USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > History of the town of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement > Part 4
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Besides the above, the following persons have served one year each :-
Rev. Joseph Pettee, 1854 and part of 1857 1 year.
Rev. William H. Dalrymple, 1836 1.«
William R. Vining, 1855 .
1
Dr. Asa Millet, 1857
1 66
Horace Reed, 1857 . 1
Elbridge Sprague, 1857
1 66
John N. Noyes, 1857
1
66
Christopher Dyer, Jr., 1857 1
J. E. Keith, Esq., 1857
1
It is on record, that in 1828 Nathaniel Hobart, Nathaniel Beal, Jacob Cobb, and David Lane, served for that year only.
The School Committee consisted of five in 1829, 1830, 1836, 1854, 1855 and 1856, six years ; of seven in 1828 and 1853, two years ; ten in 1857, one year; of three in all the rest of the years from 1826 to 1859, being twenty-four years.
By the Revised Statutes of 1836, towns of five hundred families or householders were required to keep a school
.
29
SCHOOLS.
for the higher branches of English literature, equivalent to twenty-four months in each year ; and if of four thousand pop- ulation, the master shall, in addition, be qualified to instruct in the Latin and Greek languages, and general history, rhet- oric and logic ; which school shall be kept for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town, at least ten months in each year, exclusive of vacation, at one fixed place, or alternately at different places, as the town should decide upon at their annual meeting. In this revision, towns were still required to choose School Committees, giving them further powers, and defining their services and duties.
This law made a great change in towns having the requi- site population, which was the case in this town. After many efforts to evade the law, the town, in 1853, was led to adopt the system, and, as provided, to abolish the school districts, and to take the management of all the schools into their own hands. To accomplish this, since that time, the town has paid for new school-houses and yards, $26,362.63, and has graded all the schools into Primary, Intermediate and Gram- mar schools, with the school to teach the higher branches of education, called the High School, as required by the statute, and under the direction of the School Committee.
The sums that have been paid for services of School Com- mittees, as nearly as can be ascertained, are as below. The School Committee of 1840, which was composed of the Rev. Daniel Thomas, Rev. Lucius Alden, and Rev. J. W. Ward, were paid $42.60 to enable them to pay for blanks, and, per- haps, something for their services ; but nothing before this or after, until 1845, is found on record, to have been paid to School Committees. The payments from that time, (1845,) are as follows :-
1845.
Rev. J. W. Ward
$20 65
Rev. Dennis powers
20 00
Rev. H. D. Walker
.
. 15 00
$55 65
3*
30
SCHOOLS.
1846.
$18 00
Rev. Dennis Powers
20 00
Rev. H. D. Walker
16 50
1847.
$54 50
J. Arnold, Jr. .
$22 00
Christopher Dyer, Jr. .
14 00
Reuben Loud
23 00
-
1848.
$59 00
J. Arnold, Jr. .
$23 62
Rev. D. Powers .
53 87
William A. Stone
44 35
1849.
$121 84
J. Arnold, Jr. .
$39 89
Rev. D. Powers .
95 50
Dr. A. P. Chase
42 00
1850.
$177 39
J. Arnold, Jr. .
$61 00
Dr. J. M. Underwood
50 00
Dr. A. P. Chase
62 00
1851.
$173 00
J. Arnold, Jr. .
$59 39
Dr. J. M. Underwood
.
57 50
Dr. A. P. Chase
61 50
1852.
$178 39
Rev. J. W. Ward
$58 00
Rev. H. D. Walker
71 75
Dr. A. P. Chase
74 00
$203 75
Rev. J. W. Ward
SCHOOLS.
31
1853.
Rev. J. W. Ward
$52 00
Rev. H. D. Walker
46 25
Rev. I. C. White
.
27 00
Dr. J. M. Underwood .
26 75
Dr. A. P. Chase .
40 75
J. Arnold, Jr. .
43 50
E. Keith, Esq.
19 50
$255 75
1854.
Rev. H. D. Walker
$60 25
Rev. I. C. White
68 75
J. Arnold, Jr.
75 73
Dr. A. P. Chase .
69 25
Rev. N. Gunnerson, part of a year
16 00
Rev. Joseph Pettee, part of a year
48 15
$338 13
1855.
Rev. J. W. Ward
$68 11
Rev. I. C. White
72 25
J. Arnold, Jr.
61 25
William E. Sheldon
55 46
William R. Vining
.
20 97
$278 04
1856.
