History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 83

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 83

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On June 24, 1854, the first Board of Education was appointed, and was composed of Aldermen Kelsey, Blake, and Marier; while, under date April 18, 1855, we find the first report concerning schools, as follows: "We, the Board of Education, having by several of our body examined the Free School of this city; and having been satisfied that the present provisions for the instruction and accommodation of the scholars are insufficient; that with the utmost exertions of the faithful and efficient teacher now employed, much that ought to be done must be neglected, as not only an insufferable

* This is the first official mention of Broadway, formerly known as Main Street.

588

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

loss will be sustained, but a bad example set the pupils in the misuse and waste of their precious time, we do hereby present to the Honorable Council our recommendations, viz., that larger accommodations be immediately provided by the enlargement of the present school house, or the leasing of the building known as the 'Pavilion,' and that an assistant teacher be procured to take charge of the younger portion of the scholars, or otherwise to co-operate with Mr. Warner in the instruction of the school."

It would appear as if in the month of December, 1855, the Presbyterian Church presented a bill to the Council for the use of a bell, for we find that a committee was appointed to inquire into this subject, as on the 12th of that month they reported: " The First Presbyterian Church of Oakland bill for a bell, now in use for school pur- poses, we cannot advise to be allowed, for the following, to us, very conclusive reasons: First-That the bell was bought by subscription of the citizens, and not by the church. Second-That it was bought with the understanding that when the large bell arrived (which was then understood to be on the way) it was to be placed on the school house and used for school purposes; the money was collected from the people promiscuously and not from the church, some giving one, some five dollars, and the church at that time having no organization. The bell, as is well known, was used on the school house for church and school purposes, and has now reverted to its original intentional use on the school house; it is obvious therefore that the city ought not to pay for it again, having once been paid for by the public."

We may here mention that in June, 1853, the lamented Rev. Henry Durant opened the "College School " at the corner of Main (Broadway) and Fifth Streets, while others had been organized and the foundation of Oakland's present greatness as the " Athens of the Pacific" laid. In his message to the Council of March 10, 1857, Mayor Williams thus speaks on the subject of education: "Among the institutions which adorn our city, far from the least attractive and useful are a collegiate institute, a boarding-school for young ladies, a juvenile male school, and a public school. The first named of these is now in the third year of its existence, during which period one hundred and twenty-eight pupils have received instruction in its halls and have brought to and expended in the city upwards of twenty-five thousand dollars. It has now about thirty boarding and day students in the various departments of classical literature, and is yearly adding to its well-deserved reputation. The second (embrac- ing the third) has been established here within the past year, is in successful progress and gives high promise of future usefulness and renown. But your fostering care is most strongly solicited for the support and advancement of public schools. In 1855 one hundred and fifty-two, and in 1856 ninety-one children were taught in the public schools in this city, but, in 1856, it was continued only four months, owing to want of funds to pay the teachers, no taxes having yet ever been appropriated for that purpose. The result showed not only a withdrawal of sixty-one scholars, but satisfactorily demonstrated that the amount of taxes upon the withdrawn capital-withdrawn by the parents of the sixty-one scholars-would have been more than sufficient to have paid their proportion of the teacher's salary, besides adding in various other ways to the prosperity of the city; and it will scarcely be questioned that a strong evidence of a good and worthy citizen is the fact of his sending his children to school, and from such humble schools have heretofore emanated some of those patriots and statesmen

589

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

who have adorned your Legislative halls and shed an imperishable glory on their country. I urgently recommend to you therefore the efficient support of common schools, even by some aid (if necessary) from taxation as a measure eminently deserv- ing and deservedly receiving the public approbation." These eloquent remarks were accordingly acted upon, and the public schools flourished. In December, 1858, the School Marshal reports that there were within the corporate limits of the city two hun- dred and thirty-eight children between the ages of four and eighteen years of age, and by a strange coincidence exactly the same number under four years old.

