USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1910-1915 > Part 38
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Hoping that this proposition will be acceptable, I am,
Very truly yours,
M. STOREY.
144
"6"
So. Lincoln, Mass., Oct. 31, 1914.
To the Committee on Claims,
Moorfield Storey, Chairman,
Lincoln, Mass.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of September 28th to Mr. George Claren- don Hodges relating to a settlement of matters now pending between the Parish and the town, has been referred to me by Mr. Hodges, as a disinterested member of the Parish, to ascertain the decision of the Parish. After careful consideration and conference with members of the Parish I beg to reply as follows :-
In this case you have obliged the Parish to incur an obligation of at least $1,200.00 for court costs, counsel fees, and attendance of Parish at court. If after it was all incurred, Mr. Hodges chooses to make a personal gift to the Parish of his services, that does not lessen the obligation.
Your course, under instruction from the town, has cost the town already some $2,300.00 and other bills are still outstanding.
The Parish accepts the decision of the Land Court. You do not accept it; and have appealed from it to the Supreme Court, making your appeal from the part of the decision affirming the Parish title to land under the building.
After it had been called to your attention, that this identical case had been decided by the Supreme Court, on the town's own plea, that the town owned less than one half of the land under the building (See Stevens vs. Lincoln. ) In that case the town was opposed by very able counsel. If there had been any chance to break the force of that plea, it would certainly have been
145
taken then, when the building was new, and the facts very easily determined.
Having spoken personally with most of the members of the Parish, and with others who are active supporters of it, I have to say that except Mr. C. S. Smith no one of them is in favor of accepting either of the offers submitted.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed ) GEORGE FARRAR.
November 9, 1914.
George Farrar, Esq.,
South Lincoln, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I have your letter of the 31st October addressed to me as Chairman of the Committee on Claims, and written in reply to my letter of September 28th to Mr. George Clarendon Hodges.
You point out that the Parish and the Town have been each put to considerable expense and for this apparently you hold me or the Committee on Claims responsible. This responsibility must rest on the Town which ordered the bringing of proceedings, while I was absent and against the advice of the Committee on Claims.
The past cannot be changed, and I am called upon now to deal with the future. The question is how we can best save the Town further expense without undue cost to the Parish, and I made a proposition which protected both and involved me personally in probable expense. This you rejected, and if I understand your
146
letter, the Parish having spent $1,200 now proposes, as it were, to revenge itself upon the Town by putting the Town to an expense of $6,500 or thereabouts. I fail to see any connection between your reasons and your conclusion, nor do I at all understand the spirit which dictates your communciation.
I have done all that I can to settle a row between neighbors in which I am in no way concerned personally, and having exhausted my efforts, I shall simply report to the Town my failure and let the Town decide what it desires to do.
Very truly yours,
M. STOREY, Chairman.
147
LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Trustees have the honor to submit the following statement, and financial showing, as respects the doings of the Library for the year just closed.
CHARLES F. ADAMS, Chairman Trustees.
DR.
REPORT OF TREASURER OF LINCOLN LIBRARY FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1914.
CR.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in Treasury, Feb. 1, 1914
$93.16
Received from Dog Tax
Town Appropriation :
Codman Fund
George G. Tarbell Fund
George Russell Fund .
Julia A. Bemis Fund .
27.40
Pilgrim Press for Books
1.42
66
- Magazines
75.20
David J. Farquhar, Binding Books
14.23
F. J. Barnard & Co., Binding Books
15.40
Edison Electric Co.
46.00
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co.
18.77
Lincoln Press, Printing .
9.50
=
" Lincoln Water Works
10.00
E. J. Hunter, Carrying Books
26.00
I. N. MacRae, Plumbing
28.18
Roger Sherman, Moving Ashes
5.00
Library Bureau
7.60
" C. H. Davison, Chair
1.50
for Postage, Express, etc. ·
17.28
Total of Expenditures
$1,284.38
Balance in Treasury
55.68
$1,340.06
$1,340.06
EXPENDITURES
Paid to Lydia J. Chapin, Librarian
$200.00
Elizabeth G. Chapin. Librarian
200.00
Town Treasurer for Janitor .
200.00
Town Treasurer for Coal, 10 tons
@ $6.60
66.00
Charles E. Lauriat Co. for Books
279.81
R. H. Hinkley Co. for Books
37.62
W. B. Clarke Co. for Books .
14.87
John H. Pierce Fund .
