USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 42
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ceived in the counties west of the Alleghenies. where a diversity in wealth had not yet bred distinctions of class, and where different na- tionalities and different religious denomina- tions had become so thoroughly mixed as to recognize an educational interest in common.
Free schools were opposed by several classes of people, and for different reasons. First, there were then in greater proportion than now, in the oldest settled portions of the State, aristocratic families whose American life had not yet eradicated their Old World ideas of rank and privilege, and who had no sympathy with the doctrine of equality upon which the new law was founded. There must be, they held, here as in Europe, two classes of people, a higher and a lower, the first, the few, to ornament society and to rule and di- rect its affairs; the second, the many, under authority, to hew its wood and draw its water. To educate beyond the mere elements those who must forever remain at the bottom of the social scale was in their opinion to unfit them for the sphere of life for which they were intended, and to render them uu- happy. The doctrine that all men are ere- ated equal, that brains and blood truly noble are as often born in a cottage as in a castle, they met with a sneer.
The bitterest enemies of the free schools. those who fought them longest and hardest. were the ignorant, the narrow-minded and the most penurious. They argued that the education of the masses was dangerous, and would breed mischief of many kinds, idleness, vice, crime; that the taxes required to sup- port free schools would greatly impoverish, if not entirely bankrupt, the people; that it was unjust to compel those who had no chil- dren to pay for the education of the children of others, unjust for the industrious man who had saved his money to support schools for the spendthrift who had squan- dered all he owned; that the compulsory features of the law would fasten on the necks of the people a tyranny worse than that from which their fathers escaped by the war of the Revolution; that the schools ought to be called forced schools, rather than free schools, and that, in short, as quoted by an- other in the harsh words used at that time, "free schools are the hotbeds wherein idle drones, too lazy for honest labor, are reared and maintained; the free school system was originated and supported by its partisans for the purpose of making places for men too
The Act establishing free schools was ap- proved of the first day of April, 1834. The first election for school directors was fixed for the third Friday of September following, and on the first Tuesday of November was ap- pointed the joint meeting in each county composed of a delegate from the several boards of school directors and the county commissioners, for the purpose of deciding whether or not a tax should be levied for the support of the schools. The sheriff of each county gave by proclamation thirty days' no- tice of the election of school directors. As soon as these notices began to appear the dis- cussion opened, and certainly no other ques- tion was ever debated so generally in Penn- sylvania, or with the same warmth, with the same determination, and, if it may be added, with the same bitterness, as the question of lazy to work, and the school tax is a thinly
1
207
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
disguised tribute which the honest, hardwork- The State Superintendent, Mr. Burrowes, ing farmer and mechanic have to pay out of in 1837 gave a summary of statistics as fol- their hard earnings to pamper idle and lazy lows: schoolmasters."
The law was weak and defective in many points; but theoretically it embodied the great principle of universal education, and this its friends determined to preserve at all hazards. The election for school directors and the vote accepting or rejecting the system taken, it was found that of the 987 districts then in the State, 485 either voted outright. against free schools or stubbornly took no action whatever in reference to the matter. In Indiana county seven districts voted for and three against the system. Three districts were not represented.
The system met with much opposition in the Legislature of 1835. Thirty-eight coun- ties out of fifty-one sent petitions asking for the repeal of the law. We can say to the credit of Indiana county that no petition was sent from the county. A strong effort was made in the Legislature to repeal the law and for a time it looked as though the opposers would succeed.
There were a number of devoted friends of free schools in the House of Representatives, but the acknowledged leader was Thaddeus Stevens. Competent judges of all parties who witnessed the fight agree that had he not stood like a rock, furnishing shelter and im- parting strength to the free school combat- ants, and bidding defiance to the fiercest of
The whole number of districts in the State .. 987
The whole number that had accepted the Sys-
tem 742
The increase during the year.
209
The whole number of common schools in operation 3.384
The increase during the year 2,622
The whole number of teachers (male 2,428) (female 966) 3,394
The whole number of pupils in the schools. ... 150,838 The number of children taught at public ex- pense prior to 1834 35,544
The number of children in the State between the ages of five and fifteen, about ... .... 320,000 Average salaries of male teachers per month .. $18.38 Average salaries of female teachers per month 11.96 Average time schools were open, four months, 3 days.
