The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 68

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964

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Your committee find further, that there are three other German and English schools in the city, all numerously attended, viz. : One taught by Messrs. Stimle and Rhomberg; one by Rev. Mr. Bedow, and one by Mr. Werner, which, with all other select schools, might, with the same propriety, claim to be recognized as public schools, and to be maintained at public expense ; and there can be but little doubt that many more select schools would be organized with a view of being sustained in the same manner. The committee of the petitioners, in presenting the peti- tion, varied materially in their version of the wishes of the petitioners ; but your committee, unable to decide which statement is the correct one, can only deal with the petition itself, and this asks you, in behalf of the German Catholic congregation, to recognize their present schools, which are strictly sectarian, as public schools, and to make appropriations from the public fund for their maintenance. In the opinion of your committee, however, this Board have no right

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

to appropriate one dollar from the public-school fund to the support of a select or sectarian school ; the school fund and the school taxes are by law devoted to the support of the public schools, open and accessible to all youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years, irrespective of their religion, nationality or social standing ; and to divert the same to any other purpose would be, as your committee believe, a violation of the existing laws. Your committee, therefore, are constrained to report adverse to the prayer of petitioners.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

(Signed)

JOHN HODGDON, J. H. THEDING4, J. P. QUIGLEY, Committee.

DUBUQUE, June 18, 1868.

The above report, submitted to a full Board, was, on motion of Mr. Ams- den, unanimously adopted.

The question, as thus settled, has not since been disturbed, and no further formal effort made looking to a diversion of the school fund of this district to the support of sectarian or private select schools.

In October of this year, the Board purchased, for $250, a iot in Simpson's Addition to the city of Dubuque, containing one acre, on which to build a schoolhouse for the accommodation of the people in that locality.

In March, 1869, the following were elected as the members of the Board: John Hodgdon; President ; N. C. Amsden, Vice President ; Thomas Hardie, Secretary ; H. P. Ward, Treasurer ; W. J. Knight, Director; Messrs. The- dinga and Hinds holding over. A tax of } mill was voted by the electors of this district for the purpose of building a primary schoolhouse in Simpson's Addition.

In April of this year, the Fifth 'Ward School building was again seriously damaged by a tornado, which carried off the greater portion of the roof. As before, it fortunately happened when school was not in session. The school was temporarily suspended to repair damages, which was done at a total cost of $625.

The General Assembly of the State, by an amendment to the school laws of Iowa, approved February 9, 1870, legislated all the Directors of independent school districts out of office, and enacted that thereafter Boards of Education in all such districts should be composed of only six Directors, instead of seven as before. The new law also provided that two of these Directors should hold their office until the first annual meeting after their election, and until their successors should be elected and qualified ; two until the second, and two until the third meeting thereafter; their respective terms of office to be determined by lot. The said six to constitute a Board of Directors for the district, and at their first regular meeting in each year to elect a President, Secretary and Treasurer, the two latter to be chosen outside the Board.

In accordance with the law, as thus amended, the electors of the Independent District of Dubuque elected, on the the 11th day of March, 1870, six Directors, as follows, viz .: John Hodgdon, Franklin Hinds, N. C. Amsden, J. H. The- dinga, W. J. Knight and Christian Wullweber. On the 21st of March, the Board met and organized by the election of the following officers, viz .: John Hodgdon, President ; Thomas Hardie, Secretary ; H. P. Ward, Treasurer.

The Directors then proceeded to draw lots for their respective terms of office, with the following result : Messrs. Hodgdon and Wullweber drew for one year ; Messrs. Hinds and Knight for two years; and Messrs. Thedinga and Amsden for three years each. The following resolution was unanimously adopted :

Resolved, That Thomas Hardie, Secretary, and H. P. Ward, Treasurer, in consideration of their long experience as members of the Board of Education of this city, be invited to partici- pate in the debates of this Board, and to make such suggestions upon all questions under con- sideration, as they may deem proper.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

In April, the Board contracted for, and during the summer built, a school- house in Simpson's Addition, at a cost, including furniture, of about $2,000. This is a neat brick building, on stone foundation, containing one schoolroom, which will seat fifty pupils. It was occupied in September following, and is known as the Dodge Street School.

