USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1881-1890 > Part 33
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62
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONS FOR THE YEAR AND HOW PROCURED.
Volumes. Pamphlets.
State of Massachusetts .
.
.
13
6
Fish Commissioner, U. S. .
.
.
6
Census Bureau ·
5
Comptroller of the Currency, U. S. .
2
Commissioner of Education, 66
.
.
2
4
War Department
.
1
Interstate Commerce Commission, U. S.
2
Secretary of the Treasury, 66 Agriculture, 66
Public Library, Worcester, Mass.
City 66 Lowell, 66
.
.
1
Malden Malden, 66
1
Lawrence « Lawrence, 66
1
Fall River Library, Fall River, Mass.
1
Macullar, Parker & Co., Boston
1
Henry Cook, Elizabeth, N. J.
.
1
Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City
1
Binding pamphlets
14
Exchanges with Medway and Sudbury
2
Purchases 221
-
273 15
The library has received weekly from the Patent office the Official Gazette, and from the United Friends' Society, monthly, The Manifesto, the official publication of that society.
Respectfully yours,
N. F. BLAKE, Librarian.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER.
V. N. RYAN, Treasurer,
In account with Milford Town Library. DR.
Balance from last year's report
$ 186 67
Town appropriation
500 00
One half dog-tax
·
383 96
Fines and catalogues
.
53 33
.
.
.
1
·
1
.
1
.
$1,123 96
63
CR.
James A. Gilmore, librarian
·
$ 50 00
N. F. Blake, 66
250 00
Express
4 60
Milford Electric Light Co. .
54 76
Milford Gas Co.
49 02
Supplies
18 03
Printing
.
4 75
Binding books
33 90
Covering books
12 19
Furniture
51 50
Repairs
5 20
Books
388 29
Unexpended appropriation .
186 06
Balance, cash on hand
15 66
$1,123 96
Respectfully submitted,
V. N. RYAN, Treasurer.
Having examined the accounts of the Treasurer of the Town Library, and finding vouchers for each expenditure, I hereby cer- tify that the aforesaid report is correct, as shown by his books.
AUSTIN HOWARD, Auditor.
-
REPORT OF Trustees of Vernon Grove Cemetery, FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 1, 1890.
DR.
1889.
Feb'ry 8, To cash on hand $99 64
May 18, Cash of Wood & Nye, for digging graves 39 62
25,
Mrs. Arthur Johnson, work on lot 8 00
June 1,
Henry Hancock, work on lot 3 00
8, Wood & Nye, for digging graves 22 00
60 work on N. Adams' lot 5 00
10, 27, On order of the Selectmen 100 00
Aug'st 3, 1890.
Of Henry Hancock, care of lots
7 50
Jan. 27, Wood & Nye, for
William H. Trevetts, Lot No. 50
14 00
Robert Russell, Lot No. 537 .
5 00
For three burials in public lot Digging graves
13 25
$322 51
CR.
1889.
March 30, and other times : - Paid Henry Hancock
$234 15
April 3 and 17 : -
William Prentice
23 00
April 23,
Peter Chepdelain
7 50
June 1, Mann & Leahy
1 00
S, Wm. Johnson & Co.
1 50
29, Cook & Sons
1 00
·
5 50
65
1890.
Jan. 27, H. C. Skinner .
$10 00
27, Cash on hand
44 36
$322 51
There have been 37 interments in Vernon Grove Cemetery during the past year.
The terms of the Committee expire as follows: Geo. L. Maynard and Henry Hancock in 1890; Leonard Fairbanks and Isaac N. Crosby in 1891 ; Henry C. Skinner and John M. Wood in 1892.
HENRY C. SKINNER,
Secretary.
The report of the Trustees of Vernon Grove Cemetery for the year ending Feb. 1, 1890, as shown above, is correct.
AUSTIN HOWARD,
Auditor.
Report of Town Park Commissioners.
DR.
Town appropriations
.
$200 00
R. B. Greene, hay and grass ·
30 00
·
---
CR
Hugh Smith, labor
$ 15 02
Thomas Hickey, labor .
.
