History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 59

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

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In August, 1855, the purchase of what is now known as the Ogden-school lot was organized, but the business was not carried out at that time.

In 1855 the Council decided in favor of the estab- lishment of a high school, and an ordinance to that effect was passed by that body. The site still occupied on West Monroe Street was then chosen. It was proposed to embrace in this institution an English high, a normal and a classical department. For convenience of refer- ence, we omit the chronological action concerning the high school at this time, and give all matters relating to

it at the conclusion of this paper, that a complete record may be preserved on that topic.

Recurring to the general school work done in 1855, it is found that the Teachers' Institute was well attended, monthly meetings being then held. The exercises con- sisted of instruction in the branches taught in the schools, discussions, and exhibitions of model classes, taken alternately from the primary and grammar de- partments, which proved beneficial as a stimulus to the pupils.

The lower grades were in a prosperous condition, great improvements being shown in scholarship, order and discipline. The Press spoke encouragingly of the change in the tone of the schools, and both Council and the Inspectors joined heartily and- liberally in the effort to advance the cause of public education.

During the year 1855 two minor schools were added to the list, increasing the number to nine. Forty-two teachers were employed and the enrollment was 6,826.

Flavel Moseley, an active supporter of the schools, and a member of the Board from 1850 to 1864, donated $1,000, December 29, 1855, to establish the " Moseley public school fund," the interest of which was to be

Si, Maschy.

expended in the purchase of school books for pupils whose parents were unable to furnish the necessary books. Upon his death. in 1867, Mr. Moseley increased this fund by the bequest of $10,000, making the sum of this noble charity $11,000.

Superintendent Dore resigned his office March 15, 1856, and was succeeded by William H. Wells, principal of the Normal School at Westfield, Mass.

WILLIAM HARVEY WELLS was born in Tolland, Conn., February 27, 1812. His father was a farmer in moderate circum- stances, and the son received no eduational advantages, beyond ? few weeks each year at a district school, until be was seventeen years of age. After spending one winter at an academy at Vernon, Conp., and one at a similar institution in his native town, he then began teaching district school. Shortly afterward he was an assist- ant teacher in a school in East Hartford, under the principalship of Theophilus L. Wright. Here he began preparing himself for col- lege ; he taught in the daytime and pursued his studies evenings. His labors were, however, too much for his physical strength, and he was soon compelled to abandon his hopes of taking a thorough collegiate course. Turning his ambition now to teaching, a pro-

fession for which he then exhibited marked capabilities, he, in 1834, entered the Teachers' Seminary at .Andover, Mass. He remained here eight months, when he returned to East Hartford, where he stayed until the fall of 1836, when he again returned to Andover as a teacher in the seminary already mentioned. He now began an extensive course of study in grammar, English liturature and composition, and, in 1346, published his " School Grammar," of which, since its issuc, half a million copics have been sold. In 1345 the trustees of Dartmouth College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, and two years later he was elected prin- cipal of the Putnam Free School at Newburyport, Mass. This school was founded by the munificence of Oliver Putnam, and opened in April, 1843. It was as principal of this institution that Mr. Wells fully developed his abilities as a thoroughly progressive educator. He remained here six years, during which time he was an active member of the Essex County Teachers' Association, two years its president, and was also for two years president of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association. In 1954 he was clected principal of the Westheld State Normal School, and in two years, under his excellent management. the Trustees were compelled to enlarge the buildings to accommodate the fast-increasing number

216

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

of pupils. In 1856, he was appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools of Chicago, since which time he has been closely identified with the educational interests of not only the city, but the State as well. It was while principal of the Chicago schools that he fully developed his system of graded courses, a system which is now adopted by leading educators all over the country. He delivered many lectures on this system, which have since been published in book form under the title of " The Graded School," and has become a standard volume in almost every teacher's library. In IS63 he was president of the Illinois State Teachers' Association. In the following year he resigned his position as Superintendent of the Schools to engage in business. This move, however, did not wholly sever his connection with educational matters, as he for years afterward was a member of the School Board, and always an energetic, earnest worker in behalf of the city schools, whose interests he has ever had prominently in view. He, during the interval since his resignation, has published several text books of such excellence that they at once were recognized as standard authorities on the subjects treated. Mr. Wells has done a noble work for the schools of Chicago. His reward is in the apprecia- tion in which he is held to-day by all who know him.

