USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Report of the selectmen of the town of South Scituate 1854-1868 > Part 5
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Clara F. Ellms,
1
3
22 00
23 62
37
34 3-4
Ellen D. Briggs,
3
11
22 00
77 00
38
28 4-5
Adeline Hatch, .
5
0
17 00
85 00
36
25 1-4
Caroline Foster,
5
0
16 00
80 00
37
28
Ellen Foster,
2
11
15 00
37 50
19
17 1-7
Hannah P. Tilden,
2
0
13 00
26 00
19
14 2-3
Louisa A. Willett,
6
0
23 00
138 00
47
37 1-2
Lucy Vinal,
6
0
12 00
72 00
18
14 1-6
Elvira Brooks,
6
0
12 00
72 00
20
16
WINTER SCHOOLS.
1
J. B. Weston,
3
11
47 00
164 50
49
43 1-3
2
Caroline Turner,
5
0
20 00
100 00
41
29
3
Mary A. Litchfield,
3
6
22 00
71 50
39
30 2-27
4
Laban P. Crowell,
2
14
35 00
91 871
37
28 17-25
5
John W. Pratt,
3
0
32 00
96 00
42
32
6
Ophelia Litchfield,
3
5
28 00
91 00
34
27
Louisa A. Willett,
3
0
25 00
75 00
47
42
8
Lucy Vinal, ..
4
3
19 00
78 38
18
13 1-2
9
Samuel L. Cutter,
·
3 0
35 00
105 00
27
17 3-10
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·
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·
·
·
·
·
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1
board.
MO. DS.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
SOUTH SCITUATE,
1856-'57.
.
BOSTON: TRAVELLER PRINTING HOUSE 31 STATE STREET, 1857.
A
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE .
SOUTH SCITUATE.
1856-'57.
BOSTON: TRAVELLER PRINTING HOUSE, 31 State Street, 1857.
t
S
t
I
1
REPORT.
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THE whole number of children in the town, be- tween the ages of five and fifteen, is 340. Six years since, the number was 370. The town's share of the State school fund this year is $70.35, or a little more than twenty cents per child. The amount appro- priated for each child by the town is $5.00, which is about a half a dollar less than the average appropria- tion per child throughout the State. Of the 331 towns in the State, South Scituate, according to last year's report of the Board of Education, ranks the 83d in appropriation for children, and the 138th in respect to taxation for schools ; while, five years ago, we stood the 51st in the matter of appropriation, and the 61st in taxation. It will thus be seen, that through the advance made by other towns, we ourselves are suffering a constant and rapid decline. In the matter of scholars' attendance, however, the town has made both relative and absolute progress. Last year, we ranked in this respect the 150th town in the State, while three years ago we were the 205th. The ratio of attendance to the whole number of children the last year was nearly 75 per cent.
4
We now procced to give that " detailed report of the condition of the several public schools," which the law requires. We would here premise, however, that some of the registers from which our statistics in part are drawn, have not been kept and made up with sufficient neatness and care.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
No. children between 5 and 15,
- 61
Proportion of school money, - - $256.95
Whole No. scholars in summer, -
- 71
Average attendance, - 543 -
Present at examination, -
-
64
Visitors at examination, -
-
-
50
Visitors from the district, -
-
34
Wages of teacher (per month),
$23.00 -
Length of school (in months), -
54
No. scholars in winter, -
-
-
54
Average attendance, -
-
-
383
Wages of teacher, - -
-
- $38.00
Length of school, - -
-
-
13
-
The summer school was taught by Miss Lucy Turner, a teacher of large experience and of thorough qualifications. The term was a highly successful one, though we deem the school too large for any one teacher rightly to instruct. The law requires that every school, whose average attendance is fifty or more scholars, shall have an assistant teacher. We would therefore advise our friends in this district to make provision for a primary school, trusting that the
(
0
1
1
5
town, ere long, will consent to support schools, in- stead of territorial districts. It was a matter of re- gret to the Committee, that the services of Miss T. could not be obtained for the winter.
