USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1852-1874 > Part 9
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do.
1,000
National 66
66
33
and prove a decided benefit to the present construction of the School room.
The Trustees suggest to parents and friends frequent visits to the School and general attendance upon the quarterly exam- inations ; convinced that favorable opinions of its usefulness will be had by a better acquaintance with its administration.
NATH'L HOWARD, Trustees JAMES MAGUIRE, Stetson
ADON'M WHITE, Sch. Fund.
SETH TURNER, Secretary.
Randolph, March 12, 1855.
The subscribers have examined the account of the Trustees of the Stetson School Fund, and find the same correct, with the cash balance on hand as stated. The Secretary holds the certificates of Ten shares in each of the banks mentioned by the Trustees, the whole investment now amounting to Eleven Thousand Dollars.
J. WHITE BELCHER, Selectmen SETH MANN, 2D., of
THO'S WHITE, JR., Randolph.
RANDOLPH, March 12, 1855.
3
34
Dr. The Board of Trustees in account with
1854.
Mar. 18 .- To cash, balance of last year's account,
$00.04
April 7 .- " semi ann. div. Randolph B'k, $50
66
66
Merchants' “ 40
66
National
40
66
6. Grocers'
40
66
B'k N. America, 40
66
B'k Commerce, 40
T
66
Shawmut B'k, 40
66 Granite B'k,
40
66
Webster B'k 35
66
!!
Eliot B'k, 30
$435.00
May 12. 66
of D. Burrell, for 3 mo's rent of
$10.00
June 21. 66
80.00
6:
66
for rights to new stock in
10.00
Aug. 11.
of D. Burrell, for 3 mo's rent of Girls' school room, . Randolph Bk, 6 mo's rent of rooms, semi-ann. div. of Randolph Bk, $50 66
Mattapan Bk, 40
66
Merch'ts Bk, 40
F
66
66 National Bk. 40
Grocers' Bk, 40
Bk N. America 40
66 Bk of Comm. 40
66
Shawmut Bk, 40
66 Eliot Bank, 40
Granite Bk, 35
Webster Bk, 35
-
1855.
Mar. 8.
of Randolph Bk, for 6 mo's rent to April 1st, . 50.00
of Randolph R. Room Ass. do. do. 12.00 for am't rec'd during yr for Hall, 126.75
10.00
Sept. 28.
$50.00
Oct. 4.
Girls' school room, . extra div. on 10 sh's Shawmut Bk,
Mattapan B'k, 40
$440.00
$1,223.79
35
The Stetson School Fund, Randolph. Tr.
1854.
April 7 .- By paying S. Turner, cash bor. March 13, £ $100.00
May 2. 9.
J. L. Brown, bill painting, &c. 11.00
R. W. Turner, bill of fixtures, 2.29
18.
V. H. Deane, salary & sundries, 180.50
29.
Jona. Jones, Jr., bill of labor, 4.00
June 3.
J. B. Thayer, bill labor & stock, 13.75
10.
J. L. Brown, 5.94
July 19.
Wm. Jacobs, 2.25
Aug. 12. V. H. Deane, bill sal'y & sundries, 180.67
Sept. 1.
Perry & Everett, bill of lightning conductors, 31.51
Oct. 14. 16
J. L. Brown, bill painting doors, 3.98
16.
A. E. Dubois, bill sawing wood, 3.00
31. 66 Rich Clark, bill for Town Map, 3.00
~
S. Turner, bill chang. doors, &c. 17.75
V. H. Deane, sal'y & sundries, 183.00
Nov.16. 1855.
Jan. 1.
Howard & Clark, bill settee arm, 50
66
T. H. Broderick, labor & stock, 12.36
L. D. Hervey & Co., “ " 12.75
66 15.
Timothy Halpin, sawing wood, 2.00
Feb.13.
V. H. Deane, bill sal'y & sundries 190.75 J. L. Brown, bill of labor, 4.50
T. H. Broderick, bill expense for School exhibition, 4.50
Mar. 9. 16
Royal Turner, bill of wood, 33.00
R. W. Turner, bill of sundries, 2.65
12.
Trustees and Sec'y for services, 20.00
Balance carried to new account, . 198.14
$1,223.79
11.
14.
24. 66
36
Town of Randolph in account with
1854-55. DR.
