History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 31

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 31

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

There is perhaps no question which can so deeply interest the people of a county as that of obtaining teachers of known and tried ability. In the period of the early settlement of this county almost any one could teach. That time, with all of its rude school appliances, has rolled away. The claims of to-day can no longer be met by appliances of even a decade ago, for experience is begin- ping to show that teaching, like every other department of human thought and activity, must change with the onward movements of society, or fall in the rear of civilization and become an obstacle to improvement. The educational problem of to-day is to obtain use- ful knowledge-to secure the practical part of education before the ornamental, and that in the shortest time. In truth, a free na- tion's safety is wrapped in the intelligence of its citizens. Only an educated people can long sustain a free republic; therefore it is the duty of the State to educate that her free institutions may stand through all ages as sacred and endeared monuments of the . enlightened people.

Education sweetens and hedges in the family circle and drives away frivolity and gossip from a community, protecting the mem- bers from the inroads of vice and immorality. It is the strong bulwark of education that binds the nation of 56,000,000 people . together for advancement that she may shine in the near future the brightest star in the constellation of governments. Rapid strides have been made in education within the last half century, but the field of improvement is yet boundless, and the work of education must still go on, and make perhaps greater changes than those from the time when

"The sacred seer with scientific truth In Grecian temples taught the attentive youth, With ceasless change, how restless atoms pass From life to life, a transmigrating mass."

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to that of to-day, when men's thoughts are directed to the investi- gation of what they see around them.

FIRST SCHOOLS.

The first school taught in Logan County was kept in James Latham's house, by Erastus Wright. This, as were all schools then, was supported by subscription. Mr. Wright afterward be- came one of the best known men in the State. Colonel Latham well remembers that he would be taken on the teacher's knee, the let- ters pointed out to him with the teacher's pocket knife, and when he did not pay good attention the teacher would gently prick him in the forehead to retain his attention, and to aid him in remem- bering the names of the letters. Soon after Robert Buckles settled, a stable on his farm was cleaned and a few rude benches placed therein, and school opened. The teacher was Judge Skinner, afterward one of the most prominent men in the county. William Copeland was also a teacher here. There was no window in this primitive structure, and a small door gave ingress and egress to the inmates. Cracks through the logs gave the necessary light. They were not bothered about the ventilation, as fresh air was abundant. Some of the lads and lasses were John Buckles, Mart. Turley, Amelia Cass, Isom Birks and Leonard Scroggin. When Mr. Wright caine to James Latham's to commence his school, he wheeled his trunk on a wheelbarrow, and took it away in the same manner. The first school-house in the county was built on Lake Fork, near John Turner's. It was a log structure, and to supply light a log from one side was entirely removed and window glass inserted. Pegs were inserted in the wall on one side of the room, on which a long board was placed; on this the pupils learned to write, standing during that exercise. The seats were always of slabs, with legs sufficiently high to keep the feet of the smaller ones from the floor, while the older ones were in an equally awkward position from the seats being too low. Gradation in seats or backs was seldom thought of, and. scarcely ever adopted. Webster's Elementary Spelling Book and the Testament were the principal books used. The former was the established authority on orthog- raphy, and in after years it was considered an honor attained by few to be able to spell all the words in that book. Many of the old settlers now greatly delight in narrating their experiences in these early spelling contests, commonly known as "spelling- schools," and look back with pride and pleasure to the evenings

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passed in this intellectnal amusement. The spelling-school is now seldom conducted, as the profit derived therefrom is nearly always overbalanced by other considerations. Spelling by writing is much better, and more productive of good results, and is rapidly super- seding the oral method.

SOHOOLS OF TO-DAY.

In the chapters devoted to the different towns are given proper mention of the several graded schools. In this place we insert some of the more important general statistics of the county, as. taken from the report of the superintendent of public instruction. for 1884.

The average number of days of school is 172.5; average daily at-, tendance, 3,895; per cent. of children of school age enrolled during the year, 71.4; per cent. of pupils enrolled during the year in daily attendance, 63; average number of days pupils were in graded schools, 129; in ungraded schools, 97; average for all the schools, 108; average monthly wages paid male teachers, $50.79; female teachers, $39.75; cost per pupil, on census of persons between the ages of six and twenty-one years, $6.67; on enrollment, $9.35; on average daily attendance, $14.87; cost per pupil for amount raised . by local taxation, on census of persons between the ages of six and twenty-one years, $7.85; on enrollment, $11; on average daily at- tendance, $17.50; cost per pupil for total expenditures, on census of persons between the ages of six and twenty-one years, $9.31; on enrollment, $13.04; on average daily attendance, $20.79.

