USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 4
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Let us therefore, in the fulfilment of this trust, decide upon the number who shall constitute the police force of
45
our city, as in our judgment the best interests of the city and the welfare of the community shall seem to de- mand, and establish the compensation with the view of calling to the service of the department men well quali- fied to execute the duties thereof, irrespective of any party affiliation or personal favoritism.
The number of arrests during the past year have been 1709 ; the number of persons provided with food and lodging 1661.
The resources of the department have been as follows:
Appropriation by the City Council $22,000 00
Balance in favor of the Dep't Jan. 1, 1867 464 23
Fees on warrants served by Asst. Marshals.
3318 00
Witness fees of Police Officers
844 80
Extra duty
112 00
Overseers of Poor, for lodgers
89 93
Total $26,828 96
The expenses of the department have been :
Pay-roll of Police officers $20,088 25
Salary of Marshal and Assistants 3,542 74
Special Police, July 4th, and Regatta
301 25
Incidental expense.
579 98
$24,212 22
Showing an unexpended balance in favor of this de- partment of $2,616.74. Deducting the earnings, $4,364- .73, from the expenses, and the actual cost of the depart- ment for the year is 19,847.49.
For the information of the Council the following table has been prepared, showing the relative standing of Worcester with other cities, as regards the number and cost of its police department, which may not only prove of interest, but be a guide in the regulation of our own force :
6
46
CITIES.
Number of Inhabitants
Number of Police.
Number of Inhabitants
to each Officer.
Pay per Diem.
Boston,
200,000
344
582
3 00
Roxbury,
30,000
28
1070
3 00
Lowell,
40,000
35
1133
2 50
Cambridge,
31,000
31
1000
3 00
Charlestown,
30,000
24
1250
2 75
Salem,
23,000
32
718
2 50
New Bedford,
22,000
33
667
1 75 & fees.
Fall River,
22,000
21
1047
2 25
Chelsea,
15,000
10
1500
2 75
Lawrence,
26,000
17
1528
2 25
Springfield,
24,000
14
1714
2 25 & fees.
Providence,
55,000
104
433
2 50
Albany,
75,000
S4
893
2 50
Troy,
45,000
75
600
2 50
Worcester.
36,000
24
1500
2 50
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In no branch of the city's interest has there been so radical a change as the equipment and operation of the Fire Department, and in no period of its existence has the extraordinary expenses of its management equalled the demand of the past year.
The progress of the mechanic arts has in its revolu- tionary movements rendered necessary a change in the almost entire system and character of fire apparatus ; and the substitution of steam fire engines in place of hand machines, the establishment of hydrants in connection with our aqueduct over so large a section of the city, has produced a demand for new appliances, which by their adoption will occasion a large reduction in the manual force, if not in the annual expense of the department. The subject matter and the advantages of this change in the apparatus was presented to the City Council early last year, and, after full consideration, the report of the com- mittee was adopted; and, as the result, a new steam fire engine was ordered ; horses were purchased for the two
47
steamers, and their hose carriages; the thorough renova- tion and repairs of the old steamers proposed ; three new hand hose carriages ordered, and the disbandment of three hand engine companies recommended.
The expense necessary to meet this change and in- crease of operative force was met by a special appropria- tion of the City Council. The amount of such extraor- dinary expense is as follows :
New Steamer and Hose Carriage, $5,138 45
Three new hand Hose Carriages, 1,800 00
Six Horses, Harnesses, &c.,
3,101 17
Repairs on Steamer No. 1,
1,219 75
' 2, 818 22
Making a total of $12,077 59
There has also been purchased for the use of this de- partment, new hose, at a cost of $2,850.
The effective force of this department under the new re- gime, comprises 7 engineers and 168 men, a reduction in the force of last year of 106 men, and consists of 3 steam fire engines, with hose carriages, two of which are equip- ped by the horses belonging to the department, 1 hand engine, stationed at Webster Square, 5 hose carriages, and two hook and ladder carriages.
The number of alarms during the year has been 21, and the actual number of fires 10.
The amount of property destroyed by fire during the year is estimated at $49,625, $47,000 of which was in- curred by the destruction of the wire factory at South Worcester.
The ordinary current expenses of the department for the year have been about $16,072 14, from which should be deducted the use of the horses by the highway de- partment amounting to $643,50.
