USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1913-1914 > Part 7
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The case of Cheney vs. Town of Milford has been settled by the parties in interest the town not having to pay anything.
The only case pending at this time is a petition to the county coinmissioners appealing from the assessors' valnation of the Milford Pink Co. quarries. This case is on trial at this writing.
I wish to thank the various town officers for their patience and good will in matters pertaining to the solicitor's office, assuring them that I am only too willing to co-operate with them when it is a question of law, but respectfully request that they handle questions of public policy themselves.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN C. LYNCH,
Solicitor.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
I have examined the books of the different departments and find that the vouchers correspond with the orders drawn on and paid by the town treasurer:
I have also examined the accounts of the tax collector and treasurer and find them to be correct.
Respectfully submitted, THOMAS F. MANNING, Auditor.
February 1, 1914.
Class in Cooking.
-
0
Annual School Report Milford
Massachusetts
School year 1912-13 Fiscal year 1913-14
Border by Miriam Ball.
Lettering by Wm. F. Goddard.
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
WINTER TERM .- High school :- Began December 29, 1913. Closes February 20, 1914. Vacation, one week. Other schools :- Began January 5, 1914. Close February 20, 1914. Vacation, one week.
SPRING TERM .- All schools : - Begin March 2, 1914. Close April 24, 1914. Vacation, one week.
SUMMER TERM .- High school :- Begins May 4, 1914. Closes June 26, 1914. Vacation ten weeks.
Other schools :- Begin May 4, 1914. Close June 19, 1914. Vacation, eleven weeks.
FALL TERM .- All schools :- Begin September 8, 1914. Close December 18, 1914. Vacations :- High school one week. Other schools two weeks.
HOLIDAYS :- Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, exercises in the schools ; Washington's Birthday, February 22, exercises in the schools, Friday afternoon, Febru- ary 20 ; Good Friday, March 20; Memorial Day, May 30, exercises in the schools, Friday, May 29 ; Labor Day, September 7; Columbus Day, exer- cises in the schools, Friday, October 9; Thanks- giving Day, and the day following, November 26 and 27.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
JOHN V. GALLAGHER
Term expires 1914
WALDO B. WHITING
1914
JOHN C. LYNCH
1915
JOHN E. SWIFT
1915
GEORGE E. STACY
66 1916
ALFRED B. CENEDELLA
66
1916
ORGANIZATION.
GEORGE E. STACY, Chairman, ALMORIN O. CASWELL, Secretary. SUB-COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
GEORGE E. STACY J. C. LYNCH
Repairs and Fuel.
GEORGE E. STACY ALFRED B. CENEDELLA Teachers and Salaries.
WALDO B. WHITING JOHN V. GALLAGHER Books and Supplies.
JOHN E. SWIFT JOHN C. LYNCH SUPERINTENDENT. ALMORIN O. CASWELL.
The superintendent is a member of each sub-committee ex-officio.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The regular meetings of the committee are held on the first Friday of each month at 8 P. M.
SUPERINTENDENT"'S OFFICE.
Office at the high school building. Office hours 4 to 5 P. M., daily when schools are in session, except Fridays ; 8 to 9 A. M. on Mondays and Thursdays.
Until further notice the Superintendent will be in his office from 8 to 9 A. M. and from 4 to 5 p. M. on school days, to issue labor certificates.
4
SCHOOL SESSIONS.
High school-8 A. M. to 1 P. M.
Grammar schools-9 A. M. to 12 x .; 1.30 to 3.30 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 p. M.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL. Adopted January 1, 1908. 22 repeated three times on the fire alarm.
At 7.30 A. M .- No morning session for all schools, including the high school.
At 8.00 A. M .- No morning session below the high school.
At 8.30 A. M .- No morning session for grades below the fifthi. At 12.30 p. M. - No afternoon session for all grades.
Between 12.45 and 1.00 r. M .- No session for grades below the fifth.
At 6.30 p. M .- No session of the evening school.
When the no-school signal is sounded in the morning and not repeated in the afternoon, there will be an afternoon ses- sion.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
The time has arrived when it becomes necessary for the School Committee to render an account to the town of the con- dition of our schools, and to make suggestions for the future. The faithfulness of all our teachers during the past year has been marked, and the advanced standing of our schools is an evident result, but the end is not yet,-we must still strive to place the common schools, the pride of Massachusetts, upon a still higher basis ; good citizens come largely from good educa- tion.
