Joseph and John Naper believed that education was a priority. Three months after they arrived at Naper’s Settlement they built a sawmill, trading post, and log schoolhouse. John Murray drew up subscription papers to gain support for the school and on Sept 14, 1831, he took the lead in hiring the first schoolmaster, Lester Peet. The subscription papers stated that each subscriber “doth agree to pay his proportionable part of the teacher’s wages, according to the number of scholars that he subscribes for or send.” On November 15, 1931, 22 young scholars began their education at Naper’s Settlement.
The song “The First Schoolmaster” by contemporary musician Amy Lowe describes Naperville’s log cabin school:
The first schoolmaster ever to teach in Naperville was Lester Peet
Earning twelve dollars four months pay, teaching 22 scholars each and every day
Six of Joseph Naper’s kids, two of H.T. Wilson’s
Two from Richard Sweet, one from Daniel Landon
One from James Green and one from Bailey Hobson
One from John Naper and one from John Manning
One from Daniel Wilson and three from Christopher Paine
Two from John Murray and one from Ed. A. Rogers
22 scholars in all, 22 big and small
22 scholars in all, 22 big and small
The first schoolmaster ever to teach in Naperville was Lester Peet
Earning twelve dollars four months pay, teaching 22 scholars each and every day
Boys on one side, girls on the other
Younger next to older, helping one another
Reading, writing arithmetic, the teacher’d roam from desk to desk
Good conduct was the rule—if a kid was too talkative, talkative at school
Or lazy as can be—he’d wear a sign around his neck
For the other kids to see: “tongue wager,” “idle boy”
Don’t be naughty or annoy, study hard, cooperate
Learn quietly, participate
The first schoolmaster ever to teach in Naperville was Lester Peet
Earning twelve dollars four months pay, teaching 22 scholars each and every day
Boys on one side, girls on the other
Younger next to older, helping one another