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Superintendent endeavored to enforce provisions which were intended to prevent any distinction in the education of the two races, except that they were not to attend mixed schools. Evasion would in some cases be resorted to by unwilling County or Township Officers. At the meeting of the Educational Board in August last a bill was found providing that the public funds should be divided pro rata between white and colored scholars, giving to each class their due proportion according to enumeration. From some cause this was not signed by the Governor, and then failed to become a law. It was however re-enacted by the Board at its late meeting in November, and has been signed by the Governor, and is consequently now in full force. This was a much needed measure and will prevent injustice from being done in some instances.

I fear our people are again doomed to disappointment. Last year the school fund, as set apart by the Legislature was $524621.68 which amounted to about $1.23 per scholar. This year with a greater number of children enumerated, only about 504,000.00 has been appropriated; which after deducting $20,000.00 for Normal Schools, the State Superintendent tells me will only give $1.14 to each scholar. On the re-assembling of the Legislature the 10th of this month a strong effort will be made to induce them to increase this by 100,000.00 but with what prospect of success I am unable to know. Should the fund not be increased it will be seen that the free schools can only be kept up a very short time- perhaps on an average through the State hardly three months. I shall regret this exceedingly, as all had counted on a large increase this season of available funds. We thought several sources of revenue which properly belonged to the school fund had been diverted to other objects, and that this evil would be corrected this year. I still hope for the best, but the chances appear to be against us.

An opinion exists abroad in relation to schools in Alabama, which is erroneous, and is calculated to do us an injury. It is supposed we have a school fund which is inalienable, and therefore that we are in better condition than other Southern States. This is true in theory only. Alabama had a respectable fund for support of free schools. That fund was, through some means, squandered at last. The State considers itself liable for it, and proposes to pay interest therein, but it will be readily seen that every dollar that is thus paid is first raised by a tax on the people. We have a school system which provides for a fund, but to obtain that fund we must tax ourselves. From this erroneous idea as to our true condition I fear we are in

danger of not receiving the assistance from external sources which we otherwise would.

Our Educational Board have endeavored to perfect the school system as far as practicable. They have provided for four Normal Schools in the State, at the following points - Huntsville, Talladega, Marion, and Mobile; and out of the appropriation made for this year have authorized the State Superintendent to set apart for their support a sum not exceeding 25000.00. They have also provided for Normal Classes at ten other points. They also provided out of the same appropriation, means for securing school buildings. A bill is now before the Legislature authorizing Townships to levy a tax to build school houses. Should this become a law some Townships will tax themselves for this purpose - many will not.

The difficulties formerly attended to in obtaining reports from schools still exist. Since my former complaints on this subject teachers under the control of the different aid societies have with one exception been more prompt: but outside of three Associations the same difficulty still exists. Even where we have built or repaired school houses they fail to report. While expecting pay they make their reports When payments are not to be made they seem to think they are no longer under any obligations to us. For this reason some reports cannot show the true condition of the colored schools in this State. In going through one county in November last I found twelve colored schools in operation that I knew nothing of before. As a further evidence, reports to the State Superintendent show for the Quarter ending June 30th, 369 colored schools and for the Quarter ending September 30 1869, 157, and in these reports fifteen counties made no report of colored schools for the Quarter ending June 30th, and thirty five counties made none for the succeeding Quarter.

Though this is an educational report I may be pardoned for an allusion to the condition of our people generally for on their prosperity and success in life depends in a great measure the success of our efforts. For the past year the Colored people have generally worked well. I have frequently heard planters say their hands never worked better, and that planting was never more profitable. The colored people are becoming more provident - are learning better to take care of themselves, and need less than formerly the protecting care of others. They are providing themselves with homes quite as fast as we could expect. That there are many exceptions is true - many who are reckless and indolent; but as it is and always will be with any ignorant people. I am

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3-9-2021: Deciphered all remaining [[?]]s; Made corrections; Completed transcription per guidelines and marking for review