USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1904 > Part 11
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Willard Merry, labor and material, 36.04
R. W. Sharkey, labor and material, 2.24
John Lennon, labor and material, 3.00
J. L. Tobitt & Co., labor and ma- terial, 3.59
Reuben Coffin, labor and material,
3.15
Wm. M. Fales, labor and material, 17.90
H. E. Carpenter, insurance, 168.75
O. P. Richardson, insurance, 56.25
Wm. P. Kelly, office expenses, ...
5.00
Smith Premier Typewriter Co., typewriters, 69.50
Silver, Burdette & Co., supplies, . . 19.40
F. H. Perry Co., ink, 2.50
C. A. Watrous, book covers, 1.25
James M. Sullivan, rebinding books, 21.30
E. E. Babb & Co., supplies, 63.14
Attleboro Press, printing, 1.30
Standard Printing Co., printing, . .
7.50
L. A. Fales, car fares, .90
Mary E. McArdle, car fares,
9.95
Byron R. Hill, car fares,
1.00
Wm. P. Kelly, car fares,
25.00
Bristol County Street Railway
Co., car fares, 25.00
Wm. C. Richardson, transporting children, 30.00
T 14
220
ANNUAL REPORT.
G. R. Field, transporting children, 36.00
A. B. Smith, shoes. 3.50
San Souci Department Store,
shoes.
3.75
Enterprise Shoe Store. shoes. 2.50
Total, $4.901.46
By bills approved November 7.
Wm. P. Kelly, October salary. .. $ 166.67
Alice I. Wetherell. October salary. 44.00
Janitors' pay roll for October, .. 446.34 Teachers' pay roll for October, .. 3,369.38'
Substitute teachers' pay roll for October, 36.50
E. P. Carpenter, labor and ma- terial, .50
E. O. Dexter, labor and material, 2.33
Grant Bros .. labor and material, .. 7.93
J. L. Tobitt & Co., labor and ma- terial, 5.15
G. A. Sweeney, labor and material. 1.75
N. Perry & Co., labor and material. 14.38
Frank Mossberg Co., labor and material, 1.25
French & Brownell, labor and ma- terial. 21.91
H. E. White & Co., labor and ma- terial. 11.12
Geo. F. Bicknell, insurance, 45.00
H. E. Carpenter, insurance, 67.50
E. A. Briggs & Co., lawn seed, .. 5.70
H. T. Bates, negatives. 7.65
Attleboro Press, printing, 8.71
221
ANNUAL REPORT.
B. P. King, one year's salary and
postage, 26.10
Warren Parker, truant officer, ... 33.33
Attleboro Gas Light Co., gas, .. 2.66
Providence Telephone Co., rent, .. 6.25
Wm. P. Kelly, office expenses, ... 15.82
J. O. Draper & Co., janitors' sup- plies, .30
Geo. A. Monroe, janitors' supplies, .60
Reuben Coffin, janitors' supplies,
.95
B. P. King, repairing clocks, .. . . 3.00 Callender, McAuslan & Troupe, burlap, 3.06
Wm. O. Sweet, setting trees, 7.50
C. S. Bush Co., chemicals, 41.76
A. I. Atwell, labor, 8.00
Prang Educational Co., supplies, . 15.88
E. E. Babb & Co., supplies,
145.54
Davis Press Co., supplies, 5.25
Norton & Taunton Street Railway Co., car fares, 25.00
Bristol County Street Railway Co., car fares, 25.00
Wm. P. Kelly, car fares, 75.00
Wm. E. Richardson, transporting children, 37.50
G. R. Field, transporting children, 36.00
Enterprise Shoe Store, shoes, ...
5.00
A. B. Smith, shoes, 6.00
San Souci Department Store,
shoes, 5.50
Hebron Store, shoes, 2.17
Evening Schools.
H. J. Astle & Co., lamps, . 9.00
H. E. White & Co., labor and material, 3.52
E. E. Babb & Co., books and sup- plies, 58.28
ANNUAL REPORT.
