USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1862-1879 > Part 27
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2.
13, Mr. Elliot D. Clapp of Worcester and Miss Marietta Prentiss of Acton.
3. Feb. 18, Mr. Francis J. Campbell of London England and Miss Sophia Elizabeth Faulkner of Acton.
4. Mar. 24, Mr. Luke Kendall of Royalton Vt. and Miss S. Eldora Esta- brook of Acton.
5. April 6, Mr. Willie A, Pickens of Acton and Miss Alice Cox of East Dixville, Me.
6. 15, Rev. Ephraim Hapgood of Acton and Miss Catherine H. Had- ley, of Waltham.
7. May 19, Mr. Samuel S. Perkins of Lynn and Miss Josephine Hapgood of Acton.
8. June 9, Mr. Henry M. V. B. Whitney and Miss Cora Fiske both of Acton.
9. " 23, Mr. Geo. F. Flagg and Miss Lottie C. Faulkner both of Ac- ton.
10. Aug. 17, Mr. James W. Wheeler of Acton and Mrs. Elvira Sweatt of Boston.
11. Nov. 24, Mr. Geo. T. Knowlton of Acton and Miss Clara Maker of Lowell.
12. " 25, Mr. Frederic M. Sisson of Acton and Miss Helen Douglass of Windsor Locks Conn.
13. Dec. 4, Mr. Osha Knowlton and Miss Alvena Burnham both of Ac- ton.
14. 22, Mr. Jonathan P. Fletcher and Miss Lizzie Roth both of Acton. 15. Mr. Samuel Jones Jr. of Acton and Miss Emma E. Hayward of Concord.
Deaths in Acton in 1875.
No. Date of Death.
Names and ages of Deceased.
1. Jan. 4. Mrs. Hannah R. Burnham, aged 91 years, 4 months, 10 days.
2. 4. Willie Edward Tuttle, son of Horace and Arethusa M. Tuttle, aged 2 months, 27 days.
3.
.6 10. Miss Susie A. Potter, aged 27 years, 5 months.
4.
16. Mrs. Laura Spaulding, aged 73 years, 3 months, 2 days.
17. Erminie L. Davis, daughter of Alvin A. and Mary T. Davis, aged 8 years, 4 months, 17 days.
1. 60 19. Charlie B. Parker, son of Edwin C. and Hannah HI. Parker, aged 8 years, 11 months, 1 day.
7. 26. Anna Maria Cohollon, daughter of John and Margaret Cohollon aged 6 years, 3 months, 16 days.
.8.
2S. Patrick Cohollon, son of John and Margaret Cohollon, aged 3 years. 10 months, 21 days.
10.
30. Anna C. Parker, daughter of Edwin C. and Hannah H. Parker, aged 2 years, 4 months, 15 days.
11. Feb. 1. Grace Lillian Hosiner, daughter of Lucius S. and Ella F. Hosmer, aged 2 years, 3 months, 27 days.
12.
6.
ɔ̃. Mrs. Lizzie M. Fehan, aged 24 years, 7 months, 22 days.
13. 66
S. Mrs. Clarissa J. Fletcher, wife of Deacon John Fletcher, aged 75 years, 5 months, 22 days.
14.
17. John Desmore, aged 11 years, 5 months.
-
9. 28. Mrs. Mary Symonds, wife of O. A. Symonds, aged 52 years, 2 months, 6 days.
15
15. " 21. Clarence Rouillard, son of George and Clara Rouillard, aged 10 months, 22 days.
16. Mar. 2. Hannah Redding, daughter of Patrick and Hannah Redding. aged 1 year, 9 months, 9 days.
17.
66
5. Mr. George Bywater, aged 26 years, 10 months. «
18.
18. Ellen Redding, daughter of Patrick and Hannah Red- ding, aged 6 years. 4 months, 19 days.
19.
19. Jane Redding, daughter of same, aged 3 years, 6 months, 25 days.
20. April 7. Mary Josephine Sherry, daughter of John and Mary Sherry, aged 3 months, 5 days.
21.