The necessity of immediate action in providing a suita-
48
ble house for the Hose Co. at Washington Square, the alteration and repairs of the house on Exchange St., and better accommodation for the Hook and Ladder Co. on Main St., will doubtless be conceded and will claim your attention at an early day.
I have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that our Fire Department as at present organized and equip- ped will compare favorably with that of any other city, and in its administration and effectiveness not only fully meet the demands of our city, but add another page to the brilliant record which it has maintained since its for- mation in 1835.
CHARITIES.
The Christian duty of caring for the poor and unfortu- nate, will now claim your attention in the capacity of public servants, as in the quiet walks of private life it is demanded as a pious obligation.
Very much, I believe, of the pauperism of the com- munity, with its attendant evils, would be done away with, did the practice of our religion correspond with our Christian profession. In the higher stand-point of life's duties, the corporate powers ought not to be obliged to become the almoners of daily charity, which should be dispensed by the private hand, impelled by the impulses of a benevolent heart. Charity, to be effective, should be individualized ; and in a community like our own, every family whose means will allow, should become the sponsor of some other family less fortunate. In so doing, the true wants and actual necessities of the poor may be easily met, not merely in dispensing food, fuel, or cloth- ing, but in supplying the real means of life ; imparting faculty, developing thrift, proffering advice, stimulating industry, and, by encouraging honest effort, more perma -. nent good would result than by any public system that could be devised, besides rewarding the giver in a degree
49
tenfold the benefits derived by the recipient. May we not hope that the progress of civilization and the inspir- ing realities of a professed religion, will in good time claim that the sacred duty of caring for the poor, whom we always have with us, shall be accomplished by the promptings of the individual heart, rather than the nec- essarily stern dispensation of corporate law; thus reliev- ing the authorities of so much detail of labor in supply- ing the absolute needs of families whose wants could be more effectively and permanently answered through the channels of private charity dispensed by the hand of the neighbor.
At the almshouse, the whole number of paupers re- ceived is 32. The average number for the year supported by the city is 27.
The net cost of this institution for the year, after de- ducting the amount received from the products sold, and the board of the scholars of the Truant School, is $2,154.21; the average cost per week for each pauper is $1.53₺.
In the Truant School, the whole number of boys com- mitted during the year is 21, and the average number who have been supported by this department, 15.
The total annual expenses are as follows :
Board of boys committed and teacher $1,947 22
Teacher and Superintendent. 381 00
Cost of clothing, books, &c 481 63
$2,809 85
Received for labor performed by boys
162 20
Making the net cost of the school $2,647 65 Average cost of scholar per week is $3.392.
At the office of the Clerk of the Overseers of the Poor in the city, fourteen persons have received 728 weekly allowances in cash, amounting to $1,192.73, and 695 or- / ders for the relief of different persons have been draw
50
by the Clerk ; 192 persons have received aid or partial support, 95 have been sent to the State Almshouse, and 59 returned to other towns. The total disbursements of the office for the year have been $5,578.65.
The total receipts of this department, including truant school and farm, have been $11,612.61
The total expenses. 10,380.51
Leaving an unexpended balance of. $1,232.10
There is now due from the Commonwealth
538.97
And from persons and towns
743.00
$1,281.97
Which, when collected and added to unex- pended balance, will show a balance in favor of this department of.
$2,514.07
Gentlemen of the City Council :- I have thus at a greater length than I could have wished or you could have desired, summoned to your attention the interests and laid before you the business of our municipality in all its departments. It is for us now to take up and carry forward these responsibilities of interest and busi- ness to the end of our official term.
As the chosen representatives of this people, be it our aim to assume and discharge each duty fearlessly, pru- dently, and honestly. Let it be our purpose in serving this community to throw into the consideration of every question a broad and enlightened spirit, worthy the char- acter of our constituents ; and as the exponents of the wishes and welfare of our fellow citizens, may we never fail to recognize the just and reasonable demands made upon the administerial government of our city, as it steps forward upon the ground of its third decade of municipal history,-a history in its moral, educational, social, and material development which must draw its richness and beauty and permanence from the creative character of each passing government.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER.
18697.
7
Organization of the School Committee
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER,
FOR 1867.
