Research


Scope and Content Note

These reports were submitted by county clerks pursuant to a law of 1819 requiring that they forward to the superintendent of common schools copies of reports received from town school commissioners. In 1821 the office of superintendent of common schools was abolished and its functions transferred to the secretary of state. The first folder in the series contains a draft of the secretary's report to the legislature, probably for 1821.

The reports by the school commissioners of each town provide the number of common school districts wholly and partially in the town that submitted reports to the school commissioners; amounts of school funds received from the county treasurer and town collector; and (included in most reports) titles of textbooks commonly used.

For each common school district the following information is provided: school district number; length of time that any school was kept; length of time that school was kept by an approved teacher; number of children taught during previous year; total number of children aged five to fifteen residing in school district; and amount of school funds received.