USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1860-1869 > Part 13
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37
more than that, that it has been invested for a useful purpose. We will state what we have before, that in no better way can we promote the highest welfare of our schools than by following - in the spirit and in the letter- the school laws, which are the result of the highest wisdom and experience of an enlightened Commonwealth. And this motive is what has led us to speak of them so often and dwell upon their meaning. Says President Wayland : " The tenure by which our liberties are held can never be secure, unless moral keep pace with intellectual cultivation." We hope that this same sentiment may be observed now in the training of our youth ; and that the moral, intellectual, and even practical duties of the young may be made to harmonize with each other, and to march together upon the highest plain of active life. And let us remember that the true source of moral training is the family, and that in the daily habit and deportment of family and parent lies the main influence upon character. The teacher stands in place of the family's influence, and is a deputed parent of the community, for a time ; therefore he should possess the sound principles of a good character. When that memorable body that formed our constitution of government had discussed for several weeks the best experiences of all modern nations with no good success, that good man, Franklin, rose and made a motion that daily prayer should be offered in that assembly for their success. The great man, Webster, on being asked what was the greatest thought that ever occupied mind, replied : "The greatest thought I ever had, or can have, is a sense of my accountability to God." Now if we wish to succeed as the good and the great have, and if we wish to have as good an influence on the character of children as they did on the character of the nation, we must follow their example. And we do humbly acknowledge the wisdom and influence of Divine Providence upon our success, and do invoke its blessing upon our common schools. I entered upon my duties, two years ago, with very little experience and a limited knowledge of schools, and have felt sometimes almost inadequate to fulfil my responsibilities. I thank the town for their co-operation, and for the privileges and benefits which the duties of the office have bestowed upon me. I hope that all imperfections of my labors may be overlooked, and that my influence has had, and may have, a tendency towards good learning and sound morality.
38
I respectfully resign my position on the Committee, to take effect at the close of the present school year.
For the Committee,
SIMEON J. DUNBAR, Superintendent.
Approved by
FRANCIS E. HOWARD, ) School Commit- SIMEON J. DUNBAR, tee of West *
Bridgewater. MARCH 7, 1866.
* Has moved out of town.
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
DISTRICTS.
Whole number of pupils attending
Average attend-
ance expressed decimally.
Per cent of attendance.
Tardy marks during the term.
No. of individual
term except
examination.
No. attendi'g over
No. attending un-
No. in District between
Length of School
Total of weeks.
No. of Teachers in each
Wages per month
including board.
to each District.
Amount of appropriation
to each scholar between
No.
Sum
Win.
Sum.
Win.
Sum.
WIn.
Sum.
Win.
Sum Win.
Sum Win.
Sum Win.
Sum Win.
Summer.
Winter.
$ 365 75
$ 3.621
1
(P. D. .
45
43
35.
35.
77.7
81.3
82
110
14
15
. .
. .
. .
. .
12
12
24
1
20 00
22 00
.
.
2 ...
.
35
37
27.5
35.4
78.5
95.6
39
41
3
26
1
3
. .
. .
37
10
12
22
2
30 00
32 00
183 99
4.972
3. .
32
36
23.5
31.5
73.4
87.5
87
200
17
29
1
1
32
12
16
28
2
22 00
24 00
169 79
5.305
*4 ...
32
. .
25.2
78.7
67
39
4
. .
. .
38
16
. .
·
1
22 00
· .. .
186 83
4.916
5. .
44
51
34.1
40.
77.5
78.4
67
249
23
44
12
4
2
47
15
13
28
2
24 00
45 00
212 39
4.518
+ 6.
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
. . . .
.
119 27
I1 4.972
*7 ..
73
70
59.
52.
80.8
74.2
194
166
19
16
. .
. .
. .
. .
97
10
10
1
28 00
28 00
354 39
3.653
8. .
