USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > Annual report of the school committee of the city of Manchester, N.H. for the year ending 1878 > Part 4
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
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
Near the close of my report for last year, as an after thought, and without much consideration, I advocated the
48
establishment of an industrial school, as the result of my observations during the year, in regard to the lack of proper habits of industry among a portion of our more ad- vanced pupils. As to the propriety of the establishment of such a school, the board of school committee appeared to differ from me. While I agree to your statement of the general " purpose of the common school," I still think the safety of the state, for which alone schools have any claim to support by public tax, would be as greatly promoted by the establishment, in our larger towns, of schools for the purpose of teaching habits of manual industry to the por- tion of school population that do not attain it to any de- gree from their natural guardians, as by our present system of public schools, which are so well adapted to the necessities of the majority. Idleness, I believe, leads to poverty and crime more frequently than ignorance. Nev- ertheless, I am more fully aware than I was a year ago of the practical difficulties attending an engraftment upon our common schools of any general system of manual instruc- tion, and am inclined to think the need which I believe will be found imperative before the close of another quar- ter of a century, must be met by special public institutions. or by local enterprise.
SEWING.
There is, however, one form of industrial employment which might be taught with advantage to a portion of the. pupils in our schools. I refer to sewing, which is systemat- ically and successfully taught in the public schools of some citics. I would advocate its introduction here so far as to teach those who come from homes apparently ignorant of the art, enough of the use of the needle and thread to ena- ble them to mend their own clothes in a respectable and substantial manner. This could, I think, be successfully done by the regular teacher.
49
DRAWING.
Drawing has been taught in our schools with varying suc- cess for several years. About a year ago, Walter Smith's system of Industrial Drawing was introduced, and Miss Manahan, first assistant teacher in our High School, was employed to give our teachers a few special lessons in the new system. At the close of these lessons it was observed that a portion had to a good degree comprehended the prin- ciples of this system, and more recent observations have shown that these are presenting the subject to their pupils with considerable success. All the teachers were greatly benefited by those few lessons, and they have manifested great zeal in teaching the new system to their pupils, and have met with all the success that could reasonably be ex- pected of those who as a whole have had so little assistance in properly preparing themselves for the work.
Miss Manahan, who has chief charge of drawing at the High School, and has so notably distinguished herself in that department there, highly compliments the better prep- aration in drawing of the last class entering from the grammar schools. If, however, we would rival in this art cities of even less size than ours in our sister State of Mas- sachusetts, or would have drawing taught in our lower grade schools chiefly through a proper development of the principles of the system now in use, rather than by imita- tion, we should have a good special teacher in drawing, to take full charge of this department of instruction and af- ford our teachers all needed assistance. It would be un- wise, in my opinion, to employ any such special teacher who is not a master of the art and of the system in use. Our teachers in general, and several in particular, have knowl- edge enough of both to be disgusted with any instruction which is not first-class in this department.
4
50
ADMISSION TO HIGH SCHOOL.
The method of admitting pupils from the grammar schools to the High School, as set forth in my last annual report, has been strictly followed ; and with gratifying success, because the class admitted is acknowledged, after a term's service in the High School, to be as well prepared as the average of classes admitted there, and because but few pupils, comparatively, had to be subjected to a special ex- amination at the end of the year. As there is no disposi- tion to get up any hot-house rivalry between our grammar schools, I deem it unnecessary to add any extended details in regard to the number admitted from the respective schools or to give the standing of their classes or of indi- vidual members of the same, for the conditions under which they begin the work of a year are liable to vary so that re- sults in these particulars cannot be justly compared year by year. It may be said, however, for once that the aggregate average of each of the first divisions of the larger grammar schools, which alone took the six examinations in each study submitted by the Superintendent during the year, dif- fered from one another by less than one-half of one per cent. Such a result shows, I think, the possibility of hav- ing answers in written work marked by different persons, as these were by the masters of the several schools, with great uniformity when specific instructions for this purpose are given to all alike.
SCHOOL-HOUSE AGENT.
I would advise, since you are in future to have entire control of funds set apart for the repair of school-houses, that this board elect, or appoint, annually, some suitable person to have the entire management and undivided responsibility of repairs upon school-houses. I think, if this course is pursued, as at Springfield, Mass., our houses
51
and the furniture pertaining to the same would receive better care, and that the amount of funds allowed for this purpose would be more prudently and economically expended. Such an agent should have some familiarity with the needs of a school, be a man of judgment, and receive a fair compensation for his services. His accounts should be fully and carefully kept, and at the end of the year, or oftener, they should be audited by the standing committee on repairs, furniture, and supplies.
READING.
