children were even more poorly accommodated in another building, which, without much exercise of the fancy, might be easily imagined to have been ingeniously contrived to make children dread their school, hate their books, and lay the foundation for the consumption. Unless it be the intention of the district to make the utter destitution of comfort, in their primary school, an incentive to effort, on the part of their children, to gain a place in the higher school,-unless it be their intention to make the first acquaintance of their children, with school, as irksome as possible, so that after advantages may be pleasant by contrast, then we can see no good reason for the attempt to sustain a primary school, for seventy-five or eighty of their children, without providing a suitable and pleasant room. If there is any thing in the influence of early impressions, that influence should certainly be secured in so important a matter as the education of the rising generation.

While upon this point, the committee would suggest, that too much importance cannot be attached to the pleasantness and convenience of the school room. To be sure, good poetry may have been written in a prison, but even a poet, we presume, would have preferred some other place. Early habits of neatness and good order are of no little consequence to the young, yet their habits cannot well be promoted in places which are themselves dirty, and which, from the numerous unsightly marks and figures observable, proclaim themselves to have been scenes of confusion, and the abodes of depraved tastes. Let our schoolhouses be made neat and comfortable, places to which the young shall delight to resort, and you study economy, as well as good taste; for there are very few children, either large or small, who would willingly disfigure or injure a neat room, though they perhaps could discover no harm in mutilating a gloomy one.

District Meetings. The committee have taken some pains to observe the interest, taken by several districts, in their district meetings,—and, so far as their observation goes, they are most culpably neglected. In one district, a half a dozen persons met, and, after waiting some time, organized the meeting and transacted the business, and, as they were about to adjourn, others arrived just in time to learn that the very plan they disapproved had been adopted! The meeting was dissolved!

In another district, at the regular annual meeting, there were not enough present to organize, that is, to choose a moderator and a clerk, and then have A an open meeting, with witnesses, before whom the clerk should be sworn. second meeting was called by the clerk, at which, by the efforts of an invalid, who, being confined to his room, resorted to the expedient of rapping upon his window, to his passing neighbors, and urging them to attend the meeting, and some other extra efforts, a sufficient number were present to organize, and do just what the district did not wish to have done. Soon after, a third meeting was called, and properly attended, and very excellent arrangements were made, and the result has been, a very good school in the district.

We trust this is not a picture of the whole town, but, until our citizens, generally, take more interest in district affairs, the presumption will exist, in the minds of applicants for their schools, that almost any thing will do for a schoolmaster. Let parents attend, then, these meetings, and show a determination to look after the judicious expenditures of their hard-earned money; let them show that they feel the importance of good schools, and that they are determined to have them, and they take a very important step toward bringing about these results. Until they do this, they certainly have no right to complain that their money is misspent, and their children cheated out of their learning.

Appropriations of Money. In looking over the Abstract of School Returns. just issued by the Secretary of the Board of Education, we are proud to perceive that not many towns in the Commonwealth-not more than 20 or 25—appropriate a larger sum, in proportion to their valuation, than Newbury. But as money, spent properly, in this way, is always sure to bring a good return, the committee would suggest to the town, that a still larger sum could be spent to good advantage. There are now, in only two of the districts, schools kept nearly the whole year, and in those districts the primary schools are sustained only during the warm season. As soon as the primary schools are closed, the principal schools become so crowded, that there is a great loss of successful

labor. In most of the districts, the term of school does not exceed six or seven months, in some of them, four or five. Now if a slightly increased appropriation could be made by the town, either by raising a larger sum, or by turning into this channel any public funds in their possession, while it would give to the town, in this respect, an enviable preeminence in the Commonwealth, it would be doing, at a very cheap rate, an essential service to our Comnion Schools.

tees.

Selection of Teachers. By the law of the Commonwealth, as it now stands, it is made the duty of the school committees to contract with teachers for the various districts, unless the town, by a vote, determines that the prudential committees, as heretofore, shall make the said contracts. Last year, without discussion, this town voted to have these contracts made by the prudential commitWithout wishing to extend the power or the responsibilities of this Board, or their successors, your committee think proper, briefly to state to the town, some considerations which ought deliberately to be taken into account, before deciding this question. Where the teachers are engaged by the prudential committees, it usually is done without any examination on their part, and often several weeks, sometimes several months, before the commencement of the school. The teacher being once engaged, the Board find it very difficult to exercise their veto, even if the teacher is not such a person as they would choose. The principle of veto is designed for extreme cases, and if a teacher thus appointed, can possibly pass the limited requirements of the law, in a literary point of view, he must be approbated, even if they have some scruples about his fitness for the situation. Sometimes the Board are placed in a very embarrassing predicament. It may happen, nay, it has happened more than twice, in this town, that a teacher has been engaged by the prudential committee, some weeks or months beforehand, and on the Saturday evening before the Monday appointed for the commencement of the school, for the winter, the teacher elect has called on some member of the Board, for approbation. The fact being known, that he has come, at considerable expense, fifty or a hundred miles, from the country, or the college, prepared to spend the winter;—and, also, the fact being known, that the district have made their arrangements to have the school commenced, and attended according to appointment;—and further, the fact being known, that at such a season of the year, the best teachers are probably already taken up, and that it would be very difficult, under those circumstances, at short notice, to obtain a better one, should he be rejectedthe committee are thrown, by necessity, upon a choice of evils, and taking into account the odium and the difficulty of a veto, they approbate the man, even when they would be the last to employ him. Whereas, if the election were to be made by the school committee, they could satisfy themselves of the qualifications of the candidate,—not barely as touching the amount of literature possessed, but as to the general fabric and texture of his character, his adaptation to the situation, &c.-before proceeding to an appointment; and, as they would be likely to have a large number of applicants, they could exercise something like a selection.

