USA > Pennsylvania > Greene County > History of Greene County, Pennsylvania > Part 28
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James Hughes
317
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
school building is reported as having been built in Waynesburg on a commodious and commanding site on a line with the Waynesburg College building, at a cost of $5,000, from plan No. 5 of the State School Architecture. The Rev. Dr. Sloan, of the Presbyterian Church, was the first principal, assisted by Miss Mattie H. Parker, Miss Mary Hedge, Miss McCormick, and Miss Annie Allison. The nation was still in the throes of civil war. " The great conflict," he says, " which has been raging for the last three years, has had a del- eterions effect upon the cause of education. Many of the ablest and most successful teachers have been called from their peaceful pro- fession to fields of carnage and strife. Some fill soldiers' graves on distant fields; others are still in the ranks of war." In many re- spects the Superintendent of Greene County could do more efficient work, and his labors were more satisfactory to himself and useful to the county, than in the larger and more thickly peopled counties of the State. With reasonable diligence the officer could visit all the schools each year once and some a second time. His examinations of teachers could be held in three weeks, which left him a fair amount of time for holding institutes and educational meetings. Since the first reports a great change had been made in the teaching force in the schools. Whereas in the first years the teach- ers were almost without exception males, now they stand 89 males to 74 females. The whole number of visits to schools this year, 1864, was 172, varying in length from an hour and a half to two and a half, and all visited except two.
In the report of 1866 an appeal was made for more ample school grounds, better locations, for fencing and ornamentation of lots. It is a sign of encouragement that fourteen of the eighteen districts of the county were supplied with globes and Mitchell's outline maps. This manifests a step in advance, and a sign of progress scarcely an- ticipated. In the report of 1867 the gratifying intelligence is given that Springhill, which, on account of sparseness of settlement and delays in taking up the lands had been retarded in organizing schools, this year had all its schools in operation, and consequently was ena- bled to draw its share of the State appropriation, and certain arrear- ages which had been accumulating. All the schools of the district were now in full operation.
The Superintendent's report for 1868 shows a more encouraging and hopeful spirit than has previously been manifested since the pas- sage of the revised school law. "Teachers," he says, " have a more thorough knowledge of the branches to be taught, and better meth- ods of imparting their knowledge. They read more books on the science of education and the art of teaching. They attend more educational meetings and teacher's institutes. These are the teach- ers who display superior skill and ability in managing schools."
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318
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
The labors of the superintendent during this year appear to have been more energetic and fruitful of good results than in any previous one. Twelve special institutes were held in different parts of the county with an aggregate attendance of one hundred and sixty teach- ers. In December, 1867, the county institute was organized under the provisions of the new act regulating these meetings. One hun- dred and three teachers, and a good mumber of citizens were in attendance. Professors A. B. Miller, J. C. Gilchrist, S. S. Jack, and J. M. Moore assisted the Superintendent. " In the number attend- ing, in the interest manifested, and in the practical workings of the institute, it far surpassed any educational meeting ever held in the county." But though great improvements are thns joyfully recorded the Superintendent's Report is not without a tinge of sadness in view of some of the obstacles which still were encountered. "Irregular attendance is one of the great opposing elements in the way of pro- gress. It destroys the classification of the schools, and obstructs the progress of the pupils. It discourages the teacher, and makes his work inefficient. It deprives many of a practical education, and throws them upon the bosom of society without those essential characteristics which constitute good citizenship." By a provision of law which went into operation this year school directors were em- powered, if they were unable to obtain suitable ground in a desirable location for school-houses, to appropriate such and so much as was desired and pay for it by appraisement as in the case of land taken for roads.