Our schools are constantly in need of new and fresh reading matter. The regular reading-book soon becomes familiar and monotonous to the more apt pupils. They get the general ideas of the several pieces, and are ever after careless about the language, frequently substituting that of their own. I think the general purchase of all text-books by the city of doubtful utility ; but I have no doubt that both for the good of our schools and for the pecuniary advantage of our citizens, it would be better to have the city own all reading-books used in the schools. As a matter of justice, too, it is as proper that books of a certain class should be bought for all, as well as a considerable portion of our school population, and we have to purchase by far more reading-books for those claiming our charity than those of any other kind. Then, since they are so greatly needed to be under our control, why not purchase for all ? This plan is adopted in several places with the following results : a great saving of expense in the aggregate, because books can be bought of publishers by towns or cities at greatest discounts ; greater variety of entertaining and in- structive reading matter for the schools, because there can be purchased readers of different series, or books of biography, travel, history, and geography. These books
52
can then be changed about among the schools, so that pupils may be supplied with fresh reading matter as often as necessary ; and pupils would be quickened to read for the purpose of gaining information, and thus learn more readily the true object of this exercise, which not unfre- quently is regarded merely as an exercise for going through the ceremony of pronouncing words. Hence arises what is commonly known as the " school tone," and the lack of expression in attempts at reading.
CONCLUSION.
To the retiring members of this board, I would express sincere regret that we are to be deprived of the counsels and assistance of those, who, through long familiarity with schools, have directly benefited our schools by personal vis- itation and labor, or in the committee room have devised or advocated measures for their improvement; and to all I would extend thanks for the enjoyment and advantage of your friendly advice and superior judgment.
If there is any dependence upon the assurance personally expressed by numerous representatives of nearly every class of our population, then our schools are giving excellent satisfaction to the great masses of our people who are directly represented by pupilage in the schools ; yet they are not above criticism, and we should ever give respectful consideration to comments made in good faith for the pur- pose of improving our public schools.
Dec. 31, 1878.
WM. E. BUCK.
53
TABLE SHOWING THE ATTENDANCE AT THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS FOR THE PAST YEAR.
SCHOOLS.
Whole Number Belonging to the Schools .*
Average No. Be-
Average Daily
Attendance.
Percentage of Attendance.
High School.
73
117
190
185
179
97
Intermediate Schoolt.
42
8
50
24
21
88
Training School, Higher Department ..
47
48
95
70
64
91
Training School, Primary Department
87
78
165
99
88
89
Franklin-Street Grammar School.
89
93
182
150
144
96
Lincoln-Street Grammar School.
98
112
210
178
169
95
Ash-Street Grammar School.
85
102
187
160
152
95
Spring-Street Grammar School.
34
35
69
57
52
91
62
37
99
72
66
91
17
18
35
32
29
91
Middle School No. 1.
17
26
43
37
34
92
22
27
49
45
41
91
20
30
50
42
39
93
66
66
4.
23
24
47
34
32
94
66
66
5.
26
21
47
41
38
93
66
6:
6 ..
2L
27
48
36
31
86
20
19
39
33
29
88
25
22
47
35
33
94
21
22
43
37
34
91
17
23
40
35
32
93
31
23
54
37
32
86
Primary
66
66
1.
38
37
75
42
37
89
30
24
54
39
33
85
25
33
58
37
31
8₺
6:
66
66
4
20
25
45
44
38
87
66
5.
34
18
52
41
35
85
66
66
6
32
33
65
36
35
- 97
19
21
40
34
31
91
59
52
111
58
53
92
66
66
26
32
58
42
38
90
66
66
10.
40
12
52
42
37
88
66
11.
29
26
55
43
39
91
28
26
54
42
39
93
42
37
79
41
36
88
66
66
14.
25
27
52
*37
32
86
66
66
16.
30
22
52
47
43
91
66
66
17.
18
9
27
26
24
90
66
18
92
86
178
50
43
86
29
30
59
36
33
93
29
28
57
39
35
90
25
16
41
32
27
84
17
12
29
44
42
95
11
8
19
13
10
77
59
53
112
72
63
88
28
31
59
42
40
95
66
66
66
.5.
15
15
30
23
20
87
66
66
6.
8
12
20
12
10
83
66
66
7
19
17
36
28
26
93
17
23
40
24
20
83
15
10
25
17
15
88
Total.
1783
1732
3515
2571
2348
91.3
-
66
66
7.
- 66
66
60
8.
66
9
66
10.
11.
2 ..
3 ..
* Exclusive of those received, by promotion or transfer, from other public schools in the city.
t Open two terms; closed during the fall term.
# In existence during the fall term only.
I See " Attendance," page 93.
It may be added, for the benefit of the uninformed, that there is in this city an ex- tensive system of Roman-Catholic parochial schools, which accounts for the small por- tion of our population (28,000) in the public schools.
