USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Westhampton > Town of Westhampton annual report 1895 > Part 1
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WESTHAMPTON, MASS.
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1895.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Westhampton, Mass.
FOR THE
Year Ending March Ist, 1895.
EASTHAMPTON, MASS. : PRESS OF JOHN LEITCH. JR., 1895.
Selectmen's Report.
EXPENDITURES ON HIGHWAYS. SNOW BILLS.
L. W. Clapp
$ 1 74
T. P. Elwell 3 65
T. W. Collier 3 02
I. O. Shaw
1 37
H. C. Williams
5 95
Charles Connors
₡ 45
A. E. Damon
1 16
S. D. Lyman
11 25
H. D. Montague
1 55
C. W. Niles
5 31
T. Edwards
9 12
G. A. Witherell
4 14
E. A. Bartlett 4 05
E. B. Clapp
1 53
A. W. Kingsley
1 43
Total snow bills,
$67 72
HIGHWAYS.
F. E. Holdridge, 1893
8 10
8 70
H. M. Parsons & Son, 1893 :
· 300 ft. plank
4 50
Work on bridge
1 50- 6 00
4
William Cruise for dirt
2 00
2 00
Thomas Slattery
5 00
5 00
Fred Hathaway :
April 17, 18, 19, 20 and 23
7 50
7 50
Fred Gagnon : May 1 and 2
3 00
3 00
A. L. Snow
May
6 00
June
2 25
August
6 00
September
75
15 00
A. G. Jewett
75
75
Emerson Gorham, Breakneck road
6 00
6 00
A. D. Montague, Jr. :
June 11 2 men 53 hours
1 83
66 30
53
2 36
George Coleman :
March 27
33
June 2
3 00
66
12
1 50
91 ft. plank
1 36
Building bridges
23 00
Drawing plank
50
4 lbs. spikes
12- 29 81
F. A. Loud :
2 days with team
2 00
8 hours £
3 11
1 hour
16- 10 2:
O. W. Bartlett
2 25
2 25
J. E. Janes
2 25
2 25
A. E. Damon
2 67
2 61
D. S. Clapp
2 33
2 33
5
M. G. Crandall
3 00
3 00
Frank Hathaway
4 50
4 50
T. P. Elwell :
August 13
1 33
66 14
1 50
66 15
2 34
16
3 00
Oct. 29
3 34- 11 51
Ira O. Shaw :
April 9 days with team
31 50
June
2 90
Irwin Prentice
70- 35 10
C. H. Bartlett :
August 4
1 33
.6 (i
3 00
11
3 00
12
2 00
Timber for bridge
2 00- 11 33
John Slattery : August 10 and 11
2 50- 2 50
E. A. Bartlett:
Sept. 21 3 men and team
5 85- 5 85
A. G. Griffin:
Nov. 1893
4 60
Oct. 1894
2 00- 3 60
H. W. Montague :
June 2 3 men and team } day 3 25
" 7, 8, 9, and July 30 3 men and team 26 00- 29 35
Charles Connors :
April Men and team 1 65
May 66 66
25 60
142 ft. plank
2 13
6
Oct.
Timber for bridges Men and team
4 46
5 40- 39 24
L. L. Rhodes :
Aug. 1893 Men and team 1894 Men and team 80 feet plank
32 65
1 09-43 24
A. D. Rice :
May 2 days
3 00
June
7 50
July
5 50
Aug.
5 25
Sept.
50
Oct.
