USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1870-1879 > Part 24
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1.
2 00
Thomas R. Eames
1.
.850.
.30
.. 16 92
Robert H. Edgar
1.
700 ..
130. .
. 50
.16 69
John T. Edgar
1.
.2 00
Martin Freeman
1.
.1,000. .
250. .
. 23 50
Enoch Freeman
1.
2 00
Est. Barker Hunt
43
Oscar C. Hunt
1.
2 00
Hiram Holmes . .
1.
40 ..
1 00
3 86
Ziba Huut .
1.
.1,515. .
.28 23
George Louden.
1.
. . 510 ..
50 ..
.11 46
Josiah Moore
1.
.. 2,570. .
.46 29
Est. Sylvanus Prior
.. 2,588 . .
285 ..
2 62
.52 07
Henry A. Prior.
1.
50 ..
2 86
Est. Martin Sampson.
.. 1,320.
.22 79
Est. Sarah Southworth
500.
8 60
Henry Southworth
1.
2 00
Sylvia Southworth
. 200. .
Exempt.
Hambleton E. Smith.
1.
.3,715.
390. .
72 95
Frederic P. Sherman
1.
.1,375.
.25 65
Est. Samuel Stetson.
.2,000.
.34 40
Est. William M. Smith
.3,085
.52 89
Est. Freeman Soule
.. 3,903.
.67 08
James Wadsworth
1.
2 00
Otis Weston .
480. .
8 17
Harrison G. Weston
1.
.. 1,075.
225. .
.24 36
Emma C. Whipple
.375
.6 45
Mrs. Willowby . .
375.
Exempt. 400. .
8 88
I
Edmund W. Wright
1.
18.
18
NAMES.
No of Polls.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Unpaid Books.
Total Tax.
DISTRICT No. 10.
Benjamin Boylston
1.
$1,280 . .
. . . $90. . Exempt.
1 53
.$27 18
Est. Zela Belknap
.572.
Robert T. Bates.
1.
2 00
Est. Daniel Baker
.1,045.
18 06
Edward Baker.
1
.. 1,800.
.. 2,110. .
69 08
George Bradford
1.
.3,340.
. . 59 62
George Bradford and Sons.
125
.. 1,780 . .
32 68
Chester H. Bradford
1.
.2 00
Henry D. Bump
1.
2 00
George W. Bradford
.1.
2 00
Emeline A. Chandler
.2,240 . .
.38 70
Proctor Chandler
1.
390.
.8 88
Joseph Carswell
.1.
955.
265.
.. 23 07
Briggs Cushman
1
.. 1,700.
150.
.33 82
Isaac Chandler.
1.
.. 1,900. .
.. 34 68
Est. Jesse Delano
.1,500 . .
.. 25 80
Charles P. Dorr
1.
.2 00
Herman H. Delano
.1.
408.
370.
15 33
Rufus B. Dorr
.1,831. .
130. .
35 54
William W. Easterbrook.
.1.
255. .
2 23
8 53
William Estus .1.
385.
50.
. 43
.9 74
John Holt . .
1.
. 720. .
145.
.17 05
William A. Hunt
.1.
.3,350. .
392.
.66 50
Henry H. Lewis.
.1.
.2 00
Daniel Lyons
.1.
525.
.10
11 13
Francis T. Paine.
.1.
.2 00
Isaac M. Paine.
.1.
2 00
Calvin B. Paine.
800. .
13 76
Est. Elisha Peterson
.. 1,185 . .
20 21
Jabez Peterson . .
.. 1,033 . .
165.
20 64
George F. Peterson, 2d
1.
.2 00
Alexander K. Ripley.
1.
25.
2 43
Luther Sherman.
1.
.2,060. .
555.
46 72
Luther Sherman & Co
125. .
.2 15
Peter A. Sennott.
1.
.. 1,575 . .
110. .
1 33
.32 14
Est. Lewis Simmons
.1,050 . .
18 06
Mason Simmons. . .
225 ..
