USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1853-82 > Part 11
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slight disaffection-that the child's richest birthright has been denied him, and that the parent's most im- portant duty has been left undone.
Another matter to which we would advert briefly, is the growing practice of withdrawing children from school for reason of some slight dissatisfaction, or misunderstanding with the teacher, or disapproval of the management of the school. And in these remarks we would be understood as referring to no particular school or persons. In most instances where children are withdrawn from school, a friendly conference with teacher or committee, or both, would remove all un- pleasant feelings and be much more advantageous than any hasty course of action. Teachers are fal- lible, and of course liable to mistakes ; but even when the teacher is palpably in fault, we seriously question the wisdom of parents, in the removal of their children from school, without any attempt to arrange the diffi- culty. In all future cases of this kind, we hope that no parent will take a child from school without an interview with the teacher, and then, clearly under- standing both sides of the subject at variance, will first make every needful effort to promote the harmony of the school, and to give each child a full opportunity, to experience all the benefits to be derived from it.
The last Report of the Board of Education, gives a list of the towns in the Commonwealth, showing their comparative liberality by the amount of money appro- priated by each, for the education of each child in the town, between the ages of 5 and 15 years. Nahant heads the list, expending $20,00 for the schooling of each pupil. The scale descends gradually to New Ashford, which gives the munificent sum of $1,50 to
16
each scholar. Acton stands in the last half of the table, 185 towns and cities voting more, while only 146 appropriate less. In 1856-7, Acton stood in the one hundred and seventeenth place, thus falling 15 places in a single year. In '55-6, we held the one hundred and eighth place. Other towns are increasing their appropriations, and if ours remains stationary we shall soon be very low upon the list. If the town should see fit to increase the sum by $200,00, we could have three terms of twelve weeks, in each dis- trict. In view of these facts, we respectfully request the town to appropriate $1700,00 the coming year for the support of schools, remembering that no money is so well expended, as that which is made to tell upon the moral and intellectual improvement of your children.
Before closing this hastily written report, we can- not refrain from reminding those who, in the Provi- dence of God, sustain the parental relation, that not all the education that fits one for the practical duties of life is obtained in the school room. The great business of directing and training the moral and men- tal powers of children, and forming the habits which are to govern them through life, is not the work of an hour or a day. Character is formed as the boy said houses were built, "only one brick at a time." And as you value the future happiness of your children, as you wish to see them grow up to be useful and re- spectable men and women, as you desire their support and sympathy in your declining years, early instill in their minds principles of truthfulness and integrity, and above all, give them habits of industry,-teach them to love work. The path of idleness is the path
17
to ruin. Who of us can see children reared in habits of sloth and indolence, without feeling that for every child so reared, there is one ruined one the more.
A distinguished and successful Boston merchant recently remarked, that " the young man who was trained in habits of industry and economy, had the Philosopher's stone, and it was his own fault if he lost it."
The law recently enacted, to take effect from the first of July of the present year, making it the duty of the Superintending Committee to select and contract with the teachers, throws upon us weighty responsi- bilities. In the performance of this sometimes diffi- cult, and delicate duty, we ask the generous co-oper- ation of the citizens, and invite a free expression of their opinions concerning the necessities of the several districts, and also their preferences as regards the selection of teachers.
In conclusion, we earnestly hope that the people of this town may ever strive to elevate the standard of moral and mental culture, not only in their schools, but in the whole community ; that they may fully ap- preciate the importance of the subject, not only as concerns the individual, but the common welfare of all.
LUTHER CONANT, JR., ADELBERT MEAD, Committee. JOHN M. MILES,
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Statistical Table for 1858-9.
DISTRICT.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Wages per Month.
Amount of Wages.
Whole No. of Scholars.
Average No. of Scholars.
No. over 15 yrs. of age.
No. under 5 yrs. of age.
Length of School in
Visitors at examination. Visitors during the term.
SUMMER. Martha C. Harris, 6.
$13 00,
$48 00
38
34
0
0
3
42
Centre,
( S. Augusta Do'e,
12 00
36 00
33
34
0
7
3
39
West,
( Ann M. Stockwell.
