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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01845 7181
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF CONCORD,
FOR THE YEAR 1879-80.
PENACO OK, 1725
WAS GLAD
1853.
DUCATION RE
CONCORD
ADOPTED CITY- CHARTERE
CONCORD, N. H .: PRINTED BY WOODBURY & BATCHELDER. 18So.
GC 974.202 C74SC, 1880
1
Alien County Public Library
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
Livwell Best Cantinben
SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF CONCORD, Schools in the City of Con FOR THE YEAR 1879-80. Lowell Beck PENACO OK, 1725. e Cancer
THE
ATION RELIGION 1853
EDU
CONCORD
ADOPTED CITY- CHARTERE
178.142
CONCORD, N. H. : PRINTED BY WOODBURY & BATCHELDER. 1880.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In presenting a report for the past year of the schools which have been under our charge, we are able to say that the work in them has been, in the main, well and profitably done. As heretofore, however, faults and shortcomings have been noticed, and undoubtedly we are still far from deriving the utmost advantage from the time and money expended in teaching. Nor is the loss altogether attributable to lack of aptitude on the part of the teachers, or to the indifference of pupils, but in many cases it is owing to a harmful influence exerted upon the school from without by those whose chief concern it should be to cherish and support it. This is no new discovery. It has been lamented in innumerable reports of our district schools.
The present system, under which teachers are selected by a Prudential Committee, whose office is shifted annually from one to another, is probably not the best that could be devised. It is hardly calculated to bring into service and sustain the best obtainable talent. But there are compensations about it, and certainly the efforts of all should be directed to so administering it as to bring out all the good of which it is capable. This result can only be reached by a subordination of all petty, personal prejudices and ends to a public spirit. There is a requisite of a teacher of the first class, which is
4
difficult to be ascertained in any candidate, namely, that tact and address which will in the most quiet way secure order and obedience in the school-room. The Superintending Committee has no scope for his judgment in the matter. In the absence of personal knowledge of candidates, his exami- nation must be directed mainly to the studies proposed to be pursued. All do not possess this tact ; few in a high degree. While the Prudential Committee are bound to do their best to secure it, still it is inevitable that each year, under our present system, there must be some teachers whose fitness for their work in this regard is not what the parents of the pupils would desire. And it does not imply, necessarily, any fault. If there be fault of a serious nature, the law provides an adequate remedy in the removal of a teacher.
But where the case does not call for so harsh a remedy, or where the Superintending Committee, after examination, decide against removal, what is to be done? It is clearly a duty which every citizen owes to the public as well as to his children and himself, to render a teacher every assistance in his power. The influence of a parent over a child is assuredly strong enough to reach to the school-room. It should be felt there, always, on the side of order and obedience, supple- menting and lightening the efforts of the teacher. And all the more care should be taken in this respect, where a teacher appears to stand much in need of it. No duty could be plainer, and it is nothing more than duty. Any other course is disloyalty to one of our most important institutions and leads after itself a train of evils. To lend eager ears to the com- plaints of children, and openly or tacitly to countenance in them a mischievous and rebellious spirit, is not only to turn to failure what might in nearly every such case be made, a moderately successful school, but it is sowing the seeds of insubordination and lawlessness for future harvests.
5
It has been our aim in superintending the work of teachers to impress the fact that the understanding should be reached, and that a drill in memorizing words is mostly wasted effort. The old practice, for instance, of teaching spelling by oral recitation only, and without reference to the meaning of words, is a very imperfect method. Teachers are, however, occasionally found, who seem never to have employed any other. More practice in writing has been encouraged. And teachers have shown a uniform disposition to carry out faith- fully all such suggestions.
We would respectfully call the attention of the city government to the pecuniary wants of the districts under our charge, which have this year suffered much depression on acount of the dwindling of their revenue. We believe that the division of the literary fund equally among the districts, as it once was divided, would be a step of great relief to us, and one of sound policy and substantial justice. The fact that the valuation of a district is relatively small is hardly an excuse for suffering its school to decay. It does not accord with our theory of society, that exclusive regard should be paid to wealth. It is our boast and should be our aim to furnish a good common school education to all children, whether rich or poor. And we believe that the schools that stand most in need of help should receive the most careful consideration.
