REVIEW OF PIONEER EDUCATION AND THE FACILITIES THEREFORE -FIRST SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES-FIRST TEACHERS-SCHOOL-MASTERS AND SCHOOL FURNITURE-EVIDENCES OF IMPROVEMENT-ADVANCE MOVEMENTS AND THEIR RESULT-MODERN SCHOOLS AND THE ADVANTAGES OF THEM-MORE EFFICIENT SCHOOL OFFICERS AND TEACHERS-MORE INTERESTED PATRONS--SCHOOL EXAMINERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS-COUNTY INSTITUTES AND NORMAL SCHOOLS-SOME STATISTICS-TIIE FIRST AND MODEL SCUOOLHOUSE OF DELAWARE COUNTY IN 1827, COMPARED WITH THE LAST OR MODEL SCHOOLHOUSE IN 1879-VIEW OF BOTH. (SEE PHOTO GALLERY)
EDUCATION in Indiana, fifty years ago, was in a very backward and unpromising condition, and the status of Delaware County in that regard was not exceptional; yet, while education was at low ebb, especially in those districts of country then recently inhabited by the red man, the spirit of progress moved even the scattering pioneers in this, as in other localities similarly situated, to exert themselves in behalf of their children, toward the procurement of the facilities within their reach, for mental training and development. As a rule, the early settlers of Delaware County were possessed of intelligence and enterprise in a degree which induced them to do each his share in the good work according to his means and opportunity; and few there were among these advance guards of civilization who shank from the responsibility or weakened in the effort. Considering .the date when permanent settlements began to be made in this county, the fact that a comfortable schoolhouse was erected in one of the foremost townships of the county, early in the year 1827, when these settlements were comparatively new, would seem an anomaly. The structure was a small cabin, built of logs of small size, with the fixtures and appurtenances usual in those days. A more complete description of this building may be found elsewhere in this volume, and a cut at the end of this article, represents an exact view of this first schoolhouse with its primitive surroundings, in contrast with which, is the model of schoolhouses of Delaware County erected in 1879. A statement of the means by which the representative procured, will not he out of place here. The building bell was destroyed long ago, but a pupil in the Muncie High School, a bright and skillful youth, got a complete description of the building from one who knew it well, and constructed a model in miniature, of the house. So exact was the likeness that the man declared it perfect, from this model the cut was made.
COUNTY SEMINARY.
The Constitution of the State of Indiana, the one adopted in 1816, contained provisions looking to the adoption of an educational system which was to meet, in a measure, the anticipated wants of the people, as an avenue, at least, to the more perfect one of after years. These provisions contemplated the establishment and maintenance of an institution in every county, known as and called a county seminary. In these provisions, it was not proposed to do more than lay the foundation, upon which local enterprise, judiciously appropriated, would erect the necessary superstructure. Many, perhaps most, of the counties in existence at that time, availed themselves of the advantages guaranteed by the Constitutional provision and established county seminaries, Delaware County among the rest. The first trustees in this county elected under the provisions of the law, enacted under the direction of the Constitution, were B. F. Haycock, Samuel G. Campbell and John Jack, appointed by the County Board in 1841. About that time, a square was donated by George W. Garst, Esq, upon which a building was constructed and paid for by voluntary subscriptions, chiefly. During its continuance, the County Seminary exerted great power for good, in rousing the people to an acceptance of, the privileges, and a participation in the advantages thus provided for their children in the pursuit of knowledge. Great numbers of youth attended this institution from time to time. During its career of usefulness, not merely those of Muncie, and not alone from Delaware County, but from adjoining counties also, the youth of both sexes came flocking in to drink at this fountain, and, from its bountiful store, secure the material which should lay the foundation of an education, whose fruits in the coming years would ripen and propagate anew, opening up other source of knowledge and usefulness valuable to the citizens of a community so favored as the people -of Indiana. This is no fancy sketch; for now there are many in Delaware County and elsewhere in the active discharge of life's duties, who look back to the consecrated walls of that old seminary as their starting-point in mental growth and practical usefulness. In this connection, we extract, the following, from report in 1878, of Hamilton S. McRae, Superintendent of the Muncie City Schools, to J. H. Smart, Superintendent of Public Instruction for State of Indiana, viz.: "The County Seminary was established in 1841. The first Trustees were B. F. Haycock, Samuel G. Campbell and John Jack. At their first meeting, no donations were offered to secure the erection of a