USA > New York > Schenectady County > History of the County of Schenectady, N. Y., from 1662 to 1886... > Part 27
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A history of the Schenectady Academy elsewhere appears in this article. The teachers for 1785 were : Michael Tyms, English teacher, appointed April 29 ; Nicholas Van Vranken, September 22, and Mr. Basset, October 24. Jacobus Romeyn was made usher August 14, 1786. In July, 1787, Basset and Van Vranken were still teaching; and August 20, Mr. Wilkie is engaged, to begin No- vember 1. Mr. Basset to "leave at next quarterly examination, on September 5, 1787," and on that day, Rev. Dirck Romeyn is appointed superintend- ent of the academy. January 18, 1788, the teach- ers were : Tyms, Van Vranken and Wilkie, and May 28, Morris, Tyms and " Beck's room." From the fact that, on June 12, "Mr. Beck, usher," is directed to "leave at end of quarter in September," it is to be inferred he may have been the "teacher" in " Beck's room." Mr. Wilkie also leaves then. September 1, 1789, Mr. Elliott was teaching the English branches there. In March, 1790, Mr. Tyms was teaching arithmetic, and from Septem- ber 1, 1789, to March 1, 1790, Van Vranken was Latin and Greek professor. Mr. Wilkie " taught reading, arithmetic, etc." "D. Hale was Latin preceptor as early as January, 1792." John Tay- lor and Luther Halsey were also professors there in 1792 and 1793.
In 1793, John Lambert kept school in Church street, in what was, in 1865, the Tannahill house.
Temperance teachings seem to have made some progress, or at least the masters were willing to make the effort to avoid the blue Mondays so fre- quent heretofore. The following iron-clad pledge speaks for itself :
"This agreement, made the twentieth day of March, 1800, Witnesseth, That the subscriber hereunto will not, betwixt this date and the first day of June next ensuing, neglect his school through means of his getting intoxicated, with any kind of liquors whatsoever, under a forfeit of five dollars for each time, time to be stopped out of his school pay by me. BARTHOLOMEW SCHERMERHORN. SCHUYLENBERGH SCHOOL,
March 20, 1800. (Signed) JOHN HETHERINGTON."
True, this pledge only provides for "neglect" . of his duties, but it was a good step in the right direction.
With the beginning of the Schenectady Acade- my, and particularly after it merged into Union College, education proper commenced here. While the bulk of the students attended these schools, still there were some private schools in existence, among which were the following :
In 1800, Mrs. Van Orden taught a school in the second house from the corner of Washington and State streets. A Mr. Barhydt and a Mr. Wig- gins (who also read prayers in the Episcopal Church) were teaching here in 1802, and four years later " Mr. Ganley taught school in a room in the yard on the south side of State street, back of where Gray's shoe store afterwards was." Mr. Shumway in 1805 "kept school" in a house at the west corner of Front and Ferry streets, and
122
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
Thomas Dunlap taught vocal music at Mr. Mooney's school-house in 1807.
By a notice published March 28, 1808, it ap- pears that a "French professor " had recently been engaged for the "Schenectady Female Academy," who "will devote two hours in the forenoon of each day to the instruction of such young ladies as wish to acquire a knowledge of that language." Mr. Malcom and C. C. Cuyler were teachers of the Female Academy in 1808. It was located at 32 Church street, the lot afterward passing into the hands of the Masonic Order.
February 4, 1812, the president of the consistory of the Dutch Church was authorized to subscribe fifty dollars " toward the support of a suitable per- son to instruct the people of color in this place," and April 20, measures were taken by them to es- tablish a school, and they "procured the late Mr. Murdock's store " for that purpose.
This ends our recital of the "Old Masters " of Schenectady. The opening of the "Lancaster " School in 1816 marked an important epoch in our educational development.
THE LANCASTER SCHOOL, 1816-1854.
In the Lancasterian System of Schools, thus named after its inventor, Joseph Lancaster, of England, the seats and tables were arranged in the center of the school-room, leaving a passage clear around the outside; on the walls hung stiff cards or pasteboards containing the lessons, so that the class, standing in a semicircle, could learn to read and spell from the same card. The tables were divided into partitions, or shallow boxes, filled with sand, and occupying the spaces in front of each scholar. The child was taught the letters and how to make them by drawing them in the sand with a stick, cut sharp at one end and flat at the other, so that light and heavy lines could be made without having to retrace them. The sand was smoothed over with a rule of exactly the same width as the partition, and the lines to rule the sand were made by little pegs in the ruler, on the other side, which was used after the sand had been smoothed. After learning to trace the letters in the sand, the scholars were given slates and pencils, afterward pens and ink. Monitors from the higher classes were assigned classes to teach, being changed frequently, so that teaching might not occupy too much of their time to the detriment of their own studies.
