Statistics of the Colored People of Philadelphia/Chapter 1
STATISTICAL INQUIRY.
I. DAY AND EVENING SCHOOLS.
In the spring of 1853, the Board published a report of their School Agent, containing a comparative statement of the condition of these schools for the months of January and February, in the years 1852 and 1853. The following revised edition of that report, contains a sketch of their history for the year 1854:—
1. Public Schools.[1]
Grammar Schools,[2] Sixth street above Lombard. Established in 1822. Boys' school, James M. Bird, Principal, and three female assistants; total 228; average attendance 208. Girls' school, Maria C. Hutton, Principal, and three assistants. Total 252; average attendance 193.
Primary School, in the same building. Established in 1841. Jane Barry, Principal, and two assistants. Boys 105; Girls 98; total 183; average attendance 150.
Roberts Vaux Unclassified School, Coates street near Fifth. Established in 1833. David R. Murrell, Principal, and one female assistant. Boys 112; Girls 24; total 136; average attendance 93.
West Philadelphia Unclassified School, Oak street. Established in 1830. Mary A. Delamater, Principal, and one assistant. Boys 46; Girls 51; average attendance 78.
Corn Street Unclassified School. Established in 1849. Sarah L. Peltz, Teacher. Boys 18; Girls 29; total 47; average attendance 32.
Frankford Unclassified School. Established in 1839. William Coffee, Teacher. Boys 18; Girls 13; total 31; average attendance 25.
Holmesburg Unclassified School. Established in 1854. Maria Shade, Teacher. Boys 13; Girls 12; total 25; average attendance 19.
Banneker School, Paschalville. Established in 1841. E. M. Biddle, Teacher. Boys 16; Girls 16; total 32; average attendance 15.
The condition of Colored Public Schools generally, was formerly not as good as that of the Charity schools, but they have improved very much within a few years past. Owing to remissness on the part of parents, about twelve years ago the Grammar schools were on the point of being given up. The alarm was given—public meetings were held by the colored people, and an agent of their own appointed to visit from house to house and urge the people to duty. Our Board was also actively engaged in the matter. The schools were saved, and for the last three years have so increased in numbers that one teacher has been added to each school, making the full complement. The school house has recently been remodelled.
Within the past year very marked changes have taken place in the West Philadelphia school, and the St. Mary's street Primary school. The former has been removed from the hovel in which it was so long kept, to the basement of the Colored Baptist Church, and has so increased in numbers that the Directors have added another teacher, and are desirous of getting a still larger room. The latter school has been removed from its former bad location to the basement story of the Grammar schools in Sixth street, which has been fitted up on purpose for its accommodation. Since its removal, the better class of parents do not object to sending their children to it, and the number of scholars has increased so much that extra seats have been introduced.
2. Charity Schools.[3]
Institute for Colored Youth,[2] Lombard street above Seventh. Established in 1852. Charles L. Reason, Principal, Grace Mapes, assistant Teacher in the Female deparatment. Males 15; Female; 16; total 31; average attendance 26.
Raspberry Street Schools,[2] corner of Locust and Raspberry streets. Established in 1770. Boys' School, John W. Stokes, Principal, and one female assistant; total 90; average attendance 64. Girls' School, Martha Cox, Principal, and one assistant; total 79; average attendance 53.
Adelphi School,[2] Wager street. The Girls' department established in 1838, the Infant department in 1835. Girls' department, Anna M. Kite, Principal, and one assistant; total 70; average attendance 42. Infant department, Catharine Shipley, Principal, and one assistant; total 95; average attendance 61.
Sheppard School,[2] Randolph street above Parrish. Established in 1850, Anna Buzby, Principal, and one assistant, total 60; average attendance 40.
School for the Destitute at the House of Industry, corner of Seventh and Catharine streets. Established in 1848. Sarah Lewis, Principal, and two assistants; total both sexes 100; average attendance 75.
