Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-06-23
The Colored Schools of Charleston

The COl0red Schools OF Charleston
The "Charlcston News of the 4th inst,
gives an interesting account Of tho free schools
(colorcd) of:Charltston Al the education of
the colored race of the South is now claiming
such portions from the News as may be inter.
resting to our readers. While tits gratifying
to behold the efforts Of the humane to lift from
the depths of ignercnce ,nnd vice the coorcd
people, it is no less mortifying to witness the
co!d indifference of our people to educate the
poor whites. Has the Free School system
been abolished in this State, and if not are
there any schools of that kind in operation
During late examination of one of the
free schools in the. city,, the editor of the
"Ncws" was in attendance, and observes
"Tb, upper tchdpm of colorcd;. Charleston
was out in;full force. Their handsome, iu-
tcligcnt faces. and really elegant dress, pre-
sentcd a very fine appearance. In courtscy
and native refinement, they are far in advance
of the upper ten of many cities it has been
our good fortune to visit.
The scene was novel. Colored "cxhibi-
tions in Charleston are still in their infancy.
But what offered the greatest attraction to our
best colorcd society is tho fact that the Nor
NAL School is the rcchcryhe- seminary, to
which all the aristocracy send their children
This school is supported by the American Mis-
sionary Association of New York, at cost Of
about 81 900 ,onth. Rev. L. j.. Car
doza is the pr.., ii. He is assisted by Il
corps of twcuty teachers, ten of Whom are
from the North aud the rcnaindcr colorcd
natives of Charleston. Mr. Cardozn is also
a native of this city, where he received his
primary education. lie afterwards finished
his studies at the University of Glasgow
This school has about 1000 pupils; aver
age daily attendance 500. These are divided
into departments and 20 cusses The stud
les comprise the entire range of elementary
branches, from the English. primer to the Lat
in grammar. The institution WINS opened un-
der the present auspices in October, 1SG5.-
Tuition free, the children, paying for their
books only.
Aboutthrec- fourths Of the scholars are freed
men, tho remaining fourth Comprising the
more advanced classcs) is composed mainly
of those who were born free, and who now con
stitutc an aristocracy Of color. This school must
not, therefore, be considered as giving fair
average idea Of colorc1 education in the city
The first class of girls, we learn, are under
charge of Miss Weston, and some of them have
been hcr pupils for five or six years It is the
design to make this Normal School for edl
cation of teachers, and the best material only
has therefore been retained, as Ear practicable,
and the remainder scnt.to other schools Thus
in some of the classes scarcely single pure
black is seen. The greater number of scholars
in the more advanced classes are very fair
all hucs are represented, from the pale. faced
Caucasian to the shining ebony Of the native
Of Dahomcy.
Ti,cy were ali very neat and clean, well
dressed, and bore themselves throughout the
exercise with great credit to themselves and
their teachers Mr. Cardozo is evidently good
disciplinarian--fully appreciates the value of
system, and by having every thing reduced
to method, has accomplished much in brief
period of time.
The reading is very satisfactory. Penny
sons Charge Of the Light Brigade" was
well rendered by tho first class of girls; all
reading together, yet distinctly and ntellgi-
bly,, and with admirable emphasis One Of
them afterwards read the psalm of Life" tn
the evident admiration of all present. Her
self possession, under the circumstances, was
truly remarkable. While on the subject OF
reading, we may mention an observation .,hade
in the course of this examination. 1t is well
known to every Intelligent Southron, that
there is a certain accent peculiar to the Negro
race. We arc not now speaking of the 1,dtois
but of the pure English, spoken by our colorcd
society This is Inherent, and inalicnable- -
Engrattcd upon this we observe strong infu
sion Of Boston twang-thus forninga curious
nela"'gc unlike anything spoken outside of the
domain of the Bureau
The dncomations were very fine. We were
gratiticd to meet our ancient Sophomore
acquaintance: tfIas the gentleman done
Has he completely done2 He was upparlia
mentary from the beginning TO the end of bis
speech" Joseph Wilkinson went through
| this oratorical exhibition with brilliant sue
cess His confidence and self possession we
have never seen equalled. Patrick Henry's
celebrated specch"wns very we'll given BY
anotherboy laterin the evening. While TIC
cldcutioh may not be perfect, il wae certainly