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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1870-1871 School Committee Report R E P O R T OF THE SCROOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON. FOIE THE YEAR 1870-71. BOSTON: PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN � SON, 131 CONGRESS STREET. 1871 . REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE t OF THE ;i q s TOWN OF LEXINGTON. FOR THE YEAR 1870-71. i C' BOSTON: PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN & SON, 131 CONGRESS STREET. 1871 . • f • i TO THE INHABITANTS OF LEgINGTQN: According to the .requirements of the General Statutes of Massachusetts, the undersigned herewith submit the Annual REPORT . THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL. 1 d Teacher.—Miss ELLEN M. UNDERWOOD, (re-appointed March, 1870.) This school continues to be the smallest in town, having only about twenty names on the Register; but it is gratifying to know that the few who avail themselves of the advantages here, have made unusual progress during the last year. Under the gentle but firm management of the teacher, the appearance of the school has very much improved; the habits of the scholars are more orderly and studious ; and the recitations show that the principles as well as the words of the lesson have been taught. The exercises in reading and spelling have been particularly good. At the last examination several creditable compositions were read. A little ' singing has been introduced with encouraging results. Four mem- bers of this school have been neither absent nor tardy throughout the year. THE WARREN SCHOOL. Teacher.—Miss M. E. RussELL, (re-appointed March, 1870.) In this district the attendance has increased during the year so that the seats are now nearly all filled. Several of the pupils are of a sufficient age to be further advanced in their studies, but irregular attendance and ill-health, and, in some cases, a want of 4 • .5 aptitude have kept them back. The teacher has devoted herself to the interests of the school, and the result of her influence is THE HOWARD SCHOOL. seen as much in the daily exercises as at any formal examination. Teacher.—Miss GLARk E... BACON, (re-appointed March, 1870.) The children are learning to adopt a better tone of voice in the The appearance of this school continues very much as it has school room than they formerly had, though•some of them still 'tip been for the last two or three years. It has been rather difficult fail to open their mouths,sufficiently when reciting'; this is a fault to carry any class steadily forward, owing to the frequent absences, quite common in most of ,the schools. Some of the classes in and the lack of hearty interest in study,which many of the scholars arithmetic did not appear to get on as rapidly as they might. . seem to manifest. During the extremely cold weather,it was difficult to keep the If parents would endeavor to co-operate with the teacher, and room sufficiently warm, and consequently a second stove was placed inquire often and minutely concerning the progress of their chil- in•the school. dren at school, the benefit would doubtless soon appear in an The ground in front of the building was newly graded in the improved attendance and in more systematic habits of study. Fall. The pupils still fail to speak distinctly in this, as in some of the A portion of the school premises was maliciously injured by other districts. During the coming year more attention will be certain persons, who gained for themselves no credit by such dis- given to elocution. honorable and criminal conduct. The girls have enjoyed singing with .their teacher, as a school exercise,but it was noticed at the examination that very few of the boys participated. We earnestly wish this important part of edu- THE BOWDITCH SCHOOL. } cation might receive more general attention both in our schools Teachers,Miss M.A. J,&cgsoN, (re-appointed March, 1870,)Miss SARAH and in our families. E. STURTEVANT. At the Fall examination four scholars were absent without excuse. During the first term this school was under the care of Miss Jackson, and made very commendable progress. Near the close of the Summer vacation Miss Jackson informed the Committee THE HANCOCK SUB-PRIMARY SCHOOL. that the state of her health would prevent here from taking charge Teacher.—Miss FLORENCE W. DAvis, (re-appointed March, 1870.) of the school -at. the beginning of the Fall term. Under these The little ones have here been taught the first rudiments of know- circumstances Miss Sturtevant was appointed as a temporary sqb- ledge, beginning with the alphabet. The new Primer, of the stitute. Miss Sturtevant continued to teach through the term with National Series, with its numerous and attractive illustrations, has evident ability and success. been successfully used. The-teacher has given the children fre- After Thanksgiving Miss Jackson resumed her labors, and ," y quent instruction in singing, drawing and printing, by which means remained with the school to the close of the year. Her methods , the simple order of study has been agreeably and profitably varied. of instruction seem to be adapted more and more to the wants of The general appearance of the school, considering the age of s the school. The children appear to enjoy their work; and, though the pupils,has been .quite satisfactory. - their progress had not been remarkable, they have shown fair evi- dence of improvement in the various branches of study. THE HANCOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL. Owing to the insufficiency of the heating apparatus, an additional Teacher.