USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > Kansas City, Missouri : its history and its people 1808-1908 > Part 23
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" The first meeting of the Board of Education was held in the office of Sheffield & Twitchell, at the northwest corner of Main and Fifth streets, on August 1, 1867. On May 23, 1869, the school district of this city being
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divided into three school wards, and the Washington and Humboldt school houses being already built, a contract was let by the Board of Education to Hoffman & Co., to build this, the third school house, sometimes called the Third Ward school house, for $14,850; and at the same time the board ordered the sale of school bonds at seventy-three and one-third cents on the dollar; these bonds bore ten per cent interest, the interest payable semi-an- nually. The members of the board were: W. E. Sheffield, president; A. A. Bainbridge, secretary; J. A. Bachman, treasurer; Patrick Shannon, Ed- ward H. Allen and Dr. Thomas B. Lester.
" On April 4, 1872, all the members of the board being present and composed of W. E. Sheffield, president; James Craig, secretary; J. V. C. Karnes, treasurer; Thomas K. Hanna, Henry R. Seeger and Dr. Joseph Feld, the eight school buildings then in the district which before that date had been called by numbers, were given names. The order of their num- bering and their names as given are: Washington, Humboldt, Franklin, Lathrop, Benton, Morse, Woodland and Lincoln. At the same meeting of the board this resolution was adopted :
" 'Resolved, that the Board of Education deem it necessary to erect a high school on the grounds recently purchased for a site for such building.'
" On June 7, 1879, a contract was let by the board to W. B. Everhart to build the addition to the Franklin for $4,320; J. V. C. Karnes, president ; Henry Switzer, secretary; E. L. Martin, treasurer; James Craig, R. L. Yeager and C. A. Chace.
" During all these years since the beginning of the free school system, Kansas City has had only four superintendents of its schools: J. B. Brad- ley, appointed September 17, 1867; E. P. Tucke, September 12, 1868; John R. Phillips, August 3, 1869; and James M. Greenwood, July 16, 1874.
" The names of the persons who have been principals of the Franklin school and dates of their appointments are: Thomas P. Jaudon, 1869, resigned in December; Jeremiah Enright, January 1, 1870, transferred to the Morse to the same year; F. M. Ferguson, 1870; Margaret E. MacFar- lane, 1874; Henry A. White, 1875. Professor White resigned his position as president of the Board of Education to take charge of this school, and was, in 1877, made principal of the Morse, and afterwards of the Woodland, holding the latter position until his failing health compelled him to resign a short time before his death; no principal ever had more love for school work or was ever nearer to the hearts of his pupils.
" It would require much time and be a tax on your patience to tell you how many classes have graduated from this school, and the names of those now prominent in business circles, in the professions, in the arts and in war, who have here been taught 'the idea how to shoot' since the day the
FRANKLIN SCHOOL COR FOURTEENTH & WASHINGTON STS.
#KELLOGG CO. ENGRS KOMO.
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FRANKLIN SCHOOL.
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tablet was placed on the front of this precious old building; precious be- cause of what has been accomplished in it, and precious because of the mem- ory of those who have passed through it.
" The Franklin school is the oldest in location, the third in date of its building, always one of the best, and at no time in its history better than now. This old building, bearing on its front the tablet inscribed, 'Primary School No. 3, 1869,' was on April 4, 1872, named Franklin in memory of Dr. Ben- jamin Franklin, the American philosopher and statesman." In 1900 the old building was razed and the present handsome structure erected.