39
38
31.1
35.6
79.7
93.6
89
77
14
14
1
5
37
12
12
24
2
28 00
32 00
183 99
4.972
* Union
. .
65
50.
. .
76.9
·
373
50
·
·
.
.
.
.
± 40 00
. .. .
. . .
Nos. 4 and 7
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
..
..
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
.. .
. .. .
....
* Districts Nos. 4 and 7 have no winter term. In No. 7 consider summer and winter as spring and fall. Union has no school in winter. Half of the appropriations of Nos. 4 and 7 is expended in the summer schools, and the other half at the Union in winter. + No. 6 is united with No. 3 of East Bridgewater, in care of that Committee this year.
# Wages of Principal, and also Miss Fuller's wages when she had charge of the whole school.
₿ Amount appropriated to each scholar between 5 and 15.
§ Miss Fuller's wages when Assistant.
39
.
5 and 15.
G. D. .
37
51
29.
41.
78.3
80.3
34
120
17
13
3
13
. .
. .
101
12
12
24
1 $22 00
$32 00
.
Totals .
.
·
.
.
. .
. .
. .
.
..
$1776 40
.. . .
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
7
15
2
.
§ 24 00
. .
school.
in weeks.
5 and 15.
--
District during the year.
Amount of appropriation
visits during the
15 years of age.
der 5 years of age.
2
. .
28
·
.
417
. .
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SELECTMEN, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR,
AND
TOWN CLERK
OF THE
TOWN OF WEST BRIDGEWATER :
ALSO, THE
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1867.
NORTH BRIDGEWATER : A. T. JONES, PRINTER. 1867.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SELECTMEN, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR,
AND
TOWN CLERK
OF THE
TOWN OF WEST BRIDGEWATER :
ALSO, THE
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1867.
NORTH BRIDGEWATER : A. T. JONES, PRINTER. 1867.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
THE Selectmen of the town of West Bridgewater submit the following Report, showing the receipts, expenditures, and finan- cial condition of said town for the year ending March 1, 1867.
We have examined the accounts of the Town Treasurer, and find that there has been received into the Treasury the following sums, viz. :-
Balance in the hands of the Treasurer, March 1, 1866, $3,921 88 Received on tax of bills 1866, State, County, and
Town, 11,190 68
Special School House tax, 9,473 00
From Massachusetts School Fund, 137 55
From the State, for aid to families of Volunteers, 1,500 00
From the State, balance of corporation tax for 1865, 2.61
From the town of Dover, for supplies to paupers, 32 00
For a pedlar's license, 6 00
For School House lot in District No. 7, 57 00
For lumber sold from Town Farm, 70 88
Money borrowed, 3,400 00
$29,791 60
We find the Treasurer has paid out of the Treasury the fol- lowing sums, viz. :-
Paying State Tax,
$3,060 00
County Tax,
961 06
Aid to soldiers and their families,
2,119 95
Notes against the town, and interest,
4,983 89
Amount carried forward, $11,124 90
4
Amount brought forward, $11,124 90 1,989 72
Paying for the support of schools,
For moving and fitting up a school house and lot, 948 41
Repairs of school house at Cochesett, 259 25
of other school houses, 46 57
For the highways and bridges,
933 97
Appropriation for Cochesett road, 100 00
Part of the appropriation for Scotland road, 49 50
For building the road near Davis Keith's,
116 00
For repairing bridges and railing, by order of Selectmen, 17 00
For gravel and cinders purchased for roads, 17 20
For the use of the Town Hall,
35 82
For printing Town Reports, blanks, &c.,
105 80
For support of poor in the Almshouse, $35.00 of which were old bills of Col. Alger's, in 1865, 319 95
For support of poor out of the house,
106 92
66 belonging to other towns, 6 00
Balance of school house tax in Dist. No. 6 for 1865, 46 18
For selling and deeding a school house lot, 2 50
For school maps ordered by the School Committee, 72 05
For lumber ordered by the Road Committee in 1864, 20 00
For reimbursement of bounties, orders of 1864 and 1865, 30 00
For repairing road scrapers, 4 00
General Order to town officers, &c.,
422 41
Postage, express, stationery, stamps, and other items, 25 39
Six per cent. discount on taxes of 1866,
671 44
Remittance of the special school-house tax,
9,191 59
Abatement of taxes for 1864-'65-'66,
72 96
$26,735 52
5
LIABILITIES OF THE TOWN.
