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THE 


ANNUAL   REPORT 


OF  THE 


OF  THE 


(DIliisiirE(B^4(D"W3a  IFircso  SA®©!^ 


Made  in  pursuance  of  tUe  Act  of    1838. 


-*»*#®®«<*' 


CHARLESTOWN: 

PRESS  OF  THE  BUNKER-HILL  AURORA. 

1845. 


\^W.miL   :Ei2F®M< 


The  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  of  the  Charlestown  Free 
Schools,  in  compliance  with  law  and  custom,  respectfully  submit  their 

ANNUAL     REPORT 
of  the  present  number  and  condition  of  the  Public  Schools. 

The  special  appropriation,  made  by  the  town  in  May  last,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  enlarging  the  accommodations  in  the  Harvard  and  Winthrop 
School  Houses,  has  been  expended.  Four  good  recitation  rooms  have 
been  added  to  the  Winthrop  School  House,  and  that  portion  of  the  area 
of  the  building  in  this,  and  the  Harvard  School  House,  heretofore  occupi- 
ed as  recitation  rooms,  has  been  thrown  open  to  the  main  room.  This 
has  added  very  much  to  the  light,  convenience,  and  comfort  of  the  school 
rooms,  and  furnished  additional  accommodations  for  eighty  scholars  in 
each  school  house.  The  work  was  done  by  contract,  by  Messrs.  Clark  & 
Varney,  and  Mr.  Ames  Drake,  and  cost  $1,612  28. 

The  work  on  the  Winthrop  School  House,  was  protracted  much  beyond 
the  time  which  the  Board  anticipated,  when  the  contract  was  made,  and 
was  a  serious  interruption  to  the  School.  The  Board  feel  it  to  be  their 
duty  to  call  the  attention  of  the  town  to  the  condition  of  the  Bunker  EQll 
School  House.  The  building  is  in  a  dilapidated  state,  and  needs  constant 
repairs  to  render  it  tenantable.  The  lower  room,  occupied  by  the  lower 
division  of  the  School,  is  a  basement,  originally  intended  and  used  as  a 
cellar  only,  and  is  so  low,  that  it  is  impossible  to  ventilate  it,  so  as  to  render 
the  air  comfortable  or  wholesome.  A  wise  regard  to  the  health  of  the 
children,  requires  that  the  House  should  be  rebuilt.  The  upper  room  is 
now  filled  with  scholars  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  the  increase  of  popula- 
tion in  this  part  of  the  town,  will  soon  demand  increased  accommodations. 
The  Board  therefore  feel  constrained  to  recommend,  that  the  town  take 
measures  to  rebuild  the  House  on  an  enlarged  plan. 

The  number  of  scholars  in  Primary  School  No.  1 ,  having  increased  to 
104,  and  in  Primary  School  No.  2,  to  96,  the  Board  have  been  obliged  to 
establish  another  Primary  School  in  that  part  of  the  town.  The  Commit- 
tee found  much  difficulty  in  procuring  a  suitable  room  for  the  School ; — 
and  by  the  advice  of  the  Board,  a  School  House  has  been  erected  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Greenleaf,  with  the  understanding  that  it  should  be  offered  to 


4 


the  town  at  the  cost  of  the  land  and  building.  The  House  has  beeo 
erected  under  the  direction  of  a  Committee  of  the  Board,  on  Mead  street. 
The  lot  contains  about  2,100  feet  of  land,  and  cost  $525  ;  the  building  in- 
cluding fences,  painting,  blinds,  &c.,  cost  $430.  It  is  a  substantial  building, 
and  capable  of  being  enlarged  so  as  to  accommodate  two  Primary  Schools. 
The  Board  recommend  that  the  town  authorize  the  purchase  of  the  land 
and  building.  The  town  will  then  own  houses  for  the  accommodation  of 
all  the  Primary  Schools,  except  that  kept  in  the  Boylston  Chapel, — all  of 
which  are  fitted  up  with  separate  seats,  adapted  to  the  comfort  and  con- 
Tenience  of  the  children. 

THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

The  new  Primary  School  in  Mead  street,  was  opened  about  the  first 
of  October  last,  and  Miss  M.  B.  Skilton,  who  has  labored  long  and  faith- 
fully in  Primary  School  No.  1,  was,  at  her  own  request,  transferred  to 
this  School ;  and  Miss  M.  A.  Lewis  was  appointed  Teacher  of  Primary 
School  No.  1.  Miss  Sarah  C.  Reynolds  resigned  the  charge  of  Primary 
School  No.  5,  and  Miss  Jane  M.  Burckes  was  transferred  from  Primary 
School  No.  14,  to  this  School  ;  Miss  Mary  E.  Sanborn  was  appointed 
Teacher  of  Primary  School  No.  14.  Miss  C.  R.  Wiley  resigned  the 
charge  of  Primary  School  No.  6,  and  Miss  E.  A.  Blanchard  was  ap- 
pointed to  supply  her  place.  Miss  Frances  A.  Sawyer  was  appointed 
Teacher  of  Primar}-  School  No.  16,  in  place  of  Miss  H.  S.  Austin,  who 
was  appointed  Teacher  in  the  Bunker  Hill  School. 

