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[Ed. Form, No. 4.]

[[stamp]] The National Archives of the United States [[/stamp]]

Sub-Assistant Commissioner's (or Agent's) Monthly Report on Education of Freedmen, and Refugees in Sub=District, State of  Ala in charge of R. T. Smith for the Month of January 1868, [in accordance with order contained in Circular No. 5, Bureau R.,F., & A.L.]

1.  Name of your Sub-District?  Opelika
2.  Whole number of Refugee or Freedmen's Schools in the District?  3
Day?
Night?
Sabbath?
3.  Location of Schools?  Opelika Lee County Ala, Girard Russell County, Ala, Salem Lee County Ala, 
4.  Whole number of Teachers?  3
White?  2
Colored?  1
5.  Names and post-office address of Day=School Teachers?  R B Bailey (Col'd) Opelika Lee Co. Ala. W H Gausline Girard Russell County Ala. J. L Pickett Salem Lee County Ala,
6.  Whole number of School=houses for Freedmen in your District?
Their condition, capacity, value, and by whom owned?  1. Owned by R A Forsyth at Girard Condition good Capacity 200
7.  Number of your visits to Schools?
Day?
Night?
Sabbath?
8.  Number of educational meetings held by you during the month?  3
Where?  Opelika, Auburn & Salem
9.  Number and names of places, now destitute, in which Day-Schools might be organized?  10.  Roanoke, Lovina, Milltown, La Fayette  West Point, Cusseta, Auburn, Oakbowery, Loachapoka, Silver Run,  
10.  Number of pupils (estimated) who would attend such Schools?  1000.
11.  Amount which would probably be raised by the Freedmen, for school purposes, in each destitute neighborhood?  Very little
12.  What efforts are you making to secure the support of schools by pupils, parents, boards of education, or the State government?  Very little owing to the embarrassed condition of the country pecuniarily and politically, There is a provision in the proposed constitution for a general system of Free schools throughout the state
13.  Whole number of additional School-houses, for Freedmen, now wanted in your Sub-District?  8
14.  Could you organize your Sub-District into School Districts, each with a School Committee pledged to carry on schools therein?  Not without considerable aid
15.  To what extent would help from without be needed in such cases?  Very great
16.  What is the public sentiment as to the education of the Freedmen and Poor Whites?  There seems to be considerable opposition to the education of the poor at the expense of the public, especially the Colored people.   
17.  Are Night-Schools for Adults needed in your District?  Yes
In what way could they be carried on?  I am unable to answer this question. As a general rule, the whites will take no interest in anything of its kind and the Colored are incompetent
18.  What more can this Bureau do for educating the children of Refugees (or Poor Whites)?  Nothing that I can see, except it furnish the means to employ teachers, buy Books &c
19.  How long will Northern charitable aid be needed for Freedmen and Refugee Schools of your District?  Until a Free school is established

I hereby certify, on honor, that I have given personal attention to the matters herein named, and that the answers given are, according to my best knowledge and belief, correct.

R. F. Smith
Sub-Asst. Com., Bureau R., F., & A.L.

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