USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1918 > Part 6
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We recommend the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for maintenance for the coming year.
The total number of house connections is 1213, fifteen having been added during the year.
Respectfully yours,
FRANK P. DILLON, LOUIS P. PRATT, ALFRED F. MARTIN, Sewerage Commission.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN LIBRARY.
The Trustees of the Town Library respectfully submit the following reports :-.
The routine work has been conducted along the usual lines. Extra activities to meet war time conditions have incre ised the duties of the librarian and assistants to a great extent. These activities have ranged from mounting notices and posters, placing inserts in books, to collecting money and books. Organizations asking our help, as well as the help of libraries throughout the country, include War Service of the American Library Association, United States Food Adminis. tration, War Savings Committee, National War Garden Com- mission, Federal Fuel Administration of New England, Wom- an's Committee of the Council of National Defense, United War Work Campaign, American Red Cross, etc.
The circulation figures show a decrease, but the totals are satisfactory when we take into consideration the fact that the library was closed for six weeks during the influenz t epidemic . Also we must remember that people have had so many unu- sual occupitions for their spare time that reading might easily have been neglected. The effect of the war upon the kind of rea ling is well worth attention. The department containing the books relating to the war shows a decided increase, due part y to the large circulation of these books and partly to the cire ilation of current magazines.
During the campaign for books in the summer, our library shippel five large cases, containing 588 books, to Dr. Mawson of Cambridge, who was the overseas distributing officer. Of the books 3 99 were fiction and 189 were non- fiction.
The three new sets of stereoscopic views placed in the reading room, are in almost constant use. This year we
137
added Real children of many lands 36 views, Costume, his- torical and national, 127 views, Trip around the world 72 views. These views have an educational value, as well as being a source of entertainment to the children.
At a meeting of the trustees held February 4, 1919, it was voted to request an appropriation of $700.00 and the dog tax for the benefit of the Town Library during the ensuing year.
GEORGE W. WOOD,
Chairman.
TRUSTEES.
George W. Wood, Stephen H. Reynolds, Terms expire 1919
William P. Clarke,
Patrick E. Sweeney, Terms expire 1920
Nathaniel F. Blake, Nathan W. Heath, Terms expire 1921 ORGANIZATION.
George W. Wood, Chairman. Patrick E. Sweeney, Secretary.
Nathaniel F. Blake, Librarian.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MILFORD TOWN LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1918.
RECEIPTS.
Balance
$701 78
Appropriation
600 00
Dog tax
861 93
Fines .
87 82
Book lost
1 00
Old paper
.
.
3 90
$2,256 43
138
EXPENDITURES.
Books
$595 36
Magazines and papers
.
92 70
Binding
221 13
Salary of librarian
420 00
Salary of assistant
230 00
Extra help
48 10
Stereoscopic views
54 75
Light .
65 80
Express
12 64
Sundries
19 48
Supplies
38 86
Cataloguing books
15 52
Balance
442 09
$2,256 43
Owing to the inability of the secretary on account of acci- dent the above statement was prepared by the librarian.
Included in the balance on hand is the $100 bequest of Miss Harriet L. Thayer, which has not as yet been appropri- ated for special use.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN LIBRARY :-
GENTLEMEN :- I submit the sixtieth annual report of the library for the year ending December 31, 1918.
The library was open 271 days. It was closed from Sep- tember 27 to November 4 on account of the influenza epidem- ic. Circulation for the year was 32,452 volumes, and shows a small increase over the same period in 1917.
Largest daily circulation, February 23, was 323 volumes. Smallest daily circulation, November 11, was 20 volumes. Average daily circulation was 116+ volumes. Amount re- ceived for fines was $87.82. Notices sent delinquents, 233 ; number of new cards issued, 380. Visitors to the reading
139
room, 6,410, a gain over 1917 for the number of days open.
The library contains as per catalogue, 21,355 volumes, 446 having been added during the year ; by purchase, 308, by binding magazines, 89, by gift, 49. There were also pur- chased 122 volumes to replace those worn out. The donors were : State of Massachusetts, 15 volumes; United States Government, 11 volumes ; Prof. Mc Neil Dixon, London, 5 vol- umes ; Library of Congress, 4 volumes ; Interstate Commerce Commission, 2 volumes ; Carnegie Endowment, 2 volumes ; Smithsonian Institute, Hubert Howe Bancroft, Guaranty Trust Company, Emili- Cartwell, Charles Fremont Taylor, Donnelly, Chicago, General Education Bureau, W. E. Black- sstone, Vice Commission, Chicago, League to Enforce Peace, 1 volume each.
