USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1881-1889 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
Cemeterys
2000 00
Engine Houses and Land
2000 00
Woodland at Linebrook
100 00
.. " Common Fields
100 00
Turkey Shore Pasture
100 00
Thatch Bank. Great Flats
200 00
Third Creek
75 00
School Houses
12500 00
Gravel Pit Near Peatfield's
80 00
" Carlisle's 150 00
..
.. in Candlewood
50 00
Two Pounds
100 00
49455 00
Personal Property.
At the Farm
6990 00
Five Engines and Apparatus
5500 00
Hearse
400 00
Furniture at Town House
500 00
Hay Scales
800 00
Safes for Treasurer and Clerk
400 00
- 14590 00
Amount of Real and Personal Property
64045 00
Town D.bt. February 1. 183)
12122 25
Balance in Favor of Town
51922 75
NUMBER OF POLLS AND AMOUNT OF VALUATION.
Number of Polls. 925.
Amount of Real Estate 169CC40 (0)
51
Amount of Personal Estate
587210 00
Total valuation
2283250 00
Increase
139 553
Poll Tax. $2.00 : Tax on $1000. $13.00.
Total number of Horses. 537.
. .
" Cows. 970.
..
.. .. Neat Cattle other than cows, 237.
.. . . ·· Sheep. 74.
..
.. " Dwelling Houses. 780.
Births registered, 74. Parentage. Native Born Fathers. 47.
. . .. Mothers 51.
Foreign . . Fathers 26. .. Mothers 23.
Unknown Fathers 1.
Total
148
Marriages, 43.
Grooms. Native. 33. Brides, Native, 30. .. Foreign. 10. Foreign, 13.
Oldest Gro un. 63 years. Oldest Bride, 53 years. Youngest .. 19 years. Youngest " 15 years.
Deaths. 77. Males. 40. Females. 37.
Natives of Ipswich, 39.
Other places in the United States, 25. Of Foreign Countries. 13. Oilest males E. Peabody. 99 yrs, 10 mos, 2 days. .. Asa Lord. 91 yrs. 22 days. Oldest Female. Annah Riggs. 90 yrs, 11 days. Number of dogs licensed. 276.
In presenting for your consideration the foregoing report we have endeavored to give as accurate report as possible of all bills contracted by the town, and to the best of our knowledge and be- lief they are mostly in to February 1. In regard to the schools the bills ran ahead of the appropriations notwithstanding the receipt of over three hundred dollars from the revenne fund of the state. and we have in our hands bills for repairs amo mting to abont four hundred dollars which the parties desire and for which it will he necessary for you to provide.
FEES AND SALARIES.
The amount for this department is rather larger than usual ow- ing to the maintenance of a night watch the greater part of the year. a large petition asking for the same coming before us which was granted. We trust that the better security thus obtained will amply repay such ontlay.
STREET LAMPS.
In this department also the expense has increased but we think the better lighting of the town will"compensate for the expense. The number of street lights are 98. 12 gas and 86 kerosene an increase of 27.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To this department has been added during the year a new house and an engine in the Candlewood district which we think reflect credit upon the board 'of engineers. The department is lacking in hose and an article in the warrant calls for an appropriation to .provide therefor. At the town meeting two years ago it was voted to build a reservoir at head of Central street near the store of Asa Lord but it went over until the last year when a contract was made with Mr. John A. Brown to build the same, which he clainis to have done. but as yet the Selectmen are not satisfied with the job and therefore have retained the sum of two hundred dollars nn - til such time as they shall be satisfied that the requirements of the contract have been complied with.
HIGHWAYS.
In this department we have endeavored to keep within the appro- Priatiens, but as the anteunt of back bills were quite large and a
:
53
considerable outlay had to be made on Saunders bridge the amount left was quite small, but having been favored by nature during the winter, most of the money reserved for snow still remains -and can be used for repairs the coming spring, and should the town discon- tinue that part of Prospect street called for in the warrant, we would suggest that the amount thus saved be turned over to the Highways, and with the amount left over from last year, and the usual appropriation, a good showing could be made. There is one other matter relating to highways to which we would call your at- tention, viz: That of choosing Highway Surveyors. In years past it has been the custom to leave it to the Selectmen to bring in a list of names at the adjourned meeting, this we believe to be wrong and to act injuriously to the highways, as by so doing the survey- ors do not have a chance to get at work until such time as it is al- most impossible to get the required help and the work has to lay over until the latter part of the year. What we would recom meind is this, choose your surveyors at the annual meeting and have them take office at once, then your roads can be repaired dur- ing the month of March when they are in proper condition to be" repaired and when plenty of help can be obtained.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
The expenses of this department have been quite lige owing principaly to the large expense at the Danvers Asylum: but the saf- ferings of humanity must be attended to and we do not think there will be much objection to money spent in that manner.
