History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 71

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 71

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One strongly advocated method of rural organiza- tion has not been largely adopted by the schools of Chautauqua county. The consolidated school is in effect a Union School, but is a union of districts sometimes of an entire township which are so widely separated that transportation of the pupils must be provided at public expense. And herein often lies the chief objection, and one acquainted with the topography of Chautauqua County and with its winter climate will readily see the force of this objection. Some localities are more fortunately situated, especially those along the trolley line from Stowe to Chautauqua. So, as elsewhere shown, the Chautauqua High Schools afford a notable demonstration of the advantages of consolidation.

TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION-One of the most potent forces in the development of educational procedure has been, and still is, the voluntary teachers' associations. Easily the first in Chautauqua county, not only in point of time but in helpful influences exerted, is the Chau-

tauqua County Teachers' Association, organized in 1860. Through all the years of its existence its annual meet- ings have promoted acquaintance and good fellowship among its members, increased their knowledge of educa- tional methods, stimulated thought, and by means of its varied programs furnished both entertainment and in- struction. Forty years ago, for instance, the programs extended over parts of three days. Prize contests be- tween students of the different schools often made up the first night's program. Usually the two succeeding days were devoted to papers presented by the mem- bers. The resulting discussions were by no means the formal affairs which so often pass for discussion in educational gatherings. More often they were spirited debates sparkling with wit and tinged with personal prejudices as the participants expressed their views upon theories which have now either been forgotten or have passed into accepted practice. The custom of the shorter session, with the time chiefly occupied by prominent speakers from abroad, is of comparatively recent origin, and has become established partly through the in- stitutes carried on by the State, partly through the growth of local, State and national organizations, partly from the fact that through books and papers. teachers have other means of keeping abreast of the educational thought of the day.

The Chautauqua Schoolmasters' Club though having its origin and places of meeting in Chautauqua county, does not limit its membership to residents of the county. School men from all parts of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania are eligible to membership. The meetings are held annually, and are partly social and partly professional. In connection with a dinner, informal addresses are in order, and there is regularly a formal address from some invited guest.

An example of the local association is the Teachers' Association of Jamestown, which was organized in 1916 and has since been affiliated with the county and State associations. The Association from its inception has been a live organization, and has been a real force in the educational field. It has, moreover, refrained from all acts which would tend to antagonize either superintend- ent or Board of Education, and has been singularly free from those movements which destroy the true profes- sional spirit. The activities of such local associations in the supervisory districts and cities are doing much to build up a true professional spirit among their mem- bers.

SCHOOL ORGANIZATION-Dunkirk, Fredonia and James- town each has a superintendent and school organiza- tion directly responsible to the State department. The remaining territory of the county is divided into six supervisory districts, each having a district superintend- ent with broad powers over teachers and school authori- ties. These supervisory districts replace the former commissioner districts, as these in turn had succeeded the township and county systems of supervision.

Although both city and district superintendents are burdened with many details of administration and are required to put into operation a constantly increasing number of State requirements, the prestige of their official positions enables them to exert a helpful in- fluence in building up efficient and comprehensive school systems in their respective jurisdictions. The present incumbents of these important positions are: Dunkirk, Frederick R. Darling; Fredonia, William S. Blaisdell; Jamestown, Milton J. Fletcher. First Supervisory Dis- trict, Joseph N. Palmer ; Second, J. M. Barker; Third, Dorothy B. Connelly (Mrs.) ; Fourth, James G. Pratt ;. Fifth, L. Waldo Swain; Sixth, Judson S. Wright.

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313

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY

According to the latest available reports the number of teachers employed and the number of pupils enrolled under each of these superintendents is as follows :

Dunkirk (1920)

Fredonia (1920)

Jamestown (1920)

221

7244

First Supervisory District (1917) .

213h

Sec-nd

1657

Third

143.