The circulation of the various departments is shown by the following table :-
CIRCULATION.
History.
Biography
Politics
and Law.
Travel.
Science.
Fiction.
Miscellan-
eous.
Religion.
Poetry.
Juvenile.
Pub. Doc.
Total.
January,
18
30
18
20
1624
148
32
1291
7
3183
Feb.,
23
9
12
1424
162
5
31
1302
5 2982
March,
14
27
9
28
1759
162
4
16
1394
3413
April,
7
29
16
15
1555
126
8
17
1815
3088
May,
20
30
1
14
16
1384
129
11
20
1192
3
2820
June,
23
28
1
13
11
1396
125
7
8
1326
1 2939
July,
4
8
1
11
9
1414
185
10
13
1420
3025
August,
7
8
2
2.2
8
1483
162
10
12
1557
3271
Sept.,
4
6
1
15
6
1056
121
7
15
943
2174
October,
Nov.,
4
15
2
19
7
1312
190
9
11
1054
2623
Dec ,
8
22
20
9
1423
179
5
35
1233 16
293 ₺
Total,
111|226
10 166 141 15830 1639 76 210 14027 32 32452
The reading room has received regularly the following publications, (those marked * were donated) :---
140
Boston Post,
DAILIES. *Official Bulletin. -
WEEKLIES.
*Christian Science Sentinel, Collier's,
*Food Administration Bulle- tin,
Leslie's, Literary Digest,
*N. E. Division Bulletin, American Red Cross,
Outlook, * Patent Office Gazette, Saturday Evening Post, Scientific American,
*Union Signal, Youth's Companion,
* Woman's Citizen,
*War Work Bulletin.
MONTHLIES.
*American Herald, American Boy, American Magazine, Atlantic, Bookman, *Brown Alumni Monthly, *Bulletin Worcester Art Mu- seum, Century, *Commonhealth, *Christian Science Journal, Cosmopolitan,
*Counselor, Country Life in America, Delineator, Everybody's, Garden, Good Housekeeping,
*Japan Society Bulletin, Harper's, Ladies' Home Journal,
*Living Tissue, McClure's, *Mexican Review,
Munsey's, *Museum of Fine Arts Bulle- tin,
National, National Geographic,
*N. E. Shoe and Leather In- dustries, North American Review, *Our Dumb Animals, Popular Science, Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature,
*Remington Notes, *Remonstrance, Review of Reviews, Scribner's,
*Stenotypist, St Nicholas,
* l'emperance Cause, Travel,
* Vedanta, Woman's Home Companion, World's Work.
141
The following exhibits have been received from the Mas- sachusetts Art Club :-
Jan. 22 to Feb. 11. Maerchen-Brunnen, 31 photographs.
Feb. 12 to Mar. 4. War VII., Menace of the submarine.
Mar 12 to Apr. 1. French chateaux, 63 photographs.
Apr. 2 to Apr. 22.
Masters of color II, 40 photographs.
Apr. 23 to May 13.
Hungary, 85 photographs.
May 14 to June 3. War XI., Red Cross .
June 4 to June 24. Belgium II., 84 photographs.
June 25 to July 15. Monsters of the microscope, 57 pho- tographs.
July 16 to Aug. 5. Animal kingdom, 28 photographs.
Aug. 6 to Aug. 26. War VIII., Britain's navy.
Aug. 27 to Sept. 16. Belgium I., 84 photograph s.
Oct. I to Oct 21. Petrograd, 82 photographs.
Oct. 29 to Nov. 18. . Canals, 67 photographs.
Nov. 26 to Dec. 16. Buckingham VII., 40 photographs.
Dec. 24 to Jan. 13. Advertising posters, 29 photographs.
Respectfully submitted,
NATHANIEL F. BLAKE,
Librarian.
-
REPORT OF TOWN SOLICITOR.
February 3, 1919. TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :-
I herewith submit my report for the year just passed.
Of the matters mentioned in my last report relative to suits that are threatened against the Town of Milford, involv- ing the payment of money for care rendered persons for whom the Town of Milford is liable, nothing further has ma- terialized. We have received a notice of a threatened suit for injuries received due to alleged defect in highway on East Main street, but nothing further has happened The town settled one small claim for injuries due to accident which. happened on Highland street, and while of doubtful liability, the amount was so small it was thought better to settle There is also threatened legal action against the Town of Mil- ford on account of injuries to property during the so-called. "Victory Celebration," but no suit has been brought up to the present moment.