3 83- 25 58
W. H. Lyman:
May 2 men and team 2 days
10 00
June 2 men and team 4 days
20 00
June 1 man and team 2 days 7 00
Oct. 1 man, 2 teams & day
2 25
Men and ox team 22 days
9 55
June 2 1893 548 ft. plank, $14 per M
Jan. 1895, 800 ft. 3 in. plank, $14 per M Work on bridge,
1 50
Moving and housing road machine George Burt:
April 30 2 men and team 5 00
May 2 men and team 23 days
11 15
July 17
1 00
66
96 ft. plank
1 25- 19 00
Theophilus Edwards :
June 13
3 33
" 14
3 12
15
1 6%
1 50
Aug. 15 118 ft. plank
1 53- 11 20
11 20
1 00- 70 67
9 50
17
Joseph Hathaway :
April
1 46
June 6 and 7 2 men
6 00
Team ¿ day 1 00
Sept. 7 half days
5 25
Team,
62
Cutting brush
2 25
Putting on bridge
1 50- 18 08
H. M. Clapp:
One man and team 12 hours
4 68
George E. Knight L. W. Clapp:
75- 5 43
April Man and team 9 days
31 60
One man 7 days
10 50
66
W. W. Kingsley 1 day
1 50
Irwin Prentice 23 days
2 30
66
E. H. Montague
33
66
E. B. Clapp 4 days
6 00
66
Lester Hathaway 3 days
3 00
May
2 men and team 2 days
10 00
1 man half day
75
June 2 men and team 1 day
5 00
Aug. 1 man 10 days
15 00
Sept. 1 man 5 days
7 50
Oct. 1 man 3 hours
50
Nov. 1 man 3 hours
50
G. L. Hathaway
42
Dynamite
226 ft. plank
3 15- 98 65
S. D. Lyman :
May 26 and 28, 1 man and team
7 00
June 1 4 men 2 teams ¿ day
5 00
" 2 2 men 2 teams } day
3 50
" 2 2 men 3 hours
90
8
June 4 4 men 2 teams { day
3 50
66 4 2 men 1 day 3 00
5 5 men 7 S5
6, 7, 8 and 9 2 men and team
20 00
66 14 I man and team
3 50
Aug. 25 1 man and team & day
1 75
66 27 2 men and team { day 2 50- 58 50
William J. Lyman : 530 ft. plank 7 95
Repairs on road machine
65- 8 60
Total for highways
$677 70
OVERSEERS OF POOR.
SUPPORT OF POOR.
Paid for support of Wm. Lawlor, Lunatic Asylum $169 46
16 66. Dora Howard, Worcester Asylum 99 35
46 . Mrs. Duggan, F. Guilford
157 91
66 Mrs. Keating
46
66
Mrs. Slattery
104 00
66
46
Miss Ellen Witherell, paid Emil Perot 10 20
46
Miss Ellen WithereII, paid Alice Pelton 85 59
64
.
Miss Ellen Witherell, paid Mrs. Morrison 10 50
Paid for clothes 4 60-110 89
90 00
9
Paid for Delia Revit
56 86
Susan Witherell
17 00
66 Jesse Trask
12 25
66
Lewis Howard, paid F. Guilford 59 28
66
paid Alice Pelton 63 62
66
66
paid H. C. Payson 5 78
66
shoes and clothing 4 00
66
66
cash
2 00-134 68
Total for Town Poor $952 40
Paid for Charles Berry, settlement Huntington : Paid Dr. F. C. Bruce
41.350
Paid J. A. Loomis, medicine
11 25- 52 25
Total for support of Poor $1,005 15
TELEPHONE.
Bill for Jan. Feb. and March 19 80
Received for use
: 30-19 35
Bill for April, May and June 19 35
Received for use
3 62-15 43
Bill for July, Aug. and Sept. 22 05
Received for use
7 70-14 35
Bill for Oct., Nov. and Dec.
22 90
Received for use
2 25-15 15-$57 73
STATE AID.
Lewis Smith Lima Bartlett
4 00
18 00- 52 00
STREET LAMPS.
F. H. Judd, care of lamps
18 00
repairing lamps
1 05
66 oil for lamps and Hall
5 52- 24 57
10
WESTHAMPTON WATER CO.
Putting water into Cemetery 150 00
MISCELLANEOUS.
Memorial Day 25 00
Clark Scholarship, Whelan
1 66
Clark Soholarship, Grace Kingsley
5 50
Printing Town Reports, Munn & Leitch
40 00
F. H. Judd, express
4 40
G. E. Knight, care Town Hall
7 50
66 66 sexton
66 66 care cemetery
6 00
A. D. Rice, tax book
1 10
H. A. Parsons, chimneys and nails
43
F. H. Judd, Town Officer
4 00
66 repair Ballot Box
2 00
6 66 express and postage 7 08
A. D. Montague, Thayer Fund for parish 25 00
G. E. Knight, Librarian 20 00
Herald, printing cattle commissioners' notice 6 00
G. E. Knight, repairs Hall stove
1 50
L. W. Clapp, 3 cords slabs for Hall
2 00
H. A. Parsons, chimneys and glass for Hall
1 65
A. K. Chapman, bolts
75
F. H. Judd, postage
1 45
A. C. Townsend, Dog Fund for library
65 97
S. D. Lyman, Cattle Inspector
27 34
$269 33
TAXES.
