Education. 93 



And so those who felt the necessity of a change in this town 

 were stimulated by the law of 1826 (passed March 10, 1827), into 

 action. At the town-meeting on March 10, 1828, the Report of 

 the School Committee was read and accepted, which contained a 

 recommendation of the committee " that the town should choose 

 a committee to take into consideration the subject of an alteration 

 in our present system of schools, agreeable to the present law." 

 That committee presented the following report to the town, which 

 was accepted, and which is given in full because it clearly states 

 the necessities of the case as recognized by those who were thor- 

 oughly interested in the schools. 



REPORT. 



The Committee chosen by the Town in March last to prepare and re- 

 port a System for the regulation of the Schools have given to the subject 

 a mature and deliberate consideration, and ask leave respectfully to re- 

 port, that from an examination of our present school system and also of 

 the Law of the Commonwealth passed March 10, 1827, "to provide for 

 the instruction of youth," the Committee think some alteration and im- 

 provements of the present arrangement of the Schools are indispensably 

 necessary to advance the cause of good education among us, as well as to 

 comply with the provisions of the law. 



The most obvious defects of our present system are too large a number 

 of pupils in our male schools, and their admission to those schools at too 

 early an age, and at a period when female instruction would be more val- 

 uable to them and expedient for the town, both on considerations of econ- 

 omy and practical utility. A large number of females are also deprived 

 of the privileges of our free schools for a considerable portion of the 

 year. 



The Act before referred to will require this town to be provided with 

 a teacher competent to instruct, in addition to the branches usually taught 

 in our town schools, the History of the United States, book-keeping by 

 single entrjr, geometry, surveying, and algebra. 



To remedy existing evils and to comply with the provisions of the law, 

 the committee are unanimously of opinion that an increase of expenditure 

 for the support of schools is unavoidable. 



After much deliberation the committee have voted to recommend to the 

 town the adoption of the following system for the regulation of their 

 schools for the ensuing year, viz. : — 



There shall be in the West District, one male school of twelve months', 

 and one female school of twelve months' duration. 



In the North District, one male school of twelve months, and one female 

 school of twelve months. 



In the Middle District, one male school of twelve months, and one fe- 

 male school of twelve months on the Lower Plain, and one female school 

 of six months at Rocky Neck. 



In the North District of the South Ward, one male school of ten 

 months (exclusive of vacations), and one female school of twelve months, 

 — and in the South District of said Ward, one male school of six months 

 and one female school of six mouths, and in addition to the foregoing, if 

 the School Committee shall determine them to be necessary, another 



