USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 74
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In a report of one of the male teachers, in 1853, we find the statement that three- fourths of the pupils lose, at least, one- sixth of their time, or one hour every day, in consequence of tardiness. Teachers of to-day, who rightly enough feel that they have cause to complain of the tardi- ness of their pupils, can gather consola- tion from this statement of twenty-three years ago.
The schools were first graded when the new school building was occupied, in the fall of 1853. Horace E. Clark, a former teacher in the 'schools, and at that time a member of the board of education, and county auditor, exercised a general super- vision over the schools during this school year. B. W. Lewis taught in the high school, S. Treat in the west, and J. W. Hiett in the east side grammar schools. There is no report for this year.
The following year, 1854-55, J. W. Hiett acted as principal of the high school, and Superintendent B. W. Lewis and S. Treat having charge of the grammer schools, and Julia Kridler, Helen Mor- gan and Mary Tichneor being teachers in the primary and secondary schools.
The report of this year, the first gen- eral report ever made, shows a total enu- meration of eight hundred and sixty-four, a total enrollment of five hundred and ninety- ·two, and an average daily attendance of
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three hundred and twelve, or fifty-three per cent. of the entire enrollment. The salaries paid were forty dollars per month for the high school, thirty-five dollars in the grammer schools, and twenty dollars per month for the lady teachers in the primary and secondary grades.
There were at this time six schools, re- spectively styled the high school, the west side and east side grammar schools, the west side secondary, and the west side and the east side primary schools, four of which occupied the new school building.
The studies pursued in addition to the common branches were, according to the reports, philosophy, physiology and chem- istry. In the fall of 1855 George A. Stark- weather was employed as superintendent, and his wife as grammar school teacher, at a joint salary of one thousand dollars.
J. B. Loveland taught in the east side grammar school. Mr. Loveland contin- ued an effcient teacher in the grammar and high schools from this time until the year 1864. Mr. Starkweather remained in charge of the school for two years. His- tory, algebra and Latin are reported among the additional studies pursued.
C. C. Woolard, the present principal of one of the Cincinnati schools, suc- ceeded Mr. Starkweather as superintend- ent in the fall of 1857, holding the posi- tion two years, at a salary of eight hundred dollars per year. From their correspond- ence the board seemed anxious to obtain all the information possible from other towns of the State relative to the manage- ment of graded schools. At this time there were eight schools, four in the cen- tral building, one on Wood street, two on Howland street, and one on Croghanville hill, three new one-story buildings hav- ing been erected about this time. In 1858 it became necessary to rent the Pres- byterian session room for the use of the high school.
479
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY
The superintendent complains to the board of the irregular attendance of teach- ers upon the teachers' meetings. This is the first reference we find, in the history of the schools, to teachers' meetings for professional instruction. They were held on Saturday, and attendance upon them had been rendered obligatory by action of .the board.
That this period was not one of per- fectly harmonious action and good feeling is evident from the tone of the letter of Don. A. Pease, in which he speaks of the excited state of the public mind in school matters, and rather reluctantly, in conse- quence thereof, accepts the position of superintendent for the year 1859-60, at a salary of seven hundred dollars.
Mr. Pease discharged the duties of su- perintendent for one year only. No gen- eral annual report seems to have been made during all these years, since Super- intendent Hiett's report, nor for the three following years, or if made they took no permanent shape and have been lost.
In 1860 the Rev. Dr. Bushnell, resident pastor of the Presbyterian church, was elected to the position of superintendent of schools at a salary of three hundred dol- lars per year. Mr. Bushnell was a fine classical and mathematical scholar. His work was exclusively of a supervisory character. He did not teach, and in con- nection with his school work continued to discharge his ministerial duties. He held the position of superintendent, and ably discharged its duties for a period of three years. During the first year of Mr. Bush- nell's administration J. B. Loveland taught in the high school, Mr. Sowers in the west side grammar school, and J. Burgner in the east side grammar or mixed school. In the following year J. Burgner taught in the high school, J. B Loveland in the grammar school, and F M. Ginn was employed on the east side. Mr. Ginn
remained connected with the schools, an efficient and acceptable grammar school teacher, until the year 1870, when he be- came superintendent of the schools of Clyde, Ohio. In the fall of 1862 G. C. Woolard returned to the schools as princi- pal of the high school, at a salary of five hundred dollars a year; J. B. Loveland continuing in the grammar school at a salary of four hundred and fifty dollars, F. M. Ginn, at three hundred and fifty dollars, and the lady teachers generally receiving two hundred dollars a year. The Presbyterian session room was occu- pied by the high school, and the basement of the Methodist Episcopal church was rented for a primary school. This was the last year of Mr. Bushnell's superin- tendency. He was endeavoring, we learn, to bring the schools to a course of study which he had marked out for his own guidance, something that had not here- tofore been done. His superintendency closed, however, before the work had been thoroughly accomplished.