The first report submitted by Mr. Wells for the year 1856, opened with the statement:

" We find abundant evidence of the deep and abiding interest 'of our citizens in the cause of education. No reasonable expense has been spared to provide for the moral and intellectual training of the children and youth of the city. Not a single request has been made for the support and improvement of schools, that has not been cheerfully and promptly granted. The high school build- ing has been completed, and the school itself organized, and wel- comed to the hearts of our citizens. Two large and commodious grammar and primary school buildings have also been erected ; and no investment has been made more freely. But so rapid has been the growth of the city that, notwithstanding the large provis- ion which has been made for increasing our school accommodations during the past year, there has never been a period when the de- mand was greater for additional houses to meet the wants of the 4.394 children, between five and fifteen, that have not been found a single day in any school of the city, either public or private."

Mr. Wells made a careful examination of the statis- tics of the city, and concluded that there were fully "three thousand children in our city who were utterly destitute of school instruction or any equivalent for it." In other words, liberal as had been the conduct of the Council, the average daily attendance of children in the public schools was equaled by the number who did not avail themselves of the educational advantages offered.

February 7, 1856, the Mayor was authorized to pur- chase two hundred by one hundred and fifty feet on the southwest corner of Wolcott and Elm streets ( Sheldon school ) at a price not to exceed $9,000.

The grammar and primary schools completed this year were the Ogden, in the North Division, and the Moseley, in the South Division, in accordance with the public demand. It was in March, 1856, that contracts were awarded for the erection of these buildings, and in April of the same year a petition of residents of the North Division was presented asking that the Ogden building be erected on the lot on Chestnut Street, east of Clark; and the site which was ordered purchased in August, 1855, at $11,041.25, was purchased at this time at a cost of $11,790.79; the advance in price being al- lowed for interest during the period elapsing since the original order to purchase was passed. -

In April, 1856, Elias Greenebaum was elected School Agent.

The Board of Inspectors had, since its organization, consisted of seven members. In February, 1857, the Legislature passed a bill amending the charter, and in- creasing the number to fifteen. The bill also abolished the Board of Trustees.

During the month of February, 1857, Dr. John H. Foster, a member of the Board of Education, donated to the city St,ooo, the interest on which was to be used by the Board of Education and the Superintendent of

Schools in the purchase of gold, silver or bronze medals, or diplomas, to be awarded to the most deserving scholars in the different departments of the public grammar schools of the city.

March 23, 1857, authority was granted by the Coun- cil to procure plans for permanent buildings in Districts No. 8 and 9 (Brown and Foster schools), and in July of the same year authority was granted to heat the school building in District No. 8 with steam. This was the first school building heated by that method. These build- ings were opened about the commencement of the year 1858.

The two-story frame buildings which had been used by the Brown school since 1855, was removed shortly after the completion of the new building, to the Wells- school lot, corner of Ashland Avenue and Cornelia Street, a little over one mile north, and after the erection of the permanent building on the Wells-school lot, in 1866, it was again removed to the Burr-school lot, corner of Ash- land and Waubansia avenues, about a mile distant, re- maining in this location till the permanent building was erected on this lot, in 1873, when it was again removed to Wicker-Park lot, on Evergreen Avenue, near Robey Street, a little over a mile, where it is still in use, an ad- dition having been made to the building while on the Burr-school lot.

The plan of this History, which is so comprehensive in character as to necessitate its division into several vol- umes, arbitrarily terminates the present chapter at the close of the year 1857-an epoch in the commercial world, owing to the financial depression of that period. The narrative of school progress is, therefore, brought to a summary halt, with a review of the condition of the schools at that date. The selection of this year as a dividing line seems appropriate for the reason that, with the beginning of 1858, the designation of schools was by name, instead of number, as was observed from the foundation of the graded system.

At the close of 1857 there were ten public schools with two minor branches of schools of the grammar and primary grades. They were located and governed as follows:

School No. 1-On Madison, between State and Dearborn; O. B. Hewett, principal, aided by five lady assistants. Salaries paid, $2,900.

School No. 2-Corner of Clark and Harrison; Willard Wood- ard, principal, aided by five lady assistants. Salaries paid, $2,925. School No. 3-On Madison, between Halsted and Union ; Daniel S. Wentworth, principal, aided by six lady assistants. Sal- aries paid, $3,600.

