USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1887 > Part 3
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The present methods of teaching reading and language, and some other branches, require a good many supplementary books. Teachers demand them in order to do their work as well and thoroughly as it is done in other towns. The School Committee, when their judgment recognizes any need of this kind, feel that they ought to furnish such books. Authors and publishers are flooding the State with a great multiplicity of such promised helps ; and they have such an eye to their business, that they put as little matter as possible in the books issued, and spread out through three, four, or five editions, what ought to be contained in one or two. The free school book law encourages that way of business, and while it works favorably for the benefit of the schools, it puts a much greater re- sponsibility upon committees, and a heavier tax upon the citizen.
Changes of Teachers.
During the year Miss Helen Chandler resigned to take a school in Quincy, a situation nearer her home and yielding a larger salary. Miss Helen E. Manley, from Brockton, a graduate of the Bridge- water State Normal School, who had had some years' experience in teaching, was engaged for the Third Department. At the close of the summer term, Miss Fannie R. Waterman, assistant in the First Department, resigned, and the vacancy was filled by the engagement of Miss Sarah D. Noyes, a graduate of the four years' course at Bridgewater, and whose services have been very satisfactory to the Committee, and also to the Principal.
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Condition of the Schools.
In judging the quality of a term, or a year's work, two factors are to be taken into account : The quality of the teacher, and the quality and disposition of the scholars. The good teacher always does good work ; but it shows less npon the indolent, irregular and mischievous than npon the attentive and obedient ones. Personal qualities of character are the first element of successful teaching. But, in every school, there is a certain per cent. who antagonize these qualities, and break up the uuity of the teacher's work. They ex- haust her patience and weary her body. Needing education above all others, they repel it the most effectually. The success of a school, even with the best teacher, is what can be accomplished in spite of its ten or twenty per cent. of bad pupils. The teacher who can- not control and mold this adverse element, suffers in reputation, al- thongh gifted with every requisite accomplishment. All men may be created equal ; but all school children are not equal in their love of school, nor in mental and moral receptivity. And so long as such is the fact, our schools will suffer from them more or less-as will the School Committee from the complaints and harsh criticisms of their parents. Such chikiren need the benefits of our schools more than any other class ; and teachers and committees must bear with them, and seek to do them all the good in their power. But the friends of the public schools should take this element into consideration, when disposed to deprecate the little that seems to be accomplished by them.
A fair estimate of the condition and work of our twelve schools shows that good progress has been made, and the result of the year, as apparent in every pupil desirous and capable of improvement, is encouraging and commendible. Oar teachers are intellectually and morally qualified. They attend teachers' conventions, visit the, best schools in the vicinity, read the Journal of Education, and are up
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with the times, feeling a proper pride in their success and reputation. In the five first primaries, they take children of five and six years of age, and in a short time teach them to write, to read words and sentences at sight. to give the elementary sounds of the letters, to count, to connect members with things, and names with the objects they represent, to spell all the words they use in school, to read music and to sing by note. This is a good deal to do, and do sys- tematically, in the short time allotted for it; but it is done. This good beginning is followed. in the second primaries, on the same system. by a higher grade of work, geography and primary arithme- tic being added-the reading of stories, the spelling and meaning of words, and every idea explained by objects corresponding, so that if a child reads About the growing plant. the unfolding leaf or the falling rain, these processes are shown, and he knows the truth cf the statement in the book before him. The teachers are able and glad to do this. As the pupils go into the higher grades, the same process and general system are continued. Geography is taught by map drawing : arithmetic by black-board analysis, every rule and method being fully explained ; language lessons are given in the most practical way ; reading is taught in all grades, after the conversa- tional method, and spelling by use of slate or copy-book. The old school house tone has gone for good, and choice pieces are read with ability and correct taste. All our scholars have this same system constantly before them, and drilled into them. in.every room. for ten consecutive years, repeating it over and over until they are supposed to be qualified to enter the highest department, where they are ready to take up Latin, French, Algebra. Natural Philosophy. History. Geometry and English Literature, spending, if they will, four years more nuder teachers only too glad to help them. With all this at their command, it must be largely their own fault if pupils graduate with a feeble and defective education. If they were hungry for-
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knowledge, and desired to help themselves, or if their parents suffi- cently prized the great boon of such a course of training, and real- ized how much it is worth to the working man, we should have only thanks, instead of complaints.
School Accommodations.
The schools, many of them, have been overcrowded during portions of the year, and are likely to be for the year to come. When the town is able, and gets ready, we should like a high school building, large enough to accommodate sixty pupils of that grade. That would complete our school system, stimulate education, and add much to the character and stability of the town. We shall not urge this any further in this report, as a committee was chosen last Spring to consider the need of more school room, and whose report and recommendations will be read at the coming March meeting. The School Committee, according to law, have power to exclude children from the schools until they are much above five years of age, which would be a temporary relief. They never yet have exercised this power, but may be obliged to do so while the town is getting ready to give us more room. In fact, it would be better for children not to attend school at so early au age. Health soffers, and they gain nothing over those who enter at seven or eight years of age.
