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JOHN H. HARLOW, Chairman.
¥
90
REPORT OF THE LIQUOR AGENT.
To the Selectmen of the Town of Plymouth:
Gentlemen :- The following report of the agent for the sale of liquors in the town of Plymouth, is respectfully offered, and shows the condition of the Liquor Agency Feb. 1, 1867 : Stock on hand Feb. 1, 1866, - - - $328 17
Cash on hand, - - - 238 39
Liquors purchased of State Commissioner, - 3,331 55
Agent's salary, - - - -
150 00
Freight and truckage, - -
- - 50 08
Paid Gov't license from May 1, 1866, to May 1, 1867, 25 00
Amount of sales up to Feb. 1, 1867, - - 3,425 98
Cr.
By sales of Liquors, - -
$3,425 98
Cash on hand Feb. 1, 1866,
-
238 39 -
-3,664 37
Dr.
To cash paid for Liquors,
$3,331 55
Paid Agent's salary, -
150 00
Paid Gov't license to May 1, 1867,
- 25 00
Paid Freight and truckage, -
50 08
3,556 63
Cash on hand, -
-
-
$107 74
Stock on hand, -
-
-
- $485 29
Cash on hand, -
-
-
107 74 -
-
-
-
-
593 03
CHARLES T. MAY, Agent.
91
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Selectmen of Plymouth :
In compliance with a vote of the Town, I hereby offer the following report of the condition of the Department for the year ending January 31, 1867. The Engines are in good working order. There have been five fires during the year. Estimated loss, $51,100 ; insurance, $40,800. The Board of Engineers recommend the appropriation of $1,500 for the com- ing year. Belonging to the Fire Department are : 163 men, 4 engines, 9 hose carriages, 1 hook and ladder carriage, 1,800 feet leading hose (leather), 1,150 feet leading hose (duck), 20 buckets, 70 feet suction hose, 1 force pump, 12 ladders, 8 hooks with poles and ropes, 10 axes.
J. D. CHURCHILL, C. E. P. F. D.
AGAWAM AND HALFWAY POND FISHERY.
Privilege sold March 31, 1866, at Agawam, for $925 00
Amount due Plymouth, - - -
- 462 50
Expenses of Committee - - - - 54 55
Amount paid Treasurer -
- - $407 95
B. H. HOLMES, JOHN PERKINS, STEPHEN PEMBER,
Committee.
FRESH BROOK FISHERY.
Privilege sold April, 1866, for - - - $25 00
Expenses of Committee - - - - 18 25
Cash paid Treasurer, -
- -
$6 75
B. H. HOLMES,
Committee. LEANDER LOVELL, S
92
TOWN OFFICERS.
Selectmen-Albert Mason, E. C. Turner, Thomas B. Sears, Lysander Dunham, Hosea Bartlett.
Town Clerk-Leander Lovell.
Town Treasurer-James Cox.
Collector of Taxes-Lemuel Bradford.
Assessors-John Harlow, E. Winslow Bradford, Lemuel Bradford.
Overseers of the Poor-John H. Harlow, Wm. H. Whitman, Lemuel Bradford, Leavitt T. Robbins, Josiah C. Hovey.
Sexton-Clement Bates.
School Committee-Winslow Warren, term expires 1869; Benj. M. Watson, term expires 1869; Wm. H. Whitman, term expires 1867 ; Charles Burton, term expires 1867 ; Alex- ander Jackson, term expires 1868; Benj. Hubbard, term ex- pires 1868.
Superintendent of Schools-Charles Burton.
Constables-Barnabas Hedge, Harvey W. Weston, Samuel M. Whitten, John Perkins, John Atwood.
Water Commissioners-Lemuel Bradford, Abbot Drew.
Surveyors of Highways-Dist. No. 1, Elisha Nelson ; No. 2, Joseph F. Towns; No. 3, Otis W. Burgess; No. 4, Geo. W. Cobb ; No. 5, Stephen Doten ; No. 6, Nath'l Ellis ; No. 7, Geo. Thrasher ; No. 8, Hosea Bartlett ; No. 9, Gustavus G. Sampson ; No. 10, Thomas Pierce ; No. 11, Alanson Thomas ; No. 12, Isaac N. Barrows.
Agawam Fishery Committee-Barnabas H. Holmes, John Perkins, Stephen Pember.
