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Nearly all the Societies withdrew at the close of last term, the only ones remaining are the New England Friends, with five teachers, Reformed Presbyerian with four teachers, Bangor and Hartford Associations each with one teacher, and the teachers of the three Baptist High Schools and the Howard University who are sustained by Freedmen's Societies and the trustees of the Institution.

I have paid one visit to all the public schools in these Cities in company with the Supt., Mr. [[underlined]] Cook [[/underlined]] since the term began.  As these schools are under the supervision of a Superintendent, and my time has been fully occupied elsewhere, I have not been able to do more than this.  I believe the schools are doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances.  Some of the teachers are incompetent, and the management of the schools would be better under the Public School Boards of these cities.  Generally there is very little disorder in the schools.  The teachers manage their scholars easily and admirably.  All the schools have been very full, and as each scholar knows that in his absence his seat would be quickly claimed by one of the many children yet unprovided for, he has been careful not to be absent;  so the average attendance has been very good, reaching 85+ per cent..

Thirty-four (34) of these schools are in Government buildings.  

I regret to report that no night schools are in operation, or will be this term, under the direction of the City trustee.  The excuse is, want of funds, but the amount needed is very small, while the good to be accomplished is great and the need is pressing.  Ignorant men dangerously use the ballot, and ignorant men make poor employees in all the departments of life.  A very few excellent night schools are being carried on by friends of the freedmen: mostly of the Unitarian Society.

Maryland.

In October the number of schools reported in Maryland was sixty-seven (67); No. of scholars twenty eight hundred and forty-eight (2848).

In December the number of schools reported, (Baltimore City included) was ninety-five (95), No. of scholars thirty-nine hundred and three (3908); showing an increase of twenty-eight (28) schools reported in December, and more too would have been in operation in October could teachers have been obtained.  Societies with the aid afforded by the Bureau and the colored people were willing to 

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support a sufficient number of teachers, but white teachers cannot obtain board in white families in more than a dozen places in the State outside of Baltimore; and the colored people are so poor that they cannot furnish comfortable homes for white persons; and the whites are so hostile that it would not be safe for them to live with colored persons in most places, even if good board could be furnished; and competent colored teachers, willing to go in the country are hard to find.  Such teachers have been advertised for, in northern papers, with poor success.  Very few have applied, and some of those employed have retired in disgust after a short stay.  The best teachers for these country schools are persons from their own number, and educated in our Normal Schools, and accustomed to their mode of life.

There are over twenty (20) applications in my office for aid to build school-houses in this State.  We have not commenced any new houses during the past month or two, the Assistant Commissioner having so ordered, with the expectation that his office would be closed after the 1st of January.  The work can and should be greatly enlarged in the State.  Here an excellent field is opened for the students of our Normal schools, to exercise their gifts, do good, and make a little money during the summer vacation.  I have not felt the regret that I otherwise would feel at the continued closing of some of the schools for want of teachers, because I have the expectation that these schools can be profitably taught during the summer by these normal students.

It is necessary in order that the interest in education should be kept up, that frequent visits should be made and meetings held.  I think that generally the people in country places show more intrest in schools than those living in villages.  In [[strikethrough]] reigons [[/strikethrough]] regions where the homes are a mile apart, the children will flock in crowds to the school, while in villages the schools are sometimes small. 

Judge [[underlined]] H.L. Bond [[/underlined]] of the Baltimore Association is usually willing and ready to aid in holding meetings in any part of the State.

It was thought advisable that Genl. [[underlined]] O.O. Howard [[/underlined]] should meet the ministers of Baltimore, and lay the education wants of the colored people of the State before them.  It was found impossible to bring about a general meeting of ministers of all denominations, so separate meetings were held, first with a good representation of Presbyterians in Dr. Backus' study, and afterward with a large number of Methodist ministers, in the vestry of Dr. Edwards' church