In opening his report for the year 1870 the Superintendent gives some statistics, which, compared with those given at the first adop- tion of the system, are gratifying. The whole mumber of school- houses is reported at 167; of these 113 are frame; 23 brick; 2 stone; 29 log. The county institute was reported from year to year as being successfully conducted and growing in interest. Able educa- tors are reported as having been employed to give instruction and lecture. Among these were Hon. B. G. Northrop, Superintendent of the Schools of Connecticut; Hon. J. P. Wickersham, Superintend- ent in Pennsylvania; Andrew Burtt, author of Grammars; A. B. Miller, D. D., President of Waynesburg College; Prof. J. A. Cooper, President of the State Normal School of the Twelfth district; J. Jackson Purman, of Waynesburg; Prof. F. A. Allen, President of the Normal School in the Fifth district; W. W. Woodruff, Superin- tendent of Chester County; Prof. C. L. Ehrenfeld, President of the Normal School in the Tenth district; Prof. J. B. Solomon, President of the Monongahela College. Such an array of talent as this in the special line of institute work, embracing some of the most distin- guished educators and anthors in the nation, rarely falls to the lot of any one county to have employed, and it could not but exert an
319
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
important infinence over the body of teachers assembled. A free acknowledgment of the progress and improvement of teachers is made in the report of this year. "The enterprising and progress- ive teachers are making sacrifices to meet the constantly increasing demand of a higher order of qualification; these noble workers in the cause of human progress, deserve the approbation of a grateful peo- ple; their meritorious work is seen in the order, neatness, and clean- liness of the school-room; it is read in the happy faces and thoughtful countenances of their pupils."
The report of 1872 shows the erection of a suitable school edifice and the grading of the schools at Mt. Morris. The near completion of the Monongahela College edifice is also mentioned, and the success- ful opening of the institution. Special arrangements for the training of teachers were at this time made in Waynesburg College, under the charge of Dr. A. B. Miller; Monongahela College, under Rev. J. B. Solomon; Greene Academy, under Prof Lakin; and an Academy at Jacksonville, under Rev. Samuel Graham. While great improve- ment is annually reported in the qualifications of teachers, the lamentable fact is mentioned that many of the most experienced remain but a short time in the profession. They either go into other business or seek employment in other localities, where the compensa- tion is more remunerative. To remedy this crying evil directors are implored to give better remuneration, and the almost annual recom- mendation is made that the Legislature make a larger State appro- priation, so that better wages can be paid worthy teachers without making local taxation too burdensome. The very commendable practice of directors and citizens attending the institutes and the annual examinations of teachers in the several districts is reported, thus evincing a growing interest in the progress of common-school education.
In the report of 1874, the superintendent records fifteen local institutes as having been held, all well attended by directors, teachers and citizens, and the annual county institute as having been attended by 147 teachers. The institute was held in the court-house, and " a more than usual interest was manifested by the citizens of the place." In 1875 the schools in Jacksonville were graded and put in success- ful operation. With this report, Superintendent Teal, after twelve years of faithful, laborious, intelligent and efficient service, closed his official labors. The schools of Greene County owe much to his skillful work during this protracted period.
At the election of Connty Superintendents in 1875, Prof. A. F. Silvins was elected Superintendent of Greene County. In his first report he records the gratifying fact that eighty-three of the schools during the year were supplied with good school globes, and that directors are beginning to grade the wages of teachers according
320
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
to the degree of qualification, as shown by the certificate, and success and experience in teaching. Local institutes were held in fifteen distriets, and the county institute was conducted by Hon. John HI. French, of Burlington, Vermont, and Dr. Miller, of Waynesburg, for three successive sessions.
In the year succeeding the Centennial year of American Independ- ance, the State Superintendent of Common Schools called for special reports from the county and city superintendents embracing a history of education in their districts for the past hundred years, with the design of publishing a Centennial volume. From the report of Superintendent Silvius some interesting facts are gleaned. Of the state of education in the territory previous to 1796, when the county was organized, the information is traditional.
" Of the early emigrants, but few could read and write. *
* * They procured some unoccupied cabin, made a few uncomfortable seats, and selected one of their number, who could read and write best, to teach the school. In some cases a room was fitted up in one of their cabins, and the woman of the house took in a few of the neighbors' children, and taught them with her own. The teachers of that day were very meagerly qualified. Of arithmetic, many knew little. To others who attempted to teach it, division was a mystery. The ability to solve examples by the rule of three was considered quite a scholarly attainment, and it was often inserted in articles of agreement, between patrons and teachers, that they would teach arithmetic only to the ' Double rule of Three.' The teachers who accomplished most were men of liberal education who had emigrated to this country from east of the mountains, and from foreign countries, and who from misfortune, habits of life, or other causes, had failed to follow the profession for which they were educated, and engaged in teaching as a necessity. Many of them were men of doubtful in- tegrity, and irregular lives. Though their example was bad, they accomplished much good, and our oldest citizens remember them with gratitude.
