HomeMy WebLinkAbout2291.1-2 Two reports of committee on establishing a high school, 18541. The Committee appointed to consider the expedi-
ency of establishing a High School for the bene-
-fit of the inhabitants of the Town, have attend-
-ed to that duty and submit the following
Report
By a High School your Com. understand one in
which the higher branches of English lectur-
ing, shall be thoroughly and systematically
taught, together with such of the languages
as the wants of the Town may demand, &
the circumstances may allow. We also un-
-derstand that it should be a public School-
open to all the youth of the town whose at-
tainments would enable them to profit
- by its advantages without being a hindrance
to its success.
The first question suggested, and which your
Com. have considered is; is there a demand
for a School of this character? We have an-
swered this question in the affirmative,
and among the reasons are the following.
1st such a School is needed, to make the Schools
which the Town already sustan [sustain] better. It is
a necessary part of the system of education
adopted by the State, a system which can
fully succeed only by a judicious grading
of the Schools. Where a School is composed of
Scholars of the various degrees of attain-
ment which at present are necessarily
found in Ours, it is imposible to classify, and
economize the time so as to do justice to any
thing. The Teacher is obliged to hasten from
class to class in order to bestow a few
minutes of attention upon each. Consequent-
-ly he has almost no time to drill his
classes and to illucidate the principles
connected with their studies The establish-
-ment of a H.S. would, in a good degree rem-
edy this evil. It would remove the more
advanced Scholars to another School, and
give the Teachers in the Grammar Schools
an opportunity to devote their attention ex-
clusively to the elementary branches of learn-
ing which cannot be neglected without dam-
age to the future advancement of the Scholars.
Instead of being injured therefore, as has been
sometimes intimated, our Grammar Schools
would be greatly improved by the arrange-
ment which we recommend.
2d. A H.S. is needed to furnish advantages for
an education which under our present
system we cannot have. Besides the
difficulties already alluded to in the mul-
tiplicity of studies and variety of classes,
it cannot be expected, that we can bring
into all the Schools in Town the talent,
the learning and the experience which
the education of our youth, in this age de-
mands. Some it is true will go elsewhere to
obtain that which they cannot get at home.
But in this as in all Towns there are
others who need education as much
who cannot go out of Town to get it. It is
no disparagement to say that there are fam-
ilies, whose children would be as much
benefitted by a good education as others,
who are not able to send them from home
to obtain it. Once public Schools are
designed for the benefit of all, and should
offer to the poor and rich alike the means
of obtaining that which will be more val-
-uable to them than gold.
Your Com therefore think that a H.S. is need-
ed, both to improve the Schools we now
sustain, and to furnish additional
educational facilities, to all the youth
of the Town.
But 2d. Is a H.S. practicable in our circum-
stances as a Town? To anwer this inquiry
several particulars must be considered.
Are there enough scholars in the Town
of the age and attainment to compose
such a School? And would they attend
Schould it be established? That in a
population of two thousand there are
materials for a H.S. Scarcely admits of
a question. Some Towns of a much smaller
population than ours, have successfully
sustained a H.S. Whether the scholars
would attend or not, were such a school
established, your Com. of course have
no means of determining. But as the ques-
tion has been asked, it may be well to an-
swer it by asking a few others. Why should
they not attend? Are the families of Lexington
so unlike those of other Towns that they
would prefer the expense of schooling their
children out of Town, rather than send
them to a good free school at home? Or are
the people of our Town so indifferent
about the education of their children
that they would not appreciate a good H.S.
and get all the benefit from it they could?
These suppositions are not admissable. The
people here would do as people every where
have done where H.S.s have been established.
They would patronize a good School and
having once had it, would not
think they could do without it in the future.
There might be exceptions, in this as there
are in every thing else; but they would
be exceptions and not the rule.
There is plenty of material in Town to
make a good H.S. And it is but fair to
presume that it would be available.
We Suppose that all Towns that have established H.S.s
have acted on precisely this presumption.
2. Can the Town afford a H.S. It will cost some-
thing to sustain one. If the Town become convin-
ced that such a school is needed, but little need be said
in relation to its expense. Upon a subject so vitally
important as that of Education the Town will
feel able to provide according to the demand.
But should a High School be once established &
our[?] School regulations be reduced to system,
it would cost the Town but little more than
it now expends. In the opinion of your[?] Com.
the other School could be as effiiciently in-
structed by female teachers of high qualifications as by men. Such
teachers can now be obtained. By employ-
ing them a saving of expense would be made
without the least damage to the Schools.
The only objection that can be urged against
this change relates to school discipline, &
even that is more apparent than real. Some
cases of insubordination on the part of
large Scholars would undoubtedly occur;
but in such instances the responsibility should
be thrown upon the parents, where it belongs,
and they should see that their children
comply with the rules of the school, or they
should not be allowed to attend. It seems
hardly worth while to be to the additional school
expense of employing men to do that which
which women can do equally well, just for the
purpose of keeping some half dozen large and
ill behaved scholars in subjection. With this ar-
rangement, a small additional appropria-
tion from the Town (perhaps the sum of $500)
would be sufficient to meet the expense of instruc-
tion. It would of course require some time
to adopt a new system and bring it into
efficient operation but no longer now than
in future. If the thing is ever done it must
have a beginning.
