USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1919 > Part 2
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400 00
4
559 00
$2,365 00
STATE AID ACCOUNT.
Paid No. 1
$312 00
498 00
3
88 00
$898 00
RECEIPTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1919
$217 52
Received from Town Treasurer
8,570 56
66
Natick. 30 00
66
66 Sutton.
24 00
66
.. State Treasurer
817 12
$9,659 20
TOTAL PAYMENTS.
At almshouse
$5,419 23
Outside poor
394 25
Mothers aid
2,365 00
State aid
898 00
Lockup . .
29 35
Town Natick
30 00
Town Sutton
24 00
Miscellaneous
42 53
$9,202 36
Cash in hands of Overseers
Amount due from State
1,383 00
66
66
Town of Oxford, 1917. . $273 00
66
66 66
66
1918 .. 224 00
$456 84
497 00
The following improvements have been made at the almshouse buildings during the year which have enhanced the value of the real estate very materially.
30
Water Works System ..
$884 08
Heating plant. . .
885 00
Electric lighting, etc ..
457 75
Corn crib and coolers®
256 50
Plumbing
400 00
$2,883 33
Inmates at almshouse Jan. 1, 1920,
NO.
AGE
WEEKS
DAYS
1
91
52
1
2
45
52
1
3
67
52
1
4
64
52
1
5
61
37
1
6
74
37
1
7
70
11
4
Cost of poor at farm per week $3.24 per capita.
OVERSEERS HAVE RECEIVED FOR THEIR SERVICES.
Henry D. Mowry
$100 00
Orlan F. Chase
25 00
H. N. Lougee
. . . . 25 00
$150 00
HENRY D. MOWRY, ORLAN F. CHASE, H. N. LOUGEE,
Overseers of the Poor.
February 10, 1920.
The books of the Overseers of Poor have been examined and are found to be correct and the cash receipts and disbursements agree with the foregoing report.
WM. FRANKLIN HALL, C. P. A.
31
Report of Willie R. Wallis, Agent ON THE
DEVISE OF MOSES WALLIS
To the Town of Douglas
For the Year Ending Jan. 1, 1920.
The Agent charges himself with amounts due the town Jan. 1, 1919, as follows:
Notes due the Town
$1825 00
Accrued Int. on notes
129 61
Deposited Rhode Island Hospital Trust
Company and Interest
21,400 55
Cash in hands of Agent
4 50
Liberty Bonds and Interest
25,127 77
$48,487 43
1919
Jan. 1 Cash in hands of Agt. $4 50
Jan. 3 Wm. H. Evans, on Prin 50 00
Wm. H. Evans, on Int. 8 78
Jan. 11 David Lunn, on Int. 30 00
Feb. 27 Ordeal Casey, on Prin. 100 00
Ordeal Casey, on Int. 30 00
May 1 Interest R. I. H. Trust Co.
269 70
May 1 Interest on Bonds
500 00
July 1 Wm. H. Evans, on Prin.
50 00
Wm. H. Evans, on Int. . 10 50
Nov.
1 Interest R. I. H. Trust Co. 444 40
32
Nov. 17 Interest on Bonds 500 00
Dec.
17 Ordeal Casey, on Prin. 200 00
Ordeal Casey, on Int. 24 00
Dec. 30 David Lunn, on Int.
30 00
Dec. 31 Interest R. I. H. Trust Co .. ... 170 68
$2422 56
Agent has paid out as follows:
1919
May 1 R. I. H. Trust Company . $269 70
May 26 R. I. H. Trust Company
500 00
Sept. 26 R. I. H. Trust Company. 283 78
Nov. 1 R. I. H. Trust Company .
444 40
Nov. 17 R. I. H. Trust Company .
500 00
Dec. 18 R. I. H. Trust Company .
224 00
Dec. 30 R. I. H. Trust Company .
30 00
Dec. 31 R. I. H. Trust Company.
170 68
$2,422 56
NOTES DUE THE TOWN JAN. 1, 1920.
