The
Highland Township Historical Society |
|---|
References To Highland Township In Reports, Statistics
And Other Sources Relating To Education And Instruction
Arranged Chronologically
1879 Superintendent's Letter Re: Teacher Compensation
1883 School Statistics And Michigan State Agricultural College Graduates
Forty-Third Annual Report Of
The Superintendent Of Public Instruction Of The State Of Michigan For The Year 1879,
W.S. George & Co., Lansing (1880)
Extracts Of Reports Of Township Superintendents
p. xxxvii
T. S. Clark, of Highland township, Oakland county, says: The most marked defect has been a certain lack of enthusiasm and intensity, on the part of the teachers, and consequent lack of earnestness on the part of the pupils. Something of this is due to the low rate of wages paid. The wages of female teachers certainly net them less, than they could earn if engaged in household labor, especially in the summer. Yet the market is full to overflowing. If the people could only see that the difference between a good teacher and a poor one, was really the difference between getting value received for their money, and absolutely wasting it, or if they would realize as a thoughtful farmer said in my hearing, " it is not so much the money wasted as it is the time my boys have lost which they can never get back again," there might be some hopes of a change.
Forty-Seventh Annual Report Of The Superintendent Of Public Instruction Of The State Of Michigan For The Year 1883, W. S. George & Co., Lansing (1884)
Page cvii
TABLE XIV -- Graded School Statistics, Compiled from School Inspectors' Reports for the Year Ending September 3, 1883
| Districts | Counties | No. of Children in School Census |
Estimated Valuation of School Property |
Am't paid for Superin- tendence and Instruction |
Av. Monthly Wages of Teachers | Total Expenditures |
Total Indebtedness |
|
| Men | Women | |||||||
| Highland Station | Oakland | 154 | 1,800.00 | 640.00 | 40.00 | 24.00 | 997.34 | 200.00 |
Page cxiii
TABLE XV - Financial Statistics of Two Hundred and Ninety-two Graded Schools, as reported by Superintendents and Principals, for the school year 1882-3
Districts |
Amount paid Superintendent |
Amount paid |
Amount paid |
Total Amount |
Amount paid |
Total Cost |
Cost per capita |
Cost per capita |
Total Cost |
Highland Station |
400.00 |
240.00 |
----- |
640.00 |
----- |
----- |
----- |
----- |
----- |
NOTE: Both of these tables relate solely to the "Highland Station" a/k/a "Highland" or "Union" School (District No. 4); not all the rural schools in Highland Township. Not only is the district named "Highland Station," but the "Valuation of School Property" ($1,800.00) seems about right for one frame school building and its land. So too, the "Amount paid Regular Teachers" i.e., $240.00, is equal to one female teacher at $24.00 per month for 10 months. Lastly, the disparity between the amount paid the "Superintendent or Principal" and that paid the "Regular Teacher" is likely explained by the fact that the Highland a/k/a Union School had two rooms. It was typical for younger students to be taught by a female teacher in the "little" or "lower" room, while older students in the "big" or "upper" room had a male teacher who also served as "principal." Thus, the $400.00 paid "Superintendent or Principal" probably reflects the salary of this male teacher ( $40.00/month x 10 months = $400.00). At the risk of editorializing, one wishes the modern-day disparity between the pay of teachers and administrators were as easily (and innocently) explained!
Page 97 [Re: Report for the Michigan State Agricultural College]
Degrees Conferred.
The degree of Bachelor of Science was conferred upon the following students who had
completed the course of study:
William A. Bahkle, Pewamo, Ionia Co.
Henry W. Baird, Lansing, Ingham Co.
*Albert M. Bamber, Highland, Oakland Co.
Arthur C. Bird, Highland, Oakland Co.
Leslie A. Buell, Chester, Eaton Co.
Ernest P. Clark, Benton Harbor, Berrien Co.
Herbert W. Collingwood, Boston, Mass.
Henry A. Danville, Jr., Marilla, Manistee
Co. Clark H. Eldridge, White House, Lucas Co., Ohio.
Archie M. Emery, Lansing, Ingham Co.
Edward J. Fletcher, Washington, D. C.
Edgar Grimm. B. S., Corvallis, Oregon.
Daniel C. Holliday, Jr., New Orleans,Louisiana.
Osmond C. Howe, Buchanan, Berrien Co.
Wilbur F. Hoyt, Grand Rapids, Kent Co.
Willard S. Kedzie, Deerfield, Lenawee Co.
Arthur F. Kinnan, Lansing, Ingham Co.
Eugene F. Law, Portage, Kalamazoo Co.
Charles F. Lindsley, Highland, Oakland Co.
Albert W. Mather, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co.
John T. Mathews, Portland, Ionia Co.
Harry C. Nixon, Bridgeman, Berrien Co.
Frank F. Rogers, Holloway, Lenawee Co.
Allen C. Redding, Berlamont, Van Buren Co.
Edmond Schoetzow, Volinia, Cass Co.
Jeddie H. Smith, New Troy, Berrien Co.
Milton St. John, Yates, New York.
Herbert M. Weed, Lansing, Ingham Co.
Clarence M. Weed, Lansing, Ingham Co.
Sarah E. Wood, Lansing, Ingham Co.
* Died June 1, 1883.
NOTE: The fact that Highland Township students accounted for 3 out of the 30 degrees conferred (i.e. 10%) is most impressive!