The following year, 1863-64, Mr. Wool- ard was first elected principal of the high school, and then clothed with the powers of superintendent, and an assist- ant teacher for the first time employed in the high school. Hitherto the superin- tendent, with the exception of the Rev. Mr. Bushnell, had been sole principal of the high school, and supervision under such circumstances must necessarily have been of a nominal character. There seems to have been considerable friction during this school year, in the working of the school machinery in the teachers corps, and, as a natural consequence, between board and teachers.
Toward the close of the year the powers of supervision over the schools on the east side of the river were conferred tem- porarilv on Mr. Ginn.
Two new school buildings were erected
480
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
this year, one on John street and one on Hickory street. It seem to have been the policy of the board, after the erection of the central building, to build one-story structures, with a view almost solely to local accommodations.
This year terminated Mr. Woolard's connection with the schools of Fremont. We are disposed to regard him as a gentle- man of good ability, and possessed of a large fund of valuable information in the theory and practice of teaching, especially in the lower departments.
SUPERINTENDENCY OF W. W. ROSS.
In 1864 W. W. Ross was elected super- intendent, his brother Zachary Ross being employed in the grammar school, both at a joint salary of one thousand one hun- dred dollars, which was increased to one thousand two hundred dollars at the close of the first term. Miss Kate Patrick was assistant in the high school.
At this time there were ten schools, re- spectively styled high, grammar, inter- mediate, secondary, and primary. Two of these schools occupied rented rooms, entirely unsuited to school purposes. There was no printed course of study, and in fact no definite course of study of any kind, especially in the high school, that was considered as of a binding character.
A course of study was marked out dur- ing the first term, covering a period of eleven or twelve years, four years being given to the high school. It received the sanction of the board, and was pub- lished for the guidance of teachers and the information of parents.
The high school studies hitherto pur- sued were, according to the reports, al- gebra, philosophy, physiology, and history, a very few pupils having occasionally studied geometry, chemistry, and Latin.
The new course of study embraced, in addition to the common branches, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physiology, phys-
ical geography, philosophy, history, book- keeping, botany, chemistry, rhetoric, sci- ence of government, natural history, astronomy, geology, logic, mental and moral philosophy, and Latin, the latter being optional.
During the first year the superintend- ent's time was wholly occupied in teach- ing, the work of supervision being effected chiefly through teachers' meetings, which were held weekly. During the second and third year about one hour each day was given to the work of supervision. The last term of the year 1864-65, Zachary Ross having resigned, Mr. Ginn was transferred to the west side, as prin- cipal of the grammar school, and the east side school became one of secondary and intermediate grade.
At the beginning of this school year, 1865-66, Miss E. L. Otis, an intermediate teacher, was transferred to the high school, a position she has continued to fill, either as assistant or principal, with marked fidelity and success to the present time.
In June, 1867, Eliza Bushnell gradu- ated from the high school. She was the first graduate.
In May, 1866, the question of appro- priating sixteen thousand dollars for the erection of new school buildings, one on the east and one on the west side of the river, was submitted to the vote of the people. It was carried by a vote of two hundred and seven to one hundred and twenty one. These buildings, one a two- story and the other a three-story structure, were built the following year, and first oc- cupied about January 1, 1868.
An additional teacher was first employed in the high school at the beginning of the school year of 1867-68. This arrange- ment, which thenceforward gave the su- perintendent two-thirds of his time for supervision, together with the new school
1
48 1
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
buildings, enabled the schools to start on a new and more successful career.
