raphy-Malte-Brun's, Brinsmade's, Olney's, Parley's. Arithmetic-Adams', Colburn's. All others-Comstock's Philosophy, Watts on the Mind. SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * * Respecting schoolhouses, your committee beg leave to say, that the schoolhouses in districts No. 1 and 2, are very inconvenient, uncomfortable, and very much out of repair, particularly the one in district No. 2. The health and comfort of the scholars, and the best interest of the district, require that this house should be immediately repaired, or what would be better, rebuilt. The other schoolhouses in town, generally speaking, are in good condition, very well constructed, and adapted to the comfort and accommodation of the scholars. * * * Your committee would take the liberty to suggest the importance of selecting the best teachers, notwithstanding the highest wages must be paid. Two months of good schooling is, in the opinion of your committee, far better than three or more, of an indifferent character. More pains should be taken by the prudential committees, to find good teachers. They should commence their inquiries in season, and endeavor to obtain the best teachers to be found. * * * Another thing seems to be necessary to the improvement of children in school; they should be provided with the necessary books, for the child can no more make progress in learning without books, than the farmer or mechanic can skilfully or successfully labor without tools. A regular attendance seems also very desirable. Parents should see that their children are at school every day, if possible, and not only so, but that they are there in season. * * * In closing this report, your committee would remark that it belongs to us, as individuals, to enter heartily into the cause of education, and to contribute to its advancement. Let us put forth our efforts, to raise the standard of education among us, that our children, under the blessing of God, may grow up a generation, enlightened, virtuous, and happy. * * SCHOOL COMMITTEE-SAMUEL DUNLAP, ELIHU CLARK. WARWICK, (1) Population, 1,111. Valuation, $228,602 20. Number of Public Schools, 12. (2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 264-In Winter, 343. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 199-In Winter, 256. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 329.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 34.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 44. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 44 mths. 14 days.-In Summer, 21 14-In Winter, 23. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. —F. 9.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 6—F. 5. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $20 60-To Females, $10 05. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $6 26-Of Females, $4 19. (9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $14 33-Of Females, $5 84. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $600. (11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $53. (12) No. of incorporated Academies, .-Aggregate of months kept, Scholars, -Aggregate paid for tuition. $ -Average No. of (13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 2.-Aggregate of months kept, 5.-Average No. of Scholars, 46.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $89. (14) Amount of Local Funds, $500 00.-Income from same, $30 00. BOOKS USED.-— -Spelling-National and Introduction to National. Reading-American First Class Book, Popular Reader, Introduction to National Reader, Young Reader. GrammarPond's Murray's and Greenleaf's. Geography-Malte-Brun's, Olney's, Peter Parley's. Arithmetic-Adams' and Colburn's. All others-Blake's Philosophy, Chemistry and Astronomy, Parley's Book of History, Goodrich's History of the U. S., Wayland's Moral Science, Walker's Dictionary, Worcester's do. SELECTIONS FROM REPORT. * Your committee are gratified in stating, that our schools, the present year, have made good proficiency, generally speaking; there has been some few exceptions; and those exceptions have principally been owing to mismanagement of teachers. Your committee are of the opinion, that every teacher that has a good education, has not all the requisite qualifications necessary to instruct a common district school. It requires a readiness to communicate, and a very mild, and, at the same time, a skilful and persevering mode of government, which every school teacher does not possess. It is, therefore, very important to the interest of our schools, that the several prudential committees, when in pursuit of a teacher, should contract with one, that can look him sternly in the face, and, at the same time, look pleasant. * * * We are sorry to say, that, in many instances, the several branches, which are taught in our schools, are not so thoroughly investigated as they ought to be; and that scholars are allowed to pass on, or are pushed on to the higher branches, before they have become masters of the first principles of the lower. This is owing to a defect in the qualification or judgment of teachers. Not unfrequently, teachers are employed, (because they are cheap,) who are not qualified to