USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1884-1885 > Part 9
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20. Howard Rogers to Annie L. Bailey, both of Quincy.
142
Nov. 20. Charles F. Colby to Mary W. Loring, both of Quincy.
¿ 20. Daniel F. Geary to Honora E. Cronin, both of Quincy.
23 Joseph D. Dewar to Sarah A. Mclaughlin, both of Quincy.
24 Frank Jenkins to Lilla E. Parker, both of Quincy.
24. Gabriel Bower of Quincy to Annie L. Mclaughlin of Boston.
26. James Miller to Ellen Martin, both of Quincy.
27. Robert Magee to Margaret E. Conway, both of Quincy.
Dec. 4. George M. Ellis . of Quincy to Mary McDonald of Milton.
8. George F. Dunbar of Boston to Florence Lowe of Quincy
IO. Morton W. Peterson to Amand Swenson, both of Quincy.
18. Moses A. Boynton to Lois W. Chandler, both of Quincy.
24 William R. Campbell to Flora W. Burrell, both of Quincy.
25.
Edward McHugh of Lynn to Kate F. McGrath of Quincy.
SUMMARY.
Number of marriages registered
I26
January
8
February
8
March
4
April
IO
May
IO
June
I9
July
IO
August
IO
September
I6
October
4
November.
2I
December
6
I26
Number of persons married for the first time
228
66 66
second time
23
60 66 third time.
I
143
DEATHS.
Date.
Name.
Age.
January
I
Abbie T. Riordan,
9
I
Cornelius O'Neil,
6
2
Horatio N. Simmons,
4
6
Patrick Hayes,
75
7
Nathaniel W. Lowe,
68
5
I4
14
William H. McKenna,
3
14
Susan Murray,
IO
IO
I7
Eliza Susan Quincy,
85
17
Daniel Kennard,
75
3
24
Timothy J. Cotter,
I9
February
I
Jeremiah S. Ford,
I
4
7
2
Willis P. Nelson,
I
2
8
4
Ellen J. Devlin,
31
II
22
4
Thomas Owens,
56
II
5
Albert V. Gomez,
3
5
Isabella Trainor,
I7
IO
16
5
John E. McGann,
26
4
9
8
Daniel Leland,
68
6
9
IO
Jane Murray,
I
I
I6
I2
Elsie M. Little,
37
IO
-I5
John A. Wood,
59
3
II
20
John J. Golding,
41
2
26
Charles Ericsson,
60
27
David Jones,
2
I4
27
Richard J. Ellis,
48
9
II
28
Rachel White,
9
28
Phineas H. Glover,
76
4
19
28
Ellen Perry,
53
29
Mary Hewitson,
68
I
I2
March
2
Michael Sugrue,
23
IO
6
Alice Barker,
2
I2
7
Michael Glennon,
71
8
12
9
Louis St. Germain,
30
I5
Artemas R. Holden, Jr.,
39
6
I7
Ellen Hayes,
85
3
17
Charles Loring,
81
3
14
Years.
Months.
Days.
6
8
James W. Sullivan,
49
I44
Date.
Name.
Age.
Years.
Months. Days.
March
18
Mary A. Pope,
78
5
18
Thomas McGunigle,
55
19
Nancy Barnes,
72
19
James Sullivan,
I
2
I
2I
Alvah W. Page,
6
13
2I
Thomas Sullivan,
5
4
26
Thomas Galvin,
41
4
14
27
Mary A. French,
56
IO
30
Mary G. Crane,
71
9
I5
31
John O'Neil,
67
2
31
Robert D. Townsend,
63
8
9
April
6
Mary Colbert,
14
9
20
8
-- Pearce,
O
8
Hersey,
O
II
Georgiana Belanger,
2
I2
Charles P. Tirrell,
84
I
23
13
Hannah Price,
40
9
I7
14
Lenon F. Marisette,
2
16
Mary Buchanan,
I
2I
I7
Bethia Pratt,
59
IO
I7
John Jones,
67
19
Fred G. Hickey,
23
2
5
20
Alice Z. Richardson,
I
4
6
23
Mary A. Ford,
I2
2
19
24
Ambrose C. C. Lelois,
80
4
18
24
Willey,
25
Thomas Drake,
85
5
May
I
Lucy J. Horne,
64
6
I
I
Thomas Stevens,
82
2
2
Elizabeth R. Trafton,
30
2
3
Jane Nolan,
68
5
4
Mary E. Dee,
31
I
IO
9
Catherine Barrett,
I
I8
IO
Isabella Fairweather,
22
II
Sarah S. Fisher,
68
6
26
II
Lois L. Litchfield,
55
4
II
18
James S. Wall,
19
3
20
19
Georgiana Dorley,
2
24
Thomas Duane,
12
3
9
24
Luke Rideout,
65
2
I
25
Alice Kennedy,
60
June
I
Catherine Gill,
I
30
Gillmartin,
O
27
Margaret A. Pratt,
29
I45
Date.
