The Denver star., 1915-04-10

Of five stock. with a general equipment.
- given as $4,000. The school at the
present time has an enrolment Of $50
students and 13 teachers.
Achievement Of the Association.
For four years he has been president
of the Negro Teachers Association Of
Virginia. Under his direction this or
ganfzat ton has become vital force in
the educauona: affairs of the state
among colored people. Through the
associations activities and its affiliated
organizations the colored people have
been inspired to put over 100000 into
their public schools since 1911. when
President Long was elected head of the
association. In speaking about this
good showing prominent educator has
the following to say of President Long:
"A moving force in this good showing
sociation's president. Professor E. A.
Long, principal of the Christiansburg
Industrial institute. Cambria. Va. Pro
fessor Long took the leadership of the
association at time when 1t needed
strong hand to guide 1t. and within the
past four years he has organized it into
q vital, active force for carrying for
ward the work Of educational efficiency
and social uplift throughout the state"
President Longs Annual Address,
In his annual address President Long
said In part:
It Is Significant that Just nifty years ago
another army captured Richmond. Md
the din of battle and tho claah of arms
they came into your city. With stream
Ing banner and .shrieaing ffe they parad-
which to some was the note of victory.
was to US ths funeral march of slavery.
which died here, was buried at Apo
mattox and which will rise no moro. Tho
death of slavery meant the resurrection
Of the slaves Today. after the lapse Of
half century, q new army which has
besn fighting that men might have life
and have It more abundantly comes up
70 Richmond. Those who fought and bled
and died for the country's honor and. thus
fighting. freed the body of this people. de-
serve our gratitude and will have their
names carved in marble and bronze which
must crumble with the lapse of Year,. but
those who fight In the army for the eman-
c1pation of mems souls. my friends. Will
have their names written in the hearts
in that hall of fame in the city with
founda dations whose builder and maker 10
God"
The state association lays no claim to
directing the work of the teachers in their
efforts TO create better school conditions
It furnishes, however. q means for an ex-
change Of experiences which always
proves helpful There Is engendered a
friendly rivalry between teachers which
helps nightly in the spread of profes-
,kAk ~ tNnAt
done by the teachers under their various
agencies and thus keep somewhat of a
record of the progress made from year to
year. The first year. 1872. Of which We
have any authentic record the sum OF
3Ss was raised through the various
school leagues. in 1913 &A.ssS was raised.
and in 1914 923 was raised. This year.
when the records are all in. We believe 1t
will be over $4,000. Not counting this
year. however. more than eo4ooo has been
put into the public schools by the Negro
people of Virginia These figures do not
include work OF which no reports were
nsade to this organisation. These splendid
results have been. made possible largely
by the supervising teachers under the d.
-eectpa Of our own Mr.. Jackson Davts,
who represents the most progressive spaf-
il of tie new south
1t b well to be proud OF what has been
accomplished but 1t is better TO remember
what IL yet to be done According to the
last Mgures for l912-Is there were 8.ll
children out of school. The summarized
reports of the division superintendents
show that the capacity of the Negro
schoolhouses Is los, S0a The records show.
however. that there were ilI,l7 children
enrolled in the schools. This means that
there were l3064 more children enrolled
than could be seated in the schools. Let
us not forget that there were S.ll chill
cren who were not enrolled 1t means
that Jug: ons-fourth Of the Negro children
in The Virginia schools cannot be accom-
modated in her schoolhouses at the pres
ent time. Here Is a situation. my fellow
tea chera. that calls for your thou9htfui
confederation. II We cannot induce the
school authorities to build schoolhouses
for our children let US 60 down into our
pockets and build them ourselves. Some
of the buildings in which Negro children
go to school not fit Tor COW stables
We are able to build mAgnificent church
ediices In which to parade our hypocrisy
and show OF our fine clothes and send
our children to a junk house to imbbe
character They get it. tco OF the kind
that lsils the Richmond penitentiary with
youthful offenders.
Effect Of Environment on Character.
When We learn to properly appreciate
the effect which environment has upor
the formation of character we are COINS
to take some OF the money used In these
fine churches and put II into the building
of better schools How about that
Brother Preacher? Perhaps you dom
like this kind of talk. but 1 want to say
here that the time has come when you
ministers of the Gospel have got TO preach
less about mansions in the skies and more
about better schoolhouses in Virginia II
you don't some OF those same mansions
are going to have the For Rent stgr
hung on them for lack of tenants. Next
in Importance to getting place for the
children to go to school Is the question OF
keeping the schools open long enough &c
make them really effective.
II means this, that IL you will raise
money to extend the school one month
the state will put up enough to extend il
one month: II YOU will extend 1t hall