^^*o^ .....LB \9U6 Author . Title Imprint. la— 47373-2 OPO EULES AND EEGULATIONS SCHOOL COMMITTEE, CITY OF S_^LEM, ADOPTED DECEMBEK, 1865. SALEM OBSERVER PRESS. 1866. Q^^ EULES OF THE BOARD. CHAPTER I. ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD. Section 1. The Maj^or shall be Chairman of the Board, as provided in the City Charter, and in case of his absence or his disability from, any cause, all his powers and duties shall devolve upon the President of the Common Council, or upon the Chairman of the First, Second or Third Visiting Committee, vrho shall have precedence according to the above order. Sec. 2. At the organization of the Board, and whenever the office becomes vacant, a Secretary shall be appointed by ballot, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board. Sec. 3. The City Messenger shall be Messenger of the Board. Sec. 4. The Standing Committees of the Board shall be an Executive Committee and three Visiting Committees. CHAPTER II. DUTIES OF OFFICERS. Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to pre- side at all meetings of the Board. He shall be authorized to call special meetings of the Board, and shall be required to do so upon the request of any three members. He shall call a special meeting for the purpose of organization, within one week after the fourth Monday in January. Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a permanent record of all the proceedings of the Board, to preserve files of all communications addressed to the Board, and of all Reports of Committees ; to notify all meetings of the Board, and of the several Committees, by causing a written notification to be left by the Messenger at the resi- dence of each member ; to cause to be printed, as soon as may be after the organization of the Board, a list of the members thereof, with the schools to the charge of which they are specially assigned, and to furnish copies of the same to members of the Board, and Principals of the schools; and to perform such other clerical duties as the Board may from time to time direct. Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Messenger to cause the rooms, assigned for the use of the Board and its sub-commit- tees, to be in readiness for their meetings ; to deliver all notifications, documents, and messages; and to perform all duties appropriate to his office, as he may be directed by the Chairman, Secretary, or any member of the Board. CHAPTER 111. VISITING COJIxMITTEES. Section 1. As soon as may be after the annual organiza- tion, three Visiting Committees shall be appointed by the Chairman, in such manner that each elected member of the Board shall be a member of a Visiting Committee. The First Visiting Co/mnitiee shall consist of two or more members, who shall have charge of the High School. The Second Visiting Committee shall consist of seven or more members, who shall have charge of the Grammar Schools. The Third Visiting Committee shall consist of seven or more members, who shall have chai'ge of the Primary Schools. Sec. 2. The Visiting Committees, as soon as may be after their appointment, shall each elect a Chairman b}' ballot. Sec. 3. The Chairman of each V^isiting Committee shall designate a Special Committee of one or more members, for each of the schools. Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of each member to maintain a careful oversight of the school or schools placed under his charge ; and for this purpose, he shall, in conformity with the laws of the Commonwealth,^ visit such school or schools on some day during the first two weeks, and on some day during the last two weeks of each term, and also at least once in each month, without giving previous notice to the teachers. He shall receive the semi-annual i-eturns from the Principal, examine them and forward them to the Chairman of the Visiting Committee, together with such comments on the condition of the school or schools as his observation shall suggest. He shall also advise the teachers as he may judge proper, investigate every case of misconduct formally reported by a ' Principal, and prescribe in writing the penalty to which the offending scholar shall be subjected. He shall also receive the complaints of parents, masters, or guardians, against teachers, and present such complaints to the Board, in writ- ing, whenever he shall deem the same of sufficient import- ance ; and in any case his decision shall be subject to the revision of the Board. See. 5. The Chairman of each Visiting Committee shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, the Annual Reports upon the schools under his care ; which Reports shall be laid before the Visting Committees as soon as may be after the Examinations, and, when approved, shall be submitted to the Board, on or before the third Monday of January of each year. Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the several Visiting Com- mittees to recommend Studies and Text Books ; to prescribe the form of Record Books, to decide upon the manner of con- ducting Examinations, and to prescribe the district limits of each school. Sec. 7. Each Visiting Committee shall have power to relieve teachers and scholars from the enforcement of the Regulations in extraordinary cases. Sec. 8. The Special Committee of each school is author- ized to expend a sum of money not to exceed fifty dollars per annum, for incidental expenses of said school. ^ Gen. Stat. ch. 33 §. 