USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 49
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In May, 1833, the congress reserved the proceeds of the sale of the "commons" belonging to San Antonio as a perpetual fund for the pay- ment of teachers of primary schools; and in the same month another decree appropriated 17,713 acres for the support of the primary schools in the department of Nacogdoches.
It is not possible to judge what the ultimate effect of these provi- sions would have been, for in a short time the Texas war for independence was in progress. But in 1834 the Mexican commissioner, Almonte, re- ported that there were only three public schools in operation in Texas. One of these was on the Brazos, another on Red river, and the other in San Antonio. Concerning the last, "its funds have become so reduced that not even this useful establishment has been able to survive." It is probable there was some private instruction among the American set- tlers at San Felipe, but Almonte states that those colonists who could afford the expense preferred to send their children to be educated to the United States; those who could not cared little about instructing their sons in matters other than felling trees and hunting wild game.
The Republic of Texas continued the efforts made by the Mexican authorities. In 1839 three leagues of land, and in the following year an additional league, were assigned to each county, for the purpose of es- tablishing primary schools. Some provision was made for colleges, and charters were granted to private and denominational schools. A prom- inent article of the first state constitution of 1845 concerned public edu- cation, but it was not until 1854 that a regular system of free schools was provided for by the state, the first school being opened in San An- tonio. The United States census of 1850 gives the number of public
368
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
schools in Texas as 349, with 360 teachers and 7,946 pupils. The cor- responding figures for 1860 were: 1,218 schools, 1,274 teachers, 34,61 I scholars. In 1900 there were between 10,500 and 11,000 public schools in Texas, and the school population was over 750,000. With a per capita annual distribution of about $5 from the state school fund, Texas has magnificent resources behind its public schools, and the schools are de- servedly a matter of pride with the people.
Corner in his "San Antonio de Bexar" states that there was an American school in San Antonio in 1828 known as the "McClure" school, probably an institution started for the benefit of the growing Anglo-Saxon colony; and that about this time there also existed a Spanish public school, on the east line of the Military plaza, near the cathedral.
Mr. Cox in his article describes in detail the maintenance of the San Antonio school from 1828 to 1835. It became an increasingly difficult matter to obtain financial support, and the salaries of the teachers were reduced from 500 pesos in 1828 to 250 pesos, which was the amount expended for that purpose in 1833. José Antonio Gama y Fonseca, the first teacher during this period, served from January 1, 1828, to October 9, 1829. Victoriano served for a monthly stipend of 22 pesos until Jan- uary 31, 1830, when he had to take up other employment for support. Francisco Rojo then offered to teach the school without remuneration as long as he should remain in the community. He continued this unsel- fish labor until January, 1831, and his successor was not found till the following August, when Juan Francisco Buchetti became the new pre- ceptor. After serving nearly two years he resigned his place to Bruno Huizar, a faithful assistant under many masters, who was now rewarded by being advanced to sole charge of the school. He remained at the head of the school until January, 1835, at which time the records fail. In a few months San Antonio became a battle ground, and doubtless education was forgotten until the establishment of the republic.
February 14, 1839, J. H. Winchell proposed to the city council to open a public school on the first of March following, offering to teach the English language, together with penmanship and arithmetic, pro- vided the number shall not exceed thirty pupils. What came of his prop- osition is not known. Later, on June 2, 1844, P. L. Buquor urged the council to open a public school. The result of this memorial was a com- mittee report that throws considerable light 'on public buildings in San Antonio at that time. The committee believed that the city council, under the law incorporating the city in 1837, was legally bound to encourage the opening of a public school and also to have a courthouse and jail. The committee's plan was to repair the old courthouse so it could be used for both court purposes and schoolhouse. Certain lots were set aside for this purpose, but were not ordered to be sold until August 24, 1849. From the proceeds the council began the erection of the needed public building in the following year. The building thus begun was the fa- mous "Bat Cave" which stcod for so many years until its successor the new city hall was built.
San Antonio Schools in 1872.
