USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1893 > Part 2
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Thompson & Bannister, aid to Annie Moran, 8.00
164.13
10.40
16.32
6.00
28
STURBRIDGE.
Michael St. John, aid to Mrs. John Collette, $ 6.00 Joseph Bellanger, coffin to " 6.00 12.00
LEOMINSTER.
E. J. Wood, aid to Mrs. F. Blair, 60.00
EASTHAMPTON.
J. B. Brown & Co., aid to Mary R. Lampree,
3.00
O. Pleau,
10.00
H. T. Bishop,
.23
66
66
،،
13.23
BRIMFIELD.
J. F. Holbrook, aid to James Goss, 4.00
J. B. Shaw, 66 5.00
Smith & Co.,
יי
4.00
Dr. Wm. Holbrook, medical attendance to James Goss, 9.00
22.00
ENFIELD.
Dr. Wm. Holbrook, medical
attendance to
Samuel W. Crockett, 11.25
MONSON.
J. H: Haynes, aid to George W. Wright,
14.00
BELCHERTOWN.
Truesdell & Brown, aid to F. A. Shearer, 3.00
J. B. Shaw, 66
5.00 8.00
SPRINGFIELD.
O. A. LaRiviere. aid to Joseph Chicoine, 10.00
Shaw Brothers, “
14.00 24.00
29
BARRE.
Clark & Hastings, aid to Thomas Denihan, $ 10.00
Dr. Wm. Holbrook, medical attendance to Thomas Denihan, 16.00
H. T. Bishop, aid to Thomas Denihan, 49.47
T. D. Potter,
11.00
C. L. Holden, 66 66
3.40
J. W. Miller,
3.25
Daniel J. Downey, “
15.00
$438.59
TRAMP ROOM, MARCH 1, 1894.
A. O. Allen, care of tramp room, $60.00
A. O. Allen, working tramps, 49.20
A. O. Allen, crackers for tramp room, 16.26
Palmer Savings Bank, use of tramp room,
90.00
$215.46
Number of tramps lodged during the year, 377.
-
CASH PAID OUT.
Support of poor not on town farm,
$4,174.83
Support of poor on town farm, 1,159.74
Repairs, 164.80
Poor belonging to the State,
504.97
Poor belonging to other towns,
438 59
Tramp room,
215.46
$6,658.39
CASH RECEIVED.
Appropriation for support of poor,
$5,000.00
Appropriation for repairs, 300.00
30
Spencer,
$ 26.00
Charlton.
1.86
Sturbridge,
12.00
Monson,
14.00
Enfield,
12.25
Easthampton,
13.30
Brimfield,
22.00
Ware,
158.00
State,
343.63
$5,903.04
Overdrawn,
$755.35
Outstanding bills (Estimated)
575.00
$1,330.35
DUE.
From the State, March 1st, 1894,
$161.34
Barre,
108.12
Belchertown,
8.00
Leominster,
60.00
Springfield,
24.00
Ware,
6.13
$357.59
Overdrawn,
$962.76 The Overseers would recommend an appropriation of Six Thousand Dollars for the support of the poor for the ensuing year, also Three Hundred Dollars for contingent fund.
J. O. HAMILTON, Overseers WILLIAM MERRIAM, of
H. T. BISHOP, ١
Poor.
Young Men's Library Association.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1894.
Number of volumes in library March 1, 1893,
4,265
Number of volumes purchased during the year,
57
13
4,335
Number of volumes loaned to readers in fiction,
7,158
Number of volumes loaned to readers in history. travels,
etc.,
3,489
Total,
10.647
We note with pleasure that the number of books taken from the library has increased during the past year more than 3000 volumes. More than half of the books now taken are other than fiction, which fact serves to emphasize the statement that our people are progressive and appreciate the books provided for their instruction.
Owing to the limited means, the trustees have been unable to add but few books during the year, and these, even, have been paid for from the proceeds of a drama, provided by the generous efforts of the friends of the library. As all the villages draw books, the town should devote enough funds for buying new and desirable books each year. An annual appropriation of $800 is the very lowest sum that ought to be appropriated for the purpose ; nothing less can render the library efficient, and adequately meet the demands constantly made upon it by the teachers and pupils in our public schools ; even that sum is meagre as compared with what adjoining towns cheer- fully devote for the benefit of their libraries.
