USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1852-1874 > Part 19
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to C. Stevens, Collector," " " 1857, 237,43 Abatements on tax of 31,62
Discount on taxes, 66
17,45
to C. Stevens, Collector of tax 1858, 266,04
Discount on $13,120,57 at 6 per cent. on tax of 1858, 787,23
66 on $1,543,72 at 4 66 66 66 66 61,75
848,98
$1,517,69
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Paid members of the Fire King Engine Co., 164,50
T. H. Brodrick, bill as steward &c. 58,62
Wm. Jacobs, Iron work &c., 4,00
G. W. Adams, iron work,
1,00
G. C. Platts, painting,
13,00
$241,12
Paid members of the Aquarius Engine Co., 154,00
G. F. Sargent, steward bills, 31,75
25
PaidJ. B. Lovering, drawing Engine and hose to and from Boston, 11,00 , J. H. Whitcomb, supplies, 5,74
E. H. Everett, setting glass, Ephraim Lincoln, supplies,
60
1,16
$204,25
Paid members of Relief Engine Co., 151,00
A. Lunard, and C. L. White, steward bills, 17,32
A. Lunard, steward, oil, repairs, &c., 47,33
$215,65
Paid Elisha Mann Jr., rent of land for Norfolk engine house,
$2,00
$663,02
GUIDE BOARDS.
Paid Wm. Porter, for team,
8,75
Thomas Fardy, iron work,
13,05
E. Moulton, labor and stock, 56,75
S. L. Holbrook, drawing posts,
1,00
Geo. C. Platts, painting,
45,30
James Slowey, 13 days labor,
16,25
I. N. French, 15 posts,
18,75
H. Merritt, braces, bolt, and labor,
2,19
Ephraim Mann, labor with team,
4,00
L. S. Whitcomb, time,
10,00
$176,04
MILITARY.
Paid members of Military Co., Rent of armory, 100,00
345,00
To be refunded by the State,
445,00
26
TOWN OFFICERS.
Paid H. B. Alden Jr., as Selectman, 40,00
Do. do., " Assessor, 45,00
Do. do., " Overseer of the Poor, 50,00 Do. do., taking census of voters, 30,00
Do. do., 66 of scholars, 12,00
$177,00
Paid Jacob Whitcomb, as Selectman, 40,00
Do. do., as Assessor, 45,00
Do. do., as Overseer of the Poor, 30,00
Do. do., taking census of voters, 15,00
Do. do., taking census of scholars, 6,00
136,00
Paid L. S. Whitcomb, as Selectman, 40,00
Do. do., as Assessor, 45,00
Do. do., as Overseer of the Poor, 10,00
Do. do., taking census of voters, 5,00
100,00
Paid E. Beal, Town Auditor for 1858, 10,00
I. Tower, "
" 1858, 10,00
T. White Jr.,
66 1858, 10,00
30,00
Paid A. B. Berry, services as Supt. S. Com. 12,25 Oramel White, "
66,50
J. S. Littlefield, " " 11,25
90,00
Paid C. Stevens, collecting tax of 1856, 140,00 Do. do., 66 1857, 150,00
290,00
Paid H. C. Alden, Town Clerk, copying valuation for year 1854, 12,00
H. C. Alden, distributing 1000 Acts and Resolves, 10,00
22,00
$845,00
27
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
Paid T. H. Brodrick, ringing bell for Town Meeting, 5,00 Jacob Whitcomb, once to Norton and Easton, on pauper business, 2,00 Do. do., once to West Bridgewater on pauper business, 2,00
Do. do., twice to Weymouth and Braintree on town business, 4,00
Do. do., horse and carriage about town on town and pauper business, 10,00 18,00
L. S. Whitcomb, horse and carriage about town on town business, 15,00
Horatio B. Alden Jr., horse and car-
riage to Easton and Norton on town and pauper business, 4,00
Do., to W. Bridgewater on do., 2,50
Do., about town on pauper business, 15,00
Do., time and expense to Easton, Nor- ton, and W. Bridgewater, on pau- per business, 5,00 .
