Randolph town reports 1852-1874, Part 23

Author:
Publication date: 1852
Publisher: Town of Randolph
Number of Pages: 1302

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Under this system every scholar moving into our town can readily find his place in some one of our classes, and there with his classmates move steadily on towards the grand object to be accomplished. And so, if any family should move from one to another part of the town, the studies to be pursued by the child- ren will be the same, with no change except of the teacher.

In such schools, each step in the great educational march is a step onward, the difficulties conquered are conquered thoroughly and forever; the scholars continually gaining new strength to overcome new obstacles.

The high road to all worth is straight, broad, and clear, before him ; relays of teachers meet him at every mile stone ; educa- tion lightens his path, science glorifies it ; and so he bears him- self through to the end, where the world stands ready to throw over his shoulders the mantle of manhood, and receive hitn as a necessity and an honor.

Parents, in this effort for you and your children's good, in this effort to pour riches into your domestic circles, and through your children the best of all riches into society, will you, can you re- fuse us your most hearty co-operation ? So efficiently can you assist the teacher, that without your aid, he can do comparatively but little. You can visit the schools for a short time, perhaps once a week ; for this you will be amply repaid by the smile of pleasure that plays upon and brightens the face of your child during your presence. Mark how hard he studies, how still he is, how erect in his class, how prompt in his answers. To be sure the little fellow finds time in the multiplicity of his studies, to turn his wistful glance towards you for the approving smile, which cannot be withheld. But his lessons are learned better that day, and more joyously than when you were away. The kind word you speak to the teacher when you leave, makes him hopeful and strong ; and your children will love and respect him

whom you esteem and respect. Your presence in the more ad- vanced schools exerts the same good influence. No true boy or girl ever lived, who did not like to appear well in the presence of his or her parents. Who then can doubt the power which such visits of the parents give the teacher over the children. There are many other advantages to be derived by the schools from such visits; but they are so obvious as to render details unnecessary. Such can be your schools with the assistance be- fore referred to, under the system upon which they entered at the commencement of the past year. The experience of that year has more fully, if possible, satisfied your committee of the inade- quacy of the old district system, in a town like Randolph, to meet the educational requirements of the present day. In further support of the views upon the old district system fully expressed in their last annual report, your committee cannot refrain from adopting as a part of this their present communication, the forci- ble language of the retiring Secretary of the Board of Educa- tion upon this subject.

"I entered," he says, "upon the duties of the office I now hold with some faith in the district system ; my obser- vation and experience have destroyed that faith entirely. It is 'a system admirably calculated to secure poor schools, in- competent teachers, consequent waste of public money, and vet neither committees, nor districts, nor towns be responsible there- for. It is unquestionably true that the best schools are found where the district system does not exist ; and the charge, in a few instances made or suggested, that there has been no improve- ment for twenty-five years, is limited in its origin and in its truth- ful application to those towns which are divided into districts.

" Whenever a town has established the municipal system, and adhered to it for two years, there has never, within my knowledge, been a serious effort in favor of the restoration of the district system. These facts are so encouraging and so conclusive that they ought without argument, to convince the most sceptical. The great object of the people is the establishment of good schools at the least cost, and they have no interest in the district system when it fails to secure these ends. Practically, the dis- trict system denies the value of experience. Each year sees a new prudential committee man, and each term a new teacher. The experience of a year is rendered valueless by the election of

a new committee ; and the teacher labors for a single term, com- mencing without a knowledge of what the pupils have previous- ly accomplished, and ending without an interest in their future. "

A more full enquiry into the matter has satisfied your com- mittee that the objection to the present system arising from the distance the pupil is now obliged to travel in order to attend school is entirely futile. Assuming that no scholars are qualified to attend our Grammar or High schools under twelve or thirteen years of age, the number of such, living more than a mile from the High school located at the Baptist Village, does not exceed thirteen ; while the number living more than two miles from the same school does not exceed five. Of the same class of scholars in the eastern and southeastern sections of the town, but sixteen live more than a mile, and five more than two miles from the new school-house in East Randolph; and of this latter number, a Miss has attended that school regularly and punctually through the last winter; and yet, in the same section of the town, stout healthy boys, so stout as to defy the efforts of a female teacher to punish them, are thought by their parents to be physically unable to accomplish the same feat. Again, in that section of the town known as the " West Corner," some parents who objected to the present system for the reason above stated, send their children to school as far again from their homes as is that at the Baptist Village. In view of these facts, are not your committee justified in regarding the objection as futile. Besides, from personal enquiries your committee are convinced that the distance is no objection in the minds of many of those who are the travelers. A number of the scholars who have been detain- ed from their schools, for the alleged reason, to wit, the dis- tance, have stated to some one or more of your committee that they wished, or had no objection to attend them, but their parents would not let them. Will parents thus continue to sacrifice the best and dearest interests of their children, through perhaps a very natural love for that which is old, and in some instances, a pru - dent and wise fear for that which is new ? It is said by some that the abolition of the old district system disturb's the " little democracies" of the Commonwealth. Your committee cannot

