1865-1866 School Committee Report

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The GRAMMAR department remained in charge of Miss STET- It should be kept in mind,in justice to the teachers,that the SON till the end of the fall term. It continued to show the great change wrought within a few years, in the material of traits before recorded of it,—thoroughness in instruction, and - which this and some of the other schools are largely composed, a very creditable style of scholarship, with general good order renders it impracticable to attain so neat and orderly a style in the room. At the close of the fall term, Miss Stetson ' of school performances as might be had otherwise. On the resigned her place. other hand,it is equally true that the real value of the schools For more than a year, as was indicated in our last Annual to the whole community is perhaps. greater than ever before, Report, there had been a deficiency in what may be called out- M inasmuch as they meet a more entire need in the children of door discipline,extending through the whole school,—.a defect foreign birth or parentage. For obvious reasons, there is a manifested in rude and disrespectful manners to passers-by; much more irregular attendance among children of this class in an inclination to trespass on the premises of those living than others, which alone would seriously impair the results in near the schoolhouse; as well as in acts and words of impro- scholarship. No great improvement in this respect is to be priety and incivility among the pupils themselves, and in rela- looked for at once; 'but we earnestly urge on all parents the tion to the school premises. The feeling induced by this evil importance of regular attendance at school,and the consequent had taken form in a petition addressed to the Committee improvement of the opportunities offered their children for a shortly before the end of the fall term, setting forth the evils respectable education, as of more value finally than any tem- complained of, including some faults of inside discipline; and porary gain from the use of their time in labor. requesting their attention to them, and to the best means of Of the schools in the East Village, we need to say but few cure. The Committee were holding the subject in serious con- words. They have both been in admirable condition through sideration; when Miss Stetson's resignation brought it before the year. As to good order in the schoolroom and diligent them in a new form. It was decided, either to seek for a. attention to study and thoroughness in the instruction, we female teacher of ample experience,_and of such abilities as think that these schools can, each in its kind, be considered at would make it probable she would be able to act firmly upon - present very near the ideal standard. In the Grammar de- the whole school, or to employ a man. Public notice was partment we note with gratification the nearest approach to given in accordance with these views; and,from the candidates a that freedom from text-book routine which we desire to see in who offered, Mr. FRANK G. STAPLES, of Saco,Me.,was selected. ! all the schools, and especially in the higher grades and classes. He was advised fully of the points to which it was desired he In some appearances in entries, and outside of and about should give particular attention. In the general moral state of the schoolhouse, there are indications that a'higher standard the school, we believe a favorable change .took place. The of neatness and propriety may be still sought for with advan- results of Mr. Staples's work in his own department were fair, tage even here. A perfectly good school shows its quality to —not altogether such as were hoped for,,but perhaps as good the outmost limits of the school premises. as under the circumstances could be reasonably expected. We - The HIGH SCHOOL, at the close of the spring term, lost its look for further improvement; and shall not feel satisfied till valued teacher,whose efforts had sustained and improved it for this school, as a whole and.in its several departments, is more five years. Our estimate of the character and value of Mr. nearly what all wise friends of the young must desire to see SCOTT's work has appeared in the successive Reports of the last in such an institution. f