26. 6 CHAPTER IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Mayor, the President of the Common Council, and the Chair- man of each Visiting Committee. Sec. 2. The duties of the Executive Committee shall lie as follows : 1. To prepare, and cause to be printed and distributed, blank forms for the semi-annual Returns of the Principals, and to prepare the Annual Report and the Annual Returns and Certificate required by law to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Board of Education. 2. To report upon the expediency of altering or repairing school-houses, and to superintend such special alterations and repairs as may be authorized by the Board. 3. To supply fuel and all necessary articles of furniture and stationery, and to appoint Janitors, who shall be amena- ble to the Special Committees of the respective schools. 4. To procure such books, maps, and apparatus, as it may be necessary to furnish at the expense of the city. 5. To receive and audit all accounts against the Board, and to cause a roll of such accounts as may have been exam- ined and approved by them to be laid before the Board. 6. To recommend the Salaries to be paid to Teachers and Janitors, to prepare and report estimates of all appropria- tions which may be required for the use of the School Com- mittee, and to present the same, when approved by the Board, for the consideration of the City Council, on or before the fourth Monday in April. 7. To recommend, in their annual or special reports, such measures as they shall deem adapted to promote the econo- my and efficiency, of the system of public instruction. Sec. 3. The Annual Report shall comprise copies of or extracts from the Annual Reports of the Executive and Visiting Committees, with such other matter as may be deemed proper, and shall, after being approved by the Board, be prepared in sufficient season to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Board of Education, together with the Annual Certificate and Return required by law. Sec. 4. The Executive Committee shall regularly meet once in each month, at such times as they shall appoint ; and shall hold special meetings whenever the Chairman, at his own instance, or upon the request of any member, shall direct the Secretary to notify the same ; and three members shall constitute a quorum. CHAPTER V. RULES OF ORDER. Section 1. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held on the third Monday of each month, at such hour as the Board may determine. Special meetings shall be held at such times as the Board may order ; or whenever the Chair- man may direct, as provided in Chapter II. Sec. 2. The Chairman shall declare the meeting adjourn- ed at 10 o'clock, P. M., whenever the Board may be in ses- sion at that hour. Sec. 3. At each meeting the Board shall come to order at the hour appointed, and after reading the record of the preceding meeting the Secretarj' shall call the roll and record the names of the members present. Sec. 4. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quo- rum for the transaction of business. Sec. 5. Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if any member of the Board so request. Sec. 6. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received but to adjourn ; to lay on the table ; to order the jjrevious question; to postpone to a day certain ; to commit; to amend; or to postpone indefinitely; which several motions shall have precedence in the order iu which they are above named. Sec. 7. A motion to adjourn shall be alwaj'S in order, unless a member has the floor, or a question has been put and not decided ; and shall be decided without debate ; provided that any member, who wishes to introduce new business, may state briefly- his desire before the question is put on the motion to adjourn. 8 Sec. 8. No member shall Bpeak more than once, nor longer than ten minutes, on any question, until every member who chooses has spoken thereon. Sec. 9. Every member present when the question is put, shall vote thereon ; unless the Board, for special reasons given before the vote is taken, shall excuse him. Sec. 10. The vote on any question shall be taken by yeas and nays, whenever one third of the members present so require. Sec. 11. The Chairman shall vote in all cases of ballot ; and whenever the Board is equally divided ; whenever his vote, if given with the minority, would defeat a measure ; and on proposed changes in books ; but he may vote in all other cases. Sec. 12. While a main question is still pending, any subsidiary vote relating thei-eto may be reconsidered by the vote of a majority of the members present. But, when the main question has been decided, no motion to reconsider the same shall be made, except at the same meeting, or at the next meeting in jjursuance of a notice given at the same meeting ; and only one motion to reconsider any vote may be made at any one meeting. All motions to reconsider except when previous notice has