USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1882 > Part 2
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ART. 29. To see if the Town will hereafter approve of the graduation of any of our High School scholars until they have fully completed the course of studies which has been laid down.
ART. 30. To see if the Town will, by its vote, or otherwise, ask the Legislature to extend to the women, who are citizens, the right to hold Town Offices, and to vote in Town affairs on the same terms as male citizens.
ART. 31. To see if the Town will take measures to repair the fence or poles around the yard of Mrs. Holman's house.
ART. 32. To see if the Town will refund to Syrus Logee any part of the amount of tax paid by him in 1880.
ATT. 33. To see if the Town will vote to give Elbridge G. Wallis, the privilege of working out his tax on the road, leading from the main road, running by his house, to the Perry place,
ART. 34. To see if the Town will vote that the Superintend- ent of Schools, for the past year, shall make reparation to the Town for the time of which he has defrauded the scholars in calling the teachers to his monthly meetings.
ART. 35. To see if the Town will take measures to repair the barn at the Almshouse establishment.
ART. 36. To see if the Town will vote to have three Road Commissioners to repair the Highways, Townways and Bridges the ensuing year, or make any change in the manner of doing the same.
ART. 37. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to hire, or buy, a Stone Crusher, for the use of the Town, in repairing the Highways.
ART. 38. To see if the Town will make a special appropria- tion for repairing the Depot Road.
ART. 39. To see if the Town will give any directions to the Selectmen in relation to the Bonds to be filed by the Treasurer, Collector, and Agent on the Moses Wallis Devise.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting up at- tested copies thereof, at the Post- Office in East Douglas, at the Meeting House at Douglas Center, and at the Tavern House of William Jepherson, so called, in South Douglas, ten days, at least, before the time for holding said meeting.
29
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands, this seventh day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
( Signed),
W. H. LORING. ) Selectmen W. D. JONES, of
SUEL LOGEE, Douglas.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
chool
Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS,
FOR YEAR ENDING
MARCH 1, 1882.
PRESS OF CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, EAST DOUGLAS, MASS. 1882.
:
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1881-2.
A. M. HILL,
Term expires March 1882
A. F. BROWN,
¥
1882
JAMES W. SMITH,
LEVI WHITE, M. D.,
66
66
1883
WILLIAM H. TAFT,
66
66
66
1884
G. B. SOUTHWICK,
66
1884
At the Annual Meeting of the Committee, for the school year, the following officers were chosen :
W. D. JONES, Chairman and Secretary
A. F. BROWN, (with a salary fixed at $150.) Superintendent
W. D. JONES, WM. H. TAFT, Sub Committee. LEVI WHITE,
[To consult and advise with Superintendent.] JAMES W. SMITH, EDWIN C. ESTEN, Truant Officers.
66
1882
1883
EDWIN C. ESTEN,
1884
WILLIAM D. JONES,
STATISTICS.
Whole number of children in town May 1, 1881, . between the ages of 5 and 15 years, 430
Whole number attending school of all ages, as ap- pears by the enrollment sheet, 372
Average daily attendance in all the schools,
2218
Whole number attending school under 5 yrs. of age, 15
over 15 "
32
between the ages of 8 and 14 years, 209
Aggregate of months all the schools have been kept during the year, (including High School), 9814
Average number of months the schools have been kept during the year, (including High School), 8.18+ 1 Number of male teachers in district schools, female 66 66 16
Average wages paid male teachers in district schools per month, $36.00
Average wages paid female teachers in district schools, per month, $32.19
Town appropriation for district schools, March, 1881, $3,000 00
Balance unexpended last year, 719 64
State School Fund, 191 90
Town School Fund, (interest,) 56 48
Total, $3,968 02
EXPENSE OF DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Paid teachers' wages, with approval of Com- mittee, $2,875 75
fuel, care of rooms, crayon, etc., 284 21
6
erasers and express, Total expenses,
6 15
$3,166 11
Balance unexpended March 1882,
$801 91
HIGH SCHOOL.
