USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1853-82 > Part 10
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this an unmitigated hardship, and the mere thought of it would be like to make her lame for a week. Among the bridal presents of the English princess, lately married by a prince of Prussia, were a number of pairs of thick-soled shoes for out-door exercise. We have a little curiosity to know how such a present would be received in this country. But to return to our subject. The intellect has been cultivated more than the body or heart. A sound mind must be in a sound body. There is much truth in the old adage, " Sick body, sick brain."
Many a beautiful and promising youth has found an early grave by disregarding the physical wants of the constitution. Mental and physical development must be in harmony. School rooms should be built with reference to the wants of the system. In this town,
with one exception, the backs of the seats are per- pendicular, while they should incline backwards at a slight angle. Consequently, the scholar cannot long remain comfortably in one upright position. The re- sult is, that a large part of the pupils undergo a visi- ble and obvious change of form. Curvatures ac- quired in youth, when the physical system is flexible, become permanent. And in all such cases the respi- ratory power is diminished; the blood is imperfectly oxygenized, and a lower degree of life is enjoyed. For these reasons, we have serious doubts as to the expediency of sending children of tender age, (say six years,) to remain on the hard benches of a school room for six hours a day. We believe it would be much better for them to be under less physical re- straint, breathing in the pure air, and roaming over the fields, thereby laying the foundation for that
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robust bodily health which is the greatest of all earthly blessings. But if parents persist in sending them to school, we think it the duty of the teacher to allow them the largest liberty consistent with the interests of the school.
In presenting these remarks, we do not wish to be understood that we have named all the defects with which our school system has to contend. A few of the most prominent have been brought forward in the hope that the attention of parents may be attracted, in order to give greater efficiency to our schools, and to obtain more completely the object for which they have been established. And, in conclusion, we would that ours were the power to fully impress upon you the sacred importance of the trust reposed in parents in the education of their children; a trust far trans- cending in magnitude every other earthly duty ; one that not only concerns the well-being and usefulness of your children in this life, but their highest interests in the future, those which connect them with God and eternity. And, as in a short time they are to occupy your places, may they be prepared to rightfully im- prove the advantages they shall receive, so that they may transmit them not only unimpaired, but improved to those who in their turn shall follow them.
LUTHER CONANT, JR., ADELBERT MEAD, Committee. W. E. FAULKNER,
DISTRICT.
TEACHERS.
Wages including board,)
per Month.
Amount of do.
Whole No. of Scholars.
Average No. of
Scholars.
, No. over 15 yrs. of age.
No. under 15 yrs. of age
Length of School in
Visitors at examination.
SUMMER.
$14 00
$42 00
42
37 1-2
1
0
3
54
Centre,
Helen E. Cowdrey,
14 00
21 00
37
30 5-7
0
5
1 1-2
20
West,
Mary J. Burroughs,
10 00
22 50
35
28
0
3
2 1-4
17
South,
Caroline E. Lothrop,
12 00
27 00
31
24
0
4
2 1-4
13
North,
Martha C. Harris,
16 00
60 00
32
26
1
1
2 3-4
20
East,
Celeste J. Robbins,
17 00
55 25
32
27 2-3
0
2
3 1-4
16
South East,
S. Augusta Davis,
16 00
44 00
17
15 1-5
0
0
2 3-4
11
Total,
$147 00
$378 25 307
256 3-8
4
15
25 1-4
FALL.
$18 00
$42 75
65
50 1-2
0
3
2 3-4
20
West,
M. Jennie Harris,
16 00
36 00
44
36
0
1
2 1-8
+0
South,
Caroline E. Lothrop,
12 00
30 00
35
23 3-4
0
4
2 1-2
15
East,
Celeste J. Robbins,
17 00
25 50
32
25 1-2
0
1
1 1-2
8
South East,
S. Augusta Davis,
16 00
20 00
19
17 5-6
0
0
1 1-4
9
Total,
$117 00
$219 25,266
210 1-3
7
9
14 7-8
WINTER.
