The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-03-22
[For the Democrat
THE EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEA CHI.
ERS OF CANTON,
Goonoluded from last Number. !

source from whence the rising genera
ton of town drank in, or had pumped
out, their elementary knowledge. Schol'
ars came from other towns in the county
The teachers were Barak Michener, An
drew Munks, Hugh R. Caldwell and a
teacher of German, by the name of Gal
witz. They had separate rooms, and the
teachers and scholars were independent
of each other. The price of tuition was
from $2 to So a quarter. There was no
jealousy between the scholars of the
different rooms, and very little inter
course.
1t was generally conceded that Mich
ener was the abest teacher, and had the
best school. He was good scholar in
all the departments of study, patient and
persevering in his efforts to impart
knowledge to others. He was the author
of small work on English Grammar,
which he had published at the Repository
office. The influence, exercised oyer the
mind of the scholars by the teacher, was
exemplifed in this school. Mr.. Mich
ener was an infdel, and he would occa-
sionally let drop remark in the resence
of the scholars, or comment upon the
Scriptures in way calculated to shake
their confidence in the truth of Revela-
ton. A few of his scholars are still liv-
ing, who imbibed scepticism to which
they yet cling. He edited, and Mr.. Sax
ton published for two years, an intideI
periodical entitled, Enquiry for TRUTH
He was something of a poet land at semi
Centennial celebration in Canton, July 4,
1926, read a poem appropriate to the oc-
casion. He also wrote several New Year
Addresses for the Repository. Mr..
Michener was in the habit of engaging
with the boys in play, during "intermis-
sion." The favorite games were that
ball" and "corner ball". He had not his
equal in catching or throwing ball. Mr..
Michener studied medicine with DR., |
Gardner, and commenced practice in |
1880. He soon atterward settled in Mas. |
sillon, where he made quite reputation
for his successful treatment of cholera on |
its first appearance in this country. He
is still living, and now resident of
Iowa.
Munks, who had school in the "West
Room" was a different sort of man. His
personal appearance was somewhat i'm
posing. He had ponderous abdomen,
and stalked over the school room like a
colossus, impressing the scholar with the
idea that he was all pumpkins" His
forte was penmanship and arithmetic.
When school was dismissed he generally
repaired to Clark's tavern, corner Tus-
carawas and Walnut streets, where he
was sort of Sir Oracle with bar-room
habitues-on the quality of whisky, or
matters of State. His habits at length
became 80 exceptionable that it was con-
sidered reproach to be one of his schol-
ars. When John McSweeny was asked
who was his first teacher his answer was,
"Munks." Erred, Haak says, he and l
were classmates" Both the gentlemen
have since attained distinction in the
Courts of our county.
Caldwell was a popular teacher enthu-
siastic in his work, and gave very general
Map drawing with the Pen.
was a specially with him, and
this plan of teaching Geography impress
ed upon the mind of the scholar, more
correct and lasting idea of the country
than any mode of instruction adopted
since. Mr.. Caldwell was fond Of poetry,
of Shakespeare and Burns, and l
,ook delight in entertaining the school by
eading from these authors.
Of Galwitz, who taught German, very
title is remembered except that he was
eputed severe in government; and so :
Unjust was the punishment he sometimes
inflicted that one of his scholars, for what q
le considered an unmerited punishment g
reasured it against him, and years after, !
when full grown, chastised him IN the
Public Square.
The modes of punishment inflicted up
IN scholars at that day were varied For
mild offence, hand tied behind the
pack, or pointing with stick at some s
stove pipe or mark on the f
vail, or fagellation upon the palm of the
land. Sometimes the teacher would re- s
ort to what would be regarded at the
present day, extreme measures For in
tance, two unruly boys, equally insubor- c
Innate, as a punishment would be requir- S
d to hold an iron poker three feet long, a
me end in the mouth of each. A more .
evere punishment still, was to adjust
ag in the mouth and split stick on the
lose A boy would present ludicrous
gure, standing in the middle of the floor
lis mouth wide open and his nose pinch A
d with a clothes pinl
Truancy was very rare. AS parents
ubscribed so many scholars and expect.
d to pay the price of tuition, they were -,
observant that their children I
ttended regularly. In proportion as b
ou cheaper commodity, so is its worth Z
appreciated. q
With the exception of several infant a
chools, the most notable of which was
aught by "Aunty Cross" The schools at =
be Academy afforded all the aCcommo. d
ations demanded for number of years. b
lmong the teachers who followed Mich .
ner aud Munks, may be mentioned Will {
am Dunbar, Isaac Hartman, William Il
udd, Joseph Whitney, Joseph Cowles
nd others whose names cannot be re- a
allied.
A man bv, the name of Mullen taughta I !
ay school for young ladies, and at the
anne time an evening school for young
len in special branches; which is often
ecurred to as having been profitable to
he scholars.
Rev. I. NJ. Hopkins opened school o
Or boys, and Mrs. Hopkins for girls, in
S32, both of which soon became popular
nth those who had a proper apprecia-
ion of sound elementary scholarship, a
eature too often lost sight of by teachers
nd parents. Mr.. Hopkins's terms were +
5 90 quarter, which was double what
ur people had been accustomed to pay,
nd his patronage came mostly from the
vealthier class. His schools were well !
ustained and continued number of {
years.
Rev. GoshOrn started female semi