USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1860-1869 > Part 1
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WEST BRIDGEWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1611 00143 0823
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WEST DRICCEWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/annualreportsofs1860west
Hill. Lewen
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE.
Selectmen, Overseers of the poor,
TOWN CLERK, AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE
or
WEST BRIDGEWATER.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1860.
BOSTON : PRINTED BY DAMRELL & MOORE, 16 DEVONSHIRE STREET. 1860.
4722
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
Selectmen, Overseers of the
TOWN CLERK, AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1860.
BOSTON: PRINTED BY DAMRELL & MOORE, 16 DEVONSHIRE STREET. 1860.
1
REPORT.
-
THE Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor of the Town of West Bridgewater respectfully submit the following report, showing the receipts and expenditures of said town for the year ending March 1, 1860 : -
RECEIPTS.
Balance in the treasury, March 1, 1859, $3,281 70 The amount of the state, county, and town taxes, for 1859, . 5,354 24
The amount of the school-house tax, for 1859, in District No. 2, . 426 56
The amount of the school-house tax, for 1859, in District No. 7, 6 .
104 60
The income of the Massachusetts school fund,
76 86
The amount received for dog licenses,
78 00
Received from the town of Stoughton,
for the support of Sampson D. Talbut, 26 00
$9,347 96
EXPENDITURES.
State tax of 1859, $279 00
County tax of 1859, . 788 35
Support of the poor in the alms-house,
183 14
Support of the poor of this town, out of the alms-house, 48 69
Support of Jacob 'Talbut and Sampson
D. Talbut, who belong to Stoughton, 31 50
Entertaining three destitute travellers, 1 25
--
$1,331 93
4
Support of Schools, viz. :
To District No. 1,
$317 54
66
66 No. 2,
· 211 00
66
. No. 3,
198 30
66 No. 4,
86 25
66 66
No. 5,
141 00 ·
66
No. 6,
108 68
No. 7,
116 62
66
66 No. 8,
127 17
" Union District,
178 05
$1,484 59
Repairs of Highways, by the Appropriation of 1858.
By Benj. Howard, in Dist. No. 1, $48 53
" Josiah Q. Hartwell, " No. 2,
77 38
" Andrew B. Holmes, " No. 3,
61 99
" Nathan Copeland, No. 4,
45 57
" Thomas Ames, No. 5,
41 19
" Barnabas Dunbar,
No. 6,
52 60
$327 26
Repairs of Highways, by the Appropriation of 1859.
By Amasa Howard, in Dist. No. 1, $157 05
" Shepherd L. Pratt, No. 2, 118 18
" Lewis Ryder, 66 No. 3, 135 73
" Pardon Copeland, No. 4, 112 03
" Thomas Ames, 66 No. 5, 103 00
" Davis Alger,
No. 6, 82 03
$708 02
$1,035 28
Work and Materials on Roads, by special Appro- priations.
To Barnabas Dunbar, for completing a section of the Jerusalem road, $51 00
To Jonas Hartwell, for a section do., 27 30
Amount carried forward, .
$78 30
.
·
.
·
·
5
Amount brought forward, . $78 30
To Bradford Snell, for a section do., 23 80
To Martin Hayward, for gravel for do., 15 75
To Wm. Alger, for building a section of road, near Michael Sullivan's, 19 60
To Barnabas Dunbar, for work on the Swamp Road,
36 40
'To John M. Lothrop, for do. do.,
80 76
To John L. Hayward, for grading, &c.,
a section of road, south of Josiah Richards's,
28 50
To Richard Thayer, for gravelling do., 36 80
To Luther Richards, for gravel do.,
5 00
To Joseph Kingman, for moving and enlarging a bridge, and grading a section of road near Daniel Reed's, also a section near Joshua T. Ryder's, 83 00 To George D. Ryder, for gravelling a section of road near his house, 37 17
To Jacob H. Crossman, for carting gra- vel and cinders, do., do., 41 66
To Joseph Kingman, for gravel for do., and mowing bushes,
7.90
To John S. Dunbar, for carting 43} cords of stones, and 38 cords of gra- vel from Bull's Hole, and 30 cords do. from W. Caldwell's, on to the road near Daniel Reed's, 184 68
'To Amasa Howard, for carting 5 cords of stones do., 10 00
To Ephraim T. Snell, for carting 12 cords do. do.,
24 00
To J. Howard, for carting 13 cords do., To Samuel Wilbur, of Raynham, for piece of land, for gravel, 75 00
18 20
For gravel purchased by surveyors, not included in the general order, . 9 70
$816 22
School-house Taxes.
