USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Report of the selectmen of the town of South Scituate 1854-1868 > Part 4
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do.
. . ....
50
12
62
Chubbuck, Lydia, widow
do.
38
9
47
Damon, Henry, 2d.
do.
5 00
5 00
Damon, Joseph.
do.
1 00
1 00
Damon, Israel.
do.
1 13
1 13
Damon, Charles
do.
3 25
. . . .
3 25
Damon, Isaac B.
do.
. ....
25
25
Damon, Henry B.
do.
1 13
26
1 39
Damon, Martin
do.
.....
25
6
31
Damon, William
do.
88
88
Damon, Calvin
Boston
5 50
5 50
Eells, Sarah. .
Waltham
5 38
1 25
6 63
Ellms, Robert
Scituate
1 88
52
2 40
Ellms, Joseph N
do.
50
50
Farrow, Benjamin F
do.
50
23
73
Foster, Jacob.
Dorchester
50
12
62
Foster William.
Hingham .
75
17
92
Gurney, Reuben
Marshfield.
60
60
Gilbert, Edwin B.
Cohasset
38
38
Hatch, Asa .L.
Boston
4 38
4 38
Hatch, Adeline & Mercy
Scituate
25
6
31
Hatch, Marshall, heirs.
8 38
8 38
Hatch, Daniel.
25
9
34
Hart, Samuel.
Washington
13 63
13 63
James, John
Scituate
5 00
5 00
James, Elisha, heirs.
do.
13 13
13 13
Jenkins, Elijah.
do.
1 38
32
1 70
Jenkins, Luther, heirs.
do.
. ..
88
20
1 08
Jenkins, Noah.
do.
25
6
31
Jenkins, Eli, heirs
do.
38
9
47
Joseph, Anthony .
do.
. .
5 38
1 24
6 62
Litchfield, Marshall H.
do.
. .
.. .
38
9
47
·
...
...
..
. .. ...
.....
. . ....
. .....
. .
. ....
2 88
2 88
Damon, Josiah.
do.
.. . . .
.
. ..
..
. . . ..
. ....
. ....
. .. ..
. . ....
·
do. do.
. ... . .
. ..
32
List of Town and County Taxes.
NAME.
Residence.
Tax.
Highway arrears.
Total.
Litchfield, Peter.
Scituate
50
12
62
Litchfield, Jairus & Asa
do
1 38
1 38
Litchfield, Temperance. .
do
50
50
Litchfield, Melvin.
do.
1 50
1 50
Litchfield, James S
do.
25
9
34
Litchfield, Freeman.
do.
. .
50
12
62
Litchfield, Josiah.
do.
13
3
16
Merritt,' James H.
do.
75
75
Merritt, Asa.
do
25
6
31
Martin, Edward F
Charlestown.
3 00
3 00
Merritt, Elisha.
Scituate
50
50
Matthews & Hatch.
do.
2 00
46
2 46
Mott, Stephen, Jr.
Provincetown
$2 50
58
3 08
Northey, Joseph
Scituate
7 75
7 75
Nash, Israel .
Boston
10 50
2 61
13 11
Otis, Cushing, heirs
do.
74 00
74 00
Otis, Jane T.
Scituate
63
63
Pierce, Otis.
do.
25
6
31
Pincin, Simeon, heirs
do
1 25
29
1 54
Pratt, Thomas.
do.
1 25
29
1 54
Perkins, Thomas
Somerville
4 63
1 07
5 70
Pingree, Andrew.
Illinois.
5 88
5 88
Perkins, H. N., Guardian.
Boston.
15 00
15 00
Studley, Homer.
Scituate
3 50
3 50
Stoddard, Samuel J.
do.
25
6
31
Sherman, Israel H.
do
3 38
3 38
Stetson, David, heirs.
Charlestown.
5 88
5 88
Turner, Francis, heirs.
do.
12 25
12 25
Vinal, William, heirs,
Scituate.
50
50
Vinal, Jacob.
do.
13
3
16
Vinal, Thomas.
do.
. ... . .
50
12
62
Vinal, Lemuel
do.
75
17
92
Vinal, Alvin & Freeman.
do.
13
3
16
Webb, Seth.
do.
. . .
3 00
70
3 70
Welsh, Michael.
do.
