USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1860-1880 > Part 2
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County Tax,. 567 02
$1693 97
Miscellaneous Expenses.
Printing Town and School Reports for the year 1858, $21 00
Warrants for Town Meetings, &c., 5 83
Board of Alonzo Norwood in House of Correction at Ipswich, . 4 57 Expense of suit against Joel Hewes, . 6 92
Refunded to J. Hewes amount of tax assessed to Lydia New- hall in 1853,. 9 67
Dr. Spaulding, attendance on Lydia Hart in the year 1858 8 00
Charles K. Darling for Blank Books; 1 63
State Sealer for sealing Weights and Measures,.
12 04
Whitewashing Cemetery Fences,
7 00
Ambrose Kingman, cleaning and varnishing Hearse, making Guide Boards, 8 00
4 00
Samuel Brown, Jr., Stone Post for do.,
10 00
Benjamin Perkins, for Book Case
17 24
Nathaniel Abbott, for burial of Rubert Colley,
5 50
Labor on South Burying Ground,. 2 00
Levi H. Russell, for Zinc and Lock,. 90
William R. Roundy, to Reading with Hearse, 1 00
Painting Cemetery Gates, and Carpenter Work, 6 63
Expressage, Fluid, Stationery, and Postage, 3 39
Assistance rendered transient paupers, . 2 50
Jonathan Bryant, for Blacksmith's Work, 2 20
Perambulating Town Lines, 3 00
Ringing the Bell, 30 00
Care of Town Hall, and repairs, 5 .75
Refunded to owners of Dogs, agreeably to law of 1858,. 16 00
$194 82
6
Recapitulation.
Paid for support of Poor $905 76
271 93
Town Officers' Bills.
972 54
Expended for Schools
66 Highways 31 61
66
Bridges. 81 70
66 Abatements. 20 83
State and County Taxes
753 02
Miscellaneous Expenses.
194 82
Paid for School Books.
59 26
Delinquent Highway Taxes.
126 54
Paid Borrowed Money and Interest
$4.358 96
Town Credits
Cash in hands of Treasurer, March 1st, 1859, $460 72
Due on Tax lists of 1856, 1857 and 1858. 667 42
Rec'd from Joel Hewes, duc on Tax List of 1855. 18 67
Money assessed for payment of State Tax.
186 00
66 66 66 County Tax
567 02
66 6: 66
Town purposes 1600 00
66 66 Schools 900 00
School Books charged in the assessment.
Delinquent Highway Taxes, 66
80 74
Overlay on all the Taxes.
124 24
Received from State School Fund
33 81
66 J. Kaulback for expenses of his child in 1858
20 00
66 66 City of Newburyport, for supplies to Frank- lin Barrett, 2 00
66
66 Sale of book case, chest, stove, &c. 4 60
for use of Town Hall 1 00
66
Sale of Lots in Cemetery 10 00
50 00
66
66 owners of Dogs licensed in the year 1859, . .
Borrowed Money, 200 00
$4,975 09
940 95
42 66
66 Town of North Reading State & County tax 6 21
7
GENERAL ACCOUNT. Town Debt.
Due the North School District $58 01
Jonathan Southwick, note. 500 00
John Danforth, Jr. 66
200 00
$758 01
Town Stock.
Cash in Treasurer's hands March 1st, 1860. $95 46
Due on Tax Lists of 1856, 1857 and 1858 25 82
Due on Tax List of 1859. 499 83
School Books to be charged in next assessment. 59 26
Delinquent highway taxes. 126 54
$806 91
$758 01
Balance in favor of the Town, $48 90
JOHN DANFORTH, JR., ) Selectmen, Assessors AARON NEWHALL, and
JOSEPH SMITH. Overseers of the Poor.
LYNNFIELD, March 1st, 1860.
THE
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE.
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD,.
FOR 1859-60.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee for the year ending March 5th, 1860, respectfully present to the citizens of Lynnfield their
Annual Report.
The several teachers employed in the public schools, be- fore entering upon their duties, were examined as the law requires, and gave satisfactory evidence of their literary qualification. The amount of money raised by the town for the support of schools was nine hundred dollars, which must be considered a liberal sum, being six dollars and eight cents for each child. The number of children be- tween the ages of five and fifteen years, on the first day of May, was one hundred and forty-eight.
Your Committee have endeavored to give that attention to the schools which the importance of the trust committed to them seemed to require.
NORTH SCHOOL. SUMMER TERM.
TEACHER-MISS JULIA E. HAYWARD.