believe this phrase is used understandingly. The earlier laws made it the duty of the town to provide for public education. and the school districts, these " little democracies," were not at that time thought of. As early as the year 1683, by chapter SS of the Colony Laws, the duty of public instruction was imposed upon the towns, as appears by the following section of that chapter.

SEC. 1. " It being one chief project of Satan to keep men from the knowledge of the scriptures as in former times keeping them in unknown tongues, so in these latter times by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true sense and mean- ing of the original might be clouded and corrupted with false glosses of deceivers ; to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our. forefathers, in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors :

"It is therefore ordered by this court and authority thereof : that every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath in- creased them to the number of fifty house-holders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their towns to teach all such child- ren as shall resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general. by way of supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint ; provided that those who send their children be uot oppressed by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns.'

Under the Province Laws, so called, the same duty was re- cognized and enforced as follows :

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. that every town within this province, having the number of fifty house-holders or upwards, shall be constantly provided of a . school-master to teach children and youth to read and write ; and where any town or towns have the number of one hundred families or house-holders, there shall also. be a grammar school set up in every such town, and some dis- creet person of good conversation, well instructed in the tongues, procured to such school, every such school-master to be suitably encourage i and paid by the inhabitants. And the selectmen and inhabitants of such towns respectively shall take effectual care, and make due provision for the settlement and maintenance of such school-master and masters.

Province Laws, of 1691, chap. 13th, sec. 4.

In 1701, the towns, not school districts, were a secord time re- minded by our vigilant ancestors of their duty, and their remiss- ness in the discharge of it, by increasing the penalties and at the same time, administering a sharp rebuke for neglect in this regard.

Whereas, it is by law appointed, that every town within this province, having the number of fifty house-holders or upwards shall be constantly provided of a school-master to teach children and youth to read and write, and where any town or towns have the number of one hundred families or house-holders, there sliall also be a grammar school set up in every such town, and some discreet person of good conversation, well instructed in the tongues, procured to keep such school, every such school-master to be suitably encouraged and paid by the inhabitants. The observance of which 'wholesome and necessary law is shame- fully neglected by divers towns, and the penalty therefor not re- quired, tending greatly to the nourishment of ignorance and irre- ligion ; whereof grievous complaint is made. For redress of the same,

Be it enacted and declared by the Lieutenant Governor, Council and Representatives in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the penalty or forfeiture for non- observance of the said law shall henceforth be twenty pounds per annum ; and so proportionably for a lesser time that any town shall be without such settled school-master respectively ; to be recovered, paid and employed in manner and to the use as by the law is directed, any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

Again in 1718 was Puritan blood stirred by laggard towns, (no districts yet) as appears by the following of the Province Laws · of that year.

Whereas, notwithstanding the many good and wholesome laws of this province for the encouraging of schools, and the penalty first of ten pounds, and afterwards increased to twenty pounds on such towns as are obliged to have a grammar school master, and neglect the same, yet by sad experience it is found that many towns that not only are obliged by law but very able to support a grammar school, yet choose rather to incur and pay the fine or penalty than maintain a grammar school.

Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor, Council and

Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the au- thority of the same :

That the penalty or forfeiture for non-observance of said law henceforth shall be thirty pounds on every town that shall have the number of one hundred and fifty families, and forty pounds on every town that shall have the number of two hundred fami- lies, and so pro rata in case the town consist of two hundred and fifty or three hundred families-to be recovered, paid and em- ployed in manner and to the use as by law is directed ; any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

It was not till sonietime after this, that districts were formed by the towns, through mere prudential considerations, and un- der circumstances which existed then, but do not in any of our populous towns exist now.

By an Act passed June 25th, 1789, school districts were first organized. The law after requiring towns to provide school - masters, proceeds,-

And whereas by means of the dispersed situation of the in- habitants of several towns and districts in this commonwealth, the children and youth cannot be collected in any one place for their instruction, and it has become expedient that the towns and districts in the circumstances aforesaid should be divided into separate districts for the purpose aforesaid :

Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid,-

That the several towns and districts in this commonwealth be and they are hereby authorized and empowered, in town meet- ing to be called for that purpose, to determine and define the limits of school districts within their towns and districts re- spectively.

