USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1876 > Part 22
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Three years after the date of the report above referred to, Mr. Burn- side, being sent by the town of Worcester to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, embodied his plan of a special board of public officers to have charge of schools, foreshadowed in the extract just quoted in "A bill to further provide for the instruction of youth," and procured the passage of the same by the legislature. That the wise and far-sighted policy of vesting exclusive jurisdiction over public schools in a responsible committee, believed to have been first adopted in Worcester, was, directly after its successful experiment here, ex- tended to the whole State, was due to Samuel M. Burnside of Worces- ter.
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
In all our Colonial and provincial legislation, and in that of the commonwealth, down to the year 1827, the term grammar school was applied in accordance with its English use to schools where the gram- mar of the Greek and Latin languages was taught with a view to preparation for a collegiate course, or to use the statute definition, "Ye master thereof being able to instruct youth so far as they may be fitted for ye University." But the fitness of the popular term High to the grammar school of the Colonial act of 1647 may be judged of by the University standard prescribed in "The Laws, Liberties, and Orders of Harvard College," then in force :
"When any scholar is able to read Tully, or such like Latin author, extem- pore, and make and speak true Latin in verse or prose, suo, ut aiunt, Marte,
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SCHOOLS .- HISTORICAL SKETCH.
and decline perfectly the paradigms of nouns and verbs in the Greek tongue, then he may be admitted into the college; nor shall he claim admission before such qualification."
The term High School was originally applied derisively to the grammar school in the country towns, where, especially in "the skirts " or "out quarters" it was unpopular, and the statute requiring it to be kept was not unfrequently neglected and evaded. It was a common view of the law that its terms might be technically satisfied by employing in the district schools as teachers college students possessing, of course, some knowledge of Latin and Greek, and adding together the number of weeks taught by all of them, although the schools were contemporaneous, so that the aggregate would amount to twelve months. This view, after having been long and extensively practiced on, though constantly challenged, received its final quietus from a decision of the Supreme Court, upon an indictment of the town of Dedham [reported 16 Mass. Reports, 141], that the grammar school must be kept twelve months for the use of all the inhabitants of the town. And when the school Jaws were revised and consolidated into the act of 1826, before referred to, the term grammar school was omitted and the circumlocution "school kept for the use of all the inhabitants of the town " introduced in its stead. This circumlocution occurs in both the revisions of 1836 and 1860, and the term grammar school was entirely disused. The term high school, though it never was used in any act of the legislature from the earliest times till now, has somehow got into popular use and lost all trace of its derisive origin. As regards the mode by which schools where Latin and Greek grammar is never taught have, contrary to the original use, come to be called Grammar Schools, it may be presumed that during the same period when the term high school was growing into general use and losing its derisive sense the term grammar school was transferred by popular use to schools where English grammar was taught.
The last feature of our existing school system which I will mention as a growth is grading. Though universally adopted in all the cities of the Commonwealth, it has not to this day any legal recognition. No statute requires it or authorizes it, or so much as mentions it. This, too, had its origin in Worcester. Among other matters of great interest and importance contained in the Report of Mr. Burnside, before referred to, is a plan for grading the schools of the Centre District. This was in 1823, earlier than which it is believed no authentic account of the practice of grading can be found. Want of space here alone prevents me from quoting the whole of this remarkable report.
Indications that our school system is still growing are not wanting. Among others I may mention the recent election and service of women on school committees. This, too, began to be practiced in advance of any express legal sanction therefor. But its legality being challenged, both the legislative and judiciary departments of Massachusetts affirmed it, about the same time, in the year 1874.
W. T. H.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS.
1725. Dec. An article in the warrant to see if the town would provide a writing master to instruct ye youth, was passed without notice.
1726. Apr. 4. Voted "that ye selectmen forthwith take care & provid sufficiant schoole for ye Education of Youth in sd Town of Worcester."
Selectmen agree "with Mr. Jonas Rice to be ye schoole-master for sd Town of Worcester and to teach such Children and Youth as any of ye Inhabitants Shall Send to him to read & to write as ye Law Di- rects-to keep Such schoole untill ye fifteenth Day of Decimber next Ensuing ye Date hearof: said Schoole to [be] Suported at the Towns Charge.'
Dec. 19. On the question whether the town would "take care to provide a School master " voted that "ye Town will not have a School it past in ye Negitive."