We have to add a few remarks in detail regarding these schools.
DISTRICT No. 1.
The summer term was taught by Miss M. Anna Fiske. Previous to this term, she had had a fair amount of experi- ence in teaching, and the fullness of her school brought it all into use. She labored faithfully with her scholars, who in turn made good progress in their studies.
6
The winter term was taught by Charles Alfred Morse. This was his first attempt at teaching, but his energy and perseverance soon supplied his lack of experience, and the scholars made good progress in their studies, the same as during the summer term. Both examinations were witnessed by a large number of parents and friends. Further experi- ence cannot fail of making him a successful teacher. £ R.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
Miss Mattie J. Flanders taught both terms of this school, one of eight and one of nine weeks, with a short vacation between, and completed her labors early in the season, for the reason that her services were needed elsewhere. She is a good scholar and a faithful teacher. The school made good improvement and appeared well when visited. R.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
This school had but one term of ten weeks during the year, and that was under the charge of Miss Mattie E. Carter. She is quite young, and without much experience, yet she succeeded well with her work. This school is quite small of itself, but several scholars came in from other dis- tricts, which added much to the interest of the school. On the day of the examination we found good order, good reci- tations, and a good number of parents and friends. R.
DISTRICT NO. 5.
This school is also composed of only a few scholars, but others came in from the adjoining district, which gave it a good standing in point of numbers. One term of twelve weeks constituted the school year, and was taught by Lizzie M. Gage, who holds rank as an experienced teacher. The people of the district seemed well pleased with her services and a good number were present at the close of the school. The order was good, and recitations all satisfactory. R.
7
DISTRICT NO. 6.
The summer term of seven weeks was taught by Miss Lucie E. Page, a young teacher without previous experience. She is a good scholar and seemed interested in her work. Miss Sarah A. Winslow, the teacher of the winter term, is one of considerable experience, and seemed interested with her pupils, but there appeared to be a lack of energy on her part, which is an essential requirement in a school-room. The schools appeared well when visited, and the pupils did themselves credit. R.
DISTRICT NO. 7.
The school money in this district, with careful management, sufficed for two terms of but eight weeks each. The teacher, Mrs. M. W. Dow, was a resident of the district, and ren- dered valuable service. A tone of cheerfulness and content was evident at every visit to the school. The share which this district received of the school appropriation fell much below its usual proportion. Sixteen weeks of instruction was felt to be so inadequate to the real needs of young chil- dren, that by private effort sufficient money was raised to defray the expense of a third term of ten weeks, and a com- petent teacher was found in the district to take charge of the school. F. .
DISTRICT No. 8.
This is an interesting school, though smaller than would be expected in a district of such considerable extent. The teacher for the past year, Miss Carrie A. Corson, has shown a very decided aptitude for the training of small children, and the favor with which her work was received, was fairly earned by the pains which were taken to render the school hours bright and pleasant, as well as instructive. Children are naturally eager and enthusiastic, and if their studies can be presented to them in such a shape as to seem comprehen-
8
sible, and to excite their curiosity and interest, the battle has been almost won. No amount of lecturing will be so effec- tive. F.
DISTRICT No. 13.
The first term, commencing May 12, and ending July 3, was taught by Miss Lizzie M. Gage, of Fisherville. She is a painstaking, conscientious teacher, and her success in this school was fair. The school-house was thoroughly fitted up for the summer school, and but few school-houses in our rural districts are so beautifully located as this. In our visits to the school, we were pleased to see that the scholars were careful not to deface the clean walls or injure the desks by careless treatment. In this term, five pupils are reported as being present every day, and not tardy once.
The second term was taught by Miss Alma J. Morse, also of Fisherville. The term was short, but many of the pupils made good improvement. The teacher has been a member of the State Normal School, and in her management of the scholars she was successful in preserving good order.