Fourth

1532

Fifth

2715

Sixth

100

2448

The recent organization by the State Department of Education of a new division termed the Division of Vo- cational and Extension Education, emphasizes the im- portant place which these subjects are coming to hold in the modern school curriculum. That the cities and many of the villages of Chautauqua county appreciate the value of these subjects placed in the care of this division is shown in the following lists :

High School Departments of Vocational Agriculture -Chautauqua, Clymer, Ellington, Forestville, Mayville, Sherman, Sinclairville, West'.eld.

Homemaking Schools. High School Departments- Chautauqua, Dunkirk, Ellington, Mayville, Sinclairville, Westfield.

Jamestown has a Unit Trade School, an Evening Industrial School, an Elementary Vocational School for Girls. Dunkirk also has a General Industrial School. All the above are classified as Vocational Schools.

Under the head of extension education is included the evening schools and the various types of instruction gen- erally included in the term Americanization.

Evening schools have been maintained for several years at Dunkirk and Jamestown and have been more recently established at Falconer, Fredonia and West- field.

Various forms of extension work are in progress among the foreign born, including evening schools, home classes and neighborhood classes, in Dunkirk, Falconer, Fredonia, Jamestown and Westfield.

A still newer form of school is the Part-time School. These are now in operation in Dunkirk, Fredonia and Jamestown.

FREDONIA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL-In a sense, the history of the Fredonia State Normal School begins with the Fredonia Academy which, chartered in 1824. was the first institution of its kind to be established in Chautauqua county. This school maintained a high standard of efficiency for many years, but when in the State at large the Union Free Schools were absorbing the academies, the leading citizens of Fredonia con- ceived the idea of securing one of the four State normal schools which were authorized by the State Legislature in 1866. An agreement was reached by which the peo- ple of Fredonia were to furnish the site and the funds for the normal school building, and in return the State would give to the pupils of Fredonia academic in- struction free of expense. This arrangement was car- ried out and still continues. The original building, both a school and a dormitory, was burned in December, 1900, with the loss of seven lives, young women students of the school. The expense of replacing the building, less the insurance money, $80,000, was assumed by the State, and the present beautiful and commodious struc- ture was ready for occupancy in 1903.

In the history of the Fredonia Normal School three names stand out in bold relief, and their distinguished services to the cause of education will be ever held in grateful remembrance by all who have been associated with them. They are: Dr. J. W. Armstrong, principal

from 1809 to 1878; Dr. Francis B. Palmer, who suc- ceeded Dr. Armstrong and served for twenty-eight years, when he in turn was succeeded by the present principal, Dr. Myron T. Dana.

The 1919 Commencement Week was also made An- niversary Week to celebrate the semi-centennial of the school. Dr. M. T. Dara, who has now passed forty highly successful years with the school as instructor and principal, presided at the semi-center nial exercises, and in an address made during the celebration briefly re- viewed the work of the school during the fifteen years of his principalship in the following happy manner :

During the last fifteen years important changes have been made in our building and in the organization of our school. A closer and better articulation of the normal schools of the State with the public education system has, also, been estab ished.

In 1907, the gymnasium was enlarged and modern- ized. In 1908, the kindergarten was moved to the gymnasium building, and its old rooms Were adjusted to the needs of a library, which is now assuming pro- portions commensurate with the needs of the school. The third floor of the main building has been equip- ped for and appropriated by the departments of music and drawing. Within a few years, the manual train- ing department has been mu h extended .- n-w rooms added and equipped with the most approved mod- ern machinery.

Previous to 1906, normal students did much purely academic work, reciting in the same classes with those registered as academic pupils. About that time, the Education Department at Albany issued an order mak- ing the work of the normal schools strictly profes- sionai and requiring a full four-years' high school course for admission. Then, as directed by the De- partment. we organized a separate high school.

In 1007 the department authorized two now courses, -pub ic school music and public school drawing. The physical well-being of the school is provided for by two physical training teachers and a health teacher.

Defining the functions of the normal schools has aided much in fixing their status in our educational system. Legislation and Department policy are giv- ing them more and more responsibility, and greater recognition.

