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TOWN BOOKBINDERY 168 County Road, P.O. Box 91 East Freetown, MA 02717 Tel: (508) 763-2713
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REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF BERKLEY,
For the year 1854 -5.
TAUNTON, C. A. HACK, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, 3 MAIN STREET, 1855.
1
REPORT.
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
FELLOW CITIZENS. In compliance with Established Custom, as well as with the Express Statutes of this Commonwealth, your Committee present you their Annual School Report.
DISTRICT No. 1. (Common.) Prudential Commit- tee, A. B. Crane. This district has had, the past year, six and a half months of Public School. Miss Amelia H. Small of Provincetown, taught fifteen weeks in summer. Although better acquainted with the branches of education usually taught in our common schools than most teachers who undertake the charge of them, her efforts were not attended with those hap- py results, which we fondly anticipated at the opening of the school .- Some degree of conciliation on the part of the teacher towards the parents is indispensable to success with the children. These last are sharp sighted, and even on the watch to find out in what estimation the teacher is held by the parents, and others, and will deport themselves accordingly. But conciliation on the part of the teacher alone is not sufficient. This must be met on that of parents and others, in a cor- responding degree. A hasty word-or a disparaging remark-an altered tone or look is seldom lost on a child.
To somewhat of alienated feeling between the teach- er and parents, and consequently between the teach- er and some of the pupils, we attribute much of the
4
disappointment to which we have alluded. Notwith- standing this partial failure, many of her pupils made commendable progress. Particularly in reading, arith- metic, geography, and the delineation of maps.
In winter the school was under the charge of Mr. William W. Earle, of Amherst College during eleven weeks. Mr. Earle entered on his work with charac- teristic energy, and seemed resolved to wake up indif- ference itself and if possible to keep it awake. He aimed at thoroughness and accuracy in teaching, rath- er than at superficial display. The attendance was such as might lead to the conclusion, that both parents and pupils were not insensible to the value of useful knowledge, did we not know that the latter too often frequent the school-room more for pastime than im- provement. The discipline of the school was also com- mendable. The grammatical exercises of the first class exhibited a marked degree of improvement. As a re- sult of untiring energy and devotion on the part of the teacher, the exercises at the close of the school were on the whole a very creditable performance,-espec- ially the reading exercises were highly satisfactory.
DISTRICT No. 2. (North West.) Prudential Com- mittee, William Boyce. The duration of public school in this district the past year, was five months and four- teen days. Miss Sarah E. Evans of Freetown, taught three months in summer. The attendance in school was ordinary. The character of this school is such, as to require a teacher of uncommon firmness, and pru- dence, to introduce and establish that wholesome dis- cipline and systematic arrangement without which no considerable degree of improvement is to be looked for. We felt highly gratified to notice, that Miss Evans appear- ed to be conscientiously engaged in the discharge of her duties, but with all her kindness, diligence, and de- votion to duty, her success did not seem commensu- rate with her efforts. Your Committee however are of opinion, that the majority of teachers under similar circumstances could not have been more successful.
5
What is true of other districts in town is emphatical- dy so of this. The instructor should be a strict disci- plinarian, able to reduce the discordant elements to better order, and determined to leave on all truant minds the needful impression that they must learn their lessons.
The school in winter was taught by Mr. Alvin W. Peirce, of Taunton. From the first there was a mark- ed want of study, too prevalent in this school. It was moreover characterized by uncommon laxity of disci- pline. These radical evils demanded prompt and efficient remedies, but we think Mr. Peirce, failed to find or apply them, as they continued to prevail with aggravated circumstances, till for several days previ- ous to its close, the school exhibited a state of things bordering on anarchy. If we mistake not, the teach- er who * expels a disorderly pupil, ought to pursue some decided and consistent course. If the pupil ob- stinately refuses to submit to discipline, and to the re- quirements of the teacher : his presence in the school ought not to be tolerated. Much less should he be permitted day after day to enter the school, as often as he feels disposed to do so. And least of all, without, being restored to his standing in his class, ought such pupil to be suffered to take any part in the closing ex- ercises of the school. To permit this, were a repre- hensible inconsistency on the part of the teacher; for the very sufficient reason, that he must treat such dis- turber, either as a pupil, or not. In cases of insubor- dination, prompt and efficient action is imperatively required. If the teacher has any apprehensions of personal violence, in attempting to vindicate his au- thority, his course is obvious. He should not fail to give immediate notice, to the Superintending Com- mittee ; and in conjunction with them to follow out the course in such case prescribed by the laws of this Commonwealth. It is not satisfactory to say in de- fence of the course adopted in the instance alluded to:
* Refusing to teach a pupil we deem tantamount to expulsion.
