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ANNUAL REPORTS

OF THE

TRUSTEES

Char

'2 0/-SJ,

HARLESTOWN T REE OCHOOLS.

PRINTED BY ORDER OE THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OE 1873.

OHARDiSTCWN :

LMilNTED BY CALEB RAND

1874.

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NOTICE.

With two exceptions, the Charlestown School Reports were not
printed previously to the yeur 1838.

At the meeting of the School Committee, Dec. 18, 1873, an
order was passed authorizing the printing of such Annual Reports
of the Trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools as exist in manu-
script, but have never been printed.

The following comprise ail that can be found in manuscript.
It will be observed that the reports from 1802 to 1813 are

WILLIAM H. FINNEY,

Treasurer Trustees of CharlestoKjn Free ^Schools.

• * • k

B E P O R T S .

15*S01.

The Trustees of Chaiiestown Free Schools conceive it their
duty to lay before the town a summary account of their proceed-
ings since they have been in office, of their receipts and expend-
itures, and of the present state of the school funds, and to suggest
what further supplies will be necessary for the support of the
schools the present year.

The records of the board of trustees, which have been read by
their secretary, liave exhibited to the town the detail of their pro-
ceedings the year past.

In addition, the trustees think it proper to state that, immediately
on the resignation of Mr. Payson, in the manner recited, they made
inquiry for a suitable person to succeed him. Mr. Tillotson, be-
ing respectably recommended, was engaged for a few months on
trial. Unfortunately, the day after he entered the school he was
taken sick ; and in expectation of his speedy recovery, the school
was temporarily supplied by Messrs. Sewell and Rockwood, for six
or seven weeks, and afterwards, for about the same time, by Mr.
James Pike, who was employed upon such recommendations as the
trustees conceived they might safely rely upon. But on finding
him unequal to the duties of the office, they, as early as possible,
engaged Mr. Ashur Adams to take his place, and he returned to
his friends.

The frequent changes which took place during the three first
months in this year were a source of much regret, anxiety, and
trouble to the trustees, but were rendered unavoidable by an un-
fortunate concurrence of circumstances which it is not necessary
here particularly to mention.

The time suitable for opening the school for young misses having
arrived, the trustees have engaged Mr. Blood to take charge of the
reading school, and to instruct in English grammar, geography.

and the Latin and Greek languages. The schools are now organ-
ized for the season and furnished with masters, who, in their re"
spective branches (if a judgment may be formed from their
recommendations, and a short experience of their talents and
quaUfications), the trustees flatter themselves will give reasonable
satisfaction to the town.

In respect to the receipts, expenditures, and present state of the
funds, the trustees inform that it will appear from the treasurers
book that they have received, in the course of the year past,
$4,124.81, including due bills, parish notes, and cash, to the
amount of $1,310.78, transferred from the former treasurer, and
also $1,000 toward the building of a new school-house. They
have paid for sundry purposes, $3,035.10, leaving a balance in the
treasurer's hands of $1,089.71.

Of the moneys paid the last year, $1,000 were towards the
school-house now erecting, and $539.95 for arrearages due to sun-
dry persons when the present board of trustees came into office.

The trustees have settled and paid all their accounts to this day,
and owe not a dollar, to their knowledge, to any individual. The
balance in the treasurer's hands consists of due bills given by the
town treasurer, amounting to $588.66 ; two parish notes, principal
and interest, $475.35; cash, $25.70; total, $1,089.71.

In respect to the supplies for the ensuing year, the trustees
think it their duty to state, for the information of the town, that
they have been at the pains to number the children, of both sexes,
between the ages of seven and fourteen, and find in this class three
hundred and forty-seven, exclusive of those belonging to the schools
without the Neck, — sixty-six of these are above the house of Cap-
tain Richard Frothingham. On supposition that three quarters of
these only attend, it will easily be conceived that two masters
could not afford them all the instruction which parents have a right
to expect for their children. As, therefore, there is a sufficient
number of children above Mr. Richard Frothingham's to constitute
one school, and below to constitute two others — as it would be a
great and a reasonable accommodation of the parents and children
at and above tae Neck, and as gentlemen have offered to loan the
money for building a school house, the trustees have been induced

to submit to the consideration of the town, whether it would not
be expedient, and tend greatly to the advancement of the numerous
rising generation in useful knowledge and moral improvement, to
make provision for building a school-house near the Neck, and for
supporting another master? Should the town see fit to accommo-
date the people of this district in the manner suggested, their grant
will of course be competent to meet the increased expenses. Ex-
clusive, however, of any provision of this kind, the current ex-
penses of the ensuing year wiil be considerably increased in conse-
quence of the establishment of another permanent master.

The sum granted for five years past, when but one master within
the Neck has been employed, has been $1,166.66. The following
estimate of probable expenditures for the year ensuing will enable
the town to judge about what sum may be expedient for them to
grant to promote the important purposes of education : —

For the support of two masters within the Neck . . $1,091 67
Wood to supply two schools, and sawing .... 50 00

For the education of poor children, and for supplying

them with books, etc 125 00

Rent of school-room, purchasing stove and funnel, and
contingencies .......

For school without the Neck, No. 2 .

do do No. 3 . .

do do No. 4 .

Deduct the income from the school funds
Balance to be provided for by the town is .

This is only $340 more than has been voted by the town for
five years past, when one instructor only was employed within the
Neck.

At the conclusion of their report, the trustees take leave to
observe that the establishment of another school, and the arrange-
ments rendered necessary in consequence of it, the unexpected
resignation of Mr. Payson, and the great difficulty of procuring a
successor in the dead of winter, together with the arduous and

100

287

145

$1,944 67

437

. $1,506

difficult business of planning, contracting for, and superintending
the erection of a school-house and town-hall, have thrown an
uncommon share of labor and responsibilit}'" upon the present
board of trustees. They are conscious of having discharged the
important duties devolved on them by the town with integrity,
impartiality, and an undeviating and disinterested regard to the
best interests of the town, and the improvement of its numerous
youth.

By order of the board of trustees.

BENJ. HURD, Jr.,

Sec'etary.

ISOQ.

The Trustees of the Chailestown Free Schools beg leave to lay
before the town the following statement and report : —

From the treasurer's books it will appear thdt there has been
expended the last year for the various purposes stated in his
account, the sum of $4,540.62, and that the sum of $5,501.27 has
been received, including the balance on hand at the commence-
ment of the year. The balance now in the treasury is $716.44.

From the best estimates which the trustees are enabled to make
of the probable expenses of the current year, there will be required
the sum of $1,650. This sum, with the income of the school's
funds, will enable the trustees to afford the usual support to the
three schools without the Neck, to maintain two masters the year
round within the Neck, to expend one hundred and fifty dollars in
supporting a school for the accommodation of the inhabitants on
and in the neighborhood of the Neck, and one hundred dollars for
the education of the children of the poor. The above were the
sums granted to carry into effect the arrangements of the last year.

The trustees think it their duty to suggest some alteration in the
arrangement of the schools, which, in their opinion, will conduce
greatly to the advantage of our numerous youth, particularly the
more indigent class, and also to the lessening the burdens of a very
considerable and deserving portion of the citizens.

The plan they propose is this, — that all the schools taught by
the women, as well as the others, be free schools, and supported at
the expense of the town, aud under the superintendence of the
board of trustees. On this plan, the expense of these schools will
not probably be increased ; more scholars can be instructed, and
with more uniformity and advantage ; the expense of supporting
them will fall on those who are the best able to bear it, and the sum
annually voted for educating poor children (the expenditure of
which creates for the trustees much trouble) will be saved. The
additional sum necessary to carry this plan into effect, and to sup-
port four or five free schools for little children, to be taught by
women, from the best calculation the trustees have been enabled to
make, is $1,000.

From this may be deducted the one hundred dollars usually voted
to educate poor children. More than this sum is now annually
expended in educating a less number of children than would be
accommodated on the new plan, and the greater part is paid by a
class of people who can illy spare it- from the support of their
families.

The whole sum necessary to carry into effect the arrangement
now proposed, and to have all the schools in town free schools, is
$2,550.

The advantages of this arrangement, the trustees persuade them-
selves, will appear greater and more numerous the more it is
considered.

With these brief remarks, they submit it to the town, that they
may act thereon as they think proper.

The trustees beg leave further to report, that they have received
in behalf of the trustees of Mr. Raynard, a handsome
to decorate the school-house, which he presents to the town ; and
of Z. B. Adams, Esq., as a gift to the trustees, a lot of land for a
school house, in a very commodious situation near the Neck ; and
that there is a sufficient number of scholars in that vicinity to
constitute one school, and enough below to fill the two public
schools by the meeting-house. They would therefore earnestly
recommend it to the consideration of the town, whether it would
not be expedient to erect a school-house on the lot presented by
Mr. Adams, provision being made in the foregoing estimation for
the support of another instructor for three months, which is suffi-
cient for the present year. As an inducement to the town to
comply with this suggestion, a gentleman offers to loan the town
for two years a sum sufficient to erect a school-ho ise.

The trustees have only to add, that notwithstandi 'g some
unavoidable interruptions, the instructors appear to have faithfully
and successfully discharged their duties ; the schools have been
well attended, and the proficiency of the children, in the various
branches of education, laudable.

All which is submitted.

BENJAMIN HURD, Jr.,

Secretary,

May 10, 1802.

1S13.

The Trustees of Charlestown Free Schools, in obedience to a
clause in the act of incorporation, respectfully submit to their
fellow-citizens the following report of the particulars of their pro-
ceedings, to which is annexed a statement of their funds. On the
fourth of May, 1812, the trustees were chosen, and on the eighth
the board was organized, the Rev. Wm. Collier was chosen presi-
dent, and Abm. R. Thompson, secretary. Nehemiah Wyman was
chosen treasurer, and has given bonds for ten thousand dollars for
the faithful discharge of his duties ; a committee was chosen to
audit the treasurer's accounts, and a vote was passed that an ac-
curate enumeration of all the children in town from four to seven
years old, and from seven to fourteen years old should be taken, in
order to ascertain not only the number to be provided for in the
public schools, viz., of children from seven to fourteen years old,
but also the fountain from whence the public schools were to be
supplied, — of children from four to seven years old ; thus present-
ing at once an accurate view of the actual and relative state of
the public schools. On the fifteenth of May the different members
of the board reported the number of children in the various sec-
tions of the town, and found the number

From 4 to 7 to be . . . . . 457

From 7 to 14 " . . . . . 710

1,167

As the money appropriated for the schools is paid by all, for the
common benefit of all, it seemed just and equitable that it should
be apportioned, not by mere fluctuating opinion, but by some rule,
in itself fair and reasonable ; the trustees, after many meetings ex-
pressly for this purpose, and after full discussion and mature
consideration of the subject in all its parts, in September voted to
distribute the money by the following rule, viz. : To the schools
within the Neck, according to the number of children from seven
to fourteen years of age ; and to the schools without the Neck,
according to the whole number of children from four to fourteen
years of age. Thus, for example. District No. 4 contains but
2

thirty- four scholars of that age, viz., from seven to fourteen, which
is provided for withm the Neck (for children are not allowed to go
into the town school within the Neck under seven, nor over four-
teen years of age) ; yet this same district receives for thirty-four
scholars as much money as is expended within the Neck for fifty-
one scholars. This distinction in favor of the schools without the
Neck is, in the opinion of the trustees, an ample indemnification
for all inconveniences arising from their local situation ; besides, the
money appropriated without the Neck is abundantly sufficient to
defray the expenses of their schools through that part of the year
when the inhabitants send their children to them, from seven years
old and upward ; and the expense of educating their children under
seven years of age, it seems as just and reasonable for them to
pay out of their own pockets as it is for the inhabitants within the
Neck to do it. When, therefore, it is considered that of 1,167
children in town, only one hundred and thirty-three are without
the Neck ; and yet these one hundred and thirty-three children, be-
ing actually less than one-eighth part of the whole number, expend
more than one-fourth part of the money (contingencies excepted),
it cannot for a moment be denied that this rule is not only favor-
able, but generous to the people without the Neck.

The trustees, after a faithful examination of the school kept by
Mr. Alger, were unanimously of opinion that it was necessary to
divide that school, and to establish another somewhere near the
training-field, so as at once to relieve Mr. Alger's school and to
accommodate the inhabitants in the eastern and northern sections
of the town. In order to carry this project into execution it was
necessary to consult the town, and a petition was accordingly pre-
sented to the selectmen, requesting them to call a town meeting ;
but as they declined doing this, the only expedient which the trus-
tees could resort to was to employ an assistant with Mr. Alger, and
they accordingly engaged Mr. 01. Jaquith. This arrangement has
been highly beneficial to this important school, especially as the
number of children who attended it has nearly doubled within the
past year. As a necessary and valuable auxiliary in teaching
geography, the trustees have furnished a pair of globes and a
map for the use of this school. The past year the applications for

the privilege of sending small cliilrlren to the women's schools at
the town's expense have been unusually numerous, and a consider-
able sum has been expended in this way, as appears by the state-
ment of the expenses of the board. Application was made for a
school for the black children, and one was established by the trus-
tees and kept from June until November, and the amount espended
for it will be found on the statement.

Early in the year, a code of elementary rules and regulations for
the government of the schools was adopted by the board, officially
introduced into the schools, enjoined upon masters and scholars'
and a copy placed on the records.

The attention of the trustees during the year past has been re-
peatedly called to some mischievous boys detected in petty theft,
etc. Those who belonged to the school were brought before the
board, admonished, reproved, and exhorted, and their parents ac-
quainted with their behavior.

The trustees have had two public examinations of the school^
under the care of Messrs. Alger and Jaquith, Messrs. Fuller and
Stickney, besides frequent informal visits as a board.

These schools, though much crowded, are generally in good order
and in a state of increasing and gratifying improvement, but
reforms are necessary in some branches, and steps have been taken
to effect them. The three schools without the Neck have all been
visited in the course of the spring, and the trustees can, with
sincere pleasure, bestow the most unqualified approbation on them.
The state of the funds is accurately exhibited by the statement of
our treasurer, distributed among our fellow-citizens in conformity
to a vote passed by the town, July 3, 1812. The only difference
between that statement and the actual state of the funds at this
date is, that two bills unknown to the present board of trustees,
and contracted defore they were elected, have come in, viz : —

D. and S. Dennis $17 87

Hovey ....... 75

And Mr. Etheridge's bill for 800 statements . 8 00

So that deduct $26 62

these bills from the amount credited on hand in our statement,
will leave a balance in the hands of the treasurer of $336.14,

and the accounts of the board completely settled, as the trustees

have no knowledge of any demand whatever, and are sure that

none exists of their own contracting ; as an otfset against this

balance on hand, it must be remembered that the current salaries

of the masters are going on, and, though not regularly due, will

amount in reality to about the sum now on hand ; it must also

be remembered that the permanent funds will not yield so much

income for this year as for last, so that on the whole the trustees

are of opinion that the support of the schools upon the present

establishment will require for the current year the same sum as

last year, viz : $3,000.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

By order of the board of trustees,

A. R. THOMPSON, Secretary,
May 3, 1813.

The trustees of the schools, in conformity with their duty, re-
spectfully submit to their fellow-citizens the following report of
their proceedings, to which is annexed a statement of their funds.
The money raised for the support of the schools has been appor-
tioned agreeably to the rule adopted by the board, and reported to
the town the last May meeting. The Writing School, kept by Mr.
D. Fuller, was vacated by his removal on the 20th of May, and
kept until the 8th of June by Mr. Jaquith, when the present
teacher, Mr. David Dodge, was employed and took the charge of
it. On the I8th of July Mr. Israel Alger suddenly resigned his
place as principal teacher of the Grammar School, on account of
ill health, and Mr. Jaquith kept it alone until the 9th of August,
when Mr. Abraham Andrews was enojasfed and instated in the
school as the successor of Mr. Alger,

In the winter, the trustees thought the interest of the school
at the Neck required the removal of Mr. Stickney, and he was, on
the 15th of January, notified that he would not be employed any
longer than the 17th of March. Mr. Stickney left the school im-
mediately, and Mr. Jaquith was placed in it, till February 22d,
when the present teacher, Mr. John Bennett, was engaged and
introduced.

February 25th, the trustees, visited the school in District No. 5,
which contained twenty-eight scholars, under the care of Mr.
Nath. Green ; and also the school in District No. 4, which con-
tained fifty-eight scholars, under the care of Mr. Pierce ; both the
schools were in good order. April 12th, the board visited the
school in Milk Row, District No. 3, containing sixty-nine scholars,
under the care of Mr. Moses Hall; the 19th, the school at the
Neck, No. 2, containing ninety scholars, under care of Mr. Bennett ;
and the 26th and 29th, the school under the care of Messrs. An-
drews and Jaquith, and Mr. Dodge, and were perfectly satisfied
with the good order and improvement of them all.

Although the trustees are sensible that such of their fellow-
citizens as have children at school can best judge for themselves of
the situation of the schools, yet it may be proper to state in this

place one or two facts interesting to fill. In May, 1812, the
number of children at and without the Neck, from seven to four-
teen years of age, was 220 ; the school at the Neck has generally
averaged from 80 to 100 scholars in the winter; in summer it is
lessened. The schools without the Neck being kept only part of
the year, and not confined to any age, the number that attend
tliem usually exceeds the whole number of children from four to
fourteen that belong to them ; thus, for example : The number
of children who have actually attended these schools the past
season (as appears from returns from the masters, made at the
time of visiting them) has been one hundred and fift3^-three, a
number actually exceeding the number of children returned as
belonging to them. These facts exhibit the general state of the
schools in that quarter of the town, as to numbers, and it gives
the trustees the highest pleasure to bear witness in this public
manner to tlieir good order and improvement. The number of
children from seven to fourteen years of age belonging to Dis-
trict No. 1, taken in May, 1812, was four hundred and ninety-six ;
in October of the same year the highest number of children who
came to this school, according to returns made by Messrs. Alger
and Fuller, amounted to two hundred and sixty-two, but little more
than one-half the number that belonged to the district ; at the
examination held at that time, the number that actually attended
fell considerably below two hundred.

According to returns made in April, 1814, by Mr. Dodge, of the
Writing School, and Messrs. Andrews and Jaquith, of the Reading
School, the number who came to this school is now four hundred
and seventy -four, and the number who actually attended the public
examinations exceeded three hundred. By this statement, it will
be seen that this school has increased almost one half within the
last year.

When to this interesting fact of the extraordinary increase of
this school we add that not a single complaint of disorderly be-
havior of any of its members has the last year been made to the
trustees ; and, at the late examinations, we found the school under
the most perfect government and in the highest state of improve-
ment, we cannot refrain from congratulating our fellow-citizens

on a situation of their public schools so auspicious to the best in .
terests of the town, — so gratifying to the dearest hopes of pa.
rents, — and bearing such honorable testimony to the eminent
ability and fidelity of the instructors.

It will be seen by the public statement of our treasurer, that the
trustees have expended the past year $4,137.06 ; of this sum,
$872.48 has been expended for the education of small children.
The sum, therefore, of $3,264.58 has been expended for the estab-
lished schools and contingent charges. The board have made
some special grants, as in their opinion they were richly merited
and perfectly consistent with a wise and just economy. The
necessity of some extra repairs will probably swell the contingent
charges the ensuing year ; some quarter bills will speedily become
due, and there is no money in the treasury to pay them, so that
the regular schools, with probable contingencies, will require the
sum of $3,500 for the current year ; and if the town see fit to as-
sign to the trustees the care of educating the children from four
to fourteen years old, the additional sum of $1,000 will be required
for this object ; so that to carry the whole plan into complete oper-
ation will require the sum of $4,500. The state of the trustees*
funds will be seen by the public statement of the treasurer.

All which is respectfully submitted, by order of the trustees.

ABM. R. THOMPSON,
Mat 2, 1814. Secretary.

The trustees of the schools, in conformity with their duty, re-
s pectfully report the following particulars of their proceedings the
past year, and for the state of their funds and current expenses
they refer to the printed statement of their treasurer. The town,
at the last May meeting, instructed the trustees to take charge of
the education of the small children, and voted the necessary funds
for this purpose. Accordingly, every possible method was taken, by
giving notice in the houses of public worship, and by the individual
and combined exertions of the trustees and others, to have every
child in town from four to seven years of age sent to school. Each
school-mistress was required to make out an accurate return of all
the children by name of this description who came to her school.
These returns were made to the trustees, who required a monthly
report from each mistress of any addition or diminution of her
scholars. These schools were opened the first of May, and up-
ward of five hundred children (whose names are all on file among
the trustees' papers) were educated in them at the expense of the
town. It was the earnest endeavor of the trustees to inculcate on
the school-mistresses not only a due regard to the tuition of the
children, but also a strict attention to order and cleanliness in
their schools, believing that these rules were not only important
to the children, but in some instances might have a salutary effect
on those parents who are criminally negligent of these cardinal
virtues ; notwithstanding the unavoidable embarassments and
difficulties attendant on a novel system, and the peculiar agitation
of the town, which made it impossible for the trustees to watch
over these schools with the same care they might and would have
exercised in a more tranquil season, yet they are of opinion that
the town has gained a material advantage by this plan, and in
providing for the instruction of little children from four to seven
years old, they do in fact prepare the soil aud sow the seed on
which essentially depends the future crop of education.

The importance of these primary schools must be obvious to all
who consider that they are the elements of those great public
schools which are the pride and the bulwark of our country, and

which the liberal spirit and enlightened policy of our own town has
carried to a degree of improvement and excellence probably une-
qualled, certainly not surpassed, in the known world. These schools
were all visited and examined in the course of the season, and were
closed the last of October ; and, by vote of the town passed at April
meeting, they are to be continued on the same plan the present
year. A school for the benefit of the black children was opened in
May, and kept through the summer months, to the approbation of
the board, by Mrs. Ellenanor Jackson.

In June, Mr. Robert Gordon was engaged as assistant in the
Grammar School in place of Mr. Oliver Jaquith.

The first of November, Messrs. Dodge and Andrews' school was
visited ; a large number of respectable inhabitants attended the
examination, and, in their opinion, and also in the opinion of the
trustees, this school was in perfect order, and in a high state of
improvement, notwithstanding the confusion of the previous sum-
mer,— a fact whicii reflects the highest credit on the instruators.

The 15th of November, the school at the Neck, under the care of
Mr. Bennett, was visited, and exliibited gratifying improvement in
some branches, and was respectable in all.

The 16th of Februarj^, the school in District No. 5, under the care
of Mr. N. Green, and the school in District No. 4, under the care
of Mr. Jacob Pierce, were examined and found in good order.

The 12th of April, the school in Milk Row, District No. 3, under
the care of Mr. P. T. Gray, and the 21st instant, the school at the
Neck, No. 2, under the care of Mr. Bennett, were visited and found
in a situation satisfactory to the trustees.

On the 27th instant, Messrs. Dodge and Andrews held their ex
amination at the town-hall, and furnished the inhabitants with an
opportunity of witnessing the uncommon excellence of their great
and flourishing school. It was in truth a delightful sight to behold
three hundred and thirty children, all clean and decent in their ap-
parel, all prompt in their exercises, all animated with jouthful
emulation and hope and joy, assembled on the floor of an invalua^
ble common privilege. The trustees will not conceal their joy and
gratification in view of the interesting scene.
3

On the 21st instant, a letter was received from Mr. Abraham
Andrews, resignini^ his place as teacher of the Grammar School.
It is due to the eminent ability and fidelity of this gentleman to
declare, in this public manner, that he has filled his station entirely
to the satisfaction of the trustees.