—Mrs. E. B. LANE.. stove has been placed here, and this, with the contemplated im- provement in the basement, will make the school-house thoroughly A vacancy having occurred in this school at the close of the previous ear, the position was given to Mrs. Lane; a teacher of comfortable. � P Y � p g . r 'considerable experience,and especially recommended by the.School Board of Gloucester. The good progress which the school has THE HANCOCK GRAMMAR SCHOOL. made during the.year has justified the choice of the Committee. Teacher.—Mr. E. H. TOWER, (re-appointed March, 1870.) The new teacher has brought to her work a combination of quali- The vyork in this school has been continued in the usual manner, ties by which she has been able to manage the school with ease, Act with very little change requiring special notice. The mode of and to win the esteem and confidence both of pupils and of their teaching here adopted has become familiar to the people of the parents. A , district, and they feel much satisfaction in having their children in Being relieved of the duty of teaching the very youngest, she the hands of a teacher in whom they have confidence. has the important task of assisting her scholars to form correct The Tabular view shows that the average attendance has been habits of study in the fundamental branches which are afterwards lower here than in any other school, except the Sub-Primary. It continued in the grammar school. . Here, then, the child is to be is greatly to be regretted that the pupils are allowed to be so irregu- carefully directed, or the subsequent work will be sure to suffer; lar; the studies.pursued here are of such importance, both in their here the principles, as well as the words of the text-book are to be relative bearing and practical usefulness, that the education of.any made plain; and the young, inquisitive mind is here to be stimu- scholar is greatly damaged by such frequent absences. The sum- lated, as well as satisfied, in its reasonable inquiries. This is also mer term closed before the first of July (which was certainly as to be regarded N a school of manners; and the kind, exemplary early as could be desired,) and yet often toward the end of that bearing of a faithful teacher will do much, in connection with term, and even at the examination, there were only four boys specific instruction, to secure an orderly; obedient and industrious present. No teacher can be expected to succeed well with such school. The difficulty, so commonly met with, in public schools, 4. a serious break in his classes; and it is earnestly hoped that, in of harmonizing diverse elements so as to make the same general view of the long summer vacation, parents will allow their chil- methods of instruction apply to all, has been, in a measure, over- dren the privilege of continuing at their studies to the very end of come here through the ability and patience of the teacher. the term. It is one of the most discouraging aspects in any mixed school to see how some dull and ill-mannered pupils will check the pro THE ADAMS PRIMARY SCHOOL. gress and affect the habits of their school-mates ; on the other hand, Teacher,—Miss MARY B. HowR, (re-appointed March, 1870.) it has been observed here that those children who have been well- -In neatness and general good conduct this school yields to none bred at home,have been able by their example and influence power- on our list. The pupils seem to reciprocate the good feeling fully to sustain the teacher in her,plans for the highest improve- which their teacher manifests towards them. This mutual relation ment of the whole school. of confidence and love cannot fail to produce the happiest results Several boys have caused much trouble by their frequent and inexcusable absences; some of them have found a more congenial in the. condition and growth of the school. The instruction, place of study at the stable and depot, or in lounging around the beginning with the very youngest, has been thorough'and impartial; stores, where their only business seems to be to put themselves in the simple rudiments of knowledge have been unfolded to those the way of other people. If parents are not able to prevent such who have here opened their first school-book, and who, in a irregular habits, the Committee will be under the necessity of peculiar degree, mast depend upon the kindly aid and patient reporting these offenders to the proper authorities, who will take forbearance t' their teacher. them into custody. In our last Report, we noticed that the amount of work accom- plished.in this school was not as much�as it might be. Continued observation has served