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<br />School in the South District are to be especially commended for
<br />their exercise of skill in leading the scholars to comprehend the
<br />studies pursued, and for the interest the scholars seemed, con-
<br />sequently, to take in their exercises. The teachers also in the
<br />Southeast Schools are to be prized for the interest they take
<br />in their calling, and for the efforts they make to be faithful.
<br />From the manifest improvement made by the teacher of the
<br />Grammar School during the past year in skill and in enforcing
<br />order, and from the unanimity and support he receives from
<br />the district, all springing from his devotion to the school, the
<br />Committee anticipate yet better things, for the year to come,
<br />from the school, than the last year has produced.
<br />Whatever doubt there may be about the propriety of offering
<br />prizes for success in any school exercise, on account of unfavor-
<br />able moral results, it seems evident that a prize offered to the
<br />one who should make most advancement in penmanship in the
<br />South Winter School, excited a zeal that led to very marked im-
<br />provement in that respect. The writing -books showed that the
<br />school had improved more than any other in town in this
<br />branch.
<br />The Committee would recognize the liberality of the town in
<br />its appropriations for common school education. Probably as
<br />large a sum is appropriated for instruction as is really needed
<br />for that purpose, for the present. Certainly the schools have
<br />been kept for as large a portion of the year as the highest good
<br />of the child requires. What is more needed, we would repeat,
<br />than any thing else now, is that lively interest taken in the
<br />studies, and in the docility, orderliness, and respectful manners
<br />of their children, by parents, which shall lead them actively to
<br />second the efforts of the teacher. In the two village schools
<br />especially, as in village schools generally, the latter part of this
<br />remark will apply. The Committee have observed in their
<br />visits some approach towards pertness, some lack of modest
<br />deference, which cannot be corrected by the teacher, if he
<br />works alone. The part of a wise parent would seem to be
<br />to second all judicious efforts that the teacher may make to
<br />correct whatever he may discover that is offensive in a child's
<br />demeanor, wherever it may be observed.
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<br />The Committee are convinced that in no other way can a
<br />sense of what is proper and becoming in a child's general con-
<br />duct and bearing towards his superiors be made so delicate, as
<br />by a proper inculcation of his moral and religious obligations
<br />by both parent and teacher. They do not suppose the matter
<br />has been entirely overlooked, yet they think teachers would do
<br />well to observe still more faithfully the law of the State that re-
<br />quires all instructors of youth
<br />" To exert their best endeavor to impress on the minds of
<br />children and youth committed to their care and instruction, the
<br />principles of piety, justice, and a sacred regard to truth, love
<br />to their country, humanity, and universal benevolence, sobriety,
<br />industry, and frugality, and those other virtues which are the
<br />ornament of human society, and the basis upon which a repub-
<br />lican constitution is founded ; and it shall be the duty of such
<br />instructors to endeavor to lead their pupils, as their ages and
<br />capacities will admit, into a clear understanding of the tenden-
<br />cy of the above-mentioned virtues, to preserve and perfect a re-
<br />publican constitution, and secure the blessings of liberty, as
<br />well as to promote their future happiness, and also to point out
<br />to them the evil tendency of the opposite vices."
<br />For the Committee,
<br />WILLIAM F. BRIDGE, Secretary.
<br />IRA LELAND, School Coma-
<br />HOWLAND HOLMES, mittee of
<br />WILLIAM F. BRIDGE,
<br />Lexington.
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