Under date September 14, 1859, the Superintendent reports on the condition of the public school and the necessity for continuing the same, but there was apparently some difficulty in the way of so doing, for, on the 21st September, the City Council determined to request the Board of Education to ascertain what amount could be raised monthly among those who have children at the public school for its temporary support. As year followed year the limited accommodation for scholars made itself more and more felt and a cry was made for more space, but with no avail.

On August 1, 1860, the school "Trustees" became " Commissioners;" and, March 6, 1861, a School Fund was inaugurated to be held subject to the order of the Board of Trustees. In this month, too, the Committee on Education, in conjunction with the Board of Education of Oakland School District, Number One, were called upon to select a site for the erection of a public school house, who, May 15th, reported that they had selected Jefferson Square for such; but, the school house was never built there apparently. It may be said, casually, that this is the block of land bounded by Seventh and Sixth Streets and Grove and Jefferson Streets. On February 5, 1862, we find that one-half of block number one hundred and forty-seven* was purchased from Mr. Birnie for four hundred dollars, for school purposes, but nothing was then done there, for it is recorded on the minutes of the City Council that at a meeting held on March 19, 1862, a school was ordered to be erected on block number one hundred and fifty-five. This block, situated between Jefferson and Grove and Eleventh and Twelfth Streets, was purchased for the sum of nine hundred dollars, whereon a school house thirty-six by thirty-nine feet, six inches, and eighteen feet ceiling was directed to be built, the contract therefor being awarded to George Barnes and Joseph Huffman at the price of fourteen hundred and fifty dollars. In that year there were one hundred and nine scholars attending the public, and one hundred and ninety-three pupils at the private, school, figures which show a steady increase in the attendance and therefore a corresponding rise in the population of the city. In November, 1862, the new school house was occupied; and, March 3, 1863, the City Superintendent of Schools, Rev. George Mooar, made the following report to the Council: "When the present Board of Education took the oath of office in November, 1862, the public school was in the charge of Mr. F. Warner and Miss Martha Pratt. Mr. Warner soon after resigned his position, and it was deemed proper to suspend the school from December 23, 1862, until January 26, 1863, for the sake of having more time to procure a teacher. After sufficient notice of the vacancy had been published, an examination of applicants was had before the Board, and certificates were given to Henry Hillebrand and S. B. Baker, and Mr. Hillebrand was chosen teacher of the

*This block is bounded by Tenth and Eleventh Streets and Castro and Grove Streets.

590

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

public school, Number One, without specified time. Miss Pratt has been meantime continued as assistant; the salary of the teacher is ninety, and of the assistant sixty,. dollars monthly. The school has been in session to the present date under these teachers, with a good degree of success, if its disadvantages be considered.

"These disadvantages are so great and of a character so unworthy of the city, that I beg to state them plainly, and to urge your immediate attention to them.

"The number of children reported by the School Marshal last November as residing in this city, between the ages of four and eighteen years, was four hundred and eighty-one. It may be calculated that eighty of these were children belonging to other towns and cities, attending the College of California, the College School, the Seminaries for Young Ladies, and other private schools, so numerously established here. It is not unsafe then to suppose that there are four hundred children for whom the city needs to make accommodation.

"The present accommodation, it will appear evident, is painfully insufficient. For the city has but one school-room, intended, I am informed, to accommodate sixty scholars. In this school-room, as at present furnished, are thirty excellent desks, sixteen other cheap seats for younger scholars, four settees, not suitable for school- seats, but capable of holding perhaps twenty scholars. There are then sixty-six seats in the school-room. But the number of scholars in the lists since January 26th is one hundred and eleven, now belonging to the school; March 3d, one hundred and five; the average daily attendance being about eighty. To supply these scholars with seats, some old benches are furnished on the sides of the room, and a part of the scholars are drawn off, from time to time, to the small entry, where Miss Pratt hears their recitations.

