USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1850-1864 > Part 10
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 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
Samuel Andrews, ·
. 91
Boston.
(5.)
Over 85 and Under 90 Years.
five
Charles Hardwick, .
86 years,
Born in Quincy.
Elizabeth Fenno,
86
John Spear,
85
Mary Billings,
85
66
William P. Everson,
85
Kingston.
(14)
Over 80 and Under 85 Years.
fourteen.
Adam Hardwick,
84 years,
Born in Quincy.
Joseph Trask,
84
Lydia Hussey,
84
66
Nantucket.
Mehitabel Brackett,
84
66
N. H.
Jane Newcomb,
84
66
Eastham.
Dorothy Nightingale,
84
84
66
Braintree.
Jonathan Newcomb,
82
Quincy.
Jerusha Thayer,
82
Abigail Spear,
81
66
Asa Pope,
81
Stoughton.
Samuel Packard,
81
Easton.
Sarah Pratt,
80
Quincy.
Pamelia Cleverly,
84
Maine.
(27.)
Over 75 and Under 80 Years.
twenty-seven.
Elijah Veazie,
79 years,
Born in Quincy. 1
Sarah Vinton,
79
79
66
Andover.
Daniel Hobart,
78
Quincy.
Betsey Hobart,
78
78
66
Randolph.
Anna Brackett,
78
66
66
Lucy Sampson,
78
66
Braintree.
David Rideout,
77
66
" Hollis, N.H.
Lois Bent,
77
Nancy Hayden,
76
Roxbury.
Job Faxon, ·
76
Braintree.
Elizabeth Adams,
76
James Green, 6
7€
Milton,
.
.
.
.
Daniel French, Elizabeth Pope,
78
Quincy.
Hannah Porter,
66
66
Rhoda Nightingale,
42
Lemuel Brackett,
76 years,
Born in Quincy.
Susanna Spear,
76
Warren Loud,
76
" Weymouth.
Ebenezer Green,
76
Perez Sprage,
75
Hingham.
Eunice Glover,
75
Dorchester.
Isaac Brackett,
75
Quincy.
James Packard,
75
66
Easton.
Sarah Marsh,
75
Quincy.
John Hunt,
75
66
Polly Nightingale,
75
Lydia Spear,
75
66
66
(29.)
Over 70 and Under 75 Years.
twenty-nine
Lucy Marsh,
74 years,
Born in Quincy.
Polly Glover,
73
Charles Nightingale,
73
Solomon Willard,
73
" not known.
Thomas Kettell,
73
Newbury.
Mary Ann Green,
73
George Spear,
72
66
Quincy.
Josiah Glover,
72
66
Milton.
Moses R. Marsh,
72
66
Quincy.
George Nightingale,
71
66
66
Abner Willett,
71
71
Quincy.
Abigail Veazie,
71
66
Milton.
Eda Rideout,
71
66
N. H.
Lydia Beal,
71
James Newcomb,
71
¥
Lucy Newcomb,
71
John Savil,
72
Quincy.
Jerusha Webb,
72
Lucy Packard,
70
66
66
Jonathan Marsh,
70
66
James Baxter,
70
66
66
Mary Baxter,
70
John Green,
70
66
Dorchester.
Henry Wood,
70
" Hollis, N.H.
Sarah Wood,
70
Quincy.
James Pray,
·
70
66
Walpole.
Ann Curtis,
71
Josiah Nightingale,
Buelah Wood,
70
60
.
NOTE .- Quincy is set down as the birthplace of all those who were born within the present limits of Quincy. Those set down as born in Braintree, mean those who were born within the limits as they now are.
66
66
43
TOWN OFFICERS.
Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of Poor.
Ensign S. Fellows, Ebenezer Adams, William W. Baxter.
Town Clerk. Franklin Curtis.
Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes. Stephen Morse, Jr.
School Committee.
