The Mather School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Mather School |
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| Address | |
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1 Parish Street
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| Information | |
| Type | Public school |
| Motto | First and Finest |
| Established | June 9, 1639 |
| School district | Boston Public Schools |
| Principal | Hai Son |
| Assistant Principal | Nilsa Reis |
| Faculty | 56 |
| Grades | K–5 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Number of students | 601 (2015-16) |
| Campus | Urban |
| Color(s) | Orange and Blue |
| Mascot | Mather Bee |
| Affiliation | Boston Public Schools |
The Mather School is a really special place! It's the oldest public elementary school in all of North America. You can find it in the Dorchester part of Boston, Massachusetts. The school is named after Richard Mather, who was an important minister from England. He moved to Boston and settled in Dorchester way back in 1635.
How It All Started
The Mather School began a very long time ago. On June 9, 1639, the people of Dorchester decided something important. They ordered that money from an island called "Tomsons Island" would be used to pay for a school. This money would help pay a teacher who could teach English, Latin, and other languages, plus writing. This decision officially started what would become The Mather School!
The School Buildings Over Time
The very first Mather School was a simple one-room schoolhouse. It was located on a street that used to be called "Settlers' Street." This is now near where Pleasant and Cottage Streets meet. This first building was used until 1694.
In 1694, a new contract was made to build a bigger school. This new building was twenty feet long and nineteen feet wide. It had a ground floor, a room upstairs, stairs, and a chimney. The builders had to cover it with boards and clapboard. They also filled the spaces between the walls and covered the roof with boards and shingles. This second school was likely built on a hill near the meeting-house, which is now known as Winter Street.
The Mather School you see today is not the original building. It's the successor to those early schools. Before the current building, there was another Mather School built in 1856. That building was on the same spot where the fire station is now. When the current Mather School was built in 1905, the old one was renamed the Edward Southworth School. It has since been taken down.
The Mather School Today
Today, The Mather School is located on Parish Street. This is just a short distance from where the very first school stood. It welcomes students from the Dorchester area, teaching kids from kindergarten (K) all the way to fifth grade (5).
The school's main goal is to help all students become great at reading, writing, and math. They also offer other fun classes like music, art, physical education, science, library time, and computers. Students can also get extra help with tutoring and mentoring. They even learn about healthy eating! The Mather School has students and teachers from many different cultures. It has special classes and a really cool playground too. As of the 2021–22 school year, the principal is Hai Son.
See also
- Boston Latin School
