The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-30


TEHDEHT OF CoLORED PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF
WAsulHgTOH AND q EOIGuBIUwE, lsUT.S.-Rcy.
A. ]. Newton, tho late superintendent Of the
colorod schools Of this city md Georgetown,
has prepared his annual report for the year OF
his service, 1908. The document gives n val.
liable historical statement OF the rise and pro-
gress OF the schools since the commencement
The first free coorcd school started after tho
war opened was near Lincoln Hospital, es-
tabiishch before slavery was abolished in the
District, by DIR. j., u. johnson, surgeon OF the
hospital, In the latter part OF the summer Of
lSCl-a night school for the cOlCrcd people
connected with the hospital, DR.. Johnson, a
Massachusetts man, taught 1t ut nrst; and
there for men, women, and children. Some
nifty wero admitted, and a benevolent lady
till 1884 or 1865, being paid twenty dollars
month, barely enough to defray her necessary
expenses.
The second school was opened in Duff Green
Row, in lsb2, by the American Tract Society
OF New York, TO teach the contrabands Of old
Capitol prison, captured material Of war.
The Tract society afterwards moved their
house which they built for the purpose; and
we think this building was afterwards moved
TO Freedmcn's Village, on Arlington Heights,
In which was started really the first pure con.
trabnnd school in this region. They had there
\ school of two TO three hundred children, and
they were all from the plantations, not mixed
schools of the city. A third school was start.
cd the saisc year, l5C2 In the city, by the Amer.
lean Missionary Association.
In November, 1861, the Frccdmen's Relief
Association started Its first day school with
two teachers, and during the winter and
spring they started four more, with eleven
teachers IN all. A free night school was
opened In November, 1868, on l. street, near
Tenth, Island, taught by volunteers. In the
winter 9rrertl others were started.
A. Inc following amounts were expended by
the colored school board in WnshingtOn':
1869, t2jB.2j; lSl3, SIi0-nonr Ia these wears in
Georgetown.
An appeal for aid was made by the friends
oil these schools TO Congress and the country
In 1854, affirming that there were / leo 10 201
colorGd children In tho two cities destitute OF
schooling In May, 1884, there were twelve
lent soclCtied, numbering 20 teachers and ., $50
scholars. Day schools in lSjI-'5, 81; teachers,
Oii scholars, S,5SS. Night schools, 10; teach
teachers, -; scholars, 1880 lsd6-'7-Schools
COZ teachers, 50; scholars, 3,si7. Might Dchools,
2t scholars not given.
FIRST school HOUsEs.
schools were first opened IA Easements of
colCrcd churches and small, poor structures
OF various kInds. In 1851 thc Pennsylvania
Association purchased small house and
stable on | street, between Nineteenth and
Twentieth 8trcctB west The teachers used
the house. and the Btahle was made into their
sshool.housc. The Philadelphia Friends built
the trst house OF any account 1t was finished
In 1861, at cost Of $4,000, and filled with
scholars for n couple OF yCnrs, under good
teachers. II was located on Nineteenth street,
near the Boundary. 1t was closed In lsUG.
Inc Presbyterian Mission built n house on
First street wcst between n and q south, in
1854, and maintained large schools there TN
1871, when 1t was closed. After the war closed
barTACk buildings throughout the District
were turned over TO the schools, and the Or
gan!Zltion of the
"DisTEtCT or COLUMBIA EDUCATIONAL A.so.
CITATION"
took place Ia November, 1865, seventy teach
cIs responding to the call oil tho first meeting
II held regular monthly meetings at the Free
Library Rooms, on judiciary Square. Gen.
John Newton, then assistant commissioner Of
the frcedmcn's bureau, called the meeting ms
the leader of the movement, and organized the
association.
Amount expended for coorcd schools In
this District by Northern associations
lsJ34, 5000; lsC4'j, so, 900; lsGi-6, s3l, 300
Estimated expenditures for books and cloth.
Ing, $1,000. Total 100000.
REPORT FOR ls67-'s.
