The Topeka state journal., 1919-01-30
FOR SPARKS PLAN.
f. l.. Pinet Endorses Bill for
Negro School Segregation.
Teachers Secretary Answers
Chiles's Criticism of Measure.
he SPEAKS FOR ASSOCIATION
Says State Educators 70 Favor
Separate Schools.
Asserts Proposed Pian Nou.J
Be of Benefit to Negroes.

One of the best things that could
happen to the schools of Kansas
would be The passage Of law that
would permit the esta b1ishment of
separate schools for negroes all over
the state, F. l.. Pinet, secretary of the
Kansas Teachers association and edi-
tor of the Kansas Teacher. believes.
This is his attitude towards the Sparks
Dill in the senate as indicated in a let
ter, written to Nick Chiles, Topeka ne
gro, in answer to a letter ne received
from Chiles protesting against the ac-
ton of the Kansas Teachers associa-
.tion in endorsing the separate school
plan for secohd class cities.
In his letter to Pinet, Chiles sug-
gests that white teachers who do not
want to teach colored pupils should
resign their positions and go south
and join the Tillman. Vardaman and
Dixon gang who believe colored peo-
pie have no souls.' The Chiles letter
is written on the stationery of The
Kansas Defense society which carries
the names of the negro soldiers exc
cuted and sent to prison following a
mutinous outbreak in southern can
tonment. These names are carried
under the headings of ''Those Who
Those Sentenced to Life Imprison-
ment." In condemnation of the ac-
ton taken by the Kansas Teachers
association ChiIes says:
I'VE believe any organization of
people who attempt to draw the color
line on poor defenseless children, who
are entitled to an education at the
expense of the taxpayers, should be
ostracized and not allowed to hold
positions as educators
Pinet Cites Experience.
Rnet. in his answer. asserts that he
has had experience which has taught
him the best thing for the colored pu-
pill is to place him in a school to him
self. He relates experiences he had
while superintendent at Chanute,
where there wehe no separate schools.
and at Parsons, where there were
schools devoted exclusively to the ed
ucation of the colored children.
Chiles intimates in his letter that the
sole purpose of the Sparks bill in the
senate to provide separate schools for
negro children is to draw a color line
and he winds up his letter by saying
THE colored man is either an image
of God or a close resemblance, from
the fact that he walks and acts like
the white man, comes into the world
like him. goes out like him, and the
only way we will be convinced that
the white man is superior to him is
when he stops dying. We believe you
are too much of Christian gentle
man to be participating with any class
of people who are guilty of such out
RACES"
as follows:
The Pinet Letter.
have your letter of January %, which
l have read with interest.
l have no desire to enter into contro-
versy with you concerning the race ques
tion. but will say to You frankly that not
only does the KapSaS State Teachers as
sociation approve the bill for segregated
schools in cities of the second class, but
ed to such Cities 9 of the he third Class as NAV
wish to operate under the law proposed l
may also say that personally 1 hope such
a law will be enacted
This attitude, however is not based upon
race prejudice, but upon the best interests
of ali the children in the Kansas schools.
schools should be provided if education is
to do its full duty to the colored child.
ored children in both mixed and in sepa-
rate schools, and 1 do not hesitate to say
that twice as much can be accomplished
for the coloTed child in the separate school
in the mixed school.
During the year 1909-10 I was superin-
tendent of schools at Chanute. Kan, where
we had mixed schools and where rather
large number of colored children were
enrolled in the schools The experience
that the two races should be given
separate schools for there was CON
and the colored. and the colorcd children
made but roor progress in their school
work. From 1910 to 1916 1 was superin-
tendcnt of schools at Parsons, Kan. where
the colored people had their own school,
and l found that not only were the coll
ored children happier and more contented.
but also that it was possible to accomplish
much more for them by placing their edu-
cation in the hands of teachers of their
own lace. who better understood them and
whose mana cement they welcomed. 1 feel
sure that nothing could now induce either
the colored children of Parsons. their
parents, to return to the former system of
mixed schools.
l feel-sure. Mr. Chiles, that if you really
understood the problem of education for
COlOreu would rather
than oppose the measure in question
Sincerely yours, +. l.. PINET.