Conference Of Educators
By Rev. Geo. W. Moore.
The first Conference of Educators of Colored Youth, which met in Washington, D.C., March 25-27, was a large and interesting meeting, and the results were very gratifying. Representative instructors were gathered from various parts of the country—chiefly from the Southern States—at the invitation of the College Alumni of Howard University, to review the educational progress of the past twenty-five years; to compare views of the status and needs of the work, and to consider plans for the future. It was felt that there were certain questions and special needs arising out of the condition of the colored people in this country, which required earnest consideration, the solution of which rests largely with the Negro himself. The presence of so many colored men and women who had graduated from the institutions of learning they now seek to foster, including Presidents of colleges and normal schools and principals and teachers of public schools, professors of Greek, Latin, mathematics and theology, physicians, lawyers and ministers, was an object-lesson of the educational progress of the race.
Able papers were read on practical subjects of all phases of educational work. Industrial work, normal training and higher education, were fruitful topics of discussion. While each had its advocates, it was the consensus of opinion that each of these departments has its place, and that all were needed in the education of our colored youth. Judge Tourgee addressed the Conference on National Aid to Education; and Hon. W.T. Harris, the Commissioner of Education, advocated the higher education of the Negro. National Aid to Education was strongly advocated by the Conference, and is emphasized in their address to the country. That address commends itself to the thoughtful consideration of the friends of education. The report closes with the following appeal in behalf of the institutions that have been established in the South: "A crying need at the present hour is the making permanent of the larger and more central institutions of learning for colored youth in the South, through permanent endowments, by private contributions. Many of them have struggled along for a quarter of a century, doing much good, it is true, but greatly hindered in their progress because of the uncertainty of their financial support. We appeal to the [pg 148] wealthy and philanthropic everywhere to contribute of their means to such endowments."
Four college Presidents were in attendance, and took part in the Conference—Rev. Dr. Simmons, of Kentucky State University; Rev. Dr. Brackett, of Storer College, Harper's Ferry; Rev. Dr. Bumstead, of Atlanta University and Rev. Dr. Rankin of Howard University. Prof. J.M. Gregory of Howard University was elected President, and Prof. S.G. Atkins of Salisbury, N.C., Secretary of the Conference. The next meeting will be held at Atlanta, Ga., January 1, 1891.
A Prize Poem
A publishing house in North Carolina offered "a handsome prize for the best poem, not less than sixteen nor more than twenty-four lines, on any North Carolina subject." Twenty or more poems were received, and submitted to a committee who did not know the names of the writers; on comparison with the numbers it was found that the poem to which the prize was awarded was written by Mrs. A.W. Curtis, of Raleigh, N.C., a missionary of this Association. We print the poem not only for its merit, but as an honor conferred upon one of our valued workers among the colored people of the South.
North Carolina.