Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-24
lIfr AND COUNTY.
zRe city schools


It nay be remembered that year or two
since pulssic inquiry was made by the superin.
tendegt of schools Tor the long missing records
OF tile school department OF the town of Wor.
cester. The inquiry resulted in bringing into
ais possessuu several interesting and valuable
volumes of written 'records of the doings of
the ceuter school district" and of the Cover
seers of the schools in the center district
comprising a nearly complete summary of cur
educational history for nearly half century
from June, 1899, 10 February, 1S4S, at which
time the old system of schools was supplantcd
by the new under the municipal organization.
"These records" says the superintendent in
his annual report for 1861. latest how dear to
the hearts of our fathers was the cause of pop
ular education, and how unselfishly they gave
their cheerful and gratuitous services to the
support and improvement of the public
schools"
The number of these institutions in the city
January LIST, 1862, was sixty-forty eight CEN
trail, twelve suburban-employing eighty
teachers altogether, and giving instruction in
the aggregate to upwards of five thousand and
FIVE hundred pupils There are now twenty
four school houses belonging to the city, in
Guiding the new and commodious one on
Salem street. The citizens in the western
part of the city ask for a new house in Pleas
antville, and it has been recommended by the
school committee. / he citizens of East Wor-
cester and vicinity also desire new house for
the benefit of the children OF the third ward
In the center district altogether the average
number of pupils still exceeds the number of
seats by two hundred and twenty, and this
difference is constantly growing more marked
and observable.
The aggregate value of lie school property
of the city is estimated at S160, 900, which re-
qures an annual outlay of about $4,000, or two
per cent, to keep in preservation and repair.
The school department was credited for the
year 1861 with the following sums =
From the city appropriation, $4,000 90
From the state school fund, 94O 6S
Balance unexpended in 1860 800 on
From other sources, Ii 10
Total. sS5 ,81s "A
Expenditures for all purposes, 33,n 90
Balance to credit of the department, 1,547 80
The above expenditures were apportioned
| mainly as follows Salaries, S25 ,629 fuel,
S2340; superintendent, S1400; repairs, Sl342 /;
books, $3.50; fires and sweeping, sS44; fur
nishings, S614 and for other miscellaneous
wants, s1252 30. Comparing the statistics OF
the department for several years, it will be
seen that the cost per scholar has been so far
reduced as relatively to make large annual
saving to the city. The cost, in 1861, was
50 791 per scholar; for the four years proceed
ing 1863, the average was Sl1 SO. The public
will cheerfully award the judgment that this
saving has been made in a legitimate way,
and not at the expense of the schools them
selves.
This report of which we present only the
! leading points, contains detailed statement
of the condition of all the schools, and many
will be issued in pamphlet III a Id~f HFfSt, all
will no doubt receive the consideration, t
which the Importance of the subject and it
great intrinsic value, entitie it.