D. C. Heath & Co., books and sup- plies, 23.88 American Book Co., books and supplies. 7.20
Sun Publishing Co., printing, 6.24
Teachers' pay roll for October, . .
198.80
Janitors' pay roll for October, 18.00
Reuben Coffin, supplies. 1.45
Frost & Adams, books.
24.00
Total,
$5,147.31
By bills approved December 5.
Teachers' pay roll for November, $ 3,390.41
Janitors' pay roll for November, 446.34
H. A. Smith, fuel. 12.00
Geo. M. Worrall, fuel,
6.00
Wm. P. Kelly, November salary,
166.67
Alice I. Wetherell, November salary, 44.00
G. R. Field, transporting children, 36.00
Wm. C. Richardson, transporting children. 30.00
Wm. P. Kelly, office expenses, .. 3.43
J. L. Tobitt & Co., labor and
material,
2.81
N. Perry & Co., furnace at Moran Hall, 89.00
N. Perry & Co., janitors' supplies, 1.82
J. O. Draper & Co., janitors' sup- plies. .30
N. E. Laundry & Towel Supply Co., towels, 28.35
Warren Parker, truant officer, 33.33
L. Z. Carpenter, janitors' supplies, 2.35
H. E. Carpenter. insurance. 45.00
Attleboro Gas Light Co., gas, ... 2.02 WVm. A. Small, labor and supplies, 2.75
223
ANNUAL REPORT.
Grant Bros., supplies, 1.05
Florence Theobald, piano cover, .. 1.38
Daniel Young, labor and material, 9.14
R. B. Magaveny, freight and cartage, 2.37
Sun Publishing Co., printing, 18.20
E. E. Babb & Co., books and sup- plies, 64.81
C. S. Bush Co., chemicals, .
2.96
Cook & Grover, pencil sharpener, 2.50
Hebron Store, shoes, . 6.40
San Souci Department Store,
shoes, 4.00
P. J. Cooney, shoes, 5.25
A. B. Smith, shoes, 6.50
Enterprise Shoe Store, shoes, ... 5.00
Evening Schools.
Attleboro Gas Light Co., gas, II.70
D. C. Heath & Co., book, .50
Teachers' pay roll for November, 196.60
Janitors' pay roll for November, 28.00
Dodgeville Store, supplies, 13.05
Hebron Store, supplies, 9.00
Total, $4,730.99
By bills approved January 2. Teachers' pay roll for December, $3,377.57 Substitute teachers' pay roll for December, 20.00
Janitors' pay roll for December, .. 446.34
Wm. P. Kelly, December salary, 166.67
Alice I. Wetherell, December salary, 44.00
Smith & Hodges, fuel, 16.50
W. N. Goff, rent of Moran Hall, .. 31.25
T. E. Perrin & Son, cartage, .... 1.50
N. E. Laundry & Towel Supply Co., towels, 33.39
224
ANNUAL REPORT.
Sun Publishing Co., printing, 4.50
A. I. Atwell, tuning piano, 2.50
Warren Parker, truant officer, ... 33.33
Attleboro Gas Light Co., gas, . . .
2.80
Wm. P. Kelly, office expenses, ...
8.45
Reuben Coffin, labor and material, 6.40
A. J. Jillson, labor and material,
.75
N. Perry & Co., labor and ma- terial, 6.40
J. W. Gifford Co., labor and
material, 280.70
H. E. White & Co., labor and material, 3.76
A. F. & F. Bray, labor and ma- terial, 1.75
L. Z. Carpenter, janitors' supplies, 3.08
E. E. Babb & Co., books and sup- plies, 3.7I
C. S. Bush Co., chemicals, 6.17
T. E. Perrin & Son, transporting children, 144.00
G. R. Field, transporting children, 36.00
S. Cole, transporting children, .... 144.00
W. C. Richardson, transporting children, 22.50
Wm. P. Kelly, car fares,
25.00
Norton & Taunton Street Railway Co., car fares, 6.25
Bristol County Street Railway Co., car fares, 15.00
Hebron Store, shoes, 4.00
Evening teachers' pay roll for
December, 206.95
Janitors' pay roll, evenings, for December, 24.00
Dodgeville Store, supplies, 5.05
Hebron Store, supplies, 4.50
Reuben Coffin, supplies, 3.00
225
ANNUAL REPORT.