To paying sundry Town orders drawn by the Selectmen, . $15,479.13
Interest on sundry treasury notes, ·
770.49
Treasury notes, 69 and 70,
435.04
Sextons and Town Clerk for collecting,
recording and returning statistics of births, marriages and deaths, for the year 1854, ·
68.25
For stationery, for the treasury, 2.50
Expressmen and expenses to Dedham, to collect fines,
5.00
State Tax,
936.00
Town Auditors, 3.00
Balance to be passed to new account,
13,027.43
$30.726.84
RANDOLPH, March 27, 1855.
The subscribers, Town Auditors, hereby certify that they have examined the accounts of Hiram C. Alden, Treasurer as above, and find the same correct with the appropriate vouchers.
ELEAZER BEAL,
ISAAC TOWER,
Town Auditors.
JAIRUS WHITE,
37
Hiram C. Alden, Treasurer.
1854-55. CR.
By balance received of E. Beal, late Treasurer, $6,387.62
Received per sale of salt grass, 35.00
66 Randolph Bank, two dividends on Town Stock, 60.00
of State Treasurer amount of State
School Fund, 258.48
of B. L. Wales, amount of State Pauper account for the year 1852, . 223.00
of E. Beal, amount of State Pauper acc't for the year 1853, 243.36
Interest of E. Beal, on above, .
7.30
of State Treasurer am't of State Pauper account for 1854, 91.94
of A. G. Swain, for pedler's license, . of sundry persons for violation of the Liquor Law, 290.00
10.00
of G. Howard, Jr., on account of Lud- den farm, 105.00
66
of S. L. White, for amount of sale of Engine House, 29.00
66
of Hunt and French, for work by N. Lin- field,
29.70
of Town of Middleboro', for settlement of Pauper account, · 5.50
66
of Town of North Bridgewater, balance of Pauper account, . 25.80
of city of Salem, settlement of Pauper account, 75.00
on Treasury Notes issued, 5,646.79
John T. Jordan, Collector's bond for tax bill, for 1854, 17.203.35
$30,726.84
1
38
State of the Treasury, March 1st, 1855.
DR.
BILLS PAYABLE.
Note
1 .- To Thomas McCrea,
$100.00
6.
Rufus Thayer,
· 2,000.00
7.
Benjamin Dickerman,
. 400.00
66
9.
Joshua Spear,
1,000.00
66
15. Royal Turner,
.
2,000.00
17.
Joseph P. Bicknell,
500.00
66
22.
Samuel H. Newcomb,
500.00
66
24.
Clara Lothrop,
300.00
27.
Aminidab Thayer,
200.00
66
30.
Moses Whitcomb,
100.00
34.
" !
Bathsheba Harris,
100.00
66
37.
Otis Thayer,
400.00
66
40.
47.
Ephraim Wales,
470.00
55 & 56.
5,000.00
58.
Zeno Linfield,
200.00
60.
Ebenezer Alden,
900.00
63, 64, 67. "
Randolph Bank,
2,000,00
65.
Levi Paine,
600.00
66.
Joshua Spear, Jr., Guardian,
·
700.00
66 68.
Susan Alden,
·
150.00
71, 72.
Seth Mann, 2d, .
386.75
73. Wm. R. Penniman,
375.00
" 74,75,76. 77. Susannah Fisher, .
500.00
Estimated amount of outstanding orders
234.54
Estimated remittance on Tax bills,
800.00
Estimated am't of interest due on Town notes,
240.00
$21,956.29
CR.
Bills receivable,
$446.00
Six shares of Randolph Bank,
600.00
Additional value of bank stock, at $25 per share,
150.00
Am't due from John T. Jordan, Collector, on Tax
bill, 1853, $824.54
16 1854, 9,610.79
$10,435.33
Cash due from the Treasurer,
1,546.10
Balance against the Treasury, 8,778.86
$21,956.29
18.
Lois Bicknell,
100.00
26.
66 Lucy Kingsbury,
.
600.00
·
Geo. F. Britton,
600.00
E. N. Holbrook,
Linus Belcher, .
500.00
39
Statistics of Marriages, Births and Deaths in Randolph, for the year 1.854.
INTENTIONS OF MARRIAGE.
Birth-place of Parents.
