USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1860-1890 > Part 20
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The Registers show but few names of parents that have visited the schools. A teacher said to one of the Committee, "It is discouraging; it seems as though the parents cared nothing about us." Another says, "I wish the parents would come and see for themselves what we are doing, rather than depend on hearsay." Such neglect is injustice to the teacher, and great injustice to the children. If all that are interested would be- come better acquainted with the schools, they could better ap- preciate the teachers' labors, and co-operate with them for the best interest of the children.
While we speak of our schools as comparing favorably with previous years, we are aware that our standard is low. We have many bright and good scholars that need no urging to go ahead; but too large a number are not only dull, but lazy, and are not accomplishing what they are capable of doing. How to make ·an improvement in this class should be our study. From them, comes most of the absent and tardy marks, mischief and annoy- ances that give trouble. The old saying is yet in force: "Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do." For improve-
19
ment in this state of things, we would suggest that every scholar be made to do a reasonable amount of work every school-day, and no discharge from it without good reasons. By compulsion if it can not be done in any other way; at the same time, an ef- fort should be made to interest and encourage the scholar to ac- tivity, by practical questioning and clear explanations, simpli- fied and within reach of the mind taught.
The present advantages for schooling in our town are such, as to afford a good education if rightly used, and within the reach of all. Many realize this fact and are making good use of their opportunities. Five of our present corps of teachers obtained their education wholly in town, and their ability and success in teaching gives them much credit.
We have endeavored to keep the expenses within the amount of money appropriated for schools; but was obliged to shorten the winter term, for want of money, to thirteen and one-half instead of fourteen weeks, the usual length.
An exchange of Geographies was made in the fall-introduc- ing Harper's in place of Warren's-that had been long used in our schools. The teachers all speak in praise of the new book. We have also made arrangements to introduce a new spelling- book (Swinton's) in even exchange for the old ones. We have now in the schools several kinds; some of which have been used a long time. The new book appears to be one of merit.
The wages paid have been the same to all teachers through the year; Six dollars per week including board, excepting the winter term at West Brook, which was $6.75.
ROLL OF HONOR.
The following scholars have attended school the entire year without an absent or tardy mark :-
GEORGE BARTON, CARRIE SMITH, HARRY ABELLS.
The latter has been neither absent or tardy for two years.
20
No. of children between the ages of 5 and 15, 305
No. reported last year, 323
No. of children who have attended school, 301 Average attendance each term, Spring, 290; Fall, 269; Win., 269 Average attendance, 222
No. of children over 15 years of age, 5
No. of children under 5 years of age,
5
NAMES OF TEACHERS AND WHERE THEY TAUGHT.
HILL DISTRICT.
Miss Emma E. Porter, Miss Mary Elmer,
Miss Carrie L. Warner, Miss Eva Mattoon.
CENTER DISTRICT.
Miss Mary L. Waite,
Miss Carrie L. Warner,
Miss Anna H. Billings,
WEST HATFIELD DISTRICT.
Miss L. H. Clapp, Miss Carrie S. Porter.
WEST BROOK DISTRICT.
Miss Myra E. Parsons, Miss Anna L. Phillips. WEST FARMS DISTRICT.
Miss Alice L. Bartlett, Miss Nellie A. Waite.
Amount appropriated for schools, $1,500 00
Received from State School Fund,
181 53
66 from Dog Fund, 1879, 45 05
66 from R. M. Swift, for tuition, 15 00
Unexpended last year, 83 25
$1,824 83
Amount expended for teachers and board,
$1,537 75
66 for wood and coal,
220 50
for care of school houses,
37 80
Balance unexpended,
28 78
$1,824 83
JOSEPH S. WELLS, ALFRED H. GRAVES, OSCAR BELDEN,
School
Committee.
REPORTS
OF
THE SELECTMEN,
ASSESSORS, TREASURER,
AND
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD,
For the Year Ending March 1, 1882.
