USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1854 > Part 3
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Fourth District .- The Grammar School in this District was in charge, for seven months, of a lady who had taught it suc- cessfully the previous year, and at the several visitations it was evident that the scholars were progressing rapidly in their studies. First rate order was always maintained, and the closing exami- nation-taking into consideration the irregular attendance and the absence of several of the best scholars who left to attend the High School-was very satisfactory. The winter school was in charge of a male teacher, and continued but two months, (hardly long enough to admit of comparison with other schools,) but it was apparent to the Committee, that although the teacher was sufficiently educated, he was not of the number of whom it
8
may in truth be said, "he is apt to teach; " and although the school appeared tolerably well at the close, it was evidently a mistake that the teacher was changed.
The Primary Department has been under the care of the same teacher through the year who was employed the previous year. She has been diligent in her work and has met with good suc- cess. The examinations were quite satisfactory.
Fifth District .- The Grammar Department of this District was taught by Miss Richards during the summer term. It was rather backward at the commencement of the term, but made considerable progress in the several branches of learning, and appeared at the close to be orderly and well governed.
The winter term has been in charge of Mr. Bates, under whose direction the scholars have made commendable advan- ces on their previous acquisitions in knowledge. At the several visits of the Committee, and at the closing examination, it was evident that the school had been under good discipline, and had profited much by the critical instructions of an efficient teacher.
The Primary Department, which has been under the instruc- tion of Miss Torrey, for several years, is a model for this grade of schools. The rapid progress of the pupils, the clear under- standing of the branches taught, the quietness and perfect dis- cipline of the school-room, all give evidence that she is no or- dinary teacher.
Sixth District .- The summer school of the Grammar De- partment was under the care of the same accomplished teacher who had been employed in the school the two preceding years. Good order and attention to study were the distinguishing characteristics of the school. But we think that many of the pupils pursued too many studies at the same time, and were over anxious to press forward at the expense of a perfect under- standing of the principles involved in their several studies.
The winter school was under the charge of one who had never before taught in this District, and the appearance of it
9
was faulty. Deficient order, inattention to study, imperfect and dull recitations, were very apparent at the first visit, but at subsequent visits there was a manifest improvement ; and al- though the closing examination showed specimens of good scholarship and progress, we think the school, as a whole, has not sustained its former reputation.
The Primary School in this District was taught, both in sum- mer and winter, by one who had had some experience in an- other District. At the first visit the school was not in as good condition as is desirable, but, as the term advanced, there was a steady and decided improvement, both in order and attention to study, and at the close of each term, the Committee were satisfied that the condition of the school was progressive, and reflected credit on both teacher and pupils. 1
Seventh District .- The summer school, in the Primary De- partment, was placed under the care of the same individual who was employed here the last year. Her uniform and energetic management of the school was very satisfactory, and her labors were followed by gratifying results. Many of the scholars were very much engaged in their studies, and the examination fully met the expectations of the Committee.
In the winter term the school was taught by one who for the first time undertook the task of instruction. In the early and middle part of the term the order was far from being good, but at the close it was quite satisfactory. The examination was creditable to both teacher and pupils, and afforded much satisfaction.
The Grammar Department, in summer, was intrusted to the care of one whose fidelity to the best interests of the school was apparent at every visit. The scholars were orderly and at -. tentive, and made very respectable advances on their previous attainments. Exact recitations and distinct articulation were very conspicuous, and gave much satisfaction.
In winter, this school was kept by an under-graduate, whose mode of teaching differed somewhat from that of other teachers, inasmuch as he gave a greater amount of oral instruction, and
2
10
practised his classes in arithmetic and geography more on the black-board and on the maps, than from the text-books. He won the confidence of the scholars and their parents, and excited in the minds of the former an unusual spirit of inquiry. The order was good, the industry, for the most part, commendable, and the success satisfactory, in a school so young as this. The Committee regret, however, that the teacher did not seem to feel the importance of absolute exactness in committing to memory rules and definitions ; and that he left the impression that the scholar ought not to be trammelled by books, but should be allowed to give rules of his own. The Committee believe that when the scholar can give a more exact, comprehensive and better expressed rule or definition than is to be found in the text-book, he should be allowed to do so, and should be required to write it out for the benefit of others.
Eighth District .- The Primary School in this District has been placed under the care of the same teacher through the year, who has managed it with great energy and skill. Good order has very generally prevailed, and at the close of both terms was very satisfactory. Distinct articulation in reading and speaking was conspicuous at all times, and the appearance of the school at the close gave assurance of commendable improvement.
