USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1848/49-1855 > Part 17
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SEC. 16. Cases of indigence. When children are in danger of being deprived of the advantages of education by reason of inability to obtain books, or through the negligence of parents or guardians, the Visiting Commit- tee are authorized to carry out the provisions of the statute (Rev. St. chap. 23: 20, 21, 22) in this matter, by certifying the fact to the Secretary.
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CHAPTER VIII. STUDIES and BOOKS.
SEC. 1. In the Primary Schools, pupils are taught to read and spell, and some attention is paid to Geography and Arithmetic; the instruction in the last two studies is to be chiefly oral. The Books used are, Swan's First and Second Primary Readers, Leavitt's Second Reader, the New Testament, - Spelling Book, Parley's Geography, and Davies' Arithmetical Table Book.
SEC. 2. The Books used in the Secondary Schools, are the New Testament, Leavitt's Third and Fourth Readers, Swan's Spelling Book, Bliss' Geography, Colburn's Arith- metic, and Tower's Exercises in Articulation.
SEC. 3. The Text Books used in the Grammar Schools, are the Bible, Worcester's Dictionary, Russell's American Common School Reader, Bliss' Geography, Willard's Histo- ry of the United States, Green's First Lessons in Grammar, Parker's Progressive Exercises, Swan's Spelling Book, Chase's Common School Arithmetic, and Tower's Exercises in Articulation.
SEC. 4. Classical and English High School. This school has two departments, Classical and English. In the Clas- sical department, boys are thoroughly fitted for College ; and in the English department, the higher branches of an English education are practically taught. Instruction is also given by a competent teacher in Drawing.
BOOKS USED IN THE CLASSICAL DEPARTMENT.
Andrews' Latin Grammar, First Latin Book, Latin Read- er, and Cæsar; Arnold's Nepos; Cicero ; Virgil ; Leverett's Lexicon; Kühner's Greek Grammar; Xenophon's Anabasis
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and portions of Homer's Odyssey, or Felton's Greek Reader; Liddell and Scott's Greek Lexicon ; Anthon's Classical Dictionary ; Butler's Ancient Maps ; Bojesen's Grecian and Roman Antiquities.
IN THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT.
Russell's Common School Reader ; Chase's Arithmetic ; Green's Analysis ; Worcester's History ; Davies' Algebra ; Woodbridge's Geography; Hitchcock's Book-keeping ; Davies' Surveying ; Legendre's Geometry and Trigonome- try ; Gray's Natural Philosophy; Olmsted's School Astron- omy ; Draper's Chemistry ; Lyell's Elements of Geology ; Wayland's Political Economy, (School edition); Wayland's Moral Philosophy ; Jarvis' Physiology ; Upham's Intellect- ual Philosophy -(Abridgement) ; Paley's Evidences of Christianity and Natural Theology ; Parker's Aids to Composition.
IN THE FRENCH DEPARTMENT.
Ollendorff's Grammar; Nason's Chrestomathie Fran- çaise ; Collot's Dramatic French Reader ; Telemaque ; Voltaire's Henriade; Surenne's or Fleming and Tibben's Dictionary ; Saintine's Picciola ; Coutan's Choix de Poesies.
SEC. 5. Schools restricted to their own grades. These schools are carefully graded, and neither books nor studies assigned to a higher grade, can be permitted in the grade below. Each school must confine itself to its own studies, and its own text books. Nor can pupils be retained in any school, after they are prepared to enter the classes of the school above it.
SEC. 6. In schools that are not graded, as in the subur- ban parts of the city, the course of studies embraces the
-
20.
three lower grades, and the books selected from the pre- scribed list shall be carefully adapted to the capacities of the pupils.
SEC. 7. New Books. In cases where new books are substituted in the above list, the old books are to be con- tinued through the year in the classes now using them. In forming new classes, the new books are to be used; and at the end of the year, all the classes take the new books.
CHAPTER IX.
THE SCHOOL YEAR, SCHOOL HOURS, VACATIONS, HOLIDAYS AND RECESSES.
SEC. 1. The School Year. The school year is divided into three terms, comprising forty-four weeks, commencing respectively on the first Mondays in April, September and January.
SEC. 2. School Hours. The suburban schools shall commence at 9 o'clock, A. M. and close at 4 o'clock, P. M., with an intermission of one hour. But the Committees in charge of these schools may change the hours to suit the convenience of the pupils.
