USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1875-1890 > Part 34
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meeting-houses. What they, in such unerring wisdom, founded, we are to sustain, improve and extend. Are we doing this in the outcome of the public school system to the extent of the increase of means, knowledge and culture two centuries and more have yielded ? In outward appliances, as school architecture, apparatus and illustrative art, great and satisfactory advance has been made; so, too, in the amount of money expended in support of schools. That an equal advance has been made in culture, in the acquisition of useful knowledge and in the building up of character, all so essential in the line of preparation for citizenship under a republican form of government, is not so readily affirmed.
The school statistics of the state for the year 1881-82 re- veal a percentage of non-attendance by those who should attend which is not pleasing to the patriot or philanthropist or others who would guard against illiteracy in the rising generation. Supported at public expense, and, in theory at least, cherished as the corner-stone of our frame of govern-
34
ment, the public schools should reach all the youth of the state in their ministrations of good. Their excellence and beneficent results though enjoyed by the many, but show more hideous the darkness that clouds the minds of those who have missed their privileges.
Our schools contribute their full quota to this bad showing in the state.
By the enumeration of May 1, 1883, there were in the town at that time six hundred and sixty-seven children between the ages of five and fifteen years. All of these should have been at school by the requirements of the law at least twenty weeks in the year. Of this number the registers show that thirty-four have not been at school at all, and that there has been an average absence among those registered of one hun- dred and forty-one, equal to twenty-one per cent and over, more than one in every five absent continually. There has been no more than the ordinary amount of sickness to inter- fere with school attendance. True, in one section of the town, near the end of the spring and summer term, scarlet fever manifested itself to an extent to demand the attention of the committee, and, after conference with a portion of the medical fraternity of the town, the committee ordered the four schools comprising the North Grammar and primaries to be closed, to check, if possible, the further spread of the dangerous disease. These schools were closed three weeks. Quite a number of cases occurred, but of a mild character mostly. In two instances, however, the committee grieve to record, the disease took on the malignant type, baffling the physician's skill and resulting in the sudden death of Mabel Thayer and Blanche E. Prescott.
The following named are the only ones reported to the
35
committee who have sustained perfect attendance during the year, not having been absent or tardy :
James B. Clark. Kate Reilly. -
Hannah Pope.
W. Ray Spear. Lillian J. Sloan.
Eddie Foley.
Blanche L. Smith. Mary E. Holbrook.
William Hogan.
Ida H. Prescott. Nellie McMahon.
Lucy Holbrook.
Annie B. Leslie.
Katie Boyle.
Mary Burke.
Patrick F. Clark.
Lizzie Dolan.
Edward Quinn.
Charles E. Clark.
Total, 19.
The following named are reported as having sustained per- fect attendance during two terms of the three which make up the year :
Fred. W. Spear. · Geo. Fowkes.
Maggie L. Scanlon.
Weston L. Mann. Lizzie Pope. Robert W. Lennox.
Lester S. Holbrook. Sarah Bracken. D. Hand.
Geo. H. Wood. Jos. McMahon. Lizzie Nolan.
Minnie A. McCarthy. Lizzie Brady. Chas. W. Walsh.
Maggie A. Reilly. Bertha Dennehy. Chas. Boyd.
Arthur L. Mann. Cecelia Barry. Mary E. Field.
Jas. F. McMahon. Nellie Pope. Josie Martin.
Michael Leahy. John Sullivan.
Total, 26.
There are one hundred and thirty who gave perfect attend- ance during one term of the three, but such attendance as this does not seem to deserve much commendation.
One might naturally conclude that attendance abridged only by sickness was meritorious ; but when reflection and observation disclose the fact that the sickness that interferes most seriously with school attendance is induced by the care-
36
lessness of the children themselves, or the negligence of parents in guarding against exposures which result in colds and other slight disturbances, the call for correction is still imperative. It would be a matter of deep gratification to the committee, and of congratulations with their fellow citi- zens, could they record quadruple the number of non-ab- sences in the next coming year. Irregularity of attendance is not a necessary evil in school life. It is only found, to a hurtful extent, in the lower grade schools. It mostly disap- pears in the high school. In the college and university it is heard of but rarely.