Wm. P. Lunt,
Wm. W. Baxter, George H. Locke,
Bryant B. Newcomb,
Nelson Clarke,
Edmund Pope, James Bradford, Charles F. Adams, elected in place of Wm. P. Lunt, resigned.
Seth Adams,
Constables. Washington M. French, Frederick A. Lapham, Edward A. Spear.
Fence Viewers.
Thaddeus H. Newcomb, Edward A. Spear,
Seth Adams.
Assistant- Assessors.
Joseph G. Brackett,
Ames A. Mears,
E. S. Chapin, Ezra Badger,
Wm. Parker, Jr., Edmund Pope.
Pound Keeper. Ensign S. Fellows.
John T. Ripley, Richard Newcomb,
Surveyors of Lumber. Peleg F. Jones, Wm. Parker, Jr., Samuel Higgins.
Josiah Adams, Warren J. Vinal,
44
Field Drivers.
John Hall, Jr., Wm. Walker,
Seth Crane,
George Spear, 3d.,
Charles Swift, John P. Wentworth.
Samuel Ames,
Weigher at Town Scales. George Nightingale.
H. A. Newcomb, Richard Newcomb, Wm. F. Whitney,
Surveyors of Wood and Bark.
Seth Adams, George H. Locke, E. B. Taylor, James Bradford, Benj. B. Mead, George L. Baxter.
George Nightingale,
Weighers of Coal. B. V. Mead,
Calvin W. Perry.
George L. Gill,
Representatives to General Court. Francis M. Johnson.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE
----
TOWN OF QUINCY,
MARCH 2, 1857.
BOSTON: WILLIAM WHITE, PRINTER TO THE STATE. 1857.
REPORT
.
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
MARCH 2, 1857.
BOSTON: WILLIAM WHITE, PRINTER TO THE STATE. 1857.
QUINCY, March 2d, 1857.
IN TOWN MEETING,
Voted, To accept the Report of the School Committee and that the Committee cause the same to be printed and dis tributed.
From the record,
Attest : FRANKLIN CURTIS, Town Clerk.
REPORT.
In the course of the past year it has again happened that the person originally selected as the Chairman of the School Committee has been called away from the duty, in such a manner as to render it necessary to substitute another. This has been done in the man- ner prescribed by a late statute of the Commonwealth, for filling vacancies in the Committee. It were easy to imagine a state of circumstances in which such a change might be productive of inconvenience, if not a most serious derangement in the move- ment of the Schools. Very fortunately, nothing of the kind has been experienced in the present instance, as the diligent super- vision of the members of the Committee, and of the first Chair- man, had already been productive of such favorable results at the period when the change took place, that nothing was left for the successor to do but to embody their conclusions in this Report.
It has indeed been a season of unusual prosperity in the depart- ment of education, and for that very cause there is less need of enlarging the limits of this paper. The most serious obstacle to progress in teaching-the sudden and frequent change of teachers, has in a measure been avoided; and where such a case has occurred, the customary disadvantages have not been experienced,
4
As a general remark, it may be claimed with some confidence, th the system of instruction has never worked to better advantag So far as an idea of this may be gathered from the degree attendance upon the several schools, it will be learned in t general table appended to this Report.
Adopting the classification which has been carried out as far practicable throughout the town, it may not be out of place introduce, in connection with each grade of the schools, su observations as may have suggested themselves in some particul instances from the visitations of the year.
1. THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
It is difficult to overrate the importance of having these schoo well kept. Here the child forms his habits of discipline and attention. If these are well established during his stay, eve subsequent step in the higher departments becomes natural an casy. If on the contrary, they are turned in an opposite dire tion, then the whole process of later instruction becomes laborio if not entirely fruitless. Hitherto, notwithstanding the effor constantly made in this town to secure such teachers as migl insure a good system in all the seven schools of this grade, the have failed of corresponding success. Although in some of th Districts they seemed to be placed on a footing which left n much to desire, in others, no very marked success followed ar experiment to improve them. This year the Committee are grat fied in being able to report a more flattering result. Whilst in th West District Schools, under the charge of Miss S. A. A. Beal an Miss E. A. Newcomb, and in those of the South likewise, th character which formerly distinguished them has been well su tained, the two schools of the Centre, kept respectively by Mi Dodge and Miss Underwood, and that at Quincy Point, kept b Miss A. E. Packard, have been rapidly rising to the first rank. there should happen no unfortunate changes, this grade of schoo
5
may now be reasonably expected, in course of time, to show its improved condition in the Intermediate Department. Indeed, no greater evidence of progress can be given than in the fact that the school so long kept by Mrs. Burrill, in the South District, which used to stand relatively better, now begins to lag behind the rest. The Committee regret to be obliged to observe that the discipline there is less uniform, whilst the complaints made by parents of the severity of the punishments inflicted are more numerous than elsewhere. Yct the progress made by the scholars in their studies shows that their time has not been misspent.
It ought to be observed in this connection that the number of scholars attending the school of Miss Vcazic is much larger than is consistent with the common notion of orderly management. Nothing but the tact and indefatigable labor that have been ap- plied to it could have successfully contended against this dis- advantage. The average of attendance throughout the year has cxcceded seventy, whilst the whole number of scholars has been as high as one hundred and ten. Even in the populous schools of the city of Boston the average attendance on cach teacher is less than fifty. Should this state of things continuc, it is obvious that another subdivision will become necessary. In such case, the town, by still retaining their property in the former school-house, have an opportunity of establishing a third school in it without further expense than the cost of a teacher.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
The four schools of this grade have, on the whole, shown a degree of improvement in the course of the year. That in the Centre District began unfortunately, and it became necessary before long to change the teacher. But the disadvantage was soon made up by Miss E. C. Moulton, with whose services the Committee have every reason to express themselves highly satis- fied. The same thing may be said of Miss Bowditch, at Quincy
6
Point, although from the small size of her school her labors hay necessarily been less arduous. Miss Ayer, in the West Distric has acquitted herself very creditably ; whilst in the South, a things considered, the appearances have been favorable. Tl changes of last year materially disturbed the discipline here, an the school has not yet recovered from the effects. It still remain in discipline, below the average made by the other schools of th same grade, although the teacher has labored faithfully in h vocation.
This department of instruction calls most particularly for firn ness on the part of those set over the scholars. Many of these owing to early neglect or slower capacity, commonly attain he the age when they show a strong self-will, which nothing but manifestation of superior will is likely to keep under control. is for this reason that great care should be taken in the selectio of teachers. For any case of failure leads to consequences th are felt long after the immediate cause of them has been removed
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The Willard, the Adams and the Point Schools, have enjoye the advantage of a continuance of the same instruction unde which they have flourished heretofore. There is, therefore, noth ing to be said about them which would not be a repetition of th language of former reports.
At the Coddington School a new teacher became necessary a the beginning of the year ; several preceding ones had failed t come up to expectation, and the effect had been a loss of tone i the instruction quite to be regretted. In this state of things th Committee selected Mr. R. H. Fletcher to take the school, i the hope that he might do something to restore its character The year's experience has justified their choice. The disciplin and the application to study have shown a marked improve ment ; whilst the deportment of the pupils, as well outside a
7
within the walls, against which some exception has heretofore been taken by respectable and quiet citizens, has been much more creditable. In most cases of this kind, it should be observed, that the fault of such insubordination lies quite as much with the head of the school as with his scholars. Negligence or indiffer- ence on his part is sure to be observed and to be taken advantage of by children who mean no harm, even when they are led to give the most annoyance. It is gratifying to be able to report favor- ably of the Centre District in this respect.
Mr. Forbush has acquitted himself as well through the year, at the North School, as he gave promise of doing at the time of the last report. The table of attendance making an average of nearly forty through the year in this District, where the citizens are scat- tered over so wide a distance around the school-house, will show their increased confidence in the value of the instruction. It is believed that at no preceding time has it been so good.
