Jackson County, Missouri - Chapter 11: Education, 1881

Chapter 11: Education

Puhtic School System - Public School System of Missouri - Lincoln Institute - Officers of Publii School System - Certificates of Teachers - University of Missouri - Schools - Colleges - Institutions of Learning - Location - Libraries - Newspa.pers and Periodicals - No. of School Chitdren - Amount Expended - Value of Grounds and Buildings - "The Press."

The first constitution of JMissouri provided, that ' ' one school or more, shall be established in each township, as soon as practicable and necessary, 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 gratuitous.

The establishment of the public school system in its essential features, was not perfected until 1839, during the administration of Governor 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 compromising 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 in public schools, could not be otherwise than defective, hence many years of probation passed, before the popular mind was prepared to appreciate the benefits and blessings which spring from these institutions.

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

We can hardly conceive of two grander and more potent promoters of civilization, than the free school and the free press. They would indeed seem to con stitute all that was necessary to the attainment of the happiness and intellectual growth of the Republic and all that was necessary to broaden, to liberalize and instruct.

"For noble youth there is nothing so meet As learning is, to know the good from ill; To know the tongues, and perfectly indite, And of the laws to have a perfect sk'iU, Things to reform as right and justice will, For honor is ordained for no cause But to see right maintained by the laws."

All the States of the Union, have in practical operation the public school 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 Uberal and comprehensive machinery of instruction than Missouri. Her school laws since 1839, have undergone many changes, and always for the better, keep.

ins; pvce with the most enlightened and advanced theories of the most experienced ed icators in the land. But not until 1875, ^^en the new constitution was adoptei, did her present admirable system 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 Lincoln Institute, located at Jefferson Ci y, for the education of colored teachers, receives an annual appropriation trom t le General Assembly.

F jr the support of the public schools, in addition to the annual income derived from the public school fund, which is set apart bylaw, not less than twentyfive p 'r cent, of the State revenue, exclusive of the interest and sinking fund, is annually applied to this purpose.

The officers having in charge the public school interests, are the State "Board of Education;" the State Superintendent; County Superintendent; 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 Superintendent, who is chosen by the people every four years. His duties are numerous. He renders decisions concernin'^ the local application of school law ; keeps a record of all 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 Superintendents 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 directors 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 annually, 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 district, at the annual meeting. These directors may levy a tax not exceeding forty per cent, on the one hundred dollars valuation, provided such annual rates for school purposes may be increased in districts formed of cities and towns, to an amount not to exceed one dol'ar on the hundred dollars valuation ; and in other districts to an amount not to exceed sixty five cents on the one hundred dollars valuation, on the condition that a majority of the voters who are tax-payers, voting at an election held to decide the question, vote for said increase. For the purpose of erecting public Ijuildings in school districts, the rates of taxation thus Umited, 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 qualified voters of such school district voting at such election shall vote therefor.

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 will 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

Teachers must hold a certificate from the State Superintendent or County Commissioner of the county where they teach. State certificates are granted upon personal written examinations 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 attainments. Those issued for one year may represent two grades, marked by qualification alone. The township school fund arises from a grant oflandby the General Government, consisting of section sixteen in each congressional township. The annual income of the township fund is appropriated to the various townships, according to their respective proprietary claims. The support from the permanent funds is supplemented by direct taxation laid upon the taxable property of each district. 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 laind (46.080 acres) for the support of " A Seminary of Learning." The lands secured for this purpose are among the best and most valuable in the State. These lands were put upon the market in 1832 and brought $75,000, which amount was invested in the stock of the old bank of the State of Missouri, where it remained and increased by accumulation to the sum of $100,000. In 1839 by an act of the General Assembly, five commissioners were appointed to select a site lor the State University, the site to contain at least fifty acres of land in a compact form, within two miles of the county seat of Cole, Cooper, Howard, Boone, Callaway or Saline. Bids were let among the counties named and the county ol Boone having subscribed the sum of$ii7,92i, some$i8,ooo 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. There are still unsold about 200,000 acres of land from the grant of 1862. The donations to the institutions connected therewith amount to nearly $400,000. This University with its different departments, is opened 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 ; the Agricultural and Mechanical College ; the School of Mines and Metallurgy; the College of Law ; the Medical College; and the Department ot 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 institution 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 :

But mightiest of the mighty means, On which the arm of progress leans, Man's noblest mission to advance, His woes assuage, his weal enhance. His rights enforce, his wrongs redress- Mightiest of mighty is the Press.