to confirm this impression, e:g. there were classes in Arithmetic and Geography, of more.than average ability, iL E that learned only.eight small pages in a term of fourteen weeks, public interest. All the school are expected to say what they while in corresponding classes in several of the other schools, two know about it, and then the teacher adds such information as may really O d de . One who rea or three times as much was learned with nearly, if not ,quite, as be nee y loves to impart t instruction will find such exercises full of pleasure and profit to all who participate in much accuracy. . It is generally conceded that the youthful mind needs the stimulus of novelty and variety, such as is afforded by them; and the child who has thus learned to think rapidly, and to continued progress in .study; and if we confine the. attention describe common objects, will always find ample opportunity for within very narrow limits, we check, rather than develope, the the exercise of such a faculty, whatever may be his future employ- faculties of the mind. However desirable great accuracy and ment. precision may be in a school, it is sometimes attained at too great a cost; for when whole weeks are spent on a single page or two, it would seem that reasonable progress had been sacrificed to excess- THE HIGH SCHOOL. ive thoroughness; and the choice here need not, and does not, lie Principal.—Mr.NATHANIEL CHILDB, (re-appointed March, 1870.) between learning a little well, and a good deal poorly, but there is surely a proper mean, a iQ modus in rebus" which it is desirable Assistant.—Miss E. W. STETSON, (re-appointed March, 1870.) to attain. The attendance at this school has been excellent throughout the We are glad to observe how much the school is benefitted by year. Doubtless the age of the pupils and the one session system the cordial sympathy and support which the teacher receives from have contributed much to secure it. Mr. Childs has given much. the citizens of this district, as expressed by their frequent visits at time and thought to the interests of the school. Identifying him- ' the school. self with his-pupils as much as possible, he has led them on by familiar and simple methods through the several studies under his charge. In rhetoric, spelling and music, unusual progress has THE ADAMS GRAMMAR SCHOOL. been made. Miss Stetson has continued to discharge the duties of her depart- Teaeher.—Mr. SrzAS PEABODY, (re-appointed March, 1870.) ment with general acceptance; and by her courteous bearing and This school has, next to the High School, the best average readiness to assist, she has greatly helped to improve the condition + attendance in the record for the year, as will be seen by reference of the school. 'to the Tabular view. The teacher has been uuweariedly devoted The advanced grade and'increased variety.of studies required to his work,often giving time out of school hours to aid his pupils here must, of necessity, render the work Of the teachers peculiarly in their lessons. arduous. . It is no light task faithfully to present to young and Considerable attention has been given to map-drawing with earnest minds any of the principles and relations of intellectual and excellent, result's. Original compositions have been frequently scientific truth; and the demand at the present -day for condensed written, upon familiar themes, by which the young writers have yet lucid statements of all the results of scholarly research, greatly been encouraged to express their own thoughts in correct and increases the labor of those who undertake the instruction of a appropriate language, and a habit is thus formed which will be of school which is designed to furnish a liberal and accomplished inestimable value in after life. We wish this exercise might education. become more general in all the schools. Another commendable Although to some persons,not familiar with the branches taught, feature here is the occasional introduction of general exercises, in four years may seem a long time to spend in a High School, yet which nearly all the school can take part, such e. q. as rapid ques- y when it is remembered that nearly twenty different studies are pur- tioning in mental arithmetic, or a familiar conversation upon some sued, and that not one of them can well be omitted in a compre- well-known subject; as an article of commerce or a question of 2 10 11 hensive school system, it will be conceded that the prescribed An interesting Exhibition was held at the close of the school course, so far from including too much, really does not include year, which was attended by the friends of the school in such num- enough to satisfy the demands of all. The citizens of Lexington bers that the hall was quite too small to accommodate them. The have .provided generously for the training and culture of their chil graduating class.have completed the prescribed course of study with dren and youth; and especially in this school is every advantage much credit. offered to those who desire to become acquainted with the studies which belong to an academic course. Diplomas were presented to .. The number of