Due individuals, as reimbursement of recruiting funds, $20 00 Outstanding Notes, with interest, 7,700 00
Of the appropriation for Schools, 965 51
A part of the appropriation for Scotland road, 50 50
Due Highway Districts, 380 67
$9,116 68
ASSETS.
Balance in the Treasury,
$3,056 08
Due from the State, the corporation tax,
462 93
for aid to families in 1865, 126 82
66 for aid to soldiers and their fami- lies in 1866, 2,063 95
66 66
for aid to soldiers and their fami- lies in 1867, 56 00
" on A. Copeland's note, 95 70
$5,861 48
Balance against the town,
3,255 20
$9,116 68
FOR REPAIRS OF HIGHWAYS.
The town voted the sum of $1,000 for 1866.
Said sum was divided among the several Districts as follows, viz. :-
To District No. 1,
$225 00
2,
120 00
3,
210 00
4,
115 00
5,
80 00
6,
135 00
7,
115 00
$1,000 00
6
Each District's credit with the Treasury now amounts to the following sums, viz. :
District No. 1,
$94 92
2,
32 27
3,
59 59
4,
24 33
5,
12 77
6,
71 72
7,
85 07
$380 67
TOWN OFFICERS.
Paid Austin Packard for services as Town Clerk,
1865 and 1866,
26 36
F. E. Howard, for services as Selectman,
46 25
Caleb Copeland, Jr.,
57 00
James Howard, 66 66
123 00
Geo. M. Pratt, as Treasurer,
30 00
Simeon J. Dunbar, as Superintendent of Schools,
82 80
S. L. Pratt, for Constable service,
12 00
Thos. Pratt, for
5 25
Barnabas Dunbar, as Road Committee,
3 00
Caleb Howard, for tolling bell,
2 50
O. T. Gray,
3 50
Chilton Howard,
66
4 50
Wm. J. Stanley,
4 00
Elihu Leonard, going with the hearse, &c.,
22 25
$422 41
7
EXPENSES AND RECEIPTS OF THE ALMSHOUSE,
For the Year ending March 1, 1867.
Amount of stock at the Almshouse, as estimated, viz. :--
2 oxen,
$200 00
4 cows,
225 00
1 bull,
40 00
1 yearling,
20 00
5 swine,
60 00
17 fowls,
17 50
5g tons of English hay,
165 00
2 1 " of meadow hay,
42 50
5} bushels of rye,
7 70
100
of potatoes,
70 00
70 lbs. of butter,
31 50
33 " of cheese,
6 60
75 " of lard,
15 00
12 " of candles,
1 80
100 lbs. of salt beef,
12 00
25 " of dried beef,
4 50
300 " of salt pork,
45 00
200 " of ham,
34 00
Flour and eggs,
10 00
Furniture and farming tools,
350 00
100 loads of manure,
100 00
Bills due the house for lumber sold,
17 00
" from Martha Tribou's estate,
95 70
Columbus Alger,
6 46
66
66
A. Copeland,
10 72
66 the State,
18 00
the town, for lumber and carting,
7 00
66 E. Hancock,
11 87
66 for labor and hay,
165 72
$1,793 57
of beans,
3 00
8
RECEIPTS OF THE ALMSHOUSE.
Received for lumber,
$190 30
labor and team work,
58 10
pigs, 102 00
calves and hide,
56 57
potatoes,
26 33
hay,
43 28
poultry and eggs,
20 33
butter, cheese, and lard,
49 99
items,
.7 17
Inventory March 1, 1867,
1,793 57
$2,347 64
EXPENDITURES OF ALMSHOUSE.
