USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1865 > Part 2
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During the summer vacation the Teacher was taken sick, and it became necessary to engage another Teacher for the winter term. During this term, also, there was much absence, a very large part of which was caused by sickness, Early in the term there seemed
10
to be a disposition on the part of quite a large number of the schol - ars, to refuse to yield due obedience to the requirements of the Teacher, but, subsequently, it was gratifying to observe a marked improvement in this respect. Amid these discouraging circum- stances the Teacher persevered with very commendable diligence, and, at the close of the school, with the exception of one or two classes, the scholars sustained an examination with much credit.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL. This school was distinguished for its excel- lent order, and for diligent attention to study. In illustration of the standard of deportment, it may be stated that, after the first week, only a single case of whispering is reported to have occurred during the year. The methods of recitation adopted required, in order to avoid failure, a thorough preparation in the lessons assigned for study, and afforded frequent opportunities of ascertaining the student's progress without resort to the method of question and an- swer. In History and Rhetoric, for example, where a strict adher- ence to the words of the text-books was not insisted upon, students were called upon to express what they had learned in regard to a specified topic, and the very words which they employed often showed how well they had mastered the subject, or comprehended the meaning of the author. In some other studies, where a rigid adherence to particular forms of analysis, and to the exact terms, of definitions and rules, is often very essential, the scholars exhibited a remarkable familiarity with the subjects of their lessons, and a fluency of expression which is only attained after much practice and diligent application. Another feature of this school which may be noticed, was the variety of exercises in writing. Besides the regu- lar writing exercise four times a week, various other written exer- cises contributed not a little to accustom the scholars to the use of the pen, while at the same time they were employed as valuable aids to instruction in those studies to which they were immediately related. On the whole, therefore, this school may be reported as continuing to sustain a high rank among those of its class, although, in common with those of the Primary, its advantages were some- what abridged by the shortness of the last term.
District No. 12,-Landing.
Summer Term .- The Teacher in this school was not without con- siderable experience in teaching, and yet she failed to make it, in some respects, what it should have been. Sufficient exertions were apparently made to maintain order, but the discipline was far from perfect, and the school not so industrious and attentive as was de- sirable. The scholars did not manifest that love and esteem for the Teacher which ought to exist, and without which no school can be fully successful. A large part of the school consists of small schol- ars, and their youthful minds require more of kind and persuasive government than of harsh and exacting, to lead them on success- fully. Several scholars entered after the school had been in session
11
from one to six weeks, and the attendance was more irregular than it ought to have been. The examination at the close of the term showed some improvement, and the school was not wholly wanting in profit to the district.
Winter Term .- In consequence of the resignation of the Pru- dential Committee previous to the commencement of this term, we were under the necessity of supplying a Teacher, and the services of one was obtained in whose ability we had full confidence, and we are happy to say that we have not been disappointed. The Teacher entered upon her work with diligence, and, in a systematic manner, imparted such instruction as was needed, keeping the school quiet, orderly and industrious, and fully restoring it to its former standard of excellence. The progress by the classes was good, and the term, though short, was a profitable one,
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY.
The whole number of scholars between 5 and 15 years of age was 769-last year 742. Average attendance 570.6-last year 573. The ratio of attendance to the whole number between 5 and 15, expressed decimally, was .74-20-last year .77-22 -. 03-02 less than last year. The percentage of attendance, found by di- viding the average attendance by the average number of scholars, was, in summer, 90.6; in winter, 88.9; for the year, 89.7-last year 90.4. The highest percentage of attendance was 98 1-2, in district No. 8. It was 97 in the Grammar School in No. 6, and 94 1-2 in the Grammar Schools in Nos. 2 and 11. The lowest was 84 1-2, in the First Primary in No. 2.
