Town annual reports of Medfield 1871, Part 1

Author: Medfield (Mass.)
Publication date: 1871
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 34


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Part 1


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


RECEIPTS & EXPENDITURES


OF THE


TOWN OF MEDFIELD,


INCLUDING THE


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,


AND OTHER STATISTICS,


FOR THE YEAR ENDING


FEBRUARY 1, 1811.


MEDFIELD, STILLMAN J. SPEAR, PRINTER. 1871.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


·


RECEIPTS & EXPENDITURES


OF THE


TOWN OF MEDFIELD,


INCLUDING THE


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,


AND OTHER STATISTICS.


FOR THE YEAR ENDING


FEBRUARY 1, 1871.


MEDFIELD, STILLMAN J. SPEAR, PRINTER. 1871.


TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1870.


Selectmen. Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor.


CHARLES HAMANT.


WILLIAM C. ALLEN.


ALONZO B. PARKER.


Town Clerk.


HENRY J. EVERETT.


Treasurer.


Collector.


ISAAC FISKE.


MARTIN BAILEY.


Constable,


CHARLES HAMANT.


School Committee.


CHARLES C. SEWALL, HENRY J. EVERETT, CHARLES HAMANT.


GEORGE W. KINGSBURY. GEORGE M. FISKE. JAMES HEWINS.


Surveyors of Highways.


HAMLET WIGHT, GEORGE M. FISKE. A. B. PARKER. CHARLES H. RUSSELL, LOWELL ADAMS. C. S. HAMANT.


Fire Wards.


CHARLES HAMANT, H. F. BULLARD. H. P. BRUCE.


Auditor of Accounts. SAMUEL ELLIS.


TREASURER'S REPORT


OF THE


RECEIPTS & EXPENDITURES


FOR THE YEAR ENDING


FEBRUARY 1. 1871.


RECEIPTS.


Balance in Treasury, February 1. 1870. $3706 60


Received on taxes for the year 1867.


10 00


1868.


62 00


..


.. 1869,


488 00


..


..


1870. 6768 00


corporation tax,


685 96


State aid to pensioners,


236 00


interest on School Fund.


249 71


State school fund,


159 25


West Roxbury for board of paupers,


300 00


County treasurer, bounty on dogs,


84 13


hay sold from Cemetery, 8 00


wood sold from Town Farm,


60 75


money borrowed. 3890 00


$16,708 40


. EXPENDITURES.


SCHOOLS.


Paid H. F. Burt for teaching,


$270 00


L. H. Marvel 405 00


M. G. Westgate


120 00


M. E. Morse 66


114 00


Amount carried forward, $909 00


6


Amount brought forward,


$909 00


F. E. Sanderson for teaching, 110 00


Lucy M. Lane 275 50


S. J. Woods 295 00


A. HI. Ilixon ٩٩


210 00


M. B. 'Wilder 76 00


S. Richardson and C. S. Ricker their proportion of school money for the years, 1868, 1869, 20 00


$1895 50


CARE OF SCHOOL-HOUSES, FUEL, & REPAIRS.


Paid for wood for North school, $27 00


sawing wood, fires, and care of N. school-house, 19 00


wood and coal, Centre school, 79 93


getting in coal and care of Centre school-house, 41 50


wood for South school,


17 75


sawing wood and care of South school-house, 8 00


7 08


Centre


48 64


..


South


9 50


$258 40


ABATEMENT OF TAXES.


Paid Eugene Bonny Town taxes, $2 19


ROADS AND BRIDGES.


