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 37
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
On January 22, 1889, Hon. B. F. Stuart, of Buchanan county, introduced a bill in the house providing for county supervision.
It was afterward incorporated in a substitute for several school revision bills and amended so as to make its adoption optional with the counties on a vote of the people. In this form it finally passed both houses and was signed by the governor.
It recited that upon the presentation of a petition to the county court, signed by 100 resident freeholders of the county, asking for an election on county supervision, it should be the duty of the court to call an election on the proposition at the next annual school meeting.
If the question should receive a majority of the votes cast on it at the school meeting it should be declared adopted. In that event the county commissioner should qualify and give bond at once as county superintendent.
Pursuant to the provisions of this law, twenty-four counties, among them being Vernon, adopted supervision in twenty years. The record of twenty-four counties adopting supervision in twenty
418
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
years and ninety-nine counties without supervision. It must be plainly evident that the local option supervision law was prac- tically a failure. In fact, it was used as a makeshift back of which legislators hid. They used it as an excuse for voting against supervision, saying that the counties could vote it locally if they wanted it, and that it was not right to force something on the counties which they did not want.
From 1889 to 1904 the question of county supervision was submitted to the people of Vernon county by petition at least three times and as often voted down. Different persons assigned different reasons for voting against it. The chief objection, how- ever, was that it would create another salaried office. Each time that the proposition was voted on it gained friends. Many of the citizens of the county came to believe that the schools of the county should have an official head.
The cause was strengthened also by the inauguration of per- sons who had lived formerly in states where county supervision was a fixed educational policy, and they knew of its success for operation and beneficial results.
At a teachers' meeting in the Nevada high school building, in February, 1904, Prof. W. Y. Foster. then a teacher in the high school, offered a resolution providing for a petition to the county court again providing for the submission of county supervision.
The petition in due time was drawn, circulated and presented to the court. The county court ordered the election. Commis- sioner W. E. Veerkamp and W. Y. Foster campaigned the county rather thoroughly in favor of the proposition.
The question was voted on and carried at the annual school meeting in April.
Commissioner W. E. Veerkamp at once qualified as county superintendent and served as such until April, 1905. At the annual school meeting in 1905 the people of Vernon county elected a county superintendent for the first time since 1872, a period of thirty-three years. In the session of the general assem- bly of 1893, Scott, of Monroe county, introduced a supervision bill in the house, and Senator Sebree, of the Eighth senatorial district, introduced a bill in the senate. Both were lost in com- mittee. In 1895 Hon. John E. Swanger introduced a supervision bill in the house, which was lost on its third reading.
In the senate during the session of 1895 Senator Sebree intro-
NEVADA HIGH SCHOOL
GARSTANO &RAS
ARCHITECTS
JOPLIN, NO.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
419
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
duced a bill providing for supervision in every county. It was lost in committee. Hon. F. N. Dyer, of DeKalb county, intro- duced a supervision bill in the house in the session of 1897, which was lost for engrossment.
In the spring of 1901 Hon. C. J. Colden, of Nodaway county, introduced a bill in the house providing for supervision of schools. It lost for engrossment. In 1903 Chasteen, of Stoddard county, introduced a bill in the house to amend the local option super- vision law.
The amendment strengthened the law and simplified the manner of its adoption.
It passed both houses and was signed by the governor.
During the same session, Wells, of Dunklin county, introduced a supervision bill in the house, which after a hard fight passed.
Its enemies carried the fight into the senate and defeated it.
In 1905 house bill No. 66, almost a duplicate of the bill that passed the house in 1903, was introduced by Maples, of Christian county.
The bill passed the house easily by a vote of 105, but was lost in the senate.
In 1907 house bill No. 65, perhaps one of the best measures ever offered to the state legislature. was introduced by Johnson, of Pettis county. After a hard fight it passed the house and was sent to the senate. Here it was amended and passed. Then the house failed to concur in the senate amendments and the bill was lost.