Total number of teachers employed, 171; males in graded schools, 10; in ungraded schools, 60; females in graded schools, 36; in ungraded schools, 65; average age of males in graded schools, 39.9; of females, 26.1; of males in ungraded schools, 27.1 ;. of females, 23.7; whole number of minors, 14.

Average number of months taught by teachers in graded schools, 118 by males and 43 by females; in ungraded schools, 37 by males and 18 by females; number of teachers who have received instruc- tion in public normal schools, 25.

Number of males under twenty-one years of age, 6,274; females, 6,022; total, 12.296; males between ages of six and twenty-one years, 4,263; females, 4,034; total, 8,297; male pupils enrolled in graded schools, 937; females, 1,103; male pupils enrolled in un- graded schools, 2,268; females, 1,917; total, 6,225.

Total number of school districts, 118, all but one having school more than 110 days; one had no school.

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Number of brick school-houses, 6; frame, 119; total number of school-houses, 125; number built during year, 7; number of pub- lic high schools, 1; graded schools, 11; ungraded schools, 115; total number of schools, 126; average number of months of school, 8.33; number of male teachers in graded schools, 9; female teachers in graded schools, 35; male teachers in ungraded schools, 77; female teachers in ungraded schools, 96; total number of teachers, 217.

Highest monthly wages paid any male teacher, $120; female, $65; lowest paid any male teacher, $30; female, $25; average monthly wages paid male teachers, $50.51; female, $37.85; num- ber of districts having libraries, 6; number of private schools, 7; number of male pupils in private schools, 137; female, 222; total, 359; male teachers, 6; female, 1; total, 7.

Balance of distributable funds on hand July 1, 1882, $606.92; income of township fund during the year, $3,124.10; received from County Superintendent, $8,778.87; total receipts, $12,509.89; distributed to districts. $9,590.23; other expenses, $1,659.58; bal- ance on hand July 1, 1883; $1,261.30; amount paid to male teachers in graded schools, $5,490.38; in ungraded schools, $21,- 368.96; female teachers in graded schools, $12,982.56; in ungraded schools, $18,169.60; whole amount paid teachers, $58,- 011.50; paid for new school-houses built and purchased, $3,946.24; paid for school sites, $251.98; paid for repairs and improvements, $4,246.44; paid for school furniture, $1,246.16; paid for school apparatus, $387.45; paid for books for poor children, $61.25; paid for fuel and other incidental expenses, $7,562.10; paid clerks of district boards, $221.20; interest paid on district bonds, $2,597.57; paid on principal of district bonds, $1,755; total ex- penditures, $81,030.34; amount of loans of district funds, $3,000; balance on hand, June 30, 1883, $17,448.45; amount of district tax levy for support of district schools, $67,380.06; estimated value of school property, $203,395; estimated value of school libraries, $210; estimated value of school apparatus, 82,106; amount of bonded school debt, $34, 485.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

We owe our present free-school system, of which we are justly proud, in no small degree to the influence of the teachers' insti- tutes and associations held in the State, the first of which, called the " Illinois Institute of Education," met at Vandalia in 1833.

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Our school system is, in fact, the product of the meetings of these organizations. Of course, the discussions and exercises of these educational gatherings were at first general in their character; and this is to some extent true of the State Association yet; but county teachers' institutes have a specific purpose-the better fit- ting of teachers for the school-room.

Nothing helps more than a good institute to give teachers a proper appreciation of the responsibilities which rest upon them; nothing does more to give thein an enthusiasm for their work, a love for it, and an earnest desire to find out and use diligently the very best methods for instructing children. Indeed, as a rule, those teachers who attend institutes are the ones who become most faithful, diligent and efficient in the school-room. Mingling with those engaged in the same calling, they receive their sympathies, and the benefit of their experience. They learn, perhaps, to think better of their profession than ever before; come to appre- ciate fully the nobleness there is in it; and when they go back to their school-room again it is with a determination to be successful in the truest sense, however much labor it may cost them.

An institute is in some sense a short term of school, in which a few points in the common branches, such as are not usually well understood or well taught by teachers, are seized upon and pre- sented by competent instructors. The best methods, not those which are simply new, but methods which have been proven by actual trial in the school-room, whether new or old, to be the best, are the ones aimed to be insisted upon by those who conduct exercises in the institute. Greater accuracy and thoroughness in the teaching of the common branches is evidently needed in many of our schools now; and the institute is an important means for the attainment of this end. It is well, as is often done, to intro- duce a few general exercises, such as the reading of essays and the delivering of short orations, so that general intellectual culture may be encouraged; for teachers ought not to be one-sided men and women. So much importance is attached to teachers' insti- tutes by our best educators that in several cities teachers are com- pelled by the school regulations to attend the city institute. In Chicago teachers must attend or forfeit their wages.

