USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1860-1887 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
The plan of publishing, in our Annual Report, the names of scholars who have not been absent, tardy nor dismissed, during a whole term, which was adopted last year, has had, we think, a very salutary effect, although it is not always a sure criterion. There are, undoubtedly, some who have aimed at this constant regularity, who have been unable to be present, from sickness, or other circumstances equally be- yond their control, which must, of course, fully justify their absence. This class, surely, should not feel disgraced, though it be a misfortune.
The names of those scholars who have been able to ob- serve and comply with the above conditions are appended to this Report, which may be called, " The Roll of Honor."
The schools for the past year, we feel confident, as a whole, have advanced the youth of our town, as truly and thoroughly in their studies, and in the elements of manliness, as have been witnessed for a long time. The public exam- inations were generally well attended by parents, and other
22
interested friends, whose presence very much heightened the interest of the occasion, and nobly serves the great pur- pose of cheering on the faithful scholar to new efforts for new attainments.
And now, while we in the present instance, depart from the usual custom, and refrain from attempting the delicate and often difficult task of rightly discriminating between the several teachers that have been employed during the year, we intend no disrespect whatever, but prefer to let their praise be found in the respective fields of their cultivation ; believing that this course will not result in any injustice, but rather induce parents to a more thorough knowledge of the attainments and conduct of their children while at school, cheerfully helping them on iu the path of obedience and progress.
It is proper for us here to state, that we do not consider all the schools, in every particular, and the measure of prosperity with which they have been attended, so full and complete, that no room remains for improvement. There are some glaring defects, which seriously affect that health- ful influence which schools are expected to exert. The principal and only defect which we shall here notice, is that pertaining to government. For indeed, where government is wanting on the part of a teacher, the proprieties of the school-room soon disappear, and whatever of good is attempted under such circumstances, is accomplished at a great disadvantage, both to teacher and pupils. Nor do the evil consequences stop here. If children do not learn to yield a cheerful and ready obedience to rightful authority in the school, how is it likely they will, in after years, render obedience to wholesome laws of society and the State ?
What a commentary on this subject is the great rebellion, which brought on the present civil war in our country, and has threatened the existence of the National Government itself ? Is it not more than probable that the origin of this war may be found in the want of that discipline and general intelligence among the masses of the people of the revolted States, which the common school system is suited to afford ? If, then, consequences so momentous can be traced to the neglect of early and judicious training, and that want of knowledge which common schools afford ? it must impress
23
all with a sense of their importance and value, and call forth such efforts from all, as will give increased vigor and efficiency to these primary sources of instruction.
LEMUEL C. EAMES, C. L. CARTER, OF
SCHOOL COM.
WM. H. CARTER, WILMINGTON.
WILMINGTON, Feb. 20, 1865.
24
NAMES OF SCHOLARS WHO HAVE NEITHER
BEEN ABSENT,
TARDY NOR DISMISSED
DURING THE YEAR.
CENTRE DISTRICT .- Summer Term-E. Lizzie Buck, Ab- bie A. Carter, Araminta D. Carter, Mary E. Carter, Ida A. Howe. Winter Term-Abbie A. Carter, Areminta D. Car- ter, Mary E. Carter, Ida Howe, Josie M. Nichols, George E. Slack, Walter H. Slack.
NORTH DISTRICT .- Summer Term-Ella J. Chapman, Liz- zie C. Eames, Emma Gowing, Julia A. Gowing, Mary A. Gowing, Annie M. Harnden, Lizzie J. Harnden, Ella J. Pear- son, Annie L. Swain, Clara E. Swain, Gertic K. Upton, Liz- zie Welch, Abbic M. Walker, George Gowing, Arthur Pear- son, Charles Swain, Thomas Upton. Winter Term-Emma Gowing, Julia A. Gowing, Mary A. Gowing, Abbie M. Walk- er, Anna L. Swain, George Gowing, Frank Morris.
SOUTH DISTRICT .- Summer Term-George H. Ireland, Abraham C. Stickney.
EAST DISTRICT .- Summer Term-Angie Buck, Julia M. Parker, Mary E. Eames. Fall Term-Emma Perry, Mary F. Perry, H. Ida Perry, Henrietta Newhouse, R. Clement Eames, Lorie A. Howard. Winter Term-Emma J. Ban croft, R. Clement Eames.
WEST DISTRICT .- Summer Term-Ella Wilde, Edward Foster. Winter Term-Ella Wilde, Susan E. Carter, Mary E. Buck, Charles Hopkins, Edgar Wilde, Charles Carter.