Branch of No. 3-In the Jefferson-street church, between Washington and Madison ; Sarah A. Culver and one assistant. Salaries paid, $650.

School No. 4-Corner of Ohio and La Salle; Alden G. Wilder, principal, aided by five assistant teachers. Salaries paid, $3, 100.

School No. 5-Corner of Division and Sedgwick : William Drake, principal, aided by five lady assistants. Salaries paid, $2,850.

Branch of No. 5-On Larabee; Emma Hooke. Salary, $325. Schonl No. 6-Corner of Owen and Sangamon ; A. D. Stur- devant, principal, aided by five lady assistants. Salaries paid, $3,- 100.

School No. 7-Corner of Michigan Avenue and Monterey ; B. V. Averill, principal, aided by two lady assistants. Salaries paid, $1,750.

School No 8-Corner of Warren and Wood ; Henry MI. Keith, principal, aided by Julia E. W. Keith. Salaries paid, SI,- 425.

School No. 9 -. On Union, near Twelfth; George W. Spufford, principal, aided by two lady assistants. Salaries paid, $1, 500.

School No. 10-Corner of Chestnut and Wolcott ; A. II. Fitch, principal, aided by five lady assistants. Salaries paid $2,- 6000.

William Tillinghast, teacher of music. Salary, SI,000.

Notwithstanding the fact that two large buildings

217

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT

were erected in 1857, to accommodate about one thous- and five hundred pupils, the demand for seats was far in excess of the supply Recommendations were inade for two new houses, one in the North and one in the South Division; for an addition to the Scammon school; and for the removal of the frame buildings from the Brown and Foster lots to more convenient localities.

The conditions of the schools, so far as training and discipline were concerned, received the commendation of the public.

The whole number of pupils enrolled in 1857 was 10,636 ; the average belonging, 4,380 ; the average daily attending, 3,318. A rule was adopted by the Board making it the duty of teachers to report monthly to parents and guardians the attendance, scholarship and deportment of pupils.

William Jones in 1857 donated ȘI,ooo, the interest of which was to be devoted to the purchase of text books for poor children attending School No. 2, subsequently called the Jones.

The school fund, in 1857, was reported as follows :

Amount of real estate then belonging to the school fund, within the city limits, estimated at. $900,000

Amount of real estate outside the city limits, es-

timated at ..

25,000

Money loaned, principal. 52,000

Total fund. $977,000

A considerable portion of the real estate was not then available, and much was leased at low rates. Block 87 was leased to the city for $800 per an- num until 1862; Block 88 was leased to private par- ties for $8,500 per annum. The high, the Scammon and the Jones schools, were situated on lots belonging to the school fund. The interest, State dividend, and rentals for the year ending February 1, 1858, were :

Interest on $52,000. $ 6,240 00

Rents.

11,648 50

State dividend. 18,255 60

Amount of revenue $36,144 IO

Amount paid by this fund for salaries, includ-

ing Superintendent and School Agent .... $36,079 18

Balance

$64 92

In March, 1857, Eugene C. Long was appointed School Agent.

The total expense of running the schools during 1857 was :

Salaries, paid from school fund. $36,079

Incidentals, fuel, repairs, office expenses, etc .... 9,622

Rents, including interest on buildings and lots be-

longing to the city, estimated. 17,000

Total amount $62,701

This was an average of $5.81 per pupil, or lower than any large city in the Union.

The experiment of evening schools was begun in the winter of 1856-57. The charge of the school was voluntarily assumed by B. S. Wentworth, principal of No. 3, assisted by Misses Kennicott, Reed, Bickford, Wadsworth and Culver, and Messrs. Moore, Delano and Woodard, all teachers in the public schools ; and by Messrs. Pearson, Culver and Sheilling, from other institutions. The use of West Market Hall was gratu- itously furnished by the city. Sixty scholars assembled, and an average of that number attended, with an en- rollment of two hundred and eight. The pupils were, many of them, adults and all were from the classes em- ployed in mechanical and domestic services during the day. The experiment was regarded as highly satisfac- tory.

AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL was maintained in each of the three divisions of the city, during 1837, an out- growth of a charitable movement commenced in 1854, by benevolently inclined ladies. These schools were supported by private bounty.

