Education

SCHOOLS. The earliest schools in Pontiac date back to about 1822. They were private schools, supported by subscription, and were at first taught in the dwellings of the more prominent settlers. The teachers "boarded 'round," or wherever best suited their convenience. Among the very earliest teachers were two daughters of Jacob Stevens, --Eunice and Martha,-- who taught in Pontiac, probably in 1822. Ira Hodges, a brother of Schuyler Hodges, was one of the earliest in Pontiac. He also taught at or near Auburn, and probably in various other localities.

The first school-building erected in Pontiac stood a little west of the present location of the court-house. It was a small one-story frame building, and was built about 1824-25.

ACADEMY. The Pontiac Academy was chartered by the legislative council April 23, 1833. The original trustees were Samuel Sherwood, Hervey Parke, Olmstead Chamberlin, Amasa Andrews, and William Thompson.

A frame building was erected near the corner of Saginaw and Huron streets, and the school opened under favorable auspices. Among the early teachers was Charles Draper. This school was continued until the advent of the Pontiac branch of the university, which opened September 15, 1837, under the management of Professor George P. Williams, of the Central University at Ann Arbor, in the academy building. The school was short-lived, continuing only two or three years,--the plan having been found impracticable. Professor Williams was the first and only principal. When the academy building was erected, an agreement was made that it should not be used for other than school purposes; but very soon after the discontinuance of the schools religious societies were permitted to make use of it. Among these were the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Universalists.

About 1843 the Presbyterians made a proposition to the village trustees to purchase the property, but as the lots had originally been donated by the Pontiac Company solely for educational purposes, it was a question whether a title could be made to a religious body. A large share of the stock of the original Academy Company was held by the trustees of the First Presbyterian church of Pontiac. It would seem that the Pontiac Company had never executed a deed to the academy. The legislature finally passed an act enabling the trustees of the company to convey the property to the corporation of the village of Pontiac, and it was by them deeded to the Presbyterian trustees. The society occupied the building for religious purposes until the erection of their new one.

Schools were taught in various parts of the town for some years, and often there were several in operation at the same time.

In the spring of 1835 an institution called the "Pontiac Literary Association" opened an English and classical high school. The principal was a Mr. Griswold, a graduate of Union College, Schenectady, New York. The trustees or directors of this institution were Dr. O. Chamberlin, Gideon 0. Whittemore, David Paddack, and Dr. William Thompson. It was probably the old academy. The Rev. Isaac W&. Ruggles, the first Congregational minister in Oakland County, who came here from Chenango county, New York, in 1824, as a missionary, and received from the Missionary Society one hundred dollars per annum for his services, was obliged to pursue additional avocations to eke out a livelihood, and, together with his estimable wife, taught a classical or select school for several years in his own dwelling.

FEMALE SEMINARY. In the autumn of 1835, Miss Eunice Stevens was principal of a seminary for young ladies in the academy building, from which it is inferred that there were several rooms, and a portion of them were rented for outside school purposes.

In 1836, John F. Gile and Caleb Dow opened a literary institute in Pontiac.

In 1842 a school was in operation under the management of J. B. Chase and R. C. Smith, in the academy building, under the name of "Pontiac English and Classical School," and in 1844 a "high school" was opened by S. S. Gale and J. W. Crain.

This brief synopsis of the earlier schools brings us down to the consideration of the union and free-school system.  (As late as 1855, Miss Elizabeth Weaver taught a "select" school in the upper story of the Firemen's Hall.)

ORGANIZATION OF UNION DISTRICT NO. 2.  Previous to the year 1849 the public schools of the village of Pontiac were poorly supported, parents preferring to patronize private schools. In the spring of 1849 a few energetic, public-spirited citizens, aroused by the greater interest in matters of education astir throughout the State, petitioned the school inspectors of the township of Pontiac to form a union district of the village of Pontiac. In compliance with the petition, Union District No. 2 was formed, and its boundaries established.

By the adoption of the union system an absolutely free school was obtainable only, as such a school was not provided by the laws of Michigan until 1859. The new constitution of 1851 made provision that the legislature should establish the free-school system within five years from its adoption, but it was not so established in reality until 1859. Up to that time schools were supported in a greater or less degree by "rate bills" paid per capita by those who placed their children in them.

On the 7th of May, 1849, pursuant to legal notice by order of said inspectors, a meeting of the taxable inhabitants was held at the court-house for permanent organization and the election of proper officers; Gideon O. Whittemore, chairman, and Charles Draper, secretary.

