Cass County, Missouri - Chapter 29: Schools, 1917

Chapter 29: Schools

In the very forming of the State, there was provision made for schooling the young. Even prior to coming into the Union as a State, viz: by act approved January 30, 1817, the territorial legislative body made provisions for schools (laws of 1824, pages 520 and 521).

The framers of the Constitution of 1820 made provisions for edu¬ cating the poor. The establishment of the public school system, the bases practically, of our present, was not put in formal law until 1839. The public school or free schools was not popular. The wealthy, the churches and particularly large property holders, with some exceptions, fought the public schools. This school system has grown in favor as time passes. To it is largely due the happiness of the home, and the intellectual growth of our republic and of necessity broadened and liberalized our citizenship.

Honor to the educators of our State, who by experience and advance¬ ment have added the best obtainable to our system, until it has reached the mighty power the school now wields. Lands have been given by the general government and the State has added to the funds arising from the sale of these lands until today the school funds of this county alone amount to millions of dollars, and is augmented by taxation from year to year.

Today our great system provides for special directors for the schools, rural as well as city. There is absolutely no reason why any child, even of the most humble parentage, should not receive an education. Pro- vision is widely made for higher education by the establishment of high schools, State normals and State universities. All are within the reach of the humblest and the poorest. The public schools are well supple¬ mented with valuable local private schools and church colleges established in many parts of the State.

The insane are cared for by four extensive eleemosynary institu¬ tions of the State. The blind, deaf and dumb are alike cared for, and educated at the State's expense. During the past, nearly a century, no political party in all this history of the State has ever arrayed itself against our free school system. From 1817 to 1917 our people have been earnest advocates of a broad and liberal system of education of the masses. Notwithstanding this liberal policy of the State, the schools of Cass County were in a large measure kept up by private subscription. Private or subscription schools have disappeared in the last third of a century.

At present we have in the county one hundred and twelve well man¬ aged, useful schools. There are in addition eleven high schools, located at Harrisonville, Pleasant Hill, Belton, Garden City, Drexel, Archie, Raymore, Freeman, Peculiar, East Lynne, Creighton, all doing thorough high school work. All these high schools have creditable buildings, well equipped with the necessary machinery for good work for the pupils.

Under the efficient guidance of Prof. Charles A. Burke, county school commissioner, our schools are making remarkable strides toward front among all the counties of the State.

It would seem B. C. Hawkins was school commissioner in 1853, yet the laws seem to mark the year 1857 empowering the county court to appoint this officer.

New School Building, Harrisonville, Mo

Prof. C. A. Burke is now county school superintendent. This office was changed in name from county school commissioner to county school superintendent by legislative act of 1909.