USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 73
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Since Mr. Steele's retirement from the office of superintendent in 1846, it has been filled by the following persons:
Daniel Bowen, appointed 1846; Elias S. Hawley, appointed 1847; Daniel Bowen, appointed 1849; Henry K. Veile, appointed 1850; Oliver G. Steele, appointed 1851; Victor M. Rice, appointed 1852; previous to 1854 this office was filled by appoint- ment by the Common Council, but in that year it was made an elective office. Ephraim Cook, elected 1854; Joseph Warren, 1858; Sanford B. Hunt, 1860; John B. Sackett, 1862; Henry D. Garvin, 1864; John S. Fosdick, 1866; Samuel Slade, 1868; Thomas Lathrop, 1870; Josephus N. Larned, 1872; William S. Rice, 1874; Christopher G. Fox, 1878: James F. Crooker, 1882; William H. Love, February 22, 1892, ap- pointed in place of James F. Crooker, who was elected State superintendent of public instruction ; Henry P. Emerson,1 January 1, 1893.
' Henry P. Emerson, present superintendent of education in Buffalo, was born in Lynnfield, Mass., January 11, 1847. After completing his college training he engaged in teaching as a pro- fession. In 1874 he assumed charge of the classical department of the Buffalo High School, in which position he exhibited all the qualifications of the successful educator. When the princi- palship of that school became vacant, in 1888, he was chosen with great unanimity to fill the posi- tion. When he accepted the place the school had only about 300 students, and when he left it, ten years later, it had over 1,000. He was elected to the responsible office of superintendent in 1892, and assumed its duties January 1, 1898, at a time when there was general dissatisfaction with the common schools as a whole. Vast sums of money were being annually expended for which, ac- cording to public belief, only inadequate returns were apparent. It was also felt that improper influences frequently governed the appointment of teachers and their subsequent promotion. Methods of teaching, also, it was believed, could be materially improved, and better classes of text books introduced.
Mr. Emerson proved to be the man to effect these needed reforms. He has already shown him- self to be not alone a competent and thorough educator, but a business man as well, and capable of a comprehensive grasp of the entire school system, and with the ability and firmness to enforce his ideas and carry out his plans. In the course of his work thus far he has introduced the system of free text books; prepared and introduced a greatly improved course of study; made merit alone the test of a teacher's fitness; made the system of instruction more practical and useful for the after life of students; urged the building of many additional school houses that meet all mod- ern requirements; and has fully executed the pledge made by himself to give the city of Buffalo "an efficient, progressive, non-sectarian, non-partisan administration of the schools."
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
In the year 1846 a large school building was erected in district No. 14, on Franklin street, and in 1847 the house on Delaware street was built, districts Nos. 9 and 10 having previously been united. In 1848 a colored school was established on Vine street and a new school house was built for district No. 11, on Elm street north of Eagle. In 1849 commodious school buildings were erected in districts Nos. 4 and 12. the former on Elk street and the latter on Spruce street. In 1850 a new house was built on Perry street in district No. 3, and the old house was abandoned in the following year. In 1851 the school house on Erie street was burned and in 1853 the present structure on the Ter- race near Genesee street was erected. This was the last school build- ing erected under the old charter. In 1854 the new charter went into existence, which extended the city government over Black Rock, and the free school system was greatly enlarged. Evening schools were first opened in the city in 1851.'
It will be seen by the foregoing that there was an immense growth in the Buffalo schools between 1838 and 1853; this is corroborated by the fact that in the first named year the number of scholars enrolled was 179, while in the latter year there were registered 6,368; the number of teachers increased during the same period from seven to ninety-four.
The Jesse Ketchum Memorial Fund was founded in 1871 by B. H. Brennan, a son-in-law of Mr. Ketchum. A deed of trust was executed September 7, 1871, which conveyed to the city of Buffalo the sum of $10,000, as a perpetual memorial fund in honor of Mr. Ketchum. The proceeds of this fund are used for the purchase of medals to be pre- sented to scholars showing remarkable advancement. These prizes are of gold and silver medals-six gold medals for the two highest pupils in the Normal School, High School and all grammar schools, and about eight silver medals for the two highest pupils of each gram- mar school.
