1855-1856 School Committee Report

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6 earnestly devoted to his calling. Although some of his scholars were just budding into manhood, their deportment was courteous and respectful towards all. The attend- ance of the scholars was more irregular than could be wished ; but their improvement was good, and considerable interest was awakened, and progress made, in elocutionary exercises. There was a large attendance of the friends of the school at the closing examination, and much satisfac- tion seemed to be felt with the progress and condition of the school. The Committee have invariably found the order of the school good ; and they think the teacher has been thorough in his instruction, earnest and unremitting in his endeavors to advance his scholars, and successful in his achievements. He will never shine as a teacher, except in the opinion of those who regard true modesty as one of the shining qualities in any character. With larger ex- perience, however, he may yet learn to assume much of the power, and discharge many of the duties, which School Committees imagine exclusively their own ; that is, to ap- point the time for beginning a school, the day and hour for closing the same, the manner and order of examining it, and to take into his own hands the business of asking the scholars the questions, of summing up the result, and of making particular or general remarks at the close, &c. NORTH SCHOOL. This school, during the summer, was taught by Miss ISABELLA CUTLER, who devoted her energies unsparingly and successfully for its interests. Many of the scholars were apathetic and desultory in their application ; and the school generally needed to be aroused into activity. Miss Cutler's force of character and untiring zeal peculiarly fitted her for this office. She quickened the flagging spirits of the doubtful or discouraged ; she concentrated and fixed the divided and fitful attention of those unskilled in applica- tion, and directed the strength of the studious. Her school was always orderly, and the room cleanly. The district w 7 seemed highly to appreciate her Services, as did also the Committee, who rank her in the first class of teachers. The Winter Term was taught by Mr. GEORGE D. ROBIN - SON, who taught the same school the previous winter. Mr. Robinson is an excellent scholar, and his bearing in school and out is that of a gentleman. The first week of his term was somewhat interrupted in consequence of the an- nual festival, — Thanksgiving. We think it would be judicious for schools of this class to defer commencing till after that banquet. We think the teacher labored faith- fully and with considerable success; and the district and Committee were satisfied with the result of his labors. NORTH-EAST SCHOOL. This school was under the tuition, during the summer, of Miss MARTHA F. WINNING, the same who taught it the previous year. She succeeded in securing the affection of her scholars and the confidence of their parents the first season of her teaching, and has justly retained them since. She has made considerable effort in preparing herself for the business of teaching; and she is constantly on the alert for all improvements in the modes of teaching and in the matter taught. The order and progress of her school were very good, her efforts earnest and well directed, and they received the approbation of all. The Winter Term was taught by one of our own num- ber, Mr. CHARLES TIDD, whose services have been monopo- lized by this district for several winters past. It devolves upon his two colleagues to speak of the value of his labors; which, perhaps, they cannot do more justly or briefly than by saying that he is a veteran teacher, and has taught many schools well, yet never one more acceptably than during the past winter. A thorough scholar, and critically exact himself, superficiality and vagueness are no ele- ments in his school: cherishing a tender regard for the feelings of others, with true politeness and extreme modesty, his pupils insensibly become so imbued with these traits of