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vard College, two-fifths of the Boylston prizes for declamation have been awarded to Latin-school boys. Indeed, the boys in this school, and those who have proceeded therefrom, have been for many years so noted for their excellence in elocution, that it would not be arrogant for the school to claim that the Latinschool boys who in their after lives have been so eminent at the bar, in the pulpit, and in the forum, owe a large degree of their success to their early and judicious training upon the school platform.

The Committee have, at each of their visits to the school, made an examination of the building and all its premises. These they have invariably found in good order, and requiring no special notice, although they fall far short of the present requirements of the school. It is hoped that the day will not be far distant, when this school, which has attained such eminence in its results, will be provided with ample, comfortable, and healthy accommodations for its pupils.

The visits which have been made to the school have during the year been extremely satisfactory; and the examinations have evinced a high order of character, fully sustaining the reputation which the school has acquired in previous years.

For the Committee,

NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF,

Chairman.

Boston, September, 1861.

ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.

THE Committee on the English High School respectfully report that the annual and quarterly examination of said school was held on the 9th and 10th of July last, and was in the highest degree satisfactory. Six medals were awarded, and the essays written for the Lawrence prizes were very creditable to the writers, as were those also delivered at the annual exhibition of the school.

There has been no change of teachers in the school during the year, and its condition has been good, save for that cause from which it suffers more, it is believed, than any other school in the city, viz: the number of those who leave the school before completing its full course of instruction. The number of candidates examined for admission in July, 1860, was one hundred and three; more than ninety of whom were admitted, and eighty-eight joined the school, all but three of whom were from public schools. The whole number registered for the year was one hundred and eightyeight. The largest number present on any one day, one hundred and eighty-seven. The largest average attendance for any one month was in the month of September, one hundred and seventy-nine. The average attendance for the year was one hundred and sixty-five,

which must be considered a very fair average in view of the evil to which reference has just been made, viz: the number who leave the school without completing the course. This number last year amounted to fortyfive; four of these were from the first class, twentythree from the second class, the remainder from the third class; some of them left on account of ill-health, some because either from indolence or want of capacity they were not doing well in their studies, and many that they might embrace opportunities which offered to get good business places. It might have some influence in remedying this evil, if a diploma or certificate of graduation were given to every scholar completing the course of instruction at the school. To obtain such public testimonial and assurance of preparation for the higher departments of commercial and business life, might induce more young men to remain and avail themselves of the advantages which the school offers.

The number of pupils presenting themselves as candidates for examination in July last, was one hundred and six, of whom, one hundred and three were from public schools. Of these, the Brimmer offered the largest number, viz: twenty-four; the Dwight the next largest, viz thirteen; the Phillips the next largest, viz: ten; the others varied from eight to two, who came from the Lawrence, the smallest number from any school; seven came from the Latin School. average age of the twenty-four from Brimmer School was fourteen years and six months. The average age of the whole number of candidates was fifteen years and four months. Of the one hundred and six examined, one hundred and one were admitted; ninety-eight

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of these were from the public schools, and eighty-eight have joined the school and are now in attendance upon the instruction. Thirteen therefore of those admitted have not joined the school. This evil has been increasing every year of late. Last year, of those examined and admitted there were thirteen who did not join, and the year before there were eleven. Young men sometimes come to the examination for admission, without any intention of entering the school, because it helps them to get better places of business, to be able to say that they have been admitted to the English High School. But this subjects the instructors to much unnecessary work, and places the school in an unfavorable light. The record of the examinations and the register of entrances do not correspond well with each other. The Committee suggest the expediency of some regulation that should exclude from examination those, who do not propose to join the school.

As a picture of the building in which the English High School together with the Latin School is accommodated, has been procured for a frontispiece to the document of which this report forms a part, it may not be inappropriate to state, in conclusion, a few facts respecting its history.

This Institution, which is not only one of the last but also one of the noblest monuments of the action of the old "town" of Boston previous to the adoption of the city charter, was established by a vote of the citizens in town meeting, in 1821, and it went into operation in May of that year. It is worthy of remark that soon after its organization, the town appropriated, by a popular vote, the liberal sum of $2,500, which was

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