Viewing page 39 of 236

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Office Agt Bureau RF & AL
Columbia County Ga March 12. 1867

To Col. Caleb C. Sibley

Sir

A circular addressed to me printed, G L Eberhart styled State Sup Ed Ga was received some 15 days ago, since that period I have been unable from indisposition from effects of Neuralgia &c to write

I have the Honor to report I know of no regular school taught by Black persons

Cyrus Bourke a black man & the manager of one of the Clanton plantations, had an only daughter who employed some black man to teach his daughter & keep his books, he working 15 to 20 hands on the place. Judging from the writing of the teacher it being illegible & marks made not signifying any thing, but total incapacity of the author to write or make significant hierarglphyis was to my mind incompetent to teach letters, he was soon dismissed I think & Miss Love's Ann is but little advanced in her education

I might say of facts that came under my observation that in 1865 & 1866 I found quite a number of black boys girls women & men with books containing elementary rules spelling books &c, but for the past 6 months there is less display of it & I think the desire to learn is put off to a day more suited, which is doubtful of its return 

Your Obt Sert
S. Crawford Agt.