The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 76

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 76

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The opposition did not end with the meeting, and an injunction was applied r o prevent the levy of the tax. It was believed that it could not be proved a the law had been complied with in giving notice of the meeting. This had e anticipated by Mr. E. E. Barney, who had taken the precaution to post the votes in person, and, accompanied by a friend, had visited them from time to n'to see that they were not removed. The injunction was not granted, and the t'es were built on the sites now occupied by the Second and Fourth District - Iplhouses. The plans were taken from the Common School Journal, and em- bod the most advanced ideas of the time on the subject of school architecture. Unfortunately no records of this important period of our school history have e preserved, and relying on tradition for our scanty facts, justice cannot be for to the public spirited citizens who were the early and zealous friends of our il'c schools.

Ralph P. Lowe, Simon Snyder and W. H. Brown were the directors of the bols in 1838-39. The latter two have since dicd. Mr. Lowe removed many ver ago to Iowa, where he has held the distinguished positions of Judge of the -1 eme Court and Governor of the State. In March, 1839, the schools were oded and continued for three quarters of twelve weeks each. Mr. Collins Tint was Principal of the Western District, and Mr. Elder, of the Eastern. The ly of the Principals was $500 per annum. In addition to the Principals. one assistant and three female teachers were employed in each house.

In 1839-40, Simon Snyder, R. P. Brown and Thomas Brown, served as Di- rs. and in 1840-41, G. W. Bomberger, Jefferson Patterson and Solomon Price. In 1841, a city charter was granted to Dayton, by which the control of the inon schools was given to the City Council. In the interim between the en- 1 ent of the city charter and the appointment of a Board of Managers of com- ic schools as provided for, a Committee of the City Council was appointed to Hj charge of the schools. This committee consisted of Henry Strickler, David Da's and David Winters. On the records of the City Council is found the first ert of the condition of the schools, made June 14, 1841. The committee say: Iwas necessary to suspend the schools from April, 1841, until January, 1842, o jable the Directors of 1841 to discharge the indebtedness incurred in 1839 by th Directors of that year requiring the schools to be kept open the whole year, th anticipating $800 of the school fund of 1840. The schools were kept open

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

in 1840 six months ; then suspended until January, 1841, with a view of closi without indebtedness. But the great change in money affairs defeated the objel as the poll-tax of 50 eents a seholar could not be eolleeted. The schoolhous are now in use by the Prineipals of the sehools, in which they are teaching prive schools. They hold them on condition that in each house twenty charity schola shall be taught each quarter."

The eity charter fixed the levy for sehool purposes in Dayton at two mills the dollar, and directed that the "sehool tax so levied, and all other funds th may be collected or aecrue for the support of common schools, shall be exclusi ly appropriated to defray the expenses of instruetors and fuel, and for no otl purpose whatever." No provision was made for contingent expenses, which re dered it necessary to require a tuition fee of 50 cents per quarter from each schol Parents who were unable were not expected to pay. This tax was eontinned several years, until suitable provision was made by law for contingent cxpens In addition to the levy of two mills for tuition purposes, ample power was git to the City Council to issue bonds, by vote of the people, for the erection of scho houses.

The eity charter directed " the City Council shall in the month of Janua: each year, select from each ward in the eity one judicious and competent per: as a manager of common sehools ; the persons so seleeted shall constitute and denominated the Board of Managers of Common Sehools in the City of Dayt and shall hold their offices for one year, and until their successors shall be chos and qualified."

The general management of the school was committed to this board, but the most important partieulars it was merely the agent of the Council. The po er to levy taxes, and issue bonds was vested in the Couneil, and the board o only recommend the amount that in its judgment was needed. Practically, hir ever, the board exercised complete jurisdiction, as in no case was its recommen tions disregarded. The fact that the two bodies eo-operated for so many ye without serious difference of opinion or confliet, eonelusively shows the unanim of public sentiment in favor of liberal provision for the schools.

The first Board of Managers was appointed by the City Council in Janna 1842, and was composed of the following members : First Ward, Ebenezer F ler ; Second Ward, Robert W. Steele ; Third Ward, Simon Snyder ; Fourth Wa Edward W. Davies ; Fifth Ward, William J. Mckinney.