The law department has been extremely busy during the past year owing to hearings concerning the increase of rates of our Public Service Corporations. The Milford Gas Light Company in April petitioned for an increase of rates, asking $1.75 per thousand cubic feet. The selectmen, through the law department, contested the claim with the result that the rate was reduced to $1 67. Again in December the company petitioned the Board of Electric Light and Gas Commission fór a still further increase, asking $2 25, and the law depart - ment, under direction of the board of selectmen, contested this claim. Hearing was held, but no decision has yet been reached by the Board of Electric Light and Gas Commission. During the past year every street railway coming into our town has had petitions before the Public Service Commission
143
for increased rates, and in each case the board of selectmen of Milford, in common with the other towns, bave contested the claims, and the results are generally known, but it might be said here that the public has been greatly benefited by such contests. In each case the claims were not allowed, and while the towns agreed that the railways should receive more money because of the increased cost of all things that went into the operations of the roads, they felt that the rate was exorbitant, and the decision rendered by the Public Service Board has upheld the judgment of the selectmen. The cases were the Milford & Uxbridge Street Railway Company, the Milford, Attleboro & Woonsocket Street Railway Compa- ny, and the Grafton & Upton Railroad Company.
During the past year the tax collector has referred to the law department fifteen cases with instructions to enforce the collection of the tax. In all these cases suits were brought, ant in all but four, settlements have been mule, either in whole or in part. There are now pending four cases, some in the Superior court, some in our local court, awaiting final ju- dicial determination.
The late epi lemic of influenza pointedly emphasized the need of more stringent health laws, and I earnestly recom- mend the adoption of the same.
I again urge the adoption by the town of a set of by-laws governing the control of our streets and public ways. Under our existing by-laws, we have but little if any control over the regulation of our public streets.
I again recommend the establishment of a contingent fund by the Town of Milford in order that in case of emer- gency we may have access to money for relief.
I again wish to thank all the public boards for their cour- tesy to me in my relations to them as Town Solicitor.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN C. LYNCH,
Solicitor.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
Milford, February 1, 1919.
I have examined the accounts of the treasurer and tax collector and find them to be correct. I have also examined the books of the different departments and find that the vouchers correspond with the orders drawn on and paid by · the treasurer, and that the accounts as presented are correct.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN J. QUINLAN,
Auditor ..
CLASS OF 1918, MILFORD HIGH
SCHOOL.
. MILFORD MASSACHUSETTS
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
SCHOOL YEAR 1917-1918 FISCAL YEAR 1918
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GEORGE E. STACY,
Term expires 1919
ALFRED B. CENEDELLA,
Term expires 1919
JOHN V. GALLAGHER,
Term expires 1920
CHARLES W. GOULD,
Term expires 1920
JOHN C. LYNCH,
Term expires 1921
JOHN E. SWIFT,
Term expires 1921
ORGANIZATION. GEORGE E. STACY, Chairman. ALMORIN O. CASWELL, Secretary.
SUB COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
GEORGE E. STACY JOHN C. LYNCH
Finance.
JOHN V. GALLAGHER CHARLES W. GOULD
Repairs and Fuel.
GEORGE E. STACY ALFRED B. CENEDELLA
Books and Supplies.
JOHN C. LYNCH JOHN V. GALLAGHER
Teachers and Salaries.
JOHN E. SWIFT CHARLES W. GOULD
ALFRED B. CENEDELLA.
SUPERINTENDENT. ALMORIN O. CASWELL.
The superintendent is a member of each subcommittee ex- officio.
4
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The regular meetings of the committee are held on the first Friday of each month at 8 r. M., in the committee room at the George E. Stacy school.
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
Office at the George E. Stacy building. Office hours from 8 to 9 A. M. and 4 to 5.30 p. M. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Thursday evenings, 7.30 to 8.30.
SCHOOL SESSIONS.
High school-8 A. M. to 1 P. M.
Grammar schools-9 A. M. to 12 M., 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 fifth. At 12.30 p. M .- No afternoon session for all grades .-
Between 12.45 and 1 p. 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.
As the years roll by, it becomes the recurring duty of the managers of the school department to make report of the con- ditions and needs of our schools.
During the past year the schools were somewhat inter- rupted by the prevailing influenza, and schools were closed for a time, after consulting with the Board of Health. The time lost will be made up during the school year as far as possible.
