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THE MAROON TIGER
Page Sixty-five
Editorial
A Slight Study in Negro
Education
A careful study of educational standards and
facilities in the South has created a well-nigh
general concession that the South in lines of edu
cation is far behind the norm. There is, how
ever, a very definite attempt being made to give
the students of the white race good educational
advantages. Nothing of relative importance is
being done for the Negro. There is not a stan
dardized A-l State School for Negroes in the
South.—Higher education is not accentuated.
The Negro did not ask for separte schools.
Separate schools were forced upon him. Conse
quently we as citizens are entitled to adequate
educational facilities regardless of the percentage
of population in a state or community, or re
gardless of the amount of taxes we pay. If we
do not pay enough taxes to support an adequate
school system—we should not be denied education
on these grounds. The separate school system
has state sanction, therefore, the state should
support each as well as the other.
Below are comparative figures to show the sup
port given state institutions by Georgia—(This
is a fair example of the Southern States with the
exception of North Carolina).
State Institutions, 1924
Column 1, is the number of teachers; column
2, the Enrollment; Column 3 Total Value of Col
lege Property; Column 4, State Appropriation.
12 3 4
Univ. of Ga., Athens .
71
1228
$2,214,202.17 $105,300.00
St. Col., Agri., Athens
45
361
1,341,068.00
113,200.00
Georgia Tech., Atlanta
139
1790
1,939,139.00
165,819.23
N. Ga. Agri. Dahlonega 16
79
210,000.00
27,000.00
G. S. C. W. Mill’ville
70
975
700,000.00
90,000.00
S. Normal S., Athens
45
650
502,200.00
63,000.00
G. S. W. C., Valdosta
22
200
429,316.99
40,000.00
S. N. & I. C., Bowdon
7
50
57,300.00
15,000.00
St. Med. Col. Augusta
10
140
218,22,61
69,500.00
Ga. Nor. S. Statesboro
55
19
257,500.00
15,000.00
U. of Ga. Sch., Pharm
. 10
14
Total
490
5506
$7,868,948.77
$703,819.23
COLORED
1
2
3
4
Ga. S. I. C., Savanah
19
298 $ 186,000.00 $ 26,000.00
Ga. N. & A. S., Albany 19
458
104,750.00
30,000.00
Total
38
; 750 $ 290,750.00 $ 56,00.00
White Colored
Total Value of Buildings $4,462,109.00 $158,000.00
Total Value of Equimpent 1,057,012.48 16,500.00
Total Value of Libraries 238,795.12 1,250.00
Number Volumes in Libraries.— 123,523 4,300
—Interracial Commision News
What does this comparison indicate? It brings
out this fact very vividly—The Negro Must Edu
cate Himself.
Were it not for the private institutions in the
south, the Negro would be even in a more deplor
able condition so far as illiteracy is concerned.
Northern philanthropic enterprises are more and
more withdrawing entire support from the pri
vate institutions. When a gift is made it is made
on the condition that a certain amount is raised
by Negroes. The reasons for this changed atti
tude are: 1. The economic status of the Negro is
rapidly and firmly advancing; 2. The Negro has
not learned but must learn to contribute to edu
cation as he.does to things of lesser importance;
3. There is a “New Negro” that demands to be
given a hand in leadership in Negro Colleges. Con
sequently he must accept the financial burden
that falls on the administration.
We must fact these facts also: 1. The south
does not appropriate enough for our education
and it is up to us to obtain the use of the ballot
in order to throw elections in favor of men who
will recognize our status as citizens; 2. We can
can only use the ballot constructively and wisely
when we are educated; 3. We must support our
private instutions in order to be educated.—In
short, “The fate of the Negro rests with the Ne
gro, himself.”
We are only dabbling in the field of education.
We haven’t one university in the South that of
fers degrees in graduate work. The time has
come when Negro colleges should launch out on
a larger program of expansion. The faculties
should be strengthened. The teachers who are in
terested in the work only to the extent of salaries
should be excluded—competency and the desire to
serve should be the aim in the choice of teachers.
Those who stand as old landmarks yet who have
have contributed as much towards progress, as
they can, should be pensioned. We need and must
have universities in the South that can offer
standard undergraduate and graduate courses.
The selfish, inhuman desire of the white man to
keep the Negro in ignorance must be thwarted.
We must liberally furnish means whereby we can
foster and dictate our own education.
’The MAROON TIGER management presented
the photo play “The Scarlet letter,” March 11th.
The management wishes to express appreciation
to those who help with the presentation.
Contributing editors are asked to be more punc
tual in handing in their work. Send in articles
immediately so that the next issue can be pub
lished without delay.
The Alumni have not responded in any degree
to the circular letters sent out during the early
part of the term, despite the fact, that many have
been sent copies of the MAROON TIGER. No
more copies will be sent unless subscriptions are
sent in.