USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1899 > Part 3
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Balance of fines March 1, 1898,
23 02-
$36 77
Amount collected for fines,
11 67
Catalogues sold,
1 40
Paid to treasurer,
$13 07
Amount collected for fines
11 67
Balance due Mar. 1, 1899,
$25 10
ALICE E. LUTHER, Librarian.
3602
Town Clerk's Report.
Births.
Whole number,
40
males,
20
females,
20
40
foreign parentage,
15
mixed parentage,
7
American parentage,
18-
40
Marriages.
Whole number,
22
Foreign birth,
20
American birth,
24-
44
Residents in Douglas,
35
Residents elsewhere,
9
44
First marriage,
42
Third marriage,
2
44
Deaths.
Whole number
55
males,
25
females,
30
55
foreign birth,
8
American birth,
47-
55
48
Number under 1 year,
9
between 1 and 5,
8
5
10,
1
10
20,
3
20
30,
3
30
40,
3
40
50,
0
50
60,
7
60
70,
8
70
80,
1
80
90,
9
90
100,
3-
55
Dogs Registered.
Whole number,
137
Males,
133 @ $2.00
$266 00
Females,
4 @
5,00
20 00- $286 00
C. H. BACHELER, Town Clerk.
BY=LAWS
OF THE
Town of Douglas.
ARTICLE I.
TOWN MEETINGS.
SECTION I. Every warrant for a Town Meeting shall be served by posting attested copies of the same at least ten days before the time of the meeting to be held under it in three public places, as follows : At the Post-Offices at East Douglas and Douglas Centre, and one on the schoolhouse in South Douglas.
SECTION 2. In town meetings, all persons present shall, on request of the moderator, as far as practicable, be seated.
SECTION 3. No motion shall be entertained at an ad- journed meeting, for the reconsideration of any vote passed
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at the original meeting, or at any adjournment of the same, unless notice of such motion shall have been given at such original meeting, or at any adjournment of the same ; but this by-law may be suspended in any particular case by a vote of three-fourths of those present and voting.
SECTION 4. When any one addresses the Chair, he shall rise and stand uncovered.
SECTION 5. The duties of the presiding officer not specially provided for by law, shall be determined by rules of parliamentary law contained in Cushing's " Manual," so far as they are adapted to town meetings.
ARTICLE II.
SECTION I. The annual Town Meeting shall be held on the third Monday of March in each year.
SECTION 2. The fiscal year, so far as the accounts of the several town officers are concerned, shall close on the first day of March; and all accounts shall be made up to that time.
· SECTION 3. SELECTMEN The Selectmen shall have the general care and custody, direction and management of all the property of the Town, in all matters not otherwise provided for. They shall count the cash belonging to the Town, in the Town Treasurer's possession, and examine and fully verify his bank deposit standing in the name of the Town, on the first day of March each year, and certify to the Town, in their annual report, that they have done so ; and if everything connected therewith is found correct, they shall declare that the amounts agree with
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the Treasurer's report regarding the same, or otherwise, as they shall find it.
They shall, in ample time before policies expire, see to the renewal of all fire insurance on the Town's prop- erties, and shall keep such property properly insured.
They shall print the by-laws of the town in full in each annual report of the Town Officers.
SECTION 4. TREASURER. The Town Treasurer shall not use any money or funds belonging to the Town, in the pay- ment of any of his own or any other person's private bills or obligations, nor for any other purpose, except for pay- ing Town notes, interest on Town notes, and the State and County taxes, except on orders signed by at least a majority of the Board of Selectmen.
He shall give no Town notes, except the same are ap- proved and countersigned by at least a majority of the . Board of Selectmen. He shall prepare and deliver to the Board of Selectmen, on or before the fifth day of March of each year, a full statement, in detail, of all receipts and payments of money by him as Town Treasurer, showing the balance of his account on the first day of March, with a statement of the property of the Town in his possession, and all notes or other obligations given by him or by his predecessors, and outstanding against the Town on the first day of March of each year, stating to whom each note is payable, when due, and the rate of interest said note or other obligation is drawing. He shall keep all Town notes that have been paid and cancelled, and all cancelled bank checks, and all orders drawn by the Selectmen, and other valuable documents or papers belonging to the Town, or relating to the affairs of the Town in his depart- ment, which shall be always subject to the inspection and
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52
examination of the Selectmen ; he shall give his bond within five days after his election, to the Town Clerk for his custody and safe-keeping, which shall first be subject to the approval of the Selectmen endorsed thereon in writing.
