USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 38
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The Oakland high school was organized July 12, 1869, with twenty-nine pupils. The curriculum provided a course in natural science, mathematics, literature and language, requiring three years for its completion. For the first two years the classes were accommodated in the grammar schools, but at the commencement of the third year they were moved to the building at the corner of Central avenue and Market street. At first but one teacher was employed.
HIGH SCHOOL STATISTICS
Years
Number Attending
Number Graduating
Boys
Girls
Totals
Boys
Girls
Totals
1869-70
18
22
40
-
-
-
1870-71
14
21
35
-
-
-
1871-72
28
47
75
5
IO
15
1872-73.
40
59
99
I
5
6
1873-74
39
73
II2
3
II
14
1874-75 .
56
80
I36
5
12
17
1875-76.
67
79
I46
7
18
25
1876-77
66
II7
183
3
IO
I3
1877-78
81
167
248
6
14
20
1878-79
III
177
288
IO
20
30
1879-80
126
202
328
13
33
46
1880-81
139
213
352
20
35
55
An evening school was opened in a rented building on Ninth street, between Washington and Clay, on November 8, 1880, with a class of twenty. It increased in numbers during the winter until the average number belonging reached sixty- five, when another class was formed. The attendance in the spring fell off, and the two classes were consolidated. During the school year ending June, 1880, the total number enrolled was 154. The subjects taught were arithmetic, spelling, writing, reading, bookkeeping and grammar. The classes were removed to the high school building May 1, 1881.
The following is an abstract of the annual report made by Rev. J. D. Strong, on November 23, 1861, to the state superintendent of instruction :
Children from four to eighteen years of age
1,828
More boys than girls
III
Increase during the year.
204
Children under four years
1,076
Under twenty-one years.
2,997
Born in California
1,765
Deaf and dumb
3
Blind
I
Scholars enrolled in the public schools.
772
290
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Average daily attendance
437
Number of schools 22
Teachers employed during the year 32
Average number of months the schools were open. 72/3
Average salary per month $
61.00
School fund received from state.
2,1 30.00
Received from county 5,417.00
Raised in the districts 2,324.00
Total expenditure during the year
9,986.00
Average for each pupil enrolled
13.00
The amount raised in the various districts by voluntary subscription was as follows: Alvarado, $182; Union, $287; Eureka, $228; Lockwood, $200; Cen- terville, $194; Ocean View, $144; Alviso, $107; Alameda, $106; Mission San Jose, San Lorenzo, Redwood and Temescal, raised less than $100 each, while Murray, Peralta, Edenvale, Oakland and Brooklyn, depended entirely upon the public fund. The amount thus raised by the districts this year was only one- half as large as that raised during the previous year, and the average expenditure per scholar was also less. The Union, Brooklyn, Oakland, Murray and Ocean View schools were maintained ten months or more; the Mission, nine months; the Alvarado, San Lorenzo, Alameda and Murray's Landing, eight months; the Lockwood and Eureka seven months; the Alviso five months, and the Red- wood, Temescal and Peralta four months. There were three times as many male teachers as female in the county; the average length of schools was greater in 1861 than the year before, but the average salary paid for teaching was less, and the average attendance of the schools less. All except three or four of the teachers had had from three to twenty-one years' experience in teaching, and nine intended to devote themselves to the profession for life.
The schoolhouses in the county generally were unfit for use. With three or four exceptions, a humane man would feel that they were scarcely fit to shelter his animals. Too small, badly constructed, worse furnished, and unpleas- ant in every way, they could not but have a depressing influence over the tastes, feelings and character of the children. Those in Oakland. Brooklyn and Alameda were especially inadequate to meet the wants of the scholars. Oakland and Brook- lyn each needed a school building adapted to a graded school. Oakland espe- cially with its 464 children drawing the public money, had not adequate school accommodations for more than thirty scholars. The remaining pupils were prac- tically unprovided for. At the same time that district had more than $1,600 lying idle in the county treasury. The Peralta and bay districts also needed schoolhouses. In addition to the public schools there were nine private schools and colleges in the county with about one hundred and ninety pupils.