An act to incorporate the Schenectady Lancaster School Society was passed November 12, 1816. The act provides that this school could be estab- lished in the compact parts of the first and second wards of the city; and that the thirteen trustees therein appointed should receive all the moneys rightfully due them under the act relative to com- mon schools.
The thirteen trustees named in the act (and who by the act were to be elected annually by the citizens) were; Maus Schermerhorn, Henry Yates, Jr., Cyrus Stebbins, Jacob Van Vechten, Hooper Cumming, Isaac Riggs, Elisha Taylor, Eliphalet
Nott, James Bailey, David Boyd, Abraham S. Groot, Charles Kane and James C. Duane.
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held November 20, 1816, at the office of Henry Yates. James C. Duane was elected President; David Boyd, Treasurer; and Isaac Riggs, Secretary. Different committees were appointed, among which was one to draft by-laws and one to ascertain "the probable expense of a building for the school-house." February 12, 1817, a committee reported to the Board that "they had procured a lot from the corporation " for school purposes, and a committee was appointed to receive proposals for building such house. The by-laws were adopted five days later.
December 17, 1817, a committee reported that they had "obtained for the benefit of the Lan- caster School Society, from the corporation of this city, seventy acres of land on the hill opposite Jacob Lyons'" which was situated on " the north- east side of the Albany and Schenectady turnpike," * *
* that "they expect to receive for the taxes laid on the two inner wards, the sum of $213.72," and in February next, " to receive from the State about the said sum of $213," which, with about $90" in the hands of D. L. Van Antwerp, " will make a total of about $500 to be received during the current year." It was also resolved at this meeting that the salary of the teacher should be $750 yearly, provided enough money was received to make that amount ; if not, then the salary was to be all above "the current expenses of the year."
January 10, 1818, Nicholas Van Vranken was unanimously chosen to be the teacher upon the opening of the school.
The report of 23d May, places the tuition at "one dollar a quarter, paid in advance," and that school be opened June 24. (The building in which it was located is now occupied, 1885, by the Union School Primary Department on Union street. )
July 24, the committee reported that they had " caused the school-house to be finished, and that there remained due to Mr. Lyon the sum of $317 .- 25, after deducting $488.70, the price of 54 acres I rood 8 perches of land at $9 per acre. Cost of the whole, $809.95.
The first Teacher's Report to the Board, showing the result of the Lancasterian system, was presented by Nicholas Van Vranken, March, 1820. In this remarkably able paper it is stated. "The whole number of scholars admitted into the school since the Ist March, 1819, is 267. The school is divided into 8 reading classes; from the first to the second of these there have been 27 promo- tions; to the third, 28; to the fourth, 26; to the fifth, 44; to the sixth, 31; to the seventh, 39; and to the eighth, 36." The method in use is then spoken of: "When it is taken into consideration that none are permitted to write on paper but those who write a fair and handsome hand on the slate, and that 154 out of 267 have done this, the excellence of the place must * *
* stand unquestioned."
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CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- EDUCATIONAL.
March 27, 1824, tuition was reduced to twenty- five cents; the salary of the teacher to $500; and resolved that "poor scholars, not exceeding forty, be admitted into the school gratuitously."
June 27, 1831, the corporate seal, a circular seal with the letters "S. L. S." engraved thereon, was adopted.
March 23, 1832, it was resolved that the teacher receive for his salary for the ensuing year, after de- ducting therefrom the incidental expenses of the school, "the total amount of the public money arising from tax and school fund, and also the amount received for tuition, at twenty-five cents per scholar." "The poor children " to be received as per resolution of March 27, 1824. Many out- side duties were thrown upon the teacher; he per- sonally bargained for and superintended all repairs, building of walks, etc. March 13, 1833, Ezekiel Sexton was elected teacher in place of Mr. Van Vranken, who declined a reappointment. Reso- lutions commendatory of Mr. Van Vranken for his fifteen years' services as teacher were passed by the Board, and Mr. Van Vranken was elected one of the Trustees of the Board. October 16, 1833, it was resolved that the present school-house be sold to Dr. Nott for $225, "reserving the benches and fixtures," and that they purchase of Gov. Yates, a lot on College street for $500, of forty feet front, upon which a new school-house is to be erected. October 28th the committee reported that Dr. Nott wanted the outhouses, etc., included with the school-house. This the Board refused to grant, and it was decided that the buildings should be turned into the general building fund, to be used as far as practicable in the new school-house. The Joseph C. Yates lot was bought for $500, as is shown by the report of March 19, 1834, and on March 26th it appears that Dr. Nott had finally purchased the school-house for $250, "the benches being reserved." The school "to be vacated the Ist of April next."
