People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — EDUCATIONAL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EDUCATIONAL.

SCHOOLS OF RENSSELAER. The Pilot is indebted to Miss Grace Vanatta for the following able and interesting review of the public schools of the town of Rensselaer. So complete is this article that the editor finds

school was taught in a lug house v.kich stood irumediately south of C‘h; s. I)Newels residence, by an old man named Blakey. The next school was held in a one story log building and stood on the old race bank, where J. 11. Vanatta's store, now stands. The youthful pioneers next “got their learnin” in the lower story I of the old log court house which stcod } about where Mr. Seib now lives, east of the court house sijuare.

“A man by the name of Rowley 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 the first woman teacher, Miss Sarah ■Sexton-, a sister of the great woman preacher, Miss Lydia Sexton, who recently died in Kansas. Mr. William Strickler was perhaps the most highly educated and cultured man who taught in our village in the early days. School was hold one winter in a log house directly west of Joseph F. Riffs 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 TimeTthreatened to out strip Rensselaer, It was situated on the Indian trail leading down the river, just east of Peacock sspring where Peck and Bingham owned a largejmd, flourishing grist mill. “The'.high water washed away the milldam, the mill went to decay and now “PeckjTown” is a memory of The past. The punishments meted out to disobed ient scholars of that day were ludicrous, painful and varied. The pupil was 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 wkis suspended in the chimney allowing the feet to rest on the hearth stone, and occasionally turning hipa around, as if curing meat. When all other remedies failed the switch was used unsparingly and with ferocious intent. “The branches taught consisted mainly of the 3 R’s “Readin” “Rritin” and * Rithoietic.”

period of six months. Mr. (1. W. Smith followed in 1809.

“In 1870 Mr. l\ W. Poole was the superintendent. two of his assistants who will be well n m •mbered were Miss Mattie, Parkinson, and Miss Kit’ Reeve. From 1871 l >1875 .Captain ,J. A. Burnham superintended the schools, which then hud five depart in nts. From 1875 to 1883 the KUperintcndency clu igtd hands each year, being in charge of Messrs. (”». Adame, C'has. A. Edmunc's, ( J. W, Allen. W. Re M. Hooper and <J. P. Mitchell. The first students who were graduated, were a (’kiss of eleven in 1880. “During 1883 and 1881 Mr. P. 11. Kirs eh was superintendent. Our first brick building wan erected during his service, a building of eight moms. The high school also rcccivcuHts commission while under the superintendency of Mr. Kirsch. Ours Was the Pith high school in the state to r< ccivo a commission, which is remarkable, considering that the population of the town was then but 1000 in. habitants. “From 1885 to9o superintendent F. W. Reubelt had charge of the temple of learning. “In 1891 Mr. Howard L. Wilson controlled the schools. In 1892 our brick school building was erected, which is an eight roomed edifice 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. H. Sanders with a corps of fourteen teachers, to assist him. The enrollment is now over 500 pupils, and if the increase continue as it has been, (that is 10 per cent per annum since 1882,) it will render necessary another large building in the near future. The high 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 thi3 institution. “The citizens of Rensselaer may justly be proud of their schools, apd should give them their support and encouragement 1 )!t>i said that the increase in the pop Baiba and prosperity of our town since 1880 is owing to the improved edilcatbiil 1 1 ilities.

John W. King and eight-year old son, Fred A., of Rensselaer expert blue rock shots and sportsmen. See sketch on another page.