Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1854, Part 1

Author: Fairhaven (Mass.)
Publication date: 1854
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 30


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Part 1


REPORT


OF THE


SELECTMEN OF FAIRHAVEN,


ON THE


FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN ;


WITH THE


Report of the School Committer,


FOR THE YEAR ENDING


MARCH 81st, 1855.


NEW BEDFORD : PRESS OF BENJAMIN LINDSEY. 1855.


REPORT.


THE SELECTMEN REPORT, that they have examined the accounts of Ebenezer Akin, Jr. Collector of Taxes, and find them correct.


The Collector is charged with the following :


Tax Bills for the year 1845,


$36 77


1846,


34 97


1847,


44 05


" 1848,


141 29


66 1849,


170 76


1850,


232 85


=


1851,


447 83


1852,


654 59


1853,


2,073 73


22,467 87


assessed in November, 1854,


5 94


$26,310 65


And credited as follows :


By amount paid County Treasurer,


$2,895 81


State


1,584 00


Town, =


15,422 98


Collector's Commissions,


406 18


Taxes remitted by Assessors,


298 53


" Abatement for prompt pay,


1,064 12


Uncollected Taxes for 1845,


33 77


1846,


27 47


1848,


109 19


1849,


137 91


1850,


165 91


1851,


265 11


.6 1852,


298 94


1853,


876 42


1854,


2,690 56


$26,310 65


1847,


33 75


1854,


4


The Selectmen further Report, that they have ex- amined the accounts of E. Akin, Jr. Treasurer of the town of Fairhaven, for the year ending April 1st, 1855, and find them correct :


The Treasurer is charged with :


Balance in Treasury, April 1st, 1854,


$1,534 14


Dividends Fairhaven Bank, 224 00


Cash of State Treasurer, School Fund, 254 40


Cash of C. E. Clark for C. M. Taber, 688 51


Cash for support of State paupers,


82 92


Cash of Town of Nantucket,


8 73


Cash of Town of Rochester,


19 25


Cash of Town of Easton,


50 49


Cash of B. Austin, board of Mary Robinson,


54 79


Cash of B. Austin, labor,


176 35


Cash for produce sold,


120 03


Cash for Beef and Pork sold,


165 87


Cash of David C. Wood,


98 68


Cash for sundries,


29 87


Cash of E. Akin, Jr. Collector,


15,422 98


$18,931 01


And credited with :


Orders drawn on the Treasury and paid, $18,168 99


Treasurer's Commissions, 181 69


Cash in the Treasury, 580 33


$18,931 01


There remains unpaid of the expenses of the town on the 1st of April, 1855 :


Amt. due the several School Districts,


$802 63


Outstanding orders for support of Poor,


100 70


" Incidentals,


321 97


" Highways,


3 00


For School Books,


307 47


Engine men,


30 00


Ansel White, per contract,


195 00


Due Estate of Lewis Taber.


17 45


$1,778 22


Б


To pay the above amount :


Uncollected Taxes,


$4,639 03


School Books sold,


329 35


School Books in hands of Committee,


223 54


Due from town of Westport,


23 39


Due from town of Rochester,


24 52


Due from James Dexter,


40 92


Cash in Treasury,


580 33


$5,861 08


TOWN DEBT.


Money hired of sundry individuals, 1


$6,400 00


Interest to April 1st, 1855,


199 86


$6,599 86


To the credit of the town :


28 Shares Fairhaven Bank Stock, par value,


$2,800 00


Liquor Agency, Stock and Cash on hand,


455 83


$3,255 83


PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


Balance of Appropriation for 1853,


$808 84


Appropriation for 1854,


6,700 00


Received of State Treasurer,


254 40


Received from District 12 & 13,


18 12


$7,781 36


Transfer of balance of High School account, 1853, $67 22


Expense of High School, 1854,


1,745 00


Orders drawn for Common Schools,


·5,166 51


Balance not drawn,


802 63


$7,781 36


REPAIRS OF HGIHWAYS.


Appropriation for 1854,


$2,000 00


Orders drawn, Balance unexpended,


$1,941 42


58 58


$2,000 00


6


FARM, ALMS HOUSE AND POOR.