Maker of Note
Paid by
Principal
Interest
Salina Casey
Ordeal Casey
$200 00
Frank Duval
300 00
$36 00
Frank Duval
125 00
15 00
David and Amos Lunn David Lunn
500 00
35 33
Edward M. Southwick
Wm. H. Evans
300 00
9 75
$1,425 00
$96 08
RECAPITULATION.
Cash in hands of Agent and Bonds $25,004 50
Cach received during year
533 28
Interest received R. I. H. Trust Co.
884 78
Interest received on Bonds
1000 00
Interest due on Bonds
127 77
$27,550 33
Cash paid out during year :
Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co.
$537 78
Int. deposited R. I. H. Trust Co.
884 78
Int. deposited R. I. H. Trust Co.
1000 00
Int. due on Bonds
127 77
Bonds . . 25,000 00
..
$27,550 33
33
Notes due the Town $1425 00
Int. on notes due the Town.
96 08
Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. and Int.
23,823 11
Liberty Bonds and Int. to date 25,127 77
$50,471 96
Due Agent care 2 years
150 00
$50,321 96
Value of Devise Jan. 1, 1919
48,412 43
Net gain for the year
$1909 53
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent.
34
Report of Tax Collector
TO JANUARY 1st FOR YEAR 1919.
The assessors for the year 1919, committed to me on the 23rd day of August the Collector's book with warrant to collect and pay over to the Treasurer of said Town of Douglas, the sum of. $22,206 27 Dec. 18th, extra assessment 167 65
$22,373 92
I have collected and paid over to the Treasurer of said Town in cash and abatements and interest. . 21,600 54
Leaving a balance Jan. 1. $773 38
I have collected since January 1st and paid to
Treasurer in cash and interest 188 57
$584 81
JOHN B. CHAPDELAINE, SR., Collector.
35
Tree Warden's Report for 1919-20.
Spraying
W. E. Carpenter, 65 hours at 50c. $32 50
W. L. Carpenter, 55 hours at 50c. 27 50
B. Aldrich, 17 hours, at 50c. 8 50
L. Jette, 8 hours at 50c 4 00
Team, 27 hours at 25c 6 75
Whitin Machine Co. 100 lbs. lead 0 00
Setting trees
W. E. Carpenter, 18 hours at 45 $8 10
E. E. Carpenter, 6 hours at 35c 2 10
5 Rock Maples 13 45
Removing trees
W. E. Carpenter, 24 hours at 50c
$12 00
W. L. Carpenter, 24 hours at 50c 12 00
B. Aldrich, 24 hours at 50c 12 00
Team, 24 hours at 25c 6 00
W. E. Jones, 28 sticks dynamite 14 00
Pruning
W. E. Carpenter, 61 hours at 50c $30 50
W. L. Carpenter, 61 hours at 50c 30 50
L. Jette, 8 hours at 50c 4 00
B. Aldrich, 53 hours at 50c 26 50
Team, 61 hours at 25c . . . . .
15 25
Supplies
W. R. Wallis, paint 80c
Brush 30c
Nozzle 75c
$1 85
36
W. E. Jones, 11/2 in. stop $1 25
2 hose clamps 25c
1 key and fitting .50
1 roll tape .35
$2 35
J. B. Chapdelaine, oil
.30
St. Andre, filing saw
.25
C. Wellman, automobile .
1 50
$271 90
Credited
By cash per chopping-block 1 00
$270 90
Discrepancy
65
$270 25
W. E. CARPENTER, Tree Warden.
37
REPORT OF
Road Commissioner.
WORK ON HIGHWAYS.
G. H. Dudley, 627 hours at 45c $282 15
2 horses, 259 hours at 40c 103 60
2 horses, 244 hours at 50c 122 00
1 horse, 508 hours at 20c. 101 60
W. H. Dudley, 454 hours at 373c 170 23
2 horses, 195 hours at 40c 78 00
2 horses, 44 hours at 373c 16 50
2 horses, 294 hours at 50c
147 00
A. L. Chase, 213 hours at 37₺c.
79 871
H. A. Peters, 14 hours at 371c.
5 25
C. Dudley, 4 hours at 37₺c .
1 50
A. P. Dudley, 148 hours at 373c
55 50
2 horses, 34 hours at 40c.
