Report of School Committee visit to Smith School, 1849

SMITH SCHOOL

BELKNAP STREET.

A. Wellington, Master.

This School was visited and examined May 7, P.M. by the Chairman and Messrs. Wink1ey and Palmer.

We regret to say that in almost all respects it is in a very low condition. In most of the studies the best scholars were deplorably deficient, considering the time, expense, and care that have been bestowed upon them. The reading of three or four (all who were called on was pretty good, but we were surprised at the ignorance of Grammar. The best scholar in the class was ca1led on to parse the word ” is,” and she called or guessed it to be a preposition, and two or three other parts of speech before it occurred to her that it might be a verb.

The result of the oral examination in Arithmetic was to show a very limited and imperfect acquaintance with the rules, but in working out a single problem in vulgar fractions, on the blackboard, a little more readiness was manifested, though nothing more than would be found in much younger classes in the other Schools.

There was no examination in Physiology or History. The class appeared better in Geography than in any other study, and had made some progress in Natural Philosophy. Some words were given out to be spelled on plates, but the result showed but a low average of correct spelling. 

But the condition of this School in the deportment of the scholars is more discouraging than their backwardness in their studies. It is bad enough to see the little advance in intellectual cultivation, to repay for the care, the expense, and perplexity of which this school has been the cause. But it is lower in point of discipline than in mental culture. In no other School have we seen so little of the sentiments of reverence and respect, in no other have we seen any want of the courtesy due to the committee and the instructers, and of the self respect which children owe to themselves. But in this School all these things were wanting. Whether it is from a want of appreciation of what propriety in conduct is,—whether it is a jealousy lest a respectful demeanor to their instructers and Committee might be construed into a concession they were indisposed to make, we know not, but we saw little inclination to observe the most ordinary rules of good manners. The general tone of the School was disorderlv. There was more of disagreeable noise and confusion among the twenty-eight pupi1s who were in the room, at the examination, than we have seen in other School rooms in Boston, containing nearly or quite ten times the number.

At one time the sound of an harmonicon or some other musical instrument was heard breaking in upon the examination.  Again, a child actually engaged in recitation would turn away from the blackboard to play with another who was at his desk, and frequently the Committee were obliged to interpose and reprimand individuals for their noisy conduct or their improper postures. After the examination was closed, some remarks were made to the children on the

state of the School, and on their improper conduct, and from some at least, the only response was a broad and  unconcealed laugh in the faces of the Committee and the master. We cannot account for this state of things. We did not expect it from the promise of the last annual examination. The fault appears to be in the pupils themselves, in the influences other than those of the School room to which they are exposed, and to the jealousies which characterize this part of our population in their intercourse with others. It is hard to point out the remedy, but we have no hesitation in saying that as it is, and has been, the Smith School is an incumbrance upon the finances of the city, and upon the patience of the School Committee, and that there is no one of our public institutions that more needs reform, and that such reform must be pointed out by a person or persons uniting weight of character with wisdom, mildness, firmness, and fearlessness.

We have concluded, after some hesitation to print the preceding notice, as it was written immediately after the examination, and is just a faithful representation of the impressions we received. It is but just however to say that the school had received no notice that the Committee was about to visit it, and that of course the examination at that time, was unexpected and not prepared for. We think, however, that although this fact may be an excuse for any defects in personal appearance or even in scholarship, it is none for the general tone of behavior and manners in the School.  As it was thought by the Committee that justice had not been quite evenly meted out to this School, owing to the want of notice, on a subsequent day another examination was made, of which due and full notice was given.  At this examination the behavior of the children was much improved, and they appeared rather better in their studies with the exception of Grammar.  Of this there was an almost total ignorance.  At this examination the girl who had told is at the first, that “is” was a preposition was asked the same question and gave the same reply.  We have since seen her name among those of the medal scholars, of the Smith School.

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Source: “The Report of the Annual Examination of the Public Schools of the City of Boston” 1849.

Document 3.7.2