Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-05-12
The COlOred School In Aiken.


the business portion of the town of Al
ken, S. G., near one of the largest color
ed settlements, is situated the Freedman's
School, or rather the "Schofield School,
us it is now called. it being under the
charge and management OF Miss Martha
Schofield. This bright and brave little
lady, q Quakeress, came South some
twelve years ago, and taught the Freed
men, in and about Charleston, S. c. for
about three years; when she came to
Aiken, and has for the past nine years
been connected with the colored school
here. Since the discontinuance of the
Freedman's Bureau at the North, under
the auspices of which this school was
founded, it has been supported partly by
county subscriptions, but mainly by con-
tributions from Miss Schofield's friends
at the North. Last year. the sum OF
three hundred dollars from the Peabody
fund for school purposes in the South,
was secured, and as all the conditions
have been complied with, the same
amount is expected this year. A further
sum of three or four hundred dollars is
promised by the county school commits
sioner, and the balance required to pay
the salaries of three teachers, furnish
books, maps and all the materials need
ed by two hundred scholars, to say moth
ing of keeping the building in repair,
and paying incidental expenses, must be
given by those in the North, interested
IN the work of educating the colored peo-
pie of the South. The town of Aiken
raises this year the tax of one mill upon
the dollar of the Grand List, for school
purposes and am told that at the town
meeting but two white votes were cast
in favor OF Il tax of one-fourth of mill,
and that one of these two white voters
was the teacher in the Schofield school.
After the colored voters had carried the
motion to raise one-fourth of mill, it
was increased to one mill. In nearly
every town in Aiken county, the propo-
sition to raise Il tax for support of schools
were voted down; which shows the esti-
nation in which the people here hold
common schools and education. The
poorer classes of whites look down up
on schooling, and care nothing for the
education of their children while the
better class are too proud to send their
children to a common school, and too
poor to educate them away from home.
The outlook is certainly not very prom
Using for the rising generation. and the
course persued in this matter Is but an
other instance of the short-sishted and
mistaken policy adopted in many por-
tons of the South. The white public
school of Aiken, l am told, numbers
about thirty eight, with an average at
tendance Of eighteen, while there are
ah far
tainly enough to give an average attend
ance of oighty-tive, which with other
conditions easily complied with. would
entitle them to aid from the Peabody
fund; this fund being lett to aid schools
in the South, without regard to color.
But to return to Miss Schofield's school.
The school house is Il long, one story.
wooden building, with an l.. constructed
in the simplest and cheapest manner pos
sible. and built upon land given by Miss
Schofield, and decided to board of trust
ees for II colored school forever. The
rooms are furnished with the common
hard wood desks. blackboards. maps. &c.
The main room Is used tor the interme-
date department, the school being grad
ed, while the higher or advanced classes
occupy the l. part. The primary schol-
ars are taught by colorcd teacher, in a
small building near the school building
proper, built by Miss Schofeld, and up
on her land. The advanced classes are
taught by Mr.. W. 7. Rodenbach, u grad
uate of New York College, in Now York
City, while Miss Schofield has charge of
the intermediate department, which con-
tains much the largest number Of pupils.
There are in the different departments
over 200 scholars, with an average at.
tendance of l60. saw several children
who walk five miles to school, making
ten miles travel, each day, so anxious
are they to learn, and to secure the ad-
vantages OF an education. Such chill
dren never occupy the Ounce block, or
get marks for imperfect lessons,
The scholars are represented by Miss
Schofeld as being bright and attentive,
never wishing holidays. and more apt
at their lessons than chilnren OF ignor-
ant parantage at the North.
During the hour that | passed in the |
the scholars were examin-
I'd in geography and reading. The ge-
Ography lesson (Which was the lesson |
for the day. was almost perfect, and |
found upon questioning those in the class
that they had not only learned to answer
The questions In their books. but had
thoroughly mastered the subject. and
could define the meaning of the words
used In the description. The exercise
n reading was very satisfactory, the
arge class being told TO read a selection
entirely new to them. which they did in
perfect unison, minding all the pauses,
md regarding emphasis and accentua-
ion,
After this the two grades were brought
ogether into one room, and repeated
hgee long palms in unison, ADD Is this