If today's students were to take a quick glance at the early history of Brunswick schools, attending school would first appear to be a bed of roses. Prior to 1900, school was in session only six months a year.
But there are advantages and disadvantages to anything. High school teachers required all students to be prompt in coming to the schoolroom at the beginning of all sessions and also required an excuse for absence signed by parents or guardian. For failing to comply, students could be suspended and reported to the school board.
Teachers not only kept strict attendance records but would often support temperance groups. A school register from Goodman Corners School in Brunswick Township dating back to 1903 includes a temperance pledge signed by nine students.
The pledge reads "I do pledge my word and honor, God helping me, to abstain from all intoxicating liquors, as a beverage, including wine, beer and cider. And I also promise to abstain from tobacco in all of its forms, and profanity, and to use my influence to induce others to do the same."
The pledge is signed by Benjamin Morton, Willie Morton, Harrison Morton, Walter Morton, Corwin Morton, Samuel Van Kannel, Howard Morton, and Merrill Morton. The teacher who included the pledge in his attendance record was V. Wade Holden.
A particularly comprehensive look at the history of the Brunswick schools was done by Judy Kirsch and Margaret Fletcher, both Brunswick teachers, in 1973. The two women wrote a paper entitled "A History of Brunswick Schools" as a graduate school assignment. Other interesting items can be found in old school register books and curriculum outlines at the?
According to "A History of Brunswick Schools", the original Brunswick Township was 25 square miles and had nine district schools. The system's first teacher was Sara Tillotson, and its first school was located on the west side of town in a log cabin that was to have been a home. The school was built at this location in order to serve both Brunswick and Liverpool Townships.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1817 and was located about a quarter of a mile west of Brunswick center. Then, in 1924, a hewed log building was erected at the center of town to be used for a schoolhouse, church and town hall.
According to the research paper, "In the early days a teacher would teach in a one-room schoolhouse. He (or she) would handle all eight grades in that one room as well as all of the custodial work. He would be paid between $2.50 and $3.50 per week for teaching and janitorial duties.
By 1893 teachers pay was increased. A Mr. E. A. Clement was hired to teach the graded school for the term of $45.00 per month. But women who taught were paid at a different rate. While the men were paid a standard monthly salary, records show that women were paid in the following manner: "One Alice Heacox was to teach school in district number nine for a term of two and one-half months at $25 pr month and $30 per month for four months in the winter term and $25 for two and half months in the spring of 1894."
"The Record of Books of the Brunswick High School," 1898, shows the school board had adopted strict [standards??] which students had to meet to enter high school.
