USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1868-1869 > Part 1
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REPORTS
OF THE
SELECTMEN OF FAIRHAVEN
ON THE
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN;
AND OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
For the Year 1868-9.
NEW BEDFORD) : E. ANTHONY & SONS, PRINTERS, 67 UNION STREET. 1869.
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
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https://archive.org/details/annualreportofto 1868fair
REPORT
OF THE
SELECTMEN OF FAIRHAVEN
ON THE
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN,
For the Year 1868-69.
NEW BEDFORD : E. ANTHONY & SONS, PRINTERS, 67 UNION STREET. 1869.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
ACCOUNT OF THE COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Uncollected taxes as per last report,
$8,099.15
Amount of tax bills placed in hands of T. Damon, Jr., for the year 1868,
23,030.75
Interest on taxes,
183.50
$31,313.40
Amount collected by T. Damon, Jr., and paid :
State treasurer,
$3,680.00
County treasurer,
1,962.28
Town treasurer,
17,335.21
Abatement for prompt pay,
1,136.87
Taxes remitted,
676.45
Taxes refunded,
19.58
Losses by failures,
477.16
Treasurer and collector's salary,
584.96
Uncollected taxes for 1860,
128.38
Uncollected taxes for 1861,
191.65
Uncollected taxes for 1862,
626.50
Uncollected taxes for 1863,
319.85
Uncollected taxes for 1864,
398.30
Uncollected taxes for 1865,
453.02
Uncollected taxes for 1866,
470.10
Uncollected taxes for 1867,
1,078.95
Uncollected taxes for 1868,
1,774.14 31,313.40
The Selectmen have examined the accounts of T. Damon, Jr., collector of taxes, and find them correct.
TUCKER DAMON, JR.,
IN ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN, DR.
To balance from old account, $1,287.11
To taxes received from collector,
17,335.21
To dividend from National Bank, Fairhaven, 184.00
To cash from town of Dartmouth, 74.40
To cash from town of Middleborough, 61.00
4
To cash from town of Freetown,
27.25
To cash from town of Mattapoisett,
260.43
To cash from town of Acushnet,
9.50
To cash from city of Fall River,
245.43
To cash from Stillman Leavitt,
14.20
To cash from Sarah Shaw,
33.50
To cash from Joseph Pope,
188.70
To cash from Samuel White,
83.33
To cash from John C. Albert,
190.00
To cash from State, state pauper,
10.00
To cash from State, state aid,
895.73
To cash from State, corporation tax,
859.46
To loan from Fairhaven Savings Institution,
8,800.00
To cash from county commissioners, liquor license,
50.00
To cash from peddlers' licenses,
20.00
To cash from James I. Church,
6.01
To cash from H. W. Richmond,
1.12
To cash from interest on loans,
74.57
To cash from A. P. Wilcox, liquor agent,
388.93
To cash from A. P. Wilcox, book agent,
165.00
To cash from state school fund,
172.16
$31.437.04
Credit.
By orders drawn on treasurer and paid for account of highways, public schools, support of poor, and incidental account,
$30,551.85
By balance on hand to new account,
885.19
$31,437.04
REPAIRS OF HIGHWAYS.
Order in favor of Seth Alden for payment to
George Swain & Son,
$26.25
Sylvanus Skiff,
3.50
William Mackie,
17.50
Elam Littlefield,
5.00
George Reeves,
3.50
Reuben Austin,
10.00
Edward Mackie.