been given, shall lie over for one meeting. Sec. 13. Ail Special Committees shall be appointed by the Chair, unless, in any case, the Board otherwise order. Sec. 14. Whenever a Committee, to whom any subject has been referred, neglects to report within one month, or at the time at which it was instructed to report, the Board may proceed to act upon the subject referred. Sec. 15. When a report recommends any specific action on the part of the Board, it shall do so in the form of an order or resolution. The acceptance of a report shall in no case be held to imply the adoption of the same, or any part thereof. Sec. 16. No motion, authorizing the expenditure of a sum of money exceeding fifty dollars, shall be acted on at the same meeting at which it is introduced. See. 17. The consent of a majority of the members shall be requisite for the suspension of any rule of the Board, or Eegulation of the schools unless the proposal for the same has lain on the table at least one week, when the consent of a majority of the members present shall be sufficient. Sec. 18. Any proposition involving the amendment or repeal of a Rule or Regulation, shall be referred to such Standing or Special Committee as the Board may designate. The proposed change shall be made, if a majority of the members present vote in favor thereof, provided that at least one week has elapsed since the proposal was made. Sec. 19. All questions of order shall be decided by the Chair, xiny member may appeal from the decision of the Chair, and the question shall be decided by the Board. Sec. 20. The Board shall sit with closed doors whenever one-third of the membei's thereof, present and voting, shall deem it advisable. CHAPTER VI. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS AND THEIR SALARIES. Section 1. In July, annually, each Visiting Committee shall report to the Board, the names of all the Teachers then connected with the several schools under their supervision, whose reelection they recommend. They may also recom- mend candidates, to fill the places of those whom thej'' do not propose for reappointment. The Board shall then pro- ceed to ballot for the choice of teachers, for each school separately. Eleven votes shall be necessary to elect. Teachers chosen as provided in- this section, shall enter upon their duties, on the first day of September following, at which time the official term of all teachers shall be deemed to have expired. Sec. 2. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Prin- cipal of any school, the proper Visiting Committee shall report a candidate or candidates to the Board, after having made suitable examinations, concerning the fitness of the 10 persons whose names are reported, for which purpose they may, if thought necessary, allow the candidates to teach for a short time on trial. The Board shall then proceed to ballot, and eleven votes shall be necessary to elect. Sec. 3. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Sub- Principal or Assistant in any school, it shall be filled by the Visiting Committee, having charge of such school. For this purpose, the Chairman of the Committee, in connection with the Special Committee of the school, after advising with the Princii^al, with authority, if thought necessary, to allow the candidates to teach for a short time on trial, shall propose a candidate or candidates for election, and a major- ity of the votes cast shall be necessai-y to elect. All such appointments shall be reported to the Board, for approval at its next meeting, and shall no longer be valid if such appro- val be withheld. Sec. 4. Whenever a teacher in any school is temporarily absent, the Special Committee of that School shall, if circumstances I'ender it expedient, apjaoint a substitute, who shall receive for each week of service, two per cent, of the yearly salary of the absent teacher, and proportionally for parts of a week ; such compensation to be paid from the city treasury. The amount thus paid shall be deducted from the salary of the permanent teacher, unless the Board shall otherwise order. No substitute so appointed, shall continue more than one month unless approved by the Board. Sec. 5. All appointments of Teachers, except to 111 va- cancies, shall be made for the term of one year, unless, for any reason, the Board shall think pi'oper to dismiss a teacher at any other time, in conformity with the laws of the Commonwealth." Sec. 6. In April, annually, the Executive Committee shall recommend the amount of salary to be paid to each teacher, and the Board shall then fix the salaries for the year commencing on the first day of July next ensuing. aGen. Stat. Chap. 38. {25. 