Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/459

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 399 community to pay sufScient salary to attract men of education and ability as teachers, even had there existed the ability to set up stand- ards by which to judge the work of the school. In the more populous and wealthy com- mimities were to be found schools of a much better character conducted by men of learning and enthusiasm. Many of the educated min- isters of the country like Peck and Flint taught schools such as we have described. Their work was of high grade and through their efforts there gradually grew up stand- ards by which the work of the schools was measured. Jackson early became famous for its good schools and had among its earl.y teach- ers were Henry Sanford, Edward Criddle, Mrs. John Scripps, Mrs. Wathen, Mrs. Rhoda Ranuey and Dr. Barr. The most famous and perhaps the best of the early schools was that known as the Asylum, conducted near Ste. Genevieve. It was opened in 1815 b,y Joseph Hertich. Her- tieh was a native of Switzerland and brought with him to this coimtry the ideas of Pe.sta- lozzi. He seems to have been a born teacher and his school soon became famous on account of the superior grade of teaching which he did. A large number of his pupils afterward became famous. Among them were General A. C. Dodge of the United States army, his brother, Henry Dodge, afterward a member of the United States senate, and Lewis F. Linn, the famous senator from Missouri. It is doubtful if any other school in Southeast Mis- souri since that time has had so large a num- ber of boys who afterward reached eminence in one station or another. These subscription schools improved as the years passed and the country grew in wealth and population, making possible better sal- aries. The establishment of academies, sem- inaries and colleges, in Southeast Missouri, to- gether with the more liberal salaries, made it possible for men who wished to teach to pre- pare theuLselves for the work. Thei-e was, however, still great room for improvement. In many of the communities of this part of the state, as well as in other sections, we find schools conducted by men of very little edu- cation. Schools were conducted for but a short time and had onl.y a very limited course of study. There is appended here a copy of an agreement drawn up between a teacher and the patrons regarding the conduct of school. It is inserted as showing some of the manner in which these schools were arranged for, and also as casting light on the conditions of edu- cation in some parts of the state. A true copy a Shool article Commenced on the 14th of July 1847 in Greenville Township Wayne County Mo. by Thomas Taylor for six months. — 1st. I Thomas Taylor promise to teach they Chil- dren of this Neighborhood to the number of Twenty five if that many can be made up, or will commence with twenty to teach six months at the rate of Two dollars and fifty cents per scholar per quarter or three months. I will teach spelling, reading, waiting, the rudiments of arithmetic, then the single rule of three, double rule of three Practice, Tare and tret, simple Interest and compound Interest, also teach the vernacular Language, teach five days in each week and if any time is lost by Thomas Taylor by sickness or otherwise to be made up before the Ex- peration of Teaching. 2nd. We the undersigned employers to this ar- ticle promise to pay to Thomas Taylor the above sum per scholar on or before the experation of teach- ing. I will receive Cash, Pork, Beefhides, Deerskins, Mink skins, Raccoon .skins or any fur if good, also woolen Jeans Cloth, shirting cloth or Young Cattle one year not over, a young Beef Steer or Cow. The defirent articles as above to be delivered me at Mr. Eli Cowans an on or before the experation. the Schoolhouse to be Comfortably fixed with a good roof writing Tables or Benches, also seats Benches to sit on. Fuel furnished when needed.