The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-05-02

cannot but look forward with pleasing sntici-
patton IN view of the progress of the Schools,
and the additional facilities which it is hoped
may still open for the advancement of our
youth in knowledge and virtue.
The financial concerns of the Committee
Will be reported separately. 1t only remains
Tor them, therefore, to report their dongs in
relation to the Latin Grammar School This
School had formerly been under the care of the
Selectmen ofthe town; but the Act, authorizing
the appointment 60 your Committee, made it
now their duty to superintend s. control it-nor
was it overlooked or forgotten. How it might be
raised to the character which it ought to sustain
was subject of early consideration with the
Committee, as were also the difficulties and en-
barrassments which had hitherto attended it. As
stated in the notice published by the Commit
tee at the opening Of the School under the
present Instructor, il was their opinion that, if
suitable, permanent Instructor could be OBJ
tanned, and regular attendance secured on the
part OF the Scholars, the difficulties and enlbar-
easements would all be removed After con-
siderable inquiry, they at length engaged MIR.
Benson q. Baldwin to commence as permanent
instructor, on the following conditions name
iy-that for the first six months, (Which should
be season Of trial, for mutual satisfaction be-
tween Mr. Baldwin on the one hand. and the
Committee and town on the other,) he should
receive at the rate of $50 dolls. per year--that
for the year ensuing, on supposition of mutual
satisfaction, and the concurrence of the town.
ne should receive $50 dolls. and for every sub
sequent year, 700 dolls. per annum, till settled
with family, when his salary should be
raised to 800 dollars annually. Having thus
provided, as they believed, against the evil
OF not having suitable permanent Instruc-
ter, 1t now remained to guard against that
arising from temporary, irregular attendance
On the part of Scholars. Here your Commit
tee were deeply solcitous to fix on such regu-
lations as might be hoped to recommend them
selves to the good sense of their fellow -citi-
zens and upon mature reflection they thought
that for Scholars in the Centre District, one
quarter, and for such as live out of it, one
months attendance at least ought to be insisted
on, as necessary to the prosperity of the School
IN general, and the greatest good of each
Scholar In particular. And as for regularity
OF attendance for the quarter or month, your
Committee were decidedly and unanimously Of
opinion, that no excuse ought to entitle de-
linquent to his place in the School again, which
might not be considered strictly providential or
occasional, and not likely often TO return. Lin
the construction of this rule also, majority of
the Committee thought, after little expert
ment OF the plan. that no dspensaton ought to
pc granted in favor Of any one, on the ground
"a giving opportunity 10 acquire POiIte dc-
conpllshment, when it was not granted in ac-
commodation to the steadily returning business
OF families. But in the absence of a majority
OF the Committee, difficulties arising, the rest
judged 1t expedient in some instances to relax
the rule. To your Committee these regua-
tons appeared necessary and reasonable, and if
they could be understood and acted upon, as
the Committee hoped they would be, it was
confidently believed they would recommend
themselves TO the Judgment and appreciation of
the town 1t is moreover no small pleasure to
your Committee to be able, notwithstanding
all the difficulties VIII ich are, perhaps, ever to
be expected in the introduction of a new order
of things in any of our social relations, to say
here as they think they justly may,n regard both
to the Latin School in particular, and the 9th
or Schools generally, that they are, by the COM
mon consent Of all, in altogether an improving
state. Your Committee would also further
say, in closing this Report, that they anticipate
with pleasure for their successors in Office, the
happiness with which they shall attend to the
las.ofious and interesting duties Of their ap-
pontment.
Ali which is respectfully submitted
S. M BURNSIDE,
A. BANCROFT, School Comm tee
JONATHAN GOING, of the to1on
J.. IVES HOADLY, of Worcester.
OTIS CORBETT,