School for the Destitute, Lombard street above Seventh. Established in 1851. Sarah Luciana, Teacher, total both sexes 73; average attendance 45.
Infant School, corner of South and Clifton streets. Established in 1827. S. C. Swan, Principal, and two assistants; total 150; average attendance 85.
The unpretending title of the "Institute for Colored Youth," does not convey an adequate idea of the relation it sustains to the other schools. It is, in fact, the pioneer High School, and on that account alone cannot be too highly appreciated. But for the liberal spirit of the Trustees of the several funds given for its endowment, there might be nothing to answer the purpose of a High school for many years to come. Having commenced with seven pupils only, the present state of the school is all the more gratifying.
A considerable number of the scholars belonging to both the Raspberry street and Adelphi Girls' schools are so large and backward, that they would be ashamed to enter the Public Primary schools, and would do so reluctantly, if at all. Hence their greater usefulness. Adults are sometimes seen in the two former.
The Sheppard school is a great blessing to the part of the city in which it is located. As it is quite select, and as none but girls attend it, a large portion of those who fill its seats would sooner stay at home than go to Coates' street School.
The two schools for the destitute are objects of increasing interest. The Managers of the one at the House of Industry, introduced the industrial feature in a small way during the late fall and winter. A shoemaker was employed to superintend, and materials furnished for the larger boys to work up into shoes, for the use of the school. The experiment was satisfactory. The one in Lombard street is much better accommodated than formerly. Since the removal to their new location, a successful experiment has been made in a limited way, to introduce the home feature. Twelve of the children have been indentured to the Teacher, with power to bind them out as fast as she finds suitable places for them. The usefulness of both schools would be greatly increased, if the majority of the children who attend them could be controlled in the same manner.
As no public provision is made for the instruction of children too young to attend the Primary schools, the two infant schools are watched with deep interest. They are both in a very satisfactory state.
3. Schools connected with Benevolent and Reformatory Institutions.[4]
House of Refuge,[2] corner of Poplar and William streets. Established in 1850; supported in part by the State. The Boys' school has a principal and one assistant male teacher. Largest number of inmates at any one time 88; average for the year 75; sessions from 5 to 712 A. M., and from 512 to 8 P. M., the evening session on Saturday being omitted.
The Girls' school has one female teacher. Largest number of inmates at any one time 44; average for the year 36; one session from 2 to 5 P. M. Being schools of discipline as well as of instruction, the order is excellent, and the scholars make fair progress in their studies. Their last session in the week is principally devoted to reading the Bible or sacred history. A considerable number of the boys, when not in school, work at some useful trade. The girls are occupied with making garments, mending, washing and other domestic duties out of school.
Orphans' Shelter, Thirteenth street above Callowhill. Established in 1822, under the care of an association of women Friends. It has a principal and one assistant female teacher, and is conducted principally upon the infant school plan. Number of inmates at the close of the year 73. There are always a few too small to be in school. Being apprenticed at an early age, there are seldom any over ten years old to attend.
Home for Colored Children, Girard avenue above Ridge Road. Established in 1855. It is under the control of a board of lady managers, assisted by a board of male trustees. It contains at present 19 inmates. Its design is to take the entire control of destitute colored children of both sexes, instruct them mentally and morally, and place them as apprentices in some useful occupation with persons interested in their welfare. It is proposed to incorporate the Institution, procure funds, and erect a building adapted to the purpose, which will accommodate the numerous applicants who seek the protection which such a home affords.