In May the Board purchased, for $2,000, the south middle fifth of city lot No. 445, said south middle fifth adjoining the high-school premises on the north.

At the regular meeting, July 25, Mr. Amsden offered the following resolu- tion, which was adopted :

Resolved, That the colored school be discontinued, and that the pupils of that school be enrolled in the several ward schools in the districts where they reside.

Upon this question Mr. Knight called for the ayes and nays, which were taken, with the following result :

Yeas-Messrs. Amsden, Hinds, Thedinga, Wullweber and Mr. President- 5 votes.

No .- Mr. Knight-1 vote.

At the regular meeting, August 25, President Hodgdon called Mr. Amsden to the chair, and moved that the resolution of July 25, to discontinue the colored school, be reconsidered, and, in support and explanation of his motion, made the following remarks :

GENTLEMEN-When this question first came up, it received my vote, as it was clearly in accord- ance with the spirit of our Constitution and laws, both State and National ; I deemed it for the benefit of all, whether white or black, to accept the situation. Subsequent developments have satisfied me that many, probably a majority, of our citizens, are strongly opposed to the discontinuance of the colored school and the enrollment of pupils taught there in the several ward schools. This being the case, a mingling of races must become an element of discord in the schools, and a virtual exclusion of the colored children ; for, with the feeling manifested since the action of the Board upon the subject, they could not attend the ward schools with any degree of com- fort. For these reasons, and without any change of my former opinions, except as to the feeling of the community upon this subject, I have moved a reconsideration, and hope the Board will act with the same unanimity in reconsidering, they did in adopting, the resolution. What- ever our own opinions, the recognized doctrine of obedience to constituencies would justify us in retracing our steps.

The resolution to reconsider was adopted unanimously, and the question on the original motion indefinitely postponed.

In September of this year, the primary department of the Fifth Ward School had become so overcrowded that it was deemed necessary to rent a room on Couler avenue, and a primary school was there opened, giving the needed relief. About the same time, a new secondary room was opened in the high- school building, for the purpose of relieving the same department of the Third Ward School. A new primary room was also opened in the same building in connection with the Third Ward School.

October 29, H. P. Ward tendered his resignation as Treasurer of the Board on account of anticipated absence from the city. The resignation was accepted, and Dr. T. Mason was elected to fill the vacancy thus created.

March, 1871, John Hodgdon and Christian Wullweber were elected Direct- ors. to serve for three years each, and, at the first regular meeting thereafter, the Board was organized by the election of the following officers : John Hodgdon, President ; Thomas Hardie, Secretary, and Dr. T. Mason, Treasurer.

On the 26th day of April, the roof of the Fourth Ward Schoolhouse was partially destroyed by a storm, but, fortunately, as in two similar cases at the Fifth Ward, the school was not in session. The damage was repaired at a cost of $341.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

During the fall of this year, an addition of one room was made to the frame schoolhouse on Fifth Ward School lot at a cost of $585. This improvement was deemed necessary, owing to the increase of pupils in the pri- mary department, and the discontinuance of the primary school on Couler avenue.

At the annual election, March 11, 1872, the following were elected Direct- ors : Franklin Hinds and W. J. Knight.

March 14, the Board was organized by the election, of the following offi- cers, viz .: John Hodgdon, President ; Thomas Hardie, Secretary ; H. P. Ward, Treasurer.

In the month of June, the office of the Board was removed to the high- school building, and there permanently located.

The Fourteenth General Assembly amended the school law so as to provide for the annual election of a President and Treasurer in independent districts ; the President to be a member of the Board.

March 10, 1873, the following gentlemen were elected officers and Direct- ors, the President and Treasurer to serve for one year each, the Directors to serve for three years each : John Hodgdon, President ; H. P. Ward, Treas- urer ; J. H. Thedinga and.J. H. Thompson, Directors ; Messrs. Hinds, Knight, and Wullweber holding over.

