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About APS – History of Akron Public Schools
1928-42
During the time that Thomas Gosling was superintendent
(1928-34), many schools were added to the Akron district through
annexation. In 1929 alone, we gained 3,947 students from nine
Kenmore schools and 1,106 students from three Ellet schools.
These additions helped increase enrollment from 43,180 in 1928
to 54,877 in 1931.
Akron continued to build schools to accommodate its students.
But when the depression hit, there was no money; and the
building program came to a halt. In May 1931, in order to save
money, staff was cut and classes got bigger. The schools'
financial woes increased when the tax duplicates were reduced
three times, making the total assessments on property 30% less
than normal. Many people were unable to pay their property taxes
anyway. The schools were closed for five weeks over the winter
break for the 1931-32 year, and Gosling decided to close the
schools a month early. The teachers begged for the opportunity
to keep the schools open to June, even to work without pay; but
it was to no avail. In June of 1932, teachers' salaries were cut
by 20%; and no new teachers were hired. In 1933, teachers were
paid with scrip, or artificial money. "Real" money was given
only when it was available.
Ralph Waterhouse (1934-42) was our next superintendent. During
his tenure, the first African-American teacher was hired;
elementary students listened to radio programs like
"Calisthenics with Music" and "Literary Quiz Program"; Victrola
records were rotated from school to school by Board of Education
trucks; food, glasses, minor operations and clothes for needy
children were furnished; the first school buses were used; Hower
Vocational School became the new trade school center; and the
first motion picture with sound was presented at Central High
School.
Although by 1941-42 the enrollment had dipped down to 39,273,
overcrowding was still a problem. Portables (temporary frame
dwellings) were used to cope with the enrollment demands;
students had to trek to the main building to go to the bathroom.
High schools ran in double shifts, so students only went to
school half a day. This allowed schools like East to educate
2,736 students in the 1939-40 school year. |
