USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1892 > Part 2
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Accrued Int. Prin.
8 00
400 00
10 93
200 00
$823 78 $16,283 00
Notes due the town March 1, 1892, Accrued interest,
$16,283 00
823 78
Cash in hands of Agent,
2,436 32
Value of Devise, March 1, 1892,
$19,543 10
Net gain for the year,
717 29
Respectfully submitted,
AARON F. JONES, Agent.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT
ON THE
Expenditures on Roads and Bridges
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING MARCH 1. 1892.
The following prices have been paid for labor :
Superintendent. 20 cts per hour. 5
Superintendent's horse.
Man. 15
Boys, 712 to 10
1 horse and cart.
121%
2 horses and cart,
20
1 pair oxen and cart.
18
4 horses on road machine,
60
Driver on road machine. 20
James Peters, 61h. $9 15
James Peters, driving on
road machine. 47h. 9 40
James Peters, 2 horses on
Lewis Stockwell. 153h. 22 95 cart. 13h. 2 60
James Peters, 2 horses on
road machine. 17h. 5 10
James Peters, 3 horses on road machine. 30h. $13 50
Urban I. Peters, 112h. 16 75
Peter Roberts, 8h. 1 20
J. A. Richardson, 5h.
J. A. Richardson. 2 horses
29
on cart 5h. 1 00
William Buxton, 9h. 1 35
Major Benson. 5h. 75
Fred Lindburg, 5h. 75
Myron Titns. 4h.
60
Loren Stockwell. 72h. 10 80
on road machine, 41h. 11 20
Loren Stockwell. 2 horses
on cart, 76h. 15 20
Andrew Roberts, 145h. 21 75
Andrew Roberts, 2 horses on road machine, 22h. 5 50
Andrew Roberts, 2 horses on cart, 5h. 1 00
Napoleon Roberts, 75h. 11 25
Fred Casey. 65h. 9 75
Bell, 39h. 5 85
George Belavance, 22h. : 30
James K. Peters, 24h. 3 60 W. S. Jillson. 65h. 9 75
Charles Dudley. 613h. 9 23 W. S. Jillson. 2 horses and cart 20h. 4 00
Perry Bryant, 20h.
3 00
Nelson Roberts, 44h.
6 60
Joseph Bell, 20h. 3 00
A. J. Dudley, 10h. 1 50
A. J. Dudley, 2 horses on
cart, 10h.
2 00
A. J. Dudley, 2 horses on road machine 25h. 7 50
Jesse Thompson. 105h.
15 75
Frank Mills, 50h.
7 50
Wheaton Brown. 135h.
20 25
George Brown. 631h. 9 53
George Brown. 1 horse and cart 40h. 5 00
E. C. Parker. 170h. 25 50
E. C. Parker. 1 horse and (art. 25h. 3 12!
E. C. Parker, 2 horses and cart 102h. 20 40
E. C. Parker. 2 horses on
road machine 45h. 13 50
E. C. Parker. 3 horses on road machine 5h. 2 25
Chas. Lawrence. 10h. 1 50
Joseph Arnokl. 39h. 5 85
George Bent. 192h. 28 80
Joseph Mills, 10h. 1 50
George Roberts. 40h. 6 00
George Roberts, 1 horse and cart 40h. 5 00
Reynolds 10h. 1 50
Walter Buxton, 25h. 1 871
Wm. Peake, 10h. 1 50
Jack Brown, 5h. 75
C'handler Titus, 25h. 3 75
Chandler Titus, 1 horse and cart 5h. 62
Loren Stockwell. 2 horses W. Il. Parker, 48h. 7 20
W. H. Parker, 2 horses and cart 62h. 12 40
A. E. Chapman. 21h. : 15
N. G. Dudley. 150gh. 22 59 N. G. Dudley, 1 horse and cart 201h. 2 56
W. L. Church, 89h. 13 35
W. L. Church. 2 horses on cart 35h. 7 00
W. L. Church, 1 pair oxen. 5h. 90
Frank Wellman. 5h. 75
Osear Wade. 59h. 8 85
Edward Balcome, 37h. 5 55
Jason Wade, 15h. 2 20
G. C. Dudley, driving on road machine 80h. 16 00
G. C. Dudley, 4 horses on road machine 30h. 18 00
G. C. Dudley, 2 horses on road machine 20h. 6 00
G. C. Dudley. 1 horse on road machine 5h.
G. C. Dudley. 20h. 3 00
G. C. Dudley. 2 horses and cart 20h. 4 00
I. D. Wallis. 182h. 27 30
G. Balcome, 30h. 4 50
(. J. Peters. 48h. 7 20 George M. Wallis. 5h. 75
(i. H. Dudley. 51h. 7 65
W. W. Brown. 115h. 17 25
P. A. Dudley. 29h. 4 35
Henry Brown. 1571h. 23 62
Henry Brown. 1 horse and
cart 79h.
