USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1890 > Part 2
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$25,60 45
25 50
10 75
Frank Duval note,
21 00
30
The Agent has loaned and paid out as follows :
Mar. 30. Discharging mortgages,
$ 25
May 4. Discharging mortgages, 25
Aug. 24. Discharging mortgages,
25
Sep. 6. Tax on Devise,
234 79
Nov. 11. Discharging mortgage,
25
Dec. 9. Appraisers,
2 00
16. Loaned Lewis Terrier,
400 00
Jan.
8. Tax on Devise in Northbridge, 4 53
Feb.
10. Recording mortgage,
1 10
15. Loaned Sarah Paine,
200 00
Appraisers, 4 50
June
3. Deposited in Millbury bank,
1,200 00
Sept. 27.
Deposited in Millbury bank,
140 00
Mar.
1. Agent for services, 60 00
Notes Due the Town Mar. 1, 1890.
Date of Note.
Name.
Accrued Int.
Prin.
July 30, '87.
Joseph Arnold,
$14 00
$400 00
Dec. 12, '87.
Horace Batcheller,
2 60
200 00
Feb. 28, '88.
Rebecca Morse,
30 08
500 00
21, '88.
John Valier,
45
300 00
Dec. 24, '87.
Joseph StAndrew,
4 40
400 00
July 1, '76.
Alvin H. Brown,
20 00
500 00
Nov 23, '59.
A. F. Brown,
38 08
500 00
Dec 4, '66.
Thomas Wixtead, paid by James Wixtead,
26 86
200 00
Apr. 24, '69.
Orrin N. Thurber, paid by
Eliza A. Williams, 15 30
300 00
May 18, '57.
Ira T. Robbins, paid by Frank McCormick,
1 50
150 00
July 7, '75.
James McCormick, paid by John Goff, 38 50
350 00
Mar. 1, '67.
John M. Putnam,
3 12
125 00
Dec. 2, '54.
Joel Glover, paid by Sarah Dufo,
2 93
200 00
Feb. 20, '69.
S. P. Rawson, paid by Zilpha M. Rawson,
30 83
500 00
Apr. 22. '80.
Phoebe M. Young,
35 67
500 00
12, '77.
A. A. Humes, paid by Martin and Geer,
19 78
350 00
1, '71.
Margaret Stearns,
16 50
300 00
Mar. 26, '70.
Rufus Johnson,
70 27
400 00
31
July 22, '81.
Mrs. Mary J. Willis,
$18 17
$500 00
Oct. 19, '74.
Chandler Titus,
6 01
135 00
July 23, '79.
Louisa Jarvis,
6 62
100 00
7, '79.
Mrs. Michael Roberts,
19 40
500 00
Oct. 1, '83.
Dennis Quinn,
29 75
350 00
May 8, '72.
Wm. M. Putnam,
20 68
425 00
Apr. 22, '82.
Mitchael Auger,
15 40
300 00
June 17, '69.
Chandler Titus,
7 35
340 00
Aug. 6, '83.
T. M. Remington,
6 80
200 00
June 26, '83.
Mary J. Murphy,
50 33
500 00
Apr. 19, '80.
Phoebe E. Johnson,
22 25
333 00
Mar 24, '85.
Allen Buxton,
5 60
100 00
Apr. 30, '85.
John Lebeau,
10 00
200 00
Nov. 29, '86.
Abbie Thayer,
4 55
300 00
Aug. 19, '78.
Russell M. Peters,
7 95
250 00
Oct. 24, '78.
Lovell Southwick,
9 51
158 50
May 21, '68.
Mrs. Johanna Rawson,
9 30
200 00
Nov 27, '86.
Salina Casey,
5 43
350 00
May 1, '78.
Julius and Matilda Rivers, 20 00
400 00
June 4, '86.
Amos G. Yates,
6 65
150 00
Sept. 5, '83.
Vesta Balcome,
11 66
400 00
Oct. 16, '67.
Potter M. Bates,
: 35
150 00
Mar. 5, '81.
S. H. Starr,
92
100 00
Feb. 15, '86.
