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Schools, Public

 

1858

07 08       Bible reading, Superintendent Gill  WD

08 12       Examination of teachers  WD

09 09       Teachers for fall term of the public schools   WD

09 09       Miss P. G. Jones conducts private school   WD

09 23       Failure to build two union school houses    WD

 

 

1866

Watertown High School established.

 

1870s c

 

Mr. John Ford was first Superintendent of Schools under the union plan, afterward Commissioner of Schools for the Sixth Ward for one year, and in 1878 was Commissioner of Schools for the First Ward. 

 

1880-1904

 

Prof Charles Viebahn, Principal and Superintendent of School (1880-1904)

 

While he was principal of the schools of Manitowoc in 1873 he established the first kindergarten in the state to be operated in connection with a public school.

 

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William Voss served a number of terms embracing two long periods as president of the school board.  His interest in the working of the schools was so intense that he was intimately versed in all of the work of the schools and was in close touch with all of the plans necessary to be made.  His interest in the school board was almost passion and his leadership was an inspiration to fellow members of the board, teachers and all in any way connected with the work.

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1904, 10 16

 

Superintendent of Schools William D. Roseman gives the following excellent advice to parents relative to signing the monthly report cards of students:

 

"You are earnestly urged to examine the cards carefully and sign them in English or German. Please do not delegate this duty to your child. The interest which you show in examining the cards will, to a great extent, determine you child's progress in school. If the marks are low, inquire why, and encourage them to earn higher marks next month. It takes much time and energy, on the part of the teachers, to issue report cards and unless you examine them, and sign them personally, the result will not warrant the expenditure of the same. It can be spent to a greater advantage in other directions."

 

1904

11 12

Some day, perhaps, we will return to sane methods in the teaching of children: Speed that day. At the present time the little ones are the victims of education gone mad. Their small heads are troubled with things beyond their understanding and they are made to say things like a parrot. Fancy a little grammar student of 10 attempting to diagram a sentence taken from a history of mythology! And fancy a child of 9 struggling to read ancient history with all the latter's unpronounceable names! It is all - all wrong. We are not teaching children in these days. We are simply attacking their nervous systems and racking their undeveloped brains.   WDT

 

1908

09 11       Eighth grade transferred from High School to vacant room in School No. 4.  WG

 

1958

04 23       Watertown Citizens Council for Better Schools formed   WDT

 

1998

08 01          Proposed laws concerning student conduct in public schools   WDT

 

 

Cross-References:

No 1:  Patrick Rogan organized the school system here in 1855, having secured the passage of the act providing therefore.