7.87
William M. Stetson,
1.75
Manuel Rose,
5.00
George R. Deane,
10.40
Daniel W. Deane,
3.85
James M. Hall,
3.50
Henry Jenney,
10.50
Seth Alden,
79.25
$187.87
1
5
Order in favor of Jabez T. Howard for payment to
John Gelett,
$4.00
Daniel Jenney,
1.75
Dennis Stevens,
16.25
B. P. Tripp,
15.24
Charles F. Blossom,
32.76
Henry T. Howard,
34.75
John Howard,
1.50
John F. Howard,
8.50
A. Tripp,
7.37
E. W. Godfrey,
2.96
Isaac Hathaway,
1.75
Ephraim and Thomas Delano,
5.75
Jabez T. Howard,
80.00
$212.58
Order in favor of Job Willcox for payment to
Jabez T. Howard,
$5.00
Henry T. Howard,
4.00
John F. Howard,
1.75
Sylvanus Skiff,
1.75
Paul K. Hathaway,
10.85
R. P. Marshall,
4.17
Robert Parker,
11.17
Reuben Austin,
18.90
Ebenezer Grinnell,
6.45
Welcome J. Lawton,
2.25
Samuel Tinkham,
7.87
Jabez Jenney,
6.30
Jonathan Mosher,
3.50
William A. Tripp,
4.05
William P. Sullings,
8.90
Paul K. Hathaway,
1.75
Sylvanus Skiff,
3.50
John F. Howard,
1.75
Beuben Austin,
4.00
James M. Hall,
1.75
William B. Littlefield,
.60
Job Willcox,
81.50
$191.76
Order in favor of Joseph Leavitt (year 1865,)
7.00
Order in favor of Seth A. Mitchell for payment to
William C. Ford,
$12.55
Roland Fish,
8.00
R. A. Dunham,
24.60
6
Reuben Austin,
59.97
William Hammond,
5.00
Robert Parker,
7.63
Joseph Millett,
8.40
Beriah Austin,
8.00
Alexander Tripp,
8.40
David C. Wood,
4.00
George F. Tripp,
1.65
Joseph B. Taber,
.70
Master Kempton,
.82
Town Farm,
15.00
J. R. Howland,
15.00
Sylvanus Skiff,
13.55
Jonathan Cowen,
23.72
W. P. Alden,
32.64
Samuel Briggs,
31.85
Joseph Dwelley,
74.65
Thomas Davis,
26.45
William Dwelley,
27.77
Charles Eldredge,
3.50
John Alden,
3.50
Philip Nolan,
24.50
John Howard,
21.40
John Sweeny,
8.75
Ebenezer Grinnell,
8.40
Isaac Terry,
2.47
John M. Howland,
1.00
Tripp & Bourne,
2.87
M. B. Rowe,
10.40
Joseph Leavitt,
10.40
Joseph Jenney,
1.33
Frederic Pearce,
6.86
Amos T. Peirce,
1.00
William Taber,
10.83
Ephraim Pope,
.50
William S. Guild,
1.75
Job Willcox,
9.00
Sylvanus Willcox,
3.00
Seth A. Mitchell,
94.36
$636.17
Order in favor of William P. Sullings for payment to
Andrew Spooner,
$7.00
William Spooner,
2.00
Paul K. Hathaway,
19.96
William A. Tripp,
24.33
William A. Tripp, Jr.,
6.00
Jonathan Mosher,
7.00
4
7
Benjamin Drew,
11.38
James Dall,
19.08
Peleg R. Drew,
8.75
John M. Howland,
4.95
Moses Stone,
2.63
Joseph B. Taber,
5.50
William Dwelley,
5.00
William Mann,
3.50
Samuel Tinkham,
5.25
F. R. Whitwell,
7.50
John A. Tripp,
8.58
Town Farm,
25.45
James Tripp,
5.00
Charles Tripp,
1.50
William P. Sullings,
67.69
$248.05
Order in favor of Beriah Austin road :
Seth Alden,
$42.00
Reuben Austin,
8.00
George Reeves,
2.65
James M. Hall,
7.87
Beriah Austin,
4.37
Henry Jenney,
5.25
$70.14
Order in favor of Privilege street and Pease's lane :
John Howard,
$10.40
Philip Nolan,
7.10
William C. Ford,
4.70
Clark, Jenney & Co.,
6.16
Tripp & Bourne,
1.74
Loring Dexter,
5.89
William S. Guild,
8.50
S. S. Paine & Co.,
21.71
Seth A. Mitchell,
10.00
76.20
Order in favor of Rotch street :
Seth A. Mitchell,
$25.00
Jonathan Cowen,
14.97
John Sweeny,
3.50
Charles Eldredge,
2.00
Sylvanus Skiff,
1.50
J. R. Howland,
2.50
W. P. Alden,
3.50
F. T. Bailey,
1.75
M. B. Rowe,
1.50
-
8
N. Clark, Hutchins & Howard, William C. Ford, Samuel P. Jenney,
3.12
2.68
13.00
3.59
$78.61
$1,708.38
Credit.
