Town annual report of Quincy 1850-1864, Part 4

Author: Quincy (Mass.)
Publication date: 1850
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 800

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Summer. Winter.

Whole number of scholars, -

Average attendance, - -

- -

41 40

Under five years, - -

0 (10) INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.

TEACHER, - -

MISS A. F. EMERSON.

Summer. Winter.

Whole number of scholars, -

74 58

Average attendance, -

- 46 (11) GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

TEACHER, - - - -

B. F. BROWN.

ASSISTANT, - -

- - MISS NANCY A. DURGIN.

Summer. Winter.

Whole number of scholars, -

104

Average attendance, -

Scholars over fifteen, - -

QUINCY POINT DISTRICT.

PRIMARY SCHOOL.

TEACHER, - - -

MISS A. A. HALL.

Summer. Winter.

Whole number of scholars, Average attendance, - - -

45 40

(12)

(13) TEACHER,

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.

MISS M. A. SMITH.

Summer. Winter.

Whole number of scholars, -

Average attendance, -

(14)

GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

J. N. BROWN. L

J. H. FITTS.

TEACHERS,

E. B. GEORGE.

D. B. WHEELER.

Summer.

Winter.

Whole number of scholars,

Average attendance, -

Scholars over 15 years, -

NORTH DISTRICT.

(15)

TEACHERS, -

MISSES M. & E. CARLTON. D. Mc KENDRIE.

Summer. Winter.

Whole number of scholars,

Average attendance,

Under 5 years, - -

Over 15 years, - -

EAST DISTRICT.

(16)

TEACHER,-From March to October,

From January to March,

ALONZO ABBOT. ELMER WASHBURN. Summer. Winter.

Whole number of scholars,

Average attendance,

Under 5 years, - -

Over 15 years, - - -

HIGH SCHOOL.

(17) TEACHER,

A. WELLINGTON.

Summer.

Winter.

Whole number of scholars, -

Average attendance, -

- 98 pr. ct. 96 pr. ct.

RECAPITULATION.

Whole number of schools, -

Teachers,

Scholars, - - - -

1,164 1,136

Average attendance, - -

. 854

847

Number over 15 years, - -

under 5 " -

- 39

Whole number of children between the ages

of 5 and 15, on the first day of May last,

1,148

Summer. Winter. 18

REMARKS.

The Committee are gratified to be able to report the schoo generally in a very satisfactory condition. With respect the Grammar Schools in the four great districts of the tow they have been pleased to observe the improvement made i them during the last year. A wholesome emulation has pr vailed among the teachers, which, seconded by a good spir among the scholars, has produced a marked change in some those particulars which were alluded to in the report of la year as needing attention. Great pains have been taken wit . the mode of articulation in reading, so that the defects the pointed out were at the final examinations scarcely perceptibl The study of grammar has been faithfully followed, and th foundations of a thorough knowledge of this department a well laid. Three of these schools, the South, Centre, an West, have had the advantage of retaining the same instru tors through another year, and it is not too much to say them, that they will now compare with schools of the sam grade any where. But that is not all which the Committ would be understood to desire of them. Positive is of mo importance than relative excellence. There is yet much le to be done in confirming good habits after they are once forme and in stimulating the disposition to improve upon the pas The Committee is rendered only the more hopeful of what ma hereafter be done by the perception of what has been accom plished already.

A few words respecting the three departments of the Quinc Point District, which were mentioned last year as not in favorable condition. The primary and intermediate hav been under the care of the same individuals, respectively through the year, and nowhere has the result been more satis factory. Instead of being below the average standard o the schools of the same grade in other parts of the town, a

