"Medfield Schools 1649 - 2021" - Snippet of Medfield History

Medfield MA

20 September, 2021

8:21 PM

Description

A Snippet of Medfield History... "Medfield Schools from 1649 to 2021" By Claire Shaw "It's amazing how, as the French say, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. And things really do stay the same in many ways. Schools and education have always held a significant part in town decision-making. Even in the early days of settlement, ". . . schools for the instruction of children were maintained by law." (William S. Tilden, History of the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts, 1650–1886) * In 1721, education was on the minds of the five selectmen (Adams, Clark, Ellis, Plimpton, Smith) and they engaged John Bullen to, as Tilden writes, ". . . keep school at his own house." In 1821, the five selectmen, continuing to reflect early Medfield names (Adams, Chenery, Clark, Kingsbury, and Wight), showed the fund for the school at $4,015.41, the interest on which was $231.87. In 1921, there were only three selectmen, and new names appeared: Frank E. Day, Fred Laverty, George H. Sauer. They responded to the needs of the school system by ensuring that there were raises for teachers and for transportation, and they granted "salaries for the new school nurse and the school physician." (Richard P. DeSorgher, History of the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts, 1887-1925). Medfield schools had an enrollment of 297 students in this year and 15 graduated from high school in that year. And here we are in 2021, still involved in decisions that will lead to what we hope will be the best education for Medfield's children. See? Nothing really changes, does it? *Boston Latin became, in 1635, the first public (but not free) school in the colonies. The Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law in 1642 requiring that children be taught to read and write. In 1647 another law was passed requiring all towns to establish and maintain public schools, though it was not universally observed. But not until the 19th century was public education free for all, and not until 1918 was attendance mandatory."