The new Board was organized March 13, when Thomas Hardie was re-elected Secretary.

Under the amended law, the directory was now composed of seven mem- bers, including the President. It being the unanimous desire of the Directors to retain the services of Gen. John Hodgdon, as President of the Board, he resigned his position as Director and was elected President. N. C. Ryder was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Gen. Hodgdon. March 27, W. J. Knight resigned and John D. Jennings was elected by the Board to succeed him.

During the summer of 1873, several citizens of the Fifth Ward residing on Couler avenue, north of Twenty-third street, petitioned the Board for the establishment of a school in that quarter of the city. The petition was referred to John H. Thompson, who, after a careful investigation of the subject, reported that no suitable house could be at that time procured; but, realizing the necessity for a school in that vicinity, he recommended, that, at the proper time, a schoolhouse fund tax be levied, of sufficient amount to purchase grounds and erect a schoolhouse suitable to the wants of the people in that portion of the city. The Board approved the recommendation. Thus the incipient step was taken which led to the building of the Couler Avenue Schoolhouse. At the annual election in March, 1874, a tax of $3,500 was voted for the purpose of building the above-named schoolhouse.

At the same election, the following gentlemen were elected members of the Board, viz .:

M. M. Ham and Christian Wullweber, for the term of three years each ; and John D. Jennings for one year, to fill the unexpired term of W. J. Knight, resigned. Members holding over, Messrs. Hinds, Thedinga and Thompson.

The new Board was organized March 16, by the election of the following officers : Christian Wullweber, President; Thomas Hardie, Secretary ; H. P. Ward, Treasurer.

President Hodgdon, who had served the people of the district as Director and presiding officer for many years, having felt it to be his duty, owing to ill- health, to retire from active service as a school officer, the members of the

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

Board placed upon record a series of resolutions expressive of their apprecia- tion of his services and their regrets at liis withdrawal from the Board. Upon the adoption of the resolution, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Hinds, Wull- weber and Ryder, were appointed to wait upon the venerable ex-President and present him with a certified copy of the resolutions, and express the regrets of the Board that protracted ill-health prevented his continuance in the position he had so unexceptionably filled. On the return of the committee from Gen. Hodgdon's residence, the Chairman reported that the General had received them with his usual cordiality, and had expressed much pleasure on hearing of the action of the Board, and in return had sent the following communication : Gentlemen of the Board :

In severing my connection with you, I have the satisfaction of saying our official duties have ever been discharged with honest intentions, whatever the result. We have, doubtless, made some mistakes; but the results of our labor have met the reasonable expectations of the public. Our corps of teachers are fully qualified for their positions, and scrupulously faithful in the discharge of their duties, and the standard of education is steadily advanced.

It is with feelings of sadness I retire from a position rendered doubly pleasant by your uniform courtesy, and among my happiest recollections will be the friendly relations subsisting between the members of this Board, between me and the teachers, and, although last, not least, between me and the pupils.

JOHN HODGDON.

During the summer of this year, the Board purchased three lots, Nos. 233, 234 and 235, in Davis' Farm Addition to the city of Dubuque, for $1,100, and erected thereon the building known as the Couler Avenue Schoolhouse, at a cost of $7,780. This they were enabled to do from the proceeds of the tax of $3,500 schoolhouse fund, voted by the people for that purpose at the spring election, and the amounts previously borrowed from the schoolhouse fund for the benefit of the teachers' and contingent funds, and which were now returned.

Couler Avenue School was formally opened November 16, 1874, and has proved a great benefit to the people residing in the northern portion of the city. It is a neat, substantial brick building with a stone foundation, contains four schoolrooms, two on the first floor and two on the second, each furnished with single desks and seats for fifty pupils.

