1881 Annual Report
of the
Board of Education

Contributed by Paula Vaughan


GENERAL RULES and REGULATIONS
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF THE
CITY OF OSHKOSH

OSHKOSH:
ALLEN & HICKS, PRINTERS AND STATIONERS
1881


THE OSHKOSH FREE SCHOOLS


One of the principal attractions of Oshkosh is the public school system of the city, which is justly claimed to be equal, if not superior, to that of any other in the State, excepting perhaps, Milwaukee. In the advanced civilization of the present time a city that neglects to supply the needed facilities demanded by the spirit of the age for the education of its children will certainly be of a limited growth and an uncertain prosperity. No such mistake has been committed by the people of Oshkosh. Our educational advantages woule be creditable to a place of much larger population than we claim to possess.

The public school houses, of which there is one or more in each ward, are large comodious buildings, furnished with all needful appliances for the accommodation of pupils. Their seating capacity varies from two hundred and fity to five hundred. The High School is a building of ample size and imposing appearance. It was built in 1867 at a cost of about sixty thousand dollars. It can easily accommodate five hundred pupils.

Our city schools are organizedon the graded system, and are of four grades, viz: Primary, Intermediate, Grammar and High School. The primary and intermediate grades constitute the ward or district schools, and each is divided into two departments, known as the first and second primary, and the first and second intermediate. Each ward or district school building is in charge of a principal, with one or more teachers and assistant teachers in each department. The course of instruction extends six years, and is divided into six classes, A and B forming the first intermediate, C the second intermediate, D and E the first primary, and F the second primary. The pupils pass by promotion, at regular semi-annual examinations, from one class to another and from class A, the highest, to the Grammar school, and from thence to the High School. The course of instruction in the High School proper continues four years, and three half-year grades of preparatory pupils in the lower rooms entitled Grammar A and Grammar B, the first half-year of Grammar B is in the ward schools.

The whole umber of teachers at present employed in the city schools is fifty-one -- seven males and forty-four female teachers. If the school buildings were filled to their entire capacity they would accommodate not far from three thousand pupils. The school government of the city is provided for by a Board of Education, consisting of a superintendent, appointed by the Common Council, and six commissioners - one from each ward - elected biennially by the people.

The courses of study in the High School, as well as in the ward schools have been adopted with the view of affording the children of the city a thorough, common-school education, such as shall qualify them for all ordinary pursuits and fit them for the duties and responsibilities of life. The system of grades established secures uniformity in the extent and general character of the instruction, and increases the teaching power of the city by making it possible for one teacher to instruct a larger number of pupils than could otherwise be taught. Our public school system is in fact, and in practice, a co-operative association of citizens for the education of their children, and, for effectiveness, economy and convenience, placed under the control of the city government. No like extent of teaching service could be secured by private schools, or special tuition for double the money it costs to maintain the public schools.



HIGH SCHOOL, ALGOMA STREET


The High School building was erected in 1867, costing $65,000, and was first occupied in the autumn of that year, under the principalship of the late Arthur Everett. On his death, Mr. S.W. Maltbie was engaged as principal, who had charge something over a year. For the last six years the principal has been E. Barton Wood. The school consists of the High School proper, which has courses of four years, and three half-year grades of preparatory pupils in the lower rooms, entitled Grammar A and Grammar B. On-half year of Grammar B is in the ward schools. The assistant teachers are: in the High School proer, Mrs. Clara Everett, Misses Mary E. Murdock, Anna L. Wood and Sara J. Ellsworth; in Grammar A, Misses Mary Blackburn and Jennie D. Adams; in Grammar B, Misses Lucy Rafferty and Myra Manning. The total enrolled for the year ending June 30, 1880, was in the High School, 118; in Grammar A, 116; in Grammar B, 91. Examinations for promotion of classes occur twice a year, viz: during the last week of January, and the last week of June.



ALGOMA STREET SCHOOL, FIRST WARD


This is a commodious two-story frame edifice situated on the corner of Algoma and Wisconsin streets, in the First Ward. It is the oldest school building in the city, but is yet in good serviceable condition. It has a seating capacity for about 400 pupils. The number enrolled at the present time is 338, with an average attendance of 280. The whole number of children of the legal school age - between four and twenty years - in the First Ward is, by the last census, 941. The school is in charge of Mr. Albert L. Osborn, as principal. His assistants are: Ella F. Jackman, Lutie E. Morgan, Jessie H. Goe, Katie A. Glynn, Ella Dale, Georgie Ellsworth, Mary Camburn.

