USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1897 > Part 3
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$20 00
three month's rent,
25 00
Sept. 1. Mrs. A. L. Buffington,
20 00
25 00
three month's rent, for books,
193 89
freight and express,
1 30
1000 by laws,
3 00
addendas,
4 00
Dec. 3.
Miss Grace Smith,
20 00
numbering and cataloging,
1 91
1 52
47
1897.
Jan. 16. By paid Miss Grace Smith,
$11 62
lamp chimney, etc.,
20
cleaning stove and pipe,
75
getting in wood,
25
Feb. 28.
Miss Alice Luther,
8 38
oil,
2 86
new shelves,
9 00
wood,
50
clock and express,
2 90
six month's rent,
50 00
$401 56
Cash in town treasury,
251 04
$652 60
C. J. BATCHELLER, Treasurer.
Report of Librarian.
Whole number of books in library,
3,023
Number added during year,
218
Number issued during year,
9,521
Average number issued on Wednesday,
120+
Average number issued on Saturday evening,
81+
Amount of fines for year,
$ 9 26
Balance of fines March 1, 1896,
20 54- 29 80
Amount collected for fines,
29
Amount collected for catalogues,
6.5
Paid to treasurer,
$7 94
Amount collected for fines,
7 29
Balance due March 1, 1897,
$22 51
MISS ALICE LUTHER, Librarian.
Town Clerk's Report.
Births.
Whole number, 56
males,
23
females,
33
56
foreign parentage,
21
mixed parentage,
17
American parentage,
18
56
Marriages.
Whole number,
Foreign birth,
34
American birth,
24-
58
Residents in Douglas,
31
Residents elsewhere,
27-
58
First marriage,
49
Second marriage,
8
Third marriage,
1-
58
Deaths.
.
Whole number,
47
males,
28
females,
19
47
foreign birth,
13
American birth,
34-
47
29
.
24
Number under 1 year,
between 1 and 5,
4
5 · 10,
0
10
20,
3
20
30,
30
40,
4 3
40
50,
4
50
60
2
60
70,
8
70
80,
80
90,
6-
47
Dogs Registered.
Whole number,
163
Males,
151 @ $2.00
$302 00
Females,
12 @ 5.00
60 00- $362 00
.
8
C. H. BACHELER, Town Clerk.
Annual Reports
OF THE
School Committee,
OF THE
Town of Douglas,
FOR YEAR ENDING
March 1, 1897.
PRESS OF CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, EAST DOUGLAS, MASS. 1897.
School Committee.
Stillman Russell,
Term expires March 1, 1897 1897
H. O. Lamson,
W. E. Carpenter, 1897
W. W. Brown, 1898
C. J. Batcheller,
1898
M. M. Luther,
1898
S. F. Root, 1899
V. T. Esten, 1899
W. H. Emerson,
·1899
The above Committee met March 1896, and organized as follows :
President,-S. Russell.
Clerk,-W. H. Emerson.
S. Russell,
Superintending Committee, - S. F. Root, W. W. Brown,
Purchasing Agent,-S. Russell,
Truant Officer,-F. F. Young,
Teachers for 1896-7.
F. J. Libby,
Ada E. McMahon,
Lilia C. Stilphen,
Lillian G. Lincoln,
Bessie M. Batcheller,
Euna L. Buffington,
Maud Barry,
Geo. F. Stoddard.
Bertha C. Stockwell, Etta H. Johnson, K. Lena Wixtead, Edith M. Abbott, Alice Pennell,
Laura E. Brown, Viola Bridges, Mary G. Lawlor,
Statistics.
Whole number of children in town May 1, 1896, between the ages of 5 and 15 years, 438
Whole number attending school during the year, of all ages, 392
Average membership, 902/3
341
Per centage of attendance to membership,
Average daily attendance in all the schools,
309
Whole number attending school under 5 yrs. of age,
2
over 15 yrs. 39
between the ages of 8 and 14 years, 270
Aggregate of months all the schools have been kept during the year, 1141/2
Average number of months the schools have been kept during the year,
9
Number of female teachers, male teachers, 3
13
Average wages paid female teachers,
$33 50
male teachers, 90 00
Appropriations.
Appropriations for public schools by the town, March 1, 1896, $4,400 00
Repairs of school houses, 200 00
School books and supplies,
300 00
State school fund, 316 77
Town school fund, (interest), 56 48
Received for school books, 3 25
Received for tuition from out of town pupils," 15 00
New books on hand, 106 76
Balance unexpended last year,
796 10-$6,194 36
Expenses of Public Schools.
