USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 22
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The number was diminished as a consequence. With larger experience, this teacher will take good rank with her asso- ciates in the educational work."
In 1873, the teachers were as follows :-
HIGH SCHOOL .- Principal, Spring Term, Mr. Henry Tatlock; Fall, Mr. Wm. T. Souther; Winter, Mr. Chas. L. Clay ; Assistant, Miss J. E. Putnam, for the year. GRAMMAR SCHOOL .- Miss J. E. Warren. CEN- TRE DISTRICT .- Ist Department .- Spring, Miss Abbie F. Eastman and Mrs. M. L. Wheeler; Fall and Winter, Miss E. G. Searle. 2nd Depart- ment .- Spring, Miss E. G. Searle ; Fall and Winter, Miss E. S. Billings. 3rd Department .- Spring, Miss E. S. Billings; Fall, Miss L. J. Packard ; Winter, Miss F. C. Carpenter. 4th Department .- Spring and Fall, Miss L. E. French ; Winter, Miss M. E. Mason. NEW ENGLAND. - 1st Depart- ment .- Miss M. H. Allen. 2d Department .- Spring and Fall, Miss Lucia Young; Winter, Miss Nellie H. Greene. 3rd Department .- Miss L. J. Young; and Assistant for Winter, Miss Ida S. Wheelock. SAUNDERS- VILLE .- 1 st Department .- Miss Augusta F. Taft. 2nd Department .- Miss Isadore Haskell. FARNUMSVILLE .- 1st Department .- Spring and Fall, Miss A. M. Spalter; Winter, Miss M. E. Fowler. 2nd Department .-- Mrs. George F. Ford. KEITH HILL .- Miss C. M. Crocker. GEORGE HILL .- Spring and Fall, Miss F. C. Carpenter; Winter, Miss Isabel Has- kell. MERRIAM .- Spring, Miss M. N. Allen; Fall and Winter, Miss Josephine A. Dennis. FARMS .- Miss E. F. Farnham. WATERVILLE .- Spring and Fall, Mrs. H. A. Copp; Winter, Miss E. H. Whittemore. BRIGHAM HILL .- Spring, Miss L. J. Packard; Fall and Winter, Miss M. N. Allen.
These teachers have been employed at prices averaging per week,-for High School, principal, $34.37; assistant, $12; Grammar school, $12 ; Common schools, $8.93. The sudden death of Miss Katie E. Baldwin, during the second week of the present term, was a great sorrow to the High School. She was a prominent member of the gradnating class, and had ever been esteemed for her conscientious diligence in study, and the highly moral tone of her daily life.
" The amount now annually raised and expended for the support of our schools is abont $1,500 more than it was five years ago. This fact, at first sight, suggests the inquiry, why may not our terms be proportionally prolonged ? The answer is found in the increased demand for wages in almost
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every department of labor, and especially in that of teach- ing. Five years ago the salaries of our best High School teachers for country villages ranged at $1,000 and under. The average paid our female teachers of common schools, $7.25 per week. We are now obliged to increase fifty per cent. on the pay of the former, and twenty-three per cent. on the pay of the latter. In addition to this there is an in- creased demand for the care of school-houses, and the fuel consumed in them. With this increase in the expense, which, in the pay of teachers alone is $1,300, we have been able to continue the same number of common schools but two weeks longer than they were kept five years ago,-the length in 1868 and 1869 being twenty-nine weeks. But set- ting aside these figures, no thoughtful citizen will fail to see that progress in matters of common school education must necessitate a constantly increasing amount of expenditure. We ought to have not less than thirty-three weeks per year for our common schools, under deserving and well-paid teachers. Education is costing us considerably less than most towns in the Commonwealth. We raise $7.04 per scholar. There are 247 towns, ont of the 342 in the State, that raise more. In 1870, there were but 221 in advance of us. Others have advanced within this time faster than we. In our own county, Northbridge raises ninety cents more per scholar than Grafton; Millbury $1.22 more ; Uxbridge $1.97; Leicester $4.02; and Worcester $5.53. The annual cost of educating a High School scholar in Worcester, as per last report, is $60.17. In the common schools the cost is $20.57. With us the High School costs $40 per scholar, and the common schools less than $8. We cannot, of course, compete with cities, nor indeed with those towns where fac- tory children are not so numerons, whose parents do little toward meeting the expenses of education. But the com- parison with towns similarly situated, shows that many do more with no larger valuation. The efforts of your com- mittee in looking up factory children and keeping them in
