1834.] School Reform in Dorchester, Mass. 277 triot. The brow was calm and unclouded; the lips scarce told there was utterance there; the eye, the soul of eloquence, exhibited no concentrated expression, no mental illumination. There was some gesture, but it was neither free, nor bold, nor energetic. There were no outpourings of passion; none of the majesty of intellectual achievement; none of the transcendency of impassioned eloquence bursting forth with native and original fire; no signs indicating that the speaker felt his subject. There was too much of the formality of the ball-room-too much of the chilling indifference of the stoic. More attention to this subject would be of infinite advantage to the great majority of speakers.' We would merely add the question Of what avail are arguments or persuasions which proceed from one who seems neither to feel, nor to believe what he is saying?- Si vis me flere, &c. [For the Annals of Education.] SCHOOL REFORM IN DORCHESTER, MASS. REFORM, in the civil world, appears to be the favorite watchword. Why should it not be so, in the world of Education? True, it is not every innovation which is entitled to the name of reform; but no reform.can be effected without innovation. Ought prejudice to be a stronger barrier, here, than in matters of government and religion? Dorchester, in Massachusetts, is one of the oldest towns in New England. Here the first church was organized; here, as from a centre, the Puritan spirit was diffused; here, emphatically, is the land of steady habits.' To this day the people dread, as much as any other known community, the progress of innovation, and the spirit of reform, lest the result should be,-what it often. has been that things which ought to be permanent, should, in the general agitation, become unsettled, or be swept away. Yet here, even here, in Dorchester, a great revolution has, within a few months, been accomplished; and without any violent commotion except that of public sentiment. The common or public schools of Dorchester, like those of the Puritans generally, received early attention; and compared with other things, were for a century and a half prosperous. If they did not keep pace with arts, mechanics, agriculture, and manufactures, they did not, for a hundred and fifty years, fall far behind. But of late years, like the schools of New England generally, 278 Origin of the Reform. [June, they have been suffered to fall quite in the rear, in the march of general improvement. In 1830, Dorchester had over four thousand inhabitants; and according to the usual proportion in this country, the number of children between the ages of four and sixteen years must have been at least one thousand. For this population, there existed six public schools, containing not far from six hundred and fifty pupils. There were, however, several private schools, continued a part of the year, and a select school for the more advanced pupils. Besides, many of the more wealthy families sent their children to Roxbury, Boston, and other places, for the whole or a part of their instruction. Of the three hundred and fifty children not found in the public schools, therefore, a considerable number can be accounted for, without supposing, in their case, a total neglect of instruction. It is however true that not a few, between the ages of four and sixteen years, were in effect excluded from the public schools, (and consequently many of them from any school at all,) by a rule which required that no one should be admitted 'till he knew his letters,' and could read words of two syllables.' There was one thing more, which operated to exclude children of this class. The average number of pupils belonging to each school, was of course about one hundred and ten. These were of all ages, and were consigned to school-rooms by no means large or commodious. No school had more than one teacher. Often, there were in daily attendance from seventy to eighty pupils. These all required attention, not only in regard to discipline, but the lessons of instruction; and a large proportion of them were studying from three to six or seven branches every day. As the monitorial plan of instruction had never been adopted, lessons and pupils were sometimes wholly neglected. The little ones,' especially, were apt to be overlooked; and this became so obvious and general an evil, that some of the parents omitted to send them. During the last winter and spring, the Dorchester Temperance Society, which had resolved itself into a Lyceum, and held weekly meetings for lectures and discussions, not only on subjects connected with the cause of temperance, but on other important topics, took into special consideration the improvement of their public schools. It was soon discovered there was a very general dissatisfaction with the existing state of things in this respect; but what could, what ought to be done? Evening after evening the subject was discussed; sometimes with considerable warmth. As might have been anticipated, there was opposition; but the friends of reform, if not more numerous, were stronger than their opponents. District meetings were held in some of the districts in the town, and committees were appointed to consider the matter Finally the ques 1834.] Proceedings of the American Lyceum. 279 tion on reform came up in general town meeting, and after much debate and one adjournment, the new measures were carried by an overwhelming vote. By this new arrangement, five primary schools are to be established in the town; one in each of five out of the six districts; and these are to be supplied with buildings, and books, and apparatus, and teachers. This will greatly lessen the number of pupils in the annual grammar schools, and leave no teacher more than forty or fifty (instead of seventy or eighty) daily pupils. The schools in Dorchester have hitherto been supported by a general tax; but the highest sum ever raised for this purpose was two thousand seven hundred dollars. The new system requires the town to raise four thousand; of which sum a reasonable proportion is to be appropriated to the support of the primary schools. Their teachers, who are to be females, will receive $3,25 a week for their services. All these are to be continued throughout the year, and some of the former schools which had been discontinued a part of the year, are, we understand, to be made permanent. When the people of Dorchester shall have added to these a CLASSICAL OF HIGH SCHOOL, they will be on a footing, in this respect, with Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Lowell; and