Paid E. Martin, grading new Avenue, $2450 00


Fruit St.,


1325 00


62 1-2 days work, 154 56


H. Goulding, grading R. R. Street,


2195 00


A. E, Mason, posts and railing for new Avenue, 49 20 labor putting up same, 16 00


· Amount carried forward,


$6189 76


repairs on North school-house,


7


Amount brought forward,


$6189 76


Pald Geo. M. Fiske, Highway Surveyor, 110 00


removing snow, 60 32


labor on and near Dearth's bridge. 4 00


Chas. H. Russell, Highway Surveyor, 215 00


removing snow, 67 30


66 labor on bridges, 12 00


A. B. Parker, Highway Surveyor, 190 00


removing snow, 26 45


Lowell Adams, Highway Surveyor, 114 00


removing snow, 23 40


66 stock and labor, repairing highway, 5 70


200 00


Hamlet Wight, Highway Surveyor,


removing snow. 92 88


.C. S. Hamant, Highway Surveyor, 149 65


35 10


66 repairing bridge,


21 50


E. T. Sears, labor on highway.


removing snow. 26 90


18 90


W. F. Guild, labor on highway, 6 70


Selectmen, repairs on Dwight's bridge, 27 50


Win. C. Allen, making wall near R. R. Junction, 8 00


$7624 81


TOWN OFFICERS.


Paid Chas. Hamant, services as Selectman, Assessor,


and Overseer of Poor, $108 00


W. C. Allen. services as Selectman, &c. 80 00


A. B. Parker. 66 40 00


H. J. Everett, Town Clerk, 25 00


Samuel Ellis, Auditor. 3 00


Chas. C. Sewall. School Committee, 1868-70, 80 00


A. W. Carr.


1870.


15 00


$351 00


removing snow,


19 75


Joseph Bailey, removing snow.


C


PRINTING.


Paid S. J. Spear, printing Town and School Reports, $86 45 .. Order book and Police warrants, 7 25


.. Miscellaneous, 6 75


$100 45


PAUPER EXPENSES OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.


Paid for J. W Coltman,


$206 15


Mrs. John Hayford, $50 00


Jane M. Ellis,


125 87


funeral expenses,


21 00


Mary Peters,


100 00


Ellen M. Kingsbury,


9 25


Henrietta Taylor,


33 00


Isaac Bellou, 14 00


$559 27


FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Paid T. A. Bingham, care of engine,


$10 00


F. Rhodes,


5 00


C. T. Frost, repairs on engine,


2 85


$17 85


CEMETERY.


Paid Martin Bailey for labor.


$28 00


STATE TAX.


Paid State Treasurer, $1650 00


State aid to individuals, $336 00


9


NOTES AND INTEREST.


/


Paid Wm. Cram, Note and Interest, $51 59


Geo. W. Oliver, 66


56 75


Abell Pond,


1044 04


Geo. W. Shumway, as interest,


9 60


Stephen Turner, 18 00


R. A. Battelle, 60 00


C. Hamant, ..


32.97


School Fund ..


72 69


$1345 64


INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.


Paid Medway tax for 1869, 1870, $25 79


D. D. Curtis for use of hall, one year, 20 00


L. Golding, care of Town clock, and repairs on same, 40 00


expenses of County Commisioners, 3 25


1 returning 17 deaths, 1 70


recording 10 marriages, 19 births, 12 deaths. 10 00


window cord and express on same, 2 90


6 wrought butts, 2 25


E. Thayer, 4 loads of stone for bridge, 4 00


Clark and Leatherbee for lumber, 45 98


B. H. & E. R. R., freight on lumber, 2 40


'labor in watching and extinguishing fires, 14 00


J. C. Lovering, services as Surveyor, 7 00


H. F. Bullard, stock and labor.


43 96


J. E. Bullard, perambulating town lines, 9 00


Charles Hamant for insurance, Centre school-house, 76 00


Walpole tax, 4 14


Martin Bailey, collecting taxes in part. 25 00


Wm. Adams care Town Farm, in full, 282 70


I. Osgood, " in part, 115 00


for advertising, 2 50


HI. F. Bullard stock and labor on almshouse, 47 15


John E. Bullard, painting at almshouse, 15 75


H. Adams, labor on 12 10


A. B. Balch, bread furnished


2 91


Amount carried forward $815 48


10


Amount brought forward. $815 48


Paid J. H. Richardson, medical attendance, at alinshouse, 31 50


G. D. Everett for grain for


66 29 12


A. B. Parker, plough points,


3 13


S. Ellis, for cotton seed meal,


10 80


D). Hoisington, for merchandise,


73 00


I. Fiske.


134 10


T. L. Barney, .6


171 00


R. Pope,


143 02


G. W. Winship, for blacksmithing,


10 29


W. P. Hewins, meat,


40 52


W. C. Allen, 4 pigs,


16 00


F. D. Hamant, 2 cows,


100 00


L. A. Wiley, labor,


61 00


C. Hamant, cash and buckets,


16 50


W. C. Allen, expenses to Boston,


3 00


D. H. Dyer, land taken to widen Green St,


3 00


$1661 76


RECAPITULATION.


