USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1905 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
27,561 96
Net gain for the year
$1008 48
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent.
FRANK H. BIRD, Auditor.
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR FOR 1904
Douglas, March 1st, 1905.
The Assessors for the year 1904 committed to me the Collector's book with warrant to collect and pay over to the Treasurer of the said town of Douglas the sum of . $19,655 38
I have collected and paid over to the Treasurer the sum of . 19,228 20
Leaving a balance uncollected of 427 18
Interest collected to March 1, 1905 .
. 14 43
Cash on hand collected since March 1, 1905 14 12
By vote of the town, March, 1902, the names of all delinquent taxpayers are to be printed in the town report each year and are as follows :
Joseph Ashe. $ 2 00 | Fred German . $ 2 00
Moses H. Balcom . . 46 80 William L. Humphry . .. 2 85
H'rs of Mrs. Betsey Brown 2 38 Mrs. Wm. L. Humphry. 7 65
Walter M. Brown . 22 27 Ernest Hedberg . . 2 00
Lewis Bellard . 3 36
William M. Kelly 2 00
Joseph H. Brothers 2 00
Edwin T. Kelly . 2 00
Alfred Casey 2 65 Napoleon Lambert 2 43
Andrew Crepka. 2 00
Robert F. Lund. 2 43
Samuel Call. 2 00 Peter Lenoix . 2 00
Guilford C. Dudley 8 12 Henry LeChance 2 00
Victor Duprey 3 27 Angelo Lavinia. 2 00
Felix Fountain 2 00 William Alex McChline. 2 00
Joseph Feno 2 00 Edward F. McMahon ... . 2 00
45
James F. Martin
2 00| Jason I. Waters . 3 70
Moses Martin
2 00
Herbert A. Wilcox 6 25
Robert Mahagen
2 00 Mrs. Delia J. Paine 10 20
Charles Mongeau
2 00
Alice Bailey . 1 70
Ambrose Noel, Sr.
1 78
James McLaughlin 7 65
Gustav Olson .
2 00
Dr. E. Granger . 1 70
Daniel Rogers, Sr.
8 37
Frank L. Putnam 2 12
Daniel Rogers, Jr
2 001
Frank Duval.
2 55
Wm. S. Reynolds.
2 00
Milton Humes
8 07
Frank Revord
8 37
Salem J. Shaw
10 20
John Reznicky
2 00
Joseph Malo.
3 40
Lewis Reno .
2 00
Herbert L. Ray 8 50
Est. of Willis Sherman .
2 55
Est. of Stephen Williams
2 63
Joseph Savory
2 00
James McMullen 85
B. Sjostron .
2 00
Barr Brothers
3 40
Martin Veznaian
2 00
William Warden
15 30
Joseph Vionio.
