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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1853-1854 School Committee ReportREPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF LEXINGTON, FOR THE YEAR 1853-54. BOSTON: PRINTED B Y JOHN WILSON & SON, 22, SCHOOL STREET. 1854. REPORT 0 If THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE F LEXINGTON, FOR THE YEAR 1853-54. BOSTON: PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON & SON, 22, SCHOOL STREET. 1854. REPORT. �3Y IF there was wisdom in the charge which an illustrious and successful general enjoined upon his servant to remind him every day that he was mortal, the School Committee may be pardoned, perhaps, for again urging upon the citizens of this town the relinquishment of the present custom of autho- rizing the Prudential Committees to employ the teachers. This duty should be performed by the Superintending Committee. Our own experience in the instruction and superintendence of schools has fully and long since con- vinced us, that teachers can be more advantageously hired and judiciously selected by the general than by the local Committee. This view also is the one taken by the Secre- tary of the State Board of Education, the adoption of which he so eloquently, earnestly, and irresistibly urges in his Thirteenth and Fourteenth Reports, portions of which were republished in a pamphlet -form, and distributed to every family in the State, to which we beg leave to refer our read- ers, as it is not our intention to discuss this point at length. All would see at once, and acknowledge the folly of choosing a commander-in-chief to direct a military campaign, and yet of marching in small divisions, contrary to general orders, under the profound guidance of a corporal. But still many towns have not yet cast off the shackles of habit, nor fol- lowed the educational leader whom the State has honored with its confidence. Is it asked why the past and present members of the general Committee have not more zealously advocated, in open town -meeting and elsewhere, the suggestion of Dr. Sears ? Be assured it has not been because they have not heartily approved of this change, but because they have been reluctant to assume the additional labor and responsi- bility, or incur the suspicion of grasping at more authority. They neither covet more power, nor have they any wish or intention of stripping the districts of their natural rights, as some, in the way of argument against the change, have weakly hinted. Foreseeing, as they have, the obstacles which such a step would bring with it, they have sought, and do now solicit, this additional trust for their successors in office, rather than for themselves. Whenever it is tried, let, it have a fair trial, and three successive years to test its merits. But suppose, as a few have loudly advocated, the town should choose no general Committee, but should devolve the management of the schools entirely upon the local Com- mittees, — what would it gain ? Why, it would gain three members, at least, to the School Committee; for, as there are six districts in town, we should have six members on the Committee instead of three, and, to avoid a tie -vote, it might be necessary to have seven. True, say our oppo- nents, but would their duties and requirements be the same ? The law requires that no teacher shall be accepted on trust, not even if he has his pocket full of certificates and recom- mendations; but that he shall be personally examined by the approbating Committee, and, if approved by them, he shall be furnished with a certificate, before the Treasurer can lawfully advance any money for his services. Further- more, an annual, detailed report is required ; and, unless this part of the law is complied with, the town forfeits and loses its portion of the State school -fund, which, for the past year, amounts to $91.32. Well, then, in order to have the machinery of the schools go on, we must have some Committee ; and this Commit- tee, if there be but one, must perform the duties of general and local Committees. And, if they perform the duties, what matter is it whether we call them Superintending or r) Prudential Committees ? What is in a name ? There is just so much labor to be performed, whether it be done by one, three, five, or seven men ; and as to their being any more interest shown by having the teacher employed by some one in the district, as it has been asserted by some opposed to any change in the presentrmethod, we can only say, that, so far as our own observation goes, the Prudential Committees of this town and elsewhere have rarely or never visited the schools, except at the semi-annual examination; whereas the Superintending Committee visit them once in three or four weeks, and oftener if circumstances require it. If such, then, is a just representation and true criterion of the greater zeal of Prudential Committees, the districts, we think, can well afford to surrender their services for at least a few years. It is moreover said that Prudential Com- mittees once discharged all the duties pertaining to the schools in this town, with the aid of some one to examine the teachers. But, at that time, one tri -weekly stage -coach well accommodated all the travel from this place to Boston ; while now, three or four large-sized passenger -cars are often- times found to be a scanty provision. It was before the Board of