USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1848-1874 > Part 8
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were called to re-organize last spring, that so many knew not where they properly belonged.
Who now can believe that we have legal School districts in town, such as the statute requires, " set off by metes and bounds ?" But if no legal Primary districts, then no legal Union district, and no legal prudential Agents. The vote of the Committee to discontinue the districts was a mere for- mality, and the vote in November to restore them, also a nullity. The School Committee' had the whole duty of establishing the schools last year, and when chosen, will continue to have it until legal districts are restored. At least, so it has seemed to your Committee. and therefore they thought it wisest and best to remove the form, and with it, all our troubles, and since that act, May 4, we have been able to pursue the highest good of our Schools, with but little further molestation. The Committee did not at once open a legal School in the Union house, as it had been already occu- pied by a School, understood for a time to be private, and under the responsibility of a reliable man, but when a differ- ent view was presented, we demanded the School-room, put it in order, and established a legal School. A more full statement may be necessary to give entire satisfaction to all concerned, but as this would call up many unpleasant remi- niscenses, we cheerfully pass them over and hasten to the more important and agreeable part of our duty.
HARBOR SCHOOL .- No. 1.
This School has been taught through the year by Miss MARGARET J. STEWART. It was her first public effort, and though not fifteen years of age when she commenced, she has done nobly. She has great energy and perseverance, and is so entirely devoted to her calling, she could not but succeed. Her order and promptness are excellent. The School, though also young, has done well. Several classes in Colburn's Arithmetic were very ready, and for the most part, accurate. With a more perfect scholarship, refinement
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18.50
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of voice and further experience, Miss S. bids fair to make a superior Teacher.
PROSPECT STREET .- No. 7.
Taught through the year by Miss AURELIA G. WHITING. Though young, like her associate, Miss STEWART, she has not come behind her in success. She has not all the energy of Miss S. but is more thorough in her mode of teaching. Her classes in reading and spelling were well arranged, and though very young, read with much propriety, and to the great pleasure of the visitors. Her order was excellent, and the School-house has been kept in the neatest manner. The prospects of this Teacher are also very promising.
WILLOW STREET .- No. 8.
Taught through the year also, by the same Teacher, Miss A. C. LITCHFIELD. Miss L. is one of our most experienced Teachers, but still improving. She has done nobly, and her School likewise, in almost every respect. There was little tinsel, but marked improvement in the more substantial branches. The order was excellent, and we were happy to hear the Teacher remark, that she had not heard a profane word from her pupils through the year, and also had but one slight instance of disrespect. The temperance pledge and mottos adorning the School-room have doubtless had a salu- tary influence.
UNION (GRADED) SCHOOL .- No. 11.
This School, for reasons already intimated, was not opened legally, until June 1st. It was taught by Miss EMMELINE C. SAWYER, of Salem. She entered upon her labors under very trying circumstances. This section of the town, and this School had been the principal scene of confusion. The
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pupils had been one day in a private school up stairs, then down stairs in an illegal school, now called public and now private, till June 1st, when a degree of order was restored. The summer term commenced with 22 pupils and increased to 28, six others were members a short time, some coming and others leaving. The average was only 60 per cent. In such confusion little good could be expected. When, how- ever, the Teacher had found her true position, she entered upon her duties with firmness, had excellent order and was thorough in her mode of teaching. The term prospered as well as could be expected under such circumstances. Mr. A. A. DAVIS of Danville, Vt., a Senior in D. C., taught the winter term. He was well qualified, a man of excellent disposition and habits, but he failed in energy to govern a School, now increased to above 40, whose ages, at the close of the term, averaged nearly 143 years and where outside influences were so unfavorable. The percentage of attend- ance was fair, but the tardiness inexcusable, amounting to 680 instances ! The School thus became a partial failure.
GREENBUSH .- No. 2.