2 50
58
3 08
Wade, Shadrach
do
. . .
50
12
62
Wade, Nathaniel.
do
1 13
26
1 39
Webb, Paul.
do.
.
25
25
·
Valuation of Real Estate in South Scituate
$506,425
" Personal "
66
284,186
Total Real and Personal Estate
$790,611
...
·
. . ·
.
.
.
2 88
Tolman, Thomas
Weymouth
2 88
.
. .
. . . . .
. .... .
. . . . . .
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
5
Report of the Schaal Committer.
IN compliance with the Statute, the School Committee sub- mit the following
REPORT.
The summer schools for the past year, have as usual been exclusively under the care of female teachers. In winter, four male and five female teachers have been employed. In some of these schools we have witnessed gratifying evidences of improvement, and a state of discipline and order alike creditable to the teachers and the school. In several instan- ces we have found an improved and more intelligent manner of reading which gave evidence that the pupil had discovered that something more was needed, to make a good reader, than an ability to pronounce the words correctly ; and where- ever these indications have met us, we have found them ac- companied by a clearer and more thorough knowledge of other branches of study ; showing conclusively, that a better mode of instruction had been pursued; and that the teacher had been able to infuse into the minds of his pupils a higher aim, and a more definite means of attaining it. This however has- not been the case in all our schools. In some, a more mechan- ical method of teaching has prevailed, and of course a dif- ferent result has followed. We have appended a table to this report, giving the statistics of the several schools, and shall therefore confine ourselves here to their general char- acter and condition.
In district No. 1, the summer school was well instructed, but the government was insufficient. The examination how- ever, showed a decided improvement in many of the studies, pursued.
36
Report of the School Committee.
In winter, the school was taught by Mr. J. B. Weston, and the Committee at their several visits, and at the closing ex- amination, were impressed with the thorough manner in which this school was instructed. The pupils may not have ad- vanced so rapidly as some others; but they appear to have explored pretty thoroughly the ground over which they have travelled, and the school seems to have been put in the best condition for future progress. At the examination, the order was good, and a marked propriety of demeanor prevailed.
In district No. 2, the summer school was taught by a young lady who was entirely inexperienced. In such a case mistakes and errors might very naturally be expected, and we believe those complained of, were only such as were inci- dent to a beginner in teaching; and the progress of the school, as shown by the examination, was sufficient to satisfy the Committee of the faithfulness and industry of the teacher.
The winter school has been under the care of a female, and it has been conducted in a manner highly creditable to the teacher, and satisfactory to the Committee, so far as their observation has extended ; but as the school has not yet closed, no more definite information can be given.
In the third district, the services of a teacher for the sum- mer school were obtained, of whom the Committee and the district had formed high expectations ; expectations fully jus- tified by the few weeks' instruction she gave ; but at the close of the first month she accepted an appointment to a perma- nent school elsewhere, and relinquished her charge here. Another teacher was procured for the remainder of the term; and the school we believe, from our observation of it during its progress, was a good one, but we were unable to judge of it more decisively, as no notice was given to enable us to visit it at its close.
The winter school was instructed by the same person who taught the summer school in district No. 2; and it was evident to the Committee that her experience of the past summer had not been thrown away.
The school made good improvement; and the examination
37
Report of the School Committee.
was a very satisfactory one; our only discomfort arose from the contemplation of the miserable structure which serves for a school-house ; and we earnestly hope, for the credit of the district, and the best good of the school, that better accommodations may be soon provided.
In the fourth district, the summer school was in charge of a teacher of considerable experience, and at the closing exami- nation, the Committee were satisfied that some progress had been made. They were pleased also to find at that time a full attendance of the scholars.
The winter school was taught by Mr. L. P. Crowell. The term was a short one, and although we think the school was well instructed, the discipline was somewhat defective.
In the fifth district, the summer school was very well taught, and the examination was satisfactory ; we think however that here, also, the government was not sufficiently decided.
The winter school was taught by Mr. John W. Pratt, and in the visits we made to it, during its progress, we were per- suaded that the teacher was endeavoring to discharge his du- ties faithfully, and the school appeared well; but as in the third district, the Committee had no notice of its close. It " died and gave no sign."
