USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1896 > Part 3
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431 of the Acts of 1888, and subsequent amend- ments, relating to the employment of a Superin- tendent of Schools, and appropriate money therefor, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12.
To see if the Town will vote to accept the widen- ing of the townway known as Bridge Street, as laid out by the Selectmen, beginning at the junction of said townway with Westford Street, and running westerly about two hundred and thirty-eight feet to land of Charles E. Parkhurst, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13.
To see if the Town will vote to accept a townway as laid out by the Selectmen, beginning at the intersection of Wright Street and Canal Street in North Chelmsford, thence running north- westerly about twelve hundred one and one- half feet to a stone bound on the Groton Road, land being given and partially graded, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 14.
To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift of three hundred dollars, in trust, from Charles H. Greenleaf, administrator of the estate of Sarah H. W. Parker, the income of the same to be expended in forever keeping in repair and order the tomb and burial lot of Samuel Fox Wood and family in North Chelmsford Cemetery, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15.
To see if the Town will vote to accept the gift of one hundred and fifty dollars, in trust, from Charles H. Greenleaf of Boston, the income of the same to be expended in forever keeping in repair the burial lot in North Chelmsford Cem- etery in which Phineas Carleton is buried, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. At the request of Perley P. Perham and others, to see if the Town will vote to dig a well and put a pump in the same at the school-house in District No. 2, and raise and appropriate money there- for, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. 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 18. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the unexpended balance of the appropriation made
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at the last Town meeting, for the purpose of lay- ing the water pipe in North Chelmsford, as voted at said meeting, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of one thousand dollars for the purpose of lighting the streets in the several villages of the Town, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 20. At the request of Stewart Mackay and others, to see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for a new floor, and such additions or repairs of furniture as may be required, for the Primary department of school-house No. S, situated in North Chelmsford, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to accept a townway as laid out by the Selectmen, beginning at the north-west corner of Washington Street and Canal Street, in North Chelmsford, at a stone bound, thence south-westerly two hundred ninety-seven and one-tenth feet to a stone bound, land being given and partially graded, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22.
To see if the Town will vote to accept the widen- ing and straightening of a townway leading from Chelmsford Street southwesterly to the old Middlesex Road at the house of one Stearns, as laid out by the Selectmen, beginning at a stone bound on Chelmsford Street, thence south- westerly about two thousand seven hundred nine feet to stone bound at Middlesex Road, at land of said Stearns, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 23. At the request of J. Adams Bartlett and others, to see if the Town will vote to change the name of the "Free Public Library of Chelmsford," so that it may be hereafter known as the "Adams Library," or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 24. At the request of George A. Parkhurst and others, to see if the Town will vote to direct the Select- men to have the building and contents of the Public Library insured, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. At the request of J. Adams Bartlett and others, to see if the Town will direct the Trustees of the Public Library to elect from among their own number a Treasurer, as set forth in the Public Statutes, Chapter 304, Section 5, Acts of 1888, or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 26. At the request of Wilbur A. Cheney and others, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money not to exceed three hundred dollars, to purchase land known as the J. M. Fletcher lot, also to appropriate a sum of money not to exceed two thousand dollars to erect a schoolhouse thereon, in that part of Chelmsford known as " Golden Cove," or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27.
At the request of Harry B. Richardson and others, to see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for conveying to and from school, the children who live near the Lowell line in North Chelmsford, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. 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 re- lation thereto.
ARTICLE 29.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate a sum of money for the purpose of digging a well, and to prepare it for a public watering place, at North Chelmsford, upon the ground as located by the Selectmen, or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 30.
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate the sum of eight hundred and twenty-five dollars for the purpose of depositing, and also authorize the Treasurer to deposit, the trust funds with accumulated interest (given the Town in trust, the income to be used for the care of lots in the several cemeteries in town) in somne savings bank, the interest to be drawn for the care of said lots, 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 sixth day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and ninety-six.
JOSEPH E. WARREN, ARTIIUR H. SHELDON, NEWELL E PARKER, JOSEPH A. PARKHURST, WILLIAM H. SHEDD, 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.
J. P. EMERSON,
Constable of Chelmsford.