He is succeeded by Mr. Jesse Smith, who took charge of the
school this day. This gentleman is a graduate from Dartmouth
College, has produced ample recommendations of his character and
qualifications, and has for a year past been the preceptor of New
Ipswich Academy.

The trustees, for two years past, have kept a summer school at
"Winter Hill, and the inhabitants living in that vicinity have repeat-
edly requested that a school-house might be erected for their accom-
modation. But although the board are sensible that a school-house
in that neighborhood would be a great convenience and, all things
being favorable, they would recommend the building of one, yet
the necessity does not appear so urgent at present as to justify a
call for additional grants at a time when our fellow-citizens are
struggling with great and accumulated burthens. For the same
reason, viz., — an unwillingness to ask for more money at the pres-
ent moment, the trustees forbear to propose any plan for the relief
of the great school which is kept in this building. But, although
they will endeavor to continue this school on its present estab-
lishment another year, they are sensible that the time is not far
distant when a division of it must be made, and they indulge the
pleasing hope that with the joyful return of peace, our fellow-
citizens will be restored to their wonted occupations, and blessed
with such returning prosperity as shall furnish them with the
ability, as they have always possessed the disposition, to support
with ch'^erfulness and liberality such additional means of educa-
tion as the increasing population of the town may require.

The money for the support of the different schools was divided
and appropriated in May. The income of the funds was assigned
for contingencies. The sum of $1,000 was reserved exclusively for
the women's schools within the Neck, and $3,500 was divided by
the rule of apportionment adopted by the board in 1812. By a

reference to the public statement of our treasurer, it will be seen

that the trustees' funds have but just enabled them to meet their

current expenses ; several bills will soon be due, and of course in

order to meet them, and to carry on the same plan of education

this year, it will be necessary for the town to grant the sum of

$4,800.

All which is respectfully submitted by order of the trustees of

Charlestown free schools.

A. R. THOMPSON,

Secretary.
Charlestown, May 1, 1815.

The trustees of the schools respectfully submit the following
particulars of their proceedings the past year, and for the state of
their funds and expenses they refer to the printed statement of
their treasurer.

Immediately after the May meeting, the schools for the instruc-
tion of the small children were opened ; regular returns (now on
file) were received from the school-mistresses, and about five hun-
dred children received the benefit of this provision. The schools
were well conducted, and were closed on the 1st of November.

The policy of this mode of education having occupied much
attention, and a contrariety of opinion prevailing on the subject,
it seems to be in order for the trustees to give a statement of facts
respecting these schools, that their fellow-citizens may be able to
judge for themselves as to the expediency of continuing them.
The pli^i of free schools for the small children was adopted par-
tially in 1813, and fully in 1814. If we consider the situation Of
the people at that time, and recollect that many of them were
straightened in their circumstances in consequence of being cut off"
from their regular business ; that some were leaving the town from
necessity, and more from apprehension ; that others, not able to send
their children to school at their own expense, were too high spir-
ited to receive the privilege in direct charity : if we consider these
liings, we shall at once perceive that these schools presented a
powerful inducement to many to remain in town, and by making
the privilege free to all has preserved the chain of education, un-
broken by the distresses of the people, in the shock of war.

But happily the scene is now changed ; our citizens, restored to
thei^ occupations, are generally able to educate their children at
their own expense, and instead of devising methods to prevent
people from removing out, we know that the town is filling u^) with
strangers and new families, who have borne no part of our burdens
in the days of our distress, but who will now have the full benefit
of these schools, and will be likely to increase the expenses of them
vastly beyond the amount they will contribute to the support of
them. Upon the whole, the trustees are of opinion, that these

schools were well adapted to promote important purposes at the
time they were adopted, that much good has been done by them,
and that much good might be expected from continuing them, but
that they must in future be carried on under greater difiiculties and
at greater expense, and that the same public necessity for them
does not now exist.

In May, in consequence of a representation from Mr. Dodge of
the excessive labor of his school, the trustees employed his son,
Horace, for a small salary, as his assistant in the Writing School.
At the same time permission was given to the instructors of the
Reading School to make some gradual alterations in the books
used in the school. On the 2.5th of May, the board held a sepa-
rate examination of Mr. Dodge's school, and were highly gratified.
On the fifteenth of June, the money voted by the town and accru-
ing from the fund was divided equally according to the number
of scholars in the different districts. Some special grants, how-
ever, will vary this apportionment in a slight degree. On the 8th
of August, Mr, Jno. Bennett resigned his place as teacher of
the school at the Neck, and Mr. Isaac Gates was employed
on the tenth of the same month to succeed him. Public examina-
tions were held on the 6th of November of Messrs. Smith and
Gordon's school ; on the thirteenth, of Mr. Dodge's department
of the same school ; and on the twenty-ninth, of Mr. Gates'
schoo' at the Neck, — all of which were found in a situation highly
gratifying to the trustees.

On the 6th of April, Mr. D. Dodge resigned his place as
writing-master. The trustees feel it equally a duty and a pleasure
publicly to declare their entire approbation of Mr. Dodge, and
their grateful sense of his valuable services in the important sta-
tion he has filled. Mr. Robt. Gordon, formerly assistant in the
reading school, having the entire confidence of the trustees, is
appointed successor to Mr. Dodge, and Mr. Samuel Campbell, a
gentleman well recommended and of much experience in the
business, succeeds to the place of Mr. Gordon.

On the 17th of April, the school in Milk Row, No. 3, under the
care of Mr. Yorick S. Gordon, was visited, and notwithstandino:
it has suffered from some peculiar diflSculties the past winter, it

made a respectable appearance. The schools in districts No. 4 and
5, have been kept the past winter to the satisfaction of the board.

On the 1st of Ma}^, the second examination of Messrs. Smith
and Campbell's school was attended by the trustees, who were
gratified by the faithfulness of the teachers, and the good be-
havior and proficiency of the scholars.

On the 2d, the school at the Neck was examined, and the trus-
tees can now declare that their utmost wishes for this school are
completely realized in the judicious and successful labors of the
present teacher, Mr. Gates. The schools within the Neck are all
crowded, and it might be useful to divide them, but the trustees
have not matuied any plan for this purpose.

The task of the regular teachers is laborious, and the stations
they fill of the highest concern to the community. The influence
of knowledge on the happiness of society is of incalculable impor-
tance. Our common schools are the nurseries of education, and
are among the most precious privileges we inherit from our ances-
tors ; they are the bulwark of our safety and glory.

Deeply impressed with these sentiments, the trustees earnestly
recommend such an elevated and liberal policy with regard to the
instructorsas shall always aflbrd them a generous support, and
shall secure to the schools the services of gentlemen of talents and
character.

By reference to the printed statement of our treasurer, it will
be seen that the expenses of the trustees the past year (including
an error against them in last year's statement) have exceeded their
funds. In order, therefore, to meet the deficiency, and to provide
for the schools the ensuing year, the sum of $4,000 will be wanted
for the established schools ; and if free schools for the smal^
children are to be continued, the additional sum of $1,500 will be
necessary for that purpose. Otherwise, the sum of $200, to be
expended at the discretion of the trustees for the education of poor
children.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Per order of the trustees.

A. R. THOMPSON,

Secretary,
[ay 6, 1816.

The naoney voted by the town, with the income of the school
funds, making together a very large appropriation for the current
year, the trustees thought it equitable to divide the sum equally
among the children in the respective districts ; and accordingly, at
their first meeting, May 9th, voted unanimously so to divide it, —
reserving, however, the right to make special grants.

This has been done the past year to District No. 3, which for
several years past has kept two summer schools, viz. : one at Milk
Row and one at Winter Hill ; and also to No. 5, which has always
received more than its proportion. In addition to these special
grants, the districts without the Neck have drawn their full pro-
portion of the whole sum appropriated for the year, while it will be
seen, lr»y reference to the treasurer's statement, that there remains
in the treasury an unexpended balance of five hundred dollars.

The first of June, Capt. Wyman resigned his office as treasurer
of the trustees, and Mr. G. Bartlett was chosen to succeed him,
and having executed a bond for $10,000 for the faithful discharge
of the duties of the office, all the papers belonging to it were de-
livered into his hands. The accounts of the former treasurer were
audited by a committee of the board, and found correct ; and the
trustees voted their unanimous and hearty thanks to Capt. Wymau
for his faithful services. In February, Capt. Wyman made known
the wishes of a number of the inhabitants at the Neck to have a
bell, at their own expense, placed on the school-house. This
request was granted, on conditions that no expense should be
incurred by the board. The schools without the Neck have been
kept on the usual establishment, and so far as is known to the
board, the teachers have been capable and faithful, and have given
satisfaction to the inhabitants generiilly of the several districts.

The school at the Neck remains and flourishes under the care of
Mr. Gates. Two public examinations of it have been held th

past year, and at the last (April 28th) seventy-four children were
present, and made the best exhibition ever witnessed in this school,
either by the trustees or a oumerous company of respectable visit-
ors, who attended on this interesting occasion.

In June, Mr. Jesse Smith resigned his place as teacher of the
Grammar School. While the trustees sincerely regret the causes
which induced him to resign, they cannot refrain from expressing
their high sense of his talents, uprightness, and fidelity. Mr. Smith
is succeeded by Mr. J. M, K. Wilkins, under whose able and inde-
fatigable administration, assisted by the faithful labors of Mr.
Campbell, the great Reading and Grammar School maintains its
distinguished reputation.

The associate branch of this great school, in the department of
writing and arithmetic, has been under the sole guidance of Mr.
R. Gordon, whose industry and ability are conspicuously proved
by the flourishing state of the school under his care. Two public
examinations of these united schools have been held the past year
and at the last (April 22d) three hundred and forty children were
present, a greater number than were ever before assembled in the
same school on a like occasion. The conduct and appearance of
the children, as well as their evident improvement, gave high satis-
faction to the respectable visitors, and reflected great honor on their
teachers. The trustees will not conceal their delightful sensations
in view of this interesting spectacle.

It will be perceived, by reference to our treasurer's statement, that
the trustees have made some special grants. In this particular,
they have acted on the principles set forth in their report of last
year. These principles were generously sanctioned by their con-
stituents in the liberal provision made for the education of their
children. An enlightened people, who know how to appreciate the
value of instruction to the rising generation in a free country, will
know how to estimate the worth of talents and faithfulness in their
public teachers, and will never grudge the bread of him who feeds
their offspring with the enduring food of knowledge and under-
standing.

The women's schools have been conducted in the same manner
as the last year ; about five hundred children have been educated

in them, and the expense is noted particularly in the statement of
the treasurer. The trustees are aware that this department of the
schools is a subject of much conversation, and probably some may
expect it to be particularly noticed in this report. There can be
no doubt that a great benefit has been derived from this plan ; but
while the trustees rejoice in all the goad it has done, they are sen-
sible that so long as it stands on its present precarious tenure, it
must be imperfect. It is subject to the ^annual determination of
the town. It may be the wisdom of the town one year to provide
for it ; the next, to refuse such provision. As long as this uncer-
tainty continues, no permanent arrangements can be made. If the
provision was settled, then the town might be districted, suitable
houses provided, and eight capable women might be hired who
would teach the whole five hundred children at a much less ex-
pense, and probably in a much better manner, than they are now
taught by more than twenty mistresses, some of whom are not
properly qualified for the task. Upon the whole, the trustees are
of opinion that all the benefit derived from these schools might be
obtained by a different and more economical plan.

The trustees are conscious that although the present system of
education is excellent in many respects, it is, however, liable to
material objections on the ground of expense, especially at a time
when the weight of the public burdens makes it a duty to abridge
every expenditure which the public good will permit. In order
therefore to preserve the privileges of the children, the trustees
have felt their minds drawn to the contemplation of some method
of education consistent with a wise economy. In this view, the
Lancastrian plan presents itself as eminently suited to the situa-
tion and circumstances of this town.

This plan proposes to teach a great number of children, at a
small expense, and has been in successful operation in Europe, and
in many parts of our own country. The trustees have not been
able to obtain sufficient information to give a minute view of the
sj^stem. The}^ have held one meeting expressly for the purpose of
considering the subject, and have decided to recommend to the
town a full investigation of it, and are of opinion that it would
4

be true wisdom and economy to adopt this system, at least in part,
in the town of Charlestown.

This is more especially necessary, as the schools already estab-
lished, expensive as they are, arc OTcrrunning with children, and
cannot be continued much longer within the limits of their present
number. On our present plan, more schools must be set up, and
consequently more money will be wanted.

Such being the facts, the trustees beg leave to read some letters
showing the operation of the Lancaster plan, and earnestly recom-
mend it to the consideration of their fellow-citizens.

The regular schools within and without the Neck, on the present
establishment, will require for their support the current year the
sum of $3,800, exclusive of the balance remaining in the treasury.
The women's schools, on the present plan, $1,300; and if the
womens' schools are given up, the sum of $200 will be needed for
the education of children absolutely indigent. So that, with the
women's schools, the sum of $5,100 will be wanted. Without these
the sum of $4,000 will be sufficient for the present year.

All which is respectfully submitted by order of the Trustees of

Charlestown Free Schools.

ABM. K. THOMPSON,

Secretary.
Charlestown, May 5, 1817.

The Trustees of the Schools respectfully report the following
particulars of their proceedings this past year, and for the state of
their funds and current expenses they refer to the public statement
of their Treasurer.

Mr. George Bartlett, the former treasurer of the board, resigned
his office as trustee last year, and Elias Phinney, Esq., being chosen
to fill the vacancy, was at the first meeting of the board elected
treasurer. The accounts of Mr. Bartlett being examined and found
correct, the papers were delivered over to his successor, Mr. Phin-
ney, who has given bonds in the sum of $10,000 for the discharge
of the duties of said office.

A bell and clock purchased by subscription were presented by
Captain Wyman, in behalf of the subscribers, on condition that
they should be for the exclusive use of the school at the Neck, and
were accepted by the trustees agreeable to the wishes of the donors.

The schools without the Neck have been kept the usual terms,
and 80 far as appeared at the examinations, or is known to the
trustees, the teachers have been capable and faithful, and have
given satisfaction to the inhabitants of the respective districts.

The school at the Neck, under the care of Mr. Gates, is in a
flourishing state ; the examination in November last was highly
gratifying, and at the last examination, April 28th, all the one
hundred and five scholars attended, — a number greater than were
ever present before on a like occasion, — yet the exhibition, in
point of order and improvement, was never equalled in this school
before.

The school under the care of Messrs. Wilkins and Gordon, was
examined in November last. Three hundred children attended,
and their conduct and performances reflected honor on their in-
structors. At the last examination, April 29th, the number of
scholars present was three hundred and ninety-five, exceeding any
former number on a like occasion. Notwithstanding the increase
of numbers in this school, and the consequent augmentation of the
labors of its teachers, yet improvement was evident in some

branches of education, and the character of the school was honor-
ably sustained in all.

The sura of $445.43 has been expended for the education of
indigent children, as will be seen by the statement of the treasurer.

Early in the year the trustees took up the subject of Lancastrian
Schools, and in the course of their inquiries received important
information from a Mr. Dixon, a gentleman practically acquainted
with the system, and as a consideration for his trouble presented
him with $20, as appears in the Treasurer's statement. After
thorough investigation, it is the opinion of the trustees that the
Lancaster plan, though admirably suited to teach a great number
of small children in the simplest rudiments of education, at a cheap
rate, cannot be profitably adopted, because it is deficient in some
important advantages in our present system, and cannot be so in-
corporated with it as to unite the benefits of both.

From facts stated in this report it appears that the children within
the Neck have increased to a degree that seems now absolutely
to require some alteration in the schools. The trustees submit to
the consideration of the town the propriety of so far changing the
present mode as to establish a separate school for the girls. The
education of females, not being exclusively literary, it is the prac-
tice of parents to devote a part of each year to the instruction of
their daugh ters in needle-work and other useful acquirements. The
time required for the acquisition of these branches, might as well be
uniform and stated, leaving the remainder of the year to be em-
ployed in a public school ; and it is confidently believed that a
school opened early in the spring, and continued till winter, under
proper regulations, would for the females be in many respects pref-
erable to the present mode. By this method the separation of the
sexes, an object much to be desired, would be accomplished, the
school thus divided, would be lessened, and of course relieved to
the precise amount of female population taken out. Conscious of
the importance of female education already visible in its beneficial
influence upon society, the trustees would not willingly abridge the
privileges of the females ; the plan proposed it is thought will give
them additional advantages. The expenses of the schools, as will

be seen by the treasurer's statement, fall short of the income the
past year ; the balance on hand, however, will be reduced by some
additional grants and items not included in the statement. The
trustees have made no local division of the money this year, but
have endeavored to provide for every part of the town, according
to its wants ; the districts without the Neck, have received liberal
allowance, and No. 5, in particular, has expended more money than
for many years before. In fact, the policy which has been uni-
formly recommended by the trustees, and generously sanctioned
by the town, has been pursued. This liberal policy, the legitimate
offspring of the fathers of New England, is founded in the wisdom
of Providence, of large and exalted minds, of minds not contented
with dispensing happiness during the contracted period of their
own age, but laboring with benevolent assiduity to extend the
dominion of their usefulness beyond the limits of nature, and to
perpetuate themselves in their institutions, the guardians and nour-
ishers of generations to come.

It is not to be denied that our schools are expensive ; that the
money pf the rich is primarily taken to educate the children of the
poor ; but this apparent inequality between burden and privilege
vanishes at once when we reflect that the rich man receives not
only a present and an abundant remuneration in the increased
security of his riches from the augmented strength and improved
condition of that society which his money has contributed to en-
lighten and to establish. But those very institutions which have
been founded by his wealth and supported by his munificence now
in the course of three generations, in the care and instruction of
his descendants reduced by the vicissitudes of society and the
mutations of poverty, will return back to his own loins the same
money that he now advances for the poor of his own age and time.
Besides, the rich and benevolent shall always remember that they
are responsible for our charitable foundations, and every man has
something for which he is interested in all our institutions. Let
us then not be unmindful of the influence of our present views and
actions upon future generations. Above all, let us never forget
the vast importance of our establishments for education, and the
intimate connection which exists between the dissemination of

knowledge and the best hopes and most durable felicity of man •
kind.

The schools in the present establishment will require for thjii
support S4,000, and a separate school for the females the additional
sum of $500, so that in the opinion of the trustees the sum of
$4,500 will be wanted for the current year.
All which is respectfully submitted by the

** Trustees of Charlestown Free Schools."

ABRAM R. THOMPSON,

Secretary,

The trustees of the schools respectfully report the following
particulars of their proceedings the past year, and for the state of
their funds and current expenses they refer to the printed state-
ment of their treasurer. In the annual report of last year, the
board recommended the new organization of the schools, in such a
manner as to establish a separate branch for the instruction of the
females. This report was accepted by the town, and the trustees
at their first meeting took up the subject, and appointed a com-
mittee of the Board to make inquiry. This committee, after a
thorough, but unsuccessful search, for some commodious building,
reported in favor of accepting the proposals of the Rev. W.
Collier, who offered to erect a suitable building, provided the
trustees would take a lease of said buildinor for a term of time
long enough at a stipulated rent per annum, to cover the expense
of the building. The trustees accepted the report of the com-
mittee, and acceded to the proposals of Mr. Collier, and have
taken a lease of this building for the term of eight years, at one
hundred and thirty dollars per annum. The new school-house is
divided into two apartments ; it is pleasantly situated in a central
part of the town adjacent to the Rev. Mr. Collier's meeting-house,
and will answer the purpose for many years. Being ready for
occupation on the 14th of September the school was opened with
religious solemnities, and organized in two distinct departments by
the respective teachers according to a previous plan and under the
direction of the trustees. The introductory school was committed
to the care of Miss S. Carlisle, and provides (with some exceptions)
for the Misses from seven to eleven years of age, and is confined
to the rudiments of instruction. The trustees were of opinion
that an intelligent mistress would fill this place as well as a master.
This expectation has been realized, for Miss Carlisle has carried
the scheme into complete execution, and conducted her school in a
manner honorable to herself and satisfactory to the board. The
upper branch of the school receives the Misses from the lower and
completes the course of education contemplated in the plan of the
schools. This department has been filled by Mr. I, Prentiss, whose

able and successful labors have raised his school to a high degree
of reputation.

Agreeable to the plan proposed by the trustees in the report of
last year, this school was closed the fifteenth of November, with
the intention of suspending it as a public school, till March or
April. But many of our citizens expressing a strong desire to
have the school continued, and proposing to have a town-meeting
called on the subject, it was thought expedient to open the school
again on the first of December and it has been continued ever
since. The trustees in this instance yielded to the force of cir-
cumstances, without altering their own opinion, which remains still
in favor of a limited term of the female schools. It equally cor-
responds with fact and reasoning, that a school for one half the
year would be more profitable to learners, than one continued for
the whole term. This is equally true with regard to boys as girls,
but not equally practicable, because in populous towns the great
mass of boys from seven to fourteen years of age cannot be em-
ployed, it is therefore necessary to keep them constantly at school
as a measure of restraint and order, but the school for girls may
be suspended with perfect safety, because they ought to be and
generally would be kept at home during the intermission of the
school, assisting in domestic duties, and thereby acquiring a knowl-
edge of this important branch of female education. The subject
is with the town and for their wisdom to decide. In September
Mr. S. Campbell was discharged — his services being no longer
needed in consequence of the new arrangements of the schools.

The schools without the Neck have been kept the past year on
the usual plan. In District No. 5, the state of the school not
being satisfactory to the board, it was closed earlier in conse-
quence. In No. 3 the school went on very well under the care of
Mr. Russell, until the school-house was destroyed b}^ fire, in con-
sequence of which misfortune no regular examination of this school
could be made. The school in District No. 4 was publicly ex-
amined, March 18th. The gentleman who kept it, Mr. Hayward,
is an excellent schoolmaster, and gave a tine exhibition. The
trustees could not but notice the uncommon attainments in educa-
tion of some, and the respectable standing of all the children in

this school. As a proof of the principle already suggested in this
report, viz. that a part of the year devoted to learning and the
remainder to some other employment, will make, in the result,
quite as good scholars as spending the whole year in education,
Messrs. Wilkins and Gordon's school was examined publicly the
6th of November and the 22d of April, and exhibited gratifying
proofs of the unremitted fidelity and ability of the instructors.
Two hundred and seven boys attended the last examination.

Mr. Gates' school was publicly examined November 12th and
again April 23d. Nearly one hundred children attended the last
examination, and gave renewed evidences of the deserved reputa-
tion of this celebrated school.

Mr. Prentiss' and Miss Carlisle's schools were examined Nov.
13th and April 23d. Two hundred and forty-one misses attend
these schools, and the trustees were perfectly satisfied with the
exhibition of them. During the past year more than five hundred
children have attended at the examinations of the schools within
the Neck, and more than six hundred belong to them. This fact
presents in a strong light the importance of our establishments for
education on the prosperity and happiness of future generations,
and will amply remunerate every expense created b}'' them. The
present is the age of institutions — of institutions glowing with
the mild lustre of benevolence and truth. Those whom heaven
has blessed with wealth will be willing to contribute generously
towards every good foundation, being mindful of the mighty in-
fluence which knowledge especially holds over the best hopes and
dearest interests of mankind. Wealth and knowledge are connected
by indissoluble chains — they support or oppose, and ultimately
uphold or destro}^ each other. The security and stability of
wealth, as well as its peaceable enjoyment, depend on the social
compact, the constitution, the laws and the institutions of any
people, and these depend on knowledge. Education is the grand
instrument of knowledge — wealth, therefore, is always in its
proper place when it affords to every class of society the means of
knowledge, and diffuses instruction and wisdom through every
rank, thereby communicating to all, in every condition, a better
understanding of their own true interests and a better disposition
5

to perform every individual, domestic, and social duty. Tims
knowledge exercises a reaction upon wealth, and imparts to it a
power which rules alike individuals, associations, and empires.