Receipts and Expenditures
OF THE
Town of Wilmington,
FROM FEB. 1st, 1865, TO FEB. 1st, 1866,
AND THE
Report of the School Committee,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1865-6.
· WOBURN: E. MARCHANT, PRINTER, MIDDLESEX JOURNAL OFFICE.
1866.
Report of the Overseers of the Poor.
-
NAMES AND AGES OF THE INMATES OF THE ALMS- HOUSE.
Lydia Emerson, 88 years.
Albert Carter,
46 years.
Nancy Alexander,
77
Caleb Nichols,
56
Mary Harnden,
80
John B. Bancroft,
23
Frederick Butters,
70 66
Elbridge Butters,
60
66
Lucy Alexander,
62
*John Gowing,
82
Louisa Burtt,
61 66
Betsey Tweed,
80
66
Fanny Butters,
25
* Died Dec. 2d.
Whole number, 13; average number, 11 9-13; present number, 12. 55 Lodgings, and 169 Meals have been furnished poor strangers.
EXPENSE AT THE ALMS-HOUSE.
Paid for Flour and Grain,
$292 30
Salt Pork,
12 39
Molasses,
27 15
Sugar,
14 57
Tea and Coffee,
21 CO
Baker's Bread,
17 51
Fresh Meat,
32 33
Fish,
26 48
Spices,
5 57
Clothing and Bedding,
56 42
Beans,
7 28
Cheese,
8 65
Oil and Soap,
24 94
Vinegar and Salt,
12 27
Boots and Shoes,
13 90
Labor,
33 75
Horse Hire and Car Fare,
10 47
Amount carried forward,
$617 58
-
3
Amount brought forward,
$617 58
Paid for Nails and Glass,
2 59
Snuff and Tobacco,
12 75
Hay
28 52
Standing Grass,
12 00 °
Household Furniture,
10 91
Crockery Ware,
3 31
Seed Oats and Garden Seeds,
7 11
Grass Seed,
7 44
Medicine,
4 15
Spiritous Liquors,
1 20
Shoats,
45 00
1 Cow and 2 Heifers,
102 00
Farming Tools,
8 41
Blacksmithing,
5 40
Sawing Lumber,
5 26
Saleratus,
2 80
Butchering,
3 00
Miscellaneous Expense,
10 75
Funeral Expenses,
21 00
Salary of Superintendent,
162 50
Doctor's Bill,
4 00
Total,
$1077 68
Total amount of credits,
322 44
Total expense of poor at Alins-house,
$555 44
out of Alms-house,
140 65
Total expense of poor,
$695 89
CREDIT.
By Labor of Superintendent and Team,
$ 98 18
Vegetables sold,
23 30
Butter,
76 33
Milk,
2 97
Lard,
10 47
Lumber,
60 16
Wood,
78 55
Faggots,
16 27
Straw.
2 80
Fresh Meat,
3 71
Cranberries,
65 25
Keeping Pedlars,
5 92
Calves,
26 50
Hide and Tallow,
11 69
Use of Boar,
1 50
Eggs,
4 09
7 1-2 week's Board;
30 00
Sundry Articles,
4 75
Total,
$522 44
4
EXPENSE OF POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.
Paid City of Charlestown for support of Aaron Buckinan, $19 50
Supplies furnished John Gowing, 19 45
Mrs. Hale, 12 00
James Bonds,
3 00
Mrs. Chapman,
11 00
Doctor's bill for ..
8 00
Supplies furnished Mrs. Wilcox,
59 70
Doctor's bill for "
8 00
Supplies furnished C. B. Abbott's family,
12 00
Cr. by cash rec'd of Town of Andover for supplies furnished C. B. Abbott, 12 00
Total expense of Poor out of Alms-house, $140 65
LEMUEL C. EAMES, ) Overseers OTHNIEL EAMES, of the JOHN R. NICKLES, Poor.
Wilmington, Feb. 1st, 1866.
Selectmen's Report.
