The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-01-14
BEREA'S PLAN FOR new CAREER


| Long before the decision OF the Su-
preme Court came to end forever the
existence of Berea College as seat OF
learning for both the white and negro
races the trustees of the institution,
anticipating the event, began raising
what they called an adjustment fund"
-so-called because its purpose was to
accomplish the adjustment of the col
lege to the new requirements. Now
that the decision has been made there
is nothing left the trustees but TO
push the work of acquiring the fund
and to establish in Kentucky a negro
college to take up and perpetuate the
labors of Berea for that race, while old
Berea devotes it's efforts to the edu-
cational uplift of the white youths Of
the mountains, to whom it is so &C
cessible.
The effect of Kentucky legislation
having been to close the doors of
Berea to colored students, there ought
to follow by all means swift and sure
steps to provide an institution for
them. The trustees comprehend the
need and are renewing their efforts
with marked vigor and with promise
of success. In bringing to pass the es-
Establishment of such a school in Ken
lucky the workers in its behalf will
confer a lasting benefit upon the
State.
The best friend of the negro race Is
the South, where the race is most nu-
merous and where its people are best
understood. Yet, of all the Southern
States, most of whom are devoting
capital and service to negro education,
Kentucky so far has done least. Such
a school as is proposed will be of in
calculable value socially and economi-
cally, for it will increase the indus
trial efficiency and raise the moral
tone of a large part of the population,
while still other advantages must flow
from the increased earning and pur-
chasing power of the colored people.
We cannot of course, bring all the
young negroes under the power Cf
such a school, but we can train
small army of teachers, each of whom
will be imbued with the industrial
idea, and they will spread the better
spirit and impulse among the masses.
As DIR. Frost has put it, Some such
training as was given by master and
mistress in the old days must be sup
piled now through the industrially
trained teacher in the public schools"
II will involve a large outlay 10
acquire such an institution, for indus
trial education requires tools and ma
terials which are more costly than
spelling books. The trustees of Be
rea have set aside 5000, 900 of the fixed
properties of the institution and ap-
propriated the income therefrom for
the benefit of the colored people. To
replace the funds thus Withdrawn
from it's mountain work and to sup
plement those funds so as to provide
a really adequate school the so-called
adjustment fund" of 100000 is being
raised. Mr.. Carnegie and other phil
anthropists of national feeling have
subscribed about s344,00O Of the sum.
There is a condition that the last
$50. 900 must be raised in Kentucky,
and this is the task that now lies
before Kentuckians.
The remaining sum required seems
a small enough contribution from the
State directly to be benefited from
the institution. The colored people OF
Kentucky are doing their part, they
having already subscribed $1,000. But
the negro race is not one of wealth.
Its people are dependent upon the
friendly efforts and generosity of the
whites for their advancement and the
means for Il. Since the salvation OF
the negro race in America must come
through the agency of industrial edu-
cation, whereby its people may be
enabled to become producers of wealth
and not dependents, that Industrial
education cannot be made too easy
of requirement. Dictations of hui
mainly and enlightened citizenship
would actuate the white population to
offer to the negroes every possible
opportunity to better themselves.
Considerations of self-interest, If the
other failed, would point out that the
way to shift the burden of carrying
the negro race from white should
ers to colored lies in simply educat-
ing the colored men to become pro-
ducers.
In an address before the National
Association of Teachers in Colored
Schools, Prof. e. l.. Blackshear, prin-
cipal Of Texas industrial school for
naoroas aIIudad IN fha haln piyen