USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1860 > Part 2
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There have been but few changes made in teachers since the last report. In those few instances the schools do not appear to have suffered under the charge of the new incumbents. At the last annual town-meeting, the town neglected, intentionally or accidentally, to authorize the prudential committees of the several districts to select and employ teachers, so that this responsibility really fell upon your commit-
A2
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tee. In the exercise of this responsibility we have seen scarce any occasion to interfere in the arrange- ments of the prudential committees, and, with perhaps a single exception, have taken no active part in the choice or employment of teachers for other than the High School.
The text-books in general use in the schools for the past few years have been of so excellent a character, that but few changes have been deemed necessary. The importance of having the best text-books the market affords need not here be urged. We think you already have them. Appreciating, as we all must, the inconvenience consequent upon frequent changes in school-books, you may rest assured that no school committee will take upon themselves the responsibility of a change in this particular, unless the advantages, to be derived, more than balance the inconvenience and expense arising therefrom.
We must, in duty to you and to ourselves, reiterate the strictures contained in the last report on the exter- nal and internal arrangements of our school-houses. To say nothing about appearances, they are entirely inade- quate, at the present time, to fulfil the purpose for which they were erected. The time has been when, in one sense of the word, they would accommodate the children of the town; in every respect they now fail properly to do so. Great difficulty has been ex- perienced, during the past year, in furnishing accommo- dation to those who have a legal demand upon you for a common school education in District 12 and 13. At the commencement of the year we found the Grammar School full to repletion, and classes in each of the medium schools qualified to enter the Grammar School. We considered the teachers in the medium
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schools competent to instruct those classes another year; but then another difficulty arose. There were many more seeking admission to the primary schools than could be accommodated, unless a transfer could be made from the primary to the medium schools. No such transfer could be made, until accommodation could be furnished the classes ready to enter the Grammar School. To obviate these difficulties, your committee adopted the following temporary arrange- ment. We formed a preparatory class to the High School. Of this class twenty-seven were taken from the Grammar School in District 12 and 13, and ten (as many as were considered qualified by their teachers,) from the other districts. We accommodated this class with seats in the High School room, the recitations being heard in one of the class rooms. We furnished them with an experienced teacher at an expense of $28 per month. This class was under the instruction of Miss Lois Dean for 17 weeks, until the regular time for admission to the High School, when such of the class (including nearly all) as passed a satisfactory examination, became members of that school. In this way we removed the pressure thus existing upon the Grammar School in District 12 and 13, without incur- ring any large expense to the district, and, as we think, without infringing very materially upon the rights of the other districts in the High School. The amount of Miss Dean's wages, $126, has been apportioned among those districts, which sent scholars to this pre- paratory class, in proportion to the number from each district, so that 27 of this extra expense falls upon District 12 and 13.
Such an arrangement for the ensuing year would be impracticable for the following reasons. There are
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now seventy-nine in the High School, leaving room for but twenty-one. The class which will graduate next Fall is a small one. Should such a course be attempted, the consequence would be, that, giving the other districts their rights, the Grammar School in 12 and 13 would not be sufficiently reduced, and at the next examination for admission to the High School, there would not be adequate accommodation for such as would have a right to claim it. This being the case, no committee would feel justified in using school room belonging to the whole town, to supply the de- ficiencies of.a single district, when those deficiencies could not, even in that way, be adequately met. We do not feel it our duty, considering the present state of business in our place, to ask for any expensive out- lay for school accommodation. Nor have we any plan to suggest, whereby probable exigencies may be pro- vided for. Whatever is to be done, must be done with regard to the actual state of things as presented at the commencement of the ensuing year. We have only to ask in behalf of the School Committee for the en- suing year, that, inasmuch as you will have placed them in this embarrassing condition with respect to school accommodations, you will aid them by your approval in their attempts to pursue whatever may to them, in view of all the circumstances, seem to be the best possible course. Do not add the embarrassment of dissatisfaction and fault-finding.
In accordance with a determination entered upon at the beginning of the year, your committee have closed the schools some three weeks earlier than usual this Spring. For many years past, it has been the custom to continue the schools until the very week preceding the annual town-meeting. This custom
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occasioned great inconvenience to the Selectmen, Treasurer, and School Committee, in making up their several reports in time for distribution at town-meeting even. It seemed proper that the school report should be in your hands a few days, at least, before the time for acting upon so important a matter as school appro- priations. To avoid the inconvenience above referred to, and secure the unquestionable advantage of your having this report some days before the annual town- meeting, were the reasons your committee had for closing the schools, all reports to the contrary not- withstanding. It is proposed that the schools com- mence earlier in the Spring than heretofore, viz .; the second week in April, instead of the first week in May. We feel confident that this arrangement, when the reasons for it and the results to be gained by it are considered, will meet with the approbation of all.
Your committee still maintain the opinion, that the abolition of the district system, would economize expenditures, and result in the better accomplishment of the purposes for which your schools are designed. The grounds upon which this opinion is based have been so often laid before you, that it is sufficient to refer you to previous reports. We need only add that every year's experience confirms us the more in our decided opposition to the district system.
The High School has continued under the charge of Mr. CHARLES P. RUGG, Principal, Miss PHEBE W. Cook, and Miss CAROLINE DEXTER, Assistants. During the last term of eight weeks, owing to the illness of Miss Dexter, but one Assistant has been employed. Much difficulty has been experienced in this school arising from the remissness of parents with regard to attendance and punctuality. There has
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been more truantism on the part of members of this school, than in all the other schools in town com- bined. Unless there is immediate improvement in this particular, stringent regulations and restrictions must necessarily be adopted, with a view to obviate this evil. Notice is hereby given to those who absented themselves from, and left without permission, the last session of the High School, on Friday afternoon the 15th day of March, that no one of them will be per- mitted to enter that school during the ensuing year, until their parents shall have seen some member of the school committee, and obtained a permit to that effect.
