USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1848-1874 > Part 17
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There were, originally, 22 volunteers with claims for extra pay, under the vote of May 4, 1861. Of these, 12 have been paid for 90 days' service and drilling, leaving 10, who preferred to await the result of this suit.
Allowing $5 each for drilling (about an average), and the amount due to the 10 volunteers is as follows : -
To three volunteers (married), at $50, $150 00
seven 66 (not married), at $35, 245 00
Whole amount due, $395 00
The Town of Scituate, by the settlement of this case, is no longer a party in any suit at law.
GEO. C. LEE, Selectmen
ROLAND TURNER, of
THOMAS VINAL, Scituate.
SCITUATE, March 5, 1866.
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT.
MILITARY EXPENDITURE DURING THE WAR.
BOUNTIES.
Paid for bounties to 174 volunteers, $24,647 59
Diminished by amount returned from Abington, 1,200 00
By amount received from equalization
of bounties,
2,031 82
" bounty returned, 100 00 3,331 82
Amount expended by the Town, $21,315 77 Amount of money contributed by indi- viduals, $8,036 25
Expended, but reimbursed
by the Town, $6,597 71
Unexpended, 771 54 7,369 25
Amount paid for substitutes, &c.,
not reimbursed,
667 00
667 00
Total amount of bounties
$21,982 77 paid,
Paid to volunteers of 1861, 3 months extra pay, 465 00
Total amount of bounties
and extra pay,
$22,447 77
3
26
MISCELLANEOUS WAR EXPENSES.
Paid for Recruiting, $1,024 42
Diminished by amount re-imbursed, 459 83 $564 59
Interest on Debt and State Aid advanced,
3,811 81
Armory,
203 46
Soldiers' Reception, Record, and Trans- portation,
258 75
$4,838 61
To amount of Bounties,
$22,477 77
Add Miscellaneous Expenses,
4,838 61
Total War Expenditures, through the Agency of the Selectmen and Recruiting Officers,
$27,286 38
In addition to the foregoing, Commutation was paid by 14 men, amounting to $4,200 00
And money, materials, and time contributed in aid of the soldiers and freedmen, the value of which, though known to be great, can- not be correctly estimated.
STATE AID.
Amount expended in 1861,
$440 94
66 66
66 1862,
2,615 98
66
66
" 1863,
5,074 26
66 " 1864,
5,820 11
66
66 66 1865,
3,927 74
66
66 ' 1866,
120 00
Total,
$17,999 03
ASSESSORS' DEPARTMENT.
VALUATION OF THE TOWN OF SCITUATE, MAY 1, 1865.
Valuation of Real Estate,
$641,082
" Personal Estate,
228,730
Total valuation of Estates, $869,812
27
Number of Polls, 637
Tax on 637 Polls, at $2 00 each, $1,274 00 66 $869,812, at $1 37 1-2 on the $100 00, 11,959 92
Total Tax, $13,233 92
Whole number of Militia enrolled May 1, 1865, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, 369
Number of children between the ages of 5 and 15, 414
ASSESSMENT.
Town Grant for the Poor and Contingencies,
$4,500 00
66 support of Schools,
2,500 00
State Tax,
4,841 00
County Tax,
970 48
Overlay,
422 44
$13,233 92
Add School Books,
9 29
" Highway Arrears,
211 59
Amount committed to Collector,
$13,454 80
HIGHWAY TAX.
Appropriation for Repairing Roads and Bridges,
$2,400 00
Overlay,
82 49
$2,482 49
Tax on 637 Polls, at 62 cents,
$394 94
$869,812, at 24 cents on $100 00,
2,087 55
$2,482 49
28
INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS, MAY 1, 1865.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. -
1,267 tons English Hay,
Value. $35,490 00
199 " Fresh Meadow Hay,
1,988 00
953
Salt 66
12,442 00
6,448 bushels Indian Corn,
10,904 00
482 66 Barley,
724 00
274 66 Rye,
481 00
71 66
Oats,
71 00
8,555
66
Potatoes
6,416 00
6,854
66 Onions,
13,701 00
2,374
66 Turnips,
950 00
209
66 Beets,
318 00
108
66 Carrots,
108 00
Cabbages,
545 00
Winter Squashes,
470 00
Products of 408 Gardens,
8,471 00
Fruit,
4,000 00
Berries,
1,065 00
Estimated value,
$102,191 00 $102,191 00
ANIMAL PRODUCTS.
