USA > Missouri > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Missouri : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Vol. I > Part 36
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In 1879, A. J. King was defeated for re-election by J. L. Graves, a Christian minister. Mr. Graves, for some reason, re- signed after holding the office for six months, and left the state.
A. W. Van Swearingen, who had served one term as county superintendent (1870-72) was appointed county commissioner by Governor John S. Phelps. He served out the unexpired term or until April, 1881.
A. J. King was elected for his third term as commissioner in 1881. He resigned in October, 1882, having been nominated the preceding June for the office of recorder of deeds.
W. H. Martin was appointed by Governor T. T. Crittenden to fill out the unexpired term until April, 1883.
Mr. Martin was elected as county commissioner in 1883 and served until April, 1887, holding the office for one appointive and two elective terms.
During his administration, the teachers were first organized as a County Normal Institute. The first county institute was held during the summer of 1883. For the next twenty years, from 1883 until 1903, the teachers met annually in the capacity of a normal institute.
L. E. Christian succeeded as county commissioner, serving two terms from 1887 to 1891. W. O. Broadus was elected to the
405
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
office in 1891 and served two terms, until 1895. R. L. Walker succeeded, being elected in 1895 and serving two terms until 1899.
M. J. Hale was elected county commissioner in 1899. He was re-elected in 1901, but resigned in October, 1902, to accept the superintendency of the schools of Richmond, Mo. W. E. Veer- kamp was appointed by Governor A. M. Dockery in October, 1902, to fill out the unexpired term extending until April, 1903. He was elected as commissioner in 1903 for a term of two years.
In 1904, at the annual school meeting, Vernon county adopted supervision. Commissioner Venkamp qualified at once as county superintendent.
In the spring of 1905, W. E. Veerkamp and W. Y. Foster were candidates for county superintendent. After a spirited cam- paign, Mr. Veerkamp was elected and served a term of two years.
W. Y: Foster was nominated by acclamation for county super- intendent in the spring of 1907 and elected in April by a majority of 300. He was renominated by acclamation and re-elected with- out opposition in 1909.
The General Assembly of 1909 passed the state-wide super- vision law. On August 16 of that year, Mr. Foster qualified as county superintendent under the new law.
In 1911, Superintendent Foster was renominated by acclama- tion and re-elected without opposition. He received 2,013 votes, being practically all of the votes cast at the annual school meeting. This was the first election under the state-wide supervision law and was the first term of four years in the history of the county. Superintendent Foster was the first superintendent to serve three terms. His administration, covering a period of eight years (1907-15), is the longest in the history of the county to the present time, 1911.
COMMISSIONERS, OR SUPERINTENDENTS, OF VERNON COUNTY.
(Name, Term, How Chosen.)
Thos. W. German, 1856, appointed by county court.
Wm. H. Blanton, 1857-58, appointed by county court.
John C. Boon, 1858-60, appointed by county court.
U. A. Page, 1860 to March 1, 1861, appointed by county court.
J. L. Wilson, 1865 to June 8, 1866, appointed by county court.
406
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
L. J. Shaw, June 8, 1866, to November 6, 1866, appointed by county court.
L. J. Shaw, November, 1866, to November, 1868, elected county superintendent.
S. H. Thompson, November, 1868, to November; 1870, elected county superintendent.
A. W. Van Swearingen, November, 1870, to November, 1872, elected county superintendent.
J. M. Blake, November, 1872, to April, 1875, elected county commissioner.
A. J. King, April, 1875, to April, 1877, elected county com- missioner.
A. J. King, April 1877, to April, 1879, elected county com- missioner.
*J. L. Graves, April 1879, to October, 1879, elected county commissioner.
A. W. Van Swearingen, October, 1879, to April, 1881, ap- pointed by Governor.
*A. J. King, April, 1881, to October, 1882, elected county com- missioner.
W. H. Martin, October, 1882, to April, 1883, appointed by Governor.
W. H. Martin, April, 1883, to April, 1885, elected county com- missioner.
W. H. Martin, April, 1885, to April, 1887, elected county com- missioner.
L. E. Christian, April, 1887, to April, 1889, elected county commissioner.
L. E. Christian, April, 1889, to April, 1891, elected county commissioner.
W. O. Broadus, April, 1891, to April, 1893, elected county commissioner.
W. O. Broadus, April, 1893, to April, 1895, elected county commissioner.
R. L. Walker, April, 1895, to April, 1897, elected county com- missioner.
R. L. Walker, April, 1897, to April, 1899, elected county com- missioner.
M. J. Hale, April, 1899, to April, 1901, elected county com- missioner.
407
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
*M. J. Hale, April, 1901, to October, 1902, elected county com- missioner.
