USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1852-1874 > Part 54
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The year 1867 without appropriation, 1,130 11
66 1868 with of $500 696 70
" 1869
of $1,000, the Com- mittee have expended more than that sum, and yet it will probably need the expenditure of $150 to complete the repairs of out-houses. yards, fences, windows, etc., that are now in the condition they were three years ago, awaiting an available appropriation to finish the work.
The damage to school property by the great storm of September has been only partially repaired, and the
47
town is paying rent for a stove, for one of the school- rooms, because we had no money to buy, to re- place one worn out. And our excess of expenditures above the appropriation would have been greater than it is, had not the Selectmen brought us to our senses by the veto of a bill for a half-dozen brooms, about the middle of Jan., 1870. Four schools, being then greatly in need of that very necessary implement. In the early part of the year, the Committee deemed it best to clean up, repair fences, yards, etc., and proceeded to the work in the most economical manner possible, expending for lumber and labor in repairing fences at schoolhouses Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and High, about $60. There was an expenditure for a fence on the drive-way to No. 10, of about $42, which was not altogether approved by the Committee, and the expense of the repairs and building wall at No. 7, was said to be unnecessary. This, how- ever, was done in compliance with the unanimous deci- sion of the Committee, and we trust that its tidy appear- ance will commend the outlay.
Our own experience, and the testimony of teachers and those having the care of schoolrooms, goes to corroborate this : - that school buildings, with out-build- ings and surroundings, must be kept in a condition to com- mand the respect of citizens, and from this, in some degree, a like feeling from our children ; and that school interests will suffer in proportion to their neglect. So much for repairs, and expenses of the same.
And we may as well mention here as at any point, that during the coming year, the expenses for repairs will be greater than for the year past.
We would earnestly recommend the providing of suitable out-houses for boys at No. 8. The one misera- ble building now in use, being the only accommodation for more than a hundred boys. The schoolhouse at Sec. 5, needs to be repaired and painted. We also suggest that the great expense incurred for painting No. 8. house, should teach us that it is cheaper to keep public buildings well painted than to neglect them, and we
48
would recommend the painting of schoolhouses No. 10, and High School House, East Randolph.
In speaking of the schools and their condition, the Committee feel that they were very fortunate in secur- ing the services of so many able teachers, and to com -. mence the schools so early in the season, after our very late annual town meeting.
We do not deem it prudent, or advisable to give our opinion of the success of individual teachers, but in gen- eral the schools have been very successful, and their progress, both in branches of education, usually denom- inated school work, and in school behavior, or school life, has in most of the schools been very good. And in the few exceptions we have in mind, we cannot charge the teachers with the entire responsibility, any more than we could hold the preacher responsible for the evils of society, for these evils are conventional, and pertain to a locality, and being of long standing, will re- quire time for removal, and yet when there is disease we look for a physician that understands the case, and can properly treat it.
Soon after the commencement of the schools, the Committee received a petition from inhabitants of Sec- tion No. S, asking the establishment of an additional Primary school in that District. Upon investigation it was found that pupils from the territory of old District No. 1, had for many years attended school in No. 8, and that this number was on the increase. And parents from the immediate vicinity of No. 1 school, were ask- ing, or claiming the right to send their children to those schools.
We found upon the town records the following, ac- cepted and adopted at the adjournment of the annual town meeting, April 10th, 1855 :
Resolved. - That the present limits of each school District shall remain in force so far as to restrict to each of the present Dis- tricts the attendance of pupils belonging to the Primary and In- termediate schools, respectively to the Primary and Intermediate schools in the Districts in which said pupils reside.
49
This order had been so long violated, that we could not expect the people would now comply with its re- quirements.
During this investigation, a petition was received from inhabitants of District No. 1, to be heard in this matter. A hearing was had, and it appeared that children from several families promiscuously located, had attended the schools in No. 8, and wished to continue to attend there. But if the Committee would divide the schools and give them the benefits of graded schools, they would go back to No. 1. This appeared to be a reasonable request, and the Committee at once set about arranging for the two departments, and secured the services of two good teachers, - as they believed, at the same time pre- scribing the limits of that section, requiring all pupils living on Main Street, south of the Church and Town House, belonging in Primary and Intermediate depart- ments to attend school there. We also instructed the teachers in No. 8 that they must not accept as scholars, children living beyond the prescribed limits; and yet we have been recently informed by the teacher in No. 8, that a child from No. 1 sat in her schoolroom one whole term without reciting, and was finally accepted as a scholar, thus abrogating the authority of the Com- mittee, unanimously expressed.
