USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1908-1911 > Part 5
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354 00
George Mahar .
180 00
W. L. Bishop .
.
82 00
.
102
Moth Work.
A. Lemoine
$46 50
J. Nutter .
76 50
A. Dussault
38 00
J. McGrath
24 00
F. Newton
32 00
E. Newton
43 05
W. N. Griffin
23 63
George Richardson
17 00
P. Lucier
47 00
A. Dumas
1 00
C. A. Leslie
8 00
W. Spear
41 00
A Loker
38 25
F. Eames
4 50
H. Lemoine
20 00
J. O'Brien W. Dudley
44 00
L. Magee
29 25
N. Foley
125 50
W. Marston
46 00
J. Maloy
90 00
E. Lemoine
99 00
E. Gladu
74 60
T. Magorty
14 88
C. McElroy
49 00
L. Richardson
8 25
E. Coyo
55 40
J. McDonald
51 00
W. E. Wilson .
101 88
W. Lawrence
35 00
C. L. Smith
.
4 00
$4, 173 00
Total expenditure
.
$5,790 53
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE W. FAIRBANK, Local Superintendent.
103
31 50
Town of Wayland
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WAYLAND WATER WORKS.
In my report of the past year I believe I can safely say that the results of our labors have been gratifying, as the water which was so bad in years past is now of good quality and giving general satisfaction, and I hear of no complaint from any source.
In January, 1908, the work of cleaning the upper pond was begun, the wood and brush being cut back twenty feet or more at a cost of $112.08 (one hundred and twelve dollars and eight cents). The wood was sold in lots for $102.10 (one hundred and two dollars and ten cents). In April the work of raking and burning all polluting matter that could be reached was accomplished at a cost of $75.40 (seventy-five dollars and forty cents). In August, when the water was low, further work was done in the cleaning line at a cost of $53.75 (fifty-three dollars and seventy-five cents) - making the total cost on upper basin $138.75 (one hundred and thirty-eight dollars and seventy-five cents).
On September 1 the work on reservoir was begun and continued up to November 1, and the work laid out was completed; and I hope that the public, who are interested in our water source, will try and visit the pond and judge for themselves as to the merits of the work performed. All the material for grading and walling was excavated from the bottom of the pond, which added to its capacity about 500,000 gallons. The gate house floor, which had rotted, has been replaced by a new one, and with other repairs, places it in good condition.
I recommend this year, as I did last, the connecting with Natick Water Works for fire purposes or other extremely necessary pur-
104
Water Works.
poses. The town of Natick has taken action on the matter. All that is required now is an act from the Legislature to bring it about if our townspeople desire it.
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
1908
April 6. £
A. W. Ames, 232 days' labor Fred Dammers, labor at gate house 1 00
$4 98
D. J. Foley, labor on services
2 48
John E. Kelley, 2 days and 8 hours John Ploss, 1 day and 7 hours
5 75
P. A. Leary, 7 hours .
1 75
2 50
May
4. G. F. Marston, pitch fork, 1908 . John E. Kelly, 212 hours' labor .
65
55
A. W. Ames, 1 day's labor Allan Barry, labor on leak
2 00
50
June 2.
Walter Evans, 512 hours
1 22
5 55
A. W. Ames, 2 days and 7 hours P. A. Leary, 1 day and 6 hours .
4 24
1 22
P. A. Leary, pipe and fittings P. A. Leary, 1 steel rake .
50
July 17.
A. W. Ames, 9 days and 6 hours Walter T. Evans, 5 days . Neal Foley, 2 days and 3 hours . Fiske & Co., fittings .
10 00
4 66
2 68
Ector J. Davieau, use of team
2 50
P. A. Leary, 7 days and 3 hours
18 35
B. M. Bailey, postage
4 82
Sept. 8 Allan Barry, 6 days mowing brush
12 00
P. A. Leary, 10 days and 11/2 hours mowing brush .
.