Balance of appropriation for 1853, $515 84 Appropriation for 1854, 1,500 00


Cash of C. E. Clark for C. M. Taber,


6,88 51


for support of State Paupers,


82 99


of towns of Rochester and Nantucket,


27 98


of town of Easton,


50 49


of B. Austin, board of M. Robinson,


54 79


of David C. Wood,


98 68


of B. Austin, labor,


163 48


" for Produce sold,


127 90


for Beef and Pork sold,


165 87


$3,476 46


Orders drawn :


For Support of Poor in and out of Alms


House,


$1,667 44


State Lunatic Hospital,


165 71


Purchase of Stock,


137 30


Manure,


82 38


Hired Help,


210 00


Blacksmith's bill,


46 70


Doctor's bill,


35 00


Coffins,


20 50


Making Wall,


25 50


Wagon and Harness,


51 50


Horse,


150 00


B. Austin, Keeper of the Alms House,


350 00


Balance not drawn,


484 43


$3,476 46


INCIDENTAL ACCOUNT.


Balance of Appropriation for 1853,


$2,479 80


Appropriation for 1854,


6,500 00


Dividends Fairhaven Bank,


224 00


Appropriation for Rail Road crossings,


500 00


Received for sundry bills,


34 87


Taxes assessed November, 1854,


5 94


Amount assessed on School Books,


192 03


Overlay on Taxes, 1854,


596 03


$10,532 67


7


Orders drawn :


For Printing,


$104 68


School Committee,


232 55


School Books,


241 69


Assessors services,


234 30


Books for Assessors,


9 00


Overseers of the Poor's services,


71 00


Selectmen's services,


175 00


Constable's services,


24 22


Engine men,


612 50


Repairs of Engines and houses,


40 30


High School house and yard, sundries,


599 12


Moving wall,


180 30


Liquidating town debt,


1000 00


Interest on town debt,


377 35


Repairs of Mill Bridge sidewalk,


104 15


Ansel White, repairs of Mill-dam,


225 00


Curbing stone and setting on Bridge street,


175 67


Grading Rail Road crossings, &c.


500 50


Expenses on Mulberry street,


46 30


Witness fees,


28 50


Williams Ashley, land damage,


20 00


Legal Advice,


12 25


Fire Insurance,


12 00


Paid Lewis Taber's heirs,


17 45


Clearing snow,


13 49


School house tax, District No. 10,


49 35


E. Akin, Jr. registering births, marriages and deaths,


40 95


Amount of taxes remitted,


330 14


Treasurer and Collector's Commissions,


587 87


Abatement for prompt payment of taxes,


1,064 12


Sundry orders,


59 74


Balance unexpended,


3,433 28


$10,532 67


AMOUNT OF PRODUCE RAISED ON TOWN FARM.


34 1-2 tons of hay, value,


544 50


241 bushels grain,


225 60


Vegetables,


201 60


$971 70


Beef and Pork fatted : .


3324 lbs. Beef, value, 1728 lbs. Pork,


$245 34


138 24


- - $3,383 58


8


Stock on farm, valued,


582 00


All of which is respectfully submitted,


NATHANIEL CHURCH, F. R. WHITWELL, CYRUS E. CLARK, Selectmen of Fairhaven.


We, the undersigned, Committee on Accounts for the town of Fairhaven, have examined the forego- ing accounts of the Selectmen and other town Offi- cers, and believe them correct.


WM. L. B. GIBBS, ALFRED NYE, ·Committee on Accounts.


Fairhaven, March 28, 1855.


REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE,


OF THE


TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN,


FOR THE YEAR


1854-55.


NEW BEDFORD : PRESS OF BENJAMIN LINDSEY. 1855.


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REPORT.


GENTLEMEN :


THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE of the town of Fairhaven in compliance with established usage, beg leave to present the following Report :


For a number of years past, a portion of our citi- zens residing upon the County Road, in the north- west part of the town, have been well accommo- dated, by being permitted to send their children to the New Bedford North School, for which a mode- rate appropriation has been annually made. In the progress of events, however, that school has become too numerous for one teacher, and we were accord- ingly notified of the fact, with the request that other provision might be made for them. They were, therefore, instructed to attend the schools to which they respectively belonged. Should the population of this section of the town continue to increase, it may soon become necessary to establish a school there, (perhaps in conjunction with the City of New Bedford,) as both parties might be better accommo- dated by such an arrangement.


