The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-10-04
PROF. F. c. SMITH EXPLAINS.
CONTINUED from Page ~

SCHOOL TOT Negroes. Inc SuperlntenQ-
ent and / were alone and he did not
SEEM to be in a hurry. l felt that
the hour was favorable for me to
bring up the matter and put in some
good ticks ON a subject that was dear
to the heart of every Negro in Nash
ville-the new High School. During
the conversation the Superintendent
asked me where did | think the school
should be located when the time came
to erect one. The question came
without warning and l had given no
thought to the location, so | replied
that the present site / thought would
be satisfactory if enough land could
be bought on the South and on the
north Of the building to give us space
enough. This "a not a recommends
ton. 1t was simply a reply to a ques-
ton between two people, and the To-
cation mentioned was the present
site, where the school has been To-
Gated long before | was made Prin-
clpal and have never heard before
OF the Globe raising any objection to
1t. Black Bottom covers a wide fer
ritory. 1t is bounded on the north bv
Broad street, on the south by Pea
body, on the east by Front and
the west by Fifth avenue. The
Globe is unfair to me when it states
that | recommended this area. It
is unfair when it states that | think
Black Bottom the best place for the
new school, because that statement
leaves the impression that anywhere
In Black Bottom will do. | spoke
only Of the present site. The white
High School was built on it's old site
and the present site of Pearl is about
the only site in the center of the CITY
that would not create race antagonist,
and criticism. The white people have
become used to the school being To-
Gated here. 1t is very painful, Mr.
Editor, and also dIscouraging, IN think
That while | was fighting the battle
Tor the children, protecting their in
t%erests, single7handed M alone. and
going as far as prudence and good
sense would allow in looking efter
AOOAAA1h GLIGl
thelr interest that you should write
me up in such a sensational wav.
Did you feel hurt because Won we're
not consulted? l know it is a CHS.
tom with some people to Jump on the
teachers and lambast them when there
Is nothing else to jump on. They feel
that teachers are scared of their Jobs
and won't strike back. This is q
wrong attitude. Teachers as a rule
are hard-worked and poorly Maid
Tney need the sympathy and helm of
all citizens. The Globe cen help us
IN u work a great deal if it will
On1 more thing, and l am done
Inc Globe says Black Bottom ia the
nome of nurderers, gamblers and
drunkards. 1t is described as one
worst dives in the country. This NAV
all be true. l accept the Globe az an
authority because from personal
knowledge | know very little about II
BUT what has the Globe done to puri.
~ it or make it better? Is mo- Black
Bottom largely inhabited by our own
people? The truth is, Black Bottom
is what it is because of the Negroes
there and the few white men who earn
a livelihood from them. Does the Globe
know that it may not be possible for
us to keep the present site of Fearl
High School, even, If all the Negroes
IN Nashville agree to it? l under
stand that another movement is to he
launched to wipe opt Black Bottom
and to build a park there. When this
is done, there is some talk of using
the present Hay Market spot for an
athletic field for the new white High
School. Pearl may then be moved.
IL was the thought of the removal of
Pearl that caused me to mention to
the school the question asked me by
the superintendent as to where !
thought the new school should be To-
Gated. Some one had complained to
the superintendent that my pupils
We're going three and four abreast on
the sidewalk and taking up the whole
pavement on the way to and from
school. / was lecturing the school on
street behavior and advised them to
be circumspect in their conduct. In
the course of my remarks I stated
that Pearl was the only Negro school
situated in the heart of the city and
that it was the cynosure Of all eyes
All other schools were situated in the
suburbs, or in the outer rim of the
circle. l wanted my children tn Sc
act, and to be 20 careful and so con.
siderate Of the rights Of others that
if the school was ever moved, no &C.
cusation could be made that they
were the cause of it. I then re.
marked that only the other day the
superintendent asked me about a site
for the new High School, and repeat
ed my reply.
Now, Mr.. Editor, I ask you to pub.
fish this communication that this
tempest in a teapot" which you have
raised may be settled. Of course
that part of your article about tears
streaming down the cheeks of the
children" and indignation of the
Nashville Negroes aroused" was
highly colored and inserted for effect
to make the Globe sell. Nashville
people understand the Globe pretty
well. In conclusion, allow me to say
that if in my zeal to help the children
and to see that they received the ben
eft of every Improvement introduced
into our course Of study l have made