SECTION 5. Money belonging to the Town, if deposited by the Treasurer or the agent, on the devise of Moses Wallis, shall be deposited in some bank or Trust Com- pany, allowing interest on daily balances, and the interest on said deposits credited to the town.
ARTICLE III.
CONCERNING TRUANT CHILDREN AND ABSENTEES FROM SCHOOL.
SECTION I. It shall be the duty of the School Com- mittee of the Town to appoint two suitable persons to be designated as "Truant Officers," who shall, under the direction of said Committee, inquire into all cases coming under this article, and shall alone be authorized, in case of violation thereof, to make complaint and carry into exe- cution the judgment thereof.
Truant officers so appointed shall at all times be subject to removal by the School Committee, and their compen- sation shall be fixed by the School Committee, and shall be paid from the Treasury of the Town.
SECTION 2. The Worcester County Truant School at West Boylston, Mass., is hereby assigned as the place of confinement, discipline and instruction of persons con- victed under the provisions of this article.
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53
SECTION 3. Any child between the ages of seven and fifteen years, who is an habitual truant, or is found wan- dering about the streets or public places of the town, hav- ing no lawful occupation or business, not attending school, or growing up in ignorance, shall, upon conviction thereof, be committed to the Worcester County Truant School at West Boylston, Mass., for such term as the Justice or Court having jurisdiction may determine.
SECTION 4. Truant officers appointed as herein pro- vided, are authorized and empowered to take into custody any such child, and place him in the school to which he shall have been assigned by the School Committee of the town.
ARTICLE IV.
PENAL LAW.
SECTION I. No person shall play at any game of ball or football. or throw ball, or stones, or snow-balls in the streets within the limits of the East Douglas fire district.
Nor shall any person deposit within any street or public places any ashes, cinders, fish or any waste-matter what- ever, except by the consent of the Selectmen ; nor set or plant any trees within the limits of the streets or high- ways of said town, without the consent of the person having the care of said streets and highways.
SECTION 2. No person shall course, coast or slide upon the streets or sidewalks of the town upon any hand-sled, board, jumper. or otherwise, except at such places and under such restrictions and regulations as the Selectmen shall designate and require.
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SECTION 3. No person shall wheel, drive, or draw any coach, cart, hand-barrow, sled, bicycle, or other carriage of burden or pleasure (except children's hand-carriages, drawn by hand), or drive, or permit any horse, neat cattle, or sheep under his care to go or stand upon any sidewalk, or stand upon any street-crossing, so as to obstruct public travel.
SECTION 4. No person shall behave himself in a rude and disorderly manner, or use any indecent, profane or insulting language in any street, highway, or other public place in the town, or near any dwelling-house or other building not his own, therein, or be or remain upon any sidewalk or fence contiguous to a highway or street, or upon any doorstep, portico, or other projection from any such house or other building, nor in any church, meeting- house, railroad depot or platform, public hall or entrance thereto, to the annoyance or disturbance of any person : nor shall any person, at, near, or upon any such dwelling- house, building, sidewalk, doorstep, portico. fence or pro- jection, or any such meeting-house, public hall. railroad depot or platform, or entrance thereto, commit any nui- sance, or by any noise, gesture, or other means, wantonly or designedly drive or frighten any horse in any street, highway or public place in the town.
SECTION 5. PENALTIES. Any person violating any of the provisions of the preceding by-laws, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten dollars ($10) for each offence. to be forfeited and paid to the Town, unless when differ- ent provision is made by the laws of the Commonwealth.