Paid for Schools,


$1,895 50


care of school-houses, and repairs,


258 40


abatement of Taxes,


2 19


roads and bridges.


7,624 81


Town Officers,


351 00


printing,


100 45


paupers out of almshouse,


559 27


fire department,


17 85


cemetery,


28 00


State tax,


1,650 00


State aid to pensioners,


336 00


notes and interest,


1,345 64


incidental expenses,


1,661 76


$15,830 87


Total amount of receipts,


$16,708 40


payments,


15,830 87


Balance in Treasury, Feb. 1. 1871,


$877 53


11


LIABILITIES.


Trustee's School Fund note, 6 per cent,


$800 00


66


66 53


66


..


350 00


Trustee's ministerial Fund,


141 00


..


330 00


G. W. Shumway,


06


60 00


Stephen Turner. ..


..


100 00


Caroline B. Phillips,


500 00


Mary C. Keith,


..


500 00


David Maney.


..


50 00


Prudence Lovell.


..


170 00


Wm. Cram.


70 00 .


Franklin Ellis.


..


250 00


Wm. Cram. ..


40 00


C. H. Russell,


..


500 00


Clarissa Wight.


..


100 00


George Fiske, ..


200 00


A. W. Cleaveland,


..


400 00


John Sullivan.


..


330 00


C. Hamant.


..


1000 00


86257 53


RESOURCES.


Balance in Treasury. Feb. 1. 1871,


$877 53


Due on Taxes, 1867. exclusive of interest,


54 64


1868. ..


94 52


.. 1869. ..


501 40


.. 1870. ..


1


1144 54


Due for State aid for pensioners.


336 00


from town of West Roxbury,


384 77


66


100 00


..


200 00


$3343 40


.


12


Liabilities exceed resources,


$2914 13


ISAAC FISKE, Treasurer.


Vouchers examined, and account found correct.


SAMUEL ELLIS. Auditor. MEDFIELD, FEB. 1. 1871.


REPORT


OF THE


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


RECEIPTS.


Received for Board and Lodging,


$113 67


potatoes, 9.65 ; beef sold 52.94,


62 59


meadow hay, 40.48 ; rye straw 9.40,


49 88


milk 11.39; butter 147.88,


159 27


pine boards,


20 89


labor off the farm 9.00; use of oxen 1.00,


10 00


cranberries,


30 75


3 pair chickens 5.20 ; eggs .72,


5 92


cow 42.00 ; calves 100.55,


142 55


from Treasury


911 16


Amount of Receipts, $1506 68


PAYMENTS.


Paid for medicines.


$7 95


soap and beef barrels,


6 60


bed cord, box, and express,


1 80


meal, 44.62 ; meat, 107.29


151 91


saw bill, 6.51 ; sweet potatoes, 5.50.


12 01


Amount carried forward,


$180 27


13


Amount brought forward. · $180 27


Paid for ice. 6.50 ; cement, .53 7 03


cash to imnates, and aid to travellers, 21 15


field and garden seeds, 12 30


clothing for inmates, 10.14 ; netting, 3.75. 13 89


fowls, 3.00 ;. bread, 2.91,


5 91


labor on farm and well,


69 00


farming tools, 28.74 ; locks and latches, 2.37. 31 11


blacksmiths work, 24 15


fish, 31 30


grinding, 2.25 ; butter boxes, 2.00. 4 25


4 cows, 260.00 ; 4 pigs, 16.00,


276 00


E. Walcott's bill for mdsc.,


17 37


I. Fiske's ،،


251 30


R. Pope's 66


143 02


T. L. Barney's ..


171 00


D. Hoisington's ١٩


46 79


medical attendance, 31 50


J. Osgood in part for salary. 169 34


Amount of Payments. . $1506 68


APPRAISAL OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, FEB. 1. 1870.