The East, or Germantown District, has been under the same care that it was under last year. It is the smallest school in the town, and labors under the disadvantage of the absence of that emulation which only numbers of the same age and grade of ac- quirement can give. The teacher, Miss Woodbridge, has done her best to counteract this difficulty.
It will be recollected that after the period of the Annual Town Meeting, in March last, at which it is customary to appropriate the money to be applied to education during the year, the annexa- tion of a part of Braintree to this town was carried into effect by an Act of the General Court. Although, owing to this circum- stance, no provision had been made for the instruction of the chil- dren living within the ceded tract, the Committee felt that it would not be just or expedient to omit to supply it. A school was therefore opened in that quarter, and Miss Louisa Burrell was employed to take charge of it. At the first quarterly visitation of the Committee, however, the results were so unpromising that they deemed it necessary to vary from their original arrangement.
8
The greatest difficulty being in the absence of habits of disci they decided to remove it by transferring the most advanced ars to the Grammar School at Quincy Point. The conseq was a decided improvement in the condition of the school, a corresponding success to the labors of the teacher, during tl mainder of the year.
This arrangement, however, is in its nature temporary, unt town shall have included the tract of territory to which it r within its general system of education. Some provisions to effect will undoubtedly be adopted for the next year.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Among the schools which the liberal appropriations of the furnish for the training of our children, the High School received from the Committee the share of attention and ca which it is justly entitled. In the theory of our educationa tem, the High School has a special work to perform; and i only justify itself to the community which supports it, b positive and decided excellence of the instruction it affords ought not merely to be good in its method of teaching and cipline, but so good as to be a standard and model. .
established for the benefit of the whole town, and at the time designed for that limited class of pupils who may desire may be able to be carried farther than can be done in the G mar Schools, the inhabitants of the town have a right to e that the teachers employed should be qualified to meet demand; and those who seek, as pupils, the benefit of s school ought to be prepared for the severer application whi requisite to insure its success.
With these convictions the Committee, at the commenceme the year, made every effort to procure the services of a firs teacher. After receiving applications from a great numb candidates, they selected Mr. Isaac N. Beals, who has ha
9
care of the school during the year which has now closed. Mr. Beals is a graduate of Harvard College, and was allowed by the Faculty to commence his school before taking his degree. Hc came to us highly recommended by the President and Professors of the University, for his scholarship ; and had besides had much ex- perience in teaching elsewhere. The Committee have had no cause to regret the choice which they made. With the valuable assist- ance of Miss Burgess, who was in the school the previous year, we can with truth say that the success of Mr Beals has been not only gratifying but in some respects remarkable. At each visita- tion by the Committee they have witnessed proofs of thorough and faithful training, and heard recitations which in some respects were wonderful. Mr. Beals has a system of his own, as every really good instructor must have, and has a talent, possessed by few, of acting upon the minds of his pupils and of engaging their undivided interest in what they are learning. The habits which they form under his training, of attention, application, quickness of thought and exactness, cannot fail to be useful to them in what- ever they may be engaged in after life. The order and method of the school are perfect. Every thing proceeds in the school-room like clock work ; one class succeeds another, at the appointed time, quietly and without loss of a moment, and in this way every minute of the session is profitably employed. We have heard recitations in this school in French, in Geometry, in Algebra, in Greek and Latin, which would have done credit to any school in our Commonwealth.
At the same time it may not be unadvisable to put in a word of caution in regard to the extent of study required from growing children, especially girls, in order to arrive at these results, es- pecially in lessons given to be learned out of school hours. The Committee concur in the remarks made upon this subject in the Annual Report of the Committee of the city of Boston, for the present year, which were called out by the efforts of some of their
2
10
zealous instructors to modify the standing rule of their Board That rule is in the following words :
" In assigning lessons to boys, to be studied out of schod hours, the instructor shall not assign a longer lesson daily than boy of good capacity can acquire by an hour's study ; but no ou of school lessons shall be assigned to girls ; nor shall the lesson to be studied in school be so long as to require a scholar of ordi nary capacity to study out of school in order to learn them."