schoolhouse, but at another meeting there was manifested an eager desire in several parts of the town to have one built. The donation of a square, by George W. Garst, was accepted. The citizens generally contributed freely. One of the first teachers was Volney Willson, who with a stern hand reduced the unruly spirits to a fair state of discipline. The advent of James S. Ferris, in 1847, as Principal, marked an era in the growth of the fine educational spirit, which now characterizes the city. He was aided in his work by Russell B. Abbott, whose scholarly exactions in the classroom are yet remembered with gratitude by those who were made to writhe when a lesson was not prepared. After these, were Pierre L. Munnis and Marshall White. George W. Hoss came in 1852. The fact that his receipts for a year amounted to $600, is evidence, considering the times that the seminary was prosperous. The private academy of Luther W. Emerson, who succeeded the accomplished George H. Richardson, was quite prosperous in 1862-63. The same may be said of the school of Mr. E. J. and Mrs. Rice, which followed. They were assisted in their excellent work by the enthusiastic Ferris, who had returned. The school of William Richardson was well sustained. It was not interrupted by a winter term of free school. The schoolrooms were -sufficient in number for those able and willing to pay tuition, but not for all when tuition was free." A portion of the time the public school was taught in this building, and, finally, it was appropriated to public-school purposes by the Muncie town corporation, and, after, being occupied as a public school building for a short time, it was found to be wanting in capacity, and torn down in 1865, and was supplanted by a new one, more fully adapted to the demands of the times.
COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
Originally, the country schools were in a condition corresponding with the ideas of schoolwork in the backwoods settlements. While it is no doubt true that many of those early teachers were zealous and energetic in their calling, much the larger proportion of them were selected, not so much because of their known but of their supposed qualifications, and for the further reason that during the winter season, when those schools were generally in operation, these candidates for pedagogic honors had nothing else to do. As a natural consequence, therefore, the schools, in the main, were wholly without system or discipline, and allowed to move forward in the channels into which, from force of circumstances, they involuntarily drifted. Among teachers no consultations were had and hence no concert of action, and few appliances for successful work. Blackboards were things unknown, wall-maps were not in use, text-books were few, varied and unsuitable; houses and seats, for little else was provided were uniformly inconvenient and generally uncomfortable. Indeed, when we recall the opportunities and experiences of the past, and what came of- them, it is a source of wonder that so many and such valuable results have been attained; for free it is that, from these same log-cabin country schools have come many of our most active businessmen and women. Some of them possibly may have enjoyed a slight "polish" in a term or two at the "seminary," but much the larger proportion were never so favored. With the meager opportunities enjoyed at home, or at the old-time country school, their own native energy has made them what they are.
At first, for many years, there were in most districts only subscription schools, the advantageous privileges of the free or public school system being then in an undeveloped state. But a change has been wrought, however, by the onward march of improvement that has marked the progress of time during the last fourth of a century of our local and State history. The average length of a district subscription school before the advent of this new era was less than sixty days, while the average length of the district schools in Delaware County supported by the magnificent tuition fund of the State, during the school year of 1879-80, was one hundred and twenty-three days. The character of the schools has improved also through the developing media of our improved educational system. Schoolhouses, school furniture, schoolteachers and school discipline, have all advanced upward, in unison, as by a common impulse. The means whereby these great results have been accomplished are attributable to the county superintendence, normal schools, State and county; to the work of institutes in the township and in the county; to a more rigid examination and higher standard of scholarship and teaching capacity. Whence a class of instructors have been brought into the field who are able to accomplish immensely higher and more excellent results. "And, of course, with the change from the pole-cabin dwellings with no windows but a greased paper, or none except a hole between two of the logs next the big fire-place, and with only a single door, to the modern residence costing thousands of dollars, has come also, yet with less rapidity than we could wish, a similar change in the construction and the cost of public school edifices."
