number belonging to the school, and the number attending, must be averaged on the whole, and the result will show, as in fact it proved, that the school, taken together, remained where it was, or if there was any difference, it had gone backward.

And finally, we would ask parents to visit the schools oftener. Visit them at all hours, at any time; the good teacher will be happy to see you, and the poor one may profit by your advice, if given in a right spirit. Recollect, that here you have placed your children, your greatest jewels, to receive an education; here they are to fit themselves, either to be ornaments to society, and a blessing to the world, or a scourge and a disgrace to the community. And is it possible that parents will not take an interest sufficient to visit them in their nurseries of learning? You watch with the greatest care, their progress in other branches of learning, on your farms and in your work-shops, but the development of the mind, you leave to other hands.

We do sincerely hope, that in all future examinations of schools, we shall meet the fathers and mothers there, and we do trust that our Common Schools will become what our fathers intended they should become, the cradles of a virtuous and enlightened nation.

* * *

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.—ANTHONY COLLAMORE, HORACE COLLAMORE, STEPHEN P. GIFFORD.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer 978—In Winter, 1,165. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 668-In Winter, 831. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 1,422.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, .-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 64. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 250 mths. 10 dys.-In Summer, 137 14-In Winter, 112 24. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 4-F. 23.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 16—F. 15. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $31 15-To Females, $13 61. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, 89 15-Of Females, $6 09.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $22 00-Of Females, $7 52. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $5,000.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $771 44. (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, 16.-Aggregate of months kept, 1534.-Average No. of Scholars, 296.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $2,116 80.

Gram

BOOKS USED.D.-Spelling-Emerson's National. Reading-Worcester's 2d and 3d Books, Young Reader and Introduction, American First Class Book, Pope's Essay on Man. mar-Smith's. Geography-Smith's, Olney's, Goodrich's with Maps, Peter Parley's, Boston School Atlas. Arithmetic-Colburn's 1st Lessons, Emerson's 1st, 2d and 3d Parts, North American and Smith's. All others-Colburn's and Bailey's Algebra, Hitchcock's Book-keeping, Book of Commerce, Worcester's General History, Parker's Natural Philosophy, Paley's Natural Theology, Wayland's Political Economy, Dillaway's Roman Antiquities, Walker's and Worcester's Dictionaries, Abercrombie's Intellectual Philosophy and the usual Elementary Works in Greek, Latin and French.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * The committee suggest the expediency of distributing the school money on the principle of the average attendance in the respective districts of the preceding year. The school money is designed for those who attend the schools, and not for those who do not attend. The effect of adopting this principle of distribution, may be the increase of the average attendance, and that is the object of the suggestion. #

The committee adverted last year, to the deficiencies in the degree and quality of instruction, occasioned by a subdivision of the town into too great a number of small districts. They would again respectfully present this evil to the notice of the town.

Eel river, instead of four districts, had better constitute but one, with schools located as they now are and kept by females, for the younger children, and one of a higher grade for those in more advanced standing.

The Central, Training Green, and Wellingsley, might well constitute a single district, with subordinate schools located as they now are, and schools of the first character, conveniently situated for the whole village.

* * *

There is one other matter to which we would invite public attention, and that is, the number of children in the town that are brought up in the neglect of all instruction. This is a great evil, and it is very difficult to suggest a remedy that will be at all adequate to its removal. We are quite apprehensive that the law, making it an offence to employ children under fifteen years of age, without affording them day schooling for three months during the year, fails of its proposed effect, through want of attention on the part of those conducting these establishments. We suggest the expediency, when the census is taken, to ascertain the number of children under fifteen years employed in manufacturing establishments-designating the establishment-who have not attended school, according to the requirement of that law.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-WILLIAM THOMAS, DANIEL JACKSON, Gustavus GILBERT, SCHUYLER SAMPSON.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 177-In Winter, 223. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 129—In Winter, 186.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 258.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 6.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 31. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 44 mths. 1 day.-In Summer, 26 14-In Winter, 17 15. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 6.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 6—F. 1. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $22 82-To Females, $10 05. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $6 16-Of Females, $4 76.

(9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $16 66-Of Females, $5 29. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $400.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $156 01.