Mr. C. A. FitzGerald, principal of the High school, and Mr. F. C. Berry were given unlimited leave of absence, as they had entered into the military service of the United States. They are now reinstated and are in their former positions.
Mr. T. J. Quirk substituted most satisfactorily as princi- pal of the High school, and Mr. Berry's classes were assigned to the assistant teachers of the High school. Mr. J. B. O'Leary of Worcester was placed in charge of the schools formerly taught by Mr. Quirk. We are sorry to have to lose him.
The following report ot the Superintendent of Schools, which has been adopted as the school report to the town, will furnish information which we trust will be carefully consid- ered, and when the time for action comes we feel that the citi- zens will be loyal to the rising generation.
The following appropriations are absolutely needed for the ensuing year, viz .: -
Salaries
. $57,184 52
Fuel
6,000 00
Supplies
4,000 00
Care
.
5,125 00
Incidentals
2,000 00
Supervision (salaries of Superinten- dent and Attendance Officer) 2,500 00
Medical inspection
600 00
6
Repairs
. $2,500 00
Transportation
·
· 1,375 00
Carriage hire
·
485 00
Evening school
- 600 00
Total regular
$82,369 52
State ordered repairs .
500 00
Grand total
$82,869 52
.
GEORGE E. STACY,
For the Committee.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
GENERAL ACCOUNT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
. $78,500 00
Extra income, tuition, etc.
.
1,320 91
- $79,820 91
Transferred to state-ordered re-
pairs account
·
50 30
$79,770 61
EXPENDITURES.
Salaries of teachers
.
. $52,602 07
Fuel .
6,212 19
Supplies
· 3,665 31
Care (Janitors' salaries)
·
5,121 38
Incidentals
1,895 81
Supervision :-
Sup't of Schools $2,106 50
Att'd'ce officer
175 00
2,281 50
Medical inspection
. .
Repairs usual
$3,746 10
600 00
" unusual 1,623 20
5,369 30
Transportation
1,362 65
Carriage hire
485 00
Evening school
172 50
$79,767 71
Balance
2 90 $7 9,770 61
8
UNPAID BILLS. RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
$6,765 45
EXPENDITURES.
Salaries of teachers
$1,260 23
Fuel
.
1,439 67
Supplies
.
3,235 22
Care .
109 50
Incidentals
156 30
Supervision
35 00
Repairs
409 53
Transportation
120 00
$6,765 45
STATE ORDERED REPAIRS.
RECEIPTS
Appropriation
$1,500 00
Extra income transferred to this
account .
50 30
$1,550 30
EXPENDITURES. Unpaid 'Bills.
Waters & Hy nes
$663 84
W. T. Phillips
44 96
$708 80
1918 Account.
Clark Ellis & Sons, fire ex- tinguishers $206 50
Roberto Costa, Spruce street contract 275 00
Dillon Bros., Spruce street contract 100 00
W. T. Phillips, architect's fees 25 00
Waters & Hynes, H. S. con- tract
100 00
9
Holtzer Cabot Electrical Co., fire alarm systems $135 00
$841 50
$1,550 30
ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES.
Fuel :
L. H. Barney estate
$ 903 02
H. M. Curtiss Coal Co.
2,639 88
Milford Coal Co.
2,149 78
Benj. Vitalini
424 61
Milford Gas Lt. Co.
94 90
$6,212 19
Repairs-Electrical :- W. C. Tewksbury .
$ 78 08
Painting :-
Eldredge & Sons .
$501 26
E. F. Porter
142 22
643 48
Carpenter work :-
Waters & Hynes
$768 61
T. F. Maher
680 00
Dillon Bros.
115 00
L. Fitzmaurice
.
2 25
1,565 86
Plumbing : -
John E. Higgiston .
$ 50 85
Staples & Gould
470 03
Clark Ellis & Sons
323 91
Mason work :-
Luchini & Manzani Co. $144 38
P. Consigli
396 00
A. P Clarridge
37 00
.
577 38
Slating :- W. J. McGuire Co.
.
1,623 20
.
844 79
10
Miscellaneous :-
E. F. Lilley .
$ 8 75
George H. Locke
24 41
Avery & Woodbury Co.
. 35
C. L. Barnard
2 00
Standard Elec. Time Co.
1 00
$36 51
$5,369 30
Supplies :-
J. L. Hammett Co.
$ 268 77
E. E. Babb & Co. .
1,006 68
Mittag & Volger .
