Barkers of Branford: Llewellyn Elected To The Board of Education

The following excerpt is from the book. It is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Details at www.BarkersOfBranford.com

“I Was Nominated On The School Board And Elected” 10/4/1897

Llewellyn’s voice was silent on how he came to be elected to the board of education. This was two years after his confrontation with the board about where his daughter Venia would go to school. It’s only speculation but perhaps others had seen a man who cared deeply about his child’s education, possessed great energy, and was capable of appropriately advocating his position. A perfect candidate for the board of education! He himself had never even attended high school but he could make sure things would be different for his four daughters (see photo). As a board member he could work from the inside to advance not only their educational opportunity but also that of all Branford students.

"I went in town in the evening to a School board meeting. Got home about 12 oclock. Was appointed on two committees" 10/7/1897

He started the year Venia entered Branford High School. This factory worker took his seat at the table alongside doctors, ministers, and other professional men. Llew had found a way to make sure his girls had better educational opportunity than he had. Piecing together his diary, board minutes and newspaper articles, a picture of a rapidly changing school system emerges.

The dream of the new high school on Laurel Street (photo) making a positive impact on future generations of students went unrealized for its first few years. The Board report of 7/14/1897 stated:

“The work in the High School has not been very satisfactory…the requirements are not high enough, …the course is not sufficiently extended.”

The board took decisive action and “made the course one of four instead of three years.”

In addition, the course offerings were vastly expanded. The board hired the first Superintendent of schools and high school principal, initiated adult education for factory workers, contended with chronic overcrowding and updated curricula at all levels.

In 1904, Llewellyn was elected chairman of the board. He remained on the board until his youngest daughter Anna graduated from high school in 1908.

Photos Courtesy of Branford Historical Society

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Ted Braun's book “The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens” is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Details at www.BarkersOfBranford.com