Under the laws districting the towns for school purposes, it was made incumbent upon the districts to furnish the school houses and take the town's money to pay the teachers they hire; the town still not being relieved of its duty, to provide for the schooling of its youth.

Yet these school districts, " the little democracies" were not made even bodies corporate so that they could sue and be sued, and thus enforce at law the performance of any contract until 1817. Sec. 1, chap. 14, of the laws of that year is as follows :

SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the town,

that each and every school district in this Commonwealth is hereby made a body corporate, so far as to bring and maintain any action on any agreement made with any person or persons for the non-performance thereof, or for any damage done to their school houses, and be liable to have any action brought and maintained against them for the non- performance of any contract by them made.

Even this law it was feared might be so construed as to in- fringe upon the rights of the town, and be prejudicial to the true policy of a democracy, by erecting within their limits a lesser, and to some extent, independent government ; and to meet this apprehended evil, by Chap. 143, sec. 2 of the laws of 1827, the last mentioned law is restricted with the following proviso:

" Provided, that nothing contained in this act shall be so con- strued as to prevent any town from carrying into effect the provisions of this act, providing for schools in their corporate ca- pacity and not in school districts, if said town shall so determine.

With all the restrictions and limitations by which they are hedged in by jealous legislators, it will be seen by a glance that these " little democracies " were established in violation of the most familiar principles of Democracy, and can be tolerated only under the plea of dire necessity.

True democracy would seem to require that the town, whose duty it is to see that its youth are instructed, and to whom at- taches the curse or blessing of a well educated community within its limits, should neither throw this duty upon different portions of itself, nor delegate away the power to discharge it, and thus establish within its borders conflicting and neutralizing systems of education.

Besides, it is certainly a cardinal principle of democracy that whoever contributes towards the support of our public schools should have a voice in the expenditure of the money so con- tributed. Under the old district system, what voice had the town in the expenditure of its school appropriations ? A district hires the teacher through its prudential committee not chosen or responsible to the town ; to be sure the teacher is to be exam- ined and approved by the town school committee before he can enter upon his duties, but who does not know that this infringe-

ment upon the " little democracies " has long ago become a mere matter of form.

In vain can we look for a perfect democracy unless in our towns. They appropriate our school . money, and they alone in town meeting assembled should, by their votes, choose the men to expend it, who ought to be responsible directly to their constituents.

If the school districts were all their friends claim them to be as political institutions, still the practical working of the school district system at the present time is such as to require that they should be abolished in most of our towns.

Upon this point Secretary Boutwell, most faithfully studying the whole subject for a number of years, well says :

" District meetings are not generally attended even by a ma- jority of the voters. It therefore happens that it is possible for a minority to elect the officers and control the policy of the district. Hence it is true of nearly every town, that once at least in its history, the organization of a district has been seized by a small number of men who entertained schemes inconsistent with the welfare of the schools. Assembled by concert, in the shades of the evening, in a dimly lighted house, they have pro- ceeded, without serious opposition, to consummate their schemes ; and a prudential committee, in their interest, has been elected, who at once makes a contract with a relative, friend or favorite, .without regard to the intellectual or moral welfare of the children who are to be members of the school."

Need further be said to show the full wisdom of the town of Randolph in abolishing long ago the old school district system, and cheerfully reassuming the duties which the earlier laws imposed upon it.

During the past year a great additional degree of interest has been manifested in our schools. A larger number of scholars have attended than during the preceding year, and the attendance has been more continuous and punctual. Very many have not been absent from school but a few days during the year, while a number of scholars, whose names appear at the end of this re- port, have not been absent or tardy once during the same period.

Who can doubt the future of such, any more than they can

doubt the future of those encouraged by their parents to stay from school during an entire term, in defence of " little democ- racies," or in opposition to an imaginary enemy of some illy understood rights. This interest in our schools, your committee are very happy to state, is not. confined to the scholars, nor to any particular locality in town. Parents generally seem to take a much deeper interest in them than formerly. Particularly is this the case at the " West Corner." Winter before the last, your committee were greatly discouraged by the meagre attend- ance of the children in that vicinity upon school. While a male and female teacher were employed there, the attendance was not sufficient for one school. With the commencement of the present year, however, commenced a very encouraging revival in the matter of education. The one teacher employed as sufficient to teach the combined schools, as they separately appeared the winter previous, was entirely overrun with scholars. The intensity of this interest led your committee for a little time to doubt its permanency ; but being soon convinced, a second teacher was engaged, and both schools have been well attended, and are in a very prosperous condition.