The efficiency with which the local board of man- agers have guarded and promoted the interests of the school is attested by the distinguished names of those who have presided over their deliberations: Justice George Barker, Mr. S. M. Clement, Senator Lorenzo Morris, Arthur R. Moore, Esq., Dr. Samuel H. Albro, Inspector Winfield Holcomb, and the present incum- bent, Hon. William S. Stearns.

But more than buildings, libraries, laboratories and curricula is the teacher-the life, and the soul of the school, the teacher behind the desk, behind the book, in the laboratory and in the library-alive forevermore. Of those who taught and toiled and hoped in this place fifty years ago, none are left to receive the greet- ings of the earlier graduates, except as those who are now here are in a measure heirs of the past, the agen- cies through which the manhood and womanhood of the teachers of other days are here perpetuated. Of all these and of the long honor roll of those whose de- votion is now making the school strong and active and fruitful, I can name but few.

Dr. Armstrong, whose versatility of attainments, whose nobility of aim, and whose faith in man made him distinguished, has a place in the affections of the older alumni that the mist of fifty years has not obscured.

For twenty-eight years, the most formative period of the school's life, Dr. Palmer was the efficient head and inspiration. He is remembered for his intellectual strength, tenacity of purpose and well-poised con- servatism. "With the old sextant of the fathers' creed," he "shaped his courses by new-risen stars." This admirably planned building bears witness to the practical ability of Dr. Palmer, and his scholarly treat- ise on the philosophy of education clearly and ably sets forth his professional ideas and ideals.

Dr. Cassity's pupils remember what it was to have their thoughts kindled at the fire of living thought.

Many remember Prof. Babcock as a man of mental power who in the department of science led his pupils to observe and to think, and commanded their best. He was followed by Dr. Albro, the inspiring educator whose name and fame are indelibly written in the edu- cational history of the State.

After the short but glorious career of Prof. Jenks as

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Teachers 102

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314

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

teacher of Latin and Greek, his mantle fell upon a rare combination of the scholar and the teacher, and for thirteen years the school was the fortunate possessor of Dr. Theodore C. Burgess, to whose able address we have just listened.

Miss Richardson, of sainted memory, taught teach- ers and pupils "how mortals are immortalized."

Potent factors in the school's success include the work and worth of Mrs. Record and Miss Sherman's years of faithful and valuable service.

Of those now on duty Mr. Freeman is the senior teacher. His years of faithful service have not les- sened his mental strength and physical vigor. His faded locks are a crown of glory, for they have ever been found in the ways of righteousness.

Mr. Jewett is still the embodiment of the spirit of science and zest for truth. Of him, as of the Xenophon of old, it may he said that the graces dictate his language and the goddess of persuasion dwells upon his lips.

Mr. Homer Holcomb has for twenty-five years been fostering the delights of classical learning. He has, also, been untiring in his efforts to grapple the alum- ni to the school with hooks of steel.

Miss McLaury, head of the English department and Dean of Women, has for years been giving as from an exhaustless store. All who go out from us go with feelings of gratitude for the key to "the best that has been thought and said in the world" given them by Miss McLaury.

It would be difficult to overestimate Miss Hillman's service to the school in revealing and interpreting the world of music.

Too long for even a short personal tribute is the list of those whose service covers a shorter and later period, but whose devotion merits unstinted praise. The graduates will complete the list. Through mem- ory each will feel again the subtle power by which the life of the teacher passes into the life of the pu- pil, and by which is maintained the onward sweep of humanity. Each through memory will look into the faces of those who did most to make this a place of larger vision and of greater self-revelation. Today, many shrines will here be set up hefore which ad- mirations, affection and gratitude will humbly bow.

I take this opportunity to say to the Board of Regents that if the State Normal School at Fredonia is not now securing the results for which it was estab- lished and for which it has been maintained for fifty years, the failure must not be charged to lack of loyalty of co-operation, of good-fellowship and ef- ficiency on the part of my associates. The teachers of the present faculty are striving with might and main to make the school a place of light and life and power.

