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to go a begging for employment or for purchasers. And further, desirable teachers, as a general thing, must not only be sought, but they must be sought in season. Unless this is done, they will be pre-engaged. Though some, whose business it is to engage instructers, are so dilatory as not to attend to their duty till the eleventh hour, yet all are not of this character. Some men will attend to the duties of their office betimes, and, as a consequence, they will secure the best teachers. Every prudential committee, then, if the business of procuring teachers is left with him, should be a man of activity, and energy, and good judgment. More depends upon this committee, than upon that which examines the candidates. If a candidate be brought before the examining committee, and possess the requisite literary qualifications, the committee can hardly do less than license him, though there may be an utter deficiency in several other important particulars. This renders it important for every district to have the right sort of men for prudential committees, because their interest in this matter goes just so far, as the worth of a school depends upon the character of its teachers. * * *

A third suggestion which your committee would make, relates to the more frequent visitation of the schools, by the districts. They would propose a plan for each district, the object of which is, to bring all the parents into the school, once at least, during every summer or winter term. The plan is this. Let the districts be divided into sections, of 2, or 4, or 6 families, according to its size. Almost every district, thus, would furnish some 8, or 10, or 12 sections; and let it be the duty of one of these sections, to visit the school every week, say on Friday, or some other set day, in the afternoon, until the circuit of the whole district has been made. If convenient, both the parents should go. * * * Finally, the subject of education is one of vital importance. Education is designed to make man what he ought to be, under the conditions of his being; to fit him for society, for usefulness, for his duties as a citizen, as a neighbor, as a parent, as a christian, as an immortal being. Here is a sphere of vast amplitude and glorious promise. A proper education, both mental and moral, and the blessing of God, are all that are necessary to enable him to fill it as he ought. How important, then, the subject of education, considered in its bearings upon an individual alone. But suppose a whole nation to be interested, and to be educated. The subject now swells in importance, in the ratio of a nation's population to a single individual. But popular education is intended to operate upon a whole people. Its design is, to cultivate the great mass of the mind and heart of a nation. Among all human enterprises, this is one of the noblest and most benevolent. If a man desire an enduring fame, as a public benefactor, let him enlist in the cause of popular education.

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* * Give to any people, of whatever clime, and whatever complexion, education, and the Christian religion, and you lift them up, from debasement und misery, to respectability and happiness. If popular education contributes to this result, then is it of stupendous importance. It is interwoven with the fabric of a nation's prosperity, and a nation's glory. It is an agency, which no nation can neglect, and be true to itself and the race of man. The more the mind and the heart of a people are properly cultivated, the more is individual, social and political happiness increased. Let us, then, as a town, cherish this cause, as one of the brightest jewels of our glory.

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-JONA. C. WOODBRIDGE, HORACE GOODRich, Abialbon CARTER.

WESTHAMPTON,

5 (1) Population, 818. Valuation, $163,524 00.
Number of Public Schools, 9.

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(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools, 290-In Summer, -In Winter, (3) Average attendance in the Schools, 204-In Summer, In Winter, (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 223-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, -No. over 16 years of age who attend School,

(5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 59 mihs. 18 days. In Summer, 34—In Winter, 25 18.

-To Females, $

(6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 9.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. —F. 6. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board—To Males, $ (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $ -Of Females, $ (9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $

-Of Females, $

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(10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of

Teachers, board and fuel, $500.

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

(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,

gate paid for tuition, $

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Average No. of Scholars,

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REMARKS. —No return is made of the comparative numbers and attendance in the schools in summer and winter, of the wages of teachers, or of the books used.

The interest ($111 52) of the Surplus Revenue is applied to the support of schools.

SELECTIONS from REPORT. * During the year 1838, the school committee found, that, in several schools under their superintendence, there were more than double the number of branches of study pursued, than those mentioned by the laws of the Commonwealth. They also found, that from two thirds to three fourths of all the scholars in town were in a better condition to make good improvement under the instruction of female than male teachers. These facts led the committee to believe, that the maintenance of a town high school or schools, for the winter months, was required. As the town is somewhat broken and hilly, and has no village, they recommended, for the consideration of the town, the following plan, viz.-That all the district schools be placed in the hands of female teachers for the year; that two town high schools be established, one in the north and the other in the south part of the town, where those branches, which are not required to be taught in district schools, might be pursued Upon this recommendation, the town referred the subject to a special committee, which was to report at the meeting of the town in November. This committee was composed of the school committee of the town, and the prudential committee of the several districts.