The  following  table,  exhibits  the  numbers  in  the  Prilnary  Schools  at 
the  last  examinations  : 


^o 

1 

^ 

<4J     S 

s  "^ 

TEACHERS. 

LOCATION. 

^  « 

S  -S 

. 

«  -TS 

05  ^ 

i 

5^     C 

^^ 

1 

M.  A.  Lewis, 

B.  H.  School  House, 

76 

55 

60 

2 

E.  M.  Whittemore, 

Main  Street, 

65 

54 

47 

3 

M.  A.  Chandler, 

AVarren  School  House, 

89 

70 

75 

4 

E.  D.  Pratt, 

Elm  Street, 

69 

66 

56 

5 

J.  M.  Burckes, 

Bow  Street, 

58 

48 

50 

6 

E.  A.  Blanchard, 

Bow  Street^ 

74 

52 

52 

7 

S.  E.  Smith, 

Bow  Street, 

71 

56 

57 

8 

E.  D.  Moulton, 

Bow  Street, 

62 

54 

53 

9 

Elizabeth  Eames, 

Common  Street, 

72 

73 

56 

10 

J.  S.  Putnam, 

Training  Field, 

85 

70 

71 

11 

Maria  Peabody, 

Harvard  Street, 

80 

60 

69 

12 

Lydia  A.  Keith, 

Boylston  Chapel, 

67 

67 

57 

13 

S.M.  Nichols. 

Bunker  Hill  Street, 

89 

63 

65 

14 

Mary  E.  Sanborn, 

Moult;On  Point, 

70 

58 

53 

15 

M.  J.  Chandler, 

Warren  School  House, 

88 

69 

78 

16 

F.  A.  Sawyer, 

Elm  Street, 

53 

47 

45 

17 

C.  Brockett, 

Bunker  Hill  Street, 

72 

65 

ee 

18 

M.  B.  Skilton, 

Mead  Street. 

59 

48 

49 

The  salary  of  each  of  the  primary  school  teachers  is  $210  per  annum 

Custom  requires  that  children  shall  be  admitted  to  the  Primary  Schools 
at  the  age  of  4  years — thus,  almost  literally  transferring  them  from  the 
nursery  to  the  school  room.  It  may  well  be  questioned  whether  their 
physical,  or  intellectual  improvement  is  promoted,  by  subjecting  them,  at 
so  tender  an  age,  to  the  discipline  of  the  Public  School.  There  are  now 
in  the  Primary  Schools,  about  1300  children,  averaging  about  72  scholars 
to  each  school ;  a  much  larger  immber  than  is  convenient  or  proper  to  be 
placed  in  the  charge  of  one  teacher.  591  of  these,  are  under  6  years  of 
age,  and  291  are  under  5  years  of  age.  The  crowded  state  of  these 
schools  and  the  rapidly  increasing  population  of  the  town,  will  require  the 
establishment  of  several  additional  Primary  Schools  in  the  course  of  an- 
other year.  Should  the  age  of  admission  be  fixed  at  5,  instead  of  4,  it 
would  save  to  the  town  the  expense  of  about  four  schools,  amounting  to  at 
least  one  thousand  dollars  per  annum.  Should  it  be  fixed  at  6,  it  would 
save  about  double  this  amount.  The  Board  are  not  prepared  to  recom- 
mend any  measure  of  this  kind,  but  would  respectfully  suggest,  that  if  the 
hand  of  retrenchment  must  be  laid  upon  our  Public  Schools,  whether  it 
would  not  be  better  to  begin  here  than,  by  reducing  the  salaries,  to  subject 
our  children  to  less  competent  teachers.  The  times  demand,  and  we  be- 
lieve our  citizens  demand,  improvement — elevation^  in  our  teachers,  and  in 
our  schools. 

Our  Primary  Schools  may,  undoubtedly,  accomplish  a  most  important 
preparatory  work  in  our  system  of  education,  without  overtasking  the 
minds,  or  subjecting  the  children  to  any  severe  physical  restraints.  To 
do  this,  the  discipline  should  be  mild  and  maternal ;  the  school  room 
should  be  made  attractive,  the  attention  of  the  pupils  should  be  occupied, 
and  their  time  employed,  without  requiring  of  them  severe  mental  effort, 
or  long  continued  physical  restraint.  The  instructions  of  the  teacher 
should  "drop  as  the  rain  and  distil  as  the  dew,"  upon  their  expanding 
minds  and  impressible  hearts,  exciting  a  desire  for  knowledge,  a  love  of 
truth  and  goodness,  and  encouraging  everything  that  is  pure  and  lovely, 
and  of  good  report. 