Whole number of scholars,
28
Average attendance, - 21
This school was opened April 15th, and continued thir- teen weeks. In the early part of this term, Miss Hayward succeeded very well, but, during the last few weeks, the
2
12
scholars became refractory ; and the teacher was not able to govern the school as it should be. There was, however, a gocd degree of improvement in the various branches taught. At the close of the term, Miss Hayward resigned her situation as teacher.
SECOND SESSION OF SUMMER TERM.
TEACHER-MISS ELLEN M. HOOD.
Whole number of scholars, 22
Average attendance, 17
Miss Hood commenced this term August 29, and taught eleven weeks.
This term the school was very small, and most of the scholars quite young. Under this teacher the order of the school improved, and many of the scholars made rapid advancement in their studies ; but at the closing examina- tion, a lack of thoroughness was visible in some of the classes,
NORTH SCHOOL. WINTER TERM. TEACILER -- MISS CARRIE E. PERKINS.
Whole number of scholars,
29
Average attendance, - 24
This school was opened November 28th, and was under the instruction of Miss Perkins thirteen weeks.
During this term the teacher manifested a deep interest in the welfare of the School, and under her direction the scholars soon became interested in their studies, and a de- termination on their part to make as much improvement as possible was visible during the term. The order was good, and at the closing examination the pupils reflected much credit on themselves and teacher by their orderly conduct. The recitations were prompt, and in most of the classes showed a good degree of thoroughness. The com-
13
mittee have never examined this school when it appeared better than at the close of this term.
CENTRE DISTRICT --- Grammar School.
SUMMER TERM.
TEACHER-MISS E. P. HOOD.
Whole number of scholars, 34 ; average attendance, 29. This school commenced April 18th, and continued 13 weeks, then closed for six weeks, reopened Aug. 29th, and continued seven weeks, making twenty weeks Sum- mer School. Miss Hood having taught this School in '55 was prepared to enter upon her duties. During this term the school made commendable progress. The teacher la- bored faithfully for the children entrusted to her care. The committee were well pleased with the exercises at the closing examination. The classes in Algebra and Arith- metic performed well, Those in Geography seemed to understand well what they. had been over. The first class in Grammar did themselves credit. The Reading for the most part was good.
WINTER TERM.
Same Teacher. Whole number of scholars, 32. Ave- rage attendance, 29.
This term commenced Nov. 29th, under most favorable circumstances, and continued ten weeks and three days. The committee expressed a hope at the commencement of the term that the school would make greater progress dur- ing this term than on any former one, but were disappoint- ed at the close of the school. Although . the school ap- peared well for the most part, yet there was a lack of in- terest on the part of the pupils to make that progress that we had reason to expect.
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CENTRE DISTRICT -- Primary School. SUMMER TERM.
Whole number of scholars, 31; average attendance, 28.
WINTER TERM.
Whole number of scholars, 28; average attendance, 23. This school commenced April 18th, under the instruc. tion of Miss MARY E. BANCROFT, and continued twenty weeks. Miss B. won the affection of the children, and the confidence of parents, which always ensures success. The school during the term and at the closing examination was satisfactory to the committee. There was great im- provement in reading, the recitations were prompt, and good singing infused new life on the occasion. The Com- mittee felt that the teacher labored faithfully for the pu- pils, and that the compensation she was receiving was too small for her service, and remembering the words of Scrip- ture that the laborer is worthy of his hire, paid her one dollar per week more than the Prudential Committee agreed to pay.
SOUTH SCHOOL. SUMMER TERM.
Whole number of scholars 62
Average attendance 49
This school commenced on the eighteenth of April un- der the direction of Miss E. C. Moulton, and was continued (exclusive of a vacation) twenty-three weeks. This is the largest school in town, and a teacher here needs the co-op- eration of all the parents in the District. Miss Moulton proved equal to the task committed to her. The order was good, the recitation prompt, and the improvement of the school was as good as could have been expected with so large a number of scholars. The exercises at the closing examination were satisfactory.
15
WINTER TERM.
This term was commenced on the 28th of November un- der the charge of Mr. Israel A. Parsons Jr., and continued during twelve weeks, assisted after the first week by Miss Elizabeth H. Hobson. Whole number of scholars 60. Average attendance 51.
The Principal and Assistant labored assiduously for the welfare of the school. There was commendable progress made by the several classes. The first class in Arithmetic and the class in Algebra, were well informed in these branches. The writing was an improvement on former years, a branch of study which we think has been too much neglected. At the closing examination there were present but thirty-seven scholars, while the average atten- dance during the term was fifty-one, showing that there are some who do not appreciate the importance of school education.
