USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1876-1901 > Part 4
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Another reason greatly influencing our decision was, the money appropriated by the town for the purpose was utterly insufficient. It would only pay the tuition of three scholars for a year, and we had between thirty and forty applications.
If the town needs any incentive to make immediate arrange- ments to furnish High School instruction, perhaps the State's action in withholding the town's share of the school fund, be- cause Wilbraham has not kept a High School this year, as required by law, may furnish one. The sum lost to the town this year is nearly three hundred dollars, almost half enough to furnish all our scholars fitted for a High School, with in- struction in Wesleyan Academy.
Here then is an additional and powerful reason, for making immediate arrangements with this Academy, since we can thus furnish our scholars with the best instruction, at the least ex- pense, and so secure our share of the school fund, which will be towards half enough to pay the expense of such an arrange- ment.
Seldom, if ever, in a single year have we been called to act upon so many questions vital to the best educational interests and welfare of the town.
Therefore, disregarding all personal and local preferences for the public good, let each question be considered and de- cided on its own merits, that we may show ourselves worthy citizens of a republic, which, although a century old, we trust is yet in the infancy of a national life, to be spent in guarding the rights and developing the nobler capabilities of mankind.
Respectfully submitted,
A. B. NEWELL, G. T. BALLARD, School
J. M. FOSTER, Committee.
ROLL OF HONOR.
NAMES OF SCHOLARS WHO HAVE BEEN NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY DURING THE YEAR.
Lizzie Karney,
Ellen J. Downing,
Tommy Loynes,
Luther Bruuer,
George M. Edson,
Mary E. Howard,
Lottie M. Edson,
Susie Mack,
Fannie Marshall,
Henry Day,
Sammie Warner,
·Willie McGuire,
NAMES OF SCHOLARS WHO HAVE BEEN NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR TWO TERMS.
Mary J. Mulroney,
Henry Blodgett,
James Mulroney,
Louise Richards,
Jennie L. Day,
Carrie A. Colton,
Jennie Hunt,
Mary F. Beebe,
Jennie Beebe,
Lillie B. Pease,
Annie E. Newell,
Bessie M. Pease,
Cora P. Newell,
Hattie C. Darrah,
Herbert D. Newell,
Emma Brewer,
Amelia Stebbins,
Fannie French,
Hattie Stebbins,
John Barker,
Minnie Ellis,
Willie Day.
Herbert Morgan,
STATISTICAL TABLE.
Length of Schools in
months.
month.
Whole number of
Average attendance of
No. of Scholars under
No. of Scholars over
No. of Scholars in each
Total wages of
Incidentals.
Permanent Improve-
Total of School Money
expended.
Sum.
Fall.
| Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Fall.
Win.
Fall.
Win.
--
21
3
$30
$30
$32
22
25
25
20
22
23 35
14
7
30
0
0
0
0
0
0
59
262 262
95 74
59 85
649 59
Susie S. Beebe, Maria A. Firmin,
Susie S. Beebe. Maria A. Firmin.
Susie S. Beebe. Maria A. Firmin.
4
( Advanced, {Primary,
2%
21
3
32
32
34
:21
24
35
17
33
26
24
0
0
0
0
0
0
5 Scantic, 6 Hendrick,
24 21
21
3
28
28
30
14
14
12
12
8
0
0
0
1
0
0
1 0 0
0 0
1
23
242
27 50
7 Chapin,
23
21
3
28
28
30
16
5
5
14
1
30
0
0
0
1
0
8
9 Butler,
21
25
3
32
32
34
35
33
37
28
26
24
0
0
0
1
1
1
10 § Advanced, Primary,
23
2.3
3
32
32
34
39
29
33
28
29
27
1
0
0
0
0
2
43 16
305 16 Annie E. Beeman,
Annie E. Beeman.
A. E. Beeman.
Emma D. Mills. Laura A. Albray.