4


The apportionment of money has been made as heretofore-not so much in accordance with the number of children in the respective districts, as to their various necessities.


To carry on the schools for the year, we had from the annual appropriation, $6,700.00


From the School Fund, . 254.40


Unexpended from last year, 49.58


$7003.98


and we decided to apportion $7000 in the following manner :


No. of District.


No. of Scholars.


Apportionment. 1.


$225


2. .


44. 230


3.


52.


230


4.


25. 175


5.


20. 175


36. 230 6.


48. 230 7


8.


50. 230


9.


23


175


10.


47. 230


76. 390 11


471. 1780 12 & 13


31. 205 14


45. 235 15.


235 16.


43. .


17.


7.


50


52. 230 19.


High School.


1745


7000


Unappropriated 3.98


$7,003.98


43


We think the apportionment of the school money has been quite satisfactory to the different sections of the town.


5


The following Districts were assigned to the imme- diate supervision of the following members of the Committee :


To Charles Thatcher, Nos. 1,


" Martin L. Eldredge,


" Jonathan Cowen,


" Charles Eldredge, )


10,


and Samuel L. Ward, S


" 17


and 2, 4,


19: 5, 7, 15, 16,


6, 8,


3, 9, 14, 11, 12 & 13,


and the duties were probably as well attended to, as is generally the case.


We are satisfied in the main, that the schools have been well conducted, and that commendable im- provement has been made in all parts of the town. We do not pretend to say that all has been done, that could have been, far from it; but we do think that not much more progress will be made under the present course of management. From the num- ber of children attending school in the country dis- tricts, it is evident that little or no change will take place in regard to them for some years, unless it might be deemed sound policy to establish a Gram- mar School of a better class, somewhere near the centre of Long Plain. If such a plan should at any time be adopted, it would embrace the larger and more advanced scholars, and allow the other schools to be taught continuously by females.


Comparatively, within a short time, the idea of having a Superintendent of Schools, has been can- vassed in different parts of the State, and many towns have engrafted it upon their system. They have found it to be beneficial and in some places profitable, in an economical sense. It must be evi-


6


dent, that one efficient man, who devotes his whole time to a given purpose, must be much better quali- fied, and will make his influence felt for good, much more effectively, than a half-dozen persons poorly qualified, and devoting a day here and there, much as their own convenience may permit.


The town has been liberal for several years in its appropriation for schools ; one-third of all the money raised being for that purpose. And while so much is done, we may well ask the question-Are our ex- pectations realized, and do we receive all the benefits from our appropriation ? If not, why is it so, and what may we do to realize the greatest benefit to all our citizens ? We simply say, instruct your School Com- mittee to employ a Superintendent for a year ; and if it should not be found to answer the purpose ex- pected, it might easily be dropped. As this matter was presented in our last year's Report, we forbear to remark any farther upon it in this.


The subject of truancy has been one which has engrossed the public mind for some years past ; and laws have been enacted to prevent it. We have not seen fit to call those laws into effect, not because we are exempt from that class of scholars, but because we have thought it the better policy to labor with their parents, and save them from the disgrace which must fall upon them should the laws of the Commonwealth be enforced.


TEXT BOOKS.


We have not seen any good reason why any change should be made in the School Books already in use ;


.


and we approved of those which have been in use for some time. The following are used generally in our schools, viz. :


Greenleaf's Arithmetic, Sullivan's Political Class Book, Swan's Readers, Emerson's Spelling Book, Mitchell's Ancient and Modern Geography, Wells's English Grain- mar, Swift's Primary Philosophy, Smith's Astronomy, and the Bible.


