The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-07-19
Worcester Free Schools.

VOTCeStcT fTee SCHOOLS.
The School Committee of Worcester adop
this method Of giving notice to their fellow
townsmen, and TO all others concerned. ,ha
after careful consideration, they have deter
mined upon the following, as Glass Books. I,
be used in the several District Schools. an,
W the Grammar Schools in Worcester. unit
changed BY direction of the Committee. riz.
kelly's lnstructer-Lee's Speiling.Bo
I-eaVtps Easy Lessons--The New Te.tamen
-Cumnlnss's First Lessons in Geography
and Astronomy, with an Atlas-Cummings'.
Spelling Book-Columbian Glass .Book-Mur.
rays roduction-Murray's Grammar.
abridged by Teacher of Youth-Americar
ArithmetIc-Colburn's Mental Arithmetic
Morse's school Geography and Atlas-Good-
rlch's History the United States-Walker'.
Dictionary-School Bible-English Reader
Murray's Grammar, abridged bv Alger-
Auray's Grammar-Tytler's Elements of
IIistOry-american First Class Book-Blair,s
Lcctares, sbridSed--Watts on the Mind
Conversations on Chemistry-Blake's Natu-
raj Philosophy.
1t is to be understood that those are all The
60oks, excepting the Latin and Greek Clas-
sizes, necessary to complete the ,rhOle course
Of studies, which it is thought proper TO intro
duce intoour Schools. They will not, there
fore, all be wanted by any one Scholar at
one fine, but such of them only, as may be
required for the particular branches which
are the objects of pursuit. The "A, Il, c
darian, for instance, will commence with KEEL
ly's Instructor. This little book, before it
will be fully understood by the pupil, will
Probasoly be worn out, or lost: instead of sup
plying its place with another Of the same
kind, the Child will next take Lees SpelIing-
Book, which is adapted to more enlarged
capacity. The highest classes in School will
be frequently exercised in Cummings's Spell
ling Book; for nc Scholars, however advanc-
ed, should cver be permitted, .eloily to lay
aside either the Speiling-Book or the Bible.
The former should always be at hand, to in
sure correctness in the elements of language
the latter, to enlighten the path Of duty, and
to impress its all powerfaI notipes upon The
youthful mind, 10 the practice of moral vir-
tue. The new beginner in Geography will
study Cumnings's First Lessons, and will af-
forwards pursue the subject in Morse's School
Geography AMI Atlas. Murray's Grammar.
abridged, will guide the little student in ETY.
mology and Syntax, and Murray's larger work
will be found more serviceable TO those of ad-
vanced standing. Children of almost any
age may be usefully exercised in CoIburn's
Mental Arithmetic, which should always be
kept by the Instructor for this purpose; while
older Scholars will End every thing necessary
for common business in the American Arthme.
tic, by Robinson. When Scholars are we'll
instructed in Reading, Spelling, Writing,
Arithmetic, English Grammar, Geography,
and practised in Composition, departments of
knowledge which the Committee deem of
first Importance they will be permitted,
If their parents desire ii, 10 attend TO the ele-
ments of History, Natural Philosophy, and
Chemistry, by The aid oithe authors here rec.
ommended; but the Committee deem it one
of their most imperious duties TO discourage
the pursuit of these latter studies, as worse
than useless, until those branches which are
more Immediately useful shall have become
familiar.
The Committee also give notice, that they
have provided, according to the Statute, all
tae books proposed to be used in our Schools,
and that they may be obtained, at low prices,
at the Store of Mr.. Clarendon Harris, in Wor-
cester. All parents, Of sufficient ability, will
seasonably provide the proper books fer their
children. Those who are unable, will be
provided at the expense of the Town, upon
application TO the Committee.
The Committee cannot forbear to avail tho
themselves of the opportunity which The occa-
sion furnishes, for addressing a few remarks to
their fellow-townsmen, and especially TO
such Of them as are charged with the care OF
Youth, on the present condition of our Schools,
the system of instruction adopted in them,
and the real necessity of a cheerful and con-
slant cooperation of Parents and Guardians
to give effect to the labors of thu Committee.
Since their appointment to office, the Com
mttee have twice visited every School, kept
At the expense Of the town, or Of the Centre
District. They have regulated the Course OF
Studies, and made it uniform through all the
Districts. Each School is divided into at
least four classes, exclusive of those who arc
learning the alphabet. A Monthly Register
is kept in every School, and is so ruled as to
show, at glance, every month, the absences
-recitations, good, bad, or indifereni-and
the general deportmcn. of every Scholar.
These Registers are TO be inspected and re-
marked upon, at each Monthly Examination,
in the presence Of the School; and then 10 be
GRATEFULLY preserved by the Secretary of the
Committee, as evidence Of the comparative
merits Of every Scholar in town.
The Committee have endcavoured to raise
the standard of knowledge, and 20 mrke am
pie provision for correct instruction in all
the branches OF an useful education; thus
furnishing TO the poor, equal advantagea with
the rich, for intellectual improvement, and
for the enjoyment OF civil and religious liber-
ty. With this view, the Committee refuse
tosemploy cren Female Instructor, fos a
Summer School, who is not competent to
teach in all the books they have thought prop
or TO introduce; and, as proof Of the qualifca-
tons ofTeachers, they give decided prefer
cnce to personal examination, over certih'
Gates, which are sometimes Of cquivocal i'm
port, and often come from individuals with
whom they are notintimatcly acquainted.
This is a brief outline Of the plan they
have adopted, in the execution Of their trust,
by ,rdy Of experiment. itwould be arrogance