Boys.
Girls.
Tot'l.
Suburban School, District No. 1.
66
66
3 ..
16
4.
.
-
21.
י
66
66
12.
13.
15.
47
45
92
49
44
90
66
66
20
.66
7
66
8.
9
66
.6
2
3.
9.
8.
66
19.
22±
Piscataquog Grammar School.
Amoskeag Grammar School.
66
longing.
LIST OF TEACHERS AND JANITORS.
HIGH SCHOOL, - BEECH STREET.
Principal. - Albert W. Bacheler.
Assistant. - Herbert W. Lull. Lucretia E. Manahan. Emma J. Ela. Mary A. Buzzell.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, - LOWELL STREET. Principal. - J. Y. Cressey.
TRAINING SCHOOL, - MERRIMACK STREET. Higher Department. Principal. - Nancy S. Bunton. Assistant. - Mintie C. Edgerly. Primary Department. Principal. - Martha N. Mason. Assistant. - Jessie B. Farmer.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL, - FRANKLIN STREET.
Principal. - Edward P. Sherburne. Assistant. - Annette McDoel. Lottie R. Adams. Carrie E. Reid.
* Franklin-street and Spring-street grammar departments consolidated, and both under Mr. Sherburne as principal.
56
LINCOLN-STREET GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Principal. - Benjamin F. Dame. Assistant. - Julia A. Baker. Mary J. Fife. Isabelle R. Daniels. Mary F. Barnes.
ASH-STREET GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Principal. - Daniel A. Clifford.
Assistant. - Anstrice G. Flanders. Rocilla M. Tuson. Sarah J. Greene.
SPRING-STREET GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Assistant. - Mary L. Sleeper, Anna O. Heath.
PISCATAQUOG, - NORTH MAIN STREET. Principal. - William M. Stevens. Assistant. - Mary A. Lear.
AMOSKEAG.
Etta J. Carley.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
No. 1, Blodget Street. - Nellie I. Sanderson. 2, Ash Street. - Mary A. Smith. 3, Ash Street. - Hattie S. Tozer. 4, Lincoln Street. - Anna J. Dana. 5, Lincoln Street. - Carrie M. Gilmore. 6, North Main Street. -- Florence McEvoy. 7, Franklin Street. - Hattie G. Flanders.
* See note on previous page.
57
8, Franklin Street. - C. Augusta Abbott. 9, Spring Street. - Clara G. Fogg.
10, Spring Street. - Lizzie P. Gove.
11, North Main Street. - Fredrica S. Mitchell.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
No. 1, Blodget Street. - Ellen B. Rowell.
2, Manchester Street. - Clara N. Brown.
3, Ash Street. - Georgianna Dow. 4, Ash Street. - Helen M. Morrill.
5, Lowell Street. - Elvira S. Prior.
6, Wilson Hill. - Abbie E. Abbott.
7, Lincoln Street. - Emma F. Beane. 8, Lowell Street. - Florence L. Stone. 9, Manchester Street. - Julia A. Dearborn.
10, Manchester Street. - Nellie Pearson.
11, Franklin Street. - E. Jennie Campbell. 12, Franklin Street. - Martha W. Hubbard. 13, Spring Street. - Ella F. Sanborn.
14, Spring Street. - Nellie M. Whitney.
15, Center Street. - Jennie F. Bailey. 16, Center Street. - Augusta S. Downs. 17, South Main Street. - Alice G. Lord.
18, Manchester Street. - Maria N. Bower.
19, Amoskeag. - Jennie G. Stebbins.
20, South Main Street. - Sarah D. Lord.
21, Bridge Street. - Emma J. Henry.
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
No. 1, Stark District. - Helen G. Kimball. 3, Bakersville : - Principal, Addie M. Chase. Assistant, S. Isetta Locke.
58
4, Goffe's Falls. - Georgie A. Nute. 5, Harvey District. - Mary W. Mitchell. 6, Webster's Mills. - Olive J. Randall. 7, Hallsville. - Maria H. Hildreth.
8, Youngsville. - Susie G. Woodman. 9, Mosquito Pond. - Lana S. George.
MUSIC TEACHER. Jason J. Kimball.
JANITORS.
High School, Ash Street, Bridge Street, and, Blodget Street. John S. Avery.
Franklin Street, Manchester Street, Lincoln Street, and Wilson Hill. John A. Carr.
Spring Street, and old High School House. James W. Preston. Merrimack Street. Rufus Lamb.
' Squog Schools, consisting of Center Street, North and South Main Street Schools. George E. Moore.
The HF Group Indiana Plant 067049 2 44 00
8/22/2006
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.