USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 21
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oon ; 120. Newman Lake; 121, Forreston ; 122, Hillyard; 123, Orchard Prairie; 124, Logan : 125, Great Northern; 126, Fruitlands: 127. Green Mt .; 128, Bailey; 129. Pleasant View ; 130, Williams ; 131, Holcomb; 132. Joint Dist. : 133, Lake View; 134. Abbott; 135. Milan ; 136, Dry Creek : 137. Otter Creek : 138. Pleas- ant Valley; 139. Whitman; 140. Switzer.
Since 1890 the county superintendent, in compliance with state requirements, has pre- sented annual reports to the superintendent of public instruction, with complete details of cash receipts and disbursements. number of census children in districts, number enrolled and in daily attendance. teachers employed. enroll- ment of years or courses, number graduating from eighth grade and receiving diploma. We present herewith the last report :
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT, AUGUST, 1899.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Number of children between 5 and 21 years
of age residing in the county June 1: Male, 6,209; female, 6,241; total. 12,450
Number of children enrolled in public schools: Male, 5,364; female, 5,346; total. . 10,710
Average daily attendance: Male, 3,338; female, 3,516; total. 6,854
Average number of months school was main- tained in county during year by rooms. 7-4
Average number of months school was main- tained in county during year by districts ... . . . 6-2
Average number of days school was main. tained during year by rooms. 147-4
Average number of days school was maintained during year by districts .. 120
Total days actual attendance, 1,087,591; total days accredited, 51,672 1,139,263
Number of departments (rooms or schools) main- tained in county during year. 268
Whole number of teachers employed during year: Male, 79; female, 282; total. 361
Average monthly salary paid male teachers dur- ing year -- divide total amount paid by total number months taught. 59.05
Average monthly salary paid female teachers during year-divide total amount paid by total number months taught. 53.55
Number of children over 6 years of age not enrolled in any school during year: Male, 833; female, 754; total. 1,587
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
Number of children between the ages of 8 and
15 years attending school less than three months during the year: Male, 410; female, 297; total. 707 Number of pupils in first year course. 2,166
Number of pupils in second year course 1,557
Number of pupils in third year course. 1,516
Number of pupils in fourth year course 1,488
Number of pupils in fifth year course 1,151
Number of pupils in sixth year course. 950
Number of pupils in seventh year course. 823
Number of pupils in eighth year course 584
Number of pupils in advanced grades.
475
Number of pupils graduated from common schools during the year: Male, 49; female, 50; total.
99
Average number of recitations daily 19
Number of private schools taught in county dur- ing the year ..
11
Average number of months private schools were taught.
9
Number of teachers employed in private schools during year ... 74 Number of resident pupils attending private school (in their district) during the year .... Number of school houses built during the year: Frame, 3; brick, 4; total ..
Number of school houses now in county: Log, 9; frame, 123; brick, 22, total .. 154
Total seating capacity of all school houses in county 12,410
Estimated value of school houses, including ground .8737,817 Estimated value of school furniture. $ 50,882 Estimated value of apparatus, including maps, charts, etc. S 9,669 Estimated value of libraries, including all books. .S 14,062
Total value of school property. .$ 812,430 Amount of insurance on school house, furniture,
etc .. $ 291,860 Number of school districts supplied with (a) libraries, 10; (b) free text-books,. 34
Number of school districts in the county sup- plied with unabridged dictionary. 107
Number of districts organized during year, 7; whole number of school districts in the county ... 140
Whole number of school districts making an- nual report this year .. 139
Number of districts maintaining school at least three months during the year .. 136
Number of graded schools in the county employ- ing more than one teacher in the same build- ing (9 districts), buildings 21
Number of districts in county not supplied with school houses (new districts).
Whole number of districts in county having bonded indebtedness. 40 Average rate of interest on bonds
Number of schools visited by County Superin- tendent during the year since January 9, 1899 75 Whole number of visits made by County Super- intendent during year, since January 9, 1899. . 105 Number of defective youth in the county (clerk's report, p. 4). 19 Number of teachers required to conduct all schools in county .. 271
Number of temporary certificates issued during the year: Male, 20; female, 52; total.
72 Number of teachers employed during the year holding state or territorial certificates or di- plomas (Clerk's report, p. 2): Male, 6; female, 34; total.
