USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Williamsburg > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1895-1915 > Part 28
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SEC. 5. No person shall tie or fasten any horse, ox, mule or team of any kind to any ornamental or shade tree, shrub or vine or to any fence or other thing erected for the protection of such tree, vine or shrub in any street, high- way or public place in the said Town.
SEC. 6. No person shall cause to be pastured any cattle or other animals upon or within the limits of any street or way of the Town either with or without a keeper, nor shall willfully or negligently cause cattle, swine or horses to travel on the sidewalks of the Town; provided that nothing in the by-law shall be construed to affect the legal right of any person to the use of land within the limits of the highway adjoining his own premises.
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SEC. 7. No person shall ride, drive or allow any ox, horse, cattle, sheep or swine to be on any sidewalk in this Town unless in the necessary act of crossing the same.
SEC. 8. Three or more persons shall not stand or be near each other in any street of the said town in such a manner as to obstruct a free passage for passengers therein or over any foot-bridge or sidewalk.
SEC. 9. No person shall use any indecent, profane, or insulting language in any street or public place in the Town, near any dwelling house or other building therein, or be or remain upon any sidewalk, public way, or way to any public hall, or church, or upon any doorstep, portico or other projection of any building, to the annoyance, dis- turbance or obstruction of any person lawfully entitled to pass or resort thereto.
SEC. 10. No person shall be dealers in, or keepers of shops for the purchase, sale or barter of junk, old metals or second-hand articles or go about collecting the same in this Town unless they are duly licensed by the Selectmen in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 102 Sections 29 to 32 inclusive of the Revised Laws as amended by Sec- tions 1 to 4 inclusive of Chapter 187 of the Acts of 1902.
SEC. 11. In the observance of the anniversary of our national independence the bells of the mills and churches shall not be rung before sunrise on the fourth day of July or on the following day when the observance comes on that day, nor after ten o'clock in the evening of the said days. And in such observance, except by special permission of the Selectmen, no person shall fire any cannon, cracker, torpedo, gun or pistol, blow horns, beat drums, ring bells or behave in a rude or disorderly manner before sunrise nor after ten o'clock in the evening of the day observed.
SEC. 12. No person shall paint, put upon or in any manner affix to any tree, fence, pole, rock, building which is the property of another in any of the public places or
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ways of this Town any words, signs, placards or adver- tisements or posters without first obtaining the written consent of the owner of the said fence, tree, pole, rock or building.
SEC. 13. Any citizen may prosecute every violation of the foregoing by-laws ; and each violation of these by-laws shall upon conviction of the parties violating them be punished by a fine of not less than two nor more than twenty dollars.
A true copy.
Attest :
HENRY W. HILL, Town Clerk. WILLIAMSBURG, DEC. 24, 1907.
Approved June 24, 1907.
DANA MALONE, Attorney General.
Report of School Committee.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 1ST. 1909.
To the Citizens of Williamsburg :
Our Annual Report is respectfully submitted for your consideration. This includes reports of Superintendent, Music Teacher, Truant Officers and Committee Treasurer.
ANNUAL REPORT.
The schools have been in session the usual number of weeks, High School forty (40) and the others thirty-six (36).
Transportation is being paid for pupils from South Street and Petticoat Hill districts, also for fourteen (14) pupils from Haydenville to Williamsburg High School.
Tuition is being paid for eight (8) pupils attending Northampton High School.
It has been the aim of the Superintendent and Commit- tee to procure, as far as possible, teachers who are residents of our town. In this we have been very successful ; at the present time all but three of our teachers are natives of our Town. We believe this to be a financial benefit to the Town, for it would be impossible to procure other teachers of equal ability for the salaries paid.
An effort is being made by the Music Teacher and pupils of the Williamsburg High School room to procure a piano for that room. A fund has been established and already
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contains $57.82. The money for this fund is obtained by holding entertainments. A cantata was held in the Club Hall, Haydenville, from which the sum of thirty dollars was obtained. More entertainments will be held and it is hoped that this good work will meet with the hearty co- operation of our citizens.
We would recommend a careful perusal of the able report of our Superintendent, as much of interest to parents and citizens in general will be found therein. We believe that by carefully reading these reports and becoming more familiar with school work, parents would more fully ap- preciate the grand work that is being done by our Superin- tendent and Teachers.
REPAIRS.
Aside from ordinary repairs that arise from year to year, very little has been done. This does not mean that there in no needed repairs, but, because of the work of installing sanitary and heating system at Williamsburg Center Building and not knowing the exact cost of same, it was thought best to defer other needed repairs to another year.
The principal item of repairs is the work done at the Williamsburg Center Building. Repairs have also been made at Searsville, Skinnerville and Haydenville Center Buildings.
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT.