" The earliest teachers of note were Kennedy, Van Emon, Ely, Denny, Wheelock, Webb, Duffy, Van Meter, Felix Hughes, Frank Fraser, and Mrs. Arnold, followed by Hale, Strowsnider, Foley, Mc- Courtney, Wood, Crawford, Kent, Rinehart, Johnson, Henry, Francis Braddock, Thomas Leasure, Moses Dinsmore, Stephen Uneles, James Tane, W. B. Teagarden, Robert Cathers and wife and Amos Stanberry. Of the few school-houses built at the early period before the inauguration of the free school system of 1834, by the voluntary subscriptions of neighbors, the most notable now standing is the stone structure in Whiteley Township, a monument of devotion to education at a time when money was searce and little was being done. It should be ever kept in the best of repair and cherished as
321
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
a link between that early period and the present. Few such mon- minents exist within the borders of the Commonwealth.
" Upon the adoption of the common school system of 1834, some opposition was manifested in Greene County, and as the adoption or rejection of the system was left to a vote of the people, many districts chose not to accept its advantages. But the accumulations in the State treasury of monies which would have been paid to non-accepting districts, finally became so great, money freely offered for the building new school-honses, that all accepted and organized under the pro- visions of the law. . It was much in favor of the law that some of the most influential citizens freely gave time and influence in favor of the system by serving as school directors, and pleading the cause of free school education."
In his report of 1878, Superintendent Silvius publishes the report of a committee of teachers, before which he had submitted some rec- ommendations upon the subject of gradation and promotion in the schools, which was adopted at the county institute. The following is the report: 1. Resolved, that we believe that the best interests of edneation demand a thorough classification of all the schools of the county, and to this end we favor the adoption of a graded course of studies that provides for instruction in proper order in all the com- mon school branches, and that we will use our influence and efforts to secure a course of studies and classification of all the schools of this county at the earliest practicable day. 2. That the County Superintendent, with the aid and co-operation of the school directors and teachers, hold examinations in each township for the purpose of giving those pupils, found worthy of the same, a certificate signed by the county superintendent, the board of directors and the teachers constituting the examining committee, stating that the holder is a person of good moral character, and has completed the common school course of study.
" In accordance with this report " the superintendent continnes " I suggested a course of study, and near the close of the schools, held examinations at Garrard's Fort, Taylortown, Mt. Morris, New- town, Rogersville, Bridgeport, Carmichaels, Knisley school-houses, and Jolleytown, at which eighty-three pupils passed satisfactory ex- aminations, and were granted diplomas. Literary exercises were con- nected with the examinations, and the meetings gave universal satisfaction. I know of no better means to aronse emulation among pupils, schools and districts, and to give an impulse to education, than perfecting the system now introduced."
At the election of county superintendents held in May, 1878, S. F. Iloge, Esq., of Jefferson, was elected for Greene. In his first report lie mentions a " wide-spread indifference" among the people to the best interests of the schools: and complains of incompetency on the
322
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
part of teachers, the complaint being general among them that the wages paid are insufficient. He reports great improvement in the interiors of school-houses, and in the enlargement, planting, and fencing of school grounds.
In 1881 William M. Nickerson, of Carmichaels, was elected super- intendent. A passage in his first report affords a fair index to the personel of teachers employed at this period: "Number of male teachers employed was 136; females, 59. One hundred and twenty . held provisional certificates, forty-nine professional, twenty-one per- manent, and five are graduates of Normal schools. Average age of teachers was twenty-four years. ] Forty have had no experience in teaching. % Twenty-one public examinations were held at which there were eighty directors and quite a number of citizens
present. I examined 206 applicants. I issued 176 certificates, 2
professional, and rejected 30. The method of examination was the written and oral combined." In addition to the county in- stitute, which was nnusnally well attended, there were forty district in- stitutes held, usually beginning on Friday evening and closing on Saturday evening. In his report of 1884, the superintendent men- tions with commendable pride the opening of the new school building in Waynesburg, which occurred on the 15th of October, 1883. " The house," he says, "erected in Waynesburg deserves special notice. It is a three-story brick building, containing eight school-rooms, a room for the principal of the school, and a hall or lecture room which can be used for school rooms. The building is heated with hot air, and is pretty well ventilated. The building will compare favorably with any in the western part of the State."