It may be said, on the other hand, that local feeling may need to be consulted, that a district may have its preference, and may know best its resources, and therefore its own agent should make the appointment. To this it might be replied, that in case of local preference, if there were any good reason for it, the Board might be made to understand it, and thus meet the wishes of those who might desire to be consulted. At any rate, there should somehow be more care exercised in the appointment of teachers, than we have had heretofore,—and if the town think it best that the prudential committees should still contract with them, (and this Board are not prepared to say positively it is not best,) then there should be some understanding between these committees and the Board, so that a thorough and seasonable examination should be had, before the appointments should be definitely settled. Whoever may constitute this Board during the ensuing year, this committee would respectfully suggest the propriety of establishing some systematic and thorough mode of examining the candidates, whose merits have not before been tested in the town, in accordance with the strict letter of the law. Let this once be understood, and more

than one half of those, who now offer themselves as school teachers, would not make their application in Newbury.

Qualifications of Teachers. Whoever may have the selection of teachers, this Board would take leave to suggest, that something besides the bare literary attainments, and a "possession of a rod and a ferule," should be thought of, in a teacher. His character, his early education, his habits, and his future intentions, all should come into the account. If he have no stability and manliness of character, if his early education have been deficient, or if he received his first schooling in some large town or city, and never has been accustomed to the routine and management of a district school, if his habits are not exemplary and praiseworthy, and if he have no intentions with regard to school keeping, aside from the gaining of the compensation, if he cares nothing for the reputation he is to form as a teacher, if he has no love for the employinent, aside from his convenience or his necessity, then we say emphatically, as a general rule, he is not the man. Give us the man who will work as hard for reputation as for bank notes; a man whose conscience has as much control over him as his interest; a man who has nerve, energy, principle, self command and self respect; a man who means to be something, by beginning right and persevering unto the end; all these, joined with the proper literary qualifications, and that man, we will engage beforehand, shall be a good schoolmaster, if he undertakes the employment.

We make but one suggestion more. It is this. Parents take too little interest in the Public Schools; they know but little about them, except as they hear them praised or censured by their children. The committee, in their visitations, have never met the parents in the school room. They should go there; they should teach their children, by their lively interest, that they consider their schools of some importance. The education of the young is a great and noble object, and when parents more sensibly feel this, and act upon it, we shall see then, and not till then, a progress and a success never before witnessed. * * *

SCHOOL COMMITTEE -LEONARD WITHINGTON, JOHN C. MARCH, HENRY DURANT, JOSIAH LITTLE, STUART CHASE, PHINEAS NICHOLS, DAVID P. PAGE.

NEWBURYPORT,

(1) Population, 6,741. Valuation, $2,165,967 28. Number of Public Schools, 15.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 1,049-In Winter, 670. (3) Average attendance in the Schools—In Summer, 768—In Winter, 507.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 1,795.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 4.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 9. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 137 months.-In Suinmer, 89—In Winter, 48. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 5-F. 14.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 5-F. 6. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $50 00-To Females, $9 85. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $8 00-Of Females, $5 23.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $42 00-Of Females, $4 69. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $4,379 37.

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

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, Aggregate of months kept,

Scholars, -Aggregate paid for tuition, $

-Average number of

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 19.-Aggregate of months kept, 228.-Average No. of Scholars, 348.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $2,536.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $62,000 00.-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED-Spelling-Franklin Primer, Young Reader, National Spelling Book, and all the Reading Books. Reading-Franklin Primer, Young Reader, National Speiling Book, Analytical Reader, Introduction to National do., National do., Bible, Testament, Thompson's Seasons. Grammar-Frost's, Andrews' and Stoddard's; Thompson's Seasons and Young's

Night Thoughts, for Parsing. Geography-Parley's, Olney's and Atlas, Malte-Brun's. Arithmetic-Emerson's, Smith's, Greenleaf's, Bailey's Algebra. All others-Parker's Philosophy, Flint's Surveying, Playfair's Euclid, Latin Reader, Ainsworth's Dictionary, Bennett's Bookkeeping, Sallust, Greek.

REMARKS.-"'The number in each school is the average number of members, and not of all those who attend at any period during the year. The Private Schools have no connection with the Public Schools. The local Funds consist of 1. A fund of about $12,000, the income of which, when the fund shall have accumulated to $15,000, is to be appropriated to the support of a Grammar School. 2. The Putnam Fund, estiinated at $50,000, in 1838. The income is appropriated by the donor to the support of an English School, to be kept in Newburyport, for the benefit of all who may attend. It is understood that the school will commence when the trustees have an excess, over the $50,000, sufficient to purchuse or erect suitable buildings."

