Superintendents, Institutes, Conventions and School Medical Inspectors of Armstrong County

The following passages were taken from "Armstrong County Pennsylvania: Her People, Past and Present" (Chicago, 1914, J.H. Beers and Co.), pp 60-62.

SUPERINTENDENTS

It is a part of the educational history of this county that there was for awhile considerable opposition to the county superintendency on the part of many of the supporters of the common school system. It was at first so strong that the first convention of school directors, May, 1854, fixed the annual compensation of the first county superintendent at the meager sum of $300, thinking that no one would serve for that sum, and that they would thus discharge the duty imposed on them by the law of selecting a suitable person and fixing his compensation, and at the same time dispense with the superintendent. They did not seem to consider that the law also prescribed that every teacher of common schools must be examined by that officer, and that if any schools in a district should be taught by teachers not having proper certificates there would have been a forfeiture of the State appropriation to the schools of such district.

The gentleman they selected, Rev. J. A. Campbell, after deliberation, concluded that he could not devote the time, labor and attention which the law required for that compensation, but proposed to accept the position for a year if the amount fixed by the convention would be increased to $400. In order that the school districts of this county might not lose their State appropriations, several citizens pledged the additional hundred dollars, which they paid out of their own pockets, and the first incumbent of the new and to some extent obnoxious office entered upon the discharge of his official duties, in which he continued during the first two years and a part of the third year of the term, teaching part of the time a normal class and preaching to his congregation.

INSTITUTES

Teachers' insitutes previous to 1867 were self-sustaining and were held at irregular intervals in different parts of the county. Since that date the State has made provision for their support and the regular sessions held yearly at Kittanning are well attended and productive of great benefit to all who attend.

CONVENTIONS

The tenth convention of school directors for the county was held in the new high school auditorium in November, 1913, with Hon. Geo. W. McNees as chairman. In the matter of information it was probably the most important ever held in Kittanning. Addresses by prominent educators and members were heard on vital subjects relating to health, finance and improved methods of instruction. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Frank Cribbs, S. Buffalo township; first vice preseident, R. Hagerman, Perry township; second vice president, A. W. Smith, Gilpin township; secretary, J. E. Vantine, Kiskiminetas township; treasurer, J. S. Porter, Applewold; auditor, John A. Fox, Kittanning; delegate to the State convention, S. S. Blyholder, Burrell township.

The convention also favorably recommended the increase of the salary of the county superintendent to $3,000 per year. Prof. W. A. Patton is the present capable superintendent.

MEDICAL INSPECTORS

The State medical inspectors for 1913 are: Apollo borough, Dr. A.H. Townsend, Apollo; Bethel and Parks townships, Dr. Thomas L. Aye, Kelly Station; Boggs and Pine townships, Dr. T.H. Newcome, Templeton; Brady's Bend township, Dr. C.G. McGogney, Kaylor; Deanville independent district and Mahoning township; Dr. J.B. Longwell, Seminole; East Franklin township, Dr. J.E. Quigley, Adrian; Elderton borough and Plum Creek township, Dr. J.A. Kelly, Whitesburg; Ford City borough, Dr. A.E. Bower, Ford City; Freeport borough and Gilpin township, Dr. C.M. McLaughlin, Freeport; Parker's Landing borough and Hovey township, Dr. A.M. Hoover, Parker's Landing; Johnetta borough and South Buffalo township, Dr. W.J. Ralston, Freeport; Leechburg borough, Dr. J.D. Orr, Leechburg; Manorville borough and Manor township, Dr. Roscoe Deemar, Manorville; West Kittanning borough and Rayburn and Valley townships, Dr. T.N. McKee, Kittanning; Red Bank township, Dr. C.E. Sayres, Hawthorn; Rural Valley borough, Dr. S.E. Ambrose, Rural Valley; South Bend township, Dr. J.A. Lowery, South Bend; South Bethlehem borough, Dr. E.K. Shumaker, New Bethlehem; Wayne township, Dr. E.J. Fleming, Dayton; Wickboro borough, Dr. J.B.F. Wyant, Kittanning; Worthington borough, Dr. J.W. Dunkle, Worthington.