3 87
Warren M. Simmons.
1.
2 00
.
.1.
19
NAMES.
No. of Polls.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Unpaid Books.
Total Tax.
Lewis Simmons
1.
.$3,015. .
$275 ..
$58 76
Levi P. Simmons
1.
.. 200 ..
290. .
10 60
Levi Simmons.
1.
.. 1,625.
105. .
.31 67
Joseph Sprague.
1.
.. 1,520
245.
.32 53
Charles J. Sprague.
1.
2 00
Est. Ezekiel Sprague
14 19
Gideon Shurtleff.
1.
275.
6 73
Willis T. Shurtleff
1.
2 00
Harriett Witherell
800.
Exempt $500
5 16
Benjamin White
1.
.1,890.
550 ..
44 14
Gideon T. White
1.
DISTRICT No. 11.
Orson M. Arnold.
1.
2 00
Est. William Bradford
.1,080 . .
.18 49
Joseph Brewster
1.
2 00
Maurice Colmache.
.1.
2 00
Arthur Collicutt
1.
50. .
2 86
Phillip Chandler
1.
825.
200. .
19 63
Willard Clark.
1.
.1,323.
300. .
29 95
George W. Childs.
1
.550 ..
90. .
13 18
Harrison Chandler
1.
.800. .
1 18
.16 94
Est. Samuel Delano
.. 1,100. .
.18 92
Nathaniel Delano
1.
.1,250 . .
175. .
26 51
Edwin F. Delano.
1.
2 00
Hiram T. Delano, 2d.
1.
2 00
Nathaniel Ellis.
1.
320. .
7 59
Hiram Foster .
1.
100.
150. .
6 30
George A. Faunce
.1,050. .
18 06
Winfield S. Freeman.
1.
.2,325.
.3,200 . .
.97 03
Jerusha Faunce
.1,000. .
Exempt $500
.8 00
Zenas Faunce. .
1.
.2,050. .
.37 26
Samuel A. Frazar.
1.
2 00
William S. Frazar
1.
2,465. .
205.
48 01
Charles P. French
1.
200.
125 . .
7 59
Joseph Goodspeed.
2
4 00
Joseph Goodspeed, Jr
1
2 00
Alfred E. Green
1
2 00
George A. Green
1
75.
3 20
Joseph D. Geary
1
.1,110.
225. .
.. 95
. . 25 74
2 00
827.
20
NAMES.
No. of Polls.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Unpaid Books.
Total Tax.
J. Everett Geary
1.
$175.
.. $5 01
Allen Holmes .
1.
.$1,260. .
.23 50
Elisha Holmes.
1.
. 650.
. . 13 18
William E. Holmes
1.
.2 00
Jabez Hatch ..
1.
900.
17 48
Henry Holmes.
1.
2 00
Joshua W. Hathaway
1.
.1,327.
24 79
John B. Hollis.
1.
.. 1,275.
.1,425.
. . 48 44
Judith Hathaway.
.525.
Exempt.
Thomas D. Hathaway
.1,225.
.21 07
Judith O. Jones.
.775. .
.13 33
Stephen H. Jackson
1
.. 1,600.
.. 29 52
Est. Robert B. Kennedy
825
275. .
.18 92
Edward A. Keene
1
2 00
Charles Loring.
378.
.6 45
Chas. & J. S. Loring, Trustees
2,150
.36 98
Alexander Lane.
1.
.625.
12 75
William W. Lyle ..
1
25
2 25
George F. Nickerson
1.
.1,600
.3,000. .
81 12
Andrew Northey
1
150.
90. . 1 61
.7 91
Alfred Paulding
1
.. 1,150. .
21 78
Allen Prior, Trnstee Pilgrim
Church.
Allen Prior.
1.
.. 2,125.
500.
.54 .. 47 69
George C. Prior
1.
.. 4,745.
.2,325.
123 69
Robert Sanderson
1.
2 00
William F. Snyder
1.
2 00
Nelson Stetson .
