USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1918 > Part 2
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Number of polls assessed in' December,
6
Number of persons assessed on property, 898
Number of persons assessed for poll tax only, 30
Number of polls exempt, 77
Number of dwelling houses,
639
Number of horses,
123
Number of cows,
161
Number of neat cattle other than cows,
124
Number of sheep,
50
Number of swine,
41
Number of fowl,
735
Respectfully submitted,
Frank E. Bartlett, · Willis H. Scott. John E. Currier,
Assessors.
+
34
TOWN REPORT
ENGINEERS' REPORT
To the Selectmen and Citizens of the Town of Merri- mac the Board of Fire Engineers make the following report. Number of alarms responded to, 11
May 1, 1918. Box 14, 9.20 A. M. Grass fire. No damage.
May 4, 1918. Box 15, 10.10 P. M. Brush fire. No damage.
June 29, 1918. Tel. alarm. Dump fire rear garage (Wright). No damage.
July 4, 1918. Box 15, 12.30 A. M. Stack of hay. Damage $30.00
July 4, 1918. Tel. alarm. 1.30 A. M. Dump fire .. No damage.
July 20, 1918. Box 25, 5.25 P. M. Fake alarm.
Sept. 30, 1918. Tel. alarm. 6.30 P. M. Chimney fire. Bear Hill . No damage.
Oct. 4, 1918. Tel. alarm. 1.30 P. M. Whittier School. Damage slight.
Nov. 11, 1918. Box 12, 10.25 P. M. False alarm (Victory Day).
Nov. 30, 1918 Tel. alarm. 10.30 A. M. Chimney fire. Prospect Hill. No damage.
Dec. 2, 1918. Box 14, 3.35 P. M. False alarm. explo- sion of coal gas in stove. Funnel blown down. No fire. No damage.
The Town of Merrimac has been very fortunate the past year in regard to fires, the losses being very small.
We have had considerable repairing done on the Central Fire Station, removing some of the sills that had rotted away and replacing with new ones.
Both of the flat roofs had to be repaired, also the east side of the main part had to be reshingled and new gutters.
We have had the Company's Room painted, the work
35
.
TOWN REPORT
being done by Captain Cammett and his men. The room now has so neat an appearance, that they have offered to paint the Steamer Room, which is to be done in the near future.
The outside of the house needs painting not only for appearance, but to keep it in repair. 1
The Central Station has been sadly neglected in the past, and we feel that something ought to be done in the near future to keep the building in the proper condition.
We feel quite sure that we have got good results for the money that we have expended the past year, and we think if the work could be kept up for a few years things could be placed in pretty good condition.
We have not made any repairs on Hose 2. House, but have bought a new stove for it as the one there was too small to heat the building properly.
During the year we have replaced about a mile of fire alarm wire; more should have been replaced, but owing to the high cost of material and labor, it was thought unwise to do so. Otherwise than this our fire alarm system is in good working order.
We have made considerable headway on the Combina- tion Fire Truck. The White Chassis generously donated by the Walker Carriage Co. we have equipped with two 25 gal. Chemical Tanks, with all other necessary fittings to com- plete the same.
The J. B. Judkins Co. has generously consented to donate the body, which at this time is nearly completed and when painted and equipped with all necessary ar- ticles that are needed we think the Town of Merrimac will have a piece of apparatus that will be useful as well as ornamental.
As we are still in need of funds to do repairing on buildings, and owing to the increase of all supplies, we recommend that the sum of $500.00 be appropriated for building repairs and miscellaneous, and the sum of $2,500.00
36
TOWN REPORT
for the general maintenance of the Fire Dept. for the year of, 1919. :
Respectfully submitted, .
Signed, J. W. Grocut R. J. Eaton L. B. Davis.
