USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1862-1879 > Part 31
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1 Daniel Tuttle,
1
Chas. W. Parker.
1 Ann Flinnegan.
1
T. P. Goding,
1
John White, (fem.)
1 Frank Marshall,
1 Geo. W. Knowlton,
1
-Ellen Moore,
1
F. M. Sisson,
1 John P. Rouillard,
1
Willie F. Richardson, 1
Elnathan Jones,
L Patrick Redding.
1
Theron F. Newton,
1
Sumner F. Reed.
L Alonzo L. Tuttle,
1
Neil Curric,
1 James Hannon,
1 R. M. Gowell,
L
Geo. C. Conant.
Martha D. Ball,
1
M. F. Going,
1 1 Charles Wheeler. (fem.)
1 Jas. E. Richardson,
1
Males, 92 at 2 00 = $184.
Females, 4 " 5 00 === 20.
Total,
$204
I Name of Owner. No. C. A. Pickens, (fem.) 1 Charles Worster, 1 Anson C. Piper, 1 E. J. Robbins, (fem.) 1 Cyrus Hayward,
Chas. H. Handley. John Fletcher Jr ..
1
Tuttles Jones & Weth- erbee.
C11
Geo. W. Livermore, 1
Francis Conant,
Hanson A. Littlefield,
1 Baldwin & Hesselton, 1 Henry Haynes,
1
Geo. V. Mead,
1 James Waldron,
1 Daniel Wetherbee, 1
Windsor Pratt.
1 George Conant,
N. B. Conant & Co., 1
L
John Temple.
1
1 1 Thomas Calder,
1
Luther Conant,
1 N. S. Brooks,
1 Charles Morris,
1
1
WM. D. TUTTLE, TOWN CLERK.
Acton, Marchi 20, 1878.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee Town of Acton
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR. 1877-8.
To the Citizens of Acton :
Your School committee and Superintendent of schools, having discharged the duties submitted to their care, beg leave to present for your consideration the following re- port :
In the composition of this report we have endeavored to embody not simply a statement of what we have done in our department of official town work, but we have striven also to put into it our views of the best methods for conducting the educational interests of the town. We hope a careful perusal of this report will convince you who have committed to us such an important trust, that we are devoting to it the thought which it justly demands.
In the management of the schools of a town like this, in which the amount of money appropriated for school purposes is necessarily small. in comparison with the ap- propriations of cities or large towns. there is a temptation to be satisfied with the old and comparatively crude meth- ods of teaching, and to feel that if a fair amount of know- ledge of the common branches is secured it is all that we ought to expect. But it is not thus that we allow ourselves to view the matter. It is with us a constant study how we
2
can so order the schools as to secure the most of the best kind of instruction from them, without extra expense to the town. We have striven constantly, without introduc- ing any radical changes suddenly, to push up the standard of excellence steadily from term to term. In this work we have been aided to a marked degree by the co- operation of a great majority of the scholars, and the evi- dent sympathy of the parents, though we have been em- barrassed often by a change of teachers and the lack of qualification in some of them to carry out our plans to the fullest extent.
According to our estimate, the advantages of our schools consist only in part in the knowledge which the pupils derive from their text books. It should be our aim to, so far as possible, so conduct our schools that the pur- suit of knowledge will seem attractive to the scholars, that there may be formed in them a taste for study, and a healthful discipline of their mental faculties which will give them influence and power in after life. It has come to be a truism in political philosophy, that the strength of a State depends not so much upon the number, as upon the intelligence of its inhabitants.
