French republicanism required schooling former slaves alongside chiefs’ sons.

Evidence

The French insisted that those who were to become the new literate auxiliary class be drawn from all social milieux, not merely from the old ruling classes. This outlook contrasted with the policy of the past, when military administrators had concentrated their educational efforts almost exclusively on the sons of chiefs, in the belief that they would remain France’s natural collaborators in administering the federation. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 288