1854-1855 School Committee Report

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4 which is highly desirable. Could this defect be remedied, we think that a marked improvement would soon manifest itself. A fault of a similar nature, but more noticeable, was observed in the South District School. The Summer School, taught by a lady of refinement, and of rare felicity of disposition, was held, perhaps, in fair degree of order by the gentler means of persuasion and love ; instruments, at all times needful, and most commendable in school discipline, yet oftentimes resisted and greatly abused, by those for whose best good they are employed. We regret to say that the Winter School, in respect to order and discipline, was decidedly objectionable. Its teacher, a lady from the Normal School, manifestly of talents, of commanding deportment, and apparently amiable disposition, failed to secure even that degree of order which her more fortunate predecessor had done, although using perhaps, the same persuasive instru- mentalities. And yet, when we saw so many things to commend, we could not but believe, that there may be many a locality in this Commonwealth, where she would meet with all that success, which she could reasonably expect, and which her talents deserve. The West District School has been necessarily interrupted, in the past year, by that which reflects additional honor on this town,—the erection of another commodious and beautiful school- house, making, within four years past, the fifth. It appears, by the register, that the school was in operation but four months and a half during the year. The teacher was a lady who had long been familiar with the duties of the school -room ; who was observed by the Committee to preserve good order and discipline, to be faithful and perse- vering, and the exercises at the close, taking into consideration the above-named interruption, appeared with credit. The Centre Grammar School has, for the two years past, been entrusted to a gentleman well tried and approved. Zealous in his profession, with order at the helm, his labors have been attended with success. The good attendance at examinations and during term -time, on the part of parents and friends of the school, have evinced commendable interest. The Primary Department during the year, has had the services, successively, of two teachers, both well approved, and who deserve to be here reported favorably. Your Committee have also the pleasure of reporting, for the first time, a High School in our midst. We congratulate our fellow - citizens that they have erected this monument of high honor to the 5 town, thus meeting the wants of our community, and doing, according to their ability, what we believe will be instrumental in making our other schools what they ought to be, and hence, of becoming a lasting blessing. It will be recollected that the school, at first, was instituted for two terms, as an experiment. The ex- periment was tried, gave good satisfaction, and at our March meeting an appropriation of one thousand dollars for the coming year, was promptly voted, and with great unanimity. This unanimity may be supposed to be the result, chiefly, or in part, of two considerations. First, your Committee were fortunate in securing the services of a gentleman as Principal, who has given a high degree of satisfaction. Again, our citizens, with commendable care, were at first fearful lest such an enterprise should in some way impair the credit and efficiency of our District Schools. But, on further reflection, large numbers, if not all, became convinced that, not injury, but benefit to our District Schools would thereby be likely to accrue ; that the High School, in reality, is but part and parcel of our Common Schools, becoming an additional spring in our educational machi- nery, giving efficiency and regularity to all its movements. Indeed, the advantages to be derived from a system of perfect gradation and classification, are far too numerous to be given in detail, in a report like this. It is sufficient to say, that we may now secure a better education for our children ; one that shall prepare them, on our own soil, and under our own eye, for any sphere or profession in life, short of what is commonly supposed to depend only on a collegiate education; an object, certainly of paramount importance, when we reflect how much greater now than formerly, is the demand, in the various departments of life, for a more thorough and extended education. While we cannot but look with satisfaction on whatever indica- tions there have been given, in our schools, of moral and intellectual progress, we would not, as our duty demands that we should not, be insensible to any defects still manifest in them. Defects and evils in them we certainly do find, in a greater or less degree. And among these we must not fail to mention the lack of constant and punctual attendance. It is a startling fact, mentioned in one of the reports of the late Secretary of the Board of Education, that during one year while he was in office, of the $477,221,24, raised in the Commonwealth for the support of our Public schools, more than two hundred thousand dollars were directly thrown away,