USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 47
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 47
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Number of school houses in the county. 129
Value of school houses $82,280
1
WR, Jamison
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
375
Value of apparatus in the schools. $2,047
Number of dictionaries in schools. 137 On hand 7,762 17
Number of teachers' certificates granted in 1882 225
Of which are males. 56
And females 169
Number of applicants rejected --- females 54
Males
10
Average age of male teachers.
23
Average age of female teachers.
20
As to the financial condition of the educational department of Butler county, it could not be better, and in this connec- tion is presented a few items taken from official reports of 1882, for the information of readers, as follows:
SCHOOL HOUSE FUND.
Dr.
Amount on hand per last report.
$4,692 96
Received from district tax. 5,243 82
Received from other sources.
823 67
Total. $10, 760 45
Cr.
Paid for school houses and sites
$3,351 73
Paid for apparatus. 10 05
Paid on bonds and interest 3,163 60
Paid for other purposes.
1,100 47
On hand
3,134 60
Total $10,760 45
CONTINGENT FUND.
Dr.
On hand per last r port. $8,338 12
Received from district tax. 9,691 53
Received from other sources
404 51
Total. $18, 434 16
Paid for rent and repairs on school Cr.
houses $2,333 47
Paid for fuel.
3,731 91
Paid secretaries and treasurers.
1,347 74
Paid for records, dictionaries, etc.
233 02
Paid for insurance and janitors 762 88 Paid for supplies. 955 62
Paid for other purposes.
1,307 35
Total
$18,434 16
TEACHERS' FUND. Dr.
On hand as per last report.
$20, 850 45
Received from district tax
26,417 24
Received from semi-annual apportion-
ment
5,950 49
Received from other sources
884 30
Total
$54,132 48
Cr.
Paid teachers.
$31,815 24
Paid for other purposes
608 88
On hand.
21, 708 36
Total
$54,132 48
Whole amount paid by districts for school purposes during year. $50,721 96 Whole amount now in hands of dis-
trict treasurers.
32,605 13
Amount reported on hand September, 1881. . 34,047 38
Amount reported "on hand at last re-
port," September, 1882.
33, 881 53
Lost in bands of district treasurers ...
165 85
Amount of institute fund on hand. .
105 22
During the last year the county superin- tendent, J. D. Anderson, has visited 132 schools, and made in all 143 visits; and has held twelve public examinations for teachers. Mr. Anderson is an efficient and able officer, untiring in his endeavors to elevate the character of the schools under his charge, and is succeeding admir- ably with his work.
A history of each of the various schools will be found in connection with the town or locality in which it is located.
BRANCHES TAUGHT AND TEXT-BOOKS.
The branches taught and text-books in use in the schools of Butler county are
/
376
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
about as follows, and they are all the most standard and reliable authorities upon the subject of which they treat:
Orthography-Swinton and Watson. Reading-American and Independent.
Writing-Spencerian.
Arithmetic-Robinson, Ray and Goff.
Geography-Swinton and Harper.
English Grammar-Reed, Swinton and Burtt.
Physiology-Steele and Cutter.
History of United States-' Barnes and Swinton.
Algebra-Robinson.
Book-keeping-Bryant and Stratton.
In addition to the above comes the list of reference books for the aid and use of teachers, as follows:
Doty's Manual of Arithmetic; Mark's First Lessons in Geometry; Swinton's Outlines of the World's History; Town- send's Analysis of Letter Writing; Town- send's Analysis of Civil Government; Calkin's Primary Object Lessons; Hooker's Child's Book of Nature; Wickersham's Methods of Instruction and School Econ- omy; Gow's Good Morals and Gentle Manners; Page's Theory and Practice of Teaching; and every teacher is expected to read one educational journal.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
The following is a list of the various graded schools in Butler county, together with the names of the present principal, and salary of the same, viz:
Aplington, employs two teachers and E. T. Bedell, principal, at $405 per annum.
Butler Center, two teachers and Ella Mullarky, principal, at $320.
Bristow, two teachers; Hattie Ripson, principal, salary $320.
Clarksville, four teachers; N. H. Hine- line, principal, salary $450
Greene, four teachers; A. H. Beals, principal, salary $585.