EARLY TEACHERS' MEETINGS.

At irregular intervals brief institutes or teachers' meetings were held prior to 1860, but no organization for regular work was ef.

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fected until 1862. June 21 of that year a number of school officers and teachers of the county met at the court-house in Lincoln. For temporary organization, W. H. Bennet was elected President; John A. Smallwood and C. M. Grapes, Vice-Presidents; John Blain, Recording Secretary; and George W. Dominique, Corre- sponding Secretary. Mr. Beidler, School Commissioner of the county, stated the object of the meeting to be a permanent organi- zation of school officers and teachers for the general advancement of the educational interests of the county. Committees were ap- pointed on permanent organization, constitution and by-laws, and programme, and a number of topics were introduced and discussed. The meeting then adjourned till July 18. On that date

THE LOGAN COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY

was formed, a constitution and by-laws adopted, and the following officers chosen: President, A. Johnson; Vice-Presidents, A. M. Miller and D. Vanhise; Recording Secretary, C. H. Miller; Ex- ecntive Committee, C. M. Grapes, W. G. Starkey and J. C. Hanna. A few meetings were held, of one and two days each, and then the organization was dropped.

FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL INSTITUTE.

No more teachers' institutes were held in Logan County until 1867, when County Superintendent J. G. Chalfant issued a call to the teachers interested in the progress of education to meet at Lin- coln, April 3. The sessions were held in the high school building, and were attended by a moderate number of teachers and a goodly number of spectators. J. G. Chalfant presided, and prior to per- manent organization B. F. January was chosen secretary pro tem. The following committees were appointed: On reception, B. F. January, J. G. Chalfant, W. G. Starkey, Miss Jennie Wheelock and Miss Ada Secompt; on constitution and by-laws, B. F. Janu- ary, J. F. McGaw and S. G. Benedict; on finance, J. G. Chalfant, G. F. Carl and George Colvin; on general arrangements, A. S. Guthrie, G. F. Carl and B. F. Jannary: executive, Miss Wake- field, Miss Mollie Morris, A. S. Guthrie, S. G. Benedict and J. F. McGaw. After an address by a Mr. Rolfe, of Chicago, the insti- tute proceeded with a programme of exercises which was briefly as follows :

1. Essay, by Miss Anna Congdon, of Atlanta. 2. An essay by Miss Margerie Constant, of Elkhart. 3. Exercises in orthography

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and object teaching, by A. S. Guthrie. 4. Exercises in practical arithmetic, by George F. Colvin, of Atlanta, and Prof. McGlumphy, of Lincoln University. 5. Exercises in English grammar an elocution, by B. F. January, of Lincoln. 6. Exercises in modern geography, by Miss M. A. Eastman, of Atlanta, and Miss D. Wheelock, of Lincoln. 7. Exercises in history, by J. F. McGaw, of Mansfield, Ohio.

The evenings were occupied by able addresses from Prof. Mc- Glumphy, Hon. Newton Bateman, State Superintendent of Public Instructions, J. G. Chalfant and Prof. McGaw. At the close of the institute a constitution and by-laws were adopted, a permanent or- ganization perfected, and the next meeting was appointed for September of the same year. President Chalfant appointed a vice-president froin each township in the county, as follows: Etna, G. W. Pleasant; Atlanta, Dr. J. B. Tenney; Broadwell, Theodoric G. Keller; East Lincoln, Andrew McGalliard; Elkhart, Dr. Charles Orendorff; Eminence, Lieutenant John Beezley; Hurl- but, William N. Bock; Laenna, R. D. Clark; Lake Fork, Henry A. Williams; Middletown, William McMasters; Madison, Jere- miah Mathes; Oran, J. B. Curry; Orvil, M. A. Miles; Mt. Pulaski, W. P. Leathers; Prairie Creek, Nelson Chesnut; Sher- idan, Joseph Coffinan; West Lincoln; W. A. K. Cowdrey.

SECOND INSTITUTE.