The resignation of the teacher in the Primary depart- ment before the school had matured to an existence, and the change in consequence, together with the leaving of a few more for No. 8, had so reduced that school (the attendance being from six to eight pupils), that it was deemed best to close it two or three weeks before the time originally intended, and provide for the scholars in the Intermediate department, thus leaving the condition of things very much as they were last spring. If pa- rents continue to claim the authority to send their chil- dren to what school they please, and the Committee have not strength to prevent it ( and few can be found to patrol the streets and compel attendance at any school ) then there must of necessity be a room fitted
50
up in Prescott Schoolhouse, and an additional school established there.
Instruction from the town relative to this matter, will, no doubt, be very acceptable to a future Committee.
The attendance in the schools in Sec. 2, Plymouth Street, had in June. become reduced so low (ten to twelve in prim .. twenty to twenty-four in inter. ) they were united, and it seems best they should remain so, unless more scholars can be found to attend them.
We have stated that we felt favored in being able to commence the year with so efficient a corps of teach- ers, and our experience has been that others were of the same opinion, for we have lost several during the year, gone to work for the people who would pay them more money; and although their places may have been filled with those of equal efficiency. yet such changes are undesirable and expensive, and had we the power, we should compel all good teachers to work at least one year.
While we congratulate the Town upon our success in filling vacancies occasioned by the resignation of teachers, we regret that we have been so unsuccessful in filling the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of a very active member of our own board. and if we possessed power in this department, we certainly should compel all School Committeemen to work at least one year, for (as in the case of teachers), their resignation, occasions both trouble and expense. The circum- stances referred to are these : during the summer vaca- tion, while Dr. Howe was journeying. out of the state, we received a communication from him, notifying us of his resignation. We notified the Selectmen of the fact, and upon consultation, concluded to await his re- turn, and if possible, persuade him to retract his notice and continue the duties of the office ; but did not suc- ceed. The Selectmen then proposed to us (having themselves failed), to bring forward a willing candidate and they would help us elect him ; this might appear like dictating an election ; besides, the Committee had
51
neither time or courage to canvass the town for candi- dates, and being told that probably no suitable man could be prevailed upon to accept the office, while their compensation was so much below that of other labor- ers, here the matter ended.
Meetings of teachers have been held, though under somewhat unfavorable auspices, the objection to the ex- pense raised by those who too closely scrutinize all school expenditure and appear to desire to " get all we can " for the least amount of money, and from teachers, who, we are sorry to say, appear to be governed by the same motive, that is, to get as much money as possible for the least amount of labor.
It is only a few years since the smallest outlay for black-boards was, by some persons believed to be an unnecessary expense, and an unwise innovation. And we meet the same opinion today in reference to the sum of twenty dollars, paid for crayons to be used upon, - nearly three thousand square feet of slate sur- face in the twenty-five schoolrooms. But while we ac -.. knowledge all deference to economy, we believe it to be much wiser to buy, and much easier to use crayons, than rawhides, and a better policy (if no higher motive), to employ teachers who can keep their pupils so busy at work with the former, that there will be little neces- sity for the use of the latter.
The aggregate amount of expense of all meetings for one year, and the amount paid teachers for one day's work are nearly equal. And we are fully persuaded that all teachers ( or all who are alive, and earnest in their work, and willing to learn, and no others should be allowed to teach ) will accomplish enough more in the one hundred eighty school days, to warrant the ex- pense of their continuance.
There is too much paid for teaching, and too much at stake in placing pupils under unprofitable instruction, to neglect to provide every facility, and more than the Town now provides for the better accomplishment of the work of education.
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It has been said that there is nothing so delightful to children as to learn; if this be true (evidence of which exists in some schools even in this town), then, through the common schools as a medium there can be exerted a powerful influence in forming the future man, when the work of education shall be properly conducted.
Whatever may be said of other grades of school, we are compelled to acknowledge, that the Primary grade is the most faulty and inefficient, while it is the most important, and this partly the effect of an injudicious custom of so long standing, that it has come to be a constitutional disease.
Custom says employ inexperienced teachers in those schools, such as can be hired cheap, "it isn't much work to teach them." And thus we do, and persons are employed to teach those schools, whose only real school work has been that more nearly connected with the Grammar, than the Primary school, and with no preparation for teaching as a speciality, or knowledge of it as a work distinct from that of acquiring knowledge.