1727. May 25. On an article in the warrant of the Selectmen "to see if ye town will Chuse a Schoole-master to teach Children and Youth to Read and Right as ye Law directs." it was "voted that James Holding L[ieut] Moses Lenard L[ieut] Henery Lee John Hubbart John Stearns be a Comitte to provid a Schoolmaster for one year."*
1728. Jan. 15. On the question whether "ye Town will grant money for to pay our School-master " it was " voted that Sixteen pounds Ten Shillings be assessed on ye rateable Inhabitents of Worcester for & towards ye support of ye Schoole in sd town."
The town it seems had been "presented " for not maintaining a school the previous year according to law. Query .- Did the first school-committee neglect its duty ? Note the consequence ; on the question therefore whether "ye Town will grant money to pay ye Charge that hath been Expended in ye Towns being presented for want of a schoolmaster " it was "voted that two pounds Eight Shil- lings and Sixpense be assessed on ye Inhabitants of Worcester to pay ye Charge of ye presentment for want of a School sd money to be assessed with that granted for ye Support of a School in sd town."
May 23. Voted " that Benja Flagg jur Mr. Palmer Goulding & Mr. Daniel Hubbard be a Comitte to provid a Schoolemaster for ye year Ensuing."
1729. March 31. "Voted that the Selectmen Take Care to provide a schoolemaster to edducate youth in sd Town for the year ensuing."
May. The Selectmen "agreed with Insin Benjamin Flagg to stand Schoolemaster in Worcester to teach Children and youth to read and write untill the fifeteenth Day of September Next ensuing."
*This is the first school-committee of Worcester. The custom at this time was not uniform-the duty of hiring the teacher being sometimes entrusted to the Selectmen.
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SCHOOLS .- HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Oct. 7. Voted "that the Town will Let out for sume terme of time the two ten acor Lots of School Land Lying near the metting house in sd town, and the two acors of meddow Belonging thereunto Lying in Prospect Meddow to be Subdued and Brought too."*
Voted " that a Rat or Tax of fourteen pounds be granted and Lev- ied on the inhabitants of Worcester for the support of a School in Worcester of what is past, the last year, and for the present year." Voted not to build a schoolhouse.
1730. Apr. 23. Voted "that the Selectmen provide a Righting School for ye town until ye first of October next."
Nov. 16. Voted " that the town will provide a School to Instruct the youth in said town in Writeing and Reading untill the last of March next."
"That the town will choose a Comtee of five men to provide a Schoolmaster at the charge of the town to Instruct the Youth in said town in writing and Reading and said Comtee to order where the School shall be Kept in said town until the Last of March next."
" that Litt Henry Lee, Palmer Goulding James Moore, James Mc- Clellan and Gershom Rice Junior, be a Comtee for the Providing a School as above said."
1731. Apr. 13. Voted " that ye Selectmen provid a Schoole mas- ter to keep a schoole for reading & writing for Childrin & Youth un- till ye first day of September next ensuing; and whearas many small Childrin cannot attend ye school in ye Sentor of ye town by Reason of ye reemotness of their Dwellings, and to ye intent that all Childrin may have ye benifite of Education &c.
Voted that a suitable number of School Dames not Exceeding five be provided by ye Selectmen at ye Charge of ye Town for ye teaching of small childrin to read, and to be placed in ye several parts of ye Town as ye Selectmen may think most Convenient and Such Gentle- women to be payd by ye pole as ye Selectmen and they may agree."
Sept. 14. Voted "that ye town will maintain a free Schoole for the year Ensuing, and that it be a moveing Schoole into the several quarters of ye Town."
" that ye Selectmen take Efectual care that a Suitable person be pro- vided to keep a Schoole to Instruct ye Children and Youth in sd Town to Read and wright, and to place ye Schoole agreeable to ye vote of ye Town."
1732. May 17. Voted "to Mr. Wyman for Keeping Schoole 14 weeks £13: 10 s; and " more to Mr. Wyman for travil-£3 : 0s."
*It appears that at least twenty-two acres of land had been set apart for the schoolmaster: as it was " brought too " it might interest his official descendants to inquire what has become of it. Land appears to have been set apart for the school as it was for the church.
41
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
Aug. 5. The Selectmen "agreed with Cpt Jonas Rice to be ye Schoolemaster " until the first of September.
Aug. 28. They "agreed with Mr. Richard Rogers to be our present Schoole Master and he to Receive of ye town at ye Rate of fifty pounds a year for his Sarvice so Long as he shall Continue to Keep a School in said town." He taught about eight years.