In a pamphlet entitled, "Brief Description of West Texas," pub-
369
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
lished in 1872, Rev. Buckner Harris of the San Antonio Methodist church, gives the following description of the schools :-
San Antonio, with a population of 15,000, is well supplied with schools. There is the Roman Catholic college with a spacious and elegant building, well furnished and fully officered. The average attendance of students is about 400. The institution enjoys the highest degree of prosperity.
The Convent of the Ursuline Sisters has an average attendance of 340 stu- dents, the patronage from abroad being extensive.
The "free schools" of the city are thoroughly furnished and largely attended. Two new and elegant structures of stone are about completed, and with a full corps of teachers free instruction is offered to every child within the city limits. The average attendance is, at the colored school, 260; white, 200. There are also the private schools of Rev. Mr. . Martin, numbering 75 students; the German- English School, 264 students; the Alamo German-English School, of Professors Plagge and Schumirtz, 120 students; Mrs. Polk's school, 50 students. There are other private schools in the city which are well attended. The number of children in attendance upon the various schools of the city cannot be less than 1,200. Intelligent observers from different portions of the United States remark the unanimity of sentiment and effort upon the part of our people in providing every facility for the education of the youth of the country. Such progress has been made that a liberal education can now be had at our very doors, and we are keeping pace with the age in this department of refinement and civilization.
The Daily Herald, in an article elsewhere quoted, on January I, 1879, gave the history of the beginning and development of the modern public school system, from the time of Profs. Plagge and Rote. The Her- ald said :-
San Antonio Educational System in 1879.
The number of schools are as follows : One German-English, one Cath- olic college, one convent, one orphan and thirteen other schools. The city of San Antonio has also five public school buildings, in which 1,043 children (of which 190 are colored) receive their education. The number of teachers employed is sixteen, of which number twelve are females and four males.
The public schools of the city of San Antonio, ever since 1852, have had a separate existence from those of Bexar county, with the exception of two years, from 1873 to 1875, when they were under county control. Although having a separate existence from the county and being under the control of the city author- ity, the school remained generally in an ungraded condition. There was some classification in the separate buildings, but such classification did not form a part of a general system of graduation. During this inchoate state up to 1875, the Flores street school and the Rincon street school buildings were erected.
The Flores street school-house in the First Ward, erected in 1868, is a stone building, two stories high, having two rooms on each floor, with an ample hall and stairway through the center of the building, communicating with all the rooms. It will accommodate over two hundred pupils.
The Rincon street school-house is of the same size and form as the Flores street school-house, and it will accommodate the same number of pupils. This building, situated in the Third Ward, near the boundary of the Second Ward, and quite centrally located, was erected in 1869 for the use of a colored school.
In 1875, the City Council passed a resolution in accordance with an act of the Legislature of the State of Texas, entitled "An act to authorize the cities of Texas to maintain public schools," approved March 15, 1875, to assume full con- trol of the public schools. Professor Plagge was subsequently elected superin- tendent, and the schools were placed under his supervision with a needed corps of teachers.
The schools now began to assume a graded condition, and additional build- ings were erected for the accomodation of the increasing number of pupils.
The Fourth Ward school-house, erected this year, is a stone building two stories high, with a stairway on the outside leading up to a balcony, communi- cating with the three school rooms on the second floor. The first floor has not
Vol. I. 24
370
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
yet been fitted up for school purposes, but it will make as many school rooms as the second floor. This building, when complete, will accommodate over three hundred pupils.
The First Ward school-house, finished last month and already occupied. is the largest and best public school building in the city. It is built of stone and contains six fine school rooms. The front is relieved by a portico and balcony. In the rear is a double gallery, the lower one communicating with the rooms on the first floor, and the upper with the rooms on the second. The upper gallery is reached by two flights of stairs, each leading up from the opposite end of the lower gallery.
This building, five rooms of which are now occupied with schools, will accommodate about 350 pupils. Thus it will be seen that accommodation is nearly provided for about 1,400 pupils. Most of the schools are provided with improved desks and seats, and the remainder, it is expected, will soon have the domestic seating replaced by others that are more comfortable and elegant.