:
37
TOWN REPORT
POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I hereby submit the annual report of the Police Depart- ment for the year ending December 31st, 1918. Number of arrests, 52
Charged as follows;
Drunkenness,
19
Non-support,
2
Delinquent children,
5
Larceny,
5
Automobile violations,
14
Trespass,
2
Disturbance of Peace,
1
Neglect to send child to school,
1
Carrying concealed weapons,
1
Profane Language,
1
Vagrant,
1
Total
52
Disposed of as follows;
11 For drunkenness. First offence. Released.
6 For drunkenness. Probation.
1 For drunkenness. Sent to Bridgewater for one year.
1 For drunkenness. Fined $10.00. Paid.
2 For non-support. Placed on probation.
4 Delinquent children. Discharged.
1 Delinquent child. Placed on probation.
2 Larceny. Discharged.
1 Larceny. Two years suspended sentence.
38
TOWN REPORT
1 Larceny. Fined $25.00. Paid.
1 Larceny. Fined $10.00. Paid.
Automobile Violations ;
9 Fined. $5.00. Paid.
2 Fined. $25.00. Paid.
1 Fined. $10.00. Paid.
2 Discharged.
1 Disturbance of Peace. Discharged.
1 Trespass. $15.00. Paid.
1 Trespass. Discharged.
1 Neglect to send child to school. Probation.
1 Carrying concealed weapons. Fined $25.00. Suspended.
1 Profane Language. Fined $5.00. Paid.
1 Vagrant. Sentenced to Ipswich 5 months. Respectfully submitted,
LOWELL G. HARRINGTON, Chief of Police.
39
TOWN REPORT
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
Births.
Number of births returned,
31
Males,
12
Females,
19
Father native born,
28
Mother native born,
28
Father and mother both native born,
26
Father and mother both foreign born,
2
Mixed parentage,
3
Marriages.
Number of marriages recorded,
19
First marriage of groom,
15
First marriage of bride,
16
Grooms native born,
15
Brides native born,
15
Grooms foreign born,
4
Brides foreign born,
4
Average age of groom,
29 yrs. 7 mos.
Average age of bride,
27 yrs. 2 mos.
Deaths. 1
Number of deaths recorded,
48
Males,
24
Females,
24
Under five years,
6
Males native born,
21
Females native born,
22
Males foreign born,
3
Females foreign born,
2
Of native parentage,
35
40
TOWN REPORT
Of foreign parentage,
11
Of mixed parentage,
2
Average age, Oldest person,
54 yrs. 9 mos.
95 yrs. 3 mos. 2 days.
Dogs.
Number of dogs licensed,
71
Males,
62
Females,
Hunter's licenses granted,
60,
CLIFTON B. HEATH,
Town Clerk.
41
TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF KIMBALL PARK
-
Citizens of Merrimac
We are pleased to report another good year for the trees and shrubs and they are now of such size that they present a beauty spot for all entering the town from the direction of Haverhill. The following is the financial con- dition :
Balance on hand from last year. $20.53
Interest on fund for 1918, 43.80
$64.33
Paid for care of Park,
21.00
Balance on hand.
$43.33
Board of Trustees,
WALTER L. CHALONER, FREDERICK C. GRANT. RICHARD A. SARGENT.
42
TOWN REPORT
FORTY THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MER- RIMAC PUBLIC LIBRARY.
This year 142 books have been added to the library, and of this number
The trustees purchased.
105
Presented by the State,
66
..
the National Government,
3
66
£ Radcliffe College.
İ
Carnegie Endowment,
1
66 Emile Carbouelle,
1
Gen'l. Education Board,
1
66
.6 Mr. Fred. P. Clement,
10
142
6838
Total number of books loaned.
Monthly Circulation.
January,
480
July, 653
February,
543
August,
557
March,
840
September.
510
April,
744 October,
90
May,
691
November,
559
June,
682
December,
489
Financial Statement.
Town appropriation,
$500.00
$500.00
Expenses paid :
$132.79
Books,
200.00
Librarian salary,
S. I. Sayre, supplies for rooms,
2.81
19
1
66 WV. B. Thayer,
43
TOWN REPORT
Magazines,
38.85
Printing and supplies,
6.75
Repairs on rooms,
35.00
Binding books and magazines,
43.90
Heating rooms,
25.00
Cleaning rooms, postage and express, 3.34
Balance unexpended,
11.56
$500.00
Funds from which income is derived :
James Whittier fund with interest to Oct., 1918. $468.97 A. E. Goodwin fund with interest to Oct., 1918, 28,3.62 We would ask for the usual appropriation of $500.00 for the use of the library for the current year.
