Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 61

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

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maker, Sterrett, Sanderson and Covell. The executive committee of the Asso- ciation were Lemuel Stevens, Charles Elliot, James Thompson, L. H. Eaton and Frederick Overman. Professor Metcalf lectured on "Arithmetical Nota- tion," and Professor Williams on "Phonography and Phonotypy." Professor Thompson read an essay on "Education." At this time the schools of this vicinity were in a most prosperous condition. The attendance increased so rapidly that the directors found it difficult to provide suitable buildings and were constantly perplexed with questions of taxation and school management. But while it was true that the schoolrooms were usually overcrowded, it was generally the case that excellent discipline and advanced methods of instruc- tion prevailed. "How 500 or 600 children of all ranks, rich and poor, could be taught and disciplined in the Fourth Ward in the manner these have been, in the short space of three months, is beyond the calculations of numbers who were present and witnessed the examinations" (h).

At this time so great was the interest in education that many of the promi- nent lawyers, physicians and teachers of the city were called upon to give public lectures in Temperance Hall or Lafayette Hall on the various problems arising under the existing system of mental development. Walter Forward lectured on the subject of "Industrial Schools," as did Professor Allen also. About this time educational societies were formed in many of the wards, boroughs and country school districts. One was formed in the Sixth Ward, where Professor Stevens lectured on "The Diffusion of Useful Knowledge," and Robert Christy read an essay on "The Formation of Hail." John Kelley, principal of the First Ward School, Allegheny, held a public exhibition in 1849, on which occasion the musical instruction which had been given to his scholars was shown to have been most efficient. Late in the forties the school directors of the city employed Daniel Shryock to visit each of the ward schools two or three times per week, to give the scholars therein instruction in vocal music. He was the author of a publication called the "Musical Teacher and Copybook," which had been issued by John T. Shryock several years previously.

While the school law of 1854 was pending in the State Legislature a meet- ing of the citizens of the Sixth Ward was held at the public schoolhouse in February, 1854, on which occasion James D. Kelley was chairman and W. E. Stevenson secretary, and the following resolutions, by a unanimous vote, after a full discussion, in which Captain Ward and C. O. Loomis participated, were adopted:

"Resolved, That this meeting regards with disfavor any appropriation of the common school funds to the purpose of building or supporting sectarian schools. Resolved, That we hereby request our senators and representatives in the State Legislature to vote for the repeal of the 20th and 21st sections of the act of 7th of April, 1849, and to oppose the introduction of the principles embraced in either of said sections into any other law. Resolved, That our said senators and representatives be requested to have a provision inserted in the proposed school law, making the City of Pittsburg one school district, and the several wards of said city, sub-districts, with uniform taxation for the support of the public schools, to be divided according to the number of pupils in each sub-district- each of the said sub-districts to procure the ground and erect its own school- house. Resolved, That we have full confidence that the chairman of the Com- mittee on Education in the Senate, and our other senator and our representative at Harrisburg, will use their utmost endeavors to procure legislation in accord- ance with the spirit of these resolutions. Resolved, That two copies of the pro- ceedings of this meeting be made out and signed by the officers, and a copy

(h) Spectator in Gazette of December 25, 1848.

534

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

forwarded to one of our senators and one of our representatives at Harrisburg, to be presented to their respective houses."

The Legislature of 1854 materially revised the school law of the State. Under the revised law the wards of the cities were consolidated into one dis- trict, having a central board of directors authorized to elect teachers, assess all taxes and receive, by deed from ward boards, the district school property. This centralization of power met with no opposition from Pittsburg or Alle- gheny, though several ward meetings were held to consider the subject in detail. After the passage of the law its friends called a convention of city directors, who, by a small majority, decided not to organize thereunder ; though later, at a convention held in the fall of 1854, such an organization was effected. It may be said that the results of this convention were the passage the following year of the special law creating Pittsburg an independent district. After the law of I854 had been passed it was taken up and thoroughly dissected and discussed in public meetings and through the newspapers of the two cities. Under this law provision was made for the election of a county superintendent, and accord- ingly, on June 5, 1854, a convention of school directors met in Pittsburg to elect such official, fix the amount of his salary and discuss the probable result of his efforts. T. J. Bigham was made chairman of the meeting, and J. W. F. White, the principal speaker, discussed at length the provisions of the new law and the important duties of the county superintendent. Sums ranging from $600 to $2,500 were proposed by the directors present as the salary of the superintendent. It was decided at last to determine the amount of his salary by vote, and accordingly every even hundred was voted upon up to $3,000. It was found that the greatest number of votes was polled in favor of the sum of $1,000. Several ballots were cast at this convention for county superin- tendent, without result, whereupon the election of that official was postponed until July, when Professor B. M. Kerr was given the honor.