Rev. J. W. Ward
$74 05
Dr. J. M. Underwood
44 00
Dr. F. F. Forsaith
44 75
William E. Sheldon
71 68
J. Arnold, Jr. ·
.
·
.
59 58
$294 06
.
·
.
32
SCHOOLS.
1857.
Rev. H. D. Walker . ·
$42 25
Rev. Joseph Pettee, part of a year
17 47
Rev. I. C. White
60 75
Dr. J. M. Underwood
23 50
Dr. Asa Millet .
14 25
Dr. F. F. Forsaith
64 25
Reuben Loud
26 76
Horace Reed
41 25
Elbridge Sprague
22 32
John N. Noyes .
46 47
Rev. V. Lincoln, part of a year
33 00
$392 27
1858.
Rev. V. Lincoln .
· $103 00
Reuben Loud
73 36
Samuel Dyer .
99 75
$276 11
Total,
. $2,840 88
The following additions of the school committees, and sums paid them from 1859 to 1864, were added after the fore- going was written, and are not included in any estimate of their time of service or sums paid them :-
1859.
Rev. Varnum Lincoln .
$111 00
Samuel Dyer
103 50
Reuben Loud
84 62
$299 12
1860.
Rev. Varnum Lincoln .
$74 50
Samuel Dyer
135 00
Horace D. Walker . . 76 87
Rev. Joseph Pettee, to fill vacancy
47 50
$333 87
SCHOOLS.
33
1861.
Rev. Horace D. Walker
·
$81 75
Samuel Dyer
143 25
Lewis E. Noyes .
.
$309 87
1862.
Rev. Horace D. Walker
$82 50
Samuel Dyer
107 25
Lewis E. Noyes .
·
·
86 63
1863.
Lewis E. Noyes .
$98 75
Samuel Dyer ·
122 79
Rev. Horace D. Walker
·
77 63
$299 17
1864.
$105 00
Rev. Horace D. Walker
83 50
Lewis E. Noyes .
.
·
109 00
$297 50
Total, from 1859 to 1864, inclusive . . $1,815 91
2,840 88
Grand total
. $4,656 79
84 87
$276 38
Samuel Dyer
The sums stated above, exclusive of the additions, amount to $2,840.88, paid to twenty-two members of the school committees. Of this sum, about $1,070.00 was paid to seven clergymen, and about $1,766.00 to fifteen laymen. There were twenty-four others who served without pay from 1826 to 1845, more years in the aggregate than the twenty- two did; these served sixty years ; the twenty-four, sixty-six years. The clergy served more than one-half of these sixty- six years gratuitously. It would be an act of justice, perhaps,
34
SCHOOLS.
to name them. They are as follows : Rev. Daniel Thomas, seven years ; Rev. Lucius Alden, thirteen ; Rev. J. W. Ward, ten (Mr. Ward had pay for six out of sixteen years) ; Rev. Silas Hall, four ; Rev. Dennis Powers, one ; Rev. William HI. Dalrymple, one, and Rev. H. D. Walker, one; aggregate, thirty-seven years in all. On the whole, the schools were under the direction and superintendence of the clergy, com- prising the whole committee, or a majority of them, for nine- teen out of thirty-four years, (from 1826 to 1860,) and fifteen years, wholly or by a majority of laity.
In the selection of school committees there have been much competition, and continual changes. They have been often chosen on sectarian and political grounds ; frequently without much regard to qualifications. There has been a continual strife betwixt the supporters of the clergy and laity. Some- times the committee were all of the former, and sometimes all of the latter class. They were composed of the laity from 1826 to 1831 (five years). In that year (1831) a sud- den change was made, and it may not be uninteresting to state the circumstances under which it took place. It placed the schools under the sole direction of the clergy for fifteen years -the school committees being composed wholly of them (three each year) for thirteen years, and a majority of them for two years ; and from 1847 to 1859, (twelve years,) of the laity, wholly for five years, and by a majority of them, for seven years ; the clergy having a majority for one year only of that time. Some account of this change will show the influence of sectarian management, and the bad policy of sud- den changes. In giving this, I have to request, as I did on another occasion, to be excused for using the personal pronoun too often. Previous to 1831, I was on the school committee for three years, chosen in 1828. In 1830, the committee consisted of five, viz. : Dr. Ezekiel Thaxter, Benjamin Hobart, Elihu Hobart, Mical Pool, Esq., and Josiah Holbrook. For the examination of school teachers, and the giving of certifi- cates for qualification, a sub-committee was chosen of two (Dr. Ezekiel Thaxter and Benjamin Hobart). In visiting
35
SCHOOLS.
