School District of Newton, Iowa

Early History

Schools1

The town [Newton] was organized as an Independent District in 1867, S.N. LINDLEY, Esq., President; Jesse RICKMAN, Secretary. At the present time [1875] A.P. HANSON is President and W.G. WORK, Secretary. The magnificent building used for public school purposes, standing two or three blocks north of the public square, is the pride of the town. It was erected in the year 1871, in the most approved modern style of architecture, and substantially finished in every particular. The walls are of Milwaukee brick, resting upon excellent foundations of limestone. The interior contains eleven apartments for school rooms, an office for the superintendent, besides there are four good rooms in the basement. The school rooms are seated almost entirely with single desks and heated by means of four large brick furnaces in the basement. The entire cost of the building, furnishings, and heating apparatus was $39,364.60.

The schools are organized in three principle departments, primary, grammar and high school, employing a superintendent and eleven teachers, at a total salary of $5,500 per annum. Besides the common school branches the course of instruction includes algebra, geometry, plane trigonometry, physical geography, general history, American literature, rhetoric, moral philosophy, Latin to Virgil, botany, natural philosophy, astronomy, chemistry and geology. William HOY is superintendent. The number of pupils enrolled at the last term (Summer of 1875) was 616.

Newton City Schools2

To have been educated at the Newton high school has been to be well-trained fit for entering into a college or an active life of business, in whatever calling one might adopt. However, this excellent school did not come by mere chance, but by long, hard struggles. It has had its foes within and without, but at last came off conqueror and stands out prominent among the foremost schools in any section of the Hawkeye State.

The early records show that Newton was within what was styled district No. 3, of Newton Township, from 1858 on to the spring of 1863, when it was placed within an independent district. The records show the first officers to be in this independent district, J. B. Hough, president; Josiah Wright, vice-president; William R. Skiff, treasurer; Jesse Rickman, secretary; Milton Anderson, director.

The first teachers employed were Baxter George; Mrs. Margaret Carss, Mrs. Emily McCord and Rebecca Donnal.

The board resolved that "the teachers and each and everyone of the larger scholars be required to sweep the school house by turns," and that the teachers should have pay only for actual time employed.

May 25, 1864, the board contracted with Hugh Rogers for the erection of two schoolhouses, for one thousand four hundred and eighty dollars, twenty-five by thirty feet, one located in Edmundson's addition to Newton, and also one in Pardoe's addition.

In the spring of 1865 a new roof was placed on the brick schoolhouse, at the cost of five hundred dollars.

In the summer of 1867 the West End schoolhouse was built by Connelly & Eastman, for seven hundred and eighty dollars, and the same season a building was erected in the east part of town, by C. L. Connelly, costing the district eight hundred and seventy-eight dollars.

August 10, 1868, a vote was taken on the question of issuing bonds for the purpose of extending the school accommodations of Newton, which election resulted in five majority against the proposition. On the 25th of the same month, however, another vote was taken and resulted in favor of the pending proposition, the vote standing one hundred forty-two to one hundred one.

In March 1870, a ten-mill tax was voted by the people for the construction of buildings to be centrally located. In May 1871, the old school house site, north of the public square, was selected after a close contest. The building (still in use) was erected in 1871. It is three stories high and sixty by eighty feet in size. A high tower encloses the bell. The material is Milwaukee brick. The five thousand dollars, which it cost, was raised by floating bonds. The redemption fund commenced in 1872, with an eight-mill tax. In 1873 four thousand five hundred dollars was levied; in 1874, 1875 and 1876, ten mills each year was levied. In 1878 the building was filled to its entire capacity and the patrons of the schools were again commencing to wonder what would be the next schoolhouse plans for Newton. In its day, this schoolhouse was among the best in Iowa, was well constructed and is still doing excellent service.

What is known as the West school, it being on West Main Street, was erected in 1897, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, including all connected there with. It is a two-story brick structure of modern architecture.

The next building required was the one in the northeast part of the city, erected in 1901, at a cost of nine thousand eight hundred and seven-five dollars, including furniture.

