| Charles H. Foster Report to O. O. Howard on Report of Florida Education 1869 |
| Office Supt of Education B.R.F and A. L. Jacksonville Fla June 30, 1868 Maj. Gen O. O. Howard Commissioner Bu R F and A. L. Washington D.C. General, I have the honor to submit through the office of the Asst Commissioner, the following report pertaining to Freedmen's Schools in the State of Florida. Upon entering upon the duties of the office of Supt of Education the last of March, I found the Schools for Freedmen, generlly, in a flourishing condition, considering the unfavorable circumstances by which these people were surrounded, being confused by political excitements, many of them having failed to make contracts for the year a large portion of them in extreme poverty, and in some instances starvation staring them in the face. Since that period however with the prospect of good crops and of a reconstruction of State affairs a change for the better has been brought about,;and now that the political excitements are mainly over, the Freedpeople are paying more attention to education; having in many instances formed school societies and manifested a willingness to contribute voluntary labor in the erection of School Houses where the Bureau furnishes the material. Since my appointment as Superintendent, schools have been in operation in this State as follows: Schools Reported by Sub Asp Commissirs Day and Night Schools # of Pupils Sabbath Schools Pupils 28 1764 23 1446 Estimated number of Schools upon Plantations as reported to this office 25 800 10 300 TOTALS 2565 33 1746 With the exception of the Sabbath Schools nearly all these have been or are about to be discontinued as is customary at this season where the children are called to assist in gathering the crops of cottonto be resumed again upon the 1st of October. Teachers from the north who have been laboring among the Freedmen have nearly all returned to their homes with the hope that the Northern associations which have been supporting them will send them to this field of labor again in the Fall. It is to be hoped that the friends of Freedmen in the North will not withdraw their support from these associations, but that they will send more Teachers to this State the aumtumn than ever before. There is an earnest call from nearly every part of the State for a supply of good competent Teachers. It is to be regreted that we have not a larger number of efficient colored Teachers -- a few of this class are laboring faithfully and are especially useful, but the larger portion are but poorly fitted for their work, and many of them are utterly incompetent. We need at least from thrity to forty efficient teachers from the north. (The Southern Whites will not teach the Freedmen) either white or black to come down and help us next Fall; by the 1st of October we hope to have several additional new School Houses and expect to be in readiness to furnish better accommodations for Teachers as well as scholars than heretofore. The poverty of the Freedpeople is such that for another year at least they will need the assistance of charitable associations in the north in order to proceed with their schools with any degree of success. They receive but little help or sympathy from their former masters although the public sentiment is here unfriendly towards the colored schools than six months ago. Seven School Houses have been repaired or partially constructed by the Bureau during the past six months, two have been entirely constructed, and five are at present in process of construction. Arrangements are being made to furnish materials for the erection of fifteen other School Houses, while in addition to all these, Reports from Sub Asst. Commissioners and agents represent that at least fifty other places in the State stand in need of buildings in which to hold their Schools. Many of these places are difficult of access being quite remote from Rail Roads and from a market where the necessary building materials can be obtained consequently the work of constructing school Houses goes on slowly. In most of the smaller places voluntary labor in the erection of the buildings is promised in cases where the Bureau will furnish the materials, but in larger towns, very little voluntary aid can be obtained. The School Fund for the Fiscal year just closed has been nearly exhausted, and Fifty Thousand dollars are now needed for consturction and repairs of School Buildings in order to meet the wants of Freedpeople in this State. It is hoped that the Commissioner will authorize the unexpended remainder of the School Fund for the Fiscal year ending July 1867 $18,000 to be made available for this State at an early day. The State of Florida contemplates establishing common Schools free to all as soon as practicable; but at present there is no money in the Treasury; not much revenue can be expected from the Schools Lands for a long time, and several years must elapse before the State can bring her school system into successful operation. In the meantime the U. S. Government with the aid of Northern charity, should continue to look out for the educational interests of the struggling Freedpeople of the South and by the establishment of normal schools where Teachers of their own color can be prepared for this immense work, enable the Colored People eventually to become the educators of their own race. I have the honor to be General Very Respectfully Your Obdt. Servt. Charles H. Foster Supt of Education B. R. F. and A. L. Florida |