The first of March, the school-house in District No. 3 was burnt
down. It may be proper to state, that this district commences in
Cambridge road, sweeps round the Cambridge line, runs across
Milk Row by Mr. Isaac Tufts' to Winter Hill, by the house of Jos.
Adams, Esq., to Mystic River, and down to the cluster of houses
near the entrance of Three-jDoll Lane, and over to the place of begin-
ning. It contains sixty-one families and one hundred and six
children, from four to fourteen years of age ; of these about one
third are below seven years old — the remaining sevent3^-three
would, therefore, be, at a fair calculation, the highest number to be
provided for ; of these the largest proportion live on the Milk Row
side. The trustees state the foregoing facts as a guide in any dis-
cussion which may come before the town on this subject.

The trustees are of opinion that the expenses of the schools for
the year to come, may be somewhat lessened ; some contingencies,
unavoidably incidental to the establishment of the new school, etc.,
will not occur again the present year. It is also hoped that the orig-
inal plan of the female school will be adhered to, and a consequent
retrenchment be made in that department ; so that, in the opinion
of the board, the sum of $4,000, independent of any extra object,
may be sufficient for the support of schools the year ensuing.

All which is respectfully submitted, by order of the Trustees of

Charlestown Free Schools.

ABM. R. THOMPSON,

Secretary,
Charlestow^n, May 3, 1819.

The Trustees of Chfirlestown Free Schools respectfully present
their fellow-citizens the following general statement of their pro-
ceedings for the past year : —

Agreeably to the vote of the town, expressed b}^ their acceptance
of our last annual report, the school for female children was kept
for six months, and was closed on the first of November. The
services of Mr, Prentiss and Miss Carlisle, in this school, were
highly creditable to themselves and worthy our expressions of
approbation.

A new school-house has been erected in Milk Row, and was
finished in October last, on the spot where the former one stood.
The building is of wood, the sides filled in with brick, and finished
in a plain, neat style, with two coats of paint on the outside, and
cost by contract $675.

Tlie schools for poor children were commenced in May and
closed in November. Three Instructresses were employed in dif-
ferent sections of the town, at which schools ninety-six children
attended.

In June last Mr. Isaac Gates resigned his place as Instructor of
School No. 2 ; and it may not be improper in this public manner
again to express the high opinion which we entertain of him as a
teacher of youth, and sincerely regret his leaving the school, where
his talents had been so successfully employed.

Mr. Charles Fisk was emploj'ed as his successor in that school,
and entered on the duties of the station June 14th, and continued
until December 11th.

On his leaving the school, the Rev. Wm. Collier was engaged
as his successor, and was introduced to the charge of the school
December 20th.

In September the lower part of the school-house No. 2 was
finished suitably for a school-room, and is now occupied by a
school of small children under a female instructress.

In October, M. J. M. Wilkins, the reading and grammar master
in school No. 1, suddenly resigned the school under his care,
which he had kept with credit to himself and profit to his pupils.

3(3

He was succeeded by Mr. Edward Sawyer, who was introduced to
the school November 1st, and entered on the duties assigned hira.

The fall and spring examinations of the schools have been at-
tended the past year as usual, and were generally very satisfactory,
and, in some instances, the proficiency made by the scholars and
their discipline was such as to excite our admiration, particularly
in the school under the instruction of Messrs. Sawyer and Gordon.

The whole number of scholars on the rolls of the schools is six
hundred and eighty-five, and the numbers who attended at the last
examinations were as follows: —

School No. 1 , kept by Messrs. Sawyer & Gordon
Female school, kept b}^ Mr. Prentiss and Miss Carlisle
School No. 2, kept by Rev. Mr. Collier
School No. 3, kept by Mr. Daniel Russell .
School No. 4, kept by Mr. Simeon Booker .
School No. 5, kept by Mr. Charles Wymau .

200
101
90
61
33
26

511

Making the number of five hundred and eleven children of both
sexes, who attended the last examinations.

For a statement of our funds and current expenses we refer to
the printed statement of our treasurer.

On consultation with the committee of Finance and the muni-
cipal authorities of the Town, a reduction in the salaries paid to
the instructors of the schools has been agreed upon, in consequence
of which the sum of thirty-one hundred dollars may be sufficient
for the expenses of the schools the ensuing year. The school-
house No. 5, needs some repairs and the addition of a wood-shed,
which will require an appropriation for that object ; the expense
will probably not exceed seventy-five dollars.

All which is respectfully submitted.

By order of the trustees of *' Charlestown Free Schools."

JAMES K. FROTHINGHAM,

Secretary.
Charlestown, May 1, 1820.

The trustees of " Charlestown Free Schools " woukl respectfully
present their fellow-citizens the following " piirticuhirs of their
proceedings " for the past year, and for the state of their funds and
current expenses refer to the printed statement of their treasurer.

Agreeably to the plan established for the instruction of the
female children, that school was opened on the first of May, under
the care of Mr. Whitney and Miss Carlisle, and continued for six
months.

In June, the Rev. Mr. Collier resigned the office of instructor in
School No. 2, and, after a short vacation in that school, Mr. Wil-
iam Gragg was appointed to the care of it, and entered on his
labors July 7th, and continnes to this time.

The schools for poor children have been kept the usual time of
six months, by Mrs. Rea, Mrs. Thompson, and Miss Jefferds, and
at which sixty-eight scholars have attended.

Immediately after the last annual town meeting, in May, the
salaries of the instructors of the schools (except that of Mr. Saw
yer) were reduced to six hundred dollars per annum. At the time
Mr. Sawyer was engaged to keep the reading-school, the estab-
lished salary of our principal instructors was £200 per annum, in
addition to which a grant had been usually made them which aug-
mented their compensation to $800. At that time, in consequence
of the sudden manner in which Mr. Wilkins left the school, it was
considered by the board of importance to engage a person who
might be likely to continue in the employment of school-keeping
for years ; and accordingly Mr. Sawyer, having been highly recom
mended to us, was engaged on condition that if he continued in
that school two j'ears or more, he should receive at the rate of
$800 per annum. And here we feel it our duty and pleasure to
bear testimony to the eminent services of Mr. Sawyer as an in-
structor of youth, and do not hesitate to say, that although we pay
him $800 per annum, the town receives a full equivalent in the
superior attainments of the children under his care ; nor are the
services of Mr. Gordon less important in his department of the
school.

The usual examinations of the schools have been attended, and
the general appearance of the scholars and their improvement in
the various branches of education to which they have attended,
give an earnest of their future usefulness ; and, while it exhibits to
us the inestimable advantages of our liberal establishments for
education, and the talents and fidelity of the instructors, cannot
fail to produce in the hearts of parents the most pleasing anticipa-
tions.

The whole number of children of both sexes, belonging to the
different schools, is seven hundred and seventy-nine.

And the number who attended the last examinations were as
follows : —

School No. 1, kept by Messrs. Sawyer & Gordon
Female School, kept by Mr. Whitney and Miss Carlisle
School No. 2, kept b}^ Mr. Gragg ....
School No. 3, kept by Mr. Parker ....
School No. 4, kept by Mr. Colburn . . . .
School No. 5, kept by Mr. Wyman ....

203
122
65
67
37
26

520

Making a total of five hundred and twenty children of both
sexes, who have attended the last examinations.

It will be perceived by the printed statement of our treasurer,
that our expenditures have exceeded the sum voted by the town,
three hundred and eighty-five dollars ; this has been caused mostly
by contingencies, for which no estimate, and, of course, no appro-
priation, was made at the last May meeting. It was found neces-
sary, last fall, to shingle the roof of school-house No. 1, and make
some other repairs about the roof and cellar, the expense of which
amounted to $111 ; and in January last the same school-house was
considerably injured by fire, the expense of repairing which was
S60 ; and $45 was expended for repairs on the school-houses in the
upper part of the town ; this last item was noticed in our last re-
port, but no money raised particularly for that object.

School House No. 5 is a small old building, considerably out of
repair, and quite uncomfortable for the winter season, at which
time its occupation is of the most importance ; and it is not worth

repairing. At the solicitation of the inhabitants of that district,
we recommend that two hundred and filty dollars be raised for the
erection of a new school-house, which, with what the inhabitants
propose to add to it, may be sufficient for that object.

The School for female children has been commenced for the
season under the care of Mr. Henry Bartlett and Miss Ann D*
Sprague.

Calculating the salaries of the schoolmasters at the present
rates, and the ordinary contingent expenses, the sum of thirty-four
hundred dollars will be required for the support of the schools the
ensuing year, and two hundred dollars for the deficiency of last
year.

All of which is respectfully submitted, by order of the Board of

Trustees.

JAMES K. FROTOINGFIAM,

Secretary,
Charlestown, May 7, 1821.

The trustees of Charlestown Free Schools respectfully present
their fellow-citizens the following " particulars of their proceed-
ings " for the past year, and for the " state of their funds " and
expenditures refer to the printed statement of their treasurer.

At the last annual town noeeting in May, an appropriation of
two hundred' and fifty dollars was made for the erection of a school-
house in district No. 5. Said school-house has been erected and
finished in a plain and substantial manner, the expenses of which
(including a new stove for the same) have exceeded the appropri-
ation one hundred forty two-dollars and fourteen cents, and this
sum has been drawn from the town treasury.

On a proposal being made by Mr. Samuel Gardner, for an ex-
change of land, the new school-house has been located a few rods
south of where the old one stood, the old lot having been conveyed
to Mr. Gardner and a deed taken from him of the lot on which the
new house now stands.

Mr. Gragg's term of employment in the school ward No. 2 ex-
piring in July last, Mr. Samuel Moody was placed in that school
on the seventh of that month, at which time the school was in a
state of bad discipline and sufiering for want of instruction ; but
we have the satisfaction to state that it is now under excellent
discipline and making good progress in the various branches of
education. In effecting this renovation in that school, the trus-
tees have been obliged to incur some trifling expense in order to
support and uphold the authority of the instructor against the
opposition of certain individuals.

The schools for poor children have been kept the past season by
Mrs. Rea, Mrs. Thompson, and Miss Jefl'erds to the full satisfac-
tion of the board. One hundred children have attended these
schools, and their improvement has been as good as could be ex-
pected from children in their situation ; for it is with regret we
are under the necessity of saying that there is a great want of
attention in the parents of these children in not seting that their
children, who are entitled to this privilege, regularly attend the
schools established for their advantage and improvement.

The schools for female children, under the instructions of Mr.
Bartlett and Miss Sprague, were closed for the season on the last
of October, and we have the pleasure of stating that Miss Sprague
is again engaged for that school the ensuing season.

A temporary suspension of the labors of INIr Sawyer in the
principal grammar school took place in February last, he declining
to continue in the school for that compensation, to which, by vote
of the town, the trustees felt themselves limited; he resumed his
labors on the twenty-fifth of February, with an understanding that
he should receive at the rate of six hundred dollars per annum,
and an assurance that the trustees would, at the annual meeting
in May, recommend to the town to grant him an additional sum of
one hundred dollars, which wg cheerfully do at this time ; and the
considerations which induce us to it are, in our opinion, of some
weight. Mr. Saw3'er's talents as an instructor and disciplinarian
have been fully exhibited to us, and such of our fellow-citizens as
have attended the examinations of his school, and we may say all
parents whose children have been under his instruction, can give
the same testimony ; add to this the probabilit}^ of his continuing
in the profession of a public instructor, which should give him a
preference to one who only takes a school for a short term, and we
do not hesitate to say the sum here proposed is not too much for a
man of his talents and experience lo receive ; and while we make
this recommendation in favor of Mr. Sawyer, we make a similar
claim in favor of Mi-. Gordon, who has been in that school for six
years past, and whose services in teaching the branches of writino*
and arithmetic are not less laborious or important, and the same
considerations of talents and permanency of employment require
that we should ask for him the like grant of one hundred dollars.

The usual examinations of the schools have been attended the
last fall and the present spring, the order and discipline of the
schools, their improvement in the various branches of education,
to which they have attended, and their general attention and
appearance have excited within us the most pleasing sensations
while attending to this agreeable part of our duty.

The number of children belonging to the different public schools
6

in town, is about seven hundred and fifty, and the numbers who
attended the last examinations were — in school

Ward No. 1 . . .

. . .215

Female School . . . . .

. 147

Ward No. 2 . . . .

Ward No. 3

Ward No. 4

. . 49

Ward No. 5 '

586

Making a total of five hundred and eighty-six children who at-
tended the last examinations ; being sixty-six more than attended
the year preceding.

On the present establishment of the schools, if the additional
grant be made to Messrs. Sawyer and Gordon, the sum of three
thousand four hundred dollars will be necessary for the expend i
tures of the ensuing year.

All which is respectfully submitted, by direction of the Board.

JAMES K. FROTHINGHAM,

Secretary.
Charlestown, May 6, 1822.

1823.

The trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools respectfully
*' present their fellow-citizens the following particulars " of their
proceedings for the past year, and for the state of their funds and
current expenses refer to the statement of their treasurer.

At the last annual meeting in May the town passed a vote
allowing the trustees to purchase the land with the building, now
occupied for the female school, could it be done for the interest of
the town ; a committee from the board waited on Mr. Collier, and
be declines disposing of it at present. The schools for the
instruction of females was opened on the first of May, under tbe
care of Mr. Josiah Moody and Miss Sprague. In July Mr. Moody
was discharged, and ^Ir. Melzer Flagg engaged as his successor.
These schools were examined on the last of October, and gave full
satisfaction to the trustees of the diligence and faithful attention
of their teachers. The school was then closed for six months.
It opens again on Monday, the 5th May this day, under the charge
of Mr. Luther S. Gushing and Miss Sprague.

In June Mr. Sawyer, Principal of the Grammar School, declined
his station on account of insufficiency of the compensation allowed
him. A committee from the Board attended this duty, and Mr.
Sawyer agreed to continue, with an understanding that the trustees,
at the annual meeting in May, would recommend to the town that
his compensation, by salary and grant, be increased to eight hun-
dred dollars per annum, commencing with his year, on the first of
November, 1822.

Mr. Sawyer's talents as an instructor, his diligence and uniform
attention to this large and increasing school for the last four years,
induces us cheerfully to recommend this sum, believing it to be no
more than he ought to receive. Nor are the services of Mr. Gor-
don of less importance, who, for the last seven years, has faith-
fully attended to the writing and arithmetic department ; we would
recommend the same sum to him.

In July, Ward No. 2, at the Neck, under the instruction of Mr.
Samuel Moodj^, was vacated, and Mr. Joseph Reynolds appointed
to the charge of this school, who now is the instructor. At the

examination of this school it was found under a good degree of
improvement.

Tlie schools for poor children have been kept for six months
in diffecent sections of the town, under the care of Mrs. Rea,
Mrs. Thompson, and Miss Jefferds, examined and approved by
the trustees, about one hundred children having had this privilege.

The School No. 3, Milk Bow, instructed by Mr. Blanchard,
was examined in April, and found in a good state of improvement.
The Schools No 4 and 5, at the upper part of the town, as far
as returns have been made, have been satisfactorily kept.

The number of children belonging to the different free schools
in this towif is about seven hundred and sixty; and the number
found at the examinations, as far as could be ascertained, was, —

Ward No. 1 191

Female School, Ward No. 1 . . • . 197

Ward No. 2 School . 66

Ward No. 3 '' 44

Wards No. 4 and 5 Schools, about ... 83

Making a total of 581 chiklren who attended the last examinations.
On the present establishment of tlie schools, if the additional sal-
ary be allowed Messrs. Sawyer and Gordon, the sum of S3, 500 will
be necessary for the expenditures of the ensuing 3'ear.
All of which is respectfully submitted.

By direction of the Board of Trustees.

JOSEPH PHIPPS, Secretary,
Charlestown, May 5, 1823.

May 5, 1823.
Voted, That the within Report be accepted.

The trustees of the schools in conformity to their duty, respect-
fully report the following particulars of their proceedings the past
year, and for the state of their funds and current expenses, refer
to the public statement of their treasurer.

At a meeting of the board in May, for organization, a vote
passed, " that there should be but one public examination of the
schools within the Neck, in a year, to take place sometime between
the loth and end of October, and that tne several masters be in-
structed to make this examination, rather an exhibition of the
scholars in the higher classes, than a regular recitation of the
whole school, and means be used to induce the parents of the
children and others interested, to attend the examination, — also,
that at the first meeting in May, after tiie election, a committee, of
one, be appointed for each school, within the Neck, whose special
duty it shall be, either alone, or in compau}^ with one or more of
the board, to visit the particular school assigned him, at least once
in every quarter, without giving any notice whatever of his coming,
and to examine all the classes thoroughly, and to take notice of
the proficiency, discipline, and general appearance of the school ;
and be prepared to report verbally, at any meeting of the board ;
and at the last meeting in April, to present a written report of the
condition of the school, and what he may think to require particu-
lar attention."

The foregoing regulations have principally been adopted the last
season, and with satisfaction to the trustees.

In July, Ward No. 2 was vacated by Mr. Joseph Reynolds, and
Mr. Thomas Thompson was engaged to August — on the first
September, Mr. Henry Adams was engaged, who continues to in-
struct this school, which at its examination was found under good
government, and in a state of proficiency.

In October, Ward No. 1, under the instruction of Messrs.
Sawyer and Gordon, was examined and gave general satisfaction.
Mr. Sawyer then left this school, and Mr. Cornelius Walker was
engaged as his successor, and has given good satisfaction.

The female school has been kept, six months under the care of
Mr. Luther S. Gushing and Miss Sprague, and at the examination
the board were highly gratified with the order and proficiency in all
the branches taught in this school, particularly that of Miss
Sprague; this school will commence again on Monday, 3d May
(this day), under the instruction of Mr. Samuel Barrett and Miss
Sprague. The schools for poor children have been kept in differ-
ent sections of the town, faithful teachers employed, for six months,
examined, and approved by the trustees.

The schools in Milk Row and at the upper part of the town,
at their examinations, were found under good government, and im-
provement. A petition from the inhabitants, on the Winter Hill
road, for a new school-house^ having been considered, it was sub-
mitted to the town, and the report accepted ;* we have to state that

* The trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools, to whom was
leferred the petition of John Tufts and others, praying for the
erection of a school-house, *"' at some convenient place, on or near
the road leading from the neck of land to the Powder House,"
have attended to the duty assigned them, and ask leave respect-
fully to report : —

That the whole number of scholars belonging to the Milk Row
school is about one hundred and thirty ; the distance of travel
for those living on the Winter Hill road to the school-house, fol-
lowing the Cambridge road, is over a mile and a huif, and going
across lots, one mile. The distance is so great either way, and
the travelling so bad across lots, especially during the winter, that
a large portion of those living on that road cannot attend school.

The number of scholars living on the Winter Hill road, who
will be accommodated by the erection of a new school-house, is
about filty-five, which will leave for the present Milk Row school
about seventy-five.

The school at the Neck is now large and constantly increasing,
and it would be very advantageous to lessen the number by taking
therefrom all those living beyond the Canal Bridge, amounting to
about twenty, and annexing them to the contemplated new scliool.
The number of scholars that would then compose the contemplated
new school would be about seventy-five.

In addition to the foregoing facts, the trustees would also state
that for several years past it has been deemed necessary to employ
a school-mistress, for .the accommodation of those living on the
Winter Hill road, and the rent of a room for this purpose has been
about twenty -five dollars a year, which is not far from the interest

a school-house, thirty feet long by twenty-four feet wide, to be built
of wood, has been contracted for, for the sum of five hundred dol
lars, and is expected to be completed in a faithful manner in about
twenty days.

The number of children belonging to the different schools in
this town is about seven hundred and eighty, and the number found
at the examinations, as nearly as could be ascertained, was —

Ward No. 1 179

Female School, Ward No 1 . . . . 156

Ward No. 2 66

Ward No. 3 56

Wards Nos. 4 and 5 87

Making a total of

544 children

who attended the examinations.

On the present establishment of the schools the sum of $3,700
for the ordinary expenses, and the new school-house will
cost 500

Making the sum of

$4,200

for the necessary expenditures for the ensuing year.

All of which is respectfully submitted by direction of the Board

of Trustees.

JOSEPH PHIPPS,

Secretary,
Charlestown, May 3, 1824.

May 3, 1824, Voted, that the within report be accepted.

of such a sum as would be requisite for the erection of a new
school-house.

It may furthermore be stated that the recent establishment of
factories at Milk Row will much tend to increase the scholars of
that school, which, together with the "ordinary growth of the town
and increase of population, will render the formation of a new
district, and the erection of a new school-house, if not at this
moment, within a short period, absolutely necessary. On the whole,
the trustees are of the opinion, and do recommend, that a school-
house be erected agreeably to the prayer of the petitioners.

All of which is respectfully submitted. For the Board of
Trustees.

EDWARD TURNER,
L. M. PARKER,

Committee,

1825,

The trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools respectfully sub-
mit to the town their annual report on the state of the schools,
referring for the state of their funds and expenditures to the
printed statement of their treasurer.

In Ward No. 1, the vacancy in the writing school occasioned by
the lamented death of Mr. Gordon was supplied in November last
by engaging Mr. Peter Conant as a permanent master. Both the
schools in this ward have been found at the public examinations,
and at other times, when visited by the trustees, in the best state
of discipline and improvement.

At the annual meeting in May last the town voted that the
Female School in Austin Street should be kept through the year ;
and the trustees have taken care that this vote shovdd be carried
into effect, though no provision was made for the additional ex-
pense incurred thereby. Mr. Barrett and Miss Sprague have con-
tinued this school tlirough the season, a;id have given general and
great satisfaction,

A vacancy occurred in the school at the Neck, Ward No. 2, in

» May last ; and in June Mr. Samuel Bigelow was engaged to fill it,

who has done much in the course of the year to raise the character

of this school, and is spoken of in the highest terms by the parents

of the children.

By direction of the town a new school-house lias been luiilt, on
the road leading to W^inter Hill, and a school of more than eighty
children gathered. The trustees conceived it to be their duty to
provide a master for four months for this school, though no pro-
vision ht.s been made for it in the estimated expenditures of the
year.

The schools in Wards No. 3, 4 and 5 have been kept for the
usual time, and, it is believed, to general acceptance.

The trustees give notice to the town that the lease by which
they hold the house, now occupied by the female school, will
expire in a year from next October ; and they would suggest the
expediency of taking some immediate step towards purchasing

this situation, or another more eligible, on which to build for a
permanent establishment.

The trustees have the pleasure to be able to say, that the con-
dition of the schools generally was never better or more promising
than at the present moment.

