USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1882 > Part 2
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In this school as in all others, where progress is dependent upon individual labor, some accomplish less from a want of
32
SCHOOL REPORT.
application and through absenteeism, and fall behind in the race. The committee and teachers are doing all they can to keep this number to the minimum, and ask the aid of par- ents in this direction as well as in others.
At the close of the summer term Miss Ellen Gunnison re- signed. She was doing valuable work, and we were very sorry to have her leave.
The new assistant, Miss Helen Spofford, a young lady of culture and amiability, is working faithfully, and meeting with commendable success.
Notwithstanding the fact that many who enter the school do not remain to graduate, the Committee, after careful con- sideration, and by the earnest request of many parents, have raised the course of study one year. For this reason, the standard of admission to the High School has been ad- vanced one year, to take effect next summer.
The Graduating Class of last year numbered fourteen, five boys, and nine girls. Their names can be found in another part of this report.
The school will close with a public examination the 17th of March.
MERRIMAC GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
MISS ANNIE E. EDWARDS,
MRS. ETTA L. BAILEY,
TEACHERS.
The summer term was taught by Miss Edwards who con- tinued to maintain her favorable reputation as a teacher. The class which left this school at the close of the summer term to enter the High School in the fall, was a very good one. During the summer vacation Miss Edwards having accepted the offer of a position in the schools of Brookline, tendered her resignation. The school opened in September under the care of Mrs. Bailey. Mrs. Bailey has manifested a good de-
33
SCHOOL REPORT.
gree of interest in the school, and has labored faithfully to discharge her duties. Under her instruction many of the scholars have made fair progress in their studies. The gen- eral character and appearance of the school would have been improved if the discipline had been of a higher order, and the teacher more exacting in her requirements of the pupils as regards thoroughness in their studies.
MERRIMAC INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.
MISS HATTIE E. SARGENT,
MISS MARY E. HOYT, Teachers.
Miss Sargent continued to teach this school until the close of the fall term, at which time she resigned. Miss Sargent excels in her methods of teaching ; but the progress of the school has been somewhat checked by frequent man- ¡festations of a spirit of insubordination on the part of some of the scholars, and also by the admission into the school of a number of scholars, who were hardly qualified to enter. Miss Hoyt was promoted from the 2nd Primary to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Sargent, and the school was under her charge the rest of the year.
MERRIMAC FIRST PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS CARRIE EVANS, Teacher.
Miss Evans has taught this school over two years with in- creasing success. Rarely do we find a teacher more devoted to her school work.
By her zeal, faithfulness, and efforts to please, she has gained the love of her scholars, and the respect of the par- ents. She seems to realize that a thorough and careful train- ing is nowhere needed more than in a primary school. Good order is maintained. The different examinations of the year have been good, and have showed commendable progress.
34
SCHOOL REPORT.
MERRIMAC SECOND PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS ELLA HOYT, Teachers. MISS LINA SHERMAN,
The patience and skill necessary to teach a primary school have been quite marked in this school. The general man- agement and progress have been excellent. The quietness and cheerful obedience of the little ones and the gentleness of the teachers have made the school life here happy and contented, as well as progressive.
Miss Sherman took this school at Thanksgiving at which time Miss Hoyt was promoted to the Intermediate school to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of that teacher.
Supplementary reading has been introduced into this room. The reason is that it is more profitable for little scholars to read different books than to read one so many times.
MERRIMAC THIRD PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS JOSEPHINE L. OAK, TEACHER.
This school was opened late in the spring with twenty- one scholars. At the close of the school for the year, the number of names upon the roll of scholars was forty four.
This was Miss Oak's first experience in teaching. By her care and management of the little people belonging to the school, she has shown that she is well qualified to have them under her charge.
The kindly feeling between teacher and scholars, so neces- sary in a school of this grade, has contributed to its success.
MERRIMACPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
MR. EDWIN S. BAILEY, TEACHER.
The committee were unable to again procure the services of Mr. Jones, whom the school loved so dearly, and the public liked so generally, but were fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Bailey, who came to the committee well re-
35
SCHOOL REPORT.
commended. Mr. Bailey has proved himself equal to the position, the school has improved generally, good order has been maintained, and the usual branches of a school of this grade have been pursued. At the examination at the close of the year there was a goodly number of the friends of the school present, and the exercises passed off in a very satis- factory manner.
MERRIMACPORT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.
MISS N. FLORENCE CARLETON, TEACHER.
This school, also, like the Grammar, has been obliged to change teachers, owing to the removal of Mrs. Tuson from town.
The committee secured the services of Miss Carleton, who came to us having the advantages of a normal school edu- cation.
The' school has probably never had a more faithful, con- scientious, earnest worker than during the past year ; and, though there may have been no outward demonstration of the real work done, the committee feel that most valuable and faithful service has been rendered, and that the teacher can look back upon her labor with the consciousness of hav- ing done her whole duty.
A large number of friends and parents were present at the closing examination.
MERRIMACPORT PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS ANNIE M. COLLINS, TEACHER.