Do., time and expense to Boston, on
town and pauper business, 6,00
32,50
John Long, team to Abington and about town, 5,27
Do., ticket to Titicut for pauper, 60
Do., horse keeping for Selectmen,
10,75
16,62
Howard House, entertainment to town officers,62,88 Geo. N. Spear, horse and carriage on town business, 5,83 Nathan Pendergrass, do. do. on town business, 4,49 Wm. Adams & Co., safe for town Treasury, 110.00 Wm. Cole Jr., carting the same from Boston, 4,00 T. H. Brodrick, getting in safe, and labor on Selectmen's room, 12,75
126,75
Paid Parker, Fowle & Sons, carpet for Selectmen's room, 27,00 J. W. Ingell, stove pipe for Selectmen's room, 2,12 Jacob Whitcomb, pine wood for do., 6,25
28
Paid S. P. Brown, printing Town Report 1857-8, 85,00 Do., printing Selectmen's notice, Jury list, warrants for town meeting, tax bills, and list of voters, 53,00
138,00
C. K. Darling, tax books and stationery for Selectmen, 13,57
Seth Mann 2d, labor on records and cor- recting proof of town report (1858,) 9,00 Do., time, horse and carriage to Easton on pauper business, (1858), 3,50
12,50
John A. Lucas, erecting town bound be- tween Stoughton, Canton, and Randolph, 4,00
H. B. Alden Jr., postage, 1,91
J. Whitcomb, postage, 87
2,78
H. B. Alden Jr., envelopes and express furnished, 45 Allen Merritt's adm'r, mending chair and stove, 74 John B. Thayer, material and labor on Almshouse, 11,50
C. Morton Jr. paper,
80
12,31
H. B. Alden Jr., supplies to transient paupers, 1,10 Jacob Whitcomb, supplies to transient paupers, 1,00 Seth Mann 2d, supplies to transient paupers, ‘ 1,30 Incidental, 59
$510,78
RECAPITULATION.
Expended for Schools and School-houses, $6063,91
Repairs of Highways, 1682,74
New Roads, 21,00
Bridging, Railing, and Extra Repairs on Highways, 645,66
Snow Bill, 10,63
Paupers in Almshouse, 583,93
Paupers out of Almshouse, 1644,17
Paupers of other towns, 554,75
29
State Paupers,
179,91
Funerals,
39,00
Bigelow Law-suit, 101,00
Abatements, Remittances and Discount on Taxes, 1517,69 Fire Department, 663,02
Guide Boards,
176,04
Military,
445,00
Town Officers,
845,00
Incidental,
510,78
$15,684,23
In presenting this Report the Auditors feel some- what embarrassed in ascertaining to what extent their services are required. The reports of the finances of some of our neighboring towns bear evidence that the auditors went so far as to represent every arti- cle of value which belonged to the town, thereby affect- ing to show a balance in favor or against the town, at a given period, by estimating a cash value of the articles at the time.
For your auditors to adopt such a course would be without precedence or instruction emanating from our town affairs-consequently they report from vouchers found in the hands of the Treasurer, as reports have for- merly been made on similar occasions, adding thereto a few suggestions only, for the consideration of the town.
Your auditors suggest the propriety of reporting annu- ally a catalogue of articles on hand belonging to the town for use of the schools in each of the several school houses-viz: furniture, maps, books, &c. also an estimate of the amount of unexpended fuel ;
The Fire Engines and all apparatus to each, furnished by the town, in items ;
30
The furniture and implements of the Alms-house be- longing to the town; also the valuables (if any) belonging to any pauper therein.
All persons having accounts against a town know or should know that the town alone is responsible for the payment-not its officers or agents-consequently the commencement of a bill should be: Town of - to A. B. Dr. On the same bill should be found a date, at least the date of the year-also the articles furnished or ser- vices rendered-if for service, the name of the person who performed it-also the amount of the bill and the department of the town that received it-also an intelli- gible signature.
A clean bill of particulars, which does not carry on its face anything but simple facts, so plainly written, that any person called to examine, could not mistake its meaning ought to be insisted on by all approving offi- cers.
On examination of the town vouchers the auditors were confirmed in the belief that there has been no tran- saction which does not confer honor to the town officers connected therewith-though, the vouchers will show the necessity of a closer attention on the part of the con- tractors-(part of a contract is to present a bill intelligi- bly written of the doings) there being in many instances vouchers of expenditures for several departments in one sum, the divisibility of which would need the contractors personal explanation were not some other person's recol- lection in the matter resorted to.
