USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Berkley > Town annual report of Berkley 1852-1887 > Part 1
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TOWN BOOKBINDERY 168 County Road, P.O. Box 91 East Freetown, MA 02717 Tel: (508) 763-2713
PROPERTY OF BERKLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
9399
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https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1852unse_0
REPO!A
OF THE
SUPERINTENDING
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FOR THE
TOWN OF BERKLEY,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, 1852-53.
READ, ACCEPTED AND ORDERED TO BE PRINTED.
TAUNTON, C. A. IIACK, JOB PRINTER, 3 MAIN STREET. 1853.
REPORT.
The Superintending School Committee of the town of Berkley, submit the following detailed report, as required by law.
DISTRICT NO. 1. Central, Alden B. Chase, Prudential Com- mittee. In this District there have been 53 months of public School. Summer term, 3 months, Winter, 2} months.
Miss Mary B. Cook, of Fall River, was employed to teach the Summer school, She, though young and inexperienced, performed her duty as teacher, with more than common ability and success .- Dana I, Jocelyne, of Amherst College, taught the Winter School. His labours as teacher were entirely satisfactory, both to the Dis- trict and Committee·
DISTRICT NO. 2. Northwest. Cyrus L. French, Prudential Com- mittee. Duration of public school in Summer and Winter, was 4 months. Aroline S. Darling, taught in Summer, and Ebenezer Gay, Jr., in Winter. Both teachers were of Bridgewater. Summer term, wes 1} mouths, Winter, 2} months. Simply to say of these schools in laconic phrase, as advised by the Prudential Committee, "that they began and ended," we think would not be doing justice to all interested. For these teachers to make their first essay at teach- ing in a school larger, and perhaps more difficult to govern than any other in town, was unfortunate both for the school and themselves. We attribute their failure in part to inexperience, but chiefly to the number and character of their pupils, of whom some merit severe censure. To withdraw scholars from a school, though done from the best of motives, has a direct tendency to destroy the credit of a school, and to increase existing evils, and is always a measure of very doubtful expediency. Rather let parents and guardians seek to remove all ground of complaint by friendly interviews with the teacher, and by exerting a direct and controling influence over those under their care.
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DISTRICT NO. 3. Bridge. George Crane, Prudential Committee. This district had but one term of public school, 3 months and 7 days, kept in winter. The teacher Franklin C. Davis, of Bowdoin College, conducted the school with uniform skill and success. In a school district where there has often been complaint, it is no little merit to secure universal approval, but we think Mr. Davis entitled to the higher commendation of being an efficient and faithful in- structor, inferior to none employed among us.
DISTRICT NO. 4. Timothy Hollow. David Hoxie, Prudential Committee. In this district there was 2 months and 5 days public school. It was taught by Daniel S. Briggs, of this town .- Mr. B. is an experienced and faithful teacher. Our chief regret is, that the scholars could enjoy the benefit of his instructions no longer.
DISTRICT NO. 5. Assonet Neck. Asa Shove, Prudential Con- mittee. Duration of public school in this district, was 34 months ; taught in Winter by Walter D. Nichols, of this town. His zeal, fidelity and skill in teaching and governing, are well established. Would that all our schools exhibited like indications of progress.
DISTRICT No. 6. South East. Daniel Strange, Prudential Com- mittee. There was but one term, 4 months, public school in this district during the past year. The school was kept in Winter and Spring by Mary E. Walker of Dighton, whose success in teaching was not above the ordinary standard. If we mistake not, she failed to exert so good a moral influence, as was desirable. Should she act in the capacity of teacher again, we hope she will be more mindful of her pupils in this respect.
DISTRICT No. 7. North East. Christopher French, Prudential Committee. This district has had 52 months public school. In Summer 34 months, in winter 2} months. Sarah M. Witherell, the teacher in summer exhibited uncommon fidelity and diligence, instructing and governing her school with success. The Winter school of 10 weeks, was taught by Sarah Crane. Her assiduity, skill and success in teaching merit high commendation. Under the care of these teachers both of whom were of this town, the school has made very marked progress.
