The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-11-29
EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

To the Colored People Of the South:
This season of the year, for several
years. l have spoken a word to you
regarding the Importance OF building
up a good, hrst-class school IN every
community. Plans are On the way
by which during the third week in
October, 1913, the colored people
throughout the United States will
celebrate the fitch anniversary of
Their actual freedom as a race. In
this connection, it is OF the greatest
Importance that we be able to show
to the world the progress that we
have made in sustaining and building
I'D ~irst-class public schools, especial
ly in the rural districts.
During the last fifty years We have
succeeded in reducing u Ignorance
from 81 per cent to 80 per cent. This
is a fine showing for fifty years OF
freedom. We must not stop, but
must go 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
business men, together with the min
listers and teachers, should appeal
constantly to the public school au-
thorities to see that better provisions
are made. Unless we look out for
ourselves, we cannot expect other
people to do so. AS an illustration
Of what united and constant effort
can accomplis h, l would state that
during the last five years the colored
people in Macon County, Alabama,
have contributed $12,133.05 toward
the building of new schoolhouses; in
addition they have contributed $14,
900 toward the extension of school
terms in the county. The result ie
that nearly every school district in
Macon County has a frst-class school
house, well painted and well furnish
ed; 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
taxat on 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, l understand, on good
authority, that in Louisiana in one
par sh, where there are 5000 colored
people, there is no school building in
the entire parish. OF course, such a
condition means ignorance, and ig'
norance 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 u educational
int ests 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 r SO
few that it is almost discouraging,
in other sections the outlook is
bright. For example, at a meeting
Of the county superintendent Of Ala
bama called by the State Superin-
tendent of Education in Montgomery
a few days ago, the following senti-
ment, relating to the Negro, was
unanimously endorsed:
"By providing him with schools
and churches instead of poison and
whiskey, he will make a better and
more useful citizen, according to on
delegate present. Others expressed
their opinion on the Negroes rela.
ton to education, and 1t was OF
unanimous opinion that the race
should be aided as much as possible
by the state"
1t Is encouraging to note, too, that
in many counties in the South, the
teachers are under the supervision
and guidance Of DR.. James H. billiard
president Of the Anna T. Jeanes
Fund, and are doing much. to improve
the education of the race and to
bring about better relations between
black and white people. These
Jeanes Fund teachers should have