explanations. But to do this, every schoolhouse must be furnished with one or more black-boards, on which questions can be worked out before a whole class. To hear a class, will be often better for the teacher, than to work out questions for individuals; a saving of time, and then the whole would have the benefit. Sometimes, too, an older scholar may work out a question on the black-board for a younger, and save the teacher's time. The black-board will often be needed, also, by the teacher, to draw maps, to write directions for all the school, themes for writing, and frequent daily illustrations in teaching, so that no school ought to be without a black-board. The teacher ought to spend some part of his evenings in preparing practical questions in arithmetic, in addition to what are in the books,-in store accounts, interest, &c., to be copied on slips of paper, or written on the black-board, for the classes to work out; also, miscellaneous questions, to exercise their ingenuity in devising rules to perform them. The books do not make arithmetic sufficiently practical. All the tables should be recited, till the whole school are familiar with them. The want of this deprives men in active life of much of the advantage of this science. *

If all teachers were qualified, too, to open and close the school with singing, or a short prayer, their good moral influence, and the ease of government would be greatly increased.

One more topic, that of schoolhouses, and we will close. When we say all our schoolhouses are more or less inconvenient, in their internal construction, we say only what every one must know, who has carefully attended to the subject. Seats are too high, and without backs, in many cases; desks are too high, badly arranged, houses too small, out of repair, and unpleasantly situated, -these are some of their defects. If parents could only have their minds fixed upon the uncomfortable state of these houses, and feel some of the children's pains and aches in consequence; or compare them with the conveniences of their meeting-houses, or of their own dwellings, or of their barns, it seems as if they would be ready to do something for their improvement. They need not wonder that children do not love to go to school any better. If a few dollars could be laid out in a year, the houses would soon be greatly improved. But especially do the larger schools need class rooms, where the teacher may send some classes to be heard by a monitor.

* *

Every school should have a bell; it is necessary to insure punctuality. If every factory, where there are forty hands at work, must have a bell, costing from thirty to a hundred dollars, then every school can afford to have a large handbell, costing a dollar or two. Every prudential committee ought to buy one, the first thing he does after the house is repaired; and the teacher, even, could afford to pay the expense, for the trouble saved to him every month would be more than its cost.

Most schoolhouses need an aperture, in the ceiling, for ventilation. Sometimes they will get too warm, and then it is necessary, for it is dangerous to health, to open doors, or even to let down a window, much more to raise one. Nature is bountiful of vital air, and why should we be unwilling that children, in school, should enjoy it? Crowd together in a small and low room, fifty or sixty children, and let a person enter that room after it has been closed one hour, and he will immediately suffer from the impurity of the atmosphere, which has been repeatedly breathed; he will be oppressed with drowsiness and languor, which it will be impossible to throw off, till he again breathes the fresh air. Hence it is necessary that the air should be changed, by letting that which is impure and the lightest, escape at the top. * * *

The committee must be willing to work long and hard, before all that needs to be done, is effected. Prudential committees need to do their duty faithfully, in getting good teachers, repairing houses, &c., but especially in visiting the school often. Parents have something, also, to do,-all have a part,—and if each will come up to the work like one man, and do his part, the work may be done. Parents may encourage punctual and regular attendance,―get children to study evenings, question them about their studies and visit the schools,-yes, visit the schools, to encourage the teacher and scholars. If you have never seen the inside of the schoolhouse, during school, let every one have the courage to go in, at least, once a year. We cannot suppose that there are any parents that are not interested in the education of their children,-that are willing to have

them grow up in ignorance. Some are more interested than others, but there is no one who does not love the esteem of his neighbors, or the welfare of his children. * * We must believe that every parent, if he is interested in the subject, may be willing to give his children the best education the district school can afford. We cannot suppose that for the want of a few cents for a book, or for necessary repairs, they would expose their children's health, or deprive them of great advantages. Parents have not had their attention called to the evils of our schools, or to the remedy. But let them go and sit in the schoolhouse one day, and they would be quick to do something. It is not the thrifty farmer that leaves his fences down to have his crops destroyed, or his barns with boards and shingles off to spoil them when gathered, and his granary open to the vermin and cattle. It is not the parent and school district that feel a deep interest in the education of the rising generation, that leave the schoolhouse inconvenient and out of repair, or the little learners without books,-the tools they work with,—when the evil is known and the remedy devised. Let each one do what he can, and what he knows to be his duty and for his interest, and we may have the satisfaction of seeing our schools, by the Divine smiles, soon elevated, and carrying numerous blessings to every house and every child; and blessings which shall endure to the latest generation.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-E.W. Robinson, Benj. Crane, Jr., ALDEN HATHAWAY, JR,

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 235—In Winter, 353.

(3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 170-In Winter, 257.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 367.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 22.—No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 21.

(5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 36 mths.-In Summer, 17-In Winter, 19.

