USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1916-1918 > Part 6
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Another factor which helped increase our expenses this year was the increased cost of about everything which we were obliged to purchase. This was particularly true about coal, and on this item alone our increased expense was about $1,579.00 over last year for approximately the same quantity of coal,
I am pleased to report, however, that in spite of the loss of income on account of reduced price for what we sell and the in- creased expenses for what we purchased, that we have had a wonderfully successful year and that the coming year promises even greater success. An arrangement covering a period of years has been made with Mr. Charles G. Rice, and we are now lighting
27
MUNICIPAL LIGHT REPORT.
his large estate on the Topsfield Road, and in a short time we will be supplying him with electricity for power purposes. The terms of the agreement are alike fair and just to Mr. Rice and to the Town, and the power load, coming in the daytime, will be especially appreciated as it does not necessitate any increase at the station.
The following table shows the increase in the number of services and also the amount of sales each year since the start.
Sale of Current and Power
Year
No. Services
1904
69
$ 3605 53
19C5
105
7076 77
1906
131
8330 68
1907
170
7462 43
1908
195
9010 34
1909
218
9178 64
1910
269
10594 48
1911
323
12159 42
1912
362
14557 45
1913
435
16131 80
1614
477
17380 33
1915
521
19559 41
1916
591
19497 04
Those who have watched the growth and success of the Elec- tric Lighting Department for the past thirteen years, as shown by the various reports must, I believe, be convinced that it is possible for a community like Ipswich to own and operate its own plant with benefit not only to the Town in its corporate capacity but also with distinct benefit to the individuals who use the current for private purposes. It is quite true that we have gone ahead conservatively and carefully, and it is also true that perhaps a private concern might have taken more chances and perhaps had more success, if by success we mean the making of profits from the consumers. I have always taken the ground that the purpose of a Municipal Plant is not, and should not, be the making of profits, and I have also be- lieve that "care" and not "rush" should be the watchword in ex- pending the taxpayers money. A slow, steady growth is better than speculation with the possibilities not only for success, but for failure as well. To give the people the lowest possible price and at the same time to do justice to the taxpayers as a whole has been
.
28
MUNICIPAL LIGHT REPORT.
my purpose and I am pleased to state that both my colleagues, Geo. H. W. Hayes and William H. Rand have at all times not only backed up my position but have each of them given of their best efforts to bring success along these lines, We have been fortunate in the fact that for the entire thirteen years during which the plant has been in operation, the citizens have unfailingly given us their support. Year after year, no matter how strongly the political fight has waged around the other Town officials, our board has been undis- turbed in its membership. I have repeatedly pointed out that a business proposition should not be made a political proposition nor should the management of such a business be determined on a polit- cal basis. Being a believer in the principle of Municipal Ownership, I sought the chance fourteen years ago to try it out. I believe I can truthfully say that it has proven to be a success. I can truthfully add that the true reason why it has been a success is that Ipswich citizens have been wise enough to keep politics out of this depart- ment. I believe that it is the part of wisdom to continue to "keep politics out" and I also have faith that our citizens will continue to recognize that fact as they have recognized it for the past thirteen years.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE A. SCHOFIELD, Manager.
29
MUNICIPAL LIGHT REPORT.
1
COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
To the citizens of Ipswich, Gentlemen :---
The Water and Municipal Lighting Commissioners submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1916.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
On pages four to sixteen inclusive will be found a detailed account of the receipts and expenditures of the department for the year 1916.
The only extension of the main pipe made this year was on Kimball Avenue where the main has been extended from Linebrook Road 760 feet to the house of William Maden. As soon as the frost is out the extension will be carried through Kimball Avenue to High Street.
We anticipated being called on to make an extension on Argilla Road but the residents along that road did not complete their plans for the necessary guarantee and the matter will proba- bly come up again this year.
The. expenditures for the year 1917 are estimated to be as follows:
30
MUNICIPAL LIGHT REPORT.
For Interest Payment
$8089 00
Sinking Fund Payment 4549 00
General Expenses
4500 00
$17,138 00
.
We feel that the receipts of the department will be sufficient to pay this amount and we do not ask for any appropriation from the town. We call your attention to the excellent financial show- ing made by this department and to the fact that the town is getting its hydrant service free of expense. Not only is this true but this department has actually paid from its earnings during the past six years $24541.69 into the sinking fund to help pay the bonds when they are due. Your attention is also directed to the report of the Sinking Fund on page nine. It is in a strong and . healthy condition and has now reached close to the $100,000 mark.