W. E. Veerkamp, October, 1902, to April, 1903, appointed by Governor.
+W. E. Veerkamp, April, 1903, to April, 1905, elected county commissioner.
W. E. Veerkamp, April, 1905, to April, 1907, elected county superintendent.
W. Y. Foster, April, 1907, to April 1909, elected county super- intendent.
+W. Y. Foster, April, 1909, to April, 1911, elected county super- intendent.
W. Y. Foster, April, 1911, to April, 1915, elected county super- intendent.
*Resigned.
+Qualified as county superintendent.
COUNTY INSTITUTES IN VERNON COUNTY.
Rural and village school work in Vernon county proceeded in a somewhat irregular, isolated and inefficient way until the ad- ministration of Commissioner W. H. Martin.
Each school district was conducted as a separate, distinct unit, without regard to what the neighboring districts were doing.
As far as records of school work were concerned, each school was conducted as though it was the first, and was to be the last term to be taught in the district.
The applicant for teacher's certificate went before the county superintendent or county commissioner, was given a short oral examination, or none at all, and was granted a certificate.
The dawn of a brighter day for the teachers and the school work of Vernon county came in the summer of 1883, when Com- missioner W. H. Martin, ably assisted by Superintendent L. E. Wolf, of the Nevada City schools, organized the first Vernon County Teachers' Normal Institute.
The purpose of the institute, as set forth in section 2 of arti- cle I of the constitution, was as follows: "The design of this organization shall be the mutual improvement and benefit of the teachers and the general advancement of our educational interests in Vernon county."
408
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
The county institute was the most characteristic and impor- tant school movement in Vernon county from 1883 to 1903, and in the state from 1891 to 1903. The officers of the institute were a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
The organization of the institute in Vernon county was actu- ated by local enterprise, and the enrollment was entirely volun- tary. It was prompted by professional spirit and a personal desire on the part of the teachers for advancement and progress. The idea of a county institute was probably suggested to Com- missioner Martin and Superintendent Wolf by a provision in the supervision law of 1865-6 (repealed in 1872) which provided that the county superintendent should "organize and hold teachers' institutes at least twice a year."
The local option institutes were held in Vernon county from 1883 to 1891. The county commissioner was ex-officio manager. He appointed two other teachers who, associated with him, con- stituted the institute board to select a conductor and instructor for the institute.
Sometimes the institute by a majority vote would instruct the board whom to choose as conductor and sometimes the board would take the initiative in the matter.
The teachers strove to secure the best talent in the state for institute conductors and instructors. This fact may be seen by calling over the names of the eminent school men who taught in the Vernon county institutes from time to time: W. H. Martin, L. E. Wolf, W. J. Hawkins, H. H. Holmes, G. L. Osborne, A. A. Dodd, W. H. Miller, Frank Durwester, R. L. Walker, J. A. Burke, W. E. Veerkamp, A. W. Duff, J. C. Pike, M. J. Hale and others.
The teachers rallied loyally to the support of the institutes, both in attendance and by financial aid. By an inspection of the enrollment through the eighties and nineties many of the same names are found on the roll from year to year. Practically all of the teachers who were to teach in the county the ensuing term were in attendance, together with many other young persons who intended to become teachers or who attended because of an interest in the work.
The enrollment ranged from 41 in 1883 to 216 in 1893. In the twenty years from 1883 to 1903, Vernon county did not miss an institute. The enrollment was below one hundred only four times. Forty-one in 1883, 97 in 1884, 86 in 1887 and 77 in 1889.
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EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
During all of the other years the attendance ranged from 125 to more than 200. The institutes were held for four weeks during June, July or August. Ample funds were provided for their maintenance as each teacher paid an institute fee of $2.50 from 1883 to 1891, $3 from 1891 to 1903.
The conductor was usually paid $125 for his services and the instructors $100 each.
It is interesting to note that Prof. L. E. Wolf was elected state superintendent of the public schools of Missouri in 1890. In 1890-91, he inspired the General Assembly to pass the state-wide institute law. This law extended the institute idea to each and every county of the state.
