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1840-1841.
The teachers in all the schools outside the Neck for this summer were the same as last year: No. 17, Mary E. Brown; No. 18, Caroline M. Sylvester; No. 19, Elizabeth P. Whittredge; No. 20, Sarah. M. Burnham; at the Russell district, Clara D. Whittemore; and at Gardner school, Hannah S. Austin.In the last report the trustees had expressed the belief that accomplished female teachers would keep the two district schools in a steady state of progress, and recommended that these two schools be made annual schools. This was so voted, and November 21 Miss Charlotte Reynolds was selected for the Gardner district, at a salary of $225. Levi Russell was elected for the winter term in his home district.
‘Messrs. Forster and Sanborn, a committee for estimating the cost of a new building on Winter Hill, reported May 11 that Mr. Charles Adams will give to the town a piece of land 30x40 feet, on condition that a school be built forthwith. This report was accepted, and it was voted to build a house in all respects like one recently built on Elm street, the cost, with fences and outhouses, not to exceed the amount appropriated by the town’ ($500).
‘Vacation this year is to be the same as last year the first week in June and from the 17th to the 29 August, inclusive,— and the following days, 17 June, 4 July, Thanksgiving Day, with the Friday and Saturday following, Christmas Day; and no other days to be allowed except by special vote of the town.’
The number of children in town June 29, 1840, between four and sixteen years is 2,619, the census being taken by the assessors, James K. Frothingham, William H. Bacon, Fitch Cutter.
Voted September 29, that teachers must be residents of the town during their term of service. Charles Kimball, of the Harvard (female) school, resigned the last of November, and a flattering letter with the thanks of the board was extended to him for his services.
January 30, 1841 the trustees examined into the complaint of a parent against Mr. Vinson, of the Prospect Hill school, for excluding his son from school. The committee