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * * On the whole, the condition of our schools may be considered satisfactory, as respects a comparison with former years, and with other towns in the vicinity. At the quarterly examinations for admission to the high school, the pupils from the public grammar schools have, in general, manifested as great proficiency in their several studies, as have the applicants of similar ages from the Private Schools. Yet, are they not susceptible of much greater improvement? Our local situation gives us advantages, possessed by few, if any, other towns. Our territorial limits, being but six hundred and forty acres, and a considerable portion of that being unimproved for building sites, we are enabled to make ample provision for public instruction, with a comparatively limited expense. As to distance from school, no one can scarcely be incommoded. Freed, too, from the necessity of formning small classes; of employing male teachers to instruct the very small children, who are usually better taught by females; or females to teach, in part, the large boys, as is frequently the case in district schools, ought we not to expect and require corresponding improvements? Every child, between the ages of four and seven years, has the privilege of a six-mouths school, within a few rods of his or her residence. Every child, of seven years of age, may, and ought to be, qualified to be admitted to the writing or grammar schools, where, in a few years, he may be fitted for the high schools. Every child, then, of seven years of age, male and female, has, or might have, the privilege of a grammar school, kept through the year; and the attendance might be enlarged with a proportionably small increase of expense. Some benefits might probably accrue from partial changes in the system; but, it is believed, much more depends upon its proper execution.

* * *

Immediately previous to the last two years, it will be recollected, that complaints existed of the expenses incurred in the frequent change of books. A system of advanced studies, as they were considered, had been introduced, and the subsequent examinations exhibited a lamentable deficiency in the exercises of reading and spelling. A regular and simplified course of class books was introduced, and thoroughness and frequent reviews, to the exclusion of apparent rapidity of progress. Experience has sanctioned the utility of the changes.

In the high school, too, we are not aware that there was less cause of complaint of irregularity of attendance, than in the other schools. A rule was adopted, as a condition of admittance, (and all are admitted on an examination of their qualifications,) that if, from any cause, the pupil did not, or could not, attend punctually and with a good degree of constancy, that on report thereof to the committee, his seat might be appropriated to a new member, who might wish to avail himself of the privileges of the school; and, in connection with this, we approved and authorized the weekly issue of cards, or tickets, stating the absence, tardiness, and punishment, if any, of the several scholars. These cards were carried home to the parents, by them endorsed, as evidence of their having inspected them, and were then returned to the school. The number of members in the school, in both departments, has been about one hundred and twenty-five, and in equal divisions; and the absence from all causes, including sickness, absence from town, and other reasonable excuses, has been but about

five to each school, or equivalent to the absence of each pupil one half day in each week, of eleven half days;-(one eleventh part) The teachers of those schools remark, and the general absence of tardy marks on the registers shows, that the pupils have been remarkably punctual in their attendance. The punctuality and constancy, as they state, clearly prove, that absence and tardiness are, in most cases, wholly unnecessary, and, by a little exertion on the part of parents and scholars, might be, in almost every instance, avoided. We hope our successors may extend these improvements to the other schools.

The regulation of the committee of the last year, authorizing the infliction of corporal punishment, but not approving its frequent use, although strong objections were then prevalent against it, has been continued, and, so far as we are advised, without complaint. The teachers were advised of, and understood their liabilities to answer to the law, and they as clearly understood, that, in any case of resistance and insubordination, so much force must be applied, as should be necessary to enforce obedience to their reasonable requisitions. For the past year, however, the instructers of the male high schools say, that the more than usual interest manifested by parents, and their more cordial cooperation, have contributed, not a little, to render the discipline and instruction of their schools, comparatively, easy and pleasant. *

* *

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-JOHN MERRILL, HENRY JOHNSON, L. F. DIMMICK, AMOS TAPPAN, ISAAC H. BOARDMAN, ELEAZER JOHNSON, 3d.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 204–In Winter, 137. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 125-In Winter, 78. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 216.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 25.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 19. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 22 mths. 14 days.—In Summer, 17—In Winter, 5 14. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 1—F. 3.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 2-F. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $27 00-To Females, $10 Co. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $12 00-Of Females, $5 00.

(9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $18 00-Of Females, $5 00. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $430 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, $

-Average No. of

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 2.-Aggregate of months kept, 6.-Average No. of Scholars,

-Aggre

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Webster. Reading-First Class Book, Young Reader. Grammar-Murray's, Parker's. Geography-Olney's. Arithmetic-Greenleaf's, Smith's, Colburn's.

REMARKS. The column in regard to "unincorporated Academies, Private Schools," &c. is not filled up. It is stated, however, that, "generally, a Private Female School is taught in District No. 1, during the vacations in the Public Schools." Also, that "a Private School, of about thirty scholars, has been taught two quarters during the past year, at the expense of $150 per quarter." Upon this statement the Abstract is made as nearly correct as is practicable, from the imperfect data given.

The town appropriated $80, the interest of the Surplus Revenue, for the support of schools.