From 1891 to 1903 every county of Missouri held four weeks' summer institutes as Vernon county had been doing in a local option way from 1883 to 1891.
It is an honor to the enterprise of the Vernon county teachers and should be a matter of pride to the people of the county, that this county took the lead in the matter of holding institutes, anticipating the state law eight years, and doing much to bring about the enactment of the law.
Probably no educational movement (except state-wide super- vision) has done so much to promote professional spirit among the teachers as the old-time institutes. They moved and en- thused the entire teaching force of the county. The standard of teachers' qualifications was raised for the institutes were summer training schools. Here teachers of long experience and beginning teachers met together. They studied and recited lessons for four weeks. They discussed the relative values of the different meth- ods of teaching. Various questions and problems relating to school supervision and administration were weighed and consid- ered.
It was the normal school brought home to the teacher. The teacher of experience here brightened up and gained inspiration. The beginning teacher formed high ideals of teaching and en- joyed the privilege and advantage of hearing experienced teach- ers discuss methods and school problems. As "forewarned is forearmed," the institute was specially valuable to the young teacher. Other advantages of the institute were the comradeship and good feeling that it prompted among the teachers of the county.
410
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
It did much to destroy isolation and bring about co-operation. The normal institute was valuable specially to the teacher. Here its chief power was felt. The teachers felt a personal pride in appearing well in an intellectual way before the institute. In fact, a teacher's professional standing and rating in the county depended on his or her loyalty to the institute and the character of work done therein. There was small chance for sham and pre- tense. Each teacher stood on his own intellectual footing and had to look to his laurels to make good. The strong, able teacher stood out and commanded respect and admiration. The super- ficial teacher was recognized at once. The school work of the county was bettered somewhat in an indirect way by the insti- tute. In making better teachers, the schools were naturally bene- fited.
Outlines for teaching various subjects were presented by the instructors at the institutes. They were copied by the teachers and used in the schools. Enterprising teachers sought to improve school houses and school apparatus. School terms were length- ened and salaries raised. The teachers learned through the in- stitute the value and power of organization. Never again could there be in Missouri the isolation which once existed. The value of co-operation was learned. Thus a great organization was de. veloped which could battle for educational advancement in the state.
County supervision was early chosen as the chief objective point of the teaching profession. The county institutes launched the fight for supervision. Here the teachers discussed its value. In district and state associations, the teachers "resoluted" for it. They appointed legislative committees, and carried the fight to the General Assembly. The fight was a long, hard one but finally the battle was won for progress and advancement.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF INSTITUTES, ETC.
Year. En. Conductor.
Instructor.
Instructor.
Where Held.
1883
41
L. E. Wolf.
. W. H. Martin.
. Nevada.
1884
97
L. E. Wolf.
. W. H. Martin.
.W. J. Hawkins
: Nevada.
1885
125 L. E. Wolf ..
. W. H. Martin.
.. W. J. Hawkins . Nevada.
1886
141
W. J. Hawkins.
. G. L. Osborne.
.A. A. Dodd.
. Nevada.
1887
86
W. J. Hawkins.
. A. A. Dodd ..
Nevada.
1888
108
W. J. Hawkins
. L. E. Christian.
.R. D. Cully
. Nevada.
1889 77
W. H. Miller.
. . W. J. Hawkins.
. Nevada.
1890
126
W. H. Miller.
. L. E. Christian .
. . W. J. Hawkins.
. Nevada.
1891
167
H. H. Holmes.
. W. H. Miller.
. . S. F. Snodgrass.
. Nevada.
1892
201
H. H. Holmes.
. W. O. Broadus
. . S. F. Snodgrass.
. Nevada.
1893
216
W. J. Hawkins. . . W. O. Broadus.
.Frank Durwester.
. Nevada.
1894
132
W. J. Hawkins.
. W. O. Broadus.
.Frank Durwester.
. Nevada.
1895
146
R. L. Walker. .
. W. J. Hawkins. .
.. . H. H. Holmes. .
. Nevada.
1896
161
R. L. Walker.
.. W. H. Martin.
. Miss Pearl Lemmon . Nevada.
1897
120
R. L. Walker.
. J. A. Burke.
.. W. E. Veerkamp.
.Schell City
1898
142
R. L. Walker.
. W. H. Martin. .
.M. J. Hale. ..
. Schell City
1899
162
M. J. Hale.
. W. E. Veerkamp.