From a report made to the City Council December 12, 1842, it appears t the total amount of sehool fund in the treasury, January, 1842, was $2,482 From this had to be deducted a loss on uncurrent money of $317.35, and an clebtedness from the last year of $552.55, leaving only $1,582.95 with which to ( duct the sehools.

Four sehools were opened-two in the public schoolhouses, and two in rer rooms. Six male and ten female teachers were employed. The Principals w W. W. Chipman, W. J. Thurber, E. H. Hood and William Worrel. The salary Principals was $110 per quarter ; of male assistants, $80 ; and of female teach $50. The board was determined to elose the year without debt, and the scho were continued only one quarter one month and one week, exhausting every " lar of the fund. The houses, however, were not closed, the teachers .contint private sehools in them throughout the year.

The text-books used were Piekett's spelling-book, McGuffey's readers. burn's and Emerson's arithmeties, Mitehell's geography, Smith's grammar, Parley's book of history. A resolution was offered in the board to make the B a text-book, which was passed with the amendment that the teachers be reques to read a portion of it each morning at the opening of the schools. This exer has been continued in the schools until the present time. In the revised r adopted by the board in 1874, the following section was passed withont oppositi " The schools shall be opened in the morning with reading the sacred Scriptu without comment, and repeating the Lord's Prayer, if desired."

John d. M. Frank

DAYTON.

691

CITY OF DAYTON.

The amount received from the 50-cent tuition charge in 1842 was only $162.48. T ws a time of great pecuniary embarrassment, of broken banks and unpaid taxes, wwTnost inauspicious to inaugurate the publie-sehool system. No taxes, how- enwere so cheerfully paid as those for the maintenance of schools, and the board + sheered in this day of small things by the cordial support of the people.

n 1843, the sehools were open for six months, and the year elosed without :h The time was lengthened as the funds would justify, until in 1849, the full wohl-year was reached.

GERMAN SCHOOLS.

In 1841, the Legislature passed a special act, directing that a German sehool od be opened in Dayton, to be supported by the school tax paid by German iros. This law, false in principle, and ealling for a division of the sehool fund, :enuch of the special legislation before the adoption of the constitution of 15 was evidently enacted without due consideration. It was found to be O.pocticable, and no action was taken until 1844, when the board was authorized w to introduee German on the same basis as other studies. In that year a Tran school was opened, and William Gemein appointed teacher. Sinee that this department has been a constituent part of our school system, and has weused proportionally with the English, as the wants of the German population qued. In the German schools, one-half the time is given to instruction in Tagsh.

NIGHT SCHOOLS.

in 1845, in response to a petition from apprentices and others unable to vel the day sehools, a night sehool was opened. Sinee that time, a sufficient mer of such sehools have been provided during the winter months to meet the und, and have reached a large class of pupils who would have been deprived te benefits of our publie sehools.

COLORED SCHOOLS.

Jntil 1849, no provision was made by law for the education of eolored youth. R ie school law of 1849, sehool authorities were authorized to established sep- ma' school districts for eolored persons, to be managed by directors to be chosen lult male eolored tax-payers. The property of colored tax-payers was alone areable for the support of these sehools. Under this law a sehool was opened . 149, and continued until the law of 1853 placed sehools for eolored youth on eame basis as those for white. By that law, boards of education were directed arever the eolored youth in any sehool distriet numbered more than thirty, to telish a separate sehool or sehools for them, to be sustained out of the general n Since that time the eolored sehools have been eondueted under the man- Le ent of the Board of Edueation, and eolored youth have the same facilities of ution extended to them as to white. Pupils prepared in these sehools are rtted to the intermediate and high schools.

INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC.

After much diseussion it was determined, in 1849, to introduee musie as a ach of study in the publie sehools.

Only a few hours of each week were devoted to musie, and instruction was v in the upper grades only. This arrangement was continued until 1870, v'h the board employed a superintendent of musie, and an assistant, both of ho were to devote their whole time to the sehools, and give instruetion in all therades. In 1872, William H. Clarke was elected Superintendent of Musie, and 'utiduced the plan now adopted in the sehools of using the teachers as assistants. Thiin some measure meets the objeetion that no one man ean do the work neces- sar to be done in this department. The teacher in each room is now responsible for le proficieney of the seholars in this as in the other branches of study. The

692

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

aim is not simply to teach the scholars to sing by rote, but to give them a tl ough knowledge of the rudiments of music.