CHAUTAUQUA CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS-All educators realize that one of the greatest needs of the United States is the improvement of its rural schools, Under the present economic and social conditions the greatest hope for such improvement lies in the direction of the Centralized High School, so equipped and managed as to bring to the country boy and girl both the latest and the best in education.

The model type of the Centralized School located at Chautauqua has more than justified this hope. In 1914 District No. 12 of the town of Harmony was consolidat- ed with District No. 3 of the town of Chautauqua. On November 14, 1919, District No. 15 of the town of Har- mony was added, forming a combined district having an assessed valuation of $2,500,000. As a result of the consolidation, two additions costing $50,000 have been made to the former structure, and well equipped, labora- tories, an auditorium, a large gymnasium, and efficient Agricultural and Home Making Departments have been added. Playgrounds, with tennis courts, running tracks and suitable apparatus, are being provided.

The extent of the work and the courses of study offered have been greatly enlarged. Special teachers are employed in music and drawing, home making, agricul- ture and physical training. A librarian has been secured, and extensive additions are being made to the books, available for school and community, Only carefully selected teachers are hired. A large increase in non- resident students, and in the percentage of pupils com- pleting high school courses has resulted from the im-

proved conditions. Pupils come to school on the street car and by a special school bus. Warm lunches are served at cost, by the Cooking Department. The aim of building up a model rural high school has been fully realized, and Chautauqua has one of the best plants for its purpose in the entire State.

The ideals of the men responsible for the forming of this Consolidated School are well exemplified in the person of the principal, George R. Raynor, a man of broad experience, a good executive, and an inspiring teacher.

FORESTVILLE-It is recorded that the first settlers of Forestville made a "bee" and built a log schoolhouse with a roof of bark. From this humble beginning was later developed a district school, and in 1855 a Union Free School was organized, the first in the county. Another early development was the chartering of the Forestville Academy, which maintained a high rank for many years. With the growth of the idea of free academic education, the academy met the fate of most of the academies in the State and was merged into the Union Free School. The combined school known as the Forestville Free Academy and Union School has con- tinued the excellent standing first won under the name of the academy. Among the best known of its principals are T. L. Griswold, L. D. Miller, S. H. Albro, H. A. Balcom, F. H. Hall, F. S. Thorpe and A. C. Anderson. The present principal is F. R. Gott. That the school and the community are alive to the demands of the times is illustrated by the success of the agricultural department in the so-called "project work." The Emory Robinson Calf Club in the agricultural department is accomplish- ing a great work, having been particularly successful both in advancing the prestige of the department by win- ning first prizes at the Chautauqua County Agricultural Fair at Dunkirk in 1920 and in personal benefit to its members. The history of the club is most interesting. Under the lead of Raymond Kuhrt a club of thirty- eight members was formed, called the Emory Robinson Calf Club. The Forestville National Bank financed the club to the amount of $3,400, and thirty-eight pure bred Holstein calves were purchased. Each boy member was allowed to purchase a calf by giving his note for $100 endorsed by his parents. He then became the custodian of the calf and managed his investment as he pleased. The purchase price of the calf is due in a certain time, or when the animal is sold or otherwise disposed of. At the Dunkirk Fair of 1920 the Club made entries in different classes and in each class car- ried off all the honors. A value of $1,000 was placed upon one of the calves exhibited, a fact which mightily pleased the boy owner.

A teachers' training class has been a feature of the school for years, and more students have gone out from the Forestville Free Academy and High School to ad- vanced schools for higher training than from any known village of Forestville's size. The school maintains a library and chemical laboratory.

So this first of all Chautauqua Schools to organize under the State Union School Law in 1855, continues its course, maintaining its place as a center of influence and sending out into the world well trained young men and women.