In addition, the following have been used in the High School, viz. :


Day's and Thompson's Algebra, Davies Legendre Ge- ometry including Trigonometry and Mensuration, Da- vies Surveying, Olmstead's Natural Philosophy, Good- rich's United States History, Mayhew's Book Keeping, Stockhardt's Chemistry, Cutter's Physiology and Anato- my, Mrs. Lincoln's Botany, Parker's Exercises, Green's Analysis, American School Reader, Cowper's Task, and Milton's Paradise Lost.


LATIN Reader and Grammar, (Andrew's and Stod- dard's.) Nepos, Sallust, Cicero's Select Orations, and Virgil. Crosby's Greek Grammar and Exercises, Xeno- phon's Anabasis (three books,) and Homer's Iliad (two books.)


FRENCH-Life of Washington, Corinne, Rowan, Dra- matic Reader, Ollendorf's Method, Norl's and Chapsal's Grammar.


We would respectfully suggest to our successors the propriety of introducing a work on History, for the first and second classes in the High School, and from an examination; would recommend Weber's Outlines of History. It is an excellent work, just suited to the understanding of that class of students ; and as this is their review year, it might be added to their studies with great profit, and with no detriment to themselves.


S


DISTRICT No. I.


This School was taught during the Summer by Matil- da P. Briggs, who maintained good order. She took a deep interest in the school, and the scholars made satis- factory improvement.


We think the District was fortunate in procuring the services of Wm. A. Weeden, who taught in the same District the previous winter with approbation. Order has been maintained and proficiency made. Every thing went on well for thirteen weeks, until a son of the Pru- dential Committee received a punishment, when the teacher was discharged forthwith. 'The School Committee visi- ted the school, and directed Mr. Weeden to go on, which he did to our satisfaction.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer,


34


24.75


72.8


$17.00


52 mos.


Winter,


42


31.75


75.83


30.00


4 «


DISTRICT No. II.


The summer school was taught by Sylvia K. Howland, who succeeded very well considering her youth. She took interest in the school, and improvement was made.


George W. Francis taught the school in the winter. He is an experienced teacher, and improvement was made. The discipline was good.


Scholars.


Av. att. per ct. att.


Wagos of T.


Length of school.


Summer, 31


22.75


73.4


$16.00


5 mos.


Winter,


29


23.75


81.89


32.50


43 mos.


DISTRICT No. III.


Teacher for the Summer term, Tamah Webb.


Winter


Freď'k. Jenney.


The teacher of the summer term, though young, suc- cecccd well. She assumed the responsible duties of her


?


vocation with commendable energy and determination, persevered through the entire term, in the enforcement of discipline and in the inculcation of studious habits.


The winter term was also well conducted by Mr. Jenney.


Scholars. Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer, 31


20.24


65.2


$16.00


42 mos.


Winter, 42


29.36


69.9


32.77


4] mos.


DISTRICT No. IV.


This school has been under the direction of Eugenia Hall for a long time. She has taught the past year with her usual success. The scholars give evidence of their own industry and their teacher's fidelity.


Scholars.


Av. att


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer,


21


17.50


83.3


$18.00


5} mos.


Winter,


23


26.75


90.2


20.00


2į mos.


DISTRICT No. V.


Sarah W. Macomber was engaged in this school during the summer, and commendable improvement was made. Hannah H. Davis taught the winter school. She is an experienced teacher, and always succeeds.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer


25


16.25


65


$ 16


5 mos.


Winter


30


24.75


82.5


30


4%


DISTRICT No. VI.


The summer term was taught by our long tried-expe- rienced teacher Hannah H. Davis to the entire satisfaction of the Committee. Walter A. Davis taught this school during the winter. He is a teacher of experience and en- ergy and always succeeds well. This District will com- pare favorably with any in the town.


Scholars.


Av. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer


37


21


per ct. att. 56.74


$ 16


5% mos.


Winter


37


28


75.67


33


4 «


10


DISTRICT No. VII.


Teacher of the Summer term Lucy M. Cobb, =


Fall


Anna H. Snow,


“ Winter David C. Ayres and Anna H. Snow.


This school has experienced much interruption by fre- quent change of teachers. Miss Cobb resigned the charge of the school (owing to ill health) at the close of the sum- mer term. Mr. Ayres discontinued his services as teacher in consequence of apprehensions of the prevalence of varioloid, and the term was completed by Mrs. Snow the experienced and able teacher of the fall term.


