Clark County, Wisconsin - Chapter 21: The Public Schools, 1918

In the earliest days of Clark County settlement there was little need for public schools. The early population consisted largely of men, few women and children lived here until after 1855. The settlements were isolated, consisting of a few houses here and there near a mill, and of temporary lumber camps. Neillsville was permanently settled in 1845, but it was not until some ten years later that schools were established. In the early fifties Mrs. James O'Neill supervised the studies of a few youths in the neighborhood, James O'Neill, in 1854, was made superintendent of schools of Pine Valley, then embracing the whole county, and a school tax of 2144 mills was voted.

In the next twenty years schools of a primitive sort were established in the various neighborhoods, at the rate of about two a year, The first school report appearing in the county records was rendered by R, J. Sawyer, superintendent, Nov. 13, 1874. On Aug. 1, 1873, there were 1,718 scholars in the county between the ages of 4 and 20 years, thirty-eight schoolhouses valued at $12,210, having maps and apparatus valued at $1,254, and capable of accommodating 1,481 scholars. Six of the school sites contained an acre or more, and ten of the sites were enclosed. School expenses for the year had been $14,309.25. Aug. 1, 1874, there were 2,000 scholars between the ages of 4 and 20 years, fifty-one schoolhouses, valued at $31,500.37, capable of accommodating 2,798 scholars. Nineteen sites contained an acre or more of ground, and fifteen sites were well enclosed. The expenses were $26,010.52. During the year the superintendent made seventy-nine calls on forty-four different schools, traveling some 1,400 miles. In April, 1874, an institute was held, lasting five days, with about fifty teachers in attendance. Eight public and twenty-eight special examinations had been held. There had been granted one second-grade certificate, forty-seven third-grade and thirty-three limited third-grade, or permits. Some of the latter had been given in small districts, where requests had been made for particular persons.

Writing some fifteen years later, George E. Crothers, then county superintendent, said: "In 1879 there were sixty-three school districts; in 1889 there were 106; in 1879 there were 3,204 children of school age; in 1889 there were 6,396, and the census of 1890 will doubtless show a much larger number, Ten years ago we had but two graded schools, now we have eight. All of this increase has come by quiet, steady growth in farming communities and substantial towns, and not from the transient of mushroom cities. There are three well equipped free high schools, besides one at Unity, one-half of whose territory is in this county, although the school building is just over the line. From the three first mentioned,

"The city schools of Neillsville are worthy of special mention, as they rank among the best schools in the state, not excepting the largest cities. There are nine departments, employing eleven teachers, including the high school principal and his assistants. They occupy two fine brick buildings, containing the best provisions for heating and ventilation, and are well supplied with apparatus and libraries. Graduates from the high school may pass into the State University without examination.

"The village schools of Humbird contain three departments and three outlying schoolhouses near the village, all included in the high school district. The people of Humbird are strongly interested in schools, and spare no pains to further educational interests in their midst.

"Thorp has a fine graded school of four departments. Without doubt a free high school will be established during the coming year, as the preliminary steps have already been taken. The grading in the several departments is perfect, and the condition of the school reflects high credit upon the principal, teachers and board of education.

"Dorchester has three departments, occupying two neat frame buildings. The school has always received a liberal support from people of Dorchester and vicinity, and its force cannot fail to be felt in that vicinity or the community at large.

"A fine school building has recently been built in Colby, and the school, as well as the building, is a credit to the village and vicinity. Many of the young people who have come from the high school at Colby are among our best teachers, and show well the character of the school and the work of the principal, who has been at its head since it was established.

"Greenwood will have three departments the coming year, and the indications are that the four rooms of their beautiful school building will soon be occupied, and, no doubt, in the near future a free high school will be organized,

"Loyal and Mapleworks have each two well filled departments, and should the present conditions for the growth of these towns continue, other departments must soon be established.

In the nearly thirty years that have passed since then a wonderful change has taken place, During that time the county has changed from a lumbering country to a dairy region, and this transition has been strongly reflected in domestic life, and consequently in the schools.

The report of the superintendent for 1917 is of much interest. There were nine high schools, twelve state graded schools, and 138 rural schools. The schools of the county provided accommodations for 9,443 pupils, 3,194 in the high and graded schools, 943 in the state graded schools, and 5,306 in the rural schools. There were 12,014 children in the county between the ages of 4 and 20 years. Of these 4,048 boys and 3,984 girls, a total of 8,032, were enrolled in the public schools. In the rural schools there were 4,526 children, in the state graded schools there were 1,003. children, in the grade below the high schools there were 1,825, while in the high schools there were 684. In addition to this three boys and three girls over 20 were enrolled in the high school.

The attendance figures are interesting, as showing the degree of interest the parents take in sending their children to school regularly. Of the 12,014 children of school age in the county, 2,359 attended school 160 or more days. These were divided as follows: Rural, 498 ; State graded, 393; below high school grades, 1,078; high school, 390. There were 3,339 who attended 120 to 159 days, divided as follows: Rural, 2,414; state graded, 394; grades below high school, 350; high school, 181. There were 1,586 who attended 119 or less days, divided as follows: Rural, 1,207; state graded, 183; graded below high school, 157; high school, 89. There were 3,924 children from 7 to 14 who attended 120 days or more in towns and villages, and 160 days in cities, divided as follows: Rural, 3,560; state graded, 129; grades below high school, 150; high school, 85. There were 224 children in the county who attended every day of the school session, 92 in the high school, 19 in the state graded school, and 113 in the rural school,

The state of culture of the teachers is shown by the fact that thirtyfour held training school certificates, 117 state certificates, seventeen first grade certificates and sixteen third grade certificates.

