USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1895 > Part 4
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1
1
Blanks
1 12
13
Lieutenant=Governor.
Thomas C. Buddington of Springfield had .
1 31
32
James S. Grinnell of Greenfield
6 138
144
Patrick F. O'Neil of Boston
5
5
Edward S. Rogers of Lee .
2
63
65
Roger Wolcott of Boston .
42 495
537
R. B. Simonds
1
1
Blanks
1 25
26
Secretary of State.
Edward J. Flynn of Boston had
6 128
134
Joseph F. Maloney of Lynn
2
2
Charles D. Nash of Whitman
2 30
32
80
William M. Olin of Boston
41
493
534
Willard O. Wylie of Essex
1
57
58
Blanks
2
48
50
Treasurer and Receiver General.
Martin W. Moran of Boston had
1 29
30
Edward P. Shaw of Newburyport
40
495
535
Eben S. Stevens of Dudley
5 138
143
Charles N. Wentworth of Lynn
3
3
Blanks
4 42
46
Auditor.
John W. Kimball of Fitchburg had .
39
481
520
Frederick A. Nagler of West Springfield
1
3
4
Andrew H. Patten of Danvers .
2
25
27
Herman T. Regnell of Attleboro
1
53
54
Alfred C. Whitney of Boston
6
142
148
Blanks
3
54
57
Attorney General.
Frank M. Forbush of Natick had
3
58
61
Henry F. Hurlburt of Lynn
5 136
141
Hosea M. Knowlton of New Bedford
41 483
524
Squire E. Putney of Somerville
3
3
Conrad Reno of Boston .
1 23
24
D. D. Sullivan
1
1
Blanks
2
54
56
Councilor.
George H. Palmer of Fairhaven had .
6
156
162
Nathaniel F. Ryder of Middleborough
.
43
517
560
.
·
81
Asa F. Crosby, Jr.
1
1
Blanks
3 84 87
Senator.
Elbridge Cushman of Lakeville had
8
159
167
Noble W. Everett of Wareham
40
500
540
Isaac W. Skinner of Brockton
1 32
33
Calvin D. Kingman .
2
2
Blanks
3
65
68
Representative in General Court.
Samuel S. Bourne of Middleborough had .
44 537
581
Walter M. Snow of Middleborough
22
22
Walter Snow 66
1 2
3
Henry J. Roberts 66 66
13
13
Jesse B. Ryder 66
5
5
Jesse Ryder
1
1
Charles W. Turner
66
3
3
Calvin D. Kingman 66 60
2
2
D. D. Sullivan
66
1
1
William Holloway
66
.
1
1
Joseph Carver
66
1
1
William B. Soule 66
66
1
1
John B. LeBaron 66
66
1
1
Charles H. Carpenter "
66
1
1
Blanks
7 167
174
District Attorney.
Robert O. Harris of East Bridgewater had
41 519
560
Hosea Kingman
1
1 1
.
.
82
Henry J. Roberts
2
2
Dennis D. Sullivan
2
2
Foster Wood
1 1
T. C. Collins
1 1
R. B. Simonds
1
1
Blanks
11 231
242
County Commissioner.
Walter H. Faunce of Kingston had
43
510
553
George F. Wing of Wareham
6
152
158
Blanks
3
96
99
Special County Commissioner.
Thomas Alden of Duxbury had
5
144
149
John J. Ford of Scituate .
4
117
121
Andrew J. Pickens of Middleborough
39
490
529
Albert T. Sprague of Marshfield
23
341
364
Warren B. Stetson
1
1
Chester E. Weston
1
1
Blanks
33
422
455
Sheriff.
John W. Baxendale of Brockton had
7
141
148
Alpheus K. Harmon of Plymouth
42
521
563
Thomas McDonald
1
1
Blanks
.
3
95
98
Woman Suffrage.
Yes.
Men's votes
11
252
263
Women's votes
·
3
37
40
Total Yes
14
289
303
.
83
No.
Men's votes . Women's votes
30
341
371
1
1
2
Total No
31
342
373
Blanks
11 165
176
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Middleborough, Mass.
