USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Woodbridge > An Educational History Of The School District of Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey 1666 - 1933 > Part 4
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Llewellyn Holden's pen-and-ink sketch of the Insti- tute made from a Daguerreotype shows the old building in early days.
An extract, copied from the New Jersey Advocate and Middlesex and Essex Advertiser, a newspaper printed in Rah- way, 1836, announces the opening of the Institute as a Sem- inary and gives, in much detail, the educational offerings with rates of tuition.
The author of "History of Woodbridge" (Dally) claims the Institute as his "Alma Mater. ^
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# 531 Rahway Ave. Present aspect of old Elm Tree Institute. 1933)
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CHAPTER VI TEXT BOOKS IN COLONIAL TIMES
and LEGISLATION FOR SCHOOLS
The following extract is taken from Murray's "History of Education in New Jersey. " It is quoted by Murray from an account furnished by Mr. George A. Plimpton of New York City whose collection of early textbooks is perhaps unsur- passed.
"Up to the time of the Revolution the text- books used in the common schools of New Jersey were very limited.
"It is quite possible that some of the early settlers may have brought with them copies of the horn book -- the first things which were put into the hands of children to teach them the alphabet. " -- 1
Dilworth's Spelling Book and the New England Primer
seemed to have been used throughout all New Jersey and no doubt copies reached Woodbridge.
"Dilworth was quite a prolific author and his spelling book and arithmetic were very largely imported before the Revolutionary War.
"In 1783 Noah Webster brought out his spell- ing book and subsequently other reading books which were for many years widely used, supplementing Dilworth and the primers.
1 History of Education in New Jersey -- Murray Circular of Information, No. 1, 1899 United States Bureau of Education
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"In 1840, a series of readers by C. W. Sanders appeared, the first to follow the present system of grading, first, second, third and fourth. " -- 1
These readers were used in the Woodbridge Academy and appear in the "Cash Book" as having been purchased.
"The arithmetic published in this country, however, was by Nicholas Pike and it appeared in 1788."
"Up to the time of the Revolution, Geo- graphy was not taught in New Jersey. The first American geography was that of Jedediah Morse which was published in 1791.
"English Grammar was studied very little in the schools of New Jersey before the Revolutionary War. Whatever textbooks were used, were English ..... different editions of Lindley Murray's Grammar were published until 1840 or 1850.
"In the early days, no textbooks on Pen- manship were used by the pupils; the teacher had a set copy from which the pupils worked.
#Rose's arithmetic, by a teacher of Perth Amboy 1s interesting, chiefly because he printed the answer in the book in letters instead of figures. The teacher alone was furnished with the following key to the cryptograms:
123456 7 89 0
pertha m boy " -- 2
The ordinary district school, with extremely few ex- ceptions, in the early colonial period conformed to the following description:
"The log schoolhouse of the time was a build- ing approximately sixteen feet square. At
1 History of Education in New Jersey -- Murray
2 Murray -- Op. Cit.
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one end of the single room was a huge fireplace, the sole source of heat, even in the ooldest weather. Windows were made by sawing off an occasional log and covering the aperture with sheepskin or oiled paper. Along one side of the wall, underneath the window, was a rough desk which provided a place for older pupils to write. Other pupils were seated upon rough slab benches. They arose when classes were called, stood facing the master and carefully toeing the mark which he had set for the formation of the line of pupils. To read, and in some cases, to write, and to work arithmetic were the things taught in the schools.
"Discipline was harsh, even cruel. The raw hide and the hickory stick were in constant use.
"The hours were long -- from eight in the morn- ing until six in the afternoon, with a re- cess of two hours for lunch. " -- 1
Legislation for Schools
"Education of Colonial days existed primarily for religious ends. The school was an aux- illary of the Church and the curriculum re- flected this religious purpose. " -- 2
In the State Constitution of New Jersey 1776, no pro- vision was made for education. In 1816, an effort to begin a State Fund was made by providing an annual appropriation of $15000 to be invested in six per cent United States Bonds. -- 3
1 New Jersey, A History -- The American Historical Society, Incorporated
2 Woody -- Q. E. in New Jersey
3 Laws of New Jersey -- 1816-1817
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In 1820 townships were empowered to levy a tax for educational ends, but excepting in 1830-1831, money so raised was used solely to educate:
"such poor children as are paupers belong- ing to said township, and the children of such poor parents resident in said town- ship as are, or shall be, in the judgment of said committee, unable to pay for school- ing the same. " -- 1
The law of 1829, authorized an annual appropriation of $20,000 from the income of the school fund, (or, if such source was not sufficient, to draw upon the treasurer to make up the deficiency), and distribute to counties on the basis of tax paid by the county. Townships were authorized to determine:
"by the vote of the town meeting so assembled, whether or not any additional amount shall be raised by said township by tax or otherwise, for the election of a township school committee and three district trustees to have immediate care of the schools. " -- 2
The first mention of such a committee for Woodbridge appears on the town records under date April 12, 1830.
