 |
||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||
 |
 |
|||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BATES COUNTY. (Prepared by Professor L. B, Allison.) Bates County in 1865 was in a state of desolation. But four school houses survived the ravages of the war; one at Pleasant Gap and is now their district school house, one on South Deepwater, known as the Radford School House, and is now in a dilapidated condition; one near Johnstown; and one on the head of Elk Fork on the Evans' farm. The two last were used for school houses a short time only. School houses were a rendezvous for bushwhackers and scouts during the war and when they were forced to abandon them they usually set fire to them, and in that way they were burned up. There were only five of the old teachers who returned to the county after the war, viz.: A. E. Page, R. J. Reed, William Requa, Mrs. Sarah Requa and Miss Josephine Bartlett, and all have been teaching since the war and are now amongst the best men and women in the county. David McGaughey was appointed county superintendent of public schools for the county at the May term of the county court, in 1866, and the next day after his appointment George Lampkin and Mrs. E. Burkleo, his sister, were granted certificates to teach. Mr. Lampkin commenced teaching at Pleasant Gap the next Monday and taught there for one year. Miss Requa taught school in the Radford school house that summer and fall and George Hill at Johnstown. A temporary school house was built in Butler the summer of 1866, and the first school was taught by Professor Cavandish, a graduate of Ashbury University, Kansas, in the fall and winter of 1866 and 1867. At that time there were but five or six schools in the county. The first new school house built in the county after the war was the Elswick school house and the next was in the Parks neighborhood, all in Charlotte Township. David McGaughey was elected superintendent of public schools November 1866, for two years. The fall of that year and the following winter most of the county was reorganized into school districts. The former boundaries of school districts were totally obliterated and lost, and in the hurry to have schools started as soon as two or three families settled in a township they organized it into a school district and built a school house. Soon these districts had to be divided and subdivided. In many townships the first school house had to be moved to accommodate the districts. In some of the townships the teachers fund had increased enormously which gave a great impetus to our schools and induced many good teachers to come to the county. The teachers' salary was good. During 1867 and 1868 some forty or fifty new school houses were built and had good schools in them. During these two years the superintendent introduced the system of visiting the district schools, holding examinations and lecturing upon educational topics which was appreciated by scholars and parents and was very successfully carried out by his successor. In November 1868, Professor L. D. Allison was elected county superintendent for two years. The capital school fund survived the war in the best state of preservation of anything in the county. The principal had mostly all been loaned out and secured by deeds of trust. The notes and deeds were all saved and accumulated interest for four, or five years, only a few notes for $50 and under were worthless. The sale of the school lands before the war amounted to about $65,000 which has been augmented to about $100,000 from the sale of lands. The rapid rise in the value of lands had a good effect upon our school fund, making the school fund of Bates County the second best of any county in the state. The number of school districts increased rapidly during the superintendency of Prof L. B. Allison, as his subjoined report to the state superintendent for the year 1870 will abundantly prove. In the year 1869 Bates County ranked fourth in the amount expended for the building of school houses, and in 1870 she stood second, expending that year the sum of $14,170.71. The first teachers' institute ever held in the county was organized in Butler at the First Presbyterian Church on the 24th day of May 1869. Nearly fifty teachers were in attendance, and a remarkably interesting session of five days was held under the leadership of the county superintendent, who had devoted much time in the east to institute work. The result of this teachers' meeting was immediate in its effect upon the schools, for the teachers, with hardly an exception, endeavored to put in practice the methods of instruction presented to them, and a marked change for the better was plainly visible. A second session of three days, beginning on the 1st day of September following, was held in the same place as the first, and the institute was favored with the aid of the state superintendent of public instruction and his assistants. Profs. T. A. Parker and Edwin Clark; also Prof. Jasper A. Smith. Nearly every teacher in the county was present and manifested a lively interest in the proceedings. The rapid advancement in the status of the common schools of the county and the awakening of the people in their behalf, induced the superintendent to call the third meeting of the Bates County Teachers Institute, in April 1870, to Papinville, then the second town in the county. The teachers were warmly welcomed by the citizens of the town and were invited to share their hospitalities. About forty teachers were enrolled during the session, and several of the citizens took part in the proceedings, making the session both an interesting and profitable one. A change in the school law made by the state legislature during the winter of 1870, making more liberal provisions in the increase of the number of days for official work, enabled the superintendent to visit and examine into the condition of every school in the county, also to consult with school officers and secure uniformity, both in the schools and the making up the proper school district reports. The first brick school house in the county was erected in Butler. Work began on the same in the fall of 1869, though not completed