(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 6.-Aggregate of months kept, 31.-Average No. of Scholars, 118.-Aggre gate paid for tuition, $485 00.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED.— -Spelling-Webster's, (Brookfield edition,) Worcester's Dictionary. Reading Bible, Testament, Porter's Rhetorical Reader, Putnam's Analytical do., Young Reader, Second Book, Worcester's Primer. Grammar-Smith's and Murray's. Geography-MalteBrun's, Smith's, Olney's, Woodbridge's, Peter Parley's. Arithmetic-Adams' Improved, Smith's, Colburn's, Walsh's, Pike's, Greenleaf's. All others-Political Class Book, Universal History, Watts on the Mind, Phelps' Botany, Mather's Geology, Grund's Geometry, Algebra, Flint's Surveying, Griscom's Physiology, Latin, Greek and French Grammars.

REMARKS.-The return states that a "Grammar is combined with the High School, the feoffees of the Grammar School owning the building in which the High School is kept, and paying toward the support of the school the amount of the income of their funds."

"One district school was prolonged one month by contributions of individuals in the district,”—particulars not given.

NO REPORT from School Committee.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE —E. F. MILLER, S. E. STRONG, CHARLES KIMBALL.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 1,606-In Winter, 1,534. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 963-In Winter, 885.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 2,451.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 25.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 8. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 187 mths.-In Summer, 93 14-In Winter, 93 14. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 6—F. 10.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 7—F. 9. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $37 63-To Females, $15 44. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $13 16-Of Females, $6 97.

(9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $24 47-Of Females, $8 47. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $5,000 00.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 12.-Average No. of Scholars, 41.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $820 00.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 20.-Aggregate of months kept, 204.-Average No. of Scholars, 449.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $2,512 00. (14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED-Spelling-Saunder's Spelling Book. Reading-Pierpont's Little Learner, Worcester's 2d, 3d and 4th Books, Analytical Reader, Improved Reader, New Testament. Grammar-Alger's, Murray's, and Brown's large work. Geography-Olney's, and Olney's Practical Introduction. Arithmetic-Colburn's First Lessons, Smith's, Greenleaf's, and Emerson's First Part, Bailey's and Colburn's Algebras. All others--Goodrich's History, Blake's Chemistry, Astronomy, and Natural Philosophy.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * * Early in the past year, your committee were impressed with the importance of revising the list of books used in our Public Schools, on account of the extensive and increasing confusion in the classes, caused by the variety and heterogeneous character of the books then in use. In order to make a suitable, and, as far as might be, the best selection, the old books were all to be examined, and compared with others not then introduced, many thousands of pages were to be deliberately read, and much re

sponsibility assumed in deciding on the merits of the several authors. This subject was not finally disposed of until your committee had had it under consideration for three months; and they have the satisfaction of believing that no part of their work was more imperiously called for, nor will prove more useful to the schools, or more acceptable to the town.

During the latter part of the year, four out of the nine members of the committee having removed from Lynn, the whole burden of responsibility has devolved upon the five remaining; but we have endeavored that the interests of the schools should suffer as little as possible from this reduction of the committee. We have considered ourselves as occupying a post of honor and usefulness, inferior to none in the gift of our fellow citizens; and though neither political distinction, pecuniary profit, nor exemption from laborious duty, reward a school committee-the charm of doing good has been appreciated.

On the general subject of education, your committee would bestow a few remarks. We are aware that the duty of properly educating our children is one in which we must never grow weary. The moment we intermit our efforts, our whole work stops in its progress ;-it stops not long, but soon retrogrades with ruinous celerity. The utmost vigilance, as well as perseverance, is necessary. A school that is now doing well, may, by either inattention on the part of the parents, unfaithfulness or unskilfulness of the teacher, or neglect of the general or prudential committee, in a few weeks come to a full stop in its onward progress, and then deteriorate as fast as ever it improved. The activity and harmony of all the above agents, are essential to the continued prosperity of any school; and if any one of them is wanting in efficiency, the consequences are sure to be visible in school. Therefore, whenever a school is found not to be in a prosperous condition, good judgment must discover the cause, honest and impartial justice apply the corrective.

