MEDFIELD,

{

(1) Population, 883. Valuation, $229,174 00. Number of Public Schools, 4.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 148—In Winter, 192. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 121-In Winter, 163.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 168.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 8.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 16. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 19 mths. 21 days.—I» Summer, 10—In Winter, 9 21. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 3.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 3—F. 1. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $33 00—To Females, $12 00. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $8 67-Of Females, $6 00.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $24 33-Of Females, $6 00. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $275 00.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $3,500 00.-Income from same, $200 00.

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Worcester's Dictionary, Parson's Analytical Vocabulary, Claggett's Expositor, Emerson's. Reading-Worcester's Series and Primer, Porter's Rhetorical. Grammar-Smith's. Geography-Olney's, Parley's and Malte-Brun's. Arithmetic-Smith's, Emerson's and Colburn's. All others-Goodrich's History of the U. S., Colburn's Algebra, Comstock's Philosophy.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * Your committee would offer a few suggestions in relation to the selection of teachers. This business belongs wholly to the prudential committee, and we recommend that more and more care and attention should be directed to this important point. It should be well considered by the districts, in their choice of officers, that it depends mainly upon the prudential committee whether we shall have, in our several schools, able, experienced, faithful and energetic teachers, or those who are wanting in some or in all of these qualities. * * In the first place, good instructers are not so plenty as to allow us to set the standard of qualification very high. In the second place, the prudential committee are not unfrequently influenced by some private consideration in the selection of teachers. Let them not postpone the selection of teachers, and the presentation of them for examination, till within a few weeks of the time when our schools are to commence. Let them, as soon as chosen, begin to look about them,—to make inquiries, far and near, and spare no pains to find tried and approved teachers; and, when such are found, let us have them, if money can hire them. And when we have enjoyed the services of an able, efficient, and successful teacher, let him be engaged again and again, and so long as he can be obtained. Let some such course as this be pursued, and the good effects of it will soon be seen in the improved condition of our schools.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-CHARLES ROBINSON, WARREN DAVIS.

MEDWAY,

{

(1) Population, 2,043. Valuation, $492,325 00. Number of Public Schools, 8.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 383-In Winter, 534.

(3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 310-In Winter, 425.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 529.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 26.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 50.

(5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 50 mths.-In Summer, 26—In Winter, 24.

(6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. —F. 8.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 7-F. 3. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $30 85-To Females, $13 54. (3) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $7 14-Of Females, $5 75.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $23 71-Of Females, $7 79. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of

Teachers, board and fuel, $1,000 00.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 3-Aggregate of months kept, 6-Average No. of Scholars, 130.-Aggre

gate paid for tuition, $268 00.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $200 00.-Income from same, $12 00.

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-National and Introduction, Emerson's Progressive Primer. Reading-National and Introduction, Worcester's Third Book, Emerson's Third Class Book, Pronouncing Testament. Grammar-Sinith's. Geography-Smith's and Parley's. ArithmeticColburn's First Lessons, Emerson's 1st and 3d Parts and Smith's. All others-Hildreth's View of the U. S. and Sequel, Walker's Dictionary.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * All these facts mark a growing interest in the cause of education, and promise high hope for the rising generation.

In the discharge of their duties, the committee have taken special pains to be present at the opening and close of the several schools, and to know, from time. to time, the actual state of their progress and success. They have labored to impress on teachers an increasing sense of their responsibility, and of the rising demands upon their attainments, and time, and efforts. Believing that no faithful teacher can be satisfied with merely appropriating the allotted hours of each day to the direct good of his pupils, they have urged upon teachers the importance of giving all their time and energies to the interests of the schools. Much time can be spent out of school, by the teacher, to great advantage, in calling on the parents and guardians, and in ascertaining their views and wishes relative to their children, in preparing writing, and in attending to the improvment of scholars in various other branches. Many things can be done by a teacher out of school, which, by being done, will give him more time to devote to his scholars in school,-will facilitate his means of doing good, and crown his efforts with greater success. The expectations of the public, on this point, are rising, and their demands upon the entire time of teachers are increasing. In a certain town in this county, a teacher made application to take a school. The prudential committee refused to hire him, because he found that he was to teach singing schools at the same time, and he felt that no teacher could do justice to his scholars while his time and attention were diverted by other engagements. This is as it should be. After some years of experience in teaching, and of observation on this subject, it is believed that the public are not expecting too much from teachers. The committee are happy to state that, from personal knowledge of some of the teachers, during the past winter, there was the entire giving up of their time and attention to the schools; that, morning and evening, they were occupied, in some way, ardently and faithfully for the good of their scholars.