till the latter part of the next year. Located at the head of Ohio Street, on the west side of the town, the two story building still stands. Its original cost was about $8,000, and was among the first school buildings that were furnished with the patent seat and desk. Many fine school buildings were built in various parts of the county during the year 1870, and the two years following and most of them were furnished with patent school furniture. In the fall of 1870, Mr. Charles Wilson was elected as county superintendent. Under his administration, several new districts were organized to meet the wants of the people in their newly formed settlements. Two teachers institutes were held, both in Butler, which were well attended and profitably conducted. James Harper succeeded Mr. Wilson in January 1873, and was the last among the superintendents who visited among the schools, by reason of a change in the school law. Number of children in 1870: 5,749
Educational matters in Bates County are at present in a highly prosperous condition. During the past year, twenty-six (26) new sub-districts have been formed -- an excess of ten (10) over the previous year and school houses have been erected in nineteen (19) of them. Several of the school rooms have been and are being furnished with the patent school furniture, an indication that our people are up to the spirit of the times in discarding the idea that the time-honored slab seats of yore are necessary to the comfort and well being of the children of the present day. As yet, but few of the school grounds are properly fenced, but we hope and expect that the attention of our people will now be turned to fencing school house grounds, and setting out shade trees. Visiting and examining into the conditions of the schools, advising with teachers on methods of discipline, aiding school officers in properly making reports, disbursing school records with instructions, and attending the institutes, are the principal duties which have been performed by the county superintendent. Our teachers and friends of the public school cause thoroughly appreciate the valuable assistance rendered by our worthy state superintendents. Professors Beard and Smith, at the meetings of our institute. The standard of our schools is gradually advancing, as many of our teachers are more fully awakened to the responsibility of their position. Nearly every teacher in the county has attended the institute. The number of first grade teachers has increased more largely than those of the lower grades, which is partly due to the fact that many of our school officers are looking more to the qualifications of teachers, and are becoming convinced that "cheap teachers are dear at any price.'' School taxes have been very high in most of the sub-districts, consequent upon building and paying off indebtedness. We hope soon to see the time when our schools can be taught at least eight months during each year at a less rate of taxation, in the aggregate, than at present, and thereby save teachers the trouble of "hunting schools" at the expiration of every term. The too frequent change of teachers is a serious hindrance to the prosperity of our schools. When teachers can find employment for eight or ten months during the year in the same school, we may look for more substantial improvement in both teacher and pupil. More than $10,000 have recently been added to our county fund, from recent sale of swamp lands. The changes in our school law, made at the last session of the Assembly, have given general satisfaction to our school officers and people. The schools have generally been in session from three to six months during the year. ENUMERATION OF CHILDREN FOR 1882.
School districts are increasing rapidly, five being added during the year 1882. The schools are in a flourishing condition. A greater interest is being manifested each year by the people in the cause of popular education. Teachers are more alive to their duty than ever, and are giving satisfaction generally. The one great mistake upon the part of school boards, however, is the distinction they make between the male and female teacher, in the matter of compensation. This should not be. There is no earthly reason why a man should be paid more than a woman as a teacher. Twenty or thirty years ago, this idea obtained more through prejudice and ignorance than anything else. It is now an acknowledged fact, tested by many years of experience, that a woman possessing the same qualifications as the man, should receive the same compensation as a teacher. Her natural endowments for teaching smaller children are greatly superior to man's. Her advantage in this respect is now being recognized in almost every town and city throughout the Union. We venture the assertion that two-thirds of all the public school teachers in all the cities throughout the Northern and New England States are women. They receive the same wages for the same amount of labor performed by them that men do. Not only do they receive the same compensation, but their schools give universal satisfaction, and exhibit as much progress, as much good order, and as much uniform and thorough drilling as can be found in the school of the best and most successful male teacher. We hope as a matter of right and justice, that the day is not far distant when there will be no distinction between the male and female teacher possessing equal accomplishments. The county treasurer at the beginning of the war never returned, and all the teachers' fund and principal in his hands were lost, as there was no record of anything about our schools outside of the county court records that was preserved. The books and papers of the county treasurer and county superintendent were never found after the war. TEACHERS' INSTITUTE. It will doubtless be a matter of considerable interest to the teachers of Bates County and the friends of the cause of education to read a correct account of the proceedings of the first Teachers' Institute ever held in the county. That institute met and organized in the town of Butler on the 24th of May, 1869, and continued in session four days. The record is as follows: Butler, May 24, 1869.