11 Langdon, 12 Merrick,
23 24
3
32
30
32 32
24 31
19
21|
26
16
15
2
1 0
=100
3 3 37
413| 3,251 459 69 144 70 3,855 39|
Sarah J. Tilden Alice M. Corbin. Emma E. Leach.
Mary L. Graves. Alice M. Corbin. Julla M. Patten.
2 Wright,
21
3
32
32
31
39
39
40
34
36
3 Cross,
3
28
28
30
11
16
8
9
0
31
24 00 43 00 $246 $21 70 262 230
- $29 93 $297 63 Sarah J. Tilden, 286 00 Alice M. Corbin, 273 00 Emma E. Leach,
1 Atchinson,
222
South Centre.
Emma A. Lee. Ella F. Bliss. Jennie B. Walker. Mary L. Graves. George P. Havens. Ella F. Bliss. A. J. Blanchard. Jason Butler. Minnie S. Burleigh. S. W. Archibald.
6W1
8 Collins Depot.
2₺
3
32
32
31
32
35
41
24
27
McCray.
21
23
3
30
30
20
31
16
16
24 2
0
4 40
246
21 85
267 85 Lauriette Godfrey, 279 00 Laura A. Albray.
0
1
12
251
28 00
-
Totals,
321 324 39 398
396
34
38
30
29
16
21
25
11 15
21
22
16
230
35 61
265 61 M. DeWitt Warren, 273 50 Ella F. Bliss
21
3
30
30
32
7
7
1
0
0
7
10
230
262
47 38
262
17 50 247 50 Jennie B. Walker, 45 78 54 92 362 70 Mary L. Graves, 317 85 Minnie S. Burleigh, 55 85
Lucelia Wetherby. Laura A. Albray.
col
422 330 315 353 266 270 283 11
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Scholars.
Scholars.
five years of age.
fifteen years of age.
district.
Teachers.
ooo | Bum.
011
7 3
35
2 0 2 NO | Sum.
000
0
20
3
32
32
3
262
58
0
45
Names.
Wages of Teachers per
ments.
13. Sales
REPORTS
OF THE
electmen and Overseers of
TREASURER,
School Committee,
AND ASSESSORS,
OF THE
TOWN OF WILBRAHAM,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
March 15th, 1878.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. : CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1878.
REPORTS
OF THE
electmen and Overseers of the
TREASURER,
School Committee,
AND ASSESSORS, OF THE
TOWN OF WILBRAHAM,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
March 15th, 1878.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. : CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1878.
Articles in Town Warrant. :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the annual reports of the Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor, Treasurer, School Committee, and all other Committees whose duty it may be to report to this meeting, and act thereon.
ART. 3. To determine the number of School Committee the town will elect, and the time they shall serve.
ART. 4. To determine the number and manner of electing Collectors of Taxes ; also to see if the town will vote to add interest to all taxes unpaid after a certain date.
ART. 5. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges ; also to determine the number and manner of electing Highway Surveyors for the ensuing year ; also to see if the town will fix the compensation for labor on the highways.
ART. 6. To choose a Town Clerk, Treasurer, three Selectmen, who shall be Overseers of the Poor, three Assessors, and one School Committe for three years; also such others, if any, as the town shall vote to choose, four Consta- bles, four Fence-viewers, all on one ballot ; also to choose all other necessary town officers for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To see if the town will accept of the list of Jurors as revised by the Selectmen.
ART. 8. To see if the town will vote to act in conjunction with the town of Ludlow to raise the bridge at Collins Depot, and put a pier or other sup- port under the same, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to build a School-house in District No. 8, and appropriate money therefor, and choose all necessary Committees to carry the same into effect.
ART. 10. To see if the town will vote to build a road from the West entrance in the new Cemetery in the South Parish, so as to make the lots in said Cemetery more accessible.
ART. 11. To see what disposition the town will make of the Dog Fund now in the hands of the Treasurer.
ART. 12. To see if the town will grant to Reuben H. Chaffee a right of way from the East gate of the new Cemetery in the South Parish to his pri- vate burial lot.
