USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1876-1877 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Nathaniel White,
J. Parker Hay ward,
C. Byron Hunt.
Marcus A. Perkins, John B. Arnold,
E. Warner Dailey,
John Marcus Arnold,
Isaac Porter, Lewis Thayer, J. Frederic Allen, Eben Denton,
Charles A. French,
John Kimball,
David N. Hollis,
42
STATISTICS OF THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FOR THE YEAR IS76.
Whole number of intentions of marriage recorded,
66
of marriages
·
.
of births 66
96
..
of deaths
.
77
MARRIAGES.
DATE.
NAMES,
AGE.
RESIDENCE.
BIRTHPLACE.
Jan. 9. John Flynn,
35
Pennsylvania.
Ireland
Bessie C. Sullivan,
30
Braintree,
21.
Francis French,
40
Brockton,
Ella E. Whittaker,
21
Braintree,
.b.
27. Humphrey Moyniham, 27 Mary E. Cavanagh 21
March 16.
Alfred F. Smith,
24
Braintree,
Rhode Island
Georgie J. Grover
19
Weymouth,
29.
Charles H. Mann,
23
Braintree, 66
Susan E. Hollis,
19
29. Winfield S. Glover, Lizzie A. 'Cheek,
23
Quincy,
Quincy.
Braintree,
Weymouth. Abington.
30. Frank W. Brown, Sarah W. Gary,
18
E. Weymouth,
April
12. Joseph D. Valiquet, Minnie E. Wales,
22
Braintree,
Minnesota
19.
W. Oscar Carver, Ada L. Robbins,
18
Braintree,
Quincy. Plymouth. Ireland
24. Patrick Quinn, Kate Kelley,
23
66
66
25. Lawrance F. Leavitt, 20 Flora R. Webber 18
Quincy,
Boston.
M. y 4.
Edwin J. Marston,
37
Middleton,
Tamworth, N. H.
Eliza A. Wilkins, 28
Middleton.
II. John B. Reinhalter, 22 Maggie T. Hinnegan, 24
Quincy,
France.
Braintree,
Ireland.
Јі. ле
I. Henry Mann,
161
Randolph.
Sarah L. Dickerman,
41
7.
Charles F. Saunders, 22
19
Randolph,
Randolph.
20. William L. Gage, Mary E. Burr, 23
30
Braintree,
Braintree.
Quincy,
Quincy
Brockton Salem, N. H. Ireland.
Quincy,
Braintree,
Boston .
Chelsea Braintree.
F. Weymouth. Canada. ,
19
26
Quincy,
27
66
Randolph.
24
21
Abington,
Braintree.
66
Abbie H. Green,
.
43
28. George H. Saunders, 25
Braintree
Sarah E. Thayer, 22
July
I. James McFarland, 24 Mary McKay, 24
27. James Duncan, 39
Mary T. Bertsch, 19
Weymouth, Hingham,
Aug.
2. Frank P. Dyer, 28 Clara L. Vinton' 27
Braintree,
Pennsylvania. Boston. Hingham. Braintree. Boston.
3. Henry A. Hawkes, Mary E. Branley, 20
24
25. Robert Dec, Mary Donahue, 23
24
Weymouth, Braintree,
Oct.
4. Charles O. Stevens, Abbie Holbrook,
21
Randolp's. Weymouth, Braintree,
Cambridge.
[2. 24 Lory O. Rand, Emma H. Shaw, 24
Rye, N. H.
12. John W. Dorety, 23
Louisa A. Foye, 23
IS. Willard .K Richards, 31 Ella C. Baker, 27
Weymouth, Braintree,
25. George G. French, Ella F. Fisner, 25
36
29 Charles A. Allen, 27
Fitchburg,
Braintree. Woodstock. Charlestown. Braintree.
Nov.
4. George E. Ludden, 21
East Bridgewater,
Eliza Loring, 23
Braintree,
5 Franklin W. Hayden, 22 Ida A. McCarty,
20
Randolph, Braintree,
Randolph. St. Johns, N. B. Braintree.