13 60
2 horses, 66 hours at 50c
33 00
H. S. Parker, 333 hours at 37}c.
124 873
Wm. Buxton, 129 loads gravel at 5c.
6 45
5 25
Palmer's man, 6 hours at 373c.
2 25
Roy Kenyon, 75 hours at 37₺c.
28 12}
2 horses, 75 hours at 40c 30 00
David Lunn, 24 hours at 37₺c 9 00
James Smith, 179 hours at .37}c.
67 12₺
Palmer Converse, 14 hours at 37₺c. 2 horses, 14 hours at 40c .
5 60
38
Wm. Riley, 451 hours at 37₺c. 169 12}
A. B. Simmons, 334 hours at 37{c. 125 25
124 loads gravel at 5c . 6 20
H. S. Parker, 16 hours at 37₺c. 6 00
Elmer Kenyon, 51 hours at 37₺c.
19 12}
George Snow, 51 hours at 37gc
19 12₺
Edrastus Chase, 20 hours at 37₺c.
7 50
Chas. Generoux, 316 hours at 373c.
118 50
Phil Manning, 4 hours, at 37₺c
. 50
2 horses, 4 hours at 40c . 1 60
80 25
Henry Gamble, 48 hours at 37&c.
18 00
Robert Lunn, 16 hours at 37₺c 1 horse, 8 hours at 20c
1 60
Mr. Signet, 9 loads gravel at 5c
45
B. F. Aldrich, bill .
51 81
J. E. Singleton, bill
45 00
W. H. Parker, 571 ft. plank at 35c.
19 99
Whitin Machine Works, grinding scraper blades
1 00
S. P. Copp, repairs on scraper
2 25
C. W. Goulette 2 20
$2,190 973
H. PETERS-HIGHWAY.
Henry Peters, 123 hours at 373c $46 12}
2 horses, 60 hours at 40c. . 24 00
Louis Statta, 121 hours at 37gc 45 374
2 horses, 58 hours at 40c 23 20
Chas. Bordeaux, 119 hours at 37&c. 44 62₺
Chas. Dudley, 30 hours at 3720 11 25
16 50
Fred Forget, 44 hours at 373
18 00
Sol. Sweeney, 51 hours at 372c
19 12
Frank Revoird, 19 hours at 372
7 123
2 horses, 19 hours at 40c. ..
7 60
$262 92
ROY KENYON-HIGHWAY.
Roy Kenyon, 95 hours at 372c.
$35 623
2 horses, 32 hours at 50c 16 00
1 horse, 55 hours at 20c 11 00 ..
P. W. Peters, 48 hours at 37}c.
6 00
Herbert Ballou, 214 hours at 37}c
39
George Snow, 72 hours at 37₺c 27 00
2 horses, 8 bours at 50c . 4 00
Frank Snow, 8 hours at 373c
3 00
$96 623
RAILING HIGHWAY.
G. H. Dudley, 12 hours at 45c $5 40
1 horse, 12 hours at 20c. 2 40
A. L. Chase, 12 hours at 37{c. 4 50
Wm. Riley, 12 hours at 372c
4 50
James Smith, 12 hours at 37{c.
4 50
Edrastus Chase, 12 hours at 37{c
4 50
Chas. Generoux, 12 hours at 374c. 4 50
Chas. Church, 1200 ft. cedar poles at 2c ft. 24 00
$54 30
STONE ROAD.
G. H. Dudley, 184 hours at 45c $82 80
2 horses. 98 hours at 40c 39 20
2 horses, 136 hours at 50c. 68 00
1 horse, 176 hours at 20c 35 20
87 75
2 horses, 98 hours at 40c
39 20
2 horses, 155 hours at 50c
78 00
H. S. Parker, 98 hours at 37₺c
36 75
A. L. Chase, 98 hours at 37gc
36 75
James Smith, 90 hours at 37{c. ..
