CITY OF WASHINGTON. 247 XXXII. CITY OF WASHINGTON. THIS city, the capital of the United States, and nowhere included under the statements already given, requires a brief notice. A system of public education has been gradually developing and maturing since 1808, when the first school was opened. Originally the plan only embraced the education of indigent children at public expense. Subsequently the plan was enlarged to admit other pupils, upon payment of a quarterly tuition fee of fifty cents each. The appropriations of Congress still continued to be limited in amount, and unsuited to the exigency. Meanwhile, the pupils increased in number, and more pressing demands were brought to the notice of the Trustees. In 1842, the plan was proposed, founded upon the failure of past expedients to educate only one fourth of the indigent children, to open the schools to all, to be enjoyed like the air, or the use of the highway. But not much was accomplished until 1848, when a new city charter, containing a provision for a school tax, was granted by Congress. Since then "the schools of Washington have been conducted essentially on the same principles as those in the larger towns of Massachusetts. They are open freely to all white children, in the order of application [the school accommodations not serving for all applicants], over the age of six years."-Am. Ed. Year-Book, 1857. The Private Academies and Seminaries in the District are numerous for small a territory. Some of the most prominent are as follows: The Union Academy, Z. Richards, A.M., Principal and Proprietor. The Rittenhouse Academy, O. C. Wight, A.B., Principal and Proprietor. The Washington Seminary (Catholic), under the Jesuits. The Georgetown Female Seminary, McLeod's Female Seminary, The Metropolitan Female Institute, The English and French Collegiate Institute (female), and several others of similar, though of less important character, are institutions of respectability. There are no other literary and scientific institutions, and no Teachers' Institutes. There is, however, an efficient Teachers' Association, which accomplishes much good, in the same direction as Teachers' Institutes. O. C. Wight, A.M., President; C. B. Young, Secretary. The only body corresponding to a Board of Education is that of the Trustees of the Public Schools, elected by the city government, whose duties are similar to School Committees in other cities. The Secretary of this Board is Robert Ricketts. APPENDIX. I. [THE following particulars relative to the general history and progress of Free Schools in Delaware were not received in season to be inserted in the appropriate place. See page 164.] DELAWARE. Under this act, THE first School Law passed in Delaware was in 1817. Trustees were appointed from every hundred in each county, to provide for the education of poor children. The fund for this purpose was to be drawn by the trustees, "with this extraordinary proviso," says the Hon. Willard Hall, Judge of the United States Court for the District of Delaware: "Provided, trustees are not authorized to expend the money except for benefit of instructing in reading, writing, and arithmetic, such children as may be obviously unable to receive the rudiments of an English education from any private or other source, except otherwise provided." Such laws were passed annually for a few years, and were treated as insulting. One of the trustees of Kent County told Judge Hall, that, on inquiring at a house for scholars, he was rudely rejected, and that he could not find one scholar willing to come under the law. The present School Law was enacted in 1829, and was drawn up by the Hon. Judge Hall.* Although, at present, not equal to the necessities of the *The following synopsis, prepared for the American Educational Year-Book by Judge Hall, will give the reader a good idea of the legislative enactments for public education. 1829, February 12. An Act of Assembly was passed for the establishment of free schools in the State. Under this act, in 1830 and 1831, the State was divided into school districts. Each district had certain powers under the act, to be exercised by the school voters in an annual meeting, and by a School Committee of three, chosen by this meeting. Each district raised, by a vote of the school voters of the same, in the annual meeting, such sum as the voters saw fit to determine; and a qualified power of taxation was conferred by ballot. If the sum of twenty-five dollars was so raised, the district was entitled to its dividend of the School Fund; otherwise, the dividend was forfeited. This dividend was at first about $100 a year; it is now more. There were ten districts laid off in Wilmington under this law. One or two of them Sa C people, or demand of the times, no other law could have been passed, or would have been received by the people. There are about two hundred school districts in the State of Delaware; about eighty in New Castle County, fifty in Kent County, and eighty in Sussex County. As a general rule, each district embraces a territory containing population for one school. Three School Commissioners, one of whom is elected as Clerk, are chosen by