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AFRICAN SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK.

AFRICAN SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK

THE Clarkson Association, for  instructing adult females of color, commenced in the spring of 1811. and was conducted ten or twelve years by a number of young females of the Society of Friends. This was the first institution that came under the appellation of Sabbath School in this city, where there are now so many.

2. It was taught on that day , because those people had generally more leisure to attend, than on other days of the week : but these benevolent females soon appropriated also one afternoon in the middle of the week, for such as were at liberty to attend. There were a considerable number of aged women, as well as those in the prime of life, who learned to read, and rejoiced greatly in the acquisition. There were also schools kept by young men, for adults of color of the other sex.

3. The African Free Schools, under the care of the Manumission Society in New York, have en-gaged the attention of many distinguished persons who have visited the city : and many encouraging observations on these schools, have appeared in the public prints.

4. The following remarks are taken from one of the daily papers of 1824 :- "We had the pleasure of attending the annual examination of the scholars of the 'New York African Free School;' and we are free to confess that we never derived more satisfaction, or felt a deeper interest in any school exhibition. The male and female schools were united on this occasion, and the whole number present was about six hundred. The exercises of the scholars were commenced by an address spoken by one of the lads ; in which were included thirteen lines from Cowper, in favor of liberty, beginning with

'For there is yet a liberty unsung.'

5. "The examinations were in reading, writing, arithmetic, a critical examination in American Geography, and a grammar class ; with a recitation of several appropriate pieces, and an exhibition of work done by the females in their department ; (this branch of their education is under the care of a committee of females, annually appointed by the trustees of those schools, whose business it is to visit the school once or more every week.)

6. "The articles exhibited, made within the past year, are as follows : - Shirts, 93 ; pillow cases, 61 ; sheets, 7; cravats, 49 ; towels, 23 ; handkerchiefs, 15 ; wristbands and collars, 25 pairs ; dresses for scholars, 13 ; fine samplers, 9 ; bench covers, 1 pair ; pocket books, 2:-knitting, 27 pairs of children's socks ; 26 pairs of suspenders ; 7 pairs of stockings, and 6  pincushions. These specimens

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