USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1874 > Part 5
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While there have been no striking alterations in the main system of management, no radical innovation in method of in- struction, nor considerable change in the style of teachers, a fair, even, and well-distributed improvement has been noted in most of the departments of study.
The recent examinations of the schools by the Committee certainly indicated that, as compared with previous years, there had been no deterioration in them. The Willard School appeared much better than it did a year ago, - the Coddington did not appear so well, - the others bore indications of improve- ment, perhaps ; but, as a rule, the Committee saw nothing which leads them to modify the opinion expressed in their last annual report, to the effect that, as regards instruction, "a point has been reached which is near the natural term of such force as our present system of schooling is calculated to exert." At the same time it is to be remembered that, as compared with many years ago, the tests applied to our schools have much increased in severity, The new principle of conducting the examinations introduced by the Committee a year ago, under which a single and the same branch of the studies pursued is in the examina- tions of all the schools assigned to each member of the Com- mittee, has also been pursued this year. During the examina- tions, the schools are thus taken wholly out of the hands of their instructors and into those of the Committee. Under these
6
circumstances a mere education of " veneering " is sure to re- veal its false character, -it is wholly impossible to prepare classes for a " show off." The examinations, therefore, now at least reveal as a whole the real results of our schooling. Nor do the Committee think that these results are less creditable than they would have seemed at any time in the previous history of the town, had the schools been subjected to the same test. They do not show all that we might desire they should ; but they do show much, and what they do show is there : there is at least no parade of results which have no reality in exist- ence.
The persistent injunctions of the Committee, cordially and faithfully enforced for the most part by the instructors, have had a manifest influence in diminishing the dependence of both pupil and teacher upon the text-book. But it is still too great.
The same principle has been insisted upon with wearisome reiteration by us and by our predecessors for years in the general course of study, and not without results. But it is easy to teach by rote, and it is quicker to learn by rule, and there are many to require attention, and time is short, so that the problem is not quite simple. While, therefore, all should try to apply the best methods, so far as they are applicable to our circumstances, it is only fair to recognize the inherent difficulties which the school system at present in use itself presents to a thorough adoption of such a careful and patient process of education. It would involve, indeed, quite a radical revolution in the use of the text-book, relegating it as much as possible to the position of an occasional aid and convenient reference. The time for such a change is not yet come. However cheerfully borne, the burden of taxation for school purposes is not light. There is a neces- sity for economy in the expenditure of our teaching force. We must distribute our fund somewhat thinly over a wide surface, in order to obtain the largest average result from a great number. While this is the case, it is not fair to expect from extraordinary exertions of teachers results which the system pursued is not calculated to produce. Probably the great organic reform of the future, in our common schools, will be the systematic giving of a much greater amount of special attention to each individ- ual mind to be developed.
7
And just so far as a greatly increased amount of teaching, time, and energy can be applied to the individual scholar, while the lively emulation of a large class and the strict and impartial discipline of a large public school are retained, do we think that we may now look for larger returns and better results.
The Committee have deemed it desirable, during the past year, to definitely fix the responsibility for the general care of the buildings and yards, and oversight of the conduct and dis- cipline of the scholars in each subdivision of the town, upon the head master. In effect, each of the gatherings of pupils attend- ing school in the same or neighboring buildings, and designed to follow the course of study through the different grades, con- stitute one school, and should be under one general supervision, which should also regulate, for the general convenience, the sub- ordinate details of management.
The school houses which were ordered by the town to be built at Wollaston Heights and North Quincy, during the past year, have been completed, and are now in use. They are understood to give entire satisfaction, and to be well adapted to the convenient and efficient prosecution of the work for which they were prepared.
The large addition, likewise, which was ordered to the Willard School building has been completed and occupied. Although the capacity of the old building was thought to be nearly doubled by this alteration, and three new schools have been organized and established since the change, yet the increase in population of that flourishing part of our township is so rapid that they are now all full and in efficient operation.
The town has heretofore given authority to the Committee to purchase, if practicable, the lots of land belonging to the heirs of the late William S. Morton, adjoining the Coddington School lot ; but, the interposition of legal and other delays having pre- vented an actual completion of the bargain, it is desirable that the authority to purchase may be renewed to the Committee.
Further than this, the Committee are happy to say that they shall not be obliged to ask for any considerable unusual appro- priation for the next year.
All our children are believed to be now comfortably provided with good schooling, and to be enjoying reasonable privileges
8
for education. It must remain in large measure with themselves and their parents to decide how diligently these privileges shall be improved.
Such assistance as your Committee can afford, the town may rest assured, shall not be wanting.