Fresh Brook Committee-Barnabas H. Holmes, Wm. S. Hadaway, Leander Lovell.
Board of Health-George H. Jackson, Wm. S. Danforth, Harvey W. Weston, Augustus Robbins, John D. Churchill.
Truant Committee-John Perkins, Edmund Robbins, Barna- bas Hedge.
Surveyors of Lumber-George H. Jackson, Leavitt T. Rob- bins, Jr., Nathaniel Brown.
-
93
Inspector and Sealer of Leather-Lysander Dunham. Sealer of Weights and Measures-Horace C. Whitten.
Burying Hill Committee-Wm. T. Hollis, Nath'l C. Lan- man, Warren S. Macomber.
Committee on Shell Fish-Thos. B. Sears, Barnabas Hedge, Solomon Sylvester.
Committee on Plymouth Beach-Thomas B. Scars, Henry Whiting, Charles Burton.
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers-Isaac W. Jackson, Ed- ward L. Barnes, Barnabas Hedge, Solomon Sylvester, Lewis S. Wadsworth, Jos. F. Towns, John A. Cole, Amasa Morton.
Committee on Fire in the Woods-Franklin B. Cobb, Alan- son Thomas, Wm. T. Davis, George H. Jackson, Gustavus G. Sampson, Thomas Pierce, Horatio Wright, Isaac N. Barrows, Otis W. Burgess, Truman Sampson, Barnabas Hedge, Henry Whiting, L. T. Robbins, Jr., Ezra Finney, Pelham Whiting.
Superintendent of Water Works-Abbot Drew.
Pound Keepers-Oliver T. Wood, Josiah C. Hovey.' Liquor Agent-Charles T. May.
Board of Engineers-John D. Churchill, Chief Engineer ; Nath'l Brown, Pelham Whiting, George H. Jackson, Samuel Nelson.
Number of births in 1866-146.
Valuation-Real Estate, $1,897,075 ; Personal, $1,103,650. Number of polls, 1,374. Poll tax, $2.00. Rate of tax on property, 1,92 1 100 per cent.
94
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN PLYMOUTH IN 1866.
January 16. Henry Bailey and Mary Ann Glifz, both of Ply- mouth.
January 21. Isaac J. Lucas and B. Flora Robbinson, both of Plymouth.
January 22. Cornelius Bartlett and Deborah A. Chandler, both of Plymouth.
January 28. Erford A. Burgess and Martha Shurtleff, both of Plymouth.
January 28. Coleman B. Chandler and Mary S. Pierce, both of Plymouth.
February 1. Jabez B. Cole and Lucy B. Holmes, both of Plymouth.
February 8. George A. Blanchard and Lucy B. Morton, both of Plymouth.
February 19. Wm. Morey of Plymouth, and Fannie H. Kim- ball of Maine.
February 20. Edgar M. Morrell and Margaret Cassady, both of Plymouth.
March 3. Horace S. Bradford, of Kingston, and Frances B. Hoyt, of Plymouth.
March 4. Levi Ransom, Jr., of Carver, and Judith E. Reed, of Plymouth.
March 15. Isaac B. White and Lydia H. Bartlett, both of Plymouth.
March 15. Joseph P. Weston and Phebe Cowell, both of Ply- mouth.
March 22. Isaac T. Hall and Mary E. Atwood, both of Ply- mouth.
March 26. Walter K. F. Vila, of Winona, Minn, and Mary J. Goddard, of Plymouth.
March 28. George A. Pierce, of Rochester, and Sarah V. Ray- mond, of Plymouth.
April 1. Lemuel W. Doten and Hannah E. Atwood, both of Plymouth.
95
April 3. William R. Groce, of Abington, and Nannie E. Wadsworth, of Plymouth.
April 5. Sylvester P. Nightingale, of Plymouth, and Louisa M. Chase, of Sandwich.
May 5. James Furnside, of Plymouth, and Sarah Grayham, of Uxbridge.
May 5. Isaac T. Dunham and Angie Bartlett, both of Ply- mouth.
May 6. George H. Greene and Elizabeth A. Sawyer, both of Plymouth.
May 12. Nathan B. Watson, of Plymouth, and Emily W. Ransom, of Kingston.
