The Portland daily press., 1868-07-20
Report of the Educational Work of the
R.x.ilIIad e EiasIe.a,s =

Portland Freedmen's Assoeiatiom.
Immediately after the Fraedmens Fair held
in City Hall in FEBRUARY, 1866 the committee
on schools advertised for teachers to 90 into
the )uthern States to engage in the work of
education. Out of large number cf appi-
cants, seven teachers were selected and sent
Immediately into the South. Six of these sew
en- teachers We're residents of Portland. The
cost of each for salary, board and travelling
exDe nseS was $500.
Resides these the Association voted to adopt
eight other teachers, who had already gone in
to the field from o. her parts of the State and
whose salaries We're i'll part paid by the
churches which had sent them out. The cost
to the association OF these was $500 for each
teacher. The Portland Freedmen's Associa-
ton, then, sustained either wholly or in part
fifteen teachers during the school wear of 1860
and 1866. Our second years work commenced
on the LIST of September 1866. Fourteen teach
ers were sent out: most of them We're the same
who had been employed during the previous
year and were sent to the same places. Dur
ing the past school year which closes June 30
1868, nine teachers have been employed at
cost of S4500
The names of those teachers who have been
sent from Portland are as follows: Lizzie
Varnum and Hattie Webster Almira L..
Jones, Isabelle Blanchard, Susan Dennis,
Carrie A. Hamblin, Charles A. Libby. Those
who have gone from other parts of the State
are Julia A Lord, Helen NJ. Crockett, Mercie
Baker, Fannie A. Perkins. Harriet L. Harris,
Laura e. Osgood, Julia G Chase, Sarah FL
Haley, Mr.. and Mrs. j. S. Dore Besides
these, something has been paid toward the
support of Miss A. c. Peckham and Mr.. A.
E. Newton, who went from other States, I'M
der the direction of the New York Aid Socie-
We take this opportunity to bear test-
mony to the faithfulness efficiency, and zeal
of these teachers, who have continued to labor
for three years for the elevation and enlight-
of the fraaI mamie un1pr dis
cOuragements and privations that would have
disheartened them, had not their hearts been
wholly in their work.
The association has kept itself informed re-
specting the work of its teachers, by means of
frequent correspondence with the officers of
the New York Freedmen's Association to
which it has been auxiliary, and also through
a direct correspondence with the teachers
themselves. From most of them monthly re-
ports of their schools have been sent to the
chairman of the committee on schools Some
OF the teachers have taught not only day but
evening schools for the convenience of those
who are obliged to work during the day.
1t is estimated from these reports that over
1900 men, women and children have been
taught to read and write by the teachers that
Portland has sent to the South. II there were
time it would b. interesting to give copious ex-
tracts from letters which have been sent us
both by the teachers and pupils. One or two
must suffice. One teacher writes from Staun-
airs are making good progress in their studies.
One morning last week noticed boy sitting
by the stove crying | asked him what allied
him, and he replied that his feet ached; his
boots were mere apologies, his stockings full of
holes, and the poor child had frozen his toes
1t was bitter cold morning, light snow on
the ground, and he had walked six miles. The
next day sent him to the Bureau agent, who
gave him nice pair of shoes. He is good,
smart boy, and seems determined to have some
lnp mil ENxrAr .rNA
pleasant, we find him in his place, book in
hand. We asked him what time he started for
school in the morning; he said, Well, about
sun-up.' We take extra pains with him. We
thought if he wanted to come to school enough
to walk twelve miles every day, he was deserv-
ing of it. One of our night scholars walks
four miles to his work in the morning, does his
days work, (he is carpenter) and returns at
night"
Another teacher writing from Uniontown,
ID. C., says, "We have now four schools in sue
cessful operation, with an attendance of up
wards of 500 pupils. There is usual degree
of interest manifested on the part of the par
ents and scholars, and at no period in our
school history have our prospects been more
encouraging"
Another writing from Elizabeth City, N. c.,
says: sour average has been a little more than
ninety tor the month, and as general thlng
they are very punctual; some have to work
and cannot always get to school in time and
time. But although the times are very severe,
the parents seem unwilling to keep their chill
dren out of school. They have paid $40 this
month for tuition"
But the association, while it has had for it's
main object the education of the Freedmen,
has not been unmindful of their physical
wants. One thousand dollars of its funds were
placed in the hands of the Ladies' Freedmen's
Sewing Circle for the purchase of materials
for clothing to be sent to our teachers for dis
tribution among the destitute and poorest
children and parents. These ladies have met
weekly in room in the City Building for
three years, and have sent off large number
of boxes of clothing. School and reading
books have i'll one or two instances been sent,
when there seemed to be demand tor them.
BY special request from one of our
best teachers, a neat and appropriate
temperance banner was sent to an or
der of temperance cadets among the
Freedmen. And thus have the committee en-
deavored, according to their best Judgment, to
use the funds so generously contributed by the
citizens of Portland, to accomplish the great
ends for which they were given, the raising of
those of our fellow creatures who had come out
of bondage i'll a state of helplessueSs, poverty
and ignorance, into condition of intelligence,
manliness and comfort to put them in way
to help themselves, to value and respect their
freedom. The citizens of Portland may well
be proud of having contributed to so great a
charity.
Our treasury is empty, but our work is not
yet thoroughly accomplished. We must con-
tinue our work for another year We must
renew our contributions There is a call for
teachers IN all the Southern States. There
are teachers ready to go. Our duty is as plain
as the Gospel. The words of Christ come to
us with tone of authority, Feed my lambs"
Will the citizens of Portland heed the call?
PORTLAND, June %, 1863
j. r. HEwEs.
SAMUEL r. LEAvITT
Mrs. CHARLES HOLDEN.
Mrs. DIR. SMALLER.
Mrs. w. w. THOMAS