USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > Kansas City > Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. Historical and biographical. Comprising a condensed history of the state, a careful history of Wyandotte County, and a comprehensive history of the growth of the cities, towns and villages > Part 31
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
Indiana; Mrs. Lucy B. Armstrong (wife of J. M.) December, 1847, to March, 1848; Miss Anna H. Ladd, who came with the Wyandottes in 1843, and Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong. The latter was teaching the school at the time of her husband's death, which occurred at Mans- field, Ohio, while on his way to Washington to prosecute Indian claims, in April, 1852. The school was closed in the old building April 16, 1852; resumed in Mrs. Armstrong's dining room; removed the next winter to the Methodist Episcopal Church, three quarters of a mile west of her house, and left without a home when that structure was burned by incendiaries April 8, 1856. It was called the National School, and was the first free school ever taught in Kansas. Accord- ingly, to the Wyandotte Indians belongs this honor. Soon after the first school opened, a school-house was built near M. Mudeater's farm, and Mr. Armstrong, Mrs. S. P. Ladd and others taught therein.
The constitution of the State of Kansas, adopted at Wyandotte, July 29, 1859, which is now the organic law of the State, provided as follows:
SECTION 1. The State superintendent of public instruction shall have the general supervision of the common-school funds and educa- tional interests of the State, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law. A superintendent of public instruction shall be elected in each county, whose term of office shall be two years, and whose duties and compensation shall be prescribed by law.
SEC. 2. The Legislature shall encourage the promotion of intel- lectual, moral, scientific and agricultural improvement, by establish- ing a uniform system of common schools, and schools of a higher grade, embracing normal, preparatory, collegiate and university de- partments.
SEC. 3. The proceeds of all lands that have been, or may be granted by the United States to the State, for the support of schools, and the 500,000 acres of land granted to the new States, under an act of Congress distributing the proceeds of public lands among the several States of the Union, approved September 4, A. D. 1841, and all estates of persons dying without heir or will, and such per cent as may be granted by Congress, on the sale of lands in this State shall be the common property of the State, and shall be a perpetual fund, which shall not be diminished, but the interest of which, together with all the rents of the lands, and such other means as the Legisla- ture may provide, by tax or otherwise, shall be invariably appropri- ated to the support of common schools.
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HISTORY OF KANSAS.
SEC. 4. The income of the State school funds shall be distributed annually by order of the State superintendent, to the several county treasurers, and thence to the treasurers of the several school districts, in equitable to the number of children and youth resident therein, between the ages of five and twenty-one years: Provided, That no school district, in which a common school has not been maintained at least three months in each year, shall be entitled to receive any por- tion of such funds.
SEC. 5. The school lands shall not be sold unless such sale shall be authorized by a vote of the people at a general election; but, sub- ject to a re-valuation every five years, they may be leased for any number of years not exceeding twenty-five, at a rate established by law.
SEC. 6. All money which shall be paid by persons as an equiva- lent for an exemption from military duty; the clear proceeds of es- trays, ownership of which vest in the taker-up; and the proceeds of fines for any breach of the penal laws, shall be exclusively applied in the several counties in which the money is paid or fines collected, to the support of common schools.
SEC. 9. The State superintendent of public instruction, secretary of State and attorney-general shall constitute a board of commissioners for the management and investment of the school funds. Any two of said commissioners shall be a quorum.
These are the main provisions of the State constitution for the sup- port of the common schools, and show the origin of the permanent school funds.
The act of Congress, approved January 28, 1861, admitting Kan- * sas into the Union as a State, under the constitution referred to in the foregoing, provided, among other things, that sections numbered sixteen and thirty-six in every township of public lands in the State, and where either of these sections or any part thereof had been sold or otherwise disposed of, other lands, equivalent thereto and as con- - tiguous as might be, should be granted to the State for the use of schools. But as all the lands composing Wyandotte County were owned by the Indians under treaties with the United States, before they were surveyed and sectionized, it was not in the power of the Government to set aside and donate the sections named for school purposes in this county.
As soon as the State was organized, the Legislature thereof passed a law providing for a free-school system. This law, has been amended
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
to suit the times, and Section 271 of the present school law reads as follows: "For the purpose of affording the advantages of a free edu- cation to the children of the State, the State annual school fund shall consist of the annual income from the interest and rents of the perpetual school fund as provided in the constitution of the State, and such sum as will be produced by the annual levy and assessment of one mill upon the dollar valuation of the taxable property of the State, and there is hereby levied and assessed annually the said one mill upon the dollar for the support of common schools in the State, and the amount so levied and assessed shall be collected in the same manner as other State taxes."