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT ..
Pages seventeen to twenty-four inclusive of this report give a full account of the receipts and disbursements of this department as submitted by the manager. We take what we believe is a just pride in the showing of this department as well as in the water department.
Acting after a careful investigation and along what we believe to be the lines of justice and equity we have decided to make a further reduction in the price of electricity for commercial lighting and we have established as the price, dating from Feb. 1st 1917, ten cents per K. W. hour for commercial light with a dis- count of one cent per hour on all bills paid on or before the 20th day of the month. This gives a net price of 9 cents per K. W. hour to all who desire to take advantage of the discount and make a total reduction from the original price, of 6 cents per K. W. Hour. We believe that it would be unjust to put the burden of paying ' for lighting the streets as the duty of the people who use electricity when all of the people share in the benefits.
During the past year, parties connected with a Newburyport
31
MUNICIPAL LIGHT REPORT.
Electric Co., have been interested in the question of supplying a very large amount of electricity to the Ipswich Mills, the plan being to have that company substitute electricity for steam power. They have also taken up the question of supplying the Town with electric current, not with the idea of having the town give up the plan of managing its own lighting system, but to have the town purchase its electric current, instead of generating it at our station. Their claim is, that they are putting in a very large electric plant, and that they can sell electricity to the town at wholesale cheaper than the town can generate it at a small station.
While we feel that it is our duty to carefully consider this or any other proposition which might possibly be of advantage to the Town, we do not feel that a hasty decision should be made. It is a question which should be carefully studied from every possible angle. We have had thirteen years of extraordinary success under the present plan, and we are today in a better condition to continue the work than at any time during those thirteen years. We have gradually grown, adding man after man to our station, as the busi- ne ss warranted it, until today we have reached the limit and our expense account so far as station labor is concerned, is now practi- cally fixed. New business in the future means increased profits. We have a well established system, adapted to the needs of our people, and a substantial annual income, and we should hesitate be- fore taking any step which will change these conditions, unless it is clearly and positively shown that such change will not only be to the advantage of the people, but that such advantage shall be per- manent.
Your commissioners are giving this question careful consid- eration, and, if definite plans and prices are presented to · us, we will lay the whole matter before the voters at a Town meeting for their consideration and decision.
The following amounts are called for by this department for 1917. Depreciation $2450. Interest $2400. Note Payment $3350.
We extend to the voters and to the employees of our depart- ment our sincere thanks for their kindness and co-operation in help- ing make our work successful, and we trust that our management
32
MUNICIPAL LIGHT REPORT.
of these two important business departments has merited and will receive the approval of the citizens of Ipswich.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE A. SCHOFIELD, GEORGE H. W. HAYES, WILLIAM H. RAND,
Water and
Municipal Light Commissioners.
Ipswich, January, 1917.
AUDITOR'S STATEMENT.
I have examined the books and accounts of the Water and Electric Light Department, and of the Treasurer of the Sinking Fund and find them correct.
ARTHUR H. WALTON, Auditor. Ipswich, February 19, 1917.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF IPSWICH
MASS .
IPS WIC
IN
1634
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 1687
FOR THE YEAR 1916.
CHARLES G. HULL, PRINTER. 8 COGSWELL STREET, IPSWICH, MASS. 1917.
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Chairman --- Herbert W. Mason.
Secretary and Purchasing Agent --- Howard N. Doughty. Finance and Budget --- H. W. Mason, W. J. Riley. Text-Books and Teachers --- H. W. Mason, Dr. G. E. MacArthur. Buildings and Grounds --- Luther Wait, Joseph W. Ross. Improvements and Insurance --- Luther Wait, Joseph W. Ross. School Physician --- Dr. G. E. MacArthur.
Attendance Officer --- George W. Tozer.
Superintendent --- Joseph I. Horton. Office Hours --- School Days, from 3:30 to 5:30. Manning School Building.
EDUCATION.
General Expenses.