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school eleven weeks in the year, have been attended with encouraging success; though not without some difficulties. There has been an increase last year of eighty-five, spring term ; sixty-seven, fall term ; and sixty-four, winter term. Manufacturers have heartily co-operated with us, and the only hinderance now to thorough work is that which arises from the eoming and going of families from towns where the law is not enforced. The State Constable has collected three separate fines of $50 each, for non-compliance with the school law, one of which was contested in the Supreme Court. With the exception of New England Village, all the school-houses are now in good repair, and with rooms adequate to present demands. A new and commodious house has been completed at Waterville, and ocenpied during the winter term. We congratulate that school in being able, after long waiting, to reach so comfortable and conve- nient quarters."
In 1874, the teachers were as follows :--
HIGH SCHOOL .- Mr. C. L. Clay. GRAMMAR SCHOOL .- Miss Jane M. Warren. CENTRE .- First Department .- Miss Edith G. Searle, first and second terms; Miss Lottie L. Cory, third term. Second Department .- Miss Mary A. Brown. Third Department .- Miss Fannie C. Carpenter, first and second terms; Miss Eliza B. Richardson, third term. Fourth Department .- Miss M. E. Mason. NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE .- First De- partment .- Miss Emma F. Pierce, first term; Miss Ella M. Williams, second term ; Miss Marion I. H. Allen, third term. Second Department. -Miss Emma S. Billings, first term; Miss Emma F. Pierce, second term. Third Department .- Miss L. Jennie Young. Fourth Department. Miss Ida S. Wheelock. SAUNDERSVILLE. - First Department .- Miss Augusta F. Taft. Second Department .- Miss Isadora Haskell. FARNUMS- VILLE .- First Department .- Miss M. L. Fowler. Second Department .- Mrs. G. F. Ford and Mrs. Nellie Davis. GEORGE HILL .- Miss Isabelle Haskell. KEITH HILL .- Miss Clara M. Crocker. MERRIAM's .- Miss Ella M. Browne, first term; Miss Ann G. Dwyer, second and third terms. FARMS DISTRICT .- Miss Nellie M. Longley, spring; Miss I. Belle Taylor, fall and winter. WATERVILLE. -- Miss Ella F. Farnum. BRIGIIAM HILL .- Miss Margaret N. Allen.
" There has been general quiet in the schools throughout the year, and less complaints made to the committee than usual. No school has been closed on account of inefficiency of the teacher; in a majority of
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the schools the same teacher has been retained through the year. The winter term has been broken in upon by sickness to a considerable extent.
The yearly examination of the High School took place in March, and the first class was graduated ; the exercises were held in the Town Hall. This was the first fruit of our graded system of schools. The school the coming year will be able to take the course of study prescribed.
Drawing has been taught in the High and Grammar schools by Miss A. M. Spalter. Your committee improved the opportunity of securing the services of Miss Spalter to instruct our teachers in drawing, thus preparing the way for the general introduction of drawing in our com- mon schools. This was done at the expense of the teachers. As a result we find that in most of the schools, the lessons received by the teachers have been tanght to the scholars with gratifying success.
The second term of the New England Village school was opened in the new and commodions school-house, built during the summer. The teacher had many excellent ideas of teaching, and a pleasing manner of imparting instruction ; we would especially commend the improvement in reading made by the first class. But the term as a whole, was not as successful as we desired, owing to a lack of efficient discipline at the beginning of the term. The teacher was unable to retrieve lost ground, though improving towards the close. The winter term, under a teacher with whom order is a cardinal principle, was much more successful, and the examination was satisfactory to both committee and the large num- ber of friends present.