was said, last year, they are now quite up to it ; and they bid fair, under the present guidance, to be growing daily better. With respect to the grammar school, it may be recollected that at the close of the last year, it was observed to have fallen into a state, by no means encouraging, of listlessness and indiffer- ence. Dispirited by this unlooked-for result of his assiduous labors, Mr. George Newcomb sent in his resignation as soon as the Committee for the present year was organized. The Com- mittee accepted it with regret, though feeling that it was the best thing to be done for both parties under the circumstances ; and they immediately set themselves to the work of supplying a successor. For a moment they indulged the hope that in obtaining Mr. Brown they had secured the right instrument to revive the drooping school. Nor were they disappointed in that expectation, while he remained. But other places dis- covered his merits, and soon drew him from us by the induce- ment of a higher salary than we could give. Mr. Fitts fol- lowed him, but was in his turn prevented by failing health from continuing with us. His successor proved incompetent; so that we began to fear that we should have to present a dis- mal account of our stewardship in this quarter at the end of the year. But, fortunately for us, hearing that Mr. Wheeler was.disengaged, we applied to him to take the school for the remainder of the annual period. He consented, and his system has already infused new life into it. The examination of last week was highly satisfactory, and quite redeemed the misfor- tunes of the year.

Of the remaining schools in these districts, the Committee would speak with the highest approbation of those kept in the South district, in all the departments. The intermediate in the Centre district, is also doing well ; but the primary schools there are not yet so good as they should be, or as they are elsewhere. This may be partly owing to the insufficiency of the accommodations provided for them. The Lyceum room, in the Town house, was used during the summer for one of

them ; and since that time, an apartment in the second story a building not far from the present school-house, has be hired for it. Both of these, for different reasons, are high unsuitable, but nothing better could be procured within t district. The truth is, that a new school house, of amp dimensions, better ventilated and fitted up, is much want here, as well as in other districts. But this subject was ful examined in the report of last year, and it is also considered a report drawn up by another Committee of the town, for t present year, so that it is needless to say more upon it.

It is a pleasing circumstance that the Committee were ab to supply from the High School a teacher fully competent keep the Primary school in the West district, on the same e cellent footing on which Miss Beal had placed it.

The two remaining district schools, in the North and t East districts, do not furnish quite so much to encourage u Such is the irregularity of attendance, and the difficulty classification among scholars of all ages, that it seems next impossible for any instructor, however zealous, to bring mu to pass. A few scholars attend with a punctuality high meritorious-but they suffer by the negligence of the othe who do not keep up with them. Many of the parents see quite too indifferent on this subject. Indeed, the irregulari has been much greater in most of the schools this year tha last. On the other hand there are a number of scholars wl have not failed in attendance once during the year. To tl spirit which prompted this exactness is the improvement th has been made in a great degree owing. But it prevails mos ly in the large schools. In the smallest one at Germantow the absences became so general during a part of last summ that the teacher found himself almost alone, became discourage and departed. It is very much to be regretted that the gre distance from other parts of the town prevents the children Germantown from profiting by the better instruction whic could be there obtained, and at much less relative cost to th town than is now incurred.

The High school has gone on throughout the year with great regularity, under the care of Mr. Wellington. The num- ber of scholars has been about the same this year as it was the last, but with a greater proportion of boys. The grade of the studies has been raised, and much attention has been paid to the department of composition, including all its various col- lateral branches. Mathematics, up to a certain point, with book-keeping, an acquaintance with the forms of government under which we live, and history in its general features, have likewise demanded a share of attention. French and Latin have been voluntarily pursued by large classes, and a few have gone still further, into Greek, Spanish, and the higher Mathematics. The spirit of the school has been highly praise- worthy. One drawback has been experienced through the necessity of admitting scholars not sufficiently prepared to go on at once with the advanced studies. This defect can only be remedied by raising the standard of instruction, not merely in some, but equally in all, of the preparatory schools. A few years of steady, continuous attention to this, throughout all the various grades, will go far to effect this object. Good teachers, sustained by the active co-operation of parents, are nearly all that is needed to bring it about. It is only just to add, that the labors of Mr. Wellington have been unceasing throughout the year, and that they have scarcely been remit- ted even during the hours commonly allotted to relaxation from the cares of the school.