THE REFORM SCHOOL, located five miles south of the city, was then under the supervision of Mr. Nichols, and was referred to by Superintendent Wells as an institution worthy of the aid and support of the city educators.

Mr. Wells, in his report of 1858, paid the following tribute to certain prominent educators:

" When in the far distant future the philosophic historian shall write the history of our city; when the character and acts of suc- cessive generations shall be weighed in the scales of impartial judgment; when material wealth shall be regarded in its true light, as the means to an end; when social enjoyment and intellectual cultivation and moral worth shall be rightly estimated as essential elements of prosperity in every community-then will the wisdom of those who have laid the foundation of our public school system be held in grateful remembrance; then will the names of Scammon and Brown, and Jones, and Miltimore, and Moseley, and Foster, and their coadjutors, be honored as among the truest and most worthy benefactors of Chicago."

The subjoined table will give an idea of the com- parative development of the schools, up to the close of 1857:

FOR YEAR

ENDING

the City.

Number under

years of age,

Total Enrollment in

the Public Schools.

Average Daily Mem-

Number of Teachers.

Total Amount Paid

for all Current Ex-

peux's.

IS37

4.170

...

IS10

4,479

2, 109

317

410

SI,889 82

$2,676 75

18.12

531

2,28g SS

3,225 99

1843

7,580

2,694

803

2,379 38

- 3,099 97

1844

915

S 2,363 32

3,106 22

1845 12,088

1,051

9 2,277 53

3,413 45

1846 14, 169

1, 107|

5,635 87

1847 16,859

7,603

1,317

5,790 82

1849 23,047

....

1,794

5,195 50

1850 29,963

1,919;

1,224

6,921 1;

7,393 97

1852| ...

2,404

1,521

29| 9,107 64

10,704 04

IS53 59,130

17,404

3.086

1,795

34 10,829 59

12,129 59

Dec. 31, 1854

3,500

35 13,316 79

14,254 72

Dec 31, 1855 50,000 31, 235

6,826

42 15,626 73

16,546 13

Dec. 31, 1856 84, 113

8,577

3.688

61 23,365 00

29,720 00

Feb. 1, 1858|

10,786 4,464

81:36,079 00

45,701 00

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD .- The written record of the Board of Education does not extend back of 1840. In November of that year a meeting was held at the office of William Jones, upon which occasion that gentle- man was elected president and Isaac N. Arnold, secre- tary. Until April, 1843, the meetings were held weekly, thereafter monthly. From 1840 to 1857, inclusive, the officers of the Board have heen as follows : President, William Jones, 1840-43 ; Jonathan T. Scammon, 1843- 45 ; William Jones, 1845-48 ; Dr. E. S. Kimberly, 1848-50 ?; Record of 1849 lost'; Henry Smith, 1850- 51 ; William Jones, 1851-52 : Flavel Moseley 1852-53 ; William H. Brown, 1853-54 ; Flavel Moseley, 1854-58. Secretaries-Isaac N. Arnold, 1840-41 ; Jonathan T. Scammon, 1841-43 ; George W. Meeker, 1843-49; (1850 lost. ; Andrew J. Brown. 1850-52 ; Edward C. Larned, 1852-54 ; John C. Dore, 1854-56 ; William H. Wells, 1856-64.

School Agents-William H. Brown. 1840-53 ; James Long, 1853-56 ; Elias Greenebaum. 1856-57 : Eugene Long, elected in March, 1857.

Total Population of

IS1I

.....

. .

12,021

2,257

1,409

4,24$ 76

1848 20,023

1,517

bership.

for Tuition.

6,037 97

1851}

218

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

". Superintendents-John C. Dore, 1854-56 ; William H. Wells, 1856-64.

THE HIGH SCHOOL .- Although the high school was not formally inaugurated until 1856, the inception of the plan dates from the period of 1840. The attention of the Inspectors was directed to the subject as early as that year, when the scattered schools began to assume a more advanced character. The time was not yet ripe, however, and no definite action was taken. The In-

In December, 1846, the Inspectors, in their quarterly report to the Council, again call attention to the need of "at least one school where the ordinary academic studies may be taught."

