Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-02-08
SCHOOL EDUCATION
ENDANGERED BY NEW
MOVEMENT.
The Way to the Collegiate Education
is Hard Enough Now Without
Now LimtntioHR of Oppor-
tunity,
Especially

Washington ID. C.-Thc general ten
dcncy II the public school policy of
the S ates where the Negro population
is most dense has for many years
been % narrow such education as much
rs possible into the primary grade
courses and to industrial education III
such institutions as the States give
On no or partial support.
Very few Southern States maintain
adequn.c high schools for Their Negro
citizens, who after going through such
grades of instruction as the publ
schools afford, are compelled, IL they
desire TO have II COLES ate training,
to incur the added expense Of time
and money In securing the necessary
prcpara ion where they can. This is
an unnecessary and burdcnSomc hard
ship, not imposed upon the white pa
irons Of the public schools, who have,
besides. all over the country, ac,de-
mics where such secondary education
can be obtained.
Negroes have not ,as yet become
strong enough to support such private
seminarcs. Most Of them now obtain
1t at our colleges. which maintain de-
partments for secondary educational
preparation. Without them our col
eyes would not. for the most part. in
tho past, have been able to secure tho
student bodies necessary to supply
their college courses.
I say. tho general tendency to re-
strict Negro education has been no
ticeable for long tine, II the dove
failing policies Of the State Boards and
tho various. Boards controlling funds
for purposes Of Negro education. Re-
Gently. the now President Of Howard
University. DR.. J. Stanley Durkee. a
very able man, | as alleged, favored
the discontinuance Of tho school for
secondary training OF the University;
it being understood that a like course
was in contemplation by the trustees
of other Negro Colleges throughout The
country, tho grounds being that such
schools hampered the proper develop
ment Of the university proper.
Another reason advanced from other
sources Is that colleges and un' vers-
tiles maintaining the secondary schools
are not allowed in their teacher body
to share the retirement fund of the
Carnegie Endowment. Far BIO 1t from
me to insinuate that our college trus-
tees would be influenced against the
best good for the student body by any
such selfish motive.
The interest in the matter grew so
strong and insis' cnt in Washington,
that Mr.. A. S. Pinkett, the capable
president Of the Bethel Literary and
Historical Associa. ion, decided. to set
apart an evening Of the Bethel Liter
airy for fair presentation OF the
question. He did this for Tuesday
evening last. He selected certain
educators quolifned to speak with au-
thori;y on the subject and asked II.
Thomas Fortune to prepare the resolu
tion for discussion. He drew the fol-
lowing:
"Rcsolved, that it is tho opinion
OF the patrons Of the Bethel Literary
and Historical Association, after a
fair and open discussion Of the sub
jcct that the discontinuance OF the
secondary education at Howard Uni
versity, and at our other schools Of col
lfatc standing, maintained for the
higher education OF Negro youth,
would be grave mistake and pre-
judicial to the last degree to the high
or educational interests Of the Negro
people,"
In submitting the resolution for dis
cussion, President Pinkett said:
'"This meeting was conceived in n
desire to render service to those
who are entrusted with the rcsponsi
bility Of preserving to its mission the
greatest institution 70 HIGHER oduca
ton now maintained for colorcd
youth. We can but believe that those
upon whom this responsibility rests
will welcome suggestions when promp
ted by such motives"
In moving the adoption OF the reso
tuition, Mr.. Fortune said. among other
things, that Howard University was
maintained by public taxation, large
ly, end that such an innovation as
disseminating the school Of secondary
education the subject, as being of gen
eral interests to tn race at largo, was
Legitimate matter for public discus
sion Prof. Charles NJ. Thomas Of the
public schools Of the District OF Gel
umbia thought that the subject was
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