61. Alden Bowditch, 31
"
Nellie A. Montgomery, 31
Boston,
Auburn, N. H.
26. Edward A. Young, 22
Weymouth,
Weymouth.
Sarah E. Kenerson, 27
Hingham.
29. Herb't W. Richardson, 22 Sarah F. Bump, 18
66
Randolph.
.
Braintree.
30. John F. Bowditch, 29 Sarah A. Childs, 35
Beverly.
Dec.
2 . John E. Eastwood, Maggie Mills, 22
30
! England.
Braintree.
22. George F. Johnson,
19
Plymouth,
Milford.
*
II. Julius Pratt, 27 Mary A. Denton, 24
21
Braintree. Cohassett. Braintree. Hampton, N. H. Randolph. Weymouth.
Weymouth Roxbury. Weymouth. Braintree. Weymouth. Boston.
Mary T. Cohoran 22
15. Richard A. Pidgeon, 29
Emma H. Fogg, 20
Braintree,
Braintree.
-
Braintree Lanesville. Scotland
44
Lucy A. Willis, 20
Braintree,
Braintree.
26. Samuel R. Slack, 58
Boston. Newton.
Helen M. Dunbar, 33
Weymouth, Braintree,
30. Bradford Y. Knight, 22 Mary S. Arnold, 25
Searsmont, Me. Braintree.
BIRTHS
1875.
April 9
Charles Elmer Dyer,
23. Charles G. Dunnington,
May I. Charles Ernest Hollinshead,
Dec. 27. George Greenwood,
1876.
Jan. 4. William Thomas Chambers,
James and Eliza.
17. Herbert Ellery Grocker,
Eugene and Lydia J.
21. Bernice Emily Goodnow,
22. Mary Eliza Purcell,
25. Willie Everett McDonnell,
29. Joseph McAndrew,
John and Jemima.
Feb. I. Harriet Leavitt,
V 5. Mary Elizabeth Donahoe,
IO. Edith Eldridge Cain,
21. Henry Francis Vinton,
25. George Frazer Mansfield,
27. Charles McRae,
Gardner and Eliza D. Peter and Margaret T. Daniel E. and Ellen G. Elmer H. and Lucy C. S. A. Frazer and Jennie E. Neil and Charlotte. Charles H. and Abbie A.
March 3.
28. Charles Andrew Walker, Mary Ahearn,
4. Florence Belle Hunt,
9. Fred Wilde Allen,
II. Margaret Ellen Clinton,
13. Reginald Woodman Plummer Brown, Nelson H. and Julietta I.
15. Freddie Andrew Saunders,
15. Mary Ella Hollis,
22. Charlie Eugene Hunt,
23. Mary Emily Arnold,
23. Lula May Dyer,
27. Michael Francis Quinn,
27. Teressa Annie Rossiter,
29. William Henry Drollett, Florence Hiller,
W. Watson and Henrietta R. . George E. and Luella A. George W. and Eunice. Charles F. and Elizabeth G. Calvin T. and Sarah A.
Michael and Mary. Frank G. and Katie E Joseph P. and Susan H.' Mary. April 10. Ellen May Branley, 15. Alfred Henry Holbrook,
Michael and Margaret. George H. and Sadie E.
66
Peter and Hattie R. George and Sarah M. John and Fanny. John and Mary.
Henry H. and Lisette M. Barney and Clara J. Alexander and Margaret.
Daniel and Hannah Charles B. and Georgie M. Orace W. and Marianne. Michael aud Elizabeth.