FARM.
This has always been the great bugbear of town meetings and we do not suppose the coming one will be any exception. The bills of the farm are all paid to February 1 and the balance is a little low- er than usual, but as we have paid quite a large amount of bills not generally included the same year as contracted, we trust due allowance will be made. There is great need of something being done toward furnishing better accomodation for the care of the
.
54
stock and for the making and preservation of manure, and an arti- cle in the warrant will call your attention to that subject. The whole number of inmates at the farm the year past was 13. The > average number 9. The present number is 9. After deducting from the farm balance the bills not belonging to the past year the ontlay by the town for the support of the poor on the farm amounts to $2.20 per week.
At the annual meeting last year it was voted to build a school- house in the vicinity of Estes street and the sum of $1500 . was ap. propriated for that purpose. the school committee and selectmen were appointed to select and purchase a site, while to another com- mittee was left the matter of building. The first named committee was called together several times by its chairman who is also chair- man of the school committee but it was impossible to agree npon a location and the result is that no schoolhouse has been bnil'. The money remains in the hands of the treasurer for future use.
Correspondence has been opened with the B."& M. Railroad in regard to the better protection of life at the several crossings and they have signified a willingness to do what is necessary in that direction.
At the time of the last annual meeting a snit was pending against the town for damages alleged to have been received on Poplar street. Soon after said meeting counsel for the town advised ; the settling of the case. which was finally done at a cost of $800.
There are two cases now pending in the Supreme Court against the town, one of which is brought by the town of Essex to settle the houndary question in that part of the town next Essex. The other is brought by the proprietors of Jeffries' Neck Pasture. It was called in the court at Salem and referred to a master. the case is now waiting the pleasure of the counsel for the Proprietors. the town have retained as counsel Hon. George Haskell of Ips- wich and William H. Moody Esq. of Haverlill.
The town was put to a small expense by a suit brought to com- pel the licensing of the druggists which in accordance with the
55
expressed wish of the town the Selectmen declined to do. the court decided in favor of the town.
The Selectmen submit the following estimate for the ensuing year : For schools $7500. For highways $5000. For current ex- penses $9500. For reduction of the debt against the town $800.
LUTHER WAIT AARON LORD FREDERIC WILLCOMB
Selectmen of Ipswich.
Ipswich, February 1. 1889.
-()- *
WARRANT
FOR THE
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING,
ESSEX, SS. TO EITHER OF THE CONSTABLES OF THE TOWN OF IPS- WICH IN SAID COUNTY. GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of; Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the legal voters of said town to meet at the town house, in said town, on Monday the fourth day of March, next, at nine o'clock a. m., then and there to act on the following articles, viz :
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator.
. Art. 2. To choose all necessary town officers and grant them such pay for their services as the town may think proper.
56
Art. 3. To vote by ballot. Yes or No. upon the following ques- tion, viz : "Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"
Art. 4. l'o raise money for the High and Common Schools.
Art. 5. To raise money for the repair of the Highways and de- termine the manner of apportioning the same.
Art. 6. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to defray all town charges for the ensuing year.
Art. 7. To see what compensation shall be allowed the Engine- men for the ensuing year.
Art. 8. 'To see if the town will authorize the treasurer to hire money in anticipation of the taxes.
Art. 9. To see if the town will authorize the collector to col- lect interest on all taxes remaining unpaid after they are due.
Art. 10. To see what discount, if any, sha I be allowed to those persons who pay their taxes before the prescribed time of payment.
Art. 11. To see what action the town will take in regard to ap- propriating money for decorating soldiers' graves on Memorial day.
Art. 12. To hear and act upon the reports of trustees and com- mittees.
Art. 13. To see if the town will accept the list of jurors as į re- pared by the Selectmen.
