"Colored School Exhibition," The Christian Recorder, July 6, 1867, p. 1 · Freedmen's Bureau Project

Title

"Colored School Exhibition," The Christian Recorder, July 6, 1867, p. 1

Date

07-06-1867

Description

This article in The Christian Recorder (the newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church) recounts a public exhibition at teacher Edmonia Highgate's school in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event was attended by officers of the AMA and the Freedmen's Bureau. Students presented various recitations, songs, and dialogues.

References

Edmonia Highgate

Related Financial Supporters

American Missionary Association

Source

Center for Research Libraries

Transcript

COLORED SCHOOL EXHIBITION .
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An exhibition of the free colored school , of which Miss Edmonia G. Highgate is the teacher, was held yesterday afternoon at St. James' chapel. Roman street. This school is composed of about one hundred and twenty-five indigent pupils; supported by the funds of the Louisiana Educational Relief Association, of which Rev. John turner is president.
The appearance of the scholars was excellent. They were neatly attired and gave evidence that the doctrine had been inculcated into their minds that "cleanliness is next to godliness."
Miss Clarkson was there with quite a number of the pupils of her school , the exhibition of which was reported a short time since.
Among the others present were Dr. Harrison and Mr. Bennan of the Freedmen's Bureau, Rev. John Turner, Rev. J.B. Smith, Dr. C.M. Wickliffe, Captain Lewis and J.W. Menard.
The exercises commenced with singing by the whole school , followed by the recitation of the "Lord is my Shepherd."
Miss Victoria A. Martin, a monitress of the school , then read the following:

OUR SCHOOL .

"Our school is a very nice school , and we have a very kind teacher who loves us very much and we all love her very dearly. Our School was very small, but now we have improved very much in appearance and order and also in our studies, and we have increased very much in our number. Our school has the appearance of an improving school . And all this we owe to those good friends who so kindly opened our school . Those friends form the Louisiana Educational Relief Association. The president of that association is the Rev. John Turner, who has so often visited our school and always has some good advice to give us, and surely if we follow his advice we will grow up good men and women and be respected by all who know us. He says a great deal about being neat and clean. He told us that when he was a very little boy he had no one to take care of him and that he had often taken off his coat and washed it at night and smoothed it down with his hand sin order to be clean. He advised our boys to do the same.
"We have recently received two maps from the association, for which we are very grateful. We are also indebted to the Freedmen's Bureau, for the rent of our school building, and the furniture of the same. We have received form Professor Cittenden of Cold Water, Michigan an arithmetical chart, which greatly benefits us.
"Our school is the only free school in the city at present to which colored children are admitted, but I hope before the time of falling leaves there will be many supported by the city public school fund.
"Some of our greatest men and women were educated in public schools , including President Lincoln, Senator Wilson, Mr. Horace Greely, Miss Anna Dickinson and Judge Kelly.
"Our school has been in existence a little more than three months. Our reception today is, therefore, our first quarterly celebration. We hope our friends will not expect too much of us, and will excuse all our mistakes, as we had but little time for preparation. The next time we hope to do better, as 'great endings often come from small beginnings.' Our mottoes are 'Try,' and 'Excelsior.' We hope, God assisting us, to succeed."
The essay is, certainly well written for a girl of thirteen and deserves the commendation it received.
The "Child's prayer," by Francis Banks, dialogue by seven little girls; "Good and bad girls," a composition by Mattine Dixon; dialogue, "How not to get an answer," by two girls; the "Lost lamb," a recitation by Cornelia Taylor; dialogue, the "Etapi society," by six boys; original composition, "Flower," by Olivia Eunice, of Carrolltown, the "Psalm of life," by Victoria A. Martin; dialogue, "Bevy of I's," by eight little girls; recitation, "Freedom by Victorian Carr; dialogue, the "Little philosopher," by two little girls; recitation, the "Old clock," by Olivia Eunice; dialogues, "Two ideas of life," by two girls; recitation, the "Old clock," by Olivia Eunice; dialogues. "Two ideas of life," by two girls; song, "The civil rights bill," recitation; "the dying girl," by Cernelia Taylor; recitation, "Red riding hood," by Sarah Wilson; dialogue. "Fashionable requirements," by three girls; recitation, "Flag of the free," by Victorian Carr; recitation, "Barbara Fritchie," by Victoria A. Martin, dialogue, "Faith, hope and charity," by young ladies, private scholars, but not members of the free school .
An hour and a half was passed in these exercises which were very creditable to both teacher and pupils.
Brief addresses were made by Miss Highgate, Dr. C.M. Wickliffe, Rev. J.B. Smith, J.B. Menard, Rev. John Turner, J.C. Wingard, and the representative of the Republican.
At the close Miss Highgate, in behalf of the children, thanked their good friends who were there for their presence, their speeches, and the ten dollars and ten cents contributed for the picnic at the City Park today, where the scholars of three colored schools -Miss Bell'' Miss Clarkson'' and Miss Highgates'' will enjoy themselves and roam at Pleasure in the open air. - New Orleans Paper.