The law further provides (Section 298) "That in all school dis- tricts in the State in which there is a good and sufficient school build- ings, a school shall be maintained for a period of not less than four months between the first day of October and the first day of June, in each school year."
As soon as Wyandotte County was organized, its subdivision into schools districts was begun and continued as the population increased, and necessity demanded, until it was wholly subdivided. The num- ber of districts organized at this writing is forty-one. According to the latest official report of the county superintendent, which is for the school year ending June 30, 1889, the scholastic population of the county, that is the number of children between five and twenty-one years of age, was 8,195 males and 7,997 females, total 16,192. Of this number 3,951 males and 5,203 females were enrolled in the pub- lic schools. This shows that only 57 per cent and a fraction over of the children of the county of school age attended the public schools. Or, in other words, it proves the fact that only a little over one-half the people of the county avail themselves of the great advantages of the public schools. No better argument than this can be offered in favor of compulsory education. The report also shows that 55 male and 101 female teachers were employed during the school year, and that the total number of months taught by male teachers was 3763, and the average monthly salaries paid them in the county schools was $55 and a fraction over, and in the city schools $91 and a fraction over. The difference in the wages is accounted for by the fact that in the city schools males are employed only as principals of the schools, and they must have a much higher degree of education than is required of the teachers in the common district schools. The total number of months taught during the year by female teachers
20
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HISTORY OF KANSAS.
was 847 and a fraction, and the average monthly salaries paid them were $43.64 in the country and $55.17 in the city schools. The whole amount of money paid male teachers for the school year was $27,133, and the whole amount paid female teachers, $43,949 .- 50, making a total of $71,082.50. The average length in weeks of the school year was 292%, or about seven months.
The estimated value of the school property within the county was shown by the report to be $342,900; the number of school buildings in the country to be 46, and the number in the cities 17, making a total in the county of 63; the number of school-rooms in the country being 68 and in the cities 96; total in county, 164. There were seven school-houses built within the county during the year, at a cost of $27,911.25. The amount of school-house bonds issued during school year was $132,700, and the bonded indebtedness June 30, 1889, amounted to $218,400.
There were 85 persons examined during the year for teacher's license, which 19 failed to receive, thus making the number of licenses granted 66. The average age of the persons receiving certificates of license was 233 years.
The financial report pertaining to the schools of the county for the year ending June 30, 1889, is as follows: Balance in hands of district treasurers July 1, 1888, $11,837.13; amount received from county treasurer from direct taxes, $93,166.94; amount received from State and county permanent school funds, apportioned to districts, $14,- 827.51; amount received from the sale of school bonds, $133,998.46; amount received from all other sources, $2,785.89; total amount received during the year for school purposes, $256,615.93.
Amount paid out during the year for teachers' wages and supervis- ors, $73,050.59; amount paid for rents, repairs, fuel and other incident- als, $20,566.47; amount paid for district library and school apparatus, $519.06; amount paid for sites, buildings and furniture, $99, 258.27; amount paid for all other purposes, $11,915. 72; total amount paid out during the school year, $205,310.11. Balance in hands of district treasurers June 30, 1889, $59,513.66.
The report also shows that the County Normal Institute was taught in Kansas City, Kas., opening June 10, and closing July 3, 1889, eighteen days, and that the conductor, Mr. John Wherrell, was paid for his services the sum of $140, and Instructors George E. Rose and C. H. Nowlin were paid respectively for their services $100 and $60. The number enrolled at the institute was 180, and the average attend-
315
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
ance 1372. The total receipts of the institute fund was $434.65, out of which $393 was expended, leaving a balance of $41.65 on hand.
Of the sixty-three school-houses in the county, two are built of stone, fifteen of brick, and the balance are frame.
