JACKSON MILITARY ACADEMY HISTORY AND ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY

The story of the Jackson Military Academy (1899-1909) is on display for the next several months at the Oliver House in Jackson.

The academy was a co-educational institution that taught subjects as diverse as military drilling and music.

In 1909, the building was purchased by the Jackson School District and was used as the high school until 1920, according to local historian Bernard Schaper.

Schaper was given an original copy of the "Announcement 1908 Jackson Military Academy and School of Fine Arts" by Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor. This book contains much information that explains the activities of the academy.

Hassel Looney gave Schaper the 1904-05 edition of the book.

Some pages are copied from the books and are on display along with a cadet uniform and saber.

The school and the Oliver House have a strong connection. Rep. Robert Burrett Oliver pushed House Bill No. 485 through the Missouri Legislature making the Jackson Military Academy a post of the National Guards of Missouri.

The bill also called for the president and the superintendent to be commissioned as colonels, the commandant as a lt. colonel and the quartermaster, adjutant and the professors as majors.

The school billed itself as a college preparatory school.

The school cost $250 per year with students over the age of 12 having to supply their own cadet uniform, according to the 1904-05 Military Academy Catalogue.

Fine arts students could get by paying $25 per term for each of these three courses: vocal culture, elocution culture and art culture. typewriters cost $2 a month to use.

Parents were asked to provide their child in the academy with the following items:

4 towels

4 table napkins

3 pillow cases

1 comfortable

1 pair heavy blankets

2 pair sheets, large size

1 clothes brush

1 hair brush and comb

soap

1 tooth brush

1 blacking brush, blacking

Students could learn mathematics, chemistry, physics, English, foreign languages, music both vocal and instrumental and elocution (proper speaking habits).

Another feature of the school was typewriting, bookkeeping and other office skills to equip students for employment.

The academy had five basic goals for its students.

First was to prepare them for university study.

Second was to provide an atmosphere that influenced the students.

Third, to give a commercial course that will allow the student to enter the business world at any phase of their life.

Fourth, a shorthand and typewriting course to equip each student with the ability to work in an office or as a court reporter.

And fifth, to give a thorough and modern instruction in music, art and elocution.

Besides these goals the military training and athletics were also a crucial part of the academy's learning environment.

"Military training and athletics play an important part in building up the student's body and character, and they are, therefore, given attention at the Academy."

"The school system which does not now provide for the physical as well as the mental and moral welfare of pupils is not doing its full duty," reads a section in the book.

The 1904-05 Announcement listed the players on the football, baseball and basketball teams.

It also boasted a great football team. "Jackson Military Academy has always furnished a good foot ball team, and no man has left the Academy to go to any College without making a star player on that team. There are many enthusiasts in Jackson who like to see the boys win."

The academy also strived to create a recreation environment to round out the students.

The academy gave out three honors and medals, Scholarship Gold Medals, Soldiership Gold Medal and Deportment Medal.

The school year began in September and recessed for Thanksgiving and a nine day break at Christmas.

The academy also dismissed for Washington's birthday off and final examinations were held in late May with commencement following.

The cadets were drilled daily on campus. Also, two encampments for the cadets were scheduled one in fall and the other in the spring.

"On these excursions regular army discipline is carried out. The cadets, in heavy marching order, start from the Academy with provisions, tents and camping equipment and stay in camp several days...But the military discipline gives opportunity for hunting and fishing, long exploring expeditions over the hills afoot, and all the thousand and one things a boy likes to do when he is in the open."

Girls were allowed to study in the fine arts program at the academy and not allowed to participate in the military aspects of the academy.

The daily routine began with reveille at 6 a.m. followed by assembly at 6:10 a.m.

Inspection was held at 6:30 a.m. with second call at 6:35. Breakfast followed.

Guard mount was at 8:30 a.m. with another assembly at 8:50 a.m.

Classes began at 9 a.m. and continued until noon when lunch began. Classes resumed at 1 p.m. and continued until drill began at 3 p.m.

Supper was held at 6 p.m. and study time began at 7 p.m. and ended at 9 with release time for the cadets until taps at 9:30 p.m.

The academy had two companies, Company A and Company B; they were led by a student captain.

There was a first and second lieutenant in each company as well. Each company also had a first sergeant, sergeants and corporals being the lowest rank.

The rules at the academy were also laid out for potential students in the Announcement books.

Demerits were handed out for such serious crimes as intoxication, cheating and gambling, and for less serious offenses such as untidy quarters, tardiness and untidy appearance.

Expulsion could occur with serious offenses such as cheating on exams, breach of garrison, intoxication, gambling or possession of cards.

It took 200 demerits for a freshman to be expelled. With each year it took less demerits to expel a student.

Sophomores could only receive 170 demerits, juniors 150 and seniors 130.

Cadets could only smoke pipes or cigars or chew tobacco with written permission from home and only in their rooms during recreation hours. Cigarette smoking was forbidden.

The school lasted for 10 years (probably the private institution couldn't afford to stay in business) and the land was purchased by the Jackson School District and used as the high school from 1909 to 1920.

The current high school was built on the site of the academy in 1920 and additions were made to it in 1928.