USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1903 > Part 3
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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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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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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.
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٠
Annual Reports
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
Town of Douglas,
FOR YEAR ENDING
March 1, 1903.
AS
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INCORPO
PRESS OF CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, EAST DOUGLAS, MASS. 1993.
School Committee.
S. F. Root, Term expires March 1, 1905 1905
Fred A. Place,
Wm. H. Kendall, 1905
E. N. Jenckes, 1904
C. J. Batcheller, 1904
Edward B. Knapp, 1904
Louis B. Saxton, 1903
Chas. S. Caswell,
1903
Paul F. Ela,
1903
Organization.
Chairman, E. N. Jenckes.
Clerk, Louis B. Saxton.
Dr. Paul F. Ela,
Superintending Committee, < C. J. Batcheller, Fred A. Place.
Purchasing Agent, C. J. Batcheller.
Truant Officers, - F. F. Young.
M. H. Balcome.
Supt. of Schools, Francis S. Brick, Uxbridge.
Office hours at Douglas schools, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 4.30.
Appropriations and Receipts.
Appropriation for public schools, and for transportation of pupils, $5,000 00
Books and supplies, 500 00
Repairs, 100 00
Superintendent,
300 00
State school fund,
344 47
State, for Superintendent,
500 00
Town School Fund, (interest),
56 48
Books and supplies sold, 4 95
New books and supplies on hand, 219 29
Received for tuition of out-of-town pupils, 36 00
Balance unexpended, 538 15
$7,599 34
Expenditures.
Teachers,
$3,815 20
Superintendent,
600 78
Janitors, 522 00
Transporting pupils,
685 25
Truant officers,
22 00
School committee,
50 00
Purchasing agent,
25 00
Books and supplies, $564 34
Increase in supplies on hand 39 50
Books and supplies sold, 4 95- 44 45-
Total cost of books and supplies,
519 89
Fuel, 673 95 142 50- 531 45
Coal on hand,
School census,
10 00
General school expenses, -
132 17
Repairs,
Balance unexpended,
$6,913 74 $685 60
Report of the
Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee of Douglas,
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my second annual report of the schools of Douglas, for the year ending March 1, 1903, with the exception of the statistical report which is for the academic year ending July 1.
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS. TEACHING FORCE.
The following changes have occurred in the teaching force during the past year. Miss Sparks of the Grammar school re- signed in June and Miss Susan B. Merrill, of Brownville, Me. was engaged to fill the position. Miss Jennie Lawlor, of the South Douglas school resigned to take a course of study at the · Worcester Normal School and was succeeded by Miss Mary U. Harbort, of Webster, Mass. Miss Gertrude Smith at Douglas Center resigned and was succeeded by Miss E. M. Gould, of Goffstown, N. H. A new room was opened in the East Douglas building and Miss G. M. Damon, of Hyde Park, Mass. was engaged to fill the position. All new teachers are normal trained.
TEXT BOOKS.
As was stated in my last report the entire list of text books
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was in poor condition and an effort has been made to remedy this by renovation and addition of new books. Eggleston's Elementary History of U. S. was introduced in Grade V. Powell's History for Beginner's was placed in Grade VI. Scudder's U. S. History and Montgomery's U. S. History were placed in Grades VII and VIII. The most important changes however, were those in Arithmetic and the introduction of an extended supplementary reading course, the old Greenleaf's Arithmetic being exchanged for the new Franklin. The introduction of the study of Geography in the earlier grades necessitated the purchasing of an additional number of Geogra- phies. Owing to limited funds it was deemed unadvisable to attempt a change in spelling books and Physiologies this year. It is recommended that changes in these text books be made during the coming year; also to complete the list of supple. mentary reading recommended to your Committee in Sept- All of the foregoing changes have resulted in better work throughout the schools. I believe our schools are stronger than a year ago. The grades have been lifted, work specified and a healthy tone generally pervades the system. Much of this is due to the earnestness and good work of the teachers.
TEACHERS MEETINGS.
The teachers have organized themselves for the purpose of systematic study, both in methods and culture. A system of meetings have been carried on since September with excellent results, viz : First,- A series of general meetings held monthly which the teachers of different grades attend. These meetings are held on Thursday afternoon from 3.30 to 5. The principle purpose of these meetings is instruction in methods in teaching in various subjects. Second,-A series of individual meetings have been held monthly with each teacher ; primary, intermediate and grammar. The object of these meetings is to discuss applied methods, outline of work, ways of reaching specified results, short teaching lessons, and to
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discuss the. daily work of various grades at close range. Third .- Your teachers have also attended a series of pedagog- ical meetings held monthly at Uxbridge, in conjunction with the teachers of Uxbridge. These meetings are for the purpose of general instruction in methods of teaching and addressed by men of large personality and experience from other places in New England. The subjects cover the entire school curiculum.
I have in the foregoing briefly outlined to you the work done by the teachers for your school and for the children. The possibilites of the schools of Douglas are great. In order to realize to any extent these possibilites, some hard work was necessary. I have put an extra burden upon your teachers for the good of posterity and they have carried them well. The burden of planning and preparation, of study and effort, of aiding the especially dull, planning for them, of striving and working for others. I have called them burdens though they have long ceased to be such. The heaviness of burdens have been forgotten in the blessing of work and results.