Children thus neglected lose the benefit of being seen and known, and of those moral influences which should be imparted when the friends of education assemble on such occasions.
DISTRICTS.
TEACHERS.
TERMS.
and fifteen years of age.
Number of children between five
attend School, of all ages ...
Whole number of Scholars who
Number of Females.
Number of Males.
Average attendance
cluding board.
Wages of Teachers per month in-
as pay . .
Amount received by the Teacher,
Length of School in weeks
NORTH.
|Miss Julia E. Hayward; Miss Ellen M. Hood. Carrie E. Perkins,
Summer. 25 28 13 15 22 $18 91 113 50 24
Winter ... 22 29 10 19 24
24 00, 78 00 13
CENTRE. Miss Eliza P. Hood,.
Grammar School.
66
66
Winter ...
Summer. 31 34 24 10 29 27 32 21 11 29
25 00|125 00 20 25 00 66 25 101
Primary.
Miss Mary E. Bancroft .. | Summer. |28 31|19|12|28 66
Winter ... 28 28 16 12 23
16 00
67 00 20 42 00 101
SOUTH.
Miss Eliz'h C. Moulton .. Summer. Mr. Israel A. Parsons, jr. Winter ... Miss Eliz'h G. Hobson, ... (Assistant eleven weeks.)
58 62 31 31 49 54 60 23 37 51
26 00 149 50 23 45 00 135 00 12 22 00
13 40
"
STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS.
16
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Education.
Education, in its comprehensive sense, is the develop- ment of the faculties of the child, both intellectual and physical. Either alone does not render man what both united make him. In some of the emergencies of life, mere intel- lectual attainments might be entirely useless, through want of physical ability to effect the object desired. The rolling and foundering ship, though navigated by men of all science, might be lost for want of skill and strength to give the well directed strokes which would sever the masts and bring her upright.
While we assiduously cultivate the intellectual faculties of our children, and lay firmly the foundation for future progress in learning, by a thorough knowledge of the ele- mentary principles taught in the common schools, we should also regard their physical training as of coequal importance so far as the practical duties of life are con- cerned. Intelligent men everywhere see the incompati- bility of intellectual culture and physical neglect. Hence a move is being made to establish gymnasiums in colleges and other institutions of learning, to improve and preserve the health of students. But among the great majority of children who attend the common schools, the necessity of things requires that action or labor which strengthens the system and preserves health.
Your committee would therefore take occasion to speak to children who are thus situated, and' who, perhaps, feel that they are subjected to hardships, because they are obliged to connect useful labor with study. But this con- dition of things is the basis of the highest usefulness to which the child in mature life can attain. Thought and labor united have produced the present state of civilization:
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Without intelligent labor society would retrograde and end in barbarism.
In the language of another, "Labor is a great law of uni- versal nature, and is coeval with all life. Wherever life is, there is labor, and wherever the absence of labor, idleness, is, there is death-death in the physical and animal kingdoms. This is also true of Deity, for God is not matter, which is the form of death, but spirit, which is the life of life, wher- ever that life is. He is never inactive, never idle, but is always at work in every possible variety and form of beauty, beneficence and sublimity. He has inscribed the praises of labor on all the firmament, and chanted it in the music of the spheres. By his own vitalizing energy he moves everything else to action-to labor for results. He is the Supreme Artificer, the great laborer in the universe. The mystic dance of worlds, ten thousand times ten thou- sand mighty globes, in swiftest motion, but in perfect method, crossing and re-crossing one another's path with- out collision, are but the machinery that his skill has de- vised for the accomplishment of labor, with the greatest success and order. 'All nature is but art.' The Sun is the great central wheel in the machinery of our solar sys- tem, by and to which all the planets are banded, and by whose motion all the rest are put to work, and kept in just those distances that are necessary to preserve them in their places, to produce vicissitudes of seasons, and thereby to set the earth at work producing plants and animals, and sustaining life in all its form. If the band that bound the earth to the sun were shorter, or longer, there would be disorder in all the heavens, and on earth; not a plant would grow, nor an animal live nor move. Were the sun not to work, other worlds could not keep their places, or, if they could, horror would seize the face of nature; this
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earth would be motionless,-not a dew drop would fall from heaven as a tear to bemean over the tomb of a once ani- mated, but now dead, world. Now, all is action-all is work. The whole graceful universe throbs and changes before us, renews itself at every instant, and nothing re- mains idle.
