USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1850-1864 > Part 37
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
144 00
59
Parker, William, 3d, paid to wife,
52 00
Pope, Charles E., paid to wife and children, 70 00
Pratt, John A., paid to wife and child,
104 00
Pratt, Nathan C., paid to wife and children,
75 00
Quincy, Charles O., paid to mother,
8 00
Ricker, John W., paid to wife and children,
144 00
Robinson, William G., paid to wife,
52 00
Roach, Maurice, paid to wife and children,
144 00
Rudderhan, William E., paid to wife and children,
36 00
Russ, George W., paid to wife and children,
144 00
Ryan, Peter, paid to mother, 52 00
Savil, George W., paid to wife and child,
104 00
Shackley, Jonas, paid to wife and children,
144 00
Scannell, James, paid to wife and children,
78 00
Shavlin, Hugh, paid to mother,
52 00
Simpson, John E., paid to wife,
51 00
Simonds, William, paid to wife and children,
112 00
Sheehan, Timothy, paid to mother,
52 00
Smith, Martin, paid to wife and children,
144 00
Smith, Martin, Jr., paid to wife,
52 00
Smith, James, paid to mother,
42 00
Starbuck, George, paid to wife and child,
104 00
Taylor, John, paid to wife and child,
52 00
Taylor, Marcus, paid to father,
38 00
Talbot, William T. H., paid to wife and children,
132 00
Taplin, William H., paid to wife,
20 00
Thayer, Thomas J. H., paid to wife and children,
144 00
Thayer, William F., paid to mother,
52 00
Thayer, John Q. A., paid to wife, 52 00
40 00
Trask, George W., paid to wife,
52 00
Trainer, John, paid to wife and children,
96 00
Toal, John, paid to P. Murkin for children,
104 00
Turner, George W., paid to wife and children,
144 00
Usher, James, 2d, paid to wife and children, 48 00
Vance, James, paid to wife and child,
67 00
Vinal, James W., paid to wife and child,
57 00
Whicher, Joseph R., paid to mother, 52 00
Wildman, Wilson, paid to wife,
52 00
Thomas, Theodore B., paid to wife and child,
60
Wildman, Henry G., paid to wife and children, 144 00 Williams, Evan, paid to wife and children, 138 00
White, Joseph, paid to father for child, White, Henry, paid to wife and children, Woods, Thomas, paid to wife and children, Young, William J., paid to wife and child,
42 00
96 00
144 00
95 00
Total amount paid,
$ 15,940 56
61
LIST OF ABATEMENTS ON THE TAX OF 1861, MADE BY THE ASSESSORS, JANUARY 29, 1864.
Allen, William
$ 1 50 | Hunt, Asa
$1 50
Alden, Frederic
1 50
Haley, Michael
1 50
Blanchard, Rebecca
13 32
Howard, Charles
1 50
Brown, Edwin E.
1 50
Ivers, Michael
1 50
Baxter, Thompson
8 88:
Ivers, Lawrence
1 50
Bathell, John
1 50
Joyce, Edwin
1 50
Burr, Henry, Jr.
1 50
Jones, Nelson
1 50
Claxton, Thomas
1 50
Jenkins, James
1 50
Chamberlin, Artemus
1 50
Jenkins, Horace
1 50
Cuniff, Patrick
1 50
Kelly, Dennis
1 50
Carter, James
1 50
Kinsley, Allen N.
1 50
Carroll, Michael
1 50
Lenon, Thomas
1 50
Davis, John C.
1 50
Lenon, Patrick
1 50
Donavan, Timothy
1 50
Lyons, Benjamin R.
1 50
Dowd, James
1 50
Lewis, William
1 50
Devine, Dennis
1 50
Moriarty, Cornelius
1 50
Donaher, Dennis
1.50
McCary, Michacl
3 35
Dunworth, Patrick
1 50
McGann, William, 2d
3 72
Driscoll, Bartholomew
1 50
Morton, Ephraim T.
1 50
Dolan, James
1 50
Nightengale, Daniel
1 50
Deaton, William
1 50
O'Brien, Thomas, 3d
7 42
Edwards, Samuel R.