' With the completion of the school-house the schools are now occupy- ing comfortable quarters, with the exception of those in the Centre, on account of the crowded condition of these schools, and the want of any adequate system of ventilation."
The committee appointed the following men as truant officers :- Mr. James Gleason, at the Centre, Mr. J. H. Thomas, at New England Village, and Mr. W. S. Fullerton, at Saundersville, and fixed their compensation at three dollars per day, while in service.
In 1875, the teachers were as follows :-
HIGH SCHOOL .- Mr. C. L. Clay, Principal. Miss Julia E. Putnam, Assistant. Number of scholars for the year, 51. GRAMMAR SCHOOL .- Miss J. E. Warren. Number of scholars, 52. First Department. - Miss E. B. Richardson, Miss Ella F. Farnum, Miss Carrie Hewett. Number of scholars, 44, 43, 50. Second Department .- Ella F. Carpenter. Num- ber of scholars, 51, 51, 49. Third Department .- Ella M. Brown, Lucia A. Wiley. Number of scholars, 50, 50, 57. Fourth Department .- Miss M. E. Mason. Number of scholars, 56, 46, 56. Sub-Primary .- Miss
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Carrie Hewett. Number of scholars, 44. NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE .- First Department .-- M. I. H. Allen, Bella Kingsbury, Lizzie S. White. Number of scholars, 24, 42, 40. Second Department .- Miss L. Jennie Young. Number of scholars, 36, 38, 39. Third Department. -- Miss Ida S. Wheelock. Number of scholars, 40, 35, 29. SAUN- DERSVILLE .- First Department .- Miss Augusta F. Taft. Number of scholars, 35, 30, 39. Second Department .- Miss Isadora Haskell. Num- ber of scholars, 52, 56, 49. FARNUMSVILLE .- First Department .- Miss Ella F. Farnum, Miss Ida A. Maynard. Number of scholars, 24, 35, 36. Second Department .- Miss Estelle S. Rogers, Mrs. Nellie L. Davis. Number of scholars, 50, 59, 60. WATERVILLE .- Annie E. Dwyer. Num- ber of scholars, 35, 48, 45. FARMS DISTRICT .- Lizzie E. Bartlett. Num- ber of scholars, 24, 25, 27. GEORGE HILL .- Miss Isabelle Haskell. Num- ber of scholars, 22, 28, 19. KEITH HILL .- Miss Clara M. Crocker, Miss Ruth Ella Johnson. Number of scholars, 29, 36, 30. MERRIAM DIS- TRICT .- Miss M. Agnes Dalrymple. Number of scholars, 17, 19, 21. BRIGHAM HILL .- Miss Martie N. Allen, Miss Hattie R. Jewett. Num- ber of scholars, 18, 24, 21.
" Considering the crowded state of the room in which the sub-primary school was kept, and the extemporaneous furnishing, the drill of this little band of infantry was very creditable to their leader; she seemed possessed of an aptness to teach things ' both new and old,' such as all children need to know and are interested in knowing. It was thought best to limit the confinement of the children to the school-room to four hours a day, believing this to be more satisfactory to parents, and for the best iuterest of the school."
In compliance with the statute of 1874, the committee, in the month of May, took the census of such children as the law recognized as scholars, and found the number to be, of boys 468, girls 463; making a total of 931. The committee closed their report with the following :-
" A great saving of fuel has been realized by substituting a new furnace for the old, at the High School building; and the unhealthy air is removed by improved ventilation. Some other improvements have been made, at slight expense, to accommodate the rooms to the need of the scholars.
The iron tube chimney at Farnumsville has been removed, and a sub- stantial one of brick constructed. While materially strengthening the centre of the building, we have completely remedied the obstruction to the draught by this change, and economized fuel and labor.
