rF
■^i
.No * 6 345. 55
V. I
1801-
R Y
t
3^
ANNUAL REPORT
" OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF CHARLESTOWN.
DEGEMBEE, 1851.
CHARLESTOWN :
PRINTED BY CALEB RAND.
1851.
The School Committee of Charlestown, in comphance
with a law of the Commonwealth, submit the following
ANNUAL REPORT.
At the commencement of the present year, the Board pre-
sented to the City Council their estimate of the amount of
appropriation that would be needed in order to carry on the
Public Schools as they were then organized, and this amount
(i|25.000) was granted. Later in the season, it was found
that additional accomodations were requisite for several of
the Primary Schools, and appropriations for these, also, were
granted. Thus there has been harmony of action between
the School Committee and the City Council, and this has
not been without a favorable influence on the schools.
No changes have been made in the organization of the
Schools during the year. A School has been established at
the Poor House for the children there, which has been well
attended, and has made satisfactory progress ; and a Prima-
ry School has been established on Bunker-Hill, which is
already overflowing with pupils. An addition of force, con-
sisting of female assistant teachers, has been put into the
Grammar Schools. The school room provided in the Ward
House of Ward Three, has been enlarged for the accommo-
dation of Primary School Number Three, — though the policy
of uniting School Rooms, Ward Rooms and Engine Houses
is very questionable. These comprise the chief changes
that have been made during the year.
There are now three grades of Schools, the Primary
Schools, the Grammar Schools, and the High School. These
are under the charge of ten male teachers and forty-seven
female teachers. At the close of the October term, there
were 1911 pupils in the twenty-seven Primary Schools, being
153 more than there were at the close of the same term last
year ; 1222 pupils in the eight Grammar Schools, 15 more
than last year ; and 76 in the High School, 10 less than last
year. The total number of scholars in the Schools in Octo-
ber, 1850, was 3050; in 1851, was 3209; increase, 158.
The population of the city is about sixteen thousand — con-
sequently one-fifth of it is composed of the pupils of
the Schools. The total sum raised by taxation this
year was |81,775 00 ; of this, $25,000 was raised for
the support of public Schools ; to which is to be added the
sum received from the Commonwealth, the City's proportion
of the School fund, $660 ; add the amount expended for
additional accommodations of the Primary Schools, $1000,
and other repairs, and it will make the total expense of this
department of the government not much short of $27,000.
The annual appropriation for next year will be required to
be somewhat larger, as another Primary School is urgently
demanded at the Point, and some of the Schools in other
parts of the City, are too much crowded.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
The following table contains the statistics of the Primary
Schools at the close of the Winter Term and the Summer
Term:
o
o
Primary Schools.
6 £
"
i
01
a s;
3.1
is
m
£ u
>>
m u
>^
"X^
fcts
S c
>• g
t_
Location of Schools.
c £
n
'6
o <u
o
n
is
>g
£ E
o *
o
d
Teachers' Names.
H
5.5
dx.
1
Mary J. Brown
Near B. H. School House,
114
61
53
90
~49
TT
60
61
17
2
Malvina B. Skilton
Mead Street,
304
49
55
82
39
43
56
72
8
3
Hannah H. Sampson
Rear of 187 Main street,
102
48
54
83
39
44
55
66
11
4
Charlotte M. Moore
Warren School House,
72
46
26
62
41
21
50
55
31
5
MariaH.Farnsworth
Elm street,
66
37
29
59
36
23
44
53
11
6
Rebecca Ames
Elm street,
110
60
50
72
40
32
50
56
7
Susan L. Sawyer
Main street, rear of 187,
87
40
47
71
32
39
53
64
10
8
J. M. Ranstead
Bartlett street,
75
42
33
58
33
25
46
48
27
9
S. E. Woodbridge
Bartlett street.
62
SO
32
60
2U
31
46
52
34
10
Elizabeth Eames
Common street,
61
35
26
55
30
25
46
53
7
11
Joanna S. Putnam
Common street,
90
43
47
79
37
42
60
72
10
12
Catherine D. Flint
Bow street,
71
37
34
56
30
26
38
49
10
13
M. E. Lincoln
Bow street,
99
48
51
76
37
39
46
63
10
14
Sarah E. Smith
Bow street,
94
43
51
72
30
42
65
60
12
15
Jane E. Rugg
Bow street,
86
40
46
66
27
39
52
58
4
16
Abby E. Hirtckley
Common street.
86
46
40
76
39
37
52
65
8
17
Emily S. Fernald
Bunker-Hill St., at Point,
112
56
56
91
42
49
62
82
18
Ellenora Butts
Bunker-Hill st., at Point,
158
76
82
81
40
41
52
52
18
19
Louisa W. Huntress
Moulton Atreet,
96
48
48
79
38
41
59
58
5
20
Elizabeth C.Hunting
Winthrop street,
74
33
41
65
29
36
42
43
9
21
Louise P. Hunting
Bartlett street.
