USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1875-1890 > Part 25
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John B. Thayer, services as Selectman, As- sessor and Overseer of the Poor, 300 00
Total, $1544 09
STEAM FIRE ENGINE, APPARATUS, BABCOCK ENGINE, AND REPAIRING HOUSE.
Paid Manchester Locomotive Works, for Engine, $3500 00 Messrs. Hunneman & Co., for Horse Hose Carriage, 500 00
Goodwillie, Wyman & Co., for Babcock Engine, 1150 00 Hall Rubber Co., for 800 feet of Hose, 720 00 Morrison M. Alden, for contr't on Engine House, 250 00 H. Hybennett, for painting Engine House, . 51 25
Kennedy & Murphy for 1 set of Harness, 75 00
Kennedy & Murphy, for 1 set of Double Harness, 75 00 John F. Cartwright, for cleaning Steamer, 30 50 A. J. Gove, draw'g Steamer and Hose Carriage, 26 00
Sundry persons, expenses of trial, 15 00
Old Colony R. R. Co., for freight, 6 20
William B. Hathaway, for board of Engineer, 6 00
For photographs of Independence Engine, . 6 00
18
Paid Edwin M. Mann, for wood at trial of Bab- cock Engine, $1 75
John T. Cartwright, for labor at trial of Bab- cock Engine, 1 00
Total,
$6413 70
FIRE INQUEST.
Paid Samuel A. Bates, Juror, . $4 00
Andrew J. Bates, Juror, . 4 00
J. Tisdale Southworth, Juror, 4 05
E. Frank Hayden, Juror, 4 05
William A. Hodges, Juror,
4 00
William N. Eaton, Juror,
4 00
Witnesses,
18 40
Thomas Farrell, Officer, 14 60
A. E. Sproul, reducing testimony to writing, 10 00
Total, $67 10
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid Turner Free Library, as per vote,
$500 00
Daniel H. Huxford, printing 1300 Town Reports,
224 50
Daniel H. Huxford, printing warrants, no- tices, &c., 88 25
J. White Belcher, for insurance, 224 25
Josiah T. King, services as Night Police, 98 75
Police, and extra fire expenses, 101 62
Special Police, July 2d, 3d and 4th, . 58 50
P. W. FitzPatrick, services as detective, . 40 00
Napoleon B. Furnald, services as detective, 34 15
19
Paid John Curran and others, land damage, Mill street, . $150 00
Grand Army Post 110, as per vote, . 100 00
Asa French, professional service in Deane case, 200 00
Seth Mann, 2d, for insurance, 81 10
Royal W. Turner, for insurance, 48 00
William B. Hathaway, for entertaining fire-
men,
84 00
William B. Hathaway, for entertaining town officers, 38 00
Wesley W. Walsh, for supplies to firemen, 46 23
Francis Smith, for damage to property, 50 00
Expenses of Engine Committee to Manches- ter, N.H., 36 78
Colin Boyd, care of Selectmen's Office, 25 00
A Rosenfeld, for mdse., 32 16
Henry H. Francis, services as constable, 27 50
Thomas Farrell, services as constable, 14 00
William B. Brown, for labor and material, 22 00
Henry H. Francis, for labor and material, 16 58
T. T. Cushman, services for B'd of Health, 20 00
James N. Bullock, for horse-hire, 24 40
Edward A. Perry, for labor and material, .
23 24
John T. Flood, expenses to Boston on Re- port, State aid and Tax appeal, 23 00
Ward & Gay, for order-b'ks and stationery, 19 50
Weston P. Alden, for building dam at Bel- cher's pond, . 18 31
Doane & Greenough, for stationery, . 8 25
Charles H. Wales, one half expense of build- ing bridge at Leonard's pond, 7 11
Samuel Hamilton, land damage, Mill street, 15 00
20
Paid Joanna Welch, land damage, Mill street, . $10 00
Wales ,Bros., for labor and material, . 17 00
Daniel Gibbons, for damage to fence, 15 00
Wales B. Thayer, for labor, 10 25
Charles E. Higgins, for labor and material, Messrs. Flood, Mann and Thayer, expenses