A German-English school was first es- tablished in 1868-69, covering the five lower grades. It has been maintained ever since, having for several years been in charge of Miss E. Augspurber, a teach- er of twenty-five years' experience.
None but lady teachers have been em- ployed in the English schools since 1870. Miss G. A. Lawton, the first lady principal of the grammar school, filled the position with rare ability for one year. Her suc- cessor, Miss M. E. Wood, has continued to discharge the onerous and responsible duties of grammar school principal from that time to the present, with such ability, energy, and success as few gentlemen could excel. She has been assisted most of the time by Mary Fanning, a faithful and competent teacher.
There has as yet been no conscious loss of power in the schools, either in disci- pline or in other respects, from the exclu- sive employment of lady teachers.
In 1873 a new and beautiful two-story primary school building was erected on John street, at a cost of five thousand dol- lars, and a one-story school-house on John street, and another on Hickory street, were sold by the board. This was a move in the direction of centralization of the schools, rather than their isolation.
In this year, 1873, the schools prepared work for the Vienna Exposition, illustrative of the work of all the grades, for which they received a diploma of merit.
This same year the board of education, for the first time, gave the annual report of the schools a more permanent form, by the publication of a neat little volume of sixty, pages, containing the regulations, course of study, and report of the super- intendent.
In this report the grades were slightly modified, and their nomenclature changed
from grammar, intermediate, secondary, and primary to grammar and primary, four years being given to each department, the grades being respectively styled A, B, C, and D.
Shortly after, the number of grades in each room was reduced from two to one, as far as the scattered state of the school buildings made it practicable. These changes, which more definitely marked out the work of the lower grades, and de- termined their boundaries, resulted in im- mediate improvement in the work of the first six years, and a more general advance- ment in the annual promotions.
More recently these single-grade schools have been subdivided into two sections, with a view ultimately to have one five months in advance of the other, both to be promoted annually, and the advanced section of the A grammar grade, when promoted to the high school, to have the privilege of completing the course in three years, or of taking up additional studies.
ATTENDANCE, ETC.
1855.
1865. 1875.
Number of pupils enrolled. 592
917 950
Average daily attendance.
312
482 643
Number of teachers.
6
I2 I8
Number of school-rooms.
6
IO
14
Number of weeks in session
36
36
40
EXPENDITURES.
1855.
1865.
1875.
Amount paid teachers
$1,530
$ 3,500
$ 9,385
Total expenditures. .
5,000
13,000
Value of school property .. 8,000
20,000 50,000
The apparently small increase in the en- rollment of 1875 over 1865 was occa- sioned by the withdrawal of pupils from the public schools to attend the new de- nominational schools in the city. The per cent. of the total enrollment in aver- age daily attendance has increased from fifty-three per cent. in 1855 and 1865 to sixty-eight per cent. in 1875.
The management of the schools has grown constantly easier, with exceptional periods, in different schools. There is
61
482
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
not one case of corporal punishment now where there were five eight years ago.
Suspensions have been rarely resorted to, too rarely, perhaps, for the interests of the schools. The policy has been one of extreme caution in setting a boy adrift, even when there was small prospect of amendment. It is believed there is a gen- eral willingness in the community to sus- tain the teacher's authority, the cases being exceptional where parents seem to regard that the tardiness and irregular attendance of their children is no one's concern but their own, and that their misconduct for- feits none of their school rights.
The recent regulation which puts chil- dren or parents to the inconvenience of reporting to the superintendent or board, in case of repeated delinquencies in the matter of regular and punctual attendance, is helping to lessen these evils.
The high school course of study, from the time it was adopted in 1864, has been a four years' course. It has been slightly modified by giving two less terms to algebra in the second year, and substitut- ing arithmetic in its place, and by substitut- ing English literature for moral science in the last year of the course.
The present course is: First year, gram- mar, algebra, physiology and physical geography; second year, algebra, arithme- tic, philosophy, history, botany, bookkeep- ing; third year, geometry, chemistry, rhetoric, zoology and science of govern- ment; fourth year, trigonometry, astron- omy, English literature, geology, logic and mental science.