The winter term was kept by Mr. C. H. Arnold. The business was not new to him, as he had taught several terms before. Mr. Arnold is a gentleman of refinement and cul- ture, and he endeavored to do his best in a school somewhat difficult and peculiar. Entire harmony does not prevail in the neighborhood. A great diversity of opinion exists in regard to the proper management of schools. Of course, this causes more or less friction in the school-room. From frequent visits to the school, your committee fears that the teacher took counsel too much from his own gentle nature. With a more decided tone, a greater emphasis in exacting obedience to rules, and dash in his movements in the school- room, nothing more would be required to make him a most acceptable teacher. Your committee hopes to be pardoned
9
if he indicates what kind of a teacher the district ought to employ in their winter school : A gentleman who loves to teach, who is thoroughly conversant with all the text-books used in our common schools. He should be wide awake, with an eye to everything that is going on in the school-room, using proper discipline without fear or favor, nipping insub- ordination in the bud, permitting no answering back, exacting perfect obedience to the laws of the school, and earning the esteem of the pupils by equal and exact justice to all. Finally, in his theory of teaching, he should have three prin- ciples, viz : First, order ; second, order ; third, order. B.
DISTRICT No. 14.
The first term was taught by Miss Sarah E. Sawyer, of Webster, a graduate of the State Normal School. With high qualifications as a teacher, she unites with them earnest- ness of purpose, a strong desire to benefit her charge, and manner at once dignified and yet winning to the pupils. Wherever she has taught, both scholars and committee like to engage her service for repeated terms. The closing examination of the school was very interesting and showed good improvement. Not the least pleasant part of it was the singing. Some good specimens of book-keeping were exhibited.
The fall and winter term was taught by Miss Cora E. Putney, of Webster. She had been a member of the Normal School. Her scholars made good progress, and the school presented a good appearance both during the progress of the term and at the close. There was a marked improve- ment in reading. The pupils who attended to book-keeping in the preceding term made excellent progress in the same during this term. Penmanship was not neglected, but stated seasons were devoted to it, and on the last day of the school the copy-books were passed around and the parents
10
were much pleased at their tidy appearance. Three pupils in this term and the preceding were present every day with- out being tardy. B.
DISTRICT No 15.
Miss Sarah H. Kendall was the teacher during the first term. She has had considerable experience as a teacher. Singing was much attended to, and an instrument in the school-room was a great aid therein.
The fall and winter term was under the charge of Miss Nellie S. Brown, of Loudon. Miss Brown is a born teach- er, having inherited from her father, long known as a successful instructor, the tact necessary to make teaching pleasant and profitable. Her examination by the committee was satisfactory. Her answers were clear and she under- stands the spirit as well as the letter of the text-books. Her manner in the school-room is quiet, and yet there is that in her eye and tone which enforces obedience to the require- ments of the teacher.
The closing exercises of the school were witnessed by some of the parents, who were well pleased. The voters of this dis- trict owe it to themselves and to the many bright scholars that belong to it, to vote money to tear down the present school- house and build another on its site, more in keeping with the advanced ideas on education which prevail at the present time. Three scholars are recorded on the roll of honor for their presence every day in school. B.
DISTRICT No. 16.
The arrival of a new family in this district during the past year necessitated a term of school. There had been none the year previous. The school consisted of four children from the same family. Their time was profitably spent on the very rudiments, principally reading and spelling. Their teacher was Mrs. Julia E. Curtis, a resident of the district.
F.
11
DISTRICT No. 18.
This district, which last year employed three teachers, has this year contented itself with but one, Miss Jane Cook, of Wakefield, N. H., whose large experience in the training of children was evident from the orderly manner in which the exercises of the school were conducted, and the habit of precision in thinking and speaking which was sought to be inculcated. If greater pains could be every where taken in this respect, the results in our district schools . would be far different. It is a just cause for regret among those interested in these schools, that their money can pay for so few weeks of instruction. How important it is that these weeks should be utilized by the thorough teaching of a little, and not wasted by a careless hurrying over many things. And then the habit of understanding what one says and weighing words before they are uttered is an end of itself, which a teacher should have constantly in view. F.
DISTRICT NO. 22.
This district was fortunate in securing the services of Miss Caroline E. Buxton, as teacher during the summer term. She was for nearly two years a member of the State Normal School, of Worcester, Mass., but, by reason of ill-health, failed to graduate. She is a good scholar and passed a very successful examination. Her method in the school-room is well calculated to bring out the best efforts of the pupil, and she was successful in winning the respect of every member of the school.