The standard of education has steadily improved since the enlarge- ment of the Buffalo free school system in 1854; this improvement has been remarkably noticeable during the last decade, especially in the methods of teaching and the qualification of teachers. The new city
' In the Session Laws of the State, under date of April 15, 1851, we find an act incorporating the Westminster College in Buffalo, the incorporators being Alden S. Sprague, Albert T. Chester, Luman K. Plimpton, Lewis F. Allen, William W. Mann, James J. Baldwin, G. B. Rich, John C. Lord, S. G. Haven, Joseph Foster, Harlow Palmer, Pascal P. Pratt, Watson A. Fox, William Tweedy, Henry Bosworth, Albert G. Hall, John B. Skinner, Joshua H. Mellvaine, Pliny Twichell, Richard Kay, L. Merrill Miller and Thomas Aitken.
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charter of 1892 created a board of school examiners, consisting of five members, who hold office for five years, before whom all applicants for teachers' positions must appear for examination. The first board chosen was composed of Dr. Conrad Diehl, president; Henry Altmann, Lilly Lord Tifft, Timothy J. Mahoney and William B. Hoyt.
The plan of supplying free school books was introduced in 1893, wholly at the recommendation of Superintendent Emerson, and in that year the Common Council voted $26,000 for the object. The results have more than confirmed the superintendent's expectations and prom- ises. A large saving of money is effected each year, the schools are far more easily put in operation at the beginning of each school year, and the attendance is largely increased, while the average cost of tuition is considerably reduced.
A course of study was introduced in 1893 which was placed before every teacher through the medium of a pamphlet of explicit and prac- tical instructions prepared by the superintendent. This has been one of the principal causes of recent improvement in the schools, increas- ing the interest of the pupil and awkening latent talent in teachers. During the past four years the general character of the teaching force has been greatly elevated, through the dismissal of inefficient teachers, by exercising great care in making appointments, and in training and encouraging appointees. Favoritism and influence of every nature have been utterly abolished in this important department of school manage- ment.
In 1895 the Legislature enacted a law the object of which was to raise the standard of preparation on the part of teachers in city schools. This law provided that after January, 1897, no person shall be employed or licensed to teach in the public schools of any city who has not had at least three years' successful experience, or in lieu of such experience has not graduated from a high school or other institution of equal or higher rank, and also subsequent to such graduation had at least a school year of professional training in the principles of education and methods of instruction. In accordance with this law a teachers' train- ing school was established in Septebmer, 1896, and is carried on in con- nection with public school No. 10, the pupils of which serve as a school of practice for the teachers in the training school. The work in the training class consists of two kinds: (1) the theoretical, embracing the principles of teaching, the history of education, and the theory of school government; (2) the practical, consisting of observation of practical
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
teaching, model lessons given by the principal of the class, actual teach- ing under the criticism of the principal, and finally taking full charge of classes.
The gradual enlargement of educational facilities in the city since 1854 is concisely shown in the following list of schools and school build- ings as they exist at present (1897), with such statistical notes of each as are needed; the valuation represents both buildings and sites :
Central High School .- School lot on the triangle bounded by Franklin, Genesee and Court streets. What was known as the old Burt building, fronting on Court street, was purchased in 1852 (previous to which year, and from 1846, a high school department was conducted in district No. 7). New building, fronting on Franklin street, erected in 1869. Old Burt building torn down and a new structure erected, adjoining the other, in 1885, facing Court street. Valuation of property, $216, 125. Both brick, three stories.
Masten Park High School .- School lot bounded by Masten, North and Best streets. House built 1896-97; cost, complete, about $200,000.
District No. 1 .- School lot on Seventh street near Hudson; three story brick build- ing, built in 1855; torn down and new house, three stories, brick. erected in 1897. Valuation of property about $54,875. One annex, brick, one story.
District No. 2 .- School lot on Terrace street near Genesee; house three story brick ; rebuilt in 1852. Valuation of property, $33,000.
District No. 3 .- School lot on Perry street between Illinois and Mississippi streets; three story brick house, built in 1851. Valuation, $14,580.
District No. 4 .- School lot on Elk street near Louisiana; building of brick, three stories, built in 1849; additions made in 1856 and 1887. Valuation, $44,750.
District No. 5 .- School lot on Seneca near Hydraulic street; house three stories. brick, built in 1839; additions made in 1850 and 1856; rebuilt in 1891. Valuation of property $28,415. Also lot on Seneca street near Red Jacket : value, $5, 600.
District No. 6 .- School lot on South Division street near Chestnut; house built of brick, three stories; originally built in 1839; rebuilt in 1868. Valuation, $28,760.
District No. 7 .- School lot on South Division street near Ellicott; house of brick, three stories; built in 1835; taken by the Department of Public Works as a supply house. New school house, of brick, three stories, built on Bailey avenue near Clinton street in 1891. Valuation, $54,000.