The pride of the city, however, is the high school building, erected in 1907, just west from Central school building. This beautiful large structure cost the district the sum of seventy-two thousand dollars, all furnished. It is built on the most modern and approved plans for school buildings, even to the items of sanitary drinking fountains. [Note: See interior pictures of this building]

THE SCHOOL GRADED

In 1863 Albert Lufkin, Milton Anderson and Josiah Wright were appointed to grade the Newton schools. The following year there were four teachers employed at salaries ranging from twenty-five dollars to forty dollars per month. Darius Thomas was "principal teacher" and he held the position to 1864, the end of that school year. E. H. Fenton was employed at twenty-five dollars per month and four other teachers were employed.

In 1865 W. H. Shaw was employed as "principal teacher" at fifty dollars per month. During all of these years of national struggle not a word' is to be seen in the records about the great Civil war, then in progress, yet no one can doubt that Newton was filled with a true and loyal spirit of patriotism, from the number of men she sent to the fighting front at the South.

In 1866 the teachers were L. B. Westbrook, Mary Hickey, Emily Fenton, Cynthia Lindley, Lavinia Rickman and Lydia S. Clark. The salaries run from forty dollars down to as low as twenty-five.

In 1867 the principal was J. A. Clippinger, who was paid sixty dollars per month for his services. Admission to the highest department of the schools was based on ability "to advance beyond fractions." The man at the head of the schools was not permitted to use his own judgment, but must needs consult the directors about any changes in school affairs.

From 1869 on, the record shows that nine months' school was counted as a "school year." E. S. Everly was elected as principal, but, refusing to teach for less than seventy-five dollars a month, the board re-elected Mr. Clippinger and he was assisted by five other instructors.

In 1868 among the teachers mentioned in the records was Mr. Martin, who received the largest salary.

In 1870 nine teachers were employed, G. M. Doud receiving sixty dollars per month. W. G. Work remained superintendent.

In 1871 O. M. Schee was superintendent, at one hundred dollars per month, an innovation in wages. W. W. Wallace was hired to teach music at fifty dollars per month. Nine other instructors were engaged at that time.

In 1872 Albert Loughridge was superintendent at a salary of one thousand dollars per year. He had ten assistants.

In 1873 and on to 1876, William Hog was the superintendent. In November 1874, a new course of study was adopted and the first class graduated in March 1875, and was as follows: Emerson Hough, Bertha Fehleisen and George Fehleisen. From 1880 to 1883 R. G. Young was employed. In this connection it should be said that in 1882 a high school course was first adopted that met with the general approval of educators in this section of Iowa, generally, and was looked upon as advanced ground in the matter of better educational facilities. Again in 1887 another change was effected in grading the high school of Newton.

Prof. E. J. H. Beard, the present capable instructor, was employed at Newton in 1892, as the superintendent of the public schools. Since then three schoolhouses have been erected. When he commenced his work here he had fourteen assistants and now the work has advanced to that degree that more than twenty are required to do the work of instruction. Within the past ten years the colleges of the land have increased their requirements, by the addition of several branches, but the fact that up to 1903 no pupil had graduated who was not prepared to enter the freshman classes of accredited colleges speaks much for the work of the Newton school. [Note: The first Newtonia, Senior Annual, 1911 was dedicated to Professor Beard]

Seventeen classes, numbering in all one hundred and eighty-six pupils, graduated during the employment of other superintendents, while under Professor Beard's administration nineteen classes have graduated, and these have a total of four hundred and twenty-eight pupils.

In February 1910, Professor Beard, superintendent of the city schools, said:

"It is frequently said that the studies of the high school courses lead boys to choose professional careers and do not promote the choice of productive industries or ordinary business pursuits. In the past seventeen years one hundred and thirty-five boys have graduated from the Newton high school. So far as I am able to ascertain the following occupations and the number of students in each is here indicated:

"It will be seen from the foregoing that the frequently repeated assertion that the modern high school courses prepare students for the so-called 'learned professions' only is not true and has not been true so far as the Newton high school history for the past seventeen years goes."

