USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1901-1910 > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
Sec. 2. These By-Laws shall apply to all Cemeteries within the Town, and take effect upon their passage.
Voted, That the Committee on By-Laws be continued
-77-
and present these By-Laws to the Superior Court and what that court approves be printed by them in the next Annual Report.
Voted, To dissolve.
GEORGE H. STEARNS, Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING HELD APRIL 15, 1905.
Chose, Edmund H. Sears Moderator.
Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to sign releases in behalf of the Town in the matter of the construction of the State highway.
Voted, To appropriate two thousand dollars for crushed stone roads, to finish St. George Street from the railroad to Tremont Street, and the balance to be expended on Powder Point Avenue.
Voted. To reconsider the vote passed at the Annual Town Meeting held March 6. 1905, whereby it was voted to authorize the Treasurer to hire money in anticipation of taxes to the amount of twelve thousand dollars.
Voted, That for the purpose of procuring a temporary loan to and for the use of the Town of Duxbury in anticipa- tion of taxes of the present municipal year, the Town Treas- urer is hereby authorized and directed to borrow fron time to time with the approval of a majority of the Selectmen, a sum or sums, in the aggregate amounting to fourteen thou- sand dollars. and to execute and deliver the note or notes of. the Town therefor, payable within one year from the time the loan is made, with interest thereon, at a rate not exceed- ing five (5) per cent. per annum.
Voted. To appropriate five hundred dollars in addition to the ore thousand dollars appropriate at last Town Meeting. for fire protection.
Voted, That our Town Constables be instructed to patrol the Mayflower district of the woods during the months of April and May and that the Selectmen be authorized to add any number thev see fit.
Voted, That the Selectmen have printed the law relating to the browntail moth and post two copies in each school district.
Voted. To dissolve.
GEORGE H. STEARNS. Toron Clerk.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF DUXBURY
FOR THE YEAR
1905
---
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
-
Albert M. Goulding, term expires, 1906
William J. Alden, Jr .. term expires, 1907
Nathaniel K. Noyes, term expires, 1908
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Edgar L. Willard, A. M., Marshfield
TEACHERS FOR 1905-1906.
Name, School, and Post Office Address. Herbert E. Walker, Partridge Academy, Millbrook.
Lizzie S. Sampson. Partridge Academy, Duxbury.
Eva W. Eldredge. Partridge Academy. South Duxbury. Elizabeth. A. Haskins, Grammar, Duxbury. Florence A. Chaffin. Village, Duxbury. Ellen W. Downey, South Duxbury, Kingston.
Grace E. Brown, Island Creek. Marshfield. Mrs. Ida M. Raymond, Tarkiln. Kingston. Sadie E. Paulding, Ashdod, Duxbury. Grace M. Peterson. North Duxbury, Millbrook.
Mrs. Mary I ... Devereux. Point, Duxbury. Mrs. Lillian C. Stoddard, teacher of Music, North Scituate. Harriet J. Ford, teacher of drawing, Millbrook.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The School Committee of the Town of Duxbury here- with submit their Annual Report, together with the Report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year ending December 31, 1905.
There has been only one change in our teachers the past vear. Miss Gertrude C. Ellis, assistant teacher in the High School, resigned her position at the close of the Spring Term and the place has been ably filled by Miss Lizzie S. Sampson, a graduate of Smith College.
At a joint meeting of the Committees of Scituate, Marshfield and Duxbury held May 22, Mr. Edgar L. Wil- lard was re-elected Superintendent of Schools for the en- suing year.
All needed repairs have been made on our schoolhouses during the year. The ceiling at Island Creek has been sheathed and varnished, also the room painted and papered. A new wire fence has been put up around the Grammar School yard, also a wire fence on one side of the Point Schoolhouse lot.
The Truant Officers for the present year are: Wm. J. Turner, Thaddeus W. Chandler, Warren E. Peterson, and the Superintendent.
Your Committee once more wish to call your attention to the lack of interest manifested in the schools as shown by the number of visitors recorded in the registers.
We feel that any energetic and efficient Committee, the best Superintendent obtainable, and an efficient corps of teachers cannot secure for you the full equivalent of one hundred cents for each dollar expended if your interest ceases with the raising and appropriating of the same.