Children  are  admitted  to  the  Grammar  Schools  at  8  years  of  age.  The 
required  qualifications  are,  that  they  read  fluently,  spell  correctly,  and 
understand  the  arithmetical  tables.  It  would  seem  that  the  four  years  spent 
in  the  Primary  Schools,  would  be  time  enough  to  ensure  these  qualifica- 
tions ;  and  yet,  it  must  be  admitted,  that  scholars  frequently  find  their 
way  into  the  Grammar  Schools,  but  poorly  qualified ;  and  much  valuable 
time  is  employed  in  correcting  had  habits  of  pronunciation,  and  indistinct 
utterance,  which  would  be  saved  to  the  pupil  by  a  thorough  system  of  in- 
struction in  the  Primary  Schools.  The  Board  are  disposed  to  attribute 
this,  partly  at  least,  to  the  character  of  the  books  heretofore  used.  To 
aid  the  teachers  in  their  work,  and  to  secure  uniformity  in  the  system  of 
reading,  the  Board  have,  during  the  last  year,  introduced  a  series  of 
reading  books,  better  adapted,  they  think,  to  accomplish  this  object, 
than  any  books  previously  used  in  the  Primary  Schools.  These  books 
were  prepared  by  Mr.Wm.  D.  Swan,  for  many  years  the  able  and  successful 
teacher  of  the  Bunker  Hill  School.  They  consist  of  three  parts — the  first, 
designed  to  teach  the  powers  of  the  letters,  as  well  as  their  names  ;  direct- 
ing the  attention  of  the  scholar  to  one  sound  in  each  lesson,  "until  the 


6 

organs  of  speech  are  called  into  exercise  upon  every  sound  in  the  lan- 
guage, and  a  habit  of  correct  articulation  is  established."  The  second  part, 
is  designed  to  teach  the  inflections  of  the  voice,  with  lessons  upon  the  con- 
sonant sounds  in  combination ;  and  the  third,  contains  a  choice  selection 
of  reading  lessons — designed  to  extend  and  carry  out  the  system  upon  the 
principle  of  teaching  one  thing  at  a  time,  until  a  habit  of  correct  pronun- 
ciation and  distinct  utterance  is  established.  Correct  habits  of  speech, 
may,  in  this  wa)^,  be  formed.  Children  will  acquire  the  control  of  their 
own  vocal  organs,  and  thus,  Xha  foundation  be  laid  for  good  reading  in  the 
Grammar  Schools.  To  secure  the  introduction  of  these  books,  they 
•'vere  furnished  by  the  publishers  at  a  very  low  price,  in  exchange  for 
the  old  ones,  previously  used. 

To  lay  the  foundation  of  good  reading,  the  Board  regard  as  one  great 
object  of  our  Primary  Schools.  To  accomplish  it,  requires  thorough  prepa- 
ration, and  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  subject  on  the  part  of  the  teacher. 

No  system  of  reading  books,  no  regulations  of  the  Committee,  will  se- 
cure a  good  School.  "  The  Teacher  makes  the  School," — and  as  well 
might  we  expect  a  bad  tree  to  produce  good  fruit,  as  a  poor  teacher  to 
make  a  good  school.  A  combination  of  the  qualities  required  in  a  good 
teacher,  is  more  rarely  met  with  in  the  same  individual,  than  is  generally 
supposed.  There  must  be  not  only  a  familiar  and  critical  knowledge  of 
the  required  studies,  but  facility  and  tact  in  imparting  this  knowledge,  so 
as  to  av/aken  and  interest  the  mind  of  the  pupil.  A  cheerful,  even  tem- 
per, entire  self-control,  patience,  decision,  and  firmness,  united  with  gen- 
tleness and  suavity  of  manners — and  above  all,  an  enthusiastic  loveof  the 
employment,  and  an  elevated  tone  of  moral  feeling, — these  qualities,  in  a 
high  degree,  are  rarely  combined.  All  good  men  or  good  women,  are  not 
fitted  by  nature  to  be  good  teachers ;  when  any  one  is  essentially  deficient 
in  these  qualifications,  it  is  unfortunate  that  this  profession  is  chosen ;  and 
the  teachers  or  their  friends  should  not  regard  it  as  unkind,  if  their  places 
are  supplied  by  others.  It  is  better,  certainly,  that  an  individual  should 
be  disappointed  in  his  hopes,  than  that  a  whole  school  should  suffer  from 
his  or  her  incompetency.  Where  these  qualities  are  combined,  the 
Teacher  is  doing  a  great  work,  and  should  be  esteemed  highly  for  his 
work's  sake.  Our  Teachers  should  all  receive  a  cordial  and  generous 
support,  and  then  be  required  to  do  their  work  well.  The  Board  are 
happy  to  bear  testimony  to  the  assiduity  and  ability  with  which  the  Teach- 
ers generally,  botli  of  the  Grammar  and  the  Primary  Schools,  devote 
themselves  to  their  duties. 