9 88
R. M. Brown. 2h. 15
II. Brown. 38h. 5 70
F. Peterplace. 10h.
1 50
Peter JJarvis. 10h.
1 50
Peter Jarvis, driving road
W. S. Jillson, 2 horses on road machine 25h. 7 50
30
machine 20h. 4 00
Peter Jarvis. 2 horses on road
machine 20h. 6 00
J. Bates. 10h. 1 50
Wm. Peters, 10h.
1 50
E. Parker. 10h.
1 50
O. F. Chase. 90h. 13 50
O. F. Chase. 1 pair oxen. and cart 30h. 5 40
O. F. Chase. 2 horses and cart 43h. 8 60
II. A. Walker. 983h. 14 77
II. A. Walker. 1 pair oxen and cart 773h. 13 98
Suel Chase. 40h.
6 00
W. Southwick, 721h.
10 87
W. Southwick. 1 horse and cart 5h.
Myron B. Chase. 89h. 13 35
Orson Chase. 59h. 8 22
Robert Lunn. 80h. 12 00
Henry Chase, 49h.
35
(. F. Russell. 20h.
3 00
Edrastus Chase. 91h. 13 65
Pliny Richardson. 10h. 1 50
Elisha Thompson. 27h. 4 05
George Jefferson. 5h.
75
Ed. Jefferson. 5h.
Augustus Morse, 4h. 60
Chas. Fisher. 20h.
3 00
L. Taft. 27h. 4 05
I. Taft. 1 pair oxen. and cart 27h. 4 86
H. Mowry, 20h. 3 00
1. Taft, 1 horse and cart 23h. 2 87
S. Hindon. 20h. 3 00
J. B. Sweet. 1423h. 21 371
J. B. Sweet. 1 horse and cart 104h. 12 99
J. B. Sweet. 2 horses and
cart 289h. 57 80
J. B. Sweet. 4 horses on road machine 59h. 35 40
Geo. Morarty. 201h.
3 08
James Quinn. 49h.
7 85
Eugene Blair. 661h.
9 97
J. R. Hughes, 75h.
11 25
Geo. Seymore. 70h.
10 50
Geo. Seymore, 1 horse and
cart 40h.
5 00
James Wixtead. 7h.
1 05
S. Mowry, 70h.
10 50
J. B. Paine, driving on road machine 59h. 11 80
E. Gouette, 50h.
7 50
II. A. Atwood. 5h. 75
Peter Scott, 60h. 0 00
John Goff, 5h. 75
Arthur JJones. driving on road machine 4h. 80
Arthur Jones. 4 horses on road machine 84h. 50 40
Orrin Ballou, driving road machine 80h. 16 00
Sam Landry, 30h. 4 50
Nelson Lizzott. 150h.
22 50
Napoleon Morse, 10h. 1 50
Lewis Dufo. 65h. 9 75
Ranfret. 17h. 2 55
Ranfret. 1 horse and cart
10h.
1 25
F. R. Caswell. 841. 12 60
J. Lawrence. 50h.
7 50
E. B. Paine. 1251h. 18 82!
Frank Allen. 88h.
13 20
Dennis Murray, 80h. 12 00
A. F. Jones. 1 horse and cart 245h. 30 62
.Otis King. 125h.
18 75
Phillip Muir. 80h.
12 00
Harry Lnnn. 40h. 4 00
Wilson Emerson. 9h.
1 35
L. A. Buffum, 897h. 179 40
I .. A. Buffum. 1 horse and
buggy 231h.
11 55
Willard Whipple. 142h.
20 55
Willard Whipple. 1 horse
and cart 57h.
