FIRST SCHOOL — DIFFICULTIES OF EARLY ORGANIZATION — EARLY NORMAL INSTITUTES — FIRST TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS — COURSE OF STUDY PROVIDED — FIRST COMMENCEMENT — FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE IN EL DORADO — BARNES LAW SCHOOLS — SPECIAL COURSES — BARNES HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE — RURAL SCHOOL CONTESTS — EARLY TEACHERS — EL DORADO HIGH SCHOOL — SUPERINTENDENTS — CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDING BURNED — DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLS.

The first school was held at Chelsea in 1860. Miss Sarah Satchell was the teacher. It was a private school which interested families supported. Other communities grouped themselves similarly and after D. L. McCabe, the first superintendent, was duly qualified for duty, these groups were organized according to law as school districts with indefinite boundaries, and were numbered in order of organization from one to ten. The attitude of the early settlers on the school question is thus set forth in an annual report of 1870: "Our citizens have shown a commendable spirit in making provision for the support of schools. Scarcely has the settler built his cabin and planted an acre of ground before he has inquired, 'Where is the school?' And, forthwith, as by the touch of some magic wand a district has been organized and a school commenced."

The succeeding superintendents continued the formation and organization of school districts. But the work grew more difficult as the number increased, and the first districts were reduced to form them. The paralyzing effect of these perfunctory matters on the school work of the early superintendents is set forth by Samuel S. Shotwell in his second annual report (September, 1871): "The organization of school districts and the alteration of district lines should be in the hands of the county commissioners. The superintendent's usefulness is much impaired by this duty, as it is hardly possible to make the lines of districts suit all. Some one must be in a corner, and those who feel especially aggrieved charge the superintendent with the whole blame and are ready to oppose any measures he may suggest for the betterment of the schools." And in 1874, at the close of the "grasshopper year," Superintendent S. L. Roberts reports: "Districting is still a bone of contention

here. One year more—had times remained prosperous—and this unpleasant work would be finished." It took six years longer, however, for it was not until about 1880 that the 168 districts of the county took their present form and were outlined by Superintendent J. W. Shively in the record book still in use.

The State law made it the duty of the county superintendent to hold a normal institute. The first one was held at El Dorado the last week in September, 1871. Prof. Lee of Leavenworth was present two days and forty teachers were in attendance. Several of them renderd[sic] valuabl[sic] assistance in the conduct of the exercises. The normal institute has been held annually since that time. It has been a wholesome force in the intellectual growth of the county. Except for one session held at Augusta in April, 1872, the meetings have always been held at the county seat. There has been considerable variation in attendance, in purpose, and in methods of work. About 1892 saw the high water mark in attendance, when over 300 were enrolled. The work then was purely academic. The young people came from the common schools. Very few had any high school or college training. The efficiency of the times in this way kept pace with the needs and requirements. A few years later such preparation did not satisfy the modern requirements of education. Now at least 95 per cent. of the attendance have had high school training and many have college work to their credit. The summer sessions of the State schools and colleges have become successful rivals for the attendance of the teachers, and the laws of 1915 provide for a change from the four-week to a five-day institute, with a consequent rearrangement of the course for methods and professional work alone.

The first County Teachers' Association was held at the close of the first institute in 1871. Its purpose was "to advance the educational interests of the county, to aid in educational reforms and to disseminate correct views of education and create a public sentiment in their favor." It has persisted through the years for its value was soon seen. It provided for the personal contact and direct discussion of the teacher's daily problems as well as for inspirational talks from educational leaders. In later years it has been more directly influential in the daily work than ever before. Attendance is required as a part of the professional work of the teacher and the school boards pay $1 as expense to the teacher for each meeting attended. It has been broken up into grade, rural and high school sections, with discussions adapted to each section; and the teachers feel a personal interest and responsibility.

Courses of study were provided by the State in the early seventies, but in the true sense of the word there were no grade schools in those days. At El Dorado and Augusta in 1874 there were more than one department and a consequent separation of pupils according to age, but the course was not followed according to law. Gradually the two-teacher schools, or graded schools, were able to follow the courses of study, but it was long the custom in the rural schools to begin at the

first of the book at the opening of school and read through the readers and work as far as possible in the arithmetic; and next term to repeat the process. The adoption of a uniform series of text books and the lengthening of the school term from three months to seven, in 1911, at last enabled the rural schools to get on a grade basis. Now the course of study is closely followed and pupils complete the common school work in nine years inthe[sic] rural schools.

