HomeMy WebLinkAbout1851-1852 School Committee ReportREPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
LEXINGTON, HASS.,
1851 and 1852.
BOSTON:
BAZIN AND CHANDLER, PRINTERS, 37 CORNHILL,
1852.
1
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
L EXI NGTOY
HSS.,
1851 and 1852.
BOSTON:
BAZIN AND CHANDLER, PRINTERS, 37 CORN HILL,
1852.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COI.IMITTEE OF LEXINGTON,
1851-52.
AGREEABLE to a law of the State, that there shall be an an-
nual report made of the condition of the respective Schools, the
General Committee have attended to their duty, and would
present the statistical matter in the usual form, together with
such suggestions of their own, as they think demanded by the
present state of the system of Common School Education in
our midst.
For the sake of an arrangement which shall facilitate the
work of speaking more in detail respecting the different schools,
we pass them in review in the following order of their respec-
tive Districts.
NORTH-EAST DISTRICT.
Here the Summer School was taught by Miss E. W.
Locke ; and the progress made was very fair. But it is alto-
gether desirable that the progress should be much more than.
this in any of our Schools, where there is the same long term
of instruction—five and a -half months. Constant attendance
of the scholars for such a length of time, is the opinion of the
Committee, ought to secure the most marked and highly satis-
factory improvement in all the branches studied. Unless this
is secured there is reason to apprehend that the principal ob-
ject for which the school money is appropriated is not gained.
During the past winter the School has been taught by Mr.
James Crocker. While in operation, certain acts of insubor-
dination on the part of the larger boys, which resulted in their
final expulsion, led the Committee to fear lest its success would
be little more than passable. But on the examination, they
were happy to find, that, notwithstanding the difficulties to
which we have referred, the School had made a very commen-
dable degree of improvement, giving very satisfactory evidence
of thorough instruction.
NORTH DISTRICT.
For good depormtent and quietness, this School is invariably
to be commended. Though not the most advanced of your
Schools, still, it stands well in view of the age of the pupils.
And the Committee are happy to speak in praise of the labors
of Miss Lucy B. Fiske, who taught the last summer and has
been the teacher for a series of terms. To her earnest and af-
fectionate efforts, much of the good order and respectful ap-
pearance of the School is doubtless to be attributed.
Under the instruction of Mr. Elijah M. Hussey, the School
of the past winter made a fair degree of improvement.
WEST DISTRICT.
Miss Mary A. Hartwell had the charge of the School during
the summer. Her tact in government, perhaps, was not quite
up to her position ; although the Committee think that a fair
degree of co-operation on the part of the parents would have
enabled her to have maintained better order.
For the past winter Mr. Charles Tidd has been the teacher.
He seems to have a peculiar fitness for that locality, if we are
to judge from the length of time that he has been employed by
the District. He probably knows the condition and wants of
the School better than any other person ; and from the highly
satisfactory manner in which the last examination passed off,
we judge him to be better qualified to discharge the duties of
teacher to that School than any body else.
V
SOUTH DISTRICT.
No one of our Schools enjoyed a longer term of instruction
than this during the summer. Nor do the Committee think the
term to have been unprofitably protracted, in as much as they
do not perceive that there was any waste of time. Hitherto
the order -of the School had been notoriously bad, and, as a
necessary consequence, the progress was not what it might
have been. But under the effective government and judicious
training of Miss Maria A. Merriam, good order was restored
and a very commendable progress made.
Miss Ann Weston had charge of the School the past winter.
And we judge that the instruction for the most part was pretty
thorough, and a middling degree of success attended the
School.
While in the enjoyment of a somewhat expensive, and quite
commodious house, the Committee would suggest the necessity
of a little more vigilance on the part of the District, by way of
preventing any injury to the house that may arise from the
rough play of the larger scholars. Let the one who is guilty
of marring or defacing the rooms in any way, be ferreted out,
and no pains be spared to have ample amends promptly made
by his parents or friends.
EAST DISTRICT,
Embracing two departments -- the Primary and Grammar
— the School has enjoyed the last year the uninterrupted la-
bors of Mr. L. B. Hannaford and Miss Susan E. Rice. We
think we have here an example of the good effects of retaining
the same teachers for a series of terms. Providing, we would
have it understood, that as good satisfaction is given in all
cases as in the present one. With no intention of at all under-
rating the other Schools, much less of making an invidious
comparison, the Committee would say, that for proficiency in
the several branches of study, promptness and accuracy in re-
citations, and general excellence, this School stands at the head
6
7
of the list of Town Schools. Any one at all acquainted with
the condition of the several Schools, would not pronounce this
an unwarrantable statement, had he been present at the last
examination.
�►y
CENTRE DISTRICT.
Two departments are also embraced by this School. The
Primary, under the care of Miss Sarah E. Richardson, has
given, as the Committee think, entire satisfaction throughout
the District. Indeed, few Schools of that grade have so quiet
and respectful an appearance, and the Committee are unitedly
of the opinion that the lady who has had charge of the School
the last year, is peculiarly fitted for the station.
With regard to the Grammar School the Committee regret
that they cannot speak so encouragingly. A series of misfor-
tunes seem to have attended it the past year. Four different
Teachers have had charge of it in that time ; and, as a matter
of course, it has made no marked degree of progress. Added
to the disaster which befell the School soon after its commence-
ment, in the sickness of Mr. Whittemore, was his final resigna-
tion about the middle of the winter term. Stranger teachers
were of course introduced, who could not, from the nature of
the case, produce much alteration for the better during the
brief period of their labors. Although Mr. Raymond, who
kept the winter term out, evidently labored to improve the
School, and in the opinion of the Committee did accomplish
some good.
With all due deference to the District, the Committee would
suggest that there be less officious meddling with the interests
of the School, and more unanimity of feeling and active sym-
pathy in the cause of Education. Respectfully, and in behalf
of the School, they would ask for a heartier interest in the la-
bors of the teacher, which is not to be suppressed by the in-
dulgence craved for restless and malcontent children. With
earnestness they request that there may be no repetition of
what occurred just previous to the last examination — the with-
drawal of a large proportion of the scholars. Unless there is
a better reason given for it than we have yet heard, we hope
for the honor of the District, and the cause of education, the
thing will not be repeated. Let some such obstacles as there
are, be removed, and in view of the elegant and commodious
school -rooms, and the good material for scholars, we see not
why the Centre School should not take a position in the front
ranks of our Town Schools. Already we anticipate brighter
days for it, when, under the charge of an efficient teacher, sus-
tained by the united sympathy of the parents, this School shall
answer to the most flattering expectations.
Before closing this Report, the Committee would say, that,
in view of the liberal appropriation made by the Town for the
support of Schools, it becomes the inhabitants to use all due
vigilance to see that the intention of the thing is not defeated.
An equivalent for the money, as is well known, is characteris-
tic of us as a people. By our guilty indifference this may not
be obtained, when our alert habit of economy will cry out be-
cause of the shameful waste.
With regard to the choice of teachers, the Committee are
decidedly of the opinion, that the present method of entrusting
it to Prudential Committees is not the best. Accordingly, they
would recommend that, sooner or later, the thing be left as an
experiment, where the law leaves it — in the hands of the Gen-
eral Committee. They feel confident that it would remove
some of the more serious obstacles in the way of obtaining
good teachers.
With the sincerest desire that the cause of Common School
Education may be promoted by the wisest measures of the
Town, this report is respectfully submitted.
J. A. COOLIDGE,
For the Committee.
JOSIAH A. COOLIDGE, School Committee
IRA LELAND, of
FISKE BARRETT, Lexington.
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