USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1892 > Part 14
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Candidates for this school must be at least 17 years of age, must have completed the course in the Newburyport High School, or an equivalent course, and must pass a satisfactory examination.
The course of instruction in the school shall continue for three terms of 20 weeks each, and all pupils entering the school do so with the understanding that they will remain for this length of time unless excused by the sub-committee. The arrangement of the course of study provides for the pupil teachers one year's course in the normal department and a year and a half of actual teaching.
There are three classes of pupil teachers: a senior or third term class, each member of which has charge of a room an entire term ; a middle or second term
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. £ class and a junior or first term class. The members of the junior and middle classes divide their time between study and recitation in the normal department and assisting the seniors in teaching.
At stated intervals the principal shall report to the sub-committee on the train - ing school her judgment of each pupil teacher as to her fitness for the work and probable success as a teacher. Pupil teachers whose work is not satisfactory, or who do not promise success for the future, may be excused at any time during the course. To those who satisfactorily complete the course the committee will give a certificate stating the fact.
During the first term the pupil teachers do not receive any compensation; dur- ing the second term they receive two dollars per week ; during the third term, three dollars. Non resident pupil teachers now receive no pay.
When a vacancy occurs in the corps of city teachers it will be filled by a gradu- ate of the training school, if one suitable for the position be available.
COURSE OF STUDY.
JUNIOR CLASS.
Reading, numbers and arithmetic, geography.
MIDDLE CLASS.
Psychology, theory and art of teaching, school organization and school manage - ment, school government.
JUNIOR AND MIDDLE CLASSES UNITED.
First term-Vocal music, penmanship, school laws of Massachusetts, object lessons.
Second term-Drawing, history of education, language, grammar, elementary science, calisthenics.
(4)
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
and we should encourage them in every laudable undertaking. The machines are in good condition; we have a good supply of hose, about 2,000 feet of new having been purchased the last year, and I am glad to know that it was not bought of the parties who inflicted the North End fire alarm upon the city. I would suggest that the recommendation of the board of engineers, in regard to the offer of the Gamewell Company to put the fire alarm in first-class working order, be acted upon at the meeting tonight. In my opinion, it cannot be done any too soon, as it is not reliable in its present condition. Last year the number of engineers was increased; I believe it has been a benefit to the city, and would recommend that it be continued as it is at present.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The remarks I made in regard to this department one year ago are just as applicable today, that the public schools of Newburyport will compare favor- ably with those in other places, and that we have as good a corps of teachers as can be found elsewhere. I am a firm believer in the public schools of America; they are one of the safeguards of the nation, and must be maintained at any cost. If they are ever allowed to go down, the republic will go down with
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
them, for no republic can stand any length of time when the people are allowed to be brought up in ignorance. But it seems to me that the time is not far distant when a radical change will be demanded in the management of our public schools. I believe their greatest danger to be not from any outside influence which may be brought to bear upon them, but from the fact that so much is being crowded into them that they are liable to fall from their own weight. Of late years, common sense in the arrangement of studies seems to have been left largely out of the question. In many instances the time of the scholars is worse than wasted in studies that can be of no benefit to most of them. A certain time is set apart in which to teach drawing. Now it does not require a very brilliant mind to understand that drawing is a natural gift; that while it may be cultivated in those who possess the gift, it will be a useless waste of time in trying to teach nine-tenths of the scholars drawing, and that such an accomplish- ment would be of no practical use to a majority of them, even if they possessed it. And the same might be said in regard to many other things which are being taught in our schools.
I have been asked a number of times lately my opinion of the proposition to hold but one session of the high school. While I am aware that there has .
.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
been considerable discussion upon the subject, I have given the matter very little thought myself. I do not know what object those who are desirous of making the change have in view, or what benefit, if any, they claim is to be derived from it. But it seems to me if there is any good reason why the high school should hold but one session daily, it will apply equally as well to the grammar schools and the primary schools. I have been informed that one reason for making the change is that a few persons who have their dinner hour some time in the middle of the afternoon may be accommodated. But the majority dine between the hours of 12 and I, and most people, especially children and youth, prefer food in the stomach to style and fashion in the time and manner of dining; and it seems to me that any parent who considered the health and welfare of their children would decidedly object to have them go without food from early morn- ing until the middle of the afternoon, or to be obliged to eat a cold dinner at school, which would be the only alternative. Another serious objection, to my mind, would be the continuous strain upon the scholar for five hours without interruption, which, it seems to me, would tend to their injury, both physically and intellectually. Neither do I believe the teachers, un- less they are constituted differently from other people, could perform their work as well. All these questions,
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
as far as the high school is concerned, will, in my opinion, be settled before many years, by repealing the law which now requires cities and towns to main- tain such schools.
