Erie County, Pennsylvania

Part II Chapter XXIV
Schools, Academies, etc.

In founding the colony of Pennsylvania, William Penn declared that wisdom and virtue "must be carefully propagated by a virtuous education of youth." To make this precept more emphatic, he provided in his frame of Government for the infant commonwealth that the Governor and Council should "erect and order public schools." The wise example of the founder was followed by the heroes of the Revolution, in framing the Constitution of 1776, with a requirement that "a school or schools shall be established in each county." The Constitution of 1790 went still further by declaring that the Legislature might provide for the establishment of schools throughout the State "in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis." Notwithstanding those noble declarations, little progress toward the schooling of the masses was effected until a comparatively recent period. Generous endowments were made by the State to colleges and academies, but the idea of "common schools," open alike to rich and poor, and supported at the public expense by a system of equal taxation, was slow in winning the approval of property owners. "Pay schools," in which the children were trained for a moderate compensation, were common, however, almost every district having one or more, according to its population. The primary schools in Erie County, up to 1834, were all of this character.

As early as 1821, Gov. Heister, in his message to the Legislature declared it to be "an imperative duty to introduce and support a liberal system of education, connected with some general religious instruction." Gov. Shultze's message to the Legislature of 1827 contained this passage: "Among the injunctions of the Constitution, there is none more interesting than that which enjoins it as a duty on the Legislature to provide for the education of the poor throughout the commonwealth." In 1828, the same executive stated in his annual message that he could not forbear from "again calling attention to the subject of public education. To devise means for the establishment of a fund and the adoption of a plan by which the blessings of the more necessary branches of education should be conferred on every family within our borders would be every way worthy the Legislature of Pennsylvania."

The first practical step in the direction of a common school system for Pennsylvania was taken when George Wolf, of Northampton County, was elected Governor in 1829. The question of public schools entered largely into the canvass preceding his election, and the Democratic leaders were generally pledged to some sort of a measure for the purpose. In a speech delivered during the campaign, James Buchanan said: "If ever the passion of envy could be excused in a man ambitious of true glory, he might almost be justified in envying the fame of that favored individual, whoever he may be, whom Providence intends to make the instrument in establishing common schools throughout the commonwealth." Gov. Wolf's inaugural address took strong ground in favor of the education of the masses, and the Legislature of 1830, in accordance with his recommendation, set apart a sum of money to be placed at interest and used at some future period in establishing a common school system. This did not satisfy the Governor, who was one of the most progressive men of his day, and be continued to urge the free school idea until the passage of the act of 1834-35. The original law made it optional with each township, ward and borough to adopt the system.

Strange as it may seem, there was violent opposition to the measure in some parts of the State. The persons interested in colleges, academies and pay schools objected to it through fear of a loss to their revenues; the wealthy and the snobbish disliked it because they did not want their children to mix with the "vulgar herd;" the penurious dreaded an increase of taxation; and a hundred objections were urged that seem too absurd now for any reasonable person ever to have believed. At the ensuing session, a motion for the repeal of the law was offered by John Strohm, of Lancaster County, and eloquently opposed by Thaddeus Stevens, then a Representative from Adams. Mr. Stevens closed his remarks with this thrilling sentence: "If the opponent of education were my most intimate personal and political friend, and the free school candidate my most obnoxious enemy, I should deem it my duty as a patriot, at this moment of our intellectual crisis, to forget all other considerations, and I should place myself unhesitatingly and cordially in the ranks of him whose banner streams in light." Col. Forney used to relate that after this speech, Mr. Stevens visited the Executive Chamber by invitation of Gov. Wolf, when the latter "threw his arms about his neck, and, with tearful eyes and broken voice, thanked him for the great service he had rendered to our common humanity." The bill was saved, but was improved and made more acceptable during the administration of Gov. Ritner, who succeeded Gov. Wolf. Probably no one man did more effective service in building up the system than Thomas H. Burrowes, who was Gov. Ritner's Secretary of State, and, as such, official head of the School Department. During Ritner's administration the annual State appropriation was increased from $75,000 to $400,000, and the number of schools to 5,000.

The act passed in 1849 made the adoption of the system obligatory through out the State. The law of 1854, providing for County Superintendents, teachers' examinations, and other important measures, was prepared by Hon. H. L. Dieffenbach, of Clinton County, acting head of the School Department, with the assistance of Gov. Bigler and Secretary of State Charles A. Black. After that came the normal school act of 1857, making a complete system, and giving to Pennsylvania the proud and conceded pre-eminence of having the best school laws in the Union.

The County Schools
For several years after the county was established, the population was too small and sparse to maintain more than a few schools. These were wholly private, parents paying the teachers a stated sum for each of their children who attended. The first school of which a record can be found was established in Waterford about 1800; at Manchester in Fairview Township in 1804; at Erie in 1806; at Union in 1820, and at Phillipsville in 1828. Others were opened at an early date, on Federal Hill, within the present limits of Erie; on the Joseph Eagley place in Springfield; and, through the agency of Charles J. Reed, in Mill Creek Township. The earliest school buildings in Waterford and Erie were erected in 1800 and 1806 respectively, being built by the free contributions of the citizens. By 1812, almost every village and township had one or more "pay" schools. These were increased by degrees so that when the law of 1834 went into force it found every district fairly well supplied with educational facilities. The school buildings were generally put up by calling together the citizens interested, on a certain day, with their teams and wagons, to raise and cover the structure. They were built of logs in almost every instance, and were usually very poorly arranged and ventilated. The "schoolmasters," as they were called, were plain men, who made no pretension to a knowledge of more than the rudimentary branches. They believed in the use of the rod, and applied it with vigor for every small offense. A ready knowledge of "the three R's" -- Readin', 'Ritin and 'Rithmetic -- was all that was supposed to be necessary for the average boy and girl.

