USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1871-1890 > Part 6
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As was to be expected, under the existing circum- stances, Miss Wright tendered her resignation at the end of the year, and soon received an appointment to a more desirable position in the High School in Milton.
The Committee used their best endeavors to secure a thoroughly competent teacher to fill the vacancy, and Miss Lucy L. Ward, of Lake Forest, Ill., received the appointment. She came to her duties with very satisfactory testimonials in regard to natural gifts and scholarship, and with one year's experience in teaching. Her dignity, affability, quiet determination, and sharp discernment of character, were quickly felt by her pupils, and the term opened auspiciously. Every week there seemed to be substantial gain. But the labor proved to be too great for her strength, and at the end of six weeks, to the great regret of all concerned, she was obliged to resign. Short as was the term of Miss Ward, she succeeded in making an excellent impression upon the school, and there is every reason to think, that if her health had not failed, the work so well begun would have eventuated in a very gratifying success.
Earnest efforts were made to secure a teacher to take up the work at once and finish the term; but there came unavoidable delays, and the reopening of the school was at length fixed for the first Monday in December, when Miss Mabel F. Wheaton, whose course of study had been pursued at the Abbot Female Semi- nary in Andover, and at Carlton College in Minn., came to the vacant position with flattering recommendations from her former teachers.
Your Committee think that she is proving herself to be the right teacher in the right place. For several
27
terms a liberty had been accorded to the pupils, and taken when not accorded, which the experience of last year, as its results became more distinctly manifest, showed to be not in the interest of such a discipline as all public schools need for the promotion of their best good. Whispering had become the bane of the school, and so little had been accomplished in checking this evil, that some of the pupils had apparently come to regard it as a natural right not to be abridged. Miss Wheaton was not long in discovering that decided measures must be resorted to, and a mild penalty for the violation of the rule prohibiting it was enforced. That not proving altogether sufficient to break up the habit, and, furthermore, because the method adopted was costing her time and strength, which she could ill afford to spend on refractory dispositions, she has wisely judged that a litte heroic treatment will doubtless be beneficial to scholars who are suffering from the inability of indisposition, and wholesome for other pupils who do not profess to have lost their ability to observe the simple requirement of " no communication without permission."
The Committee are glad to record, that for several years t ey have not seen this school so quiet, studious, and respectful in manner, as in their recent visits. A great deal of toning up was a need of the school. To this work the present teacher has given herself with commendable courage, discretion and firmness of pur- pose. We trust she will be able to say before the ides of March, " the great obstacle to success in the work of this school is overcome."
At the celebration of the One Hundredth Anniver- sary of the Reopening of the Boston Latin School, last
28
November, Hon. William M. Evarts, of New York, for three years a pupil in the school, said :
" Discipline is above acquisition, as I have felt in my own experience ; and I endeavor to teach my boys, that if a young person can be taught to do a hard thing well, that he does not wish to do at all, then you may trust him to do well what is a pleasure. I cer- tainly was taught to say, in the most perfect manner, the longest list of Latin words that I did not wish to learn, but when they were learned the rest was easy. The teacher now does the teaching and learning as well."
The duties between teacher and pupil are reciprocal. There is a work for each to do. And when that work is done well by each, we are sure to have a good school. Careful inquiry is made in respect to the qualifications of teachers before they are put in charge of our schools, and no teacher is appointed unless there is reasonable ground for believing that she will be able to perform the duties required in an aceptable manner. We expect thorough knowledge of the branches to be taught, skill in giving instruction, promptness, energy, perse- verance and faithful attention to details, and an affec- tionate interest in her pupils.
On the other hand, we expect from pupils a spirit of obedience to all the regulations of the school, punctuality and promptness in attendance, faithful study, a respect- ful regard for the wishes of their teacher, and a thought- ful attention to many little details on which the success of a school, and the happiness of those connected with it, is in no small degree conditioned. In this matter of impressing the pupils of a school with a sense of their duties to themselves and others, parents can efficiently co-operate with the instructors of their children in striving to reach the highest and best results.
HENRY J. RICHARDSON,
GEORGE F. BEMIS, School
J. D. SHERMAN,
Committee.
LINCOLN, February 14, 1877.
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN,
FROM FEB. 1, 1877, TO FEB. 1, 1878.
ALSO,
THE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1877-8.
