USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1883 > Part 2
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That all may know the revised course of study we give it as follows :
First Year. Arithmetic, Physiology and Book-keeping ; English Grammar, first term ; Composition second and third terms ..
Second Year. Philosophy, Algebra, Latin Reader and Grammar, and English History.
34
SCHOOL REPORT.
In the English course Geology in place of Latin.
Third Year. Geometry, Ancient History, English Litera- ture and Cæsar.
In the English course Zoology instead of Latin. By per- mission French can be studied instead of Ancient History.
Fourth Year. Chemistry and Virgil through the year. As- tronomy and Botany first and second terms ; third term, Con- stitution of the United States and general English review. In, the English course, Trigonometry and Surveying in place of Latin. By permission French can be pursued this year by dropping one of the above studies
Reading, Spelling, Drawing and Writing throughout the course
Appropriation. It is very desirable to have the Primary and Grammar grades continue as long as they have this year. If a new school should be established, nearly $300 more will be required. So your Committee would ask for an appropriation of $5,500.
H. J. CUSHING, T H. HOYT, WILLIAM CHASE.
School Commitee.
MERRIMAC HIGH SCIIOOL.
FRANK WIGGIN PRINCIPAL .. MISS HELEN SPOFFORD, ASSISTANT.
The school has not been so large this year as usual. The cause of this mainly is that no class entered last summer. Also within a year several boys have left for work.
The course of study as now arranged is given in the gener- al report. In deciding upon the course of instruction to be
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SCHOOL REPORT.
pursued the two objects of study, the acquisition of knowl- edge and the development of the intellect, have been con- stantly kept in mind. It is not claimed that the course is perfect. Doubtless time will point out changes that should be made. There are occasional instances where there are good reasons that scholars should be excused from pursuing some of the studies laid down in the course. Such cases will always be treated as reason would dictate.
Both Principal and Assistant have been untiring in their school work. Their aim has been to be thorough and practi- cal. The progress of the school has been very satisfactory. No one visiting the school can say that it is not well man- aged. No school is better disciplined. Without good dis- cipline the best instruction would be poor.
The oral examination at the close of last year, by the com- mittee and others present, was considered very good indeed. The written examinations of the year have also given good satisfaction.
MERRIMAC GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
. MISS ELLEN GUNNISON, TEACHER.
It is hardly necessary to say more of this school, than that Miss Gunnison has been its teacher through the year.
To inspire the pupils with an interest in their school du- ties, is one of the marks of every really competent teacher, at least of a school of this grade; that Miss Gunnison has eminently succeeded in awakening and maintaining such in- terest,. there is no doubt.
The scholars have not only acquired thorough knowledge
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SCHOOL REPORT.
from text-books, but have been trained to habits of exact thought.
We can truly say that the progress of the school through the year has been satisfactory in every respect.
MERRIMAC INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.
MISS M. ELLA HOYT, TEACHER.
Miss Hoyt, who entered this school at the beginning of the winter term of 1882, has continued to teach through the pres- ent year.
Miss Hoyt is a teacher who is interested in the welfare of her school, and who spares no effort to secure its prosperity. Most of the scholars have been in sympathy with the teacher, and it is but fair to say that they have made good progress in their studies. By firm though gentle methods of discipline, quiet and order have prevailed.
We hope that parents and friends will manifest an interest in the school by more frequent visits.
MERRIMAC FIRST PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS CARRIE EVANS, TEACHER.
This school has had a prosperous year. The school has been well disciplined and well instructed. Not often do we find a teacher more devoted to her pupils. Her methods of instruction are practical and thorough. At the different ex- aminations through the year there has been good evidence of faithful work. And the results of this work have been very satisfactory indeed.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
MERRIMAC SECOND PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS JOSEPHINE OAK, TEACHER.
Miss Oak is one of those teachers who is in the right place. Every thing indicates that the teacher loves her pupils, and the pupils love their teacher. When this harmony exists in a Primary school we may reasonably expect the minutiæ of a good school to follow. We find she has labored diligently to make her school a success ; and to have the little ones do well in every sense of the word. She has succeeded well. This school is quite large, numbering in all 50.
MERRIMAC THIRD PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS FANNIE L SHERMAN, } Teachers.
