USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1850-1864 > Part 32
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The income from the Almshouse Department, for the first time in many years, exceeds the expenditures. For the assistance rendered by the Overseers of the Poor to persons out of the Almshouse, which was unavoidable, a sum has been expended the past year in excess of former years ; but by assistance to these persons through the trying months of winter, we believe it to be more judicious and economical than to have had them sent to the Almshouse.
The expenditures for repairs on the highways was only $ 653.98 in 1862, to $ 1,471.37 in 1861. The expense of the Fire Department has not materially diminished, it being $ 1,806.27 in 1862, to $ 1,841.49
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in 1861. Had it not been for the extraordinary expenses of pay of damages to parties who have, by the " Pluero Pneumonia" Commission- ers' orders, had their cattle slaughtered, with expenses of recruiting and bounties paid to the volunteers, the public debt would undoubtedly have been reduced several thousand dollars; but by these very neces- sary outlays and expenditures, the debt has increased from $ 24,346.14 in 1862, to $ 40,404.11 in 1863. But still we think no citizen will bewail the expenditures for military purposes, if by these sacrifices, and while our friends are perilling life and limb, our national honor and existence may be preserved and prolonged.
The duties of the Selectmen the past year have been many and arduous, and what expenditures have been made were apparently neces- sarily incurred.
As Auditors, we should feel we were remiss in our duty did we not call the attention of the people of Quincy to the actual necessity of a new Almshouse. The present building is far from being what is neces- sary or wanted to accommodate the many deserving poor who seek a shelter under its charitable roof. It was built at the commencement of the present century, when the occupants were fewer and fuel more abun- dant than at the present day; but time and decay have left their mark on the old house, and for our winters and in our time, when old age, youth, and little children seek its shelter, the cold winds that drive the snow into it, make it unfit for the uses required or intended ; and we would recommend that the Town take early action on this subject, and provide a new Almshouse, which economy and necessity alike require.
Thanking the Selectmen, Town Clerk, and Treasurer for their assist- ance, we would subject for the consideration of the Town the foregoing Report.
JOHN CHAMBERLIN, ENSIGN S. FELLOWS, EDWIN W. MARSH, CHARLES H. HARDWICK, - 1862.
Auditors for
LORENZO JOHNSON.
APPENDIX.
MARRIAGES
REGISTERED IN QUINCY FOR THE YEAR 1862.
March 12, 1862, Edward F. Bryant, Dorchester, Eliza Jane Nightingale, Quincy.
March 30, 1862, Luther H. Parrott, Quincy, Hannah Cummings, “
April 20, 1862, Alexander McCarty, Quincy, Elizabeth Mullen,
May 4, 1862, Peter Burns, Cambridge, Hannah O'Moran, Weymouth. May 11, 1862, M. Cushing Allen, Boston, Georgiana Newcomb, Quincy.
May 18, 1862, Owen McGuire, Abington, Ann O'Neil,
May 31, 1862, Charles McDaniel, Springfield, N. H. Amanda M. Quincy,
June 8, 1862, George M. Hause, Weymouth, Ellen M. Newcomb, Quincy.
June 8, 1862, James W. Vinal, Quincy, Christiana Campbell, “
June 15, 1862, John N. Anglmey, Quincy, Susan A. Riley, June 22, 1862, George L. Hayden, Quincy, Lucy A. Packard, June 26, 1862, Seth B. Bass, Quincy, Lucy S. Thayer, "
46
June 28, 1862, Edmund Dady, Quincy, Elizabeth Driscoll, "
July 6, 1862, William Parker, 3d, Quincy, Zeruah T. Brown,
July 8, 1862, Edward W. H. Nutting, Quincy, Susan Stoddard,
July 21, 1862, Michael Connor, Quincy, Margaret Coffee, ¥
July 22, 1862, Marcus F. Cram, Braintree, Harriet M. Vinal, Quincy.