To draft constitution: J. Scudder, T. E. Torrance, L. B. Allison, T. J. Howell and A. Sparks. To nominate permanent officers for the ensuing year: A. T. Holcomb, W. W. Lucas, J. R. Reed, A. R. Johnson and R. Williams. The following persons were then selected to act as a business committee: L. B. Allison, A. T. Holcomb and Miss Gertie.Harrison. Upon motion of Mr. McGaughey, a committee of two was appointed to solicit names of persons who would become members of the association. Messrs. McGaughey and Allison were appointed, and at once obtained the names of twenty-two persons who were desirous of becoming members of the institute. Upon motion of A. T. Holcomb, a committee of five was appointed to secure accommodations for teachers from abroad, and the following persons were appointed: L. B. Allison, D. McGaughey, A. T. Holcomb, Miss Smith and Miss Gertie Garrison. By motion of Mr. Allison, the following subject was selected for discussion this evening: "What rules ought a teacher to make at the commencement of his school?" It was then moved to adjourn until 7:30 P. M. Carried. J. R. REED, Secretary EVENING SESSION. Met pursuant to adjournment, Mr. Harper in the chair. By motion of Mr. McGaughey the reading of the minutes was dispensed with. The committee upon drafting a constitution made its report, and the following constitution was adopted as reported by the committee: Article 1. This institute shall be known as the Bates County Teachers Institute. Art. 2. The object of this institute shall be the improvement of its members in the science of teaching, and in the most approved practice of diffusing information upon the system of common school education and exciting an interest upon the same among the patrons of our schools, and promoting harmony of feeling and the greatest possible advancement in scientific and general information. Art. 3. Any teacher or friend of education may become a member of this institute by subscribing to the constitution and paying an annual fee -- gentlemen, fifty cents; ladies, twenty-five cents. Art. 4. The regular meetings of this institute shall be held semi-annually, in each year, at such times and places as shall be fixed by the executive committee. Art. 5. The regular officers of this institute shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, and executive committee, who shall be elected annually, on the first day of the first session of each year. Art. 6. It shall be the duty of the president, and in his absence the vice-president, to preside at all meetings of the institute, decide points of order, preserve due decorum, and regulate the exercises according to a programme furnished him by the institute. Art. 7. It shall be the duty of the secretaries to keep a faithful record of the proceedings of the institute, take down an abstract of the instruction, debates, essays, lectures, and prepare certificates of membership. Art. 8. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to keep an account with the institute of all moneys received, and to pay out the same upon the order of the president, and to report to the institute the condition of its finances at the close of his term of office. Art. 9. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to fix the time and place of holding the institute, give at least six weeks' notice of the same through the county papers, and secure the services of competent lecturers, instructors, essayists and singers for conducting the exercises. Art. 10. All regular officers shall be elected by ballot, and a majority shall elect. Art. 11. Any of the provisions of this constitution may be amended and new articles added thereto at any regular meeting, by giving two days' previous notice of the proposed amendment or addition, provided two-thirds of the members vote in favor of such amendment or addition. Art. 12. In any miscellaneous discussion, no member shall at any one time occupy the floor more than ten minutes, nor speak more than once upon the same question, until every member desiring shall have spoken. Art. 13. Any member being present against whom a written accusation may be presented for improper or immoral conduct may be expelled from the institute at any regular meeting, by a two-thirds vote. The following is a list of the names of members of the Bates County Teachers' Institute: Thomas H. Griste.