45
18. Chester Robert Waleh,
20. Alice Hannaford,
27, Alfred Francis Spear,
27. Albert John Smith,
May S. Granville Harlan Mansfield,
II. Rutherford Homer Holbrook,
14. Mary Frances Shay,
IS. Robert Henry Orr,
20. Maggie Teresa Starr,
24. Annie May Crosby,
27. Mary Griffin,
June
3. Arthur Lawrence Perry,
3. Sophronia Belle Trufant,
5. Charles Warren Young,
9. Annie Rosamond Hill,
16. Susan Ginevra Doane,
19. Mary Ann Jordan,
20. Cassy May Ahearn,
21. Clarissa Lovett Mayberry,
July 3. Ella Mabel Phillips,
7. Katie Allen Clark,
10. Susan Ella Clark,
11. Herbert Warren Simonds,
13. Emma Frances Learned,
14. Charlotte Ellen Hayden,
IÕ. Eva Gertrude Parks,
15. Willis Otis Blake,
24. Clara Isora Dustin,
26. Francis Everett Morales,
Aug.
3. Albert Napoleon Tellier,
17. Thomas Crawford Emerson,
IS. Sarah Dunil,
18. Sarah Perkins Arnold,
Sept.
3. William Halissey, 4. Joseph Frederic Valiquet, 5. Catherine Kendrick Hollinshead,
6. Martin Lennan Dolan,
8. Charles Francis Boyle,
8. Mabel Estella Belcher, 8. Arthur Bradford Holbrook,
9. Jennie Gertrude Thayer,
17. Margaret Elizabeth Mischler,
25. William and Thomas Doherty,
Theodore and Elizabeth. Augustus F. and Sarah A. Benjamin F. and Caroline C· Cornelius and Mary. Charles W2d. and Eliza M. Walter and Sarah F. B.
Edward and Maria. William and Sarah A. Terence and Charlotte. Webster F. and Sarah J. Dennis and Bridget M' Charles L. and Sarah J. Edgar H. and Jane I. Francis W. and Sarah E. William G. and Hattie L. Heman F. and Susan A. Patrick and Eliza.
James and Maria. Edwin D. and Kittie. Franklin and Carrie E. James W. and Mary. Hobart I. and Katie. H. Willie and E. Claribel. Henry O. and Fanny. Harriet.
Albert F. and Addie M. Nathaniel F. and Lizzie. Eugene A. and Elizabeth T. Leonardo and Agnes. Napoleon and Ann E· Thomas A. and Frances H. Martin and Esther. Samuel V. and Mary O. Daniel and Mary. Joseph D. and Minnie Ed John and Fanny. Martin and Joanna. John E. and Margaret. Alexander T. and Ada E. Abraham C. and Olive M. Charles W. and Emma M. Conrad and Bridget- George and Julia,
46
Oct. 28.
Drinkwater,
12. Elsie Estella McAlphin,
23. Emma Sarah White,
24. Elizabeth Quinn,
25. John Michael Condrick,
25. Maggie Collins,
Nov.
27. Grace Emily Simmons, Herbert Elton Jackson,
2. 6. Hammond, 9. Francis Sherwood Bannon,
9.
Gertrude Josephine Bannon,
12.
Mary Howard Foss,
14. Theodore Brooks Allen,
22. Oliver Greenwood,
23. Jessie Russell Arnold,
25. Mary Ellen Doyle,
25.
Margaret Purcell,
Dec. 20.
Hollis,
22. Bertha Frances Hayward,
23.
McGerr,
John F. and Catherine F. William and Mary.
DEATHS.
Yrs. M. D.
Jan. I. Rachel L. Hayden,
23
9 12
31. Hannah Eaton.
94
II
7
Paralysis.
Feb. 2.
Nahum Thayer,
76
4
Throat Disease.
9.
Caleb Hollis,
81'
I
23
Rheumatism.
21.
Sarah J. Beals,
20
9
28
Diphtheria.
1
27.
Cora E. Hayden,
3
I
14
Consumption.
2.
Mary Rhodden,
7
8
Diphtheria.
7.
Josephene Dyer,
27
2
7
Consumption.
7.
Mary E. McGerr,
7
IO
28.