The Committee appointed to provide better sanitary convenience for the Williamsburg Center Building have caused the building to be raised about twenty-two inches, a cellar to be excavated and after laying pipes to take away any water in the ground made a floor and walls of concrete. In this cellar under the whole building the front half has been divided into compartments, for boys and girls on either side, and suitable toilet rooms provided for the use of the occupants of the whole building. In the rear half of the cellar two furnaces have been installed for warming
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the building and the old jacketed stoves removed from the rooms making the rooms pleasanter, lighter and cleaner. The cost has been paid out of the appropriation for the purpose and that for regular repairs, a detailed statement will be found in Treasurer's report.
NEEDED REPAIRS.
The interior of both Williamsburg and Haydenville Center Buildings are in very bad condition ; a new ceiling should be put in the Third Primary rooms at Haydenville and all need painting. Part of this work would have been done this year but for reasons given above.
We recommend the following appropriations for the year 1909-10 :
Teachers,
$4,500 00
Superintendent,
375 00
450 00
Text-books and supplies, Tuition,
250 00
Repairs,
400 00
$5,975 00
THOMAS F. DUNPHY, H. P. GODDARD, MRS. FRANK L. BISBEE.
Superintendent's Report.
MADAM AND GENTLEMEN :- The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools is herewith presented for your consideration and approval. The statistics are for the school year closing June, 1908, while the remainder of the report includes the year ending February 1, 1909.
The work of the schools during the past year has not been materially different from that of recent years and has been equally good.
Our present corps of teachers is a good one, as we have been able to retain the services of many of the former in- structors, being again favored by circumstances which make it possible to secure excellent teachers for less wages than are paid in many like Towns.
Of the sixteen employed, twelve are citizens of the Town. While it is generally considered a condition of affairs which does not work for the best interests of edu- cation, it is certain that it has been successful in our case. But few changes have been made in the teaching force : Prin. Howard was transferred to the Williamsburg High and under his energetic and capable management the school has kept well up to the required standard, Miss Clary was engaged as assistant in this school and the choice has proved excellent ; Misses Hayden, Dolan and Harrington have all proved good teachers and the work under their charge has progressed steadily and satisfactorily. Miss Riley was transferred from Skinnerville to the Williams- burg Primary and is doing very satisfactory work in that
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position. Of our teachers who have been with us for years little need be said. Their efficient service is appreciated and the fact that they have been so long faithfully engaged in the work of their rooms insures to us excellent teaching and results. We were very fortunate last year in having Mr. Carl Breaker at the head of the High School as he greatly improved its condition and aroused a spirit of interest and application to the performance of duty among the pupils which is still retained. We have again been unfortunate this year in that the prevalence of epidemic diseases has greatly interfered with attendance, in some cases it was reduced nearly one half for a time, while this results in a poor showing in the statistical table, yet it cannot be prevented and, aside from cases of absence occasioned by this cause, the attendance has been good. A less number of cases of truancy and unexcused absences have been reported than for years.
No great changes in the regular course of study have been made, save that in the elementary schools an increased amount of mental work in arithmetic has been required. It has been very difficult to secure from the pupils that accuracy and clearness of thought desirable, and different methods have been employed to produce these without much avail. This deficiency is by no means confined to those pupils whose environments or lack of natural endow- ment might affect them to their disavantage but has been so general as to cause a careful investigation to determine, if possible, the real causes.
The question arose as to whether or not the common practice of depending upon chalk and pencil for the per- formance of nearly all computation might not have some injurious effect on the entire mental process. The teachers were requested to greatly increase the amount of mental work and the memorizing of arithmetical tables and formulas. It already appears, though difficult to explain, that the increased ability to compute mentally has aided in securing better thought. When the mind is able to reckon without mechanical aid and to retain results with-
-
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out reference to written work, it seems less hampered in its operations and performs with greater ease and accuracy, while the increased assurance in the correctness of those things accurately memorized gives independence and avoids confusion. Good results have been obtained in most other branches of study, notably in reading, penmanship and spelling. The work in geography and language, while as good, perhaps, as is usually done is not fully satisfactory. This is not because teachers or pupils have neglected the subject but because it is very difficult to break away from the established methods of teaching and secure a clear understanding of the real requirements. In geography we are ever in difficulty because of our endeavors to avoid the Scylla of disconnected and worthless information gained by the pupil in the use of the topic method and the Charybdis of a memorizing of text. It is here that we see the advantages of normal school training very plainly, teachers with such training are less at loss in the direction of effort and more readily distinguish between the useless and the useful. The work of the High School has con- tinued very satisfactorily under the direction of Principal Howard and Miss Clary and has retained the standard of efficiency raised by Principal Breaker. In most cases there is evident a spirit of work and interest which is very pleas- ing and promising of good results. The attendance on this school has been large and it is greatly to be regretted that, with such an aggregation of persons desirous of doing good work and of gaining that knowledge best fitted to their prospective positions in life, we are still unable to afford them what they need in this direction because of our unfortunate limitations of room and equipment. In many cases they are asking bread and are receiving a stone, while it is much to their credit that they diligently and >uncomplainingly gnaw away at the latter when presented. It was hoped the present year would see these defects rem- edied in great measure by the addition of another room and the installation of some apparatus for the study of the natural sciences. A new course of study was formulated
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specially adapted to improved facilities, but as nothing in this direction has been furnished, it appears that we must perforce continue our undesirable condition.
