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<br />REPORT.
<br />The School Committee of Lexington herewith present their
<br />Annual Report, in compliance with the statutes of the Com-
<br />monwealth.
<br />THE Tabular views, which accompany it, have been com-
<br />piled with much labor, and all possible care, from the vari-
<br />ous School Registers of the year past, and, it is hoped, without
<br />any important errors. They will furnish many interesting re-
<br />sults, when the records they contain are thoroughly studied.
<br />The amount of work, performed by teachers and scholars, will
<br />be found highly creditable to them both, although such statistics
<br />afford, at best, only an approximate estimate on this subject. In
<br />comparing the number of studies pursued this year, with those
<br />of the last year, as stated in the Report, there will be found one
<br />more column than at that time. The Committee, therefore,
<br />will not seem, upon superficial scrutiny, to have accomplished
<br />their purpose of diminishing the number of studies. But, in
<br />regard to six of those here mentioned, it will be seen that there
<br />are not more than four scholars in either of them, for instance, in
<br />Geometry, Book-keeping, Botany, Rhetoric, Political Economy,
<br />and Natural History. Although, likewise, a large number are
<br />noted as having engaged in the study of Enunciation, yet this is
<br />properly a branch of Reading, and should be viewed in that
<br />connexion. No mention is made, in the Tabular views, of quite
<br />a number of beautiful specimens of Map Drawing, which were
<br />exhibited in the South East Grammar School, as this belongs
<br />more properly to Geography.
<br />It is hoped, that the Tables present some satisfactory indica-
<br />tions, as to the manner in which our school privileges have been
<br />employed during the year. At all events, it is plain, that the
<br />greatest part of the time has been devoted to the studies usually
<br />deemed most important of all.
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<br />Your Committee feel much regret, that the cause of Education
<br />has, during the year past, met, in this town, with unusual diffi-
<br />culties. The interest of a portion of the community in the
<br />efficient support of our Common Schools, has, apparently, been
<br />much affected. We are quite willing to bear our responsibility
<br />in the existence of such a state of things, so far as it may be
<br />estimated by a careful judgment of the history of the schools
<br />during the year, unbiassed by prejudice or preconceived opin-
<br />ions. We believe ourselves to be above reproach in relation to
<br />it. That none may depend upon mere casual information, and
<br />in order that we may give a full account of our labors, we pro-
<br />pose to enter into a statement of the facts, to which reference has
<br />been made.
<br />It will be remembered that, in the Report of the last year,
<br />submitted by two of the members of the present Committee,
<br />some remarks were made in regard to the large number of
<br />studies pursued in our schools. We urged, as strenuously as
<br />possible, that the higher studies should not be allowed to crowd
<br />upon the more common and most essential branches of educa-
<br />tion. Our experience taught us, that there was great danger of
<br />this, if, indeed, it had not actually occurred; and the following
<br />remarks were then made :—" We would urge upon our succes-
<br />sors in office, to take a resolute, decided stand, in regard to this
<br />whole matter. We do not urge the discontinuance of any of the
<br />studies already engaged in, except in a few instances, but that
<br />the attention of teachers and scholars be directed first, and
<br />mainly, to the common branches, without which, no useful
<br />progress can be made in any ; that we may have proficiency in
<br />them, whatever else is neglected; and we solemnly invoke the
<br />direct acquiescence of parents in carrying out these views."
<br />Immediately after the Report was made, in which these senti-
<br />ments were embodied, they, who had submitted it to the town,
<br />were reelected. We think that we had a right to regard this
<br />action as sanctioning, at least in a degree, the opinions expressed,
<br />and the plans recommended. Such an inference was also justi-
<br />fied by the personal interviews we had enjoyed with many of
<br />the firmest friends of education among us. And in these views,
<br />the newly -elected member of the committee fully and heartily
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