The taxpayers will probably note that the appropriations recommended for the ensuing year, while about the same as for the year just passed, are somewhat in excess of what has been required previously. In view of this fact a word of explanation seems necessary. This increase in expenses of our schools is due to several causes.
Duxbury
6
-82-
First, fuel, labor and supplies of all kinds are somewhat higher than was the case a few years ago.
Second, the Committee have felt it was a wise policy to retain satisfactory teachers as long as possible, and this has tended to an increase in the teachers' salaries as a whole.
Third, the employment of special teachers for supervision of music and drawing which has seemed to the Committee to be a great help to the schools.
Each one of these factors has had a certain effect in in- creasing the amount of money which it is necessary to raise for the support of schools, but another factor still is the chief one in increasing the appropriation needed, and it is not unlikely that the sum required may be still greater in the near future.
The factor referred to is the High School. Last year for the first time twelfth grade work was given at the High School and a class was graduated at Partridge Academy having received a full four years of High School work. The first year at Partridge Acedemy is eighth grade or Grammar School work, and must continue to be so unless some arrangement for consolidation and transportation is made. This calls for the employment of a third regular teacher in the High School staff.
The funds at the disposal of the Trustees of Partridge Academy have of late years been on the decrease, due chiefly to the diminished earning capacity of invested funds, hence all the increase in expenses of the High School has come out of the appropriation for support of schools.
This item alone has increased from $500 in 1901 to $1,000 in 1902 and $1,500 in 1904 and 1905.
And it may not be out of place to say right here that the Town has up to within the past two years been receiving a High School education for its pupils at an unreasonably small expense to the Town. It does not seem either to the Trustees of the Partridge Academy fund or to the School Committee that it was so much the intention of the donor of that fund to save the taxpayers expense as it was to give to the boys and girls of the Town something more and bet- ter than the Town itself could or would give in the way of an education. In the future this will probably be the en- deavor of the Trustees of the Academy to make the work done at that institution, so long as it has any connection
-83-
with the four years High School course which by law the Town is obliged to furnish to such of its pupils as care to avail themselves of the privilege, a little more complete and satisfactory than the ordinary country High School could afford.
To do this in the most satisfactory manner the Academy needs to make certain additions to its plant. It is not unlikely that in the near future the Trustees may see fit to divert certain parts of its income which have heretofore been used for support to making such additions and im- provements as seem to be indicated and if this is done a still further increase in the amount of money which the Town must appropriate for support of the High School will be required.
The Committee would make the following recommenda- tions for the ensuing year :
Support of schools,
$5,200 00
School incidentals and repairs schoolhouses, 800 00
Salary of Superintendent,
250 00
NATHANIEL K. NOYES, WILLIAM J. ALDEN, JR., ALBERT M. GOULDING. School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee :
Few changes have taken place in the schools during the past year, either in the teaching force or in the ordinary routine of the work.
In September the old writing books were replaced by the Morse System of writing, a natural slant method, about half-way between the vertical and the old time slant. The pupils have so readily adapted themselves to it that it is sure to be an entire success. Before the teachers were given the books a meeting of the teachers was held in the Jenkins School in Scituate which was addressed by the author of the system, Mr. W. A. Whitehouse, Supervisor
-84-
of Penmanship in the schools of Somerville. The speaker gave the teachers careful instruction on how to begin and continue the work to the best advantage.
The distinguishing feature of the new books is a collec- tion of copy slips attached in the back partially cut so that they may be easily detached for practice or copy paper. Each of these slips contains some literary gem to be copied and thus has an educative value other than the manual training involved. The books last longer because a pupil is not allowed to copy in them until practice has produced a maximum of excellence for him in the work with the copy slips.
Since the schools opened in September a long needed change in the music readers has been made. The old read- ers were not only out of date but were in most cases so worn by long use as to be a serious obstacle to good results.
Once more I wish to make an appeal to you and through you to the citizens of the Town, to consider the consolida- tion of the five schools in and near the village.
In the last report of the State Board of Education, pages 209 and 210, Mr. Fletcher has this to say on the subject : "Conveyance of children from sparsely settled sections of towns to schools in other districts, or to convenient central locations, to reduce the number of small schools. has con- tinued during the year, with some variation in the number of schools closed and some change of opinion regarding the desirability of cosolidation. The expense of convey- ance has generally been less than the cost of maintaining the schools at the time of closing them.