136,945 lbs. Beef
$13,702
94,280 " Pork
16,970
6,050 Mutton
725
10,900 66 Veal
1,388
8,742 66 Butter, sold
3,056
1,885
" Cheese, "
388
2,144
1,536
" Wool, - - 8,542 galls. Milk, sold
1,703
Poultry, sold
1,989
Eggs, 66
2,742
Honey
66
159
$44,358
-
1
29
PRODUCTS OF THE SEA.
465,980 lbs. of Moss,
$22,558
3,153 bbls. of Herring,
19,338
123,000 Lobsters,
4,753
441 quintals of Codfish,
2,956
40 bbls. Mackerel,
600
$50,205
MECHANICAL PRODUCTS.
66,745 pairs of boots and shoes
$142,811
Needle Work (value of materials excluded),
2,380
Stove Polish,
3,995
Iron Work,
2,500
Tinware and Stoves,
1,150
Boats,
2,400
Manufactures of various kinds,
9,642
Total estimated value,
$164,878
RECAPITULATION.
Vegetable Products (value of labor estimated at
$52,000),
$102,191
Animal Products (value of labor es- timated at
15,000),
44,358
Marine Products (value of labor es- timated at
50,205),
50,205
Mechanical Products (value of labor estimated at
38,000),
164,878
Amounts
$155,205
$361,632
30
LIVE STOCK.
Number of Horses
255
66
Oxen over four years old,
138
60
66 Steers under four years old, 80
66
66 Milch Cows,
360
66
6 Heifers,
56
66 other neat stock, 80
66
Sheep,
658
Value of Live Stock
$58,202
CENSUS, MAY 1, 1865.
Population, May 1, 1865,
2,269
66
4 " 1860,
2,227
Gain,
42
Number of Whites,
2,268
66
Blacks,
1
2,269
66
Born in the State, 2,052
66
" in others of the U. States 58
66 in foreign countries 159
2,269
Number of Houses,
496
66
66 Families,
555
66
66 Legal Voters,
572
66 Naturalized Voters,
24
SCITUATE, March 20, 1866.
GEO. C. LEE,
Selectmen and
ROLAND TURNER,
THOMAS VINAL,
Assessors of Scituate.
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK. Marriages registered in Scituate during the year 1865.
DATE OF MARRIAGE.
NAMES.
AGE.
RESIDENCE AT TIME OF MARRIAGE.
BIRTHPLACE.
OCCUPATION.
Jan. 1, 1865.
Reuben F. Johnson, Sarahı R. Lee, .
31 31
Sharon, Scituate,
Sharon, Boston,
Boot finisher. Shoemaker.
Jan. 29, "
Harvey W. Litchfield, Caroline A. Damon,
30
30
Scituate,
Scituate, Pembroke,
Farmer.
Mar. 3, "
David S. Jenkins,"Jr. Mercy A. Randall,
26
45
Scituate, 66
Ireland,
Laborer.
Mar. 12,
Edward Supple, Ann Kane,
31
20
Scituate, 66
Scituate.
Shoemaker.
Apr. 6,
Edward E. Brown, Patience G. Vinal,
23
53
Scituate,
Scituate, Hingham,
Farmer.
May 14,
Charles Damon, Sarah M. Osborn,
31
21 22
Cohasset, 66
Cohasset,
Shoemaker.
July 3,
William Litchfield, Louisa J. Williams,
22
Scituate, Cohasset,
Watertown, Cohasset,
July 21,
Joshua N. Reed, Charlotte Litchfield,
19
So. Scituate, 66 66
So. Scituate,
Shoemaker.
