USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1896 > Part 3
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16 94
Foster, John HI.
17 77
Mooney, Robert
2 00
Foster, Thos. C.
2 00
Morrill, Chas. B.
2 83
Farra, Robert
9 06
McFarland, N. F.
2 00
Fitzgerald, John
2 00
Mahoney, Jeremiah
2 00
Frechett, Jno. B.
2 00
McHugh, Wm.
2 00
Foss, Leslie D.
14 28
McClellan, Wm.
2 00
Goodwin, Hayden T.
2 00
Nichols, HI. H.
2 00
Goodwin, F. W. P. Heirs
7 47
Noon, Michael IIeirs
27 81
Goodwin, Fred B.
2 00
Newton, F. Wayland
5 98
Gunnison, Geo. G.
24 41
Newton, Charles
2 00
Gould, Morrill I.
31 97
Ordway, Geo.
2 00
Gassett, Chas. W.
16 94
Oakes, Nelson T. Olson, Lewis
2 00
Greeley, Martin
2 00
2 00
Greeley, Michael
31 90
O'Leary, Jno.
2 00
Gale, John W.
3 66
Patten, John
5 32
Goss, Jno. W.
2 41
Porter, Joseph W.
33 54
Gilpatrick, W.
2 00
Parker, Fred E.
2 00
2 00
53
APPENDIX.
Parker, John C.
2 00
Traverse, Jno.
2 00
Prescott, Geo. S.
63 42
Taylor, Benj. H.
.08
Pettigrew, F. O. Heirs
II 62
Wallace, Chas. A.
31 22
Picard, Thurston
22 09
Williams, Walter S.
25 24
Parsons, Andrew
2 00
Williams, Isaac W.
20 68
Powers, Fred
2 00
Welch, Patrick H.
2 00
Reiley, Michael
33 54
Wallace, James L.
2 00
Rowell, Wm. Heirs
77 19
Welch, Jno. T.
2 00
Ruel, Lawrence
2 00
Wiggin, Andrew J.
2 00
Richardson, Henry C.
2 00
Webster, A. M.
II 96
Richardson, Chas. A.
2 00
Webster, Bert W.
2 00
Ramsdell, Chas. F.
2 83
Orpheon Club,
S3
Reynolds, James.
2 00
Currier, Thos. A.
I 66
Redman, Clarence
2 83
Peaslee, John S.
Redman, Charles E.
3 25
Peaslee, Richard
14 II
Rogers, Wm. H.
2 00
Favor, Mrs. Nancy
7 47
Sargent, Oscar H.
2 00
Day, Joseph Heirs
I 66
Sargent, Geo. II.
. 2 00
Bucklin, Sarah N,
7 06
Swedburg, H.
2 00
Gale, Walter C.
13 28
Shay, Wm. E.
2 83
Kimball, Stephen T.
83
Sheridan, James
2 00
Connor, John
5 40
Sheridan, Margaret
6 64
Hoyt, Nelson T.
II 62
Scanlon, James F.
2 00
Parsons, P. H.
4 15
Scanlon, John
2 00
O'Neil, John
2 49
Scofield, Herman B.
2 00
Langley, Geo. W.
14 94
Spofford, N. J.
38 II
Patten, Robert Heirs,
3 32
Simmons, Chas. H.
2 41
Sargent, O. Everett
32 37
Sage, Wm. H.
' 2 00
Sutherland, Peter
17 43
Stoyle, Thos.
21 09
Lane, Mary Ann
14 53
Sargent, Lyman
2 00
Cooper, George
S3
Scanlon, John N.
2 00
Noon, Mathew
2 49
Sargent, J. P. Heirs
50 63
Ford, Ella W.
4 98
Sargent, Wm. A. .
2 00
Tenney, John E.
3 32
Scanlon, Wm. H.
2 00
Burque, Alphonso
31 54
Swanburg, Chas.
2 00
Cherry, Joseph
8 30
Sullivan, Patrick
2 00
Traverse, Chas. B.
2 00
Sargent, Robert P.
2 00
Dyer, Clarence S.
2 00
Smith, J. F.
2 00
Bailey, James W.
2 00
Stevens, David
66
Bagley, Thos.
83
Thompson, Willard D. 2 00
Auditor's Report.
I have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, Collector and Treasurer, and find vouchers for all orders drawn by the Selectmen and payments made by the Treasurer.