10 00
27 50
31
27
0
8
3 3-4
25
South,
Caroline E. Lothrop,
14 00
55 00
45
33
0
5
4
45
North,
Sarah A Rouillard,
15 00
60 00
29
23 1-5
2
2
4
20
East.
Celeste J. Robbins,
18 00
72 00
37
29
0
4
4
35
20
South East, S. Augusta Davis,
18 00
85 50
34
29 1-4
1
2
4 3-4
14
23
$159 00 $573 00
358 291 7-10
4
34
33 3-4
WINTER.
Charles Litt'e.
$41 00 $112 75
58
47
16
0
2 3-4
15
19
West.
Eugene L. Norton,
45 00.
157 50
45
37
27
0
3 1-2
70
26
South,
True J. Perry.
42 001
115 50
44
37
20
0
2 3-4
12
23
North,
Luther Conant, Jr.,
39 00
137 00
43
37
11
0
3 1-2
60
20
East.
Eben H Davis.
33 00:
120 33
40
31 1-2
10
0
3 1-3
20
25
South East, Oliver Wetherlee,
44 00
130 00
43
40 2-3
9
0
3
20
18
Total,
$249 00, $773 08
276
230 1-5. 93
0
18 2-3
WINTER PRIMARY. Martha C. Harris,
$12 00
33 00
45
37 1-2
0
1 2 3-1
15
M. Jennie Harris,
18 00
63 00
33
33 1-2
0
0
3 1-2
32
42
C. C. Faulkner,
18 00
49 50.
51
41
0
0
2 3-4
33
19
-
Total,
$48 00 $145 50 135
112
0
1
9
7
Mary J. Harris.
18 00
81 00
54
39 1-4
0
0
4 1-2
70
22 33 26 9
j Charlotte (. Faulkner,
18 00
72 00
4.
41
0
0
4
45
12 17
Centre,
20 00
35 00
*66
*59 2-3
1
6
1 3-4
34
Months.
* Not included in amount. being a second term.
Paid Male Teachers, $773.08; to Female Teachers. $718.50. Average wages per month, of Male Teachers, $41.5); average do. of Female Teachers. $15.92. Months taught by Male Teachers. 18 23; do. by Female Teachers, 45 3-4. Greatest number of Scholars attending School in Winter, 411; do. in Sum ner. 358. Average in Winter. 342 1-6; do. in Summer, 287 1-2. Ratio of attend- ance for the year to the whole number of children in town between the ages of 5 and 15, ex- pressed in decimals, 81. 6 10.
As some of the Registers for the past year have been very hard to find. and were incomplete when found. we quote, for the benefit of Teachers, from the enactments of 1849, as follows:
" No School Teacher shall be entitled to receive payment for his or her services. until the Regis- ter of his or her School-properly filled up and completed. shall be deposited with the School Com- mittee, or with such person as they may designate to receive it."
1
Centre, West, South,
Total,
TWENTY - THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1859-60.
BOSTON : S. CHISM, -FRANKLIN PRINTING HOUSE. HAWLEY STREET, CORNER OF FRANKLIN. 1860.
REPORT.
IN presenting their Annual Report, in accordance with the requisitions of law, your Committee would remind the town that some important, and, as they believe, some beneficial changes in the school system, have taken place during the past year.
The established custom, in this and many other towns, has been to commence the Summer Term, in each year, upon the first or second Monday of the month of May, the schools to continue from twelve to sixteen weeks. Under this system, all the schools were in session when the blazing heat and sultry atmosphere of midsummer made continuous mental exertion almost an impossibility ; also, great loss was suffered from irregularity of attendance and absen- teeism on account of the inducements for pecuniary gain offered during the berry season. This is not an unimportant matter to the people of this town; for the statement has been made, on good authority, that the amount paid in a common season, to the children and others engaged in this pursuit, exceeds twice the whole sum expended for the annual support of schools.
With the present appropriation we are enabled to have annually, in each district, three terms of school,
4
commencing the second weeks of April and August, and the first week in December, of each year, thereby having the schools in session during the most desira- ble seasons for study, and the occurrence of the vaca- tions at the times most convenient for the parents and scholars. We think this experiment fully suc- cessful, and hope that the arrangement may be permanent.