ART. 13. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary for the ensu- ing year, and appropriate the same.
Selectmen's Report.
SCHOOLS.
Appropriation by the Town for Schools,
$3,000 00
Interest on Town Loan, 102 31
Dog fund appropriated for schools,
227 7%
State school fund,
246 62
$3,576 70
The School Committee, alone, being responsible for the expenditure of the money available for support of schools, the Selectmen have given orders for bills ap- proved by them to the amount of $3,312 35
A detailed account of school expenses will be found in the Report of the School Committee.
PAUPERS.
Appropriation by the Town for support of paupers, $2,500 00
Paid for the support of paupers as follows :
For salary of Town Physician,
$50 00
Sally Munsell,
116 20
Caroline Abby,
127 39
Polly Truden,
116 66
Corrydon L. Kibbe,
96 28
Pelatiah Glover,
25 49
Alvin Banister, 129 08
Ruby Giles, including funeral expenses, 114 56
Reuben Caldwell, 118 93
Wm. L. Crocker, including funeral expenses, 116 16 Charles M. Willard, 115 14
4
For Ebenezer Stacy, 14 45
Edward W. Colton, at Reform School 42 30
Daniel A. Warner, at Insane Hospital, 212 10
Ann M. Clark, at Insane Hospital, 189 00
Caroline Bliss, at Insane Hospital. 192 42
Charles A. Hunn, at Insane Hospital. 63 06
Harriett Goodwill, at Insane Hospital, 44 45
Sophronia Scripter, at Insane Hospital, 195 00
Mrs. Nellie Gilligan and five children, 342 71
Mrs. Nettie Paige and four children, 181 97
Lorenzo Rood and family,
10 10
Richard Armstrong, including funeral ex- penses of wife, 96 55
Albert Ormsby,
63 25
Mrs. Martin Andrews and family,
23 69
Sarah Jackson,
16 14
Horace Laird, clothing for family,
3 60
Michael Sweeny, 7 50
George Truden, clothing,
4 25
John Connor, 11 85
James B. Ferris, expense of taking to North- ampton twice, and to Tewksbury,
48 00
Patrick Laddy, 75
Keeping tramps, R. M. Day, $5 00
Keeping tramps, Calvin G. Robbins, 99 88
Fuel for Tramp house, 19 00
$123 88
Henry Wilson and family,
75 06
Sarah Patrell, 5 00
John B. Moulton and family,
49 21
Mrs. Kate Colgrove and family,
65 51
Robert Darrah and family,
31 28
James Champlin and family,
29 28
Mrs. C. F. Hale and family, 2 65
Ada Burnett, 10 00
Total paid for support of Paupers,
$3,280 90
5
Of the above expenses the following amounts have been refunded :
From State, on account of James B. Ferris, 2 10
State, on account of Robert Darrah, 5 14
City of Boston, on account of Henry Wil- son and family, 76 06
City of Springfield, on account of James Champlin, 23 03
Town of Longmeadow, on account of C. F. Hale, 2 65
Town of Brimfield, on account of Mrs. Kate Colgrove, 8 75
Town of Chicopee, on account of Sarah Patrell, 5 00
Town of Chicopee, on account of Ada Bur- nett, 10 00
Total amount refunded,
132 73
There is also due from cities and towns, on above accounts, as follows :
From City of Boston, on account of Henry Wilson, 3 75
City of Springfield, on account of John B. Moulton, 49 21
Town of Brimfield, on account of
Kate Colgrove,
56 76
- 109 72
Amount to be deducted,
$242 45
Net cost of Paupers for the past year,
$3,038 45
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Appropriation by the Town, $2,000 00
Orders given as follows : To Henry Clark, surveyor, and others, District No. 1, $114 81
6
Luther Markham, surveyor, and others, Dis- trict No. 2, 102 35
A. A. Phelps, surveyor, and others, District No. 3, 131 70
M. H. Warren, surveyor, and others, District No. 4, 278 53
A. O. Thresher, surveyor, and others, District No. 5, 201 25
Andrew Beebe. surveyor, and others, District No. 6, 117 87
A. D. Seaver, surveyor, and others, District No. 7, 121 74
G. W. Tupper, surveyor, and others, District No. 8, 269 11
Alvin Chilson, surveyor, and others, District No. 9, 152 00
Mathias Casey, surveyor, and others, District No. 10, 176 87
Munroe Pease, surveyor, and others, District No. 11, 100 28
Henry Dewey, surveyor, and others, District No. 12, 89 14
For new plank, for Collins bridge, $109 80
Repairs, Collins bridge, 5 25
One-half expense lighting Collins
bridge,
18 24
133 29
Total expenditure for Highways, $1,988 94
CONTINGENT ACCOUNT AND TOWN OFFICERS.