Scholars. Av. att. per ct. att. Wages of T. Length of school.


Sum. & Fall 33


23.4 70 $ 16 18


Winter 33 26 78.7 32 30


DISTRICT No. VIII.


Summer term taught by Phebe J. Cowen,


John F. Porter. Winter


This school has been managed well the past year; and the pupils have made great progress. The order of the school has been conducted satisfactorily.


Scholars. Av. att. per ct. att. Wages of T. Length of School. Summer, Winter,.


DISTRICT No. IX.


Rebecca Gammons was the teacher summer and win- ter, and has succeeded well. We have not observed bet- ter order in any school. There was a good degree of promptness displayed in all the exercises of the school, and every thing has been conducted satisfactorily.


Scholars.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer


26


Av. att. 16.50


63.46


$ 15


4 mos.


Winter


25


18


72


18


.


11


DISTRICT No. X.


This school was taught during the summer by Mary Francis, who gave general satisfaction by her attention and endeavors to fulfil her duties acceptably. The school was quite large and crowded during most of the summer. Mr. Jones Robinson taught the school during the winter, very acceptably. We have never seen this school in so good a condition as it has been under the administration of Mr. Robinson. The interest of the scholars has been excited, and they have made corresponding improvement. The District has conferred a great favor upon itself by erecting a school house suitable to their wants.


Scholars.


Av. at ..


per ct. att.


Wages of T. $ 16


Length of School.


Summer


55


33


60


4Į mos.


Winter


64


37.50 4


DISTRICT No. XI.


The PRIMARY SCHOOL has been taught the entire year by Eliza'h Guild. She has labored with usual diligence ; but we regret to add that the school has suffered mate- rially in discipline during the year.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Tages of T.


Summer


33


30


90.9


$16


Length of school. 5 mos.


Winter


3.1


28


82.3


16


5


The GRAMMAR SCHOOL has been taught the entire year by Jane Allen. The school has been quite small; but the order of the school has been excellent, and commen- dable improvement has been made.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Summer,


29


21


72.7


$18


Length of school . 5 mos.


Winter,


31


24


77.4


19


5 “


DISTRICTS No. XII. & XIII.


The NORTH PRIMARY has been taught by Harriet Webb.


12


and has been the most quiet school in town. The duties of the school have been well discharged and improvement made.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T. Length of school.


Summer 62


40


64.8


18 per mo. 5} mos.


Winter 61


38.25 62


18 «


The SOUTH PRIMARY has been conducted by Caroline Hathatvay, who has discharged her duties in a quiet, ac- ceptable manner. The school has done well every way.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of School.


Summer 49


33


67.3


$ 16


5 mos.


Winter


26


20


74


16


43 46


The SOUTH MEDIUM SCHOOL has been in charge of Rebecca Eaton, who has succeeded much better than we anticipated.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer 40


25.75


64.3


16


5} mos.


Winter 34


27.50


80.8


16


42


The CENTRE MEDIUM SCHOOL has had several Teachers during the year, and we could but expect that it must suffer where such is the case; but it has been regaining its former position under the firm administration of Lucy Hathaway.


Scholars.


Av. att. per et. att.


Wages of T. Length of school.


Summer 60


51


85


54 mos.


Winter 54


42


77.6


22


41 "


The CENTRE PRIMARY SCHOOL has been taught by Adaline Grinnell, assisted by Laura Tripp, who have given good satisfaction.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T. Length of school.


Summer 117


84


72.6


16 & 12


52 mos.


Winter 101


78


77.2


16 & 12


The GRAMMAR SCHOOL has been ably taught, the past two years, by Seth Deane as Principal, and Lois Deane as Assistant. They are admirably qualified for this situ-


13


ation, and have been faithful in the discharge of their du- ties. Miss Deane is one of the most energetic and effic- ient teachers we have ever seen. If scholars do not learn under her guidance, the fault need not be laid to her eharge.