Orders drawn for Expenses of the Poor, $665 89
Paid William H. Carter, Town Clerk, 29 00
L. C. Eames, Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of Poor, 60 00
Othniel Eames,
66
75 00
S. H. Gowing, 66 66
from March to July, 36 00
John R. Nickles, Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of Poor, in place of S. H. Gowen, resigned,
25 00
Warren Eames, Treasurer and Collector,
110 00
Levi Swain, Jr., Constable. 20 00
Rev. S. H. Tolman, School Committee,
31 60
Sylvester Carter, Jr., 66
7 00
S. B. Nichols, Superintending Cemetery,
15 00
C. L. Carter, Auditing Treasurer's Accounts,
4 00
L. C. Eames, 66
3 00
W. H. Carter,
3 00
$1294 25
$152 65
5
EXPENSE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Paid Town of Billerica one-half cost of covering Loggin Bridge, in 1863,
$16 26
Rebuilding Abutment for same,
60 00
D. P. Brigham, for Railing Highway, 11 70
G. S. Simonds, 66 8 80
Rich Carter, Cedar Posts for Highway.
5 50
John French, extra work and Laying Culvert,
19 74
Stephen Day, for Gravel,
5 00
AMOUNT OF HIGHWAY DEFICIENCIES.
Paid Newton George,
$10 34 | Paid Daniel Gowing, $25 53
Warren Eames, 19 50
James H. Pearson, 9 30
Solon L. Johnson, 21 09
Sylvester Carter, 2 50
C. F. Brigden, 17 45 Horace Sheldon, 1864, 15 17
G. W. Slack.
28 30
Chas. W. Swain, 19 70
Charles Hopkins, 12 21
N. B. Eames, 27 84
Simeon Jaquith,
21 70
DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL MONEY.
Paid North School District,
$150 00
*South
150 00
Center,
66
150 00
East
66
150 00
West
150 00
* School not yet closed,-now due, $75.
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
Amount over assessed on sundry persons,
$37 25
Abatement on Tax List of 1862-3, 66
32 41
1864,
33 44
66 1865,
37 56
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid Insurance on Town House, $38 50
Brown & Carter, painting Hearse-house, 37 86
Expenses incurred in sale of land for taxes, legal advice, &c. 38 00 Printing Town Reports, 40 00
66 Dog Law, 2 00
Otis Carter. for placing stones in Silver Lake,
7 50
for School Books for Teacher's desks, 66 66 indigent children,
3 91
Blank Books, for Records,
11 00
Preambulating Town Lines,
2 00
7 12
6
Paid L. C. Eames, journeys out of town, 4 00
D. P. Brigham, stove for Town-house. 3 00
S. B. Nichols, taking charge of Town-house, 21 00 oil, glass, &c., 8 45
amount of Town appro'n to Committee on Cemetery, 200 00
Express Fees and Stationery, 3 62
Revenue Stamps, 4 20
OUTSTANDING BILLS OF LAST YEAR.
Paid City of Charlestown, for support of Aaron Buckman,
$59 70
Brooks & Darling, 11 64
Charles Buck, work in Town Hall, 4 00
Stephen Day, room for Selectmen,
10 00
LEMUEL C. EAMES, ) OTHINIEL EAMES, Selectmen. JOHN R. NICKLES, 5
Wilmington, Feb. 1st, 1866.
AMOUNT OF STATE AID PAID TO FAMILIES OF VOL- UNTEERS.
Hiram Peirson,
$17 83
George H. Baird, $12 00
George Chase,
26 00
George Orcutt,
21 00
Hugh Murry,
21 42
Charles M. Buck,
24 00
George T. Eames,
50 00
G. W. Sidelinker,
21 00
David G. Pierce,
60 00
W. W. Carter,
23 84
James H. Swain,
25 00
Samuel Dustau, 48 00
Ambrose Upton,
144 00
Henry F. Thompson,
14 00
Timothy D. Upton,
26 00
Wm. H. Mckinney,
80 00
Simeon Jaquith, 2d,
28 00
E. G. Lindsay,
22 42
Charles A. Nichols,
20 43
Thomas O'Hern,
35 00
John H. Simpson,
32 29
Accounts of Treasurer.
WARREN EAMES, Treasurer and Collector, in account with the Town of Wilmington. DR.
To Cash in hands of Treas'r, on former settlement, $ 162 80 Balance on Dog Licenses, · 70 Received for Town Notes issued, 7464 46
66
of State Treas., on acct. of State Aid,
1500 00
66 66 Corporation Tax,
75 00
66
66 66 Monies deposited for
250 00
Recruits,
Amount carried forward, $9342 96
7
Amount brought forward,
$9342 96
To use of Town-house,
71 00
Interest on Taxes, 1864-5,
33 68
State School Fund,
39 85
Town of Andover, for supplies furnished C. B. Abbott, cash from estate of M. Jones, legacy to El- bridge Butters,
12 00
Cemetery Lots,
13 00
balance of Tax List, 1860,
36 76
1861, 1862-3,
260 24
66 66 1864,
1170 07
Tax List of 1865, committed,
8091 65
cash received on account of State Aid, '64,
162 00
$19380 24
CR.
