Early Schools in Wisconsin
-- Opening Dates [p. 781]
[Furnished by C. L. Harper.]
James (or Jacques) Porlier taught a school at Green Bay in
1791. This man was probably the first professional teacher
in charge of school work in Wisconsin. In 1817 a garrison
school was organized at Prairie du Chien (Fort Crawford) and
maintained for many years. The first school house in southwestern
Wisconsin was built at Mineral Point in 1830; the second at Platteville
in 1833. The first Kindergarten school officially connected with
any state Normal School in the United States was opened at Oshkosh
in 1880. Township system of school government provided for by
the Laws of 1869. Free High Schools provided for by the Laws
of 1875. The first Kindergarten school in Wisconsin was opened
in Milwaukee, first ward in 1872 with 70 pupils. Farmers' Institutes
provided for by the legislature of 1885. The bill was introduced
by Hon. Charles E. Estabrook, now a resident of Milwaukee. First
school in Milwaukee, 1834, sustained by S. Juneau for his children,
Dr. Heth, teacher; first high school in Milwaukee (private),
1841; first public school in Milwaukee opened in second ward,
fall of 1836, Edward West, teacher (claimed to be the first public
school in the state); Janesville Academy, 1845; Southport (Kenosha)
first free public school, 1845; five ward schools, Milwaukee,
648 pupils (av. attendance 355), school population 2,128, 1847;
St. Clara's Academy, opened at Benton in 1847 and transferred
to Sinsinawa Mound in 1867; Nashotah House, Nashotah, 1847; Milwaukee
College (women's), 1848; German and English Academy, Milwaukee,
1850; State University, Madison, 1850; St. Francis Seminary,
Milwaukee, 1856; School for the Blind, established at Janesville,
as a private enterprise by the citizens of that place, 1849,
but adopted and afterwards supported by the state, Feb. 9th,
1850; Lawrence University, Appleton, opened Nov. 12, 1849; Beloit
College, opened Nov. 4, 1849; Ripon College, opened spring of
1853; Milton College, organized as an academy, 1844; as a college,
March 13, 1867; Downer College, Fox Lake, opened Sept. 1853;
Milwaukee Downer, located at Milwaukee, since consolidated with
Milwaukee (women's) College; Carroll College, incorporated as
an academy Feb. 19, 1841; as a college, Jan. 31, 1846; Wayland
Academy, Beaver Dam, opened 1855; Kemper Hall, Kenosha, opened
1871; University School, Kenosha, founded 1889.