— - ) STATE BOSTON SCHOOLS. MAY, 1826. REP OET £- 's^E s,is^iS)tL (S@n:i^'!fi!s OP THE CITY OF BOSTON, ON S^fie ^tntt of tlie ^tfiool!^. MAY, 1826. BOSTON : THOMAS B. WAIT AND SON, PRINTERS, No. 90, Court-Street. 1826. D. ofO, Ic/vH In School Committee 26th May, 1826. Voted that Mr. EI. J. Oliver, the special committee to prepare the Re- turn of the several schools in the city, to be made to the Secretary of the Comrnonweailh, in compliance with the requirements of the statute of 4th March last, entitled " an act further to provide for the instruction of youth" — and to report to this board, — be authorised and requested to make the return, this day reported, to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, as from this board. Voted that the same committee be requested to cause five hundred copies of the Report aforesaid to be printed in a pamphlet form, together with such of the documents accompanying rt, as, in his opinion, will be consistent with the rights of individuals, and conducive to public benefit. Attest Jno. Pierpont, Secretary. REPORT. The sub-committee appointed at a meeting of the School Committee on the seventh ultimo, ' for the purpose of preparing a return of the several schools in this city, to be made to the Secretary of this Commonwealth, in compHance with the requirements of the statute of the 4th of Mirch last — entitled an act further to provide for the instruction of youtii — ■ have attended that service, having commenced upon the preliminary duty assigned them, that of inquirij^ on the 8th and completed the same on the 17th in- stant, and now ask leave to report. That the whole number of Pub- lic Schools in the city is - - - 74 viz. 9 Grammar and 9 Writing Schools, one Latin School — one English High School for boys,one English High School for girls — ^51 schools for children be- tween 4 and 7 years of age and deno- minated ' Primary Schools,' and two schools in the House of Industry at South Boston — for the particulars of all which see paper marked (A.) That the whole number of pu- pils at the above schools is - - 7044 For the numbers, ages and other parti- culars see papers (A) and (B) — and it may not be uninteresting in this place to state, that of this number of 7044, there are 218 colored children, who are parti- cipating in the advantages of each branch of instruction enjoyed at our public schools. That the expense of tuition, fuel &c. for the current year is estimated to be - ^ - - - - ;^54,417 0O without any reference to the cost of the several public buildings where those children over 7 jears of age receive their instruction, and which are ten in number, the average cost of which, as appears from the books at the auditor's office, is but little short of ^20,000 for each school house. That the whole number of pri- vate schools in this city, as ascertained from a personal visit by your commit- tee to each school is (see paper marked C.) - HI That the whole number of pu- pils at said schools is - - - 3392 as will appear by the separate schedule of each ward and marked C — ffivinsf the nu tubers &c. at each school of those un- der 4 — those from 4 to 7 — those from 7 to 14 and those over 14 years of age. — And here it may be mentioned, that there are 272 children at school under the age oi four years. That the expense of instruction at these schools estimating from the most correct data which could be had, including the average expense of books &;c. both at these and the public schools, for the current year, is - - - $97,305 25 (For the particulars of this item, see statement marked C.) That the whole number of schools in the city is 215 That the ivhole number of children at the pubhc and private schools in this city at the present time is - - 10,436 That the whole amount of public and private tuition including expense of books as before expressed, is - $151,722 25 Your committee present the above particulars, together with the additional information required by the act of the legislature in the printed form ac- companying this report, which if it receive the sanc- tion of the school committee, will constitute the re- turn to be made at the secretary of the common- wealth's office.