History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

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the instructors and students to do themselves honor on the day of the
examiners' first visit. Great was the wrath of the classical teacher, none
of whose pupils could name the verse of Virgil, though they could scan
to perfection. The wrath, however, was reserved till the next day, and
I venture to say that no one ever again forgot the metrical verse."
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
The superintendents of schools and principals of the high school from
1851 to 1912, inclusive, have been as follows, the former year being the
first in which the minutes designate such official: James Safford, 1851
to April, 1853; Byron G. Stout, I853 to April, 1854; Johnson A. Corbin,
I854 to 1864; Charles Hurd, September, 1864, to April, 1867; Johnson
A. Corbin, spring term, 1867; Leander W. Pilcher, September, 1867, to
January I, 1869; Johnson A. Corbin, January I to February I, 1869;
T. C. Garner, February I to June 25, I869; J. S. D. Taylor, I869 to
I870; C. S. Fraser, 1870 to 1872; J. C. Jones, 1872 to I876.
From 1876 to I912 the following superintendents have been in charge
of the city schools: G. M. Clayberg, 1877 to January I, 1878; Z. Truesdell, 1878 to 1880; F. S. Fitch, I880 to 1890; O. C. Seeley, 1890 to 1891;
F. E. Converse, 1891 to 1897; Hugh Brown, 1897 to 90o0; Ralph B.
Dean, I900 to 1904; James H. Harris, 1904 to 1906; F. P. Buck, I906
to I9IO; G. L. Jenner, I9II (present incumbent, October, 1912).
Among the oldest and most prominent members of the city school
board is Elmer R. Webster, who served as president from 1902 to I905,
had previously been its secretary and has held the latter office continuously since I906.
THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL
The high school on West Huron street, erected in 1871, is the oldest
of the buildings now occupied. That structure has, of course, been
repaired, partially remodeled and maintained in a sanitary condition,
although it has not been considered quite up to the modern standard.
The demand for a new high school building has been so strong and
insistent of late years that it has borne fruit in the form of the magnificent structure for which plans are now (October, 1912) being prepared by the architects, Perkins, Fellows & Hamilton, of Chicago. It
is estimated that the building will cost about $I75,000, and at this writing bids for its construction are about to be submitted to the architects
named.
PUBLIC SYSTEM AND LIST OF SCHOOLS
The local system of public education covers the full eight years in
the primary and grammar grades and the four-years' curriculum. in the
high school. In the grammar grades are also taught such special branches
as music, drawing and physical culture, and manual training and domestic science. To accommodate pupils in the latter branches the Manual
Training school, in the First ward, is provided, the scholars attending it
at certain hours of the day from the different ward schools.