The committee thus constituted, in their report presented on the eleventh of November last, say as follows: "Your committee gave early attention to the duties of their appointment, and, upon examination, found, that the amount in the hands of the town in 1838, was $641, which, after deducting $450, leaves the balance of $191, to defray the expenses of such schools, as were contemplated in the report of the school committee. This amount would more than sustain two such schools for three months each, allowing each teacher $30 per month; and, if competent teachers can be procured for $25 per month, would enable the town to sustain two such schools for nearly four months. This would effect the entire saving of what is annually paid by individuals to support a select school, while it would furnish equal facilities to all. Therefore, upon mature deliberation, eight of the ten individuals, who met in committee, regarded the plan as worthy of a trial, and, therefore, resolved to recommend to the town, * * that two schools be established, the ensuing winter, for three months each; * * also, that the money now in the hands of the town for the support of schools, and not otherwise appropriated, be applied to the support of these schools, and that the remainder of the expense, if any, be made up, on the polls of the scholars who attend the schools."

"The above report was adopted, and its execution committed to the school committee of the town, March 30, 1840"

"These schools have been kept for three months each, by two able and well qualified teachers, and have embraced eighty-four scholars in all, and secured an average attendance of thirty-two and one eighth scholars each. *

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“The examinations of these schools were well sustained, and much credit was justly given, both to the teachers and their scholars."

"Your committee believe, that the institution of these schools has awakened the spirit of intellectual improvement, and given an impulse to the cause of education in town, which could not have been effected by any other means in the possession of the town. This has appeared, not only in the schools themselves, but in the spirit of emulation awakened in the district schools. And it is an important fact, that the whole expense over and above the moneys appropriated by the town, did not amount to $40.

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It is peculiarly gratifying to observe the growing interest, which is manifest in the examinations of schools at the close of each term. It cannot be doubted that these exercises, witnessed as they are, by as many visiters as there are scholars to be examined, are profitable to teachers, gratifying to parents, and, above all, encouraging and useful to the scholars. It is to be confidently hoped and expected, that parents will persevere in these encouraging attentions to the schools."

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-AMOS DRURY, J. W. BARTLETT, JOEL COOK.

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(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 252-In Winter, 340. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 203–In Winter, 268. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 375.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 23.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 30. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 51 mths. 10 days.-In Summer, 25 7-In Winter, 26 3. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. .-F. 7-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 8—F. 2. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $20 58-To Females, $10 36. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $5 71-Of Females, $4 72.

(9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board—Of Males, $14 87—Of Females, $5 64. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $759.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $149. (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, 5.-Aggregate of mouths kept, 13-Average No. of Scholars, 141.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $182 19.

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $

-Income from same, $

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BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Webster's Dictionary and Spelling Book. Reading-Porter's Rhetorical Reader, General Class Book, Child's Guide and the Testament. GrammarSmith's. Geography-Smith's and Atlas, Peter Parley's. Arithmetic-Adams' New, Emerson's First and Second Parts. All others-Goodrich's History of the U. S., Parley's First Book of History.

SELECTION FROM REPORT. * * Your committee will proceed to submit some further information in regard to our schools, which, in times past, has not been sought for, and, it is to be feared, too little cared for; but these times of indifference and apathy on this important subject, we trust, are now gone by. A new interest has been awakened in behalf of Common Schools, which has been felt throughout the community, and we cannot but hope, that this town will derive its full share of benefit from this favorable change in public sentiment. The town needs this benefit, and, we trust, it will not remain behind other towns, in sustaining and encouraging so valuable a cause as that of edu cation. One great defect in our schools, in years past, we believe to have been, the want of suitable qualifications on the part of teachers. The teachers, that have been employed, have not been competent to sustain themselves in the

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highly responsible undertaking. Though some of them may have paid some attention to the higher branches of education, they have not studied sufficiently those very branches which they have been required to teach. The consequence has been, that they could not thoroughly instruct, in what they had not been thoroughly instructed themselves, and this is the case with far too many who offer their services, even up to the present time. The committee have been desirous of raising the standard of qualifications in teachers, and have been under the painful necessity of rejecting, after examination, three or four applicants, who, without doubt, a few years since, would have been readily received. * * The committee have experienced some embarrassment, from the want of a cheerful coöperation on the part of some of the prudential committees. The various powers and duties of each seem not to be well understood. The prudential committee ought not, in any case, to make a binding contract, until the applicant shall have received a certificate from the school committee. In district No. 4, your committee were informed that a school was kept last summer, but the same was not visited by your committee, as the instructress of said school never applied for a certificate, as the law requires, and, therefore, could not be considered as under the superintendence of your committee. No money has been drawn, from the treasury of the town, to defray the expenses of said school, and, by the action of the town on an article in the warrant for this meeting, it will probably be determined, whether it shall be hereafter drawn for said purpose;—or, in other words, it will be determined, whether the town will sustain the school law, a law highly approved by the enlightened and good moral sense of the community at large, or not. * Some seem to have argued as follows:-"Of two evils, let us choose the least;" our school is small, and we draw but little money, and a poor teacher is better than none; therefore, we will employ such as we can get cheapest But of two evils, we are not obliged to choose either of them; and your committee submit, that a poor teacher is worse than none.

