The monitor., 1928-10-19
SURVEY SHOWS VAST
Improvement NEED
In RACIAL STATUS
Field of Technical and Professional
Training Not OveEcrowded
But Largely Under
manned
HEALTH NEEDS SAFEGUARDING
Inadequate Educational and Health
Facilities AS Well As Poor
Economic Chances
Cited.
BY Daniel w. Chase

(For the Associated Negro Press)
When the department of the inter-
ior submitted the report of its bureau
of education last spring, it was CLEAN
ed from the survey made that "con-
ditions among American Indians were
rather desperate" The recent re-
port of the same department with ref
erence to the Negro has already caus-
ed much comment, and is likely to
produce sharp reaction when congress
meets. One writer has already re-
marked, writing from Washington,
d. c.:
politicians here are especially in
terested because of efforts of both
parties in the presidential campaign
to win the favor of Negro voters who
may determine the election in close
northern cities and in doubtful bor-
der states"
From an educational point of view,
the survey points out that there are
only $4,000 teachers for 100000
Negro children, and this is comment
ed on in the summary, thus: '.Na-
tional social and economic life de-
mands more Negro professional and
technical leaders," A writer in a To-
cal paper called attention to the fact
that in an address delivered before a
of x.yk,f Il
had said that there are too many pro-
fessionally trained Negroes. And
yet this survey, made by prominent
educators and government experts,
cites lack Of physicians and dem
lists, stating that the disparity of
trained race leaders is, of course,
more marked in the professions. 1t is
stated that there are only $500 Ne
gro physicians and surgeons in the
United States, or approximately one
medical man to every 3,343 Negroes,
while, it is shown that there is one
white physician to 553 persons. The
condition, as pointed out by the sur
vey, is worse with reference to dem
lists, there being only one dentist to
every 10,540 Negro inhabitants.
Safeguarding Health Dire Need
The survey is of the opinion that
ito safeguard the health of the col
ored people and of their neighbors, to
instruct them in hygiene, sanitation,
and in the measures necessary to
ward off disease and care for those
that fall i'll, are as essential as in
tellectual and economic develop
ment.'
More and Better Education
Negro teachers are reported in the
survey as being deficient in proper
training, many not having received
more than elementary school prepara-
tion, while equally as large a number
has only received one or two years
work in an accredited high school.
According to the survey, Negroes
need training in the fields of agri-
culture, mechanical arts and crafts,
the survey stating that "while 1,000,-
900 Negroes own or operate farms,
there are 1,178,00O of the race en-
gagged in ordinary farm labor"
Fifty-six thousand Negroes are
skilled craftsmen, as compared with
1871, 900 who are pursuing unskilled
occupations, or who are employed as
day laborers.
If the survey is to be taken as a
basis of fact, there are in the United
States only fifty Negro architects,
1S4 engineers, 145 designers, drafts
men and inventors, and 207 chemists.
The preaching profession suffers, as
there are only ten graduates a year
from the theological schools.
The report is interesting through
out, and although it calls attention to
the accomplishments of the race in
general, which accomplishments have
been exceptional, the report states
that 1.-THE IMMEDIATE NEED OF
THE RACE IS MORE EDUCATION,
BETTER EDUCATION"