GRAMMAR    SCHOOLS. 

The  Warren  School.  There  have  been  no  changes  in  the  princi- 
pal Teachers  of  this  School,  during  the  past  year.  It  is  much  the  largest 
in  town,  and  being  composed  of  children  of  both  sexes,  the  duties  of  the 
Teachers  are  very  arduous.  This  School  was  opened  five  years  ago, 
with  about  300  scholars  ;  the  present  number  is  407.  Although  last  in 
the  time  of  its  establffehment,  it  is  now  Jirst  in  point  of  numbers;  and  with 
its  present  able  Teachers,  second  to  none  in  regard  to  its  discipline  and 
improvement. 

WiNTHROP  School,     The  changes  in  this  School  have  been  numer- 


ous.  The  Board  felt  much  regret  at  losing  the  services  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Swan,  for  many  years  the  able  and  successful  Teacher  of  the  writing  de- 
partment. Mr.  Stacy  Baxter,  at  his  own  request,  was  transferred  from 
the  grammar  department,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  resignation 
of  Mr.  Swan.  Mr.  M.  T.  Gardner  was  appointed  to  the  grammar  departr- 
ment ;  but,  having  retained  his  situation  a  few  months  only,  tendered  his 
resignation.  Mr.  Aaron  Walker,  Jr.,  of  Lowell,  was  chosen  to  supply  his 
place.  His  high  reputation  as  a  Teacher,  and  his  present  success,  afford 
the  highest  confidence  that  this  School  will  be  judiciously  and  successfully 
conducted.  Mr.  Munroe  and  Mr.  Sanborn,  who  were  employed  as  assist- 
ant pupils,  having  resigned,  their  places  were  supplied  by  females. 

The  Board,  by  the  experience  of  the  past  year,  have  been  more  than 
ever  impressed  with  the  great  evils  attendant  upon  a  change  of  Teachers 
in  our  large  Schools.  But  our  proximity  to  the  city,  and  the  greater 
compensation  given  there,  render  this  evil  unavoidable. 

Harvard  School.  There  has  been  no  change  of  Teachers  in  the 
Harvard  School  during  the  year,  and  the  Board  believe  the  School  has 
fully  sustained  its  deservedly  high  reputation. 

Bunker  Hill  School.  Mr.  A.  O.  Lindsey,  having  resigned  his  sit- 
uation as  Teacher  of  the  writing  department,  it  was  decided  by  the  Board, 
after  mature  deliberation,  to  change  the  organization  of  this  School,  so  far 
as  to  put  the  upper  division  of  it,  including  the  higher  classes,  under  the 
entire  charge  of  Mr.  Tweed,  the  principal  Teacher  ;  thus  securing  to 
them,  the  services  of  one  of  our  most  able  and  experienced  teachers — and 
the  junior  department  under  the  entire  charge  of  a  female  Teacher. 

The  expense  of  supporting  this  School  has  been  so  great,  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  scholars,  that  the  Board  did  not  feel  authorized  to  in- 
crease it  by  employing  an  experienced  Teacher  in  the  writing  depart- 
ment ;  and  the  services  of  any  other,  must  fail  to  be  acceptable.  The 
smaller  scholars  are  now  under  the  charge  of  Miss  H.  S.  Austin,  who  ap- 
pears to  be  quite  successful  in  the  management  of  them.  Scholars  of  a 
corresponding  age,  in  the  other  Schools,  are  successfully  taught  by  fe- 
males ;  and  the  Board  feel  entire  confidence  in  the  utility  of  this  arrange- 
ment, and  trust  that  it  will  prove  satisfactory  to  all  concerned.  The 
expense  of  the  School  is  reduced  some  $150  per  annum  by  this  change. 

The  following  tables  present  their  statistics  at  the  date  of  the  last  ex- 
amination : — 


Warren, 
Winthrop, 
Harvard, 
Bunker  Hill, 

o 

o 
o 

•-*  Ca5  CO   *>• 
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C5  O  i-i   o 
00  Cn   Cn  ^l 

Reading. 

►-«   60   02   rf^ 
C5  O  H-»   o 
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i-*  CO  Oi  i4^ 

C5    O    I—    O 
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O  O  I-'  o 
00  Cn  Cr<  ^ 

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to  H-i  to 

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00  C^  CJT   ^1 

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to  00  to  C7< 
en  to  o  o 

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losophy. 

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to 

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►b-    GO  oo  O 

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»-«  Crt 

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C5   C5 

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Rhetoric. 


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Languages. 