July 28, 1862, John Luzarder, Quincy, Ellen P. Garland, “
Aug. 18, 1862, William G. Sheen, Quincy, Mary A. Holden,
Aug. 19, 1862, Nelson L. Thayer, Randolph, Fanny R. Fogg, Aug. 21, 1862, Charles N. Perkins, Quincy, Hannah Shehan,
Sept. 1, 1862, Charles H. Miller, Quincy, Ellen M. Willett,
Sept. 3, 1862, John Kelly, Quincy, Martha A. Huntress, Quincy.
Sept. 7, 1862, Michael Carey, Abington, Ellen Makhan,
Sept. 11, 1862, Jonas W. Jewett, Milton, Mary E. Simpson, Quincy. Sept. 18, 1862, Charles H. Richardson, Plymouth, Caroline S. Burrell, Quincy.
Sept. 21, 1862, Charles H. Matherson, Weymouth, Clara D. Allen, Quincy. Sept. 21, 1862, Quincy Tirrell, Quincy, Harriet W. Dunbar, E. Bridgewater.
Sept. 28, 1862, Stephen Talbot, Quincy, Mary Galvin,
47
Oct. 4, 1862, Orin J. Peverly, Quincy, Mary H. Dwelle, “
Oct. 12, 1862, Edward P. Hayward, Braintree, Rachel F. Hersey, Quincy.
Oct. 12, 1862, Quincy A. Manuel, Weymouth, Caroline L. Arnold, Quincy.
Oct. 19, 1862, Michael Lee, Abington, Catherine Greene, "
Oct. 23, 1862, Edwin A. Cass, Athens, Me., Annie A. French, Quincy.
Nov. 13, 1862, Winslow M. Newcomb, Quincy, · Lucy R. Pickernell,
Nov. 25, 1862, Erancis C. Ellis, Jr., Quincy, Phebe A. Corliss, .
Nov. 27, 1862, William T. Curtis, Lynn, Mary E. Gay, Quincy. Nov. 28, 1862, John McKenzie, Quincy, Salome Veazie,
Dec. 1, 1862, Albert G. Stevens, Milton, Maria W. Beals,, Quincy.
Dec. 3, 1862, Henry W. Nightingale, Quincy, Rhoda E. Foye,
Dec. 3, 1862, Henry S. Totman, Quincy, Lucy O. Chubbuck, “
Dec. 8, 1862, Isaac N. Fowler, Quincy, Jennie M. Dodson, Baltimore, Md.
Dec. 9, 1862, William Faxon, Quincy, Esther A. Morse, Cohasset. Dec. 18, 1862, Edward A. Adams, Quincy, Emeline Crane,
DEATHS REGISTERED IN QUINCY FOR THE YEAR 1862.
DATE.
NAME.
AGE.
CAUSE.
January
2
Mary Baxter.
73
8
..
2
Albert M. Sargent
4
1
21
3
Sarah Bass
64
5
·
3
Alden B. Hayden
2
1 7
Hooping Cough.
6
James Stockman
75
. .
Old Age.
11
Carrie J. Spear
15
4
14
Consumption.
11
Patrick Shehan
45
·
Heart Disease.
14
Mary Pearce
55
9
..
.
Solomon Nightingale .
73
8
13
Influenza.
20
Elizabeth J. Gilligan
..
2
9
Hooping Cough.
30
Esther Dolan
87
. .
February 1
Margaret Leary
3
. .
·
Scarlet Fever.
5
Margaret Patterson
3
7
·
8
Margaret Leahy
1
6
17
Dennis Moriarty
40
. .
. .
March
8
(Infant) Breeding.
0
0
0
Stillborn.
17
William C. Chubbuck
57
. .
Erysipelas.
19
Lucretia Saunders
70
10
. .
Consumption.
20
Mary Donlan .
40
.
. .
Childbirth.
26
Catherine Swain
30
.
. .
Consumption.
April
6
Charles Reardon
31
. .
Consumption.
10
Richard B. Hayden
15
10
Typhoid Fever.