The following report of the Superintendent of Schools has been adopted as the school report to the town for the present year. In this report will be found much to consider which, we hope, will be carefully noted and bring forth a cheerful and substantial support for our schools.
A careful estimate of the expenses for the ensuing year has been made, and we respectfully and sincerely ask for the following appropriations, viz. :-
Salaries .
$39,022 25
Fuel
·
3,500 00
Supplies
3,000 00
Care
.
3,250 00
Incidentals
.
2,000 00
Supervision
2,000 00
Medical Inspection
500 00 .
Repair .
.
2,000 00
Transportation
1,300 00
Carriage hire
450 00
Night school
1,000 00
$58,022 25
Back bills (Special)
$3,813 33
(Regular)
3,891 95
7,705 28
·
$65,727 53
GEORGE E. STACY,
For the Committee.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS. FOR GENERAL SCHOOL PURPOSES.
Appropriation .
$57,425 00
Tuition, etc.
1,088 00
$58,513 00
EXPENDITURES.
Teaching
$39,353 91
Supervision
1,993 10
Transportation
1,219 57
Carriage hire
464 75
Fuel
2,664 49
Repairs
1,377 30
Supplies
3,996 83
Janitors
3,389 25
Incidentals
1,985 39
Medical inspection
400 00
Extras (no appropriation) : - Unpaid balance on Park improvements . $557 69
Insurance .
355 20
Repairs and alterations in Plains basement 516 45
New outbuilding at Bear Hill
.
138 95
Athletic coach
100 00
·
1,668 29
Balance
12
$58,513 00
ITEMIZED ACCOUNTS.
FUEL.
Milford Coal Co. $ 743 95
B. Vitalini · .
293 51
. .
7
Curtiss Coal Co.
$1,278 77
C. S. Mullane .
·
324 54
Milford Gas Light Co.
3 60
Macuen Coal Co.
20 12
$2,664 49
REPAIRS.
C. L. Barnard .
$ 17 00
Eldredge & Son
351 64
Pratt Bros.
28 39
Clark Ellis & Sons
219 87
Staples & Gould
100 38
Weed Bros. .
15 13
Blodgett Clock Co.
7 15
W. C. Tewksbury
27 63
H. H. Lent & Co.
34 85
Thomas McGuire
19 00
Dillon Bros.
25 00
O. Whitney & Son
38 50
J. F. Damon
21 35
D. W. O'Donnell
52 80
W. E. Cheney .
159 05
E. F. Porter
3 50
A. P. Clarridge
26 05
Waters & Hynes
40 54
Remick Furniture Co.
89 31
E. F. Lilley
3 00
Bickford Bros.
73 33
A. O. Caswell (sundries account)
.
4 98
J. E. Higgiston
18 85
$1,377 30
SUPPLIES.
E. E. Babb & Co.
$1,633 29
Houghton, Mifflin Co. .
142 40
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co.
242 04
American Book Co.
633 12
Ginn & Co.
249 28
D. C. Heath & Co.
52 28
.
8
Johnson, Blagden & McTurnan, Inc. $ 76 25
J. L. Hammett Co.
210 47
Schoenhof Book Co. .
.
46 25
Charles Scribner's Sons
65 52
Allyn & Bacon
210 88
Neostyle Co. .
11 40
Mineral Tablet Ink Co.
22 50
O. Ditson Co. .
5 12
Phonographic Institute Co.
23 72
W. L. Musick Publishing Co .
1 20
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
93 95
Remington Typewriter Co.
43 00
Underwood Typewriter Co.
31 50
Cheney Bros. .
16 44
Milton Bradley Co.
38 90
O. Clapp & Son
6 30
Holden Patent Book Cover Co.
39 40
James M. Sullivan
99 78
Hopkinson & Holden .
6 42 .
C. F. Wilkinson
5 42
$3,996 83
INCIDENTALS.
West Disinfecting Co.
$ 68 75
Cheney Bros. .
29 90
Barrett Mfg. Co.
·
37 50
J. F. Barrett
98 75
Red Heart Chemical Co.
2 50
Milford Water Co.
610 14
G. M. Billings .
199 63
O. K. Purifier Co.
29 10
Milford Gas Light Co.
