Central High School - Red and Black Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

Page 24 text:

PHE RED AND BLACK. s wawa 01' gil rrilifllwr lwrilwriliri. 'fri N x L-A ' n AL-GA passage of a law authorizing the payment of a tax not exceeding one-tenth of one per cent on all real and personal property in the city, for the use and benefit of Public Schools. The law passed was endorsed in June, IS49, by an overwhelming majority of the voters of the city of St. Louis, and the first tax under it was collected in i850 and amounted to Sl8,000.00. The extension and improvement of the public school system now proceeded rapidly. The tax from i850 to I864 was a one mill tax, for H365 and i866 a two mill tax, for 1867 a three mill tax. Three years later, December 31, l852, Mr. George Partridge, Mr. Carlos S. Greely, and Mr. S. B. Sherer, the committee to whom was referred the quarterly report of the Superintendent of Public Schools, in their report to the Board, made this most important statement with reference to the first sugges- tion offered. The Board as early as June, 1843, adopted a system which it was intended should ultimately embrace a High school, but the state of your finances, and the demand for primary and grammar schools have, as yet, prevented the completion of the system then adopted. Your committee believes that the time has now arrived when the income of the public schools and their wants, and the increased efficiency absolutely demand the establish- ment of a High School. The increased facilities afforded by the many bus lines render the present highly propitious for the establishment of a high school. The Benton School house Csituated on the east side of Sixth street between Locust and St. Charlesj being the most central, seems to be most suitable for the temporary location of a high school. Satisfied that the establishment of a high school cannot longer be deferred without great detriment to your primary and grammar schools, that its partial organization is now possible, that it is demanded to give completeness to the system already in operation, that it will be useful by the ever active stimulus which it will exercise upon your lower schools, that it is required for equalizing the facilities for acquiring a good, essential, and thorough education, and that it is absolutely essential to enable your schools to perform their true mission and to become what they should be, the educational institutions of the city, your committee would propose and recommend the adoption of the following resolutions: Resolved that a High School be established, the course of instruction in which shall occupy four years and comprise the following studies: Higher Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, Survey- ing including Navigation, Analytical Geometry, Civil Engineering, Natural Philosophy, Natural History, Mineralogy, Geology, History of the United States, Constitution of the United States, English Analysis and Composition, Rhetoric, German, French, and Latin Languages, Mental Philosophy. Twenty-four

Page 23 text:

- THE RED. AND BLACK 3: r 'il '7' WNVAW4' gil: ffl! 75 175 11 rilwr ilm uilm uilg t 1 4 n A EARLY HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL By W. S. BRYAN, Former Principal ,Kali HE early records of the Board of Education of the St. A Louis public schools are very significant because they i n 2 N reveal the truly democratic attitude of the citizens on the : Lx subject of free public education for all the children of the V community and the intention to provide the best and Q ' 'Q' ' completest system of education to be had. This purpose is stated again and again and is embodied in the various legislative measures enacted. As early as June 9, IB43, the Board, on motion of Dr. B. B. Brown, adopted these resolutions: Whereas the number of public schools in this city is so small as to afford the means of instruction to comparatively a small part of the number of appli- cants, and whereas the funds at the disposal of this Board cannot fail in a short period to be so much augmented as to enable it to extend the sphere of its usefulness, and whereas this Board is satisfied that some modification in the system of organization of our public schools is indispensable to their highest efliciency, therefore: Resolved that a committee be appointed to consist of three members of this Board, whose duty it shall be to report to this Board at the earliest possible date such plan for increasing the number of our schools and such modification in the preesnt system as by them shall be deemed of greatest utility. Resolved that in the opinion of this Board, no system of arrangement that does not embrace at least two grades of schools can be to a high degree efficient. The chair appointed Messrs. A. Renard, B. B. Brown, and Edward Jones said committee and, on motion, the President, Mr. Elijah l-layden. june 27, IS43, this committee made its memorable report to establish four public schools, one in each ward, and that a High School should also be estab- lished in some central part of the city. On motion of Dr. B. B. Brown, it was resolved that the system recom- mended in this report be adhered to strictly and that its purport be carried out from time to time as the funds justified. On September 5, l843, on motion of Dr. B. B. Brown, a committee of three was appointed to report a plan for the establishment of a high school and, on March IZ, l844, Dr. B. B. Brown made the desired report, which was accepted. ln August, 1848, Dr. E. G. Eliot, member of the Board, offered a resolu- tion that a memorial and petition be sent to the General Assembly for the Twenty-lhrce

Page 25 text:

THE RED' AND BLACKP Resolved that written application be received by the Superintendent until the first of February next H8531 for the position of Principal of the High School, and that persons applying be required to show that they have received a thorough, liberal, and classical education, and are professional teachers, and to furnish the necessary testimonials and evidences that they are qualified for the office. Resolved that a special committee be appointed to ascertain the best site that can be obtained for a High School and report upon what terms the purchase can be made. The committee appointed consisted of Mr. George Partridge, Mr. Carlos S. Greely, and Mr. Wm. C. Kennett. On January l4, IB53, Mr. Carlos S. Greely, for the committee on Site for a High School, reported progress and was granted further time. On January 25, IS53, Mr. Edward Jones, for the committee of the whole, reported the resolution that the committee on High School lot be and is hereby empowered to purchase of Mr. James H. Lucas a lot of l50 by 125 feet on the northeast corner of Olive and Fifteenth Streets on the most favorable time and terms, having due regard to the financial arrangements of the Board. On February 22, the purchase of this site for Sl5,000.00 was reported, 31,500.00 to be paid in 90 days, Sl,500.00 in nine months, and 312,000.00 in four years. On February I, 1853, it was decided to transfer Mr. Jeremiah D. Low to the Benton School as Acting Principal of the preparatory high school class, his term of service to continue during the scholastic year. On February l l, the class was actually inaugurated and on February 22 the Superintendent reported that 70 pupils had been admitted on examination. On March l5, 1853, it was decided that the Board could safely undertake the erection of the High School building, if the estimate of cost, S26,000.00, was correct, but it was decided to wait for confirmation of this estimate. On June 2l, ISS3, the President reported the appointment of Mr. Jere- miah D. Low as Principal and Mr. S. H. Bushnell as Assistant Principal. On September I3, 1853, the result of the entrance examination was reported to the Board. Eighty-one were examined and 42 were admitted, 35 from the public schools and seven from private schools. These with the 51 of the last year made 93 pupils registered, 53 boys and 40 girls. On January 24, 1854, Mr. George Partridge, from the Special Committee on High School, reported that an examination of the financial condition of the Board showed that probably there would be a surplus of 514,980.00 on July l, I854, and that this would be sufficient to lay the foundation and enclose the building. More would not be attempted. ln the following year, ending Twenty-Eve