History of Schools

But very little attention was paid to education in Wmson Co prior to the year 1840. A few subscription schools had been taught by teachers who were able only to teach reading, spelling, writing and the fundamental rules of arithmetic. In 1840 a school of a higher grade was established at Bainbridge by Prof. Bugg. He was succeded by Rev Nehemiah Hunt, who taught a few terms and then moved to Marion. He was a Presbyterian, of which further mention will be made in the next chapter. In 1841 a graded school was established at Marion, and soon thereafter a frame schoolhouse was erected in the northwestern part of town, not far from the site of the present school building. Wm Richie was the first, or among the first teachers. He was succeeded by Wm Scurlock and wife, and they by Rev Nehemiah Hunt formerly of the Bainbridge school. These schools were sustained for a number of years, and until they were supplanted by the free schools. William T Turner was appointed the first school commissioner of the county, and at the June Term 1840, of the county commissioner of the county, he reported that he had received from SH Mitchel, the school sommissioner of Franklin Co, the sum of $850.60 as a part of the school funding belonging to Wmson Co, after it was cut off from the former county, and at the Sept term following he reported $966.25 as received from the same source. Herny W Perry secceeded Turner as school commissioner, and at the March term, 1841, of said court, he reported $2062.72 in notes as received from his predecessor. This amount belonged to the permanet school fund, the principal of which was loaned out, and the interest only appropriated to the support of the schools. Of this amount $578 was designated as belonging to T-4 and $350 to T9-3 thus leaving a balance of $1134.72, which the report designated as belonging to the county school fund. The 16th section in each congressional twp; was donated, as heretofore stated for the support of schools; and there were 12 sections of that number in this county, all of which were sold to create a permanent fund to belong to each township respectively; but the records, as they have been preserved, fail to show how much money was realized from the sale of these lands. Some portions of this fund have been lost by means of loaning it without sufficient security. The permanent school fund of each congressional township, at the present writing is as follows, to wit:

making a total of this fund in the county of $9250.39. The funds derived from the sale of the school lands are embraced in the forgoing amounts; and here again is shown the great mistake of selling the school lands before any thing more than a mere nominal price could be obtained for them.

Under the free school systems, the public schools of Wmson Co have gradually increased and improved until it can be truthfully said that they are second to none in southern Illinois. To show their present condition, the following statistics are taken from the last report of the county school superintendent: Scholastic population--males 4163, females 3703, total 7866; number of pupils enrolled in the schools--males 3338, females 2975, total 6313. This shows that over 80% of the scholastic population attend the free schools, which is a pretty good showing though not as good as it ought to be. According to the report there are 93 ungraded and 5 graded schools in the county, making 98 in all. There were 7 male and 8 female teachers employed in the graded schools, and 73 male and 31 female teachers employed in the ungraded schools, making a total number of teachers employed, 119. There are 3 log, 91 frame and 2 brick schoolhouses in the county, 99 in all. The highest average monthly wages paid teachers, according to said report, was males $48.65, females $32.73. This shows that male teachers are held much higher in the estimation of the people of Wmson Co than female teachers are, but it does not show nor prove that they are better educators. Can there be any reason why a women should not be paid as much for the same amount and quality of service as a man? The report further shows that the amont of maoney earned during the year by the male teachers was $14,836.28 and by the female teachers, $5555.30, total $10,391.58; and that the estimated value of school property in the county, including libraries and scholl apparatus, was $44,027. The receipts of schools funds for the year were $39,046.76, and the expenditures $28,374.14, leaving a balance on hand of $10,672.62.

In Nov 1886, the large, commodious and picturesque schoolhouse of Marion was completed. It is a fine two-story brick structure, 60x69 feet, with a vestibule 12x24 feet. On the first floor are four schoolrooms, the vestibule, hall and stairs; and on the second floor there is a recitation room in the vestibule, and a large hall over the one beneath, in one end of which are cloakrooms. On the west side of this hall are two more schoolrooms, of the same size as those beneath them,a nd on the east side the whole space is occupied in one large room for the school of the principal. The whole building is warmed by the use of Boyington's Improved Heaters, there being one in each room and two in the principal's room. The main Building is covered with tin and the vestibule with slate. The building cost $9700, and it was constructed and finished in modern architectural style and beauty. It stands in the northwest par tof the city, and is an ornament to the same. It is well furnished, well ventilated and well lighted, and the citizens of the Marion School District may well be proud of it. Another fact worthy of mention is the excellent school now being taught in this building by Prof BF Kizer and his able corps of assistants, viz: Miss Ettie Lang, Mr George Powell, Miss Mollie Tyner, Miss Maggie Jackson, Miss Josie Scurlock and Miss Gertrude Warder. A high school department has recently been established in the school. The other graded schools of the county are located at Carterville, Crab Orchard, Creal Springs and Stone Fort, and are all doing good work. Taken sa a whole, the free schools of the county, under the supervision of Supt. John H Duncan, are doing an excellent work for the young people of this generation, but ther is room, and always will be room, for greater improvement.

There is another institution of learning in the county not connected with the free school system,a nd that is the seminary at Creal Springs, which was established in 1884 by Mr HC Murrah and his wife. Mr Murrah built the seminary building at his own expense,a nd Mrs Murrah has been the pricipal of the school ever since it was organized. There are about 65 pupils in attendance at the present writing. The academy is well sustained, and has a reputation of doing good work in the cause of education.

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