USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 27
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All these institutions served a useful pur- pose in their day ; in fact, they were indispensa- ble to the intellectual development of the com- munity in which they stood, and it is no re- proach upon their public-spirited founders and teachers that they have given place to a wider system of public education, which is free to all. Without this preliminary work of the private school, the seminaries and the academy, the public high school of today would never have existed.
Muskingum Academy had a history which is unique. At first it was an academy and house of worship, the only one in the commun- ity; then it was rented at a nominal rate to some person or persons who woukl teach there- in a private school of higher grade. About 1830 the teachers who had used this building, finding their quarters straitened, began to seek other accommodations and we hear of an "In- stitute of Education," with primary and higher departments, and with some hints of Pestaloz- zian theory and practice. We hear of globes and apparatus, of nature study, in fact, al- though they did not them call it by that name. There was a manual labor department, too, and for a long time great expectations were built upon this new plan of education. The subse- quent changes from the Marietta Collegiate Institute to the Marietta College of 1835 are told in the extracts taken from papers of that day and from the history of Marietta College which follows.
THE MARIETTA INFANT SCHOOL.
April 10, 1830 .- "Mr. Prentiss,
"Dear Sir :- It is nothing strange, after an acquaintance with you of more than four years,
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that I have discovered that you are always interested in those institutions which promise to be a public benefit. On this account I feel the more at liberty to address you on the sub- ject which stands at the head of this hasty no- tice. For the want of time I must confine my- self to a mere passing notice. I hope to be able to take up the subject of the analytical method of instruction, which is introduced into this school, in some of its practical details in the succeeding numbers of your paper.
".At present I can only say that the Intant School in this place is in successful operation. with about seventy-five pupils, the present number.
"It is now open for the reception of schol- ars both from the town and from the country, if any parents abroad should feel a sufficient interest to send their children. Some have already applied for the admission of their chil- dren, who live themselves out of the township.
"The terms are two dollars and fifty cents per quarter. Scholars will be received of any age, between three and twelve years. Some even older than this will be received, if their previous education does not unfit them for being benefited here. Also some have been and will continue to be received younger than three years, if the health and maturity of the pupil seem to justify it.
"The branches which are taught will be more particularly defined hereafter. It is suffi- cient now to say that at least all the branches of education. taught in our best common schools, will be taught here, but on a principle which imparts knowledge far more rapidly to the mind of the learner, and suited to make a much more deep and abiding impression. It is a primary object in this section to endeavor to impart distinct and vivid impressions to the mind by the means of sensible objects. For this purpose an extensive apparatus is provided, suited to the several kinds of instruction given -spelling, reading, defining and the elements of Natural History, Geography, Arithmetic and Grammar. To this I also expect a very considerable addition in the present month.
"Every Wednesday, in the forenoon, the school will be open for the reception of visitors.
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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,
All persons are invited on these occasions to attend, who feel any interest in this exceed- ingly important and interesting subject.
"The school is under the superintendence and instruction of Miss Phebe Battelle, of Newport, and Miss Eliza Buck, of this place ; assisted by Archibald Cowan, a lad eight years old, a pupil of Mr. Bacon. It is hoped that Mr. Bacon himself will spend a few days in the school, the latter part of this month.
"I am happy to say that the Infant School meets with the very general approbation of our citizens, and has already secured the confidence of the community in general. If any have doubts, I am fully persuaded that they will van- ish with one hour's personal observation of the operations of the school.
"The mode of instruction is entirely new ; but not more new than the plan of government which is adopted, and which is found to be more efficient than any other. All corporal punishments are excluded.
"It is my intention, if ever the school more than pays the expenses already incurred and the salaries of the teachers to whom I am per- sonally responsible, to expend any surplus funds in adding continually to . the apparatus for the benefit of the school.
"The above remarks I have been obliged to make in the greatest haste, and hope to be able to satisfy the minds of inquirers on any points of interest at another time.
"Yours with much respect and esteem, "L. G. BINGHAM.