11 Sec. 7. No person shall be appointed, or permitted, to teach in any school, except as herein provided. CHAPTER VII. Sec. 1. If any scholar is not furnished by his parent, master or guardian, with the requisite books, he shall be supplied therewith in the manner following : The Princi- pal of the school at which such scholar attends, shall send to such parent, master or guardian, a written notice, speci- fying the books required, with the prices thereof and requesting that they may be furnished forthwith ; and the notice, if returned with a certificate from the parent, master or guai-dian, setting forth pecuniary disability or other good reason for not complying with such request, shall, after being submitted to the Special Committee of the school, and approved in writing by him, be a suflBcient authority to the Principal to furnish such pupil with the books therein named at the cost of the city. And if such notice be not so returned within one week from the date thereof, a copy shall be sent by the Principal to such Special Committee, whose approval, certified thereon, shall author- ize the Principal to furnish the required books as above provided. Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall make a written contract with one or more booksellers, for a supply of the books which it may become necessary to furnish at the exjjense of the city, stipulating therein, the prices of all the books required to be used in the several schools. Sec. 3. The Principal shall keep a record of all the books furnished to pupils at the expense of the city, specifj^ing the names of the recipient, and the parent, master or guardian ; the title and price of each book, and the date of the delivery ; and shall furnish a copy of such record, when requested by the Committee, or by the City Clerk, for the use of the City Assessors. 12 Sec. 4. Whenever any books shall be recommended by a Visiting Committee for use in the schools under its charge, such recommendation shall not be acted on at the meeting of the Board at which it is made, but shall be in order at the next meeting at which a quorum is present ; and no change shall be made in any of the books used in the school, without the consent of a majority of the whole Board." » Stat. 1863, ch. 126. 13 REGULATIONS OF THE SCHOOLS. CHAPTER I. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Section 1. The Primary Schools shall receive such chil- dren, of not less than five years of age, as are not qualified to enter a higher school, and shall be devoted to elementary instruction in Reading, Spelling, Writing, Arithmetic, Geo- graphy, Vocal Music, and Drawing. Sec. 2. Each Primary School shall be divided into two or more departments of diiFerent grades, the higher departments to be devoted to more thorough and practical instruction in the various studies pursued, having special regard to the requirements prescribed for admission to the Grammar Schools. See. 3. Pupils shall be transferred from the lower to the - higher departments at the commencement of the school year, and at such other times as may seem expedient, under the direction of the Special Committee of the school. Sec. 4. Each of these Schools shall receive pupils of both sexes, except that those occupying the same building with Grammar Schools composed of pupils of one sex, shall receive pupils of that sex only. Sec. 5. Each School shall be under the care of a female Principal, with such number of female assistants as the Board may, at any time, consider necessary. 2 14 CHAPTER II. GRAMMAR SCHOOLS. Section 1 . The Grammar Schools shall be devoted to in- Btruction in Spelling, Reading, Writing, English Grammar, Composition, Arithmetic, Geography, History of the United States, and Good Behavior. The elements of Geometry, Book-keeping, Physiology, Drawing, and Vocal Music, may be taught at the option of the Visiting Committee. Sec. 2. The Phillips, Hacker, Pickeriny, Browne, and Epes Schools shall each be under the cai-e of a male Princi- pal. The last three shall receive 1x)th boys and girls ; the first two shall receive boys only. The Bentley and Higyinson Schools shall each be under the care of a female Principal, and shall receive girls only. Sec. 3. To each School shall \>g assigned such number of female assistants as the Board may deem necessary.' One assistant in each school may be designated as Sub-Principal. Sec. 4. For admission into these Schools, candidates shall be required to read easy prose con-ectly and readily, to distin- guish by name the several marks of Punctuation, and to know their signification and uses ; to write from dictation, common words of not more than thre« syllables, and short sentences, legibly and correctly ; to answer promptly simple questions in the Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Di- vision of abstract numbers ; to perform mental operations in Arithmetic similar to those contained in the first sis sections of Colburn's First Lessons ; to write, from dictation, num- bers not exceeding ten millions, and to add, subtract, and multiply, (when the multiplier does not exceed ten,) by the usual methods of written Arithmetic ; to understand the use of the Roman Numerals ; and to pass a satisfactory examina- tion in elementary Geography. And no pupil who does not possess these qualifications, shall be admitted into any Gram- mar school, except by permission of the Special Committee of the School. The examination of candidates for admission, shall be con- ducted by the Principals of the respective Grammar Schools, 15 in such manner as the Second Visiting Committee may direct, and shall take place on the first Monday in September ; but applicants who were unable to attend the regular