$44 00
$132 00
49
45
12
0
3
83
Sumner T. Smith,
38 00
85 50
41
34
24
0
2 1-4
0
South,
Oliver Wetherbee,
42 00
42 00
54
39 2-5
30
0
1
12
North,
Luther Conant, Jr.,
38 00
133 00
47
42 1-2
8
0
3 1-2
101
East,
Francis F. Futney,
36 00
122 72
49
42
11
0
3 1-3
38
South East,
George Weston,
37 00
111 00
38
33 1-3
10
0
3
11
Total,
$277 00
$710 22,278
236 2-5
95
0
18 1-12
WINTER PRIMARY. M. Maria Tuttle,
$16 00
$40 00
47
42 2-3
1
2
2 1-2
25
M. Jennie Harris,
16 00
44 00
48
40
0
0
2 3-4
44
West, South,
Charlotte C. Faulkner,
18 00
45 00
51
43 1-2
0
3
2 1-2
55
Total,
$44 00| $129 00:146 |
126 1-6
1
5
7 3-4
Centre,
M. Maria Tuttle,
( Harriet B. Eaton,
20 00
*20 00
25
20 3-4
5
0
2 1-4
3
( Charlotte C. Faulkner,
18 00
45 00
46
36
2
0
2 1-2
25
Centre, West,
( Samuel M. Gleason,
42 00
84 00
35
30 1-10
0
0
2.1-2
50
¿ M. Jennie Harris,
16 00
40 50
45 00
46
37 1-5
2
0
2 1-2
26
( Charlotte C. Faulkner,
18 00
Augusta S. Miles,
14 00
21 00
1 1-2
¿ M. Maria Tuttle,
* The remainder was contributed by the inhabitants of the District.
+ No examination, on account of sickness of the teacher.
Paid to Male Teachers, $710 22; to Female Teachers, $726 50. Average wages per month of Male Teachers, $39 23; average do. of Female do., $15 16. Months taught by Male Teach- ers, 18 1-12; do. Female do., 47 7-8. Greatest number of Scholars attending School in Winter, 424; do. in Summer, 307. Average in Winter, 362 1-2; do. in Summer, 256 3-8. Ratio of at- tendance, to the whole number of children in town, between the ages of 5 and 15, expressed in decimals, .81 2-10.
Centre,
Gustavus D. Pike,
2
Months.
NAMES OF
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1
TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1858-9.
CONCORD: BENJAMIN TOLMAN, PRINTER. 1859.
REPORT.
-
The school year of 1858-9 is closed. As required by the statutes, we shall give a detailed account of the condition of each school in town, and also offer a few suggestions, with a view to augment the usefulness, and to extend the benefits of our educational system. Your Committee felt, upon assuming the active super- vision of your schools, that the town could not have reposed in them a more important trust. And we deeply regret that the pressure of business engage- ments has trespassed upon the time that we would gladly have spent, in more closely attending to the performance of the duties and requirements of the office. The past year has been one of general and increased prosperity to our schools. With a single exception near the close of the year, all have been respectable, and most have made excellent advance- ment. With another preliminary remark, we proceed to give the Annual Report of the state of each school. And that is, that having carefully formed, we shall freely express our opinions in regard to the several schools, unbiassed by any partiality towards their respective teachers, and without any special intention to please or displease either parents or pupils, fully confident that such is the only proper course.
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CENTRE SCHOOL.
The intermediate department of this school for the Summer term, the whole school for the Fall term, and the primary department for the Winter term, have been in charge of Miss Martha C. Harris, of this town. Miss H. has commendable enthusiasm for her calling, and exerts herself with zeal and an animation worthy of the magnitude of her trust. Nor can we expect any one to succeed in the business of teaching, with- out a love for that vocation. Without this love for the occupation, the daily care of the school soon becomes tedious and commonplace to the teacher- a feeling quickly shared by the pupils. All three examinations of this school have been well attended by parents and others interested in its prosperity. The first, especially, passed off admirably, and the appear- ance of the scholars, the readiness of their answers, as well as the recitations and songs, elicited warm encomiums from all present.
The Fall term continued only seven weeks, and the list of scholars upon the register comprised 66 names, a number too large for the most advantageous management of a single teacher. The close of the Winter term displayed careful and thorough instruc- tion on the part of the teacher, and corresponding progress on the part of her pupils.
