Page:Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state (Vol. I).djvu/96

92 The first teacher on record in the settlement that later became the metropolis of Cleveland was a young woman by the name of SARAH DOAN. She had charge of a log cabin school on Ridge Road. She could not have had many pupils for at this time, about 1810, the entire population of the settlement was 57. We have mentioned Ann Spofford, “Squire” Spofford’s daughter, as having taught school in Major Carter’s log cabin and there were unquestionably many other “female” schoolmarms as the community developed. The establishment, in fact, of the first free school of Cleveland can be directly traced to a woman. Sarah Van Tyne it seems, had conducted, previous to 1836, a Sunday school in a basement down in the poorest part of the city, near the river. This she developed into the old Bethel Chapel, at Diamond and Superior Sts. and here it was that through the efforts and energy of Sarah and others interested that a free school was first opened, right in Bethel Chapel. But the school was, of course, for the poor and was supported by charity.

Cleveland received its city charter in 1836. The Council, under this charter, was authorized to establish a public school system and was given , the right to purchase or receive by donation a lot in each of the wards of the city, as site for a school building. To support the schools, Council was authorized to levy a tax of on^ mill for schools and sites and one mill for cost of operating including payment of teachers. Women have always had an important part in the Cleveland public education system. In 1842 the average salary of a Cleveland woman teacher was still, however, not more than $5.00 per week. By 1864 her average salary had increased appreciably—but it was still about $465.00 a year, There were about 83 “female” teachers employed in Cleveland public schools the school year 1864-65. This did not keep women of outstanding ability from public school f service, for instance, ELLEN G. REVELEY. Miss Reveley was graduated I from Albany (N. Y.) State Normal School in 1859. She taught a year in I Verona, N. Y., then at Rome, N. Y ., then at Greylock Institute, Mass., and then began her career of 38 years in the public educational system of Cleve- land. From primary grade teacher she was promoted to principalship of the Sterling and then of the Mayflower School. Then she was made principal of the Normal School at Cleveland and then supervisor of Cleveland public schools. Much of the progress of the Cleveland schools is attributed to this great teacher and executive. Men and women who are foremost citizens of the city today still regard Ellen Reveley as the most potent influence in their life. They say that she was the embodiment of every precept she inculcated, the practician of every principle she presented. But when they declare that