USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 1 > Part 22
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The Hampden County Teachers' association adopted its present constitution May, 1856. Its annual meetings have ever been interesting and profitable. The attendance in recent years has been so large and the work so specialized, that it is customary to divide the members, during a part of the time of each meeting, into three sections-primary, grammar and high school. The association includes not only teachers of every grade, but mem- bers of school committees and others interested in public schools. No organizations are more democratic than our teachers' associa- tions, and none has been more earnest in kindling the aspirations and improving the professional skill of its members. The meet- ings of the association are held in Springfield. Before this city was as readily reached from surrounding towns as now, the meet- ings were held in different towns, in response to invitations. Its coming was gladly heralded. Citizens opened their houses to those in attendance and provided bountiful entertainment; the citizens felt amply repaid in listening to the discussions and lec- tures before the association.
A preliminary meeting of principals of high schools and academies was held in Springfield, January 18, 1896. At the next meeting, February 14, articles of agreement were adopted and a club was organized under the name, "Headmasters' Club of Western Massachusetts." Its object is to promote acquaint- ance and to aid each other by discussing school questions and plans of school work. Five or six meetings are held annually, one of which, termed "Ladies Day," is spent in visiting some place of historical or literary interest. The earnest work of this club is fruitful in improving the several schools in charge of its members.
The Hitchcock Free academy was established by the citizens of Brimfield in response to a letter received from Samuel Austin Hitchcock, dated February 21, 1855. In this letter, Mr. Hitch- cock disclosed his intention of giving $10,000 for the purpose of endowing a "Free Grammar School." In the name suggested, he seems to have had in mind the "Grammar School" of earlier times, which corresponded to our present high school. Mr. Hitchcock donated in all $75,000. One condition of his first gift
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was that the school should be free to all children of suitable age and qualifications who are inhabitants of the town; a condition of his later gift is, that, "so far as pupils from other towns can be accommodated at the school and not deprive the children of the town of any advantages of the same, they shall be received upon the same terms as resident scholars."
Monson academy, incorporated in 1804, is the oldest acad- emy in the county that, as an active and independent institution, has survived the rise of public high schools,
Westfield academy, founded a few years earlier, was for many years the most important academy in the county; but a generation ago, the development of free high schools led the trustees to sell its building and grounds to the town of Westfield for the use of the Westfield High school. The proceeds of the sale was invested and the income is now used to aid in providing instruction in the school.
Monson academy, like other academies in the county, has ever been open to young ladies as well as to young men. It has fitted a large number for college ; but a much larger number have here completed their school education for an active life. Among the alumni of the academy in active life previous to 1875, we find the names of Henry L. Barnard, LL. D., the first U. S. com- missioner of education ; W. A. Larned, professor in Yale col- lege ; D. B. Coe, D. D., secretary of the American Missionary society ; Richard S. Storrs, D. D., of Brooklyn, the prince of preachers ; G. H. Gould, D. D., and S. Curtis, professors of theol- ogy in Chicago seminary. To this period belong also one who became a judge of the Supreme court of the United States, and another who held a like position in the courts of Massachusetts. Could we have the record of the alumni during later years it would doubtless be alike honorable.
The principals of this school have included several men of excellent scholarship. Perhaps the most eminent man in its his- tory was Charles Hammond, who directed its activities, in all, twenty-five years. To the people of the town, Monson academy now offers the opportunities of a free high school.
The Wesleyan academy was first opened at Newmarket, New Hampshire, September 1, 1817. Thus, it is the oldest literary
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institution under the especial patronage of the Methodist Epis- copal church in America. It was opened at Wilbraham, in November, 1825, with eight students. Its rapid growth was the result of the prayerful effort and zeal of Methodist preachers, seconded by others who have appreciated its religious character and its sound learning. Though in its founding and mainte- nance, it has been known as a Methodist school, it has ever been unsectarian in its teaching, and largely patronized by those of other denominations. It numbers among its present and former students, over seventeen thousand persons. Some nine hundred of these have gone from the school to college. A much larger number have gone into school rooms as teachers. Its career has furnished evidence of the success of co-education; more than a third of the students have been young women.