JAMES B. BLAKE, Mayor, Ex-officio. President.
B. P. CHENOWETH, Superintendent.
SAMUEL V. STONE, Secretary.
Members whose Terms expire Jan'y 1st, 1870
WM. DICKINSON,
T. L. NELSON,
SAMUEL PUTNAM,
JAMES MELANEFY, SAMUEL V. STONE,
D. S. GODDARD,
H. K. PERVEAR,
EBEN'R CUTLER,
Members whose Terms expire Jan'y 1st, 1869.
JOS. D. DANIELS,
GEO. W. GALE,
E. D. MCFARLAND,
P. T. O'REILLEY,
CHAS. A. TENNEY.
THOMAS MAGENNIS.
JOHN DEAN.
T. M. LAMB.
C. B. METCALF.
SUB-COMMITTEES
Appointed by the School Committee of the City of Worcester for the year 1867.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
On School Houses .- Messrs. Stone, Newton, Earle, Power and Goddard.
On Books and Apparatus .- Messrs. Shippen, Daniels, Williams, Metcalf and Cutler.
On Examination of Teachers .- Superintendent, ex-officio, Shippen, Power, Cutler, Jaques and Pervear.
On Finance .-- Mayor, Superintendent, Earle, Nelson, Dickinson, Magennis and Daniels.
On Assigning Visiting Committee. - Superintendent, ex-officio, Newton, Lamb, Jaques, O'Reilley and Dean.
JOHN C. NEWTON, FRANCIS L. KING,
GEORGE JAQUES,
R. R. SHIPPEN,
Members whose Terms expir c Jan'y 1st, 1868.
H. WILLIAMS,
EDWARD EARLE,
JOHN J. POWER,
54
Visiting Committees.
CLASSICAL AND ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.
Principal.
Committee.
J. F. Claflin. Messrs. Shippen. Power, Jaques, Pervear and Nelson,
THOMAS STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Cutler, Earle, Gale, Daniels, Williams, McFarland and Nelson.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR, 66
Edw. I. Comins,
Cutler.
Miss V. E. Hapgood, Nelson.
66
Mrs. E. M. Wheeler, Williams.
66
Miss Eldora Aldrich.
Earle.
SECONDARY,
Mrs. E. H. Coe,
Gale.
PRIMARY,
Miss L. M. Allen,
Daniels.
SUB-PRIMARY,
Miss S. L. Phillips,
McFarland.
SYCAMORE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Jaques, Goddard, O'Reilly, Pervear, Lamb, Dean, King and Stone. Grade.
GRAMMAR,
A. A. Hunt,
Miss A. S. Danton,
Pervear.
" C. A. George,
O'Reilley.
SECONDARY,
" C. R. Clements,
" J. A. Green,
Stone.
PRIMARY,
" S. W. Clements,
Lamb.
SUB-PRIMARY,
" H. A. Chase, Dean.
M. A. Smith, King.
PROVIDENCE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Metcalf, O'Reilly, Magennis, Goddard, Dickinson, Tenney, Earle and Putnam. Grade.
Principals.
H. M. Harrington, Miss M. F. Reed, " J. F. Smith,
" P. M. Cole,
L. A. Perry,
L. Goodwin,
Magennis.
PRIMARY, SUB-PRIMARY,
S. J. Newton,
Tenney.
Putnam.
M. T. Magennis,
Special Committee. Metcalf.
GRAMMAR, 66
SECONDARY,
Goddard. O'Reilly. Earle. Dickinson.
66
Principals.
Special Committee. Jaques.
Goddard.
66
55
PLEASANT STREET AND MASON STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Lamb, Shippen, Cutler, Williams and Jaques.
Grade. Miss M. F. Wentworth,
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR,
Principals. Lamb.
" Caroline Hewett, Cutler.
" Lizzie Graham,
Shippen. 66
" M. E. Bothwell,
PRIMARY,
" L. A. Wilmarth,
Williams.
SUB-PRIMARY,
H. N. Perry,
Jaques.
" M. E. Pease,
Cutler.
ASH STREET SCHCOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Pervear, Stone, Melanefy, McFarland, Gale and Daniels.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR,
Miss M. M. Lawton,
Pervear.