Frederic B. Knight, superintendent
$1227 72
Joseph I. Horton, 680 00
Mary Otis Quinn, clerk 313 00
J. P. Marston, cash paid out
7 11
Ipswich Chronicle, printing
79 80
The Gale-Sawyer Co., supplies
1 90
Charles G. Hull, printing reports
131 00
Boston Index Card Co., supplies
1 75
J. H. Lakeman, postmaster, postage
46 93
U. S. Mailing Case Co., supplies
2 08
Leslie Millard, typewriting
75
C. J. Peters & Son Co., engraving
2 28
G. A. Henneberry, supplies
16 35
H. N. Doughty, cash paid out
16 54
New England T. & T. Co., telephone
72 68
1915
4 51
F. B. Knight, carfares and expenses
29 27
D. A. Grady, teams
8 50
George Tibbetts, team
1 50
Charles W. Barton, boat
2 00
S. S. Bayley,
4 50
James M. Burke, expense
58
5
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
James Everlyn, interpreter
4 24
Morris Sushelsky,
4 24
D. A. Grady, team
6 50
Dr. George E. MacArthur, school physician
212 50
Wm. B. Plummer, fire protection report
10 00
Dorothy Rand, cash paid cut
7 42
F. B. Knight,
4 40
American Express Co., express
5 50
1915
2 68
F. W. Barry, Beale & Co., supplies
21 01
Neostyle Co.,
7 35
A. D. Mallard, trucking
24 42
Rumford Supply Co., supplies
4 09
Brown-Howland .Co.,
39 96
E. F. Southwick, lunch
75
H. B. McArdle, supplies
2 00
People's Express, Inc., express
65
F. B. Mitchell, engraving
15 00
Joseph Adleman, trucking
2 50
The General Fireproofing Co., supplies
11 07
Joseph I. Horton, cash paid out
3 54
A. D. Mallard, trucking
6 64
Boston Index Card Co., supplies
3 77
$3050 98
Teachers' Salaries.
John P. Marston
$940 00
Emma G. Gardner
480 00
Dorothy Rand
312 50
Amy B. Lindsey
719 00
6
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Mildred Emerson
760 50
Charles A. Goodwin
910 00
Gladys MacLay
580 00
Dorothy Richardson
300 00
Marion Farrar
312 50
Dorothea Whitney
390 00
Gwendolyn Taggart
280 00
Mary A. Preble
200 00
Adele Mathey
240 00
Cora Jewett
304 00
Lucy A. Kimball
560 00
Ellinore Soutter
300 00
W. W. Lunt
1200 00
Elizabeth Nutter
620 00
Arthur H. Tozer
500 00
Franklin B. Mitchell
972 75
S. Isabel Arthur
724 00
Bertha I. Porter
390 00
Alice Maguire
535 00
Katherine F. Sullivan
724 00
Nellie T. Sullivan
582 20
Ruth Carens
351 50
Lydia S. Harris
535 00
Augusta N. Appleton
464 50
Martina E. O'Neil
535 00
Winifred M. Fleming
535 00
Anna R. Hartford
297 00
Eva A. Willcomb
535 00
Elsie C. Green
535 00
Annie P. Wade
535 00
Kathleen Broderick
535 00
Carrie Bowman
535 00
Hilda M. Schofield
356 25
7
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Esther L. Tenney
420 00
Ralph W. Westcott
1186 49
Walter R. Brooks
280 00
1
Claudia McDuff
295 00
Mrs. John P. Marston
15 00
Agnes Eberling
10 00
Edna Pinkest
60 50
Eva Russell
11 00
M. Evelyn Turner
5 00
Leslie Millard
92 50
Mrs. Fred Ross
10 00
Vera Ross
12 50
Kate Baker
4 00
Caroline Mays
4 00
Maxwell Lakeman
8 75
Herbert W. Pickup
460 00
Gertrude Sheppard
8 00
Francis G. Ross
27 00
Marjorie Stone
1 25
Ethel Sanford
6 00
Grace Moulton
200 00
Alice K. Dinneen
200 00
Elizabeth Stolba
231 00
Grace Higgins
183 75
Hazel M. Weare
157 50
William Murphy
170 00
Tucker Teacher's Agency
25 00
Susie Bowen
16 00
$23685 94
8
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Text Books and Supplies.
S. A. Courtis $ 1 55
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
36 18
The Macmillan Co. 159 56
Scott, Foresman & Co.
1 96
Survey Associates, Inc.
3 00
Edward E. Babb & Co.
1269 47
1915
39 95
D. C. Heath & Co.
14 91
1915
58 75
Ginn & Co.
87 81
Oliver Ditson & Co.