64.85
‹‹
Abbie J. Stearns Fund
74.27
66
Fines, etc.
24.74
Interest on Deposit :
6.04
John F. Farrar, Treasurer.
148
·
.
.
.
43.75
100.78
36.83
.
E. B. Farrar, Clerical Work
10.00
368.24
500.00
149
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 1, 1915
Number of volumes in Library, Feb. 1, 1914,
9,884
Increase by purchase,
207
Increase by gift,
1
Number of volumes rebound,
40
Number of volumes in Library, Feb. 1, 1915,
10,092
Total delivery for year,
8,609
Largest delivery, July 8,
144
Smallest delivery, Feb. 14,
36
Number of days Library was open,
102
150
LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY
ACCESSIONS TO THE LIBRARY FOR 1914
FICTION
Adams, Samuel. The health master
766.4
Arnim, M. A. B. Countess Von. The pastor's wife
766.15
Bacheller, Irving. The marryers . 766.22
Bacon, Josephine Daskam. Today's daughter 766.17
Bell, J. J. Misadventures of Joseph
766.14
Bennett, Arnold. Helen with the high hand
764.21 766.3
The seething pot
764.20
Bosher, Kate Langley. House of happiness
How it happened .
766.24
Buckrose, J. E. Little green world
764.14
Cable, George E. Gideon's band; a tale of the Mississippi.
766.12
Chesterton, Gilbert K. The flying inn
764.17
Conrad, Joseph. Chance
765.9
Cooke, Grace MacGowan and Morrison, C. W. William and Bill
765.1
Craddock, Charles Egbert. Story of Duciehurst
766.7
Davis, Richard Harding. The lost road
764.15
De Morgan, William. When ghost meets ghost
765.24
Doyle, A. Conan. The poison belt
764.18
Freeman, Mary E. Wilkins. Copy-cat and other stories Garland, Hamlin. The forester's daughter
764.16
Grayson, Paul. Adventures in contentment Adventures in friendship
766.6
Hagedorn, Hermann. Faces in the dawn
766.9
Harben, Will N. The new clarion
766.10
Hardy, Thomas. Changed man, and other tales
765.4
Harrison, Henry Sydnor. Captivating Mary Carstairs
. 765.12
Havens, Munson. Old valentines
765.21
Herrick, Robert. Clark's field
765.23
Hillis, Newell Dwight. Story of Phaedrus; greatest book in the world . 766.23
Hopkins, William John. Burbury Stoke
765.11
Jacobs, W. W. Night watches
766.20
Jewett, Sarah Orne. Deephaven .
764.19
King, Basil. The way home .
765.1
Letter of contract . .
766.1
1
How we got the
766.21
766.5
Birmingham, George A. Hyacinth
764.13
151
Lee, Jennette. Woman in the alcove . 766.13
Lippmann, Julie M. Martha by the day
764.12
Locke, William J. Fortunate youth
765.5
London, Jack. Valley of the Moon
765.10
MacManus, Seumas. Yourself and the neighbours
766.19
Martin, Helen R. Barnabetta
765.17
Mason, A. E. W. Witness for the defense .
765.7
Montgomery, L. M. The golden road 764.5
Morris, Gouverneur. If you touch them they vanish 765.13
Nicholson, Meredith. The poet 766.18
Norris, Kathleen. Saturday's child 766.2
Palmer, Frederick. The last shot
766.8
Phillpotts, Eden. Faith Tresilion .
765.19
BIOGRAPHY
Ames, Charles Gordon. A spiritual autobiography 644.14
Barrus, Clara. Our friend: John Burroughs 533.22
Bulwer, Edward (First Lord of Lytton. ) By his grandson the Earl of Lytton. 2 vols.
632.21
Cornish, Francis Ware. Jane Austen
641.12
Crawford, Dan. Thinking black; 22 years without a break in the long grass of Central Africa .
