Education in the U.S.

Districts consisted of one-room log or clapboard buildings where children as young as two or three mingled with older pupils, each child memorizing and reciting his or her lessons under the direction of a more-or-less qualified teacher.   

In the early 1800's education was largely for children WHO’S families could pay for it.  At least 4,000 schoolhouses were built in the Commonwealth during this time, through volunteer or church efforts.  Parents paid a “subscription” fee to maintain the schoolhouse and teacher.  

In 1809 the Pennsylvania legislature passed a law that require each county to provide free education for “all children between five and 12 years of age, and whose parents were unable to pay for their schooling.”   

In 1834 Pennsylvania legislature passed its landmark Free School Act in 1834.  Each county in the state would constitute a school division and each ward, township, or borough within the county would form its own school district. Each district would elect its own school board.  These directors were to join with the county commissioners to vote on whether or not to levy a county tax for public schools.  

A system for county superintendent, elected by local school directors, was created in 1854.  The first Chester County school superintendent was Agnew Futhey.  By 1867 cities and boroughs had their own superintendent.  

The Normal School Act of 1857 raised the bar for teacher training, transferring teachers’ education from the old academies to specialized “normal schools.”  Legislation of 1857 also removed the State Superintendent of education from the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, establishing a separate State Department of Common Schools.  Normal Schools would be the foundation of the university system.   

The federal Department of Education was established in 1867, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The original purpose of the agency was to collect information on individual schools that would help states establish their own effective public school systems. By 1869, Pennsylvania cities were home to seventeen high schools – Coatesville was one of them!