Education was established, or Normal Schools were in existence. The Committee would recognize the liberality of the town in appropriating $50, to be expended by them for books of reference for the several districts; and, although the Committee were not unanimous in the choice of books selected, it is nevertheless believed that they will be of great convenience, and of essential aid to the teachers, for whom they are to be permanently kept. They consist of two copies of " 'Worcester's Universal Dictionary," for the two Primary Schools; and six copies of " M'Culloch's Geogra- phical Dictionary," and six copies of " Chambers's Informa- tion for the People," for the six Grammar Schools. Who is charged with the preservation of these books ? The local Committees. To whom do they report ? To nobody. If, then, a few years hence, these books are mutilated or missing, what redress has the town ? who or what is culpa- 4 'j ble ? The present wretched system, which so divides and shifts the responsibility of the Committees that they become a nullity. And, unless this door is closed, this last purchase will soon follow the maps, charts, globes, and district -school libraries, that have already vanished from the school -rooms. This town has been liberal for several years past in its appropriations for instruction, and even more so in its ex- penditures for commodious buildings. Within three years, four new and elegant school -houses have been erected at the expense of the town ; and one other, at least, is to be built the ensuing season. So, at the summer's close, five of the six districts will have been furnished with new and ample accommodations within three years, the sixth school- house having been repaired and provided with new furniture a little earlier. The increased and constantly increasing expenses of living will doubtless make it necessary another year, should the present organization be continued, to in- crease the appropriation about $200 ; or, from the better encouragement held out by other towns, none but the poorer teachers will be accessible to us. The schools in this town for the past year have had a full share of vigor and prosperity, take them together. The teacher selected at the commencement of the year for the Centre Grammar School, has given marked satisfaction to all, and has received tokens of approbation from his scho- lars, as did the teacher for the winter in the North-east District, who has too long been known as a teacher of the first qualities to need other comment here. The teacher of the Centre Primary, although she had the disadvantage of succeeding one of great worth and acceptation to the district, has given entire satisfaction. Her musical talents have, in the estimation of some of the Committee, much enhanced the value of her instruction. Music has been taught, to a less extent, in the South-east Primary, and some of the other schools. We trust instruction will ere long be given in music to all the schools, either by the several teachers, or, where they are not competent, by some one especially delegated. The school in the West District has been under the guidance of the same teacher for the past two years, and no school in this town has excelled it in dis- cipline, quietness., or progress. Some of her classes in men- tal arithmetic are entitled to especial commendation. The teachers of the South School labored hard, but gave less satisfaction than could have been wished. The house in the winter season was quite too filthy when visited by the Committee, and the school was deficient in good discipline through the year. The instruction of the North School was altogether satisfactory in the summer, as it always has been under the same teacher. The gentleman who took charge of this school at the commencement of the winter season became discouraged, and suddenly left it; after which it was successfully 'continued and terminated by another. The schools in the South-east District have been under the charge of their former efficient and acceptable teachers, and have progressed well. The Summer School in the North-east District was very acceptably taught; and the large and elegant house recently erected is a great source of comfort and convenience to the district. It is warmed by a furnace, which is undoubtedly the best way of warming a building of that kind. For the Committee, HOWLAND HOLMES, Secretary. IRA LELAND, School Com - CHARLES HUDSON, mittee of HOWLAND HOLMES, Lexington. (y TABULAR VIEW. DISTRICTS. TEACHERS. Months in Summer. Months in Winter. TOTAL. Whole Number of Scholars in Summer. CENTRE GRAMMAR . . Thomas H. Barnes . 6 4 10 48 CENTRE PRIMARY . . . Olive L. Weston . 6 34 94 66 SOUTH-EAST GRAMMAR . John D. Marston . 6A 3A 10 51 SOUTH-EAST PRIMARY . Susan E. Rice . . 6A 34 l0i 56 SOUTH ( Henry L. Parker . � Annie B. Cutler 4 34 8i 35 WEST Lucy A. Downing . 5A 44 10i 40 36 James Crocker* . . 20 40 0 4 NORTH James Parker 5 31 8A 38 Lucy B. Fiske NORTH-EAST Charles Tidd . i Julia A. Cook . . 5 3i 8i 35 30 40 43 46 26 25 26 30 Mr. Crocker commenced the Winter School. Whole Number of Scholars • in Winter. Average Attendance in Winter. Wages per Month in Sum- mer. Wages per Month in Win- ter. Scholars over Fifteen Years of Age in Summer. Scholars over Fifteen Years of Age in Winter. 47 39 $50 $50 3 7 49 36 21 21 0 0 60 53 50 50 2 5 52 43 20 20 0 1 40 36 18 35 0 2 38 29 22 24 1 2 36 30 20 40 0 4 42 33 20 40 0 4