In 1890, fifty pupils took the examination for a common school diploma; in 1900 there were 143. The first commencement for these pupils was held by C. W. Thomas, in 1903. There were sixty graduates. Exercises have been held each year since that time. By 1914 the attendance and interest in these occasions had so increased that it was necessary to hold them in the park. In 1915 there were over 400 applicants, including those carrying grades, and 236 graduates. The commencement exercises were held in Gordy park in June and were attended by a large number of pupils and patrons from all parts of the county. College presidents, senators and governors have given addresses at these occasions.

The first school house in El Dorado was a log cabin. In 1872, there were twenty-eight log school houses and five of brick and stone. By 1874 there were seventy-four frame and thirteen stone school houses. At the present time there are 136 rural school houses. The frame buildings of those earlier days were suited to their times. That many of them should be still in use is the inconsistency. The towns changed readily to buildings of the modern type. The Barnes law requires certain material equipment in buildings and apparatus. The ten schools meeting these requirements all have good modern structures. The five other grade schools have very satisfactory buildings. The legislature of 1915 arranged for a rural school inspector to give State recognition to districts maintaining standard rural schools. Modern buildings, with walks, trees, shrubs, proper lighting, and in all ways approaching the sanitation and conveniences of the town school are required. Five schools are meeting these requirements at the present time.

Butler county did not embrace the opportunity to organize a county high school under the provisions of 1897. This left it free to profit by the provisions of the Barnes law of 1905. This gave a great impetus to secondary education and existing high schools were enlarged and strengthened. One or two-teacher schools at Rose Hill, Andover, Latham and Towanda have in the ten years developed into fully accredited high schools, with three or four teachers in the grades. Barnes schools are democratic, providing free high school courses almost at the door of pupils and keeping the pupils in touch with the farm home instead of educating them away from it. Barnes schools, with two courses and fully accredited, are now maintained at El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rose Hill, Andover, Towanda, Potwin, Leon, Latham and Whitewater.

State funds for maintaining courses in agriculture, domestic science

and normal training in these schools are also provided. In the six years since the normal training classes have been organized scores of young teachers, graduates of high schools and recognized by the State by normal training certificates, have taken up the work of teaching. This has raised the professional standard for teachers and given a higher professional ideal.

In 1911 and 1912 the superintendents of the Barnes schools organized the Barnes High School League for contests in debate, oratory, reading and track work. The first president was H. I. French, then of the Leon schools. The first meet was held at El Dorado. This has been an incentive to the intellectual development as well as to the physical development of all pupils in these high schools and, reflexly, to all pupils in the county. It has sharpened the respect of one school for another. Douglass especially has profited by the opportunities offered, for, in 1904, the superintendent of that school arranged for the first track meet ever held in the county between the high school and a team from Southwestern. And the little boys who watched that day have carried off the lion's share of the honors for Douglass, but trophy cups and pennants have gone to every part of the county.

The rural schools have had their contests, too. In 1913 and 1914 a county-wide contest in spelling was arranged for both grade and rural schools. In 1914 and 1915 a high school section was added and an inter-county meet held at Wichita. The young people of Butler had become so thorough in the work that they took all the honors in this contest with representatives from Cowley, Sumner, Sedgwick and Harper. Agricultural contests, reading contests, school displays of various sorts have also been had. We mention these things because it shows the deeper interest of our people in the more vital side of educational training. The vision now is not the letter of the text book, but an efficiency, a comprehension of what it requires to make life worth living, home a pleasure, the State and nation a benefactor to every individual, regardless of wealth or social position.

The first school house in El Dorado was a log cabin, which was built by public subscription, perhaps in 1869, in which Jane Wentworth taught a class of about fifteen pupils. In 1869 and 1870 the old stone building which stood on the corner of First and Washington, opposite the residence of Mrs. George Ellis, was erected at the cost of about $2,000. The first regular school was conducted in this building in the winter of 1869, by Dr. Edwin Cowles. From that time on the teachers in charge of the city schools have been: 1870, T. R. Wilson; 1871, John Snyder; 1872, Charles Moore; 1873, J. C. Elliott; 1874 and 1875, E. C. Brooks; 1876, Z. M. Riley; 1877, George Edwards; 1878, 1879 and 1880, E. W. Hulse.