I am grateful to the teachers for their belief in me and my plans, but for their effort and results, their endeavor to grow, and their manifest desire to uplift our school system, I especially commend them to you.
SUBJECTS TAUGHT.
Reading :- A decided change was made in the primary reading last fall in extending and specifying in detail how Reading should be taught. The scheme of the Rational Method begun the year before, in a small way, was put into operation in the lower schools. The salient points in this method in Grade I are these :
First .- Three weeks drill in conversation, with and about objects at hand, conversation to be in full sentences and as simple as possible. Also, as much of it to be written on the board as time will permit.
Second .- The learning of an initial group of eighty-two
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words. These are learned, not as isolated words, but in sentences written upon the board, so that the pupil gets the thought rather than the form alone.
Third .- A system of phonetic sounds and blending of these words that take the place of letters in learning new words. These phonetic forms are drilled upon up to Grade III.
Fourth .- Rapid reading of several books in each grade. Results of this plan show in lower grade that first grade pupils will read an ordinary primer in about four weeks. Reading is quick, bright, full of thought and intelligence.
Fifth .- The discovery of new words by individual effort. I have seen pupils meet such words as "handsome," "corner," "stand," for the first time and after a minute silent sounding pronounce them correctly. The principles of this method, so far as is possible, have been introduced into the upper grades, and we are already getting the fruits of our efforts along this line. Children who entered in September are now reading rapidly in the first primer. The same excellent results are reached in the other grades.
NEW SUPPLEMENTARY READING COURSE.
Much of the good results in the grades above Grade III is due to the supplementary list which was put in last fall. When this list was put into circulation a strong interest was manifest- ed in all reading matter.
HISTORY AND LITERATURE.
One of the most important departures in this year's work was the introduction of History and Literature in connection with reading, English and Geography. The supplementary Reading list was based largely on this outline and the English -Composition work-was made a medium of expression for the material absorbed.
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GEOGRAPHY.
The study of Geography is continued from Grade I. In the primary grades it takes the form of race teaching, weather forms-Nature-myth stories of stars, snowflakes, etc. History and Literature, and forms of land and water. Beginning with Grade V technical Geography is taught and continued to Grade IX. A detailed course was placed in the hands of the teachers and excellent work has been done.
HISTORY.
History follows the line of History, and Literature being one part of it, Eggleston's Elementary History, Powell's, Montgom- ery's Beginners and the various advanced books for technical study of History in the Grammar grades together with the various books in supplementary reading on this subject, are but a part of the more extended course in History and Litera- ture already mentioned.
SPELLING.
Spelling has undergone but little change beyond establishing fixed principles upon which to work. In the primary grades children are taught the alphabet as soon as possible.
ENGLISH.
As has been intimated under the head of text books a change was made in the English text books by substituting Metcalf's two book system for Hyde's three book system. We think the change is proving itself an excellent one. The work in English is good. The teachers are putting a great deal of hard work into this subject through supplementing stories, outlines, drills, pictures, etc. It would be strange indeed, if good results did not follow.
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WRITING.
At the suggestion of your Supt., a change was made in the writing last year from the vertical to the medial slant, believing that this would remedy certain defects that were found in the vertical. But the theory has not proved itself in fact; the the experiment has not met with success. We have increased the speed a little but at the cost of legibility. I therefore recommend a return to the former vertical system.
ARITHMETIC.
A very important change was made when the New Franklin Arithmetic was introduced and no subject has received more attention and improvement than Arithmetic. Arithmetic is fast becoming recognized as a practical study and one that has to do with the bread and butter question directly. That it has developing power and mental training there is no doubt, but these are of minor consideration as compared with the practical purposes of Arithmetic. The right of Arithmetic in the school curriculum depends wholly upon what concrete knowledge of rules it gives the children, and its value as taught in our schools is judged wholly by what a boy or girl takes out into life with them. I am gratified with the trend that this subject is taking in the school system of to-day, and I am pleased with the improvement we have made in our schools during the past year.
PROMOTION.
There is no question more discussed to-day by Supt., teachers, and Committee than that of promotion. To promote a pupil when he is unfitted for promotion is often an injustice to the pupil and is usually attended with serious results. On the other hand, to hold a pupil back produces discouragement and disappointment and often results in pupils leaving school if they are old enough.
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Last spring it was decided to make an effort along the line of good preparation for promotion. In June we held back a number of pupils, and sent a personal letter to the parent requesting an interview. The result of this policy was a general toning up of the work in various grades. An attempt in September, was made to enter each pupil in the grade to which he belonged, free from condition. The results, on the whole, were satisfactory and a definite policy has been outlined for the present year.
TRUANCY.
The question of truancy is the same in Douglas as elsewhere. It is a difficult subject to handle without some aggressive action. In many cases parents shield their children offering excuses even when they know that the children have staid out after having been sent to school. Too often the slightest indisposi- tion of the pupil is sufficient to warrant their staying away but not from playing out of doors. No aggressive policy has been used thus far believing that it is largely a matter of education. Still I think the time has arrived for some aggressive move- ment. There are about a dozen cases all told, too many for a town of this size. In most of these cases the parents are to blame.
