USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1873-1874 > Part 4
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This arrangement of studies will be found below. It has been the object of the Committee to include in the English Course those branches more especially needful for the mechanic and the man of business, while the Four years or Latin Course has been arranged more particularly for those who propose entering college or fitting themselves for teachers.
It is hoped that all will take the Four Years Course who can; but the Committee advise those expecting to remain in School for a limited time only to follow the English Course.
The English Course of study for the High School.
FIRST YEAR.
Ist Term. Arithmetic, English Grammar and
55
Analysis, Physical Geography and the History of the United States.
On Fridays, Reading, Spelling, Writing, and Drawing. Second Term. Algebra, Ancient and Modern History, Natural Philosophy and Rhetoric.
On Fridays, the same as first term.
SECOND YEAR.
First Term. Algebra, Book-keeping, Chemistry and Rhetoric.
On Fridays, Composition, Declamation, Drawing and Mental Arithmetic.
Second Term. Geometry, Book-keeping, Physiol- ogy, and Geology.
On Fridays, same as first term of the year.
THIRD YEAR.
First Term. Finish studies already begun and take up Astronomy and Botany.
On Fridays, the same as second term of the second year.
The Latin Course of Study.
First year, same as the English Course.
SECOND YEAR.
First Term. Algebra, Chemistry and Latin.
Second Term. Geometry, Physiology and Latin.
THIRD YEAR.
First Term. Botany, Latin and French.
Second Term. Geology, Latin and French.
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FOURTH YEAR.
First Term. Astronomy, Latin and French. Second Term. Moral Philosophy, Latin and French. Friday's exercises for the second term of the third year the same as those of the English Course, after that time Composition, Declamation and Drawing.
Scholars who take up Greek will omit French and Moral Philosophy. ยข
THE POND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
MISSES SUSIE BABSON AND EMMA DAVIE, TEACHERS.
This school during the summer term was under the direction of Miss Babson, who seems to have dis- charged her duties faithfully and satisfactorily. At the close of the term, without assigning any reason, she tendered her resignation. Miss Davie completed the year and she has, your Committee regret to say, also resigned. Miss Davie is a person of fine education, with most refined manners, and of large experience as a successful school teacher, but does not seem to have here received such assistance from parents as is essen- tial to the success of every teacher. This school is peculiarly difficult to manage, having in its number some very disorderly boys, and in order to its success there is need not only of a competent teacher, but also of the cooperation of all interested in its welfare. That Miss Davie's conduct of the school was not without a fair degree of success is manifest from the fact that thirteen of her pupils were qualified to enter the High School this year.
57
THE POND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. MISS LIZZIE M. THOMPSON, TEACHER.
Miss Thompson's teaching has been attended with the most satisfactory results. The good discipline of her school is particularly noticeable and, were any of the school exercises to be especially commended where all were creditable, we should say they were those of the first class in reading, spelling, defining, and mental arithmetic.
THE POND PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISS ELLA TORREY, TEACHER.
This school has now been under the instruction of Miss Torrey for the past four years, having thus, for a long time, escaped the disadvantages resulting from a change of teachers. Your Committee notice consid- erable improvement during the past year, and are ready to believe that, with persistent effort on the part of the teacher, this school may readily become the best of its grade in the town. Good progress has been made in all the studies, particularly by the first class in arithmetic. The examination was thorough, and indicated the good condition of the school.
THE EAST SCHOOL.
MISS VICTORIA P. WILDE, TEACHER.
Miss Wilde's direction of this school, which has al- ways been regarded as a difficult one to manage, seems to have been attended with marked success. The
58
appearance of the scholars examination day was most creditable to their teacher.
During the year the school house has been raised and the yard considerably enlarged, graded, fenced, and planted with trees.
It may be stated here that, through the munificence of the Town, all the school yards have now been planted with trees, and it is to be hoped these trees will be protected and maintained, if not for the future beauty and comfort of the school property, at least for the sake of adding to its market value.
THE IRON WORKS GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
MISSES MARTHA REED, MARY SCOLLARD, and MARY GINN, TEACHERS.