* The preceding report and return embrace, as has already appeared, the 'private schools of our city. Strictly considered, and with all due deference to the legislature, it was conceived, by many of the teachers — that that body had no authority to demand of any town the information pertaining to this class of schools — and hence that no town could require the information of any teacher of a private school. — In some instances the questions were asked of your committee, why do you request this information of us? what is the object of it &c. — when on explana- tion, the information was very readily afforded. Your committee would take this opportunity to express their thanks to the teachers, generally, for the promptitude and urbanity which characterised them in their answers, and, in several instances, in the aid, * The return as made to the Legislature does not appear in this pamphlet — the items were the same but the arrangement was al- together different. afforded to your committee in making their inquiries, and which have resulted in completing a return, with regard to which, the school committee of Boston would unite with all teachers of Youth and tiieir fellow citizens in general, in mutual congratulations, that we live in a day when the interests of learning are so generally and so liberally fostered, and for the encouraging belief, that under the blessing of God, they cannot but be attended with the most impor- tant and happy consequences. In conclusion and somewhat in connection with the preceding paragraph on the subject of private schools, it remains for your committee to recom- mend, that the several particulars of each of these schools, and embraced in the packet marked C, be placed on the files of the secretary of this board, with the understanding, that no public use is to be made of the information other than that which is here given in aggregate in the numbers of schools, pupils, and amount of tuition.* This direc- tion of these papers is due to the teachers, and was understood with many of them should be had in re- gard to them. All which is respectfully submitted. Henry J. Oliver, ConimiUee. Boston, May 27, 1826. * The return marked C, as made to the School Committee, was in twelve sheets, and contained the names of each teacher, prices of tuitien, kc. (A) STATEMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS — MAY 1826. NAMES OF c c c IX} Males. Females. 5 C J3 a; .s * SCHOOLS. "2 3 2 o > c C 3 o c Primary, 51 1310 120 1229 146 1818 Eliot, 2 254 1 195 10 1713 Adams, 2 295 5 268 14 1717 Franklin, 2 323 7 218 9 1785 Mayhew, 2 226 172' 8 1803 Boylston, 2 220 7 152 9 J819 Hancock, 2 305 4 247 5 1822 Hawes, 2 53 7 46 4 JSII Bowdoin, 2 282 4 273 22 I82I Latin, 1 152 28 1635 High School } for Boys, ^ Ditto for Girls, 1 ] 34 75 53 77 182 J 1825 African, 2 41 13 28: 10 1812 House of Industry , 2 24 14 o 32 7| 4 r 334|. >3191153|1261|1805|172| RECAPITULATION. Under 7-males 1334 females 1261 7 to 14-amles 2319 females 1805 over 14-males 153 females 172 Total 7044 * See Note in relation to these dates on last page. (B) RETURN OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE. MAY 1826. NO. OP DISTRICT. No. of 5cll00l. Location of School. Name of Teacher. III. IV. VI. VII. Formerly one district. Not yet reoig .ni^ed. VIII. Charter street, Hanover street, North Bennet street, Battery street, Ann street. Fleet street, Prince street, Salem street, Hanover street. Cross street, Prince street. Pond and Salem streets, Ann and Richmond streets, Scotts Court, Union street, bcotts Court, do. Distill House Square, Leverett Place, Pitts Court, Wiltshire street, Second street, Spring street, Cambridge street. South Kussell street, May street, Cambridge street, < 5 Belknap, I 6 George street. May street Hamilton street, Broad street. Purchase street. High street, Theatre Alley, Court in Washington street, Devonshire street, Boylston Court, lliot street, Pleasant street, Front street. Short .street. East street, Tea street, Near the head of Warren st VJech nic Place, No. 707 Washington street, ijo_)lston qiinre, No. 676 VVashington street, Washington street Neck, -DUth Boston, 51' miti. Boston, !