Mr. J. M. Marden taught the fall and winter term. This is the second term he has taught this school, which shows that the appointing power has confidence in him. Mr. Marden is a very ambitious young man, and while not teach- ing, he is attending good schools in order to be thoroughly fitted to instruct youth. The school made good progress in
€
12
many branches, showing a decided improvement over the school one year ago. The closing afternoon brought out a very large number of the parents and friends of the school. The exercises consisted of the usual examination in studies, assisted by a liberal use of the black-board, singing, decla- mations, select readings, and dialogues. One young lady, laboring under the disadvantage of ill-health, but having a disposition to know every thing contained within the lids of her Arithmetic, sustained a long and critical examination of the rules therein, and did not miss a single answer. The record of the teacher shows that during the term of thirteen weeks, thirty-four visits were made to the school, mostly by residents of the district. The school-house is one of the best in Ward 2, commodious and pleasant, but it might be made more attractive by a liberal use of paint, and white-wash of the improved kind. Six pupils were found in their places every day without being tardy. B.
DISTRICT NO. 23.
No scholars from the Concord part of this district have attended this school, and in turn the teachers have not presented themselves to this committee for examination. The school has been entirely controlled by the Bow portion of the district, who alone have availed themselves of its benefits. Owing to an accumulation of money while the school-house was building, the district has been able to have three terms, amounting to thirty-five weeks. The teachers were Miss Sarah M. Hammond, Annie I. Ballard and M. Abbie Colby. F.
DISTRICT NO. 24.
Unlike the case of the district last named, this is a union from which Concord has derived substantial benefits ; the town of Hopkinton having furnished more than four-fifths
13
of the school revenue for the past year. Miss Ella M. Smith, of Concord, had charge of the school during the summer term, and Harvey L. Boutwell, of Hopkinton, during the fall and winter. Both teachers were well known to the people of the district, of which they are themselves residents. Their best efforts were expended in the discharge of their duties and met with success and appreciation. This school has for several years enjoyed uniformly good instruction, and the children in it are evidently gaining ground. F.
We append a table of statistics required of us by law.
.5
14
STATISTICAL TABLE.
No. of District. Terms.
TEACHERS.
Number of Weeks.
Number of Scholars.
Number in Arithmetic.
Number in Reading.
Number in Spelling.
Number in l'enmanship.
Number in Geography.
Number in Grammar.
Number in Composition.
Number in History.
Number in Algebra.
Number between 5 and 15 not attending any school.
1
2
1 Mattie J. Flanders.
8
13 11 13|13 10 8
3
2
Mattie J. Flanders.
9
16.13 16
16 10 8
3
3
4
1
Mattie E. Carter.
12
8 5
8
8
4
5
4
5
1
Lizzie M. Gage.
9
9
9
9
9
7
3
4
6
1
Lucie E. Page.
8
7
8
8
5
5
3
2
2
Sarah A. Winslow
7
9 7
9
6
5
3
2
7
1
Mrs. M. W. Dow
8
18 12
18|18
11 10
5
2
Mrs. M. W. Dow
8
16 12 16 16 13
|12
5
8 1
Carrie A. Corson.
9
12
9 12 12
9
8
4
6
3
Carrie A. Corson
7
8 8
8 8
8
8
3
6
3
13
Lizzie M. Gage.
22 11 22
22
6
9
6
6
21 11 21 21
6
8
5
Charles H. Arnold.
7
28 16 28
28
6
10
7
14
Sarah E. Sawyer.
8.4.14
4 14 |14
8
2
4
1
13
15
5|15
15
8
4
4
1
15
Sarah H. Kendall.
10
15 12 15
15
12
6
6
16 1
Mrs. Julia E. Curtis
15
4 2
4
4
2
2
18 1
Jane Cook.
10
28 20 25
25
12
2
Jane Cook ..
10
28 20
25 25
12 13
5
2
22
Caroline E. Buxton.
8
18 14 18 18
8 4
4
J. M. Marden ..
13
26 17 26 26 7
6
6
23
No Concord scholars.
9
3
3
3
3
2
3
1
2
Harvey L. Boutwell.