"It is plain that, taking only the number of scholars in actual attendance, the school needs another room of nearly equal capacity. But if the accommodation were what it ought to be, and the school what it then might become, the scholars in actual attendance would be many more. But if we compare the actual accommo- dations for sixty with the number of children for whom provisions should be made- four hundred-the demand for enlargement will seem imperative indeed.

"It will be urged that the surplus scholars are attending private schools, and would not attend the public school in any event. I have no reliable return of the number of private school scholars. But it is not at all likely that it is three hundred, and if it were, the fact would be. no reason against providing very much larger accommodations than at present exist. For if the public schools of Oakland were what our American school system is capable of making them, when once faithfully worked, the number of private schools would be rapidly diminished. Facts may be pertinently introduced here. In 1817 no public provision was made for primary scholars, and for some others, in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. There were con- sequently one hundred and sixty-two private schools, attended by four thousand one hundred and thirty-two pupils; in 1862, with a population more than four times increased, the one hundred and sixty-two private schools had become sixty-two, and the four thousand one hundred and thirty-two pupils had become two thousand and seventy-two. Meantime the scholars of the public schools increased elevenfold. There can be no doubt that if we enlarge our public school and perfect it, the number of scholars will be greatly increased.

591

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

"Moreover, it is unjust to many of the poorer classes of our population to subject them to the necessity of the expense involved in sending their children to private schools, when, by a very small comparative expense, schools might be provided which would accommodate all classes of scholars equally. I need not enlarge, however, far- ther on the general principles of the points presented, presuming that the facts them- selves will be sufficient to commend the subject to your attention.

"At the risk of injuring my cause by presenting too many subjects at once and at too much length, I invite your attention to the propriety of having all reports and other documents pertaining to the public school; excepting, of course, such as the Board and Superintendent make to the Council, deposited with the Superintendent of Schools, and filed among the papers of the Board of Education. As it now is, the Board has no documents before it. Even the reports of the teacher are filed in the office of the City Clerk. The report of the School Marshal has not been in its pos- session. The reports of moneys likely to be available to the city from the State and County School Funds are not furnished. The Board has no proper means, therefore, of knowing how long the school can continue in session. It would be well also if the ordinance establishing the Board of Education could be revised and published for the convenience of the members and for the sake of a better understanding of their duties. It might appear best in such revision to make the Board of Education somewhat more independent of the Council, and competent to attend to the whole management of the schools, of which, according to the present arrangement, it has but partial con- trol. This, however, would need very careful and unhurried action.

"Every officer is likely to magnify his own office, and to set forth the importance of it, as if no other were important; but it may well be doubted whether, in the pres- ent condition of the public schools of Oakland, it is possible to overrate the urgency of immediate and generous enlargement of their resources and their means of useful- ness."

Upon being read, the Council heartily coincided with the sentiments expressed in the foregoing able document, and took it under careful consideration.

On December 22, 1863, the public school property was ordered to be fenced in, at a cost of three hundred dollars; while the returns show that during the year one hundred and thirty-eight scholars attended the public school, and two hundred and seventy-six pupils were at private institutions; and in 1864 two hundred and seven- teen, and two hundred and eighty-eight pupils attended the public and private schools respectively.

In the month of August, 1865, the lot, one hundred by one hundred and twenty- five feet, situated at the corner of Alice and Fifth Streets,* was purchased for eight hundred and seventy-five dollars, and a building erected thereon in which school commenced, with sixty scholars.

On March 31, 1866, there was approved by the Legislature an Act entitled "An Act creating a Board of Education for the City of Oakland," which was to comprise eight members to be chosen by the City Council for the first year, after which they were to be elected at the annual charter election of city officers; four members to be elected for one year, four for two years, and at every election thereafter four members

* This property was sold in 1874 to the Central Pacific Railroad for six thousand dollars.