2 00
REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYORS
G. H. DUDLEY, District No. 1
G. H. Dudley, 312 h
$62 40 | John Leonard, 25 h
3 75
G. H. Dudley, 2 horses on
Walter Buxton, 26 h
3 90
cart 286 h 57 20
Charles Church, 25 h 3 75
G. H. Dudley, 2 horses on
Mr. Baley, 70 h
10 50
scraper 35 h 10 50 O. M. Chase 109 h 16 35
G. H. Dudley, 4 horses on
scraper 33 h 19 80
Walter E. Putnam, driver on scraper 33 h 5 77
C. Freeman, driver on scraper 35 h 6 12
O. M. Chase, 1 horse on cart 5 h 62
Phil. Manning, 111 h 16 65
Wm. H. Dudley, 213 h
31 95
Pat. Pennel, 25 h
3 75
Gifford Dudley, 63 h 9 45
Herbert Ballou, 5 h 75 Gifford Dudley, 2 horses
Walter Putnam, 140 h 21 00 on scraper 53 hours 15 90
A. P. Dudley, 213 h 31 95
Louis Titus 48 h
7 20
on cart 10 h 2 00
E. C. Parker and horse 10 h 3 50
Frank Smith, 28 h 7 00
Robert Lunn, 34 h
5 10
Joseph Richardson, horse and man 5 h 1 75
E. C. Parker, 229 loads of
gravel
11 45
G. H. Dudley, 45 loads
of gravel
2 25
W. H. Parker, 2 horses
on cart 50 h 10 00
W. H. Parker, 1 horse on
cart 10 h
1 25
Gifford Dudley, 2 horses
Harry Young, 7 h 1 05
Roy Titus, 10 h 1 50
Edward Buxton 38 h 5 70
Edward Buxton, 1 horse on cart 5h 62
Paul Manning, 20 h 3 00
C. Freeman 144 h 21 60
A. G. Wakefield, 93 h 13 95 W. H. Parker, 2 horses
on scraper 15 h 4 50
Wm. Jillson, bill
13 26
$448 74
47
M. B. HATHAWAY, Dist. No. 3.
L. A. Buffum, 53 h
$
7 95 | Charlie Benway, 77 h
11 55
W. F. Young, 28 h 4 20
W. E. Jones,
302 feet railing
3 02
2 horses and man
3 15
For drain pipe
28 80
W. F. Young, 1 horse 23 h 2 87
nails
31
John Horan, 28 h 4 20
For team drawing
. T. E. Hall, 30 h 4 50
gravel from Depot
1 horse 30 h 3 75
road
44 20
L. A. Buffum, 70 loads gravel 3 50
Snow bills
4 45
John Dunleavy, 16 loads gravel 80
M. B. Hathaway, 93 1-2 h 18 70
D. Dudley, 2 horses 5 h 00
$149 40
A. E. CHAPMAN, Dist. No. 4.
A. E. Chapman, 162 h $ 32 40 Myron Chase, 2 horses
2 horses
on cart, 19 h
3 80
on cart 52 h 10 40
A. E. Chapman, 2
on scraper, 30 h 9 00
Henry Chase, 95 h 14 25
2 horses on
Joseph Germain, 41 h
6 15
Fred
27 1-2 h
4 12
Henry Chase, 1 horse on
L. Brown, 10 h
1 50
scraper, 30 h 4 50
Myron Chase, 39 h
5 85
$125 77
S. P. RAWSON, Dist. No. 6.
S. P. Rawson, 251 1-2 h
50 30 : William Rosewood, 55 h
8 25
S. P. Rawson, horses, 164 h
32 80
162 loads gravel 8 10
Fred Dupont, 96 h
14 40
David Lunn, 9 h
1 35
horses on
horses 9 h 1 80
cart, 96 h 19 20
Peter Vergin, 90 h
14 50
Joseph Horton, 51 h 7 65 David Lunn, 20 h driv- Mr. Larracy, 96 h 14 40 ing 4 horses 3 50