Interest on money borrowed 13 94
Abatement of taxes 5 33
241 99
8 00
11
Discount on taxes 96 00
66 by Thayer Fund 20 50 State Tax 220 00
County Tax
394 32
$154 59
TOWN OFFICERS.
John Pollard, Election Officer
$1 50
Levi Burt, Constable 1 50
1893. W. H. Lyman, Constable 5 00
A. G. Jewett, Auditor
2 00
H. M. Clapp, Registrar
66 Overseer of Poor
6 00
A. D. Rice, Overseer of Poor
2 00
Registrar
2 00
Making Selectmen's report
7 00
66
Express on reports
40
66
Postage
44
Selectman
12 08
66 Assessor
17 50- 46 42
L. W. Clapp, Selectman 66
Overseer of Poor
2 50
66 Assessor
16 25- 29 15
O. W. Bartlett, Selectman
16 90
.6 Overseer of Poor
22 91
66 Assessor
15 00- 54 81
F. H. Judd, Town Clerk
Recording, indexing and returning births
deaths and marriages
10 25
Salary, Town Clerk
15 00
66 Sealer 5 00
6 Elector 4 00
" Clerk of board of registrars 2 00
10 40
12
Making annual report Office room N. A. Kingsley, salary as Treasurer
5 00
2 00- 48 25
25 00
1 80- 26 80
RECAPITULATION.
Highways
$678 44
Poor
1,005 15
State aid
52 00
Street and Wright fund
95 00
Telephone
57 73
Street lamps
27 57
Westhampton Water Co.
150 00
Miscellaneous
269 33
Taxes, Discount and Interest
754 59
Town officers
224 43
Total Selectmen's orders
3,314 24
School Committee's orders
1,468 19
Total expenditures
$4,782 43
RESOURCES.
Balance from last year
$518 94
Taxes assessed 3,260 64
Receipts of Treasurer from other sources
1,378 97
$5,158 55
Balance March 1, 1895, $376 12. .
L. W. CLAPP, A. D. RICE,
O. W. BARTLETT, Seteclmen of Westhampton.
Postage
$224 43
13
March, 11 '95,
Having examined the Accounts and Vouchers of the Selectmen of Westhampton for the year ending March 1st 1895, I find them correct, and that they have vouchers for orders given to the amount of thirty-three hundred and fourteen and 24-100 dollars ($3,314.24).
A. G. JEWETT, Auditor.
Assessors' Report.
Real estate valuation,
$192,451 00
Personal
$42,133.00
Total valuation,
Total tax,
$ 234,584 00 $ 3,260 64
Tax Levy,
State tax,
$220 00
County tax,
394 32
Schools,
850 00
School books,
100 00
Superintendent schools,
50 00
Highways,
800 00
Poor,
600 00
Town officers,
150 00
Memorial day,
25 00
Overlayings,
71 32
$3,260 64
O. W. BARTLETT, L. W. CLAPP, A. D. RICE,
Assessors of Westhampton.
14
List of Jurors.
Elihu F. Bartlett,
Fred D. Bridgman, Henry L. Dodge, Stephen A. Rust,
Theodore P. Elwell, Thomas W. Collier, O. Warner Bartlett, Edmund Slattery, Ira O. Shaw.
Treasurer's Report.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1. 1895.
Dr.
To balance from last year $518 94
To cash from A. G. Jewett, int. on Wright Fund 25 00
66
66 N. A. Kingsley, int. on Wright Fund 25 00
66 city of Northampton
10 00
66 66 F. H. Judd 1 13
66 66 Clark Scholarship Fund
66 State Treasurer, insane poor 84 45
66
6.6 State Treasurer, corporation tax 2 38
To National Bank tax 351 00
To support State Paupers
108 00
To Mass. School Fund
445 08
To estate of Whiting Street
54 50
15
To town of Great Barrington
82 49
To town of Huntington 52 75
To County Treasurer Dog Fund
65 97
To Susie Witherell
5 00
To Easthampton Savings Bank, int. on Thayer Fund 18 00
To F. H. Judd
31 25
To N. A. Kingsley
6 00
1,897 91
Amount of Assessment
3,260 64
Total
$5,158 55
Cr.
