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0308 18 19 States, no colored child in the State was permitted to go to school. This State has received less assistance from the benevolent Associations than almost any other, while the report shows there is equal eagerness among the freedmen to be taught; and that, though friends do not come forward to help, they evidently will not lie still and wait. Their efforts are put forth in all directions to secure the coveted blessing. All but five of the schools reported are called "Independent Schools," sustained almost entirely by the struggles of the colored people. Surely here is a fruitful field full of promise, and the appeal for aid should be liberally met by the benevolent societies of the north. There are in the above "independent schools" thirty-three colored persons teaching. Their education is of course defective, but with the ability they have, are working nobly for their race. These schools are much in need of a Superintendent to visit and inspect them, and especially to examine into the qualifications of their teachers. TENNESSEE The accounts of the educational interests in the State of Tennessee are of the most cheering nature, showing an increased interest in the schools on the part of the freemen, and a more settled determination to avail themselves of the privilege extended to them. Bvt. Maj. Gen. CB. Fisk, Assistant Commissioner, in forwarding the returns, says:- "Excepting at Memphis, our schools have not been interrupted during the quarter. The examinations just closed indicate marked proficiency. The religious and benevolent organizations, by whom first-class educational advantages are placed within the reach of freedmen "hungering and thirsting" for knowledge, may well be encouraged in their of love. Their efforts should be increased ten-fold for the year to come. The demand for schools and teachers, is very great and increasing.- "Come over and help us," is the cry from plantation, town, and city. The schools at Memphis were temporarily suspended by the bloody riot in May. Eight school-houses were burned, school furniture and books were given to the flames, school-furniture and books were given to the flames, and one teacher murdered. Immediate steps were taken to re-build the school-houses, and re-establish the schools. A first-class graded high-school will be opened at Memphis in September next." Number of schools, 42; teachers, 125; pupils, 9,114. MARYLAND. The report from the "Baltimore Association" or freedmen's schools in Maryland is very clearly drawn, showing a large amount of labor performed, though they are sorely pressed for means of carrying on their operations. The colored people, as usual are alive to the importance of the work, and feel that it is a vital point in their future welfare. They are doing all they can to help along plans for their education, and have uniformly paid the board of teachers, besides the incidental expenses of the schools; thus contributing in the whole, at the lowest estimate, some $6,000 or $7,000. "In addition to this," says the Actuary, "they are now building some thirty-four new school-houses, at considerable expense to themselves.-' The government has furnished the lumber. The schools of the "Friends," and of the American Missionary Association, also those in Baltimore carried on by the colored people themselves, are progressing with the same general results as mentioned in the last report. Altogether in the State there are, schools 86; teachers 101; pupils 8,144 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. The high character of the schools in this District continues, only there are greatly increased in number and efficiency. The public examinations just closed have been thorough in all the branches taught, and, as the examining committee and gentleman present have testified, give proof of excelled instruction and well-advanced scholarship, especially when we consider the time these children have been studying. The best classes are rapidly entered the higher branches, nearly two thousand of them being already in geography and arithmetic. It will be noticed that only 799 out of 6,552 pupils are still in the alphabet. This is about the natural number always commencing, showing that all quickly advance beyond these first elements. We might specify particular schools as excelling. Some have a better supply of books and furniture than others, or occupy better buildings, perhaps are composed of a higher class of children; and special praise is uncalled for where all have done so well. The buildings heretofore occupied will be improved during the vacation, some new ones being erected, and at the commencement of the next term all the schools will be opened with prospects of increasing success. Number of schools 74; teachers 132; pupils 6.552.
