USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1914 > Part 3
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But we show an increase in receipts from water rates of $199.20 over last year. But it is very doubtful if this showing can be made the coming year owing to the decrease in the receipts from factories, our largest con- sumers.
The pumping reports show 34,782,015 gallons of water pumped for the year.
ESTIMATES FOR THE ENSUING YEAR:
Expense.
Gross receipts of operating plant,
$4,349 04
Bonds,
3,500 00
Note,
500 00
Interest,
2,590 00
Construction,
200 00
$11,139 04
2
WATER REPORT
Income.
Water rates, $5,500 00
Light Dept. rent,
- 300 00
Appropriation for municipal use,
2,271 00
Appropriation for maintenance, 2,563 64
Appropriation for construction, 200 00
Cash on hand, 304 40
$11,139 04
We recommend that the town ap- propriate for water for muni- cipal use,
$2,271 00
For maintenance,
2,563 64
For construction , 200 00
$5,034 64
CONSTRUCTION.
G. G. Davis, team, $ 211 25
Payroll to employees, 594 72
Builders' Iron Foundry, service boxes, 11 10
A .McInnis, freight and trucking, 1 87
Selectmen, express paid, 1 00
National Meter Co., 11/2-inch meter, 40 00
H. Franklin, stock and labor, 1 85
O .F. Bennett, stock and labor, 2 48
Macbee Pipe Co., service pipe,
52 30
G. P. Anderson, supplies,
118 25
W. T. Kelly, stock and labor, 1 50
I. B. Little Co., supplies, 40
$1,036 72
.
3
WATER REPORT
Construction cash on hand Jan.
1, 1914,
$ 9 83
Appropriation, 250 00
Received for laying service pipe, 100 91
Received for Light Dept. team and labor, 530 52
Received for sale of material and labor, 22 60 General cash used for construction, 122 86
1
$1,036 72
MAINTENANCE.
Repairs.
G. P. Anderson, supplies, $ 96 92
G. G. Davis, team, 39 75
National Meter Co., supplies,
19 34
Stillman Carmichael, supplies,
14 92
Sargent Coal Co., supplies,
1 20
Payroll of employees,
66 90
I. B. Little Co., supplies,
11 96
H. Franklin, stock and labor,
2 28
A. McInnis, freight and trucking, 3 27
O. F. Bennett, stock and labor,
8 72
Deane Steam Pump Co., repairing pump, 401 33
J. L. Howe, stock and labor, 34
Jonah & George, supplies,
2 50
Scannell Boiler Works, chucks
and arches, 18 40
E. H. Alexander, supplies,
19 08
D. Roy, repairs on boilers, 13 25
W. A. Bailey, expense,
33
International Steam Pump Co.,
supplies, 6 23
$ 726 72
1
4
WATER REPORT
Oil and Waste.
G. P. Anderson, oil and waste, $ 192 99
A. McInnis, freight and trucking,
13 01
$ 206 00
Salaries.
W. A. Bailey, superintendent,
$ 424 97
W. H. Scott, collector and bookkeeper, 125 00
W. A. Bailey, commissioner,
12 50
G. A. Titcomb, commissioner, 12 50
W. H. Scott, commissioner, 12 50
587 47
$
Fuel.
Light dept., fuel, $1211 13
$1,211 13
Supplies to Station.
G. P. Anderson, supplies,
$
41 87
Selectmen, express paid,
1 45
A. McInnis, freight and trucking,
1 31
I. B. Little Co., supplies,
1 80
Zenas Lovell & Co., supplies.
8 97
$
55 40
Station Wages.
Geo. G. Hall, engineer, $1,043 33
$1,043 33
5
WATER REPORT
Office Expense.
Merrimac Post Office,
Stamps and box rent, $ 36 60
Sargent Coal Co., for office and library, 89 84 N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co,. service and rental, 57 60
A. L. Howe, labor,
1 25
B. G. Davis, awning,
10 80
H. H. Story, supplies,
95
W. H. Scott, expense,
3 30
Z. Lovell & Co., supplies,
1 10
Merrimac Job Print, books and printing, 31 00
$ 232 44
Cost of Construction.
Cost to Jan. 1, 1914.
Pumping station,
$ 6,631 74
Boilers,
3,473 70
Pumps,
5,889 06
Coal shed,
339 60
Road to station,
272 00
Suction pump,
2,369 86
Pipe line,
26,304 47
Pipe laying,
12,808 57
Clearing land,
620 08
Stand pipe,
6,165 21
Investigating committee,
2,344 12
Meters,
3,074 90
Engineering.