Attleboro Gas Light Co., evening schools, 18.20
H. J. Astle & Co., lamps, 9.00
Attleboro Press, printing, 3.50
Total, $5,172.47
$59,182.72
Recapitulation. Dr.
Appropriations, dog fund, etc., . . $58,365.86
Overdraw, 816.86
$59,182.72
Cr.
Teachers' pay rolls, $32,604.01
Substitute teachers' pay rolls,
738.80
Janitors' pay rolls,
5,211.47
Fuel,
5,268.23
Truant School,
I.72
Rent of Moran Hall,
125.00
Alice I. Wetherell, salary,
416.00
Wm. P. Kelly, salary,
1,900.02
Incidentals and repairs,
6,830.62
Text books and supplies,
3,210.12
Transportation,
1,862.55
Benevolence,
130.76
Evening schools,
883.42
$59,182.72
Respectfully submitted, W. J. NEWMAN, Secretary of the Committee. Attlebcrough, Jan. 2, 1905. Examined January 31, 1905, and found correct, BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, BYRON R. HILL, FRED L. LeBARON, Auditors.
226
ANNUAL REPORT.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Attleborough :
Your Committee herewith submit for your considera- tion their annual report in regard to the expenditure of the appropriations made for the Public Schools for the year ending December 31, 1904. We would respectfully request your careful perusal of the financial and other reports hereby given, for our Public School Department has increased very rapidly in importance and expense, and, as one-third of the appropriations of the town is for expense of our schools, it should interest every citizen to examine and understand the subject.
Importance of Education.
President Roosevelt says, "No Christian and civilized community can afford to show a happy-go-lucky lack of concern for the youth of today ; for, if so, the community will have to pay a terrible penalty of financial burden and social degradation in the tomorrow. If a race does not have plenty of children, or if the children do not grow up, or if when they grow up, they are unhealthy in body, and stunted or vicious in mind, then that race is decadent, and no heaping up of wealth, no splendor of momentary material prosperity, can avail in any degree as offsets."
All our interest in and expense for the schools is and must be for our children and young people, that they may have the best opportunities we can afford, better than we had ourselves, to prepare to take our places and bear the heat and burden of life, and make our loved town a credit to the State and nation, when our work is done, and the places that now know us shall know us no more. Therefore, every citizen should be very much interested to see not only that ample means should be provided, but that we should get the best and most that can be obtained for the money expended.
227
ANNUAL REPORT.
Repairs.
Your Committee do not think there has been a dollar expended foolishly or needlessly during the year, but we have overdrawn the appropriation $816.86, and very many things in repairs and renewals, in and around the school houses, are needed and should be done. We have not done them because we had not the funds and could put them off. Some things we could not put off, and therefore have overdrawn. The fence and wall around Sanford street lot has decayed and given out, and should ยท be replaced ; the old boiler at the High School will not do the work required and a new one is needed ; sanitary arrangements at several schools, which are piped for town water, should be put in. The truth is that $10,000.00 could be used to advantage, and it would be economy to do so, and thus keep ahead of actual work that must be done, as at the High School, if the boiler gives out during winter service, the loss would be more than cost of boiler and connections, if put in during summer vacation.
Insurance.
We would again call the attention of the town to the subject of fire insurance upon our school buildings. The expense is about $525.00 per year. We do not know of any fires in our school buildings for many years, and as all of our buildings are now heated from the base- ments, there does not seem to be much danger of fire from that source. There is some danger from incen- diarism, as in Plainville, and some years ago there was an attempt at the Sanford Street School, but it was not successful. We wish the voters would take some definite action and decide whether we should continue to insure, or whether the town will take its own risk.