Moreover, we believe it to be of the highest import- ance to so conduct the government of our schools, that there will be a healthful development of the best qualities of character in the pupils. The school is a miniature state. If scholars are so managed that they come under reasonable regulations in the school. if they are law abid- ing and conscientious there, they will be characterized by the same qualities as citizens. This work of discipline should be accomplished largely in the family, but many pa- rents are seemingly constitutionally unfitted to govern their children in a reasonable and systematic way, so that much remains for the public school to accomplish, if the young are to be fitted to be law abiding citizens. In our private advice to teachers, and in our more public addresses to the scholars, we always have this end in view. To fur- ther the important objects just mentioned, and to secure to scholars at least a slight knowledge of branches not formerly taught in our public schools, we have encourag- ed so far as feasible, the introduction of music, drawing.
3
calisthenics, (light gymnastics,) and some other general exercises.
The effect of the introduction of these exercises has been excellent, far beyond our most sanguine anticipa- tions. They have quickened the enthusiasm and increas- ed the interest of the scholars in their study of all the other branches, so that we wish all of our teachers might be able to give instruction in music and drawing at least. But, that you may the better understand what has been done by the introduction of these branches, which are compara- tively new in our schools, we make a brief reference to each one.
MUSIC.
Instruction of a more or less systematic character has been given in all of our schools in this branch, during the past year. We were so fortunate at the beginning of the year, as to have the services of one teacher, Miss Lizzie S. Taylor, who is eminently qualified to give instructions in this branch, and we thought it a favorable opportunity to learn by actual experiment what amount of facility in singing may be acquired by the scholars of a primary school. The result of this experiment is, we are satisfied that the cases are very rare where children are not capable of learning to sing, if properly instructed. At the end of the first term there was quite a large number of scholars who seemed to have no ear for music, but at the close of the school year, there were only three or four (and two of these had been absent much of the time) unable to sing by rote, and many of them had a good degree of knowledge of the rudiments of the art.
We have had musical instruments in three of the school rooms a part of the year, and they have been of material aid in conducting the musical exercises.
DRAWING.
We have endeavored to impart a systematic knowl- edge of this art in one of our schools, but as the same teacher has had charge of the school no two terms, the conditions for such an experiment have not been very fa- vorable.
Most of our teachers have used drawing cards and
4
have had the drawings put upon the blackboards. The results from this method of instruction have been quite satisfactory. Map drawing is also practiced in all of our schools and has been found to be the most effective pro- cess of teaching Geography. Upon the boards in some of the school rooms we have seen copies of the illustra- tions which are found in the text books upon Physiology and Natural Philosophy. In many cases the copies have been perfect. Without reducing our instruction in this de- partment to any rigid system, we believe we are accom- plishing a good amount of work, and are attaining to a higher degree of excellence each term.
CALISTHENICS.
These exercises have been employed in our schools. more. generally during the past year than hitherto. It is our practice to encourage teachers to introduce them to a reasonable extent. Such exercises quicken the circulation of the blood, so that more of the vital fluid passes over the brain and the mental activity is thereby increased. More -- over, if scholars are required to take bodily exercise in a systematic way in the school room, there will not be such a superabundance of animal spirits when they go out, and they will be more quiet and studious during the school hours.
OTHER STUDIES AND EXERCISES.
We have endeavored to employ every possible expe- dient to keep up the scholars' interest in the fundamental branches of study. Instead of confining the pupils to the oral method of spelling, we have had them write their: words in books to be passed in to the teacher for correc -. tion. In some cases we have had scholars write their words upon the boards to be corrected by the whole class. We have paid considerable attention to Composition, an exer- cise which combines Invention, Grammar, Writing and Spelling. We trust this exercise will be more fully prac- ticed in the future than it has been in the past. The pro- gress of the scholars in Grammar during the past year has been excellent, and the progress in all the other funda- mental branches has been fully up to the average. The
5
improvement in Reading in all our primary schools is es- pecially noticable.
MORALS AND MANNERS.