The education which this academy has ever aimed to secure is broad and comprehensive, the education of body, mind and heart. The moral and religious well-being of the students has ever been a matter of the highest regard.
"The situation" of the school, as some one has said, "is beau- tiful, dry and healthful. No epidemic of serious disease has been known. A splendid supply of water is secured from springs on the mountain above, and the farm lands sloping away toward the Connecticut river, nine miles distant, at Springfield, give a natural and effective drainage. The extensive grounds-for, with farm and forest, they comprise more than two hundred acres -afford an ample campus, set with stately trees, an easily acces- sible athletic field, rugged foot hills for golf and rambling, and a wide prospect of forest and rocky ridge, that has made the school- home most attractive and inspiring."
The Smith Memorial gymnasium, recently erected at a cost of forty-five thousand dollars, containing ample equipments and apparatus on the first floor for young men, and on the second for young ladies, enables the physical director to train all the stu- dents in daily exercises adapted to secure bodily health and graceful movement. The work of the gymnasium is well supple- mented by outdoor exercises and games on the broad campus. Few secondary schools furnish such opportunities for physical culture.
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The courses of study include English, Elocution, History, Classics, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Science and Psychol- ogy, with which are grouped Ethics and Economics.
The studies are so combined in programs as to furnish elective courses for those who are fitting for college, for those who are fitting for technical schools, and for those who would complete their school preparation for life, at the academy. All students are required to avail themselves of the opportunities for physical culture and for the study of the Bible.
Special training for business is furnished in the well-fitted rooms of the commercial department. Special instruction is furnished in the several departments of music and fine arts, and special diplomas are awarded.
Rich Hall, a comparatively new building, presenting a front of two hundred and forty feet, affords in one wing, fine rooms for young men, and in another, for young ladies, who wish to make their home at the school during the months of study. As the living rooms of the faculty are in this building, they are able to provide the students with many of the advantages of a well ordered family, while the frequent receptions and the gatherings of the students in voluntary organizations, do much to add zest to their social life.
The buildings named, together with the old academy, Fisk, Binney and music halls, the principal's residence, the beautiful Memorial church erected by friends of the academy, and other buildings on and near the campus, give evidence of the generous interest that supports the institution and of the wide influence it exerts.
In recent years more than fifty thousand dollars of endow- ment and twenty-five thousand dollars in scholarships, have been received. To the chapters upon the towns of Brimfield, Monson and Wilbraham, we would refer for fuller accounts of the above named academies.
The Westfield academy when founded was a school for a wide section embracing all the towns of Hampden county and towns beyond, in fact all of Western Massachusetts; but as the people of Westfield originated it, and its history is almost insep-
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arable from that of the town, we shall give the detailed history of this famous academy in connection with the history of Westfield.
The Bible Normal college, founded by Rev. David Allen Reed, and incorporated Jan. 28, 1885, was at first named "The School for Christian Workers." It was enlarged in 1892, and again in 1897, when it was given its present name. This college is interdenominational and co-educational. It is intended to hold the same place in the training of religious teachers that normal and other professional schools hold in the training of secular teachers. Three courses of study are offered : 1. A course of three years, largely elective. 2. A course of two years. 3. A course of one year. The studies may be grouped under studies relating to the Bible, studies relating to man, and studies relating to teaching. The buildings of the college are located near the head of State street in the Highlands. Arrangements are now being made for transferring this college to Hartford and affiliating it with the Theological seminary.
The International Y. M. C. A. Training School .- In response to an evident need, Rev. David Allen Reed, in connection with the School for Christian Workers, founded the International Y. M. C. A. Training school in 1885. In 1890, yielding to the demand of associations, it was incorporated as a separate institution under its present name. The following year, its present site, including thirty acres, on the borders of Massasoit lake, was purchased. Soon a model gymnasium and athletic field were made ready, and, in 1895, the present large and commodious building was erected. At first young men were trained for association work by the apprentice system; the training of this school proves far more efficient. The course covers three years, and aims, first, to equip every student to be a leader in religious work for boys and young men, and second, to give him a technical knowledge of the work he expects to undertake in the Young Men's Christian associa- tion.