7 cows $420.00 ; 2 oxen 200.00, $620 00


1 horse 200.00 ; 4 swine 32.00. 232 00


24 fowls 18.00 ; 8 1-2 tons English hay 255.00, 273 00


13 1-2 tons meadow hay, 146 25


8 bush. corn 8.00 ; 7 bush. rye 7.00, 15 00


4 " barley 3.60 ; 2 1-2 bush. seed corn 3.50, 7 10


2 " beans 5.00 ; 15 cords wood 72.53. 77 53


30 galls. vinegar 12.00; 100 bush potatoes 100.00. 112 00


145 lbs. beef 15.95 ; 192 lbs. ham 30.62, 46 57


690 lbs. pork 96.60 ; 100 lbs. lard 15.00,


111 60


9 lbs. butter 4.05 ; apples 4.00, 40 lbs. dried apples 3.20 ; 1 can .75,


8 05


3 95


Amount carried forward,


$1635 05


14


Amount brought forward, $1635 05


4 wash tubs 5,00 : 1 brass kettle 5.00. 10 00


5 ineat barrels 9.00; 4 stone jars 2.00, 11 00


Cooking stove 25.00 ; 40 milk pans 12.00, 37 00


Churn 7.00; boards 25.00, 32 00


Clothes wringer 10.00 : grind stone 14.00,


24 00


6 hay forks 2.50 ; manure fork 2.50, 5 00


2 potatoe diggers 1.25 : 5 hoes and iron bar 3.50;


4 75


Ploughs. and 2 horse hoe,


20 00


Wagon and draft harnesses.


18 00


Horse hay wagon.


65 00


2 ox carts. 50 00


Robe 2.00 : >leigh 5.00. 7 00


3 wood saws and saw horse.


3 00


Saw, shave, augur, and garden rake, 2 00


1 50


Seythes and snathes 3.00 ; axes 4.00,


7 00


('ranberry screen. rakes, adze, and square,


4 50


Corn cutters and rakes 1.00 ; 3 stake chains .75,


1 75


Log and draft chains 2.50 : ox yokes 5.00,


7 50


Express wagon 115.00 : horse hay rake 7.00,


122 00


Horse mower 75.00 ; hay cutter and trough 8.00,


83 00


Harrow 3.00 ; ox sled 4.00,


7 00


Ladders 6.00 ; bog hoe and pick 2.00.


8 00


5 shovels 3.00 ; ox muzzles 1.00,


4 00


Crome 1.00 : new bedding 25.00,


26 00


New iron sink, 11 00


$2225 05


Received from Treasury.


$911 1.6


Deduct due from Town of West Roxbury,


$347 77


A. Willard, 10 28


Sale of wood ; paid to Treasurer, 60 75


E. Walcott's bill,


67 25


Dexter Eames for cranberries


35 67


$521 72


Bal. of Expenses above receipts and bills due,


$389 44


6 grain bags.


15


Whole number of paupers.


4


Average number of panpers.


4


viz. Name.


Age.


Where born.


Silas Allen.


76


Medfield.


Harriet Leland,


81


Sherborn.


Thomas Floyd,


75


Medford.


Susan Floyd.


74


Sutton.


At Hospital in Worcester, James W. Coltman, born in Boston.


Persons assisted out of almshouse,


Mary Peters.


Mrs. John Hayford. .Ellen Kingsbury. Henrietta Taylor.


172 meals furnished transient persons.


CHARLES HAMANT, WILLIAM C. ALLEN. ALONZO B. PARKER. Overseers of the Poor.


.


16


REGISTRAR'S REPORT.


DEATHS IN MEDFIELD FOR THE YEAR 1870.


Name.


Age.


Disease.


Place of birth


Mary Marshall,


68


Consumption.


Jael Chenery,


64


Typhoid Fever.


Marion E. Wight,


2


Scarlet Fever.


John W. Adams,


Old age.


Annie W. Richardson,


5.


