The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-01-18
Fer the Massachusetts Spy
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

respect 10 schools, is so directly at variance
with duty and contrary to law, that il is sul-
hcient on either account to call for auimadyer-
SION. What is duty in regard to schools, in
dependent of the statute law of this Com
monwealth, one would think, might be learnt
from common sense, if it were but called into
that degree of exercise, that is common in the
management of individual concerns. My object
at this time is briefly, and as concisely as posi-
Bile, TO state the law in regard to the duty of
towns to be provided with school masters; the
penalty for neglect of such duty the neces-
sary qualifications Of school masters and mis-
tresses; and the penalty for their undertaking
to keep school without producing certificates OF
their having such qualifications; and the duty
OF school-insptcting committees.
|. Duty Of Totons 10 be proUtded l0iM School
Masters.
1t is required by Statute, that every town
or district, (not school-district,) within this
Commonwealth, containing .ffty families or
househo!ders, shall be provided with a good
school-master or school-masteIs, of good NOR
ais, to teach children to read and write, and to
instruct them in the English language, as well
as IN arithmetic, orthography, and decent be-
havloF, for such length OF time, as shall be
equivalent to sac months fer one school in each
year-and every town or distdct, containing
one hundred families or householders, shall be
provided with such school-master or sc.lool-
masters for such length OF time as shall be
equivalent to sac months in each year; and
shall, in addition thereto, be provided with
master OF masters, as before described, for such
length of time as shall be equivalent to-ftreJge
months for one school in each year. BY the
same statute, 1889, c. 49, it is provided, that
every town or district, containing taco hundred
families or householders, shall be provided
with grammar school-master of good morals,
well Instructed in the Latin, Greek, and
English languages; and an addition thereto,
with master or masters, as above described,
to instruct children in the English language
tor such length Of time, as shall be equivalent
to tcetre months for each of said schools in each
year. by statute of 1924, C. iii. it is provid-
ed, that any town, containing less then FIVE
thousand inhabitants, and required to be pro-
Yided with school-master or school masters
well instructed in the Latin and Greek Ian
suages, shall, if such town so elect, at their
annual meeting in March or April, duly warn
ed for the purpose, be provided, instead there
oil, with teacher or teachers, well qualified
to instruct youth in photography, reading.
writing, arithmetic. English grammar, geogra-
ply, and good behavior, whose qualifications
@-->AAA' NAS EMIT ED AN LI4AE En- as Is
provided for school-mastcrs i'll the Latin and
Greek languages. Thus the law of 1889 has
been so far varied by the law of 1924, that
towns that so elect (having less than 5000 in
hahltants) are no longer under obligation to
provide masters well instructed in the Latin
anu creek languages; but, in their stead.
must provide such as are required by the act
Of 1874. Such are the legal obligations which
towns are under to be provided with school
masters.
IL. Penalties for neglect Of sasch duly.
| 1t is enacted by statute, that if any town or
district, of the number fifty families or house
holders, and less than one hundred, shall neg
lsct the procuring school-masier or masters.
to teach the English language as aforesaid, for
the space OF SIC months in one year, shall in
cur the penalty OF thirty-three dollars and
thrty-thrce cents; and penalty proportions
able Tor less time than six months in wear
upon conviction thereof-and upon having one
hundred families or househoiders and upwards
snail neglect the procuring and supporting of
such school-master or masters, as is REQUIRED
TO be Kept by such town, for the space Of one
year, such town or district shall incur the pen.
atty OF slxty-six dollars and sixty-six cents ::
and proportionable sum for less time than
year, upon conviction OF such neglect-and
every town or district, having one hundred aud
fifty families or househelders thatshall neglect
the procuring and supporting such school-mas-
! tiers, and for such term Of time as the schools
aforesaid are required to be kept by said town
or district IN any one year, shall incur the PEN
atty of one hundred dollars; and proportion.
able sum for less time, upon conviction of
such neglect-and every town or district. hay-
ing TACO hundred families or householders and
upwards, that shall neglect the procuring and
supporting such grammar chool-master, well
Instructed in the Latin and Greek languages.
(when they do not elect, as is provided in the
act OF 1924 and when they do so elect, then
such teacher or teachers, as in said last men,
toned act is provided,) for the space Of one
year, shall incur the penalty of one hundred
and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents :;
aud proportionahle sum for less time than
year, upon conviction OF such neglect.
Ill. Ihe necessary qualifications Of School
Masters and .HistresSeS.
BY the same statute 1881 it is enacted.
that no person shall be employed as school
master, as aforesaid, unless he shall have re-
celved an education at some college or univer,
sity, and, before entering ON such business.
shall produce satisfactory evidence thereof
or, unless the person to be employed, as afore-
said, shall produce certificate from a learned
minister we'll skilled in the Greek and Latin
languages, settled in the town achere the
school is proposed to be kept, or two other
such ministers in the vicinity thereof, that they
have reason to believe he is soeH qualified to
discharge the duty devolved upon such school
master by this act and in addition thereto, if
for grammar school, " that he is of compe-
tent skill in the Greek and Latin languages
for the said purpose"-and the candidate Ok
either of the descriptions aforesaid shall, more
over, produce certificate from a settled min
ster of the town, district, parish, or place TO
which such candidate belongs, or from the Sc
ectmen OF such town or district, or committee
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