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Your committee regret, that, in most of the districts, so few parents have been present at the examination of the schools. In district No. 1, however, the attendance was quite numerous, and in No. 3, as much so as the room would admit, and the good effect of their presence, upon the scholars, was apparent. We hope the time is not far distant, when the parents, in other districts, will be induced to go and do likewise.

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Your committee report, that, in most of the schoolhouses, there are some defects, some of them of considerable magnitude. These defects may be found, either in their location, their means of ventilation and warming, their size, the construction of desks and seats, the want of blinds or curtains, &c. We make this representation, however, with the exception of the schoolhouse in district No. 5, and the new brick schoolhouse in district No. 3, which is pleasantly located, built with good taste, and conveniently constructed; and when the district shall have fully completed it, as they contemplate, they will deserve the thanks of all the friends of Common Schools.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-SALMON H. CLAPP, Gershom RodgeRS, LEWIS L. JAMES.

WORTHINGTON,

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(1) Population, 1,142. Valuation, $261,608 00. Number of Public Schools, 11.

(2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 286-In Winter, 372. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 189-In Winter, 230.

(4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 358.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 47.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 38. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 82 mths. 14 days.-In Summer, 51 14-In Winter, 31. (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, $21 14-To Females, $12 18. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $7 00-Of Females, $7 00.

(9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $14 14-Of Females, $5 18.

(10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $450.

(11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $631 07.

(12) No. of incorporated Academies, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 10.-Average No. of Scholars, 53.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $700.

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

gate paid for tuition, $

(14) Amount of Local Funds, $4,290 00.-Income from same, $257 40

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BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-Webster's. Reading-Testament, Child's Guide, Popular Lessons, Intelligent Reader, National Reader, Porter's Rhetorical Reader. Grammar-Smith's. Geography-Olney's and Parley's. Arithmetic-Emerson's First, Colburn's, Smith's, Adams'. All others-Goodrich's History of the U. S., Webster's Dictionary, Phelps' and Comstock's Philosophy, Day's Algebra.

REMARKS. The return states, that $45 37 were paid to prolong Common Schools, but no particulars are given.

Under the head of "amount of money raised by taxes, &c." the return states, "$450 for teachers' wages only ;"-and under the head of "value of fuel and board (if any) contributed," &c. it states "$631 07." As the town raised by taxes a much larger sum last year, a doubt has arisen, whether the sum of "$631 07," or some part of it, was not raised by taxes, but the return has been followed in the Abstract.

SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * *

Your committee are fully satisfied, that an unqualified teacher is worse than none. And they utterly discard the idea, so common with many, that a poorly qualified teacher will do well enough for a "backward school." Such a school, if any, needs a teacher of first-rate qualifications, otherwise it will never be elevated, but will always be a backward school.

With this view of the subject, your committee have aimed to set the standard of qualifications as high as they could consistently. And in doing_this, they are aware that they have placed it much higher than it is in many other places. And though, as a consequence, they have been under the painful necessity of rejecting several highly respectable and worthy applicants, still they are fully persuaded, that they have placed the standard none too high. A sufficient number of teachers has been found, whose qualifications have come up to it. And your committee would respectfully suggest the propriety, (if not the necessity,) of elevating it still higher the ensuing year.

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The committee are happy to state, that most, if not all, of your schools, are in a prosperous and improving condition. They are gradually rising, notwithstanding there are most manifest and prominent causes, tending to retard their advancement. Until these are modified, if not removed, your schools cannot, even with the utmost effort, progress with that rapidity which is desirable, nor ever reach that high elevation, which they ought to attain.

Some of these retarding causes may be mentioned. In some of the schools there is a lamentable deficiency in books. This defect is two-fold, viz. in number and in kind. * * *

Upon examination, they found hardly any uniformity between the different schools, and in several instances, a great want of it, in the same school. * * * They are fully satisfied, that this diversity of books has arisen mainly from the injudicious management of teachers and parents. Teachers have heretofore, in many instances, (they believe,) assumed the responsibility of introducing books into the schools, without the consent or knowledge of the committee, if not in opposition to their directions; and parents, it is to be feared, have been too ready to encourage this practice.

And, as each teacher has different views of books, as well as his partialities and dislikings, each introduces something new. This tends to produce the confusion of Babel in the schools, and at the same time subjects parents to a vast amount of needless expense. This is an evil which must be corrected, or the schools cannot prosper. * # *

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