367
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY
CHAPTER XXII.
EDUCATIONAL--COMMON SCHOOLS--ADDISON COUNTY GRAMMAR
SCHOOL.
THE
first
school house built and the two first schools opened in town for children were
those mentioned in the statement of Miss Torrance., in the south part of the town,
where the principal settlements then were. The first school in the neighborhood
of the
village was kept by Mrs. Goodrich, wife of William Goodrich Esq., about the year
1791. They then resided in a house on the rising ground east of Dr. Bass's, near
Mr. Conroe's barn, and her school was in a small school house on the opposite
side of the road. We have no knowledge of other schools established at an early
day, except such as are incidentally mentioned in our history. The first official
act of the town, on the subject of schools, was a vote in December 1790, to divide
the town into four school districts. Votes were afterwards passed, from time to
time; increasing the number and changing the boundaries of the districts. The
present number of districts is eleven, known by the names of the numbers attached
to them. The large districts in the village, one on each side of the creek, constitute
two of them. The changes have been, and promise to be, so frequent, that it is
more than the object is worth to trace here their boundaries.
The
laws of the State require "each organized town to support one or more schools,
provided with competent teachers," and if more than one is needed, the town is
required to divide their territory "into as many school districts as shall be
judged most convenient." These districts are constituted corporations, for the
purpose of maintaining schools, and may hold estate and assess taxes for that
purpose. The district clerk is required to ascertain annually the num-
368
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
ber of children in his district, between the ages of four and eighteen, and
return a list of them to the town clerk, with a certificate of the number of
weeks a school has been kept the preceding year. Previous to the statute of
1850, the districts were authorized, if they chose, to raise money for the support
of the schools
" by subscription, or by apportioning the same to the scholars, who shall
attend the school, or otherwise." By the statute of that year it was enacted
that - "all moneys raised by school districts, for the payment of teachers'
wages, shall be raised upon the grand list, and moneys, raised by a tax upon
the scholars, shall be appropriated only to defray the expenses of fuel and
teachers' board." Provision has been made also by the legislature, authorizing
large districts to establish also a higher or central school, or several districts
to unite for a similar purpose; but no such provisions have been adopted in
this town.
Previous
to 1836, a large amount of funds had accumulated in the United States treasury,
beyond the wants of the government, and Congress, by an act approved June 23d
of that year, ordered that " the money, which shall be in the treasury on the
first of January 1837, reserving the sum of five millions of dollars, shall be
deposited with the several States, in proportion to their respective representation,
in the Senate and House of Representatives, as shall by law authorize their treasurer,
or other competent authorities to receive" and give the required certificate
for the same. The certificate was required to pledge the faith of the State to
return the money, when called for. The deposits were to be made in four instalments,
on the first of January, April, July and October 1837. After having delivered
three instalments, on the 2d of October; Congress enacted that "the transfer of
the fourth instalment be postponed till the first day of January 1839," and it
has never been paid.
The
legislature, by their act passed November 17th 1836, agreed to accept their share
of the deposit, according to the terms proposed, and authorized the treasurer
to receive it and give the required receipt. The amount they directed the treasurer
to distribute among the several towns, according to their population, as as
369
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY
certained by the census of 1830, and to make a new apportionment at each succeeding
census. The act required also, that the several towns should "choose by ballot
three trustees, who should receive, take care of and manage the moneys deposited
with the respective towns." And they directed the trustees to loan the money
on good security, at six per cent. interest, "for a term not exceeding one year
at a time," and pay the income annually into the town treasury to "be distributed
by the selectmen to the several school districts." This town, at a meeting
called for that purpose on the 26th of December 1836, voted to receive their
share of the fund deposited, and elected by ballot Elisha Brewster, Paul Champlin
and Edwin Hammond trustees of the fund. The trustees, at the annual March meeting
in 1838, reported, " that they have received in three instalments the sum of
$8,278 89, and had loaned it, on good security, to individuals at six per cent,
in sums of $100, or less." And the meeting by vote directed them to pay the
interest into the town treasury by the 15th day of
July
next. And this has been done from year to year, so long as the fund was loaned
to individuals.
The
amount of the above fund and the small amount of the rents received from school
lands, in most of the towns, constitute all the permanent funds, appropriated
for the support of schools. The remainder it is necessary to raise by direct taxation.
It is therefore provided by statute, that the selectmen shall annually "assess
a tax of nine cents on the dollar of the list of the town," for the use of schools.
In case the town has other funds, which, after deducting one half of the United
States deposit money, will amount to the sum raised by the tax or a part of it,
the tax or a proportion of it may be omitted. The tax in this town is five per
cent. If the funds provided by law are insufficient, the deficiency is to be raised
by taxes on the district.
The
selectmen by law have the charge and management of all the real and personal estate,
appropriated for the use of schools, and they are required annually, on the first
day of March, to divide the proceeds of the tax, with the income of all the funds,
appropriated for schools, between the several districts, one fourth part equally,
for
the relief of small districts, and the remainder in proportion to
370
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY
the number of children between the ages of four and eighteen.