The report of the committee on permanent organization was received and adopted, and the following persons nominated by the above committee were elected as officers for the ensuing year: President -- L. B. Allison.
It was moved by Mr. McGaughey that Rev. W. C. Hubbard be elected an honorary member of this institute, and be requested to lead in the devotional exercises of the same. Carried. Moved by A. T, Holcomb that we have a query box, and that a committee of two be appointed to take charge of the same. Carried. Mr. A. T. Holcomb and Miss Gertie Garrison were then appointed by a vote of the house. Moved that the question selected at the afternoon session be indefinitely postponed. Carried. Remarks by the chair touching the duties of the members of the institute. Adjourned. TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 25. Institute met, President Allison in the chair. The report of business committee was read, stating the order of exercises for the forenoon session. The roll was then called, after which the association opened with devotional exercises by the Rev. Mr. Hubbard. Mr. Allison made a few remarks on the subject of orthography, after which he conducted class drill in the same, requiring the class to give the elementary sounds of letters. Miss Gertie Garrison then read a selected article, subject: "My mind my kingdom is." Recess. Mr. A. T. Holcomb made a few appropriate remarks upon the science of arithmetic. He then proceeded to class drill in the same, but being unwell, Mr. J. R. Scudder took up the subject and conducted it to a close. Mr. T. H. Griste then made a few general remarks upon the subject of geography, and then proceeded to show his method of class drill in school. The next thing in order was miscellaneous exercises and answering queries. The question as to whether man had an original spoken language was asked by Mr. Reed, and was discussed by a number of members in a spirited manner. Adjourned. AFTERNOON SESSION. The order of exercises for the afternoon was read by the president after which the roll was called, followed by a musical exercise led by Mr. Allison. Mr. Scudder then gave his method of teaching grammar and drilled the class upon the same. Singing by Mrs. Allison and others; select reading by Mrs. L. M. Burkleo. The president then made a few appropriate remarks upon the teacher's profession, and read a portion of an address delivered before a teachers' institute in New York. The proper method of teaching geography was then presented in a clear and lucid manner by Mr. Board. Mrs. Allison then sang the " Sword of Bunker Hill." Reading exercises were then conducted by Professor Allison. Queries were then read by the chair, to be answered at the evening session, and length of time to each query limited to twenty-five minutes. Adjourned. EVENING SESSION. Query first was read and was as follows: How can we secure prompt and cheerful obedience in our schools?'' It was discussed by Messrs. Scudder Torrance, Reed, P. Holcomb, Lucas, Steele and A. T. Holcomb. Song by Miss Smith, "The Laziest Man in Town." (Applause). Second query was then read, as follows: How shall we secure sympathy and co-operation from parents? Remarks were made by Messrs. Scudder, Board and Allison. Song by Mrs. Allison, "Putting on Airs." (Applause). The third query was next read, namely: What are the proper incentives to study? Remarks were made by Messrs. Griste, Putnam, Scudder, Torrance, A. P. Holcomb and Allison. A song was sung by Miss Smith which was received with applause. Adjourned. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26. Roll call and responses. Devotional exercises by Rev. W. S. Hubbard. Exercises in orthography by L. B. Allison. Miss Frankie Williams read a selected article, "The Witch's Daughter." Music by Miss Gertie Garrison and others. Recess. Class drill in arithmetic by A. P. Holcomb and J. Scudder. T. H. Griste conducted the class drill in geography, showing his method of assisting the memory in names and conducting the class in the same. A query was then read, as follows: "Should a teacher enforce order in school by the use of the rod?" This was discussed by Messrs. Scudder, Board, Lucas, Harper, Torrance, Putnam and Aldrich. Adjourned. EVENING SESSION. L. B. Allison in the chair. Roll call. Music by the audience, led by Prof. Allison and Miss Smith. C. A. Board then read an essay on the subject of "School Government," advocating corporal punishment to a limited extent. Miss Smith sang (by request) "The Laziest Man in Town." The query was discussed, "Ought teachers to give prizes as incentives to study," in a very spirited manner by