Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-15
IphAT VIRGINIA IS DOING
FOR NEGRO EDUCATION
Review Is Prepared by Former Sec
rotary Of State Board OF
Education.
QUOTES GOVERNMENT REPORTS
In View Of Flocking of Negroes to
North in Large Numbers, Cues
tion OF Educational Advantages Is
- Ono Of Immediate Importance.
by EVAN IL. cnEsTERMAN.

BY EVAN IL. CHESTERMAN.
s In view OF the recent iocking Of ne
Sroes to Northern States and the Oft
repeated intimation that their miEra-
ton is due to lack OF educational.
Industrial and social advantages in
the South, the question as to what the
Southern people should actually do for
3 their "brethren in black" has become
2 rather acute one. II the problem is
TO be solved by the schools-and as
surediy the schools seem to offer the
best solu,ion--it would be wise for
thoughtful minds to ponder the
methods OF mental and manual train
ing now prevailing in sections where
the blacks are found in greatest num-
6ers.
Fortunately much information along
tis line is now offered in peculiarly
~ell-considered. tactful and instructive
form by the report on negro educa-
tion just issued by the United states
Bureau of Education. Department of
the Interior. Washington The South
ern people. ii must be admitted. have
rot heretofore lacked for advice con-
SerninG their cbon wards. but it has
usually come from biased Northern
sources and too often it has been
Irritating in its cocksureness and mar
row sectional viewpoint. No such cri-
ticism. however, can he laid ut the
doors OF those responsible for the am
bilious publication here referred TO.
The two-volumc report was compiled
by DR.. Thomas Jesse Jones. a native OF
Wales, who came to this country AS a
boy and received his college education
at Washington and Lee University and
Marietta College. later winning the
degree Of PHI. u. from Columbia Uni
vcrsity. In his survey which is the
result of three years of intensive
study, DR.. Jones had the assistance of
corps OF Northern and Southern edu-
gators. The work. which apparently
ignores no phase of negro education.
vas made possible by cooperation be-
tween the Commissioner of Education
and the Phelps Stokcs Fund of New
York. Not only IS the report history
OF the past half century Of endeavor in
pehalf Of negro education and Il de-
tailed stock taking of the present con-
ditions. but It is also handbook for
the further development of public and
private schools for the $500, 600 colorcd
people OF the South.
BOYs AND GIRLS SHOULD
BE TAUGHT GARDENING
Although his manuscript went to the
pCInters long before a single clod of
Virgin back yard soil" had been turn
ed in the present campaign for more
food production, enc of the most en-
phatic conclusions which DR.. Jones has
tion is that colorcd boys and girls in
school should he we'll drilled in tho
theory and practice of gardening. Along
with gardening should go training i'm
the few simple trades that are of use
about the average home Just as il
Is unconstructivc policy TO teach large
scale farming to those who never will
work more than few acres Of land
10 is IL considered an unnecessary
waste OF the pupils's time and the pub
He or private investment in the school
TO teach skilled trades exhaustivcly
when what is wanted is development
OF common sense. "Eumption" and in
Benuily in improving tho house and
farm.
In urging policy Of simplicity in
training for population more than
threc-fourths rural DR. Jones states
clearly that it applies only 10 the cle-
mentary education OF all the children.
Upon this as a. base nc would build
up a complete system of education.
making due provision for those chill
dren who. as they grow older show
inclination and aptitude for large
scale farming. the teaching OF arri
culture misunderstanding and the va
Tious academic. scientific md business
professions for which real colleges and
universities alone can offer prcnara-
tion. Al The present time. he finds.
much OF this secondary and higher
education is incffective-hrst because
OF the general failure of the elementary
schools to :Rrovide the necessary
groundwork: a nd, second. because these
higher institutions attempt to do more
man they havo the money equipment
and faculty to handle.
ten MILLION NEGROES
ARE NOW IN THE UNIoS
= In the United States there are nr,c-
tically 100000 negroes. groun RI
vaiing the immigrants in total nun,
ner and far exceeding them in tho
problems OF economic and social ah
Justment. They form 29S per cent OF
the total population Of the South. rha
proportion in Mississippi and Sour
carolina being over IS per cent and
ranging IN the black belt counties
from 80 10 90 per cent of tho total
population Almost three million arc
engaged In agricultural pursuits. They
form COX 3er cent of an prrsons an
gagged in these pursuits in the Sou,h
ern States. The number of farms chi
ti'atcd by them increased o03 pcr con,
between 1900 and 1910
AS farmers, renting and owning
iand' they cultivate 1890. 900 acres,
an areh over twice the sjz. nj All 80
farm land in Virginia or IN rho va,'.
england states. AS farm laborsrs thcv
undoubtedly cultivate a much larror
area Though the United States census
eho"s decrease in illitcracy. there arc
seii ABOUT 2,225.0o0 negro illiterates in
tne south. or over 80 per cent OF tho
nero population ten years of age and
over. Likewise. the death rate Of Tho
coiored people is still very high. ,houmb
the vital statistics indicate a Cradu.,
improvement in health conditions.
so Tar as Virgil is concerned I,
VIII be many. Slany years vet bofore
tine negro ceases to be "prohlem..
WIN her There are now GIL. oa6 col
n lie
'S2:e per cent of the total pouIa,ion