Alfred and Mary Reynolds,
81
325 00
18, '86.
Chas. H. Hilton,
40
200 00
18, '85.
Aaron Aldrich,
31 67
500 00
Mar 20, '88.
Margaret Brown.
17 00
300 00
Sept.15, '88.
Joseph Lebeau,
11 00
400 00
23, '88.
Frank Duval,
6 66
350 00
Nov. 22, '88.
Edwin C. Esten,
4 16
350 00
Dec. 16, '89.
Lewis Terrier,
5 00
400 00
Feb. 15, '89.
Sarah Paine,
50
200 00
$750 75
$15,641 50
Notes due the Town, Mar. 1st, 1890,
$15,641 50
Accrued interest,
750 75
Cash in hands of Agent,
1,651 95
Value of Devise Mar. 1, 1890,
$18,044 20
Net gain for the year,
656 29
All of which is respectfully submitted.
CHAS. W. POTTER, Agent.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
Births.
Whole number,
34
males,
19
females,
15
34
foriegn parentage,
- 15
mixed parentage,
6
American parentage,
- 13
34
Marriages.
Whole number,
21
Foreign birth,
12
American birth,
-
-
-
-
-
-
28-
42
First marriage,
35
Second marriage,
7- 42
Deaths.
Whole number,
36
males,
20
females,
16-
36
foriegn birth,
-
-
8
American birth,
26
unknown, -
-
-
2- 36
-
-
30
Resident in Douglas,
14
Resident elsewhere,
-
-
-
33
Number under 1 year,
8
between 1 and 5,
-
4
5
10,
0
10
20,
1
20
30,
-
1
30
40, -
1
40
50,
-
5
50
60,
.
-
2
60
70,
4
70
80,
-
5
80
90,
3
over
90
-
2-
36
Dogs Registered.
Whole number,
158
Males,
145 @ $2.00,
$290 00
Females,
13 @ $5.00, -
-
65 00
$355 00
1
CHAS. S. CASWELL, Town Clerk.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT
ON THE Expenditures on Roads and Bridges
FOR THE Year Ending Feb. 28, 1890.
I have been assisted by the following named gentlemen, and we have expended the several amounts in sections as follows :
H. D. Wallis, Expended in Section No. 1, $200 56
James Peters, 2. 301 65
Edgar C. Parker, 3, 214 24
Vernon T. Esten, 4, 276 11
S. P. Rawson, 5,
277 24
W. H. Parker,
6, 300 78
W. H. Wellman,
7, 267 82
Asahel Fitts,
8, 170 73
Superintendent, (including other sections) 9, 480 59
Total,
$2,489 72
The several laborers received as follows :
H. D. Wallis, 31012h.$46 57
W. L. Church, 35h. 5 25
W. L. Church, 2 horses and cart 25h. 5 63
W. L. Church, oxen on
cart 171/2h. 3 50
Carl Wheeler, 47 12h. 7 13
W. B. Amidon, 55h. 5 50
Fredrick Wallis, 5h. 75
G. Brown, 135h. 20 25
Henry Brown, 53h. 7 95
F. A. Wellman, 97h. 14 55
35
F. A. Wellman, 2 horses on cart 53h. $11 92
F. A. Wellman, 2 horses on scraper 27h. 8 10
Silas Dudley, 40h.
6 00
Silas Dudley, oxen and
cart 40h.
8 00
Silas Dudley, 36 loads of gravel, 72
Putnam Dudley, 129h. 19 35
W. S. Jillson, 27 14h. 4 08
W. S. Jillson, 2 horses on cart 2214h. 4 99
Geo. M. Wallis, 15h. 2 25
Geo. Starr, 4h.
60
Warren Mowry, 31h.
4 65
Wellington Balcom, 17h. 2 55
Willie Balcome, 5h.
75
Chas. Balcome, 40h.
6 00
Edward Balcome, 115h. 17 25
W. J. Wellman, 15h.
2 25
Conelius Shea, 268h. 39 45
Edgar C. Parker, 21712 32 62 Edgar C. Parker, 2 horses on cart, 55h. 12 39
Edgar C. Parker, 2
horses
on
scraper
159h. 47 85
Guilford
C.