"By vote -- school committee -- Simeon Mundy, Ralph M. Crowell, Peter Edgar, Robert Lee, William F. Manning, Edgar Freeman, Richard Bloomfield.
The law of 1829 also stated that teachers were to be licensed by the township committee. These licenses were
1 Laws of New Jersey, 1820 -- 125 -- 6 1830 -- 120
2 Woody. Op. Cit. 1831 -- 146
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good for one year and could be revoked at any time by the Committee.
In 1848:
"the townships were authorized to appoint a town Superintendent upon whom should devolve all the duties formerly performed by the township Committees. " -- 1
In the appendix will be found a list of these officials who served in Woodbridge Township, beginning with James M. Brewster the first one to be elected.
"This form of supervision was ineffective. The great number of town superintendents made impossible any uniformity of details. There were two hundred and fifty such of- ficers in the state in 1867. " -- 2
This office was abolished by legislation in 1866-67 -- 3 At one time denominational and parochial schools received part of the State School Funds but the section of the law permitting this was repealed in 1866.
"Rivalries and jealousies flamed up and many difficult and embarrassing questions came before the State Superintendent of Schools.
"So difficult was the administration of the law, and especially Section 12, that the Superintendent in 1866 recommended the re- peal of the latter, which was accomplished. " -- 4
1 N. J. Laws. 72d Leg., 4th Sec., p. 146 (from New Jersey -- A History. American History Soc.
2 New Jersey School Report -- 1879 -- p. 55
3 New Jersey Laws 1866 -- p. 971
4 Woody -- Q. E. in New Jersey -- p. 377
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"After public funds were withdrawn as a means of support, many of the church schools languished or even became de- funot. Some became public schools. " -- ]
"The Legislature of 1871 enacted the law which made the schools of New Jersey en- tirely free. The Important provisions of this law were later (1876) included as amendments to the constitution so that the State Legislature could not (1) appropri- ate or donate any school money for the fuse of any society, association or cor- poration' or (2) pass any 'private, local or special laws' providing for the manage- ment and support of free public schools, but must maintain and Iprovide an efficient system of free public schools for the in- struction of all children in the State be- tween the ages of five and eighteen years. " -- 2
In 1855 the Trenton Normal School was established and in 1866 The State Board of Education came into being. The year 1867 was marked by legislation recasting the whole school system. The powers and duties of the State Board of Educa- tion were clearly defined, as were those of the State Superin- tendent of Public Instruction.
The law also specified the manner of appointing County Superintendents, how they should be compensated and also their powers and duties.
The old-time district trustee system, still remembered by many of us, was established. There were to be three members on each board of trustees, one of whom was to be the "District
1 Woody -- Q. E. in New Jersey -- p. 377
2 New Jersey Laws, 1871, Chap. D, VII (New Jersey, A History -- Am. Hist. Soc)
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Clerk, " and their powers and duties were enumerated.
In 1884 the Compulsory Education law was enacted, and in 1894 the Township Act was passed when all the small school districts within the township became united under one board of education (excepting the Boroughs and Cities. ) This year was also the beginning of the era of free text- books and supplies.
It is reasonable to suppose that school legislation has not ceased; that each type of school system is adapted to its own period and that as social and economic changes occur, the forces that have caused educational developments in the past will operate again. What the type of organization of the future will be is hard to conjecture, but of a certain- ty there can be no reversion to old and worn-out systems, but, rather, to more economical units of administration un- der whatever name they may appear.
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CHAPTER VI
SUMMARY
TEXT BOOKS IN COLONIAL TINES and LEGISLATION FOR SCHOOLS
Textbooks in Colonial times were very limited. Dil- worth's Speller, New England Primer, Dilworth's Arithme- tio, Noah Webster's Speller and Readers, Sander's Readers, Nicholas Pike's Arithmetic, Morse's Geography, Murray's Grammar and Rose's Arithmetic were all in use.
