Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-15
EDUCATION IN WEST
How Wyoming Got Her First
SchooIh0use.
SYSTEM MIGHT BE BETTER
But It's Pretty Good Under
Circumstances.
SELLING OF SCHOOL LANDS
Some Interesting Things About the
Wyoming State University
at Laramie.
SELLING OF SCHOOL LANDS
BY WILLIAM +. CURTIS.
Snecial Correspondenre of The Star and thu
Chicago Record Herald.

though there Is plenty OF TooHl Ior iii
provement. There is special need OF
men-honest, efficient men who will con-
scientiously and fearlessly discharge their
duties without regard for partisan poll
tics or personal interest; but 1t would
be impossible for any one to gain a
fair knowledge of education here with
out understanding the physical and So
Gals conditions of the state.
IF YOU wonder that there are only
80 schools in our $1,000 square miles
of territory You must remember that
the state Is but sparsely settled, and In
many parts not settled at all. Ii you
find our rural schools below the stand
ard of New England you must re-
member that we are in a region where
every family is a neighborhood unto
itself and the distance between neigh
borhoods is measured by long, untraveled
miles; region where school districts.
not infrequently, are as large as town
ships In eastern states. Instead OF be-
ing surprised that education in Wyo-
ing is better, You should be sur
prised that it is so good-surprised, in
fact that in those early days when life
upon the plains meant constant strug-
gle there was even a thought Of edu-
cation. 1t Is fine instance OF the Anglo
Saxon belief in learning that in that
first winter when Cheyenne was yet
boom town of shacks and huts and tents
public school was provided. That
same determination to have schools at
any cost and under any difficulties has
continued throughout the history OF the
state, and the provision that has been
made will afford. in the end, an educa-
tional system as good as the best
How It All Started.
The first public agitation of the school
question in Cheyenne was started by
letter printed in the Cheyenne Daily
Leader. October 10, 1867. Wyoming
was then a portion of the territory Of
Dakota, the only government was local
sef-government and the town was less
than four months old. This letter read
as follows:
"A Public School. :
Mr.. Editor: What are we going to
do about a school this winter? | know
there are many things requiring the at
tention of the enterprising citizens of
Cheyenne, and l know there are many
more public expenses to be borne, but is
1t not Indispensable that we should have
a school? ! see children in every street
and alley, and no doubt there are more
coming; and although I am neither
parent nor guardian in any case, nor yet a
teacher. / believe that / speak the senti-
nents OF tMee-fourths of the citizens of
Cheyenne when l say, let us have a
school! If schoolhouse were provided
by the city in some way 1t is quite likely
that school could be established. main
~ by subscription. At any rate. it is
high time that an effort is made, and the
writer would suggest to those that feel
interested in the matter to meet the
council at their next meeting and see
what can be done. CHEYENNER."
This same issue of the paper conveys
the information that Cheyenne by moon
light is an astounding sight and staggers
AZ 81
learn that less than twelve weeks since
there was no house here, where upward
or ooO houses now testify to the reliance
men have in the destined greatness of
Cheyenne"
Five days later the Leader contained an
editorial asking: What is a town with
out schools and churches?
Answer-Julesburg.
rs Cheyenne to be such town?
mo, sir
The editorial closes with this exhorta-
ton: Let us have a meeting
First Schoolhouse.
Within six months OF the building of the
first house a school was in operation.
Cheyenne at this time contained only 200
houses and 1000 people. 1t is needless
to say that very large percentage of the
buildings were used for dance halls and
saloons. However, the characteristic
energy OF the westerner is shown in the
determination evinced by the citizens in
securing a school. The expense of teach
ing was $40 a month. In very short
time the building first used proved mad
equate for the size of the school, The
school building contained two rooms sepa-
rated by folding partitions. 1t was sup
piled with the necessary seats. two stoves
two large blackboards, two tables and
desks. four chandeliers, three hand
lamps. two fine large maps, chairs,
brooms. etc. with good cloth curtains to
all the windows The branches taught
were reading. spelling, writing. physical
and descriptive geography, mental and
written arithmetic. algebra, grammar,
composition-all 'interspersed with lee
many exercises
Others Soon Follow.
"Other early schools were quickly estab-
lished.'' continued Mr.. Fee "A public
school was opened in Laramie City during
the summer of 1868, and along the line of
the new Union Pacific. which was then
pushing its way westward. schools were
built almost as fast as the population
arrived to form even the merest villages.
Prom 1870 to 1890 the records though
far from complete. show a constant
growth in the number of schools and
schoolhouses. in the enrolment of pupils
and the number OF teachers employed In
contrast with the growth of popula ton
stands the decrease In the number of i,lit-
crates. The number unable to read is
now only e.6 per cent % the whole popu-
lation. The number who cannot write
is only "a per cent.
The year 1890 marks the transition
from territorial government to statehood
The population was 6O.105. Wyoming
had a school census during the year 1890
OF lj.aa1-2,u95 of whom were foreign
born.
al the head OF the school system of
the state is the state superintendent of
public instruction who has general SUPER
vision over the schools, issues certificates
upon recommendation OF the board of
examiners and makes reports to the gov
ernor upon the status of education, etc
Upon the organization OF the territory
the office Of superintendent of public in
Struction was created, and IL was made
the duty of the territorial auditor to act
tx officio. as superintendent with sal
AIRY of 500 per year. The next session OF
the legislature in 1871 abolished the office
of superintendent of public instruction,
the bill becoming a law by lapse of time
without the governors signature 1t pro-
vided that the county superintendent
should make their reports to the governor
instead of the superintendent of public
instruction At the next session the
governor lamented this action, and stated
his inability 10 do anything for the
schools. The legislature then re-estab-
lished the office. making the territorial
librarian ex-officio superintendent, with a
salary of 81 day for the time actually
spent, such time not to exceed thirty
days a year. In addition to the duties
formerly pertaining TO the superintendent.