For 1895.
LEE
F
OUTHS
COUNTY
U
NTY, MASS
M
*
INCORPORATI
MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASS. : MIDDLEBORO GAZETTE OFFICE. 1896.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Organization, 1895=96.
ADELINE V. WOOD, Chairman. ASHIER J. JACOBY, Secretary.
MEMBERS.
ADELINE V. WOOD,
Term expires, 1896.
AUGUSTUS PRATT,
66
66
1896.
EBENEZER PICKENS,
66
66
1897.
ANNIE D. DEANE,
1897.
JAMES M. COOMBS,
66
66
1898.
JOANNA T. LEONARD,
66
66
1898.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Teachers :- Mrs. LEONARD, and Messrs. COOMBS and PICKENS.
Text Books and Supplies :- Mrs. DEANE, and Messrs. PRATT and COOMBS.
High, Main Street, and West Side Schools :- Mr. COOMBS.
School Street, Thomastown, and Wappanucket Schools :- Mrs. LEONARD.
Union Street and Fall Brook Schools :- Mr. PICKENS.
Pleasant Street and Plymouth Street Schools :- Mr. PRATT.
Thompsonville, Soule, and Waterville Schools :- Mrs. DEANE.
Green, Nemasket, and Purchade Schools :- Mrs. WOOD.
South Middleboro, Highland, and Rock Schools :- ASHER J. JACOBY.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. ASHER J. JACOBY. Office, Room 7, Town Hall. Office Hours, school days : Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5 P. M. ; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 9 A. M.
The regular meetings of the Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, at two o'clock in the afternoon.
All bills against the School Department should be sent to the Secretary's office, Room 7, Town Hall, not later than the Wednesday preceding the first Thursday of each month.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Middleborough :
The School Committee respectfully submit their annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1895. The following is the financial statement for the year :-
GENERAL STATEMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
$21,000.00
Lumber
8.37
Tuition from non-resident pupils
.
222.00
$21,230.37
EXPENDITURES.
Instruction, janitors' salaries, and
fuel
$14,750.77
Superintendent's salary 1,500.00
Text-books and supplies
1,674.16
Incidentals
2,899.03
Transportation to High School 438.74
Transportation to Elementary Schools 1,338.25
$22,600.95
DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES.
INSTRUCTION.
Central Schools :
High
$3,180.00
Main Street
2,207.00
4
Union Street
1,182.50
School Street
1,314.00
West Side
833.00
$8,716.50
Suburban Schools :
Pleasant Street
$285.00
Plymouth Street
304.00
Purchade
380.00
Nemasket
319.00
Thompsonville
195.50
Soule
304.00
Waterville
315.50
Green .
330.50
Fall Brook
323.00
Thomastown
266.00
South Middleboro
290.00
Highland
304.00
Rock
311.50
Wappanucket
266.00
$4,194.00
NOTE-Thompsonville School was not in session during the fall term.
JANITORS.
Central Schools
$858.00
Suburban Schools
.
117.25
$975.25
FUEL.
Central Schools :
George F. Bryant
$644.70
H. K. Ellis .
22.52
G. H. Simmons
1.25
$668.47
5
Suburban Schools :
Augustus Pratt
$25.25
E. H. Shaw
20.75
O. E. Deane
18.25
Henry L. Thomas 16.00
C. N. Atwood
9.35
J. H. Vaughan
18.15
T. C. Savery
16.50
Jared Pratt .
6.00
J. A. Thomas
27.00
R. J. Nourse, Jr.
1.00
J. E. Cushman
15.00
Annie M. Flansburg
11.00
George E. Holmes
5.75
A. H. Soule
6.55
$196.55
TEXT-BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Edward E. Babb & Co. $177.70
H. L. Thatcher & Co. 23.85
J. L. Hammett 60.28
J. B. Lippincott Company 92.71
Thompson, Brown & Co.
81.04
D. C. Heath & Co. 76.97
Allyn & Bacon 6.00
Silver, Burdett & Company
405.90
University Publishing Co.