What the matter is, is plain. Children do not go to school as a matter of business. Parents do not look upon it as a matter of business in which their children are engaged, - this going to school. Hence the mischief. Lack of interest by the parents is sure to be communicated to the children. The notion receives practical exemplification, if not positive ver- bal expression, that the school work can be subordinated to almost anything else, and that it is a mere incident in the child's life, and not his chief vocation for the time being.
Once a year the parents are aroused to anxiety and a dis- play of interest in the progress of their children. Too often is it the case that this interest makes itself known only once a year, when their children fail of promotion through im- perfect test examinations and a low yearly average of work, - the clear result of frequent absence. Had the interest now displayed been an active principle during the year, showing itself in co-operation with the teachers' efforts, much valua- ble work in education would have been done by the children, now lost to them ; they would have secured the coveted pro- motion and gratified parental desire. A large percentage of failures in the promotions arises from this one cause, -
37
absence. Where does the fault lay? The answer is too patent to need statement. It is the fault of the people, not of the state nor of the towns in their corporate capacity, if illiteracy is found among the rising generation.
Morality,-an element of instruction in the schools. Apart from the literary training the schools furnish, much stress has been placed upon the need in them of that culture and discipline that go to the building up of character as funda- mental to the highest development in man, and his greatest usefulness. Ignorance is said to be the mother of vice. Experience sometimes contradicts the tritest sayings. And when we aggregate the almost daily reports of cases of em- bezzlements, defalcations, breaches of trust, and other short- comings in responsible positions of trust, we are driven to the conclusion that ignorance is not to be pleaded in expla- nation of these grave offences against the safety of the com- munity. That this class of offences, to use a mild term, has increased beyond the increase in population and business, is undeniable ; and, as intimated above, it is not by the igno- rant alone or principally that they are committed, but by those styled "the educated," who, in many instances, have drank at the fountains of the highest institutions of learn- ing. Their intellectual training has not been neglected. The head was equal to the proper discharge of duties re- quired. The heart has been at fault - the moral sentiments at a low ebb - grovelling or inactive. Is it not time, in view of recent developments in youthful depravity, and of the lax manner in which moral obligations in public and pri- vate life are held, to raise the question of the necessity of more direct, explicit instruction in morality in the common schools, to stimulate the moral sentiments to greater activity and fuller mastery in the affairs of life ? Moral instruction,
38
other and more direct than that which flows imperceptibly from the right-minded and right-acting teacher, should be given in the school-room. Considerations of conduct are among the hourly duties of the teacher; and the way the teacher deals with questions of conduct is deeply impressed upon the minds of the pupils, imparting an influence that is abiding in the character ofthe future man or woman.
How important, then, during this adolescent period, when the intellectual development is being secured with no more than commendable pains, that moral growth should be sought and fostered with a care second to none other.
Let it be plainly taught and shown that there is a stand- ard of positive right in conduct, and that all are called to come up to it, in the school-room, as in the family and so- ciety ; that the morality of acts depends not upon the chances of exposure or the present success they seem to warrant in possessions or position. All the influences of the school- room should go to induce in the child's character, whose web is being woven now, that fine moral sense which makes the higher grades of humanity, what they are.
The primary and grammar schools, with which this report deals, have been kept thirty-eight weeks, making this school year, and have been under the instruction of the same teachers they were the last year, and at salaries as shown in financial statement herewith of cost of the school department. The reduction in number of teachers made last year has been maintained without injury to the efficiency of the ser- vice.
These schools are well organized, and as nicely adjusted in classification as the nature of accommodations at hand will warrant. Every year more pupils demand, through solicita- tion of anxious parents, admission to the masters' classe
39
than are qualified - than there are sittings to accommodate, notably so, in this last respect, in regard to the Prescott. At the North grammar, the room occupied by the master is larger than the one at the Prescott, and when the sittings there are filled, - and they are nearly so all the time, - the combined classes call for more work than one teacher can well perform. These circumstances have been, and are, embar- 'rassing to the committee, and their action under them, though determined by their best powers of deliberation, has led to censure and misconstruction on the part of others. The committee have labored to bring the children along through the lower grades, so that but one year's work in Mr. West's division would be necessary to secure a standing equal to that now attained for admission to the High School, or full graduation from the Grammar School. It will take time to accomplish this, and necessitate, to some at least, the need of one year more in the lower grades.