Part of the school-house taxes for 1856,
1857, and 1858, in District No. 1, . $208 00
Amount carried forward, .
. $208 00
6
Amount brought forward, ·
$208 00
Balance of the school-house tax, for
1857, in District No. 2, 12 83 Part of the school-house tax, for 1859, in District No. 2, . 257 59
Part of the school-house tax, of 1853,
in District No. 4, . 75
Part of the school-house tax, of 1859, in District No. 7, . 74 27
$553 44
The Treasurer has also paid the following Incidental Expenses, viz. : -
The General Order of 1859, as re- ported by the Auditing Committee : To Caleb Howard, for tolling a bell at 7 deaths,
$3 50
2 50
To J. W. Colwell, for tolling a bell at 1 death, 50 cts. ; and for the care and heating the Town Hall, for a meeting of the county commissioners, $2.00, To Austin Packard, for 1} days making general order, assignment of non- resident lands, and perambulating Raynham Line, $2.25 ; for 3} days on school-house tax, in Dist. No. 1, $5.25 ; for 3} days at the alms-house, and on alms-house accounts, $5.25 ; for 2} days on voters' lists, and mak- ing warrant and copies, &c., for town meetings, $3.75 ; for three days on accounts, and settling with the trea- surer, $4.50 ; for 4} days on the re- port of the selectmen, getting it printed and correcting proof, $6.75 ; for two days finishing the reports, and other business incident to his office, $3.00, .
30 75
To Thompson B. Caldwell, for one day taking account of stock in the alms- house, . $1 50
Amount carried forward, . ·
$1 50
7 ·
Amount brought forward, . $1 50 For 13} days as School Committee, 20 25 For making the Report of School Com- mittee, .
3 00
For making Report to Sec'y of State, . 1 50
$26 25
To Ira Bailey, for 20₺ days as School Committe, $30 75
For printing blank certificates, . 2 50
$33 25
To Job Bartlett, for going with the hearse to thirteen funerals of persons interred in town, . $13 00
For going with hearse to two funerals of persons interred out of town,
3 25
For taking care of the hearse, . 3 00
$19 25
To Thomas Pratt, for constable service, For postage, 24
$4 30
$1 54
To James Copeland, for four days as Road Committee, and cash paid Sur- veyor, .
$8 00
For one day at Plymouth and expenses, 3 00 For other service incident to his office as Selectman and Overseer of the Poor, 5 50
$16 50
To Geo. D. Ryder, for six days attend- ing meetings of the Selectmen, $9 00
For 12 days viewing roads, ·
1 87
For other service as Selectman, . ·
3 75
$14 62
To James Howard, for six days attend-
ing meetings of the Selectmen, $9 00
For 232 days on the valuation and taxes, 35 25
Amount carried forward, . $44 25
8
Amount brought forward, $44 25
For one day perambulating Town Line, and on various papers, 1 50
For 1} days on voters' lists, and war- rant and copies for Town Meeting, . 2 25 For 11} days adjusting papers and ac- counts, and various other duties as Selectman and Overseer of the Poor, 17 25 For service as Committee on New Road, For service as Town Clerk, 26 75
5 50
$97 50
To Albert Copeland, Jr., for six days attending meetings of the Selectmen, For two days on the valuation, . 3 00
$9 00
For one day perambulating Town Lines, For one day on roads, ·
1 50
1 50
For going to Raynham and Taunton, .
2 00
For conveying Martha Tribou to the Hospital, 2 00
For 3} days on various duties as Se- lectman and Overseer of the Poor, 5 25 For recording a deed at Taunton, 42
For service as Committee on Accounts, 1 00
$25 67
To Nahum Snell, for service as Com- mittee on Accounts, $1 00
To Lewis G. Howard, for service as Committee on Accounts,
75
To Luther Richards, for 49} cords of gravel, . 7 22 .
