School Superintendents and Teachers in Berks County

Contributed by: Bonnie Blau

Source: Morton Montgomery's History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1909 edition, p. 87.

Superintendents

Numerous legislative attempts were made to popularize and thoroughly introduce public education. Fifty years were spent in endeavors to educate the poorer classes of children b proposed taxation, which comparatively little progress. Finally an Act was passed May 8, 1854, which made proceedings in this behalf compulsory, and authorized a school tax to be levied, directors to be elected, etc., and to see that the branches of a common education were properly taught, teaching directed, established graded schools maintained, and uniformity in course of studies preserved; a county superintendent was to be elected for a term of three years by all the directors of the county. Since 1854 the system of education provided by the State has been carried on successfully in the county by school directors and a county superintendent, and the superintendents have been:

First Teachers

Source: Morton Montgomery's History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, published 1909, page 54.

The followiing persons were teachers before 1752:

• George STIEFEL, John Nicholas KURTZ, and Casper LEUTBERGER in Tuilpehocken.
• Frederick HOELWIG in Longswamp.
• John Valentine KRAFFT in Richmond.
• Theodore SCHNEIDER in Hereford.
• George YOUNGMAN in Oley.