592

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

to be elected annually for the term of two years. Under the provisions of this Act the powers of the Board were very restricted, but they were by Section four given full control of the City School Fund. On its coming into operation, the Council, May 2, 1866, carried a motion that in electing the Board of Education two members should be chosen from west of Adeline Street; four from Adeline Street to Broadway, and two from Broadway to the easterly line of the city, the choice falling upon Reverends B. Ackerly, L. Hamilton, George Mooar, and Messrs. J. H. Brewer, R. E. Cole, George H. Fogg, W. S. Snook, F. Warner. On June 27th an ordinance was passed appropriating money to build a school house at the Point. On January 23, 1867, a communication from the Secretary of the Board of Education, representing that the sum of five thousand dollars, in addition to the State and County appropriations, was needed for the use of the public schools; and on January 30th the Chairman of the Committee on Education made a statement to the Council, in relation to the propriety of the City purchasing the building known as the "Pavilion," situated on Washing- ton Square, for the purpose of converting it into a public school-room; and recom- mending the Council to purchase the same. On November 9th the new Grammar- school house was handed over to the Board of Education for the use of the public schools of the city, who invited the Council to the dedicatory ceremonies on Novem- ber 19, 1867. This building is now known as the Lafayette Primary School, and is situated at the corner of Twelfth and Jefferson Streets.

We have seen that steps had been taken to raise funds for purchasing school property at Oakland Point. This was added to in June, 1868, by the purchase, for thirty-five hundred dollars, of the land adjoining. Here the Prescott School was built, and opened January 4, 1869.

On March 13, 1868, " An Act to provide Funds for the School Department of the City of Oakland, and to authorize the payment of certain present indebtedness," was approved by the Legislature, by which the Council were authorized to issue and sell school bonds to the amount of fifty thousand dollars; while, on March 14, 1868, was approved " An Act to establish and define the powers and duties of the Board of Education of the City of Oakland." By the provisions of this Act the number of the Board was reduced to seven " School Directors" who were given sole power to establish and maintain Public Schools in Oakland; employ and dismiss teachers; provide suitable rules and regulations for the government of the schools; procure supplies, build, alter, repair, and rent school buildings; purchase and sell land for school purposes, with the concurrent vote of the Council; maintain actions at law; determine the amount of school tax to be levied by the Council. It was given also the exclusive control of the School Fund, and ample power to carry into effect all the provisions of the Act.

No teacher can be employed in the School Department who does not bear a cer- tificate issued by the City Board of Examination, and the Board of Education can determine upon what qualifications shall be possessed by teachers in its employ.

A City Superintendent of Schools is chosen at each charter election, who is the executive officer, and upon him falls the task of having the immediate care of the schools.

Since the passage of the bill several amendatory Acts have been passed by the Legislature but all have left the original provisions fundamentally the same.

D. Buchsen,

593

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

On March 15, 1869, William Harwood, a member of the Board of Education, made the following report to the Mayor, which was embodied in his message of that date to the City Council: "The School Department is entirely beyond the control of the City Council with but two important exceptions, and the Mayor can exert no authority whatever, either directly or indirectly, in his official capacity, in shaping the actions of the Board of Education. It is a department in our municipal govern- ment organized for the administration of a special trust and in sphere its authority is absolute. The annual report of the City Superintendent of Public Instruction will soon be laid before the people and it is not essential that on the present occasion the minor details of the working of the department should be presented. A general reference to the more salient points will in this connection suffice.

" For many years has the excellence of our private schools and seminaries been instrumental in inducing many to become permanent residents of our city, who other- wise would have been perfectly indifferent to the place and its interests. Within the past two years the Public Schools of Oakland have emerged from a condition dis- creditable to the city to a degree of excellence unsurpassed in the State, and promise hereafter to benefit Oakland to an extent even greater than our private institutions, celebrated as they may be. The knowledge that our public schools are conducted with ability; that their accommodations are ample and that their teachers rank among the highest in their honorable profession, is a powerful inducement for families to locate in Oakland, it being only seven miles from San Francisco. They can enjoy the advantages of metropolitan life with but comparatively few of its corrupting influ- ences. The records of the School Department show that since July last there has been a very material increase in population, so great in fact, that it has been necessary to immediately prepare for the erection of a new school house, and to provide present accommodations by renting rooms and hiring additional teachers, a task in which a Committee of the Board of Education is now engaged.