632.22
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Journals of R. W. Emerson: Edited by Edward Waldo Emerson, and Waldo Emerson Forbes. 1856-1863 641.13
Furman, Lucy. Mothering on Perilous
644.10
Higginson, Mary Thacher. Thomas Wentworth Higginson
644.7
Lesley, Susan G. Recollections of my mother
644.9
McClure, S. S. My autobiography
644.13
Maeterlinck, Madam (Leblanc, Georgette ). The girl who found the Bluebird. A visit to Helen Keller 544.17
Mannix, William Francis. Memoirs of Li Hung Chang 641.10
Paine, Albert Bigelow. Mark Twain: A biography, the per- sonal and literary life of Samuel Langthorne Clemens, with letters, comments and incidental writings hitherto unpublished. 3 vols. 644.12
644.11
Rihbany, Abraham Mitrie. A far journey. An autobiography Saint-Gaudens, Homer Editor. Reminiscences of Augustus Saint Gaudens. 2 vols.
641.9
Shaw, Stanley. William of Germany
641.14
Steiner, Edward A. From alien to citizen . 644.16
Taft, Mrs. William Howard. Recollections of full years. . 544.17
Ticknor, Caroline. Hawthorne and his publishers
641.11
Tolstoy, Count Ilya. Reminiscences of Tolstoy . 644.10
Waddington, Mary King. My first years as a Frenchwoman 644.8
Whitlock, Brand. Forty years of it
632.23
152
TRAVEL AND DESCRIPTION. HISTORY
Anderson, Isabel. Spell of Japan . 428.11
Atherton, Gertrude. California 428.10
Barker, Edward Harrison. France of the French 437.14
Begbie, Harold. The happy Irish
447.8
Berry, Robert M. Germany of the Germans
437.17
Boulger, Demetrius C. Belgium of the Belgians
437.16
Douglas, James. New England and New France: Contrasts
and parallels in Colonial history 352.13
Howells, William Dean. Familiar Spanish travel
412.19
James, George Wharton. Through Ramona's country
428.7
Kellner, L. and others. Austria of the Austrians
Hungary of the Hungarians 437.15
Olcolt, Charles S. Lure of the camera .
428.9
Reyes, Rafael. The two Americas: Translated from the
Spanish, with added notes by Leopold Grahame . 428.6
Roosevelt, Theodore. Through the Brazilian wilderness . ·
421.23
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Travels with a donkey; in the Cevennes
428.13
Stuck, Hudson. Ascent of Denali
421.22
Ten thousand miles in a dog sled; a narrative of winter travel in interior Alaska . 428.5
Terry, T. Philip. Terry's Mexico: Handbook for travelers 428.8
Waller, Mary E. From an island outpost . 447.7
428.12
USEFUL ARTS, ETC.
Bowsfield, C. C. Making the farm pay 142.28
Cheyney, E. G. and Wentling, J. P. The farm wood lot . 148.9
Morse, John Lovett. Care and feeding of children . 148.11
Murphy, Michael C. Athletic training 131.9
Richardson, Anna Steese. Better babies and their care
148.10
RELIGION. PHILOSOPHY
Brown, Charles Reynolds. The quest of life 1114.17
Gladden, Washington. Live and learn
1137.10
Worcester, Elwood. Religion and life
1137.11
POETRY. DRAMA
Noyes, Alfred. The wine press 1423.9
Peabody, Josephine Preston. Wolf of Gubbio: A comedy in three acts
. 1435.15
Wood, Ruth Kedzie. The tourist's California
153
REFERENCE
Utter, Robert Palfrey. A guide to good English Ref.R.R.
GENERAL LITERATURE
Adams, Charles Francis. The Monroe doctrine: and
Mommsen's law
1314.21
Angell, Norman. The great illusion: A study of the relation of military power to national advantage . 1337.15
Antin, Mary. They who knock at our gates: A complete gospel of immigration 1337.16
Bennett, Arnold. Liberty! A statement of the British case .
1531.25
Bernhardi, Friedrich Von. Germany and the next war .
1533.25
Cabot, Richard C. What men live by: Work, play, love, worship
1533.22
Call, Annie Payson. How to live quietly
1531.23
Cramb, J. A. Germany and England .
1533.26
Crothers, Samuel McChord. Meditations on votes for women;
together with animadversions on votes for men 1531.18
Three Lords of destiny: Courage, skill, love
1531.11
Elliott, Howard. Truth about the railroads
1531.10
Farwell, Parris Thaxter. Village improvement .
