USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 33
USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 33
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It had been well and wisely ordered by the fathers of New Eng -- land, that each municipal community of sufficient ability, should af- ford to youth the means of acquiring the languages. The salutary effect of this regulation was little appreciated, and was even regard- ed as oppressive, in times less enlightened than the present. In 1766, the representative was instructed to endeavor, 'that the law requiring a Latin Grammar School, be repealed, and that not more than one such school should be kept in a county,' and, in 1767, to use his exertion to relieve the people from the great burden of sup- porting so many schools of this description, ' whereby they are pre- vented from attaining such degree of English learning as is necessa- ry to retain the freedom of any state.'
The lower schools seem to have been sustained by liberal appro- priations. In 1769, there were eight districts; the apportionment of the tax of ££79 17s. in that year throws some light on the popu- Jation and resources of the divisions.
Old Names. Sums.
Old Names.
Sums.
Centre,
£ 19 1s.
Stone's,
£8 5s.
Tatnick,
10 10
Stowell's, S 3
Bogachoag,
8 8
Curtis's, 7 11
Smith's, 9 8
Flagg's, 7 11
The sums raised by taxation for schools in different years, varied with the fluctuations of the currency to such extent that it is difficult to estimate accurately the real amount of expenditure. In 1727, the
299
SCHOOLS.
ax was £ 16 10s .: in 1730, 2€25 : in 1740, £ 100 currency : in 1750, € 46 10s; in 1760, 075: in 1780, 676 16s: in 1770, £ 3000 in continental bills.
It is not possible now to collect a perfect list of the school mas- ers previous to the revolution. The figures prefixed to the names of the gentlemen mentioned below, show the time when their in- struction commenced. 1725, Jonas Rice. 1729, Benjamin Flagg. 1732, James Wyman, Richard Rogers. 1733, Samuel Boutelle, Nathaniel Williams. 1738, Samuel Marsh. 1739, James Durant. 1744, James Varney. 1752, Henry Gardner. 1755, John Adams.1 1757, John Young. 1758, William Crawford. 1760, Micah Law- ·ence.
After the revolution, in 1785 and 1288, the town was presented by he grand jury for the neglect of its grammar school, and when it vas maintained, it appears to have travelled around the centre, in the circle of districts, until 1808, when it became stationary.
In 1800, school houses were built in the several districts under the direction of a committee. The following table shows the di- mensions, position, and cost of each.
Old names.
New names.
Tatnick Quarter,
2,
Feet square. 25,
Expense. $270 27
Jones's,
3,
24,
270 27
Burbank's,
5,
22,
247 75
Baird's,
6,
22,
247 75
Gates's,
7,
20,
225 22
Fisk's Corner,
8,
22,
217 75
Burntcoat Plain,
9,
22,
247 75
'Thaxter's,
10,
18,
202 70
Provision was made for the erection of two houses, not less than 22 feet square, in the centre, then containing one third of all the minors : one was built at the corner of the old burial place, and the other opposite to the building then the Unitarian Church, now the Franklin House.
Prudent and able committees have been elected annually by the town, who have had the supervision and visitation of the common schools in the manner directed by the statutes.
The following statements illustrative of the condition of the schools, and the expenses of education, are derived principally from the re- turns in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
1 Afterwards President of the United States. He was certainly employed one your, and probably more, while student at law with James Putnam.
800
SCHOOLS.
1834.
1835.
1836.
Number of School Districts,
12,
12.
12,
Number of minors in all the districts,
2509,
2666,
3011,
Males from 4 to 16 attending schools, Females,
494,
501,
636,
Average attendance in days,
924,
859,
1010,
Number attending private schools,
111,
100,
-
Winter Schools, months,
96,
100,
88,
Summer schools, months,
111,
103,
87,
Instructors, Males,
12,
14,
11,
Females, instructing,
20,
21,
19,
Wages, average by months, Winter,
$ 17,
$21,
-
The monies granted by the town for the support of schools are dis- tributed thus : from the whole tax is first deducted the amount as- signed for the grammar school : as an equivalent for the school being kept within the centre, the other districts receive two hundred and fifty dollars, equally divided : the residue of the whole sum is then apportioned according to the minors. The mode of distribution will be seen from the following table : six columns, after the first, show the number of persons under twenty one years of age ; the six last the sum given to each district, in the year marked at the top of the column.
MINORS.
MONIES.
No.1831. 1832. 1833. 1834. 1835. 1836.
1831. 1832. 1833.
1834.
1835. 1836.
