I L L I NO I S UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PRODUCTION NOTE University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Brittle Books Project, 2015.COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION In Public Domain. Published prior to 1923. This digital copy was made from the printed version held by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was made in compliance with copyright law. Prepared for the Brittle Books Project, Main Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by Northern Micrographics Brookhaven Bindery La Crosse, Wisconsin 2015FINAL BEPOK 1 ? OF fREEDMEN SCHOOLS, 11 IN TH£ DEPARTMENT LATELY UNDER THE SUPERVISION ot CQXi. JOHN lE-A-TOiar, 1 8 6 4—' 6 5. VICKSBUIMJ, MISS., PRINTED AT THE FREEDMEN PRESS OFFICE,- 1865. , <Office Greneral Siaperint^ndent Freedmen,] department of ttffe tennessee and state of arkansas, v Vicksburc., Miss., May 3d, 1864. J SPBCIAL ORDERS, No. 44—Extract.] ********* II....Rev. JOSEPH WARREN. I). D., Chaplain and Assistant in charge of Freedmen is hereby charged with the duty of publishing extracts from documents in this office, for the purpose of answering numerous inquiries from friends 01 tho Government and ot the Freed People. By order of Col. JOIIX EATOX, .Jr., General Superintendent of Freedmen. JOHN F- PERRY, Lieut, and Adj't Freedrnen's Dep't. Withdrawn Pndnnati Public Library37l.t7f UvZlf REPORT OF COLORED SCHOOLS.! fifiioL. JOHN EATON, JR., Jjdte Gen. Su/if of Freeying persons have been em« ployed—-some during all, and some fp,r a part, of the school term :— Rev. Joseph Warren, D, D,, Chaplain 64thTJ. S. C. I., General Super- intendent; Rev. L. H, Cobb, and Mr. Charles Warren, District of Memphis; Rev. James A, Hawley, Chaplain 63d U. S. C. I., District pjf Vicksburg, assisted by Rev. Mr. Buckley, Chaplain 47th U. S. C. I., and Rev. Joseph Vance, at Vicksburg, and Mr. C, S. Crossman, at Natchez; Rev. Joel Grant, Chaplain 12th Illinois Infantry, District of Arkansas; Rev. C. Millerd, Chaplain 4th II. S, C, H. A., District of Western Kentucky. Beside these, missionaries and teachers have occasionally aided us in the local superintendence of some of the minor posts. . Instructions were issued, Oct. 20th, 1864, providing for the open- v ing, classifying and grading of schools ; for the location and distribu- tion of teachers, as far as possible in consultation with the Societies by which Chey were sent; for the collection of tuition-fees, from 25 cents to $1,25 for each scholar, or giving admission free, according to the ability of parents and friends; and appropriating the money fcbllected, first, to the payment of necessary incidental expenses, andREPORT OF COLOfe^t) SCHOOLS. 15 i Bext to, be divided pro rata among the teachers,—thus aiding the benevolent societies to support their agents. * ' - SCHOOLS AT MEMPHIS. The following Report of the. Local Superintendent at Memphis, who succeeded the Rev. L. EL Cobb In that office, gives as complete a view of that part of onr work as can be made. I fake this occasion "to say, that all school superintendents and teachers ought to keep the 'statistical "accounts of the schools m such a manner that reports 'similar to this may be made at any time. This report is printed as a specimen of that which is desirable : ~ Z OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT OP COLORED SCHOOLS,) Memphis, Tctin., Juno 30th, 1865. „ j t . • t ■ • Chaplain JOSEPH WARREN, Gkxkjial Superintendent of Schools, &c. w ? CpapI'AIN—I have the honor to present -the following statistics and reniarks, respect- ing, thjO Colored Schools of this District—tlioso on President's Island,-and those in Ittempnis. Regimental Schools do not report to nie. STATISTICS OF SCHOOLS ON PRESIDENT'S ^ISLAND*, Tenx., from Jan. to June, 1865. I Number of Schools, " Teachers, " schl'rs enrl'd. Average Attendance, 3 4 353 250 3 4 466' 3001 April, '65.. f ?