This school has become of more importance than ever by reason of its affording any scholar in the town an opportunity to avail himself of the advantages held forth by the Board of Education, in their Circular to the School Committees respect- ing the state scholarships, established by law during the past year. To such individuals as may be inclined to fit them- selves for the duties of Teachers of the highest class of schools, the chance is given, once in four years, of gaining one of these scholarships, by virtue of which the successful competitor will be entitled to the sum of one hundred dollars per annum, while

attending the regular course in any college in the Comm wealth he may prefer. The first occasion to profit by offer in Quincy will happen in the next year, 1855. towns embraced in the section from which the selection then be made, are Braintree, Cohasset, Dorchester, Mil Quincy, and Weymouth. So great is the demand for teac of the highest grades, and so rapidly is it likely to incre that no more favorable opening for young persons to a se and honorable condition in society seems to present itself, t this.

The amount of money raised by the town for the support of schools during the past year, was - -

- - - $6,600 0

To which must be added the amount received from the State, - - - 261 0 and the income of the Coddington fund, - 75 0

making a sum total of - -

- 6,936 0 which has been expended in the following manner :-

For the High School, - -

- - 632 5 For the South Dist., four schools, four teachers,

970 0

66 West three three 737 5

Centre four five 1,107 5

66 Quincy Point Dist., three schools, three teachers, - - 640 8 -

North Dist., one school, one teacher, - 300 0

68 East " one

one - 262 4

Incidental expenses, fuel, making fires, &c., - 338 0

4,989 0 Leaving a balance yet unexpended of - - 1,947 0 which will be sufficient to meet the expenses of the remain quarter of the year.

By a vote of the town, passed at the last annual meeting, the School Committee were directed to "state, in their annual report, what sums of money should, in their opinion, be raised for the succeeding year, and how they should be appro- priated."

The general rise taking place in the prices of all commodi- ties, renders this duty particularly difficult. On the one side, the Committee cannot conceal from themselves the fact, that the town is liable to have all its good teachers drawn away from it, at a moment's warning, by any attempt to keep the salaries much below the level of their neighbors; and on the other, they are very reluctant to recommend a single superflu- ous addition to the growing pecuniary burdens of the town. After the most careful consideration they have been able to give to the subject, in all its parts, they respectfully submit the following estimate, as the most reasonable they can prepare :

High School, one teacher, -

- $1,000

- 1,375 South District, four schools, four teachers,

West

three

- 1,080

Centre 66 four

five

- 1,400

Quincy P'nt three 66 three

- 1,060

North

one

one 66

- 500

East

one 66

one

- 350

To which add for fuel, fires, and incidental expenses,

350

Making a sum total of - - $7,115

To defray which expense, the sum aforesaid, over and above the funds derived from the State and the Codding- ton fund, should be raised by taxation. In this calculation no provision has been made for any extraordinary charges, al- though the Committee are well aware that the schools are suffering from the want of some things highly useful to the pros- ecution of several of their studies. Several branches cannot be effectually pursued in the High School for the want of the

necessary apparatus, whilst in the Grammar schools much would be afforded to the acquisition of a more exact know edge of Geography, a department now somewhat languishin if the scholars could have the use of good modern maps, conjunction with their books. Any money devoted to t. purpose could hardly be said to be ill-expended.

All which is respectfully submitted, on behalf of the Co mittee.

C. F. ADAMS, CHAIRMAN.

REPORT

OF THE

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SITES FOR

NEW SCHOOL-HOUSES,

IN QUINCY.

plated. They have therefore selected a lot containing half acre, situated on the Phipps estate, and in the rear of the bu ing ground of the Episcopal church, which may be obtai for the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars. This lot, its distance from the highway, its central situation, and pleasantness of the site, seemed to them to combine all elements desired.

In the West district, the lot now used for the school-how seemed so ineligible from its close contiguity to the street, its extremely cramped limits, that the Committee decided select another lot, which they have reason to believe to b very satisfactory choice to the people residing in that quan It fronts upon Copeland street, being part of the land lat Elisha T. Crane. It contains one half an acre, was valued him at about the sum of three hundred and eighty doll and may yet be obtained, in all probability, at the same

In the Centre district, after much inquiry and examinat it has not been found practicable to pitch upon any new which could be regarded as more convenient or eligible t. the old one, all things considered. Yet in case the to decide to erect a new school-house to meet the wants of increasing population of the District, it is plain that the site it is now, is altogether too small, and too near the street. impression is universal in Massachusetts, that every sch house should be removed as far as possible from the highw consistently with convenient access, and that it should be nished with a little space around it for the children when of school. These objects may be secured without chan the present lot, provided a strip can be taken from the ] immediately in the rear of it, equally wide, and forty-nine and six inches deep. The effect of this would be to enla the lot about four thousand square feet. As your Comm have been unable to find any persons authorised to treat them on the price to be set for this addition, they recomm that it be taken by the town, under the general autho vested for such purpose.