Chelmsford, March 6, 1896.
LIST OF JURORS
As prepared by the Selectmen March 6, 1896
Andrews, Charles Adams, Timothy
Butters, George E
Brown, I. Woodward Durant, George E
Parker, Newell E
Parkhurst, Edwin K
Pickard, Daniel J
Emerson, Harry B
Fowle, William R Fletcher, Fred L Green, Oliver M Howard, Lewis K Hodson, Henry R Hall, John S
Merrill, Frank G
Nichols, John H
Perham. Albert P
Parkhurst, Alfred G
Draper, William L Dunn, John J Dyar, George F Elliott, Jasper
Reed, Albert S Robbins, Martin
Stetson, George G
Stevens, Ephraim A
Snow, George F Scoboria, John P
Sampson, James A
Smith, Thomas Vinal, Charles A
JOSEPH E. WARREN,
Chairman of Selectmen.
ANNUAL REPORT
- OF THE -
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
- AND -
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
- OF THE
TOWN OF CHELMSFORD
- FOR THE -
YEAR 1895=6.
LOWELL, MASS .: COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1896.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Term expires in 1896. CHARLES ANDREWS, DANIEL P. BYAM, JOHN H. REDMAN.
Term expires in 1897. SAMUEL HAGERMAN, ORRIN PIERCE, CHARLES F. RANDLETT.
Term expires in 1898. GEORGE A. BYAM, STEWART MACKAY, JOSEPH A. PARKHURST.
ORGANIZATION.
SAMUEL HAGERMAN, Chairman.
JOHN H. REDMAN, Secretary.
CHARLES ANDREWS, Supply Agent.
STEWART MACKAY, Authorized to Sign Age and Schooling Certificates.
MRS. SUSAN M. BARKER, Residence, Ayer, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The first meeting of the School Committee was held March 20th, 1895. The Committee organized with Samuel C. Hagerman as Chairman, and John H. Redman as Secretary. Mrs. Susan M. Barker of Ayer, Mass., was elected Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Charles Andrews was chosen Book Agent.
Your Committee have had fifteen meetings during the year, and S. C. Hagerman has attended eleven, Charles Randlett none, D. P. Byam nine, J. H. Redman fifteen, George A. Byam eleven, Orrin Pierce eight, Charles Andrews fourteen, Stewart Mackay twelve, J. A. Parkhurst nine.
In submitting the present report, your Committee feel that it is unnecessary to call the attention of the citizens of Chelmsford to their loss suffered in the resignation of Mr. George F. Snow, who, for several years past, has so acceptably filled the office of Super- intendent of Schools, and under whose persistent efforts our schools have made a steady and marked improvement. No one more than your Committee regrets that Mr. Snow's increasing duties have made it impossible for him to serve longer as Superintendent, and no one realized more fully than we the difficulty before us in replacing so able and experienced an officer. We have, however, we believe, been more for-
1
tunate in his successor than we even hoped. Mrs. Barker, our present Superintendent, is a lady of wide experience and careful training in school work, and under her systematic arrangement the schools have made marked progress during the past year. For the detailed result of her work we refer those interested to her Report; in fact, it is the Superintendent's Report which is of primary importance in determining the real progress made in our schools. Your Committee have become convinced that they are not in a position to judge with accuracy the difficulties with which teachers contend. An occasional glance into the school-room is not sufficient, and we regret that a School Committee can do but little more than judge and report from out- ward appearances. We would, therefore, urge upon our townspeople a careful examination of our Superin- tendent's Report; and further we would cordially invite friends and parents as visitors to verify her Report.
There have been some changes in the corps of teach- ers during the past year. 'The resignation of Miss Susan B. Emerson has deprived the town of an able and faithful teacher, and your Committee would take the liberty, in view of Miss Emerson's faithful and efficient labors as Principal of the Centre High School, to express our deep appreciation of her efforts and extend to her, on behalf of the town, its hearty thanks for her long services. Since September last the principalship left vacant by Miss Emerson's resignation has been acceptably filled by Mr. Wilson R. Failing. Our
5
teachers during the past year have been in earnest. Teachers' meetings have been held once a month, and new lines and methods of school work have been thoroughly discussed. The outcome of these discus- sions has been of practical value in keeping up to the times in school work.