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The  current  expenses  of  our  Schools,  may  be  stated  as  follows,  y\z  : 

Salaries. 
Warren  School,  2,350  00 

Winthrop  School,  2,335  00 

Harvard  School,  2,335  00 

Bunker  Hill  School,  1,200  00 

18  Primary  School  Teachers,  at  $210,  3,780  00 

$12,000  00 
Contingent  expenses,  including  fuel,  repairs,  care  7  9  025  58 

of  School  Houses,  rent,  ink,  stationary,  &c.,  &c.,  )  ' 

Total,  $14,025  58 

There  have  been  no  essential  alterations  in  our  excellent  School  system 
the  past  year.  The  only  changes  have  been  in  regard  to  the  mode  of 
conducting  the  examinations  tlds  Spring^  and  the  introduction  of  the  Bible 
Reader  as  a  Text  Book.  The  impression  has  prevailed,  to  some  extent, 
that  our  usual  semi-annual  examinations  do  not  alFord  to  the  Trustees  or 
the  public,  a  fair  criterion  to  judge  of  the  condition  of  the  Schools.  To 
meet  this  impression,  and  to  learn  the  actual  condition  of  the  Schools, 
they  have  all  been  examined  by  the  Committees,  in  the  most  thorough 
manner,  without  previous  notice  to  the  Teachers,  and  these  examinations 
form  the  basis  of  the  present  Report.  The  semi-annual  examinations 
have  also  been  held  in  all  the  Schools,  as  usual,  with  this  difference  only, 
that  the  design  has  been  for  the  teachers  to  exhibit  all  their  pupils  in  their 
various  studies,  in  such  a  manner  as  their  own  taste  and  judgment  might 
dictate.  The  appearance  of  the  Schools  has  been  highly  gratifying  to  the 
Board,  and  tends  to  confirm  them  in  their  belief  of  the  utility  of  this  ar- 
rangement. It  has  been  the  custom,  for  some  years  past,  to  exhibit  the 
higher  classes  in  the  Town  Hall,  subsequent  to  the  semi-annual  examina- 
tions in  the  Spring.  Our  Schools  have  become  so  large,  that  only  a 
portion  of  the  higher  classes  can  take  a  part  in  the  exercises  on  these 
occasions,  and  the  schools  having  been  so  fully  exhibited  in  their  own  rooms, 
the  necessity  for  this,  the  present  season,  is  avoided.  Besides,  the  Board 
think  it  may  admit  of  serious  doubt,  whether  the  moral  influence  of  these 
exhibitions  is,  on  the  whole,  salutary.  If  the  tendency  is  to  bring  for- 
ward and  stimulate  a  few,  and  depress  the  many,  or  to  excite  an  undue 
and  unhealthy  spirit  of  rivalry  between  different  schools,  these  occasions 
certainly  had  better  be  avoided. 

The  Board  have  witnessed  with  regret  for  a  few  years  past,  the  almost 
entire  disuse  of  the  Bible  in  our  schools.  By  the  last  report  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Education,  it  appears  that  of  the  308  towns  in  the 
Commonwealth,  there  are  at  present  but  three  in  which  the  Bible  is  not 
used  as  a  reading  book,  or  in  the  exercises  of  devotion.  We  suppose  there 
are  but  few  if  any  of  our  citizens,  who  would  esteem  it  an  honor  to  our 
town  to  be  one  of  the  three  thus  distinguished.  The  New  Testament  has 
been  one  of  the  books  prescribed,  by  the  rules  of  the  Board,  for  the  Prima- 
ry Schools  from  their  establishment;  and  they  have,  the  last  year,  re- 
quested the  teachers  of  the  Grammar  Schools,  to  read  from  the  Scrip- 
tures, without  note  or  comment,  at  the  opening  of  the  Schools  in  the  morn- 


10 

ing ;  and  they  were  bappy  to  find,  on  the  part  of  the  teachers,  a  cordial 
compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  Board. 

In  order  strictly  to  guard  against  any  sectarian  influence,  and  to  ob- 
viate objections  that  might  arise  in  the  minds  of  some,  to  the  reading  of 
the  Scriptures  in  course,  and  also  to  relieve  the  teacher  from  the  incon- 
venience of  making  the  selection  at  the  time  of  reading ;  the  Board  have 
unanimously  introduced  "Fowle's  Bible  Reader."  It  is  also  used  as  a 
Reading  Book  in  one  of  the  classes.  The  work  consists  wholly  of  extracts 
from  the  Bible,  and  is  divided  into  three  parts ;  the  first,  containing  some 
of  the  most  interesting  and  instructive  portions  of  the  Old  Testament — the 
second,  such  extracts  as  enforce  the  principles  of  the  christian  religion — 
and  the  third,  consisting  entirely  of  selections  from  the  New  Testament, 
arranged  in  chronological  order. 

The  Board  do  not  feel  called  upon  to  go  mto  an  argumentto  justify  the 
use  of  the  Bible  in  our  schools.  It  needs  no  defence  from  us.  It  lies  at 
the  source  of  those  influences  which  originated  our  whole  system  of  popu- 
lar education  and  Free  Schools.  An  able  writer  remarks,  that  "  al- 
most all  the  education  which  exists,  or  ever  has  existed,  among  the  people 
at  large,  has  come  to  them  through  the  Bible.  Scotland^  New  England, 
and  Germany^  the  countries  where  the  Bible  is  the  book  of  the  people, 
are  the  countries  in  which  the  Common  School  system  originated,  and 
where  it  has  been  perpetuated.  No  system  of  education  can  be  regarded 
as  complete,  unless  it  includes  a  study  of  the  Bible." 