Such
is substantially the system under which the schools in this town, have been maintained.
School houses of more or less comfort and convenience have been built, and teachers,
more or less qualified have been employed in the several districts. In the large
districts in the village, separate rooms are provided in the same building. with
separate teachers, and the children have been classified, somewhat according to
age, sex and studies.
At
an early day, the legislature directed the selectmen, in the several towns, where
there were lands, under the New Hampshire charters, belonging to the glebe right,
or rights for the Propagation of the Gospel, to lease them, and appropriate the
rents for the use of schools. This appropriation of the plebe rights was regarded
as valid, by the decision of the United States Courts. But the lands belonging
to the Propagation rights, were, by the same authority, retained for their original
purpose. The first and second division of the school right, and the glebe right
had been leased, and previous to the decision, the first division of the Propagation
right had been leased for the use of schools, but has since been surrendered.
The first and second hundred acre divisions of the school right and of the glebe
right are the only lands leased for the use of schools. No. 2 is the first hundred
acre division of the school right, of which Andrew Bain owns the lease. The second
hundred acre division of this right was surveyed by Judge Painter in 1775, lying
on the Salisbury line and east of Nathaniel Evens' lot of that division, and the
lease is owned by Capt. Joel Boardman. The first hundred acre division of the
glebe right is No. 49, and the lease of the west half is owned by William Carr
Jr., and the east half by Abel Abbey; and the second hundred acre division of
that right lies within the limits of the first division between the town plot
on the west, and the east tier on the east; and the lease is owned by Elijah S.
Royce. The rents of these lands, which were entirely wild, were so small, that
the town adopted the policy of loaning the rents, to constitute an accumulating
fund, to be divided, when it would be of greater benefit. This plan was opposed
by a part of
the citizens, and the question was agitated in town meetings for sev-
371
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
eral years. In the meantime trustees were appointed from the several districts,
who had charge of the fund. At the annual meeting in 1817, the trustees were
directed
"to
deliver all notes and securities for the school fund to the town clerk," and
he was directed to collect them. This measure was adopted to make preparation
for a distribution; and not long after the fund was divided.
The
shares, which belonged to the two districts in the village, were appropriated
for the erection of the brick school houses on each side of the creek.
The amount
of the United States deposit money received in 1887 was $8,278 89. On the new
apportionment after the census of 1840, there was refunded to the State treasurer
the sum of $1,032 21; and after the census of 1850 the sum of $255 08 was returned,
leaving now in possession of the town the sum of $7,501 76. The fund annually
distributed in Middlebury among the districts is as follows:
|
Interest on the deposit,
|
------------------------- |
$450 10
|
|
Amount
of rents,
|
------------------------- |
$119
00
|
|
Proceeds
of tax in 1856,
|
------------------------- |
$387 00
|
|
Amounting in the whole to
|
------------------------- |
$956 10
|
The
common schools in this town are not what they ought to be,
although the provisions of the law have been generally complied
with, and they have been gradually improving from the first settlement.
The want of funds has heretofore been an obstacle to their
improvement. At an early day the expenses of the schools were
more generally paid by taxes on the scholars, and provisions were
otherwise so inadequate for making them respectable, that, especially in the village,
select schools became common. The doctrine
that the education of the children is a public interest, and should
be supported at the public expense, has been extending and gradually
coming into practice. When the rich are compelled to pay for
the support of the public schools, in proportion to their property,
instead of the number of their children, it is an inducement to
them to improve those, instead of patronizing select schools. The
friends of education have long felt., that the schools in Vermont
372
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
were altogether below the standard they ought to occupy; and the tendency of
the legislature has been to improve them. And there is a sanguine expectation,
that the plans recently adopted by the legislature, for the general superintendence
of the school system, through the State, will make them better.
ADDISON COUNTY GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
By
an act of the legislature on the 8th of November 1797, a Grammar School was established
in Middlebury, under a corporation by the name of the "Coporation of Addison
County Grammar School." Full powers were granted to the corporation to acquire
and hold the necessary estate, and for other purposes necessary for sustaining
a permanent school; and to hold and use all the lands in the county, reserved
and appropriated for that use, in the charters granted by this State. The trustees,
appointed by the act, were Gamaliel Painter, Seth Storrs, Samuel Miller, Daniel
Chipman and Darius Matthews. The trustees are authorized to add to their number;
but the whole number is not to exceed twelve. A proviso is added to the act,
"that the inhabitants of Middlebury, and such others as may voluntarily subscribe
therefor, shall build and finish a good and sufficient house for said Grammar
School, of the value of one thousand dollars, by the next stated session of the
legislature, and shall forever after keep the same in good repair." The inhabitants
immediately set themselves to work to fulfil the condition, but did not limit
their expenditures to one thousand dollars. The design was already formed to establish
a college, and provide a building, which would accommodate such an institution,
at least for a time. Accordingly a subscription was raised in this and the neighboring
towns, and the wooden building since used for the college, eighty feet by forty,
and three stories high, was completed in 1798, within the time limited by the
act. It was divided. into convenient rooms for students, with a public room for
a chapel, and other uses, in the centre of the upper story.