The need of some uniform and systematic series of text-books to be exclusively used in the schools, has long been felt, and we thought it incumbent upon us, at least in part, to supply this necessity. By a law enacted by the Legislature, in 1859, no change can be made without the unanimous consent of the Com- mittee, and all changes thus made must be at the expense of the town.
Before the beginning of the Winter Term, after a careful examination of the different series of reading books in common use, we concluded to adopt Town's Progressive Readers, and where a change seemed desirable, the Speller, by the same author. We were also fortunate in obtaining Cornell's Geographies and Tower's Grammars, in exchange for the old books in use, and without expense to the town or pupil. The Readers were obtained at half the retail price, as were a supply of Grammars and Geogra- phies for the use of those pupils who had no old books to exchange.
We would earnestly recommend that a change be made, before the commencement of the Summer Term, in the Arithmetic in use (Adams'), as in some of the schools two or three books, by different authors, are used by those who might and should belong to
,
5
the same class, and thereby save much valuable time.
A vacancy occurring in the Committee, in conse- quence of the removal from town and consequent resignation of Mr. Calvin P. Harris, the Selectmen and remaining members of the Committee, under the authority of the Statute of 1857, filled the place by the appointment of Dr. J. M. Miles.
With these preliminaries, we proceed to state such facts and opinions, in relation to the several schools, as may aid in arriving at just conclusions in regard to their character and standing.
CENTRE SCHOOL.
The Intermediate Department for the Summer Term was placed in charge of Miss Martha C. Harris, of this town, - this being her fourth term in the district. We were always pleased, when visiting this school, with the excellent order and system that appeared to prevail; and also with the respectful and affec- tionate bearing of the scholars toward the teacher. At the close, good order, pleasant singing, and the customary exercises of declamations, dialogues, and recitations, were displayed. The scholars seemed to suffer, in some degree, from embarrassment, as the questions asked were not answered with the prompt- ness expected. Had the scholars spoken in a louder tone, the exercises would have given better satisfac- tion to all.
The Primary Department, for the same term, was taught by Miss Nellie E. Cowdrey, of this town and district. A few years since, it was the commonly re- ceived opinion, that any one with even very limited
6
intellectual qualifications, was competent to assume the management of a primary school. Recently, distinguished educators have called public attention to the importance of this grade of schools; and, at the present time, the highest qualifications, as regards tact, management, and aptness to teach, are desired and expected in applicants for this important work. The safety and magnitude of the superstructure de- pend, in a great measure, upon the thoroughness and accuracy of the base. The teacher of this school was amply qualified, labored faithfully, and met with good success in the advancement of her pupils. The reading was effective, and given with less of the drawling, sing-song tone, than we usually hear from young children. The examination was well attended, and the exercises satisfactory.
FALL TERM. - The former teacher resigning, the Upper Department was placed in care of Miss S. S. Harris, of this town, who, though quite young, had taught a successful term of school in an adjoining town, in the summer season. This teacher, by assid- uous effort and natural kindness of heart, quickly won the respect of her pupils, and thus secured good order throughout the term. This was a pleasant and profitable school ; and the examination showed good advancement in the studies pursued, and thorough drilling in the elementary principles.
The Primary Department, for this term, was com- mitted to the care of Miss Ellen F. Stearns. This is a large school of small scholars, and one that requires firm government, and no small amount of tact in its management. We are sorry to say that some of its attendants are members of a different kind of school
,
7
- the street school - and the two never work har- moniously together. We cheerfully give Miss S. the credit of being devoted and faithful, and think that, with years and experience, she may become an ac- complished teacher.
Most of the pupils being quite young, and, as some of the parents in the district desired a longer Winter Term for the older scholars, we concluded to abridge this term five weeks, and to expend the money upon the Grammar School, in the Winter Term. A few of the parents felt aggrieved, however, and we reluct- antly re-opened the school. The district were fortu- nate in obtaining the services of Miss Sarah F. Davis, of Williamstown, N. Y., an experienced teacher, and one that possesses the governing faculty to a very desirable degree. The pupils quickly became aware of this fact, and the school went smoothly forward to a happy and prosperous conclusion.