District No. 8 .- School lot on Church opposite City and County Hall; building of brick, two stories, built 1838. Valuation $7,500. Condemned by Council in 1883; property sold to St. Joseph's College. New school lot on Utica corner of Masten street; house built of brick, three stories, in 1884. Valuation of property $54,060.
District No. 9 .- Formerly colored school; school lot on Vine street ; house built in 1848; discontinued and territory added to districts 11 and 13. New district No. 9, school lot on Bailey avenue near Doat street; house erected of brick, two stories, in 1881. Valuation, $54,000.
District No. 10 .- School lot on Delaware avenue near Mohawk street; house of brick, three stories, built 1847; present building, of brick, three stories, erected in 1885. Valuation, $58,425.
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District No. 11 .- School lot on Elm near Eagle street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1892. Valuation, $41,000. Also school lot on South Division near Ellicott street. Valuation, $21,190.
District No. 12 .- School lot on Spruce street near Broadway; house built of brick, three stories, in 1849; torn down and new building erected in 1897. Valuation, $54,600.
District No. 18 .- School lot on Oak street between Genesee and Huron; brick building, three stories, built in 1856; additition made in 1883. Valuation, $35,465.
District No. 14 .- School lot on Franklin street between Tupper and Edward; brick house, two stories, built in 1866. Valuation, $36, 125.
District No. 15 .- School lot on Oak street corner of Burton; house three stories, brick, built in 1876. Valuation, $40,995.
District No. 16 .- School lot on Delaware avenue near Bryant street; house of brick, three stories, built in 1855; addition made about 1887. Valuation, $48,810.
District No. 17 .- School lot on Main street near Lafayette avenue; house of brick, two stories, built in 1885; two additions built in 1896. Valuation, $21,250.
District No. 18 .- School lot on School street corner Fargo avenue; house of brick, two stories, built in 1848; another building, brick, two stories, built in 1874; annex, wood, one story, built about 1887; new building on West avenue side of lot, built of brick in 1897. Valuation, $87,265.
District No. 19 .- School lot on West corner of Delavan avenue; house of brick, three stories, built in 1857; addition built in 1885. Valuation, $29,600.
District No. 20 .- School lot on Amherst street corner of East; brick house, three stories, built in 1877. Valuation. $39,130.
District No. 21 .- School lot on Hertel near Delaware avenue; house of wood, built in 1857. Valuation, $2,325.
District No. 22 .- School lot on Main street near Amherst; house of brick, two stories, built in 1882. Valuation, $10,180.
District No. 23 .- School lot on Delavan, east of Scheule avenue; house of wood, one story, built in 1868; rebuilt in 1872; new building erected of brick, three stories, in 1895-96. Valuation, $51,770. Also lot on Delavan and Moselle street.
District No. 24 .- School lot on Fillmore avenue near Genesee street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1857. Valuation $56,000. Also school lot on Fillmore avenue corner of Best street; built of brick, two stories, in 1888. Valuation $11,- 610. Also wooden annex, one story.
District No. 25 .- School lot on Lewis street near Howard; house of brick, two stories, built in 1873. Valuation, $33,500.
District No. 26 .- School lot on Dole street near Seneca; house of brick, two stories, recently repaired, and now used as a truant school. School lot on Milton corner of Westcott street, house of brick, two stories, built in 1889; enlarged in 1897. Valuation, $40,000. Value of Dole street property, $9,020.
District No. 27 .- School lot on Cazenovia street near Seneca; house of brick, one story, built in 1872. Valuation, $1,410. School lot on Mineral Spring Road near Seneca street; house of brick, three stories, built in 1896. Valuation, $21,780.
District No. 28 .- School lot on Abbott Road corner Triangle street; formerly a one-story wooden building; now two-story brick house, built in 1888. Valuation, $16,250.
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District No. 29 .- School lot on South Park avenue near Marilla street ; house of brick, one story, built in 1874. Valuation, $2,250.
District No. 30 .- School lot on Louisiana street corner of South; house of brick, three stories, built in 1885. Valuation, $32,345.
District No. 81 .- School lot on Emslie street near Peckham; house of brick, three stories, built in 1872; addition built in 1884. Valuation, $89,500. This is the largest school in the city, having 2,029 sittings.
District No. 32 .- School lot on Cedar near William street; house of brick, three stories, built in 1851. Valuation, $20,400. School lot on Cedar near Clinton street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1872. Valuation, $20,200.