May 25. Alvin Totman and C. Nellie Patterson, both of Ply- mouth.
June 26. William W. Stockwell and Mary W. Bates, both of Plymouth.
June 27. Jason W. Mixter, of Chelsea, and Lydia C. Edes, of Plymouth.
July 6. Charles H. Barnes and Alice G. Howland, both of Plymouth.
July 8. Mitchell Jackson and Amelia Gillard, both of Ply-, mouth.
July 11. Edward W. Hoxie and Mary C. Holmes, both of Plymouth.
July 22. William W. Burgess, and Mercy T. Weston, both of Plymouth.
August 4. Cornelius S. Jackson, of Plymouth, and Emma L. Wright, of Cambridge.
August 5. William E. Churchill, of Plymouth, and Allison M. Nicol, of Carver.
August 14. Gideon F. Holmes and Nellie A. Drew, both of Plymouth.
August 24. Lewis Swearer and Elizabeth Hemmerlee, both of Plymouth.
August 27. Charles S. Robbins and Mercy C. Barnes, both of Plymouth.
96
September 1. John Shannon and Eliza Ellis, both of Ply- mouth.
September 3. Nelson H. Fuller and Sarah E. Lucas, both of Plymouth.
September 5. Andrew Bartlett, of Plymouth, and Phebe J. Tenney, of Salem.
September 5. George S. Ryder and Nan Y. Jenkins, both of Plymouth.
September 7. George M. Washburn and Ellen Hinckley, both of Plynouth.
September 13. James R. Lashure and Harriet Haskins, both of Plymouth.
September 22. Joseph T. Nash and Emily S. Gammons, both of Plymouth.
October 2. Josiah Morton, 2d, and Hattie Tallman, both of Plymouth.
October 3. John Addie, of Charlestown, and Ann M. Samp- son, of Plymouth.
October 4. Cornelius F. Bradford and Mary E. Fuller, both of Plymouth.
October 14. James H. Nye and Margaret C. Fish, both of Sandwich.
October 19. Timothy M. Benson, of Plymouth, and Rebecca W. Sears, of Carver.
October 20. Charles F. Wadsworth, of Kingston, and Fanny E. Hathaway, of Plymouth.
November 3. Albert D. Daniels and Almira Gibbs, both of Plymouth.
November 5. Charles W. Clark and Lydia T. Towns, both of Plymouth.
November 7. William P. Gooding and Nannie E. Stephens, both of Plymouth.
November 10. Elnathan Pierce and Ellen E. Vaughan, both of Plymouth.
November 22. George W. Bramhall and Naomi A. Swift, both of Plymouth.
.
97
November 24. Charles H. Danforth and Adrianna Faunce, both of Plymouth.
November 27. Adam Stephens and Georgie Sears, both of Plymouth.
November 28. Benjamin B. Besse, of Wareham, and Lucy A. Sherman, of Plymouth.
November 28. Malcolm McKenzie, of Lynn, and Priscilla C. Ellis, of Plymouth.
November 28. Charles T. Holmes and Laura A. Shaw, both of Plymouth.
November 28. David McLean, of Plymouth, and Lemina A. Thomas, of Hanson.
November 28. George Shaw and Georgianna Burbank, both of Plymouth.
November 29. Jonathan W. Chase and Mary E. Taylor, both of Plymouth.
November 29. George W. King, of Carver, and Elizabeth O. Holmes, of Plymouth.
November 30. John F. Churchill and Clara B. Finney, both of Plymouth.
December 1. Robert Frank and Elizabeth J. Bingham, both of Plymouth.
December 4. James B. Bartlett and Sarah A. Briggs, both of Plymouth.
December 6. Ephraim Washburn and Deborah Morton, both of Plymouth.
December 8. Albert M. Watson and Augusta Nightingale, both of Plymouth.
December 13. Perez S. Wade and Elizabeth A. Harrington, both of Plymouth.
December 13. William B. Pittsley and Emma J. Bowles, both of Plymouth.
December 23. John M. Atwood and Orenia Bugbee, both of Plymouth.
December 25. Edward G. Hedge and Helen F. Robbins, both of Plymouth.
December 27. Charles W. Pierce and Betsey Wood, both of Plymouth. 7
DEATHS DURING THE YEAR 1866.
DATE.
NAMES.
