USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1909 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF MERRIMAC,
FOR THE
HERR
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MOL
MASS.
INC
1876.
R
RATED
Year Ending January 31,
1909.
MERRIMAC, MASS., PRINTED BY THE MERRIMAC BUDGET, CLIFTON B. HEATH, MANAGER. 1909.
ANNUAL REPORT OF The Selectmen, School Committee, Water and Light Boards, and Town Officers OF
The Town of Merrimac, Mass.
FOR THE
Year Ending January 31,
1909.
MERRIMAC, MASS., PRINTED BY THE MERRIMAC BUDGET, CLIFTON B. HEATH, MANAGEK. 1909.
SCHOOL REPORT.
School Committee.
i
F. E. SWEETSIR, Chairman. . Term expires 1910 E. D. WILLIAMS, Purchasing Agt .... Term expires 1909 E. L. JEWELL, Secretary . Term expires 1911
MELVILLE A. STONE . Superintendent
Teachers.
CHARLES W. CUTTS Principal High School SUSANNA I. SAYRE .First Assistant MARY M. POOR .. Second Assistant FLORENCE C. SUTHERLAND,
3d Asst. and Principal 9th Grade
ELLEN T. MORRISON. 7th and 8th Grades A. MABELLE WARNER Asst. 7th and 8th Grades MARIAN K. BROWN 5th and 6th Grades
GRACE L. NOYES. 4th and 5th Grades JULIA M. NOYES. .3d Grade
S. BLANCHE CUNNINGHAM . Primary ANNIE M. SARGENT Merrimacport
MARY A. HUGHES. Bear Hill WILLIAM E. HARTWELL Supervisor of Music EDITH AMES. Supervisor of Drawing
THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF SCHOOL
COMMITTEE.
We hereby respectfully submit the report for the past year, together with that of the Superintendent, which has been adopted.
At the town meeting in March, Everett L. Jewell was elected for a three years' term, and E. Dean Williams for two years, in place of Charles A. Lancaster, who resigned.
The present Board organized March 3rd, 1908, with F. E. Sweetsir as Chairman, Everett L. Jewell Secretary, and E. Dean Williams, Purchasing Agent.
On April 18, 1908, at a joint meeting of the School Boards of Reading and Merrimac, it was voted to continue the union of the two towns and M. A. Stone was re-elected Superintendent.
Our repair bill has been larger this year than we antici- pated. It became necessary to build a fence, back of the Centre School building, for the safety of small children who persisted in endangering their lives at the brook at this point.
The division fence between the school and the Gould property was in such a dilapidated condition that the wisest thing to do seemed to be to tear it out and build a new one.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
The rooms inside of the building and hallways were all repainted and the blackboards put in good repair.
The general appearance of the whole property was much improved by the removal of the old fence in front of the building and in grading the yard. The school well, which has served its purpose for these many years, was covered over. The time was approaching when a new pump would be needed and it seemed about as cheap to put the town water into the building and have the added convenience. We have also had quite a bill of expense at this building in changing the doors so that they would swing outward, thereby complying with the law in case of fire. This at first thought seemed a matter of small expense, but when the carpenters began work they found it would be neces- sary to rebuild the platforms entire, making them much larger, which made in the aggregate quite an expensive item of repairs. But in this building where there are sev- eral hundred pupils, it seems to be money well expended.
We have paid all the above mentioned repair bills out of the general school funds, without special appropriation, which is the usual way to do the more expensive repairs, and for this reason we have overdrawn our school appro- priation for the first time in many years.
The doors of the other school buildings must be changed to comply with the law, but we did not have the money to do this.
Your attention is called by the Superintendent to the gen- eral unsanitary and tumbled-down condition of the shed and out-houses back of the centre building. His recommen- dations are good as a remedy but the cost would be great.
Again, plumbing without a heated cellar is not practical and your committee do not feel that the town can well af-
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SCHOOL REPORT.
ford at this time in an old building to solve the problem in his way.