22 20
Owens, Patrick
1 50
Elcock, Charles
1 48
Pope, Edward R.
11 10
Elwell, James
1 50
Pope, John A.
.50
Foster, Greenleaf P.
1 50
Pope, Charles E.
1 50
Foran, Patrick
2 24
Perry, Samuel N.
1 50
Farrell, Bartholomew
1 50
Pierce, William
1 50
Flood, James
1 50
Powell, Michael
1 50
Foran, James
1 50
Parker, George W.
3 00
Forbes, James, 2d
1 50
Parker, John, Jr.
74
Finnegan, Thomas
5 20
Rice, James
1 50
Falvey, Eugene
1 50
Robbins, Oliver
5 20
Follett, William H.
1 50
Riley, Charles D.
1 50
Follen, John
1 50
Reardon, Daniel, Jr.
1 50
Ford, Daniel
1 50
Ring, D. D.
1 50
Glover, Polly
3 70
Scales, Ebenezer
1 50
Gibbons, Patrick
1 50
Simonds, William
1 50
Grinnie, Jeremiah
1 50
Stanton, Maurice
1 50
Gerry, James
1 50 Smith, Francis, 2d
1
50
Gregg, Robert
1 50 Tirrell, Job
1 50
Garrity, Michael
1 50| Tilden, Thomas W.
1 50
Gogan, Patrick
1 50 | Swift, Thomas C. M.
1 50
62
Vinal, Paul
$ 1 50 | Welsh, Michael
$ 1 50
Wood, Jason W.
1 50 Conley. James
1 48
Whicher, Joseph W.
1 50 Spaulding, William 1 48
Woodman, George A.
1 50
Gafney, Owen 1 48
Total amount of abatements for 1861, $ 208.49.
LIST OF ABATEMENTS ON THE TAX OF 1862.
Chamberlin, W. H.
$ 6 56| McGann, William, 2d
$2 46
Gaffrey, Owen
1 64
Richards, A. E. 2 00
Haley, Patrick, 2d
2 00
Stevens, Ansel 3 28
Hill, William H.
82
Spaulding, William
1 64
Kanily, Eugene
82
Sleeper, Levi A.
2 82
Lath, Abigal
82
Skelton, P. C.
1 64
Mahoney, Daniel, 2d
3 28
Wales, B. C.
2 00
McCarey, Michael
2 05
White, George N.
41
Total amount of abatements for 1862, $ 34.24.
LIST OF ABATEMENTS ON THE TAX OF 1863.
Alpaugh, Abram M.
$3 76 Finery, Michael
$2 00
Appleton, Mrs. Ann
13 05
Fisher, Sidney
1 88
Billings, J. D.
2 00
Furnald, Alonzo
2 00
Bradley, James
2 00
Gibbons, Patrick
2 00
Baxter, Jonathan
2 00
Gray, Walter
2 00
Barker, William P.
2 00
Gregory, Andrew
2 00
Bunker, Michael
2 00
Grigg, Joseph
2 00
Burrell, Seth
2 00
Glennon, James
5 17
Chadwick, John
2 00
Holden, John A.
4 70
Cushman, M.
2 00
Hurley, Jeremiah
2 00
Congdon, Charles
2 00
Hersey, Jerome
2 00
Cream, Michael
2 00
Huckins, James
78 49
Dehon, William
73 10
Hayes, Daniel
2 00
Dell, Joseph
2 00
Higgins, Michael
2 00
Elcock, Charles
2 35
Hunt, George
94
Fallon, James
2 00 Ivers, Patrick
2 00
Forrest, James
2 00
Kennison, George W.
2 00
63
Kenny, Michael
$2 00 1 Robey, David E.
$ 7 64
Kinkade, Joseph
2 00
Reed, N. C.
3 76
Lawson, John
2 00
Rice, Sylvester
2 00
Lynch, Michael
2 00
Rogers, Charles S.