SECONDARY,
" C. N. Follet,
Melanefy.
Daniels.
PRIMARY,
" M. J. Mack,
Gale,
SUB-PRIMARY.
" H. M. Shattuck,
Stone.
" E. L. Brooks,
· McFarland.
SALEM AND FRONT STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Newton, King, Stone, Earle, Jaques, Ten- ney, Power and Melanefy.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR,
Miss H. Blood,
Newton.
" M. E. Fitch,
Jaques.
" R. Barnard, Tenney.
PRIMARY,
" M. Hobbs,
King.
" K. Hobbs,
Earle.
SUB-PRIMARY,
H. A. Harrington,
Stone.
" A. Pratt,
Melanefy.
" C. M. Draper,
Power.
EAST WORCESTER SCHOOLS
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Power, Putnam, King, Nelson, Magennis, Dickinson, Newton and McFarland.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR,
Miss E. Merrick,
Power.
SECONDARY,
" H. Hathaway,
" L. L. Newton,
Newton.
66
" A. Brown,
McFarland.
PRIMARY,
Mrs. T. S. Darling. " L. Allen,
Magennis.
SUB-PRIMARY.
Miss C. E. Putnam, King.
66
" E. L. McFarland,
Putnam.
SECONDARY, ..
66
" J. E. Prentice,
SECONDARY,
Nelson.
Dickinson.
56
SUMMER STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Williams, Cutler, Daniels and Gale. Grade.
Principals. Special Committee.
SECONDARY,
Miss T. S. Nichols,
Williams.
PRIMARY,
E. G. Chenery,
Cutler.
SUB-PRIMARY,
M. A. Slater,
Daniels.
Gale.
MAIN STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Dickinson, Lamb, Metcalf and Melanefy. Grade.
Principals. Special Committee.
SECONDARY.
Miss K. A. Meade,
Lamb.
PRIMARY,
66 S. S. Banister,
Dickinson.
SUB-PRIMARY,
66 A. H. Barnes, Melanefy.
S. G. Gale,
Metcalf.
GRAMMAR,
ELM STREET SCHOOL. Miss Emma Brown, Daniels and Newton.
ADRIATIC MILLS AND SO. WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Goddard and Dean. Grade.
Principals. Special Committee. Goddard.
GRAMMAR,
Miss E. J. Howard,
SECONDARY,
" M. Harrington, Dean.
PRIMARY,
" E. A. Hall,
Dean.
Goddard.
NEW WORCESTER, VALLEY FALLS AND LEESVILLE SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Jaques, Deane and Stone. Grade.
Principals. Special Committee.
GRAMMAR,
Miss E. E. Crane, Jaques.
SECONDARY,
E. S. R. Kendrick, Dean.
PRIMARY,
" M. P. Valentine, Stone.
SUBURBAN,
M. E. D. King, Dean.
66 Alice Dean, Jaques.
QUINSIQAMOND SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- O'Reilley and Goddard. Grade.
GRAMMAR,
Miss H. S. Clarke,
PRIMARY,
Principals.
Special Committee.
O'Reilley.
Goddard.
TATNUCK SCIIOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Dickinson and Daniels. Grade. Principals. Special Committee. Dickinson.
GRAMMAR,
Miss A. Perry, " E. F. Marsh,
Daniels,
PRIMARY,
M. M. Geary,
" M. Parker,
.
F. H. Coe,
57
NORTHVILLE SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Lamb and Metcalf.
Grade.
GRAMMAR,
PRIMARY,
Principals. Miss M. E. Maynard, " S. M. Brigham,
Special Committee. Lamb. Metcalf.
OTHER SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
Districts.
Principals. Special Committee. Williams.
BLITHEWOOD,
Miss M. A. Palmer,
POND,
" A. A. Swallow.
Putnam,
ADAMS SQUARE,
" S. H. Bigelow, Nelson.
BURNCOAT PLAIN,
" C. L. Goodale, Nelson.
NORTH POND,
" M. E. Carr,
Metcalf.
CHAMBERLIN,
. E. G. Cutler, Metcalf.
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Power, Newton and McFarland.
Location.
Principals. Special Committee.
ORANGE STREET,
Thomas Wheelock, Power.