After three years and more of supervision, and after the schools had arisen out of their unclassified condition into a more general system of gradation, Professor Plagge resigned his position, and the schools were without a super- intendent during the month of September. The choice of the superintendent to fill the vacancy occupied the board for some time.
The members of the board were desirous to choose a man of experience, who was a successful organizer and supervisor of a system of graded schools. Prof. W. C. Rote, of the Brenham schools, formerly superintendent of the pub- lic schools of Lawrence, Kansas, was chosen, and called to take charge of his position here on the first of October last. Since his connection with the schools, we can already note: First, a regrading of all the schools according to the most approved method of classification adopted in the east and west; second, the intro- duction of oral and written monthly examinations, by which the work of the month is reviewed and linked together and the standing of each pupil deter- mined; third, some modification in the course of study; and, fourth, changes in methods of instruction.
It was found that a more sharply defined classification was necessary than was comprehended under the general terms of primary, intermediate, and gram- mar school.
To this end, a seven years' course has been prescribed, three years of which belong to the primary school, and four years to the grammar school.
The seventh grade is the lowest and the first is the highest. To each grade is prescribed a definite amount of work, for the completion of which both pupils and teachers are held responsible.
The enrollment, reported for the month of November, was, in the first ward, 229; in the second ward, 150; in the third ward, 273; in the fourth ward, 201 ; in the Rincon street school (colored), 190, making a total of white children, 853; a total enrollment of white and colored, 1,043. The enrollment is constantly increasing, and we hear from various sources that the schools are winning in public estimation, and will be considerably increased after the holidays. No better schools exist than a good system public graded schools. They offer two great advantages : First, permanency, so that the ever recurring question will not arise, to whose school shall the children next be sent; second, gradation, which is only possible where a large number of children can be brought under one system of instruction.
The public school course embraces at present a thorough training in spell- ing, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar and composition, history of Texas and the United States. It is hoped that before another year rolls around we may have the pleasure to note a well organized high school, con- stituting the crowning feature of a system of public schools.
An article in the Express, May 7, 1882, written as an argument for the levying of a higher school tax (a proposition that was afterward carried by the voters), throws considerable light on educational condi- tions at that time. It is as follows :
37I
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
The Public Schools in 1882.
The city now employs twenty-eight teachers, nineteen in the ward schools, four in the colored schools, and five in the central school. To teach the common English branches as contemplated by law, the school course of eight years, be- ginning at six and ending at fourteen, is divided into eight grades. The lowest grade is the eighth and the highest is the first. The eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth, and fourth grades are now taught in each of the ward schools, but the third, sec- ond and first grades are taught in the central school, where the small numbers in each of the upper classes are brought together to make full classes or schools. This year the promotion of the fourth grade in the ward schools to the third grade in the central will increase the central school one room and one teacher. But to re- lieve the present overcrowded condition of the ward schools and to provide room for those that will enter them, it will be necessary to take out those who are promoted from the fifth to the fourth grade and place this fourth grade also in the central school. This grade will require at least two additional rooms, making the whole number of rooms needed in the central school to be eight. The common school course will then be arranged to be taught as follows: A primary course of four years in each of the ward schools, and a grammar school course of four years in the central school. The first course is sometimes known as the lower elementary and the second, which is but a continuation of the first. as the upper elementary. The most of the pupils at present in the central school are from ten to twelve years of age.
To provide accommodations for these eight classes is the object for which you, as a tax-payer, are called upon to vote tomorrow. Some of you have children in these miserable barracks, now utilized as a central school, and which next year. poor as they are, will be too small, and many of you have children in the ward schools that will in a year or two need a place to continue their common school course and if you have public spirit, you will not begrudge a few dollars to pro- vide for your neighbor's children accommodation for school purposes. Any rea- sonable person can appreciate this public necessity, and will vote for the school tax, which will add for a year or two a dollar on a thousand of taxable property. Austin, Houston, Galveston. Dallas and other towns have voted an annual tax of from two to five dollars a thousand to maintain schools, and shall not San Antonio bear the burden of a special tax for a vear or so to build a good. substantial build- ing that will last for generations? San Antonio has too much at stake not to do it.