The feeling is growing stronger every day that when the public has furnished a good grammar school education, it has done its duty, and those who wish their children to learn German, French, Latin and Greek; to study botany, chemistry, geology, astron- omy and other things such as are taught in the high school, should be obliged to pay for such education. Any boy or girl who desires a high school education, and who may be too poor to pay for such, will find ample means and plenty of opportunities through the many available funds which exist everywhere, to obtain it. The percentage of scholars who enter the high school is very small. In our own city, out of over 1,500 attending the public schools the last year, but one-tenth, or about 150, were in the high school; while it required to maintain that school one-quarter of the whole appropriation for schools. The large majority who derive no benefit whatever from the high school, and in most cases can least afford to be taxed for its support, are obliged to pay for a high school education for the few who, in nearly every case, can best afford it. I believe it to be an act of injustice to oblige the public to furnish any more than
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cost at which the care and education of the children are provided. While the aggregate may seem large, no parent could provide for the housing and care of his child, without the schools, at anything like the sum for which he now obtains, not only its careful guar- dianship, but also its education and all the books and supplies necessary.
The cost of our schools the past year, including everything for which the city has to pay, was $26,228.45. This was for over 200 days of five hours each. There was an average membership of 1498 pupils, making the average cost per pupil $17.50, or 8 3-4 cents per day.
What parent would feel that this was a large sum to pay for the simple oversight of his child, let alone his instruction? This does not take into account the benefits of the moral training re- ceived, nor the privilege of association with other children of the same age, by which the child is so much better prepared to en- counter the world in the future.
LAWS OF THE STATE.
Attention is called to the following statutes in relation to the employment of children and of the attendance of children in the schools :
OF THE ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOLS.
[Chapter 47 of the Public Statutes.]
SECTION 1. Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides, and such attendance shall continue for at least 30 weeks of the school year, if the schools are kept open that length of time, with an allowance of two weeks' time for ab- sences not excused by the superintendent of schools or the school committee, and for every neglect of such duty the person offend- ing shall, upon the complaint of the school committee or any tru- ant officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town a sum not exceeding 20 dollars; but if such child has at- tended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such city or town, or if such child has been otherwise 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 mental condi- tion is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracti- cable, such penalties shall not be incurred.
SECT. 2. For the purposes of the preceding section school committees shall approve a private school only when the teaching in all the studies required by law is in the English language, and
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
drunks, it is not a fit place to put a half-decent person in. Two good rows of good, light, airy cells could be built on the main floor, and the basement could be used to good advantage in storing the city tools, for which we are now hiring a place, and an office could be fitted up for the superintendent of highways.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
In regard to the poor department. I will only say that under the present efficient board of overseers it has been managed in a most satisfactory manner.
In regard to the sewer department, the sewers have been extended the past year over quite a large area, including the whole of ward five, and at a reasonable cost. I have been informed by the superintendent that all the sewers are working in a satisfactory man- ner. In connection with this department, I would say that in the case of Mr. Douglass against the city we have not made much headway; we have suc- ceeded in agreeing upon two referees, but have been unable so far to agree upon the third one. Every name that has been suggested would be objected to by either Mr. Douglass' lawyer or the city's lawyer, and I have come to the conclusion that lawyers are better adapted to get one into a scrape than they are to get you out. I have labored harder, and been
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
bothered more, in trying to bring about a settlement of this case, than in any other matter that has claimed my attention, until I have heartily wished that the "Old Harry" had both lawyers.
In regard to public parks, I would suggest that the appropriation be $1,000, instead of $500, as is now the case. It requires about the whole of the appro- priation to keep the Mall in order, and something, if only a little, should be done each year toward im- proving the other parks. These breathing spots are needed in every city; and should be made desirable places for citizens to visit. Brown square, after the contemplated improvements are carried out, and the statue which I understand one of our public-spirited citizens intends to present the city has been placed in position, will be an ornament to the city.
In connection with parks, I would suggest that the city purchase a large, level tract of land, somewhere on the other side of Low street, where the boys can play ball; have it large enough to accommodate them all. It is not proper, and they should not be allowed to play ball in the compact part of the city, but should be provided with a place where they can play with- out annoying any one. Such a piece of land could be purchased in the vicinity I have named, at a very small expense, and it would not be far for the boys to go, and I think would be appreciated by them.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
THE WATER QUESTION.