T. H. ΗΟΥΤ,
H. O. DELANO,
B. F. SMITH,
W. S. TUCKWELL, A. P. WADLEIGH, W. B. SARGENT, Trustees.
1 -
1
.
44
TOWN REPORT
1
SEALER'S REPORT.
- -
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit the annual report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1918:
Platform scales under 5,000 lbs. sealed, »
1
Beam scales sealed,
24
Counter scales sealed,
5
Spring balances sealed,
5
Liquid measures sealed,
2
Pumps sealed,
4
Scales adjusted,
25
Weights sealed,
25
Inspections and weighing bread,
$5.42
Sealer's fees collected,
Respectfully submitted,
E. S. McKAY. ' Sealer.
1
11
45
TOWN REPORT
:
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF LOCUST GROVE CEMETERY
Receipts from all sources
$278.50
Expended for labor and necessities $206.14
Deposited in bank 72.36
Vouchers on file $278.36
Pereptual care of lots, thirteen in number,
aggregate am't expended, $38.36
For details see Treasurer F. C. Grant's acount on another page of this report.
New P. C. Lot, 1918
Alfred H. Colby fund, $100.00 deposited in Merrimac Savings Bank for perpetual care of Alfred M. Colby family lot in Section A, Lot No. 2 in Loucust Grove Cemetery.
Union Soldiers' Lots T
31, same as last year, ten of which were cared for by present owners. All others cared for by town at a cost of about $1.50 each, the G. A. R. lot included in this ac- count being $31.50, $20.00 of which is in hands of Willis H. Scott, Chairman of Selectmen for Internment.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. W. LARKIN. Supt., WILLIS H. SCOTT,
Trustees.
--- ------
46
TOWN REPORT
1918 JURY LIST
As Prepared by the Selectmen of Merrimac in Compliance with Chap. 348, Acts of 1907
Name and Residence
Ralph H. Sargent, Main street,
John K. Sargent, Merrimac street,
Salesman
J. Melvin Clement, School street, Everett L. Jewell, Main street,
Woodworker
Jacob T. Crosby, Main street,
Farmer Salesman
Harry W. Hale, Main street,
Charles A. Kershaw, Merrimac street,
Retired
John Thacher, Main street,
Woodworker Painter Carpenter
Clarence O. Libby, Adams street,
George H. Whitcomb, Merrimac street,
Carpenter
Isaac A. Williams, Merrimac street, Herbert E. Whiting, Church street, Frederick W. Blanchard, Merrimac street, Charles A. Noyes, Main street, James C. Libby, Pleasant street,
Woodworker Metalworker -Salesman Retired
Carpenter
Frank Lefavor, Lincoln street,
William S. Jonah, Pine street,
Fred B. Follansbee, Main street, John F. Bartlett, Pine street,
Frank H. Hargraves, Main- street,
Frank E. Bartlett, Main street,
Edwin S. McKay, Nichols street,
Charles A. Follansbee, Adams street,
Blacksmith Metalworker Painter Real Estate Trader
Real Estate Carpenter Metalworker
Occupation Farmer Farmer
Horace W. Hoyt, Church street,
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE BOARD OF
Water Commissioners
The Board of Water Commissioners herein submit their Fifteenth Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1918.
During the year we have laid six new service pipes and added three other services making a total of 591.
There are 86 services not in use leaving 505 in use, or 22 less than last year.
The receipts from water rates were $6,433.88, this as was predicted in our last report, shows a decrease from the preceeding year for the first time since the plant was in- stalled. 1
Without doubt the coming year will show a still further decrease owing to the large number of services not in use.
Repair bills have been exceptionally heavy owing in part to the increased cost of all material. There is still considerable to be done both at the station and standpipe. These repairs when finished should be good for a number of years.
ESTIMATES FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
Expense.
Gross expense of operation,
$5,310.00
Bond payments,
3,500.00
Note payments,
350.00
Interest payments,
2,058.00
$11,218.00
2
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
Income and Cash on Hand.