25 42
Charles Gladu, 712 days mowing brush 15 00
105
.
3 52
George C. Fairbank, printing for 1906 Fiske & Co., supplies and fittings, 1905
7 23
P. A. Leary, 11/2 days' labor E. J. Davieau, use of team .
3 75
2 00
.
19 33
P. A. Leary, pipe and fittings
7 94
Town of Wayland.
Sept. 8 John E. Kelley, 7 days mowing brush .
$14 00
A. W. Ames, 1 day .
2 00
C. A. Roak, teaming .
1 50
G. F. Marston, hardware
94
C. S. Williams, car fares
92
Neal Foley, 1 day
2 00
O. L. Ames, flushing pipes .
2 00
Robinson & Jones Co., cement
83
Nov. £ 2. W. F. Garfield, team, 1906
4 00
8 35
J. C. McKay, sharpening tools and jobbing Wright & Sons, 31/2 days' labor at gate house
14 00
C. L. Smith, 1 day and 7 hours .
3 55
C. H. Gay, 1 day and 7 hours ·
3 55
S. M. Smith, 8 days .
1 78
Nelson Mathieu, 1 day and 7 hours with team
9 12
Benjamin Grover, 1 day and 7 hours . ·
3 55
Allan Barry, 1 day and 7 hours . .
3 55
P. A. Leary, 2 days . . .
5 00
Troupe Hawes, 1 day and 7 hours .
3 55
William Smith, 8 hours with team
3 12
Dec. 7. Walworth Manufacturing Co., pipe and fittings . 22 90
P. A. Leary, 7 days' labor
17 39
P. A. Leary, 5 days on services . 12 06
Benjamin Grover, 3 days, 3 hours on services
6 64
Benjamin Grover, 4 days' labor . ·
7 97
J. F. Burke, soldering goosenecks, 1907
90
Union Lumber Co., lumber for floor in gate house and fence 16 33
1909.
Jan. 4. Wright & Sons, window in gate house . · C. S. Williams, paint, scythe, glass, seed, etc. 7 38
1 25
B. M. Bailey, stamped envelopes
4 27
P. A. Leary, express to Boston . .
75
Howe & Co., expressing .
.
75
P. A. Leary, hydrant screw .
20
.
106
Water Works.
Jan.
4. P. A. Leary, 1 day and 6 1/2 hours $ 4 31
C. W. Fairbank, carting gravel and stone . 4 22
Feb. 1. £
J. C. Mckay, 66 lbs. iron for repairing drinking fountain . 1 98
3 00
P. A. Leary, forgings for drinking fountain P. A. Leary, 1 day's labor, drinking fountain 3 00 Allan Barry, 1 day's labor, drinking fountain 2 00 Robinson & Jones, cement for drinking foun- tain 60
Chadwick Boston Lead Co., tin tubing 4 00
Carl F. Linbohm, printing notices
60
Walworth Manufacturing Co., service boxes
5 10
P. A. Leary, 1 day and 272 hours' labor
3 21
Howe & Co. Express .
35
Postage and envelopes
21
Howe & Co. Express .
15
P. A. Leary, service .
17
P. A. Leary, 2 days and 5 hours' labor on services 6 36
P. A. Leary, 2 days and 2 72 hours' labor on services 3 22
Feb. 27.
P. A. Leary, 3 days and 212 hours outside service 8 17
P. A. Leary, 2 days and 1/2 hour ·
5 18
Amos Dusseault 2 00
C. A. Roak, with team 8 hours 3 12
Ecto Darieau, use of team . 1 50
C. S. Williams, postage on bank books
44
Arnold Tatro, outside services .
75
Allan Barry, 2 days and 1 hour .
4 20
Allan Barry, 1 day and 372 hours ·
2 76
$430 79
CASH RECEIPTS.
1908
July 17. Wood
50 00
Dec. 15. Wood .
.
51 50
107
.
Town of Wayland.
1909.
Feb.