3,036 10
Freight and express,
245 99
Miscellaneous,
971 98
Salaries,
1,500 00
Land,
3,475 34
6
WATER REPORT
Service pipe,
7,219 56
Reservoir at station,
137 99
$86,880 27
Additions 1914.
Service pipe,
$ 342 69
Meter,
40 00
$ 382 69 $87,262 96
DR.
To accrued interest
and unpaid bills,
$ 1,276 54
CR.
By cash on hand,
$ 304 41
.
By fuel on hand,
424 14
By supplies on hand,
20 48
$ 749 03
:
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Subject to Correction
State Board of Health Merrimac Water Analysis. (Parts in 100,000). 1914.
DATE OF
APPEARANCE
ODOR
AMMONIA
Nitrogen As
Number
Collection
Exam'tion
Turbidity
Sediment
Color
Cold
Hot
Residue on
Evaporation
Free
Albu-
Chlorine
Nitrates
Nitrites
Hardness
Iron
Nov 1914
120286
6
none
none
.00
none
none
6.80
.0000
.0008
.55
.0180
.0000
2.6
.007
Welis
118778
2
none
none
.00
none
none
7.10
.0000
.0016
.53
.0200
.0000
2.2
.006
Wells
117346
8
none
none
.00
none
none
6.40
.0004
.0014
58
0180
.0000
2.7
.005
Wells
116017
8
none
none
.00
none
none
6.30
.0004
.0028
.52
.0180
.0000
2.2
.004
Wells
114889
4
none
noue
.00
none
none
5.90
.0000
.0020
.51
.0180
.0000
2.6
.013
Wells
Jan 1914
113845
9
none
none
.00
none
none
6.00
.00 10
.0020
.52
.0180.
.0000
2.3
.011
Wells
minoid
Remarks
-
Sept 1914
July 1914
May
March 1914
-
8
WATER REPORT
Insurance.
Merrimac Insurance Agency, liability,
$ 49 21
$ 49 21
Bonds, Notes and Interest.
Bond payments,
$ 3,500 00
Note payments,
500 00
Interest payment,
2,750 00
$ 6,750 00
Total,
$11,898 42
Balance Sheet.
Receipts.
Appropriation for construction, $ 250 00
2,171 00
Appropriation municipal use, Appropriation maintenance,
1,266 21
Water rates,
5,661 72
Laying service pipe,
100 91
Miscellaneous,
22 60
Light dept .:
Rent,
300 00
Oil and waste,
154 50
Team and labor,
530 52
Office expense,
100 72
Supplies,
27 70
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1914,
1,616 95
$12,202 83
...
9
WATER REPORT
Expended.
For construction,
For maintenance, Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1915,
$ 1,036 72 10,861 70 304 41
$12,202 83
WILLIS H. SCOTT, GEORGE A. TITCOMB, WARREN A. BAILEY,
Water Commissioners.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
The Municipal Light Board herein submit their eleventh annual report for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 1914.
At the special town meetings of Jan. 19, and May 12, it was voted to issue notes for construction account to the amount of $3,150.00, this with $500.00 from depreciation fund, to be used for extensions of the lighting system.
The Bureau of Statistics would authorize the issue of only one note of $700.00, making it necessary to take the balance from the depreciation fund.
Receipts account of construction were, from depreciation fund, $3,030 55
Note of June 1, 1914, 700 00
Appropriation Merrimac and Wa- ter streets, 150 00
Appropriation for depreciation, 1914 , 822 90
Sale of material, 9 08
$4,712 53
Amount charged to construction,
$4,681 19
Cash balance, $ .
31 34
Credit by material purchased to be used for renewals or construction, $ 516 22
Net cost of construction, $4,133 63
2
LIGHT BOARD REPORT
The additions for the year were, from extensions, 8 lighting services.
General construction, 19 lighting services, and 4 power services.
Number in use Jan. 1, 1915 : Power, 12 services ; Domestic, 86 services ; Commercial, 59 services.
Shut off : 9 Domestic services, 3 Commercial services, and 1 Power service.
Street Lights installed : Jan. 1, 1914, 333; Jan. 1, 1915, 390.
K. W. H. delivered at switchboard: For Power, 2-phase, 95,860; single-phase, estimated, 3,418; street lights, 39,040; domestic and commercial, 52,262. Total, 190,580.
Light Report.