• .(ji • Ho.ston. i i'.;i.i iJi!^tiicts, J I Sciiool^ Mrs. White, Mrs. Ditson, Mrs. Adams, Miss Eaton, Miss Domett, Miss Hagar, Miss Thayer, Miss Barnes, Mrs. Wilder, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Hansen, Miss Snow, Miss Turner, Miss Deshon, Miss Hunstable, Miss Vallette, Mrs. Parmenter, Miss Lord, Miss Townsend, Miss Peirce, Miss Howe, Miss Ford, Miss Jevveft, Miss Johnson, Miss Bailey, J Mrs. Foster, i Mrs. Paul, Miss Moore, Mrs. Newmarch, Miss Newmarch, .Miss Fox, Miss BlaDchard, Vliss Page, Miss Greene, Miss Ares, .Miss Greaton Miss M'Intosh, .Mrs. Hope, Mrs. 'Ihivxter, .Miss tidfis, yUii Cutliing, viiss Rogers, •iiss Warren, Miss Bell, '>iis< Groves, Miss Churchill, Miss Shvvin, Vlifs Hill, I latest established] Mrs. Thayer, .Miss Cole, ^liss Fiske. No if girls under 7 yr.s. imO'') pupils, average .55 to a Sch, 3; 2P 20 lij 25 20 n 2.S 27 26 Ifc 28 35 26 29 23 28 28 2: 28 32 17 27 26 13 24 15 17 37 27 19 25 22 29 27 30 30 25? 25 19 21 34 25 20 12 23 12 20 17 27 Girls over 1 yrs total of girls. Boys under 7 yrs. Itii) 146 1376 13U/ IM Boys over 7 yrs. total boys Total pupils May )•, Left since U March 12 18 10 17 18 13 12 4 15 11 18 6 19 20 17 23 19 14 24 7 11 21 14 21 9 18 j 7' 20 12 13 7 8 13 7 II 16 14 18 10 13 13 5 4 17 7 7 10 4 10 9 In addition to the foregoing, two other schools are by a vote of the board authorised, but not yet established: viz. one at the Mill Dam, and one at the western part of the city; for each of which it is understood there are from thirty to forty pupils in readiness, not included in the foregoing. The schools are kept the whole year round for each sex* and at uniform hours, according to the season, which we believe are the same as those adopted for the Grammar Schools, and with similar vacations. The average annual expense for school books to each pupil for their whole term may be esti- mated at about fifty cents; though pupils at their commencing expend less, as elementary cards belonging to the city are made use of in the lowest class, which, on the above average, per- mits some additional expense to first class scho- lars. The regulations devote to each school two dollars to be annually expended for rewards at the discretion of the district committees. We do not know that any children are pre- vented attending school for the want of books — though many who do attend are frequently quite destitute thereof and require aid. Of the ninnber contained in this last column as having left their respective schools since the semi-annual examination at the close of March, we presume at least one half have been admit- ted to the public grammar schools, — some have gone to private schools — and some have been transferred to other primary schools in different locations nearer their present places of resi- dence. ♦ Thi» is correct, with the exception (and if should be f»ted hen ) that for four months ia the year, say from 'if(('ii!ber 1st to April 'st, the misses at the common iiummar and writing Schools do not attend school. (C) MEMORANDUM OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS. WARDS. o o Boys. Misses. t^ ^ ^ f^ ■«}" "* Annual n ■^3 o o a; o o 0) cd expense. 1 3 ■V t^ o rp 1 «^ b No. 1 12 27 41 58 6 41 105 58 336 4466 2 6 11 16 1 17 34 79 734 3 6 13 6 3 31 31 1 85 758 4 16 10 53 84 60 63 111 27 408 8746 5 9 4 54 54 4 59 77 9 261 5448 6 12 24 24 6 50 94 50 248 10.720 7 24 33 25 79 19 80 272 92 60023.222 8 18 49 59 74 29, 72 278 44 605 11.838 9 3 7 8 25 11 3 54 624 10 12 24 38 12 69 169 53 365 8230 11 14 37 41 21 41 46 15 201 3668 12 11 33 20 20 1' 29 46 1 150 2130 141 272 385 412 119 577 1274 353 3392 80.584 Of the above 141 schools, 22 are conducted by gentlemen, and 1 19 bj ladies. Estimate expenses of Private Schools as above Expense of books, viz. 1234 pupils at 75 cents