A. T. Holcomb, Lewis, Board, Lucas, Scudder and Putnam Song by Mrs. Allison (by request) "The Sword of Bunker Hill." Adjourned. THURSDAY, MAY 27. Roll call. Devotional exercises by Rev. J. R. Reed. Order of exercises for the morning session was then read, when the report of critics was received, and a new committee appointed, consisting of J. Scudder, J. H. Edwards and Frankie Williams. Mr. Allison proceeded to class drill in orthography. Concert by the members of the institute. Song, "There is Much Gives Pleasure." Mr. Lucas gave his method of teaching pupils the correct mode of spelling and learning the elementary sounds of letters. Mrs. Durand then read an essay on the subject of "Expelling scholars from school." Mr. Reed made a few remarks on correct spelling, also Messrs. Torrance and Putnam. Mr. Scudder then took up the study of arithmetic and drilled upon the same. The query was then put to the house, "Ought a teacher to allow a pupil to have more than one trial at a word in spelling." Discussed by Messrs. Griste, Lucas, Scudder, Slater, Reed, Williams, Torrance, Aldrich, Hill, Mrs. L. M. Burkleo, and Mr. Edwards. Report of critics was read and a new committee appointed, consisting of J. R. Putnam, T. H. Griste, and Sophia Williams. Adjourned. AFTERNOON SESSION. Music by Mrs. Allison. The roll was then called and some very amusing responses were given. Song by Mrs. Allison entitled "Minnie Minton." Mr. Reed then made some practical remarks upon the subject of mental arithmetic, after which he offered some examples for analysis. The class gave several methods for solving each. Song by Mrs. Allison, "Far away." Mr. J. Scudder delivered a practical essay upon the subject of English Grammar. The query was then read, " How would you parse the phrase 'one by one,' in the sentence 'the teachers left the house one by one,' " which was disposed of in various ways by Messrs. Scudder, Putnam, Sparks, Griste and Mrs. L. M. Burkleo. Recess of fifteen minutes. Mr. Reed then drilled the class in calisthenics. Spelling exercise conducted in writing by Professor Allison. The following sentence was given: "It is an agreeable sight to witness the unparalleled embarrassment of a harassed peddler attempting to gauge the symmetry of a peeled onion, which a sybil has stabbed with a poinard, regardless of the inuendoes of the lilies of cornelian hue." The chair appointed Mr. George Edwards and Miss Frankie Williams as a committee to collect these exercises, revise and correct the same, and report the number of mistakes made by each at a future session. Mr. Allison then made some remarks upon the manner of conducting spelling classes. He also urged the necessity of every teacher subscribing for some educational journal. The sentence was then read, "Whoever lives long shall find trouble." Adjourned. EVENING SESSION. Music by Miss Smith. Roll call. Music and song, "America, My Country, 'tis of Thee," by Miss Smith and others. Lecture by Prof Lewis upon the subject of "Anatomy and Physiology. Song by Miss Smith, "We Are Happy Now.'' The programme for the next session was then read. Adjourned. FRIDAY, MAY 28. The institute opened with singing, after which the secretary called the roll, and the members responded with texts of Scripture. Mr. Reed then conducted the devotional exercises. Thomas H. Griste then took up the subject of "Intellectual Arithmetic," setting forth the advantages to be derived from this important branch of mathematics; he also gave his method of presenting the subject to primary classes and also to more advanced classes, after which examples were offered for solution in connection with the same. The best methods of analysis were discussed by Messrs. Torrance, Lucas, Hill and Griste. Musical exercise by Miss Smith. Miss J. R. McKay then read an essay upon the subject of "True Education" in a very impressive manner, whereupon it was moved and. carried that she repeat it at the evening session; also that she furnish the Bates County Record with a copy for publication. Mr. Allison called the attention of the institute to some texts written upon the blackboard by A. T. Holcomb upon the subject, "What Ought a Teacher to Do;" the fifteen texts embraced the whole duty of a teacher. Mr. Allison then drilled the members in synthetical spelling. Song by Miss Smith, "I Meet Thee as of Old." Recess. Calisthenic exercises were then conducted by J. R. Reed. Model class drill in intellectual arithmetic was conducted by Prof. Allison. The question as to what text books ought to be used was discussed by most of the members, when the following text books were recommended: Ray's Mathematical Series.