1533.23
Ferrero, Guglielmo. Between the old world and the new: A
moral and philosophical contrast 1531.20
Grayson, David. The friendly road
1531.9
Hunter, Robert. Violence and the labor movement .
1531.21
Jenkins, Stephen. Old Boston Post road
1533.24
Jordan, David Starr and Harvey Ernest. War's aftermath: A preliminary study of the eugenics of war, as illustrated
by the Civil War of the United States and the late wars in the Balkans 1531.19 Keller, Helen. Out of the dark: Essays, letters and addresses, on physical and social vision. 1531.12
Marden, Orison Swett. Training for efficiency . 1337.21
Munsterberg, Hugo. War and America
1531.17
Perry, Bliss. The American mind
1337.19
Ross, Edward Allsworth. Old world in the new: The signifi-
cance of past and present immigration to the American people
1531.22
Schauffler, Robert Haven. Memorial day: Its celebration, spirit, significance, as related in prose and verse, with a non-sectional amthology of the Civil war 1337.20
Seton, Ernest Thompson. Book of woodcraft and Indian lore Sharp, Dallas Lore. Where rolls the Oregon 1537.21
1531.14
Slattery, Margaret. The girl and her religion
1337.17
154
Strunsky, Simeon. Post impressions, and irresponsible chron- icle . 1337.18 Trevelyan, George Macaulay. Clio, a muse: and other essays literary and pedestrian 1531.1
Usher, Roland G. Pan-Germanism.
1337.23
Wells, H. G. New worlds for old . 1531.6
Social forces in England and America 1531.15
Worcester, Alfred. Nurses for our neighbours
1531.24
JUVENILE
Barrie, J. M. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens 1244.8
Bates, Katharine Lee. In sunny Spain 1242.21
Bond, A. Russell. With the men who do things 1243.11
Browne, Edith A. Rubber
1243.3
Burgess, Thornton W. Adventures of Peter Cottontail 1243.15 ·
Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum
1243.16
Boy Scouts of Wood Craft Camp
1243.5
Mother West Wind's animal friends .
847.21
Mother West Wind's neighbours 847.20
1243.5
Craik, Georgianna M. So fat and mew mew
1243.7
Davis, Richard Harding. The boy scout
1243.6
Delamere, Henrietta Eugenie. Reformation of Jimmy; and some others 1244.17
Dix, Beulah Marie. Betty Bide at home
847.17
Douglas, Amanda M. Red house children's vacation
1244.2
Dragoumis, Julia D. Under Greek skies
1244.22
Eaton, Walter Prichard. Boy scouts in the White Mountains Eldred, Warren L. St. Dunstan boy scouts
1244.4
Holland, Rupert S. Historic adventures
1243.9
Hornibrook, Isabel. Scout of today
847.19
Gould, Elizabeth Lincoln. Polly Prentiss goes a-visiting
1243.10
Grover, Eulalie Osgood. The overall boys . Sunbonnet babies' book
1243.6
Kaleel, Mousa J. When I was a boy in Palestine
1244.5
Liddle, William and Liddle, Mrs. W., Sweden .
1242.23
Marryat, Captain. Children of the New Forest 1243.4
1242.20
Mee, Arthur and Thompson, Holland, Editors-in-Chief. Book
of knowledge: Children's encyclopaedia. 20 vols.
1244.1
The Irish twins
1243.13
The Japanese twins
1243.12
Seawell, Molly Elliott. Betty's Virginia Christmas . 1244.3
Seton, Ernest Thompson. Wild animals at home 1243.2
Smith, Mary P. Boys and girls of seventy-seven 847.18
Van Dyke, Henry. The lost boy .
1244.6
Perkins, Lucy Fitch. The Dutch twins
1243.14
1243.1
Masterman Ready
1243.8
Colum, Padriac. Boy in Eirinn
155
COMMUNICATIONS
Boston, January 7, 1915.
J. F. Farrar, Treasurer,
Lincoln Library, Lincoln, Mass.
Dear Mr. Farrar:
The enclosed check, payable to your order as Treasurer Lincoln Library, for $304.13 is made up from the following funds for the benefit of the Lincoln Libarry.
