conference for negro education in raleigh

4
Conference for Negro Education in Raleigh Author(s): N. C. Newbold Source: Journal of Social Forces, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Jan., 1923), pp. 145-147 Published by: Oxford University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3004919 . Accessed: 15/06/2014 19:04 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . Oxford University Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Social Forces. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 62.122.73.250 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:04:08 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Upload: n-c-newbold

Post on 21-Jan-2017

213 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Conference for Negro Education in RaleighAuthor(s): N. C. NewboldSource: Journal of Social Forces, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Jan., 1923), pp. 145-147Published by: Oxford University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3004919 .

Accessed: 15/06/2014 19:04

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

Oxford University Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal ofSocial Forces.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.250 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:04:08 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

The Journal of Social Forces 145

Inter-Racial Cooperation

Contributions to this Department will in- clude material of three kinds: (1) original discussion, suggestion, plans, programs* and theories; (2) reports of special projects, working programs, conferences and meet- ings, and progress in any distinctive as- pect of the field; (3) special results of study and research.

CONFERENCE FOR NEGRO EDUCATION IN RALEIGH

N. C. Newbold

ON

November 3rd and 4th, 1922, two hundred and fifty of the most prominent negro leaders in all walks of life in North

Carolina and forty-six influential white persons gathered at Shaw University, Raleigh, for a two

days discussion of negro education, health and

public welfare. This was the fourth annual con? ference to be called by the State Department of Public Instruction. The conference was formally and heartily welcomed to Raleigh by Mayor T. B.

Eldridge. The two general topics assigned for discussion were:

1. The progress that has been made within the

year in carrying forward the program of the state for negro education outlined September 15-16, 1921.

2. How the public and private schools of this

state may cooperate helpfully to the best advan-

tage of all concerned.

A general outline of the points for discussion was presented in a written statement by the director of negro education. The outstanding facts in this statement are:

1. A discussion of the progress that has been made in the expenditure of the appropriations made for negro education by the state legislature in 1921. These appropriations were as follows:

Building and equipment, three state normal schools ..$500,000

Maintenance, three state normal schools (annual) . 75,000

Division of negro education (annual) _ 15,000 Teacher-training in private schools( annual) .... 15,000 Teacher-*raining in summer schools,

estimated (annual) . 20,000 High schools and vocational education,

estimated (annual). 30,000 Building and improvement, A. & T. College,

Greensboro . 115,000 Maintenance, A. & T. (annual) . 30,000 Building reformatory for negro boys. 25,000

Maintenance of reformatory (annual) . 10,000 Sanatorium for negro tubercular patients . 100,000

Total appropriations .4935,000

All these sums except that for the reformatory for negro boys have been practically spent. The

building, as indicated in the appropriations, has

been unprecedented in the history of North Caro?

lina, or, perhaps, in any other state. New, well-

built fire-proof brick buildings at the various in?

stitutions going up and being furnished have

tremendously stimulated the negro thought and

life of the state. At the September 1921 conference we an-

nounced plans to build about seventy-five Rosen-

wald schools to cost $279,000 by June 30, 1922.

Actually eighty-one Rosenwald schools were built

at a cost of $330,387. One county, Warren, built thirteen of these schools.

A survey of the construction of negro schools

in North Carolina towns and cities brought in-

formation from about 75 per cent of the towns

and cities. These reports show that a little over

one million dollars is being spent annually during the present two-year period in the construction of

modern schoolhouses for negroes. Reference also was made to the work of the

division of negro education in the State Depart? ment of Public Instruction, and to the very ex-

cellent teacher-training work just begun in nine

private schools in cooperation with the state.

2. Plans for the immediate future were dis- cussed as follows: (a) An urgent demand for better and more elementary negro schools in both rural and urban communities; (b) Pointing out the need for the standardization of negro high schools, public and private; (c) Calling attention to the present standard normal school status in

the three state teacher-training institutions, and

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.250 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:04:08 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

146 The Journal of Social Forces

also pointing out the very insistent need that one of these institutions shall be developed into a four-

year teachers' college. No such state school now exists. It is very necessary that the state shall train the principals, high school teachers and sup- ervisors of negro schools instead of, as now, de-

pending upon other states to do this work for us ; (d) Urging that the Agricultural & Technical

College at Greensboro be given sufficient support to standardize it as a four-year college for the

training of principals and special vocational in?

structors; (e) Pointing out the need for further

extending teacher-training in private schools with state cooperation.

3. A sharp contrast was drawn between the

apparent successful functioning of the state's pro? gram for negro education with the meagre sup? port given negro schools in many local communi? ties. An attempt was made to show that the mind of the state as represented by its leaders in political and official life is fully made up to do justice to its negro population in matters of

education, health and public welfare. But while this is true, many local communities have not been aroused to the necessity for supporting good negro schools.

4. Attention was directed to a report under- stood to be current in the state that some leaders in private education for negroes were apprehen- sive lest their institutions should suffer because of the rapid development of the state's program for negro education. The negroes at the confer? ence were earnestly asked to consider this report and indicate if the state should proceed with its

policy of definitely and consistently improving the negro schools, or if no further state action is desired at present.