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Having finished the details of their report, your committee feel constrained by a sense of duty to make a few suggestions, by due at- tention to which, they believe our schools may be much improved .- The citizens of this town should never rest satisfied until every dis- trict has a good public school, sustained at least six months every year. In this we believe nearly all are agreed. What then are the things to be done that we may have such schools? Are they not manifestly these ? To make a judicious arrangment of school dis- tricts ; to provide good school houses, good teachers, and ample ap- propriations. Nor are these the only things needful. A judicious selection of text books, by their superintending Committee, proper parental influence, regular and punctual attendance on the part of pupils, and a faithful supervision by the School Committee, if not absolutely indispensible, are justly considered most efficient aids in promoting the success of our schools. Upon all these topics we do not propose to speak. We would however present such of them for your consideration, as seem to have the strongest claims upon your immediate attention, and call loudest for reform.
The Committee have from time to time recommended that district No. 4, should be divided among the adjacent districts. The reasons for it are obvious. For some years past the whole number of schol- ars in this district has been about twelve, and the average attendance eight. It scarcely need be said that it is a waste of means to sup- ,port a school for the benefit of so few, who to say the least would suffer nothing from being connected with other existing districts .- Will not the town immediately take suitable measures to effect this very desirable object, advantageous to all, injurious to none ?
In respect to school houses, there are but two in town which are in all respects suitable. In No. 3, all things considered, a new house seems more needed than in any other district. It is to be hoped that no repairs except of a temporary nature, will ever be put upon any of the five school houses to which allusion has been made ; and, that in due time, four new ones will be substituted for them, that the comfort, profit and health of the scholars may be better secured.
With regard to teachers, it is universally conceded that none but such as are well qualified should be employed. Such only can well perform their appropriate work, and even such may fail, as experi- ence too often demonstrates. Persons often appear before examin- ing Committees, and having the requisite moral and literary qualifi-
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cations, are approved as teachers of particular schools, whose suc- cess under existing circumstances, is extremely doubtful in the judgment of the approving Committee. Were an approbation with- held, the applicant would consider himself deeply injured in reputa- tion and business, and the Committee would be severely censured. The prudential Committee having contracted with such a teacher, he must be approved, and the experiment whether he can or cannot teach with success, must be tried. That these experiments, doubtful in their results, are too often made, as all who are well informed as to our public schools, know. Hence it is of importantance to avoid this experimenting which often results in much evil, and this can and should be done by those who contract with teach- ers. They should employ teachers of established reputation, should continue their services from term to term, if successful, and when they employ the young and inexperienced, (as they often must do,) they should do it only under favorable circumstances, i. e., where the school is small and easily governed.
Under such circumstances success may be reasonably anticipated. In fact the selection of a teacher is the main point, the thing of vital importance, requiring great care and discretion. Prudential Com- mittees often unacquainted with the difficulties of teaching, and de- sirous of obtaining a teacher for a low price, and thus to secure the benefit of a long school, are prone to think almost any one having sufficien learning can teach a school. Hence they generally speak as if it were an easy business to instruct their schools. Many an inex- . perienced and unfortunate teacher, has no sooner beheld the materi- als upon which he has pledged himself to labor than his heart died within him, and he wished, devoutly wished he had been born under some more auspicious star. But it is now too late, he must " go ahead" as the phrase is, whether good or ill betide him, forsee- ing too the unequal award. For, if by dint of tact and perseverance he pass the fiery ordeal, and labour with success, he will receive but a modicum of praise. If he fail, though environed with more vexa- tions than beset Job, whose patience sustained by conscious integrity, and set forth as the brightest recorded example, finally gave way, he will be the object of unmingled condemnation. This is no fancy picture, but it sits forth what occurs daily among us.
That teachers thus situated, should fail we might reasonably con- jecture, that they so often succeed, is rather a matter of surprise .- Let then the character of the school be duly considered and a teach- er employed with special reference to it.