examina- tion, and are qualified to join one of the classes, may be admitted at any other time. Sec, 5. Pupils in the first and second classes of the Gram- mar Schools, shall be furnished at least once a month, with an abstract of the record of their standing in studies and deportment, which shall be made up by the teacher in accord- ance with a form to be prescribed by the Second Visiting Committee. Sec. 6. The Chairman of the Second Visiting Committee shall appoint Examinations of the several Gi-ammar Schools during the last month of each school year ; and shall cause a notice of the time and place of each examination to be given to every member of the Board. It shall be the duty of the Special Committee of each School to attend said examina- tion. CHAPTER III. THE HIGH SCHOOL, Section 1. The High School shall be devoted to the in- struction of pupils of both sexes, in the higher Mathematics, Natural History, General History, the Languages and Phil- osophy. Sec. '2. The plan of instruction in these branches, shall involve and include three co-ordinate Departments ; the En- glish Department for male pupils, the English Department for female pupils, and the Classical Department. These shall be formed into one High School, as follows : I. The Departments shall each be divided into four forms, to be called respectively, the first, second, third and fourth forms. II. The first forms in the three Departments shall consti- tute the Junior Class, the second forms, the first Middle Class, the third forms, the second Middle Class, the fourth forms, the Senior Class. 16 Sec. 3. Admission to the Junior Class shall be upon the following conditions : Candidates must be at least twelve years of age ; must present written certificates of good moral character, and of creditable rank from their last teacher ; and must obtain upon an examination in Spelling, Reading, Geography, United States History, English Grammar and Arithmetic, such an average of excellence as the First Visit- ing Committee, in consultation with the Master, may from year to year establish as the minimum for admission. The examination shall be held, under the direction of the Master, on the first Monday of September, and there shall be a supplementary examination on the next Thursday, for the benefit of such candidates as may in the judgment of the Visiting Committee and the Master, deserve a second trial. Sec. 4. Promotion from one form or class to another, in either Department, shall be made in ordinary cases, at the end of the school year. It shall be regulated by comparing the excellence attained by the pupils severally, in recitations and examinations, during the year, with a minimum which the Visiting Committee shall fix, all being promoted whose average is not below this minimum, and no others. This minimum shall in no case exceed two-thirds of the maximum of excellence. In special cases, the First Visiting Committee, with the consent of the Master, may promote a pupil in a specific study or studies, and no others, provided it may be done without interfering with the general arrangement of the School, or its time. Sec. 5. All pupils who shall have duly passed through the four forms of either of the departments, in accordance with the provision of Sec. 4 — and shall have maintained during the fourth year an average of excellence not less than a minimum fixed by the Visiting Committee as prescribed in Sec. 4, shall be entitled to a Diploma to be called the Diplo- ma of the High School. Sec. 6. The Course of Study shall embrace the following particulars, in the several Departments, named in Sec. 1 : — Mathejiatics. Higher Arithmetic, Book-Keepiiig, Alge- bra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Surveying. 17 Natural Science. Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Phy- siology, Phyiiical Geography, Botany, and Music. General History. Ancient, Mediaeval, and Modern His- tory. The U. S. Constitution. Outline of the plan of His- tory. Languages. Latin, — Elements of Prose, complete, and minor elements of Poetry. Greek, — Elements of Prose and Poetry, French, — Elements of the Language. English, — Etymology, Analj'sis, History of the Language, Prosody, Rhetoric, and exercises in Composi- tion. Philosophy. First principles of Logic, Psychology, and Morals The course in the Classical Department shall comprise substantially all the foregoing branches — but pupils intend- ing to enter College shall not be required to study any of them, except such as shall be included among the studies re- quired for admission to Harvard College. Pupils not intend- ing to enter College shall not be required to study Greek, although taking the course in the Classical Department. In the English Department no pupil shall be compelled to study more than one language in addition to English, and choice between Latin and French shall be allowed. The following studies shall be pureued by the Senior Class, and shall not be required of any other Class, viz : Higher Algebra, Outline of the plan of History, Physical Geogra- phy, Rhetoric, and the entire coui'se of Philosophy. Other Languages may be pursued by the Senior Class, with the consent of the Visiting