1.
1,250.
100.
25 22
Trustee M. E. Society
.900.
.. 15 48
Eden S. Sampson.
1.
.1,640 .
.30 38
Eden S. Sampson & Co
.1,000.
.17 20
1.
475.
10 17
Augustus Sampson
1.
.1,850.
.300. .
.38 98
Alabot Sampson .
1.
2 00
Elizabeth Shattuck .
500.
Exempt.
.21 50
Ichabod Sampson
822
14 19
Edmund H. Sears
1
2 00
Erastus Sampson
.2,200 . .
.37 84
Jacob Sprague.
1.
. . . 875. .
.1,075.
35 54
Joshua W. Swift.
1.
.1,100 ..
20 92
Henry W. Swift
1.
2 00
Edgar W. Swift.
1.
2 00
William Sheldon
1.
.3,865.
.
· .68 65
.950.
.500
.. 24 94
Eden Sampson . .
Elizabeth P. Sampson .
1,261
21
NAMES.
No. of Polls.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Unpaid Books.
Total Tax.
Sheldon & Loring
.$1,190.
.$1,230
$41 71
Seth L. Sprague.
.6,698.
.115 24
Henry L. Sampson
1.
2 00
James Thomas
1
2 00
Charles L. Thayer.
1
.. 4,095 . .
.2,250 .
111 22
Hezekiah Turner
1.
.800. .
575. .
25 65
James B. Vinal
1.
.1,400 . .
.26 04
Seth Winsor
1.
.. 920. .
17 91
Est. Isaac Winsor
.. 1,900.
100.
34 40
Lydia W. Witherell
. . 650. .
$500
.2 58
Spencer T. Winsor
1
.. 2,975. .
.1,968 . .
.87 14
William H. Winsor
1
.. 1,400 . .
.90
. . 26 98
John T. Winsor.
1.
.350. .
8 02
Trustees Duxbury Hall . .
.1,400 . .
.24 08
DISTRICT No. 12.
David C. Allen
1
.. 2,725.
. 240 . .
.. 53 17
Augustus P. Barstow
1
.. 1,835 . .
.1,600. .
.. 60 91
Edgar H. Bailey .
1
.300. .
.7 16
Henry W. Barstow
1
.2,450 .
.420. .
51 45
Lewis P. Barstow.
1.
.1,100.
180. .
23 93
Lewis Barstow ..
1
.1,975.
190.
39 41
Charles H. Chandler & Co.
400. .
950. .
23 22
Nathaniel L. Chandler, Jr .
1
2 00
Thaddeus W. Chandler
1
1,520. .
370. .
.40
.35 08
Charles H. Chandler.
1
.3,260 . .
470.
66 07
Stillman B. Chandler .
1.
200.
5 44
Alden W. Chandler
1
2 00
Elisha Delano.
1.
.7,210.
.2,175. .
163 25
Sprague Freeman.
1.
.950. .
18 34
Nathan J. Freeman.
1
2 00
Benjamin Foster
1.
.1,175. .
22 21
George Foster.
1.
100.
3 72
Carrol C. Foster
1.
2 00
Charles E. Furnald .
1.
2 00
Sumner F. Furnald.
1
840.
45. .
17 48
George S. Horton
1
2 00
Bailey Gullifer
1
.1,445.
275. .
31 67
Briggs H. Gullifer
1.
2 00
Nathan C. Keene.
1.
. . 600. .
15 ..
.54 .. 13 29
Exempt
22
NAMES.
No. of Polls.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Unpaid Books.
Total Tax.
Joseph Lewis .
1 .. $2,675
$45.
$48 87
Joseph H. Lewis . .
.200. .
3 44
Lafayette Litchfield.
1.
325. .
7 59
Antonio Lopez.
1.
2 00
Catherine Lopez
950. .
265. .
21 07
Isaac 'T'. Loring .
1.
150. .
4 58
Charles D. Mann .
1.
650. .
Exempt
2 58
Horace D. Osgood.