The High School excepted, all the schools in the centre shall commence in the fall and winter terms at 9 o'clock, A. M. and close at 12; and commence at 11, P. M. and close at 41 : in the spring term, commence at 9 A. M. and close at 12; and commence at 2 P. M. and close at 5. In all cases, the School session shall continue three hours, The High School shall commence at 8 A. M. in summer, and 9 A. M. in winter, and continue five hours.
SEC. 3. The terms of the Suburban Schools shall com- mence on the Mondays nearest the first days of May and
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September, and the Monday after Thanksgiving. The length of each term to be regulated by the Visiting Com- mittee, in accordance with the wishes of the citizens who send pupils to these schools.
SEC. 4. Vacations. Vacations in all the other schools are as follows: five weeks preceding the first Monday in September, one week preceding the first Monday in Jan- uary, and two weeks preceding the first Monday in April ; it being understood that the terms always close on Friday afternoon.
SEC. 5. Holidays. The following holidays are allowed to all the schools : every Wednesday and Saturday after- noon throughout the year, except the suburban schools, which may take the whole of Saturday instead of Wednes- day afternoon ;- the Fourth of July, Cattle-Show day, Thanksgiving week, Fast day, New-Years day, the first day of May, and such other public festivals as the Mayor may see fit to grant.
SEC. 6. Recess. There shall be a recess of fifteen min- utes at the middle of each session of the schools ; in the High School the time may be extended to half an hour ; and in no case is a scholar to be deprived of the recess.
SEC. 7. Opening and closing of the School Rooms. The school bell shall be rung fifteen minutes before the com- mencement of school, at which time the principal or an assistant shall be present and the rooms shall be opened for the admission of scholars. The bell shall also be rung at the close of each school, and the doors clos- ed in ten minutes afterwards. No school room shall be opened for the admission of scholars, except by one of the teachers.
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CHAPTER X.
SCHOOLS, LOCATION, AND NUMBER OF TEACHERS.
SEC. 1. Classical and English High School. Walnut street-1 male principal, 1 male and two female assistants.
SEC. 2. Grammar Schools.
1st-Thomas st. 1 male principal and 2 female assistants. 2d-Main st. 1 female principal and 2 female assistants. 3d-Front street. 1 female principal.
SEC. 3. Secondary Schools.
1st-Pleasant street. 1 principal and one assistant.
2d-Main street. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
3d-Ash street. 1 principal and 2 assistants.
4th-Thomas street. 1 principal.
5th-Summer street, east. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
6th-Summer street, west. 1 principal.
SEC. 4. Primary Schools.
1st-Ash street, west. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
2d-Ash street, east. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
3d-Front street, west. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
4th-Front street, east. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
5th-Pleasant street, north. 1 principal.
6th-Pleasant street south. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
7th-Main street. 1 principal and one assistant.
8th-Summer street, north. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
9th-Summer street, south. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
The teachers in the Primary and Secondary Schools are all females.
SEC. 5. Mixed Schools.
African School-Pine court. 1 female principal.
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Pine Meadow School. 1 female principal.
Young Men's Winter School. 1 male principal. SEC. 6. Mixed Suburban Schools.
1st-Tatnuck, at Tatnuck. 1 principal and 1 assistant.
2d-Parkhurst, Leicester street. 1 principal.
3d-Leesville, Webster street. 1 principal.
4th-New Worcester, Leicester street. 1 principal.
5th-New Worcester Primary. 1 principal.
6th-South Worcester, Southbridge street. 1 principal.
7th-Quinsigamond, Millbury street. 1 principal.
8th-Monroe, Harrington street. 1 principal.
9th-Pond, Plantation street. 1 principal.
10th-Adams square. 1 principal.
11th-Burncoat plain. 1 principal.
12th-Northville, West Boylston street. 1 principal. 13th-Chamberlain. 1 principal.
14th-Read. 1 principal.
SEC. 7. Boundaries. The boundaries of the suburban schools are the same which have been long established; subject to such changes as the interests of the schools, and the convenience of the inhabitants in those sections of the city, may require. The boundaries of the other schools are changed so frequently, that they can be best ascertained by reference to the record of the Secretary.
SEC. 8. Pupils confined to their Sections. No pupils can attend any school out of the section in which he re- sides, except in conformity to the rules of the Board, or in special cases, by permission of the Visiting Committee of the school to which admission is sought.
SEC. 9. Pine Court School. The school on Pine court is open for colored children from all parts of the city ; but such scholars as are qualified, may be admitted to the
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Classical and English High School on the same conditions as other children.
SEC. 10. Grammar Schools. The Grammar Schools receive children from all parts of the city; and the num- ber of pupils in each shall be regulated, as far as may be, according to the number of seats, the capacities of the rooms, and the convenience of the pupils.
