Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-04-07
SUPERINTENDE REPORT
FOR TOWN OF WESTFIELD.

GENTLEMEN In presenting you with
this my first report of the schools OF our
town, feel that | may not have per-
formed my duty as well as | might have
done. But if [ have failed in any part
of my duty, you must attribute it to my
inability and not to any desire to neg
lect or to slight any part of it; for if
there is one thing in which | take a
deeper interest in than another, it is our
common schools It is mainly to our
common schools that our youth must look
for their education. And in proportion
as our common schools are good and
thorough, just so far our youth will grow
up intelligent and useful citizens. And
who does not know that poverty and
crime and all those evils which follow in
their train abound in proportion as edu-
cation is neglected, other things being
equal. And to those who sometimes feel
that they get no return for the money
they expend on the schools, would have
them consider for moment how much
less they have to pay for the support Of
the poor, for the support of our county
jails and state prisons, than they would
have to paw if education were entirely
neglected.
Before entering into the statistical
part of this report, | shall merely
state that on the whole our schools du-
ring the year were a success. The teach
ers, for the most part, were earnest and
conscientious in the discharge of their
duties so far as they understood them.
In some instances the choice of teachers
may not have been the wisest; but [
shall refer to this again. But notwith-
standing this measure of success, candor
will compel me to say that all of them
fell short of what our common schools
ought to be, and what you can make
them if you will, 1t remains entirely
with you whether our schools shall be
the very best possible, or whether they
be anything more than an excuse
District No. |. This school was taught
both terms by Miss Minnie Hitchcock.
The number of children of school age in
this district is twenty-one, of whom six
teen attended during the summer and
twenty during the winter The average
attendance for the summer was fourteen,
and the same for the winter. The num-
ber of absences during the summer was
seventy four, and during the winter was
one hundred and thirty-six.
District No. 2. The summer term Of
this school was taught by Miss Laura
Annis, of Usage, Iowa. The winter term
by M. G. Dix, of Montgomery. The
number of children of school age in this
district is 72. OF these 50 attended du
ring both terms The number of absences
663.
District No. 8. The school in this
district was taught by Miss Ida J. Hutch
ins during the summer term, and by AL
yah A. Hitchcock during the winter
The number of children of school age
in this district is Is. Of these, II at
tended during the summer and II du
ring the winter term. The number O.
absences during the summer term wa
1872, during the winter term SO. Th'
average daily attendance during the sum
mer was and fraction of the winte
term II and fraction.
District No. 4. The school in thi
district was taught during the summe
by Miss Sarah A. Trumpass. During th
winter by Miss Anna H. Cleveland, o
Lowell. The number of children o
school age in this district is 35. 0
these, l9 attended during the summe
and 80 during the winter. The numbe
of absences during the summer was 5l7
during the winter 446. The averag
daily attendance during the summer wa
l l and during the winter 20. OWN,
to disturbances in the school it was closeC
at the end Of ten weeks.
District No. 5. The school in thi
district was taught during the summe
term by Miss Lila Connell and durin
the winter by Mrs. Ida E. Wakefield
The number of children Of school age i
this district is 81. Eleven attended du
ring the summer and 16 during the win
. ter. The average attendance during tn
summer was 8, and during the winte
II. The number of absences during tn
+ summer was rs, and during the winte
i. 267. By an arrangement between tn
0 teacher and committee the summer teri
was closed at the end of weeks.
District No. g. The summer term {
this school was taught by Miss Mandan
S Brown. The winter term by Miss Alic
A. Hitchcock. The number of childre
g of school age in this district is 38.-
) 8 of these attended during the summe
:" and 20 during the winter term. III
average daily attendance for the summt
/ was 2, and for the winter IT, II
}. number of absences during the summt
e was 346. For the winter $50.
The above statement will give yo
e some idea at least, of the state of OIL
;. :. schools, and now in conclusion perm