80
48
32
70
41
29
52
41
12
22
Frances M. Laue
Bartlett street,
116
49
67
100
45
55
47
50
15
23
M. A. Osgood
Haverhill street.
64
34
30
59
34
25
37
39
9
24
C. M. Chamberlain
Common street,
59
35
24
56
32
24
41
46
10
25
HenriettaM.Sanbom
Ward Room of Ward 2,
85
47
38
73
43
30
43
53
5
2223
1131
1092
1792
913
879
1252
1417
o
1^
•is
o
V
»j c
oS
o
o
Primary Scliools.
o
m
5
3s
"53
6H
o
pq
5
bo C
> V
0) .S
"5 '5
Zi
OO
Names of
Sub-Committee.
°
Teachers' Names.
^s
1°
<S
0^ X
d J=
o
Z
^i
3
Z
<J
f^
2^
1
Mary J. Brown
121
64
57
65
34
31
55
57
12
Charles D. Lincoln
2
Malvina B. Skilton
118
64
54
79
40
39
59
71
9
Charles B. Rogers
3
Hannah H.Sampson
108
52
66
79
38
41
53
68
8
11 u
4
Charlotte M. Moore
80
46
34
66
37
29
57
58
12
Andrew K. Hunt
5
Mary J. Chandler
81
47
34
55
30
25
43
50
19
(1 ti
6
M. L. Everett
110
68
42
73
45
2fe
56
67
23
E. P. Mackintire
7
Susan L. Sawyer
113
57
56
83
S8
45
56
78
9
(( i(
8
J. M. Ranstead
75
43
32
57
26
31
42
44
22
C. W. Moore
9
S. E. WoodbrlJge
99
41
58
68
29
39
54
55
25
(( u
10
Elizabeth Eames
76
38
38
63
37
26
45
50
5
J. G. Fuller
11
Joanna S. Putnam
95
44
51
75
34
41
58
67
5
It It
12
Catherine D. Flint
84
42
42
64
35
29
42
55
8
William Tufts
13
M. E. Lincoln
90
40
50
62
30
32
49
50
4
S. J. Thomas
14
Sarah E. Smith
119
54
65
90
38
52
56
76
7
William Tufts
15
Jane E. Rugg
88
48
40
68
34
34
52
58
6
S. J. Thomas
16
Abby E. Hinckley
108
53
55
80
37
43
58
65
3
James Adams
V
Emily S. Fernald
136
71
65
82
38
44
67
70
5
William Sawyer
Ite
Ellenora Butts.
113
66
47
95
42
53
56
77
7
U It
19
Louisa W. Huntress
133
67
66
85
43
42
63
72
6 1 Edward Thorndike
20
Elizab'th C.Hunting
75
36
39
66
31
35
37
47
4| James G. Fuller
21
Louise P. Hunting
78
43
35
67
34
33
58
57
8
John Sanborn
22
Frances M. Lane
127
59
68
78
40
38
70
66
8
It it
23
M. A. Osgood
75
40
35
60
31
29
39
47
3
C. D. Lincoln
24
C. A. Chamberlain
60
33
27
53
29
24
39
46
4
James Adams
25
HenriettaM.Sanbom
119
65
54
85
45
40
42
34
8
Edw'd Thorndike
26
Charlotte Poole
49
30
19
32
21
11
25
35
11
E. P. Mackintire
27
Louisa A. Pratt
87
36
51
81
35
46
58
70
3
James Adams
2597
J317
1280
1911
951
960
1389
1590
248
6
The reports of the Sub-Committees on theser Schools rep-
resent them generally to be in a satisfactory condition.
They indicate an easy government, an eager interest on the
part of the pupils, a good degree of progress in the few and
simple studies that are required, and a commendable interest
in them by parents. Still there is considerable difference in
the management and condition of the Schools. Some of the
teachers do far more to promote the education of pupils than
others do, and this by teaching in an accurate and thorough
manner. The most important of the studies and exercises
in these are those connected with reading ; and if teachers
learn the scholars to articulate well, to practice the elemen-
tary sounds correctly, and to read without contracting a
school tone, which is so hard to overcome, they do an im-
portant and lasting work. But to do this it is necessary, that
they should have given study to the subject. Have all those
who have the charge of these interesting Schools thus thor-
oughly prepared themselves? There are twenty-seven
teachers daily training the voices of some two thousand
pupils, and the Committee expect to see in the manner of
reading, the evidence that the teachers have given proper
attention to the study of elocution.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The following table comprises the statistics of the High
and Grammar Schools :
I
High School,
Bunker-Hill, No. 1.
