school furniture, apparatus, libraries, and of other constituents, in the prosperity of a school. In fine, if towns, as such, were to administer the school system within their respective limits, the great principle of republican equality would have an unobstructed sphere of action, and would yield its harvest of beneficent fruits; now, selfishness has ever-renewing opportunities for interposing its mischievous obstructions to the progress of our schools. But the calamity of this system is entailed upon the State. A few towns, it is true, have abolished their district organization, and reverted to the ancient system. But we can hardly expect that their example will be generally followed, at least for a long time to come.

A question then arises, how shall the money raised by the town for the support of its schools, be distributed among its districts? The law confides this power to the towns. In executing it, they certainly have sought out many inventions. Below, is an authentic schedule of the modes of distribution, as derived from the best authority,-the school committees of the State. I state also the lowest sum distributed to any one district, in a town.

In another part of this Report, I may venture to make a few remarks in favor of the introduction of Vocal Music into the public schools of the State. Having also obtained information respecting the extent to which this refining art is now practised in our schools, I insert the results in the same catalogue. Although the two subjects have no connection with each other, yet the insertion of them together, will supersede the necessity of another schedule for all the towns in the State.

SUFFOLK.

BOSTON. Not districted. All schools kept during the year.

Vocal music is regularly taught by an accomplished instructer in all the grammar and writing schools, but not in the Latin, or English High School. It is practised more or less, in the primary schools.

CHELSEA. Thirty-seven hundred dollars are distributed according to the number of scholars,* and $100 to the two smallest districts. Lowest sum to any district, $106 81.

Vocal music in nearly all the schools.

* When it is stated that the money is divided according to the number of scholars, it is doubtless meant, according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age.

ESSEX.

AMESBURY. Four tenths are divided equally among the districts; six tenths equally among all persons under 21 years of age. Lowest sum, $71 28. Vocal music, in three, out of 16 schools.

ANDOVER. Money is apportioned by the school committee and selectmen, whose object is, that the means of education shall be enjoyed equally by all the districts. Lowest sum, $115 00.

BEVERLY. Money is distributed according to the number of ratable polls in the several districts. Lowest sum, $47 50.

Vocal music in four schools.

BOXFORD. Money raised by tax is divided equally among the 7 districts. Money received from other sources is divided according to the number of persons in each district between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $103 67. Vocal music in one school.

BRADFORD. Money raised by tax is divided sons in the districts under 21 years of age. according to the number between 4 and 16.

according to the number of perMoney received from the State, Lowest sum, $110 60.

Vocal music practised where the teachers are competent.

DANVERS. All the money, excepting $200, is distributed according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. The committee distribute the reserved sum of $200, among such districts as in their judgment require it most. Lowest sum, $140 62.

Vocal music in four schools.

ESSEX. The selectmen are authorized to distribute the money according to their discretion. Lowest sum, $45.

Vocal music occasionally, in two schools.

GEORGETOWN. The town voted to appropriate $137, to each of the three largest districts; and $121 to each of the three smallest, without regard to property, number of children, or polls.

GLOUCESTER. Money distributed according to each district, between the ages of 4 and 21 years. Vocal music in two schools.

the number of persons in Lowest sum, $100.

HAVERHILL. Committee did not answer the question. HAMILTON. Money is divided equally among the 4 districts,-$100 to each. IPSWICH. One thousand dollars are divided according to the tax assessed upon the districts; $150 according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age; and the residue, $750, at the discretion of the committee. Lowest sum, $98. Vocal music in two winter schools.

LYNN. Schools kept through the year. Lowest sum given to any one school $200. Vocal music practised in six schools.

LYNNFIELD. Money heretofore, which was levied in any district, given back to it. At the annual meeting in March last, the town voted to give to one of the three district, $162 00; to another, $165 00; and to the third, $200.

MANCHESTER. Money is apportioned by a vote of the town among the districts; and $107 43 more than their proportion, given to the two smaller districts, "by way of compromise."

MARBLEHEAD. All the schools are kept the year round. Vocal music in one

school.

METHUEN. Each district receives back what it paid in taxes. Lowest sum $60.

MIDDLETON. Money is equally divided among the districts,-$166 66 to each. Vocal music in three schools.

NEWBURY. Money is apportioned according to the number of males in each district, over 16 years of age, who are not paupers. Lowest sum, $72 36. NEWBURYPORT. Schools are kept through the year. Vocal music in thirteen schools.

ROCKPORT. Money is distributed according to the number of polls in each district. Lowest sum, $137 00.

ROWLEY. Money is apportioned according to valuation. Lowest sum, $43. SALEM. Schools are kept through the year. Vocal music is practised in nine schools, under teachers specially employed; and in others, according to the disposition and ability of the teacher.

SALISBURY. The subject is under the consideration of a committee of the town. Lowest sum, $86 56.

SAUGUS. Money is divided according to the judgment of the school committee. Lowest sum, $98 00.

TOPSFIELD. The committee did not answer the question.

WENHAM. Money is divided equally according to the number of scholars, up to 50, and then at the rate of 2 for 1. Lowest sum, $32 00.