22 28
1915
6 39
The Outlook Co.
1 80
Little, Brown & Co.
10 40
Milton, Bradley Co.
8 21
Park Publishing Co.
1 80
C. E. Doner
5 00
A. J. Nystrom
3 20
American Book Co.
29 13
Eleanor K. Peterson
5 00
John J. Mahoney
7 50
Bruce Publishing Co.
1 50
Allyn & Bacon
49 92
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co.
43 39
Silver, Burdett & Co.
12 35
Neostyle Co.
5 38
J. L. Hammatt Co.
26 14
The Prang Co.
12 52
Wadsworth, Howland Co.
24 46
A. J. Wilkinson
6 35
J. A. Blake
1 83
9
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
J. A. Blake, 1915
5 46
A. I. Savory
13 73
John W. Goodhue
161 13
Canney Lumber Co.
239 30
Boston & Maine R. R.
5 97
American Rattan & Reed Co.
9 40
Chandler & Barber Co.
61 62
New England Reed Co.
4 70
Wm. H. Field Co.
204 23
Frederick A. Cheney
190 00
Karl Andren Co.
154 10
Palmer & Parker Cc.
10 60
J. F. Pope & Son
11 82
Albert Griffiths Saw Co.
14 94
Ipswich Mills
50 90
George H. Lord
1 20
T. H. Woodworth
3 90
Farley, Harvey & Co.
23 21
Hiller & Co.
9 64
1915
3 55
N. J. Bolles
69 00
1915
8 48
J. J. Merrill
6 27
Mitchell & Co.
8 96
Measures Co., Inc.
3 82
Titcomb & Co.
74
E. E. Gray Co.
80
American Express Co.
11 28
66 1915
2 68
People's Express Co., Inc.
1 85
Royal Typewriter Co.
200 00
W. N. Prescott, 1915
28 95
Hobbs & Warren
6 12
1
10
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
C. S. Tyler
3 50
H. B. McArdle
16 69
Central Scientific Co.
120 72
Eastern Talking Machine Co.
2 50
Stuart, Howland Co.
26 22
Underwood Typewriter Co.
412 50
C. W. Thompson & Co.
1
30 35
Measures Co., Inc.
2 22
A. H. Goodwin
3 30
Oliver Ditson & Co.
7 93
Boston Music Co.
2 77
C. F. Chapman & Co.
1 00
A. D. Mallard
3 44
F. W. Barry, Beale & Co.
1 33
Neostyle Co.
5 39
A. J. Nystrom & Co.
6 32
Partridge & Co.
1 59
$4133 81
Transportation.
Wm. H. Fessenden
$360 00
D. A. Grady 907 00
Bay State St. Ry. Co.
559 00
1915
41 00
W. K. Chapman
71 00
$1938 00
11
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Janitor Service.
Wm. H. Goditt
$651 75
George W. Tozer
627 62
F. B. Saunders
312 00
19 00
Mrs. M. Ryan
25 00
George Haskell
75 45
Smith E. Hayes
32 00
Thomas A. Howe
182 68
Horace Barker
41 61
Cora Jewett
18 00
H. S. Bowen, Jr.
90
Mrs. Thomas Whitehead
3 50
$2002 01
1
Fuel and Light.
Charles L. Lovell
$ 730 21
66 1915
12 00
Lathrop Bros.
1866 92
George Fall
517 49
D. S. Perley
5 00
James Small
2 00
Electric Light Dept.
105 77
Ipswich Gas Light Co.
99 20
$3338 59
J. J. Ryan 1915
12 50
12
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Buildings and Grounds.
Bridgeport Wood Finishing Co., supplies $ 4 21
A. H. Walton, painting 53 81
Justin E. Hull, supplies 12 00
Dustbane Mfg. Co.
18 00
Wm. A. Mitchell, cleaning vaults
68 00
J. J. Merrill, labor wiring
264 29
Charles L. Lovell, cement
29 00
H. W. Phillips, supplies
137 80
George Tibbetts, teaming
35 50
1915
4 75
George G. Dexter, frames, 1915
1- 00
George B. Robbins Disinfectant Co.,
104 55
Susan M. Harris, sand
1 05
Water Dept., water
225 57
John W. Goodhue
388 45
George Hills, painting
10 84
George Hayes, supplies
50
Hayes Bros., plumbing
189 89
Wm. H. Rand.