Music in the Schools.
In this branch we have made steady improvement since it was introduced abont seven or eight years ago. Mrs. E. T. Mitchell re- signed her position as music teacher at the end of the summer term, She had done much to render the experiment a success, and the schools and Committee were sorry to lose her services.
But they were fortunate in being able to secure the services of Mr. F. N. Cottle, a gentleman who had thoroughly prepared him-
F
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self for teaching the art of music. He has succeeded in adapting himself to the various ages and capacities in the several grades, and in awakening a new and deeper interest in this delightful and im- portant branch of education. His labors are well received by the teachers, and they co-operated with him to the extent of their time and ability.
Government in the Schools.
We meet with some, but not with a great deal, of trouble in the matter of school discipline. Corporal punishment is used slightly, but not to any great extent. None have been expelled during the past year for misconduct. We may say of our schools, what is said in the Report of the Supervisors of the Boston schools on this topic. Their remarks are worthy the consideration of every teacher and parent in Massachusetts.
" No change in the schools during the last ten years is more evident than the change in the method of governing them. A prin- cipal, if he is strong in moral forces and has good judgment, is the most potent factor in the government of his school. His assistants, influenced more or less by his personal power and his authority, will, if strong and sensible, exeente his plans in the spirit in which they were formed, and, if weak, will do at least in a mechanical way what seems to be wanted. The interests of principal and assistants become the same. With such a principal and corps of teachers a school does its work with the least waste and friction. Most of its instructors govern while teaching, and, greatly interested in accom- plishing the objects of the school, unconsciously carry along their pupils with them. Now they make a suggestion, or bestow a word of praise, or kindly administer a censure ; but, whatever they do, they keep in mind the good of their pupils and the ends to be reached. The pupils learn to valne excellence, and to strive for it. at first be- cause their teachers value it, and, later, for its own sake. This is uo ideal sketch. The form of school government just described is the best, and, therefore, must prevail, and other forms radically
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wrong must give way to it. If, in consequence of some false notion, or unpropitious circumstances, or weakness in the administration and in the teaching force of a school, the principle of fear is made to take so prominent a place that the pupils aim to avoid punishment rather than to seek for excellence, the government of the school becomes hard and severe, and though efficient in the present, does not give promise of good conduct in the future. If. instead of fear. emula- tion be appealed to in unnatural ways, and to the partial or entire ex- clusion of the higher principles of human nature, the government of the school may. appear to be excellent, but this result is secured at the risk of discouraging or rendering indifferent a part of the pupils. and of leading all to form the narrow and selfish habit of working for rank instead of excellence. The fear of punishment as a motive in the class room is used far less than formerly; and enmilation is now largely left to its natural and healthful action."
The teachers need physical strength and moral power to govern without seeming to govern. They need, also, the considerate help and co-operation of the parents. They never punish because they love to, but only from dire necessity.
Conclusion.
The above comprehends all the facts and considerations your Committee deem it necessary to lay before you in this report. We know you have the best interests of our public schools at heart, and that you are willing to co-operate with us in rendering them as effi- cient as possible. Hoping that you will candidly read and weigh what we have submitted, we subscribe ourselves
Your public servants,
GEORGE HILL, THERON BROWN. JOSHUA A. CROCKER.
NORWOOD WATER WORKS,
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD & WATER COMMISSIONERS
1887
1
NORWOOD) : ADVERTISER AND REVIEW JOB PRINT. 1887.
REPORT.
The Water Commissioners submit the following account and statement of work done, and the condition of the Water Works dur- ing the year 1886. The town, at a meeting held May 26, 1886, ac- cepted the supplementary act, authorising the further issue of bonds to the amount of $25.000, and voted to issue the same, and to authorize the Water Commissioners to apply the same to extending the main pipes wherever a guarantee of income equalled six per cent. of the cost of doing so was given. Acting under this authority, the Board have laid, under contract with J. T. Langford, 227 feet of eight inch, 17,275 1-2 feet of six inch, 5,766 feet of four inch, and a few sections of smaller pipe on cross streets. The total length of street mains laid, including these smaller sections and the forcemain line, now amounts to 12 2-10 miles. Total number of fire hydrants set and in condition for use by the Fire Department is 81.
Settlements for land taken from Clay estate, and for rights of way across the property of Nathaniel Noyes, in West Dedham, have been made, and the proper deeds and papers are in possession of the Board. For the former, the sum of $800 was paid, that amount being the award made by three referees to whom the matter was left out. For the latter, the sum of $500 was paid in full for all claims, and perpetual right of way to lay and maintain such lines of water pipes as may be necessary for the uses of the town of Norwood.