Frank Sawyer, 15 h
2 25
Felix Lamacy, 66 h
9 90
Mr. Berrard, 5 h
75
S. P. Rawson, horses
Arthur Vergin, 95 h 14 25
20 h on scraper 6 00
William Brown, 10 h
1 50 |David Lunn, man 10 h 1 50
George Gleason
70
Alphonzo Chase, 94 h
14 10
Frank Eddy, 68 h
10 20
1 horse on
scraper 30 h
4 50
cart, 25 h 5 00
Thomas Buxton heirs,
David Lunn, horse 20 h on scraper 6 00
W. F. Young, 2 horses 5 h 1 00
Felix Lemay, 5 h
75
48
Charles Mainard, 7 h 1 05
Mr. Tatron, 25 h 3 75
Adolph Olson, 54 h ' 8 10
D. Dudley, sharpening tools 75
W. R. Wallis, 2 Ames spades 2 40
W. R. Wallis, 1 bush scythe and snath 1 60
$236 05
SNOW ROADS
S. P. Rawson, 15 h 3 00
horses 13 h 2 60
Fred Dupont, 16 h 2 40 Fred Dupont, horses, 16 h 3 20
Adolf Olson, 10 h 1 50
R. Bosma, 14 h 2 10 Paul Johnson, 5 h 75
Will Kenyon, 4 h 60
$ 16 15
P. CONVERSE, District No. 7
Alva Hall, 95 h $14 25 | Frank Gurtain and horse
F. R. Caswell, 15 h
2 25 15 h 6 00
F. R. Caswell, horse and cart 15 h 1 87
Robert Lind, 50 h 7 50
Mr. Linburg, 20 h 3 00
W. E. Jones, 122 lb spikes 4 88|J. B. Sweet, 24 loads
W. E. Jones, 3 spades and ho 3 40
1
gravel 1 20
J. B. Sweet, 45 ft plank 90
J. B. Sweet, 180 ft rail- ing, 10 posts 2 80
W. E. Jones, 22 ft. 10 in. Charles Mckay, sharpen- piping 9 90 ing tools 50
W. E. Jones, man and horse 20 h 8 00
W. E. Jones, dynamite caps, fuse
1 00
Jared Converse, 5 h
75
P. Converse, 200 h
40 00
P. Converse, horse and cart 100 h 12 50
Mitchel Foster, 20 h 3 00
Peter St. Andrew, 20 h 3 00
W. E. Carpenter, 41 h 6 15
W. E. Carpenter, horse and cart 41 h 5 12
W. E. Carpenter, 90
loads of gravel 4 50
Homer Marcier, 45 h 6 75
Frank Gurtain and horse 35 h 12 25
gravel
2 85
Frank Gurtain, 34 loads
gravel 1 70
Jared Converse, horse and cart 5 h 63
Edw. Carpenter, 41 h 6 15
Alfred Frank, 30 h 4 50 Robert Foster, 5 h 50
Patrick Dermody, 10 h
1 50
Patrick Dermody, sharp- ening tools 30
A. Roberts, 15 h 2 25
Mrs. Morse, 57 loads of
W. H. Parker, 670 ft plank 12 06
W. E. Jones, per bill 1903 C. Barton 1 46
W. R. Wallis, 1270 ft plank 28 16
J. Hogkins 20 h
3 00
49
W. H. Parker, 6 sleepers
12 00 | P. Converse, horse and
W. M. Brown, 20 h 3 00
cart 10 h
1 25
M. B. Hathaway, 10 h 1 50
M. Benson, 10 h 2 50
$6 25
Charles Benway, 10 h 1 50
Charles Gazette, 10 h 1 50
Joseph Creture, 10 h 1 50
W. E. Carpenter, 14 h
2 10
Edw. Carpenter, 14 h
2 10
W.E.Carpenter, horse, 14 h 1 75
P. Converse, 15 h 3 00
P. Converse, horse 8 h 1 02
Joseph Creature, 10 h $1 50
Mr. Paquette, 10 h 1 50
P. Converse, 10 h 2 00
M. SOUTHWICK, Dist. No. 8.
M. Southwick, 356 h $71 20 [D. Lunn, driving horses horse and on scraper 20 h, cart 90 h 11 25 and horses on scrap- er 20 h 9 50
L. Taft, and horses, 49 h
17 50
horses, 15 h 3 00
S. P. Rawson, 20 h
3 00
66 28 h 4 20
horses on
S. Hindon, and horses, 30 h 10 50
scraper, 20 h 6 00
S. Hindon, 48 h 7 20
H. Hindon, 43 h
6 45
C. Maynard, 49 h
7 35