School officers visited the rural schools 344 times, the state graded schools eighty times, and the high and graded schools 110 times. The patrons visited the rural schools, 1,729 times, the state graded schools 142 times, and the high and graded schools, 1,665 times. No less than 893 children had to go more than two miles to school, ninety-three to attend high school, 125 to attend state graded schools and 675 to attend rural schools.

The size of the rural schools is shown by the fact that three enrolled from six to ten children, twelve from eleven to fifteen children, three from six to ten children, twelve from eleven to fifteen children, eighteen from sixteen to twenty children, twenty-four from twenty-one to twenty-five children, twenty-three from twenty-six to thirty children, twenty-two from thirty-one to thirty-five children, ten from thirty-six to forty children, eight from forty-one to forty-five children, four from forty-six to fifty children, six from fifty-one to fifty-five children, four from fifty-six to sixty children, three from sixty-one to sixty-four children and one sixty-five and over.

School grounds have received considerable attention in the county. There are 106 rural schools, five state graded schools, and seven high and graded schools with an acre of land, eleven rural schools, six state graded schools and eleven high and graded schools that have more than an acre, and eighteen rural schools and one state graded school that have less than an acre. One school has no flag, and in fifteen the flag has not been displayed according to law. There are 35,756 volumes in the school libraries, exclusive of public documents and text books. These books were purchased at a cost of $21,405.51.

maintain boys' and girls' agricultural clubs. Five rural, two state graded schools and three high schools held school fairs. Special gatherings have been held in all. Warm lunches are served in twenty rural schools, three state graded schools and two high schools. Playground apparatus is provided by seven rural schools and two state graded schools.

There are now nine high schools in Clark County, located at Neillsville, Humbird, Greenwood, Loyal, Colby, Abbottsford, Owen, Withee and Thorp.

The Neillsville public school system was inaugurated about 1856, with John S. Dore as the first teacher. The high school department, the first in the county, was established in 1878. There are now three buildings. The new high school building houses the general high school departments, the Commercial Course, the Teachers' Training Course, and the Short Course, the latter of which has been of especial benefit to the county, providing with the expenditure of but little time, general educational and cultural training for the country children who have not finished the grades. The old high school building houses the grades and the Manual Training and Domestic Science departments. An Agricultural Course is soon to be established. The ward school in the First Ward, north of O'Neill Creek, provides instruction in the first six grades.

The Humbird High School is a new building, and provides instruction in the grades and in the usual high school studies. The high school at Greenwood is a new building, and provides instruction in Manual Training, Domestic Science and Agriculture, in addition to the usual high school and graded studies. The high school at Loyal specializes in the teaching of Agriculture. Excellent work is also done in Manual Training, and the usual high school and graded studies are covered. Colby has a sightly high school building and a commodious graded school building, both new. Abbotsford has a good high school building, and gives commercial] instruction in addition to the usual high school and grade studies. This school is widely known for its kindergarten and the excellent results accomplished in that department. Owen is in a period of transition. Plans are under way for the erection of a new building, but as yet the property valuation in the district is not sufficient for the borrowing of the amount of money desired. In the meantime the regular courses in the grades and high school are covered in the old school, the Finnish Church and a cottage. Withee has a newly repaired building, and gives instruction in the graded and high school studies. The Thorp high school covers the usual graded and high school studies, and gives special courses in Manual Training and Domestic Science.

In addition to the high schools there are several state graded schools in the county. Dorchester has a new building and covers, in addition to the grades, three years of high school work. Granton has two buildings, and in addition to the grades and three years of high school work, gives instruction in Manual Training. Curtiss (Joint No. 4, Hoard-Mayville) has a good building, and gives instruction in the eight grades. The other state graded schools are as follows: Frenchtown, No. 3, Hixon, two miles west of

Withee; Longwood, No. 1, Longwood, between Greenwood and Withee; Reseburg, No. 2, Reseburg, four miles south of Thorp; Eidsvold, No. 2, Thorp, four miles west of Thorp; Joint No. 1, Withee-Hixon, nine miles east of Thorp; Joint No. 1, Withee-Reseburg, four miles east of Thorp; Joint No. 2, Withee-Reseburg, at Polish Church, two miles east of Thorp (gives one hour of Polish instruction each school day) ; No. 2, Withee, four miles northeast of Thorp; No. 4, York, four miles north of Granton; Williard, No. 5, Hendren. This has just been accepted and appears in the report of 1917 as a rural school. In addition to the graded schools there is a two-room school four miles north of Thorp.

There are a number of excellent Catholic and German Lutheran parochial schools in various parts of the county, and several summer schools are conducted in Danish, Finnish and German.

Nearly all the rural schools are community centers, with mothers' clubs, boys' and girls' agricultural clubs, and frequent patriotic meetings. Teachers' institutes are conducted at Neillsville and Owen, and smaller teachers' meetings in the various communities. Rural commencement exercises are conducted at Thorp, Withee, Colby, Neillsville and Greenwood or Loyal. This summer a large central agricultural exhibition and scholastic meet is planned.

The superintendent of schools is Elizabeth Kennedy. The supervising teachers are Maud Alger, of Neillsville, and Edna West, of Thorp. The County Committee on Public Schools consists of: President, George E. Crothers, Neillsville; secretary (ex-officio), Clarice Dodte, Neillsville; John Huntzicker, Greenwood; E. T. Hale, Humbird.