The meeting held during the week commencing September 3, 1867, was called the second semi-annual institute. J. G. Chalfant presided. The first exercise was in reading and elocution, con- ducted by B. F. January. Prof. Richards, of Lincoln University, lectured in the evening of the first day. On the second day Mr. January conducted work in mental arithmetic and Dr. . A. M. Miller lectured upon physiology. The question of teaching pen- manship was then earnestly debated by a number of the teachers. In the evening Prof. Edwards, of the Normal University, lect- ured. On the third day the question was discussed of teaching vocal music with the branches of a common-school education. Exercises in arithmetic were led by Prof. McGaw, E. Lynch and others, and in English grammar by Mr. January, and in the even- ing Prof. McGaw lectured upon astronomy. The same instructor gave illustrations of object-lesson work the next day, and he was followed by a number of speeches in regard to text books. After an animated discussion of some two or three hours the following

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text books were adopted for uniform use throughout the county ; Wilson's spellers, readers and charts ; Spencer's system of pen- manship ; Ray's series of arthmetics (second part excepted, and Stoddard's substituted); Monteith's and McNally's system of geog- raphy, and Mitchell's maps ; Greene's grammar ; Quackenbos' history. In the evening Prof. McGlumphy lectured. On the fifth and last day exercises in history were conducted by S. G. Benedict, arrangements were made for the next session of the institute, and the meeting closed.

THIRD INSTITUTE.

The next meeting began April 6, 1868, at Elkhart, with a lecture on orthography by Prof. McGaw. J. G. Chalfant lectured the first evening on the subject of American literature. This discourse was eloquent, patriotic and instructive. The following day Prof. Mitchell, of Springfield, lectured on penmanship, giving practical illustrations, and was followed by F. M. Jordan, of Broadwell, in an exercise in mental arithmetic. In the afternoon J. B. Curry conducted an exercise in reading, followed by a lecture upon the same subject by S. S. Hamill, the well-known elocutionist. In the evening R. H. McCord lectured upon the subject of teachers' institutes, and B. F. January upon schools and school government. Prof. Thomas Metcalf, of the State Normal University, lectured upon practical arithmetic during the third day, and Miss L. H. Kanaga, of Elkhart, read an essay. The exercises of the fourth day were : First, a lengthy and important discussion upon the best method of teaching United States history in our public schools, resulting in the adoption of the topic method ; second, a lecture on modern geography, by J. C. Scullin, of Atlanta ; and, third, an evening lecture, by Prof. McGaw, entitled, " The earth as it was and as it is." The work of the fifth day consisted of an interesting and practical lecture on English grammar by Rev. W. R. Good- win, a lecture on physical geography by Prof. McGaw, and short addresses upon school government.

FOURTH INSTITUTE.

The fourth session was held in the Christian church at Atlanta during the week beginning August 24, 1868. The exercises on the regular programme were: Vocal analysis, by Prof. McGaw; history, by B. F. Conner ; intellectual arithmetic, by J. W. Monser and W. C. Howard ; geography, by William C. McMasters ; object 22

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teaching by R. H. McCord and Prof. McGaw ; practical arith- metic, by J. C. Scullin ; English grammar, by W. R. Goodwin ; reading and elocution, by J. B. Curry ; and physical geo graphy, by Prof. J. F. McGaw. Essays were read by Miss Amanda S. Thomas, of Atlanta, and Miss M. S. Pegram, of Lincoln. In the evenings J. C. Scullin gave a pointed lecture upon the " Worth of Manhood ;" M. D. Bevan, of Atlanta, spoke eloquently of Oliver Cromwell ; J. W. Monser read a poem ; Rev. W. R. Goodwin dis- coursed upon the "Live Teacher ;" and J. G. Chalfant gave a careful address upon the subject of "Popular Education and the Duties of Teachers and Parents in Relation Thereto.".