Was taught by Miss ELLEN D. BRIGGS, in summer ; Miss LUCRETIA T. HATCH, in the fall ; and Miss E. C. SAWYER, in winter. Miss B. is a first class Teacher, and was fast bringing this School from much confusion, noise and im- perfect lessons, into excellent order. But having an unso- licited offer from abroad, greatly improving her situation, at the close of the summer term, the Committee did not feel justified in retaining her, and Miss HATCH took her place for the brief fall term. Miss H. is an excellent scholar, and thorough in her mode of teaching, but had the misfortune to meet with peculiar prejudices, enough to injure greatly, if not destroy any School. Envy usually shows itself in little minds, and will often inflict injury upon oneself and others, for the sake of a little gratification. All should combine their influence for the good of a School, and not to destroy
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it. Miss S. taught the winter term with similar firmness, good order and success, as the Union. The attendance again improved, and the School closed in a prosperous condition. Here are a few good readers, and the recitations were gen- erally very satisfactory.
THE CENTRE .- No. 9.
Was taught in the summer and fall, by Miss ELLEN C. GROSVENOR, of Worcester. This school was unusually large, and we must add, has proved difficult to manage, requiring an experienced and judicious teacher. Miss G. was of ex- cellent character and disposition, but without experience, or peculiar skill to govern, and placed in such a School, shre failed. It would have been better for all concerned, had she closed her labors at the end of the summer term, but her original employer and some others seemed anxious to retain her through the brief fall term, and the Committee reluctant- ly consented, hoping by kind suggestions, for better success ; but she again failed. In the winter, Miss NANCY B. TINGLEY took charge of the School. Having succeeded remarkably well in restoring order in the large School in Grove street, the Committee were confident she would succeed here also. But she began with impaired health, and after nine weeks of laborious effort, her health entirely gave way, and she retired, without having brought the School to order, and Mr. THOMAS T. BAILEY took her place, under these unfavorable circum- stances, and closed the term with partial success. His time was too brief to attempt thorough reformation. The Com- mittee would have done better, had they employed a good male teacher at the opening of the winter term.
We regret to say this School has not only been disorderly, but abusive to their new School-house and buildings, in various petty ways, till all are fast becoming a wreck. Whether the district resolutions, disapproving of prayers and singing in this School have had any connection with such success and abuse, your committee are not prepared to
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decide, but it is quite certain this district will not long have a School-house or School worthy the name, unless parents can govern their children better at home.
GROVE STREET .- No. 4.
Was taught in summer by Miss NANCY F. PACKARD, of Marshfield, in autumn by Miss NANCY B. TINGLEY, and in winter by Mr. SAMUEL L. HOAR, of Littleton, a Senior in D. C. Miss P. was a good scholar, and of amiable disposi- tion, but too mild to govern efficiently so large a School, and thus accomplished little. Miss T. restored order and the School greatly improved under her instruction, though the voices of the pupils were generally far too low, and many are backward. Mr. H. found the School in good order, but made it still better. He labored with untiring diligence, and complete success. The School was the largest in town, and gave the best attendance, showing that the pupils, as well as Teacher, were much interested, 92 per cent. of whom were present at the closing examination, meeting near a score of visiters. Here, too, are a few of our best scholars. The compositions read, did credit to the hearts as well as the heads of their composers.
WEST SCHOOL-No. 5.
Was taught in summer and fall by Miss LYDIA M. LITCH- FIELD, of So. Scituate, and in winter by her sister, Miss MARY A. LITCHFIELD. This School is backward but improving. Both parents and children are almost proud of their new School-house, and it is kept in the very best manner. For this they are to be highly commended. In summer the order was fair, but there was a lack of energy, and the pro- gress was slow. In the winter, the School was aroused, and they accomplished all we could reasonably expect. Miss MARY is a superior Teacher, and worthy the highest com- mendation. This district may well be pleased with her long ยท continued services.
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NORTH MAIN STREET .- No. 3.
The summer and fall terms were taught by Miss DEBORAH N. HATCH, and the winter by GEORGE C. LEE, Esq. Miss H. did nobly. Her order was excellent ; the lessons generally very prompt ; voices clear, and the School did well in nearly every respect. The improvement was highly creditable to both Teachers and pupils. Miss H. though young, stands very high as a Teacher. Mr. L. is too well known to need commendation. He has taught this School many winters, and the last, with at least his usual firmness, good order, and success.
THE NECK SCHOOL .- No. 6.