The only private school in this ward is the St. Peter's Catholic School, on High Street, in which the common English branches are taught by Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic. The number of pupils in attendance is about 120.



FRENTZ SCHOOL, SECOND WARD


This school is in the east part of the Second Ward, pleasantly located between Winnebago and Fifth streets. It is built of brick and stone, two stories high, and is capable of seating 350 children. The site and building, furnished, cost about $12,000. The present enrollment is 254, and the average attendance 220. This ward ranks second in the number of its school population, the last enumeration showing 1,025 children of all ages, from four to twenty years. There are, also, several private and sectarian schools in this ward. The German and English Academy, and Kindergarten, and the school connected with the Evangelical-Lutheran Church, have an aggregate attendance of over 400 pupils.

Henry C. Thom is the principal of the Frentz School. This school has an excellent staf of assistant teachers. Their names are: Carrie Lamb, Lillie Kimball, Ida Webster, Carrie Lawrence, Katie C. Grady, Jennie E. Kelly, A.D. Daily.



ELEVENTH STREET SCHOOL, THIRD WARD


The Eleventh Street School is situated on the northeast corner of Eleventh and Minnesota streets, in the Third Ward. It is one of the oldest school-houses in the city, but is a very convenient and comfortable building, and will accommodate about 375 pupils. The school population of the ward is, by the last census, 987.

The number of children enrolled in the Eleventh Street School is 381; the average attendance 313. Mr. A.A. Spencer has been the principal of this school since the beginning of the present school year. His assistants are: Alice Gill, Mary Turner, Orissa Harney, Grace Lindsley, Cora J. Griffin, Ida Jutton and Flora S. Gill.

The educational advantages of this ward are not confined to the public schools. There are two other institutions - the St. Vincent de Paul Academy, and the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. They are under the charge of the Sisters of the Convent of Notre Dame, Milwaukee, and have an attendance of about 200.



DALE SCHOOL, FOURTH WARD


This is the largest and most costly of our ward schools; and properly so, because the Fourth Ward has the largest school population of any ward in the fity, the last enumeration showing 1,393 children of legal school age. It is a plainly built, substantial structure of brick, two stories high, and can accomadate 500 pupils. It is situated on a lot of ample size, on the corner of Irving and Mt. Vernon streets. The building and furniture, including the site, cost $17,600. The last monthly report of the principal gives the enrollment at 363, and the average attendance is 305.

This school is under the management of Mr. James Brainerd, as principal. His assistants are: Libbie Watts, Minnie Williamson, Rilla Sanders, Ellen Brainerd, Eugenie Murdock, Ella JOnes and Mary Shenich.

A private school, known as St. Mary's Catholic School, is located in this ward, on Merritt street. It has an attendance of about 130.



READ SCHOOL, FIFTH WARD


This is the new school edifice lately erected on the north side of Algoma street, in the Fifth Ward. The school was opened on the 4th of February, 1880, with Henry Barber as principal. Nettie Freeman, Mary Prock, Maggie Mason, Hettie Miles and Alice L. Lake are assistants. The whole number of pupils enrolled is 177. Average attendance is 155. Ward enumeration 654.

The building is two stories high, exclusive of basement and attic; the main building has a frontage of 82 feet on Algoma street, with a depth of 42 feet. The entrances, one in front and one in rear, are in the center of the building and connect with the main hall, which is 15x40 feet, and extends from front to rear. The stairway is admirably located both in regard to convenience and safety, and connects with all the rooms throughout the building. The arrangement of both stories are similar, on each side of hall are the school rooms 24x32 feet and 13 feet in height. Each of these rooms, four in all, have two cloak-rooms, one for girls and one for boys. Each school-rooms has also one class-room, 15x18 feet, connecting with school-rooms and hall. The school-rooms are lighted with large windows, provided with inside blinds for regulating the light. All the inside finish is of oak wood. The school and class-rooms are wainscotted to the height of the black boards, while all halls and cloak-rooms are wainscotted 6 feet high. All floors are of hard wood, and the stairway is finished in oak.

