USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1852-1874 > Part 43
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4 33
$359 00
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid
Chas. Estabrook, express bill,
$10 63
" Shelton & Cheever, for hose,
345 10
R. C. Taylor, 14 gallons neats-foot oil,
28 00
Josiah Clark, carting,
1 00
Shelton & Cheever, repairs,
89 33
$474 06
RECAPITULATION.
Aquarius Engine Co., No. 1,
$365 48
Independence Engine Co., No. 2,
105 32
Fearless Engine Co., No. 3,
173 57
Relief Engine Co., No. 4,
94 86
Fire King Engine Co., No. 5,
359 00
Miscellaneous expenses,
474 06
$1,572 29
5
$173 57
34
The Fire Department has five Engines; four belonging to the town, and one (the Fearless) belonging to individuals in the west part of the town, which has been in the Department the. past two years. We would recommend that the town purchase this Engine at a fair value, and have it located near Mr. Josiah Clark's, which we think a proper. location for that part of the town.
The Department is now in good condition ; the Engines are all in good repair, and well manned with good and efficient companies. We are still in want of more hose, and would recommend an appropriation of one thousand dollars for the purchase of new hose.
We would again call the attention of the town to the want of water, in case of fire, in our villages. Especially is the want felt in the centre of the town. There is a large amount of property exposed to fire without any means. of extinguishing it. After the warnings we have had the past year, of large fires in our cities and large towns in different parts of the country, we think it would be wise to take some measures for having a sup- ply of water, should we be visited in like manner. It is of the utmost importance to have. water that can be used quickly in case of fire; the first few minutes. on the breaking out of a fire is when we most control it, if at all; and it is of the utmost in- portance that we should be better supplied with water than we are now. It is just as necessary that we provide water as it is to provide Engines and men to work them.
We would recommend the town to, pass a vote paying one. half the expense of putting in cisterns in our villages, where the, inhabitants will pay the other half; which would be dividing the. expense about as it should be ; and in this way we think we can have a better supply of water in, our villages.
A. W. WHITCOMB, CHIEF ENGINEER. ABIEL HOWARD, WILLIAM H. WARREN, H. C. ALDEN, THOMAS WEST,
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS,
35
Marriages Registered in the Town of Randolph for 1866.
January 2 .- Michael O'Brien to Joanna Mclaughlin, bcth of Randolph.
9 .- Ebenezer Thayer to Susan Reynolds, both of Randolph.
12 .- Samuel A. Foster to Catherine E. Sullivan, both of Randolph. 14 .- Lemuel Hollis to Margaret Garland, both of Randolph.
20 .- George Patten, of Boston, to Emily J. Pratt, of Randolph. 21 .- John Mullen to Catherine Murphy, both of Randolph: 22. - David Pope to Lizzie M. Dennahy, both of Randolph.
26 .- John A. Boyle to Margaret Farley, both of Randolph.
Feb. 4 .- Maurice Smithick, of North Bridgewater, to Mary F. Keegan of Stoughton.
11 .- Thomas Cota to Jessie Gill, both of Randolph:
11 .- Frank Curtis to Mary Gill, both of Randolph.
15 .- John A. Boyle to Mary Dennehy, both of Randolph.
22 .- Newton Eggleston of New York, to Elizabeth S. Gerrald, of Randolph.
March 21 .- David W. Hobart to Eliza A. Hobart, both of Randolph.
April 29 .- Edmund Borbeau to Etugene Varbonkier, both of Randolph: 29 .- Wilson Belcher to A. Jennie Pendergrass, both of Randolph:
May 6 .- Edmund B. Whalen to Ellen Flannigan, Both of Randolph:
10 .-- Henry C. Thayer to Matilda J. Palmer, Both of Randolph:
20 .- Jeremiah Cramer to Jane Lynch, both of Stoughton.
23. - Henry O. Pratt to Sarah B. Faunce, both of Briintree: 30 .- Abram C. Holbrook to Olive M. Wales, both of Randolph:
June 2 .- John Hennesey to Mary A. McNamara, both of Randolph.