COURSE OF STUDY.
In the past year an effort has been made to lay the founda- tion for a course of study. Something more than an outline. With this in view, detailed outlines have been developed at the teacher's meetings by months in nearly all studies. The application of a course of study whether in outline or detail is not a matter of snap judgment, but of careful development and experiment and we believe we have studied the situation sufficiently to warrant the issuing of a detailed course of study in all its branches for use in the schools next year.
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ABSENCE AND TARDINESS. .
Two of the greatest difficulties we have to contend with in our schools at the present time are tardiness and absence. Teachers have tried in all rational ways to eradicate this evil. The fact is, that parents regard an occasional day out as mere nothing, and tardiness as a trivial matter The pupil at all times should be taught, both by parent and teacher, that it is a misdemeanor not to be present at the opening of each session. It is not the tardy one alone who is injured, it is the teacher, the class, the whole school.
In the matter of absence it is of the highest importance to the children that parents make every effort to have them attend each session. Of course there are times when absence is necessary. A community can have just such schools as it demands and no better, and these points I have mentioned are straws of public sentiment. The unanimous co-operation of parent and teacher in this and everything else will go far toward elevating the schools of Douglas to their proper level.
Respectfully yours,
FRANCIS S. BRICK, Supt. of Schools.
Report of Superintending Committee.
To the Citizens of Douglas : -
The School Committee presents its annual report. Since the formation of the joint district with Uxbridge and the employment of a Superintendent, the Superintending Committee has been much less closely in touch with the actual work of the schools than in former years. You are therefore referred to the Superintendent's report, herewith presented, for details regarding the various problems presenting themselves in the school system of the town.
In general the committee is gratified to report a satisfactory condition in all parts of the system. We congratulate the citizens upon the progress which is bringing our schools to a higher grade of efficiency at all points.
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In the administration of the schools during the past year the committee has been confronted with one condition which requires an explanation on account of the false impression which has been prevalent, amounting to a gross misrepresen- tation of the acts and motives of the committee. This affair is the matter of requiring evidence of vaccination before admiss- ion to the schools. The law requires vaccination previous to entering school absolutely, giving the committee no discretion whatever, and the law does not specify how the committee shall ascertain the facts.
To go back a little: Two years ago the committee put in operation this provision of the law which had been neglected until the condition of the schools was really full of peril because of the general prevalence of small-pox in neighboring towns and cities. Many put off being vaccinated until the last minute, waiting for the Board of Health to take action provid- ing free vaccination. Consequently vaccination was hurried and often imperfect, and certificates were given, out of good nature, by physicians before the result could be ascertained or when repeated vaccinations had been made without result. In addition the certificates of scholars attending at Douglas were somehow lost before the opening of the present year.
During the fall term small-pox became epidemic in Dudley and Webster-the cases numbering thirty or forty in the two towns. The committee first called for new certificates but owing to the great inconvenience which this caused to people generally directed a physician to inspect the scholars at the schools. A considerable number of unvaccinated children had certificates of vaccination.
Owing to the misrepresentations which were set afloat regarding the motives of the committee, the alleged illegality of their action, and the distorted reports of legal opinions in support of these misrepresentations, your committee directed Mr. Superintendent Brick to obtain an opinion on the following statement of facts: The committee has information that many
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pupils in school received certificates last year who had never been vaccinated. Acting on this information the committee ordered a physician to examine the pupils at school. Certain pupils refuse to submit to examination or to submit certificates from their family physicians showing that their vaccinations were successful. The committee excludes these pupils until they present certificates or submit to examination from the committee's physician.
The following opinion was rendered :
MR. BRICK, Supt. of Schools, Douglas and Uxbridge,
My Dear Sir :- In reply to the inquiry made of me by you regarding vaccination of pupils attending the schools of Douglas, I am of the opinion that the School Committee will be justified in taking all necessary steps to satisfy themselves beyond reasonable doubt that such pupils have been duly vaccinated, and in the event of any refusing to submit to the required test, they would be liable to exclusion from the schools.
December 18, 1902.
A. A. PUTNAM.
The more sensible citizens complied cheerfully and at once with the request of the committee. Others were misled into allowing their children to remain out of school to their damage or to become subjects of discipline for refusing to comply. Steps have been taken to prevent such a state of things in the future. All pupils now in school will be registered with reference to vaccination and if the newly entering scholars are required to obey the law no further confusion need result.
In view of the little epidemic of small-pox in this town a year ago, when several recently vaccinated school children were repeatedly exposed to contagion, your committee has never regretted the enforcement of the law by which those children were protected and the town saved a far more serious and more expensive outbreak of the disease. Not one of the school children took the disease.
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APPROPRIATIONS.
The committee recommends the following appropriations :
For the support of schools and transportation of pupils, $5,000 00
Books and supplies, 300 00
Superintendent's salary, 300 00
Repairs, 100 00
PAUL F. ELA,
C. J. BATCHELLER, Superintending
FRED A. PLACE. Committee.
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