USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1866 > Part 6
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
Not absent during the year :- Sarah M. Dalton. Winter term :- Nettie Tirrell, James Boynton, Frank White, David Irish. Fall term :- Clara Trott.
UPPER INTERMEDIATE .- Miss Julia A. Baker, who had taught this school the previous year, was re-engaged for a second term of service. She had charge of the school during the summer
77
term, at the close of which she sent in her resignation. Few teachers in schools of this grade ever were more successful in winning the affections of their scholars, in awakening an interest in study and in imparting instruction, than Miss Baker. Her place was supplied by Miss Mary W. Wood, a lady of good attainments and some experience as a teacher. Her success, during the time she had charge of the school, was highly credit- able to herself and satisfactory to its patrons. Her object was not to see how fast or how far her pupils could proceed, but to have them do well what they did, whether little or much. At the closing examination the school appeared well. The order and discipline were very satisfactory, and there were evidences of a good degree of improvement in all the studies. In read- ing and spelling, very decided progress had been made. The classes in geography appeared well. In arithmetic, the exam- ination was thorough, and, on the whole, satisfactory. The maps were very neatly drawn.
Not absent during the summer term :- Hattie Torry, Carrie Bailey, John Phillips, John Welsh. Winter term :- William Hancock, Ida F. Baker, Mary Rogers, Lizzie Richards, Nettie Stiles.
LOWER INTERMEDIATE .- This school was taught by Miss Emma J. Baker, it being her first experiment in teaching. At the commencement of the year it required time, decision and persevering effort to bring the school into a good working con- dition. This object having been secured, by establishing order and enforcing obedience to wholesome regulations, the work of the school-room, in respect to study and recitations, was prosecuted with a good degree of success. The teacher labored faithfully and perseveringly to secure mental development. The examination gave general satisfaction. In reading, very commendable improvement was noticeable. The spelling was excellent. The recitations in geography and the tables of weighits and measures were unusually good. The classes in mental arithmetic were not quite as good as in other recitations.
Not absent during the summer term :- Hattie B. Baker, Lizzie M. Phillips, Joseph Trask. Fall term :- Annie M. Stoddard. Winter term :- Annie M. Stoddard, Cornelius Condrick, Frederick W. Peterson, Frank O. Whitmarsh.
78
UPPER PRIMARY .- Miss Adalaide A. Keeler had charge of this school through the year, and performed her duties in a most satisfactory manner. Under her instruction, the school fully maintained its former high rank. I have noticed, with pleas- ure, the general characteristics of this school, the good order, system and attention to study and a thorough drill at the time of recitation. The classes all appeared well at the closing examination. All were very prompt in their recitations, the time seeming far too short to allow each the necessary oppor- tunity to receive justice. The general appearance of the school, the discipline included, was highly satisfactory.
Not absent during the year :- Carrie Stoddard, Maggie A. Murphy. Summer term :- Henry M. Richards, Rosina White.
LOWER PRIMARY .- This school was under the care of Miss Amey M. Adlington, who faithfully and successfully discharged her duties. She quietly presided in her diminutive school- room, and exerted a mild yet controlling power, by which the most restless spirits were held in due control, and led cheer- fully through the first steps of education. Her school was large, numbering 67 scholars-altogether too large, considering the capacity of the room-and her labors exhausting, especially to patience. At the examination, while all of the exercises of the " little ones " were very satisfactory, I cannot but com- mend especially the practice of spelling words by sounds, as well as by letters.
TENTH DISTRICT.
INTERMEDIATE .- This school, under the instruction of Miss Jennie Fairbanks, made commendable progress during the year, and sustains.a very respectable position among the schools of the same grade, for regularity and punctuality of attend- ance, good order and mental discipline. I am happy in being able to testify to the invariable interest manifested, both by teacher and pupils-an interest the more gratifying when the comparative smallness of numbers, and consequent want of stimulus to exertion, are considered. The examination fur- nished satisfactory evidence that every effort had been made by the teacher to meet all reasonable requirements. The pupils were questioned on the various subjects which they had studied,
79
and gave their answers promptly, and, for the most part, cor- rectly. The reading was defective in correct emphasis and clearness of articulation.
