Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1901-1904, Part 26

Author: Milford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 648


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1901-1904 > Part 26


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G. E. STACY,


J. C. LYNCH.


Repairs and Fuel.


T. J. MURPHY.


J. C. LYNCH,


W. B. WHITING.


Books and Supplies.


G. M. BILLINGS,


W. J. WELCH.


Committee on Grading.


G. E. STACY, W. J. WELCH.


Furnishings for Buildings.


W. B. WHITING,


G. M. BILLINGS.


SUPERINTENDENT. C. W. HALEY.


The superintendent is a member of each sub-committee ex-officio.


G. E. STACY,


Teachers and Salaries.


3


COMMITTEE MEETINGS.


The regular meetings of the committee are held on the second Monday of each month at 8 P. M.


SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.


Office at high school building. Office hours 4 to 5 P. M. daily when schools are in session, except Fridays; 8 to 9 A. M. on Fridays.


SCHOOL SESSIONS.


High school-8 A. M. to 1 p. M.


Grammar schools-9 A. M. to 12 M .; 1.30 to 4 P. M.


Primary schools-9 A. M. to 12 M .; 1.30 to 3.30 P. M.


Country schools-9 A. M. to 12 M .; 1 to 3.30 p. M.


From Thanksgiving until February 1 all schools begin at 1.15, the grammar schools closing at 3.30, primary schools at 3.15.


HOLIDAYS.


February 22, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.


NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL.


The steam whistle at the electric light station, 22 repeat- ed four times. When this signal is sounded at 8 A. M. there will be no morning session. When it is sounded at 12.30 P. M. there will be no afternoon session. When it is sounded at 8 A. M. and not repeated at 12.30 p. M., there will be an afternoon session.


3


REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.


TO THE CITIZENS OF MILFORD :---


Again we are admonished that the time has arrived to make report of the conditions pertaining to schools, and to suggest such considerations as are deemed necessary for the best interests of the pupils of our town.


We wish, first of all, to congratulate the town for the better accommodations of scholars in the northeasterly and southwesterly portions of the central part of the town, in con- sequence of the new building erected in each of those locali- ties. The buildings are modern, and well fitted for the use in- tended; and a pressing want has been relieved. More teach- ers to employ, and more rooms to heat and care for will neces- sitate an increased appropriation.


The evening school seems to be assuming gigantic pro- portions. Over three hundred sought admission to its advan- tages. It is clearly evident that much care must be bestowed in its interest, so that the benefit sought may be realized in the largest degree possible. The larger number of teachers needed, and the extra expense for supplies, heating, and light- ing, call for an extended appropriation.


We desire to impress the importance of a sincere interest on the part of parents and friends in behalf of our schools, and urge a hearty co-operation in the work of pursuing the neces- sary education to fit our youth to come forward into places of honor and trust; see that a constant attendance is maintained, thereby enlisting the interest of the scholars, for laxity in at- · tendance will create disinterestedness, and the golden oppor- tunity will be lost. Youth soon merges into manhood, and unless faithful [endeavors are made to obtain the benefits afforded by our schools, the young will be brought to sorrow-


5


fully realize the effects of their wasted time, and the conse- quent unfitness for desirable stations in life.


We believe the conditions of our schools are such that the faithful may derive a commendable standing in educational pursuits. The town is willing and liberal; let the opportuni- ties be grasped with a fervid desire to obtain that which is better than much gold. .


For particulars and suggestions regarding the schools, we ask a careful consideration of the superintendent's report, which is appended, and, by vote of the committee, made a part of the school report.


We recommend the following appropriations for the en-


suing year :-


Teachers


$23,100 00


Superintendent


1,700 00


Supplies


.


.


2,300 00


Janitors


2,600 00


Fuel .


2,800 00


Repairs


1,800 00


Transportation


250 00


Carriage hire


450 00


Incidentals


2,000 00


Evening schools


1,000 00


.


$38,000 00


For the committee,


GEORGE E. STACY.


SECRETARY'S REPORT.


RECEIPTS.


Appropriation


. $34,000 00


Tuition


417 50


Sales


19 22


$34,436 72


EXPENDITURES.


Teaching .