Miss ETTA H. COLBY.
Miss Sherman taught during the summer, the whole num- ber of scholars being fifty-six. This was her first experience in teaching, and she gave evidence of possessing the tact and ability of the successful teacher. By reason of her ill- ness Miss Sherman was unable to resume her school in the fall, and it was under the care of Miss Colby the rest of the year. The whole number of scholars during the winter term was seventy-two. This gathering of so many young children, many of whom were totally inexperienced in school life, can hardly be dignified by the name of school. At the begin- ning of the fall term, the number of scholars demanded that a new school, a Fourth Primary, be established ; but the committee unable to secure a suitable place for such a school, were obliged to submit to the evil of allowing so many child- ren to crowd into a room, which is not suitable even for a
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SCHOOL REPORT.
school of ordinary size. Any attempt to organize a school of so many scholars of the age of these, must result in failure. When we consider that there will be eighty-five or ninety schol- ars in the spring entitled to school privileges, and that the basement of Mechanics Hall is the only room provided for their accommodation, the outlook is not a pleasing one to the parents of these children or to the school committee ; and certainly such a state of affairs is not creditable to the town. We trust that by this time the town realizes the necessity of immediate action in providing additional school accommo- dations.
MERRIMACPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
MR. EDWIN S. BAILEY, MISS MARY E. ROGERS, Teachers.
MR. CHAS. S. DAVIS.
Mr. Bailey who had kept this school the year previous, commenced it again this year. After several weeks he was taken sick and left the school in care of his wife temporari- ly. As his health was not improving, by advice of his physi- cian he gave up the school.
He did not show, while he was with the school this time, sufficient energy. The same lack of energy seemed to per- vade the school, leaving little or no improvement.
In June we obtained the services of Miss Mary Rogers, of Lowell, who came to us well recommended. She showed a marked degree of energy, firmness, scholarship and disci- plinary ability. And had she had physical ability, she must have met with success. But with several disorderly boys, with a disposition to be their own masters, which seemed to
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SCHOOL REPORT.
have been culminating through the season without regard to their own good or the good or the school, rendered it next to an impossibility for a woman to make any marked improve- ment without the parents' cooperation to aid the teacher in the discipline and general welfare of her school.
Mr. Ch. S. Davis, of Lynn, who had been teaching school in Groveland and had come well recommended by the com- mittee there, was employed in September to continue the school here. Mr. Davis soon found he had a hard school be- fore him. The indolence and indifference previously contracted was still unrestrained with several boys, checking the ad- vancement of the studious and the well disposed pupils. The public are able to judge where much of the fault lies. Will parents interest themselves in their children to check, so much as possible any tendency in this direction ?
The committee are pleased to notice of late a favorable change in the habits of the class named above, and a more de- cided interest in the whole school. The teachers have devoted themselves heartily to their work, but owing to the circum- stances named not so much advance has been made as has been desirable.
MERRIMACPORT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.
MISS FLORENCE CARLETON, TEACHER.
This school still continues to prosper under the manage- ment of an earnest and energetic teacher. We have always been pleased with the discipline and good instruction. We are happy to say that, considering certain obstacles in the way, the school has made commendable progress. Absentee-
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SCHOOL REPORT.
ism and tardiness with several scholars have been a great deal too much. We think parents are largely to blame in many cases.
MERRIMACPORT PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS ANNIE M. COLLINS, TEACHER.
This is the second year of Miss Collins in this school. She has proved herself well calculated to teach and manage little children. The improvement of the school has been very sat- sfactory. The harmony existing between teacher and pupil has made the room pleasant and attractive.
BEAR HILL SCHOOL.
MISS LINA SHERMAN, TEACHER.
Miss Sherman is an earnest, successful teacher. She has been interested in her work, and has labored faithfully for the progress of her pupils, Her thorough instruction and good discipline' are very commendable. The school is somewhat difficult both in the discipline and the variety of ages requir- ing many recitations. But by her ability and tact it has been well managed.
Ten weeks of the fall term, Miss Sherman was absent from the school on account of the sickness of her sister. Miss Mabel Jones-a Normal School Graduate, was hired as sub- stitute. Miss Jones labored hard and conscientiously for the good of her school.