1. Wood
$ 60
1. Outside services . 4 60
1. Howe & Co., for repairing drinking fountain 10 58
27. Outside services 20 59
$137 87
IMPROVEMENT ON BASIN.
1908.
April 6.
William Smith, carting stone · 1 50
J. A. Bent, men and teams, 312 days labor 16 50
Walter F. Evans, 1472 days cutting wood 29 00
P. A. Leary, 3 days and 7 hours labor ·
7 54
P. A. Leary, 4 days and 31/2 hours labor 8 75
16 00
C. R. Davieau, 4 days and 5 hours Walter F. Evans, 9 days and 31/2 hours Ernest Clark, 4 days and 1 hour
8 22
A. W. Ames, 6 days .
12 00
P. A. Leary, 7 days and 1 hour .
17 78
C. F. Linbohm, 7 days and 1 hour
14 22
C. F. Damon, 7 days .
15 08
June 2. Charles N. Marso, 4 days and 9 hours J. J. Van Valkenburgh, services
. 33 20
·
7 00
Oct. 5. Joseph Breck & Sons, steel barrow Howe & Co., express
50
Howe & Co., express, piano box
3 50
M. A. Durkee, dynamite, fuse and caps
1 56
G. F. Marston, shovels
1 70
C. Davieau, 1 day ·
2 00
Allan Barry, 25 days
50 00
C. L. Smith, 23 days .
46 00
P. A. Leary, 25 days
62 50
Benjamin Grover, 24 days
48 00
Wallace Smith. 16 days
- 32 00
Neal Foley, 231/2 days .
.
47 00
Nelson Mathieu, 18 days with 1 horse . 72 00
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
108
.
18 79
May 4. J. E. Kelley, 8 days . ·
7 10
9 88
Water Works.
Oct. 5. C. W. Fairbank, 18 days with 2 horses
$90 00
Troupe Hawes, 23 days
46 00
Louis Lovely, 9 days .
18 00
J. L. Derrick, 18 days
36 00
J. E. Kelley, 5 days .
10 00
William Smith, 14 days with 1 horse
49 00
S. W. Smith, 14 days
28 00
W. C. Neal, 4 days .
12 00
W. C. Neal, use of horse
1 50
Charles Gay, 9 days .
18 00
Edward Cayo, 2 days
4 00
Nov. 7. Allan Barry, 17 days and 5 hours C. L. Smith, 16 days and 1 hours P. A. Leary, 17 days .
35 10
32 22
Benjamin Grover, 17 days and 5 hours
35 10
Neal Foley, 4 days
8 00
Troupe Hawes, 14 days and 5 hours
29 10
J. L. Derrick, 7 days and 5 hours Wright & Sons, outbuilding
15 10
5 00
S. W. Smith, 16 days and 5 hours
33 10
William Smith, 16 days with 1 horse
57 95
Charles Gay, 16 days and 5 hours
33 10
C. W. Fairbank, 11 days with 2 horses
55 00
W. C. Neal, 2 days .
6 00
Nelson Mathieu, 13 days with 1 horse
. 52 00
Wallace Smith, 4 days
8 00
N. Perodeau, rubber boots . .
17 50
.
.
.
$1,366 59
·
.
42 50
.
109
Town of Wayland.
1909.
Feb. 27. P. A. Leary returned on order No. 3 .
$18 75
$1,357 84
Balance unexpended 15 98
Unexpended balance brought over from
last year .
$373 82
One Wayland Water Works note issued 1,000 00
$1,373 82
$1,373 82
P. A. LEARY, Superintendent
IIO
Public Schools.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of the Town of Wayland :
Your committee herewith submits its report for the past year. We take pleasure in reporting that the schools are on a good working basis, and that through the effective work of the superintendent and teachers marked progress is being made. At the beginning of the school year Mr. Charles F. Prior succeeded Mr. Hutchinson as Superintendent of Schools and the improvement in the schools this year is largely due to his earnest and intelligent work.