The winter school was put in charge of Mr. Jarvis S. Wight, a very worthy young man, and a thorough scholar. The school, however, was sadly interrupted and finally broken up by sickness, both on the part of scholars and teacher, and the term closed without an examination.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
No. children between 5 and 15, -
-
38
Proportion of money,
-
- $197.15
No. scholars in summer,
-
-
-
37
Average attendance, - -
302
Present at examination,
-
-
32
· Visitors at examination, Visitors from the district,
-
-
-
19
Wages of teacher,
-
-
-
-
$20.00
Length of school,
-
-
-
5
No. scholars in winter,
38
Average attendance, -
-
-
-
2611
Present at examination,
-
-
-
26
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
-
$24.00
Length of school, -
-
-
-
31
- -
-
-
8
-
- -
The summer school was taught by Miss Caroline C. Turner, whose labors were attended with the same good success as in previous terms. Before the close of the school, she left for a more eligible situation
6
elsewhere, and Miss Eliza M. Church was employed to keep the remainder of the term, which she did with great acceptance.
The school in winter was under the care of Miss L. Elmina Curtis, who taught the summer school in District No. 3. Miss C. is an excellent scholar and teacher, and her school, at examination, gave unmis- takable evidence of thorough instruction and good discipline. All the recitations were remarkably prompt and audible-a pleasing feature, but by 110 means a common one at examinations.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
No. children between 5 and 15, -
- 39
Proportion of money, -
-
- $199.75
No. scholars in summer, -
-
- 40
Average attendance, - -
27g
Present at examination, -
-
-
33
Visitors at examination,
- -
-
16
Visitors from the district,
-
-
7
Wages of teacher,
-
-
-
-
$18.00
Length of school, -
-
-
-
51
No. scholars in winter, -
32
Average attendance, -
-
-
-
1825
Present at examination,
-
-
-
19
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
· $31.75
Length of school, -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The summer school was taught by Miss L. E. Curtis, who performed her task with great fidelity, skill and devotedness to her duties, and with conse- quent good success.
7
The winter school was under the charge of Mr. G. Baxter Millard, who devoted himself very assiduously to his work, and gave good satisfaction to scholars, parents and the committee. The order of the school, especially, was excellent. This district have just erected for themselves a neat and commodious school- house. We deem it a matter of congratulation, that all the districts in town now at length have respect- able school-houses.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
No. children between 5 and 15, - 38
Proportion of money, -
No. scholars in summer, -
- - $197.15 34 - -
Average attendance, - -
- -
2333
Present at examination, -
14
Visitors at examination,
-
- -
3
Visitors from the district,
1
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
$18.00 -
Length of school, -
-
-
-
-
-
-
37
Average attendance, - -
-
-
31%}
Present at examination,
-
- -
29
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
- $30.00
Length of school, -
-
-
3
- -
-
-
No. scholars in winter,
The summer school was taught by Miss Huldah H. Mitchell, who, we think, succeeded well for the most part, considering that this was her first endeavor in teaching. Many of the scholars absented them- selves from examination, but the specimen of the school which was present appeared remarkably well.
8
The recitations of the younger classes, especially in arithmetic and geography, were excellent.
The winter school was under the charge of Mr. Benjamin B. Torrey, who, without experience as a teacher, yet faithfully and perseveringly endeavored to do his whole duty. The attendance was unusually good during the term, and the order of the school improved the longer it continued. The recitations on examination day were not, in general, sufficiently loud and prompt. We may justly mention, in this connection, that the attendance, both of scholars and visiting friends, at this examination, was quite large.
Complaints have been made in this district, of a want of government, both in the summer and winter schools. Without affirming that these complaints were utterly groundless, we may yet express the conviction, that no teachers, whatever their methods of government might have been, could have given perfect satisfaction to this district during the past year.
DISTRICT NO. 5.
No. children between 5 and 15, - -
40
Proportion of money, - -
- $202.35
No. scholars in summer, - -
36
Average attendance, - - - -
2516 25
Present at examination, ‘ -
- -
24
Visitors at examination, -
-
27
Visitors from the district,
- -
12
Wages of teacher, - -
- -
$18.00
Length of school, - -
- -
5
9
No. scholars in winter,
-
-
-
33
Average attendance, -
-
-
-
293
Present at examination,
-
-
-
33
Wages of teacher,
-
-
$25.00
Length of school, -
-
-
3}
The school in summer was kept by Miss Susan M. Ewell. The order of the school was good, and its progress, though not strikingly great, was yet com- mendable.