Art. 14. To see if the town will adopt the following as a By- Law of the town. to take effect at the next annual meeting in March 1890. To choose all Town Officers on one ballot and t . keep the polls open to receive the same not less than four hours.
Art. 15. To see if the town will accept and maintain as town ways, Maple street running from Gravel to Topsfield street. Mt. Pleasant Avenue running from Washington street up by the Cathi- olie church and Peatfield Avenue running from corner of Estes and Peatfield street to the river. ¿ The same to be accepted as now laid out.
Art. 16. To see if the town will sell the whole or any part of the land belonging to the town situate on Turkey shore so called and known as Turkey shore pasture. .
Art. 17. To see if the town will sell the old gravel pit situate
57
in Washington street near the house of the late Sanford Peatfield. Art. 18. To see if the town will authorize the purchase of hose for the Fire Department and appropriate money for the same.
Art 19. To see if the town will petition the General Court for permission to take water from Hoods or Pritchards Pond for do- mestic, fire and mechanical purposes.
Art. 20. To see if the town will discontinue that part of Pros- pect Street as laid out by the Selectmen last year through land of Benjamin Fewkes.
Art. 21. To see if the town will repair one of the old or build a new barn at the farm and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 22. To see if the town will renew the contract made with the Ipswich Gas Company for lighting the streets during the past voar.
Art. 23. To see if the town will move the town scales situate near the De; ot to some other convenient place.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by postin ; up attested copies of the same at each of the meeting houses in said town, town house, post office and at the schoolhouse in the Village district seven days at least before the time of sud meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the town clerk at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-first day of February, A. D. 1889.
LUTHER WAIT
AARON LORD
Selectmen of
FREDERIC WILLCOMB Ipswich
7
1001- 1007
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL KICOMMITTEE
OF THE ---
TOWN OF IPSWICH
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY
1ST, 1889.
IPSWICH, MASS .: H. LEE M. PIKE, PRINTER. 1889.
ANNUAL REPORT
· OF THE -
SCHOOL KICOMMITTEE
- OF THE -
TOWN OF IPSWICH,
-
- FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY
1ST, 1889.
--
IPSWICH, MASS .: H. LEE M. PIKE, PRINTER. 1889.
REPORT.
APPROPRIATIONS.
For Manning Schools. $2300 00
For Common Schools 4400 00
For School Supplies. 600 00
For Repairs + 500 00
From State Board of Education 492 65
From Dog Licenses 474 00
$8766 65
Special appropriation for new School House
$1500 00
SALARIES OF THE TEACHERS.
MANNING SCHOOLS :
George M. Smith )
$1500 00
Charles A. Strout
Joseph I. Horton 1000 00
Miss Addie L. Thing
600 00
Miss Anna W. Edwards Miss E. A. Morrow.
500 00
NORTH INTERMEDIATE, Miss F. M. Horton
400 00
Ross INTERMEDIATE, Mrs. H. E. Noyes. 400 00
4
COGSWELL INTERMEDIATE, Miss Elma Smith 400 00
NORTH PRIMARY, § Miss Mary E. Butler, Principal .. 380 00
Miss Eva A. Willcomb, Assistant 280 00
ROSS PRIMARY, J Miss Lizzie M. Crosby, Principal ... 380 00
'\ Miss Annie S. Cutler, Assistant. 280 00
COGSWELL PRIMARY, Miss Isabelle Arthur
380 00
UNGRADED SCHOOLS :-
LINEBROOK, ( Miss Marion L. Dodge, l. Miss Ella F. Cogger,
300 00
VILLAGE Miss Emma G. Blanchard, )
200 00
Miss Laura B. Foster,
ARGILLA, Miss Cora A. Smith. 200 00
Miss Eleanor E. Wallis,
CANDLEWOOD, Miss Mary A. Donahue,
200 00
Miss Emma G. Blanchard;)
APPLETON, Miss Allegra Manning
200 00
WILLOWDALE,
(Miss Lucy S. Stone,
200 00
(Miss Mary A. Underhill, j
TABLE OF ATTENDANCE.
WHOLE AVERAGE
AVERAGE ATTEND-
PERCENTAGE OF
ENROLLED.
SHIP.
ANCE.