. $22,110 09


Supervision


. 1,700 00


Carriage hire for teachers


297 50


Transportation for pupils


202 50


Janitors


2,171 75 .


Fuel


2,613 66


Repairs


1,721 31 .


Supplies


·


1,520 62 .


Incidentals


2,099 '29 .


-


$34,436 72


ITEMIZED ACCOUNTS. REPAIRS.


Weed Bros.


$ 41 47


Cooney & Higgiston


33 48


Hilton & Crofoot


19 10


Dillon Bros.


24 83


H. H. Lent


394 63


N. B. Greaton


2 00


James H. Connors


6 25


Milford Iron Foundry


7 68


George E. Stanley


575 65


Eldredge & Son .


116 25


S. B. Holbrook


34 56


A. S. Crofoot


83 03


·


7


W. E. Cheney


$152 77


T. E. Morse


19 50


Thompson & Chaffee


8 97


E. F. Lynch


53 90


Albert Albee


42 88


Otis Whitney & Son


45 36


Clark Ellis & Sons


14 00


Norris, Staples & Gould


45 00


$1,721 31


FUEL.


Harold M. Curtiss


$712 26


Edwards & Mullane


·


507 93


Macuen Bros. Coal Co.


544 50


Wm. Johnston & Co.


.


572 28


H. A. Barney


276 69


$2,613 66


SUPPLIES.


Milton Bradley Co.


$ 5 40


American Book Co.


315 07


Milwaukee Dustless Brush Co. .


15 80


Atkinson & Mentzer


24 11


F. W. Draper & Co.


42 46


Educational Publishing Co.


25 05


Benj. H. Sanborn


58 49


Rand, McNally & Co.


53 00


Hillhouse & Taylor


14 25


L. E. Knott Co.


115/16


Edward E. Babb & Co.


169 71


Silver, Burdett & Co.


124 71


J. L. Hammett Co.


114 67


Ginn & Co.


119 88


Wadsworth, Howland & Co.


47 26


The Morse Co.


.


52 16


Kenney Bros. & Wolkins


104 59


Allyn & Bacon


27 84


Harvard University


·


5 60


Thompson, Brown & Co.


20 00 1


8


Phonographic Institute Co.


$ 5 58


D. C. Heath & Co.


·


26 25


Ethan C. Claflin .


2 50


Remick Furniture Co.


6 00


Old South Book Store


6 25


E. E. Gager


1 25


Mayhew Publishing Co.


3 00


Henry Holt


14 58


$1,520 62


INCIDENTALS.


Charles Caruso


$157 50


S. A. Eastman


.


·


3 15


Davoren's Express


6 95


J. L. Hammett Co. Milford Water Co.


.


237 98


Tewksbury & Weir


.


.


23 25


G. M. Billings


103 00


Milford Electric Light & Power Co.


99 12


Eben Brown


2 00


Typewriter Exchange


3 49


Cheney Bros. & Co.


13 18


E. E. Vaughan


15 10


A. Stevens


2 60


Milford Iron Foundry


2 08


G. A. Sherborne .


39 00


Remick Furniture Co.


5 67


Clara W. Pond


2 80


Kenney Bros. & Wolkins


4 98


August Peterson .


5 00


J. S. Macuen


4 00


Alfred Cadman


25 00


George C. Gilfoyle


4 60


S. E. Robinson


15 00


J. Walter Day


13 80


Charles W. Harris


3 91


Prentice & Son .


4 50


Elmer E. Thomas


12 00


Treasurer of Class 1902 .


12 00


.


8 51


·


.


·


9


J. F. Damon


$21 35


Bertha S. Draper


5 00


Mrs. Fitzmorris


3 00


G. H. Whittemore


17 35


A. H. H. Warren


39 74


F. S. Blanchard


3 00


Avery & Woodbury


29 09


J. E. Burke


29 00


L. E. Belknap


2 60


Andrew Macuen


1 75


W. J. Walker


18 00


W. B. Whiting


12 52


Cenedella Bros.


82 93


Henry A. Daniels


14 00


Martin Donohoe ..


38 30


Lewis Hayden ·


4 00


Joseph Hickey


8 00


D. C. Leahy


12 00


H. Edson Wheeler


4 00


Frank E. Mann & Co.