Total amount of orders drawn by the Selectmen, $ 49,657 16
The Treasurer has paid
Orders of last year, 66 this “
IO 95
49,657 16
Less orders not in
No. 7927.
3 00.
7936,
I 50
66 7942,
7 75
66
7944,
20 16
7968,
I OO
33 41 49,623 75
Total payment by Treasurer,
$ 49,634 70
MILFORD EDWARDS, Auditor.
Merrimac, Feb. 17, 1896.
SCHOOL REPORT.
Teachers, 1895=96.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
BION GREEN, FRANK E. PEASE, T. H. HOYT, 66 IS98
Term expires 1896 66 IS97
4 HIGII SCHIOOL.
DANIEL G. ABBOTT,
Principal
C. C. FERGUSON, L. FRANCES TUCKER,
Assistant
MERRIMAC-CENTER.
First Grammar, Second Grammar, Intermediate, Primary,
JENNIE P. CLEMENT LILLA M. PHELPS EMMA PEARSON ETTA H. COLBY
PROSPECT STREET.
Intermediate, Primary,
MARY H. HEAD
BERTHIA M. BOULTONIIOUSE
MIDDLE STREET.
CARRIE M. EVANS LOUISE C. BRACKETT
Grammar, Primary,
IDA M. BLAISDELL HATTIE E. BAXTER
DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
Highlands, Bear Hill, Birch Meadow,
ANNIE M. GRAY ANNIE R. HUNTER ETHEL M. CLEALE ABBIE L. CLEMENT
MUSIC, LIZZIE B. SMITHI. DRAWING, M. A. PEARSON.
Second Grammar, Primary,
MERRIMACPORT.
Twentieth Annual Report.
The school committee of Merrimac would herewith sub- mit their annual report. The term of office of one member of the school committee having expired T. H. Hoyt was elect- ed for three years.
The new board organized with a choice of Bion Green chairman and T. H. Hoyt secretary.
At the annual meeting of this town in March, 1895, it was voted to unite with one more towns in the employment of a superintendent of schools. Under this vote a union has been formed with Bradford and a superintendent (Mr. R. D. McKeen) has been employed for one year. Merrimac to have 2-5 of the superintendent's time and pay 2-5 of his salary.
The advantage of the services of a skilled superintendent of schools in this town can not be too highly estimated. Our schools have, through the efforts of the superintendent been brought to a high degree of excellence. We would in this connection call your attention to the necessity of appropriating a suitable amount if a superintendent is to be employed next year.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Appropriated by town, $ 8,300 00
Massachusetts school fund,
269 20
Dog fund,
148 50
Tuition and supplies,
32 36
Superintendent's salary,
350 00
$ 9,100 06
1
SCHOOL REPORT.
Expended for teachers,
$6,565 41
Care of school buildings,
571 51
Fuel,
255 93
Books,
482 99
Supplies,
345 13
Repairs,
132 22
Sundries,
261 40
Superintendent,
300 00
Unexpended balance,
$8,914 59 185 47
GRADUATION.
Your school committee deeming that it would be for the best interest of the High School and the graduating class to have no public graduation this year, decided, in connection with the members of the graduating class, to have no public graduating exercises in the town hall as has usually been done. It is the opinion of your committee that too much time has been spent in the past on these useless exercises and that the time could be employed to better advantage on the regular studies. Believing that this is the case we have discouraged the idea of public graduation.
REPAIRS.
No extended repairs have been made on any of the school buildings during the year, but some general repairs have been made on all the buildings.
TRUANCY BY-LAWS.
The state having passed laws in regard to truants in the public schools, your committee would respectfully advise that the town take some action at its next election in regard to adopting some suitable by-laws in regard to truants in our public schools. Feeling that the town should comply as far as possible with the laws of the state, the school committee
5
SCHOOL REPORT.
have drawn up a set of by-laws and caused an article to be inserted in the town warrant.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Your committee would respectfully suggest that $8,200 be appropriated for the general school expenses for the next year and $350 for superintendent's salary.
COURSE OF STUDY.
We herewith print a new course of study for the High school concerning which mention is made by the superintendent in his report. The course of study for the lower grades has been ommitted this year for the reason that it has not been materially changed since it was printed before.
JANITOR OF THIE CENTER BUILDING.