By appropriation,
$1,500.00
By special appropriation, Rotch street,
75.00
By special appropriation, Beriah Austin st.,
75.00
$1,650.00
Amount overdrawn to debit incidental acct., 58.38 $1,708.38
SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
High School.
C. C. Woodman, teacher,
$1,316.15
E. P. Hamblin, teacher,
245.00
Sara H. Kelley, teacher,
52.50
Lizzie Fitch, teacher,
106.75
W. D. Eldridge, care,
39.43
Roland Fish, fuel,
88.00
Andrew Benson, fuel,
3.75
Luscomb & Haskins, cleaning,
6.60
John Hopkins, cabinet organ,
32.00
Alexander Tripp, repairs,
14.35
George P. Briggs, repairs,
7.50
S. A. Tripp, repairs,
2.50
Purrington & Taber, repairs,
1.56
N. S. Taber, supplies,
19.90
Tripp & Bourne, supplies,
34.37
James I. Church, supplies,
2.93
S. S. Swift & Co., supplies,
1 .90
C. Hazeltine, piano,
5.00
Phoenix Hall, hall,
5.00
Stevens & Eldredge, ice,
2.80
George H. Tripp, care,
34.95
Alfred Nye, supplies,
4.55
2,026.49
District No. 1.
N. M. Thomas, teacher,
$88.00
M. E. H. Ottiwell, teacher,
75.00
P. B. Cathell, teacher,
72.50
John M. Howland, fuel,
23.75
A. W. Spooner, care,
7.80
Charles A. Stevens, care,
9.00
William P. Sullings, care and fuel,
12.60
288.65
9
District No. 2.
Jane G. Allen, teacher,
$100.00
F. G. Cushman, teacher,
75.00
Abbie D. Whitney, teacher,
68.75
Sara H. Kelley, teacher,
81.25
P. S. Macy, fuel,
28.00
George F. Allen, care,
17.00
Joseph Crowell, labor,
3.50
John M. Howland, fuel,
5.25
Edward F. Chapman, care,
11.00
389.75
District No. 3.
Emma S. Taber, teacher,
$90.00
Francis P. Sherman, care,
5.50
Roland Fish, fuel,
17.00
112.50
District No. 4.
W. C. Ryder, teacher,
$656.25
M. A. Fairfield, teacher,
232.74
Amanda Clark, teacher,
65.00
Lois Deane, teacher,
274.99
E. T. Delano, teacher,
215.00
D. P. Rand, teacher,
168.00
Millie S. Eldredge, teacher,
214.50
Sarah F. Hitch, teacher,
130.00
Alden Allen, care,
46.22
Henry Webb, care,
14.60
Walter Day, care,
6.40
John Sweeny, care,
50.03
W. C. Ryder, care,
7.85
Daniel F. Hathaway, care,
10.35
Alice Jones, care,
3.00
Charles Clark, care,
3.05
F. E. Sawin, care,
12.28
Merrihew & Upjohn, care,
5.00
Emma Snell, care,
1.60
Roland Fish, fuel,
139.44
A. Benson, fuel,
56.25
Frank T. Lambert, care,
1.76
2,314.31
District No. 5.
Hattie M. Howland, teacher,
$87.50
Hellen M. Clark, teacher,
168.87
Joseph W. Peirce, care,
10.00
Watson Jenney, fuel,
13.34
William M. Stetson, fuel,
3.63
283.34
10
District No. 6.