.1
2 00
Samuel Rogers
.1,950 . .
.. 33 54
Est. Alfred Rogers.
50.
86
Elijah F. Snell
1.
2 00
George A. Simmons, 2d
1.
2 00
George Simmons
1.
575 ..
370.
18 34
Edgar E. Simmons
1.
2 00
Charles H. Snell.
1
.1,375 .
170.
.28 66
Charles Snell.
1.
.. 1,020. .
.19 63
Huldah Standish
.. 1,575 . .
27 09
George B. Standish.
305. .
.5 16
David P. Walker
460.
7 74
25.
.58
3 01
Mrs. Henry D. Osgood.
$500
23
NON-RESIDENTS.
- -
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total Tax.
BOSTON.
James B. Dunn ..
$2,100. .
. $36 12
Barnabas Davis
.. 2,600. .
.44 72
Rufus Cushman
.625 ..
.10 75
Henry A. Hall.
200. .
3 44
Freeman Emery.
150. .
.2 58
Wilhelmena S. Pratt.
680. .
11 61
Thomas Southworth.
.1,900. .
32 68
Charles W. Perkins.
90. .
1 72
Eben P. Robinson
.1,500. .
25 80
Mr. Day ..
.250. .
.4 30
N. B. Stevens & Co.
500. .
8 60
Omar Loring.
103. . 1 72
Clara E. Lewis
. 280. .
4 73
Est. J. M. Cook.
14,300 . .
245 96
C. M. Cook.
140
2 58
Mrs. E. W. Cook.
640.
11 18
Miss H. J. Cook.
70. .
.1 29
C. & Ellen L. Webber.
.1,080. .
18 49
George W. Lewis.
280. .
4 73
J. E. Came.
. . 640. .
.11 18
James Brown
.114. .
.2 15
Oliver L. Briggs.
5,495. .
94 60
L. Newcomb .
70. .
1 29
N. B. Sherman
70. .
1 29
R. G. Chase.
70. . 1 29
Thomas A. Hutchins.
350. .
6 02
George M. Winslow.
1,875.
32 24
R. R. Higgins.
.70. 970. .
.16 77
Benjamin W. Parker.
280. .
4 73
William Rogers.
600. .
.10 32
John Weston.
70. .
1 29
William T. Vose ..
570. .
9 89
Sarah P. Traverse.
*. 1,000.
.8 60
* Exempt $500.
.1 29
Benjamin Easterbrook
24
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total lax.
HAVERHILL.
Francis A. Morrill
.$1,280. . . $21 93
FRAMINGHAM.
C. Burchard
. . . 350. .
. . . 6 02
NEWTONVILLE.
William McAdams.
9 89
Mrs. E. J. Tainter
. .. .
.. 570. . .570. .
9 89
BRIDGEWATER.
Mary T. Mitchell .
70. .
1 29
George & Granville C. Allen
100. .
1 72
BROCKTON.
Est. David Hall.
. . . 400. . ... 8 60
Joseph Hewitt
.. 1,625. .
.. 27 95
HANSON.
Elijah Damon
.100. .
... 1 72
Bradley S. Bryant & Co.
.1,075. .
.. 18 49
ROCKLAND.
Horatio Baker
40. .
86
Paul Baker.
40. .
86
Mrs. Elijah Delano
80. .
Exempt
Ezra Arnold
125. .
. . 2 15
HALIFAX.
George Drew.
25.
43
Nathaniel Soule
40. .
86
Jabez Soule.
40. .
86
Martin Wood.
28. .
43
Seth C. Cushing
.2,490. .
. . 43 00
·
25
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total Tax.
KINGSTON.
Algernon S. Chandler
.$834. .
.$14 19
George Adams
50 ..
86
George Churchill.
30.
43
Nathaniel Washburn.
150.
2 58
Richard Holmes.
28.
43
Nathan Chandler.
165.
.3 01
Edward Holmes.
280. .
4 73
Est. Jabez Fuller
.1,137.
