SR_DPI_DNE_Special_Subject_File_B5F1_Durham_NC_College_Negroes_153

The Durgam State Normal School For
Training Negro Teachers.

1. General Statement.

The State of North Carolina in its fundamnetal and statute law is firmly
committed to the policy of public education for all its people. As a natural
corralary it must provide institutions for training teachers for its public
schools.

When the Board of Trustees of the National Training School of Durham
offered to the State property valued at approximately $150,000.00 on condition
that the State pay off an accumulated debt not to exceed $48,000.00; and
further that the State develop the property into a standard Normal School
for Negroes, - the State accepted the offer as a good business proposition.
There was no though on the part of the State of philanthropy, or doing a
favor to the president and board of trustees of the former institution known
as the National Training School. The State regarded the offer to sell the
property a good opportunity to augment its facilities for training Negro
teachers. The proper authorities of the former institution made the offer
to the State in good faith. In like manner, the State has accepted the proposition,
has pledged the amount stipulated as the purchase price, not to exceed
$48,000.00, and is prepated to make good the second condition: that is,
to develop a standard Normal School for Negros.

Under the conditions which have been briefly set out above, the State
is at liberty to proceed in its own way. Strictly and legally speaking there
is nothing to start with except the buildings and land formerly owned by the
trustees appropriation for the two-year period 1923-25 of $40,000.00 a year or