The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-09-30
HOWARD ACADEMY

Brinson, to take
look over Howard Academy one day
last week.
Howard Academy is Ocala's color
ed school. 1t consists of group of
buildings on the hill up from the rail-
road on the western side of town.
The first schoolhouse was put up
about twenty years ago. 1t is a
rather roughly tho strongly con-
structed building, erected before
modern ideas had taken hold here. 1t
was hardly sufficient for the needs of
the colored children when built, and
soon became overcrowded to the dam
ger point. A few years ago, another
building was erected on more modern
lines, and now the colored school pop
ulation Of Ocala has plenty of house
room.
Mr.. Brinson and the reporter were
met by Principal Mccall. who has
been with the school for number of
years, proving his worth to hold his
position. He is efficiently assisted in
his work by his wife and corps of
well-educated, hard-working teachers,
who take a great deal of pride in
their work
In one thing, Howard Academy ex-
cells our white schools. 1t has spac-
ious, well-lighted library room, where
the scholars may go. sit down and
read and study with comfort. They
have very few books, however, and
we think it would be a good idea for
the white people to help them out.
There are on the tables a number of
periodicals, among which we were
sorry to see "The Crisis" South
hating, incendiary magazine, which
it does not do any American. white
or colored, good to read.
We found some of the students
busy putting their domestic science
department in order for the seasons
study. The school board was not able
to furnish a teacher for this depart
ment this year, but some of the other
teachers with the aid of the more adj
vanced scholars undertook with COM
mendable zeal to carry on the work.
They showed with considerable pride
a quantity Of furniture made by the
students in the industrial department.
They have a good, old-fashioned
cook-stove, with wood for fuel, which
is, after all, about the best they can
use in this country, where most peo-
pie are likely to have to depend on
wood for fuel for the next generation.
Another gratifying feature was the
industrial department, where dozen
fthe older boys. under the direction
of their teacher, w. G. Rodgers, were
busy in cabinet and carpenter work.
Rodgers is an enterprising young
man, who believes in education on the
Booker T. Washington lines. A fair
ly competent mechanic at first. he
went to school and took a special
course to qualify him to be an indus
trial instructor He has the great
est interest in his work and is teach
ing the boys well. They were making
useful articles out of scrap lumber
pieces of board and scantling which
had been discarded. They were do
ing surprisingly good work.
Principal Mccall then took the wis.,
itors over to the new building, in
which are taught the primary and
grades just above it. This building is
almost new. It was put up few
years ago by Levi Alexander, the
colored contractor, and is as good a
piece of work as you will see any
where. 1t cost seven thousand dol
lars, but couldn't be built now for
twice the money.
The reporter had not time to in
spect this school closely. He could
see however that everything was kept
in applepie order and that the teach
ers were taking great interest in their
work. They had an attentive and
busy lot of scholars from chocolate
drops of six and seven up to boys
and girls of twelve and fourteen.
The schools were not crowded.
Some colored people, like the white
ones, have moved away since the war
began. Principal Mccall said there
would be more pupils in a few weeks.
At present, he said, number were
out in the country, picking cotton, at
which they can make good wages, and
the reporter couldn't help thinking
that if the war lasted another year or
two a good many white boys and
girls would be in the cotton patches
themselves.
Principal Mccall, however, was
very well satisfied with the first week
or two of school. He expects a sue
cessful educational term and added
that his scholars and their relations
were also going to make good re-