Believing that the care of this building should be in the hands of a man rather than a boy as it has been in the past, we have employed Mr. C. P. Baker as janitor of this build- ing. In our opinion this has been of great advantage both to the teachers and to all parties concerned.
STATISTICS.
For other matters relating to the statistics and condition of your schools, we would respectfully refer you to the reports of the superintendent, principal of the High school, teachers of music and drawing, which are appended to this report.
BION GREEN, FRANK E. PEASE, ?
School Committee.
T. H. HOYT,
MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL.
GRADUATES, 1895.
MARGARET ELLEN SHERIDAN,
ABBIE L. CLEMENT,
LILLIAN BROWN MCCONNELL,
FLORENCE L. EMERSON,
MARY L. BROWN.
COURSE OF STUDY FOR MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL.
FALL TERM.
COLLEGE COURSE.
GENERAL COURSE.
ENGLISH COURSE.
Latin Lessons.
4 Latin Lessons.
English.
5 Algebra.
5 Algebra.
5 Algebra.
5 Physiology.
5 Physiology.
5 Physiology.
in
Cæsar.
5 Cæsar or 3 History.
3 Rhetoric and Composition.
4 Greek Lessons.
3 Rhetoric and Composition.
5 Geometry.
3 Rhetoric and Composition.
4 Physics.
4 Physics.
5 Geometry.
5 Geometry.
3 French History.
. Cicero.
. Cicero or French.
Literature.
3 Greek Lessons.
General History.
General History.
4 General History.
4 Literature.
Literature.
5 Geology.
*4 Physics.
L 5 Vergil.
5 Vergil or French.
4 Anabasis.
4 Literature.
4 Literature.
5 Mathematics (Review. )
( French or
5 \ Mathematics. (Review. )
+inin
5 Geology.
4th Year.
3d Year. 2d Year. Ist Year.
WINTER TERM.
COLLEGE COURSE.
GENERAL COURSE.
ENGLISH COURSE.
Ist Year.
[ 5 Latin Lessons.
5 Latin Lessons.
4 English.
5 Algebra.
5 Algebra.
5 Algebra.
4 English.
4 English.
3 Botany.
*4 English History.
3 Botany.
3 English History.
ed Year.
5 Cæsar.
5 Cæsar or History.
2 Rhetoric and Composition.
4 Greek Lessons.
2 Rhetoric and Composition. [ Physics ( 1-2' term. )
5 Geometry. Physics (1-2 term.)
2 Rhetoric and Composition.
5 Geometry.
4 Chemistry (1-2 term.)
41 Chemistry (1-2 term.)
5 Geometry.
3 French History.
[ 5 Cicero.
5 Cicero or French.
2 Literature.
4 Anabasis.
2 Literature.
4 General History. Astronomy or '
4 General History.
5 Astronomy.
5 Physical Geography.
*4 Physics or Chemistry.
4 Mathematics (Review.)
4th Year.
5 Vergil. 4 Iliad. 2 Literature. ( French or 4 ) Mathematics. (Review.)
5 Vergil or French.
2 Literature.
5 Physical Geography
4 Mathematics. (Review. )
3d Year.
2 Literature.
4 General History.
SPRING TERM.
COLLEGE COURSE.
GENERAL COURSE.
ENGLISH COURSE.
Ist Year.
5 Latin Lessons. 5 Algebra.
5 Algebra.
5 Algebra.
4 Rhetoric and Composition.
4 Rhetoric and Composition.
4 Botany.
*3 English History.
4 Botany.
3 English History.
4 Cæsar.
4 Cæsar.
3 Rhetoric and Composition.
4 Greek Lessons.
5 Chemistry.
5 Chemistry.
Rhetoric and Composition.
3 General History.
4 Geometry.
3 General History.
4 Geometry.
General History. .
5 Cicero.
5 Cicero or French.
2 Literature.
+ Anabasis.
United States History
5 Zoology. [ United States History
2 Literature.
5 ) and Civil Government.
5 and Civil Government.
4) and Civil Government.
2 Literature.
3 Mathematics (Review.)
¥5 Chemistry.
2 Book-keeping.
4th Year.
4 Vergil. 4 Iliad. 3 Literature.
4 Vergil or French.
3 Literature.
3 Mathematics (Review. )
L 4 Mathematics (Review)
2 Book-keeping.
* Optional.