32
Concerning the amount now in the hands of the treasurer, it may be said it will all be needed for running expenses, and for rebinding books which need attention during the next six months.
O. P. ALLEN, Librarian.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Cash on hand March 1, 1893,
$120.12
Received from town,
500.00
For membership fees,
40.00
Contributions for shelving,
124.00
Proceeds of drama,
74.19
Proceeds of opera "Wanita,"
38.40
Sales of catalogues, and fines,
43.00
G. A. R. Post, for coal,
60.68
$1,000.39
Paid for fuel.
205.10
Lights,
54.00
Janitor,
72.75
Attendant,
155.50
Miscellaneous expenses,
14.70
Papers, magazines and books,
103.21
Repairing books,
18.40
Shelving in library,
178.19
801.85
Balance on hand,
$ 198.54 LOUIS E. CHANDLER, Treasurer.
Report of the School Committee.
The school committee would respectfully submit the following report of their work for the past year :
At the beginning of the summer vacation, a sub-committee was appointed to supervise the cleaning of the school rooms and to make such repairs as seemed to be necessary. All the schools were put in good repair except the one at Three Rivers. On looking over this building, it was found that from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars would be necessary to make the needed repairs. The committee de- cided before spending that amount of money, to present to the town the proposition to sell the present building and lot, and secure a bet- ter location and erect a more suitable building for this village.
The school building in this place is so near the Palmer mill, that the noise of the machinery and the odors of the dye-house, especially in warm weather when the windows have to be opened, are any- thing but favorable to progress in study. The committee are of the opinion that the change proposed, would not only be a benefit to the school but a wise policy on the part of the town to adopt.
The committee have no more important work than that of select- ing teachers for the schools. The character and efficiency of the schools depend in a great degree upon the tact of the teachers in the management of their pupils and the ability to develop in their minds a love for study .
During the year the high school has had a complete change in its corps of teachers. Mr. H. B. Knox resigned to take a higher sal- aried position in the Friends' School at Providence, R. I. Miss Helen Cobb was married and Miss Marsh resigned to take a posi- tion in the Somerville high school, at an advanced salary.
34
These vacancies were filled by A. W. Thayer, a graduate of Wes- leyan University, Miss Anna Fisherdick, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, and Miss E. M. Peirce, a graduate of Smith College.
Miss Rogers, who had charge of the grammar school in the Depot Village, resigned to take a place in the Springfield schools, and Mrs. Cady was appointed to fill the vacancy. Miss Robinson was trans- ferred from Three Rivers to this village. The classes in the Depot village being too large for effective work to be done, a new class was formed and Miss Mabel Sedgwick was appointed as teacher.
Miss Graves, who taught in the Whiting district. resigned and Miss Anna Bishop was selected to fill the vacancy.
In June sixteen pupils from the high school having completed the course of study, received certificates of graduation. Public exercises were held in Holden's Opera House, consisting of music by the pupils. and addresses by W. H. Small. superintendent of schools, and A. E. Winship, editor of the Journal of Education. The fol- lowing are the names of the graduates :
Jennie Effie Brainerd,
Elizabeth Adela Twiss.
Charlotte Lena Bray,
Jennie Cornelia Twiss.
Edith Iona Hobson,
Edwin Sprague Gardner,
Bessie Moore,
Charles Daniel Holden,
Ora Winnifred Parent,
Michael Robert Lyons.
Lilian Gray Park,
Henry Clinton Newell,
Maud Louise Parker,
Byron Claude Shanks,
Alice Lydia Thompson,
Daniel Bartholomew Sullivan.
The school building in the Shaw district is vacated. because there are not pupils enough for a school. Several of the others are very small in numbers, as a glance at the table of membership and at- tendance, will show. They are also expensive. Many of the towns in the state are dealing with a similar condition of affairs, and are centralizing their schools. The history of the movement is this :-
In 1869 a law was passed which "provided that any town in the Commonwealth may raise by taxation or otherwise and appropriate money to be expended by the school committee in their discretion. in providing for the conveyance of pupils to and from the public schools."
At first only high school pupils were conveyed, but as district schools have become gradually smaller and smaller, within the last
35
ten years over 250 district schools have been closed and over 2000 pupils are annually conveyed to more central schools.
The movement extended so rapidly that five years ago the State Board of Education began to include the cost in their annual re- port. In 1889-90, 104 cities and towns expended $22,118 for this purpose ; in 1891-2, 160 cities and towns expended $38,726. The towns and cities included in this list extend all over the state.