During the year, the Prescott school-house has been painted, outside and inside, at a cost of $362; the yard graded at a cost of $162.62, and the chimney tops taken down and laid up at a cost of $8.27.
The well at the North Street School, No. 5, was cleaned out during the drought of last autumn, and a " Wales pump '' put in at a cost of $40, Mr. Willard, of the neighborhood, paying one half that cost for the privilege of using the same.
The blackboards in all the school have been suitably repaired and renovated at a cost of $150.
The outhouse for the boys at the North Grammar, not affording suitable accommodations, has been superseded by a larger and better arranged one over a properly made vault. This cost $190.10, and was not provided for by the appro-
40
priations of last spring. In addition to the above, repairs have been made at this school to the cost of $20.05.
These are all permanent repairs and will not need renewal for several years.
As, a matter of wise economy the North Grammar building should be painted, and the committee recommend an appro- priation therefor to the amount, per estimation, of two hun- dred dollars.
In the yard at this school, the top of a ledge of rocks pro- trudes above the ground, presenting a rough, ugly surface that is actually unsafe as a play-ground for the children, while the balance of the yard is in the nature of the sides of a hill, affording short runs for coasting in the snow season, but poorly adapted to the uses of a school-yard or play-ground. It is thought that the best way to treat the matter is to build a bank wall for a portion of the distance along the westerly and southerly sides of the yard, uniting at the southwest corner, where the ledge is, to a height sufficient to cover the ledge, and then fill in to secure the surface needed. This operation would overcome the danger to life and limb that now exists, and the liability to damages the town might be under should an accident occur to any of the children while innocently playing upon the grounds set apart for that ex- press purpose. After consultation with those supposed to be competent to estimate the cost of the job, the committee, in another place, will ask for an appropriation for this pur- pose.
The present legislature has passed a bill which without doubt will become a law, requiring the towns and cities of the commonwealth to furnish, at public expense, all books and stationery for the use of children at school, to go into effect August 1, 1884. This will cover two thirds of our
41
school year. The amount paid for books and stationery for the year covered by this report was four hundred and sev- enty-five dollars, two thirds of which is three hundred and sixteen dollars ; and the committee, in another place, will ask for an extra appropriation to meet this requirement.
The committee respectfully recommend that the town raise and appropriate for the support of public schools the ensuing year the following : -
For teaching,
$6,400 00
fuel,
379 00
-
care of rooms,
425 00
painting North Grammar house,
$200 00
grading yard, North Grammar house,
150 00
350 00
general and incidental expenses, 400 00
books, under new law,
316 00
Total,
$8,270 00
.
42
STATEMENT OF ATTENDANCE, 1883-84.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Whole No. belonging.
Average whole number
* Average attendance.
Percentage of attend-
No. between 8 and 14
Number over 15 years. Number under 5 years.
Number not absent
during the year.
Prescott Grammar.
Thomas H. West.
56
52
49 95.0
54
2
0
Sarah E. Shankland.
44
40
34 85.0
43
0
0
1
Isabelle G. Driscoll.
48
44
40 93.0
46
2
0
1
Kate E. Sheridan.
37
33
30 90.0
33
0
0
2
Prescott Primary.
Mary A. Molloy.
38
35
33 94.0
24
0
0
4
Mary E. Wren.
34
30
28 93.0
2
0
0
Kittie R. Molloy.
58
54
51.94.0
2
0
4
North Grammar.
Joseph Belcher. Alice A. Smith.
36
36
33 92.0
36
0
0
2
North Primary.
Emma D. Stetson.
44
39
35 90.0
25
0
0
1
Carrie L. Wilkins.