Without meaning to be understood as adhering to this rule i every particular, the Committee believe that its general object i founded in good sense, and that it is salutary in practice. Th purpose of education is not to sacrifice a portion of the young b excess of stimulus, and at the same time to deter the remainde: who cannot keep up with their more gifted companions, from a tempting to learn at all. It is, on the contrary, to diffuse th benefits of knowledge as extensively as possible among all, with out injury to any one. It is not to make select schools of preco cious pupils, but to open the doors wide for such benefit as an child may be able, with common industry and a common capacit to obtain.
We cannot but think that the parents of the pupils, and the ir habitants of the town generally, would be highly gratified in visi ing the school more frequently than they do, and we hope th such visits may be more common in future. Teachers must fin a reward for their severe labors, next to the approbation of the own consciences, in the satisfaction and gratification of those i whose service they are engaged.
At the commencement of the year an unusually large number applied for admission into the High School. Of fifty-two tha were examined at that time, thirty were admitted. At the com mencement of the winter term nineteen presented themselves f examination and sixteen of these were admitted.
The Committee would respectfully call the attention of the tow to the mode of warming the High School. They think it deserve
11
to be considered whether a furnace shall be introduced in place of the stoves which are now used. We cannot but think that such a change would be an improvement.
We think it desirable, too, that the Committee of the next year be authorized to alter the arrangement of the seats and the teach- er's stand in the room occupied by the assistant.
The grounds around the school-house are likewise yet in a con- dition which does not compare favorably with the provision made for them in many other towns. It should never be forgotten that the buildings designed for education now constitute a large and permanent property of great value to the town, and that every thing laid out in the way of improving and adorning them is a real investment for the benefit of those who shall come after us.
12
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
The sum appropriated by the town for the support of th Schools during the year, was :-
By Tax, raised by the town, .
$7,865 00
Proceeds, from the School Fund of the State,
250 10
Income, Coddington Land,
75 00
$8,190 10
The expenditures for the first three quarters of the year, end ing January 1, 1857, have been-
For the High School,
. $1,240 25
South District,
.
1,164 55
West
1,052 38
Centre
1,128 08
North 66
543 06
Quincy Point District,
915 42
East District, 225 18
Town of Milton, for teaching children of
Mrs. Glover, .
20 00
$6,288 92
And the estimate for the fourth quarter is-
For Teachers' Salaries, ending April 1, '57, $1,868 00 Fuel and Sundries, . 133 00
2,001 00
Making for the year, $8,289 92
Thus it will be seen that there is a small excess of expendi- ture, amounting to $99.82. In addition to this, there has been a demand not provided for at the beginning of the year, for the School at the Neck. That expenditure, for three quarters, has amounted to $158.73; estimate for the last quarter, $70.00. The extra expense occasioned by this addition amounts, for the year ending April 1, to $228.73. The entire deficiency for the year, including the Neck School, will then be $328.55.
13
ESTIMATE FOR 1857.
It is made the duty of the Committee to report an estimate of the sums of money necessary, in their opinion, for the support of the Schools during the next year, ending April 1, 1858.
After a careful examination of the whole subject, and after having taken into consideration the necessity of providing an appropriation for the coming year for the new School at the Neck, as well as for other contingencies, the Committee have concluded to recommend that the sum to be raised by the town by tax, be $8,585.
C. F. ADAMS. NELSON CLARK. WM. W. BAXTER. B. B. NEWCOMB. GEO. H. LOCKE. EDMUND POPE. JAMES BRADFORD.
. .
14
GENERAL TABLE.
SUMMER.
WINTER.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Whole No. of|
Scholars.
Aver. Atten.
No. over 15.
No. under 5.
Whole No. of
Aver. Atten.
No. over 15.
WEST DISTRICT.
Primary School No. 1, . Miss S. A. A. Beal,
73
51
60
48
No. 2, . Miss E. A. Newcomb, .
