USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1895 > Part 3
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ARTICLE 19. At the request of Wm. H. Hills, S. W. Parkhurst and others. to see if the Town of Chelmsford. Mass., will take the necessary steps, by petition to the Legislature or otherwise, to secure for the use of the Town, in its several.
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villages, the several ponds of water known as the "Bap- tist," or sometimes called "Hart's " pond, near South Chelmsford Village, the "Leach," or sometimes called "Newfield " pond, near North Chelmsford Village. Also the height of ground known as "Robin's Hill," and such other high ground near North and West Chelmsford as may be desirable for reservoir purposes, all for the use of the Town of Chelmsford, Mass., as a system of water supply for domestic use, and fire protection. And to secure the rights of the Town to such meadow lands on River Meadow Brook as may be needed, or desirable for the sinking of wells to supply the eastern part of the Town, and to protect the same from pollution in accord- ance with the statutes made and provided.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to put lettered boards in the several villages, forbidding the use of bicycles and tricycles upon the sidewalks of the Town.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will make an appropriation to the North Chelmsford Library Association, on condition that the books of said Library shall be free to all inhabitants of the Town, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of decorating the graves of our soldiers in the several cemeteries, on the 30th day of May next, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 23. At the request of F. E. Bickford, Warren Berry, H. H. Emerson, and twenty others, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of digging a well and prepare it for a public watering place, at the South Village, upon the ground as located by the Selectmen, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 24. At the request of Elisha H. Shaw, H. H. Emerson and many others, to sec if the Town will assume the charge of lighting the streets in the several villages of the Town, raise and appropriate a sum of money to do the same, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. At the request of W. B. Cotton, C. O. Stevens and 18 others, to see if the Town will adopt the Australian ballot system in the election of all Town Officers that are required by law to be voted for by written or printed ballot.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the Town will adopt Sect. 1, Chap. 465 of the Acts of 1893, in regard to using the Mc'l'ammany ballot box in connection with the Australian ballot. Articles 25 and 26, if adopted, to be in force at all succeeding elections.
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ARTICLE 27. At the request of L. M. Dutton and others, to see if the Town will vote to take up the article in regard to licens- ing the sale of intoxicating liquors, at or before 10.30 o'clock in the forenoon, and that the polls remain open for voting on said article until the close of the meeting, with the exception of adjournment for dinner.
ARTICLE 2S. At the request of E. H. Shaw and others, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of heating and ventilating the school- house in North Chelmsford, as required by the State Inspector.
ARTICLE 29. At the request of Geo. F. Snow, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars, to straighten and widen the street and bridge near the railroad station at West Chelmsford, in compli- ance with an order of the County Commissioners of Mid- dlesex County, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 30. At the request of E. H. Shaw, M. A. Queen and others, to see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to repair the damage done to the premises of E. Shaw & Son, now oc- cupied by them, caused by raising the grade of the high- way in front thereof, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 31. To see if the Town will accept the gift of a deed of land from J. Adams Bartlett upon the following express con- ditions : That said premises shall forever be kept open as and for a Public Park, and that no building shall ever be erected or allowed to stand upon said premises.
ARTICLE 32. At the request of Peter J. Brennan and others, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of digging a well, providing a pump and prepare it for a public watering place at the northerly end of the Common in North Chelinsford, or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up attested copies thereof at the post offices in the centre of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, West Chelmsford, and at the school-house at East Chelmsford, ten days at least before the time appointed for holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of hold- ing the meeting aforesaid.
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Given under our hands this eighth day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and ninety-five.
EBEN T. ADAMS, NEWELL E. PARKER, MARTIN ROBBINS, ARTHUR H. SHELDON, GEO. F. SNOW, Selectmen of Chelmsford.
I have served the foregoing Warrant, by posting up true and attested copies of the same at the places above mentioned, more than ten days before the day of holding said meeting.
JAMES P. EMERSON,
Constable of Chelmsford.
List of Jurors
As prepared by the Selectmen, March 8, 1895.
Andrews, Charles
Adams, Timothy Butterfield, John H.
Butters, Geo. E. Brown, I. Woodward
Howard, Henry E. Lee, William M.
Merrill, Frank G.
Nichols, John H.
Perham, Albert P.
Coburn, Edwin F. Durant, Geo. E.
Pinkham, Arthur C.
Dupee, Edmund F.
Davis, Albert H. Dunn, John W. Elliott, Jasper
Pickard, Daniel J.
Russell, E. Lincoln
Eaton, John P.
Reed, Albert S.
Richardson, A. Howard Robbins, Martin
Fowle, William R. Farrow, John A. Green, Oliver M. Howard, Lewis K. Holt, George H. Hall, John S.