The educators of the state decided to become active and make a strong effort to secure the passage of the supervision law at the ensuing session of the legislature. Accordingly, during the first days of the general assembly of 1909, a supervision bill, which had been drafted previously, was introduced simultaneously in the house by Ford, of Grundy county, and in the senate by F. M. McDavid, of the Twentieth senatorial district. This bill prob- ably attracted more attention than any other proposed law during this general assembly.
Petitions praying for its passage poured in from all parts of the state. Superintendent Foster, of Vernon county, took the longest petition to Jefferson City from any county in the state. Hon. J. B. Johnson presented the petition in the house in these words: "Mr. Speaker. I present a petition from the people of
420
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
Vernon county for state-wide supervision, which is forty-three feet long, with names in proportion." In fact it was signed by 1,500 citizens. In the fight for supervision Vernon county was fortunate in her representation both in the house and in the senate.
Judge J. B. Johnson, of Vernon county, made a strong fight for educational interests all along the line. He was one of the chief champions of supervision in the house and made several strong speeches in support of it.
Senator F. M. McDavid, the representative of Vernon county in the senate, had charge of the bill in that body. It was largely because of his influence and prestige that it passed the senate.
It is a notable fact that the supervision bill was the first to pass both houses of the general assembly and reach the governor for his signature.
It was the first bill that Gov. Herbert S. Hadley signed, so was the first law enacted during his administration. It was approved by him on March 15, 1909.
So the fight for state-wide supervision, covering a period of thirty-seven years, was won. The dream of the educators of Missouri was realized at last. Vernon county played no incon- siderable part in bringing about this great victory for the rural school interests of the state.
As Vernon county adopted supervision locally in 1904, it antici- pated the passage of the state law five years. During this time the county has had two superintendents : W. E. Venkamp, 1904 to 1907, and W. Y. Foster, 1907 to 1915. Superintendent Venkamp introduced the state course of study with the school of Vernon county and began the use of quarterly examination questions and grade cards in the rural schools.
Note. In justice to Professor Foster it should be stated that when he practically refused to complete this article by continuing it through his own administration in detail, it was only upon my urgent solicitation that he consented to do so, and we would say further that he is to be complimented on the impersonal and modest way in which he has recounted the matters for which he is really deserving a great deal of praise. The importance of the subject in itself is sufficient apology for its length if any were needed, and the many valuable thoughts and beautiful sentiments which he has so artistically interwoven in the web and woof of
421
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
his article and which are of such permanent importance will force our forbearance on this score .- Editor.
The modern constructive rural and village school work dates from the administration of W. Y. Foster. As soon as he became superintendent new life and energy was infused in the school work. Many improvements and reforms have been introduced which make an epoch in the county schools heretofore unknown. As the institutes reached and greatly improved the teachers of the county, Superintendent Foster has made supervision reach schools, and school work has been wonderfully enriched and vitalized.
Following are some of the constructive and enlivening features of school work introduced and successfully carried out in the county under Superintendent Foster's administration :
(1) Associations. In addition to the regular fall teachers' association is held an August association. It is a preview meet- ing. In this all of the teachers meet for the purpose of coun- selling and planning together for the coming year's work.
A printed program is carried out. The superintendent explains the plans for the term. Various supplies are handed out. The reading circle work is organized. In many respects this is one of the most valuable meetings of the year.
(2) School Visitations. All of the rural and village schools are visited thoroughly and systematically each term. Manner of instruction, conditions and methods of discipline are noted. Con- dition of school buildings and apparatus is examined. Teachers and pupils are advised with and encouraged.
(3) Records and Reports. An efficient system of classifica- tion, records and reports has been introduced.
(4) Perfect Attendance Certificates. A perfect attendance certificate system has been introduced which greatly aids regu- larity and punctuality 'of attendance. It consists of monthly, five months and twenty months certificates.
(5) Rural Graduation. One of the chief characteristics of the county school work under this administration has been rural graduation. Probably the first rural commencement in the his- tory of the county was that held by Prof. W. Y. Foster when he was a teacher of the Lowe school in Clear Creek township in the spring of 1901. The members of the class were: Everett C.