12
Lydia Dickerman
24
10
..
Consumption.
16
Cornelius Donnihu.
64
..
.
Consumption.
17
William B. Hinghman
17
. .
Consumption.
17
Richard Doudle
94
7
..
Old Age.
19
William Jones
19
11
11
23
Bernard Hart.
Consumption.
May
6
Adam Herrick.
76
..
Heart Disease.
19
Mercy Denton
49
22
Clarence S. Hayward.
. .
7
Consumption.
3
Abby McCarthy
. .
11
Scarlet Fever.
5
Frank E. Belcher
. .
6
..
Dropsy on Brain.
6
Katie McCarthy
5
..
Bowel Complaint.
8
Mary J. White
4
7
Scarlet Fever. Canker.
13
Ida S Buck ..
2
8
. .
14 Cynthia P. Baxter
26
. .
..
Consumption.
16 Martha M. Edwards
79
9
Old Age.
17
Lewis Baxter. .
68
10
..
Heart Disease.
17
Annie McCarthy
6
5
. .
Scarlet Fever.
Y.
M.
D.
Heart Complaint. Scarlet Fever. Bronchitis.
7
Lydia Hussey
89
.
Old Age.
Dropsy on Brain.
Bowel Complaint.
30
(Infant) Wild
. .
3
Heart Disease.
June
1
Ezra Walker
78
. .
Scarlet Fever.
6
John C. Underwood
52
4
..
Typhoid Fever.
45
. .
. .
Heart Disease.
Consumption.
17
49
DATE.
DATE.
AGE.
CAUSE.
Y.
M.
D.
June
20
Katie Coffee
4
11
21
George Ewell.
17
11
. .
22
Isabel G. Thayer
. .
6
4
Lung Fever.
28
(Infant) Glover
0
0
0
Stillborn.
July
5
Mary A. White .
5
. .
. .
Sun Stroke.
11
Catharine A. Jones
1
11
11
Pleurisy.
18
James Treadwell
71
. .
. .
Consumption.
20
George A. Stearns
1
2
6
Cholera Infantum.
28
Irene Adams
59
7
Insanity.
August
2
Sarah Ellison
5
3
. .
Scarlet Fever.
5
John Hayes
.
. .
.
5
Infantile.
10
Annie E. Derry
. .
9
. .
Cholera Infantum.
17
Lucy Marsh .
45
4
. .
Tumor & Dropsy.
19
William J. Bates
. .
5
. .
Consumption.
25
Eliza Hussey .
. .
. .
5
Convulsions.
26
Sarah E. Goodridge
13
3
. .
Typhoid Fever.
Septem'r 7
8
Nellie W. French
4
11
. .
Scarlet Fever.
10
Willie French
10
4
. .
Scarlet Fever.
17
Asa Hunt .
70
3
. .
Old Age.
24
Joseph B. Berry
57
Consumption.
29
Edward Egan . .
..
9
29
Cholera Infantum.
30
Alpheus Nightingale
58
. .
. .
Lung Fever.
October
5
John Nevil
32
. .
. .
10
Lorenzo Nightingale
17
. .
. .
Consumption.
14
Ezra Badger
64
4
. .
Apoplexy.
18
Loring Bigelow.
23
10
. .
Lockjaw.
20
Darius Barron .
37
4
. .
Typhoid Fever.
20
Hattie Prescott .
. .
.
4
Infantile.
23
Charles L. Rideout
14
10
. .
Hip Complaint.
25
Beulah Wood.
75
11
. .
Old Age.
27
William F. Kidder
28
. .
6
. .
Novem'r
5
Lizzie Hardwick
12
11
23
Typhoid Fever.
6
Mary Spear . .
45
11
. .
Typhoid Fever.
8
Edward Curley
45
.
..
Consumption.
11
Lemuel A. Colburn
29
. .
. .
Wounded in battle.
18
Charles Swift.
65
7
12
Apoplexy.