From 1838 to 1852 the school system sailed in quiet waters. The number of schools in- creased to 9,699: the number of pupils to 480,778; the number of teachers to 11,713; tax levied, $982,196.22. The salaries of teach- ers had not advanced, and the average length of time the schools were kept open had been materially shortened. During this time the management of the school system was almost wholly in the hands of the district school boards. Little help came to them from Har- risburg, and none at all from any other quar- ter.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENCY
The act creating such an office was passed those who would have struck them down, the and, in accordance with that act, the directors law of 1834 would have been swept from the of Indiana county met at Indiana on the 5th statute book or been saved only by the veto of the governor, and the day of universal edu- cation in Pennsylvania might have been in- definitely postponed. of June, 1854, and elected Rev. S. P. Bollman county superintendent, at a salary of $500 per annum. He served nine years, having beeu re-elected twice. In 1863 Samuel Wolf The closing words of his speech were : "Who would not rather do one living deed than to have his ashes enshrined in ever-bur- nished gold ? Sir, I trust that when we come to act on this question, we shall take lofty ground-look beyond the narrow space which now circumscribes our vision-beyond the passing, fleeting point of time on which we stand, and so cast our votes that the blessing of education shall be conferred on every son of Pennsylvania-shall be carried home to the poorest child of the poorest inhabitant of the meanest hut of your mountains, so that even he may be prepared to act well his part in this land of freemen, and lay on earth a broad and solid foundation for that enduring knowledge which goes on increasing through unceasing eternity." was elected, at a salary of $500; but at the end of a year and a half the salary was in- creased to $1,000. In 1865 A. J. Bolar, a Presbyterian minister who had served faith- fully in the Union army and been badly wounded, was elected at a salary of $800. In 1869 J. T. Gibson, a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and a student at the Allegheny Theological Seminary, was elected, at a salary of $1,000. He served two years, and upon his resignation Samuel Wolf was appointed to serve the unexpired term, and was elected in 1872 and again in 1875, at a salary of $1,000. In 1878 S. J. Craighead, of Eldersridge, Pa., was elected superintendent and served for two terms. In 1884 W. A. Cochran, a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School, became superintendent and
208
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
served two terms at a salary of $1,200. In Colleges. At present he is serving as a director 1890 A. M. Hammers was elected superintend- of the Western Theological Seminary, trustee ent and served three terms. When elected of Grove City College and trustee of the Pres- his salary was $1,200, but was raised to $1,600 byterian Hospital of Pittsburg. the second term. In 1899 J. T. Stewart, a Samuel Wolf after his term as county superintendent for ten years taught in the elected superintendent and served for three public schools, completing his fiftieth term in graduate of Indiana State Normal School, was terms. The salary when he was elected was 1898. He resided on his farm in Rayne town- ship until a few years before his death, when he removed to Indiana, Pennsylvania. $1,600, but was raised to $2,000 the second term. In 1908 James F. Chapman, the pres- ent inenmbent, was elected superintendent at a salary of $2,000; but in 1911 the salary was raised to $2,200.
S. J. 'Craighead, after serving as superin- tendent of the public schools, was a member of the State Legislature. He also assisted two removed to the county seat, where he died.
The schools of this county owe much to the years in visiting the schools of the county. He Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The Revs. James Power, John Jamieson and Joseph W. Hender- During Mr. Craighead's term many of the son, of the Presbyterian and Associate Re- old houses were reseated with patent furniture, formed Presbyterian Churches, helped to plant and a number of new buildings erected. Sup- erintendent Craighead recognized the need of uniformity of textbooks and a compulsory school law. At one time he reported that almost nine hundred children of school age were out of school. The benefit of the county institute became felt and a great interest was aroused and talent from a distance was em- ployed. The financial report of that time the first schools, and Rev. S. P. Bollman, the first county superintendent, was doubtless the best man that could be found at that time to make and keep popular an office which met with much opposition from the people. A. J. Bolar and J. T. Gibson were both ministers of the Presbyterian Church, the former for one year a member of the faculty of the State Normal School at Indiana and afterwards showed that the expense for the institute did principal of the Blairsville Academy. not exceed $400.