Particular attention has recently been given by the instruc- tors and the Committee to all cases of unexplained absence from school. The law on that subject was amended and altered by the last Legislature, and made much more effective. Until the present year, it has been impossible to deal vigorously with tru- ants, as there was no proper place for their separation from other scholars and their detention. This difficulty has now been obviated. The recent legislation has put it in the power of towns not having any truant school at their disposal to send their habitual truants to the Reform School at Monson. The new By-laws, passed at the last annual town meeting, have also been approved and registered. In this way, the whole ma- chinery has at last, and for the first time, been made effective. The Committee do not propose to lose time in putting it in motion. Several cases of very confirmed truancy, exercising a most pernicious influence on the children of entire districts, have been brought by the instructors to their notice. The tru- ant officers prescribed by law either have been appointed, or will be immediately, and it will then only remain to select those cases in which an enforcement of the statutes would seem likely to produce the largest and most beneficial results, and to proceed at once in the course prescribed by law.
On behalf of the Committee,
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Chairman.
9
TEACHERS.
The following is a list of teachers employed during the school year : -
HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr. H. A. Keith, Principal ; Miss Sarah L. Barnes, Assistant.
CODDINGTON SCHOOLS.
Grammar. - Mr. H. B. Brown, Principal ; Miss Carrie P. Barnes, Assistant.
Intermediate. - Miss Ida Edwards, succeeded by Miss Mary E. Dinegan, promoted.
Primary No. 1. - Miss Lizzie E. Morse.
Primary No. 2. - Miss Julia E. Underwood.
Primary No. 3. - Miss Florence B. Howland.
ADAMS SCHOOLS.
Grammar. - Mr. Seth Dewing, Jr., Principal ; Miss Hattie F. Thayer Assistant.
Intermediate. - Miss Emily A. Dinegan.
Primary No. 1. - Miss Mary E. Dinegan, succeeded by Miss M. L. Flint.
Primary No. 2. - Miss Eliza C. Sheahan.
Primary No. 3. - Miss L. Annie Williams, Miss Lizzie B. French.
WILLARD SCHOOLS.
Grammar .- Mr. S. C. Higgins, Principal ; Miss Minna Marden, Assistant.
Intermediate. - Miss Martha A. Veazie.
Primary No. 1. - Miss Emeline A. Newcomb.
Primary No. 2. - Miss Ada A. Locke.
Primary No. 3. - Miss M. A. Spear.
Primary No. 4. - Miss M. L. Pierce.
Primary No. 5. - Miss Angie S. Amsbury, succeeded by Miss Abby O. Spear.
IO
WASHINGTON SCHOOLS.
Grammar. - Mr. Isaac F. Hall, Principal ; Miss E. A Bosworth, Assistant.
Intermediate. - Miss A. P. Robbins.
Primary No. I .- Miss Elgina M. Plummer, succeeded by Miss Angie S. Amsbury.
Primary No. 2. - Miss S. Addie Souther.
QUINCY SCHOOLS.
Grammar. - Mr. Lewis F. Hobbs.
Primary No. I. - Miss Cora I. Young, succeeded by Miss Elgina M. Plummer, transferred.
Primary, No. 2. - Miss Lizzie A. Flint.
CRANE SCHOOL.
Mixed. - Miss Stella M. Stinchfield.
WOLLASTON SCHOOLS.
Intermediate. - Miss Harriet H. Morse.
Primary. - Mrs. Lydia L. Follett.
HIGH SCHOOL APPLICANTS.
The following is a statement of the number of applicants for admis- sion to the high school, and of the number admitted. Minimum stan- dard of attainments, sixty per cent. Whole number of applicants, July 14, 1873, was 28 ; admitted 22, as follows : -
Admitted.
Adams Grammar School,
I
Coddington 66
9
Willard
I
Washington
5
Quincy 66
I
Wollaston 66
5
22
In addition to the above 22 admitted, 3 were conditionally admitted.
Supplemental examination, held Aug. 30, 1873. Whole number of applicants 10 ; admitted, 7.
II
FINANCIAL.
Appropriation by town (teaching and fuel), State Fund,
$24,000 00 392 23
Coddington Fund,
75 00
Amount appropriation (teaching and fuel),
-
$24,467 23
Expenses of teaching,
$20,297 47
" fuel,
1,216 65
Amount expended,
21,514 12
Less than appropriation,
$2,953 II
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
Amount appropriation,
$4,000 00
66 expended,
3,732 93
Less than appropriation, $267 07
ESTIMATED EXPENSES OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1874.
For salaries of teachers,
$22,000 00
" fuel, 1,600 00
" incidental expenses, 6,000 00
And your Committee herewith respectfully recommend the above- named appropriations.
SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR 1873-4.
Number of children in Quincy between the ages of five and fifteen years, May 1, 1872, as per Assessors' enumer- ation, 1,587
Number of children in Quincy between the ages of five and fifteen years, May 1, 1873, as per Assessors' enumer- ation, 1,620
Increase,
33
Number of schools,
28
Number of pupils in all the schools,
1,570
Decrease from last year,
160
Average attendance in all the schools,
1,208
Percentage of attendance,
77
Number of teachers, 33
I 2
Classification of Schools.
No. of Teachers.