2 00
Leonard, John
2 00
Rath, Patrick
2 00
Leonard, John, 2d
2 00
Robertson, Joseph
2 00
Marsh, Mary
1 72
Shean, Maurice
5 64
Mead, Thomas
2 00
Sargent, George
11 40
McDenuck, Jacob
2 00
Savil, John
2 00
Morton, E. F.
2 00
Shooland, Patrick
2 00
Newcomb, Georgiana
2 82
Storey, George
2 00
Nightengale, Elihu
2 00
Sheppard, George
2 00
O'Brien, John
2 00
Sweeny, James
2 00
O'Hern, Dennis
2 00
Staples, James
2 00
O'Neal, James
2 00
Spear, Mrs. Susan
1 88
O'Neal, John, 2d
2 00
Veazie, Warren
2 82
Paine, Johnson
5 87
White, Isaiah T.
94
Porter, Mrs. Hannah
3 76
Wilder, James
2 00
Pratt, John R.
2 00
Warner, John
2 00
Peck, John
2 00
Wayland, Thomas
2 00
Quinn, James
2 00
Wayland, John
2 00
Reed, William C.
7 52
Welch, John
2 00
Ring, John, 2d
2 00
Total amount of abatements on tax of 1863, $ 359.21.
DELINQUENT TAX-PAYERS OF 1863.
Atkinson, Robert
$ 2 00|
Bosworth, Thomas T.
$ 2 00
Burrell, Charles
4 35
Cook, Samuel B.
15 98
Bass, Josiah
122 32
Cleverly, James T.
10 46
Burke, James
10 46
Curley, Patrick
6 70
Boyd, William
5 64
Claxton, Thomas
1 88
Buchan, William
1 41
Canaily, Eugene
2 94
Baxter, Charles W.
2 00
Clancy, John
5 64
Baxter, William Q.
2 00
Curtin, John
11 28
Bradshaw, George
2 00
Costello, Michael
14 22
Bartlett, Edward A.
2 00
Conner, Moses
2 00
Beckford, James R.
2 00
Cahill, Peter
2 00
Berry, Patrick
2 00
Conner, Thomas
2 00
Baker, James
2 00
Crowley, Jeremiah
2 00
Boyle, Robert
2 00
Cain, John
2 00
Briggs, John
2 00
Cross, Elbridge
2 00
Barnes, Oramel C.
2 00
Costello, William
7 64
64
Conlin, Patrick
$ 2 00 | Hayden, Benjamin N. $ 9 40
Donahue, Dennis
10 46
Hayden, George L. 2 00
Derry, Horace A.
2 00
Hayden, Lorenzo 2 00
Driscoll, John
5 64 Hayden, Nathaniel, heirs of 15 04
Douglass, Francis
11 40
Haley, Patrick, 2d
3 41
Dotey, Jeremiah
3 76
Horgan, Cornelius
94 .
Delamy, James
2 00
Horgan, John
2 00 .
Duggan, James
28 20
Huckins, James (personal estate) 57 81
Doner, John
2 00
Holmes, James W. 5 76
Daisy, Timothy
2 00
Hayes, Thomas
11 40
Douglass, Chester
2 00
Hussey, John
7 17
Edwards, Samuel R.
23 62
Howe, Edward S.
36 78
Edwards, Charles H. (real
Henry, Martin
2 00
estate)
10 34
Jones, John B.
8 46
Edwards, S. R. and C. H. (balance)
63 92
Kelly, Dennis
3 76
Edwards, Guy
6 70
Kelly, William
2 00
Elwell, Robert
11 40
Kenney, Michael
2 00
Elwell, Alonzo
6 58
Knowles, Lemuel K.
2 00
French, Alden
7 64
Lines, Thomas D.
10 46
Fitzgerald, William R.
5 64
Lines, John
6 70
Fallon, John
8 58
Lunt, William P.
