Spokane County, Washington - Chapter 19: Spokane County Public Schools, 1900

Chapter 19: Spokane County Public Schools

"God has created you susceptible of education. Therefore it is your duty to educate yourselves as far as lies in your power, and it is your right that the society to which you belong shall not impede your education, but assist you in it, and supply you with the means thereof when you have them not." - Joseph Mazzini.

Though the educational development of Spokane county is but in its infancy, it rivals in efllciency some of the older settlements of the east. The liberal donations of public lands. the generous disposition of the citizens, with push, pluck and enterprise, have contributed toward this end. Wholesome advantage has been taken of the experience of older states and the disposition has been to adopt the best methods and systems from all parts of the coiuitry. The schools have made gratifying ])rogress from year to year, the course of study having been enlarged and improved, new methods and discipline having been adopted as conditions demanded. There has been a constant growth and improvement in system of supervision and organization. Also in the matters of full reports, length of terms, average attendance and efficiency of teaching corps. There has been a marked advance in the standard of teachers. A uinform course of study has been adopted. There has been inaugurated a system of examination for the eighth grade, and when said grade is completed a diploma is granted if the required percentage has been obtained, which gives entrance into any high school in the state. In buildings and equipments the schools will compare favorably with much older settled parts of the country. For such results much credit is due the school boards for intelligence and broad-mindedness which have prompted them to enthusiastic efforts to promote educational interests. Also to superintendents and teachers who as a rule have been devoted and efficient men and women, and also to the people who have generally been ready to give hearty support to every movement tending to make the pulilic schools equal tn all demands. The first Spokane school district was organized in 1874. although the date is not found in the Stevens county recoril. James Monaghan was the superintendent of schools of Stevens county at the time. It is school district number eiglit and described as follows : "Commencing at the moutli of Hangman creek, following up the creek to the Idaho line, thence north along said line to Spokane river, thence to place of beginning." The first report on record is by C. F. Yeaton, clerk, dated November, 1875; number of children of legal age, 1 1 ; average attendance, 4; months taught, 3; amount paid teacher, sixty-seven dollars. Books principally used, Pacific Reader and Speller. Curnell'sGeography, Davis" Primer and .Arithmetic and Greene's Grammar. Report of C. F. Yeaton for year 1876: Number of children over 4 and under 21, 47; no school taught. Report of S. G. Havermale, clerk, for year 1877: Number of children over 4 and under 21, ^/ ; school in session. Apportionment: July, 1876, $11.00; January, 1877, $88.37; July, 1877, $30.80; Januar\% 1878, $53.34. Those were the tiays of small things. To slmw what progress has been made educationally during the last quarter of a century in the region north of the Snake ri\-er and east of the Columbia river, we will present here the

"Number of scholars, 319; number of schoolhouses, 5 ; number of schools kept, 7 ; number of scholars attending, 105; amount of fund apportioned, $850.57; amount raised by subscription, $94.49 ; amount paid teachers, $945. The principal books used are Sanders' series and Davis' geography. Branches taught are reading, writing, spelling, grammar, geography, arithmetic and history. Some of the districts are so thinly settled and the school fund so small that it is difficult to give all the children the advantage of the public schools, hence the small attendance of scholars. But the desire to promote the cause of education is steadily growing stronger amongst the people of this county, and there appears to be a disposition at present to increase the school fund by private contributions and special taxes, especially in the sparsely settled districts, that will if persevered in give better facilities for all the children to attend school than at present exist. I have prepared a school map of the county with district bountaries plainly defined in ^he altering of boundaries and establishing new districts. I have to the best of my ability arranged the lines for the benefit of all the scholars residing in the county. I would respectfully call your attention to section 7, page 424, school law 1873, requiring county sui>erintendents to visit all the schools in the county once a year, and state that there is no provision requiring clerks or directors to notify the superintendent during the time the schools are going on. In a county like this having a large territory and very little mail facilities, it is ditffcult to know when a school in a remote district is in active operation. I have the honor to be very respectfully.