After the resignation of Mr. Clarke, James Turpin was elected Superintend. but dicd before his term of office expired. Mr. Turpin was the first music-teac elected by the board, in 1848, and at different periods rendered many year faithful and efficient service in this department. F. C. Mayer is the pres incumbent.

HIGH SCHOOL.

As the public schools grew in popularity, and the large majority of the dren of all elasses in the city attended them, the need of instruction in the hig branches was more and more felt by the public. In 1847, the Board of Edi tion procured from the Legislature the extension to Dayton of the provisio the Akron school law, granting to that town authority to establish a high scl In 1848, the Principals of the schools petitioned the board for the privileg teaching some of the higher branches to meet a want expressed by many of t more advanced pupils. In their petition they state that many of their seholars are drawn from the public to private schools from the lack of this inst tion, and say that "we at present desire to introduce the elements of algebra geometry, and perhaps physiology and natural philosophy." A committee of board reported on this petition that it would not be wise to introduce such inst tion in the district schools, but recommended the establishment of a high scl It was not, however, until 1850 that decisive action was taken. On April 4. 1 Mr. Henry L. Brown offered the following resolution, which was unanimo adopted :

Resolved, That this board do now establish the Central High School of ton, in which shall be taught the higher branches of an English education, the German and French languages, besides thoroughly reviewing the studies sued in the district schools.

On April 15, 1850, the school was opened in the Northeastern District Sell house. James Campbell was Principal ; Miss Mary Dickson, Assistant, and Ja Turpin, Teacher of Music. In the fall of 1850, the school was removed to academy building, the free use of which was granted by the Trustees to the B of Education. In June, 1857, an enabling act having been obtained from Legislature, the Trustees executed a deed for the property to the Board of Ec tion, and, the same year, the old building was removed and the present high so building erected. While the house was building the school was taught in re rooms in the Dickey Block, on Fifth street.

The curriculum of the school has been enlarged from time to time until it embraces all the branches of study usually pursued in the best city high sci Latin, or its equivalent-German or French-is required to be studied by al pupils. Greek is taught, but comparatively so few desire to study it that i been questioned whether it is right to expend the public money in such instruc A large number of pupils have been prepared for college in our high school many of them have taken high rank in their classes ; and yet this may have accomplished at too great cost to the public. It is so difficult to adjust the Cr, of study in a high school to the wants of the mass of pupils, and the requirer for admission the college class, that it is to be hoped that these requirements be so modified by our best colleges that this difficulty may be removed, and of the graduates of our high schools induced to avail themselves of the br culture these colleges offer.

In 1857. the total enrollment of pupils in the high school was 101; in 154; in 1875, 238 ; in 1880, 328. The number of teachers in 1857 (includin; Campbell, who gave half his time), was four ; in 1867, five ; in 1875, sever 1880, eight. In 1857, the salary of the Principal was $1,200 ; in 1867, $1,50 1875, $2,000. The following persons have filled the office of Principal : J

693

CITY OF DAYTON.

Ta'pbell, from 1850 to 1858 ; John W. Hall, from 1858 to 1866 ; William Smith, (o 1866 to 1872; Charles B. Stivers, from 1872 to the present time.

The first class was graduated in 1854, and consisted of two members ; the :a of 1880, twenty-seven members ; the total number of graduates is 477. It is ut esting to note that the graduates of the first class are now teachers in our pub- hools, and have always ranked among the best. No one familiar with our t can glance over the list of graduates, and trace their history as teachers in our Bols, or as filling prominent positions in business circles and society, without -g impressed with the noble work accomplished by this school.

SCHOOL LAW OF 1853.