6
that it occured almost at the close of the school. The consequences resulting from it will not be limited to the present time, but will exert a pernicious influence on the school for time to come, and may eventually extend themselves to others. The importance of this subject must be our apology (if we need any) for dwelling somewhat at length on this head.
Having thus pointed out some defects in the con- duct of the school as our duty required, the most pleas- ing task remains to find somewhat to commend. In the department of writing, a good degree of im prove- ment was apparent. The manuscripts exhited much neatness and progress. Some who studied Physiology appeared to have made good improvement in that branch. . Several of the pupils manifested a tolerable proficiency in Algebra.
DISTRICT No. 3. (Bridge.) Edward Babbitt, Pru- lential Committee. There were but 7 weeks of pub- lic school in summer. Miss Emily M. Hunt, of Norton, took upon herself the task of teaching this school .- It would seem that she gave satisfaction to the dis- trict, since she was retained after the expiration of the public school. She entered on the execution of her task under very favorable circumstances. In some respects she is decidedly well qualified to be a success- ful teacher. But more experience, more exact knowl- edge, severer studies, and greater mental discipline will enable her to give more accuracy to her teaching, and prepare her for more successfully improving and rightly directing the youthful mind.
The winter term was of three months duration .- Mr. Emerson W. Peet, of Amherst College, was in- structor during this term. An unsightly and almost ruinous edifice, with meagre accommodations, must render it exceedingly difficult to preserve that quiet order so indispensably requisite, vet so often wanting in our public schools. There is but one remedy for this evil, and that is too obvious to name. This buil- ding however, such as it is, will not suffer in compari-
7
son with others in town used for a similar purpose .- After all, there was tolerable order, and considerable improvement in the school generally. Good deport- ment and application to study, on the part of some of the pupils was quite perceptible. The teacher's suc- cess was fully equal to our expectations.
DISTRICT NO. 4. (Timothy Hollow.) David Hoxie, Pudential Committee. This district had but one term of public school the past year, held in winter. Its du- ration was three months and three days. Miss Esther D. Dillingham. of this town was the instructress. Her assiduity, skill and success in teaching, deserve much commendation. The attendance was good. Miss D's school-room notwithstanding the decayed and ruinous state of the building, appeared neat, quiet and or- derly.
DISTRICT. No. 5. (Assonet Neck.) Walter D. Nich- ols, Prudential Committee. Teachers, Miss Alice H. Strange, of Freetown, and Mr. Philip C. Porter, of Berkley. Miss Strange taught the school during the summer-a period of three and a half months. "The attendance during the first six weeks of the school was good ; then, * sickness and death invaded the school, which materially affected it." Still however, the pu- pils under her instruction made very satisfactory progress. As a teacher she satisfied the expectations of the committee, and, we think, of the district.
The duration of the winter term was 3 months and 13 days. For a time, Mr. Porter found more pupils than school-room for their accommodation. This rendered it difficult, if not impossible to secure as good a de- gree of order as is desirable. Afterwards from the prevalence of an epidemic disease; among them, many of the pupils were unable to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded by the school for improvement. Nevertheless the results at the closing examination in respect to progress and order, deserve to be favorably reported.
* Measles. ; The Hooping Cough.
8
DISTRICT No. 6. (South East.) George P. Strange, Prudential Committee. No public school in summer ..
Mr. Edgar C. Dean, of Easton, though young and inexperienced, acquitted himself of his task much to the satisfaction of the committee, and we believe of the district. This was Mr. D's first appearance in the character of a Public Instructor. His school was dis- tinguished for quiet order, and general improvement in reading, recitations and history. Length of school 3 months and 5 days.
DISTRICT No. 7. (North East.) Prudential Committee, John Clark. This school was taught in summer, by Miss Sophia A. Townsend, of this town. It was opened un- der the most unpropitious circumstances, these were, tirst, the unfavorable state of the weather, and soon after an epidemic disease # which prevailed almost the. entire locality. Owing to these, and some other causes, the school for several weeks exhibited but a feeble and dubious existence. But worse than all, this is the culpable indifference of parents as to the education of their children. Hence the irregularity of attendance, and non-attendance for which this district is pre-emi- mently distinguished. Consequently the benefit of the school is in a great measure unhappily lost. Miss Townsend was diligent and faithful, and not without experience as a teacher ; and probably has succeeded as well as any other in similar circumstances.
