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<br />at which the pupils live from the schoolroom, — averaging
<br />about a mile, — the regularity and punctuality of attendance
<br />have been remarkable. During the last term of sixteen
<br />weeks, twenty-seven of the pupils were not once tardy, and
<br />the whole number of tardinesses was only twenty-eight. At
<br />their visits and at the examinations, the Committee have
<br />observed a very satisfactory thoroughness in the recitations,
<br />and a state of discipline good, yet not so, as to preclude hope
<br />of a still better. We believe that the school has well accom-
<br />plished its true aim as to the mental progress and general
<br />culture of the pupils. It is no diminution of the satisfaction
<br />we feel, in view of the results of the year, that these have
<br />been attained at an expense . very considerably within the
<br />amount appropriated to the school.
<br />At the beginning of the last term, Greenleaf's National
<br />and Common School Arithmetics were replaced by Eaton's ;
<br />one book thus taking the place of two. This is an advan-
<br />tage, aside from the superiority of the new book in many
<br />important points. We have also endeavored gradually to
<br />substitute Colburn's Intellectual Arithmetic for Greenleaf's.
<br />In regard to the first change, such arrangements were made
<br />with the publishers for supplying the book, at first, for a
<br />reduced price, that the introduction of the new book was an
<br />actual pecuniary gain to the pupils, taken as a whole :
<br />though, in some instances, it may have caused expense ; not,
<br />however, in any case, exceeding thirty-five cents. It is some-
<br />what difficult to understand the extreme sensitiveness of
<br />many people to the cost of a new school -book. A father would
<br />hardly rebuff a child who should desire a new book to read
<br />for entertainment, and refer him to the thumbed and worn-
<br />out volume already conned many times through. Yet when
<br />the School Committee, as in duty bound, make a change
<br />which they believe will contribute to the interest or effi-
<br />ciency of the schools, it is treated by some as almost a rob-
<br />bery, even though the whole expense is but a fraction of a
<br />dollar in any case ; while many simply buy one book, instead
<br />of buying another, at no additional expense.
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<br />By a recently enacted law, it is made the duty of the
<br />Committee to furnish books to the schools at cost ; and, in
<br />case of the introduction of a new book, at the expense of the
<br />town. The wisdom of the law is to be proved by actual
<br />experiment.
<br />Another law of greater importance devolves on the Super-
<br />intending Committee the entire duty of hiring teachers.
<br />This change avoids some obvious embarrassments which
<br />were incident to the former arrangement. It increases the
<br />responsibility as well as the labors of the Committee. It
<br />will be their interest and duty to pay due deference to the
<br />opinions and feelings of the inhabitants of the districts ;
<br />yet they cannot thus put off the responsibility that will
<br />rest on them — to employ and retain the teachers that
<br />are, in their opinion, best qualified to secure the essential
<br />aims of the schools. The Committee will need, and ear-
<br />nestly hope to receive, the generous and forbearing judg-
<br />ment and friendly co-operation of the people in laboring
<br />for the best interests of the schools. Not for their own
<br />sakes, but for the sake of the schools, they deprecate any
<br />attempt to draw these concerns into the field of local poli-
<br />tics ; the disposition to cherish into factitious magnitude
<br />the unfortunate incidents that may occur, to impede, rather
<br />than aid, the Committee in their work, and to impute to
<br />wilful fault the errors which are incidental to our fallible
<br />nature. There is no lack of interest in the schools on
<br />the part of the people : it is unfortunate that this interest
<br />sometimes runs into channels which promote prejudice, divi-
<br />sion, and unwholesome excitement, rather than the healthy
<br />and quiet progress of the schools. Every instance in which
<br />a hasty or unjust odium against a teacher, or others spe-
<br />cially concerned with the schools, is communicated from
<br />parents to the pupils, contributes to undermine the proper
<br />regard for rightful authority, on which alone a healthy sub-
<br />ordination can be based.
<br />On a general review of the year, we see much to be
<br />pleased with, little to censure ; and we look forward with
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