Appropriation by the town, $1,200 00
Orders given as follows :
To Alvin Chilson, collecting taxes 1875,
$100 00
Henry Clark, posting warrants and notifying town officers, 33 20
M. H. Warren, posting warrants, 4 50
F. W. Dickinson, notices for Scantic bridge,
75
7
W. M. Green, error in discount on taxes, '72, 1 54
B. & A. R. R. train to bring engine to fire June 24, 25 00
F. E. Clark, register of voters, 1 70
H. H. Burbank, balance for collecting taxes for 1876, 40 00
M. H. Warren, collecting taxes for 1876, 75 00
J. S. Albray, mowing Cemetery near Dea. Adams', 4 50
W. L. Collins, services as undertaker, 108 75
Clark Goodwill, services as undertaker, 75 25
C. W. Bryan & Co., for printing Reports, etc., 82 42
Samuel Bowles, advertising, 11 10
Marcus Daniels, damage to wife by defect in highway, 150 00
R. Armstrong, mowing Cemetery, South Parish, 8 00
Franklin Butler, mowing Cemetery, Butler- ville, 5 00
Clark Goodwill, services under dog law, 5 00
E. Howlet, repair of Cemetery fence, 75
M. E. Society, for use of vestry for town meeting, 50 00
S. C. Spellman, services as Moderator, 1877, 5 00
G. W. Ely, for rent of shelter for fire appa- ratus, 5 00
Albert Bedurtha, setting posts at Cemetery, 1 50
C. A. Corbin, repair of town pound, 50
A. J. Blanchard, stationery and postage for Assessors, 3 25
A. O. Thresher, collecting taxes for 1877, 49 00
E. B. Gates, expenses to Boston on recount of votes, 10 00
E. B. Gates, recording births, marriages and deaths, 33 30
E. B. Gates, express, storage, stationery and postage, 34 50
W. L. Collins, expenses in small pox case, 1877, 2 75
8
Wm. R. Sessions, stationery and postage, 5 00 F. E. Clark, stationery and postage, 6 00
Stockwell Bettes, surveying and map of the town, .59 50
F. E. Clark, time and expenses as Commit- tee on division of town, 41 75
Wm. R. Sessions, time and expenses as Committee on division of town, 25 75
Ira G. Potter, time and expenses as Com- mittee on division of town, 27 00
Frank Hollister, time and expenses as Com-
mittee on division of town, 16 00
Total amount of contingent expenses,
$1,108 26
TOWN OFFICERS.
SELECTMEN.
Wm. R. Sessions,
$84 80
F. E. Clark,
81 00
F. W. Dickinson,
58 00
223 80
ASSESSORS.
A. J. Blanchard,
$74 00
S. U. Stanton,
40 00
H. H. Burbank,
28 75
142 75
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
George T. Ballard,
$75 00
James M. Foster,
58 75
Jason Butler,
55 00
188 75
Total of contingencies and town officers,
$1,663 56
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE DISTRICT NO. 11.
