In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 8th of December, 1870, the reports of the board of trustees of colored schools of Washington and Georgetown. JANUARY 19, 1871.-Referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia and ordered to be printed. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. C., January 18, 1871. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a resolution adopted by the Senate on the 8th ultimo, in the following words: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be requested to communicate to the Senate any report in his possession, or which he may obtain from the trustees of the colored schools for Washington and Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, showing the condition of the schools under their charge during the last school year, and at the present time, with the receipts and expenditures of money by such board during the last school year, and since its existence, and also whether the acts of Congress relative to funds for the support of such schools have been complied with by the corporations of Washington and Georgetown, and the extent to which the educational needs of the colored population of these cities are at present provided for; also whether, in their judgment, any additional legislation is required to promote the educational interests of this population. In reply to the foregoing resolution, I have the honor to transmit herewith the following documents, viz: First. The report of the majority of the board of trustees of the colored schools aforesaid, signed by Messrs. William Syphax and W. H. A. Wormley, and accompanying papers marked "A," "B," "C," and "G," "E," and "H," and, Second. The report of the minority of said board, signed by Charles King, esq., and accompanying papers. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate. Secretary. OFFICE OF TRUSTEES OF COLORED SCHOOLS FOR Washington, December 31, 1870. SIR: The undersigned, trustees of colored schools, have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 9th instant, inclosing a resolution adopted by the Senate of the United States on the 8th instant, which resolution is in the following words: "Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be requested to communicate to the Senate any report in his possession, or which he may obtain of the trustees of the colored schools for Washington and Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, showing the condition of the schools under their charge during the last school year and at the present time, with the receipts and expenditures of money by such board during the last school year and since its existence, and also whether the acts of Congress relative to the funds for the support of such schools have been complied with by the corporations of Washington and Georgetown, and the extent to which the educational needs of the colored population of these cities are at present provided for; also whether, in their judgment, any addi tional legislation is required to promote the educational interests of this population;" and in reply we respectfully submit the following report, with the request that it may be transmitted to the honorable Senate. CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS. With reference to the condition of the colored schools during the last school year, ending June 30, 1870, we regret to say that no report was prepared, and no records have been preserved in the office of the trustees, from which a full report can now be drawn up. For this unfortu nate state of affairs the board, as at present constituted, is not responsi ble. We have, however, called upon the present superintendent of the schools for such information respecting their condition during, and at the close of the past year, as may be obtained from the records on file; also for a report of the state in which he has found the schools, ou assuming their charge, with such suggestions for their improvement as he may think proper. His able and elaborate report, covering these particulars, is herewith submitted (marked A) and is made a part of this report, its statements and recommendations being fully indorsed and approved. It will be seen that the facts and statistics therein presented are not altogether favorable. In fact, our schools during the last year have suffered severely from the lack of competent and efficient supervisions. With a view of remedying as far as possible these evils, the majority of the present board of trustees, at the commencement of the present school year, called to the position of superintendent Mr. O. V. Catto, of Philadelphia, a young man of excellent attainments, large experience as a teacher, and high reputation for energy and efficiency of character. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Catto was unable to obtain a release from previous engagements, and hence remained with us but a brief period. During this time, nevertheless, he rendered a signal service by preparing an improved system of classification and course of instruction for our schools, which has been adopted by the board, and is now being introduced as rapidly as practicable.* Upon the resignation of Mr. Catto, the board offered the position of superintendent to Mr. A. E. Newton, who had formerly held the office, and who had a large share in the first organization of the colored schools in this District. We know of no one to whom our colored citizens are more indebted than to Mr. Newton; his untiring zeal in the cause of popular education, with his former success as superintendent, give us assurance that we have com mitted our schools to the supervision of an able and experinced educator. * A copy of this "Classification and Course of Study " is appended, marked K. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. The amount of money received and expended by the trustees during the last school year, and since the existence of the board, as ascertained from all sources within our reach, is as follows: During the year ending June 30, 1870. (Statement published by the trustees in July, 1870.) RECEIPTS. Cash on hand unexpended July, 1869.. Received from corporation of Georgetown. Received from corporation of Washington... Received interest from $14,550 of Washington corporation bonds. Received from sale of $14,500 of Washington corporation bonds, at 79 cents Total EXPENDITURES. $53 85 1,689 28 58,556 52 873 00 11,494 50 72,667 15 Repairs and additions to school buildings.. Purchase of lot on Capitol Hill Grading and leveling school lots and other labor on school lots and buildings Amount paid on indebtedness of previous year.. School furniture, desks, tables, chairs, and seats purchased during the year. Amount paid for salaries of teachers, superintendent and janitors, rents, stationery, books, maps and charts, cleaning, whitewashing, and all other items of current expenditures, including fuel and heating apparatus... Cash on hand (estimated) June 30, 1870 $15, 648 00 120 00 2,800 00 549 05 1,500 00 2,113 16 45, 936 94 4,000 00 Total.... From July 1 to December 31, 1870. RECEIPTS. July 22. From A. Jones, former treasurer, cash............ For salaries of superintendent and janitors; fuel, books, maps, stationery, rents, &c Total expenditures Balance in hand, certificates.. Balance in hand, cash 72,667 15 $3,213 80 1,885 67 4,000 00 8,746 81 10,857 31 15,000 00 29,050 00 856 91 73,620,50 95000 72,670 50 $15, 100 12 2,887 09 4,021 39 5,000 00 7,290 33 34,298 93 $34,916 91 3,454 66 $38,371 57 The number of teachers employed by the trustees is 64, including one teacher of music. They are paid as follows: 1 teacher of preparatory high school, $900 per annum ; 7 teachers of grammar schools, at $800 each; 1 teacher of music, $650; 37 teachers, at $600 each; 16, at $500 each; and 2, at $400 each. Receipts and expenditures since the existence of the board. RECEIPTS. From the corporation of Washington, from July 16, 1864, to December 3, 1870, as per statement furnished by his honor the mayor, hereunto annexed, (marked B) From the city of Georgetown, from April 25, 1855, to September 15, 1870, as per statement approved by his honor the mayor, hereunto annexed, (marked C) Total In addition to the above we find the following amounts credited on the May 6, 1865. From corporation of Georgetown, (in excess of amount Feb. 2, 1867. Deposit, (source not stated) June Oct. Feb. 9, 1868. From corporation of Washington, (in excess of amount 22, 1869. From corporation of Washington, interest on bonds. Making a total of Less discount on Washington City bonds and certificates sold. Total receipts, as per account of trustees EXPENDITURES. The expenditures of the board, from its creation to June 30, 1870, appear from the accounts in the office to have been From July 1 to December 31, 1870, they have been. Making a total to the present date of..... Receipts and expenditures for each year. 266, 366 36 $193,724 98 34,298 93 228,023 91 With reference to the receipts and expenditures for the year ending June 30, 1870, we feel it our duty to state that we find the transactions and accounts for that year to be marked by some irregularities and inaccuracies which cannot receive our sanction. It will be noticed that in one instance a sale was made of bonds of the city of Washington, by which the sum of $3,055 50 of the people's money was sacriticed. These bonds, it should be stated, were held by the board merely as |
