Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-04-14

The Board of Overseers, appointed to su-
perintend the public schools in the Centre
District, have seriously and deliberately con-
sidered the duty assigned them, and respect
fully recommend the following arrange
menf, which, under present circumstances,
is the most eligible plan Of education in our
free schools, they can devise.
Organization ofthe Schools.
There shall be two primary Schools kept.
one in each of the houses at the ends of the
District, for forty-six weeks annually.-Into
this primary school, all children, not under
four years of age, shall be admitted The
instruction to be confined to simple lessons
of reading and spelling. The following books
are recommended for use in the primary
schools.-Kelley's Spelling Book, and the
Young Scholars Manual. The primary schools
to be instructed by Females.
There shall be school kept of a higher
grade, in chamber of the Centre School
house, for forty six weeks annually. The
following books to be used.-Cumming' Spell
ling Book, Understanding Reader, Cummings
first Lessons in Geography, Select por-
lions ofScripture. This school to be instruct
ed by Female.
The next school in an ascending grade,
shall be kept in the remaining chamber of the
Centre School house, for forty six weeks an
nually.-The following books to be used
Murray's Reader, Murray's Grammar abridg-
ed by himself, Woodbridge's Geography, Col
burns First part, or Pierces, or Daboll's
! Arithmetic, Walkers Dictionary Abridged,
Goodrich's History OF the United States, Ties.
lament. Exercises in Composition, to be
required of Scholars of suitable age and quail
fications.- fhis school also to be kept by a
Female.
An English school shall be opened in one
of the rooms OF the Centre School House, to
he kept by a master qualified to instruct in
all the branches usually taught in school o,
this description, and to continue or six or eigh,
months in each year.-The following books
are recommended for use in this school. MUIR
Trays Grammar and Exercises, Morse's OF
Worcester's School Geography, Flint's Sur.
veying, Adams Arithmetic, Blair's Rhetoric,
Whelpiey's Compend, American First Class
Book, or Murray's English Reader, New Tes.
lament
| The Grammar School completes the con.
templated system of public instruction. This
will be continued through the year. The
\ following Books to be used. All Classical
Books necessary to fit for College, Conversa-
tons on Chemistry, Conversations on Natural
Philosophy, Wilkins Astronomy, Hedges
Logic, Testament, &c. In the School kept
by masters, once fortnight, exercises in com.
position shall be required of qualified schol-
ars; and once a fortnight, the lads shall de-
claim, at'the discretion of their teachers, and
in presence OF the Grammar Master.
Classification Of Scholars.
10 tho success OF the above plan Of public
instruction, the classification of scholars is all
important, and it is desirable that it should
be done under the sanction of the District in
their Corporate capacity.
Male and Female children are to be admit
ted into ali the schools. No child under four
years ofage, to be admitted into the primary
school. In the first instance, let the Board of
Overseers on examination, designate the
school in which each candidate for free in
structon shall find his or her place.-Al pu-
pills shall remain in the school in which they
are at first located, till they become familiar
with the Books, and expert in the branches
therein taught. On the last Saturday of
each month, there shall be an examination
oy Committee of the Board of Oyerseers
OF such Scholars, in the respective schools, as
'helr instructors or parents may deem to be
qualified for promotion to higher school and
sad committee shall give to all such children
as they may find thus qualified, a certificate
Oh SUCH qualification, which shall eutitle them
to admission into the school of the next higher
grade.
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