The movement began in Concord, in 1881, in a desire to secure better results in the schools. A report says : "To carry the sug- gestion into effect was a difficult matter. The difficulty can be real- ized readily when it is understood that a period of ten years elapsed between the closing of the first and the closing of the last of the five district schools, and that during these years, the successive school boards never lost sight of the end in view, nor relaxed their efforts to reach that end. Nor is it strange that obstacles were encountered. A strong and rational conservatism existed in the districts. The idea of consolidation was novel, and raised doubts and objections that could not be met by past experience here or elsewhere. On the other hand, it was possible for the plan to prevail in the end because the communities directly affected were highly intelligent, and formed their judgments thoughtfully and correctly. It is an interesting fact, also, that, during the whole ten years of change. a majority of the committee were farmers ; and that, for the most of the time, a ma- jority were the local representatives of the districts involved.
From the successful results attending the experiment in Concord, the movement is extended rapidly through the state. In most places where the number of pupils in attendance becomes less than ten, the schools are closed and the pupils are transported to the nearest graded school.
This is how it is done in Concord : "The children are conveyed in comfortable vehicles fitted up for their accommodation. They are in charge of trusty drivers. When it is practicable, a farmer living near the extreme end of the district is employed to convey the children. Often the farmer's wife drives the conveyance-an arrangement that meets the entire approval of the school committee, and is, per- haps, the most satisfactory one possible. The driver starts from or near the remote end of his district, and drives down the principal thoroughfare, taking up the children at their own doors or at cross- street corners.
·
36
"The attendance of the children conveyed is several per cent better than that of the village children, and it is far higher than it was in the old district schools. This is not strange when one re- flects that the children are taken at or near their own doors, and con- veyed to school without exposure in stormy weather, and with entire comfort in cold or snowy weather. Discipline in the carriages is maintained readily, as the driver has authority to put out any un- ruly child. The children are conveyed from one and one-half to three and one-half miles".
In 1893, Supt. Eaton of Concord sent out circulars making some inquiries relative to the experiment elsewhere. Among the ques- tions were two asking why the schools were closed and with what re- sults. Replies from 135 towns gave this information :
To the request for a brief statement of the reasons that determined the towns to close district schools, and transport the pupils to other schools, the replies indicate two distinct purposes-one financial and the other educational. In many of the towns of the State, the de- population of the districts outside the villages has made it cheaper to transport to other schools the few pupils living in the districts than to teach them in situ. In other towns, the desire to make strong cen- tral schools, and the purpose to give all the children of the town the benefit of better teachers, better appliances, and better supervision, have been the dominant motives to determine consolidation.
To the question whether the results have been satisfactory, there is a substantial agreement in the affirmative. The most emphatic expressions of satisfaction come from those towns in which the edu- cational motives have been the dominant ones. Repeatedly comes the assertion from this latter class of towns, that the parents would not return to the old system of isolated schools if it were possible.
Four of the six district schools in this town are practically below an average of ten pupils. The parents in these districts and the town as a whole should give this matter careful thought.
The State Board of Education Report of 1891-2 says: "Under this law, it is neccessary that the towns vote not merely to instruct the committee, to have the children conveyed ; they must also vote the neccessary appropriation for the service. No school money gives a more abundant return than that employed in consolidating small schools, and in giving to the children ready access to those which admit of more perfect organization and better supervision."
37
At the town meeting held in March 1893, the School Committee were directed to employ a Supt. for the schools. After a careful consideration of the qualifications of several candidates for the place, the committee were unanimous in the choice of Mr. W. H. Small of Hudson, Mass., for the position. Mr. Small began his work in May 1893, and has given a year of faithful service as supervisor of the schools. His report of the condition of the schools and the sug- gestions for their improvement, should be carefully read by every citizen of the town.
The committee are happy to report that all known bills are paid and a surplus of $461.42 remains unexpended.
Financial Statement.
HIGH SCHOOL.
H. B. Knox,
$712.50
A. W. Thayer,
595.00
H. L. Cobb,
37.50
C. A. Marsh,
395.00
L. H. Brigham,
187.50
A. L. Fisherdick,
350.00
E. M. Peirce,
87.50-$ 2,365.00
DEPOT.