In the sixth district, the same teacher who instructed the school the previous winter, was employed for the summer term ; but a series of afflictive events in her family caused se- rious interruption to the school, and finally compelled her to relinquish it entirely. At this season it was not easy to pro- cure a teacher, and one was at last obtained, who was en- tirely inexperienced. Of course in a school thus broken, and in which such changes had occurred, great improvement could hardly be expected.
The winter school was taught by a female, and the Com- mittee are decidedly of opinion that it was conducted with great prudence, fidelity, and success. The examination was a very creditable one, and the demeanor of the pupils unex- ceptionable.
The school in the seventh district has been for the whole
38
Report of the School Committee.
year under the care of the same teacher, who has instructed it now for three successive years. The fact that she has been so long retained in the same school, speaks strongly for her as an able and faithful teacher; and the thoroughness with which her school has been taught; the ability with which it has been trained; the spirit and life she has been able to in- fuse into it ; the care which has been taken to carry the whole school along together, so that no undue preference seems to have been given to any one branch to the detriment of any other; prove the skill which her long experience, added to her earnestness and energy, has enabled her to acquire. Her examinations have of course been highly thorough and satis- factory.
The school in the eighth district has been for the whole year in charge of the same teacher. The small number of scholars, and the very irregular attendance of quite a portion of these few, make it no easy task to inspire the school with much life or spirit. To find for days, and sometimes for weeks, nearly or quite half the school absent, is hardly calcu- lated to give the teacher much encouragement, or to quicken to greater diligence those who are present; but under all these disadvantages, we believe the school has made as good improvement as could reasonably be expected. Those schol- ars who have been punctual, have given conclusive evidence of a progress highly praiseworthy, and which makes the loss by absence only the more to be regretted.
In the ninth district, the summer school was a good one ; the improvement, especially in reading and arithmetic, was very satisfactory, and the examination gave unequivocal evidence of the fidelity and earnestness of the instructor.
The winter school was taught by Mr. Samuel L. Cutter, and so far as the Committee could judge, in their visits, he was faithful in the discharge of his duties, and seemed desirous of promoting the best interests of the school. Several of the larger pupils, some on account of illness, and others from some cause unexplained to the Committee, withdrew from the school during the last seven or eight weeks of its continuance.
39
Report of the School Committee.
The natural consequence of this was a feeling of discourage- ment on the part of the teacher, and a relaxation of those efforts necessary to the highest success of the school. The examination gave conclusive proof of improvement on the part of those who had remained at their posts to the last. The Committee can only regret that parents should have felt it necessary to adopt a course so much calculated to injure the school.
Such is a general view of the schools for the past year. That they have been all they should have been, that any of them have fulfilled for the time their entire mission, none will pretend ; that some of them have approximated in some good degree to what a school should be, we fully believe ; but we feel that earnest effort on the part of all the friends of edu- cation in the town was never more needed to sustain their claims, to elevate their character, and to force if possible more deeply upon the public mind and the public conscience the conviction of their vital importance to our prosperity, our happiness, and our character as a community. The town ap- propriates a liberal sum for their support, but with too many, that is the end of the matter. They suppose that the clock, (to use the figure in last year's report,) once wound up to the tune of $1700, will go well enough through the year ; forget- ful that twice that amount might easily be expended and the schools no whit improved. Unless proper care is used in the selection of teachers, and suitable efforts made on the part of parents to sustain and encourage them, your money may be thrown away, and your children may be defrauded of that in- struction which is their due. There is another way in which too many allow themselves to be defrauded of their share of the money expended for schools, and that is by allowing their children to absent themselves. Nearly one-fourth part of the money raised, was thus lost last year ; and the evil does not stop there. If those who were in fault were the only suffer- ers, it could be better endured. But the injury extends to the whole school; classes are deranged, the plans of the teach- ers thwarted, and lessons must be either passed over super-
40
Report of the School Committee.
ficially or nominally, or else a double tax be imposed upon the time and patience of the teacher. Would parents only seriously reflect upon this matter, we do believe they would endeavor to correct a wrong which produces only evil to their children and evil to the school, and that continually. It is frequently said that our schools are not governed with suffi- cient strictness, and in the aggregate this may be true; and this irregularity of attendance is one of the causes which con- tributes to such a result. But it seems to your Committee, that those who make the loudest complaints of this want of government, are not always sufficiently careful to ascertain whether the blame lies exclusively with the teacher. Are we always careful to send our children to school prepared to comply cheerfully with all the reasonable requirements of the instructor, and made to feel that any failure to do so will be met at home with decisive censure ? Are we always careful not to speak of a teacher in the presence of our own children, or those of others, in a manner calculated to impair their con- fidence in, or respect for that teacher. If we have not done the one and refrained from the other, it is not too much to say, that we are in part responsible for any disorder or disobedi- ence that may occur. We are aware it will be said, that it is the teacher's business to govern the school; true, but no more imperatively than it is the duty of the parent to see that his children are governable.