Lincoln school on Ninth street was opened in November, 1869, and re- moved to Eleventh and Campbell streets in 1878. It had six rooms and a seating capacity of 400 pupils. It was enlarged later to twelve rooms with a seating capacity of 600. The Lathrop school at the southeast corner of Eighth and May streets was completed in March, 1870; it had seven rooms and a seating capacity of 450. It was destroyed by cyclone May 11, 1886. The school was rebuilt at Thirteenth and Central streets in 1887, and de- stroyed by the fire which destroyed the Convention Hall, April 4, 1900, and a large, up-to-date building erected in its place. The old Benton school, now West Kansas, was erected in 1870 at the northeast corner of Fourteenth and Liberty streets, and enlarged in 1871, having eight rooms and seats for 480 pupils. The school was enlarged in 1872 to twelve rooms. The name Benton was in 1905 transferred to a new building erected at Thirtieth street and Benton boulevard, and the old school was renamed " West Kansas." At present the West Kansas school is attended by only a few pupils, the dwel- lings in the vicinity having been crowded out by business houses. The Morse school was built at Twentieth and Charlotte streets and opened in October, 1870. In 1871 it was enlarged to an eight room building. In 1906 the new Morse school building was erected at Twenty-second and Charlotte. This building of 19 rooms was opened September, 1907. The Woodland school at Eighth street and Woodland avenue, in the eastern part of the district, was opened in November, 1871, with four rooms and seats for 240 pupils. The building was enlarged at different times until now it has twenty-two rooms and a seating capacity of 900.
Two changes were made in the Board of Education in 1869. The re- tiring members were J. A. Bachman and E. H. Allen. James Craig and J. V. C. Karnes was chosen as their successors. The organization of the board, September, 1869, was as follows: W. E. Sheffield, president; A. A. Bainbridge, secretary; James Craig, treasurer; John R. Phillips, superin- tendent; T. B. Lester, Patrick Shannon, J. V. C. Karnes. This school year marked a new era in the history and progress of the schools. Prior to the
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organization in September, Professor John R. Phillips was elected superin- tendent, filling the position until August, 1874.
The work in the school room was now molded into definite form. Classi- fication and grading which had been neglected were enforced at the be- ginning of the first term; the teachers were required to adhere as nearly as possible to the tabulated courses of study. The history of the United States and the elements of physiology were taught for the first time since the organization of the schools. Notwithstanding the one-sided culture that the pupils had received in former years, the close of the year in 1870 found the schools in a prosperous condition. The number of pupils enrolled was 3,034; average daily attendance, 1,388; per cent of attendance, 83.
The board, organized in September, 1870, was as follows: W. E. Shef- field, president; Joseph Feld, secretary; J. V. C. Karnes, treasurer; James Craig, T. B. Lester and Henry Tobener. The statistics of that year. show decided progress and increased prosperity. The number of pupils was larger, the attendance more regular and punctual, the discipline more healthy and judicious, the instruction more exact and thorough than in any preceding year. The enumeration of school children was 4,046; the enrollment, 3,866; the average daily attendance, 91. The number of teachers employed was 42.
Some changes were made in the Board of Education in 1871-72. W. E. Sheffield was president; James Craig, secretary; J. V. C. Karnes, treas- urer; Joseph Feld, H. H. Buckner and Henry Seeger, members. The total number of persons in the district of school age was 5,850; the enrollment, 4,042; the average daily attendance, 2,035; the number of teachers em- ployed, 50; the percentage of attendance, 91.
The course of study was modified in the winter of 1871-72. Too much prominence had been given to geography and it was discontinued in the two highest grades, and botany introduced instead, which alternated with the history of the United States. Some advancement was made in the study of vocal music under a special instructor. The regular teachers, so it appears from the published report of that year, had, with a few exceptions, not encouraged the music teacher in his labors. Drawing had a worse fate than music. The instruction was not systematic and, therefore, unproduc- tive of practical results. John R. Phillips, superintendent of schools, said: "I see no remedy except in employing a thoroughly competent special teacher to superintend and direct the teaching of mechanical and object drawing in all the schools."
No report of the schools was published from 1872 to 1874. The super- intendent preserved some of the statistics, which indicate continued progress " in the quantity and quality of the work. Public sentiment in favor of the
OLD LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.
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schools was forming and crystallizing and whatever opposition there once had been was rapidly dying out. When the board was organized in Septem- ber, 1872, W. E. Sheffield was elected president; James Craig, secretary ; and J. V. C. Karnes, treasurer. The other members were: T. K. Hanna, Henry R. Seeger and Joseph Feld, and John R. Phillips was superintendent.
The enumeration of school children in 1872 was 6,198, of whom 4,138 were enrolled in the schools. The average daily attendance was 2,034. There were employed 57 teachers, including a special teacher of music and two instructors in German. In the school year of 1873-74, Henry A. White and C. A. Chace were elected the successors of W. E. Sheffield and Joseph Feld, the retiring members of the board. The only change in the officers was the election of Mr. White as president. The secretary and treasurer were re-elected.