.
schools, establishing rules, &c., all took a part. These ser- vices took up so much of my time, that I made up my mind to decline as a candidate in 1831 ; but in going to the annual meeting, in that year, I had some doubts whether I ought to do so. I reflected that I had served only three years, and had got some experience in the business, and somebody must do it. I concluded, on the whole, if elected, to serve another year. At that town meeting a committee, consisting of one from each school district, was chosen to nominate a school committee. They met and did so in the early part of the day. I think the same school committee that served in 1830 was selected. This nomination was accepted, but the law required that the school committee should be chosen by ballot, and a few votes only were required to complete the election. It so happened, however, that this was not done im- mediately, (some other election was going on,) and it was over- looked, and not called up until near the close of the meeting, when many had left. The Moderator then called the attention of the voters present to confirming the nomination. Twenty or thirty votes were cast, and the nomination was not con- firmed, but another and a different choice was made of clergy- men, viz. : Rev. Daniel Thomas, Rev. Lucius Alden, and Rev. Silas Hall. Mr. Thomas declined, and Capt. D. A. Ford, at another meeting, was chosen to fill the vacancy. The next year (1832) three clergymen were chosen, (Rev. M. G. Wheeler, instead of Capt. Ford,) and the clergy had the whole care and superintendence of the schools for sixteen years, from 1831 to 1846 inclusive, (being three in each year,) except the year (1831) in which Capt. Ford served. In 1847 the school committee was composed entirely of laymen, and ever since then, up to 1859, (thirteen years,) with the exception of two years, (1852 and 1854, when the clergy had a majority,) wholly by the laity, or a majority of them.
This move was a violation of confidence ; stealing a march, as a politician would say, and was from sectarian influence, which, with other changes from partizan views, has had a
36
SCHOOLS.
very bad effect in the management of our schools. Some of the clerical gentlemen were too strenuous on some points ; they were not satisfied to have the superintendence. of the schools, but undertook to carry measures in town meeting, which were not satisfactory to the town, and never could be carried out. They urged very strenuously the location of the high school in the centre of the town (Centre Abington). This question agitated the town for several years. The experiment was tried for one or two years, and the high school was kept in the centre, and it proved a failure ; the extreme parts of the town did not send their children. After- wards it was kept alternately in different sections of the town, until the town adopted the present plan of having four high schools in different parts of the town, in connection with the four grammar schools. Four very commodious buildings have been erected, and teachers are employed in the gram- mar schools, who are qualified to teach the higher branches of education required by law. This has proved very satisfac- tory ; carrying the schools to the scholars, and equalizing the advantages of schooliug to all parts of the town.
CHAPTER VI.
Schools .- Continued.
IN 1857 there was another flare-up in the election of a school committee. At the annual town meeting of that year, held March 9th, five were chosen, viz. : Dr. F. F. Forsaith, Rev. Isaac C. White, Rev. Horace D. Walker, Rev. Varnum Lincoln, and Rev. Wm. P. Everett. This meeting was ad- journed to the sixteenth day of the same month. At this meeting, as Rev. William P. Everett declined, there was a vacancy of one which was to be filled. In addition to this, there was a vote to add four more to the number of the school committee. This vote was surreptitiously obtained. It was noon, and a great proportion of the voters had left for dinner. The selectmen were busily engaged in counting votes for can- didates to fill vacancies ; at this time the vote to add four was carried, and there were but a very few voters in the house. Ballots were immediately called for, and when voters came in to attend to the afternoon's business, they were surprised to find ballots being carried in to add to the school committee, the number of which was supposed to be settled. They re- fused to vote only to fill the vacancy ; when Rev. Joseph Pettee was chosen, having one hundred votes. No candidates to add to the school committee were thought of, and no ballots were prepared. The small number of votes carried in shows that this was a secret move. They stood thus : Dr. James M. Underwood had fifteen votes, Dr. Asa Millet eleven, William E. Sheldon twelve, and three others had ten each, and there were twenty-two others voted for ; three had eight votes, one four, and all the rest three and under. The three first named were cliosen, and there was no choice of the fourth. A motion was immediately made to reconsider the vote to add to the school committee, so far as respected the one not chosen, which was
4 (37)
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SCHOOLS.