2 .- John Appleby to Virginia M. Jordan, both of Randolph.
3 .- Thomas B. Thayer, of Randolph; to Lucinda L. Hdinden, of Dorchester:
17 .- Ends S. Maloon to Lucinda Thayer, Both of Randolph.
17 .- Charles W. Paine to Sarah H. Thayer, both of Randolph.
July 1 .- Rufus I. Jones to Salome R. Garland, both of Randolph.
August 2 .- Albert H. Smith, of Weymouth, to Sarah E. Bearce, of Randolph.
15 .- Lysanda C. Morse to Sarah Alexander, both of Randolph.
19 .- James Lyons to Joanna King, both of Randolph:
19 .- Wesley M. Lawrence, of Randolph, to Alvira N. Potter, of Boston: 23 .- Henry O. Martin, of Newton, to Mary S. Thayer; of Randolph:
Sept. 8 .- Patrick Welch to Mary Carroll; both of Randolph:
8 .- Daniel Noonan to Annie Harris; both of Randolph:
9 .- Walter D. Packard to Alice M. Chessman, both of No: Bridgewater: 17 .- Richard McAuliffe, jr. to Margaret McSweeney, both of Randolph: October 3 .- Obadiah Jones to Sarah M. Maden, both of Randolph.
4 :- Jacob Buker to Cordelia W. Randall, both bf Randolph: 9 .- Abram Gano, of Braintree, to Maria F. Belcher, of Randolph. 24 .- Ward C. Deane, of Randolph, to Ellen L. Joyce, of Pembroke:
Nov: 19 :- William H. Simpson to Ellen G. Kiley, both of Randolph.
19 :- Joseph Donnovan to Margaret McMahon, both of Randolph:
36
Nov. 21 .- Frederick A. May, of Canton, to Laura A. Mann of Randolph. 25 .- Lewis A. Hunt to Ann M. Douglas, both of Randolph. 29 .- George A. Stetson to Mary E. Spear, both of Randolph.
Dec. 6 .- Benjamin F. Moore, of Lynn, to Clarinda Wales, of Randolph. 9 .- George A. Lincoln to Helen Livingstone, both of Randolph. 20 .- William A. Smith to Mary E. Stoddard, both of Randolph. 22 .- George Wilde to Harriet M. Shed, both of Randolph. 26 .- Samuel D. Chase of Braintree, to Mary L. White, of Randolph. 26 .- Gilbert A. Lyons to Anna M. Shultes, both of North Bridge- water.
37
Deaths in Randolph for the Year 1866.
Age.
Date of Death.
Name of Deceased.
Years.
Months.
Days.
January 1, William H. Patten.
- 3
Pertussis Marasmus.
7, - Duffie
75
.Old Age.
7, John O. Sullivan.
45 11
Consumption.
9, Maurice Condon
24 . Accidental.
16, Otis Thayer ..
76 5 .Strangulated Hernia.
16, Willie F. Littlefield.
8
26 . Pulmonary congestion.
20, Nahum Thomas.
59'5
10 .Softening of Brain.
25, Imla Shaw
65,4
Hemiphlegia.
30, Patrick Gill.
48'6
Heart Disease.
February 6, Keros Niles ..
168 8
. Poisoned.
15, Jennie A. Mann ..
Spinal Disease:
18, Henry Bennett.
45
Heart Disease.
26, Rozabella Harris
5
20 Cancer Humor.
March
1, Bridget Bracken.
65
13
Phthisis.
2, Elijah Howard. .
60,10 25
Typhoid Pneumonia
2, Nathaniel Kimball 47 2
25 Heart Disease.
8, James Gallagher 79
74|11|13
Paralysis. Agitans.
14, Hugh Currie.
6
15 .Consumption.
15, Sarah Phillips.
23
8
10 Phthisis pulmonalis.
18, Mary E. Field.
3
20 .Pulmonary Congestion.
20, Charles F. Perkins 7
1
18 .Hooping Cough.
25, Mark Conway. 28
11/28 Phthisis Pulmonalis.