7 11
J. W. Smith, 113h.
16 95
J. W. Smith. 1 pair oxen
and cart 74h.
13 32
M. B. Hathaway, 2801h.
42 07
John P. Otis. 18h.
2 70
Fielder Converse. 673h.
10 17
Fielder Converse. 1 horse and cart 433h. 5 47
('aleb Hill. 150h.
22 50
Oliver Quivillion. 120h.
18 00
C. S. Caswell. 2 horses and
cart 8h.
1 60
S. P. Rawson, 40h.
6 00
S. P. Rawson. 2 horses and
cart 40h.
8 00
Labelle. 10h.
1 50
31
W. E. Hayward, 35h. 5 25
W. E. Hayward. 2 horses and cart 35h. 7 00
Hugh Johnson. 6h. 90
Wm. Clark, 15h. 2 25
John Brien. 17h.
2 55
Robert Hannant. 24h.
3 60
Win. Pillion, 60h. 9 00
Lewis Departer. 6h. 90)
Lewis Departer. 1 horse and
cart 6h.
75
W'm. Jones. 7h. 1 05
T. Morse, 20h. 3 00
E. T. Thayer, 60h. 9 00
E. T. Thayer. 2 horses and cart 140h. 28 00
Henry Laflim, 10h.
I. M. Ilannant, 40h. 6 00
AAlbert Bellare. 25h. 3 75
American Axe and Tool Co. 2 horses and cart 4h. 80
American Axe and Tool Co.
1 horse and eart 3h. 37
Will Sanborn, 4h. 60
Joe Hughes, 3h. 45
H. C. Johnson. 50h. 7 50
Michael Martin. 3h. 45
Michæl McCormick. 40h. 4 00
E. G. Paine. 10h.
1 50
W. S. Reynolds, 8h.
1 20
John Chollar.52 loads gravel 2 60 W. E. Hayward. 70 lbs. band iron. 60
James Peters, 300 ft. railing. 3 00
James Peters, powder and fuse. 85
N. G. Dudley, sharpening drills. 55
N. G. Dudley. powder. fuse, and caps. 1 30
W. L. Church. 48 posts. 7
cts. a piece,
3 36
W. L. Church. 975 ft. rail-
ing. 9 75
HI. D. Wallis. posts and slabs. 25
II. D. Wallis. 25 loads gravel. 1 00
Reynolds. 18 loads gravel,
Sarah Smith 33 loads gravel 1 32 Chandler Titus. 20 loads gravel. 1 00
W. Southwick. 4 posts and 36 ft. railing. 34
Geo. A. Gleason, sharpen- ing picks. 80
Geo. A. Gleason. repairing road machine. 3 15
Ballon and Steere. 1666 ft. of 3 in. plank. 33 32
Ballon & Steere. 317 ft. of sleepers, 6 34
J. B. Sweet, housing 2 road machines. 7 00
J. B. Sweet. 526 ft. 2 in. plank. 9 46
V. M. Aldrich, 39 lbs. spik- es. 1 25
V. M. Aldrich, 14 lbs. nails. 66
W. E. Jones. 8 lbs. spikes. 28
W. E. Jones, bolts. wrench. and 2 lbs. nails. 65
Win. Nichols, 50 ft. railing. 50
A. J. Thayer. 311 loads gravel. 15 55
L. A. Buffum, 313 loads of gravel, 15 65
Suel Logee. repairing road machine and 20 railing irons. 6 90
L. A. Buffum. 14 posts 7 ets. apiece. 08
A. F. Jones. 14 loads gravel 70
$1,893 98
Cost of making Snow Roads. For the Year Ending March 1, 1892.
James Peters, 12h. 1 80 W. S. Jillson. 2 horses 8h. 1 60
James Peters. 2 horses 9h. 1 80 HI. I). Wallis, 16h. 2 40
(). J. Peters, 12h. 1 80 HI. A. Walker. 17h. 2 55
l'. I. Peters, 4h. 60 11. A. Walker, 1 pair oxen
W. S. Jillson. 8h.
1 20
17h, 2 90
32
W. Southwick, 10h. 1 50
Alexander Riche, 4h. 60
Pliny Richardson, 8h.
