Progress of Public Education in Detroit in the 19th Century

Description:

This 6-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Edward F. Marschner who was the president of the Detroit Board of Education. The paper is printed with light red lines and shows the letterhead of the Board of Education of the City of Detroit as well as the names of officers. It also has the watermark, "English Bond." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit, Mich. December 31st 1900 To the Hon, William C. Maybury, Mayor of Detroit. My dear Sir, Your suggestion to prepare, for future reference, records and documents, showing the progress made during the closing century (the 19th) these records to be placed in a box and sealed, to be opened a century hence, I deem a very good and valuable one and I take great pleasure in doing my share in the matter by complying with your request to submit a report upon the subject: "Progress of Public Education in Detroit in the 19th Century." This being the century in which the 1st steps were taken toward the establishment of a "Public School System" makes this statement a valuable and interesting one for our coming generations and I earnestly hope that nothing may occur to destroy it. The earliest records we have of any attempt being made to introduce Public Schools are from the year 1802 when a petition to congress was presented asking for "one or more townships of land for the purpose of erecting or endowing an academy." In March 1804 the government directed that section No. 16 of the public lands of every township be appropriated to educational purposes. This law laid the foundation of the primary school fund of the state. Nothing was done toward establishing schools under the above act until 1827 - at which time there was an act passed authorizing each township to determine by vote whether they should maintain township schools. If so, a township of 50 families was to have one schoolmaster for a period of six months in a year; a township of 100 families, a teacher for a period of 12 months; a township of 150 families, two teachers and those of 200 families two teachers and two schools. Under this act Detroit secured a teacher and in May, 1827, a common school was established in a room in the academy. In 1832 the city was divided into two districts and a school taught by one Chas. Wells was opened in the academy. In the same year a number of ladies formed a free school society, and a notice published by the society in 1833 tells of their progress as follows: They had opened a school under a competent instructress during the year with an average daily attendance of 50 pupils and an enrollment of 150 pupils, they had paid to their instructress and for fuel and other expenses $233.00, had erected a school house at a cost of $475.00 toward which they paid $350.00, leaving an indebtedness of only $125.00 at the end of the year, the schools were kept for a half day only and on two days each week the girls were taught sewing. Children between the ages of 4 and 10 years only were admitted and were furnished books and tuition free. The methods employed by the ladies of the free school society for raising funds to maintain their schools were many and unique. They gave fairs and also prepared tomato catsup which was sold by the bottle or dozen, by dealers, the proceeds of sale being devoted to the maintenance of their schools. In 1836 the society maintained two schools. In 1837 they maintained 3 schools with an attendance of 200 children. In 1837 the state was admitted to the union and the government granted 1,067,397 acres of land for public schools. In 1838 three school inspectors were elected who proceeded to put the state law in operation. They ordered a census taken which showed that there were 1,320 children under 15 years of age. They also divided the city into seven districts and maintained school in five districts for three months each. In 1839 the city received the first money from the primary school fund, the amount of which was $1,342.08, last year, ending June 30th 1900, we received from this fund the sum of $116, 456.00. On February 2nd, 1842 an act creating free, or public schools, and making Detroit one school district was approved and took immediate effect. Under this act all schools organized within the limits of the city were to be public and free to all children between the ages of 5 and 17 years residing within the city. The first "Board of Education of the City of Detroit" was elected under this act and consisted of 12 members, and the Mayor and Recorder of the City, there were 6 Wards in the City and each ward elected 2 members. The interest in education matters now increased steadily, every thing was done to advise learning until at the present time we maintain 69 schools which are attended by 34,153 pupils who are ably guided by a corps of 898 teachers. Our expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30th 1900 were $1,085,710.16. With this I will close my brief scetch [sketch]. Time will not admit my giving a fuller report and I will close with a wish that the new Century will be one of prosperity and advance to our education institutions. May education advance in the coming years in such strides as to fully erase ignorance, superstition and poverty from all mankind and substitute intelligence, reason and happiness therefore. This is the sincere wish of yours truly, Ed. F. Marschner President Board of Education 1900-1901."

Date Issued:

1900-01-01T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Detroit Historical Society

Subject Topic:

Detroit Board of Education and 1901 Time Capsule

Subject Name:

Marschner, Edward F.

Format:

Letter

Language:

English

Rights:

No Copyright - United States

URL:

http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/91492359-4744-4C36-8A15-415104363395