HATFIELD. MASS. : L. H. KINGSLEY, JOB PRINTER.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
To the inhabitants of Hatfield :-
We are able to report the expenses of the year paid with the exception of about $100.00 in outstanding accounts-the bills for which have not been presented.
The new plan that was adopted at the last annual meeting for repairing highways has, in our opinion, operated succot :1]: The contractor has, to the best of our knowledge, performed his work in a thorough and judicious manner. We have no hesita- tion in recommending that the same general plan be pursued the coming year. The worst defects in our roads are seen in the dry summer months, and cannot be thoroughly remedied without hardening, by drawing earth or gravel from a distance; this has not been done to a great extent, and could hardly have been expected without larger appropriations than have been made for the last few years. It may seem advisable for the town to make a special appropriation for some particular piece of road-as the road through the Hill towards Northampton.
We have repaired, to some extent, nine bridges, expending about $180.00 on the Mill river bridge on the depot road. It will be necessary to rebuild two of the bridges on the old depot road, and remembering the difficulty we have experienced in procuring suitable lumber in the summer we have ordered bills of lumber for the two bridges.
Without something unforseen happening the amount of the appropriations of last year need not be largely increased.
We unexpectedly found the roof of the Town Hall in a very bad condition. It seemed ruinous to leave it until another season; we therefore, without especial authority from the town, have had it slated. We have also repaired the chimnies and underpinnings. More repairs are necessary, and the building needs painting outside.
4
PAID OLD BILLS.
R. P. Smith, services as selectman, $100 00
C. B. Dickinson, 66
50 00
F. K. Porter, 66 66.
50 00
H. S. Gere, advertising, 1 25
E. M. Martin, groceries P. Doppman, 66 66 66 Chas. Manchester, 10 00
33 12
Dr. C. M. Barton, professional services Richard Wheeler. 14 00
66 66 Henry Wheeler. 14 00
66
Doppman family. 4 00
66 66
Michael Ryan.
6 00
E. M. Martin, Mdse. for schools, 1 85
D. Powers, labor on highway, 1 60
R. Billings, highway bills, 4 75
Mdse. for schools, 2 50
Bridgman & Childs, books and binding for Library, 67 98
Assessors' schedules. 2 00
R. Billings, Mdse. for schools. 5 28
Chas. Wells & Co., flour for P. Doppman.
2 50
Wm. Lyons, meat for 6 88
E. M. Graves, Mdse, for schools. 1 46
Delano & Hammond. Collector's deed for J. E. Doane. 3 00
Bond Bros. & Bottum, copies of deeds in "Draper" case. 8 50
O. S. Graves. highway bill. 3 65
L. H. Kingsley, printing town reports.
25 00
C. K. Morton, labor on highway. 4 00
Michael Boyle, lodging tramps. 50
$423 82
5
HIGHWAYS.
N. T. Abells, cash,
$550 00
BRIDGES.
Eurotas Morton, plank,
$119 00
James Porter, lumber, labor, 4 65
7 19
N. T. Abells, repairing Pine bridge,
17 27
H. S. Porter, lumber for spiles and plank,
14 63
T. Graves, 66
29 70
John E. Doane, sawing plank,
1 75
John McHugh, labor on bridge, (depot road)
16 00
Michael Boyle, 66
7 25
J. A. Cutter,
9 75
James Dunn,
66
1 50
H. Shumway, 66
10 50
C. K. Morton,
66
3 00
66
labor,
9 50
66
cash for rope, etc.,
1 71
N. T. Abells, labor, with two men,
55 60
66 repairs on bridges, 66 66 railings,
5 50
Geo. C. Smith, lumber,
20 94
H. W. Clapp, 66
3 60
Washburn & Banks, iron,
2 22
spikes,
3 30
Martin Kennedy, blacksmith work,
2 00
Hartley Hale, lumber,
24 57
S. S. Dwight, freight,
5 60
F. S. Reynolds, use of spile driver and work,
15 00
$458 03
drawing plank,
3 00
63 30
6
PAID FOR POOR.