BOSTON : TOLMAN & WHITE, PRINTERS, 383 WASHINGTON STREET. 1878.
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN,
FROM FEB. 1, 1877, TO FEB. 1, 1878.
ALSO,
THE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1877-8.
BOSTON : TOLMAN & WHITE, PRINTERS, 383 WASHINGTON STREET. 1878.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The past year has been one of comparative quiet in the affairs of the town of Lincoln. No very marked events have occurred to mar the prosperity of our town. While we all, to a greater or less degree, feel the depression of the times, yet, as a community, we are highly prospered. We regret that our rate of taxation is, of necessity, so high ; and, as a means of reducing it in the future, we would recommend strict economy in the expenses of the town, and that a liberal yearly payment be made to reduce the town debt ; for, not until we can dispense with paying a large amount of interest, can we have low taxes.
Nearly the full amount appropriated for Highways has been ex- pended during the year. About one hundred and seventy-five dollars have been laid out in blasting a ledge and reducing the grade of the hill near Lexington line, on the Woolen Mill road, by which means the road has been made much more passable. Most of the roads throughout the town, in the autumn, were in very good order ; but the early part of the present winter has been unusually bad for their preservation, so that any reduction of ap- propriation for the highways will be poor economy. The road laid out by the Selectmen in 1876, across land of James Farrar, has been accepted as a town road, on condition that Mr. Farrar com- plete certain specified portions.
We, as Overseers of the Poor, were unable to contract for the support of the poor of the town the present year on the same terms as in the year previous, without a condition that in case any new subject of expense should appear such expense should be additional. Under this arrangement we have been put to considerable trouble and expense in the case of Patrick Kenna, who is at present at Worcester Lunatic Hospital, and should it be decided that the town of Lincoln is liable for his support, an increased appropria- tion for support of poor will be necessary.
A detailed account of the receipts and expenditures of the town for the year ending Feb. 1st, 1878, is hereto annexed.
SAMUEL HARTWELL, Selectmen of
WILLIAM F. WHEELER,
ALBION N. BROWN, Lincoln.
Feb. 8th, 1878.
3
Taxes assessed in 1877
$12,684 07 Deduct County Tax .
413 36
Amount to be paid to Town Treasurer
$12,270 71
received
9,602 31
Uncollected taxes of 1877
$2,668 40
66
1874
15 16
1875
553 87
66
66 1876
1,144 94
Amount of uncollected taxes
$4,382 37
VALUATION OF THE TOWN, MAY 1ST, 1877.
Personal Estate
$217,572
Real Estate
566,038
Total Valuation
$783,610
DEBTS OF THE TOWN.
Wm. O. Benjamin's note, April 7, 1877, on demand,
$2,000 00
Chas. J. R. Ray's 65 66 66
1,000 00
Geo. G. Tarbell's " Oct. 15, 1877, 1,000 00
$4,000 00
Lincoln Water bonds, due Dec. 1st, 1894, interest 6 per cent. semi-annually 30,000 00
$34,000 00
TREASURER'S REPORT.
The receipts into, and payments from the Treasury, from Feb. 1, 1877, to Feb. 1, 1878, have been as follows :-
Balance in the Treasury, Feb. 1, 1877 ...
$4,789 58
Paid Selectmen's orders.
$9,321 48
Received of County Treasurer, Dog Licenses
" State Tax.
705 00
1876, returned.
123 69
Waltham Savings Bank . .
500 00
for School Books sold ..
119 36
Asa White's Note . .
500 00
Corporation Taxes ...
294 02
Cyrus Smith, two Notes . .
800 00
National Bank Tax .
871 39
J. P. Edwards' Note
1,000 00
State Aid reimbursement ...
44 00
Harriette L. Giles' Note ..
3,000 00
Income of Mass. School Fund ......
215 50
Interest of Grammar School Fund
65 54
for Old Lumber sold.
4 50
Exhibition License ...
1 00
of J. L. Chapin, Taxes of 1875.
489 25
174 56
" J. D. Sherman, Taxes of 1876 ....
1,133 56
" J. D. Sherman, Int. on Taxes of 1876. ..
49 68
" J. D. Sherman, on account of Taxes of 1877 ..
9,602 31
" J. D. Sherman, interest on Taxes of 1877 ...
15 47
Cash borrowed of Geo. G. Tarbell ..
1,000 00
Interest of Periodical Fund ... .