13. Mrs. Lucretia Miller, aged 64 years, 5 months.
22.
22. Mrs. Mary Sherry, aged 73 years.
23.
27.
Mr. Thomas Darling, aged 43 years, 1 month, 26 days.
24. May 3. Mr. Alden Fuller, aged 77 years, 7 months, 7 days.
25.
4.
Miss Hattie M. Johnson, aged 26 years, 6 months.
Myra Adelia Gardner, daughter of George and Videtta F. Gardner, aged 14 days.
26. 27.
4. 6.
Dr. Harris Cowdrey, for nearly 50 years a resident practis- ing Physician of Acton, aged 72 years, 8 months.
29.
28. 60 23. Mrs. Marietta E. White, wife of Abram White and daugh- 24. ter of Enoch and Emeline Hall, aged 34 years, 11 months. Mrs. Miranda Barker, wife of Joseph Barker, aged 61 years, 9 days.
30.
June 4. Miss Lucinda Flagg, aged 76 years, 4 months.
31.
14. Mr. Sumner Cole, aged 77 years, 2 months, 1 day.
32. July 2.
James Daily, son of John and Ellen Daily, [aged 4 years, + 4 months. 2 days.
33.
3.
Margaret E. Daily, daughter of same, aged2 years.
34.
66
5. Mr. Horace Tuttle, aged 75 years, 3 months.
35. ..
11. Phebe M. Folsom, daughter of Benj. and Eliza A. Fol- som, aged 4 months, 1 day.
36.
17. Mr. Joab Hayden, aged 72 years.
37.
22.
Mrs. Tabitha H. Wood, widow of Lowell Wood, aged 79 years, 3 months, 6 days.
38. 39.
..
25. Mr. Jerry Lyons, aged 35 years.
George W. Fay, son of Charles G. and Harriet M. Fay, aged 3 years, 5 months, 17 days.
40. Aug. 15.
Arthur C. Hall, son of Woodbury E. and Eliza A. Hall, aged 5 months, 11 days.
41. 29. Mrs. Bridget Wallace, aged 97 years.
42. Sept. 7, Mr. Lewis Beck, aged 64 years. 9 months, 23 days.
43.
.. 25, Mrs. Ellen M. Robbins, wife of Elbridge J. Robbins, aged 33 years, 2 months, 18 days.
44. .. 30, Miss Amelia F. Perkins, daughter of Isaiah B. and Mary E. Perkins, aged 20 years, 1 month, 14 days.
45. Oct. 19, Miss Ella F. Reed, daugliter of Benjamin and Harriet Reed, aged 24 years, 9 months, 22 days.
46. " 23, Mrs. Lydia B. Howe, aged 82 years.
47. 66 28, Mrs. Hannah C. Aldrich, aged 84 years, 7 months, 28 days.
48. Nov. 20, Mrs. Ruth W. hichardson, aged 74 years, 7 months, 7 days.
49. Dec. 17, Michael .;. Sherry, son of John and Bridget Sherry, aged 5 years, 2 months, 17 days.
50. 18, Mr. John Conant, aged 54 years, 1 month, 1 day.
51. 31, Mr. Obed Augustus Symonds, aged 53 years, 6 months, 23 days.
52. July 19, A son of Edward C. and Louisa A. Cutcliff, aged 1 day.
..
26.
16
Names of Persons having Dogs Licensed in 1875.
Name of Owner.
No.
Name of Owner.
No.
Stephen Corliss,
1
Daniel Harris,
1
Francis Hosmer,
1
Daniel Wetherbee.
1
Willie F. Richardson,
1
Daniel J. Wetherbee,
1
Silas Conant Jr.,
1
Charles Wheeler,
2
John Temple,
1
James E. Harris,
1
Henry Brooks,
1
John W. Randall,
1
Luther Conant,
1
Amasa Knowlton.
1
John Fletcher & Sons.