/
Northampton Insane Asylum,
Board of A. M. Richmond,
66 Emily Brenette, 176 13
89 32
66 F. F. Abbott, 22 79
and burial expenses Sarah G. Morton, 45 29
Other burial expenses, 4 50
Vermont Insane Asylum, board of Oliver Bardwell, 50 00
State Reform School, board of Albert & Penny Wheeler, 104 00 State Primary School, board of Wm. Stone and T. Moran, 55 00 Town of Northampton, support of J. Proulx and family, 25 33 32 75
Support of J. Proulx and family, Michael Ryan, 61 88
L. P. Dole, board of James Shea, 100 72
H. S. Porter, board of James Powers, 14 00
Mary Wheeler, board of Alice Wheeler's child,
78 00
Anna Gotz, care of P. Doppman's family,
55 00
C. Doppman,
63 00
M. N. Hubbard, house rent "
20 00
Provisions,
8 24
Support of Jane Stone,
25 00
$1215 02
PAID FOR SCHOOLS.
Miss Nellie Waite, teaching West Farms District, $216 00
Mary L. Waite,
Center, 210 00
Carrie L. Warner,
Hill, 210 00
Eva Mattoon,
126 00
Lilla Peck,
Center, · 144 00
Carrie S. Porter, 66
West Hatfield and Hill. 210 00
Anna L. Phillips,
West Brook,
72 00
Anna H. Billings.
Center, 66 00
Mary E. Dodge,
West Brook, 144 00
Emily Billings. 66 West Hatfield, 84 00
.
$184 07
and burial expenses,
7
French & Co., coal,
39 51
J. S. Wells, coal, 45 50
A. H. Graves, drawing coal, 2 00
N. T. Abells, 66
2 00
Oscar Belden, coal, 20 31
P. L. Strong & Sons, wood,
19 50
Geo. W. Warner, wood,
8 00
E. C. Wait, wood, and sawing same,
21 75
Eurotas Morton, wood,
10 00
Geo. F. Cutter, sawing wood,
5 00
John O'Neil
2 50
J. E. Doane, wood,
10 50
Frank Cutter, janitor,
2 00
Nicholas Burke, janitor,
4 50
H. G. Moore, cash paid for janitors,
4 55
Eddie Burke, janitor,
3 75
H. G. Moore, cash paid for janitors, .
7 25
Eddie Burke, janitor,
10 50
Fred Allair, janitor,
10 50
Frank Cutter, janitor,
00
$1718 62
REPAIRING SCHOOL HOUSES.
Michael Clancy, mason work at Center,
$9 00
John Kiley, 66 0% 6 00
N. T. Abells, building fence and repairs on school house, West Hatfield, 130 90
Mrs. Burke, cleaning Center school house, 10 00
H. S. Hubbard, lumber for Hill school house "annex," 26 41
A. H. Graves, 66
6 85
L. P. & B. P. Dole, carpenter work on 66
30 25
J. E. Porter, bill of A. W. Breck's, painting, 85 00
A. W. Breck, painting, 22 37 paint, 7 36
Dewey & Loomis, bill of A. W. Breck's, 21 94
8
J. S. Wells, cash paid for pumps, 15 10 S. W. Kingsley, pumps and repairs, 9 45
Geo. H. Hannum, repairing chimneys at Center,
7 50
Joseph Champagn, repairing slate roof,
13 24
$401 37
PAID STATE AID.
Mrs. U. B. Graves,
$48 00
Elzabeth Coville,
48 00
Ruth Dennis,
68 00
Minerva Anderson,
48 00
Peter Carter,
18 00
$230 00
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Bridgman & Childs, books,
$48 75
E. F. Billings, services as Librarian,
12 50
catalogueing books,
5 00
C. G. Waite, wood,
4 00
Philos Doane, sawing wood,
2 00
David J. Field, one book,
1 50
L. H. Kingsley, printing catalogues and labels,
4 50
Bridgman & Childs, books,
26 85
R. M. Woods, books,
1 20
E. F. Billings, services as Librarian,
12 50
$118 80
SALARIES OF TOWN OFFICERS.