6 00
$18,999 41
E. and O. E.
$18,999 41
WILLIAM F. WHEELER, Town Treasurer.
.
.
...
Susan Robbins' Note . .
300 00
4
Payments . ..
Balance in Treasury, Feb. 1, 1878. .
$16,126 48 2,872 93
Interest «
5
EXPENDITURES.
FOR SCHOOLS.
RECEIPTS.
Money assessed,
$2,000 00
Income of Massachusetts School Fund,
215 50
" " Grammar School Fund, 65 54
Received for School Books sold, 119 36
$2,400 40
PAYMENTS.
CENTRE SCHOOL.
Mabel F. Wheaton, teaching High School, $610 50
Isabel M. Pierce, " French, High School, 110 00
Keziah Howes, " Primary School, 306 00
J. R. Hartwell, eight tons coal, 52 00
Mrs. Kenna, washing school house,
3 50
J. L. Chapin, care of 45 00 66
66 sundries for High School, 12 61
66
" Primary " 2 20
Walker & Pratt, grate and lining for stove, 6 25
$1,148 06
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Sarah S. Baker, teaching, $432 00
J. D. Sherman, 4g cords wood, 36 63
William A. Donovan, care of house two terms, 15 00
66 sawing one cord wood, 1 00
A. A. Cook & Co., sundries, 2 00
Mrs. Kenna, washing school house, 4 00
$490 63
6
NORTH SCHOOL.
Carrie B. Chapin, teaching, 66 66 cleaning room,
$314 50
1 75
J. R. Hartwell, six cords wood,
36 00
John Dee, care of school house,
15 00
J. L. Chapin, sundries,
1 95
Thomas Ham, repairs on stove,
1 50
$370 70
EAST SCHOOL.
Emma A. Farnsworth, teaching,
$306 00
66 care of school-room, 9 00
66 66
cleaning 66 2 00
66
broom,
50
Patrick Conway, 1-2 cord pine wood,
4 50
F. C. Brown, 2} 66 lock and repairs,
20 75
3 50
J. L. Chapin, sundries,
1 65
$347 90
GENERAL SCHOOL ACCOUNT.
J. L. Hammett, school books, &c.,
$120 62
$120 62
$2,477 91
Expenditure above receipts $77 51
LIBRARY.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation, Dog Licenses, Interest on Periodical fund,
$125 00
123 69
6 00
$254 69
PAYMENTS.
Library Committee, $254 69
7
SUPPORT OF THE POOR.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$1,000 00
PAYMENTS.
Daniel H. Sherman, support of poor, from
Oct 1, 1876, to Jan. 1, 1878, $1,250 00
Worcester Lunatic Hospital, for board of Patrick Kenna, 83 00
Worcester Lunatic Hospital, clothes for Pat- rick Kenna, 30 15
Worcester Lunatic Hospital, cash and postage, for Patrick Kenna, 56
Worcester Lunatic Hospital, charges for Pat- rick Kenna, 3 16
Samuel Hartwell, expense of sending Patrick Kenna to Worcester, 9 50
Samuel Farrar, care of Patrick Kenna two days and nights, 5 40
$1,381 77
Expenditures above appropriation, $381 77
CEMETERY.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$75 00
PAYMENTS.
Samuel Hartwell, cash paid for mowing cemeteries,
$5 00
N. F. Cousins, gate post
1 00
Cyrus S. Chapin, setting hedge plants,
4 88
J. L. Chapin, care of hedge plants,
1 00
$11 88
Unexpended balance,
$63 12
S
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$1,600 00
PAYMENTS.