"We think that in this matter we are apt to throw too much responsibility upon the teacher, unmindful that we too have duties to perform. Parents should become acquainted with the instructor, should inform themselves of his modes of discipline and instruction, and co-operate with him in carry- ing on his plans of improvement. The control of rough, un- ruly and disobedient children ought not to be thrown wholly upon him. Parents and guardians should share the labor and the responsibility ; and instead of petulant complaint, and constant fault-finding, take hold with the teacher, as his allies and friends, and by a hearty and healthy home influence ren- der all needful assistance in maintaining wholesome discipline."
41
Report of the School Committee.
In connection with this, we would earnestly urge upon pa- rents the importance of more frequently visiting the schools. In very few cases do we find on the registers indications of their presence, excepting at examinations, and in some dis- tricts not even then; but if half the benefit to be derived from such visits were generally understood, it seems to us that an effort would be made, even at the expense of some self- denial, to perform this duty. Would parents habitually go into the schools, and see for themselves their management, it would do away at once with a large part of that second-hand information, acquired in the stores or at the corners of the street, and by which so much mischief is done. It would en- courage their children, encourage the teacher, quicken his sense of responsibility, and send life and spirit through many a sleepy schoolroom; nor would the smallest benefit be the increased interest they would themselves acquire in the cause of their children's education.
" We would urge here a greater attention to good manners in our schools. They have a close and intimate relation to good morals, and are an important part of a good educa- tion. We think this matter has been too much neglected. This neglect appears in various ways, in want of respect for the teacher and other persons; in a coarse, rough manner of speaking; in a heavy, swaggering way of coming to and re- turning from recitation ; in a too rough handling of the smaller pupils at recess and intermission ; and in boisterous shouting and disrespectful hooting at those who pass by. In these and various other ways the want of good manners is too ob- vious to be mistaken. We advocate no stiff and formal rules, no false refinement; we do not wish to have children not yet in their teens, addressed as young gentlemen and young la- dies ; we like the old fashioned phrase of " boys and girls " much better, for it is more true to nature, and we have no wish to make children men and women before the time. What we would advocate is, a kind and courteous demeanor, a ready obedience to authority, prompt compliance with school regulations, proper attitudes, tones and gestures, neat- 6
42
Report of the School Committee.
ness of person, and the avoidance of all uncleanly habits. A kind and courteous bearing is one of the surest passports to public favor ; and if we mean our children shall possess it, and that it shall sit gracefully and naturally upon them, it must be formed and cultivated in childhood and youth.
" In close connection with good manners, we would urge a greater attention to good morals. We have reason to believe that this matter has been looked upon far too lightly. Our fathers in establishing the system of common schools, were very far from intending that intellectual training should be its only object. They provided by statute that 'all instructors of youth should take diligent care and exert their best en- deavors to impress on the minds of children and youth, com- mitted to their care and instruction, the principles of piety, justice and a sacred regard to truth ; love to their country, humanity and universal benevolence ; sobriety, industry and frugality, charity, moderation and temperance ; and those oth- er virtues which are the ornament of human society, and the basis upon which the republican constitution is structured.' That there is but an imperfect compliance with this require- ment is painfully apparent. We see evidences of it at every turn. We have during the past year, in more than one in- stance, and at more than one school, heard the merry shouts of children at play, mingled with obscene jests and profane oaths ; and this with a boldness and recklessness, sufficient to convince us, it was no recent accomplishment. It may be seen in the vulgar and indecent marks upon the benches and walls of our school houses, in the frequent invasion of the rights and property of those in their vicinity ; in a lack of truthfulness, and a disregard for the rights and feelings of others. These and many other indications equally significant, impress us with the fact that in our schools moral culture has been deplorably neglected. We would urge therefore a new and vigilant fulfilment of that requirement of the statute which relates to the moral training of our youth. We believe it to be a matter of pressing importance ; we believe that any thing else had better be neglected than this. If either the
43
Report of the School Committee.