As the great bulk of the population of the county lives in cities, it is proper to make more especial mention of the city schools. The Andreas State History, published in 1883, speaks of the educational facilities of Wyandotte City as follows: "The first public school build- ing was erected in 1867, on the corner of Sixth Street and Kansas Avenue. It was afterward used for colored pupils. A central school building was erected the same year. In 1881 the city voted $15,000 to build two new ward school-houses, one on the site of the old colored school, and the other on Everett Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. In the spring of 1882 $15,000 additional was voted to com- plete the two buildings mentioned, to build the one in the Fifth Ward, and repair the Central School building. In 1872, before what is known as South Wyandotte was annexed to the city, a two-story brick edifice was erected there at a cost of $5,000. Wyandotte has, therefore, five good brick school buildings. It costs $12,000 to maintain her educational system, which is under the supervision of Prof. P. Sher- man, superintendent of schools. Twenty teachers train the young ideas. The school population of Wyandotte is 3,000, of which a little less than one-half are in attendance upon school." The reader will observe that this applies to Wyandotte City, a part only of the present Kansas City.
To show the wonderful improvement in school facilities in recent years, the following facts are compiled from the annual report of the board of education of Kansas City, Kas., for the year ending June 30, 1889:
The Central school-house, a nine-room brick, with seating capac- ity for 542, was erected on Huron Place in 1868, and is heated with steam.
The High School, a ten-room brick, situated on the corner of Seventh and Ann, with a seating capacity of 433, was erected in 1878, and is heated by stoves.
Everett school-house, on Everett Avenue, between Fourth and Fifth, an eight-room brick, with seating capacity for 433, is heated by steam.
Lincoln school, on the corner of State and Sixth, a nine-room brick, with seating capacity for 490, is heated with steam.
316
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
Wood school-house, situated on Wood Street, between Fifth and Sixth, an eight-room brick, with a seating capacity for 462, was erected in 1872, and is heated with stoves.
Armourdale school-house, a twelve-room brick, situated on Eighth Street, with seating capacity for 747, is heated with a hot-air furnace.
Morse, a four-room brick, situated on Twenty-first Street, with seating room capacity for 240, was erected in 1888, and is heated with stoves.
Reynolds, on Ridge Avenue between Eleventh and Twelfth, a four- room brick, with seating capacity for 240, was erected in 1888, and is heated with stoves.
Long, situated on Sixth Street, an eight-room brick, with seating capacity for 480, was erected in 1888, and is heated with stoves.
Bruce, situated on Second and Armstrong, a two-room frame, with seating capacity for 100, was erected in 1889, and is heated with stoves.
Douglas, a six-room brick, situated on Washington Avenue between Ninth and Tenth, with seating capacity for 360, was erected in 1889, and is heated with stoves.
Barnett, a three-room frame, situated on Barnett Avenue between Tenth and Eleventh. with seating capacity for 130, was erected in 1886, and is heated with stoves.
Riverview, situated on Seventh, an eight-room brick, with seating capacity for 411, was erected in 1880, and is heated with steam.
McAlpine, on Parnell Avenue between Eighth and Ninth, a two- room frame, was erected in 1886, and is heated with stoves.
Armstrong, on Colorado Avenue, a two-room brick, with seating capacity for 120, was erected in 1876, and is heated with stoves.
Stewart, on Ninth and Quindaro, a one-room brick, with seating capacity for 60, was erected in 1885, and is heated with a stove.
London Heights, on Whiteside and Wiltz Avenue, a six-room brick, with seating capacity for 360, was erected in 1889, and is heated with stoves.
By the foregoing it will be seen that the city now owns seventeen school-houses, fifteen of which are constructed of brick, and the other two of wood. Also that three of these buildings were erected in 1888, and the same number in 1889, thus showing the recent rapid increase in the necessity for school facilities. The seventeen buildings above mentioned not being sufficient to accommodate the school children, the school board rented three additional buildings, and had schools
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
taught therein during the school year referred to. The estimated value of the school property belonging to Kansas City, Kas., as shown by the last report, was $272, 800.
The scholastic population of the city for the year closing June 30, 1889, was 9,284 white and 1,864 colored, making a total of 11,148. Of this number, 5,866, only a little more than one-half of the whole number, were enrolled in the public schools. Of the total enrollment 2,958 were males and 2,908 females. The report shows that for the school term ending February 1, 1889, 5,263 pupils were crowded into school-rooms with proper seating capacity for only 4,434. Consider- ing the large percentage of the scholastic population not enrolled in the public schools, it follows that if all were compelled to attend, the capacity for their accommodation would need to be greatly increased.