24 21
Addison Aldrich
30 32
J. F. Haskell, carting ·
17 40
Field Brothers, lumber
13 73
J. J. Grothe, iron work
5 41
N. K. Sprague, labor
24 60
T. E. Morse, painting
11 20
William Coffee, labor
3 50
John Coffee, 66
1 60
A. S. Allen, police
14 00
Clark Ellis & Sons, findings
3 63
Town Treasurer
30 00
$194 62
Balance on hand
35 38
= $230 00
C. W. WILCOX, HENRY E. FALES, DWIGHT RUSSELL,
Town Park Commissioners.
I hereby certify that the accounts of the Park Commission- ers as shown in this report are correct.
AUSTIN HOWARD, Auditor.
$230 00
.
·
.
.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
In view of the deep interest now taken throughout the state in regard to the condition and custody of public records, it is gratifying to note the advance step taken by the Town last year in appropriating $250 for the purpose of improving the condition of its records.
During the year, through the means of this appropriation, the records of births, deaths and marriages, comprising 15 books, have been re-bound, the earlier records (from 1780 to 1843) being inter-leaved, so as to prevent the breaking of the paper, which from age has become quite brittle. The work of arranging and classi- fying the records, documents, bills, etc., in the fire-proof vault, has steadily progressed, and will in all probability be completed by the annual meeting.
In order that the arrangement of the records in the vault should be complete, and also to comply with the provisions of Sec. 4, Chap. 37, of the Public Statues requiring all books, papers and documents to be kept in fire-proof safes, I requested the dif- erent Town Officers who had records of their respective depart- ments in their possession, to deliver the same into my custody. By their prompt compliance with my request, it affords me great pleasure to report that all the records of the different Town Offi- cers, except those in present use, are now in the vault, and as- signed to their proper places under the new arrangement.
This year I would call your especial attention to the neces- sity of indexing the "Records of Town Affairs" previous to 1859, and the records of "Births, Deaths and Marriages" from 1780 to 1843. These books are quite frequently referred to for historical and genealogical work, and from the want of an index, consider- able inconvenience and loss of time is caused to persons searching for information. All records should be indexed so as to make them convenient for examination and reference, and as these rec- ords contain entries of the earlier transactions of the Town, and
68
the vital statistics of the first 50 years of its history, it seems to me particularly desirable that the same should be indexed at once.
The record department of the Town is quite as important as any other department, and ought to be treated with as much consideration in relation to appropriations for improvements as time and necessity demand. If, as in other departments, a spe- cial appropriation were made annually for the purpose of improv- ing the condition of the records, in such a manner as would ap- pear necessary and desirable from the observations and judgment of the Town Clerk, Milford's records could, in a short time and at a small expense, be made equal, if not superior, to those of any Town in the state.
The question of the adoption of a Town seal will come up for your consideration at the coming meeting, and I would ur- gently recommend that the Town take favorable action towards adopting and purchasing a seal.
MARRIAGES.
Intentions issued
81
Marriages'recorded
· 90
Increase over 1888
. 3
Number solemnized in Milford
59
Hopedale
3
Holliston
3
Upton .
3
Bellingham
·
Hopkinton
2
Franklin
2
Woonsocket, R. I.
2
South Framingham ·
2
Conway, Mass., Beverly, Mass.,
West Medway, Fall River,
North Brookfield, Clinton, Bos-
ton, East Boston, Worcester, Woburn, Quincy, and Phila- delphia, Pa., 1 each.
- 90
First marriage, grooms, 70,
brides 79,
149
Second
18.
11,
29
Third
2,
0,
2
-
90
90
180
4
.
2
.
.
12
·
.
69
Average age of groom
35
bride .
· 26
Oldest groom
bride
·
·
61
Youngest groom
19
66 bride
17
Grooms whose age exceeds bride's
73
Brides 66 66 groom's
9
Same age, in years
.
. 8
-
90
Greatest difference in ages of one couple, 21 years.
BY WHOM PERFORMED.
By Rev. James T. Canavan
19
S. A. Gardner
10
D. F. McGillicuddy .
5
Adin Ballou
5
66 A. W. Mills .
4
66 F. W. Farr .
·
4
Charles Tilton
.
3
Webster Woodbury
.