The Grammar Department, during the summer, was taught by Miss Shaw, who kept good order, and endeavored to train her pupils to habits of industry, and accuracy in their recitations, and to a considerable degree she succeeded in accomplishing her purpose. The examination at the close, though not perfect, was creditable to both teacher and pupils. The winter school has been taught by one who has had charge of the same for several winters past, to the satisfaction of the parents, and with much popularity among the children. The Committee have been gratified to find that the order in this school has generally been very good, the scholars industrious and very punctual in their attendance, and that the efforts of the teacher to induce his pupils to study principles as well as rules, have been to a considerable degree successful.
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The school in the south part of the District, which is com- posed of scholars of all ages, both in the summer and winter terms, was taught, during the summer, by one who preserved good order, and who gave evidence, at the close of the term, that she had been industrious, persevering, and to a considera- ble degree successful in her efforts for the good of her pupils. The school, at its close, appeared to be in good condition.
The winter school, thus far, has been taught by a lady from the Normal School at Bridgewater,-a well educated and an enthusiastic teacher. At the first visit the order was very good, at the second very bad, since which it has been entirely satis- factory. The distinct articulation in reading and in many of the recitations showed that the school had been well instructed in this respect, while the proneness of the teacher to prompt and assist the scholar in his recitations, we believe, will have an effect entirely different from what she intended. This school, which has been interrupted by the sickness of the teacher for three weeks, will continue some weeks longer.
Ninth District .- The Grammar Department, during the sum- mer, has been under the charge of two different teachers. The first taught in the old house fourteen weeks, and then left on account of sickness. This school was not examined at its close, as it was expected that the same teacher would continue in the school till the winter term commenced. She succeeded tolera- bly well, but did not seem to manifest so much interest to- wards the close of the term as is desirable. The order was good.
This school commenced another term August fourteenth, in the new house, under the charge of an experienced teacher, and continued with good success until October fifth, when the High School commenced in the same building, and some thirty of the scholars left the former to attend the latter, and the vacancies were supplied from the Intermediate School. At the several visits of the Committee during the term, it appeared evident that the school was under excellent discipline, and a system of teaching well adapted to insure success ; but on account of the
12
interruption before spoken of, and because the arrangement of classes at the examination was not the most judicious, the school, at the close, did not appear so well as was anticipated, or so well as we believe it would have done under different circumstances.
The Primary Department was commenced in the old house, under the care of a teacher who has had charge of it for several years, and with the same assistant as last year. The large room was filled to overflowing, and all that could reasonably be ex- pected under such circumstances was probably accomplished. The school commenced in the new house August fourteenth as an Intermediate School, and continued to the close of the winter term under the same teacher, being interrupted in the same manner as the Grammar Department. Many of the evils which had grown up while the school was in the old house, have been entirely corrected, and others partially. The order of the school has seemed steadily to improve, but there is still much room for improvement. The closing examination was probably as good as could have been expected, under all the circumstances of the case.
The Primary Department commenced August fourteenth, and continued to the end of the winter term, under the care of the young lady who was the assistant before the school was divided. It was composed entirely of young scholars, and those who had been neglected and were backward; so that very little attention has been paid to any thing except reading and spelling. Com- mendable progress has been made in these branches, and the order has been tolerably good,-not exactly what it should be. The number of scholars registered for the winter term was forty, all of whom were present at the closing examination. In this respect it is the " banner " school.
Tenth District .- The summer school in this District, in com- mon with two others in town, is subject to the disadvantage of embracing the scholars of all the various ages and attainments in the District, and cannot, therefore, be expected to rank with the Grammar Schools. It was in charge of a teacher of ample
13
literary qualifications, and of some experience, who was devoted to the interests of her school; but the closing examination, although indicating good progress in some branches, was marked by a want of readiness which showed a habit of reliance on the teacher. The deportment was not entirely satisfactory.
The Primary School in the winter, at each of the monthly visits, and at the close of the term, appeared to be in a prosperous · condition, and to be worthy of commendation, both for order. and improvement. The success of the teacher in this, her first attempt, gave evidence of energy and tact in the business of teaching.
The Grammar School was in charge of a teacher earnestly engaged in his employment. The manner of instruction was thorough, and the character of the recitations during and at the close of the term, was creditable to the teacher and to many of the scholars, although some of the classes did not come up to the standard we wish to see established in all our schools. The order was uniformly good.
By a reference to the Schedule it will be seen that the evils arising from a want of punctual attendance, and from tardiness, which have been often adverted to in previous reports, still con- tinue to exist to a great degree in most of our schools, and we again call your attention to the same. As a matter of economy, aside from other considerations, we think this subject worthy of particular attention and concern. There is another fault very prevalent in our schools, viz. : indistinct articulation, not only in reading, but in recitation. It is a serious evil, which your Committee have ever endeavored to combat, with only partial success. Another fault of great prominence is the disposition to assume too many studies in one term, or to assume advanced studies without suitable preparation. The primary branches are often neglected, or imperfectly acquired. Reading and spelling do not secure sufficient attention, especially in the younger classes. These being the corner stones of a good edu- cation, deserve more attention than they have generally received. Those who read well will make more rapid progress in other
14
studies, while those who blunder in reading, will generally blunder in every thing else. These evils might be more easily corrected were it not for the jealousy of parents, who desire to see their children advanced, whether they are qualified for pro- motion or not.