(12) No. of incorporated Academies,

-Aggregate of months kept, -Average No. of

Scholars, -Aggregate paid for tuition, $

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 2.-Aggregate of months kept, 14.-Average No. of Scholars, 50.—Aggregate paid for tuition, $40 50.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

.-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Emerson's New National. Reading-Worcester's Series of Reading Books, 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th, the New Testament and others. Grammar-Smith's. Geography-Smith's. Arithmetic-Greenleaf's, Emerson's North American, 1st and 2d Parts. All others--Webster's School Dictionary, The Child's First Book of History, Goodrich's His tory of the U. S., Blake's Philosophy and others, Cummings' First Lessons in Astronomy and

others.

REMARK.--"The sum of $81 54, being the interest of the town's proportion of the Surplus Revenue, was applied to the support of schools."

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * Your committee have visited and examined all the Public Schools in Plympton, the past year, as often as the law requires. * The spelling books are very deficient, in rules for teaching

*

elementary principles; of course school teachers find it difficult to teach them to their scholars, with that facility which they could do, if books furnished rules, and examples for teaching them.

Last summer your committee drew up some rules for the better teaching of the elementary principles of orthography, and gave a copy to each of the teachers of the summer and winter schools, to be returned when the schools ended.

One of your committee visited once, each of the winter schools, with an artificial globe, and lectured to the scholars, on the uses and advantages of it.

We think it very desirable, and would be very beneficial to scholars, to have each of our schoolhouses furnished with artificial globes, and other apparatus. Globes are calculated to give scholars a more clear, distinct, and definite idea of the earth and its component parts, and the relative situation of different countries to each other, than they get from maps.

Your committee are also of opinion, that geometrical and other figures, posted up on the walls of our schoolhouses, or otherwise used, would be beneficial to scholars in some of their studies.

At a meeting of your committee last November, it was voted to recommend to the school teachers, to devote, weekly, a certain portion of time exclusively to reading, with a view to improve the scholars in good reading, and a copy of their vote was given to each school teacher. We have the pleasure to find, that there is evidently some improvement in reading, among many of the scholars. We also have the satisfaction of finding, that there is a gradual improvement in the method of teaching and conducting schools.

*

Your committee would invite your attention to the consideration of one subject, perhaps not generally known or understood among us ;—that is, the establishinent of School District Libraries. Our Legislature has provided by law, but without compulsion, for the establishment of such libraries; and has authorized school districts to raise a certain sum for that purpose, and, from time to time, to make an addition to that sum.

Books are prepared, and are now preparing, under the direction of the Board of Education, to supply school districts with libraries, which are calculated to improve our youth in science, good morals and usefulness. The books are to be free from sectarian principles; so that no denomination will have occasion to complain of them, on account of sectarianism.

It is well known that a large portion of the reading of our youth, consists of books of a light and vain character, not calculated to improve their minds in useful knowledge and morality, and fit them to be useful in society; but to produce in them vanity, pride, immorality, profanity and obscenity.

As parents regard the respectability and happiness of their children, and their own comfort, they should provide useful information, and place it within their reach. This, the establishment of libraries would do. Is it, then, too much to hope, that every school district will soon be furnished with the books already prepared for such libraries; and that those who are coming forward to active life, will avail themselves of this mode of instruction; and that they will be prepared to fill, with honor and usefulness, the places they may occupy in society?

*

*

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-ELIJAH DEXTER, MARTIN HAYWARD, Lewis Bradford.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools,-In Summer, 288-In Winter, 942. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 234-In Winter, 719. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 975-No. of persons under 4

years of age who attend School, 47.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 150. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 94 mths. 4 days.-In Summer, 23 7-In Winter, 70 25. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M.-F. 9.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 18-F. 5. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $28 17-To Females, $15 50.

(8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $8 22-Of Females, $7 75.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $19 95-Of Females, $7 75. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $1,400.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $227.

(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, Aggregate of months kept, 91.-Average No. of Scholars,

gate paid for tuition, $1,092.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

.-Income from same, $

.-Aggre

BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-National, Webster's. Reading-New Testament, Porter's Rhetorical Reader, Young Reader and others. Grammar-Smith's. Geography-Adams'. All others-Webster's Dictionary.

REMARKS. "Private Schools, during the summer, have been kept in nearly all the districts by females." The number of months kept and the amount paid for tuition, are the only items returned.

"The interest, amounting to $395 99, of the Surplus Revenue, is appropriated to the support of Common Schools."