The number of applications for water entered on the books of the Board is 263, of which 255 have been connected with the street mains and are using water.
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The receipts from the sale of water to the consumers supplied up to the present time, will be for the year 1887 very nearly $4,000, and should there be many additional takers the coming season, the gross receipts will exceed that sum. It is certainly a matter of sat- isfaction that the income from the direct sale of water should be, · the second year after its introduction, sufficient to meet the entire in- terest charge on the loan of $100,000.
The cost of maintenance the past year has been-
Salary of Engineer, $1.000 00
Fnel, oil and repairs, · 720 47
Taxes. Town of Dedham, 136 46
Which inchides six months fue! on hand,
$1,856 93
There is due the town and uncollected-
For water rates,
$ 13 50
" service pipes.
102 56
$116 06
The balance sheet, statement of cost, and estimate of property on hand in the service pipe department, will furnish other interest- ing information.
A further test of the pumping machinery was made under Eu- gineer Blake's direction. April 2 and 3, 1886, with the result of ob- taining a duty of 64 63-100 millions foot pounds, or 17 1-2 per cent. excess over the original guarantee of 55,000,000. The detailed records of this test, certified by Mr. Blake, are in the office of the Board, and all balances due the contractors have been paid to them.
Our source of supply, Buckmaster Pond, has shown the effects of pumping to a comparatively limited extent, the lowest water re- corded being bnt 14 3-4 inches below its former summer level. The greatest average daily consumption was during August, when 137,- 725 gallons were required to supply the consumers.
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Total amount of water pumped 'during 1886 was 24,306,724 gallons, requiring 40 tons of coal, which included starting and bank- ing fires.
The Board believes that the works are in good condition through- out, and that due credit should be given to Mr. Langford for his substantial work in the street mains ; to Mr. Bucknam, for his care- ful management of the pumping plant and other portions of the works. We further believe that the entire project will become wholly self- sustaining in a short time, and in all probability a source of net in- come to the town within the next five years.
Respectfully submitted,
J. E. EVERETT, 1 Water
G. H. MORRILL,
F. M. BAKER,
-
Commissioners
Norwood, Mass., Jan. 1, 1887.
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NORWOOD WATER WORKS, 1887-BALANCE SHEET.
1887.
RECEIPTS. DR.
Jan. 1. Cash on hand Jan. 27, 1886,
$2,327 11
From water rates, 1,637 65
service pipes,
4.820 06
sale of materials,
74 36
sale of bonds, premiums ou
same, loans and interest, 29,987 03
$38,846 21
1887. EXPENDITURES, CR.
Jan. 1. Bills paid, as per vouchers and receipts for same, . $38.846 21
Norwood, Jan. 31, 1887.
This is to certify that we have 'examined the accounts of the Water Commissioners, and find the same to be correct, and all re- ceipts and expenditures to be properly vouched for, and all in ac- cordance with the above balance sheet.
GEORGE W. GAY, ) T. J. CASEY, Auditors, EDSON D. SMITH,
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STATEMENT OF COST OF WORKS, As PER VOUCHERS PAID TO JANUARY 1, 1887.
Previous payments, as per last report,
$77,184 89
Bellevue reservoir, 38 30
Distribution piping,
22,105 50
Pumping plant, including balance of contract,
1,331 76
Land damages and right of way,
1,313 00
Service pipes,
5,453 51
Meters,
1,456 17
Pumping station,
110 50
Office expenses,
180 54
Services of Commissioners from March 30, 1885, to July 1, 1886, 1,500 00
$110,674 17
Less amounts received from service pipes
and meters. $4,820 06
From sale of materials. 74 36
4,894 42
NET COST OF WORKS,
$105,779 75
January 1, 1887.
VALUE OF STOCK AND TOOLS ON HAND JANUARY 1, 1887.
Lead pipe,
$ 30 00
Iron “
12 00
Fittings and fixtures,
50 00
Tools,
300 00
Meters,
80 00
$472 00
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The foregoing statement will show what money has been re- ceived, and how it has been expended. At the end of the year, February Ist, there remained a surplus of uncollected bills amount- ing to $116.06 ; nearly all of this has since been collected. This, with the first half-yearly collection of water rates, about $1,500.00, is the amount that will be at the disposal of the Water Commis- sioners, it will be ample to pay all maintainance expenses, and put in service pipe that is liable to be needed. As the season advances, there will probably be applications for extension of mains, and the Commissioners, not having funds at their disposal, will be unable to make such extensions without the action of the town, and appropri- ations for the same.
One word in regard to the fire service with the engines and hose already provided. The town is well protected within the limits of the water service, which will extend 1,500 feet in all directions from the outside hydrants.
