Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/136

132 importance to the system of common school education; this may be noticed in their school-houses, all of which have been built new, or repaired within a few years. In 1858, district No. 1 erected a beautiful and commodious house, with four departments, at a cost of $10,000. In the same year, district No. 3 erected a house with three departments, at a cost of $5,000. Much pains has been taken in selecting teachers, giving the children and youth an opportunity to acquire an education sufficient to qualify them for the active business of life. A high school is often kept in the center of the town. There is also a fund of $1,000, belonging to the south village, the income of which is to be paid for the support of a school. The donor was Abijah M. Severy. We find from the report of the School Committee, that in the year 1858, the number of public schools kept in town was twenty-five; an increase in number of six over the preceding year; their average length was six and a half months.

The number of persons in town between five and fifteen years of age, according to the last enumeration, was 482.