We can not pass from this part of our Report without calling your attention to these topics. which have engrossed our attention during the past few months more than ever before. We have received a book for examination, by A. M. Gow. A. M., entitled "Good Morals and Gentle Man- ners," and we are so much pleased with it we wish itmight be in the hands of every youth in our town and its con- tents thoroughly learned. The following are some of the topics treated of in this work : Habits, Law, Hatred, Cour- age. Chastity. Veracity. Temperance, Patriotism, Duties of Citizenship. Cleanliness. Dress, Conversation, Beha- vior on the Street. Behavior in the Church and Lecture Room. Behavior in Travelling," &c., &c. In the preface are expressions setting forth the views of the author, which are so exactly our own that we quote them :
·· He believes that the true happiness and real usefulness- of each individual depends largely upon the application of the principles of virtuous living.
·· He believes that moral lessons which are taught in an- ticipation of temptation are more profitable than those which follow the commission of crime ; that a boy just convicted of stealing is not in the best frame of mind to receive his first lessons upon honesty.
"He believes that all schools should be places of true refinement and elegant culture, and that when they are not they must be nurseries of vulgarity.
"He believes that the gentleman and lady must be distinguished by good manners and that good manners are the outgrowth of good morals."
We find it to be especially necessary to take every precaution to guard the purity of our scholars. It seems desirable that all the pupils of a school should have their recess at the same time, that there may be the least possible loss to the recitations, and that the teachers may have a little relaxation, as well as the scholars. But if this course is pursued arrangements ought to be made so that the sexes may be by themselves. Such an arrangement
.
6
has been made at West Acton and has been possible at the ! Centre and East since the new school-houses were erected, and should be made immediately in the other districts, es- pecially at South Acton. This is a matter of such serious importance as to require immediate attention.
CHOICE OF TEACHERS.
A review of the workings of our schools during the past year will make it appear that we have reason to con- gratulate ourselves that we have made so few mistakes un- der this head. But the qualifications requisite to the suc- cessful teacher are so varied that it is impossible always to make the right choice. Enthusiasm, tact, patience, and other qualities are just as essential in a teacher as a good education. Every teacher exerts an unconscious in- fluence over the scholars. It is very desirable to have in the teachers to whose care we commit our children all those gentle manners and good qualities of heart which we wish to see in our children when they attain to mature life, but it is presumptuous in us to expect in all our teach- ers every excellence of mind and heart. It is ever our aim to secure the best teachers possible with the means at our disposal. If we make mistakes, we only show that we are human like our fellowmen. . When we have become satisfied that we have made a mistake under this head, we hasten to correct it so soon as is consistent with the princi- ples of justice to all concerned, and this is all that can be required.
TEXT BOOKS.
We have made no changes in text books during the year and have no changes to recommend. The experi- ment of using Miss Hall's Geographies which was entered upon in 1873 has not proved entirely satisfactory, and we have displaced them to a considerable extent by Guyot's Geographies which have never been removed wholly from our schools. These geographies have been greatly im- proved during the past five years and give very good sat- isfaction now.
Without dwelling upon other topics which we might advert to, we now invite your attention to a brief notice of each school.
7
CENTER GRAMMAR.
Though this school has had a different teacher each term during the year, it has been favored with the best of instruction.
The spring term was taught by Miss M. C. Harris, who has received such favorable mention in several of our previous reports that it is impossible for us to add anything here in her praise. We simply say, she put her best work into this school, and the scholars made excellent progress under her charge.
The Fall term was taught by Miss Ada C. Davis, who was a member of our corps of teachers four years ago and . was very favorably mentioned in our reports at that time. Since then she has had considerable experience in teach- ing, and her work showed excellent results. We were well satisfied with her management of the school.
The Winter term was taught by Rev. James Fletcher, A. M. Mr. Fletcher being a native of this town and hav- ing had charge of one of the best academies in the com- monwealth several years, it would be vain for us to at- tempt to say anything to add to his praise. We will only say that he devoted all his strength and talents to his work, and manifested an enthusiasm which we have never seen excelled in a public school. The work accomplished was fully commensurate with the ability and the enthusiasm of the teacher. It was a rare opportunity for the youth of this district to secure the best of advantages, and we are happy to be able to report that they improved it to the full- est extent, as is very evident from our "Tabular View."
