The First Known School

In the early days, education in the township was closely tied to the Ben Salem congregation, which predates 1790. The congregation not only organized religious activities but also played a key role in establishing the earliest school. The church, completed in 1797, served as a multifunctional space for both religious gatherings and school sessions, conducted entirely in German.

Around 1812, the landscape of education transformed in the lower part of the township with the construction of a stone schoolhouse on Jacob Dinkey's farm. This marked the beginning of a more formalized education system, with the first teacher, Lawrence Enge, introducing English as the medium of instruction. The evolving linguistic landscape and the desire to align with broader societal trends influenced this shift.

Dedication to education continued in subsequent years with notable teachers like Abram Miller, James Campbell, and others contributing to the intellectual development of the community. The stone schoolhouse remained the educational hub until about 1866 when a new one was built next to the Union Church at Pennsville, reflecting the commitment to adapt and improve educational facilities.

The township's embrace of the school law around 1840 marked a significant milestone, highlighting its commitment to a more formalized and standardized educational system. At that time, the township had six schools, serving around three hundred pupils, a testament to the enduring legacy of early efforts to establish a robust educational foundation.