National Freedmen's Relief Organization
It is the object of this Association to supply, so far as may be practicale and necessary, the wants of the Freedmen of the black race in the United States, and to secure their general improvement in the arts of civilized life, to secure for them opportunity for labor, to imbue them with ideas of order, indsutry, economy, and self-reliance, and to open to them the avenues to social happiness and prosperity.
This it proposes to do with the sympathy and co-operation of the Federal Government, and by such general agencies as it may be able to command.
Many of the women make great efforts to learn to read, and meet with a good degree of success. Indeed, some learn very rapidly, and it is very pleasing to witness their delight at their progress especially when they find they can commence reading their Bibles.
We are not at all of the opinion maintained by some of our acquaintances, that it is useless to attempt to teach the adults; and we think our experience here justifies our belief; for if they do not learn quite as quickly as the children, they make much greater efforts, which very nearly compensates. One woman who could read quite well, told us she had learnt entirely by watching and listening while the children of the family were being taught, and questioning them after the lesson was over, never having received an hour's regular instruction until we come.
Miss C. D. Connant, St. Augustine, Florid
Mrs. M. M. Williams, who communicates the following interesting letter, went back to St. Augustine this season with Miss charlotte J. Smith, a sister of the estimable lady who was our Principal in that quaint and ancient city last year:
I must apologize to you for not having written to you before this, but our colored friends have been so glad to welcome me back, and to see a "Smith" here again, although not the veritable genuine "Miss Smith," that every moment that has not been occupied by school duties has been engaged in visiting.
You will rejoice with me when I tell you that our school opened on Thursday, November 13th, with the most encouraging success, our roll list already numbering 74 names, and our night school 85 additional, making a total of 109 scholars, all of whom seem eager and anxious to improve the opportunities held out to them.
Great dissatisfaction is felt with the Catholic schools, and the nuns are said to have tried to inculcate the old slavery dogmas, which you can imagine are not calmly received. Many of the Catholic children have already returned to us, and many more will eventually return. One woman told me that her little girl would not go to the Catholic school in spite of all her efforts. She would go to "Miss Smith's" school, and no other.
Miss Smith has a place in these people's hearts that never can be filled by any one else, and her name, I fill sure, will be a household word for many a long year.
I have taken pains to state to the colored friends the low state of your exchequer, and a meeting was consequently held on Friday evening when every one present pledged their word to furnish $1 each to be put into the common fund, and applied for the support of the school. It is needless for me to state to you, that the fact of your having sent "Miss Smith's sister" out without a salary, has been a powerful incentive to exertion, although I regret that the colored people here are very poor.
We very much need a school-house and the appliances for education which cannot be permanently arranged in a church. When North, I was promised funds for a school ground, but they are not adequatefor the exorbitant rates now demanded, so, unless some kind friend will step forward and aid us in increasing the amount, we must wiat. Mr. Chase would put up a comfortable building for us, if we could only afford to purchase the lot. Something can probably be done by holding a fair, but it willl be useless to attempt that until more of the travellers arrive for the winter.
We have graded our schools this year, which will, I think, be a great advantage. Miss Smith takes the Primary, and I the Intermediate and Normal classes, while we labor conjointly in the night-school.
M. M. Williams
Before acting on any application, the Committee on Teachers require information on the following points:
1. The applicant's full name, age, occupation, and whether with or without family responsibilities.
2. Physical Condition. - No person should apply, or be recommended by others, who has a tendency to pulmonary disease, or who is in any way incapacitated to endure a severe test, both of the mental and physical energies.
3. Mental Qualifications - As a general rule, those only should be encouraged to apply who have had experience in teaching, are found of the employment, and have given satisfactory proof of ability.
4. Personal Characteristics - Habits of industry, economy fidelity, patience, and devotion to the work.
The usual compensation of teachers is about $35 per month, teachers boarding themselves.