Scarlet Fever.


Francis Bailey,


40


Consumption.


Mary Helen Belmore,


1


Dropsy of the Brain.


So. Hadley. Medfield.


Gershom Adams.


76


Heart Disease.


Charles H. Ware,


38


Mary A. Ellis,


16


Wrentham. Medfield.


Mary A. Thayer.


23


Molletiah T. Babcock.


43


Child birth.


٩٩


Robert Pope,


75


Paralysis.


Boston. Medfield.


George F. Thayer,


3 mos.


Cholera Infantum.


Mary A. Babcock,


2 mos.


Jane M. Ellis.


30


Insanity.


Ireland.


Laura II. Brown.


72


Consumption.


Vergennes Vt


Warren Hartshorn,


80


Apoplexy.


Medfield.


Nathan Jones,


84


Cystisis.


Medway.


Henry J. Daniels,


28


Typhoid Fever.


،،


Rebecca D. Woods,


84


Paralysis.


Dedham.


Number of births during the year 1870, 19 ; males 7, females 12. American parentage 12 : foreign parentage 7. Deaths re- corded in 1870. 22. American parentage 20; foreign parentage 2. Marriages in 1870, 16.


HENRY J. EVERETT,


Registrar.


Walpole. Marlboro NH Medfield.


Chesterfield. Medfield.


Amy Fisher,


90


Old age.


17


STATISTICS OF MEDFIELD.


Area of Town, 9205 acres. Covered by water, 28 acres.


Acres of land taxed, 8.123.


Value of Real Estate. $496,620.00.


Value of Personal estate, $285.797.00


Total valuation, $782.417.00.


State tax, $1650.00. County tax, $727.37.


Rate of taxation, $10.30, on $1,000.


Town grants, for general expenses $3,500.00. Schools, $1,400.00. Highway tax, $1,000.00.


No. of Polls, 290.


No. of dwelling-houses, 222. Horses, 171. Cows. 398. Sheep, 3. Town incorporated May, 23. 1651.


POPULATION AT DIFFERENT PERIODS.


1764


1790 1800


1810


1820


1830


1840


1850


1860


1870


628


731


745


786


892


827


883


966


1082


1143


SELECTMEN'S REPORT.


IT will be seen by the Treasurer's Report, that a very much larger sum has been expended during the last financial year, for the grading of new roads, than has been paid in the same period of time, within the memory of the present Board, or possibly since the settlement of the town.


The widening and grading of Orchard Street, as ordered by the County Commissioners, we regard as an improvement which " con- venience and necessity," both demanded. There is now sufficient breadth for side water courses, with a road of suitable width be- tween ; and we trust, that in future, there will be less cause for complaint among those who are accustomed to pass to and from the new town of Norfolk, over this Avenue.


18


The road, as laid out and accepted by the town, from Main to Foundry Street, has not, for reasons which follow, been placed under contract to grade. It was accepted at the meeting of the Town in November last, and two months allowed to the owners of the lands through which it was laid, to remove their wood and tim- ber from the line of the location, which brought it to a season of the year, when road making is impracticable. We recommend early attention to the finishing of this much needed improvement.


The condition of our public roads, it is believed, will compare favorably with the roads in our vicinity : but the query has arisen whether, or not, there was a growing tendency on the part of some, at least, of the town's authorized agents, the Surveyors of Highways, to neglect some of the lesser travelled streets, and expend the money appropriated for " repairs of highways," in amending only a portion of those within their several assignments. It would seem to be the imperative duty of those who are intrusted with this charge, to care- fully examine all the highways and bridges within the limits so as- signed to them, respectively, and give their first and immediate attention to all places, manifestly hazardous and unsafe for public travel. The manner of repairing highways, has been often a sub- ject for discussion at our annual meetings, and opinions yet differ as to the best mode, though it is generally conceded, that our present practice is a decided improvement on the old system of each " work- ing out his taxes"; yet there may be room for still further improvements.


Our Fire Department has been called out but once during the year, when a building was on fire, and in that case, only a compar- atively slight and partial loss, was sustained by the owner. When we recollect the extreme drouth that so long prevailed, and frequency of extensive and destructive fires in other localities, we cannot but be thankful, that we have been so exempt from these terrible calamities.


