HomeMy WebLinkAbout1860-1861 School Committee ReportREPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON.
FOR THE YEAR 1860-1.
BOSTON:
PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON,
22, SCHOOL STREET.
1861.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON.
FOR THE YEAR 1860-1.
BOSTON:
PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON,
22, SCHOOL STREET.
1861.
1
If
REPORT.
THE Committee are pleased to be able to say, that the state
of the schools during the year has been as good as in years
before. Always hoping for improvement, and seeing much
that is capable of it, they find it easier to devise and attempt
than to accomplish their plans. They feel it to be right still
to keep constantly advancing the character and increasing
the usefulness of the schools, believing such a purpose to be
equally accordant with the interests and the wishes of the
community. They believe that, in some respects, the year
shows an improvement.
One aim not hitherto effected has been attained the past
year; namely, the completion of a school -year of forty weeks
for all the schools in town. This end has been attained
without exceeding the appropriations allotted to the several
schools.
The Committee have acted on the principle of making as
few changes of teachers as practicable. At the beginning
of the year, several changes took place ; but, in each
instance, through the act of the teacher. It is felt to be
both wise and just to remove no teacher but for positive
and stringent reasons.
The FRANKLIN SCHOOL (south) and the WARREN SCHOOL
(west) have remained throughout the year in charge of
their experienced and approved teachers, Misses PARKER
1
4
and CUTLER; and have both made obvious improvement. In
the last-named, at the closing examination, the evidences of
vigorous and thorough study were especially gratifying.
Miss WHEAT, at the close of the last year, applied for a
place where her pay would be increased ; and, a vacancy
unexpectedly occurring in the Adams Grammar School, the
place was offered to her, and accepted. The BOWDITCH
SCHOOL, thus left vacant, was put in charge of Miss SUSAN
E. SIMONDS, who taught it through the summer with such
success as gives promise of future usefulness. The school
was quite large, and made heavy demands on the strength
of the teacher ; and she voluntarily withdrew at the end of
the term. Miss EMILY CRAFTS has taught it through the
winter, with a vigor and success that have 'won the general
regard of the district, and entitle her to the approval of the
Committee.
Miss ALICE PHELPS was appointed to the HOWARD SCHOOL,
left vacant by the resignation of Miss JOHNSON. After a few
weeks, the state of her health obliged her to give up the
school ; and her place was filled by Miss CLARA WINNING,
who has maintained the school to the close of the year in a
respectable state.
The HANCOCK SCHOOL has continued highly satisfactory
in both of its departments. We do not pronounce the
schools faultless, but regard the merits of both the present
teachers so great as to render a change very undesirable,
and to make it a ground of great satisfaction that both will
continue in the places so vigorously and conscientiously
filled by them.
The Primary Department of the ADAMS SCHOOL remained,
till the fall vacation, in charge of its universally esteemed
teacher, Miss NASH ; who then, to the regret of parents,
pupils, and Committee, resigned. Miss MARY B. HOWE has
1
re
5 5
done, through the Winter Term, all that could be expected
to sustain the high character of the school. Miss WHEAT
took charge of the upper department at the beginning of the
year, and sustained the labors of the place with commendable
fidelity of effort, till she received an appointment in one of
the Boston schools. Miss M. A. WINNING succeeded her ;
and she too, in less than three weeks, was chosen as teacher
in a Boston school. The school then was given to Mr.
E. M. WHITE, a recent graduate of one of the State normal.
schools. He has maintained a courteous and firm deport-
ment through some unusually trying circumstances ; and
leaves, at the end of the year, with the warm regard
and respect of the Committee.
To the care of the HIGH SCHOOL the Committee have
devoted a larger share of their attention than usual, in the
hope of bringing it to a better position for fully effecting
the objects of such a school. They would express their •
sense of the good fortune of the town in securing the services
of the teacher, Mr. A. E. SCo•T; to whose energy and talents
they consider the success of the school through the year
chiefly due.
THE COURSE OF STUDY.