Bertha Cushman,
35
Typhoid Pnenmonia,
April I. John W. Quinn,
3
6
26
5. Julia Kelley,
16
4
I3
Consumption.
6. Thomas Kelley,
51
04
II
9. Jechonias Penniman,
52 . 05 24
Bright's Dis. Kidneys.
Mch. I.
Mary Hartshorn,
86
7
I8
Old Age.
1
7. Jabez Brown,
84
I
6
General Debility.
7. Margaret Bardell,
58
9
Consumption.
23. Eli A. Hayden,
4
28
.6
14. Warren A. Thayer,
39
3
Consumption.
AlfredF . and Alice A. Hosea and Adelaide. Henry and Annie H. Edward and Catherine A. Edward and Catherine A· Warren H. and Sarah M' William and Emma F.
Edward H. and A. Cora James and Elizabeth M. Henry M. and Sarah D.
Patrick and Catherine. William F. and Katie E.
Dennis and Ann.
John and Mary. E. Watson and Maria V. John T. and Catherine, Patrick and Bridget. Samuel M. and Helen.
Pneumonia.
Cholera Infantum.
Worm Fever.
47
20.
Charles B. Smith,
4
77
8 21
General Debility.
May I. Jerusha Jordan,
62
3 26
2. Woods,
Paralysis. Stillborn. General Debility.
6. Herriek Gore,
71
II.
Nathaniel W. Penniman, 54
I 25
12. Bridget H. Griffin,
16
8
12
Consumption.
13. Benjamin B. French
71
7
12
Dropsy of the Heart.
16. Sarah A. Moils, 6
3
9
Diphtheria.
18.
Louisa Thayer,
22
9
IO
I8.
Warren Carney,
II
19. Samuel Hollis,
65
7
Consumption.
19. Susan O. Arnold,
32
S 18
22 Mary Thayer,
68
2
15
23. David Mulcahey,
7
3
9
Diphtheria.
28. John Mayberry,
66
2
Consumption.
30. James P. Bishop,
83
3 25
June 6. James Moran,
31
5
17
Hydro Pericarditis.
24. Joseph F. Renn
10
1
Consumption.
July 7. Cassy M. Ahearn,
17
Croup.
9.
Susan J. Cook,
35
8
15
Cholera Morbus.
I0.
John H. Thayer,
74
II
29 ,
Diabetes.
10. Samuel C. Loring,
. 57
6
15
Cancer.
II. Susan H. Betes,
85
2
5
7
Meningitis.
16. Margaret A Long,
I3
10
16
Diphtheria.
20. Johanna F McMahon'
22
0
4
Consumption.
22. Arthur L. Perry,
I 19
Cholera Infantum.
23.
Willie (). Blake,
8
Deformity.
28. David Abbott,
61
3
7
Heart Disease.
Aug. 6. Mary E. Cole,
II
,19
I Pneumonia.
20. Mareus C. Taylor,
36
9
Epileptic Convulsions.
Sept. 2.
Sophronia B. Trufant,
3
20
4.
Consumption.
15. Florence Hiller,
6
Cholera Infantum.
15. Joseph R .. Frasier,
65
o
0
Cancer,
19. Lula M. Dyer,
5
27
Consumption.
Oct. z9. Elizabeth Quinn,
5
Infantile.
2. Joseph P. Mischler,
I
5
Scalded.
ZOV. I. Daniel W. Leary,
21 6 18
. Rail Road Accident.
IS
Apoplexy.
16. Chester B. L, Smith,
Cholera Infantumi
IS. Thomas C. Emerson,
Cholera Infantum.
IO. Katie E. Hill,
I 28 Diphtheria. 23. Cynthia Saville,
Cancer.
Consumption. Scarlet Fever.
11. Mary A. Waldron,
29
48
7. Catherine Kelley,
42
I
5 Consumption.
8, Gardner C. Mansfield,
' 62
5 25
Heart Disease. Consumption.