COUNTY EXAMINER
By the law in force previous to 1851, and subsequently up to 1878, a County Examiner was provided for, whose duty it was, among other things, to examine applicants, and to give certificates to such as he adjudged qualified to teach a common school. In early time, this duty was performed with not too much care. The popular standard was very low, and the Examiner did not care to rise above that standard. A teacher might, perchance, possess superior qualifications, but the Examiner usually did not discover that fact, nor did he require any such requisites. But the standard, in this respect, has been slowly but surely rising, especially in Delaware County, so that now, in order to be able to "pass muster," an applicant must be, in the language of Scripture, "not a novice." This is well, and it might do no harm to make the examinations even more strict than at present.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT
In 1878, the name of the office was changed from "County Examiner" to "County Superintendent," and the sphere of the duties was somewhat enlarged, requiring, among other things, the visitation of schools more fully than before.
Compliance with the law as it has been since that time, has added greatly to the efficiency of the schools. Where the Superintendent has been a man possessing fully the spirit of his station, and competent for the work, the effect upon the condition of the schools has been wonderful.
The incumbents of the office of County Examiner or County Superintendent, since 1860, have been C. W. Moore, G.S. Maddy, E. J. Rice, William Richardson, Fred E. Putnam, Thomas J. Brady, Arthur C. Mellett, R. S. Gregory, O.M. Todd and A. W. Clancy, the last named having been elected in 1878. He seems to have good executive ability, and is making strong efforts to enable the school system to produce the highest and best possible results.
INSTITUTES
Prominent among the agencies for good in the work of education have been the Institutes held in the county. Teachers began to meet in institutes in this region many years ago. Several were held in Randolph County before and about the year 1850, and possibly Delaware County had them about the same time. No account of such, however, has been found. A law was passed about 1865, requiring Institutes to be held in each county at least once a year. At this time and under this law, Institutes began to be established in Delaware County. The first of these was held in Muncie in 1867. In its spirit, and in the good accomplished, it was a success, though the number in attendance was barely enough to enable the Examiner to draw the allotted $50 from the county treasury. In 1868, one of the branch Institutes for the State of Indiana was held at Muncie, with good results, in which year State Institutes, as such, were discontinued. Since that time, a County Institute has been held annually at Muncie, for Delaware County, with increasing interest and gratifying success. A somewhat detailed statement concerning the last two County Institutes is herewith subjoined.
INSTITUTE FOR 1879.
The County Institute for 1879 was held during the week beginning August 11, of that year, continuing five days. No schoolroom was large enough to accommodate the whole Institute at once, and so the work was done by section. Two rooms were occupied, and the same work was done in both at different hours. The instructors in the different branches were as follows; Writing, J. 0. Lambert; Arithmetic, L.G. Saffer; Drawing, S. W. Heath, Jesse Brown; Grammar, Language, D.H. H. Shewmaker; Geography, F. Prigg; History, Mrs. Mary S. Waldo; Physiology, D. H. H. Shewmaker; Orthography, D. H. H. Shewmaker; Primary Instruction, Miss Belle Thomas; Manners and Morals, A. W. Clancy; Theory and Practice, A. W. Clancy; Music, Civil Government, F. Prigg.
Six lectures were delivered before the Institute, as follows: Rev. W. A. Stanton, Muncie, "Mammoth Cave;" Dr. G. W. H. Kemper, Muncie, "Common Sense in the Sick-room;" Rev. J. A. Dobson, Muncie, "William Lloyd Garrison, or True Greatness;" M. L. Cromer, "The Teacher's Work;" Jesse Brown, "Drawing Illustrated;" Rev. D. S. McCaslin, "Genesis and Geology."