Paid for Warden's services,
$193 50
Smith work,
17 31
Old bill of Col. Alger's for 1865,
7 14
Horse hire,
5 50
Labor,
38 13
Repairs,
~ 45 58
Wares and tools,
23 77
Stock,
75 20
Meat and fish,
27 41
Old bill of Col. Alger's for 1865,
27 76
Medicines,
8 00
Flour, grain, groceries, clothing, &c.,
420 10
Sawing shingles,
14 05
Other items,
23 64
Inventory of stock on hand March 1, 1866,
1,611 36
Interest on the estate as heretofore estimated,
219 81
Amount of expenses,
$2,758 26
" receipts,
2,347 64
Balance against the House,
$410 62
9
The average number of paupers in the Almshouse for the year ending March 1, 1867, was 423. The average cost per week, above the proceeds of the farm, was about $1.32. The present number of paupers in the House is six.
There has been but $238.99 drawn from the town treasury for support of the Almshouse, above what has been replaced during the past year, while there has been an average of 4123 persons supported, and repairs and improvements made amounting to about $75.00,-against $615.66 drawn for the year ending March 1, 1866, with but 3gz persons supported, and but $13.60 spent for repairs, and no improvements made.
In consideration of the above balancing of accounts, the Selectmen have advanced the salary of the present Warden $50.00 for the coming year.
LIQUOR AGENCY,-A. COPELAND, Agent. CASH ACCOUNT. Dr
To cash on hand March 1, 1866,
for liquors sold,
$94 86 1,070 94
Cr.
By cash paid for liquors,
$939 98
" freight,
13 50
" paying Agent's salary,
75 00
license,
25 00
repairs,
3 30
" cash on hand March 1, 1867,
109 02
$1,165 80
Cr. stock on hand March 1, 1867,
$190 10
Cash « " 66 66
109 02
$299 12
Dr. stock on hand March 1, 1866,
$86 46
Cash "
94 86
$181 32
Gain,
$117 80
JAMES HOWARD, F. E. HOWARD, CALEB COPELAND, JR.,
Selectmen of West Bridgewater.
MARCH 1, 1867.
2
$1,165 80
10
LIST OF JURORS
Prepared by the Selectmen of West Bridgewater for the year 1867.
Davis Alger,
John B. Holmes,
Samuel D. Bartlett,
Leavitt T. Howard,
James Copeland,
Lucius Hayward,
Albert Copeland,
Linus E. Hayward,
Edward Capen,
Henry W. Leach,
Charles E. Churchill,
Bradford Packard, Nahum Packard,
Barnabas Dunbar,
Lucius Dunbar,
Shepherd L. Pratt,
Martin Dunbar,
George D. Ryder,
Perez P. Field,
Joseph E. Ryder,
Jason M. French,
Thomas P. Ripley,
Josiah Q. Hartwell,
Ephraim T. Snell,
Amasa Howard, Ebenezer Taylor,
George Hayward,
Daniel B. Taylor,
James Howard,
Erland Thayer.
TOWN MEETING.
The following Articles will be acted upon at the Annual Town Meeting on the 19th inst., at 1 o'clock P. M. :
1. To choose a Moderator for said meeting.
2. To hear the Annual Reports, and act thereon.
3. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year. 4. To act on the list of jurors reported by the Selectmen.
5. To determine the manner of repairing the highways.
6. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town expenses for the ensuing year, and discharge the town debt, and make appropriation of the same.
7. To see if the Town will direct the School Committee to appoint a Superintendent of the public schools therein.
8. To see what action the Town will take in regard to roads which have been laid out within the limits thereof.
9. To see if the Town will lay out for a public road, the private way leading northerly from the road in front of Isaac Howard's house, to the road near Mrs. Sylvanus H. Colwell's house.