19 35
Est. John A. Chandler
25.
43
James Foster.
325.
.5 59
Timothy French.
140.
.2 58
Est. Ezra Mitchell
75 ..
1 29
John Faunce ..
25.
43
Oliver Sampson.
25.
43
Nathaniel Waterman.
20.
43
Est. John Hall .
370. .
6 45
William Peterson
225. .
.3 87 ·
John Bearce
28 .. 28.
43
Joseph A. Stranger
135.
2 15
Daniel Howland.
85.
1
29
Philemon Maglathlin
85.
1 29
Est. George Adams
175.
3 01
Job W. Drew, Trustee
130.
2 15
James H. Dawes
125
2 15
Ira Chandler
1,835. 505.
8 60
William H. Myrick
.350. .
6 02
John S. Chandler. .
25.
43
Edwin Reed.
300.
5 16
Samuel J. Nutter.
30.
43
Annie R. Bradford.
125. .
2 15
MARSHFIELD.
George Hall
.. 1,050. .
.. 18 06
Martin Chandler
805 ..
13 76
John Chandler
80. .
1 29
Seth Sprague. .
80. .
.1 29
Charles Sprague
175.
3 01
D
43
Baker Ford .. .
31 39
David Chandler
26
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total Tax.
Harvey Sprague.
. $120.
$2 15
Est. Nathaniel Simmons.
740.
12 90
Zepheniah W. Peterson
.1,100.
18 92
Est. Lavina Thomas.
. 700.
.12 04
Ezra Wright ..
. 20 ..
43
Lewis Taylor
.1,065. .
18 49
Est. Anthony Thomas
.260.
4 30
Luther Thomas
975. .
16 77
John Bourne.
350.
.6 02
John A. Harlow.
195.
3 44
James Sprague.
90.
1 72
Est. Ray Stevens
90 . .
1 72
Betsey Bourne.
90. .
1 72
Luther White.
575. .
9 89
John Ford.
442.
7 74
Est. David Carver
520
9 03
Est. Asa Hewitt.
75.
1 29
Est. Chandler Ford
420.
7 31
Est. Peleg Kent.
190.
3 44
.
Est. Nahum Packard.
770.
13 33
George Weston
25
43
Ephraim K. Walker.
150
2 58
Ezra Smith .
745.
12 90
John Sprague.
365.
6 45
Charles P. Wright.
15.
43
James Baker.
150.
2 58
Joseph Sampson.
325
5 59
Stephen C. Sprague.
348.
.6 02
Thomas White. .
50.
86
Est. Henry T. Crossley
225.
.3 87
John Baker.
290.
5 16
Hiram Butterfield .
275. .
4 73
Est. Samuel Baker
735. .
12 47
Warren T. Whiting
.581.
9 89
Nancy R. Baker.
200.
3 44
Elisha C. Sprague
38
86
Elisha P. Sprague.
38. .
86
Samuel Williamson
.1,200. .
20 64
Martin Kent
220.
3 87
Sarah Simmons
480. .
8 17
Henry Hatch.
165. .
3 01
Simeon B. Chandler
195.
3 44
Thomas B. Blackman.
300.
5 16
27
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total Tax.
PEMBROKE.
1
Abel Keene.
.$60. .
.$0 86
W. Ellis Chandler
. . 45.
86
Nathan T. Shepard
.3,630. .
62 35
Peleg Cushman
200. .
3 44
John W. Brvant.
70.
1 29
George H. Church.
217. .
3 87
Olive Churchill.
530 . .
9 03
Charles Estes.
88.
1 72
Est. Joseph W. Magoun
625. .
.10 75
Est. Martin Bryant
20. .
43
Horace Hall
542. .
9 46
Hiram Randall.
900. .
15 48
Horace J. Foster
20 ..
43
Henry Magoun
150 ..
.2 58
Calvin Peterson .
320.
5 59
Sullivan Sawin
375. .
6 45
Est. Alden Loring.
350. .