pupils who enter this•school is perhaps suffici- FRANCEs AMANDA HUTCHMON, ently large, considering the population of the place; but it is T6ANNA HARRIET PAGE, greatly to' be regretted that so many are.willing to leave ;at any GERTRUDE PIERCE, stage in the course,thus depriving themselves of their only remain- EMMA EvA HowE WRIGHT, ing opportunity of study, and, at the same time, breaking up their ELLA ADELIA STONE, class, which, in some instances, is reduced from fifteen or more to HiRAM RoBERTS MILLS, two or three. Any school must suffer from such a disintegrating 'HERBERT AIwswoRTH TUTTLE, process as this. The hearty interest which the members of a class CHARLOTTE EvA BACON,(partial course.) naturally feel in one another is thus destroyed, the studies become less attractive, and the esprit.du corps is broken. The evil is not peculiar to this town. All New England and America suffers from the same cause. Much of the superficial ,� 1 knowledge with which,as a people,we are justly charged,is owing to that restless impatience of school life, and that unwillingness to keep the mind upon any subject long enough to master it, which GENERAL REMARKS.. characterize even the best of our literary institutions. - The school buildings are in a tolerably good condition. Some The haste to find manual. employment or an eligible mercantile repairs and improvements will doubtless be made during the next situation has led many a young man to regret, when it was too late, year, for which a.special appropriation has been made by the town. that he had not properly qualified himself, by mental discipline red. Let During the last year new blackboards, furnished by the American and thorough knowledge, for the position to which he as Tablet Company, were placed in most of the school-houses ; eight the remedy be applied where it belongs; and let our promising new globes were also purchased at an expense of $110, and it is and ambitious youth strive,even with personal sacrifice,if need be, to furnish themselves with that broad and liberal.culture which the hoped that the teachers will make frequent use of these in connec- age increasingly demands. I tion with the Geography lessons, especially in the younger classes. In such a study much can be done to supplement and illustrate A few new text-books have been tried during the year, not, however,with such success as to warrant their permanent introduc- the text-book, so that the terms and definitions, which are often tion. There have been classes in,Greek,and in English literature. unintelligible to children, may be fully explained. •A new wall-map of the United States has also been put in most Various general exercises have been conducted on Fridays with of the schools. This should be brought at once into daily use; advantageous results. The removal of the Town business from every scholar should be familiar, not only with the old historic the building used by the High School will be a decided advantage, sections of our country, but also with the recent territorial divi- as no further interruptions in the regular work of the school will be likely to occur. sions, with the new and thriving centres of population at the West,and with those great railway lines which are destined in a ti . - 12 13 short time to plant a new .civilization between the waters of the And something more than a good appearance will be gained by Missouri and the Pacific. this; an improved state of health will also be seen. Teachers need to be continually informing themselves of these It is no small matter to secure a good physical development, and changes, in order that they may give correct and fresh information it is well known that the foundation for many a disease is laid at to,their pupils, and it would be well often to bring to the notice '` school through the neglect of proper rules of health. Children of our school children important intelligence, concerning different should be taught that an erect position, whether in sitting, standing countries, to.he found in the newspaper. The events and locali- ^* or walking, is necessary to a free and vigorous expansion of the ties of the late war in Europe, might be chosen .as themes .for lungs, and teachers should always attend scrupulously to the matter composition, or as topics for brief familiar remarks suitable for a of ventilation. Much of the dullness of schoolchildren is owing weekly exercise, to the impure air which they are obliged to breathe. And it ought The ,History of the United States has been studied in our not to be beneath the attention of any teacher to give his pupils Grammar schools,,and needs still further attention. (whether they have any school-book on the subject or not) sound The National Series of Readers (Parker and Watson), was intro- advice concerning such common-place matters as dress, diet, sleep, duced at the beginning of the. year, and has given general satis- cleanliness, &c. faction., No book can be of greater service to the teacher than a Some of our citizens have rightfully complained .of the habits well-arranged Reader, when judiciously used. It answers many of children when out of school; they sometimes go along the purposes, being at once a reading and spelling book, a manual of street, with a pencil, or stick, scratching the fences, and otherwise history and biography, a collection of prose and poetry, a treatise mutilating private property ; they often get together at'the railroad on punctuation and elocution, and a store-house of miscellaneous y. + station, the very last place that a child should enter without a information such as every one ought to possess. 