The El Dorado high school was organized in 1881, under the superintendency of E. W. Hulse, who continued as the superintendent through the year of 1882. The superintendents since the organization of the high

school have been: 1882, E. W. Hulse; 1883, Alfred McCaskey; 1884 and 1885, O. E. Olin; 1887 and 1888, H. C. Ford; 1889, C. F. Gates; 1890 and 1891. W. H. Ferich; 1892 to 1898, inclusive, Lemuel Tomlin; 1899 to 1903, inclusive, W. M. Sinclair; 1904, Ida Capen Flemining; 1905, C. A. Strong; 1906 to 1909, inclusive, Warren Baker; 1910 to 1912, inclusive, B. F. Martin; 1913 and 1914, J. B. Heffelfinger; 1915 and 1916, J. W. Murphy.

The Central school building was discovered to be on fire at 2:30 o'clock a. m., Thursday, by E. B. Cook and others, who immediately notified the neighbors. H. W. Schmucher, who lives just north, says the fire was burning fiercely in the west room of the lower story when he was called at 2:30 o'clock. The Central office notified the boy at Stinson's barn, but it was nearly 3 o'clock before the fire bell rang. Hose carts arrived, but too late to be of any avail. The night was very cold, with a biting northeast wind. Many people in the immediate neighborhood knew nothing of the fire until the building was completely enveloped, while two-thirds of the town knew nothing of it until after school hours this morning. Dozens of children went to school this morning who knew nothing of the fire until they saw the blackened ruins of their school house, while many went home with the tears streaming down their faces as they in their little hearts mourned the disaster.

El Dorado boomed mightily along in 1870, 1871 and 1872. The little walnut frame house, that stood back from Main street, and near where the Haines store now is, had been abandoned and a one-story stone building, 24x40, was put up on lots 6 and 7, costing $1,000 dollars. School opened in this building in October, 1870, with seventy-six pupils, with William Price as teacher. Bonds to the amount of $10,000 were voted in 1871. Charles Wait drew the plans for a square, barn-looking building, with peep holes for windows, and a man by the name of Richards, of Humboldt, came over and put up the building. It was partly finished and ready for occupancy in the summer of 1872, and on September 23 sixty-five teachers attended the county institute, held in the new building. S. L. Shotwell was county superintendent. Dr. Gordon, H. T. Sumner and E. L. Wheeler were the school board. Before school opened, in September, the building was used for dances. Mrs. Murdock, who was then unmarried, came out from Maryland to organize and take charge of the school. She opened the first schools in the building, there being no stoves and but few seats, the upper room being unfinished. Charles Moore and Miss Hattie Gartman were the assistant teachers. They found it rather hard sledding that winter, as the building was as cold as a barn. In November, 1872, S. L. Robards was elected county superintendent; in January he appointed Nettie O'Daniel and Rev. W. M. Stryker as associate county examiners.

Mrs. Nettie O'Daniel, "principal of the El Dorado Academy," called a public meeting for the purpose of raising money to buy a school bell. Henry Fall, mayor, and others signed the call. W. M. Stryker and Mrs.

O'Daniel pushed it along and raised the money to buy the bell that has been so long in use in the Central building, which went to destruction this morning.

The school house was used for Sunday schools, church services, political meetings and dances for some time; and, if we mistake not, the first Episcopal Sunday school meeting in the town was held there. For years it had been used for the annual meetings of the county institutes; and, we might add, that many boys, who afterward turned out to be useful citizens, got their jackets tanned within its historic walls.

On May 12, 1879, a meeting was held in district No. 3, which includes the city, to submit a $4,000 bond proposition. The bonds were voted May 15, 1879. There were 248 votes for the bonds and five against. The contract was let to S. R. Watson, June 17, for the two-story stone addition on the west, for $3,465. C. N. James, director; L. B. Snow, treasurer, and Vincent Brown, clerk, were the school officers at that time. The main building, with the addition and furniture, cost the district about $17,000. It contained six rooms, with recitation rooms, and was heated with coal stoves. L. D. Hadley, principal, Gertrude Dick, Mary Schmucker, Mabel Morrison, Lela Allen and Juniata Adams were the teachers in the building.

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