6 02
Thomas M. Sampson, Agent
624.
.10 75
Thomas H. Sampson.
110.
1 72
Bailey D. Damon.
200. . 52.
86
William Taylor. .
560. .
9 46
Est. George M. Witherell.
50. .
86
Isaac Curtis .
200 . .
3 44
Thomas Peterson.
50. .
86
Est. Isaac Hatch
100. .
1 72
George H. Keene.
. . 50. .
86
Lemuel Lefurgy.
.1,085. .
18 49
Francis Collamore.
100. .
1 72
Elizabeth S. Turner
225.
3 87
PLYMPTON.
Isaac Sturtevant. .
30.
43
Charles S. Morse.
65. .
.1 29
PLYMOUTH.
Chase Taylor
. . .860. :
14 62
Bradford Barnes
.36. .
43
3 44
Francis Merritt.
28
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total Tax.
Ezekiel Ryder ..
$36.
$0 43
Samuel Bradford
50.
86
Samuel Cole
24
43
Samuel Barnes.
32. .
43
James & William Hall.
25.
43
Est. Stafford Sturtevant. .
64.
1 29
WOBURN.
Est. Oliver Bacon.
. . . 675. . .. 11 61
WEYMOUTH.
John O. Joyce
200 ..
3 44
Jesse and Herbert A. Chandler
200. .
3 44
Lydia A. Bates .
.. . 62. .
86
BRIGHTON.
Emily H. Daley
. . 287 ..
. . 5 16
WESTON.
Sarah E. Willard.
. . . 250. . . . . 4 30
SOMERSET, MICHIGAN.
Heirs of Amasa Chandler
125. . . .. 2 15
PATTERSON, N. J.
Thomas R. Hughes.
. . . 600. . .. 10 32
TAUNTON.
William Almond
. . . 650. . .. 11 18
HYDE PARK.
Edwin J. Chandler
65 ..
1 29
William W. Fairbain
70. .
1 29
James Simmons
500
8 60
29
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total Tax.
SOUTH MALDEN.
Mary T. Barney
. . $400. . .. $6 88
LYNN.
Charles O. Wilde.
.
. . .70. .
... 1 29
MIDDLETON, CONN.
Edward Payne
140. .
.. 2 58
WORCESTER.
James Holmes
. . . 200. .
.. 3 44
NEW YORK.
Edmund Fisher
.400. .
. . . 6 88
GENEVA, ILL.
Walter D. Turner.
45. . 86
Est. Charles F. Zyfferman
2,440. .
.42 14
WATERTOWN.
John Bradford
.100. .
1 72
CAMBRIDGEPORT.
Herbert L. Jones.
. . . 750. .
.. 12 90
SOMERVILLE.
Ichabod D. Chandler. . . .
. . . 150 . . 2 58
NEWBURYPORT.
Joseph N. Coffin
70. .... 1 29
30
NAMES.
Real Estate.
Total Tax.
NEWTON.
C. K. Amidon
. . . $38. . .. $0 86
ARLINGTON.
Sarah N. Stanwood
280. . 70.
.4 73
C. E. Goodwin.
1 29
NORTH CAMBRIDGE.
Julius A. Wilde
. . 70. .
. . . 1 29
CAMBRIDGE.
Z. H. Thomas, Jr
70. . . .. 1 29
CHARLESTOWN.
Fred. A. Sylva.
70.
1 29
Isabel D. A. Sylva.
70 . . 1 29
DEDHAM.
Nahum Keene. . .
200 ..
3 44
John H. Harrington.
70. . 1 29
NEEDHAM.
Alden Harlow.
. . . 310. .
. . . 5 16
REVERE.
Seth Weston.
.. 1,330. . . . 22 79
MIDDLEBOROUGH.
Tucker & Wood.
30. . .
... 43
SOUTH ABINGTON.
Franklin Peterson.
25. . . . . . 43
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF DUXBURY
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1876-7.
REPORT.