"P. S .- The founder of the Infant School system in the United States gives it as his opinion that the most desirable number of pu- pils for a school is one hundred and fifty. None need therefore hesitate about sending their chil- dren on account of the present number."
A TRAVELER'S OPINION.
Marietta, June 12, 1830 .-
"Having this day attended the examina- tion of the Infant School in this place. I deem it doing an act of public utility to report its conditions and prospects. Of the many schools which I have visited in other States, none have
I found conducted in a manner better suited to impart knowledge, to strengthen the mind by exercising its various powers, and to correct any wayward disposition. This school has been in operation one quarter only. It com- mends itself. To become satisfied of this, it is needful only to become fully acquainted with the manner in which it is conducted. In this short time the school has attended to reading, spelling, defining, arithmetic, grammar and geography. The examination in these branch- es was highly creditable. In addition to these, they had attended to several others which are not usually taught, and which are suited to exercise and improve the understanding and the judgment, as well as the memory. Among these were the classification of Natural objects, Chronology and Astronomy. The school read- ily answered questions on the first, respecting some articles which they had not before seen, and told the origin of the several parts, whether it was animal, vegetable or mineral. In Chronology they gave the general divisions of time, the periods, principal events and dates. In Astronomy, they gave the names of the primary and secondary planets, their distance from the sun, magnitude, and times of revolv- ing, &c. These things were explained to them by means of a simple orrery. It was truly gratifying to see these children, in their ready answers, manifest so much knowledge on these subjects. But it was in Geometry that their answers most struck me with surprise. They defined the terms, and applied them in trian- gles, circles, arcs, chords, cubes, cones, pyra- mids, &c., with astonishing readiness. On the review of the whole, I am confident that these children had acquired a greater amount of knowledge in one quarter than is usually ac- quired in common schools in twice or thrice the time. Do any ask how this can be done? Let them come and see the means and they will cease to wonder. Besides the teacher of writ- ing. they will find three teachers in constant attendance. They will find an extensive and beautiful apparatus by which the teachers ex- plain many things which could not be explained without it. They will find that children here learn things and not names merely, as is too
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common in other schools, however good. They will find also a system of government suited to produce the happiest results. It is strictly parental and free from all corporal pun- ishments. Good order is maintained, not by severe appeals to the bodily senses, but by bringing the motives to right conduct to bear on the child's sense of what is proper and right- Thus the foundation is laid, by leading the school to act in view of rectitude, for the most happy results to its members and to society. This is done by the peculiar tendency of this system to cherish the most kindly affections toward each other, toward their teachers and the human family."
A Traveler.
THE MARIETTA INFANT SCHON!
June. 1830 .-
The next quarter or term of this School will com- mence on Thursday, the 24th of the present month." The public examination of the School will be held the day previous, at which all who are interested are re- spectfully invited to attend.
The price of tuition for the next quarter will be two dollars, for each scholar.
A system of writing and drawing simple objects. will be introduced into the School next quarter, and an additional charge of fifty cents will be made on those.
The next term will be eleven weeks, and the School will be held on Wednesday afternoon, which will make the time employed in instruction same as twelve weeks upon the present plan.
INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION
AT MARIETTA. Comprising Four Departments
September, 1830 .-
"I. The Infant School .- In this department scholars will be received from two years old and upwards, who will attend to spelling, de- fining, reading, first principles of Geography, Arithmetic. &c. An extensive apparatus has been provided for the use of this department. Parents are at no cost for the means of instruc- tion, such as books, maps, charts. spelling cards, Natural History, prints and other means of illustration. These are purchased for the School. Charges $2.50 a term.
"2. The Primary School .- Promotions
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will be made from the Infant School into the Primary School, and others will be admitted, whose advancement in elementary knowledge has been such as qualifies them to attend to higher studies by the use of books. The same general methods of teaching and illustration will be employed here as in the Infant School by the aid of suitable apparatus. The pupils will attend to spelling, reading. Grammar, Geog- raphy, Natural History, &c. Parents will pro- vide such books, slates, stationery, &c., as shall be prescribed in the course of study. Charge $3.00 a term.