On the question of enrollment, attendance and continuance in school, John W. Ferguson, in his report as superintendent of the city schools for the year ending June 30, 1889, remarks as follows: "It will be seen that forty-eight per cent of the entire attendance is enrolled in the first two years' work; eighty per cent is enrolled in the first four years' work; ninety per cent is enrolled in the first six years' work; ninety-nine per cent is enrolled in the first eight years' work, and less than one per cent in the high school. This would indicate that the pupils drop out of the schools in the same ratio.
" This state of affairs is not pleasant to contemplate from a humani- tarian standpoint. The fact that so small a per cent of the entire school population takes advantage of the facilities for acquiring a good education, can not fail to awaken serious thoughts on this vital ques- tion. If, as the poet expresses it, 'a little learning is a dangerous thing,' then surely are we toying with firebrands.
"If the stability and perpetuity of our free institutions depend, as philanthropists tell us, upon the education and enlightenment of the masses, then may lovers of liberty and free institutions well feel appre- hensive for the continuance of our present form of government. With less than fifty per cent of our school population enrolled in our schools, and forty-eight per cent of those dropping out at the end of the second year, before the majority of them have laid a proper foundation for an education, does not seem to afford much chance for the education and enlightenment of the masses, as that cuts out seventy-five per cent at once.
" Shall we lose faith in our free-school system and pronounce it a failure? No; the fault is not in the system, but in the environments.
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HISTORY OF KANSAS.
"If the safety of the State depends on the education of the masses, then, on the principle that 'self-preservation is the first law of na- ture,' the State has a right to take steps to preserve itself. It must enact such laws as will compel its citizens to educate their children.
"Human greed and selfishness, and sometimes poverty, combine against the education of hundreds of children. When parents, un- educated themselves, and not knowing the great benefit an education would be to their children, can put the little ones at work, and thus earn from 25 cents to 50 cents per day, it is thought that this is much better than going to school, and not only earning nothing, but creating an additional expense for books and clothing.
"It is poverty in some cases that almost compels the parent to put the child at work; but nine cases out of ten it is greed and selfishness.
"The remedy, I think, lies in strict laws against the employment of children in any factory, shop, etc., during the session of school in any district. The violation of this law should cause heavy punishment to be meted out to the offender. The State must preserve itself. If the cost of books is a barrier to the child's attendance, then the board should furnish them."
Further, upon the growth of the schools, Mr. Ferguson says:
" The growth of the schools since consolidation has been marvel- ous. Probably no city in the United States shows such a wonderful growth. The first year after consolidation forty-three teachers were employed, with an enrollment of 2,005 pupils.
"This year eighty six teachers were employed with an enrollment of 5,866.
"The only trouble has been the lack of proper legislation, which has sadly crippled the board in its efforts to provide suitable school facil- ities.
"The cause seems to be that members of the Legislature from the rural districts are determined to frame school legislation for cities of the first class. The majority of such members know about as much of the requirements and needs of city schools as they do about run - ning a system of railroads,
" Why those persons arrogate to themselves the privilege of legislat- ing for our city schools is more than I can tell. They have a right to vote on questions of public interest, but it seems to me that when mem- bers from cities of the first class agree on necessary legislation, as a matter of courtesy they ought to favor it. Perhaps a part of the trouble arises from the fact that representatives from cities of the first
G
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
class fail to heartily agree and co-operate in their efforts to secure necessary legislation.
"As the needs of this city are peculiar, it would be advisable to get a law passed at the next session of the Legislature that will apply only to our city."
In the Kansas City High School there are four courses of study- the English, Classical, Normal and Latin and Scientific. Four years are required to complete these courses, except the Normal, which requires only three. The number enrolled in the High School for the year of 1888-89 was: Males, 78; females, 173; total, 251.
The receipts, expenditures and balances of funds on hand, of Kan- sas City, Kas., on account of her schools, from July 1, 1888, to July 1, 1889, were as follows:
Funds.
Receipts.
Disburse'mts.
Balance.
General ..
$18,855 22
$47,848 27
$ 506 95
Consolidated Bond Interest
7,320 72
1,937 90
5,392 82
State Dividend.
10,383 60
10,352 60
30 00
Building.
127,057 79
87,376 67
39,681 12
Wyandotte Floating.
1,428 20
1,428 20
Wyandotte Bond Sinking
7,214 92
3,000 00
4,214 92
Wyandotte Bond Interest ..
2,664 02
1,530 00
1,134 02
Former Kansas City Bond Sinking
2,864 16
2,864 16
Former Kansas City Bond Interest.
