BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Emerson's 1st and 2d Parts. Reading-Pierpont's Series, Testament. Grammar-Smith's and Ingersoll's. Geography-Olney's, Malte-Brun's and Parley's. Arithmetic-Emerson's, Colburn's, Adams' and Smith's. All others-Walker's Dictionary, &c.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * There has been no winter school in this district under the superintendence of your committee. After they had repeatedly asked why the school did not begin at the usual time, and when it would commence, they were at length, about the last of January, informed, by Abel Jewet, that, for reasons satisfactory to their district, but which he did not state, it would no longer be subject to the same regulations as the other schools in town. Your committee, as required by the statute, did what they could to establish a school according to law. They endeavored, but without success, to persuade the elders or deacons there to re-consider their decision touching the school, and to place it, as the law directs, under their care. They next engaged a well-qualified teacher to take charge of the school, but upon appearing with him in the district in order to his beginning the school, they were informed that he could have a room and board, but would have no scholars if he should remain. Your committee, therefore, did not pursue the matter further, judging that to continue him there without scholars, and pay him for the same, would be a useless and unjustifiable expenditure of time and money.†

*

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-GEORGE FISHER, WASHINGTON GILbert, Moses Curtis.

It may be proper to remark concerning this District, that it is entirely constituted of the Shaker family. They have a new "Gift," or, what is more probable, have received an edict from the "higher powers" in their community, which, rather than to incur the hazard of violating, they have surrendered, during the current year, the sum of seventy-five dollars, being their part of the money raised for the support of schools. This edict requires them to perpetrate a kind of educational nullification,—to withdraw their school from under the restraints imposed by the laws of the Commonwealth.

HOLDEN,

{

(1) Population, 1,874. Valuation, $528,907 98. Number of Public Schools, 12.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 429-In Winter, 509. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 333-In Winter, 388.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 492.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 51.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 106. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 62 mths.-In Summer, 35 14-In Winter, 26 14. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 12.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 6—F. 7. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $26 50-To Females, $14 11. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $7 50-Of Females, $6 58.

(9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $19 00—Of Females, $7 53. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $800 00.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 4.-Aggregate of months kept, 8-Average No. of Scholars, 90.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $171 00.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $3,400 00.-Income from same, $204 00.

BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-Webster's. Reading-New York and Franklin Primers, Child's Guide, Intelligent and Porter's Rhetorical, American First Class Book. Grammar-Pond's Murray's. Geography-Olney's and Malte-Brun's. Arithmetic-Emerson's and Adams'.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. The first point to which your committee would refer in making their annual report, is that, by a vote of the town, passed a year since, only $800 instead of $1000, as in past years, were raised for schools. This was done in consideration of some other extraordinary expenses. This reduction of one fifth the ordinary amount has been very manifest in its effects upon the interests of the schools; and it has been equally plain, too, that many of the citizens of the town were better pleased with the vote than with the effect of it. * * *

Some think that the school tax is an unjust burden to be placed upon such as have no children to be benefited by the money which is expended. There would be justice in the complaint if such were in no way benefited by the money which they are called upon to pay. But is it so? Is there a citizen of this town whose circumstances would be as favorable without Common Schools as with them? Would it be as well for any one if all the children of this town were to grow up in ignorance, with none of the capabilities and restraints of education? Would property then be as valuable as now? Would there be equal safety? How long would a respectable man be willing to live in such society? The school tax should not be regarded by any one, whether he have children to educate or not, in the light of charity; but rather, like the money which is raised to build navies and fortifications, a means of self-defence, and for the promotion of self-interest. * *

*

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-WM. P. PAINE, DAVID DAVIS, AUGUSTUS ROBBINS, CHAS. L. KNOWLTon.

HUBBARDSTON,

{

(1) Population, 1,784. Valuation, $411,458 75. Number of Public Schools, 12.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 442-In Winter, 606. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 338-In Winter, 452.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 575.-No of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 36.—No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 100. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 73 mths. 24 days.-In Summer, 30 7-In Winter, 43 17. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 11.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 8—F. 6. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $25 11-Tó Females, $12 24. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $6 48-Of Females, $5 56.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $18 62-Of Females, $6 69. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $1,128 00.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $50 00.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 4.-Aggregate of months kept, 73-Average No. of Scholars, 97.—Aggregate paid for tuition, $187 50.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $1,200 00.-Income from same, $72 00.

(15) Income of Surplus Revenue appropriated to Schools, $210 00.

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Cummings', Emerson's Introduction, and Walker's Dictionary. Reading-Young and National, Introduction to National and American First Class Book. Grammar-Smith's. Geography-Smith's, Olney's and Parley's. Arithmetic-Adams', Smith's, Colburn's First Lessons and Emerson's First Part. All others-Blake's and Comstock's Philosophies, Comstock's Chemistry, Watts on the Mind, Goodrich's History of the U.S.

