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TEACHER'S LETTER.
Note. - This letter-sheet is for a monthly letter from the teacher, to be enclosed with the Monthly Report to the undersigned, Secretary of the WESTERN DEPARTMENT. This correspondence is for the information of the Commission: parts of it will be published in the BULLETIN for the information of the public; hence the letters should be written with care and sent promptly. The following topics are suggested: 
(1.) The general progress of the School; its sanitary condition; the deportment of the pupils. (2.) Incidents of special interest; cases of remarkable proficiency. (3.) Difficulties and encouragements either as to the work or locality. (4.) Information in regard to the condition of the Freed people in the vicinity.
By noting down from day to day incidents that may transpire in connection with their labors, and facts that come under their observation, teachers can furnish an interesting and, to us, a valuable communication every month. 
JOHN M WALDEN.
Freedmen's School at Springfield Mo. Feb 28th 1866
Mr. William M Colby
Esteemed friend your kind letter of the 5th inst is just received and doubtless ere this reaches you, you will have received a letter from J. J. Gibson our General Agent, giving you the desired information relative to the colored schools &c. in Mo so that it is unnecessary for me to allude to that any further than to state that we are sustained by the Iowa Friends Freedmen's Commission, and also have certificates from and report to the F A Com at Chicago. Although we have passed through almost every conceivable trial since we came here we do feel that the general progress of our scholars has far exceeded our anticipations, and if we can have the building (and your letter gives me reason to hope that we can) we shall probably continue our school until August. Mrs. Phelps has at present 33 orphans under her Superintendence who are kindly cared for, but while the building remains where it is, it is sufficiently large to accommodate both colored and white. The school is still large tho much more fluctuating the present month than heretofore in consequence of many of the older pupils having to go out to work