During the first term Miss Reed was obliged to leave the school, after having conducted it with great success for more than four years, and, as anticipated, her loss was severely felt. Miss Scollard succeeded Miss Reed, remaining till the close of the term, when Miss Ginn took charge of the school. The change of teachers has not been without the usual disastrous effects, but your Committee are not without hope, as the present teacher becomes better established in her position, she will bring the school back to its former discipline and efficiency.
IRON WORKS INTEMEDIATE SCHOOL. MISS ANNIE L. BUMPUS, TEACHER.
Miss Bumpus has been a teacher in this district for
59
the past three years. At the beginning of the year one of the primary schools was discontinued, thus reducing the number of schools in the district from four to three. Notwithstanding, at the beginning of the first term, a large class was transferred from this to the Grammar School, still the transfers from the. primary department have made this school as large as ought to be committed to the charge of any one teacher. The school as reorganized has been well clas- sified, the discipline throughout the year has proved unexceptionable, and the conscientious and faithful labors of the teacher have been attended with good degree of success. At the closing examination the reading of the upper classes was very good, the spell- ing excellent, and the classes in mental arithmetic showed they had been well drilled, and clearly under- stood the processes gone through with.
IRON WORKS PRIMARY SCHOOL. MISS S. A. CHILDS, TEACHER.
This school has been fortunate in having the same teacher for the last two years. The relation between teacher and pupils appears to have been always pleas- ant. The government mild yet firm, seems to have been easily maintained by the eye and voice, without resort to the harsher methods of discipline. The degree of interest and enthusiasm in their studies with which Miss Childs seems to have inspired her scholars is remarkable, considering their age and lack of previous acquirement and discipline. The progress
60
of the school would seem to be entirely satisfactory to all interested in its welfare. The closing examin- ation was fully attended and was among the best of any in the town.
THE MIDDLE STREET SCHOOL.
MR. F. A. ARNOLD, AND MISS FLORA J. DYER, TEACHERS.
Mr. Arnold had charge of this school till the Thanksgiving vacation, after which he was succeeded by Miss Dyer. Under the administration of the latter the school has somewhat improved. The discipline is good, but there seems to be wanting in the exercises that degree of promptness, precision and thoroughness which is desirable.
THE UNION GRAMMAR SCHOOL. MISS ISABEL C. LIVINGSTON, TEACHER.
For the past year Miss Livingston has had charge of this school. At the beginning of the year the school was very disorderly, but in this respect there has been a gradual improvement. Among the scholars there have been some troublesome boys whose parents, would they interest themselves in their better govern- ment, could greatly relieve the teacher, and add to the comfort of all. Miss Livingston has many excellent qualities as a teacher, and her year's work has been very successful. As one evidence of this the large proportion of her first class, which succeeded at the examination for entrance to the High School, may be referred to.
61
While in this school the usual studies have been well attended to, music and drawing, especially free-hand drawing, have received a good share of attention, and your Committee is pleased to believe, are taking their places among the regular studies of the school.
THE UNION INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. MISS JOANNA W. PENNIMAN, TEACHER.
Miss Penniman has taught this school a number of years and in most respects the school is a model of its kind. Here, as in the grammar. department, the exercises in free-hand drawing on examination day were very pleasing and satisfactory.
THE UNION PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MISSES AVIS A. THAYER, & SARAH L. BURNHAM, TEACHERS.
Miss Thayer, who has had charge of this school for several years past and been very popular, was also teacher during the first term of this year. At the end of the term it was thought best to make the change, and she was transferred to the West District. During the second term the school has been under the care of Miss Burnham, who was assistant in the High School last year and afterwards taught in Cohasset. The school made an excellent appearance examination day. The generally correct pronunciation of the scholars, and the method of instructing the younger ones were especially noticeable. The examples given by the first class of its drill in drawing on the black
62
boards was quite military-like and interesting. In the opinion of your Committee Miss Burnham promises to be a successful teacher.
SOUTH EAST SCHOOL. MISS ALICE M. MASON, TEACHER.