The Haydenville High Grammar School, in charge of Mr. Larkin, has had a profitable year so far. The placing of the seventh grade in this room has greatly improved conditions in the other rooms and given the teachers op- portunity for more thorough instruction, while the remov- ing of the tenth has permitted this to be done without det- riment to pupils in higher classes. The continued employ- ment of an extra teacher in the Haydenville Central Build- ing has been of great value to all concerned. Many chil- dren who must leave school at the age of fourteen years and who, in the regular course would lose much of more value to them than that afforded by such a course, are given instruction in various subjects not included in the lower grades and receive information on general topics which should be of service to them ; others have the assist- ance necessary to keep them from dropping from their classes and are saved from discouragement and loss of interest ..
The teaching of music has been continued with profit and the extending it to all schools was just and com- mendable. It is appearing that as now taught we are re- ceiving much more from it than shows upon the surface. Not only are the children acquiring a knowledge of the art but we find it is developing desirable traits. The close at- tention, quick observation, concentration of thought and correctness of expression insisted upon by the teacher has, in a great degree, affected favorably the work in other di- rections. The pupil having shown his ability to do these things will more readily be made to perform other tasks in a like manner and be saved from the ill effects of dawdling and indolent attitudes of mind. Of course, the element of pleasure is largely present in musical instruction which appears to be lacking in the study of other subjects, but it is largely apparent, and the profitable teacher is ever striv- ing to so present them all as to make this element evident.
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It does require uncommon skill to do this with many, but interest once gained in a subject and it will itself furnish pleasure without much aid from the teacher. The course in drawing has been continued in the Haydenville schools. More mechanical drawing has been required of the higher grades, for it was thought that, while the children derived pleasure from coloring, advantage should be taken of the opportunity to give them some instruction which should be more servicable in their future. While there may be a very few embryo artists in the schools and all may add some enjoyment to life by the study of pictorial drawing, there are many more who will probably be aided by a knowledge of constructive drawing. Work worthy of commendation has been done by many pupils and due appreciation of their efforts has hardly been accorded them as but few people feel able to judge such work and cannot appreciate it fully. The parents and other citizens are urged to visit the schools oftener and make an examination of the sheets in the possession of the teachers showing the progress of the children in this art.
Several teachers' meetings have been held the attendance upon which has been almost perfect. They have been de- voted largely to the consideration of matters directly con- nected with the daily work in the schools and not much along general lines has been attempted. It is hoped to pay attention to subjects of more general interest in future gatherings. The annual meeting of the County Associa- tion in Amherst was largely attended by our teachers and was doubtless, helpful to them. It is very pleasing to notice in all these meetings that the majority of our teach- ers, if necessary, can speak upon educational subjects in- telligently and instructively. It indicates that they are studying and striving to understand those matters of great- est interest to the educational world.
Believing that the young women and men of our High School should gain from their course not only a knowledge of the various branches of study but also intelligent in- formation about many of the vital topics of the hour, a
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series of talks was arranged during the spring term as follows :
Investments,
W. M. Purrington
Commercial Education,
Politics,
Prof. Joseph Pickett Mrs. Dwight Clary
Village Improvement, Prof. H. D. Hemenway Prof. A. H. Evans
Geology of Connecticut Valley, .
Immigration, Supt. E. F. Howard
Citizenship,
Prin. Carl Breaker
Forestry,
Supt. E. W. Goodhue
It will be seen that the speakers were especially well fitted to make the presentation of these subjects entertain- ing and instructive. These informal talks were one of the valuable acquisitions of the year and as the speakers gen- erously gave their services the expense was trifling. The citizens were cordially invited to attend and a few availed themselves of the opportunity while those who did not simply missed a chance of gaining valuable information not often afforded.
The opening of the Smith Agricultural School at North- ampton offered an opportunity for special instruction which appealed to some of our pupils and they are now in attend- ance upon it. While the character of the instruction thus far given in this school appears to differ little from that in our own schools, owing to circumstances yet it is evident that, when the new building intended for its use is occupied, an unusually advantageous opportunity for scientific and technical instruction will be afforded. It has come to be generally conceded that success in agriculture and kindred vocations is not to be obtained by accident but must be the result of an accurate knowledge of scientific truths and their intelligent application.