18
Julia Loring.
7
. ·
16
Marasmus.
23
George L. Smalley
26
1
7
Consumption.
23
(Infant) Moynihan
. .
70
Old Age.
26
Charles W. Carver
85
. .
. .
Old Age & Cancer.
Decem'r 1
Hannah Richardson
66
. .
. .
Consumption.
9
Hellen A. Baker
12
. .
. .
Typhoid Fever.
16
Ella Baxter
5
9
10
Dropsy on Brain.
17
Mary P. Glover
63
8
17
Paralysis.
18
Abagail S. Green
36
6
6 Consumption.
30
Mary J. Shannon
1
10
. .
Dropsy on Brain.
31
Michael O'Leary
69
. .
. .
Accidental.
31
Katie W. Fernald.
. .
2
16
Lung Fever.
.
..
Wounded in battle.
29
Hannah Porter
3
7
19
Inflam. of Brain.
9
(Infant) House
. .
2
Infantile.
26
Mary Dennihe.
37
5
Lewis Dallas .
3
Heart Disease.
29
Zenas Pierce
31
8
Teething.
Elizabeth E. Kennedy
..
Lung Fever. Cholera Infantum.
23
James Flaherty
1
8
. .
Poison.
Consumption.
Consumption.
1
TOWN OFFICERS.
Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of Poor, and Surveyors of Highways, EBENEZER ADAMS, NOAH CUMMINGS, ALBERT THAYER.
Town Clerk, GEORGE L. GILL.
Town Treasurer, WYMAN ABERCROMBIE.
School Committee,
For 3 years. Henry Walker, Ebenezer Adams.
For 2 years. George White,
William B. Duggan.
For 1 year. James A. Stetson, & George H. Locke.
Constables,
Albert Hayden, W. M. French,
Eliab Ramsdell, Lemuel Baxter, C. H. Kimball,
George Savill,
Samuel Ames.
Fence Viewers,
Daniel Baxter,
Seth Crane, Thompson Baxter.
Field Drivers,
Charles Spear, George L. Miller,
Tim McNeil,
Henry Littlefield, Seth Crane,
Eliab Ramsdell,
Samuel N. Perry,
A. S. Sawtelle, William Faxon, Frederick Souther,
James A. Hayden,
Charles Swift.
* Rev. John D. Wells, chosen to fill vacancy, by resignation of J. A. Stetson, M. D.
51
Auditors,
John Chamberlin, Edwin Marsh, E. S. Fellows, C. H. Hardwick, Lorenzo Johnson.
Surveyors of Wood and Bark,
George Nightingale,
James Bradford,
William F. Whitney,
Edward Adams,
Peter W. Newcomb,
Enoch H. Doble,
Richard Newcomb,
Howard Vinal,
Edmund B. Taylor,
Samuel F. Newcomb.
Weighers of Coal, George Nightingale, George B. Pray, Owen Adams, Wm. Kingman.
Sealer of Weights and Measures and Weigher of Vessels, Josiah Adams.
Collector of Taxes, George H. Locke.
Undertaker, John Hall.
Superintendent of Town Hall Building, Jacob Flint.
Superintendent of Police Station, Washington M. French.
Representative to General Court, John Chamberlin.
DELINQUENT TAX-PAYERS OF 1862.