each is % 925 50 2158 " pi " 4,855 50 — 3392 $5,781 00 Public Schools, viz. 2805 at 50 cents each is <^1,402 50 4239 " $2^ is 9.537 75 7044 10,940 25 ^^80,584 00 10,436 16,721 25 Amount of tax for Public Schools as taken from Auditor's books 97,306 26 54,417 00 Total amount for Public and Private Schools, ^151,722 ^ 2 J0 STATEMENT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN BOSTON, MAY 1817. A statement of the schools as they stood in 1817, may not be uninteresting and is here given — it is believed to be the only return previous to the pre- sent, nhich has ever been made of all the schools in Boston, and was obtained at that time at the instance of the town, the year previous to the establishment of the primary schools. Numbers in Public Schools in May 1817. Schools. 304 males, and 149 females. 75 236 " 234 " Eliot, 2 304 n: Adams, 2 259 Franklin, 2 362 May hew, 2 339 1264 Latin, 1 South Boston, 1 African 1 Alms House, 1 694* total 2268 100 40 60 100 At Public Schools, 12 in number, total number of pupils 2558 At Privaie Schools, 154 in number, 4132 Total number of Schools, 166 total 6690 Town tax in 1817 for above schools was ^18,700 * The number of Misses at the Grammar Schools were even less than this fey nearly "ZQO. 11 NAMES OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE SINCE 1789. The following gentlemen have served, in the order as tliey are published, on the School Committee since the adoption of the pre- sent system of the Boston Schools in 17b9— having served the number of years set against their names Those ivith an S against Iheir names were Selectmen, and those marked A were members of the Board of Aldermen, and served on said Committee ex officio. Those in italics are deceased. John Scollay, Harbottle Dorr, Ezekiel Price, John Brown, Edward Tyler, John Jindrews, Thomas IValley, Wm Boardiiian, Ebcneze.r Seaver, Thomas Dawes, Rev. Samuel West, Rev. Dr. Lathrop, Rev. Jc.mes Freeman, John Coffin Jones, Dr. Thomas Welsh, Dr. JVath. W. Appleton, Jona. Mason, jr. Dr. Aa. Dexter, Chrislophc I Gore, Geo R. Minot, William Tudor, Jahez H'llch, Thomas Edzcards, Jo.ieph Pence, Thomas Cr ijts, William Liitle, Samuel Cabot, Chas. Biiifiiich, Wm. Scolicy, Jona fj Jiustin, Rfv. John Clark, William Smilh, Jesse Putnam, Dr. David Townsend, Rev. Samuel Stillman, yrs. yrs. s 2 David Tilden, S 13 s 3 Husseil Sttirgis, S 8 s 9 Jona. L. Austin, 1 s 1 Dr. Wm. Spooner, 4 s 2 Aiiiold Welles, jr. 1.6 s 2 Joseph Crocker, I s 9 Edward Gray, 9 s 9 J 0710 til an Harris, s 1 s 10 Joseph Howard, 8 G 18 Benj Austin, jr. S 1 14 Eben. Hancock, S 3 8 David Greene, 15 4 Rev. J. T. K.rkland, 13 G Rutijs G, Amory, 2 33 William I^orter, s 13 6 Wm. Sherburne f s 5 4 Joseph May, s 1 32 Samuel Cobb, s 1 4 John Tileston, S 7 9 Kben. Oliver, s 20 ' 8 Rev Jos Eckley, 10 s 2 Josiah Qiiincy, 6 s 2 Jon. fiunnewell. s 20 s 2 Rev. Wm Emerson, 11 s 6 John Phillips, 10 s 7 John J\'Jfty, s 9 s 1 Francis Wright, s 9 s 23 Jon Chapman, s 4 s 3 Jolui Bray, s 2 s 3 John Heard, jr. 11 3 Charles Davis, 14 24 Joseph Kettell, s 2 s 1 John Davis. o 3 Nathan Webb, s 6 5 Joseph Foster, s 12 Benj. Weld, S 7 Rev. W. E. Charming, 3 Wm. Prescotf, 3 Rev. J. S. Buchninstcr > 2 Joseph Lovering, S 8 Rev. Chas. Lowell, 11 Joseph Austin, s 7 Robt. Williams, s 4 Rev. H HoUey, P. 0. Thacher, 6 7 Dr.J. C. Warren, 6 Francis J. Oliver, 9 William Wells, 11 Rev. Samuel Carey, Edmund Hartt s 2 1 Geo. G. Lee, s 1 Turner Phillips, s 4 Rev J. Huntington, Henry Bass, s 3 3 Thos. Wigglesworth, 1 Benj. Russell, 6 Samuel Dorr, s 3 Lemuel Shaw, s I Enoch Silsby, s 3 Henry Farnham, s 1 Lemuel Shaw, 2 Henry J. Oliver, 4 Rev. N. L. Frolhingham, 3 Rev. Daniel Sharp, Benjamin West, 2 1 Dr. John G. Coffin, 2 Rev. Paul Dean, 4 Rev. J. Pierpont, Benj Austin, s 6 1 Daniel Baxter, s 2 Jona. Loring, s 2 Samuel Billings, s 2 Eliphalet Williams, s 2 Jeremiah Fitch, s 2 Mram Babcock, s 2 Robert Fennelly, s 2 Samuel A Wells, s 2 David W. Child, s 1 John Phillips, Mayor, 1 Samuel Billings, A 1 Ephraim Eiiot, A 1 Jacob Hall, A 1 Joseph Head, A 1 Joseph Jenkins, A 1 Joseph Lovering, A 1 Nathaniel P. Russell, A 1 Bryant P. Tilden, A I Francis Bassett, 4 Dr. Horace Bean, 4 Rev William Jenks, 2 William Little, 3 Eiisha Clap, 3 William Dall, 3 Warren Dutton, 2 Rev. Asa Eaton, 4 VVitliani Parmenter, 2 Josiah Quincy, Mayor, 3 Daniel Baxter, A 2 George Odiorne, A 2 David W. Child, A 2 Joseph H. Dorr, A 2 Ashur Benj;un?n, A 2 Enoch Patterson, A 2 Caleb Eddy, A 2 Stephen Hooper, A 2 Rev. Hosea Ballou, 2 Dr. George Hayward, 2 Dr. Caleb H. Snow, Samuel Swett, Daniel Carney, A John Bellows, A Josiah Mar.