USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1848/49-1855 > Part 40
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55 25
John J. Debois, cleaning School houses,
17 05
Dennis & Lee, repairs,
8 57
66 Silas Dinsmore, advertising,
-
5 00
Enos Dorr & Co., books, &c., -
223 86
Oscar Downes, table, -
5 50
Levi L. Eames, sawing wood,
3 75
66 Benjamin W. Fletcher, repairs,
56 86
Calvin Foster & Co., sundries,
113 94
60 Simon D. Gates, building fires and sweeping,
25 00
Benjamin Goddard, thermometers,
10 67
Silas Goodnow, whitewashing,
-
5 75
15 17
66 John Goodwin, building fires and sweeping, Joseph Il. Gould, trucking,
3 78
66 Thomas Gould, making fires, &c., -
4 50
William H. Hale, keys and repairs, 30 74
Ebenezer Hemmenway, cleaning School houses, 84 50
60 William Henshaw, maps, 31 00
66 Holbrook School Appts. Man'g Co., models &c., 45 75 Andrew Hutchinson, ink and sundries, - 15 71
Ide and Dutton, globes and maps, - 159 00
-
-
Edward Baldwin, labor, -
-
Edwin Chapin, lumber,
66 John Coffee, making fires and labor,
Charles C. Coleman, clocks and repairs,
-
52
Paid John Keith & Co., books,
20 96
Lamb & Foster, repairs,
277 12
Lamb & Walker,
5 31
66 Lawrence & Sprague, chairs,
2 67
J. D. Lovell, lumber,
8 25
Henry W. Miller, repairing roof Thomas St. School house, and sundries,
210 52
Stephen Morrissey, building fires and labor,
123 00
60 John C. Newton, repairs,
7 00
Charles P. Nichols, painting, 4 80
H. B. Parker, lumber and labor,
6 00
F. Franklin Phelps, repairs and sundries,
77 42
66 Pratt and Inman, iron,
4 94
66 John B. Pratt, pail,
20
Emerson K. Rice, cash paid out by him for coal used while building Ash St. School house,
65 00
66 Ezra B. Rice, fencing lot and repairs on School house, and sundries (Burncoat plain,) 148 66
66 Thomas H. Smith & Bro., painting, 107 35
66 George T. Sutton, repairs pumps, 7 00
66 Taber & Chollar, repairs to furniture, and sundries,
34 61
Erastus N. Tucker, crayons,
1 87
Nathaniel G. Tucker, pumps, repairs to, -
11 25
Joseph Wadsworth, blinds, &c.,
7 80
William A. Wheeler, sundries,
37 81
Rollin G. White, hack hire,
3 00
James M. Whiton, Jr., books,
1 15
66 Adoniram J. Wood, making fires and labor, 76 50
Wor. Medical Institution, rent, 118 75
24,505 62
SCHOOL HOUSE, SYCAMORE STREET.
Appropriation,
· 10,000 00
Expenditures.
Paid Boyden & Ball, plans, 97 00
Moses Taft, on contract,
9,300 00
" Taft & Atherton, drain, &c., 237 26
Amount undrawn January 1, 1855,
9,634 26 365 74
STATE TAX.
Appropriation.
5,604 00
Expenditure.
Paid State Treasurer, - -
5,604 00
-
53
SUMMONS.
Received from 760 tax payers, 20 cents each,
152 00
Expenditures.
Paid Jeremiah Kane,
18 50
Ezra Kent,
-
4 00
Sereno H. Perry,
24 00
Samuel Smith,
17 00
Arvin Thompson,
15 00
Transfer to " Contingent Expenses, "
73 50
152 00
TAXES.
Balance 1853, uncollected,
- 1,062 08
1854,
2,384 51
3,446 59
BILLS RECEIVABLE.