At the triennial election, held in 1884, James S. Herrington, of Kirby, was chosen superintendent. In his report of 1886 he bears testimony to the steady improvement in school-houses, furniture, enlargement and improvement of school grounds, and the planting of shade trees. But one paragraph in his report shows still a great lack of system in the conducting of the schools. "I observed," he says, " that the greatest need of our schools was system and purpose in the school work. In many schools pupils were pursuing no definite course of study. They studied those books only which they happened to bring with them. Many were receiving no instruction in language or grammar; but few studying or receiving instruction in all the branches. I at once prepared a course of study in five grades, together with a blank report, and got two published for each teacher in the county. These reports enrolled the name of each pupil in the school, showing in what grade he was placed and his standing in the grade; also the teacher's programme, and many other things necessary for a successful school. After being filled out by the teacher, one was sent to the superintendent, and the other placed
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 1
in the teacher's report book for the inspection of the directors. This did very much for the bettering the condition of the schools."
At the triennial convention of directors held in May, 1887, A. J. Waychoff was elected superintendent, who is the present in- cumbent.
That a comparative view of the progress of education in Greene County by semi-decades may be seen at a glance, the main statistical items, drawn from the tables printed in the annual reports, are given below. The first entry is taken from Superintendent Burrowes' re- port, published in 1837, when the operations of the first common school law had been recorded. From that time until 1854, when the revised law went into effect, no itemized tables of statistics seem to have been published. In that year the report of the Hon. Charles A. Black records the complete statistics, and from that time forward they have been regularly inserted in the annual volume. This table will possess interest, as illustrating the changes which have occurred in the half of a century.
Year.
Number of Schools.
Number of Months
Schools Open.
Number of Male
Number of Female
Salaries of Males per
Salaries ofFemales
Average Number of
Pupils in Attendance.
Amount of Direct Tax
Levied.
Received from State Appropriation.
1837 ..
. .
5
4
4
1
$20 00|
$17 00
287
$215 00
$635 70
1854. .
154
4
141
26
22 11
16 40
4,840
14,999 89
1,933 75
1859
151
4.2
131
37
24 13
18 64
4,223
19,794 75
2,039 08
1864. .
161
4.10
105
20 22
18 83
4,373
20,287 82
2,212 86
1869
173
4.4
119
55
35 44
1 66
5,488
36,699 62
3,061 00
1874. .
179
5.04
129
52
33 56
9 85
4,720
36,826 10
4,188 61
1879.
178
5.07
135
51
27 87
28 25
5,296
32,683 14
5,499 19
1884.
192
5.14
119
78
3 87
30 25
5,124
44,382 85
6,256 95
1888.
198
5.17
125
33 93
31 48
5,500
45,729, 92|
6,928 99
Teachers.
Teachers.
month.
per month.
324
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHARTER FOR GREENE COUNTY ACADEMY-$2,000 FROM THE STATE- PRINCIPALS SERVED A USEFUL PURPOSE-PENNSYLVANIA ACAD- EMIES UNSATISFACTORY-LAW TO TRANSFER PROPERTY TO COM- MON SCHOOL-SELECT SCHOOLS-WAYNESBURG COLLEGE-ORIGIN -- VALUE OF THE SMALL COLLEGES-MADISON AND BEVERLY --- NEED OF SUCH AN INSTITUTION-PENNSYLVANIA PRESBYTERY OF CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-WAYNESBURG SELECTED -- REV. J. LOUGHRAN OPENED A SCHOOL-CHARTER OBTAINED- SUPPLEMENTS -- MARGARET K. BELL OPENS SCHOOL IN BAPTIST CHURCH FOR FEMALES- NEW BUILDING OPENED-FIRST CLASSES GRADUATE-TAKEN UNDER PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD-RELATIONS OF THE CHURCH TO THE COLLEGE-MILLER SUCCEEDS FISH-REV. J. P. WETHEE, PRESIDENT-INSISTS ON CLASSIFICATION OF MALES AND FEMALES ALIKE -- SETTLED AFTER INVESTIGATION -- JOHN C. FLENNIKEN-REV. ALFRED B. MILLER, PRESIDENT, IN 1859- HIS DEVOTED LABORS -- DEBT OF 83,000-STRUGGLES-HAD UNDERTAKEN TOO MUCH -- CHURCH TO SUPPORT THREE PROFES- SORS -UNSELFISH DEVOTION OF DR. MILLER-MRS. M. K. B. MILLER-UNTIMELY DEATH - RESOLUTIONS OF TRUSTEES- MONONGAHELA COLLEGE-REV. JOSEPH SMITH -- REV. II. K. CRAIG-REV. J. B. SOLOMON-SCOPE OF THE COLLEGE.