Dudley,
2091/2, 31 42
Guilford C. Dudley, 2
horses on cart 421/2h, 9 62
Guilford C. Dudley, 2
horses on
scraper,
1591/2h.
47 85
Chas. A. Hilton, 8612. 12 97
J. M. Parker, 15h.
2 25
James Daley, 10h. . 50
Arthur Dudley, 1712h.
2 62
Arthur Dudley,
oxen
171/2h. 3 50
Arthur Titus, 25h. 3 75
James Peters, 255h.
38 25
James Peters, 2 horses
on cart 2291/2h.
51 63
J. K. Peters, 17013h. 25 55
J. K. Peters, powder
for blasting rocks,
$7 65
F. Son, 10h.
1 50
C. Dudley, 42h.
6 30
A. Roberts, 178h.
26 70
Mitchael Ogie, 161h. 24 15
J. Perkins, 45h.
6 75
O. J. Peters, 17813h. 26 75
G. Abrom. 47h.
7 05
L. Bigelow, 45h.
6 75
L. Bigelow, 2 horses on
cart 45h.
9 62
L. Gorf, 24h.
2 40
Milton Humes, 12h.
. 80
Peter Ogie, 130h.
19 50
V. J. Peters, 40h.
6 00
Henry Laduke, 45h.
6 75
G. Balcome, 15h.
. 13
M. Goullar, 45h.
6 75
F. Plant, 70h.
10 50
Paul Vernon, 35h.
5 25
W. H. Parker, 178h.
26 70
WV. H. Parker, 2 horses on scraper 214h. 64 20
W. H. Parker. 2 horses
on cart 18h.
4 04
W. H. Parker, oxen on
road 160h.
32 25
Harley Brown, 21812h. 33 08 Jessie Thompson, 272 1/2h. 41 93
Peter Jarvis, 65h.
9 75
Gustv C. Dudley, 112h. 16 80
J. Savery, 2121/2h:
31 88
J. Bates, 65h.
75
H. Rich, 10h. 1 50
David Keith, 18h.
2 70
Myron Titus, 32h.
4 87
E. T. Rawson, 60412h. 90 67 E. T. Rawson, oxen 3721/2h. 74 10
Tom. Wixtead, 6812h. 10 25
James Wixtead, 82h.
12 30
Timothy Wixtead, 20h. 3 00
36
S. P. Rawson, 448h.
67 19
S. P. Rawson, 2 horses
on cart 277h. 63 00
S. P. Rawson, 2 horses
on scraper 107h. 32 10
Ashael Fitts, 230h.
34 50
Ashael Fitts, for May, 13 86
Ashael Fitts, 2 horses
on cart, 12212h. 23 00
David Wallis, 45h.
6 75
David Wallis, horse and
cart, 40h.
5 00
A. F. Brown, 55h.
8 25
A. F. Brown, 48 loads
gravel,
2 40
A. F. Brown, oxen 55h. 11 00
Ed. E. Chase, 423h.
63 46
Alphonso Chase, 115h. 17 25
Collins Chase, 1h. 15
Collins
Chase,
oxen
53 1/2h.
10 57
Jesse Chase. 12 feet
stone,
06
Erastus Chase, 161 12h. 23 78
Henry Chase, 55h.
8 25
Suel E. Chase, 5h.
75
Suel E. Chase, oxen 5h. 1 00
Albert Smith, 204h.
45 60
A. E. Chapman, 120h. 18 00 A. E. Chapman, 2
horses on cart 31h. 5 47
A. E. Chapman,
2
horses on scraper 4h. 1 20
Gilbert Yates, 5h.
75
R. Shean, 15h.
2 25
Wellington
Southwick
120h.
18 00
H. T. Barton, 10h. 1 50
H. T. Barton, 4 bridge stone @@ 50 cts. 2 00
Myron B. Chase, 5h. 75
V. T. Esten, 17714h.
26 53
Chas. Russell, 40h.