Water rates,
$6,200.00
Rent and engineer,
250.00
Water for town buildings,
100.00
Hydrant service,
2,370.00
Maintenance,
1,371.22
Cash on hand,
926.78
$11,218.00
We recommend that the town appropriate :
1
For water for town buildings,
$ 100.00
For hydrant service, 2,370.00
For maintenance,
1,371.22
$3.841.22
CONSTRUCTION
Receipts.
Appropriation,
$450.00
Light Dept., team and labor,
141.55
Sale of material,
56.05
Laying service pipe,
62.05
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1918,
159.26
$868.91
Expended.
Service pipe and supplies, team and labor,
$784.72
Balance unexpended,
84.19
$868.91
Maintenance.
Miscellaneous and repairs,
$694.57
Oil and waste,
72.35
Salary of superintendent,
492.30
3
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
Salary of collector,
245.80
Salary of Commissioners,
37.50
Fuel,
1,060.37
Supplies to station,
3.25
Station wages,
910.00
Office expense,
394.86
Rent of office,
84.00
Bond payments,
3,500.00
Note payments,
850.00
Interest,
2,222.00
Insurance,
79.58
$10,646.58
Total expended,
$11,431.30
MONTHLY REPORT OF PUMPING STATION Gallons Pumped
Hours Pumping Hrs. Mins.
January,
3,777,000
141
15
February,
3,861,000
131
40
March,
3,498,000
127
25
April,
3,274,200
118
25
May,
3,465,000
127
25
June,
4,380,000
153
30
July,
4,236,000
157
55
August,
4,174,000
148
27
September,
3,696,000
1,31
40
October,
3,591,000
128
30
November,
3,171,000
119
20
December,
3,702,000
137
55
44,825,200
Greatest amount pumped in one day,
270.000
Greatest amount pumped in one week, 1,215,000
COST OF CONSTRUCTION. Cost to January 1, 1918.
Pumping station, $ 6,631.74
4
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
3,473.70
Boilers,
5,889.06
Pumps,
339.60
Coal shed,
272.00
Road to station,
2,369.86
Suction pipe system,
27,983.98
Pipe line,
14,188.49
Pipe laying,
620.08
Clearing land,
6,165.21
Stand pipe,
2,344.12
Investigating committee,
3,242.82
Meters,
3,097.22
Engineering,
245 99
Freight and express,
971.98
Miscellaneous,
1,500.00
Salaries,
3,475.34
Land,
8,698.12
Service pipe,
137.99
Reservoir at station,
$91,647.30
BALANCE SHEET.
Receipts.
Appropriation, construction,
$ 450.00
Appropriation, water in town buildings,
100.00
Appropriation, hydrant service,
2,370.00
Appropriation, maintenance,
6,433.88
Water rates,
140.05
Light Dept., office expense,
150.00
Light Dept., station wages,
141.55
Light Dept., team and labor,
100.00
Laying service pipe,
56.05
Sale of material,
27.50
Miscellaneous,
35.00
Refund on heater,
1,011.98
Cash on hand January 1, 1918,
$12,358.08
1,280.02
Light Dept., rent of station,
62.05
5
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
Expended.
For construction and Light Dept., team and labor, $ 784.72 10,646.58
For maintenance, Cash on hand Jan. 1. 1919,
926.78
$12,358.08
WILLIS H. SCOTT, WARREN A. BAILEY, GEORGE T. WALKER, Board of Water Commissioners.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Subject to Correction
State Department of Health Merrimac Water Analysis (parts in 100,000)
DATE OF
APPEARANCE
AMMONIA
Nitrogen As
Number
Collection
Turbidity
Sediment
Color
Residue on
Evaporation
Free
Albu-
minoid
Chlorine
Nitrates
Nitrites
Hardness
Iron
139368 140694 142050
9
Nov 1917 Mar 1918 June 1918
none
none
.00
0.00
.0004
.0012 .0020
.55
.0160 .0160
.0000 .0000
2.9
.012
Wells
none
none
.00
6.90
.0004
,0028
.54
.0280
.0000
2.6
.009
Well, tap
24
none
none
.00
7 40
.0006
.51
3.1
.008
Wells
Remarks
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Municipal Light Board
The Municipal Light Board herein submit their Fif- teenth Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1918.
