Taken from History of Davenport and Scott County Vol 1 1910 Chapter 35 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WERE PLANNING AHEAD "Professor T. S. Parvin, who was the first man appointed to the superintendency of public instruction in Iowa, states that those early law-makers knew quite well, at the time they framed their laws, that there were no public schools, and could not be in the greater part of the state but they expected to have the schools sometime, and they believed that the passing of good school laws would have the effect of encouraging immigration. These statutes expressed a longing of the people for a time when there would be seven persons living near enough together on these prairies fitted to hold school offices and manage a public school in their various neighborhoods. In the meantime such statutes could be made immediately available for purposes of advertisement in the East, and thus assist in bringing about the state of society desired." The earliest schools in Iowa were supported by the contributions and tuition of the pioneer settlers. The first school taught within the present limits of Iowa was presided over by Berryman Jennings, who opened a school in October, 1830, at what is now known as Nashville, Lee county. At this time Iowa was a portion of Michigan territory. Mr. Jennings' school lasted through November and December and was held in a building which he describes: "This schoolroom was like all other buildings in the new country, a log cabin built of round logs or poles notched close and mudded for comfort; logs cut out for doors and windows, also fireplaces. The jamb back of the fireplace was of packed dry dirt, the chimney topped out with sticks and mud." It was strange that the second school opened in the state, was within a few miles of the Jennings school. It was taught by I. K. Robinson and dated from December 1, 1830, but two months after the pioneer pedagogue rang his bell at Nashville. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/