D. Dudley, horses, 27 h
5 40
L. Arnold, 100 h 15 00
J. Anderson, 37 h 5 55
$195 80
E. Paine, 55 h 8 25
J. B. HOWARD, District No. 9
J. B. Howard, 256 h $51 20 | Walter Jones, 2-horse
Arthur Jones, 2-horse team and man 75 h 26 25
team and man 59 h 20 65
Walter Jones 2-horse team and man 5 h 1 75
Arthur Jones, 2-horse team and man 60 h 21 00
Michael Foster, 46 h 6 90
Walter Jones, 2-horse
Michael Foster, 75 h
11 25
team and man 59 h 20 65
Michael Foster, 20 h 3 00
SNOW ROAD
$249 28
SIDEWALK ACCOUNT
$9 97
Dynamite fuse and caps 90
M. Southwick, railing bridge, 10 h 2 00
M. Southwick, 4 posts 40
L. Arnold, 10 h 1 50
50
Michael Foster, 35 h
5 25 | Michael Foster, 20 h 3 00
Fred Liberty, 41 h 6 15 |E. Burk, 20 h 3 00
Albert Linburg, 25 h 3 75 L. Titus, 20 h 3 00
Wilfred Rider, 20 h 3 00 James Howard, 10 h 1 50
Jos. Foster, 20 h 3 00
Walter Jones and team, scraper 10 h 5 00
Fred Wentworth, 31 h 4 65
Fred Wentworth, 13 h
1 95
Walter Carpenter, 60 loads of gravel 3 00
Fred Wentworth, 85 h
12 75
Putnam Rawson, 20 h
3 50
W. R. Wallis, 140 loads of gravel 7 00
James Howard, 13 h 1 95
Jos. W. Howard, 65 h
9 75
Jos. W. Howard, 45 h
6 75
W. E. Jones, pail and dipper 60
David Lunn, horses and
man on scraper 20 h 10 50
$292 80
Putnam Rawson, horses on scraper 20 h ยท 8 00
SNOW ACCOUNT
Fred Dupont and team, 10 h 3 50
James Howard, 10 h 1 50
J. B. Howard, 40 h 8 00
D. Lunn and team, scraper 10 h 5 25
$2 25
H. C. METCALF, Dist. No. 10.
H. C. Metcalf, 117 h
$ 23 40 Thayer estate, 45 loads
A. L. Metcalf, 166 h
24 90
gravel
2 25
W. Hereenden, 10 h 1 50 Buffum and team, 20 h 7 00
A. H. Brown, 65 h 9 75'A. Brown, 92 loads H. A. Brown, 57 h 8 55 gravel 4 60
H. C. Metcalf, horse and cart 97 h 12 12
J. Savery, 20 h 3 00
E. Carpenter, 67 h
10 05
H. Howard, 37 h 5 55
A. F. Brown, 2 horses and cart, 40 h 8 00
$167 77
H. C. Metcalf, 97 h
19 40
horse and
W. Carpenter, horse and cart, 68 h 8 50 cart 5 h 62
Hugins, 35 h
5 25
F. Libbe, 12 h 1 80
McCornic, 17 h
2 55
A. L. Metcalf. 93 h 13 95
J. Murphy, 44 h
6 60 F. Chappell, 91 h 13 65
and 1 hoe 1 70
Homer Babson, 5 h 75 Walter Heath, 26 h 3 90
W. R. Wallis, 2 spades
Erastus Chase, 5 h 75
Fennef, mason, 20 h 6 00
W. E. Carpenter, 76 h 11 40
W. E. Jones, 2 shovels and 8 feet pipe 6 80
51
T. Snow, 27 h 4 05 | H. C. Metcalf, filing 3 saws 60
Herendeen, 34 1-2 h 5 17
Mrs. Gould, stone
50
$ 58 59
Gus Dudley, 6 horses on scraper 25 h 22 50
W. R. Wallis,-supplies
106 posts, planed 26 50
P. Dudley, 25 h
3 75
946 ft chestnut, planed 20 81
Putnam, driver, 20 h
3 50
Planing 3 11
Gus Dudley, holding
1245 feet spruce
29 88
scraper, 25 h 5 00
8 bolts
26
Giff Dudley, 25 h
3 75
40 lbs nails
1 40
341 feet chestnut
7 50
$ 39 00
$ 89 46
Am't up
58 59
CR-Supplies returned
167 77
88 feet chestnut
1 50
96 feet spruce
2 54
$265 36
$ 85 42
Correct-
F. H. BIRD, Auditor
By-Laws of the Town of Douglas
ARTICLE I.
