Litchfield enquirer., 1873-10-16
REPORT
LiToHFiELD SCHOOL VISITORS.

LiTcHFlELD SCHOOL VISITORS
 Pursuant to the requirements of tht Statute, am directed to make the follow ing report:
 The Board of Visitors organized at ths commencement of the school year by tht choice of Geo. NJ. Woodruff, Chairman Charles B. Andrews, Secretary, Charle: B. Andrews, T. l.. Jennings, and Linus T. Gilbert. acting visitors. It was voted that the acting visitors have liberty to ar range for visiting the different schools be- tween themselves in such manner as they might prefer. According to this vote the schools Tn Milton Society, Mount Tom. Bradleyville, and Bantam Districts, were assigned to Mir. T. l.. Jennings; the schools in Northfield Society, Depot and East Chestnut Hill Districts were assigned to Mir. l.. T. Gilbert; the remaining Dis tricts were assigned to the Secretary.
 At the meeting of the joint board of the Selectmen and school visitors to fix the several amounts sufficient to maintain the schools in the several Districts, it was Voted: That there~be paid to the several school districts in this town the following sums, viz:
 To each district in which the average attendance shall not exceed fifteen, the sum of eight dollars for each week that such district is required by law to main tain a school:
 To each district in which the average attendance exceeds fifteen, but shall not exceed twenty, the sum of eight dollars and fifty cents for each week such dis trict is rexuired to maintain a school:
 To each district in which the average attendance shall exceed twenty, the sum of nine dollars and fifty cents ..per week for each week that such district shall be required to maintain a school.
 The Statute requires that schools shall be maintained for at least thirty weeks in each year in every school district in which the number of persons between four and sixteen years of age at the last preceding enumeration was twenty-four or more, and for at least twenty-four weeks ln other district: So that the amount of money any district receives depends upon the number of children enumerated, and up- on the average attendance of scholars dur ing the year. It was hoped that the ap- portionment of money in this way might prompt the districts to activity in main taining as high an average attendance as possible. To some extent it is believed to have been successful.
 Circulars were sent to each district com mittee, stating the above vote, and also the number of persons enumerated, and also the average attendance for the pre- vious year.. in their respective districts. The report of the Town Treasurer will inform you of the amounts so appropriat- ed to each district. The Joint Board recommend the same appropriation for the ensuing year. It implies town tax of about g, 800.
 In each of the twenty districts in this town schools have been maintained the re- quired number of weeks and taught by teachers approved by the School Visitors. Each term has been visited twice by one of the acting visitors. The district con- mittees in many of the districts have neg lected their duty in visiting each term of school once.
 The school houses are substantially the same as last year. The house in North street district has been repaired and is now in very crsditable condition. Re- pairs are now being made on the house in Headquarters district. In Northfield centre district they have expended six hundred dollars in repairs within the last year. They have, however, placed their seats aroundlthe sides of the school room according to the fashion of fifty years ago and have so seemed to deform what would otherwise be one of the best school build ings in the town. The house in Prospect district is poor. The same may be said of Marsh district. The school house in Gilbert distrct needs repairs. In Flute vile district the house is so sadly out of repair as to be very uncomfortable for the scholars as we'll as for the teacher. Un- less repairs are made it will be a serious question whether that district will be en- titled to draw any money for the support of it's school.
 Four districts report libraries. In Har- ris Plains district there is library of 40 vols., of which 15 have been added during the year; in Beach Street district library of 155 vols, of which 15 vols. have been added since the last report; in Chestnut Hill, library of 87 vols.-no additions within the year; Milton district report that their library is scattered. There should be report of library from Bradleyville and from Gilbert districts.
 Five districts report outline maps, and some school apparatus. There is very great deficiency in black-boards.
 No school house in the town has an en- closed yard; few only have blinds. In nearly every district the outbuildings are sadly neglected.
 REPORT ON SCHOOLS.
 The Centre school was taught both sum- mer and winter by Miss Eliza M. New comb who has been very laborious and pains-taking teacher. MT. Henry T. Ca bles was the district committee.
 Chestnut Hill district, George E. Morse, district committee. Winter school taught by Miss Ellen A. Peck. Miss Peck is an experienced and thorough teacher. Sum- school taught by Miss Cornelia Bissell. This was Miss Bissell's first term as a teacher, and while the school has been generally successful there was the want of