tified with educational interests for many years, was appointed superintendent of public schools until the election. The first one to be elected to the office of county Superintendent was ]\Irs. Maggie M. (Windsor) Halsell, iSSo. It needed a courageous woman to undertake such a task, for. as she says, the county embraced a vast territory then. She was privileged to conduct the first teachers' institute in the countv. It was lield in the ])ul)lic scliool building of Spokane Falls November 5, 1880. We will submit herewith the program for comparison with the elaborate and rich one of last year. Program: Paper on eilucation, Superintendent Maggie M. Windsor. Explanation of some of the most difficult probleius in the ])revious arithmetic examinations. l)y the teachers. A discussion mi the theory and practice of teaching, by all. A paper on grammar, by Miss Belle Spangle. The state superintendent and ex-county superintendent Browne were exjiected to be present, l)ut were prevented, which was a great disappointment. Mrs. Halsell read a paper of rare interest at a teachers' county institute in this city in 189J, which was i)ublished in the Review. It contained reminiscenses of her experience as county .superintendent in early days. She says, "Many were the times the war-songs were heard at dead of night, bringing the thought of liorror and despair to the unprotected pioneers. Spokane county at that time was about three times its present size. This frontier country then, unlike the present, was sparsely settled with civilization. The broad prairies abounded with wild animals and savages. There were no towns, cities or railroads, few roads and only two or three villages within the limits of Spokane county. Most of my work was in the field. Filled with vigor and enthusiasm when I accepted the county school superintendency, I did not realize ( although dismayed by parental opposition) the dangers abroad to l)e any greater than those at home. Being surrounded with painted Indians, armed with bows and arrows, singing their war-songs, was a living horror to lie endured by the pioneers. Spokane county's first surveyor, while on duty in the Coulee country, was severely wounded and left for dead by the Indians, who mounted his horse and disappeared in the woods. On the same day, while returning from visiting a school then within four miles of home, I was startled by two drunken Indians, one of whom clutclied the bridle rein of my horse, which, taking fright, reared frantically, loosening the hold of the fiendish captor. No time was lost in making good my escape. With fear and caution many miles were traveled across the broad prairies only to find myself at the door of a little log cabin called a schoolhouse. in which the teacher had from four to twelve urchins seated on iiewed slabs which were laid upon sawed cuts of logs. On one occasion while \isiting a school 1 was surprised to find two teachers partly employed in teaching seven children. I decided that the teachers (an elderly man and his wife) also boarded and lodged in the same department in which they taught.. Although it was small, they seemed to find room for all. seating them on trunks, boxes and the lied. Nothing had the appearance of order. The children were accustomed to talk aloud and it did not seem to be any part of their program to devote their time to study. One of the recitations was conducted after this manner: Teacher - A\'liat do j'ou think. Nellie, about this lesson in addition?' 'Well, I don't know much about it,' replied Nellie. Teacher - "Harry, have you thought anything about it?' 'No-o-o-o-o-o' responded Harry. I asked the '])rofessor' if he or his wife had a certificate. He replied, "Why, no, I didn't s'pose in a little school like this that we needed any surtificut.' " Mrs. Halsell in the paper referred to suggests that the office reports were meager, for she had to spend most of her time traveling. It is very evident that for the first decade the superintendents did not magnify their office work. They were kept on the wing visiting distant schools.

George S. Brooke

The teachers' institutes were held annually with increased attendance and interest. We find evidence of progress and efficiency from year to year. The second county superintendent of schools was A. J. Stevens, who started a private school at Medical Lake and was also principal of the Cheney school.

Mr. Ste\-ens conducted a teachers' institute at Cheney. September 27th, and 28th, 1881. There were fifteen teachers in attendance. Miss Nellie IMuzzy. of Spokane Falls, was made secretary. Committee of arranements, ]\Iisses Waterhouse and Nash, of Spokane Falls, and Miss Gilkey. of Medical Lake. Subjects of jiapers and discussicins : "Organization of Schools," by all; "Primary Arithmetic," Miss Gilkey: "Teaching Notation." Mr. Thrall : "Numeration," Misses Waterhouse and Nash: "School Government." Superintendent Stevens: "Language." Rev. Gushing Eells: "Reading," Mr. Dc'olittle and Mrs. Bently. It was reported an enthusiastic and profitable institute.

Among the superintendents of this time we find, after the ones mentioned, A. J. Warren, who was one of the early teachers (if Sp'ikane Falls, anil died here a few years ago : Mrs. Lizzie (Halderman) Foraker, now of East Pe<>ne and Mrs. W. C. (INIcMahon) Jones, now the wife of Ex-Congressman \\'. C. Jones, residing in Spokane. They proved themselves devoted and efficient officers. Prompted li)- a desire to promote educational interests, a voluntary organization was partially effected at the close of the teachers' institute held in th.e Methodist Episcopal church tabernacle October 3, 1890. Prof. I. C. Lil)by, county superintendent, now teaching Latin at the high school, was elected president: Zach Stuart Spangle, vice president: C. M. Fitzgerald, Cheney, secretary and treasurer. The first meeting with a program was heKl at Spokane. November 28. i8()o, when a constitution was adopted as follows:

"Name - The Spokane County Teacher's AsS(iciation. The Ass(.»ciation shall meet first on the 28th day of November and every three months thereafter at call of president.

"Membershi]) - Any teacher or any other person interested in education liy signing constitution and paying a membership fee of twenty-fi\'e cents, provided that after the first meeting of the Association no members shall be admitted (without) a favorable vote of a majority of the .\ssociation in session."