10. To see what action the Town will take in relation to Guide Boards.
11
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK. MARRIAGES Recorded in West Bridgewater in the Year 1866.
NO.
DATE.
NAME OF GROOM AND BRIDE.
1
Jan. 25
Thomas J. Lee and Mary E. Alley.
2
Feb. 3
William H. Copeland and Elizabeth Hayden.
3
Mar. 18
Charles R. Beals and Georgie W. Huntington.
4
May 19
Heman F. Stranger and Ida Howard.
5
20
Elijah Smith and Hepsie Howard.
6
June 17
George Dunbar and Emma A. Peckham.
7
24
Benjamin B. Curtis and Abigail Martin.
8
24 William W. Wixon and Hannah L. Ames.
9
25 James M. Boardman and Julia Ann Tinkham.
10
July 1
Horace P. Dunbar and Ellen F. Shaw.
11
1 Charles E. Martin and Mary E. Howard.
12
19 Mark H. Reynolds and Lucy B. Howard.
13 14 15
Sept. 2
Augustus L. Hobbs and Emma F. Crocker.
16
66 20
Charles L. Jones and Sarah K. Soule. Edward C. Hall and Hattie Packard.
17 18
Nov. 10
Daniel S. Eaton and Sarah H. Cheney.
19
28 Thomas P. Ripley and Angie F. Farris.
20
29 Alonzo C. Gray and Isabella F. Peckham.
21
Dec. 9 Edwin Holmes and Emma E. Robbins.
22
16 Andrew B. Holmes and Hattie A. Staples.
23
25 James Taylor and Elizabeth F. Patterson.
24
25 Kendall Bailey, Jr. and Mariette Ryder.
Notice of the intentions of marriage between the following named persons has been recorded, but no certificate of any of their marriages has been returned to this town.
NO.
DATE.
NAMES.
1
Mar.
20 | Charles B. Talbot and Hannah E. Prouty.
2
April 7
Heman Copeland and Caroline A. Parker.
3
May 17
Gilmore Fish and Almira J. Tucker.
4
June
4 William Linnehan and Joanna Sullivan.
5
July
14
John Buttomer and Mary Murphy.
6
66
21
Thomas Conally and Margaret Deuhig. Neil Brady and Bridget Lynch.
7
Sept. 18
8
Oct. 26
Job M. Godfrey and Jane Reed.
9
Nov. 8 Horace W. Howard and Ann A. Alger.
10
26 Horace B. Washburn and Etta M. Edmonds.
11
Dec. 31 Samuel D. Proctor and Julia M. Peckham.
Aug. 26
George L. Edson and Margaret McCann.
13
19
Benjamin F. Phillips, Jr. and Hannah Dunbar.
12
DEATHS Recorded in West Bridgewater during the Year 1866.
NO.
DATE.
NAME.
AGE. Y. M.
D.
DISEASE, OR CAUSE OF DEATH.
1
Jan. 9
William Mitchell,
31
11
5
Diphtheria.
2
17
Elijah F. Simmons,
29
11
28
Consumption.
3
Mar. 5
Daniel P. Weeks,
44
4
8
4
12
Reading Carr,
66
11
9
Heart Disease.
5
30
Daniel B. Paine,
23
5
Typhoid Fever.
6
April 5
Margaret O'Neil,
75
Old Age.
8
May
5
Edward Capen,
76
9
1
Heart Disease.
9
17
Martha K. Alger,
18
1
Consumption.
10
28
Hiram White,
58
2
Heart Disease.
11
June
Hannah Howard.
85
9
15
66
66
12
10
Matthew Conness,
32
Shot.
13
14
Hepsey Alger,
74
Old Age.
14
Aug. 17
John W. Colwell,
51
8
12
Soft'g Stom.& Ulc'n Int's.
15
Oct. 27
James K. Burke,
21
6
10
Typhoid Fever.