6 00
H. A. Walker, 45h.
6 75
H. A. Walker, oxen 45h. 9 00
W. H. Wellman, 266
1/2h.
40 03
W. H. Wellman,
2
horses on cart
130
1/2h.
29 27
W. H. Wellman,
2
horses on scraper 84
h.
25 20
E. G. Paine, 15212h.
22 85
Lewis Peck, 11912h.
18 80
Robert Hannant, 134
1/2h.
20 13
H. W. Smith, 92h.
13 81
Michael
Martin, 158
1/2h.
14 89
L. M. Hannant, 34h.
10
J. Waldo Smith, 144
1/2h.
21 60
J. Waldo Smith, oxen 56h. 11 22
Elijah B. Paine, 20h.
3 00
Wm. Pillion, 84h.
12 60
J. M. Rawson, 928h. 185 60
J. M. Rawson, horse
184h.
9 18
F. R. Caswell, 115612h. 8 47 F. R. Caswell, oxen 30h. 6 00 Peter German, 24h. 3 60
Peter German, 2 horses
29h.
3 48
James Gregway, 10h.
1 50
James Gregway, horse,
10h.
1 25
Caleb Hill, 10h.
1 50
N. S. Caswell, 14h. 2 10
N. S Caswell, horse 13h. 1 62
Will Blanchard, 10h. 1 50
Frank Lorin, 20h. : 00
Alfred Laflew, 5h. 25
John Labell, 15h.
2 25
Frank Allen, 25h.
3 75
Mr. Tamby, 15h.
2 25
Chas. Bremley, 35h.
5 25
Thomas Murphy, 10h.
1 50
S. A. Mowry, 10h.
1 50
37
A. H. Brown, 10h. 50
H. Metcalf, 5h. 75
H. Metcalf, horse, 5h.
62
Levi Darling, 10h.
1
50
Levi Darling, horse 10h. 1 25
S. Powers, 10h.
1 50
Wm. Reynolds, 64h.
9 60
V. T. Esten, for blast- ing 389 rocks in the town ways, 34917 ft. @ 40 cts. 138 66
126781b dynamite@.40 50 77
605ft. fuse @ 12ct. 3 27
405 exploders @ 1ct.
4 05
Superintendent paid out for the following nec- essary repairs,
Suel Logee, repairs on scraper, 88
Axletree bolts and labor on scraper, 5 48
Freight on new machine, 6 40
Barr Brothers for cast-
ings,
1 52
Axe Co. for pick hand-
le and labor on axle, 1 50
415ft. plank on Walling bridge, 7 47
$2,489 72
Amounts expended in the following months in the several sections.
Month of April,
$495 10
May,
599 50
Month of June,
732 85
August,
62 79
September,
60 75
October,
378 62
November, 114 70
December,
27 96
February,
17 45
Total,
$2,489 72
Machines, supplies and tools on hand.
1 Champion mach- 245 00 ine, new,
1 Old machine, 75 00
1 Long
edge
for
Champion,
8 00
2 Short
edge
for
Champion,
3 00
2 Edges for Pennock machine, 6 00
12 Picks and mattocks, 6 00
5 Stone pickers, 2 00 Snow shovels, 3 00
2 Steel bars.
3 00
1 Sledge, 2 50
1 Long chain,
2 25
16 Spades, 5 00
2 Rakes, 1 00
1 Side scraper, 1 00
1 Swivel plow, 5 00
1 Post spade, 50
$368 25
The following prices were paid for help and labor :
Superintendent, 20 cts. per hour. 5
Superintendent's Horse,
Man, 15
Boy under 17 years of age, -
071/2
Horse aud cart, -
121/2
38
2 horses and coal cart, 2212 cts. per hour. 30
2 horses on large scraper,
Oxen, cart and plow, 20
10 full hours to constitute a day's work.
In concluding I would say that there has been 87 small culverts through and across the roads reset and cleared out. Three large wooden covered bridges, one reset, and the three covered with stone, and one bridge covered with plank, one large bridge at Peter Germain's entirely taken out and filled up and three other bridges lengthened out.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN M. RAWSON, Superintendent.
