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<br />coincided. It became, therefore, a subject of early considera-
<br />tion with us, in what way they should be practically carried
<br />into effect. The result of our deliberations was,— that we deci-
<br />ded entirely to prohibit in our schools the study of any lan-
<br />guage but our own, and, with all our influence, to discourage
<br />the pursuit of the higher and less essential branches of a corn -
<br />mon -school education, by any scholars who had not attained
<br />satisfactory progress in the more common, but all essential
<br />studies. In corning to this decision, we were guided, not only
<br />by a direct concern for the youth, who enjoy our school priv-
<br />ileges, but indirectly hoped to benefit them, by circumscribing
<br />the duties of the teachers, and thereby increasing the amount of
<br />time they could devote to the usual course of study. We need
<br />not enter into any elaborate argument to prove the propriety of
<br />the rule thus adopted. It will be obvious, that if a necessity
<br />exists, that some of the studies pursued in the schools should be
<br />discontinued, in order that requisite attention should be bestowed
<br />upon the others, those studies should be prohibited, which do
<br />not comprise any part of a common -school education, and which
<br />are generally regarded as accomplishments, which, however,
<br />when consistent with other engagements, may be very profita-
<br />bly acquired. Now, as to the existence of such a necessity,
<br />the Committee are, of course, the only judges, and they may be
<br />expected to have better means of information than any one else.
<br />This necessity, we are unanimous in believing, did exist.
<br />As to the latter part of the rule adopted, it has been our un-
<br />ceasing endeavor to carry it out. We have urged scholars to
<br />take new studies, only when reasonable progress had been made
<br />in the most important ; and we have insisted, so far as it was
<br />practicable, upon thoroughness in every branch. These views
<br />have been aided by the teachers, and cheerfully acquiesced in
<br />by the scholars.
<br />But the first, or prohibitory part of our rule, was not carried
<br />into effect, without causing dissatisfaction among a small por-
<br />tion of the members of the Centre district. Complaint was made
<br />to us, that the teacher, employed in the Grammar department
<br />of the school there, had been pledged a larger salary, for the ex-
<br />press purpose, that the languages might be taught. This en -
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<br />gagement was made before the present Committee were appoint-
<br />ed, and it must be apparent, that any plans entered into, by
<br />Prudential committees, as to the studies to be pursued, can have
<br />no legal or moral force, binding upon a Committee, without
<br />whose consent or approbation they were formed. Neither can
<br />the act of a Superintending Committee, in one year, permitting
<br />the introduction of languages into the school, be alleged as any
<br />rule for a Committee, in the subsequent year. This is especially
<br />true, in the present instance ; for, although two members of the
<br />Board, who adopted the rule of the present year, were members
<br />of the Committee, who allowed the studies alluded to the last
<br />year, yet those studies were then merely permitted. The whole
<br />matter was regarded as a mere experiment, and it is known to
<br />your Committee, that the Rev. Jason Whitman, chairman of the
<br />Committee of that year, (1847-8,) was decidedly opposed to
<br />the introduction of the languages into the common schools.
<br />The result of the experiment left no doubt in our minds, that
<br />it had better not be made again. We do not intimate any neg-
<br />ligence on the part of the teacher. Far otherwise; he labored
<br />most assiduously, and was compelled to have friendly assist-
<br />ance, through the temporary failure of his health. But, with
<br />all his labor, and all his success, for which he received, as he
<br />merited, full acknowledgment, it was impossible, and would
<br />continue to be, we thought, with the anticipated increase in the
<br />number of scholars, to give all the time and attention required,
<br />to the common studies. And the most faithful teacher would
<br />be unable to prevent scholars, who pursued the languages, from
<br />feeling a deeper interest in them, than in any thing else.
<br />As to the argument which was presented against our course,
<br />that we ought to have conformed to the wishes of the small por-
<br />tion of the district, who desired the continuance of the languages,
<br />because they had been so much interested in the cause of
<br />education, and had so liberally supported the school, we be-
<br />lieve that we should have been unworthy of the trust re-
<br />posed in us by the town, had we listened to any such sugges-
<br />tions. Indeed, it was for precisely a contrary reason, that we
<br />adopted the rule of prohibition, not the gratification of a few,
<br />however influential, and however prominent on this subject, es -
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