The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-05-30
[For the Spy.]
SCHOOLS. AND SCHOOL HOUSES.


posed immediate and prospective action of the dieren
branches of the City Government in the premises.
find was not sufficiently clear in my statements which
have consequently been misunderstood, especially b,
your ". T. correspondent, who came down upon me
'ike duck upon June bug, fatty denying my posi-
lions, and misquotng old mother goose against me till
he brought up standing in the midst of her famous
''bramble bush" There, if you please, we will leave
him, will gladly confess myself no match for him in
his chosen style of disputation.
But the subject of Schools is of too much Importance
to the community and all times to be left in
yoved in the fog which ~ T. has raised around it.
and will, with your permission, present to your read
ers some brief extracts from public documents &C.,
which will show clearly what has long been, is, the
policy OF the proper authorities of the and city, in
relation TO our sch Dol organization.
In lS43, the Overseers of Schools in the Centre Dis
rct were directed to ''consider the subject of new
organization of the Schools and to mature and draw
up plan for the action of the District. After several
months of inquiry and deliberaon, plan of organiza-
ton was reported, Jan. 6, 1874 which substantial
y adopted b. the District and Town, and carried into
effect so far as could be at that time. That report
was signed by Alonzo Hill, President, and William
Workman, Secretary,-both now members of the
School Commlttee,-and was printed aud widely crcu
lated in the town.
| The changes proposed and adopted were: l. From
small to large schools having competent principals with
suitable assistants; ard 2 Bringing the sexes togeth-
er in the same school, The last was at that time car.
red out In only one school.
The new arrangement was advocated, because of
l. Its Economy.
2 The facilities which it affords to elevate the char
acter of the Schools.
8. "By this plan they hope to secure higher disci
pine as well as more saluary moral influence in the
Schools
A. at will be found an Improvement to secure as in
the proposed plan, the mutual influence of the sexes.
D. b" This arrangement is to afford new and neces-
sary stimulus to the Out Districts of the town.
The following extracts from the report offered
| a specimen OF the opinions of the Committee and Of
their correspondents. | send YOU printed copy thai
any one may see whether quote fairly.
They say 'FThe economical advantages of this par
are, less expense in buildings and in the furnishing
less expense for salaries of teachers while higher
quality IT instruction may be obtained, and large saw
ing Of money now necessarily expended in private tut
ton IN and out of the town.
MIR. Pierce, of the Lexington Normal School, says
The best practical plan, Think is to unite the chill
dien OF both sexes and of nearly the age and
ainments, in large schools of from $50 to 200 scholars
each, under first rate principal and three four gooc
assistants
Of the fourth reason, they say
p 'The Board are aware, that there has been "a pre-
judgment OF this question to a considerable extent
laV
. been formed with decisive disapproba ion of thi
: measure 1t is also known to them that painful fact
mthe history of the District deeply recorded in tn
memory; and that the mention of this subject bring
back those scenes with accumulated force to defea
any arguments to the contrary. 1t is bat Justice to stat
that there in the Board more decided division
er sentiment on this, than any other points, embrace
he in their Report At present. they are unanimous in til
les convection that it is safe and expedient to adopt ii
Joraaer 3liasssent to Il
, force Of facts The communications which thew hay
received make it clear them that whenever the
ure has been adopted under iuGcious restrictions b
supposed evils are obvated and the promised bene
- obtained.''
A gentleman in Lowell wrote
ma The results we came to with much unanmity wer
VIC that the two should occupy the same rooms
at the Primary and Grammar Schools but should be se
3D. aated In the high school, This is the arrangement
IA TINS CITY, The plan, the whole works so we'll tn
' Tor one, should be sorry to have change. In o.
Urinary and Grammar schools, the girls and bows 90
and out at different doors, and have different ok
am grounds &C. No doubt the greater quickness and an
* uue 10 learn on the part of the girls is spur to Il
ron boys, whose manners also improved by ntercour
with the genter SEX am inclined to think moreove
er that the girls are likewise benefited by this arrano
'u ment More soldy is given to their early characte
Div by being subjected to the kind of discipline viii,
poys need ne remark applies equally to their int
lectual and moral constitution
m The late DR.. Woodward wrote
ia; 81 am in favor of bringing the sexes together uud
proper regulations, everywhere in the nursery in schoo
m the social circle, in sports, and in religious asser
blies. "sSeN
res The good influences of the sexes upon each othe
Of wherever they meet, are reciprocal
= Mr.. Stow, Honorary Secretary of the Glasgow Ed
n catonai Society, wrote
"Ought boys and girls to be educated separatclv
together! The youth of both sexes of our Scott;.
peasantry have been educated together, and, as who
ne scots are the most moral people the face of II
globe Education in England is given sepa.,telv Al
we nave never heard from practical men that any ben
Mt has arisen from this arrangement. Some induenti
h individuals there, over the popular proipd;cc
,h's point. In Dublin, larger number of grs turn
TN pad'y, who have been educated alone till they alta
the age OF maturity, than of those who have been oil
erwse brought up the separation of the sexes has bee
~ found to be positively injurious
y" I'm the Normal Seminary of Glasgow the most be,
ehcia effects have resulted from the more natural
boys and girls from the age of two or three wears
fourteen or hiteen have been trained in the same class
ID rooms galleries, and Fairgrounds without mpropretv
cd ana 'ney are never separated except at needle work.
way, during the last fifteen years between seven nm
or eght hundred students, chiefly between the aoes
eighteen and thirty have been trained in that ipst;t
ton, three-fourths generally being males and ono finn.
ed cmaes and for twothrds of the day they have bee
.d 19ether IN the same model Schools class-rooms an
play grounds, and not of Improperly has 90
curred.' - $3.50 ~
After giving these extracts and much moro 10 A.