District No. 33 .- School lot on Elk street near Euclid place; house of brick, two stories, built in 1873; addition built in 1888. Valuation, $69,490.
District No. 34 .- School lot on Hamburg corner of Sandusky street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1864; enlarged in 1895. Valuation, $39,060.
District No. 35 .- School lot on Swan street wear Spring; house of brick, three stories, built in 1867; enlarged in 1897. Valuation, about $50,000.
District No. 36 .- School lot on Cottage street corner of Day's Park; house of brick, two stories, built in 1868. Valuation of property. $29,450.
District No. 37 .- School lot on Peach street corner of Carlton; formerly primary school for District No. 15; house of brick, two stories, built in 1869: addition built in 1885. Valuation, $72,630.
District No. 38 .- School lot on Vermont street corner of Lowell place; house of brick, two stories, built in 1886; addition built in 1895. Valuation, $37, 160.
District No. 39 .- School lot on High street near Grey; house of brick, two stories, built in 1886: addition in 1897. Valuation, $56, 750.
District No. 40 .- School lot on Oneida street near Fillmore avenue; house of brick. two stories, built in 1887. Valuation, $33, 600.
District No. 41 .- School lot on Broadway corner of Spring street; formerly pri- mary school for district No. 12; house of brick, two stories, built in 1869; annex of wood, one story, built in 1895. Valuation, $51,575.
District No. 42 .- School lot on Military Road near Clay street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1883; annex of wood, one story, built in 1895. Valuation, $10,895.
District No. 43 .- School lot on Lovejoy near Benzinger street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1882; annex of wood, one story. Valuation, $39,020.
District No. 44 .- School lot on Broadway corner of Person street; built originally of wood in 1869; rebuilt of brick, three stories, in 1895. Valuation, $50.110.
District No. 45 .- School lot on Auburn avenue corner of Baynes street; house of brick, three stories, built in 1889. Valuation, $46,010.
District No. 46 .- School lot on Edward corner of Virginia street, house of brick. two stories, built in 1889. Valuation, $50,000.
District No. 47 .- School lot on Hickory near Sycamore street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1889. Valuation, $40,000.
District No. 48 .- School lot on Edna place near Masten street; house of brick, two stories, built in 1892. Valuation, $50,625. ·
District No. 49 .- School lot on Vermont street corner of Fargo avenue; house of brick, three stories, built in 1892. Valuation, $57,300.
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District No. 50 .- School lot on Eagle near Grosvenor street; house of brick, three stories, built in 1895. Valuation, $49,800.
District No 51 .- School lot on Guernsey street near Hertel avenue; house of brick, three stories, built in 1895. Valuation, $39,220.
District No. 52 .- School lot on Barry place near Bird avenue; house of brick, three stories, built in 1895. Valuation, $37,925.
District No. 53 .- School lot on Winslow street corner of Wohlers avenue; house of brick, three stories, built in 1895. Valuation, $48,630.
District No. 54 .- School lot on Main street near Jewett avenue; house of brick, three stories, built in 1895. Valuation, $34, 690.
District No. 55 .- School lot on Guilford near Sycamore street; house of brick, three stories, built in 1895. Valuation, $53,600.
District No. 56 .- School lot on Elmwood avenue near Ferry street, house of brick, three stories, built in 1896. Valuation, $54,815.
District No. 57 .- School lot on Sears street near Broadway; house of brick, built in 1897.
Districts No. 58, 59 and 60 .- School houses are now (1897) in process of construc- tion.
Buffalo is heavily bonded for the cost of its system of schools. The original issue was $250,000, under the laws of 1888, the bonds being issued on August 1 of that year and due in 1908. Under chapter 315 of the laws of 1889, an issue of $150,000 was made, payable in 1909. Another equal issue was made under chapter 242 of the laws of 1891, payable in 1912. Under chapter 325 of the laws of 1893, $300,000 was issued, payable in 1914, and under chapter 390 of the laws of 1895, an issue was made of $250,000, payable in 1915; making a total of $1,100,000. This last issue sold at a premium of over $5,000.
The present taxable valuation of school personal property is $13, 486,- 550, and of real estate $225, 485, 795.
The total expenditures for public schools since 1886 are as follows:
1886.
$516,793.85
1892-93
$805,213.71
1887.
512,555.69
1893-94.
940,570.52
1888.
807,000.79
1894-95.
1,229,761.15
1889.
746,529.56
1895-96.
1.279,080.98
1890
698,361.10
1896-97.
1,277,085.00
1891-92 (18 mos.).