A S we have already seen early attention was given to founding county academies. A charter for the Greene County Academy was secured in 1810. Hugh Barclay at this time represented the county in the Legislature, and secured the passage of the act grant- ing the charter. The school was located at Carmichaels. The fol- lowing six named persons were appointed its first trustees: Charles Swan, James Flenniken, George Evans, Robert Lewis, Robert Witchell and Hugh Barclay. The first building was the Episcopal church, and was under the charge of this denomination. An ap- propriation was made by the Legislature of $2,000, to be used for building purposes and for teaching poor children gratis under the law of 1809. Subscriptions of citizens helped to swell the endow- ment fund. But for some reason the school was not established for several years after obtaining the charter. The following are the principals who have presided over the institution from its original opening: Ely, Wakefield, Loughran, Whipple, George W. Miller,
William Lippencott
327
IIISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Joseph Horner, Ross, Martin, Long, Baker, Craig, Orr, Lakin and W. M. Nickerson. It was for many years the chief educational centre in the county. . Many of those who afterwards rose to eminence received their early instruction in this institution, and a large pro- portion of the common school teachers either directly or indirectly received their training here. Dr. Miller, president of Waynesburg College, and Prof. G. W. Scott, the eminent mathematician, received their early instruction in Greene Academy.
When Dr. Thomas H. Burrowes came to the head of the school department in 1860 he instituted searching inquiries into the condi- tion of the county academies which had received aid from the State. Previous to this time these institutions had not been considered within the purview of the State department. He found the condi- tion of these institutions in the main unsatisfactory. In the coun- ties of Adams, Alleghany, Cumberland, Fayette, Lancaster, Lycom- ing, Philadelphia and Washington, the academy properties had been "conveyed to or disposed of for the benefit of colleges or other institu- tions in those counties. In others they had been sold for debt. In a number of counties, by special acts of the Legislature, these prop- erties had been sold, and the funds paid over to the common school boards of directors for the benefit of the common school fund. In a considerable number of counties they were not in operation, and only in twelve, Greene being one, was any degree of vigor exhibited. Over a hundred thousand dollars had been appropriated by the State, exclusive of lands donated, to these county academies. The condi- tion of these schools as a whole was anything but encouraging, and " the question," says Dr. Burrowes, "arises as to the best mode of bringing this amount of educational capital into effective employ- ment. * * * The enactment of a general law, authorizing the conveyance of academy property by the trustees to the common school district within which it is situated, is accordingly recom- mended. Such a course would gradually lead to the establishment of efficient high common schools in the county and other large towns, and thus effect the generous views, in favor of the advanced branches of learning, which led to these numerous grants during the first portion of the present century."
In compliance with this recommendation the Legislature passed a general law authorizing such transfer of property, and in most of the counties where such properties existed the transfers were made, and among them the building and endowment funds of Greene County Academy were turned over to the school board of Carmich- aels, and a public high school took its place.
Aside from this academy there have been select schools held at various points in the county, some of which have attained to con- siderable importance. Nineteen years ago, in 1869, the Rev. Samuel
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Graham established the Jacksonville Academy, which, during the first three years attained a membership of eighty-three, and main- tained a high grade of scholarship. At the present time, 1888, Mr. Graham has a select school at Graysville, which is of a high order, and quite liberally attended. At the Centennial church, near the borders of Aleppo and Springhill townships, Prof. David C. Comp- son has at intervals taught a school at which students from a con- siderable distance around, even as far away as Freeport, are in attendance. These are but examples of the methods of education beyond the common-schools in operation throughout the county.
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