12 00
to Boston, Quincy, Dedham and Hol- brook, . 18 45
F. C. Granger, for examination of insane persons at Quincy, .
7 60
E. A. Allen, for examination of insane per- sons at. Quincy, ·
7 60
Manus Gallagher, for labor, 6 00
For copying North street location and speci- fications of New street, . 7 00
Edwin M. Mann, for wood. 12 00
Colin Boyd, for labor,
13 50
John G. Poole, for postage,
5 88
Eleazer Beal, for labor, ·
5 00
A. J. Gove, for expressage,
7 45
Charles A. Wales, for labor and material, .
6 25
Martin P. Pike, for distributing town re- ports, 1881, . 5 00
Patrick Wren, for stone,
6 00
Dennis Fox, for labor,
5 00
Daniel Leahy, for damage to carriage,
3 20
Franklin Porter, for stationery,
3 43
Morrison M. Alden, for labor, .
3 48
Frank Q. Bodwell, for labor and material, 2 15
D. B. White & Co., for supplies, 3 35
Charles F. Wilde, for labor, 3 00
Luke O'Riley, for mdse., . .
4 50
H. H. Guinan, for mdse., .
2 50
21
Paid Edward Howard, for labor,
$2 50
Owen Sullivan, for labor, .
2 00
Thomas Groom, for tax-books, .
2 00
R. M. Pulsifer, for advertising,
3 75
Seth Mann, 2d, for deed,
2 00
John F. Brady, for labor,
1 50
Patrick L. O'Connor, for labor,
1 00
For recording deed and blanks,
2 00
Thomas Farrell, for carriage hire,
1 00
Total ,
$2720 52
22
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The increased expenditure for the relief of poor during the past year, has been caused to a great extent by an amend- ment to the Settlement Laws in 1879, and to additional insane. Under chapter 242 of the acts of 1879, said act being retroactive, the settlement of Catharine Heney was changed from the State to the Town of Randolph ; notice was sent to our town by the Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity, all action being suspended, bill not to be rendered until the Supreme Court decided upon the constitutionality of the law; the decision being in favor of the State, the town paid the Heney bill, dating from May 22, 1879 (time the law went into effect), to January 1, 1882. The cost of supporting the insane is a large item, which the Overseers have endeavored to reduce. We have investigated every case, and find that all are violent, and could not be properly cared for at our Almshouse without great risk of life and property. Poor out of the Alnishouse have been assisted in about the same proportion as in other years, with the excep- tion of a very few new cases that have required a larger amount of aid on account of sickness and death. Mr. Mar- tin P. Pike and wife, Superintendent and Matron of our Almshouse during the year, have fully sustained their repu- tation earned in the past for economy, neatness, order and discipline in the management of our institution, leaving nothing undone in their power to make the asylum of our poor a pleasant and comfortable home. The expense of the Town Farm and Almshouse may seem to be in excess of last
23
year ; but such is not the fact. Early in September, one of the horses died of spinal disease, obliging the purchasing of another, for which we paid two hundred and sixty-two dol- lars and fifty cents. We have added to the stock at the Almshouse another cow, worth fifty dollars, in addition to placing a fire-extinguisher and cooking-range in the house, to the value of ninety-four dollars. Said amounts deducted from net cost of Almshouse, will make the expense nearly the same as 1880. The farm is in a good state of cultiva- tion, and furnished the house with all the vegetables used during the year. Mr. Pike has had in charge this year the picking of stones on the highways, and has also completed North street, from the bridge of the Old Colony Railroad, near Liberty street, to the brook near the residence of James Gogan, the work being thoroughly and faithfully per- formed, evidently meeting the requirements of the public. The amount he has earned and paid into the town treasury from April 1, 1881, to March 1, 1882, six hundred and forty-six dollars and seventy cents. The number supported at the Almshouse during the year ending March, 1882. in whole or in part, twenty-seven ; the average number, nine- teen - an increase of one for a full year.