4 82
Flynn, Edward
5 76
Lynes, Daniel
2 94
Foran, Patrick
94
Lougee, Hagen
15 16
Foran, Mathew
4 82
Lahee, Michael
16 10
Flaherty, Patrick
2 00
Linahan, Dennis
3 88
Foster, George
2 00
Linahan, Eugene
2 00
Foley, William
2 00
Linahan, John
2 00
Fitzgerald, Francis
2 00
Linahan, Cornelius
2 00
French, Thomas N.
2 00
Ladd, H. A.
2 00
Flaherty, Michael
2 00
Lyons, Jeremiah 2 00
Glover, John E.
8 58
Moore, Alexis W., estate of 16 92
Glover, John F. G.
2 00
McGingle, Thomas
3 88
Gallagher, Bernard,
7 64
Murphy, Garrett, estate of
5 64
Gallagher, James
2 00
Mahoney, Daniel, 2d
5 76
Green, Charles A.
81 78
Manning, Daniel
2 94
Garland, William
2 00
McGowen, Michael 4 70
Gorman, Thomas A.
2 00
McMan, Anthony
6 23
Grinn, Michael
2 00
Maguire, Michael
2 00
Gulliver, James
2 00
McTieran, Thomas
2 00
Hardwick, William P.
2 94
Marden, James
2 00
Hardwick, James M. (bal- ance)
12 76
Newcomb, Charles F. 3 88
Hayden, Albert
23 15
Newcomb, Paul W.
11 40
Hayden, Jonathan
6 70
Newcomb, Winslow M.
11 40
Hayden, Nathaniel
11 40
Newcomb, William 9 52
Hayden, Samuel P.
2 00
Newcomb, Benjamin
14 22
McGann, John
2 00
Dwelle, John F.
2 00
Jones, James, 2d
2 00
65
Newcomb, Bryant, Jr.
$ 4 82| Talbot, Henry
$ 2 00
Nugent, Patrick
2 00
Vinal. James W. 2 00
Norton, Joseph G.
2 00 Wentworth, J. P. 8 58
Nash, Charles
2 00
Ward, Patrick
2 00
O'Brien, Michael 2 00
Welch, John, 2d
2 00
Owens, Rowland
18 92
Wrenn, John
2 00
Owens, Patrick
2 00
Wilder, James
2 00
Pope, Edmund
55 58
Wayland, Patrick
2 00
Pope, John A.
2 00
Pope, Edmund, Jr.
2 00
Packard, Josiah V.
2 00
Non-Residents.
Packard, Lemuel
2 00
ABINGTON.
Pratt. Norton C.
2 00
Pickernell, William
6 70
Randall, N. H. 1 88
BOSTON.
Barker, James 7 52
Belknap, A. E., estate of 15 98
Cole, Salathiel 9 40
Richards, George W.
6 58
Eaton, William
5 64
Richards, Louisa
26 32
Lathe, Abigail
94
Richards, Joseph
11 40
Stoddard, Charles
1 88
Richards, Luther M. 13 28
Rowell. Benjamin 9 52
Rice, James
13 16
Ring, John
4 35
Rideout, Luke
2 00
Rowell, Thaddeus
2 00
Richford, John
2 00
Roberts, Hugh
2 00
Stetson, Caleb 1 41
Thayer, Elisha, heirs of 8 46
47
Simpson, John A., estate of 25 38
Simpson, George
2 00
Sleeper, Levi A.
23 50
Stone, Samuel O.
12 22
Sutherland, George 2 00
Schulley, Jeremiah
7 52
Smith, Wellington
2 00
Scott, Henry P. 2 00
Sullivan, Patrick, 4th 2 00
Sullivan, Dennis
2 00
Sumner, James M. 2 00
Turner, Isaac W. 10 46
Turner, Clarissa
5 64
Thayer, T. J. H. 5 64
MILTON.
Thompson, Miles 2 00
Thompson, William
BRAINTREE.
Hobart, Elisha, estate of 2 82
Spear, George, 2d
4 82
Spear, Warren Q.
2 00
White, George N.
CANTON
Gaffney, Owen
1 88
DEDIIAM.
Raymond, Rowland
4 70
DORCHESTER.