Our Report now leads us to a consideration of that subject around which centers all school work- the pupil. New methods, trained teachers and capable superintendency are not sufficient to establish a high grade of schools; we must have interested pupils - a condition which, we believe, can only be realized by a reciprocal interest on the part of the friends and parents of the pupil. Such an interest must be of a two-fold nature :
(1) An interest in the pupil himself.
(2) An interest in his surroundings.
(I) By an interest in the pupil himself it means a personal interest in the work which he is doing. Watch your five-year-old's deportment card ; be pleased when he gets an "Ein number work" and don't be afraid to tell him so. "Go into school" when he is going to " speak his piece." Such an evident interest on the part of the parent cannot fail to arouse a responsive interest in its object.
(2) A second factor in successful school making is an interest in the surroundings in which the pupil works. Spacious school buildings, comfortable seating, good ventilation and sanitary conditions are absolute necessities, while the secondary needs, i. e. pleasant
6
and attractive school-rooms, modern text-books and suitable school apparatus, are rapidly becoming hardly less pressing than the former. That the practical expression of such an interest in the surroundings of the pupil requires money, your Committee sincerely regrets; nevertheless the fact remains and demands a careful consideration from the voters of Chelmsford.
The question then, as it presents itself to your Committee, is not, how much shall we appropriate for "enlarging our cemeteries, fencing, grading, etc., and how little of the remainder for school improvements," but rather, " considering the importance of good schools," what is the largest appropriation we can possibly make. Parsimony in school matters is, in the long run, no economy. Your Committee would not, however, be understood as finding fault with past appropriations. We would simply remind the citizens of Chelmsford that their schools are constantly increas- ing in numbers, and that such an increase demands a corresponding increase in school appropriations. This increase in numbers is especially noticeable in the Centre schools, where over two hundred pupils are crowded into four rooms, the total seating capacity of which, when filled, is not over one hundred and fifty. It is useless to speak of the ventilation of these rooms; for there is practically no such thing as ventilation. It is needless, we believe, to point out the results of such a condition of things, and yet, owing to the impending change of the present more spacious apartments, your Committee has hesitated to urge the extensive changes
7
which at most would result only in a fair ventilation and would leave still unsolved the problem of more room. Something, however, must be done in this matter of accommodations and ventilation, and we earnestly urge upon the citizens of Chelmsford the need of immediate and decisive action. Not only are our teachers and scholars cramped and hindered in their work, but we have recently been informed that the ventilation and general sanitary conditions of the school buildings are such that much of the sickness among the pupils may be readily traced to these sources.
And we would call your attention to the follow- ing schedule of the cost of each school and the aver- age cost per scholar for the year :
SCHOOLS.
Teachers' Pay.
Fuel.
Super- intendent's Wages.
Sundries and Cleaning.
Care of School Houses.
Text Books.
Total Cost · of Schools.
Average Number of Scholars.
Average Cosi per Scholar.
High. Centre. ...
$706 00
$38 75
$20 00
$30 32
$22 50
$88 34
$005 91
46
$19 69
Grammar, Centre ..
378 00
38 75
20 00
30 32
22 50
8 00
497 57
10 59
Intermediate. Centre .
344 00
38 75
20 00
30 32
22 50
57 50
513 07
14
11 66
Primary, Centre.
344 00
38 75
20 00
30 32
22 50
40 72
49€ 29
57
8 71
Mixed, No. 2.
288 00
37 00
20 00
10 62
18 00
13 71
387 33
13
29 82
Mixed, No. 3.
318
00
26 50
20 00
8 50
18 00
38 91
429 91
27
15 92
Mixed, No. 4.
316 00
25 19
20 00
16 50
18 00
2.1 06
416 75
18
23 15
Mixed. No. 5.
288 00
29 00
20 00
29 50
14 00
22 55
403 05
16
25 19
Mixed. No. 6.
360 00
22 00
20 00
19 00
18 00
27 62
466 62
37
12 61
Iligh. North. ..