The number of times late in all the schools was, in summer, 329; in winter, 274; for the year, 603-last year 571. Increase 32. The lowest number was 2, in Grammar School in district No. 11. The highest number was 115, in district No. 9. The number was but 4 in the Grammar School in district No. 6, and but 6 each in the Primary in district No. 6 and in district No. 7. The number not late or absent during the year was 43. Their names are as fol- lows :- District No. 1-Carrie Kendrick, Carrie S. Patten, Ralph W. Patten, Cyrus P. Wadleigh. No. 2-Joseph Mahon, James C. Shiels, John Riley, Ida Walker. No. 6-Addie M. Blodget, Mary A. Allen, Annah M. Fowler, Henrietta Allen, Nettie E. Currier, Mary Griffin, Laura Small, George H. York, Walter B. Johnson, Fred. M. Chase, Otis L. Sawyer, James W. Chase, Joseph Grant, Martin Greely, Frederic Currier. No. 8-Annie W. Kelly, Mary N. Sargent, Delia M. Gould, Albert E. Sargent, Heman W. Kelly, T. Monroe Sargent, Amos C. Gould, Isaac M. Gould, Frank Tarl- ton. No. 9-Alice L. Sargent. No. 10-Lucy A. Tuxbury, Ida M. Tuxbury. No. 11-Charles Weymouth, Wilbur Weymouth, Emma J. Poyen, Mary Waterhouse, Jane E. Weymouth, John England, Horace Haskell, Willis Sargent, Richard Sargent, George P. Strickland, Charles Weed, George W. Weymouth. No. 12- Mary F. Kendrick.
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BOOKS AND STUDIES.
Among the studies taught in our schools, Reading and Spelling rank first, not only in regard to the time when they are commenced, but also in respect to the importance of the studies themselves. Reading is, as it were, the key to the treasury of knowledge, that gives access to the stores of wisdom contained in the records of the present and preceding ages. The ability to read well aloud, is an accomplishment to be highly valued by its possessor in every situa- tion in life ; but it is an attainment especially necessary to the Teacher. In giving instruction in Reading in our schools, there is need of more attention to the formation of correct habits of enun- ciation. Daily exercises on the elementary sounds of the language and on their various combinations in syllables and words, should form a part of the regular course of study, not only with the Pri- mary classes, but with those farther advanced, until the vocal organs have been thoroughly trained to habits of correct and distinct ut- terance. And so with all the elements of vocal expression, as the capacities and attainments of the scholars will allow, there is a press- ing want of more and persistent efforts on the part of both Teach- ers and pupils, in order that our schools may attain a higher stan-
dard in this branch of education. And what we want is, not alone more Reading, but more instruction in Reading. We need this, not only by precept, but, emphatically, by example. "The way to vir- tue," says Seneca, "by precept, is long ; by example, short;" and the comparison will hold not less, if applied to Reading. The daily exemplification, by the Teacher, of the principles which she is en- deavoring to inculcate, has great influence with her pupils, as our schools abundantly show. With a view to furnish, as far as text- books are concerned, the best facilities for instruction in this branch, the Committee, at the beginning of the year, voted to introduce Hillard's Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Readers, New Series, in place of the Readers of corresponding grade in the Series then in use, pro- vided a satisfactory arrangement could be made with the publishers to receive the old books in exchange. They accordingly effected an exchange in all the schools at an expense to the town, exclusive of expressage, of only $33.40. At the time of the exchange, the New Series of the First, Second, and Third Readers had not been published, and consequently no exchange of the smaller books of the Series was made.
Early in the year the attention of the Committee was also directed to the subject of Spelling, and, having an opportunity to introduce a Spelling Book that appeared better adapted to the wants of the schools, they deemed it advisable to make an exchange, and accord-
. ingly the Spellers then in use in all the schools were exchanged for Sargent's New Pronouncing Spelling Book, with no expense to the town except for express.
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MORE SCHOOL MONEY NEEDED.
There are few parents who do not esteem it a privilege of much im- portance to have their children well educated, and prepared to enter upon the busy world with a fair prospect of success. In order to accomplish this we must employ Teachers who are eminently fitted for their work. And when we consider the interests involved, and the fact that the Teacher will, in a great measure, mould the char- acter of the child for life, we can but feel that the work ought not to be entrusted to unskillful hands. But to secure the services of Teachers who will enter upon the work with skill and ability, we shall have to make the compensation remunerative. With a mod- erate compensation we may occasionally secure the services of able Teachers for a brief time, but eventually our schools will become stepping stones to more lucrative situations elsewhere. Such has already been the case in several instances within the past few years. Our districts have lost the services of valuable Teachers, whose la- bors were fully appreciated, simply because they could not give them constant employment. The remedy for this, however, is within the reach and ability of the town, and may be summed up in a few words : Raise more money.