" No. 2.
Warren, No. 1.
No. 2.
Winthrop, No. 1.
No. 2.
Harvard, No. 1.
No. 2.
SCHOOL RETURNS,
AT THE SEMI-ANNUAL EXAMINATION.
HIGH AND GEAMMAR SCHOOLS.
1— '
i
^5^^}Ol-l^o^^l-l|-i
^^ococorfi.}ocicooo
COOiOCOO^Oil-iOlCO
Whole Number of Scholars
for the Term.
g
CD
)— '•
B
erg
>
Hi
i-i-
>—•
CO
o
(— »
QO
Cn
J-*
00
00
^50l-l0}0l-lcoo5co
OtODCiCOO^iOrfi'Oi
Boys.
CO
COCOl-iOOJOOOi-^hf!'
QOOOt^hP-CiCOCOI-iVJ
Girls.
1—1
VlOO^OiOlOO^OOOi
1— iO0*>.ODh-J— 1|— iQDhJ^
Number at its close.
CO
00
cocooococoomtuxio
a>050V!h-iJ>3COCfUO
Boys.
i
VJcOCO-vtCOVfCiOTrf^
c;^^2 4^^-lcoco^^col-l
Girls.
1— '
1—1 1—1 1— 1 1—1 1—1 1—1 1— I
oxot*>-rfi-Oic;ioccOi
O^^OOI-iOlCOCOfcS
Average Attendance.
1—1
1— 1
CO
1—1 1—1 1—1 1—1 1—1 1—1
oiCiCOfi^vjatODtnai
COOh- lOOll— lOiCOhfi^
Present at Examination.
CO
i-ico cocoes ojot-j CO
COOlrf^H- iJOl— 1|— 'COi— 1
Number of visits of School
Committee.
h-1
1
^^^2^3fo^^l-'l-l^-l
rfi'COCOOCOCOCnJOOO
^5^^5oco^^^5cooi
Whole Number of Scholars
for the Term.
B
W
O
o
<r-h
O
C3-
CD
t-i
CO
1— '
CO
h-*
00
Oi
t— »
88
CO
h-i 1-1 1— 1 1— 1 1— 1 1— I
cojOH-oi-io^a)*-
cooc«a»i-iooocoo
Boys.
00
coi-i^cnii\ofc3tfi.h*i.a>
Gu-ls.
1—1
1— I t-i h- 1 K-i 1— 1 h- 1 h-i
aiV{OiO-jQ0rfs.JOCOV!
COCOI-itf^OCOOOOOV!
Number at its close.
cocooooooDOooia»co
^OiCOhf^l-il-iWCOUX
Boys.
i
c?50ov{oo?oc:Oih;i^*^
OiCOOOOCOQOCOCniO
Girls.
H-l
h-1
1— I
1—1
a^iJ^COCOrfs.COCOOOO
oi-^iocJi-'Jivjivscocn
Average Attendance.
1—1
CO
rf^oicocoiyicoooovi
Present at Examination.
co^oooiSco Oi
Number of visits of School
Committee.
BUNKER-HILL SCHOOLS.
The Bunker-Hill School, number One, is under the charge
of David Atwood, Principal, and Dorcas E. Farnsworth,
Assistant. Number Two is under A. B. Saunders, Principal,
and Sarah J. Knight, Assistant. The sub -committee are E.
P. Mackintire, Charles B. Rogers and C. D. Lincoln.
In last year's Annual Report it was stated that these
schools had been unfavorably affected by the changes that
had been made in them. But the sub-committee of the pre-
sent year feel justified in reporting that these unfavorable
circumstances had mostly ceased to operate, and that these
•schools are now doing well. The April report represents,
" that all the teachers had been diligent and faithful to their
trust, and that the scholars had made good progress under
their instructors." In October, the report is still more favor-
able. It states : " With one or two exceptions, all the classes
in both schools appear well, thoroughly drilled, and familiar
with the studies gone over during the last term." These
exceptions were, chiefly, relating to the reading in the lower
classes, where more force is needed, and to the general as-
pect of those classes which contained the greatest per cent,
of absences where the difficulty was beyond the reach of the
teachers. The report says : " The teachers in both schools,
your committee think, are competent and faithful, and with
the exceptions specified, they are happy to report them both
in good condition." Additional force will be required in
these schools, and more particularly in number Two, the next
year.
WARREN SCHOOLS.
Warren School, number One, is under the charge of George
Swan, Principal, and Miss M. M. Hays, Elizabeth Upton,
and Emily M. Moulton, Assistants, Number Two is under
the charge of Joseph T. Swan, Principal; Sarah T. Chandler,
Elizabeth Williams, and Mary R. Mayhew, Assistants. The
sub-committee are Charles W. Moore, Andrew K. Hunt,
and John Sanborn.