The French-American college, originated in Lowell, 1885, in a desire to extend the light and the truth of the gospel of Christ to Canadian-French youth. It secured land and buildings and may be said to have been founded in Springfield in 1888.
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Four years later, women were admitted, and its plan was broad- ened to include a full college and a preparatory academical course. While its original purpose to educate and christianize the Canadian French is strenuously maintained, it now admits with these, Italians, Armenians, and others, who cannot well be cared for in ordinary American schools. The rapid increase of foreigners in our county and in other parts of New England, it is believed, demands such an institution, if the truths of the gospel are to be brought home in their native tongues, to the French and to other foreigners settling among us. It is claimed that such a college is needed if we would make those coming among us from other countries, enlightened and worthy citizens. Large place is given to the study of the Bible and of the modern languages, though the aim is to give each student, as far as may be, the benefit of a well rounded college course, that each may be equipped for leadership among his own people.
The Woman's hall, recently erected, one of the six buildings now belonging to the college, is a commodious and very service- able building. The campus and other college grounds include five and one-half acres. The college makes some provision for student labor and instruction in domestic economy and the practical arts. The growth of the college has compelled expen- ditures in excess of receipts. If it is to accomplish its beneficent purposes, funds must be obtained for buildings, for an endow- ment, and to meet increasing current expenses.
The Springfield business college was established several years ago and has trained many young men and many young ladies for the successful discharge of the varied duties of the counting-room. It claims a more successful patronage than any other similar institution in Western Massachusetts.
The "Bay Path Institute," during the few years of its his- tory, has reached a high standard of excellence. It has rapidly gained the confidence of business men by the thoroughness of its teaching and training, and, with its recently enlarged facilities, confidently expects to provide for its increasing patronage.
"The Elms," a family and day school, delightfully situated at No. 141 High street, gives opportunity by its courses of study
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for primary, intermediate and higher instruction. The college preparatory course covers four years, and the English depart- ment a like period.
The MacDuffe school is an unsectarian school for the liberal education of girls. Its aim is the development of a sound body and of systematic, scholarly habits of thought. Its certificate of qualifications admits students to Vassar and to the three women's colleges in our state. Well rounded courses of study and train- ing prepare those who do not enter college, for the duties of life. The buildings of the school are on the grounds of the homestead of the late Samuel Bowles, formerly editor of the Springfield Republican. The equipment of this school challenges compari- son with that of any private school for girls in the state.
The Harvard Street kindergarten, opened some ten years ago by Miss Herrick, won its way when kindergartens were new among us. It did much to pave the way for the establishment of kindergartens as part of the present school system of Springfield. Miss Putnam, whose work is highly appreciated, took charge of this kindergarten September, 1895.
Any enumeration of the schools and the charitable institu- tions that the Catholics have set up and have generously main- tained in Hampden county, during the past thirty years, would furnish impressive evidence of the self-denial, the religious zeal, and the liberality of the members of the Catholic church.
Rev. Patrick Healy, who was appointed to care for the "Parish of the Holy Name of Jesus," in 1864, seems to have been the first to establish a parochial school in Hampden county. The historian of the Springfield Diocese, Rev. J. J. McCoy, now in charge of the "Parish," thus speaks of Father Healy, and of the opening of the school : "He was the pioneer of parochial school education in this diocese. Three years after his coming, he built the Convent of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and called thereto four sisters of Notre Dame, to take charge of St. Joseph's school for girls. They were Sisters Mary Albanie, Mary Rosa, Felicitas and Magdalen of St. Joseph. Sister Mary Albanie was the superior. Father Healy met them at Springfield, and had them driven in a hack to Chicopee. The people of the parish were
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gathered in the church to greet them, and in the middle aisle stood three hundred children dressed in white, who commenced, at the entrance of the sisters, the chanting of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, and the singing of hymns of praise to God. These concluded, one of their number, Miss Sarah Bowe, welcomed the Sisters, saying: 'Permit me, dear Sisters, on behalf of my youthful companions, who have chosen me to represent them on this joyful occasion, to offer you from our hearts a most sincere and cordial welcome to your new home. You come to devote your lives to us, and we trust that in all our actions, nothing may ever occur to cause you any regret. We beg God, dear Sisters, to bless and strengthen your charitable undertaking, and we sincerely hope that we may ever bless this day when we for the first time become your obedient and devoted children.' The second of September following, the first school was opened in the side chapel of the church. There were two hundred girls in attendance. October 15, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Williams of Boston, dedicated the convent chapel and schoolhouse, which latter, at the Sisters' coming, was unfinished."