54 15
Milford Electric Light & Power Co. .
91 75
J. H. Thurston
4 09
W. B. Whiting
2 50
J. B. DeShazo .
20 00
Milford Journal Co.
18 53
Milford Daily News Co.
28 10
L. Grow & Son
1 50
.
9
Avery & Woodbury Co.
$ 8 05
Curtiss- Draper Paper Co.
·
.
12 00
Bertha S. Draper
·
10 25
Clark Ellis & Sons . .
70 90
George A. Sherborne . ·
28 18
Sherborne-Coughlin Express Co.
12 95
H. S. Chadbourne
8 81
Boston Regalia Co.
.
3 18
Remick Furniture Co. 6 60
A. & E. Burton Co.
95 93
H. C. Doughty
22 80
G. H. Whittemore
2 25
American School Peace League
3 75
J. W. Nichols .
2 50
F. B. Sturtevant
.
33 00
D. M. O'Brien .
4 00
A. O. Caswell (sundries account)
80 91
Davoren's Express
1 50
Albany Supply & Chemical Co.
20 63
C. F. Wilkinson
12 18
Royal Typewriter Co. ·
16 00
Somerville Brush Co.
2 75
F. J. Jameson .
36 50
American Seating Co.
16 50
Remington Typewriter Co.
5 00
Neostyle Co.
9 00
J. B. Henderson
27 64
Burditt & Williams
44 35
Town of Milford,
tree warden's
department ·
10 00
C. H. Kimball .
21 75
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
34 88
Jenney Mfg. Co.
7 26
H. I. Dallman Co.
·
16 50
.
·
.
.
- $1,985 39
·
10
EXTRAS (NO APPROPRIATION).
Balance on Park school improvements :-
Clark Ellis & Sons .
$243 50
Bickford Bros.
169 19
Robert Allen Cook .
145 00
.
Insurance :-
J F. Hickey .
$39 00
H. A. Daniels
39 00
I. R. Spaulding
39 00
J. H. Cunniff.
39 00
W. J. Walker & Co.
40 50
F. E. Mann & Co.
79 50
L. Hayden .
39 00
Paul Doane . .
40 20
Repairs and alterations in Plains Primary basement :-
$ 62 63
P. L. Sarty .
300 82
J. E. Higgiston .
153 00
$516 45
Out- building at Bear Hill :-
P. L. Sarty
$125 00
E. F. Porter .
13 91
$138 95
Athletics :-
Wm. J. Noone
$100 00
$1,668 29
UNPAID BILLS. SPECIAL.
E. F. Hodgson Co. :-
Two portable school houses. $3,000 00
American Seating Co. :-
Seats and desks
770 S3
Edward E. Babb & Co. :-
Slate composition black-boards 43 50
$3,813 33
.
.
$355 20
Eldredge & Son
.
$557 69
1
II
REGULAR.
Fuel :-
Lewis H. Barney
$921 94
Curtiss Coal Co.
309 59
James E. Macuen
193 75
Milford Coal Co.
91 90
Charles S. Mullane
265 55
Benjamin Vitalini
36 25
$1,819 18
Transportation :-
M. & U. St. R. R.
$200 00
American Book Co.
.
$407 61
E. E. Babb & Co.
536 10
E. P. Dutton Co.
47 20
Ginn & Co.
237 33
J. L. Hammett Co.
73 43
D. C. Heath & Co.
27 15
Houghton, Mifflin Co. .
139 61
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
267 44
C. E. Merrill Co.
6 50
Charles Scribner's Sons
130 30
·
$1,872 67.
$7,705 18
1 2
TABLE OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
APPROPRI - ATION
DRAWN.
BALANCE
DEFICIT.
Teachers' salaries,
$38,650 00
$39 353 91
$703 91
Supervision,
1,800 00
1.993 10
193 10
Carriage hire for teachers,
475 00
464 7
10 25
Transportation of pupils,
1,300 00
1.219 57
80 43
Janitors' salaries,
3.300 00
3.389 25
89 25
Fuel,
3.500 00
2 664 49
835 5
Repairs,
1,500 00
1.377 30
122 70
Supplies.
4.000 00
3,996 83
3 17
Incidentals,
2.500 00
1,985 39
514 61
Medical inspection,
400 00
400 00
Extras (no appropriation) :- Unpaid balance on Park school im-
provements,
$557 69
Insurance,
355 20
Repairs and alter-
ations in Plains
Primary base-
ment.