38 00
Ginn & Co. ·
92 26
Central Scientific Co.
83
Dowling School Supply Co.
64 60
Milton Bradley Co.
166 30
D. C. Heath & Co.
47
Emerson & Co.
5 27
Cahill News Agency
13 28
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins .
668 85
Cheney Bros.
28 67
Remington Typewriter Co.
1 72
Iroquois Publishing Co.
4 00
Victor Typewriter Co.
1 12
A. N. Palmer Co. .
3 30
Oliver Ditson Co. .
12 06
A. D. Ashley
.
4 25
Bates, Holdsworth Co.
1 40
Framingham Light, Fuel & Power Co.
5 40
Office Appliance Co.
15 00
Benjamin H. Sanborn Co.
·
58 38
James M. Sullivan
51 70
Henry Heil Chemical Co.
37 00.
General Chemical Co.
28 78
Houghton, Mifflin Co.
112 74
David Farquhar .
·
79 90
Wadsworth, Howland & Co. . 283 60
Macmillan Co.
$237 57
Allyn & Bacon
48 90
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co. 20 21
American Book Co.
185 55
Phonograph Institute Co.
23 11
Circulation Bureau N. Y. Times .
8 00
Rand, Mc Nally & Co.
20 58
University of Chicago Press
1 14
Doubleday, Page & Co.
1 06
Little, Brown & Co. .
1 56
P. Blakiston's Sons
80
Educational Specialties Co.
7 30
Singer Sewing Machine Co.
55 20
$3,665 31
Incidentals :-
G. M. Billings
$139 75
Rochester Germicide Co. .
71 80
Milford Electric Light & Power Co. .
93 41
Milford Gas Light Co.
28 29
Avery & Woodbury Co.
145 42
Milford Water Co. ·
427 00
Sherborne-Coughlin Express Co.
35 73
Curtiss-Draper Paper Co.
8 00
N. E. Telephone & Telegraph Co. ·
70 32
H. S. Chadbourne .
71 29
C. J. Lundstrom Mfg. Co.
.
9 02
H. I. Dallman Co.
42 57
Middlesex County House of Cor- rection 17 48
Milford Journal Co.
3 60
S. D. Vincent, trustee
·
1 60
Mass. Reformatory for Women
68 40
West Disinfecting Co.
47 20
Charles H. Kimball
11 67
George A. Sherborne
22 35
Milford Daily News Co.
14 35
.
12
Dillon Brothers ·
$ 10 74
Crowell & De Witt
5 85
F. J. Jameson
108 36
A. & E. Burton Co.
49 02
W. O. Hartshorne
18 25
M. W.'Allen, state boiler inspec- tor
24 00
Library Bureau
50 00
C. W. Gould
30 00
Bass & Co.
·
2 50
Ina T. Nelson
15 00
Kenney Brothers & Wolkins
34 50
P. Scartissie
5 00
A. O. Caswell (sundries account)
55 84
Staples & Gould
39 00
M H. S. Athletic Association
100 00
A. H. Sweet & Co.
5 00
Otis Clapp & Son .
13 50
$1,895 81
RECAPITULATION.
RECEIPTS.
General appropriation
$78,500 00
Extra income
1,320 91
Appropriation for state-ordered re- pairs
·
1,500 00
Appropriation for back bills
·
6,765 45
---- $88,086 36
EXPENDITURES.
Regular
$79,767 71
State-ordered repairs
·
1,550 30
Unpaid bills .
6,765 45
Balance
2 90
$88,086 36
At a meeting of the school committee held February 11, 1919, the reports of the secretary and superintendent were
13
read and accepted, and will constitute a part of the report of the committee to the citizens of Milford.
ALMORIN O. CASWELL,
Secretary.
14
.6% CARRIAGE HIRE
2 . 4% INCIDENTALES .
TEACI
1.7% TRANSPORTATION.
7.7/ FUEL .8% MEDICAL INSPECTION .
66%
4.57 SUPPLIES. 6.57. CARE 2.9% SUPERVISION TOOHOS 1 HOIN X2
LARIES
CHERS SAL
L. B. BRAGG '20.
-
6. 7AREPAY
EXPLANATION OF GRAPH.
For a number of years the proportions of the several items of regular school support (percentages of the whole) have remained little changed. A comparison of the analyses for the last three years shows only slight changes in the percentages, as follows :- Fiscal Year. 1916 1917. Inc. Dec. 1918 Inc. Dec.