At this meeting Horace C. Thurber was chosen moderator (president), James A. Weeks, director (secretary), and Julius Dean, assessor (treasurer). Below are given the names of the different officers, the dates of their election, and the expiration of their term of office, from 1849 to 1876 inclusive:

* No record of an election being held.

 

TRUSTEES. In 1851, at the annual meeting, September 24, the first full board of four trustees was chosen in addition to the regular officers. One trustee was elected each year to fill vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of one of the board, thereafter. There were now seven members on the board of education.

In 1859 the law was changed, and the board was re-organized. It was now composed of six members, of which two were elected for one year, two for two, and two for three years, and from which time to the present two have been chosen each year, each set of two holding office for three years. To the board the law gives the choice of district officers, and from its own members. It also places the full control of the schools in their hands, such as the hiring of teachers, adoption of text-books, approval of courses of study, organization and grading of schools, the distribution of all moneys belonging to the district, etc. For some time in the earlier history of the district, the director (secretary) was allowed a small compensation for his services, while of late years such custom has been discontinued, his duties largely falling on the clerk.

Below is a list of names of the trustees since 1849, together with the dates of their election, and the expiration of their term of office:

 

 

Within ten days after the annual meeting each newly-elected trustee must file his written acceptance of the office to which he has been elected. The board must organize within twenty days. It has no set rules by which it is governed, choosing to follow such as usually govern such bodies. Neither has it stated times for its meetings, but assembles at the call of the moderator or director, or both, or even at the request of any member. The necessary duties being divided between its director, moderator, and chairmen of the committees, frequent meetings are unnecessary.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION, 1875-76. Augustus C. Baldwin, moderator; Mark Walter, director; W. M. McConnell, assessor; M. E. Crofoot, John P. Wilson, Charles Baldwin, trustees.

Standing Committees.--On teachers, text-books, etc., A. C. Baldwin, M. E. Crofoot, Mark Walter. On buildings, grounds, repairs, and supplies, W. M. McConnell, M. E. Crofoot, Charles Baldwin. On finance and accounts, J. P. Wilson, Charles Baldwin, M. E. Crofoot. J. C. Jones, clerk and superintendent.

PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDENTS FROM 1849 TO 1875. No particular person designated, 1849 to 1851; Jacob Safford, 1851, to April, 1853; Byron G. Stout, April, 1853, to April, 1854; Johnson A. Corbin, April, 1854, to 1864; Charles Hurd, September, 1864, to April, 1867; Johnson A. Corbin, spring term, 1867; Leander W. Pilcher, September, 1867, to January 1, 1869; Johnson A. Corbin, January 1 to February 1, 1869; T. C. Garner, February 1 to June 25, 1869; J. S. D. Taylor, 1869 to 1870; C. S. Fraser, 1870 to 1872; J. C. Jones, 1872.

TEACHERS FOR 1875-76. Joseph C. Jones, M.A., superintendent; salary, $1800.

High School.--Judson G. Pattengill, B.A., principal, instructor in the ancient languages, $1200; Eliza Benton, B.Ph., first assistant, instructor in higher mathematics and sciences, $700; Ada Botsford, second assistant, instructor in higher English and German, $475; Alice P. Myrick, third assistant, instructor in mathematics and German, $400.

Grammar Schools.--Anna E. Jewell, principal, eighth grade, $400; Lizzie Bradford, assistant, seventh grade, $360; Sarah McCarroll, sub-principal, sixth grade, $380; Estelle Short, assistant, fifth grade, $360.

Primary Schools.-Mary L. Beach, fourth grade, $380; Clara E. Norton, assistant, $320; Mary E. Benedict, second ward school, second and third grades, $360; Lucy A. Carpenter, second ward school, first grade, $320; Flora E. Bradford, third ward school, second and third grades, $360; Addie I. Murray, third ward school, first grade, $320; Sarah Palmer, fourth ward school, second and third grades, $360; Hattie S. Beach, fourth ward school, first grade, $320; Mary D. Lighterness, Old Union, first grade, $320.

THE RESOURCES OF THE DISTRICT. These may be classified under four general heads, as follows: Taxes voted, two-mill tax provided for by law; primary school fund, being interest on public moneys arising from the sale of lands donated by the United States for education, held in trust by the State, and incidental sources, such as tuition from nonresident pupils, fines, bonds, interest, etc.