DISEASE.
YRS. MO. DYS.
PARENTS, ETC.
Jan'y
2
Isaiah Raymond
Heart disease.
78
-
-
5
Mary Bartlett
Lung fever.
59
3
13
Wife of Andrew Bartlett. Kendall W. and Laura W.
7
Frank S. King
Disease of brain.
7
6
-
10
John White
Lung fever.
46
9
11
- Bisbee
Feeble when born.
-
18
Henry C. and Catharine L.
12
Carrie E. Vaughan
Diptheria.
32
4
24
Wife of Wm. H. Winsor.
Feb'y
6
Helen M. Winsor
8
Loncol D. Cameron
Dropsy of brain.
1
6
2
8
Mary T. Sampson
Consumption .;
24
6
Hip disease.
16
9
Oliver and Phebe.
16
John King
Fever.
20
6
Robert and Mary R. Josiah and Betsey Clark.
. 98
March
3
Betsey F. Russell Lois A. Holmes
37
11
20
Josiah and Sally.
.
8
Fanny E. Darling
23
4
13
Wife of Albert Darling.
Bronchitis.
78
11
Widow of Daniel Soule.
Hydropericardium.
63
7
19
Wife of Joseph Wright.
Consumption.
18
8
Freeman and Jane.
Bronchitis.
53
4
13 Benjamin and Betsey.
April
1 Alva Austin
Serofula.
17
5
Alvin C. and Alvira L.
Dropsy.
17
11
21
6 Priscilla Raymond
Apoplexy.
81
5
29 Wife of George Raymond.
8 Elias Edgar Cox
27
6
28 John and Eliza.
8 Hannah T. Robbins
79
9
20 Widow of Samuel Robbins.
12 Abraham L. Diman
Dropsy on brain.
-
Rheumatism.
15
3
23
21 Samuel N. and Sarah. 1 Perez S. and Hannah.
1
5
25
Horatio and Keziah. George H. and Lucy S.
9
Oliver Bagnall
Old age.
89
24
John B. Robbins
Heart disease.
11
24
Josiah A. and Rebecca. Widow of Bridgham Russell.
Paralysis.
72
3
1
7
18
Content Soule
21
Sally Wright
26
Jane B. Morton
27
Betsey Harlow
86
Jacob and Hannah Johnson. Andrew and Polly.
3 Sarah Banks
6 Andrew P. Bartlett
Consumption.
Congestion of lungs. Paralysis.
10
17 Emma F. Wade
Spinal affection.
15
Ansel H. and Harriet N.
8
Carrie J. Griffin
20
Betsey Hovey
Consumption.
Caleb and Deborah.
LIST OF DEATHS, continued.
April 21
Elsie Bradford
Hydrothorax.
70
9
3
Wife of Wm. Bradford.
71
1
20
22
Phebe Green
23
Betsey Harlow
Cancer.
77
8
15
Widow of Wm. Green. Widow of Nathaniel Harlo w. Wife of Orin F. Hart.
30 William Barnes
Disease of heart.
70
3
2 William and Mercy.
May
15 Frank Bates
Childbed.
34
11
7
Wife of Frederick L. Zadock and Sarah.
June 1
Sidney T. Holmes
Lung fever.
30
1
7 Isaac B. and Lucy.
3
Fanny E. Dean
Consumption.
49
1
3
Winslow Thomas.
66
10
Ephraim H. Finney
Abcess of lungs.
32
5
10
Ephraim and Deborah.
14
Frank C. Robbins
24
9
28 William and Mary.
66
22
Henry Finney
liver.
58
8
26
Elkanah and Lucy.
6.6
23
Michael McNeal
Consumption.
36
James and Mary.
July
12
Mercy S. Harding
Apoplexy.
50
27
Wife of Caleb Harding.
P. convulsions.
26
-
-
Consumption.
54
4
13
16
Joanna Weston
Paralysis.
79
11
7
66
19
Ellen Fitzgerald
Consumption.
30
Diarrhea.
21
8
2
Wife of Scth Clark.
66
24
Abbie Clark
Apoplexy.
30
3
-
Job T. and Hannah. .
28
Elizabeth C. Kneeland
Unknown.
76
7
13
Widow of Branch Pierce.
Cholera infantum.
6
Samuel and Adelaide.