George G. Tarbell Fund, $100 78
George Russell
36 83
Julia A. Bemis
27 40
J. H. Pierce
64 85
Abbie J. Stearns
74 27
$304 13
This amount is considerably smaller this year than last for two reasons (1) The dividends payable in January (a total of about $126) are not figured in the accounts as heretofore as I understand that town year closed December 31st whereas in past years it closed January 31st. (2) The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. has passed its dividends the past year - a total of $50.
Yours very truly, C. L. TODD, Treasurer, Sinking and Trust Funds, Town of Lincoln, Mass.
The proper endorsement of this check is sufficient receipt.
156
January 9, 1915.
My dear Miss Chapin:
Enclosed is a communication which explains itself.
The question of heating, etc., of the Library Building will naturally come up early in the spring,- probably in anticipation of town meeting.
I am to be in Boston next week, between Tuesday, the 12th, and Friday, the 15th. I presume the material for the annual report is now ready. If that and the question of heating, etc., could then be disposed of, it would be convenient for me.
I remain, etc.,
CHARLES F. ADAMS
Miss L. J. Chapin, Lincoln, Mass.
157
Boston, January 4, 1915.
Charles Francis Adams, 2nd., 84 State Street, Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir :-
Writers was notified by Mr. McPherson of the Walworth Mfg. Co. that he had been to Lincoln, Mass. with you to look over the heating of the Lincoln Library Building, but, inasmuch as the Walworth Mfg. Co. have given up their heating department and definitely retired from that end of the business they can do nothing for you in so far as a new heating apparatus is concerned.
You will note by enclosed circular letter that the undersigned was in the employ of the Walworth Mfg. Co. thirty years, in their steam and hot water heating department and, therefore, has a large and varied experience in the kind of work you propose taking hold of this year.
We solicit, therefore, the privilege of submitting an estimate for either steam or hot water heating apparatus and writer will prepare plans and figures for same for your inspection.
His home town is Lexington and in case we receive your order he would be at hand to give the construction work ample supervision.
Hoping to hear favorably from you, we are,
Yours truly, THE WM. H. GALLISON CO. Per R. E. Lane.
158
Boston, Feb. 1, 1915.
J. F. Farrar, Chairman,
Board of Selectmen,
South Lincoln, Mass.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of January 28th at hand.
In reply I would say that the opinion of the Sinking Fund Commissioners is that the amount appropriated heretofore - $2,173.37 - is the sum that should be appropriated for the next two years at least. This opinion is based on the following figures:
To retire :
$10,000 Town of Lincoln 4s, due June, 1917, $10,000 00
To receive:
Two years Sinking Fund @ $2,173, $4,300 00
$1,000 New England Tel. & Tel. 5s @ 100, 1,000 00
$2,000 American Tel. & Tel. 4s @ 85, 1,700 00
Two $500 Town of Lincoln Serial 4s @ 100, 1,000 00
$2,000 Town of Lincoln 4s, due 1917, @ 100,
2,000 00
$10,000 00
The report of the Sinking Fund Commissioners for the year 1914 I beg to enclose.
Yours very truly, C. L. TODD, Treasurer, Sinking and Trust Funds, Town of Lincoln, Mass.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1914
160
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
HENRY E. WARNER, Chairman, Term expires 1917 ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, Secretary, Term expires 1916 MRS. ELIZABETH W. BLODGETT, Term expires, 1915 1
Superintendent of Schools C. S. LYMAN
Supervisor of Drawing and Manual Training WALTER F. BRACKETT
Supervisor of Cooking and Sewing MRS. ABBIE P. SMITH
Teachers Lincoln Grammar Grades VII-VIII MARION H. C. CRAWFORD
Lincoln Grammar Grades V-VI KATHARINE E. WORKS Lincoln Primary Grades III-IV HELEN M. BOWKER
Lincoln Primary Grades I-II HATTIE B. HEATH
South Primary Grades I-II-III HELEN P. JONES
Special Teacher PRISCILLA O. AMES
Truant Officer JAMES T. LAIRD
Janitors Lincoln EDWARD BANNON South FRANCIS BENNETT
161
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Again we have to record the loss of an efficient teacher because of greater inducements offered in another town. It is inevitable that there should be some changes from time to time, and of course we cannot always compete successfully with other towns, but we naturally wish to control the matter so far as we can reasonably. As foreshadowed in our last report, we have therefore made some increases in salaries which we believe to be advisable for the interests of the schools, as well as due to the teachers.
