Milford chronicle., 1905-05-26
PUBLIC EDUCATION.

lOfu we know OF, was the Rev
Alexander Houston, who was the
pastor Of the old Double and Three
Runs meeting houses.
He had a select school here as
early as January, l777; and the son
Of Colonel John Haslet (who was
killed at the battle of Princeton)
was a student. That son was after
wards elected and reelected Gov
ernor of Delaware, the only man
who ever was twice elected Governor
Of this State. The old schoolmaster
was an ardent patriot and his pa
triotisni was tested to the fullest,
when he was arrested by the British
and kept on a prison ship in New
York harbor.
Later, Ashbel Strong, a student of
theology under the care Of the Pres
bytery, taught in the old academy |
and later the Masonic Lodge of Mil /
ford supported a school and had it /
conducted as what was known in
those days as pay" school.
In 1S49, when the present Pres
byterian Church was being builded. T.
Rev. Mr.. Kennedy conducted
school which had an enviable rep
utation in the surrounding country.
Rev. J. /. McKim for years con
Quoted High School which had a
large clientage, and was Justly celc- &
brated and the impress of his good a
work is still to be felt not only here Y
at home, but throughout various
sections of this Peninsula. +
In 1865. Reid and Williams opened e
the Milford Classical Academy. They h
were succeeded by Super, Gaylord Il
and various OtIIer teachers until G
there was evolved, more than twenty Il
years ago, the present Classical 9,
Academy with its house on Railroad b,
Avenue. This private Academy tt
passed away, as an educational fac a. a.
tor in the community, with the at in
tainment Of the present standard of tn
excellence now maintained bv our w
public schools. al
As regards the public schools of al al
Milford the venerable Judge VIII io1
ard Hall was instrumental in hav-
ng a law enacted by the Legislature is
II the eighteen hundred and thirties, IN
the public was taxed for ou m
he support of such scholars as at mr. m
ended the public school. bv
Since that time public opinion has mt
dvanced, until forty years ago South int
lilford maintained one small school, T..
nd afterwards two teachers, while sor
IOrth Milford had three seperate to
nd distinct school districts, with hoi
ne teacher in each of two districts. NIT
Id two teachers in the third district VIII u
the old academy. me,
But this is all ancient history of he ]
e development of the schools of in l.
ilford The public school system IN a
gan, when, about thirty years ago. EUo f;Uo
{. Groves was appointed State Su- oan
rintendent Of the Public Schools of ecor
slaware. ;r,o1
One man to supervise all the hear
lools of Delaware, outside of the Ike
y OF Wilmington, seemed to be belle
few for the work and system II
three county superintendents was there
Used and inaugurated. catir
Ten years ago the system of edu- orr
ion in vogue in Milford called for the
rivate classical academy, where mon,
le but persons of means could af- erts
to send their children. with the beca,
aristocratic idea that ''our chill velor
n are too good to be associated in m.
b the common herd" A graded home
tic school in South Milfoad, with erts
W ~. oGo Schoiars, ana graded they
lie school in North Milford. with str,ict
scholars, constituted the public Gre
70! ,ol system ot the community. in the
lth three, or even two, systems and u
aching and grading, it was read SO sta
zen that the best and most etfe-- the
work could not be done, for the Dover
lis. A few energetic men who public
eu into the future as far as look t
an eye could see,' believing guard
were rlght' that an expensive lookin
IN OF educatlon was being CON further
ed in Milford, resolved to have The
avs revised and, it possible, to work Y
cate the ndncatinnaI hnnndnr. ..1.--..1,