In thus referring to the " West Corner," your committee would not seem to be indifferent to nearly the same degree of interest manifested in the school at South Randolph, and in each of the other sections of the town. Your committee, how- ever, very much regret that there are too many boys not qualified to pursue their studies in the grammar schools, who yet are too old to be punished by the female teachers in the intermediate de- partments. One of these teachers complained to your committee upon the day of the examination of her school, that owing to the turbulence of some of the larger boys, so much of her time was employed in preserving order, she could not devote as much as she could wish to those who needed no punishment; and by the advice of the committee, one large boy was dismissed from the school, to relieve her in this particular. Here the pa- rents of such might be of great assistance to the teacher. Parental discipline could, or should be made to a very consider- able degree, a.substitute for school-room discipline.

It ought to be no part of the free school system to supply the deficiencies of home government. One parent, with mistaken views in this regard, can injure our schools more than the largest tax-payer in town can benefit them. All should make common cause in this matter, and in every way discourage any attempt to embarass female teachers, by groundless and annoying complaints, that one boy is whipped, another made to stand in the floor for obstinacy, a third is detained after school hours, a fourth is ad- dressed too sharply by a teacher whose patience is exhausted by the blunders of indifference. Your committee cannot but think that if the same anxious tender care should be exercised with sound discretion at home, there would be but little cause for pun- ishment at school.

The improvement made by the pupils in the regularity and punctuality of their attendance upon our schools, has already been remarked upon by your committee. But still there is a great deficiency in both particulars. With the rich banquet of knowledge daily spread before the youth of the town, it is diffi- cult to conceive any reason sufficient to induce parents to suffer their children for a moment, even, to be detained from this con- tinuous festival. If a child loses a hand or a limb, another can be substituted and the loss remedied, to some extent, by modern science. But yet parents, when their little children are about, become seized with a perfect dread for the gun, the hay-cutting machine, or the tempting ladder. How perfectly inconsistent is this fear with the indifference manifested for the loss of a day at school, which, if often repeated, will certainly be fatal to the child, and which no science can supply, and for which no after resulting misery can atone.

The vital importance of this subject to every good interest in town, must furnish any needed excuse for again appealing to all parents, by the love they bear their offspring, by the duty they owe to the world, by the very religion they profess, to send their children daily and punctually to school.

For a more complete statement of the condition of our Gram- mar or High schools, the committee refer to the reports of their several teachers hereto appended. Their examinations have fur-

nished the most convincing proof of the wisdom of establishing them, and the greatest satisfaction to all interested.

The intermediate and primary departments have felt their beneficial influence ; the teachers showing a most commendable zeal to bring their pupils up to the new standard of education, and to make them thorough in that knowledge necessary for the next step onward. Thus your committee are gratified in being able to state that all our teachers are working vigorously and harmoniously together, towards the attainment of the one great common object.

In this connection, your committee cannot refrain from ex- pressing great regret that some arrangement should not be made so that the town might derive to a much larger extent, the bene- fits of the "Stetson School Fund." At the present time, there is not a single branch taught there that is not taught in all our grammar departments. Every class in the one might find its. corresponding class in the other school, and this too not only without overtasking the teacher, or embarrassing his labors ; but with a decided advantage to the master by giving him full class- es, and to the scholars, by inspiring them with a generous rivalry. By the reports of the teachers before referred to, it will be seen that some of the classes are small, and would not be too large if the corresponding class of the " Stetson High School" were added to it. The " Stetson High School" Fund might, to-day, be appropriated by the town for any other than educational pur- poses, and the cause of education could receive no possible detri- ment therefrom. In another point of view, the " Stetson School," though, at present, under the charge of a most excel- lent teacher, is an absolute injury to the town. A child pun- ished there, or wrecked upon some exposed problem in the sea of mathematics, immediately puts into one of our grammar schools for repairs, while the weak or wounded in the struggle for knowledge constantly going on there, seek shelter under the " Stetson School Funds." Thus pupils are constantly vacilla- ting from one school to the other, injuring both a great deal, and themselves a great deal more.

Your committee believe the remedy for these evils lies within

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Randolph town reports 1852-1874, Part 23

Author: Publication date: 1852 Publisher: Town of Randolph Number of Pages: 1302

Author:
Publication date: 1852
Publisher: Town of Randolph
Number of Pages: 1302