Name.
Age.
June
2
George B. Bailey,
57
2
9
3
Sarah E. Butland,
47
2 1
3
Edward A. Adams,
49
10
3
Columbus J. Dunn,
2
18
6
Alfred Sampson,
40
3
23
I2
Mary A. Goolding,
4
28
12
Ann Davidson,
72
4
I4
Esther J. Morse,
46
2
23
18
Amelia Mitchell,
69
19
John Kennedy,
62
20
James F. Adams,
67
5
22
Hannah Bachelder,
88
2
24
Hannah F. Walker,
65
6
25
Michael Sullivan,
23
I 12
25
Sarah C. Brown,
65
29
Mary I. Mead,
34
4
24
4
Loring A. French,
61
2
II
7
Nancy Pratt,
97
3
2I
7
Joseph J. Thaxter,
30
4
9
7
Daniel Gillis,
7
16
I3
Ann McGunnigle,
2
IO
I3
I3
Mary Newcomb,
77
II
I5
16
Catherine Smith,
37
3
II
I7
Mary C. Fitzgerald,
27
18
Thomas Noble,
80
6
19
Edward Augustus Hayden,
48
4
3
1
22
Michael Welsh,
6 1
IO
23
Elizabeth Barron,
I
2
23
25
John J. Clean,
35
3
4
30
William T. Anderson,
46
31
Thomas Bennett,
6
I2
31
Mary Chubbuck,
77
8
August
2
Arvedson,
2h.
3
Grace M. Belcher,
7
22
3
Alice M. Bisson,
I
18
4
James M. Glover,
75
5
Michael Guess,
52
9
7
Thomas Carroll,
6
26
9
Mary Irene Sullivan,
I
5
I6
July
4
- Deacon,
O
Deacon,
3
7
Foundling (male),
Abt 2
I3
Charles' Hobart,
77
II
I2
I7
John J. Hayes,
6
Years.
Months. Days.
146
Date.
Name.
Age.
Years.
Months. Days.
August
I3
Frances Foy,
I4
3
5
I3
Lavinia G. Lovett,
9
22
14
Travers,
O
I8
Mary Ann Garvin,
27
I
2
20
Perry,
O
23
Charles Donaher,
6
IO
28
Isabella B. Weir,
4
September
I
Charles Zast,
64
6
19
5
Julia Carey,
66
6
Cornelius O'Leary,
3
6
7
Clara P. Crowell,
2I
4
2
IO
James P. Johnson,
22
IO
Mary H. Tobin
67
13
Packard,
4
I4
Frank C. Follett,
I8
4
I6
George Sharpless,
76
16
Lizzie A. Jones,
34
IO
19
I7
Frederick Brown,
84
O
22
Daniel Danahy,
3
24
25
Sarah G Dunn,
85
25
Annie E. White,
19
4
26
Annie E. Miner,
2
I
October
2
John B. Glover,
81
3
I7
3
Gladys E. Brown,
28
3
10
Faircloth,
O
13
Flora J. Low,
19
19
Celanise Martell,
24
4
II
20
Hannah Winslow,
73
2
20
2I
Eddie A. Bower,
3
IO
14
2I
Elizabeth Rossiter,
II
2I
James Blake,
2 I
4
24
Bryan Donaher,
70
27
Mary A. Lacy,
75
29
Murray,
29
Timothy Kelliher,
81
31 .
Charles E. Morgan,
20
IO
November
4
Frank Gullicksen,
O
5
Israel W. Munroe,
77
I
13
6
Florence J. Farquhar,
O
9
John A. McLennan,
19
6
I3
Simon Jones,
86
4
6
James A. Garden,
19
Morrison,
5
Andrew Newall,
147
Date.
Name.
Age.
