USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1856-1861 > Part 51
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All the money borrowed during the year is at a rate of interest, 5 per cent. The money in the treasury, with the Bills receivable, will be larger than we found at the commencement of the year, if the money is borrowed which has been authorized.
It gives me pleasure to say, that the City Council has laid out no work or entered into any contract for our successors to fulfill, leaving them an open field to make such improvements as they may deem proper, and such as the prosperity of the City may require.
The relations which have subsisted between us as mem- bers of the City Government are now to be dissolved forever. If we are conscions of having discharged our respective duties with fidelity to ourselves, to our constitu- ents and to God, we can separate with cheerfulness and · pleasure.
Accept, Gentlemen, the assurance of my high respect, and fervent prayer for your prosperity and happiness in whatever position duty may call you to occupy.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The report of the School Committee for the year 1860 begins with an inquiry for the records of the Committee antecedent to the year 1843. The inquiry has not been unsuccessful. Soon after the publication of the report a volume of the " Records of the Board of Overseers of the Schools of the Centre District in Worcester," covering a period of sixteen years, from May 9th, 1831, to April 5th, : 1847, was found in the town of Oxford, in the possession of a young woman, who, ignorant of its value, was using it for a scrap book, The Hon. Nathaniel Eddy discovered and restored the book. Eighteen pages of the records are covered with choice selections from newspapers, in prose and verse. No satisfactory account of the migration of the volume from the archives of the city to the place where it was found can be given.
Thinking it important that the printed annual reports of the School Board should be preserved in a permanent form, and finding none in the possession of the city of an earlier date than 1856, the superintendent caused a notice to be published in the city papers asking for the missing ones. In response to the call several citizens have fur- nished enough to make the series complete back to the
48
year 1842. The report for the year 1837 is believed to be the first one printed. If those still wanting can be found, the City will have a printed history of her public schools for the last twenty-five years.
The inquiry for the printed reports has brought to light some long lost written records. One volume with the title " Records of the Board of Overseers of the Schools in the Centre School District in Worcester,"- comprising a period of nineteen years,-from January 8th, 1824, to February 17th, 1843, was found among the rubbish of the store formerly occupied by Mr. Warren Lazell, for several years secretary of the board, which store is now occupied by Mr. A. L. Burbank, to whom the City is indebted for its discovery and restoration.
The search for records was crowned with another un- expected success. Soon after the inquiry appeared in the public prints, information was brought to the superinten- dent by Charles B. Whiting, Esq., assistant cashier of the Worcester bank, that a small trunk labelled "Centre School District," which had been kept in the bank for many years, might contain valuable papers relating to the schools. On examination the anticipation was realized. It contained, in two volumes, the " Records of the doings of the Centre School District in Worcester," from June 22d, 1799, to February 9th, 1848, at which time the old system of schools was supplanted by the new, under the municipal organization. These early records are well kept and are duly certified till 1810. Here, a few blank leaves intervene which are followed by the record resumed in 1817. Whether in that interval of seven years any records of the centre school district were kept, and, if kept, where, it would be interesting to know.
Whether any records of the "doings of the centre school district" were kept prior to 1799, or any records of
49
the " overseers of the schools in the centre district " prior to 1824, are questions which it is feared even our oldest citizens may not be able to answer.
These records attest how dear to the hearts of our fathers was the cause of popular education, and how un- selfishly they gave their cheerful and gratuitous services to the support and improvement of the public schools. An eminent citizen, who was secretary of the " board of overseers" from 1835 to 1842, has, in his last entry, while recording his own interest in the cause of popular educa- tion, truthfully and forcibly expressed the spirit of the people of Worcester of that generation on the same sub- ject. The record is made April 15, 1842, and concludes as follows :
" With this meeting the services of this board close, and the present secretary makes his last entry. May those who come after him be wiser and more faithful than he has been, and may the Lord bless the cause of education, as the cause of truth, to the end of time.