Names of persons supported in the Almshouse for the year ending March 1, 1882 :
Polly Copeland,
Katie Quinlan,
Ellen Kennedy,*
James Harris,
Peter Reardon, t
Jonathan Hunt.t
Catharine Condon. t
Jennie Sylvester.
Francis MeMath,
Almira Giles,*
Elias Cole,
James M. Upham,;
Lewis Linfield,
James Connoly, §
Michael Clark,
Charles H. Abbott .*
* Discharged.
t Deceased.
# Refunded. § Refunded in part.
24
Ellen Buckley,
Angeline Buckley,
Mary Ellen Buckley,
Maggie MeLaughlin,
Frances McLaughlin, t Teresa Long,
David McKay,
John B. Sylvester, Bradford W. Sylvester, t
Louisa Sylvester,*
Maggie Quinlan.
SUPPLIES AND EXPENSES FOR THE ALMSHOUSE AND TOWN FARM.
Paid Martin P. Pike, superintendent, one year, $600 00
Charles Prescott, for supplies, 462 45
J. White Belcher, for grain and meal, 291 64
Draper & Hall, for horse, 262 50
Silas Pierce & Co., for mdse., 176 47
R. W. Turner & Co., for coal, . 166 07
Josiah Clark, for meat, 125 82
Charles A. Wales, for labor, material and range, 58 49
Michael Desmond, for cow, 50 00
Sidney French, for boots and shoes, 47 90
N. Rosenfeld, for mdse., . 43 92
I. D. Page, for supplies, . 39 47
Clark P. Fairbanks, for clothing, 38 90
E. A. Allen, for medical aid, 31 60
Orrin O. Merrifield, for labor and material,
31 67
H. H. Guinan, for clothing, 26 70
John Harris, for cow,
30 00
Frank H. Langley, for labor and material,
23 88
Washington Dyer, for two pigs,
21 00
Ralph Houghton, for coffin, robe, &c., for Peter Reardon, . 19 00
* Discharged.
t Deceased.
25
Paid George B. Dench, for grave, $2 00
A. J. Gove, for expressage, 15 17
Orrin Douglas & Co., for mdse., 26 64
A. M. Cushing, for sink and box, 13 00
A. J. Towns, for mdse., 19 00
Franklin Porter, for medicine, 17 25
A. B. Gilman, for labor, . 15 00
Heirs of William Cole, for pasture, .
16 00
Mary Campbell, for labor and material, 12 05
Fire-extinguisher,
40 00
T. Fardy & Son, for labor and material, 10 46
E. G. Bridge, for labor and material, 9 50
A. L. Chase, for medical aid, .
1 20
John Carey, for fish, .
8 60
Wesley W. Walsh, for supplies, 7 57
Ralph Houghton, for coffin, robe, &c., for Frances McLaughlin, 7 00
N. H. Tirrell, for labor and material, 5 97
Frank Morton, for labor, . 5 00
George Fowkes, for labor and material, 7 23
Ellen Barry, for labor, 7 23
HI. B. Libby, for labor, 6 58 ·
Joseph McMullin, for clothing, . 7 00
Charles Kimball & Co., for mdsc., 4 55
Miss Soule, for mdse., 6 65
William Brown, for drag,
3 75
Mrs. C. Holbrook, for labor,
3 00
Wallace & Nye, for supplies, 3 08
Mr. Putnam, for mdse., 3 30
James Harris, repairing shoes,
2 75
Mr. Freeman, for fish, 2 00
Guy F. Wheeler, for medicine,
1 00
26
Paid Old Colony R.R. Co., for freight, $0 84 Sundry bills, 8 56
Total, .
$2846 41
Cr. by cash paid Treasurer for labor, $646 70 by cash paid Treasurer for board, &c., 145 20 by cash paid Treasurer for board, amount included in bill paid by town of Holbrook, . 376 19 1168 09
Net cost,
$1678 32
RELIEF OF POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.
ANN F. THAYER.
Paid Esther M. Thayer, for board, . $100 00
EDWIN and MARY CHESSMAN.