1 20
Peter Roberts, 4h. 60
J. W. Smith, 6h. 90
James Murphy, 4h. 60
J. W. Smith, 4 oxen 6h.
2 16
W. H. Wellman, 3h.
45
Win. Jones, 3h. 45
$50 04
N. G. Dudley, 193h. 2 95
Road tools on hand March 1. 1892.
2 road machines. $300 00
W. L. Church, 2 horses 10h. 2 00
3 bush scrapers. 20 00
Oscar Wade, 12h.
1 80
2 side scrapers. 1 00
Jason Wade, 12h.
1 80
1 swivel plow. 6 00
O. F. Chase. 7h.
1 05
1 long chain.
2 25
O. F. Chase, oxen 3h. 521
1 stone sledge,
2 50
Sewell Chase, 10h.
1 50
1 hoe, 25
Sewell Chase, oxen 41h.
781
2 steel bars. 3 00
Henry Chase, 8h.
1 20
2 iron rakes.
50
llenry Chase, oxen 2h.
35
5 stone pickers,
1 00
Alphonso Chase, 5h.
75
5 snow shovels.
: 00
Edrastus Chase, 8h.
1 20
18 spades. 13 picks,
3 00
Elisha Thompson. 7h.
1 05
6 00
Gilbert Riche. 4h.
60
1 post spade,
50
Gilbert Riche. 2 horses 4h.
80
$349 00
('has. Dudley, 23h.
40
Perry Bryant, 1h. 15
N. G. Dudley, horse 3 }h. 40
W. L. Church. 12h. 1 80
Peter Jarvis, 251h. 3 82
L. A. BUFFUM, Superintendent.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Report of the Treasurer.
1891.
DR.
Mar. 1.
To cash in hands of town treasurer to the credit of library., $289 18
June 12. Rec'd for fines and catalogues sold, .. .. ..
2 05
Sept. 5.
3 12
Nov. 28. .. 'Thanksgiving night entertain- ment for benefit of library, 142 00
Dec. 15.
for fines and catalogues sold, 2 93
6. Dog fund, 291 31
1892.
Feb. 29.
.. for fines and catalogues sold, 1 65
two years' interest on Orison Hewett mortgage, 12 00
$744 24
CR.
1891.
Apr. 1. By paid W. R. Wallis, lumber for $16 32 shelves and counters, Joseph Bowen, putting in shelves and counters. 16 90
cleaning libraries. 2 50
.. moving library, 6 19
moving and blacking stove, 1 00
34
Apr. 1. By paid iron railing around stove.
$2 42
.. curtains, 1 60
May
. .
A. F. Jones, five lots wood.
19.
Estes & Lauriat, books,
41 24
.. express on Public Docs.
60
23.
.. J. C. Hammond, insurance,
10 00
June 12.
..
numbering and cataloguing, 2 00
July 1.
..
three months' rent,
25 00
Sept. 5.
..
Mrs. A. L. Buffington, librarian,
12 50
Oct. 1.
three months' rent.
25 00
..
two hanging lamps.
6 00
Dec. 15. ..
Mrs. A. L. Buffington, librarian,
12 50
1891.
..
three months' rent.
25 00
Feb. 10.
..
Estes & Lauriat, books.
143 31
..
Belch Bros., books,
40 00
..
freight and express on books,
1 65
..
Addendas to catalogue,
4 25
28.
..
Mrs. A. L. Buffington, librarian,
12 50
..
numbering and cataloguing.
1 50
two months' rent.
16 67
66
three expresses on Pub. Doc. 90
$445 27
Cash with Town Treasurer.
298 97
$744 24
On April 1, the library was moved into commodious rooms in C'entral block. The change was necessitated by the imperative demand for more room for the library, and for a location more central and easy of access. The two rooms were rented at $100 a year, with the free use of C'entral hall for an annual entertainment for the benefit of the library. The course of the trustees in this matter has met with the hearty approval of the numerous patrons of the library, and the large increase in the number of books taken out the past year, and the generous patronage given the entertainment on Thanksgiving evening, (clearing $142 for the library) speak in unmistakable terms of the wisdom of their doings.
C. J. BATCHELLER, Treasurer,
Jan. 1.
Mrs. A. L. Buffington, librarian,
12 50
35
Report of Librarian,
Whole number of books in library,
2,023
Number issued during the year.
6,930
Average number issued per week.
144+
Amount of fines for the year.