Geo. H. Bean, breaking roads in 1873 in Dist. No. 3, $13 80
J. B. Sherman, breaking roads in 1876-7 in Dist. No. 3, 9 85
Geo. Flint, breaking roads in 1876-7 in Dist. No. 3, 5 00
N. F. Cousins, breaking roads in 1876-7, in Dist. No. 4, 4 00
Wm. C. Brown, breaking roads in 1876-7 in Dist. No. 5, 25 32
Patrick Conway, breaking roads in 1876-7 in Dist. No. 6, 26 70
Patrick Conway, highway work in 1876-7 in Dist. No. 6, 6 75
A. G. Jones, breaking roads in 1876-7 in Dist. No. 9,
10 90
Amos Hagar, breaking roads in 1876-7 in Dist. No. 10,
28 81
Amos Hagar, plank for bridge, in Dist. No. 10, Albert S. Brooks, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 1,
2 30
Albert S. Brooks, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 2, 110 47
Samuel Hartwell, breaking roads, 1878, in Dist. No. 2, 5 10
George H. Bean, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 3, 89 08
10 00
Geo. Flint, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 3, N. F. Cousins, 66 66 66 4, 66 gravel, 6 4,
1 80
Stearns H. Martin, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 5, 109 50
Stearns H. Martin, Woolen Mill Road, 1877, in Dist. No. 5, 138 98
D. C. Breed, blasting ledge, 1877, in Dist. No. 5, 18 50
Israel Welch, blasting ledge, 1877, in Dist. No. 5, 18 50
Patrick Conway, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 6, 100 01
106 77
135 70
9
Patrick Conway, breaking roads, 1878, in Dist. No. 6, $21 60
Patrick Conway, gravel, 1877, in Dist. No. 6, 3 00
Samuel H. Pierce, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 7,
110 05
11 00
Samuel H. Pierce, gravel, 1877, in Dist. No. 7, J. R. Hartwell, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 7,
1 00
J. E. Baker, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 8,
167 83
J. E. Baker, gravel, 1877, in Dist. No. 8,
7 75
A. G. Jones, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 9,
136 30
Samuel Farrar, highway work, 1877, in Dist. No. 10,
106 32
Samuel Farrar, chestnut for railing, 1877, in Dist. No. 10,
8 00
Samuel Farrar, gravel, 1877, in Dist. No. 10,
3 50
Dist. No. 10, 1 10
$1,555 29
Unexpended balance,
44 71
INTEREST ACCOUNT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$2,500 00
-
PAYMENTS.
Interest on Water Bonds,
$1,800 00
Harriette L. Giles,
300 00
Charles J. R. Ray,
63 58
J. P. Edwards,
61 05
William O. Benjamin,
58 33
Cyrus Smith,
56 66
Susan Robbins,
21 02
Waltham Savings Bank,
16 80
Asa White,
6 52
$2,383 96
Unexpended balance,
$116 04
sharpening picks, 1877, in
10
PAYMENT OF. TOWN DEBTS.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$3,000 00
Borrowed of George G. Tarbell,
1,000 00
$4,000 00
PAYMENTS.
Asa White's note,
$500 00
Waltham Savings Bank note,
500 00
J. P. Edward's note,
1,000 00
Harriette L. Giles' note,
3,000 00
Cyrus Smith, two notes,
800 00
Susan Robbins' note,
300 00
$6,100 00
Payments above receipts,
$2,100 00
Town debt reduced,
$5,100 00
MISCELLANEOUS.
RECEIPTS.
Town grant,
$1,000 00
State aid reimbursement,
44 00
Old plank sold,
4 50
Received for license,
1 00
$1,049 50
PAYMENTS.
Charles Endicott, Treasurer, Massachusetts Bank Tax, recalled, $4 18
J. R. Hartwell, one cord wood for Town House,
6 00
J. R. Hartwell, watching after fire at Francis Smith's,
2 00
E. B. Barnes, watching after fire at Francis Smith's,
2 00
H. E. Barnes, watching after fire at Francis Smith's, 2 00
Patrick Conway, watching after fire at Patrick Smith's, 2 00
M. Dempsey, watching after fire at Patrick Smith's, 2 00
Tolman & White, printing 200 copies Report of Town Officers, 35 00
11
James Farrar, land and fencing, in full, for new road, $200 00
Samuel Farrar, services as Constable in 1876, 66
1877, 7 50
George Flint, 1-2 cord wood, 3 50
Thomas Groom & Co., order book,
9 00
J. L. Chapin, sundries for use of Town Hall, 2 83
66 care of
13 25
66 ringing bell from February 1, 1877, to February 1, 1878, 20 00
Thomas Ham, sharpening drills, 24
J. D. Sherman, printing tax bills for 1876 and 1877, 6 00
Silas Hosmer, balance on Engine House,
365 29
Alithea Parker, State aid, 48 00
J. D. Sherman, abatement of five poll taxes in 1876,
10 00
J. D. Sherman, abatement of twenty poll taxes in 1877,
40 00
J. D. Sherman, abatement of tax of J. F. Rogers, 1877,
4 65
Albion N. Brown, services as Selectman,
5 00
William F. Wheeler, services as Selectman,
66
66
" Assessor,
36 00
" Overseer of Poor, 20 00
66
66
66
as Treasurer, 40 00
66
66
insurance on Town House, 30 00
66
" High School
House, 96 25
66
blank books,
2 70
66
66
stationery and postage, 3 56
interest on money bor- rowed and repaid, 7 38
Samuel Hartwell, services as Selectman,
66
" Assessor,
40 00
66
6.6
" Overseer of Poor, 10 00
" Water Com'r, 5 00
66
66 expressage, stationery and postage, 80
printing notices of reward, bathing, and to voters, 4 00
66
66
pair handcuffs, 5 00
half cost of pump for use of North School, 5 50
66
book for registering voters, 80
pick handle, 30
" Assessor,
10 00
20 00
66 66
66
50 00
66
10 00
12
H. J. Richardson, services as Committeeman, $25 00 H. C. Chapin, services as Town Clerk, 33 80
66
three visits to Patrick Kenna, 3 75
66
66 express and postage, 2 85
66 stationery and blanks, 2 85
$1,255 98
Expenditures above receipts,
$206 48
RECAPITULATION.
