USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1888 > Part 3
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That still better work may be accomplished, I would recommend that new books be procured, in sets of eight or ten copies each, especially for Primary and Middle grades, and no two sets alike; exchanges between schools to be made each term, or as often as circum- stances may require, the books when not actually in use being kept at the teacher's desk.
In this way the scholars would not become so familiar with their reading books as to be indifferent to the lesson long before the grade is passed. With fresh books, and intelligence and activity on the part of the teacher, pupils in the lower grades will certainly advance with greater rapidity, and the expense to the town would be no more.
ATTENDANCE.
It has been the experience of your Superintendent, and the united testimony of the teachers, that a great obstacle in the way of advancement in a majority of our schools is irregular attendance.
12
To what better place than the school-room can we send our children to acquire habits of punctuality, appli- cation, and obedience ? A child untutored to habits of punctuality, who is habitually absent or late at school, will, when a man, be always missing his appointments.
If the wrong done was confined to the tardy or absent pupil, the right to complain would be less ; but the in- jury is felt by the whole school. The frequent absentee, from whatever cause, is a dead weight upon his class ; and when any considerable number are frequently ab- sent, the whole school is retarded and lowered in rank.
It is hardly just to keep the constant and diligent pupil back to favor the indifferent; yet, in a graded, classified school, the frequently absent must either be made of no account, or else the faithful must be robbed of their just rights.
If it is the business of the child to acquire an educa- tion, it is manifestly his duty to be in his place of busi- ness ; - duty to himself and to his class requires it.
As representatives of the town, and friends of educa- tion, let us heartily assist the teachers, who are so earn- estly laboring to accomplish a reform in this direction.
In conformity with custom, a very brief synopsis of the year's work in each school is now given : -
NO. I .- CENTER CHELMSFORD.
High School. - Mr. Chas. H. Bates, who had charge of this school during the year, is a gentleman of fine talent and a thoroughly practical teacher. He applied himself faithfully to his work, devoting his whole time and energy to the improvement of his pupils, and highly satisfactory progress was made under his tuition.
13
Grammar School. - This department, under the leader- ship of Miss Laura L. Butterfield, has given evidence of good discpiline and general improvement in the various branches taught. The annual examination clearly showed that careful and thorough work had been done.
Primary School. - This, our largest Primary School, has been under the charge of Miss Nellie M. Perham during the year. This school requires no small amount of energy and perseverance. Miss Perham has both of these qualifications. The progress of her little pupils was in a high degree gratifying.
No. 2. - NORTH Row.
Miss Blanche E. Henshaw, teacher for the year. An experienced teacher, and one of our best. Her faithful efforts in this school during the year were crowned with a good measure of success.
No. 3. - SOUTH CHELMSFORD.
Miss Gertrude W. Byam had charge of this school during the year. It has been one of our most cheerful and progressive schools, every thing being done in a prompt, wide-awake manner. The examination at the close of the year was eminently satisfactory.
No. 4. - SOUTH Row.
This school has been unfortunate - a different teacher each term: Miss Mary A. Parker in the spring, Miss Carrie L. Adams in the fall, and Miss Helen J. Gookin during the winter.
Miss Parker, though a teacher of long and successful experience, failed to secure the co-operation of parents
14
and scholars, and consequently did not accomplish de- sired results.
Miss Adams entered upon her work with zeal, and soon gained the love and respect of her pupils. She was compelled, however, by a severe illness, to relinquish the work before the close of the term.
The result of the winter's work, under the instruction of Miss Gookin, has been satisfactory to the people of the district, as it certainly has been to your Superin- tendent.
No. 5. - BYAM'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
Miss Nellie Hadley, teacher for the year. This was her first attempt at teaching, and as such must be re- garded as quite successful. She secured the love of her pupils, and thus led them easily and pleasantly and secured good improvement.
No. 6. - EAST CHELMSFORD.
Miss Susie S. McFarlin, who has successfully taught this school for several years, was continued during the present year; and, though the maliciousness of boys caused much unpleasantness for her and large expense to the town, she met all difficulties with determina- tion, and accomplished better work than could have been expected under the circumstances.
No. 7. - SPAULDING'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
Teacher for the year, Miss Mary L. Keith. Miss Keith has had the experience of several terms, and the knowledge thus acquired was made available by herself and her pupils, to the credit and advantage of both.
No. 8 .- NORTH CHELMSFORD,
High School .- Mr. W. F. Parsons, who so successfully taught the closing weeks of the winter term of 1886-7,
15
continued during the spring term, giving universal satis- faction. A class of eight was graduated. The exercises, held at the Town Hall, showed thorough preparation, and were highly pleasing to the large audience present. To the regret of all, Mr. Parsons resigned at the close of the term, to resume his collegiate course.