CENTER PRIMARY.
This school was taught throughout the year by Miss Lizzie S. Taylor. This was Miss Taylor's first experience in teaching, but she devoted herself most heartily to the work, and soon proved her peculiar qualifications for the management of such a school. She secured and retained the love of the scholars, without any sacrifice of firmness,. so that the order of the school constantly improved under her care. In another place we have spoken of her success in teaching music. There was also a marked improve-
8
ment in reading, spelling, and the other branches usually taught in a primary school.
SOUTH GRAMMAR.
The spring and fall terms of this school were taught by Miss M. E. Felton. Miss Felton did an excellent work in this school during both of these terms. We consider her one of the best of the teachers in our employ during the year. We would have made a strenuous effort to secure her services for the winter term, had it not been for the difficulty which attended the management of this school the previous winter. We thought it advisable to secure a male teacher, though it may be we made a mistake.
The winter term was managed( ?) by Rev.S. O. Dyer. This teacher had charge of a small school in this town in 1875. In our report of the school he then taught we said, " The school made a fair degree of progress under his management. He did not awaken the enthusiasm and arouse the ambition of the scholars quite to the degree that we could have desired, but we have no doubt had he con- tinued in charge of the school another term he would have been successful to a more marked degree." Mr. D. had not taught for several years when he took charge of the other school, but he professed to have received special preparation for the work of teaching, and, as since then he has taught several terms in a neighboring town, and has been assistant superintendent of schools in another town, we judged it safe to commit this school to his charge, but we are sorry to be obliged to report that the school was very far from being a success.
It will be our most earnest care to make this school what it should be in the year to come, and we hope all the people of the district will cooperate with us in this work.
SOUTH PRIMARY.
This school was taught by Miss M. A. Forbush throughout the year. As this is the third year that Miss F. has had charge of this school, and as she has been noticed very favorably in our two last reports, we need
only to say that she has grown constantly in our estimation as an earnest and enthusiastic teacher. The last examina- . tion of her school was especially satisfactory.
WEST GRAMMAR.
The spring and fall terms of this school were taught by Miss Belle Smith, who taught the same school in the spring of 1876. Under Miss S.'s instruction the order and general progress of the scholars in this school were excellent.
The winter term was taught by Mr. J. C. Bolan, _1. B. Mr. Bolan is a graduate of Harvard College, and amply qualified to give instruction in a much higher grade of school than this. This was his first experience in teach- ing a public school, but he applied himself very laborious- ly to his work and gives promise, with added experience. of great excellence as a teacher.
WEST PRIMARY.
The spring and fall terms of this school were taught by Miss O. A. Hopkins, who had had charge of this school since the fall of 1874. She has been so frequently mentioned in commendatory terms in the reports of this committee, that we need add nothing here. After a long and faithful service, Miss H. had the offer of a more per- manent position, and much to the regret of her pupils, de- cided to accept.
The winter term was taught by Miss Clara L. Sweatt. Miss S., though young and comparatively inexperienced. proved to be just the right teacher for the management of this school. She introduced music and calisthenics with excellent effect, and managed to keep the interest of the scholars constantly excited, so that they made rapid pro- gress in all their studies, and the school was a success in every respect.
NORTH ACTON.
'The spring and fall terms of this school were taught
10
by Mrs. Allie Loker. Mrs. L. formerly taughtin some of our schools and was always mentioned in the highest terms of commendation. We need only to say that her success in the management of this school left little to be desired. In her position as teacher she was the perfect embodiment of enthusiasm, and the scholars could not but catch her spirit. She was fertile in the invention of expedients to interest and instruct her pupils, and we seldom, if ever, have seen a more reasonable and devoted attachment of . teacher and scholars than existed here.
