The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-03-26

beyond the work OF the one-roon
schools. The John r. Slater Fund
which until this time had not helped
n the rural work. agreed to contri
Dute $500 year for the establish
ment OF such schools in counties OF
condition that they be public schools
belonging 10 the county or district
that the term be eight months. thai
there be at least eight grades, AND
That the county or district board give
-Four schools were started in 1919
There were 20 teachers in the -four
schools and for their salaries the
puplic tax funds gave 1894 and the
S S1sIe ao Fund dn, $1,000 900 In 1913 there
Der began to increase steadily as fol-
lows, g. II, "a, ~. 81. 20. 106, and
this year there are 142 with S33 tech
ers, and the counties are appropriate
ing for establishment and support
over half a million dollars.
"A total of $5S3,701 is paid for
salaries, OF which the counties pay
SS47S9S, and the General Education
Board Is contributing $74100 for maxi
average salary was only s2G7. this
year II Is S6f2. ] have not yet the
accurate number for the present ses-
sion, but last year the number of
pupils IN the high school grades was
1913. Those who go out from these
beginnings of high schools are help
Ing to supply the superintendent
teaeherg for his smaller schools--a
make shift perhaps, but still great
Improvement.
Along with these two lines of work
there Is going another important
agency OF improvement through the
splendid liberality OF Mr. Julius
Rosenwald. From September 1, 1920,
that 226 schoolhouses will have been
built at a total cost of S1,071, 036. or
this amount. the CDlored people will
have contributed $s11.432; white peo-
pie, si2l,S30; public funds s426,974;
and the RosenwaId Fund, s210,S00
"But more Important than ali these
outside donations Is the amount that
is being spent out Of public tax funds
for smaller public schools and for the
various State Normal and Industrial
appropriated to the higher State Col
ored Institutions for the present year
Is S1,267170 The total amount for
public education for Colored children
In seven Of the southern states for
the session 1880 was S9,171,000, al
most double the amount Of eight
years ago.
Negro Education Makes Progress.
"These figures that have given are
enough to show that the work of
education among the Colored people
IL going forward at least fairly well.
We do not hear as much about all
this activity as we hear about lyn-
ching. yet IL is there. The best of
the work, as Is perhaps always true
Of all the best work. Ia going on in
a more or less quiet way. like the
processes OF nature, but 1t is all
counting. In spite of prophets OF
evil, the educational condition OF the
Colored people as a whole Is steadily
improving year hv year. Nor have
I spoken, because / have been dealing
with what Is chiefly rural work. of
the tremendous service that is being
done by the various religious bodies
by the various private institutions.
These are all doing an important SER
vice even to the rural schools by
helping % supply the heavy need and
demand Tor teachers.
Negroes Sacrifice for Education.
In mary. many sections, however,
teachers are still very low the terms
short. the school houses mere shacks.
heard a teacher say the other day
that. if she and her pupils were far
enough advanced. they could study
geology through the floor, botany
through the sides. and astronomy
through the roof But all along the
line there is notable Improvement.
The readiness and self-sacrlfice Of
the colored people themselves to com
tribute to ther schools will some day
be recognized one OF the remark
able features o. this period Of educa-
tional development. and, all things
considered, the steady growta OF
white public sentiment In favoi of
n SQUARE deal for the Colored people
Is little less remarlSable.'