4 00


Geo. E. Stacy


2 65


James B. Deshazo


4 00


Thomas Welch


22 40


James Murphy


8 00


G. C. Adams


17 00


Milford Gas Co. .


54 91


Mrs. C. Norman .


1 50


Mrs. Robinson


·


1 50


Mrs. Zeni .


1 50


Blodgett Clock Co.


12 05


Cook & Sons


21 75


Webber & Tobin


2 50


Norris, Staples & Gould


53 63


S. C. Sumner


80 00


Smith Premier Typewriter Co.


·


5 20


H. L. Dillingham


5 70


Charles W. Howard .


.


2 50


C. W. Wilcox


.


.


26 25


.


IO


Jennie Gilmore


.


$ 2 60


N. Jewell


12 00


Lakeview Press


5 25


Thomas Quinn


3 00


Highway Department


437 68


J. J. Moore


1 50


Coughlin's Express


8 05


Francis A. Morse


3 60


E. F. Lilley


16 75


J. L. Buxton


4 15


Clark Ellis & Sons


19 48


Secretary's salary


50 00


Adams Express Co.


7 50


Postage


11 84


Traveling expenses


13 05


$2,099 29


TABLE SHOWING RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.


The following table shows the estimated amounts needed under the several headings for school expenses in 1903, the amount expended under the different headings, also the bal- ance or deficit of each: -


APPROPRIA- TION.


EXPENDED.


UNEX- PENDED.


Ex CEEDED.


Teaching,


$21,300 00


$22,110 09


$ 810 09


Supervision,


1,700 00


1,700 00


Carriage hire for teachers,


450 00


297 50 $


152 50


Transportation for pupils,


250 00


202 50


47 50


Janitors,


1,900 00


2,171 75


271 75


Fuel,


1,800 00


2,613 66


813 66


Repairs,


2,000 00


1,721 31


278 69


Supplies,


2,200 00


1,520 62


679 38


Incidentals,


1,700 00


2,099 29


399 29


#Evening schools,


700 00


*700 00


Received for tuition,


417 50


417 50


Received from sales,


19 22


19 22


$34,436 72


$34,436 72 $2,294 79 $2,294 79


*Included in expenditures for teaching, supplies, janitor, and fuel.


At a meeting of the school board held Monday evening, February 8, the reports of the secretary and superintendent


II


were accepted, and will constitute a part of the report of the board to the citizens of Milford.


C. W. HALEY, Secretary.


ITEMIZED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS.


Plains.


Oliver.


Land.


Mrs. Annie I. Quirk


. $ 750 00


P. Lynch


$ 900 00


Carpenters' contract.


E. F. Lynch . 9,717 00


Sherman Bros.


9,385 00


Estimated extras. E. F. Lynch 400 00


Sherman Bros.


100 00


Heating contracts.


Clark Ellis & Sons . 1,095 00


Norris, Staples & Gould 1,011 50


Grading contracts.


J. E. Macuen


200 00


Wm. Johnston & Co.


625 00


Pupils' desks and chairs. Chandler Desk Co.


491 60


439 00


Teachers' desks and chairs. Avery & Woodbury


98 60


94 92


Architects.


W. L. Collins


.


550 00


R. A. Cook


553 00


Total


$13,302 20 $13,108 42 $26,410 62


Appropriation


24,000 00


Additional amount needed .


$2,410 62


-


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD.


Gentlemen :-


My seventh annual report, and the twenty-seventh in the series of superintendents' reports, is hereby submitted to you and through you to the citizens of Milford.


So far as the school report deals with statistics it must of necessity cover the school year from the opening in September to the closing in June, but in dealing with the financial affairs of the schools, as well as with their condition, work and pro- gress, it must concern itself with twelve calendar months, the town's fiscal year, which ends January 31.


STATISTICS.


Number of children in town Sept. 1, 1903, between 5 and 15 years of age, as reported by the census enumerator :-


948


Number of boys


932


Number of girls


Total number between 5 and 15 years


1,880


Total number in September, 1902


1,717


Increase


SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.