Paid Amasa S. Niles, for board, 260 00
E. A. Allen, medical aid, . 2 50 .
R. W. Turner & Co., for coal, . · 17 00
for Catharine Heney, at State Almshouse, Tewksbury (from May 22. 1879), . .
432 14
for James F. Forrest, at State Lunatic Hospital, 188 01
for Levi L. Holbrook, at State Lunatic Hospital, 183 04
for Almira Giles, part at State. Lunatic Hos- pital, 173 35
tfor Ellen Kennedy, part at State Lunatic Hospital, .. 159 53
t Supported by the State.
27
. Paid *for Mary Welch, at State Lunatic Hospital, $73 86
*for Henry Willis, at State Lunatic Hospital, 18 43
*for Patrick Fencer, at State Workhouse, . 44 25
*for John Harris, at State Reform School, . 51 00
*for Thomas Fencer, at State Reform School, 13 00
for Mrs. Jonathan Hunt and family, . 185 80
for Mrs. William Grady and family, . 168 50
for Mrs. Hugh McMahon and family, 218 60
for Mrs. Philip Kenney and family, 125 50
for Mrs. E. S. Pulson and family, 85 45
for Mrs. James Riley and family, 69 25
for Mrs. Edward Brackin and family, 80 00
for Mrs. Gerald Garrity and family, part at Taunton, 181 12
for Mrs. John Fencer and family, at Brock- ton, 46 37
for Mrs. John Lynch and family,
48 50
for Mrs. Bernard Purcell, Jr., and child, 98 90
for Mrs. Bernard Gill, 52 85
for Mrs. Hiram Wilson, .
·
.
91 00
for Mrs. Margaret Purcell,
52 88
for Mrs. John Hollis, part at Stoughton,
38 25
for Mrs. Margaret DeNeil, part at Wey- mouth, ·
58 07
for Mrs. Thomas Donohue, . 46 88 .
for Mrs. Patrick McKay, . 50 50
for Mrs. Lucinda Holbrook (Jason, Jr., N.H.), .
49 00
.
for Mrs. Eliza Myers, 50 00 .
for Paul T. Clark and family, 234 25 ·
for John C. Kelliher and family, 256 13
for George F. Eddy and family,
202 45
* Discharged.
28
Paid for Luke O'Riley and family, $124 30
for Michael McGraine and family, 133 28
for Bradford W. Sylvester and family, part at Stoughton, - 133 10
for Hiram Holbrook and family, 173 17
for James Butler and family, 70 45
for Alexander Holbrook and family, .
41 50
for George W. Cook and family, ·
17 00
for J. Wales Sylvester and family, part at Boston, 19 75 .
for Luther F. Thayer, at Charlestown, 106 00
for Asa Morton, 101 75
for Thomas Ward, part at Weymouth, 64 50
#for James Ellis Upham, part at Easton, 26 37
for David McKay, 20 50 .
for George C. Currie, 7 26
for John Friel,
16 00
for Richmond Jones,
33 70
for Horace Holbrook, 34 50
for Francis Myers,
11 50
for George F. Abbott,
35 20
for Patrick Barry,
14 50
for William Acheson,
8 00
for Susan F. Alden,
9 76
for Bartholomew Bunberry, at Worcester,
4 00
for sundry bills for aid,
36 00
for sundry bills for aid refunded, 138 84
Total,
· $5587 29
# Refunded.
29
RELIEF OF POOR WHOSE SETTLEMENT IS IN RANDOLPH AND HOLBROOK, THROUGH MILITARY SERVICES.
Paid for Lewis N. Weathee at State Lunatic
Hospital,
$180 99
*for Winfield Scott Weathee at State
Workhouse, . 19 00
for James O'Brien at State Reform School, 52 00
for John O'Brien at State Reform School,
25 00
for Mrs. Francis Boyle and family,
239 90
for John Crosby and family, .
193 55
for Mrs. Christiana Sloan and family,
167 62
for Walter A. Jones and family,
136 48
for Albert W. Stetson and family, . ·
142 50
for Mrs. Henry M. Thayer, part at Holbrook, 108 19
for Mrs. William H. Simpson and family,
104 42
for Mrs. Thomas F. Hand and family, .
