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OF THE
S CHIO O L COMIMITTE E
OF
The Town of PortLAND.
1828.
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PORTLANT).
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1828,
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REPORT.
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TO THE INHABITANTS OF PORTLAND.
The season of the year having arrived, when
the affairs of the town are made the objects of
more special consideration, the School Committee
respectfully call the attention of their fellow citi-
zens to the state of our common Schools.
In the Report of last year certain modifications
of the existing establishment were suggested, and
it was stated that an additional primary school
was needed, to accommodate the increasing num-
ber of pupils, and meet the wants of the increased,
population of the town. No new school how-
ever has been opened, and no material changes
have been made during the past year. It was
found by the Committee, that more general and
essential modifications of our school establishment
were necessary, than they had it in their power to
make, and as nothing could be done effectually, it
was finally determined to postpone acting until
& after the subject should be again presented for the
º consideration of the town. Yet in few preceding
~ years perhaps have the schools received more atten-
tion not only from the Committee but from the pa-
rents of the pupils, and in few have the general good
4.
order of the pupils and state of the schools been
more satisfactory. And this, your Committee
believe, is witnessed not at the school rooms
merely, but also in the more regular and decorous
behaviour of the pupils in our streets. The num-
ber, who attend,though not all constantly,the three
primary schools, is rising one hundred to each.
The numbers present at the last semi-annual
examination of the Grammar School and monito-
rial schools were as follows.
Mr. Libby’s, - tºº tº- 77
Mr. Kelly’s, - tº-g — 237
Mr. Jackson’s, g--> - 218
Miss Thrasher’s, º - 141
Miss Kidder’s, tº - 160
The number present at the examination of the
colored school last year was 25—the number
present at the last examination was 43. It is
especially due to this latter school to say, that
while in none was there so much room for im-
provement in its condition, in none has greater
improvement been made.
From the large number of pupils belonging to
each of the primary schools, it must be manifest
that the instruction afforded to each pupil is from
the very necessity of the case less thorough, less
frequent, and less efficacious, than it ought to be.
These schools are among our most important
means of education, especially among the poorer
and less independent classcs of our population.
Here children are sent and receive the rudiments
5
of their education, when they are of too tender
an age to be of material use to their parents at
home. The range of instruction is from the letters
of the alphabet through plain spelling and reading
to reading with correctness and case in the New
Testament. To these might and perhaps ought
to be added the more easy and simple parts of
intellectual arithmetic. The number of pupils in
attendance upon such a school ought not, if it
could be well avoided, to exceed fifty. With this
number only the instructress would have opportu-
nity to afford her personal attention and instruc-
tion to each of her pupils twice at least every
half day—whereas with their present numbers,
beside the greater confusion and increased diffi-
culty of keeping order, the mistress finds herself
oppressed by a multitude, and with diligence and
exertion can afford to her younger pupils little
more than one minute’s instruction once in half
a day. The School Committee therefore do
earnestly recommend to the town to raise and
furnish the necessary means to establish two addi-
tional primary schools, as well for the purpose of
relieving the present schools, as to afford to every
part of the town one primary school in its more
immediate vicinity.
When the pupil has fully attained to the highest
limit of instruction afforded in the primary school,
he is possessed of the requisite qualifications to
entitle him to admission into the monitorial school.
He is accordingly discharged from the one, and if
6
his parents or master please, is transferred to the
other. The crowded state of the monitorial
school in Spring Street was alluded to in the
report of the Committee of last year. It has now
become necessary to enlarge the house by adding
to its length, as it will no longer accommodate the
number claiming and entitled to be admitted. At
the same time, your Committee would suggest
the propriety and expediency of raising the build-
ing another story, for the reasons and purposes
the Committee will now explain.
It would seem to be a position too plain to be
questioned, that, where the instruction given to
our youth at the public expense cannot be für-
nished on so extensive a scale, as to meet the
desires of every individual, the wants of the great
mass of the community should command the first
attention and provision. We would speak respect-
fully of the study of the languages, especially of
the Latin language, the parent of the modern
Spanish and French; and we hope the town will
always be willing to afford the means of instruc-
tion to all, who are disposed to pursue the study.
But in the opinion of your Committee there is
another object of more general interest and more
general utility,+we mean the establishment of a
school of a high order, in which shall be tho-
roughly taught all the usual branches of a good
English education,especially those branches, more
immediately useful to a commercial people, and
connected with the practical intercourse and busi-
7
ness of life. This measure, it will be perceived,
contemplates the division of the present Grammar
School, the expediency of which, we think, can
hardly be questioned by any one, who has been led
to form an opinion upon the subject. The addition
of a story to the monitorial school house in Spring
Street, and the erection of one primary school house
toward the western section of the town, would
furnish the necessary buildings to carry these
measures into effect. The retired, healthy, and
beautiful situation of the very handsome school
lot, owned by the town on Spring Street, seems to
point that out, as the most eligible place for the
Grammar and English high schools. The room
now occupied by the Grammar School may be
occupied by one of the contemplated primary
schools ;—or, if thought better, it may be occu-
pied by the female monitorial school, and the room
below, now occupied by that school, may be oc-
cupied by the primary school.
If the town should think favorably of these
suggestions, and furnish the necessary means for
accomplishing the objects contemplated, the Com-
mittee fully believe their fellow citizens will find
themselves amply rewarded for any extra exertions
or contributions, it may cost them, in the increased
usefulness and efficiency of our schools, and the
growing improvement of their children.
WM. P. PREBLE, per order.
Portland, JMarch 22, 1828.