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Monument of Louisa Whitney
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Louisa Whiney was born in 1844 at a time when women were usually known as "Mrs." somebody. Miss Whitney was not married so all that is recorded about her is from the school records of the time. The information gleaned from school records is as much a record of schools at the time, as it is about her. This information comes from annual reports filed by Sherman Williams, Superintendent of Schools at the time. Miss Whitney had to renew her teaching license every three years. The records show she had one from 1879 - 1882 issued by Mr. Randolph and Mr. McNutt, and another from 1883 - 86. In 1881 she had in her primary section, 69 registered, 52 attending for 52 days, with the average attendance being 49/day. During 1882 she was reported to have earned $200. She worked in the first Ridge Street School, the addition to the Ridge Street School, and the new Ridge Street School where the Fire Station now stands. During her time there, a boy was hired to shovel paths and sweep rooms for $1 a week, and a girls was hired to sweep for $.25 a week. Her request for supplies in January 1882, which was approved by the Board of Education, was: 6 boxes of chalk crayons, 1 box slate pencils, a poker, a fire shovel and 2 brooms. She also needed a package of ink powder and 1 large bottle of ink. In addition, she requested that the stove be blackened, the well needed to be filled for safety reasons, a dictionary needed to be rebound, a cellar window needed to be repaired to prevent drafts in the primary section. In December of 1882 she had 54 students. In an evaluation of March 1883, it was reported that "Miss Whitney's class showed great improvement considering the irregular attendance. There is much sickness due to the close and poorly ventilated room. Her room is considered the poorest in the building." She reported 3 cases of corporal punishment during this evaluation period...one teacher reported 11 cases. In an evaluation of December 1883, "Miss Whitney has one of the largest classes which accounts for poorer results. Smaller classes get better results." She received a 2 for her score based on a 1 - 5 rating system. Only one teacher got a higher score of 1, while 4 others also got a 2. "Miss Whitney has a better native ability, more general knowledge, and is a thorough, good teacher. She has one fault, her classes are slow. She takes 3 months to do 2 months work. She allows her classes to drag." She was observed to have 19% of her children idle during an observation. Another teacher had 33 2/3%, while one had only 3 1/4% idle. In 1884 she was rehired at $10 weekly salary, and it remained this from 1882 until 1885. In 1885 she had 58 pupils. In another evaluation it was reported: "The Ridge Street School is the most prosperous and in the most satisfactory condition. Each department, primary, intermediate and higher levels all run as a separate school. The feature of Miss Whitney's department is a semi-military order. She rings a bell, they react. She drills them in calisthenics and they like it. She is know for her uniform kindliness and pleasant cheerful way of getting along with children. There is almost never a need for correction or discipline in her room.
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