The ordinary district school was usually about six- teen feet square, built of logs and furnished with a few rough, home-made desks placed around the walls of the room for writing and rude slab benches, without backs, for other purposes. Discipline was enforced by corporal punishment. School hours were very long. Education in early Colonial times was mainly religious.
In the Constitution of New Jersey, 1776, no provisions were made for education. A state school fund was founded in 1816. In 1820 townships were empowered to levy a tax for educational purposes. Law of 1829 specified an appro- priation of $20,000 from income of the school fund for schools, and townships were authorized to raise, by tax, additional amounts required to appoint a Township School Committee and three district trustees. Teachers had to be licensed by the school committee.
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In 1848 town superintendents replaced the School Com- mittee. Town superintendents abolished in 1866 and re- placed by County Superintendents. Private schools received
state aid until 1866. New Jersey schools were made en- tirely "free" in 1871. New Jersey State Normal School
established in 1855. State school system was remodeled in 1867. The "Three Trustee" District Schools, with a Dis- trict Clerk, were established in 1867. Compulsory Educa- tion Act was passed in 1884. Township Act was passed in 1894, making the township the unit of administration and introducing free textbooks and supplies.
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CHAPTER VII OTHER SCHOOLS
The Academy District School -- No. 24
This building, a one-room edifice with a very large vestibule, long known as the Downtown School, was erected in the fall of 1851 on the site that had been occupied by the old Woodbridge Academy, and served districts five and six. The first trustees were Ellis S. Freeman, elected for three years; Jotham Coddington for two years; and Ran- dolph Coddington for one year.
The first mention of any teachers appears in the Board cash account when R. C. Cyphors received $62.00 in September, 1851, and in the following February Miss E. Con- klin was paid $55.00. Other amounts were paid to them at irregular intervals. Mr. Cyphers left his position in December 1855, and was succeeded by Mr. B. C. Hopkins, who was paid $110 per quarter. Other teachers mentioned in the records are Samuel Moore, Clorinda Bloodgood, Dwight Kegwin, John Kelly, Charles O. Holmes, Harriet Coddington, T. J. Dally, B. B. Yocum, G. G. Hancook and D. Sprague, the last named closing the list in 1874.
At one time the district is referred to in the records as No. 3, and in 1872 it is called District No. 24 for the first time, which number it retained until it merged with
الدالـ
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the Strawberry Hill and Jefferson Districts, to erect the new graded school in 1876.
The school, like others at the time, was supported by state funds and surplus revenues, township tax raised at a fixed amount per pupil according to the census annually taken (which in 1863 was $2.00 per head), the free-school- lands' fund, and tuition fees.
The minutes of the school meetings are very meagre, many of them for a number of years simply recording the election of trustees and then adjournment. At the annual meeting of April 2, 1866:
"It was voted that a tax of fifteen cents per month be levied and collected from each and every scholar per month by the teacher. " -- 1
For many years the township superintendent was Dr. Ellis B. Freeman, one of whose duties was to examine candi- dates for teaching positions. A young man appeared at his home to apply for a vacancy in the school, but upon being examined, he failed rather miserably, so the old doctor used to tell, and left, very much de jeoted. However, after an interval of two weeks he appeared again and requested a re- examination, explaining that his previous failure was be- cause he had just been married. Unfortunately, for him, some one else had received the appointment, probably some
1 The District Minute Book.
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one who had no such cause for worry and mental confusion. Let us hope the young man was more successful elsewhere.
Near the old school, stood the ancient Presbyterian meeting house. Both of the buildings were eventually sold, Mr. Thomas H. Morris buying the latter and removing it to the rear of his property on Rahway Avenue, where it re- mained for many years until torn down.
The school building was moved after the merging of districts in 1876, to a lot adjacent to the old "Morris House" on Rahway Avenue, almost directly opposite to the old Pike House or Woodbridge Hotel, where it was used as the headquarters of the "Woodbridge Independent Hour" news- paper which in 1877 carried the following advertisement in its columns:
"Positive Sale
The sale of the Academy and Jefferson School properties stands adjourned to Monday, April 23, at 4 o'clock, P. M. at the new Public School Building, at which time the sale will positively take place.
William H. Berry Trustees Charles A. Campbell
Howard Valentine, Clerk Woodbridge New Jersey, April 5, 1877."