Now let us imagine such an one in school with a class of children ; that is, of real human beings (of five years of age), who are first ordered to sit still, which order they will be very likely to disobey - then, to learn the forms, names, and perhaps some of the dif- ferent sounds of letters - then, the letters, syllables, and names of words, and perhaps (though this is only in a few schools) sounds in the words; after , the calling, or speaking of words connectedly, called reading, though this, in too many schools without thought (the very essential of reading) or even instruction that these con- nections of words have meanings.
Arithmetic, or the knowledge of the science of num- bers, is but a little better taught, although in this there is less injury to the mind, for quantity or amount alone, are predicated of this science, while quality is predica- ted of reading.
This process occupies two or three years of the most
53
impressive part of the child's school life, with nothing as school work, to think about. And instead, only a few unmeaning things to remember, or memorize.
A writer has said, " Many teachers take up the work of instruction, with no other than book knowledge"; and again, " Every object in nature may be made into an object lesson for a child, and the best knowledge of that thing is not too good for a child."
A lady teacher in an adjoining town. in speaking of teaching in Primary schools, says, " I have been long connected with schools, and teaching, and my expe- rience is, that if the work of instruction is not thorough- ly and correctly accomplished in the Primary schools, it cannot be efficiently accomplished afterward.
We think teaching will be more efficient, when the services of persons can be procured who have been es- pecially instructed to that end.
Let us imagine for a moment how such an one would teach reading in school, with the youngest class (five years of age), ignorant, though with eyes, ears, and other appliances by which their minds are connected with the outer world, as children no doubt existed before books were manufactured. She would certainly as a first step, present an object interesting and familiar to all, talk about it, describe it, so far as to enable the class to dis- tinguish it from other objects, then write the word expressing the name of the object, and now for the first time teach the letters composing the word. In this process the child will have ideas in the mind with which to connect his work, but in the one usually pur- sued only unintelligible memorizing.
What can be the ability of persons, who have spent the strongest years of their school life in simply acquir- ing knowledge, and this of higher branches, to furnish young children with proper mental and moral aliment, such as can be appropriated to the growth of their minds. We think it is being seen that such ability must be very limited, and yet this is the condition in which custom has placed the Primary school. There is
54
occasionally, however, one found, who seems to lay aside her acquired knowledge. and goes to work with a faculty, sometimes called mother-wit, and learns how to present appropriate knowledge to the mind, not using the so-called higher knowledge, and children are de- lighted and made happy, as they would be in taking natural food. On the other hand, the child is not fed, but choked, and becomes stupid and disgusted with school, instead of being delighted. And we have seen evidence within a few days, that to this, in connection with too much abstract mental or memory work, separa- ted from practical work, may be traced much of the tru- ancy and non-attendance to be found, and about which there is so much complaint.
And may it not all be summed up in this, - that in giving the child proper mental work, and always to be ultimated in vocal, visible, or hand work, consists the art of teaching Primary schools.
If our suggestions in reference to teaching are correct, and worth a notice, we will add, that in our opinion, the Town has no means so efficient as teachers' meetings to produce the desired results.
We subjoin a few extracts from the address of our excellent Governor.
" If the character of our public instruction is high, then will that great multitude which go forth annually from our public schools, to engage in the active duties of life, be fitted for the demands made upon them in this stirring and progressive age.
" It must not be said of us, that we are falling be- hind other States in our methods of instruction, in the adaptation of our buildings, or any other means or in- struments of education.
" A large number of pupils leave the academies of the State annually, who, for a longer or shorter period, are employed as teachers in our common schools. They would be much better prepared, if, before leaving school, they could have a course of training in the
55
specific work of instruction, which is really an art to be learned,
" The interests of education would be greatly promo- ted by a moderate appropriation from the School Fund to those academies which would establish training classes under suitable instructors, and such as have re- ceived the approbation of the Board of Education."
After visiting the several Primary and Intermedi- ate schools at their close, we are prepared to express our approbation of the latter, with three exceptions; of the former, we wish to say, that while we have those that are very acceptable, we hope the time is at hand when they will all be more truly the nurseries of juvenile education.
The method of imparting instruction seems to engage the attention of most teachers, and they appear to be impressed with the importance of so presenting knowledge that it may be a help and not a hindrance to their progress.
In closing we will venture a few remarks in reference to the coming year. Our annual Town meetings are held at so late a day, that unless the School Committee, ( whose authority at this time is very limited ) do some- thing in the way of engaging teachers to facilitate the commencement of the schools, which should take place Monday, April 11th, thus giving a term of twelve weeks before the fourth of July, then there must be a delay in commencing, and also in closing the next school year. Besides, we have had teachers that we ought not to lose, even if it costs a little more money to retain them, and they will not be likely to stand still and wait for us, when other towns may be ready to engage them at higher wages than we have paid. It is hoped the Town will accept whatever may be done in that direction, as intended for the good of the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS WEST, { School
JOHN MAY. Committee.