Teachers' wages have been increased in some towns be- cause of fewer and larger schools. The following advant- ages are claimed : inspiration of numbers; more interest of teachers and pupils in the work; larger classes; better build- ings.
Some of the disadvantages are : long distances; bad roads, especially in winter; young children are away from home too many hours, often in stormy weather; it is diffi- cult to obtain suitable conveyance and proper persons to take charge of the same."
The advantages referred to, in the quotation from Mr. Fletcher, would particularly apply to the five schools in question. It is my purpose to show, if possible, that the
-85-
disadvantages enumerated by him do not apply with great force to those schools.
First, distance. The Millbrook School, the school most remote from the Grammar School, as a central point, is about fifteen minutes' ride from the latter by two routes.
The Point and South Duxbury Schools are much nearer. Many of the pupils in these districts are within easy walk- ing distances, less than a mile from the Grammar School.
The second disadvantage spoken of is bad roads. This does not apply to the present case at all, as nearly all the roads in question are macadam and in the best of condi- tions.
Third: "Children are away from home too many hours, often in stormy weather." They would be away from home a little more than six hours, which is exactly the case at present. As to stormy weather, what child would not be better protected in a closed carriage riding home, than walking, often without rubbers, umbrella or any extra cov- ering ?
The last disadvantage cited in Mr. Fletcher's report seems to me to be the most vital one of all. But in Dux- bury even this may be largely overcome by vigilance on the part of the Committee in awarding contracts, and proper attention to the subsequent fulfilment of those contracts.
Some of the mistakes made when the new schoolhouse was built must now be evident to any who give the subject any serious consideration. No improvement was made ex- cept to house two schools better than they were before. The grading remained the same. This was the most glar- ing mistake. Another was that the new building did not contain rooms that were large enough. This is particularly true of the room occupied by grades six and seven. In this room there are thirty-six seats. Thirty-eight pupils have been enrolled since school began in September, and thirty- seven are now in attendance.
The teacher's desk and two chairs in the centre of the front, the piano in the north front corner, and the necessary book closet in the north back corner of the room, each in its place, practically prevents all passing. There is abso- lutely no opportunity for gymnastics, marching, or other form of physical exercise.
-86-
As a solution of the difficulties referred to above I would respectfully offer the following suggestions :
First, that an annex to the present building on the village lot be made, extending back from Washington Street, and containing two rooms somewhat larger than the two now used.
Second, that the schools at Millbrook, Point and South Duxbury be closed and such pupils as live more than one . and one-fourth miles away be conveyed to the Village.
Third, that grade eight be withdrawn from the Academy and taught in the Grammar School.
The transportation question, so far as these five schools are concerned is much easier than in a majority of towns. Many of the pupils live within easy walking distance of the Grammar School. None of the distances are such that a team could not start from the village in the morning, go say, to the limit of the Millbrook district on the State road, return with the pupils to school, and then be put up till closing time in its own stable.
In the Millbrook School at the present time there are twenty-two pupils living as follows: Between the home of Mr. Lucius Peterson on or near the State road and the schoolhouse, are twelve. Of the other ten, one lives a short distance west of the schoolhouse on St. George Street, one on the same street but near the station, and eight on the State road between the schoolhouse and Harrison Street.
Of the eighteen pupils in the Point School, eleven live either very near the school or toward the village and would therefore need no conveyance. Five live between the schoolhouse and station and two live on the Point.
At South Duxbury there are today fourteen pupils, six of whom live in the district bounded by Washington, Station and South Station Streets, and would need no conveyance.
Of the eight who would need conveyance, five live on Standish street; two live on Chestnut street, and one on Border street.
Two teams with the routes wisely arranged could carry the entire thirty-seven pupils and not be long on the way.
One barge might leave Mr. Briggs' stable, go to Mr. Lu- cius Peterson's, pick up the twelve pupils on the state road in that vicinity, the seven on St. George street and the two from the Point, twenty-three in all. The second barge
-87-
could leave Mr. Cushing's stable, go toward the Millbrook school as far as was necessary to pick up the six pupils in that neighborhood, go direct to Hall's corner and take on the other eight.
Some may ask why such a step should be taken. Will it pay? Will it cost less? Will we have any more satis- factory results ?