teach or to govern a school; and a vast amount of time and money is expended to little benefit, and sometimes, we fear, worse than lost. * * * The great failure, which is a common one in all our schools, is reading in a low and indistinct tone of voice, and in so hurried a manner, that a person could with difficulty understand even the subject. A habit of reading in this low, incoherent and hurried manner, once contracted, is most difficult to overcome; and, unless overcome in youth, destroys all chance of the person becoming a good, or even what we call a decent reader. * * Your committee are of the opinion, that some advantage would result from more communication between the prudential and school committees, relative to the particular wants of each school, and the engagement of teachers. * * * * * * In a word, your committee will say, that a general and thorough education of the rising generation, is a matter of vast importance in a government like ours. It is the foundation of all pure democratic principles; and, therefore, all who are truly democratic, cannot feel too much engaged in its cause. Your committee have endeavored to discharge their duty in visiting schools. We consider it of great importance, although many may think it of but little or no consequence. It stimulates the scholar to great exertion; he sees that others take an interest in the subject, and he will, therefore, get a more favorable impression of its importance. * * * SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-LEMUEL WHEELOCK, PRESERVED SMITH. WENDELL, (1) Population, 847. Valuation, $140,642 25. (2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 123-In Winter, 224. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 206.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 10.—No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 30. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 37 mths. 14 days.-In Summer, 10 21—In Winter, 26 21. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 7.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. -F. 9. (7) Average wages paid per month including board-To Males, $ (8) Average value of board per month-of Males, $ -To Females, $9 68. -Of Females, $3 78. (9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $ -Of Females, $5 90. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $300. (11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $50. (12) No. of incorporated Academies, Aggregate of months kept, Scholars, Aggregate paid for tuition, $ -Average No. of (13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 3.-Average No. of Scholars, 15.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $25. (14) Amount of Local Funds, $700 00.-Income from same, $41 34. BOOKS USED.-Spelling-Sears' and Webster's. Reading-Popular, National and Improved Readers. Grammar-Murray's and Smith's. Geography-Olney's and Malte-Brun's. Arithmetic-Adams', Smith's, Colburn's. All others-Blake's Philosophy, Parley's 1st and 2d Books, Goodrich's History. NO REPORT from School Committee. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-SAMUEL HINSDALE, JOSEPH NEEDHAM, NATHANIEL WILDER, 2D., DAVID B. CROSBY. (2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 232-In Winter, 330. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 191-In Winter, 278. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 336.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 20.—No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 33. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 36 mths. 21 days —In Suinmer, 20 14—In Winter, 16 7. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 5.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 5—F. 4. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $21 40-To Females, $10 12. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, 86 00-Of Females, $5 33. (9) Average wages per month exclusive of board-Of Males, $15 40-Of Females, $4 79. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $650. (11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $94. (12) No. of incorporated Academies, Aggregate of months kept, -Average No. of (13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 4.-Aggregate of months kept, 9.-Average No. of Scholars, 32.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $152. BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-Webster's Elementary, Hazen's Speller and Definer. ReadingNational Reader and Introduction to do., Political Class Book, Young Reader, Child's First Book Grammar-Smith's, Adams' and Greenleaf's. Geography-Malte-Brun's, Olney's and Peter Parley's. Arithmetic-Smith's, Adams', Colburn's, Emerson's. All others-Watts on the Mind, Porter's Rhetorical, Goodrich's History, Colburn's and Day's Algebra. REMARKS-The value of board is estimated only with regard to one of the five male teachers; and the amount of wages, with board and without it, is stated to be the same, in regard to the other four. Hence it is presumed, that the value of board is not included in the column of "amount of wages including board;" it has, therefore, been added; and even with this addition, the average falls