The history of public schools in Lexington demonstrates a slow evolution from basic education to higher education, while faced with the economic and political considerations of the times.
In 1831, the City of Lexington was chartered by the Legislature in Frankfort. The chartered specified that the city would be governed by an elected mayor and twelve councilmen. The first mayor elected was Charlton Hunt, eldest son of businessman John W. Hunt. The new government approved ordinances to establish a police force, fire department, building standards and sanitary improvements. The city’s charter also included the provision “for a free school.”
Mayor Hunt appointed a committee during 1832 to study “some plan for the education of the poor children of the city.”[i] The periodic cholera epidemics over the past decade left a number of children orphaned and wards of the new city asylum. During the summer of 1833, cholera alone caused the deaths of over 1,500 citizens.
This committee consisted of James O. Harrison[1] (Chairman), William A. Leavy[2] and Thomas P. Hart[3]. Harrison served as Chairman of the School Committee from 1831 until 1853. This “School Committee of the City of Lexington” would evolve in 1873 into the Lexington Board of Education and later during 1968 into the Fayette County Board of Education (which operates the Fayette County Public Schools today).
One of the more pressing problems faced by this committee was the lack of funding. Funding was controlled by the Board of Councilmen, who allocated scare resources for all city services. After a year, the committee received an allocation to hire an instructor, one assistant and a bare budget for basics.
On March 1, 1834, the first common or public school in Lexington opened in the “Old Rankin Church[4]” on the corner of Short and Walnut Street, with 107 students. The old church was made of logs, covered with clapboard siding and consisted of four rooms. Joseph Gayle was the first Principal, with his daughter, June Gayle, assisting him. Shortly afterwards, Eliza A. Wirt was hired as a teacher. The Lexington Intelligencer reported “we hope that under proper management, and prudent supervision, it will henceforth be a blessing to its youthful inmates, and reflect credit on the city.”[ii]
William Morton:
In 1836, the new school system received a bequest of one ninth of the estate of William “Lord” Morton[5]. His will bequeath:
“I devise one-ninth of my estate to be applied toward the support or establishment of a school in the City of Lexington for the education of poor children. I wish the interest or profits accruing upon it to be appropriated for the employment of a competent teacher for the school in which shall be taught reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history and bookkeeping and such other branches of learning as may be deemed best adapted to make good mechanics, men of business and useful citizens, and I do hereby authorize my executors to transfer the said ninth part, whenever they may consider it, for the advancement of the object in view to the corporation of Lexington to be applied by them and their successors in office, exclusively to the above mentioned object, desiring that my executors, as far as may be practicable, may see to the faithful application of the funds.”
Henry Clay, Matthew T. Scott, Benjamin Warfield and James E. Davis were named the executors of Morton’s estate. In 1838, the executors turned over the first disbursement of $7,000[6] to the city to establish the Morton School Fund. See Appendix A – Morton School Fund. The city was required to invest the funds, with the earnings used to operate the school.[iii]
In Morton’s honor, the school committee renamed the “Old Rankin Church” the Morton School. A tablet was erected, which indicated:
“In memory of William Morton, a native of Pennsylvania, who died at his residence in this city, November 16th, 1836, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. A merchant for many years in Lexington, possessed of ample means, marked for strict integrity in his dealings, and for liberality to the enterprising or the poor, who, in the last disposition of his property, set apart to the corporation of this city a liberal endowment to aid in the perpetual education of its youth. This tablet is erected, as a token of the gratitude of the citizens, by the mayor and council in the year 1836.”
At the time, two addition tablets were also erected. These were:
“This tablet in honor of Charlton Hunt, first mayor of the City of Lexington (who died December 17th, 1836 in the 35th year of his age), under whose patronage the city school was first established, is erected by Mayor and Council as a tribute of public gratitude and respect to his memory, in the year 1836.”
“To the memory of Eliza A. Wirt, a Preceptress in the city school, who departed this life October 31st, 1836, aged 23 years. This tablet is erected by the city of Lexington, as a tribute to her worth.”
These three tablets were installed at the newly named Morton School. After the construction of the new Morton School in 1851 the tablets were transferred to the new building and later to the new Morton Junior High School on Tates Creek Road.
Morton School, built in 1849
In 1849, the old church building was demolished and a new six-room school was constructed on the site. In addition, during 1849 a second school building, named after James O. Harrison, was built on Main Street, west of Jefferson Street. This building followed the same design of the new Morton School. In 1851, a third school was established on the northwest corner of Mill and Maxwell Streets, in a large residence. This school was named after Dr. Benjamin W. Dudley. A numbering system was devised for the three schools, designating the Morton, Harrison and Dudley Schools as City Schools No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
Harrison School No. 2 <UK>
By the 1840s, Lexington had finally established a local public school system that provided a basic education. The curriculum consisted of a primary education for age eight to twelve (grades 1 to 6). In 1851 the first libraries was established for the school system, funded by a series of paid public concerts. The Morton School received 227 volumes and Harrison School received 240 volumes.[iv]
During the 1850s, the legislature required that every county establish a common school system, paid in part by annual appropriations from Frankfort. In addition, the local school districts were authorized to impose a district school tax. However, local school taxes required the consent of the local voters before these taxes could be imposed. With state funding, the Lexington Board of Education was not entirely dependent upon the annual appropriation from the council.