As my message delivered to the city council last October covered the ground pretty thoroughly upon this subject, it will not be necessary to dwell upon it to any extent at the present time. You will re- member upon that occasion I stated that the water company had furnished the town of Newbury with water, when they did not have a sufficient supply, from any proper source, to furnish the city of New- buryport; also, that they had, contrary to the pro- visions of their charter, been furnishing the inhabi- tants of Newburyport with water taken from the Merrimac river. And I wish to state here that there is not a place anywhere upon the banks of the river, from its source to its mouth, so utterly unfit to draw from as where the pumping station of the Newbury- port Water Company is situated. There is a little cove which makes in at this point, and an eddy which carries into it about all the old drift which may be floating in the river, and any one familiar with the shore at this point will tell you that about every dead cat or dog thrown in the river will find its way into that cove. I have been asked a number of times if they really were taking water from the river? I will say in answer, that, if you have been drinking water furnished by the Newburyport Water Company, you have been taking into your stomachs more or less
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
water that was taken from this very cove which I have described, and pumped by the water company through their pipes into your houses; which water they have been selling to you, at an exhorbitant price, for pure spring water, knowing, as they did, that the State board of health had condemned Merrimac river water as utterly unfit to be used for drinking purposes. And right here I will put in an extract from a letter written by F. P. Stearns, chief engineer of the State board of health, and sent to Dr. Noyes, the city phy- sician, which is as follows:
" The board [referring to the State board of health] has expressed its opinion that the Merrimac River water is unfit to drink above Lawrence, and would still be more strongly of this opinion after the river has re- ceived the sewage of Lawrence and Haverhill."
But, wholly regardless of the health of our citizens, the water company has been furnishing us with this river water, and, worse still, have been deceiving us into the belief that we were drinking pure water from the Bartlett spring. Yet, there are those who would advise us to place the city at the feet of the water company as a supplicant to beg of them not to rob and poison our citizens. I assure you the city will never be placed in any such humiliating position while the present executive occupies the mayor's chair. I hardly think those who advise such a course have had any experience in trying to reason with the Newburyport Water Company; if they had they
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
would ere now have come to the conclusion that they were dealing with the Czar of all the Russias, and that the water company own not only the water works but also the greater part of the earth, and only suffered the inhabitants of Newburyport to remain upon it in order that they might, Shylock-like, exact from them the last pound of flesh. They even threatened to shut the water off from the city a few months ago, because I had the audacity to request them to send an itemized bill to the city for the water used in the public buildings, and afterwards informed the city treasurer that they kept their books in such a manner that it was impossible for them to present such a bill, but finally sent in a bill for so many buildings, at an average price, which they must have known to be false, as the records at City Hall will show where they have, at different times, agreed to furnish warter for such a building at a certain price. I have had the city water analyzed by Mr. Castelhun, daily, from October 10th up to the 17th of November, and I notice by his report, that whereas the amount of chlorine should not be over one-half part to every one thousand parts, in nearly every instance it was found to contain a much larger amount. I also notice by his report, that on the 10th, 11th and 12th of Oc- tober, there was a very large amount of chlorine found in the water, while after the 12th of that month
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
there was a very marked decrease in the amount. At the time my message upon this question was de- livered to the city council, in taking water from the river, they were obliged to pump directly through the pipes. Immediately after that time, the water com- pany had some pipe hauled to the pumping station in the night, and upon the 12th of October they laid a pipe from the station to the pond; so that the reason why the amount of chlorine in the water was reduced so suddenly, may be found in the fact that after that pipe was laid they had facilities for pumping from the river into the pond, thereby mixing the water with the water in the pond and so diluting it.
The State board of health have also had the water analyzed. The first time their engineer came down, but very unwisely notified the water company of his coming, and consequently found the water at that time all right; but since then they have found out that there was something wrong about the water, and upon November 3 advised the water company not to pump any more water from the river, as you will see by the following letter:
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, 13 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS., Nov. 3, 1892.
DR. ERNEST H. NOYES, Chairman Board of Health, Newburyport, Mass.
DEAR SIR: The State board of health has reason to believe that the Newburyport Water Company has at times pumped water from the Merri-
,
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
mac River, and has therefore sent them today a letter, stating that the use of this water is liable to endanger the public health, and advising that a further supply of pure water should be obtained without delay, so that there will be no further occasion for pumping water directly from the river.
Yours respectfully,
SAMUEL W. ABBOTT, M. D., Secretary.