56
ESTIMATES FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.
For salaries of teachers,
$8,800 00
" care of rooms, etc.,
600 00
" fuel,
600 00
" Stetson High School,
300 00
$10,300 00
For outhouse No. 8, repairs No. 5,
$200 00
" painting Nos. 5, 10, and High School House, 450 00
" general repairs and incidental expenses, 550 00
fitting up room in Prescott House, 150 00
$1,350 00
There are no outstanding bills.
57
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Section.
Grade.
Yrs.
Mos.
No. on Register first term.
No. on Register last term.
No. under 5 years.
No. over 15 years.
No. of Visitors.
Ann Mary Wilde. . ..
1
Primary.
7
3
28
31
2
56
Nellie F. Thayer .. . S
2
6
5
20
0
2
ยท
11
Mary J. Austin
4
6
9
44
42
7
36
Alice Smith.
6
7
7
45
44
2
29
Katie E Ryan.
8
66
6
. .
70
60
.
46
Annie Stevens.
8
66
7
11
67
65
. .
36
Mary L. Prescott.
8
66
8
10
57
56
. .
64
Mary H. French
9
6
9
66
69
4
4L
Lucy J. Thayer.
10
6
9
41
44
3
. .
. ..
3
Mixed.
9
4
60
45
1
37
M. P. C. Whitney ...
Mary E. Rogers.
5
9
6
37
39
1
1
41
Euna M. Packard.
7
8
10
61
51*
3
..
56
Susan A. Whitcomb.
2
66
10
11
29
46
. .
15
Cora I. Young. ..
Hannah O. Noyes. .. Fannie Reed ..
4
6
66
11
.
36
36
..
125
Sallie M. Tileston. ..
Prescott,
66
10
6
47
47
. .
Mary L. Prescott ... Hannah F. Thayer.
Sarah E. Shankland ...
9
Inter.
10
11
38
35+
36
Mary E. Wood ..
10
66
10
3
43
47
62
Mrs. A. E. Upham. Thos. H. West ..
Prescott,
Grammar.
13
4
42
34
..
4
1
Geo. R. Chase
9
13
7
54
48
10
James N. Parker ....
Barrett B. Russell .. .
10
13
4
43
38
..
2
Charles R. Coffin .
John V. Beal.
E. R.
High. S. H. S.
16
6
45
45
..
33
In Session.
Villie H. Dean.
Stetson Hall,
66
12
2
64
51+
2
40
Clara F. Leonard.
1
Inter.
11
. .
35
18
37
. .
.
24
11
5
41
56
44
. .
* Five transferrod.
t Three transferred.
# Two transferred.
..
45
Lizzie White.
Emma P. Ryan
8
6
6
79
69
. .
..
21
15
32
19
10
Laura A. Hill.
Mary B. White. ..... S
10
10
Annie Stevens
52
S. Augusta Bass. .
Clara M. Colcord ....
Emma F. Veazie. . .. Sarah V. Wilde. ....
Average age of Scholars.
Estelle F. Wilson
58
Number of persons in town between 5 and 15 years of age, 1,386
" pupils registered in the schools, 1,280
" children attending school, under 5 years of age, 24
" " pupils attending school over 15 years of age, 73
" persons employed as teachers during the year, 40
" schools, first school term of year, 27
" schools, last school term, 26
YEARLY EXPENSE OF TUITION PER SCHOLAR.
In Primary schools, $3 55
In Mixed and Intermediate, 6 50
In Grammar schools,
16 26
In East Randolph High school, 31 25
33 33
In Stetson High School,
AMOUNT PAID TEACHERS PER DAY.
In Primary Schools, (10)
$10 10
In Mixed and Intermediate Schools, (12)
18 40
In Grammar schools, (3)
11 80
In High School, East Randolph, (1)
5 00
In Stetson High Schools, (1)
7 50
Total amount paid in town per day,
$52 80
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT FROM JAN. 18, 1869, TO JAN: 1, 1870.
There has been recorded in the Town Records the past year, 138 Births, 59 Marriages, and 105 Deaths.
MARRIAGES RECORDED 1869.
Date of Marriage. I868.
June 29. Charles E. Bunker of N. Bridgewater, and Adrianna Harris of Randolph.
Oct. 29. Charles Briggs of Randolph, and Christianna Upham of Melrose.