93 40
for Mrs. John Mann and family, part at Stoughton, 94 00
for Albert Howard and family, ·
66 50
for Mrs. Mary Mullins at Boston, .
55 07
for Mrs. O'Gorman at Boston, 30 70 .
for James Conley,
10 57
Total,
$1719 89
POOR OF OTHER TOWNS.
Paid for John F. Clark and family, Stoughton, $298 95
for James O'Sullivan, Stoughton, . .
2 00
* One third paid by Holbrook. Additional expenses in Almshouse paid by Holbrook.
30
Paid for Frederic Fowler, Jr., and family,
Easton, . $213 85
for Lucius Hollis and family, Holbrook, . 128 65
for Stephen Farnum and family, Methuen, 140 75
for Elizabeth Farnum and family, Methuen, for Alva M. Nightingale, Duxbury, 52 00
89 75
for Bridget Hoye, Taunton,
52 00
for Edmund Burke and family, Fox- borough, 36 40 .
for Newell S. Langley, Braintree, . 20 50
for Nathaniel Holbrook, Abington, 17 75
for Susan Meany, Boston,
34 00
for Charles Mills Moore, Boston,
20 00
for Isaac J. Tully, Boston
12 00
for Shepard Wood and family, Sharon,
15 00
for John Lyman Wood and family, Sharon, . 8 85
for George H. Stone, Easton, 4 25
for James Ward, Hanover,
2 00
Total,
$1148 70
STATE PAUPERS.
Paid Colin Boyd, for lodging 296 tramps in
lock-up, .
$140 00
D. D. White & Co., for supplies, .
8 11
William H. Smith, for charcoal,
2 00
Colin Boyd, for supplies,
55
Total, $150 66
Paid for Francis Blanchard and wife, 242 50
$393 16
31
Included in the expenses of poor in the Almshouse, poor out of the Almshouse, poor whose settlement is in Randolph and Holbrook, poor of other towns and state paupers, are the following sums of money paid to the physicians for med- ical aid rendered for one year, ending April 3, 1882 : - . Dr. Charles C. Farnham, $75 00
Dr. Thaddeus T. Cushman,
71 00
Dr. Emory A. Allen, 75 00 .
Dr. Warren M. Babbitt, . 75 00
Dr. Augustus L. Chase, . 75 00
Dr. Frank C. Granger,
75 00
Total,
$446 00
The undersigned, chosen at the annual Town Meeting in April, 1881, as auditors of the accounts of the town of Randolph, respectfully report that they have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, and find them correct, with proper vouchers for all orders drawn on the Treasurer.
ROYAL W. TURNER,
JAMES BURKE, JR., CHARLES G. HATHAWAY, Auditors of the Town of Randolph, 1881.
RANDOLPH, March 18, 1881.
ALMSHOUSE ESTABLISHMENT.
APPRAISAL OF STOCK, FURNITURE, PROVISIONS, &C., MARCH 1, 1882.
2 horses,
$450 00
3 cows, . . 120 00
8 hens,
.
6 00
4] tons of hay, English, .
106 00
32
1 farm wagon, $60 00 -
2 horse carts,
150 00
1 swing drag, 50 00
1 pair of wheels with pole, 50 00
1 mowing-machine, 6.0 00
1 carriage, 100 00
1 stump and rock extractor and hook, 30 00
4 harnesses, 50 00
1 double harness, 50 00
4 draft-chains, 10 00
1 two-horse sled with shafts and pole, 50 00
1 grindstone, 10 00 .
1 wheelbarrow,
3 00
3 scythes and snaths, 4 00
3 rakes,
75
7 hay and manure forks, 5 00
7 shovels, 1 spade, 6 00
3 ploughs, 25 00
1 cultivator,
7 00
1 iron bar and 1 pick,
2 50
2 axes, 2 hatchets, 1 billhook,
5 00
3 hoes, 1 00
1 sawhorse,
.
75
2 lbs. of tea, 1 00
6 lbs. of rice, .