Vale. ALFRED DWIGHT FOSTER, Sec'y."
SUMMARY OF SCHOOLS.
The number of public schools in the city on the first of January, 1862, is sixty, - an addition of one since last year,- forty-eight in the centre district, and twelve sub- urban. All of them, except the adult and the suburban, are graded, and have a school-year of forty-three weeks. The suburban school-year comprises forty weeks. The adult schools are in session only in the winter.
The want of suitable rooms in which to organize addi- tional schools has induced the committee to place assist- ants in several which had become too large for one teacher. Experience has so thoroughly demonstrated the superiority of single schools to double ones that no more of the latter will probably be organized unless the pressure for room
50
makes it imperative. Some important modifications in the classification of the primary schools have resulted in mak- ing a new grade, - the sub-primary.
The schools are classified as follows :
Classical and English high school,
one - employing six teachers.
Grammar schools, first grade,
second
six
eight
Secondary schools,
twelve
thirteen
Sub-primary
eleven
fourteen
Adult
two
two
Suburban
twelve
יי
fifteen
four
five
Primary
twelve
seventeen
TEACHERS.
The sixty public schools give employment to eighty teachers, of whom seventy-four are females. While, in the education of the young, none question the expediency or propriety of following the order of nature, which places the earlier years of childhood almost exclusively under female influence, there is almost equal unanimity in the opinion that, at some period of their school life, children should be transferred from the control of a woman to that of a man, - from the influences of a feminine to those of a masculine mind. At what period the transfer should be made is a question not yet definitely settled. Our system makes the transfer on purely intellectual grounds. The standard of scholarship alone determines whether a child shall be taught by a woman or a man. Those who have given this subject the most careful attention are convinced that there are other weighty reasons which should be con- sidered in attempting to solve this somewhat complicated problem. Males are not always, or generally, better teach- ers, or better disciplinarians, than females. But a child that has not self-respect enough to cheerfully and prompt-
51
ly comply with the wishes of a female teacher, will some- times have respect enough for authority which he knows will be enforced, to obey a man on the first intimation of his will. This class of pupils is not numerous in the city, but their inferior scholarship is commonly an effectual barrier to their connection with the graded schools under the charge of men.
It is a very serious question what the public shall do for truant and vagrant children. Legislative skill has been employed to determine what to do with them. Must not the city determine what shall be done for them ? They cannot all be sent to the state reform school, and if they could, the extent to which they would be reformed there would be somewhat questionable. If there were in the city a school, continued through the year, under the charge of a kind and firm man, whose intuitions would enable him to discover latent germs of intellectual and moral worth, and whose skill and patient labor would de- velope those germs, to whose charge the habitual truants, the vagrants who are educated into crime in the streets, the obstinate and perverse gathered out of all the schools not under the charge of men, should be committed, would not the moral effect be salutary ? Would there not be less restiveness under the wholesome restraints imposed by the teachers ? Would not the insolence and haughtiness of " young America" be somewhat abated, and truancy be greatly checked, if not wholly abolished ?
Teaching, if not a recognized profession, is an art whose successful prosecution requires no less skill, tact, or wis- dom than any of the professions. Nowhere are higher moral qualities demanded than in the teacher. Firmness must be blended with gentleness, patience with cheerful- ness, and kindness with severity, - and the substratum on which all other excellent qualities must rest is that
52
much abused, but never too prominent quality, common sense.
Of her teachers, as a class, Worcester has no occasion to be ashamed. By far the larger part of them are earnest and industrious, and so devote themselves to their own advancement, that they take their schools along with them. Their willingness to listen to, and improve by, suggestions, and the generous emulation which makes them unwilling to have a school inferior to the others of the same grade, have made it both possible and easy to elevate the standard of the schools.