Oct. 24. Appropriated £25. Voted that the school be a moving school at the discretion of the selectmen.
1733. May 15. Voted "that there be a School-house Built at ye Charge of ye Town and placed in ye Centor of ye South half of ye Town or as near as may be for Conveniency having Regard to Suitable ground for such a house to Stand on and whear Land may be pur- chised in Case it falls on mens perticuler property, provided ye purchis may be on Reasonable Terms &c."
-that Col. John Chandler be the surveyor "to find the Centor of ye South half of Worcester."
-that" ye house be Twenty four feet Long Sixteen feet wide and seven feet Studd to be Compleatly finished with a good Chimney " &c., the whole to be done under direction of a committee-Daniel Hey- wood, Benj. Flagg Jr. and Thomas Stearns.
1734. Paid Schoolmasters Mr. Wyman £.16: 10s
Mr. Williams 4: 06
Mr. Rogers, 2 years' service 28: 00
Maj'r Rice 2:04
Richard Rogers, 1 years' Salary 50: 00
Sam'l Boutwell in part of his 5:00
1735. "Voted that Mr. Richard Rogers repair to the house of Mr. Palmer Goulding, there to keep school till further orders.
The instructor of those days was migratory-revolving in his circuit, round a centre not then fixed to a particular location. [Lincoln's History of Worcester.]
May 19. Raised by tax For schoolmaster 50 :
75£: 1s: 1d.
The balance for town debts 25 :1 :1.
Voted to reconsider the action of May 15, 1733, fixing the site of a school house.
NOTE. What had Col. John Chandler and Daniel Heywood's committee been doing in the mean time ?
A new committee was appointed to build the house "where a Cen- ter Line will strike ye Country Road."
1736. The town was again presented for neglecting to maintain a grammar [High] school.
Raised by tax for schools. £.60;
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SCHOOLS .- HISTORICAL SKETCH.
1737. Prosecution continued. Raised by tax for schools, Paid Richard Rogers schoolmaster, Due him,
£60
£12: 11s: 0d
37:9 :
1738. Prosecution further continued-the selectmen not making it appear that their school master is qualified according to law. A [school] committee was chosen to provide a suitable school master.
May 15. Capt Heywood, Capt. Flagg, Lt. Stearns and Wm. Jen- nison were appointed a committee with directions that they "do as soon as may be erect a school house at or near the North west Corner of ye Land of John Chandler Jr. Esq., where he now Dwells and as his fence now stands."
June 21. The above vote was reconsidered and the town ordered " by their vote that ye school-house be built or set up between ye Court house and the Bridg below ye fulling mill, either above or below the Road," *
" The proprietors, f taking into consideration the petition of Wm. Jennison, Esq., and being very sensible [that] it will be of great advantage to the town to have a tract of land where the school house is now building and being also willing to encourage so good a work and also to, serve the town therein-
Voted that the note [probably that of Wm. Jennison] being 23 pounds be put into the hands of the present Selectmen to be by them delivered up to the petitioner upon his giving a deed of the following tract. viz :- to bound South on the County land-East on the County road-West on his own land-the west bounds to be as the fence now stands, and twenty feet North of the North side of the school house and parallel therewith. And the said selectmen are hereby desired to take a deed of the same, well executed in the name of the present town treasurer and his successors in perpetual succession to and for the use and service of the inhabitants of the South Half of Worcester for the convenience of setting a school house."-[ Prop. Rec. 213 ? }
1739. March. Voted to provide a school-master-the school to be moving to be kept in the school-house three months: Dec. Jan. and Feb.
South of halfway river and the Country road to be one quarter of the town for a School to be kept; and it be kept alternately on both side of French River.
* " After five years of deliberation an humble edifice was raised at the north end of Main street, and nearly in the middle of the present travelled way, 24 feet long, 16 feet wide, and with posts 7 feet high, which remained beyond the close of the revolutionary war."-[ Lincoln's History of Worcester. ) It is in this house that John Adams, second President of the United States, taught school from August, 1755, to Oct., 1758.
t No doubt the proprietors of the township.
# One hundred and thirty years later Mr. Jennison would have incurred the suspicion of seeking an appointment on the School-house Committee in order to sell a lot for the school-house.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
April. Mr. Richard Rogers, master, was directed to keep the fall school at the house of Mr. James Moore, until further ordered.
Mr. Durant kept school one month the year past.