The law of May 8, 1854, reaffirming the law of 1848, assumed that every borough, township and city in the State was a separate school district; and each district was authorized to own and retain its school property, elect a separate board of directors, and, in general, provide for the proper manage- ment of its own school; but upon the board of controllers was placed the general direction of all the city schools. Under this law the school age was fixed at from five to twenty-one years.

By the act of February 9, 1855, Pittsburg was made an independent school district, and all law previously passed inconsistent therewith was repealed and rendered inoperative. It was provided that the board of directors of each school district should elect one member, either from its number or an outsider, for the Central Board of Education, who were directed to qualify for three years. The Central Board of Education were given great power. They were created a corporation, with power to hold real estate not exceeding $10,000 at one time; and were authorized to establish two high schools, one for each sex, and one or more separate schools for the education of children of color; to maintain night schools in the wards for at least three months of each year; and to levy the necessary tax and otherwise provide in detail for the proper man- agement of all schools. The election for the Central Board of Education resulted as follows: First Ward, J. B. Bell; Second Ward, R. Miller, Jr .; Third Ward, S. M. Kier; Fourth Ward, R. E. McGowin; Fifth Ward, William McKeig; Sixth Ward, James Lowrie; Seventh Ward, William Arthurs; Eighth Ward, W. H. Everson; Ninth Ward, William Varnum. R. E. McGowin was elected president of the board for the ensuing year, Joseph W. Lewis secretary, and Reuben Miller, treasurer. Kier, Arthurs and Varnum were chosen to

James Gallery

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

537

serve for one year; Bell, Miller and McKeig for two years, and McGowin, Lowrie and Everson for three years.

The general school tax levied here in 1855 was five mills on the dollar, though wards were empowered to levy an additional tax for building houses, keeping them in repair, buying lots, etc. All the teachers of the ward schools, and the professors and teachers of the High School and colored school, were paid by the Central Board out of the general tax of five mills. For the school year beginning June, 1855, the following was the assessment for school purposes: First Ward. $9,197.06

Seventh Ward $2,021.76

Second Ward 7,951. 58

Eighth Ward 2,528.90

Third Ward.

8,549.87

Ninth Ward. 2,439. 33

Fourth Ward

9,428.35

Fifth Ward.

5,836.49

$52,213.21

The expenses for that year were estimated as follows:

First Ward, teachers $3,800

Instructors in High School. $4,295

Second Ward

3,450

Janitor 200

Third Ward.

5,800

Rent High School.

450

Fourth Ward 3,800

Furniture and repairs 800

Fifth Ward 5,450

Expenses High School. 500

Sixth Ward.

4,200

Salary of treasurer 500

Seventh Ward.

2,200

Eighth Ward. .

3,700

Ninth Ward.

3,100

Music in ward schools.

1,178

Expenses of colored schools. . 1,000

(j) $49,183

The following tabular statement shows the condition of the public schools of the city for the school year 1854-5 (k):

Whole number schools taught. 12

Average number of months taught. .IO

Number of male tcachers.

Number of female teachers. 73

Average salary of males per month. $64.60

Average salary of females per month $24.72

Number of male scholars. . . 2,961

Number of female scholars .2,980

Average number attending. 3,961

Cost of schooling each scholar per month. $ 0.65

Amount of tax levied for schools. 37,967.69

Amount of tax levied for school buildings. 18,036.64

Total tax levied. . 56,004. 33

Received from State appropriations. 2,964.34

Received from collectors of school tax 48,161.09

Cost of instruction . 27,372.67

Fuel and contingencies. 4,340.20

Cost of schoolhouses, repairs, rents, etc. 1,197.88

In 1854 and 1855 the Catholic citizens generally, and their newspaper organ, the Pittsburg Catholic, did all in their power to secure the diversion of a portion of the public fund to the maintenance of their sectarian schools. It was argued by them that inasmuch as they paid this tax and refrained from attendance

(j) Commercial Journal, December 13, 1855.

