The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1951-11-17
Letter To The Editor

Letter 10 The Editor
The following letter has been
sent to the Times for publication:
1903 NV. 5th Court
Miami SO, Fla.
November IL, 1851
Mr.. Jack Bell
The Miami Herald
200 South Miami Ave.
Miami, Fla.
My dear Mr.. Bell:
AS a music teacher in one of
Miami's Negro high schools I
take exception to several state
ments made in your column
which appeared on November
tenth. I do not know whether the
responsibility for the untruths
which were printed rests with
you or with Mrs. Greenfield but
! strongly resent two statements
that you made.
"She was amazed to find that
in the entire Negro area there
isn't a voice teacher of any
talent"
l hold the Bachelor of Music
Degree with major in voice from
Sherwood Music School in Chi
cago, Illinois, and the Master of
Arts Degree from New York Uni
versity. l was voice instructor at
Fla. A. and M. College at ITALIA
hassee and at Southern Univer-
sity in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I
have completed two-thirds of the
residence requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy at
New York University. My past
experience includes recital ap-
pearances in Chicago, Miami, and
New York, appearances as solo,
list with choirs and symphony or
chestras, and two-year scholar
ship in the ussa-Greve Opera
Class in Chicago have had stu
dents of both races.
repeat Mr.. Bell, I strongly re-
sent the statement which l have
quoted above!
"They admitted frankly they
need instruction, that they're not
capable of teaching the students"
That statement Sir, is an insult
to my professional training, to the
advanced training of my fellow
music teachers, to the Dade
County Board of Public InStruc-
ton, and to the certification re-
quirements of the Florida State
Department of Education.
Three of our teachers have had
years of experience as college in
Structors of music - and in
accredited colleges! Three of our
teachers hold Masters degrees,
and several others are within a
few points of completing require
mentS for this degree.
Every musician looks forward
to a lifetime of musical growth,
but this desire for growth does
not imply present Incompetence.
Mrs. Greenfield was introduced
to the Negro music teachers of
Dade County at a meeting in my
home. q might point out here
that, although l am a member of
the Dade County Negro Music
Teachers Association, I speak
here not for the organization but
for myself) She was presented to
us then as a former university
professor whose background in
cluded study in Europe, and who
was prepared to offer to us in
struction of university calibre at
nominal cost. We were all fasci-
mated and pleased by her ambl-
ton for an unsegregated music
school for our area. The enroll
ment of teachers that you men
toned was simply list of names
of teachers present at the meet
ing who were willing to take an
active part in the establishment
of the school. We considered our
enrolment a possible impetus
toward the realization of the I'LL
innate goal.
My impression of Mrs. Green
field was that she is wonderful,
liberal-minded woman with a
great dream, a dream the realiZa-
ton of which would benefit my
people. Could l have been wrong?
Have l been taken i'm? Was the