Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-02-10
Report.

1t Is due to those who annually contribute for
the support of the Charity school, that ii brief
statement be made of its origin, progress and sue
ccss thus far. Some ten years ago the great mum.
Der of neglected and destitute children in our midst.
awoke in the minds If IL tew individuals a desire to
do something to counterfeit the demorsli.ing ten
dency of idlenes, and street begging. IA neither
parents or children could appreciate the benefit of
education, they had no disposition to avail them
selves of the privileges of the public schools, and
some special effort seemed necessary to bring them
under moral and intellectual training. The only
practicable plan which suggested itself was to gather
them into a separate organization, and adapt the
method Of instruction to their peculiar wants.
The visiting Committee having just completed
t Itir quarterly examination would respectfully in
vltc the attention Of the benevolent to this (as they
deem) most worthy object. Of the first five or six
years We are unable to speak definitely as no statis-
tics have been preserved. From the record. Of the
hen labors Commenced, tho attendance varied from
twenty, thirty and gradually increased to fifty, which
was the extent Of her accommodation at that time.
Two years since the house wa- rebuilt, improved
and enlarged hy Mr.. Henry p. llickok. He gem
erou.ly furnishes it without>rent) thereby enabling
the teacher to add a few more. to the number, en-.
ploying nm assistant during the cold season of the
ast two years. We also fad that the pupils arc en-
tirely composed Of children and youth from the
families of the foreign population, and that it has
been the practice at the commencement Of each
term to select such as are somewhat interested IN
school, and whose parent; have become sufficiently
81 10 furnish thpm with I.t Ia uI,j am tb,. ,l,. .,
attend, aud introduce them into the district schools
TO which tAey seyerally belong, and il the first
efforts prove premature they nre again II. rivel, and
again I'll" ei"st rcpcaird until successful. Thirty
~iA hNve thi, year ns"n thus directed into public
schools, some Of whom have been supplied with
books gratuitousiy, as the teacher does not design
to retain any one il her -cnuol who would attend
any other. We also found tlut many If the pupils
are furnished by their parent. with ali neetcd sta
t!oncry. We wcr" g%ratiiied To- learn that there has
been Il constant im~pr"vcmentin punctual attendance,
obedience and application 70 study. and that they
were IN the daily practice of reading and commit
ting portions Of the Bible. Also that the girl,
are taught sewing and knitting, in which the
teacher has received much aid from IL few Young
Itdie' IN the village. There dIr now in connection
with tho school cishty-two different pupils, with a
daily attendance Of fifty five or sixty thirty-cight
Of whom ARE readers, eighteen write and twenty-five
study Arithmetic. The school lnS been taught
forty three weeks during the pn,t year leaving a
vacation of nine. In conclu ling thi, report the
Committee would add their expression Of pleasure
and gratitude that so much has been accomplish he'd.
Under the many di'couragins circumstances,
they are surprised at the orderly, cleanly and -tu-
lious appearance of the scholars. And scarcely
moie eo.ii .e needed TO secure the cordial sympa-
thy and Cooperation of the Leohie Of Burlington in
the urduous and seltdcnying labors of their teacher
than n comparison of the present condition OF these
children with that Of a few years ,inrr.
Mus. y. b. SHAW,
Mrs. JOSiiUA lOUNG
Mhs. j. ID, ALLEN.