Addie L. Rogers,
$195.00
Eva E. Cady,
405.00
Abbie J. Wallace,
315.00
Ellen S. Leach,
315.00
Lizzie F. Brown,
315.00
Helen L. Robinson,
210.00
Mabel J. Sedgwick,
183.75-$
1,938.75
THREE RIVERS.
H. M. Cross,
180.00
G. A. Adams,
287.50
Helen L. Robinson,
105.00
Addie L. Walker,
315.00
Mabel J. Sedgwick,
26.25
Cora B. Clark,
315.00
Katherine M. Twiss,
315.00
Annie B. Crane,
315.00-$ 1,858.75
39
BONDSVILLE.
H. E. Fuller,
$450.00
Katherine M. Burns,
105.00
Josie E. Shea,
210.00
M. A. O'Brien,
315.00
Maggie T. Shea,
315.00
May A. Martin,
315.00-$ 1,710.00
THORNDIKE.
H. M. Dean,
$450.00
Effie E. Smith,
105.00
Marion R. Paine,
210.00
Lulu A. Talmadge,
315.00
Mary E. Murdock,
315.00
S. Beulah Thayer,
315.00
Mary E. McFarlane,
260.00
Emma F. Deming,
17.50-$ 1,987.50
UNGRADED SCHOOLS. PALMER CENTER.
Annie E. O'Connor,
$ 315.00
WIRE MILL.
Minnie R. Lawson,
$ 315.00
WHITING.
S. Amy Graves,
$170.80
Annie A. Bishop,
81.20-$ 252.00
SHORLEY.
Effie W. Moffatt,
$ 84.00 ·
B. M. Dowd.
168.00-$ 252.00
BLANCHARDVILLE.
Marion R. Paine,
$ 90.00 180.00-$ 270.00
Effie W. Moffatt,
MASON.
Mary E. McFarlane, $ 14.00
70.00
B. M. Dowd, Jennie C. Twiss, 140.00-$ 224.00- $1,628.00
Total amount paid teachers,
$11,488.00
40
CARE OF HOUSES.
DEPOT.
H. L. Gray,
$ 260.50
THORNDIKE.
C. F. Gerald,
D. Lane,
$152.50 3.00-$ 155.50
BONDSVILLE.
C. E. Fuller,
$ 252.46
THREE RIVERS.
C. S. Smith,
$ 60.00
Wm. Praire,
138.00
J. King,
6.35-$ 204.35
UNGRADED.
Mason,
$ 15.34
Blanchard,
14.50
Shorley,
12.50
Whiting,
20.00
Wire Mill.
15.00
Center,
17.00-$ 94.34-$ 967.15
TRANSPORTATION.
Omer Gosselin,
$ 281.20
Jerry Shea,
207.00
John F. Twiss,
358.20
Geo. D. Mooers,
382.00
Wm. S. Whiting,
150.00
C. F. Smith,
37.20
D. Mahoney,
45.00
Charles Shaw,
10.00-$
1,470.60
FUEL.
C. P. Haynes,
$ 71.86
J. F. Holbrook,
1,383.06
T. D. Potter & Co.,
24.50
Bryan Rourke,
18.00
D. Mahoney,
14.87
H. L. Gray,
6.00
41
J. W. Miller, $ 8.75
A. J. Northrop,
2.50
L. C. Snow,
5.75
S. Brown,
20.75
Fillmore & Lamey,
11.00
J. O. Hamilton,
30.00-$ 1,597.04
REPAIRS.
Omer Gosselin,
$ 4.35
W. A. Breckenridge,
5.00
C. S. Smith,
3.00
F. A. Ruggles,
206.29
C. E. Fuller,
.90
J. A. Breckenridge,
213.55
C. A. Brown & Co.,
19.65
A. M. Bond,
56.05
W. A. Thompson,
26.69
M. J. Dillon,
10.25
E. A. Buck & Co.,
1.73
E. J. Kelly,
7.40
S. H. Hellyar & Co.,
2.25
T. D. Potter & Co.,
2.00
H. H. Paine,
3.00
W. H. Small (prepayments)
4.15
C. E. Shumway,
1.00
N. K. Rogers,
5.00
W. E. Stone,
27.43
Shaw Bros.
6.90
W. H. Hitchcock,
26.63
C. S. Ruggles,
125.00
H. L. Gray,
1.00
J. Beranger,
.75 -- $ 759.97
CONTINGENCIES.