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In the report of the last year, suggestions were made relative to a change in the organization of our schools;-instead of having the present number of male teachers, to employ female teachers in all the districts;-and, beside this, to secure male teachers for the three central points, of first-rate qualifications, to whom all above a specified age, or with specified attainments, may be committed. After a full and clear explanation in the report of the last year, it is only necessary to add, that the observation and experience of the committee, another year, confirm the views then taken, and lead them to the deepened conviction, that this town would receive decided benefit by the change. * Should the experiment go into successful operation, it will supersede, to a great extent, the necessity of high schools, and furnish to all the youth of the town advantages not much, if any, less than those derived at established and expensive academies. * * *

*

In the progress of the schools, the committee have been pleased to find, in so many instances, a readiness on the part of parents to cooperate with faithful teachers, and to aid them in their arduous duties. In many cases, when trifling complaints have been uttered against teachers, parents have not encouraged them, but have sustained the teachers in their efficient efforts for the good of their pupils. If there have been any exceptions to this good course, and if some parents have listened to the trivial murmurings of children and taken them from school, it is hoped that this was done without consideration, and will not be repeated in future, as such a course, if it prevail through the town,

must break up all our schools, and blast the prospects of our beloved youth. The committee feel bound to bear their testimony against such a course,—and to secure the community from exposure, they would repeat what has been heretofore expressed, the vast importance of care in the selection of teachers. It is not possible to describe the difference of results, in a given school, in a single term, between a well-qualified, faithful, active, efficient teacher, and many who have the name, and make the attempt to teach. Better, far better, have the doors of our schoolhouses closed, than to have our children gather together, and keep together, from day to day, undisciplined, ungoverned, aud forming habits of idleness, or practising feats of mischief, under the care of unqualified, unfaithful teachers. Every year the requisitions of teachers are increasing and qualifications are rising;—and with these demands, there should be increasing care in all committees, whether prudential or examining, to see that none are allowed to teach whose labors will prove an injury instead of a blessing. *

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-JACOB IDE, SEWALL Harding, David Sanford.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 291—In Winter, 314. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 202-In Winter, 239.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 370-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 23.—No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 10. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 60 mths.-In Summer, 30-In Winter, 30.

(6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 4—F. 1.—No. of Teachers in Winter—M. 5—F. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $34 63-To Females, $25 00. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $10 60-Of Females, $9 00.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $24 3-Of Females, $16 00. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $2,000 00.

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 12.—Average number of Scholars, 30.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $600 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, 24.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $240 00.

BOOKS USED-Spelling-National and Introduction, Sequel to Worcester's. ReadingWorcester's Books, American First Class, Massachusetts Book for Children, Alger's Pronounc ing Testament. Grammar-Parker's Progressive Exercises and Smith's. Geography-Hall's, Child's Book, Worcester's Epitome, Malte-Brun's. Arithmetic-Emerson's. All others-Geography of the Heavens, Worcester's and Walker's Dictionaries, Goodrich's History of the U. S. with Emerson's Questions, Blake's Philosophy, Watts on the Mind, &c.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * Those who have served longest on the committee can testify with the utmost assurance to a marked improvement in the schools generally, since they first became acquainted with their condition; and at the recent examination they felt, in the main, a degree of satisfaction which inspires them with much hope for the future. But it is only as the beginning of what is to be hoped and strenuously demanded; the symptoms of a spirit in teachers, children and parents, which, if it continues to live and grow, will soon, it is hoped, make our Public Schools what they ought to be,-the nurseries of men and women, of well developed and disciplined faculties, of sound intelligence, good morals, and correct deportment and behavior.

* * *

To secure these interests, nothing is more important than the selection of well qualified and competent teachers. They should be persons not only well instructed in the several branches of a Common School education, but devoted to a wide and generous self-culture. There is scarcely any class of our public servants, whose peculiar duties demand of them a higher standard of mental

and moral attainments. To their care and influence the minds and hearts of our children are submitted, in the most important season of their lives. The greatest benefits, or the most incalculable and irreparable mischiefs, may result from their wisdom and fidelity, on the one hand, or from their folly, incompetency and neglect, on the other.

The most accurate knowledge, and the greatest precision of mechanical routine, will not answer the end for which they are employed. They must be persons of philosophical insight, quick perception and wakeful observation, combined with an enthusiastic love for their profession, and those qualities of character, heart and manners, which will command at once the respect and love of their pupils, and present to them a safe and valuable model for imitation.— What we most want in our teachers is life, intellectual and moral. For it is life which they are to create, or quicken rather, in their pupils. A living teacher only can make a living scholar,-enkindle, that is to say, in his soul, that enthusiasm and desire for improvement, which being enkindled, his task is half completed, but which not being enkindled, his task is not even begun. Study is delightful to him whose heart burns with the love of knowledge and improvement. To one who feels no such generous glow, it is an irksome and all but profitless task. If it be possible, then,-and it is possible, if we are willing to take the pains and pay the price, let us have teachers who, possessing this enthusiasm themselves, this desire of a generous culture for their own minds and hearts, can breathe it into the souls of their pupils, can communicate it to them by the blessed contagion of growing wisdom and virtue.

