The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12
NEGRO SCHOOLS IN
DEPlORABLE SHAPE
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country These states are Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana.
Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. In
these II states the total population in
1900 was 1875, 665. of which IL, TIC, 3s1 were
white and 1894 or 401 per cent was
negro.
First. In order to find out whether
the negro public school is a burden on
the white taxpayer in these states it Is
necessary first of all to ascertain what
these states are spending for public
schools, both white and colored. The
latest reports OF the several departments
of education indicate that these IL states
are now spending about $50, S,S52 for
elementary and secondary public educa-
ton This sum represents every Item OF
expense and Is Just slightly more than
Pennsylvania spends annually fer the
same purpose. This sum is 81 ,00o0 900 less
than New York spent for public educa-
ton in 1909. and not quite twice as much
as Massachusetts spent in 1905. The
wealth of these II southern states is ap-
proximately ,s12. 900. 900, 900, while New York
state has property worth $4,000, 100000.
Massachusetts IS 900, 100000 and Pennsyl-
vania s11.50O, 100000.
Second. The south is spending sS2,-
06s, S51 on her public schools, both white
and black, but what part OF this sum
is devoted to negro public schools. which
must serve at least 40 per cent of her
school population?
1t is not possible to answer this ques-
ton with absolute accuracy. But 1t is
possible, from the several state reports,
to find out the whole amount spent for
teachers, and, in all the states except
Arkansas what was spent for white and
negro teachers separately. The aggre-
gate amount now being spent for public
school teachers for both races in these
II states Is s23,S56,914. or 74.4 per cent of
the whole amount expended. OF this sum
not more than $3,S1S,7O5 was paid to negro
teachers, or IL per cent of the total ex-
penditures. And hero let me call your
attention directly to the fact that nearly
three-fourths Of our total public school
expenditures are for teachers, but thst
negro teachers receive only IL per cent
of the total expended, while white teach
ers receive S2.4 per cent. 1t is also evil
dent that the amount spent for negro
teachers is by far the largest item of
expense OF the negro public schools.
'3. But aside from the expense of ne
gro teachers, what is the additional cost
of the negro public schoois7 This addi-
tional cost cannot be accurately deter
mined from the data now available. But
South Carolina, tIorlOa, AlADdma, MIS-
sissippi and Texas-fve states-report the
total cost of negro schools. In these
states the additional cost of negro schools
above the cost of teachers Is as follows:
South Carolina. 1.3 per cent of total ex-
penditures; Florida, 5.3 per cent: Ala
bama, is per cent; Mississippi, AZ per
cent; Texas, 20 per cent. These figures
indicate that between and per cent Of
the total expenditures for public schools
in the south Is being devoted to the negro
schools above the cost of negro teachers.
This means that about s917,670 is 20 be
added to the cost of negro teachers to
get the entire cost of the negro public
schools in the south. The aggregate cost
of the negro public schools is, therefore.
near s4.736,375, or 14.8 per cent Of all
expenditures. The significance of these
figures is that, while the negro race has.
at least 40 per cent of the children to
educate, not quite Is per cent of the
money expended on public education is
being devoted to their schools.
"Alabama-Total expenditure in 1908,
s., 175,325. Spent for teachers, 1883, OH.
Spent for white teachers, H,n2. 1893. Spent
for negro teachers. s24o.17s Per cent spent