Miss Eliza M. Church had the care of the school in winter. The attendance of the scholars was large, good progress was made in their studies, and the school was taught in a manner wholly satisfactory to the district and to the committee. The interest and pleasure connected with the examination would have been unalloyed, had it not been for the misconduct of some of the boys, in whom the untamed animal nature seems to have developed itself far more largely than the intellectual or the moral.
DISTRICT NO. 6.
No. children between 5 and 15,
-
26
Proportion of money,
-
- $165.95
No. scholars in summer, -
23
Average attendance, - -
18733
Present at examination, - -
19
Visitors at examination, -
-
-
11
Visitors from the district, -
-
-
8
Wages of teacher, -
- -
- $20.00
Length of school, -
- - -
51
-
-
-
-
10
No. scholars in winter, -
-
-
23
Average attendance, -
-
-
Present at examination,
-
-
-
1835 21
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
-
$20.00
Length of school, -
-
-
23
Miss Harriet A. Clapp has had charge of this school during the year, and her efforts have been attended with a similar degree of success as in the year pre- ceding. In the winter term, however, there was some slight insubordination in the school.
DISTRICT NO. 7.
No. children between 5 and 15, -
- 56
Proportion of money,
-
-
- $243.95
No. scholars in summer, -
- - 57
Average attendance, -
423
Present at examination, -
-
- 39
Visitors at examination,
-
-
-
31
Visitors from the district,
-
- -
23
Wages of teacher,
$22.00
Length of school, -
41
No. scholars in winter,
-
-
-
52
Average attendance, -
-
-
-
41
Present at examination,
-
-
-
42
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
$28.00
Length of school, -
-
-
-
4
-
- -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The summer school was under the care of Miss Ann Maria Eaton. Having never been conversant with district schools, either as a scholar or teacher,
11
her methods of instruction did not seem, in all re- spects, the best adapted for so large a mixed school. The school, however, made good progress in most of their studies, and appeared well at examination.
The winter school was under the charge of Miss Lavinia Sherman, a teacher equally well qualified to instruct and to govern. Life, order and quietness have hence prevailed in the school-room. In visiting this school, we noticed with pleasure that the scholars were not allowed to take their arithmetics with them to the black-board when performing examples, but were made to rely on their own resources.
DISTRICT NO. 8.
No. children between 5 and 15, -
18
Proportion of money, -
-
- $145.15 14
Average attendance, -
-
-
-
1013
Present at examination,
-
-
12
Visitors at examination,
-
-
-
9
Visitors from the district,
-
-
-
4
Wages of teacher,
-
-
-
$12.00
Length of school,
-
-
-
5
No. scholars in winter,
11
Average attendance, -
-
-
-
84
Present at examination,
-
-
-
11
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
-
$18.00
Length of school,
-
-
-
3
-
-
·
-
-
No. scholars in summer, -
Miss Frances Turner has been the teacher of this school during the year. Most of the scholars have
12
made commendable progress in their studies, and there has been a marked improvement in the regu- larity and punctuality of their attendance. We no- tice but four tardy marks during the winter term.
DISTRICT NO. 9.
No. children between 5 and 15,
24
Proportion of money,
-
-
- $160.75
No. scholars in summer, -
-
-
22
Average attendance, - -
17-537%
Present at examination,
-
-
-
-
-
-
15
Visitors from the district,
10
Wages of teacher, -
$18.00
Length of school, -
42
No. scholars in winter,
20
Average attendance,
-
-
-
1231
Present at examination,
14
Wages of teacher, -
-
-
-
$22.00
Length of school, -
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Miss Elvira Brooks taught the summer school, which, we believe, completed her fourth term of in- struction in this place. In visiting her school, our only regret has been, that there were no more schol- ars to enjoy the benefits of her instruction. The committee regard Miss B. as a teacher of peculiar excellence, and were sorry that she felt obliged to discontinue her services.
The winter school was instructed by Miss Catharine M. Clapp, a teacher of good qualifications, and of
-
-
21
Visitors at examination,
- -
13
considerable experience. Her method of teaching was thorough and correct, and the examination re- flected great credit both on the scholars and the teacher. This school however, has, in general, ap- peared to better advantage in their studies than their discipline.
There have been employed in town during the year, three male and twelve different female teachers. The average wages, per month, of male teachers, has been $32.39, and of female teachers, $20.14. The preceding year, the wages of male and female teach- ers were $37.96 and $21.95 respectively.