Spelling, Music, Drawing and Rhetoricals throughout the Course. Figures indicate the number of Recitations per week.
5 Latin Lessons.
4 Rhetoric and Composition.
2d Year.
2 Rhetoric and Composition.
3d Year.
. [ United States History
5 Zoology.
IO
SCHOOL REPORT.
NAMES OF TEACHERS AND THEIR SALARIES,
I 895-96.
C. C. Ferguson, principal High school, $ 1, 100 00 per year L. Frances Tucker, assistant, 52 63 per mo.
Jennie P. Clement, First Grammar center, 50 00 66
Lilla M. Phelps, third Grammar center, 40 00 66
Ida M. Blaisdell, First Grammar, Port, 45 00 66 Carrie M. Evans, second Grammar, Middle st. 45 00 66
Emma Pearson, First Intermediate, center, 40 00 66
Mary H. Head, 2d Intermediate, Prospect st., 40 00
66
Etta H. Colby, First Primary, center, 40 00
66
Bertha M. Boultenhouse, 2d Primary, Pros. st. 40 00
Louise C. Brackett, 2d Primary, Middle st., 40 00
66
Hattie E. Baxter, Primary, Port, 40 00
66
Annie M. Gray, Highlands, 30 00
66
Annie R. Hunter, Bear Hill, 30 00
Abbie L. Clement, Birch Meadow, 30 00
Lizzie B. Smith, Music, 15 00 66
M. A. Pearson, Drawing,
expenses and 20 00 66
SCHOOL REPORT.
TEXT BOOKS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Latin Lessons,
Scudder
Latin Readings,
Arrowsmith & Whicher Harkness
Vergil,
Greenough Harkness
Latin Grammar,
French Grammar,
Boucher
Greek Lessons,
White
Physics,
Gage
Chemistry,
Williams
Geology,
Tenney
Astronomy,
Young
Botany,
Gray
Geology,
Schaler
Physical Geography,
Warren
Physiology,
Tracy
Civil Government,
Mowery
English,
Lockwood
American Literature,
Elliot
English Literature,
Raub
English Grammar,
Greenwood
General History,
Barnes
English History,
Stone
French History,
Montgomery
Bookkeeping,
Meservey
French Readings,
Gueber, etc.
Cicero,
12
SCHOOL REPORT.
TEXT BOOKS USED IN THE PRIMARY, INTER-
MEDIATE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
Greenleaf's Complete Arithmetic. Greenleaf's Brief Course in Arithmetic. Greenleaf's First Lessons in Numbers. Franklin Written Arithmetic. Colburn's Intellectual Aritsmetic. Normal Readers. Davis Readers, New Franklin Readers. Cyr's Readers. Lippincott's Readers. Johounot's Natural History Readers. Seaside and Wayside Series of Readers. Frye's Geographies. Montgomery's Histories. Goodrich's Child History. Welsh and Greenwood Grammar. Tarbel's Language Lessons. Hyde's Language Lessons. Brand's Physiology. Graves' Speller. Normal Copy Books. Meservey's Bookkeeping. Holt's Music Course.
13
SCHOOL REPORT.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
I. All teachers are required to see that these rules are faithfully observed.
2. Teachers are to be present in their respective school- rooms fifteen minutes before the hour of opening each session.
3. No teacher shall employ a substitute without per- mission from the Committee.
4. In case corporal punishment is resorted to, a record of the same shall be kept in the register.
5. Whenever, the example of a scholar is injurious to the welfare of the school, the teacher may suspend such pupil from the school. In case of suspension, the teacher shall immediately notify the committee.
6. Promotions will be made at the end of the summer term by examinations and the average of the pupil for the year.
7. No person shall be permitted to enter a school for the purpose of promoting the sale of any article. Teachers shall not allow notices to be given; advertisements, circulars or other printed matter to be distributed, or any like inter- ference with the regular course of school work.
8. Teachers shall see that the school-rooms present a neat and orderly appearance at all times.
9. No pupil shall leave the school grounds during recess without permission of the teacher.
SCHOOL REPORT.
IO. Books are loaned to the pupils on the following conditions : Ist. They are to be used carefully and not to be marked or defaced. . 2d. They are not to be taken from the school-room without the consent of the teacher. 3d. If lost or injured, they are to be paid for by the pupil using them.