"3. The High School .- Promotions will be made from the Primary School into the High School and others will be received, who are qualified to enter. It is intended that this school shall be equal to the best AAcademies and High Schools of the East. For this purpose an extensive apparatus has been purchased for this department, at an expense of about $200. comprising :
One set of Chemical Apparatus, One set of Geometrical Apparatus, One set of Astronomical Apparatus.
One set of Philosophical Apparatus, including The Air Pump. One set of Large and Elegant Map -.
the most recent and complete that have been offered to the public, and exhibiting the entire surface of the Earth. The map of the United States is the most valuable that has ever been published, and exhibits all the recent surveys, railroads, canals and internal improvements, together with views of seven of our largest cities and maps of their environs and many items of information. Other articles of appa- ratus have been procured which need not be added to this list. In the High Schools all those branches of Education will be taught which are common to schools of this kind; such as Geography. by the use of maps. Globes and the Blackboard: Arithmetic, English Grammar. Elements of Geometry, Astronomy. Rhetoric, Logic, Natural Philosophy, Chemis- try, Composition, the Latin and Greek Lau- guages. &c. A Classical Teacher will be always in employ for this department. Pupils will be
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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,
at their own cost for such books as shall be prescribed for the class to which they belong. Charge in English Studies, $4.00; in the Languages, $5.00.
"4. The Young Ladies' School .- Promo- tions will be made from the female members of the High School into the Ladies' School, and others will be admitted of suitable qualifica- tions. The studies of the High School will be pursued and perfected liere, and others intro- duced which are peculiarly suitable and impor- tant in Female Education. No pains will be spared to make this department worthy of the patronage of the public. The apparatus of the High School will be also for the use of the Ladies' School. All experiments will be per- formed before the two schools combined, but in all other respects the institutions will be en- tirely distinct, and they will occupy apartments which have no necessary connection with each other. Pupils will furnish such books as shall be prescribed for the studies which they pur- sue. Charge $5.00 a term. Added to these "A Writing School will be taught in a room fitted up for the purpose as a distinct branch of instruction. The system which has been intro- duced and taught with so much success the past quarter will be continued, and a well quali- fied teacher of Penmanship will be constantly employed in this department. Pupils will fur- nish their own stationery. The charge to members of the Schools, fifty cents for this quarter, whether they continue a week or a term-to others, $2.00 for thirty lessons. When the advantages of this department are known, the charge to members of the Schools will be considered a mere pittance. The pro- ceeds of this department at these prices have not half paid the expense of its support.
Regulations.
I. N Scholar will be received into any department for less than a half quarter.
2. In ordinary cases, no Scholar will be admitted into the Writing School under ten years of age. 3. No deduction will be made for lost time. except in case of illness of more than a weck's duration.
4. It is desirable, when convenient that payments be made in advance.
5. Visitors will be admitted into the Schools on
the first Wednesday of every month, between the hours of 9 and 12.
"The next term will commence the 23d of September and continue eleven weeks. A spacious and commodious building will be fitted up for the Schools. The pupils will be divided into classes, and four rooms will be occupied for study, three for recitation, and one for writing. Six teachers will be em- ployed. Some will be engaged in the rooms for study ; others in the rooms for recitation. A graduate of Ohio University of competent qualifications will conduct the recitations of the High School and the illustrations.
"N. B .- It may appear at first that these charges are too high. But when the expense and the advantages of this school are known, it will be seen that they are very moderate. The system not only contemplates but effects a real saving of time and money to its patrons. To myself, it promises nothing, for the present at least ; but the opportunity of doing some- thing for the much neglected cause of educa- tion-as may appear from the fact that the avails of the Infant School hitherto have fallen short of meeting the expenditures by more than one hundred dollars. It will be obvious that in pursuing the present plan the expendi- tures will be very much increased.