February 7, 1847, the committee in their report on the quarterly report of the Inspectors, after commend- ing the general condition of the schools, further report :

" In reference to a high school they are of the opinion that there are insuperable objections to the establishment of such a

CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL

spectors first allude to the topic in their report of 1843, as follows:

" Had we the means, the establishment of a high school, with two good teachers, into which might be placed a hundred of the best instructed scholars from the different schools, would remedy this increasing evil."

In May, 1844, in a report of the committee on . schools, Ira Miltimore, chairman, to the Council on the subject of the erection of a permanent school building in the First Ward, the question of providing for the more

. advanced scholars is spoken of as follows :

" The lower story to be divided into two rooms, one for small boys and the other for small girls, the upper room to be so divided as to give necessary recitation rooms for a high school, so that one principal teacher and two or three assistants shall be able to conduct the several schools, and thus give us a high school in which may be placed the more advanced scholars, and in a good degree remedy a very serious difficulty that has heretofore been the general complaint of teachers and Inspectors, namely, that our schools are too much crowded and that the smaller scholars must necessarily be neglected, or justice cannot be done to those who are more ad- vanced."

school, independent of the inability of the city at the present time to build one."

The subject seems to have been dropped until No- vember, 1852, when the Inspectors appointed W. H. Brown, J. E. McGirr and G. W. Southworth a commit- tee to enquire into the expediency of presenting a plan for such a school. Report was made December 27, far- oring the establishment of a high school, to be located in " the central part of the city." This report was at- tended with no immediate good results.

In September, 1854, the Board renewed the ques- tion, and the Council ordered the preparation of an ordinance for the establishment of the school. This was done, and the local law passed the Council January 23. 1855. February 19, an order was issued by the Council for the drafting of plans for the building, and on March 5 the final steps were taken to secure legal permission to proceed. The edifice was begun in 1855 and completed the following year.

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

219

The school was organized October 8, 1856, under the charge of C. A. Dupee, as principal.

It was designed to open the building with appro- priate inauguration ceremonies, but unexpected delays prevented this. The first examination for admission to the school was held July 15, 1856, and was largely at- tended by applicants and their friends. The per cent of correct answers required was fifty ; and a special ex- amination was held October 1. for the benefit of those who, through embarrassment, failed during the original trial, as well as for those who were unable to attend at that time. The number first applying was one hundred and fifty-eight, of whom one hundred and fourteen were admitted. Of those who failed, thirty-five made a second attempt, and eleven were successful. A third examination was made, for the winter term, December 19. Out of two hundred and four applicants, but fifty- one were able to sustain the requisite scholarship. It

is worthy of record that the average per cent of admis- sions from the public schools was forty-eight, while from private schools it was fifty ; proving the efficiency of the public schools almost equal to that where pupils were enabled to avail themselves of special preparation, in classes numbering considerably less in the per cent of pupils to teachers.

VOCAL MUSIC .- The question of adding vocal mu- sic to the list of regular studies received attention offi- cially in December, 1841, at which time a committee, consisting of N, H. Bolles, William Jones, John Gray and H. S. Rucker, reported favorably thereon. The first instructor was N. Gilbert, who was appointed in December of that year at a salary of $16 per month. In September, 1842, Mr. Gilbert was re-engaged for six months, at the rate of $400 per annum. The oppo- sition encountered, however, induced the discontinuance of the study after the first quarter of 1843. In July, 1845, an unsuccessful attempt was made to revive the classes. In 1846 the Council refused to supply funds, and the Inspectors granted permission to a " competent teacher of m isic to teach music in the schools for a small remuneration afforded him by the scholars, or as many of them as can or will pay ; that the scholars are very fond of this new exercise, and it is believed to ex- ert a most beneficial influence upon their tastes and feelings."

And in their next quarterly report, submitted in De- cember, 1846, they say :

" From what we have seen of the influence and ef- fect of introducing music into our schools as a part of the education of all, we would strongly recommend that a teacher be permanenly employed to devote his whole attention to the several schools of our city. Mr. Whit- man has for some months past been giving lessons in music to a large number of scholars in the several dis- tricts, and the effect has been of the most salutary character."

The Choral Union Musical Society, in June, 1846, were allowed to occupy the recitation room in the building in District No. 1, for singing, on agreement that they give one concert a year for the benefit of the common school library.

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 59

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340