The number of children belonging to the common schools at

this time is ........ 790

Instructed at the four primary schools for poor children . 139

Making the whole number of children instructed at the

public expense in this town to be . . . . 929

The estimated expenditures of the current year are as fol,
lows : —

For the schools as heretofore established, and supposing
it to be the intention of the town that the female
school shall be kept the year round . . . $4,500 00

For deficiencies the past year, occasioned by keeping
the female school the year round, and the Winter
Hill school, for which no provision had been made,
as mentioned above ...... 675 00

* For the seven primary schools, as voted at the last
town meeting, in addition to the sum required for
the schools as heretofore established, which sum
includes the expense of the primary schools for
poor children, as at present conducted . . 1,300 00

The whole amount required .... $6,475 00

* The subject of districting the town, for the purpose of establish-
ing primary schools for children, from four to seven years of age,
having been referred to the trustees, they would respectfully re-
port : That upon due consideration, they are induced to believe,
that it would be inexpedient to establish such districts, in the first
instance, by territorial limits, and that the method, which promises
the greatest utility, is that of locating such schools with a general
reference to the population and convenience of the inhabitants ; and
that the children be admitted to the privileges of these, in the same
manner that they are admitted into the other public sciiools of the
town. It is thought that seven schools would be necessary to
7

All which is respectfully submitted by direction of the Board of

Trustees.

JOSEPH PHIPPS,

• Secretary,

May 2, 1825.
Town meeting, 2d May, 1825.

Accepted.

commence the proposed course of instruction, and that they may
be advantageously established at, or near the junction of Wapping
Street witli the Salem Turnpike, on Town Hill, in Union Street,
Cordis Street, Salem Street, at the Neck, and at Chelsea Point.
It may be found that six schools will answer the object intended ;
but this must depend upon the number, that may still be taught in
private schools ; and should the inhabitants within the Neck gen-
erally avail themselves of the proposed Public Schools, it may be
found necessary to add another to the number first proposed.

It is estimated, that fifty children present in each school may be
taught to advantage, and allowing for absences, perhaps sixty may
be permitted to attend. The salary of an instructress, through the
year, together with room, rent and fuel, it is estimated will amount
to two hundred and twenty-five dollars.

The trustees forbear to express any opinion of the expediency,
or the inexpediency, of establishing the proposed schools, not
deeming it to have been a part of their commission.

Which is respectfully submitted for the Board of Trustees.

JAMES WALKER,

President,
March 7, 1825.

The trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools respectfully sub-
mit their annual report. For the statement of their funds and of
their expenditures the past year they refer to the printed state-
ment of their treasurer.

No change of instructors has been made during the last year in
the reading, writing, and grammar schools within the Neck. A
spirit of more than ordinary emulation is apparent in all these
schools.

The rules and regulations which have been introduced within a
few months, intended to promote a regular and systematic course
of instruction, have proved highl}^ beneficial. The rolls of these
schools amount to six hundred and four scholars. Present at the
last examinations, 472.

The four schools, without the Neck, have been provided with
male and female instructors from nine to ten months, who have
given general satisfaction.

The vote of the town for the establishment of primary schools
has been carried into effect. Seven of these schools were put in
operation on the sixteenth of May last, under the charge of Mrs.
Polly Jaquith, Mrs. Mary Thompson, Mrs. Hannah Rea, Miss
Mary Walker, Miss Lucy Wyman, Miss Adeline Hyde and Miss
Roxanna Jones. Miss Wyman relinquished her school at the end
of the last quarter and was succeeded by Miss Rebecca French ; all
the other teachers continue in the schools to which they were at
first appointed.

The whole number of children belonging to these schools is four
hundred and forty-five. Present at the recent examinations, three
hundred and eighty-eight.

Different opinions having been entertained respecting the utility
of primary schools, the trustees have felt it their duty to notice
their progress with particular attention, thinking that some ex-
pression of their views respecting them might be expected by the
town, and they are free to declare their belief, that the benefit of
these institutions will fully meet the most sanguine anticipations of
their friends. The children are put upon a regular course of in-

struotion, alike in all the schools, and kept in good order. The
trustees are fully satisfied that a school of fifty children of
ordinary capacity, from four to seven years of age, who shall give
their general attendance, would be far better prepared to enter the
higher schools than the same number have heretofore been, when
promiscuously admitted from private schools.

The estimated expenditures for the ensuing year, under the
present system, amount to six thousand dollars.

Respectfully submitted by order of the trustees.

CHESTER ADAMS,

For the Secretary,
Charlestown, May 1, 1826.

The trustees of the schools in presenting their annual report to
the town, would refer to the printed statement of their treasurer,
for the expenditures of the year, and for the present state of their
money concerns. The sj^stem of public school instruction some
time since adopted, has been pursued the past year with much
success, and the trustees have the pleasure to say that the schools
generally exhibited a state of order and improvement highly credit-
able to the instructors, and affording great encouragement of in-
creasing benefit to the community. The schools without the Neck
have been provided with instructors from eight to ten months each.
The number of scholars belono;ino; to these schools is two hundred
and twenty five.

Mr. Cornelius Walker resigned his charge in the reading and
grammar school in Ward No. 1, in October last, and was succeeded
by Mr. Charles Pierce. The school was at that time in the best
order, which has not for a moment been interrupted by the ex-
change of masters.

Mr. Josiah Fairbanks was appointed to the school in Austin
Street in July last, upon the resignation of Mr. Barrett. Miss
Ann D. Sprague relinquished the charge of her department in the
same school about two months since, when a department for writing
and arithmetic was established under the instruction of Mr. John
Holroyd. The trustees cannot forbear to call the attention of the
town particularly, to this most interesting school, composed as it
is of two hundred and fifty females, whose character and habits are
rapidly forming, and who are soon to exert a silent, but powerful
influence upon the manners and morals of the community around
them. Considering the inconvenience to which this school is ex-
posed from thew^ant of proper accommodations, the progress of the
scholars has exceeded the highest expectations of the trustees ; but
the building which they occupy is badly constructed and much
crowded, and it is hoped that no time will be lost in preparing a
place for their reception. The primary schools are considered by
the trustees as deserving the liberal patronage of the town. Tlie
standard of public school education is undoubtedly rising in conse-

qnence of their establishment. The number of scholars belonging
to the grammar and writing schools, within the Neck, is 632. The
number in primary schools 476, ranking an aggregate of 1,108.
The estimated expense of all the schools for the ensuing year is
$6,500. The great labor and attention required of the trustees
within the Neck, augmented as it has been by the establishment of
the primary school, will, it is feared, deter some who may be chosen
to the office from accepting the appointment, unless some mode of

Note. — The committee appointed by the town on the 7tli day of
May, 1827, to erect a school-house on the Training Field, ask leave
to report : That, on referring to their instructions contained in the
report of the trustees of the schools, the committee perceived that
the vortlierly corner of the Tiaining Held was therein named as an
eligible site for the school-house ; but, on drawing the lines for the
building, several objections presented themselves to this particular
spot, which probably had not before been considered; when, after
mature deliberation, the committee were of opinion that the westerly
Corner was entitled to the preference, and thiy decision appeared to
meet with the views and feelings of the citizens generally, particu-
larly of those in that vicinity. For the greater accommodation of
the school it was deemed expedient to add one foot to the length
of the building, beyond what was expressed in the plan, which
makes its dimensions jifty-six b}'' thirty-two feet, and a well (con-
taining an abundant supply of water) with a pump has been sunk
in the yard of the school-house ; this was considered to be a neces-
sary and important appendage, both for the convenience of the
school, and also as a security against fire. In enclosing the lot
for the school-house, the committee have gone on the presumption
that the town would cause the street on the southwest side of the
Training Field to be widened to thirty feet ; this is required both
for public accommodation and the safety of the scholars, and,
accordingly, they have run the fence so as to make the enclosure
measure as follows, viz. : beginning at llie west corner of the lot,
and running north-easterly, on Training Field Street, ninety-one
feet ; then turning atjd running south-easterly one hundred feet ;
then turning and running bouth-westerly ninety-one feet nine
inches, to the street on the south-west side of the Training Field,
this line forming a ri'^iht-angle with the street; thence north-west-
erly ninety-one feet to the west corner, the point begun at. And
they would r« commend, that the land thus described be set off and
appropriated for a school-house lot. It will be perceived that the
whole expense of the school-house, with its appendages, consider-
ably exceeds the estimate made by the trustees, but this difference
between the estimate and the actual expense will be, in a great

relief shall be adopted. It is therefore respectfully suggested
whether it may not be expedient to authorize the trustees to appoint
a superintendent of the public schools to act under such instruc-
tions as the}^ nia}^, from time to time, receive from the board ; or
that the Legislature should be petitioned to augment the number
of trustees to be appointed by the town.

Respectfully submitted by order of the board.

BENJAMIN WHIPPLE,

Secretary.
Charlestown, Ma}' 7, 1827.

measure, accounted for, when it is considered that the house is
some larger than what was reported by the trustees, and that they
made no calculations for tlie well and pump, for fences, out-houses,
stoves, funnels, etc., which are all necessary, if not essential for
the school.

The bills of the whole concern amount to $5,859.92 ; the appro-
priation made by the town was $4,500, which leaves a deficiency
of $1,359.92. As the contracts for the materials and work were
made for the lowest cash prices, it became necessary for the com-
mittee to provide for the payment of this balance, viz., $1,359.92,
for which sum, and the interest which shall have accrued on the
same, they request of the town a remuneration

In the result of their labors, the committee indulge the hope
that the just expectations of the town will not be disappointed ;
while it has been their object to avoid any costly and useless ex-
penditure, it has still been their endeavor (by tlie selection of good
and suitable materials, and the employment of competent work-
men) to present to the town a building of respectable appearance,
and one that, for permanence and convenience, might compare with
any in the vicinity. How far this has been accomplished, must be
left to the judgment of the town and to experience to determine.

All which is respectfully submitted by

THOMAS HOOPER,)

JOSIAH HARRIS, V Committee,

LOT POOL, )

Charlestown, December, 1827.

The trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools respectfully submit
then- annual report. For the state of their funds, and of their
expenditures they refer to the printed statement of their treasurer.
During the past year the schools without the peninsula have
been kept their usual time, and, on examination, they generally
exhibited a degree of improvement satisfactory to the trustees.
For the better regulation and improvement of these schools it was
deemed expedient to exclude all children under the age of four,
considering the time of teachers, in schools of their description, as
misapplied in regulating scholars under the above age. The num-
ber of scholars in these schools is from thirty-five to seventy
each.

On the completion of the new school-house on the Training Field,
the trustees thought proper to remove the Female Grammar School
fiom its location in Austin Street to the same. Mr. Holroyd, of
the writing department in this school, having resigned his situation,
Mr. Gulliver was chosen his successor. No change of instructors
has been made during the past year in the other grammar schools
within the Neck. All these schools, at the recent examination,
evinced a spirit of emulation honorable to themselves and highly
creditable to their teachers. The higher classes in the Female
Grammar School gave evidence of a cultivation of mind rarely to
be met with in misses of their age.

The primary schools remain under the same teachers as last
year, with the exception of No. 2, vacated by the death of Miss
French, whose place has been supplied by the appointment of Miss
Brown. The high expectations of these schools have been real-
ized in the exhibition of their improvement, and the almost uniform
preparation of the children for the studies they are to pursue in the
grammar schools. The trustees have considered it expedient to
continue the children in the primary schools until they are eight
years old, as their studies at that age can be attended to by female
teachers equally well and at less expense. This measure is also
intended to prevent for a time the necessity of establishing another
grammar school, — the number of children in these schools being

alread)'' as great as can well be instructed by the present number
of masters. The number of scholars belonging to the schools
within the Neck at the recent examination was as follows : In the
eight primary schools 533, and in the three grammar schools 691,
making a total of 1,224.

Three hundred dollars of the permanent funds have been applied
to the building of a primary school-house in the yard of the female
school. The necessity of this measure arose from the impossibility
of renting a suitable place for the school kept in that vicinity.
The room is spacious and convenient, and it is believed the invest-
ment will prove more productive than any other property of the
same amount in the hands of the board.

The trustees would beg leave to call the attention of the town to
the condition of the rooms in the school-house on Town Hill, and
to request that measures may be taken to put them into a proper
state for the accommodation of the numerous scholars who attend
there. The arrangement of the interior of this building was origin-
ally intended to mei.'t the purposes of a school-house, and to accom-
modate the town with a place of meeting to transact their public
business, for which purpose it was used for many years.. The forms
and desks were always inconvenient, and are now, many of them,
so much worn as to be entirely unfit for the use of a school. The
floors and stairs are also in a bad condition, and it is considered
necessary that the whole inside of the building should be thoroughly
repaired and tilted up with new forms and desks, the estimated
expense of which is $500.

The ordinary expenditure for the ensuing year is estimated at
$6,500.

Respectfully submitted, by order of the trustees.

J. STEARNS HURD,

Secretary,
Accepted, May 5, 1828.

Report of the trustees of the schools for the year ending May,
1829,—

The schools without the week have been taught from 9 to 10 1-2
months each, and the summer term for the present year has already
commenced. 'About 200 scholars usually belong to these schools.

The course of instruction adopted several years since for the
schools within the week, has been pursued, and the teachers have
generally discharged their duties with great fidelity and success.
At the recent examination, 1,053 scholars were present, and the rolls
exhibited an aggregate of 1,235.

In the early part of the year, two additional primary schools
were established, increasing the whole number to ten, and one more
may be found necessary the ensuing year.

Acting under the instructions of the town, to provide schools for
all the children from 4 to 14 years of age, who may apply for the
privilege, and failing in their endeavors in several instances to
obtain rooms in any other way, the trustees have now two primary
school-houses on the training field lot, for the building or purchase
of which, appropriations have been made from their permanent
funds, amounting to $490.68 and they are rented for S60.00 per
3'ear. As these buildings are on the town's land, and connected
with their larger school establishment, it is suggested whether
it may not be expedient, for the town to grant an appropriation to
make good the trustees' fund, and receive a transfer of the buildings-
It has been found difficult and laborious in many cases, to procure
suitable school rooms for an uncertain period, and the trustees
would ask for instructions from the town, as to the expediency of
taking long leases, such rooms or buildings as may be calculated for
their purpose.

The repairs of the school-house on Town Hill have exceeded the
estimate and appropriation SI 80. 00. The decay of the building
and appurtenances was found greater than had been anticipated,
and the trustees have felt justified in this expenditure, from the
known policy of the town to do thoroughlj^ whatever is thought
necessary to be done at all.

59 •

It is believed that apprenticeships are not generally commenced
as early now as they formerly were, and it sometimes happens that
boys are discharged from school six months or a year before they
can obtain any regular employment. This is a season of danger
to them, and of concern to their friends, and in a town like this it
would not be strange, that some of them should acquire habits that
must seriously affect their character and conduct through life. To
guard against this evil, and to render as extensively useful as
possible our valuable institutions for the discipline and instruction
of the numerous and promising children of the town, is it not
worthy of consideration, whether all of them should not be per-
mitted to remain in school till the age of 15, and that they be
required during the last year to render such assistance to the teach-
ers, as may be required under the advice and direction of the
trustees .

The schools are generally well taught and well governed, and it
is a pleasure to remark, for the satisfaction and encouragement of
parents, that tlie children have never appeared to the trustees so
deserving of commendation as at the present time.-

The sum necessary to pursue the present course of instruction,
the ensuing year, is estimated at $7,000.

By order of the trustees. ^

CHESTER ADAMS,

Secretary^

The schools without the peninsula have been taught from nine
to eleven months each, and the summer term for the present year
commenced the 19th instant. Two hundred and thirteen scholars
have attended the past year, one hundred and sixty-two of whom
were present at the late examinations.

At the recent examinations of the primary schools, fonr hun-
dred and eighty-six children were present, and the lists" contain
the names of five hundred and eighty. Two new teachers have
been appointed to supply vacancies occasioned by the resignation
of former instrctors.

The grammar and writing schools have been examined repeat-
edly in their respective rooms ; and by the special vote of the
trustees, the first two classes were publicly examined on the 22d
instant, in the Town Hall. Many of the citizens who were present
expressed their high gratification with the improvement of tlie
scholars, and with the promptness and accuracy for which their
recitations were distinguished. This was a successful experiment,
and it is believed an annual examination of this general character
would be exceedingly beneficial, and excite in no small degree a
deeper interest in public schools. On this occasion four hundred
and seventy-eight scholars were present, and the rolls exhibit an
aggregate of six hundred and forty-one.

Ten primary and five grammar and writing schools are now
taught within, and four common schools beyond the peninsula,
making nineteen schools supported at the public expense, and
comprising fourteen hundred and thirty-four children. And it
gives the trustees pleasure to remark, that in general they have
sustained their usual character for improvement, and in very many
instances deserved the particular commendation of the trustees.

The trustees regret that this liberal provision for the education
of the rising generation is in any measure lost. The catalogues
of the several schools exhibit a fearful list of absences. Nearly
one quarter of the whole time is thus suflfered to pass awa}^ ; and
the influence that this fact necessarily exerts on the whole schools,
and upon the habits and future prospects of delinquents, is suffi-

cient to excite a general interest among the citizens, and to con-
strain them to make personal exertion till every child of suitable
age who does not attend private, shall be brought within the reach
of constant public instruction. This may be done. It requires
nothing more than the vigorous co-operation of the community.

Tiie manner in which the last appropriation of the town for
public schools has been expended has been stated by the treasurer,
and printed among the current expenses of the town. The sum
necessary to continue the present course of instruction the ensuing
year is estimated at seven thousand dollars.

The brick school-house at the Neck is suffering for the want of
immediate repairs. The interior of the room may be altered at
the same time, to promote the convenience and improvement of
the scholars and facilitate the duties of the instructor. The trus-
tees request the attention of the town to this subject, and ask that
measures may be adopted to make such repairs and improvements ;
the expense of which will be from three to four hundred dollars.

Several citizens residing in the village beyond the Canal bridge,
have desired that the school boundaries in that part of the town
may be so far altered as to admit their children to attend the
school in Ward No. 3. It will be recollected that the present
boundaries were established several years since, at the time when
the Winter Hill school-house was built, in consequence of their
special applicMion. The trustees submit the consideration of this
subject to the town.

Respecting the two school-houses erected by the trustees on the
Training-field street, referred to them by the town to report at a
future meeting, the trustees have concluded to retain them as a
part of the school fund. They have procured insurance upon each
of the buildings, that, in case of fire, the fund may not be lessened
by their injury.

The subject of retaining the children in the public schools till
fifteen 3^ears of age, referred to the trustees by the town in May
last, has been attentively considered, and, for the reasons assigned
in their report, they have voted to grant them this privilege

By order of the Trustees of Charlestown Free Schools

HENRY JACKSON,

Secretary,
Charlestown, April 29, 1830.

1^31.

The trustees of the schools would respectfully present to the
town their annual report, and would beg leave to refer to the
statement of their treasurer for the particulars of receipts and
payments during the year, and also for the poverty of their treas-
ury at the present time.

The subject of permitting the children immediately beyond the
canal bridge to attend the school at the Neck, having been sub-
mitted to the trustees, they have to report that nothing has been
done definitely respecting it. It is, however, believed that about
sixty children would be better accommodated if allowed to attend
that school agreeably to the wishes of their parents. Should the
permission be granted, it is thought that an additional teacher
would be required, and that it would also render necessar}'' the
removal of the Winter Hill school-house to a diflf^erent location.
With the inadequate means appropriated by the town for the sup-
port of the present establishment, it would not have been deemed
proper to incur this additional expense, even if the utility of the
measure in other respects had appeared unquestionable.

It will be perceived that the repairs of the school-house at the
Neck exceed the appropriation about one hundred and fifty dollars.
Unexpectedly all the window frames were found unfit for further
use, and, as is often the case in repairing old buildings, many
things were found necessary to be done which could not be discov-
ered but in the progress ol the work.

The schools without the Neck have been kept from nine to
twelve months each, and the teachers have in most cases proved
themselves faithful and successful.

The Winter Hill and Milk Row schools are now allowed to be
kept through the year, which will increase the amount heretofore
appUed annually for their benefit.

Within the Ne k are ten primary schools of children, from four
to eight years of age, averaging sixty-three scholars each. At the
recent examination, all of them were found in a good state of
order and improvement, and in several instances the teachers
proved their ability and fidelity in a manner deserving the highest

commendaiion. The teachers remain the same as at the last re-
port, with the exception of one resignation and appointment.

The writing and grammar schools are now under ike charge of
Messrs. Fairbank, Bigelow, Peirce, Swan and Baker, — the two
last named having been recently appointed to supply the places of
Messrs. Conant and Gulliver, resigned. These schools number
six hundred and twenty-seven scholars, from eight to fifteen 3^ears
of age ; and from evidence recently afforded, the trustees are well
satisfied with all the teachers, and they feel it incumbent on them
especially to express their high approbation of the three gentle-
men first named, who have faithfully and successfully served the
town for a course of years.

The course of instruction and discipline in all the schools re_
mains the same that has been pursued for several years, having
for its objects to improve the manners and morals of the children,
to form habits of industry and perseverance, and to prepare them
for the useful occupations of life, and for the duties devolving
upon the individuals of a liberal and intelligent community. And
it is believed that but few instances occur in which these objects
are not attained in an important degree, excepting cases where
parents are negligent of their duty, and permit their children fre-
quently to absent themselves from school and trifle with the priv-
ileges offered them at the public expense.

By order of the Board.

CHESTER ADAMS,

President.
May 11, 1831.

The printed statement of the expenses of the town for the past
municipal year having already been presented, in the detailed
report of the treasurer of this board, the financial concerns of the
school department to the citizens, the trustees have only to add on
this point, that an amount equal to the appropriation of last year
will be required to sustain the schools in their present establir^h-
ment.

The school department, as now established, comprises ten pri-
mary and five upper schools within the Neck, enrolling about 1,200
pupils ; and four district schools, enrolling about two hundred and
fifty pupils, without the Neck. All these schools are annual, ex-
cepting the two upper districts known as the Russell and Gardner
districts, these being kept ten months each.

During the past year there have been two resignations among
the teachers of the primary schools, viz.. Miss Gates and Mrs.
Jaquith ; the former having already left, her place has been sup-
plied ; the latter not leaving until the end of the present quarter,
16th instant, her place remains to be filled by the successors of the
present board.

The grammar and writing schools for boys continue under the
direction of Messrs. Peirce and Baker, and seem to have received
a new impulse in the pursuit of knowledge, by the increased exer-
tions of their apt and faithful instructors.

The grammar school for the girls is still under the direction of
Mr. Fairbank, whose long and faithful services have very much
contributed to its present elevated rank. The writing department
of this school has been recently subjected to some changes, occa-
sioned by the resignation of Mr. Reuben Swan, for another
avocation. Mr. Swan was succeeded by Mr. Stephenson, who
resigned the situation after two months, finding the duties too
arduous for delicate health, and has been succeeded by Mr. James
Swan, and it is hoped and believed by the trustees, that the last
arrangement will prove satisfactory and more permanent.

It affords the trustees pleasure to be able to say, with reference
to this school, that notwithstanding these interruptions, it appears

at the last examination not only satisfactory, 'but highly gratifying
to them

The school at the Neck, has been, during the past year, vacated
by the resignation of Mr. Bigelow, who has been succeeded by Mr.
Walker. In this case, also, the trustees feel a strong confidence
that the present high standing of this school, which has been raised
from a very low ebb, by the ability and fidelity of Mr. Bigelow,
will be fully sustained by his successor.

The schools outside the Neck have been necessarily under
various teachers, but they have, generally, given entire satisfac-
tion ; and for the ensuing summer term, the trustees are happy to
find that they have been enabled to meet the wishes of the inhab-
itants of the several districts, by the re-appointment to every school
of former highly acceptable and competent teachers.

The school at Milk Row is to be under the charge of a male
teacher the ensuing year. This departure from the accustomed
arrangement has been made in consequence of a greater number of
pupils attending this school than in any of the other districts, and
the great satisfaction given by Mr. Sherman, and it being found
practicable so to do at the additional expense of but seventy-two
dollars.