Loss of Teachers.
For reasons beyond our control there have been many changes among the teachers. The principal reason is
228
ANNUAL REPORT.
that the cities and towns around Boston, with a much larger valuation and much smaller tax rate, are able to pay more than we do, or ought to do. Our salaries are such that we draw teachers from Maine, New Hamp- shire, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts, but we cannot and do not expect to retain ambitious, growing teachers if they receive louder and stronger calls than we can give. From the State report we find that in 1903, of the 353 towns and cities in Massachusetts, two towns appropriated respectively $9.61 and '$9.80 per thousand of valuation, for schools; five from $8.05 to $8.64 per thousand : 12 from $7.06 to $7.97; 52 towns from $6.01 to $6.99; making 71 towns above $6.00 per thousand of valuation. Attleborough is 62d with $6.09 to our credit ; North Attleborough is 23d at $6.94 per thousand; while around Boston, where our teachers are called, the rate is from $4.20, the rate of Dedham, which is the 214th on list, to $1.80, the rate of Brookline, which is 349th on list. Therefore, the town can see at once, that it would be very foolish to endeavor to compete with those towns, who only have to pay from one-third to two-thirds of the rate for schools that we have to pay. In fact, it is a credit to our town that the Superintendents of these places come right to Attleborough to find good teachers. We do the same among other towns, therefore, while we would like to keep our teachers, we have no cause for complaint.
Vacation School.
At Dodgeville, during the summer vacation, we tried the experiment of a school for the purpose of giving the young people some of the advantages of manual training in various lines which they could not obtain without some assistance. There were classes in sewing, where they were not only taught to use the needle, but to make garments for their own wearing apparel from material furnished. The scholars made boxes, baskets, and mats from raffia and other materials ; they had the
Dodgeville Vacation School 1904
..
Each child had a vegetable patch on the border of the lawn.
Dodgeville Vacation School : 904
-
-
-
--
--
The boys cared for the lawn and flower beds. This looks better than gravel.
229
ANNUAL REPORT.
care of the school building and grounds; had Nature work and many little garden beds, where they raised many kinds of vegetables. Part of the scholars each day brought their dinners and, upon an extension table furnished, spread the table cloth and set the table, ate their dinners, cleared off, and thus learned helpful les- sons regarding table manners; this all under the over- sight and guidance of the teachers. Miss Roberts, our efficient Principal at Dodgeville, assisted by Miss Alice M. Easterbrooks for part of the time, and Miss R. Mildred Carpenter the balance, conducted the school in a way that held the interest and enthusiasm of the scholars for the whole term. Your Committee were agreeably surprised at the constant attendance and great interest shown, and believe that it was money well ex- pended, and of great assistance to all who attended, not only in the instruction given, but in keeping the children interested in higher and better things, out of the streets, and under good influence rather than evil.
We believe it would be a grand work to have several such schools in town during the summer vacation, for if we can keep many of our young people off the streets and get their minds interested in work and play that will prove uplifting and helpful to them, they may be saved from mischief and perhaps crime, which idle hands and minds are tempted to do.
"Idle boys and girls are found Standing on the devil's ground. He will find them work to do, And he will pay them wages, too."
Therefore, by all means keep them busy at something useful and helpful.
More School Room Needed.
At Hebronville we still continue the school at Moran Hall. In the near future, when more pressing wants have been supplied, it would be well to build a two-room addition on rear of present building and thus accommo- date all on our own school grounds.
230
ANNUAL REPORT.
At Briggs Corner, your Committee think the time has come when the town should build a new building. There are more scholars there than can be properly seated, and the seventh and eighth grades are brought up to the Centre. Your Committee unanimously and earnestly recommend that the town appropriate $7,800.00 for a three-room building, to be built this season and made ready for use next fall. We have able and very efficient teachers there, but the best work cannot be done under present conditions.
