USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 35
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the early part of the year, but, before the fall term, it was deemed wise to return to the old policy.
CLASSICAL AND ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.
Number of pupils registered during the year, 244
Average number of pupils belonging during the year, 159
in daily attendance, 131
Percentage of attendance during the year, .82
While this school, in some respects, is the most fortunate, in others it is the most unfortunate in the city. It has never had a surplus of pupils. It has ample accommodations for 204 pupils, but in 1857 the average attendance was only 149 ; in 1858, 166 ; in 1859, 131.
The school has not for several years enjoyed as fully as is desirable popular sympathy and public confidence.
The impression has somewhatextensively prevailed, that the high school is not entirely adapted to the wants of the Worcester people.
Whether this impression is correct or not, the effect upon the school has been unfortunate. Pupils entering there have not always remained long enough to ascertain what the school would, or would not, do for them.
The frequent change of teachers has not tended to bring the school into popular favor. Twenty teachers have been connected with the school during the last five years, fifteen of whom have now no con- nection with it. At no time have there been more than five teachers in the school at once.
The year 1859 has had its full share of changes.
111
None of the teachers now in the school have been in it more than eight months. These frequent resigna- tions have not often been at the suggestion or by the desire of the committee, but usually from causes beyond their control.
Early in the summer term of the last year, an unhappy difference of opinion as to the relative authority of the two male teachers became manifest. One, as principal, claimed jurisdiction over every department of the school; the other claimed ultimate authority in his own department. This difference culminated in the resignation of all the teachers in the school except the principal. The confidence of the public, never too strong in the school, was not augmented by this new hegira.
It has sometimes been questioned whether the school has been always firmly and vigorously gov- erned, and it has been objected that however exten- sive and accurate the instruction, its value is greatly depreciated by the want of strict, dignified, and firm discipline.
The school was enlarged in October, by a prepar- atory class of 67, and an additional teacher.
The visiting committee of this school have given careful attention to its condition, and have attempted to bring it into harmony with the wishes and inter- ests of the people. They recognize the importance of having a high school with facilities to educate the sons and daughters of all the citizens of our beautiful city. With this purpose, they have already made some important changes, given an additional year to the English department, and introduced the study of drawing.
112
They have spared no pains to secure for every vacancy a competent, earnest, and enthusiastic teacher, one who, with the high and indispensable qualities of the scholar, combines the best elements of the teacher, the ability to teach his pupils to think, as well as to remember; the rare good sense which never tasks the mind too much, and yet assists the pupil to acquire the habit of intense and even pro- tracted mental application, which makes study attrac- tive by leading the mind of the student rather than driving it.
The committee feel confident that this part of their labor has been attended with unusual success. Mr. H. R. Greene had already secured the confidence of the community by a very successful and popular career in the Thomas street school.
Miss Susan E. White, the successor of Miss M. E. Waterman, has had many accomplished and brilliant predecessors in the French department, but no supe- riors. Miss Ava Williams had long been known as one of the most earnest, faithful, and successful teach- ers in the city. Miss Kate F. Leland, who has been in the school but a few weeks, has taught with suc- cess in other schools, and her classes here evince her faithfulness, competency, and skill.
The classical department has been under the charge of Mr. H. B. Sprague, who has also had charge of the government of the school. In the department of teaching, he has given entire satisfaction to the com- mittee. His classes have been an honor to the school as well as creditable to himself. At the annual election of teachers in December, the com-
113
mittee expressed their cordial approval of the classi- cal instruction in the school by unanimously placing Mr. Sprague in charge of that department, and they relieved him of the executive department with the hope of making it more vigorous and effective.
THE HIGH SCHOOL MEDAL FUND.
What Benjamin Franklin did for the lads of the Boston schools, Hon. A. H. Bullock has done for the youth of both sexes in the Worcester schools.
