The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1912-11-30
EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

To the Colored People Of the South:
This season of the year, for several
years, have spoken a word to you
regarding the importance of building
up q good, frst-elass school in every
community. Plans are on the way by
which during the third week in Oe-
tober, 1913, the Colored people
throughout the United States viii cele-
brate the fftieth anniversary of their
actual freedom as a race. In this
connection it is of the greatest import
ance that we be able to show to the
world the progress that we have made
in sustaining and building up frst-elass
public schools, especially in the rural
districts.
During the last fifty years We have
succeeded in reducing our ignorance
from 81 per cent to 30 per cent. This
is a fine showing for fifty years Of
freedom. We must not stop, we must
60 further. The greatest points of
weakness just now are in the small
country districts.
In every case where there are al
ready proper school facilities, the bust
ness men, together with the ministers
and teachers, should appeal constantly
to the public school authorities to see
that better provisions are made. I'm
less we look out for ourselves, we can
not expect other people to do so. As
an illustration of what united and con-
slant effort can accomplish, would
state that during the last five years
the Colored people in Macon County,
Alabama have contributed $12, 1906
toward the building of new school.
houses; in addition they have contrib
uted $4,000 toward the extension of
school terms in the county. The result
is that nearly every school district in
Macon County has a irst-elass school
house, well painted and well furnished,
the school term has been extended from
four to seven months in the year, and
the people are continuing to contribute
in the way of extra taxation toward
the upkeep of public schools.
Something of this kind can be done
in every county in the South where
there are not satisfactory facilities. In
order to indicate the problem that is
before Us, 1 understand, on good au-
thority, that in Louisiana in one par
ish where there are 5000 Colored peo-
pie, there is no school building in the
entire parish. Of course, such a eOndi-
tion means ignorance, and Ignorance
means poverty, and poverty means
crime.
We must not cease to agitate the
question of education, to keep the
white people in our communities in
formed concerning our educational in
terests and desires. We cannot get
something for nothing. 1t is only
through constant effort that we shall
get education for our children.
While in many parts of the South
the educational opportunities are 50
few that it is almost diseouraging, in
other sections the outlook is bright,
For example, at a meeting of the
county superintendent of Alabama
called by the State Superintendent Of
Education in Montgomery a few days
ago, the following sentiment, relating
to the Negro, was unanimously en-
dorsed:
''By providing him with schools and
churches instead of poison and Whiskey
he VIII make q better and more useful
citizen, according to one delegate
present. Others expressed their oPin-
ion on the Negroes relation to educa.
tion, and it was the unanimous opinion
that the race should be aided as much
as possible by the state"
Il Is encouraging to note, too, that
in many counties in the South, the
teachers are under the supervision and
guidance Of Dr.. James Il. billiard,
president of the Anna 7. Jeanes Fund,
and are doing much to improve the edu-
cation Of the race and to bring about
better relations between black and
white people. These Jeanes Fund
teachers should have the constant sup
port and cooperation Of our leaders
wherever they are at work.
In conclusion, let me urge ministers,
teachers, business men, womenb clubs,
and an classes to unite and make thil
. banner year in the matter Of imProy-
ing tie public schools for Our raee.
Esigne0 Booker 7. Washington
Tuskegee Institute, Ala
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