From a particular examination of the bridge, familiarly known as the " Great Bridge," though not considered immediately unsafe, yet we think it needs careful attention, and at the proper time, thorough repairs.


By Chap. 45, Sec. 2, of the General Statutes, the Selectmen of each town are required, " to submit to the inhabitants at every an- nual meeting, a report of all the places where guide posts are erected


19


and maintained within the town, and of all places at which in their opinion, they ought to be erected and maintained.


The duty required by this statute, so far as it applies to this town in the practice of it, has been very much, (though not maliciously,) neglected. That guide posts have been erected and maintained at such places, as has been deemed necessary and convenient to have them, is a fact well known to the " oldest inhabitant," though . no "report " may appear on our records. In a town of such small area as our own, nearly every legal voter, could in his own home, write a tolerably accurate description of these "helps to our dumb animals." Some new Posts and Boards are at present needed, to supply the places of somewhat decayed old ones, and most of the remaining boards, need new painting and lettering.


Permanent bounds at the termination and angles of the new roads, have not as yet been placed. It was thought advisable to delay, until a contract could be made for a supply for all the recently lo- cated roads ; and as accurate surveys have been made in each case, which are on file, together with plans of the same, no difficulties will be experienced in hereafter determining the points for such bounds.


CHARLES HAMANT, WILLIAM C. ALLEN, ALONZO B. PARKER.


MEDFIELD, FEB. 1, 1871.


Selectmen.


REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


OF THE .


TOWN OF MEDFIELD,


FOR THE YEAR 1870.


THE Schools of this town have been generally successful during the past year. This, however, cannot be said of the


HIGH SCHOOL,


which is now in a very unsatisfactory condition. A school of this kind, properly conducted. is a great benefit to any town, and par- ticularly to a town like our own, containing as it does, but one vil- lage, thus rendering the school-house easily accessible to all qualified to attend. Such a school infuses throughout the community, an air of culture and refinement, and opens for all its youth, an opportunity to rise in the world, and take important and honorable stations in life. The High School, as now kept, is useless for any purpose for which it was intended. Without dwelling upon the unsuccessful management of the school, or commenting upon the disorderly con- duct of the scholars, we call the attention of the public to what we consider the prime cause of failure, namely. a want of a 1


STANDARD FOR ADMISSION.


It is impossible for one teacher to properly conduct a school of sixty-nine scholars, with an average attendance of sixty. This fact is recognized by the law which has wisely provided, that,


" In every public school, having an average of fifty scholars, the " school district or town to which such school belongs, shall em- " ploy one or more female assistants, unless such district or town, " at a meeting called for the purpose, votes to dispense with such " assistant." Gen. Stat. Chap. 38, Sec. 9.


The committee, therefore, deem it necessary to adopt a standard for admission, and to exclude all who upon examination, fail to reach that standard. By so doing, they believe the number of scholars will be so materially diminished, as to avoid the necessity of em- ploying an assistant, which would otherwise be absolutely necessary to any degree of success. The idea seems to be prevalent, that it is a great honor to a child to be sent to the High School, and parents are continually sending their children before they are qualified, a course detrimental to the welfare of all the schools.


EXAMINATIONS.


The system of " cramming " a school for an examination, in order to make a mere show, is something which ought not to be allowed. The object of an examination is to exhibit the result of the term's work, and not to display to an unsuspicious audience of parents and friends, the brilliant manner in which a scholar can rattle off a half page of Grammar or Geography, or rush through a problem in Arithmetic, to the accomplishment of which, he has devoted all his time and energy for two or three weeks, and which has been ring- ing in his ears, until he cannot forget it if he would. .


CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.


