"Impressions of Baltimore," The Christian Recorder, December 8, 1866
- Title
- "Impressions of Baltimore," The Christian Recorder, December 8, 1866
- Date
- 12-08-1866
- Description
- An article by "T. W. C." describes the Baltimore Association and its founders. Mentions the existence of "a few false Moses" within the organization who are attempting to stop Black women from obtaining teaching positions and the treatment of Black women teachers. Claims that the Baltimore Association has been sending qualified Black teachers from the New England Freedmen's Aid Society out to teach in rural areas while reserving city teaching positions for white teachers.
- Related Financial Supporters
- Baltimore Association for the Moral and Educational Improvement of the Colored People
- Transcript
-
IMPRESSIONS OF BALTIMORE.
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No. 5.
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BY T.W.C.
"The Baltimore Association for the Moral and Educational Improvement of the Colored People" is a prominent feature among the Benevolent Associations in this city. It was organized by a few liberal men about two years since, and is now the Southern branch of the "American Freedmen's Commission." Among the leading men in this association are Judge Bond, William J. Albert, Edward Needles, and Revs. Harp Johnson and Weir. We believe the above gentlemen are among those who are impelled by the purest motives towards the colored people; but we are sorry to say there are a few false Moses among them who manage to get the Bread and Butter, which the association has to give. These false ones seem to bring all the force they can to keep colored teachers from occupying positions which no fair-minded man would deprive them of. The New England Association sent several finely educated young colored ladies to this association for duty, supposing, doubtless, that they would be assigned to positions without regard to color &c.; but to the chagrin of these graduates of noble Massachusetts State Normal School, they are subject to the disposal of a false Moses, who, of course ships them into the counties, and the white young ladies are kept in the city. We do not wish to see all colored teachers in the city, but we do wish for a fair portion of them in common with white teachers. The pure hearted men of this association, and the noble philanthropists of the North, who sent them here, do not really know how the colored teachers are disposed of.
We would not speak of this, but our feelings are touched whenever we see our finely educated ladies subjected to the treatment of one who calls them Sarah, and Mary, and Louisa in Baltimore; but Miss Sarah, and Miss Mary &c. in Boston; and puts the handle to the white teachers names at all times and places?
This Association is doing a good work among the colored people, but if these wolves in sheep's clothing were out, our people would have Greta confidence in them. As it is, a great many send their children to private schools.
There are seven or eight schools in operation under this association. No. 1 is taught by Mr. Knight as principal, with six or seven assistants-all white. When we compare the No. 1 of Baltimore with No. 1 of Charleston, we are reminded of the one at Charleston, as a seminary, and the one here as a primary school. That at Charleston was established about eight or nine months later than the one here, and has a colored principal; this one has a white principal-so much for the success of the Negro. The other schools of this association are scattered through the city in the basements and lecture rooms of the different colored churches. We wish however, to speak of the school at Sharp street Church, of which Miss Kate Grover is Principal. We believe there are few, if any, of the white teachers who labor with more zeal and who are impelled by a sincerer motive for the education of the colored people, than Miss Grover. She is a most excellent lady, and a very successful teacher. We hope Baltimore will always be blessed with her services. Here is the most successful school in Baltimore, when we consider the rough material she has to work upon.
Rev. William T. Car has a school in the basement of his church, which is under the assembly's committee of the Old School Presbyterian Church. This school numbers about two hundred; Mrs. Carr and Mr. Francis are the assistants. We judge Rev. Mr. Carr finds it very hard work to teach all the week, in addition to the duties of his church. We do not see how both can be attended to properly.
Mr. Wm. H. Woods has a private school in Douglas Institute. Mr. Woods is very successful we judge, with his school, as he has quite a number of scholars, an assistant, and an academical department. He devotes his whole time to his work in school, which is necessary in order to succeed.
Rev. Mr. Webb of the Episcopal Church, has a school also in the lecture room of his church, Mr. Webb has been keeping this school for a number of years. We can enjoy his services on the Sabbath very much, and we think a great deal of good could be done, and a larger Episcopal congregation could be built up, if Mr. Webb could receive from his congregation greater pecuniary inducements, so as not to be obliged to resort to the school room, which necessarily takes up the time from all ministers who have churches which belongs to the work of saving souls.
(The article should have been published some time ago, but has been mislaid. It should have preceded the one published in last week's paper-EDITOR.)
Part of "Impressions of Baltimore," The Christian Recorder, December 8, 1866