The past year has been characterized by more changes among our teachers than we could have wished. All these changes, however, with perhaps one or two exceptions, were beyond our power to prevent. One cause of these frequent changes among teachers, is owing to a prejudice on the part of some against employing female teachers in winter. We believe this prejudice to be, for the most part, un- founded. We believe that if a good and efficient female teacher be secured for any school, the best interests of that school require that her services be permanently retained. The most forward schools in town are those which have been mostly taught by females. It is only in this way that permanence among teachers can be secured,-and surely the ad- vantages of permanence are too great to be lightly rejected. Even were we sure, in any instance, that a male teacher would, for the time being, do some-
14
what better than the female, we yet think that the permanent female teacher would do best for the school on the whole. Most of our female teachers are natives of the town, or of the surrounding towns, and have taught near us for many years. Hence, they do not come to us as strangers, but, in most instances, we may ascertain with certainty respecting their qualifications. Born and educated among us, they are acquainted with our schools, our school books, and our methods of teaching. Most of them have, in a special manner, prepared themselves for the work of instruction. Their wages, also, being less than those of male teachers, our schools can be continued a much longer space of time. So far as our observation has extended, they succeed, even in the government of a school, quite as well as male teachers. "Women," moreover, according to Dr. Wayland, " have a much greater natural adaptation to the work of instruction than men. We find only occasionally a man possessed of this peculiar endow- ment, while among women it is almost universal. Who ever saw a boy voluntarily undertake the work of a teacher ? A girl, on the other hand, by the time she can talk plainly, is occupied from morning till night in giving lessons to her doll." We, however, would not depreciate male teachers. We believe in them. We believe that they teach quite as thoroughly and philosophically as females. But the question is, what, under all the circumstances, had we better do ? For our male teachers we are still mostly dependent on college students, who, in general, resort to teach-
15
ing merely as a temporary expedient for replenishing their pockets. However excellent they may be as scholars, it is, in most instances, many years since they attended to the studies pursued in our schools Many of them are born in other States, and are totally unacquainted with our schools or text books. They come to us as strangers, and it is with difficulty that we can decide upon their qualifications for teach- ing. The "recommendations" which they bring us, are written with too little regard to the whole truth, to be worth anything. By personal examination, we may ascertain respecting their scholarship, but cannot accurately predict their success in teaching. A fin- ished scholar is quite as likely to make a brilliant failure in school as anything else. We therefore re- affirm our decided conviction, that, if a good and efficient female teacher be secured for any school, the best interests of that school require that her services be permanently retained.
In our intercourse among men, we have occasion- ally heard comparisons made between the schools of former times and those of the present day, much to the disadvantage of the latter. Some have stated that a better business education could be obtained in the schools fifty years ago than can be acquired now. And it is generally conceded, that the children and scholars of the present day are not nearly so well behaved as those of olden time. This leads us to consider the design of our common schools, and to inquire whether they are fully accomplishing their appropriate work.
16
In reference to the complaint that children at present do not behave so well, are not so respectful, not so industrious as formerly, we simply remark, that if these complaints are just, the whole blame of this state of things falls heavily on the parents of these degenerate children. Why have not all these parents, who are perpetually telling how strictly and properly they were brought up, why have they not trained up their own offspring in the same right way ? Certain it is, that the schools are not accountable for this alleged degeneracy of manners and morals. Nay, what little amount of manners or of moral principle many children have, is wholly due to the influence of schools, and of kind-hearted, virtuous teachers. Would that all parents might feel how potent for good or evil are the influences of home. It is com- monly supposed that education is acquired principally at school; but parents, after all, are the chief edu- cators of their children, especially in respect to their moral character and general behavior. When, there- fore, we are disposed to blame the schools for the mis- conduct of children, let us first inquire, whether the source of the evil is so remote from us as this,- whether, in other words, there is no mismanagement, no want of government, and no misbehavior at home.
