Barton County KS Archives History - Books .....Public Schools 1912 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 9, 2007, 1:27 pm Book Title: Biographical History Of Barton County BARTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE history of the public schools of Barton County since the first district was organized in '72 has been one of steady progress and consistent improvements. New buildings have been added and additional teachers employed as fast as demands made it necessary. The first school district was established June 3, 1872, by A. Hownson, superintendent of public instruction of Ellsworth County, Kansas, and included the following territory. Sections 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34 in township 19, south of range 13 west. It was known as District Number 1, and included the City of Great Bend. The first meeting of the board which consisted of J. C. Martin, G. W. Nimocks and D. N. Heizer, was held in the store of John Hubbard in Great Bend June 15, 1872. It may be of interest to some to know that the teachers in those days were paid very small salaries as can be seen from the following. The teachers in the first district were James Bickerdyke, $45 per month; Mrs. H. Ingersoll, $20 per month; J. A. McClellan, $75 per month; Charles Dodge, $23 per month; Miss C. Storrey, $50 per month; Miss Haddle Hartman, $50 per month; Miss C. Bacon, $50 per month and Andrew McKinney, $40 per month. Soon after the establishment of the first district other districts were added until now there are in the county 104 districts, with 150 teachers and 107 buildings. The first superintendent of public instruction was A. C. Moses and the present incumbent of the office is Jennie B. Momyer. The schools of Barton county are among the best in the state of ansas [sic] and in 1912 the attendance is the largest in the history of the county, it being slightly over 1,000 in Great Bend alone. GREAT BEND SCHOOLS. The increased attendance during the past year is evidence of the increasing population of the county. So crowded has the two grade buildings become that it has been necessary to open three rooms for grade purposes in the high school building and next year additional room will need to be provided for grade purposes. At the present rate of increase it is only a matter of a very short time before a new ward building must be built to accommodate the children of the city. The course of study followed is the one used in most of the first and second class cities of our state. [photo] New High School, Great Bend HIGH SCHOOL. The Great Bend High School is organized under the Barnes High School Law and therefore belongs to the whole county. The school is well equipped with a splendid modern building, apparatus of latest kind in every department. This year a faculty of nine members, including the superintendent, is necessary to take care of the increased enrollment, and the new departments which are being added. The school enrolled in 1911 about 200 pupils from Barton County and adjoining counties. This is an increase of nearly forty per cent over the enrollment of the previous year. Prospects for a still larger enrollment are bright for the coming school year. Some conception of the many lines of work offered in the high school may be obtained by briefly considering the various courses of study. The college preparatory course is designated for those whose ambitions direct them to a college course. It includes Latin, Mathematics, English, History and Science. Those completing this course are admitted to the Freshman, class of the Kansas University and the other colleges and universities of this and other states. The Normal Training Course is arranged for those who intend to teach. This course includes about the same subjects as those found in the college preparatory course but includes besides Psychology, Methods and Management and a thorough review of most of the common branches. Persons completing this course and passing a state examination in eight subjects indicated above, are given a state certificate good for two years and at the end of that time renewable. Young people who are contemplating teaching and teachers who wish to become better prepared for their work should make arrangements to take this course. It is possible to complete the Normal Training Course and at the same time complete work sufficient for college entrance. The Business Course is composed of the regular commercial subjects, book-keeping, short-hand, typewriting, commercial arithmetic, commercial geography, and commercial law, similar to those found in the leading business colleges, and in addition this course includes a greater amount of academic work. A great many difficulties on account of immaturity found among eighth grade graduates who complete a course will be overcome by the time a good high school course is completed. Such a course gives one who enters business life an advantage that is worth securing. Knowledge is power, and the broader the culture the greater chance of success. If a business course without such training is good, a business course with such training is very good. The Manual Training department which was established two years ago, and which has been in charge of experts during this time has proved very popular as well as profitable to the boys of the school. No young man whatever his station in life finds the ability to use his hands in the production of some useful article detrimental to his success. All persons are not endowed with power to become proficient in classical or professional courses, hence the popular demand for courses which train for useful vocations along practical lines. The work done in this department has called forth much favorable comment on account of its high grade. Tables, chairs, tabourets, pedestals and dozens of other useful articles suitable for any home have been made by the students. This work is carried by the pupils, while doing regular high school work in English, Mathematics and Science. A visit to this department would reveal a busy work shop or laboratory filled with busy contented boys, happy in the joy which comes from the conscious direction of muscular effort to the accomplishment of some useful end. No one can well deny that there is just as valuable kind of training coming from this effort as that which comes from the translation of a Latin sentence or the conjugation of a Greek verb. It is not the purpose to turn out finished workmen but young men with the power to direct the hands to execute what the mind constructs. The coming year will see installed Domestic Science and Art for the girls. A room is being arranged with tables, sinks, cupboards, stoves and cooking utensils of all kinds. There under the direction of a competent instructor the young ladies of the school will be taught household economy. It is doubtful if a more useful or practical line of work can be found than this which teaches the future mothers of our state how to prepare food and care for the home. The Domestic Art room will be fitted with sewing tables, chairs, machines and rockers. The work in sewing is just as essential as either Manual Training or Domestic Art. It may never be necessary for many young ladies to sew for themselves or others, but it certainly will ever be a source of satisfaction to know when a garment is made correctly and fitted accurately. It is believed these courses will prove very popular among the girls. Another course for next year, which should reach practical needs in our county is agriculture. It is net the purpose of this study to do demonstrative work, but to teach in a practical way the science of agriculture. The course will be outlined by the state department and will include a thorough study of soil; its formation, kinds, properties, moisture holding power, methods of enriching and tillage; seeds; their structure, selection and planting; rotation of crops; principal crops, dairying, stock raising, etc. This article should not close without calling attention to the school organization, which go to make up the school life as well as giV3 a very useful training. These are the two library or rhetorical societies, the Y. M. C. A. and the chorus, the orchestra and the entertainment association. The latter conducts a splendid course of lectures and entertainments during the school year. It is hoped the young people of Barton County will avail themselves of the opportunity to secure an education in this well organized and well equipped school. Additional Comments: From: Biographical History Of Barton County File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/barton/history/1912/biograph/publicsc50gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 9.0 Kb