The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-28

CLOSING Examinations OF tho HoyvaFd
st. tHeErol 'SohooR--statistios OF Teachcrs.
Pupils and Sch0o1s-nxixed Races-
Studies Am vvhtch they Ecxcel-Prizos-
Presentation OF Cups-spocches by
Mossrs. Reagae, Moses and JillsOn-
Prospects.
[TRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
COLUMBIA, June 25-The annual examina-
hons and closing exercises Of the Howard
School were finished yesterday. This institu-
ton is devoted exclusively to the colored race,
1t was established the first year after the war,
but under different auspices from the present.
Two years ago large wooden building was
erected by the Freedmen's Bureau, at the ex-
pense of the general government, and the
Howard School established in it. Beyond the
building itself the Bureau has had moth
ing to do with the support Of the school. The
corps of teachers consists Of ten-one princi-
pal and nino teachers, all female. OF these
nine, eight are white and one colored. The
principal, Miss Haley, is from the North, as
are all the white teachers, and she has been
connected with the school from it's commence
ment. These teachers have been employed
and sent South by the New York Branch OF the
Freedmen's Union Commission. One of them,
however, is supported by private citizen OF
Hartford-a MIR. Olarke-out of his private
means. Recently the Presbyterian Freedmen's
Society has taken the support Of teachers in
hand, and will continue it in the future. The
lands on which the house is built belong in
part to the freedmen Of Columbia and in part
to the New York branch Of the commission;
the house itself to the United States Govern
ment, and the teachers are supported by bene.
VIOLENT societies and private Individuals in the
North. 4='1t'"' =" ="
The ten teachers conduct ten classes or divi-
sions, called schools and all the pupils are
classified carefnily in these ten schools. The
maximum number OF scholars reached in any
one month during the session just closing,
which began in October, 1863, was in winter
just 600. OF these about 275 were boys and 325
girls. The maximum number-6OO--is very
lar above the average number Of pupils tor the
whole session, be cause the early months did
not present as full lists on account OF the in
complete supply of teachers. or the pupils
about one-third are negroes, and the other
two-thirds mulattoes and quadroons. From
class Of twenty-three, which one OF the teach
ers informed me was fair specimen Of the
whole as to color, estimate that the school of
600 pupils is composed Of 200 negroes and 400
OF mixed race; the mixed element consisting
OF about 80 black quadroons, 135 Yfnulattoes,
and 185 white quadroons. The branches in
which these colored pupils most excel, the
teachers inform me. are spelling. reading and
geography; while they are less apt at arithmet-
ic and grammar. It will be observed that
memory is the negro's forte, rather than think
ing. The pu pills range, as to age, apparently
from nine to over twenty.
The exami minafioua consisfad ~ tl,raa I3o,,
The first, Tuesday, was devoted to the prima-
ry department.. The second, Wednesday, to
the intermediates; and in this department four
prizes were distributed The third iay. Thurs
day, .was~ devoted to the higher department,
andwas the most Interestingly i'm that the pnpilsS
were the farthest advanced. The pupils OF this
Department. we're examined in arithmetic.
spelling. reading, writing. grammar and geo.
graphy. They did remarkably well-for nen
groes; but judged by the standards that WI
apply to whites, cannot say that think they
did very well. My. impression is that the
teachers should be honored tor having done so
much with such material and that the COM.
munlty owe them great deal for having done
au that could be done towards educating
the colored people. The work that they
have done has been well done, although
-,
/ think the sentiment OF the community upon
this matter is one OF approval and thankful ].
ness. On this third and closing day, there
were six prizes awarded. Of which two were for
excellence in scholarship and departments"
one for uniform politeness and respectful be-
havior;;" two for 'punctuality;" and one for the.
highest number Of credits and merits, incIud-
ing both department. aud recitations. Il will
be seen that scholarship is not the basis Of
most Of these awards. The individual pupil
that held in all respects the highest rank, was
go near white that white quadroon, three-
fourths Whitley would not give fair idea Of his
color. His hair was perfectly straight. and his
features Enthusiastically Irish. His slster. Of the
same mixture, bore of two of the highest
prizes.
TO give specimens Of their reciLations would
hardly convey fair idea Of their attainments;
and might appear in spirit OF complaint,
while nothing could be farther from the feel
ings induced by witnessing these exercises. n;
Incidental to these examination exercises
there were several points worthy Of note. The
audience was almost entirely negroes-the
whites being about one to ten. .ss.
before the -cicss of exercines Mesns.
Mosea.isbe ASliutenE Gsners1s and Neasle! the
Comptroller. General, came forward each with
. cap,I asking that tho cups De presented ss
prizes to the most worthy in the two depart
ments. first and second. The presentation .of
cups WA dots BY Mr.. SiNesgle; and the oc-
casion demanded dsof course. that both the cuy,.
presenters should be invited to ssmaks d few
remarks."" Without any .apperent reluctance
theyeboth sssentsd, Mr. Neagle leading th6A
Way. he had but one thenns-himssiT. He
explained to the school-g girls ana boys how