Owing to the uncertainty which for some years attended
the existence of the school, no definite plan of study and
classes had been arranged. The teacher and pupils had
been allowed to form the classes and select the studies,
with only general directions from the Committee. The evil
effects of this want of system were obvious in interrupted
studies, flagging attendance, and confused classes. Even
with the best habits, the pupils accomplished far less than
by a different course. It was determined at the beginning
of the year to arrange the studies into a regular course, so
that each term and year should have its well-defined amount
of work to be done.
F
6
It was an essential part of this reform to diminish the
number of classes ; which would be effected by admitting
pupils but once a year, instead of twice or oftener, as be-
fore, — those entering at the beginning of each year to
form a class, and to be kept together. It was accordingly
announced at the beginning of the year, that no new class
would be admitted till the beginning of another year ; and,
to the class then admitted, a definite course of study for the
year was assigned. It was not found practicable to arrange
into exact classes the pupils previously belonging, on account
of the irregular way in which their studies had been pur-
sued ; but, as far as it was found possible, they were divided
into two classes, and a plan of studies for the year assigned
to each.
Thus was arranged a course of studies for three years.
Under this arrangement, each class, at the end of the
year, will find that year's work completed, and a definite
. work for the next ready for them. It is not assumed that
the course, as thus prepared, is perfect : changes that may
be suggested by the actual trial of it will be from time to
•
time made. But it is confidently expected that a course
not materially different will be finally adopted ; and the
members of the school, at the end of three years, will have
attained all that is usually included in a common -school
education, and be prepared to enter on a business career,
or to take charge of any of our ordinary public grammar
schools.
AN ADVANCED CLASS.
The number of pupils prepared for the High School is
such, that three of the annual classes will form as large a
school as can well be taught by one person. Thus, if the
classes average twenty each, three will make a school of
sixty pupils. Again : if it is assumed that each class should
have four studies, — and this, reading being included, is
not thought too many, — this makes twelve recitations each
7
day, besides occasional exercises; allowing quite little time
enough for classes of such size. Again : assuming that the
pupils will average thirteen years of age at entering, — and
this is less, rather than more, than the actual average, —
three years bring them to that age at which many are of
necessity withdrawn from school to engage in preparation
for the active work of life. These reasons led the Committee
to think three years the proper term for which to arrange a
regular course.
It is not their purpose or wish, however, to exclude any
pupils, who desire to pursue a longer course, from doing so,
under such limitations as may appear necessary. No better
plan has occurred to thq Committee than that of appointing
a suitable number of those thus continuing for a longer
time in the school, regular assistants in assigned branches ;
selecting those who have established the most exemplary
character for learning and deportment in the previous
course. If, as is likely to be the case, most of the mem-
bers of the advanced class are intending to teach•, no better
culture could be offered them than this exercise in giving
instruction. Even if they do not expect to be teachers, it
still remains true, that in no other way so well as by
this could they give certainty and clearness to their own
knowledge. Such arrangements will be made as will insure
the supervision of the principal over the studies of the class
thus intrusted in part to the assistant pupils.
It has not been thought best to mark out a strictly defined
course of study for the advanced class, but to leave it to the
discretion of teacher and pupils, either to go on in studies
previously begun, or to select from other branches usually
included in an academic education.
STANDARD OF ADMISSION.
One of the best evidences of the animating influence
of the High School upon the other schools is seen in the
increasing number and decreasing age of the classes annually
8
applying for admission, and found on examination to be well
prepared. The class admitted a year ago numbered twenty,
and was more numerous than those of previous years.
Tliis year, thirty presented themselves ; and, after a careful
examination, twenty-four were admitted. At the time of
writing, it is known that five pupils, who for various reasons
were not present at the regular examination, wish to be
examined for admission. Allowing the same proportion
of these to be found prepared, the class of new pupils will
number twenty-eight, — more than the whole number in the
High School three years and a half ago. This is not due
to any lowering of the standard of admission : but it indi-
cates clearly the fact, that the prosp ct of admission to the
Higlr School operates as a stimulus upon the pupils of
the other schools ; and as clearly it suggests the propriety,
and even necessity, of advancing somewhat the standard
of admission. It is thought desirable, that those entering
the High School should, on the average, be at least in thgir
fourteenth' year.
