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Office of Gen Supt Fr. Schools
Little Rock Ark. Oct 15, 1866.

Pvt. Major Wm J. Dawes,
Supt R.F. & A.L.
Ark. River Dist.

Sir:
Your communication of the 8th inst. asking to be furnished with information – facts and suggestions – in regard to Schools and education generally in your district, is at hand.

I am not informed of the extent of your district. Assessing that Pulaski and Jefferson counties are included therein, I would State in these counties a greater number of [[strikethrough]] counties [[/strikethrough]] schools have been in operation, and a greater amount of tuition paid by the freedmen than in any other district of equal area in the State. These Schools have in the main been Successful. Many have been well attended by the children. Truancy so common in white Schools is quite unknown among the freedmen. The elements of knowledge only have so far been taught, save that in this city two classes in grammar are lately reported.

There is a class of pupils, though not a large one, that should go on in their studies beyond the "common branches."

Efforts are being made looking to the establishment of a graded School in this city this autumn. The teachers are not generally persons of the largest attainments but are quite devoted to their work, the intellectual and moral improvement of the people among whom they labor.
The plantation schools in Jefferson Co. of which there are five reporting to this office in June, 1866, were, I believe, uniformily [[uniformly]] successful.
Arrangements have lately been made with the Am. Miss. Assn. to Supply teachers in all cases where provision is made for the payment of wages and board of the teachers – the former at Fifteen dollars, per month.
It is suggested
1. That the attention of local Supts. be called to the provisions of Circular No. 23, Hd. Qrs. Asst. Com. Teachers Should be qualified as therein stated without unnecessary delay, and
2. Employers should be encouraged to stipulate in future contracts for the establishment and maintenance of a school for their children whenever there are children enough in the neighborhood to make a school practicable. –
3. The contract Should provide for the prompt monthly payments of the teacher. This might be done either by stipulating that a

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