1740. March. It was proposed that the town project and prepare a vote for better regulating the schools-to give notice of the time and place of meeting, that the inhabitants may have time and opportunity to offer such sebeme as they see proper.
May 20. £100 for schools. £50 to be applied towards keeping a grammar [High] school and £50 divided among the quarters or skirts as usual, provided the body of the town keep a Grammar school the year, and save the town from presentment; and provided the skirts do in the whole have 12 months schooling of a writing master, and all the schools be free.
Committee of three to procure school-masters.
1741. The Selectmen were instructed to provide a suitable and proper school-master, the year ensuing, at the expense of the town. £50 that was granted for town stock to be applied for school, and £20 more. £30 added subsequently.
1742. March. Voted that nine months of the Schoolling be divided among the four quarters of the town equally-the school to be kept at Dr. Moore's-Thomas Parker's-Henry Lee's-and Elisha Smith's : the other three months in the school-house.
May. School ordered to be kept at Mr. Elisha Smith's-to be kept at Capt. Moore's house as usual. Quarter called Capt. Moore's quarter.
1743. Selectmen to provide for schools as before. In answer to an article in the warrant respecting a school in the middle of the town constantly.
Voted £20. lawful money-
1744. Paid James Varney for keeping School on Baggachoage [Mt. St. James] £3: 2s: 6d. For support of schools 27£ : 10s.
1745. Selectmen to provide a schoolmaster. A Committee ap- pointed to report a scheme, recommended-
I. 110£ for support of schools.
II. That a number of inhabitands, living remote from the school house have the benefit of such sums as they shall be assessed toward ye 110£-to support suitable schools to instruct and teach their children in the best manner they may be able.
In the N. E. part the following privileges to have the benefit of their own school money :- Daniel Knight, John Knight, Sam'l Eaton, Ezekiel Hall, Ebenezer Flagg, Joseph Geary, Isaac Witherby, Joseph Temple, William Harris, John Child, Nathaniel Adams, Ashniel Tay-
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SCHOOLS .- HISTORICAL SKETCH.
lor, Widow Crosby, Benjamin Crosby, Israel Jennison, John Curtise, Ebenezer Wellington, Jonas How, Edward Knight and Elisha Smith, Jr.
Also the familyes on the Westerly side of ye River called Half-way river :- Widow Wallise, Joseph Willey, Nath'l Spring and Wm. Mc- Farland to have the principal part of their money.
All ye familyes except John Tatman Jabez Tatman and Michael Hambleton, living on the south or S. W. side of Bogachoag River and southerly of ye Country Road to have the privilege.
Also the familys living remote on the S. E. part of sd town viz :- Joshua Bigelo, Jacob Smith, John Roberts, John Barker, Jonas Wood- ard and John Smith.
III. The Remainder of the inhabitants of said town living within the aforesaid familys to make up by a subscription or some other method a sufficient sum including their part of said tax to maintain and keep a grammar [High] school at ye school-house in sd town; so that ye town may not be at any time presented for want of ye same .*
IV. The aforesaid families, freed from paying to the town schoole as aforesaid, shall and may at any time send any of their children to be schooled at ye school-house, without paying anything therefor.
V. Some suitable persons to be appointed by the town [a school- committee] to take effectual care that the money so assessed be layd out in such way and manner as is proposed.
Jonas Rice, Daniel Heywood, Benj. Flagg, Ephriam Curtis, Committee.
1746. To procure proper school-master 27£-10s.
1747. · March. Selectmen to procure suitable school-master. Such parts of the town as have actually had schooling among them be allowed pay-39£. last emission [tax?]
To pay for School at Tadnuck Bagechog 3
1£ 12s. 0d.
7 6
The skirts or quarters of the town that shall keep schools, by the allowance of the selectmen, to be allowed their proportionable part of school tax.
1748. For schools 95.£.
School to be moving-to be kept in ye town platt ye 3 winter months, & 10 weeks in four places usually called the 4 quorters-10 weeks in each, & fix places for houses.
Com. to fix town platt and [locate the houses] of 4 quarters.
* How careful they were to keep open to all, the way to the University.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 31.
Committee to provide master.
1749. Com. appointed to fix places for erecting school-houses in the out quarters of the town made a report which was accepted.
Place for school house-East quarter between Benj. Flagg's & Mat- thias Stearns.
West-ye crotch of the path between old Mr. Johnson & his son Solomon.