The buildings at Brigham Hill and Merriam Districts have been thoroughly painted, the underpinning of the latter repaired, and the culvert near the front rebuilt, and so secured that scholars can occupy
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their playground without danger; some complaint having heretofore been made that they trespassed upon the neighboring fields, for which there is no longer an excuse.
The new school-house at New England Village will need painting the coming season; and the brick building at the Centre is fast approaching that dissatisfied condition where the query arises, -What shall be done? Your committee hardly feel justified in making alterations or extensive repairs, as, without addition, it will no longer accommodate the scholars. We recommend that a committee be chosen to make investigation in reference to further school accommodations in this district. In view of the fact that a fifth school inust hereafter be maintained, and the further facts that the brick building is too much straiteued in its halls and stair- ways for the proper supervision of two hundred children at recess, and the main entrance, which is far too small, is constantly exposed to the northwest blasts, we find strong reasons for the above-named measure, and trust that such committee will be chosen to report at the April meeting.
In conclusion, we ask for our schools the continued interest and ald of the intelligent voters of the town; trusting that we shall not, by any mistake, go back opon an honorable record, but, by a generous policy, lay the best of all foundations for future prosperity in the education of the young."
In 1876 the teachers were as follows :-
HIGH SCHOOL .- Mr. Edmund P. Barker, Principal. Miss Julia E. Putnam, Assistant. GRAMMAR SCHOOL .- Miss Jane E. Warren. CENTRE DISTRICT .- Miss Viola G. Roys. Miss Carrie Hewett taught the first department the first term, and was succeeded by Miss Viola G. Roys, who continued the remainder of the year. Second Department .- Miss Ella F. Carpenter. Third Department .- Mrs. Annie E. Elliott. Fourth Department .- Miss M. E. Mason. Sub- Primary .- Miss Agnes M. Dalrymple. NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE. - First Department .- Miss Julia L. Hopkins, Mr. Henry W. Brown. Second and Third Departments .- Miss L. Jennie Young, Miss Ida S. Wheelock. SAUNDERSVILLE .- Miss Angusta F. Taft. Second Department .- Miss Isadore Haskill. FARNUMS- VILLE .- Miss Nellie F. Reed. Second Department .- Mrs. Nellie F. Davis. GEORGE HILL. - Miss Emma J. Forbush. KEITH HILL .- Miss Ella R. Johnson. BRIGHAM HILL .- Miss M. Etta Brown. WATERVILLE. -Miss Isabella Haskell, Miss Hattie R. Jewett. FARMS .- Miss Lizzie E. Bartlett. MERRIAM .- Miss M. Etta Brown, Miss Isabella Haskell.
" The census of last May shows a marked decrease from the previous year in the number of children in town ranked as scholars. This is to . be attributed to depression in the manufacturing interests, and a conse- qnent removal of many families from the villages. The decrease has not, however, enabled the committee to reduce the number of schools. In reviewing the results of the year, the committee find satisfaction in
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the belief that our teachers, for the most part, have realized their re- sponsibilities, and aimed to discharge them. In some instances their labor has been attended with constant trial and anxiety, and they have . felt more keenly than some of the parents, the failure to enlist the in- terest of their children. Indifference and neglect in a few families in a district often doubles the task of a teacher, and lessens more than one- half the value of the school. Results, as a whole, have met our expecta- tions, but not our desires. The detrimeut experienced from the shortening of the terms was anticipated, not only by your committee, but by all citizens who have made school interests a study. It is well known that our best educators have fixed upon forty weeks of the year as the period during which pupils can be profitably engaged in study. The law fixes the minimum of its requirements at twenty-four weeks.
School buildings have been painted at New England Village and Keith Hill, and the former supplied with lightning-rods. A porch has also been put up at the front entrance of the brick house at the Centre, which proves a great saving of fuel and increase of comfort. Next year new stoves must be furnished in each room of this building, as the old ones are entirely worn out and unsafe. This is not so much to be regretted, as they have for a long time failed to warm the building with- out consuming an extravagant quantity of coal. It is to be regretted that a building requiring accommodations for so many scholars should have so limited space for its out-buildings, and a locatiou inclined to dampness a large portion of the year."