93 76
Canney Lumber Co., lumber
116 37
L. E. Willcomb, supplies
45
C. F. Chapman Co., supplies
54 13
Cleghorn Co.,
6 39
A. I. Savory,
13 32
Electric Light Dept.,
61 68
C. W. Corey,
24 06
Ipswich Mills,
50
C. H. Brooks, plumbing
7 95
L. A. Fewkes, repairs
2 50
Chandler & Farquhar Co., supplies
2 03
H. & L. Chase,
2 38
. .
-
13
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
F. R. Schaller, piano tuning 6 00
J. A. King, repairs 3 50
Wm. H. Goditt, carpentry
149 50
Lathrop Bros., teaming .
13 03
A. G. Lauer, 1 00
George H. Brocklebank, masonry
62 50
N. Duval, labor
18 06
Edmund Wile, grading
32 35
M. H. Chapman, painting flag pole
10 00
Ipswich Gas Light Co., supplies
20 50
C. S. Tyler, supplies
1 91
N. J. Bolles
4 47
J. R. Small, labor
1 00
A. J. Brennan, supplies
2 63
R. L. Purinton, plumbing
6 00
Dana A. Dow, services
62 29
Rees Jenkins, grading
649 73
E. J. M. Scahill, fumigation
6 00
George Haskell,
15 00
George A. Whipple, labor
5 00
Austin L. Lord, 66
8 46
$3013 66
Furniture and Furnishings.
Standard Elec. Time Co., clock and supplies $221 70
Edward E. Babb & Co., desks 87 95
105 77
A. C. Damon, furnishings 66 66 1915
13 45
H. J. Harwood's Sons, desks 325 00
Clarence Chèever, clock repairs 10 50
$764 37
14
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Rent.
C. F. Chapman H. W. Phillips
$10 00 5 00
$15 00
Diplomas and Graduation Exercises.
Nason's Orchestra, music
$16 50
F. W. Martin Co., diplomas
59 05
First Department Store Co., ribbon
3 64
C. S. Tyler, ribbon
2 75
Hiller & Co.,
1 35
Ipswich Chronicle, printing
49 00
$132 29
Insurance.
G. A. Barker
$989 60
Cogswell & Safford
134 00
$1123 60
Other Expenses.
Maynard C. Jewett, coach and expenses
$58 40
Leslie Millard, ٠،
58 26
William Read & Sons, athletic supplies 10 00
15
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Mass. High School Athletic Asso., membership 2 00
Salem Rubber Co., _supplies 4 37
Measures Co., Inc.,
11 00
Albert Elwell, .
14 50
H. H. Roper, 66
18 00
William G. Horton,
5 98
Albert F. Welsh, legal services
5 00
Roland Jean, labor
3 00
$
190 51
Total expenditures
43388 76
Unexpended balance
5 84
43394 60
Appropriation
$42274 00
Appropriation, unpaid 1915 bills 369 14
Appropriation, balances of building committee 577 96 Burley School Fund Refunds 23 50
150 00
$43394 60
16
1
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
EVENING SCHOOL.
Teachers' Salaries.
Bertha l. Porter
$26 00
Claudia McDuff
2 00
Katherine F. Sullivan
38 00
Alice Maguire
28 00
Dorothy Rand
2 00
Chalres A. Goodwin
25 00
Leslie Millard
43 50
Any B. Lindsey
28 80
Walter R. Brooks
24 00
Franklin B. Mitchell
28 00
Ralph W. Westcott
48 26
Mrs. J. P. Marston
8 00
Everett Parks
42 00
Eldredge Grover
12 00
Ellinore Soutter
2 00
S. Isabel Arthur
13 00
Nellie T. Sullivan
29 00
Mildred Emerson
13 35
Lillian Logan
28 00
Mary S. Endicott
2 00
Elliot Tozer
23 00
17
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Charles E. Goodhue, Jr.
10 00
Gwendolyn Taggart
4 00
$479 91
Janitor Service.
George W. Tozer
$27 00
William H. Goditt
18 00
$45 00
Other Expenses.
Electric Light Dept., light
$15 62
Ipswich Chronicle, printing 2 50
$18 12
Total expenditures $543 03
Balance from 1915 $543 03
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
January 24th, 1917.
