USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Berkley > Town annual report of Berkley 1901-1909 > Part 17
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2
7 54
44 20
53 74
Howland Robert S.
2
2 00
Hickey Daniel
2
2 00
Hayes Frank B.
2
2 00
Henry C. L.
2
2 00
Hopkins Ernest A.
2
7 41
27 95
37 36
Hoxie David A.
2
4 68
27 63
34 31
Kelsey Bertha L.
12 35
12 35
Luther Geo. W.
2
21 13
28 93
52 06
Leach Giles L.
2
3 64
42 64
48 28
Luther Simeon W.
2
4 16
12 22
18 38
Lombard Frank
2
2 00
Lawrence Worde
2
2 00
Macomber Chas, H.
2
2 93
8 78
13 71
Macomber Frank S.
2
2 80
4 80
Macomber Helen A.
5 85
5 85
Macomber Roscoe E.
2
3 45
5 45
Macomber Horace N. 2d
2
1 95
3 95
Macomber Horace N.
2
3 74
11 70
17 44
Macomber Geo. W.
2
6 86
42 25
51 11
Macomber Clifford E.
2
2 00
Macomber E. Foster
2
2 00
Macomber Allison R.
2
52
33
2 85
2 00
Hoard David S. and Rhoda W.
43
Annual Report
2 00
Macomber Eben
2
15 60
17 60
Macomber Rufus B.
2
2 00
Macomber Restcome
2
18 20
22 10
42 30
Macomber George R. est
24 05
24 05
Martin Frank R.
2
2 02
7 61
11 63
Maguire James
2
98
9 36
12 34
Myricks M. E. Church
11 70
11 70
23 40
McCall James
2
5 20
11 70
18 90
Murphy Cornelius J.
2
39
17 55
19 94
Mann Arthur G.
2
26
13 65
15 91
Mellen George W.
2
2 93
19 50
24 43
Mckay John H.
2
9 40
13 98
25 38
Murphy Edward
2
2 00
Norcutt Geo. A. est
14 63
14 63
Norcutt Samuel C.
1 43
10 14
11 57
Northrup Wm. H.
2 86
2 86
Newhall Betsey est
6 83
6 83
Nichols Walter D. heirs
22 10
22 10
Nichols Frank
2
2 00
Neilson Mrs. Louise
1 30
1 30
O'Brien Fenella
65
26
91
Oliver John D.
2
98
2 98
Perry Herbert A.
2
5 46
23 14
30 60
Perry Harry C.
2
2 00
Paull Chas. F.
2
3 38
5 38
Paull James W.
2
65
8 13
10 78
Paull Thomas P.
2
2 00
Paull Thomas P. guard & trust.
71 51
71 51
Paull Chas. F. and Thomas P.
17 88
57 20
75 08
Perry Manuel
2
1 37
9 75
13 12
Phillips Shepard
5 20
5 20
Phillips Chester E.
2
1 95
3 95
Phillips Frank P.
2 28
2 28
Phillips Chas. F.
2
78
6 50
9 28
Phillips Edward O.
2
2 00
Peirce Peddy S.
13 13
13 13
Peirce Mrs. Mary
364 00
18 79
382 79
Peirce Alfred
2
2 28
9 10
13 38
Peirce Elkanah est
5 85
34 13
39 98
Peirce Walter F.
2
2 00
Peirce Augustus F.
2
1 43
16 90
20 33
Page Manuel
2
2 00
Myrick G. H.
2
44
Annual Report
Poole Thomas F.
2
65
2 65
Poole Elmer V.
2
98
11 38
14 36
Prunier Peter J.
2
2 28
7 48
11 76
Prunier Wm.
2
2 00
Reed Asa W.
2
5 85
7 85
Reed Alton W.
2
2 00
Rose Manuel
2
1 66
13 78
17 44
Rose Frank
2
1 69
9 75
13 44
Rose Antone
2
2 02
15 93
19 95
Rose Manuel F.
2
2 60
4 60
Robinson John C. A.