The following letter of mayor Bullock, proposing to give to the city of Worcester one thousand dollars, the annual income of which is to be forever appropriated by the school committee for the en- couragement of merit in scholarship and deportment in both sexes in the high school of this city, and the official action of the city council and of the school committee upon that communication, form an interesting and important chapter in the history of our public schools, and deserve a place in the permanent records of the city, that the pupils of 1960 may not find it difficult to ascertain whose munificent hand it is that reaches down through the century and bestows a reward upon industrious and virtuous merit.
CITY OF WORCESTER, Mayor's Office, Oct. 31, 1859.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
In the course of my official connection with the school board, and of my visits to the schools during the present year, I have observed with interest the success of our sys-
114
tem of education. I well recollect the condition of the schools at the time immediately prior to our organization as a city, when for a period of four or five years it was my lot, as secretary of the board of overseers of schools in the centre district, to enter them frequently, and to inspect them somewhat minutely ; and though they were then in high repute and wore honors in a comparison with those of other equal towns, it now appears to be manifest that in maturity of system, and in the efficacy of intelligent and vigorous instruction, we have since made a large and grati- fying advance.
But in this department of the public interests, our neces- sities as a local community require that the progress to which I have alluded should be continued. Our prosperity, position, and influence as a city, absolutely depend upon this. In the tendency of our time to centralization, which is collecting a great proportion of the population of the state into its large and thriving cities,-where the useful arts of material power, and all the agencies of influence are quickened and supported by the aids of aggregated wealth and cultivation ;- you will concur with me in the opinion, that the best way, and the only way, in which we can expect to sustain ourselves in such a competition of communities, is by a constant, liberal, and thorough devel- opment and stimulation of our public schools. 'These make the men and women, who are the city. And it becomes us to establish these free and public institutions in the confidence and affections of our whole population, with- out distinction of race, or party, or sect ; and especially to invest them with such varied attractions as shall enlist the interest and enthusiasm of the youth whose preparation for active life is in a large degree dependent upon them.
My excuse for having thus briefly indulged in this expression of such truisms as are familiar to all, must be found in the interest which has been freshly awakened in my own mind by the frequent and immediate contact with
115
our school system to which I have been called in the dis- charge of my official duties. My particular object, how- ever, in making to you this communication, is to say that, entertaining these opinions, and impressed with a sense of their importance, however familiar or common they may be, it is my wish, before retiring from the office I now hold in the city, to leave behind some token of the sincerity with which they are cherished. For the more definite accom- plishment of this desire, I shall select the high school of our city. This selection is made for the reason that this institution is the only one which is open to pupils resident in all parts of the city ; and because, as the school of last resort for nearly two hundred lads and girls before engaging in the practical life of the world, it possesses peculiar claims upon our thoughtful care.
I propose, therefore, gentlemen, to now tender to you, as representatives of the city, the sum of one thousand dol- lars, to be set apart as a fund of which the annual income shall be appropriated, under the direction of the school committee, for the encouragement of merit in scholarship and deportment, in both sexes, in the high school of Wor- cester. If you accept the gift, I recommend that the whole subject be referred to the school committee, in whose dis- cretion and judgment we may safely confide ; and with reference to the investment of the money, permit me to recommend that the treasurer be ordered with it to pay off one thousand dollars of the city debt, and to open an account which shall represent and designate this fund, paying annually six per cent. interest for the object I have expressed, in such manner as may be voted by the school committee. The particular name to be attached to the account or fund, can better be determined by you after the school committee shall have arranged the mode for its use ; it being expressly understood, however, that my own name is not in any event to be made a part of the title which may be adopted.
116
If I had regarded mere delicacy or general propriety, this communication might perhaps have been deferred to the close of the municipal year. But I am sure that your judgment will relieve me from any embarrassment arising from this consideration, when I give you the assurance that, as my term of office will soon expire, to which I shall not under any circumstances be a candidate for re-election, my sole object in bringing the subject to your attention at this time, is that, by reason of my connection with you in the government of the city, I may share with the city council and school committee in arranging the details for the investment and use of the fund.