In order to make our financial system more complete and lessen the labor of our annual reports, it is necessary that the bills of each department should be made sepa- rately by the contractors who labor or furnish for the town-and it seems to be the duty of our approving offi- cials on the presentment of a bill for approval to arrest any interference or collison in regard to the bills of the departments in order that the treasurer may be rightly impressed in regard to the particular department of the bill before placing the same with his files. In order · to arouse our townsmen to a deeper sense of duty in re-
31
gard to the foregoing suggestions, also to add strength and encouragement to our officials in the performance of their duties in regard to the same, it may not be amiss for the town to pass the following resolve, or something similar.
Resolved, That we recommend that all hills in futue against the town of Randolph be made separately, cor- responding with the departments in which the money is expended before the selectmen's approval.
Most respectfully submitted.
Randolph, March 11, 1859.
ELEAZER BEAL, Town THOMAS WEST, 3 Auditors,
Dr.
Town of Randolph in account with HIRAM C. ALDEN, Treasurer.
Cr.
To paying sundry Treasury Notes.
$5,956 00
By balance last year's account. ..
Interest on Do ..
676 06
" am't rec'd of E. A. Allen, Liquor Ag't ....
Sundry bills approved by the Seleetmen
15,684 23
" am't ree'd for Treasury Notes issued ..
1,123 00
" am't ree'd for Sait Grass.
31 75
" am't ree'd forold lumber sold S. A. Vining,
:10 00
" am't ree'd for rent of Painc lot ....
2 50
64 50
" am't rec'd State School Fund.
254 73
" Postage, stationery,-and Expressman,
5 6L
" am't rec'd for State pauper acet .. .
56 30
59 37
" am't ree'd from Quincy for paupers 1857 ...
40 00
" am't ree'd fm No. Bridgwater, for do., 1 857
42 00
" am't ree'd " Salem for panpers 1857, .... ·
21 50
am't rec'd " Guardian of R. T. Beal .. . " am't ree'd " Stoughton for pauper 1857 ...
74 18
" am't rec'd " Boston for pauper 1857 .....
18 86
" am't rec'd " Abington for pauper 1857 ....
63 73
32
" am't rec'd " Easton for patper 1857 ... ....
59 04
" am't rec'd " Canton for pauper 1857 ......
21 25
" am't ree'd " Norton for pauper 1857 .... .... " am't rec'd " Braintree for pauper 1857. .. .
36 75
" am't ree'd " Dartmouth for pauper 1857 ...
2 00
" am't rec'd " Taunton for pauper 1857 ..
19 75
" am't ree'd " Middleboro' for pauper 1857 ...
6 50
" am't ree'd " Braintree for old bill ..
43 83
am't rec'd " Randolph Bank (dividends) ...
60 00
Balance of C. Stevens acet ...... $3772 85
" am't rec'd " J. Whitcomb, error in bill last yr
10 00
Bank Stock ... .... 600 00
" am't rec'd " No. Bridgewater for schooling.
18 54
Notes Receivable ... ..... 446 00
" am't rec'd " Abington for schooling ..
12 96
Unpaid Bills and Cash in Treasury, 240 62
" am't of C. Stevens, Bond for taxes 1858-9. .
17,584 37
$5,059 47|
$28,628 24
$28,628 24
The subscribers, auditors of the town of Randolph for the year 1858-9, have carefully examined the within accountsof Hiram C Alden, Treasurer, and found the same correctly cast and properly vouched with suitable entries.
RANDOLPH, March 11, 1859.
ELEAZER BEAL, Town THOMAS WEST, S Auditors.
·
Town Treasurer & per cent. on $23750.85
5059 47
am't rec'd « do. .
1858
$3,875 .72 318 75 5,725 00
State 'Tax,.
Sexton's returning deaths, and Town Clerk, recording births, deaths, and marriages, . . . . . .. ..
53 98
Balance ...
158 25
6 00
The above balance is composed of the follow- ing items :
State of the Treasury March 1, 1859.
Contra.
NOTES PAYABLE-
NOTES RECEIVABLE-
$446
Note No. 6, to Rufus Thayer .
$2,000
6 Shares Randolph Bank.
600
9, to Joshua Spear.
1,000
Additional value of do ...
1.50
27, to Aminadab Thayer.
200
Am't due on tax bill 1858
·
..