J. S. Wells, Assessor.
$47 50
H. S. Hubbard, 43 75
E. C. Waite,
43 75
W. D. Billings, Town Clerk,
50 00
J. S. Wells, School Committee,
35 00
A. H. Graves, 66 66
30 00
H. G. Moore, 66 32 00
L. H. Kingsley, Tax Collector,
150 00
Wm. C. Dickinson, Treasurer,
50 00
$482 00
9
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
SCHOOL HOUSE SUPPLIES AND REPAIRS.
J. S. Wells, cash paid for school books,
$24 25
J. H. Howard, Mdse., 4 56
W. F. Prindle, stove pipe, 1 23
A. H. Graves, cash paid for repairs,
8 25
Eames & Sprague, stoves and repairs,
56 58
A. H. Graves, supplies, 1 50
H. G. Moore, cash paid for repairs and supplies,
10 31
N. T. Abells, repairs, West Hatfield,
6 15
W. L. Smith, furniture,
19 15
E. M. Martin, Mdse.,
1 51
Mrs. Dunn, cleaning Hill school house,
5 00
Mrs. Burke, 66 Center
7 50
Ginn, Heath & Co., globe,
4 00
Geo. E. Coats, stove and pipe, West Brook, 15 50
H. G. Moore, cash paid for repairs, 2 50
Joseph Champagn, repairing slate roof, West Brook, 7 97
M. H. Burke, painting and repairs, 15 45
H. G. Moore, cash paid for cleaning,
2 00
$193 41
EXPENSES OF COMMITTEE ON R. R. CROSSINGS.
S. G. Hubbard, surveying and services as witness,
$14 00
Edmund Powers, services as witness, 3 50
W. D. Billings, 3 10
Bond Bros. & Bottum, legal services,
37 50
$58 10
REPAIRS ON TOWN HALL.
Bartlett Bros., slating,
$188 61
Albert W. Morton, drawing slate,
3 50
C. K. Morton, 66 labor, and cash paid for repairs,
2 50
Michael Clancy, stone work,
3 00
John Kiley,
2 50
W. M. Pomeroy, repairing sash and blinds,
6 72
I. R. Clarke, 66
5 00
Jerry Brown, repairing chimneys,
11 00
$224 08
6
1 25
10
MISCELLANEOUS.
C. H. Pierce, insurance, $37 50
Oliver Walker, 56 00
C. K. Morton, cash paid Delano & Hammond for legal advice on claims of Rufus Cowles, 2 00
C. K. Morton, cash paid for postage, 2 75
Bridgman & Childs, blank books and stationery,
19 30
H. Shumway, express on books, 3 25
6 50
L. H. Kingsley, printing, 6 00
J. S. Wells, stationery,
90
W. D. Billings, recording births, marriages and deaths, 22 60
A. M. Peck, recording deaths, 5 75
trimming hedge, and work in cemetery, 16 62
J. H. Howard, oil and lamp chimneys, Town Hall, 2 72
S. W. Kingsley, repairing road scraper, 7 30
N. T. Abells, painting 1 50
66 cash paid for earth,
5 40
L. S. Crafts, water tank and care of same, 20 00
1 50
C. K. Morton, expenses to Monson,
3 00
66 Chicopee,
2 00
66
2 00
66 paid for team, 1 00
L. H. Kingsley, tax on town land, 2 13
Wm. C. Dickinson, stationery and postage,
2 00
E. F. Billings, services as Constable,
7 00
$236 72
Respectfully submitted.
CHAS. K. MORTON, Selectmen JAMES PORTER, of
EUROTAS MORTON, Hatfield.