On June 15, 1863, the corner stone of Blake House was laid by Live Oak Lodge of Masons, of which at that time Rev. Dr. Akerry was W. M. It was then the largest and best building in Oakland. It became the Oakland Seminary for Young Ladies. The school from which the seminary took its rise was com- menced in Oakland on November 8, 1858, by Mrs. G. M. Blake. She began with a class of four young ladies in a building on the east side of Broadway between Sixth and Seventh streets. The scholars were Hannah Schander, Ida Schander,
THE BELL TOWER OF MILLS COLLEGE, OAKLAND
OAKLAND STREET SCENE
SLOPE OF THE BERKELEY HILLS
291
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Susie Staples and Emma Reed. On April 1, 1859, the school was removed to Broadway and Seventh and on March 1, 1860, it was again removed to Fifth and Jackson streets. It there remained until removed to Blake House in 1863. In 1863 the school had sixty-nine pupils. In 1860 Miss Mary A. Shattuck became assistant teacher and in 1862 Mrs. D. G. Huggins also became assistant teacher. Other early instructors in the institution were Mademoiselle Beauchamp, Professor Klingermann, Mrs. S. Watkins and Miss Carrie Stevens.
The Hopkins Academy was located on a commanding position between Broadway and Telegraph avenue, and was formerly known as the Golden Gate Academy. By a donation from Moses Hopkins, of San Francisco, the institu- tion was placed on a firm financial basis, enabling it to enlarge its sphere of use- fulness. The teaching, although unsectarian, was under the supervision of the Congregational denomination. The Rev. H. E. Jewett, of Amherst College was the principal and was aided by an efficient force of assistants.
The Female College of the Pacific, owed its existence to the efforts of Rev. E. B. Walsworth. During the first years of the institution, Rev. S. S. Harmon and wife had immediate control, and its success and subsequent reputation was in no small degree due to their skill as teachers, and to the efficiency with which they performed the varied duties which devolved upon them. In April, 1864, the Pacific Female College was incorporated. An educational department was opened June 15, 1863, and the existence of the college properly dates from that time.
The California Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind was founded in San Francisco in 1860 and was then under the auspices of a board of lady managers, presided over by Mrs. P. B. Clark. It was moved to the Kearney farm in Berkeley four miles north of Oakland. The tract consisted of 130 acres. Clear, pure water was found in the foothills. The ground for the buildings was broken July 29, 1867. The foundation-stone was laid on the 26th of September, with appropriate ceremony. The building was ready for occupation in the fall of 1869. The cost of the structure was $149,000, includ- ing the incidental expenses ; the land cost $12,100. The San Francisco property put in the market realized $34,000. The school then opened with ninety-six pupils, and under most favorable auspices. The beautiful building was de- stroyed by fire on the evening of the 17th of January, 1875. Plans for new buildings were prepared and presented to the Legislature which voted $110,000 for the new structures. The following spring foundations were laid and in the fall of 1878 the buildings were occupied. In 1879 a central refectory was erected as part of the plan that looked to devoting separate buildings to sep- arate purposes ; cost $35,000.
OAKLAND
Year Ending
No. Attending
June 30
Public Schools
No. Attending Private Schools
No. Attending No Schools
1863.
109
193
75
1864
138
276
90
I865
227
288
II2
1866
307
218
I73
292
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Year Ending
June 30
No. Attending Public Schools
No. Attending Private Schools
No. Attending No School
1867
455
313
155
1868.
569
317
196
1869
684
355
293
1870
9II
417
319
1871
1,132
333
312
1872
1,566
27I
579
1873
2,118
343
541
In 1874-75, at a time when there were many children in the city who did not have educational privileges, it was suggested and supported by more than one newspaper that the condition could be remedied by teaching part of the chil- dren in the forenoon and the other part in the afternoon, the teachers being required to work all day instead of from 9 to 4 o'clock. It was not realized at this time that even the hours from 9 to 4 were sufficient to break down the nervous systems of the hardiest women teachers in ten years. F. M. Campbell, city superintendent of schools, in a long document which was submitted to the board of education proposed (I) that each class in the city be divided into two equal divisions; (2) that one division should be taught from 9 to 12 o'clock, and the other from I to 4 o'clock, or from 2 to 5 o'clock; (3) that the divisions change about time of attendance so that all would receive the same treatment; (4) that the wages of the teachers be increased to correspond with the enlarged service. The advantages of this system were alleged to be as follows: (1) There would be twice as many grades and more frequent advancement without increasing the number of school-rooms or the number of teachers; (2) a portion of the time of the children could be devoted to work at home; (3) twice the number of children as at present could be accommodated.
