La Porte High School - El Pe Yearbook (La Porte, IN)

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The LaPorte City Schools X Hntcrical Skttcb by Supi. John A. H'wJ HE PUBLIC SCHOOLS of LaPorte were established under the new school law of iS 2, which was made to conform with the radical changes in educational provisions made by the new State Constitution. In 18 6 a public meeting was called a: the Court House to discuss whether or not the public school system should be adopted for LaPorte. After earnest discussion of the merits of the Private Schools and Public (called Pauperi Schools, Messrs. Gilbert Hathaway, Amzi Clark and Benj. P. alter were appointed a board of school trustees to establish the public system. During the same year the little brick ward schools were built, one for each ward of the city. These soon became inadequate for the accommodation of the children and later the board, of which James Moore was president and John B. Niles was secretary, determined to secure an architect and draw up plans for a large building capable of taking in all the children of the city. 'I'his much done, they halted and a general election was held for the purpose of determining whether a new building should be constructed. The decision was favorable to building and resulted in the election of Judge W. C. Hannah, president; Rev. G. C. Noyes, secretary, and Lafayette Crane, who was absent on special service in Sanitary Commis- sion of the Army of the Cumberland, was elected treasurer, which posi- tion he filled more than seven years. This board constructed the building now known as the Central Building and on its completion the schools were consolidated. The schools in the ward buildings had been ungraded and were practically independent, but in 1865, after much argument pro and con, Mr. T. L. Adams, Principal of the Adams’ Private Academy, was appointed Superintendent and the graded school system was established. The graded system implies a scheme whereby the pupils arc required to pursue a prescribed course of study and are classified according to their attainments. The printed report of 1869.70 shows that gradation was accom- plished only after a determined resistance to the innovation. In this report considerable space was given to arguments for the desirability of the graded system. The report of 18 1 called attention to the necessity of refining and remodeling in the High School Building, now known as the Central Building. In 1872-73 a plea for desks for the primary room was made in the following words, “ In the primary schools 1 of which there arc five) there is no school where all the pupils arc provided with desks, and in two of them not one is thus provided. In these grades the s'atc is in almost constant use, and must he held upright in the arm or placed upon the lap—in either ease compelling an awkward and unnatural position.” The report of the following year shows an adequate supply of desks in primary grades. I dwell thus fully on this point that the present generation may realize the long period of privation necessary for the accumulation of supplies lor school work which arc so fully and abundantly fur.nished in our schools. From the report of 1875 we learn that the system of elocutionary and rhetorical exercises had been in use two years. Music had been in the schools three years, and the course in German extended through six years. Here we see that LaPorte was fully up to the best schools of the country in enriching its curriculum. The three following reports emphasized the necessity of employing only thoroughly equipped teachers and retaining only thoroughly efficient ones. This points to a high standard for the teaching corps. In 1876 there was much discussion over the question of “ Overwork, Home Study, Dissipation, Etc.,” and in 1878, two years before the first 11

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meeting o: the Manual Training department of the National Educational Association, there was a strong plea made for the introduction of Technical—now called Manual Training. In 1879 Home Study and Overwork” was again a mooted question. For three years following, the subjects of primary and supple- mentary reading and English composition were emphasized. In 1882 drawing was introduced as a regular study with Mr. Frank Aborn, of Cleveland, Ohio, as special teacher. The next year brought an earnest endeavor to improve the penmanship work. The school library was added to quite extensively and a creditable library list was published. During the same year the stoves used in many of the buildings were Mcketed and so connected with fresh air flues that the ventilation of the rooms was greatly improved. From 1883 to 1893 was a very prosperous period in the school htstorv of LaPortc. Into the strong and progressive school spirit and its Dr. 'V. N. 11.iiijninn introduced the “New Education;” carrying with it a complete reorganization of the coarse or study, the incorporation of the kindergarten and manual work, and the arrangement of the work upon the concentric circle plan. In 1890 the department of Drawing was organized in the high school and Prof. Frederic H. Simons, the present incumbent, was appointed teacher and supervisor of ar. work. In 1892 the commercial department was organized. During the y ear 1894 the present high school building was erec ted to meet the demands of the schools, caused by the growth in number of pupils and extension in work. In this building ample provision for the iture was thought to have been made, when provision was made for one hundred and seventy.five pupils. The present high school enrollment is two hundred and forty-three. This building was erected on the site of the old Indiana Medical College, the account of which is here inserted as found in the Indiana Gazetteer, published bv E. Chamberlain, Indianapolis, in 1849 : Indiana Medical College The Me! tj| Department of the LaPorte University was organ- : in i3.-i, and 1 course of lectures given by Dr». G. A. R' -. Dan ! Meeker, |. I . Andrew and K. V. Hunt. They com- menced with about twelve -ludenti, and during the ensuing summer i building wot erected capable of accommodating I 50 students. The session of 184s proceeded under the same faculty w-.th the addition o! J. B. Niles, A. M., as Professor of Chemistry, and 17 student-.. After some change of the faculty during the next three years, in which for a time l)r. V. J. Hokorr.b and Dr. Brown, of Kalamacoo, occupied chairs, a reorganisation was effected in 1S4; by Drs. Meeker, Richards, Shipman, Knapp, Hard and J. B. Niles, Ev| , and the present name was assumed. At the elosc of the sesson 1846-47, the chair of Materia Medica, previously held by Dr. Knapp, was vacated by the trustee and Dr E. Deming, of Lafayette, appointed, and Dr. Higby also became one of the faculty. The number of students was 104. Graduates, S7 The session of 1848,49 commenced under the same faculty, with 100 students. The new college edifice has been completed : large additions have been made to the anatomical museum, as well as to the surgical apparatus, with drawings and other facilities for illus- trating the demonstrative branches of medical science The chemical apparatus is very good, and the experimrnts for illustrating that branch usually performed before the classes are numerous, accurate and satisfactory. An association called the North Western Academy of Natural Sciences was forme-1 in 1846 by the faculty, and other friends of general sciences. It has already a Urge collection of specimens in Geology, Natural History, etc., and a valuable library. For many years the LaPorte High School has been on the list of Indiana Commissioned High Schools and in the year 188' the school was entered on the three years accredited list of Michigan University. In 1897 the Commercial Course was extended ; the department of English was organized ; the school was entered on the accredited list as a co-operating school with Chicago University, and its graduates given privilege of entering the freshman classes without examination. Since 1S98 the list of colleges accrediting the work of the schools has grown so as to include practically all schools belonging to the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and also some courses in the Eastern Colleges. The grade styled S'K, which practically increased the time spent on grade work to nine years below the high school has been abolished ; the course of study has been thoroughly reorganized ; book contracts have been entered into with dealers to secure great reduction in cost of books and supplies. A book rental plan has been established enabling all who desire so to do to rent the text books necessary for carrying on their work, instead of purchasing them. The seventh and