2
65
8 45
11 10
Renches Emma B.
12 68
12 68
Ridly Joseph T.
2
2 15
17 75
21 90
Shaw Chas. A.
2
3 07
15 60
20 67
Shaw Chas. E.
2
1 43
3 43
Shaw C. A. & C. E.
25 35
25 35
Simms Wm. G.
2
3 25
31 20
36 45
Smith Arthur H.
2
6 50
8 50
Smith Wm. H.
2
1 04
7 80
10 84
Smith Edw. L.
2
2 28
4 28
Smith John
2
2 00
Staples Phoebe
8 00
8 00
Staples Sumner N.
2
4 88
22 10
28 98
Staples John F.
2
18 04
30 55
50 59
Staples Huldah T.
13 00
13 00
Story Albert T.
2
2 00
Strange Chas. L.
2
1 95
7 80
11 75
Strange Walter A.
2
2 28
22 10
26 38
Strange Noah H.
2
8 71
45 18
55 89
Strange F. H. & Geo. William hrs
13
13
Society First Cong']
9 75
9 75
Sousa Joseph
2
98
7 15
10 13
Sousa Frank Y.
2
2 00
Silvia Joseph
2
1 30
12 55
15 85
Silvia Frank
2
2 00
Stephen F'. G.
2
5 40
11 51
18 01
Sellers Freeman
2
2 60
4 60
Stone Betsey heirs
2 60
2 60
Sabins Nelson
13 00
13 00
Sabins Walter I.
2
1 04
7 15
10 19
Swift Geo. H.
2
2 00
Swift Bertha B.
4 23
4 23
Terry Leander
2
2 80
16 90
21 70
45
Annual Report
Terry Rebecca est
6 50
6 50
Terry Joseph
2
2 00
Terry Zebedee
2
65
2 65
Terry Lewis D.
2
2 00
Thresher Martha R. heirs
1 30
1 30
Theroux Olivia
6 50
6 50
Turcott Geo. L.
2
46
2 46
Taves Frank
2
23 40
25 40
Tripp Capt. Gustavus
2
30 55
32 55
Tunnicliffe Rev. E. H.
2
2 00
Viall Cassius E.
2 67
3 90
6 57
Victorine Manuel
2
1 43
5 85
9 28
Vegar Thomas
2
7 61
9 61
Wade Chas. M.
2
2 34
18 07
22 41
Wordell Eli W.
2
65
2 65
Wordell Mrs. E. M.
8 91
8 91
Wordell Edwin
2
2 00
Wordell Wm. F.
2
2 00
Wordell Charles B.
2
2 00
Walker E. Alton
2
2 00
Washburn James F.
2
2 08
17 10
21 18
Westgate Marissa
7 15
7 15
Westgate George H.
2
2 00
Westgate George A.
2
2 00
Westgate S. Erford
2
2 00
Westgate Daniel L.
2
2 00
Westgate Willard F.
2
98
6 83
9 81
Westgate George E.
2
9 88
24 70
36 58
Whittaker Fred A.
2
39
5 20
7 59
Whittaker Linneus C.
2
39
2 39
Whittaker Harry E.
2
2 00
Whittaker Ella W. heirs
14 95
14 95
Whittaker Edw. E.
2
3 51
24 05
29 56
Wilbur Mrs. Amanda
7 15
7 15
White Chester F.
2
52
2 52
White Charles S.
2
1 89
19 83
23 72
White Damon D.
2
2 00
White Antone
2
2 86
15 86
20 72
White Joe (Simm's Pl)
2
6 50
8 50
Williams Seth E.
2
3 19
29 90
35 09
Williams Fred L.
2
2 00
Williams Florence N.
3 97
3 97
Winslow Edw. W.
46
1 30
1 76
46
Annual Report
Welch John
2
2 00
Wetherell William Wilkie Leroy G. Wells Geo. N.
8 45
8 45
2
2 00
2
98
10 40
13 38
ยท
NON-RESIDENTS.
TAUNTON.