By paid orders of Selectmen
3,314 24
66 66
School Committee
1,468 19
By balance due the Town
376 12
$5,158 55
N. A. KINGSLEY, Treasurer.
Having examined the accounts of Nelson A. Kingsley, "Treasurer, I find them correct, that there is a balance due the town of three hundred and seventy-six and 12-100 dollars ($376.12), and that there is a balance due him from the col- lector of four hundred and forty-eight and 81-100 dollars ($448.81).
A. G. JEWETT, Auditor.
Town Clerk's Report.
FOR THE YEAR 1894.
BIRTHS RECORDED.
/ Feb. 7, Delma Boucher.
2 Mar. 22, Rachel Leona Bridgman. I
3 April 10, Mary Elizabeth Clapp. L
4 June 10, Esther Parsons Clapp. ~
5 20, Stephen Raymond Bartlett. I-
6 66 23, Zela Casilda Witherell.
7 July 26, Susan Jessie Lyman. V
8 Sept. 7, Ella Grace Hathaway. 9 66 19, Hubert Warren Stickney.
16 Nov. 26, Adeline Hathaway.
11.Dec. 5, George Clifford Boucher. V
12." 20, Edith Adeline Hathaway.V
Births recorded in previous years.
1884 10
'85
'86
'87
'SS
'89
'90
'91
'93
9
10
10
12
8
12
12
15
15
16
17
MARRIAGES RECORDED. 1894
/ May 8, Fred G. Hathaway. Melvina Gerou.
2June 19, Charles A Hathaway. Ida Gerou.
3 Aug. 20, Frank E. Hayden. Lillian Weeks.
4 " 21, Levi Burt. Sarah R. Russell.
5 Dec. 24, William E. Gillett. Etta A Snow.
Marriages recorded in previous years.
1881
'86
'82
'88
'89
06.
'91
92
'93
5
4
6
4
3
4
5
DEATHS RECORDED. 1894
/ Jan. 6. Lora E. Wicks.
2 . 14, Horace Morey.
3 Feb. 22, Myron C. Pelton.
4 Mar. 27, Mary A. Cassady.
5 April 19. Stephen E. Searle.
6 May 1, Mary W. Rice.
7 " 20, Leon W. Knight.
8 Aug. 16, Arcoit, infant.
9 Sept. 21. Elizabeth M. Howard. 100et. 3, Mary B. Hooker.
Deaths in previous years.
18:47
'86
'8%
'88
'89
'90
'91
93
11
6
14
5
5
4
5
13
12
Causes of death. Tecthing, 1; Gripp, 1; Consumption,'1; Bright's Disease, 1; Apoplexy, 1; Premature Birth, 1; Still Born, 1; Old Age, 2.
18
Mortgages of Personal Property recorded, 4; all other papers, 1.
MALE DOGS LICENSED.
Nathan Damon. April 16
L. L. Rhodes,
May 19
Chas. O. Connors,
25
P. Gagnon. ..
A. S. Bridgman,
25 H. Cassady, 66
23
P. Connors,
2.5 A. D. Montague, Jr 66
25
W. J. Anderson.
66
A. E. Damon,
29
Irwin Prentice,
66
28 E. P. Lyman, June
S. D. Lyman,
66
28 C. H. Morey. ..
2 -
L. W. Clapp,
66
28
W. W. Kingsley,
J. H. Kingsley, 66 25
A. L. Snow,
30
Mrs. A. Elwell, July
16
F. H. Clapp, ?.
May
Geo. Tower,
31
F. H. Judd,
H. M. Clapp,
Ang. 1
T. P. Elwell,
66
W. J. Lyman, 6
6
F. J. Pomeroy.
66
M. G. Crandall.
Sept. S
A. D. Rice,
60
5 E. A. Bartlett,
18
(). W. Bartlett,
66
M. J. Slattery,
D. Courtney,
66
-
E. W. Payson,
S. A. Rust,
66
Mrs. M. C. Pelton,
20
F. C. Montague,
66
9
W. H. Lyman,
6.