By cash paid sundry Notes of the Town,
$6268 00
66 Town Orders,
4125 50
66
Interest on Notes and Town Orders,
727 44
66
66 on account of School Fund,
31 80
66
State Tax,
2773 00
66
County Tax,
427 84
66 North School District Tax,
75 00
By cash refunded to individuals, which was sub-
scribed for recruiting purposes, balance due on Tax, 1860,
16 76
66 1861, 1862-3,
59 10
66 1865,
887 67
recording Deed,
1 00
cash in Treasury,
1475 13
$19380 24
We, the undersigned, duly authorized by the Town, have this day examined the accounts of. Warren Eames, Treasurer, and find the same correctly cast and sufficiently vouched for, and that there is due from him to the Town, fourteen hundred and seventy-five 13-100 dollars.
C. L. CARTER, LEMUEL C. EAMES, & Committee. WM. H. CARTER,
Wilmington, Feb. 17th, 1866.
2512 00
37 03
8
LIABILITIES OF THE TOWN.
Note to Benjamin Buck, May 1, 1863,
$1000 00
66
1000 00
1000 00
J. L. Carter, May 1, 1863, 66 66
1500 00
Mrs. Phebe M. Nichols, May 1, 1863, (bal.)
700 00
66
Rich Carter, May 1, 1863, (bal.)
800 00
Ex-High School Association, May 9, 1864,
50 00
Amira G. Buck, May 17, 1864, .
400 00
66 Moses Pearsons, Aug. 11, 1864.
·1000 00
66 George W. Sidelinker, Sept. 26, 1864,
200 00
L. H. Eames, March 27, 1865,
100 00
Mrs. Polly Parker, March 23, 1865,
· 138 00
Levi and Ward Parker, Exec's, April 4, 1865,
926 46
Joseph J. Pearson, April 9, 1865,
500 00
66 Otis C. Buck, April 19, 1865,
200 00
H. L. Eames, 66 24,
50 00
J. B. Putnam, May 17, 66
500 00
Abagail Burnap, June 1, 1865,
500 00
66 Joseph J. Pearsons, Aug. 2, 1865,
500 00
66 Moses Pearson, Aug. 10, 1865,
2000 00
Darius Buck, Aug. 9, 1865,
600 00
CC Wm. Wyman, Sept. 4, 1865,
500 00
H. L. Bancroft, Sept. 9, 1865,
450 00
Outstanding Town Orders,
370 00
Due South District School,
75 00
7 85
Amount to be refunded sundry persons,
40 00
Balance due Henry Buck, his salary for one year, over all cash in his hands, 55 54
$14162 84
AVAILABLE ASSETS.
Cash in hands of Treasurer,
$1465 13
Balance due on Tax List, 1860,
16 76
1861, 1862-3, 59 10
66
1865, 887 67
Due from State on monies advanced to families of volunteers to January 1, 1866, 932 23
Total amount of Town Debt,
$3370 89 $10791 95
Fund,
9
LIQUOR AGENT'S ANNUAL REPORT.
To cash paid for Liquors as per bill,
$177 80
Commission and analyzing the same,
15 26
Transportation of the same, Government License,
25 00
Agent's Salary,
50 00
By cash in hand former settlement,
$10 92
.
received for Liquor sold,
242 92
" Casks sold,
4 50
$258 34
Cash on hand,
$14 47
Stock of Liquors on hand,
$44 40
Fixtures
7 47
Wilmington, Feb. 1st, 1866.
DEATHS IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON DURING THE YEAR 1865.
Francis Gowing,
32 yrs. John S. Perry,
56 yrs.
Emeline M. Batcheller,
2
Clarissa Gowing,
56
Eliza S. Townsend,
66 66
Edward E. Swain,
30 “
Daniel Gowing,
34
Hariett Willoughby,
55 “
Samuel Morrill,
30
C. J. Porter,
6 mos.
Clarence O. Pearson,
8
Emily Gowing,
14 yrs.
Sally Flint,
70
Eddy P. Mears,
5
James Leavitt,
60
Frank E. Mears,
2
Mary Butters,
89
William A. Gowing,
4
Emeline Batcheller,
32
66
Charles Pierce,
39
66
Rich E. Carter,
38
John Gowing,
82
66
Betsey Buck,
63
Jesse Hopkins,
79
Abigail Burnap,
92
Rosanna Cullean,
26
Charles W. Swain,
7
WM. H. CARTER, Clerk.