This school has been very successful through the year, considering the inroads which have been made upon it by diseases, which have been very prevalent throughout the year to scholars of that age.
There seems to be a sympathy between teacher and schol-
36
SCHOOL REPORT.
ars, and her manner is well adapted to pupils of that age ; yet her discipline is good, and the progress of the school satisfactory.
The room has been thoroughly refitted the past year with a new floor, new stove, &c.,-which it needed very much, -and is now as comfortable as any room in the village.
BEAR HILL SCHOOL.
MR. LEON WILLIAMS, TEACHER.
The teacher has labored very faithfully to make his school a prosperous one, and his efforts have been quite successful. His discipline has been excellent, his instruction thorough. His methods have been somewhat original, and attended with good results. Mr. Williams has been teaching this school two years, and we would be glad to retain him longer ; but he leaves to pursue his college studies.
The committee were much pleased, at the closing exami- nation, with the thoroughness and promptness manifested. A few showed the bad results coming from irregular attend- ance. This superficiality and want of progress cannot be attributed to the teacher : it is simply that they have not been sent to school enough to learn as they ought.
BIRCH MEADOW SCHOOL. 1
MISS LINA SHERMAN, TEACHER.
It was the good fortune of this school to be under the charge of Miss Sherman during the year.
The discipline has been the best, and seems to have been attained by the teacher with little effort.
The standard of the teacher in her requirements of the pu- pils, as regards scholarship, has been high, and, to a large extent, realized.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
HIGHLANDS SCHOOL.
MISS HATTIE THORN, MISS BESSIE VEAL, Teachers.
Miss Thorn, who had proved an acceptable teacher, was to teach the school this year. After teaching two months, sickness compelled her to resign. Miss Veal, one of our graduates, was engaged to finish the school. Owing to her inexperience, the best methods of instruction have not always been adopted ; but what has been lost on this account has in a measure been recovered by her perseverance and fidel- ity, so that the progress of the school has been quite com- mendable.
When the school has been visited, the general manage- ment and discipline have been good.
The school has been very small-only 12 in the summer and 10 in the fall. It would seem as though so small a number might be regular in attendance ; but the per cent of absence has been greater than any other school in town.
38
SCHOOL REPORT.
GRADUATES FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL 1881.
George Henry Connor. Elmer Ellsworth Foster. John Sylvester Connell. John Alvin Heath. William Herbert Fourtin.
Ella Frances Willey. Sara Arnold Anderson. Gertrude Woodbury Sargent. Flora Eleanor Fourtin. Frances Lunt Sherman. Frances Anne Murphy. Etta Hamlin Colby. Florence Reid Betts. Fannie Teresa Finn.
TABLE NO. ONE.
STATISTICS OF SUMMER TERM.
Schools.
Number of
· Scholars.
Average No.
Scholars.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent of
Number of
Days in Term.
Number of
Times Late.
Number of
over 15 years.
Number of
under 5 year.
Number of
Visitors.
Teachers'
Wages per
Month.
Merrimac High,
62
615 00/
20
89
60
83
32
17
$100 prin
32
312
28
90
60
80
16
38
Co
37.7
34 5
92
60
63
17
35
First Primary,
41
35.2
31.6
90
60
35
1
22
30
37
33
27
82
60
35
32
30
Third Primary,
28
25
19
0
35
44
34
25
Merrimacport Grammar,
32
284
24
86
60
63
4
15
50
66
Intermediate,
37
co
31
94
60
38
22
31
43
32
283 00
00
60
116
24
30
Bear Hill,
47
46
39
85
60
67
2
17
35
16
IA
13
93
60
29
28
22
Birch Meadow, Highlands,
13
12
92
80
60
73
19
22
.
39
SCHOOL REPORT.
38 asst
Grammar,
Intermediate,
Second Primary,
Primary,
Scholars
Scholars
of
Attendance.
TABLE NO. TWO.
STATISTICS OF WINTER TERM.
Schools.
Number of
Scholars.
Average No.
Scholars.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent of
Attendance.
No. of Days
No. of Times
Number of
Scholars over
15 years.
Number of
Scholars un-
der 5 years.
Number of
Teachers'
Wages per
Month.
Merrimac Iligh,
55
5113
5123
99
132
220
27
28
$100 prin 38 asst
Grammar,
36
33.5
30
90
110
174
1
35
35
35
33
30,5
92
105
157
25
35
First Primary,
33
31.5
29
92
100
14
32
30
Second Primary,
37
33
00
00
100
60
76
30
Third Primary,
44
38
32
A
100
108
92
28
Merrimacport Grammar,
36
34
30 5
90
110
96
4
64
50
Intermediate,
28
26
23
88
105
44
23
31
Primary,
37
29
26
90
100
106
42
30
46
36
31
93
105
90
2
32
35
18
16
13
81
60
11
10
22
10
8
6.5
81
| 60
87
0
10
22
SCHOOL REPORT.
40
.
. .
Bear Hill, Birch Meadow, Highlands,
of
Visitors.
in Term.
Late.
Intermediate,
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