considerably below that of last year. SELECTION FROM REPORT. * * In examining the different schools, we have found a very noticeable difference in the grade of scholarship between them. With the expenditure of about the same amount of money, we could point to on district, where the advantage received and the improvement made, is probably twice as great as in another district. This we regard as owing to the interest taken by the parents in the cause of education, and the consequently more beneficial expenditure of the means at their command. We would refer, 2d. To the choice of the superintending school committee. Probably this town has scarce an office in its gift, of more importance to its well being, and probably there are no officers, who meet with less support and encouragement, in the discharge of their official duties. It is impossible, in the estimation of your committee, that your schools should ever attain to that improvement of which they are susceptible, until more importance is attached to the office of superintending committee. Six hundred and fifty dollars, annually and judiciously expended on your six school districts and your 336 children, are sufficient to secure vastly greater benefits than are now realized. In our opinion, there is no public money more injudiciously expended, than that which is raised for the support of district schools. We would recommend, 3d. Greater attention to the choice and appointment of properly qualified persons, to sustain the office of district committees. There are in almost every district, individuals who from taste and education, take an interest in the cause of Public Schools. And yet the number of such persons in any district, is never large. Such, then, are the individuals, who alone are qualified for the office of district committee. The question, whether your schools shall be prosperous, is to be determined by their interest and discrimination. Very few individuals will offer themselves as candidates for examination, who in point of scholarship cannot obtain a certificate. And yet the individual thus approbated, may have no government, no tact, and no reputation as a well qualified and successful teacher. SCHOOL COMMITTEE —JOHN FERGUSON, ARNOLD MORTON. BERKSHIRE COUNTY. ADAMS, (1) Population, 4,191. Valuation, $461,719 07. Number of Public Schools, 17. (2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools-In Summer, 803-In Winter, 789. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 558-In Winter, 464. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 1,150.-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 63.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 69. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 141 mths.-In Summer, 79-In Winter, 62. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. 1—F. 19.—No. of Teachers in Winter-M. 15-—F. 7. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $21 10-To Females, $11 21. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $6 80-Of Females, $4 66. (9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $14 30-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, $1,438. (11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $330. (12) No. of incorporated Academies, 1.-Aggregate of months kept, 10.-Average No. of Scholars, 40.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $450. (13) No. of unincorporated Academies, Private Schools, and Schools kept to prolong Common Schools, 3.-Aggregate of months kept, 13.-Average No. of Scholars, 85.-Aggregate paid for tuition, $711. (14) Amount of Local Funds, $ .-Income from same, $173 00. BOOKS USED.- -Spelling-Webster's, Cobb's. Reading-Young Reader, Improved Reader, Rhetorical Reader, Angell's Series, History of the U. S. Grammar-Smith's, Kirkham's and Brown's. Geography-Smith's, Olney's, Woodbridge's. _Arithmetic-Smith's, Colburn's and Adams' New. All others-Watts on the Mind, Algebra, Euclid. REMARK.-The return gives $173 as the income of a fund, the amount of which is not named. NO REPORT from School Committee. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.-E. B. PENNIMAN, F. E. PATRICK. (2) No. of Scholars of all ages in all the Schools,-In Summer, 99—In Winter, 131. (3) Average attendance in the Schools-In Summer, 51-In Winter, 81. (4) No. of persons between 4 and 16 years of age in the town, 106-No. of persons under 4 years of age who attend School, 2.-No. over 16 years of age who attend School, 36. (5) Aggregate length of the Schools, 29 mths. 7 days.-In Summer, 16—In Winter, 13 7. (6) No. of Teachers in Summer-M. -F. 4.-No. of Teachers in Winter-M 4-F. (7) Average wages paid per month, including board-To Males, $20 19-To Females, $11 23. (8) Average value of board per month-Of Males, $7 00-Of Females, $6 00. (9) Average wages per month, exclusive of board-Of Males, $14 19-Of Females, $5 23. (10) Amount of money raised by taxes for the support of Schools, including only the wages of Teachers, board and fuel, $250. (11) Amount of board and fuel, if any, contributed for Public Schools, $203. (12) No. of incorporated Academies, Aggregate of months kept, -Average number of Scholars, Aggregate paid for tuition, $ |
