The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1938-10-07
ABOUT OURFOLKSlN MCDOWELL
BY s'HICKS"

Some weeks ago the fractional
fight between the Negro Demo
Gratis came to sudden disolu-
ton. The Association Chairman
carried the fight to those on the
other side of the fence and as a
result L. A. and company had
to drop back and fall in line. 1t
is regretable however that there
are groups of our race that can
not fall in line with any type of
organization. While l speak
from an outsiders point of view
do believe that the hustling
DR.. Murray and the Negro
county organization would do
something worthwhile if some of
those that think in terms of
themselves would stop bungling
anything proposed for racial
advancement. The followers of
the regular county Negro organi-
cation represent the better think
ing class in that party.
Since the parsons last fight
fell by the wayside we now find
him attempting to advance him
self by high pressure methods
on the teachers in the school
s y S t e m. 1t seems that the
brother parson feels himelf slip
ping and as a result he has one
of his disciples in t h e school
system securing the signatures
of other teachers petitioning
the Board of Education to hold
him in office. This petition sets
forth to tell how efficient he has
run our schools, his fine ideals
as a gentleman, and the coopera-
ton the teachers have received
from him. 1t would seem if such
is the case that brother parson
would at least have the endorse
ment of the teaching profession.
These tatics are being forced up
on the teachers and many have
signed lin fear that they will
jeopardize their positions. My
hat goes off to one teacher that
refused to sign and she is to be
complimented for her courage
Gus spirit. She promptly told
the individual circulating the
petition that she would not en-
dorse any man so inefficient, so
unmanly and so poorly trained
for a position affecting the lives
of black boys and girls. If we
had more souls in our school
system like this, Mcdowell Co.,
school boys and girls would have
fitting examples to follow. 1t is
such practices as these that
have caused the good people of
our county to throw their hands
up in disgust. The filling of the
schools with i'll prepared indivi-
duals that lack manhood enough
to resent such unprofessional
practices that have gone on dur
ing the past four years has
brought about lack of respect
for the present incumbent's
office. In several schools, es-
pecially h i g h schools, teachers
are called upon each month to
donate" a portion of their
salaries to help finance the
school program. These admins
traitors set back and pose as eff
cient school men. When the real
situation is they do not have
enough to hold on their respec-
tive communities to promote the
school program. 1t is a bit be-
yond nv imagination how these
high priced collectors of the tax
payers money could demand
that the poor paid under salaried
teachers give a portion of their
salary. / believe that if these
teachers would stand upon their
rights as other professional
workers do that the public
would stand and stand firm be
hind them.
1t is the function of the
schools of our county for the
development of good citizenship
or it is a breeding place of our
future criminals. Our schools are
poorly disciplined is evident in
the instance when one of the
teachers in one of the larger
high schools of the county was
cut seriously. Nothing was ever
done about it and the student
was permitted to continue going
to school. The assistant super
Iintendant ever watching to save
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