Eaton, John 2 S2
Stephens, Ansel 3 76
White, Foster 6 58
2 00 | Baker, F. W. 1 41
Penniman, Stephen
14 22
Perry, Leonard L.
8 64
Pickles, William
2 00
Parrott, John
2 00
Quincy Canal Corporation,
9 40
Tombs, Lucy M. 1 88
Tuckerman, G. W. 47
White, John 94
66
Beal, Jonathan
$ 9 40
Cunningham, George
2 82
Hutchinson, Daniel C.
13 16
Hill, William K. $0 94
Maliff, Michael 6 58
Osgood, William F. 1 88
RANDOLPH.
Paulson, John, Rev.
11 28
Belcher, Ephraim, heirs of
94
Prescott, F. B.
5 64
Hunt, John
9 40
Skelton, P. C.
1 88
Mann, A. S.
2 82
Spaulding, William
1 88
Thayer, Gideon F.
18 80
ROXBURY.
Sargent, James C.
5 64
WEST ROXBURY.
Smith, Melancthon, guard'n
of John Brummet, 23 50
Total amount of 1863 taxes unpaid, $ 1,604.80.
RESIDENCE UNKNOWN.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1863-64.
IN the record of proceedings at the regular monthly meeting of the Board of School Committee, held February 6, 1864, appears the following : -
" Voted, that, agreeably to the suggestion of the Selectmen of Quincy, the Chairman of this Board be instructed to have the Annual Report printed in connection with the Auditors' Report ; the Chairman causing such number of copies of the School Re- port to be printed separately as he may deem best."
In accordance with this vote, your Committee find themselves obliged to present their Annual Report several weeks before the close of the school year, and consequently before the regular Winter Examinations. This evil however, if evil it be, is, in our opinion, more than counterbalanced by the immense ad- vantage gained through the opportunity afforded us of placing our Report in the hands of the people prior to the Annual March Meeting, thus enabling all voters to vote understand- ingly upon any matters relating to the schools that may be brought forward at that meeting.
We shall not, in this Report, individually criticise Teachers or Schools. Such personal criticism was, at one time, quite cus- tomary. It is fast becoming, however, a custom more honored in the breach than in the observance, and is beginning to receive
68
in various quarters, the condemnation it deserves. We agree with the statement of a former Committee, that " it serves no good purpose to parade in a public report the faults and foibles, or alleged faults and foibles of a teacher, or give a semi-judicial opinion of condemnation of his character. We agree with the School Committee of another town, that " it is no part of the right or duty of a Committee to pronounce publicly upon the merits of a teacher. It is purely a voluntary service, which neither the law, nor, we believe, the best interests of the schools, require at our hand. We accord to our teachers, as their right, the privilege of making their own record before the public." We also substantially endorse the following remarks of D. B. Hagar, Esq., at the Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the Mas- sachusetts Teachers' Association. " A report ought, it seems to me, to state the condition of every school in town, with ref- erence to the attendance and punctuality of the scholars, the condition and wants of schoolhouses and school furniture and apparatus. Whatever depends upon opinions, influence, and action outside of the schoolroom, should be publicly discussed ; whatever depends upon the teacher alone, should be discussed privately with the teacher." We add, that a Committee's cure for incom- petent teachers is not complaint, but removal ; and that the Town's cure for the failure of Committees to do their duty in this respect is the election of new and more faithful Committee- men.
Without further preface, we proceed to say what we have to say, under the following heads : -
1. General Condition of the Schools. 2. Condition of the Schoolhouses. 3. Changes of Teachers. 4. Reading. 5. Spell- ing. 6. Arithmetic. 7. English Grammar. 8. Geography. 9. Writing. 10. History. 11. Gymnastics. 12. Singing. 13. General Exercises. 14. Deportment. 15. Irregularity of Attendance. 16. Truancy and Absenteeism. 17. Vaccina- tion. 18. High School. 19. Expenses of the Schools. 20. Concluding Remarks.