A feature worthy of particular attention, since it is inti- mately connected with the stability and prosperity of the schools, is the small number of changes during the year in the ranks of the teachers in the centre district, and the relatively large number in the suburban districts, - the changes in the former being only 14 per cent. of the whole number in the district, in the latter 77 per cent.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
There are twenty-four school houses belonging to the city,- twelve, including the one recently erected on Salem street, in the centre district, furnished with seats for three thousand three hundred and forty-nine pupils, - and twelve in the suburban districts, furnished with seats for five hundred and eighty-seven pupils.
The school houses are in good condition, except that several rooms in the Sycamore-street house must be en- larged to accommodate the large daily attendance and to prevent sickness, which the infected air of a crowded and contracted room is sure to produce, - and that the house in the North Pond district must either be extensively re- paired or give place to a new one. A school-house lot and a well are also needed there.
53
A new house in Pleasantville has been asked for by the citizens living in the western part of the city, and the committee on school houses have recommended that one be built there. Another is needed in East Worcester and will soon be asked for by the people in the third ward, who have not now accommodations sufficient for their pri- mary scholars, while all of a higher grade are sent a great distance, and often to schools already full. There is no part of the city where a new house is more needed or would be more highly appreciated.
To leave the school houses without repairs till they be- come nearly or quite uninhabitable is not economy, but extravagance, wastefulness. It is cheaper to keep houses and furniture in good condition than to restore them after they have fallen into decay by neglect or abuse.
A school house should be kept clean. The moral as well as the physical effects of uncleanness are too gross and alarming to permit motives of economy to prevent an annual cleaning of every house. There has been gross neglect in this respect in past years. An annual cleaning of the school rooms is now as regular as the annual examinations, and the improved condition of the school rooms has been naturally enough followed by an improved personal appearance of the children, more tidiness in dress and cleanliness of person, as well as a better state of health.
SALEM STREET SCHOOL HOUSE.
The erection of a new school house on Salem street was recommended by the mayor in his inaugural address Jan- uary 7th, 1861. The house was designed by Samuel D. Harding, Esq., assisted by Merrick Bemis, M. D., and was built by Messrs. Harding & Taft. Though not so large as several other school houses in the city, it is the best in all
8
.
54
that conduces to health, convenience and utility, as well as economy. It was dedicated to the cause of free popu- lar education Saturday, September 21st, 1861.
The dedicatory exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. Alonzo Hill, D. D., after which Dr. Merrick Bemis in a felicitous and appropriate speech, in behalf of the building committee, formally delivered the keys of the house to his Honor, the Mayor .**
The mayor, Hon. Isaac Davis, having received the keys of the house in behalf of the city from the building com- mittee, made the following speech, after which he delivered the keys to the superintendent, who received them for the school committee.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :
We have assembled at this time and place to consecrate and dedicate this house to the cause of Free Education. In the State of Massachu- setts it has become a fixed principle that all minors, high or low, rich or poor, native or foreign, shall receive education at public expense sufficient to qualify them to discharge understandingly the social and civil duties of citizens.
This lot of land and the building erected upon it has cost about $16,000, and is to be paid for by a tax upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the City of Worcester. No tax is more cheerfully borne than that which relates to the physical, intellectual and moral culture of the rising generation. This house will accommodate two hundred and fifty pupils, and is more admirably adapted to the health, comfort and convenience of teachers and scholars, than any house within the limits of the city. The location is elevated, and no surroundings can interfere with light or air - the system of ventilation is perfect - the school rooms are large and commodious, and are finished and furnished with all modern conveniences and improvements. The grounds are graded and substan- tially and neatly fenced. In short, this school house and all that pertains to it, is now ready for the reception of teachers and scholars. Here ends the duty of the City Council. The School Committee is authorised by law to take the care and custody of the building and grounds, and use it
* The superintendent regrets that he could not procure a copy of Dr. Bemis' speech for publication in this report.
55
for such teachers and scholars as they may deem expedient, subject how- ever to the legislation of the state.