TOWN MEETINGS.
SECTION 1. 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-Office at East Douglas and Douglas Centre, and one on the school house in South Douglas.
SECTION 2. In town meetings, all persons present shall, on re- quest of the moderator, as far as practicable, be seated.
SECTION 3. No motion shall be entertained at an adjourned meeting, for the reconsideration of any vote passed at the original meeting, or at an adjournment of the same, unless notice of such motion shall have been given at such original meeting, or at an ad- journment 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 anyone 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.
53
ARTICLE II.
SECTION 1. 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 sever- al 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 de- clare that the amounts agree with 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 re- newal of all fire insurance on the Town's properties, 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 payment of any of his own or any other person's private bills or obligations, nor for any other purpose, except for paying 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 approved and countersigned by at least a majority of the Board of Selectmen. He shall prepare and deliver to the Board of Selectmen, on or be- fore 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
54
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 department, which shall be always subject to the inspection and 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 sub- ject 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 de- posited in some bank or Trust Company, 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 1. It shall be the duty of the School Committee of the Town to appoint two suitable persons to be designated as "Truant Officers," who shall, under the direction of said Commit- tee, inquire into all cases coming under this article, and shall alone be authorized, in case of violation thereof, to make complaint and carry into execution the judgment thereof.
Truant officers so appointed shall at all times be subject to re- moval by the School Committee, and their compensation 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 convicted under the provisions of this article.
SECTION 3. Any child between the ages of seven and fifteen years, who is an habitual truant, or is found wandering about the streets or public places of the town, having no lawful occupation or business, not attending school, or growing up in ignorance, shall,
55
upon conviction thereof, be committed to the Worcester County 1 ruant School at West Boylston, Mass., for such term as the Justice or Court having jurisdiction may determine.
SECTION 4. Truant officers appointed as herein provided, 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 1. No person shall play at any game of ball or foot- ball, 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 whatever, except by the consent of the Selectmen ; nor set or plant any trees within the limits of the streets or highways 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, jump- er, or otherwise, except at such places and under such restrictions and regulations as the Selectmen shall designate and require.
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 dis- orderly 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
56
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, door- step, portico, fence or projection, or any such meeting-house, pub- lic hall, railroad depot or platform, or entrance thereto, commit any nuisance, 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 pro- visions of the preceeding 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 different provision is made by the laws of the Commonwealth.
SECTION 6. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or an- nulled at any meeting called for the purpose, by a vote of two- thirds of those present and voting thereon.
SECTION 7. If these by-laws be adopted by the town and ap- proved 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, 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.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1905
INCOR
746
PO
1
UXBRIDGE, MASS. L. H. BALCOME, PRINTER 1905
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
LOUIS B. SAXTON Term expires March 1, 1906
WALTER PARKER
1906
WALTER E. JONES
1906
S. F. ROOT
1905
FRED A. PLACE. 66
1905
WM. H. KENDALL
1905
E. N. JENCKES
1907
WM. MANAHAN 66
1907
E. T. RAWSON
1907
ORGANIZATION
Chairman, E. N. JENCKS Clerk, LOUIS B. SAXTON
SUPERINTENDING COMMITTEE
FRED A. PLACE LOUIS B. SAXTON E. T. RAWSON
PURCHASING AGENT
S. F. ROOT
TRUANT OFFICERS
A. B. SIMMONS WM. MANAHAN
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FRANCIS S. BRICK. Office hours, at East Douglas schools Tues- days and Thursdays, from 11.30 a. m. to 1 p. m.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1904-05
FALL TERM
All schools opened September 5, 1904. All schools except the High school closed November 18. High school closed December 23. Length of term, for High school, sixteen weeks ; for all other schools eleven weeks.