33 75
Wm. Riley, 254 hours at 37₺c
95 25
Edrastus Chase, 70 hours at 37{c
26 25
Chas. Generoux, 218 hours at 37{c
81 75
A. B. Simmons, 168 hours at 373c
63 00
4 50
A. P. Dudley, 12 hours at 37}c. 2 horses, 12 hours at 50c 6 00 Phillip Manning, 8 hours at 373c. 3 00 2 horses 8 hours at 40c 3 20
Herbert Ballou, 144 hours at 37₺c
54 00
Henry Gamble, 52 hours at 37}c 19 50
Will Buxton, 37 loads gravel at 5c
1 85
$895 70
W. H. Dudley. 234 hours at 373c
40
RESERVOIR ROAD.
G. H. Dudley, 64 hours at 45c $28 80
2 horses, 24 hours at 40c 9 60
2 horses 52 hours at 50c 26 00
1 horse, 72 hours at 20c. 14 40
W. H. Dudley, 76 hours at 373c 28 50
2 horses, 24 hours at 40c.
9 60
2 hours, 48 hours at 50c
24 00
H. S. Parker. 64 hours at 37₺c
24 00
A. L. Chase, 72 hours at 373c
27 00
A. B. Simmons, 68 hours at 37₺c
25 50
Wm. Riley, 52 hours at 373.
19 50
Chas. Generoux, 64 hours at 373
24 00
Henry Gamble, 24 hours at 373c. .
9 00
6 00
Phil Manning, 16 hours at 37{c 2 horses, 16 hours at 50c
8 00
A. P. Dudley, 28 hours at 37gc 2 horses, 28 hours at 50c.
14 00
Wm. Buxton, gravel, 89 loads at 5c. 4 45
Mrs. Correll, gravel. 6 loads at 5c. 30
$313 15
COOK STREET.
G. H. Dudley, 36 hours at 45c $16 20
2 horses, 48 hours at 50c 24 00
. 1 horse 36 hours at 20c. . 7 20
W. H. Dudley. 48 hours at 373c 18 00
2 horses, 68 hours at 50c
34 00
Chas. Generoux, 64 hours at 37}c
24 00
Wm. Riley. 52 hours at 37gc.
19 50
A. B. Simmons, 20 hours at 37Įc.
7 50
A. P. Dudley, 28 hours at 373 2 horses, 28 hours at 50c 14 00
10 50
Herbert Ballou, 8 hours at 373c
3 00
Wm. Buxton, gravel, 50 loads at 5c 2 50
Mr. Signet, gravel, 2 loads at 5c. . . .
10
$180 50
UXBRIDGE ROAD.
G. H. Dudley, 44 hours at 45c .. $18 00
1 horse, 40 hours at 20c 8 00
10 50
41
2 horses, 24 hours at 50c . $12 00
W. H. Dudley, 24 hours at 37gc. 9 00
2 horses, 64 hours at 50c. . 32 00
Chas. Generoux, 64 hours at 37{c
24 00
A. B. Simmons, 34 hours at 373c.
13 50
A. P. Dudley, 8 hours at 373c.
3 00
W. Riley, 40 hours at 373c
15 00
Herbert Ballou, 32 hours at 37}c ..
12 00
Henry Gamble, 24 hours at 37₺c
9 00
Mrs. Buffum. 5 loads gravel at 5c . .
25
$155 25
NEW ROAD.
G. H. Dudley, & hours at 45c. $3 60
2 horses, 8 hours at 50c 4 00
1 horse. 8 hours at 20c 1 60
W. H. Dudley, 8 hours at 373
3 00
2 horses. 8 hours at 50c.
4 00
Chas. Generoux, 8 hours at 37c
3 00
A. B. Simmons, 16 hours at 37gc.
6 00
W'm. Riley. 8 hours at 37}c. ..
3 00
A. P. Dudley, 8 hours at 373c
3 00
2 horses. 8 hours at 50c 4 00
W'm. Buxton, 2 loads gravel at 5c. 10
Mr. Signet. 14 loads gravel at 5c.
