1867-1868 School Committee Report

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.� 7 6 did not diminish during the first and second"'terms of the last THE HANCOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL. year. One instance, occurring near the end of the fall term., Teacher.—Miss EMMA J. SPAULDiNG. merited some criticism. t Mr. Bonney, who is a gentleman of character and gave'evi- At the beginning of the year we advertised for a teacher, and deuce of ample scholarship and other qualifications, was cautioned examined eleven applicants, from whom we selected Miss Spauld- against permitting so much license as had been usual during ing, a graduate of the State Normal School at Framingham, and school hours, and endeavored to cheek it. Many of the pupils well qualified to instruct far beyond the limits reached in this � were prone to resent this invasion of their wonted liberties:. The school. She readily brought her pupils into an orderly condi- nice distinctions which are sometimes made between whispering tion, and has pursued her work throughout the year with,a good to another pupil and repeating audibly what is unavoidably heard measure of success. The examination exercises at the end of by him, were here drawn in framing answers to the teacher's the year were not, perhaps, as good as the character of the investigations. He in some instances conceived that the pupils school would have led us to expect. Another year of the same had denied the truth, and told them so. Forgetting that their training will doubtless make the school as zealous and prosper- conduct had been such as to lead to the suspicion, some of them ous as the most sanguine mind could hope. took serious offence. Their willing compliance with the teacher's reasonable regulations would, we think, have saved them from this disagreeable experience. One of us brought this view of THE HANCOCK GRAMMAR 'SCHOOL. the case-to the notice of the school late in the year. Probably Teachers.—Mr. FRANK G. STAPLES, (re-appointed March, 1867;) Mr. this kind of difficulty is at an end. OTIS L. BoxNEY. This school needs the earnest effort of all concerned in its Mr. Staples taught during the spring and summer terms. A r welfare, to bring it up from its present position to a consider- the end of the fall term he tendered his resignation, stating that \ ably, higher level of activity and acquirement, he was not satisfied with the salary. We accepted his resigna- tion, and advertised for a new teacher. From six candidates examined, we selected Mr. Bonney, who taught the whole of the winter term, completing the year. The result of Mr. THE ADAMS PRIMARY SCHOOL. Staples' teaching may be stated as follows : The pupils read Teacher.—Miss MARY B. HowE, (re-appointed March, 1867.) understandingly, and advanced over a goodly number of pages Miss Howe has taught and governed this school' with her of the text-books,—the apter of them acquiring knowledge well, wonted success. (See late Reports.) We believe the pupils particularly in arithmetic. On the other hand, the dull and _ have studied zealously and learned rapidly. They appear to indolent were not brought forward satisfactorily. The recita- appreciate the favorable influences under which they are here !i tions were not always a fair test of study and scholarship, because developing their intellects. Probably the opinions and influence r a considerable liberty of communication was allowed, even in of their parents have much to do with this state of feeling. Con- ' classes on the floor; and there was a general want of dignified tentment, promptness, and a generous desire to excel, could propriety in the conduct of the pupils. Most -of these seemed a hardly be more universal in any school. A genuine progress is contented enough, because (as it would seem) so free at all times the result. We have observed in the performances of the ad- to act 'their own pleasure. We do not;%upon the whole, think ' vaned arithmetic class remarkable instances of clear reasoning, the wants of a good school were fully supplied. The tendency, - combined with ease of manner and facility of expression. amid all this laxity, to occasional harsh treatment of the pupils, R' Younger classes have improved the talents committed to them. . t