12
6
6
6
6
6
5
2
Respectfully submitted,
WM. W. FLINT,
ABIAL ROLFE,
WM. K. BARTLETT.
1
M. Anna Fiske.
10
16
7 16 16 12
8
1
Charles A. Morse.
10
24 15 24 24 15 10
2
Carrie A. Corson.
12 10 12
12
10
8
3
6
3
8
Cora E. Putney .
10
17|14 17
17
|14
11
8
12
7
4
24 1
Ella M. Smith ..
Nellie S. Brown ...
12
Alma J. Morse.
12
7
TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION,
OF
UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The Board of Education respectfully submits this, its twenty-first annual report.
Thirty-one schools, within the limits of Union School District, have been taught during the past year, by thirty-six teachers, including those of music and drawing. It is not necessary, here, to speak of the individual merits of the teachers of our schools. It is sufficient to say, they are all faithfully endeavoring to meet the requirements of their high calling, with a measure of success, that will well compare with that of other instructors, similarly situated. Most of them have their schools well under control. The discipline has generally been judicious, denoting a good endowment of common sense, an essential qualification of the teacher.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
The rules and regulations adopted by the board for the government of our schools require the board to hold a regular meeting on the first Saturday evening of each month, at which any citizen of the district may be present.
The teachers are required to make themselves familiar with these rules and regulations, and cheerfully to co-operate with the Superintendent in securing their enforcement. They are to strive to persuade their pupils to avoid idleness, pro- fanity, falsehood, deceit and every wicked and disgraceful
16
practice ; and to cherish the principles of industry, sobriety, frugality and a sacred regard for truth. They are to main- tain a kind and judicious discipline at all times in the school-room, and any neglect or failure in this respect will be considered good cause for dismissal.
It is made the duty of each teacher to report to the Superintendent in writing, within two days of its occurrence, each case of corporal punishment, giving the name of the pupil, date, cause, and manner of punishment ; and in no case shall such punishment be administered within twenty-four hours after the offence. But, in extreme cases, when imme- diate action is necessary, the teacher may dismiss the scholar for the day and immediately report the case to the parents, and to the Superintendent. And those teachers who secure good discipline, without resorting to corporal punishment, other qualifications being equal, will receive the preference in promotions and appointments.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BOUNDARY LINES BETWEEN OUR SCHOOLS.
In consequence of the crowded condition of some of our schools, and the limited number in attendance in others, especially in the primary and intermediate grades, (some of these schools having between sixty and seventy scholars, and others less than thirty,) it was found necessary to change the boundary lines so as more equally to distribute the scholars among the several schools. This was a very difficult work ; for in some cases the new lines necessarily ran so near some of the school-houses as to exclude scholars living within a stone's throw of those houses, where they had been accus- tomed to attend school, and where they had formed strong attachments to the teacher and to their fellow pupils. It was found next to impossible to persuade some of these scholars or their parents, that this was a work of necessity, and not of
17
arbitrary and despotic power. We could see no relief for these schools but to reconstruct them, or to establish a new school, which would be attended with great expense, and which, very probably, the district would not approve. In making these changes, it was found practicable and in the interest of economy to remove the Intermediate school from the Spring street house to the Chandler ; thus vacating one of the poorest school-rooms in the district for one of the best, and saving a large proportion of the expense of heating the vacated room, for it costs but little more to heat the third room in the Chandler house with steam, than the two pre- viously occupied.
SICKNESS IN THE SCHOOLS.
Some of our schools have been considerably embarrassed with sickness, especially during the last two terms. In the fall term there was much excitement in the vicinity of the Rumford school, in consequence of a few cases of diphtheria ; some of which proved fatal. This excitement was much intensified by a communication from our city, published in the Boston Journal, reading as follows :
" Concord, N. H., Nov. 14.
A regular physician of this city says that yesterday, three children lay dead from diphtheria within a stone's throw of the Rumford Grammar school-house in the sixth ward, and that others were now sick in the vicinity. He further stated that he believed the sickness to have resulted from neglect in not cleansing the vaults of the school building. There are fears that diphtheria will become epidemic in that neighbor- hood."
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