33
24
20 89.0
0
0
4'
1
No. 1. Ungraded.
Minnie W. Corliss.
33
26
20 76.0
16
0
0
3.
Helen P. Henry.
43
38
32 84.0
22
0
2
66
5.
Sara C. Belcher.
38
28
23 82.0
25
0 0
6.
60
Emma H. King.
43
33
30 91.0
31
0
2
73
63
60 94.0
59
9
0
7
658 575 518 .000 418 13 12 19
*Average attendance computed on average number belonging.
belonging.
ance.
years.
43
EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOLS-1883-84.
FOR TEACHING.
Paid Thomas H. West, 1 year, .
$1.000 00
Joseph Belcher, et
900 00
Sarah E. Shankland, 38 weeks,
449 92
Isabelle G. Driscoll ce
399 00
Kittie E. Sheridan, ee
.
369 73
Alice A. Smith,
375 06
Ellen P. Henry,
et
362 90
Mary A. Molloy,
369 73
Sara C. Belcher,
362 90
Emma H. King,
342 00
Mary E. Wren,
329 00
Kitty R. Molloy, et
329 00
Emma D. Stetson,
329 00
Minnie W. Corliss,
et
304 00
Carrie L. Wilkins, et
285 00
Total,
$6.507 24
FOR FUEL.
Paid R. W. Turner & Co., for coal, .
$321 75
Edwin M. Mann, for wood,
12 50
John Wales, for wood,
17 50
Ephraim Mann, for wood,
3 00
Fred. A. Spear, for shavings. .
5 37
Sundry persons for preparing wood. . .
18 00
Total,
$378 12
.
.
44
CARE OF ROOMS.
Paid Margaret Riley, ·
$226 30
Galen Hollis, .
.
77 00
Herbert Wilbur,
35 00
Mrs. Lewis T. Stetson,
25 00
Emma King, .
24 00
John T. Wales,
20 00
Jane Tracy,
15 00
Mary Feeney,
8 33
Mary Shields,
.
.
5 75
Total,
$436 38
Paid N. H. Tirrell, painting Prescott school- house,
$362 00
for grading Prescott school-yard, 165 62
$527 62
REPAIRS AT NORTH GRAMMAR.
Paid Morrison M. Alden, for labor and material,
$137 28
John B. Thayer, ce ce
68 27
Peter Sheridan, for labor,
9 62
Martin Smith, for team, . .
3 50
Total,
$218 67
PERMANENT REPAIRS.
Painting Prescott school-house, $362 00
Grading Prescott yard, . 165 62
Labor and material at North Grammar,
218 67
Blackboards,
150 00
¿ log pump,
20 00
Total, . .
.
.
.
. $916 29
45
SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Paid Wm. Ware & Co., books,
$176 50
Knight, Adams & Co., books, .
62 57
Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co., merchan-
dise, . 85 42
Harper & Brothers, books,
73 41
Ginn, Heath & Co., books,
7 29
Boston School Supply, books and merchan-
dise,
36 12
Prang Educational Co., merchandise, .
12 78
Lee & Shepard, merchandise,
1 17
Claflin & Brown, merchandise, .
13 07
Brooks & Co., merchandise,
5 00
Ward & Gay, merchandise,
2 00
Total,
$475 33
MISCELLANEOUS.
Paid McElwin, blackboards,
$150 00
Winslow Alden, repairs, 23 89
Wales Bros., ¿ log pump, 20 00
Thomas H. West, labor on books,
50 00
A. J. Gove, expressage and teams,
24 65
. Charles Wales, labor and material, 39 65
Patrick Feeney, use of well,
10 00
Colin Boyd, care of room,
6 00
Mr. Wentworth, elocutionist,
30 00
Fardy & Son, iron work, .
1 75
S. B. Corliss, locks and fastenings,
.
7 00
Bernard Wren, removing snow, 4 24
Lawrence Hayes, use of well,
.