Committee, but no pupil shall be required to pursue them. Specific branches in either Course may be omitted or I'e- placed by others, upon application of the parent or guardian of any pupil with the written consent of the Master, in those cases only where it may be allowed without disturbing the general arrangement of the School and its duties. Sec. 7. Candidates may be admitted to classes higher than the first, upon the same general terms as to the first, / 18 provided they pass an examination equivalent to that required for promotion to those classes. Sec. 8. All pupils admitted shall be regarded as on pro- bation for the spa,ce of three months, after vrhich, if their deportment and proficiency are approved, they shall be duly enrolled on the Register of the School. Sec. 9. There shall be two examinations each year, in addition to the examination for admission. The first shall occur, as nearlj' as may be, at the expiration of the first half year of actual School time, and the second during the week preceding the Summer Vacation. Sec. 10. The Officers of the High School shall be a Mas- ter, a Sub-Master, a First Assistant, and such other assistants as may from time to time be authorized by the Board. Sec. 11. The Master, under the direction of the First Visiting Committee, shall control the plan of the School, in respect to discipline and the order of studies, and shall regulate the classification and promotion of pupils. He shall form and arrange the plan of exercises from term to term, and shall assign the duties of the Sub-Master, and of each Assistant. He shall have personal charge of the English Department for Male Pupils, but "may temporarily transfer the charge of this — may assume that of either of the other departments, and shall, so far as may be, reserve a portion of his time, in each session, for the general business of the School, apart from teaching. Sec. 12. The Sub-Master, under the direction of the Mas- ter, shall have personal charge of the Classical Department, but this section shall not be construed to forbid the teaching of Latin to any pupils by one of the Assistants, at the dis- cretion of the Master. Sec. 13. The First Assistant, under the direction of the Master, shall have personal charge of the English Depart- ment for Female Pupils, and be responsible for its order, but this section shall not be construed to forbid a temporary transfer of this charge to any other officer, or the reference of cases of discipline to the Master. Sec. 14. The Assistants shall perform all duties assigned 19 to such officers in Section 8 of Chapter V. of these Eegiila- tions, so far as the same is applicable, excepting that, when necessary, either of them may be placed by the Master in charge of either of the Halls, and shall then be responsible for its good order. In all cases of importance, they shall refer the subject of discipline immediately to the First Assistant or to the Master, as the case may require. Sec. 15. Prize Medals, purchased with the income of the legacy of the late George Andrews Esquire, and to be called the " Andrews Medal," shall be awarded to such pupils of the senior class of the School, from year to year, upon their graduation, as shall have distinguished themselves during their course, "not for scholarship merely, but for faithful effort and correct deportment." Prizes of standard Books purchased with the same fund and to be called the " Andrews Prizes," shall also be awarded to those pupils of the second middle class, from j^ear to year, who shall have been similarly distinguished. Such medals and prizes shall he awarded by the First Visiting Committee, after consultation with the Master and First Assistant of the School, to so many of the IDupils of each of said classes respectively, and of both sexes, as shall in their judgment be fairly entitled thereto. And for these purposes the Chairman of the First Visiting Com- mittee for the time being shall be authorized to draw the interest of the Andrews Fund, or so much of it as shall be necessary, from the City Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the First Visiting Committee to report to the Board the names of the pupils to whom medals or prizes are awarded, that they may be recorded. CHAPTER IV. ARRANGEMENT OF SCHOOL TIME. Section 1. The School Year shall be divided into two terms, the first commencing on the first Monday of Septem- ber, and concluding on the Saturday preceding the first Monday in March ; the second commencing on the first Mon- 20 day in March, and concluding on the Saturday preceding the first Monday in September. Sec. 2. From April 1st to October 1st, except as provided in Section 11, the school exercises shall commence in the forenoon at 8 o'clock and conclude at 11 o'clock. From October Ist to April Ist, they shall commence at 9 o'clock and conclude at 1'2 o'clock. The afternoon exercises shall commence at 2 o'clock and conclude at 5 o'clock throughout the year, except between November 1st and February 1st, when they shall conclude at 4 o'clock, the recess being omitted. Sec. 3. The Regular Vacations, except as provided in Section 11, shall be as follows, viz : — The week commencing with the first