Amount due to the City,
1,628 00
CASH on hand,
- -
-
301 73
-
·
1
-
-
-
6
RECAPITULATION. Table of Balances, (January 2, 1854,) Appropriations (raised by tax, 1854,) Receipts exclusive of Taxes, Transfers, each Appro- priation as it stood after deducting or adding Transfers, Expenditures and Balances, from Jan. 2, 1854, to Jan. 1, 1855.
Credit Balances Jan'y 2, 1854.
Appropriat'ns raised by tax.
Receipts, exclusive of taxes,
Transfers to.
Transfers from.
(Expenditures, in- Total cluding approp'ns Dr. Receipts from overdrawn Jan. 2, Balances. '54, and balances.
Cr. Balan ces.
Abatements, Discount and Overlayings,
2,318 21
14,422 52
3,190 44
13,550 29
10,839 38
2,710 91
Alms House, (new)
12,000 00
1,874 30
1,000 00
12,874 30
10,683 30
2,191 00
City Debt, appropriation, " Hall,
·
·
·
1,962 25
·
·
·
,19 58
180 42
180 42
Common, (new)
1,950 47
10,000 00
338 04
11,257 50 5,270 68
4,907 33
12,651 86
12,607 57
44 29
Contingent Expenses,
11,340 35
.
·
.
2,025 86
4,224 14
4,224 14
Engines, Hose &c.,
6,250 00
.
.
.
.
.
·
·
.
.
.
.
.
136 95
213 05
213 05
Funerals,
25,500 00
950 95
3,190 44
29,641 39
Highways, Bridges, Paving &c.,
569 00
692 50
·
·
306 00
694 00
2,233 26
1,539 26
·
.
.
.
2,000 00
500 60
2,500 60
2,500 60
·
1,539 26
Militia,
459 23
3,238 06
6,197 29
6,197 29
793 27
793 27
·
·
.
.
5,625 51
Salaries of Watchmen,
4,800 00
3,925 25
3.925 25
Schools,
22,000 00
1,879 88
625 74
24,505 62
24,505 62
State Tax,
·
152 00
73 50
78 50
78 50
1,062 08
1,062 08
.
.
.
·
.
1,628 00
1,628 00
.
.
301 73
301 73
6,409 31
154,966 87
68,324 19
30,394 31
30,394 31
229,700 37
229,700 37
8,155 44
8,155 44
.
·
14,000 00
·
.
" Scales,
Clocks and Bells,
200 00
85 63
,85 63
·
·
.
·
Fire Department,
5,500 00
5,500 00
5,457 26
42 74
Fuel, Lights, Printing &c., .
1,500 00
279 68
1,779 68
1,779 68
29,641 39
1,261 50
Hope Cemetery, (lot account) Hope Cemetery,
1,000 00
150 43
6,031 61
6,182 04
6,182 04
Licenses,
Lighting Streets,
1,571 63
·
·
·
.
.
.
·
1,306 25
2,546 11
Police Court,
·
.
·
·
.
·
.
.
10,000 00
9,634 26
365 74
School Houses,
·
5,604 00
5,604 00
5,604 00
Summons,
Taxcs 1853, uncollected,
2,384 51
2,384 51
Bills Receivable, Cash, .
L
.
·
.
·
1,261 50
,
.
.
.
465 00
·
·
57,035 20
58,606 83
57,067 57
Loans,
4,306 25
Paupers,
2,500 00
179 26
179 26
Salaries,
6,000 00
374 49
5,625 51
1,239 66
.
·
·
Rice, John,
,350 00
.
·
Interest,
465 00
County Tax,
11,340 35
11,340 35
14,000 00
1,962 25
11,257 50
11,257 50
·
.
$229,700 37
874 75
10,000 00
1854,
.
all sources.
.
REAL ESTATE OWNED BY THE CITY.
-
The City Hall (of brick) and land (the Common).
New Common, abuts on Elm, Highland, and Agricultural streets.
The Alms House (of wood) and land, 204 acres, 133 rods .- A new brick house being finished.
Wood lot, 26 acres, 19 rods, (part of wood sold.)