3
66 George. Fisher
2
P. Cuddihy
1
66 John S. Cullen, South Framingham
2
66 Daniel A. Wade, Bellingham
2
M. D. Murphy, Hopkinton .
2
T
Revs. Geo. E. Sanderson, Conway ; W. C. Selleck, Frank- lin ; Sherwood Soule, Beverly; George S. Ball, Upton ; Fayette Nichols, Newton; James J. Gilday, Clinton ; Arthur H. Wright, Dorchester; A. E. Winship, Milford, M. H. Harris, Worcester; Herbert H. Mott, Winches- ter ; R. J. Quinlan, Holliston ; M. J. Carroll, Fisherville ; H. E. Cotton, Quincy; A. J. Dyer, Upton ; J. M. Mulcahy, Franklin ; L. J. Deady, Fall River; John Hird, North Brookfield ; Wm. P. Blackmer, Upton ; Edwin Sweetser, Philadelphia, Pa .; James H. Netting, Woon- socket, R. I .; Michael Clark, East Boston ; Eng. Les- sard, Woonsocket, R. I., 1 each,
22
90
.
.
71
.
·
·
.
.
.
·
70
BIRTHS.
Whole number registered
.
194
Number of males
102
66 females
.
Children of foreign parentage
60
66 native 66
144
mixed 66
20
Number of instances of twins 4
Illegitimate
. 6
Born in January,
males, 7
females, 7
14
February,
1
66
11
12
March,
66
11
66
9
20
April,
66
6
4
10
May,
66
9
3
12
June,
66
8
12
20
July,
5
66 .
1
6
August,
66
10
66
8
18
September,
66
10
66
12
22
October,
12
66
9
21
November,
8
66
5
13
December,
66
15
66
11
26
-
102
92
194
DEATHS.
Number recorded
154
66
of males
.
.
.
.
74
A decrease of 50 from 1888.
Died in January,
males, 5
females,
3
8
February,
66
4
66
8
.
12
March,
66
7
10
17
April,
66
12
66
5
17
May,
66
10
66
7
17
June,
4
66
3
.
.
7
July,
66
5
66
6
11.
August,
66
7
66
7
.
14
.
.
92
-
194
.
194
.
.
.
80
females
- 154
·
.
.
71
September, males, 3
females, 6
9
October,
66
11
6
17
November,
66
6
66
5
11
December,
66
6
66
8
·
14
-
-
-
80
74
154
CONDITION OF PERSONS DECEASED.
Married,
males, 41,
females, 26, 66 28,
.
.
. 60
Widowers,
7,
widows, 20,
. 27
80
74
154
CAUSES OF DEATH AS REPORTED BY THE PHYSICIANS.
Consumption, 31; pneumonia, 16; heart diseases, 12; old age, 9 ; paralysis, 6 ; cancers, 6; Bright's disease, 3; apoplexy, 4; convulsions, 4; cholera infantum, 3; dropsy, 3; senile dementia, 3; general debility, 3; liver diseases, 3; meningitis, 3; gastritis chronic, 2; whooping cough, 2; rheumatism, 2 : bronchitis, 2; in- flammation of bowels, 2; cerebral atrophy, 2; diphtheria, 1; vari- ous other diseases, 32. Total, 154.
Of the 154 deaths, 123 were interred in Milford; 31 in other places.
AGES.
Number of persons
95
1
66
66
from
90 to 95
.
.
3
66
66
66
85 " 90
.
.
7
66
66
66
80 “ 85
5
66
66
75 “ 80
10
66
66
66
70 “ 75
8
66
66
60 “ 70
21
66
66
66
50 “ 60
20
66
66
40 “ 50
14
66
66
66
30 “ 40
11
66
66
66
20 " 30
14
66
under 20
40
.
67
Single,
32,
-
-
.
.
.
·
.
154
·
72
LICENSES.
Liquor licenses recorded :-
First class
7
Fourth class
.
2
Sixth class
.
-16
Auctioneers' licenses recorded .
4
Pool and billiard licenses recorded
6
Oleomargarine license issued
1
Received for same and paid Town Treasurer, 50 cents.
DOG LICENSES.
Whole number licensed-males, 392; females, 55 447
Amount received for same . $1,059 00
Amount sent County Treasurer
· $969 60
Number licensed last year .
434
Amount received last year
. $1,054 00
Increase over last year. ·
$5 00
MORTGAGE RECORDS.
Chattel mortgages recorded
71
Assignment of wages .
9
Transfer of mortgage, 1; mortgages discharged
10
Attachment of bulky articles
.
2
Bills of sale
2
MARRIED WOMEN.
Certificates recorded of married women doing business on separate account
2
ROADS.
Descriptions recorded .