422
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
Wilson, Albert Easley, James E. Nance, Beulah Herndon, Maud Eads, Ella Wilson and Mellie Wilson.
This commencement was a pioneer meeting, and was held in the Oak Grove Baptist church. Since then rural graduation has become a permanent feature of work not only in Vernon county, but in every county in the state. Vernon county has developed the idea of township commencements. In the county during the present administration, 560 pupils have been graduated from the eighth grade of the rural and village schools in thirty-one town- ship commencements. The classes are as follows: 1907-8, 150 graduates; 1908-9, 146 graduates; 1909-10, 135 graduates; 1910- 11, 129 graduates.
Fully 10,000 people have attended these commencements. They have stimulated school interest in all parts of the county.
The graduates are graded in each from highest to lowest. The pupil grading highest is called Township valedictorian, the second Township Salutatorian.
The Nevada Board of Education grants each township vale- dictorian a scholarship which carries with it free tuition in the high school during the freshman year.
Following are the names of the pupils furnishing first and second best in the county each year. We call them County Vale- dictorian and County Salutatorian :
1907-08-Letha Lollar. of Harwood. Co. Val .; Katie Roedick, of Harwood, Co. Sal.
1908-09-Icie Flynn, of Clear Creek township, Co. Val .; Edith Morgann, of Harwood, Co. Sal.
1909-10-Lincoln Simmson, of Badger township, Co. Val .; Mollie Woods, of Center township, Co. Sal.
1910-11-Edith Lyons. of Osage township, Co. Val .; Wallace Palmer, of Dover township, Co. Sal.
Rural graduation is one of the most valuable school movements which has ever been inaugurated in the county as it unifies the work and renders it uniform. By its operation. the rural schools, high schools and university are all articulated into a gradual progressive whole.
(5) Spelling Contests. A county spelling contest has been developed by means of preliminary district and township con- tests. By these selective methods, the three champion spellers from each of the twenty townships of the county come to the
423
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
county contest duly credentialed from their respective townships. These contests have revived a marked interest in spelling and have brought about better results throughout the entire county in teaching and reciting this subject. Following are the pupils who were winners in the contests :
1909-Lee McCormick, Washington township, first; Mollie Woods, Center township, second; Minto Craig, Montevallo town- ship, third.
1910-Wallace Palmer, Dover township, first; Maggie Patter- son, Schell City, second; Ruth Miller, Walker township, third; Nellie Madding, Blue Mound township, fourth.
(6) County Declamatory Contest. In 1909 a county declama- tory contest was organized, open to the pupils of the first eight grades of the rural and village schools.
The purpose of these contests are to encourage expressive interpretation of reading and literature, and to develop evolu- tionary ability.
Following are the winners of prizes in the first two contests :
1909-Laura Conrad, Schell City, first; Geraldine Church, Blue Mound township, second.
1910-Earl Keeney, Clear Creek township, first; Fay Duncan, Richards, second.
The county declamatory and spelling contests are held in con- nection with the county teachers' association in the fall in the last week in October and are held on the first and second nights. respectively. They have elicited great interest in all parts of the county.
(7) Boys' Corn Growing Club. A boys' corn growing club of 250 members was organized in the fall and winter of 1910. Each boy agreed to raise an acre of corn in an approved way. A corn show will be held in Nevada in the fall of 1911. The club will be a permanent feature of agricultural work in the rural schools.
(8) Exhibits of Written Work. An exhibit book for written work was made a feature of the county school work in 1911-12. One book from each rural school will be prepared and exhibited at the teachers' association. The purpose is to emphasize neatness and form work as school exhibits.
(9) The rural school course of study has been vitalized and enriched by giving special attention to spelling, agriculture and
424
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
literature. The latter two subjects have been introduced into the rural schools during the present administration.
(10) Rural School Rally Day. A rural school rally day was originated and organized in August, 1910, and was held at Lake Park, Nevada. It was an all day meeting. The meeting was intended to stimulate rural school interests and was held in honor of county graduating classes of 1908-09-10. The forenoon pro- gram was given by the graduates, and that of the afternoon con- sisted of addresses by well known educators. State Superin- tendent Howard A. Goss, President W. T. Carrington, of the Springfield State Normal; Sam Jordon, the Missouri "Corn Man," and other well known educators made addresses.