Burt Capt. Alex
98
98
Burt Benj. heirs
2 60
2 60
Briggs Sarah F.
1 30
1 30
Babbitt Martha M.
98
98
Burt Alonzo
33
33
Bowers Caroline
39
39
Chase Timothy
18 72
18 72
Cushing John heirs
33
33
Benton Henry W. E.
3 25
3 25
Clark Patrick J.
2 60
8 45
11 05
Crane Levi I. (Brockton)
65
65
Dean J. Frank
18 85
18 85
Dean David C.
33
33
Dean James I.
3 25
3 25
Dean David W.
11 05
11 05
Dean A. Lawrence
78
78
Doyle Thomas heirs
2 60
2 60
Dunbar Helen D.
65
65
Fox F. B., Reed Wm. and Anthony Ralph
1 63
1 63
Goff Albert O.
65
65
Hart William E.
98
98
Hart John C.
1 04
1 04
Hart George
1 69
1 69
Hart Chester O.
13 65
6 83
20 48
Hathaway Elkanah heirs
14 30
14 30
Hathaway Benjamin heirs
2 60
2 60
Haskins Mary A. T.
Hayden Edw. W. (exempt)
65
65
Holloway Benj. F.
3 25
3 25
Macomber Nathan
11 70
11 70
McCall Charles
6 18
6 18
Oliver Antone D.
1 63
1 63
Hart Lysander W. and Jamer E. est.
47
Annual Report
Parker Hamilton
85
85
Padelford Chas. W.
78
78
Padelford David heirs
26
26
Pierce Stephen heirs
20
20
Pierce Oliver A. heirs
20
20
Pickens Philo
5 20
5 20
Phillips Jacob B.
1 63
1 63
Presbrey George O.
1 43
1 43
Phillips D. Benjamin
9 49
9 49
Rose John D.
2 60
2 60
Reed Ida M.
3 58
3 58
Sanford Alpheus heirs
1 63
1 63
Soper Lysander heirs
65
65
Staples Abiel B.
4 55
4 55
Shove Henry
4 88
4 88
Staples Mrs. Fanny
5 53
5 53
Stiles & Hart Brick Co.
24 96
5 85
30 81
Thresher John H.
65
65
Taunton, City of
40 76
40 76
Wade Mrs. Mary
2 60
2 60
Williams Philip
39
39
Williams Sinai heirs
2 60
2 60
Williams Arthur K.
6 50
6 50
Williams Emily C.
5 20
5 20
Williams Alex. H.
65
65
Williams Charles
65
65
Williams Mrs. Lillian E.
14 63
14 63
Williams Lucy
65
65
Walker George L.
20
20
Walker William E.
33
33
Wetherell James W.
5 85
5 85
Whittemore Emma F.
1 69
13
14 69
White A. R. 2d and Macomber Clinton
7 80
7 80
Westgate James B. heirs
98
98
DIGHTON.
Babbitt John O.
1 95
1 95
Carr Charles E.
13 00
13 00
Caswell William heirs
1 63
1 63
French William W. heirs
65
65
Goff Albert N.
5 20
5 20
Goff Elizabeth and Bullard Annie
3 25
3 25
Perry Edw.
9 10
9 10
Simmons C. N. Est.
8 97
8 97
48
Annual Report
Simmons Noble S. heirs
5 07
5 07
White Lewis M. Guardian
6 50
6 50
White Lewis M.
3 25
3 25
FREETOWN.
Briggs Charles heirs
1 04
1 04
Crane Barzillai heirs
6 50
6 50
Eddy Charles O.
98
98
Gurney Jonathan
52
52
Hathaway J. D. and George
7 80
7 80
Hathaway Andrew M.
1 95
1 95
Nichols Gilbert M.
5 53
5 53
Pierce Henry J.
1 63
1 63
Pierce Henry J. and George W.
1 95
1 95
Rezendes Joaquin
1 95
1 95
Wilson John D. heirs
26
26
Webster Andrew J.