16.00
Lee and Shepard . 36.48
E. L. Kellogg & Co.
· 1.03
The Holden Pat. Book Cover Co. . 9.75
6
D. Appleton & Co.
5.19
E. S. Ritchie & Sons 9.37
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 181.02
J. G. Gray, assignee for Queen & Co. 12.54
Ginn and Company 62.39
T. H. Castor & Co.
8.37
The Prang Educational Company. 104.49
Henry Holt & Co. 53.85
American Book Company 173.73
Educational Publishing Co. .
2.00
W. D. Nickerson (N. E. manager for John E. Potter & Co.) 5.50
Eagle Pencil Company
13.85
Charles Scribner's Sons 10.40
Geo. F. King & Merrill
38.50
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co. 3.45
Thorp & Martin Company ·
1.80
-
$1,674.16
INCIDENTALS.
Middleboro Gas & Electric Plant . $12.41
New York and Boston Despatch
Express Co. 25.45
A. R. Gurney
2.85
John McNally
6.22
J. T. Washburn
364.16
Lloyd Perkins
25.06
Asher J. Jacoby
105.00
Hiram Whittemore
5.25
Frank Phinney & Son
4.15
7
H. N. Pratt & Son
6.91
Myra L. Atwood .
1.70
R. J. Nourse, Jr.
4.05
Wood & Tinkham 86.75
C. H. Shaw
5.86
Middleborough Water Works
18.00
H. Chandler
1.30
A. C. Howes
3.96
Dora T. Leonard .
14.00
Jones Brothers
163.96
J. S. Cuzner
31.92
A. P. Vaughan
238.34
Frank Murray
.50
Annie D. Deane
10.50
Adeline V. Wood
7.50
Harry Wentworth
2.50
D. M. Lufkin
1.50
I. S. Preston
3.20
James A. Burgess
19.15
William F. Deane
174.00
Alex Eaton .
2.00
H. L. Thatcher & Co.
58.30
W. W. Lowe
34.15
Ira O. Littlejohn .
11.76
A. P. Baker, for the Bobrick School
Furniture Co.
161.51
L. F. Tinkham
4.50
T. B. West
14.00
C. E. Brown
37.25
8
H. F. Wood 46.00
C. W. Drake
9.94
F. A. Nants 4.00
J. K. & B. Sears & Co. 316.10
E. T. Lincoln 10.00
Henry K. Ellis 3.75
Lysander W. Field
3.00
Joseph Osborne
.50
Middleborough Highway Department 71.31
M. M. Copeland .
4.50
Ernest I. Perkins
1.50
Joshua Sherman 1.50
C. W. Maxim
10.62
A. G. Hayes
5.00
Thomas W. Pierce 310.43
J. & G. E. Doane
65.47
C. W. Griffin 4.41
Augustus Pratt .60
Samuel Cabot
61.60
I. & R. Hughes
182.27
E. R. Waters
3.25
R. I. Ellis
8.90
R. E. Southworth
89.52
E. O. Parker
10.10
J. G. Ford .
1.35
Steam Gage Co.
1.50
L. B. Pratt .
1.25
James M. Coombs
1.04
$2,899.03
9
TRANSPORTATION TO HIGH SCHOOL.
Agnes B. Jenks
$20.00
Etta F. Shaw
13.38
Lizzie W. Wade .
22.00
Clarence W. Cushman
18.45
Nellie C. Benson .
13.38
George A. Deane
11.50
Helen W. Ham
33.32
Florence B. Reed
12.75
Harry E. Bump
1.48
Elmer Benson
11.08
Alton S. Freeman
10.50
Arthur S. Gibbs
18.47
Everett W. Nichols
1.42
Myron D. Place
18.47
Bertha E. Shaw
20.92
Estella J. Shaw
22.31
Annie W. Morse .
9.35
Clarence E. Smith
21.76
Evie P. Southworth
18.45
E. Jennie Washburn
19.95
Lucy S. Weston .