MEMBERSHIP
High School,
75
57
54
95
Grammar,1st Div., 63
55
52
95
Grammar, 2d Div., 55
44
41
92
North Intermediate 38
34
33
96
Ross Intermediate, 55 Cogswell
41
37
93
Intermediate, 34
31
29
93
North Primary,
82
73
65
89
Ross Primary,
108
98
85
87
Cogswell Primary, 64
44
42
95
Linebrook,
25
20
16
80
Village,
18
14
12
86
Willowdale,
15 .
12
11
92
Appleton,
22
16
14
87
Candlewood,
15
14
121/2
89
Argilla,
10
7 7-10
61/3
82
NUMBER
MEMBER-
1
5
The number of children in town between the ages of 5 and 15
years, according to the census taken in May last. 640 The number of pupils enrolled on the school registers 679
The average membership of all the schools 561
The average attendance of all the schools. 509
Percentage of attendance in all the schools 90
Number enrolled in High School 75
Number enrolled in Grammar School 118
Number enrolled in all the graded schools. 574
Number enrolled in the ungraded schools 105
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
There is no place where the remark is so true, as in a pri- mary school, that a good teacher is a good woman. Every faculty of persuasion comes into use, for the purpose of draw- ing out an interest in the young mind. Encouragement is more than exhortation, and threats have here no place at all. All children have more or less curiosity. It is the foundation of all ambition for knowledge, and whatever is accomplished must be done, not by repressing, but by leading it along in profitable channels.
Our schools of this grade have the advantage of having such teachers, and we hope they may continue long to in- struct these youngest pupils.
HAMMATT STREET SCHOOL.
Last Spring the School Committee found the Ross Pri- mary School very much crowded, and it was thought best to relieve it by establishing another school. A room was secured on Hammatt Street and a part of the pupils of the Ross School were sent there under the charge of Miss Annie S. Cutler. The school was quite successful, and the examination proved that the teacher had been diligent and faithful with her pupils.
When the Fall term opened it was found that the Ross School was less crowded, and the Committee not willing to maintain the new school in expensive and not the most at-
6
tractive quarters, discontinued it, and Miss Cutler returned to her former position in the Ross School.
DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
In order to show the distribution of school children, and thus enable the public to see in which part of the town a Pri- mary School is most needed, the following table has been compiled from the census taken with unusual eare in May last.
The number of children between 5 and 10 years has been given because it is found upon examination of school registers that there are as many under ten years in the Intermediate Schools, as there are over ten in the Primaries.
EAST PART OF TOWN.
Between 5 and 15.
Between 5 and 10.
East Street below County Street.
25
12
Hovey Street.
2
2
Water Street
10
7
Spring Street.
12
8
Wainwright Street.
7
4
Sawyer Street
4
3
Agawam Avenue
3
3
Newmareh Street
10
7
Summer Street below County Street . ..
12
9
85
55
NORTH PART TOWN.
High Street between Manning Street and Briek Yard
82
50
Loeust Street
5
4
Boxford Street
24
10
Gravel Street.
10
6
Central Street above Manning Street ..
7
4
Mineral Street.
4
0
Washington Street above Mineral St ..
8
5
7
Mt. Pleasant Avenue
11
6
Pleasant Street
9
5
Pine Swamp Road
7
3
167
93
CENTRAL PART OF TOWN.
East Street above County Street.
17
9
High Street below Manning Street.
7
5
North Main Street
20
11
Summer Street above County Street ...
7
3
County Street east of Elm Street.
15
7
Green Street
11
6
Water St. between Green & Summer Sts
3
1
Warren Street
7
3
Manning Street.
6
1
Central Street below Manning Street ..
7
5
100
51
SOUTH PART OF TOWN.
South Main Street
15
6
Elm Street.
5
2
Poplar Street
5
3
Prospect Street
26
15
County Street south of Elm Street
31
16
Beach Street.
7
4
Linden Street
6
5
95
51
IN VICINITY OF DEPOT AND MILL.
Hammatt Street
5
2
Market Street
9
4
Union Street.
10
6
Winter Street
7
5
Estes Street.