There were 2,500 people present and 208 graduates on the stage. All enjoyed a fine basket dinner at noon. It is the inten- tion to make the "rally day" a permanent feature.
THE FUTURE.
The work of improving and developing the rural and village schools has only begun. There are many unsolved problems yet. One of them is the elimination of the weak districts and the bring- ing of uniform school advantages to all of the school children of the county without respect to where they may live.
The securing of high school advantages at home for the country children is also another important problem.
Both of these reforms can be secured by consolidation of dis- tricts and establishment of rural or township high schools.
A few attempts have been made at consolidation without suc- cess. There is a growing sentiment in favor of consolidation, however. As a substitute for consolidation high school courses are being organized in each of the village schools of the county. This brings high school advantages within four or five miles of the home of every country boy or girl of the county. This is a step toward consolidation. At present there is a four years' high school course offered in Nevada which articulates with the uni- versity. A three years' course is offered at Schell City. Two- year courses are offered at Sheldon, Milo, Bronaugh. Moundville, Harwood, Walker, Stotesbury and Richards. One-year courses are offered at Metz, Deerfield and Montevallo. There are 130 rural schools in the county. These, together with the ten village schools and the one city school constitute the 141 schools. Ex-
425
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
cluding Nevada we find that the school enumeration for 1910 is 6.031; total expenditures for 1909-10, $59,965.88 ; total permanent school fund, $112,151; number of teachers, 165, being 133 in rural and 32 in village schools.
A high school entrance certificate, signed by the county super- intendent, certifying that the holder has completed the eighth grade, will admit a pupil to the ninth grade work of any of the high schools of the county. The small high schools are articulated with the Nevada high schools. The Nevada high schools with the Missouri university. So it will be seen that the Vernon county schools constitute an unbroken progressive unity.
NEVADA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
By Prof. J. W. Storms, Superintendent.
The townsite of Nevada was located by a commission ap- pointed in 1855, but for some time the settlement of the new county seat was slow. The first school taught within the present school district was a private school taught by Mr. Frank P. Anderson in the summer of 1859 in the courthouse.
The first school building was erected in the summer and fall of 1860. This was a large one-room frame building erected by Messrs. Bourland & Dickerson as contractors, on the southwest corner of the present high school grounds. This block of ground was donated to the school district by Mr. Benjamin Baugh for school purposes.
The first public school was taught in Nevada during the win- ter of 1860-61 by Ava E. Page. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Page enlisted in the Southern army and was made lieutenant of Capt. C. D. Smith's company. This school was the first and only public school taught in the district till after the war.
The old one-room schoolhouse was one of the few buildings in Nevada that was not destroyed by fire during the war. At the close of the war this building was used for church, courthouse and public hall, as well as for school purposes. At first only one teacher was employed, but in the late sixties the village school population became so numerous that two teachers were employed and were compelled to hear their classes in the same room.
426
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
During this period the school was in charge of James M. Blake and assistant, S. H. "Sam" Thompson and assistant, and others whose names I cannot learn.
The date of the organization of Nevada village school district out of the old district No. 1 cannot be accurately stated, as the school records covering this period have either been lost, mis- placed or destroyed, but a close approximation can be made, as we find from the county court records that on April 20, 1871, the court apportioned the state school money for 1871, but no men- tion is made of the Nevada village district, although Montevallo, Virgil and Moundville village districts get their share. Now on June 8. 1871, the directors of Nevada village district present a petition to the county court with reference to selling the school lot or block, from which it is fairly inferable to a reasonable cer- tainty that the village district was organized some time between the 20th of April and the Sth of June, 1871.
Mr. J. L. Lewis was elected the first principal of the village school and had charge of the school for two years. During his administration the old brick school building was erected in 1872. Mr. Lewis never taught in the new school building. His work, like that of many another educator, was completed with the erection of the new building.