This school necessarily has been the principal nursery for the High School. It is true that the Medium Teach- ers, although occupying a more humble sphere, have been faithful in preparing scholars for this school, yet, when they have been transferred, it has been to a school where the teachers have exerted themselves to a faithful dis- charge of their duty. About twenty-five scholars have passed from this to the High School the past year.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att. Wages of T. Length of schools.


Summer, 102


75


73.5


$47.50&$22.


5} mos.


Winter, 104


82


78.8


47.50 22. 4, mos.


DISTRICT No. XIV.


This school was taught during the summer by Melissa Durfee, and in the winter by Joan H. Weaver, who gave good satisfaction. Mr. Weaver succeeded better than usual, the classes were well drilled and much improve- ment made. They have not had a better school for many years.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school. 5 mos.


Summer


24


16 75


64.5


$ 15


Winter


25


18


72


34 68


4


DISTRICT No. XV.


Frederick Jenney taught this school during the summer and Geo. L. Montague in the winter. This school for the first few weeks did not have the appearance of suc- ceeding well, the teacher falling into that error, which is too much the case with many, in not establishing order in the commencement, and maintaining the same. Order, however, was soon established, and the school has sue-


14


ceeded well. Much improvement has been noticed in all the different studies of the school. The scholars appear- ed to understand what they had studied. Somechildren were taken from the school in the early part of the term. It is to be regretted that children should be deprived of their schooling by parents who form a hasty judgment, without ever having visited the school.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer


32


20.50


64


$ 20


3 mos.


Winter


43


30.25


70.3


33


43 .


DISTRICT No. XVI.


The summer school was taught by Mercy D. Akin, and the winter term by Elbridge L. Faunce. Mr Faunce is an excellent disciplinarian and maintains good order ; but we regret that the school is not so forward as many others. Their answers to simple questions were not as prompt and correct as they should have been.


Scholars.


Av. att.


per ct att.


Wages of T. $16


Length of school


Summer 40


30.25


75.6


4 mos.


Winter 47


35.75


75.6


35


43 "


DISTRICT No. XVII.


There has not been any school in this District for the past year. As there are but two families living on the is- land, it is difficult to obtain a teacher to go there.


DISTRICT No. XVIII.


This school has been taught the entire year by Mary Hafford, who is a thorough disciplinarian, and maintains good order. The school is not in an advanced state, and it is difficult for one teacher to do justice to so many of all ages; as it is about impossible to carry out a system of classification.


Wages of T.


Length of school.


Summer


Scholars. 53


Av. att. 41.50


per ct. att. 78.5


$ 22


5 mos.


Winter


54


40.25


74.5


22


15


HIGH SCHOOL.


This school has been subject to many changes in teach- ers during the past year. Miss King who had been as- socialed with the school since its establishment, resigned her situation at the close of the last school year, and her place has been supplied by Mary J. Kenney, who in turn resigns her place at the close of this school year.


M. L. Montague who has had large and honorable expe- rience with us as a teacher, resigned his place at the close of the first half of the year, and J. P. Allison, an excel- lent scholar, supplied his place for the remainder of the year.


Caroline McLean who has been engaged for second as- sistant for more than a year, resigned at the close of the first term, and Nancy Church was advanced to take her place. Jane Howard has been employed as third assis- tant during two-thirds of the year; the mulitude of re- citations rendering it absolutely necessary to employ a third assistant.


Our teachers have all been accomplished scholars, and intellectually speaking, qualified for their places ; but we regret to say that for the past half year the discipline has not by any means been what it should be.


We are gratified in being able to say that two scholars John D. Taber and Isaac Delano have been prepared for college and last fall entered honorably at Middletown and New Haven. In order to give an idea of the labor to be performed in this school, we add an order of exercises at the commencement of the year. There has been some variation in the order as circumstances seemed to require. Botany is studied but a part of the year. Book-Keeping, which did not find a place in this schedule, being likewise a regular study in the school.


16


A. M.


Principal. Ist Assistant.


2d Assistant.


šd Assistant.