Not absent during the summer term :- Josie Cunningham. Winter term :- Minot Garey.
PRIMARY .- This school was taught by Miss Louisa M. Graves. The sixty pupils of this school ranged between the ages of five and ten, and were well classified. Their progress in the ele- mentary branches, and the attachment they exhibited for their teacher, were satisfactory evidences of her skill in managing and instructing them. To such young minds the hill of knowledge is the " Hill Difficulty," and they need the superin- tendence of a patient and cheerful guide. Such a guide was their teacher during the year, and she is deserving of high commendation for the thoughtful care with which she watched their youthful steps, and the progress she made in leading them through the rudiments of education.
SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.
This school was committed to the charge of Mr. F. B. Gam- well, a gentleman of ability, a sound scholar, a good discipli- narian, having had a large share of experience. Energetic, zealous and laborious, he infused into his pupils, in some degree, his own enthusiasm and love for the exercises of the school-room. The method of instruction was critical, thorough and systematic, the great design evidently being to inspire a love for scientific research, to " draw out mind," strengthening mental powers, encouraging self-reliance, having more regard for quality than quantity. Clear in his explanations, versatile in his illustrations, fully comprehending the subject treated himself, it was by no means difficult to convey, in a lucid man- ner, correct ideas, leaving vivid impressions. It was gratifying, at the usual visits, to observe evidences of a general interest, cherished by the teacher and the taught, with a few exceptions, with a consequent gradual and uniform development of the mental powers ; though in some instances, I could but feel that a longer stay in the grammar school would have been an advantage to the pupils, rather than to attempt the investiga- tion of subjects above their capacities.
80
The most serious inconveniences endured by this school were connected with an unsuitable room-which were obviated by the removal to the new house in February-the deficiency in suitable apparatus, works of reference, encyclopædias, &c.
The school requires no special commendation at my hands. To those who availed themselves of the opportunity to visit it while performing its daily work, and to the numerous specta- tors at the public examination, the school has spoken for itself. The recitations of the classes furnished unmistakable evidence that they have received thorough and critical instruction. The examination of the class in arithmetic was not as satisfactory as in other studies.
While it is not my purpose to speak of the school in full detail, it is but just to speak of the recitations in physiology and ancient history, together with that in French, as of peculiar excellence. The recitation from Virgil was no less pleasing. Selections were made from the third, fourth, fifth and sixth books of the Æneid, and the pupil's familiarity with the pas- sages, scattered as they were through four books, gave most satisfactory indications of his acquaintance with the whole. There was a naturalness and ease in the application of gram- matical principles, which could only have been acquired by patient and careful training. The classes in the Latin Reader gave evidence that they had been well drilled, that their time had not been spent in merely conjugating, declining and trans- lating, but that they were familiar with the structure of the language, and its laws. This was shown by a practical demon- stration upon the blackboards.
The compositions read by the young ladies, and the declama- tions by the young gentlemen, added to the interest of the examination. Those who addressed the school, spoke in terms of high commendation.
Not absent during the year :- Israel N. Terry, Frank A. Terry, George R. Loud.
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.
This school was under the direction of Mr. Nathan E. Willis, whose connection with it commenced during the last part of the preceding year. He is a gentleman of good literary quali fications, and zealous in his efforts to promote the highest men.
81
tal development of those under his charge. During the first visit, at the commencement of the year, a favorable impression was made, justifying high hopes of the school, as connected with the teacher's general method of conducting the exercises. It was evident that he brought to the work a commendable interest, and that he endeavored to discharge his duties faith- fully. In the recitations there were evidences of correct meth- ods of instruction, with a good degree of thoroughness, the instruction given being highly practical.
There was, however, one thing wanting. It was manifest that there was an absence, in some degree, of that vivacity, spirit and vim so necessary to energize and vitalize a school, so essential to develop and foster promptness, enthusiasm and effectiveness in the pursuit of study, and to inspire an interest 1
in school exercises.