A quarter of a century has witnessed remarkable progress in the field of public education in San Antonio, and by contrast the condition as indicated by a recent report of the school board would seem almost ideal compared with those existing in 1882. The principal figures rela- tive to the school system, as furnished for the school year ending in August, 1905, are as follows :
Population of San Antonio (estimated) 69,000
School Census Tune, 1901
10,437
School Census Tune, 1902 11,063
School Census Tune, 1903
II.326
School Census Tune, 1904 II,84T
School Census June, 1905 12,195
Enrollment 1900-1901 7.829
Enrollment 1901-1902 8,209
Enrollment 1902-1903 8.664
Enrollment 1903-1904 8.827
Enrollment 1904-1905 9.353
Enrollment of the schools, 1904-1905 :
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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
SCHOOLS.
MALE.
FEMALE.
TOTAL.
High School
142
124
266
.
Brackenridge Grammar School
108
166
274
School No.
100
278
378
School No. 2 ..
27I
304
575
School No. 3.
266
312
578
School No. 4.
255
273
528
School No. 5.
I27
100
227
School No. 6.
238
237
475
School No. 7.
213
231
444
School No. 8.
507
508
1,015
School No. 9.
2.42
281
523
School No. 10.
263
221
484
School No. II.
175
182
357
School No. 13.
162
I57
319
School No. 14.
I18
90
208
School No. 15.
106
94
200
School No. 16.
91
99
190
School No. 17.
I22
127
249
School No. 18.
IIO
IOI
21I
School No. 19.
108
IO0
208
Total Whites
. 3,864
4,118
7,982
Colored Schools :
Douglass School
77
139
216
Grant School
236
206
442
Cuney School
153
165
318
Brackenridge School
218
177
395
Total Colored
684
687
1,37I
Grand Total
4,548
4,805
9,353
Number of Teachers :
White
20
139
159
Colored
9
15
24
Grand Total
29
I54
183
.
San Antonio's school facilities have never been adequate for the school population. In the annual report of the school board for the year ending August 31, 1904, was the following information on this subject :
During the school year for which this report is made, such was the crowded condition of the schools that fourteen first grades were obliged to resort to half- day sessions. Great relief, however, has been given by the recent erection of eight two-room additions and four four-room buildings. Both the new buildings and the additions were wisely located. The board gave much time to the locating of the four new buildings, resulting in the selection of sites giving the maximum of accessibility.
The additions and new buildings are comfortably filled, and we are obliged to maintain half-day sessions in Schools No. I (Romana Street), No. 2 (Marshall Street), No. 3 (Avenue E), No. 4 (Mason Street), No. 8 (San Fernando Street),
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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
No. 12 (Starr Street), No. 17 (Calhoun and Van Ness Streets), Cuney (Santa Clara Street). The most serious condition is at Marshall Street, where we have been obliged to put the Low Second grade on half-day session.
Following is the cost of the new buildings and the additions :
SCHOOL. BLDG.
SITE.
TOTAL.
No. 16 (Eleanor Brackenridge School)
$7,390
donated
$7.390.00
No. 17 (Calhoun and Van Ness Sts.)
7,200
donated
7,200.00
No. 18 (Ferd Herff, Jr., School).
7,490
donated
7,490.00
No. 19 (\V. T. Harris School)
8,250
$2,100.00
10.350.00
Addition to No. 2 (Marshall Street)
3,285
3.285.00
Addition to No. 7 (South Flores Street)
2,900
2,900.00
Addition to No. 8 (San Fernando Street)
3.400
3,100.00
6,500.00
Addition to No. 9 (Lopez Street)
2.900
2,900.00
Addition to No. 11 '(Prospect Hill)
4,000
1,792.50
5,792.50
Addition to No. 13 (Main Avenue)
3,000
1,600.00
4,600.00
Brackenridge Colored (Hackberry Street)
3.498
3,498.00
Grant Colored (Leona Street)
3,400
3.400.00
The question of school equipment is still a vital question in the city, though not so pressing as it has been in the past. One important phase of it is thus stated editorially by. one of the newspapers :
With the rapid increase of population which has been going on steadily and at an increasing ratio in San Antonio, there have naturally been and must continue to be increasing demands for public school facilities.