9
The Sub-Committee, in October, reported these schools to
be in excellent condition, " accomplishing all that may. rea-
sonably be expected, and they entertain no doubt that they
will maintain their high standing and character under their
present able and competent principals." They remark :
"Since the admissions from the Primaries, these Schools are
filled to depletion. There are more scholars than can be
seated in number Two, and almost every seat is occupied in
number One." "As a whole, they are very satisfactory.
We do not say there might not be some changes which might
be beneficial. We do not say that the teachers are models
in every respect. We do not expect to find perfection. But
we are opposed to change; and unless stronger reasons than
no\y exist, are apparent, we see no cause for any."
WINTHEOP SCHOOLS.
Winthrop School, number One, is under the charge of
Luther W. Anderson, Principal ; Sarah E. Russell, Rebecca
S. Richardson and Anna Delano, Assistants. Number Two,
Samuel S. Willson, Principal; Julia A. Bridge, Anna M.
Gregory, Ellen A. Richardson, Assistants. The Sub-Com-
mittee are James G. Fuller, Edward Thorndike and William
Sawyer.
The Sub-Committee on these schools, at the April exami-
nation, reported that number One was in a condition entire-
ly satisfactory — the teachers evincing great faithfulness, and
the scholars great interest in their studies. Number Two
had been large during the term, and the divisions under the
Assistants had been much of the time crowded, "preventing
that progress, which, under other circumstances, might have
been looked for." At the October examination, these Schools
appeared, mainly, in a good condition, the recitations being
prompt, and the teaching thorough. "There existed," says
the report, " through the term, the utmost harmony among
the teachers, and between the teachers and parents."
2
10
HAEVAED SCHOOLS.
Harvard School number One is under the charge of C. S.
Cartee, Principal, and Anna O. Robbins, Sarah J. Stockman,
S. F. Kittredge, Assistants. Number Two, Joseph B. Morse,
Principal ; Rebecca Drake, Adeline M. West, and Adeline E.
Clapp, Assistants. The Sub-Committee are Seth J. Thom-
as, James Adams, and William Tufts.
The report of the Sub-Committee, after the examination in
April, stated, that number One was in an unsatisfactory
condition ; " which was attributable to insufficiency in the
number of teachers, and also to the repeated change of
teachers during the previous year." The Board put more
force into the School, and the same Sub-Committee, after the
October examination, reported that this School had much
improved — the order being good and the recitations general-
ly being satisfactory, while many of them were of a high
order. The condition of number Two has long been satis-
factory to the Board, and the October report states that the
School maintained its previous reputation, the order being
excellent, the teachers faithful and zealous, and the School
generally in good condition.
GENERAL EEMAEKS.
These representations of the condition of the Grammar
Schools, were made after patient and thorough examinations
by the several Sub-Committees who have had charge of them.
They unite in the gratifying fact, that the unfavorable influ-
ence of the recent changes in their organization had ceased
to operate, while the additional force of assistant teachers
which the committee put in at the commencement of the
year, had been attended with beneficial results. They have
improved, and are now doing well. Their importance can
hardly be overrated ; for all the children attend them, and
in too many instances, owing to causes beyond the control
of the committee or the teachers, and often even by parents
and guardians, they furnish all the school advantages which
11
the majority of children enjoy. Every means, therefore,
should be taken to keep them at as high a standard as it is
practicable, to multiply their attractions, and to present all
proper inducements for children to attend them ; and it is to
be hoped that they never will be allowed to become tame
and spiritless. Much time and attention have been given to
them during the past year, and so encouraging are the rep-
resentations of the Sub -Committees as to them all, that the
apprehensions entertained at the date of the last annual re-
port, as to the decline of some of them, no longer exist ; but,
on the contrary, the committee feel warranted in giving the
assurance that by judicious management, proper encourage-
ment and patient perseverance, they will accomplish all that
ought to be expected of them.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School is under the charge of A. M. Gay, Prin-
cipal ; Charles F. McDonald, Sub-master ; Mrs. P. G. Bates,
Assistant. The Sub-Committee are Charles W. Moore,
William Sawyer, Seth J. Thomas and Ehab P. Mackintire.
This School is organized in three divisions, called the se-
nior, middle and junior classes. During the last term, the
senior class of twelve girls was chiefly engaged in the study
of Latin (Virgil,) Zoology, Chemistry, Drawing, and the
French language ; the middle class of fourteen girls and eight
boys, of Latin (Csezar,) Natural Philosophy, Geometry, and
Rhetoric; the junior class, of seventeen girls and twenty
boys, of Latin (first lessons,) Algebra and Modern History.