The  Board  of  Education  considered  this  matter  so  important,  that  they 
have  made  it  a  subject  of  distinct  notice.  We  cannot  forbear  quoting  a 
few  paragraphs  from  their  eighth  Annual  Report.  They  remark,  that — 
"By  direction  of  the  Board,  the  Bible  has  been  in  daily  use,  in  all  the 
Normal  Schools,  from  their  commencement,  and  it  is  believed  that  it  is 
used,  in  like  manner,  in  all  our  Academies.  While  we  rejoice  in  the  change 
that  has  taken  place,  (in  regard  to  the  use  of  the  Bible  in  our  schools,)  the 
fact,  that  there  is  a  single  institution  of  learning  in  the  peculiar  home  of  the 
Pilgrims,  where  the  light  of  the  Bible  is  excluded  from  the  minds  of  its 
pupils,  is  a  ground  of  serious  apprehension  and  regret. 

"While  the  Christian  world  is  subdivided  into  such  a  variety  of  religious 
sects,  it  is  to  be  expected  that  their  jealousies  would  be  excited  by  secta- 
rian instructions,  or  by  the  introduction  of  books  of  a  denominational 
character.  And  indeed,  as  well  in  the  present  state  of  public  opinion,  as 
of  the  enactments  of  our  Legislature,  that  teacher  would  act  strangely  in 
contravention  of  his  duty,  who  should  attempt  to  disregard  such  a  well 
understood  and  beneficial  provision  of  the  laws.  But  the  Bible  has  nothing 
in  it  of  a  sectarian  character.  All  Christian  sects  regard  It  as  the  text- 
book of  their  faith.  Our  fathers  brought  it  with  them,  as  tlieir  choicest 
patrimony,  and  bequeathed  it  to  us,  as  our  richest  Inheritance.  They 
imbued  their  children  Avith  Its  spirit ; — they  founded  our  government  up- 
on its  principles,  and  to  render  that  government  permanent,  they  estab- 
lished the  institutions  of  common  schools,  as  the  nursury  of  piety. 

"It  is  also  worthy  of  remark,  that  while  our  Legislatures  have  guarded, 
sedulously  and  effectually,  our  common  schools,  from  becoming  places  for 
sectarian  instruction,  they  have,  at  the  same  time,  provided  for  the  in- 
struction of  the  youth,  both  in  the  schools  and  in  the  other  institutions  of 
learning,  in  a  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion.     The  . 


11 

7th  sec.  of  the  23d  chap,  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  enjoins  it  as  a  duty  upon 
all  the  instructors  of  youth,  that  they  shall  impress  upon  their  minds  "  the 
principles  of  piety,"  and  those  other  virtues,  which  are  the  basis  upon 
which  a  republican  constitution  is  founded  ; — and  that  they  shall  also  en- 
deavor to  lead  their  pupils  to  a  clear  understanding  of  the  tendency  of  the 
above-mentioned  virtues — to  preserve  and  perfect  a  republican  constitu- 
tion, and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty,  as  well  as  to  promote  their  future 
happiness ;  and  also  to  point  out  to  them  the  evil  tendency  of  the  opposite 
vices. 

"  It  is  difficult  to  perceive  how  these  results  can  be  accomplished,  with- 
out a  frequent  reference  to  the  pages  of  the  sacred  volume  ;  and  it  is 
equally  difficult  to  imagine  what  objection  can  be  raised  to  the  study  of  a 
book,  which  is  not  only  the  palladium  of  our  liberties,  but  the  very  foun- 
dation, also,  of  our  most  cherished  hopes. 

"If  it  is  said,  by  the  use  of  the  Bible  in  the  Schools,  a  wrong  interpretation 
may  be  given  by  the  teacher,  to  any  of  its  passages,  the  reply  is  an  obvi- 
ous one,  that  this  would  be  a  fault  in  the  manner  of  instruction,  provided 
for  by  the  law,  and  not  in  the  use  of  the  Bible  itself.  But  it  may  be  fur- 
ther replied,  that  even  this  danger  is  guarded  against.  The  spirit  of  the 
law  is  opposed  to  it,  and  public  opinion,  in  this  country  stronger  than  the 
law,  would  at  once  put  down  the  attempt  of  any  teacher  to  violate  the 
rights  of  conscience,  by  giving  to  his  pupils  sectarian  instruction. 