4 75
$272 81
$51 87
S. B. NICHOLS, Agent.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WILMINGTON,
FOR THE YEAR 1865-6.
IN presenting their Annual Report the Committee desire first to call attention to some important statistics and par- ticular features of the different schools in town.
CENTER DISTRICT.
MISS HARRIET M. HARRIMAN, TEACHER, SUMMER TERM. MISS LAURA A. KNIGHT, TEACHER, WINTER TERM.
Summer Term,-Whole number of Scholars, Average 66 21 66
33
Winter Term,-Whole 66 66 29
Average 66 24 Length of both Terms, 6 1-2 months.
This was Miss Harriman's first experience in teaching. She, however, acquitted herself to the satisfaction of the District, and also of the Committee. The closing examina- tion indicated pains-taking, and an earnest desire to do the most and the best possible for her pupils. There was man- ifest, also, a good degree of fidelity and progress on their part. Singing was practiced with good effect in the school. Miss H. gained, by her disposition and. manner, the general affection of her scholars.
Miss Knight came to us with the benefit of considerable experience. Possessed of ability, patience and firmness, she did much for the school, and would have done much more, had parents and scholars, without exception, co-operated
11
more fully with her. A spirit of insubordination on the part of two or three of the scholars was manifested both terms, which interfered somewhat with the progress of the school. But good order was promptly insisted on, and maintained with salutary effect. The writing books under Miss Knight's care showed unusual neatness and skill. The Committee also were much gratified with the thoroughness which was manifested in the recitations of the more ad- vanced scholars.
NORTH DISTRICT.
'MISS LOUISE DAY, TEACHER, BOTH TERMS.
Summer Term,-Whole number of Scholars, 46
66 66 Average 66 34 66
Winter Term,-Whole 6:
4% 66 Average 66 32 Length of both Terms, 6 3-4 months.
The present was Miss Day's second year in this District. There was, all through the year, a marked improvement in both teacher and scholars. More and more dignity was shown, and more carefulness and scholar-like behavior. Miss D. spared no efforts to make her pupils familiar with the . fundamentals. There was a constant drill in reading, pro- nunciation, definitions, spelling, and those more common matters in a child's education which are by far too uncom- mon. The government of the school was discreet and firm. As the result of all, we are happy to say that the progress made was decided and substantial.
SOUTH DISTRICT.
MISS LUCELIA A. BUTTERS, TEACHER, BOTH TERMS.
Summer Term,-Whole number of Scholars, 34
6: Winter Term,-Whole Average 66 27 66 31
66 Average 23
Length of both Terms, 6 1-2 months. ·
As the Winter Term is still in progress at the time of
1
writing this Report, we are unable to speak of the appear- ance of the school at the closing examination. The Com- mittee, however, are prepared to say that, in their judgment, the South School has never been better managed, or more profitably taught. Miss Butters is strict in order, but judic- ious and kind. She insists upon thoroughness and precision in the lessons learned, and as the consequence her pupils make a business of their school duties. With a better school-house, both scholars and teacher, and the District too, would be great gainers.
EAST DISTRICT.
MISS ADDIE H. EMMONS, TEACHER, BOTH TERMS.
Summer Term,-Whole number of Scholars, 39
Average 66 33
Winter Terin,-Whole 66 43
66 Average 34
Length of both Terms, 6 1-2 months.
This school has been much larger of late than for years before, and its wants have correspondingly increased. Miss Emmons devoted herself, to the very best of her ability, to the school both terms, and the closing examina- tion showed a degree of improvement creditable to her fidelity. But there was room for much more to be done. It is of the utmost importance that so large and mixed a school should be governed with a particularly firm and even hand, and with dignity. Scholars must fear, or they will not respect and obey their teacher as they ought. If enthusi- asm and interest in their studies can be awakened, this will keep the order, and on the other hand, the order and gov- ernment will help the interest.
But while making these criticisms, the Committee would not expect too much, or fail to recognise the attainments and progress made.
13
WEST DISTRICT.
MISS LUCY TINGLEY, TEACHER, BOTH TERMS.
Summer Term,-Whole number of Scholars, 28
Average 6
23
Winter Term,-Whole
24
66 Average 20
Length of both Terms, 6 1-2 months.