WINTER TERM. - The Grammar School, for this term, was taught by Mr. Daniel W. Hardy, of Maine. Like the Lower Department in this district, a firm and almost rigid discipline is required to ensure success. This school was very large - sixty-two names being on the register. Some of its members (and these re- marks apply to other districts), are permitted to spend nearly every evening at places of public resort, or in the streets; and the influence of these practices can- not be of an advantageous character. When all parents can perceive the necessity and importance of a strict parental supervision over the leisure hours of their children, and the company in which those hours are spent, the management of our schools will be less laborious and difficult than it now is. When a
8
teacher feels that he is toiling almost alone in a large and backward school, is it surprising that his energies are cramped, and his enthusiasm chilled, at the con- templation of the almost Herculean task before him? Mr. Hardy's patient and persevering efforts to main- tain order, and to incite increased interest, were in a good measure successful; and the close of the school showed considerable advancement on the part of the scholars present, and a good prospect for the future of the school.
PRIMARY DEPARTMENT. - The success of Miss Davis, in the Fall Term, awakened a new interest, and the parents were unanimous in desiring her further con- tinuance in the school. Tact, energy, and enthusi- asm, when combined in the same person, rarely fail of reaching the highest point of success in school dis- cipline and management. Beside the studies ordin- arily pursued, the pupils in this school were taught many facts of practical value.
At the close, a good number of interested parents and visitors were present to enjoy the singing, dec- lamations, and recitations, a noticeable feature of the latter being a review of a class in Mental Arithmetic, of twenty-one scholars.
WEST SCHOOL.
The Upper Department, for the Summer Term, was placed in charge of Miss Mary J. Harris, of this town, this being her sixth successive term in the district. After this statement, a description of the school seems almost superfluous. This teacher seems to have the ability to win the affections of the scholars under her
9
care, without diminishing their respect for her as their teacher. The examination was well attended, and in our opinion equalled and perhaps surpassed, any former one, while the school has been under her tuition. We would mention particularly a large class in Colburn's Arithmetic, that displayed unusual pro- ficiency, not only in the solution of the problems selected by the Committee, but in the explanation of the principles involved. Some of the classes in read- ing, throughout the term, had practised the exercise of spelling and defining words not previously selected from the reading lesson for the day-an excellent plan, and one that is calculated to prepare the pupils to make a practical use of their attainments.
The Lower Department for the Summer, the Inter- mediate for the Fall, and the Primary for the Winter Terms, were under the tuition of Miss Ann M. Stock- well, a resident of the district. This teacher is inter- ested in her vocation, energetic, and has labored with a good degree of acceptability. In fact, these qual- ities, on the part of the teacher, combined with the cordial co-operation and active assistance on the side of the parent, will rarely fail to make a school useful and prosperous. Yet we would not be understood as advising parents to interfere with the government and regulations of the school, though occasional visits to the school-room would certainly tend to stimulate the interest of the children. There are a great vari- ety of ways by which the child can be made to feel the interest of its parents in the school. If children never hear the teacher or school mentioned at home, or if named only to be disparaged, they will soon arrive at the conclusion that the subject of education
10
does not press very heavily on the attention of their elders. If a few moments of time were spent, every evening, in each family, in learning the subject of the day's lesson, and the child's success in mastering the rules and principles therein applied, a new impulse would be at once imparted, especially to the younger pupils. And parents would be far better qualified to judge as regards the thoroughness and success of the teacher. These remarks are expected to admit of gen- eral application.
The examinations were well attended, as is usually the fact in this district, and gave good satisfaction to visitors and Committee.
The Primary School, for the Fall Term, was taught by Miss Clara Hapgood, of this town and district. Whatever may be the mental qualification of an in- experienced applicant for the situation of teacher, we always feel that the ultimate success reached will chiefly depend upon the amount of that indescribable, but all-essential quality known as tact, in the control of the school and the administration of its affairs, ex- ercised by the teacher. It is enough to say that this teacher possesses this and other qualifications; and that all the exercises at the final examination were creditable; particularly the full, clear tone in which the answers were given, merits especial commendation.
