1848-1849 School Committee Report

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1 8 pecially when they entertained a different view from that which our sense of duty taught us to adopt, but the greatest good of the greatest number, who, whatever their means, we believed had as deep an interest as any in the cause of education. We were so very democratic, as to deem the welfare of the great majority, and in our opinion of all, who were seeking the solid elements of a strictly common -school education, as more impor- tant, than the pleasure of those, whose twelve or fifteen children pursued the languages. This may have been our mistake, though we have never seen it, and have felt more and more convinced that we were entirely right. We have the testimony of at least one of that number of scholars, that he rejoiced in the action of the Committee, one, who was withdrawn from the Centre school, and yet attended school in another place, where the languages are never allowed. The circumstances, of which it has been our unwelcome duty to say thus much, do not comprise the only occasion, in which, during the year past, we have felt compelled to take a course not sanctioned by the whole of a district. We could wish that they did, and we fervently hope that no Committee may, in fu- ture, meet with similar obstructions, in the performance of their work. We refer now to the difficulties in the South district. Their history is this. On the 6th of September last, it having been voted, by the dis- trict, that the Prudential committee should exercise his discre- tion, as to employing a male or female for the winter session, and a desire existing on the part of many, that a male should be engaged, Mr. O. S. Knapp, of Malden, was presented for ex- amination, and was approved. He entered upon his duties on the 4th of December, and, on the 15th of the same month, the Committee visited the school, to settle some difficulties that had arisen, and hoped that all would move on in harmony. But dissatisfaction having increased among a few, a committee of the district, appointed at an informal meeting, were met by the Superintending Committee, and the grievances inquired into. After careful deliberation, we unanimously decided, that there was no reason why the teacher should not go on in his work, and we had a right to -:pect the acquiescence of the district. One 9 average attendance was 328, leaving an average absence of 65, or of the absences in the winter schools of the whole State. We think these statements give some force to our appeal.* DISMISSIONS. In connection with this same topic, we advert to a custom, in many of our schools, of sending notes to the teacher, in the morning or afternoon, requesting that children may be dis- missed at recess. This is sometimes matter of necessity, and to this no one can object. This is very unfrequently the case, however, we believe, in comparison with the whole number. Sometimes, it is owing to the wish of parents that their chil- dren should return home, and assist them in their labors. In these instances, is it not proper that parents should propose to themselves the inquiry, whether the assistance they seek is as important as the duty of giving up freely to their children all the school hours for their benefit ? We believe that they have the superior claim. Other instances, and the largest number, arise, we think, from solicitations of the scholars, and can- not be justified on the plea of necessity: In many cases, they are found, after being dismissed, wasting their time around the schoolhouse, or elsewhere. The interruption to the school itself is very considerable, classes being left deficient in numbers, and being detained in their progress, that those dismissed may main- tain the same ground with them,—which is a matter of great embarrassment to teachers. We beseech parents, then, in grant- ing these solicitations for dismission at an earlier hour than the close of school, to consider conscientiously only the actual ne- cessity of the case, and to remember that the time thus lost can never be regained by their children.f There is, however, some consolation, if we may be permitted to compare ourselves with other towns in our immediate neighborhood. Our position, as to average attendance, is, in the county, No. 12, and in the State, No. 36, which' places us in advance of Medford, West Cambridge, Wayland, Water- town, Sudbury, Waltham, Weston, Somerville, Concord, Westford, Chelmsford, Woburn, Cambridge, and Newton. All of these range from 37 down to 244. That the anxiety of the committee on this subject is not unwarranted, will appear from the fact that, in the South-east Grammar School, during nine 2