70
$36 00
G. H. DUDLEY, Road Commissioner.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
and Superintendent of Schools
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1919
LAS
1
S
1746
4
INCORP
WHITINSVILLE, MASS .: PRESS OF EAGLE PRINTING CO. 1920.
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
FRANK H. BIRD, Term expires March, 1920
HARRY L. STOCKWELL,
66 March, 1920
GILBERT W. ROWLEY 66 March, 1921
WILLIAM T. LOOMIS, 66 March, 1921
CHARLES J. BATCHELLER. 66 66 March, 1922
CHARLES L. CHURCH,
March, 1922
SUPERINTENDING COMMITTEE.
GILBERT W. ROWLEY, Chairman
WILLIAM T. LOOMIS, Secretary
FRANK H. BIRD
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
C. L. JUDKINS
PURCHASING AGENT. W. T. LOOMIS
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS
THOS. P. RITCHIE C. L. JUDKINS
3
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Winter term-Dec. 29, 1919 to March 26, 1920, 13 weeks. Spring term-April 5, 1920 to June 18, 1920, 11 weeks.
Fall term-Sept. 7, 1920 to Dec. 17, 1920, 15 weeks. Winter term-Dec. 27, 1920 to March 25, 1921, 13 weeks.
Spring term-Apr. 4, 1921 to June 24, 1921, 12 weeks.
Thanksgiving recess-Nov. 25 to Nov. 29. Christmas vacation-Dec. 18 to Dec. 27. Spring vacation-March 26 to April 4.
GRADES.
Winter term-Jan. 5, 1920 to March 26, 1920, 12 weeks. Spring term-April 5, 1920 to June 18, 1920, 11 weeks.
Fall term-Sept. 7, 1920 to Dec. 17. 1920, 15 weeks. Winter term-Jan. 3, 1921 to March 25, 1921, 12 weeks.
Spring term-April 4, 1921 to June 17, 1921, 11 weeks.
Thanksgiving recess-Nov. 25 to Nov. 29. Christmas vacation-Dec. 18 to Jan. 3. Spring vacation-March 26 to April 4.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL.
Three blasts of the whistle at 7.45 A. M. indicate "no-school" for the morning session.
The same signal at 11.45 A. M. signifies "no school" for the afternoon session.
The "no-school" signal does not apply to the high school.
4
Report of the SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1919:
Our expenditures for the year have totalled $17,603:62 com- pared with $15,552.02 for the year 1918.
We have felt it necessary to raise teachers salaries twice and expect to raise them again in January. Good teachers are scarce and getting scarcer right along. To get good teachers and hold them, we must pay good salaries. We have had a few changes. Miss Pearl Andrews, of the High School, left at the end of the school year in June. Early in the year Miss Florence Sweet replaced Mrs. Daniels, of the seventh and eighth grades of the Junior High School. Miss O'Connor, of the fourth grade, left us in November. Miss Mae Sullivan of Westport, Conn. takes the position in January, Mrs. Fairfield being in charge in the meantime. Miss Mildred Taft, of Uxbridge, has charge of music and Miss Mildred Christensen, of Worcester is our drawing teacher.
We have had a great deal of trouble keeping teachers at West Douglas, having had three or four changes in the past year. Miss Verna Sawin, of Holyoke, is the teacher in charge at present and we hope to keep her until June at least.
After considerable thought had been given to the subject, the Committee decided to open our High School in the Fall with a four year course. To do this and make the school successful, we felt obliged to secure another teacher, making a total of
5
three. A high school having a four year course with only two teachers, is not looked upon with favor by the State Board of Education. The cost per pupil of running our High School is so high compared with the average throughout the State that it would be prohibitive without the assistance of the State.
Of the pupils we transported to Whitinsville last year for the third and fourth years work, not one has returned to our school. For this reason we have had no fourth year class and some of the spare time of our teachers has been given to make the work of Miss Sweet, in the seventh and eighth grades, light- er. The non-return of these pupils and the fact that other fami- lies, whose interest is naturally in the town, are sending their children away for their high school education make one wonder if in insisting on having a high school we are doing the best for the children of Douglas. However, with three teachers instead of two, our high school cannot help but be improved and with the additional help given us by the State, by an act passed in July, the net cost to the town is not greater than formerly. Also we do believe that if the pupils in our high school apply them- selves to the studies they have, they will not suffer any in com- parison with the pupils of larger high schools, in those studies.