The Fifteenth General Assembly amended the code of 1873, so as to change the time for the election of secretaries and treasurers of all districts from the third Monday in March to the third Monday in September, and provided that all said officers elected in March, 1874, should hold office until the third Mon- day in September. The Board met in special session September 21, and elected for one year from that date Thomas Hardie as Secretary, and H. P. Ward as Treasurer.

During this year and for some time previous, the question of a change of the text-books in use in the schools of Dubuque had been much agitated by parties desiring to supply their own books for those in use. Agents of the sev- eral book publishers were making periodical visits and persistent efforts to gain a foot-hold, and the cry was ever change ! change ! ! change !! ! A proposition for a change of geographies was submitted to the Board, and referred to the Committee on Course of Study and Text-Books, and was reported upon as fol- lows, October 1:

To the Honorable Board of Education :

GENTLEMEN-You committee on text-books to whom was referred the communication of Messrs. A. S. Barnes & Co., for the introduction of Monteith's scrics of geographies into our public schools, has had the subject under consideration, and given it such careful investigation as its importance would seem to demand. Your committee would report that no reason can be found for recommending a change in these text-books. Monteith's geographies present some excellent features, principal among which are their relief maps, their comparative areas, globe

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

segments, comparative latitudes, etc. These features with others are made prominent, and are of undoubted value to the work. But, on the other hand, the series now in use in our schools, Warren's, have other features which are made prominent and which are quite as valuable, its maps, its treatise on map-drawing, its treatment of political divisions and physical geography, as well as of mere land and water divisions, etc. In fact, every text-book recommended to your notice has some prominent feature which is made a "hobby," and which is usually valuable. But, for all that, it is only a small part of the object had in view in the prosecution of the study, and is wholly insufficient, as a usual thing, to warrant a change in text-book. Indeed, it is rare nowa- days that one text-book is so superior to another as to justify a change. Every one of these dif- ferent books and series presents the main facts to be attained in the pursuit of the study, and the different phases in which one is superior to the other, can be and should be presented to the pupil by the careful and well-posted teacher rather than by a change of text-book. A good teacher is better at interesting and instructing a class than all the text-books.

Many educators have gravely discussed the proposition of throwing geographies out of the course of study in common schools altogether, except, perhaps, the primary, believing that the information they impart can be just as well obtained from ordinary reading, from maps and observation, and the time now devoted to geography in schools can be better employed in other brancheq.

Aside from the reasons above set forth against a change, there is still another which would largely influence your committee, and in which he believes he would be sustained not only by your honorable body, but by the public at large. And that is the onerous and unnecessary tax a change imposes upon the people. This alone should deter your honorable body from making any of these changes so constantly asked and so persistently urged, unless the superiority of the book sought to be introduced is of such a marked character as to be apparent to every mind.

Your committee has set forth its views more fully than the simple question of a change of geography from Warren to Monteith would justify. But he has done it in order that you may understand the reasons why he will not hesitate to recommend against unnecessary and expen- sive changes in text-books, at all times. And in this course he believes his action will commend itself to your approval, promote the best interests of the schools, and relieve the people of what is really a burdensome tax in paying for book changes.

M. M. HAM, Committee on Text-Books.

This report was received with approval, not only by the Board but the patrons of the schools. Its unanimous adoption settled the question against unnecessary changes of text-books and in favor of conservatism and economy.

In January, 1875, Timothy Mason, who for thirty years had been closely identified with the educational interests of our city, departed this life. A Director in the first Board, organized in the year 1844, he assisted in plant- ing the seed which enveloped the germ of our public-school system. His interest in the welfare of our schools never wavered ; whether as County Superintendent, District Director, Treasurer of the Board, or committee-man, he was faithful to his trust. He died, leaving upon our public schools the im- press of his active work and finely cultivated mind. On his death being made known, the Board of Education held a special session, passed resolutions of respect to his memory, and in a body attended his funeral.

At the annual election, March 8, 1875, the following gentlemen were elected Directors, viz., John D. Jennings and De Witt C. Cram ; Messrs. Wullweber, Thedinga, Ham and Thompson, holding over. At the regular meeting of the Board, on March 19, Christian Wullweber was re-elected President.