We mention these faults in the hope that the School Com- mittee of the coming year may have the co-operation of parents in their endeavors to remove them. Much may be done at home by parents and others to promote the good of our schools, or much evil may arise from indifference or from opposition, or improper interference in their management.
It will be recollected that the Committee were directed to open a High School, but not to locate the same at the Town House, where it was kept the last year. After due deliberation, it was decided to establish a school for ten months,-the first five months to be kept in the south part of the town, and the remaining five months at the Landing. The Hall of Mr. J. G. Rogers was fitted up for the occasion, and Mr. J. C. Brown appointed teacher, at a salary of $700, if he should continue through the year.
The first term opened with forty-one scholars, and closed at the end of five months with eighteen, most of the absentees having left at the close of the week's vacation about the first of July. Mr. Brown was a graduate who was recommended to this place by those who were deemed competent to judge in the matter, and who spoke of him in the most flattering terms. He was a man of sufficient attainments, of ardent temperament, and enthusiastic on the subject of teaching, which he had selected for his permanent business. His highest aim and ambition seemed to be to make his pupils understand thoroughly what- ever they attempted to learn ; to teach them to think, reason, and investigate for themselves, and to make them perfect in all their exercises ; and had his earnest endeavors to accomplish these objects been met by a corresponding disposition on the part of all his scholars, the school, we think, would have sustained its number till the close of the term. Unfortunately there were . among the members of the school some who did not appear to .
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feel the importance of intense application to study, either as a discipline of the mind, or a means of accumulating the treasures of science ; some who had not been pressed forward in times past with energy ; some who had been allowed to regulate their own exertions in study by their own inclinations; some who appeared to be too independent to submit with patience to the restraints of a well regulated school-room, and who felt compe- tent to pass sentence of condemnation on the teacher, when his opinions conflicted with theirs. Such soon learned that the requirements of the teacher would absorb all their time, and they began to complain of his exactions, and to take exceptions to his manner of teaching, to which they had not been accus- tomed. Others seemed disposed to try his firmness by disre- garding his wishes and commands ; and because he insisted on compliance with his directions, and on submission to the rules of the school, they were discontented and disposed to complain. There were other circumstances which tended to widen the breach between the teacher and some of the pupils,-as when, for instance, the teacher's patience had been well nigh exhausted by inattention or carelessness in recitation, or by the violation of some rule, he let fall some hasty expression of disappointment or discouragement, which was thought by some to be overbear- ing. And to those disposed to find fault there will always occur opportunities to magnify grievances, either real or imaginary, so as to exert a baneful influence on others, and diminish or destroy their interest in the school. So, in this case, several of those who left before its close, assigned as a reason that they had lost their interest in the school. It is, however, believed that some of them had never manifested much concern for its success. The first to find fault were not the studious and attentive, but the idle, the playful and the disobedient; and the fact that the best scholars have uniformly considered Mr. Brown a superior teacher shows that his frailties, if he had any, were not of a very serious nature.
The examination of this school was the first of the series this year, and it appeared remarkably well. Every class save one, did itself honor. The first class in reading and the first class in arithmetic exhibited a superiority in their exercises which gave
16
unusual interest to the occasion; while the promptness and accuracy in the other branches very clearly showed that the scholars had been industrious, and that principles as well as rules were very generally understood. The Committee could not but regret the absence of any from examination who had been members of the school, although they have no reason to believe that its appearance would have been improved by their presence.
The second term commenced in the Ninth District, October fifth, with fifty-three scholars, and continued five months. Nearly all those who entered continued to the close. The same good order, and the same promptness and accuracy in recitation which were required during the first term, were insisted on during the second, and the school, at the close, exhibited a de- gree of improvement worthy of high commendation. The class in geometry and the first class in arithmetic showed a thorough acquaintance with those branches, and the demonstrations in each were as perfect as we have ever witnessed. They were ready, intelligible and accurate, and a model for any school. Most of the other exercises were highly creditable, showing the industry of the scholars and the fidelity of the teacher. And when we take into consideration that most of the scholars in the High School have only had the advantages of the District Schools, we believe that the improvement in their habits of study, investigation, self-reliance and recitation, has been such as to merit and to secure the approbation of all concerned.
A statistical table of the several schools for the year 1854-5, is hereto annexed.
All which is respectfully submitted.
