Township Schools

Description:	Public education in Harrison County began soon after Indiana achieved statehood, when in December of 1816 the General Assembly passed an act providing for the appointment of superintendents of school systems in the state’s townships. Schools were slow to emerge at first due to many factors, including sparseness of population, lack of qualified teachers, and limited financial support. But by the 1850s, citizens were increasingly concerned about education and supported the development of local schools. Initial schools were of log construction and measured about 15’ x 15’, with somewhat larger frame buildings appearing in the 1870s. At one time there were over 150 of these small schools scattered throughout Harrison County’s thirteen original townships. Each township had between eight and twenty-one schools, with most having around ten to fifteen. Harrison and Boone Townships had the most with twenty-one and seventeen schools respectfully. The townships identified each school by number, but local citizens often attached their own moniker, which typically reflected the school’s location or the names of local landowners, especially those who donated or sold the land for the schools. The vast majority of these township schools were one-room buildings and had a single teacher. A few had two rooms and two or maybe three teachers. The schools dotted the rural landscape and served students who lived nearby. The schools were situated roughly two miles apart, depending on the population, and sat on an acre or smaller tract of land. Students traveled to school primarily by foot, often crossing fields, woods, and streams to take the shortest route. Teachers were responsible for housekeeping duties such as sweeping the floor and building a fire in the stove for heat. Township trustees saw that the schools were supplied and enlisted local farmers to mow the grounds and help with building maintenance.Townships schools educated students through 8th grade. Interest in education continued to grow and secondary schools began to develop in the more populated towns and villages during the late nineteenth century. As populations rose, transportation improved, and advancements in education increased throughout the early twentieth century, schools were consolidated at larger, more modern facilities, and township schools began to close. By 1939, the number of graded township schools in Harrison County had dwindled to forty-six. This trend continued, and the last one-room school in the county closed around 1955. This collection consists of photographs of Harrison County’s township schools and the students who attended them. It also includes commencement programs from schools in Boone and Franklin Townships. Not everyone in the photographs has been identified. To help with identification or add to our collection, please contact the Frederick Porter Griffin Center at genealogy@hcpl.lib.in.us.
Origin:	1886-1956
Source:	http://cdm17251.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p17251coll5/id/125
Collection:	Harrison County Schools
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Copyright:	This image may be printed or downloaded by individuals, schools or libraries for study, research or classroom teaching without permission. For other uses contact: genealogy@hcpl.lib.in.us
Geography:	Harrison County, Indiana
Subjects:	Schools Students Graduation Ceremonies

Further information on this record can be found at its source.