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Country.
I have spoken of the school system established in this State. On the 11th of August 1868, the Board of Education (which has legislative powers so far as relates to schools) provided for Normal Schools, or classes of persons preparing for teachers, at ten different points in this State. The law requires that a class shall consist of not less than fifteen scholars, who shall pledge themselves to follow the occupation of teaching within this State, for two years. Under this law classes have been organized at six of the places named, with more than the requisite number of scholars. These classes have all been of Colored Scholars, and I have not yet learned that any attempt has been made to establish a class of whites.
The general advancement of our schools has been all that we could expect. I have never seen better order in school or more interest shown by scholars, than I have seen in some of our schools. We have had for nearly four years a school at Athens, near the Tennessee line. The principal teacher has had every kind of opposition to contend with, social ostracism, personal threats and insults, and annoyances in every from; but by a persevering, straight forward course she has forced the better class to respect her. At the close of the last term, in June, she induced the principal citizens to attend the examination of her school. They expressed themselves delighted with what they saw. Said they did not think colored children capable of such improvement; but as a kind of send off to this confession declared no other teacher could accomplish what this one had done. I have good authority for saying these scholars were far in advance of the whites of the same town of similar ages.
The interest in Education is not decreasing. Some have predicted that it would soon become an old story, and the schools would diminish. I can see no evidence of it. A few days ago a conversation was overheard on a Rail Road Car; One man asked another how things were working in his neighborhood. "Every thing is wrong," said the second Every body's going crazy. "The negroes old and young, little and big, have all gone crazy about schools. That fool "T" (the county superintendent) has ruined everything. Just then happening to look behind him he saw Mr. T "Stop" said he "Stop." "Don't say another word. There is the very man we were talking about". If such are crazy we will have to enlarge out lunatic Asylum, for we have a good many of the same kind. The colored people every where show a disposition to assist to the extent of their means. They are mostly poor, very poor but I have found no place that they show any disinclination to

aid as far as practicable. In many cases they have answered me that they were willing to work, that they had no money to purchase materials, but if we would assist them in obtaining materials they would do the work. The expression has always been of gratitude for what they had already received, not complaining or finding fault, and only asking for assistance because they were unable to help themselves.
Will the Colored race make good teachers? I can see no reason why they should not. Not long since I met a young colored man in Jackson County Ala. Probably the whole time he had spent in school as a scholar would not exceed twelve months. His teacher assured me he possessed the art of communicating what he knew better than any person she had ever seen. During the last months of his attending school the teacher placed him in charge of a class and for the last three months he has had charge of a school in Madison County. So general was the satisfaction given by him that the Superintendent of Madison County is unwilling to allow him to go into any other county the coming year, but insists on his returning. He assured me this was one of the best schools in his county, and that the statements made to me of the capacity of this teacher were not overdrawn.
I have not had an opportunity of visiting personally many of the school taught by Colored teachers; but the reports are all favorable. I have watched them in the Normal Classes and can see no fault to find with their management. I feel assured they are the ones we must look to for the future education of their race.
I cannot close this communication without referring to the noble class who have so faithfully labored with us, I mean the teachers sent by "Northern Aid Societies". It is well known here that as teachers they are of the first order. I have never seen a body of teachers of whom I have formed more favorable opinions than of these employed among us. Well qualified, upright in morals, devoted to their work, and determined to succeed against all opposition, they have succeeded. They have been reviled, insulted, threatened, almost driven out of society, yet they have kept straight forward, regarding only their duty, and not the taunts or slights of others, and the result is they have schools of which they may well be proud. For the sacrafices they have made, the privations they have endured, and the good they have accomplished they can never be compensated.

Transcription Notes:
3-9-2021: reviewed "sacrifices" is misspelled on the 2nd page