School Books, etc.
The school books most universally used in the beginning were Webster's and Byerly's Spelling Books, the English Reader and Daboll's Arithmetic. The teacher was expected to be a good penman and to be able to "set the copy" himself. There were no rules for writing, and the pupil was obliged to follow, as nearly as he could, the handwriting of the master. A better class of books came in at a later date, including Cobb's Spelling Book, Goodrich's, Parley's and Mitchell's Geographies; Parley's and Mitchell's Histories; the First, Second and Third Readers; Smith's Grammar, and Davies' Arithmetics. If the children of this generation wish to know something of the hardships through which their parents struggled to get a little book knowledge, let them hunt up some of the old works here named, if they can be found, and compare them with the ones now in use. Cobb's Spelling Book was introduced into this section in 1827. The copyright for one-half of the State of Pennsylvania was purchased by Joseph M. Sterrett and Oliver Spafford, who published the work in Erie for many years, realizing a snug profit from the enterprise. Mr. Spafford at one time also published the "English Reader."

Erie County was one of the foremost in taking advantage of the common school law. The act required that the directors of each county should meet annually in convention with the County Commissioners and determine the amount of school tax to be raised. The first convention for this purpose was held in the court house soon after the passage of the law, and was attended by representatives from every district in the county. A levy of $2,000 was voted unanimously, and the people were requested to decide by vote whether an additional sum should be raised in the several districts. The directors in each district were authorized to levy a tax in addition to the county appropriation, but it would seem from the above action that they had a delicacy about exercising their power without consulting the tax-payers -- an example that is commended to the imitation of some officials of the present day. An extra tax of $1,000 was voted in Erie, the active spirits in having it done being E. Babbitt, George Kellogg, Dr. William Johns and William Kelly. In a few years, the law was changed so as to leave the amount of tax to be designated by the directors of the several districts, in which shape it still remains.

The first convention for the choice of a County Superintendent was held in Erie in 1854. William H. Armstrong was elected at a salary of $800 per year.

Spelling Schools
The spelling school was a once popular institution, in both town and country. As usually conducted, the pupils of the district school would assemble on some winter evening and choose two of the best spellers for leaders, who, in turn, would select from six to a dozen others on each side. These would range themselves in standing rows on opposite sides of the building, and the teacher or some other competent person would give out the words to be spelled from a book that had been agreed upon. The pupil who missed a word had to take his seat immediately, and the exercise continued until but one of the contestants remained upon the floor, who became the hero of the occasion. Sometimes half a dozen spelling matches would occur in an evening. Two neighboring schools would often meet in rivalry, and the event would be the talk of the neighborhood for a month or so. In many districts, the spelling school was the regular winter amusement, old and young attending, and all looking forward to the evening with an interest that cannot be described. The spelling match was not the only kind of a match that grew out of this custom, as many worthy fathers and mothers will testify.

Academies, etc.
While the State was slow in adopting the common school system, the liberality she displayed in founding colleges and academies proves that it was wholly through doubts of its policy, and not because good educational facilities were not appreciated. Provision was made at an early day for an academy in each county, and generous appropriations were made to colleges and universities. The Waterford and Erie Academies were incorporated in 1811 and 1817 respectively, the buildings for both being completed in 1822. A bountiful donation of lands was given by the State for the support of each institution and both are still in operation.

The Erie Female Seminary was incorporated in 1838 and went into operation soon after, receiving an annual appropriation of $300 from the Legislature for several years. It kept up till about 1866, but never had any buildings of its own. The last location of the seminary was in the Hamot House, on the bank of the bay, at the foot of State street.

Academies were established at West Springfield in 1853, at East Springfield in 1856, at Girard in 1859, and at North Springfield in 1866, which were conducted for some years with a certain degree of success. All except the one at North Springfield have become merged into the common school system.

The Normal School at Edinboro is the only State educational institution in the county. It was founded as an Academy in 1857, and re-organized as a State Normal School in 1861. This school has been quite prosperous for the past ten years, and has the promise of a long and useful career.

The Lake Shore Seminary was established at North East in 1870. Liberal contributions were secured and a fine building was erected. The institution became involved, and the property was bought in at Sheriff's sale by the principal creditor. The latter, in 1880, sold the building to the Redemptionist Fathers, of Annapolis, Md., who re-dedicated it as St. Mary's College. It is conducted as a preparatory school for young men intending to enter the Catholic priesthood.

Fuller particulars of the above institutions will be found in the sketches of their respective localities.

General Remarks
To return to the common schools, they are under the control of directors, who are elected by the people of the several districts at the spring elections, a certain number going out each year. Each city, borough and township is a district by itself. There are three independent districts in the county, viz: Belle Valley, Elk Creek, and Franklin, and Lake Pleasant. The State grants every district an annual appropriation, which is apportioned according to the number of pupils. Teachers are employed by the directors of the district in which they are to serve, but most have passed an examination and received a certificate of competency from the County Superintendent. The latter holds an annual examination in each district, and is expected to visit every school in the county once in each year. The following is a list of the County Superintendents since the adoption of the law creating the office:

William H. Armstrong, Wattsburg, 1854 to 1860. L. W. Savage, Springfield, 1860 to 1863. D. P. Ensign, Erie, served six months in 1863, and resigned. Julius Degmier, Erie, appointed for six months, and then elected to serve until 1866. L. T. Fisk, Girard, 1866 to 1869. C. C. Taylor, Elk Creek, 1869 to 1878. Charles Twining, Union, 1878 to 1884. Salary, $1,500.

The office of City Superintendent of the Schools of Erie has been filled since 1867 by H. S. Jones, whose salary in 1883 was $2,200. V. G. Curtis, City Superintendent of Corry, receives a salary of $1,600.