"L. G. BINGHAM."
Marietta, Feb. 28, 1831 .- ( For the Gazette.)
"Dear Sir :- I have recently received a po- lite invitation to attend the examination of the various departments of instruction in the 'Insti- tute of Education' in this town-and really the exercises were conducted in such a manner that the highest honor and credit are due both to the enterprising and indefatigable instruc- tors, and also to the interesting pupils commit- ted to their charge.
"My first visit was to the Infant and Pri- mary School. The children ( some apparently not more than four years old ) answered ques- tions that have puzzled many an aged mind. They drew maps, read, sung, and in short per- formed the whole of their duty with surpris- ing accuracy and facility."
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MANUAL LABOR ASSOCIATION.
CONSTITUTION OF THE MANUAL LABOR ASSOCIATION OF THE YOUNG MEN'S HIGH SCHOOL.
July, 1831 .-
I. This Association shall be called the Manual Labor Association of the Young Men's High School at Marietta, Ohio.
2. The object of the Association shall be the pro- motion of health and vigor, both of body and mind, by a regular system of manual exercise.
3. The officers shall be a President, Vice-Presi- dent. Secretary, Prudential Committee, Monitors and a Committee of Appeal, all of whom shall be chosen the last Saturday of every term.
4. The President, and in his absence the Vice- President, shall preside in all meetings, and call special meetings whenever it shall be necessary.
5. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Association.
6. The Prudential Committee shall consist of three: the President, Vice-President. and Secretary. whose duty shall be to provide stock and materials for the shop, make contracts, set the daily valuation upon the labor of each member, manage all the business and finances of the Association, and make a report of their proceedings at each stated meeting.
7. The number of Monitors shall depend upon the divisions, which the Association may make from time to time for the convenience of labor.
8. It shall be the duty of the Monitors to collect a fine of 1212 cents for every absence and 614 cents for every tardiness ; unless the delinquent shall assign one of the following excuses, viz .: Sickness. absence from town, or company from out of town: the Moni- tors shall pay the fine thus collected to the Prudential Committee. Their duties shall be confined to their respective divisions.
9. The Committee of Appeal shall consist of three. whose duty it shall be to remit fines, when the excuse of the delinquent is satisfactory to them. though it mny have been rejected by the Monitor. They shall also have power to judge of the reasonableness of any other excuses than those named in the preceding ar- ticle. They shall audit the accounts of the Prudential Committee.
10. Any individual who may be proposed to the Association by the President, may become a member by vote of the majority of the members, by signing the constitution.
11. Any individual, not in debt to the Association by fines or otherwise, may be dismissed by vote of the majority of the members, and all shall cease to be mem- bers of the Association, when they crase to be mem- bers of the Institute of Education.
12. If any individual through carelessness or in- attention, or indifference to his work, shall be con- sidered by the Prudential Committee unprofitable to the Association, such member. on motion of the Pru- dential Committee. may be dismissed, by vote of two- thirds of the members, from the Association.
13. No member. during the appointed hour of ex- ercise, shall perform any other labor, than that assigned
them by the Chairman of the Prudential Committee, or some one employed by them as Superintendent, nor at any other time except by special permission from this Committee. They may also assign and take an amount of labor out of the shop, according to their discretion.
14. Every member shall labor for the Association two hours of every day, when study is prosecuted in the Institute, at such hours as may be fixed by resolu- tions and by laws.
15. A delay, of five minutes, beyond the time for commencing labor, shall be accounted tardiness, and fifteen minutes, absence.
16. No tools shall be carried out of the shop, or removed from the benches to which they belong, ex- cept by direction of the Prudential Committee or one chosen by them to act as superintendent, whom they may appoint at their discretion.
17. No individual, not a member of the Associa- tion, shall be permitted at any time to use the tools, for labor in the shop, or enter the shop during the hours of labor.
18. A valuation or estimate shall be made of the labor of each member at the close of the hours for exercise, every day, by the Prudential Committee, which shall be entered in a book kept for that purpose to their credit.