Whole No. of Certificates granted, 58
Birth-place of Persons.
No. of males born in Randolph,
14
Ireland, 99
66
66
Ireland,
19
England,
3
1
(Canada,
3
1
:'cotland, 66
2
1
France,
2
other Towns,
22
66
Nova Scotia,
2
females
Randolph,
23
Mothers
Randolph,
4.6
other Towns,
16
85
other Towns,
71
Ireland,
18
66 Ireland,
95
16
Nova Scotia,
1
66
Canada,
3
66
Nova Scotia,
4
1
MARRIAGES.
Whole number of Marriages,
73
Birth-place of persons Married. Males born in Randolph,
15
other Towns,
20
36
in E. Randolph,
13
66 England,
1
Females
Randolph,
20
of females,
50
66
unknown,
1
No. of persons who died in Jan. 9
Feb.
16
:6
66
66
Mar.
9
66
66
May
8
66
June
7
Whole No. of Birthis registered,
220
No. born in Jan.
8 male 7 fem. 15
Feb. 13
Mar. 13 6
5
66 18
6. 17
May 2 13 15
June 9 10 19
July 8 10 18
Aug. 11 7 18
Sept. 11 6 17
Oct. 12
12
66 24
66 Nov. 7
10
« 17
Dec. 17
8
25
Totals, 118
102
220
Whooping Cough,
66
Dec.
8
Causes of Death.
Consumption,
53
Fever,
15
Fits,
7
Bowel Complaint,
6
Measles,
66
Nov.
7
66
-
DEATHS.
Whole No. of Deaths registered,
113
66 in W. Randolph, 100
1
66 of males,
62
other Towns,
16
66
66 Ireland,
36
.. Nova Scotia, 1
BIRTHS !!
6
66
July Aug. Sept.
10
66
15
Oct.
9
Apr. 7 10
66
4
6:
Canada,
Fathers born in Randolph, 58
other Towns,
51
·Nova Scotia,
England,
66
Ireland,
Canada,
Apr.
9
4 17
5
England,
40
Old Age, 3; Teething, 3, .
6
No. persons under 1 year of age, 20
4
between 1 year and 5, 27
2
" 5 y'rs and 10,
2
Murdered-Dropsy-Drowned-
Intemperance-Childbed -- Dys-
20
and 30,
12
entery-Stoppage-Brain Com-
“ 30 and 40,
16
plaint-Croup-Killed on F. Riv. R. R., not known, I each,
11
“ 50
and 60,
10
Total
113
70
and 80, 2
2
No. of dead born in Randolph,
74
Ireland,
23
" Weymouth,
3
Canada-North
Bridgewater-
Stoughton-Abington-Brain-
tree-Peoria, Ill., 1 each,
.
6
Birth-place not known, .
7
Total,
113
" 10
" and 20,
5
40
" and 50,
II
" 60
and 70,
6
“ 80
and 90,
Total, 113
Suicide, 2; Jaundice, 2,
Heart Complaint,
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
OP THE
TOWN OF RANDOLPH,
1854-'55.
The past year has been one of more than ordinary interest to the citizens of this town, as regards the subject of Schools. The opinion prevailed generally, last Spring, that something should be attempted in order that the management of the schools might be more judicious and that their standard should conform to the requirements of the age. A Committee was therefore chosen at the annual Town Meeting, to propose such changes as might be desirable. This Committee recom- mended, that the School Districts be abolished ; the Town pur- chase and own all the school houses; the School Committee have the whole charge of the schools and school houses, and of providing teachers; also, that the School Committee be increased to the number of thirteen for the present year. They, recommended in addition the graded system, and the establishment of three Grammar Schools indifferent sections of the town, open to all the scholars in the town, of sufficient acquirements, and the erection of two new buildings, to accom- modate those Schools. The citizens, with great unanimity and zeal, adopted the report of the Committee, chose the addi- tional members of the School Committee, and authorized them to proceed at once to carry the recommendations into effect.
42
Your Committee subsequently appraised the several Dis- trict School Houses, and the Districts have been paid for them in the manner provided by law.