-^hall, A Thomas Welsh, jr. A Henry J Oliver, A John Bryant, A George Blake, A John D. Dyer, A Silas Blaisdale, Rev. Sebastian Streeter, Alden Bradford, Rev. B. B. Wisner, Rev. Prince Hawes, la NAMES OP SCHOOL COMMITTEE POR 1826. Chairman^ Honorable Josiah Quincy, Mayor. Daniel Carney, John Bellows, Josiah Marshall, Thomas Welsh, jr. Silas Blaisdel, Red fort! Webster, Horace Bean, Asa Ealon, Samuel Barrett, John B. Davis, ALDERMEN. Henry J. Oliver, John F. Loring, Francis Jackson, Edward H. Robbins, jr. Alden Bradford, B. B. Wisner, Bradford Sumner. George Hayward, John Pierpont, Prince Hawes. Secretary, John Pierpont. "^ MEMBERS OP PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1826. Chairmanj Dea. Moses Grant. Thomas Wells, Moses Grant, Isaac P. Osgood, Joshua P. Blanchard, Standing Committee. William Brown, Dr. Enoch Hale, John P. Spooner^ Daniel Noyes, Secretary. William T. Andrews. District JVo, 1. Henry Fowle, jr. Win. Barry, jr. William Knapp, Ephraira Milton, John Fenno, jr. Charles Lincoln, jr. Rev. feebastian Streeter. JVo. 2. Joseph Lewis, John Farrie, jr. Wm. Palfrey, Isaac T. Dupee, William Jones, Whitney Hall. 14 District JVo. 3. Reuben Richards, jr. Fred T Gray, George Doiuett, John Hewes, Geijra;e Lane, Samp'^on Reed, Samuel Howe, John Dane, JVo. 4. Richard Ward, Lewis G. Praj, Calvin Washiiurn, Dr. John P. Spooner, Thomas Power, Daniel Henchman, Thomas Wiiej, District JVo. 5. Dr. Zabdiel B. Adams, John P. Blanchard, Isaac Manslield, Abiel Chandler, Francis O. Watts, Wiliiam T. Kustis, Charles Stoddard, Rev. Louis Dwight. JVo. 6. Benjamin A. Gould^ Joiin Lowell, jr. Samuel Davis, David Lee Child, James Bowdoin, George B. Lmerson, George H. snelling. JVo. 7, and '■ Gerry Fairbanks, Stephen Fairbanks, William Taylor, Rev. Lemuel Capen. Bela Hunting, Adam Bent, Henry Hatch, William B. Dorr, Francis Jackson. Whole number 60. Qlj'Genllemen having each the charge of one School. NljI L, releried to p. 8. There is an uncertainty as to the correctness within some ten or twelve years of the early dates here given. The dates are gathered from the town records. In the first settlement of the town, although a good atten- tion was paid to the subject of education, still that particular regard to dates is not found which could be desired, and will account for our not being able to fix with more certainty upon the precise time when any particular school was estaolished. It may not be unimportant to mention that the first record on the town books is in the year " 1634, 7th month, daj' 1," and the first notice on the subject of schools is in April 1635 — at about which time the first school may be supposed to have been established. — It would appear that there was only one school up to the year 1669, as that year we find this record, " It is ordered that the ten pounds left by legacy to ye schoole of bostone by miss Hudson deceased shall be lett to Capt. James Oliver, ^subsequently one of the selectmen) for sixteen shillings per annum so long as he pleases to improve itt." — It lurther also appears by an order passed ia 1657 for "inlarging the skoole bouse'' &,c. In 1669 " the schoole house" is men- tioned. After this period and prior to the earliest date, excepting that one of the Latin School, there were two schools, one at the north and one at the south part or in the centre of the town, and which would appear to have become amalgamated into the schools as above arranged. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 021 526 239 R ( ■nAif nzif