April
11, George R. Walsh . Debility. 29
May
8, William Flannigan 1
14, John C. West ... 36
Small Pox
16, Emily C. Mann, .
5
5
27 Encepaloid Cancer.
26, Fanny C. Bowers 6 28 Phthisis Pulmonalis.
27. Hannah Hobart. 93 .7 10 .Fracture of Femur.
27, Mary Brosnihan. 33
... Consumption.
27, Mary M. Thayer
29.8
11 Phthisis Pulmonalis.
June
1, Sarah Hollis.
61 1
11 Phthisis Pulmonalis.
1, Henry C. French 7 8 10 Compression of Brain.
17, Rachel Beal. . 68 5 28 Paralysis.
11, Dennis Slattery 31
Phthisis.
July
2, B. Newell Dyer 29 11 18
Phthisis Pulmonalis.
6, Sarah Sprague. 813 6
Neuralgia.
8, Michael McAuliffe. 8 10.4
Unknown.
9, William H. Alden. 8 5
1
Phthisis Pulmonalis.
14, Sophia Howard. 58.5 6 Carcinoma Uteri.
15, John Coyne .. 49
17, Flora A. Thayer .
· Stoppage. 1 6 5 23, Lyman H. Thayer 28,6 Pulmonary Congestion · Suicide (hanging.) 24, Mary Flarity. 35 Childbirth. 25, Sarah Ward ... 4
Heart Disease. August 1, Edward Bracken 50
5, Patrick Kelliher 2
4
Scalded.
6, Theresa E. Jones. 2
. Infantile.
6, Abby W. Taber 36 4
Chronic Gastritis.
Phthisis.
20, Ann M. Tucker .... 18|10 26
15
15, Phillip Kenney . Phthisis Pulmonalis, 45 6, William Curran .. Ch. Inflamation of Spine. 18 6 5 . Unknown. 1
Phthisis.
13, Silas Paine
2 17
Disease or Cause of Death.
7 Dentition.
38
August 21, John M. Collins. 1 3 Debility:
22, John Reilly 58 11
Phthisis Pulmonalisı
23, Sally Sylvester. 59
.Typhus Fever.
1 31. James Donahoe. Dentition: 1
Sept. 2, Daniel Brosnihan. 1
Consumption.
14, Hazzard,
Stillborn:
27, John R. Shaw 9
11 Dentition.
October 13, Patrick Keirnan. 33.9
15, John Kennedy. 53
8
Suicide:
24, Edward Reilly ... 1
6
Dentition. 16 .Premature Birth.
5, Mary E. Page.
1
3
15 .Dysentery:
6, Ellen Breenan :
45 Gastric & heptic difficulty Dentition: 8
6, Ada I .. Bryant.
7, Julia Thayer. : 67 10 Pericarditis:
13, Mary Fouchey
2
7
18, Elizabeth A: McCarty
1
8
19, Ellen Breenan
73
.. Old Age.
19, Ann Shay. 35
Pulmonalis:
20, Ann J. Hogan.
7
11 .. Scrofula.
26, James D. Mclaughlin 11
25 . Typhoid Fever:
26, Frank E. Stanley.
5
3
30, Eliza Bigelow. 46
11
.Heart Disease:
Dec. 9, Emma Bryant .. 76,8 20, Cynthia S. Brown 17 10 18 Phthisis Pulmonalis. 22 .General Debility: 9
24, Edmund Ryan.
Infantile.
29, Henry S. Raymond 2
6
12 Burned:
29, Jason Holbrook .: 76,6
20 Paralysis:
Tumor, Hemorrhage:
21, Charles A. Bradford .: 58 4
28 21
Nov. 3, Thomas F. Rooney
.
8 . : Pulmonary Congestion. . Deptheritis.
. Croup.