SECTION 6. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or annulled at any meeting called for the purpose, by a vote of two-thirds of those present and voting thereon.
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SECTION 7. If these by-laws be adopted by the town and approved by the Court, all by-laws heretofore adopted by the Town and now in force, inconsistent with these by- laws, shall become null and void.
These by-laws shall be in force when approved by the Court.
A. F. BROWN, WILLIAM ABBOTT,
1 Committee.
JOHN M. RAWSON,
DOUGLAS, MASS.
Adopted April 26, 1897. C. H. BACHELER, Town Clerk of Douglas.
By a vote at the same time and place Mr. William Abbott was authorized to present these by-laws to the Court for approval.
C. H. BACHELER, Town Clerk.
7
Annual Reports
OF THE
School Committee
AND
The School Building Committee
OF THE
Town of Douglas,
FOR YEAR ENDING
March 1, 1899.
PRESS OF CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, EAST DOUGLAS, MASS. 1899.
REPORT
OF The School Building Committee.
In commencing this report a brief preliminary statement of facts has been deemed advisable.
At the annual meeting, held March 15th, 1897, the Warrant contained the following :
"Article 23. To see what action the Town will take to pro- vide better accommodation for schools, or act, or do anything in relation to the same." Said article not being acted on, the annual meeting was adjourned to April 26. April 26, the Town voted : "that the Chair appoint a committee of seven (7) to take the matter in said article under consideration and make a thorough investigation as to the expense of repairing the old school houses in East Douglas, and the probable cost of build- ing a new school-house sufficiently large to accommodate the eight schools in East Douglas and report at an adjourned meet- ing, May 29." Chair appointed J. M. Rawson. A. F. Jones, W. R. Wallis, A. F. Brown, Stillman Russell, W. W. Brown, and M. M. Luther, as Committee.
May 29, the report of the Committee was read by the Secre- tary and accepted by the Town, who referred the matter again to the Committee for further investigation and voted that the Chair appoint two more on said Committee. Chair appointed, William Abbott, and Edwin Moore. Voted, "that this Com- mittee of nine report at the adjourned meeting to be held June 12th."
June 12, report of Committee read by Secretary. Voted, "that the Committee continue their investigations, ascertain and determine the cost of the several locations and other like mat- ters and report at an adjourned meeting to be held June 16th 1897."
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June 16, the Secretary read the report as follows : "That the Committee recommend that the Town build a School Building of brick and stone about seventy-five by eighty feet (75 × 80), two stories above basement, to contain eight class rooms ; that the town appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) to pay for the same, and that the Town elect by ballot a Committee of five (5), to build the school building either on the site of the "Long School-house" or on land belonging to Charlotte Richardson, as the Committee may elect."
The Town voted that the report be accepted and adopted and the Committee discharged.
The following committee was elected by ballot : A. F. Jones, W. R. Wallis, J. M. Rawson, W. S. Schuster, and J. W. Wixtead, Voted to add two (2) to the Committee. A. F. Brown, and W. W. Brown, were elected. Voted (unanimously) to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars for the use of said Committee, to expend in the erection of said school build- ing, and that the Treasurer be authorised to borrow money for that purpose by giving Town notes for a term of years (with the approval of the Selectmen).
In accordance with the above action of the Town, the Com- mittee employed Clarence P. Hoyt, Architect, who furnished plans and specifications, and advertised for bids, to be in the hands of the Committee on or before Dec. 15, 1897. Dec. 2nd, Committee met at seven o'clock, P. M., to open and consider the bids. A. F. Jones in the chair. Other members present, W. S. Schuster, J. W. Wixtead, W. W. Brown, and J. M. Raw- son, (and by request Architect C. P. Hoyt).
