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About APS Links
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About APS – History of Akron Public Schools
1883-1900
Free textbooks, kindergarten, intramural sports. We take
these things for granted in our public schools now; but, 100 or
so years ago, they were brand-new ideas.
Elias Fraunfelter, Akron's superintendent from 1883 to 1897,
gets credit for introducing free textbooks to the classroom.
Before that, students had to supply their own.
Many other interesting things happened during the time that
Fraunfelter was superintendent.
For example, the original Central High School (facing Union
Park) was built in 1886 at a cost of $135,000. It housed the
Board of Education and the superintendent's office in the
basement. Its tower held a 2,000-pound bell and a clock with
four illuminated dials, 16 feet in diameter each!
Also, it was during this time that Akron began naming the city's
school buildings in honor of citizens who had been involved with
the city or the schools.
In 1890, the schools did away with formal exams for promotions
from one grade to another. They thought that many qualified
students who were shy and easily embarrassed would "choke" at
the moment of truth, and thus be kept behind. Instead,
promotions were based upon the recommendations of teachers and
principals.
After Fraunfelter retired, Richard Thomas – a newcomer to Akron
– led our schools from 1897-1900. Some of the highlights of his
brief tenure include:
- the establishment of a trial kindergarten, for children
between the ages of 5 and 6;
- the establishment of night schools for some high school
students and foreigners – night school teachers were paid $2 a
night;
- the opening of an "upgraded school" which was a room set
aside in the high school for so-called "delinquents" from the
elementary schools; and
- the first high school track meet, held in 1898 – events
included the hammer throw; the running hop, skip and jump; and
the pole vault – baseball also began that year.
Superintendent Thomas had many great ideas, but he was criticized
by the press and parents. Although the Board supported him, he
resigned after only three years, letting Henry V. Hotchkiss
guide our schools into the 20th century.
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Girls, Girls, Girls
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| In 1888, female teachers could be fired if they got
married. |
| In 1895, the first two women were elected to serve on the
Akron Board of Education: Frances Allen and Margaret Sadler. |
| In 1899, male grade school teachers received $68/month
while their female counterparts received $56.20/month. At
the high school level, men earned $92/month while women
earned $73/month. |
| By June 1891, Akron Public Schools had graduated a total
of 747 students in 28 years. Of those, 215 were boys; and
532 were girls. Although there was an equal number of boys
and girls in Akron, more girls graduated because more boys
went to work before they graduated. |
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It's a Small World
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| In its early days, Akron was a melting pot of people from
all over the world. Our schools reflected that diversity. In
1888, 9% of the city's school-aged population of 7,707 were
born in other countries including Greece, Sweden, Germany,
Norway, Ireland, Russia, Hungary, Italy, Scotland, France
and England. |
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