. and
while | think my view Of the law Il
correct, there Is > chance that am
In error, and that you would like to
have it submitted to higher authority |
II 30. would be glad for you to have
it appealed TO the State Board Of
Education, which il the. highest
authority we have In school matters. !"
State Superintendent Of Education
Whitfield, Attorney General william
williams and Secretary of State
Joseph ". Power were present At to- |
days session, and after brief dis
cussion IL was agreed to sustain The
ruling Of Supt. Owens, which means
that native-born and Italian children
will continue to attend tho same
schools ID Bolivar county. ~.
Attorney General williams made ! |
thorough view Of the statntes before |
expressing an opinion on the matter, |
and It Was his very evident desire 20
hold that the board had authority 70 |
provide separate schools Tor Italians
and native whites. but after earefnl |
stady Of the constitutional clause md |
enaCtments lie was forced /
g the coqclusion that tho authority |
70 establish separate schools does NOT /
exist. and voted with the other menu
bers Of The board II sustaining thel
ruling o. Supt. Owens.
Several other arEosl o'sea ws!e ]