NEWTON BATEMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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History of Bateman


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When the Chicago School Board on December 8, 1920 named this school the Newton Bateman School, it gave the school and community the name of a strong and righteous man.

Mr. Bateman began teaching in 1845 when he set up a private school. He taught for four years at the University of Missouri before he became a principal from 1851 to 1858 in the first free school in Illinois, the Jacksonville High School. From 1858 to 1862 and from 1864 to 1874 he was State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and from 1874 to 1893 he was president of Knox College in Galesburg. Before he died, he edited with Paul Selby the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois.

Mr. Bateman was short in stature, and his close personal friend, Abraham Lincoln, would introduce him by saying, "This is my little friend, the big schoolmaster of the State of Illinois." It was Newton Bateman's boyhood that is always mentioned when the character of the man is told. He was born in New Jersey July 27, 1822, of Scotch and English ancestry. He was the youngest of five children in a very poor family. In 1833 his family and another family, 15 in all, came by covered wagon to Illinois. Most of the journey was made on foot. Just before they reached their destination, Mr. Bateman's mother died of cholera. She was quickly buried, and all signs of a grave were brushed away. In later years, he was never able to find his mother's grave. 

Newton, the child, had to work to help support the family. There was no time for schooling, and there were no free schools; but when Mr. Bateman was 13, he saw the first graduation at Illinois College in Jacksonville. He heard the graduates make their speeches and he promised himself that someday he would be on that platform making his graduation speech. Mr. Bateman continued to work to help the family, but he also studied to prepare himself for college. In warm weather he studied in the woods. In the cool, cold weather he studied in a huge hollow tree in which he had an old table, a stool, and piece of carpet. He built a fire out in front. When he was 17, Mr. Bateman entered college with $2.50. He supported himself all through college. One summer he made $45.00 working on a farm at $15.00 a month. Another summer he earned $28.00 a month clerking in a drug store. In his senior year, he was a teacher of Latin and elementary algebra. In one two week period early in college, Mr. Bateman had two cents a day for food. He bought corn, beat it into meal, and ate this for two weeks without milk, butter, sugar, or molasses. There was rarely a time when he had enough to eat. He never had a penny for luxury or for the common comforts of life.

The new school building at Sacramento and Berteau was announced as ready for bids at the September 10, 1919 Chicago Board of Education meeting. It was to have 32 classrooms, an assembly hall, gymnasium, and household science and manual training rooms. An appropriation of $475,000 was made to build it.
By November 12th the contracts had been given to the lowest bidders. In 1920 the Board realized that the total of the lowest bids and estimates on bids not received amounted to $523,389.58 plus the cost of yard improvements, equipment, etc., would require an additional appropriation of $110,000, bringing the total to $585,000. Late the yard improvements were dropped.

Newton Bateman School, so named in December 1920, opened September 6, 1921. It was built to relieve the crowding at Waters, Hibbard, Cleveland, and Henry schools. Elizabeth R. Daly, the principal, served for 14 years.



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Newton Bateman Elementary School 
​4220 N. Richmond, Chicago, IL 60618 
Phone: (773) 534-5055
  • Be Bateman
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • History of Bateman
    • Message from the Principal
    • Enrollment
    • Academics >
      • Grade Levels
      • Dual Language Overview
      • Essentials >
        • Library Science
        • Physical and Health Education
        • Fine Arts >
          • Visual Arts Overview
          • Music Overview
          • Bateman Art Blog
      • Social-Emotional >
        • Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)
        • Second Step
        • Partnerships
      • Assessment
    • CPS Policies & Guidelines
  • Be Connected
    • Contact Us
    • School Directory >
      • Administration and Staff
      • Teachers
      • Educational Support Personnel
    • School Tour >
      • Virtual Tour
  • Be Informed
    • Bateman News
    • Subscribe to School Newsletter
    • Bateman Buzz Archive
    • Grade Level Newsletters
    • Monthly Calendar
    • CPS Calendar
    • Supply Lists
    • Cafeteria Menu
    • Approved Snack List
    • School Closure Resources >
      • Bateman Broadcasts
      • Bateman Resources
      • District Resources
  • Be Involved
    • Parents >
      • Submit an Absence
      • Volunteer
      • Make A Payment
      • Student/Parent Hand Book
      • Parent Portal
      • Parent Committees >
        • Local School Council (LSC) >
          • Bateman CIWP
        • Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)
        • Bilingual Advisory Committee (BAC)
        • Bateman Boosters
    • Students >
      • Activities and Clubs
      • High School Information
      • MAP Resources
      • Bateman Basilisks
    • Before & After School >
      • Morning Care
      • PreK After Care
      • Neighborhood Boys Girls Club (NBGC)
      • FORGE After School >
        • FORGE: NRC & Bateman
        • FORGE Program Guide