The Colorado statesman., 1916-08-12

G. l.. Hayes, who is supervising prin-
cipal in number of the Indianapolis
colored schools, and who for several
years has kept closely in touch with
various classes that have entered high
school, said that the decrease in the
number of graduates this year, as COM
pared with last, did not indicate that
the numbers who remain in high
school for any appreciable time have
decreased, but he thinks this condi-
ton due to the personnel of certain
classes that enter, and the homes rep
resented in any particular class of
yates from the public schools, he be-
lieved, should be larger.
There is too much migration on the
part of the colored parents" he said
About $50 children enter the first
grades in the colored schools each
year, while only about so per cent
of the number complete the eighth
grade, and on an average about l
per cent of the number complete high
school. The majority of losses are by
those children whose parents leave
the city.
I'm large measure the parents are
responsible for the comparatively
small numbers who reach the last year
of high school. They do not seem to
realize how inefficient and unpre-
pared their children are to meet the
responsibilities of life with only an
eighth grade education. The average
child with ability to complete the
eighth grade is capable of taking the
high school course and should by all
means be encouraged to do So"
Among those whose high school rec
ord during the last year is worthy of
special mention are Harry Campbell,
Lucille Stokes, Madge Jones, Cubena
Mcclure, Ethel Mayes, Lorianna
Thomas, Spaulding Pritchett, Ruth
Johnston, Mildred Bess, Willard Rice,
Murray Atkins, Lucille Atkins, Delight
Shelton, Henrietta Herod, Ida Wilson,
Mary Smoot, Jeanette Bruen, Blanch
Booth, Ruth Sissie, Flossie Glover and
Nellie Reeves. OF this number sew.
eral have failed in subject, but there
has been in most cases excusable rea
son other than lack of ability.
the educational advancement in this
city has it's foundation in industrial
conditions. There was time in the
history of the city when any boy could
run an elevator, deliver packages,
shine shoes, sweep floors, look after
the pantry, cook or wait table, and
any girl could make beds, wash dishes,
take care of the baby and cook. This
is not true today. While many people
found in these avenues of labor have
little or no education, it is to be noted
that for most part such persons are
older people who held these places
when it was not expected of them that
they should do more than make a
mark after their name," as evil
dence that they were uneducated to
the extent of writing their signatures.
But as these places gradually fall to
the younger generation, the employer
is demanding at least a common
school education, hence the boys who
complete the public schools and who
can take with them the recommenda-
tions of their teachers, together with
their diplomas, as evidence of their
worth, have every advantage over the
boy who quits school" early to go to
work. In many cases the cook is
housekeeper and must have the neces-
sary intelligence required to manage
economically and promote the general
health and happiness of the family.
Instances are not unusual among col
ored employees where the porter has
become shipping clerk. The fact that