As will be seen in the manager's estimates for the en- suing year there has been a change in the law relative to the financial management of municipal plants so that the law now requires each city or town to include in its annual appropriation and in the tax levy not less than the esti- mated cost of the electricity to be used by the city or town. This will be the first appropriation for maintenance from the tax levy since 1915.
The total K. W. H. delivered at the switchboard was. 231,169; this shows a decrease from 1917 of 54,943.
The additions for the year have been 14 lighting services, and there were in use Jan. 1, 1919, not including town lights, 219 lighting services and 10 power services.
In compliance with the law the manager has furnished the Board with the following estimates of expense and in- come for the ensuing year :
EXPENSE.
Operation,
$8,013.01
Interest,
172.00
Depreciation, 3% on $34,728.82
1,041.86
Note payment,
600.00
Bond payment, 500.00
Loss preceding year,
825.71
$11,152.58
2
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD REPORT.
INCOME.
From private consumers, $8,500.00
Cost as defined in Chapter 77,, General Acts of 1918.
Of lighting municipal buildings, 275.00
Of lighting streets,
2,377.58
$11,152.58
Total to be included in the tax levy,
$2,652.58
EXPENDED FOR
Construction and Renewals, :
Street lines,
201.92
Transformers,
192.28
Meters,
$803.25
Construction.
Street lines,
$237.07
Transformers,
164.47
Meters,
192.28
Renewals.
Street lines,
$171.98
Transformers,
37.45
$803.25
MAINTENANCE
Current purchased,
$5,449.37
Station wages,
150.00
Repairs of lines, etc.,
269.78
Lamps, etc.,
648.41
Tools,
14.69
Manager's salary,
492.30
Collector's salary,
295.82
$409.05
3
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD REPORT
Salaries of Municipal Light Board,
37.50
Office expense,
174.09
Rent of office,
84.00
Interest.
216.00
Rent of station,
100.00
Insurance,
79.58
Note payment.
600.00
Bond payment.
500.00
Fuel,
1.114.95
$10,226.49
COST OF CONSTRUCTION
Steam plant,
$ 3,985.39
Electric plant,
4,481.01
Street lines,
18,418.00
Transformers,
4,341.54
Meters,
3,502.88
$34,728.82
BALANCE SHEET.
On Hand and Received.
General cash on hand Jan. 1, 1918, $3,328.03
Depreciation fund Jan. 1, 1918, 522.16
Reserve fund and interest Jan. 1, 1918, 1,530.00
Sale of power and light, 8,541.30.
Lighting municipal buildings,
332.84
Sale of lamps, etc.,
917.93 1
Miscellaneous,
67.63
Interest on depreciation fund,
22.41
Interest on reserve fund,
65.70
$15,328.00
Expended and on Hand. Construction and renewals, $ 803.25
4
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD REPORT
Maintenance,
10,226.49
General cash on hand Jan 1, 1919,
1,920.81
Depreciation fund,
781.75
Reserve fund and interest,
1,595.70
$15,328.00
WILLIS H. SCOTT,
WARREN A. BAILEY, GEORGE T. WALKER, Municipal Light Board ..
- -
ANNUAL 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 report of the Superintendent, and Principal of the High School.
The Committee ` organized after the Annual Town Meeting as follows :
Ellen M. Murphy, Chairman.
William S. Tuckwell, Secretary.
C. Walter Morrill, Purchasing Agent.
Questions of school finance are always of interest. The vital importance is that they be carefully considered and understood to the end that sufficient appropriations be made to carry on the work of the schools.
In order to maintain the schools properly during the ensuing year, and pay the bills at the close of the year, some of the appropriations must be increased over similar ap- propriations for the past year.
The books show a balance but there are unpaid bills aggregating the amount.
Repairs on the Merrimacport School would have taken all the balance, but we were unable to get the work done.
We recommend electric lights and gas to be installed in the High School building.