40
Number of teachers employed during year hold- ing first grade certificates (Clerk's report, p. 2): Male, 28; female, 81; total. 109
Number of teachers employed during year hold- ing second grade certificates (Clerk's report, p. 2): Male, 39; female, 112; total .. 151 Number of teachers employed during year hold- ing third grade certificates (Clerk's report, p. 2): Male, 10; female, 51; total ... 61
FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in hands of county treasurer beginning of year, July 1, 1898, to credit of school dis- tricts .. . Amount apportioned to districts by county $ 79,853 98 superintendents-state funds. 70,771 59 Amount apportioned to districts by county superintendent-county funds. 1,030 50
Amount received from special levy, 111,708 54 Amount received from sale of bonds. 5,659 74
Amount received from all other sources 9,601 65
Total. $278,627 99
EXPENDITURES.
Amount paid during year for teachers' wages.8 78,627 89 Amount paid during year for rents, repairs, fuel and other incidentals. 40,808 77 Amount paid during year for sites, buildings, furniture, apparatus and libraries. 48,098 54 Amount paid during year for interest on bonds. 33,052 35
Amount paid during year for interest on war- rants. 5,998 01
Amount paid during year for redemption of bonds. 6,675 70
Amount transferred to other districts.
1,927 83
Total amount paid out during year .. .$215,189 09 Balance on hand end of year, June 30, 1899 .. 63,439 90
BOND AND WARRANT STATEMENT.
Assessed valuation of district. . $26,182,850 00
4
Amount of bonds outstanding as shown by bond register .... . 395,425 00
81/2 per cent
636
I26
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
Amount of registered warrants outstanding at beginning of year, July 1, 1898 $106,534 29
Amount of warrants registered during the year ended June 30,1899 ---
For teachers' wages .. .8 96,170 86
For rents, repairs, fuel and other incidentals. 44,266 33 For sites, buildings, furniture,
apparatus and library 36,844 36
Total.
177,231 55
Amount of registered warrants outstanding at the close of the year, July 1, 1899- For teachers' wages. $111,371 89
For rents repairs, fuel and other other incidentals. 37,137 00 For sites, buildings, furniture, apparatus and library .. 58,431 00 Total. $186,939 99
Increase of warrant debts dur- ing the year 80,405 70
CHAPTER XX.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SPOKANE.
"To prepare us for complete living is the function which education has to discharge; and the only rational mode of judging of an educational force is to find in what degree it discharges these functions."-Herbert Spencer.
The citizens of Spokane have always exhib- ited a genuine interest in the public schools. This is evidenced today in the magnificent school buildings and their complete equipment. From her infancy Spokane has not failed to see that the educational institutions should keep pace with its material growth. So far back as 1874. when all the white population within the pres- ent limits of Spokane county did not number but few, if any, over one hundred, the first school district between Spangle and Chewelah was organized here. During the summer of that year, Rev. H. T. Cowley had arrived as a mis- sionary to the Indians. The first school was held in what was the mission house and dwell- ing of the Cowley family. In the fall of the year mentioned the first public school opened with four pupils. C. F. Yeaton, H. T. Cow- ley and Mr. Poole were the directors, and law- yer L. S. Swift, clerk. Mr. Cowley was the teacher. The growth was not rapid for the first few years. It was the summer of 1878 be- fore it was found necessary to build a real pub-
lic school house. The location of the first building to be used exclusively for school pur- poses and the first public building in Spokane is on the Northern Pacific Railroad right of way close to Lincoln street. about where the O. K. stable is now. It was a very ordinary frame building about twenty by thirty feet. The building was removed from its first loca- tion to near the corner of Post and Sprague. and after the new site for school purposes was secured, is was occupied by F. M. Dallam, and in it the Review was first published. The Spo- kane Times for April. 1879. has this item. "Miss Whitehouse is the teacher and has twen- ty-two scholars." The issue dated September 18th, the same year. has the following :
"School was opened last Monday by Cap- tain Tobias, who speaks very flatteringly of his pupils. We are pleased to learn that the Cap- tain is favorably impressed with his school. He is the right man in the right place. He has had fifteen years'experience in the school room."