$8 51
Balance of fines Mar. 1. 1891.
14 17
$22 68
Amount collected for fines.
8 65
Rec'd from sale of catalogues.
1 10
Paid to Treasurer.
$9 75
Amount collected for fines.
8 65
Balance due Mar. 1. 1892.
$14 03
MRS. A. L. BUFFINGTON, Librarian.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
Births.
Whole number,
14
males,
24
females,
20
14
foreign parentage,
-
20
mixed parentage, -
-
8
American parentage,
-
16-
41
Marriages,
Whole number,
27
Foreign birth,
13
American birth,
14-
27
Resident in Douglas,
12
Resident elsewhere,
-
12-
54
First marriage,
41
Second marriage,
12
Third marriage,
1- 54
Deaths.
Whole number,
52
males,
29
females,
23
52
foreign birth,
-
4
American birth,
48-
52
-
-
-
-
-
-
.
37
Number under 1 year,
14
between 1 and 5,
2
5
10,
1
10
20,
2
20
30,
2
30
40,
2
40
50,
8
50
60,
3
60
70,
5
70
80,
5
80
90,
-
7
Over
90,
1-
52
Dogs Registered.
Whole number,
- 170
Males.
160 (@ $2.00
$320 00
Females,
10 @ 5.00
-
- 50 00- $370 00
FRANCISCO BOWEN, Town Clerk.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS,
FOR YEAR ENDING
MARCH 1, 1892.
PRESS OF CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, EAST DOUGLAS, MASS. 1892.
School Committee.
LEVI WHITE,
Term expires March 1, 1892 1892
GEO. P. B. CLARK,
VERNON T. ESTEN, 1892
REV. JAMES WELLS, (deceased), 1893
A. J. THAYER, 1893
FRANCISCO BOWEN, 1893
STILLMAN RUSSELL, 1894
B. W. ALDRICH, (deceased). 1894
H. O. LAMSON, 1894
The above Committee met March, 1891, and organized as follows :
President,-A. J. THAYER, Clerk .- GEO. P. B. CLAAK.
( B. W. ALDRICH,
Superintending Committee, ~ S. RUSSELL, ( V. T. ESTEN.
Purchasing Agent,-S. RUSSELL, Truant Officer,-GEO. P. B. CLARKE,
Teachers for 1891-2.
CHAS. T. EATON,
EDITH F. LYMON.
EMMA J. PAINE,
PATIENCE BRECK,
EMMA FISK,
MINNIE F. DARLING,
ADA E. BROWN,
SARAH G. ALLEN,
NELLIE E. BERKET, EUNICE E. HADLEY,
LILLIAN G. LINCOLN,
DORA S. RUSSELL,
MARIA HAWES,
F. P. ROUELL,
MARGARET E. COLLINS, ETTA H. JOHNSON, K. LENA WIXTEAD, EMILY W. CHAMBERLIN, EDITH M. ABBOTT,
SUSIE A. AREY.
Statistics.
Whole number of children in town May 1, 1891, between the ages of 5 and 15 years. 392
Whole number attending school during the year, of all ages. 420
Average daily attendance in all the schools.
263
Whole number attending school under 5 yrs. of age,
4
over 15 yrs.
28
between the ages of 8 and 14 years, 236
Aggregate of months all the schools have been kept during the year,
11334
Average number of months the schools have been kept during the year.
83/4
Number of female teachers,
19
male teachers. 1
Average wages paid female teachers per month, $33 50
male teachers per month. 80 00
Appropriations.
Appropriation for public schools by the town, March 1, 1891. $4,400 00
Repairs of school houses, 200 00
School books and supplies.
500 00
Superintendent, 300 00
State school fund, 184 56
Town school fund, (interest),
56 48
Received for school books,
5 25
New books on hand,
209 26
Balance unexpended last year,
203 32
Received from State for Union District,
108 50-$6,467 37
Expense of Public Schools.
Teachers wages for the year,
$4,088 50
Rent of High School Room,
100 00
Permanent repairs,
331 69
Truant officer,
10 00
Care of rooms,
147 65
Purchasing agent,
25 00
School books and supplies,
448 23
Fuel,
144 03
Transporting pupils,
61 25
Paid Superintendent,
500 00
Taking school census,
5 00
Balance unexpended March 1, 1892,
606 02-$6, 167 37
5
HIGH SCHOOL. Teacher, CHAS. T. EATON.