SELECTION FROM REPORT. * * As the appropriation of funds, by the town, for the past year, was more liberal than usual, the schools have been continued for a longer term of time than usual, and, in most cases, have been conducted so as to meet the general approbation of your committee.

*

*

*

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-SAMUEL GAY, WM. BENNETT, JR., EPHRAIM STOW.

498.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 389-In Winter, (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 283-In Winter, 387. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 487.-No. of persons under 4

years of age who attend School, 38.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 77.

(5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 73 mths.-In Summer, 39-In Winter, 34.

(6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 11.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 11-F. 1. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $26 89-To Females, $10 80. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $7 61-Of Females, $5 14.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $19 28-Of Females, $5 66. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $1,400 00.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $19 05.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 10.-Aggregate of months kept, 38.-Average No. of Scholars, 133.—Aggregate paid for tuition, $2,278 00.

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Leonard's. Reading-Young and Rhetorical, Introduction to National, American First Class and Young Ladies' Class Books. Grammar-Frost's, Smith's and Ingersoll's. Geography-Parley's, Worcester's, Olney's and Malte-Brun's. ArithmeticColburn's First Lessons, Emerson's, Smith's and Adams'. All others-Walker's Dictionary, Wilkins' Astronomy, Blake's and Swift's Philosophies, Whelpley's Compend, Day's Algebra, &c.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * The sub-committee for the examination of teachers, thought it best that all of them should be examined, whether they had taught in town before and were in possession of an old certificate or not, because an incompetent instructer might sacrifice the dearest interests of a district, under a mistaken or obsolete certificate, and because teachers will be likely to revive their knowledge if they know they are to be reëxamined. The teachers were examined with care as to their competency in knowledge. Skill in teaching, the most important qualification, is not easily ascertained, except by authentic evidence of past success, or by seeing the teacher actually at his business. His modes of teaching and managing may indeed be asked; and a judicious investigation into this matter, and suggestions from a competent committee, may be of great benefit to him and his school. The general information of the teachers was pretty satisfactory, but their knowledge of education as a science, or even as an art, was much less competent. Special training to their business would raise the teachers of Massachusetts, and the State with them, far above their present level.

The prudential committees have a very serious trust committed to them; for, this winter, of two teachers of literary qualifications too respectable to be rejected by the examining committee, one has accomplished as much towards the education of his school in three weeks, as another in six. For a district, then, to save a dollar or two per month in a teacher's wages, at the expense of the minds and hearts of their children, is not even worldly wisdom,—not even so wise as selfishness.

Many more visits have been made to the schools than the number required by law. At these visits, which have been a pleasure as much as a duty, it has been our wish to go into the very nature of the different modes of teaching of various instructers, and to improve, if possible, these means of acting upon mental and moral character. If we found a good method of securing attention to recitations, amounting to a discipline in concentration of mind; or of creating or enhancing interest in study, to do which requires great skill in teaching; or any mode of successfully developing mind or heart, we gave confirmation to the instructer's practice. If we thought of better plans, we frankly recommended them. We have earnestly endeavored, by faithfulness in visiting and examining schools, and by the most effective appeals we could make to the consciences and worthy pride of teachers and pupils, to make these simple seminaries, in the unpretending obscurity of our by-ways, the genial nurseries of virtue, intelligence and prosperity. * * *

* A good usage prevailed here, as well as in some of the other schools, viz. pupils in classes corrected each other's mistakes in reading and recitations, a practice tending to make them more careful that they may avoid criticism, and to fix attention upon the exercises. A word misspelled by a pupil, or by several, and corrected, was then spelled again by any that failed before, until they were correct. It is often the case that children do not observe corrections

and explanations intended for them. Let the teacher test them, and, instead of teaching only one out of a class at a time, make sure of the attention of all to the whole exercise. * * *

*

Our teachers have generally been able and faithful, anxious to know their duty and to do it. Many of them, during the winter, have visited each other's schools, with the laudable purpose of improving their own modes of teaching. They were enabled to do this by keeping school all day on one Saturday, and thus being at liberty the next. * They have had an honorable ambition to be good teachers, and to be sure of succeeding in their enterprise. To such laborious and faithful public servants, who have been at work upon mines richer than gold, working out the future virtues, intelligence and respectability of this community, we tender our sincere gratitude.