£
39
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Required as they are to give a detailed report of the several schools, the Committee will offer only such gen- eral suggestions and statements as will apply to all, or· are necessary to explain the policy adopted. Of the. present condition of the Schools, the Committee ask their townsmen to judge, even if they have not visited them, for it seems quite proper that, after the lapse of a year, some improvement should be perceptible in the general conduct of the scholars, if they have been edu- cated as they should have been, morally and physically as well as mentally. The Committee find it necessary again this year to call attention to the great number of children who do not attend school at all, as well as to. the large number that attend very irregularly. Truancy, we are happy to say, has been lessened, and much has. been done by personal application on the part of both teachers and Committee towards keeping those enrolled; in school in better attendance. The Committee how- ever feel obliged to add that but little has been effected of what might be done if the citizens in each neighbor- hood would act as true friends to the children, absent wholly or partially, and either secure their attendance upon school or notify the Committee who would, and in this, we do not hint at legal proceedings, for we have begun such in but one case, having succeeded much better by personal visits. Another serious difficulty which the Committee have found working against the progress of the schools, with one or two exceptions, not only of our own town, but all others visited, is the mis -. take of the teachers in thinking and conducting their- schools on the theory, that the assignment of such an amount in any book to be committed to memory and listening to a repetition of it by each scholar, is teaching, and that the committing to. memory and recital of such quantities in each book daily by the scholars is edu --
40
cation. Of course when stated in this form, the propo- sition seems absurd and almost untrue, yet in many of our schools it will be found to-day to be the course per- sued. Now the Committee believe that children are eminently practical and that while of the age of those in our common schools, have nothing given them in their books which they do not find in every day life, but they must be shown, not by any telling by the author or teacher which is merely statement, but by a leading and drawing out of their own limited observation and thought through continued questioning, that such is the fact, be- fore their understanding will accept it or find it of any use or benefit. To remedy this difficulty, meetings of
the teachers and Committee have been held in one of the school-rooms, fortnightly during the school terms, for the discussion of the present school system and the best methods of conducting schools in disipline and studies, attendance upon these meetings by the teachers be- ing a condition of their employment. The Committee have expended a small sum of money for lighting the room,also a conveyance for the teachers in the East and South Districts, and they believe it to have been very profitably spent and confidently expect much good from it. In this connection, the Committee wish to publicly extend their thanks to the teacher of the Stetson school, for his constant attendance upon these meetings and his efforts for their success and the general success of our schools. The Committee have also experienced many wants which have tended to retard the progress of the schools. First of money, and while they are mindful of the present generous appropriation, they are obliged to inform the town that they are constantly brought into competition with other towns that raise larger sums for schools. For one of our teachers to whom we were paying $226 per year, a price of $400 was set, for another $325, but we believe that our town's people would not justify us in losing our best teachers in the midst of the school year, though they had voted to cen- sure any Committee that exceeded their appropriation, and we have paid some of the teachers more, and have shortened the school term.
-
41
To secure a fair understanding of this before making the next appropriation, the Committee have thought best to make an estimate of what they think will be the necessary expenditure, for the next year, and we have annexed it to this general Report with the statistics for this year. and ask a careful perusal of it. Another want is of some of the aids to Education, such as maps, charts and apparatus, and of better text-books than those now in use, but the Committee have not felt it to be right to make any change now while general business affairs are so unsettled. Another, and one to which we desire to call especial attention, is the want of a Super- intendent of our schools. The General Statutes provide that " any town annually by vote, may require the School Committee annually to appoint a Superintendent of public schools, who, under the direction and control of said Committee, shall have the care and supervision of the schools, with such salary as the town may deter- mine ; and in every town in which such Superintendent is appointed the School Committee shall receive no com- pensation, unless otherwise provided by the town." Now we do not hesitate to say that we think such an officer would improve the schools very much more than a larger appropriation. He would do all that the Com- mittee now do except contract with teachers and ap- prove bills, and vastly more. Being responsible for the success or failure of the schools, he would make a study and a business of what is now attended to with divided opinions and in the intervals of other affairs. Noting carefully the circumstances and methods of each school, a Superintendent would be able to carry to each teach- er much aid derived from the others. Having an equal interest in all, all would be favored with the same plan and attention. Having no part in securing teachers, he would make no complaint to the Committee through malice and leave no delinquent unpresented through fear or favor. But the objection made is the cost of having such an officer. The law now prescribes that each of our twenty-five schools shall be visited twice in each term and oftener by the Committee, and assigns for
6
42
the fifty days labor $1 50 per day to each member, making a cost of $225, which sum would give the town. seventy-five days service of a Superintendent at $3 00
per day. Now any man can better afford to leave something else and attend to this for a reasonable com- pensation, than for $1 50 per day to take part in the. care of the schools when he can spare a day, expecting. that his associates will be less occupied and do the more. The Committee, as well as all interested men who have been consulted, believe it to be true, that a Superinten -. dent will do more to secure good schools and the full value of them than a larger appropriation. But this town should have both. People of this community do not need to be told that manufacturers of limited means receive limited profits, those of large resources profits, very much larger in proportion to the capital. We. think the same principle holds in school matters, and that when such larger sums are given, there is an absolute need of some one whose business it shall be to see that such sums are profitably expended. We ear- nestly recommend, the town to make the experiment for. this year, that they may judge from experience.