The attention of the school was called to this point, and subsequent visits gave proof of a decided improvement.
The public exercises of the examination were attended by a large assemblage of the parents and friends of the pupils, and all appeared well satisfied with the results of the past year's instruction, so far as they could be exhibited on such an occa- sion. The lower classes appeared well versed in all the studies to which their time had been devoted. The recitation in arith- metic was marked by great freedom and exactness in giving the rules for every process, and the examples on the black- boards were wrought with dispatch. In algebra, difficult theo- rems and problems were readily solved, while in natural phil- osophy and physical geography the more important principles were enunciated and explained in a manner which showed understanding of the sense as well as recollection of the words. The class in astronomy showed that they had been taught not merely to answer questions from the book, but to turn their attention to the motions of the heavenly bodies themselves.
The graduating class, consisting of three young ladies-Miss Hattie M. Terry, Miss Lizzie C. Pratt, Miss Ella C. Baker- sustained admirably the examination in mental philosophy and zoology ; in the French language, including Fasquelle and two tragedies of Racine, and in the first four books of Virgil's Æneid.
The exercises in declamation and singing were very interest- ing and creditable to the scholars. In the essays read, the
11
82
thought, the style, the manner of reading were especially worthy of approbation.
Through a misunderstanding, the valedictory was omitted, very much to the regret of all.
Remarks were made by several of the committee and all expressed themselves highly gratified with the school and the examination.
Not absent during the summer term :- Ella C. Baker, Her- bert A. Newton, William H. Pratt, Nathan H. Goodspeed. Winter term :- N. H. Goodspeed.
In this review of the condition of the public schools, while I have called your attention to some of their excellences, I have also endeavored to point out their defects. This view, from both points, is due to every teacher, who, while the school is under his or her charge, can claim merit for its success and must be held responsible for its failure.
I have not thought it best to effect or even suggest any radi- cal changes, during the year, in our school system. It has been my chief purpose to bring our children under the influ . ence of the present system. It is not so difficult to instruct as it is to keep the children under the influences of instruction. Active and vigorous effort is required on the part of parents, teachers and superintendent, to secure a good attendance. I think I may report them as having made some advance in this respect.
During the first part of the year, thinking that it would excite to an honorable emulation, I promised the scholars that I would publish in the School Report, the names of those who would present a clean register. In conformity, therefore, with my promise, I have given the names of all, as shown by the registers of the several schools.
Without further remarks, I think we may now transmit the schools to our successors, with the assurance that they have not only sustained no loss while under our care, but that they have somewhat improved.
In closing my Report as Superintendent of the Public Schools, I feel that it is due to you, gentlemen, as well as to myself, to say a few words. When I entered upon the duties of my office in April last, it was with the determination to
83
labor assiduously, having special regard to the interests of the schools. How far I have succeeded in any of my efforts, it is not my province to decide. I claim for myself only the merit of earnest labor and an honest purpose.
In conclusion, permit me to express to you my deep sense of obligation for your confidence, and for your uniform courtesy and kindness.
All of which is respectfully submitted. .
FRANCIS M. DODGE, Superintendent.
WEYMOUTH, March 4, 1867.
STATISTICAL TABLE.
Wages per Month.
Length of School in Months.
Whole No. of Scholars.
Average Attend- ance.
Under five Years.
Over fifteen Years.
SCHOOLS.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Sum'r.
Winter.
Sum'r.
Winter.
Sum'r.
Winter.
Sum'r.
Winter.
Sum'r.
Winter.
Sum'r.
Winter.
North High School,
.
Nathan E. Willis,
.
$95 00
$95 00
Nico
64
47
37
41
30
-
-
27
24
South High School,
·
F. B. Gamwell, .
·
95 00
95 00
33
61
51
49
43
37
-
I
32
30
Grammar,
·
·
Sarah L. Dyer,
32 00
32 00
3
64
42
42
35
35
-
I.
Intermediate, .
.
Maria F. Burrell,
.
26 00
26 00
5.3 4
49
49
40
38
Primary, .
.
.
Alice M. Cushing,
.