Later, the old building was used as a Colored Baptist Church; then as Zimmerman and Edgar's Plumbing Shop. It was again sold to Mr. Owen Dunigan, another plumber, who moved it further up the avenue to a site on the banks of
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Heard Brook where it soon fell into complete decay and was age 394 demolished. The picture shows the building undergoing the wrecking process.
Strawberry Hill and Jefferson Schools Districts No. 7 and No. 25
The record book containing the minutes of the meetings of the Strawberry Hill trustees dates from 1841. When the school, the second one on the famous hill, was erected seems not to be known. The condition of the book, because of its fine state of preservation, would suggest that there might have been earlier records. The only entry on the minutes for 1841, records the election of five trustees, viz: Augustus Coddington, David N. Demarest, Peter Melick, Ephi- rain Cutter, and James M. Tappen.
Nothing of particular interest appears until November 1, 1847, when it was ordered that the school house be white- washed inside and outside, and that shutters be made for the school house windows.
There was good reason for the shutters, for payments for putty and glass appear very frequently in the Cash Book. An item of interest in this same book shows receipts from a concert amounting to $27.25. This amount may not have been net, for it is recorded that the trustees paid $3.00 "for Passage of 12 Vocalists. # It does not state, however, that the concert was held in the school house.
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Until 1849, a female had taught the school, but in that year a motion was made and carried that:
"A male teacher shall be employed for 1 quarter (3 months) and that the said teacher be paid $75.00 to commence April 30, 1849. " -- 1
This fortunate individual was Mr. S. E. Ensign, father of the present E. C. Ensign, Secretary of the Board of Ed- ucation, who was also one of the Trustees of the school district.
The cash book shows that Mr. Ensign was paid $1. 75 by Mr. Jeremiah Dally, the Treasurer, for one-half dozen Sanders 3d Readers, purchased by him at 14s (a shilling was equal to twenty-five cents. ) Probably these books were for the use of "Poor Children. " He was also paid thirty-one cents for more glass and putty.
Two years afterwards, a spring was ordered to be dug in the hill at the rear of the school house, "for the con- venience of the school. " No doubt kind neighbors had been supplying drinking water for many years and so must have con- sidered this a progressive movement on the part of the Trus- tees.
The school was evidently increasing in numbers, for on April 4, 1853, a motion was made and carried at the annual meeting, that:
1 Distriot Minute Book.
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"We have the upper room of our School House lathed and plastered. " -- 1
which was accordingly done under the supervision of Mr. Ensign.
In the following year, a subscription list was opened for the purpose of raising funds to fence in the school property, the list being circulated by Mr. Hampton Cutter and John H. Price.
The following gentlemen gave one dollar each, which appears to have been the maximum amount solicited:
Hampton Cutter William Cutter
S. E. Ensign
David Demarest
Peter Melick
Henry V. Williams
William E. Cutter David Ayres
William Harned
John H. Price
William L. Burke -- 2
The year 1860 saw an important step taken by the
Trustees, for at the annual meeting held April 2d that year at the school house, a motion was passed that: "The School Superintendent and two Trustees be requested to have this School District incorporated. " -- 3
and a second motion added, that:
"The Trustees be requested to call a meet- ing of the legal voters in said District as soon as they incorporate, for the pur- pose of taking some measures to improve the School in said District. " -- 4
1 District Minute Book.
2 Ibid
3 Ibid
4 Ibid
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Two days later it was resolved:
"to apply to the Town School Superintend- ent to have the said District incorporated by the name of Franklyn School. " -- 1
Events now began to move rapidly, for at a meeting held in the Strawberry Hill School House:
"According to notice given by the Trustees of Jefferson, the adjoining district, set- ting forth the time and place and purpose of said meeting and set up ten days or more in three public places before the meeting on Thursday, May 24, 1860 at 8 o'- clock p. m. " -- 2
"The following votes were passed by a two- thirds vote of the taxable inhabitants so assembled. Voted that the Trustees are authorized to sell at public sale the Strawberry Hill School House and the land attached, belonging to this district, and to appropriate the money received from the sale of said House and land to School pur- poses in this District, Voted that the Trustees be requested to ascertain and to report at our next meeting what suitable lots can be bought, and the price asked for them, for the purpose of building a School House thereon. Voted that we raise by tax- ation on all property in Jefferson School District for School purposes, This year the sum of $800 to be raised in addition to the money apportioned to said District by the State and Town. " -- 3
The result of this important meeting was the pur- chase of three lots of William Harned:
" situated on the South side of Main road, between the house occupied by Joseph Gil- man and property of William Bedman Jr.