J. M. Yatu.
. Nevada
1900
174
M. J. Hale.
. W. E. Veerkamp.
. A. W. Duff.
Nevada
1901
141
M. J. Hale. . . W. E. Veerkamp ..
L. E. Brous. ..
. Nevada
1902
130
M. J. Hale. .. . W. E. Veerkamp .. . C. D. George.
. Nevada
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
411
412
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS AND SUMMER SCHOOLS.
On the recommendation of State Superintendent W. T. Car- rington the General Assembly of 1902-3 passed the law creating the Fall Teachers' Association. This law repealed the Institute Law of 1891.
It provided that the county commissioner or county superin- tendent should organize a county teachers' association to be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of some week in September, October or November.
The county association is a professional meeting. It sup- planted the county institute and differs from it in that no academic work is done.
Methods of instruction and important school problems are considered by the teachers by means of lectures, the reading of papers and round table discussions.
The county superintendent prepares a program consisting of lectures, papers and discussions for the association.
In every county practically 100 per cent of the teachers attend the association. When they present a receipt for their day's attendance to the school board from the county superin- tendent they receive their regular salary for their attendance.
The association is valuable in bringing about unity and uni- formity in school work of the county. Professional spirit is devel- oped by the mingling of the teachers in these gatherings. A means is afforded by which the teachers are kept modern and up-to-date in matters of school thought and school policy in the county and in the state. The necessity of pursuing the Reading Circle Work and the reading of school journals is emphasized. The social side of the associations is one of their pleasing and most chief values, and no fraternity can afford to neglect this phase of its life.
It has been the policy of the present school administration in Vernon county to make the evening sessions of the fall association popular evenings. The first evening is devoted to the county declamatory contest and the second evening to the county spelling contest.
In 1900 the state normal schools and the state university began the organization of summer school courses. These courses were meant primarily for teachers.
The proposed discontinuance of the academic work of the
413
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
county institutes made it necessary to provide a means of summer instruction whereby teachers could better their qualifications at a minimum expenditure of time and money.
The summer school idea has proved popular. From a few score of teachers in the state institutions of 1900 the summer schools have grown until now several thousand teachers attend every summer.
In fact, the summer session of the state normals is the most largely attended session of the year. It is a regular quarter of the year's work and the work done counts for credit in any graduate course offered by the various schools.
The student bodies of the summer schools are the most mature and efficient classes that the schools have during the year. The students are for the most part teachers and fully interested in their work. So it will be seen that the place once filled by the county institute has been handed over to the state normal schools and the state university.
There is this fact to be borne in mind. When the county insti- tute reached practically 100 per cent of the teachers in every county of the state, the summer schools of the state institutions reach only a small per cent of the teachers of the various counties. The nearer the county is located to the normal school, the larger will be the per cent of teachers in school, and in proportion as the county is distant from the normal school, just in that proportion will the per cent of teachers decrease.
The problem arises : when is the young teacher to receive his or her preparatory instruction for teaching? The summer school is a good thing for the normal, but is it so good a thing for the average teacher? Because of short terms and low salaries the teachers of rural schools are not justified in attending normal school at an elaborate expense.
It is the opinion of many teachers that the rural school teachers have suffered because of the discontinuance of the county insti- tute, which was in substance a summer school for the teachers of each county.
Probably the only defect of the institute law was that it pro- vided for an examination of applicants for certificates at the close. This allowed the institute to develop into a grind for certificates.
The law creating the fall association provided for teachers'
414
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
examinations at three times during the year-on the fourth Sat- urday and the preceding Friday in March, June and August.
A four weeks' institute with examinations divorced from it would be a good thing for the rural teachers of every county at present.
Such a gathering would enable the county superintendent to counsel with, advise with and instruct his teachers. The county superintendent has no such opportunity at present in most of the counties of the state. It was this conviction of the need of a county summer school which has influenced the county superin- tendent of Vernon county to organize a summer school each sum- mer since the repeal of the institute law in 1902. Nine local voluntary summer schools have been held in Vernon county from 1903 to 1911, with good attendance and good quality of work done. A majority of the younger teachers attend the local summer school, while the older and more mature teachers attend the state institution summer school.
The manner of management is similar to the institute man- agement of a former day. Academic work is done in the branches which the teachers will be called to teach. Methods of teaching are emphasized, together with physiology and philology.
COUNTY BOARDS OF EDUCATION.