Mr. W. A. Woodward, who taught during the fall and winter, labored under the disadvantage of a brief experience in teaching. He was faithful and conscien- tious, however, and those who chose to improve their opportunities made good progress.
Grammar School. - Miss Addie M. Taylor, who has so long and successfully instructed in this school, taught dur- ing the year. Experience 'has proved beyond doubt, that with this teacher in charge, success is a moral certainty, and that the school will be a model of its kind. It is sufficient to say that our anticipations have been fully realized.
Intermediate School .- This department was under the guidance of Miss Kate Sleeper, during the year. It is believed she gave general satisfaction to the parents and friends of the school. The examination at the close of the spring term was highly satisfactory to the many who witnessed it.
Primary School. - A good teacher for the year, Miss Laura G. Hoyt. Her former reputation as a teacher was fully sustained, and her valuable services gave uni- versal satisfaction The annual examination was largely attended, and gave proof that the combined labors of teacher and pupils had not been in vain.
No. 9. - WEST CHELMSFORD.
Grammar School. - The services of Miss Carrie M. Robbins were secured in this school, where, during pre-
16
vious terms, she had won so much praise and esteem. There seemed to be entire harmony between the teacher and scholars, and the result was a pleasant and profitable term. A family affliction caused her resignation at the close of the spring term. Miss Robbins was succeeded by Miss Ada M. Sheldon, who brought to her work con- siderable experience as a teacher. The reputation of the school was fully sustained. The scholars were not allowed to make haste at the expense of thoroughness, but possessed, at the annual examination, at the close of the year, a good knowledge of all the ground gone over.
Primary School. - Miss Agnes Naylor, teacher for the year. Miss Naylor commenced her labors as a teacher in this school eight years ago; and the fact that she has been continuously employed since, shows the estimation placed upon her services by those best qualified to judge.
I can not close this report without acknowledging the interest manifested by the parents and friends of educa- tion. More than eight hundred visits have been made the several schools during the year. This interest I believe is not only unusual, but increasing, and can not but have exerted a good influence upon both teachers and scholars. Frequent visitation on the part of parents is of incalculable benefit. It encourages the teacher to more faithful effort, and stimulates the pupil to greater zeal in study. A deeper interest and sympathy in our school system are awakened, and a better understanding of its necessities acquired. It is impossible to judge correctly of the efficiency of the teacher or the profi- ciency of the scholar, without a familiar acquaintance with the school-room.
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Our public schools are the hope of this country, the mental and moral culture of our youth its crown of glory and strength. Open wide, therefore, the gates of learning, remove every obstacle, but forget not that moral growth and a right understanding of the duties of good citizenship are of equal and even higher im- portance.
Thanking you, gentlemen, for your confidence and co-operation, the scholars and teachers for theirs, with the wish that I could have served them and the town generally more to their advantage, I respectfully submit this report.
GEORGE F. SNOW,
Superintendent.
TEXT-BOOK AND SUPPLY ACCOUNT.
Books and supplies received of J. H. Vincent,
$125 00
Expended for supplies.
243 49
" books
422 59
$791 08
Books and supplies furnished School No. 1. .
$167 30
66
2 ..
18 82
יר
3 ..
64 57
66
4. .
21 40
" 5 ..
12 10
66
66
" 6 ..
75 89
66
66
38 76
66
" 8 ..
149 63
66 66
49 75
Books and supplies on hand.
192 86
“ 7 ..
" 9 ..
$791 08
Supplies include maps, charts, writing and drawing books.
ROLL OF HONOR - PUPILS NOT ABSENT.
Those marked * were tardy.
HIGH SCHOOL No. 1.
THE YEAR - Wintie R. Gordon.
Two TERMS - Harry L. Merrill, Clara Hutchinson.
ONE TERM - William Fletcher, Fred R. Marshall, James A. Mooney, H. Gertie Fulton, Ella A. Hutchinson, Inez A. Davis, Lillian A. McNutt, Grace E. Mansfield.
GRAMMAR No. 1.
THE YEAR - Cora Hutchinson .*
Two TERMS - Estelle Hutchinson.
ONE TERM - Clara Hutchinson, Lillian St. Amour, Jessie M. Holt, Sadie Thurlow.
.PRIMARY No. 1.
THE YEAR - Herbert Whitney.
ONE TERM - Karl Perham, Harold Davis, Harry Ward, Harry Hooper, Louise Wiggin, Grace Parkhurst, Estelle Hutchinson.
MIXED No. 2.
Two TERMS - Willie Fulton .*
ONE TERM - Bridget Driscoll, Thomas Sheehan, Walter Teabo,* Henry Smith,* Willie Kingsbury .*
MIXED No. 3.
THE YEAR - Nettie A. Byam.
