Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-29

they started four more, with eleven teachers in
an tree night school was opened in No
taught By volunteers. In the winter several
others were startrd.
The following amounts were expended BY
the colored school board IN WASH nyton: lss3.
sa56.a5; lsfs, s4iO--none in these years in
An appeal for aid was made by the friends
Of these schools to Congress and me country in
ls64, affirming thai there were 1.lC0 TO 100 col
Ored children in the two cities de3tit ute Of
schooling. In May, 1861. there were twelve
schools supported by eight different oenevo-
lent socieuss, numbering 81 teachers and 2,6JO
scholars. Day schools in 1s6i-5, 27; teachers,
"a; -cholars, 3,5SS. Night schools, I6: teachers,
81; scholars, go. 1S65-6-Schools, ~; teachers,
-; az holors, $780, 1so6-7-Schools, 60; teachers
-; scholars, 3,s77. Night schools, "a; scholars
not given.
Schools were first opened in Easements of
colored churches, and small, poor structures OF
various kinds. In 1864 the Pennsylvania Asso-
cl Ation purchased a small house and stable on
j street, between 18th and 20th streets west
The teachers used the house, and the stable was
made into their school house. The Philadel-
phia Friends built the first house of any
account. 1t was finished IN lS64, at q cost of
5000, and filled with scholars Tor a couple OF
yC4rs, under good teao hers. 1t was located on
18th stret, near the boundary. 1t was closed
in 1866. The Presbyterian Mission built a house
on LIST street west, between N and o south, in
1854, and maintained large schools there till
1867, when 1t was closed. After the war closed
barrsek buildings throughout the District were
turned over 10 the schools, and the organization
of the District OF Columbia Education al Asso-
ciation' took place in November, 1865, seventy
teachers responding 10 the call OF the first meet
ing. 1t held regular monthly meetings al the
Free Library Rooms on Judiciary Square.
General John Newton, then Assistant Commits
sioner Of the Freedmen's Bureau, called the
meeting as the leader of the movement, and
organized the association.
Amount expended for colored schools in this
District by Northern associations: 1864.
$3.50; 1s645, s39,09O; 1866, s35,5O0; 1s65-'5,
S35,OtO; 1S67-S, Sl7,OOU. Total, SLS5,5U0
Estimated expenditures for books and CLOTH
ing, Sl5,0OO. Total, Sl50,OyO. ....
At the end Of the school year 1861, several
of the benevolent societies withdrew from this
field, leaving the work in the hands Of the
Board Of Trustees. Through the instrumen-
tality of MIR. Newton, the New Y ork and Penn
sylvania associations and the New England
Friends continued, IN all, twenty four teach
ers here, and Mr.. Newton was employed by
these societies and the Board OF Trustees as
heir superintendent for the last school year.
Mr.. Newton was familiar with the field,
knew his business, was systematic, culu-
waited, and interchangeable officer, and did his
work with the most singular sagacity and sue
cess, entering upon these new duties in Sep
tember, 1867: and there is not the slightest risk
in the affirmation that every enlightened teach
er hitherto conuc cted with these schools Will
Justify rs in saying that il is an essential mis-.
fortune 10 the cause that he was not retained
in his position this yeIr. We have watched
tnese sc SCHOOLS 70 and the work OF Mr Newton
him Irom a lsrge personal observation.
Under the employ of the trustees 81 teachers
commenced nc d the year. The New York Society
byterian Mission, ,; Hartford Association, L:
Bangor do, /: Halhston do, /; Uniyersalists OF
Maine, 4; Rochester (N.Y) Anti-Slavery So
ciety, 1: and the New England Commission, I.
Total from associations, %; making in all Gu
teachers.
The new school house in the Fourth District
Island) was opened October 2s; that of the Sec
DStrIcT. November i
were opened prior 10 February, 1s6S-the most
OF them in October, 1857. a.. .
sTATIsTlCs-sCHooL-Ho sCHoLARss AND
TEACHERS
Colored population of Washington, Noyenl-
ber. lso7, 81 1897; Georgetown PSI; total 81 6SI
Increase since 1s6O-WashIngton, 29,98i;
Georgetown, l,3i9; total, 22,333. Children be-
tween the ages of six and seventeen-Wash-
ington, 1891; Georgetown, S9i. School build
ings owned by trustees of colored schools. S:
number OF rooms IN same, 30; number of seats,
976. Buildings owned by other parties, ~:
rooms in same, -; seas, 2,464 total seats 3,l4O
Teachers employed by trustees, 10; by other
parties, 10; 'otal, SIS. The teachers varied al
times much larger than So; averaging 81
LIgest number of scholars was in February
amounting 10 2,969; average attendance No
yem, IT lst to Augu-t Goth, 2,S23; average scnoI-
grammar was taught, 9; lower grades. 81; ay.
erage attendance In all schools through yea
Sper cent; hlghees per cent. attendance, No
3, First District. Miss Kate G. Crane, 2: next
highest, No. y, First District, Miss nj. r. Mann.
81; next do, No. I, Fourth District, Miss E.
L. Crane M.5. ..
SCHOOL HOUSES AND SCHOOL ACCoMoDA-
TIONs.
School-houses in Washington occupied furn.
ish 81 rooms, 3,A0 seats, with 1910 pupils in
March. 1S6S. The last census gives 9.2S5
Children; five OF the rooms Were not used, for
want Of teachers. From eight to ten less teach.
ers last year than in the previous two wears,
and about GOO less pupils.
The report closes with valuable suggestions
pertsining to the work in its various features
The teachers are urged to self impro vement,
and teachers association Is specified as vital
ly important In this connection. The employ
ment of male teachers to have the control or
the various graded systems OF schools m the
different sections Of the city. These are both
excellent inculcations. The subject Of school
discipline is noticed, and corporal punishment
In a restricted form is especially urged as es.
sental to the best interests of the schools in
which there is a want of good government, and
especially in those schools where such punish
ment is entirely excluded. E--Tt
Mr. Newton mentions reading as nef ding
more careful attention in many Of the schools,
and urges forcibly the importance OF giving
great attention 10 this branch, as also spelling
aud writing. This later named branch, he
says, has not hitherto been taught with such
proficiency as 1t demands.
The quafifcations Of te elchers is dwelt upon.
ana the importan ce OF re aiming the very able
and experienced te lchers who have been iden.
titled with these schools is wisely and forcibly
urged The organization OF a TIE .cners' Insti.
tute Is recon mend.d, and the fact that there
are 6000 colored children in tho se ciies of suit.
able age for school, that are never In a school
the cause with the importance Of extending
their efforts