19 89
19 89
LAKEVILLE.
Allen Clothier heirs
3 90
3 90
Allen John F.
31 20
31 20
Canedy Wm. heirs and Pierce C. W.
8 45
8 45
Canedy Zebulon L.
10 40
10 40
Strowbridge Susan heirs
3 90
3 90
Murphy Jeremiah Est.
11 05
11 05
Pierce William C.
18 20
18 20
Pierce Wm. C. and E. A.
33
33
Pierce Ethan E.
5 46
5 46
Pierce Job heirs
20
20
Pierce James P.
42 90
42 90
Pierce Hermon
23 40
23 40
Seekel Curtis N.
7 15
7 15
BROCKTON.
10 08
10 08
Townsend B. Emery Wilson Frederick
1 95
1 95
PROVIDENCE, R. I.
3 97
3 97
Strange Annie M.
1 30
1 30
Chester Frank
85
85
Cooper Andrew S.
1 63
1 63
FALL RIVER.
Hathaway Cessonia
13 00
13 00
Jaboriault Augustine
14 30
14 30
Reed Otis E.
49
Annual Report
MISCELLANEOUS.
Andros Milton, San Francisco, Cal.
13 00
13 00
Aspinwall, A. A., Pawtucket, R. I.
6 50
6 50
Burt Charles D. heirs, New Bedford
39
39
Babbitt Wm. F., Boston,
10 40
10 40
Crane Edw. A. estate, Paris, France
2 28
2 28
Dessereault Laura, No. Attleboro
3 90
3 90
Fish W. M., Detroit, Mich
1 63
1 63
Hathaway J. Ambrose, Brighton, Mass.
2 60
2 60
Haskins Wm. A., Ottawa, Ill.
1 30
1 30
Humphrey, Emma H., Denver, Col.
9 10
9 10
Howland Hannah R. heirs, Denver, Col.
8 45
8 45
Harrington Cornelius, Warren, R. I.
16 90
16 90
Hamlin Mary and Gray Alex heirs, E. Bridgewater
18
18
Millard L. D. heirs, E. Douglass, Mass.
1 95
1 95
Myers Mrs. Fanny, Brooklyn, N. Y.
7 80
7 80
Meack, Geo. W., Dartmouth, Mass.
65
65
N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. O. C. Division
42 90
42 90
Paull Amelia, Sherborn Mass.
65
65
50
Annual Report
Report of Commissioners for the Town Cemetery, December 31, 1907
RECEIPTS
1907, Dec. 31, Cash on hand, $31.21
CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS
The treasurer has on deposit in the Bristol County Savings Bank of Taunton, to be held forever in trust, the income to be used for the care of burial lots, the following sums :
Endow- ments.
Int. Rec'd
Int. Due.
Ex- pended
Oct. 1, '05
1898, June 27, Philip C. Porter,
$100
$30.80
Oct. 1, '07
$29.80
Oct. 1, '05
1900, May 12,
Wm. Babbitt,
100
21.39
Oct. 1, '07
24.85
Ap. 12,'06
1906, April 12. Calvin T. Crane,
100
Oct. 1, '07
2.50
Oct. 1, '06
1906, Oct. 1,
Susan H. Allen,
200
Oct. 1, '07
We sincerely hope that the town will raise and appropriate $150.00 to finish the clearing up of the yard.
GEORGE CUMMINGS, Chairman, / EDWIN H. ALLEN, Secretary, Commissioners. S. ALBERT BURT,
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF BERKLEY
For the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1907
..
TAUNTON, MASS. DAVOL PRESS, 3 SCHOOL STREET 1908
School Committee
Term expires
Edwin H. Allen, Chairman, Berkley, Mass.
1909
Julia R. Burt, Secretary, Berkley, Mass. 1910
*Noah H. Strange, Assonet, Mass. 1908
Superintendent of Schools Edwin S. Cobb, Dighton, Mass.
Truant Officer
Charles Corey, Berkley, Mass.