9, Charles E. Ilayden,
33 2
II. Hiram B. Thayer,
4 II Croup. .
12. Maggie Finnegan, 33
3 14 Heart Disease.
13.ª Emily J. Buker,
II
5
14. William A. Matthews,
[57
16. Enoch HI. Fisher,
72
5
27 Consumption.
19. Lucinda Hunt,
70
Old Age.
21. Charles D. Hayden,
71 .
22. Sophia Carlin,
22
22. Elizabeth E. Bestick
59
II
22
Typhoid Fever. Old Age.
Dec. 4.
Stillborn.
23. Levi I. Hayden,
36
3 4
Pneumonia. Stillborn,
Feb. 20. Jackson, The following persons have taken out intentions of marriage, but the certificate of marriage has not been received by the Town Clerk. Will those interested see that a proper certificate is returned.1
1876.
AGE.
RESIDENCE.
April 28. Patrick Mc Manus,
22
Braintree.
Annie Gilbride,
19
Boston.'
June 9. James Dike, Ellen J. Loring,
32
Braintree.
Oct. 21. James II. Thayer, Mary Binney,
21
Quincy.
21
Braintree.
Dec, 20. Arthur L. Hill, Sarah M. Reckords,
22
Braintree.
27
27
Plymouth.
The Town Clerk requests that he may be notified of ali errors or omis- sions.
23. Nathan J. Crane, Martha A. Paty
23
Boston.
27
Hemorrahage. Consumption.
24. Patrick Griffin, Saunders,
70
Scarlet Fever. Softening uf the Brain.
REPORT
OF THE
School Committee,
OF THE
TOWN of BRAINTREE,
For the School Year 1876 -- 7.
Report of the School Committee.
The school committee, in submitting their annual re- port, do not propose to enter into any minute account of individual schools, nor into the peculiarities of individual teachers. Both the propriety and benefit of such a course may be questioned. They prefer to generalize, rather than particularize ; to direct attention to general results, rather than to single persons who may have contributed to those results ; to state as concisely as possible the real work ing condition of our schools as a whole; their present wants, and the hinderances to their future welfare and usefulness.
While they are fully aware that our schools are not all models, nor the teachers all trained experts in their vo- cation ; while they see and confess the urgent need of some modification, at least, of our system of teaching, and of greater thoroughness generally ; in a word, while they find in the school-work of the year somewhat to question
-
52
and censure, they find also, at the same time, much to commend and approve. The schools. evidently, have not retrograded, but advanced. The teachers, in the main, have labored diligently and faithfully, according to their ability, and have met with a fair degree of success. If a few have fallen below that point, many haven risen above it. Still, it must be apparent to every intelligent observer that there are serious defects in our system of instruction, and that the results obtained are neither satisfactory nor ad- equate to the expense of time, labor, and money. That so little proficiency should be made in the elementary branches of English education during eight or ten years of regular study in graded schools, as was evinced at the last annual examination of a select class of pupils for ad- mittance to the High School, is sufficient evidence of the truth of our assertion. We can hardly recall to mind that crude and incongraous mass of examination papers, with -. out mingled feelings of sadness and merriment. Such a conglomeration of almost illegible scrawls, bad orthog- raphy, absurd answers, ludicrous expressions, with errors, blunders, and marks of carelessness everywhere, we trust will never again be placed before a committee for examin 'ation in this town. Of course, all those documents are not to be included in this category ; there were some hon- orable exceptions ; but compared with the whole number, they were very few. If such, then, are the best results of so many years of constant teaching and study, we leave it to others to determine what the medium, or poorest must be. 1
53
It is not to be inferred from this, that our teachers are, necessarily, an inferior class, deficient alike in ability and literary qualifications. On the contrary, they are generally intelligent, agreeable, and competent. But in their system of teaching, many of them are not up to the more modern and approved standard. They are inclined to follow too closely the old routine of text-book recitations, and to rest satisfied with that endless mouthing of words, without at- tempting to ascertain whether the pupils have any knowl- edge of their meaning and practical application. Of what avail is it, that a boy is taught arithmetic through all these years, learns all the rules by rote, and ciphers away as far as cube root, if he cannot step outside, and without book or teacher, measure a load of wood? What is the use of all this worry over grammar, if the pupil is never to learn to speak and write the English language correctly and with propriety ? A boy may be drilled for years by one of these routine teachers, to spell and define whole pages of long, jaw-breaking, unusual, and almost useless words, and yet completely break down and call for ssist- ance, on the meaning of the word "foregoing." Not long ago, a candidate for certain honors was handed a printed slip, on which was the following : "Give the principal parts of the verbs, lie [to recline, ] sit, lay, and set." After ruminating, and corrugating his brows over it, for some time, he beckoned one of the examining committee to him, and asked in all simplicity, and with bated breath, the defination of the expression, "to recline," The ex- aminer DEclined to give the puzzled youth an answer.