The Winter Term was taught by Mr. Philo Hersey, of Maine, at present a student at Tuft's College. The district was fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Hersey to take charge of the school. The pupils and parents were not long in discovering the advan- tages that they enjoyed in a teacher of ample quali-
11
fications and cultivated tastes, and joined heartily in improving them. From these circumstances, your Committee were prepared to anticipate the happiest results ; nor were their expectations disappointed. Regularity and good order prevailed throughout the term. The examination was witnessed by an unpre- cedented number of visitors, (one hundred and fifty,) and the exercises were of a character to give full satisfaction.
SOUTH SCHOOL,
Intermediate Department, Summer Term. For the seventh time, Miss C. C. Faulkner took charge of this school. And this statement is sufficient to form a correct opinion of her labors; for a teacher who can command the support of the parents, retain the re- spect of the pupils, and also, aim at and reach a con- stantly elevating standard of improvement, for seven successive terms, can well afford to be indifferent to either praise or censure. The uniform good success which this teacher had enjoyed, and her known en- ergy and ability in school-management, made success certain. Her manner of teaching has been thoroughly systematic and practical. Under such instruction and discipline, a school could not fail to make rapid progress in every department, and in all respects ; and we are confident that it ranks at least equal to any other of the same grade in town. The examination was well attended and entirely satisfactory.
The Primary Division was taught by Miss Sarah A. Shattuck of this district. Miss S. had the advan- tage of a former successful trial, and fully sustained
12
the reputation then gained. Nearly all the pupils of the Upper Department were present at the examina- tion of this school, making the number of eighty chil- dren in one room. The attention of the visitors, and the promptness and orderly behavior of the scholars, were alike creditable to both.
The Intermediate Department, for the Fall Term, was also taught by Miss Shattuck. It is no desirable situation to take the place long occupied by a popu- lar teacher. The scholars are liable to compare her methods of instruction and manner of intercourse with those of her predecessor, and the comparison is almost sure to be unfavorable to the new-comer. We have no doubt that the teacher made diligent exer- tions to interest the scholars, and to maintain order in the school. She met with some difficulty on account of the disposition of a few of the boys to absent them- selves from school without the consent of either parent or teacher. We hope these lads may see their danger, and avoid a repetition of such disreputable and dangerous conduct.
The Primary Department was taught by Miss Ellen J. Fletcher, of the South-East district. This teacher is quite young, and came to this school with but little previous acquaintance with the practical part of a teacher's duties. She labored assiduously for the in- terests of the youthful pupils committed to her charge. The closing exercises were satisfactory, and we doubt not that, with maturer judgment, and further experi- ence, Miss Fletcher will become highly useful as a teacher of youth.
The Grammar Department, for the Winter Term, was placed in charge of Mr. J. Bisbee, of Maine, now
,
13
pursuing a course of study at Tuft's College, at Som- erville. Mr. B. came well recommended, and we were confident that a competent teacher had been engaged. At our first visit, the school appeared well. Soon after, one of the Committee, ascertaining that the Bible was not read in the school, requested the teacher to commence the exercises of the school each day, by requiring all scholars of suitable age to read, as usual. The teacher was also informed that this was required by the Statutes, and that the omission gave general dissatisfaction. Finding, after the lapse of a few days, that the request was not complied with, the direction was repeated. The teacher refus- ing to obey, we felt that we had no alternative but to dissolve his connection with the school. Finally, after his dismissal was decided upon, the teacher con- cluded to yield, and promised to obey the direction the following day ; but, instead of following the usual custom, the teacher read from the Bible himself, and the scholars repeated what he had read, without their books. The Committee, considering this an evasion, voted his immediate removal. The school had been in session five weeks.
After consulting a number of the parents in the district, we decided to procure the services of the teacher in the other division, - Miss C. C. Faulkner, - who, not without hesitation, and much urging, ac- cepted the trying situation. The choice proved to be the best that could have been made ; and the school went smoothly forward to a profitable termination, thus placing the district under renewed obligations to the teacher.
The position vacated as above, by the teacher of
14
the Primary Department, was offered to a former oc- cupant, - Miss Caroline E. Lothrop - who, without delay, assumed the school, and conducted it through the winter in an energetic and satisfactory manner. The examinations of both schools were well attended, and not only received, but deserved, the hearty ap- proval of all present.
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