1
JURORS DRAWN.
For Grand Jury, James F. Stratton.
For Traverse Juries, Alfred A. Burrill, Cyrus A. Carpenter, Martin Cooney, Isaac N. Davis, Nathan W. Heath, Charles C. Johnson, Asa L. Morrill, Henry E. Morgan, Patrick Morgan, Thomas H. Mann, John Nolan.
7
·
.
.
73
TOWN MEETINGS.
March 4, 1889; April 22, 1889; April 29, 1889; June 3, 1889; Sept. 9, 1889; Nov. 5, 1889. Total, 6.
All of which is most respectfully submitted,
JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN,
Town Clerk.
I have examined the accounts of the Town Clerk and found each item correct, as shown in above report.
AUSTIN HOWARD, Auditor.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
I have made a monthly examination of the accounts and vouchers of the Selectmen and Highway Surveyors, Treasurer, Overseers of the Poor, School Committee, and Fire Department; and also, as often as I have deemed it expedient for the best interests of the Town, examined the accounts of the Treasurer of the Town Library, Vernon Grove Cemetery and the Park Com- missioners, and find the same correct and properly vouched.
The accounts of the Assessors and Tax Collector agree cor- rectly with their respective reports.
The Treasurer's accounts harmonize with the amounts paid by the several departments.
The records and finances of the Town Clerk, John T. McLoughlin, who is also Clerk of the Board of Selectmen, are plainly and neatly written, and correctly kept. He has had & large amount of labor to perform in arranging the public records, having them bound and classified, which will be of lasting benefit, showing great care and a thorough knowledge of the duties of the official in charge of this important department.
The system adopted of paying bills by orders on the Town Treasurer is efficient and simple, and should be extended to every department, and all bills paid in that way.
I would recommend that the fiscal year commence on the first day of February and close on the thirty-first day of January, thus giving the Town Officers time to prepare their reports before the March Town meeting. I also suggest that the financial accounts of the different departments be kept in the Town House, and all bills be submitted to the Auditor for his approval before payment, as is now done in cities and many large towns.
Respectfully submitted,
AUSTIN HOWARD, Auditor.
Milford, February, 1890.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS,
OF THE
TOWN OF MILFORD,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1889-90.
MILFORD, MASS .: G. M. BILLINGS, PRINTER, GAZETTE OFFICE. 1890.
School Committee 1889-90.
GEORGE L. COOKE
JOHN J. DUGGAN
.
. Term expires 1892 66 1892
GEORGE G. PARKER
66 1891
GEORGE E. STACY
66 1891
CHARLES MACKIN
66
1890
ROBERT H. COCHRAN
66
1890
ORGANIZATION.
GEO. G. PARKER, Chairman,
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. S. F. BLODGETT.
SUB-COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
R. H. COCHRAN, J. J. DUGGAN,
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Repairs.
CHARLES MACKIN, .
GEO. E. STACY,
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Teachers and Examinations.
J. J. DUGGAN,
GEO. G. PARKER,
THE SUPERINTENDENT. Text-Books and Supplies.
CHARLES MACKIN,
GEO. L. COOKE,
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Fuel.
GEORGE E. STACY, R. H. COCHRAN.
Regular meetings of the Committee: The second Monday of each month, at 8 P. M.
Report of the School Committee, February, 1890.
There has been a general prosperity in all the schools during the past year. The teachers, under the wise supervision of our excellent Superintendent, Mr. S. F. Blodgett, have performed their work faithfully.
The Committee have endeavored to conform to the require- ments of the recent law regarding the safety and health of the pupils. While some of the requirements may seem extreme and unnecessary, we must all admit there should be left no possible peril to the lives or health of children in the public schools. Ap- propriations to this end should be adequate and without hesita- tion.
The schoolhouse accommodations are generally sufficient, but not in all respects satisfactory. The Committee renew their re- commendation that the old Town House be abandoned as a school- house, and that a corresponding building be erected on the town land on Spruce street.
The law requiring free text-books and supplies has been in operation for five years past, and every year's experience confirms the conviction that this is a wise provision, and has less objections than the most sanguine anticipated. Without this we cannot boast of free schools and free education. Under the old system the poor man with his large family paid a heavier school tax than many of his rich neighbors, and it was often the only tax he was compelled to pay.