November
I3
Margaret L. Hamblin,
2
6
II
14
Abbie L. Fitzgerald,
4
6
I5
Thomas P. Garvin,
25
4
6
I6
Martha C. Ford,
85
IO
I3
16
Daniel Fitzgerald,
2
3
7
21
Wood,
0
2I
Salvetti,
48
25
Frederick L. Titus,
25
26
James H. Graham,
32
6
26
Julia Pendergast,
30
27
Alice L. Farrell,
5
27
Carl O. Mattson,
5
23
28
Dunstan,
O
29
Charles F. Mulligan,
1
22
30
Ann Farrell,
77
3
30
Edward Flaherty,
29
3
30
Lewis B. Richardson,
70
IO
20
December
3
Adam Vogel,
69
4
23
-3
Ellen S. Nightingale,
61
5
I
5
Franklin T. Hall,
36
I
I5
9
Eva A. Pitts,
6
13
9
- - Jones,
O
I2
John Harwell,
62
18
Jennie Murray,
20
8
19
Clara Coster,
I2
19
John M. Sullivan,
27
6
7
19
Jessie Mckenzie,
7
14
2I
Helen F. Hickey,
48
7
19
2I
Thomas F. Dolan,
59
5
18
22
Edith M. Johnson,
3
3
22
Richard B. Williams,
27
4
24
Ellen M. Hersey
71
6
3
27
Ida M. Veazie,
23
I9
3º
Lizzie A. Wight,
17
IO
30
Jane Young,
24
3º
Clarence Sampson,
34
7
5
3
Adam Vogel,
69
4
23
-3
Ellen S. Nightingale,
6I
5
I
5
Franklin T. Hall,
36
I
I5
9
Eva A. Pitts,
6
I3
9
- - Jones,
O
1 2
John Harwell,
62
18
Jennie Murray.
20
8
24
Louise Burrell,
Years.
Months. Days
148
Date.
Name.
Age.
December 19
Clara Coster,
I2
19
John M. Sullivan,
27
6
7
19
Jessie Mckenzie,
7 14
2I
Helen F. Hickey,
48
7
19
2I
Thomas F. Dolan,
59
5
18
22
Edith M. Johnson,
3
3
22
Richard B. Williams,
27
4
24
Ellen M. Hersey,
71
6
3
27
Ida M. Veazie,
23
II
19
30
Lizzie A. Wight,
I7
IO
30
Jane Young,
24
30
Clarence Sampson,
34
7
5
REGISTRATION OF DEATHS WHICH OCCURRED IN OTHER PLACES, THE BURIALS BEING IN QUINCY.
Date.
Name.
Age.
Place of Death.
Jan.
2I
Mary Cunniff,
73
Boston.
March 29
Abigail Wentworth,
69
5
I4
Braintree.
April
8
William B. Glover,
23
2
Sharon.
May
5
Joseph King,
74
Boston.
7
Edward S. Gilman,
32
4
New York City
IO
Fred A. Hunt,
9
I5
I4
Trafton,
I
7
25
Michael Richards,
32
Tewksbury.
July
2
Lucy C. Dawes,
62
IO
24
Brookline.
20
Mary B. Riddle,
9
20
Boston.
Aug.
I7
Mary A. Barnes,
56
Boston.
25
Caroline Vinal,
62
Boston.
Sept.
25
Margaret A. Brown,
50
Boston.
Oct.
IO
Regeland R. Burke,
4
Boston.
17
Hannah B. Burke,
I
9
Boston.
IS
Huldah S Durgin,
64
7
4
Nov.
20
Hannah Halloran,
27
Boston.
Dec.
2
Mary A. Gibbs,
34
9
Milton.
4
Mary A. Albee,
70
Boston.
I5
Warren W. Brown,
47
II
2I
Braintree.
25
Jerusha H. Bartlett,
47
Boston.
Milton.
Braintree.
Boston.
Years. Mos. Days.
Years.
Months. Days.
149
SUMMARY.
Total number of deaths in Quincy registered, 206.
Males.
Females.
Total.
January
7
3
IO
February
I3
7
20
March
I2
7
19
April
8
9
I7
May
4
IO
I4
June
8
IO
18
July
13
7
20
August
5
9
I4
September
9
8
I7
October
8
7
I5
15
8
23
7
12
19
-
109
97
206
Number.
Deaths under 1 year of age
55
between 1 and
10 years of age
18
66
IO
66
20
66
66
.6
66
30
40
66
I6
66
66
40
66
60
66
66
9
6.
60
70
66
70
66
80
66
20
66
80
90
66
66
I5
66
66
90
66
100
66
I
-
206
20
30
50
.6
12
66
50
·
26
.
I3
66
2I
November
December
.
149
SUMMARY.
Total number of deaths in Quincy registered, 206.
