History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield ...

Miscellaneous Notes. 267
trades being good at none ;
and why not apply the suggestion
to the departments of learning ?
Our venerated fathers, practical and shrewd, kept these things
in view. We their children are more prone to theorise ; more
charmed with the ideal ;
perhaps a little more under fancy's lead.
But it may be asked, Is not the mind more fully developed and
strengthened, better disciplined and polished, through these
modern requirements — are not more extensive, beautiful, and
ennobling avenues of thought opened through such means ?
This
is a point for the wisest to discuss. And some philosophical
"exploring circle" may yet discover a way out of the difficulties
that beset the great educational interest.
Every true philanthropist
will pray for the adoption of any course that will
make men
better and happier ; for there yet linger in the world vice and
misery enough to call for determined warfare with the best
weapons we can find.
The studies in our common schools, are however, apparently
to an injudicious extent, prescribed by statute ;
and hence to the
local supervisors entire freedom of action is not allowed ; but
there are so many details to be observed, so much care and
oversight to be exercised, that their sphere of duty is large and
their labors great. The School Committee is wisely made by
law, to a considerable extent, an independent board, a board not
to be controlled by the caprices of any other body, whose line
of duty may not be expected to embrace special qualifications.
The full and perspicuous reports made annually by the Committee
furnish all the information that can be needed by our
fellow-citizens to understand the condition and requirements
of the entire educational interest. And a few statistical items
only need be added here. It is easier for lookers-on to make
suggestions, perhaps very good in themselves, than to show how
they can be properly dove-tailed into a system ; but it is yet
true that useful suggestions may sometimes come from minds
hardly expected to bear ripened fruit. There seems no reason
to doubt, that with here and there an exception, those selected
to supervise our schools are actuated by a sincere desire faithfully
to perform their responsible duties, and endeavor to adopt the
best means to accomplish the best ends.
Number of Schools. The whole number of our Public Schools,