* * *

We could wish that our citizens were more suitably impressed with the momentous importance of keeping these noble institutions, the great sources of public and private prosperity and happiness, carefully in mind, and of encouraging and improving them in every proper way. We have this winter seen children show beautiful scholarship at an examination, but no parent was present to be gratified by the sight, and incited to new diligence in their behalf. We have seen them ignorant and careless, among animated and well-taught companions, when they have been letting their own bright opportunities pass away fruitless forever; but no parent was there to be aroused, by his son's sad inferiority and calamitous neglect, to exert every nerve for that child's best inheritance, a good education. We have been pleased at the presence and cooperation of many parents and other persons. We wish that it were still more the practice of the residents of a district to come forth and see how this, its leading interest, is provided for. It betokens a healthy state of public sentiment on the great subject of education, and enhances, in the minds of children, the value of their inestimable privileges, which they so inadequately appreciate. Let the people present themselves in mass on the day of examination habitually, and prudential committees, teachers and pupils will surely feel more sensibly the magnitude of their duties. * *

*

As some new modes of teaching are beginning to be introduced, especially by the Normal School teachers, we would bespeak a kind forbearance on the part of our citizens that these attempts to improve the education of our children may have a fair trial. Let not the confidence of parents and pupils be hastily withdrawn from a teacher, and his ability to benefit his school be thus mainly cut off, and the great business of educating the youth of a district prove almost a failure, when, with kind indulgence, it might at least be tolerably successful. Let not a teacher be pronounced ignorant and incompetent because he teaches on a new plan. The elder pupils may greatly injure a teacher with the whole school, by rashly condemning him before they have fully tried him. Modes of teaching may be improved. The practice of defining words and calling the attention of classes to the meaning of what they read and recite, is of the greatest value; but it is comparatively new in our schools, and by no means yet fully used. We believe that, if words are good for any thing, it is for their meaning. In the education of our children, then, let the memory be joined in strict alliance with the understanding, and let reading and even spelling be enlivened by constant reference to the ideas conveyed by the words. This may be done with all the classes in school. * * *

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-Wм. H. BROOKS, JOHN M. WASHBURN, SILAS THURSTON, LUKE BIGELOW, FORDYCE NOURSE, RIGHT CUMMINGS.

LEICESTER,

{

(1) Population, 1,707. Valuation, $687,952 63. Number of Public Schools, 9.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 386-In Winter, 407.

(3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 263-In Winter, 286.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 453.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 44.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 36.

(5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 63 mths.-In Summer, 36 7-In Winter, 26 21. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 11.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 8—F. 4. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board--To Males, $22 78-To Females, $11 06. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $6 00-Of Females, $4 95.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $16 78-Of Females, $6 11. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $1,170 00.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $15 00.

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 12.—Average number of Scholars, 120.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $2,408 00.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 12.-Average No. of Scholars, 20.—Aggregate paid for tuition, $160 00.

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Introduction to National and National. Reading-Child's Guide, Introduction to National, American First Class Book and Testament. Grammar-Pond's Murray's. Geography-Parley's and Olney's. Arithmetic-North American First Part, Smith's and Adams'. All others-Goodrich's History of the U. S., Sullivan's Political Class Book, Worcester's Dictionary.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * Your committee would therefore strongly urge upon the prudential committee, great circumspection and care in the selection of a teacher. * * They would say, select not only such an one as is supposed to be suitably qualified in a literary point of view, but one in whose good temper, kindly disposition and self-possession you can confide. Your committee ask indulgence while they call the attention of the town to one or two topics more relating to that great interest, our Common Schools.

* *

*

It is their deliberate opinion, and every year's experience confirms them in it, that the cause of education would be essentially promoted if the amount of compensation should be so far raised that the service of the best-qualified teachers may be secured. While the encouragement is small, teachers of this class will, to a considerable extent, either avoid the employment altogether, or bring into it less effort and zeal than they ought, or seek for schools where the pay is more liberal.

Your committee being also impressed with the importance of a mutual understanding and a cordial coöperation on the part of all who are immediately concerned in the management of the schools, recommend that, as soon as convenient after their appointment, the towns and the several prudential committees have a meeting for free conversation in regard to the great interests entrusted to them. By such a meeting much information might be communicated, and many suggestions made that would essentially aid all in discharging their respective duties.

* * *

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.—JOHN NELSON, SAMUEL MAY.

LEOMINSTER,

{

(1) Population, 2,069. Valuation, $606,294 93. Number of Public Schools, 12.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 422-In Winter, 574. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 339-In Winter, 487.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 503.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 38.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 84. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 66 mths. 17 days.-In Summer, 31 21—In Winter, 34 24. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. —F. 11.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 8-F. 5. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $28 00-To Females, $11 93. (8) Average value of board per month—Of Males, $8 00–Of Females, $5 73. (9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $20 00-Of Females, $6 20. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $1,200 00.