The Constitution of Ohio adopted in 1851 directed "that the Legislature : make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as, with the income arising .of the school trust fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of common l'ols throughout the State." The first Legislature elected under the new con- i tion enacted the excellent school law of 1853. Up to this time, our schools 1 been conducted under the city charter and parts of several acts of the Leg- laire that were construed to apply to them. To simplify and make certain the vapplicable to our schools, and to relieve the board in its action from the jrvision of the City Council, it was determined, in accordance with a provision ! le law of 1853, to submit to a popular vote the question of conducting the ·tols of the city under that law. The vote was taken at the city election in [1. 1855, and decided without opposition, in the affirmative. The City Council ased an ordinance May 25, 1855, defining the number, the mode of election, and nejerm of office of the Board of Education. Heretofore the board had consisted The member from each ward, appointed by the City Council to serve one year. Ler the ordinance, the board was to be composed of two members from each al, one to be elected each year by the people, with a term of service of two e:3. The first board it provided should be appointed by the Council. From »¿ until the present time, the schools have been conducted under this ordinance a the general school laws of the State. The first board appointed-one-half to me until the next city election-was composed of the following members : First vd, D. A. Wareham, Harvey Blanchard ; Second Ward, Robert W. Steele, J. tutsman ; Third Ward, Henry L. Brown, James McDaniel ; Fourth Ward, E. . forsyth, W. S. Phelps ; Fifth Ward, John Lawrence, J. Snyder ; Sixth Ward, Viam Bomberger, W. N. Love.

SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION,

The need of a general superintendent to give unity to our school system had been felt by members of the Board of Education, but the opposition of some fie teachers who had influence with a majority of the board, and the plea of tomy, prevented for years the establishment of the office. Duties of super- in were imposed on members of the board, which at the best were very im- electly discharged. It was not until August, 1855, that the office was created, n James Campbell, Principal of the high school, elected Superintendent, with h understanding that he should retain his principalship and devote one-half of time to the high school. In July, 1858, he was released from his duties in the ii i school, and instructed to devote his whole time to the supervision of the Cools. Mr. Campbell prepared a report of the condition of the schools for 3-57, which was the first extended report of our schools published. In May, 199, he resigned, to engage in private business.

Although the office was not abolished, repeated efforts were made in vain to elt a Superintendent until 1866. In that year, impressed with the urgent need ofupervision for the schools, Mr. Caleb Parker, a member of the board, who had rered from business, and who possessed the requisite experience and leisure to di harge the duties of the office, agreed to accept the position, with the distinct

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

proviso on his part that his services should be without compensation. He w elected in July, 1866, and served until April, 1868, when he tendered : resignation.

The second published report of the board for 1866-67 was prepared by hi On retiring from the office, Mr. Parker received a unanimous vote of thanks fr the board for his disinterested and very useful services.

Again it was impossible to find a man who could command the vote of t majority of the board for Superintendent. Various expedients were resorted by members of the board friendly to the office to secure an election. To remo the objection of unnecessary cost in conducting the schools, a plan which had be adopted with marked success in Cleveland was proposed. A committee of t board was appointed to consider it, and reported June 22, 1871, that " the efficien of the school system would be increased without expense by the election of Superintendent, a supervising male Principal, and female Principals for the distr schools." This report was adopted by the board, and Warren Higley elcet Superintendent, and F. W. Parker Supervising Principal. This plan was cont ued for two years with excellent results ; but the majority of the board of 18 decided to return to the old system.

In 1873, Samuel C. Wilson was elected Superintendent and served one ye: In 1874, John Hancock, whose reputation for ability and large experience a teacher and superintendent commended him to the board, was elected, and b been continued in the office until the present time.

The necessity of the office of Superintendent as a part of a system of ci schools is now conceded by all, and it is believed that in Dayton in the future t office will never be vacant.

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.

It was found that owing to the removal of scholars from school before read ing the eight-year grade, the classes of that grade were very small in some of t districts. The Principals who were receiving the highest salaries were giving t most of their time and strength to these classes, and the cost of teaching them w excessive. To remedy this, the intermediate school was established in 1874, a. all the pupils of the eighth-year grade in the city were assigned to that school. . at present organized, the course of study has not been enlarged, and the school simply a union of the classes of the eighth year for convenience and econom After one year in this school. pupils, upon examination, pass to the high schod The school is located in the Fourth District schoolhouse, and is taught by a ma Principal and two female assistants. W. P. Gardner was the first Principal, wh after serving one year, deelined a re-election. Samuel C. Wilson was elcet Principal in 1875, and is the present incumbent.