Aug. 20, "
Shadrach B.Curtis, Jr Nellie R. Murdock,
42 25
Scituate,
Scituate, N. Bridgew'er,
Aug. 21, "
George H. Brown, Lydia B. Burrows,
24
Scituate,
East Boston, Scituate,
Calker and graver.
Sept. 23, "
Charles F. Sylvester, Laura A. Osborn,
22
Scituate,
Scituate,
Shoe stitcher.
Sept. 24, "
James L. Prouty, 2d. Louisa Hodsdon,
22 18
Scituate, 66
Scituate, Portland, Me.
Scituate,
Shoemaker.
Sept. 28, "
Elisha J. Brown, Henrietta F. Brown,
26 20
28
Scituate, 66
N. Y. City, Scituate,
Blacksmith.
Nov. 2,
Benjamin T. Turner, Sarah E. Vinal,
19
Scituate, 66
Scituate, 66
Farmer.
Nov. 9,
Benjamin Stetson, Maria L. Litchfield,
66 54
26
Scituate,
Dorchester, Scituate,
Carpenter.
Nov. 19, "
Thomas F. Bailey, Marion L. Mott,
23
Scituate,
Scituate,
Shoemaker.
Nov. 19, "
Edwin F. Osborn, Nancy W. Damon,
21 24
24 18
Scituate, 66
Scituate, Weymouth,
Nov. 28, “
William H. Dilloway, Mary W. Snow,
25 24
Boston, Scituate,
Chelsea, Scituate,
Farmer.
Nov. 30, "
Heman S. Damon, Mary J. Barnes,
38
Scituate, 6
Scituate, Portland, Me.
Blacksmith.
Dec. 7,
66
Elijah T. Clapp, Ann R. Clapp,
39 23
Scituate, 16
Scituate,
Dec. 7,
John E. O. Prouty, Mary F. Read,
25 24
Scituate,
Scituate, Marshfield,
Dec. 7,
Asa F. Curtis, Sophia Curtis,
53
Scituate,
Scituate, 66
Dec. 25,
6
Edmund L. Hyland, Elizabeth H. Ellms,
22
Scituate, 66
Scituate, Ports'th, N. II.
Shoemaker.
Dec. 31,
Henry L. Brown, Cath'ne A. Litclifield,
23 19
Scituate, 66
Scituate,
Shoemaker.
June 4,
Isaac H. Tower, Betsy A. Treat,
Blacksmith.
17
18
20
18
Shoemaker.
Nov. 23, "
William H. Osborn, Clara A. Taylor,
Shoemaker.
Clerk.
Mariner.
Farmer.
46
18
Scituate, 66
Scituate,
30
39
Scituate, 66
Mariner.
32
Deaths registered in Scituate during the year 1865.
AGE.
DATE OF DEATH.
NAMES.
BIRTHPLACE.
DISEASE.
Years.
Mos.
Days.
Jan. 19, 1865.
George W. Perry,
18
4
Scituate,
Fever. Diphtheria.
4 22,
Mary E. T. Pool,
2
5
29
Feb. 1,
21,
66
Abigail T. Manson,
53
4
27
Scituate.
Mar. 19,
Anna W. Clapp,
47
2
19
W. Cambridge,
Apr. 4,
66
John T. Hatchı,
4
10
1
Pembroke,
May 5,
66
Mary E. Turner,
2
2
5
Scituate,
27,
66
Elizabeth Hyland,
58
2
5
66
Tumor. Infantile.
17,
66
Ellen M. Merritt,
33
9
18
( 24,
"
Warren I. Cook,
3
9
24
Dropsy of the bowels.
“ 30,
66
James Kennedy,
70
-
-
Dropsy.
July 5,
Eliza Webb,
68
3
7
Scituate,
Disease of the brain.
10,
Freddie G. H. Elliott,
1
4
26
Bowel complaint.
14,
Lemuel S. Bailey,
51
2
11
66
Chronic Diarrhoea.
Aug. 2,
Samuel Vinal,
8
9
East Boston,
Consumption.
3,
Frederick F. Turner,
5
11
Scituate,
Cholera infantum.
14,
Joseph Bailey,
4
23
Chronic bronchitis.
29,
Percy L Merritt,
11
24
Dysentery.