But what is the true design of our common schools ? Some narrow-minded economists would tell us, it is to give our children a good business education. And to this answer, taken in its broadest sense, we would not seriously object, save only to enter the caveat that worldly business, after all, is not the chief end of
17
man. But does not a good business education re- quire a knowledge of something more than addition, multiplication and simple interest ? How many busi- ness men of the " old school," with all their superior educational advantages, can write a business letter which will bear examination-a letter which shall be correct in point of penmanship, punctuation, spelling and grammar ? In one respect only, so far as we know, did the schools of olden time excel the modern ones in the matter of business education. We refer, namely, to the branch of practical mechanics, or, more particularly, to the vigorous and successful ap- plication of jackknives to the walls and desks of school- houses. But will our children do any better than their fathers in conducting, for example, a business correspondence ? Our reply is : if they do not, it will be their own fault, or that of their parents, and not of the schools. Nothing is taught in our schools which is not directly practical and important, and quite enough of ground is gone over. We fear, how- ever, that our boys, especially, are not getting that amount of education which they should. In almost all our schools, they are inferior to the girls in scholar- ship. They stand mostly at the foot of the class. The larger boys attend school only in winter, and frequently but a part of that time. Besides, boys , and children at the present day leave off going to school at a much earlier age than formerly. As an inducement for our boys and youth to attend school longer, we have sometimes thought it would be a good plan that two or three public grammar schools-
2
18
taught only by males-should be kept during winter, in different parts of the town, into which scholars of advanced age or standing should alone be admitted. The irregular shape of the town, and the sparseness of its population, will not permit our schools, as a general thing, to be graded. But, in the absence of graded schools, and as a partial substitute for them, what better plan than the above can be proposed ? Whether such a plan be feasible or not, we leave for the town to decide.
We have said that enough of ground is gone over in the studies of our schools. The true design of our common schools is, not merely to give a good business education, nor, on the other hand, to give a complete English education, but it is to lay the foundation of such an education. This foundation should be firmly and deeply laid, so that our scholars, in after-life, may of themselves successfully build thereon. Our schools, for example, should not only teach the chil- dren merely how to read and study, but should, if possible, implant in them a taste and passion for reading and studying; so that, in after-years, they will seek to become acquainted with the master works of history, poetry, science and general literature in our language. It has been our earnest endeavor, the past year, to secure thoroughness in the studies of school. Our advice has ever been, to make haste slowly. We are sick of this going over ground with- out knowing or understanding anything about it. We are advocates of short lessons, thoroughly mas- tered, and would postpone the study of the higher
19
branches till the simpler ones are first thoroughly acquired. Our examination of teachers has mainly had reference to the rudiments of the more elemen- tary studies. Here it is that candidates are very likely to fail. They may be found proficient in al- gebra, and yet not be able to explain the simplest processes in arithmetic. They may be adepts in phi- losophy, and yet stumble in giving the sounds of the alphabet, or in pronouncing the abs. Many a gradu- ate from our colleges and seminaries would blunder, we fear, in pronouncing the ca, ce, ci, co, cu and cy of the child's primer. It was stated, in last year's report, that grammar has been greatly neglected in our schools. One reason of this is, that not all our teachers, in years past, have themselves been thorough- ly at home in this study. And no teachers can teach with interest or profit to children any branch of study which they themselves do not fully understand. Our advice to those who are looking forward to the teach- er's office would be, not to enter too early upon teaching, but first thoroughly prepare themselves for this great and arduous work. They should especially review, in the most critical manner, all their studies, beginning again, as it were, with the figure 1 and the letter A, asking at every step the why and wherefore of every rule, process and statement, and thus qualify themselves to explain the reason of every requirement and observation. Entering thus upon the work of instruction with this ample intellectual preparation, with mind and character fully matured, and giving one's self, moreover, wholly to the work, making
20
special preparation beforehand on cach lesson, and consulting, along with the text books, some larger and standard works of reference, the teacher, even under unfavorable circumstances, will rarely fail of success. Give us such teachers, with the cooperation of parents and a healthy state of moral feeling in the community, and we will not fail to give you good schools. If any parent cannot see fit thus to co- operate with the teacher, we would beg him, in view of the best interests of the school, as well as of his own children, not to operate at all, at least, not until the set time for the choice of a new teacher has fully come. Many a school has been nearly spoiled by this untoward interference, which would have done well had it and its teacher been left to themselves. And often has the influence of the best of teachers been well nigh ruined, and their labors rendered severely trying and painful, by the adverse influence of one or two disaffected outsiders.
Your committee were empowered, the past year, to employ the teachers. This system, at a recent meeting, you saw fit to abandon. While we thank you for the special honor conferred upon us, we would yet recommend that this system be not again adopted, until the town is willing to give it something like a fair and impartial trial.
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