the voters annually, in April; at the annual meeting, and at that alone, the people may vote for a tax, and specify the sum to be raised. No district, except in certain cases for which special acts have been passed, can raise more than three hundred dollars; if were organized, but were in operation for two or three years only. The greater number never even organized according to the provisions of the law. Under acts of our Legislature nine of these districts were united in 1834, and built a school-house for the united district, with two apartments, one for a boys' and the other for a girls' school, for 150 scholars in each apartment. Under this organization, these schools continued till April, 1852. February 2, 1852, an act of the Legislature was passed, forming a Board of Public Education, to have in charge the public education in common schools for the city of Wilmington. This board came into action the first Saturday of April, 1852. Its duty is to increase the number and improve the condition of the common schools, until it shall satisfactorily appear that there are sufficient public schools to accommodate all the white children and minors whose parents, masters, or guardians shall desire this benefit for them. This board consists of fifteen members, viz. three for each ward of the city. Each member holds his office for three years; they have been so classified, that one is elected for the three years' term in each ward every year. Vacancies by death, removal, or otherwise, are supplied by vote of the board till ensuing election, and then by vote of school voters; the members for each ward are elected by the school voters in that ward. The money for the schools is raised by taxation. The board certify to the City Council their computation of the sum necessary to be raised to enable them to discharge their duties to the citizens in this matter of public education, and the City Council apportion and assess the sum upon the persons and estates in the city, at a rate per cent determined upon a view of the personal rates and property valuations. The board holds possession of the school-house built, as above mentioned, for the united school district. Four new schoolhouses have been built, - one for 350 scholars, the next for 248 scholars, the next two each for 368 scholars, and two houses are rented, one for 128 scholars, the other for 64 scholars; and the board are commencing another for 300 scholars. The computations certified to the City Council, and for which they have laid taxes, have been, -1853, $7,389; 1854, $10,000; 1855, $9,000; 1856, $12,500; 1857, $11,500. The board received dividends for the School Fund, in addition, of $1,300 to $ 1,500 a year. The whole number of scholars in the schools is about 1,800. There has been a prejudice against the common school. It has been deemed an organization for the poor. The prejudice wears out gradually, and as it wears out the schools increase. When the united district commenced, in 1834, the money requisite to be added to the School Fund dividends was begged from door to door. Afterwards application was made to the City Council. The small sums solicited, usually about enough to meet the minimum required to receive the dividends from the School Fund, $250 a year, were obtained with difficulty. Now no difficulty is made in case of a computation requiring $11,500. twenty-five dollars is raised by tax or subscription, the district is entitled to its share of the School Fund. The School Fund is larger, in proportion to the population, than that of any other State, except Connecticut. Each district in New Castle County receives an average of about one hundred and forty dollars per annum. School Fund is distributed equally to the three counties. The The people may vote down the school, at any annual meeting, by voting against the tax. This has been done frequently. The law provides for the appointment of a Superintendent of Free Schools in each county. There is no salary. The Superintendent is allowed his postage and travelling expenses. The Hon. Willard Hall acted as Superintendent for New Castle County for many years. For the last three years Dr. A. H. Grimshaw has officiated. It is not known that any appointment has been made for either Kent or Sussex County. Teachers are not required to be examined. Of late years, however, the Committees have frequently requested the Superintendent to examine applicants. As in the early stages of common schools in Massachusetts, female teachers are not popular. They are frequently engaged as teachers in summer schools. Usually, ignorant men are preferred to competent females. In the year 1852, after a few years' agitation, the city of Wilmington procured the enactment of a School Law. Under this a Board of Education containing fifteen members is elected, the term of office of one third expiring annually. The Hon. Willard Hall has been the President of this Board from its foundation. The city of Wilmington expends annually for free schools about $9,000 raised by taxation, and about $1,300 received from the School Fund. In addition to this, at least $ 30,000 have been expended in the erection of school-houses. |