66
Miss P. E. King,
Newton.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Jaques, Newton and Daniels. Location .. Principals. Special Committee. Jaques.
Orange Street, -- Boys,
T. Wheelock,
Elm Street,-Girls,
Miss E. Brown,
Daniels.
East Worcester,-Girls,
" E. Merrick,
Newton.
VOCAL MUSIC.
HIGH, GRAMMAR AND SECONDARY SCHOOL .- I. N. Metcalf, Teacher. COMMITTEE .- Power, Shippen and Cutler.
Superintendent's Report. ·
To his Honor, the Mayor,
and the School Committee of Worcester.
GENTLEMEN :- I beg leave to submit the following as my report of the schools of this city, for the year 1867. Estimated population of the city, 1867, 36,000 Number of school houses belonging to the city occupied at the close of the year 1866, 28
Number occupied at the close of the year 1867,
30
Number completed and occupied during the year, 1
Number of old houses re-occupied, 1
High School,
1
Number of single Grammar Schools,
23
Increase for the year, 9
Number of double Grammar Schools, Decrease for the year, 1
1
Whole number of Grammar Schools,
24
Net increase for the year, 8
Number of single Secondary Schools, Increase for the year, 4
21
Number of double Secondary Schools, Decrease for the year, 1
0
Whole number of Secondary Schools,
21
Net increase for the year,
3
Number of single Primary Schools, Increase for the year,
15
Number of double Primary Schools, Increase for the year,
1
Whole number of Primary Schools, Net increase for the year, 7
18
Number of single Sub-Primary Schools, Increase for the year, 8
6
3
14
0
60
Number of double Sub-Primary Schools.
5
Increase for the year, 0
Whole number of Sub-Primary Schools, 19
Increase for the year,
Boys' Ungraded School (single) 1
Boys' Evening School, (double) 1
Girls' Ungraded School, (single-increase)
1
Girls' Evening Schools, (double)
Increase for the year, 1
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
At Valley Falls,
1
" Leesville,
1
" Blithewood,
1
" Pond District,
1
" Adams Square,
1
" Burncoat Plain,
1
" North Pond,
1
" Chamberlain District,
1
Decrease for the year, 5
Whole number of Suburban Schools, 8
Net decrese for the year, 5
This decrease arises from the grading and classification of several of the Suburban Schools which were before unclassified. There are now no double Suburban Schools.
Whole number of single schools in the city, 83
Increase for the year, 14
Whole number of double schools exclusive of the High School, 12
Decrease for the year, 2
1
Total number of schools, 96
Increase for the year, 12
Number of male teachers in the High School,
1
Number of female teachers in the High School, 6
Increase for the year, 1
Number of teachers in the Grammar, Secondary, Primary, Sub-Primary Schools, &c.,
Males,
Increase for the year.
5
1
2
High School,
61
Females,
Increase for the year,
10
Special Teacher of Music, (male)
1
Whole number of male teachers, Increase for the year, 1
7
Whole number of female teachers, Increase for the year, 11
108
Total number of Teachers in the employ of the city, Net increase for the year,
12
-
Average whole number of pupils belonging to schools of all grades during the year,
5496
Increase for the year,
616
Number belonging at close of Winter term of 1866-67,
4975
Number belonging at close of Spring term of 1867, 4957
Decrease for the term, 18
Number belonging at close of Summer term, Increase for the term, 317
5274
Number belonging at close of Fall term,
5499
Increase for the term,
225
Increase for the year,
524
Average per cent. of attendance of all the schools of the centre district,
.92+
Average per cent. last year, .90+ Increase for the year, .02+
Average per cent. attendance of all the Suburban Schools,
.85+
Average per cent. last year, .82+
Increase for the year,
.03+
Whole number of pupils registered in the High School,
258
Whole number last year,
193
Increase for the year,
65
Percentage of attendance for 1867, 66 1866,
.97586
Decrease for the year,
Number of pupils perfect in attendance during the whole year, 13
Decrease for the year, 59
Average number of pupils (belonging) to a teacher in the High School, 21
Average attendance per teacher, 20.4
Average number of pupils to a teacher in the Grammar Schools, 47.2
.97279
.00307
102
115
44.6
Average attendance per teacher,
Average number of pupils to a teacher in the Secondary Schools, 54.6
Average attendance per teacher,
48.3
Average number of pupils to a teacher in the Primary Schools, 60.7
Average attendance per teacher,
54.4
Average number of pupils to a teacher in the Sub-Prima- ry Schools. 62.1
Average attendance per teacher,
53.6
Average number of pupils to a teacher in the Suburban Schools, 32.5
Average attendance per teacher,
29.