Monday in March ; the week including the last Wednesday of May ; five weeks preceding the first Monday in September ; and the week including the Annual Thanks- giving Day. Sec. 4. The following Holidays shall be allowed, viz : — Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. New Year's Day, May Day, and all legal holiday's. Sec. 5. No other than the regular Vacations and Holidays shall be allowed, except that the Chairman may, upon special occasions, close the schools for a part, or the whole, of a day ; provided, also, that each school may, for reasons peculiar to itself, be dismissed by order of its Special Committee, for two half days in each semi-annual term, and not oftener. Sec. 6. Teachers shall in no case suspend or abridge the ordinary sessions, except for extraordinary and imperative reasons, affecting the health or safety of their pupils. Sec. 7. There shall be a recess of fifteen minutes in the course of each half day's session of the schools, except as provided in Section 2, and no pupil shall be deprived of more than two-thirds thei-eof, unless for habitual misconduct at recess. Sec. 8. Whenever it shall .seem proper on account of extreme severity of the weather, the Principal of any school may hold but one session, to continue for four and one half hours, instead of the two usual sessions of the day. 21 Sec. 9. In each echool all the teachers thereof shall be present, the doors shall be opened, and the pupils permitted to take their seats, at least ten minutes before the time fixed for commencing the exercises, but no pupil shall be compelled to be present before the hour fixed by these regulations. Sec. 10. Teachers are authorized to detain their pupils beyond the regular school hours, for the purpose of discipline, or of additional instruction, especially in the case of omitted or imperfect lessons. Sec. 11. The High School shall hold single daily sessions, commencing, from March Ist to November 1st, at 8 o'clock A. M., and for the remainder of the 3^ear at 8^ o'clock A.M., and closing at 1 o'clock P. M., throughout the year. Its Summer Vacation shall comprise the six weeks preceding the first Monday in September ; and its Teachers may require the attendance of pupils at such hours in the afternoon as they may apjsoint, whenever, under the provisions of Section 10, any considerable detention becomes necessary. CHAPTER V. DISCIPLINE OF SCHOOLS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS. Section 1. The discipline to be maintained in the schools, shall be such as is exercised by a kind, judicious, and faith- ful parent in his family ; and corporal punishment shall be avoided except in extreme cases. Sec. 2. Teachers shall have constant regard to the health, comfort, and general physical welfare of their pupils, and shall encourage and enforce habits of neatness and cleanli- ness. Some physical exercise shall be introduced in the course of each session. During inclement weather, the pupils shall be permitted at recess to take such exercise and recreation as may be practicable within the school-buildings. Particular care shall be taken at all times that the rooms are properly ventilated. Any pupil who may be exposed to the influence of any contao-ious disease and whose presence at school would there- 22 fore endanger the health of others, shall be suspended from school so long as may be necessary. No child shall be ad- mitted into, or allowed to remain in any school, without a certificate from a physician, or other satisfactory evidence, that such child has been duly vaccinated. Sec. 3. Pupils attending the Primary Schools shall not be required by the teachers to study any lesson or perform any task out of school, except in cases of culpable neglect of such lesson or task during school hours. Sec. 4. For violent or continued opposition to avithority, or for setting at defiance any of the regulations, the Princi- pal may exclude a scholar, for the time being, from school, and report the case forthwith to the Special Committee of the school, for advice and direction, at the same time giving notice of such exclusion to the parent or guardian. In such cases, and whenever the example of any pupil is very injurious, the Special Committee shall have power, if such course appears to him to be required by the circum- stances, to suspend such pupil from the school, and to re- port his action to the Board at its next meeting. But any child under suspension, who shall express regret for his fault as fully as in opinion of the Committee, the nature of the case may require, shall give satisfactory evidence of amendment, and whose parents or guardians shall promise their cooperation in the due enforcement of all the Regula- tions, shall, with the previous consent of said Committee, be reinstated in the privileges of the school. No pupil shall be expelled from any school unless by vote of the Board. Sec. 5. In every case of absence or tardiness, a Avritten excuse or personal explanation, stating the cause thereof, shall be required of the parent, master, or guardian. Sec. 6. No pupil shall attend school in any district other than that in which his parent or guardian resides, except upon vote of the