"So is man, by labor, by exertion, by action, to rise to the highest reach of grandeur and of might. In his own sphere he is to create like the Creator, and bring forth beauty like a god. The Creator has done his part, and the chief part, but he has kindly given us a part, as consider- ate parents let their children join them in their work, though they could often do what is assigned to unpractised hands better themselves. This dwelling-place into which man is born, has its frame and furniture prepared to his hand, but the finishing is assigned to him. His brain and his limbs were all constructed to the end that he should work.
"It is a common sentiment that labor was imposed upon man as a 'curse,' or a punishment for sin, that the order of God for Adam to eat his 'bread by the sweat of his brow,' was a penalty for transgression. This is a false idea, but it has had a large part in casting reproach upon honest labor. The first thing we read of Adam, after the breath of life was breathed into him, is, that he was placed in the garden 'to dress and to keep it.' This was before the 'fall.' He, like all who have followed him, was made for exertion. Sin or not sin, he must work. This notion that useful toil is a ' curse' and degradation, is too com- mon in our day. The ability to do nothing seems a most desirable ability in many. Some people apologize for be- ing found at work, and make foolish excuses for being busy, as though they were doing something mean, of which they
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were ashamed. But find them doing nothing, where they ought to be ashamed, and make an apology, and they seem proud of it.
"It is one of the important missions of this age to elevate labor in popular esteem ; to unite THOUGHT with LABOR, and LABOR with THOUGHT ; to dignify manual labor by rendering it practically intellectual and expansive. It is one of the noblest functions of life to bring the powers of the mind to bear upon the work of the hands, and thus create things anewv. Without this, the world of matter is shape- less and void to all man's true purposes. The elements of nature are in a rude and useless state. The river runs in waste to the ocean, and the ocean rolls but a vast desert of waters around the world ; the timber is in the heart of the wild forest, and the stone in the ledge ; the ore lies buried in the earth, undug and unworked; the fire and water are hidden forces, and the lightning plays at haphazard along the sky. But as man unites THOUGHT with LABOR-brings the powers of the understanding in aid of the physical powers of the human frame, then he gains dominion over the elements, makes of them his servants to submit to hu- man rule, follow human bidding, and work together for hu- man happiness. Then he fells the woods, builds cities, bridges the streams, tunnels the mountains, navigates the rivers and ocean, strews abroad his harvests, and sends messages by lightning."
Before closing this report, your committee would urge upon the parents and friends of education, the considera- tion of their duties in regard to the schools.
One of the first things children should be taught, is obedience. They should understand that they must obey their parents, their instructors, and all others in authority. The first step in crime is disobedience ; the child disobeys
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its parents-a falsehood hides the misdemeanor, (we can- not call it a crime) for the mind of the child is immature ; but parental neglect soon ripens all immaturities, and the child becomes a villain, whose career the law prematurely closes. Let children be early taught the principles of truth and honesty-let the example of the parents, and all who have the charge of children, be such that it shall in- stil into their minds those principles which shall be the foundation of an upright and virtuous character. In this connection we would call the attention of teachers to this point ; that of teaching good morals and manners. We feel that some neglect this important part of the education of their children, while they attend diligently to their intel- lectual culture ; but a child may understand all the branch- es taught, be able to solve the most difficult problems, in fact become a prodigy of learning, and if his morals have been neglected, his education is still imperfect. But the fault is not legitimately the teacher's. It is the parent first, the teacher afterwards. We hope the parents will en- deavor to co-operate with the teachers in this part of the education of the youth. Parents should know where their children spend their leisure hours, and with whom they as- sociate. Children learn more that is detrimental to their character, in one hour in the company of the vile and vic. ious, than can be eradicated by parents and teachers in weeks of toil. We would also call your attention to the insubordination attendant upon, and the injury done by those who ignorantly or wilfully take the part of scholars against the teachers ; and publicly express their determi- nation to destroy the authority of the instructor, and retard the progress of the school.
We are aware that there are those in almost every dis-
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trict who are disposed to find fault with the teachers, and to speak disapprovingly of the school, and generally they are the ones who know the least of them by personal exami- nation, but rely mainly upon the reports of their children, who, finding their reports accredited and circulated, never fail to exaggerate the slightest failure into the greatest neg- lect of duty. To such we would say, defer your judgment until you have visited the schools ; and, by personal obser- vation are able to decide upon the merits and demerits of the teacher. Every one can do much to assist the teacher, although not intimately connected with the school, by re- membering that all exert an influence either for good or evil, and carefully considering every word that is expressed, and repressing everything that shall discourage the teacher, or render the pupils refractory and troublesome.