A. H. BULLOCK.
This communication was referred to a joint special committee, consisting of aldermen Armsby and Goddard, and councilmen Barton, Stone, and Cham- berlain, who reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :-
Whereas, the Hon. A. H. Bullock, mayor of the city, has, by a communication of this date, tendered to the city of Worcester " the sum of one thousand dollars, to be set apart as a fund, of which the annual income shall be appro- priated, under the direction of the school committee, for the encouragement of merit in scholarship and deportment, in both sexes, in the high school of Worcester,"
Resolved, That the city council, for and in behalf of the city of Worcester, tenders its cordial and sincere thanks to the Hon. A. H. Bullock for his liberal donation, rendered doubly valuable for the objects which it is intended, and so well designed, to promote.
Resolved, That the city council, in behalf of the city, hereby accept the gift as a sacred trust, to be appropriated and used in the manner and for the purposes contemplated by the generous donor.
117
Resolved, That the city treasurer be, and he is hereby authorized to receive, for and in behalf of the city, the sum of one thousand dollars, thus tendered, at the convenience of the donor, and that he be instructed " to pay with it an equal amount of the city debt, and to open an account which shall represent and designate this fund, paying annu- ally six per cent. interest for the object expressed and intended by the donor, in such manner as may be voted by the school committee."
Resolved, That the communication of the mayor be referred to the school committee, in compliance with his request.
Ordered, That a copy of these resolves, duly certified, be sent to the Hon. A. H. Bullock.
J. M. C. ARMSBY, ISAAC GODDARD, GEO. S. BARTON, SAM'L V. STONE, GEO. A. CHAMBERLAIN,
Committee.
The city council referred the mayor's communi- cation to the school committee, in compliance with his request, and the school committee referred it to a special committee of eight, who made, through their chairman, the Hon. Dwight Foster, the follow- ing report, which was unanimously adopted.
To the School Committee of the city of Worcester :
The sub-committee to whom was referred the communi- cation of the mayor offering to create a fund of one thousand dollars, the annual income of which shall be appropriated under the direction of the school committee for the encouragement of merit in scholarship and deport- ment, in both sexes, in the high school of Worcester, have the honor to submit their report.
12
118
They recommend the adoption of the following vote :
Resolved, That the income of the fund of one thousand dollars, which has been placed at the disposal of the board by the munificent liberality of the Hon. A. H. Bullock, mayor of the city of Worcester, be annually appropriated
the purchase of twenty silver medals, of uniform size, appearance and value, for distribution as prizes among the scholars of the high school, and that, at the end of each school year, on the last day thereof, these prizes shall be publicly awarded as follows :-
Four medals for excellence in deportment,-under which term shall be included good morals, good manners, indus- try and assiduity, regularity, punctuality, and every des- cription of honorable and meritorious conduct.
Four medals for excellence in classical studies.
Four medals for excellence in mathematics.
Four medals for excellence in English studies,-which shall be deemed to include all branches taught in the school, except those for which the other prizes are especially offered.
And one medal for excellence in each of the following branches : composition, declamation, reading, and French.
All who shall have been members of the school during the entire year, with the exception only of temporary absences, for sufficient excuses, shall be candidates for med -. als, each in the studies which he or she has pursued ; but only one medal shall be awarded to any scholar in a year, and no one shall receive a medal, who has, during the year, been guilty of any serious misconduct or gross violation of the rules of the school.
When the merits of any scholar shall have been such, that he or she would be entitled to a prize in more than one department, that fact shall be publicly announced, and the medal shall be awarded for excellence in all the branches in which it has been deserved.
The school committee, at the commencement of each
119
school year, shall elect five gentlemen, none of whom shall be members of that board, to act as judges in the award of the foregoing prizes ; who shall be governed in their decision by the marks of the scholars for recitation and deportment during the year, by their appearance and profi- ciency at the school examinations, and such other modes of ascertaining their comparative merits as they may think fit to employ.