903 28
420 00
483 28
Total
$208,190 91
$153,883 64
$54,307 27
The amounts expended directly, for the support of the schools during the year, were as follows:
Teachers.
$48,899 25
Janitors.
6,668 25
Officers.
2,770 00
Stoves
653 40
Fuel
2,160 50
Repairs
1,437 31
Insurance.
613 45
Supplies.
1,176 11
Printing.
170 00
Office Supplies.
108 80
Rent.
1,394 60
Miscellaneous
357 00
Total.
$66,408 71
The bonded indebtedness of Kansas City, Kas., on account of her schools was, on June 30, 1889, $159,000. Of this amount $127,000
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HISTORY OF KANSAS.
bears five per cent interest and becomes due February 1, 1909. The balance all bears six per cent interest. Twenty-five thousand of it be- comes due in 1906, and $7,000 becomes due in 1909. In addition to these sums there was $24,000 of bonded indebtedness of the former city of Wyandotte, bearing six per cent interest, and $6,500 bonded indebtedness of the former city of Kansas, bearing seven per cent in- terest.
For the school year ending June 30, 1889, there were eighty-seven principals and teachers employed in the public schools of Kansas City, Kas., besides the general superintendent.
At a meeting of the board of education held in the last week in June, 1890, the engagements and assignments of principals and teach - ers were made for the school year of 1890-91 as follows:
High School-E. A. Mead, principal; L. L. L. Hanks, H. J. Locke, Eva McNally, Annie R. Barker.
Eighth grade, Armourdale district-Bridgie Cushing.
Eighth grade, Central district-Maggie M. Tustin.
Central school-J. C. Mason, principal; Sallie Overton, Jessie B. Lane, Maggie Doran, Ora Peacock, J. L. Burton, Anna Modine, Birdie Colvin, Lizzie Collins.
Central branch-W. J. Pearson, Hattie Dennis, Anna Randles, Mary A. Ramsay.
Everett school-George E. Rose, principal; Flora Betton, Estella Johnson, Mollie Collins, Hattie Bruce, Flora Sackett, Belle Trembley, Lillie Babitt.
Long school-C. H. Nowlin, principal; Lulu Holbrook, Libbie Clark, Jennie Bixby, Sarah Frederling, Sallie Lindsay, Ollie Colvin, Kittie Hooker. Unassigned-Mrs. Criswell, Nellie Sharp, Ida Boucher.
Stewart school-Jennie L. Taffe.
London Heights-Frank Colvin, principal; Mamie Shipley, Noye McLean.
Reynolds school-R. E. Morris, principal; Alice Swan, Carrie Drisco.
Morse school-W. H. McKean, principal; Josie Daniels, Florence J. Brouse, Mary Donnelly. Unassigned-Emma Spier, Ida Patter- son, Lanra Case, Ella F. See.
Wood Street school-M. E. Pearson, principal; H. J. Coddington, Josie Cosgriff, Sophie Wuest, Lucy Bennett, Flora C. Garlick, Lida Spake, Bessie Austin.
Greystone school-M. A. Moriston, principal; Ada Hollingsworth. Armourdale school-J. G. Fertig, principal; Lizzie Espenlaub,
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
Amelia Klippel, Alice Dunmire, Mary Emerick, Mary Malone, Eva Donnelly, Louise Wuest, Belle Colgan, Frances Hughes, Nellie Dan- iels, Sadie Parsons.
McAlpine school-Sallie Hutsell, principal; Augusta Larson.
Riverview school-W. H. Rooney, principal; Julia Hixon, Dora Bean, Katie O'Brien, Mary Shine, Henrietta Church, Anna Judd, Katie Daniels.
Barnett school-W. H. Allen, principal; Josie Eaton, Katie May- ginnis.
Armstrong school-Mary F. McQuinn.
Bruce school-J. J. Bass, principal; Mattie Ross.
Douglas school-J. J. Lewis, principal; J. R. Harrison, W. G. Wood, Tilford Davis, Maggie Callaway.
Lincoln school-G. L. Harrison, principal; A. J. Neeley, Ella Crabb, S. H. Hodge, Hattie Wiley, Georgia Freeman, Katie Hill, Frances Garner, Penelope Booth.
J. H. Gadd is president and M. G. Jones clerk of the board of education, and A. S. Olin is superintendent of the city schools.
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