Was taught through the year by Miss EMMELINE A. BRIGGS, who has proved herself a Teacher that need not be ashamed. She has labored with untiring diligence and great success. Though the School was small and scattered, and much sick- ness prevailed during the summer term, yet no School has accomplished more, in proportion to its size-most, not half so much as this. In Composition and Drawing, mostly attended to out of School hours, more has been done here than in all the other Schools together. It has been sur- prising to see what so small a School may accomplish. The School-house has also been kept very neatly, and the work of ruin, commenced last winter, has been stayed.
EGYPT SCHOOL .- No. 10.
Taught in summer, by Miss MERCY A. CHANDLER, and in winter, by Miss HARRIET A. CURTIS. Miss CHANDLER needed more sprightliness and activity to wake up her pupils, and the progress was slow. In winter, there was decided im- provement in most respects. Miss CURTIS was more efficient in government, perhaps necessarily severe, and the progress in study was commendable, but this School is still behind
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most, especially considering the average ages of the pupils. In summer, it was the oldest except the Graded Union, and in winter, it only fell below this and Grove Street.
Thus, following the local, rather than numerical order, we have completed the circuit of our survey, and may now add in general review, that we thus find only about one-half the Schools were in a tolerably prosperous condition during the first part of the year, while at their close, such changes had been effected and quiet restored, as to leave nearly all in a state of prosperity. Considering the peculiar embarrass- ments by which the School year has been attended, we cannot but feel some satisfaction in view of these results.
The average attendance of the Schools the past year, has been, in summer, .694, and in winter, .816, (against .708 and .765 of last year,) being below the average in summer, (.73) and above in winter, (.80) for the last nine years, probably owing in part to the unhappy excitements in the Harbor section, where the summer average was reduced to .64, while in other parts of the town, more sparse, though less disturbed, it was .73. In winter, the average in the Harbor section was .832, while in other parts, only .807. This high average in winter, has been owing partly to the very favorable weather. Honorable mention should here be made of the following pupils, who were neither absent nor tardy during the winter term, viz: George C. Jenkins, Harbor; Eunice S. Curtis, Prospect street ; Alfred Clapp and Charles H. Tuttle, Willow street ; Thomas Tuttle, Union ; Earnest Litchfield, Grove street ; Salome A. Stoddard, West; Francis B. and Emily S. Lee, North Main street, and Julia Hutchinson, Neck ; ten in all. Besides these are thirty-four others, whose absence has not exceeded one day for the term, mostly in the winter term. Could these forty-four have been in one School, what pro- gress they might have made ? Why should not many others strive for the like punctuality ?
In dividing the money and adjusting the length of the Schools, the Committee have had reference both to the vote of the town, and also to that principle of equity, which would
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give to every child as equal privileges as possible, whether in a large or small School. We labored, however, under seri- ous disadvantages. The Teachers had been selected and contracted with, by Agents for specific Schools. We en- deavored to carry out their contracts, except as modified by further mutual agreement. By referring to the statistical table, attached to this report, it will be seen with what success we have equalized these school advantages. Among other things, it will be seen that invariably, those Schools above the average cost, are below the average length, and generally the reverse ; that the longest Schools have cost the least, and the shortest, with male Teachers, have cost the most. We have studied this arrangement with care and impartiality, and can but hope we have given no serious ground of complaint.
SCHOOL BOOKS.
The Committee have introduced no new book the past year, but endeavored to remove the confusion we found by displacing coup- lets, and approving of only one series for all the Schools. Much expense as well as confusion is avoided, by proper care in this respect. We had intended to recommend to our successors in office, the propriety of having only a central agency for School books, through whom, by aid of the Teachers, the books should be furnished immediately to all the Schools, on opening each term, at the lowest expense ; also that Greenleaf's Primary and Intel- lectual Arithmetics be adopted in place of Emerson's and Colburn's, now so long in use. They may be exchanged for a trifle, and are a decided improvement. The approved list, now stands, as follows :
The Bible or New Testament, Tower's Gradual Primer, Intro- duction to Gradual Reader, Gradual Reader, Sequel to Do., Sar- gent's Fourth Standard Reader, Fowle's Speller, Worcester's Primary Dictionary, Wells' Grammar, large and small editions, Quackenbos on English Composition, Parley's First Book History, Mitchell's Primary and School Geography and Atlas, Emerson's First Part, Colburn's Mental, and Greenleaf's School Arithmetics, Mayhew's Book-Keeping, and Payson & Dunton's Copy Books.