New Hartford, two teachers; William Hunter, principal, salary $405.
Parkersburgh, four teachers; E. C. Bel- lows, principal, salary $540.
Shell Rock, east, two teachers; V. L. Dodge, principal, salary 360.
Shell Rock, west, two teachers; W. J. Hunt, principal, salary $450.
The graded schools are all in most excellent condition, and are doing good and efficient work. All under the super- vision of able and experienced teachers, they are, in Butler county, fully supplying the place of those higher and more expen- sive institutions which are found in many other counties throughout Iowa. Nearly all of the higher branches are taught, and a young man or woman having passed through one of them by earnest study and application, with success, needs go no farther for education, as they will have already attained sufficient to meet all the diversified conditions and requirements of life.
A history of the graded as well as the common or district schools will be found in connection with the history of the various localities in which they are located.
THE NORMAL INSTITUTE.
By an act passed by the General Assem- bly of Iowa, in 1873, the county superin- tendents were required to commence, and each year hold a Teachers' or Normal Institute at some convenient point in each
377
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
county, for the drill of those who were or who intended to teach. The object or design of this was, and is, to furnish teach- ers an opportunity to review and enlarge their knowledge of the branches to be taught, to acquaint themselves with im- proved methods of teaching, to awaken an increased desire for self-improvement in knowledge, skill, and power to control others, and to give them more confidence and ability in managing the affairs of the school. For the purpose of defraying the expenses incident to such gatherings, the Institute Fund was created, to which the State annually pays $50, and it is made up by the $1.00 examination fees paid to the county superintendent, and the fees of $1.00 each charged to each member who attends the institute. This fund is under the exclusive control of the county super- intendent, and in Butler county, amounts to about $500 per annum. There is no law compelling teachers to attend the in- stitutes; but each applicant for a certificate is required to show good cause for not having attended. The matter is also greatly assisted by the county seperintendent, who makes all certificates expire on the first day of August, no matter at what time they were issued; thus leaving no excuse for a teacher's absence.
The first institute was held in August, 1874, by John W. Stewart, county super- intendent and ex-officio manager of Insti- tute; he conducted one each year from that time until his term of office expired in 1881. They were all very successful, and their effect was plainly visible in ele- vating the character of the schools.
The last institute was held at Clarksville in 1882, commencing on the seventh day
of August, and continuing for three weeks, having an enrollment of 24 males and 107 females-total, 131. The average attend- ance was 105. The officers and conduct- ors of this school were as follows: General Manager, John D. Andrews; conductor, Erwin Baker; instructors, L. S. Bottenfield and C. M. Greene; lecturers, Erwin Baker, State Superintendent, J. W. Akers and W. A. Lathrop. The expense of the insti- tute amounted to about $404.70, and it was considered as being as enjoyable and profit- able a session as has yet been held. The next will be held in August, 1883.
The following preface to the course of study for the last Institute contains infor- mation as to the method of conducting the gatherings:
To INSTRUCTORS AND MEMBERS .- The design of an Institute drill is to furnish teachers an opportunity to review and enlarge their knowl. edge of the branches to be taught, to acquaint themselves with improved methods of teaching, to awaken an increased desire for self-improve- ment in knowledge, skill, and power to control others, and to give them more confidence and ability in managing the affairs of the school.
The county superintendent will assume the business management of the Institute. He will assign members to their proper divisions as soon as enrolled, basing the classification on ability and experience. This classification will be changed only on recommendation of class in- structors, approved by the conductor. Hc expects full reports from class instructors and conductor at close of Institute, of the work best done, and of such things as are most needed to improve the schools of Butler county.
The conductor shall act as principal of the school, and is charged with the exccution of the regular daily programme. He shall exercise careful supervision over the work done, and methods employed by the assistant instructors. At the close of the Institute he shall make a re-
378
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
port to the county superintendent, embracing the items reported by the assistants, and in addition, his own suggestions and observations.
The assistant instructors are expected to do all in their power to make the Institute a unit; dis- miss classes promptly, and meet the superintend- ent and conductor daily to report progress and discuss methods. They are especially requested to encourage members to do ALL the reciting and MOST of the talking. At the close of the session they will make out a report to the conductor, embracing those points in which the teachers were found most lacking, and suggesting the things most needed to develop their teaching powers and improve the schools.