For many years the patrons of Nevada were justly proud of this old building. as it was one of the best school buildings of the state at the time of its erection.
The first principal to take charge of the schools in the new building was J. C. Bennett, whose work began in the fall of '73. Mr. Bennett was head of the school for two years. He had for his assistants Messrs. Andy King, G. S. Hoss. D. W. Graves, Mrs. Anna Doss. Miss Wilson and Mrs. L. M. Acre.
Mr. Bennett was a very strong school man and with the co-operation of his able corps of assistants he built up an excel- lent school. He was followed by Maj. J. R. Rick, and he was succeeded by a lady from Lexington, Mo., whose name cannot be ascertained. All of her assistants were ladies, due no doubt to a reaction against the methods employed by Major Rick. This lady was replaced the following year by Mr. S. S. Simpson as principal. who succeeded in reorganizing the schools and by hard work put them upon a good educational basis. Mr. Simpson was at the head of the school for three years and did a good work
427
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
for the school of Nevada. During his administration a high school was established and the first class was graduated in 1880, and was composed of ten members, as follows: Adra Davis, Dora Jones, Belle Churchell, B. D. Bowman, Emma Hogden, Harry Hutton, Walter Adair, Herman Barber, Mamie Hill and W. F. Norman.
Mr. Simpson was succeeded by Mr. Wolf as principal, who taught during the winter of 1882-83 and proved to be a very pro- gressive school man, but his stay in Nevada was short, as he left to accept a better position. At the general election in the fall of 1890 Mr. Wolf was elected state superintendent of schools.
Mr. W. J. Hawkins was elected principal of the Nevada school in 1883 and continued at the head until he presented his resigna- tion June 15, 1897, to take effect July 1 of that year. When Mr. Hawkins came to Nevada in 1883 ten teachers were employed. At the time of his resignation thirty-five teachers were in the corps.
WARD SCHOOLS.
Until 1884 all the pupils were accommodated in this one build- ing, but at the opening of the school that year it was necessary to rent four additional rooms. On the 26th of April, 1884, the school board submitted a proposition to the qualified voters of the district to bond the district for $15.000 for the erection of two school houses. The proposition was carried by a big ma- jority. The school board proceeded to issue the bonds and sold them to Jarves Conklin & Co., of Kansas City, for $14,304 on the 7th day of March, 1885. with interest coupon No. 1 detached. On May 6, 1885. Mr. F. W. Baeder was employed to furnish plans and specifications for an eight-room brick school. Site for the building was selected April 20, at a cost of $1,100. This site (the Franklin school) was known as block No. 7, Tucker's addi- tion, and was purchased from Mr. Tucker through his agents, Davis Bros. Contract was let for this building June 4, 1885, to Messrs. Beagles & Sons, for $9,175. Beagles & Son completed the building November 17, 1885, and it was accepted by the board. Total cost of building, including extras. $9,269. This leaving four rooms unfinished, as per plans.
The site for the Jefferson building was selected May 9, 1884, and an acre of land purchased from Mr. A. Cummins, east of the
428
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
railroad on East Locust street, for $500. Contract for school let July 17, 1885, to D. M. Bridgford and J. M. Corbin for $1,850. Building completed and accepted by the school board October 2, 1885. Cost, including extras, $2,049. During this year four rooms were occupied by teachers at the Franklin and two at the Jefferson. The following year the four rooms at the Franklin were finished.
Colored School. The colored school was established in 1885 and J. H. Davis was employed to teach a five months' school, but no schoolhouse was built until the summer of 1890, school being . held during that time in rented quarters.
The present building is known as the Lincoln school and was erected in 1890. It is a one-room structure, erected at a cost of $530.30 for building and lot. As the colored population of Nevada has always been small, this building furnishes ample accommodation for the colored children, at the last enumeration there being but twenty-three colored children of school age. Mrs. Anna Hamby has had charge of this school for the past several years.
The fall of 1886 found the white schools crowded and two additional teachers were found to be necessary to accommodate the increasing number of students. Two rooms in the basement of what was now called the central building that had previously been used for storage were seated and converted into school rooms.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.