What the best thing to do is a question that is hard to answer. Perhaps the best solution would be to tear the old shed away entirely, build a cellar large enough for coal and wood under the schoolhouse and build a new outhouse, with six or eight earth closets in each side.
In June, 1908, we received the following communication :
In the Service of the Commonwealth. (Seal)
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
State House, Boston, June 5, 1908.
To the Chairman of the School Committee :
By a recent act of the Legislature (Chapter 412, Acts of 1908), section 7 of Chapter 502 of the Acts of 1906 is re- pealed.
The law makes it obligatory upon school committees to employ school physicians and to provide for the physical examination of all school children.
This duty of school committees is not now dependent upon a previous appropriation nor limited by the amount actually made. The obligation to care for the health of the children rests upon the same legal basis as the obligation to furnish instruction, and the school committees have equal powers in the two kinds of work.
By Chapter 181, Acts of 1908, special instruction as to tuberculosis and its prevention is included in the list of subjects required by law to be taught.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
A circular of suggestions to teachers, now being prepared for the State Board of Education by distinguished specialists in tuberculosis, will be sent out early in Septem- ber.
The attention of school committees is invited to the report on "School Hygiene," contained in the Seventy-first Report of the State Board of Education.
Respectfully yours, GEORGE H. MARTIN, Secretary.
In compliance with this law it was voted that F. E. Sweetsir be appointed School Physician, his services to begin Feb. 1, 1909, at a salary of $50.00 per year. Our town receives some $14 00.00 of State money each year on condition that we comply with the State laws and rules of the State Board of Education.
At the Plains schoolhouse there is a very good oppor- tunity to have the pupils co-operate with the Village Im- provement Society and put the new playgrounds, pur- chased from the Sargent heirs, into different condition.
At the present time these two lots are about as unattrac- tive as they can well be, covered as they are with bushes, uncut grass and sand piles.
We wish to call attention to the fact that the Bear Hill School had only eight scholars during the past year. Is it desirable to save $200.00 or more a year by closing the school and transporting the pupils up to the sixth grade at the Centre on the electric cars?
S
SCHOOL REPORT.
After most careful consideration, we estimate that the schools will require for their maintenance for the ensuing year as follows :
For General School Purposes $7,419
For Transportation. 500
For Superintendent. 375
F. E. SWEETSIR, EVERETT L. JEWELL, E. DEAN WILLIAMS, School Committee.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Merrimac, Mass. : Gentlemen :-
The following is respectfully submitted as my third an- nual report :
BUILDINGS.
In considering first the provision for proper physical con- fort throughout the schools, I must call your attention once more to the need of a few desks and seats of the adjustable pattern.
In every room there are a few pupils who are compelled to use a seat or a desk so far from the normal size that deformity would result if the pupil were compelled to use it for the entire time. The relaxation at recess and out of school hours saves the child in most cases, but it is wrong to subject them to such experience for even one-fourth part of the time.
An expenditure of one hundred fifty dollars would correct this trouble throughout the schools, and I strongly recom- mend the purchase of adjustable desks and seats to that amount.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
Another crying need is found at the Center School, where forty pupils are confined in a room with too little air ca- pacity for the enrollment.
The ventilation is poor and one remedy lies in taking out the partition on the north side and so throwing into it the unused room which alone is no better than this for provid- ing the proper volume of air for each pupil.
At the Prospect School the upper room could be more readily heated if the hot air flue were carrried eight feet higher, so as to allow the heat to pass more readily toward the north side of the room. Storm windows would also tend to equalize the heat in all parts of the room, and could be provided at small expense.
Compliance with the law requiring doors of public buildings to open outward brought about a change at the Center School that appeals to many as a great improve- ment, while the removal of the fence certainly meets the approval of all who have at heart the good appearance of the town property. The doors at the Prospect still open inward.
Another item of improvement of the buildings is the sani- tation of the Center School. At a comparatively small ex- pense the cellar at the rear might be enlarged to accommo- date the needed toilet rooms, and the present unsightly buildings at the rear be removed, thus enlarging the play- ground.