Reading, Ist, 2d & 3d, 4th & 5th,


6th & part of 7th,


part of 7th & Stk Arithmetic 8th,


Algrebra Ist, Algreba 6th, Arithmetic 7th,


Algrebra 5th,


Arithmetic 2d, Geometry Sd,


Geometry 4th,


Surveying


Geography 8th, French Ist,


Geography 7th,


Homer,


French 3d,


French 2d,


History 6th,


Cowper 5th,


Latin Reader,


Reading 6th,


Reading 8th,


P. M.


Philosophy 3d, Intellectual Philosophy Ist, Grammar 6th, Grammar 7th, Virgil, .6 6


2d, Philosophy 4th, 8th,


Nepos 3d, Botany, Astronomy 5th, History 7th,


RECESS.


Physiology, Green's Analysis 5th, History 8th, Reading 7th,


Lasin, Cowper 3d & 4th,


Spelling 7th, Spelling 8th,


The number indicates the class which recites in each period of time.


It perhaps might be asked, why not combine some of the classes in the same studies and employ less teachers.


We reply that it cannot be done. Take Arithmetic for instance. There are three classes in this study. The seventh class is six months in advance of the eighth.


The second are reviewing-are older scholars, and pro- ceed much more rapidly. The same may be said of Algre- bra, Geometry or any other study.


It will be perceived that the entire morning is occupied, and Recess enjoyed only in the afternoon As most of the scholars have four studies they are therefore engaged in recitation four-tenths of the time. Those who have five studies are engaged one half the time. Some of the classes in optional studies, such as Latin for instance, are made up of different classes, and no number appears against them.


At the first examination of candidates of admission, held April 21st, sixty-three applicants presented them- selves, nineteen of whom were admitted. Quite a number of the applicants ought not to have sought admittance un- der one or two years.


17


It is needless to say that many have been disappointed ; but we feel conscious that we have endeavored to be im- partial in all cases. It is absolute folly for any one to think they will be in a better situation to learn by being in the High School without they are sufficiently advanced to merit an entrance.


At the fall examination, held Oct 14th, thirty-five schol- ars made application, nineteen of whom were admitted.


As a general rule the scholars have maintained their in- terest through the whole course of study ; but we have no- ticed some who were very ambitious while in the Gram- mar School and fitting for the High School, relax their ef- forts, and lose their interest. This feature has not been noticed until the past year, except to a very trifling ex- tent. Should it continue, it will become absolutely neces- sary, for the reputation of the school, that such scholars be placed in some lower classes. It has been done with good effect, and may be again.


scholars.


per ct. att.


Wages of T.


Summer


85


Av. att. 73.25


86.1


$ 85 00 $ 22 00 39 00 18 00


Length of school. 5} mos.


Winter


86


75


87.2


$80 00 $22 00


30 00 18 00


51 «


From the last, (eighteenth) Annual Report of the Board of Education, it appears that we stood as the 39th town in the State, instead of the 23d, which was our rank the previous year. According to the same Report, we raised $5.66 to each child between the ages of five and fifteen years, while the year pre- vious we raised $6.10 to each child. This is accoun- ted for partly by the circumstance, that, year before last we had $500 unexpended, and the appropriation was less in consequence ; and partly because there is- constantly an increasing interest in every thing that pertains to the intellectual improvement of the rising


18


generation, throughout our Commonwealth. From the same Report, it appears that we ranked as the 179th town in the ratio of valuation to the appropri- ation for public schools, instead of the 116th the pre- vious year, for reasons specified above. The proba- bility is that the next Report of the Board of Edu- cation, will show some improvement upon the above figures.


There has been a gradual improvement in atten- dance ; and instead of being the 177th town, as was reported, we have advanced to the 102d. It is grat- ifying to notice such an improvement in this respect. It indicates an increasing interest on the part of pa- rents, and perhaps the labors of the Committee in this department, may have had a salutary influence.


The appropriation for the past year has been about all expended, and $7,000, at least will be required to carry on the schools efficiently for the coming year. There has been some complaint that the schools are not kept months enough in the year; but should the length of the school be increased beyond ten months, a larger appropriation will be required.


All of which is respectfully submitted.


SAMUEL L. WARD, JONATHAN COWIN, School


CHARLES ELDREDGE, CHARLES THATCHER, MARTIN L. ELDREDGE.


Committee.


FAIRHAVEN, March 31st, 1855.


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