Males.
Females.
Total.
January
7
3
IO
February
13
7
20
March
I2
7
19
April
8
9
I7
May
4
IO
I4
June
8
IO
18
July
13
7
20
August
5
9
14
September
9
8
17
October
8
7
I5
15
8
23
7
12
19
-
1 09
97
206
Number.
Deaths under 1 year of age
55
. 6
between 1 and
10 years of age
18
66
20
..
30
40
66
. 6
12
66
6 6
50
60
6.
66
9
6 .
60
.6
66
26
6 6
70
80
20
80
90
66
66
15
90
100
I
. . .
. . . . .. . .
-
206
10
20
66
13
21
66
40
.6
50
70
.
.
I6
November
December
30
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1884-85.
School Committee.
JASON G. WITHAM.
SYLVESTER BROWN.
JAMES H. SLADE.
SIGOURNEY BUTLER.
ADELAIDE A. CLAFLIN.
DR. J. A. GORDON.
Superintendent. GEORGE I. ALDRICH.
BOSTON: ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 24 FRANKLIN STREET. 1885.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF QUINCY,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1884-85.
The report of the School Committee for the year just closed is, in a measure, the report of a new Board, there being only two members of the present Committee who served in that capa- city in 1883, and signed the report of that year.
In March last, Mr. George L. Miller having resigned his posi- tion on the Board, the remaining members of the Committee, with the Selectmen of the town, met in joint convention (in accordance with the provisions of the statute), April 5, and unanimously elected Dr. John A. Gordon to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the municipal year.
The advent of a member of the medical profession so thoroughly versed in hygienic and sanitary matters was very gratifying to other members of the Committee, and has been conducive to the general health and welfare of the pupils of our schools.
Following the resignation of Mr. Miller, May 27, Mr. Alfred Sampson also resigned as a member of the Committee, his feeble health rendering him unable to perform its duties. A few days subsequent to this event, Mr. Sampson quietly passed away from earth, a victim to the dread disease which he had patiently endured many long and weary months.
Having served more than four years as one of the Committee, and being truly faithful and conscientious in the performance of every duty which devolved upon him in that position, his loss was deeply felt by his associates on the Board, who held his genial disposition and many worthy qualities in the highest esteem, and cherish for him a tender and lasting remembrance.
The remaining members of the Committee, with the Select- men, again met in joint convention, June 26, and unanimously elected Mr. James H. Slade to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Sampson, for the balance of the municipal year. Mr. Slade having served on the Committee two terms in former years, his valuable experience and lively interest in school
4
affairs made his accession to the Board an element of peculiar strength and usefulness.
PURCHASE OF CODDINGTON ANNEX.
At the last annual town meeting the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) was appropriated by the town for the purpose of furnishing additional accommodations at the Coddington School. The Committee, finding this sum insufficient to enlarge the school- house to the required capacity, was obliged to resort to some other method to meet the necessities of the case. A three- story wooden building at the Adams Academy, formerly used for school purposes, being in the market for sale, the Committee opened negotiations for its purchase. Being unable to complete the transaction satisfactorily on private terms, the Board of Trustees of the Adams Academy concluded to advertise the property for sale at public auction. This sale took place April 26, and the building was purchased by the Committee for the sum of thirteen hundred and fifty dollars ($1,350) cash.
A contract was then made with Messrs. J. Cavanagh & Son to remove this building to the Coddington School lot for the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars ($550), which contract was exe- cuted to the satisfaction of the Committee.
The sum first appropriated being found inadequate to furnish a cellar, and properly equip and complete the number of rooms required in this building, at a special town meeting held October 21, an additional appropriation of five hundred dollars ($500) was asked by the Committee for this purpose, which sum was voted by the town.
This annex, as completed, now comprises three comfortable and commodious school-rooms, with an aggregate capacity for 142 pupils, and fairly furnishes the accommodations required for the Coddington district at present. This structure has been pro- vided with an iron fire escape, and we believe every precaution adopted to render it as safe to the lives and health of the children as any other schoolhouse in the town.
It has been found necessary, in consequence of the rapid increase of pupils at the Adams School, to adopt some method of temporary relief. This has been done by a readjustment of the line between the Adams and Coddington districts, and taking back a portion of territory which was formerly comprised in the Coddington, and transferring the children therefrom to the Cod- dington School, in this way partially relieving the pressure upon the Adams for the present time, without overcrowding the accom- modations of the centre district.
5
BOOKS AND STATIONERY.