Board in sjiecial cases. But if a pupil, at- tending school in one district, shall remove to another, he shall be permitted to continue in such school until the close of the school year. 23 When a pupil is transferred from one school to another of the same grade, a certificate shall be furnished by the Prin- cipal of the school which such pupil has attended, stating the cause of the transfer and the standing of the pupil ; and • upon the presentation of such certificate, such scholar shall be received into the school to which he has been transferred, and admitted to such standing as he may be able to sustain. No pupil shall be admitted to the privileges of one school who has been expelled from another, or while under sentence of suspension, unless by a vote of the Board. Sec. 7. Teachers shall have a general oversight of the echool-houses, out-buildings, and grounds, and shall give immediate notice to the Special Committee, whenever any injuries have been committed, or repairs are needed. The pupils shall be held responsible for any damage they may do, to the school-buildings or grounds. Sec. 8. The Principals of the several schools shall, in addition to the duties of instruction in their special de- partments, maintain a general oversight of their schools ; shall assign to each assistant such duties as may seem prop- er ; shall regulate the classification and promotion of the pupils, and assign the studies and other exercises of the sev- eral classes ; and shall examine all the classes as often as practicable. They shall keep the Special Committee fully informed of all matters affecting the character and welfare of their schools ; shall afford every facility for the purpose of examination ; and shall lend such assistance to the Com- mittee in the performance of their official duties as may incidentally be in their power. The Sub-Principals and Assistants in each school shall be under the direction of the Principal, with whom they shall co-operate in all things pertaining to discipline and instruc- tion. They shall be responsible for the order and instruction of their respective divisions, and shall discipline their own pupils, except in extreme cases. Sec. 9. To promote the well-being of their pupils, it shall be the duty of the Teachers, as far as it is practicable, 24 to exercise a general superintendence over them, as well out of school," as within its walls. Sec. 10. In every school the Register prescribed by the law of the Commonwealth shall be faithfully kept, together with such other records as may be prescribed by the Visiting Committee. Sec. 11. In every School a record shall be kept of all cases of corporal punishment ; and such record shall be sub- mitted to the Special Committee at the end of each quarter, when it shall be destroyed. Sec. 12. At the close of each term the Principal of each school shall carefully fill up a semi-annual Return, of which a blank form shall be furnished by the Executive Committee, and shall deliver the same to the Special Committee of the school, on or before the day immediately succeeding the close of each term. Sec. 13. The morning exercises, in all the schools, shall commence with the reading by the teacher of some portion of the Bible, without written note or oral comment : but no scholar shall be required to read from any particular version, whose parent or guardian shall declare that he has conscien- tious scruples against allowing him to read therefrom.^ Sec. 14. No teacher shall be absent during school hours, except with the approbation of the Special Committee of the school. Any teacher who is necessarily absent from duty, shall give immediate notice to the Special Committee, in order that a substitute may be emploj'ed, if necessary. Teachers shall in no case appoint substitutes. Sec. 15. No person shall, within the school buildings or grounds, and no teacher shall, at any time, sell any book, or other article, to any pupil of the Public Schools. Sec. 16. No person shall, without the permission of the Special Committee, enter any school to read or distribute any advertisement, or to give notice in any way, to the ^8 Gushing. 164. b St. 1862. ch. 57. 25 pupils of any school, of books or other articles for sale, or of any public exhibition or performance; or enter any school to exhibit either to teacher or pupil, any new book or article of apparatus, or to address the school in reference to the same; nor shall subscriptions or contributions, for any pur- pose whatever, be permitted in any public school, except by permission of the Special Committee. Sec. 17. No text book shall be used in any school, unless directed or allowed to be used by a vote of the Board. Sec. 18. No teacher shall, in any manner, or upon any pretext, by reading or by oral teaching, inculcate or advo- cate, to his or her pupils, the doctrines of any political party or religious sect : — nor shall any teacher in school read to his or her pupils, any book, pamphlet, newspaper or article, in which the peculiar or distinctive views of any portion of community either upon public aflfairs or religion, are made the subject of open or covert attack, or ridicule. LIBRARY OF CONGf^^^^^^^ f 020 320J5L5