1
54
It is hard to start some persons out of the old ruts. There are teachers who seem unwilling to admit there is a better way, a more rational and effective method of in struction than their own, approved and adopted by the leading educators of the land. They are reluctant to be- lieve, that in teaching children the alphabet and reading exclusively, by the old system, much time and labor are wasted, often worse than wasted. Experienced educators who have tested thoroughly the modern method, in the practical work of the school room, demonstrate to us what can be accomplished by it. They show that a child can be taught to read and write well, in from one to two years, and in four years, to write a good practical hand. Mr. Kneeland, agent of the Board of Education, in his in- teresting and instructive address to our corps of teachers, in October last, gave one or two examples illustrative of this point. If we can rely on what these educational experts tell us,-and one of the committee, at least, has witnessed ample verification of their statements,-there certainly must be a great saving of time and money in the system they advocate, and a glad relief from much that is tedious and unpleasant ; especially from that hor- rible drawl and sing-song which children are generally allowed to fall into under the old method. But it may be urged that our teachers are not all acquainted with the im- proved system. Quite likely. But they might be, and ought to be, especially, since it is now attracting the at- tention of the ablest heads. An intelligent, progressive physician is never ignorant of any new and improved
55
remedy, nor of any new and improved method of practice. He has knowledge of both, even if he does not choose to adopt either. It is the same in all professions and callings. Can an intelligent, progressive teacher do less ?
We are advocating no radical change in our school system. Indeed, were it desirable, we are not prepared for it, at present. With others, we see faults in the system of instruction pursued in our schools, and like others, would strive to rectify those faults. We would be, in a measure, eclectic ; selecting what is best and most ap- proved in other methods, and incorporating it with what is best and most approved in our own. We would have more Oral instruction in our schools. We would have the teachers frequently lay aside the text book, and out of an active, well-stored enthusiastic mind, discourse to, ques- tion, criticise, and drill her class on the subject of the lesson. Of course, an incompetent person, a "mere school keeper," will fail in every attempt of this kind. But in the hands of a real energetic teacher, it will put life and soul into a school, and turn out something better than bare machines-to grind out words. Object teaching should not be overlooked, especially, in the Primary Schools. Great importance is attached to this mode, as well as to the Oral, in our Normal Schools. It is a nat- ural and interesting way of teaching the little ones real things, instead of black signs of things, and of importing to them a world of useful knowledge in a very pleasant and attractive manner. It is an animating sight, to wit- ness a class of small children engaged in an exercise of this
-
56
kind, conducted by a live teacher. All areinterested, prompt, vigilant, alert, eager to catch the idea and to expess it ; delighted, apparently, to feel that now they are learning something worth the whtle, something they can understand, think of, and talk about. Even the partial adoption of these two systems, including some attention to the Phonic, or sound method, would, we are confident, greatly increase the efficiency of our schools. While it would not interfere materially with the present order of things, it would tend to raise the standard generally, place us on the line of progress and improvement, and enable us to draw from these several, widely approved sources their best light and help.