August 4
6
Ilannah Maxim
7 Jennie P. Ellis
Unknown.
Disease of brain.
29
9
27 Ivory H. and Jerusha B.
-
27 Nellie M. Hart
Consumption.
26
Consumption.
31
7
Comfort and Betsey.
66
27
16 Eudora Holmes Chandler Carver
Consumption.
71
-
3
16
Ichabod S. and Deborah.
Accidental injuries.
17
11 1
Thomas S. and Eleanor.
21
Clark Swift
Widow of Sidney T.
16
Isaac C. Swift
John and Joanna. Widow of Benjamin Weston.
6.6
21
Mary D. Stephens
Consumption.
68
-
2. Thomas M. Cole
Consumption.
John and Mary F.
28
Rebecca Pierce
30
Frederick P. Sherman
James Chapman
Dysentery. Old age.
82
-
1
1 24 George F. and Annie M.
€6
10 Ivory B. Thompson
William and Jane. Heman and Harriet.
22
George II. Robbins
4
Old age.
1
18 James H. and Mary B. Wife of Reuben Maxim.
99
11
Lucretia B. Holmes
Disease of spine.
7 Winslow Thomas
LIST OF DEATHS, continued.
Aug. 12 Ervin W. Hall
Cholera infantum.
2
3
-
Wm. and Sarah J.
Typhoid ever.
55
8
20
Widow of John M. Stepliens.
Dysentery.
11
26
22 John E. Griffith
Killed on Railroad track.
19
3
Joseph A. and Nancy E. Edmund and Catharine.
26
Ephraim Lucas
Dysentery.
75
66
28
Louisa Allen
Hydrothorax.
38
Cholera infantum.
1
1
Sept.
1 Sophia B. Whiting
Phthisis.
11
3
Wife of Pelham Whiting.
4
William E. Waterson
Cholera infantum.
10
28
William and Angeline.
.‹‹
5
Eunice S. Paulding
Consumption.
27
+
26
William and Jane B.
Typhoid fever.
78
1
1
John and Elizabeth.
6
John Allen
Paralysis.
92
1
1
John and Esther.
6
Esther Blackmer
Heart disease.
66
3
1
.. 66
7
Elizabeth A. Greene
Puerperal fever.
31
4
4
.66
10
Stephen Westgate
General Debility.
73
1
23
13
Polly F. Holmes
Convulsions.
65
1
5
Wife of Lemuel D. Holmes.
~
15
Laura E. Gardner
84
6
7
Widow of Elkanah Finney.
17
Lucy Finney
Fell down stairs.
80
4
25
Widow of Nehemiah Burbank.
Typhus fever.
31
6
14
Unknown.
1
7
1
Isaac N. and Catharine W. Died in
Pneumonia.
78
8
Widow of Holmes Bearce.
Marasmus.
21 1
4
7
Peter and Amanda.
Water on the brain.
3
20
Henry R. and Sarah N.
Paralysis.
84
11
24
Widow of Belcher Manter.
Consumption.
60
-
Joseph and Zerriah.
Old age.
78
6
12
Congestion of lungs.
28
4
4
Asahel and Deborah. Widow of David Scars.
Dropsy.
70
3
1
27 Harriet HI. Keith
Consumption.
24
9
27
Wife of Mart in M. Keith. [haven
Nov. .2
Elizabeth Atwood
Old age.
88
4
3
Widow Thos. Atwood. Died in Fair-
100
20
Rebecca Burbank
21
William Hemmerlee
21
Fannie C. Harlow
24
Sally Bearce
8
19
James and Mary.
26
Atta L. Davidson
30
Elmer Dyer
Oct.
2 Anna A. Reed
3
Sarah Manter
4 Marston Sampson
10 George Adams
20 Wm. W. Stockwell
25 Jane Sears
Cholera infantum.
6
2
Nathaniel and Lydia D.
Old age.
-
Wife of Winslow Allen.
Willie T. Bartlett
James S. and Emily J.
30
Martha Stephens
14
14
Arthur E. Dunham
John Ste; hens
Wife of John Blackmer. [Vermont.
Wife of Geo. II. Greene. Died in Joseph and Freelove.
[Boston.
Consumption.
LIST OF DEATHS, concluded.
Nov.
5 Homer Bryant
5
Rizpah D. Pierce
Typhoid fever.