Buke, James, $9 38
Cleverly, James,
9 38
"Cunningham, James,
2 82
Connala, Eugene,
82
Donovan, Timothy, 1 23
Edwards, S. R. & C. H.,
17 22
Edwards, Guy,
8 56
Edwards, R. Samuel,
18 86
French, Alden, or by whom owned, 6 92
Glover, E. John,
7 74
Gallagher, Barnard,
6 92
Green, A. Charles,
71 34
Hayden, Nathaniel,
11 02
Haly, Patrick, 2d, 3 23
Hussy, widow, estate of, 7 38
*Murdock, Caleb, 6 10
Mahoney, Daniel, 2d, 5 28
McCarey, Michael, 2 05
McGann, William, 2d,
2 46
Morton, E. T.,
2 00
McMahone, Anthony, 5 69
Moore, E. W., estate of, 16 40
Newcomb, M. Winslow, 12 66
Newcomb, William, 8 56
Newcomb, Benjamin,
12 66
Pope, Ozias,
11 84
Pope, Edmund,
8 56
Richards, M. Luther,
11 84
Richards, A. E.,
2 00
Sleeper, A. Levi, 2 82
Stone, O. Samuel, 10 66
Sleeper, A. Samuel, 8 56
Vinal, J. Warren, 8 56
Wentworth P. Josiah,
5 28
Am't brought forward, $ 326 80
Non-Residents.
BOSTON.
Adams, Alvan, 82
Hugh, Owen, 1 64
McCarty, John,
82
Lath, Abigail, 82
Webster, Abert,
82
BRAINTREE.
Potter, Edward,
3 28
Thayer, G. & S., 1 64
White, N. George,
41
Thayer, Elisha, heirs of,
8 20
DORCHESTER.
Chamberlin, H. W., 6 56
Stephens, Ansel,
3 28
CANTON.
Gaffney, Owen, 82
PROVINCETOWN.
Brown, David,
1 64
NASHUA, N. H.
Parkerson, Henry,
4 10
FESIDENCE NOT KNOWN.
Baily, B. C., 82
Hill, H. William, 82
Rawson A. Washington,
82
Skelton, P. C.,
1 64
Spaulding, William, 1 64
Prescott, F. B., 4 92
Am't carried forward, $ 326 80 $ 372 31
* The names prefixed by the asterisk are paid.
REPORT
OF
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1862-3.
BOSTON : J. E. FARWELL AND COMPANY , PRINTERS, NO. 37 CONGRESS STREET. 1863.
3
1
1
REPORT
OF
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1862-3.
BOSTON : J. E. FARWELL AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, NO. 87 CONGRESS STREET. 1863.
REPORT.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF QUINCY :
In compliance with the law of the State, the School Committee submit the following report concerning the schools of the town : -
We think the schools are in a more hopeful condi- tion than they were a year or two years ago. Our teachers, with a few exceptions, are deeply interested in their high vocation, and manifest a laudable disposi- tion to increase their means of usefulness, and perfect themselves as teachers. There is a growing interest and desire to attend the sessions of the Teachers' Insti- tute, and a willingness to avail themselves of the ideas which are there presented. The Committee believe in these institutes, they regard them as a vast magazine of useful information to which teachers should resort for principles, hints, and suggestions in the conduct and instruction of schools, and more especially that, through their teachings and inspiration, their own minds may be raised to a high and true idea of the importance and dignity of their calling, and roused to enthusiasm for their work.
PENMANSHIP. - There has been a marked improve- ment in writing in the Intermediate and Grammar
4
Schools during the year. The experiment which we have tried of requiring the teachers in the Primary Schools to initiate their pupils in the exercise of writ- ing letters and words on their slates, has proved quite successful, and we indulge the hope that the penman- ship of the graduates of our schools hereafter will be superior to that of the present day.
ORTHOGRAPHY. - Speaking generally, we must say that the spelling in our schools is bad. There are a few schools which excel in this exercise ; Miss Nightingale's in the Willard District is one. Too little attention to the subject, and vicious modes of teaching, are the causes of this evil.
READING. - More care and attention has been be- stowed upon this exercise than in former years. We have heard excellent reading in some of the schools. We fear our teachers place too low an estimate on this subject. The reading in our schools is too often made unpleasant by nasal tones, by broken and indistinct articulation - evils susceptible of cure and removal. Good elocution is the result of study and culture, as much so, as excellence in anything. More study should be bestowed upon the meaning of words and upon the thought, sentiment, and passion of the author. Fine elocution is a power, and adds a charm and dignity to thought and character.