Sprout land, 15 years growth.
Pest House, at City Farm.
Bell Pond, and about 9 acres land around it.
Hope Cemetery, New Worcester.
Burial Ground on the Common.
on Mechanic street.
66
on Pine Court.
60
66
at South Worcester.
City Pound on Pine street.
Brick School House and lot on Walnut street.
66
on Main
on Pleasant 66
on Ash 66
on Pine
66
66
66
on Thomas 66
66
66 on the Common.
at Quinsigamond Village.
66
66
66
66 at Adams Square District. at Pond
66
66 at Northville 66
66
66
66
at Burncoat Plain
at South Worcester.
Wood School House and lot on Summer street.
66
66
.
66 66 small one.
66
66
" on Pine Court.
66
66
60
", in Tatnic District.
in New Worcester.
66
66
66
in Blithewood Avenue District.
66
66
in Chamberlain
66
66
66
66
in Leesville 66
66
in Parkhurst
1
66
66
66
in Reed,
66
66
66
66
'60
60
66
66
" on Beach street.
56
Lot of land on Sycamore street, new Brick House being finished on this lot. Salem 66
Hook and Ladder House on the Common.
Engine House and lot at Lincoln Square, occupied by No. 1 Eng. Co.
at New Worcester, 66
" at 21 Exchange st., 66
3
66 66
at 77 Main
4 66
on Carlton
1 Hose "
City Barn and lot on Salem street.
PERSONAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY.
Furniture in the City Hall, Mayor and Aldermen, Common Council, and Police Court Rooms, Treasurer, Messenger and Marshal's Offices ; in all the School Houses and part of the Ward Rooms; Philosophical and other Apparatus, Piano Forte, Maps, &c., in Walnut street School house ; small amount of Books, Maps, &c., in the other School Houses.
IN CHARGE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS.
The City Aqueduct, Reservoir, Hydrants, (104) and all the fixtures and tools belonging thereto.
The Hydrants are located as follows :
On Chestnut street, 5 " Elm 66 7
On Main street, 21 6
" Mechanic
" Park 66
5
" Franklin 66 3
" Pleasant
8
" Front 6
" Prospect 4
" Grafton 2
" Salem 3
" Green 9
" Summer
13
" Lincoln 3
" Thomas 66
6
The 3 on Lincoln street are attached to Ethan Allen's Aqueduct. There are also 3 belonging to individuals, located as follows : 1 at Edward Earle's house, 1 at Wm. B. Fox & Son's Factory, and I at Goddard, Rice & Co's Factory.
IN CHARGE OF THE SEVERAL ENGINE AND HOSE COMPANIES AND UND ER A GENERAL SUPERVISION OF THE ENGINEERS.
1 Long Ladder at Granite Row, Main street. 1 at Dixie's Store, "
5 Engines,
12 Hose Carriages,
124 feet Suction Hose, 6150 feet Leading Hose,
32 Buckets,
2 Hook and Ladder Carriages,
10 Axes,
8 Hooks,
19 Ladders,
6 Crotch poles and forks,
17 Trumpets.
2
" Exchange 3
57
In addition to the above, each Company is furnished with Spanners and Belts, Torches, Signal Lanterns, Bars, Shovels, &c., necessary to accom- plish their duties ; they are also provi led with furniture for their respective meeting rooms.
IN CHARGE OF THE UNDERTAKERS.
3 Hearses, (1 on runners,)
2) Harnesses,
4 Palls,
1 Rubber covering for Hearse,
1 Plan of part of S. Worcester ground
I Plan of the Pine Meadow ground,
I Plan of Hope Cemetery,
1 Plan of graves on Common.
IN CHARGE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
6 Ox Carts, 1 yoke Oxen, 2 Horse Carts, 2 Horses, 1 Snow Plow, 2 Plows, 3 Ox Scrapers, Chains, Bars, Pieks, Shovels, Hoes, Axes and small articles valued at $730, about 6 tons Ilay, 1000 feet curb stone, 115 loads paving stone, and 500 feet chestnut plank, valued at $700.