their schools may be confidently expected to rise to a rank which they ought long ago to have sustained. There will be no necessity of sending their children to other towns and states for education. It was curious to watch the progress of men's minds during the revolution. Some persons we mention it to their honor who had no family, and whose tax will be much increased by the new measures, were among their warmest advocates. Others, how ever, were 'disinterested' only, where they saw that the public sentiment would support the proposed innovations. But the work of reform is accomplished, and Dorchester is emancipated. We hope the spirit of improvement which has effected changes so desirable, will be extended throughout the commonwealth, and throughout New England. FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN LYCEUM. WE regret our inability to attend the recent meeting of the American Lyceum. We find the following account of it in the New York Daily Advertiser. The American Lyceum, after a session of two days and a half, in 280 Official Account of the Proceedings. [June, There were fifty or sixty del this city, adjourned on Monday last. egates from different parts of the country, and the subjects deliberated upon were of general interest. Measures were taken for the extension of the Society's operations and connections, by the formation of Departments and Classes of Science, Literature, and the Arts, and the invitation of scientific persons to coöperate. Future annual meetings will probably thus present attractions to a large portion of the intelligent men of the country, and lead to extensive benefit in the various branches of knowledge. The foundation of a cabinet of natural history, the plans for establishing an uniform system of meteorological observations in the Union, the procuring of town and country maps through local lyceums, as well as other measures taken or meditated by the society, have rendered necessary the extension of their operations. The Society have also provided for a more general publication of their objects and designs, especially in this city, which it is to be hoped may serve as a successful appeal for that support which they deserve; and for the drafting of a plan for the proper constitution and management of local lyceums, so as to render them interesting and useful. They will also promote the establishment of a central school for teachers, and have appointed a committee to report on the applicability of the monitorial system, in any form or degree, to the common schools of the country. The information communicated to the Lyceum by several members was listened to with great interest; particularly that on the state of Education and Lyceums in Massachusetts, by Hon Mr Calhoun; on the Monitorial System, by Samuel W. Seton, Esq, of New York; on the New Jersey Lyceum, by Rev. W. R. Weeks; on the state of Education and the thirteen new Lyceums of Georgia, by Judge Clayton.' Among other valuable communications, several were received. from abroad. We have only room at present to insert the official account of the proceedings. FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING. New York, Friday Morning, May 2nd, 1834. The fourth Annual meeting of the American Lyceum was organized in the District Court Room of the United States, at half past ten. President Duer in the Chair, and William B. Kinney, Secretary. Messrs Pinckney, Dwight, and Rogers having been appointed a Committee to examine the credentials of members, reported the following. Massachusetts Lyceum. — Hon. William B. Calhoun, Prof. A. H. Everett, C. Dewey, Frederick Emerson, Josiah Holbrook, William C. Woodbridge. New Jersey State Lyceum. - Rev. William R. Weeks, D. D., Rev. Isaac V. Brown, Prof. Stephen Dodd, Dr S. H. Pennington, Mr E. E. Wines, Prof. John McLean, Prof. J. Henry, Dr Isaac H. Hampton. 1834.] Members and Order of Business. 281 Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. — Rev. Heman Bangs, Dr D. M. Reese. Yale College. Mr Davenport. Albany Young Men's Society.-Leaman N. Woodruff, Peter Carmichael. Brooklyn Lyceum, New York. Rev. D. L. Carroll, Judge P. M. Radcliff, Mr Eames, Prof. Haskell. Naval Lyceum, Brooklyn, New York. Captain Sloat, Lieut. Pinckney, Thomas S. Smith. New York Lyceum of Natural History. Joseph Delafield, M. D., Dr Torrey, Dr J. Van Renssellaer, Dr L. D. Gale. Newark Mechanics' Association and Lyceum. - Dr S. Congar, Nathan Hedges, I. W. Sanders, Dr L. A. Smith. Essex county Lyceum, N. J. - Dr William Pierson, Rev. Rainsford Wells, J. B. Whiteley, Ab. G. Rogers, D. A. Hayes. Hamilton Lyceum, Brooklyn, N. Y. — Alden I. Spooner, C. R. Marvin, Alexander Hadden. Nottingham Lyceum, N. J.- Dr A. B. Howell. Orange Lyceum, N. J.- Albert Pierson, Ira G. Munn, Jesse Williams, Rev. George Pierson, Nelson Lindsley. Washington City Lyceum, D. C.-Rev R. R. Gurley. The following gentlemen were also received as members of the Lyceum on invitation. The Marquis Aycenena, Aycenena, from Mexico; Tomas Gener, President of the Constitutional Cortes of Spain, Consul for Columbia; Dr Tobin of London; Prof. Jaines Renwick, from the New York Lit. and Phil. Society; Timothy R. Green, Esq. President of National Convention of Young Men's Societies; Robert G. Rankin, Esq., of New York; A. B. Johnson, Esq., of Utica; Samuel W. Seton, Agent of the Public School Society; Mr Stamatiades, from Athens in Greece. Messrs. Dwight, Clayton, and Gale, having been appointed a Committee of Arrangements, reported the following order of business, which was adopted, viz. 1. The sessions shall open at nine A. M., with prayer, and at two P. M., except when otherwise ordered. 2. The business shall be arranged as follows. Reading of the minutes, Reports from Committees, Reports from Lyceums, Schools, &c, to be in order half an hour after the opening. Essays in order, one hour after the opening. Discussions of Regular Questions in order one and a half hours after the opening. Resolutions, two and a half hours after the opening. Resolutions may be offered at any time on leave. Questions for discussion at the fourth Annual meeting of the Lyceum. 1st. Is the establishment of a Central School for Teachers desirable in the United States, and on what plan should it be founded? 2d. Is the Monitorial System in any form or degree appropriate to our Common Schools? 3d. Ought corporal punishment to be inflicted in our Common Schools? 4th. How far and by what means may Natural History be introduced into common education? 5th. Should the Ancient Languages constitute a part of education in Common Schools? |