ARITHMETIC. - We have witnessed exercises in men- tal arithmetic in some of the schools which excited our wonder ; but, on the whole, we think there is a general
5
want of thoroughness and exactness in teaching arith- metic in our schools. The desire to get on fast is stronger than the desire to become absolute master of the principle - we wish it were otherwise.
The results of an examination of candidates for ad- mission to the High School are a fair test of the real condition and efficiency of our schools. The trial is not a hard one, as is evident from the fact that at the last examination, an applicant, only twelve years of age, wrought out the examples and gave true answers to nearly every question proposed. Ample time is allowed and proper and frequent cautions given to be cool, de- liberate, and careful.
Applying this test, from an examination made at the beginning of the school year, we find the conclusion not satisfactory, and far from flattering. The misconcep- tions of simple propositions, the vague, loose, and often ludicrous idcas shown in answers to questions involving the principles and subject-matter of the text-books, with which they ought to be familiar, the uncouth writing and bad spelling, were shocking and almost in- credible. ' There is no exaggeration in this picture, and we ought not and will not disguise it. We feel there is a radical defect in our school system which must be extirpated before our schools will become efficient agencies for the education of children.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
In our last report, we endeavored to point out some of the causes of the defects in our educational system.
6
The experience of another year has confirmed the opinions we then expressed. Believing that our Pri- mary Schools, as instituted and conducted in past years, had been productive of much of the evil existing in our advanced schools, we set to work to reform them, and have devoted much time and thought to the subject.
The results of the changes which we have caused to be made in the exercises and modes of teaching in these schools, are so manifest and happy, that we feel confident, that a continuance of the same will work a remarkable improvement in the scholarship of all the upper schools. The aim is to insure habits of ac- curacy of perception, and observation; 'and of getting a clear and full conception or understanding of the matter or thought presented to the mind - of doing everything well. We have derived many valuable suggestions on these matters from the Reports of Mr. Philbrick, the Superintendent of the Public Schools in Boston, whose labors and writings in behalf of Primary Schools, in our opinion, entitle him to a high place, if not the highest, among the benefactors of our Common Schools.
In pursuance of the suggestions and opinions which we expressed in our report, we have established two new Primary Schools, one in the Adams District and the other in the Willard.
In all the Primary Schools, vocal music has been practiced, and gymnastics in their simplest forms have been introduced, to the great improvement of the tone and spirit of the schools.
Besides the usual recesses, there are two intermis- sions of a few minutes each, both forenoon and after-
7
noon, which are devoted to such exercises and amuse- ments as the several teachers, using their own discre- tion and ingenuity, may devise and direct. Nearly every pupil of the Primary Schools has been provided with a slate, many of them with the Boston Primary School Slate ; and to such use and advantage have they turned these slates, that in every school there are pu- pils who can write their names in a clear and legible handwriting ; in one school there are twenty.
In the Primary School of the West District, kept by Miss McGrath, we had the pleasure of seeing some of the statements made by us in our last report somewhat invalidated ; wherein we set it down that in Primary Schools, while one pupil is reciting, the others of the class are giving little or no attention, and therefore derive little or no advantage from the instructions given by the teacher. By the method pursued in her school, each pupil is required to note the slightest mistake made by its classmate, and, on its correction, the entire class is trained to repeat the corrected answer together, which they do with spirit and energy; and so admi- rable is the discipline that the closest attention is given, and even cagerness is manifested by the pupils to de- tect mistakes.
The teachers of our Primary Schools are fast quit- ting the old hum-drum ways of teaching, and are beginning to feel, that true teaching is the vigorous exertion of their own faculties and the assiduous ap- plication of all they may have acquired from observa- tion, books, and study. With teachers of culture and ideas, devoted to their duties, and ambitious of success, having love for children, our Primary Schools will soon
8
cease to be the nurseries of vicious mental habits, which, we fear, they too often have been. Of all schools, they are the last to be entrusted to the slow, the uncultured, unimaginative, and unloving teachers. Simple routine is insufficient to inspire little children with a love of books, and school, and of a desire to exercise and put forth their infant powers. They must be made cheerful and curious and eager to learn, by the sweet, attractive guidance and leading of kind and intelligent teachers.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
The Intermediate Schools ought to make the nearest approximation to perfect schools. They suffer less from irregularity of attendance, and they are easily classified and governed. The Committee bear cheerful testimony to the fidelity of the teachers in these schools and to the general excellence which characterizes the recita- tions and exercises of the pupils.