At this time, Mr. Franklin Hinds, who for sixteen consecutive years had served the people of this city as a Director of the Board of Education, felt compelled, by reason of failing health, to withdraw from active duty. He had declined a re-election as Director, and was now about to retire from the posi- tion so long and worthily held. Mr. Hinds' withdrawal from active service in school work was felt to be no ordinary incident in the history of the public schools of this city, and called forth such expressions of regret on the part of the teachers and the Board, as to show their appreciation of the man and his active educational work. These expressions were the unmistakable reflex of public opinion.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

In June, 1875, the Board purchased, for $200, a strip of ground 20 feet wide and 147 feet deep, as a roadway to the Fifth Ward School grounds on the southwest.

The question of teaching the German language in the ward schools hav- ing been urged upon the Board by a numerously signed petition of citizens and tax-payers, the petition was referred for consideration to the committee on course of study, and, at the regular meeting of the Board, August 5, 1875, Mr. Ham submitted a well-considered report on the subject, which was received, and made a special order for August 19, at which time it was taken up and the fol- lowing action had thereon :

Be it ordered, That immediately on the opening of the next term of school. September 6. the Principals of the ward schools be directed to prepare a list of all those pupils above thie ninth class, whose parents or guardians desire them to study German. That this list be re- turned to the Secretary of the Board, within three days of the opening of the term As soon as it is thus ascertained what number of pupils, if any, above the ninth class, desire to study German, the Board shall at once place them in charge of one or more teachers, who shall be selected for that special purpose, and they shall be graded, and classes formed in the study, and lessons taught the same as other studies now in the course, at such places and hours as shall hereafter be designated.

Provided, that German shall be pursued as an extra study, and its instruction shall not interfere with the present course of study as otherwise established.

Pursuant to the above order the Principals of the ward schools reported the number of pupils desiring to study German under the rule, as follows :

First Ward School. 87

Third Ward School. 95

Fourth Ward School 90

Fifth Ward School 101

Total 373

Special teachers were accordingly employed, who organized classes, giving instruction in the German language one hour daily, Friday excepted, directly after closing school in the afternoon. After a trial of one term, it was found that the pupils of the tenth and eleventh classes were not sufficiently advanced in the study of grammar to make it profitable for them to take up German, and the rule was modified so that new pupils from the twelfth class were admitted to the German class, instead of those from the tenth class, as at the beginning.

In August, 1875, the educational interests of the city met with a severe loss in the retirement of Mr. Wullweber from the Board, by reason of his hav- ing accepted, at the hands of the Government of the United States, the position of Minister to Ecuador. President Wullweber submitted his resignation at the regular meeting, August 30, which was accepted by the Board, with mingled feelings of regret and pleasure; regret that one of the most able, accomplished and active educators, whom our people had delighted to honor, had severed his connection with our public schools ; and pleasure, that the Government had conferred a distinguished honor on one so eminently worthy to receive it. Complimentary resolutions were adopted, and he retired, carrying with him the best wishes of his colleagues for his success in the distant sphere of his diplo- matic engagement. R. E. Graves was elected to fill the vacancy in the direct- ory caused by the resignation of Mr. Wullweber, and John D. Jennings was elected to succeed him as President. At the semi-annual meeting, September 20, Thomas Hardie was elected Secretary, and H. P. Ward, Treasurer. Novem- ber 11, Mr. Ward resigned the office of Treasurer of the Board, and Joseph Herod was elected to fill the vacancy caused by said resignation. At the annual election, held March 13, 1876, the following were elected members of the Board: J. H. Thedinga and J. H. Thompson, for the term of three

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

years each ; and R. E. Graves for one year, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Wullweber, resigned. At the annual meeting, held March 20, John D. Jen- nings was re-elected President.

The Board, this spring, signalized the centennial year by setting out a large number of shade trees on the school grounds and around the several school buildings.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 68

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Number of Pages: 964

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964