The trustees, aware that too great a diversity in the manner of
writing has existed in the schools, have recently introduced the
" Boston Slip" system and made it the rule for all of them.

The recent examinations, taken together, were highly satis-
factory and evidenced great fidelity and ability on the part of the
teachers generally. In an establishment like ours, embracing
nineteen distinct schools, collecting every variety of mental ca-
pacity, and placed under as many/listinct teachers, necessarily
more or less qualified and adapted to their situations by that pe-
culiar tact and patient application which the responsible and
arduous duties of a teacher require, there will be a diff"erence in
the appearance of the schools, as the teachers may more or less
possess this tact and are more or less willing to apply themselves
to their tasks. But, notwithstanding this, the trustees are grati-
fied in being able to bear their testimony to the good condition of
the schools generally, and to the fortunate adaption of the teachers
to their places which is so generally apparent. They are confident,

too, that the manner of examining the schools, collectively and by
comparison with each other, by bringing both teachers and pupils
to contend for the mastery, face to face with their competitors,
has had a great and good influence on both, exciting in them a
useful feeling of emulation to excel in the honorable conflict.

Under the existing regulations of our schools all children are
admitted between the ages of four and fifteen, and such is the
course of instruction and moral discipline, that they can be and
are fitted for all the common pursuits of life, and can rise, and do
rise, to a point of mental culture which would reflect honor on any
academical institution.

It will be seen by the foregoing report that our school depart-
ment numbers about 1,450 pupils, and that the schools are en
dowed with privileges which would be fitting to higher seminaries
than ours make any pretensions to ; yet it is true that these priv-
ileges do exist, and are open to all ; and it is deemed worthy of
remark by the trustees, that the annual cost of educating a pupil
in these public seminaries is but about five dollars, making a
quarter term bill but one dollar and twenty-five cents, and this
paid by property and not by individuals.

Under our free institutions, which open to all the avenues to
distinction and influence, a general diff'usion of useful knowledge
and an early inculcation of the principles of virtue and morality,
become immensely important, and, in view of which, the trustees
feel authorized in expressing the opinion that there should be no
relaxation on the part of the citizens in their provisions for the
promotion of these high objects which have been bestowed hereto-
fore with a liberality which speaks honorably of their generosit}^
and foresight, as, in their opinion, any such relaxation of efforts
would operate very unfavorably to the present elevated standing
of our schools, which the best interests of parents and children —
of social order, mental improvement and domestic happiness mu-
tually require to be sustained.

Respectfully submitted,

By order of the trustees.

BENJ. THOMPSON,

Secretary

Charlestown, May, 1832.

SPECIAL EEPORT OF TRUSTEES. 1332.

The trustees would respectfully represent that the recent cases
of the small-pox and the apprehended exposure of many of the
children of the town to the contagion of that fatal malad}^ seri-
ously affected the attendance and progress of our public schools,
and that several of them have hardly regained the standing which
they held previous to the alarm produced by the a-ppearance of the
disease.

It having been ascertained that many of the scholars had been
exposed by associating in school with children from the infected
families, the trustees proceeded to suspend from attendance all
such children as should not furnish evidence of having been vacci-
nated, or otherwise secured against the contagion.

In one case a scholar who has suffered severely from the small-
pox was in school but two days previous to her being sent to the
hospital.

It can never be certainly known that any of the children thus
exposed have been saved to their parents and friends by means of
the mild form of disease produced by vaccination, but is it not
reasonable to believe that some of them have been thus preserved?

The number of children liable to the contagion of the small-pox
was surprisingly great, considering the importance of the pre-
ventive and the small expense of obtaining it.

The emergency which required the interposition of the trustees
having ceased, they do not feel authorized to refuse admittance to
the public schools of such children as have not been secured
against the contagion of the small-pox, but they deem it highly
desirable that this community should be guarded as far as possible
against its visitations.

The children of strangers are frequently presenting themselves
for admission to our schools, and sometimes from places where
the small-pox is no uncommon disease.

It is the opinion of the trustees that to require the vaccination
of all children before their entering our pu})lic schools, would be
the most effectual method of securing the community against the
smali-pox, and that the present time is most favorable fur the

introduction of such a measure, as a great proportion of the in-
habitants, and especially of the young, are now secure from its
contagion.

By order of the trustees,

CHESTER ADAMS,

President,
March 5, 1832.

Read by the moderator to the town, under the consideration of
tenth article of the warrant, for the meeting of March 5, 1832.

1S33.

The school department of this town, as at present established,
comprises ten primary and five grammar and writing schools
within, and four District Schools without the peninsula, making in
all nineteen distinct schools, all of which are annual, excepting the
two upper districts, known as the Russell and Gardner schools,
each of which is kept open ten months in the year.

At the last semi-annual examination, which took place during
the latter part of April last past, there were enrolled in the ten
primaries six hundred and ten pupils, and of this number five hun-
dred and thirty-eight were present ; in the five grammar and writ-
ing schools there were enrolled six hundred and thirtj'-nine, and
four hundred and fifty-seven present ; in the four schools without
the peninsula, there were enrolled two lumdred and eighty, and
two hundred and six ^present. Total enrolled, 1,529; examined,
1,201.

The appearance and condition of the several schools, at the re-
cent examination of them, were, generally, highly satisfsictory, and
the proficiency apparent in most of them commended their teachers
to the favorable notice of the trustees, both for the ability and
fidelity with which they had discharged their highly responsible
trusts.

In so extensive a department as ours, embracing nineteen dis
tinct schools, under as many distinct teachers, all of them possess-
ing, more or less, those qualifications adapted to the difficult office
of a teacher of youth, it cannot be expected that they all will
possess, in the same degree and to the extent desired, such quali-
fications, without combining with them more or less peculiarities,
incompatible with that full and entire discharge of all those duties,
both in and out of school, which are so important in the character
and general deportment of a teacher, and so much to be desired in
those, more especially, who have the immediate oversight and
direction of the young.

The trustees believe it to be incumbent on them to allude to an
evil which exists to a very great extent in our schools, and exerts
a great and pernicious influence upon them. They allude to the

great and lamentable account of absences which the records of our
schools exhibit. The trustees and teachers have done everythin«j,
which has been in their power to do, to remedy this evil, but it still
exists. These absentees hang like a dead weight about the school.
The course of instruction is greatly interrupted by them, and those
who are punctual and constant at school are retarded in their prog-
ress. It is indeed difficult to estimate the extent of the per-
nicious effects produced by the great amount of absences.

The remedy is alone with the parents ; and it is on this account
that the trustees allude to it thus publicly, and also to remark,
that those parents who countenance and permit unnecessary ab-
sences from the excellent and liberal provisions now existing in
our public schools, owe it to their children, to themselves, and to
the enlightened and generous spirit of the community in which
they live, to see to it without delay, that their children are con-
stant in their attendance at school, assured, as they may be, that
by allowing their children to absent themselves from school, they
are doing much to injure others, that they are neglecting the valu-
able privileges which the public muniticence presents to them, and
worse than all, are entailing upon their children the evils of ignor-
ance and deep degradation.

The trustees, however, feel a pleasure in assuring their fellow
citizens that the present condition of the schools, generally, is
such as fully to sustain the high standing they have heretofore
possessed, and such as to reflect honor on that enlightened liber-
ality which the citizens of this town have alwa^'s exercised towards
their free public schools.

The annual cost of the school department, under its present
organization, will be found in the report of the Treasurer of the
Board of Trustees, to which reference is made for the sources and
account of receipts, and for the salary of each teacher, and the
more minute details of the necessary contingent expenditures.

" Under our free institutions, which open to all the avenues to
distinction and influence in society, a general diffusion of useful
knowledge and of sound moral principles is immensely important ;
in view of which the trustees feel called upon to express their
opinion that there should be no relaxation on the part of their

fellow citizens in their provisions for the support of their public
schools, as, in their opinion, any such relaxation of appropriations
would operate unfavorably to their present elevated character,
which the best interests of parents and children — of social order,
mental improvement and domestic happiness require to be sus-
tained."

Respectfully submitted.

By order of the Board of Trustees,

BENJ. THOMPSON,

Secretary.
Charlestown, March 6, 1833.

In presenting to the town their annual report, the trustees feel
deeply impressed with the importance and relative position of that
department in our municipal affairs, over which it has been their
province to preside during the past year, whether viewed in the
greatness of its extent, the cost of its maintenance, or with refer-
ence to the influences it exerts, either for good or for evil, as it
may be well or ill conducted, on the highest and most sacred
interests of the community. They are also fully aware that the
responsibilities under which the members of the board of trustees
are placed are great, and that to the faithful performance of their
duties they are prompted by that jealous watchfulness with which
their fellow-citizens look towards this most important branch of
thtir public affairs, and by the more imperative obligations grow-
ing out of a regard to the morality, improvement and happiness
of the community.

It has been with such views and feelings and objects that the
members of the board have endeavored to discharge their duties
during the past year, and to them it is a source of great satisfac-
tion, and an ample reward for arduous labors, that they are jus-
tified in reporting to their fellow-citizens at this time, that after
several changes of teachers necessarily occasioned by resignations
and other causes, imposing upon them increased and very respon-
sible duties, and exposing the schools to all the unfavorable effects
consequent to such changes, — the schools are at this time in as
high a condition of order, discipline and progression, and under as
competent, faithful and successful teachers, taken together, as they
have ever known them to be, and that no examinations have been
more satisfactory and promising than the last semi-annual recently
attended.

The extent of our school department is of no ordinary magni-
tude, and it presents to those who engage in its supervision a field
of duties of no ordinary limits, either in variety or importance ;
and when unaided by the earnest co-operation, or embarrassed by
the unwarrantable jealousies of parents, is very fur from being
either a desirable or a promising undertaking.

The Cbarlestown free school department comprises ten
primary schools, each under the direction of a female
teacher, and averaging seventy pupils, from four to eight
years ot age . . . . . . . . . 700

The female school on Town Hill, divided into grammar
and writing departments, under two male teachers, in
which are enrolled two hundred and forty pupils, from
eight to fifteen years of age 240

The male school, Trainingfield, divided into grammar and
writing departments, under two male teachers, enrolling
two hundred and forty-seven, from eight to fifteen years
of age 247

The school at the Neok, comprising both males and females,
under one male teacher, in which are enrolled one hun-
dred and sixteen, from seven to fifteen years of age . 116

The foregoing schools are located within the peninsula.
On the territory beyond the peninsula there are the follow-
ing schools : —

The school at Winder Hill, under the direction of a male
teacher six months, and a female six months, enrolling
seventy-five pupils, from four to sixteen years of age . 75

The school in Russell District, male teacher four months,

female six months . . . . . . . . 41

The school in Gardiner's District, male teacher f©ur months,

female six months ........ 85

The school in Milk Row, male teacher six months, female

six months, do. ........ 127

Total number of pupils enrolled .

1,581

From this view of our school department it will be seen that it
embraces no less than nineteen distinct schools, under as many
teachers, and fifteen hundred and eighty-one pupils, from four
to sixteen j^ears of age.

The supervision and control of a department, so important in
itself, and so extensive as that of the Charlestown free schools,
presents to those who undertake it, a task requiring no ordinary
10

sacrifice of time to the public good, no ordinary degree of industry,
patience, impartiality and fidelity in the discbarge of their various
and oftentimes perplexing and unpleasant duties, and alluring to
their performance only by the gratification of tbat ambition vvbich
finds its exercise and reward in promoting thj public good. We
may appeal to the experience of parents in relation to this subject,
— for it should be borne in mind that parents, children, teachers
and triislees are but parts of one great system, designed to pro-
mote the best interests of all, and demanding most imperatively
the utmost attainable degree of harmonious action.

To govern a family of children of the ordinary number is quite
enough, and too frequently much more than the heads of it find it
easy or practicable to do well or even to their own satisfaction,
much less to those around them. Consider then a family of chil-
dren, swelled to the number of sixteen hundred, taken under the
public care and placed under its constituted authorities, — taken
as it were from chaos, to be reduced to order, constituted as they
must be, with every variety of temperament, and drawn from every
condition of society, — taken up ignorant to be inducted into the
mysteries of knowledge by that slow and tedious process, through
which alone they can be admitted, — to be early taught and con-
stantly advanced in the principles and habits of virtue and reli-
gion, — to be guarded from the seducing temptations of the world
into which they are just entering, ignorant of the results and too
weak to resist the fascinations of vicious habits, — and to be
trained up in the way they should go.

Nor is this all. The unpleasant but urgent duty has quite too
frequently to be performed, to go between the delicate and lively
sensibilities of parents and the unfortunate perversities of their
children, and to reconcile the importance of good order as tli3 first
step to all improvement, and the necessity of rigid discipline in
peculiar cases to effect it, with those tender parental feelings?
which, in Iheir two abundant exercise, very often mislead our
judgment and blind us to the best interests of those for whom we
feel the strongest regard.

Surely all this is no ordinary task, if performed with any good
degree of fidelity, whether it be in the capacity of trustees, or in

the responsible, arduous and honorable office of teachers — and it
is a point of duty peculiarly binding on all parents, to estimate
justly the important relation in which they stand to our school
department, not merely and solely us the parents of certain
children and interested in them alone, but also with reference to
the community at large, to the great objects of general improve-
ment and progress in knowledge and virtue, to the more elevated
and perfect condition of the social state ; and to this department
in our public affairs, through all its branches, above all others, as
the great moral machitie, which, as it may be well or ill conducted,
moves the whole fabric of human society forward or backward, in
its attempts towards a more perfect condition.

In relation to the financial concerns of the school department,
it appears from the report of the treasurer, that the sum total of
receipts, for the year ending May, 1834, is . . $8,023 14

And that the amount of expenditures is . . , 7,462 01

Presenting a balance on hand of .... $561 13

The trustees would remark, that the appearance of a balance in
the treasury of their board, should not be viewed as indicating any
room for retrenchment in the appropriation by the town to this
department, for the ensuing year, as a quarter's salary to all the
teachers, amounting to about $1,600, will fall due on the 16th
inst., and that the present crowded state of our primary schools
renders it probable, if not indeed certain, that a new school of this
class will have to be established during the current year.

With these statements, the trustees indulge the hope that the
same appropriation as last year, will be made for the support of
the schools, believing that any retrenchment upon the present es-
tablishment would be very far from judicious economy, and would
prove very prejudicial to the best interests of our community.
For a more detailed account of the financial concerns of the
department, reference is made to the statement of the treasurer,
which has been printed and circulated.

The trustees, impelled by a sense of duty to themselves, to the
community at large, to that most interesting class among us, the
rising generation, and to those whose duty it is to remedy the

evil, feel bound, thus publicly, to complain of the conduct of those
parents, who so frequently, and so reckless of the consequences to
their children, to themselves, and to the community, neglect the
liberal and abundant privileges provided in this town for the edu-
cation of their children, by allowing them to be absent in many
instances more than one half of the time from school, thereby
greatly reducing the value of the other portion of the time, and
greatly retarding the progress of those who are constant in their
attendance.

This is an alarming evil, and demands of those who are verily
guilty in this point, a speedy remedy ; for in its operation it is
unjust to the community, filling it with an idle and vicious popu-
lation ; unjust in parents to themselves, and, in the highest degree,
unjust to their children. How many there are among us, which
the utmost exertions of trustees and teachers, unaided by the
serious and hearty co operation of parents, have not been able to
draw and retain within the healthful influences of our public
schools, who are now wasting away their most valuable time, —
either through an excessive indulgence, or for the want of that
government over their children on the part of parents, which it is
one great object so desirable but oftentimes so diiSicult to effect in
our schools, — indulging in habits of idleness, or, perhaps, still
further advanced on the high road to ruin, and who will, erelong,
reap the bitter fruits of their neglect, vex society with their out-
rages, and bring down the gray hairs of their too kind and too
indulgent parents in sorrow to the grave.

The trustees dwell on this point with earnestness, for the records
of our schools and daily observation bear startling evidence to the
fact, and because it is a truth, fully borne out by the experience
of all who have the management of schools, that the pupil who is
constant in his attendance at school is seldom, if ever, the subject
of severe discipline ; but more particularly for the purpose of
directing to this point a share of that jealous vigilance, ever
watchful over this department in some particulars, as it should be
in^every particular, but which is too often satisfied that the priv-
ileges of free schools should exist, without a corresponding vigi-
lance that they should be improved.

In concluding their report, the trustees call, and call earnestly,
upon their fellow-citizens to feel as deeply as they can feel the
importance of their relative position to our schools, and of the
influences which an extensive and well endowed and conducted
school department exerts upon society ; if faithfully improved,
how salutary ; if neglected, how prejudicial, to watch, with untir-
ing but well-intended vigilance, the conduct of all those, whoever
they may be, whether trustees or teachers, who may be placed
over it ; but they call on them also, and with undiminished earn-
estness, to estimate justly the important duties which devolve on
them to perform ; to make common cause with trustees and teach-
ers, in every well-intended effort to effect the great common object,
— the improvement and right training up of the rising generation ;
to consider the difiSculties that must be met and overcome ; rightly
to appreciate the motives which lead to rigid discipline, and not
only to be earnest in their desires that there should be good free
schools, but that they should be well sustained, and, above all,
constantly attended by their children. With such views, and such
a spirit pervading our community, with such a system of harmoni-
ous action enlisting all, our school department would rise to an
unequalled elevation, and like a pure and living fountain continu-
ally send forth streams that would fertilize and adorn our whole
population. Society would be purified and elevated. Parents
would have occasion to rejoice in the midst of a virtuous and im-
proving offspring, and our children would rise up and call us
blessed.

Respectfully submitted.

By order of the board of trustees.

BENJ. THOMPSON,

Secretary.
Charlestown, May 5, 1834.

The absence of the Secretary of the Board devolves upon the
undersigned the dnty of adverting to other than the pecuniary
concerns of the department. It is believed this can not be done
more acceptably than by referring to the secretary's report of last
year, which was ordered to be printed and distributed to every
family in town. It is hoped that the true exposition of the state
of the schools, and the faithful appeal to the good sense of this
community therein contained, have not yet been lost or forgotten.
All the views, principles and reasonings of that document are
important and applicable at the present time.

At the recent semi-annual examinations satisfactory evidence
was given that the schools generally are in as good condition as
they have heretofore been. It would be unjust to withhold an
expression of the belief that the three high schools within the
Neck, under the care of five masters, have reached a standing not
before attained by them.

By order of the board of trustees,

PAUL WILLARD,

Treasurer*

Charlestown, May 1, 1835.

The Trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools ask leave to
offer the following report : —

Trusting the discharge of their arduous and responsible duties
imposed upon them may meet with approbation ; feeling that they
have been actuated alone by a desire for the public welfare and a
sincere wish to promote the moral and intellectual condition of the
youth of this town, it is for the rising generation to support those
laws and religious institutions which our venerated forefathers
framed and put into execution as the best and only means of pre-
serving us an enlightened and independent people. Hence we see
the A^ast importance of cultivating and giving a right direction to
the minds of the young.

The schools are in a very flourishing^ condition, and we venture
to affirm, have in no way deteriorated from the high character which
they have sustained during the preceding years.

There have been mau}^ changes, both with i-egard to teachers
and scholars, and many inconveniences incident thereto. They are
now settled and under as competent teachers and as good manage-
ment as they were ever known to have been.

The examinations generally were entirel}^ satisfactor}^, and gave
convincing proof of the faithfulness of the instructors and the
application of the scholars. In conformity to a vote of the town,
two primaries have been added, making in all twelve schools for
instruction of children between the ages of four and eight years ;
averaging ^^{2 P^ipils for each school, each under the direction of
a female teacher ........ 802

The male school in the Training-field, divided into grammar
and writing departments, enrolls 228 pupils between the
ages of eight and fifteen years, under the direction of two
male teachers . . , . . . . . 228

The female school on the Town Hill, enrolls 211 as an aver-
age number, divided into grammar and writing depart-
ments, being under the direction of two male teachers. 211

Carried forward 1,241

Brought forward ....... 1,241

The school at the Neck comprises both male and female
pupils, under one teacher, and enrolls 129 scholars from
seven to fifteen years of age , . . . . 129

The following schools are situated beyond the Peninsula :

The Winter Hill school, under the direction of a male teacher
six months, and a female teacher for the remaining half of
the year, enrolls 80 pupils between the ages of four and
sixteen years ........ 80

The school in Gardner's district — male teacher four months,
female six months — enrolls 30 pupils from four to sixteen
years of age ........ 30

The school in Russell district — male teacher four months,
female six months — enrolls 29 pupils /rom the ages of
four to sixteen years ....... 29

The school in Milk Row — male and female teacher, each
six months — enrolls 116 pupils between the ages of four
and sixteen years . . . . . . . 116

Total number of pupils in twenty-one schools, male and
female .......... 1,625

Miss Ann E. Whipple has been employed, by the request of the
inhabitants, to teach the Milk Row school during the winter term,
in place of a master who generally instructs during this part of the
year. She conducts the school with efficiency, giving entire satis-
faction to the parents and trustees ; indeed, under no former in-
structor has the school been better regulated or have the scholars
more visibly improved.

The financial concerns in relation to the schools will be seen by
the report of the treasurer to be in a flourishing condition.

We would acknowledge from the school fund of the State the
receipt of $359.68. This, with other receipts in addition to the
sum appropriated by the town, increases our fund to the sum

of $8,691 53

The amount of expenditures being . . . 8,251 38

Presenting a balance on hand of . . , • 440 15

It is unnecessary to enlarge on this point, as the financial affairs
may be perused in detail by reference to the statement of the
treasurer now before the town.

Notwithstanding the balance remaining in the hands of the
treasurer, the trustees would in no wise recommend less liberality
in their appropriation for the year ensuing.

The law relating to the Massachusetts school fund having under-
gone some alteration, will reduce the receipts from the State treasury
about one third of the sum received from that quarter the present year.

During the past year Mr. Nathan Morrill, of the Town Hill
school, and Mr. William D. Swan, of the Neck school, petitioned
the trustees for an increase of salary, it w^as voted to give one
hundred dollars in addition to the seven hundred dollars which
they then received. The primary teachers likewise presented a
petition for increase of salary, stating as a cause the high rate of
living ; the additional quantity of fuel which has been needed is in
consequence of the unusual degree of cold and inclement weather
which we have experienced during the past winter. The trustees
not being authorized by the town, and being unaware of the public
will in relation to it, thought best not to comply with their request
in full, but granted them the sum of ten dollars each, choosing to
defer the subject until the May meeting, when, if the town should
think it advisable, their remuneration could be increased.

In relation to tiie petition of Edwin Munroe and others, inhab-
itants of the Milk Row district, the trustees would recommend the
expediency of favoring another school. Tiie district is very ex-
tensive and the growth of the population rapid, consequentl}^, in a
few 3^ears, if not at present, it would be unavoidable.

A petition has been presented to the board by Oliver Holden
and others, requesting the removal of the cupola and bell from the
Town Hill to the Training-field school, the cupola obstructing the
view of the north dial on Rev. Di-. Fay's church from the inhabi-
tants in the northern section of the town. Its present situation is
inconvenient in many respects, tlie boy who rings it having to go
some distance. He is consequently unable to return in time to
commence his studies with the rest of his class. Jt is also au
interruption to the female department.
11

The present state of public education in this town has nearly
approximated to all we could hope or wish. The importance and
necessity of a good education, and the wisdom of the means which
are employed in relation to our free schools, are becoming every
day more apparent. Here every one, however indigent, may
obtain, by application and industry, the basis of that knowledge
which will be able to render them respected, influential and afflu-
ent in after life. If to the schools already in successful operation,
the town see fit to add another for the instruction of youth in the
higher branches of knowledge, and thereby tit them to take a more
exalted part in the duties of life — which the trustees would most
earnestly recommend, — then indeed our system and means of
instruction would be complete.