69
I. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
Of the general condition of the schools we are able to speak, this year, with great satisfaction. There has been of late, in this Town, a marked and steady progress in the art of educa- tion. A new life has been infused into the hearts and minds of the teachers, and, through them, into the hearts and minds of their pupils. There has sprung up, in many instances, a spirit of generous rivalry among the teachers. They have given themselves, with more zeal than ever before, to the faithful practice of their profession ; and not only that, but also to the careful study of it, in its various branches. They have aimed to ascertain, and striven to avail themselves of, the best methods of education. They have generally shown themselves to be neither blind conservatives, nor rash radicals ; but have been willing and careful to cast aside whatever has proved itself to be clearly effete, and to adopt such new theories, and such only, as a fair trial has declared to be wise and salutary. For the fartherance of the ends they aim at, they have formed them- selves into a Teachers' Association ; at whose semi-monthly meetings, in addition to other exercises, papers of no low order of merit are read, and practical questions are earnestly and felicitously discussed. Many of them, moreover, have been constant attendants at State and County Educational Meetings. They have subscribed to, read, and in some cases, if we mistake not, studied, the " Massachusetts Teacher ; " that valuable vehicle of wise thoughts and helpful suggestions.
All this has not been without its evident effect upon the schools. And we sincerely believe that at no time have the citizens of Quincy had more reason to be proud of their Public Schools as a whole, than at this present.
While fully recognizing the services of other faithful and suc- cessful teachers, we fcel constrained to say that the improve- ment in our schools, during the past few years, is in some meas- ure due to the appointment, in several instances, of graduates
70
of Normal Schools to the offices of instruction among us. And we take this opportunity of expressing our deep sense of the value of these beneficent institutions to our whole community.
Nor should we refrain from expressing our thankfulness that parents have latterly shown themselves more ready to cooperate with the teachers in their difficult tasks. We wish we could say - we hope that some future Committee may be able to say -that, in every part of the town, parents and teachers labor together, with equal interest, and in perfect harmony, for the well-being of those entrusted to their mutual charge.
II. CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLHOUSES.
We will speak of the school buildings separately.
The Washington Schoolhouse, at the Point, is the best in town. The rooms are large, airy, well lighted, and well furnished ; the yard is shady and pleasant ; the out-houses are what they should be. And we are glad to add that the building, in all its parts, has been well kept. This schoolhouse has one defect, however, which it shares in common with the schoolhouses in the West and Centre Districts, - sufficient means of heating it were not provided at the beginning, and it has become neces- sary to place close stoves in the two lower rooms.
The Coddington Schoolhouse, in the Centre. District, is, in many respects, convenient and well appointed. The outside of the building has, for some time, been sadly in need of paint, but your Committee have not felt themselves authorized to make so large an outlay as would be necessary to remedy this defect, without the consent of the Selectmen. Repeated men- tion has been made, in former Reports, of the unsuitableness of the room used for the Second Primary School. It is low, damp, and unhealthy ; and we urge upon you the advisability of closing it altogether, and of providing a new place for the school ; either by adding to the main building, or by erecting a new building.
71
The Adams Schoolhouse, in the South District, has this advantage over the Coddington Schoolhouse, - it has no under- ground room. Otherwise, in its general plan, it is similar to the Coddington Schoolhouse. It suffers, however, under one grievous affliction, - its pump is in the cellar, instead of being where it should be, out of doors.
The Stone Schoolhouse, in this District, is an abomination. It has no sufficient yard, and no fence to separate it from the street ; so that the children, during the recesses, roam about whithersoever they will ; its out-houses are in a bad condition ; and it is altogether a thing of the past. The upper room, used for the school classed as the Third Primary, is pretty well fur- nished, and, spite of its ugly yellow walls and small high win- dows, is tolerably pleasant and comfortable. But the lower room, occupied by the Fourth Primary School of the District, is, by long odds, the worst schoolroom in town. In winter it is dark and dismal; on a warm day, in summer, the heat is something fearful. The children are placed on seats too high for them, before antiquated benches stretching from side to side of the room, - thus admitting of no aisles ; in short, the whole arrangement is " cribbed, cabined, and confined." To teach successfully in such a place must require no small amount of quiet fortitude.