516 45
New out. building
at Bear Hill,
138 9
Athletic coach,
100 00
1,668 29
1,668 29
Extra receipts,
1,088 00
12
1.087 88
-
$58,513 00 $58 513 00
$2.654 55
$2 654 55
At a meeting of the school board held Friday, February 2, the reports of the secretary and superintendent were read and accepted and will constitute a part of the report of the board to the citizens of Milford.
ALMORIN O. CASWELL,
Secretary.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Number of public schools ·
49
Number of school buildings . ·
10
Number of teachers employed
61
In High school
9
In Grammar schools
14
In Primary schools
36
Special teachers
2
Number of children in town September 1, 1913, between 5 and
15 years of age, as reported by the census enumerator :-
Number of boys 1289
Number of girls 1346
Total number between 5 and 15 years .
2635
Total number in September, 1912 .
2529
Increase
106
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
Number enrolled between 7 and 14 . ·
1548
over 15 ·
220
Total enrolment 2188
Average membership in all the schools
2012.4
Average attendance .
1932.4
Per cent of attendance
96.2
Number of cases of tardiness in all the schools
1587
dismissal
842
corporal punishment
30
66 truancy . .
25
Visits by superintendent
667
committee .
34
others .
·
1535
·
.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF MILFORD,
GENTLEMEN : --
I take pleasure in submitting my third report as the sup- erintendent of your schools,- the thirty seventh of such re- ports in the history of the town.
STATISTICS.
A careful study of the statistics on the preceding page will prove interesting and helpful. The school census shows that there are 106 more children in town between the ages of five and fifteen than in 1912. The percentage of attendance was 96.2.
The honor roll shows 239 pupils with a perfect attend- ance record for the year, or 11.8 per cent. These young peo- ple and their parents are to be commended. The number should be much larger.
Your attention is invited also to a consideration of the table of ages of pupils as of January 7, 1914, wherein it ap- pears that there are actually in attendance in our schools at the present time 2171 pupils, an increase of 122 over the num- ber actually in attendance at the corresponding date the pre- vious year. Moreover, the percentage of over-age pupils has been reduced from 29 per cent of the total to 16 per cent, a considerable improvement.
OUR AIM.
The aim in education must be kept clearly in mind ! Secondary aims vary with varying conditions, from year to year, but the grand, primary aim remains ever the same, i. e., to train for adequate citizenship. To see in the changing em- phasis in education a change of essential aim or a lowering of
15
aim,-a "Substitution of the bread and butter idea for the cul- tural," is to have misread, or only half read the problem.
Dr. Spaulding of Newton has well stated the problem in his latest report, and his word is the right one. Dr. Spauld- ing says in effect :- "We aim to educate as many of the chil- dren as possible from about six to about 18." Indeed, noth- ing less than this will satisfy a progressive community, truly wise. Bitter experience has taught us as individuals and as groups,-political and industrial,-that every person, what- ever the calling, must have a career, and that a career must be capitalized. The state has recognized the first part of this proposition by remodeling the State Board of Education along vocational lines, and the second part by demanding that we teach thrift in the schools. Indeed we must aim forever to erase from the minds of young people the fetish of a life where- in for the boy to stride through life as a demonstrator of the newest styles for men, and for the girl to spend her mornings in bed and her afternoons.idly thrumming out nocturnes and sonatas on a quarter-grand are the be-all and end-all of life; we must give to each the sane, saving ideal of a career of sincere, hearty service in self respect. As educators, we have turned our backs on the era of square pegs and round holes.
We aim to produce a man "onto his job," loving his work, master of his craft, filling his place, and running over into the community,-supporting a home and supported by it. Surely this is no mean or unworthy career for a young American. But I repeat, it must be capitalized. Happy is the young man who, taught thrift in his youth, and trained in a worthy call- ing suited to his gifts, enters upon his career promptly with- out the expense, loss of time, and heart-break incident to job- hunting, and begins at once the financial buttressing of his career,-the endowment of himself as a power-house of right- eousness.
He will find it hard to be heroic in the coming years, or to achieve large citizenship, who fears to advance beyond his own door-step in the battle with the foes of righteousness,
16
lest the wolf slink in behind his back and attack his dear ones.