As stated in his report new courses of study have already been introduced in the grades, and it is planned to introduce other new courses there as soon as practicable.
Attention is called to the new course of study adopted for the high school, and shown as a part of the school report. The aim has been to provide for each scholar in the high school a definite and systematic course. To do this it was necessary to reduce the number of elective studies. The dan- ger of attempting to teach too many branches of study in a high school with only four teachers was realized, and, with the adoption of the present course of study, has been avoided.
We wish to call special attention to that part of the super- intendent's report referring to manual training. The increas- ing needs of the High School make it advisable that the room now used for manual training be fitted up as a recitation room.
We still hold to the old opinion that the school building in Cochituate is wholly unfit for use or repair, and it is hoped
III
Town of Wayland.
that the citizens will take immediate action in this matter.
The cooperation of the townspeople in school matters is appreciated. Thanks are extended to the superintendent and teachers for their sincere efforts for the betterment of our schools, and also to the individuals who have made donations.
HARRY E. CARSON, PHILIP S. IDE, EDWARD M. BENNETT.
II2
Public Schools.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Wayland :
Herewith is submitted my first annual report, the eleventh report of a superintendent of schools since the formation of the present union district.
My term of service began September 1, 1908, and this re- port is based on a knowledge of your schools and the con- ditions governing their administration gained since that date.
At the outset, it is a pleasure to be able to testify to the evidences of efficient management of school affairs found in Wayland. Many excellent features were found to charac- terize the work of the schools. The results of thoughtful and painstaking work on the part of school officials and teachers constitute a good foundation for further progress, and the effort has been made to retain all that has been proven good by experience, while at the same time striving for still better results.
Teachers.
It will always remain true that the greatest single factor in the making of a good school is the good teacher. To ob- tain and retain good teachers is the hardest problem school officials have to solve. As a result of resignations, taking effect at the beginning of, or during the fall term, forty per cent. of the grade teachers were new to their schools. A com- parison of this with previous years leads to the conclusion that this is the ordinary condition of affairs in Wayland. That such changes are very detrimental to the interests of the
II3
Town of Wayland.
schools cannot be gainsaid. How to prevent them is a ques- tion worthy of serious consideration, but, perhaps, unable to be satisfactorily answered. In a business enterprise, if failure to increase the salary of an employee to the extent of fifty or one hundred dollars was likely to cause the consequent loss of twice the sum in the value of the product, greater expendi- ture for salaries would be forthcoming. If the results of a teacher's work were tangible, or visible to the physical eye, and they could be accurately measured by material standards, it would be easy to convince the community of the folly of allowing a good teacher to leave her school because she could make fifty or one hundred dollars more a year elsewhere. It may be said with certainty that the expenditure for support of schools is for well defined purposes, and, although the value of the product cannot be stated in dollars and cents, there is, nevertheless, a relation between it and the cost. Not two- fold but many fold is frequently the net loss to a school through failure to hold a teacher by a small increase of her salary. The strict application therefore of business principles to the problem of retaining teachers would result in the ap- propriation by the town of a reserve fund to enable the com- mittee to retain a good teacher by increase of salary, when, in their judgment, the acceptance of her resignation would result in greater loss to the school than could be met by the securing of her successor at a lower salary. No doubt diffi- culties would be encountered in carrying out such a plan but it would seem as if some way of successfully meeting them might be found. The use of such a fund need not be general. It should be applied with discrimination as to teachers, schools, and the opportunities of securing candidates.
Good teachers will accomplish much, even under disad- vantageous conditions, but in obtaining full value of their ser- vices which means making the schools as good as possible, other matters are involved. The character of the schoolroom and its equipment deserve consideration. In truth, a pleasant
II4
Public Schools.
and healthful school building in which to work is almost as much an essential of a good school as is a good teacher. To- day no subject connected with our schools is receiving more attention than that of school sanitation. This may justly be so for the physical welfare of the pupils is of first importance.
Cochituate School Building.