With regard to the amount of money raised for each child be- tween the ages of 5 and 15, we sustain the 153d rank in the State, and the 21st in Essex County. Our rank in percentage on taxable property is the 54th. While we appropriate but $4,21.3 for each scholar, Brookline appropriates $19,15.6. Our assessment amounts to 2 30-100 mills on each dollar of taxable property, that of Well- fleet to 4 23-100 mills. Thus it will be seen that we are a long way down the list as regards the amount raised for each scholar, and the percentage of assessment on our property. Many of our schools have had but very short terms, closing just when they were pre- pared to continue to the best advantage, thus wasting a portion of the money. Long vacations are of decided disadvantage to schools, and the town loses very much by them annually. It will be found impossible to obtain Teachers for the coming year at the former rates of compensation, nor can we expect it under present circumstances. While we would not ask the town to appropriate a single dollar for any purpose whatever that the public good does not actually require, we can but think that in this instance we should be doing injustice to its best interests, did we fail to lay before it some few of the rea- sons which exist for increasing its appropriation for the purposes of education the ensuing year. It may not be improper, also, under existing circumstances, to call the attention of the town to the man- ner in which the school money has been expended.
We are forced to believe, from actual observation during the last few years, that the present system of hiring Teachers is far from beneficial to the town, in a financial point of view. While the Com- mittee would greatly prefer it as relieving them of much responsi- bility, yet as agents appointed by the town to look after its interests,
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so far as education is concerned, it becomes their duty to lay before it such facts as may, in their opinion, be calculated to advance the cause in which they are engaged. To illustrate its working let us. compare some of the schools in different districts, and the result will speak for itself. District No. 4, with a school of seventeen schol- ars, paid the Teacher for the winter term thirty dollars per month, while district No. 12, with thirty scholars, paid but twenty dollars per month. The result was that No. 4, with $63, had a term of 2 1-10 months, while No. 12, with $52, had a term of 2 6-10 months. It may be said that a male Teacher was employed in No. 4, and hence the difference in the expense of the terms. In reply, we would say that no greater necessity existed for the employment of a male Teacher there than in No. 12, and that the school in the latter district, under the charge of a female Teacher, was, in all re- spects, as well conducted and prosperous as that in No. 4. The dif- ference to the school stands as follows: District No. 4, with a fe- male Teacher, would have had a term of 3 3-20 months, a differ- ence of 1 month and 1 day in favor of the district. District No. 6 paid the Teacher of the Primary school, during the winter term, $24 per month, and No. 2, containing the largest and hardest: schools in town, paid but $20 per month to the Primary Teachers. Again : District No. 11, with a Primary School of 55 scholars, paid the Teacher $22 per month, and district No. 6, with 44 schol- ars, paid the Primary Teacher $24 per month ; district No. 3, with 8 scholars, paid the Teacher $18 per month, and district No. 10, with 9 scholars, paid $15 per month ; district No. 1, with a Primary School of 57 scholars, paid the Teacher $21 per month, and dis- trict No. 2, with a Primary School of 81 scholars, paid $20 per month ; district No. 5 paid the Teacher of the winter school $18. per month, and district No. 4 $30 per month, or nearly double,. and yet the schools contained nearly the same number of scholars. These are facts worthy of the consideration of the town, as they il- lustrate the injurious effects of the present system of selecting Teach- ers. We attach no blame to any individual for these glaring incon- sistencies, for they are the unavoidable effects of the system, and must continue so long as that lasts. We are slow to believe that. this is good economy, and that the town is realizing the full benefit of its money while such practice prevails. No good business man would be found paying his employees so many different prices, much less paying the highest wages for the least amount of labor.
These are not, however, all the evils of this system. The con- stant change of Teachers, caused by the annual change of the Pru- dential Committees, is an evil of no small magnitude, and one which has a strong tendency to retard the usefulness of our schools. It requires about one term for Teacher and pupils to become sufficiently acquainted to work together to good advantage, and yet it not un- frequently happens that the first term of the Teacher is the last in the school, and the next term finds a different Teacher becoming
15
habituated to its wants. This, in most instances, is a decided disad- vantage, causing delay in the progress of the school, and wasting the time usually allotted to educational purposes, which is already too brief. Another disadvantage growing out of the present practice is placing Teachers in one grade of schools, when their peculiar qualifications more properly fit them for another. A Teacher may be well adapted for a Primary School, and yet fail of success in an ordinary district school, and vice versa. Our limits will not admit of a more lengthy discussion of this subject, and we trust that we have already laid the matter before the town in so clear a light, as to satisfy all that a more judicious method of expending the school money can and ought to be adopted. A large number of towns in the Commonwealth have seen the evil of this system, and have ap- plied the proper remedy by empowering the Superintending Com- mittee to select and contract with Teachers. As a matter of econ- omy and right, we can but hope that such will be the course pur- sued here.
