The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-12-30

proper kind of teachers in the col
ored schools, and although the
Southern Educational association has
come out fat-footed for normal
training of colored teachers. colored
normal school graduates in Paducah.
at least, have been objects of more
or less persecution. Yet, any think
ing person can easily recognize how
peuicious may be the education OF
colored or white children under un-
trained, half educated instructors.
The association goes deeper 1t
says particular stress should be laid
on hygiene and home sanitation "for
the better protection of both races. p"
White people must live IN the
same towns with colored people, and
are exposed to every form of conta-
gion. of consumption or dreadful
fevers, that may arise or be propa-
gated by bad sanitation among the
colored population. Here's a place
where Negro education comes right
home to all Of us.
Industrial education, of course, IS
advised, and adequate buildings.
comfortable seating and sanitary
school accommodations" Certainly.
How could one expect 10 teach tho
negro youth the advantages of sGni-
tation, cleanliness, comfort and con-
venience, in house We provide,
which has none OF these qualities?
Children learn faster by example
than by precept. 1t would be as
ridiculous as teaching art and the
love of the beautiful in the archl-
tectural monstrosities we generally
erect for school houses.
Another point made is that eve
deplore the isolation of many negro
schools. established through motives
of philanthropy. from the life and
sympathies of the communities in
which they are located"
That means that the association
believes the colored institutes of this
character are not having any direct
effect on the general community life
of the colored race. A few indi-
viduals from here and there receive
an education that lifts them above
the mass OF their fellows, but the
population Is not uplifted by their
presence. When the graduates re-
turn to their homes. instead of being
a leavening force in the community
they are more apt to be overcome by
the influences around them.
Our public schools have been a
more direct factor in the develop
ment of the masses of population,
than the colleges. because they are
part of the community life, influence
ing the life around 1t and being in
fiuenced by their surroundings. All
public schools partake somewhat of
the character of the community peo-
pie among which they exist. and in
return uplift and elevate the com
munity.
Herein Is the great mistake OF our
Indian schools, that take individuals
from the parent tribe. transplant
them into a new world, rear them
under influences and surroundings
foreign to those In which the tribe
lives. and then return them to their
tribe, out of sympathy, out of touch
and beyond the understanding of
their kinsmen. The result is that
those educated Indians do not affect
the tribes in the least. except to
cause the chiefs to deplore their APP
parent loss of the virtues most highly
cherished by the Indians, and grad
'ually the educated young men drift
back into the ways of their people.
The Southern Educational associa-
ton and its members are alive to the
need of the hour. They do not pro-
pose to educate the colored man to
contempt for manual labor; but to
make him a more intelligent and eff
cient factor in the Industrial life OF
the south; to teach him cleanliness
and sanitation, that he may protect
himself and his white neighbor from
disease and death; and to bring him
and his schools in closer relations.
It's great work.
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