II. In case of absence or tardiness, every pupil is ex- pected to furnish written evidence to the teacher that such absence or tardiness was for sufficient cause.
12. Teachers shall see that school-rooms are thoroughly ventilated at the close of each session.
13. Teachers may take two days in each year for the purpose of visiting other schools.
14. Teachers shall require that the State Laws in regard to contagious diseases and vaccination are complied with.
15. No primary scholars, who have not previously at- tended school, shall be allowed to enter the schools after the first two weeks of any term.
15
SCHOOL REPORT.
EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC STATUTES.
PENALTY FOR DISTURBING SCHOOLS.
Chapter 207, section 23. "Whoever willfully interrupts or disturbs a school or other assembly of people met for a lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment in the jail not exceeding 30 days, or by a fine not exceeding $50."
MALICIOUS INJURY TO BUILDINGS.
Chapter 203, section 78. "Whoever wilfully and mal- iciously or wantonly and without cause destroys, defaces, mars, or injures a school-house, church, or other building erected or used for purposes of education or religious instruc- tion, or for the general diffusion of knowledge, or an out- building, fence, well, or appurtenance of such school-house, church, or other building, or furniture, apparratus, or other property belonging to or connected with such school-house, church, or other building, shall be punished by fine not ex- ceeding $500, or by imprisonment in the jail not exceeding one year."
INJURY TO LIBRARIES.
Chapter 203, section 79. "Whoever wilfully and mali- ciously or wantonly and without cause writes upon, injures, defaces, tears, or destroys a book, plate, picture, engraving or statue, belonging to a law, town, city, or other library, shall be punished by fine of not less than five, nor more than $50, or by imprisonment in the jail not exceeding six months."
16
SCHOOL REPORT.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Chapter 47, section 9. "The school committee shall not allow a child who has not been duly vaccinated to be admitted to, or connected with the public schools."
Chapter 198, Laws of 1885. "The school committee shall not allow any pupil to attend the public schools while any member of the household is sick of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, or during a period of two weeks after the death, recovery or removal of such sick person ; and any pu- pil coming from such household shall be required to present to the teacher of the school the pupil desires to attend, a cer- tificate from the attending physician or board of health, of the facts necessary to entitle him to admission in accordance with the above regulation."
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
Gentlemen of the School Committee :
I have the pleasure of submitting to you my report of the Public Schools of the town of Merrimac, for the year 1895 ; this being the first annual report of the Superintendent of Schools in the district of which this town forms a part. This report covers practically that portion of the school year from September to the date of this writing, as I have visited the schools in an official capacity only during that time.
I have given very little time to gleaning statistics, feeling that I could do the schools a better service in other lines. The few that follow have been gathered mostly from the teachers' registers :
Population of the town, U. S. census, 1890, 2,633
66 66 1895, 2,302
Number of Schools, 14
Number of teachers employed, including
special teachers, (Drawing and Music), I7
Number of children in town between the ages of 5 and 15 years, as per census, May, 1895, 409
" 1893, 405
Number of children in town between the ages of 8 and 14 years, 250
Number enrolled on school registers during the year, 49
IS
SCHOOL REPORT.
Number enrolled between S and 14 years, 268
66 66 over 15 years of age, 57
66 66 under 5 years of age, 2
Average membership of all the schools, 398.29
Average attendance, 66 per room, 25.91
362.28
Per cent. of average attendance, .91
No radical changes or innovations have been made in the work since my connection with the schools ; but a steady, con- stant labor for improvement and efficiency along well-defined lines has been our object. Perhaps it might not be out of place to state that there have been improvements made in methods of teaching Reading, Geography and Arithmetic. More work has been done in Nature Study than in the past, and a systematic course in Drawing has been begun. In whatever lines of work we have placed particular stress, I can discover improvement in this short time.
Five month's incumbancy in the office of Superintendent of Schools is not sufficient time under the most favorable con- ditions, to mature plans along scarcely any line of work. Considerable time has been necessarily consumed in making myself familiar with the work that had already been done in the schools of the two towns - Bradford and Merrimac - to say nothing of making the acquaintance of the forty-five different teachers and their various methods of instruction.