The terms of the preceding vote which your committee submit to the consideration of the Board, are sufficiently explicit to explain their views of the best mode of appropri- ating the liberal donation of the mayor. It has been their aim to devise such a plan as will encourage a worthy ambi- tion for honorable distinction, founded upon good character and good scholarship. And they cannot doubt that the prizes thus offered will afford to all the members of the high school an incentive to avail themselves of the advantages of that Institution to the highest possible degree.
Hereafter, it will be an honor, always known and remem- bered, that a young man or a young lady is one of "the Medal Scholars of the Worcester High School."
And your committee trust that the founder of this fund may for many years witness the beneficial results of his judicious liberality, in the elevated tone of character and scholarship among the members of the school and its grad- uates in after life.
DWIGHT FOSTER, T. K. EARLE, W. W. RICE, J. D. E. JONES, J. J. POWER, A. W. CURTIS, S. V. STONE, W. WARD,
Committee.
120
With his usual generosity, the worthy donor has provided that the first distribution of medals shall be made at the close of the present school year, the first week in May 1860.
It can only be regretted that he has forbidden the use of his own name in designating the fund. While the official designation may require us to write " The High School Medal Fund," it will be difficult, we think, to induce the people not to call the prizes " The Bullock Medals."
For the Committee,
J. D. E. JONES, Superintendent.
NAHUM H. ANDREWS,
WILLIAM W. RICE,
OLIVER K. EARLE,
DWIGHT FOSTER,
JOHN J. POWER,
WILLIAM S. GREEN,
THOMAS MAGENNIS,
WERDEN REYNOLDS,
ALBERT W. CURTIS,
JONAS BARTLETT,
JOHN D. E. JONES,
SAMUEL D. HARDING,
WILLIAM WORKMAN,
SAMUEL V. STONE,
TIMOTHY K. EARLE,
WILLARD WARD,
ASA L. BURBANK,
DANIEL W. FAUNCE,
D. A. GODDARD,
E. F. CHAMBERLAIN.
ALEXANDER H. BULLOCK, Mayor.
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APPENDIX.
Schools.
Teachers.
Salaries.
Registered.
Whole Number
No. of Males.
No. of Females.
to each school
Av. No. belon'g
each school.
Av. daily att. in
Attendance.
Ratio of
One Year.
Fall Term.
Perfect in Att.
No. of Teachers.
Classical and English Harris R. Greene,
#1200 244 97 147
159 131
.70
.82
3
52
5
High School. ...
Henry Winn,
900
Susan E. White,
500
Ava Williams,
400
Kate F. Leland,
400
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
Thomas street.
James H. Newton,
100)
151
66
85
112|
108
.72
.951/2
0
42
8
1
3d Department.
Elizabeth L. Gird,
350
138
73
65
91
84
.64 .64
.94 .92
1 3
16
2
Charlotte J. Hapgood,
300
Sycamore street. .
Addison A. Hunt, Eleutheria Manly,
350
61
32
40
37
56
53
.66
.84
.90
0
2
1
Ash street.
Sarah M. Rogers,
350
75
36
39
46
39
.56
.85
2
3
1
New Worcester.
.
Anna E. Ayres,
350
55
21
34
28
23
.63
.82
0
4
1
SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
Thomas street. . .
· Elizabeth H. Coe, Sarah L. Phillips, Lydia A. Perry,
325
63
31
32
56
49
.51
.87
0
1
1
Sycamore street. .
Harriet E. Lamb, Emily J. Clapp,
325
76
36
40
55
51
.55
.85 .93
0 1
4
1
Summer street.
Ellen S. Barnes, Amanda E. Albee,
325
76
34
42
50
43
.54 .46
.89 .89
0 1
6
1
Pleasant street.
Caroline Hewett, Hester A. Greene,
325
88
50
38
51
42
.84 .56
.90 .88
0 0
0
1
Ash street.
Charlotte N. Follett,
325
86
34
52
54
45
.47
.83
2
8
1
Main street.
