Twenty-Sixth Annual Report of the Controllers of the Public Schools of the City and County of Philadelphia, Composing the First School District of Pennsylvania, for the Year Ending June 30, 1844: with their Accounts. Philadelphia: Published by Order of the board of Controllers. Mifflin & Parry, 1844.
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The Controllers have observed with some degree of surprise, that very erroneous impressions prevail in the public mind, in regard to what is termed a desire or an attempt to discontinue the use of the Holy Bible in the public schools of this district. This impression is erroneous, so far as regards any action in the Board of Control, which is the only body having authority in the matter of the use of books in the public schools. The Bible “without note or comment,” is and has always been an adopted book in the public schools, and read therein since their first establishment. It is supplied and furnished on all occasions when ordered by the teachers and visiting directors of any and every school; and it is, and has at all times been the determined purpose of the Controllers to keep it there. At the same time, they have desired to do this in such a manner as should be in accordance with the principles of the Constitution of this State, which wisely provides and declares, “that all men have a natural an indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; no man can or right be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent; no human authority can, n any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; and no preference shall be given to any religious establishment or mode of worship.”
In accordance with this provision of our Constitution, the Controllers have always carefully endeavored to guard the rights of conscience, and prevent the introduction of sectarianism. All men, parties and sects have equal rights to the benefits of the public schools. As all pay their portion of tax for their support, all have a right to expect and demand to be placed on the same constitutional equality.
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A second series of resolutions was passed in January last, on the occasion of a communication to the Controllers from Bishop Kenrick, of the Roman Catholic church, asking , on behalf of the citizens who were member of that church, that their version of the Bible might also be read in the schools, and that no children should be required to united in the reading of the Bible whose parents are conscientiously opposed thereto.
Resolution passed January 10th, 1843.
Resolved, That no children be required to attend or unite in the reading of the Bible in the public schools, whose parents are conscientiously opposed thereto.
Resolved, That those children whose parents conscientiously prefer and desire any particular version of the Bible, without note or comment, be furnished with the same.
The resolutions of March last, adhering to the foregoing resolutions, and requiring a strict observance of them on the part of the Teachers, were adopted on the occasion of three communications to the board on the subject – one from a number of Roman Catholic citizens, asking that the words “without note or comment” should be rescinded from the resolution of January 10th, 1843; one from Bishop Kenrick complaining of certain infringements of the resolutions of January 10th, 1843, by some of the teachers, asking an adherence to the resolutions, and distinctly stating that there was no objection on the part of those he represented to the use of the Bible in the schools, provided Catholic children be allowed to use their own version; and the third from a committee of a meeting of citizens in Kensington, held March --- 1844, asking that the Bible be continued in the schools, and read daily. The resolutions follows:
Resolutions passed March 12th, 1844.
Resolved, That the Secretary of this Board be instructed to furnish each of the sectional boards, and the principal teachers of the schools in the First School District, with copies of the resolutions adopted by the Board of Controllers on December 9th, 1834, and January 10th, 1843.
Resolved, That any infringement of the resolutions of this Board by the teachers of the sectional boards, will virtually disqualify such teachers from receiving payment for their services from this Board.
This statement embraces all the communications to the Controllers, and their proceedings and action thereon, in relation to this subject. The misapprehensions alluded to are presumed to have arisen from considering the explanatory and restrictive resolutions above quoted, by themselves, and apart from the original action of the Board. …No attempt has ever been made by any one in this Board, nor have the Controllers ever been asked by any sect, person, or persons, to exclude the Bible from the schools under their care.
Expenditures for account of public schools from July 1st 1843 to June 30th 1844
Tenth Section:
Real Estate School Furniture School Expenses & Salaries Total
$686.50 $171.68 $12,517.64 $15,760.51
Summary of Schools, Scholars and Teachers:
Tenth Section: 4 Grammar Schools, 1 Secondary School, 10 Primary Schools,15 Total
5 Male Teachers, 44 Female Teachers, 49 Total Teachers
1680 Male Scholars, 1808 Female Scholars 3488 Total Scholars
Outside the city, Kensington had the third highest amount of students (Northern Liberties had 4391, Spring Garden 3699).
Names of the Professors and Teachers, with the Salaries and Average Attendance:
Tenth Section: Palmer Street Schools, Palmer Street above Duke
Boys’ Grammar School, Total Attendance 220, average at 200.
Name: Salary
Joshua Rhoads, Principal, $900
Robert Maxwell, 1st Assistant, $400
Lydia A. Wetherill, 2d do. $200
Susan M. Statzell, 3d do. $200
Girls’ Grammar School, Total Attendance 237, average at 200.
