September is known for back-to-school time, which Tiverton has been doing since 1732, according to the following excerpt from Bayles’ History of Newport County, published in 1888:
The first settlers of Tiverton were chiefly the descendants of the Pilgrims, and while they inherited in some degree the excellent character of their renowned ancestors, many facts in their history show most fully that they were not distinguished for that superior intelligence and devoted piety which were conspicuous in their fathers. There are but few indications of early efforts for the education of their children. About the middle of the eighteenth century feeble efforts were put forth to promote general education. A few people seemed to see the importance of giving the rising generation some school opportunities, but there is ample evidence that the importance of this subject had not yet dawned upon the minds of the people. It is strange to note how often the old deeds and other important documents were signed, even by individuals who had large estates, with the significant “his X mark.” October 7th, 1732, it was voted that two school houses be built in Tiverton, “One at ye south end and one at ye north end of ye town.”
A custom of employing a teacher for the town appears by the following entry in the town records: “Aug. 15. 1743. Voted Benjamin Delaney Town school master for ye year service to be paid unto him at the expiration of his year service.” He served as agreed, for “Aug. 15. 1744. Voted that the Town hire the money to pay the School master for his service Done for the Town.”
The true relation of the public school to the body politic seems to have been gradually coming into view, for in town meeting, on the 27th of August, 1799, William Humphrey, Thomas Durfee, Edmond Estes and John Howland were made a committee “to take under Consideration the Bill for an act for supporting a free School in the State and to make such amendment as they may think proper and make Report at the adjournment of this meeting.” Here is an extract from the town records showing not only that they intended to have a school but that they needed one:
“Aug. 1828 on a motion Whether it be expejient that a Tax be levyed, for the support of Publik schools in this town. It is voted that it be desided in the affirmative by votes. Twenty being against the meashure and Twenty-nine in favor of it.”
“Voted that a Tax of Three Hundred and Sixty Dollars be assessed upon the Rateable property of this town for the support of Publick schools.”
At the annual meeting, June 1st, 1829, for the choice of officers, the following named persons were elected school committee: Robert Gray, William Shaw, John Manchester, Elbridge Gale, Amasa Borden, Noah Macomber, Benjamin Hambly, Abraham Manchester, John Gray of Elizabeth, John Hambly.
From these allusions rather than positive statements the record appears that these meager provisions for public instruction were supplemented by individual and community action in different sections of the town. A school house was often owned and a teacher engaged by a few families of some community, and thus the actual provisions for the education of the young in the town greatly exceeded those which became a part of the public records. Share holders, as applied to men or families aiding in the erection of school houses, is a term frequently met with prior to 1842. These private schools were not unfrequently taught in apartments of private houses. The compensation was generally very meager and the test of scholarship very feeble. The pedagogue of that day was a migratory creature. One specimen of this New England product perpetrated himself upon the neighborhood north of Howland’s ferry and unexpectedly, and perhaps unknown to himself, taught one of the best schools ever taught there. He called himself A. B., and was known here by no other name. He never spoke of home or relatives, and of his antecedants no one here knew. He faithfully performed the duties he assumed and quietly left his field of labor. Who he was or where he went still remains a question.
During the four years preceding and including 1846, the present district system was instituted. The first action of the town meeting relating to schools under the district system was on June 1st, 1846, when $800 was voted to be raised and placed to the credit of the proper committee for expenses, directing it to be divided equally between the several districts in the town. The committee consisted of Jared Reid, William C. Chapin, Charles Durfee, Asa Gray, William P. Sheffield, Joseph Osborn, Samuel West, Oliver Chase, Jr., and Cornelius Seabury, Jr. In June of the following year $500 was appropriated – one-half to be divided equally among the districts, the other half to be apportioned according to the daily attendance. In June, 1848, $1,000 was voted by the town to support the schools in Tiverton, and the labors of the school committee increasing with the growth of the new system, $75 was voted for their services. In the meantime, the state having provided a plan for dividing the school fund among the various districts, we find the vote recorded that the $1,000 was to be distributed “as the state law directs.” Since this time new buildings with modern conveniences have supplanted the primitive structures which had served their day and generation – some of them several generations – and Tiverton has to-day thirteen schools and as many school buildings, which are fully up to the New England standard. Several of these new edifices are models of comfort and convenience. The best one in the town is just north of “Tiverton Heights.” The general management of the town schools devolves upon trustees annually elected. At the annual town meeting a school committee is elected. This committee of three persons elect their own officers; their business is to examine the applicants for certificates, grant those where the examination proves satisfactory, and the applicant gives evidence of having a good moral character. This committee is also expected to visit the schools twice each term. An effort is being made to put the entire control of the schools in the hands of this committee. Since April, 1871, this committee has been composed of women. The first women elected were Mrs. Catherine J. Barker, Mrs. Moses T. Lawton and Ann E. Brown. The present committee are Mrs. Catherine J. Barker, superintendent; Mrs. Hannah F. Osborn, chairman; Mrs. Alonzo Hart, clerk.