(k) Gazette, September 4, 1855.

Salary of secretary 500

Collecting, three per cent. 1,560

Lost, etc. .

2,700

Sixth Ward. 4,259.87

538

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

upon the public schools, they should therefore be entitled to their pro rata share of such fund; otherwise they declared that the poor people of their denomination would be doubly taxed and would be forced to contribute to the support of the "godless schools." All this was answered by the Protestant denomination and by the local secular press. The question of whether the Bible should be read in the public schools was another important question of this date. The Pittsburg Catholic maintained that the Bible should not only be read, but should also be taught in all the public schools. The principal objection to the new school law was the great increase in taxation incident thereto, in addition to the enormous burden already placed upon the citizens through railroads, water rent, the High School, etc.

It was about this time that the Farmers' High School, as it was called, was established in Allegheny County, on the Youghiogheny River, on the estate of George A. Baird. The committee of the State authorized to view the various situations offered selected 600 acres there, for which they agreed to pay $35 per acre. In 1855 a large brick structure was erected thereon and school was soon opened. The city at this time took a long step forward in the inatter of education. Not only were the common schools of the city placed on a new and better basis, but the High School was also established and other noteworthy progress made in the matter of affording advanced education to youth. Ten years previously the importance of training the youthful mind in methodical lines, and in accordance with its degree of development, was not appreciated nor even understood. Gradually the citizens awoke to the vast importance of improved educational facilities, until the culmination was reached in 1855 by the formation of Pittsburg as an independent district and the com- mencement of the High School. The ten years saw remarkable advancement. Teachers had changed; directors were not what they were; discipline had become one of the first considerations; school buildings and apparatus were vastly improved, and, as a crowning consequence of all this remarkable state of affairs, scholars were found not only to be much more proficient in their studies, but took an intense interest in their books and in their attendance.

The Teachers' Association of Allegheny County continued its career of usefulness. On January 27, 1855, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: R. Morton, president; Miss M. Glass, vice-president; W. B. Frew, secretary; A. H. English, treasurer. At this meeting Mr. Forner read an essay on "The Duty of the Educated." W. W. Dickson illustrated an advanced method of teaching proportions; Miss Glass read an essay on "Literary Adven- tures;" Mr. Carey read an essay on "The Best Method of Teaching Grammar;" and Professor Thompson, in an able lecture, declared that the first step to be taken in the education of children was to teach them to think instead of to mem- orize. This precipitated a vigorous discussion of the subject. In August, 1855, the State Teachers' Association met in Pittsburg at the Third Ward school- house. It was largely attended by teachers throughout the State, and great enthusiasm was shown. Professor \V. V. Davis, of Lancaster, presided. Among the questions discussed were "Normal Methods," "School Discipline," "Teach- ers' Methods of Instructing," "Remuneration of Teachers," Corporal Punish- ment," "Should Religious Teaching Be Included?" etc.

Each of the ward schools was divided into three departments: Primary, intermediate and grammar; and each of these into four classes, A, B, C, D. In 1859 the following statistics were published:

Pittsburg. Alle'y. Boro's. Tps.

Total.

Male teachers

207 253

Female teachers

257

539

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

The public schools of the present day are the descendants of those estab- lished under the independent school law of 1855; but a visitor who could com- pare such schools, upon their first establishment, with the elaborate and mag- nificent institutions of the present day, would discover a vast difference for the better. As the years have passed away one improvement after another has been added until there is no comparison between the results achieved and the methods adopted. The figures of the present schools are bewildering. In 1896, 838 teachers were employed; 41,497 pupils were enrolled, and 72 school buildings were necessary to accommodate the children. In 1896 the school property was valued at $3,500,000. The 72 schools were under the supervision of 39 principals, including the principals of the High School. The special teachers employed were two music supervisors, three school kitchen teachers, two teachers of sloyd and one superior of drawing. As nearly as possible one teacher was assigned to each forty pupils in attendance. Books and supplies were furnished free to all pupils.