The school in winter, for a few weeks was under the charge of Benjamin Crane Jr., who taught with his us- ual good success, and fully sustained his previous rep- utation as a faithful, zealous and efficient instructor. The amount of public school in this district the past year was 8 1-2 months, of which 7 months belong to the summer term, and 6 weeks to the winter.
With this detailed account of our public schools, al- low us to call your attention to some of the causes, why they have hitherto failed of accomplishing what was
* Hooping Cough.
9
expected of them. We say some of the causes, for our limits will not permit us only to glance at some of the most striking.
1st. One is what is called the district system .- We have 7 schools, with pupils only sufficient for five. If proximity to the door of the school-room be a good and sufficient reason for having 7 school houses, on the same principle it would be still better to have 14. But for our views on this subject we refer. you to a very able report presented by your superintending committee of last year.
2d. Another cause, is the want of suitable edifices. Strictly speaking,there are but two deserving the name of school houses, the others are called so by way of courtesy. But such as they are, they are part of the district system-and not the worst part-and any out- lay on them beyond occasional repair, were worse than money thrown away.
3d. Another cause is want of unity of action be- tween the prudential and the superintending commit- tees. As the labor, so is the responsibility divided be- tween them, and it is impossible to determine precise- ly what belongs to one, and what to the other.
4th. Want of emulation in the schools, owing to the small number of pupils. We want not only good school houses and good teachers ; but a sufficient number of pupils to excite some degree of emulation among them. It is harder to do this in a school of a dozen pupils, than in one of 3 or 4 times that number.
5th. The want of teachers better qualified. The double committee system (if we may be allowed the the expresson,) facilitates the introduction of incom- petent teachers into our public schools.
6th. Want of uniformity of text books used in schools. We require some one work on each branch of education pursued in our schools; so manifestly superior to all others of the kind, that competent Judges would have no hesitation in giving it an un-
10
qualified preference. Suitable encouragement on the part of the state would lead to the preparation of such works. The best in each department thus produced, pronounced so by a committee acting for the Com- monwealth, should then be introduced as a standard text book, into all the public schools of the Common- wealth, by anact of the legislature, to be used exclusive of all others, till such act were repealed in favor of some new work, decidedly better, declared by disin- terested and enlightened judges, acting under the au- thority of the Commonwealth. Nothing short of some such measure as here suggested, will effectually cure this inveterate, growing evil, which has done so much to retard the progress of popular education ; and which with other causes, threatens to arrest it altogether .- Our limits will not suffer us to expatiate on the feasi- bility, and great public utility of the scheme. We leave the suggestion with you as a part of the sover- eign people, to whom it belongs to devise some reme- dy for this intolerable grievance.
7th. And finally there is great want of earnest and. efficient co-operation on the part of parents. Parents must convince their children that they set the highest value on useful knowledge, or their children will de- spise or neglect it. This they must do by example as well as by precept, for precept without example is lit- tle worth.
Children who make no improvement at home, sel- dom or never make any progress at school. If they rarely or never take up a book, from the time they leave school till they return to it again, their atten- dance in school is only another name for amusement. Such children have full employment for the morning in relating the occurrences of the evening before, and in the afternoon in considering how to pass the next in the same unprofitable manner. To those who indulge their children in these worse than idle courses, it is not material whether there be a school or not-whether it be long or short-or what be the qual-
11
ifications of the teacher. Parents who suffer such things, have no right to expect improvement in their children. Such expectations where wholly unreason- able. If they sow the wind they must reap the whirl- wind. The foundation of all improvement must be laid in the domestic circle. If parents did their duty to their children at home, our public schools would not be in the condition they are at present. In con- clusion we would say to fathers and mothers, do your duty to your offspring, and not expect that of the teacher, or any one else, which can be accomplished by none but yourselves.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
WALTER D. NICHOLS.) School DANIEL CRANE, Committee of ALDEN B. CHACE, Berkley.
REPORT
OF THE
SELECTMEN OF BERKLEY,
Exhibiting the Financial condition of the Town,
As nearly as by them could be ascertained, and also, for the ex- penses of the town for the year ending on the fourth day of April, 1855.
