November 4th, 1863.
I have established a morning school in a Contraband camp
south of the Trent River; there is an average attendance of one hundred and
twenty-five pupils, and we now see a very studious band striving to learn with
all their powers.
There are about one thousand freedmen in this camp, and many
of them who have heretofore depended upon the labors of sons and daughters for
their “daily bread,” are now seeking other means of supply, that their children
may attend school. It is often said to me by these poor people, “I am willing
to make any sacrifice that my little ones may be educated,” and this remark is
made by those who have not a crust of bread for the morrow. There are fifty
males and seventy-five females in this school; their ages are as follows:
75 are under 12 years of
age.
20 are under 18 years of age.
30 are under 25 years of age.
My evening school for adults is full of interest; there is
an average attendance of three hundred pupils. Over one hundred have learnt to
read since they began to attend, and almost two hundred pupils will soon need a
more advanced book than the one they are now using. Writing has been introduced
into this school. It is my intention that only those who can read well, shall
be allowed to have lessons given them in this accomplishment. I am obliged to make
this condition for them to learn writing, as there is not space in the building
to have many departments of learning. As soon as practicable, I intend to
introduce arithmetic into this school.
I have four Sabbath Schools under my care; two of these I established.
At one of these schools there are over six hundred pupils, and at each of the
others two hundred. As soon as I receive a supply of books and papers, I hope
to establish other schools.
O. E. Doolittle.
SOURCE: New-England Educational Commission for
Freedmen, Extracts from Letters of Teachers and Superintendents of the
New-England Educational Commission for Freedmen, Fourth Series, January 1, 1864,
p. 9
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