High School,
I
2
Grammar Schools,
5
9
Intermediate Schools,
5
5
Primary Schools,
16
I6
Mixed,
I
I
-
-
28
33
HIGH SCHOOL.
Number of teachers,
2
Number of pupils,
85
Decrease from last year,
IO
Average attendance,
45+
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
Number of schools,
5
Number of teachers,
9
Number of pupils,
385
Decrease from last year,
IOI
Average number of pupils in each school,
77
Total average attendance,
300
Average attendance in each school,
60
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
Number of schools,
5
Number of teachers,
5
Number of pupils,
217
Decrease from last year,
160
Average number of pupils in each school,
44
Total average attendance,
I74
Average attendance in each school,
35
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
Number of schools,
I6
Number of teachers,
16
Number of pupils,
863
Decrease from last year,
I35
Average number of pupils in each school,
54
Total average attendance,
676
Average attendance in each school,
42
13
MIXED SCHOOL.
Number of schools,
Number of teachers, Number of pupils,
20
Increase from last year,
3
Average attendance,
I
I
12
GENERAL TABLE.
Names of Schools.
Names of teachers.
Whole number Ist Term.
Average attendance Ist Term.
Whole number 2d Term. |2d Term.
Average attendance
Per Cent Ist Term.
Per Cent 2d Term.
Whole No. days School during the year.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Miss Sarah L. Barnes, Assistant S
53
46
60
45
96
95
206
ADAMS SCHOOLS.
Grammar .
( Mr. Seth Dewing, Jr., Principal ? Miss Hattie F. Thayer, Assistant $
86
67
IOI
80
78
79
203
Intermediate
.
. Miss Emily A. Dinegan .
51
42
54
46
82
85
203
Primary, No. I . .
Miss Mary E. Dinegan, suco by Miss M. L. Flint .
61
48
65
54
80
83
203
Primary, No. 2.
Miss Eliza C. Sheahan
59
48
61
52
81
85
202
Primary, No. 3 .
§ Miss L. Annie Williams Miss Lizzie B. French .
91
72
73
50
79
69
202
CODDINGTON SCHOOLS.
Grammar .
( Mr. H. B. Brown, Principal . Miss Carrie P. Barnes, Assistant Miss Ida Edwards, succeeded by 2 Miss Mary E. Dinegan, promoted Miss Lizzie E. Morse . .
87
78
79
69
90.
88
206
Intermediate
39
33
41
37
84
89
203
Primary, No. I . ·
44
38
36
34
90
90
205
Primary, No. 2.
. Miss Julia E. Underwood.
58
42
56
42
73
75
203
Primary, No. 3 .
Miss Florence B. Howland
45
35
30
25
78
83
210
WILLARD SCHOOLS.
Grammar ..
§ Mr. S. C. Higgins, Principal. . Miss Minna Marden, Assistant S
2
67
48
64
51
71
80
1 189
14
S
·
.
.
.
.
icceeded 2
.
Mr. H. A. Keith, Principal .
15
48
29
43
31
59
71
202
Grammar .
Miss Cora I. Young, succeeded )
Primary, No. I .
by Miss Elgina M. Plummer, transferred
36
26
34
24
72
71
20I
Primary, No. 2.
Miss Lizzie A. Flint
53
28
60
35
53
58
201
WOLLASTON SCHOOLS.
Grammar .
Miss Harriet H. Morse
29
25
35
30
86
83
20I
Primary
Mrs. Lydia L. Follett .
40
31
44
41
78
93
202
CRANE SCHOOL-Mixed. Miss Stella M. Stinchfield
19
13
16
12
69
75
200
.
.
57
46
54
45
81
SI
187
Primary, No. 2.
Miss M. A. Spear
55
49
46
39
90
85
187
Primary, No. 3 . ·
·
. Miss M. L. Pierce
47
4.2
38
32
90
84
160
Primary, No. 4 . .
.
Miss Angie S. Amsbury, suc-
54
31
53
48
58
90
I56
Primary, No. 5 .
ceeded by Miss Abby O. Spear S .
WASHINGTON SCHOOLS.
Grammar .
Miss E. A. Bosworth, Assistant
75
62
78
66
83
85
199
Intermediate
Miss A. P. Robbins .
45
33
41
35
73
85
195
S Miss Elgina M. Plummer, suc- 2
41
30
36
28
73
78
199
Primary, No. I . r
ceeded by Miss A. S. Amsbury S
65
44
62
50
68
81
195
Primary, No. 2.
Miss S. Addie Souther .
.
48
30
5I
36
60
71
187
Intermediate
.|Miss Martha A. Veazie
Primary, No. I .
Miss E. A. Newcomb .
42
33
45
35
79
78
187
Miss Ada E. Locke . .
-
·
·
.
QUINCY SCHOOLS.
Mr. Lewis F. Hobbs, Principal
S Mr. I. F. Hall, Principal .
١٠
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