BUILDINGS. OLD UNION.  --Of the school-buildings in the village of Pontiac previous to 1844, but one is now standing, having been converted into a private dwelling. The old log and frame houses have long since disappeared.

On the 9th of May, 1849, the newly-elected school-board was petitioned by William Thompson, George W. Rogers, J. S. Boss, Isaac Dunster, W. W. Phelps, W. I. Fish, J. Hendrickson, H. Pratt, and William Robertson, in the language of the notice, "to call a special meeting of the taxable inhabitants of union district No. 2 of the township of Pontiac, to be held on the 22d of May, seven o'clock P.M., at the court-house, for the purpose of considering the subject of the location of a site whereon to build a school-house, the building of a schoolhouse, and of laying a tax for the same."

Agreeable to the above notice, the taxable inhabitants of the village of Pontiac assembled in the court-house at the appointed hour. William Gilmour, supported by Hon. M. E. Crofoot, offered in substance the following, which directed "the purchase of a site, building of a house, and the levying of the proper and necessary amount of tax."  This being adopted, committed the district to that line of policy since so liberally carried on.

After ten earnest and interesting meetings a site was selected, plans adopted, and money levied for the purchase of the site and building of the Old Union. The site cost six hundred and thirty-eight dollars and eighteen cents, and the contractor's bill was three thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven dollars and thirty-eight cents, two dollars and sixty-two cents less than the amount appropriated. July 28, 1854, two hundred dollars was ordered levied at a special meeting, for the purchase of the bell that now hangs on its cupola. March 31, 1856, to provide for further school room, five hundred dollars was voted to repair and seat three small rooms in the basement of the Old Union.

Description.--The Old Union is a two-story building above the basement, constructed of brick. It has two school-rooms on each floor, separated by a recitation-room and hall-way. Its seating capacity, when used, was two hundred and seventy-five. The use of the basement was early dispensed with. The building was heated with stoves and a furnace. In the fall of 1874, owing to its unsafe condition, it was abandoned.

At the annual meeting in 1858, a resolution was passed directing the appointment of a committee which should investigate, and report at an adjourned meeting in three weeks, the necessities for a new school-building. The report of the committee was adverse; still, on February 1, 1859, it was voted to build a new house worth twenty-five thousand dollars, and establish, in the language of the resolution, a school that "will make our village a desirable place of residence for those seeking a good education for their children." This commendable project received its death-blow March 15, 1859. The architect, who had nearly completed necessary plans and specifications, was requested to present his bill at the next annual meeting in September. 

In 1863 a site was purchased and house built for the colored pupils of the district. The course of events removing the necessity for a separate school, the school was discontinued, and in 1873 the site and house were sold.

THE WARD BUILDINGS.-The increase in the population of the city during the years of 1860 and 1870, inclusive, made it imperative further school accommodations should be provided, notwithstanding the opposition successfully manifested in 1859. On the 10th of July, 1865, in special meeting assembled, the taxable inhabitants ordered that a site on Pike street west, in the vicinity of the Episcopal. church, be purchased and a two-room building of brick be erected thereon, to accommodate the small children in that part of the city. The consummation of this action would relieve the necessities of' the school-board but partially. July 12, in adjourned meeting, sites in the second and third wards were ordered purchased also, and similar houses as above named built on them. Money to the amount of three thousand dollars was voted and six thousand dollars in bonds directed to be issued by the board. These three sites cost three thousand four hundred and fifty-one dollars. The original design was changed and but one-room buildings erected.

Although the Old Union was located on the eastern side of the city, there were many children yet unable to be accommodated; so in 1866, at the annual meeting, the board were authorized to purchase a site opposite the Old Union, on the bank of the mill-pond,-eligible site,-refit an old structure upon the same, which is still standing and in use, besides building thereon a small house with one room, both to be used for children in the primary grade. Notwithstanding by this action and the construction of the ward schools the board had added three hundred and fifty new sittings, there was still need of additional room. July 9, 1867, three thousand six hundred dollars was appropriated for the completion of the original design for two rooms in the ward school-houses. To each of these were added similar ones in size and shape.

Description.--These houses are in the form of the letter T, both rooms communicating by means of a door. The rooms are pleasant, well lighted, ventilated by cold-air flues, have high ceilings. Each is heated by a large woodstove, and has as much blackboard room upon the walls as the doors and windows do not occupy. The seating is double. The seating capacity of each room is sixty-four. The dimensions of the rooms are twenty-four feet by forty feet. The grounds are large and pleasantly situated, affording fine play-room for the pupils.

 THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.-In ten years from the unsuccessful effort to build a school-house that should be an ornament and credit to the city, compelled by the growing want for more room, and the fact that the Old Union must soon be abandoned, after two earnest meetings, the school-board were authorized to purchase a site and issue bonds for the erection of a house. Accordingly, the beautiful oak grove of nine acres on Huron and White Lake streets was purchased, and during the years of 1869, '70, and '71, was placed upon it one of the finest school structures in the State, which, on the 30th of August, 1871, was dedicated with appropriate exercises. Superintendent Duane Doty, of Detroit, delivered an address on the subject of education, and the Hon. H. M. Look, of Pontiac, read one of his most finished poems,-"Cui Bono?"-a satire, on the same subject. Hon. M. E. Crofoot, moderator, gave a history of the transactions attending the inception of the undertaking, the mode of procedure, a financial statement and general description of the building. Upon the first-named subject he said, "As we have assembled on this occasion to dedicate this noble structure to the high purpose for which it was designed and reared, viz., to furnish the means of a thorough and practical education free to all within the limits of the district, it may not be inappropriate, in fact it may be expected, that something of the history of its inception and construction should be given. While many of the cities and villages surrounding us had secured the erection of buildings of beauty and capacity, devoted to the same purpose, Pontiac looked on, but moved not in her organic capacity until fairly shamed into activity by the progress around her. It is true that some of the citizens here for many years had been urging the construction of a building that would correspond with those in surrounding cities, yet the district received but slight agitation from the long slumber and weary drowsiness that surrounded it in quietude. All reforms are the offspring of agitation, and whether what was designed, when the gentle ripple is set in motion that culminates in the whirlwind of action, is accomplished or not, if the effort be made toward progress... something valuable is sure to come of it. So it was that the thought and the wish of many here to see a creditable school-building erected received the first successful impulse in the effort to awaken Pontiac to the necessity of securing more public thoroughfares by new lines of railroad communication, which, though in that line a failure, developed in measures for the successful erection of an edifice which in appearance and merit ranks second to none found in the sister cities of our State."

Description.-The building is in the shape of a Greek cross, and is ninety-six by one hundred feet, with three stories above the basement. The basement is fourteen feet in height, the first and second each fifteen feet, while the third is twenty-six from floor to ceiling. The whole building and surrounding country is overlooked by a tower one hundred feet high. In whatever direction the city is approached, this building is seen for miles away. In the basement are separate play-rooms for boys and girls, supplied with water and heated with stoves. Here also are dwelling-rooms for the janitor, a fuel- and a furnace-room. Upon the first floor are two school-rooms thirty-eight by fifty-one feet, separated by a large hall eighteen feet in width, extending east and west the length of the building. Adjoining these school-rooms on e ach end are three recitation-rooms. Separated from the south school-room by a short, narrow hall in the eastern end of the building, is an office. Stairways reach the second floor from either end of the lower hall. Upon the second floor are the same number and kind of rooms as upon the first, including a room in the tower used as a laboratory, except that the room above the office includes also the space occupied by the hall below. In the third story, reached by correspondingly similar stairs as the second, are music-, library-, two recitation-, and large lecture- or audience-rooms, this latter fifty-one by ninety-two feet, with a stage in the south end twenty-two by thirty-five feet, adjoining either side of which are two small waiting-rooms. The audience-room will readily accommodate eight hundred. The building is faced with white burnt brick and trimmed with cut stone. It is capped with a French roof covered with slate and tin. The ventilation (imperfect) is by cold-air flues. It is heated by steam through pipes fastened to the wainscoting in each room. The seating is single except one room, and all of cherry. Each desk is furnished with an inkstand. The four rooms accommodate four hundred and thirty pupils. Blackboards occupy all available space in every room. The whole structure is finished in the most workmanlike manner. The walls are rough finished and tinted, while the ceilings are of wood painted brown. The wood-work of the doors, windows, and stairways is very elaborate, the doors and window casings being grained a light oak color. The beautiful and sonorous bell that hangs in its tower was donated by the ladies of Pontiac, purchased with funds they had raised to establish a young ladies' seminary, at a time when interest in the public schools was not as enthusiastic as to-day. Its weight is above twelve hundred pounds.