SPRING.
FALL. 13
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
13
13
Wages per week,
$21.25
$20
$20
Whole number of scholars,
20
29
29
Average attendance,
18
28
27
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
PATIENCE BRECK, Spring and Fall, Teachers, - SARAH G ALLEN, Winter, 4 weeks, LILLIAN G. LINCOLN, Winter, 8 weeks.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER. 12
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
Wages per week,
$10
$10
$10
Whole number of scholars.
31
50
17
Average attendance.
27
14
32
SCHOOL NO. 1.
DORA S. RUSSELL, Spring, Teachers, LILLIAN G. LINCOLN, Fall and 4 weeks of Winter. F. P. ROUELL, 8 weeks of Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$9
$9
$9
Whole number of scholars.
25
24
21
Average attendance,
21
19
16
SCHOOL No. 2.
Teacher,-ADA E. BROWN.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
14
10
11
Average attendance,
9
8
6
6
SCHOOL No. 3.
Teacher, -EMMA J. PAINE.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks.
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$8
Whole number of scholars,
43
35
40
Average attendance,
34
32
34
SCHOOL No. 4.
Teacher, ( EDITH F. LYMON, Spring and Fall. NELLIE F. BERKET, Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks.
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
15
12
11
Average attendance,
11
11
10
SCHOOL No. 5.
MINNIE DARLING, Spring and Fall. 'Teachers, > EVVIE PETERS, Winter.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
8
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
7
6
Average attendance,
5
5
5
SCHOOL No. 7.
Teacher,-ETTA H. JOHNSON.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
18
18
14
Average attendance,
14
12
11
7
SCHOOL No. 8.
Teacher,-K. LENA WIXTEAD.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
13
11
10
Average attendance,
9
8
SCHOOL No. 9.
PRIMARY.
Teacher,-EDITH M. ABBOTT.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$8
Whole number of scholars.
56
56
62
Average attendance,
40
47
39
INTERMEDIATE.
Teachers. ( EMMA F. FISK, Spring, EUNICE HADLEY, Fall and Winter.
SPRING.
. FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks.
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$83
9
9
Whole number of scholars,
32
32
39
Average attendance.
25
30
29
SCHOOL No. 10.
Teachers, SEMILY W. CHAMBERLIN, Spring, MARIA HAWES, Fall and Winter.
SPRING.
FALL ..
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$8
Whole number of scholars,
43
33
36
Average attendance,
24
18
20
8
INTERMEDIATE.
Teachers, MARGARET E. COLLINS, 2 weeks of Spring, SUSIE A. AREY, Remainder of Year.
SPRING.
FALL.
WINTER.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8}
$83
$8₺
Whole number of scholars.
24
21
17
Average attendance,
22
18
13
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1892.
To THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit the annual re- port of the condition of the schools for the year ending March, 1892.
Although there have been many changes of teachers during the year, yet the progress made by the schools. with but very few exceptions, has been more satisfactory than the previous year.
Changes of Teachers,
At the close of the fall term, Miss Breck tendered her resig- nation to accept a different position in another part of the state. Miss Breck was one of the most successful teachers, having been principal of the Grammar school six or seven years. She has done faithful and excellent service, and will long be remembered, honored and esteemed by her many pupils, the parents and committee. It is seldom a teacher closes her career with so much respect and regard. It was
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her fortune to have lived in pleasant relations with her pupils and with the parents. I regretted very much that the school was to be deprived of her efficient and conscientious labors, the results of which were so plainly visible. The teacher elected to the vacancy remained until the Christmas holidays. Miss Lincoln was transferred to the school from No. 1, where she was very popular with her pupils and doing excellent work. Under her management the school is constantly improving and she is striving earnestly to bring it back into its good condition. There is no reason why it should not be as orderly, quiet and studious as before, and if it continues to make the same ad- vancement as in the last few weeks, it will soon become so.