29
Geo. Burt,
6 6
11
H. J. Payson,
29
H. Haunton.
66
14 John Gravelin,
H. Hathaway,
66
18
M. K. Parsons,
Oct.
1
T. Boucher,
Oct. 3
FEMALE DOGS LICENSED.
F. H. Judd, May 2 W. H. Lyman, Oct. 1
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Read for 20 Licenses for male dogs to June 1, at $2, $58 00
28
J. Hathaway, »,
Geo. Coleman,
H. B. Montague,
66
30
-)
6.
19
Rec'd for 1 license for female dog to June 1, at $5,
5.00
Less fees 20 cents,
6 00
Due County June 1 1894
57 00
Rec'd for 20 licenses for male dogs from June 1 to Dec. 31 at $2 each, 40 00
Rec'd for 1 license for female dog at $5,
5 00
45 00
Less fees 20 cents each,
4 20
40 80
CONTRA.
June 5 by County Treas. receipt,
57 00
Dec. 3 by County Treas. receipt,
40 80
Whole amount received for licenses,
108 00
66
66
fees,
10 20
paid to County,
97 00
returned from County,
65 9%
Respectfully submitted,
F. H. JUDD, Town Clerk.
March 1.
Having examined the accounts of F. H. Judd, Esq., to date, Town Clerk, I find them correct, with the proper vouchers.
A. G. JEWETT, Auditor.
-
66
63 00
.
REPORT
OF THE
School Committee of Westhampton, Mass.
STATEMENT OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS EMPLOYED, WAGES. ETC.
CENTER SCHOOL.
Mr. A. A. Gridley, Miss Mary L. Raeder,
Number of pupils enrolled,
Average membership,
21
Average attendance,
20
Number of pupils over 15 years,
66 under 5 years, =
60 between S and 14 years,
66 weeks school, 32
20
21
Wages paid Teacher,
$248 90
Fuel, to G. E. Knight, 16 00
Fuller & Warren, stove fixtures, 1 96
E. J. Burt, paint and rope for flag,
1 72
W. Water Co., pipe and fixtures for water,
9 65
H. M. Clapp, 5} days laying pipe and digging ditch @ $1.25, 6 85
H. B. Lyman's bill :
Galvanized sink,
3 20
20 lbs. lead pipe, @ 7,
1 40
1 lb. Solder,
25
1 & nickel bibb,
:85
1 & brass union
25
1 paper lead tacks,
10
8₺ hours work @ 35,
2 95- $9 02
Repairs:
E. P. Torrey $2 50
4 panes glass, 80
C. N. Loud 12 days @ 1 50
2 25
Jared Williams, making fires,
1 00
Frank Blakesly, making fires Spring term, 1 00
Miss Griffin, cleaning school house,
1 95- $9 50
The Clark Scholarship Prize for the one who reads and spells the best at the close of the winter term, was awarded to Mary Pollard.
Not absent or tardy during the year: Jared Williams and Lillian Parsons. Not absent: Ellen Dougherty, Alfred and Dana Pelton.
In this school we were fortunate in securing the services of Mr. A. A. Gridley for the spring term, and should have been glad to keep him as a teacher for a longer time, but on
22
account of the pay we could offer him were unable to do so.
Miss Raeder came to us with no experience in ungraded work, but with a determination to succeed not only in teach- ing from books, but in bringing her pupils to feel that what- ever they did should be done from a high moral principle, and at the close of the school there was a decided improvement to be seen-in both respects.
The question of uniting the schools has been a hard one to settle. The selectmen, together with the committee, have not as yet thought it best to use the Town Hall for a school room. There would of necessity have been a large expense for desks and seats, with other changes which would not be advisable for a temporary trial. The law passed last winter in regard to High Schools, a copy of which is found in this report, has led your committee to recommend to the town a permanent provision for having a school in town, which can take the pupils through the first two years at least of a high school course, and save the tuition for the benefit- of our own schools.
HILL SCHOOL.