The following is a Supplementary Report on railing danger- ous places on the town roads and bridges, in miscellaneous items.
Post.
Rails.
Feet.
Chase's bridge,
4
2
60
Buffum bridge,
16
6
128
Davis bridge,
7
3
68
Howe street,
38
17
382
Lower village,
6
11
347
River street,
33
13
393
Manchaug street,
15
8
165
Depot street,
60
28
721
Centerville bridge,
17
7
210
Titus hollow,
8
4
118
Titus bend,
8
3
90
Titus bridge,
5
2
60
Richardsons bend,
6
3
90
Brown bridge,
10
4
118
Esten bridge,
9
5
139
Fairfield bridge,
4
120
Wallis pond,
36
24
517
Wallis Flat,
26
10
300
Thompson bridge,
4
2
56
Total,
308
156
4,076
39
Expenses of Material, and Labor is as follows :
Mrs. M. F. Aldrich, 108 posts @ 4 cts. $4 32
M. F. Aldrich, 42 poles, 878 ft. @@ 1/2ct. 4 39
J. M. Parker, 166 posts @ 4 cts. 6 64
67 poles, 1795 ft. @ 12ct. labor,
8 98
75
Daniel Buffum, 4 posts @ 4 cts.
16
4 poles, 120 ft. @ 12ct.
60
Geo. Roberts, 42 poles, 1277 ft. @ 1/2ct.
5 95
V. M. Aldrich, 140 lbs. spikes, 104 lbs. nails,
2 88
W. E. Hayward, 231 lbs. iron bands,
72
Iron for stone posts and nuts,
94
25 lbs. iron for posts,
75
Sitting posts and railing,
64 99
$109 45
6 38
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS.
FOR YEAR ENDING
MARCH 1, 1890.
PRESS OF CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, EAST DOUGLAS, MASS. 1890.
CITIZENS OF DOUGLAS :
We, the undersigned, acting school committee of the town of Douglas, for the year 1889, submit for your consideration and approval the following report of the condition and progress of our public schools for the past year.
Teachers for 1889-90.
H. J. CHASE,
EMMA J. PAYNE,
EMMA J. WILLIS,
NELLIE T. MAHONEY,
PATIENCE BRECK,
HATTIE G. ABBOTT,
EMMA FISK,
EVELYN E. SMITH,
MARGARET E. COLLINS, EDITH M. MARSH, ETTA H. JOHNSON,
MINNIE F. DARLING,
ADA E. BROWN,
K. LENA WIXTEAD,
MARY MCGILLICUDDY,
JENNIE C. LEVI,
ANNIE G. SCOLLARD. EDITH F. EATON,
ANNIE S. HAYWARD CLARA H. WALKER,
School Committee.
REV. JAMES WELLS,
JAMES WIXTEAD,
Term expires March 1, 1890 1890 1890
FRANCISCO BOWEN,
W. W. BROWN, 1891
E. B. KNAPP, 1891
CHAS. S. CASWELL,
1891
LEVI WHITE, M. D.,
1892
GEO. P. B. CLARKE,
1892
VERNON T. ESTEN,
1892
The above Committee met March 20, 1889, and organized as follows :
President,-E. B. KNAPP,
Clerk,-GEO. P. B. CLARKE,
W. W. BROWN,
Superintending Committee, - LEVI WHITE, M. D., CHAS. S. CASWELL.
Purchasing Agent,-JAS. WIXTEAD.
Truant Officer,-GEO. P. B. CLARKE.
a
Graduating Class, 1889.
Richard Henry Lawler, Edna D. Houghton, Maud Augusta Barry, Etta Hall Johnson,
Ralph Edward Aldrich, K. Helena Wixtead, Henrietta Brown, Euna Louise Buffington
Statistics.