A class of four boys studied Greek. The other branches at-
tended to were Composition, Orthography, Vocal culture, De-
clamation and Book-keeping. Weekly lectures were given
by the teachers in Chemistry and Natural Philosophy. The
same course of study, substantially, was pursued during the
term ending in April. At the conclusion of both terms, the
Sub-Committee made thorough examinations of the classes,
reviewing the ground they had been over, and reported their
12
condition in detail to the Board. Of one or two classes,"
owing to circumstances for which the teachers were not re-
sponsible, the report was not favorable ; but of most of the
classes, both reports speak in the most gratifying manner.
They gave evidence of thorough training and marked im-
provement.
Of the class of fifteen pupils who graduated last April, the
Sub-Committee report as follows : " It is detracting nothing
from the merits of similar institutions, to say, that in the
opinion of your Committee, the members of it have left the
School better,more thorough, and accomplished scholars, than
any class of young ladies and gentlemen who have ever be-
fore graduated within the limits of Charlestown. They have
left it fitted, so far as elementary education and high moral
discipHne can fit them, for all the active duties of life, qual-
ified to become intelligent and useful men and women, an
honor to themselves and to the community through whose
munificence they have received the highest blessing it is in
the power of any community to bestow upon its sons and
daughters."
During the past year the capacity of this school for use-
fulness has been much increased. The Board appropriated
a liberal sum for the purchase of chemical apparatus ; a
handsome subscription by the friends of the School of eight
hundred and ninety dollars, has supplied it with a well se-
lected library, composed almost entirely of standard works
in literature and science ; a suitable place has been provided
for the books, and the pupils have supplied a printed cata-
logue ; a large collection of specimens of the plants of
Western Europe, has been presented to it by the Principal of
the school, and a collection of specimens of the plants of
Massachusetts has been presented by the young ladies of the
school ; and the pupils, with others, have made a small col-
lection of specimens for the study of Conchology. While
these offerings indicate the sympathy and interest felt in this
school, they will serve to render it more attractive : and if
judiciously used, they will add to its efliciency and perma-
neney.
13
With such means at hand — with the encouragement of a
cheering pubHc opinion — with competent and faithful teach-
ers, and a vigilant supervision — nothing seems to be in the
way of the success of this institution. The design is to gath-
er, by the most impartial method, capable and deserving pu-
pils from the Grammar Schools, and give them opportunities
for mental culture, which certainly it is not practicable for the
Grammar Schools to afford ; and it is the aim of the Com-
mittee, in doing this, to provide, in addition to the more
obstruse branches of study, the means to obtain such an
English education as shall fit these pupils for the active duties
of life. But after all, the community, in whatever effort it
may make, can only supply its youth with opportunities and
encouragement : for true education consists in mental disci-
pline, which must be the work of the pupils themselves, and
can only come by steady, patient labor. It is only this that
will educate them, or develope their intellectual powers ; and
it is the teachers' highest recommendation, to call forth such
labor. The test of success in this must be ability on the
part of the scholars, to perform intellectual efforts ; and only
as they exhibit this ability in the problems, or exercises,
or themes which they think out themselves, will they show
that they attain to that degree of mental discipline to which
it is the object of the institution to carry them.
The Committee believe that the High School is quietly,
but efficiently doing its appropriate work, and gradually at-
taining a high rank. The teachers are devoted to their
labors, and are capable of imparting the requisite instruc-
tion ; the fine order in it is maintained without difficulty ;
the scholars evince an eager interest in their studies, and a
proper appreciation of the value of their privileges ; and its
means of usefulness are multiplying. Hence there is no
reason why this institution should not furnish all the advan-
tages of a well-appointed academy; and in proportion as it
attains and maintains this character, will it be a benefit to
the other schools, and a blessing and an ornament to our
city.
14
GENERAL KEMAEKS.
The reports of the several Sub-Committees, warrant the
opinion that our Schools are steadily improving and will
■ compare favorably, in each of their grades, with other pub-
lic Schools. Still there are evils connected with them which
the Committee would gladly see done away. One of them
is the number of absences. It is neither just to the teach-
ers nor scholars to affirm that truancy prevails to any great
extent, though in all the Schools cases may exist,and in some
to a greater extent than in others; but frivolous excuses often
keep children away. The Sub-Committe on the Harvard
School, remark, " There is an evil prevalent not only in these
Schools but in all the Schools of our city, which to a great
degree prevents a large portion of the pupils attending them
from receiving that advantage which they ought to receive,
and also prevents the others from making that progress
which under other circumstances they would attain : we re-
fer to the great amount of tardiness and absence of the pupils,
and generally with the full or partial knowledge and consent
of their parents; if this evil were in all cases the conse-
quence of poverty where the older child is employed in
caring for the younger, while the mother is earning their
daily bread, it would be a matter of regret, but not of cen-
sure ; but such is not usually the case : probably three-
fourths of this evil comes from families comfortably situated,
and from whom the most frivolous excuses are received for
the tardiness or absence of their children. We deem this to
be the greatest obstacle to the full success of our glorious free
school system, inasmuch as it is practiced by so large a por-
tion of the pupils, while truancy in most of our Schools is of
much more rare occurrence." And the remedy suggested is
not harsh measures, but patient efforts on the part of the
Committee to multiply the inducements for children to attend
the Schools, or to make them more attractive.