Domestic science in the high school has come to stay, we be- lieve. This last year, with the very much appreciated help of the Parent-Teacher and the Alumni Associations, manual train- ing has been taken up. Between .$150.00 and $200.00 has been spent for tools and benches.
At South Douglas the number of pupils remains very small. It would seem as if the school should be closed and the few child- ren transported, or the teacher should be engaged with a view to community work, in addition to her school work.
The people of Old Douglas have long wanted a new building and the Committee believe the present building with two small crowded rooms is inadequate.
We have spent very little on repairs the past year. In De- cember we decided to put metal weather strips on the windows of the brick building at East Douglas. Only a part of the ex- pense is included in our report as only a few windows were completed at first for approval. The remaining expense will be paid in January. The saving in fuel in heating the building will very shortly pay for the expense of putting in these weather strips.
Members of the Committee have for a long time wanted elec- tric lights in the brick building at East Douglas but have always
6
been short of money for that purpose. Some years ago when a fairly successful night school was run in charge of Mr. Disney, oil lamps were used for lighting. The use of these lamps made it necessary to renovate the rooms used. Recently the Parent- Teacher Association requested the permission and support of the Committee in putting in Electric Lights. The Association re- ported they had a fund of $50.00, with as much more expected. The Committee replied that funds for the purpose would be asked for at the annual Town Meeting in March. We are therefore includ- ing in the appropriations asked for, an amount sufficient to cover the expense.
We are this year asking for a very much larger appropria- tion than formerly because of increased teachers salaries, in- duced partly because of the difficulties in securing teachers and partly by an Act of the Legislature, Chapter 363, approved July 24, 1919. By this Act We expect a reimbursement from the State Treasurer of about $6,000.00 this year because of our expendi- tures in 1919 and the present school year. This amount will be taken into consideration by the assessors when figuring the amount to be raised by taxation for the fiscal year 1920.
For other details of the school year we refer to the reports of the Superintendent, High School Principal and Supervisors of Music and Drawing, also to the report of the School Physician.
GILBERT W. ROWLEY,
Chairman Superintending Committee.
7
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Total amount appropriated by Town $15,000 00
Total amount received from State 3,263 23
Parent Teacher Association 50 00
Alumni
30 00
Teachers 51 17
Town Fund 56 48
$18,450 88
Total amount expended from January 1, 1919 to
December 31, 1919 17,603 62
Balance unexpended $847 26
ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES.
Teachers' salaries $11,165 05
Superintendent's salary
920 00
Janitors
1,310 05
Fuel
929 04
General expense
538 13
Books and supplies
875 06
Repairs
346 79
Transportation
1,249 50
Physician
50 00
Tuition
220 00
$17,603 62
Appropriations are asked for as follows
General expenses, including Superintendent's salary, expenses of school committee and enforcement of the law $1,200 00
8
Expenses of instruction, including teachers' salaries, text books and supplies, and night school, also miscellaneous expenses in connection with the schools 15,100 00 Expenses of operating school plants, including janitors' salaries, fuel, and miscellaneous expenses in con- nection with operating school plants. 2,600 00
Maintenance, repairs, etc., of school buildings. 1,100 00
Auxiliary agencies, including health and transporta- tion 1,500 00
Miscellaneous expenses (sundries)
500 00
$22,000 00
GILBERT W. ROWLEY, WILLIAM T. LOOMIS, FRANK H. BIRD,
Superintending Committee.
9
REPORT OF THE
Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Douglas :-
I herewith submit my fifth annual report of the schools of Douglas, it being the eighteenth in the series of superintendents' reports of this district.
FINANCIAL.