27.60
Clifford T. Westgate
22.00
Lillie M. Tinkham
18.45
Ichabod F. Atwood
7.39
Nannie G. Field
7.39
Cora Chase .
7.39
Laura C. Deane
7.40
F
Grace E. Wood
7.40
-
10
Alva C. Dennett
7.39
Alton G. Pratt
7.39
$438.74
TRANSPORTATION TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
A. J. Wood . $320.25
Louis Hoffman
83.25
A. A. Savery 167.00
Mrs. E. Blackwell
182.00
J. H. Vaughan
271.50
W. A. Shaw .
29.50
B. C. Shaw
118.00
H. G. Porter
36.00
John Green
42.75
R. J. Nourse, Jr.
15.00
C. T. Morse .
73.00
$1,338.25
We regret that we have been unable to keep within the appropriation, but, when the number of school buildings to be kept in suitable repair is taken into consideration, we think we have not been extravagant. Our aim has been to have the rooms clean, attractive and comfortable, for that we have labored economically, but, notwithstanding, the expense has been greater than we anticipated, that of the High School alone amounting to more than seven hundred dollars.
We think it expedient to ask for an appropriation to be de- voted solely to repairs, a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars.
The demand for a new schoolhouse at Rock is imperative, the one now occupied being, in our judgment, not worth the expense required to put it in a comfortable condition. Should
11
it be thought best to repair it, even then it would be inade- quate to the wants of the school, being too small for the com- fort of those now in daily attendance.
We would recommend a building with two rooms, large enough to accommodate all the children in that vicinity, for we are convinced that in every instance when a union of schools has been effected the results have been more satisfac- tory than under the former arrangement.
We feel assured that all interested in the educational wel- fare of our young people will join with us in our efforts for their improvement-morally, intellectually and physically.
The Union Street building, to which attention has been called before, is also unfit for school purposes. It has not the requirements essential to health, comfort or convenience.
We confidently hope the town will recognize the import- ance of these demands and act accordingly.
We submit the following as the amount necessary to defray the expenses of the ensuing year :
Annual appropriation $21,000.00
Repairs on school buildings 1,000.00
Supervisor of Music 500.00
Having approved the report of the Superintendent, here- with transmitted, we respectfully ask your attention to the same.
ADELINE V. WOOD. AUGUSTUS PRATT. ANNIE D. DEANE. EBENEZER PICKENS. JAMES M. COOMBS. JOANNA T. LEONARD.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee:
I respectfully present herewith to you, and through you to the people of Middleborough, my third annual report of the public schools of the town, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1895. It will constitute the eleventh of the series of annual reports of the Superintendent of Schools.
The following summary of statistics will give, at the outset, some idea of the condition of the schools and the progress that has been made.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
FINANCIAL.
Assessed valuation of the town, 1895 $3,822,086.00
Tax rate per thousand $16.66%
Approximate value of school buildings and grounds, 1895 $65,000.00
Approximate value of other school property $7,000.00
Total expenditure for the schools during the year . $22,600.95
Percentage of assessed valuation expended for the schools .0059
Average cost per pupil on whole enrollment $18.34
13
Average cost per pupil on average number be-
longing
$23.20
POPULATION.
Population of the town, U. S. Census of 1890
6,090
State Census of 1895 · 6,692
Number of persons between the ages of five and fifteen years, May 1, 1895 .
957
Increase for the year
23
Number of persons between the ages of eight and fourteen years, May 1, 1895
552
Increase for the year .
5
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE.
1892
1893
1894
Central
Subur'n
Total
Whole number of pupils enrolled,
1,072
1,090
1,201
797
436
1,233
Average number belonging,
842
853
940
662
312
974
Average daily attendance,
734
745
860
610
280
890
Percentage of daily attend- ance to average number belonging,
87.2
87.3
91.5
92.1 16,331
89.7 12,260
90.9
No. of half days' absence,
44,612
41,981
29,529
28,591
No. of cases of tardiness,
2,633
2,996
3,009
915
795
1,710
No. of cases of dismissal,
1,752
1,552
2,497
1,012
647
1,659
No. of cases of truancy,
20
32
23
7
5
12
No. of pupils in the High School.