1 Edwin Tarbell,
1
Luke Tuttle,
1 Walter A. Gilmore,
1
Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee,
3
Chas. A. Harrington
1
Neil Currie,
1
Horace Tuttle 2d.
1
Joseph Hurd.
1
John Conant,
1
Emerson F. Fuller.
1
Horace Tuttle.
1
Levi Houghton.
1
Lewis Beck,
1
Aaron J. Fletcher,
1
Augustus Fletcher.
Alfred W. Gardner.
1
James Hannon,
1
Joseph Reed,
1
Martha D. Ball.
1
James Waldron,
1
Moses Taylor,
1
William Hurd.
1
Charles Morris.
i
Francis Dwight,
1
Isaac Reed,
1
Emery D. Lothrop,
1
Charles E. Teel.
1 1
Charles J . Willis,
1
Henry Shapley,
Wm. W. Wooster,
-
1 George R. Keyes.
1
George E. Priest,
1
James F. Jones,
1
Elbridge Robbins,
1
Jos. R. Bassett,
E. J. Robbins,
1
Nahum C. Reed,
1 1
Willie E. Wood.
1
S. Taylor Fletcher,
1
Jairus C. Wheeler,
1
Henry M. Smith,
1
John Daily.
John W. Charter,
1
Alonzo L. Tuttle.
1 Luther R. Forbush,
Aaron S. Fletcher,
Geo. W. Livermore,
1 1
H. Waldo Tuttle,
1
Henry M. Potter,
1
John Fletcher 2d.
1
Isaac Barker, John Grimes,
1
Geo. V. Mead,
1
Win. H. Tufts,
1
A. & O. W. Mead,
1
Allen Smith,
1
Elnathan Jones,
1
Francis Robbins.
1
Lucius S. Hosmer,
1 James Morris,
1
Daniel Tuttle,
1 Frank M. Lund,
1
Geo. C. Conant,
1
George C. Wright.
1
Oscar E. Preston,
1
Patrick Redding,
1
A. B. Brown,
1
James E. Richardson,
1
Elwyn Whitcomb.
1
Total 100. 94 Males 6 Females.
Amount of. Licenses, $218.
Since making return to County Treasurer M. A. Snell has paid $5 for 1 female dog.
WM. D. TUTTLE,
TOWN CLERK OF ACTON.
Acton, March 15, 1876.
1 I
Josiah Piper,
1 Francis Pratt,
George Conant,
1 W. E. Faulkner.
1
Aaron C. Handley,
M. C. Bennett,
M. C. Estabrook,
Daniel H. Farrar.
G. W. Knowlton,
THE
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR, 1875-6.
ACTON: PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE PATRIOT, SO. ACTON. 1876.
REPORT.
To the Citizens of Acton.
We the undersigned, your School Committee, having discharged the duties of our trust to the best of our ability, respectfully submit for your consideration the following re- port :
As we survey the past year's operations of our schools we feel that we have reason to congratulate you upon the vitality and good degree of prosperity which have charac- terized this most important interest. None of our schools have been materially disturbed by sickness, so that they have been able to make up to some extent, what was lost by reason of a prevailing epidemic last winter.
In most cases we have been able to secure experienced teachers, and with hardly an exception have been favored with teachers of excellent ability. The number of schools which have had the same teacher through the year is larger than usual, and, as the teachers have been efficient, this fact has secured a uniformity of system and discipline which has been greatly to the advantage of the schools. During the past year we have had more than the usual number of teachers who have insisted upon good order, which promises well for the morale of our schools in future terms. More than the usual number of cases of discipline have been brought to the notice of the Committee, but we are convinced this has not been for the reason that there has been more insubordinate conduct, but rather be- cause teachers have been more disposed to enforce the rules of a healthy discipline, even at the risk of having it said that there was trouble in school. It ought not to be expected that two hundred and fifty or three hundred chil- dren and youth will be kept in order during a whole year without some prominent cases of discipline. We think that the order of any of our schools during the past year will compare favorably with the order of any of the large
3
families in town, however well they may be regulated, and this is all that can be reasonably expected ; as there are jars at times in every large family, so it ought not to be a matter of surprise that there are some jars in the discipline of our large schools, and that the jars should be sufficiently severe at times to shake some discordant and irreconcilable elements out. Considering everything, we feel that the order of our schools during the past year has been far above the average, though this result has been reached by means of some severe effort.