The general assembly in 1901 created a county board of edu- cation for each county in the state. It consisted of three mem- bers: The county commissioner as ex-officio chairman; one member appointed by the state board of education, one member appointed by the county court. The members were to serve for a term of two years.
The first board in Vernon county from 1901 to 1903 consisted of M. J. Hale, county commissioner, W. E. Venkamp as state appointee and C. E. Keeling as county appointee. In 1902 M. J. Hale resigned as county commissioner and the governor appointed W. E. Veerkamp to fill the vacancy. This vacated a place on the county board and the state board appointed C. D. George, of Schell City, to fill the vacancy.
The second board organized in 1903 to serve until 1905, con- sisted of W. E. Veerkamp, county commissioner ; C. E. Keeling, state appointee, and G. L. Shumate, county appointee. The duties
.
LIST OF SUMMER SCHOOLS.
Year. En.
Conductor.
Teacher.
Teacher.
Where Held.
1903 61
W. E. Venkamp. .... . O. F. Munson. .
. C. D. George.
. Nevada
1904 64
W. E. Venkamp ..
. . W. Y. Foster.
. O. F. Munson.
.. Nevada
1905
96
W. E. Venkamp.
. O. F. Munson.
. C. D. George.
. Nevada
1906 70
W. E. Venkamp.
. O. F. Munson.
Nevada
1907 44
W. Y. Foster .. . G. L. Shumate.
. Nevada
1908 48
W. Y. Foster ..
. Schell City
1909 65 W. Y. Foster ..
. J. G. Ward.
.Nevada
1910
80 W. Y. Foster.
. F. H. Barbee.
. Nevada
1911
90
W. Y. Foster ... . . V. A. Dobyns. .
.. Nevada
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
415
416
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
of the county board of education were to have general control and supervision of the educational interests of the county. All that the board did in Vernon county was to examine and license teachers and adopt a course of study.
In 1903 the county board adopted the state course of study, prepared by State Superintendent W. T. Carrington for the use of the Vernon schools. This course, revised in 1907 by Super- intendent Carrington, in 1909 by Superintendent Howard A. Goss, and in 1911 by Superintendent Willim P. Evans, is still the basis of instruction in the schools of the county.
The county board of education passed out of existence in Ver- non county upon the adoption of county supervision locally in 1904. They passed out of existence throughout the state in 1909 upon the passage of the state-wide supervision law. In each case all of the duties of the board passed into the hands of the county superintendent.
The general assembly in 1907 passed a law creating a county text book commission. Its only duty is to adopt text books for the county. It is composed similarly to the old county board of education. Following are the persons who have served on the Vernon county text book commissions :
1907-09-W. Y. Foster, chairman; G. L. Shumate, secretary ; J. W. Storms.
1909-11-W. Y. Foster, chairman; I. L. Marquis, secretary ; J. W. Storms.
1911-13-W. Y. Foster, chairman; H. A. Wise, secretary ; D. A. Martin.
COUNTY SUPERVISION.
The question of state-wide county school supervision was agi- tated in Missouri for twenty-five years before the state law was passed.
The rural schools of this state were without adequate super- vision from 1872 to 1909, a period of thirty-seven years.
These years were a period of educational chaos and waste as far as the rural schools were concerned. While the high schools, the normal schools and the state university made marked progress it is a lamentable fact that the rural schools lagged far behind.
Inasmuch as the Vernon county schools have made their chief progress under supervision, and inasmuch as this county had much
417
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
to do with the enactment of the state-wide law, it will not be out of place to trace the history of the fight for supervision.
As early as August 25, 1886, the Vernon County Teachers' Normal Institute, then in session at Nevada, passed a resolution indorsing county supervision.
This question was not allowed to rest in the halls of the general assembly.
For sixteen successive sessions from 1877 to 1909, covering a period of thirty-two years, a bill providing for county supervision, defining the powers and duties of the county superintendent and fixing his compensation, was introduced. The bill of 1877, intro- duced by Senator Morrison, of the 23rd senatorial district, was lost in committee. Senator Morrison's bill of 1879 passed the senate but lost in the house on its third reading.
During the next few years attempts were made to amend the law providing for a county commission, but without results. In the early part of the session of 1877 a well drawn bill providing for state-wide county supervision was introduced in the house by Hon. H. Hinton, of Bates county. Educators all over the state rallied to the support of this measure and sent in large petitions praying for its passage. The bill lost in the house and a similar bill was lost in the senate.
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