Miss Tingley has fully sustained her reputation as a teacher in this District. We can but repeat what has been heretofore said respecting the order and general perfection of the school, both on its working days, and at its examina- tions. Miss T. is remarkably free from one fault too com- mon among all teachers. She never allows her scholars to travel over too much ground, so that at the close of school they hold securely every step they have taken, and are just as familiar with one portion of what they have gone over, during the term, as another. We think Miss Tingley ought by all means to be secured in a school of higher grade.
GENERAL REMARKS.
We see no reason to doubt that the Schools in WILMING- TON have been on the whole as successful the present year as at any time since the stimulus and good influences of the High School were removed.
We do need more money for the Schools. The town ought to appropriate for the coming year at least twenty- five dollars additional for each District. The wages of good teachers are everywhere higher than formerly, and the result will be that we shall lose our best teachers unless we are willing to offer a compensation in some degree propor- tionate to the expenses which teachers must incur in fitting themselves for their work. Moreover, the number of weeks' schooling might most profitably be increased. The present Winter Term is not far from twelve weeks in each of the districts. This leaves months before the Sum-
.
14
mer Term commences. A portion of this long interval ought certainly to be devoted to study, and might be, with- out the least detriment to the health of the scholars. These suggestions receive additional weight from the considera- tion that we are dependent on our District Schools for all the education the children of this town obtain, with very few exceptions.
Or, if this addition of twenty-five dollars to each District be not made, let the same amount (one hundred and twenty- five dollars), be appropriated annually for one term of a select or High School, to be taught twelve or fourteen weeks in the autumn, to which all the more advanced scholars in town can have free access. It is painful to notice that our young people are growing up without the advantages of some higher and fuller instruction than can be obtained in the District Schools. It is a matter of no small expense to send a child out of town to school, and the result is, that however parents may talk of sending their children away to an Academy or High School, very few do it. The Commit- tee are confident that such a select term of school as is here proposed, would be of incalculable benefit to the town in every point of view. In the name of our young people we make this appcal.
Although we speak of the general success of the schools during the present ycar, yet we desire to say that parents in some instances, do not realize how much the prosperity of the schools, and the success of the teachers, depend on them. Much more might have been accomplished, we are confident, had parents done all their duty. Parents ought ever to remember what harm they are doing their own chil- dren, and the school to which their children belong, by tak- ing sides against the teacher. The reports to the detriment of the teacher which children bring from school, should not be so readily received. The presumption always is that the teacher is right, and the scholar wrong. A child, even our
15
own child, is more likely to misunderstand, and misjudge, and be mistaken, than the teacher. Children should not be allowed to. discuss at home the justice and injustice of school regulations, and the character of their teacher, so freely as is often the case. Nothing should be done to un- dermine the authority of the teacher, or to prejudice the children against the rules of the school. It must not be forgotten that the law gives the whole authority, for the time being, into the hands of the teacher, and neither schol- ars nor parents have any right to unsettle or impair that just authority.
Parents also are too ready to give permission to their children to absent themselves from school, or be excused before the regular school hours expire. For smaller scholars this may be necessary. But for the older ones it should seldom, if ever, be allowed; and if parents are not more considerate on this point, the Committee will be obliged to insist upon it that scholars must remain through, or leave the school entirely. The schools must not be injured in this way. In one of our schools in particular this practice did very great harm. If the injury could be confined to the scholars excused, the evil would not be so serious ; but the whole school suffers by it. It dampens the ardor and diminishes the interest of all, teacher and scholars.
One more subject remains to be alluded to in this Report, and that is, the increase of profanity and improper language among the scholars of our schools. It is a sad reflection that there are any that are guilty of such sins and impuri- ties of the lips. But one can hardly pass our school-houses without hearing the name of God taken in vain, or some vulgar or offensive word uttered. Parents, are you aware that this is the case ? And consider how much influence one bad boy has over all the rest, especially those that are younger. Think of the fearful future before that child who
16
thus blasphemes, in the beginning of his career, the name of his Maker, and the polluting atmosphere breathed by the little ones who go out from our firesides !
And now, what can be done to arrest this growing evil ? That is the question that it becomes us all to ponder. Doubt- less teachers may and ought to do more than they think they have authority for doing. The law makes it the duty of teachers to exercise a control over the "morals and man- ners " of their scholars. It should be a punishable offence, when other means will not avail, if any scholar is guilty, while anywhere on the school premises (in the school-house or around it), of uttering a profane or indecent word, or of doing an improper action.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.