Sep. 13,
Winnefred Clapp,
5
1
18,
Sally Jones,
62
5
7
66
Dropsy.
“ 22,
66
Jolın H. Perry, jun.,
1
17
Infantile.
24,
Ulysses S. G. Sylvester,
44
10
15
12
Nov. 7,
George Waterman,
65
8
25
12,
66
Clarinda C. Webb,
30
10
16
Biddeford, Me.,
4 16,
Rachel T. Wade,
65
-
19
Scituate,
Tumor.
“ 20,
66
Thomas Pratt,
92
7
Cohasset,
Old age.
66
25,
Martha N. Cottle,
14
9
4
Tisbury,
Tumor.
Dec. 25,
Lendal T. Bailey,
31
10
8
Cohasset,
Epilepsy.
30,
Ebenezer Bailey,
James E. Ward,
Nathaniel T Arnold,
33
1
15
Abington,
Consumption. Cancer.
Congest'n of the lungs Scarlet fever. 66
Catherine Landers,
1
6
26
Cholera infantum.
June 3,
7,
Hattie Young,
1
66
66
( 29,
Albert Bates,
-
4
11
Cholera infantum.
Cholera infantum.
Oct. 14,
Disease of the uterus.
18,
66
Mary C. Turner, Reuben Curtis,
47
-
-
5
24
Cholera infantum.
Typhoid fever. Consumption.
JAMES L. MERRITT, TOWN CLERK.
1
66
-
Softening of the brain. Infantile.
28,
66
Ireland,
-
.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF SCITUATE
FOR 1865-6.
5
SCHOOL REPORT.
FELLOW CITIZENS: - With the close of the school year, it again becomes our duty to report to you the condition of the schools, together with such suggestions as seem appropriate.
The Committee organized, March 10, by the choice of Rev. A. J. Sessions, Chairman, and G. H. Bates, Secretary. A. J. Sessions, W. G. Babcock, and G. H. Bates were chosen Sub- Committee on the High School. One hundred and seventy-five dollars were appropriated to each district, and it was recom. mended that the schools be kept forty weeks. The sum of five hundred and forty dollars was appropriated as salary of the High School Teacher. Rev. A. J. Sessions was unanimously elected Superintendent. Mr. Sessions resigned, and the present incum- bent was chosen.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1866.
For Three Years. At large, G. Whitney Merritt. No. 1, Andrew J. Waterman. " 2, Joseph O. Cole. " 3, George C. Lee.
For Two Years. No. 4, Caleb L. Damon.
" 6, John B. Turner. " 7, G. Hubert Bates. " 9, Asa J. Merritt.
For One Year. At large, Alexander J. Sessions.
No. 5, Henry Damon. 8, Thomas Tilden. " 10, Hervey Curtis.
36
HIGH SCHOOL.
W. Clarkson Ryder, of Middleborough, Master. Highest num- ber of scholars, 56 ; average attendance in winter, 53; average attendance during the year, 41 ; number of visitors for the year, 70, including 15 visits of the Committee. Twenty-five dollars and twenty-five cents was raised for apparatus. A set of Cor- nell's Outline Maps was placed in the Schoolroom at an expense of fourteen dollars. The remaining funds were ex- pended in the purchase of Webster's Quarto (Illustrated) Dic- tionary and a Celebration Banner. Punctual scholars : spring term, Mary A. Jackson, Mary H. Nickerson, Lizzie J. Merritt, Chester Sylvester ; fall, Mary H. Nickerson, Abbie T. Bailey, Nellie Clapp, Katie Brown ; winter, Abbie Bailey, Katie Brown, Carrie Litchfield, Horace Manson, Charles Otis, Alfred Vinal, Abner Dalby, Charles Osborne, David Studley, Henry Cook, George Merritt, Chester Sylvester, Arthur Curtis, Daniel Pratt, Lucius Orcutt.