The public schools continued to improve. The pupils were more reg- ular in their attendance, better discipline was maintained, and there was a perceptible improvement in the methods of instruction. The total number of teachers in 1873-74 was 56. The number of children of school age was 6,636, a small increase over the preceding year. There were enrolled in the schools 4,164 pupils, the average daily attendance being 2,328.
John R. Phillips resigned as superintendent in July, 1874, after hav- ing had charge of the city schools for five years. He found the schools un- organized, ungraded and each school independent of the others. There was an entire absence of anything like a common unity in the work. He began at once the work of improving the school system. A course of study, such . as had the sanction of the best educators of the country, was adopted, em- bracing seven years for the ward schools and four years for the high school department. The administration of Mr. Phillips was successful, and he laid a solid foundation at the beginning of his work, to which he conscientiously adhered.
Mr. Phillips died in November, 1874, after a brief illness, at his home on Forest avenue. J. M. Greenwood was appointed, July 16, 1874, by the board to fill the vacancy.
Under the state law of 1867, establishing city, town and village schools, the Board of Education was organized consisting of six members, two being elected every year, making the tenure of office three years. This law con- tinued in force until 1894, when it was amended so that the school elections were held biennially. Two members, under the present law (1908), are elected every two years, for a period of six years. The change was made so that the school elections would conform to the municipal elections.
The leading members of both political parties decided, in 1880, that the Board of Education should be equally represented by the two great political
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parties; namely, three Democrats and the same number of Republicans. This plan has been strictly followed since it was adopted, and it has become the fixed policy of both parties. Many cities and towns have adopted this system. Kan- sas City set the example for non-partisan or bi-partisan school boards.
The leading residents of Kansas City believed that the personnel of the school board should be free from the influences of politics and sec- tarianism. Acting on this policy, the city has been fortunate in having an efficient Board of Education.
From the first organization of the board in 1867 to 1908, only thirty different members had been elected or appointed on the board. Up to 1908 there had been five presidents of the Board of Education: W. E. Sheffield, 1867 to 1872; Henry A. White, 1873 to 1875; J. V. C. Karnes, 1875 to 1881; Robert L. Yeager, 1881 to 1900; Joseph L. Norman, elected in 1900 and serving in 1908.
The Board of Education in 1874 was composed of Henry A. White, president; J. V. C. Karnes, secretary; James Craig, treasurer; and Thomas K. Hanna, C. A. Chace and R. A. Hunt. The schools opened the first Mon- day in September with a teaching corps of eight principals and forty teach- ers. There were nine school buildings occupied; one high school, seven elementary schools for white children and one school for negro children. The total enrollment of pupils was 4,262, and the average daily attendance was 2,442. In that year the teaching force was increased from 49 to 58. The number of pupils in the high school was 170. In the eight elementary schools, six of the principals were women; the two male principals were J. W. Perkins and J. D. Bowser. In the high school were four teachers besides the principal.
On account of the ill health of Superintendent Phillips in the winter of 1872-73, the members of the board had divided the supervision among themselves, but when Superintendent Greenwood entered upon the duties of his office he spent much time visiting the schools, so that the members of the board were relieved from the responsibility. The office of the Board of Education and the Superintendent's office were removed from the high school building to the second floor of a building at the northwest corner of Eighth and Main streets.
The schools in use in the winter of 1873-74, were the Benton (now West Kansas), six teachers; Franklin, six teachers; Humboldt, ten teachers; Lathrop, seven teachers; Morse, six teachers; Washington, eight teachers; Woodland, four teachers; Lincoln, four teachers; high school, five teachers; and two special teachers of German for the elementary schools. These were the principals of the schools: Charles S. Sheffield, high school; Fannie J. Baker, Benton; Margaret E. MacFarlane, Franklin; A. Josephine Warren,
LINCOLN SCHOOL.
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Humboldt; Clara Hoffman, Lathrop; Mary E. Lewis, Morse; J. W. Per- kins, Washington; Elizabeth B. Densmore, Woodland; and J. D. Bowser, Lincoln.