'It might also guardian. Officers of the road state that school boys have even furnish a sufficient guide for vocal exercises, such as we should be 'amused themselves, at the imminent risk of their lives; by running glad to see practiced daily in every school. Some of our children back and forth across the track to see which could best dodge the seem never to have learned to open their mouths in speaking,•' approaching train. Now- this is a most serious matter, and it they mumble their words in an unnatural tone, as if they were belongs not to the School Committee, nor to the teacher, but to ashamed to be heard distinctly. There is no "reason why the the parent, who has the highest interest in the welfare of his own easy, natural quality of voice, common in good society, should child. We trust, therefore, that it will not need again to be not be heard in the school-room. The forced, stilted, harsh noticed in our Report. tone in which many scholars, and some teachers also, are in All public schools need the support, and are open,to the inspec- the habit of 'reading a lesson, or explaining a sum" in Arithmetic, tion of the entire community, and the .utmost harmony and would sound oddly enough in a social .gathering, or even in a confidence should be established between them. School Commit- public hall. tees and teachers are but the servants of the public, and as such, Intimately connected with this is the attitude and `bearing of the all their acts are open to fair and candid criticism, but unfavorable pupil in school. We ,often see children sitting; lazily at their remarks which are not warranted by facts, and which are produc desks, as if they did not know what to do with their limbs, and, tive only.of ill-feeling towards the schools, surely cannot in any when called to recite, standing in an awkward, listless, inattentive �,. view of the case, be justified. manner. . All this can be remedied by proper attention and drill. Even the most unpromising cases will soon yield to careful train- In conclusion, the Committee would .call special attention ing, and when a new and better standard of manners has been to the percentage of attendance which is given in the accom- fairly established, the scholars will take pride in conforming to. it. panying Table of Statistics. It will be seen-that many schools • i 14 fall below eighty per cent. Here is one absence to every five pupils. And the actual loss to the schools is much greater than this; a large share of all the advantages_ of education, furnished and paid for by the town is thus thrown away. There are many, doubtless,'who can do something -to lessen this evil ` in the future. It is only by individual effort that a change for REPORT OF BOOK AGENT, 1871. the better can be effected. k,. _ We append the usual Report of the Book Agency, and the Tabular View for the year. DR. To amounl of books on hand, April 1st, 1870, $117 25 Respectfully submitted, To amount of cash on hand, April 1st, 1870, 7 75—$ 125 00 CR EDWARD G. PORTER, ' CHARLES TIDD' By books furnished indigent children, $ 12 19 " books furnished teachers' desks, 34 79 JONAS GAMMELL, « ink, crayons, erasers, &c., furnished schools,'. 22 62 School Committee for 1870-71. amount of books on hand, March 1st, 1871, . 109 81 4 cash balance, . 15 19-194� 60 LEXIIV GTON, March, 1871. Balance due agent, $ 69 60 H. H%MES,•AGENT. Whole amount drawn from town treasury by agent, $ 125 00 Amount transmitted to succeeding agent, in books, . $ 109 81 t Do. do. in cash, 15 19—$ 125 00 H. HOLMES. TABULAR VIENV, at d d O m Da SCHOOLS. TEACHERS. a°a w °a c°n e°o m°a s y ay m Rb� c6 d aRSN as N.Fi D. / �'ia•�. o^ 4 a' Nathaniel Childs... I $ 120.00 $1,200.00 HIGH...............•• E. W. Stetson..... 48 47 42 46 43 41 95• 36.00 361.80 ADAMS GRAMMAR........ Silas Peabody ...... 40 40 47 36 38 42.5 92. 110.00 1,100.00 HAxcom GRAMMAR....... Elisha H. Tower..... 39 63 34 26 24 26 73. 100.00 1.000.00 WARREN................. M.E. Russell........ 32 31 32 23 25 24 75+ 32.00 316.80 FRAN$LIN................ E. M. Underwood.... 18.00 21 24 19 18 20 16.4 85+ 30.00 287.20 HOWARD. Clara Bacon........ 28 31 33 21 27 26 80+ 36.00 360.00 BOWDITCH ............: M.A, Jackson .... t 31 33 31 24 28 25 82— 36,00 361.80 S. E. Sturtevant... S ADAMS PRIMARY.......... •M. B. Howe......... 48 48 50 34 41 42 80. 40.00 400.00 HANCOCE PRIMARY.... .... Ellen B. Lane ....... 42 42 45 33 35 37 82. 32.06 318.40 HAxcom Sus-PRIMARY ... Florence W.Davis... 31 28 30 18 19 18 63. 22.00 220.00 The average attendance for all the schools is 80.7 per cent. The whole number of persons in town, between five and fifteen years of age,is three hundred and thirty.