- 3 2 4 2 605 215 300 100 1 1 4^ 40 During the first three months no reports were received, and during. March tins over- flow of the island stopped the schools almost completely. This fact, combihed with the . return of the best, half of the island' to its original owner, caused the 'autlfSritiel to tr 'remove all the soldiers, and the self-supporting portion of tl\e caiilf), tovo*thef localities, during the last of April and the first, week in May. Had it not been for these unavoidable causes^ the schools would hftv£ flourished here as well as at other points in the valley. - #II E f\ f gfa® ys* 1«0§-^® a 3- ®5er5gw££^ fsraes ? « w,= o'tr'-o 2 £* o5 o- © g ►£•a » H ^ ^ § H s* X og ts g ct q.'g ^3>g b s^g^s! 5 T> ©' ® ® ! d «< a &° - o a. s -in si-Si S'ig-S *5 a * • - *t J* 'ft ^ - © £ w » £*s 2 Si- i • 2* o CJ* o»S*8 *»S® o is- ffi" STATISTICS OIE* COLOB MEMPHlSj TENNES FROM OCTOBER, XSG* 223 1171 ^ 395 ^ 668 258 " 22- 1 •09.00 >REPORT OF COLORED SCHOOLS. ,the" eight months, from Nov. 1st to date, is as follows: Nov., 70; Dec., 64} Jan., 62; Feb., 68; March, 67; April, 66; May, 66, and June, 72. It will be observed} that during December and January, the average attendance was only 62*-64 per hun- dred enrolled. 6, 7, 8. The variations noticable in these items depend, like the last one, on thd -weather, temperature, distance from school, &c.; but punctuality of attendance, item7f shows a gratifying increase. * 9. Principally scholars in the night-schools. This class of scholars naturally in* creased during the winter months, and decreased steadily as the sprjng advanced, and labor became called for. . . 10. This class of pupils has never formed tiny important part of the schools, and no attempt has been made to induce them to attend school. . ' 11. This is the most important "class of pupils, and the dne which has made the most satisfactory progress in their studies, as a whole. r 12. 13. The full tuition fee per month, was $1.25, till April, and $1.00 afterwai'd&i Those who paid at the full-tuition rate, from the time they entered till the close of the juonth, ar(> reported as full-tuition payers, (item 12). Those paying fractional fees, are poorer or younger children, who can pay something, but not the full sum. 14. It will be observed that the number of free-scholars, in proportion to the" "number enrolled, steadily increased throughout the term. About two scholars out of ten went to school free in November, about two out of five in May* and about two of - Yj •every four in June. This shows, that last fall, only the more intelligent and comfortably- ' situated of the colored people, sent their children to school^ and that it needed more -effort to bring the more ignorant and careless classes into the sfchoo?s. Much in this direction yet remains to be done in Memphis. Another fact, which does not appear among the statistics, but which has been repeatedly remarked by the teachers, is, the greater regularity of attendance among the paying scholars. This is natural; because, 1st, as above remarked, they are of a better class and 2d, because they want to get the worth of their money. 15. This item is interesting, as showing, substantially, the number of neV scholars that have been brought into the schools. Probably, at least twelve hundred pupils haVe begun their education in these schools, during the past term. It is also proper tb state here, that these children learn their letters with marvelous quickness, and seldom art . to be classed as alphabet-scholars for more than one month. Tlicy pass on almost imme- diately into the next class, and begin to read. 10. This class comprises all reading, from primer scholars, to those in the sixth reader. It is to be regretted that no account of the number in each reader has been required or rendered. But from observation, and the reports of the High School* (Which admitted none below the Fourth Header,) the Superintendent would say that probably} 250, and perhaps more, were reading in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Readers, during the last two months. 