19th Century Education (Paths #32)

Summary

This script explores the evolution of public education in Montgomery County, highlighting its initial lack of priority before the Civil War. It details the establishment of private academies like Rockville Academy and the gradual emergence of community-funded schools. The script emphasizes the pivotal role of Quaker communities, the founding of Sharp Street School for African Americans, and the transition to a countywide public education system. By the 20th century, Montgomery County saw its first public high school, marking a significant milestone in educational access.

Takeaways

• 🏫 Pre-Civil War Montgomery County did not prioritize public education for children.
• 📚 A countywide education system was established in 1860, with state organization following five years later.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Early 1800s education was limited to those who could afford private academies or were not needed for farm work.
• 🏛️ Rockville Academy, established in 1812, was one of the earliest private institutions for boys.
• 👩‍🎓 Brookville Academy, incorporated in 1815, used a small stone building until a home was purchased in 1864.
• 🌐 Academies often began in private homes, such as Brierley Hall and the Andrew Small Academy.
• 🤝 Communities in the 1800s started to collaborate to educate children, building schools and hiring teachers.
• 📈 The Quakers of Sandy Spring were committed to education, establishing Sherwood Academy as a co-educational Quaker school in 1883.
• 🏢 Sharp Street, initially an industrial school for African Americans, opened in 1866 and evolved into a primary school.
• 📘 In the early 1800s, students wrote with slate and soapstone pencils, and textbooks were copied by hand.
• 💼 In 1861, Montgomery County's public schools had 1070 students, with $8.10 spent per child and teachers earning around $288 annually.

Q & A

What was the status of public education for children in Montgomery County before the Civil War?

Before the Civil War, public education for children in Montgomery County was not a high priority and there was no countywide system in place.

When was the first countywide education system established in Montgomery County?

A countywide education system was established in Montgomery County in 1860.

How did children in Montgomery County receive education in the early 1800s?

In the early 1800s, children in Montgomery County might have received education if their family could afford a private Academy or if they were not needed on a farm.

What was one of the earliest private institutions for education in Montgomery County?

One of the earliest private institutions for education in Montgomery County was the Rockville Academy, established in 1812.

Which group was highly committed to education in Sandy Spring during the 1800s?

The Quakers of Sandy Spring were highly committed to education in the 1800s.

When did Sherwood Academy, a co-educational Quaker school, begin?

Sherwood Academy began as a co-educational Quaker school in 1883.

What was the significance of Sharp Street School in the context of Montgomery County's educational history?

Sharp Street, initially known as the Sandy Spring Industrial School, was the first organized school for African Americans when it opened in 1866.

What materials did students in the 1800s use for writing before textbooks were available?

Students in the 1800s used slate and soapstone pencils to write with before textbooks were available.

How did students create their own textbooks in the early 1800s?

In the early 1800s, students created their own textbooks by neatly copying every lesson, lecture, and example.

What was the approximate amount spent on each child for public education in Montgomery County in 1861?

In 1861, approximately eight dollars and 10 cents was spent on each child for public education in Montgomery County.

When did the first public high school open in Montgomery County?

The first public high school in Montgomery County opened in 1904.

Outlines

00:00

🏫 Early Education in Montgomery County

This paragraph discusses the evolution of public education in Montgomery County. Prior to the Civil War, education was not a priority, and it wasn't until 1860 that a countywide system was established. Initially, education was limited to those who could afford private academies or were not needed for farm work. The paragraph highlights the role of private institutions like the Rockville Academy and the Brookville Academy, which later transitioned to public education. It also mentions the community efforts to raise funds for schools and hire teachers, leading to the establishment of one-room schoolhouses. The Quakers of Sandy Spring are noted for their commitment to education, with Sherwood Academy being a significant example. The paragraph also discusses the early use of slate and soapstone pencils and the lack of textbooks, with students copying lessons by hand. It concludes with the mention of the first public high school opening in 1904, where students could receive a public school diploma.

Keywords

💡Montgomery County

Montgomery County is the geographical focus of the video, highlighting its historical context in relation to public education. The video discusses the evolution of educational systems within this county, from the lack of emphasis on public education before the Civil War to the establishment of a countywide system post-1860. The term is integral to understanding the video's theme as it sets the stage for the narrative of educational development.

💡Public Education

Public education is a central theme of the video, detailing the transformation from private academies to a publicly funded system. It underscores the historical shift in societal values and priorities, moving from an era where education was a privilege to one where it became a right accessible to the masses. The video illustrates this through the establishment of a countywide system in 1860 and the subsequent organization by the state.

💡Civil War

The Civil War serves as a historical marker in the video, indicating a period of significant change that influenced the development of public education. The war's end coincided with the push for more equitable access to education, which is exemplified by the establishment of a countywide system in Montgomery County post-1860 and the later organization by the state.

💡Private Academy

Private academies are mentioned as early educational institutions that were accessible primarily to those who could afford them or did not require their children's labor on farms. They represent a time when education was not a universal right but a privilege. The video references institutions like the Rockville Academy and Brookville Academy, which were later replaced by public schools.

💡One-Room Schoolhouse

One-room schoolhouses symbolize the early efforts of communities to provide education for their children. These structures were simple, often housing students of all ages in a single room, and were a precursor to more formalized educational institutions. The video uses the one-room schoolhouse as an example of community-driven initiatives in education, which later evolved into public schools.