done by an overwhelming majority. This move excited strong expressions of dislike to the proceedings, and there was much confusion. This addition created ill feeling in other parts of the town, as the school committee was not equally divided, and three or four more were proposed to be added. In consequence of these expressions of dislike, and the small number of votes carried in for the candidates chosen, four of the school committee resigned,-two at the first meeting, viz. : Rev. Mr. Walker and Rev. Mr. Lincoln, and the two added as above, Dr. Millet and Mr. Sheldon ; leaving four only as chosen. This meeting was adjourned to the twenty-third of the same month, and two more were voted to be added to the school committee, making the whole number ten. Six remained to be chosen, and as it appeared impossible to choose them on one ticket without previous concert, a committee of seven was raised, to retire and make a nomination. They reported two of those who had resigned, viz. : Rev. H. D. Walker, Dr. Asa Millet, and four others-Messrs. Horace Reed, Reuben Loud, J. N. Noyes, and Elbridge Sprague ; and they were chosen, and staud as they are now reported on the list of the school committee for 1857. It may be remarked here, as quite singular, that the candidates nominated by a committee in 1831, were rejected, and that the town in 1857 should, twenty-six years after, adopt the same mode to facilitate the election of a school committee.
Now the inquiry naturally arises, why did all this disorder and confusion take place at this time ? In order to answer this it will be necessary to state that there was an article in the warrant for the town meeting for that year, to see if the town would build a school-house in East Abington, of sufficient dimensions, as it was avowed, to accommodate three or four hundred scholars, " for the grammar and intermediate schools." The project was to authorize the school committee to build such a house ; but as the school committee already chosen was composed of five only, and four of these were clergymen, more laymen were wanted for this purpose, so as to relieve the clergy of the responsibility of undertaking so much out of
39
SCHOOLS.
their line. The movement to add to the school committee which caused the disorders above stated, originated in the desire to accomplish this. The meeting was adjourned twice, and there was much altercation on these subjects, especially in consequence of the vote so surreptitiously obtained, to add to the school committee. This caused much discussion, and many angry feelings. The result of the whole was the rejec- tion of the proposition to build a school-house in East Abiug- ton.
But this rejection was not satisfactory ; and as the school committee was now suitably organized, another town meeting was called, to meet as soon as it could, legally, and which was held on the thirteenth day of April following ; and an article of the same tenor was inserted, which was "To see if the town would build a school-house at East Abington ; " and in addition an article in the same warrant was inserted, " To see if the town would build a school-house in the centre of the town for the high school." A coalition among many of the favorers of these objects was calculated upon ; but after much discussion, and the rejection of a motion to refer the building to the school committee (according to the old plan), both objects failed. Two or three other town meetings, in a few weeks after, were called for the same purpose, with a like result as respects the school-house at East Abington. The centre school-house was abandoned, after the first defeat. About a year after these meetings, the town built a school- house in East Abington on a different plau from the first one proposed, but a very commodious house, at an expense of over five thousand dollars.
These proceedings have had a depressing effect upon our schools, and no good results have arisen from them. Their tendency has been to lower the tone of our schools. Num- bers of the scholars in our high schools have left and gone elsewhere, to complete their education, or to fit for col- lege. And here, while speaking of things to be regretted, I will add that there is much complaint of a want of order in the schools. Regulations are too often changed, and
40
SCHOOLS.
in many instances disregarded, and some of them are very trivial. There is a falling off in the qualifications of many of the teachers. Very young persons have been employed, who never taught school before. There is, indeed, some excuse for the teachers ; they have not been properly aided in their exertions. They are frequently placed in very unpleasant situations between the parents of some of the children and the school committee. The schools are often interrupted by the complaints of parents that their children are not well treated and not properly tanglit, and language of reproach is some- times used before the whole school, to the mortification of the teachers and to the loss of their use. On the other hand, there is much complaint that they have not been supported by the sehool committee, who seem to be afraid to meet such invasions of the schools, or at least do not prevent them. Teachers have been removed without any adequate eause, and some without assigning any reason. It is a conceded faet that the schools of late are not of that high order and under that discipline that they were a few years since, when the school committees were of higher qualifications as to independence and education.