Grading. - The Committee resolved to raise the character of this school, which was known to be greatly demoralized. To this end, certain rules were laid down, and a system of grading adopted, which it is hoped the town and our successors may approve and carry out, that its happy effect may be more fully experienced. The basis of the grade is a certain attainment in learning. This seems to be the only just rule. Some excep- tions, however, were made. For instance, several scholars, with their consent, were retained in the Neck District, where the average number is eighteen. It worked well. There is a large class of boys who are unfortunately deprived of schooling through the summer months, whose ages range from fourteen to seventeen. In some instances, their attainments were not all that might have been desired. But it did not seem probable that they would do well in the Primary Schools and they had previously been admitted here. Besides they came from dis- tricts whose schools were already quite full. They were accordingly allowed to remain. The Sub-Committee feel that the grading system will encourage a healthy degree of emula- tion in the lower schools, and thus, by its stimulating effect,
37
raise the standard of scholarship throughout the town. In the High School, also, we have tried to create an increase of inter- est. A regular course of study has been prescribed, and a Diploma offered to such as may complete it satisfactorily.
Regular Course for Graduates. - Mathematics, Eaton's Common School Arithmetic, finished in three terms. Far. rar's Problems, two terms. Greenleaf's Geometry, four books. Greenleaf's Algebra to quadratics.
Physical Science : Cornell's Geography, three terms. Phys- ical Geography, two terms. Geography of the Heavens, one term. Natural Philosophy, one term, and Physiology by Lectures.
History : Quackenbos' United States.
Languages : Grammar, two terms. Analysis and Parsing, three terms, and Grammar reviewed. Rlictoric, two terms. Latin or French (equivalent) Grammar and Reader, four terms. Reading, Spelling, Composition, and Declamation, throughout the Course.
Sudden Close. - There was much to commend in Mr. Ryder's school, particularly in the Summer Term, and his personal popularity among his scholars and the town's people generally was of a most flattering character. In contracting with Mr. Ryder, we reserved the right of dismissal at any stage of the School, and suspended that penalty over him in case of failure. Upon having a more advantageous offer, he felt it to be his privilege to resign our school three weeks before the expiration of the term, and accept a situation in Fair Haven. The boys before mentioned were the greatest losers by this interruption.
By the School Law, Scituate is required to maintain a High School of the " second class," but has never yet fully complied. The deficiency has been in not properly grading the school, and in not keeping it up to the statute time of ten months. By grading, the number of scholars is reduced sufficiently to obvi- ate the necessity of employing an assistant teacher. The money thus saved, added to the master's salary, will give the addition- al month. It is probable that the appropriation of the town the incoming year, will enable the committee to fulfil all the re- quirements of the statute ; and, for the first time, Scituate will
38
be entitled to the credit of maintaining a legal High School " for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town."
Generous Response. - The liberal appropriation of the past year for schools surprised the Committee, but excited the live- liest sense of gratitude. An increase of seven hundred dollars in one year was a most emphatic response to the demands of the times. It was nobly done. It has, heretofore, been the fortune of Scituate to start new teachers, only to lose them as soon as their usefulness was fairly begun. The last appropria- tion indicates that the town has at last awoke to an understand- ing of the disastrous results of an illiberal policy. May we not hope that the response of the past year is the precursor of bet- ter things ?
The difference between the wages of teachers in Scituate and those of other towns is not alone on account of stinted appro- priations. It is the result of a subdivision of them between a large number of schools. The Secretary of the Board of Edu- cation recommends the reduction of the number of districts wherever it is in any way practicable. It is not such an evil to live a mile from a schoolhouse as many suppose. Some of the most punctual scholars often go this distance ; and, in the parts of the town where the population is sparse, there is no other way to obtain a school of sufficient size to have it efficient. In- deed, it is in every way an advantage to the scholar. The schools are lengthened and better instructed, while the exercise of the walk tends to promote health.
Public Criticism. - It is with pleasure that we report to the town that an excellent class of teachers has been employed, and that they have generally accomplished a good work. It is not deemed advisable, in this report, to criticise those who have in any particular failed. The parade of a teacher's failures before the town only wounds the feelings without producing the in- tended result. In the final examination a record of each class has been taken. This is far too lengthy to admit of place here.