W. A. Cochran after his term as superin- tendent engaged in the boot and shoe business
J. T. Gibson was born in Jefferson county in 1844, and moved to Creekside, Indiana county, in 1850. The borough of Creekside is in Moxham, Pa., which he still successfully car- located on the Gibson farm. He was educated ries on. He is secretary of the school board in Dixon school, an old log schoolhouse near of Johnstown, Pa., and secretary and treasurer where the Creekside schoolhouse in Washing- of the Mission Boards for the Conemaugh Pres- ton township now stands. He attended the bytery, of the United Presbyterian Church. select schools of the county, the Glade Run During his term more that the usual number Academy at Dayton, and was graduated from of select schools were held in different parts of the county. He made a great effort to introduce vocal music into the schools, and examined the teachers in music. He required the teachers to subscribe for one or more edu- cational papers and to take an active part in the local institute. The schools of Indiana, Blairsville and Saltsburg arranged a course of study, upon the completion of which the Washington and Jefferson Colleges in 1869. After serving two years as superintendent of the schools he resigned and completed his course at the Western Theological Seminary. He preached in Nashville, Tenn., in Baltimore, Md., for eight years, in Sharpsburg, Pa., for nine years, and served as secretary and treas- urer of the Board of Missions for Freedmen for the Presbyterian Church for five years, pupils graduated and received diplomas.
resigning to become editor of the "Presby- terian Messenger," published in Pittsburg. He served as editor of the "Messenger" and "Banner" seven years and has been on the staff of the "New York Observer" ever since. A. M. Hammers after his term became a member of the faculty of the Indiana State Normal School, was superintendent of the schools of Punxsutawney, Pa., and conducted a select school at Cherrytree, Pa. He died in Commissioned by Governor Pattison as a 1908. The pupils and teachers of the county member of the Chickamauga Military Park to and friends of education erected a monument represent Pennsylvania, he helped to locate to his memory, and also one to the memory the monument erected in honor of the Penn- of Superintendent Wolf. sylvania organizations engaged in that battle. . In 1890 Mr. Hammers, with the assistance The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by of several other county superintendents, in- Washington and Jefferson and Grove City troduced a graded course of study. In 1892
209
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
a directors' association was established and in rolled, with an average attendance of 81 per 1897 Visitors' Day was inaugurated. During his term thirty-nine schoolhouses were built and fifty-six supplied with new furniture. Notwithstanding the great increase in appro- priation, the average salary of teachers de- creased $1.37 per month. The county institute was well attended.
J. T. Stewart, after serving nine years as county superintendent, spent eight months as a rest period at Greeley, Colo., and on return- ing home engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business. At present he also represents the United State Fidelity and Guaranty Company, a bond house of Baltimore, Md.
During Mr. Stewart's term the schools in- creased in number from 296 to 365. One of the needs at this present time was good school libraries. Good books were selected with ref- erence to the ability of the pupils, and the schools in the majority of townships purchased libraries. Also a Teachers' Reading Course was established. Improvements were made in school buildings and school grounds. The Teachers" Institute then was better attended than ever before. A feature of the term of which all interested in the country schools of the county were justly proud, was the winning of the first prize-thirty dollars-awarded by the State for the best miscellaneous work done by ungraded schools. This work was after- wards sent the same year to the Exposition at St. Louis, where it won the medal for the best miscellaneous work of ungraded schools in the United States.
Of the eight who served our county as sup- erintendents, three were Presbyterians, two United Presbyterian, one Methodist and one Lutheran.
The present county superintendent, James F. Chapman, was born and raised in North Mahoning township, Indiana county. He at- tended the country schools and after teaching two years, entered the Indiana State Normal, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1896. Immediately preceding his election to the office of county superintendent Mr. Chapman served in the capacity of super- vising principal of the Indiana public schools for seven years. Superintendent Chapman is a teacher in the Lutheran Sunday school and a regular attendant at that church.
In 1875 there were 240 teachers employed at an average salary of $30.74 per month, and 10,004 pupils enrolled, with an average at- tendance of 73 per cent. In 1880 there were 253 teachers employed at an average salary of $30.44 per month, and 10,891 pupils en-
cent. In 1890 there were 276 teachers em- ployed at an average salary of $32.92 per month, and 10,828 pupils enrolled, with an average attendance of 82 per cent. In 1900 there were 314 teachers employed at an aver- age salary of $32.48 per month, and 10,262 pupils enrolled, with an average attendance of 85 per cent. In 1908 there were 365 teachers employed at an average salary of $48.42 per month, and 12,178 pupils enrolled, with an average attendance of 83 per cent. In 1912 there were 395 teachers employed at an average salary of $50.82 per month, and 14,049 pupils enrolled, with an average attend- ance of 85 per cent. The growth is in part due to the recent coal developments of In- diana county.
Many of the new towns have made marked advancement in school affairs. In Heilwood and Clymer splendid brick buildings for school purposes have been erected.
