Progress and Achievements of the Colored People: Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success
John Stuart Mill · en
The variation in the number of schools reflects the different policies
of the fund as well as the changes in the amount of money to be
distributed. The present policy is that of increasing cooperation with
public school authorities in all efforts to improve and increase the
supply of public school teachers. Dr. Dillard, the director of the
Slater Fund and the executive officer of the Jeanes fund, has been very
successful in arousing the interest of public authorities in Negro
schools. Realizing that the majority of elementary school teachers
receive their education in their own or neighboring county, he is
directing as much as possible of the Slater Fund to the improvement of
public schools centrally located in the counties, so that courses of
training for teachers may be established. The usual conditions observed
in the organization of these schools are: first, that the property shall
belong to the State or county; second, that an appropriation of at least
$7.50 shall be made annually by the county for the maintenance; third,
that at least eight grades of instruction shall be provided, including
some industrial work and simple instruction in teaching methods. In
1912, there were three schools of this character. In 1915, the number
had increased to 17. With the aid of the General Education Board and
other agencies, it is probable that before the close of 1917, there will
be over 40 county training schools for Negroes in the Southern States.
_Anna T. Jeanes Fund._—The origin of the Jeanes Fund is so significant
of the spirit and purpose of its present policy, that space must here be
taken to relate some of the incidents connected with that event. In
1906, Dr. Frissell appealed to Miss Anna T. Jeanes for a contribution to
the work of Hampton. Miss Jeanes was an elderly Quaker lady of
Philadelphia. As Dr. Frissell described the hardships of the teachers in
rural schools, she said: “Thee interests me,” and proceeded to write a
check to aid the work of small rural schools. Dr. Frissell, expecting to
receive not more than a hundred dollars looked at the check and saw, to
his great surprise, that it was for $10,000. He said: “Well, you
certainly are interested. Would you like to have Booker Washington call
on you to explain the need of small schools in Alabama.” Miss Jeanes
replied that she would and soon afterwards she gave another ten thousand
to Dr. Washington. At the suggestion of Mr. George Foster Peabody, then
the Treasurer of the General Education Board, she gave $200,000 more to
be used according to plans to be determined upon by Dr. Frissell and Dr.
Washington.