756
00
43 34
20 00
16 87
27 00
85 22
948 43
26
36 48
Grammar, North ..
324 00
43 34
20 00
16 87
27 00
120 72
551 93
34
16 23
Intermediate, North
330 00
43 34
20 00
16 87
27 00
33 56
470 77
37
12 72
Primary, North .
348 00
43 34
20 00
6 87
27 00
39 18
494 39
9 16
Grammar, West.
324 00
12 50
20 00
37 96
15 00
25 83
435 29
24
18 14
Primary, West.
360 00
12 50
20 00
7 65
15 00
28 36
443 51
31
14 31
·
.
.
.
S. C. HAGERMAN, J. H. REDMAN, CHAS. ANDREWS, CHAS. RANDLETT, GEO. A. BYAM, STEWART MACKAY, D. P BYAM, ORRIN PIERCE, J, A, PARKHURST,
School Committee.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Chelmsford :
My report as Superintendent of Schools is herewith respect- fully submitted. It treats upon the following topics : attendance, schools, teachers, teachers' meetings, course of study, pupils' report cards, and needs of the schools.
Following these will be found truant officers' reports, gradua- tion programme of Centre High School, roll of honor, list of teachers, and table of school statistics.
ATTENDANCE.
Punctuality and regularity of attendance are among the first requisites of a good school. Accordingly immediate attention was directed thereto. Teachers were furnished with printed cards for reporting membership, attendance, absences, tardinesses, dis- missals, and other items, which they have filled out each month and sent to the Superintendent. These have been arranged accord- ing to rank, and papers stating number of pupils, tardinesses, dis- missals and per cents of all the schools have been sent to each school to be displayed in the school room for the inspection of the pupils and all interested. This is intended to be a help to the teachers and an incentive to the pupils to work toward perfect attendance. In almost every school this object has been well under- stood, cordially received, and the good results have been marked. A banner for best attendance has been awarded each month to the school that has ranked highest. This has been won four times by the West Primary, three times by the North Row, and once each by Centre Intermediate and South Row.
Parents can help in this matter ; in fact little can be done with - out their co-operation. It often happens that children lose some school time simply from negligence of their parents, and it is the
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"sin of the parent that is visited upon the child," but we cannot help it. The report states facts.
The late registers call for a record of time lost by reason of tardinesses and dismissals, and a pupil is given credit for just the time he is in school. So a pupil who is dismissed immediately after the opening of a session cannot be credited with full attendance. When the time lost amounts to one hundred and eighty minutes it is reck- oned a half-day's absence. Since September this amount has been reported by the teachers, and is for tardinesses 6,698 minutes, or 37 half-days, or 18 whole days, and for dismissals 29,463 minutes, or 163 half days, or 81 whole days. From this it will be seen that dismissais interfere with the work of the school more than tardinesses. And parents are urged to keep their children in school the whole session when possible. In the table of statistics pupils who have attended two schools are enrolled in the last one, which, in most cases, they have attended two-thirds of the year. Per cent. of tardi- ness is based on average attendance.
SCHOOLS.
There have been fifteen schools in session during the year. These with their total enrolment since September are : Centre, 205 pupils ; North, 153; West, 55; East, 36; South, 28; South Row, 20; Byam's, 17; North Row, II. Or, in the total enrolment in the town, they stand about as follows : Centre, 40% ; North, 30% ; West, 10% ; East and South together, 12% ; while the remaining 8% is distributed among the three smallest schools.
From the beginning of the work in April persistent effort has been directed to grading the schools, and so guiding the work of the pupils as to bring them up to grade on the course of study. Much has been accomplished, but it goes without saying that in the limited time, with the crowded condition of the schools and the over-worked teachers, the ideal has not been attained.
At the Centre the usual promotions were made in June. In September there were four grades or divisions in the primary room, and three in each of the other three rooms. Some relief was abso-
11
lutely needed. A little was secured by placing a half-time assistant in the primary room, who took the charge of the youngest grade. This enabled the regular teacher to take two recitations from the intermediate room, and the teacher of the intermediate room had one recitation with the 8th grade from the high school room. In the grammar school the relative attainments of the pupils were such that it was found possible and desirable to have the school work in two grades instead of three, and this has been done.