Now in regard to the city's purchasing the water plant. I have advised delaying the vote upon this question for three reasons: First, I am convinced, under the present circumstances, that it will be im- possible to obtain the requisite two-thirds vote; secondly, I am satisfied, after the award made in the Haverhill case, that we should be obliged to pay a large sum for a plant that was practically worthless; for, after purchasing, we should be obliged to expend a very large sum to place it in a suitable condition. We should be obliged to seek a new supply, as the present supply is not sufficient; we should need a basin to hold the water, in place of the pond, or rather slough, now being used, which is nothing but a hole scraped out of the mud in the most primitive fashion; we should also be under the necessity of building a new reservoir, as the one in the rear of High street is not of sufficient height to insure a good head of water, nor is it strong enough to allow build- ing upon. Even when it was first erected, the whole lower band had to be hooped with one-fourth inch iron to strengthen it. We should also have to lay new pipes in most parts of the city, as the main is not
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
large enough; and I am informed by a gentleman who had considerable to do with the project at the time, that there is not one piece of pipe in the whole system that is of standard quality. My third reason for delaying the vote is because I believe the best way for the city to obtain relief is by going to the legislature, the body which gave them their charter, and which also has the power to either take it away or to control them in its use, and ask permission to put in water works of our own, at the same time showing how the water company have been imposing upon the citizens of Newburyport and abusing the privileges given them by their charter. If the award in the Haverhill case is any criterion to go by, we should, without doubt, be obliged to pay the water company a large amount for the franchise, for that is about all they have got of any value to the city. And I maintain that the franchise is not theirs to sell; it does not belong to them, but to the people, and represents so much capital which was loaned by the people to the water company. They have had the free use of that capital for over ten years, and it has been the means of putting a large sum of money into their pockets. Now for them to come forward and say to the citizens of Newburyport: "If you want to buy our plant you must pay us liberally for this fran- chise," is just as much stealing as though they went
-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
to the safe in this hall and took out an equal amount of city bonds. Stealing is stealing, whether it is stealing a loaf of bread or stealing the rights of the people, only in the latter case it is the meanest kind of stealing, for it will be stealing from their bene- factors.
Therefore, I would recommend that the city em- ploy the best legal talent to be had in the State to represent them before the legislature in an effort to obtain permission to put in water works of our own. We can put in the Holly system complete, everything first-class in every respect, for a much less sum than we should be obliged to pay for the one that is now in, to say nothing about the cost of rebuilding it all over, which would surely follow. I would also rec- ommend that petitions be circulated all over the city for this purpose, and I cannot see how even the pres- ident and directors of the Newburyport Water Com- pany, as good citizens desiring the welfare of our city, could refuse to sign such a petition.
CONCLUSION.
And now, gentlemen, in closing this address, my remarks will be a little out of the usual course-alto- gether different from what is generally found in an address of this kind-for I am going to speak upon a
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
subject that is rarely. if ever. considered upon occa- sions like this, although it is one of vital importance to every man, woman and child in the community. The subject to which I refer is that of the morals of our city. Just prior to the election, a series of union meetings were held in some of the churches, at which speeches were made by a number of the clergymen upon this subject. The speeches, with a few exceptions, were made in a christian spirit, and were such that no one could find fault with them. Meetings similar to these are held, I believe, about the same time every year. For just what purpose, I have never been able to learn. Those who conduct them seem to be content with speaking their minds pretty freely at the time, and then they subside. One might suppose they had left the city, for we hear nothing further from them until about the same time the next year, when they come once more into view, and the same thing is gone over again. Now I sin- cerely hope that the last meetings that were held will prove an exception, and that much good will arise from them. But right here I want to suggest that cracking jokes, such as we hear from the end men in a minstrel show, making intemperate speeches and finding fault with others for not doing their duty, while wholly unmindful of their own duty, will never accomplish any good. To such I would say:
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
"Physician, heal thyself!" "First remove the beam from thine own eye, then mayest thou see clearly to pluck the mote from thy brother's eye." I think those who conduct these meetings should be divided into two classes. In the first class are those who honestly wish to do something for their fellow men; who have a sincere desire to take fallen humanity by the hand and lift it to a higher plane. Such are God's noble men and women, and are a blessing to the community. The second class is composed of those who, in my opinion, do not really care the snap of the finger how many liquor saloons or houses of prostitution there are in the city. They simply wish to create a sensation, and want to be considered the leaders in every popular movement. For such we have no use, and are better off without them. They are the ones who are responsible for the bad reputa- tion of our city that was alluded to at the meetings lately held. The question has often been asked me, when visiting other cities, as to what kind of a place Newburyport was, that there were so many more liquor saloons and houses of ill-fame here than in other places; all on account of the intemperate speeches made by sensational preachers, and which have been published abroad. Now it seems to me that it is not only proper, but that it is my duty, as the chief magistrate of this city, when such false
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