Proposals, as follows, for building the new school- house, were submitted 21st April:
John N. Vrooman, for $759.984; Frederick Tupper, for $800; Henry Vine, for $775; Berten & Kingsley, for $850; Edward Clark, for $800. Mr. Vrooman's bid being accepted.
Mr. James Slater was elected teacher one week later, and specifications for the new school-house in College street were decided upon. It was to be "forty feet from front to rear, thirty feet wide, and twenty feet high from top of sills to top of plates," and to be " finished June ist next." The first meeting was held in the building July 16th, when it was ordered that the second story be completed.
April 1, 1836, it was Resolved, " That this corporation feel themselves obliged to appropriate, for the purposes of the education of the colored children of this city, such proportion of the public money as may hereafter be collected on the enu- meration of such children," and in June, 1837, $25 was set aside from the school funds to be applied for the maintenance of a teacher in the " African Lancaster School Society."
March 15, 1839, this resolution, etc., was adopted: "Whereas, Doubts have been expressed whether any other mode of instruction than what is called the 'Lancaster System,' can be used in the schools of this Society; Resolved, that this Board re- quest our members of Assembly and the Senate * * * to procure a law to remove such doubts, and leave this Board the power of causing all the branches of education taught in any of the com- mon schools of this State to be taught in the schools of this Society, and in any approved mode that this Society may deem expedient to adopt." Mr. Slater was hired as teacher for another year; his pay to be so much of the public money as does not exceed $550 and the tuition money. " He to employ at his own expense a female teacher for the female department." April 18th, a District Library was ordered to be paid for with the State money. At this meeting $200 was appropriated for the es- tablishment of a school or schools in the first ward, and $300 for schools "in the part of the third or fourth wards, or in both, or either of them, within the Police District." These schools to be subject to the regulations of the Board, so long as their teachers "receive any part of the ap- propriation." By December 30th, $279.34 had been expended for the new library, and the books were, "for the present," in the rooms of the "Young Men's Association," and Alexander Cam- eron was appointed Librarian.
The committee appointed April 18, 1839, re- ported February 25, 1840, that: A school be es- tablished in the first ward; teacher's salary to be $250; tuition to be $1.50 per quarter from May to November; $1.75 November to May. Gram- . mar, geography, bookkeeping, navigation and surveying to be taught. Section 8 of the report is as follows: "It is proposed to continue some parts of the 'Lancaster System ' (such as the mode of teaching the names and mode of forming fig- ures and letters) in the first or primary school, and in the other schools in the wards for begin- ners, but to depend upon instruction from the teachers personally so soon as the scholar has made progress beyond the first elements of litera- ture;" and section 7 states that they "hope to have" furnished by the corporation "the engine- house in Liberty street, and the old market belong- ing to the heirs of Peter Smith." The treasurer's report of April 6, 1840, shows $833.75 on hand.
Wm. D. Cockran and Miss Stiles were engaged as teachers for the "Lancaster School;" Martin C. Hall for Ferry Street School; and Harvey Moore for Liberty Street School. These two last opening May 4, 1840.
The annual report, made to the Superintendent of Common Schools, November 1, 1840, shows that during the past year the whole amount of pub- lic money received from the County Treasurer was $1,396.88, of which $279.37 was paid for books, $48 to the African School, and the balance of $1,069.51 for wages of teachers (they also received about $450 tuition fees). The number of children taught in all the schools in which the trustees had any voice was 360; the number of children re-
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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
siding within the Police between the ages of five and sixteen years was 1,065. The teachers were: James Slater, Martin C. Hall, Misses Ritchie, Thurston and Stiles, their monthly wages running from $15 to $45.
April 1, 1841, Myndert Veeder was teacher for the Liberty street school, James Slater and Miss Stiles re-elected for the Lancaster School, and Nicholas Merselis for the Ferry street school. The "Lancaster School Report," submitted at this meeting shows the total amount of school money received for the year to be $1, 409. 12.