MR. SUPERINTENDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE SCHOOL BOARD :
As the chief executive officer of the City Council, in their behalf and in behalf of all the inhabitants of the city, I now transfer to you the keys of this university of the people - the care and custody of it -to be de- voted, consecrated and dedicated to the cause of free education, where the rich and the poor are to have like privileges and advantages. I in- voke you to remember that the City Council and the citizens of Worces- ter will expect of you, a faithful and impartial discharge of the important trusts and responsibilities confided to you. The care and custody of this expensive estate is but of small moment, compared with the intellectual and moral training which the youth who may resort here for education may receive. The laws of the commonwealth point out with great exact- ness the qualifications of teachers and what is to be taught. Not only the various branches of an English education are to be taught ; but teach- ers are especially required to instil into the minds of their pupils the principles of piety and justice - a sacred regard for truth, industry, fru- gality and temperance - and a love of country, - and those other virtues which are ornaments to human society. Suffer no teachers who are not fully qualified to unfold and develope the minds of their pupils in harmo- ny with the requisitions of the law, to desecrate this beautiful temple of knowledge. If the case should ever occur, that you should find that you have a teacher who is not fully qualified to discharge the responsible duties, have the moral courage to dismiss such teacher without delay.
I know full well it will be your pleasure, as well as your duty, to assume the responsibilities I have alluded to. It is therefore with very great pleasure that I give over to you the charge of this neat, chaste and beautiful structure, and join heartily with you in the dedication of it to the great object of free education.
The superintendent, on receiving the keys, said :
MR. MAYOR :
In behalf of the School Committee, whom I am permitted to represent on this occasion, in receiving from your hands the keys of this new and beautiful house, and, with them, the future care of the property and the responsibility for the use to be made of it, I thank you and the gen- tlemen associated with you in the municipal government for the generous contribution which you have made to the cause of free popular education.
56
In behalf of the children living in this part of the city, I thank you for giving them a house so nearly perfect in all its parts. Its architectu- ral beauty makes it a welcome ornament, while its internal arrangements are admirably adapted to promote the health as well as the comfort of the scholars. No part of the house is without light, and the system of venti- lation is such as to leave no excuse for breathing noxious or infected air. The rooms are larger than those appropriated to single schools in other parts of the city.
The efficient working of our system of public instruction made it neces- sary for you to do just what you have done. The number of school houses in the centre district, which embraces all the schools in the city except the suburban, is, not including this, eleven, having seats for three thousand two hundred and seven pupils. The average number belonging to the schools in the centre district during the late summer term was three thousand six hundred and eight, leaving a surplus of four hundred and one, -for one hundred and twenty-six of whom accommodations were furnished in the leased house in Temple street ; leaving two hund- red and seventy-five without seats. Though this house makes the number of school houses twelve, and the number of seats three thousand four hundred and forty-seven, the large number of children still unprovided for reminds us that there will still be work of this kind left for your suc- cessors to do. When victory shall have crowned our arms, and the glorious flag of our fathers again floats over an unbroken country, -- over a united and a happy people, which event we fondly believe cannot long be deferred, they to whom the citizens shall then confide the direction of our municipal affairs will command the confidence and the support of the people by giving a new school house to the extreme east and another to the extreme west of the centre district. In the third and fourth wards there is no school higher than a primary, and in Pleasantville there is no school house at all.
The cost of a good school house, properly furnished with all the need- ful facilities for educating those who are to come after us, is no inconsid- erable item in the taxes of the city, but no investment made by municipal authority so promptly returns satisfactory dividends. If silver seed is sown, a golden harvest is gathered, and the increase is a hundred fold. Wise rulers in all ages have desired to achieve some triumph, to found some benevolent institution, to write their names on some useful work, which will live in the memory of grateful generations. The military roads of the Roman empire bear more truthful testimony to the wisdom and vigor of those who made them than the carefully inscribed and artis- tically adorned triumphal arches which commemorate the martial victories
57
of the same heroes. The triumphal arch which commemorates imperial achievements in the battle field is at best only a tombstone ; - the inscrip- tions are only records of events which humanity would never have prayed for,-brief epitaphs of slain nations. But they whose good fortune it is to found a school, and consecrate it to free, popular education, erect a living arch which will span the ages and commemorate the munificence and wisdom of its founders to the latest generations.