In most cases, the teachers have shown a sufficient amount of energy in their work to warrant me in saying they are zealous and interested. They have been prompt in attendance at the grade meetings, which have been held fre- quently but not regularly. The teachers have been eager to learn modern and improved methods of instruction, and will- ing to accept and execute suggestions made by the super- intendent.
19
SCHOOL REPORT.
The regular monthly meetings of the Merrimac Teachers' Association have been omitted thus far, feeling that more profit would be derived from frequent grade meetings than in meetings composed of all the teachers. Moreover, if the teachers attend the necessary grade meetings, together with those called by the directors of Drawing and Music, it is all the extra labor, in this line, we can reasonably demand of them. As the teachers become more familiar with my ideas of teaching the different subjects in their respective grades, we shall revive the regular meetings of the association.
ATTENDANCE.
Irregular attendance impedes the uniform progress of the schools. In the majority of cases, the cause of this difficulty lies with parents, many of whom little realize the necessity of their children being in school regularly. The pupil who does not attend school regularly, not only loses much himself, but places great obstacles in the way of the increased efficiency of his school.
Not many cases of deliberate truancy have come to my notice. In most cases, the absences arise from pure indif- ference on the part of a few parents whether their children are in school or not. Our teachers are using all means in their power to secure punctuality. They have tried incentives and persuasion, but with little effect. We must have the earnest co-operation of parents in this matter, for upon them, principally, rests the burden of reform.
Many parents refuse to write excuses for the absence or tardiness of their children. Although the reason for such should be given, the teachers do not demand it; they do ask the parent or guardian to state whether the absence or tardiness was with their knowledge and consent. This rule was made by the School Board and is well nigh universally observed in the towns and cities of the Commonwealth. I
20
SCHOOL REPORT.
trust that no thoughtful citizen will refuse to comply with this reasonable request.
I think the town, at its next annual meeting, should adopt a set of By-Laws relating to truancy and absentees from school, and provide a suitable place for the confinement and education of its truant children.
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
The music has been continued throughout the year under the direction of Miss L. B. Smith of Dover, N. H. Instead of having the special teacher do most of the teaching of music as has been the practice in the past, she has begun the work of a director, laying out the work for the teachers of the different grades, holding meetings and making them more familiar with the whole Music course. I believe this is, by far, the better plan, for the regular teachers know the dispositions of their pupils much better than a special teacher can know them who visits the schools but once a week, and then for only about twenty minutes. There has been a hindrance to the best success of music in our schools by the false opinion of some, that vocal music is especially adapted to the " gifted few." I believe the money spent in this town for music in the schools is yielding a good income.
The arrangement made whereby systematic work in Drawing went into effect at the beginning of the fall term has proved to be a valuable expenditure of the money. This work has been carried on under the direction of Miss M. A. Pear- son of . Reading. Miss Pearson visits as many of our schools as time will allow, one day in each week, supervises the actual teaching therein, and holds meetings after school hours, instructing the teachers and advising them how to teach the subject to the best advantage. Profitable results are already shown in the growing interest in this subject by teachers as well as pupils.
2I
SCHOOL REPORT.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School, under the instruction of C. C. Feigu- son, A. M., principal, and Miss L. F. Tucker, assistant, merits the confidence of our towns-people. The good disci- pline of the school has been secured and commendable pro- gress has been made in the classes.
The revision of the course of study went into effect at the beginning of the fall term, and Principal Ferguson speaks well of the new plan.
In order that there may be good work done in the sci- ences, it is absolutely essential that we should have at our command the necessary apparatus for doing the work. Your board has recently made a good beginning toward efficiency, by purchasing considerable apparatus for work in this line; but we are destitute of room for experimental work by the pupils. If our High School could be supplied with the necessary room and apparatus, the science work could be made, easily and profitably, a distinguishing feature of the school work.
NATURE STUDY.
Considerable attention has been given to Nature Studies during the fall term and with results worthy of our notice. Quite an interest in this work has been manifested in the lower grades. With Mr. A. C. Boyden's Outline of Nature Study for our plan we have given from one to three lessons a week, on fruit, insects, leaves and minerals, and many schools have made very good collections in the subjects studied. The pupils are taught to observe the specimens under consider- ation, then accurately write the results of their own observa- tions. By this means they are brought in contact with nature, observing and analyzing the wonders of animal and plant life and to understand some of the natural phenomena that surround them. Thus the children are not only contributing
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