This is a subject which has given rise to much discussion, within the past few years, and one which ought to receive serious attention. The whipping-post has long since disappeared from our midst. Flogging, in the Navy, was abolished by Congress more than seven- teen years ago. Whipping has ceased in the State prison and pen- itentiaries of Massachusetts, for more than ten years. In Prussia, Austria, France, and Holland, and in our own State of New Jer- sey, children in schools are protected by law. In the Massachusetts Legislature of 1868, the Committee on Education presented two re- ports. In the majority report they say, that while they are con- vinced that the practice of corporal punishment is unwise, unneces- sary, and demoralizing in its effects upon both teachers and scholars, nevertheless, believing that full power to banish it from our public schools, is now vested in school committees, and further that the time and manner of dealing with the question, should be left to their


23


discretion, they report that it is inexpedient to legislate on the sub- ject. The following extracts, are taken from testimony and let- ters contained in the minority report, which favored entire abolition by law.


Dr. Wyman says :-


" Corporal punishment is unnecessary.


The best teachers govern without it. It benefits poor teachers only, and these are not wanted in our schools.


Corporal punishment of marriageable females is practiced in the schools of Massachusetts for failure of a lesson. Such practice should be made a misdemeanor and the remedy summary, because it is unnecessary and shocking to the community.


The sensitive, delicate and good children, who are in fear of being whipped for failures, are most likely to fail, and therefore most likely to suffer.


The delicate and nervous in their organization, are most likely to be uneasy and therefore to be whipped for the organization given them by their Creator.


Children cannot chose their teachers ; they must submit to suffer in body and mind if the teacher is unskilful ; the suffering of the body can be prevented by the enactment of a law, and the unskilful will be driven from the profession. Children should be protected by statute law from bad teachers as the community is protected by law from bad men.


It is not in accordance with the present stage of civilization in this State.


There is no more reason to believe that school children cannot be governed without the whip than there was that sailors. or negroes. or felons could not be governed without the whip.


Arguments for the continuance of the use of the rod drawn from the practice of a half-civilized natiou more than 2,000 years ago, are not available at the present day.


What shall be done with incorrigible children? The same that is done under the corporal punishment system with incorrigible chil- dren, and it is claimed that fewer children will be found incorrigible under a system of kindness, reason, and restraint, than under a system of corporal punishment.


If a child is injurious to the school he should be removed, for good children have more rights in school than bad children. If a female is so incorrigible as to require corporal punishment she is an unfit associate for good girls.


If a child commit an offence against the law and become a crimi- nal, he should be placed in the hands of the proper law officers. Schoolmasters should be the friends and teachers of youth, and not policemen. "


1


244


Professor Agassiz, says : -


" My opinions on the subject are very decided, and those opinions are in opposition to corporal punishment. I believe the sooner we break away from this custom, the better it will be for the pupil, better for the teacher, better for society, better for the community, and better for the general advancement of education and knowledge. I have been a teacher all my life, and have taught in all grades of schools, both public and private. I have had under my instruction children of all ages, and never resorted to the rod, or any objection- ab'e form of punishment. I am opposed to corporal punishment, in schools of all kinds, and under all circumstances. No good in- fluences can possibly arise from such a system. It is demoralizing alike to teacher and pupil. It must be humiliating for a teacher to look back and remember that he had employed such a system in his teaching. I have a distrust of, and antipathy for, any teacher who cannot control a scholar without whipping. It is an established fact that education is practicable without physical punishment. All acknowledge that we have in the community, competent and suc- cessful teachers, who never use the rod. The knowledge and power of dismissal or suspension would be a restraint on disorderly in- clined pupils. If I had charge of a large school in which there were disorderly or unruly children, I would require them to leave their seats, place them near the teacher and in front of the school, and endeavor to reform and discipline them by kind and conciliatory means. If this course failed of the desired result, I would call in a policeman, and have them removed from the school. I have had children as young as four years under my instruction, and have never used corporal punishment. I would not degrade myself by such discipline with any human being."


Edward Shippen, Esq., President of the School Board of Phila- delphia, and formerly a teacher, says : -


" I am amazed ypon reflection that I ever degraded my pupils, myself, and my calling by raising my arm to strike a child into whose nostrils God had breathed the breath of life; in whose mind and heart he had planted faculties and feelings susceptible to the slightest touch of kindness. ' Every blow inflicted was a public impeachment of my fitness for the position to which I had been called."