Teachers' wages for the year,
$4,635 00
Permanent repairs,
167 02
Truant officer,
15 00
Care of rooms,
162 80
Purchasing agent,
25 00
School books and supplies,
480 25
Fuel,
276 98
Transporting pupils,
73 25
Paid superintending committee,
100 00
Taking school census,
7 00
Printing,
15 00
Balance unexpended,
237 06-$6,194 36
5
HIGH SCHOOL.
Teachers, S F. J. Libby, Spring. Geo. F. Stoddard, Fall and Winter.
Spring. 13
Fall. 11
Winter. 14
Length of school in weeks,
Wages per week,
$22.50
$22.50
$22 50
Whole number of scholars,
19
29
27
Average attendance,
17
27
25
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Teacher,-Lillian G. Lincoln.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$12
$12
$12
Whole number of scholars,
37
37
33
Average attendance,
34
34
30
SCHOOL NO. 1.
Teacher,-Maud Barry.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$9
$9
$9
Whole number of scholars,
15
16
14
Average attendance,
14
14
13
SCHOOL NO. 2.
Teachers,
( Bertha C. Stockwell, Spring. Jennie Lawlor, Fall and Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
10
12
8
Average attendance,
8
11
8
6
SCHOOL NO. 3.
Teacher,-Laura E. Brown.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$8
Whole number of scholars,
29
29
21
Average attendance,
27
25
20
SCHOOL NO. 4.
Teacher,-Bessie M. Batcheller.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$8
Whole number of scholars,
8
8
8
Average attendance,
8
7
7
SCHOOL NO. 5.
Teachers, Mary G. Lawlor, Spring. Harry L. Stockwell, Fall and Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
9
12
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
18
17
8
Average attendance,
15
12
6
SCHOOL NO. 7.
Teachers, Viola Bridges, Spring. Bertha C. Stockwell, Fall and Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
13
14
15
Average attendance,
12
13
12
7
SCHOOL NO. 8.
Teacher, -Alice Pennell.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$7
$7
$7
Whole number of scholars,
9
10
11
Average attendance,
8
8
9
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,
23
28
23
Average attendance,
21
27
22
INTERMEDIATE.
Teacher,-Ada E. McMahon.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$9
$9
$9
Whole number of scholars,
45
41
48
Average attendance,
39
37
45
SCHOOL NO. 10.
PRIMARY.
Teacher,-Etta Johnson.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$8
$8
$8
Whole number of scholars,
32
21
20
Average attendance,
30
20
18
8
INTERMEDIATE.
Teacher,-Euna L. Buffington.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week,
$9
$9
$9
Whole number of scholars,
27
40
40)
Average attendance, -
23
36
34
SCHOOL NO. 11, (Engine Hall.)
Teacher,-K. Lena Wixtead.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Length of school in weeks,
12
11
12
Wages per week;
$9
$9
Whole number of scholars,
49
40
36
Average attendance,
41
36
29
Report of the
Superintending Committee.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF DOUGLAS:
The Superintending Committee hereby submit their annu- al report upon the condition of the public schools for the year ending March 1, 1897.
While the progress made in our schools during the past year is highly gratifying, it must not be assumed that there has been no failure, or no occasion for criticism. On the other hand, because there has been some cause for criticism, it does not follow that our schools are failures, for that would be an unfair appreciation of the good results accomplished. While our schools compare favorably with other rural schools of the state, yet we should not be content to stop here, but should, instead, make every possible effort to bring our schools up to a higher standard. Efficiency and economy are two essential objects to be kept in view. The available means to secure these ends, are comfortable and convenient school-rooms, sup- plied with necessary appliances, intelligent teaching, and good supervision.
The length of the school year has been thirty-five weeks, the high school thirty-eight weeks. Owing to the prevalence of measles, near the close of the winter term, the attendance was very poor and the schools in the lower grades were closed one week short of the usual time.
10
TEACHERS.
Few changes have been made in our corps of teachers the past year, a fact which accounts largely for the good work done. As a rule, they have shown a deep interest in their work, and manifested a desire to find out the best methods to prevent their teaching from degenerating into that dull grind of purely mechanical drill work. It is gratifying to feel that our teachers have not reached that point of self-satisfaction, so fatal to school work; that they are on the alert for better methods in teaching. They have the warmest sympathy and thanks of the committee for the cheerfulness and promptness manifested in their efforts to carry out suggestions.