As the necessity for making the changes contemplated is becoming more and more apparent, and as these lots may not be to be had at all, if not taken now, the Committee recom- mend it to the town that they be secured at once.

The next duty pointed out to the Committee by the vote of the town is in the following words :- " And if in their opinion it be thought expedient, to procure estimates of the cost of new school-houses, and proper plans, and report at the next annual March meeting."

In obedience to this direction, the Committee beg leave to report, that, in the Quincy Point district, there appears no sufficient reason for making any change. The present building is large enough to accommodate all the children who attend the schools, is in good condition, and is well situated for the general convenience.

The case is widely different in the three other Districts, the South, the West, and the Centre. The population in each is rapidly increasing, and already extremely embarrasses the primary departments, whilst it threatens to crowd the other rooms of the buildings. In the South, a division of the pri- mary school has been made necessary, and the excess has been provided for in the spare room furnished by the High school, situated within that district. But both rooms are now filled, and will soon be unsuitably crowded. In the Centre, it has been found necessary to divide the school of the same grade, but no convenient room has been discovered for the surplus, and as a consequence, many parents decline to send their children at all. It is not the right way to provide for instruction, to deter persons from trusting their children to the public schools. In the West district, it has been found neces- sary to exclude some from the primary school, they not being quite of the age of five years, and nevertheless, ninety or more children have been during the past summer cooped up in a small, ill ventilated apartment, not exceeding twenty-nine feet long, by thirteen feet wide, and four children have been pressed into every seat, four feet long, allowing twelve inches

of space to each child. This is not wholesome either in hot cold weather; and, so far from improving hereafter, the pro pect is that every year will find a greater crowd to occupy t same space. These considerations determined the Commit to procure a plan and estimates for a new edifice for each these three districts. They have done so with every possit regard to a judicious economy. The cost of building, it well known, has been of late greatly increased, and there is prospect at present that it will soon be less. Discarding eve consideration, except the immediate pressing demands of t Districts, and without even providing for more than the imm diate increase, they have endeavored to take as moderate view of the wants of the town in this regard, as a wise foreca will justify. The results to which they have arrived are follows :-

For the West District.

They submit a plan, accommodating two hundred a seventy-six children, together with estimates.

SCHEDULE A.

For building house complete, -

$4,485 00

Cellar and Well, - -

435 00

Furnishing and Furnace, -

700 00

Cost of Land, - -

380 00

$6,000 00

From which may be deducted the value of the Land, and the old building now used, esti- mated at - - - - 600 00

Leaving nett cost, - - $5,400 00

For the Centre District.

They submit a plan designed for three hundred and fifty children, together with estimates.

SCHEDULE B.

For building house complete,

$4,300 00

Cellar and sundries, -

1,700 00

Furnishing, - -

500 00

$6,500 00

To which the cost of the Land must be added, and the value of the old building deducted ; which items may be set off against each other.

For the South District.

They submit a plan designed to accommodate two hundred and forty scholars, together with estimates.

SCHEDULE C.

Building and furnishing house complete,

$5,000 00

Digging and stoning Cellar and Well, -

500 00

Cost of Land, - - - 750 00

$6,250 00

From which deduct the value of present house and land, estimated at

1,000 00

Leaving nett cost, - - - $5,250 00

And making the total cost of the three, equal to about 17,150 dollars.