No school report of recent years has been complete unless it called attention to the defects of the school building at Cochituate. No report which omits such reference will be complete until conditions there are remedied. Nearly seventy per cent. of the pupils in Town of Wayland schools, below the high school, are housed in a building which may, possibly, have been fairly suitable years ago, but which is now very unfit for modern school work. It is unnecessary to again enu- merate with any degree of elaboration the deficiencies of the building. The lighting, heating and ventilating are very un- satisfactory and do not conform to modern standards. The outhouses are unsanitary and necessitate exposure to the weather in order to reach them. The long stairways and nar- row landings, together with inadequate rear exits, render un- safe in case of fire the two rooms in the upper story, where seventy pupils are in attendance. The seating in the building cannot be adjusted to the needs of the pupils. To compel boys and girls to work for several hours a day at desks too high or too low for them does not encourage quiet, effective work, nor does it tend to their physical wellbeing. All these defects and others that might be mentioned impede the work of the teachers and impair the usefulness of the school to the pupils and to the community.
In the same proportion as the interior is unsanitary and un- comfortable is the exterior dilapidated and unsightly. The building is certanly not a worthy expression to the casual visi- tor or the general public of the real interest the town has in
115
Town of Wayland.
its schools and the solicitude it has for the welfare of the children.
To the fairminded, progressive citizen no argument is neces- sary to convince him of the above-mentioned defects. They are self evident. Doubtless the need of improvement seems more pressing to those in close touch with school work than to those whose interest is only casual. If any one doubts the need of extensive improvement, let him take for a time more than a casual interest in local schools; let him get into touch with the conditions of modern school work and ascertain how many of these exist in the Cochituate building.
Inability to agree upon a plan for remedying conditions seems to be the principal reason why no effective action for their improvement has been taken. In view of the vital im- portance of goods schools to a community, and the relation a more comfortable, convenient, and sanitary school building has to the physical and moral welfare of the children, it should be possible for the voters to agree upon a plan of procedure. If, in their opinion, the town cannot afford a new brick build- ing, which provides for future needs as well as those of the present, and which is less costly to keep in a state of repair than one of wood, why not vote a less expensive one? A reputable architect has stated that a very creditable building of wood, with excellent heating and ventilating systems, and with the standard equipment of a modern building, can be erected for about twenty-five thousand dollars. If an individ- ual was living in uncomfortable, dilapidated, and unsanitary quarters, and could not afford the maximum of satisfaction to be found in a mansion of enduring stone, he would prob- ably seek for and be pleased with a clean, comfortable cot- tage. The children of Cochituate could be provided with pleasant and sanitary surroundings in a modern building of moderate cost.
The per cent. of attendance for the year is 94.3. Compared with that of last year, which was 93.2, there is a gain. Tardi- nesses are 2.67 as against 2.21 last year.
II6
Public Schools.
Medical Inspection.
The eyes and ears of the pupils have been examined by the teachers. Three hundred and twenty-seven pupils were tested. Of these forty-five were found defective in sight and nine in hearing. The report of the school physician will be found elsewhere. In this connection it may be stated that the appropriation by the town for this purpose is too small to enable the degree of attention to the schools which is de- sirable. The thorough examination of each pupil last year was possible because the interest and inclination of the then- acting physician made it so, not because of adequate pay for labor involved. It is rarely possible to get such services with- out payment for them. If the spirit of the law is to be ob- served, if the physical condition of the pupils is to have ade- quate attention, the appropriation will need to be increased.
Teachers' Meetings.
Teachers' meetings have been held at frequent intervals dur- ing the year. The schools of the town were closed one day to permit attendance of the teachers at the Middlesex County Teachers' Convention. The three union meetings of the teachers of Dover, Wayland, and Sudbury have been reduced to one by vote of the several committees. A meeting will be held this spring, the date and place of which have not been determined. The teachers of the town have organized a study club for the promotion of professional growth and, in- cidentally, for social purposes. Several successful meetings have been held. The subject of study thus far has been the Teaching of English. Excellent papers have been prepared and interesting discussions held. At one of the meetings an instructive address was given on the subject, "Labrador Through the Eyes of a Woman" by Miss Ellen Paine Huling of Cambridge.