We regret exceedingly to say that parents are often very delin-
quent with regard to the attendance of their children. By the
absences and irregularities of a few, the others are materially
retarded in the pursuance of their studies. The order of the
school is disturbed and the example very prejudicial. Let the
parents insist on a regular attendance, and we venture to affirm
that children will take more interest, will advance more rapidly,
and be more tractable and obedient, both at school and at home.
If parents will only unite their earnest cooperation with that of
the teachers and trustees in endeavoring to impress upon their
minds the importance of improving to the utmost their many
advantages, and to leave no means unimproved which contribute
to render them enlightened and useful members of society. Thus
may we confidently hope in the increasing prosperity of our happy
land ; and our forefathers, when they look from their repose in
heaven, may feel satisfied with the manner in which we have kept
their ordinances, and that we are in reality, as well as in name, a
free people.

Kespectfully submitted to the town,

By order of the trustees,

LARKIN TUliNP:R,

Attest : President,

PAUL WILLARD,

Secretary.

Charlestown, May 2, 1836.

The trustees of the free schools respectfully present the follow-
ing report : —

All the schools under their supervision have received careful
attention daring the past year. It has been our aim to sustain
their present high character, to improve their condition, and in-
crease their advantages for the children and youth of the town.
We are happy in being able to say so much that is satisfactory
with reference to the present condition of the schools ; and in sug-
gesting any farther alterations and improvements, as well as in
what has been done we hope the town will feel that the board is
actuated only by a conviction of the necessity of such changes,
arising from a careful consideration of the whole subject and a
desire that the best interests of the town may be promoted.

The recent examinations of the schools have proved very satis-
factory to the trustees. The improvements made the past year
have equalled their expectations ; still they are not yet in the con-
dition we wish to see them. Many improvements are necessary
and appear to be called for by the spirit of the age. A very gen-
eral interest seems to be felt for the prosperity of the schools, and
in the cause of education generally — an interest which reflects
much credit upon the town, and is the best guaranty for the im-
provement of common schools. The cooperation of the parents
with the trustees and teachers will tend much to remove those
evils which are felt in all our schools. One of those, and a very
serious one, that tends very much to impede their progress, and
must continue to do so as long as it exists, is the great number of
daily absences from school and the irregularity in the attendance
of the scholars. This evil, we think, is in a good degree charge-
able to the parents, in allowing their children to be absent for
trivial causes, or to gratify a desire on their part to indulge chil-
dren, without reflecting upon the consequences of such indulgence
to them or those who are constant in their attendance. Were the
evil consequences resulting from this source confined wholly to
those who are allowed to practise it, the trustees would refi ain
from bringing it before the town ; but as it affects, in a greater or

less degree, all the schools, a sense of dnty impels thera to advert
to it, with the hope that it mny awaken attention in the minds of
parents to the subject, feeling assured that it only needs be known
to produce a partial, if not entire correction. The records of the
different schools show that an average of eleven per cent of all
the schools — being over two hundred of the scholars — have
been absent from school the past year ; thus the town will see
this is an evil of no small magnitude. It is also the cause of
most of the corporal punishment which is inflicted in the schools.
Those ^lio are irregular in attendance, or absent a considerable
portion of the time, acquire habits which are altogether incompat-
ible with that order and discipline so necessary in a well regulated
school. Those habits must be overcome by gentle or severe
means ; hence it often becomes necessary to inflict severe punish-
ments to such scholars before they can be brought to a state of
subjection to the wholesome regulations of the school. These,
and many other nnhapi)y consequences, flow from this evil ; but we
forbear to mention them.

The immber of scholars in the several schools in town, as ap-
pears by the last returns, is as follows : —

Training-field school, between the ages of eight and fif-
teen years . . . . . . . . . 249

Female school, between the ages of eight and fifteen years, 223

School at the Neck, between the ages of eight and fifteen, 122

Twelve primary schools, between the ages of four and eight, 893

Five district schools, without the peninsula . . . 294

Making 1,781

the whole number of scholars in the public schools in town, being
an increase of over one hundred in the past year.

During the past year, in accordance with the direction of the
town, the cupola has been removed from the school-house on Tinvn
Hill and a new one erected on the house in the Training-field. A
new district has been created and a school-house built in the vicinity
of Prospect Kill, and the number of scholars in attendance there
suflSciently proves that a necessity existed therefor.

The state of the treasury, and the manner in which the funds
placed at the command of the trustees have been disposed of, are
fully shown by the accompanying report of the treasurer of the
board, and the appropriation represented as being necessary for
the coming year we doubt not will be cheerfully made.

By the statement of the number attending the primary schools
it will be seen that some of them must be in a very crowded con-
dition. This is particularly the case with the school at Morton's
Point. This is so much felt in that district that a petition, signed
by a number of the citizens of that part of the town, asking for
the immediate establishment of another primary school in their
vicinity, has been recently presented to the board. We, therefore,
recommend the town to authorize the establishment of such a
school, considering the measure as imperiously called for. The
school situated in centre district is also in a crowded condition,
and as the number requiring the instruction of a primary school in
this vicinity is so great as to render it necessary, the trustees also
recommend the establishment of one additional school in that
district.

In accordance with their convictions of its necessity, and we
doubt not with the wishes of the town, assistant teachers have
been appointed in all the grammar schools. This measure, we
believe will contribute much to the excellence of the schools, en-
abling the masters to dispense altogether with monitors, and to see
that the younger members of the school receive a proper share of
attention ; while the higher branches of study will be so much
better attended to as to render the advantages of these schools
equal to those of most high schools. In order, however, to render
them what they ought to be, it will be necessary to alter the
present buildings so as to accommodate comfortably the large
number in attendance upon them. The number in all the grammar
schools is very large and- has much increased since the examina.
tion. From these facts it is evident that another school must be
established and a building erected for its accommodation, or the
present school-houses so much enlarged as to enable the teachers
to do justice to the schools. The latter course the trustees think
decidedly preferable at present. By the preposed alterations, as

the citizens may see b}^ reference to the accompanying plans, the
additional number who ma}^ be accommodated is considerable, and
this measure will doubtless obviate the necessity of erecting an.
other house for an additional school for several years. Estimates
of the cost of the proposed improvements have been obtained, by
which we learn that they can all be done for a sum not exceeding
twenty-six hundred dollars. The trustees therefore recommend
that this sum be appropriated for that purpose.

By reference to the report of the treasurer of the board it will be
seen that the trustees recognize two primary school-houses as part
of their permanent funds. They have heretofore received rent for
said houses from the teachers equal to the interest on the amount
expended in their erection. They have the last year found it
necessary to make an alteration in the terms upon which those
teachers are employed, and furnish the school-rooms for them ;
hence those buildings have ceased to yield any income to the
board, consequently their funds are diminished the amount of the
cost of said school-houses, although they remain the property of
the town. They therefore request the town to authorize the treas-
urer to give to the board of trustees a town note for six hundred
dollars, at six per cent interest, which will restore that amount to
the funds of the board, agreeably to the terms of the donations by
which said fund was created.
Respectfully presented,

Per order of the board of trustees,

CHAS. THOMPSON,

President,

THO. BROWNE, Jr.,

Secretary.

The board of trustees of the Chaiiestown free schools, in con-
formity with the law and vote of the town, herewith make their
annual report of the character and condition of the schools the
past year.

Having, at the annual meeting in March last, presented to the
town their report concerning the alterations and repairs of school-
houses which they have made in obedience to the instructions of
the town, they, therefore, need only refer to that report, and to the
printed report of the treasurer, now in the hands of the inhabi-
tants, for information in relation to that subject ; also, to the
current expenses of the board they need only add, that these
alterations and the establishment of the two new primary schools
could not have been dispensed with without doing great injury to
the interests of the scholars. Notwithstanding, by this improve-
ment, nearly five hundred new seats have been furnished, besides
affording better accommodation to all who attend the grammar
school, yet no sooner were tbey completed than all were required.

If we may estimate the increase of scholars for the future by the
aapid rate in which they have filled our schools for the last two
years, it will not be more than two years before the town will be
called upon to establish another grammar school, and perhaps one
or more primary schools. By the result of the examinations
during the last month, it appeared that there were on the lists
of the fourteen primary schools 957 scholars, or an average of
about 70 to each school ; of the three grammar schools, 830 ; of
the five district schools without the Peninsula, 276 — making in
all, 2,063.

The cause of the great increase of the attendance upon our
schools which has lately taken place, may be readily given. Within
eighteen months a very few of the children of our Irish popula-
tion attended our schools, they having a separate establishment ;
but, for some reason, they have given up their own and have sent
their children to the public schools. It was also an old regulation
of the board that no scholar should be allowed the privilege of
public instruction beyond the age of fifteen years; but, by the

Revised Statutes, towns are requirerl to provide the means of in-
struction for all children between the ages of four and sixteen
years. This extended privilege has been gladly embraced by
many, who, in these embarrassed times, not being able to find
any lucrative employment for their children, have kept them at
school, that they may be better prepared for their future duties.
Our population, too, is steadil}^ and surely increasing, and such is
the exalted character of our schools, that the disposition of parents
to send their children abroad to private schools or academies has
been considerably checked. The board have had applications to
receive children from the country, and even from the city, which
of course the^^ have rejected. But if the town were desirous to
furnish inducements to strangers to take up their residence with
us, and to help bear our burdens, they could furnish no greater
than our well-regulated schools, under the charge, as they now are,
of excellent teachers, and liberally furnished by the town, as, we
trust, they ever will be, with all the necessary accommodations and
all the means of mental improvement.

That the free schools in this town are now in a good state, bolh
as to discipline and order of the scholars, and the fidelity of the
teachers, is an assertion which the board do not hesitate to make,
without qualification or fear of contradiction. The examinations,
both in the fall and during the last month, gave general satisfac-
tion to the board, and, we doubt not, to the great number of
parents who attended them. There has been a uniform and steady
progress which has kept pace with, and done justice to, the liber-
ality of the town in their appropriations in aid of public in-
struction.

There has also been a decided improvement in the method of
discipline. The board have used their utmost efforts to procure
the abolishment of corporal punishment. They have privately
Impressed upon all the teachers their obligation to dispense with
its use as far as in their power, and have adopted regulations
requiring the teachers to keep an account of such punishments,
and to give detailed information of each instance to one of the
board. It is evident, however, that some discretion musj be left
with the teachers ; for were this revolting form of punishment

wholly prohibited to them, the scholars, knowing the fact, as they
would, would be strongly tempted to take advantage of the teacher
and abuse a restriction placed upon him for their protection. It is
gratifying to find that these efforts have not failed of success. In
the female grammar school this punishment has been wholly aban-
doned by the teachers, and in all the others the resort to it has
been far less frequent than formerly. This attempt to influence
the scholars by moral means, and by a laudable spirit of emulation,
has not been lost upon them. Under the influence of a worthy
spirit, the large boys in the grammar schools have of their own
accord formed themselves into societies for the prevention of pro-
fanity among themselves and for mutual moral improvement.
They have made interest among many parents, who have aided
them in collecting a library of well-selected books for their use.
Such undertakings cannot but add a stimulus to the formation of
a good character and to the desire of gaining useful knowledge.

The exercise of singing has also been pretty generally introduced
into the schools and to great advantage. It is proved to have a
salutary influence upon the character and to afford agreeable
mental relaxation. The willingness of the teachers to devote
an extra portion of time for the purpose of giving instruction in
this exercise, is one of the proofs of their enthusiastic devotion
to the best fulfilment of the important trust committed to them.
This, as well as all other new means of improvement, should be
introduced into our public schools, after they have been tested by
experience and proved to be serviceable. That many new facilities
and advantages for instruction will be erelong discovered is un-
questionable, and when discovered and attested, they will be
adopted in every community where the zeal for mental improve-
ment keeps pace with increased means for promoting it. For this
purpose a board of education has been established by the authority
of the State, whose province it is to collect and compare the dif-
ferent means of instruction in all the various methods, and to
recomraenr] the best to all the schools for their adoption ; thus
raising a high standard for free school instruction and creating a
zeal and rivalry among the different towns each to exhibit the
12

best. The influence of their efforts will be felt, we doubt not,
among the first, by the town of Charlestown.

From the estimate which the board have made of the probable
expenses for the ensuing year, they are convinced that as large an
appropriation as was made last year, for the ordinary expenses,
will be needed — say $10,000. The amount of the salaries to
teachers last year was $9,415, but as some of the teachers were
not appointed until after the commencement of the year, the
amount will be, for the coming year, $9,962 ; thus the whole
amount of the appropriation asked for will, within a few dollars,
be taken up by salaries, leaving the contingencies, as rent of
primary school-rooms, fuel for all the schools, books, care of
rooms, etc., to be paid from the income of the surplus revenue
and of the funds of the board. This may seem to many a large
demand, but when it is considered that there are employed twenty-
nine different teachers who have each, on an average, seventy
children assigned to their care, and whose average pay would
amount only to $340 per annum, every one will allow that there
are neither too many teachers, nor do they receive too high com-
pensation for their arduous duties. The whole amount paid by the
town for schools amounts to five dollars to each scholar.

In addition to the above the board feel compelled by a sense of
duty to ask an additional appropriation of two hundred dollars for
the repair of the school-house in Russell district This building
has not been repaired since its erection. The seats and benches
are in bad condition, and the whole interior needs refitting.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Per order of the board of trustees,

CHARLES THOMPSON,

President.

THOMAS BRO^yNE, Jr.,

Secretary.

Charlestown, May 7, 1838.

OF THE EXPENSES AND FUNDS OF

THE

CHARLESTOWN FREE SCHOOLS, FOR 1823.

EXPENDITURES,

Paid Robert Gordon, salary for one year $ 600

" do. grant - - 200

" do. balance of last year's grant 87 40

^^ do. contingencies - - 4 25

'' Edward Sawyer, salary from May 1st to October 20th,

including grant for same period - 377 77

" do. balance of last year's grant - 100

do. contmgencies - .70

Jos. Reynolds, instructing school, Ward No. J*, from

April 7th to July 15th - - 162

" L. S. Gushing, instructing female school, six months 300
" do. contingencies - - - SI

" Thos. H Thompson, instructing school. Ward No. 2,

from July 16th to August 26th - 66 33

" Henry Adams, two quarter's salary in Ward No. 2 300
" do. contingencies - - - 3 54

" Cornelius Walker, one quarter's salary in Ward No. 1 150
*' do. contingencies _ - . 92

*^ Nathan Blanchard, instructing school, Ward No. 3,

half a month - - - 16

*^ Saml. Barrett do. No. 3, from Nov. 24th

to April 18th - - - 168

'^ Benja. Munroe do. Ward No. 4, five months 80

" Nathl. H. Henchman, board of master 61 52

" Emery Bemis, instructing school, Ward No. 5, four

and a half months - - 72

'' Saml. Gardner, board of master - - 56 82

Miss Sprague, instructing female school six months 150

Miss Wayne, instructing summer school in Ward No. 3 92
Miss Perry, do. Ward No. 4 - - 48

Miss Adams, do. Ward No. 5 - 48

Miss Hobbs, do. at Winter Hill - 9ft

John Thorning, rent of room for said school 24

Moses Grant, rent of house for female school 130

6i
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Carried forward, $ 3396 06

Brought forward, ^. $ 3396 06

Schooling Poor Children, "

Paid Mrs. Thompson - - ^ 105 56

/' Mrs. Rea - - - 5Q 14

'^ Miss Jefferds - - 78 58

'' Miss Elliot - - - 14 56

^54 84

" Joseph White, for printing - - 3 •SS

" David Stetson, wood - - 10

'^ Saml. Kidder, ink - - - 16 50

Jos. Phipps, repairs and sundries - 24 51

Wm. M. Edmands, cleaning stove funnel - 1

" Maria Lane, care of female school house - 4

" Jotham Johnson, wood - - - 21

*^ Isaac Pratt, repairs - * - 2 93

'^ County Register, recording deed - - 50

'^ Benjamin Edmands, repairs - - 6 67

^^ Samuel Gardner, repairs and wood - 20 65

'^ James Ayer, repairs - - - 11 84

" David Stetson, wood - - - 52

" Devens & Thompson, stove and sundries - 24 25

" Samuel Cutter, repairs - - - 13 50

'^ James Russell, wood - - - 13

'^ Do. repairs - - - 1 50

" Joseph Phipps, do. and sundries - - l^"^ ^^

<• Nathan Tufts, 2d, wood and sundries - ' >13 89

Balance in hands of the Treasurer - - 7 17

3,913 65

Receipts and Income.

Balance received of E. Phinney, Esq. late Treasurer ^116 09

Amount voted by the Town, 1823 - - 3500

Three quarter's interest on six per cent. Stock - 13 56

Interest on Town note - - - 90

Dividend received at Union Bank - - 176

Received of Mrs. Walker for one and a half years' rent

of room, in school house, Ward No. 2 - - IS

^3913 G^

Funds of the Gharlestown Free Schools.

Certificate of exchanged six per cent. Stock of 1812 $ 301 50

do. Union Bstok Stock - - - 3200

Town Note - - - - 1500

5001 50

All which is respect^lly submitted by the Trustees of the Charles-
town Free Schools.

L. M. PARKER, Treasurer.
Charlestown, April, 1824.

Statement

Of the Expenses and Funds of the Charlestoivn Free Schools

for- 1825.

EXPENDITURES.

Paid Cornelius Walker, allowance for 5 q'rs, up to January

20, 1825. Making his con:ipensation ^800 per year ^250

Q^ It having been understood, at the time of his engagement that this
allowance would be made provided his services should I'ully meet the
approbation of the trustees.

'-' Cornelius Walker, instructing Reading and Grammar

dcp't, Ward No. 1. one year, ending Jan. 20, 1826. 800
" Peter Conant, instructing Writing department, Ward
" No. 1. one year, ending Feb, 1 Uh, 800

Contingencies 8 68

^' Sam'l Barrett, instructing female school 1 year, ending

Feb. 3d 600

Contingencies 87

''^ Samuel Bigelow, instructing school. Ward No. 2. one.

year, ending March 8th 600

Contingencies 1 50

'-^ Miss Ann D. Sprague, instructing Female school 1 year,

ending Feb. 1st 300

" Miss Charlotte Wayne, do. Ward No. 3. 21 weeks 84
" J. O. Coburn, do. do. 5 . months 150

'^ Miss Sarah Perrv, do. Ward No. 4. 21 weeks 63

" Philemon R. Russell, jr. do. No. 4. five months 137 50
'' Miss Eliza Ann Cutter, do. No. 5. do. do. 60

'• Bowen A. Tufts, do. do. 4| months 117

'■'' Miss Eliza Wayne do. Ward No. 6. *22 weeks 88
'• Miss Jane Hobbs do. do. 1 month 16

•' John Parker do. do. 4 months 131

'• Mrs. Polly Jaquith, do. primary school. No. 1. three
qr's,, ending Feb. 16th, including room rent and
other expenses 168 75

'• Miss Lucy Wyman do. primary school No. 2.
'•' Mrs. Mary Thompson do. do. No. 3.

•' Miss Roxana Jones do. do. No. 4.

"' Miss Adeline Hyde do. do. No. 5.

' Miss Mary Walker do. do. No. 6.

•^ Mrs. Hannah Rea do. do. No. 7.

• Betsey Putnam, care of Female school house
'- Howe & Norton, paper and printing
'' Alfred Carleton, wood

• Benjamin Loring, blank books

• Walter Balfour, repairs
'• David Stone, clearing vaults
■• Tufts & Cole, lumber

Josiah Harris, painting and glazing

168

162

168

162

Carried forw^ard |5,448 36

Bro't forward
'- J. Averj, repairs
" John Caldwell, wood
" Walter Russell, wood
" Interest on money borrowed
" Lot Pool, fitting up Trustees' room in the school house

on Town hill, and sundry repairs
" Jotham Johnson, wood
" Benjamin Haynes, inkstands, funnel, &c,
" John D. Edmands, repairs
" John Adams, sundries
" Benjamin Edmands, glazing
^' Isaac Pratt, do.

" James Deblois, repairs

" S. G. Williams & Co., for $300 U. Bank Stock 5| adv.
$301,50 of which being a re-investment of U. S. S,
paid off

Luke Wyman, w^ood

Moses Grant, books and cards

Crocker and Brewster, books

James Russell, repairs,

Moses Grant, rent of Female school house for 1 year 130

Wm M. Edmands, water-pot 1

" Samuel Kidde;, for ink 23 25

Balance on hand 950 16

$5,448

•

316

$7,058 37

Receipts and Income*
Received of L. M. Parker, late Treasurer, balance of his

account 8 37
Also for U. S. Stock recently paid off and to be reinvested 301 50
Amount voted by the town 6475

Dividend on Union bank stock 183 50

Interest on town note 90

',058 37

Funds of the Charlestown Free Schools.
Union bank stock 3500

Town Note 1500

$5000

All which is respectfully submitted by the Trustees of the
Charlestown Free Schools.

CHESTER ADAMS, Trea^'u
Charlestown, April 1826.

• STATEMENT

Of Expenses and Funds of the Charlestoimir Free Schools for

the year 1826.

EXPENDITURES.

Paid Peter Conant, instructing Writing department, Ward
No. 1. one year, ending Feb. 11, 1827
•' Do. contingencies - - _

" Cornelius Walker, instructing Grammar department,

Ward No. 1. three quarters and five days
" Do. contingencies - . . .

" Charles Pierce, instructing Grammar department,
Ward No. 1. one quarter _ - ,

Samuel Bigelow, instructing school in W^ard No. 2.
one year, ending March 8 , . ,

Samuel Barrett, instructing Female school from Feb.
4, to July 7, inclusive . _ . -

Do. contingencies - . .

Josiah Fairbank, instructing Female school 2 quarters
Do. contingencies - - - -

Ann D. Sprague, instructing Female school 1 year,
ending Feb. 1. - - - - . -

Do. contingencies . - .

Polly Jaquith, instructing Primary School No. 1.
Sarah French do. No. 2.

Mary Thompson do. No. 3.

Roxanna Jones do. No. 4.

Adeline Hj^dc do. No. 5.

Mary Walker do. No. 6.

Hannah Rea do. No. 7.

Elizabeth G. Whitin do. No. 8.

Contingencies
Mary Flanders, instruct'g school Ward No. 3. 20 weeks

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^800

6 77

611 12

7 63

200

675

256 66
1 88

300
5 04

Hersina Knight
Martha Frost

Ann E. Whipple
E. D. Dyer
P. R. Russell

Charles Tidd

Andrew Wallis

do.
do.

do.
do.
do.

do.

No. 4. 20
No. 5. 20 "

Contingencies

No. 6. 22 "
No. 3. 5 mo.
No. 4. 4 "

Contingencies
No. 5.

15 weeks & 4 days

Contingencies

No. 6. 5 months
Contingencies
Lincoln & Edmands, for school books
Crocker & Brewster do.

Thomas Greenleaf, repairs - -

Jesse Hall, wood . - .

Joel Locke, mason work
Joseph Ingalls, repairing windows
John D. Edmands, rent, &:c.