The building is metal roofed, and is noticable for the entrie absence of wood on the cornice, cupola, etc., nothing having been used in its construction but the most indestructible and enduring material.



SIXTH STREET SCHOOL, SIXTH WARD


The school house in the Sixth Ward is a handsome two-story brick building, capable of accommodating aout two hundred children. Its cost was $7,700. It stands in a pleasant location, yet the site is an unsuitable one, being too remote from the present center of population in that ward. For this reason the school is not well attended - not more than half of its seating accommodation being in use at the present time. This objection will, however, be obviated in time, as the future growth of the city must add largely to the population of the Sicth Ward. The last enumeration shows an increase of 52 over that of the year before. The last monthly report gives the enrollment at 107, and the average attendance at 92. The school is in charge of James M. Jones, principal, and Martina O'Hanlon and Carrie M. Stroud, assistants. The whole number of children of legal school age in the Sixth Ward is 874.

TEACHERS - 1880-81


HIGH SCHOOL


E. BARTON WOOD - - - - - - Principal - - - - - - - - $1,750 Salary

CLARA EVERETT  - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - -    450

MARY E. MURDOCK  - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - -    450

SARAH J. ELLSWORTH - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - -    450

ANNA L. WOOD   - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - -    450
GRAMMAR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Class "A"


(1) MARY E. BLACKBURNE - - Principal - - - - - - - - -  450

JENNIE D. ADAMS  - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - -  400
Class "B"


(2) LUCY E. RAFFERTY - - - Principal - - - - - - - - - 450

MYRA MANNING   - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 400
ALGOMA STREET SCHOOL - FIRST WARD


FIRST INTERMEDIATE


ALBER L. OSBORN  - - - - - Principal - - - - - - - - - 650

ELLA F JACKMAN   - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 350
SECOND INTERMEDIATE


LUTIE E. MORGAN  - - - - - Teacher   - - - - - - - - - 350

JESSIE H. GOE    - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
FIRST PRIMARY


(3) KATIE A. GLYNN - - - - Teacher   - - - - - - - - - 350

ELLA DALE  - - - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
SECOND PRIMARY


GEORGIE ELLSWORTH  - - - - Teacher   - - - - - - - - - 350

MARY CAMBURN - - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
(1) In place of Vanie Doe, resigned Jan. 1, 1881
(2) In place of Mary E. Blackburne transferred to Class A
(3) In place of Lucy E. Rafferty, transferred to Grammar School Jan. 1, 1881

FRENTZ SCHOOL - SECOND WARD


FIRST INTERMEDIATE


HENRY C. THOM  - - - - - - Principal - - - - - - - - - 650

LILLIE KIMBALL - - - - - - FIRST ASSISTANT - - - - - - 350

IDA WEBSTER  - - - - - - - Second Assistant  - - - - - 300
SECOND INTERMEDIATE


MRS. A. D. DAILY - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350
FIRST PRIMARY


CARRIE LAMB  - - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350

CARRIE LAWRENCE  - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300

JENNIE E. KELLEY - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
SECOND PRIMARY


KATIE C. GRADY - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350
ELEVENTH STREET SCHOOL - THIRD WARD


FIRST INTERMEDIATE


A.A. SPENCER   - - - - - - Principal - - - - - - - - - 650

ALICE GILL - - - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 350
SECOND INTERMEDIATE


MARY TURNER  - - - - - - - Teacher   - - - - - - - - - 350

GRACE P. LINDSLEY  - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
FIRST PRIMARY


CORA J. GRIFFIN  - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350

IDA JUTTON   - - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
SECOND PRIMARY


ORISSA HARNEY  - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350

FLORA S. GILL  - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
DALE SCHOOL - FOURTH WARD


FIRST INTERMEDIATE


JAMES BRAINERD - - - - - - Principal - - - - - - - - - 650

LIBBIE WATTS - - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 350
SECOND INTERMEDIATE


MINNIE WILLIAMSON  - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350

GENIE MURDOCK  - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
FIRST PRIMARY