17. This item displays a steady, though moderate increase. The want of modern conveniences has greatly crippled us in this particular, as well as in those following. 18, 19. These items, like No. 16, comprise, respectively, all those who study Arith-^ nietie, and all who study Geography. They display a gradual increase of students, and • should greatly encourage us in the belief that the mind of the negro will succeed well in the higher branches of the common school course. 20. Very few of the pupils ever having been to school at all, previous to the Federal occupation of the city, it is not wonderful that but few of them should be sufficiently advanced to study Grammar; but those who have studied it show sufficient capacity tb master it; and there is every reason to believe that another year will develop this branch fully, and demonstrate the capacity of these pupils in this as well as in other directions. 21. The amounts collected for tuition are exhibited. Not having disbursed th,e funds, the Superintendent is unable to give correct figures on that point. Bftt it may be stated, approximately, that at least SI,200 have been expended for rents* and.at least $2,300 for teachers' pay. Perhaps SI,200 more have been expended for repairs, furniture of schools, lights, fuel, and incidentals. These numbers are very poor approximations, and should perhaps be called guesses. Having thus considered the items of these statistics, it remains foif the Superin- tendent to lament the almost total want of materials for the month of October; and to give some reasons for the falling off during the month just past, (June). These are, briefly, 1st, The opening of the military lines and the collapse of the rebellion, by which many negroes have been enabled to return to their homes in the country. 2d. Th0 / seas-iLi itsvif, prolific of work for the larger pupils, and sickly enough to cause the' almost to * I stoppage of one of the largest schools, and to injure others. 3d. Th© K. establishment, by permission of the Major Generalv commanding the DistrictIfv Tennessee, of colored schools taught by irresponsible parties, whose character; acquire-REPORT OP COLORED SCHOOLS. ments and antecedents, prevented their being properly authorized by this supervision; 4th. The failure of some teachers to continue their former ardor and vigor, especially in the collection of tuition fees. , Trusting that these statistics and remarks will show some of the mental peculiari- ties of these scholars, and will explain some of the difficulties under which we have labored, I wi?lBOW proceed to give th6 statistics of the Refugee School at Memphis. STATISTICS OF REFUGEE SCHOOLS, MEMPHIS, Ten,v.; March and May, 1865. 1 March.—School started the 1st of tliis month. No tuition collected. Number of schools, 1; Teachers, 1; number enrolled, 83; average,attendance, 40; over 18 years oltTJ J; under 6 do. do., 2; between 6 and 18 do. do., 80 ; alphabet scholars, 18; who read, 07 ; who write, 0; in arithmetic, 13; in geography, 8; in grammar, 3. April.—During this month, the former teacher having ceased work, and no other being obtainable, the school closed. .. During May, a Southern girl, a refugee herself, was hired, and the following is the report of her work: • , Mat.—Number of schools, 1; Teachers, 1: scholars enrolled, 72; average attend- ance, 36; over 18 years old, 2; i\nder 6 do.jlo., 5 ; between 0 and 18 do. do., 05; alphabet scholars, 2; who read, 70; who write, 3; in arithmetic, 10; in geography, 2; in grammar, 3. Very respectfully, . CHARLES WARREN,, .. , r Act. Superintendent, D. W. T. SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS- No Superintendent for this District was appointed at the begin- ning of the year. After Rev. Joel Grant, Chaplain 12th Illinois Infantry, was assigned to this duty, a severe illness prevented him, for some weeks, from efficiently commencing the duties of the office; Since that time he has been a most faithful and laborious officer. Amidst great difficulties he has collected the following statistics, which are published in the form in which he gives them, with notes ex- tracted from his Reports. PINE BLUFF. No. 1. HOME FARM. No. 2. . IN TOWN. No. 3. HOME FARM. TOTAL. MONTH. HI CD P o p* CD ? ° B rj [> P p P 03 o a> p >■3 o P o 05 P ^ 3 | ft" CD P > » c P- »i p P P Cf=. « o p ■p o © p H P o o M w* 2 p © B 2 o p. i-< >■ P o p' p P CR 2 a & o 2? 