Probably one of the greatest advancements educationally during the five years of Super- intendent Chapman's term of office has been the establishing of high schools in a number of localities. In 1908 there were two high schools in the county. In 1912 there are eight high schools recognized by the Department of Public Instruction. These are located in Salts- burg, Blairsville, Homer City, Indiana. Cly- mer, Cherrytree and Glen Campbell boroughs ; the Pine township high school is located at Heilwood.
THE SCHOOL CODE
On May 18, 1911, the new school law for Pennsylvania went into effect. The only noticeable change that the new law made in fourth class districts was in the number of directors, from six to five, and making the length of term six years. All school districts of the county (forty-two in number) are fourth class save Indiana borough and Green township, which are classified as third class districts. This grade of district is obliged to keep the schools open eight months each year.
The new code also made provisions, where- by Indiana county will have two assistant sup- erintendents. The appointment depends upon the appropriation bill now in the hands of the State Legislature.
Great changes have taken place in regard to the amount of tax for school purposes, raised by local taxation, in comparison to the amount of State appropriation. The follow- ing shows the changes in an average township of the county : In 1875 the amount raised by
14
210
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
local taxation was $1,969.08, and the State in the county raised much more by local tax- appropriated $275.97. At this time ten ation than the State appropriated. For the teachers were employed for five months, at $30 year ending June, 1899, there were only seven per month each. In 1880 the amount raised boroughs and three townships that raised more by local taxation that the State appro- priated. by local taxation was $1,362.25 and the State appropriated $296.74. At this time ten teachers were employed for five months, at $27 per month. In 1890 the amount raised FIRST COUNTY TEACHERS' INSTITUTE IN INDIANA COUNTY by local taxation was $1,762.62, and the State appropriated $576.81. At this time ten teachers were employed for six months, at $30 (From the Pennsylvania School Journal) TO TEACHERS, per month. In 1899 the amount raised by local taxation was $1,676.57 and the State appropriated $1,743.46. Eleven teachers were Male and Female, of Common and High Schools in Indiana, Westmoreland, and adjoining Counties. The undersigned, a committee appointed by the employed for seven months, at $30 per month. Prior to 1893, each of the thirty-nine districts preliminary meeting held on the 11th inst., invite you
1912
Report of
School
Districts
of
Indiana
County
Townships
Armstrong
12
5
7
42
44
210
142
$2.91
7
Banks
12
7
42
42
432
353
1.95
10
Blacklick
9
3
6
40
15
156
108
2.82
71%
Brushvalley
10
5
5
48
44
226
143
2.30
6
Buffington
11
1
10
70
471%
315
214
2.14
8
Burrell
14
4
10
473/4
4634
514
320
2.14
10
Canoe
19
9
10
44
44
869
553
1.44
8
Center
17
7
10
50
48
533
395
2.41
6
Cherryhill
14
7
7
45
471/4
499
332
1.63
5
Conemaugh
13
3
10
463/4
421%
458
399
1.75
5
Grant
10
5
5
48
44
311
201
1.78
10
Green
23
11
12
413/4
4534
1115
680
1.49
5
N. Mahoning
8
3
5
40
44
247
174
2.04
7
S. Mahoning
9
2
7
45
43
272
192
1.60
5
E. Mahoning
8
3
5
4634
46
209
150
2.10
8
W. Mahoning
8
3
5
431/2
42
211
163
2.11
Montgomery
18
5
13
49
45
808
671
1.38
13
Pine
14
2
12
55
49
526
367
2.35
8
Rayne
19
5
14
51
461%
717
483
1.72
Washington
12
3
9
50
4214
320
218
2.27
E. Wheatfield
9
2
7
45
471%
237
179
2.71
8
W. Wheatfield
13
7
6
441/4
431/4
349
249
2.89
6
White
10
4
6
471/2
45
328
228
1.77
4
Young
15
5
10
44
46
486
360
1.72
9
Boroughs
1
1
50
32
27
2.26
7
Blairsville
21
3
18
100
531/4
824
660
1.96
15
Cherrytree
3
1
2
873/4
55
106
86
2.71
13
Creekside
2
1
1
55
50
121
78
1.10
8
Clymer
8
3
5
581/4
50
433
329
1.29
13
Glen Campbell
6
2
1
70
471%
299
208
1.52
12
Homer City
6
.
17
96
60
962
873
1.70
S
Jacksonville
1
1
50
29
21
2.17
11
Marion Center
2
1
1
55
50
80
67
2.42
12
Mechanicsburg
1
1
.