To the Citizens of the Town of Duxbury :
The School Committee for the school year of 1876-7 would respectfully present to you their annual report :
It is very gratifying to your Committee to be able to say that the educational interests of the Town have been generally of a satisfactory character during the year. It is believed that nothing has transpired to mar the gen- eral harmony between teachers and pupils, or to interfere with the proper work of the school-room. With two or three exceptions all the teachers employed during the year have been those who have taught in the schools of the Town more or less for several years. Two or three younger teachers have been employed during the year, all of them graduates of the Partridge Academy. The schools themselves are the best evidences of the earnestness and efficiency of the teachers, as well as of
H
34
the general application and faithfulness of the scholars. Several things have contributed to the satisfactory char- acter of the educational interests of the Town, among which may be mentioned,
COMFORTABLE SCHOOL HOUSES.
By a commendable liberality which has been man- ifested for several years, the Town has appropriated at successive Town Meetings sufficient sums of money to build three new school-houses, which for neatness and comfort will compare favorably with similar buildings in other country towns. In addition to this, appropri- ations have also been made from time to time for the thoroughly repairing and remodelling of four other school houses, three of which, for comfort and general con- venience, are as good as new. The remainder of the school-houses, with one exception, are in good order, and are comfortably furnished for teachers and scholars. The entire school property is an honor to the Town. It testifies to the judicious liberality of the citizens in the matter of school accommodation, and is also a proof of their interest in the educational facilities of the Town.
Another reason which may be noted for the general prosperity of the schools during the year, is
THE INTEREST OF PARENTS.
This interest, which is always so salutary, has been manifested in various ways, such as visiting the schools,
35
encouraging and sustaining the teachers ; but especially in their efforts to secure the cheerful and prompt attend- ance of the pupils, and encouraging them by their presence at the different examinations. Your Committee would beg leave to call special attention to these facts, being assured that, other things being equal, those schools are the most prosperous in which the parents and guar- dians manifest the deepest interest.
THE TEACHERS.
In enumerating some of the reasons for the hopeful condition of the schools, it would be doing a great wrong to ignore the generally good work of the teachers. While some may have been apparently more successful in the work of the school-room than others, and while all may not have shown equal tact and talent, yet your Committee would bear cheerful testimony to the general industry, earnestness and efficiency of the corps of teachers.
DRAWING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Near the close of the school year for 1875-6, the Board of Education called the attention of your Com- mittee to an act of the Legislature in regard to Drawing in the public schools. The following extract from the circular received will explain the matter referred to :
" The Board of Education desire to draw your attention to the following act of the Legislature of this State:
36
[CHAPTER 248, ACTS OF 1870.]
SECTION 1. The first section of chapter thirty-eight of the General Statutes is hereby amended so as to include Drawing among the branches of learning which are by said section required to be taught in the public schools.
SECTION 2 Any city or town may, and every city and town having more than ten thousand inhabitants shall annually make provision for giving free instruction in industrial or mechanical drawing to persons over fifteen years of age, either in day or evening schools, under the direction of the school committee.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on its passage.
[ Approved May 16, 1870.
" The first section of the act requires that instruction in drawing be given to children in all the public schools, whether in towns or cities, without regard to the number of inhabitants ; and it is desirable that this section of the law should be com- plied with in every school in the State. Elementary instruction in drawing, prepares in a very important manner for skill in the mechanical and industrial arts, and is a part of education which a manufacturing community may well deem of the first con- sequence, and cannot afford to ignore.
"The Board would respectfully remind the committees of schools, that under the second section of the act, every town is either required, or authorized when not required, to establish free industrial drawing classes, either during the day or in the evening, for the development of technical skill, and experience has proved that such classes are as much required and as well attended in the smaller towns, as in the cities ; and though the provisions of this section have been generally complied with, there are some cities and towns where drawing is not taught.