In answer to the first question, the step should be taken because it is in the line of progress. It may surprise some to learn that in Massachusetts two hundred and ninety-nine cities and towns pay for the transportation of pupils, while only fifty-four do not. Duxbury is one of the fifty-four.
A recent editorial in the Journal of Education' says : "Consolidation of schools is the only salvation of rural com- munities." Do we not need this kind of salvation ?
Will it pay? Yes, a hundred per cent on the investment.
Will it cost less? No, but the town will come far nearer to getting its money's worth than is possible under the pres- ent system.
The results in better grading, more enthusiasm, broader work, more and better work in every way, will more than make up for any extra effort made by either parents or pupils.
But one other good which would result, should the change be made, must not be overlooked. The eighth grade, now in the academy, might be kept in the grammar school where it rightfully belongs, and the academy left to do its own peculiar work. This is impossible at present on account of a lack of room, unless the sixth grade should be crowded back into the primary schools, and that would be unfor- tunate.
The four outlying schools, so long as the present numbers continue to attend, should be run as they are. With them the problem is different.
There is an opportunity for Duxbury to have one grand good school. Will it come? or will the people remain con- tented with conditions as they are, and as they have been for two or more generations? Other conditions of life have changed, and for the better. Why not keep the schools up with the times in which we live?
In conclusion, I wish to express my hearty appreciation
-88-
of the many favors granted me, and the helpful cooperation on your part with me and my work, for more than a decade of pleasant service. Respectfully submitted,
EDGAR L. WILLARD,
December 31, 1905.
Supt. of Schools.
REPORT ON DRAWING.
To the Superintendent of Schools :
There is not much that is new to be said in regard to drawing in the public schools. Already a good deal of im- provement is shown in the work of the pupils, and the inter- est does not flag in the least. The children would like more drawing than they have, but some of the teachers with seven grades to teach find it difficult to give as much time to it as is really necessary to keep in good practice. The work continues in about the same general limit, leading al- ways to the practical as far as possible, using their studies in flowers and other subjects in applied design, carrying it out to the finishing point; making booklets, sofa pillows, mats and other useful objects. This year my plan is to do more industrial work, having the children do all the work from the preliminary study to the finished object.
Some of my most enthusiastic pupils are in the smaller schools. In these schools the children of course get more individual attention, but there are so many grades it is impossible to give a lesson suitable for all. The credit of the good work belongs largely to the class teachers, for they give most of the lessons and their influence is strong with the children.
There are many facilities brought into use in the drawing. First of all, they must think and judge of the placing the mass, the outline. The eye is trained to see shapes and colors, and the facility in handling the various mediums comes last but not least.
Good taste is the ability to judge the good from the bad in any form of art or decoration. Simplicity is to be pre- ferred to the over ornate. If these things can be learned an important victory will be gained.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRIET J. FORD.
-89-
REPORT ON MUSIC.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
It is a pleasure to give you the report on music in the schools of Duxbury this year. The work accomplished has been of such accuracy, and such an earnest character, that it reaches a high standard. The supervisor feels that, without exception, the teachers give the music the deepest interest. The wide variety of grades and difference in num- bers of pupils, are causes which would give the impression that in some cases there was a show of indifference toward the work; but upon closer inspection, anyone could appre- ciate the difficulties with which some teachers have to con- tend. In a school where there is not a single instance of musical talent, or where nearly all of the number enrolled are boys, the outlook for the supervisor of music is rather appalling, although in the case of all boys no one has grounds for apprehension, as the boys manifest real interest and ability.
Through the generosity of the School Board the schools, with the exception of the grammar grades, have been sup- plied with a new course of books. This kindness is so deeply appreciated by the pupils and teachers, and especially. by the supervisor, that they all feel as if it were a personal favor. The assigning of the books to the different schools was a peculiarly difficult task, and, perhaps, a word of ex- planation is due upon that subject. In the instances of the Millbrook and Island Creek schools there seems to exist a sort of unknown rivalry, although the Island Creek school had to start with smaller beginnings. They seem to have an unusual amount of God given talent about equally dis- tributed between them, and are helped by teachers who are thorough musicians.
It is obvious that these schools would naturally take the lead, and be prepared in the event of new books, for work a little in advance of the elementary books. Then, too, the lower grades in these schools seem qualified to use the books in the years following the exit of the higher classes.