The vacancy in No. 1, was filled by Miss Rowell of Merri- mac. I am very much pleased with her work in this school. Miss Nellie Burkett succeeded Mrs. Lymon in No. 4. and Miss Darling resigned her position at Wallum Pond to accept a more preferable one in Rhode Island. The winter term of seven weeks was taught by Miss Peters. In No. 9, Intermediate, Mrs. Hadley, an experienced and successful teacher, was elect- ed at the commencement of the fall term. Miss Arey succeed- ed Miss Collins in No. 10, Intermediate, and Miss Hawes ac- cepted the position in the Primary, made vacant by the resig- nation of Miss Chamberlin.
Schools and Teachers.
There are thirteen schools in the town, viz :- High. Gram- mar, two Intermediate, three Primary and six mixed or ungraded.
HIGH .- The High school has been in session thirty-nine weeks and under the same instructor as last year, Mr. Chas. T. Eaton. The number registered during the year is thirty-seven. Two having completed the three years' course and not being able to remain another year received their diplomas, while two have dropped from the school, leaving the number on the register thirty-three.
GRAMMAR .- The resignation of Miss Breck was a heavy loss to this school It was therefore, with no little anxiety that we saw it enter upon the winter term. If Miss Lincoln had been called to the school at the commencement of the term, I think but little interruption would have occurred. However, I am confident that under her management and instruction it will soon regain its former standing.
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INTERMEDIATE .- The two intermediate schools have been taught by Mrs. Hadley and Miss Arey. The progress made has been satisfactory.
PRIMARY .- The importance of our Primary schools over all others arises from two facts :- First, that more than one-half of all the scholars are in these schools: Second, that the im- pressions made at this period affect most essentially all their subsequent school life. The qualifications of Primary school teachers are, therefore, of the utmost importance. Of the teachers now employed. it may be fairly said, that their labors have met the approval of parents, committee and superintend- ent.
UNGRADED .- The ungraded schools generally have been doing very well. Some have done more and better than others. Some of the teachers have more experience and work more diligently. and devote themselves more fully to their work.
TEACHERS .-- There is a wide difference between teaching school and keeping school. Teaching is as much a trade or profession as any other employment. and has as many failures. As there are hundreds who can never become skilled mechan- ics, lawyers and doctors. so there are hundreds who will never be successful teachers. The assertion that every scholar that passes through the high school is competent to teach, is as silly as it is absurd. There are many other qualities besides the high school training that go to make up the successful teacher. I think most of the teachers in our town have ren- dered good service the past year. They have read more on the subject of teaching, have taken some educational publica- tion, and have thus informed themselves more thoroughly on such work as would enable them to be more competent and successful.
School Houses and Ventilation.
I desire again, respectfully, to call your attention to the needs of better school accommodations. and I hope the town will take some favorable action towards the erection of a new school building. The number of pupils in the primary grades of Nos. 3 and 9, is often greater than the number of desks ---- the extra pupils occupying the settees along the sides of the room all the available space for desks has been used. The rooms are too small for the number of pupils. No. 9 has seats
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with desks for forty-two pupils, while the number registered is fifty-five.
Crowded together as they are, is not only a source of great inconvenience to teachers and scholars, but detrimental to the health of the children, and retards the progress of the school. The citizens must bear in mind that intellectual training is not all of an education. The health of the pupils is very important, and scholars in poorly arranged and poorly ventilated rooms, have not enough vitality to attain a high grade of scholarship. The headaches and listlessness of the pupils and the nervous exhaustion of the teachers are due to the poorly ventilated school rooms. If these rooms were visited by the state in- spectors of public buildings, they would be condemned as not being properly ventilated. As the subject of ventilation has at -. tracted considerable attention throughout the state the past year, and many cities and towns have been obliged to make large appropriations to meet the requirements of the law. per- haps it would be well to state several sections of the Act. which was approved Mar. 20. 1888.
SECTION 2. Every public building and every school house shall be ventilated in such a proper manner that the air shall not become so exhausted as to be injurious to the health of the persons present therein. The provisions of this section and the preceding section shall be enforced by the inspection de- partment of the district police force.
SEC. 3. Whenever it shall appear to an inspector of factories and public buildings, that further or different sanitary provis- ions or means of ventilation are required in any public building or school house in order to conform to the requirements of this Act, and that the same can be provided without incurring un- reasonable expense, such inspector may issue a written order to the proper person or authority, directing such sanitary pro- visions or means of ventilation to be provided. and they shall thereupon be provided in accordance with such order by the public authority, corporation or person having charge of. owning or leasing such public building or school house.