Two TERMS -John H. Cooper, John A. Redmond, Sadie A. Redmond, Ferdie M. Scoboria, Carl M. Mansfield,* Willie J. White,* Lyman A. Byam .*
20
MIXED No. 4.
Two TERMS -Eddie J. Robbins, Frank Melvin, Alvin Sweetser. .ONE TERM - Irvin Crooker, Edith Davis, Ida Melvin, Florence Cummings.
MIXED No. 5.
THE YEAR - Arthur E. Dutton.
ONE TERM - Clara Newhall, Stella Byam, Walter E. Newhall.
MIXED No. 6.
Two TERMS - Michael McKennedy, Michael Finnick,* Walter Devine, Annie Devine, Ellen Devine.
ONE TERM -Bertha L. Teabo, Cora J. Dow, Harry Wilson, Ernest Craven, Lizzie Devine, Sadie Devine.
MIXED No. 7.
Two TERMS - Ella Hodson, Elsie Hodson, Frank Martin.
ONE TERM - Clara Barker, Minnie Savage, Nellie Savage, Oscar Hodson, Willie Martin.
HIGH No. 8.
Two TERMS - Ralph Ripley .*
ONE TERM - Myra Carkin, Bertha Swain, Grace Washburn, Fred. Naylor.
GRAMMAR No. 8.
ONE YEAR. - Cecelia A. Marinel.
Two TERMS- Della G. Sprague, Fannie G. Holt, G. Walter Peterson, Albert E. Peterson,* Frank D. Small .*
ONE TERM-Luella G. Merrill, Blanche L. Sampson, Eliza J. Spaulding,* Lillie M. Sweat, Eva M. Connell, George B. Holt, Harry C. Libby, Harry I. Mclaughlin, Charles McEnnis,* Joseph J. Quig- ley, Irving L. Keith.
INTERMEDIATE No. 8.
ONE YEAR-Minnie Pearson,* Minnie McManamin, Viola Green,* Hannah Shields,* Frank Pearson .*
Two TERMS - Walter Marinel.
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ONE TERM -Gracie Wright, Lena Small, Hattie Hall, Luella Merrill, Mary Dunigan, Frank Small, John McNally, Herman Shaw, Joseph McGrath, Gardner Ripley, Eddie McEnnis,* George Swain,* Augustus Duncan, James Leahey, Willie Dunigan.
PRIMARY No. 8.
ONE YEAR-Theresa McCabe, Delia Shields, Alice Shields, Carl Ripley, Clarence Spaulding.
Two TERMS-Sarah Leahey, Grace Merrill, Rose McCabe, Ste- phen Ward.
ONE TERM - Mary McMahan, Eliza Mclaughlin, Hattie Cook, Mary Larkin,* Edith Merrill, Lizzie Larkin,* George Spalding, George Lambert, Walter Marinel, Patrick McEnally, Gardner Rip- ley, George Swain, Willie Chandler,* Alice O'Donald,* Georgiana McEnnis,* Maud Wright, Minnie McCoy,* Frank Hall, Cora Pearson .*
GRAMMAR No. 9.
ONE YEAR -- Oscar N. Naylor.
ONE TERM- Annie Knight, Lottie L. Snow.
PRIMARY No. 9.
ONE YEAR-Carl E. Spalding, Charles A. Dows, John Boynton .* Two TERMS-Myra Coburn, Louisa Pelsue, Charles Jordan.
ONE TERM -Julia Wilson, Minnie Pelsue, Freddie Daw, Fred- die Snow, John Dane, George Mason.
STATISTICAL TABLE OF SCHOOLS IN THE TOWN OF CHELMSFORD, MASS. FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1888.
SPRING TERM.
FALL TERM.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Months.
Days.
Number registe'd.
Av. attendance.
Under 5 years.
Over 15 years.
Between 8 and 14.
Wages per month.
Months.
Days.
Number registe'd.
Av. attendance.
Under 5 years.
Over 15 years.
Between 8 and 14.
Wages per month.
High, Centre
1
Charles H. Bates ...
15
31
22.3
0
11
4
2
15
47
38
0
9
18
$80 00
Grammar, Centre.
1
Laura J. Butterfield
2
15
36
24.7
0
0
36
32 00
2
15
32
27.9
0
0
32
36 00
Primary, Centre ...
Nellie M. Perham ..
2
15
47
35
0
0
21
32 00
2
15
51
42.7
2
0
20
36 00
Mixed, North Road ....
2
Blanche Henshaw,
2
15
12
10.5
0
0
10
32 00
2
10
12
8.7
0
0
9
36 00
Mixed, South.
3
Gertrude W. Byam,
2
15
25
20.3
0
0
22
32 00
2
15
35
30.7
0
0
20
36 00
Mixed, South Road .....