After the estimates for school expenses had been made up for the year 1884, a law was passed by the Legislature then in session, rendering it obligatory upon towns to furnish free text- books to all pupils in the public schools.
It has been the custom to include a small sum in the estimates of school expenses for the purchase of stationery, and a few books required in the lower primary grades. Your Committee, in an- ticipation of this new expense, caused the sum of three hundred dollars to be added to the amount set forth in our report of last year, which sum was voted at the last annual meeting. As the year progressed it was found that this sum would be insufficient to provide all that the statute required in this direction, and at the special town meeting, October 21, an additional appropriation of one thousand dollars ($1,000) was requested, and voted us by the town for that purpose.
PURCHASE OF LOT.
At the last annual town meeting the following vote was passed : -
Voted, " 'That the School Committee and the Selectmen shall be a committee to take a bond for a deed for a suitable piece of land for school purposes, in the centre or south part of the town, subject to the approval of the town at the next annual meeting, or in case such a parcel of land cannot be bonded, then they are authorized to buy it for a sum not exceeding eight thousand dollars ; and the sum of four thousand dollars be appropriated to pay therefor, and the Town Treasurer is authorized to borrow any further sum necessary to com- plete such purchase money, and the School Committee shall include said sum borrowed in their estimate for the year 1885, and that the same be made a part of the levy for that year."
In accordance with the instructions of this vote, your Com- mittee, with the Selectmen, proceeded to make search for an available lot of land somewhere within the territory desired. It was with great difficulty that a lot could be found near the requisite location, the object being to procure one of the neces- sary size, which, when built upon, will relieve the overcrowded south and west districts, and at the same time provide for the rapidly increasing population of the territory lying somewhat between these two sections.
The Committee finally selected a lot owned by Mr. James Nightingale, lying between Granite Street and Town Brook, and bounded as follows: on the north by Granite Street, 73 feet,
6
and land of Edmund Griffiths and Luther M. Bradbury, 161 feet ; on the east by land of Levi Stearns, 30910% feet ; on the south by Town Brook, in an irregular line, about 350 feet; on the southwest by land of James Nightingale, Peter Dakers, and W. A. Mitchell, 258187 feet ; on the west by Gordon Street. 17820% feet ; and on the northwest by Nightingale Street, 19970% feet, and containing 115,918 square feet, according to the survey made by George G. Saville, surveyor.
The price paid for this lot was 42 cents per square foot, amounting to five thousand five hundred and six dollars and ten cents ($5,506.10). In addition to this the Committee paid for plan and survey by Saville, $23.50, and James Malone for ex- amining the title and legal services, $30, making the entire amount necessary to complete the purchase $5.559.60.
As the Committee was unable to bond the property, they felt compelled to close the transaction at once by purchase (as there seemed to be no other lot in the vicinity which was at all adapted to the purpose), and was obliged to call upon the Town Treasurer, in accordance with the provisions of the vote in relation to the same, to provide the sum needed over and above the appropri- ation of $4,000 to complete the purchase, viz., $1,559 60, and this sum is included in the estimates required for the ensuing year.
This lot, although somewhat irregular in form, as will be seen by the description, is, all things considered, we think a very desirable one for the purpose. Its location is about equidistant from the Adams and Willard Schools. It has the advantage of size, being much larger than any school lot in the town, and when a schoolhouse is built thereon, the children will have the benefit of passing out into a quiet street, instead of a crowded and possibly dangerous thoroughfare. There is an abundance of room for a large and attractive play-ground ; and at a moderate expense the lot can be graded where it is necessary, and thus be made when completed an excellent piece of property for school purposes.
REPAIRS.
There has been no large single expenditure for repairs during the past year. The Adams Schoolhouse has been provided with a furnace for heating the halls, which we find to be a great advantage; some interior changes, and improvements by paint- ing and whitening have been made at the Washington School, and the Quincy Schoolhouse and surrounding fence have been painted, all of which expenses were necessary outlays. We have also introduced the water from the water works into the Adams Schoolhouse, and believe the quality far better than that supplied by the well on the premises.
7
Unless some unforeseen contingencies should arise, we believe the year ensuing will not require any large sums for repairs, as all our school buildings at present seem to be in a fair condition.
LOSS OF TEACHERS.
Your Committee find themselves seriously perplexed by the loss of so many experienced teachers, who are tempted to leave our service by the allurement of higher salaries in other towns. While the inevitable expenses of our schools are so large a sum in comparison to the property valuation of the town, we cannot in justice ask for an appropriation sufficient to enable us to enter into competition with richer towns, which have a smaller propor- tion of school population than Quincy.