The liberality with which this town has raised money for schools, seems to be a pledge, that parents generally feel a deep interest in the education of their children. But your committee would suggest, that they ought occasionally to visit the schools in person, in order to see how far their money is producing the desired results; and, by their presence, to encourage the committees, the teachers, and above all, the pupils. It is a fact, too notorious to be more than mentioned here, that children take little interest in schools when their parents take none at all. If children are sent to school merely to get rid of them, and the teacher is only a sort of jailer, to confine and keep them out of mischief for a specified time, they will not long be ignorant of the real motives from which they are committed, and may be expected to make any thing but good scholars. On the other hand, when parents assiduously endeavor, by every possible means, to advance the education of their children, their solicitude on the subject will occasionally carry them to the schoolhouse, that they may see for themselves, where and how their sons and daughters are taught those sciences, on which their future respectability and success so much depend. ** In selecting teachers to be employed in our Public Schools, we think all considerations should yield to the intellectual and moral culture of our children. Sometimes an incompetent teacher may be employed, because he is "clever," in the common acceptation of that term; because he has a local influence in the Ward; or because he will teach for low wages, and a school may be kept longer for the same money by him, than by one who is better qualified. But it is easier to keep clear of such, than to get rid of them after they are employed; besides, we think six months in a good school is better than twelve in a poor one.

From experience and observation, we are convinced, that as a good school needs the constant attention of all concerned, to continue it in a prosperous state, and schools often change, suddenly, from one condition to another, the frequent and regular visitations of the town committee, prescribed by law, cannot safely be dispensed with.

In regard to Common Schools, generally, your committee feel it their duty to say, they regard them as of paramount importance; and it is with much pleasure we add, some of the Common Schools in this town are inferior to respectable academies only in one particular, viz. they are more crowded. But while we say this of some, truth requires a different account of others.

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We take this opportunity, to call the attention of our fellow citizens to the subject of introducing instruction in vocal music into our Common Schools. The experiment has been made, and with great success, in many places; and we doubt not that great benefit would accrue from it to the rising generation. In closing our labors, as your school committee, we cannot refrain from recording our opinion, that an increase in the number, and a universal improvement in the character of the schoolhouses, throughout the town, are urgently needed; and we hope, that when the present pressure of the times shall have subsided, this subject will engage the earnest attention of whom it may con

cern.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-AARON LUMMUS, CHARLES R. TRUE, CUSTAVUS ATTWILL, ED. L. COFFIN.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 173-In Winter, 157. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 105-In Winter, 105.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 188.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 12.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 16. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 35 mths.-In Summer, 17 7-In Winter, 17 21. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 3.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 3—F. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $2775-To Females, $15 66. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $8 66-Of Females, $6 00.

(9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $19 09-Of Females, $9 66. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $525 00.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, -Aggregate of months kept, Scholars, -Aggregate paid for tuition, g

-Average No. of

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 3.-Average No. of Scholars, 17-Aggre. gate paid for tuition, $50 00.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-New National Spelling Book, and Introduction. Reading-American First Class Book, Sequel to Analytical Reader, Improved do., Worcester's 3 books, Testament. Grammar-Smith's, Sanborn's, and Brown's Geography-Olney's, Parley's, Smith's and Brinsmade's. Arithmetic-Greenleaf's, National, Smith's, Emerson's, and Colburn's. All others-Bailey's Algebra, Comstock's Philosophy, Parley's and Goodrich's Histories, Blake's Philosophy.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * * Early in the season we obtained eight dozen of books, such as were needed, and left them with the teachers, to be furnished to the scholars as wanted, at the wholesale price, thus making a saving of time, trouble and expense to the schools.

Aware of the necessity of a thorough knowledge of the elementary principles of science, the several teachers were directed to attend to that subject, as of primary importance.

* * *

Not only a proper discipline, but a regular attendance, is indispensably necessary to the best interests of a school, and where children are present but two or three days in a week, or come in, half or three quarters of an hour after the school has begun, they not only make little or no improvement themselves, but retard the progress of those who are desirous of learning. *

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* * * In this republic, where every man has a voice in the government, how solicitous should every parent be that his children should enjoy the full benefit of the Common Schools. It is to these institutions, not to academies or colleges, that the great mass of the people must look for their education, and the impress here made must affect, for good or evil, the civil and political ititutions of our country.

Let every man, then, support the Common Schools; let the children of the rich and the poor be educated together, and grow up in accordance with the genius of our institutions, where no other distinction but that of merit should be acknowledged. Let parents and guardians see that their children are prompt at the hour, and constant in attendance,-obedient to their teachers, and respectful to each other; for what compensation could be made to the child for the loss of this most precious season? It is like the spring-time of the year to the subsequent harvest; if the ground be not prepared nor the seed sown, how can we expect to reap a crop? The mind, that indestructible principle, must be deeply affected through the coming future, for good or evil, as it is now faithfully cultivated or shamefully neglected.