1 1058 1164 1256 1360 1524 1816
$978 $1012
$1039 $1299
$1402
$1670
2
151
146
135
146
138
141
166
149
131
162
149
155
3
200
227
221
225
232
293
210
220
205
237
234
292
4
98
112
96
103
83
104
118
120
102
121
98
118
5
106
103
108
111
106
99
123
112
112
128
120
113
6
81
66
70
73
71
99
85
77
89
89
88
7
66
78
73
84
112
101
86
88
83
102
125
115
8
138
88
102
104
93
93
138
99
107
121
112
108
9
95
75
81
75
72
90
95
38
89
9-1
88
105
10
62
59
59
55
65
42
62
74
71
79
82
61
11
54
61
55
59
55
59
50
76
68
79
73
77
12
-
59
104
117
108
129
-
74
108
134
122
141
2108 2244 2356
2509 2666 3041
2125 2197
2195
2645
2697
3043
-
Board per week, males,
$23,
$2},
$2,
Amount raised for schools by tax,
$ 5535, $ 5500,
$ 6270,
Expenses for furniture,
$ 500, $550,
$ 550,
Tuition in private schools,
Summer,
$93,
$ 163,
$ 2028, $ 1500,
$ 1500.
675,
622,
570,
301
CENTRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The following gentlemen, among others, have been employed in instruction here since the revolution, most of them in the Grammar School.
Dr. Amasa Dingley, who died in New York : Rev. Thaddeus M. Ilarris, long clergyman of Dorchester : Thomas Payson, afterwards teacher in Boston, and now of Peterborough, N. II. : Roger Vose, counsellor at law in Walpole, N. II. : Silas Paul, sometime in the practice of the law in Fitchburg : Andrew Morton, lawyer, who died at Hampden, Me : Calvin Park, Professor in Brown University : Isaac Gates, afterwards of the United States army : Samuel Swan, practising law in Hubbardston : Rev. Nathan Parker, late of Ports- mouth, N. II .: Dr. Jacob Bigelow, physician of Boston : Rev. John Nelson, of Leicester; Nathan Guilford, of Lexington, Ken- tucky : Ebenezer D. Washburn, of Mobile, Alabama : Levi Iley- wood : Rev. Jonathan Going, now of the city of New York : Jona- than Smith, now of Bath, N. II. : John Reed, son of John Reed, of Worcester : Thomas Fiske, who died at Charleston, S. C. : Ben- son C. Baldwin, who died at Milford: Leonard Worcester, late teacher in Newark, N. J. : George Folsom, now of New York.
Charles Thurber, B. U. 1827, son of Rer. Laban Thurber, born in Brookfield, the present master of the Latin School, was elect- ed to that office, March 27, 1822. The English School of the Dis- trict, is under the charge of Warren Lazell, son of Deacon Daniel Lazell, of Mendon, who was chosen as instructor, Feb. 23, 1828. Albion P. Peck, son of Dr. Gustavus D. Peck, of Milford, was elect- ed master of the second English School, June 22, 1835. 1
CENTRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
One of the earliest steps in the progress of the improvement of education in the Centre District, was in 1752, when the town, by their votes, consented, 'that the inhabitants of the centre, extend- ing one mile and a half around the school house, should have allow- ed them their proportion of money for the support of schooling, pro- vided they do, bona fide, kecep a grammar school the whole year : and if their proportion of money will procure a master more than twelve weeks, the usual time they have of late had schooling, then any person may have liberty to send children afterwards.' About
1 The compensation paid to the instructor of the Grammar school, is $900 : of the Eng- lish school $700 ; of the second school $400, annually : of the Apprentices school $32 monthly: of the Female High school $5, 50 : of the Primary, Infant, and African, schools $3,50, by the week : the assistants are paid at the rate of $1 the week.
302
CENTRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
this period, a school house, with two rooms on the floor, was erect- ed by James Putman, John Chandler, and other public spirited in- dividuals, 1 and the deficiency of the grants for the support of in- struction was supplied by subscriptions. In 1769, the town gave to the proprietors of the grammar school, 6, ' they engaging that the school shall be free, for all persons in the town desirous of learning the languages.'