3 00
H. Rosenfeld, merchandise,
7 90
46
Paid G. A. Tolman, merchandise, $3 00
John L. Burke, taking census, 20 00
Charles C. Gerry, erasers,
10 50
David Foley, removing snow,
2 00
E. A. Perry, paving stones,
75
Mrs. Lewis T. Stetson, merchandise,
25
Joseph Breck & Son, chains,
3 30
John Wales, use of well, .
3 00
Richard Stevens, team,
1 50
Frank Q. Bodwell, labor, .
1 00
20 33
D. B. White & Co., merchandise, Charles Prescott & Co., merchandise,
2 08
Thomas Farrell, truant officer, .
25 00
Daniel H. Huxford, printing,
16 00
Morrison M. Alden, use of well, 3 00
Herbert C. Wilbur, merchandise, 38
Total,
$490 17
RECAPITULATION.
Teaching,
$6,507 24
Fuel,
378 12
Care of rooms,
436 38.
School supplies,
475 33
Painting Prescott school-house, 362 00
Grading Prescott yard,
165 62
Labor and material at North grammar,
218 67
Miscellaneous,
490 17
Total expense of schools,
$9,033 53
·
.
FUNDS APPLICABLE TO SCHOOLS, 1883-84. Appropriation by the town, . $8,000 00
Amount of state school fund,
216 82
47
Amount of Coddington fund,
$100 00
from sale of books,
352 45
stock of books on hand,
97 14
stock of fuel on hand,
100 00
$8,866 41
Expenses of the schools, per previous statement, $9,033 53 Over appropriations, 167 12
This is accounted for in the extraordinary repairs made at the North grammar school, as before mentioned, to amount of $210.15, and uncollected bills for supplies furnished to children in the several schools whose parents neglected to furnish them, to amount of $95.87.
As experience has shown this last item to be of little value, the committee have not inserted it as an asset, though the funds have suffered to this amount.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
WINSLOW BATTLES, JAMES MOLLOY, THOMAS DOLAN, School Committee.
Randolph, March 20, 1884.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Selectmen of Randolph :
Gentlemen, - The engineers of the fire department of Randolph respectfully submit the following report : -
In making this report, we wish to call the attention of the citizens to the disadvantages we have labored under during the past year, and hope the town will take some action to remedy it at the annual meeting. The time of the firemen having expired on May 1, they were paid off and discharged ; and the members of Hose Company No. 1 notified us that they deemed the compensation as voted by the town inade- quate, and that they would not serve as firemen for another year, and for us to fill their places, which we were unable to do, though we had posters printed and distributed through the town, asking for men to come forward and form a hose company ; but none responded, so we contracted with Mr. A. J. Gove to draw the hose carriage to all fires and depend on whatever help citizens would give us ; but we have been very fortunate so far, having had only one fire in the centre of the town.
Mr. Gove's time also expired on May 1, and he gave us notice that he would not draw steamer No. 1 another year unless we paid him the sum of two hundred dollars, and to be paid extra for drawing coal, hose, &c. ; so we consulted the selectmen as to whether it was advisable for the town to purchase a pair of horses and to use them working on the streets, without going too far away from the centre of the town, and to stable them as near as possible to the engine
49
house and have a man to drive and care for them. We con- cluded to pay Mr. Gove what he asked this year, and let the town settle the manner of drawing Steamer No. 1 for the ensuing year at the annual meeting in April. Mr. Gove has informed us that he will draw steamer No. 1, coal, hose, &c., next year, for three hundred dollars, and the hose carriage for one hundred dollars, provided it is altered into a horse hose carriage ; and Josiah Clark will draw Steamer No. 2 and hose carriage No. 2 for the same sum he is paid this year ($6 each per trip) .
We believe it our duty to inform the citizens of the town as to what it will cost to draw the steamers and hose car- riages for the ensuing year, and let them take such action thereon as they deem necessary, though we do not recom- mend that the town buy a pair of horses, as we think it would cost more money than at present ; and for our appro- priation this year we ask for the sum of $1000, provided the town votes to pay Mr. Gove the sum asked.
ORGANIZATION.
The department organized May 1, 1883, as follows : -
ENGINEERS.