We come row to speak of the amount of money that should be appropriated to the support of public schools. And here it is grat- ifying to notice that something has been added the present year .- The town would have merited commendation for its liberal appropri- ation, had not that vote, more honorable to us than any other recor- ded for many years, been recinded before it took effect, and a less sum substituted. As things now are, we must call attention to some facts which though humiliating, it is hoped may have a salutatary effect upon our future action. The sum now voted is only equal to $2.70 for each child between 5 and 15, while in Taunton each child's share last year was $5.00. Do not our children need and ought they not to receive as good an education as those of Taunton. The sum at first voted by this town, was by no means too large. It would have divided to each child about 3.50. Can any intelligent man think $3.50, too much to be annually expended on a child's educa- tion? Some of our larger and more enterprising towns raise more than three times this sum. How long will Berkley, once in advance of most towns in this Commonwealth, in regard to education, un- mindful of her honor, her duty and her interest, delay to make ade- quate provision for the education of her children and youth ?
In preparing this report, brevity and utility have been constantly kept in view ; hence we forbear to speak of minor existing evils. If any should think we need an apology for having said so much, we find it In the importance of our subject. No complaints of this kind would be heard, were the subject duly weighed. For among all those, affecting the welfare of man, education ranks first. It is this which has created that gulf of separation, broad and almost impassable be- tween savage and enlightened nations. We will not however attempt to portray the benefits of education, but conclude with a single re- mark. We believe, on the testimony of an inspired Apostle, that superior piety causes the saints in Heaven to differ, as one star dif- fers from another star in glory ; and we know from observation, that superior education produces like differences among men in this life ; nay more, that aided by it, the enlightened Christian, according to the divine promise, may by "turning many unto righteousness, shine as the brightness of the firmanent forever and ever."
BENJAMIN CRANE, Jr. School
SHADRACH HATHAWAY, Committee of ALDEN B. CHACE, Berkley.
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REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
AND OF THE
SELECTMEN,
OF BERKLEY,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1853 -4.
TAUNTON, PRINTED BY C. A. HACK, 3 MAIN STREET. 1854.
,
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee, reminded of their duty, by the lapse of another year, would present the following, as their annual report.
They organized by appointing B. Crane, Jr. Chair- man and A. B. Chace, Secretary, and such arrange- ments were made for the examination of teachers and for visiting the schools as seemed expedient.
During the past year there has been more public school in town than in any previous year ; the aggre- gate being thirty-five months and eleven and a half days.
DISTRICT No. 1. (Common) Edward Slade, Pru- dential Committee. This District had about six months public school. Miss Clara Hodges, of Norton, taught this school three months in Summer. She had some of the qualities of a good teacher, but was quite too in- dulgent to her pupils, and thereby the discipline of the school manifestly declined.
The Winter School was taught by Mr. Dana I. Joce- lyne, of Amherst College. The Committee judging from his success, in the same school, the previous Win- ter, anticipated that he would soon restore order. In this they were unhappily disappointed. They howev- er believe that this failure resulted, from a want of judi- cious and persevering effort on the part of the teacher. The Committee feel obliged to say, the school has not
exhibited as clear evidences of improvement as in for- mer years. Tardiness was a growing evil during the last term.
DISTRICT NO. 2, NORTHWEST. Tamerlane Burt, Thomas C. Dean, and Jonathan Crane, Prudential Committee. Duration of public school in this district was four months, one half of which was Summer, the other, Winter School.
During both terms the school was under the care of Miss Sarah J. Dean, of Raynham. The condition of this school has greatly improved the past year. In her efforts to govern and instruct, the teacher was eminent- ly diligent and successful.
DISTRICT NO. 3, BRIDGE. George Babbitt, Pruden- tial Committee. There have been five months and thirteen days town school in this district. Miss Nar- cissa Y. Chace, taught the school with her usual good success, two and a quarter months in Summer. Sam- uel Jones, of Raynham, an experienced and efficient teacher, had charge of the school during the Winter term. Under his instruction the pupils generally made very satisfactory progress.
DISTRICT NO. 4, TIMOTHY HOLLOW. Samuel New- hall, Prudential Committee. "In this district there were two and three fifths months of public school. The school was taught by D. S. Briggs, with his usual suc- cess. See last years report for further views of Com- mittee respecting this district.