16
9
Peatfield Street
13
5
Topsfield Street
8
6
1
1
Washington Street below Mineral St .. 4 2
72 39
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
These schools have changed but little in number or ap- pearance although there have been several changes of teach- ers. At Linebrook Miss Dodge was succeeded by Miss Ella F. Cogger of Pelham, N. H., a graduate of Salem Normal School, and under her charge the school moves on in its usual course. At the Village. Miss Laura B. Foster of Rowley, a graduate of the Salem Normal School, began in the Fall her first year's work, and is an efficient and constantly improving teacher. Miss Mary A. Underhill, leaving temporarily her studies at Salem, has had charge of the Willowdale School for a year, and the Committee find her highly acceptable and en- ergetic. Miss Manning of the Appleton School continues to deserve the confidence of that district. Miss Mary A. Dona- hue conducted the Candlewood School through the Fall term, but she was appreciated so well elsewhere as to secure another position at double the salary she was receiving here. Miss Blanchard, after serving as a substitute at the Cogswell In- termediate, succeeded her, and continues to give, as in her other schools, the best of satisfaction. And Miss Cora Smith at Argilla goes on serving well the interests of that section, and giving herself the discipline of patience also by presiding attentively over her little flock of seven.
At the annual examinations these schools appeared unus- ually well. From them six were promoted to the Grammar School, Candlewood sending four, and Appleton and Argilla one each.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
Little need be said about these schools. The teachers are all natives of the town, are well known and have been for a long time in their present positions. They deserve the same commendation they have received from successive commit- tees in former years. There has been an effort on the part of
9
the committee to secure uniformity in the work of these schools, and the teachers have done their best to secure it. We have reason to expect that at the next annual promotion the pupils from all these schools will be up to the standard of the best in previous years.
MANNING SCHOOLS.
In the Grammar department Mr. Horton has labored zealously for the advancement of his pupils, and with marked success. £ There are few educational possibilities that escape his industry.
His assistant, Miss Morrow, has proved herself a discreet and faithful teacher. The number admitted to this school in September from the several Intermediate and out districts was forty-six.
HIGH SCHOOL.
In the assistant's department of the High School Miss Thing, a teacher highly esteemed and much missed, found herself obliged by reason of ill health to absent herself twice for considerable periods, furnishing an acceptable substitute in the person of Miss Maria Dame of Lynn. But during the Christmas vacation Miss Thing resigned, leaving a vacancy which was soon filled by Miss Anna W. Edwards of North- ampton, Mass., a graduate of Smith College, and a teacher of experience in her native place and also in Erie, Pennsylvania.
The present year opened with a remarkable popular dis- content with the management of this school. Knowing how serious a matter it often is to interrupt the system of a year's work partly accomplished, the Committee were inclined to keep things in their usual course until the end of the school year. The late Principal, however, insisted on the acceptance of his resignation at once. The Committee were thus obliged to fill this important position at a very short notice. But fortune favored them with the services of a man who in schol- arly attainments and in the arts of exercising authority and of making school work agreeable to pupils and to associate teachers, falls in no wise behind any of his predecessors. By
10
force of just perceptions, strong will and pure aimsit has been the lot of Mr. Strout to bring about an era of good feeling, which so long as it shall continue will enable the beneficent designs of the late Dr. Manning and of the community sup- plementing to be carried out with exceptional satisfaction. Every move has been seconded by the prompt support of the Trustees. The death of the two most active members of that Board within the space of fifteen months is a loss not to be easily replaced. Yet we hope the Trustees will continue to maintain a personal interest in the school. No generous action on the part of the Trustees, no unselfish exercise of their primary and coequal rights, need disturb the present agreeable harmony, or neutralize the gratitude which natur- ally arises on the part of the town toward them for their val- uable and unpaid serviees.
In June last a class of nine graduated from the High Sehool. The following is the
PROGRAMME.
SALUTATORY,
ESSAY, Joan of Arc.
EDWIN ALLISTON HOWES ANNIE DEXTER LORD
ORATION, The Relation of Our Public Schools to Labor.
ARTHUR CLIFTON GLOVER
CLASS HISTORY, ALICE GROVER LORD
ORATION, Daniel Webster,
FRANK ALLEN RUSSELL J MES DAMON
CI ASS PRO HECIES.
ORATION, « haracter of the German People.
FRANK WILLIS WARD
ESSAY, Every- Day Heroes, with Valedictory. GRACE FOSTER DAMON
A diploma was given also to another member of the elass, who was then sick and has since died-Annie Loring Ruther- ford.
COURSE OF STUDY IN THE MANNING HIGH SCHOOL ADOPTED SEPT. 3, 1888.
FIRST YEAR .- Latin : Grammar; Harkness' First Year in Latin ; Translations, oral and written, from Latin into Eng- lish and English into Latin.