The instruction was intended to be made practical, and a high degree of interest prevailed. The number of members present was 146; males, 81; females, 65. The average daily attendance was 133; the number of recitations, 45; instructors, 10; lectures delivered, 5; days of continuance, 5. The Institute was under the general direction and control of A. W. Clancy, County Superintendent.
COUNTY INSTITUTE FOR 1880.
The Institute for 1880 was held at Muncie during the week beginning with August 9, in two sections, the room being too small for the session to be held in one. Instructions were given in the various branches, and several valuable and interesting lectures were presented before the Institute. The following were the instructors, and the subjects discussed by them respectively: Drawing, S. W. Heath; Penmanship, J. O. Lambert; Reading, M. L. Cromer, Belle Thomas; History, H. S. McRae, Mrs. Mary Emma M. McRae; Geography, A. W. Clancy; Arithmetic, Belle Thomas, John Schurr; Music, A. W. Clancy, M. L. Cromer, B. F. Peters; Language, John Lewellen; School Management, Mrs. Mary Emma M. McRae; Longitude and Time, John Schurr; Infinitive, Frank H. Adams; Physiology, Rev. J. C. Dobson; Spelling, Belle Thomas; Orthoepy, Mrs. Mary Emma M. McRae; Elocution, Frank Clancy; Letter-writing, John Lewellen. "Lectures. -Mrs. Mary E. M. McRae, 'Growth of the English Language; John B. Peaslee, 'Lives of Longfellow-Whittier;' John B. Peaslee, 'Literature;' Mrs. Mary E. M. McRae,' Patriotism.' "Statistics.-Males enrolled, 90; females, 56; total, 146; instructors, 11; recitations, 41; lectures, 5.
The Institutes for Delaware County have been well sustained from the beginning, gradually increasing in interest and usefulness to the present time. Among the instructors at the various County Institutes may be named those below, in addition to those already given: John Hancock, W. A. Bell, Thomas Charles, James S. Ferris, T. ?. Brady; A. C. Mellett; W. H. Fertich, Daniel Hough, E. E. White, George P. Brown, J. M. Olcott, John W. Woodward, O. M. Todd and others.
The law requiring township institutes was enacted in 1873. The teachers of Delaware County entered into the movement with spirit and zeal, and have carried them forward with vigor ever since. The interest in them has grown stronger from year to year. To show what is being done in this respect, it may be stated that during the school year ending in July, 1880, seventy-one township institutes were held in the county, and ten teachers' meetings in the city of Muncie, making eighty-one in all.
An effort is in progress in the county, with prospects of good success, to systematize the work of township institutes, so as to produce regularity and co-operation. The plan seems to work well, and the teachers and the County Superintendent are encouraged to persevere, in the undertaking.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
There are in Delaware County twenty graded schools, as follows Muncie, thirteen; Eaton, Daleville; New Corner, Yorktown, Albany, Salem and Cowan, one each. Outside of Muncie, the other graded schools in the county villages are taught in buildings containing two rooms each, and two teachers are employed in each school, that is, one in each room. The schools in Muncie, since 1867, have, each year, been maintained ten months, 200 days, and the other schools (in 1879-80) 123 days. An attempt is being made by the present County Superintendent, A. W. Clancy, to establish a system of gradation for the county schools, and he is sanguine in .the expectation that his efforts will succeed, at least in a great measure.
The following gentlemen, from their respective school corporations, compose the Board of Education for Delaware County, at the present time (February, 1881), viz.: A. W. Clancy, County Superintendent; Gustus Mingle, Salem Township; Jacob H. Koontz, Mount Pleasant Township; James Rector, Harrison Township; Thompson Sharp, Washington Township; Andrew J. Fleming, Monroe Township; John B. Mason, Center Township; Duncan Williams, Hamilton Township; Joseph S. Kirkwood, Union Township; Peter A. Helm, Perry Township; John H. Guthrie, Liberty Township; George W. Jones, Delaware Township; Samuel McDonald, Niles Township, and George W. Stephenson, Muncie, Ind. (Page 56)