Respectfully submitted, (Signed ) ELLEN M. MURPHY, WILLIAM S. TUCKWELL, C. WALTER MORRILL,
School Committee.
2
SCHOOL REPORT
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHOOL DEPARTMENT TOWN OF MERRIMAC FOR YEAR 1918
Receipts.
General Appropriation,
$10.885.00
Transportation,
1,300.00
Superintendent,
720.00
Massachusetts School Fund,
722.79
State Wards,
31,3.90
Tuition from other towns,
117.00
County of Essex for dog tax,
137.96
From State for Supt's Salary,
500.00
Miscellaneous,
41.48
Total,
$14,738.13
Expenditures.
School Committee,
$ 122.37
Superintendent,
557.50
Teachers, High,
3,675.00
Teachers, Elementary,
4,981.46
Supervision,
312.60
Textbooks and supplies,
613.37
Janitors,
500.00
Fuel,
1,177.99
Miscellaneous,
169.97
Repairs,
578.06
Transportation,
1,252.00
Total,
$13,940.32
Unexpended Balance,
$797.81
3
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
,
To the School Committee of Merrimac, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor and pleasure to report to you for the first time, concerning the public schools of the Town of Merrimac. You as a committee hear the verbal report each month from your Superintendent in regard to our aims and accomplishments, but it is essential, for the sake of our citizens interested in school matters, that they have a summary to date of what has been achieved and what our future plans are.
Interruptions.
In trying to estimate the work of the schools since September the effect of the epidemic of influenza must be taken into account. The interruptions and the resulting disorganization has reacted in such a way that little progress has been possible. No sooner had a start been made when the schools were forced to close for the month of October. On reopening many of the pupils were kept from school because of sickness or fear on the part of the parents. How- ever justifiable this course may have been, it is a fact that a teacher can take up very little new work unless at least 75 per cent of her class are present. It was planned to make up some of the time by shortening the Christmas Recess but so many pupils remained away from school that the plan availed but little. What is accomplished in the remainder of the school year will depend largely on whether or not the schools are able to follow their normal course.
WAR WORK
Never before have the schools been called upon to
4
SCHOOL REPORT
give so much of their time to outside activities. The de- mands made upon the schools because of the war, have been many and varied, and in most cases justified. The sale of Thrift Stamps, the Junior Red Cross and the several Liberty Loans, while very worthy objects, have tended to overload our system and to draw attention from the re- gular work of the schools. Now that the war is over we hope to give our individed attention to the work at hand and be able to make up, in a measure, the lost time.
Courses of Study
On coming into the school system in September I found that there were no courses of study, except a few outlines, to guide the teachers in their work. The need of such courses has always been open to question. Many educators consider them of vital importance, while others, of equal renown, leave the matter entirely to the teachers. It would seem at first thought that the latter way was the correct one but on further consideration you will admit, I think, that a great deal of time is lost by the lack of a well graded method of procedure. Teachers of several years experience usually have their methods clearly outlined but in our schools, due in part to the small salaries, teachers change often from year to year. The incoming teacher spends a period of time finding out what her predecessor has accomplished, a condition which always results in a great loss of time.
As teachers will always move from time to time to larger and better paying fields, a course of study, that will enable onė teacher to bring the work up to a certain point and allow another teacher to carry on from that point, will be, I believe, a decided advantage. With this idea in mind I, with the help of the teachers, have attempted to reor- ganize our present practices. Gray's "Number by Develop- ment" has been introduced into the first and second grades. The system is based on this assumption: "That develop- ment work in any subject depends for its value upon the care that is given to analysis, arrangement and presentation.
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Give the teacher merely the outlines of a system, in any subject, even one with which she is perfectly familiar, and require her to work out the details for herself and the diffi- cult part of the task is thrown upon her. A mistake in this analysis or in the arrangement of the elements and the work ceases to be a developmnt procss. System ceases." It is due to this fact that the detail is so carefully worked out, that Gray's number has been chosen for our primary grades.