HATFIELD, Mass .. March 8, 1882.
Wm. Daugherty, painting guide boards,
Metcalf & Co., Assessor's blanks,
11
TREASURER'S REPORT.
WM. C. DICKINSON, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF HATFIELD.
DR.
To cash rec'd from R. Billings, Treas., $1,519 37
66
Corporation Tax, $ 200 13
66 National Bank Tax, 1,388 42
66
66 Relief of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors,
203 00
66 66
Dog Fund,
34 25
66
66 School Fund,
181 02
66
66 Burial Lots,
4 00
66 E. F. Billing's Note,
17 50
66
L. H. Kingsley, Coll.,
7,937 46
$9,965 78
Cash received from Loans,
State Treasurer,
4 per cent.
$2,500 00
4 1-4 "
2,000 00
Cash received from temporary Loans.
State Treasurer,
3 1-2 per cent.
2,000 00
3 1-2
1,000 00
Hampshire Savings Bank,
4 1-2 pr ct. 2,000 00
4 1-2
1,000 00
66
5
700 00
..
. .
5
500 00
$11,700 00
$23,185 15
12
CR.
By cash paid Selectmen's orders, 1880, $ 772 88 66 66 1881, 6309 97
$7,082 85
Cash paid State Tax,
$1,065 00
County Tax,
1,810 74
66 Interest on Notes,
320 02
$3,195 76
Cash paid on Loans, State Treasurer,
$2,500 00
66
2,000 00
1,000 00
1,000 00
Hampshire Savings Bank,
2,000 00
1,000 00
700 00
500 00
John Pickering & Mosely,
2,000 00
$12,700 00
Balance in Treasury,
206 54
1
$23,185 15
In account with L. H. KINGSLEY, Collector.
DR.
$7,937 46
Orders of abatement,
60 07
Discount on taxes,
133 55
$8,131 08
CR.
By Assessor's warrant, $8,105 20
Interest on taxes,
25 88
$8,131 08
66
To cash received,
13
SUMMARY.
State Treasurer's Note, due April 9, 1882,
$2,500 00
66 66 due June 1, 1882, 2,000 00
$4500 00
In hands of Treasurer,
$206 54
Due on E. F. Billing's Note,
15 91
Due from D. W. Wells, Adm'r estate of Sarah G. Morton,
45 29
Due from State and Military Aid,
210 00
$477 74
Indebtedness of the town,
$4,022 26
WM. C. DICKINSON, Treasurer.
I have this day examined the books and vouchers of the Selectmen and Treasurer and found them correct.
D. W. WELLS, Auditor.
HATFIELD, Mass., March 8, 1882.
14
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
In accordance with the vote of the town, your Assessors pre- sent the following report of their doings for the year 1881.
By vote of the town, and warrants issued by the Treasurer of the State and the Clerk of the County, we were instructed to assess upon the polls and estates of the town the following sums less the Corporation and Bank Tax .- Estimated to be $1,600.
Town Grant,
$6,585 00
State Tax,
1,065 00
County Tax,
1,810 74
Overlayings,
244 46
9,705 20
Less Corpora'n and Bank Tax, 1,600 00
$8,105 20
We find the value of real estate to be $757,542.00; value of personal estate, $279,204.16. Total valuation, May 1, 1881, $1,036,746.16.
Number of polls, 373; No. of acres of land, 9,114; No. of dwelling houses, 298; No. of horses, 338; No. of cows, 668.
Money at interest, $61,993; Money on hand, $1,767; Public Stocks, $8000; Stocks in Corporations out of State, $23,250; Rate of tax per $1000, $7.10.
No. of children between 5 and 15 years of age, 329.
The tax as assessed was placed in the hands of L. H. Kingsley, Collector, with a warrant to collect the same, and pay it to the Treasurer of the town. A warrant was also issued by us to Wm. C. Dickinson, Treasurer, instructing him to collect from L. H. Kingsley, Collector, the sum of $8,105.20.