Not only has the discipline of our schools been commen- dable, during the period we are now reporting, but the progress of the scholars in a practical knowledge of their studies has been equally gratifying. In all our schools, save one, we have had two public examinations, during the year, which were largely attended by the parents and friends of the scholars and were very gratifying to those interested in the success of the schools.
Passing from a general survey of our schools we beg leave to invite your attention to a few points with reference to which there may be room for improvement in the future.
The influence of our schools upon the character of the Scholars.
Your Committee, during the past year, have endeavored to protect the scholars from the vicious influences which sometimes pervade public schools. Certain things which have come to our notice have impressed us with the im- portance of vigilance in this particular ; but in order that this work may be done most efficiently, the co-operation of the parents is especially needed. Objection is made to our system of free schools, on the part of some, on the ground, that they are open to the danger now referred to. But there is no reason why .our schools can not be so con- ducted, as to be perfectly free from such an objection. We hope if any parent has reason to believe that there are vicious influences in a school, that a feeling of delicacy will not prevent the School committee being informed of the fact, that a proper remedy may be applied. The moral character is of too much consequence to be exposed to a danger of this kind.
-
4
Choice of Studies.
The Committee have found it necessary in some cases to decide how many and what studies should be persued by scholars. Scholars that are not at all ambitious are inclin- ed to take but few studies, and those the ones they are most familiar with, and not 'being fully occupied are easily' tempted to be disorderly, besides losing the highest degree of benefit from the school. In the nature of the case, the teachers and committee must be allowed to use their discre- tion in this matter, and we hope no parent will feel that his rights are infringed upon by such action.
Text Books.
During the past year we have made no change in text books. We have introduced a few text books into one school, as an experiment simply. We have been more and more impressed of late with the necessity of introduc- ing something, if possible, which will render the study of Grammar and Analysis less irksome to our scholars, es- pecially to the younger portion of them. Our attention has been called to what has seemed to us an excellent and most attractive text book upon that subject, viz. : March- es' Parser and Analyzer. For the purpose of testing its mer- its we introduced it into one of our schools and have found it so well fitted for its work that we would recommend that this book be generally used in the place of the Primary Grammars which have been used heretofore.
Music.
We have been much gratified in visiting the schools to note the fact that in so many of them the good offices of music have heen invoked, to relieve the otherwise some- what monotonous routine of school exercises. We have become so fully convinced of the good offices of a proper amount of singing in our schools that we have encouraged it as much as possible. It would meet with our hearty ap- proval if arrangements could be made so as to secure to our scholars some systematic instruction in music, though our lists of studies are already so large that we hardly see how much instruction of this kind can be imparted in the schools without endangering the success of the' regular studies. It has been suggested that only teachers compe-
-
5
tent to teach music be employed. But it will be found that teachers having that qualification and the other qualities which we consider essential, and are ready to be employed at the compensation which we feel able to offer are very rare. A neighboring town sustains a course of singing schools in a public hall, which all the young people of the town are permitted to attend, and it is our impression that for such a town as ours, some such course as this would be of greater benefit to the musical education of our young people than any which could be adopted in connection with the schools. If the town were sufficiently impressed with the importance of this subject to put at the disposal of the Committee in each of the three principal villages, an amount of money sufficient to defray half of the expenses of a sing- ing school, with the condition that a similar amount should be raised by private subscription, the end would be accom- plished, and we would have three good courses of singing schools in town each year.
Sympathy with Teachers.