W. H. Small, salary, $1,250.00
B. F. Tucker, ash sifters, 20.00
C. A. Brown & Co., sundries,
2.98
Shaw Bros., sundries, 2.04
W. A. Breckenridge, expenses,
10.03
42
C. B. Fiske & Co., printing,
$ 37.75
A. E. Fitch, insurance, 366.00
Cyrus Knox, P. O. supplies. 44.00
Town of Warren, tuition 1893, 41.00
Town of Wilbraham, tuition 1893,
40.00
Palmer Water Co., 27.00
L. E. Moore, removing ashes, etc., 44.57
Freight, express, teaming, etc.,
35.96
F. A. Ruggles, expenses,
18.50
H. M. Auger, expenses,
18.80
A. B. C. Deming, expenses, 23.42
C. S. Smith, census, 50.00
C. S. Smith, truant officer, 3.49
H. P. Holden, hall for graduation, 20.00
A. E. Winship, address at graduation, 25.00
M. McCormick, truant officer,
8.50
M. LaFarra, watchman,
2.50
H. G. Loomis, chairs,
8.50
H. L. Gray, sundries,
6.50
E. S. Brooks, repairing clocks,
5.85
Robinson & Taylor, baskets,
4.50
C. E. Shumway, truant officer,
5.00
C. E. Fuller, sundries,
2.98
E. A. Buck & Co., sundries,
1.00
O. W. Studley, truant officer,
1.00-$ 2,126.87
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Leach, Shewall & Sanborn, $ 21.97
E. A. Buck & Co.,
17.83
Springfield News Co.,
184.60
Thompson, Brown & Co.,
11.00
Ginn & Co.,
179.72
Boston School Supply Co.,
34.80
E. Maynard & Co.,
20.70
W. R. Jenkins,
19.20
D. C. Heath & Co.,
58.35
D. Appleton & Co.,
12.00
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.,
33.45
A. H. Bartlett,
103.41
43
Lee & Shepard,
$ 100.84
McMillan & Co.,
4.73
American Book Co.,
30.90
J. L. Hammett,
116.25
Milton Bradley Co.,
49.05
Potter & Putnam,
14.00
King & Merrill,
90.00
Geo. S. Perry & Co.,
16.85
Smith & White Mfg. Co.,
124.65
Allyn & Bacon,
5.00
University Pub. Co.,
40.20
Gould & Cook,
13.33
C. E. Fuller,
1.06
Isaac Walker,
12.35
A. B. Dick & Co.,
4.50
W. H. Small,
2.55
F. A. Ruggles,
17.31-$ 1,340.60
REFERENCE BOOKS.
Century Dictionary,
$25.00
Latin
.6
5.42
French . 6
3.34
Greek 66
6.83
International Dictionary,
8.50
International Cyclopedia,
60.00
Webster's High School Dictionaries,
32.48
Atlas,
.90-$
142.47
OFFICE SUPPLIES.
Desk,
$23.34
Mimeograph, etc.,
24.25-
$47.59
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.
H. L. Gray,
$23.00
C. S. Smith,
60.00
Century Dictionary,
25.00
M. R. Paine,
165.00
W. H. Hitchcock,
1.00
Hitchcock & Blanchard,
7.00
Town of Wilbraham, tuition,
189.60
44
J. F. Twiss,
$ 46.00
Geo. D. Mooers,
46.00
Omer Gosselin,
72.20
A. M. Bond,
30.97
S. H. Brown,
.70
J. A. Day,
1.90
J. Ryan,
10.00
J. O. Hamilton,
22.00
C. E. Shumway,
4.00
O. B. Hill,
1.00
N. K. Rogers,
1.00
C. E. Fuller,
44.80
C. F. Gerald,
22.50
Samuel Brown,
6.00
Albert Walder,
6.00
D. Mahoney,
10.00
E. Keith,
12.00
M. A. Sherman,
5.00
L. E. Moore,
17.46
Ginn & Co.,
70.00
D. C. Heath & Co.,
7.00
Thompson, Brown & Co.,
5.00-$
748.78
RECAPITULATION.