Julia L. Spear,
325
86
45
40
53
42
.80
0
2
1
ovidence street. .
Emma M. Taggart,
300
60
29
31
40
35
.61
.89
0
2
1
New Worcester. . .
Eliza Harris,
300
54
26
28
37
29
.78
0
4
1
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
Anna R. Merrill,
300
80
33
42
79
68
.49
.90
0
6
1
Sycamore Street. . .
Sarah W. Clements, Caroline R. Clements, Mary A. Smith,
300
93
38
55
67
60 60
.59 .65
.90 .88 .75
0
2
1
1
1
Main street, South. .
300
134
64
70
92
79
.53
.86
0
15
250
300
105
57
48
60
51
.59
.85
0
4
Sum'r street, North. Esther G. Chenery,
300 250
133
67
66
102
85
.51
.83
0
8
Charlotte Wheeler,
South. Mary A. Slater, Charlotte Eaton,
250
131
67
64
114
90
.60
.81
0
2
2 2129 1 2 2
112
49
63 29
64 40
61 35
.76 .61
.931/2 .88 .94
0
11
1
Pleasant street.
Harriet M. Walker,
350
85
40
45
50
44
93
.55
.85
0
8
1
350 250
146
70
76
102
32
55
45
.51
6
1
325
65
33
43
29
46
38
5
1
325
72
78
39
39
63
59
11
1
350
2nd Department.
Ellen M. Hawes,
350
90
40
50
77
71
8 0
0
1
3d Department. .
Eliza A. Brigham,
350
77
1100
27
1
2nd Department.
North. .
Sophia S. Banister, Rebecca M. Taylor, Sarah J. Newton,
300
86
42
44
69
62
46
.55
1
0
3 0
300
101
45
59
· .
Thomas street. . .
Perfect in Att.
=1858 1859
120
2
Caroline Parkinson,
325
122
Schools.
Teachers.
Salaries.
Registered. Whole Number
No. of Males.
No. of Females.
to each school.
Av. No. belon'g
each school.
Av. daily att. in
Attendance.
Ratio of
One Year.
Fall Term.
Perfect in Att.
No. of Teachers. |2 2 2 2
Pleas't street, South. Lydia M. Wilmarth,
300
161
77
84
113
87
.53
.78 0
1
2
250
90
54
36
81
58
.48
.72
0
1
1
E. Worcester, Lower. Caroline E. Putnam, Rebecca Barnard,
300
130
68
62
121
104
.55
. 6
0
2
2
Upper. Harriet Hathaway, 300 Calista B. Tainter, 250
145
75
70
97
78
.56
.80
0
3
2
Front street, West. .
Martha Hobbs,
300
133 129
68 64
65
38
68 71
.44 .44
.70 .74 ,76
0 1
3
1
=
Upper. Abigail Pratt,
300
130
54
76
83
63
.57
.70
3
Providence street. .
Aspacia Tubbs,
200
65
32
33
52
41
.79
0
0
1
New Worcester. . .
Annie P. James,
300
93
51
42
50
45
.43
.90
0
9
1
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
John C. Newton, A. L. Wetherell,
950 $250
75
42
33
39
35
.55
.871/2
0
3
2
South Worcester. . .
Lucy M. C. Buck,
300
103
56
47
6.
45
.75
.67
0
4
1
Adams Square.
Cornelia Larned,
300
54
32
22
36 281/2
.57
.78
1
3
1
Northville ..
Elizabeth Wheeler,
300
76
38
38
38
31
.57
.83
0
0
1
Quinsigamond.
Sarah Wheelock,
300
80
36
44
69
43
.44
.64 0
2
1
.
Burncoat Plain.
Margaret P. Williams,
250
39
18
21
25
21
.44
.85
0
0
1
North Pond.
Eunice C. Boyden,
250
38
2]
17
24
18
.21
.72 0
3
1
Leesville.
Addie H. Barnes,
250
38
17
21
22
19
.45
.84
0
0
1
Valley Falls.