Mary H. Turner, Principal, $450 233
Jane W. Vallance, 1st Assistant $200
Elizabeth M. Watson, 2d do. $200
Chloe D. Vallance, 3d do. $200
Primary School No. 1, Boys 186, Girls 181, total 367, Average at 298
Ellen Foulke, Principal, Principal $250
Anna Martin, 1st Assistant, $200
Caroline E. Smith, 2d do. $125
Jane L. Wilson, 3d do. $125
Tenth Section: Master Street Schools, near Second and Master Streets
Boys’ Grammar School, Total Attendance 273, average at 250
James McClune, Principal $900
William E. Cheston, 1st Assistant $400
Margaret F. Burrows, 2d do. $200
Rachel Winner, 3d do. $200
Girls Grammar School, Total Attendance 285, average at 250
Louisa Bedford, Principal, $450
Deborah B. Shaw, 1st assistant $200
Mary E. Gibbons, 2d do. $200
Francis E. Thompson, 3d do. $200
Mary E. Brady, 4th do. $200
Primary School, No. 2 Boys 169, Girls 151, total 320, Average at 319
Mary H. Buzby, Principal, $250
Mary E. Woodward, 1st Assistant $200
Margaret Simon, 2d do. $125
Emily M. Rushworth, 3d do. $125
Marlborough Street Schools, Marlborough Street near Duke
Secondary School, Boys 96, Girls 98, Total 194, Average at 170
Mary A. Deacon, Principal, $250
Hannah H. Dickinson, 1st Assistant $200
Anna Martin, 2d do. $125
Primary School No. 3, Boys 92, Girls 116, Total 208, Average at 175
Ellen W. Chadwick, Principal $250
Elizabeth Dolby, 1st Assistant $200
Catharine Stephenson, 2d do. $125
Primary Schools (Continued.)
No. 4. – Palmer Street above Queen, back of the Church
Boys 91, Girls 125, Total 216, Average 145.
Mary Ann Miller, Principal $250
Eliza Eyre, Assistant, $125
No. 5. – Dunton Street, above Otter.
Boys 80, Girls 126, Total 206, Average 164
Mary J. W. Maxwell, Principal, $250
Almira Test, Assistant, $125
No. 6. - Marlborough Street, below Queen
Boys 60, Girls 87, Total 147, Average 159
Elizabeth W. Beechy, Principal, $250
Jane Hughes, Assistant $200
No. 7. – Queen Street, above Frankford Road
Boys 157, Girls 144, Total 301, Average 241
Caroline Braddock, Principal $250
Mary T. Kennard, 1st Assistant $200
Esther A. Wofford, 2d do. $125
Mary Louisa Dolby, 3d do. $125
Jane Wilkinson, 4th do. $125
No. 8. – St. John Street, near Franklin
Boys, total 214, Average 187
Tacy W. Blakey, Principal $250
Elizabeth T. brown, 1st Assistant $200
Sarah A. Brown, 2d do. $125
No. 9. – Same building
Girls, total 216, Average 191
Mary S. Truman, Principal, $250
Margaretta Hall, 1st Assistant, $200
Mary E. Warner, 2d do. $125
No. 10. – Germantown Road and Fifth Street
Boys 42, Girls 42, Total 84, Average 73
Rosanna M. Brady, Teacher, $250
Controllers of the Public Schools, Elected by and from the Sectional Boards:
Tenth Section: Kensington
Samuel Grice, Beach Street, below Shackamaxon, sat on Committee of Finance and Committee on High School,
John Robbins, Jr., No. 118 Beach Street, below Shackamaxon, was President, and ex-officio Member of all Standing Committees.
Tenth Section: Kensington, Elected by the Commissioners of Kensington.
President – Samuel H. Gillingham
Secretary – Peter Rambo
Peter Fisher, Shackamaxon below Franklin Avenue
Samuel H. Gillingham, Beach below Shackamaxon
Samuel Grice, Beach below Shackamaxon
Thomas Harrison, Frankford above Hanover
Abraham Helffenstein, MD, Queen below Shackamaxon
Isaac Kline, MD, No. 182 Germantown
John S. Painter, No. 125 Germantown
Peter Rambo, Queen above Frankford
John Robbins, Jr. Beach Street, above Shackamaxon
William F. Small, Front Street, below Otter
Matthew Vandusen, Honover above Beach
Hugh J. Worrell, Hanover above Duke
Report of the Central High School
289 Students
List of Pupils Admitted to the Central High School, January 6, 1844
Names, Schools, Age, Parents Name, Occupation, Residences, Date of Admission to Public School, Division or Class:
Robert C. Bennett, Master St., 13.0, Wm. Bennett, Shipwright, Marlborough nr. Queen, 6/24/1842, 2d.
George W. Brindle, Master St., 12.11, John F. Brindle, Carpenter, Sarah & Queen, 4/5/1842, 2d.
John Collins, Master St., 12.11, Daniel Collins, Laborer, Cadwallader nr 2d, 8/15/1841,3d.
John Condy, Master St., 12.2, Thomas Condy, Trader, Cadwallader nr. Master, 3/19/1838, 5th.