The next object of the Committee was to select locations for the two houses designed for Grammar Schools. After examination, and the consideration of various interests, two pieces of land were selected and purchased -one in East Randolph at $600, and one in North Randolph at $500. A portion of the citizens, (as was to be expected,) not being pleased with the locations, united with those who were opposed to any change, and after repeated town meetings, a vote was passed to postpone the building of the two Houses. At the same time, the Committee were instructed to repair and build such houses in the old Districts, as they thought necessary.
The Committee, therefore, bound by the latter instructions, and having in view their report, previously made, respecting the condition of the existing school houses, and the wants of the several localities, proceeded to act under this new condi- tion of things. On an examination of the houses, they found that something was required in Districts 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10. In some of the Districts, the houses were found to be wholly unfit for School purposes, and which had long been so, from the inability of those Districts to provide themselves with suitable buildings. It was deemed best, rather than to repair either of the houses in the five named Districts, to adopt the more economical plan of building anew, and selling the old houses.
Sub Committees were appointed to build the five new houses.
In District No. 1, the Sub-Committee were author- ized to provide a new house, the coming Spring, at an expense not exceeding $1,800.00
In this District, land has been purchased to widen the old lot, at an expense of $110, making it now a very desirable lot.
In District No. 2, a new house is under contract and partly finished, upon the old site, capable
43
of accommodating eighty scholars, and when completed, will cost, for the building and labor upon the lot, about
In District No. 4, the town owning no land, a piece was purchased at the price of $100. The building, of two stories, capable of seating 150 scholars, costs by contract $1,425.00
Adding the expense of cellar and
labor on lot $1.31, and land $100 $2.31
The house will be, when completed, an expense to the Town of 1,656.00
In District No. 7, a house of one story has been completed, having seats for 80 scholars and has cost for land $300.00
cellar & underpinning, 228.00
and building, 1,063.00 .
In District No. 10, a house of two stories with ac- commodations for 225 scholars, will be com- pleted about the middle of April, ensuing. The Committee have caused the same to be erected upon the lot purchased for one of the Gram- mar Schools. It is designed for three depart- ments, as in District No. 8. It is perhaps some larger than the immediate wants of the locality, yet the Committee thinking that some changes might be made which would soon require ad- ditional room, believed it economy to build a house of the size for which they have con- tracted.
The price paid for the land was $500
of cellar and underpinning and labor on land, 282
of building by contract, 2.800
The painting, fencing, furnishing, and extras, 6.50
Making the expense of the house, - $4,232.00
$1,200.00
$1,591.00
44
The expense of the five houses at present esti- mates, is $10,475
which possibly may be increased by 200
Making $10.675
From which deduct for the old houses
and land to be sold, 1,350
gives as the nett expense of the five houses,
when completed, as authorized by the Com'tee
9,325.00
adding the appraised value of the other five, 9,250.00
gives as the cost of all the other School houses in town,
$18,575.00
The Committee take pleasure in stating, that though the present outlay is considerable, the School Houses were never in so good condition as at present. They are neat and com- modious, and it is believed that the community will see the necessity of the work and in the end receive abundant reward.
The number of Schools that have been in operation during the year under the supervision of the Committee is sixteen, the same as last year.
Though the office of Prudential Committee was abolished by the Town, and the duty, in consequence, devolved upon the Su- perintending Committee, of contracting with teachers, still they have forborne the exercise of that authority. The Prudential Committees had already been chosen in the Districts, and sev- eral teachers had been engaged. From this fact, and that of the unsettled policy of the citizens in reference to School af- fairs during the summer, your Committee judged it best to permit the Schools to be managed in very much the same manner as they had been in previous years. We have been called upon to procure the services of one teacher only during our term.
As the Districts will choose no officers the ensuing year, the business of contracting with teachers, will, in future, (as it ought) be performed by the Superintending Committee-to be chosen.
45
1
The Committee when entering upon their duty, found that there was no uniformity in reference to the books used in the several Schools. Different authors upon the same subject were used in the same schools, and the series of books in no two Schools were alike. Persons moving from one section of the Town to another were often placed under the inconve- nience of purchasing a new series at each change of location. The Committee, therefore, notwithstanding the aversion to frequent changes, after much care and deliberation, established a regular series, such as is adapted to existing schools. They made arrangements that in exchanging books the outlay would not be, in ordinary times, burdensome. The exchanges, though not fully made, are nearly so.
If future Committees guard against unauthorized introduc- tions, it may be presumed that uniformity will exist and the necessity of frequent changes cease.