There are cases in which money is comparatively
improductive for the want of a little more cap-
ital. There is a limit below which the enterprise
can not be carried on to advantage. In our
opinion the support of our schools is such
a case. We have a work to do demanding a
certain amount of labor. If we are so limited
that we cannot classify and systematize, no
part of the work can be done in a thourough
manner. Who would feel the difference in the
cost, were we to make our schools equal to
any in the State? Were the Town so to do, gen-
erations to come would rise up and call
them blessed. The State educates its children
for its own good. It is a commendable feat-
ure in the economy of our State Government
that so much of every man's property as is needed
to furnish every child with the means of a good
education belongs to the public. This is the
privalege of the poor man as well of the rich.
Each has a right to claim it. It is a claim
which the generous public spirited citizens
of Mass. are most happy to concede. The
more wealthy will not object to the appropri-
ation of what money is needed, to educate
and educate well all the children in the
community. The poorer, though equally
respectable, and equally deserving citizens
will not object to such an appropriation.
The children are as talented and as
promising as are those of his more wealthy
neighbors and they deserve as good ad-
vantages for our education, and our
system of public instruction proposes
to give it to them - to open the door
of knowledge to every child in the land; &
invite all to come and partake on equal
terms. It should not be a misfortune to a
child to belong to a Town of two thousand in-
deed of four thousand inhabitants. If we
must curtail expense better begin else
where than here. The education of the chil-
dren should be the last thing to be ne-
glected or stinted[?]; and we may judge from
the interest manifested, and the liberal
appropriations made in years gone
by this is not the Town to leave the
important interests of education now[?]
provided for to the ful extent of their claims[?].
But can a H.S. be so located as to accommodate
the whole Town? It cannot of course be called
to every mans door; and it might be in nearer
proximity to the dwellings of some than the
occupants would think desirable. But these are
unavoidable inconveniences. Our situation in this
respect is not peculiar. Our territory is not more ex-
tensive than that of many other Towns in which
flourishing H.S.s are located. Some prefer, to live
a mile or two from school for the older class
of scholars, while others cannot be too near to
just their convenience. What is the practica-
ble thing to be done in such circumstances?
There seems to be room for but one conclusion.
Locate the school where it will best accommodate
the whole. It is not for your Com. to say where
that position is, but as the subject is now be-
fore us we would take the liberty to suggest
that in our opinion the Town House, or its
immediate vicinity would probably be the
most eligible position all things considered.
It would accommodate the scholars in the two
villages, and those of the border districts as well if
not better than any other locality in Town.
In our opinion, for the older scholars the
distance of one or even two miles from
school is not very objectionable. Scholars
require more exercise than many suppose;
and in some way they will be very likely
to get it. If not in walking to and from
school it wil be in vigorous sports about
the school-house and fields, which in
general amount to a more fatigueing
exercise than would be experienced in
going to and from school.
Your Com. therefore think a good
H.S. for the accommodation of all
the inhabitants of the Town both de-
sirable and practicable. It is desirable
to simplify and improve the entire system
of our schools in Town to furnish better
opportunities in the elementary depart-
ments, and create advantages for edu-
cation to the more advanced scholars
in the Town by giving them an oppor-
tunity to attend profitably to branchs
of study which cannot be successfully
introduced into our schools under the
present arrangement. It would enable
us to secure a higher order of scholarship
and experience in the Teachers of such
branches. We think it demanded on
the principle of economy to enable
the Town to use theie school money
to greater advantage.
We think it entirely practicable, and
when once established on sufficient time
to see its practical working, it would
commend itself to the approbation and
would receive the patronage of a very
large majority of the Town.
Your Com. therefore recommend that
the town take measures to establish
a H.S. as soon practicable, and that they
keep the object steadily in view untill
it be accomplished.
Submitted in behalf of the Com,
Ira Leland. Chairman
1854
Accepted by the Town
April 3rd 1834
Report of the Committee
on the High School
2291.1
The Committee appointed to take measures
to carry into effect the recommendations of the
Report presented at the April Meeting in rela-
tion to a High School; Report as follows.
We have examined the Upper Hall in the Town
House and find that it can be fitted to ac-
commodate comfortably forty scholars at an
expense not to exceed $100.
We have reason to believe that a compe-
tent teacher can be had for a salary not
to exceed $800 per Annum.
We therefore recommend that a High School
be established to commence in the Autumn
and keep two terms the present year; and
that the upper Hall in the Town House and
the small rooms adjacent be appropria-
ted for its accommodation.
We also recommend that the sum of
$500 be appropriated to meet the expense
of fitting the room and paying the
Teacher.
In behalf of the Committee
Ira Leland; Chairman
Accepted by the
town May 8th 1854
Report of the
Committee of
the High School on
the Town House
2291.2