1872-1873 School Committee Report

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School lots, all the fdnees are in a shabby condition. We do and losing far more than we can afford to lose every term from not ask you to make an appropriation to put all the school lots want of a philosophical apparatus. You do not desire a com- into presentable condition at once, but we do ask you to enable parison with surrounding towns or an essay on the uses of such us to continue the good work begun at the High School lot. an apparatus. Suffice it to say, we have none, we need it and ought to have it. Two thousand dollars, at least, is needed All must admit that the money used there has been well spent, � for anything like a complete apparatus, but this amount we do and that it has greatly improved the appearance of the street. But, as often happens; the money gave out before the work con not expect, and only ask you to make a beginning by an ap- templated was finished,-and we need a small additional amount propriation of five hundred dollars. . with which to plant trees and shrubs, and to finish the grading. These t are the more important items of repairs and improve- We think something should be done to take off the bare and meats needed. Of course there will be the usual number of uninviting look of the Adams School house and lot. At slight small repairs and the usual incidentals, for which we must esti- expense this lot might be made very attractive and a great ad- mate in the aggregate. dition to the beauty of the Bast Village. We especially call your ` ' It may be appropriate here to call your attention to the attention to the Howard School lot. Situated at the crossing of article in the warrant for the March meeting relative to the two-travelled thoroughfares in a large open space,unrelieved by Hancock Primary school-room. Those parents who have ever a single tree, and with a dilapidated fence on two sides of the lot, entered that room need-no explanation. We know that were it presents a forlorn. appearance. In addition to this a large it not a necessity no parent would allow a child to remain there corner of the lot is entirely cut off by the road which is used an hour, and we cannot hesitate longer to protest against con- as a short cut from Woburn to Lowell streets. tinuing our most important grade of school in such a room. No school-house in the town is in so conspicuous a position,none When the house was built, a room in the rear on the lower so bare, and no lot is so easily improved. We think a new fence - floor was left unfinished. This apartment extended across the should be built entirely.around it, a small amount of grading building and was just fifteen feet wide. In 1861 or 1862 the done, and shade-trees planted along the sides and within the schools in the other rooms becoming crowded, this room was inclosure. plastered, and a few of the youngest scholars were placed in it We will not repeat the usual argument of benefit resulting in chairs,forming a small primary school as an experiment. No to our scholars from these outside attractions, but venture to longer an experiment,but a necessity,it is continued in the same again urge the pecuniary argument, and assert that the town contracted quarters. By placing the outer rows so that there is can make no better investment than in continuing these im- no passage on the sides of the room, we have crowded into this provements of its school property. We called your attention smalls ace thirty desks and chairs. During a part of the year p y g 1 y ; R in our last report to the condition of the floor and to the rickety there have been forty scholars, and for a while those who were school furniture at the. High School house.. The floor has act:- y unfortunately tardy had slight chances for seats. There is no ually been worn out, not worn thin but clear through, and the place for a stove, there is no place for a teachers desk, and , furniture is unfit for use by the young ladies and the young hardly standing room for the teacher or committee. The pas- men of that school. We are of the opinion that we must have sages from the front to the rear of the room are three in num- at once a hard floor, and new desks and chairs for the lower ber and eighteen inches wide. We make room for a stove by room. taking out desks, but it is in fearful proximity to the `heads of Many things are demanded to furnish our High School with the scholars in the. rear of the room. We have tried all the facilities for instruction enjoyed in other towns, but we shall expedients at our command to ventilate the room, but it is im- only ask an .appropriation for one additional necessity, leaving possible. No window or door can be opened so near the heads other demands until another year. The school is suffering of the pupils. There is no room for a class to stand in recita-