IN CHARGE OF SURVEYORS IN OUTER DISTRICTS.
1 Plow and 1 Scraper in each, district, valued at $115.
IN CHARGE OF LAMP LIGHTERS, STEPHEN SHUMWAY AND ARVIM THOMPSON.
57 Fluid, and 104 Gas Lamps in use, and located as follows :
Fluid.
On Arch
street,
1
On Madison street, 2
Belmont
1
Main
4
Bridge
Maple
1
Central
Mechanic
2
Franklin
1
Pine
3
Grafton
2
Pleasant
6.
Green
4
Portland
3
Grove
6
Salem
3:
Harvard
1
School
1
Laurel
1
Southbridge
6
Liberty
2
Union
3
Gas.
On the Common,
3
On Main
street, 27
Chestnut
street,
4
Mechanic
1
Elm
66
5
Oak
1
Exchange
4
Pearl
6.6
1
Front
13
Pleasant
2
Grafton
1
School
3
Green
6
Summer
11
Harvard
6
Thomas
4
Highland
1
Trumbull & Park 5
Lincoln
6
6*
58
There is 1 Post and fixtures complete for gas, 2 Lamp Posts, 87 fluid Lamps, 35 Its. 10 × 14 Glass, 7 Gas Burners, and Tools as follows :
1 10 gallon Fluid Can, 3 Fluid Cans, 1 Alcohol Can, 1 2 quart Measure and Tunnel, 1 Diamond, 4 Ladders, 1 Hammer, 2 Screw Drivers, 1 Wrench, 1 Soldering Iron, 1 Chisel, 1 Putty Knife, 3 pair Pliers, 1 Match Safe, and 2 Gimlets.
POLICE OFFICE AND WATCH HOUSE.
14 Mattresses, 30 Blankets, 12 " Police " Badges, 16 Rattles, 15 Bil- lys, 1 Dark Lantern, 5 pair Handcuffs, 1 Watch Hook, 1 pair Shackles, 2 Stoves and Pipe, 1 Standing Desk, 6 Chairs, I Coffee Boiler, and Buckets, Pint Cups and other small articles.
IN CHARGE OF GEORGE GEER, CITY SEALER. Standard of Weights and Measures.
Four City Scales, in charge of the following persons :
Jonas White, on Southbridge street.
Vester Vassell, at New Worcester. Henry J. Holmes, at Washington Square.
James E. Wood, at Lincoln Square.
IN CHARGE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF THE ALMS HOUSE. House Furniture, Farming Tools, Provisions, &c.
-
AMOUNT OF CITY DEBT, JAN. 1, 1855.
DATE.
To whom payable.
Int. per ct.
When payable.
Amount.
Interest paid to
July 1, 1841,
Worcester Co. Institution for Savings.
6
On demand. 66
$6,500 00
Oct'r 1, 1854.
Mar. 14, 1844,
66
66
6
7,000 00
Feb. 17, 1846,
66
46
6
66
1,604 85
July 1, 1851,
.6
66
66
6
8,500 00
July 1, 1851,
66
66
66
6
66
3,500 00
66
66
April 1 1852,
66
66
6
2,335 88
=
66
July 22, 1852,
66
66
66
6 +
1,600 00
Jan. 2, 1854,
¥
66
66
.6
.6
no
July 22, annually On demand.
2.000 00
Dec. 2, 1854.
Jan. 3, 1853,
6
2,000 00
Jan. 3, 1855.
Feb. 28, 1849,
Solon S. Hastings,
6
1,500 00
Aug. 28,1854.
July 20, 1850,
6
500 00
July 20, 66
Mar. 9, - 1849,
David Whitcomb,
6
6.
3,000 00
Mar.