Town appropriation for High School, March 1881,
1,100 00 114 69
Balance unexpended last year,
Total,
$1,214 69
Paid teacher's salary,
$900 00
rent of school room,
100 00
fuel and care of room,
45 93
use of Thayer's Hall, for graduation,
10 00
printing for High school,
15 75
books,
3 57
Total,
$1,075 25
Balance unexpended March, 1882,
$139 44
SPRING
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12.
12
12
Whole number of scholars,
31
26
24
Average attendance,
28.89+
22.24+
22.81+
No. sch. over 15 yrs. of age,
17
18
20
between 8 and 14 yrs.,
5
2
1
66
not tardy,
28
21
15
neither absent nor tardy 13
11
15
NAMES OF GRADUATES, '82.
CLASS MOTTO-"THERE SHALL BE NO ALPS." COLOR-RED.
CLASSICAL COURSE.
Hattie G. Abbott. Mollie E. Simmons.
May F. Kimball.
GENERAL COURSE.
Walter E. Heath.
Arthur C. Hunt.
Frank A. Richardson.
Ida M. Johnson.
Nellie E. Hunt.
Effie E. Morse.
Gertie Lamson.
Dora S. Russell.
ROLL OF HONOR.
NAMES OF
THOSE
SCHOLARS ENTITLED TO CERTIFICATES OF
EXCELLENCE.
SPRING TERM :
Effie E. Morse.
May F. Kimball.
Ida M. Johnson.
Emma Willis.
Willie Meek.
Arthur Hunt. Vesley Newcomb. (13)
FALL TERM.
Walter Heath.
Willie Meek.
Hattie G. Abbott.
Ida M. Johnson.
Nellie Manning.
Effie E. Morse.
Mollie F. Simmons.
Minnie Walker. (11)
WINTER TERM.
Arthur Hunt.
Walter E. Heath.
Willie H. Meek.
James Simmons.
Hattie G. Abbott.
Ida M. Johnson.
May F. Kimball.
Kate Kelley.
Effie E. Morse.
Dora S. Russell.
Mollie E. Simmons.
Minnie Walker.
Gertie Lamson. (13)
NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR THE YEAR.
Walter E. Heath.
Willie Meek.
James Simmons.
Effie E. Morse.
Minnie Walker. Hattie G. Abbott.
Ida M. Johnson.
May F. Kimball. (8)
NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR TWO YEARS.
Walter E. Heath.
Willie Meek. Hattie G. Abbott.
Ida M. Johnson. May F. Kimball.
Effie E. Morse. (6)
NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR THREE YEARS.
3
Walter E. Heath.
Ida M. Johnson.
May F. Kimball. Effie F. Morse.
Hattie G. Abbott. (5)
Gertie Lamson. Bertie Marsh.
Hattie G. Abbott. Minnie Walker. Walter Heath.
James Simmons.
James Simmons. May F. Kimball. Dora S. Russell.
8
Spring Term, Fall 66 Winter “
7 tardy marks 9
-
15
66
66
Total tardy marks for the year,
31
Teacher,-RALPH H. BOWLES, JR.
DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
Teacher's wages, -
$297 00
Wood, crayon and care of room,
19 81
Total cost,
$316 81
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
27
33
30
Average attendance,
18+
24-+-
17++
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
0)
0
0
over 15 "
1
1
5
66
not tardy,
13
30
22
Teacher,-Edward F. Sibley.
Prudential Committee, John Hilton.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
Teacher's wages,
$231 00
Wood, care of room and crayon,
22 53
Total cost,
$253 53
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
15
13
13
Average attendance,
12+
10+
9-+-
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
2
1
1
over 15 «
0
0
0
between 8 and 14 yrs 17
23
21
. :
9
No. scholars between 8 and 14 yrs, 5
5
not tardy, 6
5
3
Teacher,-Mary F. Jones.
No Prudential Committee.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
Teacher's wages, Primary,
$264 00
Intermediate, -
297 00
Wood, care of room and crayon, -
55 67
Total cost,
$616 67
PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
37
41
35
Average attendance,
32+
31
29
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
·2
0
0
over 15
0
0
0
between 8 and 14 yrs, 16
20
19
not tardy,
23
25
21
Teacher,-Edna F. Caouette.
INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
30
28
27
Average attendance,
23+
21
22
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
0
()
0
over 15 "
2
0
1
60
between 8 and 14 yrs. 28
28
26
not tardy,
14
21
19
Miss Taft, Spring Term, one week.
Teachers,- Esther S. Childs, Spring Term. Kate L. Simmons, Fall and Winter Terms.
Prudential Committee, Frank D. Whipple.
10
DISTRICT NO. 1.
Teacher's wages,
≤239 25
Wood, care of room and crayon,
16 19
Total cost,
$255 44
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
15
14
14
Average attendance,
12+
12+
12+-
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
0
0
0
over 15
1
=
2
66
between 8 and 14 yrs.
.)
not tardy,
1
11
Teachers,- ( E. Josie Manahan, Spring and Fall Terms. Mrs. Abbie M. Lapham, Winter Term.
Prudential Committee, Edwin C. Esten.
DISTRICT NO. 7.
Teacher's wages, 27 weeks,
$189 00
Wood, care of room, &c ..
11 53
Total cost, -
$200 53
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars, 13
18
16
Average attendance,
9+
12+
13+
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
over 15 " 66
1
1
1
between 8 and 14 yrs., 7
9
66 not tardy, 1
10
1
1
Teachers, ---- Hattie A. Parker, Spring Term. [Term. Abbie L. Potter, Fall, and 5 weeks of Winter
Prudential Committee. Charles W. Potter.
DISTRICT NO. 8.
Teacher's wages, - - $231 00
. :
11
Wood, care of room &c.,
15 56
Total cost, -
$246 36
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
15
14
13
Average attendance,
12++
12+
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
1
1
1
over 15
0)
()
66
between 8 and 44 yrs.
10
9
10
not tardy,
12
9
Teacher,-Ella M. Keith.
Prudential Committee, Elijah B. Paine.
DISTRICT NO. 9.
Teacher's wages, Primary,
$264 00
66
Intermediate,
319 00
Fuel, care of room, crayon, ink &c ..
66 16
Total cost,
$649 16
PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
58
52
41
Average attendance,
40
89+
29++-
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
=
over 15
()
()
()
between 8 and 14 yrs, 25
23
21
not tardy,
32
33
22
Teachers, -- S Ethel M. Simmons, Spring Term. M. Josie Loring, Fall and Winter Terms.
INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER
Whole number of scholars.
35
40
11
Average attendance,
30
38+
34 ---
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
0
()
0
-
-
12
No. scholars over 15 yrs. of age, 2
3
66 between 8 and 14 yrs., 32
37
66
not tardy,
27
37
Teacher,-Emma F. Bates.
Prudential Committee, Stillman Russell.
DISTRICT NO. 10.
Teacher's wages, Primary,
$264 00
Intermediate,
280 50
Wood, crayon and care of room,
76 96
Total cost, -
$621 46
PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER
Whole number of Scholars,
38
51
41
Average attendance,
32+
41
31 +
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
5
4
over 15 "
0
0
0
between 8 and 14 yrs.,
7
13
10
not tardy,
33
47
32
Teacher,-Hattie A. Brown.
INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Whole number of scholars,
31
32
30
Average attendance,
32++
24+
22+
No. scholars under 5 yrs. of age,
0
0
0
over 15 " 66
=
1
0
between 8 and 14 yrs. 27
29
28
not tardy,
27
21
16
Teachers, - ( Kate R. Sibley, Spring Term. Nettie E. Stone, Fall and Winter Terms.
Prudential Committee, Alvin H. Brown.
GENERAL REMARKS.
There has been no school in Districts No. 5 or 6, during the year, for want of scholars. Two scholars in District No. 5 at- tended school in No. 4, and were very well accommodated by so doing.
One of the Truant Officers has been called upon several times, by the teachers, to look after truants, and has 'faithfully per- formed his duty, a report of which is herewith submitted.