The plant shows an apparent loss in operation for ' the year of $200.39. This is owing to the methods re- quired by the state in bookkeeping, as you must pay all bills for maintenance from the receipts from private con- sumers plus the appropriation for maintenance, regard- less of cash on hand, or show a loss in operation. Al- though, as was the case the past year, $822.90 of the ap- propriation for maintenance was used for construction.
And if the cash on hand Jan. 1, 1914, $1,429.90 had been called "on the books," turned back to the town, and then added to the appropriation for maintenance, making the appropriation $3,074.11, the plant would have shown an apparent profit of $1,229.51.
Under chapter 742, section 114, Acts of 1914, the Manager has furnished the Board with the following esti- mates of income and expense for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 1915 :
3
LIGHT BOARD REPORT
EXPENSE.
Gross expense,
$6,491 53
Interest,
362 00
Depreciation,
963 34
Notes,
1,300 00
Bond,
500 00
Loss preceding year,
200 39
$9,817 26
INCOME.
From private consumers,
$7,000 00
From appropriation for maintenance, 2,817 26
$9,817 26 The sum of $2,817.26 is the amount to be included by the town in the annual appropriation and in the tax levy.
CONSTRUCTION.
Street Lines.
A. McInnis, freight and trucking, $ 29 24
G. W. Sargent Sons, pole, 2 50
I. B. Little Co,. supplies, 10 43
Jonah & George, supplies,
50
R. W. Hammond, supplies,
3 00
Pettingill Andrews Co.,
wire,
poles, etc., 3,078 08
Payroll to employees,
309 84
A .O. Nicol, teaming,
63 75
B. & M. R. R., freight,
84 11
G. G. Davis, team, 32 25
W. T. Kelley, dynamite and labor, 81
Sargent Coal Co., supplies, 1 50
Water Dept., team and labor,
365 34
1
$3,981 35
LIGHT BOARD REPORT 4
Credit for incandescent lamps, $
31 34.
$3,950 01
Transformers.
J. A. Robbins Sons Co., supplies,
$
Westinghouse E. & M. Co., trans- formers, 437 08
Pettingill Andrews Co., transformers, 72 90
A. McInnis, freight and trucking, 11 76
Payroll to employees, 25 35
Water Dept., team and labor,
30 44
$5,789 97
Meters.
Westinghouse E. & M. Co., meters, $ 145 50
A. McInnis, freight and trucking, 66
Selectmen, expense paid, 4 05
Water Dept., team, 2 00
$152 21
MAINTENANCE.
Fuel.
Sargent Coal Co., fuel and teaming, $ 712 42
Atkinson Coal Co., fuel, 4,361 34
N. E. Coal and Coke Co., fuel, 161 69
B. & M. R. R., freight, 366 37
$5,601 82
Oil and Waste.
Water Dept., oil and waste,
$154 50
A. McInnis, trucking,
50
$ 155 00
--.
5
LIGHT BOARD REPORT
Station Wages.
A. J. Cottom, engineer, $1,040 00
$1,040 00
Repairing Steam Plant .
Ridgway Co., repairing engine, $ 162 25
A. McInnis, freight and trucking, 6 68
W. A. Barbeau, repairs, 6 75
G. W. J. Murphy Co., stock and labor, 4 75
Merrimack Hinge Co., stock and labor, 4 37
G. P. Anderson, supplies, 37 50
Pettingill Andrews Co., supplies, 1 50
Water Dept., team, 3 75
Water Dept, supplies,
27 70
Baker Foundry and Machine Co., machine work, 20 65
1
$ 275 90
Repairing Electric Plant.
P. H. Fernald, labor and expense,
$ 29 40
Merrimack Hinge Co., stock and labor, 3 50
Westinghouse E. & .M. Co., supplies, 2 47
I .B. Little Co., supplies, 18
$
35 55
Distribution Tools.
I. B. Little Co., tools, $ 13 97
Walker Carriage Co., stock and labor, 2 75
J. L. Fales, ladder. 2 00
Pettingill Andrews Co., tools, 8 20
$ 26 92
LIGHT BOARD REPORT 6
Repairing Lines, Etc.
Pettingill Andrews Co., supplies, $ 45 90
Westinghouse Co., supplies, 58
Payroll to employees,
53 22
Water Dept., teams and labor,
128 99
Sargent Coal Co., supplies,
1 00
G. G. Davis, team,
2 00
B. & M. R. R., freight,
11 00
A. McInnis, freight and trucking, 60
$ 243 29
Lamps, Etc.