William S. Crane, Collector and Treasurer, in account with the Town of Berkley for the year ending April 4th, 1855, Dr.
To Balance of uncollected taxes on hand last year, $683 36
" Cash in the hands of the Treasurer,
14 11
" Fish and Oyster Notes,
415 00
" State, County and Town grant,
1932 99
Overlaying on all the Taxes,
25
Addition of four Poll Taxes,
5 68
Highway Deficiencies,
19 00
State Treasurer for Schools, 49 20
15 00
Cash received for Licenses, 66 Taxes,
35 88
" Fish Notes payable June first,
299 00
" Five Oyster Notes of One hundred and thirty one dollars each, payable yearly, first payment June 1st, 1856, 655 00
$4124 55
The Treasurer has Credited himself with Cash paid out, Cr.
By Selectmen's orders for abatement of Taxes, $ 27 78
Assessors wages, 33 75
Painting of Town Hall, 46 75
Support of Schools in 1853-4, 78 86
" 1854-5,
671 08
¥
" Poor off the Farm, 114 50
School Committee's bill for 1853-4, 28 00
Town Clerk's bill for services, cash paid out, and for recording births and deaths, 24 00
" Support of Poor on Town Farm, &c., in 1852-3. 174 11
14
By Selectmen's orders for Balance of Agent's wages in 1853, 158 31 66 66 " Sales of spirituous liquors in 54-5, 27 11
66 to Fish Committee for services in 53-4, 51 50
16
66 66 " Darius Phillips, for Road. 155 00 66 ". E. Williams, for wood for farm, 1855, 30 50
.6
66 Payment of County Tax for 1854, às per receipt, 232 90 66 " State 66 6. 66 150 00
56 66 Sinkage of Taxes to the amount of
115 48
66 Two Fish Notes due June next,
299 00
66 One Oyster Note " 66
123 00
Five Oyster Notes of $131 each, due yearly, commen- cing June, 1856, 655 00 Collector's Commissions at 3 1-2 per cent,
65 30
66 Treasurer " 1 25 49
Uncollected taxes in the hands of William S. Crane, for 1849, 1850, 1851 and 1854, 240 85
66 Uncollected Taxes in the hands of Israel Chace, for 1853, 46 15
66 Cash in the hands of William S. Crane, 5 02
$4124 55
Financial condition of the Town of Berkley, as nearly as can be ascertained, April 4th, 1855.
Cash in the hands of the Treasurer, $ 5 02
Notes for Fish and Oysters, 422 00
Balance due from Collector's after deducting Commissions
which probably may be collected the present year, 150 00
$577 02
Contra-Town of Berkley Dr.
To Theodore A. Burt, Note and Interest, $403 61
.6 Adalaide R. Pierce, “ 66 403 61
66 Balance of N. G. Townsend's Salery, 119 47
66 " School Money,
78 92
66 66
" Town orders outstanding for support of Poor off the Town Farm, 88 00
66 Town orders outstanding for sundry small bills, 17 00
66 School Committee's bill for services 1 year, 25 00
$1135 61
Available credit as above,
577 02
Total indebtedness, $558 59
" Various persons for sundry bills. &c. 108 06 Note paid E. Hervey, and Interest. 436 96
15
TOWN PROPERTY.
Farm and Buildings,
$3500
Inventory of Stock, &c.,
840
Town House,
900
Standard weights and measures,
125
Books in the Town Clerk's possession,
25
All of which is respectfully submitted,
ENOCH BOYCE, Jr.,
Selectmen
TAMERLANE BURT, of
GEORGE A. STRANGE,
Berkley.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
OF THE
Town of Berkley,
FOR THE YEAR 1855-6.
TAUNTON, MASS. PRINTED BY C. A. HACK, 3 MAIN STREET. 1856.
1
In compliance with the regulations of the Statute, the School Com- mittee of the Town of Berkley submit the following annual
REPORT.
