Martha Schofield, pioneer Negro educator / Historical and philosophical review of reconstruction period of South Carolina

by Matilda A. Evans

Among the most versatile as well as resourceful women who ever came South to teach Miss Schofield was well fortified with facts to meet Mrs. Dodson’s excuse for the indifference of her society to the need of the Negro. She showed her that not only was the common school fund wholly inadequate for the education of the white children but that there was absolutely no justice in its distribution—that the whites gave the Negroes just as little of it as possible and dignified it as “hush-mouth” money. She cited instances calling names, dates and places which proved conclusively that the system of the Southern white people for the education of the Negro was a farce pure and simple, in that there was not only no pretence at all at an equitable distribution of the school funds, but no regard whatever was had as to the proper qualification of Negro teachers. She intimated that favor was shown by the whites to the less capable and least deserving of the Negroes as teachers, and sought to close the argument by impressing the fact, that where conditions obtain like those in the South, there is where the Master’s work calls loudest, according to the teachings of her own church.

Stung to the quick by the truth of these statements Mrs. Dodson was willing enough to terminate the conversation, and apparently with middling right good cheer bade her visitor “good day” and set about the work of her household.

But Martha Schofield had made an impression on her. She had been made to feel the hypocracy of her position for the first time in the new relations between the two races, a position wholly incompatible with the teachings of Christ. It started her to reasoning, that if from a selfish point of view if not from a Christian standpoint, it were not better to encourage the work of Miss Schofield. She was not an ignorant woman, but on the contrary highly intellectual, and although but superficially educated was well enough informed to know that the Negro was here and here, perhaps, to stay. “Then why,” she silently asked herself, “would not one’s greatest defense and security be more certainly attained in the development of the intellectual and moral powers of the race?” She had been teaching all her life that to give was more blessed than to receive; then why not give to the needy Negro right at her door? Why not stimulate and encourage every effort being made to convert him into a useful and intelligent citizen? His labor she knew, even though his hands and face were black, would be worth a thousand per cent. more if it were skilled. Besides, that thought of blessings being twice blest—“blessing him that gives and him that takes”—continually haunted her.

Such a marked change was apparent in her attitude toward foreign missions at the next meeting of her society after Miss Schofield’s visit that her fidelity to the cause was severely questioned by others of the faithful, from whom she concealed well the cause of her new devotion to the home missionary field. She told them that they should seek to do all they could for the heathen in foreign lands but that their ability to extend their usefulness in that direction was now limited by the newly enforced political and social conditions at home. She suggested that the society consider the matter of expending as much of its funds at home as abroad, elaborating upon the great necessity for the industrial training of the Negro, and the education of the thousands of white children in this country, whose school term at the time was not in excess of three months out of twelve, for want of funds.

This met the approval of all members, as all of Mrs. Dodson’s propositions usually did, and a resolution setting forth the fact that the sentiment of the Mary Magdalene Society of the First Baptist Church of Lick Skillet was in favor of the equal division of the funds between the Foreign and Home Mission Boards of the National Missionary Association was unanimously passed.

A few days later Allen Dodson accompanied by Millard, his son, called at the Schofield school and expressed a desire to sign the petition for the pardon of Leslie Duncan who had now begun serving the third of a five year sentence given him for stabbing Mr. Dodson’s little son, Willie.

This completed the requirements of the pardoning board, and as soon as their signatures were affixed the document was sent by Miss Schofield to the governor who immediately ordered the prisoner released.

Hundreds of instances might be mentioned where this great woman took the burdens of others on herself at times when she was already over burdened with her own work, and rendered them a service which could not possibly have been accomplished without her aid.

When Leslie appeared at the Schofield school after his release from prison to thank Miss Schofield for her kindness to him and to claim Matilda for his wife, Miss Schofield ordered him arrested on the charge docketed by the Judge at the time of his former conviction, that of a breach of contract.

When the trial was called the Dodson family failed to appear against the prisoner and the prosecution was abandoned.