EDUCATION. 



BY FRANCIS H. LINCOLN. 



Where schools are not vigorously and honourably encouraged, whole colonies 

 will sink apace into a degenerate and contemptible condition, and at last become 

 horribly barbarous ; and the first instance of their barbarity will be, that they will be 

 undone for want of men, but not see and own what it is that undid them. 



Mather's Magnolia. 



PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 



It is impossible to determine accurately at what date a school 

 was first kept in Hingham. That one existed very early is certain, 

 for in 1661-62 we find an item in the Selectmen's Records for 

 money " paid to John Stodder and Joseph Church for worke done 

 about the Schoole house." In another place an account will be 

 given of the several schoolhouses built by the town, and it will be 

 shown that the site of the earliest buildings was on the hill for- 

 merly in front of the Academy. It was on this hill that the first 

 meeting-house was erected, as we know, but there is no evidence 

 of the date of its erection, as there is none of the erection of a 

 schoolhouse prior to 1661-62. It is natural to suppose that 

 Church and School early received the attention of the first 

 settlers. By a law of 1642 " respecting children and youth," 

 it was ordered : — 



il Forasmuch as the good education of children is of singular behoof and 

 benefit to any commonwealth, and whereas many parents and masters are 

 too indulgent and negligent of their duty in that kind : 



" It is ordered, that the selectmen of every town, in the several precincts 

 and quarters where they dwell, shall have a vigilant eye over their breth- 

 ren and neighbors, to see, first that nr<ne of them shall suffer so much 

 barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavor to teach, by them- 

 selves or others, their children and apprentices, so much learning, as may 

 enable them perfectly to read the English tongue, and knowledge of the 

 capital laws : upon penalty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein." 



In 1647 towns were required by law to maintain a school. The 

 Massachusetts system dates from this act, which was as follows : 