Six pupils were graduated in June from the high school, which since September has had three grades, 8th, 9th and roth. The 8th grade numbers twenty-five, and is doing grammar school work. A part of the work of the other grades is elective, and the result has been that the teacher has had ten daily recitations, while in no sub- ject have there been more than four recitations a week, and in some only two. The work of the two upper grades has been on a high school course of study, which has been followed since September, and which, it is expected, will enable the pupils who faithfully complete it to rank with those in good high schools in the state who have finished two years of high school work. Splendid work has been done in this building, but it is a pity to expect teachers to do one and one-half or two times the work that any teacher can do well and retain health.
At the North promotions were made in April into all the rooms except the high, which received four pupils from the West in September. These joined already existing classes. Two pupils were graduated in June without public exercises. There are twenty-four pupils in three grades here, 8th, 9th and 10th ; twelve pupils in the 8th grade. This school received the same course of study in September as the Centre. The classes are smaller, but if the work is well done it will keep one teacher busy. The grammar and intermediate schools have each two grades, and as regards number of pupils and number of grades are model schools.
The primary school is large, and has three grades in four divisions. At the West there are two schools, a primary with three grades and a grammar with three. The primary school here has
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about one year more work than the other primaries, but the children have been brought up to grade, and every new line well mastered.
In the five mixed schools there are four well marked grades, with perhaps a fifth at the East and South Row.
TEACHERS.
Twenty-five different teachers have been employed. Nine of these have been in charge of the same school throughout the year : three at the Centre and North, and those at the East, West Primary and North Row.
Most of these teachers put themselves at once in line with the plans made and the work laid out, and have worked loyally, and with continually increasing zeal. Growth and progress have characterized the work of these faithful teachers, and their efforts have been crowned with success, which in some cases has been very marked. Of the changes in the six remaining schools, four, Centre High, North Grammar, South and Byam's, were made in the sum- mer, when changes interrupt the school work least. These schools were fortunate in the new teachers secured. The confusion in the North Grammar has been overcome; the school is now in good condition, doing good work. Byam's was very fortunate in the occasion that gave it a teacher of successful experience. The South seems to be all right.
It is a pleasure to pay a deserved tribute to Miss Susie W. Emerson, the pioneer in high school work at the Centre. Her room as I saw it through the spring term was a model school. The thoughtful young people there showed in their work their excellent training. The appearance that they made at the graduation told the same story. Holding, as Miss Emerson did, the responsible position of head teacher in the building where nearly half the chil- dren of the town were studying, her cordiality and assistance were very welcome and quite invaluable to me. It was with something of dread for the future of the school that I learned of her resignation. Mr. Wilson R. Failing of New York, a teacher of experience, was
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appointed to the vacancy. His unfailing courtesy, constant and hearty co-operation with my work have been greatly appreciated. He has been very zealous and painstaking in his work. The school, fifty-two in number of pupils, larger by one-half than in the spring, has abundant work for two busy teachers, but every depart- ment has received attention, and all has been done that the time would permit. Regular, busy school work has characterized every hour of the day.
The vacancy at South Row which occurred in September has been acceptably filled. Four different teachers have been in charge of the West Grammar, and of course the school has suffered. It is hoped that that school may be more fortunate another year.
Frequent changes of teachers are to be deprecated, but a greater evil is the continuance in a position of an inefficient, unsuc- cessful teacher. Such a one is dear at any price. Eight of the teachers have attended Normal Schools and six are Normal grad- uates.
The character of the teacher makes or unmakes the school. No matter how capable the school officers, how excellent the course of study, or how varied the school supplies, if the teacher has not the ability or the willingness to use them correctly they"avail but little. Again, the character of the teacher has a great influence upon that of the child. Associated as they are five hours of the day, five days of the week, the children come unconsciously to reflect the teacher. Ought we not to demand that the teachers be such as we wish the children to become? Most of our teachers, I am glad to say, are growing teachers, studious, eager for every good thing, prompt, ready to undertake any proposed improvement, very helpful, a very satisfactory company to be associated with in work.
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