In 1877, the teachers were :-
HIGH SCHOOL .- Mr. Albert Warren, Principal. Miss Julia E Putnam, Assistant. GRAMMAR SCHOOL .- Miss Jane E. Warren. CENTRE .- Miss Viola G. Roys; 2nd Department .- Miss Emma E. Taft and Mrs. Annie Elliott. 3rd Department .- Miss Hattie R. Jewett. 4th Department .- Miss M. E. Mason. The Sub-Primary .- Miss Agnes M. Dalrymple. THE SAUNDERSVILLE SCHOOLS .- 1st Department .- Miss Augusta F. Taft. 2nd Department. - Miss Isadore Haskell. NEW ENGLAND VIL- LAGE SCHOOLS .- Ist Department .- Miss Augusta C. White, 2nd and 3rd Departments .- Miss L. Jennie Young and Miss Ida S. Wheelock. WATERVILLE .- Miss M. I. H. Allen and Mr. Frederick R. Burton. FARMS .- Mr. F. R. Burton and Mr. John C. Worcester. MERRIAM .- Miss Maggie C. Lynch. KEITH HILL .- Miss Isabella Haskell. GEORGE HILL .- Miss Emma J. Forbush. BRIGHAM HILL .- Miss M. Etta Brown and Miss Ruth Ella Johnson. FARNUMSVILLE SCHOOLS .- 1st Depart- ment .- Miss Nellie F. Reed and Miss R. E. Johnson. 2nd Department. -Mrs. Nellie F. Davis.
"The census of last May shows a decrease, as compared with the two previous years, in the number of children of school age, but this is
38
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to be accounted for on the ground of the dullness and suspension of trade for a time in three of the manufacturing districts. The following figures state that the whole number of children in May, 1876, between five and fifteen years of age, was 842; and in 1877 the number was 783. In looking over our schools, and the work accomplished for the year ending this date, that while we have no room to boast, yet at the same time we can safely congratulate ourselves, with the exception of two or three instances in those schools where some children were foolishly sustained by the mistaken kindness of thelr too credulous parents, that sufficient good has been done to merlt the continued confidence of an intelligent community. The old stoves were sold, and realized the price of old iron. As to the second item, twenty-eight new seats were put into the New England Village school, as the old ones were found to be too small, and otherwise uufit for use. In relation to Saundersville, it will be sufficient to state that the proximity of the water-closets to the main body of the school-house endangered the health of the teachers and pupils by the constant emission of noxlous odors, at war with the laws of sanitary reform. Before the final examinations, the committee requested the teachers not to prepare any special order of exercises, other than those of their daily tasks, in order to find out the exact standing of each school, all of which the teachers punctually attended to, and in this way there was no chance for brass to pass current for gold, nor boldness to carry off the palm due to modest and retiring worth.
We cannot close this report without adverting to the unhealthy sur- roundings of the brick school-house, and without advising the town, if not now, yet at some time not far distant, of the propriety of erecting a new building suitable for the wants of the scholars, and free from those unhealthy exhalations that are common to its present site."
The eensns taken during the month of May, 1878, shows a slight increase over the past year in the number of child- ren of school age, and is as follows :- For May, 1877, be- tween five and fifteen years of age, 783; and for the year ending May, 1878, the whole number was 789; being an in- erease of six over the previous year.
