The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-03-20
HAZEL GREEN HERALD.
FRIDAY, March 20, 1891.
SCHOOLS oE KENTUCKY.
An Interesting History of the First Ones
Established I'm the State.


It will be necessary to go back to the
Primary Schools, previous to our Com
mon School system. The first school
teachers we have any account of in Ken
lucky were Mrs. Cooms, as early as 1775,
at Harrods Station, and John May, at
McAfee's Station, in 1777, who was aft
erwards killed by the Indians.
At that time the boys were required
to carry their guns to school, and as the
school houses were erected far out in the
wilderness, the teachers were often at
tackled, killed or captured School books
were rare-one book often served for six
or eight pupils. They often used pad
die on which were cut or written "a. b,
C's." 1t is amusing to think that this
paddle often served two purposes. After
they had completed their "paddle
course" they passed to Dilworth's spell
ers and Dilworth's arithmetics. Such
were the devices for education at that
time. How interesting it would be to
know how our ancestors were educated
under such difficulties, yet we are in
formed that they were educated to a
limited extent. Though tortured by in
cessant cruelties of savages, their I'M
qualified and Indifferent teachers. their
poorly constructed houses, the distance
which they had to travel by cut roads
through the unfriendly forest where the
red face lie in wait, the frightened deer
bounded by, and the wildcat screamed
from the uDfrequented forest, that would
be demoralizing to our school boys and
girls.
After these primary scenes passed.
there were seminaries of learning estab-
tablished. One at Danville, which con-
tinued until 1889, when it was removed
to Lexington. From this seminary Ell
terprise grew the Pennsylvania Univer-
sity, which in after years, under the
presidency of DR.. Holley, rivaled the
fame and excellency of Harvard and
Yale colleges. Strife befell it's manage
ment, consequently its usefulness was
destroyed.
In 1898 county seminaries of learning
were established by friendly act of the
Legislature donating six thousand acres
of land to each county. This valuable
endowment was soon wasted by unwise
management. Now by an act, Congress
appropriated large sum to each State.
Of this appropriation Kentucky received
one million, four hundred and thirty
three thousand, seven hundred and fifty
seven dollars. BY act of the General
Assembly, in February, 1887, eight hun
dred and fifty thousand of this sum were
forever set aside as common school
fund.
In 1888 the law passed to establish a
system of common schools in Kentucky,
and this was drafted by Judge William
+. Bullock, who was devoted advocate
of popular education. Previous to the
xyar thio oyotop, lan ouiShaH withnut anv
decisive results az to progress, until at
length there was a tax of five cents on
the one hundred dollars levied for COM
mon school purposes. This increased
the fund already in the treasury previous
to 1847. The school bonds were burned
or destroyed in some way by an unfriend-
ly administration, but this imposition,
which was SO appalling to the cause of
education, was restored by the efforts of
DR.. II. j. Breckenridge during his super
intendency, which extended from 1S47
to 1852. After this time the common
schools were put upon a more prominent
basis than before. During the succeed
ing years there was but little change, if
any, in the new system save by the raw
ages of war. After the civil war our
common school system assumed quite
creased teachers were better compen.
stated; people realized the Importance of
education. During the uperintendency
of u. F. Smith, in 1867, an increase of
tax from cents to 20 cents on the 800
of taxable property was levied This act
was ratified by majority of twenty-five
thousand. This increase of school reve-
nues and the enactment of better school
laws marked new era in the progress of
our common schools. Before this time
the school term was three months, now
it was increased to five. Teachers wages
increased more than double. There was
new life infused into education through.
out our Commonwealth. Since then our
schools have continued to increase. These
measures are greatly due to the faithful
and efficient management of Henderson,
then j. ID. Picket who succeeded Mr..
Smith as superintendent. 1t is hoped by
all who are interested in the cause of
education that this system which has al
ready done so much good in our State
may continue to prosper rs rapidly in
all subsequent time.
Well can we remember when our
schools in this part of the State were
taught by teachers, most of whom could
not today by law get certificate. Old
methods have passed away, and all
things have become new. We no longer
hear in the school rooms the babbling of
from so to 100 tongues This has quiet
ly passed away. A better method has
been instituted. All people who have
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