Course of Study.
The work of revising and elaborating the course of study,
II7
Town of Wayland.
begun by Superintendent Hutchinson, has been continued and is nearly completed. During the fall term courses in pen- manship and spelling were placed in the schools. At the beginning of the winter term new outlines in language and grammar, history and civics, and physiology, were furnished each teacher. . The new courses are based on the text books now in use and are made for the conditions that exist in Way- land schools.
Penmanship.
An earnest effort has been put forth to improve the quality of the work done in penmanship. No new style of writing has been introduced, but more attention has been given to teaching the subject. The present course of study requires daily drill, in grades above the fourth, on exercises for gain- ing control of the muscles used in writing. A systematic study of the letter and figures is made and the last three months of each year are devoted to body writing. The ma- terial selected for this purpose is eminently practical. A great improvement in the writing of the pupils is already manifest. It varies, of course, in the various schools in proportion as skill and enthusiasm have been developed in the teachers. On the whole, the teachers have striven earnestly and successfully to obtain results.
Use of Library.
In the report of last year attention was called to the desira- bility of having the schools and individual pupils use the town library to a greater extent. In making out the grade course of study in English which has just been placed in the schools, this recommendation has been kept in mind. List of books, found in the public library, and suitable for the children of each grade, will be placed in the schools, and in each grade above the fourth two or three books from the list are required to be read and reported on to the teacher. Teachers are urged to make an earnest effort to interest the pupils in the reading of other books from the list. The expression of will-
I18
Public Schools.
ingness, on the part of the trustees, to purchase for the library books which are recommended for this purpose, is appreciated and advantage will be taken of the offer.
History.
In connection with the new course in History, some work in local history is required. A brief course of study in local history is being prepared and will be submitted for adoption before the end of the present school year. Wayland has much that is interesting and instructive in her past and op- portunity to acquire some knowledge of this should be found in her schools.
The school work of today is eminently practical. Those who speak slightingly of its aims and results would frequently need to revise their opinions if careful, first-hand investiga- tion was made by them. Criticism based on theoretical knowl- edge and a misty recollection of accomplishments in the past often impedes real progress because of its effect upon present confidence and co-operation. The aims of the present course of study are simple, direct, and practical. Visitation of the schools will convince one that the teachers are seeking to realize them, and that they are succeeding in a fair measure. To read thoughtfully and expressively, to write a legible hand in a business-like manner, to speak and write clear, correct Eng- lish, to solve rapidly and accurately the arithmetical problems of most common occurrence, to know something of the history of our country, state and town, and of their forms of govern- ment, to know how to care for the health, and to have all the work of the schools done in a way to best develop self-reliant, honest, noble character,-these and other aims all will agree are desirable to forward in the estimation of pupils. We are trying to realize these aims in our daily work. The in- terest and co-operation of the parents is indispensable to the highest success in attaining them.
.
119
Town of Wayland.
Manual Training.
The Sloyd work introduced into the eighth and ninth grades last year has been extended to the pupils of the seventh grade. The equipment is now somewhat inadequate for the demands made upon it, and a few girls of the Wayland building have taken the sewing as second choice, owing to lack of benches. No one familiar with what is being done doubts the benefits of this work in manual training. The training of the eye, the hand, and the judgment, and the knowledge gained in connec- tion therewith, are fully as valuable, from either an educa- tional or practical viewpoint, as the training and knowledge found in any other single department of the schools. We are fortunate, too, in having so efficient an instructor in the subject. It is not always possible to obtain in such an in- structor technical skill, and, at the same time, skill as a teacher. Such we have at the present time, and to this is due, in some measure, the invigorating effect that manual training is hav- ing on the general school work.
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