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open town -meeting and elsewhere, the suggestion of Dr.
<br />Sears ? Be assured it has not been because they have not
<br />heartily approved of this change, but because they have
<br />been reluctant to assume the additional labor and responsi-
<br />bility, or incur the suspicion of grasping at more authority.
<br />They neither covet more power, nor have they any wish or
<br />intention of stripping the districts of their natural rights, as
<br />some, in the way of argument against the change, have
<br />weakly hinted. Foreseeing, as they have, the obstacles
<br />which such a step would bring with it, they have sought,
<br />and do now solicit, this additional trust for their successors
<br />in office, rather than for themselves. Whenever it is tried,
<br />let, it have a fair trial, and three successive years to test its
<br />merits.
<br />But suppose, as a few have loudly advocated, the town
<br />should choose no general Committee, but should devolve
<br />the management of the schools entirely upon the local Com-
<br />mittees, — what would it gain ? Why, it would gain three
<br />members, at least, to the School Committee; for, as there
<br />are six districts in town, we should have six members on
<br />the Committee instead of three, and, to avoid a tie -vote, it
<br />might be necessary to have seven. True, say our oppo-
<br />nents, but would their duties and requirements be the same ?
<br />The law requires that no teacher shall be accepted on trust,
<br />not even if he has his pocket full of certificates and recom-
<br />mendations; but that he shall be personally examined by
<br />the approbating Committee, and, if approved by them, he
<br />shall be furnished with a certificate, before the Treasurer
<br />can lawfully advance any money for his services. Further-
<br />more, an annual, detailed report is required ; and, unless
<br />this part of the law is complied with, the town forfeits and
<br />loses its portion of the State school -fund, which, for the past
<br />year, amounts to $91.32.
<br />Well, then, in order to have the machinery of the schools
<br />go on, we must have some Committee ; and this Commit-
<br />tee, if there be but one, must perform the duties of general
<br />and local Committees. And, if they perform the duties,
<br />what matter is it whether we call them Superintending or
<br />r)
<br />Prudential Committees ? What is in a name ? There is
<br />just so much labor to be performed, whether it be done by
<br />one, three, five, or seven men ; and as to their being any
<br />more interest shown by having the teacher employed by
<br />some one in the district, as it has been asserted by some
<br />opposed to any change in the presentrmethod, we can only
<br />say, that, so far as our own observation goes, the Prudential
<br />Committees of this town and elsewhere have rarely or never
<br />visited the schools, except at the semi-annual examination;
<br />whereas the Superintending Committee visit them once in
<br />three or four weeks, and oftener if circumstances require it.
<br />If such, then, is a just representation and true criterion of
<br />the greater zeal of Prudential Committees, the districts, we
<br />think, can well afford to surrender their services for at least
<br />a few years. It is moreover said that Prudential Com-
<br />mittees once discharged all the duties pertaining to the
<br />schools in this town, with the aid of some one to examine
<br />the teachers. But, at that time, one tri -weekly stage -coach
<br />well accommodated all the travel from this place to Boston ;
<br />while now, three or four large-sized passenger -cars are often-
<br />times found to be a scanty provision. It was before the
<br />Board of Education was established, or Normal Schools
<br />were in existence.
<br />The Committee would recognize the liberality of the
<br />town in appropriating $50, to be expended by them for
<br />books of reference for the several districts; and, although
<br />the Committee were not unanimous in the choice of books
<br />selected, it is nevertheless believed that they will be of great
<br />convenience, and of essential aid to the teachers, for whom
<br />they are to be permanently kept. They consist of two
<br />copies of " 'Worcester's Universal Dictionary," for the two
<br />Primary Schools; and six copies of " M'Culloch's Geogra-
<br />phical Dictionary," and six copies of " Chambers's Informa-
<br />tion for the People," for the six Grammar Schools. Who
<br />is charged with the preservation of these books ? The
<br />local Committees. To whom do they report ? To nobody.
<br />If, then, a few years hence, these books are mutilated or
<br />missing, what redress has the town ? who or what is culpa-
<br />
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