DISTRICT No. 5, ASSONET NECK. Asa Shove, Pru- dential Committee. Duration of school in this District was six months. The Summer school was taught by Miss Charlotte E. Dean, of this town. As a teacher, though inexperienced she satisfied the expectations of the Committee, and we think of the district.
Mr. Asa Shove taught 3 months in Winter. The progress of the school was commendable. The deport- ment of the scholars on the day of examination merits praise.
-
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DISTRICT NO. 6, SOUTHEAST, had three and a quar- ter months of public school, which was kept in Winter. The teacher Mr. Eliot Sanford, of Raynham, though young and inexperienced, by his fidelity and energy gave entire satisfaction to the Committee, and we be- lieve to the district.
DISTRICT NO. 7, NORTHEAST. The amount of pub- lic school in this district has been greater than in any other in town, the past year, it being seven and three quarters months.
The summer term was four and a quarter months, and the school was taught by Miss Sophia A. Town- send. In teaching she exhibited diligence and perse- verance, and her pupils made corresponding progress. The Winter school, of three and a half months, under the care of Edward A. Crane, was attended with ordi- nary success. The average attendance in this school, compared with the whole number of scholars, has for several years past been less than in any other district. This gives presumptive evidence of culpable neglect and want of interest on the part of parents, as to the education of their children. And as a necessary con- sequence the benefit of the school is to a great extent lost.
We come now to speak of what has been done and of what further, can, and should be done, to promote the efficiency and usefulness of our schools. Under the former head we notice with satisfaction the very liberal appropriation made by the town, for the support of its schools the current year. This act alike honorable to the town and gratifying to the friends of education, imposes upon them new obligations, to make a wise use of the
6
means provided. It was said in our report, last year, that the citizens of this town, should never be satisfied until each district had a good public school, sustained, at least six months every year. The sum voted by the town the present year, if wisely used, would secure this result. But is it probable that it will be so ? We can better judge of this by reviewing the past his- tory of our schools. Our object now is to call the at- tention of the town to the inequality of privilege, as to schools, which now exists. One district last year had but two and three fifths months of public school, while another had about eight months, which is nearly three times as much. Suppose a supply of food only suffi- cieint, to satisfy the wants of our children, were thus unequally divided among them. How long, think you would such a division be tolerated. Not a single week would elapse, before the town, would be in a state of ag- itation and commotion, and a more eqitable mode of di- vision, would be devised and adopted. Yet how indifferent are we, when a similarly unequal distribution is made, or is to be made, of the intellectual food by which the minds of our children are to be nurtured, and all their powers and susceptibilities, developed and dis- ciplined for the arduous and momentous duties of life. Should the same course be followed this year which was last, District No. 4 will have about three months of school ; while all other districts with but one excep- tion will have from six to ten. That this glaring ine- quality should be remedied all will agree. Again there is a great want of economy in the mode of expending the school money. This becomes evident when we compare the number of teachers employed, with the average atten- dance, or even with the entire number of persons in town between the ages of five and fifteen years. Av- erage attendance in all the schools in Winter. one hun- dred and eighty. Five Teachers might instruct this number assigning thirty six pupils to each, and thirty six cannot be considered too many to be under the con-
,
7
trol of one teacher. There is not a town in the coun- ty of Bristol, which has so great a number of districts in proportion to its population as Berkley. Somerset the smallest town in the county except ours, with a pop- ulation of eleven hundred and sixty six, has only five districts, while Berkley with nine hundred and eight, has seven.