PRESIDENTS OF THE CENTRAL BOARD OF EDUCATION.

R. E. McGowin. .from February 20, 1855, to January 12, 1858.

Benjamin Singerly

. from January 12, 1858, to February 14, 1860.

Felix C. Negley.

from February 14, 1860, to October 12, 1865.

Benjamin Singerly

from October 12, 1865, to February 13, 1866.

Jared M. Brush.

. from February 13, 1866, to February 9, 1869.

John Wilson from February 9, 1869, to February 1I, 1873.

T. J. Craig from February II, 1873, to February 10, 1874.

J. H. Nobbs.

from February 10, 1874, to February 13, 1877.

James M. McEwen.

from February 13, 1877, to February 1I, 1879.

T. W. Shaw, M. D.

.from February 1I, 1879, to February 10, 1880.

George T. Oliver .. from February 10, 1880, to February 13, 1883.

W. H. McKelvy, M. D.

from February 13, 1883.

The following statistics by semi-decades will exhibit in a general way the growth of the public schools of Pittsburg:

Year.

Teachers. Enrollment.

1856

109

6,724

1860

II8

7,608

1865

I28

8,743

1870

215

12,888

1875

414

20,927

1880

467

24,325

1885

545

27,440

1890

620

31,482

1896

838

41,497

The attendance in the High School and special schools during the month of May, 1869, as reported by Philotus Dean, principal, was as follows:

Institutions.

Males. Females. Total.

High School.

.62

I4I

Normal School.

Commercial.

Totals.

I39

147

286

540

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

In January, 1869, Joel Kerr, who had established a Sunday-school mission as an auxiliary of the U. P. Church, had a colored deaf mute for a scholar and was greatly puzzled how to instruct him. Mr. Woodside, an educated deaf mute, was called upon to assist, and other deaf mute children were invited in to receive instruction, and soon much interest was shown. Dr. J. G. Brown, pastor of the church, solicited funds from the Central Board, and Mr. Woodson and his sister, teachers, were employed for $1,000 per year, and by November, 1869, had an enrollment of over twenty deaf mutes, at which time they occupied a room in the First Ward School building. From this small beginning grew up in Pittsburg this branch of instruction.

In 1895 an act was passed compelling parents and guardians to give at least sixteen weeks' schooling to children under their control between the ages of eight and thirteen years. This law became popularly known as the Truant Law. Its real benefits remain yet to be determined.

The subject of a common school system, supplemented with a high school, was discussed here and fairly well understood as early as 1798, when a writer in the Gazette proposed the adoption of such a system throughout the State, and even went so far as to recommend a high, or advanced, school to supple- ment the common schools. His recommendations are surprisingly like the pro- visions of the law adopted in 1834, except that he did not call the advanced school a high school; he used the term model school. But the principle of the latter was the same, the idea being to afford facilities for advanced students beyond those reached by a common school system. The same question arose in this community from time to time, and the wonder is that a separate high school was not permanently established in 1834, when the common school sys- tem was carried into effect. In 1835 the question was discussed here, through the newspapers and otherwise, of the propriety of establishing such an advanced school (1). But the people were not yet ready for such an innovation, and accordingly the question terminated merely in talk.

Late in the decade of the forties, when the schools here were enjoying a high degree of prosperity and nearly all districts were erecting new buildings and adopting new methods, the question of establishing a high school was again brought prominently before the public. On March 15, 1849, a largely attended meeting was held and a committee that had been appointed at a previous pre- liminary meeting, of which Lemuel Stevens was chairman, submitted a report on the advisability of establishing such a school. Nearly all the directors of the city were present, and Robert McKnight served as chairman and John Harper secretary. The previous meeting, which had been held March 8th, had considered the defects of the present system, and had prepared a report on the remedies best to be adopted. It was conceded that the existing system was behind the times as compared with other States; that instruction was afforded in the common branches only; and that problems concerning the Constitution of the United States, the organization of the human body, the secrets of nature which surrounded the scholars-the winds, rain, heat, cold and many similar subjects were wholly unknown to the students even after they had suc- cessfully passed the requirements of the common schools. For these and many other reasons it was declared imperative that a more advanced course of instruction should be afforded scholars who had successfully passed the primary studies of the local public schools. On this occasion many of the prominent men of the city engaged in the discussion, and, with scarcely an exception, favored the establishment of a high school. Many of the provisions of the subsequent law of 1855, which finally established such an

(1) Gazette, July 30, 1835.