Latin may be selected in the place of grammar and history in the first and second years; zoology and mental science in the third and fourth years, or pursued conjointly with all the studies of the last two years.
Two years ago the plan was adopted of giving to the best scholars among the
boys promoted to the high school the privilege of completing the course in three years. This plan has operated admirably, such pupils often proving the very best in the classes to which they have been ad- vanced. The privilege has not been given to the girls.
The high school has never met with any opposition in this city. No larger audi- ences assemble than on commencement occasions. It is believed no school is more highly appreciated, or more thor- oughly fortified in the affections of the people. Its efficient principal, Miss E. L. Otis, has been continuously connected with the school for a period of ten years. She was assisted for three years by Estelle S. Rawson, a former graduate of the schools, and for the last three years by Miss M. 1 .. Smith, of Mount Holyoke, Massachusetts, both competent teachers.
Some attention is now paid to the elements of natural history in the I) grammar grade, the elements of botany in the C, of physiology in the B, and of physics in the A grammar grade. United States history is also studied in the A grammar grade, and takes the place of geography. Practical language lessons form a more important feature than form- erly in the work of the C and D grammar and primary grades. Writing is com- menced with the first day of school life, and an effort is made to give the pupil constant daily practice in the use of writ- ten language.
Mental arithmetic, formerly pursued as a separate study, is now taught in combina- tion with written arithmetic. Effort is made to give its analytical processes merited attention, and to use them as a key to the operations in written arithmetic. Number lessons commence with the lowest grade.
Music and drawing have, at different times, received consideration, with varying
483
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY.
success. 'Two years ago L. S. Thompson, of Sandusky, was employed as a special teacher in drawing, to visit the schools once a month, and give instruction to teachers as well as pupils, and S. C. Collins, of the same place, as a special teacher of music, to visit the schools twice a month. Under their efficient supervi- sion the schools are making commendable progress in these branches.
One new feature has been introduced into the schools, worthy of mention. Prac- tical drill in music and literature has been made a daily exercise, with excellent re- sults. . A series of concerts was given at the close of the school year 1880 and 1881, which showed gratifying proficiency. Burns' and Moore's songs were sung with enthusiasm. A regular course of reading is being encouraged this year as a special feature.
The following is a list of members of the board with the dates of their election, beginning with the year following the or- ganization, and continuing up to 1872 :
1851-H. Lang, Homer Everett.
1852-Samuel Wilson, Jacob Kridler.
1853 --- Dr. L. (). Rawson, H. E. Clark, C. Doncyson.
1854- - John Younkman, Aaron Love- land.
1855 -Dr. Brainard, H. Lang. 1856-L. Q. Rawson, John Bell.
1857-James Justice, R. W. B. Mc- Clellan.
1858-Thomas Stilwell, Thomas Kelley. 1859 -- Isaac Glick, D. I. June. 1860 James Justice, R. W. B. Mc- C'lellan.
1861 -- H. Everett, H. E. Clark. 1862 Ammi Williams, John Flaugher. 1863 Colonel Nat Haynes, James Justice.
1864 -- H. Everett, J. S. Van Ness.
1865-H. R. Shomo, Charles Thomp- son.
1866-C. Doncyson, H. Lesher. 1867-H. Lang, J. M. Smith.
1868-John McArdle, J. S. Van Ness.
1869 --- C. Doncyson, J. P. Elderkin. 1870-W. W. Stine, J. Elwell. 1871 -- J. S. Van Ness, H. Lang.
1872 -- C. Doncyson, A. J. Hale.
From 1872 to 1876 the board was con- stituted as follows: J. S. Van Ness, pres- dent ; William Stine, treasurer; A. J. Hale, secretary ; J. Elwell, H. Lang, and C. Doncyson.
The board for 1880-81 were: H. R. Finefrock, president; A. J. Hale, secre- tary; J. P. Thompson, treasurer : Jesse S. Van Ness, E. A. Bristol, J. Stierwalt.
Hon. Homer Everett was sectetary of the first board of education, and has served as secretary and president many terms since, contributing efficient and ju- dicious service to the schools.