The Commissioners wish to draw your attention to the fact that the hydrant, or fire service, is the largest single item of expense connected with the laying of the water service, and should be ac- credited to the same. In other towns it is usual to allow so much per hydrant, showing an income from the service. If we were al- lowed the same privilege, our financial report would be greatly im- proved, and the future would show the works self-supporting. This is but justice.
J. E. EVERETT, G. H. MORRILL, Commissioners Water
F. M. BAKER,
TOWN MEEETING WARRANT.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk, ss.
TO EITHER CONSTABLE OF THE TOWN OF NORWOOD, IN SAID COUNTY, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Norwood, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet in Village Hall. in said town, on Monday, the Seventh day of March next, at One o'clock in the Afternoon, then and there to act on the following articles, viz :--
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meet- iug.
.
ARTICLE 2. To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.
ARTICLE 3. Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in this town? The check list shall be used, and the vote shall be by separate ballot. and ballots shall be Yes or No in answer to the question.
ARTICLE 4. To hear and act on the report of the Auditors on the Selectmen's, Treasurer's, Collector's and Water Commissioners' accounts
ARTICLE 5. To see if the town will accept of the list of Jurors as prepared by the Selectmeu, and posted as required by law.
72
ARTICLE 6. To see if the town will authorize the Collector of Taxes to use the same means a Town Treasurer may use when act- ing as Collector.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the town will fix the time within which taxes assessed therein shall be paid, and authorize the Collector to charge interest at the rate of seven per cent., or less, a year, on all taxes remaining unpaid at that time. 7%
ARTICLE 8. To see what compensation the town will allow for the collection of taxes.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of taxes of the ensuing year, and to issue notes of the town therefor, and the debts incurred under the authority of this vote are hereby made payable from said taxes.
ARTICLE 10. To hear and act on the reports of commitrees.
ARTICLE 11. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the repairs of highways. and agree upon the method of repairing the same. 3500.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the town will accept of the extension of Railroad avenue, as laid out by the Selectmen, ruuning north from Prospect street. and raise and appropriate money to build the same.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the town will accept of the extension of Tyler street, as laid out by the Selectmen, from Howard street, near the house of M. M. Alden, Esq., to a stone wall, which is the northerly line of the land of M. II. Howard, and raise and appro- priate money to build the same.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the town will vote to build a sidewalk on the westerly side of Pleasant street, from the house of A. B. Chandler to the ho se of Ellis Hartshorn, and raise and appropriate money to build the same. 300
7. 10. 2.
2000.
300
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ARTICLE 15. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the support of the organization of the Fire De- partment the ensuing year. 1500.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the town will buy land, and build a Hook and Ladder and Hose House, and raise and appropriate money for the same. no
ARTICLE 17. To see if the town will accept of chapter 186 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1884, and authorize the Town Treas- urer to receive funds from individuals, to be held in trust, the in- come to be expended under the direction of the Cemetery Con- missioners in the care of their lots in the Cemetery. arefund
ARTICLE 18. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the support of schools the ensuing year. ,
ARTICLE 19. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the teaching of music in the public schools. Por!
ARTICLE 20. To see what disposition the town will make of the money received for dog licenses.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the support of the public library .
ARTICLE 22. To raise such sums of money as may be neces- sary to defray town charges not otherwise provided for the current. . year.
ARTICLE 23. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the prosecution of illegal sales of liquor. and and agree on the manner of expending the same. 45-200.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for the use of George K. Bird Post, No. 169, Grand Army of the Republic, for the purpose of decorating soldier's graves, etc., on Memorial Day. /12.
R TC 16 3000. Jake $00, non in crireup to me for someles 1
300,000
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ARTICLE 25. To see if the town will vote to amend the rules and regulations of the Public Library, approved by the town March 2, 1874, so as to give to the Trustees the power to make such amend- ments to them as in their judgment may be expedient.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the town will vote to discontinue so much of Chapel street as lies within the location of the New York & New England R. R. Co., and will instruct the Selectmen to lay out a street from Chapel street to Washingtou street, on the south side of the New York & New England R. R. Co.
ARTICLE 27 To see what action the town will take in regard to the unpaid bills of the town.
And you are directed to serve this warrant, by posting up at- tested copies at the Post-office, and in each of the several Churches and Railroad Stations in said Norwood, seven days at least before the time of said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before the time and day of said meeting.
Given under our hands, at Norwood. this twenty-fourth day of February, A. D. 1887.
GEO. H. MORSE, - Selectmen of
FRANK A. FALES, J. E. EVERETT, Norwood.
A true copy. Attest.
WARREN E. RHOADS, Constable of Norwood.
ERRATUM.
On page 35, Treasurer's Report, County Commissioners should read Cemetery Commissioners.
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