The national conference on fundamental problems in the education of Negroes met in Washington several weeks ago. In the opening session, Mr. Ickes and Mr. Zook, members of the "new deal" administration, made lengthy speeches, in which they praised the Negro race for its "Sixty Years of Progress".
A day or two was given for the airing of certain collected facts and figures and amoung other facts, it was stated that the fourteen Southern States spend $40,000,000 and more, annually on education for the whites, than they spend on education for the Negro. So, before adjourning the delegates to the convention adopted a program that will mean more employment for Negro teachers and better wages, if the plan is successfully put in operation. A few of the objectives listed in the approved document are, (1) one hundred and eleven schools and colleges should be made available for the Negro youth. (2) The training, compensation and working conditions of the Negro educator should meet the highest standards of professional growth and leadership. (3) A single standard of adequacy should be established for the financial support of schools and that all moneys appropriated for this purpose should be equitably distributed and properly administered.
Of course, just what will be done about the abovementioned suggestions, remains to be seen, but the conference and its conclusion give evidence that certain groups in America are aware of the burden that the present system of education for Negroes places on the entire country.
Since it is a fact that the progress of America has depended, almost wholly, upon its educational system, since it is true that our government is a democracy and our nation is controlled by the will of the people, then, the success of our country depends upon the ability of the masses, in turn, depends upon the training received in full term public schools, accredited high schools and standard institutions of higher education.
If our Nation is to remain the great Republic that it is now, if democracy is to be our heritage, then America should lose no time in providing all her citizens, regardless of color, with equal educational advantages, for, as one of our early writers said, "On the diffusion of education among the people, rests the preservation and perpetuation of our free institutions."