Nearly five years ago the Legislature required that the public schools should "include special instruction as to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics on the human system." It will be observed that this law does not require that the evils of intemperance should be taught, in their moral, social, financial, political, or national aspect; but it intends to bring the subject home to the attention of everyone, to the extent only that it con- cerns his own individual, physical welfare. No better method
4
could be devised to advance the cause of temperance. There will soon be a generation of men and women on the stage, who, know- ing the peril to life and health, will need no law to induce them to "touch not, taste not, handle not" the dangerous liquids, and the not less dangerous narcotic compounds now so prevalent. The same law requires that all teachers, before approval, should be found qualified in this particular branch of school education. Our schools are furnished with text-books on this subject, and the teachers have faithfully carried out the spirit of the law.
The appropriation for the schools last year was $22,000. This was insufficient by $470.59, not taking into account the spe- cial outlay for fire-escapes, ventilation and drainage, demanded by the State Inspector. An appropriation of $22,500 is recommend- ed for the coming year in addition to $1500, to complete the work demanded by the Inspector, making a total of $24,000.
GEO. G. PARKER,
GEO. E. STACY,
CHAS. MACKIN,
GEO. L. COOKE,
DR. ROBT. H. COCHRAN,
JNO. J. DUGGAN,
School Committee.
1
REPORT OF SECRETARY.
Following is a statement of the receipts and expenditures for the year ending Feb. 1, 1890.
Last year the Committee asked for an appropriation of $22,500. The town voted $22,000 and it has been necessary to overdraw this amount $470.59. Of this amount $247.95 was for bills carried over from the year 1888, and this year the Com- mittee have paid all bills contracted previous to Feb. 1, 1890.
APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS.
Amount voted by town
$22,000 00
One half dog-tax
.
383 96
Mass. School Fund
·
56 69
Sale of books
31 92
Unclaimed Evening School money
6 00
-$22,478 57
EXPENSES.
For teachers' salaries
$16,086 50
janitors
901 50
66 Superintendent's salary
1,500 00
66 fuel
920 36
66
ordinary repairs
557 08
supplies
1,812 79
incidentals .
1,170 93
$22,949 16
Amount overdrawn,
$470 59
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FOR REPAIRS.
In April the Committee received orders from the State Board of Inspection of Public Buildings, to make certain repairs in our school buildings to conform to the requirements of Chapters 149 and 246 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1888. At a special
.
6
town meeting held in May the town appropriated $1000 for this purpose. The Committee have partly complied with the require- ments of these orders, and have expended for this purpose $1332.43, overdrawing the appropriation $332.43. Special appropriation, May $1,000 00
Paid Murdough & Bergin
$1,230 29
T. E. Morse
33 61
S. A. Brock
5 33
Ellis & Sons
22 64
66 Z. E. Ball
15 00
" Field Brothers
.
13 56
Hussey Brothers
.
12 00
$1,332 43
Amount overdrawn,
$332 43
SUMMARY.
Total of appropriations and money rec'd
$23,478 57
Total expenditures
24,281 59
Total amount overdrawn $803 02
At the regular meeting of the Committee held Feb. 11, 1890, the reports of the Secretary and Superintendent were read and approved, and it was voted that they be included in the an- nual report of the Committee.
S. F. BLODGETT,
Secretary.
I have examined the accounts of the Secretary of the School Committee, and find them correctly kept and properly vouched.
AUSTIN HOWARD,
Auditor.
.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD :-
Gentlemen : In conformity with a long established custom, and in accordance with the rules of your Board, I submit to you my third report, which is the thirteenth annual Superintendent's report, covering the time from Jan. 1, 1889 to Jan. 1, 1890. A8 I have adopted in my reports the general outline pursued by my predecessors, it can scarcely be expected that I shall have any- thing very new or of startling interest to offer you. I shall, how- ever, venture to call your special attention to the article on ven- tilation, as this subject is one likely to demand your consideration during the coming year.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Population of the town in 1885 9,343
Estimated population of the town in 1890 10,000
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age in May, 1889 1,389
16
Decrease from last year
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Number of buildings occupied 17
66
not occupied
1
rooms occupied
37
66
66 not occupied 3
SCHOOLS.
High school
.
1
Grammar schools
11
Primary ·
·
·
16
Ungraded 66
.
.
5
Evening school
1
TEACHERS.
High school (male 1, female 3) .
.