WEST NEWBURY. Money is apportioned, three eighths to the districts, and five eighths to the scholars. Lowest sum, $107 95.

MIDDLESEX.

ACTON. Money is apportioned among the districts in proportion to the amount of property assessed. Lowest sum, $90 50. Vocal music, more or less, in all the summer schools.

ASHBY. Eight districts receive equal shares of the money raised by tax; the 9th receives three fifths as much as one of the others' shares. The interest of the Surplus Revenue is divided equally. Lowest sum, $49 62. Vocal music, in two schools.

BEDFORD. Two hundred forty-two dollars five cents are given to the centre district, and $121 02, to each of the others.

BILLERICA. The money is distributed arbitrarily according to a vote of the town, passed some years since. It is not stated in what manner. Lowest sum, $80 27. Vocal music in two schools.

BOXBORO'. Money is divided equally among the four districts,-$100 00 to each.

BRIGHTON. The male and female departments of the high school, receive about $1050; the five district schools about $188 each. Vocal music to some extent in five or six schools.

BURLINGTON. Money is equally divided,-$62 22 to each school.

CAMBRIDGE. Schools are kept through the year. Vocal music occasionally in all the schools.

CARLISLE. Money is divided equally among the districts, $106 00 to each. Vocal music in one school.

CHARLESTOWN. Schools are kept through the year. Vocal music in all. CHELMSFORD. Four fifths are divided among the districts according to the amount they paid in taxes, and one fifth distributed according to the discretion of the selectmen. Lowest sum, $101 14. Vocal music in three schools.

CONCORD. The money is apportioned partly according to the number of ratable polls, and partly on the amount of property. Lowest sum, $155 01. Vocal music in four schools.

DRACUT. Money is apportioned according to the tax paid by each district. Lowest sum, $41 14.

DUNSTABLE. Money is apportioned according to the tax paid by each district. Lowest sum, $38 75. Vocal music in four schools.

FRAMINGHAM. The question was not answered by the committee. Vocal music in four schools.

GROTON. Two thirds of the money is divided according to the number of scholars, and one third equally among the districts. Lowest sum, $57 60. Vocal music in five schools.

HOLLISTON. Money is equally divided among the districts. Lowest sum, $119 00.

HOPKINTON. The question was not answered by the committee. Vocal music in two schools.

LEXINGTON. The three large districts receive $300 each; the other four, $200 each. Vocal music in eight schools.

LINCOLN. Money is divided equally among the four districts,-$178 39 each. Vocal music in two schools.

LITTLETON. The town is not districted; the money is divided equally among the schools. Vocal music in three schools.

LOWELL. The schools are kept during the year.

MALDEN. Money is divided according to the number of scholars between the ages of 4 and 14. Vocal music in four schools.

MARLBORO.' There are 1075 persons in town under 21 years of age, averaging 107 to each district. Such a district would receive $110. From every district having three less than the average number, $1 is taken; and to every district having three more than the average, $1 is given. Lowest sum, $98 00. Vocal music in one school.

MEDFORD. The schools are kept through the year. Vocal music in most of the schools.

NATICK. The sum of $20 is given to each district, and the residue is divided according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $94 00. Vocal music practised in most of the schools.

NEWTON. The money is divided by a committee of one from each district, so that the schools may be nearly of an equal length in them all. Lowest sum, $176. Vocal music in three schools.

PEPPERELL. The money is divided equally among the several districts. Vocal music in three schools.

READING. One half is divided according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age, in the districts; and the other half, according to the taxes paid by each. Lowest sum, $79 21. Vocal music in one school. SHERBURNE. The districts receive back what they pay in taxes. sum, $82 61.

Lowest

SHIRLEY. Money is divided equally among the districts. SOMERVILLE. The town is not districted. Most of the schools are kept through the year. Vocal music to some extent in all the schools.

SOUTH READING. Money is divided "per capita," but the committee are authorized to modify the rule in favor of small districts. Lowest sum $50 00. STONEHAM. One half is apportioned according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age, in each district; and one half according to the valuation of the districts. Lowest sum, $41 98. Vocal music in five schools. STOW. Money received in taxes from each district, is paid back. Lowest sum, $79 82.

SUDBURY. Money is equally divided among the districts.
TEWKSBURY. The committee did not answer the question.

TOWNSEND. One half among the districts, and the other half according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $50 05. Vocal music in most of the schools.

TYNGSBORO. For more than 20 years past, the money has been apportioned in equal sums among the several districts, by an annual vote of the town,—$100 to each. Last year an additional sum of $100, was raised for a "grammar" or "high school," which all children of suitable age and acquirements may attend.

WALTHAM. The schools are kept nearly all the year. Vocal music in three schools.

WATERTOWN. Money is divided equally per scholar. Vocal music in four schools occasionally.

WAYLAND. Money is divided equally among the districts.

WEST CAMBRIDGE. One fifth of the money is apportioned to the south district; so much is taken as will support a school in the Wyman district six months in the summer, and four months in the winter, and the residue is divided between the other districts in proportion to the number of families in each. Vocal music in all the schools.

WESTFORD. Seven tenths are divided according to the number of persons