16
Nov. 1
Charles Wesley Jacobs,
11
21
Dropsy.
17
11
Daniel Reed,
83
2
18
Old Age.
18
24
Nahum Snell,
63
6
8
Apoplexy.
19
Dec. 7
Silence Morse,
73
2
26
Old Age.
20
24 | Frederick Greenwood Keith,
1
10
18
Lung Fever.
7
66
15
Michael Fraher,
39
Killed on Railroad.
The number of Births recorded in this town during the year 1866, was 37.
AUSTIN PACKARD, Town Clerk.
13
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF WEST BRIDGEWATER,
For the School Year ending March 1st, 1867.
BOÅRD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR COM- MENCING MARCH, 1866.
For One Year.
Cyrus Alger, Josiah Q. Hartwell, Pardon Copeland.
For Two Years. Francis E. Howard, Joseph Kingman, C. W. Richards.
For Three Years. Bradford Packard, Jonathan C. Keith, Simeon J. Dunbar.
ORGANIZATION OF BOARD.
Joseph Kingman, Chairman.
Simeon J, Dunbar, Secretary and Superintendent.
LOCAL COMMITTEES .- Cochesett School, Cyrus Alger ; Jeru- salem, Josiah Q. Hartwell; North Centre, Pardon Copeland ; East, Joseph Kingman ; Centre and South, Bradford Packard and Francis E. Howard ; North, Jonathan C. Keith ; Beaver, C. W. Richards.
14
The Committee voted to name the schools as follows :--
Districts Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8, respectively, COCHESETT, JERUSALEM, NORTH CENTRE, EAST, and NORTH; the school es- tablished at the Union House, and the one in the southerly part of the town, the SOUTH. The limit of the South school was established by vote of the Committee: it includes all those scholars living south and east of a line running from " Larken's Bridge" to the burying place of the late Lewis Ames. Those scholars living in the two houses east of Thomas Ames's, belong to this school.
Citizens of West Bridgewater :
In performing my duties as Superintendent, 1 prepared a blank to be filled by teachers, containing a number of classes, number of scholars in each, and average time given to a recita- tion ; it also contains a record of the studies of each class and the subjects passed over. The progress made or the degree of thoroughness attained, is marked by the Superintendent. This blank also shows the manner of discipline, amount of damage done to school property ; certain statistics in regard to visits, tardiness, attendance, &c., which appear in the table ;- and, in short, gives a record of the general working of the school, and suggestions to teachers.
I have endeavored to perform my duties in the examination of teachers and the supervision of the schools, justly and impar- tially towards all, and have exerted what influence I could, in my humble sphere and consistent with my responsibility and position, toward the highest welfare of our public schools ; and with the assistance of the blanks just described, will lay before you a report of the several schools, with remarks and sugges- tions, a list of punctual scholars, financial report of the schools, statistical table, and by a special vote of the School Committee, a set of Regulations, carefully prepared for the schools of West Bridgewater. Having burdened the town with two rather lengthy reports which I felt it my duty to write, I shall endeavor this year to be more brief; and as the management of the new system has brought about new features which cannot with propriety be left out, that I may not exceed proper limits the
15
report of the respective schools will be short,-simply containing facts, rather than the whys and influences or causes and effects, and many remarks, which might prove useful, upon the internal management of the schools, will be omitted. All facts pertain- ing to number of scholars, attendance, visits, &c., will be found in the table.
COCHESETT .- GRAMMAR DEPARTMENT.
Teacher for the year-Mr. Chas. H. Dunbar, of this town.
The discipline was very good, secured by firmness and deci- sion. There was a good system of instruction and a decidedly good degree of progress and thoroughness. Under Mr. Dunbar's administration there has been a marked improvement, and the school is in a better condition than at any previous time since it has been under my care. The school building has been thor- oughly repaired and painted, and has been kept in good condition during the past term.
COCHESETT .- PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.