The primary department for the Summer term was intrusted to the control of Miss S. Augusta Dole, whose parents reside in the district. This teacher is endowed with a good share of energy, and commenc- ed her labors with a determination to excel. And we have seldom seen a school to which the word per- fect could be applied with so little qualification as to
5
this. At every visit of the Committee, as well as at the final examination, we found the order exactly up to the mark, and a degree of interest and attention altogether unlooked for in this grade of schools. The examination was well attended, as most good ones are. And this does much to make them good. Children of a small growth as well as those of a larger, make effort in all things, in proportion as the results of their exertions are seen and appreciated. Wherever the services of this teacher can be obtained we should expect a first class school.
The Grammar department for the Winter term was taught by Mr. C. Little, a student at Dartmouth Col- lege. Mr. L. was highly recommended by Mr. Pike, the teacher of the school the previous winter. This is a very large school and one at the present time containing but few advanced scholars. The degree of interest excited in such a school depends in a great measure upon the energy displayed by the teacher, his tact in infusing a corresponding feeling, and his readiness in illustration. But, primarily, no teacher can expect to accomplish much, without persevering and patient labor, and a hearty devotion to the welfare of his charge. The school appeared to be making fair progress as the Committee judged, during the first half of the term. Afterward the interest and order seemed to deteriorate until, quite reluctantly, we felt compelled to close the school. But few visitors were present at examination, the exercises of which, though showing some improvement, fell below the mark that could reasonably be anticipated of this school. Had the teacher been less sparing of his labor, we think far better results might have been attained.
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WEST SCHOOL. Prudential Committee, GEORGE A. STEVENS.
The intermediate department of this school for the Summer term, and the primary for the Winter term, were instructed by the teacher of the previous year, Miss Mary J. Harris, of this town, a lady who not only enjoys, but merits a wide popularity as an able and successful teacher. This school was in the highest degrec satisfactory. The government was judicious, and the efforts of the teacher for the improvement of the scholars, faithful and unremitted ; and, as might have been expected, the pupils made a very percepti- ble advancement. The examinations of both terms were attended by a very large number of visitors, who were not only pleased at the proficiency in the studies pursued, but gratified at the manner in which the Recitations, Dialogues and Songs were given.
The primary department for the Summer term was taught by Miss Ann M. Stockwell, of this town and district, who, though young and wholly inexperienced, met with admirable success, not only in imparting instruction, but in the equally important matter of school discipline. The school at examination appeared well, and as the classes of little ones passed in review before the visitors, their appearance was the best meed of commendation that could be bestowed upon the teacher and her labors.
Winter term. This term of the school was placed in the charge of Mr. Eugene L. Norton, a student at Hanover, N. H. On entering the school room the first day of the term, he found four boys on the side of the room usually occupied by the other sex, thereby forcing an equal number of the young ladies to occupy
7
seats on the boys' side, or those on their own side usually allotted to the smaller scholars. The teacher very properly requested the boys to take their proper places ; this they refused to do, and matters remained in this state until the school was visited by the Com- mittee, who at once directed each part of the school to take their suitable position. We are satisfied that this difficulty was the foundation for most or all of the trouble experienced by the teacher in the manage- ment of the school. The school when visited by the Committee appeared orderly and attentive, and we can see no reason why any pupil, inclined to advance in study, could not attain that purpose with facility and success. The examination was witnessed by a large number of visitors, and gave general satisfaction. There were some excellent specimens of Composition, Declamation and Singing, which enhanced very much the interest of the occasion.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Prudential Committee, A. C. HANDLEY.
The intermediate school for the Summer term, and the primary for the Winter term, were placed in charge of Miss Charlotte C. Faulkner, of this town and dis- trict. Miss F. has been connected with one or the other departments of this school for six successive terms, and with marked success from the first. Her reputation as a teacher, her warm interest in her vocation, the ease with which she always maintains almost perfect order, combined with the friendship and regard she has gained to herself, both from parents and pupils, have conspired to make this one of the best schools of its grade in town. The last examina-
8
tion is always the best. Were we to commend all that attracted our attention at each examination, we should review the whole list of studies pursued. We mention in particular, the interesting Dialogues and Declamations, and also the neatness with which the writing books had been preserved.