.
600
due from other towns ..
530
47, to Estate of Ephraim Wales ....
470
420
55 and 56, to E. N. Holbrook .. ..
5,000
72 and 85, to Maria S. Rogers .
497 70
due from liquor agent.
147 25
77, to Susannah Fisher.
.
78, to P. McMahon ...
..
€ 82, to Joshua Hunt ...
228
.,110 20
98, to Beulah Hunt ..
1,000
99, to Asa Belcher 3d.
100
100, to T. Powderly ..
200
" 101, to L. Wentworth.
300
102 to Z. Linfield.
700
" 107, to C. W. White.
558
" 108, to R. T. White ..
385
" 110, to Doct. E. Alden
1,000
" 111, to Otis Thayer .. .
500
" 114, to Lucy Kingsbury.
500
« 115, to Seth Mann 2d ..
1,046 50
" 117, to Randolph Savings Bank ..
500
" 118, to
2,000
" 119. to Martha Brodrick ..
225
Estimated amount of unpaid bills.
1,000
1,000
$22,110 20
1
-
33
..
66 interest ..
..
Balance ...
15,802 23
600
due from State ...
...
cash and bills in hands of Treasurer ... .
3,772 85
40, to George F. Britton ..
241 87
500
.
SCHOOL COMMITTEES' REPORT
FOR 1858-9.
The School Committee feel it incumbent upon them, in the proper discharge of their duty, to call the attention of the town to the condition of school houses located in the several school districts.
The school house in district No. 2 is nearly new, but not large enough to accommodate the scholars in that district. There is but one room in the building, and that is seated so as to be convenient for only about fifty scholars ; and there are about eighty scholars who attend school in that district. Soon after the commencement of the winter term, the committee found it necessary to divide the school, and procured a room in the vicinity, for the accommodation of the primary depart- ment. The school house in that district should be so enlarged as to afford increased accommodations for the scholars, the com- ing season.
As was recommended by the committee of last year, the primary school room in district No. 6 has been enlarged and new seated the past season. The room is now conveniently arranged for the accommodation of that large and flourishing school.
A new room has been finished in the basement of the school house in district No. 8, to accommodate the increasing number of scholars attending school in that district. A fence has also been erected around the school house, in order to protect the house, and afford a safe and convenient play ground for the scholars
Last year, the school committee recommended thorough re- pairs on the school house in district No. 9, but upon inspection by the present committee, it was not thought best to make any permanent repairs. The building is in bad condition, and is too small for the growing wants of the district. Last Fall the private school which had been in operation the past three or four years was closed, and most of its pupils entered the pub- · lic school at the commencement of the winter term. The committee were therefore under the necessity of grading the school, and organizing an intermediate department; and a room
35
was obtained in the vicinity for its accommodation. The com- mittee would now recommend, in view of economy and per- manent utility, the erection of a new building of sufficient size to meet the wants of that district.
The school house in district No. 10 has been thoroughly painted the past season, and several others should be painted the coming year.
When the improvements recommended are made, we believe our school houses will afford ample and convenient accommoda- tions for all the scholars in town, for some time to come,
In this connection, the committee deem it expedient to call the attention of the town to the fact, that they are required by law to make annual returns to the Secretary of the Board of Educa- tion, of the amount of money raised and appropriated each year by the town for educational purposes ; that is, for the wages of teachers, fuel and care of fires. Great confusion would therefore arise, if any other expenditures were charged to the amount thus annually appropriated, and erroneous ideas conveyed to the Board of Education by the reports of the school committee.
The committee believe that the duty of the town to furnish school houses, furniture, &c., and the keeping of the same in re- pair, should be performed by distinct appropriations, under the control of such suitable agents, as may from time to time be select- ed. This very necessary distinction has heretofore been recog- nized by ' the selectmen and auditors, in making up this branch of their accounts ; and will be preserved by the committee in their yearly statements of expenditures, until otherwise directed by a vote of the town.
During nine months of the past year there have been twenty, and the last part of the time, twenty-two schools in operation,
I
36
No. of Dist.
Term.
Primary Department
42.
28
67
0
Same Teacher ..
31
24
78
0
1
4
Grammar Department
Summer
C. A. Battles.
34
26
78
0
0
1
Winter
Franklin Jacobs
34
26
78
3
0
2
II.