Respectfully submitted.
J. S. WELLS, Assessors H. S. HUBBARD. of Hatfield.
E. C. WAIT.
15
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1881.
Highways and Bridges,
$1,000 00
Poor,
1,200 00
Schools,
1,500 00
Repairing School Houses,
400 00
Contingent Expenses,
500 00
Town Officers,
600 00
Interest,
220 00
Town Debt,
1000 00
Public Library,
150 00
$6,570 00
LIST OF JURORS REPORTED BY THE SELECTMEN.
Moses W. Kingsley,
Charles E. Hubbard,
Lewis S. Dyer,
Oscar Belden,
Daniel W. Wells,
Wm. H. Belden,
Chas. K. Morton,
Daniel A. Vining,
Edwin Brainerd,
Champion B. Dickinson,
J. H. Howard,
Amariah E. Strong,
Levi L. Pease,
Alpheus Cowles,
Eurotas Morton,
Elisha Hubbard,
Jacob Carl,
E. Seward Warner,
James Porter,
F. H. Bardwell,
Dwight P. Morton, F. D. Billings,
Henry S. Porter.
16
ARTICLES IN THE WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING, MARCH 20, 1882.
ARTICLE 1 .- To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2 .- To choose all necessary town officers for the coming year, including one person for member of the School Com- mittee for three years.
ART. 3 .- To choose an Elector under the will of the late Oliver Smith, Esq.
ART. 4 .- To revise and accept the list of Jurors as submitted by the Selectmen.
ART. 5 .- To hear the reports of the Selectmen, Assessors, Treas- urer and School Committee, and act thereon.
ART. 6 .- To receive and pass on town accounts.
ART. 7 .- To take action in relation to raising money to defray the necessary expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
ART. 8 .- To see what method the town will adopt for the main- tainance and repairs of Highways and Bridges the ensuing year. ART. 9 .- To see what action the town will take in relation to the prompt payment of taxes the coming year.
ART. 10 .- To see if the town will raise money to pay the out- standing debts of the town.
ART. 11 .- To see if the town will make an appropriation for the Public Library and choose a Committee for the same.
ART. 12 .- To see if the town will by its vote or otherwise. ask the Legislature to extend to women who are citizens, the right to hold town offices, and to vote in town affairs on the same terms as male citizens.
ART. 13 .- To take action in relation to the support of the poor of the town, including the purchase or lease of a farm, and making the necessary appropriation for the same.
17
ART. 14 .- To take action in relation to the railroad crossings in the town.
ART. 15 .- To see if the town will build gates at the cemetery at West Farms, and make an appropriation for the same.
ART. 16. - To take action under Chapter 54, Section 1, of the Acts of 1881. The votes must be by ballots and ballots must be "Yes" or "No" in answer to the question-"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the town."
ART. 17 .- To see if the town will take action in relation to adopting "By-Laws."
ART. 18 .- To see if the town will grant to Samuel D. Partridge lot No. 34, in the cemetery near the church; he having paid the Treasurer of the town the sum raised by vote of the town, June 7, 1847, and take action in relation to the cemetaries of the town and make appropriations for the same.
ART. 19 .- To see if the town will allow Mary D. Porter to build platform scales upon the triangular piece of land between the highways opposite C. S. Shattuck's factory.
18
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Each year of service to the town as Library Committee, strengthens our convictions that a free public library is a real public good. It is a means of education; and experience has shown that no money is more wisely expended than money spent for education. In a time too, when there is so much cheap lit- erature abroad, corrupt and demoralizing in its influence, we are grateful that in our community the young have reading placed within their reach, which is instructive to the mind and healthy to the moral nature.
Our library does not afford all the advantages of larger insti- tutions. We believe, however, that few make better returns than ours for the amount appropriated for their support.