WESTFIELD-Within the limits of what is now the township of Westfield was held the first school in Chautauqua county. This was taught by William Mur- ray, and seems to have been a community affair, but not a public school. The first public school in the county, that is, a school organized under the laws of the State, was taught by Anna Eaton at the "Cross Roads," one mile west of the center of the village of West-

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315

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY

field. District schools of the usual primitive type, sup- plemented by select schools, made up the educational facilities of the village until 1837, when Westfield Acad- emy was chartered. This institution offered the ad- vantages of an academic education to the young people of Westfield and vicinity for more than thirty years. During this time it had as principals the following : John M. Kief, 1837-1838; Theodore Gray, 1838 --; Lorenzo Parsons, -; Rev. Alexander Montgomery, 1845; J. E. Pillsbury, 1845-1851; Edward W. Johnson, 1851-1853; John C. Donaldson, 1851-1857; Theodore Beard, 1857-1859; S. Gerald Nye, 1859-1860; Charles H. Brown, 1860-1861 ; John C. Long, 1861-1865; Charles E. Lane, 1865-1866; Abram Brown, 1866-1868.

Most of these men were graduates of eastern colleges, and as one notes the short term of service of most of them, one naturally surmises that there may have been much of disappointment on the part of both patrons and principals. When the Union School was organized in 1868, the academy was merged in the academic depart- ment of the Union School, with the significant condition that the Board of Education assume the debts of the academy.

In striking contrast to the brief terms of the princi- pals of the academy are the terms of several of the prin- cipals of the Union School as for instance: John S. Fosdick, 1869-1878; Preston K. Pattison, 1883-1889; Al- mon N. Taylor, 1889-1897; Preston K. Pattison, 1900- 1920 (re-appointed). Thus it will be seen that four men have served as principals during forty-three of the fifty-two years the Union School has been in existence. This fact alone testifies to the ability and character of these men, and does much to show one cause for the high standing of the Westfield schools. To Preston

K. Pattison, who for twenty-nine years made the in- terests of the school the chief purpose of his life, is much of this honor due. The high standing of his successor, G. Fayette Dickson, is shown by his election to the position of supervising principal after a service as teacher and vicc-principal extending over a period of forty-one years in the Westfield schools.

SILVER CREEK SCHOOLS-Silver Creck is embraced in School District No. 8 of the towns of Hanover and Sheridan. The present school building used since 1879 as a Union School and high school is greatly over- crowded, a condition which will result in the erection of a new modern and adequate high school building, plans for which have been drawn.

Silver Creek did not organize its schools under the Union School law until April 8, 1879, when Silver Creek Union School was organized to supersede the Graded School No. 8. The same year the present building was erected on Central avenue and for many years the school was well housed, a condition now passed away, the village having grown faster than school facilities, although Babcock Graded School accommodating 300 pupils, and Main street school caring for 250 pupils, have been added to the school system. There are 165 pupils attending in high school building, making a total of 715 pupils in the village schools.

The leading feature of the high school is the Com- mercial department, where bookkeeping, commercial law, stenography and typewriting are taught to a large class. The school library contains 2,700 volumes. W. H. Edwards is supervising principal of Silver Creek Public Schools, Carl H. Dudley, president of the village board of education, Edwin L. Coon, clerk.

SCHOOLS OF JAMESTOWN. By Rovillus R. Rogers.

There are only meager records of the early schools of Jamestown. The first house, a log cabin, was built by Joseph Blowers in 1810; soon after he built a story-and- a-half frame house and secured a tavern license. In a room of this combination of home and tavern the first school in the settlement was taught in 1814, by Rev. Amasa West. For several years thereafter schools were provided for the children of the settlement by its founder and proprietor, James Prendergast. He evi- dently had a keen sense of the obligations imposed by his position, for he not only met the entire expense of these schools, but it is also recorded of him that he insisted upon the attendance of all the children of the settlement, though by what means he secured this de- sirable result we are not informed. Somewhat later, under the State law permitting the establishment of public schools, elementary district schools were carried on until the establishment of the Union Free School District in 1863.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 71

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649