At the close of the last High School year, a class of nine graduated from the school.
The whole number of pupils in Summer was
60°
The whole number of pupils in Winter was
88
Average attendance in Summer -
93₺ per cent.
Average attendance in Winter
88₺ per cent.
Average attendance for whole year
91 per cent.
TABLE I. SUMMER.
WINTER.
Districts.
Whole No. between
Attendance between
Attendance under 5.
Attendance over 15.
Whole attendance.
Average attendance.
Attendance between
Attendance under 5.
Attendance over 15.
Whole attendance.
Average attendance.
10
3447
04
5138.
39
1
0 40 29
11
5444
34
51 21.48
39
1 1 41|22.05
Primary Department.
19
449 98
04102 91.50 85
0 12 97 84
12 & 13 Intermedial.
42
00 42 33.97
39
0 0 39 31.70
Primary Department.
96 11 0 107 75.
77
10 0 87 61
North Primary and Medium.
51
71
59 42.11
48
3 1 52 31.37
South Medium.
36
36 28.79
34
0
0 3427
South Primary.
41
90
5037.67
0 32 24.55
14
29 21
01
22 13.21
23
0 1 2417
15
3740
11
42 22.75
124
1 3 28 20.6
16
5041
03
4428.
37
0 7 44 35.
19
63 52
21
55|35
46
0
1 47 28.
5 and 15, May Ist.
5 and 15.
5 and 15.
2016.14
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TABLE II.
Districts.
Terms.
Teachers.
Wages Length per mo. of Sch.
No. 10 Royal Hathaway, Summer,
60 66 Winter,
Miss Catherine Jenney,
20
41
66
11 Oxford Village,
Summer,
Mr. George T. Russell,
32
5
66
Primary Dept., 66
Summer,
Miss L. T. Bourne,
16
3
66
66
12 & 13 Grammar,
Summer,
Mr. H. O. Martin,
65
44
Winter,
Mr. H. O. Martin,
65
4
66
" Assistant,
66
Winter,
Mrs. M. A. Fairfield,
22
4
Centre Medium, Summer,
Miss S. E. Millett,
22
5
66
66
Winter,
Miss S. E. Millett,
22
3֏
Miss A. L. Grinnell,
20
43
Winter,
Miss A. L. Grinnell,
20
4
" Assistant, .
Summer,
Miss J. F. Grinnell,
14
4
4₺
66
" S. Medium,
Summer,
Mrs. A. A. Grinnell,
20
43
66
Winter,
Mrs. A. A. Grinnell,
20
4
" S. Primary,
Summer,
Miss A. Clark,
18
43
66
66 66
Winter,
Miss A. Clark,
18
4
14 Sconticut,
Summer,
Miss M. A. Farwell,
18
5
66
Winter,
Mr. George M. White,
36
4
15 Nasketucket,
Summer,
Miss S. R. Brady,
18
5₺
Winter,
Mr. J. M. Stackpole,
36
34
16 New Boston,
Summer,
Miss P. J. Leonard,
20
5
Winter,
Miss P. J. Leonard,
30
4
66
19 Pease District,
Summer,
Mrs. A. H. Snow,
23
6
66
Winter,
Mrs. A. H. Snow,
23
32
" Assistant,
Summer,
Miss E. A. Thacher,
14
6
Winter,
Miss E. A. Thacher,
14
The amount of money, held by the Town Treasurer for school purposes for the year 1860-61, has not been entirely expended. It included the following items.
Appropriation,
Received from State school fund,
$5,500.00 147.40
Balance from last year's account,
23.24
Total,
$5,670.64
Apportioned to District No. 10,
$200.00
to District No. 11,
375.00
to District No. 12 and 13,
2,200.00
to District No. 14,
250.00
to District No. 15,
230.00
to District No. 16,
225.00
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to District No. 17,
000.00
to District No. 19,
375.00
to High School,
1,609.00
Total amount apportioned, Amount unapportioned,
$5,464.00 $205.64
66
Summer,
Mrs. M. A. Fairfield,
22
Miss H. K. Peirce,
24
44
Winter,
no school.
Winter,
Miss J. F. Grinnell,
14
" N. Prim. & Med., Summer,
Winter,
Miss P. S. Eldridge,
16
4
66
17 West's Island,
no school
Miss E. Delano and
16
66 Primary, Summer, 66
Winter,
Miss Catherine Jenney,
$20
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The average length of schools throughout the town, not including the High School, during the past year has been 8.86 months. Your committee think that by reducing the length of schools to eight months, an appropriation of $5,000, in addition to the amount unexpended from last year's appropriation, will be amply sufficient for the coming year.
Though it is necessary to reduce the amount of money to be expended for school purposes, it by no means follows that we must, as a consequence, dimin- ish the benefit to be derived from our schools. Were such the necessary result of economizing expenditures, no member of your committee would propose the appropriation of a single dollar less than was granted last year. Let parents see to it that their children are punctual and regular in their attendance, that their lessons are faithfully learned, and their behavior in conformity with school regulations. Let them en- courage teacher and pupil by occasional, if not frequent visits to the school-room, and we may look with confidence for as fair results from our schools for the next, as have accrued during the past, or any preceding year.
ISAAC FAIRCHILD, Chairman. CHARLES DREW, Secretary.
FAIRHAVEN, March 30th, 1861.
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