Twenty-one (21) bids were submitted. The highest was $21,000.00. The lowest bid, $12,600.00 was made by the "Clinton Wall Trunk M'f'g. Co.," of Clinton, Mass., to whom was awarded the contract. The contract for heating, ventilating, and sanitary apparatus was awarded to the "Fuller and Warren Warming and Ventilating Co." for the sum of $1,898.00. The amount of the contracts awarded is as follows :
Clinton Wall Trunk M'f'g Co., $12,600 00
Fuller and Warren Warming & Ventilating Co., 1,898 00
C. P. Hoyt, Architect, plans and specifications, 500 00
$14,998 00
Balance not expended,
2 00
$15,000 00
As the work neared completion it became evident that several
4
minor matters not contemplated in the specifications were nec- essary to make the work in the highest sense complete. Im- mediate attention to these details was imperative. There being a sum of money accruing from the sale of notes and from inter- est connected with the school-house fund, the Committee decid- ed to appropriate it for this necessary work as follows :
A contract was placed with Thomas Fannuff, in the sum of $60.00, for a granite retaining wall, to protect the bank on the west side of the building from washing away.
The hard pine woodwork on the interior needed a heavy coat of "filler" before being varnished, which contract was placed with Mr. Vanwert for $60.00, labor and material.
To protect the brick of the building from filling with water and thus better to preserve them, a heavy coat of boiled oil was expedient. G. H. Hewett, was employed to do the labor for the sum of $25.00, the oil being purchased by the Committee for $20.05, wholesale.
The increase of funds received by the Treasurer, from sale of Town notes, intetest and rebates was $279.49. Extra outlay as follows :
Paid Thomas Fannuff, retaining wall, $60 00
Vanwert, labor and filler, 60 00
G. H. Hewitt, oiling brick, 25 00
For fifty gals. boiled oil, 20 05
For date block and setting same, 31 50
$186 55
Balance not expended,
92 94
The labors of the Committee have involved eighty-seven meetings of record and the expenditure of much time and labor for which in view of the satisfactory result they feel amply repaid.
Respectfully submitted,
AARON F. JONES, J. M. RAWSON, WV. S. SCHUSTER, JAMES W. WIXTEAD.
Appointment of Superintendent of the Work.
At the commencement of the work it became evident that to
5
secure the best results there was need of competent and contin- uous supervision. .
For this purpose the services of Mr. J. M. Rawson, were se- cured and he was appointed by C. P. Hoyt, Architect, with the approval of the Committee, superintendent of the work. By his faithful and energetic service, the satisfactory completion of the building according to the specifications of the contract was secured. For this service he received the sum of $350.00.
School Committee.
W. W. Brown,
C. J. Batcheller,
Term expires March 1, 1901 1901
M. M. Luther, 1901
S. F. Root, 1899
V. T. Esten, 1899
W. H. Emerson,
1899
H. O. Lamson, 1900
E. E. Young, 1900
F. F. Young,
1900
The above Committee met March 1898, and organized as follows:
President, S. F. Root.
Clerk. W. H. Emerson.
W. W. Brown,
Superintending Committee, S. F. Root, C. J. Batcheller,
Purchasing Agent,-C. J. Batcheller.
Truant Officer,-F. F. Young.
Teachers 1897-8.
Rosa M. Bumstead,
Lillian G. Lincoln,
Bessie M. Batcheller,
Euna L. Buffington,
Maud Barry,
Geo. H. Stoddard,
Laura E. Brown.
Bertha C. Stockwell, Etta H. Johnson, K. Lena Wixtead, Edith M. Abbott, Alice Pennell, Mary G. Lawlor, Harry L. Stockwell.
Statistics.
Whole number of children in the town May 1, 1898, between the ages of 5 and 15 years, 442
Whole number attending school during the year, of all ages, 431
Average membership,
355
Per centage of attendance to membership,
87
Average daily attendence in all the schools,
309
Whole number attending school under 5 yrs. of age,
6
over 15 yrs. 35
between the ages of 8 and 14 years, 263
Aggregate of months all the schools have been kept during the year, 101
Average number of months the schools have been kept during the year,
719
Number of female teachers,
12
male teachers, 1
Average wages paid female teachers,
$90 00
male teachers, 33 67
Appropriations.