Hattie M. Howland, teacher,
$92.00
Seth Delano, fuel, 12.50
104.50
District No. 7.
Sarah F. Hitch, teacher,
$80.00
Hellen C. Deane, teacher,
80.00
Alfred Studley, care,
4.00
Charles D. Sherman, care,
2.81
William H. Whitfield, fuel,
7.50
C. P. Littlefield, fuel,
6.50
H. T. Howard, fuel,
6.56
187.37
$5,706.91
Balance to new account,
791.44
$6,498.35
Credit.
By balance from old account,
$1,326.19
By amount of appropriation,
5,000.00
By amount received from State,
172.16
6,498.35
SUPPORT OF POOR.
Orders drawn for support of Poor :
In the alms-house for the year 1868-69,
$510.61
Out of alms-house for the year 1868-69,
621.00
State Lunatic Hospital,
393.60
State Reform School,
38.57
State Nautical School,
8.57
F. M. Fuller,
174.18
R. Allen,
173.48
Fairhaven Union Store,
201.55
Joseph B. Taber,
125.23
S. S. Swift & Co.,
259.60
Roland Fish, families, Roland Fish, alms-house,
57.00
George Atwood,
94.00
Isaac Fairchild,
62.00
Isaac Terry,
40.46
E. T. Sampson,
3.50
New Bedford Gas Company,
9.80
J. B. Peck,
55.57
Coggeshall & Co.,
31.75
Stillman Leavitt,
292.08
Alfred Nye,
158.71
3,498.06
Balance to new account,
199.68
$3,697.74
186.80
11
Credit.
By amount appropriation,
$2,500.00
Cash from Stillman Leavitt,
14.20
Cash from Sarah Shaw,
33.50
Cash from Joseph Pope,
188.70
Cash from Samuel White,
83.33
Cash from John C. Albert,
190.00
Cash from town of Middleborough,
61.00
Cash from town of Dartmouth,
74.40
Cash from town of Freetown,
27.25
Cash from town of Mattapoisett,
260.43
Cash from town of Acushnet,
9.50
Cash from city of Fall River,
245.43
Cash from Commonwealth,
10.00
3,697.74
INCIDENTAL ACCOUNT.
Fire Department.
Engine Company No. 3,
$636.52
Engine Company No. 5,
395.83
William Jeffers, steam fire engine,
3,200.00
Josiah Gates & Sons, new hose,
1,750.00
John Quirk, labor,
3.00
Wamsutta Mills, coal,
11.25
John E. Almy, supplies,
13.74
J. H. Perry & Co., coal,
14.48
Fairhaven Railroad, freight,
21.28
Clark Jenney & Co., water tank,
14.98
James Doull, lumber,
3.69
William Mann, labor,
30.35
Jesse C. Gifford, labor,
5.80
James L. Butman, water carriage,
60.00
Albert I. Barney, labor,
11.60
Purrington & Taber, neatsfoot oil,
51.21
Rufus Allen,
4.45
Joseph B. Taber, No. 5,
13.08
F. M. Fuller, No. 3,
6.95
John P. Winslow, No. 3,
14.08
R. A. Dunham & Co., horse hire,
10.00
William H. Hoag, labor,
2.25
Isaac Terry,
16.70
William C. Ford,
.80
F. S. Peirce, lumber and labor,
70.22
Allen & Brownell, repairing hose,
15.25
William S. Guild,
16.94
Alden Bradford, engineer,
75.00
12
Alden Bradford, supplies,.
26.58
Benson & Tinkham, fuel,
4.42
N. S. Taber,
19.30
James L. Butman,
2.00
Raymond & Webb,
9.60
Roland Fish, coal,
6.66
James E. Card, labor,
6.40
6,544.41
State Aid.
State aid furnished families, $799.00
Town Debt.
Paid note favor Fairhaven Institution for
Savings,
$3,300.00
Paid interest on town debt,
2,933.14 $6,233.14
School Books.