In view of the experience of the past year as well as of previous years, we feel moved to put in a plea for the man- ifestation of a more kindly sympathy with the teachers, in the prosecution of their work. Before we pass severe judgments upon teachers, let us bear in mind the following points : That the work in which they are engaged is one of arduous toil. There is hardly an occupation which makes such severe drafts upon the nervous system, as that in which our teachers are engaged. To be sure they are required to be in the school room but six hours each day, but during these six hours their mental faculties must be constantly active to test the accu- racy of the scholars answers, their will power must be constantly on the alert to preserve order, and at times their whole nervous, not to say anything about physical force, is called into exercise to administer necessary discipline, and at the same time they are constantly under the neces- sity of exercising their vocal organs and in almost all cases, find it necessary to exhaust their strength by being upon their feet, that they may the better overlook the scholars. Moreover, the work of the teacher carries with it a feeling of responsibility which is always oppressive and her successs depends upon so many things, beyond
6
her control, that, if anxious for success, she must have constantly a feeling of unrest, and all this exertion is put forth for a small compensation-considering the small part of the year employed, for a compensation less than what is received by servant girls and by operatives. In view of these things, do not condemn a teacher if she some- times loses her patience, a thing which most parents do every day. Endeavor to increase her strength and effi- . ciency by the manifestation of an interest in her work and in every possible way show your appreciation of the efforts she is making to render to your children a service of in- calculable value. Had such a course as this been pursued in one of our districts during the past year, the school might have been a perfect success, and a finely educated teacher, well qualified for her work, though of a sensitive nature, might have been spared an experience of abuse which will cause her always to have a low opinion of hu- man nature. We do not doubt that this teacher in the lat- ter part of her school appeared somewhat irritable toward some of her scholars, but this was not because she was naturally lacking in patience, but because her patience had been utterly exhausted by a persistent and utterly unjustifiable persecution.
Importance of our School Work.
The duties of our office during the past year have im- pressed us even more forcibly than we have been impressed before with the paramount importance of our system of Public Schools.
It is impossible to follow the mental progress of scholars from term to term, and to note their often surprising develop- ments in intellectual power, without feeling powerfully im- pressed with the value of this educational work, unassuming though it be in its pretensions, as conducted by us. The importance of this interest is evident from the fact that were it in our power to choose what we will leave as a legacy to our children, true wisdom would dictate that we should choose for them an education in preference to any- thing else. We may bequeath to our children an unsullied name, and they may tarnish it; we may hand down to them enormous wealth, and they may squander it, and it may work their ruin ; but whatever we secure to them of
7
mental discipline and of useful knowledge, will be to then a lever of power and an invaluable ornament so long as they live.
Fellow Citizens : We return to you this trust with . which you honored us and commend it to your most care- ful and generous consideration. So interest yourselves in this work and appropriate money for its prosecution so amply in this centennial year, when every important inter- est throughout the land is expected to revive and manifest a new life, that this may be the case with our free Public Schools, which, in the past have played such an impor- tant part in making us, as a nation, what we are.
Passing from the consideration of our school system as a whole, we invite your attention to a brief reference to each school.
South Grammar.
This school was taught by Miss E. A. Gordon, a teacher of good judgment, experienced in the management of schools. Her schools were the largest in town and con- tained some elements which were hard to control, so that her work each term was very arduous.
She was firm and uniform in her requisitions, as regards order, and did all that any teacher could have done in the premises to secure well ordered schools. As an instruct- or she was thorough and practical, and the scholars who applied themselves to their studies and endeavored to profit by her instructions made a steady and rapid progress throughout the year. The examination at the close of the winter term, was very thorough and highly satisfactory to all interested in the school.
South Primary.