(6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 6.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 5—F. 4, (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $25 73-To Females, $14 29. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $8 40-Of Females, $6 44.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $17 33-Of Females, $7 85. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $679 75.

(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 number of

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 2.-Aggregate of months kept, 4-Average No. of Scholars, 45.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $20.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $1,000 00.-Income from same, $60 00.

BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-Emerson's New National and Introduction, Worcester's Primer. Reading-New Testament, National Reader, Introduction to the same, Young Reader. Grammar-Smith's Productive. Geography-Woodbridge's Universal, Olney's, Smith's and Parley's. Arithmetic-Emerson's Series and Smith's. All others-History, Parley's Series, Goodrich's U. S., Blake's Philosophy, Watts on the Mind, Comstock's Astronomy, Blake's Chemistry and Webster's Dictionary.

REMARK.-The fund belongs to one district.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT.

* *

District No. 1.

*

* The schoolhouse is considered by your committee to be in a good condition, for the number of scholars that usually attend.

* # *

District No. 6. * * Schoolhouse very poor; they need a new one. It cannot be expected that children will pay proper attention to study, when confined in a house having no convenience, and which time and the hands of youth

have mostly rent asunder. The house we should think hardly fit for a stable, much less for a school-room. * * *

We believe that much of the money, that is appropriated for the Public Schools in this town, is thrown away by the injudicious management of agents, in neglecting to find and engage intelligent, active, and well educated teachers, at least the season previous to the term; consequently, they are obliged to take such as they can get at the time, and often have to pay them more wages than if they were seasonably engaged. A decidedly bad influence is also exerted by parents neglecting to visit the schools themselves, and by their failing, in many instances, to cooperate with the teachers in their labors, in the steady attendance of their children, and neglecting to procure the necessary books for their use; also, by the poor condition and bad construction of our schoolhouses. * * * Parents are bound to secure the steady attendance of their children, during the term. This is an essential part of their duty. Perhaps there is nothing which contributes so largely to the perplexities of a teacher, and to the injury of our Public Schools, as irregular attendance. Nothing but sickness should be an excuse for absence. And besides this, it seems to us, there can be no good reason for keeping a scholar from school. It damps our minds to witness for what trivial causes many of the children are kept from our schools. Who can compute the amount of idle habits in study, having their foundation in that indifference to education, which for some trifling errand, permits the child to be away from his class, and thus practically teaches him to attach little importance to education or study. * *

*

Your committee are decidedly of the opinion, that districts No. 4 and 5 * would appropriate their money more advantageously, if the scholars above ten years of age, in both districts, were united, and formed into a separate school and put under the tuition of a male teacher; and all under ten years, formed into separate schools, and put under the care of female teachers. This arrange. ment has been adopted in other towns, with signal advantages to the senior and junior classes of the scholars.

*

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-JONATHAN FARR, SAMUEL HUNT, WILLIAM F. PERRY, JaCOB DEAN, ALBERT MORTON.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer 1,445-In Winter, 1,443. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 1,139-In Winter, 1,144.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 2,707.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 13.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 30. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 234 mths.-In Summer, 120-In Winter, 114. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 8—F. 22.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 10-F. 21. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $49 66—To Females, $21 04. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $14 00-Of Females, $7 44. (9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $35 66—Of Females, $13 60. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $11,600.

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

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 12.-Average number of Scholars, 50-Aggregate paid for tuition, $2,000.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 34.-Aggregate of months kept, 274.-Average No. of Scholars, 633.-Aggre. gate paid for tuition, $5,029.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Cummings'. Reading-Pierpont's Young Reader, Worcester's Primer, 2d, 3d and 4th Books, Porter's Rhetorical Reader. Grammar-Parker's and Exerci

ses. Geography-Hall's, Smith's, Woodbridge's and Willard's. Arithmetic-Emerson's 1st, 2d and 3d Books. All others-Goodrich's History, Wilkins' and Guy's Astronomy, Webster's Dictionary, Bailey's and Colburn's Algebra, Foster's and Robinson's Book-keeping, Wayland's Moral Science and Political Economy, Sullivan's Political Class Book, Comstock's Natural Philosophy, Tytler's General History, Pierce's Trigonometry, Pierce and Grund's Geometry, Newman's Rhetoric, Keith on the Globes.