Pettingill Andrews Co., lamps, etc., $ 551 30
Credit to street lines, 31 34
$ 582 64
General Salaries.
W. A. Bailey, manager, $ 399 97
W. H. Scott, collector and bookkeeper, 208 30
$ 608 27
Salaries Municipal Light Board.
W. A. Bailey, commissioner, $ 12 50
G. A. Titcomb, commissioner, 12 50
W .H. Scott, commissioner, 12 50
$
37 50
Office Expense.
Merrimack Job Print, printing,
$
15 00
I. B. Little Co., supplies,
1 25
Water Dept., expense, 100 72
$ 116 97
LIGHT BOARD REPORT 7
Insurance and Incidentals.
Merrimac Insurance Agency, Com- pensation and Liability, $ 168 18
Water Dept., rent, 300 00
$ 468 18
Bonds, Notes, and Interest.
Bond payment,
$ 500 00
Note payment,
600 00
Interest on bonds,
260 00
Interest on notes,
146
00
$1,506 00
Total,
$15,379 23
Balance Sheet.
General cash on hand Jan. 1, 1914,
$1,429 90
Depreciation cash, 2,992 16
Interest on depreciation fund, 98 60
Sale of light and power,
7,355 49
Appropriation for maintenance,
1,644 21
Appropriation for construction,
150 00
Construction Note,
700 00
Water Dept., fuel,
1,211 13
Sale of lamps, etc.,
444 09
Miscellaneous, 54 08
$16,079 66
Expended.
For construction,
$4,681 19
For maintenance,
$10,698 04
General cash balance,
640 22
Depreciation fund,
60 21
$16,079 66
8
LIGHT BOARD REPORT
Cost of Construction.
Steam plant,
$3,985 39
Electric plant,
4,481 01
Street lines, Transformers,
17,166 04
4,027 30
Meters,
2,451 73
$32,111 47
Steam plant,
$3,202 02
Electric plant,
2,927 46
Street lines,
14,970 55
Transformers,
2,124 40
Meters,
1,743 39
Due from light and power,
1,139 70
Lamps, etc., on hand and charged,
263 92
Fuel on hand,
1,696 56
Tools on hand,
144 58
General cash,
640 22
Depreciation fund,
60 21
$28,913 01
Liabilities.
Bonds outstanding,
$6,000 00
Notes payable,
3,700 00
Appropriations for construction,
5,375 83
Appropriation for bond payments,
4,000 00
Appropriations for note payments,
679 80
Unpaid bills,
72 91
Interest accrued but not due,
170 66
Profit and loss balance,
8,913 81
Assets.
$28,913 01 WILLIS H. SCOTT, GEORGE A. TITCOMB, WARREN A. BAILEY. Municipal Light Board.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Merrimac :
The School Committee make the following report and also submit herewith the reports of the Superintendent, Principal of the High School and Supervisor of Music.
The committee organized after the annual Town Meeting as follows :
Ralph H. Sargent, chairman.
Mrs. Ellen H. Murphy, purchasing agent.
Frederick C. Grant, secretary.
It gives us pleasure to state that with two exceptions we have been able to retain the same corps of teachers as last year. Miss Little, assistant in the High school, resigned early in the present school year and was suc- ceeded by Miss Mae G. Bagley. Miss Noyes, teacher of the first and second grades, resigned at the close of the last school year, and was succeeded by Miss Laura S. Wing. Owing to the large attendance in these grades at the opening of the school year, between 60 and 70 schol- ars, we were obliged to secure an assistant. Miss Mary M. McEttrick was selected for this position.
We regard the work of the past year as distinctly better than that of the year preceding and feel that the standing of the schools has been raised considerably, both in the High school and in the grades.
We have built a new chemistry room for use of the High school by removing some partitions and making three large closets into one room. This was a much need- ed improvement.
2
SCHOOL REPORT
A new furnace to heat the halls has been installed at a cost of $115.
The centre school building roof has been repaired as it commenced to leak badly. This building will need shingling before long.
We have repaired the foundation of the Prospect. street school building, fitted new conductors and tiled. them to blind walls to take care of the water from the roof.
At the Merrimacport school building much needed repairs have been made. We found more to do there than was anticipated. The roof has been shingled, new gutters and conductors fitted and tiled to the brook. We had to rebuild part of the cellar wall, it having been un- dermined and thrown out of place by water from the roof. The school room was thoroughly cleaned and repaired, and painted or varnished as required.