41
SCHOOL REPORT.
HIGHLANDS SCHOOL.
MISS BESSIE VEAL, TEACHEL.
Miss Veal has been teaching a good school. She has suc- ceeded well both in her instruction and general government. Whenever the school. was visited her drill and thoroughness were quite noticeable. Her purpose has been to have through- ness and progress go hand in hand. By her perseverance and tact she has accomplished what was undertaken. At the closing examination it was very pleasing to see the excellent results of her faithful work.
BIRCH MEADOW SCHOOL.
MISS ELLA F. WILLEY, TEACHER.
This was Miss Willey's first school, and was taught by her through the year. The winter term was continued one weeks beyond thé usual time.
If the teacher did not succeed in maintaining the best or- der, she did succeed in gaining what is so essential, the love of her scholars and the good will of parents. The few marks for absence and tardiness are evidence of the interest which has been manifested in the school.
We are pleased to give the names Sadie F. Sargent and Warren E. Sargent, as names of those who have been neither late or absent during the year.
LANDING SCHOOL.
MISS MATTIE A. HUGHES, TEACHER.
The school house here had been closed for several years
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SCHOOL REPORT.
for lack of scholars. But in the spring there was a sufficient increase in the number of children to re-open the school. At the earnest request of the parents, the committee decided to do so. The school house was very much out of repair, and necessitated an outlay of about $73. The school began the 17th of April. This has been Miss Hughes's first experience . in tecahing. She has proved herself qualified for the posi- tion, both in the discipline and in the instruction. When- ever the school has been visited, it has appeared very order- ly. Progress has been commendable, The Register of this school shows many absent and tardy marks. We hope the parents will consider the many causes of irregular attend- ance; and remove them as far possible in the coming year.
TABLE NO. ONE.
STATISTICS OF SUMMER TERM.
Schools.
Number of
Scholars.
Average No.
of Scholars.
Average
Attendance.
Number of
Days in term
Number of
Times Late.
Number of
over 15 years.
Number of
Scholars
under 5 years
Number of
Visitors.
Teachers'
Wages per
Month.
Merrimac High,
52
4910
46
65
106
26
29
$100 00 Prin.
66
Grammar,
36
351
34
60
52
26
40 00
33
323
30%
60
37
21
35 00
34
31
291
60
16
26
30 00
66
Second Primary,
49
46
40,
60
35
44
30 00
Third Primary,
56
50
36
60
73
3
62
26 00
Merrimacport Grammar,
32
30
27
60
173
5
18
50 00
66
Intermediate, Primary,
23
21
19
60
25
17
31 00
33
321
29
60
91
13
30 00
Bear Hill,
50
43
40
60
84
32
35 00
Ilighland,
16
13+
12
60
105
2
1
16
22 00
20
19
16
60
7
1
34
22 00
Birch Meadow, Landing,
21
20
16
55
106
1
1
26
22 00
43
SCHOOL REPORT.
38 00 Asst.
Intermediate,
First Primary,
Scholars
44
TABLE NO. TWO.
STATISTICS OF FALL AND WINTER TERMS.
Schools.
Number of
Scholars.
Average No.
Scholars.
Average
Number of
Days in term.
Number of
Times Late.
Number of
Scholars
over 15 years.
Number of
Scholars
under 5 years
Number of
Visitors.
Teachers'
Wages per
Month.
Merrimac High,
42
382
36
125
199
19
22
$100 00 Prin.
66
Grammar,
38
35
321
120
107
50
40 00
33
291
271
115
88
42
35 00
First Primary,
37
32
29.3
110
41
52
30 00
Second Primary,
50
421
35
110
46
55
30 00
Third Primary,
72
53
49
86
134
70
26 00
Merrimacport Grammar,
29
24
22
120
201
4
28
45 00
31
27
25
115
83
27
31 00
66
Primary,
31
27
23
110
156
43
30 00
Bear Hill,
49
37
331
100
24
1
27
35 00
Highland,
20
17
16
70
83
3
1
13
22 00
21
201
191
70
4
23
22 00
20
18
17
73
119
22
22 00
SCHOOL REPORT.
38 00 Asst.
Intermediate,
Intermediate,
Birch Meadow, Landing,
of
Attendance.
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