7 District Minute Book
2 Ibid
3 Ibid
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for the sum of $375." -- 1
In October the same year, a meeting of the Jefferson School District was held at Valentine's Hall and a build- ing plan presented which had been prepared by a New Bruns- wick architect. The plan was accepted and the Trustees authorized to erect the new school.
Figures from the cash book of William Inslee, Trea- surer, of the Trustees of Jefferson District show:
"July 7 ----- 1860
To Cash paid Alanson Newton
for surveying and deed. $ 3.00
To postage .. .06
June 22 ---- H
To William Harned for lot of
ground 53/100 acre. 375.00
Dec ..
To Cash for plan of School House. 8.00
April 11 --- 1861
Insurance on School House 6.00
13 --- Recording Deed. . 75
13 ---
Carting 1 load of desks from
Dock .. .75
July 7 --
By Cash received of Hampton
Cutter from the sale of old school house and lot (Straw- berry Hill). 503.002-1
In 1861, Samuel E. Ensign was Treasurer of the Board of Trustees and his records show the following receipts and dis- bursements on account of the new Jefferson School:
"From Ellis B. Freeman, Town Superintendent for Jefferson School House 800.00
W. H. Berry for Bond and Mortgage. 1000.00
William Inslee, April 29, Balance due District from Old School House 68.30
# For old posts and rails ... 2.00
Paid William B. Reid -- 1st payment for building School house. 500.00
William B. Reid 2d payment 500.00
1 District Minute Book.
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Paid William B. Reid 3d and last payment on School house .. $600.00
= Nathaniel Johnson for Desks, Chairs,
Tables and Blackboards. 218.00" -- 1
From this time on, the Strawberry Hill School District No. 7 seems to have been merged with the Jefferson School District, the two thereafter being recorded under the title Jefferson School District.
Decidedly, an advance step had been taken by the two districts since the instructions given to the Town School Superintendent and two Trustees April 2, 1860 to:
"improve the school in said District. (Straw- berry Hill) ".
There is no doubt that the conferences they must have held with the Trustees of the Jefferson District led to the union of the two districts and the erection of an "up-to- date" school building such as was built on the Harned lots.
Six years afterwards, May 14, the Trustees were in- structed to dig a well and furnish a pump for the school at a cost of $120 and a girder was ordered to be placed under the ceiling "to stay the roof of the school building. " It was also ordered "to put a foundation under the chimney."
It did not seem to be the custom in the early days when building a school to supply drinking water facilities for the children. The Strawberry Hill School, and also the
1 District Minute Book.
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Academy, No. 24, (Downtown District School) were in this Category. Children from the last mentioned building se- cured their drinking water from the well on the property of Mr. J. H. Thayer Martin, at the corner of Freeman Street and Rahway Avenue. At the present time, this well is covered with a large flagstone and is still to be seen.
On the following September 4, the Trustees met again on a special call for the purpose of electing a District Clerk, and Charles F. Mawbey received a unanimous vote, thereby gaining the distinction of being the first one to hold this new office in his district.
Either the contractor or the architect must have been at fault in the construction of the school to call for strengthening the building with a girder. Calculations must have gone astray.
In 1868, at the April meeting, the Secretary stated that a number of repairs had to be made and "a well had to be dug. " Why the well hadn't been dug before this is not stated, but probably the neighbors had reached the breaking point and had protested to the Trustees against the clank- ing of the pump handle on their premises at all hours of the day by the school children and had forced action. Samuel Dally had the job done for $56.10.
The district is referred to as "School District No. 24, Woodbridge, Middlesex County, " in the minutes of the Annual
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Meeting held April 21, 1869 and report was made:
"that the Girder had been put in the school house and the well dug as per order of the last Spring meeting. Also that the School was in full operation with 130 children en- rolled under the care of two teachers and that the Trustees believed the school was not to be excelled in the country."
What a splendid report, and how proud the community must have felt when they read the statement in the news- papers, for no doubt the meeting was reported. But what of the teachers? How happy they must have felt, and how encouraged, especially the Primary room teacher who pro- bably had a mere bagatelle of 70 or 80 youngsters on the roll.
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