In olden times, more than 2500 years ago, it was written as an evidence of prosperity, "That the streets were full of children." The old saying still holds good, especially of Attleborough, for our children in schools are increasing at the rate of nearly two schools a year, and the town will be called upon within a year or two for another school building near the Centre, and, when ive do build, we should have a building similar to the Richardson School, a good eight-room building. Would it not be well to look over the Centre and make suitable provision for a lot, and thus be prepared for what will certainly come very soon, unless the town should cease to grow?
Transportation.
The transportation expense is increasing, as we not only have more scholars in the suburbs, but have to bring some 20 from Dodgeville and Hebronville, as those schools are full and we bring the upper grades to the Centre, which we think to be for the best interests of all.
Benevolence.
The benevolence account has been expended under the careful supervision of our truant officer, Mr. Warren Parker, who has been very careful to see that it has been given only where really required, but there are many requests for aid where it is not really needed, for the
231
ANNUAL REPORT.
simple reason "that because shoes and help are pro- vided for other children, we want ours cared for also," without regard to ability to obtain such needful things themselves. We think it well to keep the appropriation small, as it deters some from calling for aid who do not need it. One of our public spirited citizens donated $20.00, and quite a number have given assistance to Mr. Parker in way of clothing, which he has had ample opportunity to make use of. We desire to thank all who have helped, for the assistance and interest shown.
The Work of the Schools.
No radical changes have been made in our school work, but your Committee have desired and will make any changes we think will improve the quality and in- terest of our schools for the scholars.
We would respectfully request that you give careful consideration to the reports of the Superintendent, Principals of High and Grammar Schools, and Super- visors of Music and Drawing, as they will give more detailed view of work attained during the year.
Since our last report every school in town has been visited by your Committee, and we speak from personal knowledge when we express our belief that we have a most excellent corps of teachers, who, under the guidance of our Superintendent, are doing their work in a faithful and conscientious way that cannot be too highly approved and appreciated by the citizens of our town.
In order that our schools may be kept at their present high point of excellence, we recommend the following appropriations, in addition to the dog fund, for 1905 :
Educational, $47,000.00
Text books and supplies, 3.500.00
Incidentals and repairs,
6,500.00
232
ANNUAL REPORT.
Transportation,
2,000.00
Benevolence,
100.00
Evening schools, 1,000.00
$60,100.00
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES E. BLISS, Chairman ;
WALTER J. NEWMAN, Secretary ;
LEONORA P. BEERS,
BENJAMIN P. KING,
GEORGE K. ROBERTS,
THOMAS W. WILLIAMS,
EMILY L. RICHARDSON,
FLORENCE B. THEOBALD,
GEORGE M. WORRALL,
School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of Attleborough :
I have the honor to submit my sixth annual report as Superintendent of Schools, the 21st in the series of such reports.
Teachers.
We lost 25 teachers out of a force of 66 during 1904. Sixteen left for better incomes elsewhere, three were not successful, and the rest left on account of illness, or change of occupation. The success of our teachers con- tinues to attract increasing notice. In April, 1904, I reported to the United States Commissioner of Educa- tion that II teachers had been employed less than one year, 12 between one and two years, 14 between two and three years. Thus more than half (56%) had been in the service here less than three years, and only 14 (21%) more than five years.
233
ANNUAL REPORT.
In contrast to this I wish to mention the long and honorable service of Mrs. O. Cora Chatterton and Mrs. Julia L. Merry, who have taught almost continuously since 1872 and 1874 respectively.
Five years ago, but 57.5 per cent. of our teachers had more than a High School preparation; last year, the school year ending June, 1904, 74 per cent. had prepared in either Normal School or college, and the other 26 per cent. have demonstrated their fitness to teach by their years of efficient service in our schools.
Twenty-four of our present force may be called "home teachers," a larger proportion than is popularly sup- posed. The brief stay of those who come and go justi- fies the care taken in their selection, and our insistence on that preparation which shall enable them to teach and control successfully from the start.