SEC. 11. High School. The High School receives pupils from all parts of the city, according to Section 5, Chap. vii.
SEC. 12. Young Men's Winter School. The Young Men's Winter School is kept about four months, from the first Monday in December, for the benefit of young men and lads who attend only during the winter months.
SEC. 13. Evening Schools. The Evening Schools which the Board may open are free to persons of all ages and sexes, for whom no other school is provided; and, as special schools, are subject to the Committee who have charge of them.
CHAPTER XI.
ABSTRACT OF THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
It shall be the duty of the president, professors, and tutors of the university at Cambridge, and of the several colleges, and of all preceptors and teachers of academies, and all other instructors of youth, to exert their best endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youth committed to their care and instruction, the principles of piety, justice, and a sacred regard to truth, love to their country, humanity and universal benevolence, sobriety,
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industry and frugality, chastity, moderation and temper- ance, and those other virtues, which are the ornament of human society, and the basis upon which a republican con- stitution is founded; and it shall be the duty of such in- structors to endeavor to lead their pupils, as their ages and capacities will admit, into a clear understanding of the tendency of the above mentioned virtues to preserve and perfect a republican constitution, and secure the blessings of liberty, as well as to promote their future happiness, and also to point out to them the evil tendency of the opposite vices .- Rev. Stat. Ch. 23, §7.
It shall be the duty of the resident ministers of the Gos- pel, the selectmen, and the school committees, in the sever- al towns, to exert their influence, and use their best en- deavors, that the youth of their towns shall regularly at- tend the schools established for their instruction .- Ib. §8.
The school committee shall require full and satisfactory evidence of the good moral character of all instructors, who may be employed in the public schools in their town, and shall ascertain, by personal examination, their literary qualifications and capacity for the government of schools. -Ib. §13.
Every instructor of a town or district school shall obtain of the school committee of such town a certificate in dupli- cate of his qualifications, before he opens such school, one of which shall be filed with the town treasurer, before any payment is made to such instructor on account of his ser- vices .- Ib. §14.
The school committee shall determine the number and qualifications of the scholars to be admitted into the school, kept for the use of the whole town, as aforesaid, and visit such school, at least quarter-yearly, for the purpose of
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making a careful examination thereof, and of ascertaining that the scholars are properly supplied with books; and they shall, at such examination, inquire into the regulation and discipline of the school, and the habits and proficiency of the scholars therein .- Ib. §15.
The school committee, or some one or more of them, shall, for the purposes aforesaid, visit each of the district schools in their town, on some day during the first or sec- ond week after the opening of such schools, respectively, and also on some day during the two weeks preceding the closing of the same ; and shall also, for the same purposes, visit all the schools kept by the town, once a month, without giving previous notice thereof to the instructors, -Ib. §16.
The school committee of each town shall direct what books shall be used in the several schools kept by the town ; and may direct what books shall be used in the respective classes .- Ib. §17.
The scholars at the town schools shall be supplied by their parents, masters or guardians, with the books pre- scribed for their classes .- Ib. §18.
The school committee of each town may procure, at the expense of the town, or otherwise, a sufficient supply of such class books, for all the schools aforesaid, and shall give notice of the place where such books may be ob- tained; and the books shall be supplied to the scholars, at such prices as merely to reimburse the expense of the same .- Ib. §19.
In case any scholar shall not be furnished by his parent, master or guardian, with the requisite books, he shall be supplied therewith by the school committee, at the expense of the town .-- 1b. §20.
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The school committee shall give notice, in writing, to the assessors of the town, of the names of the scholars so supplied by them with books, and of the books so furnished, the prices thereof, and the names of the parents, masters or guardians, who ought to have supplied the same; and said assessors shall add the price of the books so supplied, to the next annual tax of such parents, masters or guardi- ans; and the amount so added shall be levied, collected, and paid into the town treasury, in the same manner as the town taxes .- Ib. §21.
In case the assessors shall be of opinion, that any such parent, master or guardian is unable to pay the whole expense of the books so supplied on his account, they shall omit to add the price of such books, or shall add only a part thereof, to the annual 'tax of such parent, master or guardian, according to their opinion of his ability to pay. -Ib. §22.
The school committee shall never direct to be purchased or used, in any of the town schools, any school books which are calculated to favor the tenets of any particular sect of christians .- Ib. §23.
The school committee of any town is hereby authorized to dismiss from employment any teacher in such town, whenever the said committee may think proper, and from the time of such dismissal such teacher shall receive no further compensation for service rendered in that capacity. -St. 1844, ch. 32.