Of the discipline of the schools' the Committee have to say that they think it is generally very good. Corporal punishment is not thrown out of school entire- ly, but the instances have been fewer this year and will decrease as the value of the schools is increased. We are sorry to add that some parents have been into the schools and interfered by censure of the teacher or oth- erwise with the discipline, but the Committee have fol- lowed up closely any such act and we think a better un- derstanding now exists.
The Committee during the year have endeavored to meet the demand that the people should be given better schools. It is believed that the effort has in some measure succeeded. Inferior as they are when com- pared with what schools, ought to be, there is an im- provement manifest. We do not refer here to progress through a book. In respect to that, the amount of work that has usually been done ha's this year been ac -. complished. Beyond that, we think there is an im -..
43
provement. One who will now visit the schools will discover that the "tone" and manner in reading is un- mistakably changed. Particular schools might be men- tioned where this is especially manifest. The change ordained in the manner of teaching Spelling has pro- duced in some of the schools very pleasing results. At the beginning of the year it was also required that Writing, heretofore so much neglected, "should be taught a half hour in each day," and the result of this may also be seen. In Geography and in Grammar the usual amount of work has been accomplished but gen- erally by the same old wretched method of " stuffing." In passing judgment upon the work accomplished in the year as a whole, we believe that tried by the usual standard, a good amount has been done ; while judged by any true standard, which would make the work of the teacher education rather than "stuffing," our schools with few exceptions demand a change and reform that is radical and thorough. With these suggestions all of which are respectfully submitted as also the hope that another year will witness an increased interest in our 'schools, the Committee annex the usual summary of statistics, and a detailed report of the condition of thé several schools as required by statute.
STATISTICAL SUMMARY:
Number of High Schools, 1
Number of Grammar Schools,
3
Number of Intermediate Schools,
7
Number of Primary Schools, 9
Number of Ungraded Schools,
4
Number of Private Schools,
1
Teachers employed at close of year, 26
Teachers employed during year,
34
Number of Children in Town May 1st, 1866, be- tween the ages of five and fifteen, 1,451
Number attending all grades during the year, between 5 and 15, 1,287
Number attending schools over 15,
53
Number attending schools under 5, 76
Average attendance in all schools of children be: tween 5 and 15, 1,023
1
44
Amount appropriated by Town, Income of Coddington Fund, Income of State School Fund,
$7,000 00
147 25
285 00
Rent of High School Building 1 year,
25 00
$7,457 25
The details of expenditures may be found in Selectmen's ac- count.
Estimate for Salaries of Teachers for coming year.
For High School,
$1,000
3 Grammar Schools, 2,400
9 Intermediate Schools, 2,596
3 Mixed Schools,
798
10 Primary Schools,
2,280
Stetson High School,
300
$9,374
DIST. NO. 1. UNGRADED. Miss Ada Belcher.
Number, Spring term, 47; average attendance, 36. Fall term, 45, av. att. 34. Winter, 38, av. att. 31.