The attendance at this school is not what it ought to be, but, aside from this, all the members of your Com- mittee unite in its commendation. It is indispensable to the full success of this school, as well as those in the South and South West districts, that the parents should use every effort to secure the constant attendance of their children.
WEST STREET.
MISSES ISABEL NAY, AND AVIS A. THAYER, TEACHERS.
Miss Nay was teacher of this School during the first term of the year, but its progress not being altogether satisfactory, Miss Thayer, who had taught with success in several schools in the town, especially in the Union Primary, was requested to take charge the second term.
The Committee were well pleased with the appear- ance of the school and the recitations at the closing examinations and are satisfied it will prosper, so long as Miss Thayer continues to be teacher. She has not only taken great pains with the Scholars in their ordinary studies but has started them all in music, Free-hand and Map drawing. The members of her first class were suc- cessful at the examination for entrance to the High School.
.
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THE SOUTH SCHOOL.
Miss HELEN A. WILLIAMS, TEACHER.
In this School there has been an average attendance of but nine scholars during the last term hardly a suffi- cient number to stir the enthusiasm of any teacher.
Miss Williams we believe to have labored faithfully and with commendable patience, and certainly not with- out good success.
The petition handed to the Committee in the early part of the year to change the location of the school- house was duly considered, but it was not thought advisable to take any action thereon on account of certain changes that were contemplated in the neigh- borhood of the present location.
THE SOUTH-WEST SCHOOL. MISS LOTTIE E. ALLEN, TEACHER.
Miss Allen's firmness and faithfulness in the discharge of her duties seem to have completely won for her the confidence of both parents and children and made her school prosperous. It is to be hoped the parents will in the future see to it that their children are more constant in attendance at school and thus better show their ap- preciation of a good teacher.
HENRY A. JOHNSON, NOAH TORREY, DANIEL POTTER, G. H. ARNOLD, T. H. DEARING, N. L. WHITE, J
SCHOOL
COMMITTEE.
Wages per Month.
Length of Schools in Months.
Whole Number of Scholars.
Average Attendance.
Over 15 Years.
Under 5 Ycars.
Summer.
Winter.
Summer.
Winter.
Summer.
Winter.
Summer.
Winter.
Summer.
Winter.
Summer.
Winter.
HIGH,
50
50
4 1-2
5 1-4
59
49
58
47
32
-31
0
0
POND GRAMMAR,
44
44
4 1-2
5 1-4
49
51
42
41
2
3
0
0
POND INTERMEDIATE,
36
36
4 1-2
5 1-4
48
42
36 1-2 33 1-2
1
1
0
0
POND PRIMARY,
36
36
4 1-2
5 1-4
43
52
27
39 1-2
0
0
0
0
UNION GRAMMAR,
44
44
4 1-2
5 1-4
47
46
40
40
1
2
0
0
UNION INTERMEDIATE,
36
36
4 1-2
5 1-4
32
29
28
25 1-2
0
0
0
0
UNION PRIMARY,
36
32
4 1-2
5 1-4
54
69
38
52
0
0
0
4
IRON WORKS GRAMMAR,
44
44
4 1-2
5 1-4
37
44
26 1-2
36
2
0
0
0
IRON WORKS INTERMED.
36
36
4 1-2
5 1-4
34
52
26
40
0
0
0
0
IRON WORKS PRIMARY,
36
36
4 1-2
5 1-4
68
54
48
42
0
0
0
0
EAST,
44
44
4 1-2
5 1-4
56
56
42
41
1
2
0
1
MIDDLE,
36
32
4 1-2
5 1-4
30
39
19 3-4
29
0
1
0
0
SOUTH EAST,
32
32
4 1-2
5 1-4
23
26
15 1-2 14 1-2
1
1
1
0
SOUTH,
32
32
4 1
5 1-4
20
10
16
9
0
0
1
0
SOUTH WEST,
32
32
4 1-2
5 1-4
23
29
17
19
0
0
0
0
WEST,
32
36
4
5 3-4
21
22
11
15
0
1
2
4
0
64
SCHOOLS.
140
140
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