Miss Effie B. Edwards. Number of pupils enrolled, 14
Average membership, 9.36 66 attendance, 8.49
Number over 15 years,
1
66 under 5 years,
0
between S and 14,
9
66 of weeks school,
32
Wages paid teacher,
$192 00 2 62
Fuel, F. D. Bridgman,
Repairs, curtains, Lock, 1 00
3 40
23
Work 4 hours, 60
Cleaning school house, 1 50
C. S. Bartlett, sawing wood, 1 08
making fires, 3 00- 10 58
E. B. Bridgman, 8 hours work, 2 80
The older pupils in this school should be provided the opportunity of taking a course of studies which belong to a high school, and if the town will not provide it for them here, we feel that the parents will see the necessity of sending them to other towns.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Nellie MI. Coffin, Cora P. Harwood.
Number of papils enrolled,
Average membership, 14
attendance, 10.8
Number of pupils over 15 years,
under 5 years, between Sand 1},
1
of weeks school, 32
Wages of teacher, $192 00
E. B. Bridgman, 123 hours at 35 cents 84 38
barrels mortar,
Plaster of Paris, 25
5 panes glass. 1 00
Half day's work, 15
50 feet of boards, 75- 89 13
Your committee have found it advisable to maintain this school for the entire year. At the beginning of the year there were twenty pupils enrolled. and the attendance was good, but during the year two of the families moved away and others have seemed to lose an interest in school work and when the children were sent to school the parents in some
24
cases have not interested themselves enough to see that they were punctual in attendance, so that we find in one case in the last term the pupil was tardy 21 times in an attendance of 28 days.
If the membership of the school should remain the same as for the last term, it would be better for the school to unite with some other school, for the spring term, and we hope that the town will provide a suitable place where a perma- nent arrangement can be made for all of its pupils, and the older scholars have the benefit of a higher class of studies.
NORTH EAST. Miss Myra E. Kingsley.
Number of pupils enrolled, 14
Average Membership, 11
66 Attendance, 9.5
Number of pupils over 15 years,
66 Under 5 " 0
1
66 between 8 and 14 years,
66 Weeks school, 29
Wages of teacher,
$144. 00
At the beginning of the year, the question of bringing the scholars from this school to the center was discussed by your committee, and arrangements could have been made to do so, but the expense would have been nearly as great as to maintain the school, and the scholars were nearly all so small that we concluded it would be best to continue the school the same as last year, especially as Miss Kingsley was willing to teach.
NORTH WEST. Miss Alice H. Griffis Miss Mary Wehlan
Number of pupils enrolled, 8
Average Membership, 6
25
Average Attendance,
5.5
Number of pupils over 15 years,
0
66
66 under 5 0
66 between 8 and 14 years, 5
66 weeks school,
32
Wages paid teacher.
$192 00
Frank Hayden, work,
3 00
Charles Williams " 5
E. J. Burt, repairing roof, 1 00
Mrs. Trask, Cleaning School,
The bill of Mr. Hayden and Mr. Williams was for work done last year, but did not come to us in season for last year's report. The attendance for last year has been larger than in previous years, but we still think that if some arrange- ment could be made, by which the school could unite with other schools, these children might derive a much greater benefit for the money expended than thay are now able to do.
EXPENSES.
Teachers' Salary and Board,
$998 90
Loudville School. 122 41
Superintendent, 50 82
Fuel. 37 10
Repairs,
39 02
Books, Taintor & McAlpine
$23 86
Miss Annie Strong, 6 00
Little, Brown & Co .. 4 75
F. F. Murdock & Co.,
2 33
S. E. Bridgman & Co.,
9 99
Miscellaneous for reference.
4 60- 51 53
Tuition, Flora Kingsley, 18 00
Edith Shaw,
18 00
Grace Edwards,
18 00
Joseph Whelan,
8 00-62 00
26
Making fires,
10 50
Cleaning school houses,
4 75
Water for Center School House,
25 52
1 Dozen brooms,
2 25
Express and freight,
3 84
Postage and stationery,
3 45
F. D. Bridgman. services,
12 25
A. D. Montague, Jr.,
5 00
C. N. Loud, 7 1-2 days,
18 75
$1,498 09
Less rebate from state for Superintendent,
29 90
1,468 19
RESOURCES.