Summer Louisa F. Belcher.
72
54
75
1
7
0
Winter
Rachel Thayer.
33
26
79
0
6
3
Winter
S John F. Colby.
45
40
89
6
0
11
III.
Primary Department.
46
31
80
0
5
0
Same Teacher.
47
32
.68
1
1
0
Summer
Laura A. Odell
32
25
78
5
0
2
Winter
J. W. Grosvenor.
34
28
82
7
0
5
IV.
Primary Department.
Summer Mary Ford ..
47
40
85
6
1
Winter
Emily J. Pratt
37
24
65
0
2
Summer
C. R. Veazie
40
34
85
0
0
1
-
Winter
B. G. Cilley ..
48
42
87
11
0
4
V.
Not Graded.
49
38
78
1
7
0
Winter
N. E. Holland
44
36
82
5
2
5
.VI.
Primary Department.
81
56
69
0
16
I
Winter
[Same Teacher ..
60
44
73
0
6
1
Summer
M. L. Derby.
41
31
76
1
0
1
Winter
H. A. Blood.
51
44
86
7
0
9
VII.
Not Graded.
Summer Ann M. Thayer.
45
37
88
0
5
0
Winter
C. H. Brown.
45
35
78
3
0
2
VIII.
W. A. Wilde, Principal,
Summer
E. W. Cole, Ist Assistant, S. Shankland, 2d As't,
335
283
84
12
10
36
Fall
S. Shankland, 2d As't,
306
1253
83
12
17
28
L. E. White, 3d As't,
H. M. Roel, 4th As't,
W. A. Wilde, Principal;
M. E. Belcher, Ist As't,
291
214
75
6
18
L. E. White, 3d As't,
H. M. Roel, 4th As't,
IX.
Summer H. C. Hayward.
51
43
85
0
10
1
Winter
Josie D. Belcher.
41
28
68
0
2
4
Winter
L. F. Reed.
36
30
83
0
0
2
Grammar Department.
Summer L. F. Reed.
34
31
91
0
0
1
Winter
J. N. Blodgett. Primary Department.
38
33
87
18
0
11
X.
Summer Winter
L. A. Odell.
60
47
78-
0
0
4
Summer M. E. Belcher.
39
33
85
0
0 0
5
| Winter
¡Samuel Noyes
45
37
82
10
6
.I.
Summer Winter
Isidora Arnold, .
Names of
TEACHERS.
No, of Schol-
ars altending
School.
Average
attendance.
Per cent. of
attendance.
No. attending
over 15 years
No. attending
under 5 years
No. of scholar
who have not
ibcen ahagent.
of age.
of age.
4
0
Josie D. Belcher
55
42
76
0
Grammar Department.
-
Hattie Belcher, 3d As't,
W. A. Wilde, Principal,
E. W. Cole, Ist As't,
Winter
S. Shankland, 2d As't,
Primary Department.
Intermediate.
Summer
Rachel A. Thayer
Summer
Susan J. Dickerman.
Grammar Department.
1
Summer Winter
Jenette B. Spear.
Grammar Department.
Grammar Department.
37
ENUMERATION OF SCHOLARS IN TOWN AND NUMBER ATTENDING SCHOOL.
Whole number of scholars in town between the ages of five an fifteen, as returned by the assessors,
1150
Less than last year,
63
Number of scholars attending school in summer,
1043
Average attendance,
832
Per cent. of attendance,
.80
Gain of per cent. over last year,
.07
Number of scholars over 15 years of age,
20
Number of scholars under 5 years of age,
70
Number of scholars between 5 and 15 years of age not attending school, 197*
Number of scholars attending school in winter,
1020
Average attendance,
768
Per cent of attendance,
76
Loss of per cent from last year,
06
Number of scholars over 15 years of age,
77
Number of scholars under 5 years of age,
32
Number of scholars between 5 and 15 years of age not
attending school during the winter, 237+
APPROPRIATIONS.