The system of dividing crowded classes and allowing one-half to attend in the forenoon and the other half in the afternoon, introduced by Superintendent Campbell, met with general favor and was put in successful operation early in 1875. Teachers and parents appeared to be pleased with the change. How- ever, the school board decided not to introduce the change in any class unless it should be needed.
Alameda planned a new high school building in 1874. Oakland's debt was mostly due to the construction of many new school buildings called for by the rapid growth of the city. In 1873-74 the number of school children in the county between five and fifteen years was 6,751 ; enrolled, 4,715; not in any school. 1,505 ; state apportionment, $19,860; county apportionment, $37,352; city taxes, $35,087 ; paid teachers' salaries, $80,356; valuation of school property, $261,970; number of schools, 103; average monthly wages paid male teachers, $101; same paid female teachers, $60; average number of months of school, 9.6.
In the spring of 1875 the Livermore public schools were graded with J. C. Gilson in charge of the upper department and Miss Ada Fulton in charge of the lower. In June, 1875, the county and city school examining boards examined applicants for teachers' certificates in the following studies: Written gram- mar, orthography, written arithmetic, history of the United States, theory and practice of teaching, mental arithmetic, geography, physiology, algebra, natural
293
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
philosophy, penmanship, natural history, reading, vocal music, defining, composi- tion, drawing, Constitution of the United States and of California, school law of California, and oral grammar. A first grade certificate was granted for 85 per cent of these requirements.
In 1875 W. F. B. Lynch was county superintendent of schools. The state school fund this year amounted to $57,046. There were in the county 7,820 children of school age. Alameda had 498; Oakland, 3,952 ; Laurel, 328; Liver- more, 220; Alvarado, 132; Centerville, 120; Eureka, 141; Fruit Valley, 103; Mission San Jose, 123; Ocean View, 116; Peralta, 168; Pleasanton, 150; San Lorenzo, 391 ; Temescal, 157; Union, 432; Washington, 132. None of the others had over 100. In all there were 37 districts. Berkeley was yet unknown.
In 1876 the university, Golden Gate Academy, McClure's Military Academy, Mills Seminary, St. Mary's Academy, Home School for Young Ladies, Mrs. Poston's Seminary, St. Mary's Free School; two kindergartens, Pacific Theolog- ical Seminary, Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart were the principal private educational institutions of Oakland.
The Altamont school was conducted by A. W. McArthur in March, 1877. The schools at Niles and Washington Corners were closed owing to the prev- alence of diphtheria. Alvuzo Crawford taught in the Lockwood district. Mrs. L. Hinckly opened the Mowry Landing school in March. At the examination of teachers in March the following secured certificates: Mabel Brett, Mary B. Vose, Gertrude Campbell, Maggie Conners, Mrs. N. B. Kerr, Ninole Strong, E. Griffin, Bertha F. Vollmar, Emma Gracier, Mrs. J. N. Brower, Rhoda L. Tucker, Josephine Ring, Fannie Cullen, Nellie A. Dugan, Clara Thomas, Sarah B. Jenkins. Q. K. Tancy, Percilla L. DeForest, Abbie L. Hyde, Blanche I .. Lalande, Harriet A. Buel, Adelaide J. Gracier, Minnie J. Wood, Bertha Kraus, Mrs. Hattie Gould, Lizzie Morris, Clara A. Blinn, M. M. McLean, Fred W. Stowell, Annie R. Wood, W. F. Lynch and Irene E. Anderson. Only three of them secured first grade certificates.
The great growth of the eastern part of the county was shown by the fact that in 1883 six school districts there were obliged to levy additional taxes with which to enlarge school accommodations. Midway had just completed a new school edifice; Wilson built a little later; Livermore added two more rooms; Pleasanton built a large addition; two other districts in the valley made addi- tions. This year the county board of education passed the following resolution : "That no permanent or temporary certificate be hereafter granted by this board upon a city or county certificate issued either in whole or in part upon a diploma of any normal school or class other than that of the California State Normal schools." The object was to shut out graduates of the alleged "normal class" of San Francisco which was not in reality a normal school and was flooding the country with inferior teachers. At this time Alameda had five institutions of learning with a capacity to accommodate 1,300 pupils, under twenty-six teachers. On the 30th of March, 1872, the board of supervisors ordered that the town election be held May 6, 1872, at which time the first corporate officers were elected, viz .: H. H. Haight, E. B. Mastick, Fritz Boehmer, Jabish Clement, Henry Robinson, board of trustees; Dr. W. P. Gibbons, William Holtz ( for three years), Cyrus Wilson, Nathan Porter (for two years), Fred Hess, F. K. Krauth (one year), school directors; Thomas A. Smith, treasurer; E. Minor
294
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Smith, assessor. The board of trustees met for organization May 13, 1872. H. H. Haight was elected president.