The primary department for the Summer term was instructed by the teacher of the previous Summer, Miss C. E. Lothrop, who not only maintained, but improved upon the excellent success of that effort. This school though large, when visited by the Com- mittee always appeared quiet and orderly, and at its close manifested good progress in all particulars. Among the many pleasant features of the examination, was a song by three little girls, who acquitted them- selves with a grace far above their years.
Winter term. This term of the school was com- mitted to the care and management of Mr. True J. Perry, of N. H., a man who possesses a good share of decision, and energy of character, with a fine development of muscular power, all of which are desirable, if not absolutely necessary, to obtain success in this school. Many of its pupils sometime since contracted the habit of reading rapidly, and conse- quently indistinctly, a fault somewhat difficult to amend. Mr. P. seems to have corrected this defect quite effectually. His style of teaching was original and practical, and appeared to incite the pupils to a good degree of effort. While we gladly concede to Mr. Perry a high degree of success, especially in the government of his school, we think that a more care- ful use of language on the part of the teacher, as well as a more refined address and manner, would have
9
exerted a beneficial influence upon the pupils, and added to the efficiency of the term. The school at examination appeared well, with the exception that the classes in reviewing their studies, had been per- mitted to recite in concert, and no correction on the part of the Committee, could obtain separate answers.
EAST SCHOOL.
Prudential Committee, E. DAVIS.
The Summer term of this school was taught by Miss C. J. Robbins, this being her fifth successive Summer term in this district. This teacher has the power, to a rare degree, of conciliating and gaining the affections of her pupils, and this being done, a teacher has almost unlimited influence. Good order follows as a matter of course, for the pupils instead of watching for opportunities for idleness and mischief, will strive to gain the approving smile of the teacher. Children have warm hearts and active sympathies, and are much more easily influenced and guided by an affectionate look, and a kind and approving word, than by any cold and forbidding manner which pro- duces avertion and fear. We have before adverted to the attention paid to moral instruction by this teacher, and were gratified to witness the care and attention exerted, in forming the character of the pupils after the highest models. The examination was well attended and entirely satisfactory. Finally, the ap- pearance and character of the school was such, as to reflect honor, both upon the teacher and the taught.
Winter Term. This term was committed to the care of Mr. E. H. Davis, a native of the district, at present a member of Dartmouth College. Mr. D.
2
10
being quite young and comparatively inexperienced, some anxiety was expressed by a part of the parents in regard to the success of the school. By a digni- fied bearing and earnest effort, the teacher soon gained the respect and esteem of the pupils, and obtained a good degree of success. The ratio of attendance owing to the prevalence of an epidemic disease in the district, was low, and consequently in some degree impaired the efficiency of the school, which, however at the close, displayed good advancement, and gave full satisfaction to the district and Committee. We take pleasure in recording the success of this teacher and express the opinion, that if more of the young men of this town, would fit themselves for, and enter upon, the duties of teaching, the schools would not suffer by the change.
SOUTH EAST SCHOOL.
Prudential Committee, DANIEL FLETCHER.
The parents in this school considered themselves fortunate in obtaining the services of the teacher of the same term for the previous year, Miss S. Augusta Davis, who proved herself well fitted for the trust, by the success of that effort. The parents, gratified at the change wrought in the school, seem to take re- doubled interest, judging from the average attendance, and the number of visitors present at examination. It is enough to say that Miss Davis's reputation as an excellent teacher was sustained. This school was quiet, energetic, and efficient. The teacher retained the affection of her pupils, satisfied the district, and received the congratulations and commendations of the Committee.
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The Winter term was confided to the instruction of Mr. Oliver Wetherbee, of Boxboro', who in years past has completed two unfinished terms of school in the South District, which terms the young gentlemen who began, were unable to close, on account of mental or physical sickness-it would be difficult to state exactly which. With a competent and experienced teacher, and interested school, and the prompt and hearty co- operation of the parents, it would be almost impossible to fail of a good school. The teacher gave much time to the elementary branches, which he taught with thoroughness and precision. We review the history of this school the past year with pleasure, and trust that its present promises of future merit may be fully redeemed.
NORTH SCHOOL.