5. An appeal was made for coordination and

cooperation between the public and private schools. Six definite questions were asked:

(1) Will it be possible for the religious de- nominations or groups concerned to make an au- thoritative survey of the elementary negro schools and where it seems wise consolidate with the

public school authorities so that a strong com?

munity school may be established in lieu of two or more weak and struggling schools ?

(2) Would a survey or an examination of the

private negro schools prove helpful ? The aim of such a survey or examination, made by properly appointed committees, would be to make adjust-

ments here and there with the public schools, to the end that more accredited high schools might be developed to serve the negro pupils in more communities in the shortest possible time.

(3) Would it not be wise economy and sound educational policy for some of the private schools now apparently struggling under great disad-

vantages while trying to maintain a four-year course to become standardized immediately as

junior colleges? (4) Now that the normal schools are recog-

nized standard normal schools, will the private colleges accept normal school graduates as candi- dates for the junior class in a four-year college course ?

(5) Because of certain shortcomings none of the private negro colleges in North Carolina has the full four-year rating by the state division of certification. Will the organizations which own and operate these colleges be interested in bring- ing them up to a standard that will entitle them to an accredited rating without question?

(6) Because of the great variations existing in the negro private schools as to names, grades, classes, and the like, would it be wise to agree upon a common nomenclature by which the same

grade of work in public or private institutions would be known by the same name?

It was suggested that an inter-school commis- sion appointed by the negroes themselves might take these six questions to the various religious denominations and other groups concerned and work out an answer to them. It was made clear an affirmative answer to all these questions would most likely aid the state in its work for negro education.

Emphasis was also placed upon the fact there was no desire to establish rigid uniformity, nor to secularize any of the church schools. It is clear there is room enough for every school, pub? lic or private, that is trying to do honest, worth while work in education.

The principal addresses on the first day of the conference were delivered by Dr. Brooks, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Dr. Wallace Buttrick, President of the Gen? eral Education Board, New York. Dr. Brooks in a most interesting and informing address gave a historical sketch of the movement begun in

September 1919 to establish a precedent by call-

ing the negro leaders of North Carolina together

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.250 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:04:08 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

The Journal of Social Forces 147

for a full and frank discussion of education and other matters pertaining to the peace, happiness and prosperity of both races in North Carolina. Dr. Brooks referred especially to the first confer? ence when a "Declaration of Principles" was

agreed upon between the State Department of Public Instruction and the negro leaders who at- tended that conference. He pointed out the sig? nificance of that conference as it related to the establishment of better relations between the

negroes and the white people of the state, and its effect upon the unsettled conditions which ex- isted at that time. Dr. Buttrick emphasized in his brief address the value to humanity and

Christianity of both races working together for the same worthy ends. His brief message was an inspiration to all who heard him. The con? ference also had the opportunity to have a brief

message from former Superintendent J. Y. Joy- ner, who referred pleasantly to his relations with the negro people of the state while he was state

superintendent, and brought also encouragement to those present by his outline of the fine results that may come from the present tendency of the

farmers of the state to organize into cooperative- marketing associations by which they may se- cure fair prices for their products. Dr. Joyner pointed out the value of such organizations, show-

ing how better economic conditions would mean better education, better health and better living conditions of all kinds.

On the second day of the conference interest?

ing reports were made by the different members of the Division of Negro Education showing the

very rapid progress made in their several fields the past year.

The negro leaders attending the conference

appointed a committee representing the different

religious denominations, which committee had discussed the proposals submitted by the director of negro education, and brought in a resolution

endorsing those suggestions, and appointed a

committee from each denomination to make further study to report at the State Teachers*

Assembly which meets in Winston-Salem Thanks-

giving week. Encouraging and helpful greetings were brought by representatives of Tuskegee and Hampton institutes.

THE NEGRO OFFENDER1

W. C. Jackson

THE

negro offender constitutes a large part of the criminal record of our state. Al-

though constituting about 30 per cent of the population, the negro commits something like 60 per cent of the crimes. While there is evidence that the difference in the percentage of crimes of white and black is not so great as it

formerly was, it is certain that the rate is still

relatively high. With a different historical back-

ground and experience, with inherent differences of character, and with a retarded intellectual, social and economic development, it is but natural that his offenses against the laws of the state should be many. The white man sets the stand- ards of intellectual and moral values, determines the economic life of the state, and makes and administers completely and exclusively all the

laws of the state. The primary obligation, there?

fore, for remedying any conditions with refer? ence to the negro rests with the white man. It

1 Report for the Committee on Treatment of the Negro Of? fender, meeting of the Committee of One Hundred on Prison Legislation, Greensboro, N. C, November 24, 1922.

is both a duty and an opportunity that the white man has to deal justly and wisely with the negro.

Your committee has held three meetings, and

different members have visited jails and convict

camps in and near Greensboro and Guilford

county. We have had neither the time nor the

means to make a survey of negro crime in the

state or to make a very thorough study of the

problem involved. There are, however, certain

recommendations which we would like to make:

First?Survey and Study of the Negro Criminal

We recommend that a scientific survey and

study of the negro criminal be made in North Carolina. We think this survey and study should be done by a commission selected by and under the direction of the State Board of Public Wel? fare. It should cover: the extent of negro crime, the character of crimes committed, and their causes; and a comparison of the crimes of

whites and blacks and of the sentences imposed.

This content downloaded from 62.122.73.250 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 19:04:08 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions