USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > North Reading > Town of North Reading Annual Report of the Town Officers 1876 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
NORTH READING,
For the Year ending February, 1876,
AND
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
AND ALSO OF THE
TRUSTEES OF FLINT LIBRARY,
ASSESSORS' STATEMENTS, RETURNS, &c.
FLINT LIBRARY NONTH READING
READING : PRESS OF EDWIN L. HILL, 1876.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
NORTH
READING,
For the Year ending February, 1876,
AND
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
AND ALSO OF THE
TRUSTEES OF FLINT LIBRARY,
ASSESSORS' STATEMENTS, RETURNS, &c.
READING : PRESS OF EDWIN L. HILL, 1876.
Selectmen's Report.
SCHOOLS :
Orders drawn for teaching High School, $384 00
fuel and care of room, 44 65
teaching Franklin School, 256 00
..
teaching Centre School,
256 00
6 4
fuel and care of room, 44 04
16
teaching West School,
256 00
fuel and care of room, 43 24
teaching North School, 256 00
..
fuel and care of room, 40 02
6 6
teaching East School,
234 00
fuel and care of room, 29 15
-$1892 64
Orders for school house furniture and repairs,
205 05
------ $2097 69
Appropriation for schools,
$1800 00
Mass. School fund, 232 08
TOWN OFFICERS:
Paid Joseph D. Gowing, as Treasurer and Collector, $100 00
Joseph D. Gowing, for extra services and expenses, 29 40
Joseph D. Gowing, for printing and postage, 6 25
Augustine P. Cook, as Selectman, Asses-
sor and Overseer of the Poor, 90 00
AMOUNT CARRIED FORWARD,
$225 65
fuel and care of room,
49 54
4
AMOUNT BROUGHT FORWARD, $225 65 Paid Augustine P. Cook, journeys out of town, 16 00 Augustine P. Cook, perambulating town lines, 4 50
John B. Campbell, as Selectman, Asses- sor and Overseer of the Poor, 32 00
John B. Campbell, journeys out of town, 28 45
John B. Campbell, perambulating town lines, 2 00
Timothy Fowle, Selectman, Assessor and Overseer of the Poor, 21 00
Timothy Fowle, journeys out of town 2 00
Timothy Fowle, perambulating town lines, 5 00
Charles P. Howard as Town Clerk, 15 00
Charles P. Howard, recording births,
marriages, etc., 43 05
Charles P. Howard, postage, express, etc.,
5 96
D. R. Galloupe, as School Committee, 43 00
George L. Flint, as 27 25
David G. Eaton, “ 6 29 50
Car fare of 6 02 66
Sylvester Eaton, as Constable, 12 00
George A. Flint, " 16 70
Henry H. Dame, as special police, 4 00
$539 08
HIGHWAYS :
Paid for new bridge on Park street, $62 00
Repairs on turnpike near Andover line, 83 00
Repairs on turnpike near Spring Hill, 42 00 Building road on Peabody's Hill,
87 57
Widening and extra repairs on Chestnut street, 109 62
AMOUNT CARRIED FORWARD,
$384 19
-
5
AMOUNT BROUGHT FORWARD,
$384 19
Paid Railing and sidewalks,
118 70
Repairs on bridges and culverts,
28 94
Gravel and small jobs on roads,
30 65
Blacksmith bill and tools, 14 80
Joseph D. Gowing, for labor on roads,
698 68
George Eaton, for land,
20 00
Joseph D. Gowing, for removing snow, 90 75
- -$1386 71
STATE AID :
Paid Mrs. Julia A. Abbott,
$48 00
Elizabeth C. Ball,
72 00
Emily Bean,
48 00
Sarah J. Coney,
48 00
Mary F. Flint,
92 00
Rebecca J. McIntire,
48 00
Tryphena Harris,
96 00
Charles J. Burditt,
72 00
William Frye,
116 00
Robert B. Walsh,
72 00
Laurence Duly, (guardian),
72 00
Samuel W. Holt, (guardian),
28 00
-
$812 00
Due from State for 1875,
$828 00
Due from State, January, 1876,
56 00
MISCELLANEOUS :
Paid for printing annual report, 45 00
Interest on note and hired money, 1900 41
Overtaxation and abatement, 150 99
Timothy Dame, for ringing bell and care
of Town Hall, 68 50
AMOUNT CARRIED FORWARD,
$2164 90
6
AMOUNT BROUGHT FORWARD, $2164 90
Paid for new pump and repairs on others, 14 00
George B. Parker, for Flint Library, 144 00
Jacob Gowing, abatement of highway tax, 13 21
L. E. Hayward, abatement of highway tax, 3 60
for wire screening and frames for cellar windows at Flint Memorial Hall,
20 69
State tax, 820 00
County tax,
526 05
for furniture at Town Officer's room, 31 63
for fuel for Flint Memorial Hall, 15 39
fixtures "
66
building, 24 59
for books, stationery, postage, recording deeds, etc., 9 50
State Treasurer on account of license, 12 50
J. D. Gowing, discount on taxes, 434 57
Sumner S. Abbott, for grading round F. M. Hall, 75 00
Trustees bills on cemeteries, 15 12
Charles H. Carlton, for return of deaths, 5 00
for capstan, 12 75
for repairs on flag staff, 7 21
- $4349 71
Orders drawn for Schools, S2097 69
Town Officers, 539 08
Highways,
1386 71
State Aid, 812 00
Overseers of the Poor, 1588 57
Miscellaneous, 4349 71
Total amount of orders drawn, -$10,773 76
AUGUSTINE P. COOK, ) SELECTMEN
JOHN B. CAMPBELL, OF TIMOTHY FOWLE. NO. READING.
NORTH READING, Feb. 15, 1876.
Report of the Overseers of the Poor.
NAMES AND AGES OF THE INMATES OF THE ALMSHOUSE.
Lois McIntire,
83 years.
Rebecca Floyd,
68
Nathaniel McIntire,
61 6
Joseph Sawyer,
66
Jane Sawyer,
44
Elizabeth Banker,
53
Sarah Banker,
26 6
Emily A. Buxton,
31
Present number, 8
Average,
7 1-2
Three hundred and twenty-seven tramps have been assisted.
INVENTORY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AT ALMSHOUSE FEB , 1876.
2 Oxen,
$175 00
6 cows,
330 00
4 swine,
100 00
40 fowls,
24 00
hay and grain,
378 85
manure,
150 00
lumber,
160 00
wood and fuel,
330 00
cedar posts and poles,
45 00
farming utensils,
300 90
household furniture,
432 39
provisions,
156 72
bills uncollected,
131 03
-$2713 89
8
EXPENSE AT THE ALMSHOUSE :
Paid for W. I. goods and groceries,
$144 04
flour and bread, 100 16
grain and meal, 370 70
meat and fish, 121 64
clothing, bedding and shoes,
54 29
household furniture,
22 70
farming utensils and seeds,
89 58
stock and swine,
395 61
hired labor,
417 72
repairs on buildings,
102 48
new shed,
225 00
doctor's bill and medicine,
7 28
blacksmith's bill,
24 04
butter and cheese,
52 83
sawing lumber,
37 23
coal, freight and express,
57 22
salary of keeper,
397 71
Miscellaneous,
. 46 23
--- $2666 46
RECEIPTS :
For old bills collected,
$134 57
wood and lumber,
499 64
produce,
145 88
stock and swine,
360 56
milk,
278 OI
labor off the farm,
366 14
persons lodged,
196 20
miscellaneous,
2 85
cash received of Selectmen,
682 61
---- $2666 46
9
EXPENSE OF POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE :
Paid for supplies to family of James Parton, $7 00 town of Middleton, for Mrs. Stephen McIntire, 72 00
city of Haverhill for John Grant, 104 00
for care and medical attendance of Eben Gowing, 5 00
for supplies to Mrs. James B. Flint, 6 00
for supplies to Charles N. Abbott, 20 50
for funeral expense of James B. Flint, 21 50
for supplies to Mrs. John F. Roberts, 93 08
for supplies to John Chandler, 77 17
city of Springfield for William Powers, 3 00
town of Natick for W. A. Nichols, from
Nov. 7, 1873, to May 7, 1875, 246 88
city of Boston for Nancy Moore, 10 00
medical attendance of Nancy Shattuck, 10 00
medical attendance and care of Henry
McIntire, 5 50
funeral expense of Henry McIntire, 24 75
for supplies to Harmon McIntire, 3 38
for lodging travellers,
196 20
expense of poor out of Almshouse,
- $905 96
expense of poor at the Almshouse,
682 61
Total expense of poor,
$1588 57
Received from Selectmen,
$1588 57
AUGUSTINE P. COOK,
JOHN B. CAMPBELL,
TIMOTHY FOWLE,
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
NORTH READING, Feb. 15, 1876.
Assessors' Returns.
TABLE OF AGGREGATES :
Total number of polls, 282
tax on polls,
$564 00
value of personal estate,
56,468 00
value of real estate,
398,556 00
tax,
10,119 50
Rate of tax per $ 1000, S21 00
Total valuation May Ist, 1875,
455,024 00
number of dwelling houses,
202 3-4
number of horses,
146
, number of oxen,
16
number of cows,
280
number of swine,
73
number of sheep,
3
number of acres land taxed,
7630
TAX LIST AS ASSESSED :
State tax,
$820 00
County,
526 05
Ordinary expenses,
4500 CO
Schools,
1800 00
Highways,
1400 00
Cemeteries,
50 00
Grading round Flint Memorial Hall,
75 00
Town debt,
600 00
Surplusage,
348 45
Total tax list committed to Collector, $10, 119 50
AUGUSTINE P. COOK, ASSESSORS
JOHN B. CAMPBELL, TIMOTHY FOWLE,
OF
NORTH READING.
Treasurer's Report.
Balance in Treasury from last year, $585 10
Taxes collected of 1873, 127 50 " · of 1874, 601 64
6 4
of 1875, 8921 40
From City of Lynn on Overseer's account, 27 00
Town of Andover 10 00
" Town of Topsfield, 93 08
" Town of Lynnfield, 66
5 00
" Town of Wakefield, .. 16
77 17
.. Town of Reading, 24 00
.. State for Corporation Tax, 128 64
State for State Aid for 1874, 838 93
.. State for National Bank Tax, 34 50
" State for School Fund, 232 08
. 4 County for Dog Fund, 144 00
For taxes abated,
4 00
taxes not assessed,
2 00
license,
50 00
use of hearse,
5 00
interest on taxes,
40 40
school books, 5 52
town notes,
19,150 00
lots sold in Riverside Cemetery, 79 00
rent of Town Hall, 4 00
19 65
rent of Flint Memorial Hall, Total amount received, -
~$31,209 61
Paid per orders of Selectmen, $10,773 76
Paid out on town notes, 19,150 00
-$29,923 76
Balance in treasury,
1,285 85
12
Tax list committed to collect for 1875, $10,119 50 Tax list uncollected for 1874, 903 14
Tax list uncollected for 1873, 127 50
Total committed to collect, -- $11,150 14
Taxes remaining uncollected for 1874, $301 50
Taxes remaining uncollected for 1875, 1198 10
221 persons paid taxes amounting to $6689.40 and received 6 per cent. discount, 401 36
36 persons paid taxes amounting to $880 30 and received 4 per cent. discount, 33 21
The Town owes the following notes :
Am't notes. When due.
Rate of Interest. .
Amount of interest due.
$8,200 April 9, '77,
6 1-2 per cent.
April 9, '76
$266 50
5500 4, '77,
6 1-2 per cent.
4, '76
178 75
2000
9, '77, 6 1-2 per cent.
9,'76 65 00
1000 on demand,
6 1-2 per cent.
1,'76 65 00
1000 66
6 per cent. ..
1,'76 60 00
500
6 1-2 per cent.
1,'76
32 50
500
6 1-2 per cent. 6.
1,'76
32 50
500
..
6 1-2 per cent.
..
1,'76
32 50
500
6 1-2 per cent.
..
1,'76
32 50
300
6 1-2 per cent.
..
1,'76
19 50
$20,700
Whole amount of interest due, $826 75
JOSEPH D. GOWING,
Treasurer and Collector of North Reading.
NORTH READING, Feb. 15, 1876.
1
..
6 per cent.
1,'76 42 00
700
Surveyor's Report.
HIGHWAY WORK :
Paid Dennis Batchelder (with team), $23 00
John B. Campbell, 9 00
Robert M. Campbell, 3 00
J. P. Campbell,
55 15
Frank Cross,
4 00
Timothy Dame,
I 80
N. P. Eaton,
16 80
C. E. Eaton,
4 50
Benjamin A. Emerson,
2 00
Benjamin Eames (for gravel),
3 75
E. U. Flint (with team),
53 63
Warren A. Flint,
74 00
Dennis Foley,
68 80
J. E. Fairbank,
5 00
Edward Garvin,
5 50
Jacob Gowing (for team),
74 80
J. D. Gowing,
93 75
John Hogan,
48 00
S. W. Holt,
2 00
James S. Merrill,
59 00
Frank McIntire (with team),
12 00
William McIntire,
3 00
A. B. Munroe,
8 00
George L. Orben,
15 00
James E. Perry,
4 50
Russel Rogers,
4 00
Eliab Stone (with team), 20 00
Sylvester Taylor, 7 50
Lyman Taylor (with team), 18 20
Total paid out for highway work, $698 68
Received by order of selectmen,
$698 68
14
PATHING SNOW, PER ORDER OF SELECT. MEN .
Paid Dennis Batchelder, $7 00
David Batchelder, 9 25
Samuel Batchelder, 5 00
Lyman Batchelder,
3 00
Frank Cross,
2 25
J. B. Campbell,
2 00
J. P. Campbell,
1 00
R. M. Campbell,
5 00
Isaac Flint,
2 00
Jacob Gowing,
5 25
J. D. Gowing,
8 50
Samuel W. Holt,
2 60
Henry Hayward,
2 00
Lyman Taylor,
10 00
Charles A. Upton,
6 40
Alanson A. Upton, 19 50
Whole amount paid for snow bills, $90 75
Received by order of Selectmen, $90 75
JOSEPH D. GOWING,
Surveyor of Roads.
NORTH READING, Feb., 15, 1876.
TREASURER'S REPORT OF RIVERSIDE CEMETERY,
C. P. HOWARD, TREASURER.
Number of lots sold in 1875, 9
Amount received and paid to Town Treasurer, $79 00
Names of purchasers of lots in Riverside Cemetery, 1875.
Richard Nichols, Albert Eaton,
Joshua P. Eaton, Horace Hall,
Rev. J. W. Kingsbury, Paschal A. Walls,
Simeon Margison, Mrs. Catherine E. Raynor,
Dennis Batchelder.
STATISTICS FROM TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS FOR THE YEAR 1875.
BIRTHIS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHIS.
Whole number of births, Males, Females,
17 13
Whole number of Intentions of Marriages, 5
Marriages recorded,
7
Deaths,
20
DEATHS REGISTERED IN NORTH READING IN 1875.
AGE.
DATE OF
NAME OF DECEASED.
PLACE OF BIRTH.
NAME OF PARENTS.
DISEASE OR CAUSE OF DEATH
Jan.
IO.
Esther Harnden,
70
2 Vermont
John Flint
Jan.
II.
James B. Flint,
72
North Reading
F. 1I. and A. I. C. Mosman
Jan.
20.
Howard B. Mosman,
1
t North Reading |Reading
Ephriam and Mollie Weston
pneumonia.
Jan.
26.
Eliza W. Emerson,
171
20 North Reading
Thomas and Mary Rayner
pneumonia.
15
Feb. 20.
Jacob S. Ravner,
70
6
1'Lynnfield
Robert and Annie P. Allen
inflamation of bowels.
May
30.
Edward P. Kingsbury, 33
20
3
11 Norway, Me.
Alonzo and Lydia Morse
cerebro meningitis.
July 15.
Bessie Olive Walls,
27 North Reading
Paschal A. and Mary C. Walls
debility. consumption.
Aug. 19.
Martha Ellen Orben,
5
24 Andover
George L. and Jessie F. Orben
spasms. old age.
Sept. 8.
Tamney Goodwin,
5
5
5 Lebanon, Me.
Samuel and Sarah Goodwin
Sept. 10.
Willie Rogers,
7
29 North Reading
David F. and Adeline M. Thomas
cholera infantum.
Oct.
4.
Samuel J. Batchelder,
39
I
Oct.
II.
Frank W. Pierce, 24
6
typhoid fever.
Oct.
29.
Mary Anna Batchelder, 48 8
North Reading
Samuel J. and Abigail Batchelder
consumption.
Dec. 10.
Eva L. Upton,
3
II North Reading
Henry A. and Louise A. Upton
congestion of lungs.
Dec. 20.
Abigail Batchelder, 78
5 North Reading
Daniel and Mary Graves
old age.
Dec. 28.
Henry McIntire,
66
20 North Reading
Hezekiah and Lydia McIntire
apoplexy.
M.
I).
lung fever. inflamation of the lungs cerebro meningitis.
April 27.
Elizabeth P. Emerson, 73
Thornton, N. H.
Samuel and Mary B. Kingsbury
heart disease.
June 31.
Frances E. Morse,
2
23 North Reading
Dennis and Hannah H. Batchelder
Aug. 7.
Sarah E. Batchelder,
16
24 North Reading
Russell Jr., and Harriet Rogers
Sept. 15.
David R. Thomas,
5 North Reading 5 Andover
Jonathan and Abigail Batchelder Prescott and Almira Pierce
typhoid fever.
DEATH.
CHARLES P. HOWARD, TOWN CLERK.
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Trustees of Flint Library of North Reading,
ENDING FEBRUARY 15, 1876.
It is gratifying to the Trustees to be able to congratulate the patrons of Flint Library upon the superior accommodations now enjoyed by them through the generosity of Mrs. Flint. During the past year the Library has received its usual amount of pat- ronage and the interest in it increases rather than diminishes as will be seen by the large number of books given to it by our town's people since our last report. One hundred and twenty- three volumes have been given to the Library the past year and ninety-six have been added by purchase, making eight hundred and ninety-one volumes in all. There have been seven thousand eight hundred and seventy-four books taken from it during the year past, which from the best information we have, is the larg- est number taken from any other library in the State, consider- ing the population represented. We tender our thanks to the Librarian for the affable and satisfactory manner in which she has performed the duties devolving upon her. We recommend that the town appropriate as it did last year, the income from dog licenses to the use of Flint Library, for unless we make some sacrifice to support it we are fearful it will not receive the appreciation it merits. No books have been lost since the Li- brary was opened. Three volumes reported as lost in our last report have since been returned to the Library.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY TOWLE, GEORGE B. PARKER, JOHN B. CAMPBELL, A. WARREN HOLT, AUGUSTINE P. COOK.
TRUSTEES.
1
I7
NAMES OF DONORS OF BOOKS THE PAST YEAR :
Mrs. Susan D. Currier,
6 books
" Elbridge Howard,
I
" W. R. Musgrave,
2
Miss Hattie Dame,
2
Mrs. Mary R. Eaton,
4
6€
Augustine P. Cook,
6
Mrs. Mary P. Thomas,
2
66
Mrs. Charles Nichols,
I
Charles A. Foster,
I
Joseph D. Gowing,
I
Mrs. Charles F. Flint,
4
Warren Eaton,
I
Hon. E. R. Hoar,
4
John S. Coney,
6
66
Selectmen of Lexington,
I
Charles L. Flint,
79
Appleton P. Eaton,
I
66
Mrs. Paschal Walls,
I
Charles L. Flint,
27 pamphlets
TREASURER'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS :
Balance on hand Feb. 15, 1875,
$260 24
Received from licenses on dogs,
144 00
Received for stove,
5 66
Interest,
12 18
$422 08 -
‹‹
66
66
66
18
PAYMENTS :
Lockwood, Brooks & Co., books,
$105 04
H. V. Butler, 28 00
M. P. Thomas, 1 00
G. W. B. Taylor, paper,
8 18
Rand, Avery & Co., printing,
2 75
C. Carpenter & Co., stove, funnel and zinc,
21
37
Rent,
16 66
Express,
2 45
Librarian,
52 00 . 1
$237 45
Balance, $184 63 The above balance consists of cash on hand, 59 63
Deposit in Saving's Bank, 125 00
GEORGE B. PARKER,
Treasurer Flint Library.
NORTH READING, Feb. 18, 1876.
Report of the School Committee.
THE season of the year has arrived in which the inhabitants of this town are accustomed to hear something of the condition and prospects of its educational in - terests. The feeling so common in New England communities, on which this ex- pectation is based is an inheritance from the past, which not only enters into and re- gulates the views of the present, but also embodies itself in statute laws. What the general feeling prompts as proper to be done, the State declares must be done. In this portion of our land the cause of education has never been lightly esteemed or received but a languid support. Our earliest records are a proof of this. Among the first settlers of this country, were men of learning and ability, who had been persons of consideration in their native land. and who, on quitting the soil of Eng- land, did not leave behind them their belief in the vast influence of educated mind, and in its power to benefit both the individual and the community. These fathers of New England and her institutions, were men of sterling virtuc, and were well able to understand and appreciate the truth, or half-truth of an assertion such as has been made in recent times by a popular historian :- " It is a common but a very fatal mistake to suppose that ignorance is the greatest evil which can afflict a na- tion." The annals of the past show clearly that with them resided a firm belief that " wisdom is the principal thing " and that :
" Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have oft-times no connection. Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men, Wisdom in minds attentive to their own."
While they had constantly in view the high attainments of which mind and heart are capable, they still accepted and maintained the Divine order, and were ready to vield to the injunction "add to VIRTUE, knowledge." But so impressed were these men with the belief that ignorance, if not the greatest national evil, still takes its place in the very front rank of those causes that vex the race, that the school and the college were among the earliest objects of their solicitous regard ; and but a short time elapsed after their landing on these shores before both were in existence. The love of sound learning has never died out in the land, from their day to ours ; and among the utterances of our chief magistrate, perhaps none will be more gen- erilly attended to by the mass of the people, than the clause in his last mes- sage to Congress concerning the cause of education, and the importance of securing the perpetuity of our public school system. Such words, from such a source, are important in revealing to us the fact, that as were the fathers, so are the children, active in their desire, that ignorance, the parent of superstition, may not curse the land. While it is true that an educated but evil disposed person, is a more dangerous foe to a community than one who has been kept in ignorance, yet to allow
20
an individual to grow up without instruction, is to cause him to remain destitute of that power, whereby he may more readily detect, and successfully oppose the evil designs of others. The welfare of the State demands the enlightenment of all its citizens. If these are familiar truths, they are such as need to be often brought be- fore our minds, and will furnish food for reflection in view of the responsibility which rests upon us all with respect to the support to be given to our public schools. Should we leave the general consideration of this subject, to inquire mi- nutely, after the amount and methods of education which should obtain in our schools, we shall enter upon the consideration of disputed matters which it is not the province of this Report to discuss ; and we pass from these to the details of our own school work for the past year. And in doing this, although your Committee do not desire or intend to adopt the style so common in many School Reports, by which one is reminded of certain epitaphs, in which the subjects treated of are regarded in such a light, that, if believed, one is forced to the conviction, that with respect to them, alive or dead, farther improvement must be regarded as impossible, yet we shall speak principally of what we find to commend, leaving to future Committees the task of strengthening what is good, and eradicating what is bad in our several districts. It has been one aim of the Committee to impress upon the teachers, the paramount importance of discipline as a necessary adjunct of successful teaching. The Committee are ready to support every teacher in the enforcement of all reason- able rules in this direction, so that any laxness in the schools must be attributed to the teachers wholly. We have not in every case fully succeeded in our attempt to have the teacher feel the vital need of discipline in the school room, yet in this par- ticular there has been an advance, and we are certain that no teacher has applied to the Committee for support in this matter and failed to receive it. There have been a few cases of slight disturbance which have readily yielded to corrective measures, and the general order in the schools is an encouragement to patient, persistent efforts in this direction for the future. Your Committee desire to call the attention of parents, to the encouragement which their occasional presence in the school room affords to teachers. It is not pleasant to have one's work noticed but once a year, and we are sure that any teacher in our town, would rather be informed in a kindly manner, that her wrok is not wholly a success, than to have its consideration completely ignored or relegated to "examination day"; and we will state in this connection, that it is upon the conclusions formed during the yearly visits and not merely on the appearance of a school on the day of public examination, that this report is based. In the noble gift of Flint Memorial Hall, we feel that the scholars of this town have been incidentally greatly benefited, and we count largely upon its refining influence upon coming generations; but we are, as a Committee, reminded of the withdrawal of that special aid, received from the same generous source, which has enabled the town in past years, to continue its schools for a longer time than during the present ; and if this aid should not be renewed, we feel that the de- mands of our schools require an appropriation from the town, of not less than two thousand dollars. Various needed repairs have been made upon the school houses and the buildings are now in a good condition. It will be the endeavor of your
21
Committee to have such instructions given to pupils as will deter them from marring any property belonging to the town. We are happy to report that no serious in- stances of the injury of the town's property have come to our knowledge during the past year. The question of uniting, and thus lessening the number of our schools, has been under consideration by the Committee, but in view of various difficulties which appear to stand in the way of the accomplishment of such an undertaking, we do not deem it advisable at this time, to make any recommendation concerning it. We feel that the town has abundant reason for thankfulness in the general good health enjoyed by our youth during the past year. Few, if any, can charge to ill health, any failure to profit by the advantages afforded them.
NORTH WARD SCHOOL.
This school has been under the care of Miss Sarah E. Holt during the entire school year. Miss Holt is an excellent teacher, and her school is a very pleasant one to visit. Not only the substantial, but the ornamental, is here taught to a de- gree not visible in all our schools. The opening exercises of the school are appro- priate and profitable. The order here is very good, and the quiet and methodical manner of leaving the room is noticable. We have in this school listened to the singing with much interest, and feel that a part of the session, may in each school, be very profitably spent in this exercise. The facility with which these scholars perform mental exercises in Arithmetic is very marked, no other except the High school, making any approach to it in this particular. A class of the youngest scholars, in Reading and Spelling, showed plainly the results of the teacher's faithful instruction, and were an example to many more advanced classes in their familiar- ity with all the common punctuation marks. We also noticed some good map-draw- ings. The use of the blackboard in Spelling, if it can be done without consuming too much time, is, we think, a very useful practice and one which has been adopted here. The absence of very small scholars from this school (there being no class in the Primer) is in marked contrast with some others, particularly the Franklin. The Reading and other studies of the older scholars, are fully as good as in the other schools, and the only criticism we make, is a readiness on the part of the teacher to assist the higher classes before sufficient exertion on their part. We reflect with much pleasure on the fact noticed above, that Miss Holt has remained with the school through the year, and hope the town may continue to receive the benefit of her services.
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