6 £3 II > - vP O P. H P P p November, December, January, February, March, . April, May, Jnne, 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 150 180 250 238 250 88 83 125 120 144 200 190 200 72 71 92 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 75 135 113 115 104 94 99 57 94 88 88 80 82 83 $40.50 73.55 09.75 90.00 85.25 7.25 2.85 1 1 1 1 ! 75 1 137 170 | 195 00 115 125 150 5 . 3 3 2[ 225 315 303 353 429 328 352 320 177 238 288 278 340 209 279 242&EV0K*F OF COLOUKD SCHOOL*, 'The schools at the Home Farm are free—none but destitute people there. No. 3 was established March 15. No schools are reported for October. ^The income was $375.75, Of this $250.50 was paid towards leachers' salaries, and the remainder for incidental expenses. The sickness of Rev, David Todd,, teacher^ accounts for the con- dition of school No. 2 in April, May and June. LITTLE KOOlv. No. 1. November, December, January, February, 'March, T\pril, #ay, *Tune, 1 > |! , ; 3 3 I %.'■§ | — g. p ■» , I 9 ' si 240! 1601 3i 182| 142; 4 181! 140, 4 17 ft 120| 161; uu; 282| 201 No. 2, 'S3 !$* I : Si's !. 2. | 2.-3 1 1 iaS] 388' £30 i: 436! 242 41 i 54' 59; 851 82: 85; ?S'o. 3, •t* iL'D ! FST ? *I It i £ : -< - 1 O-B ; 601 651 81 50 45 50 „i w, 50 41 91i 73 Sfi 166) 121 3! 232 *80; 3! 269! 194' TOTAL. fl |S &§. g-g 300 207 303 292 311 533 702 m 210. 187 219 204 272 401 489 515 Tuition fees were collected until the end of March:—No. 1, five months, $512.00: No. 2, three months, (this school having been established in January), $4(1.25 ; No. 3, five months, -$282.15'$—Total, $840.40. After this the colored people formed " The Freedmen's School Society of Little Rock,'' and made the schools free for the months of April, May and June, collecting and paying for this pur- pose $589.25. The receipts for November and December were not jjaid^ to the Freedmen's Department, but were received by those conducting the schools. The remainder was paid to- the Department, atid disbursed— For incidental expenses, Towards Teachers' salaries, - Add—paid November and. 13«91.25 DUYALI/S BLUFF. Schools, (commenced April 24th \ 1 Teachers, ------- ^ ^ Average number enrolled. - 107 " attendance, - - . . .77 Collected for tuition, $10.00UE1M>UT OF COLORED SCHOQLS. OTHER SCHOOLS. Besides the above several other schools were taught by soldiers and others, for greater or less periods, of which no formal report has been received at this office. Reliable information has been obtained from three of these, as follows : Sr. Charles—One school, two teachers, sixty pupils. Fort Smith—One school, one teacher, one hundred and thirty pupils. Fort G insox—One school, one teacher, one hundred and twenty-five pupils* The teachers at St. Charles began labor at the mouth of White River, about March 1st. They were soon compelled, by high water, to j^move from that place. ■OOO- SOIIOOLS IN THE DISTRICT OF VICKSBURG. The main points in this district are three—Vicksburg, Natohea and Davis Bend. Residesthe.se are the minor posts of De Soto and Vandalia, opposite to Vicksburg and Natchez, in Louisiana; and the islands in the river. Rev. James A. Hawley has been Superintendent of the District nearly all the year. He found it not easy to procure reports for the earlier months : and, until the General Superintendent of Schools was appointed, and had time to devise and require systematic reporting, no reliable statistics were gathered. Tabular statements of the last four months are given below, This is all of the time that is covered by the systematic reports in this office. There ought to have been more ; but they were to be gathered from so manv persons, some of whom could