Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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T H E W I T A N 1 n m Mr. E. J. Manley, who became principal in 1892, had a corps of four teachers, Miss Margaret Fleming, Miss Emma M. Pollard, Miss Lena Smith and Miss Mary Kinsella. Although the school had borne the appellation of grammar school, never- theless a few high school subjects such as elementary algebra, history and such subjects as could be handled in a half year, were taught to those who desired them. Those students, however, had to go to the city to take their Regents. Those who wished a regular high school education went up town to the Rochester Free Academy, though of course they had to pay tuition. However, in 1892, with Wm. Richmond, John M. Allen and Frank Upton on the Board of Education, the Charlotte school, which had been merely Dis- trict School No. 1 of the Town of Greece was raised a degree, being made a Union School. The certificate of admission to the State University is now in the outer office, with the afore-mentioned names on it. This meant that Regents examinations could be given in the school. In 1895 a special advanced course of study was adopted and two students graduated at the end of the year. In 1897 a high school charter was obtained. At that time Dr. E. J. Ot- toway, John M. Keenan and A. Ferguson were on the Board of Education. At the end of that school year, four students, who had been taking advanced work, graduated. In 1898 Frederic J. Place became principal, and in the next year Herbert G. Reed succeeded him and remained until 1905. Of course the high school building had not been erected. The second story of the old building was one huge room which served as study hall and recitation room of the high school and the two upper grades. This and a small room, popularly called the Pre- ceptress' room which is now a part of the music room, composed the high school. The grammar school, however, was growing, and for quite a while a room was hired outside the building to meet the needs. In the first Senior Annual, in which was reviewed the growth of the school, we find the following paragraph: “In 1907 the crowning glory of Charlotte's struggle for schools was realized, when the present school was built. This edifice is a fitting culmination of a century's efforts on the part of the village of Charlotte to place the best educational advantages for its children. The new' building was erected at a cost of $26,f 00. It had ac- commodations for 150 pupils and was very modemly and thoroughly equipped. During the principalship of Howard N. Tolman (1905-1910) the number of teachers wras increased to thirteen, five of whom were engaged in high school work. Many advances were also made: the standards for promotion and graduation from the grammar school to the high school were established; vocal music and elocution were added to the regular work; public exercises were held in the assembly hall; an orchestra composed entirely of pupils was organized and drilled under the principal's direction, giving several creditable concerts during its existence. Indeed one of the most permanent and bene-

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12 THE W1TAN to leave. Besides the three RV they had spelling (writing the words was a fad which did not come into use until after the grading of the schools), geography (in which wall-maps were unheard of), and some grammar. In- telligence was graded according to the Readers which the pupils had been thru. For example, those in the First Reader received some of the funda- mentals of arithmetic and a few simple rules of grammar, probably about capital letters or some like thing. Every time a new teacher came, the class had to start its books all over again, unless some show of great ntelligence or much persuasive argumentation could prove that they had been so far and knew that much thoroughly. Thus, some probably never reached the end of their books. For, with sometimes eighty in one small room (for not every one could afford private schooling) attention must have been hard to give or receive. In 1859 there was a change for the good, although it probably did not effect the pupils themselves. The schools were made free. It may surprise some to know that for every day a pupil attended school, the parent had to pay a certain amount. Thus the schools were supported in three ways: First, the state paid some, some was paid out of the property tax and the rest was paid for by the rate-bill which was the amount the parents paid directly for their children s education. Among the teachers who taught in the ‘old brick’ were E. Franklin Hol- den, Benjamin Davis, Robert J. Fleming, George Edgecombie, Eliza Walker, Josephine Wilder and Mary Wheeler. Also it might be interesting to know that the deed to the property on which the school house stood stated specific- ally that if the grounds or the building were not used for school purposes only they were to go back to the original holders. In 1863, the people achieved that of which they had reason to he proud. The triangle on which the school is now situated was purchased. The sum of 5400 was paid for the lot, which was no mean price in those days. It was, however, war time and the building of the school was put off, end put off, on account of the rising prices of materials and labor, until 1867. Even then the vote was scarcely passed. The structure itself cost about $9,000, or as it is worded in a record of the affair, “$4,500 were paid to the carpenters and joiners, and $1,500 to the masons.' Of course the job was done on contract 80 the workmen furnished the materials. There was no water in the build- ing; furthermore, there was none put in until about 1898; but this Is not strange, for even in Rochester, until about the same time, everyone had his well. From i860 until 1894 the number of pupils increased greatly and the latter year saw the present south wing of the grammar school completed. The addition may still be noted by the rise in the floor by the doors of Room 21 and Room 24. W. M. Richmond was the first principal of the present grammar school; the increase caused two teachers to be appointed to assist Mr. Richmond.

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U TH E W1TAS ficial influences of Mr. Tolman's stay was the interest in music which he aroused. During this time, rhetorical work and public speaking were required of all students. At the end of the year the five aptest were chosen to enter Die Oratorical Contest, which was instituted in 1909. Gold and silver medals were offered as prizes. The interest in this event grew, and it became a pub- lic event to which admission was charged, until 1916, when the last contest was held. In 1910, when our present principal took up the work, there were but fifty-five students in the high school. When the school was built, the library was installed, but with few vol- umes. Money, however, was allotted each year for its development up to the time Charlotte came into the city. By 1912 it had about 1300 volumes. The students were encouraged to read, especially non-fiction books, such as his- tory, biography, travel and essays. From 1907 to 1916 annual catalogs of the high school were published. These booklets contained much information about programs, school activities and other interesting events. In 1913 the first Senior Annual was published under the name of “The Graduate.” It contained 24 pages and sold for fifteen cents. The class, which consisted of eight members, gave a senior play which was quite a success. From this publication we gather that baseball and basketball were well under way and winning teams were turned out by C. H. S. During this term the steel flagpole in front of the building was erected with fitting exercises. In the fall of 1913 commercial work was begun and the penetration of the grammar school building by the high school activities. Room 12 was the main commercial room and was divided by a glass partition, thus affording a typewriting room In 1914 the Students’ Association was formed. ‘It controlled all student activities which did not strictly belong to the formal work of insruction.’ All academic pupils were members. One of the objects of this body was to de- velop ‘esprit de corps' or school spirit. The Bookshelf was established and earned on by the Students’ Association under the direction of the commercial department. On January 1, 1916, Charlotte High became a city high school, but affairs were allowed to continue in their old state until June. Here we must accord due credit to the Charlotte Board of Education, which has not hitherto been mentioned. Faithfully they met, every month, sometimes oftener; and many ponderous record books are filled with accounts of their proceedings. These men were deeply interested in the good of the school, and gave careful con- sideration to all matters which were to affect it. The Board was composed of three members, one being elected every three year». Charlotte High had, during these years, a reputation for high scholar- ship. In state reports of examinations this school stood high on the list.