Charlestown schools after 1825.
By Frank Mortimer Hawes
(Continued.)
1828-1829.
The affairs of wards 3 and 6 were assigned to Robert G. Tenney, land of wards 4 and 5 to Luke Wyman. Miss Whittemore was appointed to school No. 4, Miss Stearns to No. 5, Miss Ward to No. 3, land Miss Gerrish to No. 6, tall for the summer term. For the winter term, Philemon R. Russell, Jr., was engaged to teach in ward 4, Samuel Pitts in ward 5, Joseph W. Jenks in ward 3, and Francis S. Eastman in ward 6. As the last named did not accept, C. C. King was secured in his place. The report for the year says there were about 200 scholars outside the Neck, that schools No. 3 and 6 had ten and one-half months of school, the other two schools nine months.Of bills approved, Lemuel Gulliver received $125; Eliza D. Ward, $88; Miss Gerrish, $88; Miss M. Whittemore, $71.50; Miss Maria H. Stearns, $6.5; Philemon R. Russell, Jr., $120; Mr. Pitts, $98; and C. C. King, $160.
Within the Neck, at the examinations, 1,035 were present out of an enrollment of 11,235. Two additional primary schools have been started, making ten in all. Another may be needed in the near future. ‘The trustees how have two primary schoolhouses on the training field lot, all on the town's land, and connected with the larger school establishment.’ We may infer that the other eight primary schools were held in rooms leased for the purpose, except, perhaps, the one at the Neck, which was probably in the (brick) schoolhouse there.
The trustees recommend that children remain in school till fifteen years of age rather than fourteen, as heretofore. The report, which is signed by Chester Adams, secretary, in closing says: ‘The children never appeared to the trustees so deserving of commendation as at the present time.’
1829-1830.
From the report of Rev. Henry Jackson, secretary of the Board of Trustees for this year, we learn the following facts (concerning Charlestown school affairs):—The schools without the peninsula were taught from nine to