4. Private Schools.
| Established in | Number of Scholars on roll. | |
| Sarah M. Douglass, Institute Building, Lombard street above Seventh, | 1835 | 30 |
| Margaretta Forten, 92 Lombard street, | 1850 | 10 |
| Amelia Bogle, 12th street below Spruce, | 1841 | 17 |
| Adam S. Driver, Barclay street above Sixth, | 1850 | 37 |
| Elizabeth Clark, corner Fifth and Gaskill streets, | 1850 | 40 |
| Emeline Higgins, 4 Raspberry street, | 1840 | 30 |
| Ada Hinton, 6 Locust street, | 1849 | 20 |
| Sarah Gordon, 9 Rodman street, | 1849 | 30 |
| Diana Smith, Prosperous Alley, | 1836 | 15 |
| Emeline Curtis, 62 Gaskill street, | 1850 | 12 |
| Sarah Ann Gordon, Bonsall street above Tenth, | 1852 | 20 |
| Ann McCormick, Brown street above Fourth, | 1854 | 30 |
| George W. Johnson, Lombard street above Seventh, | 1854 | 40 |
Summary of the Day Schools.
| Total. | Average Attendance. | |
| Public Schools, | 1031 | 821 |
| Charity Schools, | 748 | 491 |
| Benevolent and Reformatory Schools, | 211 | |
| Private Schools, | 331 | |
| ——– | ||
| 2321 |
S. M. Douglass teaches higher branches than are taught in Public Grammar Schools. The Managers of the Institute in whose building her school is kept, have made an arrangement with her by which she will at all times have 25 girls preparing for admission into their school.
M. Forten and A. Hinton teach branches similar to those taught in Grammar Schools, the former being the only one that takes boarding scholars. All the others teach nothing more than the elementary branches. The proprietors of female schools all teach plain sewing, and most of them add ornamental kneedle work, and knitting.
5. Evening Schools.
Raspberry Street Schools commence on the first Monday in October and continue five months. Five sessions are held each week.
Mens' School, John W. Stokes, Principal, and three male assistants. Total 138; average attendance 50.
Womens' School, Mary Roberts, Principal, and four assistants. Total 255; average attendance 63.
Apprentices and Young Men's School at the New Institute commences on the first Monday in November and continues four months. Charles L. Reason, Teacher.
The Raspberry Street Schools were established many years ago, and were formerly conducted by voluntary teachers. They always enjoyed a large share of the public confidence, but since the paid system of teaching was introduced, they have become more efficient than ever before. None are admitted to the Men's School under 18 years of age.
The school taught by C. L. Reason happily supplies the wants of apprentices and others who cannot attend Day Schools, but are too young to enter the Raspberry Street School.
General Remarks.
The teachers of the Institute for Colored Youth, and of all the private schools, are of their own complexion. All the others are white.
No register is kept in any school denoting standard of scholarship, nor is there any system of rewards for exciting emulation.
When the Sheppard School was established it was feared by some that the Coates Street School would be injured thereby, but the contrary proves to be fact. So, also, some feared that the Grammar Schools would be injured by the establishment of the Institute for Colored Youth, but the former were never so well attended, or in so prosperous a state as at present.
The irregular attendance of scholars, (unavoidable in a majority of cases) particularly in the larger and more advanced schools, imposes considerable extra labor upon teachers, prevents a thorough classification, and makes the recitations less spirited than they otherwise would be. Of all men and women who labor for the good of others, none are more deserving than the faithful teachers of these schools.
It would be interesting to know the amount of school tax paid by this people, but the expense already incurred by the Board is so great that it is not practicable to procure the information at present. The census taken by our Society in 1837–8 showed very clearly that they paid something more than their proportion of poor tax, and it is presumed that they have not been of late years, if ever, deficient in their proportion of school tax.
The number of children over 8 years of age, and under 18, not in school was found to be 1620. As the canvass was mostly made in the spring and summer, it is quite probable that the number is nearer 2000 during the fall and winter months.
- ↑ The total number and average attendance of these schools, was taken from the Controller's last Report. In consequence of the Consolidation Act, the year was changed from July to January, so that the Report is for one year and a half.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Schools thus marked have Libraries.
- ↑ The year of these schools begins about the first of September, and ends with the following summer vacation.
- ↑ The reports of these Institutions are made for each calender year.