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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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306 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON. [1759.<br />

School-Committee For oiiG liuiidred fivG years s<strong>in</strong>ce the settle-<br />

Appo<strong>in</strong>ted, ment <strong>of</strong> the town, the schools, as well as<br />

all other municipal bus<strong>in</strong>ess, had been under<br />

the general supervision <strong>of</strong> the Selectmen. But with the<br />

<strong>in</strong>crease <strong>of</strong> scholars, and the advance <strong>in</strong> methods and<br />

studies, the educational <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> the town demanded a<br />

closer attention, and more careful consideration than the<br />

townsmen with all their other duties were able to give<br />

them. Consequently on the 2*^ <strong>of</strong> January, 1759, the first<br />

School-Committee was appo<strong>in</strong>ted. It consisted <strong>of</strong> six per-<br />

sons, who, together with the Selectmen, were to have juris-<br />

diction over all the schools <strong>in</strong> town. Though it was not<br />

then termed a School-Committee, <strong>its</strong> duties were such as<br />

have s<strong>in</strong>ce devolved upon that body. For this purpose thefollow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

named persons were selected — : Isaac Parsons,<br />

Ebenezer Clark Jr., Lieut. Aaron Wright, Nathaniel<br />

Phelps, Ens. Jonathan Strong, and Capt. James Lyman.<br />

They were <strong>in</strong>structed<br />

" to jo<strong>in</strong> the Selectmen to Consider how many Schools it should be<br />

necessar}' & pr<strong>of</strong>itable for this Town to keep <strong>from</strong> this Time till next<br />

plough<strong>in</strong>g Time for the Instruction and Education <strong>of</strong> y" boys <strong>of</strong> this<br />

Town both <strong>in</strong> Grammar learn<strong>in</strong>g and to read & Write, and Impowered<br />

s"* com^"^" together with y" Selectmen to determ<strong>in</strong>e y" same <strong>in</strong> behalf <strong>of</strong><br />

y^ Town and to procure Suitable persons to Keep and Teach such<br />

Schools and to Take up Such house or houses besides the School houseas<br />

Shall be needed for that purpose. To agree [upon] the Sums to be<br />

given Such Teachers or Masters. To assign the number <strong>of</strong> Boys to<br />

Each School that at present ai-e kept or that they Shall Judge proper to<br />

Set up and to determ<strong>in</strong>e and order <strong>of</strong> what Sort they Shall be : To wit,<br />

wether Grammar Scholars or readers or "Writers which Shall be admit-<br />

ted to and Taught <strong>in</strong> Each School respectively."<br />

The assessors were ordered to raise such sums <strong>of</strong> money<br />

as might be necessary to defray the expenses. Ten pounds<br />

were also granted for " the <strong>in</strong>struction <strong>of</strong> boys liv<strong>in</strong>g at y*"<br />

farms and remote parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong>." Unlimited<br />

power relat<strong>in</strong>g to schools was by this vote delegated to this<br />

committee. They were empowered to control the schools,<br />

to hire teachers, provide school-rooms, and were authorized<br />

to expend whatever money was needed for school purposes^<br />

without restriction.

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