Whole number of children in town May 1, 1889, between the ages of 5 and 15 years, 423
Whole number attending school during the year, of all ages, 400
Average daily attendance in all the schools, 304
Whole number attending school under 5 yrs. of age,
1
over 15 yrs. 29
between the ages of 8 and 14 years, 273
Aggregate of months all the schools have been kept during the year, 114
Average number of months the schools have been kept during the year,
819
Number of female teachers,
19
male teachers, 1
Average wages paid female teachers per month, $31 10
male teachers per month, 100 00
Expenses.
Appropriation for public schools by the
... town, March 1, 1889,
$4,500 00
Balance unexpended last year, 474 36
State School Fund,
166 06
Town School Fund, (interest),
56 48
Repairs and purchase of books,
600 00
Tuition fees,
82 00
New books on hand,
232 65
Rec'd for school books,
51 60-$6,163 15
Expense of Public Schools.
Teacher's wages for the year,
$4,153 00
Rent of High School Room,
100 00
Permanent repairs,
561 95
Truant Officer,
10 00
Care of rooms,
170 43
Purchasing agent,
25 00
School book,
373 10
Fuel, supplies, etc.,
297 22
Superintending committee,
99 99
School supplies, 126 58
Cost of schools for year 1889, $5,917 27
Balance unexpended March 1, 1890.
$245 88
1
7
HIGH SCHOOL.
Teacher,-H. J. CHASE.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
13
11
13
Wages per week,
$25
$25
$25
Whole number of scholars,
27
27
29
Average attendance,
24
26
23
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Teacher,-PATIENCE BRECK.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$10
$10
$10
Whole number of scholars,
33
20
20
Average attendance,
30
17
17
SCHOOL No. 1.
Teachers S JENNIE C. LEVI, Spring and Fall, ANNIE G. SCOLLARD, Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks.
12
12
12
Wages per week,
$9
$9
$9
Whole number of scholars,
43
41
36
Average attendance,
31
29
25
SCHOOL No. 2.
Teacher,-ADA E. BROWN.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
12
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
S
11
11
Average attendance,
8
9
9
8
SCHOOL No. 3.
Teacher,-EMMA J. PAINE.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages .per week,
$7
$7
$8
Whole number of scholars,
42
45
41
Average attendance,
37
34
30
SCHOOL No. 4.
Teachers MARY MCGILLICUDDY, Spring, EDITH F. EATON, Fall and Winter.
SPRING.
FALL
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
12
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
15
16
18
Average attendance,
11
13
12
.
SCHOOL No. 5.
Teacher,-MINNIE DARLING.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER®
Length of school in weeks,
12
12
9
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
8
7
8
Average attendance,
7
6
7
SCHOOL No. 7.
Teachers NELLIE T. MAHONEY, Spring, ETTA H. JOHNSON, Fall and Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
12
15
15
Average attendance,
11
13
1
11
9
SCHOOL No. 8.
EVELYN E. SMITH, Spring, Teachers - HATTIE G. ABBOTT, Fall, K. LENA WIXTEAD, Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
10
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
12
9
9
Average attendance,
11
8
7
SCHOOL No. 9.
PRIMARY.
Teacher,-ANNIE S. HAYWARD.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$8
Whole number of scholars,
49
47
42
Average attendance,
42
33
27
INTERMEDIATE.
Teacher,-EMMA F. FISK,
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$81/2
Whole number of scholars,
36
27
36
Average attendance,
29
23
28
10
SCHOOL No. 10.
PRIMARY.
Teachers, ( EMMA J. WILLIS, Spring, CLARA H. WALKER, Fall and Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$8
Whole number of scholars,
30
34
23
Average attendance,
27
17
14
INTERMEDIATES.
Teachers 5 EDITH M. MARSH, Spring, MARGARET E. COLLINS, Fall and Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$81/2
Whole number of scholars,
25
26
22
Average attendance,
22
22
17
Report of the Truant Officer.
TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL BOARD.
Gentlemen : - In submitting my report, I do so with the feelings of a duty not performed as it should be. In the first place, the education of children is of far greater importance, in my opinion, than a great number of our town's people seem to recognize, and the effect is the allowing of children to remain out of school when there is no need of it and the consequent calling of an officer by the teachers. The laws, properly ; en- forced would rectify all this, but the pecuniary recompense is not sufficient to the officer, if he does his duty, and there is į no truant school to send transgressors to, as has been the case this past year.