The county teachers' institute of October, 1883, was attended by 235 teachers the first day, the total number in the county being 253. County Super- intendent Fisher presided. This was an important session. The practical nature of the exercises, their up-to-date character and their breadth and efficiency were immensely valuable. Superintendent Fisher showed by figures that this county was only holding its own in the ratio of census list to school enrollment ; that the ratio of daily attendance was increasing ; that the attendance at private schools was comparatively on the increase; that a large percentage of children did not attend school at all; that the public schools were being supplied with multiplied conveniences ; that teachers were fitting themselves for higher grade work and were better paid; that the length of the terms in the rural districts was increasing.
The committee appointed by the school board to investigate the subject of industrial education in the public schools, reported late in January, 1884, that while such courses were comparatively new in this country they were old and well known in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Russia and other European countries; that such manual training schools as had been estab- lished in the United States were giving satisfaction; that in their opinion the city should start with a workshop at a cost of $800 or $900 for boys and a cooking school for girls at a cost of $850, and that industrial education of the character they had described should be taught in the public schools of Oak- land. They recommended that the board employ Miss Ward, lately the assist- ant of Miss Corson, to give instruction in cooking in at least five of the public schools.
A meeting of delegates from the boards of education of Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda and Alameda county was held March 15, 1884, in the city hall to consider the subject of text books. It was an executive meeting. All text books were considered seratim and a uniform list was adopted. In May, 1884, the county board of education adopted Bancroft's readers, White's arithmetics and the Eclectic geographies. The school census of June, 1885, gave the fol- lowing number of children between the ages of seven and seventeen years.
Alameda 1,841
Livermore
597
Berkley
879
Oakland
10,115
Bay .
272
Pleasanton
246
Centerville
194
San Lorenzo
285
Fruitvale
23.4
Temescal
40I
Laurel
535
Union
679
The mechanical school was taught as a branch of the Lincoln school under the principalship of T. O. Crawford late in 1884. Already this school was popular and attracted great attention. The work of the boys was not sur- passed by that of any shop in the city. The boys themselves took great inter- est in the innovation. A lesson at hand was in the big Pacific nail factory where skilled labor had to be imported and then made its own terms, among others that apprentices should not be taken. It was concluded that if the trades
295
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
unions would not let the boys learn and if the industrial owners would not teach them, the government must and should do so. If the government taught the professions, why not the trades, it was asked and not answered. The school was in a long low building with many large windows in the rear of the Lincoln school. It was in charge of J. W. McClymonds and J. Spear and was started in 1885. It gave a two-year term to boys who had passed the high third class. There were two classes each week which were instructed in prac- tical carpenter work. The school was self sustaining from the sale of its prod- ucts-shelves, step ladders, bookcases, cabinet tables, tool chests, cupboards, etc. Specimens of dovetailing, veneering, squaring, panelling, polishing, lettering, etc., were shown to visitors.
A meeting of the prominent teachers of the state was held in the north hall of the university in April, 1885, to consider the subject of teaching English and of raising the standard of English scholarship in the future graduates of high schools and the university. Professor Cook presided. There was a large attendance of the best educators of the state, including J. B. McChesney of Oakland; Henry Vight of Berkeley; J. H. Eickhoff of Alameda; D. J. Sullivan of Alameda ; J. H. Summer of Oakland; and many of the teachers of the county. The exercises were very thorough and interesting. The amendment to the county government law in 1885 increased the salary of the county superintendent from $2,400 to $3,000 a year. Before the passage of that law the salary was $1,800 but was increased by the law to $2,400 out of which he was required to pay. the salary of his assistant.