Besides the above - more especially for the High School, Tow- er's First Class Reader, Worcester's Comprehensive Dictionary, Greenleaf's National Arithmetic and Algebra, Goodrich's U. S. History, Comer's Book-keeping, Watts' on Improvement of Mind, Milton's Paradise Lost, Coming's Physiology, Parker's Natural Philosophy, and Smith's Illustrated Astronomy.
TEACHER'S CLASS , BOOK.
This has been happily used the last year. Its designs are, First, to show the exact classification of the Schools, every pupil's name being entered under his class in each branch. Secondly, to show where, in every study each class commences and closes each term, so that the Committee may enter any School at its close and ex- amine it, without the aid of the teacher, and know everything each class and pupil has studied through the term, or year. A new
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teacher also may enter any School with this book, and call out each class and proceed at once with the same regularity, as if long familiar with the School. But, Thirdly, its chief design is, to regulate the progress in study, and to show the precise condition of the Schools in each branch, that the Committee may know whom to hasten, as sluggish, or to check, as hasty and superficial ; also that no class or pupil shall always remain on the first pages of a book, but having satisfactorily completed one portion, to advance to the next, and so from book to book, till each shall leave School. This system has been so interrupted by change of Committees, that only a beginning has been made, but we may thus see already many defects, and learn where to apply future remedies.'
These books give the following interesting summary of the classes. In the Primer, 106 pupils in summer-76 in winter ; In- troduction to Gradual Reader, 94-81; in Gradual Reader, 100- 108 ; in Sequel to Do., 36-22 ; in Second Class Reader, 42-83 ; in Fourth Standard Reader, 22-37 ; in First Class Reader, 5-23; Wells' Grammar (Large and Small) 59-91; in Tower's, 20-11; in Primary Geography, 78-60; School Geography, 113-172; Emerson's Arithmetic, 68-69 ; Colburn's, 131-166; Greenleaf's 80-167; Algebra, 6-8 ; United States History, 14-16; Book- Keeping, 0-2; besides Spelling classes ; or combining Grammar, 79-102; Geography, 191-232; Arithmetic, 279-402.
By comparing different Schools, we here learn some great defects, as the Centre with Egypt, winter term. The Centre, with 54 pupils, had 6 in Grammar, 20 in Geography, and 33 in Arithmetic, while the Egypt, with only 29 pupils, had 13-18-33, in the same branches, and one in Algebra. (In Arithmetic several are in both Mental and Written.) Thus in Egypt School, with only about one-half the pupils, are twice the number studying Grammar, and nearly the same in Geography and Arithmetic as in the Centre. Even 14 of the 29 are in Greenleaf, while only 11 of the 54, are in the same study. Either one School has far too many, or the other far too few in these branches. The latter is doubtless the truth. Having little study on hand they had time for more mis- chief. Other Schools are still more diverse, especially in Grammar. In the West, only one-twelfth study this branch, the Centre one- ninth, Grove St. one-seventh, while Egypt has near one-half, Greenbush and N. Main one-third, the Harbor section one-fourth. But why such diversity? Proper care and continued oversight would restore more equality. In Geography there is less difference, but in 'Arithmetic, again quite diverse. In N. Main St. we find full three-fifths in Greenleaf, in Egypt and Grove St. nearly one- half, while the Centre has but one-fifth, far below what age, or honor would allow.
