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Opelika Ala. July 29th 1864
Rev. W. C. Buckley
Superintendant of Freedmens Schools
[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]
Sir
The undersigned were given a special invitation to visit and examine the Freedmens School at Opelika, taught by Mr. and Mrs. Mutch
We spent last Tuesday in a close examination of both male, and female in all the Branches usually taught in our common Schools, and must say that we were agreeably surprised. Nearly all spell well, most all read well, and quite a number are proficient in Arithmetic, Geography and English Grammar. They compair favoably with white children, in the rapid progress that they are making. There were 137 pupils present on examinations. They were quite orderly and polite and show unmistakable signs of being susceptible of an education and becoming good citizens. The Efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Mutch are untiring. The pupils have the greatest respect for them. The only difficulty seems to be a want for more house room. The labor of teaching such a large school as this is very great and we can truthfully say that the law regulating the time for teaching is more than complied with by Mr. Mutch. He commented teaching here under the most unfavorable auspicies, his life and property were threatened. This report is wholy unsolicited, and we only