APPLETON HOWE, JOHN W. LOUD, BENJAMIN F. WHITE, NOAH VINING, JR., JAMES HUMPHREY, JOHN H. GILBERT, LEMUEL TORREY, School Committee of the Town of Weymouth.
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Statistics of the several Schools for 1854-5.
No. of persons
in District be-
tween 5 and 15.
ars attending No. of Schol-
Average at-
ars under 5 No. of Schol-
years of age.
No. of Schol-
ars over 15 years of age.
L'gth of School in months and days.
Wages of the
Teachers, in-
cluding board,
per month.
Districts.
No. 1,'
Miss Margaret H. Pratt,
108
66
54
7
1
5
11
20 00
Miss Ellen P. Reeves, .
62
52
7
4
11
20 00
Miss Margaret H. Pratt,
56
47
5
3
10
40 00
Mr. Charles A. Reed, .
67
56
42
3
1
6
-
" 2,
Miss Eliza French,
12 00
34
23
2
-
1
16
32 00
31
30
-
5
4
-
4
5
20 00
Summer Term.
" 3,
Miss Abby L. Bates,
63
47
-
-
66
61
42
2
4
5
20 00
Miss Mary Poor, .
74
575
Mrs. S. S. Marston,
76
54
-
-
-
50 00
63
44
-
15
6
-
" 4,
Miss L. A. Paddock,
97
50
38
8
-
·
12
28
-
2
Miss R. A. Faxon, .
Winter Term.
Miss L. A. Paddock,
31
26
2
2
44 00
Mr. G. W. Bartlett,
105
65
49
5
-
" 5,
Miss Emily Torrey,
51
39
-
1
6
10
18 00
Miss Emily F. Richards,
Winter Term.
Miss Emily Torrey,
.
61
52
-
8
3
50 00
Mr. James L. Bates,
Miss Lydia C. Trufant, .
.
116
50
42
6
-
-
18 00
Summer Term.
-
-
-
-
20 00
66
66
Miss Ellen G. Parrott, .
Mr. S. S. Marston, .
18 00
Summer Term.
18 00
10
34
-
-
-
6
10
18 00
Summer Term.
53
47
2
3
-
.
.
-
-
$16 00
Summer Term. "
53
30
Winter Term.
22 00
Summer Term. Winter Term.
Miss Susan E. Copeland, Miss Eliza French,
237
78
53
27
-
4
5
20 00
66
Miss Ellen G. Parrott,
20 00
Winter Term.
6
6
24 00
2
-
·
20 00
6
" 6,
Months| Days.
school.
tendance.
6
18
" 7,
"+ 8,
Miss Maria L. Derby,
162
54
39
7 14
1
5 4
11
18 00
Miss Helen Sprague,
47
30
-
-
4
11
18 00
Miss Nancy T. Shaw,
30
53
12
1
4 3
11
40 00
Mr. Lewis E. Noyes,
54
48
50
41
4
4
-
24 00
Miss M. F. Bond, .
Miss Elizabeth L. Torrey,
173
130
92
I
-
-
3
10 00
Miss Jane M. Tirrell, Assistant,
57
39
5
3
11
22 00
Miss Hannah Wales,
Fall Term.
Miss Jane M. Tirrell,
61
45
1
-
3
16
. 18 00
Miss Elizabeth L. Torrey,
69
18
9
3
11
22 00
Miss Mary Poor,
40
31
1
-
3
5
12 00
Winter Term.
Miss Jane M. Tirrell,
53
41
Miss Elizabeth L. Torrey,
51
40
5
3
5
22 00
Miss Mary Poor, .
70
63
45
6
-
" 10,
Miss Mary R. Thomas, .
31
25
-
-
3
11
45 00
High School
Mr. J. C. Brown,
53
44
30
5
-
70 00
-
1
6
-
4
1 1
22 0 18 00 40 00
Winter Term.
52
42
-
46
8
-
1
-
6
Miss J. Frances Vining. Miss Melvina R. Blanchard,
52
30
4
34
-
8
3 3
11
40 00
Mr. Appleton H. Fitch,
18 00
Summer Term.
"
66
Winter Term.
Summer Term.
" 9,
19
6.
38
50 53
36
2
100 6
4
6
-
Summer Term.
Miss Elizabeth S. Torrey,
111
55
35
28
18 00 18 00 16 00 Winter Term.
19
5
18 00
Miss Helen Sprague,
-
-
-
1
3
16
12 00
58
45
-
.
-
·
41
29
26
5
-
70 00
Summer Term. Winter Term.
66
66
-
6
11
20 00
Summer Term. Winter Term. 66
Mr. Johnson Merrill,
32
26
3
11
12 00
Miss Lucy A. Tirrell,
3
5
18 00
12
-
3
11
18 00
-
86
69
-
Miss Martha J. Burrill, Miss Lydia C. Trufant, . Mr. I. M. Trafton, .
44
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