"It were hardly possible to speak of Father Healy and his work without recalling to all who knew him the 'little superior,' Sister Mary Albanie, who came the first days the Sisters came, and for twenty-three years kept equal pace by his side in all the works done for God in the parish; and who, if grateful hearts speak the truth, though in poverty herself, from her mite fed and clothed whole families. The general estimation of her is found in the words of an aged and respectable lady of the parish, spoken to the present Superior Sister Imelda of the Sacred Heart, 'The good old Superior took care of my small children while I worked in the mill. This was done, sister dear, that the eldest, Katie, might attend school. She would do anything for the love of God.' "
The charming and apparently very candid history of Rev. J. J. McCoy went to press in 1900. It will repay careful perusal. To it we must refer those who would know more of the rise of the fourteen or more parochial schools in our county. A few sta- tisties gathered from its statements may be interesting.
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There are nearly seven thousand pupils in the parochial schools in Hampden county. These schools are organized to cor- respond in grading with the public schools, and in some cases furnish secondary instruction. These schools, with very few exceptions, are taught by sisters from some of the convents. The girls in attendance largely outnumber the boys.
CHAPTER XVII
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, WESTFIELD
BY JAMES CARRUTHERS GREENOUGH, LL. D.
The decline of the public schools previous to the revolution, the rise of academies and other private schools in the earlier part of the nineteenth century, resulting in the increased neglect of the public schools, we have already noticed in the chapter on the History of Education. The better methods of teaching employed in some of the academies, the higher grade of teachers secured, and the better ideals of a school which academies maintained, rendered the need of improvement of the public schools more apparent.
From among those educated in public schools, acad- emies and colleges, who had informed themselves of the great educational movement in Germany, came educational leaders, who sought to arouse an intelligent interest in measures adapted to improve the public schools. One evidence of their success was the passage by the Massachusetts legislature of the act of 1826, requiring the election, in every town, of a school committee, to have general charge of the schools and to make annual reports to the towns and returns to the state. The abstract of returns presented to the legislature in 1827 was made from the returns of 214 towns out of the 302 towns in the state. As yet the state had devised no inducement sufficient to secure returns from all
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the towns, and many of those received were not what were re- quired. Not to quote from towns out of the county, the returns from Springfield may illustrate :
"Number of children from 7 to 16 not attending school- We are not able to make an accurate return. We do not know that any abstain wholly from school, but the attendance in all the schools is very irregular and uncertain."
The returns were sufficient to show that a large percentage of children of school age were not in the schools, that about one- fifth of those who did attend were in private schools or academies, and that a large share of the money paid for instruction was paid to these institutions.
Governor Lincoln, in his inaugural of June 6, urged upon the legislature the necessity of improving the public schools, and to this end "the adoption of measures for the better qualification of teachers of youth." The same year, James G. Carter, of Lan- caster, presented a memorial asking the legislature to make an appropriation in aid of a school for the professional instruction of teachers. It has been said of Mr. Carter, that "from 1821, when he began to publish his articles on the free schools of New England, until the establishment of the state board of educa- tion,"-sixteen years-"he did more than any other person, by his writings and public addresses, to reawaken an interest in pop- ular education and to suggest the means of improving the public schools." A committee of the legislature reported a bill in ac- cord with the memorial; but it was defeated in the senate by a majority of one. A bill favoring the establishment of a fund in aid of schools was debated and also defeated.