The winter term of this school was taught by Miss Mary H, Wood, an experienced teacher of a tried reputa- tion. This teacher, in comparison with the one who pre- ceded her, seemed lacking in enthusiasm, though her school always appeared well, and the examination which closed the term was quite creditable both as regards the amount of knowledge gained and as regards the methods which, evidently, had been pursued by the teacher.
EAST SCHOOL.
This school has been continued under the excellent instruction of Miss G. E. Tuttle. Miss T. was mentioned very favorably in our last report, and we can truly say that she has steadily gained in excellence as an instructor. Her interest in the school, and the scholars' interestin her, seem to increase every term. The last examination was very creditable both to teacher and scholars.
SOUTH EAST.
Only two terms of school were held in this district during the year. The school was taught during both terms by Miss A. W. Packard. The number of scholars was quite smail, but the teacher devoted herself very earnestly to her work and aroused the ambition and enthusiasm of the scholars as we never have seen them aroused before. This teacher is deserving of much credit and we hope her services may be secured again.
Appended are the usual statistical reports. In the number of visits, those of the Superintendent are not in-
11
cluded, nor those of friends who were present at examina- tions.
Respectfully submitted :
C. A. HARRINGTON, (chairman, )
J. W. LOKER, (clerk,)
School
L. CONANT,
D. J. WETHERBEE,
C. B. STONE,
W. S. JONES,
1
Committee of Acton.
F. P. WOOD, Superintendent of Schools, for the Committee.
12
ROLL OF HONOR.
NOT ABSENT OR TARDY FOR ONE TEBM.
NOT ABSENT OR TARDY FOR TWO TERMS.
NOT ABSENT OR TARDY FOR THREE TERMS.
SOUTH GRAMMAR.
Carrie B. Hayward, Estelle D. Heath, Carrie E. Jones, Emma A. Pratt.
Henrietta Sawyer, Willie H. Wilbur.
Addie H. Barker, Susie E. Billings, Gerty L. Clark, Josie M. Hannon, Mary I. Jackson, Mabel G. Pratt, Mabel Richardson, Eda F. Shapley, Eva C. Shapley, Etta C. Temple, S. Bertie Tuttle, Hiram Gates, James Hannon, Arlon U. Jackson, Charles Pond, Eddie G. Poole.
Harry A. Fletcher, Lulie E. Hosmer, John Lynch, George C. Warren, Idella J. Barker,
M. Florence Fletcher, Carrie F. Hanson, Ada M. Jones, Lillie F. Richardson, Sadie C. Sawyer, Carrie L. Shapley.
Frank Cummings, John Kingsley, George F. Rouillard, George W. Tuttle.
Jennie L. Ayers,
SOUTH PRIMARY.
Charlie F. Wherren, Clara F. Leach, Martha C. Pratt.
Charles W. Leach, A. Ernie Wilbur.
CENTER GRAMMAR.
Arthur Davis, Sarah Hammond.
Gilman Parlin, Horace F. Tuttle. Annie Hammond, Mary F. Waldron.
CENTER PRIMARY.
Mary Radding,
13
E. Elmira Ayers, Susie E. Conant, Ida F. Davis, Bertha J. Fisk,
Hattie M. Robbins, Hattie E. Smith, Augusta W. Smith, Hattie L. Tuttle, Homer L. Ayers, Frank A. Fisk, Florian W. Fisk, J. Willie Livermore, Warren O. Robbins, Charles Rouillard, George Smith.
Willie Kelley, Charles Holden,
Nellie White,
Charles Holten,
Charles Hopkins,
Hattie Davis, Lottie Handley, Hattie Parker, Ida Reed, Lottie Richardson, Hattie Whitcomb.
Emery Clark,
Bertie Hall, Willie Hopkins, Ernest Knowlton, Fred. Parker, Clesson Parker, Freddie Teele, Freddie Whitcomb, Bertie Willis, Alice Hoar.