We feel that all parents should have an interest in the schools ; that they should invite the instructors of their children to visit them at their homes, and extend to them the hand of friendship and a heartfelt welcome ; they should labor to become acquainted with them, and learn from them the peculiar trials and duties attendant upon a teacher's life.
Many seem to expect the teacher to enter the school, and by some happy combination of faculties, conduct it to the satisfaction of all; advancing the pupils in their respective studies, maintaining perfect order, and that without punish- ment-never regarding the fact that nearly half the pupils are without restraint at home. But it is useless to expect the teacher to accomplish more in a few weeks than the parent has been able to do in as many years.
While you make liberal appropriation for the education of your children, this is not all that should be done on your
23
part. We would call your attention to the irregular atten- dance and want of punctuality plainly visible in all the dis- tricts during the year. The injury done is not confined to those who absent themselves, but is felt throughout the school. This fault cannot be thrown upon the teachers,-it is the fault of parents ; and by them it must be corrected. In this connection we would call your attention to another prevailing custom : that of scholars leaving school during school hours. This has done much to keep some scholars from making that progress which otherwise they might have made ; we can expect but little advancement where scholars are excused half or two-thirds of the time before their recitations are prepared, or the classes with which they are connected have been called for recitation. Such cases have been common in the schools the past year; but we hope parents will see the evil, and, seeing, avoid it in the future.
It gives your Committee pleasure to say that the several teachers employed in the schools, labored earnestly for the. good of their pupils ; and although in one or two instances there was a failure in government, which was remedied, the schools have been successful.
The parents and friends of education have kindly lent their influence to promote the interests of the schools, by visiting them during the term, and by attending in large numbers, at most of the closing examinations. Let this influence be continued, and our schools will effect the great object for which they were instituted.
J. NEWHALL, School
JAMES G. PERKINS. Committee.
February 25, 1860.
2
FINANCIAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD,
FOR THE
Year Ending March 1, 1861.
WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee.
SALEM: PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE GAZETTE AND MERCURY. 1861.
TOWN CREDITS.
Cash in Treasurer's hands, March 1st, 1860. $95 46
Due on tax lists of 1856, 1857, and 1858 25 82
Due on tax list of 1859, 499 83
Money assessed for payment of State Tax, 155 00
.6
County tax,
579 62
Town expenses, 1800 00
..
66 Schools 900 00
School Books charged in the assessment, .. 52 01
Delinquent Highway Taxes. 110 13
81 83
Overlay on all the taxes,
Received from State School Fund, 30 34
Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Co 8 40
Trustee of Stephen Brown 15 60
66 Dogs licensed, 24 30
Sale of Lots in Cemetery, 10 00
Samuel Harding for use of Town Hall, 1 00
Borrowed Money 500 00
$4,889 34
EXPENDITURES.
-
PAID FOR SUPPORT OF POOR.
Board of Aaron Nourse, 156 00
Clothing, 12 08
Board, clothing and funeral expenses of Lydia Hart, . 48 12
Board and clothing of Rebecca Gowing, 75 00
66
66 Charles K. Granville, 26 81
66
Henry E. Granville, 50 00
Edwin W. Granville 30 00
4
Board and clothing of Edward A. Flagg, 45 00
66 Arvilla Allen, 152 88
Charles P. Skinner, 30 63
66 Fanny Skinner, 13
66
66 . Mary Jane Skinner, 71 64
Supplies furnished Mrs. E. B. Emerson and four children, 221 79 Dr. Keenan for medical services, . 7 37
Dr. Toothaker for attending Fanny Skinner, 6 00
Joseph Henfield for care of widow Jane Skinner, 245 00
$1,180 45
EXPENDED FOR SCHOOLS.
North District $251 11
Centre
360 11
South 66
330 11
$941 33
EXPENDED ON HIGHWAYS.
The Town appropriated the sum of Five Hundred Dollars for repair of Highways, to be expended in labor, and a separate Tax was assessed for that purpose. The sum of Fifty Dollars was also appropriated to repair the Tophet Road so called. The following sums have been ex- pended above the appropriations : Ward No. 1, $14 33
No. 2, 48 34
" No. 3,. 9 54
No. 4,. 00 00
No. 5,. 18 28
$90 49
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Printing Financial and School Reports for 1859. $29 17
Valuation of the year 1860, 42 91
66 Warrants for Town Meetings, &c., 6 75
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