We · duly appreciate and commend the high moral and scholarly tone and character of the schools of this grade, in the Adams and Coddington Districts.
ASSISTANT TEACHERS.
The law requires that in every public school, having an average of fifty scholars, the town shall employ one or more female assistants. In conformity with this, im- perative rule of law the Committee appointed an assist- ant teacher for each of the Grammar Schools in the Coddington and Washington Districts, and also for the
9
mixed school in the North or Quincy District. By employing assistants in these schools, the Committee have found a way for relieving the lower schools, so that during the ensuing year, we have reason to believe, the number of pupils in each of our Primary and In- termediate schools will not be larger than one teacher can manage and properly instruct.
Miss S. M. Cummings was elected assistant to the principal of the mixed school in North or Quincy Dis- trict. The Committee, at their last visitation, found the pupils under her charge few in number, cheer- ful and happy, and should the average daily attend- ance warrant the continuance of the present arrange- ment, we have hopes of her complete success. There is a lamentable irregularity and inconstancy of attend- ance of pupils in this district; although the number of pupils on the register is eighty-one, the average attendance in summer is but fifty-three. With chil- dren enough for two schools, we trust the parents will not disregard the true interests of education in that thriving district, but constrain their children to a more constant attendance.
Miss Elizabeth R. Clements was elected assistant to the principal of the Grammar School in the Washington District. She has caught the spirit and style of the principal, and zealously and intelligently co-operates with him. She has the tact and ability necessary for success, and conscientiously employs them in her sphere of duties.
Miss Louisa Burrill, the assistant teacher in the Cod- dington Grammar School, has proved herself a conscien- tious, faithful, and efficient teacher, and has won the affec-
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tion and respect of the pupils who have come under her charge. She has earnestly striven to do her whole duty in the school, nor has she been without the satisfaction of witnessing evident results from her labors.
Miss Sarah V. Wilde, a graduate of the Normal School at Bridgewater, is the assistant teacher of the Adams Grammar School. In leaving that institution she bore away its highest honor, in our opinion, - the special commendation of its superintendent for her tal- ent and fitness to teach. She has taught in this school for several years, to the acceptation of the Committee. To her conscientious and diligent. exertions is owing much of the excellence of this school. She has the good-will of her pupils and respect of their parents.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
We may reasonably expect a marked change for the better in our Grammar Schools. Now that the masters of these schools, with the exception of the Willard School, have assistants, they can give more individual instruction and attention to the scholars. We already perceive happy effects arising from the new arrange- ment. At no time within our remembrance have the Grammar School teachers been more assiduous in the performance of their duties than during the year, and they are justly entitled to the thanks and gratitude of the people for whom they labor. Parents, we fear, are but little aware of the ceaseless care and anxiety of our teachers. Theirs is too often a thankless and obscure toil. If they happen to punish unduly or otherwise offend the pride and sensibility of a child, then the
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parents are swift to resent and censure ; but they sel- dom utter words of thanks and praise, or even of appre- ciation, for long weeks and months of anxiety and un- tiring efforts for the instruction and improvement of their children. There is a most unaccountable indiffer- ence to the schools among our people. Occasionally a mother or sister of some of the pupils visit them, but never or very seldom fathers. Nor do the citizens gen- erally seem to appreciate their great importance to soci- ety and to a free government. It is as true to-day as when it was spoken centuries ago by Plato, that " a man cannot propose a higher and nobler object for his study than education and all that appertains to education."
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