At this meeting A. K. Jaquith was elected treasurer, and the following motion was adopted. "We, your committee appointed to formulate an expression concerning teachers' wages, do report the following preamble and resolutions : Whereas. It has been proven by actual experience that a decrease of teachers' wages lowers the standard of the profession by the forcing of the most capal)le to other and more lucrati\-e employments, and, \\'hereas. The rights of the teacher's profession demand a fair compensation for training undergone and labor performed, and. Whereas, The dignity of the profession sometimes suffers from unfair com- ]ietition, be it resolved, l)y the Spokane County Teachers' Association, That we pledge ourselves not to accept employment in any school paying less than fifty dollars per month. Resolved, That we consider it unprofessional conduct for anv teacher to accept employment for less than these figures, or to knowingly underbid any other teacher in striving for a situation. Resolved. That these resolutions be printed in a circular form and sent to every teacher in the county not present at this meeting with a request to sign and return to the executive committee." The meetings were held quite regularly until 1895. ^1'^ county superin- tendents presiding. Some meetings were held in subsequent years up to 1898, some of which have not been recorded. Vahiable papers have been read and important and practical subjects discussed in the meetings of the Teachers' Association. Prof. W. B. Turner, who succeeded Prof. I. C. Libby as county superintendent - filling the office for two terms - inaugurated a movement that tended to excite the ambition of both teachers and scholars of the country schools to aim for higher ideals. He presentetl a banner to the school making the best record in attendance and scholarship. It doubtless proved a wholesome stimulus in the right direction for several years and was instrumental in revealing the qualifications of teachers. During the administration of Prof. Turner's successor, Sujit. Z. Stewart, a school officers' convention was called, the largest assembly of the kind ever held in the state. It was held at the court house and sixty-two districts were represented. The purpose as outlined by Superintendent Stewart was to bringabout greater uniformity in the management of the schools. R. S. Clason, Warsaw district, was made chairman, F. Z. Alexander, Hillyard, secretary. A committee on permanent organization presented the following resolutions :

"j. That we endorse the effort of Superintendent Stewart in calling this convention of school officers to get an expression on school matters.

"2. That we recommend to this body that this organization be made permanent, to meet annually, the date of said meetings to be set by the superintendent.

"3. That it is the duty of the directors of the several county districts to see that the teachers put forth their best efforts while in the school room for the education and ad\-ancement of the pupils under their charge.

"5. That we recommend that the school boards of the several districts w'ork in harmony with the teachers of the. several districts, for the proiuotion of the educational welfare of the pupils.

"6. That a committee of teachers be appointed for the purpose of selecting a list of school room supplies and that school boards buy nothing in that line except such as is commended by said committee. That we recommend the adoption of a uniform system of record books for the use of the school district boards and free text books by the state."

Prof. V. H. Hopson succeeded Prof. Z. Stewart as county superintendent. The present incumbent is Prof. Elmer Drake, wJio is thoroughly devoted to the educational interests of the county. On December 20, 1897, at this city, the Inland Empire Teachers' Association was organized. Committees on organization were appointed as follows : Constitution and bylaws. Prof. J. C. Muerman, Moscow, Idaho, Prof. C.S.Bond, Walla Walla; Alice Neal, Lincoln county, I'rof. W. J. Spillman, Pullman, Mrs. Archer, Spokane; on officers, Profs. Stack, J. W. Smith and Watson ; on time and place. Profs. Kingston, Johnston and Denman. Officers elected : Prof. W. J. Spillman, Pullman, Washington, president ; Prof. J. A. Mitchell, Spokane, vice-president ; Prof. Muerman, Moscow, secretary. The second annual meeting of the association was held at Walla Walla March 23-4-5, 1899. An elaborate program was carried out, when many of the most prt)minent educators in the Northwest participated. The next meeting is to be held at Pendleton, Oregon. The County Teachers' Institute has been held annually with increased interest and profit, as evidenced in the program of the session held in the high scIkkjI building, Spokane, October 30-31 and November 1-2-3, 1899, Elmer Drake, county superintendent. It will be interesting to compare it with the program of the first institute.

Friday, November 3

Ill no way can the progres.s be made more impressive than comparing the figures of today with those of a (|uarter of a century ago. when the nunil)er of districts was one, the num-

Since 1890 the county superintendent, in compliance with state re(iuirements, has ]iresented annual reports to the superintendent of public instruction, with complete details of cash receipts and disbursements, mmiber of census children in districts, numl)er enrolled and in daily attendance, teachers employed, enrollment of years or courses, niunber graduating from eighth grade and receiving diploma. We present herewith the last report :

Number of teachers employed during the year holding state or territorial certificates or diplomas (Clerk's report, p. 2): Male, 6; female, 34; total 40