The annual county teachers' institute was held at Oakland in August, 1886, Superintendent Fisher presiding. There was a large attendance from all parts of the county. It was announced that during the school year of 1885-86 there had been great educational progress in every township and town. Numerous new school districts had been created and fine school buildings erected. Col. Francis W. Parker delivered a memorable address on "Reading" in which he declared that teaching was the greatest science in the world-one that planted and nurtured all science and knowledge. He said that reading was thinking by means of written or printed words. Mrs. Parker also addressed the institute on the subject of "Articulation." She was a graduate of the Boston School of Oratory. Colonel Parker was the originator of the Quincy method and was a distinguished educator. The institute adopted the following resolution: "That our schools would be more thoroughly and economically taught with less labor to both pupils and teachers, if in all grades above the seventh, subjects were assigned to teachers instead of teachers to subjects."
The new California Baptist College at Highland Park was dedicated Octo- ber 6th. It was located on a twelve-acre plot at Fourteenth and East Twenty- seventh streets and the Vallecitos place. The building was called Mary Stuart Hall. The exercises were conducted by Dr. E. H. Gray of Oakland. Addresses were delivered by Dr. Gray, Rev. S. B. Morse, Rev. J. H. Garrett, B. C. Wright, Dr. A. B. Stuart, Rev. A. W. Runyan, Rev. F. S. Lawrence, Rev. B. Spencer, Judge Reynolds, Professor Jewett, Mrs. Dr. Kellogg, Miss Perry, principal of the school.
In August, 1888, Oakland employed 159 teachers, Alameda 31, Berkeley 15, Union 11, Laurel 9, Livermore 9, Temescal 7, Bay 5, Pleasanton 4, San Lorenzo
296
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
4, Centerville 4, Fruitvale 4, Alvarado 3, Mission San Jose 3, Peralta 3, Wash- ington Corners 3.
The Alameda county teachers' institute met at Hamilton hall on March 27th and was called to order by County Superintendent P. M. Fisher. There was a very large attendance, nearly every teacher in the county (275) answering . to the roll call. This was the first session for eighteen months. The resolutions adopted by the institute favored a reduction in the time allotted to arithmetic in the primary and grammar grades and an increase in the time given to mental arithmetic; advocated a broad and liberal education for all; declared the teach- ers who patronized saloons should be discharged; advised the teachers of the county to do all in their power to further the success of the National Educa- tional Association which was to meet in San Francisco in July, 1888.
The National Educational Association held its annual meeting in Mechan- ic's Pavilion, San Francisco, in July. Many teachers from all parts of the coun- try were entertained in Oakland homes and were given a public reception at the board of trade rooms which were beautifully decorated for the purpose. Nearly 200 of the best singers of Oakland participated in the grand concert at Mechanic's Pavilion. The county teachers' institute met in convention for the express purpose of entertaining the visitors. They gave a formal reception at Pioneer building on July 17th. The board of education and Superintendent Campbell had decided to make an exhibit of the work of the Oakland schools at the meeting of the National Educational Association in July. An exhibition of penmanship, drawing, written arithmetic, language, grammar, composition, col- lections of insects, plants, etc., was made.
By school census the number of children of school age in Oakland in 1880 was 8,108 and in 1890 was 11,854. The enrollment was 5,692 in 1880 and 7,820 in 1890. In 1891 the same rooms were used twice each day in the Lafayette, Cole and Clawson schools-four rooms in each aggregating 810 pupils. Classes were held from 9 A. M. and then others from I P. M. to 5 P. M. There was serious objection to this arrangement, but it was only temporary and was aban- doned when other houses were erected.
The corner-stone of the fine new schoolhouse in Pleasanton was laid in April, 1889. Five hundred people of the southern portion of the county witnessed the ceremonies. The house was two stories high and had eight rooms. The stone was donated by County Superintendent Fisher and came from the sandstone quarry of William Farwell in the Niles canyon. Mr. Fisher presented the stone to Masonic Lodge No. 218, A. F. & A. M., which conducted the ceremonies. The Murray township school union was designed to improve the conditions surrounding the country schools and render them more efficient. Visiting committees suggested improvements in teaching and management. They held annual picnics in May. In 1889 over 800 school children enjoyed this picnic at Tretzel's grove in Arroyo Valle a short distance south of Livermore. There were running races for boys and girls, putting weights, bars and sledges, jumping and ball playing. On the grounds were 2,500 people.
At the election of city superintendent of schools of Oakland in April, 1889, there were three candidates-the incumbent, Fred M. Campbell, T. O. Crawford and Mrs. R. R. Johnston. At the first vote Campbell received five votes, Crawford five and Mrs. Johnston one. J. W. McClymonds was then placed in nomination.
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