This school was taught by Miss M. A. Forbush. Miss F. had never taught so large a school before and found her work very difficult at first. She had upon her roll in the spring term forty-nine names, of the youngest scholars in the district, a number which would have taxed the en- ergies of any teacher ; Miss F. has a quick, nervous man- ner of speaking which made it a little difficult for the scholars to understand her, the first term, so that during that term she labored under some disadvantages. The Fall and Winter terms, under the management of this
8
teacher, were successful to a marked degree. The schol- ars seemed to catch the prompt, animated manner of the teacher, so that in a given time, they could take in and answer more questions correctly than any other equal number of young scholars that we ever saw. We are often so severely tried, with the dilatory habit of scholars in responding to questions, that we have come to estimate promptness in recitation as one of the most desirable qual- ities. The scholars in this school were not only prompt and animated, but made excellent progress in the acquisi- tion of knowledge, so that the school was a success in every respect.
West Grammar.
This school was taught by Miss A. H. Allen, who has had charge of this school nine terms. As we have re- ferred to her, as a teacher, in two of our annual reports, but a brief reference to her is demanded now. During a part of the year she suffered from ill health and was not able to devote quite her accustomed energy to her work, but her school during the year compared very favorably with the other schools in town. An examination was had at the end of the Winter term, which was very creditable to teacher and scholars.
West Primary.
This school was taught by Miss A. O. Hopkins, who has completed her seventh term in this school. It is some- times the case that as teachers become experienced in their vocation, they come to look upon the instruction of a primary school as beneath their ability, as of rather an inferior grade. But, we are happy to say, this is not the case with the teacher who has had charge of this school during the past year. Her energetic manner and enthu- siasm carries the impression that she feels herself to be engaged in a most important and responsible work, and she has been very successful in retaining the confidence of the parents and the love of her scholars. We consider this one of our most successful schools.
Center Grammar.
The Spring term of this school was taught by Miss A. E. Tucker who has been favorably mentioned in our pre-
9
vious reports, as the teacher of the primary school. Miss T. performed her duties to the satisfaction of all interest- ed in the school, and was offered the position for another term but declined.
The Fall term was taught by Rev. S. O. Dyer of Weston. This teacher has been educated for the work of teaching and is well qualified, though he had not taught for many years. The school made a fair degree of pro- gress under his management. He did not awaken the en- thusiasm and arouse the ambition of the scholars quite to the degree that we could have desired, but we have no doubt that, had he continued in charge of the school an- other term, he would have been successful to a more marked degree. Having secured a more lucrative position, in a neighboring town, he resigned.
The winter term was taught by Miss S. J. Flint, a teach- er of ripe experience and marked ability. For several reasons this school promised to be one of the most difficult in town to manage. But Miss F. from the outset gave evi- dence of such aptitude for her work and devoted herself to it with such marked ability and held the reins of govern- ment with such a firm grasp that we consider her adminis- tration of the school the most successful of any in the win- ter term, since we have had the oversight of the school. The scholars showed their appreciation of her efforts to promote their welfare by the presentation of a fitting gift, at the close of the school. The examination was highly creditable to teachers and scholars.
Centre Primary.
This school was taught throughout the year by Miss S. F. Robbins. This was Miss R's first experience in teach- ing but she devoted herself to her work with such earn- estness of purpose and showed such a love for her pupils and was so patient with them where patience was required, that her success as a teacher was assured at the very com- mencement of her work. The school made a steady pro- gress in attainment throughout the year. The teacher has proved herself very well qualified for the instruction of young scholars, which is the most difficult part of the teach- ers work. The scholars felt a personal attachment to the teacher which made it a pleasant duty for them to obey her and to receive the instruction which she was ready to
10
impart. The examination at the close of the winter term was very satisfactory.
East School.
This school was favored with the continued labors of Miss M. C. Harris. Miss H. devoted herself to her work with earnestness of purpose and was faithful to her trust. We consider her one of our most thorough and skillful teachers. In the opinion of some of her scholars she may have seemed too strict in discipline, but, in our opinion, she was none too much so to keep in subjection elements which otherwise would have endangered the successof the school. The examination at the end of the winter term was exceed- ingly severe and proved the substantial character of the work which has been accomplished in the school.
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