The Rev. James Freeman Clark says : -


" Whipping is a barbarous and brutal punishment which the civil- ized and Christian world has outgrown. As we have abolished whipping everywhere else as a punishment, we ought to abolish it


25


also in our schools. As we do not find it necessary to use it in the government of men, we ought to be able to govern little boys and girls without it.


There are two classes of teachers. There is the teacher who leads and the teacher who drives. The one goes before his flock, and it follows him. The other goes behind it, and it flies before him. In the East, on the Syrian hills. you will meet one of the former class, walking cahnly on, all his sheep following him, and even when two shepherds and their flocks meet, they never become confused or mixed, for each sheep knows the voice of his shepherd. But on the roads leading to Brighton, you may see examples of the other, a tumult of sheep running wildly before their drivers, who follow them, screaming, beating and yelling. The Eastern flock of sheep is the type of the school governed by reason and love - the other of that which rests on the rod.


It is not talking about whipping, it is the whipping itself, which throws an odium on teachers. The profession can never be elevated to its proper dignity, while it is made a part of the duty of a teacher to brandish the rod. From the time of " Mr. Vindex " in the " Fool of Quality " to that of " Mr. Squeers." in " Dotheboys Han." satire and ridicule of teachers have been founded on their use of the ferule. In conversation with Professor D'Arey Thompson, the distinguished writer and lecturer on education lately among us, he expressed the opinion that teaching could never be raised to the rank of a profes- sion, while whipping was continued in schools. Public contempt, in a greater or less degree, hie remarked always attaches to any whose office involves inflicting physical pain on others. Hence hangmen and public executioners. and the familiars of the torture- room in the Inquisition, have always been objects of popular odium. The reform in which we are engaged will do more than any other to elevate the character of teachers in the general esteem. A profes- sor in a college is only a teacher, but he is much more esteemed than the master of a public school, partly because his work is pure- ly instruction, and does not involve the infliction of physical pain."


Professor C. P. Newton, of the Newark Academy. of Newark. N. J., says : -


" It is to be feared that this barbarous practice of using the rod or rattan has done more mischief for the rising generation in Newark than can be repaired by fifty or inore good teachers in many years to come ; yet more to be deplored is the utter want of feeling exhibited by its advocates, some of whom openly acknowledge that they teach for money, and whip as a matter of convenience.


If corporal punishment be necessary to enforce moral discipline in families, to thus demonstrate to it the superior power and au- thority of the parent, it does not necessarily follow that it should be


.


26


delegated to a class of teachers who are not looked upon as parents, or if so, whose position forbids the use and consequent abuse of a parent's power. There may be exceptions to this rule, but of such rare occurence that no general law should give the authority to teachers indiscriminately."


MUSIC.


The Committee recommend an appropriation, for the purpose of procuring a teacher of music for the schools. This could be done for a trifling expense, and would be a great benefit to the scholars ; cultivating their taste, teaching them habits of attention, and at the same time affording them amusement and recreation.


RESPECTFULLY PRESENTED, FOR THE COMMITTEE, JAMES HEWINS.


Read in town meeting March 6. 1871.


STATISTICS.


Term.


Wages.


Schools.


Teacher.


Weeks


$ Cts.


No. of


Sch'Irs


Average attend'nce


CENTRE DISTRICT.


Sum. Terin.


A. A. Hixon.


11


12.50


51


49


Fall Term.


A. A. Hixon.


10


12.50


51


45


Win. Term.


A. A. Hixon.


11


10.00


51


43


NORTH DISTRICT.


Sum. Term.


L. M. Lane.


10


8.50


37


32


Fall Term.


L. M. Lane.


9


8.50


38


34


L. M. Lane.


3


9.50


22


19


Win. Term.


M. B. Wilder.


8


9.50


35


31


SOUTH DISTRICT.


Sum. Term.


S. J. Woods.


11


8.50


23


18


Fall Term.


S. J. Woods.


11


8.50


23


22


H. F. Burt.


12


22.50


55


47


L. A. Marvel.


14


22.50


61


51


L. A. Marvel.


7


22.50


69


59





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