1,336,915.22
The annual registration since 1885 is as follows:
1885-86
28,372
1891-92
37,524
1886-87
29,434
1892-93
39,579
1887-88
30,351
1893-94
44,713
1888-89
32,251
1894-95
46,665
1889-90
34,662
1895-96
52,157
1890-91
35,576
1896-97 52,705
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The subject of nationality of pupils in the schools is an interesting and important one, and has a direct bearing upon questions of cosmo- politan character in the population of the city. In deciding the nation- ality of a child, the question is asked, "Where was your father born?" If it is Germany, he is called a German; if in Ireland, Irish; if in the United States, American. A child may be of German descent, yet if his father was born in the United States, he is put down as an Amer- ican. The most noticeable items in the following table are those which show the coming in of the Italian, Polish and Canadian elements, which, a few years ago, were entirely lacking in the public schools of Buffalo:
REGISTRATION.
1882.
1895-96.
Pupils of American Parentage
5,460
23,424
or
44.9 per cent.
" German
10,301
16,809
or
31.3
..
" Irish
2,633
3,246
or
6.2
Scandinavian
218
or
0.4
..
" Polish ..
1,850
or
3.5
..
" Italian
927
or
1.8
Canadian
..
1,709
or
3.3
other nationalities
2,293
4,474
or
8.6
..
White
20,574
51,926
or
99.6 per cent.
Colored
113
281
or
0.4
..
There are libraries connected with fifty seven of the schools in which there are a total of about 45,000 volumes, valued at about $34,000.
Evening schools in Buffalo were first opened in 1851. They have have been found of great usefulness and the number gradually in- creased until at the present time there are thirteen such schools taught in districts Nos. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 19, 20, 31, 38, 39, 43 and 44, employing forty four principals and teachers. These schools are maintained at an annual expense of about $11,000. There is also an evening High School, with a principal and eleven male and six female teachers, maintained at an expense of about $3,000.
The kindergarten schools have become an important factor in the educational facilities of the city. The Buffalo Free Kindergarten As- sociation was organized in 1891, and four schools were started under its supervision. In 1892 the Common Council, on recommendation of Superintendent Love, appropriated sufficient money to pay the prin-
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20,687
52,157
657
EDUCATION IN ERIE COUNTY.
cipal teacher, and in 1894 the number of these schools was increased to eight. There are now twelve of these Kindergarten schools con- ducted under the atispices of the association, with a combined regis- tration of about 1,100 pupils, whose average age is four years. The Department of Public Instruction pays the salaries of eight teachers.
The Buffalo Female Academy was the result of an idea originating with Rev. M. La Rue P. Thompson, D. D., then pastor of the First Presbyterian church. An organization was effected in March, 1851, with Samuel F. Pratt, Thomas Farnham, Noah H. Gardner, George W. Tifft, Benjamin Hodge, Aaron Rumsey, James Hollister, Thomas M. Foot, M. D., Charles E. Clarke, Elihu J. Baldwin, Daniel Bowen, Joseph Dart, George B. Walbridge, Stephen G. Austin, and James Mckay as trustees; Messrs. Austin and Mckay soon resigned and Ho- ratio Shumway and Judson Harmon were elected to the vacancies. Samuel F. Pratt was chosen the first president; Elihu J. Baldwin, sec- retary; and Thomas Farnham, treasurer. Mr. Pratt soon resigned and Horatio Shumway was elected to the position. School was opened August 15, 1851, and on the 14th of the following October the institu- tion was incorporated. Through the liberality of Jabez Goodell, Good- ell Hall, on Johnson's Park, was dedicated July 6, 1852, in which year the first graduates, three in number, were sent out. Evergreen Cottage, an historic building erected on Delaware avenue corner of Johnson's Park, by Dr. Ebenezer Johnson, the first mayor of Buffalo, be- came the academy residence. The first principal was Charles E. West, M. D., LL.D., who was succeeded in 1859 by Rev. Albert T. Chester, D. D .; he was succeeded in 1887 by Mrs. Charles Frederic Hartt. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Forbes had charge of the collegiate department from 1860 to 1885, when Mrs. Hartt succeeded her. Mr. Shumway served as president until 1856; Nathan K. Hall until 1871; Orsamus H. Marshall until 1879: Thomas Farnham until 1883; and Pascal P. Pratt from 1883 to the present time. This is one of the foremost female academies in the State, and has always maintained a high standard in education- al methods. Its average attendance is over 200. Its Alumni Associa- tion, organized in 1876, has become one of the most prominent literary clubs of the city.
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