The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1913-10-24
FRIDAY OCTOBER "a. 1913
STORY TelllMe IN COlOkfD SCHOOLS.

Story telling ~ part 81 the public
s~hool curriculum is good thing: il
makes the child immaginative, holds HE
attention and develops the faculry of con-
versing freely. But il ss<ms to ms that
il the story Of the lives Of great, COOL
end famous Negroes Was substituted for
the "Ginser Bread man, "Blue Beard"
and the like, in colored schools of West
Virginia il wonld not only have the sams
effect - the latter but would inspire
stimulate ambition and teach . little O,
the history Of the Negro race
The histories Taught in the public
. -iiools tell little or nothing Of the life
and deeds Of Negroes. The Negro child
hsarv and reads nothing OF the history al
his people until he enters the high schools
or gets ont into the world Few OF The
younger teachers know Of any famous
Negroes with the possible exception OF
Frederick Douglas, b. X. Bruce and
Tarssint L'Overtnre. Benjsman Baune-
kT, msthmeticisn. engineer, invento.
s-hosar, friend Of George Washington
and Lafayette; Solourner Truth; Phyli.
Wheatley, Garnett, Blyden Of Liberia.
Dnmas OF France. Loveioy, Amands
smith, R-vells. Daniel A. Payne. Rich
aad Alien and hosts of Others Who sr.
s>ssnpiished great things under the most
sdverss circumstance are absolutely un-
known. or il known, they are thought r.
be white by the average young Negro
teacher. Most OF the successful colorei
men OF today received their inspiration
from the story Of some great kegro's life.
Ia the little log school house, IN the fork
OF the road where the teacher knew hat
Little grammar and still less OF the "new
tangled stuff taught in our schools 10
day, after hard lay. oftime- weeks al
rs>dinR, 'riting, 'rifhmstic, when the
selling matrh WIS over, tie teache,
wSuid tell OF the struggle. fsrdship und
ultimate triumph Of some lannon's Negr,
sod the little children would lean for.
ward on their backles- benches, EYES and
mouths vide open. all attention, cage
70 HARVEY word uttered by the teach-
er- Into the heart Of some little hlark
child = .erd 81 inspiration Was sown, the
tipes Of ambition were kind ri in SIM.
LYLE breast and into some EYES could h.
sern the fsrsway look Of hanging and
hoie. Wh~n srhool dismissed littl.
bnnch Of urchins Wearing brogsns with
bras tips on the ties. yarn Sticking
With the appearance 81 barber Inlrs,
breeches too lssT.e for shorts and Tn shorr
Tor long, homemade coat, r~a~hins
about the waist line. and . cap with ear
naps, would ~end their way toward home
and the following con vrr-ation would taxi
place: "Cef. what Yer gs.ne u ~ when
yer git ter be er man.
'"Ps gwine Ter - er dorter." What
yer gwine u be?''
lee s~ine ter b. er lawyer"
What yer gonta IL, Jske?''
"Shncks man. lee swine ter congr.-- -
They may not have realized Their am
bsfiou but they plsc Il the Peg high and
tri~d hard % reach IL.
let the colorr-i t-sehers tell II the
progre~ and accomplishments of their
rare and point the blsck boys and girl-
to the men and wom~n 81 the rsee who
BY unees-ing Effort. hard -sndy and work
reached high rnng upon the ladder Of
LAM. Ia will do mors % edncste and
inspire the child than eli ~ the myth
scr written.