All minor objects gave way to the intense interest and exhausting necessities of the revolutionary contest ; its stern excitement divert- ed attention, and its exigencies absorbed the whole available resourc- es of the people : all improvements were neglected ; and education sunk low amid political commotion. When peace revisited the land, an effort was made for the establishment of a system, perfected in after years, which might afford to the children of each citizen good and thorough education in their own homes. An association was formed for erecting a school of high grade, with the real merits, thongh without the ostentatious name of academy. In 1784, Eli- jah Dix, Joseph Allen, Levi Lincoln, Nathan Patch, John Green, John Nazro, Palmer Goulding, and others, uniting in a joint stock company, procured a lease of the land on the west side of Main street on which the Centre School House now stands, and that buil- ding was erected in front of the position it now occupies. A con-
veyance of the lot was obtained, Sept. 29, 1787. The property had been divided into 100 shares, and each proprietor, by the terms of the deed, was to hold an amount of interest in the estate proportion- ate to his contribution for the purchase, under limitations securing the appropriation to the purposes of the fund.
Two schools were opened in the new house by the proprietors ; one for the common elementary studies, under Mr. Brown ; the oth- er for the highest branches of academic education, called ' The Sem- inary,' under the tuition of Mr. Thomas Payson. For a time they were sustained with great spirit. The quarterly examinations, with the attraction of dramatic exhibitions, were attended by a numerous audience. In Aug. 1787, the tragedy of Cato was played by Mr. Brown's scholars, with brilliant success ; rivalled by the pupils of the seminary, in October following, by the recitation of original orations, forensic discussions, poems, and dialogues in Greek and Latin.
1 This humble one story edifice was placed near the east side of Main street, south of the termination of the Boston Rail Road, and surrounded with trees. During the revolution, it was converted into a dwelling, and remained, uulil modern improvement swept away the ancient house and the venerable elms that embowered its lowly roof.
303
CENTRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
As the children of the subscribers were removed to the colleges, or the preparation for professions or active business, the warm in- terest of the parents in the institutions declined, and with it the schools gradually sunk from the high ground on which they had been placed. In May 1799, the building was advertised for sale at pub- lic auction, and in July 1801, purchased by the inhabitants of the Centre District from its owners, at the cost of $950, including the expense of repairs.
In the summer of 1823, a vigorous effort was made for the renova- tion of the decayed system. Dr. Bancroft, foremost in every good word and work, Jonathan Going, earnest and ardent in the promo- tion of improvement, Samuel M. Burnside, author of the school law of 1827, Levi Lincoln, Otis Corbett, and Samuel Jennison, were the framers of that plan, whose successful operation has given occasion for just pride in the excellence of the schools of the district. These gentlemen, from a committee 'to consider the interesting questions regarding the good of our children in the acquisition of knowledge,' submitted a report, Aug 22, 1823, published and dis- tributed to all the families. They declare their opinion, that for several years, the schools had generally fallen below the common standard, and would not bear comparison with many of the immedi- ate neighborhood. The evils so long endured, they attributed to false economy, in the employment of ill paid and incompetent teach- ers. The'remedy was suggested, in the arrangement soon after adopt- ed, and since continued, with the slight modifications pointed out by experience or required by the alteration of social condition. It was urged on the inhabitants, ' as they regarded parental obligations, as they loved their offspring, as they estimated their responsibility to God and their country, to cooperate unitedly and individually in the attainment of the great object.' 'The appeal was not in vam. The recommendations were confirmed, and liberal grants made for their execution. On the 31st of Dec. 1823, the first Board of Overseers was elected. They were Aaron Bancroft, Jonathan Going, Aretius B. Hull, Loammi Ives Hoadley, Levi Lincoln, John Davis, Theoph- ilus Wheeler, Otis Corbett, Enoch Flagg, Benjamin Chapin, Sam- uel M. Burnside, and Frederic W. Paine ; the heavy duty of carry- ing into operation the measures proposed, and sanctioned by the votes of the district, was devolved upon and faithfully discharged by them. The statement of the present condition will show the extent of their arduous and meritorious exertions, and the amount of resulting good.
Resort to the contingent aid of voluntary contribution having been-
304
CENTRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
found ineffectual and feeble, authority was obtained from the Legis- lature, Jan. 27, 182.1, to bring the steady support of taxation for the support of schools. An additional act, Feb. 1826, authorized the notification of meetings, by an advertisement, signed by a majority of the overseers, posted on the meeting houses seven days previous.
A board of twelve persons, annually elected, have the duty of as- certaining the qualifications of teachers and the attainments of schol- ars ; prescribing the course of instruction ; establishing proper reg- ulations; investigating all complaints of parents, pupils, or instruc- tors ; of the disbursement of monies ; the examination and supervis- ion of the schools ; and of reporting in writing on the progress made during their term of office.
Ten permanent schools are arranged in regular gradation, and kept through the year, with such vacations only as the convenience of the teachers may require, or the discretion of the board permit.