April 16, 1850,
Daniel McFarland,
6
66
2,000 00
Apr. 16, 6%
Dec. 1, 1853,
William Dickinson,
6
2,500 00
Dec. 1,
66
Dec. 20, 1853,
6
1,500 00
June 20, 6
Mar. 14, 1854,
6
3,000 00
Oct. 1,
Mar. 15, 1854.
6
4,000 00
Sept. 15, "
Mar. 15, 1854,
6
5,375 00
Oct, 1,
66
May 17, 1854.
Rodney A. Miller, Tr. for R. W. Heard,
6
66
5,000 00
Nov. 17, 44
$98,435 33
..
6
8.950 00
..
66
Feb. 1, 1845,
6
4,000 00
66
July 9, 1850,
6
66
6
1,063 73
1,800 00
66
May 30, 1848,
11 notes of $1604,85 each
17,653 35
June 2, 1848,
Ebenezer Mower,
6
Dec. 1, 1853,
6
1,000 00
" 20,
66
July 24, 1850,
..
552 52
6 6
66
Sept. 1, 1851,
6
6
Worcester Mechanics' Savings Bank, John Hammond, . Levi Lincoln,
1
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Prepared by Messrs. Higginson, James and Rice.
The population of Worcester'has expanded, within fif- teen years, from 7,500, to 24,000. The result of no spe- cial stimulus,-founded upon no single source of prosperity, -this remarkable increase of inhabitants only predicts a continued progress in years to come. The transition from the rural village to the great city will be accomplished, perhaps, within the period of one generation. What shall be the result of this change? Honor and usefulness, or decline and fall ? Can we reconcile numbers with virtue ? Shall we see this great industrial community repaid for its labors by happiness, or only by luxury ? How shall we carry the simplicity and uprightness that have marked the Worcester of the past, into the larger Worcester that is to be ? It is to give a worthy answer to these questions, that , the School Committee of 1854 has thought and labored.
It is not many years since the question was proposed to a number of our most experienced instructors, how large a proportion of a community could be made useful and virtuous by a perfect system of common school education, universally applied ? The lowest estimate was ninety-nine per cent. Our system is still farther from perfection, than it is from universal application. Yet with every allowance
62
for such drawbacks, the returns of every other invest- ment are poor compared with those of this; and all the other practical interests of the city, together, are not so important as our schools.
Nay, their value does not make itself felt within our civic boundaries alone. We are a wandering people. Of the four thousand children who have passed through our school-house doors, this year, at least one quarter part will seek some other home for their maturer career. Into that new home they will carry every thing that we can give them. And the intellectual impulse, that is first formed, a mere ripple of thought, in our smallest primary school, may roll westward thenceforth, till it breaks at last, watering, heal- ing, and refreshing, upon the plains of distant Kanzas.
The sum actually expended on our schools during the last year, was $24,504,62, not including nearly $10,000 spent on the new school-house in Sycamore St. The dis- bursement of so large a sum, must of course be attended with difficulties. Infallibility of judgment cannot be ex- pected of a Committee, of whose members the great major- ity are new in their position; and it becomes them to go into office with diffidence, and go out with humility. Noth- ing more can be expected of them, (and nothing less,) than zeal, disinterestedness, absolute freedom from sectarian- ism or partisanship, and a sacred sense of Duty.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS .- It is, however, desirable to state clearly, at the outset, the great embarrassments under which a School Committee, in this city, as at pres- ent constituted, labors ;- difficulties which must increase from year to year, with the expansion of our population. Probably there is no manufacturing establishment in Wor- cester, involving current expenses of $25,000, which is so carelessly and cumbrously organized, as the School Depart-
1
63
ment. What would be the destiny of the most flourishing business in the community, if removed from the charge of its foreman, agent, or proprietor, and placed in the hands of twenty-four men, chosen from the citizens at large, hav- ing only a slight general acquaintance with the business, giving to it only their few moments of leisure, and com- monly remaining in office but a year at a time,-to say nothing of the occasional intrusion of political influences ? How could such an establishment be saved from bank- ruptcy for six months ? Of course, only by seeing the danger in time, and instructing the twenty-four men to look for one practical man, with a knowledge of the busi- ness, and employ him to superintend the establishment, at any reasonable salary, under their general direction.