Under these circumstances, the Committee have decided
to require applicants hereafter to be examined as far
as to " Involution " in Eaton's Arithmetic ; and to make, as
nearly as possible, an equal advance in the requirements
-in Geography and Grammar, with the addition, probably,
of some knowledge of the history of our own country.
It is not improbable that still farther advances will be
made heroafter, as circumstances may show it to be advisa-
ble, until the Grammar -school course shall cover the whole
of Arithmetic, and such attainments in other respects as
will constitute a complete elementary education.
RELATION TO THE OTHER SCHOOLS.
Has the High School had a depressing influence on the
other schools ? ghat its influence has been as to industry
and interest in the preparatory studies, the facts already
stated show. Up to a certain point, there is no doubt it
1.
9
has had the 'effect of stimulating the pupils of the other
schools to greater diligence, and, consequently, to more
rapid progress. On the other hand, it has diminished the
numbers in the other schools who are engaged in the higher
branches. The very purpose of the High School is to gather
the most advanced pupils from their little groups of two,
three, or more, in the several schools ; and, by placing them
together, to give them a better opportunity to pursue their
advanced studies. That no injustice has been done, is
evident from the simple fact, that no pupils have ever been
compelled to enter the High School by the authority of the
Committee : on the contrary, the difficulty has been to per-
suade them to stay in the grammar schools until thoroughly
fitted. Parents have exercised their right of selecting,
among the schools supported by the town, that one where
they thought their children would enjoy the best opportuni-
ties. It would surely be a strange argument to bring against
the High School, that it has so perfectly accomplished the
end for which it was established ; but it is evident, that,
if the more advanced pupils prefer to be in the High School,
they cannot at the same time be in the grammar schools.
It is, now as always, for the parents to decide whether they
will continue their children at the High School, or distribute
them among the different schools, either to gratify a feeling
of local pride or for other reasons.
As has been observed, the Committee have not prevented
any pupils from remaining in the grammar schools. They
have their own perfectly decided views as to what is expe-
dient both for individuals and for the town ; namely, that
all pupils should enter the High School as soon as their
acquirements are sufficient. They believe, that, to have this,
the uniform practice would subserve the real interests of the
grammar schools, by giving a definite aim to their studies.
They have deferred to the feelings of those, who, because
of their distance from the Town Hall or for other reasons,
have preferred to retain their children in the grammar
schools ; but it is evident that every pupil thus using the
2
1
10
time of the grammar- school teacher, while the town is
providing a school expressly for instruction in the advanced
branches, is asserting a personal right at the expense of the
general good. They do not deny or forget the disadvantage
under which those rest who live at a great distance from the
school. But this disadvantage is not peculiar to their rela-
tion to the school : it holds of the church, of the post -office,
of the store, of the town -hall. The same reasoning which
objects to the distance of the High School, would, with equal
reason, complain of the other public conveniences named ;
and finally, carried into the district, would set those at a
distance against those near the schoolhouse, and end by
requiring a post -office, church, store, and school at each
man's door.
The Committee disavow any preference, on their part,
of one school to another. They regard all alike, but each
in its own place, and all together as forming a system, in
which the best results will be attained by giving to each
member its own office and range.
THE SCHOOLROOM.
The use of the larger room in the Town Hall throughout
the year has afforded the school such accommodations as
meet all essential wants. But there are inconveniences
attending this arrangement. The school is interrupted,
two or more days, each time a town -meeting is held in
term -time. The citizens of the town are precluded from
the use of the hall for various purposes, — lectures, &c.
The room is not only larger than is necessary, but is not
easily kept warm in winter. There is need of a recitation -
room ; and the room above has been used for this purpose,
and will be wanted again : this interferes with the use of
that room by the selectmen and other town -officers. These
considerations suggest the question of making a permanent
provision for the school. The Committee do not make any
recommendation. To represent their own views, they name
11
the subject, and remark that two courses are still open for
discussion : one, to build or prepare suitable rooms for the
school as it now is ; the other, to divide the school, and
establish two — one in each village — as nearly of the same
character as the altered form will permit.