But besides irregularities arising in the selection of school committees and the management of the schools, there are other influences adverse to the success of the schools. Many view the whole system as arbitrary. The breaking up of the school districts is objected to; and it is but about two years since, that, after the town had abolished them and had expen- ded about thirty thousand dollars in building new sehool- houses and purchasing old ones, a vote was obtained to go back to the district system again. The chairman of the present school committee strenuously supported this move ; but before it was carried into operation it was reconsidered by a very large majority. To be compelled to keep a high school to teach the Latin and Greek languages, is considered by some to be highly objectionable ; and to be required to choose school committees for three years, is very unsatisfactory to many. Now, it is notorious that many of these objectors do not
41
SCHOOLS.
cooperate to build up the schools, but act as a dead weight in most of the attempts to carry out and improve the system. It is injudicious, however, to let such feelings prevail. The law has gone into operation and the system is established, and there is no probability that the law will be repealed ; it may be modified and improved. On this view of the subject it seems to be the duty of all to carry it out in the best way possible. There is a very great responsibility resting upon the inhabitants of the town in this respect. There are nearly two thousand children in town to be educated and trained up for usefulness. Seven to eight thousand dollars have been raised annually for a number of years for schooling. How important, then, is it for all to unite and cooperate in sus- taining and improving our schools, and not to let sectarian, political, or sectional views prevail to divert us from our responsible duties.
But, after all, and notwithstanding this, in some respects our schools have improved, and the means of education liave been very much increased ; yet it is well to state these things, that they may be corrected, and further improvements made. In contrasting the schools of the present day with those of former times, we see very great improvements. This is not all owing to our superior exertions, but much is due to the increase of our population and wealth. By the table in the preceding chapter, it is seen how feeble was the support of schools, until within about twenty years past. Previous to this, everything was on a low scale as to schooling. Little money was raised, school-houses were small, cold and illy constructed, and teachers were of very low qualifications. When I at- tended school in my boyhood, English grammar was not introduced ; and I was surprised, when I left to go to an academy (the Derby Academy at Hingham), to learn, for the first time, that there was such a thing as English grammar. There were no school committees to aid the schools, and the school books were very defective, and but few of them. I remember very well when Webster's spelling-book was first introduced, and used instead of Dilworth's. Its introduction
4*
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SCHOOLS.
seeme I to commerce a new era ; and no doubt this was the case afterwards, as new books were added from time to time.
There are other things that were injurious to our schools formerly, and are still so ; that is, the want of order and morals in the schools. Scholars frequently come late, and enter the schools after they liave commenced. Their attend- ance is very irregular, and they oftentimes leave by the per- mission of their parents before the school closes ; and, at times, large scholars are insulting to their teachers-especially to female teachers ; refuse obedience, and are obstinate. When I had children to send to our common schools, after a few years' trial I abandoned them. The schools were miserable, and the morals worse. I had a boy come home from school swearing profanely. I said to him, "Why, my little son, do you do so ; you never did so before ?" He answered, " Sam - - learnt me to do so, and told me it was pretty." And, also, I had a daughter about ten years old, who came home from school deeply distressed, naming certain boys who talked to her in a most obscene manner, and asked her most abominable questions. We had an able teacher, (Mr. Beaman,) who kept our school one winter about that time, who said he would not send his children to such a school if he kept it him- self. After this I never sent my children, with a few excep- tions, to the town district school, but maintained a private school for them, with a few other children sent by my neigh- bors, for about ten years. After that, all of them (nine in number, and who are now living,) were educated at private schools, and out of town at different schools and academies. The expense of all this, I estimated, exceeded four thousand five hundred dollars (five hundred dollars cach). Now, if our schools then had been what they now are (or might be), this outlay might have been kept at home ; and this ought to be the case for the present rising generation, and would be if all would cooperate to build up and improve our schools, and abandon all extraneous views.
There are now questions in the management of the schools unsettled. I refer to religious exercises. The present school
43
SCHOOLS.
committee, besides having the Scriptures read, as provided for by the statute, have ruled that the Lord's Prayer, as it is designated, may be used to open the schools in school hours ; prohibiting other prayers. Without going into a formal discus- sion of this subject, I must say I think the committee, in this case, have adopted the best course. Under this rule the Lord is acknowledged, and His Divine authority, and the form of prayer which He prescribed is used. This exercise is short and comprehensive, and is not fatiguing to the children, and no sectariau party can complain of it. If others wish it, they can send and have religious services before school hours. To adopt any other course would be attended with many difficul- ties. The time detached from school hours would be a serious objection to many. It would have a tendency to introduce sectarian views. Different teachers would use different forms of prayer, and very different expressions, such as would be in agreement with their different creeds. In this way different doctrines might be promoted, and the sects might become jeal- ous of each other, and school committees might be chosen to employ teachers of certain religious sentiments.
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