Amount paid for school books,
$258.75
Soldiers' Monument.
George F. Meacher, monument, $1,700.00
Riverside cemetery, grading lot, 6.00
$1,706.00
Mill Bridge.
Isaac Terry,
$5.85
Malcom Mc Lane,
8,40
A. Howard and P. Reed,
2.00
William Dwelley,
106.68
Reuben Austin,
46.00
Seth Alden,
54 40
J. Cowen,
23.55
R. A. Dunham & Co.,
15.30
Sylvanus Skiff,
13.20
James L. Butman,
12.50
M. B. Rowe,
45.60
Joseph Leavitt,
45.00
Joseph Dwelley,
22.00
W. S. Guild,
2.29
Thomas Davis,
15.75
Philip Nolan,
5.25
S. Briggs and I. Howard,
3.50
John Wood,
9.00
George F. Tripp,
· 1.50
Tripp & Bourne,
2.40
Seth A. Mitchell,
30.00
E. G. Grinnell,
6.60
13
Peleg R. Drew, Roland Fish,
1.20
4.62
Charles Eldredge,
4.75
John Alden, Edward Jenney,
3.00
2.00
W. C. Ford,
4.00
$496.34
Salaries.
Selectmen :
Bartholomew Taber,
$200.00
Isaiah West,
65.00
Reuben Nye,
50.00
$315.00
Overseers of Poor :
Bartholomew Taber,
50.00
Isaiah West,
25.00
Reuben Nye,
25.00
100.00
Assessors :
Lewis S. Judd,
115 00
George H. Taber,
115.00
Charles Bryant,
46.00
276.00
Fire Wards :
William Mann,
10.00
William H. Hoeg,
10.00
Aaron Savery,
10.00
30.00
Constable : .
William Mann,
12.00
Town Clerk, Treasurer and Collector :
Tucker Damon,
584.96
Registrar :
Tucker Damon,
22.46
School Committee :
Isaac Fairchild,
50.00
Charles Drew,
50.00
Daniel C. Burt,
50.00
150.00
Incidentals.
E. Anthony & Sons, advertising and printing, $105.00 R. A. Dunham & Co., horse hire for school committee, 20.75
R. Fish, fuel,
15.00
Fessenden & Baker, advertising,
62.75
Phoenix Hall, rent of hall,
30.00
Phoenix Hall, rent of office,
55.00
Estate John Allen, land rent,
5.00
Allen & Terry, printing,
3.50
Assessors, stationery,
2.50
14
A. T. Peirce, care town clock,
10.42
George Willcox, repairs on pound,
2.00
Hervy Caswell, repairs on town pump,
1.83
School District No. 1, tax,
13.54
Taber Brothers, records,
16.50
N. S. Taber,
2.00
Tripp & Bourne,
3.40
Tucker Damon, office expenses,
9.30
Bartholomew Taber, incidentals,
6.91
Isaiah West, incidentals,
12.75
378.15
Balance overdrawn for highways,
58.38
Abatement on taxes for prompt payment,
1,136.87
Taxes remitted,
676.45
Taxes refunded,
19.58
Balance of incidental account year 1867, omitted,
647.61
2,538.89
New Road.
Edward Jenney, land damage,
200.00
Enos Joseph, land damage,
21.25
Jonathan Jenney, land damage,
17.00
Samuel White, land damage,
125.00
Alexander Tripp, land damage,
54.00
Seth A. Mitchell,
1,954.00
2,367 25
$22,812.35
Balance unexpended to credit in new ac- count,
1,608.95
$24,421.30
Credit.
By amount of appropriation,
$6,000.00
By amount of appropriation, new road,
1,000.00
By loan from Fairhaven Inst. for Savings, 8,800.00
By cash from State for State aid,
895.73
By cash from State, corporation tax,
859.46
By cash from County, liquor license,
50.00
By cash from pedlers' license,
20.00
By cash from James I. Church, license,
6.01
By cash from H. W. Richmond,
1.12
By cash from National Bank, Fairhaven, dividends,
184.00
By cash from interest on loan,
74.57
By cash from A. P. Willcox, liquor agent,
388.93
By cash from A. P. Willcox, book agent,
165.00
By cash from overlay on taxes, 1,238.47
By cash from balance from old account,
4,738.01 $24,421.30
15
TOWN DEBT.
Loans from Fairhaven Institution for Savings,
$29,000.00
Loans from individuals,
15,832.00
1,193.00
Interest on loans, Outstanding bills,
425.89
Deductions.
Due from Commonwealth, State aid,
$1,379.00
Due from Joseph Pope,
30.30
Due from William H. Willis,
85.00
Due from town of Nantucket,
43.20
Due from town of Dartmouth,
19.18
Due from city of Fall River,
101.97
Due from city of New Bedford,
138.25
Twenty-three shares Nat'l Bank Fairhaven, 1,932.00
Uncollected taxes,
5,440.89
Cash in hands of treasurer,
885.19
10,054.98
Total debt of the town,
$36,395.91
TOWN LIQUOR AGENCY.
Stock and cash on hand March 17, 1868,
$372.69
Profit on sales, 14.85
$387.54
Credit.
By stock on hand May 25th, 1868,
$69.04
By agent's salary, 22 months, 14.57
By cash paid town treasurer,
303.93
$387.54
SCHOOL BOOK AGENCY.
To balance on hand March 15th, 1868,
$8.09
Books on hand March 15th, 1868,
177.54
Books purchased during the year, 264.54
Advance on books sold, 26.41
$476.58
Credit.
By books on hand March 15th, 1869, $211.24
By cash paid town treasurer, 165.00
By books furnished schools and sundry persons, 47.95
$46,450.89
16
By bills paid by agent,
20.37
By expenses obtaining books,
3.51
By agent's commissions, 26.41 By cash on hand, 2.10 $476.58
Respectfully submitted,
BARTHOLOMEW TABER, ISAIAH WEST, Selectmen.
REUBEN NYE,
We the undersigned have examined the foregoing accounts and believe them to be correct.
GEO. F. TRIPP, Committee on LEWIS S. JUDD, Accounts.
FAIRHAVEN, March 22, 1869.
REPORT.
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN,
For the year 1868-9.
NEW BEDFORD : E. ANTHONY & SONS, PRINTERS, 67 UNION STREET. 1869.
سد
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
1
To the inhabitants of the town of Fairhaven :
The tables to be found at the conclusion of this report, give, at a glance, full statistical information concerning the schools of your town for the past year :- The amount of money raised for school purposes, and how it has been ap- propriated among the districts ; the teachers of the differ- ent schools and their wages ; the number of scholars in the town, and the separate districts ; their average attendance on the schools, and how long the schools have been in ses- sion. These tables show the number of children in the town between the ages of 5 and 15 years to be 504. The amount of money raised for school purposes $5000, which gives $9.92 for the education of each child. If there be added to the $5000 raised by the town $300, the income from a bequest, $191 unexpended balance from last year, and $172 from the State fund, all of which has been ex- pended, the amount for each child reaches the sum of $11.03.
The schools have been in session about nine months.
This statement by figures is easily made, but it does not indicate what is most important for you to know, the measure of success the schools attained. But every parent who has been hopefully watchful of the progress of his child can form a pretty correct estimate of the school which he has been attending. If the child has been regu- lar, punctual and willing in his attendance, seems kindly disposed toward the teacher, and at home shows an inter- est in his studies, it is very sure he is doing well in the
4
school. If in addition to this watchful care over the child you have made an occasional visit to the school-room, but little necessary for your information will remain for us to say.