4
Mary A. Parker ..
2
15
23
16.3
0
1
14
32 00
2
15
21
17.2
0
0
17
32 00
Mixed, Littleton Road,
5
Nellie Hadley
2
10
9
7.2
0
0
5
24 00
2
15
90
7.4
0
0
5
24 00
Mixed, East.
6
Susie S. McFarlin
2
15
32
26.3
0
2
18
34 00
2
15
31
27.3
1
0
22
38 00
Mixed, Westford Road,
7
May L. Keith
2
15
15
13.3
1
1
6
32 00
2
15
14
13
0
0
5
32 00
High School, North ....
W. F. Parsons ....
15
29
25.9
0
18
11
85 00
2
15
26
21.6
0
17
9
85 00
Grammar, North
8
'Addie M. Taylor ...
2
15
38
30
0
7
27
32 00
2
15
39
31.6
0
4
33
38 00
Intermediate, Nortlı ...
2
15
35
28.3
0
0
35
32 00
2
15
42
35.7
0
0
42
38 00
Primary, North ...
8
Laura G. Hoyt .....
2
15
54
43.3
1
0
17
32 00
2
15
21
17
0
1
15
32 00
2
15
17
14.8
0
1
14
38 00
Primary, West ..
9
Agnes Naylor ...
2
15
23
20.5
2
0
11
32 00
2
15
24
20.6
1
0
9
38 00
Total Schools ..
·
15
Teachers, 19
41
00
430
341.4
4
41
252
41
00
447
376.7
6
31
270
1
.
.
2
15
47
39.5
2
0
15
38 00
Grammar, West ..
9
Carrie M. Robbins.
Ada M. Sheldon ...
.
Time.
Time.
No. of School.
$75 00
.
.
Carrie Adams.
W. A. Woodworth.
Kate Sleepcr ...
·
Statistical Table of Schools in the Town of Chelmsford, Mass. - Continued.
THE YEAR.
WINTER TERM.
No. of School.
TEACHERS.
Months.
Days.
Number registo'd.
Av. attendance.
Under 5 years.
Over 15 years.
Between 8 and 14.
Wages per month.
Months.
Days.
Number registe'd.
Av. attendance.
Wages of teachers.
.74
3
00
44
36.4
0
28
16
$84 00
8
10
49
36
$677 25
High, Centre
1
L. J. Butterfield ....
3
00
33
26.6
0
33
36 00
8
10
46
26
295 00
Grammar, Centre.
1
Nellie M. Perham ..
3
00
50
38
2
0
21
36 00
8
10
51
38
295 00
.74
Mixed, North Road ....
2
Blanche Henshaw,
2
15
14
12
0
0
10
38 00
8
0
17
10.3
282 50
.60
3
Gertrude W. Byam,
3
00
32
24.4
0
3
24
36 00
8
10
36
24.4
295 00
.67
Mixed, South ..
8
10
24
15.7
278 00
. 65
Mixed, South Road .....
4
Carrie Adams ...
3
00
17
14.3
0
0
12
34 00
7
10
13
7
180 00
.54
Mixed, Littleton Road,
5
Nellie Hadley ....
2
5
10
6.5
0
0
8
8
10
37
27
312 00
.73
3
00
32
27.4
1
0
23
38 00
Mixed, East ..
6
Susie S. McFarlin .. May L. Keith ...
3
00
18
15
0
1
9
32 00
8
10
18
13.4
272 00
. 74
High School, North ....
3
W. A. Woodworth,
3
00
21
15.6
0
12
9
85 00
8
10
30
20.9
722 50
.69
Grammar, North .....
8
Addie M. Taylor ...
3
00
34
26.8
0
3
27
38 00
8
10
44
29.4
306 50
.67
Intermediate, North ...
8
Katie Sleeper ...
3
00
41
34.1
0
0
41
38 00
8
10
48
32.7
306 50
.68
8
Laura G. Hoyt .......
3
00
41
32.2
I
0
13
38 00
8
10
64
38.2
306 50
.60
Primary, North.
3
00
18
14.4
0
2
14
38 00
8
10
23
15.4
306 50
.67
Grammar, West.
9
Agnes Naylor .
3
00
26
20
1
0
11
38 00
8
10
32
20.4
306 50
. 64
Primary, West ..
Total Schools ..
15
Teachers, 19.
44
00
431
344.7
5
51
271
126
00
532
354.8
$5,141 75
.66
SCHOOLS.
Time.
Time.
PERCENT. OF ATTEND'CE.
Charles H. Bates ...
.56
Primary, Centre ...
Helen J. Gookin ....
24 00
Mixed, Westford Road,
7
..
9
Ada M. Sheldon ....
·
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