The
land on which the building, together with the extensive grounds connected with
it, was, in July 1800, and
previous to the charter of the college, deeded to the corporation by Seth Storrs,
373
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Darius Matthews, Appleton Foot,
Stillman Foot and Anthony Rhodes. Most of the land was owned by Col. Storrs;
but the grounds embraced small pieces belonging to the other grantors.
Rev.
Jeremiah Atwater, of New Haven, Conn., was appointed principal of the grammar
school, in anticipation of his becoming president of the college, when established.
Until 1805, both institutions were continued in the same building, and President
Atwater continued nominally principal of the academy, although the instruction
was given by a tutor or other officer of the college. At that time the preparatory
school was removed to the building erected for the Female Seminary, that institution
being vacant in consequence of the death of Miss Strong.
Since
the separation, the following. preceptors have had charge of the academy for the
periods designated:
|
APPOINTED
|
LEFT
|
APPOINTED
|
LEFT
|
| 1805
Rev. Chester Wright |
1807 |
1823
Rev. Addison Parker |
1824 |
| 1807
Rev. John Frost |
1808 |
1824
Rev. Lucivs L. Tilden |
1825 |
| 1808
Rev. Richard Hall |
1809 |
1825
Hon Horace Eaton |
1826 |
| 1809
Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton |
1810 |
1826
Rev. John Wild |
1827 |
| 1810
Hon. Zimri Howe |
1811 |
1827
Rev. John J. Owen |
1828 |
| 1811
Rev. Joseph Labaree |
1813 |
1828
Rev. Truman M. Post |
1828 |
| 1813
Rev. Otto S. Hoyt |
1814 |
1828
Rev. Edwin Hall |
1830 |
| 1814
Rev. Reuben Post |
1815 |
1830
G. T. Thompson, Esq. |
1834 |
| 1815
Rev. Daniel Hemenway |
1816 |
1834
Henry W. Ellsworth, Esq. |
1835 |
| 1816
Rev. Benson C. Baldwin |
1817 |
1835
Rev. Merrill Richardson |
1837 |
| 1817
Al He Cook, Esq. |
1818 |
1837
William Warner, Esq |
1838 |
| 1818
Rev. Beriah Green |
1819 |
1838
Rev. John Bradshaw |
1841 |
| 1819
Rev. George C. Beckwith |
1820 |
1841
Rev. Azariah Hyde |
1843 |
| 1820
Rev. Ora Pierson |
1820 |
1846
Daniel A. Bowe |
1849 |
| 1820
Rev. Roswell Pettibone |
1821 |
1849
Eleazer Sherman |
1850 |
| 1821
Rev. Uzziah C. Burnap |
1823 |
1851
Thomas S. Pearson |
1853 |
When
more permanent teachers have not been engaged, temporary teachers have been employed
to supply their place.
Rev.
Joseph Steele, in the spring of 185'7, was appointed preceptor and principal,
and it was, hoped it might be sustained until it should assume a more permanent
character. But from the want of adequate funds, he found it difficult to give
it this character, and re-
374
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
linquished
it. The only permanent funds are the rents of the Grammar
School lands in the county, which amount to a little over $100
annually, - hardly sufficient to keep the building in repair. The
lands are principally
in
the mountain towns, where only charters
were granted by this State. Other charters were granted by the
Governor
of New Hampshire, and contained no appropriation for
that purpose. While similar institutions were less common, popular
teachers collected large schools, with a liberal income from tuition
alone. Some of the teachers have received from the treasury, in
addition to this income, from fifty to one hundred dollars annually.
But the income has never been sufficient, and sufficiently certain to
induce competent teachers to make it a permanent business. The
citizens of Middlebury and vicinity would doubtless, long since,
have adequately endowed this institution, if their liberality had not
been exhausted on the college, which they regarded as a more important
object. We hope it will not be long before seine efforts will
be put forth for a thorough endowment, as such an institution, of a
high order, is greatly needed in this vicinity.
After
Mrs. Willard opened her school at her own residence, the
building erected for the female seminary was wholly, given up to
the Grammar School. In 1820, the principal proprietors of that
building transferred their shares to the corporation of that institution.
In 1843 that building. came to be regarded as inconvenient,
on account of its location and otherwise, and some measures were
adopted to provide a different place. In 1844 a negotiation was
opened with the corporation of the college, for occupying the wooden
building, originally erected for the grammar school, or a part of it,
and arrangement was oracle for that purpose. Accordingly a part
of the lower story was altered and fitted up for that purpose, and
the school has since been held there. The land, on which the female
school building was erected was deeded only for the use of such a
school by Hon. Horatio Seymour and being deserted by both schools,
the whole was surrendered to him, on his making some compensation
for the building, to enable the corporation to fit up the rooms
in the college building. The corporation have also, with the aid of contributions
from the citizens, enclosed with a railing the building
375
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY
and the extensive
common west of it; and by the liberal donation of several hundred dollars, by
Charles Starr Esq., of New York, the grounds have been prepared and planted with
ornamental trees and shrubbery.