Parkhurst, Alfred G. Parker, Newell E.
Parkhurst. Edwin K.
Sprague, Cordice R. Stetson, George G. Stevens, Ephraim A. Vinal, Charles A.
EBEN T. ADAMS,
Chairman of Selectmen.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Chelmsford, Mass.,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY
28,
1895.
LOWELL, MASS. COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1895
Report of School Committee.
The School Committee of the Town of Chelmsford for the year 1894-95, held its first meeting March 24, 1894. Samuel C. Hagerman was chosen Chair- man, John H. Redman, Secretary. George F. Snow was re-elected Superintendent of Schools and Book Agent for the Board.
As members of the Committee we have en- deavored to discharge our various duties in a faithful manner. We feel that we have been favored in many ways, but especially so in the choice of Super- intendent and the corps of teachers who have labored with him during the past year. The present satis- factory condition of our schools is a sufficient proof of their persistent and painstaking work. Such work is eminently creditable, when we note the several serious difficulties with which both teachers and pu- pils have had to contend.
The first and perhaps the most serious of these has been the crowded condition of the schools at the North Village and the Centre. We are glad, however, to report that steps are being taken toward remedying this difficulty. The Town, at its meeting last March, upon the recommendation of our pred-
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ecessors, appointed a committee to investigate and report upon this matter. The Chairman of this com- mittee has recently informed us that the members are still giving the matter their careful consideration. In the meantime we have endeavored to afford tem- porary relief in the matter of ventilation, etc.
A second difficulty has been the lack of co-op- eration on the part of parents. We will not call it lack of interest, for we do not believe it to be such ; but rather the lack of an expression of interest. If the people of Chelmsford expect ideal schools, it is not enough that they appropriate generously for their support. They must visit the schools. Therefore while we heartily thank those who have shown their inter- est by their visits during the past year, we would remind those who may be displeased with the school work, that they have their part to take in making that work a success.
Finally, a serious difficulty has presented itself in the shape of sickness among the scholars. Especially has this been the case at the Centre, where, owing to several cases of scarlet fever, we found it neces- sary to close the schools during a week in February.
In connection with this matter we feel that it will not be amiss to call attention to certain laws regarding contagious diseases, etc. : -
Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides, and
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such attendance shall continue for at least thirty weeks of the school year, if the schools are kept open that length of time, with an allowance of two weeks' time for absences not excused by the Super- intendent of Schools or the School Committee, and for every neglect of such duty the person offending shall, upon complaint of a School Committee, or any Truant Officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town, a sum not exceeding twenty dollars; but if such child has attended, for a like period of time, a private day school, approved by the School Committee of such city or town, or if such child has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning re- quired by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable, such penalty shall not be incurred.
The School Committee shall not allow a child who has not been duly vaccinated, to be admitted to or connected with the public schools.
Chapter 198 of the Acts of 1885 provides that the School Committee shall not allow any pupil to attend the public schools while any member of the household to which such pupil belongs, is sick of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, or during a period of two weeks after the death, recovery, or removal of such sick person; and any pupil coming from such household shall be required to present to the teacher of the school the pupil desires to at-
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tend, a certificate from the attending physician or Board of Health, of the facts necessary to entitle him to admission, in accordance with the above regulation.
No child under thirteen years of age shall be employed at any time in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment. No such child shall be em- ployed in any indoor work, performed for wages or other compensation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the city or town in which he resides, are in session, or shall be employed in any manner during such hours, un- less during the year next preceding such employ- ment he has attended school for at least twenty weeks, as required by law.
No child under fourteen years of age shall be employed in any manner before the hour of six o'clock in the morning or after the hour of seven o'clock in the evening. No such child shall be employed in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment, except during the vacation of the public schools in the city or town where he resides, unless the person or corporation employing him procures and keeps on file a certificate and employment ticket for such child as prescribed by Section 4 of this act, and no such child shall be employed in any indoor work, performed for wages or other compen- sation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of such city or town are in ses- sion, unless as aforesaid, or shall be employed in any
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manner during such hours unless during the year next preceding such employment he has attended school for at least twenty weeks, as required by law; and such employment shall not continue in any case beyond the time when such certificate expires. The Chief of the District Police, with the approval of the Governor, shall have authority to designate any kind or kinds of employment in factories, workshops, or mercantile establishments as injurious to the health of children under fourteen years of age employed therein, and after one week's written notice from the said chief to the employer or his superintendent, overseer or other agent of such designation, no child shall be employed in any such kind or kinds of employment in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment.
No child under sixteen years of age shall be employed in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment unless the person or corporation employ- ing him procures and keeps on file the certificate required in the case of such child, and also keeps on file a full and complete list of such children employed therein.
