The Denver star., 1913-10-11
POTENT FORCES
IN EDUCATION
Government Aids In New School
Fund System.
ECONOMY IN THE MOVEMENT


Commissioner of Education Begins sys-
tenatie Study Of Problem by Request
Of Or. billiard Of tt,s Jeanss and sla-
tor Fund Beard-Pian Benefits the
General Public.
The United States bureau Of educa-
ton In cooperation with the Phelps
Stokes fund is now making compre-
hensIve study of the private and high
er schools for colored people. This
study is undertaken in response to
numerous and insistent demands for
knowledge of these schools, the num-
ber 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 mer-
its and demerits of the many appeals
for money and sympathy in behalf of
all sorts and conditions of institutions
for the race. Letters from state sup
erintendents of education In the south
emphasize the need OF a complete sur
vey Of the whole field. At confer
ence of the representatives of some Of
these schools held in New York last
spring. it was the consensus Of opinion
that there is much duplication of edu-
cational efforts in some sections. but
much more of neglect in many other
sections.
Every educational board interested
in the colored people and almost every
individual who contributes to this
cause is calling for information. After
considerable discussion OF this need by
Or. billiard OF the Jeanes fund md the
Slater board, and by other representa-
tives OF the conference for education
in the SOUTH" 1t was decided to appeal
TO the United States commissioner OF
education for a thorough study of the
private and higher schools for Afro
Americans. Commissioner Claxton's
intimate knowledge of every phase OF
education In the southsenabled him to
understand the importance Of this re-
quest. and he Immediately began to
make plans for the study now under
way.
A remarkable evidence Of the impor-
tance OF this survey is the fact that
about the same time two other impor-
tant organizations Interested In colored
schools decided to assemble tnforma-
ton on this subject. DR.. ]. II. Diilard.
secretary Of the Slater board. obtained
permission OF that body to begin the
study 1t was ut this time also that
the trustees of the Phelps Stokes fund.
confronted by appeals from all sorts
and conditions of schools. decided to
make n thorough survey Of the sitna-
tion.
As the fund IL OF recent origin.
word OF explanation may be necessary
at this point. This Pheips-stokes fund
IL the rcsidunry estate. amounting to
about $1,000. 900. bequeathed by Miss
Caroline Phelps Stokes OF New York
city for various philanthropic purposes.
among which Is the education Of Ne.
groes. Most OF the appropriations
made up to date have contributed di-
rectly or Indirectly to q clearer knowl-
edge OF colored schools Gifts to the
Universities OF Virginia and Georgia
and to the Peabody college. in Nash
vile, are for the maintenance OF fel-
lowships and research work In the
field OF Negro education.
The cooperation of the bureau OF
education and the Phelps-Stokes 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 cooperation unnecessary
duplication is avoided. and time. effort
and money are saved.
The work Is done under the immedi.
ate direction Of DR.. Thomas Jesse
Jones. n native Of Wales and n nat
uralized citizen of the United States.
who wns educated both in southern
and northern institutions and has de-
voted number of years to the educa-
tional and economic condition OF the
Negroes in the United Stntes His
studies and observations. extending
over several yenrs in the census bu-
reau and in the United States bureau
Of education. Will be especially useful
In this study of schools.
An exhaustive schedule Of questions
in regard to the schools has been pre-
pared with much care and is being
filled by DIR. Jones and those associat-
ed with him, after careful lnvestiga-
tion Of the schools made by them.
These questions relate to the history
Of the schools. their present condition.
their management. their religious and
social activities and the work OF grad
yates and former students.
When sufficient data have been col
lected report will be printed and pub
llshed, giving brief but accurate sur
vey Of each school, Of its equipment,
Its work and its place in the educa-
donal axafaru Of thu city county or