Evening journal., 1917-07-03

n. ELAWARE Negroes and those white persons who
- are interested actively passiYely in their eau
cation fail to find much encouragement in the
government report negro schools that Just has been
issued by the United states Bureau Of Education It
is made particularly interesting by the fact that The
commencement exercises have been held recently in
the Howard High School and promotions made in IL
and the grammar and elementary schools
with national unity and solidarity the problem of The
hour il is only natural thas special interest should
attach 10 the comprehensive report ON Negro Education
just issued by the bureau IN this report the economic
and educational problems Of the ton million Negroes
I'm tho United states arc presented background for
a detailed study OF than seven hundred colored
schools and tho problem Of education for the Negroes
is shown as affecting the entire country, North and
South.
Tho report on Negro Education prepared after
four years OF hrss hand study made by Dr. Thomas
Jesse Jones' and corps Of assistants in various fields
OF education working under the direction OF Dr. p p
Claxton United States Commissioner of Education.
The study was made possible through the cooperation
Of tho Pholps-stokes Fund. OF New York with the
Bureau OF Education.
The fret volume Of the report discusses features OF
general educational progress wish special reference to
the Negro and includes such topics ass Public IA
cllities for Negro education; industrial education;
agricultural and rural education; secondary education
FOR Negroes colleges and professional education;
bpding and grounds finances; history OF Negro edu-
cation Volume II comprises descriptions Of the more
than zoe schools visited by the bureaus agents ar
ranged By States and counties II is believed that tho
specific facts given in connection with each OF these
schools Will be Of genuine assistance to the large num-
her OF individuals and organizations that contribute
money for Negro schools, making it possible to dis
criminate between worthy and unworthy schools
In his report Dr. Jones SAYS
"No racial group in tho United States offers so many
problems OF economic and social adjustment as the
100000 Negroes Negroes form almost a third OF
the total population OF the Southern States In Mis-
sissippi and South Carolina they constitute over half
the population and in the black belt counties the
proportion from so to 80 per cent The sgnin
canoe Of such concentration is difficult to explain
to those not familiar with communities composed OF
people who differ widely not only in economic and
educational status but also in ,ethnc type
I'm the fifty years since freedom was decreed Negro
ilteracy has decreased from 90 per cent to 30
per cent; nearly 100000 colored men are now
farmers OF varying degrees OF independence a quar-
ter OF million own their own farms and the total
acreage Of land owned by Negroes aggregates 10000
GOO acres Of fertile soil These are indisputabe
evidence not only that the coored people capable
Of progress but also that their white neghbors have
looked with favor upon their struggles and in many
instances have actually given Substantial aid to their
ondeayors
As the Negroes are the primary element that give
rise to the problem they becoming more and
important factor in its solution. Their con
trbutpn includes both increasing financial support
and an ever larger proportion OF tho teaching force
They contribute not only goody share Of tho taxes
for their public schools but also considerable sum
toward the private schools Furthermore the colored
people give considerable sums TO extend the terms Of
the public schools Il probable that their total gifts
aggregate 100000 annually over and above their share
or the pulic taxes.
next TO the Negroes. the group most concerned In
this problem arc the 2o5Ooooo white people OF the
South. No plan for the improvement OF the coldred
group is well considered that does not contemplate
the cooperation OF the white group
Though tho Northern States arc not so Immediately
concerned in The education of the Negro race as the
South or the Negroes themselves the northern point OF
view and northern philanthropy arc just as essential
TO the proper solution of the yexed problem as the
other two elements The total annual contribution of
the North for the current expenses OF the private
schools aggregates $25OOOoO. or this fully million
and half is given by the white churches for their
UNCONVENTIONAL schools and another 100000 is con-
tributed by individual donors and churches for the
maintenance OF the independent institutions Property
valuations in the private institutions founded by
Northern gifts amount to s24OOO0Oo"
The conclusions drawn by the report are in brief
follows:
First-rhat there is pressing need for increased
public school facilities for Negroes in tho South
second-That the aid Of philanthropy should be con
unued with the present liberality until tho South has
attained 10 n better economic condition.
Thrd-That all education should stress first the de-
veopmen OF character including the simple but funda-
mental virtues OF cleanliness order perseverance, and
the qualities essential to the home and second adapa-
ton to the needs of the pupil and the community
Fourth-That supervision or both public and private
educational efforts should be increased so that all
agencies may be correlated with each other sound
business methods established organization OF work
suited to income and plant and building operations
conducted with economy and good taste