300
1

225
225
225
225
225
225
225
168

75
65

83
150
112

2 77

101 83

25
160

2
311

241
4

9:>

87
30
42
5 76
3 46
2 40
8 14

Carried forward

$6,30^ 04

Bro't forward <^6
Paid John Ireland, siindries

'' Benjamin Russell, printing - -

'•^ Fosdick & While, repairs

" Joshua MixLei", sawing wood - -

'' Betsey Fiitnam, care of school house in Austin street

" Alfred Carleton, wood - - - -

*' Thomas B. Wait 8l son, "Journal of Education"

'' Ballard & Wright, advertising

" Jehiel Smith, repairs on school house, Ward No. 1.

'-' Daniel Major, blinds for do. No. 3.

Benjamin VVhipple, advertising

Samuel Cutter, blinds for school house, W^ard No. 6.

William S. Phipps, sundries - -
•' Hall J. Kelley, wood and sundries
" David Stetson, wood in 1825
^' Do. do. 1826, and sawing

" Cyrus Johnson, sawing wood - - -

'' Silas Farrar, setting glass . - -

'-' Jotham Johnson, wood - . .

"' George Davidson, printing Rules and Regulations
" Josiah Harris, setting glass - - .

*•' Abijah Munroe, repairing globes
•' Samuel Kidder & Co. ink . - .

" Cheney Richardson, rep's on school house Ward No. 1 .
'' Walter Russel, wood . - - -

*' Bunker Hill bank, interest on money borrowed

,302

. 4

$6,646 31
On hand - - 786 53

$7,432 84

RECEIPTS AND INCOME.

Rec'd of Chester Adams, late treas'r, balance of hi? acc't $ 950 16
" Amount voted by the town ... 6,000

" Dividend on Union bank stock - 157 50

Interest on town Note - - - - 90

" For Books ... - - 235 1

^432 84

Funds of the Charlestown Free Schools.

Union bank stock - - - $3500

Town note - - - 1500

$5000

All which is respectfully submitted by the Trustees of the Charles-
town Free Schools.

BENJAMIN WHIPPLE, Treas'r.
CHARLEST0W:K, April 1827.

SCHOOLS.

. EXPENDITURES from April 1827, io April 16, 1828,

SALARIES OF TEACHERS.
Peter Conf^nt, in Writing department town hill

school, one year, to Feb. 11 - $800
Charles Peirce, Grammar do. one year

to Jan. 25 - - - - 800

Samuel Bigelow, Neck school, one year to Mch 8 700
Josiah Fairbank, Female school, Grammar

department, six months 300

Do. six months, to Jan. 19 350

John Holroyd, Writing dep't nine months 375

Lemuel Gulliver do. three do. to Feb. 8 125
Polly Jaquith, Primary School No. 1, one

year to Feb. 16 225

Ann Brown & others No. 2 do. do. 225

Mary Thompson No. 3 do. do. 225

Roxanna Jones No. 4 do. do. 225

Adeline Hyde No. 5 do. do. 225

Mary Walker No. 6 do. do. 225

Hannah Rea No. 7 do. do. 225

Elizabeth G. Whitin No. 8 11 mo. 22 days 220

Eliza. D. Gardner, Gardner sch'l, summer term 63 40

Bowen A. Tufts do. winter term 98

E. Gerrish&A. Brown, Russell do. summer do. 63 40

P. R. Russell, Jr. do. winter do. 124

Ann E. Whipple, Milk Row school, summer do. 80

A. G. Hoit do. winter do. 137 60

Susan A. Warren Winter Hill do. summer do. 80

J. Stickney & C. G. King do. winter do. 162 14

WOOD.

Benj. Whipple, for Town hill S. H.

John Newell, sawing . - -

P. R. Russell, jr. Russell S. H.

J. Johnson, Neck, Milk Row&Wint. Hill S. H.

Jesse Hall, Milk Row

H. J. Kelley, paid sawing - -

Nathan Tufts &: Co. Female S. H.

Samuel Rugg, sawing _ . -

Luke Wyman, Gardner S. H.

6053 54

139 40

Carried forward, $6192 94

Bro't forward,
REPAIRS.
Samuel Rugg, white -washing T/Dwn hill S. H.
Benj, Edmands, glazing

Andrew Wallis, sundries Wint. hill sch. house
Fitch Cutter, for tan - - -

Thomas Greenleaf, carpenter's work
Stephen Symmes, sundries Gardner sch. house
Silas Farrar, setting glass Milk Row do.
Curtis Rice, carpenters work do.

Devens & Thompson, nails for do.
Hall J. Kelley, sundries do.

Jesse Hall, lumber do.

Goodridge &l Fletcher, lumber. Female old S. H.
Alexis Pool, carpenter's work on do.

John D. Edmands do do.

Savage & Cross teaming for do.

John Adams, sundries. Female new sch. house
Lot Pool, paid sweeping do.

E. P. Mackintire, curtains do.

Jones & Wardell, stoves do.

H. H. & F. H. Stimson, stove, Neck do.

$6192 94

Deduct amount rec'd for old stoves

CONTINGENCIES.

Samuel Abbot, sundries
Josiah Fairbank do.
P. Conant do. - -

J. Holroyd do. - -

Samuel Bigelow do. - -

Benj. Haynes do.

Wm. M. Edmands do.

Moses Grant, rent of Female old school house
Do. do. omitted in last Statement

Elias Crafts, teaming sundries
George Davidson, printing blank forms
Alexis Pool, boxes for books
Young & Minns, advertising
C C. King, sundries - - -

Betsey Putnam, care of Female old sch. house
T. B. Wait &L Son, 'Journal of Education'
S. Kidder & Co. Ink - - -

Thomas Pike, chaise hire 1825
Joseph Thompson, insurance Primary S. H.
Cash for v.rapping paper

Carried forward

214 45
23 59

190 86

4 10

6 70

3 30

3 01

1 36

24 18

17 75

116 67

1 27

1 50

5 75

2 50

275 33

6659 13

Bro't forward, $6659 13
Books of Lincoln & Edmands and Crocker Sl

Brewster - - - 565 84

Deduct amount rec'd for books 5 1 3

52 84

Maps of Alston Mygatt " " . ■ ^^

Primary school hou^e built on Training-field, cost 298 59

PMIIMI.IIIII ■ ^

$7,049 be
Balance cash on hand 813 96

$7863 52

RECEIPTS.

Balance per last year's Statement $ 786 53
Amount voted by the town *^ - - 6500

Dividend on Union bank stock - 1 75

Interest on town Note -' - - 90

Error in book account, last Statement 3 79
Amount of Andrew Wallis' bill, charged in do.

paid this year - - - 2 95
Rec'd in part of town note, to pay for Primary

school house - - - 300

Do. interest on do. -- - 5 25

63 52

Funds of the, Charlestown Free Schools,

Union bank Stock 35 shares - - $3500

Town Note - - - 1200

Primary school house rents for $36 per year 300

$5000

For the Board of Trustees,

HENRY JAQUES, Trcas,
Ckarlc'fftown^ April 17, 1828.

Dr, Town of Chartestoivn, in accH with T, /. Goodwin,

1827
May 12, To cash paid N. Sirovich, for paving stones $174

27, " Bryant Newcomb, edge do 220 32

" '' Nchem. Knowlton do 150 80

30, " Aaron Locke, for grain 30 76

Aug. 13, '^ Gooclridge & Fletcher 5 47

" " N. Sirovich, for paving stones 62 25

" " John Mitchell do 47 25

17, " Nehem. Knowlton, edge stone 138
24, " Enoch Pattfrson, paving do 2 97
29, '-' John Mitchell do. 96

" '^ Nehem. Knowlton, flag stone 115 80

Oct. 9, " David Devens, wharfae^e 25 35

" " Do lumber &: sand 11 88

"- '' Nathan Trull, hay 28 44

Nov. 1, " Caleb Harrington, carting 14

5, '' Nathan Je*vett, labor 31 48

6, '' Nehem. Knowlton, edge stone 195 20
9, '•'- Samuel Ferrili, bricks 5

" " Savage & Cross, wharfage 12 30

20, " Aaron Locke, grain 30 68

Dec. 1, " Bryant Newcomb, edge stone 75 50

4, " Laban Turner, trucking 66 42

6, " Thomas O. Nichols do 2 27

13, " Jona. Teel, carting slate stones 9

18, " Devens & Thompson 1 92
20, '' David Richardson, horse hire 16
22, " Elisha Cattcc, paving stones 12
29, '' P. R.Russell, ploughing 4 50

" " Thomas Pike, horse hire 1 50

" '• Edward Nichols, paving 262 13

Feb. 7,1828, '' Ambrose Cole, lumber 21 27

" " Amos Tufts, shoeing horses 15 35

" " Newell & Goodwin, for spirit 58 23

26, " Jesse Hall, cedar posts 14 25

'^ " John Runey, bricks 20

March 3, '*' James Runey, wharfage 8 40

'^ " David P. Winning, labor 355

*' " Do stones, &c. 30 67

4, " Wm. Whittemore, clearing snow 12

8, ^' Andrew Roulstone, bill 13

Carried forward $2397 3G

Treasurer of the Surveyors of Highways,

Cr.

1827.
June 11, By cash received of the town treasurer ^ 500

July 21, " of do 500

Nov'r 19, " of do 1000

^j cash rec'd of sundry persons for edge
stone, &c. viz.

San:iuel Abbot, edge stone

William Fernald do

Jonathan Bridge do

B. & S. Raymond do

Kendall Bailey do

William H. Bacon do

Martin Bates do

William Austin do

Isaac Svvectser do

Richard Sullivan do

Job Richardson do -

David Devens do

William Fernald, drain - - .

Lemuel Newcomb do - -

Edmund Hawes do - - -

Timothy Thompson, Sen. edge stone

David Smith do

Benjamin Gleason do

Thomas Pike do

Thomas Boylston do

Timothy Walker ^ do

Simeon Flint do

John Skinner do

Skinner, Hurd & Co. do

John Cofran do

John Breed do

Joseph Hurd do

David P. Winning, stones, gravel, &c.

Samuel Stickney, labor and gravel

Isaac Blanchard stones

Henry Van Voorhis do - -

Thomas J. Goodwin do - -

Ward N. Boylston do

Charles Emmerson do - -

David Stetson do - - 23 16

20
15
7
18
14
13
20
i

9
22

9
23

30
73
93
47
41
65
76
14
64
54
63
50
40
10
10

S2
09
21
85
12
92
98
32
85
63
67
25
80
10
75
bQ

Carried forward $2581 ^b

Dr. Town of Charlesioivn, in accH with T. /. Goodwin,

1828. Bro't forward

March 13, To cash paid Skinner,. Hurd & Co. shovels
14, " Nathan Lamson, iron work

24, " Aaron Locke, grain

" " Josiah Harris, cash paid

" " Benj. Loring, blank book

26, " Charles Forster, horse hire

31, " Joshua Grover, gravel

April 5, " Nathan Lynde do

« « Nathan Tufts 2d, labor

8, " Bernard Tufts, slate stones

Daniel Dodge, yoke of oxen
Jonas L. Jennison, labor

u u

$2397

103

2683 27
Cash paid Treas'r of Surveyors 1 9 60

$2702 87

Treasurer of the Surveyors of Highways, Cr,

1827. Bro't forward ^2581 Q5

By cash received of School house committee for dig-
ging cellar
" George Bartlett, edge stone

*' Josiah Harris do

" Isaac Mead, quarry stones

" Jonas L. Jennison, drain stones

" Timothy Thompson, jr. do.

Errors excepted.

THOMAS J. GOODWIN.
QHARLESfOWN, April 8, 1828.

$2702

REPORT ON TAXES.

The committee, chosen February 4, 1828, to examine the town
records and ascertain the whole amount of taxes paid by that sec-
tion of the town called the ''Outside of the Neck" for the seven
years last past, and also the amount expended there the same years,
and report at a future meeting, have attended to the duty assigned
them, and ask leave to present the result of their investigations in
the following Report.

The committee take the liberty to premise, that the duty assign-
ed them has been performed at the expense of much time and pa-
tience; that they entered upon, and have completed the task im-
posed on them, so far as in their power so to do, with but one ob-
ject, which was, to present the town with as accurate and as impar-
tial an exhibition of the subject as the data aiforded them would
give. With this view, and this alone, they have gone through all
the books and papers relative to the subject which could afford
them any information. From the very nature of the case, howev-
er, it cannot be expected that the committee will, nor do they pre-
tend to present a stateoient perfectly accurate in every particular.
The records, though correctly, have not been so specifically kept,
in any of the departments, as to define m every instance, where the
various ex})enditures have been made. Under these circumstan-
ces, the great and only object of the committee has been to make
their report as substantially correct, from the data presented them,
as it was in their power to do; and as such, they with confidence
submit it to the town.

In order to ascertain the proportion paid by the " Outside of the
Neck," the committee have found the whole town taxes for the last
seven years to be (as near as could be ascertained)

$145,789 66
Abatements 9,983 62

135,806 4

Am't assessed on residents outside Neck 18,443 38
on property of non-resi-
dents, as near as could be ascertained 2,603 35

21,046 73
Abatements 945 16
Whole am't paid by " Outside the Neck" 20,101 57

Which is equal to one sixth and -//y of the town taxes.

Expenditures ^' Outside the Neck,"^^
In School department, for 7 years last past, '

as appears on records of Trustees J6863 75

Added by committee for contingencies not

specified, $20 per annum - - 140

, 7003 lb

On highwaj^s, as appears from bills on file, &c.last 7 yrs 4041 88

The above expenditure on highways is exclusive of
pauper labor.

The expense of Poor belonging to "Outside of the
Neck," estimated by a statement received by the com-
mittee from Chairman of Overseers, at J257 1 5 per year 1800 05

Amounts raised for general objects, last 7 years, r/z.
State and county taxes $12,136 94 Gyy'^of which is $1798
Sinking Fund 15,000 " 2222 22

Salaries of Town Officers 5,960 " 882 96

Necessary contingent exp's 2,111 09 " 312 60

Interest on Town^Debt 19,051 " 2822 37

From a statement w^hich the committee have received from the
chairman of Overseers, it appears that the paupers have performed
during the last seven years 16,528 days labor on the highways,
which he estimates at 50 cts per day, amounting to $8,264. For
board of men and horses, and repairs of tools and carts, $5,160,
making the aggregate amount of $13,424; but as there are no
means by which the committee can correctly apportion this labor,
&:c. they decline the attempt.

In the above list of general objects the committee have included
the whole amount raised for sinking fund and interest on town debt ;
and offer the following explanation : — I'he amount of tov. n debt in
1821, the year with which the investio^ations of the committee com-
mence, was $50,063 : e//^ of which the '-Outside of the Neck"*
were obligated to pay. This debt has been gradually diminishing
by the aid of the sinking fund, &c. from 1821, excepting the fol-
lowing additions, viz, in June 1824, $10,000 for paving Main street ;
in Sept. 1826, $2,000 for Fire department, and in July 1827, $4,500
for school house, Training-field, all which, with the interest there-
on, amount to about $19,900 : 6^y^ of this, which is $2,948 the
"Outside of the Neck" are obligated to pay. In the annexed ac-
count, the committee, having charged the "Outside" with a full pro-
portion of sinking fund and interest on town debt, have passed this
additional amount, viz. $2,948 to their credit.

In arder to reduce to a more condensed form the general state-
ments above made, and to present at one view the state of the case
for 7 years last past, the following account current is subjoined.

Dr. " Outside of the Neck^^'' in acc^t with Town of Charles town CV.

am't expended on school

department

^7003 75

On highways, exclusive of

pauper \»bor

4041 88

Expetise of Poor

1800 05

State k county tax

1798

Sinking Fund

22^22 22

Saliries of town officers

882 96

('oiitingetit town expenses

312 60

Interest on town debt

2822 37

20,883 83

By 7 years taxes
'• Additions to town debt
*• Probable deficiency*
" School Fund

§20,101 57
2,948
100
- 280

g23,429 57

* This Report was made up before the committee for building School house, Train-
ing-field presented their report.

From this account there appears a balance against the town of
^2,545. If, however, but ^ part of the paupers' labor, &c. men-
tioned above, which would be $2,685, should be charged to the
*' Outside of the Neck" which, in the opinion of your committee,
founded upon all the information they could obtain, is much less
than they have received, the account will then present a balance
of $140 against that section of the town. And it will also be seen
from this statement (charging them with the pauper labor) that the
" Outside of the Neck" have not paid any thing towards the paving
Main street — Fire department — lighting lamps — night v/atch — new
school house, or any other expense incurred within the Neck dur-
ing the seven years last past.

The committee have thought it unnecessary to present a more
detailed report than the foregoing. The details, however, from
which these results have followed, are with the committee and will
be placed on file with the report.

Respectfully submitted by

THOMAS J. GOODWIN,*)

JOSIAH HARRIS,
JOHN HARRIS,
BENJ. THOMPSON,

yCommittcc.

Gharlestown, March 3, 1820.

G. DAVIDSON, /»rmr.

FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL, 1829.

PAY

OF TEACHERS,

Josiah Fairbanks

700

Lemuel Gulliver

500

Samuel Bigelow

700

Charles Pierce

800

Peter Conant

800

Mary Walker

225

Ann Brown

225

Adeline Hyde

225

Polly Jaquith

225

Hannah Rea

225

Elizabeth G. Whitin

225

Roxanna Jones ,

225

Abigail G. Twycross

150

Margaret W. Locke

157 93

Emeline G. Whitia

168 12

Mary Thompson

73 67

Eliza D. Ward

Joseph W. Jenks

138 67

M. Whittemore

71 50

P. R. Russell, Jr.

120

Maria H. Stearns

Samuel Pitts

Elizabeth Gerrish

C. C. King

160

g6,453 89

Carried forward, $ 6,453 89

Bro't forward, $57 08 $1,373 U

Albert Richardson, repairing cart 5 20

William Jackson, teaming 37 50

Aaron Locke, grain 60 10

159 88

David P. Winning, balance of year's la-
bour 143 22
A. Babcock's bill 25
Josiah Harris' bill 105 44
Overseers, for am't borrowed Jan. 1829 200
Balance paid William Gordon, Treasur-
er, 1829 25 17

Balance per last year's statement 19 60

Amount voted by the town

Thomas Rice, for stone

J. B. Phipps, for Paving Committee

Borrowed of Overseers

Jonas L. Jennison, stone

Eben Breed do

Francis Hyde do

John Murray do

Samuel Etheridge do

Caleb &Edw'd Pratt do

Edward Cutter, sand

Larkin Turner, stone

D. P. Winning, sales stone to sundry

persons
Borrowed to supply deficiency

1,000

200

600

498 8i

§2,031 85

2,031 85

BENJAMIN THOBIPSON, Treasurer,
Charlestown, April 12, 1829.

Bro't forward, $6,453 89

REPAIRS OF SCHOOL HOUSE ON TOWN HILL.

Jeremy Wilson, carpenter's work 392 39

Josiah Harris, painting and glazing 64 06

Ralph Pratt, mason's work 28 79

John Tapley, lumber 132 05

Timothy Fletcher, do. 1160

John Adams, nails and hard ware 42 07

Samuel Rugg, white washing, &c. 9 75

680 71

PRIMARY SCHOOL HOUSE.

David Smith, for building bought of him

100

Joseph Wilson, building addition and repairs

Benjamin Haynes, stove, funnel, &c.

BOOKS.

Crocker & Brewster

381

Josiah Fairbanks

SUNDRIES.

Jotham Johnson, wood 40 49

John Morrill, repairs 8 64

Nehemiah Holden, setting glass 3 53

Thomas Greenleaf, repairs 10 10

Luke Wyman, wood, 8tc. 19 75
J. Fairbank, desks, charge of female School

House, &c. 33 GS

E. L. Phelps, pails 50

Ballard & Wright, advertising 2 50

Benjamin Russell, do. 75

G. V. H. Forbes, do. 75

Wheildon & Raymond, do. 1 50

William Tufts, cloth for curtains 3 30

John Adams, hard ware 6 38

Ralph Pratt, mason's work 5 90

Harrison Wingate, carpenter's work 7 05

Samuel Rugg, sawing wood, 4*c. 10 25

Joshua Mixter, do. 4 20

190 68

436 2a

Carried forward, §159 25 p,iei 48

Bro't forward, $159 25 $7,761 48

Alfred Carleton, wood 20 62

Benjamin Haynes, funnel, &c. 25 08

Jeremy Wilson, carpenter's work and lumber 32 19

Benjamin Edmands, setting glass 4 80

John Tapley, lumber 4 37

Lemuel Gulliver 8 20

Bunker-Hill Bank, disc't on money borrowed 35 58

290 09

$8,051 57
Balance, . . 908 63

g8,960 20

To this balance should be added $190 68, due from the perma-
nent fund, in payment for Primary School House.

Balance per last year's statement $813 96

Amount voted bv the town 7,500

Interest on Town Note 72

Dividend on Union Bank Stock 192 50

Rent of Primary School House 36

Books sold 345 74

8,960 20

FUNDS OF THE CIIARLESTOWN FREE SCHOOLS.

Union Bank Stock 3,500

Town Note 1,200

Two Primary School Houses, rented at $60 per year 490 68

$5,190 68
Deduct, appropriated as above, 190 68

$ 5,000

In the absence of the Treasurer the above statement has been
prepared from his vouchers, and is submitted in his behalf

CHESTER ADAMS.

Charlestown, April 20, 1829.

WHEIJ-.DON AND RXYMOXr — AURORA PRESa.

Bro't forward, $159 25 $7,761 48

Alfred Carleton, wood 20 62

Benjamin Haynes, funnel, Slc. 25 08

Jeremy Wilson, carpenter's work and lumber 32 19

Benjamin Edmands, setting glass 4 80

John Tapley, lumber 4 37

Lemuel Gulliver 8 20

Bunker-Hill Bank, disc't on money borrowed 35 58

290 09

,051 57
Balance, . . 908 63

§8,960 20

To this balance should be added $190 68, due from the perma-
nent fund, in payment for Primary School House.

Balance per last year's statement $ 813 96

Amount voted by the town 7,500

Interest on Town Note 72

Dividend on Union Bank Stock 192 50

Rent of Primary School House 36

Books sold 345 74

8,960 20

FUNDS OF THE CHARLESTOWN FREE SCHOOLS.

Union Bank Stock 3,500

Town Note 1,200

Two Primary School Houses, rented at $60 per year 490 68

$5,190 68
Deduct, appropriated as above, 190 68

$ 5,000

In the absence of the Treasurer the above statement has been
prepared from his vouchers, and is submitted in his behalf.

CHESTEPv ADAMS.

Charlestown, April 20, 1829.

WWEIJ^DON AND BAYMOXD — AURORA PREafl.

J VV\' VVV VVV VVV V^^ VVV VVV VVl VVV VVA. VVV VV\ VVA,'VVV>A/WA/VA< vv\ vv\. VV\ VV%. V^A. vv^ vv^

Charle$town^

183

Admit
I of the School under your mstruction

fQm

?vv^ vvv vvv vvv vvvvx^'v^/VNT^^'v^/vvxA' vv^'vv%^/v^vvvv>/v vA/vx/v>/\x \ v-vv vv\ «

to the privileges

Trustee.

Statement

Of the receipts and expenditures of the Charlestown Free Schools^
from May 1831, /o ^pril 2\st 1832.

Receipts.

Balance per last year's statement $242 70

Appropriation by the town 7000

Dividend on Union Bank Stock 175

Interest on Town note 72

Rent of Primary School Houses GO

Cash of R. G. Tenney for books 7 46

$7557 16

Expenditures.