Town appropriation,
$850 00
Books,
100 00
Superintendent,
50 00
State school fund,
445 08
Balance from last year,
168 93
$1,614 01
Balance unexpended, $145.82.
A. D. MONTAGUE, JR.,
School
F. D. BRIDGMAN,
Committee.
CHAS. N. LOUD.
Having examined the accounts and vouchers of the School Committee of the town of Westhampton for the year ending March 1st, 1895, I find them correct with orders given for expenditures, to the amount of fourteen hundred and sixty-eight and 19-100 dollars, ($1468.19.)
A. G. JEWETT, Auditor.
REPORT
OF THE
School Superintendent.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
GENTLEMEN :
As set forth in previous reports, the difficulties of carry- ing on ungraded schools in sparsely settled communities are great. As the years have passed, these difficulties in New England hill towns have increased, owing mainly to the removal of many families and to the smaller size of the mod- ern family.
CONVEYANCE.
Last year the town took an advanced position when it authorized the conveyance of pupils to the center of the town. Personally I cannot but lament that a trial of the plan was
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not made. However, believing in the wisdom of the com- mittee, I still have faith, and believe that sooner or later the town will re-enforce the decision of last year by not only vot- ing conveyance, but providing ample accommodations at the center for the children who are to be conveyed. While it may not appear feasible to establish a high school at the cen- ter, the plan of establishing a central grammar school is cer- tainly worth trying. It is not my purpose to repeat here ar- guments familiar to the voters, but simply to recall attention to this very important consideration.
TEACHERS.
From my experience of the past year in the schools of this town, one conclusion is paramount. Teachers' salaries here are too low. The time is passing when the work of teachers can be classed with that of a house servant or farm hand, important and honorable as this latter service is. The teacher is called to mold and fashion the minds and hearts of children. If teachers were simply to fill their pupils with facts of various kinds, the case would be different, then any one in possession of the facts could be trusted to do the filling. To arouse and set in order the intellectual forces, to help the child discover his place in the world, and to direct him in gaining control of himself and his surroundings calls for tal- ent of no ordinary type. This town has often been fortunate in securing, from the ranks of its own young women, teach- ers of the requisite qualifications. This has not, however. always been possible. Owing to the low salaries paid. school officers have frequently been unable to secure and retain good talent. , To enable the committee to adequately compensate efficient teachers now on the force and to secure and retain others of equal quality, the town should increase the appro- priation for salaries by at least one-half the present sum.
There is another side of the case and one of vital import-
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ance. For the salaries we pay, we are obliged to take in-ex- perienced talent. By dint of labor and pains, the teacher is trained toward efficiency. Presently she is discovered, and attracted elsewhere by an increase of salary, while we are left to repeat the same process upon another. While this practice may be profitable for young teachers, it can never be made profitable for the schools. Salaries must be increased if the town is to profit by the practice and training furnished young teachers. I am not unmindful of the fact that times are "hard." prices low. and taxes high, yet, when we consider the value of the children, the good or ill which may be worked by the teacher in neglect or cultivation of habits, in confusion or regulation of minds, in degradation or elevation of morals of the children, what nobler and more appropriate use can be found for an expenditure of money than upon high minded, thoroughly trained teachers, in whose care the future of the children will be safe ?
ATTENDANCE.
AAtten lance in some of the schools has been poor. There are certain families who still seem to have the impression that schools are second try to most matters. I would again rec- ommend that the truant officer be instructed to take action against parents unfaithful in the discharge of the important duty of sending their children to school.
NEW HIGH SCHOOL LAW.
The recent change in state law relating to high schools, which practically provides a high school for all the children in the commonwealth, while it may add to the burden of the town, will ultimately prove itself a public benefactor by the blessings which the increased opportunities it presents are sure to bring. Moreover, what is the slight expense of Lition of a few pupils in the high school of some neighboring town as compared with the expense of providing equal advant-
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ages at home. But some will urge that a grammar school education is all that the town ought to give. Is it ? Rather should not every loyal public spirited citizen feel proud that the advantages of a high school, once within reach of only the few, may now he enjoyed by all at the expense of the town ? The law relative to this matter together with the present law on attendance is appended.
Respectfully submitted,
B. C. DAY.
Extracts from the Public Statutes of Massachusetts CHAPTER 436.