55
44
84
1.78
10
Plumville
2
1
1
55
50
89
67
2.04
8
Saltsburg
6
1
5
105
591%
235
176
2.07
8
Smicksburg
2
1
1
50
40
59
40
2.10
11
Independent Districts
1
1
60
5G
1.33
6
Georgeville
1
1
50
41
32
1.57
51%
W. Lebanon
2
1
1
50
50
80
51
1.67
6
Whole
of Schools
Number
Teachers
Employed
Number
of Female
Teachers
Employed
Average
of Males
Average
Females
Number
of Pupils
Average
tendance
Cost of
Each Pupil
per Month
Number
of Mills
Levied
Shelocta
1
1
:
50
27
22
2.41
-7
Clarksburg
. .
184
166
2.39
111/2
Indiana
22
5
6
5534
Armagh
Total number of pupils attending the public schools in all the districts is 14,049, Number of male teach- ers, 134; female, 261; total, 395.
Number
of Male
Salary
Salary of
Daily At-
211
HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
to be present and participate in a Teachers' Insti- tute, to be held in Blairsville during the last week in October.
The Institute will be in session one week, com- meneing on Monday, October 25th, and will be open, free of expense, to all teachers who will attend it.
The Committee have engaged the services of Hon. Thos. H. Burrowes, of Lancaster, formerly Secretary of State and Superintendent of Common Schools, in conducting the Institute; also those of Rev. S. New- bury, an experienced teacher from Cleveland, Ohio; and other gentlemen have been invited to be present as Instructors, in addition to the gentlemen above named, and who are also expected to deliver lectures, the following gentlemen, have been invited to deliver evening leetures before the Institute:
Rev. A. M. Milligan, Monday evening, opening lee- ture.
Rev. M. H. Wilson, Tuesday evening, on "The Cul- tivation of Taste."
T. E. Morgan. Esq., Wednesday evening, "Claims of the Teacher upon Society."
Rev. W. W. Woodend. Thursday evening, "Claims of Society upon the Teacher."
Rev. W. D. Moore, Friday evening, "Geology."
In order to enjoy the full advantages of the Insti- tute, teachers should be present, as far as possible, at the opening. Each teacher should be provided with paper and peneil for taking notes, and if each would come provided with Ray's arithmetic, and some author in English grammar, an advantage might be gained.
The committee were instructed to present a special invitation to female teachers to be present and enjoy the advantages of the institute. The people of Blairs- ville have also kindly consented to entertain, free of all expense, all female teachers who may attend. Boarding for male teachers can be obtained at mod- erate rates.
The design of the Institute may be stated as two fold :
1. During the daily sessions, to review, under the direction of experienced teachers, the principal branches of common school education: thereby both making advances in actual knowledge of the studies, and receiving aid with regard to methods of com- municating that knowledge.
2. During the sessions, to hear lectures on edu- cational topics, deliberate upon methods of promoting the best interests of schools, diseuss questions with regards to methods of teaching and governing, and by free interchange of sentiment, to give each the advantage of the experience and matured ideas of all others.
The holding of such an Institute will, we think, be beneficial to teachers themselves; imparting a pro- fessional spirit. producing uniformity in modes of in- struction, causing harmonious action on every sub- jeet involving the interests of education, and elevat- ing the standard of qualification for the business of teaching. On the community its influence will be not less salutary. By showing that teachers themselves are engaged conscientiously and earnestly in the work of self-improvement, the co-operation of the community will be secured in every proper effort to advanee the good cause.
To teachers. then, we say. let your desire for self- improvement and your zeal in the cause of education be evinced by attendance upon the Institute. Why should not the Instruetors in those scores of isolated sehool-houses located in every neighborhood in our region, recognize each other for onee as fellow la-
borers, by embracing together this opportunity of mu- tual improvement ?
Many of the fall and winter schools will have com- menced their sessions previous to that time; but we think that few school offieers, if the matter were fairly placed before them, woukl objeet to allowing the teacher to dismiss bis school for a week in order to attend the Institute. Teachers of higher qualifica . tions should be present that they may enjoy the im- parting to others something of that with which na- ture and education may have favored them. Those less highly favored should be present that, as far as possible, the experience and counsel of others may make up this deficiency. About twenty teachers have already pledged their attendance upon the Institute. We hope the attendance may be such as to indicate that the teachers of Indiana and Westmoreland conn- ties have spirit and energy commensurable with the greatness of the work in which they are engaged. J. M. M'Elroy. R. N. Diek, J. Parker, G. S. Mendell, J. M. Barnett.
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