Slavery+Conditions


 * Slavery - A Life Without Education || || + Show Info Bar || ||


 * __A Life with no Education__**

•  •  In the **early part of the 19th century** there were **no schools in the southern states of America admitted black children** **to its free public schools**. **Some brave teachers** such as **John Chavis** in Rayleigh, North Carolina, **ran secret night** **schools**. Teachers found educating black children would be run out of town. **Margaret Douglass, who was caught** **teaching black children in Norfolk, Virginia, was convicted and imprisoned for her actions**.

The situation was better in the **North and the first African Free School was opened in New York City in 1787**. This school and six others in the city began receiving public funding in 1824. **__(Below: Personal Accounts From Slaves):__**
 * **__Henry Bibb__** **//The Life and Adventures of an American Slave//** **(1851)** ||   “Slaves were not allowed books, pen, ink, nor paper, to improve their minds. There was a Miss Davies, a poor white girl, who offered to teach a Sabbath School for the slaves. Books were supplied and she started the school; but the news got to our owners that she was teaching us to read. This caused quite an excitement in the neighbourhood. Patrols were appointed to go and break it up the next Sabbath”.     ||
 * ** Miss Mary Battey, letter, Andersonville (December,1866) ** || ** “Our school begun - in spite of threatenings from the whites, and the consequent fear of the blacks - with twenty-seven pupils, four only of whom could read, even the simplest words. At the end of six weeks, we have enrolled eighty-five names, with but fifteen unable to read. In seven years teaching at the North, I have not seen a parallel to their appetite for learning, and their active progress. Whether this zeal will abate with time, is yet a question. I have a little fear that it may. Meanwhile it is well to "work while the day lasts." Their spirit now may be estimated somewhat, when I tell you that three walk a distance of four miles, each morning, to return after the five hours session. Several come three miles, and quite a number from two and two-and-a-half miles. ****  The night school - taught by Miss Root - numbers about forty, mostly men, earnest, determined, ambitious. One of them walks six miles and returns after the close of school, which is often as late as ten o'clock. One woman walks three miles, as do a number of the men. ****  On Sabbath mornings, at half-past nine, we open our Sabbath school, which is attended by about fifty men, women and children, who give willing, earnest attention to our instruction. The younger ones are given to the charge of "Uncle Charlie" - a good old negro who wants to do something to help. Miss Root takes the women, and leaves the men to my care. As they are unable to read, we take a text or passage of Scripture, enlarge upon and apply it as well as we are able, answering their ** **questions, correcting erroneous opinions, extending their thoughts”.** ||