$8 97
The general order amounting to, . $289 54 -
Printing Reports for the year 1859, . $32 80
Printing posters and advertising, 1 50
For half the expense of renewing the marks on the line, between this Town and North Bridgewater, For Valuation, and other Blank Books and paper,
2 25
15 18
Amount carried forward, . · $51 73
9
Amount brought forward, . $51 73
For express and postage, . 1 99
For a ballot box, 2 00
For expenses of two journeys to Boston, one to New Bedford, one to Ply- mouth, and some other horse-hire, 8 49
For repairing road scrapers, 6 00
For an orchard on the Town Farm, 5 75
For the use of the Town Hall, for the year ending April 7, 1859, 40 00
The Treasurer has also been credited with the fol- lowing sums, viz. :
$115 96
Six per cent. discount on the State, County, and Town taxes of 1859, $321 25 Six per cent. discount on the school- house tax for 1859, in District No. 2, 25 59 Six per cent. discount on the school- house tax for 1859, in District No. 7, 6 27 Sundry abatements on the school-house taxes, for 1856, 1857, and 1858, in District No. 1, 18 85
Sundry abatements on the school-house tax for 1859, in District No. 2, 3 92
Sundry abatements on the school-house tax for 1859, in District No. 7, 1 90
Sundry abatements on the State, Coun- ty, and Town taxes, for 1856, 1857, 1858, and 1859, 76 39
$454 17
The foregoing expenses and credits amount to, $6,081 13
Leaving a balance this day due from the Treasu- rer of,
· $3,266.83
The Treasury will be subject to the payment of the remainder of last year's appropriation for schools, viz. : -
To District No. 1,
$143 02 66 No. 2, ·
66
·
77 31
.
Amount carried forward, .
.
$220 33
10
Amount brought forward,
$220 33
To District No. 3,
45 48
66
No. 4,
111 01
66
66 No. 5,
113 03
66
No. 7,
128 47
66
No. 8,
11 35
Union District,
222 72
$852 39
The remainder of last year's appropriation for repairing the Highways, viz. : -
To District No. 1, Amasa Howard, Sur-
veyor,
$42 95
To District No. 2, Shepherd L. Pratt, Surveyor,
56 82
To District No. 3, Lewis Ryder, Surveyor,
64 27
66 66 No. 4, Pardon Copeland, " 37 97
47 00
66
66 No. 6, Davis Alger, 66
42 97
$291 98
The remainder of the school-house taxes of 1856, 1857, and 1858, in District No. 1, $154 67
The remainder of the school-house taxes of 1859, in District No. 2, 139 46 · The remainder of the school-house tax of 1853, in District No. 4, 5 16
The remainder of school-house tax for 1859, in District No. 7, . 22 16
$321 45
For the use of the Town Hall, for the year ending April 7, 1860, $40 00
The remainder of the salary of the keeper of the alms-house, for the cur- rent year,
62 50
$102 50
Amounting to .
$1,568 32
.
No. 5, Thomas Ames, 66
On payment of the last-named amount, the balance in the Treasury will be reduced to $1,696 51, which will be subject to its usual demands and losses.
11
EXPENSES AND RECEIPTS FOR THE ALMS-HOUSE ESTA- BLISHMENT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1860.
Expenses.
Inventory of property on hand, March 1, 1859,
$855 66
Flour and grain, .
$95 73
Meat and provisions,
29 34
W. I. goods, groceries, and seeds,
50 22
Clothing,
26 20
Farming tools, and repairs of do.
9 00
Furniture, and household articles,
5 00
Smithwork (mostly previous to March 1, 1859),
5 53
Tobacco and snuff,
5 59
Soap, .
6 55
Stock,
60 00
Sawing boards,
8 62
Physician's bill,
20 25
Horse and wagon hire,
7 60
Funeral expenses,
9 75
Labor hired on the farm,
30 75
Sundry articles and expenses not named,
7 63
Elijah Hancock's wages for a half year, . 62 50
Lloyd Howard's do., do., 62 50
Interest on the cost of the farm, $2341.31, at 6 per cent,
140 57
Do., do., of the buildings, $600.00, at 9 per cent, .
54 00
Do., do., of furniture and farming tools, $253.49, at 10 per cent, .
25 34
$722 67
$1,578 33
Receipts.
For 13,740 lbs. of hay,
·
·
. $124 46
66 5 calves,
40 60
" stock,
54: 50
" 1 hide,
3 67
.
·
Amount carried forward, · $223 23
12
Amount brought forward,
. $223 23
For beef, .