In their remarks concerning the schools in the several districts, the Committee have specified some excellencies, and pointed out some defects. It may not be uninteresting, nor yet without results of some advantage to the schools, to compare their condition in sev- eral particulars, during the past year, with that of some former year, and note what appears to have been gained, and what, if anything, has been lost. For this purpose the Report for the year 1857,- eight years ago,-will be taken, as that is the first to which have been appended Tables substantially the same as those prepared for this Report. At that time the number of persons between 5 and 15 years of age in the town was 595. District No. 1 contained 77; No. 2, 193 ; No. 3, 9; No. 4,27; No. 5,20; No. 6,69; No. 7, 22 ; No. 8, 17; No. 9, 40; No. 10, 11; No. 11, 77; No. 12, 33. The number in the town last May was 769-increase 174. If we compare the numbers in the several districts, it will be seen that the four largest districts, taken together, have gained 186, and that the remaining eight have lost 12; but that district No. 2 has gained 127, or more than two-thirds of the whole gain. Thus it is evident that the increase in population is mostly in the villages, but especially in district No. 2. Then there were three schools in that district ; now there are five, and a sixth is much needed. The amount of money raised by the town for support of schools, was then $2500, the sum received from the State, $122,-total, $2622. The amount raised by the town this year is $3000, the sum received from the State, $170.66,-total, $3,170.66. Increase, $548.66; but $500 of this is divided equally between the Grammar Schools in the four largest districts. Thus, while the four large districts have gained 186 scholars and $660.35, so far are the other eight from having gained, that they have actually lost 12 scholars, and there is a decrease of $111.69 in the amount of money apportioned
16
to them. To compensate for this loss they have the privilege of sending their advanced scholars to the Grammar Schools in the four large districts.
The average attendance for the year was then 456.4-this year 570.6; increase, 114.2. The ratio of the average attendance to the number between 5 and 15, expressed decimally, was then .76-40 -this year .74-20; . 02-50 less now than eight years ago. This seems to show that the attendance was gicater then, in proportion to the number between 5 and 15, than it is now ; but when it is con- sidered that there were then about forty more under 5 and over 15, who attended school, than there were the past year, the difference will be found to be in favor of the latter year. Again, on compar- ing the aggregate days of attendance with the days of absence, it appears that the irregularity of attendance was about the same, it being only about 2 per cent. in favor of the present year. Thus but little gain has been made in this respect. 'The number of times late then was, for the year, 3043 -- this year it was 603 ; decrease; 2040. It is gratifying to be able to note so great improvement in punctuality, and it is hoped that the number will continue to de- crease till not a single mark of tardiness shall be found on any of the Registers. Another fact may be noticed : The number under 5 years who then attended school in summer was 48-this year 5 ; decrease, 43. The difference was about the same in the winter. This may be considered as evidence that the opinion is gaining ground in the community that it is better not to confine children to the school-room at a period so early in life, as was formerly the custom.
The number of visitors to the schools during the year just closed was 1306, an increase of 543 in eight years. It is gratifying to know that so many persons have been interested in visiting our schools, but it would be a subject of still greater gratification, to be assured that a very large proportion of the visitors were the par- ents of the scholars. Many included in the number just mentioned were visitors only at the examinations, and others visited the schools as friends of the Teachers. While we would not have the number of such visits less, we would have the number of visits of parents to the schools during term-time far greater. Let fathers, especially, visit the schools oftener. Let them 'go in and observe the every- day work of the school-room, and inquire into the progress of their sons and daughters. Let them give the Teachers words of sym- pathy and encouragement, and show, by their presence, that they feel interested in their success, and that their services are appreciated. Let mothers, too, visit the schools more frequently. They have heretofore gladdened the hearts of the Teachers by their presence. Let them encourage the Teachers in their daily toil, and help to make it a labor of love. Let all citizens interested in the prosper- ity of the schools, (and who is not interested ?), make occasional visits, and learn their condition and their wants, that they may be
17
able to act understandingly in the time of need. Then, under the instruction of competent and faithful Teachers, our schools will in- crease in usefulness, and their influence will be more deeply felt in the community in years to come.
G. W. NICHOLS, ) School Committee J. MERRILL, of
Y. G. HURD,
Amesbury.
Amesbury, March 6th, 1865.
ERRATA .- On the 6th page, 5th line, for the word earnestness, read correct- ness.
TABLE 1.
DISTRICTS.
Number of Scholars. the Selectmen.
$200 appor-
Amount ap- portioned by tioned by School Committee.
Total.