The amount of money appropriated by the town for schools,
$5,000,00
State appropriation,
254,73
Sale of salt grass,
31,75
Balance unexpended the previous year,
114,68
Total amount for schools, $5401,16
Expenses of schools including wages of teachers, fuel,
and care of school rooms, 4859,28
Balance left unexpended, 541,88
There are, however, several bills amounting to $589,50, as ap- pears by the selectmen's books, which were not presented and ap- proved, until after the past year's accounts were made up ; and therefore will appear in the following year's expenditures. Adding this amount to the expenditures already exhibited, it appears there has been expended for schools the past year 5448,78 The amount of expenditures over appropriations 47,62
*From this number is to be deducted the number of scholars attending the Stetson High School, and the Private School in the East Village, now closed.
+From this number is to be deducted the number of scholars attending the Stetson High School, and the Private School in the West Village.
38
In submitting their annual report, your committee cannot re- frain from congratulating the town upon the present highly pros- perous condition of its public schools.
The teachers generally have devoted themselves to their work, and commendable progress has been made by the pupils. The committee do not propose here to make particular mention, by way of criticism, of each individual school, but to state the general im- pression made upon them by the various examinations of the schools, and to touch upon what seems to them defects in some branches of study.
The first indispensable requisite in a teacher is interest, even a certain degree of enthusiasm, in his or her work ; for nothing else will carry one through the thousand annoyances and discourage- ments the teacher has to encounter.
In regard to the particular studies, the committee were pleased with the attention paid to reading and spelling, and the schools ap- peared well in these branches. In most of the schools, the pupils commit to memory the columns of words appointed as the spelling lesson. It is certainly a good exercise of the memory, and the com- mittee were astonished at the power of many of the pupils in recol- lecting a hundred or more words, having no connection of ideas, in the exact order they were set down in the spelling book. It is, however, a question with the committee whether this may not be carried too far. It would be much more gratifying to hear a child repeat the dates of American history, than a column of disconnect- ed words.
In the study of geography, the committee are of opinion that especial attention should be paid to our own country. In many of the schools, the committee were informed by the pupil, of the posi- tion and description of unpronounceable places in unimportant parts of the globe. This sort of information is usually forgotten soon after it is acquired ; but all the facts of the geography and history of one's own country, ought to be learned as thoroughly as possible, and moreover, by the common law of the association of ideas, they are the more easily remembered than any other facts of geography. Next to the geography of our own country, that of the leading countries of Europe should be studied, and the order of the text book should not be followed, if it is not agreeable to the above plan.
The examination in Arithmetic was perhaps as satisfactory as could have been expected. It is a difficult and dry pursuit for the majority of both pupils and teachers; and yet it is certainly one of the most important, both practically and as a means of training the mind. A number of the schools appeared remarkably well. It was when the teachers had been thorough in the first principles.
39
In some of the schools, pupils were found nearly through their Arithmetic, able to do sums in Extraction of the Cube Root, Bro- kerage, and Commission, who were puzzled by some simple ques- tions in common fractions. This is not right. A teacher ought not to let a pupil advance a page till he is confident that all that goes be- fore is thoroughly understood; and not only so, but there should be a continual reviewing ; so that each day's lesson shall be virtually all that the pupil has been over. There is no study in which the pupil requires so much patient consideration from the teacher, as Arithmetic. Arithmetic cannot be learned from a book. It must be taught. The teacher must explain and re-explain, and be- come assured that the pupil understands, before he is suffered to proceed. The committee were in no case interested in knowing how far the pupil had gone, but whether he understood the princi- ples of Arithmetic. Fractions will be found to offer the greatest difficulties to pupils, and consequently deserve a corresponding amount of drill and explanation on the part of the teacher. One who thoroughly understands common and decimal fractions, will find few difficulties in the other operations of arithmetic when he is required to use them.
In offering these criticisms, the committee are actuated by the hope that they may meet the eye, not only of the parent, but of some who intend to devote a portion of their time to teaching.
Having thus presented the condition of the schools of the town ; in the proper discharge of their duties, the committee cannot with- hold such views and recommendations bearing upon our public schools, as the experience and observations of the past year most forcibly suggest. Our law requires that,-
"In every town there shall be kept in each year, at the charge of the town, by a teacher or teachers of competent ability and good morals, one school for the instruction of children in orthog- raphy, reading, writing English grammar, geography, arithmetic, physiology, and hygiene, the history of the United States, and in good behavior, for the term of six months, or two or more such schools for terms of time which shall together be equivalent to six months. And physiology, hygeine, and algebra shall be taught in the public schools in all cases in which the school committee shall deem it expedient."
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