The Rev. H. Lang, to whose research we are indebted for many of the facts of this review, was a member of the first board, and C. Doncyson was elected in 1853. Both have served from twelve to fifteen years, and been active, earnest, working members. J. S. Van Ness has been a member of the board for ten years, and most of the time president, without remuneration, giving careful attention to the school property and interests of the city. Mr. Stine has been an active mem- ber and treasurer for six years. Under his able management of the finances, the board are able to report themselves free from debt.
Mr. Elwell served efficiently for three years as secretary. Mr. Hale, the present secretary, is in his third term, and has proven himself a liberal and efficient member of the board.
Very much of the efficiency of the schools is due to the hearty co-operation the present board has extended to the eachers, and the liberal and yet judicious
484
HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY
manner they have responded to the school wants.
The following gentlemen have served as superintendents since the grading of the schools in 1853, in the order men- tioned: H. E. Clark, one year; J. W. Hiett, one year; G. A. Starkweather, two years; G. C. Woolard, two years; Don A. Pease, one year; Rev. E. Bushnell, three years; G. C. Woolard, one year; and W. W. Ross, who is in the eighteenth year of his superintendency.
The schools completed, with much labor and pains on the part of the teachers, fourteen volumes of school work for the Centennial Exposition.
THE PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT.
W. W. Ross was born at Seville, Medina county, Ohio, December 24, 1834. He attended the village school until he was eleven years old, and then, for a few years, enjoyed the advantages of instruction in a private or academic school, common in those days on the Western Reserve, taught by Charles Foster, a graduate of Dartmouth college, and a very successful teacher, who died during the war of the Rebellion.
At the age of fourteen he had completed a very good course of study, including algebra and geometry.
He attended school little after he was sixteen years old, and none after he was seventeen, and but nine weeks outside his native village. He taught his first school at the age of sixteen, at fourteen dollars per month.
He built up a flourishing private or academic school, at Spencer, Medina county, Ohio. He took charge of this school for four or five years, and subse- quently, for a like period, had charge of the academy in his native village.
He devoted the summer vacation of these years to the law, pursuing the study
in the office of Noble & Palmer, Cleve- land, Ohio; also in the office of Lieuten- ant-Colonel Canfield, of the Seventy- second Ohio regiment, Medina, Ohio, and with the Hon. J. C. Johnson, Seville, Ohio.
He was admitted to the Medina county Bar in 1861. In consequence of indif- ferent health, he did not commence prac- tice.
His first experience in connection with graded schools was at Clyde. He was superintendent of the schools of that place from 1862 to 1864. In the latter year he was elected superintendent of the public schools at Fremont, a position he has filled for seventeen years, and still oc- cupies.
Formerly quite active as a political orator, he has always taken a lively interest in political matters, and was the candidate of his party for State school commissioner in the year 1871.
He has filled the position of State school examiner for two terms; has served as president of the Tri-State Teachers' Association, and of the Northwestern Ohio State Teachers' Association; has been an active institute worker, and a fre- quent contributor to educational journals.
From earliest ch dhood more or less familiar with legal proceedings in the of- fice of his father, who served as justice of the peace almost uninterruptedly for a period of thirty years, he early elected the law for his chosen profession, and although circumstances have led him into another field, he has never, perhaps, entirely abandoned the thought of ultimately en- tering upon the practice of the law.
This thought, however has never pre- vented his giving his best activities and energies to the educational work in which, by the judgment of his peers, he has met with eminent success.
CHAPTER XXX. RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
THE Rev. Joseph Badger was an early missionary on the Western Reserve. After laboring there for a time he con- nected himself with the Synod of Pitts- burgh, and in 1805 made a tour as far west as Michigan. June 14, he crossed the Sandusky River, swimming his horse by the side of a canoe. Here he speaks of meet- ing the Rev. James Hughes, and confer- ring with the Indian chief about preaching. He found a temporary home with Mrs. Whittaker, about three miles below Lower Sandusky. On his way back from Michi- gan he was at Lower Sandusky July 26, and preached to the Indians.
In 1806, May 13, he ran into Sandusky Bay in a boat of three tons burthen, which he had himself built. That night, he quaintly says, "there being no fuel on shore, we had patience for supper." Next day he arrived at Mrs. Whittaker's.
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