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440 441 erected, as several instances have recently occurred in which they have been either broken down or burned. Although this may be done by those termed "outlaws" yet the inconvenience and insecurity is the same as if it were the work of the community at large, as it is neither prevented nor punished. But with the fostering care of the Government it is hoped that enough may be accomplished to establish the foundation of what shall hereafter become a successful free school system. In addition to the aid thus given, the Freedmen have been furnished with houses for schools and teachers' homes, for which a rental has been paid during the past eleven months of a little over three thousand dollars. Much difficulty is also experienced in obtaining and supporting competent and efficient teachers, owing to the bitterness of the prejudice which still exists against the education of the colored people. It is almost impossible to obtain boarding places for those engaged in the work; especially in the case of ladies who may be sent by the Missionary Societies of the North And parties may be found who will bear the odium of boarding the "nigger" teachers" as they are termed, there is no protection civil or Military against the cowardly insults to which they are subjected, and in enduring which, there is no sympathy or encouragement on the part of those who, in other respects are loyal to the Government. It is the conviction of the Superintendent, that upon the subject of the education of the Freedmen there is but little difference in sentiment among the great mass of the people between those who are loyal, and those who are not. The teachers furnished by the American Missionary Association who were very competent and faithful, returned home at the close of June and I have not heard of their intended return. Their places have been supplied with the best material that could be obtained, and though very much inferior to the Missionary teachers, it is in the mind of the Superintendent of doubtful propriety to ask for their return in the present disturbed state of the Public mind. It would be very desirable and of great service, if the Association could send us some more teachers, as homes could be found with less difficulty, and they would be less exposed to insult or outrage. As an indication of the extent of the opposition met with in our work, I submit the following cases from official information in my possession. A prosperous school at Circleville, Williamson Co. under the care of Miss Luanna Eggleston a young colored lady of experience and discretion, was closed by the burning of the house on Saturday night the 27th of June: No fired having been used in or near the building. At Clarksville, Red River Co. a school in charge of the Rev. Charles Goldberg, a Presbyterian clergyman, was broken up by a band of young men calling themselves Ku Klux and Mr Golberg compelled to leave the State. At Kaufman, Kaufman Co. the school house was nearly destroyed by being beaten down, July 23rd and an attempt made to assassinate the teacher Mr Maier, who escaped into Missouri. At Millican Brazos Co. a flourishing school taught by the Rev. J. Hensley and wife, was broken up by the riot of July, and the teachers compelled to leave to save their lives. I have just been informed by the Sub Asst Commissioner at Waco of the murder of one of our teachers in Falls Co., and that another in Bosque Co. has been run off, and compelled to seek safety in Waco. I have also to day been called upon by the teacher from Jefferson, Marion Co. who closed his school for safety, and left a few days previous to the recent murderous outbreak in that town. I submit herewith a statement of the schools from the first of November 1867 to September 30th 1868 calling your attention to the steady increase of colored teachers, and the maintainance of schools during the summer, usually devoted to vacations:- [[11 columned table]] | Year | Month | Day and Night schools | Sunday Schools | White Teachers | Colored Teachers | No. of Pupils | Tuition paid by Freedmen | Tuition paid by Bureau | Rent paid by Bureau | Repairs and construction by Bureau | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1867 | November | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 554 | $108.50 | 585.00 | 387.66 | | | 1867 | December | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 554 | 108.50 | 20.00 | 382.66 | | | 1868 | January | 15 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 817 | 166.83 | 20.00 | 366.66 | | | 1868 | February | 26 | 13 | 21 | 6 | 1634 | 222.40 | 20.00 | 380.16 | | | 1868 | March | 26 | 13 | 18 | 6 | 2096 | 182.00 | 20.00 | 181.66 | | | 1868 | April | 33 | 17 | 19 | 11 | 2447 | 173.30 | 20.00 | 264.50 | | | 1868 | May | 37 | 22 | 23 | 11 | 3060 | 497.35 | 20.00 | 245.00 | | | 1868 | June | 38 | 26 | 25 | 12 | 3712 | 387.45 | 60.00 | 268.50 | | | 1868 | July | 36 | 27 | 21 | 14 | 3706 | 466.50 | 160.00 | 202.00 | | | 1868 | August | 43 | 28 | 23 | 19 | 3642 | 389.50 | 190.00 | 201.50 | | | 1868 | September | 40 | 26 | 23 | 16 | 3250 | 384.50 | 180.00 | 216.50 | | Showing a total of tuition paid be Freedmen with incomplete returns, of $3,086.83 Tuition paid by Bureau 1,295.00 Rents paid by Bureau 3,096.80 Repairs &c paid by Bureau 4,857.95 Transportation paid by Bureau 243.15 Making a grand total of $12,578.73 being expenses of schools for above period. I am, Genl. Very Respectfully Your Obt. Servt., (Signed) Jos. Welch Supt. of Education.