Appropriation by the town, $600 00
Received for old school-house, 53 00- $653 00
Orders given as follows :
To J. P. Streeter for site and grading the same, 60 75 Thomas J. Mills, building school-house, con- tract price, 580 00
Thomas J. Mills for extras on school-house, 3 75
Sherwood Furniture Co., desks, etc., 60 00
Sundry persons for materials and labor in fur- nishing house, 18 34- 722 84
STOCKING NINE-MILE POND.
Appropriation by the town, $150 00
Orders given as follows :
To C. E. Peck, expenses for 6,000 land-locked salmon, $25 95
C. E. Peck, expenses for 27 black bass,
74 95
C. E. Peck for screen for outlet and warning- boards, 15 50
John Baldwin, damage by stoppage of water by fish-screen, 2 00- 118 40
INTEREST.
Appropriation by the town, $300 00
Paid interest on town loan, $102 31
Interest on temporary loans,
194 96
Interest on M. Walker note, 21 00
13 13- 331 40
Interest on L. Howlett's note,
STATE AID ACCOUNT. (No appropriation by the town.)
Orders given on the Treasurer as follows :
To Mrs. Rowena C. Bliss, paid to March 1, 1878, $48 00
Mrs. Mary Rice, paid to March 1, 1878, 48 00
Mrs. Angenette D. Coash, paid to March 1, 1878, 46 00 Mrs. Isabella G. Daniels, paid to March 1, 1878, 48 00 Mrs. Harriett Fuller, paid to March 1, 1878, 48 00-238 00
2wl
10
SUMMARY.
APPROPRIATIONS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS.
EXPENDED.
Schools,
$3,576 70
$3,312 35
Paupers,
2,500 00
3,038 45
Highways and bridges,
2,000 00
1,988 94
Contingencies and town officers,
1,200 00
1,663 56
New school-house,
653 00
722 84
Stocking Nine-Mile Pond,
150 00
118 40
Interest,
300 00
331 40
Paying debt of town,
1,000 00
State aid,
238 00
$11,379 70
$11,413 94
LIABILITIES OF THE TOWN.
Outstanding orders,
$904 25
One note to Warren Collins,
400 00
One note to M. Walker, 150 00
One note to Lucetta Howlett,
125 00
One note to A. O. Thresher,
150 00
One note to Horace Clark,
600 00
One note to First National Bank, Springfield,
800 00
Pauper and other bills which will be due April 1, estimated amount,
400 00
Interest on above notes,
75 00-3,604 25
RESOURCES OF THE TOWN.
Dog fund due from County 'Treasurer, $192 48
Due from State Treasurer for State aid, 280 00
Due from Alvin Chilson, Collector for 1875, 57 52
Due from S. C. Spellman, Collector for 1876, 189 54
Due from D. A. Atchinson, Collector for 1877, 2,050 29
Due from town of Palmer for paupers, 15 0C
Due from city of Boston for paupers, 3 75
Due from city of Springfield for paupers, 49 21
11
Due from town of Brimfield for paupers, 56 76
Cash in treasury, March 15, 1878,
54 61
$2,949 16
Balance against the town, net debt, $655 09
The Selectmen recommend the following appropriations for the en- suing year :
For schools,
$3,000 00
Paupers,
3,000 00
Highways and bridges,
2,000 00
Contingencies and town officers,
1,500 00
County Commissioners' road and land damages,
1,20,0 00
School-house, district No. 8, 2,000 00
Collins bridge (raising and pier), 500 00
Paying the debt of the town, 650 00
Fencing school-house lot, district No. 11,
60 00
Respectfully submitted,
WM. R. SESSIONS, Selectmen F. E. CLARK, of
F. W. DICKINSON, Wilbraham.
Town Valuation, Etc.