Henry A. White, president of the Board of Education, expressed a desire in 1874 to re-engage in teaching. When Margaret E. MacFarlane resigned as principal of the Franklin school in 1875, he was appointed to fill the vacancy. At the school election in September, 1875, E. L. Martin and Henry Switzer were elected to fill the two vacancies on the board caused by the retirement of Henry A. White and Thomas K. Hanna. J. V. C. Karnes was elected president; Henry Switzer, secretary; James Craig, treas- urer and business agent. In the school year of 1875-76 the high school was renamed "Central." No new school buildings were erected. The total number of teachers was 60; one was added to the high school corps. In that year the new constitution for Missouri was adopted. This changed the age limit of admission to the public school from five to six years, the legal age in 1908. The enrollment of pupils was 4,267; average daily attendance, 2,550. The high school attendance was 249, an increase of 79 over the previous year.
On account of some cases of injudicious corporal punishment, the board adopted the rule of requiring the permission of the child's parents or of the superintendent of schools. At the time of the adoption of the rule, J. V. C. Karnes, president of the Board of Education, and J. M. Greenwood, the superintendent of schools, were in favor of abolishing corporal punishment. The resolution adopted was drawn by James Craig and Mr. Greenwood.
The only change in school principals for the school year of 1875-76 was the Benton school. Fannie A. Baker resigned as principal and J. D. Parker was elected before the close of the year. C. E. Sheffield resigned his position in the Central school at the close of the year, and Professor E. C. White was elected to fill the vacancy. The board decided to make the high school course two years on account of the lack of money. The full high school course was restored the next year, but the teachers' salaries were reduced from necessity. A library was established under the immediate supervision of the board. It consisted of a few hundred volumes.
The officers and members of the board remained unchanged in the school year of 1876-77. The question of how to found a public library en- gaged much of the board's attention. A beginning had been made, and in addition $936.50 had been expended in new books, $490 of it being contrib- uted by the Ladies' Centennial association. Gifts of books by residents also had been received until there were more than 2,000 volumes. That year, on account of financial straits, it was decided to shorten the high school course to two years; but the plan was abandoned before school opened the
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following September. The work throughout the year had been quietly and effectively done. The teaching force was not increased, and two German teachers who gave lessons in the elementary schools were dropped from the roll because the instruction was of doubtful value. The enrollment of pupils was 4,334; and average daily attendance, 2,530.
The school law of the state governing cities, towns and villages was amended by the state legislature in the winter of 1877-78, changing the time of holding school elections from September to April. Under the new law the former board was re-elected and re-organized with only one change; E. L. Martin was elected treasurer. James Craig was continued as business man- ager. In the winter of 1877-78 new and more commodious rooms were rented in the Piper building, 546 Main street, for offices and library purposes, with a free reading room. Arrangements were made for the construction of a suitable building for the Lincoln school at a cost of $7,000. The number of teachers employed was 59; the total enrollment of pupils, 4,612. The high school enrollment was 220. At that time the Central school offered two courses of study: a general course and a classical course, each extending over four years. The year's work was especially successful.
At the school's election in April, 1879, all the officers of the board were re-elected. Robert L. Yeager was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Colonel R. H. Hunt. On account of the crowded condition of the Humboldt and Franklin schools, four new rooms were added to each building at a total cost of $8,640. The entire teaching force numbered 62 persons, seven men and 55 women. There were seven teachers in the Cen- tral school and 55 in the elementary schools. The total enrollment of pupils was 5,309; the enrollment in Central school was 217.
E. C. White, principal of the Central school, directed the musical in- struction in the elementary schools in the afternoon, for which he was paid $250 as extra compensation. In 1879 I. C. McNeil was elected principal of the Washington school; Henry A. White was, at his request, transferred from the Franklin to the Morse school and Gertrude T. Johnson was assigned to the Franklin.