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Your committee would take this opportunity to impress upon parents the importance of providing their children with suitable books. The neglect of many parents, upon this head, is matter of wonder as well as of regret. How they can expect their children to make any improvement, without this most essential means of improvement, your committee are at a loss to conceive. And they are scarcely less amazed at the fact, that parents who are inspired with a proper ambition, and are able to provide them, should be willing to let their children depend upon others for their books, when all which are necessary for their use can be obtained at such a trifling cost. They may complain that children tear and deface their books. What then? It is their duty to teach them better. In many cases, your committee are persuaded that parents are often more to blame for this than the children. They fail to exercise a proper oversight in respect to their books. They do not inquire after and examine them as often and as particularly as they should. It is to be apprehended that, expensive as they may think them, when called upon to purchase them, they are not too expensive to be employed as playthings by the smaller children of the family, and to have such care as infant discretion may extend to them. We do not think that, with proper care on the part of teachers and parents, there would ever be any occasion for urging such an excuse. But, whether there be or not, the children who have not suitable books might about as well be kept at home, for any improvement that they will be likely to make, and with great advantage to those children whose parents take care to keep them suitably provided in this particular.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-SAMUEL W. COZZENS, JOSEPH ANGIER, JOSEPH BANFIELD, JASON F. KENNEDY, DANA TUCKER.

NEEDHAM,

{ (1)

(1) Population, 1,488. Valuation, $383,056 00. Number of Public Schools, 6.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 307-In Winter, 373. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 208-In Winter, 264. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 387.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 45.—No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 27. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 47 mths. 14 days.-In Summer, 23 7—In Winter, 24 7. (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, $29 25-To Females, $12 28. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $9 28-Of Females, $6 00.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $19 97-Of Females, $6 28. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $1,200 00.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 2.-Aggregate of months kept, 15.-Average No. of Scholars, 32.—Aggregate paid for tuition, $418 00.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $1,500 00.-Income from same, $90 00.

BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-National and Introduction. Reading-Young, Rhetorical, National and Introduction, First Class Book, Bible, Easy Lessons. Grammar-Smith's and Murray's. Geography-Olney's and Parley's. Arithmetic-Smith's, Emerson's and Colburn's. All others-Goodrich's and Robbins' Histories, Blake's and Comstock's Philosophies, Blake's Astronomy, Watts on the Mind.

SELECTION FROM REPORT. * * The committee feel satisfied that, although various causes, relating to the districts and the qualifications of teachers, have operated unfavorably, yet that one of the most obvious causes is, inexperienced teachers. We would not insinuate that those who undertake school teaching, have not the literary and moral qualifications required by law. The most promising young men and women, and such as will make good teachers eventually, are frequently unacquainted with the proper management of a school, and the best means of communicating knowledge; but, because they labor cheap, are employed,-when, considering the time of the children comparatively lost, which cannot be recalled, and the little effected in the schools, they are the dearest teachers who could be employed. We value experience in men of all other professions and occupations, and in no employment can it be more important than in the arduous and difficult work of education.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-WM. RITCHIE, JOSIAH NOYES, Dexter Ware.

QUINCY,

{

(1) Population, 3,486. Valuation, $912,105 00. Number of Public Schools, 9.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 825—In Winter, 582. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 451-In Winter, 375.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 845.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 59.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 7. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 88 mths.-In Summer, 53 14-In Winter, 34 14. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 4-F. 6.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 6-F. 3. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $34 62-To Females, $14 83. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $10 83-Of Females, $6 40.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $23 79-Of Females, $8 43. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $2,450 00.

(13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 11.-Aggregate of months kept, 112.-Average No. of Scholars, 211.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $2,393 96.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $2,000 00.-Income from same, $75 00.

BOOKS USED.-Spelling-National, Worcester's and Walker's Dictionaries, Progressive Primer. Reading-Bible, Emerson's 1st, 2d and 3d Class Books, Porter's Rhetorical and Goodrich's 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th Readers. Grammar-Parker and Fox's 1st and 2d Parts, and Smith's. Geography-Parley's and Olney's. Arithmetic-Emerson's North American. All others-Bailey's Algebra, Goodrich's and Parley's Histories of the U. S.

NO SELECTION from Report.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-WM. P. LUNT, JOHN WHITNEY, CHAS. A. CUMMINGS, NOAH CURTIS, CALVIN WALCOTT, JOHN T. BURRILL, ELISHA MARSH.