April 11, 1842, the school money was divided as follows: "The school in College street, male department, $330; female department. 135; Ferry street school, $190; Liberty street school, $190; John B. Clute School, in State street, $115 (this is the first mention in the minutes of this school); and the African School, $40." July 15 "the rear lot of the Lancaster House was leased to James D. Felthousen for a term of fifteen years" (price not stated). November Ist, Joseph Blanchard was ap- pointed teacher in the State street school.
The school money, as reported April 9, 1843, was $1, 335.88, and at this meeting Nancy Ferrell was engaged as teacher for the female department, and Frederick De Lamater for the State street school. On March 5th there were 1,009 volumes in the Library.
During 1843-44 the question of changing the present school system was seriously agitated, when, on January 6, 1845, it was decided "not to take any action thereon at present."
The annual report of Alexander Holland, made April 2, 1845, was so unusually accurate and de- tailed, that he was given a special vote of thanks.
The appropriation for 1845 for the pay of teachers was :
College street school, male department, $265 00
female
110 00
Maiden lane
175 00
Ferry street 175 00
State street 175 00
Miss Clark, a private teacher in Yates st., 20 00
Miss Ritchie, "Front " 20 00
Miss Joanna Crooks, " Wash'n'ton " 20 00
African School, 40 00
Total, $1,000 00
Wm. G. Caw was appointed teacher for the Fourth ward school in May, in place of Mr. De Lamater, resigned, and, in October, M. Myndert Veeder was elected teacher in the Lancaster School vice Mr. Hall, resigned. It appears, from the minutes of this meeting, that the "Fourth ward school was held in Wm. Hannah's building in State street."
The report made April 10, 1846, shows that the average attendance at the different schools had been: College street, male department, 94
" female 117
Ferry 51
Maiden Lane,
61
Fourth ward,
90
The amount of school money received for the year, reported April 24th, was $1, 295.85. On May 6th the gradual introduction of uniform text-books was recommended.
This was brought forth by a memorial from the teachers, presented at the last meeting. The fol- lowing is a list of the books designated by them, with those also named by the committee :
Webster's Spelling Book, Hazen's Speller and Definer, Sanders' First, Second and Third Reader, Hale's History of the United States, Porter's Rhe- torical Reader, New Testament, Smith's Grammar, Mitchell's Geography, First and Second, Critten- den's Arithmetic, Parley's History, Davies' Algebra, Olmstead's Philosophy, Marsh's Bookkeeping (Single Entry), Crittenden's Bookkeeping (Double Entry).
The introduction of music books was also fa- vored. It seems that music very soon became part of the curriculum, as on August 20th the teachers invited the Board "to attend an examina- tion of their scholars in musical exercises " soon to be held, which invitation was accepted by the Board as a body. The following week, on the 29th, a grand concert was given by the united scholars in the consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church, which was well attended. Mr. S. B. Marsh was the musical instructor.
The agitation regarding a change from the Lan- caster system was again raised during 1847. Dur- ing this year-1847-the Maiden Lane school was removed to a room leased in the Cameronian Church. Mr. Vedder, the retiring secretary, added these words to the minutes of the meeting held July 17th: "Vale, vale, longum vale. How mutable are all human affairs. Othello's occupation gone. Bread or no bread."
The amount appropriated April 10, 1848, for pay for teachers was : three male teachers at $250 a year, or $750 ; one female teacher at $100; and one at $125. Total, $975.
The apportionment of the school money for teachers' salaries made April 6, 1849, was as follows :
College street school, male department $245 00
female 110 00
Maiden lane 245 00
Ferry street 245 00
Miss Sanders' 110 00 African 40 00
Total $995 00
During 1849 there were various complaints made against different teachers, but in every case the teacher was sustained by the Board.
January 4, 1850, the customary resolutions were passed regarding the death of Frederick R. Van Ingen, Esq., a late member of the Board. Hiram Champion was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by his death. January 26th it was recommended "that the schools be made entirely free from the present quarter," but no definite action was taken thereon, and March 7th it was reported that there would be sufficient, school money ($1,997) to pay the teachers enough more to make up for their deprivation of tuition money, and also to establish
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CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- EDUCATIONAL.
another school of a higher grade. April 4th the appropriation for teachers was :
First ward school, male
$310 00
Second "
female.
170 00
Fourth "
male ..