South-on ye hill between Nathl Moore Jr. & Wm. Elder's-pro- vided-[about Parkers row &c. see below]
North-near Lt. Fisks-provided-[about Elisha Smith's row &c. see below]
Voted that Daniel Hubbard be deemed one of Insign Parker's row ; and Elisha Smith's row, so called, be [allowed] their part of the tax as money that may be yearly granted for schooling so long as said school houses when built shall stand, provided they expend said money in schooling their children to ye acceptance of the town.
For schools- 75€.
1750. Com. to provide schoolmaster &c .- For schools 48£ 10s. 8d.
Micah Lawrence grammar school master admitted to church ordained at Winchester, N. H., Nov. 14, 1764.
1751. Com to provide, &c-For schools-46£. 10s. 8d.
1752. Inhabitants in the center of the bow extending one mile and a half round the school house have allowed them their proportion of money for ye support of schooling, provided they do bona fide Keep a grammar school ye whole year, and if their proportion of the money will procure a school master more than 12 weeks, the usual time they have of late had schooling there, any person may have liberty to send their children after said 12 weeks.
Thomas Stearns allowed 3£. 9s. 4d. for boarding Mr. Henry Gard- ner, schoolmaster in 1752 thirteen weeks at 5/4 per week.
For schools- £46: 10s.
1753. There was a Com. for the center-& a Com. for quarters.
For schools,
60£.
1754. For schools, 60£.
1755. 75.£.
John Adams of Braintree, second Prest. of the United States, then about 21 years old, and just graduated at Harvard University, engaged by Rev. Mr. McCarthy to teach the grammar school in the school house "between ye Court house and the Bridg below ye fulling mill." He remained till Oct. 1758.
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SCHOOLS .- HISTORICAL SKETCH.
During the peroid of the residence of Mr. Adams in Worcester, a letter was written, which shows much of the character of the man, and displays the forecast and sagacity of the future statesman. The transcripts of this have become so rare that the republication will not be unacceptable. It is copied from an old volume of the Boston Anthology, where it was first printed.
WORCESTER, Oct 12, 1755.
DEAR SIR :-
All that part of creation, which lies within our observation, is liable to change. Even mighty States and Kingdoms are not exempted. If we look into history, we shall find some nations rising from contemptible beginnings, and spreading their influence, till the whole globe is subjected to their sway. When they have reached the summit of grandeur, some minute and unsuspected cause commonly effects their ruin, and the empire of the world is transferred to some other place. Immortal Rome was, at first, but an insignificant village, inhabited only by a few abandoned ruffians ; but, by degrees, it rose to a stupendous height. and excelled in arts and arms, all the nations that pre- ceded it. But the demolition of Carthage, (what one should think would have established it in supreme dominion), by removing all danger, suffered it to sink into debauchery, and made it, at length, an easy prey to barbarians. England immediately, upon this, began to increase, (the particular and minute causes of which, I am not historian enough to trace), in power and magnificence, and is now the greatest nation upon the globe. Soon after the reformation, a few people came over into this new world, for conscience sake. Perhaps this apparently trivial incident may transfer the great seat of empire into America. It looks likely to me; for if we can remove the turbulent Gallichs, our people will, according to the exactest computations, in another century, become more numerous than England itself.
Should this be the case, since we have, I may say, all the naval stores of the nation in our hands it will be easy to obtain the mastery of the seas; and then the united force of all Europe will not be able to subdue us.
The only way to keep us from setting up for ourselves is to disunite us.
Divide et impera. .
Keep us in distinct colonies, and then some great man in each colony, desiring the monarchy or the whole, they will destroy each other's influence, and keep the country in equilibrio.
Be not surprised that I am turned politician. This whole town is immersed in politics. The interests of nations, and all the dira of war, make the subject of every conversation. I sit and hear, and after having been led through a maze of sage observations, I sometimes retire, and, by laying things together, form some reflections pleasing to myself. The produce of one of these reveries you have read above. Different employments, and different objects, may have drawn your thought other ways.
I shall think myself happy, if, in your turn, you communicate your lucubrations to me. I wrote you sometime since, and have waited with impatience for an answer, but have been disappointed.
I hope that the lady at Barnstable has not made you forget your friends. Friendship, I take it, is one of the distinguishing glories of man; and the creature that is insensible of its charms, though he may wear the shape of a man, is unworthy of the character. In this, perhaps, we bear a nearer resemblance to unembodied intelligences, than in anything else. From this I expect to receive the chief happiness of my future life; and am sorry that fortune has thrown me at such a distance from those of my friends who have the highest place in my affections.
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