"From a limited knowledge of the subject of drawing, it was at first thought to be too technical and difficult a subject for the regular teachers of the schools to give the instruction required ;
37
but it has been demonstrated from the experience of the cities and towns in which the law has been carried out, that by a careful system of grading in the exercises, the regular teachers are qualified, after receiving a short course of instruction, to give such elementary teaching as children may require.
" The following divisions of the subject, adapted to Primary or Grammar Schools have been taught by the regular teachers of the schools, in a large number of cities and towns in the State with satisfactory results, and it may be reasonably supposed, can be taught in all schools whose committees desire to give the pupils their undoubted rights in elementary in- dustral education.
IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
"1. Drawing of straight lines and curves, illustrating geometrical forms, and simple objects.
" 2. Memory and dictation drawing.
"3. Elementary design ; arrangements of points, straight lines and short curves, symmetrically balanced.
IN GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
" 1. Geometrical drawing of regular and irregular forms, with rules and compasses.
" 2. Freehand drawing of ornament, from copies.
"3. Model and object drawing from copies and the solid forms, in freehand perspective.
" 4. Elementary design, from flowers and leaves; conven- tionally treated to fill given geometrical forms. Principles of conventionalization, and type forms of Historical Ornament.
"5. Map drawing; drawing from memory and dictation. All the work to be in outline."
* *
38
In accordance with the requirements noted in the foregoing extracts, Drawing has been taught more or less in all of the schools of the Town during the year. Per- haps it may not be deemed improper to refer in this connection to the fact that there are some people who are opposed to having Drawing taught in the public schools. Under certain circumstances their prejudices are well founded. It is well known that in the attempt to teach Drawing, very much time in the school-room may be wasted, and expense for books and implements needlessly incurred. It may be made a mere pastime or amusement, to the exclusion of other and more val- uable studies. It may be made a mere "hobby " in the school-room ; or it may be taught, -or rather attempted to be taught,-without any regard to elementary princi- ples or practical results. In all such cases it is no wonder that a prejudice should be created against its being introduced into the public schools. It sometimes occurs also that the real utility and benefit of Drawing are not clearly apprehended, and hence it is opposed as a waste of time and means. But no one who has examined the subject carefully will for a moment doubt that where Drawing in the public schools is taught in accordance with the suggestions of the Board of Educa- tion, it cannot fail of being both useful and profitable. It is Industrial Drawing that is required to be taught in the public schools of Massachusetts. As such it has special reference to almost every branch of human
39
industry, and seems therefore to be of peculiar import- ance to the people of our own State, who are to such a large extent connected with manufacturing interests. Skilled labor must of necessity command the highest price in the labor markets of the world, and in no country does an educated mechanic occupy such a high position as in our own. The house or ship carpenter, the stone mason, or bricklayer, who understands thor- oughly the working plans put into his hands, or can draw his own plans for any given piece of work, has all immense advantage over another who knows little or nothing about such matters. The young man who enters a machine shop with a clear understanding of mechanical drawing ; another who enters one of our printworks or wall-paper factories understanding the art of designing ; another who engages in the work of house painting with a taste and skill for fresco work and ornamental designs ; another who goes to sea with his mind well disciplined and enriched by mathematical studies, and his eye and hand well trained in map or chart drawing,-each one of these will enter the great world of labor with decided advantages over the uneducated in these branches of business. Thanks to the numerous Schools of Design in the country, and especially in our manufacturing centres, the products of American looms are competing with French and English fabrics in the markets of the world. Some of the most beautiful designs for fresco-work, calico printing, embroidery, carpets, etc., at the Cen-
40
tennial Exposition were from New England ; and some of the more advanced pupils of the Boston schools pro- duced designs for such work which a few years ago would have been thought an impossibility outside of. France. It is this kind of Drawing, in its elementary principles, which was introduced into our schools during the past year. Held in its proper place in the work of the school-room, and not made either a meaningless and aimless exercise on the one hand, or permitted to be such a specialty as to interfere with still more important studies on the other, it can scarcely fail of being rendered an interesting and useful branch of education. This kind of drawing is eminently practical, and enters into every industrial pursuit.
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