Appropriations for public schools by the town, March 1, 1898, $5,000 00
Repairs of school houses, 50 00
School books and supplies, 300 00
Transporting of pupils, 75 00
State school fund, 294 43
Town school fund, (interest,) 56 48
Received for school books. 9 40
New books on hand, 200 57
Received for tuition from out of town pupils. 20 50
Balance unexpended last year, 705 52 -- $6,711 90
Expense of Public Schools.
Teachers' wages for the year. $4,035 60
Permanent repairs, 158 27
Truant officer, 22 00
Care of rooms,
219 85
Purchasing agent,
25 00
Books and supplies, 357 57
. Increase in books on hand, 31 70
Books sold, 9 40- 41 10
Total cost of books and supplies,
316 47
Transporting pupils,
453 25
Paid superintending committee,
150 00
Rent of central hall, graduating exercises,
10 00
Paid Chas. J. Batcheller, printing for graduatiug exercises, 12 00
Lettering diplomas, 2 25
Rent of citizens hall for sub-grammar school, ,
99 75
Sundry expenses in furnishing and entering new school building, 508 69
Balance unexpended,
216 46
$6,711 90
Fuel,
482 31
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SCHOOL STATISTICS. Mar. 1, 1899.
School.
Grade.
Months Taught.
Average Memb'ship.
Average Attendance.
Teachers' Salary.
1
Mixed.
9
30.56
23.71
$324 00
do
23
15.54
14.56
77 00
Prim.
9
28.16
24.31
288 00
Mixed.
3
18.16
15.78
96 00
1
do
61
23.5
21.2
182 00
8
do
63
12.9
10.74
189 00
9
Int.
9
34.5
28.76
333 00
10
Prim.
9
25.77
23.87
288 00
10
Int
9
30.3
28.
324 00
11
Kind.
9
44.58
37.85
324 00
Gram.
9
36.36
32.26
432 00
High.
10
24.7
21.42
900 00
9
Prim.
29.6
27.09
293 50
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF DOUGLAS :
I respectfully submit for your consideration this, my second annual report of the condition of Douglas High School.
At the beginning of the year twenty-nine pupils were register- ed. A class of nine was graduated in June. In the fall a class of ten was admitted, eight from the Grammar school and two from a neighboring town. The other facts in regard to member- ship and attendance are presented in the tabular reports of all the schools.
The changes in the courses of study recommended in the last report, and adopted at the annual meeting of the Committee have proved satisfactory. The change of Review Arithmetic from the last term of the Senior year to the last two terms of the second year gives those pupils who do not finish the course (and they are those who most need such a review) an opportu- nity to review the Arithmetic. The increased time devoted to the subject gives ample opportunity for a complete and thorough review. The other of the two more important changes was the omission of the study of French. As anticipated this has given slightly longer periods for other recitations, and the pupils who
10
have studied Latin instead of French, have undoubtedly derived more benefit from the former study than was possible in the short time that could be given to the latter.
During the year there has been a marked improvement in the deportment. The average rank is much higher than last year. There has also been a gain in the amount of work accomplished in several of the studies of the course, and a gain in thorough- ness in almost all. Written examinations in the various subjects have been held at intervals varying from one month to six weeks. Each pupil has been provided with a blank book (or books) in which all of his examinations were written. After each examination the work has been inspected, ranked and re- turned to the pupil with corrections and suggestions. If the ex- amination was unsatisfactory the pupil. after sufficient time for preparation had been allowed, was required to write another ex- amination in the same study. The improvement made by this method is shown by the fact that when the plan was first adopt- ed, a large number of examinations were rewritten, at the last examination only one was rewritten. These books with a re- port of the attendance, deportment and average of the daily and written rank in each study, will be sent to the parents at the close of the present term. And it is hoped that. by the aid of the new system of reports recently adopted. this report can be made at the end of each term. The co operation of the parents is desired especially in securing better attendance. The ill effects of irregular attendance has been frequently mentioned in past reports of the Committee These effects are more notice- able in the High School than in any other grade. The loss of a single lesson may result in a failure to understand several that follow. It is true that pupils are required to make up work lost but it is never done as thoroughly as when the work is taken with the class.