In 1851, Abram S. Drake, the principal of Morton, requested an assistant since enrollment now exceed 250. Principal Drake was also authorized to purchase a roll book and have a desk and chair made for the assistant. In addition, during 1851, the school committee established a four month, night school to study “arithmetic writing, bookkeeping and English grammar.” In addition, the committee approved that “each principal be paid one dollar a night to teach a night school in the Morton building.”[v]
The school committee reported for the year ending December 31, 1851, the following results:
|
Morton Fund |
$ 561.96 |
|
General Fund |
$ 1,650.57 |
|
State Funds |
$ 678.60 |
|
Fines (above judge's salary) |
$ 2,008.87 |
|
Tuition |
$ 100.00 |
|
Revenues |
$ 5,000.00 |
|
Salaries |
$ 4,550.00 |
|
Fuel, Janitors, etc. |
$ 450.00 |
|
Expenditures |
$ 5,000.00 |
In 1852, the committee expanded the curriculum to include “mental arithmetic in each school.” Principals were requested to give their “subordinates instruction in arithmetic provided it could be done without prejudice to their other duties.” In July 1852, the city schools were closed for the week during Henry Clay’s funeral. In August 1852, the board approved that “any pupils residing within District No. 2 desiring to study the Latin and Greek language have permission to do so free of charge provided the Principal of No. 2 (Harrison School) shall certify that they are qualified to commence each study.” [vi]
During 1852, the Transylvania High School was established to address advance educations for scholars, beyond primary school. The school was located on the lower college lawn (now Gratz Park). The first year, 39 pupils passed the entrance exam for the school. In 1854, the school was known as the “Academical Department of High School.” In 1856, the school committee established a “Preparatory Department” at the school, in conjunction with Transylvania University. The city council agreed to pay $1,000 towards the cost and was allowed to “to exercise the privilege of sending to it any number of free scholars who could qualify under standards set up by the two parties.” Students were required to be over 16 years of age. The school was under the direction of Abram S. Drake, headmaster, who received a salary of $1,000 per annum.[vii]
In 1853, it was reported that:
“the (Lexington) public schools had attained a prosperity, character and efficiency greater than every enjoyed before or since. The number of pupils at the time was 1,378, and so great was the public confidence in the schools that not a single private school for the education of boys was in existence in the city.”[viii]
The Board of Education expanded using the old city workhouse, adjacent to the old Maxwell Street Burial Ground, as an annex. The school was located on Upper Street and Bolivar. This annex operated periodically from 1853 to 1881, to meet overcrowding. The annex later became known as the Davidson School (City School No. 5), which was reopened during 1892 to accommodate expanding enrollment. In 1903-05, the building was demolished.
Davidson School No. 5 <UK>
In 1856, the salary schedule per month was $90 for the principal of Morton, $40 for other principals, $26 for more experienced teachers and $6 for others. [ix]
The Minute Book for the School Committee of the Lexington City Council for 1851 to 1856, revealed the following:
- “no girl in attendance upon either city school be required to carry water for the school.” This duty was assigned to male students.
- each principal was authorized to hire a janitor for one dollar per week. The janitor was paid extra to clean weekly the water bucket and drinking cup in each classroom. The principal was also authorized to purchase ice for the water bucket during warm weather. However, the committee admonished that the ice was to be used sparingly.
- a female student was not permitted to attend public schools, became her “home” was a house of prostitution. However, male students with the same type of residence were allowed to attend.
- one boy was suspended by the committee after he arrived at school “in an intoxicated condition.”
- no pupil was permitted to bring a pistol, Bowie knife or other dangerous weapon in the school.
- monthly exams were conducted under the supervision of the school committee “to determine whether classes are advancing too rapidly or not.” Exams were open to the public.
- without substitute teaches, in a teacher’s absence one of the students was be put in charge. On one occasion, the committee temporarily closed a class because of the “teacher’s youth and inexperience could not cope with the continuous disorder of the pupils.”