Still, it is a question whether it would not be policy to vote an increase of salary in special cases, beyond what our rule pro- vides for, if thereby the services of a really valuable teacher could be retained. It frequently happens among the women teachers who are residents of the town, that they would prefer to remain here, even at some pecuniary sacrifice, and in such cases, if we had the means at our command to offer them a compensa- tion approximating that which they are to receive elsewhere, their services could be retained, and our schools thereby strengthened and improved. This would apply only to those teachers who are considered by the Superintendent and Com- mittee as exceptionally valuable. The adoption of this method would not result in a general higher rate of salaries, but simply render just tribute to merit and capacity, and aid in carrying our schools to an advanced stage of excellence and efficiency.
During the year which has just closed we have lost twelve teachers from the various schools, or more than one fifth of the whole number employed. It will readily be seen by this state- ment that so many changes must necessarily result in serious detriment to the education of your children.
ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS.
The Committee also feel the necessity of calling the attention of parents to the fact of so many pupils leaving the grammar schools before completing the regular course. It is a serious loss to such pupils, which cannot well be compensated in after years. For the boy or girl, who will have no other opportunity of receiving an education except in the public school, it seems imperatively necessary that they should have the benefit of a full eight years' course.
In extenuation of this practice, it is often urged that many
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boys are required by their circumstances to leave school, for the purpose of assisting in gaining their livelihood. While this fact is deplored by the Committee, it is earnestly desired that parents will make every effort possible to continue their children in school, and believe they would readily make some sacrifice to that end, if they fully realized the benefits to be derived from a complete course in the common schools.
HIGH SCHOOL.
During the past year some important changes have been made in the routine of studies at the High School, with satisfactory results, so far as time has given an opportunity of judging. The Committee has felt that this school was capable of accomplishing more, in a practical and advanced education, if another year were given to the work, and the course of studies so arranged that each, while seemingly independent, might act as auxiliary to some other.
These changes you will find noted in the report of the Super- intendent, hereto annexed. We have made a full course of study in the High School comprise four years ; at the same time pupils who desire to graduate at the end of the third year can do so, and receive a diploma for a three years' course. It is desired that pupils, at the end of the first year, shall elect whether they propose to take the three or four years' course, so that their studies may be arranged in accordance with that choice.
The pupils who graduate at the end of the fourth year will receive a diploma for a full and complete course.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
In compliance with the requirement of the statutes of the Commonwealth, your Committee feel it necessary to take some action looking toward the establishment of an Evening Indus- trial Drawing School. To that end we have caused to be in- serted in the warrant for the next annual town meeting an article asking for an appropriation of one thousand dollars ($ 1,000) for that purpose. Believing there is a very strong sen- timent in favor of such a school, and considering the close prac- tical relationship which it bears to the most prominent mechanical industry of our town, we deem it a duty to recom- mend the adoption of the article above referred to.
CONDITION OF SCHOOLS.
In regard to the educational condition of the schools at the present time, the Committee feel that they can fairly congratu-
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late the parents and guardians of the children upon the satis- factory results attained during the past year. Our schools are now enjoying the full benefit (from the highest to the lowest division) of that thorough organization and careful grading which was contemplated by the introduction of the so-called " Quincy system." Your Committee has long regarded that system so well established and so fully in accord with the lead- ing educational ideas of the day, that apologies for its innova- tions and descriptions of its peculiar methods were no longer expected in our reports.
If there are faults in the schools (as undoubtedly there ever will be) they cannot be attributed to the system itself, but to the imperfect or careless application of the system. That which is lacking to develop its maximum efficiency can readily be traced to a difficulty before mentioned, viz., the continual loss of so many skilful and experienced teachers, who are in complete sympathy with the work.
It is very easy in theory to believe that our common school education is making rapid strides in advancement and general perfection ; yet it is very difficult to mark the degree of advance by an examination of school work from year to year as time passes by. We are always inclined to expect too much of children, rather than to credit them with what they have acquired, by an industry and close application which is necessarily irk- some and wearying to their tender years. We can only hope, at most, for a gradual improvement each year, which shall furnish proof of better work, and a higher conception of the essential points of education, than that shown in the year pre- ceding. We believe this degree of improvement is apparent in the work of the Quincy schools, and the advance as rapid as is consistent with that thorough groundwork necessary for the completion of a broader and more comprehensive education, which must be acquired outside the limits of the common school.
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