8 90
butter, cheese, lard, &c.,
" eggs and vegetables, 55 82
66 lumber, 5 21
35 57
66 labor and team work, done off the farm, 23 62
board of Rowena Keith, from North Bridgewater, 2 00
" due from Boston for George Dewire, 4 00 Inventory of property on hand, March 1, 1860, ¥41 54
$1,099 89
For the support of Paupers out of the Almshouse there has been paid, -
For the support of Sarah Ann Pike, at North Bridgewater, . 19 66
the support of Sarah James and child- ren, at Easton, 9 34
" the support of Martha Tribou, at the Insane Hospital, Taunton, 17 44
" moving Susan Brett to the almshouse, 2 25
$48 69
Besides $31.50, which has been paid for the support of Jacob Talbot jr., and Sampson D. Talbot, who belong to the town of Stoughton ; a part of which has been received of said town, and the remainder is charged to said town.
The expenditures for the support of the almshouse establishment exceed the re- ceipts, as herein estimated, to the amount of . · $478 44
Adding the amount paid for the support of paupers out of the almshouse, whose settlement is in this town, . 48 69
The whole cost of supporting the poor, both in and out of the almshouse, by the above estimate, appears to have been, $527 13
Present number of paupers in the almshouse, 7; average number therein, 634; whole number of weeks, 358}; cost of each per week, $1.33399.
13
Inventory of Property on hand, March 1, 1860.
2 oxen,
$125 00
6 cows,
175 00
3'swine,
12 00
8 tons of English hay,
152 00
2} tons meadow do.,
25 00
4 bushels of barley,
4 00
2 beans, 4 00
potatoes,
25 00
10 fowls,
4 00
16 lbs. butter,
4 00
40 € lard,
5 60
20 " tallow,
2 00
20 " candles,
3 00
235
ham,
25 85
400 pork,
48 00
250 " beef,
20 00
1 bbl. soap,
3 00
West India goods, and meal, .
7 09
100 loads of manure, .
100 00
$744 54
REPORT OF THE LIQUOR AGENCY.
The town had invested in the agency, March 1, 1859, the sum of $100, viz., Amount of liquors on hand, 35 00
Cash capital, .
65 00
·
$100 00
Amount of liquors bought during the year, 311 11 Making the amount of liquors in the agency during the year, $356 11
Amount of liquors on hand, March 1, 1860, $40 00 Leaving the cost of the liquors sold during the year, . $316 11
14
Amount of sales during the year, . From which deduct the first cost of liquors sold,
Leaves the net profits of the Agency,
Heretofore, the town has not received in- terest on their investment ; this year we have deducted the interest, $6, which leaves the agent's salary to be, . .
And the town's investment, March 1, 1860, $106 00
$460 06. 42356 316 11
$143-95 16745
$137 90 10148
JAMES HOWARD, Selectmen ALBERT COPELAND, JR., of West Bridgewater.
GEORGE D. RYDER,
15
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
Intentions of Marriage recorded in West Bridgewater, from Jan. 1, 1859, to Jan. 1, 1860.
No. Date.
Names of Groom and Bride.
1 Jan. 24, Andrew W. Perkins and Irene Morse. 2 Feb. 8, John Eaton jr. and Lavinia Whiting.
3 Feb. 27,
Frederic W. Shaw and Rosa Rosetta Winship.
4 March 1,
Seba H. Marshall and Belle E. Flagg.
5 April 20,
George L. Johnson and Ellen P. Graves. Nelson R. Hobbs and Mercena Eaton.
6 May 7,
7 May 19, George Poole and Mary A. Smith.
8 May 28, Hiram Colwell and Ruth Shortleff.
9 July 21, Austia Packard and Charlotte Ames. Albert Copeland jr. and Mary A. Tinkham.
10 July 28,
11 Aug. 2, Jasper N. Staples and Adeline Tirrell.
12 Aug. 11,
Josiah Otis and Myra Ann Millett.
13 Oct. 1, Daniel H. Holbrook and A. Louisa Dunbar.
14 Oct. 1, Mark W. Dunbar and Laura Leonard.
15 Oct. 27, John W. Worcester and Harriet A. Millett.
16 Nov. 10, William Q. Snell and Lavina F. Young.
17 Nov. 19, Joseph H. Bullard and Mary Ann Howard.
18 Dec. 27, Thomas O'Niel and Marberry Queeney.
19 Dec. 31, Hiram Howard and Hellen W. Fobes.
The number of births recorded in West Bridgewater, from Jan. 1, 1859, to Jan. 1, 1860, is 53.
16
Deaths registered in West Bridgewater from January 1, 1859, to January 1, 1860.
AGE.
No.
Date.
Names.
Yrs.
Mos. Days.