Says Mr. J. Adams Puffer in "Vocational Guidance" : "It is well for the ambitious youth to aim high, to hitch his wagon to a star. But it is also better to be first in a village than second in Rome. The man who is thoroughly prepared for a task conformable to his powers, who carries his load with ease and pleasure, rises to the top of his group, is looked up to by his fellows, and is the man who has a margin of pro- fit to his life. The powers of men are strictly limited. Worry, over-work, failure, the loss of mental poise and often of moral health, are the too frequent penalties of attempting a higher grade of work than one's natural ability warrants."
MANUAL TRAINING FOR THE GIRLS.
A friend of the writer once remarked : "Four-fifths of the divorces start in sour bread !" We have made a good start in manual training for the girls, with classes in sewing and cooking, and we have, most wisely, I believe, recognized cooking as a real element in education, in the High School, by allowing it credit towards graduation.
MANUAL TRAINING FOR THE BOYS.
Something must be done for the boys, in the way of ma - ual work, educational and vocational, if we are not to fall hopelessly in the rear of other communities with whose young people ours have to compete. The main difficulty has been two fold-lack of money and lack of room. Both should be provided.
BETTER. READING.
The new reading material supplied to the upper grades a year ago has already borne fruit in greater interest in the sub- ject and increased power on the part of the pupils. Much in- teresting material is available for the lower grades, and only a lack of money has prevented supplying the need in those grades.
PENMANSHIP.
A few schools are supplied with the Palmer system books for pupils, and are doing good work. A number of the others
CHRISTMAS WORK GRAMMAR GRADES
I 7
not so supplied are doing fully as well as might be expected, but it is hoped that by the end of the present school year all grades may be equipped with the Palmer books and the stand- ard of writing raised in all our schools.
CURRENT EVENTS TAUGHT.
"Current Events" is regularly taught in many of the rooms in town, either by the systematic use of the school pa- per of that name, or the daily papers. This subject is an im- portant element in the school day, and the practice is credita- ble to the progressiveness of the teachers.
THE CHANGE TO EIGHT GRADES.
The change to eight grades is now fairly completed. The course of study, revised a year ago to meet the new condi- tions, meets the requirements.
SPECIAL WORK WITH BACKWARD PUPILS.
It is a source of keen regret to the writer that the special work with the backward and deficient pupils, so well begun during the year 1912-13 could not have been continued. Dur- ing the year 96 different pupils in the first four grades en- joyed Miss Hogan's ministrations, and 80 were brought up to. grade.
I earnestly renew my recommendation of last year, that this work be provided for in the new budget.
CHANGES IN TEACHERS.
In March, 1913, Miss Edith A. Nichols, a talented and successful teacher of English in the High School since 1908,. was called to a similar position in the Malden High School. Miss Nichols was succeeded by Miss Mary C. Fitzpatrick of Worcester, an honor graduate of Wellesley, Class of 1912.
In April, 1913, Miss Helen J. Gilmore, for eight years commercial teacher in the High School, was called to Central Falls, R. I. Under Miss Gilmore's efficient leadership our commercial department attained a position well to the fore among similar departments and schools. Miss Gilmore was. succeeded by Miss Mae E. Birmingham, a graduate of the-
18
Milford High School and Bay Path Institute, and a teacher of experience in High schools and business colleges.
At the close of the school year 1912-13 Miss Adele Wald- meyer, for five years teacher of French and German in the High School, was called to a similar position in the Newton Technical High School. Miss Waldmeyer is a teacher of un- usual ability and her going was a real loss to our High School. Miss Waldmeyer was succeeded by Miss Margaret Pianca, a graduate of the Milford High School, with several years of training in French and German universities.
At the beginning of the present school year Miss Inez L. Gay, teacher of Latin in the High School, was granted a year's leave of absence. Miss Gay's work was taken up by Miss Hannah E Callanan, a graduate of Boston University, 1909, with exerience in both High school and grade work.
Miss Mary Irene Meighan of Westborough, a graduate of Framingham Normal school, 1913, and Miss Helen G. Laugh- lin, of Marlborough, a graduate of the Framingham Normal school, 1913, are teaching two of the four overflow grades spoken of elsewhere, while Miss Irene C. Hogan, last year's special teacher, and Miss Mary E. Kelly, assistant to Miss Gilfoyle at the Spruce Street school last year, have the other extra grades.