The following teachers were employed for the year 1878 :-
HIGH SCHOOL .- Mr. A. Warren, Principal, whole year. J. E. Putnam, Assistant, whole year. GRAMMAR SCHOOL .- J. E. Warren, Principal, whole year. CENTRE COMMON SCHOOLS .- Ist Department .- V. G. Roys and M. E. Sykes, during the Spring term ; and M. E. Sykes the rest of
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the year. 2nd Department .- H. R. Jewett, whole year. 3rd Depart- ment .- I. Haskell, whole year. 4th Department .- M. E. Mason, whole year. 5th Department .- A. M. Dalrymple, whole year. NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE SCHOOLS .- 1st Department .- A. E. Cutting and C. E. Wood, the former during the Spring term and near the close of the Fall term ; the latter the rest of the year. 2nd Department .- L. J. Young, Spring term; A. C. White, Fall and Winter terms. 3rd Department .- I. S. Wheelock, Spring term; and C. E. Smith, rest of the year. Another department has been opened, and will be known In the next year's re- port as the second department, and this school, since its opening, has been taught by L. J. Young. WATERVILLE SCHOOL, during the first four weeks of the Spring term, was under the instruction of L. Chapin. KEITH HILL .- M. E. Chase, whole year. GEORGE HILL .- E. J. For- bush, Spring term and part of the Fall term; and R. E. Johnson the rest of the year. BRIGHAM HILL .- S. L. Odlam, whole year. FARMS .- L. M. Rice, whole year. MERRIAM .- M. C. Lynch, whole year. SAUN- DERSVILLE SCHOOLS .- 1st Department .- A. F. Taft, whole year. 2nd Department .- I. Haskell, whole year. FARNUMSVILLE SCHOOLS .- 1st Department .- F. Smythe, the first four weeks of the Spring term; and A. C. White during rest of term; and C. A. Goodwin the remainder of the year. 2nd Department .- F. A. Putnam, whole year.
The condition and present standing of the above schools are about the same as last year ; if anything, better.
The Teachers' Association held its first meeting in 1877, at the house of D. W. Norcross, Esq. Papers were read by Mr. Barker, master of the High School, on " The Manner of the Teacher in the School-room "; by Rev. A. J. Bates, chairman of the town school committee, on the "Needs of the Common Schools of Grafton." These papers were sug- gestive, practical and timely, and called out an animated ex- change of views. The general exercises were enlivened with singing by Mrs. Elliott, and a choice entertainment furnished by Mrs. Norcross. At the close of the meeting a vote of thanks was passed to host and hostess for their gen- erous hospitality, and an adjonrnment for four weeks. Ont of the twenty-one teachers in the town eighteen were present.
High School.
The school report of 1839 says :- " The subject of most anxious deliberation, and of the greatest practical difficulty,
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which has occupied the committee, Rev. John Jennings, chairman, during the year, has been the organization of the High School. It is unfortunate that this undertaking, which, it is to be remembered, was not optional on the part of the town, but was absolutely required of it, under a penalty, by the statute of the Cominonwealth, should have begun with the opposition of a considerable minority." There was no suitable place in town for holding snch a school ; each village wanted it, and as nsnal it became a " bone of contention," almost before it had an existence. It was finally located in the basement of the Evangelical Congregational Church, in the Centre, and when that place could no longer be had, a room was leased in the " Arcade " and "furnished with a stove and seats for forty scholars." Who should be admitted to this school was a great problem, difficult to solve, but all applicants for admission were sum- moned to appear before the committee for examination, "at the tavern." Seven passed the first day, and two the second. The school began with fourteen pupils, only four of whom were living in 1876. The school continned thirty weeks ; whole number, forty-seven ; average, twenty-five. The report says of it: " This school was kept by Luther Hunter, Jr., and its appearance at the examination was very gratifying. To say it was all that could have been desired is more than often falls to the lot of a committee to say of any school." The committee did not exceed the appropria- tion, $450, or even use it all, $314.12 ; the balance, $135.88, was all the town required for the next year, when Mr. Hun- ter taught thirteen weeks. In 1841, the " minority " had grown into a majority ; the report of the committee, Otis Adams, chairman, shows the spirit of the " opposition." The High School had been discontinued for "want of an appropriation." The State Board, with its able and devoted secretary, Horace Mann, and through its Normal School, was trying to give Massachusetts better schools, but Grafton wanted no " teachers made to order "; its youths should not
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