Number enrolled under 5


1


66


between 5 and 8


482


66


66


8 and 14


1,004


66


14 and 15


113


66


66


66 15 and 16


88


66


66 over 16


96


Total enrolment


1,784


66 between 5 and 15


1,599


Average membership in all the schools


1,575.8


Average attendance


·


1,487.4


Per cent of attendance


94.6


·


·


163


13


Number of cases of tardiness in all the schools 2,046


66 66 dismissal 66


1,057


66


“ corporal punishment ·


53


66


66 truancy ·


.


17


Visits by the superintendent . 447 .


66 committee


24


others


1,402


From the foregoing statistics it will be seen that the total enrolment in all the schools for the year ending in June, 1903, was 1784 pupils, an increase of 122 over the previous year and the largest number in the history of the schools.


The census report as taken last September shows an in- crease of 163 children in town between the ages of 5 and 15 years.


The attendance of three consecutive years is given below for comparison.


1901.


1902.


1903.


Total enrolment between 5 and 15 years 1,473


1,500


1,599


Average membership in all the schools 1,471.6 1,502.2 1,575.8 Average attendance


1,391.4 1,413.9 1,487.4


Per cent of attendance


94.5


94.1


94.6


Number of half days" absence


. 26,237


29,999 29,145


Number of cases of tardiness .


·


1,989


2,161


2,046


Number of cases of dismissal .


· 1,317


1,152


1,057


ATTENDANCE.


In previous reports I have spoken of the large amount of absence and tardiness in our schools. Although they are slightly diminished, I believe they are both much larger than they should be, and that the time has come when definite and decided action should be taken against unnecessary absence and tardiness. It is not optional with parents or school offi- cials whether children shall attend school or not. Attendance is compulsory, except in cases of mental or physical inability, every day that the schools are in session. The responsibility of enforcing the attendance law rests upon school officials and teachers. whose duty it is to be alert to prevent cases of ab- sence and tardiness, and to know the cause of each and every


14


one. Parents should co-operate more thoroughly with teach- ers, and I believe the service of a truant officer for at least two days a week, to visit the various schools and look up absentees, would be exceedingly helpful in diminishing the amount of ab- sence and tardiness.


The evil effects of irregular attendance and lack of punc- tuality, which, I believe, are due largely to indifference or thoughtlessness on the part of parents, are not merely in the loss of time to the pupil; they mean an increased lack of in- terest; they mean a serious influence upon the character; they mean the forming of habits that become a part of the very nature-habits that do not build for prompt, self-reliant, thoughtful, industrious men and women. /


It is true there are reasons for both absence and tardiness that are genuine, such as sickness, death or sudden emergency. On the other hand there are scores of reasons given that can- not, in any fairness, make either the absence or tardiness neces- sary. A little greater forethought, a little more sturdiness, a little clearer conception of duty on the part of parent or pu- pil would enable them to overcome such reasons.


In a recent report of the State Board of Education, the late Secretary Frank A. Hill wrote at considerable length on the subject of "School Attendance," from which the following is quoted :-


"It is neither the parents nor the children, but the school authorities that finally determine whether absence is necessa- ry. or not. Therefore, the school authorities are legally enti- tled to know the reasons that exist for absence. Persons who ask that children be excused for absence are doubly bound by common courtesy and by implication of law, to say nothing of a certain consideration for the rights and welfare of others, to state the reasons for so asking. It devolves, indeed, upon persons having the control of children to decide in the first in- stance whether the reasons for their absence are sufficiently weighty to justify it; but such reasons are finally subject to the judgment of the school authorities, or on appeal there- from, to that of the courts, It is true that the simple request


I5


of a parent to excuse his child's absence is not unfrequently accepted by the school when no hint of the reason for such absence has been given, but the practice is not to be interpre- ted as a recognition of any right to withhold the reason. Should such a right be admitted, it would nullify the compul- sory attendance law. It is so simple and obvious a thing for a parent to do, it so helps a teacher to discriminate between that necessary absence with which he should deal considerate- ly, and that unnecessary absence which he should discourage, it so strengthens the school authorities in their efforts to se- cure regular attendance and its resulting benefits, that it ought not to be necessary to remind a fair-minded person of his legal obligation to do what considerations of courtesy, co- operation, example and the like should naturally prompt him to do."


The statute upon school attendance is quoted below, thinking that there are still some who are not familiar with the requirements of the law.


CHAPTER 44, REVISED LAWS.