Every parent or guardian of a child under four- teen years of age who permits any employment of such a child contrary to the provisions of this act, and every owner, superintendent, or overseer of any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment who employs or permits to be employed therein any child contrary to the provisions of this act, and any other
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person who employs any child contrary to the pro- visions of this act shall, for every such offence, for- feit not less than twenty nor more than fifty dollars for the use of the public schools of the city or town. Every parent, guardian, or person authorized to sign the certificate prescribed by Section 4 of this act, who certifies to any materially false statement therein, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding fifty dol- lars, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
A failure to produce to a Truant Officer or Inspector of Factories the certificate required by the provisions of this act shall be prima facie evidence of the illegal employment of the child whose certifi- cate is not produced.
Every owner, superintendent, or overseer in any such establishment, who employs, or permits to be employed therein, a child under fourteen years of age who cannot read and write, while the public schools in the city or town where such child lives are in session, and every parent or guardian who permits such employment, shall, for every such offence, forfeit not less than twenty nor more than fifty dollars for the use of the public schools of such city or town.
Whoever wilfully and maliciously or wantonly and without cause destroys, defaces, mars, or injures a school-house, church, or other building erected or used for purposes of education or religious instruc- tion, or for the general diffusion of knowledge, or
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an outbuilding, fence, well, or appurtenance of such school-house, church, or other building, or furniture, apparatus, or other property belonging to, or con- nected with such school-house, church, or other build- ings, shall be punished by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the jail not exceeding one year.
SAMUEL HAGERMAN,
J. H. REDMAN, G. A. BYAM, D. P. BYAM, ORRIN PIERCE,
CHARLES ANDREWS,
HUBERT BEARCE,
J. A. PARKHURST,
C. A. RANDLETT,
School Committee.
Superintendent's Report.
To the Chairman and Gentlemen of the School Committee:
My annual report as Superintendent of Schools is here- by submitted for your consideration.
In submitting this report I perform one of my last official acts in connection with this office, the duties of which I assumed eight years ago.
It has devolved upon me through your aid and co-opera- tion to make such changes in the schools, both in manage- ment and instruction, as seemed likely to improve them.
I trust that the administration has proven of sufficient merit as to recommend it to your approval, and the approval of the public whom you represent.
Allow me to express the hope that the future policy of your Board may be as liberal and progressive as it has been during my connection with your honorable body, and that my successor may find in you that aid and appreciation that has made possible the accomplishment of my plans and wishes in regard to the schools. I desire to express my thanks to the teachers for the cheerful spirit which has characterized their work, and in which they have co-operated with me in carry - ing forward the suggestions which I have made to them from time to time. This spirit has been not an unimportant factor in making this the most pleasant year of my work with you.
My thanks are due the citizens and parents for their expressions of confidence in the public schools and their out- spoken words in their behalf. I bespeak for them the con-
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tinued and increased interest of all. What, tell me, has been bequeathed to us by our forefathers more excellent, in honor and in value, than our system of public schools? What bet- ter treasure than intellectual and moral worth can we either possess ourselves or bestow on the children of our affections ? Our Town has, I know, held for many years an honorable standing, as compared with towns around her, as regards expenditures for maintaining these schools. Long may she be honorable thus; and instead of tiring in the good work, let her rise to even a more liberal and higher position.
PARENTAL INFLUENCE.
Never was parental influence more needed by the teacher than now. Children come home with complaints that the teacher has unjustly punished them or given them too long a lesson.
Now just as soon as the parent sees there is difficulty between the teacher and his children, he ought at once to look into the matter ; for it is very indiscreet to decide on the testimony of an angry child, that the teacher is wrong and thus encourage the child in insubordination.
The teacher in all probability is right, and needs your support. Go kindly, then, and see the teacher, for, in nine cases in ten, if not ninety-nine in a hundred, the teacher is right. Examine into the matter and you will find that your child was wrong and needed correction. It is miserably mean to go about the neighborhood and say the teacher is " partial," or " has no judgment," or " hates your child," or " my child is not the worst in school," or " that somebody deserved punishment more."
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Why not squarely put the question, is my child wrong ? If, upon inquiry of the teacher, you find the child was, then stand by the teacher and sustain her to the end. The good of the school and the good of the community require it. Should the teacher be in the wrong, go to her kindly and tell her so, and she will be happy to correct any mistake she may have made.
Therefore, stand by the teacher and sustain her.
DISCIPLINE.
