<P> In the early days of the Reconstruction era, the Freedmen's Bureau opened 1000 schools across the South for black children . This was essentially building on schools that had been established in numerous large contraband camps . Freedmen were eager for schooling for both adults and children, and the enrollments were high and enthusiastic . Overall, the Bureau spent $5 million to set up schools for blacks . By the end of 1865, more than 90,000 freedmen were enrolled as students in these schools . The school curriculum resembled that of schools in the North . </P> <P> Many Bureau teachers were well - educated Yankee women motivated by religion and abolitionism . Half the teachers were southern whites; one - third were blacks, and one - sixth were northern whites . Most were women but among African Americans, male teachers slightly outnumbered female teachers . In the South, people were attracted to teaching because of the good salaries, at a time when the societies were disrupted and the economy was poor . Northern teachers were typically funded by northern organizations and were motivated by humanitarian goals to help the freedmen . As a group, only the black cohort showed a commitment to racial equality; they were also the ones most likely to continue as teachers . </P> <P> When the Republicans came to power in the Southern states after 1867, they created the first system of taxpayer - funded public schools . Southern Blacks wanted public schools for their children but they did not demand racially integrated schools . Almost all the new public schools were segregated, apart from a few in New Orleans . After the Republicans lost power in the mid-1870s, conservative whites retained the public school systems but sharply cut their funding . </P> <P> Almost all private academies and colleges in the South were strictly segregated by race . The American Missionary Association supported the development and establishment of several historically black colleges, such as Fisk University and Shaw University . In this period, a handful of northern colleges accepted black students . Northern denominations and their missionary associations especially established private schools across the South to provide secondary education . They provided a small amount of collegiate work . Tuition was minimal, so churches supported the colleges financially, and also subsidized the pay of some teachers . In 1900, churches--mostly based in the North--operated 247 schools for blacks across the South, with a budget of about $1 million . They employed 1600 teachers and taught 46,000 students . Prominent schools included Howard University, a federal institution based in Washington; Fisk University in Nashville, Atlanta University, Hampton Institute in Virginia, and many others . Most new colleges in the 19th century were founded in northern states . </P>

When did the us public school system start