The Summer term of this school was committed to the management and tuition of Miss Sarah A. Rouil- lard, a resident of the district. This was her first attempt at teaching, and we fear that some parents witheld their co-operation for this reason. For our part we believe that youth and inexperience are neither faults nor failures, as none certainly can be to blame for their age, nor, with any degree of propriety, be said to fail, until they have had a fair opportunity to try. And we presume it may be said of the most experienced teachers, that they taught one school without any previous trial. If parents were aware how much a kind word would often do to inspirit a teacher, and how indispensable their co-operation is to the highest good of a school, they would sometimes do very differently from what they do. In this school
12
the pupils who were punctual and regular in their attendance, and who yielded ready obedience to proper requirements, made excellent progress. The school room at examination was beautifully decorated, and the exercises highly creditable. The whole school had been drilled in classifying from the outline maps, and the Reading and Parsing, as well as some spirited Declamations and Recitations, merit particular notice.
Winter Term. Of this term for obvious reasions we shall say but little. If the advancement in this, and preceding winter terms has fallen below the expecta- tions of the parents, they should remember that such a miserable, dilapidated, cold, cheerless, uncomfort- able and lonely old school house is not the place to look for anything remarkable. The pupils one day the past winter, found a large supply of shavings, in consequence of one of their number falling through a defective part of the floor. Occasionally the boys, out of school hours, amuse themselves by jumping from the floor and touching the ceiling, a feat that most of them can easily accomplish. There is no place in the room, when there is a fire in the stove, where a large class can stand in the floor to recite, without a portion of its members being exposed to an ordeal from which we all hope to escape. The loca- tion of the stove is such that the radiation caloric is very unequally distributed ; the pupils on the outside of the room, receiving less, while those near the centre, get more than their proper share. Indeed the house may be comprehensively described as almost a perfect model of what a school house ought not to be. How- ever, as we do not desire to seem prejudiced, we will add that the means of ventilation, though not exactly
13
according to the modern plan, are very ample indeed.
The return required by law, to be made by the Assessors of each town to the School Committee, and by them, to the Secretary of the Board of Education, gives the number of children in Acton, between the ages of 5 and 15 years, as 386. According to the registers kept by the teachers, 313 children of the above ages, inclusive, were members (this requires two week's attendance,) of the several schools during the Summer term ; in Winter, the number was 4 greater. By this, it appears that nearly one-fifth part of the children in this town, between the ages of 5 and 15 years, did not attend school at all, or not long enough to become members of the school. About 120 pupils, either younger than 5, or older than 15, have belonged to the schools some part of the year. The whole number of children of all ages, who have belonged to the schools the past year, is 433. The average attendance, expressed in round numbers, for the year, has been 317. These statistics show that the actual attendance upon our schools, is only about two-thirds of what it might, and should be. In other words the schools have done but two-thirds the good, possible to be done-but two-thirds the good, the community has a right to expect, and which every proper considera- tion demands. Of course, some allowance is to be made for sickness and the exigencies of circumstan- ces. But making all proper consideration for these cases, enough remains to justify the remark, that owing to the indifference or negligence of parents, more than one-fourth of the money appropriated by this town for the support of schools, is annually lost. And what is of far greater importance, the children of
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this town receive but three-fourths of the benefit from the schools, that they should. And it is useless to disguise the fact, that in nearly all the six districts in town, are one or more large families of children, who are, from non-attendance at school and irregularity, growing up with hardly an apology for the plainest Com- mon School Education. In at least two of the districts. this is the case within speaking distance of the school houses. And where children are permitted to spend their youth in idleness or roaming the streets, it re- quires no spirit of prediction to foretell the end. They may be considered candidates for some one of the various classes of public institutions.
Now the public schools of Massachusetts are not merely a privilege which the citizens of the state enjoy. It is the imperative duty of parents, to improve every opportunity to educate their children. It is the abso- lute right of every child born in this land of Free Schools, to receive as good an education as is possible in the circumstances in which it is placed. The op- portunity for a practical and judicious education, is a priceless legacy, and one to which every Massachu- setts born child has a title clear. And lastly, in refer- ence to this subject, we cannot avoid feeling, when we examine the figures of our school returns, when we remember the instances that we have witnessed of idle and truant children in our streets or in places of public resort, when we reflect upon the trifling causes that are thought of sufficient importance, to justify the absence of the scholar from the school, and that excuse him when his day's instruction is but half completed, when we recall the cases where children have been removed from school on account of some
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