Audrain County, Missouri - Chapter 11: Education, 1884

Chapter 11: Education

Public School System - Public School System of Missouri - Lincoln Institute - Offi¬ cers of Public School System - Certificates of Teachers - University of Missouri - Schools - Colleges - Institutions of Learning - Location - Libraries - Newspa¬ pers and Periodicals - No. of School Children - Amount expended - Value of Grounds and Buildings - " The Press."

The first constitution of Missouri provided that "one school or more shall be established in each township, as soon as practicable and neces¬ sary, where the poor shall be taught gratis."

It will be seen that even at that early day (1820) the framers of the constitution made provision for at least a primary education for the poorest and the humblest, taking it for granted that those who were able would avail themselves of educational advantages which were not

The establishment of the public-school system, in its essential fea¬ tures, was not perfected until 1839, during the administration of Gov¬ ernor Boggs, and since that period the system has slowly grown into favor, not only in Missouri, but throughout the United States. The idea of a free or public school for all classes was not at first a popular one, especially among those who had the means to patronize private institutions of learning. In upholding and maintaining public schools the opponents of the system felt that they were not only compromis¬ ing their own standing among their more wealthy neighbors, but that they were, to some extent, bringing opprobrium upon their children. Entertaining such prejudices, they naturally thought that the training received at public schools could not be otherwise than defective ; hence many years of probation passed before the popular mind was prepared

Every year only adds to their popularity, and commends them the more earnestly to the fostering care of our State and National Legis¬ latures, and to the esteem and favor of all classes of our people.

We can hardly conceive of two grander or more potent promoters of civilization than the tree school and free press. They would indeed seem to constitute all that was necessary to the attainment of the hap¬ piness and intellectual growth of the ^Republic, and all that was neces¬ sary to broaden, to liberalize and instruct.

All the States of the Union have in practical operation the publicschool system, governed in the main by similar laws, and not differing materially in the manner and methods by which they are taught: but none have a wiser, a more liberal and comprehensive machinery of instruction than Missouri. Her school laws, since 1839, have under¬ gone many changes, and always for the better, keeping pace with the most enlightened and advanced theories of the most experienced edu¬ cators in the land. But not until 1875, when the new constitution was adopted, did her present admirable sj^stem of public instruction go into effect.

Provisions were made not only for white, but for children of African descent, and are a part of the organic law, not subject to the caprices of unfriendly legislatures, or the whims of political parties. The Lin¬ coln Institute, located at Jefferson City, for the education of col¬ ored teachers, receives an annual appropriation from the General Assembly.

For the support of the public schools, in addition to the annual income derived from the public school fund, which is set apart by law, not less than twenty-five per cent, of the State revenue, exclusive of the interest and sinking fund, is annually applied to this purpose.

Normal School At Cape Girardeau

ers, County Clerk and Treasurer, Board of Directors, City and Town School Board, and Teacher. The State Board of Education is composed of the State Superintendent, the Governor, Secretary of State, and the Attorney-General, the executive officer of this Board being the State Su¬ perintendent, who is chosen by the people every four years. His duties are numerous. He renders decisions concerning the local application of school law ; keeps a record of the school funds and annually distributes the same to the counties ; supervises the work of county school officers ; delivers lectures ; visits schools ; distributes educational information ^ grants certificates of higher qualifications, and makes an annual report to the General Assembly of the condition of the schools.

The County Commissioners are also elected by the people for two years. Their work is to examine teachers, to distribute blanks, and make reports. County clerks receive estimates from the local direct¬ ors and extend them upon the tax-books. In addition to this, they keep the general records of the county and township school funds, and return an annual report of the financial condition of the schools of their county to the State Superintendent. School taxes are gathered with other taxes by the county collector. The custodian of the school funds belonging to the schools of the counties is the county treasurer, except in counties adopting the township organization, in which case the township trustee discharges these duties.