RILLA SANDERS  - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350

ELLA JONES - - - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
SECOND PRIMARY


ELLEN BRAINERD - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350

JENETTE E. SHENICH - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
READ SCHOOL - FIFTH WARD


FIRST INTERMEDIATE


HENRY BARBER - - - - - - - Principal - - - - - - - - - 650
HETTIE E. MILES - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 350
SECOND INTERMEDIATE


NETTIE FREEMAN - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350

ALICE L. LAKE  - - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 300
FIRST PRIMARY


MARY E. PROCK  - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350
SECOND PRIMARY


MAGGIE MASON   - - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350
SIXTH STREET SCHOOL - SIXTH WARD


INTERMEDIATE


JAMES M. JONES - - - - - - Principal - - - - - - - - - 550

CARRIE M. STROUD - - - - - Assistant - - - - - - - - - 350
PRIMARY


MARTINA O'HANLON - - - - - Teacher - - - - - - - - - - 350
CORA B. WYMAN - - - - - - Supply Teacher - - - - - - 150

GRADUATES OF HIGH SCHOOL


1868


Nellie Austin, Mary Murdock, Charles Barber, Timothy Lynch

1869


Mary Daly, Rosa Quinn, Lowell Colburn, Irene Stroud, Sophia Seely, Walter Barnes, Millard Olin

1870


Myra Manning, Mattie M. Goe, Emma Williams, Mary E. Prock, Marie Holman

1871


Celia Ellis, Clara Walker, Eva Scott, Genie Murdock, Asa Worcester, Ida L. Hamm, Sarah Davis, Ella Jackman, Mary Edwards, George Lines

1872


Emma Boles, Nellie Bashford, Emma Turner, Nelie Doe, Lyman Barnes, Ross Lines, Louisa Stewart, Carrie Everett, George Carey, Thalia Lindsley

1873


Charles Nevitt Clara Parkinson Henry Mason Emma Loper Alden Davis Fannie Daly Frankie Adams Jerome Baker Alma Weisbrod Mary Washburn
1874


James Haight Will M. Stewart Evan Watts Amber Hay Ella Jones Alice Burnham Ella Wheeler Olive Kellogg Louise Avery Mary Marble

1875


Addie Alger, Henry Barber, Ama R. Danforth, Mary G. Ford, Nellie H. Barnes, Belle Cleveland, Gertrude P. Dingee, Minnie Gallup, Bernard C. Gudden, Jennie M. Harshaw, William E. Healey, Mary E. Kennedy, Alice L. Lake, Emma L. Johnstone, Irene Kezertee, Emma Linda, Anna J. Mason, Lizzie Montgomery, Hallie Rogers, Martina O'Hanlon, Edgar Stilson, Maggie M. Hawthorne

1876


Mary Canty, Katie C. Grady, Wm. S. Barber, Chattie L. Griffin, Libbie C. Holden, Alecia Quinn, Lucy E. Rafferty, Jennie Simmons, John Canty, J.M. Wolverton, Lillie G. Kimball

1877


Rollin F. Baker, Jennie D. Adams, May Berry, Alfred E. McCurdy, Hattie J. Camburn, Mary E. Carpenter, John Nevitt, Herman H. Powers, Lulu J. Munger, A.L. Osborn

1878


Cora J. Griffin, Grace P. Lindsley, Emma Olcott, Emma V. Avery, Maggie F. Mason, Stella J. Radford, Alice M. Collins, Hettie E. Miles, Cora B. Wyman, George A. Cameron, Walter A. Hall, Dick Russell

1879


Charles Evans, Willie R. Hall, Nellie Bates, A.O. Kuehmstaedt, Nora K. Everett, Jennie E. Kelley, Annie D. Harshaw, Matie P. Munger, John F. Roberts, Henry C. Smith, Dora H. Stone, Carrie M. Stroud, Jennie Montgomery

1880


Fred A. Pike, Mamie Evans, Belle C. Bent, Theresa F. Buck, Hattie A. Farrand, Nannie Frey, Jennie Heath, Chris Sarau, Jr., Viola F. Murdock, Ida L. Tyler, Alice E. Washburne, Ed. F. Kennedy, Allie E. Cook

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