The cost of transportation will exceed the appropri- ation for the reason that we have had to engage a team to bring in scholars from the Highland district, whereas at the close of the last school year there were none need- ing transportation.
We have been visited two or three times by the in- spector representing the building department of the dis- trict police. He examined the Centre school on the oc- casion of his first visit and ordered iron fire escapes to be placed to allow of exit from the two upper rooms. Also new treads and hand rails to the stairs and liquid chemi- cal fire extinguishers on each floor. This equipment will cost about $350.
Later he visited the High and Prospect street school buildings. He ordered the ceilings of the basements metal lathed and plastered. At the High school T face bolts on the standing leaves of all double doors leading to exits. Hand rails to basement stairs. Liquid chemical
3
SCHOOL REPORT
fire extinguishers on each floor. This also applies to the Prospect street school.
Most of the work for the lath, plastering and car- penter work ordered has been done. The contract was given to N. S. Cole & Son, they being the lowest bidders at $373.65.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the expenses of the past year have been exceptionally heavy. We have been unable to pay all the bills for the work done and contracted for. At the annual Town Meeting a full statement will be made, and the necessary funds asked for to settle the accounts. We have preferred to take this course rather than overdraw the appropriation.
Respectfully submitted, RALPH H. SARGENT, FREDERICK C. GRANT, ELLEN M. MURPHY,
i
School Committee.
4
SCHOOL REPORT
FINANCIA LSTATEMENT.
Teachers' Salaries.
Per Month.
High school :
Principal C. C. Putney,
$110 00
Assistant Annabelle Lyons, 55 00
Assistant Louise A. Morrison,
50 00
Assistant Mae G. Bagley,
50 00
Eighth grade :
H. H. Broadfoot, 50 00
Seventh grade :
Edna G. Smith,
50 00
Sixth grade :
A. Marguerite Williams, 47 50
Fifth grade : Anna M. Kelley, 45 00
Fourth grade :
May M. Smilie, 45 00
Third grade :
Mary A. Hughes, 45 00
Second and first grades :
Laura S. Wing,
45 00
Mary M. McEttrick, assistant,
40 00
Merrimacport :
Annie M. Sargent, 45 00
Receipts.
General appropriation, $ 7,700 00
Transportation, 500 00
SCHOOL REPORT
5
Account superintendent's salary,
375 00
For repairs, 350 00
Treasurer of Commonwealth :
147 00
Tuition of minor wards, Massachusetts school fund,
1,022 51
Dog tax, .
122 59
City of Boston, tuition,
67 50
Town of Salisbury, tuition,
115 00
Town of Newton, N. H., tuition,
15 00
Mrs. H. A. Watts, tuition,
15 00
F. H. Beckford, Amesbury, tuition,
15 00
Sale of old books,
35
State, account superintendent's salary,
437 50
$10,882 45
Expenditures.
School Committee, office expense,
$ 6 00
Superintendent's salary,
654 5₺
Census officer,
25 00
Incidentals,
16 15
Supervisor's salary,
200 00
Principal High school, salary,
1,040 00
Assistants, High school, salaries,
1,490 00
Teachers, elementary grades, salaries,
3,808 26
Text books :
High,
28 40
Elementary,
22 63
Stationery and supplies :
High,
237 00
Elementary,
98 42
Janitor :
High,
250 00
Elementary,
448 00
6
SCHOOL REPORT
Fuel :
High,
264 96
Elementary,
397 07
Repairs : High, Elementary,
258 36
535 39
School physician, 2 years,
100 00
Transportation,
636 50
Tuition,
100 00
New equipment, fire escapes,
303 80
Typewriter repairs, etc.,
15 00
$10,935 98
Receipts,
$10,882 45
Due from state :
Tuition of minor wards,
52 00
Expenditures 10,935 98
$10,934 45
Overdrawn, $
1 53
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Merrimac :
Gentlemen :- I have the pleasure of presenting you my third annual report.
TEACHERS.
There is only one change in the corps of teachers of last year. Miss Julia Noyes, teacher of the first and second grades, resigned at the close of the year and Miss Laura Wing, a graduate from the Salem Normal school, was elected to fill her position. Miss Wing had had two years' experience in teaching before coming to Merrimac. She has filled this position very acceptably indeed.
On the opening of the school in September the en- rollment in the first and second grades was so large that it became necessary to employ an assistant for the pri- mary room. I believe the committee was fortunate in its selection of Miss Mary M. McEttrick for that position. Strong progressive work has been done by these two teachers under considerable difficulty, and I believe these classes will not fall behind the standard of those of pre- vious years.