For four years, two-thirds of the Committee have been annually changed. Very few of the remainder have served more than two successive years. It is very little, to say that there can be no uniformity of system established under these circumstances. The case is much worse than this. For the individual members do not learn enough even to have a system. It would take the working hours of a year to become thoroughly acquainted with our schools. But the School Committee can give to them only leisure mno- ments, snatched from other occupations. Nay, who has leisure moments ? In our busy city, a man fit to serve on a School Committee, is fit for a hundred other absorbing duties ;- and has them to do.
The result is too often this .- He finds it almost impos- sible to give close attention even to the three or four schools under his special care; he can scarcely enter any others, without neglecting his own ; and of the schools in other places, of school literature, and of school improvements, he knows nothing. He does well if he makes his regular monthly visits, and sees that things do not become glaringly
64
· worse under his management. All the rest he leaves to the Teacher.
It is a simple practical question. Shall we admit, in re- spect to schools, the principles recognized in all the com- mon business of life ? In a time when constant improve- ments are made in the public school system, shall we make progress, or fall behind ? In other words, shall we have a School Superintendent ?
In small country towns, there are commonly two or three persons, (usually the leading professional men,) who are, practically, School Superintendents. They have leisure to give, they are known and respected by all, they retain their office for years. In a large city, there are a dozen reasons why it cannot be thus. Every year makes it more imprac . ticable. A change of system is a necessity, as the busi- ness outgrows the old one. To lengthen the term of office of Committee-men would but partially remedy the difficulty. A Committee can no more do the present work of the schools of Worcester, than the Directors of the Worcester Railroad can do the work of the Superintendent. They have their place, and he has his ; and both functions are indispensable.
Fourteen years ago, the new system was recommended by Horace Mann, in his Annual Report. It has since been adopted, not merely in cities larger than ours, such as Boston, but in smaller places, as Gloucester and Danvers ; and with great success. So well has it approved itself to friends of education, that it has been recommended, dur- ing the past year, (under various modifications) by the School Committees of the following cities and towns :- New Bedford, Fall River, Roxbury, West Roxbury, New- bury, Edgartown, Randolph, Adams and Pittsfield.
The Superintendent of Public Schools should of course be a man of experience and of some enthusiasm,-possess- ing great energy, industry, kindness, tact, good manners
1
and good sense,-free from sectarian or party bias,-and devoting his time exclusively to the duty. He would of course be under the control of the School Committee, and re-eligible annually.
His compensation must be sufficiently ample, to secure the services of a competent man. This would not however be a clear addition to our present expenses, for (by the stat- ute) the large and increasing bills for School Committee's services, would at once be saved. The following statement from the City Treasurer will show the extent of this ex- pense, since the first year of our municipal existence,-not including the amount paid the Prudential Committee of the Centre District, which would not be affected by the change. .
1849. Visiting Schools, - .
206,00
Secretary, -
. .
- 200,00
$406,00
1850.
Visiting Schools, -
90,00
Secretary, - - -
200,00
$290,00
1851. Visiting Schools (9 months,) - Secretary, - -
233,00
200,00
$433,00
1852.
Visiting Schools, - -
297,00
Secretary, .
- 200,00
$497,00
1853.
Visiting Schools, -
500,00
Secretary, -
200,00
$700,00
1854. Visiting Schools, (not less than) Secretary,
800,00 200,00
-- $1000,00
But that is, after all, the best economy, which obtains 7
65
66
the largest results from given means. We do not grudge the foreman his high wages. It would cost more to do without one. We certainly cannot afford to have our busi- ness ill-managed, and we expect him to be worth his price to us, or else to give place to a better man.