Some of the other schools have equal advantages in the musical ability of their teachers, but the most accomplished musicians cannot produce brilliant work where little or no talent exists. Then, in still other cases, the highest
-90-
grades may be able to carry on a more difficult study, but those who are to follow it up would be quite at a disad- vantage with such work. So, unless all these points are considered, a misunderstanding might easily arise.
In the Academy the work has been given over to chorus singing with its necessary drudgery of reading and prepar- ing of parts, and to an occasional drill in notation. During the Fall Term of this school year, this especial feature was reviewed with a view of taking a test. The test was given at the close of the term, and was entered into heartily by all, including the Ninth Grade. The results showed a more general understanding of the subject, than might for some reasons be looked for.
But the marking of per cents was very unsatisfactory, because of the unfair advantage held by the Seniors and piano pupils over the Ninth Grade, not piano pupils.
However, we hope the test was beneficial, if only in show- ing what each needs to learn. Altogether it was a pros- perous year, and a good preparation for the work to follow.
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN C. STODDARD.
-91-
PARTRIDGE ACADEMY. GRADUATION EXERCISES OF THE CLASS OF 1905. First Parish Church, June 23. Vincit qui se vincit.
March. Organ.
The Lord's Prayer.
Chorus, "In the Harbor We've Been Sheltered."
Salutatory and Essay. "The Growth of Public Libraries in Massachusetts."
Marion Alden Chandler.
Essay. "Some Contrasts in Greek and Roman Archi- tecture."
Maud Evelyn Phillips.
Chorus. "Wedding Chorus." "Pretty Village Maiden." Essay. "Political Conditions in Russia." Ruth Edson Delano.
Essay. "The Panama Canal" Raymond McIntosh
Chorus. "King of the Forest am I."
Essay with Valedictory. "Athletic Sports and the Good They Do."
Ina Fremont Arnold.
Presentation of Diplomas. Chorus. "Gloria from Mozart's Twelfth Mass."
Benediction.
The Rev. Henry B. Mason.
-92-
STATISTICS OF ATTENDANCE.
PARTRIDGE ACADEMY. Herbert E. Walker, Principal. Miss Elizabeth A. Sampson, First Assistant. Miss Eva W. Eldredge, Second Assistant.
MONTH ....
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Totals
Number enrolled
44 42.5 40.3
44 42.6 39.5 118
43 39.3 147
42 41.8 37.7 158
41.3 34.9 220 84.6
42 41.6 37.5 158
42 42 39.1 115 92.9
42 41.1 36.9 162 89.8
37.4
36.7
37.9
Number of absences
86
94.7
92.7
91
90
16
17
13
0
4
10
23
114
Dismissals
4
26
26
26
26
27
27 1
3
26
26
29
Number of visitors Days of school
19
19
19
19
17
19
19.5
20
20
20
191.5
GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Miss Elizabeth A. Haskins, Teacher.
MONTH ....
1
3
4
5
6
8
9
Totals
Number enrolled
Average membership
35.1 153 32.5
36 35.5 153 31.9
35
69
36 35.2 106 32.4 91.9
36 36 263
36 36 112
37 36.2 76
35 3.5 136
35 34.5 120
1188
Average attendance
31
39 92
34.3 94.7
89.9
91.3
93.5
Pupils over 15 years
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
Cases of tardiness
18
15
14
11
11
10
10
2
1
40
Visitors
14
3
19
4
4
6
3
1
65
Days of school
25
19
18
18.5
19
19
19
11 19
20
176.5
VILLAGE SCHOOL. Miss Florence A. Chaffin, Teacher.
MONTH ....
1
2
3
4
5
6
?
8
9
Totals
Number enrolled
25
24
25
26
26 25.5 100 22.8
26 26 66
26 23.7 57 22.7
26 25.1 68 24.2
25 24.2 136
27 24.3
Average membership
22
24
24
24
Number of absences
46
52
59
113
697
Average attendance
21.1
22.7
22.4
20.9
Per cent. of attendance
95
94
93
89
93
91
20.8 85 13
92.2 152
Cases of tardiness
20
2
1
3
3
2
8
19
Visitors
3
2
8
2
1
5
32
53
Days of school
25
19
18
18.5
18
20
19
20
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.