Library and Apparatus.-Connected with the schools is a small library of three hundred volumes. It is intended yearly additions shall be made. The value of the apparatus and laboratory is thirteen hundred dollars. It is in good condition and of very great practical value, being in constant use during the necessities of the subject before the classes. Each student in chemistry is occupied with the teacher on the simpler chemical manipulations in the laboratory during the progress of the study. The board of education furnish chemicals for this purpose. Greater interest is thus aroused, producing more beneficial and pronounced results.

Each room is furnished with a large English dictionary. The high school has encyclopedias, gazetteers, histories, charts, and maps in addition. All schools are furnished with proper maps on geography, and four with arithmetical charts, for practice in the fundamental rules of arithmetic.

High School Courses of Study.

 

Rhetorical exercises are given the pupils every four weeks during the entire course.

Reading and spelling are practiced daily for the first two years from Reader or History.

Lessons in writing are given daily the first and third terms of the first and second years.

Non-resident students, and resident students after the first year, who do not choose to complete a full course, under the advice and consent of the superintendent, may elect such studies as they wish to pursue.

The grading of the Pontiac public schools may be represented in tabular form as follows:

Grading of the Pontiac Public Schools.

 

Generally speaking, the grades and classes correspond; if, however, the number of pupils in any room belonging to any one grade are so many as to require it, one or more classes may be formed.

At present, the First Grade pupils are distributed through four rooms in the Park street and Ward buildings; the Second and Third Grades occupy one room in each of the three Ward buildings, while the Fourth to the Twelfth, inclusive, are in the Grove building, --the Fourth occupying the north room on the first floor; the Fifth to the Eighth, inclusive, the south rooms on the first and second floors, while the north room on the second floor is used exclusively for the high school.  The high school classes are Freshman, Middle, Junior, and Senior for the Classical, Latin-Scientific and Scientific Courses, and Freshman, Middle, and Senior for the English Courses.

It is a safe statement that of the classes entering the high school, one-third graduate, one-third enter on teaching, while the remaining third continue in attendance for periods of time varying from one-third to three and a third years.  This latter third are composed largely of boys and girls from out of the city, with no intention of remaining in school on entering beyond a term, or year, at most, and of those unstable characters found in every school to whom study is a burden.

In confirmation of the above the following facts are corroborative: The class that entered just four years ago graduate just one-third of the thirty-seven beside its additions, while twelve have taught or are teaching.  Of the class below them thirty-four per cent will graduate, while forty-two per cent are teaching.  Of the present middle class more than half expect to graduate.  Of the one hundred and fifty pupils enrolled in the high school in 1872-73, sixty-seven are teaching.  Of the non-resident pupils for the past five years in the high school, over thirty-five per cent, are teachers.

GRADUATES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Class of 1867.- ¹Ella Gaylord, Waterford; Maggie Hubbell, ¹Charlotte Tyler, ¹Addie Jennelle, ¹Emma L. Comstock, ¹*Richard Hudson, ^{1 2}Charles Chandler, Pontiac.

Class of 1869. -- ¹Mary Ripley, ¹Sarah McCarroll, Pontiac.

Class of 1872. — ¹Enoch M. Beebe, ¹Ella M. Crissey, Pontiac; ¹Alice P. Myrick, Ann Arbor; ²Joseph O. Ripley, Pontiac; ²Arthur A. Tripp, Commerce.

Class of 1873.-- ¹Florus A. Barbour, ^{1 2}Hattie L. Beach, Pontiac; ¹Lucy H. Carpenter, West Bloomfield; ¹Minnie E. Chandler, ¹Eva Chandler,: Louis W. Crofoot, ³John S. Crombie,  ^{1 2}Cloey Dawson, ¹Mary Lighterness, William McCarroll,  ^{1 2}Emily E. West, ¹Frank A. West, Pontiac.

Class of 1874.-Eva Adams, Belle Bacon, ¹George S. Fisher,²Edward King, ¹Francis Le Roy, Belle Manning, George McCallum,  ^{1 2}Addie I. Murray, Pontiac; Sallie Myrick, ²Harry Myrick, Ann Arbor; ¹Sarah Palmer,  ^{1 2}Edwin Phillips, Pontiac; ²James T. Shaw, Detroit; ²Hiram E. Terry, Avon;  ^{1 2}Elmer R. Webster,: White Lake; ²Newton Weist, Pontiac.

Class of 1875.-Alice Chandler, Katie E. Beach, ¹Carleton Beardsley, ¹Marion Gerls,  ^{1 2}Fanny Goodnow, Pontiac; ²Will. Morris,: Detroit; ¹Clara Norton, ²Lottie M. Smith, Pontiac.