Douglas received as reimbursement from the state during the past year $3,263.00, which quite materially lessened the expen- ditures for the schools. In fact, the reimbursement was about one-fifth of the total amount expended. Next year in accord- ance with the provisions of the new law the town should re- ceive about twice as much. Thus the actual cost of the schools will be less than this year, although a larger appro- priation is asked for by the committee.
The following table shows how the cost of our schools com- pares with the average for the state:
EXPENDITURE FOR SCHOOLS PER PUPIL IN AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP.
1918 High. Elementary. All schools. Av. for state. Rank
All sources
$167
$31
$35
$41
312th town
Local taxation 1919
$147
$28
$28
288th
All sources
$352
$49
$56
-
Local taxation
$271
$32
$47
IO
NEW EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATION.
Besides the reimbursement act alluded to above three other important educational bills were passed by the last legislature.
The first compels pupils to complete the sixth grade of the public schools, instead of the fourth, as was formerly the case, unless they have sooner reached the age of sixteen years.
The second law obliges all towns and cities in which there are more than ten children who are mentally retarded three years, or more, to establish special classes for such children in September 1920. We may be affected by this law.
The third provides for the establishment and maintenance of continuation schools by all towns in which 200, or more, employ- ment certificates have been issued in one year. As there were but sixty such certificates issued in Douglas during the past year the town is not required to maintain continuation schools.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Although the junior high school maintained last year in ac- cordance with the advice of the state board of education was a success, many people felt that the town ought to support a regular high school with a four years' course of study, as it has done for many years, and accordingly a third teacher was en- gaged for the high school.
The pupils who were attending the Whitinsville high school not returning, and there being no senior class on this account, the high school assistants were able to devote some of their time to the seventh and eighth grades. This in any case would have been done by the domestic science teacher, as this work in nearly all schools covers the seventh and eighth grades as well as one, or more, years of the high school. For the same reason the principal instruets the boys of the seventh and eighth grades in manual training.
MANUAL TRAINING.
Owing to the efforts of the school committee, the parent- teacher association, and the teachers and pupils, funds have been provided for manual training equipment, and the work actually begun in one of the lower rooms of the engine house. This makes an admirable workshop, the only disadvantage being the distance from the high school building. Accommodations have been arranged for twelve boys to work at a time, the boys them- selves are enthusiastie, and Mr. Holmes, the instructor, reports
II
that the undertaking is succeeding even beyond his expec- tations. As the boys become more accustomed to the use of tools greater improvement will follow.
DOMESTIC SCIENCE.
The domestic seience course instituted last year is proving successful, and justifies its occupying a place in the school cur- riculum.
During the winter hot lunches have been prepared and served to such of the pupils of the school as are not able to go home to dinner, and this is one way in which the course has pro- vided for a real need. The average number of pupils served has been twenty five, and on some days there have been over forty. Just enough is charged for the food to pay for the cost of the material.
TEACHERS' BOARDING PLACES.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to secure boarding places for our teachers. This is the case not only in East Doug- las but in many other places. The scarcity of good board- ing places has become such a problem that in some communities school committees are renting and furnishing suitable living quarters and putting them in charge of responsible matrons as homes for the teachers. This may be the best method of solv- ing this problem in our own community.
I feel that this report would not be complete without a good word being spoken in praise of the Parent-Teacher Association, which has done so much the past year, and before, for the schools. Not only has the association been in sympathetic touch with the work of the schools, but it has also contributed gener- ously and cheerfully towards their material needs. For this good work the thanks of the community and the school officials are due, and those of the latter are hereby cordially given.
NEW SCHOOL BUILDING AT DOUGLAS CENTER.
This has, no doubt, become a hackneyed subject in the su- perintendent's reports, but the need is none the less pressing. It is certainly unwise and non conducive to health to house so many children in such restricted quarters as are occupied by the two schools at Douglas Center. The two rooms there which are occupied by the pupils of eighth grades are none too large combined for the pupils of one of these schools. If a really modern building, sufficiently commodious, were erected, with the
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advantages which come from competition with larger numbers of pupils, permanent teachers, special instructors in drawing and music, with proper means of transportation, parents of pupils at South and at West Douglas would probably not be averse to having their children transported to such a school.
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