Influenced by such considerations as these, the School Committee passed in June, unanimously, the following vote :
Resolved, that in the opinion of this Board the interests of education in this city would be promoted by the ap- pointment of a Superintendent of Public Schools, according to the supplement to the Revised Statutes, vol. 2. No. 1, c. 314.
In the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, this was referred to the Joint Committee on Education. This Committee gave a hearing on the subject, after some delays, and finally reported a bill to the Board. It was several times debated, and at length indefinitely postponed. This is the second effort made on this subject, within three years, by the School Committee. It is to be hoped that a third at- tempt may be more successful.
SCHOOL HOUSES .- Under a vote of the City Council, new school-house is now being erected on Sycamore St., and is under contract to be finished during the coming sea- son. It will be ready for use at the beginning of the Sep- tember term. Its plan, both externally and internally, dif- fers from that of any other in the city. Its chief pecu- liarity consists in having each room adapted for only fifty scholars, and thereby requiring only one teacher for each. Assistant teachers and recitation rooms, are to be altogether dispensed with. Some remarks upon the advantages of this plan, will be found under the head of Secondary Schools.
67
The contract for this building, does not include the fur- niture, and it will therefore be necessary for our successors to make some provision for that purpose, at an early day. It is to be hoped that every room will (unlike our present arrangements), be furnished with separate seats. The econ- omy of double seats is not to be weighed, for a moment, against the facilities they offer for whispering and play.
Most of the school-houses in the Centre District, have required an unusual amount of repairing during the past year. Damage being done by the wind to the tin covering of the roofs of the Thomas and Ash St. school-houses, they had to be thoroughly painted over, when refitted. The Ash St. school-house has leaked, as usual, and it has been found impossible entirely to overcome the evil, owing to the original imperfection of most of the work done in this building. For the same cause, it has recently been found necessary to varnish all the interior woodwork, though if it had been properly done originally, it would have lasted ten or twelve years. The Summer St. school-house has been painted inside, and otherwise greatly improved. There is, however, a great want of clothes-closets in all the rooms in this building. Should the small-school system, as tried in the Sycamore St. building, prove satisfactory, it may lead to an ultimate alteration in the present Secondary school- houses, and this defect can then be remedied.
There has always been difficulty in warming the Ash St. and Thomas St. school-houses. This seems to proceed not from any deficiency in the furnaces, but in the flues, which are placed in the outer walls, and hence suffer from a de- ficiency of draft. It is suggested by the Prudential Com- mittee for the Centre District, that the evil would be best remedied by a new stack of chimneys in the centre of each building. As it is, the draft is weakest, precisely when the weather is coldest.
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In the erection of most of our school-houses, but little care has been taken in respect to ventilation. No satisfac- tory plan has ever been adopted by the Committee, and in the mean time we are compelled to employ the worst pos- sible plan, namely, that of opening the windows.
A room has been fitted up, in the second story of the school-house in New Worcester, at an expense of about $160. This will accommodate forty scholars, but is al- ready, like all the other rooms in the building, crowded to overflowing, and a new school-house in that village has become absolutely necessary.
It is to be hoped that another year will terminate the existence of the school-house on the Common. It has stood there long enough, astonishing the eyes of strangers, and annoying our own. It is much to be desired, also, that the environs of the High School should be made more attrac- tive to the eye. They do great injustice to its neat and commodious interior.
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ABSENCE AND TARDINESS .- By the tables in the last re- port of the Secretary of the Board of Education, the alarm- ing fact appears, that Worcester stands lowest among the cities of the state, and nearly the lowest compared with the towns of the state, in respect to average attendance. Yet it will be seen, by comparing the statistics of the several schools, that there has been, during the year, an increased regularity of attendance in every school of the Centre Dis- trict, above the Primary. This amendment may be justly attributed to the more stringent regulations recently adopt- ed, on this subject ; especially since we find that in the Primary and Suburban schools, to which the rule did not extend, there has been no improvement.
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