To the Superintendent of Schools was committed the entire supervision of the schools for the year, which included the ap- probation and dismissal of teachers, examinations for admission to the High School, and all matters of discipline ; and, at his suggestion, an Advisory Sub-Committee of three was chosen, with whom he was at liberty to advise in regard to any matters affecting the interest of the schools that might arise during the year. For a more detailed account of the state and condition of the Schools, for the year, see the report of the Superintend- ent, herewith submitted.
(Signed) A. F. BROWN, LEVI WHITE, A. M. HILL, WM. H. TAFT, JAS. W. SMITH, j
School Committee of Douglas.
Douglas, March, 1882.
Report of One of the Truant Officers.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF DOUGLAS, GENTLEMEN :-
I have been called upon twelve different times, by the Super- intendent, or some of the teachers in the village schools, be- tween June 1, 1881 and Jan. 19, 1882, to look after truants and absentees from school.
To each of these calls I have responded and have not only returned the truants to their schools but have also seen their parents or guardians and have used my best endeavors to have them look after the welfare of their children. No complaint has been made to the court, although, in some instances, I think it would have been justifiable.
JAMES W. SMITH, Truant Officer, Douglas, March 1882.
. :
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF DOUGLAS,
GENTLEMEN :-
Having received, by your appointment, the office of Super- intendent of Schools for the current year, it is proper that I should make to you, and, through you. to the town, a report, in detail, of the work that has been performed and the progress, -if any-that has been made in our several schools.
I entered upon the discharge of my duties with a clear con- viction of the responsibilities of the position and a full determi- nation to do my duty fearlessly, regardless of fear or favor, sub- ject always to the direction of the Committee if they saw fit to direct me. There has been no instance in which the Committee have seen fit to question the correctness of the course I have pursued.
It has been the custom, for many years, for our teachers to take one day, at least, in each term to visit other schools. In- stead of this, a series of "Teachers' Meetings" was instituted, for the Fall and Winter terms, occupying one half day in each month, at which all our teachers were expected to be present and were required to take an active part. These meetings were modelled after the pattern of a Normal Institute, with class drill and class exercises, essays and discussions on the best methods of teaching the various branches taught in our schools. Our teachers, with one or two exceptions, entered enthusiasti- cally into the plan, as suggested by the Superintendent, and contributed much by their influence and ability to make the meetings a perfect success. The exceptions were those who, either from a consciousness of their own inability, or from the antiquated notions received from their fathers, seemed to assume that no progress could be made from the "days of long ago."
-
It has been the design from the first to make the work of
16
this school year a progressive one, that our teachers should be required to do more and better work then had been done here- tofore, and that, so far as they were qualified to do so, they should adopt and carry out the modern and most approved methods of teaching. This design has been heartily seconded and adopted by most of our teachers. The benficial results are seen in most excellent specimens of Freehand Drawing, the un- precedented advancement made in the classes that were given les- sons in Language, English Grammar, Geography and Phonetic Spelling. Writing the spelling exercises upon the blackboard has been practised in all our schools, with excellent results. The ease, rapidity and correctness with which the children in some of our Primary Schools will put the Spelling exercises on the black board, put to shame some scholars of a much larger growth.
While we have been desirous that our school children should make the greatest possible literary advancement, consistent with a due regard to health and their mental capacity, we have not been unmindful of the principles of morality, virtue and temperance, those higher qualities that have such an influence in making good citizens in any community. During the Winter Term more than two-thirds of the scholars,-with the consent and approbation of their parents,-signed the Temperance Pledge. I am glad to know that however abandoned to vice and intemperance, some men may be, there are very few who are not desirous that their children shall grow up to be virtuous and temperate citizens.
THE LAW PROVIDES, THAT
"The several school teachers shall faithfully keep the Register furnished them, and make due return thereof to the School Com- mittee, or such person as they may designate, and no teacher shall be entitled to receive payment for services, until the Regis- ter, properly filled up and completed, shall be so returned." "Neither the School Committee nor the Town have power to dispense with the proper keeping of the School Register or to waive the performance of the duty imposed by law on the teacher."