Your committee, feeling the importance of the trust committed to them, have assiduously endeavored to impress upon the minds of the children the imperative necessity of unremitted exertions on their part, in order to the full development of the resources of their own minds. It is a truth that should be present to the mind of every individual, that the attainment of any desirable good must, in a very great degree, be the result of his own personal exertions. This is especially so in relation to the subject of education. Science cannot be purchased like merchandise. It is the achievement of patient industry.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE―JOSIAH NEWHALL, JOHN PERKINS, JR., JOSHUA HEWES.

MANCHESTER,.

S (1) Population, 1,346. Valuation, $260,605 25.

{(1)

Number of Public Schools, 3.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 168—In Winter, 220. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 115—In Winter, 144.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 310.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, .-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 21 mths. 14 days-In Summer, 8.-In Winter, 13 14. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 1-F. 2.-No of Teachers in Winter-M. 3-F. 1. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $29 66-To Females, $750. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $10 00-Of Females, $5 00. (9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $19 06-Of Females, $2 50. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $592.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $

(12) No. of incorporated Academies,

Aggregate of months kept, -Average number of

Scholars, -Aggregate paid for tuition, $ (13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 7-Aggregate of months kept, 463.-Average No. of Scholars, 151.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $603 50.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED-Spelling-Emerson's Reading-Young Reader, National do., Introduction to do., Porter's Rhetorical Reader, Parker's do., Rhetor. Grammar-Smith's and Murray's. Geography-Parley's, Smith's and Olney's. Arithmetic-Smith's, Emerson's and Greenleaf's. All others Walker's and Webster's Dictionaries, Parker's Philosophy and Composition, Bailey's Algebra, Flint's Surveying.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * * Since the success of our Public Schools, in no small degree, depends on the condition of the children previous to their entering these institutions, the inhabitants of this district have shown a wise and liberal policy, in their attention to this subject, by establishing a school for young children at their own expense; and the committee earnestly recommend, that a still inore liberal expenditure should be made for so laudable an object.

It is much to be regretted, that children are so often taken from the Public School, at an age, when, from the more matured state of the intellect, they are

in the most favorable condition for making proficiency in their studies, especially where no serious inconvenience can arise from the number in the school room. More enlightened and correct views must be the remedy for this evil.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-ASA STORY, LARKIN WOODBERRY, JACOB C. ALLEN.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 656-In Winter, 598. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 547-In Winter, 495. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 1,415.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, No. over 16 years of age who attend School, (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 143 mths.-In Summer, 72—In Winter, 71.

(6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 3-F. 9.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 4—F. 9. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $36 46-To Females, $12 04. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $12 50-Of Females, $6 55. (9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $23 96-Of Females, $5 49. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $4,000.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, 2.-Aggregate of months kept, 12.-Average number of Scholars, 55.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $980.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 2.-Aggregate of months kept, 12.—Average No. of Scholars, -Aggregate paid for tuition, $

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same,

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-National Spelling Book, Scholar's Companion. Reading-Pierpont's, Putnam's and Worcester's. Grammar-Murray's, Smith's and Parker's. Geography -Olney's, Smith's and Field's. Arithmetic-Greenleaf's and Emerson's. All others-History of U. S., Algebra, Latin Books, Book-keeping, &c.

REMARKS. The number of scholars, and amount paid for their tuition, in the Private Schools, are not stated.

"Numerous infant schools,"-particulars not stated.

The fuel for the schools is furnished by the town.

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SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * On entering upon their duties, they [the committee] found that the town had made a liberal provision of $4,000 for the support of the schools; hence, they inferred, that all the schools, then established, were to be kept in operation, and fully provided for; and that all necessary improvements were accordingly authorized.

They have, therefore, maintained and kept them open during the year, contrary to the former custom, which was to discontinue a part of them for a considerable portion of the same. From the experience of the past, and particularly from observations of the last year, they deem the present number and character of the schools amply adequate to supply the wants of the town. The only material alteration they would suggest, is, that no children may be admitted into the primary schools under the age of six years; for they have, by the present method, in our view, dwindled almost into nurseries. They would suggest an examination of the Farm and South schoolhouses, as they apparently need repairs, for the comfort and convenience of the scholars.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-WILLIAM FABENS, JOSHUA ORNE, S S. TREFRY, RICHARD GIRDLER, GEO. Cloutman, NATH'L LINDSEY, JR.