Any child, unlawfully excluded from public school in- struction, in this Commonwealth, shall recover damages therefor, in an action on the case, to be brought in the name of said child, by his guardian or next friend, in any
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court competent to try the same, against the city or town by which such public school instruction is supported .- St. 1845, ch. 214.
Every person who shall wilfully disturb any school or other assembly of people, met for a lawful purpose, within the place of such meeting, or out of it, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail, not more than thirty days, or by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars .- St. 1849, ch. 59.
No school teacher shall be entitled to receive any pay for his or her services, until the register of his or her school, properly filled up and completed, shall be deposited with the school committee or with such person as they may des- ignate to receive it .- St. 1849, ch. 209.
Any city or town may appropriate money for the support of schools for the instruction of adults in reading, writing, English grammar, arithmetic, and geography .- St. 1847, ch. 137.
Nothing in this act contained shall be considered as pro- hibiting the attendance upon the schools of scholars under five or over fifteen years of age .- St. 1849, ch. 116, §4.
No child under the age of fifteen years shall be employ- ed in any manufacturing establishment, unless such child shall have attended some public or private day school, where instruction is given by a teacher qualified according to the first section of the twenty-third chapter of the Re- vised Statutes, at least one term of eleven weeks of the twelve months next preceding the time of such employment, and for the same period during any and every twelve months in which such child shall be so employed. The owner, agent, or superintendent of any manufacturing es- tablishment, who shall employ any child in such establish-
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ment contrary to the provision of this act, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding fifty dollars for each offence .- St. 1849, ch. 220, § 1, 3.
Each of the several cities and towns, in this Common- wealth, is hereby authorized and empowered to make all needful provisions and arrangements concerning habitual truants, and children not attending school, without any regular and lawful occupation, growing up in ignorance, between the ages of six and fifteen years; and, also, all such ordinances and by-laws, respecting such children, as shall be deemed most conducive to their welfare, and the good order of such city or town; and there shall be an- nexed to such ordinances, suitable penalties, not exceeding, for any one breach, a fine of twenty dollars : provided, that said ordinances and by-laws shall be approved by the court of common pleas for the county, and shall not be repugnant to the laws of the Commonwealth.
The said justices of the peace, or other judicial officers, shall, in all cases, at their discretion, in place of the fine aforesaid, be authorized to order children, proved before them to be growing up in truancy, and without the benefit of the education provided for them by law, to be placed, for such periods of time as they may judge expedient, in such institution of instruction, or house of reformation, or other suitable situation, as may be assigned or provided for the purpose, under the authority conveyed by the first section of this act, in each city or town availing itself of the powers herein granted .- St. 1850, ch. 294, §1, 3.
All school teachers shall, hereafter, be examined in their knowledge of the elementary principles of physiology and hygiene, and their ability to give instructions in the same .- St. 1850, ch. 218, §2.
INDEX.
A.
Absentees readmitted, 16. Admission to the Schools, 18.
Advice and Direction, 7. Application to Committees, 13. Appointment of Teachers, 10. " Committees, 3. Arrangement of Classes, 12.
Assignment of Schools, 5. Assistant's Duties, 13.
B.
Books used in the Schools,
18, 19.
Boundaries, 23.
C.
Calling the Roll, 5. Cases of Indigence, 17.
Cleanliness, 14.
Classical and English High School, 18.
Committee on Books, 8. " School Houses, 8.
Committee of Conference, 4, 8.
66 for Visiting Schools, 4, 8.
66 " Examining Teachers, 4, 9.
66 of Estimates, 4, 9. Compensation of Secretary, 6.
Complaints, not to be made to the Teacher, 14.
Contributions Prohibited, 14.
D.
Discipline, 12.
E.
Election of Teachers, 10. Establishment of the Schools, 3. Estimates for the year, 9. Evening Schools, 24.
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Examinations of the Schools, 7. Examination of Teachers, 9.
for admission to the High School, 16. Exhibitions and Shows, 14.
G.
General supervision of Scholars, 11. Grades of Schools, 3, 19,
Grammar Schools, 22.
H.
Holidays, 21.
I.
Immoral pupils to be Dismissed, 12. Indigent Scholars, 6.
L.
Laws of the Commonwealth respecting Schools, 24-29.
Legitimate causes of Absence, 16. M.
Medals and Prizes, 14.
Minimum age of Admission, 15.
Mixed Schools, 22.
Morals and deportment, 11.
Morning Exercises, 11.