WINTER TERM
Elementary schools opened December 28, 1904. Closed March 3, 1905. Length of term, thirteen weeks. High school opened January 2, 1905. Closed March 17, 1905. Length of term, twelve weeks.
SPRING TERM, RECOMMENDED
All schools open March 27. Close June 16. Length of term, twelve weeks.
HOLIDAYS AND RECESSES
Patriot's Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas recesses.
4
APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS
Appropriations for public schools and for transportation of pupils . $5000 00
Books and supplies 300 00
State school fund
777 92
State, for superintendent .
500 00
Received for tuition, out of town pupils 6 00
Balance unexpended . 1274 87
Books and supplies.
382 45
$8241 24
EXPENDITURES
Teachers $4360 50
Janitors 567 10
Superintendent
630 00
Repairs on high school building
97 05
Douglas Center school building . .
24 01
Transporting .
733 50
Truant officers .
11 50
School committee.
50 00
Fuel $654 61
Coal on hand at new school house .. 250 00
404 61
Books and supplies
379 95
Purchasing agent.
25 00
Balance unexpended
958 02
$7283 22
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee, "Douglas, Mass :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit my annual report of the schools of Douglas, for the year ending March 1, 1905.
In developing a system of education in any locality time is a necessary factor. It is true that certain things indicate the rate and direction of progress but a certain amount of time must elapse be- fore definite results appear. Learning of small things may be had in a day, but the education of the children of a community from five to fifteen years of age, must necessarily be of slow progress.
It is now a little over three years since the present policy was adopted and put into operation and while you are familiar with its working and most of its results, it may be well to pause and scan the details more closely.
There are three lines of education today, along which the public schools-and all others-are supposed to work with more or less emphasis on each, viz : training of character, training for efficiency, and the acquisition of knowledge. The sectarian schools are em- phasizing the first, the general public is demanding the last, and the great world of undiscovered things is crying out for the second. No special effort seems to be made to train for efficiency and power in our common schools until the secondary schools and higher in- stitutions of learning are reached, and this, notwithstanding the fact that the plastic age of childhood is the period when seeds of power and efficiency are germinated. Children are hustled into school at the age of five and out at the age of fourteen in order
6
that they may get to work earning almost before they are out of their knickerbockers and short dresses. Even if they are allowed to go further, into high and technical schools the cry is to shorten the courses that a young man or woman may enter life early. We are forgetting that it takes time to grow. The art of childhood is fast becoming lost and yet this great world of undiscovered things is crying eagerly for men and women who can do things, who can think for themselves, who have virile strength and the power to meet crises and surmount obstacles. Elbert Hubbard says that the rank and file of men and women lack the iniative and have to be told what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and then, have to be put under a boss in order that it is done properly and on time. If this be true why should not the training for efficiency and power go hand in hand with the acquisition of knowledge ? Why should not the study of reading, arithmetic, geography and history be made a means of power and efficiency as well as the end of knowledge?
During the last three years two phases of education have been equally emphasized, viz : Knowledge and power, and though we may have fallen short of much that was aimed at, yet we believe that every perceptible progress has been made. We have attempted to lessen the dwaddling tendency by providing definite work for a pupil every minute of the day, and making every minute count. The teacher is asked to plan the work outside of the school in order that she may understand the principles that underlie the teaching of each subject. She is asked to plan for the manner and method of seat work as well as recitations and have her aims clear- ly defined.
As a result of this policy, we are able to strengthen the Grammar school by completing geography and arithmetic earlier than in past years and putting in their stead some studies properly belonging there, namely : technical physiology and elementary algebra. The same amount of geography which has heretofore required the en- tire ninth year to complete is now completed in the middle of the ninth year and technical physiology is taken up in its place. The same is true of arithmetic. The same amount of arithmetic re- quired the entire nine years of the elementary school to complete is now practically completed in seven years and a half and with
7
much better results, no arithmetic being taught in Grade I, and ele- mentary algebra being alternated with arithmetic the last half of the ninth year.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.