68
46
58
38
Intermediate School, . . Miss E. J. Ayer,
63
41
54 33
Grammar School,
Mr. S. Dewing, Jr.,
65
51
76
67
9
SOUTHI DISTRICT.
Primary School No. 1,
Miss M. A. Veazie, .
110
70
90
72
No. 2, Mrs. S. Burrell,
71
59
65 51
Intermediate School, . . Miss L. L. Tarbell,
73
57
70
54
Grammar School, . . Mr. S. Morse, Jr., .
74
66
65
56
CENTRE DISTRICT.
Primary School No. 1,
. Miss F. A. Dodge, . .
77
59
9
63
4.7
No. 2, Miss J. E. Underwood,
75
52
3
68
45
Intermediate School, . Miss E. C. Moulton, .
63
45
60
52
1
Grammar School, Mr. R. H. Fletcher, .
75
68
71
65
QUINCY POINT DISTRICT.
Primary School,
Miss A. E. Packard, .
67
47
15
46
30
Intermediate School, . . Miss S. E. Bowditch, .
38
28
30
23
Grammar School, . Mr. C. Murdock,
55
42
58
40
6
Quincy Neck District,
. Miss L. Burrell, .
47
39
48
36
North District School,
Mr. L. P. Forbush,
62
42
45
35
East District School, .
Miss L. S. Woodbridge,
31
20
2
27
23
1
HIGH SCHOOL,.
Principal, Mr. J. N. B eals, 0
69
62 40
52
48 30
Assistant, Miss C. R. Burgess,
Totals, .
1256 945 40 29
1106 863 46 10
Scholars.
.
15
RECAPITULATION.
Summer.
Winter.
Whole Number of Schools,
19
19
..
Teachers,
20
20
Scholars,
1,256
1,106
Average Attendance,
945
863
Number over fifteen years of age,
40
46
Number under five, .
29
10
Number of Children, between the ages of five and fifteen, on the first day of May, 1856 :-
In the Point District,
174
Quincy Neck,
70
South District,
320
West
319
Centre
301
North
77
East
40
Total,
1,301
Number on the first day of May, 1855,
1,230
Increase,
71
·
.
.
THE
AUDITOR'S ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
BEING A
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE FINANCES OF THE TOWN,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
FEBRUARY 1, 1858.
BOSTON : PRESS OF GEO. C. RAND & AVERY, 3, CORNHILL. 1858.
THE
AUDITOR'S ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE 7
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
BEING A
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE FINANCES OF THE TOWN,
:
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
FEBRUARY 1, 1858
BOSTON : PRESS OF GEO. C. RAND & AVERY, 3, CORNHILL. 1858.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOLING, ONE YEAR, ENDING JAN. 1, 1858.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Paid I. N. Beal, teaching, - $1,000 00
" C. R. Burgess, “ - - 500 00 -
G. L. Baxter, 2d, building fires, 40 00
Adams & Hersey, coal, - - 84 37
$1,624 37
CODDINGTON SCHOOL.
Paid R. H. Fletcher, teaching,
$730 00
E. C. Moulton,
-
195 00
66 Frances A. Dodge, " -
- 220 00
Julia Underwood, “
-
220 00
Preston & Flynn, fuel, -
58 50
J. G. Brackett,
58 90
Adams & Hersey,
95 27
D. Keefe, coal,
11 33
G. Savil, fuel, -
1 50
E. Ford, building fires, -
43 00
1,633 50
ADAMS SCHOOL.
Paid S. Morse, Jr., -
$670 00
S. Burrell, High School House, - 60 00
E. W. Mansfield, High School House, 160 00
L. L. Tarbell,
60 00
A. A. Holbrook, - 160 00
66 M. A. Veazie, - 220 00
Mary A. Foster, Stone School House, 120 00
Amount carried forward,
$1,450 00
-
-
-
4
Amount brought forward,
$1,450 00
Paid J. G. Brackett, coal, -
16 92
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.