In prescribing what shall be taught in the public schools of this com- monwealth, the statute is careful not to omit the love of country and the duties which every citizen owes to his native land. In behalf of the school board I pledge you that this provision of the statute shall not be over- looked here. Among the institutions left us by our fathers, none has done more than the common school to feed the flames of patriotism. Treason is the child of aristocratical pretensions and exclusive privileges. The common schools of New England will never contend with the mili- tary academy at West Point for the unenviable distinction of being the national nursery of traitors.
Let me, in conclusion, again thank you, Mr. Mayor, and the gentlemen connected with you in the city government, for supplying to our youth in this dark hour of our country's need, by the erection of this house, a new incentive to that first of all virtues - patriotism. Over a free school a free flag must always float, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.
The formal ceremonies of the occasion were followed by very interesting and eloquent speeches by Rev. R. R. Shippen, Rev. Merrill Richardson, and Rev. A. Hill, D. D., the last of whom gave some very pleasant reminiscences of the growth of the city and of the schools, during his ministry of more than thirty years.
PUPILS.
The whole number of children between the ages of five and fifteen years in the city on the first day of May, 1861, was, according to the report of the assessors, .. ..
. . 4,304
The whole number on the first of May, 1860, .. A loss in one year of .. .. 520
4,824
As there was no diminution of the number of pupils attending school in the year 1861, but, on the contrary, a
58
considerable increase, the conclusion is irresistible that a mistake in the count was made either in 1860 or in 1861.
The whole number of pupils between the ages of five and fifteen years registered, that is, who received instruction in the public schools in 1861, was 4,646 .. .. ..
Number over fifteen years of age, under five
..
..
524
..
..
334
Making the aggregate, .. ..
5,504
Males, ..
. . 2,694
Females, . .
2,810
An increase in one year of one hundred and sixty-five.
In the enumeration great care has been taken that those pupils which have been registered in several schools should be counted in but one.
The average number belonging to the schools during the year, that is, so connected with the schools that seats are appropriated to them, when there are seats enough for each pupil to have one, was 4,023
In the centre district,
3,569
suburban districts, .. 454
Comparing the number of seats in the centre district with the average number of pupils, the average number of pupils will be found to exceed the number of seats by two hundred and twenty ; while in the suburban districts the number of seats exceed the average number of pupils by one hundred and thirty-three.
The actual average daily attendance, which is always somewhat less than the number belonging to the schools, since a school very seldom has all its members present at one time, was 3,468
In the centre district,
suburban districts, .. 3,077
391
A gain in one year of one hundred and seventy-three.
The ratio of the average daily attendance to the average number belonging to the schools was eighty-seven and a half per cent.
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The pupils have been distributed among the several grades as follows :
Of the whole number in the city, -
87 7-10 per cent. were registered in the centre district, 12 3-10
suburban districts.
Of the whole number in the centre district, -
5 8-10 per cent. were registered in the high school,
7 1-10
grammar schools, higher grade,
lower
11 8-10
18 9-10 66
secondary schools,
23 6-10
primary
29 5-10
66 sub-primary 66
3 3-10
66 adult
The several grades of schools comprise a course of study which will require a child of average mental capacity to be fourteen years in completing it ; so that every child in Worcester has provision made at the public expense to keep him in school from his fifth to his nineteenth year. Our local pride is somewhat abated when we consider how few appreciate what has been done for them, or avail them- selves of all the advantages so generously and gratuitously proffered.
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