The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-14
SCHOOLS FOR CoLoRED.
Are Being Studied by U. S. Bureau of
Education.

Education.
The IT, S. bureau of education, in CO.
operating with the Phelps Stokes fund,
is now making aa comprehensive
study of the private and higher schools
for colored people. This study is I'M
dertaken in response to numerous and
insistent demands for knowledge of
these schools, the number of which is
constantly increasing.
Thoughtful people of the south and of
the north, white and colored, are more
and more puzzled as to the merits and
demerits of the many appeals for money
and sympathy in behalf of all sorts and
conditions of institutions for the i'm
provement of negroes. Letters from
state superintendent of education in
the south emphasize the need of a COM
plete survey of the whole field. At a
recent conference of the representatives
of some of these schools held in New
York, it was the concensus of opinion
that there is much duplication of educa-
tional effort in some sections but much
more of neglect in many other sections
Every educational board interested in
the colored people and almost every in
dividual who contributes to this cause
is calling for information. After con-
siderable discussion of this need by Dr.
billiard of the Jeanes fund and the Stat
Ter board, and by other representatives
of the Conference for Education in the
South" it was decided to appeal to the
III. S. commission OF education for
thorough study of the private and high
err schools for negroes. Commissioner
Claxton's intimate knowledge of every
phase of education in the south enable
him to understand the Importance of
this request and he Immediately began
to make plans for the study now under
way.
A remarkable evidence of the import
ance of this survey is the fact that
about the same time two other import
ant organizations interested in colored
schools decided to assemble information
on this subject. DR.. j. H. billiard, sec
rotary of the Slater board, obtained per-
mission of that body to begin the
study. 1t was at this time also that the
trustees of the Phelps Stokes fund, con-
fronted by appeals from all sorts and
conditions of schools, decided to make a
thorough survey of the situation. As
the fund is of recent origin, word OF
explanation may be necessary at this
point. This Phelps Stokes fund is the
residuary estate, amounting to about a
million dollars, bequeathed by Miss Car
oline Phelps Stokes, of New York City,
for various philanthropic purposes,
among which is the education of me-
- A,
up to date have contributed directly or
indirectly to clearer knowledge of col
ored schools. Gifts to the universities
of Virginia and Georgia and to the Pea
body college in Nashville are for the
of fellowships and research
work in the field of Negro education. A
number of smaller sums have also
been given for related purposes.
The cooperation of the bureau of ed |
ucation and the Phelps-St Fund is
the result of the close relationship of |
the Representatives of the Slater board, |
the conference for education in the |
south, and the trustees of the Phelps |
Stokes fund, with each other and with |
Commissioner Claxton. Through this |
unnecessary duplication is |
avoided the time, effort, and money are
saved.
The work is done under the immediate |
direction of DIR. Thomas Jesse Jones, a
native of Wales and a nsturalized citi
zen of the United States, was educated |
both in Southern and northern insti-
.utes, and has deoted number of years
% the educational and economic condi-
ions of the negroes in the United
States. His studies and observations,
extending over several years in the CEN
JUS bureau and in the United States bu-
eau of education, will be especially use
ul in this study of schools. An ex
laustive schedule of questions in re-
.ard to the schools has been prepared
With much care and is being filled by
lr. Jones and those associated with him,
lfter careful investigation of the
ehools made by them. These questions
elate to the history of the schools, their
present condition, their management,
heir religious and social activities, and
he work of graduates and former
tudents. Attention will also be given
o the relation of the schools to their
When sufficient data have been coll
ected a report will be printed and pub
ished giving a brief but accurate sur
ey of each school. of its equipment, its
york, and its place in the educational
ystem Of the city, county or state in
which it is located.