The general moral effort and influence of the schools have been good in kind and degree, notwithstanding the ever- present and demoralizing influence of indecent and vicious manifestations of character by some pupils. From year to year I have endeavored, directly and indirectly, to inculcate among the pupils habits as well as forms of respect toward one another, toward teachers, toward school requirements, and toward those with whom they may be brought in contact in the great outside world : habits of punctuality, diligence, neatness, trustworthiness, purity of action, in word and deed, care and proper use of property, fidelity to friends and country.
Here is found the power of a teacher's personality in creating a high moral tone in and about the school, which shall conduce rather to character building than to mere men- tal training.
THE SCHOOL WORK.
The year has been one of quiet progress. The work is evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. On the part of the teachers there seems to be a general desire for the
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best, a willingness to work, a loyalty to the schools. Our schools seem to be exceptionally free from friction, irritation, and avoidable vexations. It is well, too, for there never can exist a thoroughly good school where discontent and discord prevail, or where the spirit of concord dwells not.
The child certainly takes on the character of his environ- ments and is fashioned into the likeness of those in closest contact with him.
Therefore, we should seek most for the spirit of the school and base our conclusion upon this.
I believe an ambitious spirit, a generous spirit, a hopeful and ennobling spirit - in a word, the true spirit, is living and growing in our schools.
May this continue ! Aid and gratitude to the teachers who are fostering it. Strict attention was given at the clos- ing of each term to ascertain the rate of each scholar's advancement, and I am pleased to announce that a good degree of progress has been made by nearly all the pupils during the year.
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.
Of our fifteen schools ten have retained the same teachers throughout the year and eight for a longer period.
These veteran teachers have done superior work. Those who have come to us during the year have brought a degree of scholarship, an earnestness of purpose, an elevation of character, and, in most cases, an ability and energy in man- . agement, that have won the respect of the school and com- munity and insured a gratifying degree of success.
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MIXED SCHOOLS.
The work prescribed for these schools and the manner of doing it, have been carried out through the year with much uniformity and with generally satisfactory results. The prev- alence of contagious disease injuriously affected the attend- ance upon some of these schools. Yet in addition to absences caused by sickness, dread of contagion, or some imperative necessity, how many result from an inconsiderate indulgence of childish notions or parental ease or profit. When the child, grown to man's estate, sees the worth of the precious time thus lost, he will not hold his parents guiltless. Absence for a day, or even a single half-day, is a serious injury to the pupil. Each day's work completed is a sure foundation for the next day's course of discipline and instruc- tion. But the lessons of the day being lost, some of the next are generally unprepared, for the old excuse is ever ready : " I was absent and don't know the lesson."
How difficult it is for instructors to excite and sustain the interest of their pupils, how hard a task for a pupil, unless present at every recitation, to surmount each new obstacle and firmly grasp each new principle, no one but a practical teacher can fully appreciate. Those absent days produce habits of neglect, and failures occur often.
The absentee loses his interest, if he ever had any, in his studies, hangs like a dead weight on the class, and finally drops into a lower division, or out of school entirely. The teachers deserve the highest praise for their unwearied pains to keep tardy and absent marks from their school registers. Those who have interested the parents in this matter of reg- ular attendance have accomplished the most, for, when a teacher manifests a personal interest in a pupil, the parent is pleased and the child will generally be punctual at school.
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PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
As a whole the Primary Schools are in better condition than they were a year ago, and their work is a testimonial to what can be accomplished when the same faithful and con- scientious teachers are long continued in their work. If we wish to have pure water in a river, we must look to the purity of the springs at its source; if the springs are pure, the whole river will be pure. So in a system of education we must look to the Primary Schools first. With these working ยท in the right direction, in the course of time the whole system must be benefited. The task of the Primary School teacher is, in my opinion, more difficult and gathers around itself more discouragements than that of any other teacher engaged in our common school system. Within eight, or at the most nine, years these little ones ought to be brought to the door of the High School, well qualified to run the race which will there open before them.
How important that they be started correctly on this long and wearisome journey ! How essential that their impressions at the outset be cheerful, that their ideas be true and noble, and that their love of school be planted deeply within them !
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
The work of the year has been progressive and satisfac - tory. In the Intermediate Schools the children by their keen and quick perceptions gain a fair knowledge of the chief elements of arithmetic, geography, history and nature study, and in the years that follow this knowledge is extended more readily and satisfactorily than by spending so much time exclusively upon the few subjects that formed the
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staple of the school programme of ten years ago. To the children who are obliged to leave school while in the lower grades, the training in these studies is an advantage, which a postponement of them to the higher grades deprives them of.
Again, and this is the chief advantage, if rightly taught, children will acquire a taste for these subjects, which will lead to formation of habits of reading and study when school days are over. Especial effort has been made in this grade to improve the writing. The results of the effort are now visible and I am able to report great improvement.
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