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Marlboro', with the assistance of the Bureau, have erected one of the best school houses in this part of Maryland; and during the Summer they aided in sustaining a school of nearly one hundred scholars, and, judging from the earnest spirit manifested at the meeting, they will not cease their efforts to educate their children.

Several schools in the District of Columbia have commenced during the month, and some schools have been opened in Baltimore and elsewhere, but I found it impossible to obtain a full report of them.  I shall be able to report a large number of schools in the month of October.  Mr. George F.F. Cook is the Supt. of Colored Schools under the Trustees and Washington and Georgetown.  He, with the Trustees, seems to be managing with energy, and generally their action is wise.  They have, however, misapplied a large sum of money in building a new school house in the 1st Ward.  The house would do but the location is one of the worst that could be found.  Their action was more inexcusable as an excellent lot of land was offered to them at a much lower rate.  The Trustees wisely, and contrary to my expectation, have retained many of the best teachers of last year.

I have had an interview with Mr. Wm. R. Creery, City Supt. of Schools in Baltimore, and he has promised to report each month the public colored schools under his charge.

I have written one hundred and twenty one official letters during the month and have received one hundred and twenty-three.

Very respectfully
Your obt servant,
[[signature]] John Kimball [[/signature]]
Supt. of Education.

592.

Bureau of R.F. and A.L.
Headquarters Asst. Com'r D.C.
Washington, Nov. 2, 1868

Knight Mrs. Jane

I cannot send the books to Nottingham as there are two stages on that route, and I am afraid that they will get lost; but I will send them on Thursday of this week to Brandywine by the same stage.

[[signature]] John Kimball [[/signature]]
Supt of Ed

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593

Bureau R.F. and A.L.
Head Quarters Asst. Comr DC
Washington, Nov. 4th 1868

[[underlined]] Alvord Rev. J.W. [[/underlined]]
Genl. Supt. of Education

Dear Sir:

In reply to yours of October 27th I have the honor to report as follows.

District of Columbia

In this District a school tax is levied and expended for the education of all the children of school age without distinction of color, except that by a law of Congress the money falling to the colored children in Washington and Georgetown is expended by a board of three trustees appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, while that coming to the white children is expended by School Commissioners appointed by the City Council and Mayor.  In the County of Washington all the schools are under one Board of Education.  Great progress is being made in this District in the work of education.  Good school-houses are being built and good teachers obtained, but much yet remains to be done.  The schools now provided are entirely inadequate for the number of children in the city.  A large school tax is levied, but help is also needed and should be given by the General Government.

Maryland

The General Assembly of Maryland at its last regular session, 1868, enacted, "That there shall be throughout the State of Maryland a general system of Free Public Schools, according to the provisions of this Act."  Chapter IX provides that, "The total amount of taxes paid for school purposes by the colored people of any county, or in the city of Baltimore, together with any donations that may be made for the purpose, shall be set aside for the maintaining the schools for colored children, which schools shall be conducted under the direction of the Board of County School Commissioners, or the Board of Commissioners of Public Schools of the city of Baltimore, and shall be subject to such rules and regulations as said respective Boards shall prescribe."

Under this law there are fourteen (14) public colored schools sustained in Baltimore city, with its population of 60 or 70 thousand colored people.  Besides these there are no other public colored schools in Maryland.  In some of the upper Counties the tax paid by the colored people is divided among schools sustained by the colored people and their friends, but in the lower Counties this tax even, has not been paid; but when paid, it is a mere pittance, not sufficient in any County to build one school-house and support one school.  In Baltimore city, by order of