HIGH SCHOOL.
This school has pursued the even tenor of its way, through the year, under the"care of its able and well known Principal, seconded by his faithful and experienced Assistant. If fine scholarship and ability to teach were alone sufficient to raise a school to a high standard of ex- [cellence, then doubtless, we should be able to report a High School that could be favorably compared with the best in the State. But a prime requisite of all work is suitable material to work with, In this school there isa pre- scribed course of study. It is based on the presumption that every one who enters the school has been previously trained to habits of study and thought ; that he has a cor- rect knowledge of reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, and geography, Now, it is well known that many apply
1
57
for admission, and some are admitted, every year, who are not prepared by previous training, to enter with profit on the curriculum of this school. We confess it-too often we furnish the Principal with poor material. Our excuse is, such as we have we give him. Of course, he cannot go back to the A B C of these elementary studies. Such instruction belongs to the lower grades, and cannot be expected in this school, without an entire change in its character and design. Parents do not seem to understand this, when they complain of neglect of these branches in the High School.
At the examination of candidates for admission to this schoo, in June, there were forty-nine applicants. Ten printed questions, on each of the four required subjects, were successfully placed before them. They were allow- ed from an hour, to an hour and a half, to write out an- swers to each set. The questions were neither obscure nor puzzling, but plain, simple and practical. It was agreed to admit all who should reach an average of 60 per cent. of correct answers. That is considered very low everywhere. A computation was made, and only five out of the forty-nine, were successful. The required general average was then lowered to 50 per cent., and twelve were admitted. This result needs no comment from us. It tells its own story. We allude to it here, unpleasant as it is. and ungracious as it may seem, simply because we think the citizens of the town ought to be apprised of everything that concerns their educational interests. The remedy for these short-comings is mainly in their hands,
1
58
not in ours. One thing we would say with emphasis ; this sending pupils to the High School to study Latin, French, and Geometry, before they are well grounded in the el- ementary branches of English education, is simply pre- posterous, an injury to both themselves and to the school.
The committee have frequently expressed the wish among themselves, and also, occasionally, to the Principal, that he would devote more time and attention to composition and elocution. It is still their wish. The importance of a thorough and persistent training in these two subjects, especially the former, cannot be over esti- mated. If "The pen is mightier than the sword," most certainly should the young be instructed in the art of wielding it with some degree of skill and effect. But it is no more than just to add that this work should not be left to the High School to initiate. It should be com- menced in the lower grades, even the lowest, and contin- ued systematically, up to the highest. This learning to write in early childhood, and to express in written characters its simplest ideas and impressions of objects and scenes around it, is one of the best features of the advan- ced methods of teaching. Still, we insist that more atten tion should be given to these branches in this school. At present they are almost entirely neglected.
The time devoted to the examination of this school, at the close of the term was too short to enable the committee to arrive at anything like a critical estimate of the
59
proficiency of the pupils in their several studies. To attempt to examine such a school in one short forenoon, of course, can amount to but little more than a mere form An entire day would not be too much for such an under taking. The exhibition in the afternoon was a pleasant entertainment, creditable to those engaged in it, and apparently gratifying to the large audience present.
GRAMMAR SCOOLS.
After the Summer examinations, and the subsequent one of candidates for the High Schools, it was felt by the committee that something ought to be done to increase the efficiency of the Grammar Schools. Holding, as this grade does, a place in our system second to no other in importance ; closely linked, as it is, to the very exis- tence of the High School ; and being in fact, the popular grade, beyond which the great majority of our youth do not go ; it seems to them an imperative duty to strive to raise its standard, and to make it, not only a suitable feeder to the High School, but a reservoir itself, from which all classes might obtain an education adequate to the ordinary requirements of a respectable business life. That has been their aim. They have insisted on greater thoroughness and exactness in teaching, and urged the importance of frequent exercises in penmanship and composition. In filling vacancies they have exercised their best judgement, and selected the ablest teachers ob-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.