The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-13

| Uintah and North ogden in 1851; Sla-
! terville, 1857; Marriott and Riverdale,
/ 1853; Plain City, Harrisville, Hunts
vile, 1860; West Weber Qncluding
| WILSON,, 1862: Pleasant View, 1865;
Eden, 1867; Hooper, 1869.
| The territory occupied by the other
of the twenty-four districts now ex-
listing in the county, belonged, before
! their reorganization, to one or the
other of the above mentioned districts.
| Until 1890, the time of the separation OF
the county from the city the supervision
of the schools was not so carefully at
tended to as since that time; and TINS
is quite obvious too, when we take into
consideration the fact that one man
supervised all the schools, both of the
city and county. And Furthermore, a
few years prior to this time, the super
intendent was also principal of the larg-
! est school in addition to his labor as
Superintendent. 1t is plain that little
attention could be given to the smaller
outside districts.
About 1890 conditions become more
favorable to education throughout the
state, and a great impetus was given
school matters in Weber as in other
counties of Utah.
I'D to and including the greater part
of the year of 1890, the schools OF Weber
county had been supervised respec-
lively by the following:
F. A. Brown till 1866: VIM. w. Bur
ton, from 1866 to 1875; Louis T. Moench,
from 1875 to 1888; Edward H. Anderson
from 1883 to 1890.
To these gentlemen is due the credit
of maintaining Il progressive school
system under unfavorable conditions
The records show that in the latter
part of Edward H. Anderson's admins
tration, considerable interest was taken
in the study of pedagogy.
September s. 1890, Joseph 5. Peery
became the superintendent of the coun-
ty schools, and as the separation of the
city and county had now taken place,
he was enabled to give his entire at
tention to the county, which before this
time was impossible. AS could natur-
ally be expected, from this time onward
the schools have been more closely sup
ervised.
1t was during this period of the coun-
tvs history that much new life and
competition was given the schools by
the introduction of eastern teachers
into at least one-half of the Weber
county schools.
There was naturally some rivalry be-
tween the Utah and eastern talent.
This rivalry and competition aroused
the home teachers to greater activity
and led them to realize the necessity
of studying pedagogy from scientific
standpoint. if they were to stand in the
front rank of their profession. Most
of them adapted themselves to the con-
ditions and today, perhaps so per cent
of our teachers are Utah born, reared
and educated.
The custom of holding annual COM
mencement exercises, in the county, and
in the state, was inaugurated by Mr..
Peery in 1890. The influence of these
graduating exercises greatly increased
the interest of both patrons and pupils
in educational matters. From the be-
ginning of this system probably $50 pu-
pills have completed the course laid out
for the common school. Fully one-half
of these eighth grade graduates have
awaited themselves of the advantages
of the university of Utah and of other
higher institutions of learning of the
state. Thirty at least of those who
have pursued these studies in higher
schools, have returned to the county
from which thew graduated to become
teachers of ability. They are among
the most proficient teachers of the
county, as might be expected, after
taking normal training at our best
schools.
In 1893 Mosiah Hall was elected to
the superintendency. He was awake
to the interest of the county schools
and succeeded in maintaining the high
standard already attained. Teachers
continued to pursue professional stud
les. They took much interest in sum-
mer schools for teachers, followed sys-