Bo Pe Our ry
Our Sixth Annual Report will present nothing new in its
features.
Owing to the fact that the adult and elder children have
been obliged to labor to supply their physical wants, our schools
have been less in numerical strength: this, however, has not,
we believe, weakened in any wise the influence of our teachers
in their various neighborhoods. The cost to the Association
for the maintenance of these schools is much less than formerly;
as the pupils in most cases contribute to their support. The
zeal evinced to avail themselves of their educational privileges
is in no wise abated, and renders the work as interesting as at
any former period. In consideration of the late important
changes, by which the rights of citizenship have been secured
to the Freedmen, it behooves Friends to consider ‘seriously
whether instead of withdrawing from this field of labor, we are
not called upon to make greater exertion; that they may be well
fitted by the education now being received, to exercise their
newly-acquired rights intelligently, and for the good of them-
selves and our common country.
Were Friends fully aware of the-healthful and wide spread
influence of our teachers, we doubt not that the contributions
would be more general and greatly increased in amount. Our
expenses are light, the funds being used only in ordinary schools,
which affords us opportunity to enlarge the field of our operations
and the accomplishment of greater good.