Mary E. Bothwell,
250
50
23
27
33
27
.44
.791/2
0
3
1
Chamberlain.
Sarah A. Foster,
250
36
17
19
22
18
.50
.81
0
3
1
Pond.
Mary M. Maynard,
300
54
32
22
45
38
.81
.84
0
0
1
Blithewood.
Frances E. Putnam,
250
27
15
12
16
15
.45
.91
0
0
1
ADULT SCHOOLS.
Young Men's. .. .
Samuel N. Aldrich,
$45
78
78
0
78
61
.32
.78
0
0
1
Evening.
Samuel N. Aldrich,
§1
125,109
16
125
61
.45
.48 0
1 0
1
· Per month. + While there are two schools. § Per evening.
$300
203,104, 99
116
99
.50
.86
0
0
250
3.0
166
80
86
108
91
.66
.85
0
0
Emma L. Brooks,
250
300
109
51
58
71
61
.66
.86 0
4
1
H. Josephine Johnson, North. Ellen P. Palmer,
30)
250
E. L Cornelia M. Draper,
300
90
47
43
78
54
0 0
8
300
65
97
1 1 1
Tatnuck ..
" West. . .
Caroline M. Moody, Helen M. Shattuck, Mary J. Mack.
Lower. .
Harriet A. Bigelow,
Perfect in Att.
1858 1859
Ash street, East. . .
E. Upper. Kate Hobbs,
$300, while there is one. # Per month.
REPORT -
OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF HOPE CEMETERY,
WITH ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
To His Honor the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of Worcester :
The Commissioners of Hope Cemetery respectfully submit their sixth annual Report.
The act relating to Hope Cemetery in the City of Worcester, passed April 24, 1854, requires the Board of Commissioners annually in the month of January, " to make and render a report of all their acts, doings and proceedings, and of the condition of the Cemetery, and an account of the receipts and expenditures of the same."
In obedience to the requirements of said act, the Commissioners met in the early part of the year 1859, and organized by electing
Hon. LEVI LINCOLN, Chairman,
ALBERT TOLMAN, Esq., Secretary,
ALBERT CURTIS, Esq., Superintendent.
124
The Commissioners took measures early in the Spring to have Cypress square, Chestnut, Pine, Aspen, Chapel, Maple, Larch, Sycamore, Glen, Lo- cust, Myrtle, Walnut, Cedar, Spruce, Pyrola, Juniper and River avenues, worked and put in good order, for the comfort and safety of those who might have occasion to use them. The above-named avenues are all the principal or carriage avenues in the Cem- etery. The common burial place was dressed over, and cleared of weeds, shrubs, bushes and stones. A portion of the land between Chestnut and Glen avenues, has been cleared, grubbed, graded, seeded down, and is now ready to be laid out into burial lots. The large lot enclosed by Maple, Chapel, Aspen, Sycamore and Larch avenues, has been grubbed, graded and seeded down, and fully prepared for being laid into paths and lots.
During the past year, the Commissioners have caused all the lots to be numbered in a permanent manner. On the east side of the Cemetery, there has been no division fence to separate the lands of the College of the Holy Cross, which are used for agricultural purposes, from those of the Cemetery. The Commissioners have procured stone posts to be set along the line of forty four rods, with a view of completing a substantial board fence five feet high, the whole length of the line, at the opening of spring. An amicable arrangement was entered into between the Commissioners and the Agent of the College of the Holy Cross, relative to the proportions which each should pay towards the expense of the fence.
125
On the south line of the Cemetery, which is un- fenced, the Commissioners have been negotiating for an exchange of lands with adjoining owners, in order to straighten and improve the line, and greatly short- en the line of fence, and they have confidence to believe that this desirable object may be accom- plished the current year.
Ornamental trees and shrubs have been planted, grounds enriched, trees trimmed, and many other things done to make the grounds attractive, and to carry out the design for which the Cemetery was established.
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