Whole number of seats in all the schools of the centre district, 5460
Number of seats in suburban districts,
400
Whole number of seats in the city,
5860
Increase for the year,
388
Whole number of pupils registered in the schools during the year, 7725
Whole number pupils registered last year, Increase for the year, 841
6884
Ratio of the amount appropriated for public schools to the whole amount raised by taxation for the year 1867, .21+
Valuation of the city 1867, $23,936,900
Percentage of the valuation of 1867, appropriated for pub- lic schools, .0037+
Salaries of teachers, Superintendent and Secretary of the Board,
$61,711 44
Increase for the year, 9920 90
For ordinary repairs, fuel, books, furnishing, &c.,
14,147 68
Extraordinary expenditures (including extensive alterations in Thomas street house, furnishing Orange street house, furnishing new room at Northville, painting, shingling, and repairing Front street and Summer street houses, and furnishing books, maps, globes, etc., for new schools,) $13,166 32
Total for the year,
$88,970 44
Increase of ordinary expenditures for the year, $14,185 10
About one half of this increase is due to the rise in the salaries, and the augmentation of the number of the
63
teachers. Near the beginning of the year, a liberal ad- vance was made by your vote in the rate of pay allow- ed these faithful servants of the public; and now the salaries here compare favorably with those in other local- ities. Generally, I think the teachers have responded to this act of justice on your part, by an increased devo- tion to, and interest in, their work.
By consulting the foregoing table, it will be seen that the past year has been one of progress in other respects. The average rate of attendance in the centre district has increased more than two per cent., and in the sub- urbs, more than three per cent. for the year. This is a hopeful sign, for one of the greatest evils against which our schools have to contend, is that of unpunctual, irreg- ular attendance. The improvement is evidence of either increased vigilance on the part of the teachers, or growth of interest in the scholars, or perhaps of both. An ex- ception to this satisfactory state of things is seen in the High School, where the rate of attendance has decreased a little more than one tenth of three per cent. It may not be necessary to attempt to account for this, except as a temporary and insignificant oscillation, but I suspect that the real reason is to be found in the stricter and more rigid standard to which the pupils are held, since the school has settled down into comparative quiet and steadiness of movement. It is very certain that want of promptitude and irregularity are not characteristics which the management of the present principal is calcu- lated to encourage.
Early in the year the Boys' Ungraded School was moved into the house erected for it, and the Girls' Un- graded School was organized in the same building. The influence of the latter has been excellent, and that class of girls for whom it was established has profited greatly
64
by it, for many of those who now attend it could not have been provided with instruction in any other man- ner. It is largely due to the wisdom and womanly kindness of the teacher of this school, that the natural feeling of aversion with which it was at first regarded has been entirely overcome, so that now the idea of its penal character has been completely subordinated, or even forgotten.
Another satisfactory point shown by the table above given is, that the number of scholars to each teacher has been slightly diminished during the year ;- still a great deal more must be done in this direction before we can escape the imputation of having shamefully overcrowd- ed our schools, and over-worked our teachers. I rejoice to say that there is now a prospect that this evil will speedily be greatly diminished, if not entirely removed. Two large new houses, convenient in plan, and affording accommodations such as we have not before possessed, will be ready for occupancy in a few months. One of them contains ten school rooms and a handsome, well- lighted hall, ninety feet in length and sixty in width. This house, with the exception of about two thousand dollars additional, is built from the proceeds of the sale of the old Main street house, which has long been unfit for school purposes, and which contains only five school rooms, one of which deserves rather the name of cellar. Here, then, ten pleasant, perfectly lighted and ventilat- ed rooms, in addition to a spacious hall, situated in a re- tired and quiet part of the city, with ample grounds, are to be received in exchange for five dark, unpleasant apartments situated in the midst of the noise and bustle and dust of our busiest street. But after this house had been commenced, it was felt that the addition of five new rooms to the school accommodations of the city
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