SEC. 4. Any school committee, public officer, corporation or person neglecting for four weeks after the receipt of an order from an inspector as provided in the preceding section to provide the sanitary provisions or means of ventilation re- quired thereby shall be punished by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.
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I think the inspectors claim that two hundred and fifty cubic feet of air space per pupil is considered a fair allowance and two hundred feet the minimum. The room in No. 9, would allow about one hundred and eleven cubic feet per pu- pil, and in No. 3. one hundred and fourteen cubic feet.
Attendance.
During the winter term, the unusual prevalence of colds and La Grippe has greatly lowered the attendance in all the schools and has necessarily interfered with the progress of the pupils. Some of the pupils have divided their time between the public school and the Parochial school, and are registered in both. How large this number is I am unable to say. From the num- ber of children seen in certain parts of the village during school hours, it is evident there are some that attend school very irregularly. If asked why they are not at school, they say they attend the Parochial school, or give some other excuse. Every effort should be made to find why they are absent, and see that they attend the school to which they belong. There may be cases that will need severer measures, especially where the parent refuses to send his child to school. Such a case was reported to me by a teacher, and referred to one of the committee. If, on investigation, it was found correct, the law enacted by the Commonwealth for the attendance at school should be rigidly enforced. The truant school for this county was opened Feb. 2, for the reception of those pupils that are disposed to play truant. In a town like Douglas, very few children, if any, but will prefer to go to school constantly and regularly, when the only choice lies between the public school and the truant school. But children, like those of larger growth, always prefer to rely upon facts and the positive execu- tion of the laws, to promises and threatenings. When they see the laws will be rigidly enforced, then they readily comply with them. It is only the prompt enforcement of the law that will bring the pupils into the schools and keep them there during the term.
Drawing.
Soon after the commencement of the fall term. drawing was introduced into all the schools above the primary grade, and
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instruction has been given by the regular teachers. Although I am aware that this arrangement will not produce such satis- factory results as if we had a special teacher engaged for the purpose, still I am much pleased at the very good results ob- tained, and the systematic manner in which the study has been managed by most of the teachers. At a teachers' meeting in the spring term Mr. Henry T. Bailey, one of the state agents, and whose special work is to advance and improve the study of drawing, addressed the teachers upon the subject, giving them many valuable helps and suggestions. As the teachers acquire a better knowledge of the methods to be used, and the pupils more interest and skill, I think in a few years the schools will furnish specimens of free hand drawing, that will justly commend your action in placing this important and useful study in the schools.
Recommendations.
First among the recommendations I would again urge the importance of a new, four room, two story school building. Such a building can be erected at a cost of from eight thousand to ten thousand dollars, with all the late improvements in heating and ventilation. It is absolutely necessary that some- thing be done to relieve the over crowded condition of the Primary schools and provide better accommodations for the Grammar and No. 9, Intermediate. A bright, airy school room is an educator in itself. The surroundings of children at school have much to do with making them good men and women, and that is one of the great objects of our public school system, to make good citizens.
In closing. I wish to thank the teachers for their hearty co- operation in the work of the schools, and the committee for the confidence placed in me.
A. J. CURTIS, Superintendent.
REMARKS.
It seems fitting that some allusion should be made to the removal by death of two very worthy and efficient members of the school board, Baylis W. Aldrich and Rev. James Wells, whose advice and council could safely be followed, and whose assistance in all the duties of the committee could be relied upon. As it has pleased AAlmighty God to remove them from our midst, we feel that our loss must be their gain.
The committee have attended to their part of the school work, by keeping the houses in good repair. We have been obliged to make quite extensive repairs in No. 10, as the stoves in both rooms smoked to such an extent that some days it was impossible to keep school. Both old chimneys were taken down and a new one built in the center of the building, by so doing we were enabled to dispense with the long stove pipes. We also laid a new poor in the east room, and built a fence on the south side of the school lot. These repairs place No. 10 in good condition.
An addition of $30 in seats for the Grammar school was made to accommodate all the pupils attending.
We recommend the following appropriations :
For the support of schools, $4.200 00
For repairs of school houses. 200 00
For books and supplies. 500 00 For superintendent. 300 00
STILLMAN RUSSELL, School Committee,
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