4
Grammar schools .
11
8
Primary schools
16
Ungraded
5
Assistants
3
Drawing teacher
1
Evening school
1
Total
41
Number of teachers, graduates of Milford High school .
29
66 Normal school or college 10
66 who have attended Normal school or college, [not graduates] 6
Whole number of different teachers, assistants and substi-
tutes, employed during the year 46
Number of resignations during the year, .
4
Number of times teachers have been tardy .
23
Number of half days teachers have been absent
160
PUPILS.
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age in May,
1,389
Decrease from May, 1888
16
Number registered between 5 and 15
1,349
Decrease from last year
21
Number under 5 .
2
Number over 15 .
161
Total number registered during year
1,512
Decrease from last year
39
Average number belonging in day schools
1,250
Average daily attendance
1,176
Per cent of attendance to number belonging 66 66 registered
77.7
Number of half-days' absence
24,387
cases of dismissal
1,492
66 tardiness
.
2,180
66
truancy reported by teachers
64
66 corporal punishment reported by
teachers
122
EVENING SCHOOL.
Average attendance from time of last report to close of school in April
22
1889
94.1
9
1
Average attendance from opening of school in Nov. 1889, to Feb. 1, 1890 14
1
FINANCIAL.
Salaries of teachers, janitors and Superin-
intendent
$18,488 00
Fuel
920 36
Text-books and supplies
1,812 79
Incidentals
1,170 93
Ordinary repairs
557 08
Total cost, not including special repairs
$22,949 16
Average cost, per pupil, based on cost and average number belonging 18 36
Average cost, based on whole number registered
15 17
Cost of evening school to Feb. 1, 1890 .
332 00
Average cost per pupil, based on average atten- dance [18] ·
18 44
ATTENDANCE.
Last year our percentage of attendance showed an increase of 2.4 per cent over the preceding year, and this year the atten- dance has been still better, raising the percentage to 94.1, which is better than it has been since 1885, when it was 94.9. During this year the percentage of attendance in the High School was 97, in the eleven Grammar Schools 94.9, in the fifteen Primary Schools 94.1, and in the five country schools 91.7.
In only two schools, the Purchase Grammar and the Silver Hill schools, did the per cent fall below 90. In each of these it was 89. The town has been very free from contagious diseases and epidemics during the year 1889, and this fact has had its in- fluence in raising the percentage of attendance. Since the open- ing of the present year, the schools have been seriously affected by the prevailing epidemic of influenza, and in our next report we cannot hope to make so good a showing in this respect.
TRUANCY.
I give here the report of Officer Burns. This officer is al- ways prompt and efficient in the performance of his duty. From him, truants have learned that it is not wise to be absent from school without leave, and employers of children know that those
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under sixteen cannot be employed without certificates. From Feb. 1, 1889, to Feb. 1, 1890, 38 certificates have been issued by the Superintendent. Of these, four were to children between the ages of 13 and 14, and 34 to those between 14 and 16.
REPORT OF TRUANT OFFICER.
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE :-
During the year I have received from the teachers SS notices of absence of pupils. Of these 44 were found to have been absent without the consent of their parents, and were returned to school. I have returned seven boys to school from the street, and notified 60 parents or guardians of the absence of their children.
I have also visited the factories in the town every month when the schools were in session, and can say that there are now no children at work without certificates.
Feb. 1, 1890.
M. P. BURNS.
VISITATION OF SCHOOLS.
As this report is to be a part of the report of the Committee to the town, I shall take the opportunity to say a few words to the parents, urging them to visit the schools and examine the work which is being done.
During the year 1889, we have recorded 15 visits by the Committee, 630 by the Superintendent, and 691 by parents and friends. During the year 1888, there were 821 visits by parents and friends, so that the past year shows a falling off in this re- spect of 130 visits. I believe this to be a matter of great im- port to the welfare of our schools, as I know of no greater stimulus to the teacher than the assurance that the parents are interested in the work of the schools.
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
To those having direct charge of the schools the work of the year has been very satisfactory. No radical change has been in- troduced, and the work has proceeded without friction and with- out excitement. In point of discipline, our schools are entitled to high rank, and this fact is very favorable to good work. The good disciplinarian is not always a good teacher, but no one who is weak in discipline can be a successful teacher. "Order is Heaven's first law," and it is absolutely necessary to good work in the schoolroom.
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