In 1834 the legislature established a school fund limited at that time to $1,000,000. In the distribution of the income of this fund, the legislature could now furnish inducements to towns to comply with legislative requirements. Governor Boutwell has said that the creation of the school fund was the most important educational measure ever adopted by the government of the com- monwealth.
The progressive teachers of the state in the meantime were not inactive. August 19, 1830, a body of earnest teachers, intent
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upon securing better public schools, met in the representatives' hall, Boston, adopted a constitution and organized an association ; this was incorporated in 1831, under the title "The American Institute of Instruction." In January, 1837, George B. Emer- son, as chairman of the board of directors of the institute, pre- sented a memorial to the legislature praying for the establish- ment of one or more seminaries for the instruction of teachers.
April 14, the committee on education, to whom had been referred so much of Governor Everett's inaugural as referred to education, the memorial of the institute and other documents of similar import, reported the following bill :
"Be it enacted, etc., as follows :
"Sect. 1. His excellency, the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, is hereby authorized to appoint eight per- sons, who, together with the governor and lieutenant-governor ex-officio, shall constitute and be denominated 'The Board of Education ;' and the persons so appointed shall hold their offices for the term of eight years."
On the 20th of April, 1837, the act was passed, and on the 27th of May following, Gov. Edward Everett appointed the fol- lowing members of the board of education: James G. Carter, Emerson Davis, Edmund Dwight, Horace Mann, Edward New- ton, Thomas Robbins, Jared Sparks, George Hill; ex-officiis, Edward Everett, governor, George Hall, lieutenant-governor. Two of these, Emerson Davis and Edmund Dwight have insepar- ably connected themselves with the history of Hampden county.
Dr. Davis was graduated from Williams college with salu- tatory honors, was tutor in the college for one year, and later, for several years, was its vice-president. For fourteen years he was principal of Westfield academy, and afterwards, for thirty years, pastor of the first Congregational church of Westfield, until the time of his sudden death in 1866. He was the author of books, historical and educational, was well informed respecting the pro- gress of popular education at home and abroad, and was a man of large common sense and withal was endowed with that judicial temperament which ever belongs to wise men. He was eminently fitted to discharge his duties as a member of the highest educa- tional council of the commonwealth.
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Mr. Dwight, then a resident in Boston and member of the house of representatives, has left us monuments of his business talent and foresight in the large manufacturing interests he helped to found and to foster in Chicopee, and in other parts of our valley. Yet he never allowed himself to be so submerged in business as to neglect his own personal culture or to divert his attention from the interests of popular education. Its evolution in Europe and in his own country he carefully traced. His gen- erous hospitality and the social attractions of his home, as well as his money and personal influence, were used to promote the public weal. He belonged to an old and honored family of Springfield. Public spirit and unsullied patriotism flowed in his veins. He invited to his table fellow legislators of large influence and stirred the zeal of men friendly to providing special training to teachers as a means of uplifting the public schools. He invited those opposed to new measures, and skilfully disarmed their opposition. The issue, however, he saw was very doubtful; that with such a governor as Everett a forward movement was possible, that postponement might delay progress for years. The party then out of power was not in favor of certain progressive measures. Whether he divined that the Whig party was soon to lose its prestige by the election of a democratic governor, we do not know. He had done much; he determined to add one more inducement for the furtherance of popular education. He of- fered $10,000, provided the state would appropriate an equal sum, to be expended under the direction of the board of edu- cation "for qualifying teachers." He was aware that the money might be expended in an unsuccessful experiment ; but he had the courage of his convictions and the heroism of a true patriot. On the 19th of April, 1838, the legislature accepted the offer of Edmund Dwight and the founding of one or more normal schools was so far assured. Hampden county was also honored a little later, in 1839, by the appointment of William G. Bates, of West- field, as a member of the board of education. He served eight years, declining re-election, owing to the pressure of his legal business and other duties to which he was called. He was a man of rare intellectual ability, of large executive energy, and of
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