A new method of spelling has also been introduced. We have noted the fact that heretofore the teacher's work has been merely to test the pupil's results. An attempt has been made to emphasize the three phases of spelling, namely; teaching, testing and correcting, and also to teach the words from the standpoints of meaning, pronounciation and the actual spelling of the word. I am receiving the co- operation of the teachers in this work and the results al- ready obtained are sure to raise our standards of attain- ment.
The Junior High School Movement
The Junior High School Movement, which has made great gains in the past ten years, has proven a success. For a long time there has been a need of some arrange- ment that would lessen the confusion experienced by the eighth grade pupil on his entrance into the high school The Junior High School aims to make this step less abrupt by offering the elements of high school subjects, such as algebra, French, Latin, etc., in the seventh grades, with a departmentalized organization.
The lack of funds and suitable housing facilities has prevented many towns the size of Merrimac from taking advantage of the Junior High School. For us a broader school organization has always meant more money than the town has been able to raise.
The introduction of a Junior High School in Merrimac at the present time, however, would not call for a large expenditure of money. The Prospect School is well lo- cated and with the addition of a suitable heating plant,
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could le easily converted into a separate school for our seventh and eighth grades. Very little rearrangement of our present practices would be needed and the results gained would be well worth the expenditure of time, money and effort.
Miscellaneous
The Central School organization has much improved since a Principal has been appointed to head the school. The old complaint, that there was no one to look to for authority has disappeared, leaving a better working at- mosphere for all concerned.
As you know, the teachers are among those who suffer most from the high cost of living. It is hardly probable that the town of Merrimac will continue to expect to keep its teachers at a salary of about $10.44 a week. With the larger salaries being paid in all other lines of endeavor the number of available teachers will decrease from year to year.
Six vacancies occurred last summer, all of which were satisfactorily filled by appointment. Mr. Frederick Simmons was elected to the principalship of the high school with Miss Helen Blodgett, Miss Marjorie Colton and Miss . Helen Murray as teachers. Miss Gladys Barry was elected to fill the vacancy in the 7th grade at the Prospect school and Miss Pearl Hanson, Miss Jessie Norman and Miss Lillian Pike to the 5th, 4th, and 1st grades respectively, at the Central School.
I take this opportunity to thank the teachers, members of this committee and all others who have aided me in my work. I appreciate the great freedom you have given me in the discharge of my duties and the cordiality of our relations. I hope the future conduct of this office will fully warrant a continuance of the confidence you have placed in me.
Respectfully submitted, Leon E. Davis,
Superintendent of Schools.
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REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Leon Davis, Sup't of Schools, Merrimac, Mass. My dear Sir :-
At your request, I am sending to you a report concern- ing the Merrimac High School. Since my connection with the school has been of short duration, the report will be brief.
The total registration in the high school and the eighth grade is 109, 78 of whom are in the high school pro- per. 31 in the eighth grade. There are 70 in the high school at present, making the average enrollment 74. The loss in membership has been largest in the entering class.
When I came to the school, I found the records, class schedule of recitations well prepared for my use and I was able to begin work with little, if any delay. I found the pupils of good capacity and a fairly good percentage of whom are frank, purposeful and responsive to instruction.
The new typewriters have met the requirements of the Commercial department, but there is great need of reference books in English, History and Science. In this connection I would say that during dull days from the mid- dle of October to March, the school rooms are not suf- ficiently lighted for pupils desiring to study in the after- 1001. I would therefore suggest that electric lights be installed in the high school building. In the long run, it would be less expensive to have the laboratory connected with gas instead of using the wasteful and expensive alcohol lamp for heating purposes.
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It may be well to mention that a small beginning has- been made for the organization of a debating society and an orchestra. The teachers also hope that a speaking con- test may be held later in the year.
I would be amiss in my report should I not mention the splendid and faithful work of the assistant teachers. They have been at the school building early and late in the day. They have been constant in helping the pupils in the afternoon. There is seldom an afternoon when one or more- of the teachers is not back to help the pupils, remaining until four or five o'clock.
In closing this report, it is a pleasure for me to speak. for the assistant teachers as well as myself, of their and my appreciation of the help and friendly co-operation of our Superintendent.
Respectfully submitted,
Frederick J. Simmons,
Principal of the Merrimac High School.
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