[CHIEF JUSTICE BIGELOW, 2, ALLEN 593.]
"The duty imposed by law," in the above decision is "The several school teachers shall faithfully keep the Register fur- nished them and make due return thereof to the School Com- mittee, or such person as they may designate." In the town of Douglas, for the current year, the Superintendent is the person designated, by vote of the School Committee, to see, among other duties, that the Registers are properly kept, and he is the only person designated to whom the Register shall be returned.
17
Neither the Town, nor the Selectmen, nor anybody else, have any right to waive the provisions of that law.
The School Committee, at a meeting called for that purpose, if they were dissatisfied with the doings of the Superintendent, might, undoubtedly, revoke his decisions or appoint some other person to perform that duty, but until such revocation the de- cision of the Superintendent is as binding on the Town, and on the Selectmen as though it was backed by every member of the School Committee. The following is a copy of a letter handed to the Selectmen on the day it bears date :
East Douglas, Mass., Jan. 28, 1882.
SELECTMEN OF DOUGLAS,-GENTLEMEN :-
The school in District No. 7, not answering the requirements of the law, I notified the teacher. Miss Abbie Potter, and the Prudential Committee,-Mr. C. W. Potter,-that I should not approve of the school after Jan. 6, 1882, and ordered the school closed on that day, and requested the teacher to make up the Register to that day and return it to me ; which request has not yet been complied with. You are hereby forbidden to pay Miss Abbie Potter. as teacher of school Dist. No. 7, after Jan. 6, 1882. and are requested not to pay her anything until her Register is properly made out and returned, according to law.
A. F. BROWN, Supt. of Schools of Douglas.
Yet notwithstanding this notice to the Selectmen, and, notwith- standing that their attention was called to the fact that the Reg- ister had not been returned, and in direct violation of law and the decision of the Supreme Court, to which their attention was called at the time, the Selectmen did give an order, on the Treasurer, to pay her for the full time, including the six weeks, which the school kept with an average of less than five scholars, after it was ordered stopped by the Superintendent. Two or three days after the order was given by the Selectmen to pay the teacher the Register came to me, by mail, with more mis- takes and ommissions than there was in all the other Registers in town put together.
I think the time has come when a majority of the intelligent citizens of Douglas, and a majority of our Town Officers also, ought no longer to be under the influence and control of unprin- cipled and designing men. The old
DISTRICT SYSTEM
has been the fruitful source of more evil to the welfare of our schools than all other things combined. Prudential Committees often persist in hiring incompetent and inefficient teachers, and if the Town's Committee attempt to interfere, there is a conflict
18
of authority that is frequently so unpleasant that Town's Com- mittees sometimes submit and let an incompetent teacher finish the term of school, rather than face the anathemas of certain unprincipled and selfish Prudential Committees. Most of the
SCHOOL HOUSES
out of the village are in a dilapidated condition and very much need repair. I understand that since the boys, in Dist. No. 7, during the Winter Term, have so nearly riddled the inside of their school-house, the voters, in the district, have decided to make some repairs.
THE HIGH SCHOOL,
under the efficient instruction of R. H. Bowles, Jr., the suc- cessful teacher of our High School for the last five years, has lost none of its former interest. The successful completion of the last year's work compares favorably with the work of any previous year. The parents of the Graduating Class have rea- son to feel proud of the good work accomplished by their chil- dren, and the whole community owe Mr. Bowles a debt of grati- tude for the faithful services he has performed in our High School.
DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
The school in Dist. No. 1, with Mr. Edward F. Sibley for teacher, has been moderately successful, but not quite up to the standard. There seems to have been an under current, origin- ating, perhaps, out of the school room, that has proved detri- mental to the welfare of the school, causing a want of interest, and irregularity of attendance that should be remedied hereafter.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
Miss Mary F. Jones, teacher, was hired by the Superintend- ent, the district having lost their organization. Miss Jones is an experienced and successful teacher. The school is small, and the house, very large,-entirely out of proportion for the number of scholars in the district.
19
DISTRICT NO. 3.