Members of the Institute are expected to con- duct themselves as pupils or students. They are earnestly requested to be present at roll-call, both in the morning and afternoon; to give spe- cial attention to the methods employed by in- structors in presenting subjects; to do the work assigned them in the best possible manner, and to remain during the entire session and be present at the examination.
J. D. ANDERSON, County Superintendent.
BUTLER COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
At the time of the Normal Institute, held in Clarksville, in August, 1882, the teachers got together and with forty-two charter members, organized the association under the above name. The object declared was the elevation of the profession of teaching by the mental improvement of its members in all correct educational means. A preamble, constitution and by-laws were drawn and neatly printed, and each member was required to deposit 25 cents as fee. The association has grown rapidly in interest and in numbers, now having a membership of about 60, and holds regular meetings four times each year. The first and present officers are as follows:
President, J. D. Anderson, county super- intendent; secretary, Emma Sweitzer, of Shell Rock; treasurer, A. H. Beals, of Greene; executive committee, J. D. Ander- son, Allison; Emma L. Cole, Greene; N. H. Hineline, Clarksville. The vice- presidents are as follows: Fremont, Carrie E. Howe; Dayton, Sarah Bement; Coldwater, John Wilson; Bennezette, Jennie Wray; Pittsford, George Brown; West Point, Hattie Ripson; Jackson Mrs. Lina Fowle; Butler, E. L. Palmer; Shell Rock, Florence Meade; Jefferson, Ella Mullarky; Ripley, Alice Barlow; Madison, Helen Slaid; Washington, Bridget Chrystie; Monroe, E. T. Bedell; Albion, E. C. Bellows; Beaver, George H. Cook.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.
The constitution and by-laws adopted by the association were as follows:
PREAMBLE.
We, the undersigned teachers of Butler county, feeling that we owe a duty to ourselves as teach- ers, and to the profession which we represent, and believing that by co-operation we may dignify our calling and unify our efforts, do form ourselves into a Teachers' Association, and for our guidance do adopt the following consti- tution and by-laws:
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I-NAME.
SECTION 1. This association shall be called the Butler County Teachers' Association.
ARTICLE II-OBJECT.
SEC. 1. The object of the association shall be the elevation of the profession of teaching by the mental improvement of its members in all correct educational means.
379
.
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
ARTICLE III-OFFICERS.
SEC. 1. This association shall have the fol- lowing officers, whose terms of office shall be from the time of election until the close of the next succeeding county institute: President, vice-president from each township, secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of three members, one of which shall be the president.
ARTICLE IV-DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
SEC. 1. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all regular meetings, and to per. form the duties usually required of the chairman of an organized assembly.
SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a correct record of the proceedings of each regular meeting; keep a record of attend- ance; notify members who have been placed upon the programme by the executive commit- tee; see that the programme and proceedings are published, and to attend to such other corres- pondence as shall be necessary for the good of the association .
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to keep an account of all money received into or paid from the treasury, and to pay no money except on order of the president and secretary.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the vice-presi- dents to encourage the teachers from each town- ship to attend the association, and to assist the president in making the association a suceess. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to make out a programme for each meeting and to furnish the same to the secretary at least three weeks prior to the time of its execution. They shall also make any necessary arrange- ments for holding meetings of the association.
ARTICLE V -- DEPOSITS.
SEC. 1. All members shall sign the constitu- tion and shall deposit with the treasurer the > um of twenty-five (25) cents, which shall be returned whenever a member withdraws, minus general assessments.
ARTICLE VI-AMENDMENTS.
SEC. 1. This constitution m'y be altered or amended at any regular meeting by a majority vote of all the members of the association, notice of such alteration or amendment having been given to the secretary in writing at the previous meeting.
BY-LAWS. ARTICLE I -- MEETINGS. ,
SEC. 1. This association shall meet four times each year, at such times and places as the execu- tive committee shall direct.
SEC. 2. Each regular meeting shall be pre- ceded by a business meeting, in which Roberts' Rules of Order shall be the guide.
ARTICLE II-HONORARY MEMBERS.