The running expenses are comparatively very small. The per cent. of the appropriations spent in buying new books is large. The free circulation of the books is hampered by no annoying rules, often necessary in larger places.
Very few books have been lost since the library was founded. The books are used. Many of them show the effects of usage. This last fact leads your Committee to make two recommenda- tions :-
1st .- That more care be taken of the books on the part of read- ers. All citizens are interested in the careful treatment of public property.
2nd .- That as before, the town make an extra appropriation to rebind old books, and make them once more serviceable.
We append a list of the books purchased the past year.
19
A Wife's Tragedy, Friends,
Rosecroft,
The True Nobility, A Changed Heart, Happy-Go-Lucky,
Lenox Dare,
Homoselle, Rose Mary and Rue, The Forger and Detective,
A Fearful Responsibility, Anecdotes of Public Men, 2 vols. John Eax,
Aunt Serena, Without a Home,
Cape Cod Folks,
That Beautiful Wretch,
Sunrise, The Letter of Credit,
Madeline,
Caesar, The Eastern Archipelago,
Young Folks' History of Russia, Outline Study of Man,
The Fairport Nine,
In the Brush,
Conflict of Christianity with Heathenism,
Young Folks' History of Boston, Count of Monte Christo,
Greece, Chas. O'Malley,
From Log Cabin to White HouseHandy Andy,
The Pocket Rifle, True Blue,
The Floating Light, A College Widow,
Harper's Magazine, 1881, 2 vols
Scribner's
66
Atlantic
Life of Garfield.
Dr. Breen's Practice, Faith and Unfaith, The Two Cabin Boys, Cyclopædia of Commercial An- ecdotes, 2 vols.
History of Our Own Times, 2 vol The Prince and the Pauper, Wit and Humor,
Capture of a Locomotive, A his- tory of the secret service. Land of the Midnight Sun, 2vol Hawthorne's Works, 12 vols. Dryden's Poems, 2 vols. Froude's Reminiscenses,
20
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
The School Committee in presenting their annual report to the citizens of Hatfield, are pleased to be able to report a good degree of progress in most of the schools.
We have endeavored to secure competent teachers. All have been faithful in the discharge of their duties, and a majority have been successful; although they have been obliged to meet the discouragements of a very irregular attendance, which is the great hindrance to the progress and usefulness of our schools. There is no remedy but for the parents to unite cordially and heartily with the teachers in correcting this evil. The scholar who stays away from school, either with or without the consent of his parents or guardian, not only makes an irretrievably loss individually, but retards the whole school. Parents should es- teem the matter of an education of so much importance, that they will make great sacrifices if necessary, in order that their children may secure the full benefit of the free school system.
Your Committe has endeavored. to have pains taken in re- gard to instruction in morals and manners, realizing that the .cholirs of to-day are the citizens of to-morrow. There is a Statute law concerning moral instruction which we quote.
"It shall be the duty of all preceptors and teachers of acade- mies, and of all other instructors of youth, to exert their best endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youths com- mitted to their care and instruction, the principles of piety and justice, and a sacred regard to truths; love of their country; hu- manity and universal benevolence; sobriety, industry and frugal- ity; chastity, moderation and temperance; and those virtues which are the ornaments of human society, and the basis upon which a republican constitution is founded; and it shall be the duty of such instructors to endeavor to lead their pupils, as their ages and capacities will admit, into a clear understanding of the tendency of the above mentioned virtues, and to point out to
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them the evil tendency of the opposite vices."
The arrangements made and reported last year, for the ex- change of spelling books, has been successfully carried out, and greatly to the advantage of the schools.
What can be done to improve our schools? Is, and should be the question asked by all interested in the intelligent education of our children.' In our opinion, a Superintendent of schools would do more towards perfecting our school system than any- thing yet suggested. There is an objection in regard to cost. But would it not be true economy to raise a few dollars extra or shorten the school year somewhat, in order that our schools might be thoroughly and properly managed in every case?
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