A new heating and ventilating apparatus has been installed in the South School, and the building has been reshingled.
The large number of children of school age and the continued large attendance present questions of some difficulty. It is impossible to get proper results when the classrooms are as full as some are at present. One teacher has had as many as fifty children in her room, and others have more than can be given adequate attention.
When the Centre School was built it was antici- pated that the time might come when it would be necessary to install another classroom, and an extra room was provided but not fitted up. That room has not been unoccupied but has been in regular use both for sewing classes and for other purposes, and has been a great convenience, if not a necessity. It seems that the time has now come when it should be used as a classroom. The loss of the room for the purposes for which it has been used will cause decided inconvenience,
162
but the situation in the other classrooms is so pressing that it should be relieved.
This will necessitate the purchase of the necessary furniture for the equipment of a classroom, and the employment of an additional teacher, both of which should be provided for in the appropriation for 1915.
The expense of high school tuition and transportation has again increased, both because of increased attendance and increase in the charge for tuition. We see no way to avoid this without seriously curtailing the privilege and opportunity to attend high school.
We take this occasion to point out that in order for pupils to get the most out of the school opportunities the parents must co-operate with the teachers. This is particularly true in all matters of discipline, as well as in studies. Parents improve the results achieved by their children by showing them that they believe in the schools, and that they back up the teachers. Children are enormously aided by having their parents take an interest in their work, and by being taught at home that the school is not something to be shunned and shirked but is an opportunity to be utilized to the fullest extent.
The schools cost a great deal of money; they give to the children great opportunities at public expense. All are entitled to share equally in these opportunities. Is it not foolish to get less than your share by not making the most of the opportunities? Any parent who fails to see that his children are conscientiously trying to do their best, not only fails to do the best for his child, but is failing to enjoy his share of the public privileges.
The report of the Superintendent and the usual statistics are appended.
HENRY E. WARNER, ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, ELIZABETH W. BLODGETT.
163
SUMMARY OF SCHOOL EXPENSES
1913
1914
(11 months)
Superintendent and teachers,
$4,447.00
$4,387.50
High School Tuition,
2,188.75
2,269.25
High School Transportation,
631.95
603.60
Janitor,
615.55
651.25
Water Rates,
128.07
120.00
Fuel,
361.55
370.75
Medical Inspector,
200.00
200.00
Repairs, etc.,
148.04
304.86
School Supplies,
549.75
436.75
Barges and Transportation,
2,596.61
2,309.39
Miscellaneous,
53.76
128.96
$11,921.03
$11,782.31
164
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of the Town of Lincoln :-
Herewith I submit my eighth annual report as Superintendent of the Lincoln Schools.
The school work has continued along the same lines as in recent years. As usual we have tried to strengthen a few lines while continuing to do well in all subjects. Through those who visit our schools and from those who receive our pupils, our schools have gained the reputation of doing good work, but we are not doing as efficient work as we believe should be accomplished in the public schools. Each term we are constantly trying to make some improvement, even though the advance be small.
Too Many Pupils per Teacher
At present we are handicapped by too many pupils per teacher. At the South School, Miss Jones has the three lowest grades with 35 pupils, by far the largest registration in this school since I came to Lincoln. At the Centre Miss Bowker has registered for the fall term 50 pupils in grades III and IV. This registration is 72 per cent more than last year. Seven pupils entered some days after the opening of school and ten left before the close of the term. Otherwise the average attendance, 41 for the term, (93 per cent based on the average membership ) was good. The extra work has been a severe strain on Miss Bowker, who feels that her classes have not accomplished as much as these
165
grades should. These two schools are much too large to get the best results. I wish to register my protest against such conditions. The teachers are so over- loaded with work that they cannot give to the children their best efforts. They are forced to teach in the mass and to neglect the individual. To acquire the necessary steps in the various processes of education many a child needs individual attention and aid from the teacher. Lacking this individual attention he loses step with his class and falls behind. Then he gets discouraged and loses more than we can ever estimate.
In private schools there are seldom half as many pupils per teacher as we have. When training animals the trainer seldom works with more than one, two or three animals at a time. They feel that the whole attention of the teacher or trainer should be devoted to the individual or to small groups. It is only in the public schools or some similarly crowded institutions, or in the army that persons are trained in the mass. Why should not the public schools take more account of the individual pupils?
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