Honor roll of the Spokane public school for the first two months ending November 7. 1879: Marie Clark, 771/2: Alice Post. 761/2 ; Willie Smiley, 76: Julia Post. 541/2; Nettie Piper. 811/2:Gracie Gray, 43: Charley Smiley,
=
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
571/2; Edie Nesler, 77; John Masterson, 651/2; Katie Clark, 62; George Clark, 63; Gertie Goodner, 43; George Glover, 74; Hattie War- ner, 61; Fred Lowery, 54; Sarah McGourin, 65. Whole number of days, 1,080; average daily attendance, 27; whole number of girls, 17; whole number of boys, 18; total number of pupils, 35.
In 1880-81 Rev. W. H. Stratton and Prof. A. J. Warren were the teachers. Mr. Stratton says, "I secured the position of teacher of the higher grade of pupils in this Spokane school at forty dollars a month. I had about forty- five young men and women in my room, which was about sixteen by twenty-two. We were so crowded that there was hardly room to seat the class reciting at the time. Prof. A. J. War- ren, Mrs. Lamona's brother, taught the lower grades in a somewhat larger room. Among my pupils were the Ellis girls, Ida, now Mrs. S. Heath, Ollie, who married A. E. Keats, since dead, Perry Lamona and Winnie, she who is now Mrs. Fruit, Belle Dawson and her sister Eva, Ed. Whinery, Frank Waterhouse, Minnie Morgan, now Mrs. Josie Clark, Mrs. Cannon's daughter, Judge Nash's son, Frank, E. Hyde, Julia A. Post, Alice P. Wagner and her sisters, Eva and Edith, James Stafford, Ed. Robinson, Louella, Zillah and Lue Parker. As a whole, I think the school was a success and I have a very warm interest in everyone who was my pupil. The school continued to grow so that in the fall of, 1883 there was an enrollment of two hundred scholars, necessitating four teachers.
The second public school building was erected in 1883 on the present site of the high school building, which has been referred to in another place. The first reliable records availa- ble are those of Principal Mattie Hyde, now Mrs. J. B. Blalock, residing near Medical Lake, who is referred to by early settlers as an ex- cellent teacher. Teachers during fall and win- ter term, 1882-83, B grammar class, Ist, 2nd, 3rd intermediate, Hattie Hyde; Ist, 2nd and
3rd primary, Ella E. Davenport. School ended April 5. 1883. We have the private record of W. W. Johnson, principal, for the school open- ing October 22, 1883. It opened with one hun- dred and seventy-four pupils and eight grades of study in the new four-room building on the present site of the high school. W. W. John- son, principal; teacher fourth department, Mat- tie Hyde : teacher third department, S. A. Mar- iner; teacher second department, Lizzie Hal- deman.
Prof. L. H. Prather, now judge of the su- perior court, succeeded W. W. Johnson as prin- cipal and continued until 1886. The Judge took up a ranch six miles east of the city and often walked both ways from his place to the schoolhouse. During his principalship an ad- dition was built to the school house, making it a six-room building. During the last year it became necessary to hire a separate room for the primary department. Miss Rose Rice, now Mrs. W. B. Turner, one of the Cheney Normal School faculty, taught the primary grades a part of the time in the Congregational church, on Sprague and Bernard, and also in a frame building on Post street near Second avenue. During the last year of Judge Prather's admin- istration the ninth grade of study was pursued. Among the early school directors after the ones already mentioned we find J. J. Browne, who served for about a decade, I. S. Kauffman and E. J. Webster.