*Chosen to complete the unexpired term of Herbert F. Briggs, deceased, 1907.
School Calendar
Terni
Winter, 11 weeks, Mon., Dec. 30, 1907 to Fri., Mar. 13, 1908 Spring, 11 Mar. 23, 1908
June 5, 1908 Fall, 14 66 Sept. 7, 1908 66 Dec. 11, 1908
Winter, 11
Dec. 28, 1908
Mar. 12, 1909
Spring, 11
Mar. 22, 1909 66 June 4, 1909
Legal holidays in term time: 1908-Feb. 22, April 19, May 30, November 26. 1909-Feb. 22, April 19, May 30. Special holiday Nov. 27, 1908.
In Memoriam.
herbert F. Briggs
Died July 11, 1907 Berkley, Mass.
5
Annual Report
Financial Statement, 1907.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation for schools
$2 000 00
From the Massachusetts School Fund
.963 75
state for district supervision
150 00
."
teachers' salaries
100 00
high school tuition
240 00
tutition of state wards
106 00
City of Boston for tuition
47 00
Total receipts,
$3606 75
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers
2105 60
Janitors
145 47
Fuel
217 45
High School Tuition
270 00
Books and supplies
70 15
Repairs
108 44
School supervision
300 00
School committee
118 50
Truant officer
10 00
Miscellaneous
194 04
Total expenditures,
$3 539 65
6
Annual Report
Report of the School Committee.
The school committee in the following lines present their annual report.
We are pleased to note that the past year has been a pros- perous one, a harmonious whole, with but little exception, teachers, parents and all interested co-operating together for the best interest of all.
Again we would emphasize thoroughness of work, impressing the pupil that he is not only to cover the work of a certain grade each year, but that he is to do thorough work in each study, which shall be of lasting benefit to him all through life. We note better attendance in our schools than formerly, which is a great point in doing better work.
The schools have been the same in number with the exception of the fall term. The Assonet neck scholars were transported to the Algerine school, being so few in numbers the committee thought it was for the best interest of both schools to unite, but owing to the inclemancy of the winter weather for trans- poration, the parents wished the schools reopened, accordingly the committee complied.
A new well has been driven at the Bridge school, which has been a long felt need. The committee are fully satisfied with the results. There is need of two more wells in some of the other schoolyards and we hope in the near future we shall be able to supply them.
The Superintendent held a joint meeting of the committee and teachers of the three towns in the Rehoboth Congregational Church Feb. 8, 1907. Able speakers addressed the meeting on
7
Annual Report
subjects of school work, which was not only interesting and instructive but profitable to those who attended. A similar meeting will be held in the Berkley Congregational Church in February, 1908, and we hope to see a large attendance.
We note that in some of our schools the parents are taking much interest, while in others there is very little shown. Itis a fact worthy of careful attention, that with scarcely an exception, the teachers can do much better work by knowing the parents, as well as something of the home life and home influence of her pupils.
We were sorry to lose one of our members by death, Herbert F. Briggs, who not only showed a genial spirit for his work as an efficient member but a love for the task before him.
At a joint meeting of the selectmen and school committee, Noah H. Strange was elected to fill the vacancy for the remain- der of the year.
For further information we refer you to the superintendent's report.
In closing, we thank all interested for their hearty co-opera- tion, and trust that as each year goes by, it will be more fruit- ful of good results than the preceding.
EDWIN H. ALLEN JULIA R. BURT NOAH H. STRANGE
School Committee
8
Annual Report
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Berkley :
In accordance with the annual custom, I present to you at this time my report as superintendent of schools. It consists of a few comments upon the more important statistics, and of a brief discussion of some matters that seem to me to be worthy of consideration.
Enrollment
The total enrollment of the seven schools in the town for the year ending last June was 182. Comparing this with the enrollment, 164, for the preceding year, we find that there was a gain of 18. The total enrollment of the schools at the pres- ent time is 163.