Some of the text-books have been nearly worn out by long · use, and new one must be bought to replace them. It affords an opportunity to exchange them at very little, if any, additional expense for the much better books recently published.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. STODDARD, Principal.
Report of the Superintending Committee.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF DOUGLAS:
The Superintending Committee hereby submit their annual report upon the condition of the public schools for the year ending March 1, 1899.
The past year has been one of unusual activity in education- al advancement, both in economy and efficiency. The first important question discussed by the Committee was the advisa- bility of consolidating the outlying schools having but few pupils. This matter was given much earnest thought and careful consideration. The exhorbitant expense of instruction for each individual pupil in these schools as will be found by a perusal of the table below, convinces the judgement that this is an extravagant use of school money. At the commencement of the spring term the Wallum Pond school was closed and the pupils transported to the South Douglas school. After care- fully considering the saving in expense and the advantages gained, it was decided to extend this policy to other schools.
At the opening of the fall term of the schools the Wallum Pond and South Douglas schools were united with school No. I, at Douglas Centre, resulting in a school of 34 pupils and a net saving of $251.43 per annum. The West Douglas school No. 2, was united with school No. 7, with corresponding results in financial gain.
At the beginning of the winter term it was found expedient to extend this policy to schools Nos. 7 and & to give the pupils of these schools the advantages of the more comfortable, effi- cient graded schools enjoyed by the children of East Douglas,
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and make a further saving of school money.
The table below shows the annual expense of each school for the school year ending March 1, 1898, and the average cost of instruction for each pupil in the different schools. The expense of repairs on buildings is not included.
School.
Grade.
Average Attendance.
Cost of Instruction
No. of Weeks.
Cost per Pupil.
1
Mixed.
14
$376 81
35
$26 92
do
12
301 49
35
25 12
3
Prim.
24
356 57
35
14 86
4
Mixed.
9
386 04
35
42 89
5
do
6
215 54
24
32 92
7
do
19
313 46
35
16 50
8
do
10
310 41
35
31 04
9
Prim.
23
355 11
35
15 44
9
Int.
35
407 40
35
11 64
10
Prim.
22
356 77
35
16 22
10
Int.
28
394 10
35
14 08
11
Kind.
27
393 10
35
14 56
Gram.
30
513 42
35
17 11
High.
27
999 96
40
37 04
1
{ To re-open and maintain the five schools now closed, 36 weeks, which is the length of our school year. not including the expense of books, supplies, and repairs of buildings, would amount to the aggregate sum of $1,597.48. To transport these pupils to other schools affording better advantages, at the pres- ent rate of transportation, the full 36 weeks will cost $1.071.00 making a net saving to the town of $526.48.
Add to this the average annual cost for repairs and the net gain would exceed $600.00. This saving in money is an item well worth consideration, but more important still is the fact that these children have been placed in schools where the advantages are superior to any possible to be had in schools of from 6 to 12 pupils. The healthful spirit of rivalry which is an important factor in school work is almost wholly lacking in schools where the numbers are small. This policy should be
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pursued not only for the saving of school funds, but for the advantages the pupils derive from an educational point of view. There may be some objections to the system of conveying pupils, but they are largely overbalanced by the advantages gained. Most of the pupils living in these districts have been compelled to travel from three-fourths to one and one-half miles to school. By the transportation system a very large majority of these children are taken at their homes, while a comparatively small number are required to meet the teams at designated points on the main road.
A plan to gather all pupils from house to house is not feasible on account of time and expense, but the Committee have made such arrangements as are compatible with good judgment and the economical use of money. The growth of the policy of conveying pupils throughout the state is shown by the following table of statistics taken from the Annual Report of the Board of Education, 1896-97.
Table showing the Amount expended for transporting Children to School for the Past Nine Years.
Year.
Percentage Increase.
Sum Expended.
Year.
Percentage Increase.
Sum Expended.