The number of vagrant boys who attend no School, is a
growing evil in our large cities ; and there is too much rea-
J
15
son to believe that the number is large in this city. It is
surprising that some parents do not exert themselves to se-
cure a more constant attendance of their children at School :
it is more surprising that our priceless School advantages,
offered so freely to all, should be utterly neglected by so
many. The lamentable consequences of such neglect are
self-evident, and need not be dwelt upon. Hence this evil
has lately received much attention from the friends of educa-
tion ; and one result has been that the Legislature passed a
stringent act in 1850, relating to truants and vagrants, which
may be in force in any city or town that votes to adopt it.
This Committee, in an elaborate report, recommended that
it be put in force in this city, and the City Council accepted
this act in an Ordinance, which is a transcript of the Boston
Ordinance, accepting the same law. The statute requires
that the city or town by-law be approved by a court before
it can take effect ; but the same court that approved the
Boston Ordinance refused to approve the Charlestown Ordi-
nance, and hence the law is not in force here. The subject,
in all its bearings is important, and deserves the renewed at-
tention of future Committees.
The subject of discipline is the most difficult and delicate
with which the Committee have to deal ; and as often as it
has been remarked upon, there is still need of a proper con-
sideration of it by parents. Though the order of the Schools
is generally maintained rather by kind words than by heavy
blows, yet there have been cases during the last year, where
the Committee have been obliged to meet parents, which
were exceedingly unpleasant and trying. The Sub-Com-
mittee on the High School remark, " The scholars and the
teachers in all our public Schools, require the counsel, en-
couragement, and support of those under whose immediate
authority they act, in order to interest all, in the proper dis-
charge of their respective duties. If these are withheld, the
scholars become listless; and the teachers, left alone to en-
counter the frivolous complaints of unreasonable parents,
and the obduracy of still more unreasonable scholars, feel
keenly and sensibly the absence of the supervisory power.
16
become discouraged, perhaps relax in their duties, and the
School declines."
The Committee consider it to be unnecessary, so sound is
public sentiment in this City on this great subject, to enlarge
on the importance of a thorough system of public instruc-
tion, free alike from favoritism, sectarianism, or partizan in-
fluences, and wisely and faithfully fulfilling the obligations
that society is under to provide ample opportunities for the
moral and intellectual culture of its youth. To obtain this
culture, it is far better to rely on the quiet, steady, persever-
ing labors of teachers of skill and capacity, than to be con-
tinually trying what a new organization, or new text books,
— or new studies of doubtful utility, — or some new, easy,
and flattering method of study, might accomplish ; and the
present organization of the Schools and course of studies,
are commended to the public, not as being perfect, not as
being the best that experience elsewhere may have devised,
but on the whole, as a system, that, under existing circum-
stances, it would be better to continue here for the present
essentially as it is, than it would be to try the effect of radi-
cal alterations. The Board earnestly recommend this con-
sideration to their successors. And when there appears to be a
falling off in a class, a division, or a school, it may be well to
make the searching inquiry whether it is not owing to fault in
the teaching, rather than to the need of important change.
The Committee, on resigning their charge, commend our
noble Schools to a generous public regard, and their teach-
ers to the respect and confidence which their vocation de-
serves and demands. They are designed to do a great work;
and it will ever be to the credit of this community, that,
from the earliest period of its history, under the smiles of
Providence, they have here had the fostering care of suc-
cessive generations of men who were as zealous to discharge
their duties, as they were to maintain their rights.
By oi'der of the Committee,
RICHARD FROTHINGHAM, Jr. >
ELIAB P. MACKINTIRE, \ Sub-Committee.
CHARLES D. LINCOLN, )
Chai'lestovra, Dec. 1851.
Ecport on ©rnantg.
CITY OF CHARLESTOWN,
IN THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
April 5, 1851.
—
The undersigned, to whom was committed the subject
of Truancy, with instructions to consider what
means shall he taken for its remedy, have at-
tended to the duty, and respectfully submit the
following
REPORT.
