TWENTY YEARS OF NEGRO EDUCATION. 31 



schools ; 4,986 children enrolled ont of 9,323 ; average attendance, 

 2,990. More than sixty per cent failed to attend, a proof of the in- 

 difference of the negro to education at that time, a greater barrier to 

 progress than the opposition of the whites. 



In 1872 the reaction had fairly set in. There was much in the 

 reports to encourage the friends of negro education. Delaware and 

 Kentucky were the only States that had not made provision for the 

 instruction of colored children. 



In 1873 the improvement was most marked. Kentucky reported 

 an educational revival, and steps had been taken toward a general edu- 

 cation of the colored children. Delaware had not yet made any pro- 

 vision for the education of this class, and thsit work was still carried 

 on by an association supported by the voluntary subscriptions of 

 philanthropic people. Missouri had one school for training colored 

 teachers. 



In 1874 improvement could be observed in almost all the Southern 

 States. Maryland increased her schools by 60, her teachers by 134, 

 and her expenditures by $108,824.70. Virginia increased her expend- 

 itures by $.58,651.21, her schools by 205, school-buildings by 263, and 

 the number of pupils by 13,016. Two schools for training colored 

 teachers had 300 pupils. In North Carolina, 50,000 colored pupils 

 attended the public schools. South Carolina reported an increase of 

 162 teachers, 196 schools, 192 new school-houses, and 56,249 colored 

 pupils enrolled. Georgia reported 669 schools for colored children, 

 with an enrollment of 37,267. Florida reported an increase in the 

 number of schools 46, and of pupils 1,586. Louisiana reported a gain 

 in the receipts for schools of $110,595.43, in attendance of 16,866 

 pupils, in the number of schools 175, and of teachers 18. Delaware, 

 Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama were at a stand-still. In Mississippi 

 the free schools were receiving very general support, and one third of 

 the whole number of children of school age were in attendance upon 

 the public schools, on which $900,000 had been expended, the value of 

 school property being $505,790.56. Tennessee reported more than half 

 her school population enrolled, and more than one third in attendance. 

 Missouri showed some elements of progress, such as an increase of 

 2,537 in school population, $72,198.41 in receipts, and $714,548.83 in 

 permanent school funds. The normal schools — State, collegiate, city, 

 and independent — had 1,887 pupils. In Kentucky public sentiment 

 was more in favor of public schools, and one hundred and forty-one 

 new school-houses were built. West Virginia reported an increase of 

 school-buildings 218, and of attendance 27,256. Besides the general 

 improvement in public schools, all the private schools were flourish- 

 ing, and the same was to be said of the colleges and universities, the 

 normal schools for both sexes and both colors reporting a greatly 

 increased attendance, the result of a rapidly increasing demand for 

 teachers. The American Missionary Association was rivaling the 