Valuation of North Parish, real,
$467,380 00
Valuation of North Parisb, personal,
120,844 00
Valuation of South Parish, real,
299,630 00
Valuation of South Parish, personal,
62,795 00
Total,
$950,649 00
Number of polls in North Parish,
361
Number of polls in South Parish,
232
Total, 593
Number of dwelling-houses in North Parish,
263
Number of dwelling-houses in South Parish,
192
Total,
455
Number of horses in North Parish,
233
Number of horses in South Parish,
168
Total,
401
Number of cows in North Parish,
469
Number of cows in South Parish,
285
Total,
754
Number of sheep in North Parish,
104
Number of sheep in South Parish,
52
Total, 156
Number of acres of land taxed, North Parish, 12,570
Number of acres of land taxed, South Parish, 11,281
Total, 23,851
13
Poll tax,
$2 00
Rate per cent.,
1 25
TOWN APPROPRIATIONS.
For schools, $3,000 00
Paupers,
2,500 00
Highways and bridges,
2,000 00
Town officers and contingencies,
1,200 00
Payment of debt,
1,000 00
Payment of interest,
300 00
Building school-house, District No. 11,
600 00
Stocking Nine-Mile Pond,
150 00
$10,750 00
State tax,
825 00
County tax,
1,022 06
Overlayings,
472 61
Total committed to collectors,
$13,069 67
A. JACKSON BLANCHARD, ) Assessors SULLIVAN U. STANTON, of
H. HERBERT BURBANK, Wilbraham.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Town of Wilbraham in account with E. B. Gates, Treasurer of the Town of Wilbraham, for the year ending March 15, 1878.
CR
By Cash in Treasury, March 15, 1877, $377 51
Cash from County Treasurer, dog fund, 227 77
Cash from Joseph Baldwin, temporary loans, 6,800 00
Cash from First National Bank, temporary loans, 1,900 00
Cash from Warren Collins, temporary loan, 400 00
Cash from State Treasurer, Corporation tax, 57 72
Cash from State Treasurer, National Bank tax, 277 08
Cash from State Treasurer, State aid refunded, 256 00
Cash from State Treasurer, school fund,
246 62
Cash from State Treasurer, aid to State paupers,
5 14
Cash from State Treasurer, transportation of State paupers, 2 10
Cash from City of Boston, for Wilson family, 76 06
Cash from City of Springfield, aid to paupers refunded, 23 03
Cash from Town of Chicopee, aid to paupers refunded, Cash from Town of Brimfield, for Mrs. Colgrove,
36 72
8 75
Cash from Town of Longmeadow, for C. F. Hale,
2 65
Cash from Henry Glover, for support of P. Glover,
50 00
Cash from Lacousic Woolen Company for wood from cemetery lot, 220 80
Cash from Wm. P. Chaffee, for lumber from ceme- tery lot, 19 00
Cash from S. D. Cooley, for old school-house, Dis- trict No. 11, 53 00
Cash from Geo. T. Ballard, dividend on insurance on school-house, District No. 10, 18 00
15
Cash from Michael Sullivan, return of aid in small-
pox case, 1877, 6 00
Cash from M. A. Bliss, interest collected, 1874, 75 70
Cash from Geo. T. Ballard, interest collected, 1874,
36 57
Cash from Town Loan Committee, interest on Town loan, 102 31
Cash from Walter M. Green, collector for 1872, 10 05
Cash from M. H. Warren, collector for 1875,
146 73
Cash from H. H. Burbank, collector for 1876,
719 70
Cash from S. C. Spellman, collector for 1876,
358 19
Cash from D. A. Atchinson, collector for 1877, 5,403 00
Cash from A. O. Thresher, collector for 1877, in full, 4,594 32
$22,510 52
DR.
To Cash paid Clark W. Bryan & Co., for Treasurer's book,
$2 25
Cash paid notes to Joseph Baldwin, temporary loans, 8,500 00
Cash paid First National Bank, temporary loans, 1,100 00
Cash paid interest on temporary loans,
194 96
Cash paid interest on M. Walker's note,
21 00
Cash paid interest on L. Howlett's note,
13 13
Cash paid for blank certificates for dog licenses,
1 00
Cash paid State Treasurer, State tax,
825 00
Cash paid State aid,
238 00
Cash paid Assessors' abatement, 1873-4,
23 00
Cash paid Assessors' abatement, 1875, 11 65
Cash paid Assessors' abatement, 1876,
53 44
Cash paid Assessors' abatement, 1877,
67 38
Cash paid old orders outstanding, March 15, 1877, 1,120 05
Cash paid Selectmen's orders,
10,285 05
Cash in Treasury, 54 61
$22,510 52
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Of the Town of Wilbraham, for 1877-8.
