1848-1849 School Committee Report

Browse Search

16 that, in conformity with these views, we should recommend the following action :—" That the town should raise a committee, to digest an unproved school -system, for the education of our youth, and report thereon, at the annual meeting in March, 1849."* EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION. We would remark, that the Educational Association, contem- plated in last year's report, was formed, and was a source of pleasure and benefit to all. It met the sympathy of teachers, who, in mutual communion with the committee, consulted upon the best methods of fulfilling their respective duties. Our meet- ings were rendered highly valuable by the rich wisdom and warm sympathy of our President, now taken from among us. We would express our thanks to the Prudential Committees, for their readiness to afford teachers time to attend these meet- ings; and recommend the Association to those who, in future, are immediately concerned in the care of our schools, as a means of conferring lasting benefits upon the cause of education. In conclusion, we would commend this cause,—in which a deeper interest has been shown the past year, than ever before, by the people of the town,—to the generous sympathies, and sacred watchfulness of all; and, above all, crave the Divine blessing upon the interests of the younger portion of our coni- munity. Respectfully submitted, For the Committee, THEODORE 11. DORR. THEODORE H. DORR, Committee. W. B. RANDOLPH, The town voted to accept the Report, and ordered it to be printed for the use of the inhabitants. * The consideration of this recommendation of the Committee was postponed until the town meeting in May, 1848. 17 cile themselves, if they can, to the melancholy prospect of their children growing up to a participation in the cares and duties of life, with a cultivation and a preparation inferior to those around them, who shared no higher privileges, but improved them more wisely ; the prospect, too, of the reproach, with which in thought at least children will visit the memory of parents and guardians, as well as themselves, when they feel deficiencies in the actual struggles of life, that might have been avoided by a steady improvement of early opportunities. Indeed, the experience of the past year, as all previous expe- rience, justifies us in reiterating with all our emphasis the sen- timent, that most if not all of the difficulties attendant upon the working of the school system here and elsewhere, must be attributed to parents themselves, and all who have any in- fluence on the school. Even in the most doubtful cases, those surrounded with trouble and disaffection, that is, where the fitness of a teacher for his station is questioned, this is entirely true. Under such circumstances, it is the duty of all to make the best of them; if the school is taught by a male, when a female is preferred, to insist that young men shall show him the same obedience as they boasted, when a female taught, instead of forgetting their good manners; if a teacher is supposed to be wanting in refinement, to make up for his deficiency by the refinements of home ; especially that re- finement of some deference to the judgment and decision of those, who, however unfortunately for some, yet, `'by the nature of their position, have a right to expect it from all, whatever their opinions or prejudices. Such refinement will render one more respectable than oaths or insolence, which, if indulged, will be apt to creep into school. If such is unquestionably true under these circumstances, it certainly is the duty of all, when the course of the teacher and Committee cannot be ques- tioned at all. They should seal their lips in fixed silence against complaints, but go to the teacher manfully, and, iri the majority of instances, the complaints would fall to the ground. They should rebuke the slightest sneer even against the word or deed of a teacher, or the sneers and complaints indulged in that way may lead to complaint of parental control, a conse- 3 6. L J 1