Teachers' salaries,
$11,488.00
Care of houses,
967.15
Transportation,
1,470.60
Fuel,
1,597.04
Repairs,
759.97
Contingencies,
2,126.87
Text books and supplies,
1,340.60
Reference books,
142.47
Office supplies,
47.59
Special appropriation,
748.78- $20,689.07
AMOUNT APPROPRIATED AND AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
Teachers' salaries,
$12,000.00
Text books and supplies,
1,100.00
45
Transportation,
$1,600.00
Care of houses,
1,000.00
Repairs,
1,000.00
Fuel,
1,200.00
Contingencies,
1,700.00
Special appropriation,
750.00
Dog fund,
461.60
Massachusetts school fund,
228.06
Merrick fund,
34.34
Monson tuition,
56.49
Tuition at Three Rivers,
20.00-$ 21,150.49
Amount expended,
20,689.07
Balance unexpended,
$ 461.42
Your committee would recommend the following appropriations
for the ensuing year :
Teachers' salaries,
$12,000.00
Text books and supplies,
1,000.00
Care of houses,
1,000.00
Repairs,
800.00
Fuel.
1,500.00
Contingencies and superintendent's salary, 1,700.00
Transportation,
1,600.00-$ 19,600.00
Report of Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee,
Gentlemen :- I have the honor of presenting to you my first report as superintendent of your schools.
New conditions obtain in all forms of business to-day, in all pro- fessions and in every day life. To meet these new conditions, boys and girls need development not required a generation ago. This devel- opment entails upon the schools greater system, that the maximum work may be done in the minimum time, broader and more varied work and better methods of presentation, that pupils may be sent out not only with some elementary knowledge but with the ability to think.
TEACHERS .- The demands are such that teachers need special preparation for their work. A knowledge of the subject matter to be taught is not enough ; there must also be a knowledge of how to pre- sent it and a knowledge why. The old saying that the teacher makes the school, is true to-day and will always remain true. However much you may supply buildings, books, apparatus and supervision, the stream of knowledge will rise no higher than its fountain head, the teacher. Therefore the better prepared for the work the teacher is, the better results will be obtained. Normal schools and training schools are trying to meet this demand for skilled teachers, and high school graduates who desire to teach, should show their real interest in the work by entering one of these places of method-instruction.
Of the twenty-eight teachers in the schools below the high school, three have received instruction in normal schools and of these, two graduated ; two received instruction in training schools and one grad- uated ; four have attended colleges, but have received no instruction in methods. This leaves nineteen who entered schools with only a
47
high school education. Many of these have become good teachers through their experience and study ; others have not succeeded so well. It is no disgrace to fail in a given line of work. Men enter business and fail ; enter new work and succeed. So one may fail in teaching but succeed in some other line of work. A teacher who does not sympathize with child nature, who counts the time from 9 until 4 a burden, whose aim is no higher than a fair completion of the required hours, is as much a failure as one who proves incompe- tent in discipline or knowledge of facts. There can be no awaken- ing of the child's higher powers and aspirations ; the best part of education is lost.
I desire to commend most heartily the willingness of the teachers ; the weaknesses that exist are due not to a lack of willingness but lack of adaptation.
CHANGES .- Constant changes in the corps of teachers employed, or in transference from one school to another, is a detriment to the best growth of the schools. This year has witnessed many changes and transfers. In the thirty-one positions there have been forty-four different teachers. The best results cannot be obtained under such conditions, and yet a town is powerless against the bids of richer communities. Transfers from one building or room to another should be avoided during the school year, if possible, and some gradation of salaries should be arranged, that able and growing teachers may secure some recognition of their work, and that their services may be retained as long as possible.
HIGH SCHOOL .- This school has been singularly unfortunate in the frequent changes among its teachers. During the year, it has had two principals and five assistants. No school can pass through such an upheaval, scarless. The present teachers are able and thorough, and in time will gain that touch with individual pupils which leads to the best results. The Course of Study has been changed to include a Three Years' English Course. There were two reasons for the change : 1. Many pupils enter the school who re- main one and two years, who cannot remain four, but who might remain three, if a course could be completed then and a diploma received. 2. Many pupils who are not adapted to classical work, are debarred from future growth unless the school furnishes the op- portunity in English.
One study included in the course cannot be properly taught, be-
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cause of lack of facilities. As soon as financial conditions shall warrant, the upper room in the tower should be fitted up for a chem- ical laboratory, and properly furnished. The earlier this can be done, the sooner the school will be in line with the trend of science teaching. No high school subject has made greater strides in the past ten years than the sciences. The High School, while strong in the classics, is weak in this, simply because the facilities have not been provided. The work should be experimental, not book work.
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