As so often stated in former reports, our present com- mon school curriculum leaves much to be desired. It is undoubtedly wasteful, inefficient and even absured in part, but the sure remedy of these defects still waits its Colum- bus. Where it is very evident that it is ill-fitted to the re-
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quirements of twentieth century life, it should be modified or discarded with firmness and vigor irrespective of the halo of antiquity and custom surrounding it. We are not able to specialize very much in our common schools, as it is a large part of their duty to instruct in the fundamental principles of all education, and to devote their energy to such a general cultivation of intellectual power as shall make specialization possible to any one. Unfortunately, even in this, they have come somewhat short and they too often really specialize in that the mistaken idea that educa- tion for a profession is the only true education is far too generally accepted.
There is a great and increasing demand for manual train- ing, technical and industrial instruction in the elementary grades but this, as many others have been, may be carried to an extreme. It is not the province of the common school to produce individuals specially fitted for the various trades and crafts but to so plan its work that whatever vocation the pupil enter he may be an educated member of his class. The criticism that can truly be made of much school in- struction is that it fails to do even this, and we spend a great deal of time on work which can, by no stretch of imagination, be considered as even indirectly tending to this result. The majority of our boys and girls must be- come manual laborers and in order to succeed must so apply their energies as to bring to them the greatest re- turn ; they must constantly deal with natural phenomena and conditions, it is then evident that a closer and better acquaintance with the material world in which they live is necessary.
Instead of practicing mental gymnastics purely for de- velopment of power alone it would be better to have the gymnastics so planned as to leave a residue of substance which the acquired power may utilize. A greater amount of scientific instruction can in nowise harm the youth with a literary turn of mind and will certainly assist all others. Utility is a broader term than oftentimes supposed and the ability to direct power profitably is just as useful as the
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acquisition of it. We cannot teach agriculture in our elementary schools because our teachers are not fitted to the work and the usual circumstances will not admit of it, but we may teach a certain knowledge of the natural sciences which shall greatly aid the future farmer in avoid- ing the many costly errors attending ignorant experimen- tation, tend to insure success while, at the same time, it shall also prove beneficial to the boy who elects to be a machinist.
The common school should undertake to pass its grad- uated pupil into the school of special instruction, where alone proficiency in any direction may be gained, without introducing him to an entirely unknown world. The tend- ency of many of our high schools is to increase the break rather than to diminish it.
It seems hardly to be realized by many that matters of just as much importance to our children as the selection of teachers and subjects are receiving little attention. In a town like this we are often obliged to forego much that is desirable because of a lack of funds, but its importance should never be forgotten and the very first opportunity for securing it taken advantage of.
Our school children are not fairly treated in that they are not furnished with adequate and proper playgrounds. The absolute need of such grounds has come to be recog- nized by all educators. The central schools, at least, should be provided with them just as soon as possible either by pur- chase or renting. Several serious accidents have occurred owing to the overcrowded condition of the yard at Hayden- ville and more are likely to happen at any time. Small and weakly children are deprived of an opportunity for healthful and necessary exercise because the little space afforded them is taken and held by the larger and stronger ones.
As has often been said in these reports, we are greatly handicapped in our High School by lack of room and suit- able conveniences for laboratory work, so that a course most desirable for a majority of the pupils is impracticable.
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It seems hardly possible to make this truth actually evi- dent to many persons. Whether there is a desire on the part of some to oppose such instruction or whether it is merely a failure to comprehend its necessity is difficult of determination. It hardly seems that the former can possi- bly be true, yet some casual remarks overheard would indicate it. We are at a decided disadvantage with other schools of supposedly like character because of this defi- ciency, being compelled to follow antiquated and inefficient methods of instruction, while many of them have adopted progressive and modern courses of study. We are glad to have persons from neighboring towns attend our school, but can hardly expect to attract them unless we offer something better in certain lines than now. We are also losing five hundred dollars annually from the state because of this. It was hoped that the appropriation so generously made by the town last year would enable us to overcome this handicap in great degree by relieving the overcrowded condition of the primary room, removing the eighth grade from the High School room and giving us laboratory space, but none of these things have materialized and it is need- less to repeat that they are among the most pressing of our needs though seemingly still further from realization.
It is the height of absurdity that we are compelled to overcrowd a room in the Haydenville building, and herd our classes in a little, unventilated, unheated closet for recitations while under the same roof and adjoining is plenty of room for all required purposes which is unoccu- pied and of little value to anyone outside the schools, and which is also a continual source of expense to the Town for minor repairs. It ought to be possible to take some vigorous action which would result in utilizing this space so much needed for the benefit of the Village and Town. Extensive repairs and alterations have been made at the Williamsburg central building and the installation of proper sanitary conveniences is, by far, the greatest im- provement of the year. If they can be made frost proof there will be little additional in this line to be desired.
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