I have made numerous visits to factories as required, and found a very great disposition on part of Superintendents to have none but those eligible at work for them.
I have in performance of my duties, looked after forty-seven truants.
Very Respectfully,
GEO. P. B. CLARKE, Truant Officer.
GENERAL REMARKS.
As soon as the present board of committee were elected, and before commencing work for the year, action was taken on the suggestion of their predecessors concerning improvements, re- pairs etc., and the following changes have resulted : The school house at the Center has been remodeled and reseated, and is now, without question, the best in the town. At District No. 5, the building has been shingled and painted, also reseated. A substantial wall, surmounted by an iron railing, in front of No. 3, adds both to the attractiveness of the property and the appear- ance of the street. Bookcases and unabridged dictionaries, both long felt wants, have been placed in every school-room not before supplied. These improvements have put the school property in such good condition generally, that but little outlay can be needed to keep it in repair for some time.
At the last March meeting of the town, the vote passed that Douglas unite with some other town for the purpose of supervis- ion, providing the committee could make arrangements. Uxbridge having also voted to unite, and with Douglas, a joint commit- tee from the two towns was held at Uxbridge and an organiza- tion effected. But such hindrance was interposed by legal ob- jections advanced by one of the Uxbridge board that Messrs. Brown of Douglas and Williams of Uxbridge were delegated to Boston to consult the Attorney General. His decision that Douglas was at fault on account of no special appropriation in the warrant, made it necessary to call a special town-meeting. The name of the town to be united with was inserted in the article of the warrant, and an appropriation made for the union. Following this, was another meeting of the committee, at which the same member as before presented so many more objections, all legal, that after much discussion it was deemed best to dis- solve, and so voted. Thus the best move ever attempted by the committee for the improvement of our schools was thwarted.
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Perhaps a few remarks on the attendance of our pupils may be of interest. This subject has often been considered by for- mer committees, but on account of its importance should be constantly kept before the parent's mind. Irregular attendance not only works loss to the individual, but every member of the school is more or less affected by it. A class. progressing surely and steadily. cannot be held back, waiting for absent members, and these absentees must lose in a great measure the advancement made while they were away.
Sickness, caused by the unhealthfulness of the winter, has kept many pupils from school during the past term and lowercd the standard of our registers, which otherwise will compare favorably with past records and with the records of other towns.
'The persistant work of the truant officer, in union with the teacher, has kept at school many children otherwise willfully or unnecessarily absent.
School attendance, as defined by the public statutes, is so often misunderstood or disregarded that it may be well to print a few extracts.
Chap. 47. Sec. 1. "Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years of age shall annually cause such child to attend, for at least twenty weeks, some public day school in the city or town in which he re- sides ; which term shall be divided so far as the arrangement of school terms will allow, into two terms each of ten consecutive weeks. No child under thirteen years of age shall be employed at any time in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment. * * *
* During the hours when the public schools are in session, or shall be employed in any manner during such hours, unless during the year preceding such em- ployment he has attended school for at least twenty weeks as required by law."
Or, in other words, no one can employ a child during school session between the ages of thirteen and sixteen, unless he pro- cures and keeps on file a properly filled certificate signed by the superintendent of schools.
If these laws are carefully obeyed and if the teacher has, with other helps, the support of the parents, our schools cannot fail to educate the children, mentally and morally, and fit them for intelligent, upright citizens in the future.
The committee, recognizing the desire of a majority of the tax payers to use the town's money as economically as possible, that the tax rate may not be largely increased, recommend the following appropriations for the coming year, being confiden
14
the same will be adequate to meet all expenses of the schools though $600 less than was appropriated last year.
Common Schools, $3,000 00
High School, 1,000 00
School Books and Repairs, 500 00
$4,500 00
All of which is respectfully submitted. CHAS. S. CASWELL, LEVI WHITE, M. D. Supt. W. W. BROWN,
Committee.
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