"If  it  is  said,  also,  that  the  Church,  the  Sabbath  School, and  the  family, 
are  places  better  adapted  than  the  Common  School,  for  the  education  of 
children,  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion,  we  reply,  that,  though 
undoubtedly  it  is  the  duty  of  parents  and  of  religious  teachers,  to  co-ope- 
rate with  the  Common  School  teachers  in  these  religious  instructions,  yet 
it  is  only  in  the  Common  School  that  thousands  of  the  children  in  our 
Commonwealth  can  be  thus  instructed.  How  many  are  there,  in  our 
cities,  and  scattered  through  our  hundreds  of  towns,  who,  save  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  receive  no  religious  instruction  ?  They  hear  it  not  from  the 
lips  of  their  parents — they  receive  it  not  at  the  Sabbath  School,  or  from 
the  pulpit — and  if  in  the  common  school  the  impulses  of  their  souls  are 
not  aroused  and  directed  by  judicious  religious  instruction,  they  will  grow 
up,  active  in  error  and  fertile  in  crime. 

"K  the  community  will  look  back  upon  the  institutions  of  the  Pilgrims, 
and  contemplate  the  wonders  which  those  institutions  have  wrought  for 
us, — if  it  will  compare  the  moral  aspect  of  New  England,  with  the  most 
favored  features  of  a  nation,  where  the  light  of  the  Bible  has  shone  with 
less  eflfulgence  ; — or  if  it  will  compare  an  individual,  subjected  at  an  early 
age^  to  religious  influences,  his  energies  aroused,  guided,  and  controlled  by 
judicious  discipline,  and  his  affections  trained  and  confirmed  in  habits  of 
kindness  and  benevolence, — with  one  reared  without  principle,  educated 
without  morals — corrupting  j^outh  by  his  example,  and  harrassing  society 
by  his  crimes, — it  will  form,  it  is  believed,  a  more  correct  estimate  of  the 
"unspeakable  value  of  a  religious  education."  These  excellent  sentiments 
are  worthy  the  high  source  from  whence  they  emanated. 

Connected  with  each  of  our  Grammar  S(;hools,  is  a  well-selected  Li- 
brary, to  which  any  scholar  may  have  access  by  the  payment  of  a  small 
sum.  Many  of  these  volumes  find  their  way  into  families,  who  have  not 
the  means  or  conveniences  of  obtaining  them  from  other  sources,  and 


12 

tend  to  promote  the  great  object  of  common  school  education,  viz  : — the 
universal  diffusion  of  knowledge. 

For  many  years,  Singing  has  been  a  daily  exercise  in  the  schools,  and 
is  attended  with  pleasing  effects.  In  many  of  the  large  schools,  the  intro- 
duction of  this  science  is  attended  with  additional  expense,  a  teacher 
being  employed  for  this  specific  purpose.  In  this  town,  however,  by  the 
exertion  of  the  teachers,  it  is  generally  well  sustained,  (as  all,  we  think, 
will  bear  witness,  who  have  listened  to  it,  at  our  examinations,)  without 
incurring  any  expense  ;  and  the  Board  hope  that  its  practice  will  be  con- 
tinued and  encouraged  by  all  the  teachers. 

The  present  condition,  both  of  the  Grammar  and  Primary  Schools,  we 
think,  indicates  progress.  While  there  is  an  increasing  attention  to  the 
rudiments  of  education,  instruction  in  the  higher  branches  is  not  less 
thorough  and  general.  Still,  great  sacrifices  on  the  part  of  individuals, 
and  the  persevering  efforts  and  co-operation  of  all,  are  requisite  to  make 
our  schools  what  it  is  hoped  they  will  ere  long  become.  It  is  much  easier 
to  find  fault  with  a  school,  than  to  devise  practicable  plans  for  its  im- 
provement. There  will  be  a  diversity  of  opinions  in  regard  to  the  best 
mode  of  governing  and  conducting  a  school.  The  general  forbearance 
and  candor  of  parents  in  this  town,  have  usually  prevented  that  excite- 
ment and  irritation  which  have  been  witnessed  in  some  other  places.  The 
enlightened  views,  the  liberal  appropriations,  and  the  almost  universal 
interest  felt  by  our  citizens,  render  any  suggestions  from  us  almost 
superfluous ; —  still,  as  all  need  to  be  often  reminded  of  their  duty,  a 
few  suggestions  may  not  be  inappropriate. 

The  full  advantage  of  our  Public  Schools  cannot  be  realized,  until  a 
more  constant  attendance  on  the  part  of  the  pupil  is  secured.  Few  ap- 
preciate the  loss  to  the  scholar,  attendant  upon  occasional  absences  from 
school  ;  and  this,  though  serious  indeed,  is  slight,  when  compared  with 
the  evil  inflicted  upon  the  class  to  which  the  scholar  belongs.  Unable  to 
advance  himself,  like  a  leaden  weight,  he  helps  to  drag  others  down  to  his 
own  level. 

There  will,  of  necessity,  be  some  interruptions,  from  causes  beyond  hu- 
man control  ;  but  we  believe  our  Schools  suffer  more  from  this,  than 
from  any  other  single  evil.  We  would  prefer  three  months  at  school, 
with  regularity,  to  six  months,  when  dispersed  through  the  whole  year. 