At this building we shall always have from one hundred fifty to two hundred pupils, and suitable provision should be made for their physical comfort.
By throwing together the two rooms, as suggested before, enough space at the south side could well be spared for stairways leading to the toilet rooms below, and the children
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SCHOOL REPORT.
reared in homes of refinement would not be exposed to the risk of colds and other troubles, as at present.
Some may say that present school accommodations are an improvement upon those of forty or fifty years ago. That does not seem a sound argument in the light of the legislation upon school accommodations, and the hygienic requirements in regard to fresh air and contagious diseases.
The time has passed when anything that will shield from wind and rain is considered good enough for the children. More and more people generally are ready to admit that the all-round development of the children of a community is the most important interest of the community, and the building and other equipment throughout our State show that the importance of this work is recognized by the tax- payers, with the result that the best possible structure is considered none too good for the best development of the children.
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Another law recently made operative by the repeal of the clause restricting the payment of the inspector requires the employment of a medical inspector, who shall make such inspection of the schools as shall reduce to the minimum the chance of the spread of contagious diseases and shall note cases that need special treatment.
Failure to comply with this law will jeopardize the fund received from the State, as this aid is granted upon the con- dition of living up to all the laws of the Commonwealth bearing upon education.
Merrimac now stands on the list of a few towns that have made no provision for medical inspection.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
COURSE OF STUDY.
Coming now to the course of study, it is a satisfaction to find that the pupils from first grade to the seventh are working according to an eight grade plan which was given in typescript to the teachers of these grades last September. The seventh and eighth grades are doing all we could expect from their previous preparation for such work as an eight grade plan demands.
As I stated at the beginning and repeated a year ago, these grades must be allowed the full year of forty weeks to enable pupils to derive the full advantage of the plan.
Some will ask what advantage is to be expected from this plan. One gain is the completion of our course of study in twelve years instead of thirteen for three-fourths or more of all the pupils who enter our schools.
They thus gain one year of productive life in the com- munity, and, besides, in case of those who enter High School, come into an acquaintance with a variety of sub- jects in the High School course which broaden their views of life and enable them one year earlier in life to begin to study in a practical way their own talents and adaptation to different occupations.
Another reason in case of many boys is that the very fact that in High School an opportunity will be found for studying different subjects from those that have occupied their attention all through their school days will prove sufficient attraction to hold them for one year more of school, and so for another till the end of the course, while the prospect of another year upon the same work as begun in eighth grade often proves too discouraging, and the boy
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SCHOOL REPORT.
drops out of school very much to his regret ten years later in life.
While our High School has not a modern equipment for science work, good preparation is given for college and for Normal School, and no pupil is obliged to spend a year or two elsewhere to fit for college. If from lack of applica- tion in previous years, a boy finds himself unable to finish his preparation in four years, he can better afford to take a fifth year in this school and be prepared at no expense to his parents than to enter some school at a high rate of tuition for the sake of entering college one year earlier. The chances are that the youth's immaturity of mind is the chief reason of his needing five years for preparation instead of four, and to force a boy a year in advance of his real fitness for solid mental work is not likely to be profit- able in any sense.
Again parents are not always sufficiently ambitious for their boys at the beginning of their course in the High School. As a result, the boy drifts along with no definite purpose, and so he accomplishes from one-half to three- quarters of the work he might easily master if he were in- spired by a definite aim at each step of his course This calls for more complete co-operation between parents and teachers if the school is to yield its full measure of efficiency to those who patronize or maintain it.
CHANGE OF TEACHERS.
The past year our schools have experienced a greater change in the corps of teachers than usual. The first to leave us last February was Miss Florence I. Hamblett, whose illness called for relief from school work. Miss
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SCHOOL REPORT.
Grace L. Noyes was secured to take the school of fourth and fifth grades at the Prospect.
At the close of the year the resignation of Mr. C. E. Perkins was received after two years of good and faithful service. For his work with the ninth grade and part of the High School program we secured Miss Florence C. Sutherland, a graduate of Simmons College, with some previous experience in teaching.
