Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-22
> plsa for Better Negro Schools.

- rive t0f ttthSt IVY
Whatever may be said OF the color
Cd teachers OF the Union Street
school or their refusal TO continue
their service as teachers for the
small pittance OF $2250 per month.
no one OF fair and reasonable mind
could dispute the justice OF their
claim. or deny that they pursued the
only course open TO them to protect
ihemselyea against starvation. But
the situation Of the cclored school in
Hampton. Is far more serious than
that of inadequate pay for teachers.
Hampton has a large and thrifty pop
ulation OF colored people with cor
respondirgly large school population.
and wi.h absolutely no school in the
town of Hampton for their accommo-
dation. not a single school. and have
never had The colored children are
forced out into the county and re-
ceive only the county provision which
is wholly inadequate and palpably un-
fair. The parents of the children. OF
course. pay their taxes in the town.
Every bond issue. and every new
school for the whites increases their
burden proportionately while their
children must grow up in ignorance.
Now. what Is this Union Street school
any way which the county provides
for the colored children OF Hampton
AS house simply. TO say nothing OF
its being a school house. IL has out
grown its usefulness.years ago-a run
down. dilapidated. Anticipated. ram-
shackled affair which an interprising
farmer would hardly use as a barn.
il has no fence about II except a wire
arrangement which the colored peo-
pie paid for lin parD themselves. IL
has no pump or well or provision OF
any kind for water. Its toilet equip
ment DAYS no regard to sanitation or
morals. pig sty or cattle pen could
hardly be worse. No basin. no towel,
Just tare. naked. worn out. two
story dwelling house about twenty
FIVE years old. with a stove in each
room, few mangled and mutilated
desks, discarded and cast on from the
white schools, unaccompanied by
map. chart or other access cries or
school supplies of any kind, with
about a half dozen underpaid teach
ers. Such is a true and accurate pic
ture of the Union Street school.
Now, the question which inevitably
follows is. is this all that the colored
people of Hampton have a right to
expect in the way of school advant-
ages for their children. when the
whites have every possible conven-
ience-three ample and commodious
buildings. conveniently located, ade-
ouately equipped. furnished with well
paid teachers. and running eight or
nine mouths in the year? The col
ored people of Hampton have never
envied the white people these magni-
ficent schools. they do not envy them
now, they rather feel pride In them
But they feel on the other hand that
they have been. and are being. dc
prjyed OF a fair and just proportion
of the bles. ings and prosperity or the
community which they are taxed 10
support. They pay. according TO the
published data of the new assessment
about one-fifth or 20 per cent OF the
entire taxes and receive scarcely one
per cent of school privileges. and this
alone from the county point OF view.
They receive absolutely nothing az
a town. Is ii right? Is II fair? The
colored people of Hampton have
Fever teen disposed to complain or
find fault with the treatment OF the
whites. No community in the South,
In the whole country, can excel
Hamilton as to the friendship and
good will of the races. AS rule
the white people are kind and. oblig-
ing. helpful and sympathetic, and
even fond of the colored people. ana
will generally do all in their power
to help them along. The ooiored peo-
pie are likewise very fond OF the
white people, they are happy and
contented lot. TRANQUILITY dispose ed and
uncon2Iaining. How it happens that
they have been pushed aside. crowd
ed back. and neglected. with regard
to their school facilities. IS actually
incomprehensible- Is IL simply over
sight. inadvertence. or careiessne-s
on the part OF the whites who COZ
troll the schools. or Is IL wiiful intcot
or ignorance Of the real situation or
what? II is hard to believe that the
white people of Hampton who are SO
generous and sympathetic otherwise
and who are o keenly alive 10 their
own educational welfare, would be
willing to take or withhold all sem
blauce of an educational opportunity
from their helpless but trustfui cob
ored neighbcrs. Mr. Henry L.
Schm elz says in his appeal for white
schools. in the Daily Press. Sept q,
1906: Its crying shame TO COM
pel the teachers TO accept the salaries
they arc paid. as every public school
teacher should be paid for the twelve
months. am in favor Of increasing
the salaries Of the public school
teachers by paying them for twelve
months rather for eight months" He
SAYS slso in the same article: Il am
heartily in favor Of having another
large nnhlic school building. the cost