46
The Statistics of the Schools, as gathered from the Registers, are as follows :
SUMMER.
WINTER.
Names
| No. of District.
of
Teachers.
No. of Scholars be-
Amount of money
apportioned.
Length of School in months.
No. attend'g Sc'l.
No. over 15.
No. under 5.
Average attend'e
Wages of Teacher
including board.
Length of School
No. attend'g Sc'l.
| No. over 15.
| No. under 5.
Average attend'e.
Wages of Teacher including board.
I' Louisa F. Belcher.
100
305 06 5 1-2
90
1 11.
64
22 00 10 00
3 3-4'
60
3
35
24 00
Annie M. Thayer, As't.
53
232 20
5
65
2 16
47
21 00
31-2
2 3-4
5 32
15 00
Mary M. Blanchard. Robert P. Capen.
4
4)
29
20 00
2 3-4
40
7 33 35 00
4
Eliza B. Howland. Charles Robinson.
65
250 80
4
65
1 5 47
20 00
3
70 11 2 52 50 00
5
Ann M. Penniman. Samuel P. Lothrop.
67
253 90
5
70
2
7' 53
20 00
3
51
6 43 47 00
6
PRIMARY.
Caroline F. Dyer. GRAMMAR.
43-4 63
13 33
12 00
3
54
7 34 12 00
Benj Dickerman, Jr.
4 3-4 62 | 3
45
37 00
2
51
2 43
35 00
7
Mary E Cary.
5
49
1 35
19 00
31-4 43 2
2 34 38 00
8
Sarah E. Shankland.
5
156 1
38 107;
22 00
5 1-4 121 21
80 22 00
INTERMEDIATE.
5
78
44
14 00
5 1-4
56
1
31 16 00
Mary E. Belcher. GRAMMAR.
Thalia Alden.
361
709 76 4 1-2
6
43
25 00
41-2 43
31
25 00
9
PRIMARY.
Mary H. French.
4
72
14 56
12 00
3
65
9
51
12 00
GRAMMAR
Parthena G. Jones.
3 3-4 40
35
24 20
3
46
6
35 42 00
10
L. Belcher. GRAMMAR
3 1-2
42
7
27
18 00
31-2
42
7
27 18 00
Amelia C. Temple.
95
297 32 21-2
46
39
23 52
4
49
41
23 52
1134 $3258 43
1037 9 117 736
891 42 68 642
Appropriation for Schools by Town, for Schools "
$3,000.00
of State
258.48
$3,258.48 of Town, support of Ladies' School
and not expended, $500.00
There has been much cause of gratification in the progress of many of the Schools during the past year. It would be pleasant did we believe that in every School all had been well-the teacher faithful to guide and discipline ; the scholar willing and eager to receive proffered instruction, and above
2
Augusta Bisbee.
Roger S. Littletield.
3 PRIMARY.
Sarah F. Sawin. GRAMMAR.
93
298 86
4
33
5 32
15 00
Edward E. Brown.
130
351 60
Levi Z Thomas. PRIMARY.
55
235 30
1
J. D Slocum. PRIMARY.
112
323 68
tween 5 and 15.
in months.
62.13 6 41 33 00
5
47
all, the parent (whose duty it is) co-operating with and encour- aging both teacher and scholar to make greater intellectual effort. In some few instances the one has been deficient, the other has been careless, indifferent and refractory, and still the third has been found improperly aiding and abetting the pupil and endeavoring to destroy the authority of the teacher both by example and threat. It can never be expected that our Schools will accomplish the intended object when the parent is ignorant of this fact (if no more) that without government there is no respect.
Though the utility of Schools is generally acknowledged, there seems to be a meagreness of appropriation, a want of strong and abiding interest in their success. Compared with the towns in Norfolk County, 23 in number, this town raises the least amount of money for each child between the ages of five and fifteen. One town raises $11.53; this, the least of all, $2.78. According to valuation, this town is the eighteenth, appropriating to schools $1.80 on each $1000 of valuation. The first, appropriates $3.16, while the greatest amount raised last year by any town in the State, was $5.40 on each $1000 of valuation. In the average attendance of scholars, this town is the twenty-first of the twenty-three, averaging 63 per cent. of the children between the ages of five and fif- teen. The highest average in the County, being 89 per cent. and in the State, full 100 per cent.