DISTRICT No. 1. Prudential Committee, Darius Sanford. No Public School in Summer. Length of School in Winter, three months. Whole number of Scholars 32, average attendance 29 .- Instructor, Henry F. Tucker, of Taunton. The scholars in this Dis- trict have some advantages not enjoyed by those of other Districts, and we are happy to believe that they appreciate them. Mr. Tuck- er governed well and instructed with ability, and the progress made in their several studies, must, we think, have been satisfactory to those, whose children were under his care. He possessed in a remarkable degree the confidence and esteem of his pupils, and from the com- mencement to the close of the School, there appeared to be a recip- rocal interest manifested by both teacher and pupils, which produced · the most beneficial results. The closing examination of the School was highly interesting and satisfactory to your Committee, and it is thought, to all present. There was a very considerable progress made by the whole School in their various studies, and we think the pupils deserving of commendation for the propriety of their deportment and the interest manifested in their studies. In correct and intelligent reading, the first class is not equalled by those in any other of our Schools.
DISTRICT NO. 2. Prudential Committee, Joseph D. Burt .- Length of School in Summer two months and eighteen days; in Autumn and Winter six months. Whole number of scholars 63 .- Average attendance 48. The Summer term of this School was taught by Miss Esther D. Dillingham, and the final examination, was in al- most every particular satisfactory to your Committee. The progress of the pupils in their studies was decidedly good, and highly credita- ble both to themselves and teacher. During five weeks of the Win-
4
ter term, the School was under the charge of Miss Dillingham, at which time, some of the parents having become dissatisfied, she was superceded by Mr. Walter D. Nichols, of whose qualifications and success as a teacher, we shall hereafter allude in the remarks upon the School in District No. 5.
The closing examination of this School was of a satisfactory char- acter, with the exception of the exercises in reading ; in this particu- lar this School has hitherto been objective. During the past year, however, there has been great improvement in this respect.
DISTRICT NO. 3, Prudential Committee, William S. Crane .- Length of School in Summer, two months and seven days ; and in Winter term, three months and nine days Whole number of schol- ars in each term, 33. Average attendance in Summer 26, in Win- ter 28. The Summer term of this School was taught by Miss Sarah M. Witherell, of this town, and the Winter by Alden B. Chace, a member of your Committee. Under the government and instruction of these efficient teachers in this School, for the want of a proper School room, and also a proper co-operation on the part of parents, your Committee are constrained to say that they failed to discover at the closing examinations, that degree of interest and improvement which they anticipated, although the pupils manifested considerable zeal and interest in their studies, and some of them made considera- ble progress therein.
DISTRICT No. 4. Prudential Committee, David Hoxie. Whole number of scholars 19. Average attendance 13. No public School during the Summer. Length of Winter School, 3,3% months .- Teacher, Miss Fanny Burt, of Taunton. Under the instruction of Miss Burt, the School, notwithstanding the oldness, coldness and in- convenience of the School room, and the severity of the weather, comported well with the expectations of the Committee. Miss Burt was competent to her task, and discharged her duties satisfactorily to the Committee, and we believe to the District.
DISTRICT No. 5. Whole number of scholars in Summer 27; in Winter 36. Length of School in Summer, 34 months, in Winter 3} months. Average attendance, 20 in Summer, and 29 in Winter .- Prudential Committee, Ebenezer Dean. The Summer term of this School was under the instruction of Miss Charlotte E. Dean, of this
5
town. Miss Dean, as a teacher, is admirably qualified, Her mild and friendly bearing towards her pupils, united with firmness and de- cision, produced the most beneficial results, as regards the order and discipline of the School. Her pupils manifested an interest, and made a proficiency in their studies, highly satisfactory to your Com- mittee.
The Winter term of the School was commenced by Walter D. Nichols, who subsequently relinquished the charge thereof to Miss E. D. Dillingham, and succeeded her in charge of School in District No. 2. The experience Mr. Nichols has had, and the success with which his labors have been crowned, are too well known to need our com- ment. Miss Dillingham conducted the School wisely and judiciously, and by her devotedness to her duty, constrained her pupils to act wisely for themselves, that they might be better able to discharge all the duties of after life.
DISTRICT No. 6. Prudential Committee, Henry W. Clark .- During the Summer there was no public School in this District. The ·Winter term was taught by David C. Dean, of Taunton. The School room in this District is small, much too small for the health and con- venience of the present number of scholars attending School. A- mong the smaller scholars several were deficient in School books .- Parents should see that their children are supplied with suitable books. Mr. Dean was quite young, and also without previous expe- rience in teaching, but we think him entitled to our esteem, as having discharged his duties conscientiously, ( as far as his ability would permit,) and profitably to the District. Length of School 32 months. Whole number of scholars 25. Average attendance 22.
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