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About APS Links
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About APS – History of Akron Public Schools
1860-83
From the beginning, schools faced many of the same issues
that we face today.
For example, school officials weren't sure how to handle
tardiness and poor attendance. While Israel Hole was
superintendent (1860-68), they tried closing the doors a few
moments after school opened and not letting tardy students in
until recess.
That strategy didn't work, so in 1864 the district set a policy
that three absences a month led to a suspension; and the student
couldn't come back to school unless the school board approved.
This worked better because "it inconvenienced the parents and
made them feel the power of the Board." About 20 years later, a
state law requiring compulsory attendance went into effect,
along with truant officers to enforce the law.
Because the people of Akron felt a great sense of pride and
ownership in their schools, schools were open to criticism and
opinions from everyone. In fact, the town council believed it
was their responsibility to help run the schools. They appointed
"school visitors" to help out the overworked superintendent.
Things changed with the arrival of Samuel Findley, who reigned
from 1868-83. He was the first "true" superintendent. He no
longer had to teach or be a principal, and he was given the
responsibility and authority to make decisions about the future
of our schools.
Findley led the district during Akron's first great period of
expansion, when Akron went from an incorporated village to a
city. The staff grew from 22 teachers in 1868 to 62 in 1883.
Also during this time, eight two-story brick schoolhouses were
built (replacing the one-room frame school buildings).
As our district grew, so did the number of our graduates.
Akron's first graduate was Pamela Goodwin. She graduated in 1864
and went on to become a teacher in Akron Public Schools. The
numbers gradually increased. Between 1864 and 1868, a total of
15 students graduated. Between 1868 and 1883, the number was
289. By 1996, the total was more than 173,000!
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Cool Quotes
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| "It is not so much what the teacher says, as what
he is and does, which affects for good or evil
the future lives and character of his pupils." – Samuel
Findley, 1869 |
| "The experiment we have made in the last six years in
employing none but women as regular teachers in our schools
has been eminently successful." – Akron Public Schools
Annual Report 1874 |
| "Students stop short if they think all there
is to school is the memorization of the textbook." – Israel
Hole, 1863 |
| "We will try and make money that we may spend it upon good
schools. In short, the education of the mind must be the
great end for which we live and do business." – Isaac
Jennings, 1868 |
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