SEC. 1. Any person may be elected an honor- ary member of this association by a majority vote of all the members, and such person shall not be required to make a deposit.
ARTICLE III-AMENDMENTS.
SEC. 1. These by-laws may be altcred or amended at any regular meeting by a majority vote of all the members of the association.
Signed by forty two teachers.
380
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
CHAPTER XV.
- -
THE WAR-ITS CAUSES.
From the commencement of government there have been two antagonistic princi- ples contending for mastery, slavery and freedom. Sometimes smoldering and even invisible; but the seeds were there and ever and anon would burst into flames, carrying destruction, death and desolation with it. A repetition of that great con- flict which, for ages, has agitated our globe -- the conflict between aristocratic usurpa- tion and popular rights. History is crowded with descriptions and scenes of this irrepressible conflict. Two thousand years ago, when the aristocracy of Rome was headed by Cneues Pompey, Julius Cæsar, espousing the cause of the people, unfurled the banner of equal rights, and striding through oceans of flood which tossed their surges over every portion of the habitable globe, overthrew the aristo- cratic commonwealth, and reared over the ruins, the imperial commonwealth. Again on the field of Pharsalia, the aristocratic banner was trailed in the dust, and demo- cracy, although exceedingly imperfect, became victor. It was aristocracy trying to keep its heel on the head of democracy which has deluged the Roman Empire in blood.
But the nobles regained foothold, and regardless of these lessons, renewed their oppression. Again they commenced sow-
ing the seed which must surely bring forth terrible fruit. Over two hundred years ago the aristocracy of France, housed in magnificent palaces, mounted on war horses, with pampered men at arms ready to ride rough shod on every embassage of violence, trampled upon the suffering serfs, until humanity could no longer endure it. The masses of the people were deprived of every privilege, save that of toiling for their masters. The aristocracy so deprived the people, whose wives and daughters through their brutality were forced to go to the field bare-headed and bare-footed, and be yoked to the plow with the donkey, that they never dreamed that the wretched boors would dare even to look in defiance towards the massive and stately castles whose noblemen proudly strode along the battlements in measureless contempt for the helpless peasantry below. But the pent up vials of vengeance of ages at last burst forth. These boors, these jacks, rose and like maddened hyenas, rushed upon their foes. Imbruted men, who for ages had been subjected to the most outrageous wrongs, rose by millions against their oppressors, and wreaked upon them every atrocity which fiend-like ingenuity could devise. All the brutal and demon passions of human nature held high carnival, and it can truly be said France ran red with
381
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
blood. But at length disciplined valor pre- vailed. After one-half of the peasantry of France had perished, the knighted noble- men, the aristocrats resumed their sway, and the hellish bondage, worse than slavery, was again placed upon the people. This war of the jacks, or as it is called in his- tory, Jacqueri, is one of the most interest- ing and warning events of the past; and . yet it was all unheeded.
The oppression went on, growing more and more outrageous; the people were kept ignorant that they might not know of their wrongs; poor that they might not resent them. That the lords might live in castles and be clothed in purple, and fare sumptuously, the people were doomed to hovels, rags and black bread. The peas- ant must not place the bit of dough in the ashes by his fireside-he was compelled to have it baked at the bakery of his lord, and there pay heavy toll. He dare not scrape together the few crumbs of salt from the rocks of the ocean shore, he must buy every particle from his lord at an exorbitant price. "Servants obey your masters," was interpreted to apply to all save of noble birth; and religion was con- verted into a method for subjecting the masses. Bibles were not allowed to be read by these "boors," lest they learn what the Savior really taught, and a peas- ant detected with one in his hand, was deemed as guilty as if caught with the tools of a burglar or the dies of a counter- feiter. As associates for lords-the idea would have been considered contrary to nature or reason. Thus Louis XV., sur- rounded by courtesans, debauchees and the whoredom of his castle, once said: "I can give money to Voltaire, Montesqien
Fontinelle, but I cannot dine and sup with these people." If the peasant with his wife and child toiling in the field, in cul- tivation of a few acres of land, managed to raise $640 worth of crops during the year, $600 of it went to the King, the Lord and the Church, while the remaining $40 was left to clothe and feed the emaci- ate family. Thomas Jefferson in the year 1785, wrote from Paris to a friend in Philadelphia:
"Of twenty millions of people supposed to be in France, I am of the opinion that there are nineteen millions more wretched, more accursed in every circumstance of human existence, than the most conspicu- ously wretched individual in the whole United States."