In the appointment of school money for the year ending April 30th, 1887, Tiverton received $2,039.98 from the state educational fund.
So ends the 1888 excerpt from Bayles…
Following is an excerpt from the 1936 Rhode Island Tercentenary Historical Edition of Tiverton, Rhode Island published by the Tiverton Historical Society regarding Tiverton schools: (The sites of all the schools (S H) listed below in each district are shown on the Tiverton 1870 map.)
The following are records of Tiverton school buildings, many of which are not now in use. In the old districts 1-12, all the records existing give only date of purchase of school site, the assumption being that a school was immediately erected upon them. There is no mention of the construction of the buildings:
School District #1: Old Four Corners School; site conveyed to town in 1854; lot 1-4 acre sold to school district for $100 by Louise, Maria, John and George Manchester, by Comfort Manchester, guardian. Recorded by Asa Gray, Town Clerk.
School District #2: Old Brown School; site conveyed to town in 1849. [located on north corner of Lafayette and Main Roads]
School District #9: Manchester School, Lake Road; site purchased from Christopher, Henry, Deborah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Betsy, and Eliza Manchester by Robert Tripp, treasurer of School District #9, for $40.00; site ½ acre, conveyed to the town in 1859.
School District #12: Punkatest Neck School; there is no record in the office of the Town Clerk on the purchase of this school site. Probably conveyed to the town about 1860.
Districts 1, 2, 9, and 12 were abandoned in January 5, 1925, upon the completion and occupancy of the Nonquit School.
School District #3: Bridgeport School; site was purchased by the trustees of School District #3 from SarahW. Gray for $55 on May 8, 1846. The sale was witnessed by Benjamin Howland and recorded in the Town Clerk’s office on November 27, 1847, by Charles S. Durfee, Town Clerk.
School District #4: Osborn School; site was conveyed to the town by Charles Hambly for $250, for school purposes solely. Lot was to be redeemed by heirs for same price when site ceased to be used for school purposes. Purchased April 28, 1883.
These two schools were abandoned on March 2, 1936, when the new Fort Barton School was opened in the district, thereby releasing them from school purposes.
School District #5: South Gardner School; Joseph Gardner sold the school site to the trustees of School District #5 for $50. This district was sometimes known as the Gardner School District. Lot consisted of 40 rods. Deed recorded in the Town Hall by Charles Durfee, Town Clerk, Dec. 28, 1846. School closed in June 1917, upon completion of the Eliza H. L. Barker School.
North Gardner School; site purchased from John F. Chase of Portsmouth, R. I., for $500 by the treasurer of School District #5, in September 1882.
Lincoln School; located on East Judson Street, North Tiverton on an 80 rod site. Building authorized by the town in 1909 and dedicated in October, 1909.
Eliza H. L. Barker School; built on a 80 rod lot on West Canonicus Street, North Tiverton. Built in 1917 and occupied in September of that year. [now the Tiverton Senior Center]
Bay View School; built on a site donated by the late William J. Dunn of Fall River, and opened in January 1929.
School District #6: Fish Road School; John R. Hicks sold the site to Abner Lake, treasurer of the school district, for $25. Deed recorded in the Town Hall on September 1, 1858.
School District #7: Commodore Perry School; built on Stafford Road in 1913. Just previous to the erection of this school, pupils in the district were enrolled in the George B. Stone School, Fall River.
School District #8: Washington School; site donated to School District #8 by Daniel Dwelley. Lot consisted of 36 rods. Deed recorded in the Town Hall by Asa Gray, Town Clerk, on November 5, 1867.
School District #10: Crandall Road School; Town Clerk A. Lincoln Hambly’s note when building was sold in 1931: “I fail to find that school district ever had a deed of site, and in looking over some memorandums made by my old predecessor, John T. Cook, it is obvious that he never found any deed for it.” “Land for school was bought from either Jirah Waite or Nancy Simmons.”
School District #11: King Road School; site sold by John and Betsy Lake and Anna King to trustees of School District #11. Lot consisted of 40 rods and was sold for $30. Deed recorded in Town Hall on June 27, 1864, by Asa Gray, Town Clerk.
School Districts 8, 10 and 11 were abandoned when the Walter E. Ranger School was built and occupied on January 3, 1931.
School Census 1936: Elementary Schools, 872; High School, 170; Total, 1042.
Lewis M. Wager is Superintendant of Schools. School Committee members are Myrtha G. Humphrey, chairman; Blanche M. Hart, and Mary J. Wilcox. Mrs. Humphrey has served 15 consecutive years on the School Committee.
Pierce School (private) is located on R.I. 126 on the Roy H. Beattie Farm between Stone Bridge and Tiverton Four Corners. This school, a large stone building, was opened in 1932. The school stresses outdoor activity and due to the proximity of the river, the woods, the ponds and open fields, it affords an excellent chance for nature study and play. At present, the enrollment includes children from the nursery group through to grade eight. High grades may be added as the school develops. Each student is taught with constant attention paid to individual needs, and parents are kept in close touch with their children’s school life.