People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1895 — Rensselaer Public Schools. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Rensselaer Public Schools.

Mlistory of Rensselaer’s Schools.

BY MISS GRACE VANATTA.

(The writer is greatly indebted to Messrs. M. L. Spitler, S I*. Thompson anti r,. i,. Clark for the history of the early period.) One of the most important factors in the dev elopement of society is the public school. Indiana enjoys the distinction of having one of the best school systems in the I'nitcd States, partly due. no doubt, to the fact that sir: is a portion of wh it was oi iginally the ‘'Northwest, Territory” for which special legislat ion of the general government was enacted iti 178,1, wigeh laid an excellent foundation for the school system of the states which later evolved from that territory. The pioneers of Jasper count y were not behind the general sentiment; of the state, in reg'ard to educational matters, and long before the State could aid them they hud begun i he solution of this great problem for themselves. They built log school houses and main tallied subscript ion schools. Neighborhoods worked together and put up the cabin, and the patrons paid the expense of the teacher's salary in proportion to the number of pupils sent from a family. In 1841 (i. \V. Spitler taught the first school id Rensselaer, in the second story of a log cabin which stood where G.’W. Goff’s restaurant now stands Tile next school was taught, in a log house which stood immediately south of elms. 1). Nowels residence, by an old man named Blakey. The next school was held in a one story log building and stood on the old race hank, where .1. K. \ anatta's store now stands. The youthful pioneers next "got their learnin” in the lower story of the old log court house which stood about where Mr. Seih now lives, east of t lie court house square. A man by the name of Kowley taught one winter and was forced to resign his position on account of cruel and inhuman treatment of his pupils. Many schools were held in the present court house. Perhaps the most notable teacher here was tlia first woman teacher. Miss Sarah Sexton, a sister of the great woman preacher. Miss Lydia Sexton, who recently died in Kanas. Mr. William Strickler was perhaps the most highly educated and cultured man who taught in our village in the early days. School was held one winter in a log house directly west of Joseph F. Hi IT's livery stable. One winter the seekers for knowledge went to school at "Peck town” there being no school at Rensselaer. "Peck Town” was a thriving young village which for some time threatened to out-strip Rensselaer. It was situated on the Indian trail ■ leading down the river, just east of Peacock’s spring where Peck and Bingham owned a large and nourishing grist mill. The high waters washed away the milldant, the mill went to decay and now "Peck Town” is a niembry of the past. The punishments meted out to disobedient scholars of that day were ludicrous, painful and varied. The pupil v as compelled to stand on his left foot and right fore finger, or if a boy, to sit between two pretty girls. If a girl, to sit between two homely boys. Sometimes in summer time one was suspended in the chimney, allowing the feet to rest on the hearth stone, and occasionally turning him around as if curing meat. When all other remedies failed the switch was used unsparingly and with ferocious Intent. The liraches taught consisted mainly of the 3 It’s "Readin” "Writin” Uithmetic”. The teacher was able generally to advance the pupils to the single rule of three in Arith-

inetic, and to conjugate the verb "to love” in grammar, and the pupils could often give abetter physical exemplification of this, tijaii intellectual. In 1881 Mr. S. P. Thompson took charge of -of the schools of the town. There were then | three teachers. School was held in a build- | ing which stood on the corner of Van Rensse- ) laer and Washington streets where Ellis & I Murray’s store now stands, j The first school house in the town was built In 1803. on the corner of Front and j Bounty road and consisted of three rooms. | This was afterwards enlarged to live rooms. ! When Mr. Thompson entered the schools he j found that in the eyes of his pupils education j consisted of •■Spellin” and "Ciphering,” j "Fat'll dupi I had been in the habit of follow- ! ing his <>\vn" bent. If one hiked "ciphering" j lie began at the beginning and "ciphered j through” and the same with regardto”spelliin.” Mis nupils numbered about 110. 1804- : Mr. Thompson was Superintendent who was | followed by Mr. G. W. Fitzgerald. In 1807 F. A. Kohinson took charge of the j schools as superintendent. I. M. Stackhouse j being president of the Bo*t-d of Trustee. J The duration of his term was five months. | W. 11. Martin. Miss Ella Spangle. Miss Lydia Dwiggins were his assistants. Mr. Stephen Yeoman next swayed the scepter. probably a hickory one. for a period of six months. Mr. G. W. Smith followed in 1809. In 1870 Mr. C. W. Poole was the superintendent, two of his assistants who will be well remembered w ere Miss Mattie Parkinson, and Miss Kate Reeve. From 1871 to 1875 Captain J. A. Burnham superintended the schools, which then had five departments. From 1875 to 1883 the superintendency changed hands each year, being in charge of Messrs, (i. Adams, Chas A. Edmunds, (i. W. Allen, W. l)e M. Hooper and C. P. Mitchell. The first students who were graduated, were a class of eleven in 1880. During 1883 and 1884 Mr. P. 11. Kirscli was superintendent. Our first brick building was erected during his service, a building of eight rooms. The high school also received its commission while under the superinte.ndency of Mr. Kirscli. Ours was the 12th high school in the state to receive a commission, which is remarkable, considering that the population of the town was then hut 1000 inhabitants. From 1885 to9o superintendent F. W. Reubelt had charge of the temple of learning. In 1891 Mr. Howard L. Wilson controlled the schools, la 1892 our brick school building was erected, which is an eight roomed editice with modern conveniences, as well as being a handsome building. From 1892 to 1895 Mr. E. W. Bohannon occupied the position of superintendent. We are just beginning a promising year’s work under Mr. W. 11. Sanders with a corps of fourteen teachers, to assist him. The enrollment is now over 500 pupils, and if the increase continue as it lias been, (that is 10 per cent per annum since 1882,)it will render necessary another large building in the near future. The ltign school alumni now number 103 most of whom are making a success in the struggle called"Life,"which success is largely due to training received in this institution. The citi7.ens of Rensselaer may justly be proud of their schools, aud should give them their support and encouragement. Itisofte n said that the increase in the population and prosperity of our town since 1882 is owing to the improved educationtl facilities, t