Attendance
The per cent. of attendance for the year ending last June was 90.8. This per cent. compared with 91.9, that of the pre- ceding year, indicates a loss of slightly over 1 per cent. While the variations in the percentage of attendance from year to year are due in part to variations in the amount of sickness, and bad weather, experience leads me to believe that a good record can nearly always be secured if the teachers and school author- ities are sufficiently vigilant. The teachers are accordingly being urged to give this matter more attention, and the super- intendent is keeping a closer watch on the attendance of each child. In addition to this the usual attendance bulletins show- ing the standing of each school in both the town and in the dis- trict are sent out to each teacher every month.
te
9
Annual Report
Punctuality
While the, number of absences has increased during the past year without good reason, it is encouraging to note that the average number of tardinesses per pupil has decreased from 6.6 to 5.2. The number of tardinesses, however, is still unusu- ally large but is due principally to the exceedingly poor records made by two of the schools. The standing of the schools in this respect as well as in the matter of attendance may be learned by reference to the special table in the appendix.
Teachers
Since the time of the last report there have been 5 changes of teachers, 3 at the Assonet Neck School, one at Myricks, and one at the Bridge School. This number of changes is unusu- ally large, and has involved the loss of two very successful local teachers, both of whom accepted better paying positions else- where. The loss of such teachers is always to be regretted, as they naturally take more interest in their pupils, feel a greater pride in their degree of success, and as a rule constitute a more permanent teaching force. The employment of good local teachers should, therefore, be encouraged and every reasonable inducement should be offered to prevent them from leaving our schools. In this connection I desire to express my appreciation of the generous attitude of the committee toward its teachers. During the past year the salary paid in nearly every school in the town has been increased to some extent. As a result of this increase the average wage paid to the teachers of the town has improved from $32.57 per month, the lowest average wage paid by any town in the county, as pointed out in the report of last year, to $37.12, and the teachers are now paid about the same as the teachers in similar positions in the neighboring towns. This attitude of the committee toward its teachers marks a decided step forward. Better wages mean better teachers, and better teachers mean better schools.
10
Annual Report
Health of School Children. -
Special efforts are being made throughout the state at the present time to safeguard and to promote the health of school children. The requirement of a school physician is one of the results of these efforts. The services of such an officer are of real value. He brings to light many bodily weaknesses of school children which need to be considered by the teachers and cared for by the parents. He also prevents the spread of disease as in the recent suppression and stamping out of an epidemic of scabies, or itch, at Number Five School,
In addition to this the teachers are required to make an annual examination of the sight and hearing of each child according to directions laid down for them. These examina- ations have just been completed for the second time in this town and indicate that 59 children or 32 per cent. are defective in hearing and that 17 children or 11 per cent. have defective eyesight. The number, however, of those that have more or less defective eyesight is probably larger than reported. This only goes to prove what has long been believed to be true, that school work is injurious to the eyesight of children. To reduce this effect to a minimum, schoolrooms should be well lighted. Four of our schoolrooms need remedying in this re- spect, as the light in them, especially on stormy days and in afternoons in the winter, is unusually poor. As suggested in the report of last year, it would be well if windows could be cut in the rear of these buildings to increase the amount of light.
To a careful observer of school children, moreover, it is remarkable how quickly they become round-shouldered -after beginning to go to school. Hardly a child in the higher grades can be found who has not become so. This is due partly to the neglect of the teacher in not providing physical culture exer- cises and in not insisting upon good position, and partly to the fact that seats and desks rarely fit children. The last cause can only be satisfactorily eliminated by providing adjustable seats
11
Annual Report
and desks, such as are in use at the Myricks school, where each seat and desk is carefully fitted to the requirements of its occu- pant. It would be a help, however, if foot rests were secured for those children whose seats are too high for them. There are a large number of such cases.
Use of Public Library
The habit of wide-reading of good literature is one that the schools should seek to encourage, both because of the pleasure it gives and because of the breadth of knowledge and infor- mation that comes from the reading of good books. To help develop this habit the schools are supplied to some extent with supplementary reading and several of the teachers have started school libraries, but the number of books so provided is inadequate. The books of the public library should be used more by the school children, and arrangements are now being made with those in charge, whereby sets of books may be made up for the several schools, taken to them, and the reading of them by the scholars encouraged by the teachers.