10. At the close of each quarter a dividend shall be made of the monies received. to each member, ac- cording to the credit he has received for labor by the Prudential Committee. whose duty it shall be to make this apportionment. Before the apportionment is made. the Prudential Committee shall pay off the expenses of the Association.
20. By-laws and Resolves, not inconsistent with this Constitution. may be adopted by a vote of a ma- jority of the members.
21. No alteration or addition shall be made to this constitution, without a vote of three-fourths of the members of the Association, nor urtil such alteration has been proposed one week.
22. Every member shall feel it his duty to do all in his power to promote the interests of the Associa- tion, and cheerully submit unto its rules. No conversa- tions shall be allowed in the shop. except such as re- lates necessarily to the work, and that in a very low tone of voice. Each member shall be intent upon his work in the hours of labor, and not interfere or con- cern himself with the work of others.
23. Every member of the Young Men's High School in the Institute of Education shall be eligible to be elected members of the Manual Labor Association, without distinction of age.
BY-LAWS OF THE MANUAL. LABOR ASSOCIATION.
1. The hours of labor shall be from five to seven in the afternoon.
2. Every member shall be governed and directed in his labor by the Superintendent of the Prudential Committee.
3. The Prudential Committee shall make an esti- mate of the labor of every member, immediately after the close of the last hour of each day, at which time every other member shall retire.
It
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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,
4. Every tool shall have its particular place. and each member shall replace every tool which he has 11sed. at the close of labor.
5. If any member shall fail to observe the above by-law, he shall forfeit three cents for each failure. to be deducted out of the estimate of his day's labor.
6. Every member shall report to the Prudential Committee, at the close of each week the amount, he has carried out of the shop, a record of which shall be made by the Secretary.
7. Any member may work in the shop out of the ordinary hours of labor, by permission.
8. No member may take any of the stock for any private purpose.
9. It shall be the duty of the Prudential Commit- tee or Superintendent to lay out the work of each member. 10 .. The Prudential Committee shall make all contracts and sales of articles made by the Association. II. No member shall grind a tool without permis- sion from the Prudential Committee or Superintendent. Prudential Committee,
Charles Deterly, President, William H. Bay, Vice-president, Alonzo Bingham, Secretary.
Committee of Appeal, O. A. Miller, Nathaniel P. | Charlot and William Allen.
RULES OF THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION.
1832 .-
1. Every scholar on entering the school room, in the morning and at noon, shall immediately commence his or her studie. without making any communica- tions whatever with others.
2. No scholar may be absent from his or her boarding house on any evening after the ringing of the study-bell. without permission from a Teacher, or a requisition from a parent.
3. Every scholar is expected to attend the ordin- ary exercises of some place of religious worship on the Sabbath.
4. No scholar may be absent at any time from the ordinary exercises of the school.
5. No profane or indecent language may be used by any scholar.
6. Every scholar must honestly report daily two and a half hours study out of school.
7. No scholar may say aught against the official character of the Monitors except to the Teachers.
8. It shall be the duty of every scholar who knows anything detrimental to the interests of the school-or of a scholar disobeying any rule without acknowledging it-to make known the facts to some one of the Teach- ers, if required.
0. If a scholar fails of complying with any one of these rules, an exeuse must be rendered in writing on the first entrance of the scholar into the school room.
"The object of the above rules is not to abridge the privileges of scholars, but to se- cure to them the objects their friends had in view in sending them to the Institute.
"We wish it to be distinctly understood by those who resort here for the purpose of study, that a strict adherence to all the rules of school is indispensable.
"It may be expected that some one of the teachers will always be present at the social visits of the students.
MANUAL LABOR.
"Hitherto many of the young men, by laboring a short time every day in the Manual Labor Shops connected with the Institute, have been able to defray in some instances all, and in others nearly all, the expenses of board. All are encouraged to labor for their health. We have received a considerable amount of dona- tion to furnish the students with tools and the means of defraying their expenses.
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