Joseph Creamer, Master St., 15.1, Matthias Creamer, Shipwright, Marlborough above Queen, 8/15/1841, 3d.
Isaac Creamer, Master St., 13.0, Matthias Creamer, Shipwright, Marlborough above Queen, 4/5/1842, 3d.
Wm. H. Lamon, Master St., 14.0, George Lamon, Weaver, Beach betw. Popular & Maiden, 1/12/1838, 5th.
John F. Mooney, Master St., 13.2, Hugh Mooney, weaver, Cadwallader nr. Master, 10/1/1840, 4th.
Carlton S. McKee, Master St., 12.2, Wm. McKee, Manufacturer, Germantown nr. Phoenix St., 5/21/1838, 5th.
Jacob Tees, Palmer St., 16.9, Jacob Tees, shipwright, Beach nr. Marlborough, 11/10/1837, 3d.
Results of the Examination of Applicants for Admit to Central High School, Jan 1844:
Master Street, 9 admitted, 8 rejected, 17 total (third highest for taking exam)
Grammar 7.0, Reading and Defining 6.4, Writing and Orthography 6.1, Arithmetic 7.5, Geography 5.9, General Average 6.6.
Only three schools produced more Central High students then Master (New Market Street 10, Model School 11, & Coates 15)
Palmer street had one applicant and he/she was admitted.
Report of Central High School ending July 15th, 1844:
389 students
List of Pupils Admitted to the Central High School July 1844:
John A. Clark, Master Street, 12.1, Patrick Clark, Innkeeper, Corner 4th & Master Sts., 8/1/1839, 5th
Benjamin, Davis, Master Street, 14.10, Anthony Davis, Ironfounder 155 Beach Street, 6/26/1842, 2d
John T. Fisher, Master St., 13.7, Philip Fisher, Cabinetmaker, Germantown Road & Franklin Sts., 1/2/1840, 4th.
Adam Keen, Palmer Street, 12.1, Moses Keen, Laborer, Palmer St. & Frankford Road, 2/26/1838, 4th.
Wm. L. Neff, Palmer Street, 14/6, Jacob Leonard, Carpenter, Queen Street above Shackamaxon, 1/14/1839, 4th.
Wm. H. Ovington, Palmer Street, 13.10, Phoebe Ovington, Mantuamaker, Prince St. Above Hanover, 11/6/1837, 4th.
Joseph C. Paxson, Master St., 12.10, Elizabeth Paxson, Mantuamaker, Beach St. above Poplar, 6/1/1843, 3d.
George H. Quick, Palmer Street, 13.6, George Quick, Victualler, Palmer st & Frankford Road, 10/24/1842, 2d.
John S. Rushton, Master St., 12.10, Wm. Rushton, Manufacturer, 116 Beach Street, 2/28/1842, 3d.
Lemeul C. Simon, Master St., 12.1, Lettice Washburn (Guardian), manufacturer, Queen St, above Shackamaxon, 3/16/1841, 4th.
Edward G. Taylor, Master St., 14.7, Robert Taylor, cordwainer, 42 Phoenix Street, 6/1/1843, 2d.
Benjamin Thomas, Palmer St, 14.6, Benjamin Thomas, Silverplater, Duke st near Plamer,1/2/1838, 4th.
John E. Wainwright, Master Street, 15.4, Jonathan Wainwright, merchant, Beach and Hanover Sts., 2/28/1842, 3d.
Examination Results of Applicants for Admission into the Central High School July 1844:
Master Street: 8 admitted, 2 rejected, 10 total.
Grammar 8.1, Reading and Defining 7.5, Writing and Orthography 6.0, Arithmetic 8.4, Geography 6.6,
General Average 7.3.
Palmer Street 5 admitted, 0 rejected, 5 total.
Grammar 8.3, Reading and Defining 5.2, Writing and Orthography 5.9, Arithmetic 9.6, Geography 7.5,
General Average 7.3
Only three schools had more students admitted then Master Street (Zane Street 14, North Western 10, & Coates Street 9). Master Street General Average was 2nd only to Buttonwood Street’s 7.4, which only had 8 applicants total. Palmer Street’s 5 applicants’ 7.3 General Average was also 2nd only to Buttonwood Street, showing that students from Kensington’s Palmer & Master Street Schools faired quite highly when compared to the rest of the County.
For the total School Year of 1843 to 1844, Master Street School admitted 31 students to Central High School. This amount placed them 3rd in the county behind North Western’s 33, and the leader Zane Street’s 35.
Of the 25 schools that had students admitted to Central High School, Master Street was 4th in General Average with 6.9, the leaders were North Western 7.3, Coates Street 7.4 , & Buttonwood Street 7.5. Palmer Street while only sending 6 students to take the exam, all were admitted and had a combined average of 7.3, placing them also in the top tier of schools in General Average.