No. 1-Ferry,
107
$426 89
$22 00
$448 89
No. 2-Mills,
320
963 97
00 00
963 97
No. 3-Lion's Mouth,
10
81 11
7 00
88 11
No. 4-Pleasant Valley,
20
97 17
18 00
115 17
No. 5-Pond Hills,
15
89 15
21 00
110 15
No: 6-River,
73
372 27
40 00
412 27
No. 7- . Highlands,
17
92 35
18 00
110 35
No. 8-Birch Meadow,
22
100 38
15 00
115 38
No. 9-Bear Hill,
46
138 93
10 00
148 93
No. 10-Pond,
10
81 16
7 00
88 16
No. 11-Corner,
102
418 86
27 00
445 86
No. 12-Landing,
27
108 42
15 00
123 42
Total,
769
$2970 66
ยท $200 00
$3170 66
TABLE 2.
STATISTICS OF SUMMER SCHOOLS.
DISTRICTS.
No. 1.
1st
2d
.. No. 2. 3d
No. 6.
No. No. 11. 10. Pri. Gra. No. 12.
Total.
No. of persons in District ) between 5 and 15,
107
320
10
20
15
73
17
22
46
10
102
27
769
Length of school in days,
67 5
70
75|
75
75
75
73
55
50
58
60
60
62.5
59
59
59
59|
59
65
1216
Whole number of scholars,
57
49
80
49
57
46
37
9
18
14
46
38
14
18
45
10
53
40
32
714
Average number of scholars,
53
37
71
44
50
36
32
9
17
14
43
36 12.3
17.3
43
9 50.5
39
34
645.1
Average attendance,
47
31| 61.5
38
43.5
31.5
30
7.7 15.9
12
40 35.2 11.2
17.2
39
8|45.4
38
28.9
581
Percentage of attendance,
90
84 86.6
86
87
87.5
94
85
93.5 85.7
93
98|90.9
99.4 90.7
483 2675 1654
1881
38,250
Whole attendance in days,
3182
2598 4611 2883
3255
2358
2211
424
795
711 2383 2149
100 152 37.5
66
3.5
256
54
420
102
329
5939
Absence in days,
427
396
790
307
1019
1205
125
45
105
8
26
2
2
2
7
35
13
6
11
329
Number of times late,
36 -
11
63
19
34
28
9
17
14
7
44
36
12
13
26
6
49
40
29
540
Number of scholars not late,
37
40
52
39
34
32
30
4
1
11
26
3
15
2
6
14
3
119
Number not absent,
7
1
5
2
3
4
1
10
26
3
13
5
2
6
14
3
109
Number not late or absent,
6
1
2
1
6
Number under 5,
Whole No. of visitors ex- } clusive of School Com.,
8
25
52
16
19
14
16
27
32
59
175
37
21
32
26
81
68
19
734
S
73
61
54
50
81
25
9
9
17
16
11
5
5
35
10
27
18
16
518
No. who have not whispered,
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
No. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
No.
No.
No.
Yes.
Yes. Yes.
No.
Number of instances of ? corporal punishment,
*
*
11
10
7
4
3
*
1
*
3
*
3
40
Term of teaching,
64th. $21
10th.
3d.
22d.
7th.
18th.
15 th!
3d.
5th.| 5th. 6th.
1st.
3d.
9th.
3d.
6th.
4th.
6th.
Teachers' wages per month,
$46
$20| $20)
$20
$20
:$45 | $18 $18 $18 $20 $40| $16
$18 | $22| $15 $21 $45
$20
$463
*Not reported.
7
*
5
4
*
10
1
34
12
11
24
9
40
10
160
Number over 15,
4
1
7
1
1
7
3
30
2
1
2
5
Number of dismissals,
Is singing practiced ?
*
2
2
2
701 1018.5 2278
91 89.8 97.4
90.3|av'ge90.6
Prim.
Gram. Prim. Prim. Prim. Inter. Gra. No.3 No.4 No.5 Pri. Gra. No.7 No. 8. No.9
81st.
TABLE 3.
STATISTICS OF WINTER SCHOOLS.
DISTRICTS.
No. 2. No. 6. No. 1: .1st 2d- 3d- No. Pri. Gra. Prim. Prim. Prim: Inter. Gra. No.3 No. 4. No.5 Pri. Gra. No. 7 No.8 No.9 10. Pri.
No. 11. Gra. No. 12
Total.
Length of school'in days,
651
63
531:
53
53
53
105
35
42
55
601~
50
55
55
63
51
49| 48.5
52
1060.5
Whole number of scholars,
53
42
81
52
50
43
46
8
17
15
44
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