Teacher for the year-Miss Kate H. Brett, of South Easton.
Discipline secured by mild measures, and ordinarily good. Atwater's System of Merits and a call-bell which the teacher introduced in the early part of the summer term, added much to the order and worked admirably. I never saw such an improvement in a school in so short a time, as in this. The general usefulness of the school has increased in the care of Miss Brett. Very good attendance was secured, for a primary school, only nine tardy marks during Winter term.
JERUSALEM.
SUMMER .- Teacher-Miss Sybil Edson, of this town.
Discipline was very defective. The teacher did not commence very firmly at first, but later in the term she took more decisive measures and overcame many difficult circumstances, but not securing that which she wished, by her own desire she closed three weeks before the regular time. Miss Edson was a good scholar, and had many good methods of instruction, but the school under these circumstances was not profitable.
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WINTER .- Teacher --- Miss Leora Keith, of Bridgewater.
Discipline was very mild and pleasant, and a very friendly disposition was manifested between teacher and pupil, but there were a few trifling things allowed and others omitted, which combined to make the order, before the close of the school, rather unfavorable to its success. A little more firmness and more restraint upon whispering and unnecessary movement and noise, would have secured a much better deportment ; yet, to the end, there was nothing of a serious nature which disturbed the school. Many good qualities, in regard to expedients and methods, were evinced in teaching, and the progress in some respects might be called ordinarily successful.
NORTH CENTRE.
SUMMER .- Teacher-Miss Carrie Howard, of this town.
Discipline and studiousness was secured by having a reporting system for the lessons and deportment of older pupils, and merits for younger ones, and was good. This was Miss Howard's second term in this school, and her influence and methods of instruction secured excellent results. Many of the classes were very thorough.
WINTER .- Teacher-Miss Myra J. Dexter, of Mattapoisett.
Discipline not very good. The teacher labored faithfully for good deportment, but there seemed not to be a very friendly or respectful disposition among the pupils, nor interest on their part in the school's welfare; and the degree of quietness which is so necessary was not secured. In many cases the lessons were well learned and the progress ordinarily good; in others the degree of thoroughness necessarily corresponded with the deport- ment. The teacher, feeling dissatisfied with her results and the circumstances with which she had to contend, resigned her posi- tion before the expiration of the term.
The remainder of the term, not yet closed, is being finished by Miss Mary E. Ryder, of this town. Miss Ryder has been a very successful primary teacher in East Bridgewater, but this is her first grammar or mixed school. From one visit and another short call, we judge she has commenced well. Her manner of
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governing is firm, watchful and energetic, and thus far has secured good deportment; and her methods of instruction pre- dict good results.
OLD NO. 4.
SUMMER .- Teacher-Miss Irene Wood, of Cochesett.
This was the smallest school in town. The order was good, and secured by pleasantness on the part of both teacher and pupils. The instruction was thorough, and the studiousness and progress were very good. The general usefulness of the school was of a high character. This school, under the new system, has united with that part of No. 7 which does not form the South School, to establish the Centre School in the Union House.
OLD NO. 7.
SUMMER .- Teacher-Miss Lois A. Fuller, of Hallowell, Me. This school was six months in length, and divided into two terms. The spring term was taught in the old house, and the fall term in the Union House. This is the largest and most mixed school under the care of one teacher, (whole number, 76,) and is very difficult to govern. The discipline was not so quiet and uniform as some, but generally good, and secured a respect- ful and obedient disposition among the scholars, and was always favorable to the prosperity of the school. Faculty of explana- - tion, method of conducting recitation, and manner of teach- ing, were such as secured attention, interest and real im- provement. Miss Fuller's success and good reputation as a teacher in this school for the last two years, as well as in otherg in town, both public and private, are so well known that they need no commendation. As she has returned to her native State, we think that we only reiterate the sentiment of the com- munity in stating that the loss of her influence in the schools and society of this community will be regretted.
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