Gardening
Reference was made in the report of last year to the desir- ability of the schools developing an interest on the part of the children in gardening, and in teaching them so far as practicable useful facts in connection with it. A beginning was accordingly made in three of the schools and small school gardens were be- gun. The main object of this work, however, was to interest the children to have vegetable and flower gardens at home, and in this we were partially successful, as fifteen boys and twelve girls reported such gardens, and a number of creditable related compositions and drawings were made by the children and passed in to me. To secure the best results, however, it is de- sirable to provide seeds, to hold some sort of an exhibition and
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Annual Report
to offer simple prizes. It is hoped that something can be done in this line this year.
Music
During the past year the teachers have been provided with some material and urged to do what they could to instruct their children in vocal music, but lacking in training themselves, and not knowing what to do, but little progress has been made except in the singing of rote songs. What is needed to supply the needed enthusiasm, direction and responsibility for the work, is the regular visits of a trained supervisor, and if we de- sire our children to have the ordinary school advantages, such a supervisor must be provided sooner or later. According to the last report of the Mass. State Board of Education, 98.6 per cent. of the children in the state were two years ago receiving special instruction in singing. That our children should be among the very few that are deprived of this training that makes school more attractive and provides an added source of pleasure in the home and throughout one's whole life, is greatly to be regretted. Lack of means is the only excuse which can reasonably be offered. That these may soon be available, is certainly to be hoped.
Drawing
The arguments in favor of systematic training in drawing are even greater than those in favor of such training in music. The ability to sing is of use principally to increase the child's capacity to enjoy and to give pleasure; the ability to draw, however, not only affords pleasure but also serves to intensify knowledge and to develop efficiency. The drawing of the various objects of study promotes a closer observation and a deeper insight in them. The careful sketching of a flower, the illustration of some problem in arithmetic, the drawing of a map
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Annual Report
in connection with the work in history or geography give a better grasp upon the things drawn, while the doing of the work with neatness and with accuracy makes for efficiency in nearly all lines of employment. As a part of an elementary education, therefore, the practical value of systematic work in drawing is almost universally conceded, and wherever possible, provided. Fortunately, moreover, by a new plan which has lately been devised it can be provided at a very low cost, even in towns where the schools are widely separated.
According to this plan the drawing teacher meets the teachers at some place at stated intervals and instructs them in what to have the pupils draw, and have the teachers do a part of the work under her direction, so that they may understand thoroughly how to have the children do it. In addition to this, the teachers bring to such meetings all the drawings that the children have made and the supervisor offers such criticisms as may be helpful. This plan has worked very satisfactorily in several places I have known of, and I urgently recommend that it be given a trial here. I have no doubt that arrangements could be made with the teachers to meet the supervisor Satur- day morning once a month in connection with the meetings of the superintendent, and that excellent work in drawing could by this means be secured in the schools at small expense. In view of the fact that the town's share in the income of the State School Fund has increased steadily during the past few years- the increase this year alone having been something over $100- and seems likely to continue to increase, it would seem as if the committee had means to give the plan a trial without laying any added burden upon the tax-payers.
Consolidation
There can be no doubt that the educational welfare of children in country towns where the population is not too widely scattered can best be secured by a complete or at least partial consolidation of the schools. Very many small towns have al-
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Annual Report
ready taken such steps and are well satisfied with the results. Conditions in this town, moreover, are especially favorable, as the great body of the children live within a comparatively short distance of the Common. What is needed to give the plan an impetus, is for some well-to-do son or daughter of the town to present to it a memorial school building, as has been done in many of the smaller Massachusetts communities. With this provided an excellent system of graded schools could be readily established. Until a suitable building can be provided the closing of one or more of the small schools and the transpor- tation of the children, excepting perhaps during the winter months is recommended.
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