not be persuaded that it was important to keep registers of their schools, that it took a considerable time, after orders were issued, to secure their observance. The schools reported in the tables below, generally commenced in October, with nearly as many pupils as are here reported. This is all the means we have of laming how much teaching has been done during the year. SCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY. The following tables also exhibit all that has been learned of the schools at Paducah and Columbus. We have supplied.those schools wit1? blat 's and tickets for use, and asked them for statistical reports. Their di ;ance from our chief office precluded a more particular supervision. 3 S o* 5Z{ 55 MARCH, 1865, ♦ a 3 c4 CD "i t) % O o d 3 cr CD CfT g; CO o Number Teachers Number Scholars Enrolle< Average Attendance. Number Always Present. Number Always Punctual Both :esent>nd Punctv Number over 18 years old Number Tinder 6 years old Number stweet^ 6 and 18 ye Number Paying Full Fees. Number Paying- Fractional Feps Number Free Scholars. Number Alphabet Schola; Number who Rea lumber who Writ 0 1 CD H S' > er 3 CD 0 1 CD J3 Q 0 era •-i ?3 C5 3 cr 5' Q g g o_ p •-5 0 0" cy « 1483 9: )0 411 595 277 ■197 86 1200 ol4 362 607 104 1397 245; 401 226 12 Little Rock, Arkansas, - 4 j1- ; 442 ; 352 Pino Bluff, " a i j 429 340 ! Helena, " 41 i 9 • 282 Vicksburg, Miss., - 8 1;18 11341 1 815 229 215 58 203 2511515 S 224 545 204 1077 344 207 93 8 Davis' Bend, 9 | 790 i 457 1C0 j 160 130 2) 3"» j 7391 0 0 790 250 540 29 - 74 20 0 k; " " Natchez, 3 ; "A | 198 j 161 0 i 0 0 23 20 i ™ i 0 0 198 60 101 10 10 0 0 APRIL, 1865. ! j I Padueah, Ky., - 1 i ol 1 IS 8 ! 149 70 .80 70 85 .19 169 21 5 162 72 ! 20l 3 0 0 Columbus, Ky., - 11 0 i 1 (55 i 30 1 4 11 0 9 0! 56 1 0 64 0 I 1379 0 •23 25 0 Memphis, Tenn., - President's Island, Tenn-, 9 I 2 27 1590!1061 498 "06 375 163 43 1384 694 399 497 211 287 451 287: 16 2 ! 0 3 573i 200 100 180 140 140 20 413 0 0 573 107 466 50 55 40 0 Little Rock, Arkansas, 4 11 658( 491 150 258 12) 44 40 0 0 658 129 529 85 -50 51 0 Pine Bluff, - 3 3 329' 269 153 114 1(2 21 28 86 S! 235 62 267 30 0 0 Helena, " - 7 I 8 393 326 138 130 £2 37 4-0 0 44! 349 190 203 218 160 47! 0 Vicksburg, Miss., - 8 i 1 1205 880 298 4f2 173 131 44 1030 9 400 688 1.99 1006 274 84 12 Davis' Bend, " 5 1 0 |13 743 554 164 138 134 4(3 44 C51 0 0 743 122 621 82 62 -ill 0 Natchez, " 12 : 119 1238 816 225 341 217 118 31 12 462 764 250 988 231 289 m 12! Camps, Ac., near Vicksburg, 3 ! 0 1 6 478 255 ! "30 i 62 0 0 0 35 0 0 478 60! 418 19 17 201 0 " " " Natchez, 4 ; 5 I; 25 241 i 18 18 2 17 <3 j 0 325 48| 277 26 13 s! 0 ThreeVreinote camps in Arkansas, - 3 4 500 280 j Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas, 1 _ - 1 106 91 2 TS ! 97 75 i 9 18 Ol 0 106! 30! • 76 0 0 ol o\ H o 3 w-:S H o 3 w-:S §00.00 000.05 215.05 85.25 ■ 50.00 70.70 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 322:50 T5 1.00 -O 74S.75 _g' 00.00 P 204.50 7.25 13.30 100.1® 00.00 112.75 00.0® 00,00 oo.ee MAY, 186* 3. 100; 100! 82 ;11 20; 23 i 328 -IS! 1531 85!l ' Phebe t. Cull, " | " M. E. Yiekory, " •• Lizzie Garrison, " Mr. W. F. Allen, Helena, } " L. Johnson, " { Mrs. L. Johnson, " f Miss Jennie Starkey, u II. Kimball, ! Esther Smith, jfort Gibson, I. T.," : Mr. J. Potter, St. Charles, Ark., Miss E. J. Ilough, " " Emily McClave, Pine Bluff, " Addie 0 Warren, " Mrs. Frances Thomas, a " M. J. Jessup, " Rev. David Todd, " Mr. E. Jessup,1 " " 3. W. Proctor, Duvall's Bluff, Miss M.J. Pardee, Vicksburg, " L. E. Burn ell, " " E. Hibbcrd, " Graco E. Wooster, " " Lizzie Hastings, " " S. Knight, Natchez, " Annis Nettleton, Tea. Or. As. H. J. Piatt, Mr. — Dawson, Fort Smith, Mrs. — Loveland, Little Rock, S. A. M. Canfield, Memphis, »• — Treat, ♦* Miss Joanna P. Moore, Helena, " Julia Brown, " Mr. Kimmons, " " Potter, 44 EMPLOYED BY FREEDMEN'S DEPARTMENT—PAID BY SCHOOL FUNDS. Memphis. Mrs. V. Page. E. Randolph, II. B. Northrop, Mr. T. F. Randolph, *' Charles Rand. Miss G. A. Graham.