History of Education in Freehold Township (cont.)

There were eight school districts in the Township. They were:
• East Freehold District #6
• Freehold District #7
• Paradise District #8
• Georgia District #9 (later named Pleasant Grove)
• Siloam District #10
• West Freehold District #11
• Thompson’s Grove District #12
• Aumock District #13

We find evidence that these districts were educating approximately 500 students per year toward the end of the 1800’s.

Schools in New Jersey were all private until 1816 when legislation establishing the "public" school concept was adopted. This legislation directed the State Treasurer to invest $15,000 in United States bonds, the income from which was to be used in furthering the cause of education. By 1830 the school fund amounted to $228,611. The Legislature then began to plan for a regular school system. It took until 1867 to get the school system established.

Teachers were accepted by certificate of scholarship, signed by a principal or committee of a school, leading man of a town or pastor of a church. There was no formal examination given. About the year 1847 teaching licenses began to be granted by town superintendents of education. The Superintendent for Monmouth County was Dr. Samuel Lockwood. Teachers were engaged for one year. Their pay would depend upon the number of pupils, and somewhat on the teacher’s popularity in the town. They usually lived in someone’s home in the area. Their board was $2.50 per week. Parent’s had to pay for each pupil depending on what subjects were taken. In 1836 the cost of tuition would be from $2.00 up to $6.50 per quarter. In the early days of education most girls received very little education. There was a misconception by parents that girls were incapable of "book learning." Instead they were taught embroidery and home skills. This concept began to change by the mid-1800. According to an article in the Red Bank Register dated June 4, 1914, the average cost of educating one pupil was $29.57.

As in all one-room schoolhouses, the teacher taught all eight grades. Students’ ranged in age from four to twenty-five. As time went on even night school was taught so that parents could benefit from education. Subjects taught and used for grading purposes were:

AGES 4-10
• Time (attendance)
• Deportment (behavior)
• Spelling
• Defining
• Reading
• Penmanship
• Arithmetic

AGES 11 & UP
• Geography
• English Grammar
• Modern History
• Composition
• Algebra
• Natural Philosophy
• Botany
• Some schools also taught Latin and French