In the fall of 1886 Prof. W. B. Turner, now principal of Cheney Normal School, be- came principal. At the close of the fall term there was an enrollment of five hundred and twenty-three pupils with seven teachers. In the following April the enrollment reached six hundred and forty-eight. Under Prof. Turner was inaugurated a monthly teachers' meeting for mutual consultation. At first it was in- formal, but gradually developed so that a pro- gram was carried out, the teachers submitting papers on school subjects, followed by discus- sions. Prof. Jonathan Heaton, now residing in
I28
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
this city and in the employ of the Hypotheek bank, succeeded Turner as principal in the fall of 1887. At the opening there was an enroll- ment of seven hundred and fifteen with thirteen teachers. The first teachers' meeting under Prof. Heaton was held November 8, 1887. The record says, "All teachers present. The time was spent in arranging for relief in the crowded rooms." The population was increas- ing rapidly. The district was divided. A school was opened on the north side and several churches were used. In the fall of 1888 Prof. Bruce Wolverton was elected superintendent of schools. The high school system having been fully inaugurated, Prof. Heaton was made principal thereof, with Miss Kate North as assistant. The number of scholars increased rapidly, passing the one thousand mark before the close of the fall term. But as one of the ciailies put it, "But with the growth came trouble. Politics, selfishness and poorly con- cealed corruption crept into the public schools in those booming years of 1888 and 1889. Quarrels, plots, counterplots and startling charges culminated at last in the open charge of bribery-the plain statement that teachers had bought their places and secured high sal- ariesby paying a commission to certain trustees, It was the first cry of 'boodle,' the beginning of that disgraceful era when extravagance, care- lessness, fraud, theft and bribery ran riot in the public offices of Spokane. The whole town was in ferment. Sides were taken. Charges and counter charges were made. Old pupils withdrew from the schools in disgust and new ones declined to enter till peace should be re- stored. The 'system of study' went to pieces : the pupils lost interest ; the teachers were angry and discouraged ; the high school was so near- ly deserted that some thought it might as well le abandoned as a needless expense."
We are compelled to confess that it took about a decade before the people began to ex- hibit genuine interest in educational matters on school election day. As an illustration of
this, we find that at the election on November 5. 1887, for one director for a term of three years, and a clerk for a term of one year, twen- ty-eight votes were cast for director and ninety- nine for clerk. P. D. Michael was elected di- rector and W. F. Edwards, clerk. But the fol- lowing year there was a revival of interest and the election was a lively one. A number of conveyances were employed in carrying citi- zens to the polling place at the central school, where the high school is now located. The women availed themselves of their voting pre- rogative and turned out in large numbers, so that five hundred and eighty-one ballots were cast. F. M. Spain was elected director and Richard Miles, clerk. It resulted in a war with Spain, which has not been recorded in general history.
Spokane lost some of the best teachers it ever had at this time. It was well said that Spokane did not need the great fire of 1889 to demoralize its public schools. Fortunately an experienced educator passed through this city, who was known to some of the teachers. He was called to the position of superintendent and accepted it. In the fall of 1889 Prof. D. Bemiss took charge of the schools Then was ushered in a period of reorganization, harmony and progress. There were many difficulties to be faced and great obstacles to be surmounted. There were nearly two thousand pupils, with a seating capacity for about six hundred. The superintendent took hold of the work with com- mendable courage. The studies were systema- tized and made more thorough, and the corps of teachers increased. The needs increased with the population. Major E. A. Routhe, president of the board of education, in his 1890 report states the needs to be four large ward school houses and a large central building for the high school. It was found that two hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars over the tax levy was needed to provide the necessary ac- commodations. The people voted to issue bonds for that amount. The central building for the
129
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
high school, costing ninety thousand dollars, and six ward buildings, costing twenty-nine thousand dollars each, were erected. They were all given historical names, the first ward, "Lincoln," second ward, "Franklin" and "Lo- gan," third ward, "Bryant" and "Bancroft," fourth ward. "Irving." School houses subse- quently erected have been given the names of prominent American citizens, namely : Edi- son, Emerson, Longfellow, Whittier, Grant, Lowell. Washington, Hawthorne, and Gar- field.
THE BUILDINGS.
The high school building is one of the handsomest in the state. The location is ad- mirable and the architecture in accordance with the most modern and approved ideas. It is well lighted and ventilated, heated with steam and thoroughly furnished and equipped. There is a large auditorium in the third story and also a spacious room filled with the hand-work of the pupils in drawing, coloring, woodwork, botanical and conchological collections, etc. Among all the treasures found in this room the most highly prized, perhaps, are three great medals bearing the name of Spokane public schools and the seal of the great Columbian exposition; and with them is this letter-the greatest treasure of all :
United States.
Department L .- Liberal Arts, 16,695. Exhibit : School work.
Exhibitor .- Spokane public schools. Ad- dress, Spokane, Washington.
Group 149 .- Class 150.
Awvard.
First .- General excellence in all branches and great amount of meritorious primary and elaborate slate work.
Second .- Special excellence and thorough work of the kindergartens : 9
Third .- Original designs in oil cloths and wall paper: superior carving from native wood : superior relief maps and maps in black and white; and two superior pieces of work representing the high school building and the ship "Santa Maria."
