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Freedmen’s Schools

During the months of January, February, March, April and May, six Freedmen’s schools were taught within the District giving employment to fifteen teachers. The average daily attendance in these schools were two hundred and fifty two (252) boys and three hundred and seventeen (317) girls. Total five hundred and sixty nine (569) showing that the average number of pupils taught by each teacher was thirty seven.

These schools were taught without any expense to the Bureau beyond a nominal sum for repairs of buildings. The teachers were furnished and paid by various benevolent societies in the Northern States.

The whole subject was then new and untried and was attended with many embarrassments and hindrances; but notwithstanding the difficulties and obstacles attending the work, the progress of the pupils who attended with reasonable regularity was astonishing, and was in all respects so satisfactory as to leave no doubt whatever, that with fair facilities, the young Freedmen will rapidly acquire all the useful branches of learning--with a well regulated system of schools it is impossible to estimate the pleasing results that will speedily follow. The official duties of the Supt. of the Dist. are so various, and often so urgent and widely extended, that he cannot give personal care and attention to the schools, which their importance demands; and if it be contemplated to place the education of the Freedmen under the control and supervision of the Bureau, he respectfully requests that authority be given him to employ a suitable man to take charge of the schools; examine applicants for teachers, and prepare and enforce such regulations as will promote the success of the work.