Of the lowest grade are, the Infant Schools, first opened in 1830, receiving children at the earliest age at which they can derive bene- fit from public instruction.
Next are the North and South Primary Schools, receiving their pupils by promotion from the infant schools.
The pupils, when qualified, are advanced to the two Boy's English Schools, and to the Second Female School.
Highest in rank, is the Female High School, corresponding with the Latin Grammar School, to which promotions are made from the Primary schools.
There is an African School, for children of color, established in 1823, where all the useful branches of education are taught.
A school, first opened in 1828, has since been annually kept during the winter months, for apprentices and clerks, and such other boys as can attend only through a part of the year.
The instructors are required to keep a register, exhibiting an ac- count of the conduct and proficiency of every pupil during each day. Monthly visitations are made by the overseers, and each scholar is then subjected to examination, and report of the result made to the board, at their stated meetings on the first Monday of every month.
It was originally proposed, that all the schools subject to the vis- itorial direction of the overseers, should be under the superinten- dence of the Grammar master, with the view, that some competent person, professionally devoted to education, should bestow that con- stant attention on the execution of the details of the system, which men engaged in the cares and occupations of life, could not give
305
CENTRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
our by hour. Dr. Bancroft, the enlightened friend of youth, repor- ing for the committee of 1823, writes, ' the whole will form but ne school, under the general superintendence of the board of over- eers, and children will be advanced from class to class till they each the highest. And in order to give strength and unity to the ystem, your committee are convinced, that the grammar master ught to have the superintendence of all the schools in the Centre House, and that the pupils should be classed under his direction in uch manner as to make the most economical use of time without eference to the particular school to which they belong.' Difficul- ies resulting from the separate policy of the town and district, pre- ented the effect of an arrangement so judicious in its principle.
The following table exhibits the condition of the schools of the istrict in the month of Sept. 1836.
Schools.
Teachers.
Whole No.
Boys. Girls. to 5.
3
5
10 10.
10 10 15.
Over 15.
atin Grammar, Charles Thurber,
Eliz. B. Hamilton,
40 38
40
0
0
0
1 32
8 41 0
Second Female, Jerusha Knight,
49
0
50
0
0
9
39 2
Albion P. Peck, 53
53
0
0 24
29 0
Lois W. Harrington,63
0
63
0 40
23 0
10 0 0
Central Infant, South Infant,
Martha S. Hamilton, 53
29
24
23
41 30
0 0
New South Inf't. Rebecca S. Coes,
34
16
18
8
25
1 0
55 39
36
33 39
0 45 42
0
0 0
Mary S. Ward, Abigail Pratt,
75
80
46
34
Boy's English, Second Boy's, North Primary, South Primary, North Infant,
Warren Lazell,
50
0 38 49
0
0 29 11 5
Female High,
Caroline M. Corbett,55
0
African, Hannah C. Perrin, 22 9 13 5 16 1 0 A recommendation made by Dr. Bancroft, was adopted, Feb. 23, 825, and it was ordered ' that at two o'clock of the afternoon of the Saturday which closes the scholastic year, a public address be annual- y delivered in one of the houses for public worship, by some person appointed by the board ; the prominent objects of which shall be, to Illustrate the importance of good education and the best method of acquiring and extending such an education ; and give to the district ssembled a just view of the manner in which their schools are and hould be conducted. Let this address be followed by prayer. Let roper measures be taken to insure a full audience from the District, ind let the pupils of each school be seated together, with their teach- er at their head. Further pageantry, the committee think, would be unnecessary and useless.' The beautiful thought of its benevolent
39
306
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION.
author has had that observance which its origin deserved. Among the most interesting of festivals, has been the long procession of chil- dren, going up to the church, each April, with the plain and un- ostentatious simplicity, the founder of the ceremony designed, to hear the words of good counsel or admonition.
Those named below have made addresses on these occasions.
1825. Aaron Bancroft, 1831. Alfred D. Foster,
1826. Samuel M. Burnside, 1832. John S. C. Abbot,
1827. Jonathan Going, 1833. Frederic A. Willard,
1828, Isaac Goodwin, 1831. Stephen Salisbury,
1829. Alonzo Hill,
1835. Tra Barton,
1830. Isaac Davis,
1836. William Lincoln.
Such are the brief outlines of the plan, affording instruction from its lowest elements to its highest branches, beginning at the alpha- bet, advancing by regular gradations to the more elevated depart- ments of learning, and affording to every citizen of the district the means of giving to his children all the education necessary for ad- mission to the Universities, or desirable for the commencement of the engagements of business.
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION.