The only change in the composition of the Board of Education in the year 1879-1880 was caused by the removal of James Craig from the city, after having served on the board continuously for more than ten years. Frank Askew was chosen his successor. Upon the removal of James Craig, J. W. Perkins was chosen business agent. The duties of this office were various; such as keeping the books of the board, recording its proceedings, attending to the repairing of sidewalks, and the giving out of books in the library in the absence of the superintendent. Whenever a new school building or additions to buildings were in process of construction, the busi-
NEW LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.
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ness agent was the inspector to see that the contractors did their work ac- cording to the specifications.
Henry Switzer, secretary of the Board of Education, died April 29, 1880, leaving vacant a position that he had held since September 21, 1875. The vacancy thus created was filled by Henry C. Kumpf, a man of wide experience in public affairs. J. W. Perkins resigned as business agent in that year and W. E. Benson, who for several years had been city clerk, was appointed. Additions were made to the Lincoln, Lathrop and Woodland school buildings. Sites were purchased at Fourth street and Troost avenue, on which the Karnes school was built, and on Wyoming street between Ninth street and St. Louis avenue, for a negro school, which is now (1908) the Sumner school. Remarkable progress was made in the schools in the year. The teaching force had increased to 73. The total enrollment of pupils was 6,593 and of this number 260 had been enrolled in the night schools.
The experiment with night schools did not prove to be a success. At first the novelty of the experiment attracted a satisfactory attendance of white boys to the Central and and Washington schools, but their conduct was intolerable and the two night schools soon were closed. At the Benton and the Lincoln schools good order prevailed and the pupils were much interested and made rapid progress in their studies. It was, however, clearly evident that Kansas City was not yet ready for night schools and the board abandoned the plan, to be revived later.
J. D. Bowser resigned as principal of the Lincoln school in the summer of 1879-80 and A. J. Agee was elected his successor. I. C. McNeil resigned as principal of the Washington school and O. M. Schee succeeded him. The same winter a school was established in East Kansas City and Mary Long was appointed teacher.
At the organization of the board in April, 1881, Henry C. Kumpf was chosen secretary. The year's work was marked by steady progress. Addi- tions were made to the Lathrop and Woodland schools; the Karnes school was completed, and additions were ordered made to the Benton, Morse and Lincoln schools, and a new building was ordered erected at Fourteenth and Vine streets. This afterward was named the Chace school in honor of C. A. Chace, who had been elected a member of the board in April, 1880. J. V. C. Karnes predicted that on account of the rapid growth of the city, it would be necessary to add from ten to twenty rooms each year to accom- modate the increasing enrollment.
The school year was shortened in June, 1881, from forty to thirty-six weeks on account of a shortage of funds. One of the needs of the city was a large circulating library with reading rooms and an art gallery. This
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was declared to be of prime necessity. The year closed with 87 teachers on the pay roll; a total enrollment of 8,026 pupils, and an average daily attend- ance of 4,510. Gertrude T. Johnson was transferred from the Franklin school to the Karnes school and John T. Buchanan was elected principal, and I. C. McNeill of the Washington school to succeed O. M. Schee, who resigned; and D. V. A. Nero was appointed principal of the Lincoln school to succeed A. J. Agee.
Two changes were made in the Board of Education in the school year of 1881-82. J. V. C. Karnes resigned, and Robert L. Yeager was elected president ; and Gardiner Lathrop was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Karnes. Mrs. Carrie Westlake Whitney was appointed librarian and assistant to the superintendent of the schools: In his annual address, President Yeager said, "Our school laws are out of joint; they do not meet the requirements of the hour." The board still was embarrassed for lack of school room, although the Chace and Switzer were erected in the year and in use, and large additions had been made to the Old Benton, Morse, Karnes and Lincoln schools. A tax of two mills had been voted to make additions to the Washington, Woodland and Morse schools and to build the Switzer school. There was a constant demand for more school room.
The teaching force at the end of the school year of 1881-82 numbered 103; the total enrollment of pupils, 8,422. S. Ellen Smith was elected prin- cipal of the Switzer, and Jennie Hewette of the Chace. The Chace was opened in November, 1881, and the Switzer in January, 1882. Joseph C. Davis was elected principal of the Benton school to succeed J. D. Parker, who resigned; and John H. Jackson filled the unexpired term of D. V. A. Nero, and Grace T. Horn became principal of the Sumner school.
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