SECTION 1 .- Any town in which a high school or school of corresponding grade is not maintained shall pay for the tuition of any child who with the parent or guardian resides in said town and who attends the high school of another town or city, provided the parent or guardian of such child before such attendance obtains the approval of the school committee of the town in which the child and parent or guardian reside.
SECTION 2 .- If any town in which a high school or school of corresponding grade is not maintained neglects or re- fuses to pay for tuition as provided in the preceding section, such town shall be liable therefor to the parent or guardian of the child furnished with such tuition, if the parent or guar- dian has paid the same, or to the town or city furnishing the same, in an action of contract.
SECTION 3 .- No member of the school committee of a town in which a high school or school of corresponding grade is not maintained shall refuse to approve the attendance of any child in the high school of another city or town, charging
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a reasonable amount for tuition, if such child is properly qual- ified to enter such high school, unless said town is prepared to furnish such child proper instruction in its own schools in the studies usually taught in a high school. If the school com- mittee of such town unreasonably refuses to grant such ap- proval such town shall be liable for the tuition of such child in the same manner and to the same extent as if the parent or guardian of such child hal obtained the approval of the school committee.
SECTION 4 .- Any town in which a high school or school of corresponding grade is not maintained, but affording high school instruction by sending pupils to other towns, may pay the necessary transportation expenses of such pupils.
SECTION 5 .- Chapter two hundred and sixty-three of the Acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one is hereby repealed.
AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND TRUANCY. Sect. 1. Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, and, in cities and towns where industrial training is taught, between the ages of eight and fifteen years, shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides for at least thirty weeks, if the schools are kept open that length of time, with an allowance of two weeks' time for absences not excused by the superintendent of schools or the school committee; such period of attendance shall begin within the first month of the fall term of school, and for each five days of absence of any such child thereafter, in excess of the above allowance, before the completion of the required annual attendance of thirty weeks, the person having such child under his control shall, upon the complaint of the school committee or any truant officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town a sum not exceeding
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twenty dollars; but if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school com- mittee of such city or town, or if such child has been other- wise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or has already acquired the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or inental condition is such as to render such attendance inex- pedient or impracticable, such penalty shall not, be incurred.
Sect. 3. The truant officers and the school committees of the several cities and towns shall vigilantly inquire into all cases of neglect of the duty prescribed in section one, and ascertain the reasons, if any, therefor; and such truant officers or any of them shall, when so directed by the school com- mittee, prosecute in the name of the city or town any person liable to the penalty provided for in said section. Police, dis- trict and municipal courts, trial justices and judges of the probate court, shall have jurisdiction within their respective counties of the offences described in section one.
Sect. 4. All children within the Commonwealth may attend the public schools in the place in which they have their legal residence, subject to the regulations prescribed by law.
Sect. 10. The school committee shall not allow any pupil to attend the public schools while any member of the house- hold to which such pupil belongs is sick with small pox, diph- theria, or scarlet fever, or during a period of two weeks after the death, recovery, or removal of such sick person : and any pupil coming from such household shall be required to pre- sent, to the teacher of the school the pupil desires to attend, a certificate, from the attending physician or board of health .. of the facts necessary to entitle him to admission in accord- ance with the above regulation.
Warrant for Town Meeting, March 25, 1895.
Article 1 .- To choose a Moderator.
Art. 2 .- To choose all necessary Officers to serve the town the ensuing year.
Art. 3 .- To act on all Reports presented at said meeting.
Art. 4 .- To see if the town will accept the list of Jurors proposed by the selectmen.
Art. 5 .- To vote Yes or No on the question, "Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
Art. 6 .- To see what action the town will take with regard to the care and improvement of the Cemetery.
Art. 7 .- To see if the town will appropriate a sum suffi- cient to place a marker of the Society of Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution at the grave of each Revolutionary soldier or sailor buried in this town, the expense not to exceed one dollar each.
Art. 8 .- To see if the town will have a Watering Tank at or near the post office.
Art. 9 .- To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges the ensuing year.
Art. 10 .- To see if the town will raise or appropriate money for building a Vault for the safe keeping of town records.
Art. 11 .- To take action in relation to collection of taxes.
Art. 12 .- To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, for the current year.
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