1869.
Jan. I. Frank H. Wales of Randolph, and Emily F. Holmes of Stoughton.
3. Royal Belcher and Julia A. Hunt, both of Randolph.
3. Edmund Borbeau and Eliza A. Cote, both of Randolph.
66
66 James Bracey and Margaret Cahill, both of Randolph.
"' IO. Timothy Curran of Braintree, and Anna M. Kennedy of Randolph.
" 17. Jeremiah C. Buckley of Randolph, and Ellen M. Healy of Weymouth.
" 24. Stephen F. Oliver and Sarah J. Howland, both of Randolph.
Feb. 4. George H. Prescott and Harriet M. Alden, both of Randolph.
" 6. Barton Howard and Melinda H. West, both of Randolph.
7. Henry Logue and Anna McLaughlan, both of Randolph.
66
8. James D. Fox and Ellen DeNeil, both of Randolph.
Edmund Shay and Ann Daily, both of Randolph.
" IO. Joseph L. Bicknell of Randolph, and Louisa Beal of Shed- iac, N. S.
Mar. II. Eugene E. Ford of Abington, and Polly A. Whitcomb of Randolph.
" 16. Stephen Farnum and Susan Penniman, both of Randolph.
" 21. Gayton Eddy and Anna M. Swain, both of Randolph.
" 28. Peter S. Slone and Lydia C. Goldthwait, both of Randolph.
" 30. Minot B. Thayer of Dorchester, and Ella V. Wales of Ran- dolph.
Apr. 8. Elihu Madan of Randolph, and Martha M. Harris of North Bridgewater.
Royal W. Thayer and Emma F. Spear, both of Randolph.
60
Date of Marriage.
Apr. 8. George H. Hawes and Mary J. Whitmarsh, both of Randolph.
"' IO. Daniel R. Sullivan of Weymouth, and Mary J. O'Brien of Randolph.
" 15. Edward Walker and Mary A. Mann, both of Randolph.
" 27. John Whalen and Mary I. Leach, both of Randolph.
May 8. Frederic Fowler, Jr., of Stoughton, and Lucy A. Lowell of. Randolph.
" 9. James J. Burns and Elizabeth Hamilton, both of Randolph.
"25. Dexter T. Clark and Lottie S. Bean, both of Randolph. June 26. J. Edward Daniels and Hannah A. Pratt, both of Randolph.
" 14. Daniel B. White and Flora A. Belcher, both of Randolph.
" 4. Matthew Brown of Randolph, and Mary Nolan of Newton.
" 15. William Good and Maria J. Kelliher, both of Randolph.
July 3. Charles R. Smith of Braintree, and Fanny A. Allen of Randolph.
" 4. Everett A. Pooland Martha A. Holbrook, both of Randolph.
" 7. Philip Keirnan and Rose Keirnan, both of Randolph.
" 9. Peter McConety, 20, and Elizabeth J. Trainor, both of Randolph.
Aug. I. John Noonan of Randolph, and Honora Downey of Stoughton.'
" " Thomas S. Rounsville of East Bridgewater, and Adelia M. Reed of Randolph.
" 28. Christopher P. Tower af.d Ella J. Abbott, both of Randolph.
Sept. 8. John W. Hayden and Mary E. White, both of Randolph.
Elisha W. Thayer, Jr , and Ellen W. Vining, both of Randolph.
" 12. Michel Ranos and Louise Ch lenos, both of Randolph.
"21. Patrick Kiley and Catharine Kenny, both of Randolph.
" 23. Preston Abbott of Randolph, and Mary E. Farrell of Braintree.
Oct. 10. John G. Davis of Randolph, and Flora L. Howe of Abington. " 27. Hiram S. Faunce and Hannah E. Clark, both of Randolph. Nov. II. James O'Riley and Margaret Brady, both of Randolph.
" 17. Charles H. Eddy and Elizabeth S. Beal, both of Randolph.
Nathaniel Dean, Jr., and Clara A. Belcher, both of Randolph.
" 18. Asa E. Upham of Melrose, and Sally M. Tileston of Randolph.
Lewis B. Paine and Marion A. Dyer, both of Randolph.
George L. Smith and Orraetta Belcher, both of Randolph.
Seth W. Mann of Randolph, and Emma A. Fitts of Stoughton.
"21. Michael J. McLaughlan of Randolph, and Irene McIvor of Boston.
Michael Howard of Stoughton, and Mary O'Brien of Randolph.
Dec. I. Henry F. Smith of Randolph, and Helen S. Metcalf of Fitz- william, N. H.
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