💡Quakers

The Quakers are highlighted as a religious group that placed a high value on education, contributing to the establishment of co-educational schools like Sherwood Academy. Their commitment to education reflects a broader societal shift towards valuing learning and knowledge, which is a key message in the video's narrative of educational progress.

💡African Americans

The video discusses the historical exclusion of African Americans from educational opportunities, emphasizing the social injustices of the time. The term is significant as it introduces the concept of educational equity and the video notes the establishment of Sharp Street School, the first organized school for African Americans in Montgomery County, as a step towards rectifying these historical wrongs.

💡Industrial Skills

Industrial skills refer to the practical, vocational training provided at institutions like the Sharp Street School, initially known as the Sandy Spring Industrial School. This type of education was aimed at providing former slaves with marketable skills, reflecting a shift from purely academic education to one that also prepares individuals for work.

💡Textbooks

Textbooks are mentioned to illustrate the evolution of educational materials. Initially, students copied lessons by hand, but as the century progressed, printed textbooks became more common, indicating a move towards standardized and more accessible educational content. The video uses the presence of textbooks as an indicator of the maturing educational system.

💡Public High School

The establishment of public high schools, such as the first one in Montgomery County, marks a significant milestone in the video's narrative. It signifies the expansion of public education to include secondary education, providing more opportunities for students to continue their learning beyond the primary level.

💡School Board

The school board is an administrative body discussed in the video that played a crucial role in organizing and overseeing public education. The video references an 1861 school board report, indicating the board's involvement in managing educational resources and shaping educational policies, which is essential to understanding the governance of public schools.

Highlights

Montgomery County's public education system was not a priority before the Civil War.

A countywide education system was established in 1860, with state organization following five years later.

In the early 1800s, education was limited to those who could afford private academies or were not needed for farm work.

Rockville Academy, established in 1812, was one of the earliest private institutions for boys.

Brookville Academy, incorporated in 1815, initially used a small stone building for education.

Academies often began in private homes, such as Brierley Hall and the Andrew Small Academy.

Communities started to pool resources to educate children, leading to the construction of schools and hiring of teachers.

One-room schoolhouses became a common solution for educating children of all ages in a community.

Sherwood Academy, a co-educational Quaker school, began in 1883 and later became one of the county's early public high schools.

Sharp Street School, initially an industrial school for African Americans, opened in 1866 and evolved into a primary school.

In the 1800s, students used slate and soapstone pencils for writing, as textbooks were not yet available.

Students in the early 19th century copied lessons by hand, as textbooks were a luxury for the wealthy.

An 1861 school board report listed 1070 students attending public schools, with $8.10 spent per child.

Teachers' salaries were approximately $288 per year, and parents were asked to contribute $1 per quarter per child.

In 1872, one colored school was established per election district to educate emancipated slaves.

Until the 20th century, continuing education beyond the 8th grade required private academy tuitions.

Montgomery High School, opened in 1904, was the first public high school in the county to offer diplomas.

Transcripts

today many people are attracted to

Montgomery County because of the quality

of the public school however before the

Civil War public education for the

children in this county was not a high

priority

it wasn't until 1860 that a countywide

system was put into place it took five

more years for the state to organize but

despite that some Montgomery County kids

did go to school in the 1800s here's a

look back at how it all began in the

beginning not everyone went to school in

the early 1800s you might have gotten an

education if your family could afford a

private Academy or you weren't needed on

a farm more boys and girls were educated

and no african-americans were given the

opportunity one of the earliest private

institutions was the Rockville Academy

established in 1812 as a boy school it

existed for 100 years until public

education replaced the need over time

girls were admitted to an abbreviated

program

[Music]

the Brookville Academy was incorporated

in 1815 a small stone building was used

until 1864 when this home was purchased

from Thomas Riggs most academies began

as private homes there was brierley Hall

in Coolsville the Andrew small Academy

and darns Town and fairly in Sandy

Spring as the century progressed

communities began to band together to

educate their children they raised money

to build the schools and hire a teacher

often the solution was a one-room

schoolhouse where local kids of all ages

could learn to read and write

the Quakers of Sandy Spring were highly

committed to education sherwood academy

began as a co-educational Quaker school

in 1883 23 years later it became one of

Montgomery County's early public high

school other Sandy Springs schools

include romilda Fulford and stan more

but probably the most significant was

called sharp street initially known as

the Sandy Spring industrial school sharp

streak was the first organized school

for African Americans when it opened in

1866 former slave 4 taught industrial

skills over time it evolved to a

traditional primary school kindergarten

through eighth grade

[Music]

students in the 1800's use the slate and

soapstone pencils to write with

[Music]

textbooks didn't exist in the early part

of the century instead students created

their own by neatly copying every lesson

lecture and example this one on

surveying dates back to 1828 50 years

later books such as these were used by

students whose parents could afford them

in the early days of public education

Montgomery County kids attended primary

school in the one-room schoolhouses that

had been built by their community an

[Music]

1861 school board report listed 1070 for

students attending the public schools at

the time eight dollars and 10 cents was

spent on each child teachers salaries

were approximately two hundred and

eighty-eight dollars a year and parents

were asked to contribute one dollar per

quarter per child in 1872 the board

established one colored school in each

election district to provide for the

education of recently emancipated slave

until the beginning of the 20th century

parents who wanted their children to

continue their education beyond the

eighth grade had to pay private Academy

tuitions in 1904 the first public high

school opened students at Montgomery

high school now known as Richard

Montgomery or the first in the county to

receive a public school diploma

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