The Newton Primary School, built 1866-1867 by James Sidney, used the ‘Philadelphia Plan’; the slightly skewed lines represent the movable partitions. The school was located north of Ludlow Street and east of 36th Street , now the site of the 36th Street Trolley Portal. This plan is from a 1917 book, Public School Buildings of the City of Philadelphia from 1853 to 1867 available via archive.org.
This is helpful information, however, I did learn that Philadelphia was a segregated city. The other NEWTON ELEMENTARY that I attended was at 38th street at Spruce. My class room consisted of 14-20 students, mostly white boy’s and girl’s. My 1st grade teacher’s name was MS Jones, my 2nd grade teacher was MS Bressler. Perhaps my parents wanted me in a diverse environment. We lived only 2 blocks from the school, 4000 blk Irving st. I was already reading at 5 years old.
This is helpful information, however, I did learn that Philadelphia was a segregated city. The other NEWTON ELEMENTARY that I attended was at 38th street at Spruce. My class room consisted of 14-20 students, mostly white boy’s and girl’s. My 1st grade teacher’s name was MS Jones, my 2nd grade teacher was MS Bressler. Perhaps my parents wanted me in a diverse environment. We lived only 2 blocks from the school, 4000 blk Irving st. I was already reading at 5 years old.
By the time I started school the Boys primary Newton school was raised (1949). The other NEWTON was co-ed, 38th and Spruce sts. I left their in 1951.