It is stated in the report of the School Committee
for the past year, which report has been printed and
generally circulated, that " this evil (Truancy) seems
to be increasing, and it must be evident to any one
who is in the city during school hours, that many boys
are in the streets who ought to be engaged in study —
you may find scholars of this class in all the streets and
lanes, on the wharves and bridges of the city — some
engaged in fishing — some in sports — but more learning
the first lessons in crime, and preparing to occupy the
enlarged accommodations which are now in progress of
erection by the State, in the westerly part of the city.
It cannot be denied that the influence of these upoix
other scholars is decidedly injurious, and, while all
means should be, and we believe are used by our teach-
ers to remedy this evil, they are entirely powerless, —
the evil still exists, and while children are upheld in
this course by their parents, and while there exists a
disposition to corisider the matter of trifling importance,
the evil will not be remedied."
It is a matter of regret that our large outlay of
money in the construction of commodious school-rooms —
the employment of well qualified teachers — the organ-
ization of numerous schools, constantly kept open and
free to all, do not meet all the wants of our commu-
nity, and that there should be so many children among
us who do not participate in the advantages of these
generous provisions. It is yet more to be regretted,
that such children, growing up in ignorance and crime,
should exercise so unhappy an influence upon those who
do attend these schools. But most of all do we regret
that there should exist in our community a feeling of
popular indifference to these melancholy results.
It is expected, and it ought to be realized, that
our schools should provide for every child the means of
obtaining a good education, and thereby the rising gen-
eration be trained up in knowledge and virtue, and vice
and crime essentially diminished. All are agreed that
our system of popular education is the foundation on
which to base our hopes of improvement. If then, we
find, all around us, "in our streets and lanes, on our
wharves and bridges," children who ought to be in our
school houses engaged in lessons of usefulness, instead
of misspending their time and taking lessons in crime —
we cannot resist the conclusion that our work is not yet
.accomplished, and that much remains to be done.
We have no reason to doubt the extent of the evil
of Truancy in this city, as it is above stated. We are
obliged to admit it. It meets us on every side, and it
is a matter of constant complaint. It is not, we think,
peculiar to this city, but prevails wherever it is not
made a matter for special action. Like other nuisances,
itjias been suffered ; and its baneful influences endured
for want of some active movement which shall bring it
prominently before the public mind. We are therefore
strongly impressed with the necessity of diligent and
persevering effort on the part of the School Com-
mittee, to awaken public attention to it.
In many cases there is sufficient parental feeling
and regard, which may be called into action by timely
hints from the proper sources. There are many fathers
and mothers who, through indolence, negligence, ox
some other cause, are forgetful of their duties to their
oifspring. They suffer their children to live on in
idleness, unmindful that such a course may be prepar-
ing many sorrows in the future, which they must share.
Such need only to be apprised of their remissness;
and, with a healthy public feeling, would be likely to
bear their duties in mind and faithfully perform them.
But there are other cases in which we find persons
unworthy to sustain the parental relation — persons who
have no regard for themselves nor their offspring ; and
.unfortunately in large cities this class is not smaU. —
In these cases advice and caution avail nothing, en-
^eaties are in vain, and the authority of law is abso-
lutely requisite to secure for their children the advan-
tages of education. Such people forfeit the right of
control of their offspring ; and the safety of the com-
munity requires that it should be transferred to the
civil authorities. It has been well remarked, that " a
parent who sends his son into the world uneducated and
without skill in any art or science, does a great injury
to mankind, as well as to his own family, for he de-
frauds the community of a useful citizen and bequeaths
to it a nuisance." Such parents have no right to inflict
such injuries, and should be debarred the opportunity.
In Prussia, it is a criminal offence for a parent, with-
out satisfactory excuse, to neglect the education of his
child for the time required by law ; and upon convic-
tion in court, a parent who does so is sentenced to prison,
and his child taken from him and sent to school.
Kecently the subject of compulsory attendance upon
schools has been agitated in this State, and a law has
been enacted concerning it. It gives authority to the
several cities and towns to make all needful provisions
and arrangements concerning habitual Truants, and
children not attending school, who, without any regular
and lawful occupation, are growing up in ignorance,
between the ages of six and fifteen years ; also, such
ordinances and by-laws, respecting such children, as
shall be deemed most conducive to their welfare and
the good order of such city or town, and to annex to
such ordinances suit able penalties, not exceeding for any
one breach a fine of $20. It is also made the duty of
any city or town availing itself of the provisions of
this law, to appoint, at the annual meeting of said tovm^
or annually by the mayor and aldermen of said city,
three or more persons who alone shall be authorised
to make the complaint in every case of violation of
such ordinances or by-laws to a Justice of the Peace
or other judicial officer, who, by said ordinances, shall
have jurisdiction in the matter ; and the persons thus
appointed shall alone have authority to carry into ex-
ecution the judgments of said Justices of the Peace or
other judicial officer. By a further provision, "the said
Justices of the Peace or other judicial officer shall in
all cases at their discretion in place of the fine aforesaid
be authorised to order children proved before them
to be growing up in Truancy, and without the benefit
of education provided for them by law, to be placed for
such periods of time as they may judge expedient, in
such institution for instruction, or house of reformation,
or other suitable situation, as may be assigned or pro-
vided for the purpose by the city or town availing
itself of the powers herein granted."
