The official figures give the numbers; parole evidence is necessary to
complete the statement of the case. In 1881 there were, as the Department
of Education reports, in the Southern States 17,248 common schools for
colored children. With exceptions so few that they are inappreciable
in these statements, the teachers in these 17,248 common schools were
colored—the large majority being women. The majority of these teachers
are pitiably incompetent; some of them are well furnished for their
work, and are doing it faithfully and successfully. Nearly all of these
colored teachers who are of any use have received their preparation in
the various schools for higher instruction established by societies
and churches in the Northern States. Some of the best work is done in
schools established and carried on by individual devotion—I will not say
enterprise. Taking them all together there are nearly one hundred and
fifty of these schools, called, as fancy or circumstances prompted or
allowed, universities, colleges, institutes, seminaries, normal schools,
etc., etc. There is hardly an “academy” among them.