Early McCook schools

Superintendent William Valentine

McCook's birth as a genuine community occurred in mid-Summer of 1882. One of the first items on the city's agenda was the formation of a school, which opened on September 1, 1882. This first school, a modest beginning, was held in the dining room of the old Commercial Hotel, with Mrs. Alma Churchill as the teacher. Two of the first pupils were the future Mrs. F.M. Kimmel (editor of the McCook Tribune), and the future Mrs. Edna Meserve Magee.

A year later the school had grown to some 20 pupils and the school was moved to the 1st Congregational Church, on West 2nd St., with Charles R. Boyle as Principal. School was held in this location until the first school building was completed, in January, 1884.

In 1884 McCook's system of graded schools was organized in the new frame structure, known as West Ward (on West 1st St.). There were four teachers for the 175 pupils enrolled. A Mr. Webster served as Superintendent for the school, under the guidance of a school Board, made up of three members, J.R. Phelan, G.L. Laws, and F.L. McCracken.

By 1886 school enrollment had increased to the extent that the Board found it necessary to rent an additional building and added of one more teacher. Later that year a brick structure was erected, known as East Ward Building (the site of East Ward apartments), which remained in service for 42 years, till it was replaced by the new, $75,000 Valentine School. The building served as both Grade and High School. It had six class rooms, an office and a Chem Lab room. (Students also had access to a tennis court, thanks to the generosity of Banker Frank Spearman, who lived just a block south of the school). Nine teachers were employed at East Ward. Classes were also held at the West Ward Location and a school in South McCook.

In 1889, one of McCook's All-Time Great Superintendents, William Valentine, a native of Massachusetts, was hired. Though Mr. Valentine was only in McCook for nine years, he made a lasting impact on the city. He had formerly served as Secretary to Jenken Lloyd Jones, a noted Preacher of that day. His father had died while William was but a child. He brought his Mother with him to McCook, where she kept house for him until her death.

Mr. Valentine was a very cultured gentleman -- well-informed concerning architecture, painting, sculpture, and music. He was also an outstanding actor, lecturer, reader, and author. A beautiful reader, he was dedicated to instilling a desire for and an interest in better reading for his students. He was in much demand at Teachers' Institutes in McCook and surrounding towns.

"Mind Your Own Business". This was the message that William Valentine scrawled across the blackboard whenever he entered a classroom. Mr. Valentine was said to have had little or no trouble with discipline in the schools. He did not believe in corporal punishment, and didn't need to use it. His pupils "desired of all things" to be in his good grace and feared, as they feared nothing else, to incur his displeasure....because they wanted his good opinion...they wanted him to think well of them". When on occasion he was forced to punish a student, anger and resentment rarely followed, because it was realized that his reprimand was well deserved.

He introduced what he called his Magic Lantern Class to the students, and to the public, bringing to his audience famous sights, via slides projected on a screen -- of Modern London, Cathedrals, views of Switzerland, Scotland, the Congo in Africa. A 15 cent admission was charged, used to purchase additional slides and improved equipment. Eventually students and townspeople were made familiar with the whole world, in what was, at the time, a novel and entertaining fashion.

Mr. Valentine encouraged participation in readings by the students, stories, such as Enoch Arden, Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Bonnie Briar Bush. In 1897 the graduating class (of 13) presented Frances Hodgson Burnett's play, Esmeralda, at the Menard Opera House. Proceeds went for the benefit of the school's music, lantern, and library funds.

Mr. Valentine was a very organized administrator, and one of the projects that he instigated while Superintendent was a very detailed statistical picture of the McCook School system, and of McCook, in 1897. Some of the entries included:

The school system was governed by a Board of Education of six members, including Alexander Campbell and Mr. A. Barnett. The Board met the first Monday of each month.

Total student attendance was 674; 336 at East Ward, 286 at West Ward, 32 South Ward.

There were 12 grades; 1st and 2nd grade at all three locations; 3rd grade at East and West only; 4th, 5th, and 6th West Ward only; 7th through high school at East Ward only.

The average class size for the 10 school rooms was 50 (all classrooms were crowded).

There were three Principals, seven teachers, two assistant teachers, and two janitors.

School revenue came from three sources -- 1. A tax levy of 20 mills figured to bring in $5,000. 2. A license fund brought in $2,230. 3. $800 from a State School Fund. Non-resident pupils paid $2.00 per month tuition. Total revenue for that year should have amounted to $9,000, but fell $2,500 short due to failure of tax payers to settle their taxes with the Co. Treas.

Expenses: Payroll $6,675; furnace fuel (East Ward) $700; student supplies @50 cents per pupil $375; Water tax $130; insurance $100. Average cost per pupil $12.50.

Valentine's report showed that many families had moved to McCook primarily because of the education opportunities for their children. The Railroad tried very hard to hire heads of families (rather than single men), thereby increasing attendance -- despite unpaid taxes.

Soon after the report came out there was an outcry from the public for retrenchment in the school system, which resulted in salary cuts across the board -- City Superintendent from $1,400 to $1,200; Ward Principals $75 to $65; Teachers $50 to $45; Janitors $45 to $40. This cut in salaries saved $680 of the planned cuts of $1,000.

Valentine found that of the 600 students, 355 were born in Nebraska; 74 born in Iowa; 52 in Illinois; 16 in Kansas; 19 in states east of the Alleghany Mountains; 13 west of Nebraska.

26 children, or 4% were foreign born; 14 born in Russia; 6 in Germany; 1 born in Denmark; 1 Scotland; 1 Mexico;1 Canada; 1 Italy; 1 Holland.

4 fathers and 15 mothers were born in Nebraska; 87 fathers, 113 mothers were born in Illinois; 58 fathers, 57 mothers were born in Indiana; 103 fathers, 96 mothers were born east of the Alleghanies. 20% of McCook's population was foreign born; 114 fathers, 126 mothers were foreign born -- 32 Russian parents; 109 German parents; 10 Canadian parents; 43 Ireland; 15 England; 15 Scotland; 2 Denmark; 4 France; 6 Austria; 4 Holland; 10 Sweden; 20 Norway

The report stated that 40 children had defective vision (but many were wearing glasses). 185 had suffered from serious disease -- scarlet fever and diphtheria 109 cases, typhoid 25 cases.

After William Valentine's mother passed away he went through a very bad time and after just nine years in McCook he moved on, to take a variety of jobs in varied locations till the end of his life, ending up in Ft. Smith Arkansas as a reporter on a paper. It was here he died.

In all his wanderings, Mr. Valentine loved McCook the most, and called this city home. His remains were returned to McCook and were buried in the Longview Cemetery, under the auspices of the McCook High School Alumni Association.

A final tribute was paid to William Valentine on Dec. 11, 1930, when the new East Ward School was dedicated. It was said to be the largest crowd ever to attend a dedication celebration in McCook. Though he had been gone from McCook for some 32 years, over 300 of Valentine's former students, from the four corners of the United States were in attendance that day, to hear Frank Colfer, J.F. Cordeal, A. Barnett, and L.W. Jennings praise the former Superintendent and pay tribute to him by christening the new $75,000 structure "Valentine School" (which name is engraved over the front door, though it has been covered over the years by East Ward School.

His former pupils rededicated themselves to the high ideals instilled by a beloved teacher, guide, and friend. Though it is more than 100 years since William Valentine passed our way, his admonition "Mind Your Own Business" seems as valid today as it was in 1889.