For Schools,
$2,477 91
Library,
254 69
Support of Poor,
1,381 77
Cemetery,
11 88
Highways,
1,555 29
Interest on Town Debts,
2,383 96
Miscellaneous expenses,
1,255 98
$9,321 48
13
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE,
FOR 1877.
Upon the annual examination in October all the books were returned. Only one volume was lost during the year, and that was immediately replaced by the borrower.
STATISTICS.
No. of volumes in Library,
2,295
66 66
added during 1877,
108
Total delivery of books
2,432
Registration of borrowers,
184
New names registered,
29
TREASURER'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Town appropriation,
$125 00
Dog Tax,
123 69
Balance from 1876,
19 53
Fines, sale of cards and catalogues,
6 62
Interest on gift from Soldiers' Aid Society,
6 00
Stickney & Son, for stove,
1 00
Injury of one book,
75
$282 59
EXPENDITURES.
Librarian,
$60 00
Four periodicals, one year,
10 00
Estes & Lauriat, for books,
126 49
Covering-paper, ¿ ream,
5 10
Making fires,
10 25
J. R. Hartwell, 12 tons coal,
6 00
66 teaming and housing the same,
3 75
Repairing clock,
1 25
Mucilage,
1 00
Rug,
2 50
14
Kerosene and blacking brush,
$2 12
Binding 18 books,
4 50
Expressage on books,
70
One lamp,
70
One ink eraser ; 1 doz. pencils,
1 00
Stickney & Son, for stove,
32 50
Padlock, paper and lamp chimneys,
1 45
$269 31
Total received,
$282 59
expended,
269 31
Unexpended balance,
$13 28
M. L. PIERCE, Treasurer.
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS.
In obedience of the provisions of Sect. 7, Chap. 188, of the Acts of 1872, the Water Commissioners submit a report of their doings for the past year.
Under the vote of the Town, passed on the sixth day of March last, the water works have been placed in the hands of a com- mittee appointed by the water takers. Said committee covenant- ing and agreeing for themselves, and all other persons or parties who may or shall be supplied with water from said water works, to take, run and operate said works for the term of ten years, at their own and sole charge and expense, and to deliver them back to the Town at the expiration of ten years, in as good order and condition as they now are-ordinary wear and use only excepted.
And said committee further covenant and promise that they will not, at any time during said term of years, nor at the expira- tion thereof, make any claim or demand on the Town for, or on account of any repairs, alterations, improvements or extensions of said works, but will make all such alterations, repairs, improvements and extensions as they wish to have made, at their own expense.
And the committee also agreed that in case any controversy or litigation shall hereafter arise, or be caused by or on account of operating said works, or on account of the diversion of the waters of Sandy Pond by said works, or on account of the break- ing or bursting of the engine, water-pipes or reservoir, then said committee agreed and promised to reimburse the Town for all costs and expenses that may be incurred in the defence of any
15
suits at law, and for all costs and damages that may be recovered against the Town, so that the Town shall not, in any case or in any manner, suffer any loss, or be made liable to any cost or damage for, by, or on account of running said water works during said ten years, except the payment of the interest on the Lincoln Water Bonds already issued.