Disease.
1.
Jan. 1.
Simon Kenney, . .
Consumption.
2.
April 5.
Lentha Snell, ..
64
5
25
Influenza.
3.
April 22.
Walter Hartwell, ...
3
22
Lung Fever.
4.
April 23.
Alice Ames
86
9
26
Old Age.
5.
May 30.
Edmund D. Howard,
8
6
17
Scarlet Fever.
6.
June 4.
Sarah Howard, ......
81
1
24
Erysipelas and Old Age.
7.
June 12.
Anne W. Richards,.
10
15
Lung Fever.
8.
June 29.
Jeremiah Lucy, .....
28
9.
July 22.
Edmund Howard, ...
70
5
25
Dropsy.
10.
July
23.
Levi Talbut,. ...
4
Disease of the Heart.
11.
Aug. 23.
Annis Perkins, .. ..
89
11
6
Old Age.
12.
Aug. 24.
Henry A. Williams,.
16
6
2
Concussion by Railroad Cars.
13.
Sept. 2.
Seth Copeland, . ....
60
11
6
Consumption.
14.
Sept. 22.
Alice Lumbert,
1
8
5
Dysentery.
15.
Sept. 23.
Sylva Jane Richards,
14
11
7
Typhoid Fever.
16.
Sept. 24.
Jonathan Snell, .....
77
2
7
Paralysis.
17.
Sept. 24.
Fidelia M. Bailey, ...
1
8
22
Cholera Infantum.
18.
Oct. 21.
Susan Brett, ...
59
5
Cancer.
19.
Oct. 29.
Arthur Leonard, ....
3
17
Whooping Cough and Cholera Infantum.
20.
Oct. 31.
Joanna Seaver,
64
7
3
Paralysis.
21.
Nov. 4.
Margaret Thornell, ..
4
8
17
Croup.
22.
Nov. 9.
Eunice A. Copeland,.
15
10
14
Consumption.
i
23.
Dec. 16.
John Buckley, ......
20
Consumption.
24.
Dec. 26.
James O. Stetson, ...
56
26
Scirrus Stomach.
..
Consumption.
JAMES HOWARD, Town Clerk.
-
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER.
IN submitting 'their annual report, the School Committee will speak first of
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.
A school is not necessarily good or bad because its teacher is competent or incompetent. Its success or failure depends not wholly upon the teacher. Other parties are responsible. Parents and scholars have an influence to exert, a work to do ; and no teacher can keep a perfectly successful school, without their co-operation. The disgrace of failure usually, not always, belongs about equally to parents, scholars, and teacher ; but frequently, for self-justification, parents and scholars magnify the teacher's faults, and heap upon him the dishonor which should be equally distributed. If parents and scholars would labor as zealously to compensate for the teacher's defects, as they often do to expose them, we should very seldom have poor schools. Fault-finding will do much towards counteract- ing the faithful labors of the best teacher ; while cheerful co- operation, good counsel, and frequent encouragement, will " cover," if not remove, " a multitude of " imperfections.
We wish not to convey the impression that there has been any unusual negligence or opposition, the past year : the con- trary, we believe, is true. Our object is to arouse all to effi- cient, harmonious action ; believing in this way only perfect success can be attained. The committee have no failures to report. In their opinion, no money has been spent in vain The teachers all labored faithfully, and earned well their wages. Many of them deserved more than they received.
2
18
May Heaven reward them ! Though none failed, some were more successful than others ; as may be readily inferred from the following detailed account of the several schools : -
DISTRICT No. 1.
Miss Katherine L. Dunbar, of this town, taught the gram- mar department, in summer. She brought to her work much experience, and a good reputation, which raised the expecta- tions of the committee so high that, at first, they were some disappointed. There seemed to be great want of activity and interest ; but the examination was quite satisfactory, - better than the previous appearance of the school promised.
The primary department, in summer, was in charge of Miss Fannie E. Mitchell, of Milford ; who was well qualified, by nature and culture, for her station. There seemed to be mu- tual love between teacher and pupils. The order was excel- lent, the progress commendable, the examination highly satisfactory. It was with regret that the committee were un- able to secure Miss Mitchell's services in the winter.
She was succeeded by Miss Julia A. Townsend, a resident of the district, who labored as assiduously as her predecessor ; but, being inexperienced, and failing to win the respect of some of her scholars, and the hearty co-operation of their pa- rents, she was less successful, - particularly in government. Some of the scholars appeared careless, indifferent, inattentive, and disrespectful, both in and out of the school-room. We are happy to say that the conduct of most of them was much better, and that, in spite of some rude boys, the school was tolerably successful.