310 00
=
female. 170 00
Total.
.$1,270 00
and $225 was applied for the Library.
The report of the Treasurer, made April 18th, shows the school money received for the year to be $1,261.10, which, with $307.69 received from the former Treasurer, made $1,568.69 total cash re- ceived. April 25th, the Special Committee upon By-laws made their report. This report provides for the routine business of the Board, the appoint- ment of committees, regular and special, etc. The report of the " Library and Text-Book " Committee, made at this meeting, is :
Year.
Appropriation.
Vols. purchased.
1839
$279 34
185
1840
274 91
218 probably.
1841
281 84
218
1842.
267 25
205
1843.
267 17
183
1844.
268 00
131
1845.
259 17
95
1846
260 60
197
1847.
264 59
195
1848
247 47
135
1849
254 70
118
II years.
$2,915 04
1,879 vols.
119 volumes are reported as missing, and "96 volumes probably."
May 2, the following uniform system of text- books was recommended :
Reading and Spelling-Mandeville's Course, I to 6,
New Testament,
Swan's Spelling Book,
Mitchell's Primary and large Geography,
Perkins' Primary, Elementary and High Arith- metic, and Colburn's Intellectual,
Grammar-Brown's first lines and larger,
Cutter's Physiology,
Hall's History of the United States,
Gray's Natural Philosophy,
Perkins' Elements of Algebra and Geometry,
Johnston's Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry, which was adopted by the Board May 23. The tuition for children under five years of age was fixed at $2 per quarter. The report of July 11 shows that John W. Schoolcraft had been teaching the African School since June 3d, at $15 per month. (This school had not been in operation for some months), and October 11th it was decided that this school should be closed November 3d.
The question of a free school had, by this time, become universally agitated, and in January, 1852, a committee was appointed to prepare a draft of a law for such a school in the city, with a view of having the same presented to the Legislature at its present session. The committee reported, through its President, February 24th, that " the free school of the city of Troy, with such alterations and amend-
ments as may be necessary, as being suitable for this city," and the report was adopted.
In 1853 a new school was opened in the Third ward, on "The Green," and Miss Frances M. Sacia was engaged as teacher on April 1st.
The last meeting of the "Lancaster School So- ciety" of which there is any record, was held March 16, 1854, the minutes being in the hand- writing of Mr. B. V. S. Vedder, for many years its Secretary. By these minutes it appears that the Trustees recently elected were :
A. A. Van Vorst, B. V. S. Vedder, W. H. Clute, A. M. Vedder, Francis Van DeBogart, Peter Ved- der, Jont. Pierson, Nathaniel Clark, D. M. Chad- sey, John Foster, S. L. Hand, M. C. Myers and A. M. Mull.
A. A. Van Vorst was elected President, B. V. S, Vedder, Secretary, and A. M. Vedder, Treasurer. At this meeting the following resolution was adopted :
"That this Board do approve of the act now before the Legislature of this State, providing for the reorganization and improvement of the school system of this city, and that we recommend its immediate passage," and "that the President and Secretary be requested to forward a copy of the foregoing resolution to the chairman of the proper committee of the Senate of this State, under their official signatures."
The "Lancaster School System," after a life of nearly forty years (1816 to 1854), gave way during the latter year, to our present Free School system.
THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM, 1854-1885.
April 9, 1854, an act was passed by the Legisla- ture in relation to the public schools in the city of Schenectady, and on the 15th of the month the Union School was established. In the evening of that day the first meeting of School Commissioners was held at the Common Council Chamber at the Court House. There were present : Alonzo C. Paige and Nicholas Van Vranken, from the First Ward; D. M. Moore and Wm. M. Duane, of the Second; Charles Chequer and Hiram Champion, of the Third ; and Rev. I. G. Duryee and D. M. Chadsey, of the Fourth Ward. After organization, Mr. Nicholas Van Vranken was elected president, and D. M. Chadsey, secretary. James J. Marlette succeeded Mr. Chadsey the following year. The commissioners, at this meeting, drew lots to decide which should hold the long or short terms. Steps for the purchase of a proper building for school purposes were at once taken, and, May 26th, David M. Moore, of the committee, reported that the West College, which originally cost over $53,000, could be purchased by the city for $6,000. The grounds were 225 feet front on College street. This prop- erty was secured shortly after this report, and the first two stories were made ready to accommodate about 450 scholars, it being believed that that num- ber would cover all those ready to attend the school.
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