Particular Report. - No. 1. BROOK ST. (Harbor). Aure- lia G. Whiting, teacher. Highest number of scholars, 50. Average attendance in winter, 35 ; during the year, 38. Num- ber of visitors, 42. Punctual scholars: spring term, absent only one-half day, Frank A. Clapp, George W. Newell ; fall
39
term, Mary Gammon ; absent half day, Lottie L. Clapp, Osmon B. Nason ; winter term, Ella G. Vinal, James Gammon ; ab- sent half day, George C. Jenkins, Frank T. Vinal. Absent only half day during the year, WILLIE L. JENKINS. Enoch C. Gardner, Prudential Agent ; Franklin Damon, School Com- mittee.
No. 2, SOUTH STREET (Greenbush), Mary F. Clapp. Highest number of scholars, 33; average attendance in winter, 18; average attendance during the year, 25; number of visitors during the year, 35. Punctual scholars : fall, Ella B. Clapp ; winter, Rachel Stetson, Ella B. Clapp. Thomas Clapp, Agent ; Chandler Clapp, School Committee.
No. 3, NORTH MAIN STREET, Mary L. Manson. Highest num- ber of scholars, 44; average attendance, winter, 36 ; average during the year, 36; number of visitors for the year, 30. Punctual scholars : spring, Abby A. T. Morris, Hannah E. B. Morris, Florence M. Orcutt, Emily F. Morris ; fall, Abby Mor- ris, Hannah Morris, Emily Morris ; winter (Ellen S. M. Nott absent half a day), Wm. H. Ainsley, Edwin O. Stoddard (Ed- ward S. Bailey absent half a day). Not absent during the year, MARTHA J. NEWCOMB and JOSEPH W. MORRIS. George C. Lee, Agent and Committee.
No. 4, GROVE STREET, Mary F. Perry. Highest number of scholars, 44 ; average attendance in winter, 36 ; average of the year, 33 ; number of visitors, 29. Punctual scholars : fall, Abbie C. Vinal, Alfred J. Clapp; winter, Ada A. Brown, Phe- be B. Vinal, Wm. H. Dalby, Israel C. Dalby. Not absent dur- ing the year, HARLAN P. BROWN. Lewis Brown, Agent.
No. 5, HIGH STREET (West), Ella F. Damon, and Flora T. Allen. Highest number of scholars, 36 ; average attendance in winter, 29 ; for the year, 25; number of visitors, 10. Punctu- al scholars : none. Miss Allen's school will be prolonged sev- eral weeks by subscription.
No. 6, BEACH STREET (Neck), Emily S. Lee and Julia G. Norton. Highest number of scholars, 22; average in winter, 17 ; for the year, 14; number of visitors, 43. Punctual schol- ars: spring, (Sarah F. Pratt absent half day) ; fall, Saralı R. Damon, Henry H. Sylvester, George O. Pratt ; absent half day, Charles H. Mott, Charles N. Turner ; winter, Sarah R. Damon,
40
Danforth P. Sylvester, Henry H. Sylvester, Henry Pratt ; ab- sent half day, Azro Turner, John B. Turner.
No. 7, COMMON STREET, Abby A. Cook. Highest number of scholars, 46; average in winter, 31; for the year, 32; num- ber of visitors, 30. Punctual scholars : spring, Josie T. Little ; fall, Susie C. Young, Emma F. Manson ; absent half day, Eddie S. Jenkins ; winter, Susie C. Young, Tillie Nightingale, Henry W. Harrub ; absent half day, Addie Night- ingale, Priscilla J. Litchfield. Not absent during the year (except half day sick), AGNES W. JENKINS. Russel Cook, Agent.
No. 8, WILLOW STREET, Mary A. Whiting and Ella L. Curtis. Highest number of scholars, 47 ; average in winter, 30 ; for the year, 34 ; number of visitors, 22. Punctual scholars : spring, Nellie P. Bates ; fall, Carrie Dunbar ; winter, Waldo B. Cook ; absent half day, Lillian C. Clapp, Carrie Dunbar, Jennie J. Clapp. Reuben Mann, Agent.