N.
New Books, how to be introduced, 20.
0. .
Observance of Rules, 13.
Opening and closing of School Rooms, 21.
Order of Business, 4,
Organization of the Board, 3. P.
Presence of scholars at Examinations, 17 President's duties, 5. Principal's duties, 12. Promotions, 7, 16. Primary Schools, 22.
Prudential Committees, 9. Public notice of Vacancies, 10. Punctuality, 11.
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Pupils confined to Sections, 23. under Censure, 12.
Q.
Quorum, 4.
R.
Recesses, 21.
Refractory Pupils, 12.
Register, 13.
Regular Meetings,
4.
Reports in Writing,
9.
Returns of Schools,
13.
Repairs, 14
Responsibility for School Property, 13.
Rules of Order, 4.
S.
Salaries of Teachers, 10.
School Year, how divided, 20.
School Hours, 20.
Secondary Schools, 22.
Secretary's Duties, 5, 6.
Suburban Schools, 23,
Special Favors, 8.
Supply of Books, 17.
T.
Tardiness, 17.
Teacher's Main Business, 11.
Tenure of Office, 10.
Terms of Suburban Schools, 20.
Text Books, 6.
Tickets of Admission, 16.
Transfers, 16.
V.
Vacations, 21. Vaccination of Pupils, 15.
Ventilation of School Rooms,
13.
Visitation of Schools, 7.
Y.
Young Men's Winter School,
24.
City Document, Ho. G.
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352044 INAUGURAL ADDRESS W953₫ 1851 OF
HON. PETER C. BACON,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER.
JANUARY 5, 1852;
WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF
THE SEVERAL CITY OFFICERS,
FOR THE
MUNICIPAL YEAR ENDING JAN. 5, 1851. 2
CEST
WN
JUNE 1
FEBY.29.1848
14.17
WORCESTER : PRINTED BY HENRY J. HOWLAND, 199 Main Street.
CONTENTS.
The Mayor's Inaugural Address, -
-
- 5
Report of the City Treasurer, 31
Accounts of Receipts and Expenditures, - 35
Real Estate owned by the City,
54
Personal Property owned by the City,
- 55
Amount of City Debt,
- 57
Report of the School Committee,
-
- 59
List of School Teachers with their Salaries,
85
Table of Schools,
88
Report of the Overseers of the Poor,
-
89
Report of the Committee on Highways,
- 95
Report of the Chief Engineer,
-
-
99
Government and Officers of the City of Worcester,
-
102
ADDRESS OF HON. PETER C. BACON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WORCESTER,
AT THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT,
JANUARY 5, 1852.
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen, and of the Board of Common Council.
By an act of the Legislature, passed in 1850, amenda- tory of the City Charter, it was provided that the munici- pal year, from and after the year 1851, should commence on the first Monday of January, instead of the first Mon- day of April, as directed by the Charter as it originally stood. The municipal and civil year were thus made near- ly identical. Our Charter, as thus amended, was made to correspond in this respect, with those of most, if not all the other cities in the State. The change thus made, it was anticipated, would be found promotive of the public interests, inasmuch as it would afford, by an organization made thus early in the year, more abundant opportunity- a longer, and to most members of the City Council, a more convenient season of the year, for meetings for deliberation in regard to measures proposed for the action of the City Government,-for obtaining information touching the wants and necessities of the city for the year, and for maturing such measures as might happen to receive its sanction,
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preparatory to making the necessary grants and appropria- tions for the year.
In accordance with the provisions of the Charter as thus amended, we are assembled to day for the organization of the City Government.
To us the municipal affairs and interests of the city are committed, for the year on which we have entered, and we are placed under the highest obligations, by the oaths we have now taken, faithfully and honestly to discharge the duties which devolve upon us.
In entering upon the duties of the year, permit me, Gentlemen, to assure you that I shall most cheerfully co- operate with you, in all measures calculated to promote the public good ; and I doubt not I shall receive from you all that co-operation, aid, and assistance, which each branch or department of the Government is entitled to expect of the others, as it is only by our mutual, our united, deliber- ate, discreet and harmonious action, that the best good of the city can be promoted.
It is made the duty of the Mayor, by the City Charter, from time to time to communicate to both Boards such in- formation, and recommend such measures, as the business and interests of the city may in his opinion require.
In pursuance of this requisition of the Charter, and in conformity to usage, which has assigned, as the fit occasion for the performance of this duty, the day fixed for the annual organization of the Government, I proceed to sub- mit to you such information, and to make such suggestions, as the public good seems to require.
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