Although munificent grants sustained the great system of the com- mon schools, instruction alike of lower and higher grade than they afforded, was required and has been supported at private charge, or undertaken by individual enterprise.
On the last day of March, 1791, Mr. Thomas Payson advertised his intentions to open a seminary for young ladies, 'as soon as the roads were more settled.' His experiment was brief, and probably unsatisfactory to himself.
Miss Hannah Spofford commenced a school on the same plan, in May, 1804. Her proposals afford data for estimating the extent of female accomplishments deemed desirable at that period, and the cost of their attainment. Reading, plain sewing and marking, were taught, for the compensation of two dollars the quarter : embroidery, ornamental work on muslin, writing, arithmetic, grammar, rhetoric, and the art of composition, could be gained for three dollars : paint- ing in water colors and crayon, and filagree work, were charged at four dollars for the same period.
Mrs. Nugent, succeeded this lady, adding in the Academy she opened in 1805, the exercises of geography, tambour work, land- scape painting, and music.
307
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Other instructors were here in later years. In 1823, an Acade- my for the instruction of youth in the highest branches of education, vas commenced by the Rev. Benjamin F. Farnsworth, and contin- cd about a year. A building was purchased, by an association, ncorporated March 10, 1832, as the Proprietors of the Worcester Female Academy, and a school was kept by Mrs. A. M. Wells, dur- ng a year, and subsequently by Mr. John Wright. The corporation vas afterwards dissolved and the edifice sold.
Instruction of the most excellent cast has been given to young la- lies, by Dr. John Park, for twenty years a teacher of distinguished eputation in Boston, who removed from that city to this place, in 1831. His classes have been so limited, as to admit of that oral com- nunication which best imparts knowledge, and of the direct influ- ence of a gifted mind, rich in learning and experience, to form pure moral and strong intellectual character.
In the spring of 1836, a school of high grade for young ladies was commenced by Mr. Robert Phipps, which has been successfully con- inued. In September, the pupils were 35.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Before 1816, beside the public religious instruction, there were ecitations in a catechism prepared by Dr. Bancroft, after the stated ectures, by the children of the second parish. In May, of that year, class of 25, soon increasing to 60, was formed by the Rev. Jona- han Going, in the Baptist society, and one of the first of the Sab- ath Schools within the county of Worcester was established. Al- nost simultaneously the system which is exerting a happy influence on moral condition, was adopted by the first parish, and has been ex- ended to the other societies.
The number of scholars connected with the several churches, is stated in the latest published reports, as follows :
First Parish, 300, Calvinist Society, 235,
Second Parish, 170, Union Society, 162.
Baptist Society, 250,
The schools are generally under the direction of societies formed or their support, and are furnished with useful libraries collected by voluntary contributions.
WORCESTER MANUAL LABOR HIGH SCHOOL.
At a meeting of a few individuals desirous of founding an insti- ution for education in the interior, under the patronage of the Bap- ist denomination, in March, 1832, it was determined to raise $5000,
...
308
MANUAL LABOR HIGH SCHOOL.
as a foundation fund. This sum was obtained, by subscriptions, principally within the county, and it was resolved, that the school should be placed in Worcester. A committee was elected to effect the design, consisting of Isaac Davis and Otis Corbett of Worces- ter, Edward Phillips of Sturbridge, and Otis Converse, of Grafton. The details of the plan were wisely left to their discretion, under the general direction that the instruction should be of the first order ; that strict moral and religious character should be attained ; and that every facility should be afforded for productive labor, to the end that education should be good, but not expensive.
Among the most influential and zealous in the formation, devel- opment, and execution of this project, was Isaac Davis, Esq. who has been the President, and one of the most devoted in personal and pecuniary exertions, to the promotion of the prosperity of the Insti- tution.
In November, 1832, a tract of twenty nine acres of land was pur- chased at the price of 875 the acre, and another lot of thirty one acres for $65 the acre, about half a mile south of the village. The academic buildings were erected in 1833, at the expense of about $10,000. The trustees were incorporated Feb. 28, 1834, with full powers of visitation and government.
On the dedication of the seminary, June 4, 1834, an address was delivered by Rev. Frederic A. Willard, and religious exercises per- formed by Rev. Abiel Fisher. The school went into operation with about 30 scholars, under the superintendence of Silas Bailey, B. U. 1834. The second term, Amos W. Stockwell, A. C. 1834, was em- ployed as assistant, succeeded the third term by Mr. Rhodes B. Chap- man, who resigned in the fall of 1836, and Hervey S. Dale, B. U. 1834, was appointed teacher.
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