Mathematics : Algebra.
History: History of the Constitution and Civil Govern- ment; English History.
Seienee : Physiology, one term; Physical Geography, one
11
term; Botany, one term.
English : English Grammar and Analysis; Reading from best authors; Spelling; English Composition and Business Forms; Punctuation ; Elocution.
SECOND YEAR .- Latin: Grammar; Cæsar, Books 2, 3, 4, 1; Sight Reading; English into Latin, orally and in writing.
Greek : Grammar; White's Lessons; English into Greek, orally and in writing.
Mathematics : Book-Keeping; Geometry.
History : General.
Science : Chemistry ; Mineralogy.
French: Keetel's Grammar; Reading; Conversation.
English : Rhetoric; Studies from American Authors; Elo- cution.
THIRD YEAR .- Latin: Aeneid, Books 1-4; Two Orations against Cataline ; Latin Prose Composition ; Prosody.
Greek : Anabasis, Books 1-4 ; Sight Reading ; Prose Com- position.
Mathematics : Geometry ; Arithmetic.
History : Greek ; Roman.
Science : Ceology ; Physics.
French.
English : History of English Language and Literature; Studies from English Authors; Elocution.
POST-GRADUATE. - Latin : Cicero, 5 Orations; Aeneid, Books 5 and 6; Georgics ; Sight Reading ; Prose Composition.
1 Greek ; Iliad, Books 1-3; Prose Composition.
Mathematics: Reviews of Algebra and Geometry. French.
COLLEGE PREPARATORY COURSE .- Latin, Greek, Mathe- matics, Civil Government, Physiology, French, English.
ENGLISH AND CLASSICAL .- Latin, Mathematics, History, Science (or French after first year), English.
ENGLISH COURSE .-- Mathematics, History, Science, English.
The Post-graduate year is to complete the preparation of students for College. Pupils who have completed one of the
12
courses may take a post-graduate course, consisting of stud- ies selected from the other courses.
MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS.
A very interesting and satisfactory feature of the school work during the past year has been the study of vocal music, which has been introduced into the schools in the village through the agency of the Trustees of the Burley Education Fund.
During the Spring term Miss Helen H. Pearl was employed as teacher, giving two days each week to the work. The children soon became thoroughly interested and have made commendable progress in the study. Musie should be taught as one of the studies of the schools, commencing with the pri- mary grade and continuing through the entire course.
Its influence for good cannot be measured. It is not only pleasing to the pupil, but will be of great practical benefit to him through life, and it tends to make better men and women of our children.
It is taught in nearly every city in the state and in very many of the towns, and is one of the studies authorized by the statutes. The Committee feel that the study ought to be continued and recommend that the town appropriate two hundred dollars for that purpose.
GENERAL MATTER.
Inquiries have been made of members of the Committee concerning the methods employed in estimating the standing of pupils, and especially in promoting them from Intermediate to the Grammar, and thence to the High School. This may be a matter of such interest to some parents as to call for some account of it. The method which has been in use sev- eral years is based upon proficiency as determined partly through daily recitations, but chiefly through written exam- inations. The daily recitations are marked in a manner so simple as to be easily understood by the children themselves. If ten questions are asked and all answered correctly, the per-
13
centage is one hundred ; if only seven answers are correctly given, the pupil is marked seventy. If in these exercises the word of the pupils themselves apparently is taken, it is so only in appearance; for there is always the check of a record kept by the teacher, as well as the watchful ears of other pu- pils. But it will sometimes happen that a child who is habit- ually diligent, and secures a good daily standing, will fail through nervous excitement at the time of a written examina- tion, to do himself credit on paper. As Dr. Johnson said of one of his acquaintances, "Tom is a lively rogue ; but a pen is to Tom a torpedo ; the touch of it benumbs his hand and his brain." In such cases the rule of promotion is not held to be inflexible. On the contrary the teachers have been in the habit of calling attention to the disparity between the two different credits, so that everything which ought in fairness to be con- sidered by the Committee shall have its due weight. Any committee would be faulty indeed, who should fail to recog- nize and encourage signs and tokens of right purpose. In school, as well as in the world's general judgment, industry and truth are far from being lost sight of. If there is one thing which we wish teachers to impress more than another upon their pupils, it is that the habit of industry, and the accus- toming of one's self to dwell in the atmosphere of truth, is of vastly greater importance than the acquisition of any possible amount of current or of scholarly information.