42
9 lbs. of tapioca,
63
22 pounds of tobacco,
8 80
10 pounds of butter,
4 20
1 churn,
2 00
15 bushel of potatoes,
17 00
4 bars of soap, 40
25 gallons of molasses, 12 50
10 pounds of sugar, 1 25
33
31 barrels of flour, :
$35 00
15 pounds of chocolate, .
6 00
18 iron bedsteads, .
100 00
25 colored blankets,
20 00
25 white blankets, .
20.00
5 colored bedspreads,
4 00
5 comforters, .
7 00
9 feather-beds, 56 00
25 00
40 sheets,
26 00
36 pillow-cases,
15 00
16 feather pillows,
9 00
20 towels,
2 50
5 table-cloths,
5 00
6 wooden trunks,
3 00
3 dining-tables,
12 00
5 light-stands,
3 00
60 chairs,
30 00
Ash-barrels, sifter, hod and shovel, .
4 00
Cooking-stove and furniture,
55 00
6 flatirons,
2 25
1 hammer, .
75
1 woodsaw,
.
1 25
1 clothes-wringer,
5 00
1 steelyards, . ·
1 50
3 hammers and 33 drills,
45 00
1 fire-extinguisher, .
40 00
1 ice-chest,
12 00
Crockery ware,
40 00
Wooden ware,
20 00
Tin ware,
12 00
1 clock, .
4 00
3 cords of wood,
18 00
17 under-beds,
34
.
1 road-scraper,
$25 00
2 tons of coal,
16 00
400 pounds of pork,
56 00
1 washing-machine,
8 00
100 pounds of lard,
14 00
9 lamps,
.
4 00
25 flour-barrels,
2 50
4 yards of calico,
40
2 yards of crash,
16
150 pounds of ham,
21 00
Total, .
$2,246 51
ESTIMATES OF EXPENSES FOR 1882.
The following estimate of expenses for the ensuing year is presented for the consideration of the town : -
For schools (see report of School Committee),
ce repairs, furniture and incidental expenses, . $8,700 00
General town expenses, items :
miscellaneous, $2,000
almshouse, · 2,500
poor,
6,000
military,
1,000
$11,500 00
" Highways,
3,000 00
" Fire department (see report of Engineers), 1,800 00
Total, . $25,000 00
GUIDE-POSTS. Guide-posts erected and maintained by the town remain the same as last year.
35
The Selectmen recommend a special appropriation for the erection of guide-posts at all places deemed necessary and convenient.
(See Public Statutes, chapter 53.) Respectfully submitted, JOHN T. FLOOD, ROGER T. MANN, JOHN B. THAYER, Selectmen of Randolph.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF RANDOLPH.
1881-82.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The year covered by this Report has witnessed the cele- bration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of this Town, by the first Church and Parish, in appropriate observances. A reference to the published volume of the anniversary exercises discloses the fact of a deep interest felt in the subject of popular education, and a clear recognition of its importance, in establishing communi- ties, in extending the sphere of civilization, and increasing the means of human happiness by the pioneers in the settle- ment. The hardy men who, one hundred and fifty years ago, penetrated the primeval forests of our now beautiful town, seeking for themselves and families new homes, made early provision for the Public School, drawing voluntarily from their hard earnings the means, though scanty, for its support. From this carly period in the history of the Town, all along down through the hardships, toils and burdens of new settlement, to the present time, the Common School- the means of education for the young-has not been forgot- ten or neglected. Under the stress of extraordinary emergen- cies, as of wars, when the public heart was aglow in lofty sentiments of patriotism ; when money levies were responded to with alacrity, though heavy and frequent, the expenditure on account of Schools was the last to be curtailed or with- held. These circumstances, and contributions in support of popular education, are commensurate with the multiplication of town organizations all over Massachusetts and the rest of New England, and later throughout those portions of our common country to which New England people have turned their enterprising efforts in establishing new settlements.