" According to the census taken in July last (1868), there were one thousand and thirty-eight school-children, for whom State and County funds could be drawn. There were, all told, seventeen hundred and thirty-five children under the age of fif- teen years, residing in the city. The actual attendance at the schools at the present time is as follows:

Prescott Grammar School.

I14 pupils

Lafayette Grammar School. 162 66

Primary, No. I .157

Primary, No. 2. . 127

Total

560 pupils.

"It is estimated that very nearly one hundred more pupils would be in attendance were there proper accommodation in the grades already established. The organiza- tion of a High School has received the attention of the Board of Education, and before the close of the current year it is presumed that the plan will be consummated. In that event the number of children and youth educated at the public expense would be considerably increased, as many who are qualified for a High School must now either attend a private institution or none at all. It is the intention of the Board of Education to establish the higher grades as quickly as may be necessary, so that the

594

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

scholar who graduates from the Public Schools of Oakland will be qualified to enter the State University and there pursue the higher branches of knowledge. We have four school houses in actual use, and thirteen teachers are employed by the Depart- ment, their aggregate salaries amounting to twelve thousand five hundred dollars per annum. The direct management of the schools devolves upon the Superintendent, who has shown himself to be an exceedingly efficient officer.

" During the past year an eight-room school house has been built at the Point and additions and alterations affording increased accommodations have been made to Pri- mary No. I and Primary No. 2. The building at the Point was erected at a cost of seven thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars, a price remarkably low for so fine an edi- fice. Two school lots have also been purchased, one at the Point for thirty-five hundred dollars,and the other being the west-third of block number forty-six,* for five thousand five hundred dollars, making the total cost of the land purchased during the past fiscal year amount to nine thousand dollars. For the Point school house and additions to other school buildings about ten thousand dollars have been expended. In addition to this amount ten thousand dollars have been appropriated for the purpose of paying for Lafayette school house, erected in 1867, so that the whole sum expended for school land and improvements is twenty-nine thousand dollars, obtained by the sale of bonds as provided by the Act of the Legislature. It will thus be seen that a con- siderable part of our city indebtedness has been incurred in the purchase of school property which could now be sold at a great advance upon the original cost.

"The finances of the Department have been managed with evident prudence and ability. By special Act of the Legislature the City Clerk and Treasurer is made Treasurer for the Board of Education (thereby almost doubling the labors of that official). From his cash account it appears that from March 1, 1868, until Febru- ary 28, 1869, the total sum placed to the credit of the School Fund, exclusive of the proceeds from the sale of bonds, was twenty-two thousand, eight hundred and sixty- four dollars and fifteen cents, of which amount, nine thousand one hundred and fifty- eight dollars and ninety-seven cents were received from direct city taxation and the remaining thirteen thousand seven hundred and five dollars and eighteen cents, from the State and County School Funds. During the same period the expenses of the Department payable out of these funds amounted to fourteen thousand six hundred and seventy-one dollars, and four cents. The monthly expenses have uniformly increased since March, 1868, and the estimate made by the Board for the next year -- twenty-eight thousand dollars-will certainly not exceed the actual amount necessary, for not only must the current expenses be paid from the amount so received, but the furniture and apparatus must be paid for from the same source. To the expenses we have named for the past year there should be added about three thousand dollars for expenses incurred during that year but not credited until after its close. The school funds now on hand will suffice to meet current expenses until the collection of taxes next Fall.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 83

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206