MRS. E. P. FARR, Individual Judge. K. BUENZ,
Approved :
Pres. Department Com.
Approved : JOHN BOYD THACHER,
Chmn. Executive Com. on Awards. Dated June 25. 1894.
PROGRESS.
All school buildings, seventeen in number, have been erected within the last thirteen years. They would be considered an ornament to any metroplis and can hardly be paralleled in any other city of the size in the land. Nearly five years ago .the superintendent, directors and teachers inaugurated a movement to provide libraries for the different school buildings .. Since that time some thousands of books have been gathered, nearly all the schools having a collection of standard works which prove es- pecially profitable to the scholars. In the year 1898 the free text-book system was adopted, which gives, we believe, universal satisfaction .. It is gratifying to be able to record that the people of this city as a whole have been in favor of everything that tends to promote edu- cational interests. Accordingly, the superin- tendent, directors and teachers have had the hearty support of the people in doing their ut- most in order that the schools may keep pace with the progress of the city, in facilities, build- ings and courses of study. The natural re- sult has been that the methods of instruction and discipline have been constantly improving. Spokane is recognized to-day as having superior educational advantages. The rising generation can commence their education in the kinder- garten, which was introduced three years ago. and receive thorough preparations for college under the public school system.
130
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The Spokane high school is not to be com- pared with those of smaller towns. It is no exaggeration to say that it will compare favor- ably with those of the larger cities, such as Salt Lake, Seattle and Portland. This is the testi- mony of President Penrose, of Whitman Col- lege, and President Graves, of State University, and others who have made careful investiga- tion. The graduates are granted admission without examination into the best colleges and universities. Some of them have taken high places in Whitman College, Pullman Agricult- ural College and School of Sciences, Leland Stanford, Minnesota and Harvard Universi- ties. It is to-day, with its five hundred students and faculty of fourteen well selected teachers, a great institution whereof the citizens can justly be proud.
.
Although the primary object of the school is never lost sight of, the discipline and training of the mind. nevertheless the teachers are not unmindful of the importance of healthy and vigorous bodies. The athletic tendency is encouraged. Physical culture is promoted by a system of calisthenics. The spirit of pa- triotism is promoted by the floating of the United States flag from the tower of every school house. The Chronicle well said : "Neither energy nor time is wasted on useless and foolish experiments ; nor is there any hes- itation to adopt an improved idea or method simply because it is new. The same wise judg- ment has been exhibited in the selection of the corps of teachers. While no needless changes are made and many of the present instructors have been engaged in Spokane's public schools for five, six and seven years, the standard of excellence is constantly advancing. and all are required, by hard work and constant study, to keep fully abreast of the times. There is no difficulty in securing the best of talent. Hun- dreds of applications for positions are received each year, coming from all portions of the land -- sometimestwenty or more for every vacancy."
During the superintendency of Prof. Be- miss the teachers pursued a course of profes- sional study under his direction covering nearly the full course of pedagogy.
Under the superintendency of Prof. Bemiss genuine harmony existed in the board of edu- cation, and his efforts to improve conditions were heartily approved. Robert Abernethy, as president of the board, in his report for 1892, says : "We have reason to feel proud of the schools of our city. and what they are accom- plishing. Our corps of teachers are doing good work. and cannot be excelled by a like number anywhere. Superintendent Bemiss is up with the times, and has placed our educational course in the front rank where it keeps pace with all modern improvements in the line of education." It is also pleasant to note that the superintendent was always ready to give due credit to the teachers, as in the 1892 report : "The teachers have been faithful to the trusts assumed, and have worked with a will to se- cure the best results possible.
"The improved tone of the school room. the increase in attendance on the number enrolled. and the higher grade of scholarship secured attest the efficiency of their work.
"The ability to interest and instruct, to fur- nishi the right kind of aid at the proper time. to lead the pupil to master his own difficulties, to awaken a desire for better and higher attain- ments, is the mark of the competent workman.
"That a good degree of success in the above lines has been attained, is evidenced by the char- acter of the work developed and placed on exhi- bition in the different school buildlings, and by the increased interest manifested by the pa- trons of the school."
We believe the following, in the report of 1892. is worthy of insertion :
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