The Commissioners also submit an account of the expenses of the water works which have been paid to the present time, as appears by the Treasurer's books.
AMOUNT PAID ON ACCOUNT OF THE WATER WORKS.
To Feb. 1, 1875,
$26,926 85
From Feb. 1, 1875, to Feb. 1, 1876, 4,611 76
66 " 1876, " " 1877, 1,901 43
66 " 1877, " " 1878, 370 29
Interest on Water Bonds, 3 years, 5,400 00
Making the amount paid, -- $39,210 33
From which is to be deducted the amount received on account of Water Works,
$285 81
Received interest on Water Bonds,
35 00
320 81
Leaving net amount paid,
$38,889 52
The Commissioners regret that the committee appointed by the Town for that purpose, have not been able to settle all the claims against the Town on account of the water works. We also believe there are several hundred dollars justly due the Town on account of the water works, and recommend that measures be taken to have what is due collected and covered into the Treasury.
Respectfully submitted by
WILLIAM F. WHEELER, SAMUEL HARTWELL, Water
LEONARD W. WESTON, PAUL HARRIS,
Commissioners.
J. B. SHERMAN,
LINCOLN, February 12, 1878.
ANNUAL REPORT .
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1877-8.
REPORT.
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF LINCOLN respectfully submit the following report of the condition of the schools under their care, for the year 1877-78 :
NORTH SCHOOL.
Teacher throughout the year, - MISS CARRIE B.
CHAPIN.
Summer Term, - Whole number of scholars, 16; average attendance 12+; length of school, 11 weeks.
Fall Term,- Whole number of scholars, 17; aver- age attendance, 14.4+; length of school, 12 weeks.
Winter Term,-Whole number of scholars, 19; average attendance for 8 weeks, 16+.
The " betterment of man's estate," to use a phrase of Lord Bacon, in respect to that portion of our popula- tion that the politicians call our " adopted citizens," is evidently being rapidly accomplished through our pub- lic schools. The effort which is made by parents, who in the Old World did not themselves enjoy the advan- tages of a system of public free schools, to have their children reap the advantages which they may have under our own system is praiseworthy, and has been particularly noticeable in the record of this school for the last ten years.
The number of scholars remains about the same as
4
for a few years past. No word of complaint or criti- cism has come to the Committee for many terms. The parents evidently have full confidence in the methods and the faithfulness of the teacher. The pleasant re- lation between the teacher and her pupils facilitates the work of the school, which is constantly done with sys- tem, thoroughness and despatch. There are no unrea- sonable exactions ; but the pupils, who are old enough to apply themselves to their studies, are not long in discovering that idleness, carelessness and inattention are at a great discount. It seems to be a motto of the school, that, "whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well." The result is a constant, gratifying pro- gress. A careful supervision is exercised over the pupils during the intermission and while they are about the school grounds, which is promotive of order and good deportment, and for lack of which, sometimes a school seriously suffers. We have been glad to see the increasing interest manifested by the parents of the pupils in the examinations which this year have been quite up to the usual standard.
EAST SCHOOL.
Teacher throughout the year, - MISS EMMA A. FARNS- WORTH.
Summer Term,-Whole number of scholars, 20; average attendance, 17; length of school, 11 weeks.
Fall Term, - Whole number of scholars, 26; aver- age attendance, 18 ; length of school, 12 weeks.
Winter Term,- Whole number of scholars, 28; average attendance for 8 weeks, 24+.
The number of scholars in this district fifteen years ago was so small, that, for a time it was united with
5
the Centre, and the pupils of both made one school, but for a few years past there has been a gradual in- crease in numbers until now the school is the second in size in town. Miss Farnsworth devotes herself ener- getically and faithfully to her work and the results have been satisfactory. We have found the pupils studious and tractable and the progress from term to term has been good. A little more variety of treat- ment of the subjects of the lessons would be helpful. A teacher should regard her work as an art, the re- sources of which may be constantly enlarged, and the methods of which are unlimited in their application. Good text-books are of course indispensable to pupils and very helpful to teachers, but there should be no bondage to the prescribed order of a text-book. No work affords better opportunity for invention, or for versatility of method than that of the teacher. Not so many of the parents attend the examinations, or visit the school at other times as we should be glad to see. The same carefulness in the use of the school furniture, which has before been noticed, has been seen this year, and is worthy of renewed commendation.
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