. Miss Edna F. Caouette, teacher of the Primary Department has entered most heartily into the modern and most progressive methods of teaching and has made her year's work a perfect success.
The Intermediate Department was commenced in the Spring term by Miss Taft of Blackstone, who, after one week, left the school. The remainder of the term, the school was taught by Miss Esther S. Childs, an experienced and successful teacher, who soon brought order out of confusion, and made it for the term one of the best regulated schools in town .. The Fall and Winter terms were taught by Miss Kate Simmons, a Normal Graduate. This was her first experience in teaching, yet she successfully over- came the obstacles that, at first, confronted her and closed the Winter Term with marked success.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
The Spring and Fall Terms taught by Miss E. Josie Man- ahan, were fairly successful. The Winter term, taught by Mrs. Abbie M. Lapham, was one of the best schools ever taught in that district. Specimens of Freehand drawing, Reading and Declamation are worthy of special mention.
DISTRICT NO. 7.
The Spring Term was successfully taught by Miss Hattie A. Parker, of Sutton, an experienced teacher and one who main- tained a good reputation in her school, and gave entire satis- faction.
The Fall Term and five weeks of the Winter Term, only, under the sanction of the School Committee, was taught by Miss Abbie L. Potter. The school was not a success, and, at the close of the Fall term, by request of the Superintendent, the Prudential Committee agreed to procure another teacher for the Winter term ; instead of which the same teacher was continued, with the assurance that he had been talking to the teacher in re- gard to her order, and that he should use his influence to have good order maintained.
After continuing the school for four weeks, and finding that there was no improvement, but a perfect disregard of the rules of good order and decency, and, after consulting with a major- ity of the Sub-Committee in regard to the want of discipline in
20
the school, and, having their hearty co-operation and approval, I ordered the school to be closed at the end of the fifth week.
The school was not ordered closed by the Superintendent,- as has been falsely stated,-because the teacher did not attend the Teachers' Meetings. I think she attended every meeting up to that time save one, and, for her absence at that meeting, she rendered a reasonable and satisfactory excuse.
DISTRICT NO. 8.
This was taught by Miss Ella M. Keith, one of our exper- ienced and most successful,teachers. The order was perfect and the progress made by some of the scholars is worthy of special mention.
DISTRICT NO. 9.
The Spring term of the Primary Department was taught by Miss Ethel M. Simmons. The school was large and this was her first experience in teaching. I have no doubt she would suc- ceed better in a smaller school. The Fall and Winter terms were taught by Miss M. Josie Loring, who is one of our exper- ienced and most successful teachers.
The Intermediate Department, under the instruction of Miss Emma F. Bates was second to no school in town. The town would be a gainer, if by paying such teachers a more liberal price, they could, thereby, retain them among our corps of teachers.
DISTRICT NO. 10.
The Primary department was taught by Miss Hattie A. Brown, a Normal Graduate. It is enough to say of this school, that, in every respect, it was a model school.
The Spring term of the Intermediate department was taught by Miss Kate R. Sibley, an experienced and successful teacher, who left at the close of the term, for a more lucrative position. The Fall and Winter terms were taught by Miss Nettie E. Stone, of Northbridge, a Normal Graduate. Although this was her first experience in teaching she made the school a complete success and will rank among our best schools.
The practice heretofore existing of paying the same price to teachers of certain schools, regardless of their qualifications, or the amount of work they are able to accomplish, ought to be
21
discarded. Our teachers should be paid as we pay other skilled workmen,-in proportion to their ability and success. Let new or inexperienced teachers commence on a low salary and, if they prove themselves worthy, let their salary be advanced in pro- portion to their worth, and if not worthy, let them be dismissed.
Another antiquated notion, that has, heretofore, prevailed to some extent, in town, is that any young or inexperienced teach- er will do well enough for a Primary school teacher, instead of which we need our very best teachers in our Primary schools. I know of no reason why a successful Primary teacher should not be paid as much for her services as a successful Interme- diate teacher.
A. F. BROWN, Supt. of Schools. Douglas, March, 1882.
١
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