SALARIES.
The committee very generously gave all the teachers in town substantial increases in their salaries. This can- not help but meet with the approval of the citizens, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. This must be done at times, to offset the increasing cost of board and other
S
SCHOOL REPORT
expenses. I feel that the town, through its committee, is disposed to do all it can along this line. Merrimac is a beautiful town, social relations are good and the nearness to larger places makes it a most desirable town and one in which teachers may find it a pleasure to reside for a few years at least.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS.
A number of meetings have been held this year. At these meetings the superintendent has talked upon cer- tain phases of the school work. Opportunity also has been given to the teachers to present any school problems that might be giving them some trouble of solution. In addition to this I make it a practice to do a great deal of individual work with the teachers, taking up with them problems I find when visiting the various grades, as well as suggesting to them different ways of presenting their subjects and lessons. In addition to this the slow or retarded pupils receive my personal attention, their standing is taken up with the teacher and ways devised and suggestions made for helping them.
THE STANDARD OF WORK
The standard being maintained in our schools is, I believe, in advance of that of last year. There has been less friction between teachers and pupils, schools and parents, than for some time. This is a big factor for ef- ficient, progressive work.
BOOKS.
The Aldine System is still used for basil work in the teaching of reading. This is followed by work in Cyr, -Jones and Buckwalter readers. Beginning with the third grade considerable supplementary reading matter is used.
9
SCHOOL REPORT
The Hamilton arithmetics used in all grades are giving general satisfaction. In geography, Frye is used in the fifth grade, the National in the sixth and eighth grades and Tarr and McMurry in the seventh grade. The Conn physiology is still in use. The Progressive Lessons in English has been introduced this year throughout all the grades, taking the place of several editions of the Cocley, Webster and Cooley-Webster books in use, as well as the Mary F. Hyde book in English. This book unifies the work in English. It is a two-volume series with three years' work in the first book and two in the second, cover- ing one hundred lessons for each year. Each year's work has many references to those preceding, thus keeping the pupil constantly in touch with all that has gone before, upon any and all subjects. Altogether the schools are reasonably well equipped with the necessary text books.
HOME GARDENS.
This summer a considerable number of the boys and girls had home gardens. The produce of the gardens was on local exhibition as well as at the several neighbor- ing fairs. Several prizes were taken by the young agri- culturalists. This is a good movement and needs the en- couragement of all, school officials as well as parents and citizens.
PLAN BOOKS.
Realizing that success in teaching cannot be attained without definite and careful daily planning and prepara- tion of lessons, I have provided each teacher in the grades with a Holmes Elementary Plan Book. This record of daily work is not only of value to the teacher but it pro- vides the superintendent a record so that he may assure himself, reasonably, of what is being done each day in the schools.
10
SCHOOL REPORT
REPAIRS.
During the summer extensive plans were made at the Port and at the High school. In addition to this, by order of the Inspector of Buildings, the Central school was equipped with fire escapes, the basements of the High and Prospect street schools were lathed and plastered, besides some minor repairs and changes in the various buildings.
EIGHT GRADES.
The trend is still away from nine to eight grade schools. The Superintendent of Schools in Newburyport, in his 1912 report, states that outside of New England, nine grades are almost unknown, and that very few towns and cities in New England are now maintaining nine grades. Mr. Claxton, United States Commissioner of Ed- ucation, in his 1913 report practically states, that he knows of no reason why a school system should have nine grades.
This system came into existence probably before the public High school became generally established, and in New England has been maintained until very recently without any excuse for so doing. Conservatism is always trailing along in the rear of progress.
IMPROVEMENTS OF HIGH SCHOOLS.
The following are some suggestions for improvements of High schools, offered by Mr. Claxton, United States Commissioner of Education.
The 12 years of elementary and high school, now grouped into 8 years of primary and grammar school and 4 years of high school, should be rearranged into 6 years of elementary school and 6 years of high school. The 6 high-school years should be subdivided into 3 years of junior high school and 3 years of senior high school. The
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SCHOOL REPORT
following are some of the generally accepted reasons for the suggested change :
1. For most children the beginning of adolescence, marking the transition from childhood to youth, comes at 12 or 13. Most writers on education have recognized this and accepted it in making their plans for a school system.
2. In most of our schools children make little real progress in the seventh and eighth grades. There has been much complaint that this is a period of marking time. This is especially true when the subject matter and the methods of the elementary school are carried through these grades, and when all the teachers are women.
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