All the public school buildings have been overcrowded despite new additions that have been made from time to time, and when the term opens in the autumn it will be found that accommodations are altogether inadequate unless in the meantime new school buildings shall be erected or the old ones considerably enlarged.
One of the pressing needs is a new high school building commensurate with the enlarged demands of pupils and the growth of the public school system. San Antonio should have an imposing finishing school for those young men and women who must depend on the local institutions of learning because circum- stances prevent them from attending outside schools and universities. Some of our best educated men and women acknowledge no other alma mater than the city high school in which they obtained both the inspiration and the foundation of knowledge. The school is here, but the adequate building is lacking.
The visitor and the prospective citizen with children to educate attaches much importance to the character of the public school buildings, not less, perhaps, to their outward appearance than to the facilities they afford for the instruction of youths of all ages. The high school, in addition to being commodious and equal to the demands upon the school room space, should be architecturally pleasing and impressive. It should be such a building as could be pointed to visitors with pride and satisfaction, such a building as the taxpayers would consider sufficient reward for the money which they had contributed toward its erection.
In providing for additional school room facilities, as must be done if our public school system is to be made effective, would it not be well to consider a plan a really satisfying and creditable high school building?
In order that the educational situation in San Antonio may be de- scribed in its very latest phase, the following discussion of school matters as reported in the Express on April 9th is added :
At a meeting of the School Board, held last evening, a special election was ordered for May 10 for the purpose of voting a special tax of I5c on the $100 of assessed valuation and issuing $200,000 worth of bonds. The bonds are for the purpose of building new schoolhouses, erecting additions to the present buildings and building a high school. The extra tax is for the purpose of providing funds paying teachers and janitors for the new buildings and maintaining them. Out of this 15c tax will come the money for the creation of interest, and a sinking fund
374
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
for the bonds. The total school tax is raised to 45c on the $100 of assessed valuation. It is now 3oc on the $100 assessed valuation.
This special election will be held four days before the city election, but it is understood by the members of the School Board that neither of the factions in- terested in the city election will take any hand in the bond election.
At the meeting last evening Superintendent L. E. Wolfe was re-elected for another term of one year, Paul H. Scholz was re-elected clerk and Charles H. Bertrand was re-elected attorney for the board. The elections were unanimous. The full board was present. The members then plunged into a discussion of the proposition of building additions to the grade schools and rebuilding the high school or building a new high school. Material advance was made toward learning the situation in order that the bond proposition may be intelligently presented to the public and the urgent need for increased school facilities shown clearly.
As an introduction to the consideration of the need for improvements, a state- ment was called for from the superintendent. Mr. Wolfe read the following com- munication :
"In compliance with your request for a statement in regard to the necessity for additional school room, I beg leave to submit the following :
"The average enrollment in the grades of forty-four cities nearest the popula- tion of San Antonio is forty-four. The average enrollment in the grades in San Antonio is fifty-eight. These figures show that our teachers have on an average fourteen more pupils to handle than the teachers of other cities. This not only places too heavy a strain upon the teacher, but makes it impossible for her to do the best work. Additional buildings for the grades are urgently needed.
"From a careful study of the whole situation I suggest the following build- ings and additions for the grades :
"Two-room annex for No. 2 (Marshall Street) school. A two-room addition to each of the following schools: No. I (Sam Houston) School, No. 4 (Mason Street) School, No. 5 (Burnet) School, No. 8 (Pecos Street) School, No. 9 (Bowie) School, No. II (Prospect Hill) School, No. 12 (Starr Street) School, No. 13 (Laurel Heights) School, No. 15 (South Heights) School, No. 16 (Brook- lvn Avenue) School, No. 17 (Harris) School, on Government Hill; No. 18 (Herff) School, No. 19 (Briscoe) School, No. 21 (Kerr Hill) School, Grant School (colored), Brackenridge School (colored).
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