Eliza French,
32 00
32 00
34
A CO
60
59
50
47
1
3
II.
Mixed Grammar,
·
·
.
Franklin Jacobs,
56 00
56 00
3.3.
61
61
57
53
44
-
.
·
1
.
·
·
Sarah J. Cushing,
26 00
26 00
53
49
54
363
39
Hattie E. Bates, .
·
M. V. Raymond, .
.
.
Fannie M. Burrell,
·
24 00
24 00
33
53
50
56
38
421
2
.
Mary A. Healey,
24 00
24 00
5.3 4
41
38
34
242
1
2
U
.
·
·
E. N. Gardner, .
26 00
26 00
34
53
48
53
41
41
1
IV.
§ Intermediate, Primary, .
.
Emma A. Trott, .
24 00
24 00
+ 100+100
4
78
82
54
49
-
·
Priscilla B. Shaw,
32 00
32 00
61
52
54
45
45
-
·
Lizzie C. Cushing,
24 00
24 00
54
62
67
54
593
V.
.
.
Lydia T. Cushing,
24 00
24 00
coco co
ALSO ALCOLICO
5.3
36 .
34
32
30
-
.
.
·
-
48
1
III.
Primary, .
58
41
24 00
53
-
-
-
66
Augusta Raymond,
26 00
26 00
3ª
5%
54
51
39
36
1
24 00
24 00
INLOGIA /CODICO
64
64
54
512
-
-
-
84
6
[ Grammar, Intermediate,
Grammar, Primary, .
.
.
66
·
·
8
.
No. of District.
3
-
67
24 00
85
X.
§ Intermediate, Primary, .
.
Jennie Fairbanks, L. M. Graves, ·
24 00
24 00
33
55
60
44
42
7
1
.
Grammar,
.
Fannie A. Porter,
.
L. M. Pratt,
.
Primary, .
Hattie H. Tirrell,
·
- 24 00
53
-
66
-
49
35 384 61₺ -
1
( Grammar, .
Carrie L. Lovett,
32 00
32 00
3.3.
61
47 45
43 43 73
40 40 61
Intermediate, .
S. L. Vining,
.
26 00
26 00
53
3ª 4 31 2
6
63
Primary, . .
Maria A. Morrill,
.
E. Torry,
.
.
C. L. P. Torry, .
.
-
1
.
24 0
24 00
33
57
51
53
43 494
4
-
1
·
1
1
Intermediate, .
Alice R. Rogers, .
24 00
24 00
33
50
54
39
40
3
4
-
1 1
Primary, .
·
Emma J. White, .
·
A. C. Orcut,
28 00
28 00
5
33
36
28
25
2
1
1
.
T. H. West,
56 00
33
32 00
1
-
37
29257 -
- 31
! Grammar,
Lizzie C. Wood, .
-
.
26 00
3ª
54
-
1
.
Mary W. Wood, .
·
26 00
26 00
3ª
53
54
53
41
442
1
1
·
A. A. Keeler, .
24 00
24 00
33
53
66
66
53
46
Upper Primary,
·
[ Lower Primary,
.
A. M. Adlington,
24 00
24 00
3ª
54
49
67
32
48
-
1
·
26 00
26 00
3
53
34
32
29
24
1
1
.
.
L. E. Hunt,
$32 00 - 24 00
$32 00
41
1
47
-
36
51
-
-
1
1
VI.
VII.
Primary, . .
H. C. Folger, .
26 00
26 00
5
30
26
-
1
-
-
-
14/00+100+100 1 +1CO
54
44
-
-
1
-
Intermediate, .
Kate A. Barrows,
-
26 00
6
50
Mary E. Allen,
.
.
-
1
8
IX.
Upper Interm.,
26 00
53
-
54
-
44
1
1
1
Lower Intermediate,
Emma J. Baker, .
.
-
32 3ª
-
43
-
37
-
-
1
1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
26 00
00
33
34
26
[Mixed Intermediate,
.
1
1
5
39
-
45
-
Julia A. Baker, .
24 00
24 00
1
26 00
1
-
1
1
1
1
1
64
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.