40
in founding new Commonwealths-till to-day the country has a Public School system - the result of the accumulated wisdom of more than two centuries - adequate to the edu- cation of all her children in the rudiments of knowledge, thus fitting them for the enjoyment and practice of self-gov- ernment, and the intelligent discharge of public and private duties which devolve upon men and women of a Republic.
This system has come down to us, representing much of thought, of effort, of experiment, sacrifice, and expenditure of money ; and through us let it be transmitted, to the extent of our part in it, divested of whatever of imperfection or error may still cling to it from the distant past.
It is the boast and pride of New England, and to it, in a degree second to no other influence, she owes her supremacy in those conditions which mark a great, prosperous and happy people. Illiteracy bears a smaller ratio to culture than in any other section of our own country ; than in any portion of the habitable globe. The people receive with ex- treme distrust any and all propositions that shall tend to impair the efficiency of the Public School system. This is well, and betokens its safety. What a people pays for and controls is generally prized and cherished ; and the people of Massachusetts have ever been tenacious of their rights and privileges in regard of their schools, giving to them great liberality of support, and laboring diligently for their im- provement. Randolph has been no exception to this general spirit of interest, and her school system constitutes no mean or dishonorable part in the great whole.
The town may be congratulated that such ample means for securing a good common-school education are furnished to all her children, supplemented by the more extended course of English and classical studies offered by the Stetson High School to those who desire its valuable privileges.
41
During the school-year just closed, the same number of schools has been maintained for the same length of time and taught by the same teachers, with one exception, as during the year previous, at a cost to the town, as per de- tailed statement in another part of this Report. Mr. Arthur C. Wadsworth, master of the North Grammar School, in the early part of the year received a flattering call, during the long vacation, to a position in the Oliver School in Law- rence, and accepted the same as a promotion in the line of his profession, much to the regret of the Committee. This was the second call to a higher salary than he was receiving here. The first call the Committee successfully withstood by increasing his salary to the amount offered elsewhere. In the second case they did not feel that they would be justified, though conscious of his worth, in entering into competition with places like Lawrence on the question of compensation to teachers, and reluctantly accepted his resignation. Mr. Wadsworth was, in the true significance of the term, a good teacher. A young man, devoted to his chosen profession, with full course of normal instruction, well-bred and gentle- manly, of equable dispositions and singular singleness of purpose in the management of his school, he stood before his classes a tower of strength and capacity to take them along over all difficulties in their school-work. He won the confidence of the parents by his interest in the welfare of their children, the respect and love of his pupils by the justice of his treatment of them, and his readiness and ability to serve them. To lose him was accepted as a mis- fortune to the department of instruction in the town.
The Committee made choice of Mr. Joseph A. Belcher, of Holbrook, as his successor, who had had the advantage of a normal course of preparation and the prestige of success in teaching in the various places where he had been employed ;
42
and they are happy in the conviction that he is taking up the work of the school where Mr. W. left it, and carrying it on with profit and success, though not without encountering the obstacles which are too apt to show themselves to the suc- cessor of a popular teacher.
In last year's report the Committee made mention of the inauguration of a system of meetings with the teachers for the consideration of school-work. These meetings have been continued through this year with a regularity which has been interrupted only by the conditions of the weather. The interest in them has increased, and their utility as a means of improving methods of instruction and management in the schools has been fully demonstrated. #The Commit- tee, cordially seconded by the whole corps of teachers, have labored to secure more real teaching, and that of a better quality, with less of set question and answer in the precise text of the books, and more of questioning upon, and pre- sentation of, subjects that shall arouse the thinking faculties of the pupils. It has been with children and teachers in schools, as it is with adults in ordinary life, too much reading and study of or attention to books, and too little thinking - learning what others have said or written about objects and things, rather than observing the objects and things them- selves whenever they can be produced for the purpose. When this cannot be done, much can be accomplished in the same line of effort through pictures or drawings to represent the desired object, not losing sight of the important fact that the latter is only a representation, not the thing itself. So of the written word : hitherto, continued work has been en- forced to learn it, -its looks, construction and sound, - while in too many cases its meaning, its inner life, was all over- looked. The very point, about which all of interest there can be centers- its meaning -is omitted. To learn to know
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