No. 9, CENTRAL STREET, Sarah T. Litchfield, and Martha R. Pierce. Highest number of scholars, 49 ; average attendance in winter, 37 ; for the year, 38; number of visitors, 56. Punc- tual scholars : fall, Helen S. Brown, Lydia Jackson ; absent half day, Daniel A. Langdon, George W. Langdon ; winter, El- len M. Langdon, Eugene W. Langdon, Enos L. Otis, George W. Langdon, Elwyn A. Merritt ; absent half day, Thaddeus G. Hyland, Asa E. Merritt.
No. 10, CHARLES STREET, Mary C. Parkinson. Highest number of scholars, 17; average in winter, 14 ; for the year, 14 ; number of visitors, 30. Punctual scholars : spring, Lizzie J. Curtis, Mary F. Curtis ; fall (L. J. Curtis absent half day), Mary F. Curtis ; winter, Alvin A. Colburn.
Election of Agents. - There is little opportunity for the dis- tricts to express their wishes fully in the hurry and bustle of town meeting; and, if we must have agents, let them be se- lected according to the old plan, in a district meeting, where the business can be done with deliberation. The nomination is confirmed at town meeting.
Fuel. - The comparative cheapness of pine wood for fuel has again been tested by the agents. It is recommended that they give hemlock a trial. The teachers have been expected
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to be at the schoolhouse fifteen minutes before school time, and the children were not allowed admission before.
Ventilation. - This is a most important subject. It is esti- mated that fifty children throw off from fifteen to twenty- five pounds of fetid vapor in the breath, and by insensible perspiration, during school hours each day, in addition to some ten pounds of the deadly poison, carbonic acid gas. Here is a fruitful cause of irritable teachers and fretful scholars. But, by too great freedom in opening doors and windows, a weary catalogue of coughs, colds, and catarrhs is sure to be present- ed. Thorough ventilation during recesses and intermissions has been insisted on, and, in fair weather, a slight opening of the leeward windows.
Blackboards. - The School Committee directed their Secre- tary to supply additional blackboards in such schoolrooms as seemed to require them, and to repair the old ones. The Com- mittee also advised that an experiment be tried with Pierce's Patent Slate Surface. Several schools were accordingly pro- vided with the slate surface ; but, as the preparation of these surfaces was not perfect, the trial is hardly a fair one. It is, doubtless, a superior article. It is cheaper than boards; it shows the pupils' work more clearly ; and it is neater, inasmuch as with talc pencils, it obviates the use of crayon and the con- sequent " clouds of pulverized chalk." For these reasons it is recommended by the Agent of the State Board of Education.
Music as a Study. - It has long been our hope that vocal music might be regularly taught in all the public schools ; and, at the risk of repetition, your attention is again invited to the subject. The school law of the Commonwealth, in its enumer- ation of branches to be taught in the public schools, specifies " vocal music " as one that should receive attention, so far as the Committee may deem it expedient. Heretofore, it has been used as a recreation to the scholars, and, generally, a few of the best singers have been selected to do all the singing. It is not the popular idea that nearly every child may learn to sing ; but many of the most intelligent musicians affirm it. The same organs that produce the wail of the infant, and the delicate in- flections of good reading, may be cultivated to execute the most touching cadences of song. There are several instances
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in town of persons whose musical talent was so small that they could not distinguish the difference in pitch in the interval of the fifth, who by assiduous application have acquired the art of expressing themselves in musical sound with considerable taste and accuracy. A good reader is possessed of nice perception, and capability of execution. He is an apt imitator ; and what more is a " natural singer ? " Why is it not argued that only " natural " readers should be taught to read ? If, then, nearly every one may learn something of music to profit, - say as many as may become fair readers, - is it not our duty to give all the scholars of the public schools an equal privilege in gaining a knowledge of its principles ? A teacher of a neighboring town has instructed most of the schools in vocal music a part of the year, looking for his pay to voluntary contributions. The plan of visitation was hardly a good one. A grand con- cert of all the schools instructed was given at the completion of the course of lessons. During the winter, a singing school for adults has been taught by the same gentleman with much success.
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