This school for the first part of the year was under the charge of Miss Holmes, and the summer and the present terms, of Miss Belcher, and the change of teach- ers had the usual effect and retarded the school. There are also many other circumstances about this school that are unfortunate for its progress or profit. It is in part a Primary school, in part an Intermediate, and evident- ly the modes of discipline, arrangement, and intervals of recitation, proper for the one must conflict with the other. Again many of the scholars live at a distance from the school-house, and are consequently necessarily absent during inclement weather, if at no other time, which gives a habit of irregularity in all school du- ties. But perhaps there has been as much accom- plished, as can be under the system pursued of relying upon memory for scholarship. The result is apparent that there must be an entire change and the older schol- ars must be taken out of their present habits and taught to use their own reason, and the younger, started in the right way before this school will be of great value.
45
We have to suggest that a new fence around the house is necessary and that the out building also needs some repairs.
DIST. No. 2. (Plymouth Street.) INTERMEDIATE. Miss Esther Beaman.
Number, Spring term, 44 ; average attendance, 39. Fall term, 36, av. att. 32. Winter, 38; av. att. 29.
At the times when visited by the committee this school has given abundant evidence of earnest labor upon the part of bothì teacher and pupils. The Committee have also noticed with pleasure the many little trials of tact upon the part of both to overcome the difficulties of in- experience and they confidently expect a successful re- sult. If the teacher would but revert to her own school life, recall her own difficulties, cut loose from the use of the book at recitation, taking simply the subject studied, instead of requiring at the hands of her scholars the re- cital of what has been hurriedly and confusedly read till the very appearance of the page has become a part of the lesson, she would at once relieve the scholars from the appearance of pressure which they now wear and their every feature would speak of the spirit of in- quiry that possessed them.
DIST. NO. 2. Primary. Miss E. F. Wilson:
Number, Spring term, 44, average attendance, 37. Fall term, 56. av. att. 36. Winter, 30, av. att. 24.
The system pursued in this school is a very fair sample of that followed in all our Primary schools. It has the same text books, and pursues the same plan. The scholars are of the ages of those found in this grade. They are taught to sit properly in their seats, cross the floor quietly and address the teacher properly. In this they succeed as they ought. But the Committtee have to say with reference to all the Primary schools, that they are the most faulty part of our school system. Not that the teachers do not labor faithfully and earnestly, but we submit that as at present provided for, they are not profitable schools. This result we think, is in a
46
great degree, owing to the mistake of the people. It is generally supposed that any one can teach a school of this grade, and then because the applicants are many, that the wages to be paid may be regulated by the com- petition, and that a dollar a day is a large sunt for a young girl to earn when a man can get no more. Now the Committee fully believe that this plan has been long acted upon, and that our primary school system is the natural result of it. We also as fully believe that these are the most important of all our schools, and that the most competent teachers should be employed for this 'class, at a rate of wages higher comparatively than for any other. We think that in these are formed all the little one's ideas of schools, all his love or hate for going to school, as well as his earliest and most lasting inpress- ions 'of life outside of his own home. If this be true; shall such interests be committed to the one who will work the cheapest and then according to the pay, or to inexperience, that may ignorantly and carelessly injure the mind, by cramping every faculty except memory ; the body, by confinement in a chair of upon the floor, till the form receives an impress for life ; and disposi- tions, by making fear the ruling principle instead of love and respect ? We think not, but rather that these teachers should be chosen for their peculiar fitness for their work, and when found, employed at wages that will be in proportion to the value of their labor. Then, whatever may follow, it will be by far more difficult to turn these pupils from the straight path, than to correct by later teaching, deformities of mind, body and disposi- tiền.
DIST. NO. 3. UNGRADED. Miss Annie West.
Number, Summer term, 68; average attendance, 52. Fall term, 60, av. att. 43. Winter, 60. av. att. 43.
Concerning this school in the early part of the year the Committee had much doubt. There had been two schools before, but the number of scholars being small, and a strict econemy being demanded, the Committee United the schools which gave one quite too large;
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