From these statistics, derived from returns of School Com- mittees, it would seem that we need more zeal, and a freer hand. Schools established-that they may be successful, the community must be enlisted in their support. They make the appropriations of money, they must see that it is properly expended. By encouraging both scholar and teacher out of the school-room, by their visits to the place of instruction, they have it in their power to give to the school, animation and success.
The custom of absence from school, is too prevalent. Schol- ars being classed, absence throws the absentees behind; they become hindrances to the other members of the class, injuring them and still more, in time, rendering themselves discouraged,
48
so that to them, no place is less desirable than the school- room.
Teachers and Committees at every opportunity, seek to promote a more faithful attendance at school. They urge people to guard against this neglect, that no trifling circum- stance be allowed to render the child destitute of the habit of punctuality, or rob either him, or the child of another, of that education which gold can never buy.
The duty of contracting with teachers, being in the hands of the Superintending Committee, it may be presumed that more efficient teachers will be secured; that the discretion in rejecting offered teachers, which the Committee have this year in several instances been obliged to exercise, will be less fre- quent. Knowing that every youth learns what it requires a life-time to unlearn, they should employ teachers for the primary schools, not according to the common notion, that any one can teach a primary school, but, those who in reading can enter into the spirit of the author, can enunciate correctly, and lead their pupils to habits of kindness and propriety.
The schools in general, under the supervision of your Com- mittee, have been, perhaps, as good as our system allows. They are susceptible of improvement, and in the universal change going on, it would be surprising if no change was needed in the management of schools.
We find that the average length of schools the past year, has been 7 4-5 months. The money having been apportioned according to previous rules of the town, we find that the length of the schools has varied in different Districts, from 10 months or 40 weeks, to 6 3-4 months or 27 weeks, a great and striking inequality.
The principle of equality being at the base of the Common School System, unequal distribution of money is unjust .- Wherever a child lives, his claim to equality of privilege should be recognised, and no fortune of place or circumstance can just- ly debar him. The school to which it is his lot to be assigned should be equal in length and quality. The means of education should be equally diffused among the people, that the aspiring youth of superior intellectual endowments, but of poorer parentage, may not pine for lack of knowledge.
49
As intimated, the Committee did not make any change in the manner of distributing the money among the schools, as the town took no action in relation to it. They think however they might have equalized the length of the schools, and should so do if they were to decide the matter the coming year.
An improvement might be made in the employment of teach- ers for a longer term of time. Now, a female is teacher four or five months in summer, and a male three months in the winter. To those conversant with schools it is apparent that there is in this method a loss of time and money. Much of the time is required by both teacher and scholar, to become ac- acquainted with the habits, disposition, temper, and capacity of each other. No two children require the same treatment. One must be urged, another is willing and can be pressed beyond his physical ability. The teacher in time ascertains what each can and should do. When an acquaintance has been formed and the scholar is progressing rapidly, the school closes, the pupils have to retire till another teacher is introduced, to pass through the same routine. The same teacher if efficient and capable should be permanently secured.
In order to do this, schools must be continued a longer time than has been the custom ; for unless a good teacher is employed the greater portion of the year, when he is wanted he is en- gaged in some other place, and those towns whose appro- priations do not allow of schools of sufficient length are forced to employ those who spend the greater portion of their time in other occupations, rendering them less qualified as teachers.
Graded schools exist in some portions of the town. To make a still further improvement, the system should be extend- ed as far as circumstances admit. There can be in such schools a better classification, larger and less classes, thus giving more time to the teacher to devote to each one.
The scholars being of the same age and attainments, the work of the teacher is facilitated, and his time more advantageously employed. Small children, requiring more sympathy than the older, need a female, as teacher, who, while she acts as teacher, can show the kindness of a mother also. 4 .
50
The establishment of the three yearly Grammar Schools, proposed last Spring, and to be kept by male teachers, would make the gradation of schools as complete as can be desired. The larger scholars from the contiguous territory, being placed in them, a visible effect would soon be produced. Diminishing the attendance upon the primary and intermediate schools, these school-rooms would be relieved of a portion of their numbers, and a necessity of further accommodation for those schools, would not for a long time to come, exist.
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