Salaries of Grammar and Writing masters within the neck, viz

Charles Pierce from March Uth 1831 $754

Josiah Fairbank " Feb. 16. " 700

Amos Baker *' March 24. '' 619 23

Samuel B-gelow ** Feb. 16. '' 729 17

Reuben Swan '' March 7. '^ 471 15

Thomas Stephenson, Feb. 16. 1832 83 53

Swan 4' Gulliver * 4 19

-$3361 27

Salaries of Primary School Teachers to Feb. 16, 1832 viz.

Emeline G. Whiiing $225

Lusanna R. Whiting 225

Mary Walker 225

Hannnh Rea 225

Margaret W. Locke 225

Ann Brown 225

Hannah I. Gates to April 21. 266 67

Polly Jaqueth 225

Abagail G. Twycross 225

Eliza A. Cutler 225

$229167

Amount carried forward, $5,652 94

STATEMENT

of the Expenditures for the Support of the Poor (Sf Repairs of the
Highways in the Town of Char testown, from March 1831 to March

1832.
RECEIPTS.

Cash recM of Benj. Thompson 2 81

Sum raised by the Town for Overseers of

Poor and Surveyors of Highways Dep't 3500

Cash hired of Bunker Hill Bank 8000

*' " Merchants Bank 600

" RecM of the State Treasurer for

support of State Paupers 2235 10

" by note in favor of Robert Winning 607

" rec'd for Labor of Paupers on Sa-
lem Turnpike 397 25

« ^* of Warren Bridge Corp'n for Stone 184 14

Canal Bridge Corp'n do 176 -

Bishop Burns do 166 97

Jonas L» Jennerson do 31 72

0. W. Preston do 72 85
James Runey do 57 75
E. E. Bradshaw for Oakum 44 06
Thacher Magoun do 75 20

Caswell do 95 12

Daniel Sampson do 31 50

Benjamin Brintnall do 8

Sam). D. Hunt do 24 38
James Adams Jr for Iron work 8 Q6

R. K. Blanchard, one ox 43 02

'' <* Vegetables 23 97

1. Wetherbee & Co. do 10 39
John Wright do 9 92

<»

Amount carried forward, Jl6,605 80

statement or the Keceipts and £ipenditures
or the Charlestown Free s$choo£§, from
may, l^S2 to March, 183S.

RECEIPTS.

Balance in the Treasury, May 8th, 1832, 505 65,

Appropriation by the Town, annual, 7000

Dividend on Union Bank Stock, 37 50,

Interest on Town Note, 12

Rent of Primary School Hauses^ 9,1 50

§7,756 65

EXPENDITURES.
Salaries of Masters within the TVeck, viz:

Charles Pierce, 800

Josiah Fairbank, 700

Arnos Baker, 700

James Swan, 403 84

Moses W. Walker, 290

Warren Draper, 40 80

Aaron Davis Capen, 88 76

3023 40

Salaries of Primary School Teachers, viz:
Emeline G. Whitin, 225

Lusannah R. Whitin, ^5

Mary Walker, 225

Hannah Rea, 225

Margaret W^ Locke, ' 225

Amount carried up, JJ1125 3,023 40

'21

Amount brought up, ^1125 3,023 4fr

Ann Brown, 225

Abigail G. Twycross, 225

Eliza A. Cutter, 225

Susan L. Sawyer, 133 ',13

Polly Jaquith, 56 25

ilannuli Andrews, 168 75

2208 33

Milk Row, John N. Sherman, 477

Gardner's Row, Mary W. jGfiei-cLs, 106 50

Miici T. Gardner, 83 08

U' inter lliil, Abigail Mead, 96

Elliot Valentine, 64

Russell District, Miranda Whittemore, 78

Joseph S. Hastings, 60 62

Coistiifi^eMcies.

John D. Edmands, repairs

Lemuel Gulliver, desk

Amos Baker, writing copies

Alfred Carleton, wood

Amos Baker, slates and inkstands

Jonathan Teel, sawing wood

Moses W. Walker, writing copies

Jeremy Wilson, repairs

John Runey, sundries

John J. Stowell, cleaning clock

Emeline G. Whitin, allowance for rent

Amos Baker, sundries

Stephen Wiley, horse and chaise hire

Edmund Matson, white-washing

965 20

2 63

4 53

24 o;

2 25

16 50

1 25

3 08

4 21

2 47

I 50

8 00

25 71

2 25

13 00

Amount carried up, $111 45 6,196 93

\,o

Amounts brought up,
Jacob Forster, rent of Primary school room
Oliver A. Shaw, visible numerator
Nathan Hale, advertising
J. T. Buckingham, do
Waitt S)' Dow, copy book
Miranda Whittemore, cloth and brooms
Harrison Wingatc, repairs
Abigail Mead, sundries
W. W. Wheildon, arithmetical cards &lc.
Wm. H. Bacon, repairs
Caleb Symmes, Jr. cleaning cellar
Adams & Hudson, advertising
Frederick A. Kendall, repairs
Benja. Thompson, wood St sundries
Benj. C. Teel, repairs
John Peak, labor
Charles Johnson, wood
James T. Floyd, bricks and labor
Josiah H. Russell, labor and materials
Jacob Pratt, repairs

Josiah Fairbank, makng fires S^ sundries
Benj. C. Teel, labor
Joseph Brown, labor
Isaac C. Frothingham, repairs
Guy C. Hawkins, wood <§r repairs
Waitt 4' Dow, Books
James Adams, brushes
Enoch Pearson, repairs
Samuel Kidder, <Sr Co. ink

Balance,

$111 45

6196

27 00

5 00

1 50

1 75

1 74

16 77

2 40

20 25

1 16

4 00

13 63

68 94

3 64

16. 36

30 02

7 00

8 77

1 50

19 05

3 03

2 25

1 25

18 81

34 83

3 17

1 50

10 09

438

121

756

Funds of the Charlestotvn Free Schools

Union Bank Stock, 3,500

Town Note, 1,200

Two Primary School Houses 600

Legacy of the late Deac. Thos. Miller, deceased, 100

65,400

Note. The Act incorporating the Board of Trustees of the
Charlestovvn Free Schools, requires that a statement of their re-
ceipts and expenditures shall be laid before the Town, in Ike
month ofMay^ antiually, at which time, the Treasurer's accounts
are audited by a Committee of the Board. This statement ne-
cessarily embraces a period of ten months only.

PAUL WILLARD, Treasurer
March 4th, 1833

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THK

TRUSTEES OF THE

SV^^Y, 1BZ%.

«*r»#j^H»i

PRINTED AT THE AURORA OFFICE.

13 CBAltLXSTOWK SQUARE.

TOWN MEETING IN CHARLESTOWN,

May 5th, 1834.

VOTID, Tbat the foregoing Report be accepted.

VoTiD, That the same be printed, and a copy thereof distributed to crery

Ftmily in Town.

Att«»t, DAVID DODGE, Town Chrk^

HEPORT.

In presenting to the Town, their Annual Re-
port, the Trustees feel deeply impressed with the
importance and relative position of that department
in our municipal affairs, over which it has been
their province to preside during the past year,
whether viewed in the greatness of its extent, the
cost of its maintenance, or with reference to the in-
fluences it exerts, either for good or for evil, as it
may be well or ill conducted, on the highest and
most sacred interests of the community. They
are also fully aware that the responsibilities tinder
w^hich the members of the Board of Trustees are
placed are great, and that to the faithful perform-
ance of their duties they are prompted by that
jealous watchfulness with which their fellow-citi-
zens look towards this most important branch of
their public affairs, and by the more imperative ob-
ligations growing out of a regard to the morality,
improvement and happiness of the community.

It has been with such views and feelings and ob-
jects that the members of the Board have endeav-
ored to discharge their duties during the past year,
and to them it is a source of great satisfaction, and
an ample reward for arduous labors, that they are
justified in re^jorting to their fellow-citizens at this
time, that after several changes of teachers nece«-

sarily occasioned by resignations and other cause s,
imposing npon them increased and very responsible
dutiesj and exposing tlic schools to all the unfavor-
able effects conseqi'.ent to such changes, — the
schools are at this time in as high a condition of
order, disciph'ne and progression, and under as com-
petent, faithfiil and successful teachers, taken to-
gether, as they have ever known them to be, and
that no examinations have been more satisfactory
and promising, than the last semi- annual, recently
attended.

1 he extent of our School Department is of no
ordinary magnitude, and it presents to those who
engage in its supervision a field of duties, of no or-
dinary limits, either in variety or importance, and
when unaided by the earnest cooperation, or em-
barrassed by the unwarrantable jealousies of pa-
rents, is very far from being either a desirable or a
promising undertaking.

The Charlestown Free School Department,
comprises 10 Primary Schools, each under the di-
rection of a female teacher, and averaging 70 pu-
pils, from 4 to 8 years of age, 700

Tiie Female School on Town Hill, divid-
ed into Grammar and Writing Departments,
under two male teachers, in which are enrol-
led 210 pupils, from 8 to 15 years of age, 240

The Male School, Trainingfield, divided
into Grammar and Writing Departments, un-
der two male teachers^ enrolhng 247, from 8
to 15 years of age, 247

The School at the Neck, comprising both
males and females, nnder one male teacher, in
which are enrolled 116 from 7 to 15 years of
age, 113

The foregoing schools are located within the
Peninsula. On the territory beyond the
Peninsula, t!iere are the following schools —

The School at Winter ililL under tiie di-

■9

rection of a male teacher G months, and a
female 6 months, enrolling 75 puj3ils from 4
to 16 years of age, 75

The School in Russell District, male tea-
cher 4 months, female 6 months, 41

The School in Gardiner's District, male
teacher 4 months, female 6 montlis, 35

The School in 51 ilk liow, male teacher
six months, female six months, do. 127

Total number of pupils enrolled, 1581

From this view of our School Department, it
w-ill be seen that it embraces no less than nineteen
distinct schools, under as many teachers, and 15S1
pupils, from four to sixteen years of age.

The supervision and control of a Department, so
important in itself, and so extensive as that of
the Charlestown Free Schools, presents to those
who undertake it, a task requiring no ordinary sac-
rifice of time to the public good, no ordinary de-
gree of industry, patience, impartiality and fidelity
in the discharge of their various and oftentimes

perplexing and unpleasant diUieSj and alluring to
their performance only by the gratification of that
ambition which finds its exercise and reward in
promoting the public good. We may appeal to the
experience of parents in relation to this subject —
fjr it should be borne in mind that parents, chil-
dren, teachers and trustees, are but parts of one
great system, designed to promote the best inter-
ests of all, and demanding most imperatively, the
utmost attainable degree of harmonious action.

To govern a family of children of the ordinary
number is quite enough — and, too frequently, much
more than the heads of it, find it easy or practica-
ble to do well, or even to their own satisfaction,
much less to those around them. Consider then
a family of children, swelled to the number of six-
teen hundred, taken under the public care and
placed under its constituted authorities, — taken as
it were from chaos, to be reduced to order, con-
"^tituted as they must be, with every variety of tem-
perament, and drawn from every condition of soci-
ety,— taken up ignorant to be inducted into the
mysteries of knowledge by that slow and tedious
process, through which alone they can be admitted
— to be early taught and constantly advanced in the
principles and habits of Virtue and Religion, — to be
guarded from the seducing temptations of the world
into which they are just entering, ignorant of the
results and too weak to resist the fascinations of
vicious habits — and to be trained up in the way
they should go.

Nor is this all. The unpleasant but urgent du-
ty has quite too frequently to be performed, to go
between the delicate and lively sensibilities of pa-
rents and the unfortunate perversities of their chil-
dren, and to reconcile the importance of good order,
as the first step to all improvement, and the neces-
sity of rigid discipline in peculiar cases to effect it,
with those tender parental feelings, which, in their
too abundant exercise, very often mislead our judg-
ment and blind us to the best interests of those for
whom we feel the strongest regard.

Surely all this is no ordinary task, if performed
with any good degree of fidelity, whether it be in
the capacity of trustees, or in the responsible, ar-
duous and honorable office of teachers — and it is a
point of duty peculiarly binding on all parents, to
estimate justly the important relation in which they
stand to our school department, not merely and
solely as the parents of certain children and inter-
ested in them alone, but also with reference to the
community at large, to the great objects of general
improvement and progress in knowledge and virtue,
to the more elevated and perfect condition of the
social state; and to this department in our public
ajQfairs, through all its branches, above all others,
as the great moral machine, w^hich, as it may be
well or ill conducted, moves the w^hole fabric of hu-
man society forward or backward, in its attempts
towards a more perfect condition.

In relation to the Financial concerns of the
School Department^ it appears from the Report of

the Treasurer, that the sum total of Receipts^ for
the year cndhig May, ISSi., is $8023 14

and that the auiount of Expenditures is $7462 01

presenting a balance on hand of $581 13

The Trustees would remark, that the ajopear-
ance of a balance in the treasury of (heir Board,
should not be viewed as indicating any room for re-
trenchment in the appropriation by the town to
this department, for the ensuing year, as a quar-
ter's salary to all the teachers, amounting to about
$1600, will fall due on the 16th inst, and that the
present crowded state of our Primary Schools ren-
ders it probable, if not indeed certain, that a new
school of this class w^ill have to be established du-
ring the current year.

With these statements, the Trustees indulge the
hope that the same appropriation as last year, will
be made for the support of the schools, believing
that any retrenchment upon the present estabhsh-
nient would be very far from judicious economy,
and would prove very prejudicial to the best inter-
ests of our community. For a more detailed ac-
count of the financial concerns of the Department,
reference is made to the statement of the Treasur-
er, which has been printed and circulated.

The Trustees, impelled by a sense of duty to
themselves, to the community at large, to that
most interesting class among us, the rising genera-
tion, and to those whose duty it is to remedy the
evil, feel bound, thus publicly, toi complain of the

rr^ 9

^.:<j

conduct of tliose parents^ wlio so frequently, and
so reckless of the consequences to their chihh'en.
to themselves, and to the community, neglect the
liberal and abundant privileges provided in this
town for the education of tlieir children, by allow-
ing them to be absent in many instances more than
one half of the time from school, thereby greatly re-
ducing the value of the other portion of the time,
and greatly retarding the progress of those w^ho are
constant in their attendance.

This is an alarming evil, and demands of those
who are verily guilty in this point, a speedy reme-
dy ; for in its operation it is unjust to the commu-
nity, filling it with an idle and vicious population ;
unjust in parents to themselves, and, in the highest
degree, unjust to their children. How many there
are among us, which the utmost exertions of trus-
tees and teachers, unaided by the serious and hear-
ty cooperation of parents, have not been able to
draw and retain within the healthful influences of
our public schools, who are now wasting away
their most valuable tune, — either through an exces-
sive indulgence, or;for the want of that government
over their children on the part of parents, w-hich it
is one great object, so desirable, but oftentimes so
difficult to effect in our schools,— indulging in hab-
its of idleness, or, perhaps, still further advanced
on the high road to ruin, and who w^ill, ere long,
reap the bitter fruits of their neglect, vex vsociety
with their outrages, and bring down the grey hairs
of their too kind and too indulgent parents in sor-
row" to the grave.

The Trustees dwell oii iliis poiiU with earnest-
ness, for the records of our schools, and daily ob-
servation, bear startling evidence to the fact, and
because it is a truth, f dly borne out by the expe-
rience of all who have the management of schools,
that the pupil who is constant in his attendance at
school is seldom, if ever, the subject of severe dis-
cipline ; bat more particularly for the purpose of
directing to this point a share of that jealous vigi-
lance, ever watchful over this department in some
particulars, as it should be in every particular 5 but
which is loo often satisfied that the privileges of free
schools should exist, without a corresponding vigi-
lance that they should be improved.

In concluding their report, the Trustees call, and
call earnestly upon their fellow- citizens to feel as
deeply as they can feel the importance of their rela-
tive position to our schools, and of the influences
which an extensive and well endowed and conduc-
ted school department exerts upon society ; — ^if
fij^ithfuUy improved how salutary — if neglected how
prejudicial— to watch with untiring, but well in-
tended vigilance, the conduct of all those, whoever
they may be, whether trustees of teachers, who
may be placed over it^ — but they call on them also,
and v^ith undiminished earnestness, to estimate
justly the important duties which devolve on them
to perform — to make common ca^use with trustees
and teachers, in every well, intended effort to effect
the great common object — the improvement and
right training up of the rising generation — to con-
sider the difficulties that must be met and over-

come — riglitiy to appreciate the motives which lead
to rigid disciphne, and not only to be earnest in
their desires that there should be good free schoolsj
but that they should be well sustained^ and, above
ail; constantly attended by their children. With
such viewS; and such a spirit pervading our com-
munity, with such a system of harmonious action
enlisting all, our School Department would rise to
an unequalled elevation , and like a pure and living
fountain continually send forth streams that would
fertilize and adorn our whole population. Society
would be purified and elevated. Parents would
have occasion to rejoice in the midst of a virtuous
and improving offspring, and our children would
rise up and call us blessed.

Respectfully submitted.

By order of the Board of Trustees,

BENJ. THOMPSON, Secretary,
€harlestotvn^ May 5th^ 1834/.

K'U

STATEMENT
Of the Receipts and Expenditures of the Charles-
toiun Free Schools, from May 1834, to May
1835.

RECEIPTS.

Balance in the Treasurer's hands, at the settlement

of his accounts in May last, $561 13

Appropriation by the Town, received in sundry drafts, 7000 00

Dividends on Union Bank Stock, 175 00

Interest on Town Note, " 72 00

Rent of Primary School Houses, 90 00

Interest on Deac. Miller's legacy, 6 00

$7904 13

EXPENDITURES.

SALARIES OF MASTERS WITHLN THE PENINSULA, VIZ:
Trainingjield. — Joshua Bates,
James Swan,

Town jHi//.— Nathan Merrill,

Reuben Swan, Jr.

JVecA:.— Wm. D. Swan,

A. G. Twycross,
Susan L. Sawyer,
Mary Walker,
Hannah Andrews,
Hannah Rea,
Betsey Putnam,
Ann Brown,

^ ) Amount carried forward, $1,575 00

$800

700

1500 00

700

650

1350 00
700 00

$3,550 00

2ACHERS

, VIZ.

225 00

22^ 00

Amount bro't forward, $1575 00

Emeline G. Whitin, 56 25

Elizabeth L. Johnson, 168 75

Margaret W. Locke, 1G8 75

Ann W. Locke, 56 25

Eliza Cutter, 168 75

Lydia A. Skilton, 56 25

$2,250 00

SALARIES OF TEACHERS OUTSIDE THE NECK, VIZ ;

Russell Z>is/nd.— Martha F . McKoun, 85 00

Henry L Jewett, 120 50

Gardner^s Row. — S. M. Crovvninshield, 90 50

Wm. E. Faulkner, 112 60

Winter Hi//.— Abby Mead, 92 15

Henry Bulfinch, 192 00

Mlk Row.— Ann W. Locke, 120 00

Calvin Farrar, 192 00

$1004 75

CONTINGENT EXPENSES.

Jacob Foster, rent of school room, f 36 00

Emeline G. Whitin, allowance for rent, 2 50

Susan L. Sawyer, do. 5 00

James Caldwell, services as constable, 4 30

Isaac Kendall, repairs. Milk Row, 12 44

John W. xMuUiken, do. do. 97 41

John Sweetser, labor and materials, 8 72

Thomas Sampson, washing windows, 1 25

Josiah H. Russell, repairs, 3 00

Wm. D. Swan, books, 1 00

A. Quimby, do. ^ 22 70

Benj. Edmands, repairs, 7 18

Edward Adams, bell rope, 65

Amount carried forward, $202 15

Amount bro't forwardj
John Hovey, repairs,
Susan L. Sawyer, allowance for rent,
E. L. Johnson, do.

Calvin Hubbell, maps,
Benj Thompson, wood,
James Frost, sawing wood,
Wm. D. Swan, disbursement for books,
Samuel Kidder & Co. ink,
Reuben Swan, Jr. making fires,
James K. Frolhingham, disbursements,
Benj. Edmands, repairs,
Leonard Tufts, repair of lock
Timo. Tufts, carting gravel
Wm. M. Edmands, repairs
N. Tufts St Co. wood
Jos. Thompson, insurance
Jeremy Wilson, repairs
S.imuel Daggett, horse and chaise hire,
J. P. Frolhingham, do.

Jotham Johnson, wood
A. Quimby, books
N. Tufts & Co. wood
Abijah Monroe, repairing locks
James Adams, hardware
Nathan Tufts, 2d. wood and sawing
Guy C. Hawkins, disbursements,
Jeremy Wilson, repairs

^202

10 87

13 38

'to'

$628 03

RECAPITULATION.

Total Receipts, $7904 13

Total Expenditures — viz.

Masters" salaries within the Peninsula, 3,550 00

Amount carried forward, $3^550 00

Amount broH forward, * . $'-^,550 00

Salaries of Primary School Teachers, , 2,250 00

Do. Teachers outgide the Neck, 1,004 75

Contingent expenses, 638 03

Balance, 471 35

-$7904 13

The Act incorporating the Board of Trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools,

provides, that a statement of receipts and expenditures, for the year preceding,

shall be laid before the town, in the month of May annually ; at which time, the

Treasurer's accounts are audited by a Committee of the Board. A statement,

therefore, in March, when the other departments of the municipality exhibit their

financial concerns, would be only a partial anticipation of the business, which must

be done, at this time, and would give an erroneous view of the subject.

It will be perceived, that the contingent expenses have been greater the last year,
than is usual. This is accounted for by the fact, that the Trustees have made ex-
pensive repairs oh the school house at Milk Row, and have paid for the same, out
of their ordinary resources, instead of asking of the town, a specific appropriation
for this object. The balance on hand, is proportionally less — the other expenses
having been, substantially, the same as heretofore.

The permanent funds of the Trustees consist in the following items, viz—

Thirty-five Shares Union Bank Stock, .^3,500

Town Note on interest, 1,200

Deac. Miller's legacy at interest, 100

Tvvo Primary School houses, valued at 600

^5,400

This has been the only source of receipts, except the annual appropriations.

There are now on the rolls of the schools, the names of over sixteen hundred chil--
dren. The Primary Schools alone include more than seven hundred. This gives
seventy to each of the schools of this class. When it is considered, that the chil-
dren of these schools are between the ages of 4 and 8, and are, consequently, in an
untutored condition, comparatively, it will be perceived that the task of the teach-
ers, must be exceedingly onerous, there being only a single female teacher to each
Bchool. The children, who attend these schools, have multiplied to such a degree,
with the increasing population of the town, that there seems to be a clear case of
necessity for the immediate establishment of an additional number of Primary
Schools. Hence the necessity of an increase in the appropriation of monies by the
town.

The absence of the Secretary of the Board, devolves upon the undersigned, the
duty of adverting to other than the pecuniary concerns of the department. It is be-
lieved this cannot be done more acceptably, than by referring to the Secretary's
Report of last year, which was ordered to be printed and distributed to every fam-
ily in town. It is hoped, that the true exposition of the state of the schools, and
the faitlWul appeal to the good sense of this community, therein contained, have not
yet been lost or forgotten. All the views, principles and reasonings of that docu-
ment, are important, and applicable at the present time.

At the recent semi-annual examinations, satisfactory evidence was given, that
the schools, generally, are in as good condition, as they have heretofore been. It
would be unjust to withhold an expression of the belief, that the three High Schools
within the Neck, under the care of five masters, have reacheda standing not before^
attained bv them. By order of the Board of Trustees.

Charlestown, May 1, 1S35. PAUL WH.LARD, Treasurer.

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