NORMAL SCHOOL.

It was impossible to procure experienced teachers to fill the vacancies constant occurring in the schools. Young girls, without knowledge of methods of governme) or teaching, were placed over rooms full of children just at the most irrepressil period of their lives. These positions were confessedly the most difficult to fill any at the disposal of the board ; but there was no alternative. Ambitious al experienced teachers naturally sought the rooms where the higher branches wel taught, leaving the lower grades for the novices. It is true that many of the be and most valued teachers now in the schools began without experience ; but t first year of their teaching was a heavy labor to themselves and an injustice their pupils. A partial remedy was found by making the position of an expe! enced and successful primary teacher as honorable, and the pay as large, as th of any teacher in the district schools below the grade of principal. But this d not fully meet the case, and the board determined to educate its teachers. A col mittee of the board, August 18, 1869, presented a detailed plan for a normal scho and teachers' institute, which was unanimously adopted.

695

CITY OF DAYTON.

The first week of each school year is devoted to the Teachers' Institute. All 13 teachers of the public schools in the city are required to attend, and to render sch assistance in instruction as may be requested by the Superintendent of "hools. The best methods of teaching and government are discussed and taught, aid lectures on these subjects given by experienced teachers at home and from : road.

As the great majority of the teachers in the schools are women, instruction i the Normal School is confined to them. Graduates of the high school are ad- i tted without examination, and comprise a large part of the school. Others siring admission are required to pass a thorough examination in the ordinary tanches of an English cducation. Applicants must be not less than seventeen vars of age, and must pledge themselves to teach in the schools of Dayton two var's after their graduation, should their services be desired by the board. The l'ard on its part guarantees to the graduates situations as teachers in the public stools whenever vacancies occur.

In the Normal School, the studies to be taught in the district schools are re- uwed, new methods of teaching are explained and illustrated, and thorough in- suction is given in the theory and practice of teaching. Rooms in the school lilding where the school is located are placed in charge of pupils of the school, vo, under the constant supervision of an experienced critic-teacher, thus learn t: practical work of the school room.

In the fall of 1869, the school was opened in the Sixth District house, and up t this time has graduated 122 teachers. A large majority of these are now e'ployed in our schools, and are doing excellent work. It would be unreasonable t expect that all the graduates of the Normal School would prove equally good t chers ; but that the instruction received has been invaluable to them and a gat gain to the schools no one acquainted with the facts can doubt. In the mary departments, the beneficial effects of this school are particularly noticeable.

Col. F. W. Parker was the first Principal of the school, assisted by Miss Emma AH. Brown, a graduate of a normal school. Upon the election of Col. Parker as chervising Principal of the schools, Miss Brown became Principal, and continued a the head of the school until her resignation in 1873. In 1873, Mr. W. W. Watkins, Principal of the Sixth District School, was made Principal of the Normal Hool also, and held the position one year. In 1874, Miss Jane W. Blackwood, successful teacher in the Cincinnati Normal School, was elected Principal, and reelected until the present time.

BOARD OF CITY EXAMINERS.

The school law of 1873-74 directs the Board of Education of each city district o che first class to appoint a board of examiners, " who shall have power to examine t schools established in such district, and shall examine all persons who desire t hold teachers' certificates, valid in such district." The Dayton Board of Educa- ti had long felt the need of a board of city examiners, and was influential in s uring the insertion of this and other clauses in the excellent school law of 1'3-74, sending its President, E. Morgan Wood, to Columbus, to confer with the Fuse Committee on Common Schools. Under this law, George P. Clarke, J. A. Foert and William Smith were appointed city examiners, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Sith removed from the city, and their places were filled by William Isenberg and Fert W. Steele. Mr. Robert and Mr. Isenberg, after years of faithful service, rigned, and A. D. Wilt and John Hancock were appointed. The present board ( sists of Robert W. Steele, A. D. Wilt and John Hancock.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 76

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214