It was this state of affairs which brought on the war of the French Revolution, inaugurating the most terrific of all Time's battles. Such combats earth never saw before, probably never will see again. Two worlds as it were came clashing together. Twenty millions of people trampled in the mire, rose ghastly and frenzied, and the flames of feudal castles and the shrieks of haughty oppressors appalled the world. All the combined aristocracy of Europe were on the other side to crush the demand of the people for th'e equality of man. Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Austria, England, Spain-all the kings rallied their armies to the assistance of France in subduing the oppressed masses who, believing they were right, marched heroically to the victories of Marengo, Wagram and Austerlitz. But in the final victories of the despots, aristo- cratic privilege again triumphed in Europe. In the meantime a similar though less
382
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
bloody and terrific battle had taken place in England; the same ever rising conflict between the united courtiers and cavaliers under Charles I., and the Puritans under Cromwell. With prayer, fasting, and hymn, the common people who had for ages been under the yoke of servitude, took to arms in defense, of their rights, and many cavaliers bit the dust through their sturdy blows. But Charles II., re- turned to the throne and again aristocracy triumphed. The oppressed were our Puritan fathers; again they were trodden under foot. Then it was that the heroic resolution was adopted to cross the ocean three thousand miles, and there in exile establish and found a republic where all men in the eye of the law should be equal. The result is too well known to need rehearsal. How they fought their way through all the dangers of the savage new world and succeeded in the object. How the aristocracy of England made the des- perate effort to again bring the yoke to bear; to tax us withont allowing us to be represented in parliament-to place the appointment to all important offices in the hands of the king, who would send over the sons of England's noblemen to be our governors and our judges, and who would fill all the posts of wealth, dignity and power with the children of the lords.
Hence the war of the Revolution. We, the people, conquered, and established our government independent of all the world, placing as corner-stonc of the cdifice, that "all men are born frec and equal, and are alike entitled to life, liberty, and the pur- suit of happiness."
Then coming down to the great conflict of America, the Rebellion, it was a con-
tinuance of that irrepressible conflict which has shaken the world to its uttermost depths for ages. It was based upon slavery, that which has caused the shedding of oceans of blood, and making millions of widows and orphans.
The Constitution under which we are bound together, is in its spirit and legiti- mate utterance, doubtless one of the most noble documents ever produced by the mind of man, and even now when the ad- vancement of a century has dawned upon its use, not a paragraph requires changing to make it truc to humanity. But yet in- gloriously and guiltily we consented to use one phrase susceptible of a double meaning, "held to labor." So small and apparently so insignificant were the seeds sown from which such a harvest of misery has been reaped. In the North these hon- est words meant a hired man or an appren- tice. In the South they were taken to mean slavery, the degradation and feudal bondage of a race. A privileged class assumed that the constitution .recognized it, and the right of property in human be- ings. This class endeavored to strengthen and extend their aristocratic institution, which was dooming ever increasing mil- ilons to life-long servitude and degrada- tion. All wealth was rapidly accumulating in the hands of these few who owned their fellow-man as property. The poor whites, unable to buy slaves, and considering labor which was performed by them degrading, were rapidly sinking into a state of fright- ful misery. The sparse population which slavery allowed, excluded churches, schools and villages. Immense plantations of thousands of acres, tilled by as many slaves, driven to work by overseers, con-
-
383
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
signed the whole land to apparent solitude. The region of the southern country gener- ally presented an aspect of desolation which Christendom no where else could parallel. The slavcholders, acting as one man, claimed the right of extending this over all the free territory of the United States. Free labor and slave labor cannot exist together. The admission of slavery effectually excluded frce men from them. It was impossible for those men, cherish- ing the sentiment of republican equality, to scttle there, with the privileged class who were to own vast realms and live in luxury upon the unpaid labor of the masses. It was on this point that the conflict, in its fierceness, commenced.
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