The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-12-06

ginla Survey Commission that foul
thousand are needed to provide ade
quate teaching advantages to tn,
present Colored population. There IL
thus a shortage of at least a thousenC
teachers. The report says:
"Colored teachers as a body have
inadequate education and training
In non-city schools more than one
third have received only an education
Of two grades of high-school work
or less; one-half Have never received
an education of more than grades
of high school work; and more thar
three-fourths have never received an
education above that equivalent tC
a four-year high school course. Only
one-fifth have ever received an edu.
cation in training equivalent to one
or more years of college or normal
school,
Inadequate School Terms.
"The majority of the rural schools
are still housed in one-room buildings
with little arrangements for venti-
lation, lighting, seating. and santa
these shacks far beyond their ce-
pacity, thus endangering the pupils
health and making effective school
work impossible. In some of the
cities the buildings are old, made
quately furnished. poorly heated and
lighted, and are veritable culture
media of disease germs.
Referring to the length of the
term of non-city schools, the Vir-
ginia Survey Commission says: In
1918 non-city schools for Colored
children were open on the average
six months. In fifty-fve, counties the
average length of the term for Color
ed schools was six months or less
less; in ten counties the county
wide averages were five months and
in one country 80 months. So in
nearly one-third of the 230 non-city
schools (Colored) individually exam
ined, the school term was five months
or less
THE explanation for the small
percentage of the Colored school pop
ulation enrolled in school, the poor
attendance, the elimination and re-
tardation, can be found, for the most
part. in poor housing conditions,
poor teaching advantages. and in the
short length of the term.
Educational Campaigns.
I'VE wish to make the following
suggestions: % that a season be
set aside every year during the school
session, preferably in the early part
of the school year, in which a Vir-
ginia educational campaign be waged
through the public press. the pulpit
and mass meetings for the enlighten-
ment of the public on the fundamen-
tai need of the education of the
young; (2) that the Negro Teachers
Association Of Virginia and the Negro
Organization Society memorialize the
State Legislature in the interest Of
increased facilities for the training
of Colored teachers of increased pay
for teachers, and of increased length
of terms for the rural districts; (3)
that a season each year be set aside
in which the claims of the teaching
profession be presented to the student
body in all of the secondary schools
anu COlltSCS vi iHG OIdlG, anu l4D
that, in all we do, we work in full
harmony with. and with the full
knowledge of, the heads of our public
school system, helping them to real
ize their ambition for the Cclored
children of our Commonwealth.
Farming Demands Attention.
For racial development in the
States the right attitude must be
assumed towards the farm. We must
prove equal to the problems on the
farm. Old worn-out methods must
be discarded and new methods applied
to the cultivation Of the land. In
telligence and thought must begin to
function in every aspect of farm life.
The race on the farm should more
readily receive the instructions Of the
farm demonstration agents and seek
information on improved methods Of