intellect or the moral nature must suffer, we say undoubting- ly, let it be the intellect. A man may be a good and worthy citizen, a blessing to himself and to the community, with very limited intellectual culture ; but without moral principle, he is a curse to himself and a scourge to society. But there is no need to neglect the intellect ; the two should not be separated ; they can be best cultivated together; and made to give each other mutual strength and support. All we urge is, that moral culture should take the place it deserves, the place as- signed to it by the statute."
We are aware that very much depends upon the character of the teacher in enforcing moral truth; but we hold that no person is qualified in any proper sense to teach, from whose lips such instructions would not gracefully and properly pro- ceed. No acquirements, however brilliant, no ability howev- er great, should be admitted as the slightest compensation for the want of a good moral character; and hence we feel that it is of the highest importance to the prosperity of our schools, that reference should always be had, to this matter in the selection of a teacher.
Notwithstanding the town has decided to retain for anoth- er year the old method of selecting teachers, we cannot but reiterate our conviction, a conviction strengthened and con- firmed by another year's experience, that no steady and per- manent improvement in our schools can be relied on, till a dif- ferent system is adopted. So long as the Prudential Com- mittee retain the power to change the teacher every term, no permanence can be counted on for our schools, and they must be at the mercy, and too often at the caprice of a single indi- vidual. If we look back upon the past, we shall find compar- atively few instances in which teachers have been retained for any length of time in the same school. It is probable the future will exhibit a similar result. It may be said that those teachers, were not such as it would be desirable to retain. It may have been so ; but it would be a strange argument to bring in favor of the present mode of procuring them. We believe however, that a change must soon come over the pub-
44
Report of the School Committee.
lic mind in this town. The flood of light which has of late been thrown upon the subject by able and practical men, and the working of the system, when the Town Committee have been allowed to retain the power the law gives them, will ere long prove too strong to be resisted; but as the matter has already been settled for the present year, and as it was very fully discussed in the report of last year, it would be useless and perhaps indecorous to say more.
In conclusion, we would say, that one of the most effectual means of elevating the character of our common schools, will be found in the cultivation of a deeper and more practical sense of their vital importance to our happiness and prosper- ity as a community and as individuals. This has been already implied in much that has been said; but we would say more directly here, that our schools can as a whole rise no higher than public sentiment will carry them; we can have them just what we choose to have them; for their destiny is com- mitted to our hands. If an enlightened and generous public opinion wills it, they may be raised to the highest point of usefulness and prosperity ; or they may be sunk by a narrow and selfish policy to utter worthlessness; and well will it be for us and for our children if we are found true to the trust. We have grown up under this system of common schools, and regard them as part of our birthright ; but we are apt to look upon them too much as a thing of course ; too much as we too often look upon the blessings of health' and strength. It is only when threatened or lost that we value them aright. Were there any such means of rectifying our estimate of our schools, it would open our eyes to their true value. The progress which the cause of school education has made for sev- eral years past in Massachusetts has of course had its influence on us; we have shared its benefits, without much exertion on our own part. We have been too easily satisfied with retain- ing our positive position, forgetful of our relative one ; and un- less we awake to a more practical and earnest sense of our du- ties and our obligations, our case may be not inaptly com-
45
7
Report of the School Committee.
pared to that of a ship at anchor in the rapid current of some mighty river, whose company are watching the shore and con- gratulating themselves, that their anchor holds fast, and they retain their station, forgetful that their companions are crowd- ing sail, and leaving them ignominiously behind.
JAMES SOUTHWORTH, A. EVERETT STETSON, S
Committee.
South Scituate, April 2, 1855.
46
Report of the School Committee.
SUMMER SCHOOLS.
No. of District.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Length of
School.
Wages per
month, includ'g
Whole amount
rec'd by Teacher,
including board.
Whole number of Scholars.
Average
attendance.
3 4 5 6 8 9 COO-X OS CTHA CO NON 7
Matilda Hawes,
6
0
$18 00
$108 00
67
49
Mary A. Litchfield,
6
0
12 00
72 00
44
32 1-2
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