CITIZENS OF WILBRAHAM :- The school year just closed has been a prosperous one. The mild weather of Winter, and a freedom from epidemics, has contributed not a little to the success attending it. Our schools, however, are not faultless, and while we take pleasure in their general progress, we may well consider their wants and imperfections, and lend our aid as parents and citizens in making them effective and useful to the limit of their capability. We first invite your attention to the topic of attendance. Scholars are frequently detained from school, to assist at home or on the farm, and on returning they find their classes have gone right on, and double work must be the consequence. This the scholar can- not do and do well, and his poor recitations have a demoral- izing effect on himself and on the school. That this is a se- rious evil, no one can deny, and that the remedy is easy is equally evident. You hold it and can apply it. Parents esteem it a light thing to burden their children with number- less duties, and then, with glaring inconsistency, complain that they do not make more rapid progress. It devolves on you to inspire your children with an ambition to achieve some definite object in life; it devolves on you to assist them in forming habits of study and application, and to avoid so dis-
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tracting the mind that such habits shall be impossible. You should hold his school days sacred to study ; they will end soon enough at best, and the duties of home, however imper- ative, will prove poor substitutes for the unlearned lessons which they replace.
READING.
Reading has received more than the usual attention, and we are happy to say, that a large proportion of the pupils under ten years of age read with a surprising fluency and correctness. No longer we hear that monotone so common a few years since, but an accent, emphasis and enunciation which is not excelled by those whose study has advanced them to the most difficult reading. The higher classes show a corresponding improvement. This is encouraging, if the study and training one receives in the common schools, com- mencing with his first induction, determines his proficiency as a reader, for, however successful one may be in mastering the higher branches taught, if faulty in this, a cloud hovers over his achievements and forever darkens the brilliancy of his other perhaps masterly acquirements.
SPELLING.
Good spelling is of no small importance to a pupil. To base an education on poor reading and spelling is like build- ing an architectural structure on a weak and imperfect foun- dation. However symmetrical the proportions and grand the conception and construction, it only adds prominence to its underlying weakness ; so with education, with these ele- ments wanting, embellishments serve only to make strikingly apparent the imperfections. Scholars should have such a facility in spelling as to be not only able to spell such words as are found in the ordinary spelling book, but all words common in published works. This can only be acquired by the practice of spelling after each exercise in reading.
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SUCCESSFUL TEACHING.
This can only be accomplished by one reared in refinement, educated to a thorough knowledge of all the branches com- mon to our schools, not liable to mistakes in pronunciation or grammatical errors in the construction of sentences, possess- ing in the largest sense dignity of character ; not ungainly in attitude, uncouth in manners, or rough in tones of voice ; possessing genuine politeness, a model of good breeding. Such are the qualifications sought in a teacher, and essential to warrant success. Plutarch says on the training of chil- dren : " Childhood is a tender thing and easily wrought into any shape. Yea, and the very souls of children readily re- ceive the impressions of those things that are dropped into them while they are yet soft ; but when they grow older they will, as all hard things are, be more difficult to be wrought upon, and as soft wax is apt to take the stamp of the seal, so are the minds of children to receive the instruction impressed on them at that age. Nor are we to omit taking due care, in the first place, that those children who are appointed to attend upon such nurslings, and to be bred with them for play- fellows, be well mannered ; and next, that they speak plain, natural Greek, lest, being constantly used to converse with persons of a barbarous language and evil manners, they re- ceive corrupt tinctures from them. For it is a true proverb that if you live with a lame man you learn to halt." The wisdom and truth of these sayings are pertinent.
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