SECTION 1. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides during the entire time the public day schools, are in session, subject to such exceptions as to child- ren, places of attendance and schools as are provided for in section three of chapter forty-two, and sections three, five and six of this chapter. The superintendent of schools or, if there be no superintendent of schools, the school committee or teachers acting under the authority of said superintendent or committee, may excuse cases of necessary absence. * Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause him to attend school as herein re- quired. Whoever induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors a child, who, while school is in session, is absent un- lawfully from school, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.


16


ACCOMMODATIONS.


For the first time for several years I find it unnecessary, in writing the annual report, to urge the need of increased school accommodations. The building, during the past sum- mer, of two excellent four-roomed school buildings, one in the north and the other in the south part of the town, has entire- ly relieved, for the present, the crowded condition, but I dare not predict that the relief is anything more than temporary.


Indeed, the new building at the Plains is already full, and one room is crowded almost to overflowing. It is true that the two classes in the Annex were moved into the new building in order that the pupils might have the benefit of the best possible accommodations, but, judging from present indi- cations, I predict that it will be necessary to re-open the An- nex again next September in order to accommodate an over- flow from the new building.


At the opening of the schools in September, the fifth and sixth grades at the Plains were found to be much too large for one room. Consequently the first grade was removed from the old building to the new, and the fifth grade put into the room thus vacated, so that we now have in the old building straight fourth, fifth and sixth grades and a combined seventh and eighth grade.


At the South school a similar condition existed with the fifth and sixth grade room, in which there belonged nearly seventy pupils of the two grades. At the opening of the new building on Oliver street, the fifth grade was removed from the South school, leaving there straight sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth grades. Transfers were made from the crowded rooms of the Spruce street, Chapin street, and West street buildings to the Oliver street, so that when the school opened December 7, there was a combined first and second grade class of 45 pu- pils, a combined third and fourth grade class of 42 pupils, and a straight fifth grade of 46 pupils.


Throughout the town the pupils are now housed in a very confortable manner without crowding. The number in the classes, not including the outlying districts, varies from 30 to 50 pupils, the average number being 42 pupils per teacher.


I7


NUMBER OF PUPILS IN EACH GRADE IN DEC., 1903.


SCHOOL.


NO. OF ROOMS


IN BUILDING.


II.


III.


IV.


V.


VI.


VII.


VIII.


IX.


SOPHOMORE.


JUNIOR.


SENIOR.


GRADUATE.


TOTAL.


High,


44


53


24|21


2


144


Park,


40


48


45 40


173


South,


39


39


38|38


154


Plains Gram.,


42


33


30


20


10


135


Plains Prim.,


4


89


55


42


186


Claflin,


6


50


35


51


49


48


35


268


Spruce St.,


4


47


38


29


21


48


183


Oliver St.,


3


24


22


25


18


47


136


Chapin St.,


3


36


30


25


19


110


West St.,


2


16


21


15


21


73


Purchase Gram.,


1


3


6


6


4


19


Purchase Prim.,


11


5


2


8


26


Hoboken,


1


21


7


28


1


10


5


12


6


33


Fountain St., Silver Hill,


1


1


3


4


1


2


2


13


Bear Hill,


1


1


4


3


1


1


10


Braggville,


1


7


6


4


9


26


Totals,


313 227 205 201 180 155 115| 94 83 44 53 24 |21| 2 1717


SCHOOL EXPENDITURES.


-


This seems to be an opportune time to discuss briefly the question of school expenditures. Not only in Massachusetts but throughout the United States the cost of maintaining schools is on the increase. This is due to more expensive buildings, to better furniture, to modern heating and ventilat- ing systems, to larger salaries, to fewer pupils per teacher, and to more and better text-books and supplies. The average cost per pupil throughout the state in 1892 was $22.42. In 1902, according to the last report of the State Board of Education, the average cost per pupil, based on the average membership in each case, was $27.04. This shows an increase per pupil in Massachusetts of $4.62 in ten years.


In Milford, the average cost per pupil, for 1902, was $21.72, or $5.32 below the average for the state, and the town stood number 143 in the scale of averages. For the year just ended the average cost per pupil was $20.77. From this it will be seen that compared with the state as a whole, and con-


1


-


-


FRESHMAN.


I.


