1860-1861 School Committee Report

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4 and CUTLER; and have both made obvious improvement. In the last-named, at the closing examination, the evidences of vigorous and thorough study were especially gratifying. Miss WHEAT, at the close of the last year, applied for a place where her pay would be increased ; and, a vacancy unexpectedly occurring in the Adams Grammar School, the place was offered to her, and accepted. The BOWDITCH SCHOOL, thus left vacant, was put in charge of Miss SUSAN E. SIMONDS, who taught it through the summer with such success as gives promise of future usefulness. The school was quite large, and made heavy demands on the strength of the teacher ; and she voluntarily withdrew at the end of the term. Miss EMILY CRAFTS has taught it through the winter, with a vigor and success that have 'won the general regard of the district, and entitle her to the approval of the Committee. Miss ALICE PHELPS was appointed to the HOWARD SCHOOL, left vacant by the resignation of Miss JOHNSON. After a few weeks, the state of her health obliged her to give up the school ; and her place was filled by Miss CLARA WINNING, who has maintained the school to the close of the year in a respectable state. The HANCOCK SCHOOL has continued highly satisfactory in both of its departments. We do not pronounce the schools faultless, but regard the merits of both the present teachers so great as to render a change very undesirable, and to make it a ground of great satisfaction that both will continue in the places so vigorously and conscientiously filled by them. The Primary Department of the ADAMS SCHOOL remained, till the fall vacation, in charge of its universally esteemed teacher, Miss NASH ; who then, to the regret of parents, pupils, and Committee, resigned. Miss MARY B. HOWE has 1 re 5 5 done, through the Winter Term, all that could be expected to sustain the high character of the school. Miss WHEAT took charge of the upper department at the beginning of the year, and sustained the labors of the place with commendable fidelity of effort, till she received an appointment in one of the Boston schools. Miss M. A. WINNING succeeded her ; and she too, in less than three weeks, was chosen as teacher in a Boston school. The school then was given to Mr. E. M. WHITE, a recent graduate of one of the State normal. schools. He has maintained a courteous and firm deport- ment through some unusually trying circumstances ; and leaves, at the end of the year, with the warm regard and respect of the Committee. To the care of the HIGH SCHOOL the Committee have devoted a larger share of their attention than usual, in the hope of bringing it to a better position for fully effecting the objects of such a school. They would express their • sense of the good fortune of the town in securing the services of the teacher, Mr. A. E. SCo•T; to whose energy and talents they consider the success of the school through the year chiefly due. THE COURSE OF STUDY. Owing to the uncertainty which for some years attended the existence of the school, no definite plan of study and classes had been arranged. The teacher and pupils had been allowed to form the classes and select the studies, with only general directions from the Committee. The evil effects of this want of system were obvious in interrupted studies, flagging attendance, and confused classes. Even with the best habits, the pupils accomplished far less than by a different course. It was determined at the beginning of the year to arrange the studies into a regular course, so that each term and year should have its well-defined amount of work to be done.