We think the general condition of the schools compares favorably with that of previous years, but they are far be- low the highest standard of excellence attainable. In many of the schools there has been frequent change of teachers, in some cases from their failure in instruction or government, and in others from our inability to compete with other committees, who have enticed from us some of our best instructors. It should be our aim to supply our schools with the best teachers, and having secured them, to retain them in their places. We can do this in one way only,-pay them well, and pay them as much as others will pay them. This we must do if we intend to lift the schools from the present condition to that degree of excel- lence. There cannot be a good school without a good teacher. The labors of the Committee, and the co-opera- tion of parents may be valuable auxiliaries, but without the good teacher they are futile. If on trial the teacher is found not fitted for the school-room by thorough literary qualifications, if he lacks the power to govern, or the skill to communicate knowledge, to enliven the imagination and awaken the interest of even the dull scholar, he must fail, and no extrinsic qualities should weigh at all in our esti- mate of his fitness, or against our decision to fill his place with another. No matter what popularity he may have gained in the community, no matter how estimable he may be in every other relation, his place is not in the school- room as a teacher. The sympathy we must feel for him for loss of occupation or disappointment, should not re- strain us from the discharge of an unpleasant duty. Our stronger sympathy must be reserved for the children whose interest it is our duty to guard, and for whose benefit alone the schools are maintained. Unless committees act con-
5
scientiously in this matter, without fear or favor, and un- less the community sustain them in their action, we shall never rescue our schools from the palsying presence of the incompetent teacher. Aside from his instruction in the books the teacher's influence on the character of his pupils can never be estimated ; the example he sets will be imi- tated, the language he uses will be repeated, and the les- sons he imparts not only in letters but in manners and de- portment, will be stamped ineffacably on the impressible young minds, of those with whose instruction he is intrust- ed. If he allows the boys to be rude and noisy in and around the school, should we expect quietness on the street corners, or proper decorum in the public assembly ? We would not require too much of the teacher, but there is pertinance in the question one invariably asks who encoun- ters a throng of rude and uncivil boys, " Where do they go to school?"
During the past year there has been little cause of com- plaint on account of truancy, and the average attendance on the schools has been commendable. But we regret to notice how many every year leave the schools, who might and could remain longer if they chose. This is especially noticeable of those recently admitted to the High School, for soon after their admission one by one they begin to drop off, until long before the four years' course is com- pleted, but a small proportion of the original class remains.
It is a mistake to allow a pupil to enter the High School without such a preparation in the elementary branches as shall qualify him to undertake the severer studies of the course, and go on with them pleasantly and profitably. The disadvantage of admitting pupils at too carly an age, and without the preparation requisite for advancing with the class, we sce examples of every year. The novelty of the change from the lower to the higher school soon wears away, but the burdensomeness of the unequal task in- creases till it ends in disappointment and disgust. The
.
6
school loses its attraction, and the dissatisfied scholar is suddenly seized with an ambition to undertake the labor belonging to a later period of life, for which his imperfect education inadequately fits him. He abandons the school. Some of those who thus fall off perhaps obtain the chance to learn a trade, or procure a place behind a dry goods counter ; some seek uncertain employment about the shops or on the wharves, or perhaps drift down the bay in a fishing boat, while another restless boy, in absence of any- thing else, mounts the coachman's box to display his
" Matchless skill To curb the steed and guide the wheel."
Industry should always be encouraged, but the child should be taught that the kind of industry which will benefit him most is the patient, persevering study which will make him a well educated, intelligent man.
In a former report we called your attention to the ne- cessity of some change, by which the number of schools in the town might be reduced, and the money raised for school purposes be more economically expended. It did not seem possible to accomplish this while the districts remained unchanged. This difficulty, we believe, is now overcome by a recent legislative enactment, which has swept away the school district system entirely. This will involve important changes ultimately in all the schools of the town ; but it would be premature at this time to pro- pose any detailed plan for their reorganization. We ask your most careful attention to the subject, and feel confi- dent the result will secure increased efficiency in the schools, and promote the cause of sound education.
Appended you will see the statistical tables, to which reference has been made.
Signed, ISAAC FAIRCHILD, Chairman. CHARLES DREW, Secretary.