With regard to this Stone Schoolhouse, we have two distinct recommendations to make : -
1. That the lower room be enlarged, by removing the par- tition between it and the small room behind it; thus gaining not only more space, but four additional windows; and also that proper seats and benches be put in the room, and the old worn floor be relaid.
2. That the Town purchase, if possible, a sufficient portion of land on the westerly side of the building, to form, in con- nection with the land already occupied, a suitable schoolyard.
The High School building is in pretty good order, and is
72
well furnished. One thing should be attended to, - the en- largement of the Library, which is, at present, a mere nucleus. The last Chairman of this Board set a good example in this re- spect, by his generous and valuable donation of " Appleton's Cyclopædia."
One of the rooms in the High School building is temporarily occupied by the Second Primary School of the South District. This room has no clock, and no Primary School Tablets.
The Willard Schoolhouse, in the West District, is, with some exceptions, in good condition. When last visited, two of the rooms had no clocks, and not enough blackboard. The room used for the First Primary School in this District is not quite so bad as the corresponding room in the Centre District, but still is unfit for a schoolroom.
The room used for the Third Primary School in this District is, at present, rather a sorry affair. At the solicitation of the General Committee, the Prudential Committee of the District replaced the settees in use by new seats and desks of the most approved pattern, and also substituted a teacher's desk for the old table. But the floor is rough and uneven, and the ceiling has lately been threatening to tumble down upon the heads of the pupils. At the time of our last visit, the impending plaster was propped up with boards and joists. The room wants what every other schoolroom in the town, without exception, has, -- a raised platform for the teacher. There is no clock here. There is space enough in the apartment, and plenty of windows ; and with the defects we have mentioned remedied, it might be made quite comfortable.
The room occupied by the new school in this District, the Fourth Primary, has been in use less than a year. It answers very well as a temporary arrangement. It is low studded, but is well lighted, and is not unfavorably located. It is rather crowded, however ; and as the stove is placed at present those who sit nearest it are subjected to a degree of heat almost unbearable.
73
A new schoolhouse is very much needed in the West Dis- trict, for the accommodation of the Second, Third, and Fourth Primary Schools ; and we recommend its immediate erection.
The Quincy* Schoolhouse, in the North District, is now in excellent condition. The mixed school here so far increased in numbers as to render it necessary to divide it. In the Secre- tary's Record of the Monthly Meeting of the Board, held June 3, 1863, appears the following : -
" Voted, that a new Primary School be established in the North District, and that the Supervisory Committee of that Dis- trict be authorized to place the new Primary School in the first story, and the school under Mr. Bunker in the second story, and prepare the fixtures accordingly."
The change was speedily effected, both rooms put in good order, and properly furnished.
The Schoolhouse at the Neck is large enough, and airy enough. It needs painting, and some other little improvements in addition to those which it has already received.
We would remark here, that, in our opinion, it would be very much better to rank this Neck School, henceforth, as a Point Primary School. The desired change might be made without altering the location of the Schoolhouse ; but it would very much facilitate such a change to remove the Schoolhouse to a more central position. It is altogether too near the boun- dary line of the town. We suggest that such removal be made at an early day.
The Cranet Schoolhouse, in the East District, is large enough to accommodate all the pupils ; but the room is low, and badly ventilated. There is no water at hand; and the teacher is
* So called, in honor of the distinguished family of that name.
t So called, in honor of the late Friend Crane, Superintendent of Sailors' Snug Harbor.
10
74
obliged to send a considerable distance for this indispensable article.
In this connection we would remark the need of more refer- ence books and general apparatus in the schools. It would be better if, in future, the Committee were to make use of the power entrusted to them by Section 4 of Chapter 36 of the General Statutes of Massachusetts. This section reads as follows : -
The income of the school fund received by the several cities and towns shall be applied by the School Committees thereof, to the support of the public schools therein, but said Committees may, if they see fit, appropriate therefrom any sum, not exceeding twenty-five per cent. of the same, to the purchase of books of reference, maps, and apparatus for the use of said schools.
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.