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

652 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T92.
spicuous in establishing a private school, where boys and
girls were taught together. ^ They approved the co-education
of the sexes, but were unwilling that it should be done
at the public expense. Equally strenuous in favor of the
project was George Blackman, the first baker in town. He
was a man of good sense and fair abilities, but of moderate
means. The advocates of the more liberal policy, earnest
and unremitting in their work, slowly gained ground, and
finally accomplished their end. At last a committee was
appointed to take the subject
favorable report was obtained.
into consideration, and a
It provided —
:
'
' That there should be an additional school kept in Lickingwater to
be opened on the first Day of May annually ; and to be closed on the
last day of October. At which School all the Boys in Lickingwater
and Welch End, and also all the Girls within the same limits above
eight and under thirteen years of age, shall be instructed in reading
and writing by a Master well qualified to teach the same. Provided
however, that no children shall be admitted into Said school who have
not perfectly learned the letters of the Alphabet.
" That Girls in the other parts of the Town within the ages aforesaid,
shall be instructed in reading and writing at the New School
House. And the Selectmen for the Time Being shall take due care to
have the foregoing report carried into execution."
This report after due consideration was "passed in the
afiirmative by a large majority."
The Work of Co- Here is the first vote ever passed by the
education Perma- towu providing for the educatiou of fenently
Settled. -, rni • i? a • • j.\ • i
males. Those m ravor or giving the girls
partial privileges with the boj^s — they were restricted to
reading and writing—had won in the long contest. Provision
was made for teaching them throughout the town,
but they must attend the master's school. Yet the advance
once commenced, was never retarded, and in a few years
female teachers were employed, and from that time forward
girls and boys struggled through the elements of education
side by side. It is presumed that very few girls availed
themselves of this privilege, indeed it must have been quite
inconvenient for those living at a distance from the center
of the town to do so. This method of co-education has
been continued to the present time. Generally an article
was inserted in the warrant for town-meeting concerning
1 See Curson's School, pp. 475, 476.