Yet these inquiries suggest an evil which should be cor- rected whenever it appears. Teachers (such is human nature) now and then become discouraged at the slow progress of a part of a school, and are tempted to neglect that part, in order to bestow their attention upon the brighter and more proficient children. In such cases our instruction to a teacher is to give to each his portion in due season. Children are put under instruction not to be made a show of, but to be made the most of. Given a dull school, the result will often be de- pressing. Any other impression is impossible and must not be expected. Yet the whole fabric of our institutions is based
14
on the principle that it is better to raise the lowest level of intelligence in our future citizens to whatever height is prac- ticable, than for a few to be exceptionally advanced and the rest to be not uplifted at all. And to all teachers there is an encouragement in this, that out of these slow ones one will here and there rise afterward into a sercne clearness, an active power and a benign influence, the thought of which is able to repay any possible amount of patience and of faithful attention.
STATEMENT OF REPAIRS MADE THE PAST YEAR.
WILLOWDALE.
School house, fence and out buildings put in thorough re- pair and painted two coats. Desks and chairs cleancd and varnished, walls papercd and black-boards put in good condi- tion $79 75
VILLAGE.
School house, fence and out buildings painted two coats. Graining and furniture cleaned and varnished, walls and cci !- ing calcimined, black-boards rccoated $62 63
COGSWELL SCHOOL.
Sheathed both school-rooms overhead, repaircd stairs, windows and blinds, painted the entire interior of the build- ing and put in 362 feet slate black-board. $307 32 ROSS SCHOOL.
Sheathed lower room overhead and painted the same two coats, repaired stairs and entries, rehung sash, painted out- buildings and fences, pointed up stone work and underpinning, shingled roof, and put black-boards in perfect order .. $242 87
NORTH SCHOOL.
Put 60 feet slate black-boards in Primary room, and re- paired and recoated all the black-boards in the building ... $40
REPAIRS NEEDED THIS YEAR.
The Town owns nine school houses. These ought to be painted once in about ten years. The Willowdale and Village have been painted the past year. The houses that will most
15
need to be painted the coming season are the Candlewood and Appleton. The cost will be about fifty dollars each.
The roofs of the North, Linebrook and Argilla houses are in bad condition. It will cost about fifty dollars to shingle the Linebrook, forty dollars the Argilla, and one hundred dollars the North.
The Committee recommend an appropriation of three hundred dollars for the purpose above named.
They also ask for the sum of seventy-five dollars for new furniture for the Linebrook School, and twenty-five dollars for twelve new desks and chairs for the Cogswell Primary.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The Committee recommend the following :
For Manning School $2300 00
For Common Schools 4500 00
For text books and supplies 600 00
For vocal music. 200 00
For repairs 300 00
For new furniture 100 00
$8000 00
PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS.
North Primary and Appleton Wednesday P. M., June 19
Cogswell Primary and Argilla Thursday A. M., June 20
Ross Primary and Village Thursday P. M., June 20
North Intermediate and Linebrook Friday A. M., June 21
Ross Intermediate and Willowdale. .Friday P. M., June 21 Cogswell Intermediate and Candlewood .. Monday P.M., June 24
Grammar, 2d division.
Tuesday A. M., June 25
Grammar, 1st division. Tuesday P. M., June 25
High School.
Wednesday all day, June 26
Graduating exercises Thursday P. M., June 27
THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
First term of 16 weeks begins Tuesday, September 3, 1889, and ends Friday, December 20, 1889.
16
Second term of 12 weeks begins Monday, January 6, 1890, and ends Friday, March 28, 1890.
Third term of 12 weeks begins Monday, April 7, 1890, and ends Thursday, June 26, 1890.
There will be no school on Friday of Thanksgiving week, or on any of the legal holidays.
CHARLES A. SAYWARD, )
WESLEY K. BELL, School Committee
T. FRANK WATERS,
JOHN W. NOURSE, S
JOHN H. COGSWELL,
WILLARD F. KINSMAN, J
of Ipswich.
IPSWICH ROOM Ipswich Public Library Ipswich, Massachusetts
251105 İjewich IBBT-1857
IPSWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 2122 00162 023 0
J. B. & C.
>
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.