From 1861-65, James K. Patterson was principal of Transylvania High School or Academy. He later served as President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky (University of Kentucky) from 1869 to 1910.[x]
In February 1862, during the Civil War, the School Committee of the City of Lexington approved a resolution that any teacher that was disloyal to the Federal government would be terminated.[7] The resolution stated:
“Whereas, It is the primary object of all schools for the young, and especially of our Free Schools, which are sustained by the munificence of the public at large, to train up our youth good and enlightened citizens, who shall be true to their moral and social duties and fitted to appreciate and maintain those inestimable political institutions secured to us by the wisdom and sacrifice of our forefathers in the Revolution;
“And, Whereas, the Select Committee have been informed that some of the Teachers in our City Schools have on some occasions encouraged the manifestation by their public of feeling disloyal to the Government, if they have not themselves made expressions of the sort before their pupils;
“Be it Resolved, by the School Committee of the City of Lexington, that the fact properly established of the encouragement in the schools under their charge or inculcating on the mind of the pupils, of disloyal to our United States Government, by any of the Teachers of our City Schools, shall be sufficient cause for their immediate removal.”[xi]
In January 1864, attendance was reported at Morton School of 234, Harrison School of 236 and Dudley School of 250, for a total of 720 students.[xii]
In 1865, ---- Lyle was appointed superintendent.[xiii] On August 25, 1865, the Lexington Association of Teachers was organized. The association began to address issues regarding teacher’s pay, qualifications and tenure.
From 1869 to 1873, Richard Marsh (editor of the Lexington Observer & Reporter newspaper) served a superintendent. At this time, the superintendent was elected by the city council to serve a four year terms. His salary was $1,500. During 1873, total enrollment was 615, with the average attendance 530.
[1] James O. Harrison was one of Lexington's leading attorneys. During the 1850s, he was a member of the Henry Clay Monument Committee, which erected the monument in the Lexington Cemetery. During the Civil War, he relocated to New Orleans and then Richmond, Virginia. After the war, he returned to Lexington and became a Professor of Law at the Kentucky University.
[2] William A. Leavy was the son of an early merchant in Lexington. He was educated at Transylvania University's grammar school and academy (1803-1811). In 1812, Leavy entered into his father's dry goods business. He served as a member of Transylvania’s Board of Trustees for various terms between 1821 and 1838. He was also a member of the first city’s council.
[3] Thomas P. Hart was a member of the first City’s council.
[4] In 1789, Rev. Adam Rankin was charged by the Presbytery of Transylvania, with “debarred from the table of the Lord such persons as approved Watt’s Psalmody.” Rankin preached a literal version of the Bible. In April 1782, Rankin left the Presbytery and founded the Associated Reform Church, in Lexington.
[5] William “Lord” Morton was born in Pennsylvania and relocated to Lexington around 1787. He became a dry goods merchant and operated a tanyard. His store was located at the corner of Upper and Main Street. Morton became the first President of the Kentucky Insurance Company, which established the first bank in Kentucky. He was one of the city’s leading citizens and because of his deportment became known as “Lord Morton.” He also subscribed $200 in stock to form the Lexington Library Company (forerunner of the Lexington Public Library).
[6] Additional distributions increased the principal to $12,226 as of 1861.
[7] In 1899, the city schools ordered pictures of Robert E. Lee in all the white schools.
[i] Lexington – Heart of the Bluegrass, John D. Wright, Lexington-Fayette County Historic Commission, Lexington, 1982, page 61.
[ii] Lexington Leader, September 4, 1904, page 6, columns 1-7.
[iii] Lexington Leader, February 14, 1897, page 10, column 1-5 and April 15, 1897, page 5, columns 5-6.
[iv] Virginia Kelly Thesis, page 47.
[v] Minute Book, School Committee of the Lexington City Council, 1851 – 1856 (Special Collections at University of Kentucky) and Lexington Herald-Leader, January 11, 1953, page A-6, columns 1-8.
[vi] Minute Book, School Committee of the Lexington City Council, 1851 – 1856 (Special Collections at University of Kentucky) and Lexington Herald-Leader, January 11, 1953, page A-6, columns 1-8.
[vii] Minute Book, School Committee of the Lexington City Council, 1851 – 1856 (Special Collections at University of Kentucky) and Lexington Herald-Leader, January 11, 1953, page A-6, columns 1-8.
[viii] History of Fayette County, Kentucky, William H. Perrin, Editor, O. L. Baskin, Chicago, 1882, page 313-14.
[ix] Minute Book, School Committee of the Lexington City Council, 1851-1856 (Special Collections, at University of Kentucky) and Lexington Herald-Leader, January 11, 1953, page A-6, columns 1-8.
[x] Lexington Observer & Reporter, January 27, 1864, page 1, column 3 and August 20, 1864, page 3, column 6.
[xi] Lexington Observer & Reporter, February 5, 1862, page 3, column 6.
[xii] Lexington Observer & Reporter, January 30, 1864, page 3, column 3.
[xiii] Lexington Observer & Reporter, May 30, 1866, page 3, column 3.