7
After crediting the High School account for overdrafts there remained unappropriated for last year, Raised by town, Received from State fund,
$191.57 5,000.00
172.16
$5,363.73
Appropriated to District No. 1, 33 children,
$236.00
Appropriated to District No. 2, 35 children,
250.00
Appropriated to District No. 3, 34 children,
140.00
Appropriated to District No. 4, 308 children,
2,160.00
Appropriated to District No. 5, 38 children,
272.00
Appropriated to District No. 6, 37 children,
265.00
Appropriated to District No. 7, 19 children,
136.00
Appropriated to High School,
1,900.00
5,359.00
Balance unappropriated,
$4.73
TABLE I.
SUMMER.
WINTER.
SCHOOLS.
Whole number between 5 and 15, May 1, 1868.
Attendance between 5 and 15.
Attendance under 5.
Attendance over 15.
Whole attendance.
Average attendance.
Attendance between 5 and 15.
Attendance under 5.
Attendance over 15.
Whole attendance.
Average attendance.
District No. 1,
33
31 6
37 22.
371
3 41 28.
District No. 2,
35
33
3 36 27.
33
13425.8
District No. 3,
34
29
29 21.5
26
2 28 23.2
District No. 4,
308
Grammar,
81
4 85 67.2
81
5 86 66.
Centre Intermedial,
50
5041.8
55
5541.82
Centre Primary,
33
33 27.
42
4236.
North Primary,
36
36 25.86
32 1
33 24.54
South Primary,
341
35 23.
35
35 26.25
South Intermedial,
18
1815.
19
1913.07
District No. 5,
38
27
936 27.55
28
14 42 31.6
District No. 6,
37
262
28 23.
291
5 35 29.
District No. 7,
19
13 2
15 11.21
17
6 23 19.
High School,
33
38 71 56.53 22
36 58 47.18
8
TABLE II.
SCHOOLS.
District No. 1, Summer, Mary E. H. Ottiwell, $25.00 3 mos.
Winter, I. B. Cathell,
26.50
3 13-20.
District No. 2, Summer, F. G. Cushman, 25.00 3 mos.
Winter, Abbie D. Whitney, ?
Sara H. Kelley,
25.00 6
66
District No. 3,
Summer, Emma S. Taber,
30.00 6
66
Winter, Emma S. Taber,
35.00
4
66
District No. 4,
Grammar,
Summer, C. Ryder,
75.00
23
Winter,
Miss Payne, S
45.00
64
66
Assistant,
Summer, Lois Deane,
27.50
66
66
Winter, Lois Deane,
27.50
66
Centre Intermediate, Summer, M. A. Fairfield,
24.50
23
66
6
Centre Primary,
Summer, Deborah Rand,
20.00
23
66
South Intermediate,
Summer, Elizabeth Delano,
20.00
23
66
Winter,
Elizabeth Delano,
20.00
66
South Primary,
Summer, Sarah Hitch,
20.00
23
66
North Primary,
Summer, Millie Eldredge,
22.00
4
66
Winter,
Millie Eldredge,
22.00
5
66
District No. 5,
Summer, Helen M. Clark,
23.00
44
66
66
District No. 6,
Summer, Hattie M. Howland,
23.00
4
66
District No. 7,
Summer, Helen Deane,
20.00
4
66
High School,
Summer, C. C. Woodman,
120.00
7
66
Winter,
C. C. Woodman,
120.00
23
66
Assistant,
Summer, Ellen Hamblin,
35.00
66
Winter,
Elizabeth Fitch.
35.00
66
63
66
Winter,
Sarah Hitch,
20.00
Winter,
Helen M. Clark,
26.50
43
Winter, Hattie M. Howland,
25.00
4
66
Winter, Matthew Merry,
25.00
31
C. Ryder, 3
75.00
Winter, M. A. Fairfield,
24.50
Winter, Deborah Rand,
20.00
Sara H. Kelley, 3
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