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. The committee are happy to express their conviction, that there is a gradual improvement in the condition of the schools, both in the mode of instruction and the proficiency of the pupils. The keeping of a daily register of attendance, has a favorable effect in producing punctuality in the scholars, and a good proportion of them go through a season of schooling without losing a day. This punctuality of attendance has a tendency also to diminish the practice of lateness at school,—an evil, which, in some districts at least, has too much prevailed. * *

*

The reason why some teachers are employed, of lower qualifications than the committee desire, is that others are not offered for the service. The schools must be taught,--and the agents of the districts often say, that they cannot procure others. In some of the districts, the winter schools have been under the care of female teachers, who have succeeded much to the approbation of the parents and the benefit of their children. The committee are of opinion, that more female teachers could be employed to advantage. * * *

A number of the winter schools have exhibited fine specimens of writing. * * The committee believe that a due attention to this part of education in public schools, without materially interfering with other studies, may supersede the necessity of those common and expensive schools which are devoted exclusively to writing. And they have not seen sufficient evidence that persons may acquire a permanent good writing hand, by the labor of a few days.

There is still a great diversity of school-books in many of the schools, to the great inconvenience of the teacher and pupils.

* * *

One of the greatest defects in our school instruction, is the putting forward young children to studies beyond their ability, and before they have acquired those branches that ought to precede. They are studying geography, arithmetic, and history, before they can read and spell. There is no branch of education, in which there is such an extensive deficiency in our country as spelling. One reason for this is, that it is an acquirement that must be made in early life; and, if not done then, it is not done at all,

* * *

The teachers of the schools have been examined and approved, and the schools visited by the committee, as the law requires; but they regret that they are so seldom called on by the parents and friends of the pupils.

The practice of having teachers board around in families is increasing, and is much to be commended. In this way the people become acquainted with them, and take much more interest in the school, while it adds about one quarter to the term of schooling. *

* *

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-JONATHAN BIGELOW, THOMAS ROBBINS, GEO. KINg, David HATHAWAY, OAKES R. HOWES.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 811—In Winter, 1,022. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 587-In Winter, 765.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 1,064.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 26.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 23. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 176 mths. 7 days.-In Summer, 98 14-In Winter, 77 21. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 20.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 13—F. 9. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $30 53-To Females, $12 13. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $8 61-Of Females, $4 58.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, 821 92-Of Females, $7 55. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $3,000.

(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, 7.-Aggregate of months kept, 16.-Average No. of Scholars, 189.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $292.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-Worcester's 1st, 2d and 3d Books and Sequel. Reading-National Reader and First Class Book. Grammar-Smith's. Geography-Parley's and Olney's. Arithmetic-Emerson's Series, Colburn's Series, Adams' New. All others-Walker's Dictionary, Blake's Philosophy, Grund's Geometry, Conversations on Common Things, Goodrich's History.

*

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * The committee recommend that their term of service commence and end on the first of April, in each year, instead of March, as at present, for the reason, that many of the winter schools do not close until after the first of March, so that the committee, who have visited such schools during the winter, are not in office at the time of the last visit; and the new committee visit, at its close, a school, of the state of which, at its commencement and up to the first of March, they may have little knowledge. Further, the Returns to the Secretary of the Commonwealth are to be made after the close of the schools, and before the first of May; and, it would seem, they ought to be made by the committee who have visited the schools during the year, and not be the first business of the new committee. They therefore recommend, that the committee, now to be chosen, continue in office until the first of April, 1841,-and hereafter, although chosen at the March meeting, that they should not commence their duties until the first of April.

* *

*

There is, as it seems to your committee, some failure in procuring able and faithful teachers. * * *

The prevailing custom, in several districts, is to change the teachers every term. This practice your committee believe to be injurious to the welfare of the schools. This is owing, in a great measure, to the small number of persons who make teaching a profession. They take it up, sometimes, only for a short term of three or four months, without intending ever again to engage in the employment. Our schools suffer, by these means, from inefficient teachers. And even when they are so fortunate as to obtain a competent one, it requires some part of the short term he is engaged, to ascertain the different dispositions and capacities of the children. This might be saved, were he continued as long as he gave satisfaction.

In January, 1837, the school committee, in an able Report, which was printed and distributed in the town, went largely into the subject of high schools, and recommended that the town take immediate measures for their establishment. The town accepted their Report, and chose a large committee to see if it could be carried into effect. Owing to our scattered location, the committee could not find any way to accommodate the whole town, without building several more schoolhouses than the number of the children required, and nothing then