40
7
8
John A. Blake
Fits.
60
11
10
12
Zaroday Cornish
Hemorrhage.
93
5
17
Widow of Nathan Hayward.
17
Joanna Hayward
Old age.
59
7
11
Henry and Mary.
66
25
Harriet M. Drew
Poisoned.
20
11
26
Frederick Bartlett
Typhoid fever.
41
3
7
Nathaniel and Lucia.
Dec. 1
Carrie A. Spear
Phthisis.
30
1
5
Widow of Wm. F. Spear.
Congestion of lungs.
31
7
Wife of David Clark.
12
Charles W. Blaekmer
Heart disease.
3
2
15
Ivory and Maria.
66
17
Zebedee Maxim
Paralysis.
86
2
17
Mercy Bean
Consumption.
69
11
17
Widow ef Abiathar Bean.
22
Content Lanman
Old age.
78
7
13
Widow of Samuel Lanman.
66
24
Albertina L. Whitten
Phthisis.
12
8
18
Lewis H. and Emeline A. [Bridgew'r
66
24 Herbert Morton
Consumption.
16
2
18
25 Mary E. Raymond
Convulsions.
18
3
7
Wife Adoniram Raymond.
29 William E. Benson
Brain fever.
- -
9
7
Josiah and Aurilla W.
...
21 William Collingwood 1 Paralysis.
86
-
-
George and Mary.
-
7
Sarah J. Clark
Confinement.
3
4
Wm. and Almeda T. Died in Boston.
10
William Stephens
Unknown.
1
-
Homer and -
Croup.
2
5
30
John and Lucretia. John and Levinia. Wife of Thomas E. Cornish.
[Boston.
21 George Warren
Congestion of lungs.
Josiah F. and Sarah W. Died in
66
2
Naney Sampson
68
Widow of Rufus Sampson.
66
101
Henry Jr. and Lydia T. Died in N.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH.
PREPARED BY THE
Superintendent of Public Schools.
V
1867-8.
PLYMOUTH: PLYMOUTH ROCK STEAM PRESS 1868. PLYMOUTH, MIA
108.1-1867-8
REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
.Gentlemen,-In reviewing the work accomplished in our schools during the past year, there is much that is gratifying to all who are intimately acquainted with the progress of former years. In the matter of discipline, I think our schools are gradually improving. Teachers resort less and less to harsh means of government, as they slowly find out their own moral resources, and learn by daily and painful toil that the mind is always superior to the hand in moulding the character of youth into nobler forms, and in giving to those forms the quality of endurance.
The public discussion which the subject of corporal punish- ment in schools is now receiving, exerts a wide-spread influence in checking the use of physical force as a means of governing children ; and, I have no doubt, the final result of the whole matter will be the disappearance of the rod from the school- room. The advocates of moral suasion, in insisting on the im- mediate adoption of their theory of discipline, by all teachers, may be right; feeling, as they do, that such a reform cannot come too soon ; but, when they cease their efforts to convince, and endeavor to accomplish their purpose by inflexible law, I
4
think they are wrong; for the success of a teacher in controll- ing his school by moral power, depends upon his faith in such power; and, lacking the faith, he feels that the law demands an impossibility. Such teachers, it is true, may be removed, and it would be wise to remove them, if there were better inen to take their places; but, unfortunately, there are none, for society is not yet mature enough to produce an abundant crop of such excellent fruit. Year by year the rod grows shorter, and no longer occupies the prominent position in the school- room which used to be assigned to it. The teacher rather puts it carefully out of sight; and if he feels obliged, at times, to bring it forth, he does it with reluctance, and is not at all anxious to have the fact widely known. In past times, the glory of the schoolmaster was the birch, which he considered the most potent means of preventing vice, and making knowledge and virtue lovely ; now he thinks himself lacking in professional skill if, in trying to reach a scholar's intellect and heart, he is first obliged to damage his skin. The rod will soon belong to the barbarism of the past.
The condition of the school-houses of the town, twenty-five in number, is always a matter of great importance ; but as it is secondary to some other interests pertaining to the schools, the consideration of it is apt to be postponed too long. During the past year everything has been done in the improvement of school buildings that the appropriation for that purpose per- mitted. Besides unimportant repairs, three school-houses, that at South Pond, the Grammar school-house at Chiltonville, and the Grammar school-house at Manomet Ponds, have been painted on the outside, at an expense of one hundred and four- teen dollars. This work was very much needed, and the ap- pearance of these houses is, of course, much improved.
