The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-07
REPORT ON coLoRED SCHOOLS.
There is Pressing Need for Increased IA.
oilities in the South.


problem OF the hour, special interest at.
taches TO the comprehensive report on
negro education, just issued by the de.
partment OF the interior through the bu.
reau OF education. In this report the
economic and educational problems Of
the ten million negroes in the United
States are presented as a background for
a detailed study OF more than seven hum
dred colored schools. and the problem
OF education for the negroes is shown as
affecting the entire country, north and
south.
The report on negro education was pre-.
pared after four years of first hand
study, made by DIR. Thomas Jesse Jones,
and corps OF assistants in various fields
OF education, working under the direc-
ton of DIR. p. p. Claxton, U. s. commits
sioner OF education. The study was
made possible through the cooperation
of the Phelps. Stokes fund, OF New York,
with the bureau of education.
The first volume of the report dis
cusses features of a general educational
progress, with special reference TO the
negro, and includes such topics as: Pub
| lie facilities for negro education; in
dustrial education; agricultural and ru-
raj education; secondary education for
negroes; college and professional edu-
cation; buildings and grounds; finances;
history of negro education. Volume III
comprises descriptions of the more than
700 schools visited by the bureaus
agents, arranged by states and counties.
1t is believed that the specific facts
given in connection with each OF these
schools will be of genuine assistance to |
the large number OF individuals and or
CARNATIONS that contribute money for
negro schools, making it possible to dis
criminate between worthy and unworthy |
schools.
In his report DR.. Jones says:
mo racial group in the United States
offers SO many problems of economic and
social adjustment as the 100000 ne
groes. Negroes form almost a third of
the total population of the southern
states. In Mississippi and South Caro-
lima, they constitute over half the pop
ulation; and in the black belt counties,
the proportion ranges from so to 90 per
cent. The significance of such a concen-
tration is difficult to explain to those
not familiar with communities composed
of people who differ widely not only in
economic and educa tional status but also
in ethnic type
SIN the so years since freedom was de-
creed, negro illiteracy has decreased
from over 80 per cent to 80 per cent; {
nearly 100000 colored men are now
farmers of varying degrees of independ-
ence; a quarter of million own their
own farms and the total acreage of land
owned by negroes aggregate 100000
acres of fertile soil. These facts are in.
iisputable evidence not only that the X
colored people are capable of progress b
but also that their white neighbors have
ooked with favor upon their struggles
md in many instances have actually Civ. 7
N substantial aid to their endeavors.
Gas the negroes are the primary ele "
nent that gives rise to the problem, so 3
ire they becoming more and more an
factor in its solution. Their d
includes both an increasing fl
financial support and an ever larger pro- D
ortion of the teaching force. They con- l.
ribute not only a goodIy share of the p
axes for their public schools, but also &
considerable sum toward the private -
chools Furthermore, the colored peo- a,
lie give considerable sums to extend the
erms of the public schools. 1t is prob
BILE that their total gifts aggregate
100000 annually over and above their
hare of the public taxes. O.
Next to the negroes, the group most
in this problem are the 90
10000 white people of the south No
Ian for the improvement of the colored OF
roup is well considered that does not to
the cooperation of the til
hite group. al
Though the northern states are not gr
, Immediately concerned in the educa- be
on of the negro race as the south or an
lie negroes themselves, the northern be
pint of view and northern philanthropy tn
-e just as essential to the proper solu an
on of the vexed problem as the other We
70 elements. TIL total annual contribu- ga
on of the north for the current ex- ua
,nses of the private schools aggregates TIC
100000. OF this fully a million and a
If is given by the white churches for st
cir UNCONVENTIONAL schools and another gr'
100000 is contributed by individual A
nors and churches for the maintenance mr.
the independent institutions. Prop oo'
ty valuation in the private institutions PR
unded by northern gifts now amount GU
$24,000,000." ve
The conclusions drawn by the report oe'
9 in brief as follows: ye'
]. That there is pressing need for are a,
creased public school facilities for ne t u
pes in the south. 1ht
2 That the aid of philanthropy should POI
continued with the present liberality ply
til the south has attained to better WI
,nomic condition. ~ IN
3. That all education should stress, s ,.e
st, the development of character, in I'm I'm
ding the simple but fundamental vir- No Dio
IS of cleanliness, order, perseverance, s
1 the qualities essential to the home,
second, adoption to the needs of the en- en-
pills and the community. ~
!. That supervision of both public and -
vate educational effects should be in ~,
ased, so that all agencies may be cor e.,
ated with each other, sound business fa,r
thods established, organization of work ,eb;
ted to income and plant, and build cd
operations conducted with economy n
good taste. ~,