The usual teachers' meetings have been held. The following gentlemen have also delivered addresses on special occasions : Mr. Daniel W. Hoff, Writing Super- visor of Lawrence; Superintendent Herbert W. Lull of Newport, R. I .; Superintendent Frank R. Page of Watertown; Mr. Thomas W. Williams of the Attle- borough School Committee; Superintendent Asher J. Jacoby of Milton.
. A brief social period with light refreshments is often a pleasant feature of the general meetings.
Fire Drills.
To safeguard the pupils from danger by fire, every two-story school house has been specially wired for electric signals, to which the pupils are drilled to respond. The characteristic features of the system are :
I. Push buttons in the basement and on every floor.
2. Uniformity throughout town in the code of signals and the pitch of the bells.
3. Detailed written directions for executing the drills on file with each principal and each teacher.
234
ANNUAL REPORT.
4. Two drills a month, weather permitting, at irreg- ular intervals. The iron fire escape at Sanford Street School has been strengthened and pronounced by ex- perts perfectly safe. In winter it is kept clear of ice and snow.
Home Gardens.
Early in the spring the pupils were offered, at a very low cost, seed collections, both floral and vegetable, to be planted at home. They were given a few very simple directions, and encouraged by the promise of a reward. About June I, each one who wished to have his or her garden visited by the judges, filled out a card of iden- tification. In August, 270 of these cards were distributed among the ladies and gentlemen who served as judges, and each garden was visited and ranked. The interest shown by parents and children was very great, and the judges were greatly pleased with the results. A few well known citizens contributed money for the prizes, which consisted of garden tools for the five best gardens, and hyacinth and tulip bulbs for all the rest, except the failures. In addition to the prizes a certificate of merit was presented to every successful gardener.
The prize winners were: Floral-First, Chester Rounseville ; second, Helen Tripp and Gordon Ward : honorable mention, Irene Field. Vegetable-First, Frank Barney ; second, John Farley ; honorable mention, Shirley Grow and Carris Cloutier.
The initial success was sufficient to inspire several citizens to volunteer their assistance in various prac- tical ways next season.
Our motive is (I) to foster a practical kind of "nature study" which shall yield among other things a respect for agriculture; (2) to emphasize the idea that home occupations may educate as truly as school occupations, and to make one more bond in the essential unity of endeavor between school and home; (3) to give children an outdoor occupation both healthful and interesting,
Dodgeville Vacation School 1 904
This table was set for lunch each day and good man- ners observed. Boys as well as girls as- sisted.
Dodgeville Vacation School 1 904
The unfinished articles show the materials used in making the mats, Baskets, Picture Frames, Broom Holders, etc. sewing is made prac- tical.
235
ANNUAL REPORT.
which will offset to some extent the aimless play of vacation days ; (4) to grow useful and beautiful plants in the bare spots, and thus to add a charm to the lives of the dwellers nearby.
It is very desirable to establish model gardens on or near the school grounds, and to teach preparation of the soil, planting, and cultivation, and I shall favor such a step for the coming season.
School Yards.
The Carpenter street lot has been improved by curb and gutter, and two small stretches of lawn. It is im- possible to put a lawn all around the front, because that would deprive the children of their playground. Even with the small lawn, however, and with the addition of a few trees, shrubs, and flowers, it will present a strong contrast to its former appearance. By similarly im- proving one lot each year, the neglected looking yards will soon be a thing of the past. It is a mistake to erect a school on such a small lot. Every school house should have a well kept lawn in front, so that it will appear as well from the street as a private residence, and should have ample space for playgrounds in the rear.
The flower gardens made by pupils and teachers in several school yards were beautiful during the season, and many bulbs have been planted for early spring blooms.
Vacation School.
The vacation school at Dodgeville described in the report of the School Committee was a very satisfactory venture. I approve of it, not only because the children were retained throughout the summer in the "atmos- phere" of the school, which is more elevating than that of the street, but because it gave opportunity for in- struction in those exceedingly practical domestic and manual arts so necessary in any modern plan of educa- tion, without infringing on other studies.
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