"WIDER USE OF THE SCHOOL PLANT."
The above phrase characterizes a great educational move- ment in states farther west and no new school building of any size is built anywhere without a spacious assembly hall, for school use primarily, but also for neighborhood use. The lat- ter phrase implies, in various localities, all sorts of gatherings, from an inter-city spelling contest to a political rally. The present winter has seen the beginning of what is hoped may become a real neighborhood movement in Milford.
On Dec. 19, 1913, under the auspices of the Milford Teachers' Association, Mr. Jeremiah E. Burke, Assistant Su- perintendent of Schools of Boston, gave a ringing address on "The Correlation of the Home and the School" in the High School Assembly hall.
19
The Social Service Department of the Quinshipaug Woman's Club has arranged for three lectures in the High School Assembly hall. The first was given on the afternoon of Jan. 6, by Miss Anna E. Devereaux of Wellesley College on ·"The Value of the Kindergarten."
Dates for the other lectures are :--
Feb. 17, Miss Isabel Briggs of Boston, on "Social Cen- tres."
March 17, Principal J. Asbury Pitman of the Salem Normal School on "The Responsibility of Parents to the School."
REPAIRS.
Repairs were made last summer in the various buildings as follow :-
PAINTING.
HIGH SCHOOL: The building was re-trimmed outside ; the basement woodwork painted and the walls whitened, and the chemistry tables scraped and re-varnished.
SPRUCE STREET: The basement wood-work was re- painted and the walls whitened.
SOUTH GRAMMAR : The ceilings in all the schoolrooms were re tinted, and the wood work in the upper and lower hall painted.
WEST STREET : The ceilings of the rooms were tinted.
PURCHASE GRAMMAR: All the sash were drawn outside.
BRAGGVILLE: The walls were painted and the ceiling whitened.
FOUNTAIN STREET : The halls were painted.
HOBOKEN : The entire building and outbuilding have been repainted inside and out.
CARPENTRY.
HIGH SCHOOL : Seventy-one desks and chairs were re- paired.
PARK GRAMMAR : New South basement door and cold air windows and minor repairs.
PURCHASE GRAMMAR : A new South entrance door.
20
FOUNTAIN STREET : The old double desks were taken out and replaced by single desks and chairs.
CHAPIN STREET : A new front door, with transom, has been put in.
NEW BLACK BOARDS.
About 1200 sq. ft. of lithoplate blackboard was installed at the Park, South, Plains Grammar, Braggville, and Hovo- ken Schools, an improvement sorely needed.
A new furnace has just been installed in the Purchase Primary School.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The need of steel ceilings in the first floor rooms at the Spruce Street School and in one of the first floor rooms at the Plains Primary School, is imperative.
Attention is called to the absence of windows at the hall landings of the stairs from the first to the second floor at the Claflin. Windows should be installed here as soon as possi- ble.
EXCESSIVE COAL CONSUMPTION AND COLD SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
In a number of ways our attention has been called to the fact that our systems of heating are very generally in need of serious repairs or replacement. It cost over $700.00 to heat one of the older buildings, and one more modern one-eight rooms,-and on several occasions these buildings, or one or more of the rooms therein, have had to be closed for the morning or the entire day, on account of the cold. In all the schools sixty. one sessions have been lost owing, to cold rooms, during the fiscal year just closed. Moreover, the heating ap- paratus in half a dozen buildings, has undergone more or less extensive and costly repairs within the last year. Recent ex- perience demonstrates clearly enough that the only efficient school heating plants in town are those at the Claflin, Plains Primary, Spruce Street, the auxiliary steam system at the Park and Park portables. New installations are needed at
2 I
the High, Oliver St., South, Park (main system), Plains Gram mar and the smaller buildings.
The stove at the Purchase Primary school gave out early in the present month, and has been replaced by an efficient furnace that should heat the shool in a much more even, as well as a more sanitary, way. The initial cost was somewhat more but the running cost should not be greatly in excess of that of two stoves.
I earnestly recommend a definite policy of gradually taking ont the old plants and installing modern ones in such buildings as are unlikely soon to be replaced by new construc- tion. I would suggest that a beginning be made with the Oliver St., West St., and Purchase Grammar Schools during the present year.
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