THE BOOK -AGENCY.
To correct possible misapprehensions, it is stated that the
school -books have been furnished by the Agent, according to
the present requirements of the law, at wholesale price. No
one is compelled to buy of the Agent : no business -roan is
forbidden by the law to keep and sell school -books. The
effect of the law is simply to give all a chance to buy them
at the wholesale price ; that is, about twenty per cent less
than the usual retailing rates. The Report of the Book -agent
is appended.
The Committee have felt a great desire to discharge their
duty in relation to the employment of teachers, so as to
meet the reasonable expectations of the town, and the
wishes of the sections respectively concerned. This duty
is one involving much care and pains -taking, and no small
expenditure of time and patience, — not to speak of a
considerable postage -expense and some travelling. No
special charge has at any time been made for this recent
addition to their labors. No charge for horse -hire has been
made, either for ordinary visits or for the legally specified
examinations. Their horses do not enjoy even the moderate
favor of shelter under a shed, though required to stand for
hours in cold, stormy, or hot weather, and in exposed places ;
but, as the sufferers themselves make no complaint, the
owners are silent also.
Conscious of imperfections, but ever claiming to be actu-
12 13
ated by a good intent ; willing that their course should be
freely criticized, but asking for a fair and considerate judg-
ment, — they commend the schools to the kindly regards
of all concerned, and rest content in seeing the wants of the
rising generation so well provided for.
Respectfully submitted.
L. J. LIVERMORE.
HOWLAND HOLMES.
CALEB STETSON.
•
gr
REPORT OF BOOK–AGENCY.
Book -Agency to Town of Lexington, Dr.
To Cash, balance on hand, April 1, 1860 . . . . $28.97
„ Amount of Books 34 31 1,
- $63.28
Cr.
By Books furnished indigent children
Books furnished teachers' desks .
„ Amount of Books on hand
•
•
„ Cash in hands of agency for year ensuing
. . $8.54
7.92
22 29
. . 24.53
- $63.28
The Book -agency has been conducted by the Secretary of the
Board, whose compensation has been the discount, amounting to
$8.75, which has been allowed him for paying for the books within
thirty days after the bills were drawn.
H. HOLMES, Agent.
1
TABULAR VIEW.
NAMES OF SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
ti
8
top,5
O
Z
26
27
27
27
27
26
26
26
a
m
r •5
Z
16
15
15
15
15
14.6
14
15
14
o
a
A
.ET)
y
E
ti
1
- 8
p'
Z•
6
V
d
-
i c..
oc;
-F.i
``"
O
•5.
Z..
c;
M
d
c.
P.
n
ro
1g
` Pi
: o
P..2
¢ Ii
L7
O vs
5 H
HIGH SCHOOL . . .
HANCOCK GRAMMAR
HANCOCK PRIMARY .
ADAMS GRAMMAR .
ADAMS PRIMARY .
BOWDITCH . , , ,{
WARREN
HOWARD
FRANKLIN . . .
Augustus E. Scott ...
Lucretia M. Hoyt ...
Sabra A. Russell... .
Victoria G. Wheat ..
Martha A. Winning . . 3.
Elisha M. White . .
FIlen L. Nash }
Mary B. Howe
Emily E.. Simonds ..}{26
CCrafts .
Isabella Cutler
1 Alara Wlice D. inning Phelps • •
C
Frances M. Parker . .
42
42
42
42
42
40.6
40
41
40
48
35
60
44
53
48
28
35
29
47
30+
42+
35+
47
38 -F
21+
30
22+
45
40
52
56
51
43
33
39
27
44
35+
38+
45+
43+
32+
26+
33
20+
$71.42_
32.00
24.00
28.00
36.00
j 24.00 t
1 20.00 J
2024.00 J.00 t
24.00
20.00
24.00
$ 750.00
336.00
252.00*
334.30
237.00
217.00
240.00
205.00
240.00
* Money actually paid, $245.00.
1