Early in the summer vacation Miss Thacher tendered her resignation to accept a larger position in Wayland, after serving the Merrimac High School faithfully and efficiently for 2 years. Miss Mary M. Poor of Haverhill, a graduate of Boston University, was secured to succeed her.
Later Miss Head was granted leave of absence for a year, and Miss Marian K. Brown was secured as substitute. As Miss Brown was elected to a larger position in An- dover, Miss Bertha G Hayes was employed to continue the work of grades five and six at the Prospect.
This makes a change of six teachers in the corps of four- teen within the twelve months, which is a severe test upon the system.
It is a satisfaction to be able to report that the new teach- ers have made a good beginning and the prospects are good that we shall find the work at the close of the school year as well accomplished as the time, thirty-eight (38) weeks, will allow.
HUMANE EDUCATION.
As I have said before, the attention given to the cause of our domestic animals, their needs and their comforts, certainly leads to a more refined and cultured treatment of
-
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SCHOOL REPORT.
one another and a more respectful and polite regard for their elders. At the Prospect School the pupils are working up a strong sentiment in favor of what they choose to call Mauritania Club, which was introduced by Miss Brown and followed up by Miss Noyes, to develop care in all lines of conduct, each letter in the name standing for some desir- able quality or trait, and all pupils striving to secure a good record in the strengthening of each good quality. The pupils certainly made good progress in this matter of growth in forming good habits.
The schools at the Center have made commendable prog- ress in many things the past year, but perhaps the most marked gain is found in the quiet, orderly moments in and about the building. The teachers all deserve special com- mendation for this.
STAMP SAVING.
After developing public interest in this subject to the point of securing a working capital of ten dollars, the stamps were put on sale after the Thanksgiving recess and during the months of December and January the sales have amounted to $70.00
In this manner we aim to bring our pupils in contact with the real things of life, and by this means develop thrift and a kind and generous feeling toward the unfortunate, as they have opportunity to give of their own money for the objects that appeal to them.
This also furnishes another use for the pennies instead of spending them for candy or gum or using them in the slot machines, which encourage the gambling spirit.
The cause of temperance will be promoted in this manner,
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SCHOOL REPORT.
for it is the repeated decision to refuse to gratify an appeal of the appetite that finally results in the habit of temperance in ones daily living.
This report thus rounds out the complete provision we make for the right development of the children according to their three-fold nature.
The reports of the High School Principal and of the Special Teachers of Music and Drawing will give the needs of these departments of our work.
With keen appreciation of the loyalty of the teachers in this work and your hearty support in my efforts to improve the work of the schools, this report is respectfully sub- mitted.
MELVILLE A. STONE,
Superintendent of Schools.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL.
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I submit herewith my ninth annual report on the progress and condition of the High School.
I am very glad to report that the work of the school for the past year has been much more satisfactory than usual. This doubtless is due to a combination of circumstances, one of which I believe to be the operation of our new course of study. It may be too early to form a final judgment of the working of this course of study, but it seems to be work- ing well.
With slight adjustments from time to time as occasion may require, it will doubtless be found to meet the needs of our community admirably. It permits the giving of greater consideration not only to the needs of the individual pupil, but to his natural aptitude as well. For this reason I believe our elective system tends to promote the pupil's interest and consequently the efficiency of the school.
In this connection I would suggest that parents encourage their children as early as may seem advisable to plan as definitely as possible for the future, that the High School work may be adjusted to the carrying out of that plan. Much time and expense and often disappointment may then
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SCHOOL REPORT.
be saved. Frequent conferences and co-operation with the teachers may be helpful in this matter. A good number of our pupils are preparing for college and other higher insti- tutions. Their work is more seriously approached and more efficiently done because of this. It is always for the advantage of the pupil to have a definite end in view.
During the spring vacation the senior class, together with several teachers and friends, took a trip to Washing- ton. Aside from the pleasure and profitable experience of travel, the educational value of a few days' stay at the capital can hardly be overestimated. I believe our young people would greatly profit if each one before graduation could have the benefit of this trip. I would be glad if the trip to Washington became an annual, or at least a frequent, event.