Charles A. Wales, Chief; John B. Wren, Clerk; Henry H. Francis, James E. Neary, Myron W. Hollis.
COMPANIES.
Steamer No. 1, A. J. Gove, Driver; James H. Wales, En- gineer; William B. Brown, Fireman.
Steamer No. 2, Charles Allen, Driver; E. Lawrence Payne, Engineer; George F. Howard, Fireman.
1
,
1
50
Horse Hose No. 2, Cyrus Thayer, Driver.
Hose Co. No. 1,
Hose Co. No. 2, 10 men, Geo. W. Shedd, Foreman.
Pioneer H.& L.Co. No.1, 25 men, Samuel A. Foster,
Extinguisher Co. No. 1, 15 men, Thomas Halloran,
FIRES.
The department has been called to the following fires : - June 18, 1.20 A.M. Barn belonging to Lawrence Jones on Howard street, consumed with contents, carriage-house and dwelling damaged. Whole department present. In- cendiary.
August 25, 2 A.M. House belonging to H. M. White at West Corners. Damaged. Whole department present.
September 14, 11.50 P.M. Barn belonging to Charles H. Cole, Pond Lane. Consumed with contents. Whole de- partment present. Incendiary.
October 22, 12.30 A.M. Piggery belonging to S. Weston Mann, Oak street. Consumed. Department responded. Incendiary.
November 17, 8 P.M. Steamer No. 1 and Hose No. 2 went to South Braintree in response to a call for assistance.
December 20, 9 P.M. Steamer No. 1 went to Holbrook in response to a call for assistance.
February 6, 4.20 A.M. Barn belonging to the heirs of Moses C. Beal, on North street, near Braintree line. Con- sumed. Incendiary. No alarm given.
February 14, 4 A.M. Barn belonging to Amasa Clark, on North street. Consumed. Same time, tool-house in Cath- olic cemetery. Both incendiary. Hose Company No. 2 present.
51
EXPENSES FOR 1883-84.
Whole amount appropriated, divided as follows : -
For pay of men, . $1,000 00 general expenses, 850 00
$1,850 00
Paid 70 men, $12, . $840 00
engineers and firemen, 130 00
general expenses, 737 27
1,707 27
Balance less than appropriation, $142 73
STEAMER NO. 1 AND HOSE Co. No. 1.
Paid 20 men, services year ending May 1, 1883, $240 00
W. P. Alden, services as engineer year ending May 1, 1883, 40 00
John T. Cartwright, services as fireman year ending May 1, 1883, . 30 00
R. W. Turner & Co., coal for house, .
20 00
Edwin Mann, pine wood, 3 00 .
C. A. Wales, supplies,
4 40
A J. Gove, drawing steamer, 10 months, to March 1, 1884, 166 67
A. J. Gove, drawing hose carriage, coal, &c. 20 00
James H. Wales, labor on steamer, .
6 77
D. B. White & Co., supplies, . 5 69
Win. B. Brown, care of fires, steward's bill, labor on steamer from May 19, 1883, to January 1, 1884, ·
54 70
Wm. B. Brown, shavings, ·
40
T. Fardy & Son, bolts for steamer, .
40
$592 03
52
CR.
Paid ¿ ton coal used at So. Brain- . tree, . $8 00
$584 03
STEAMER NO. 2 AND HOSE NO. 2.
Paid 10 men, services year ending May 1, 1883, $120 00
Benjamin Belcher, services as engineer nine months, ending February 1, 1883, 30 00
George F. Howard, services as fireman, year ending May 1, 1883, 30 00
William B. Brown, repairing sign,
50
William B. Brown, 1 barrel shavings,
H. B. Libby, repairs on house, 40
1 00
James Riley, rent of land, 15 00
E. Hodge & Co., repairing boiler tubes, 8 30
Edwin Mann, pine wood, 3 00
C. E. Higgins, painting, whitewashing, &c. 11 00
E. L. Payne, labor on steamer, 37 24
E. L. Payne, leather apron for steamer, 2 00
R. W. Turner & Co., coal for house,
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