The grammar department (usually kept in winter by a male teacher) was, this term, in charge of Miss Roxellana Howard, of Cochesett. Seldom has the school enjoyed a more success- ful term. In Miss Howard are combined many elements es- sential to the good teacher. Possessing a generous culture, an excellent judgment, and winning manners, with great per- severance, she could hardly fail to keep a good school. With very few exceptions, the scholars acted well their part ; com- plying cheerfully with the teacher's wishes.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
This school, summer and winter, as well as a part of the pre- vious term, was taught by Miss Susan Howard, of North
19
Bridgewater, who appeared to feel at home in the school-room, and to be well qualified to instruct and interest young child- ren, of whom her school was principally composed. She won the good-will of her scholars, and, in the main, was quite suc- cessful. She is less successful in teaching reading than other branches ; being, apparently, unable to distinguish and give the proper inflections.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
Taught in summer by Miss J. A. Packard, of North Bridge- water, who, with more experience and self-confidence, will doubtless make an efficient teacher. The school was greatly deficient in vivacity ; both teacher and pupils appearing diffi- dent. The teacher was faithful, the scholars respectful, and generally studious : hence the progress was good, though not well indicated by the examination ; the scholars failing to speak distinctly, promptly, confidently, and some of the best being absent on account of sickness.
In winter, this school was taught by Miss Emilie B. Reed, of West Bridgewater, who is so well known as an instructress, that nothing need be said of her, except that she maintained her former reputation. She infused some life into the school ; still there appeared, in a less degree, the want of energy no- ticed in the summer.
DISTRICT No. 4.
This school was in charge of Miss Caroline Howard, of West Bridgewater ; who, being young and inexperienced, and having been a schoolmate of some of her pupils, succeeded quite as well as could have been expected. A little more voice, on the part of both teacher and scholars, especially the latter, would have improved the appearance of the school very much, and rendered the examination more satisfactory. We regarded the school as ordinarily successful ; which, under the circumstances, must be encouraging to the teacher.
DISTRICT NO. 5.
Taught, summer and winter, by Miss Hattie F. Perkins, of this town, - a graduate of the Normal School at Bridgewater. She manifested a want of energy, which, perhaps, was owing to poor health ; and hence did not infuse into her school the
20
interest and life necessary to the highest success. The school was a difficult one, evidently not having been properly trained by previous teachers. At first it was very disorderly and noisy ; but a constant, gradual improvement in conduct was noticed. Some of the scholars were respectful, obedient, kind, and studious ; a few were indolent, but more were roguish. Many of them spoke so low and indistinct as to be heard with great difficulty, when heard at all. In this we could detect no improvement. In other respects, we think something was accomplished.
DISTRICT No. 6
Is in union with District No. 3 in East Bridgewater, and this year in the care of the committee of that town.
DISTRICT No. 7.
Miss Martha Copeland, of West Bridgewater, taught this school last year, and gave so good satisfaction that it was again placed under her care. Miss Copeland has the natural qualifications for an excellent teacher, and, with better prepa- ration, might maintain a high standing in her profession. She is too much confined to text-books and a regular routine of exercises ; interspersing too few anecdotes, illustrations, and oral instruction, to maintain a lively interest, and break up the tedious monotony too common in schools.
Her school was too heterogeneous, large, tardy, and irregu- lar in attendance, to make rapid progress. The number of scholars was 58 ; the average attendance but 39. The aggre- gate tardiness was 775, - averaging over 13 to a scholar dur- ing the term. The school, though tolerable, was not, in the judgment of the committee, what a New England village school ought to be.
DISTRICT No. 8.
Truly " the last shall be first." This school, both summer and winter, we marked as No. 1 in point of excellence. Miss Sarah A. Brown, of Mansfield, the summer teacher, was an excellent reader, and was well imitated by her scholars. In nothing, perhaps, was the school inferior ; while in reading we think it excelled.
21
The most successful term in town, this year, was taught here, in the winter, by Miss Mary J. Alden, of Abington. Not a person, so far as your committee could learn, was at all dissatisfied with the school. There was evidently a strong at- tachment between teacher and pupils, which made their work pleasant and profitable. Though this school is not the most advanced, it has a good foundation on which to build a noble superstructure.
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