1


18


sidering the number of pupils in our schools, we are far from being extravagant in the expenditure of school money. On the contrary, we have been exceedingly conservative, and I can only wonder that we have been able to accomplish so much with the amount of money at our disposal. Strict economy has been exercised in the purchase of books and supplies; in fact, the work of the schools has been somewhat handicapped in order that we might, if possible, keep within the appropria- tion. The repairs also have been less than they should be if the school property is to be kept from deteriorating.


The sum expended for education is the most important item in the annual appropriation, and still the cost of main- taining our schools is on the increase, a fact which cannot be disguised. The town is characterized by a steady growth, and the increased school population necessitates increased ex- penses. It has recently demanded two new buildings which had to be constructed according to plans approved by the state authorities, and heated and ventilated in accordance with the most approved methods. Furthermore, the subsequent main- tenance of these buildings, including fuel and janitors' ser- vice, means additional cost. .The increased attendance re- quires an additional number of teachers and larger expendi- tures for books and supplies.


Below is a table showing the total enrolment in this town for the last five years, also the number of teachers required, their salaries, and the cost per pupil based on average membership.


Total


Enrolment.


Number of


Teachers.


Teachers'


Salaries.


Appropria-


tion.


Cost per


pupil based


on average


member-


ship.


1899-1900


1499


42


$18,856


$30,000


$20 65


1900-1901


1609


43


$19,518


$30,000


$20 10


1901-1902


1663


45


$20,452


$34,000


$21 23


1902-1903


1662


45


$21,094


$34,000


$21 72


1903-1904


1784


49


$22,644


$34,000


$20 77


I9


I have compiled the following from statistics found in the last report of the State Board of Education. Its object is to compare the number of pupils and teachers, and the cost of the schools in Milford with the same data in several other towns of about the same size.


Towns.


Population


Total


School


Enrolment.


Number of


Teachers.


Total Ex-


penditure


Not Includ-


ing Repairs


Average


Cost per


. Pupil.


Adams


11,134


1875


53


$37,786 25 $23 35


Attleborough


11,335


2230


63


$43,484 85 $22 64


Clinton


13,667


2244


51


$41,831 08 $20 78


Framingham


11,302


2226


60


$43,660 08 $21 24


Hyde Park


13,244


2029


48


$45,535 92 $27 19


Leominster


12,392


2230


59


$46,160


28 $22 58


Marlboro


13,609


2543


66


$54,472 15 $23 82


Natick


9,488


1871


50


$36,919 74|$21 72


Peabody


11,523


1950


52


$42,056 08 $24 35


Westfield


12,310


2193


69


$57,883 74|$26 33


Weymouth


11,324


2282


56


$45,131 68 $22 31


MILFORD


11,376


1663


43


$31,946 07 $21 72


It is hardly a part of my duty to plead for an increased school appropriation, but rather to endeavor to accomplish the best results possible with the means at our disposal. If, how- ever, we are to retain and improve the present good condition of our schools, it seems to me, with our new buildings to maintain; with about 125 more pupils and several additional teachers; with a general increase in the salaries of teachers and janitors; and proportionately increased incidental ex- penses, that a larger appropriation for school purposes is abso- lutely essential.


If Milford should allow for each pupil the average cost throughout the state, it would be necessary to raise the sum of $42,588 for school purposes, exclusive of buildings and re- pairs.


EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES.


It is due the ladies of the Social Service Department of the Quinshipaug Woman's Club that more than a passing no-


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tice be given to the work that they are doing along education- al lines directly connected with the schools, and I wish to mention the same briefly under several headings.


ART DECORATION.


Substantial aid is being given in decorating the school buildings. They have presented to the High school plaster casts of the Trumpeting Boys, and the Singing Girls, and have recently placed a fine large picture in each of the ninth grade rooms,-at the Park, the Return of the Mayflower, and at the South school, the Monarch of the Desert. I understand that it is their intention to furnish a picture for each of the eighth grade rooms another year.


PUBLIC MEETINGS.


For the past five years they have held each winter a series of meetings which have been, in the main, of an educa- tional nature, and to which the teachers have been invited. They have usually had in each course at least two open meet- ings especially for parents. The program for the present series is as follows :-


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10. OPEN LECTURE.




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