At the end Of the school year 1867 several
Of the benevolent societies Withdrew from
this Held, leaving the work IN the hands OF
the Board OF Trustees. Through the instru.
mentality of Mr.. Newton the New York and
PcnGay lvAnta associations and the New Eng.
land FIiCndd continued. in all twenty.four.
teachers here, and Mr.. Newton was employed
by these societies and the Board of Trustees
NJ their superintendent for the last school year.
Mr. Newton was familiar with the Held,
knew his husincss, was systematic. Guilt
waited, and interchangeable officer, and did his
work with the most singular aaracity and
success, entering upon these new duties in
september, 1867; and there is not the slightest
risk In tho affirmation that every enlightened
teacher hitherto connected with these schools
VIII Justify us IN saying that It Is An essential
misfortune to the cause that he was not re-
tanned in his position this year.
Under the employ of the trustees, 81 teachers
commenced the year. The New York Society
Presbyterian Mission, % Hartford Associa-
tion, l; Bangordo, Ii Halliston do, !; Univcr-
saiists Of Maine, i RGchGcster IN, ~ Anti
Mission, Total from associations, %; max.
ing In all 10 teachers.
The new school house In the FOurth district
Second district, Noyemhcr4. In Al, 80 schools
were opened prior to February, lsds-thy most
OF them in October, 1857.
Observation-Disclosures, SCHOLAR, and
TEACHERS.
COlOrCd population oil Washington, NovCm.
Der, 1897, 81 ,39T Georgetown, 3,2s4 Total
8iUsl, Increase since lsj0-W ashingiOn, 20.
OSl Georgetown 1870 Total, q, 333. Chli-
Washington, S,3vl; Georgetown, syl. school
buildings owned by trustees OF colored schools,
seats, 90 Buildings owned by other parties,
l2j rooms IN same, IS; seats, 2,IBi; total seats,
3,iiO. Teachers employed BY trustees, 49, by
other parties, 10; total, %. The teachers varied
at times much larger than 80, averaging 81
Largest number OF scholars was In February,
amounting to 200; average Attendance No
vembcr to August so, 2j23; average scholars
10 a teacher, ~; number OF schools In which
grammar was taught, 0; lower grades, 81; aver.
age attendance In all schools through year, 50
per cent; highest per cent. attendance, No. .,
lirst district, Miss Kate q. Crane, 0d.3; next
higEcst, No. ., first distTiCt Miss NJ. Il. Mann
0l.7' nest do, No. l, fourth district, Miss Il. l..
Crane, % ..
SCHOOL HOUSES ASD Si'iiOOL Acc OMMOD ATOMS
SchoOl-housea in Washington occupied fur.
mlsh o. rooms, $40 seats, with 2glO pupils in
March, lsJS. The last census gives 0,2Sj chill /
uron; I'VE oil the rooms were not used, for
want Of teachers From eight to ten less
teachers last year than in the previous two
years and about 900 lcss pupils.
Inc report closes with valuable suggestions
pertaining to the work IL its various features.
The teachers arc urged to aSIi,iaVI ' Iucnt,
anu a teachers association il specified AS /
vitality important In this connection. The en-.
plOymcnt al male teachers to have the control .
OF the various graded systems of schools in
the different sections of the city. These arc
both excellent inculcatious. The subject OF |
school discipline Is noticed, and corporal pun ,
lshmeHt IN restricted form! is cspepially urged
as ohLchtihl To the best iatcTUals of the schools
III which there IL want of good government,
and especially In those schools where such
punishment IL rntliely excluded.
MF. newton mcniiuns reading as needing
more e1Fciul attention in many OF the schools,
ana urges iorcibIy the importance of giving
great attention to this branch, rs also spelling
and writing. This latter named branch, he
says, has not hitherto been taught with such
proficiency ~ ii demands.
The qualifications OF tC1EhCIS Is hwclt anon, (
and the importance Of retaining the very abe
and experienced teachers who have bccN idun-
titled with these schools is wisely aud rrrcihly
urged. The Organization Of u teachers iuEti
ute Is rrcOmmrndrd and the fact that there
are OUOD culOIcl children In thCsc c!tirn OF
school at all. ia presented to Impress the
friends OF the cause with the Importance of