This, the Committee are aware, makes a serious amount o expense for the town to incur. They would gladly avoi recommending it, if they did not feel that it could not well b postponed. Something must be done before long, and the onl question to decide is, what is best and most economical in th end. If the town should prefer to go on spending money enlarging the old buildings, as they stand, it will cost ther more in the end, and they will never have what they need good and convenient school-houses for their children. If o the other hand they determine at once to look the necessity i the face, and make a provision which will be sufficient fo many years, the only subject which remains for consideration will be, whether they shall go on, and do it all at once, thu incurring a large debt for which they must pay interest, o whether the work may be distributed, and a portion of it don in different years. If they decide upon undertaking the whole the Committee see no objection to the adoption of an arrange ment which should secure the construction of one of thes buildings in each of the next three years. Should this ide recommend itself to the judgment of the town, the Committe would respectfully submit the expediency of purchasing th three lots, first of all. They would then recommend that pro vision be made for the erection of the school-house in the Wes district the first year, and thus proceed to the completion one more in each of the two succeeding years, so that th respective Districts may be assured that they will be finished within three years from the commencement of the first.

The next direction given to the Committee by the meetin was in the following words :-

" And that said Committee be authorised to take into con sideration, and report at the same time, upon the subject the abolishment of the District system, or of re-districting th town."

It ought to be observed, that at the time of the meeting i May which passed this vote, the citizens were not probabl

aware of the passage of an act by the General Court on the 14th of April preceding, which goes very far to change the nature of the question submitted to the Committee. That act is in these words :-

" In each town in this Commonwealth, which is now, or may be hereafter divided into districts for schools, such dis- tricts shall be discontinued at the discretion of the School Committee ; unless the inhabitants of the town at their annual meeting for the choice of Town Officers, next following the 1st of January 1854, and as often as once in three years there- after, shall vote to continue the same; and the care and man- agement of all the schools therein shall devolve upon said school committee, until the town, at a subsequent annual meeting, shall otherwise direct."

It will be remarked, that this new law alters the necessity of the question presented by the town to the Committee, in this way. It does not absolutely abolish the districts, unless the town at their March meeting of this year vote to continue them ; but it gives to the School Committee elected for the year, the choice to discontinue them or not, as they may see fit, unless the town votes to continue them. Of course then the question complicates itself with a wholly new one, which the town alone is competent to decide for itself. That decision must depend in a great degree upon the share of confidence which the citizens are led to place in the members of the School Committee whom they annually elect. It may elect a Committee who will themselves continue the district organi- zation. It may on the other hand decline to vest such a dis- cretion in their hands. It is obvious that the discussion of such a subject might lead very far beyond the limits intended by the vote of the town, and might subject many members of the Committee to the suspicion of a desire to enlarge their powers. They consider that the only proper body to discuss this important change is the town meeting, to which the Act of the General Court has especially referred it. That is,

the meeting in March 1854, for the election of Tow Officers.

With regard to the remaining branch of the instructions, th expediency of re-districting the town, the Committee have com sidered that matter, and report it as their opinion, that if th districts are to be continued at all, they will not be improve by any change of the district lines. They consider it, ther fore, inexpedient to re-district the town.

All which is respectfully submitted.

C. F. ADAMS, WILLIAM P. LUNT, ADAM CURTIS, WILLIAM B. DUGGAN, GEORGE BAXTER, GEORGE H. LOCKE, EDWIN W. MARSH, HENRY LITTLEFIELD, J. W. MUNROE.

REPORT

OF THE

SCHOOL COMMITTEE,

FOR TIJE

TOWN OF QUINCY:

MARCH 28, 1855.

QUINCY : PUBLISHED BY A VOTE OF THE TOWN .............. 1855.

REPORT

OF THE

SCHOOL COMMITTEE,

FOR THE

TOWN OF QUINCY,

MARCH 28, 1855 .

, QUINCY : PUBLISHED BY A VOTE OF THE TOWN. ................ 1855.

JOHN A. GREEN : PATRIOT PRESS ...... QUINCY.

REPORT.

THE School Committee having attended to the duties assigned them by their fellow-citizens, submit the following Report of the con- dition of the Public Schools, for the year ending with March, 1855.

We will proceed, first, to give a summary account of the state of the several schools, as far as relates to the teachers and attendance, beginning with the

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Town annual report of Quincy 1850-1864, Part 4

Author: Quincy (Mass.) Publication date: 1850 Publisher: The City Number of Pages: 800

Author: Quincy (Mass.)
Publication date: 1850
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 800