Miss Thacher, who had efficiently served in the school for two years, withdrew at the end of the year in June, and Miss Mary M. Poor of Haverhill, a graduate of Boston University, succeeded her. She has already gained a strong hold on her pupils and is handling her subjects admirably. Miss Sutherland, a graduate of Simmons College, who suc- ceeded Mr. Perkins, is proving an efficient teacher.
I have to acknowledge the gift of a sectional bookcase, presented by the Alumni Association. This was a wisely selected gift, and is very much appreciated. It can be added to at any time, and already we need additional shelf room to accommodate our reference library; at the same time, one of our greatest needs is to increase the library itself.
The drawing room should be heated directly. It is not safe to conduct classes in that room on a cold day as it is now heated. The work in drawing is too important to be
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SCHOOL REPORT.
crippled by an inconvenience that can be readily remedied.
We need to add to our equipment for teaching the sciences. With but very little outlay we are doing very creditable work in Chemistry, but we have very little appar- atus for use in experimental work in Physics or Biology.
The spirit of the school is excellent-never have more cordial relations existed between teachers and pupils than have prevailed during the past year. I believe more home work is being done than ever before, and as a result the general average of the school, both in scholarship and conduct is higher than usual. That this condition may continue and that even more effective work be accom- plished, I ask the co-operation of pupils and parents.
In conclusion I wish to thank you and, through you, the members of the School Committee for assistance and co- operation in all that pertains to the welfare of the school.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES W. CUTTS,
Principal High School.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
To Superintendent Stone and School Board of Merrimac :
Your Supervisor of Music is pleased to submit his fifth annual report, which can be only one of progress, as no new policy has been adopted, but the work has been carried for- ward on the same fixed and definite lines that have con- tributed to the success of past years. The schools of Merrimac are fortunate in securing and retaining excellent teachers to carry on the work, upon whom depend so largely the successful issue of special subjects, such as music and drawing.
Experience in teaching anything will point out certain directions or lines which ought to be magnified or learned most thoroughly to get the best and quickest results. So in reading music we believe the children are better qualified than ever before, simply from knowing just where and how to apply the time allotted for singing to the best advan- tage. There certainly is no lack of enthusiasm in any of the rooms. The pupils, from the primary grades up to the High School, all love to sing; hence my work among them is one of pleasure.
Much time is used by your special teacher in certain grades on the physiology of the voice-that is, how to pro- duce the best tones and develop the voice by the proper use of the breath-and I am satisfied that the time is well
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SCHOOL REPORT.
spent. If done correctly, singing should make people healthier and oftentimes act as a preventive to throat and lung troubles.
The music period in the ninth grade has been largely used in preparing pupils for the work in the High School a year hence, and as such has been particularly valuable. Boys of this grade can really do little if any satisfactory singing, as at this time their voices are changing. So, much time is given in work that will fit them to sing male parts in the higher classes.
Never have the pupils of the High School taken hold of the study of music as they have this year; never have they seemed so thoroughly interested and courteous, and never have I enjoyed my stay among them as during the present year. The people of Merrimac and vicinity have learned to expect much from the High School in their public appear- ances in the past, but they may expect even better work in the future.
My thanks are due Supt. Stone for valuable suggestions, to the committee for everything asked for, to all the teach- ers for their entire co-operation and to the pupils for excel- lent work and the best of treatment.
Respectfully,
W. E. HARTWELL,
Supervisor of Music.
Haverhill, Mass., Jan. 18, 1909.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
DRAWING.
Mr. Stone, Superintendent of Schools :
In rendering my report for the past year as Supervisor of drawing I am pleased to be able to state that the work is progressing very favorably. Throughout the schools there is an interest and enthusiasm shown that tends toward good results.
In the lower grades there should be first instilled the love of drawing. Then by drawing and drawing freely they will get to look upon their drawing as a common means of lan- guage expression.
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