Appropriation :
Per cent. Per cent.
Teachers' salaries,
66.7
67.6
.9
Per cent. 66
1.6
Incidentals,
3.5
2.
1.5
2.4
.4
Carriage hire,
.8
.8
.6
.2
Repairs,
4.6
1.7
2.9
6.7
5
Sp. Influenza H. S. roof. 15 Sp. Influenza
Transportation,
1.9
2.
1
1.7
.3
Medical inspection,
.7
-
.6
.1
.8
.2
Sal. Inc.
Fuel,
6.1
8.2
2.1
7.7
.5
Sp. Influenza
Supplies,
6.
6.7
.7
4.5
2.2
Sp. Influenza
Care,
5.2
6.6
1.4
6.5
.1
Supervision,
3.3
3.
.3
2.9
.1
Night School,
1.2
.8
.4
.2
.6
Sp. Influenza
100
100
5.2
5.2
100
5.6
5.6
Explanation.
-
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Number of public schools . 60
Number of school buildings 20.
Number of teachers employed ·
*74
In High school ·
12
In Grammar schools
.
19
In Primary schools ·
·
.
41
Special teachers
2
Number of children in town April 1, 1918, between 5 and 16 years of age, as reported by the cen- sus enumerator :-
Number of boys 1,463
Number of girls . ·
1,586
Total number between 5 and 16 years · 3,049
Total number in September, 1917, between 5 and 16 years of age . 2,991 ·
Increase 58. .
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE (1917-1918).
Number enrolled between 7 and 14 1,911 . .
Total enrollment 2,605
Average membership in all the schools 2,331.5
Average attendance . .
2,188.8
Per cent of attendance 93.9
Number of cases of tardiness in all the schools 3,325
Number of cases of dismissal in all the schools 893
Number of cases of corporal punishment in all the schools . 19
Number of cases of truancy in all the schools
32
Number of visits by the superintendent 630
Number of visits by the school committee 55
Number of visits by others 1,134
*Include; one half time teicher in the High school.
KHS
THS
MHS
*
HS
MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL BASE BALL TEAM, 1918.
Report of the Superintendent of the Schools.
To the Honorable School Committee of the Town of Milford,
Gentlemen :-
I present my eighth report as your Superintendent of Schools, the forty-first of such reports in Milford.
ATTENDANCE ROLL OF HONOR.
I heartily congratulate the 116 children who attended school every session during the school year 1917-1918, and their parents, on this achievement. The names of these pupils will be found farther on in this report.
THE SCHOOL YEAR 1917-1918.
The school year 1917-1918 was more or less broken up by the fuel shortage and consequent enforced vacations, but the High school lost no time that was not afterwards made up, and the grades lost but one week not so made up.
Thus far during the current school year we have lost six weeks by enforced vacations on account of Spanish Influ- enza, of which one week was made up during the Christmas vacation and two more will be made up during the spring and summer vacations. Milford was one of the first towns, if not the very first, in the state, to close its schools on account of the epidemic, and the schools remained closed till it seemed safe to reopen them. Upon the reopening of schools dristic measures were taken to protect the children, and we have not, thus far, been obliged to close a second time as towns all around us have done. At the reopening of school, the teach- ers were instructed : whenever a child was absent, to commu- nicate with the home immediately, ascertain why the child was absent, and if the teacher even suspected influenza, to
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send notices at once, in duplicate, to the Superintendent of Schools and to the Secretary of the Board of Health. These instructions the teachers faithfully followed, the Secretary of the Board of Health co-operated splendidly, investigating cases as reported, and these measures are believed to have had an important part in preventing a recurrence of the dread visitor.
STATISTICS.
The reader's attention is earnestly directed to the table of statistics prece ting this report. For the first time during the eight years that I have been with you, the records show a falling-off in school attendance, as follows :-
Pupils enrolled September, 1917 . 2,495
Pupils enrolled September, 1918 . 2,3 9
Loss
126
The obvious reason for this is the unusual condition of the labor market, occasioned by the war, more especially the government's policy of "cost plus 10," whereby the boys and. girls in the High and Stacy schools were victims of the demand for child-labor caused by withdrawing millions of men from the industries ; of the increased need of money to meet the increasing cost of living, and of the lure of the fab- ulous wages made possible by the policy of "cost plus 10" referred to above. One employer with extensive government contracts drew large numbers of our young people to his fac- tory, and it was quite a common thing for fifth and sixth graders to report larger weekly wages than any teacher in town.
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