Districts organized under the special law for cities and towns are governed by a board of six directors, two of whom are selected annu¬ ally, on the second Saturday in September, and hold their office for three years.

One director is elected to serve for three years in each school dis¬ trict, at the annual meeting. These directors may levy a tax not exceeding forty cents on the one hundred dollars' valuation, pro¬ vided such annual rates for school purposes may be increased in dis¬ tricts formed of cities and towns, to an amount not exceeding one dollar on the hundred dollars' valuation, and in other districts to an amount not to exceed sixty-five cents on the one hundred dollars' val¬ uation, on the condition that a majority of the voters who are tax-pay¬ ers, voting at an election held to decide the question, vote for said increase. For the purpose of erecting public buildings in school dis¬ tricts, the rates of taxation thus limited may be increased when the rate of such increase and the purpose for which it is intended shall have been submitted to a vote of the people, and two-thirds of the

Local directors may direct the management of the school in respect to the choice of teachers and other details, but in the discharge of all important business, such as the erection of a school house or the -extension of a term of school beyond the constitutional period, they simply execute the Avill of the people. The clerk of this board may be a director. He keeps a record of the names of all the children and youth in the district between the ages of five and twenty-one ; records all business proceedings of the district, and reports to the annual meeting, to the County Clerk and County Commissioners.

Teachers must hold a certificate from the State Superintendent or County Commissioner of the county where they teach. State certifi¬ cates are granted upon personal written examination in the common branches, together with the natural sciences and higher mathematics. The holder of such certificate may teach in any public school of the State without further examination. Certificates granted by County Commissioners are of two classes, with two grades in each class. Those issued for a longer term than one year, belong to the first class and are susceptible of two grades, differing both as to length of time and attain¬ ments. Those issued for one year may represent two grades, marked by qualification alone. The township school fund arises from a grant of land by the General Government, consisting of section sixteen in each congressional township. The annual income of the township fund is ap¬ propriated to the various townships, according to their respective proprietary claims. The support from the permanent funds is supple¬ mented by direct taxation laid upon the taxable property of each dis¬ trict. The greatest limit of taxation for the current expenses is one per cent ; the tax permitted for school house building cannot exceed the same amount.

Among the institutions of learning and ranking, perhaps, the first in importance, is the State University located at Columbia, Boone County. When the State was admitted into the Union, Congress granted to it one entire township of land (46,080 acres) for the sup¬ port of "A Seminary of Learning." The lands secured for this pur¬ pose are among the best and most valuable in the State. These lands were put into the market in 1832 and brought $75,000, which amount was invested in the stock of the old bank of the State of Mis¬ souri, where it remained and increased by accumulation to the sum of $100,000. In 1839, by an act of the General Assembly, five conunis- sioners were appointed to select a site for the State University, the site to contain at least fifty acres of land in a compact form, within two miles of the county seat of Cole, Cooper, Howard, Boone, Calla¬ way or Saline. Bids were let among the counties named, and the county of Boone having subscribed the sum of $117,921, some $18,000 more than any other county, the State University was located in that county, and on the 4th of July, 1840, the corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies.

The present annual income of the University is nearly $65,000. The donations to the institutions connected therewith amount to nearly $400,000. This University with its different departments, is open to both male and female, and both sexes enjoy alike its rights and privileges. Among the professional schools, which form a part of the University, are the Normal, or College of Instruction in Teaching ; Agricultural and Mechanical College ; the School of Mines and Metallurgy ; the College of Law ; the Medical College ; and the Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry. Other departments are contemplated and will be added as necessity requires.

The following will show the names and locations of the schools and institutions of the State, as reported by the Commissioner of Education in 1875: -

Number Of Teachers

The fact that Missouri supports and maintains four hundred and seventy-one newspapers and periodicals, shows that her inhabitants are not only a reading and reflecting people, but that they appreciate " The Press," and its wonderful influence as an educator. The poet has well said : -