REMARKS.-The thirty-four schools returned under the head of Private Schools, are all kept by females. A large portion of the children in these schools are under 4 years of age.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * The school committee * * are gratified to have it in their power to state, that the institutions, with the care of which they have been charged, have been silently, but efficiently fulfilling the design of their establishment. Their history, for the past year, has been marked by no unusual or striking event; and, in relation to their condition generally, we have only to say, that it has been quite as satisfactory to those who have watched them with the deepest interest, as at any former period

Most of the schoolhouses are in good order, convenient both in situation and internal arrangement; and they reflect credit upon the liberality of our citizens. Two of them, however, require notice upon this occasion. That on William street is unfavorably located, and we feel that we should neglect an urgent duty were we to omit stating, as our firm conviction, that the children attending that school are deprived of a large part of the benefit they might derive from it, if it were situated on some more favorable spot. Placed as it is, in the immediate vicinity of a steam engine, trip hammer and other annoyances, the amount of interruption 'occasioned can only be appreciated by those who visit the school. * * *

The committee desire to impress on the minds of parents, and they feel that they cannot do it too strongly, the necessity of manifesting a greater interest in the progress and improvement of their children. Too many suppose, that when they have once placed the child within the doors of the schoolhouse, their part of the great work of instruction is accomplished; and they rarely, if ever, visit the school again. The child, having such strong evidence of parental indifference before his eyes, becomes equally careless, and indifferent to his daily tasks, and at length, the parent discovers, that much precious time has been wasted without any apparent profit.

If parents could be induced to call at the schools, to watch over their general conditiou, to inquire into the detail of their administration, to hear some of the classes, and, by their presence, to show that they really feel the interest so generally professed, in the moral and intellectual condition of their offspring, they would do more to promote the efficiency of our schools, than the annual outlay of much money could accomplish.

It has for many years been the practice of the committee, to give public notice of the regular quarterly examinations, and to invite all, who feel an interest in the subject, to attend. The result has been, that, at some of the schools, not a parent has attended; in others, one or two only; and the greatest number ever assembled at an examination of one of the primary schools has not exceeded thirty. The presence of a numerous company, upon these occasions, would have a most salutary effect, both upon teachers and pupils; and it is hoped, that our successors may have the pleasure of seeing a more general indication of interest in this matter, not only on examination days, but every day. The schools are always open for the admission of the parents and friends of the pupils, and their frequent attendance is most earnestly desired.

Another particular, to which we feel constrained to ask the attention of parents, is the lamentable want of attendance, which so generally prevails in our schools Is it not in the power of parents, to do much to prevent this great, this incalculable waste of time and money? Cau they not, by refraining from employing their children upon trifling and frivolous occasions during school hours, in some degree promote their more regular and punctual attendance? Upon the parents, alone, the responsibility of this matter must rest.

The com

mittee have done all in their power to prevent the evil, and they now call upon parents and guardians for their coöperation.

*

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-THOS. A. GREENE, SAMUEL RODMAN, S. MENIHEW, GEO. W. BAKER, HENRY H. CRAPO, JAMES B. CONGDON, PELEG CLARK, WILLIAM HOWE, HORATIO A. KEMPTON, BENJ. S. ROTCH, J. H. W. PAGE.

NORTON,

(1) Population, 1,530. Valuation, $379,568 75. Number of Public Schools, 8.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 345-In Winter, 403. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 230-In Winter, 270.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 395.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 24.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 40. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 37 mths. 7 days.-In Summer, 18 14-In Winter, 18 21. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 8.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 8-F. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $25 56-To Females, $11 00. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $6 69-Of Females, $4 46.

(9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $18 87-Of Females, $6 54. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $700.

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

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 11.-Average No. of Scholars, 45.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $900.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 3.-Aggregate of months kept, 10.-Average No. of Scholars, 90.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $105 55.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-Cummings', Emerson's. Reading-Testament, First Class Book. Grammar-Alger's, Murray's, Smith's. Arithmetic-Adams, Smith's. All others-Watts on the Mind, Comstock's Philosophy, Blake's Astronomy.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. The great object of schools is, to fit and prepare the subjects of them, not only to become wiser and better, but to qualify them to be good citizens, useful to the community in which they reside, and ornaments to society. While discharging our duties, we were gratified to find that the general appearances of our schools were respectable, and in most instances creditable to teachers and scholars. But we would observe, that a deficiency appeared on the part of the scholars, in not understanding the subject matter of many of their studies. We found many pupils who appeared more anxious to pass quickly over, than thoroughly to comprehend, their lessons. This remark applies more particularly to the study of arithmetic. We also say that the exercise of reading, in some of our schools, seemed more a mechanical, than a mental performance,-being confined to the mere calling of words, which conveyed no ideas to the mind. We mention these things, in order that all to whom the education of the young is entrusted, may labor to correct them. But while we are happy to report that most of our schools are in a prosperous condition, and have been improving the past year; and whilst we have the cheering belief that the public mind has here been aroused from the apathy, it has heretofore manifested on this subject; still, many things which have an important bearing on their future prosperity, constrain us to say that much remains to be done, before our schools will become what they may,-and in fact what they ought to be. And we desire at this time, to awaken a deeper interest in the cause of education, by pointing out, in a friendly manner, some of the defects in our present system, which must be corrected, or much of our labor and expense will be inevitably lost.

1st. The irregular attendance of the scholars, is a great injury to our

schools. *