A motion that the institute recommend that the several boards of education of this county purchase the National School Tablets for the use of their several schools, and also adopt the above named text-books for the use of the schools in their townships, carried. Adjourned. AFTERNOON SESSION. Roll call and responsive sentiments. Musical exercises by members of the institute. Song, " There's Much to Give Pleasure."The report of entries was then read and a new committee appointed, consisting of C. A. Board, Mrs. A. P. Allison, and Miss E. Holcomb. Oscar Hill then made a few remarks upon the subject of penmanship. Mrs. Allison then sang the popular song, " Swinging in the Lane." J. Scudder gave a brief lecture upon the subject of grammar as set forth in Clark's grammatical works. The committee upon written orthography then made their report as follows: No one spelled all the words in the sentence given, although several only missed one word. Recess. Professor Allison conducted the exercises of the model reading class. W. W. Lucas then read his essay upon the "Objects of Education." Adjourned. EVENING SESSION. Roll call. Reading of minutes dispensed with on motion of W. W. Lucas. Critic's report was then read. Song, by Mrs. Allison, "We've Drank from the Same Canteen." Miss Gertie Garrison then read her essay, "The Teacher's Duty," which was received with applause by the institute and audience. Mr. and Mrs. Allison, Dr. Pyle, and Mrs. Sprague then sang a quartette. Miss McKay repeated the reading of her essay, "True Education." The report of the committee on resolutions was then received, and the following were adopted. Resolved, That the members of this institute tender their sincere thanks to the citizens of Butler for the hospitality extended toward them during the present session and for the interest manifested in the cause of education. Resolved, That we tender our thanks to the trustees of the church for their kindness in extending to us the use of their building for the meetings of the institute. Resolved, That we regard Prof L. B. Allison as an efficient officer and a thorough and practical teacher, and well worthy the confidence of parents and teachers. Resolved, That we highly appreciate the musical entertainments with which we have been favored by Mrs. Allison, Miss Gertie Garrison, Miss Smith and others. Resolved, That we consider it the duty of the several boards of education to adopt a complete uniformity of text books for the county. Resolved, That we most earnestly urge upon every teacher of Bates County the importance of attending the future meetings of the institute. The resolution regarding the hospitality of the citizens of Butler was then responded to by Dr. McNeil, and to the church trustees by Dr. Pyle, when it was moved that the following resolution be adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of this institute be tendered to Prof J. Scudder and the teachers who have acted as instructors and lecturers for the able and efficient manner in which they have discharged their duties. Motion carried. Music by Mr. and Mrs. Allison, Dr. Pyle, Mrs. Sprague and Flora Stobie. A motion was then made that the thanks of this institute be tendered Thomas H. Griste for the prompt and efficient manner in which he disrcharged the duties of secretary of this institute, also that the editors of the Bates County Record and Journal of Education be requested to publish the proceedings of this institution. Song by Miss Smith, "Old Shady." It was then moved to adjourn subject to a call of the executive committee. Carried. Thomas H. Griste, Sec'y. L. B. ALLISON, President. The first convention of the teachers of the state of Missouri after the war was held in the city of St. Louis. June 21, 22 and 23, 1866, and from that convention sprang the present state organization of teachers. This was said to be the first ever held in the state. It was called by T. A. Parker, state superintendent of public schools. This convention was largely attended by teachers and others from the river counties and the northern part of the state. Mr. Edwards, state superintendent of Illinois, was present and others from Chicago and New York, and were all unacquainted with each other, but that was soon overcome and the exercises were highly interesting. David McGaughey, superintendent of Bates County was the only representative from Southwest Missouri. |
||
|
|
|
Bates County Missouri MOGenWeb |
||
|
|
|