HIGH SCHOOL.
At the commencement of the fall term Mr. George H. Stod- dard, A. M., of Milo, Maine, a graduate of Colby University, was elected principal. When we consider the amount of work " to be done in this school by one teacher, and the disadvantages . under which he has been obliged to labor, his efforts have been „crowned with a remarkable degree of success, and he is entitled to the hearty co-operation of the parents, of the pupils, and friends of the school, who appreciate a faithful and efficient teacher. .
Efficiency in the study of chemistry and physics depends largely upon practical experiments, which cannot be success- fully made unless chemical and philosophical apparatus and appliances are furnished for the school.
ACCOMMODATIONS.
We feel that the time has arrived for the town to build a school house in a central location in East Douglas, furnished with the best heating, ventilating and sanitary arrangements, affording pleasant, healthful and commodious rooms, to ac- . commodate all the children in the eastern section of the town. The schools could then be consolidated, well graded, and better results produced.
The ventilation of many of our school-rooms is sadly defect-
1
1
11
ive. Pupils cannot do good work if they are hived in a hot foul atmosphere. The noxious germs with which the air is filled not only pollute the blood and clog the brain, but also impair the health and weaken the constitution of the pupil.
The town should take immediate action to relieve the over crowed condition of our school-rooms.
GOOD CITIZENSHIP.
The experience of the last half century has shown that in- tellectual education alone does not make upright men and women. It is generally conceded to-day by the best educators that character building is of the first importance; that the one aim of the American home and school should be to make citi- zens capable of living under a form of self-government, which means self-control on the part of the individual. Children that are prompted to do right, through right motives develop into good citizens, but many that do right through fear of punish- ment, develop into that class of men and women that fill our prisons and reformatories. This object lesson in real life impresses upon our minds the necessity of training in good citizenship to give them a broader conception of liberty, a loftier vision of duty and a grander appreciation and enjoyment of life. Back of the school stands the greatest factor in char- acter building,-the home. The intellectual and moral sur- roundings of the first six years of the child's life tend to become firmly fixed in his consciousness; and to remove them is often beyond the power of the most helpful teacher. In the spring- time of life; unconcious of results; the child will implant in muscle, nerve and brain, seeds of habit that will determine largely the harvest of his autumn life. His condition is such that his parents should watch, govern and train his efforts in developing his physical, intellectual and moral resources in act- ion and thought, until he reaches the years of understanding.
ATTENDANCE.
The subject of regular attendance received special attention in our last year's report, and while the school registers show
12.
improvements in several instances, yet the average attendance is not what it should be, and there is no excuse for passing it unnoticed at this time. One of the greatest drawbacks to the efficiency of school work is irregularity of attendance. A child may attend school to-day, but if he was absent yesterday and knows nothing of the lessons of yesterday, he is unprepared for the work of to-day and fails in the recitation. A loss of interest in study follows; he becomes more frequently absent and drifts into habits of negligence and aimlessness which results in an early abandonment of school. Every experience with which a child is brought in contact leaves its impression on him, and he will never recover from the results of improper training.
Truancy and tardiness go hand in hand, the latter tends to develop into the former. Punctuality is a virtue that should be cultivated in the child; the error of tardiness receives its pen- alty. If parents would reflect upon the evil results arising from habits of irregularity and impress upon the mind and character of their children the importance of rigid devotion to - duty by insisting upon their regnlar, punctual attendance in the schools, the habit thus inculcated would be of untold value to the loved ones committed to their charge. Every day, and all day, work must be required of the pupil if he is to succeed as a scholar. Most of our teachers do what they can to counter- act this evil tendency, but the chief cause, thoughtless indiffer- ence on the part of parents, cannot be materially affected by their efforts.
TRUANCY.
There have been few cases of habitual truancy during the year. The vigourous efforts of the truant officer, Mr. F. F. Young in assisting the teachers and committee in securing attendance has been appreciated, and to him we wish to ex- press our sympathy and thanks for the promptness with which he has co-operated with us.
13
In closing we would recommend the following appropriations for the support of schools :--
Schools, $5,000.00; books and supplies, $500.00; repairs, $300.00; transporting pupils, $75.00.
W. W. BROWN, S. F. ROOT, STILLMAN RUSSELL,
Superintending Committee.
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