541

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

institution, were set forth and discussed at this meeting. One of the most important suggestions was that young men should be taught in practical lines, so that the knowledge gained by them could be made available in the industrial pursuits which they proposed to make their life duties. As a matter of fact this meeting led upward to the passage of the law which subsequently estab- lished the High School. T. J. Bigham introduced a set of resolutions, urging the necessity of establishing a school for the advanced education of young ladies and gentlemen, who should be admitted thereto from the public schools upon cxamination and instructed in studies not taught in the common schools, and suggested that a board of controllers, consisting of one member from each school district, should have general management of such school; should have power to examine teachers and grant them certificates, designate books and establish a uniformity in methods; and further suggested the appointment of a committee to prepare a bill having these objects in view, to be introduced in the State Legislature at the present session. Among those who took part in the discussion were Messrs. Bigham, Craft, Shaler, Stevens, McCracken, Bake- well, Hamilton, Denny, Watson, Wills, McAllister, Havens and Totten. The following gentlemen were appointed to prepare such bill: Lemuel Stephens, W. S. Havens, Reuben Miller, J. McAllister, C. B. M. Smith, Dr. McCracken, L. R. Livingston, J. W. Buchanan and James McCune.

By act of April 9, 1849, it was provided that each ward in the city of Pittsburg should elect one school director to be a member of the Board of Controllers of the institutions, to be called the Public High School of Pitts- burg, and such Board of Controllers was made a body corporate to manage the affairs of such school. It was further provided by this law that on the first Tuesday of June, 1849, a special election should be held, on which occasion the question of establishing here a high school should be voted upon. It was also provided that the elcctors should be permitted to vote on the question of whether there should be a school fund common to all wards, or whether each ward should have its own separate fund. This election was duly held, and both questions were voted down, the vote for the common fund standing 328, and for the ward fund 1,073.

Under the law of 1855 the High School was finally established. It may be said that this school is the crowning glory of the common school system. It is the poor man's college, or the people's college, and is designed par- ticularly for the benefit of children who are unable, for want of means, to secure a higher education. It is the necessary consequence of the common school system, and has become probably the most important feature of the com- mon school law. Many objections werc urged against it at the time of its estab- lishment, among which were that it was uncalled for; that it increased taxation; that it would bring into disfavor the common school system; that its benefits were unequal and partial; that its benefits were likely to be devoted, through favorit- ism, to children of special families; and that it had been, in 1849, rejected by a heavy majority. Under the new school law an applicant for admission to the High School in Pittsburg was required to pass spelling, reading, writing, gram- mar, geography, arithmetic, elementary bookkeeping, history of the United States, and algebra as far as simple equations; and the faculty of the High School were constituted a board of examiners to determine upon the fitness of the appli- cant for admission. The rooms for the High School were rented in a building op- posite the Custom-house for $450 per year, and comprised the second, third and fourth stories of the building. The rooms werc small, but were the best that could be secured at the time. The school was divided into two courses, one for two years and one for four years, and first furnishing a complete mercantile and business education, and the second full classical and collegiate instruction.

542

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

The examinations in the various wards showed that 198 students had success- fully passed the examination for admission into the High School. On Tuesday, September 25, 1855, students to the number of 113, the majority of whom were young ladies, attended the first day's session of the High School. It had been announced that 108 would be in attendance from the various wards, as follows: First Ward, 14; Second Ward, 12; Third Ward, 20; Fourth Ward, II; Fifth Ward, 17; Sixth Ward, 13; Seventh Ward, 8; Eighth Ward, 8; Ninth Ward, 5.

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 61

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192