The Growth of the Newton High School From 1892 to May, 19123

The total number of graduates in seventeen classes from 1875 to 1892, inclusive, before the regime of Mr. Beard, was 168. There was no graduating class in 1877. The total number enrolled in the High School in the year 1892-1893 was 74. The graduates for this year numbered 11 girls and 1 boy.

There number enrolled in the year 1893-1894 was 91. The number of graduates was 10 girls and 4 boys.

The number enrolled in the year 1894-1895 was 99. The number of graduates was 11 girls and 2 boys.

The number enrolled in the year 1895-1896 was 103. The number of graduates was 13 girls and 8 boys.

The number enrolled in the year 1896-1907 was 99. The number of graduates was 13 girls and 5 boys.

The number enrolled in the year 1897-1898 was 89. The number of graduates was 8 girls and 8 boys.

The number enrolled in the year 1898-1899 was 108. The number of graduates was 15 girls and 4 boys.

The number enrolled in the year 1899-1900 was 108. The number of graduates was 10 girls and 6 boys.

Since 1892 the number of teachers, thus far, was two -- Minnie B. King and Vesta Beard. An additional teacher Lucy Hall--was elected for the year 1900-1901, and this continued to be the faculty until 1903-1904.

The enrollment for 1900-1901 was 144, with 13 girls and 12 boys in the graduating class.

In 1901-1902 the enrollment was 111, with 11 girls and 5 boys in the graduating' class.

The number enrolled in 1902-1903 was 135. There were 21 graduates that year----13 girls and 8 boys.

In years 1903-1904 the growth of the school necessitated the election of another teacher--Mabelle AIlstrand.

There were 156 pupils that year, with 13 girls and 13 boys in the Senior class.

In 1904-1905 there were 164 enrolled. Ten girls and 1912 boy graduated. Miss AIlstrand did not return to the work and Miss Shankland and Miss Kellenbarger taught during that year.

Their place was filled during the year 1905-1906 by Maria C. Brace. The enrollment was 165, with 25 girls and 10 boys to graduate. At the close of this school year Miss King left this field of service for work in another location. Two new teachers were elected-Grace Adams and Viola Chambers--making a faculty of five.

There were 189 enrolled in the year 1906-1907. The graduating class was composed of 14 girls and 9 boys.

Miss Drew and Miss Wolf taught the following year in the position formerly occupied by Miss Brace, the former during the first semester and the latter, the second. Gertrude Herr was elected to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of Miss Chambers. During 1907-1908, 212 pupils enrolled and the graduating class numbered 35, 21 girls and 14 boys. The High School moved from the old Central building to the new High School in the spring of 1908, soon after the mid-year promotion.

In the fall of 1908 a Commercial Department was installed with Mr. O.J. Browning as teacher. The other new teachers for that year were Ida McKee and Gertrude DeForest, Miss Wolf retiring. The enrollment for 1908-1909 was 239, with 14 girls and 12 boys in the graduating class.

In 1909-1910, 246 pupils enrolled, the faculty remaining unchanged. The largest graduating class in the history of the schools left the ranks that year - 25 girls and 16 boys.

1910-1911 marked a new era in the history of school. Manual Training and Domestic Science were added to the curricula, under the management of W.O. Abram and Elizabeth Lamb. Miss DeForest did not return to the school but Clara Broderick was elected to fill her place. The number enrolled that year was 251, with 17 girls and 12 boys in the graduating class.

During the year just closing, 1911-1912, 277 pupils are enrolled. A Normal department has been installed, under the direction of Laura Killduff. Two additional teachers have been elected-Sadie Furniss and Mary Hall-so that the faculty now numbers 12. There are 17 girls and 22 boys in the graduating class.

Since the year 1892, a total of 167 have graduated from the Newton High School and almost 44 per cent of these have attended college or are in collage at the present time.

Mr. E. J. H. Beard has been the Superintendent of the schools since 1892.

Source: 1. Illustrated Historical Atlas of The State of Iowa, Jasper County History, 1875. Photo source: Newtonia Senior Annual, 1912
Source: 2. 1912 Past and Present of Jasper Co., Chapter 10. Photo source: Newtonia Senior Annual, 1912
Source: 3. Newtonia Senior Annual, 1912.

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