We think the authority is ample for our purpose,
and if judiciously used will prove efficacious, and we
recommend that measures be adopted requisite to put
it in force in our city. We desire the establishment of
an institution in which truants and juvenile delinquents
may be kept and governed, and where suitable pro-
vision shall be made for their physical, moral, and intel-
lectual culture. We feel very confident that such an
institution is required; and if established will soon
meet the approval of the public. We embrace this oc-
casion to say, that we are better pleased with the plan
of establishing some suitable institution of instraotion
8
for those amenable to the laws we recommend, than
with a system of penalties. We doubt if any
good is accomplished by imposing a fine for Truancy.
A parent so lost to a sense of duty, and so heedless of
the care of his child, as to suffer him to incur a penalty,
will hardly be restored by an appeal to his pocket —
and, besides, in most cases, such parents are too poor to
pay the fine. On the other hand, if the children of such
are placed in some proper institution, their progress
and improvement will be likely to excite an interest
in their behalf, which will induce their parents to exert
themselves to do something towards their support.
An objection might be made to the cost of such an
establishment, but we do not think it will weigh
much upon consideration. It costs now, no small
amount to carry on an effective police to restrain ju-
veniles, and a large amount is lost ahnost every day by
persons who are unwilling to seek redress against mere
children for petty crimes. It would be difficult to es-
timate all its advantages in money; but still we think
they would far outweigh any outlay that can be made.
The character of our city — its regard for its destitute
and suffering children — its desire to make its schools as
perfect as practicable — its good order — its success in
rearing up useful citizens, who shall be a benefit to so-
ciety, rather than paupers, rogues and idiots, to be a
burthen to it, should all come into the calculation.
But the whole train of evils that inflict society
may be traced to defects in early education, and if our
city, or any other, neglects to provide for the wants of
of its youth, and suffers them to getsuch an education,
5
as the streets, the nine-pin alleys, and other piacea
equally injurious afford, it will in the end produce noth-
ing but disasters. Society, which claims the right to
punish men, ought certainly to exercise the right of edu-
cating children. It is far more profitable and more
pleasant to prevent crime than to punish it — and it needs
no words from us to convince the reasonable, that every
dollar expended in the prevention of evil, saves hun-
dreds in controling it.
In our remarks, thus far, we have referred to chil-
dren who are neglected. But there is yet another class,
for whom it seems proper that provision should be made.
There are many children in this city who are kept from
our public schools by poverty — some to provide by their
labor, or by begging, for the support of themselves and
their parents — others, because they have not sufiicient
or decent clothing. In all cases of this kind, it seems
to us, the public should interpose. A proper regard
for such children is undoubtedly the duty of the Board
of Overseers of the Poor ; but it seems appropriate
that we should allude to them and recommend a more
careful consideration of their wants. Without doubt,
such consideration would bring many, who now suf-
fer, within the good influences of our public schools.
We thinkj in addition to what we have already
proposed, that this Board may do much good, by an
effort to call public attention to the subject, in our com-
munity. If we can relieve ourselves from popular in-
difference, and get the public interested so as to assist
us, we may accomplish much in freeing our streets from
10
idlers and truants. If parents will feel that duty to
their own children requires them to have an interest in
the children of others, so far as to set them in the right
path when they find them astray, we shall soon see the
faces of many turned towards the school room. A word
spoken in season by the citizen who finds a boy or girl
in the streets during school hours, may do much good.
We recommend that the city officers and the clergymen
of the city, who, by a law of the Commonwealth, are
charged with this duty, be requested to use their en-
deavors by public addresses or otherwise to this end.
We also recommend that this Board adopt a vote
requiring the Teachers, in connection with the Sub-
Committees of their schools, to make monthly reports
of all cases of Truancy known to them, stating the
names of the children and their parents ; also, of all
cases where children are kept from school by poverty;
and that such reports be presented to the Board in writ-
ing at their monthly meetings, and so much of said re-
ports as may be proper, be published quarterly.
WILLIAM SAWYER, )
C. W. MOORE, > COMMITTEE.
WILLLAJM TUFTS. S
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