To the Citizens of the Town of Ipswich :-
The School Committee in presenting its annual report of the condition and progress of our schools, points with no small degree of pride to the comple- tion of our school plant. With but two exceptions, which may be easily removed during the current year, we have a thorough- ly up-to-date system of school buildings of ample capacity, with appointments and conveniences of the most modern type. Of course it is to be understood that improvements could be made along some particular lines. In some cases we could suggest changes were we to start with new buildings; but on the whole, and considering that we had to deal with a remodelling propo- sition, our town is well furnished with school accommodations that are satisfactory in nearly every respect, and well adapted to our needs, both present and prospective.
In this respect ours is far above the average of country school plants, and will compare very favorably with those of not a few cities.
During the year the grading of the Manning and Winthrop School lots has been nearly completed. Some of the maple trees that were shading the building and shutting off the sunlight
19
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
from the school rooms, have been removed. When a good grass sod becomes established and a few flowering shrubs and ornamental trees are planted, due regard being given to their grouping and arrangement, we shall have a setting for our schools which will be an ornament to the town, and to which our citizens may point with pride.
With a good school plant well established, our next duty requires a closer attention to the real function of the schools themselves. From this time on efficiency must be our watch- word. Everything must be done to secure the largest educa- tional return for the money invested, and to make our schools rank with those of the state and nation. We have the equip- ment mental as well as physical, and now it remains to give our school children the largest and fullest opportunity for self-help along all cultural and practical lines. It is our task to see that everything necessary for a well-rounded, systematical develop- ment of our youth is furnished to the full limit of their de- mands; and we have a right to expect that they will give back to this community and to the whole country as well, the help- fulness and the inspiration which is the fruit of an enlightened, high-minded citizenship.
To accomplish this and to secure the realization of our hopes, it is necessary that we adopt and proceed along the lines of a policy that is dictated by sound judgment, large experience and practical common sense.
We must secure the best teachers possible; our courses of study must be adapted to the needs of the pupils and the re- quirements of the times; our supervision must be strict and painstaking, and our training must be of the practical and effi- cient type. With this policy faithfully carried out through all the grades, we may reasonably expect and demand that our pupils shall rank well in scholarship and in character.
Your Committee is very desirous that more of our graduates
20
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
should prepare for college. In other towns and cities the num- ber so doing is increasing rapidly each year. We are at a loss to understand why more of our young men and young women are not preparing to do so here. Certainly it is realized that the demand for college-trained men is greater than ever be- fore. In many cases positions are awaiting those who are to graduate. Other things being equal, the college boy is promo- ted more rapidly and secures better positions than those not so trained. The acquaintance of men gained in college is of the greatest value, and many a business man can attribute his suc- cess to the friendships formed while in college. The training and the discipline received in the higher schools make for higher efficiency and give larger returns in service of every kind.
Times are changing rapidly. Occupations that called for little or no special training a generation ago, now depend upon it for their very existence. The revolutionary changes in our manufacturing industries, as evidenced by the demands of the European war, have been brought about by educated men well- trained in these highly specialized branches; and the demand is increasing every day. When the old world industrial progress is resumed and we are brought into open competition with it, our prosperity and our place among the nations will depend more upon the number and the ability of our specially educated classes than upon any other single factor. Our largest banking institutions and industrial enterprises are aware of this fact, and are giving special training to college graduates along their sev- eral lines.
Our consular service is open to men of college training. In civil service, too, the educated man has the advantage as he does in everything else. "Knowledge is power." We should have from twelve to fifteen young men and young women pre- paring for college each year. If our young people have any
21
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
aspirations for something higher and better than the common- place and the ordinary, they must have the education and train- ing which the times so insistently demand.
Our superintendent informs us that nearly every week our schools are visited by representatives of teachers' agencies, school principals and superintendents in search of teachers. From this it is very evident that there is no such thing as pro- fessional courtesy among superintendents. The best teachers of course are the ones selected, and if we cannot meet this competitive bidding by offering an equal advance, we lose the teacher. This is discouraging and demoralizing, and the school loses in efficience. We cannot fight them with their own weap- ons, for we have no reserve fund upon which to draw. So far, however, we have been fortunate; but provision should be made whereby this practice may be checked, or the upbuilding of our schools cannot be accomplished. A good teacher is worthy of her hire, and the law of supply and demand will keep her near the maximum value. If we wish to retain our best teachers, we must pay the market price. If this cannot be done, we must submit to the inevitable in school matters. and lose both rank and influence.
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