Having discovered these evils the remedy should be at once applied. The Committee have attempted to correct these and also the more common errors in reading, to encourage greater thor-
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oughness in every branch, more punctual attendance, better morals and self-respect, but where the supervision of schools is divided among the whole Committee, no one can accomplish what might be done, were the responsibility concentrated, and one only chosen to superintend, calling in the aid of the other members, only on matters of general interest or difficulty. Could the same individ- ual-one well qualified-thus labor faithfully and wisely for a series of years, the happiest results might be secured.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
During the year, the Egypt School-house has been moved back from the street, repaired and improved by a suitable yard, and conveniences for comfort and recreation, at an expense of $150.00. The grounds front of Grove St. School-house have also been im- proved, and the School-houses generally preserved with care ; several we may say, with special neatness, as the West, Prospect St. and North Main St., while we regret to add, the Centre has been wantonly abused. Several of the houses have been adorned with a beautiful set of maps, as Willow St., Prospect St., and the . Harbor. Such adornings are as highly useful as beautiful, im- proving the mind as well as room, and should be enjoyed by every School in town, with at least a small globe. The grounds should also be adorned with shade trees, by voluntary enterprise, that there may be beauty and attraction without, as well as within. It will also be true economy to paint several of the School-houses the present year, and to make some special repairs. A few of the black-boards have become nearly useless from long use or abuse, and more severe regulations should be made to secure the School buildings from further wilful damage. Some vote of the town also seems necessary, regulating the use of our School-houses, when desired for Private Schools, during vacations. If allowed free to such, the teachers should be considered responsible for all damages, and be subjected to careful oversight from the Committee or Selectmen, the board to which the town shall intrust them.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
A word further on this subject. In another place, we have attempted to show that this town has no legal School districts. It has been the hope of many that we should never revive a system fraught with so many evils, but if we must have the form, we de- sire the reality also, as the worst form of government, with law and order, is vastly superior to no government. Even tyranny is preferable to anarchy. We are therefore prepared to sympathize fully with the following extracts from the Secretary's Report, just
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issued. "The district system and prudential Committees-are at present serious educational evils ;"-" more than one-third of the Reports for 1856-7, contain remarks unfavorable to the system"- " the friends of Education are united in condemning the evils of the system, and the evils with which it is associated "-but "as the immediate abolition of the district system cannot reasonably be anticipated, I am led to seek anxiously for its reformation."
So are we, and consequently would suggest that the town be divided, as soon as may be, into legal geographical districts, per- haps including nearly the same territory, as they are now imagined to embrace, except in the Harbor section, where a new district should be formed around the present Union School-house, so called ; or far, far better, include all the three associated districts in one. Then build a large central School-house, for the whole district, with at least four School-rooms, and a basement for a furnace to heat the whole, and give the children an ante-room, before school and during intermission ; disposing of the present four houses and land connected, to meet the expense, the deficiency being met by this district alone, or such arrangement be made as shall secure a good house, without special burden to the town, while like the other houses, it shall be owned by the town. The pupils may thus be perfectly graded into four or five schools, (perhaps only three in summer,) as circumstances may require, and teachers be procured adapted to each department. The many advantages of this plan are at once apparent. But whether the district system be con- tinued or not, we must still be permitted to recommend, as one of the pressing necessities of this town, the permanent establishment of a
HIGH SCHOOL,
For the whole people. While a union of three districts may very naturally excite jealousy and discord, the same union of all in a high object may, as naturally, promote peace and unity.
It is an established principle of Political Economy, that when a community do not prosper, it must be from one of two causes ; either from a deficiency in material resources in the locality, or from a want of intelligence and virtue in the people to discover and draw them forth, or provide some substitute. Hence an in- telligent and virtuous people may prosper even in a barren soil and severe climate, by devising other means of support, as manufac- tures, or converting mountains of granite and fields of ice, into treasures more valuable than mines of gold. Scituate has been considered, by high authority, the best soil for agricultural pur- poses in the county, it has a tolerable harbor and all the resources of the sea at hand, and yet we are sadly deteriorating. Our children between 5 and 15 years of age are less now than when the town was divided, nine years since, 33 less than in 1853, and it is feared
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we are sinking in other respects, especially in intelligence and vir- tue, and consequently in lucrative business and property. Most of our young men must leave town for employment, or prepare for the alms-house. At home, ignorance and immorality are fast sweeping away our best things, and we seem descending to the very borders of Barbarism. Even the wholesome laws of the state are set aside," and the greater part of our civil proceedings arc acknowledged illegal, by some of the most active citizens.
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