Did our school districts embrace as large a population as theirs, we should find materials for but half our num- ber of districts. We have introduced Somerset because it is a small town and because it exhibits a fair spec- imen of districting as practised by other towns. From these facts, to what other conclusions can we come, than that we have at least two school districts in town more than are needed, and that hence our school money is unwisely expended. That some remedy for these e- vils should be devised is apparent. We know there are' many difficulties in the way, when it is proposed to re- move old and well established land-marks. Notwith- standing, we should take the subject into consideration, and see if matters cannot so be arranged, as that these evils shall disappear. If we all come to understand that important advantages are to be secured, and become willing to lay aside our selfish views and interests, for the noble purpose of so arranging our schools, as that they may become an honor to the town, and a blessing to the rising and all future generations, then our difficul- ties will vanish and a better order of things will speedi- ly arise. That all may enjoy equal advantages, per- haps it may be necessary to change in some respects, or to abolish the district system and have all the schools, under the immediate jurisdiction of the town. Many reasons may be urged why the system of districting should be abandoned. Among them the following should be carefully considered.
It would secure equality of school privilege to all the scholars in town.
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It would probably lead to grading the schools, and consequently to better classification.
No more schools would be supported than are needed.
Better school-houses would be provided.
And in many cases better teachers would be employ- ed ; but if the teachers were the same, the schools would be assigned them with strict reference to their qualifica- tions, and their probable success.
Other reasons might be added ; but whether the dis- tricts be abolished or not our best efforts should be con- stantly put forth for the purpose of elevating and im- proving our public schools. And in the opinion of your Committee no measure would prove more advantageous than that of grading them. This may be done by es- tablishing three schools expressly for the older and more advanced scholars, to be entirely under the control of the town, and to be so located as best to accommodate all. To each of these schools the town could appropriate one hundred and fifty dollars, by which they might be kept in operation five months annually. Thus the more advanced scholars would be provided with a school of a higher order, and during a longer period than they usu- ally attend. The balance of the school money being di- vided equally among the districts, as now established would give each of them fifty dollars, a sum sufficient to sustain a Summer School for the younger class of pupils. Should the town adopt either of the measures of reform suggested in the report, most of the other existing wants of the schools would as a consequence soon be supplied.
Your committee therefore close this report by ex- pressing their full belief, that they have brought to view the true, the fundamental cause of the many evils so of- ten complained of, and that the only remedy is to aban- don to a greater or less extent, that which is the pro- curing, the producing cause of them, namely the dis- trict system, a system established by an act denomina- ted by Mr. Mann, the most unfortunate ever passed in
9
relation to schools, and a system too, which has been recently abrogated by many of the towns in the Com- monwealth most distinguished for their zealous and ju- dicious efforts in behalf of popular education.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN CRANE, JR. School Com- SHADRACH HATHAWAY ALDEN R. CHACE, 1 mittee of Berkley.
P. S. From a circular isued by Dr. Sears, Secretary of the Board of education, it appears that the Board have divided the Commonwealth, as required by an act of its legislature establishing State Scholarships, and that Berk- kley belongs by this division to the second class of towns ; therefore according to a further provision of the above named act, the School Committee in Berkley, may in A. D. 1855 reccommend as candidates for scholarships one or more young men, inhabitants of the town, and in their opinion duly qualified. Persons desirous of further information in relation to this subject are referred to the Circular now in the hands of the School Committee.
REPORT
Of the Selectmen of Berkley, exhibiting the financial condition of the town, as nearly as by them could be as- certained.
April 10th, 1854.
Cash in the hands of the Treasurer, $ 14
Notes for Fish and Oysters, 289
Balance due from Collector, after deducting commissions, 451
Amount, $754 Of which probably six hundred and forty four dollars, may be collected the present year.
CONTRA-TOWN OF BERKLEY DR.
To Ebenezer Hervey, Note and Int. $415. 62
" Theodore A. Burt, " 66 380. 77
" Adelaide R. Pierce, " 66 380. 77
" Isaac Record's, Salary, 175. 00
" Thomas J. Burt's bill, 105.03
" School Committees bill, for services 1 y'r, 25.00
" District No. 3, 78.09
" 7,
12.00
" Darius Phillips, Jr. 155.01
" Giles L. Leach, 40.07
Sundry small bills, 80.00
1846.35
Available credit as above,
644.00
Total indebtedness,
$1,202.35
11
TOWN PROPERTY.
Farm and buildings,
$3,500
Inventory of Stock, &c.
850
Town House, 900
Standard weights and measures,
150
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