FIFTH INSTITUTE

was held in the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Lincoln, and commenced March 29, 1869, J. G. Chalfant again presiding, and delivering the opening address. An exercise was then conducted in geography by J. B. Curry, followed by a lively discussion on the part of Profs. McGlumphy and Harris, J. C. Scullin, W. C. McMasters and others. Prof. Scullin then led the institute in cal- isthenics. Miss Viola Emnery read a graceful essay, and Prof. Hewett, of Normal University, lectured in the evening. On the remaining days the principal exercises were as follows : In written arithmetic, by Prof. Scullin ; mental arithmetic, by Prof. Hewett ; object teaching, by Prof. McGlumphy; English grammar, by Prof. J. C. Scullin and Alexander Peabody ; elocution and reading, by Rev. George W. Minier ; physical geography, by Prof. McGaw ; orthography, by J. S. Wren, Prof. McGaw and Rev. W. R. Good- win ; United States history, by S. G. Benedict and W. C. McMas- ters; physiology, by Prof. Scullin. Essays were read by Miss Anne Tibbets, Miss A. A. Ingols, Miss Carrie Prince and Miss Nellie Wakefield, all of Lincoln, and Miss M. B. McCrea, of Atlanta. The evening addresses were by Prof. McGlumphy, George W. Minier, and the prominent educator, Dr. J. M. Gregory, then regent of the Illinois Industrial University. On the morning of the fifth day the members of the institute visited Lincoln Univer- sity in a body. The institute closed with a sociable, which was a most pleasant affair. Speeches were made by Judge Parks, Rev. W. R. Goodwin, Prof. Scullin and Prof. McGaw. J. S. Wren was chosen secretary, and Miss Nellie Wakefield, treasurer for the en- suing year.

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SIXTH INSTITUTE.

The next institute in the public school building at Mt. Pulaski occupied the five days beginning August 31, 1869, and was pre- sided over by Mr. Chalfant. A feature of this meeting was the ap- pointment at the beginning of each half day's session of two critics. The work of instruction was divided as follows: B. F. Conner, or- thography; L. T. Regan, United States history and geography; Dr. C. A. Holbrook, physiology; Dr. M. Wemple, reading and elocu- tion, and physiology and hygiene; Prof. J. C. Scullin, English grammar; S. G. Benedict, written arithmetic; W. C. McMasters, reading and intellectual arithmetic. On Thursday Miss Sallie Towner, of Broadwell, read an essay upon the "Past, Present and Future of Free Schools." The evenings were occupied by lectures, as usual. J. C. Scullin delivered the first. Rev. W. R. Goodwin gave the second, on " Hobbies," which was amusing as well as in- structive. The lecture on Wednesday evening was by J. G. Chal- fant, and was pronounced one of his best efforts. A vote of thanks was tendered him. Thursday evening Prof. McGlumphy dis- coursed upon the " Free School System of Illinois," gave a lengthy review of the duties and responsibilities of school officers, and paid a high compliment to County Superintendent Chalfant for the ear- nestness, zeal and efficiency with which he had promoted the cause of popular education in Logan County. The institute closed with an interesting discussion upon "School Government," by Messrs. Conner, W. P. Jones, Howe, Kent, Benedict, J. S. Wren, Regan, Peabody, Scullin and Matchett. J. S. Wren resigned as secretary of the institute, and his place was filled by the election of F. L. Matchett.

SEVENTH INSTITUTE.

The seventh semi-annual institute convened in Atlanta, at Good Templara' Hall, on Monday, March 28, 1870. The first part of the afternoon was spent in organization. B. F. Conner conducted the only exercise of the day, in intellectual arithmetic. In the evening the hall was filled to overflowing to listen to a lecture by Dr. Newton Bateman, which was pronounced by the audience to have been the ablest ever delivered in Logan County upon the subject of education. The school-room exercises of the remaining days of the session were conducted by the following instructors: W. C. McMasters, orthography; D. W. Carl, fractions; G. F. Mc- Allister, longitude and time, also gymnastics; E. A. Leeper, elo-

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cution; O. Scott, arithmetic; Mr. Montgomery, physiology; J. B. Curry. grammar; President Edwards, of Normal, vocal analysis and reading; A. H. Hinman, Spencerian penmanship.

Mrs. Jennie Goodsell read an essay on "Growth and Culture," winning a vote of thanks from the institute. J. Wood Miller de- livered an address upon "The Orator, the Architect of Society," which was instructive and full of high moral sentiment. E. A. Leeper read a paper entitled, "Some Hints on Mental Discipline." J. R. Curry spoke at length in favor of abolishing corporal punish- ment, but the institute voted that teachers should be wise in the use of corporal punishment, but that it should not be abolished. Miss Lizzie Splain read a pleasing essay on " High Aims." J. T. Galford read a paper on " Moral Education," claiming that the Bible and the true teacher go together. An instructive hour to the teachers was one which was occupied by President Edwards in answering queries.

The evenings were occupied by special lectures. Dr. Bateman was the first, as before stated. Prof. Harris, of Lincoln University, addressed a large audience on "The True Christian Teacher." County Superintendent L. T. Regan lectured on the " Object of Education and the Means to be Employed." B. F. Conner took the next evening, his topic being " The Secrets of Success." Friday evening eighty-five teachers assembled, and the church was filled to its utmost capacity to hear Dr. Edwards.

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 31

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989