Annie Gallaghan, Minnie Harris, Hattie Harris, Annie Ryan, Mattie Smith.
Freddie W. Billings, Willie D. Davis,
Arthur B. Davis, Florence B. Perkins.
Augusta W. Smith.
WEST GRAMMAR.
Arthur Blanchard, Edwin Holten, Minnie Hart, Florence Noyes, Ella Teele, Clara Tuttle.
Arthur Bradford, Bertie Mead, Mary Tuttle.
WEST PRIMARY.
Walter Gardner,
Willie Hart,
Eugene Hall,
Ida Tuttle.
Herbert Hapgood, Ned Holten, Everett Richardson,
Alfred Richardson.
NORTH.
Elwin Harris, Everett Rouillard, Bertie Smith, Nellie Ryan.
EAST.
Carlton C. Conant, Harry G. Robbins, Ernest E. Wetherbee.
Herbert H. Robbins, Willie O. Smith.
NOTE .- We have had to make up this roll almost entirely from the re- gisters. We have tried to guard against mistakes and hope we have made none. In some cases scholars have been kept from school by sickness and in some instances they have not been tardy or absent after they began to go to school, but did not go the first day. We are sorry not to be able to put those in. But we find it necessary to adhere to a system.
14
TABULAR VIEW.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
months.
Length of School in
Wages per month.
Scholars.
Whole Number
Average attendance.
No. under 5y. of age.
Number over fifteen
parents and friends.
Number of visits by
SPRING TERM.
Miss M. C. Harris,
$36.00
30
23}
0
1
20
Centre.
Primary.
" L. S. Taylor,
22
32.00
34
303
0
0
17
South.
Primary.
M. A. Forbush,
21
40.00
41
344
0
0
19
West.
Primary,
O. A. Hopkins,
21
40.00
39
36
1
0
17
North.
Mrs. A. H. Loker,
21
32.00
17
16+
0
2
15
East.
Miss G. E. Tuttle,
23
30.00
22
19+
0
0
12
South East.
. A. W. Packard,
2
30.00
6
54
0
0
0
Totals.
22¿
$320.00
273
239
1
12
133
Centre.
Primary,
..
L. S. Taylor,
23
32.00
35
2
0
8
South.
Primary,
" M. A. Forbush,
3
40.00
43
374
0
1
14
West.
Primary.
21
40.00
40
35
0
0
6
North.
Mrs. A. H. Loker,
21
32.00
17
154
0
1
4
Miss G. E. Tuttle,
3
34.00
23
20+
0
0
14
l'otals,
20}
$294.00
271
2364
2
19
77
WINTER TERM.
31
$50.00
46
44
0
22
22
Centre.
{ Primary,
Miss L. S. Taylor,
33
32.00
27
274
0
0
12
Rev. S. O. Dyer,
2
50.00
53
45+
0
16
South.
r Primary,
Miss M. A. Forbush,
3
40.00
38
33-
0
2
25
Mr. J. C. Bolan,
3
40.00
44
41
0
13
39
West,
Primary.
Miss C. L. Sweatt.
3
40.00
38
0
0
47
North.
" M. H. Wood,
3
36.00
18
16
1
2
9
East.
G. E. Tuttle.
31
34.00
20
184
0
1
29
South East.
31
30.00
11
0
1
9
Totals.
27₺
$352.00
295
2663
1
57
192
Aggregate for year,
71
$966.00 839 742
4
88
397
3
40.00
45
413
0
7
17
Grammar,
" B. Smith,
13
40.00
39
35
0
5
9
East.
Grammar,
Miss A. C. Davis,
$36.00
29
24 271
0
5
5
Grammar,
M. E. Felton,
23
40.00
43
381-
0
5
22
Grammar,
B. Smith,
21
40.00
41
36
0
4
11
Grammar,
M. E. Felton,
years of age.
of
-
The average attendance during the year was .88 of the whole number of schol- ar's ; an unusually high percentage ..
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