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The Primary school-house in School Street has been the sub- ject of a great deal of complaint for many years ; and, indeed, its condition was such that it was discreditable to the town. A special appropriation was made last year, for the purpose of putting this house in order, and the money has been expended in making the interior of the building convenient and attractive. The two old rooms have been united and now form one large room ; two ante-rooms have been made, suitable to the wants of the school. The furniture is of the best quality, and each scholar, having a desk to himself, is so far removed from other scholars as to diminish very much the labor of the teacher in keeping order. At present, this is the most convenient school- room in the town. It is very much to be regretted that all our old school-rooms are too small for the purpose for which they were intended, and the efficiency of the schools is thereby very much diminished. The cost of these repairs is five hundred and seventy-seven dollars.
I desire to call the attention of the School Committee to the possibility of reducing the number of schools, which will cer- tainly appear very great when the number of scholars is con- sidered. We have thirty-three schools, and scholars enough for only twenty ; but the population of the town is so scattered it is not easy to see where a school may, with perfect propriety, be closed. A year ago there seemed to be a case, in one of the three schools of Manomet Ponds, which admitted of no doubt. At an examination of the school, when a class was promoted to the Grammar School, only four scholars were left, and, upon my recommendation, the school was closed. It Chiltonville there are three Primary Schools, two of which are about a mile apart, the third, half way between. The school at the old Factory, which is the central one, has at the present
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time the names of twelve scholars on its register, but very often only half that number in attendance. Now, if this school were closed, and the scholars required to attend one of the other two, the united schools would number about thirty-three pupils, and none would have to walk more than half a mile. I can see no reason why this change should not be made.
The subject of reading has always received a large share of attention in our schools, but the results are not entirely satis- factory. Most of our scholars learn to read with all desirable fluency, and with a good understanding of what they read, but there are few who have the power to express with their voice the thought and sentiment of the writer. Teachers are aware of this deficiency, doubtless, and regret it, and make laudable efforts to introduce a better style of reading into their schools ; but all unskilled energy, in an art requiring much special knowledge, and great variety and delicacy of feeling, is sure to be misdirected. Few teachers have ever enjoyed the thorough instruction of a master of reading ; and, consequently, each follows his own impulses, sometimes unaccompanied by much reflection,-a method which may make good readers, when the learner has a special gift that way, but can scarcely result in good teachers of reading, who need the possession and thorough control of an art. Everything has been done that can be done under present arrangements ; and I would suggest that an effort be made to procure the services of an accomplished reader and teacher of the art, who might show by explanation of principles and actual practice in the school- room, how young people are to be taught to read.
In past years I have felt that our success in penmanship, like that in reading, was not all that might reasonably be expected ; but, at the present time, a marked improvement is observable,
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owing, in a great measure, to the influence of a very successful teacher of penmanship, who gave private instruction in one of our school-houses, and invited our teachers to be present.
Another matter which invites the attention of the Com- mittee is the course of study in the High School. Although this course was revised three years ago, I think it admits of further simplification, and the interests of the school demand that the number of studies be reduced. In the adoption of the original course of study for the High School, it seemed to have been the design of those who framed it that it should contain a large part of the literature and science of modern times ; but this is too much to be required of young persons between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years, as it is also too much to be required of three teachers, however accomplished they may be. It is not pretended that any of these studies are value- less, nor that they are not worth the time and labor necessary to their successful prosecution ; on the contrary, they are highly useful and agreeable, but the scholars of the High School have not the time to learn them, and the teachers have not the time to teach them. But why have more work to do than can be well done? Because the various intellectual inter- ests of the town seem to require it. We have to educate boys for college, young ladies for a life of refinement and ease, and . others who are to live by the skill of their hands. These dis- tinctions seem to point out three different courses of study, and numerous branches to supply the wants of all. Add to these wants, which seem to be founded .in the exigencies of society, those which arise from the various opinions in every community as to the studies best adapted to educate the youth- ful minds. Some require useful knowledge only, and the more of it the better ; others ask for nothing but mental discipline.
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