Another  error,  often  committed,  is  the  withdrawal  of  children  from  our 
schools,  at  too  early  an  age.  Perhaps  a  greater  amount  of  actual  knowl- 
edge may  be  acquired,  between  the  ages  of  14  and  IG,  than  during  all 
the  time  which  precedes  that  period — the  powers  of  the  mind  being  more 
fully  developed.  Children  and  youth  are  often  anxious  to  anticipate  the 
duties  and  occupations  of  manhood,  and  thus  suffer  their  golden  opportu- 
nity to  slip  by  them,  much  to  their  regret  in  after  life. 

Little  can  be  done  by  the  teacher,  without  the  co-operation  of  the  pa- 
rents. If  want  of  confidence  in  the  teacher  Is  expressed  by  the  parent, 
his  efforts  will  be  neutralized.  Parents  should  remember,  that  the  true 
interests  of  the  teacher  are  identified  with  the  Improvement  of  the  pupil, 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  school  ;  and  this  fact  should  lead  them  to  at- 
tribute any  seeming  wrong,  to  an  error  of  judgment  rather  than  design. 

Instances  in  which  complaints  are  made,  are  rare,  considering  the  num- 
ber of  scholars  in  our  schools, — and  all  should  conscientiously  abstain  from 


13 

every  thing  calculated  to  impair  the  influence  ot  the  teacher.  That  our 
schools  are  as  good  as  they  should  be,  we  do  not  assert ;  but  that  they  are 
among  the  best  in  the  State,  we  think  any  of  our  citizens  will  admit,  who 
will  take  the  pains  to  visit  the  schools  of  other  towns  and  cities. 

Few  can  present  stronger  claims  to  be  enrolled  among  the  benefactors 
o£  their  rsice  than  the  faithful  teacher.  To  him  are  committed  interests 
the  most  important,  trusts  the  most  sacred. 

Another  thing  essential  to  the  advancement  of  our  schools,  is  a  contin- 
uation of  those  liberal  appropriations  which  have  characterised  Charles- 
town, — and  enabled  the  Board  to  adopt  and  carry  out  measures  for  their 
improvement,  which  have  raised  them  to  the  rank  they  now  occupy. ^ — 
Who,  that  takes  a  comprehensive  view  of  his  duties  to  the  community, 
would  wish  that  we  had  done  less.  Those  who  have  children  to  be  edu- 
cated in  our  schools,  cannot  but  feel  that  they  receive  an  hundred  fold  for 
their  portion  of  the  money  expended;  and  let  not  those  who  are  not  pa- 
rents, feel  that  they  pay  their  money  without  receiving  an  equivalent. 
What,  but  general  intelligence  and  morality,  can  render  property  and 
life  secure  ?  And  what  agency  can  be  employed  so  effectually  to  secure 
these,  as  our  system  of  common  school  instruction  ?  We  must  have  the 
prisons  of  Old  England,  or  the  schools  of  New  England.  The  support  of 
the  latter  is  the  less  expensive  and  far  more  congenial  with  our  feelings, 
and  in  harmony  with  Christian  principles.  Let,  then,  our  noble  Free 
Schools  be  sustained,  as  the  richest  legacy  of  our  fathers, — as  the  surest 
guarantee  for  the  perpetuity  of  our  government, — as  the  glory  of  New 
England. 

With  these  suggestions  the  Board  surrender  the  trust  confided  to  them, 
simply  remarking,  that  their  duties  the  past  year,  have  been  arduous, — 
sometimes  difficult.  They  have  endeavored  to  discharge  them  with  a  con- 
scientious regard  to  the  best  interCvSts  of  the  schools.  And  next  to  the 
approbation  of  their  own  consciences,  they  have  found  the  highest  reward 
in  witnessing  their  increased  efficiency  and  usefulness. 

In  conclusion,  the  Trustees  would  respectfully  recommend  to  the  Town 
the  adoptioh  of  the  annexed  resolutions, 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

E.  P.  MACKINTIRE,  President, 
HENRY  K.  FROTHINGHAM,  Secretary. 
Charlestown,  April  21,  1845. 


14 

RESOLUTIONS. 

1  St.  That  the  Trustees  of  the  Schools  be  authorized  and  instructed  to  take 
a  deed  in  behalf  of  the  Town,  of  the  land  and  building  on  Mead  Street, 
occupied  by  Primary  School  No  18,  and  that  the  sum  of  nine  hundred  and 
fifty-five  dollars  be  appropriated  for  the  purpose. 

2d.  That  the  subject  of  rebuilding  the  Bunker  Hill  School  House,  be 
referred  to  the  Trustees,  with  instructions  to  procure  a  plan  and  estimate 
of  the  expense,  and  report  to  the  Town  at  the  adjournment  of  this 
meetinf>". 


:r. 


^■'^r