3
-
. . .
[pp. 19-20].
- Perhaps one of the most important pieces of school legislation, which enabled all Negro school districts to be formed, was passed by the General Assembly of 1875. Act 45, Section 39 and 56. Section 39 stated:
- That the boundaries of school districts in counties of this state shall
be and remain as now
- established, except that the County Court shall have power to alter the same whenever a majority
- of the citizens residing therein shall petition the court to do so; but in all changes due regard shall be
- given to the convenience of the citizens, and all the territory in the county shall be embraced in said
- school district (15).
- established, except that the County Court shall have power to alter the same whenever a majority
-
- During various sessions of the legislature, laws were enacted which implemented the general provisions of the Constitution. Section 56 of Act 46 made it possible for five qualified electors of a county to assemble in a legal school meeting and establish a school district. This act of the legislature enabled Negro electors to establish school districts for themselves or it is possible that in some cases white electors established school districts for Negroes. Detailed information as to how these Negro school districts were erected are unavailable, but they sprang up all over the county. These districts were erected in sections of the county where the population of the community was predominantly Negro.
- The creation and development of Negro school districts showed a close relationship to that part of the law governing the location of the schools, which states:
- During various sessions of the legislature, laws were enacted which implemented the general provisions of the Constitution. Section 56 of Act 46 made it possible for five qualified electors of a county to assemble in a legal school meeting and establish a school district. This act of the legislature enabled Negro electors to establish school districts for themselves or it is possible that in some cases white electors established school districts for Negroes. Detailed information as to how these Negro school districts were erected are unavailable, but they sprang up all over the county. These districts were erected in sections of the county where the population of the community was predominantly Negro.
- The duty of establishing separate schools for races is mandatory. If
there are eleven or
- more black children, they must have a school. Ten black children or a less number, or ten white
- children or less, should be transferred to an adjoining district. . . . . . but in all changes due regard
- shall be given to the citizens . . . . That schools should be located where a majority of the citizens
- live (16).
- more black children, they must have a school. Ten black children or a less number, or ten white
- ___________________
- 15. S. J. Blocher, "Constitution of Arkansas 1874, Article XIV," Civil Government of Arkansas
- and the United States. Richmond: B. F. Johnson Publishing Company, 1907. pp. 193-194.
- 16. A. B. Hill, School Laws of Arkansas. Little Rock: Reprinted
by the Central Printing Company.
- Digest of School Laws; Crawford and Moses, Digest of the Statutes of Arkansas, 1923. p. 72.
. . .
CHAPTER IV
RISE OF NEGRO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS,
1900 - 1938
- Digest of School Laws; Crawford and Moses, Digest of the Statutes of Arkansas, 1923. p. 72.
- In 1860, the Negro slave population of the county was listed as 3,599.
There were five free colored people in the County that year (2).
. . .
- Between 1890 and 1940, the following nineteen predominately all-Negro communities were in existence, which included Early View, St. Mark, St Matthew, St. Luke, St. James, Mt. Zion, Free Hope, Forest Grove, East Friendship, West Friendship, Smithland, Noxube, Mt. Calm, Damascus, McMittress, Doss Town, Atlanta, and St. Paul.
- __________________
- 2. Banner News, Centennial Edition, Thursday, April 30, 1953. p.30.
[pp. 21-22]
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