1888-89
-
$22,118 38
1893-94
.26
$63,617 68
1889-90
.09
24,145 12
1894-95
.19
76,608 29
1890-91
.27
30,648 68
1895-96
.16
91,136 11
1891-92
.26
38,726 07
1896-97
.12
105,317 13
1892-93
.31
50,590 41
The expenditure of money for the conveyance of pupils has come to be as legitimate as the expenditure for teacher's salar- ies. By an act of the legislature the school committee are required to include these expenses in the amount sworn to by them as raised by taxation for the support of schools. It is this certificate containing transportation expenses forwarded each year with the school returns to the Board of Education that furnishes the basis for the annual distribution of that half of the income of the school fund apportioned to the small towns of the state, whose valuation is less than three million dollars.
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ACCOMMODATIONS.
Under the consolidation policy the committee have been able to reduce the number of schools in the town from fourteen to nine, and to accommodate all the pupils without crowding.
The school-house at Douglas Centre has been sheathed overhead, repainted inside and otherwise put in good condition, making a pleasant, comfortable school-room suitable to accom- modate all the pupils of the combined district. The new school building was opened Jan. 2. All the school-rooms are light and pleasant, the ventilation and heating are good, and the arrangement of the building is excellent. Six of the rooms have been furnished with single adjustable desks which add to the comfort and good order of these schools. Experience has demonstrated that the school building is entirely suited to its purpose.
With these advantages, supplemented by the strenuous efforts of the committee in securing economy and efficiency, it can be reasonably expected that a more adequate return for the large amount of money annually appropriated for the sup- port of schools will be the result.
ATTENDANCE.
Many irregularities continue to occur apparently, through the indifference and carelessness on the part of certain parents who do not seem to prize the school privileges and allow their children to remain at home for the most trivial reasons. This story of neglect is sadly told by the marks for tardiness and absence in the school registers. Irregular attendance, tardi- nesses and frequent dismissals all affect the progress of the whole school. It disorganizes the classes and increases the work of the teacher. Examination day arrives and the irregu- lar attendant fails to pass. The parents are dissatisfied with the progress of the child and blame the teacher. Strenuous efforts have been made by the teachers to secure regular atten- dance and in many cases these efforts have been rewarded with good success, but the question of attendance is very largely in the hands of parents who should enforce a rigid devotion to duty by requiring regular and punctual attendance.
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VISITATION OF SCHOOLS.
The registers containing the names of those who visit the schools during the year show that parents are not over enthusi- astic in this respect. If parents could have a better acquain- tance with the teachers and their work, and could realize more fully by personal observation the difficulties under which they labor, and the earnest effort being made by them in the interest of the children, we believe it would tend to lessen the cause for complaint and more cordial support would be given the schools. The registers show the number of visits made during the year. Visits by School Committee, 131
Parents and others, 330
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
More attention should be given to exercises in physical train- ing which is a valuable aid to the teacher as a means of secur- ing order. Disorder is the result of misdirected energy. The energy of the child should not be checked. The energy is right, but it needs intelligent direction which is an important part in the process of education. The practice in physical exercises teaches posture, carriage and a proper use of limbs and muscles. It teaches how to sit, rise, stand and to walk correctly. It tends to correct deformity and strengthen the moral nature. Drill in marching is also an important factor in the orderly conduct of a school.
WRITING,
The progress made in vertical writing deserves special men- tion, especially in the lower grades. Because of the large amount of written work required in the higher grades there is danger of carelessness. If poor papers are rejected and required to be copied, it takes so much time from the next subject. On the other hand if poor papers are accepted few good ones will ever follow. If more time could be given to the same amount of composition, the result would be a benefit to both language and penmanship.
CONCLUSION.
We wish to express our hearty thanks to the teachers for
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their co-operation and the faithful service which so fully char- acterizes their work.
To the janitor and truant officer we desire to express our apprecitation for their valuable assistance in securing good order and attendance.
The following appropriations are recommended for the sup- part of schools :
Schools, $4,000: books and supplies, $300: transporting pupils, $1,000.
WM. W. BROWN, SOLOMON F. ROOT, Superintending Committee.
CHAS. J. BATCHALLER,
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