134
145
159
146
1895
14
NUMBER OF PUPILS IN EACH GRADE, DECEMBER, 1895.
PRIMARY.
GRAMMAR
HIGH
X
XI
XII XIII
SCHOOLS.
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
Fourth
Class.
Third
Class.
Second Class.
First
Class.
Central, Suburban,
120 69
76
53
45
41 44
45 27
45 13
32 21
30 7
38
29
24
17
Total,
189
127
106
90
85
72
58
53
37
38
29
24
17
D Grade, 13. C Grade, 11. B Grade, 8. A Grade, 17.
DISTRIBUTION OF PUPILS IN RESPECT TO AGE.
Number of pupils between the ages of five and six years 113
Number of pupils between the ages of six and
seven . . 123
Number of pupils between the ages of seven and eight ·
118
Number of pupils between the ages of eight and nine 119
Number of pupils between the ages of nine and ten 117
Number of pupils between the ages of ten and eleven
100
Number of pupils between the ages of eleven and twelve 101
Number of pupils between the ages of twelve and thirteen 106
Number of pupils between the ages of thirteen and fourteen · 113
Number of pupils between the ages of fourteen and fifteen 79
51
53
45
15
Number of pupils between the ages of fifteen and sixteen 65
Number of pupils over sixteen 78
TEACHERS.
Number of teachers employed, including assist-
ants, December, 1895 . 31
Increase for the year
1
High School : men, 1; women, 3; total
4
Grammar Schools : men, 1; women, 6; total
7
Primary Schools, women
7
Suburban Schools, women
13
II .- SCHOOLHOUSES AND SCHOOLS.
Number occupied, December, 1895 . 17
Number of rooms, not including recitation rooms 28
Number of recitation rooms
4
High School rooms
5
Grammar School rooms, grades IV-IX
8
Primary School rooms, grades I-III
6
Suburban School rooms, mixed grades 13
Number of houses heated by steam .
1
Number of houses heated by hot air furnaces 3
Number of houses heated by stoves
13
SCHOOL EXPENDITURES.
The sum expended during the year for the schools was $22,600.95, an increase of $3,162.76 over that of the preced- ing year. A comparison of the amounts expended for the
16
several items during the year with the amounts expended for the same items during the preceding year shows the follow- ing results : Instruction, care of buildings, and fuel, an increase of $937.90; text-books and supplies, a decrease of $26.91 ; incidentals, an increase of $1,999.98 ; transportation to the High School, an increase of $86.86; and transporta- tion to the Elementary Schools, an increase of $265.82.
The average cost for each pupil on whole enrollment was $18.34, and on average number belonging $23.20, an in- crease of $2.16 and $2.53 respectively over the previous year. These figures are based on the whole amount expended for the schools. If we base the figures on the amount ex- pended for instruction, care of buildings, fuel, and text-books and supplies, we find that the average cost for each pupil on whole enrollment was $14.57, and on average number belong- ing $18.40, an increase of 40 cents and 30 cents respectively over the year before.
The increase in the amount expended for instruction, care of buildings, and fuel was due to several causes.
In the first place, teachers' salaries in a number of cases were increased. This was done to carry out the schedule of salaries adopted two years ago, and to retain the services of competent teachers. Good teachers are so essential to good schools that the policy pursued by the Committee is the right one. A really good teacher is cheap at any price, while a poor teacher is dear at any price.
Secondly, an increase in the number of pupils required an increase in the number of teachers.
17
The large increase in expenditures for incidentals was due to the following necessary repairs and improvements that were made : -
1. In 1894, the State Department of Inspection of Fac- tories and Public Buildings was requested by the School Committee, through the Selectmen, to inspect the walls of the High School building, and the heating apparatus in use therein. The Department' complied with the request, and ordered that the walls be repaired and that the boiler be sup- plied with new tubes. This was done, and the building is now safe, and its outside appearance much more attrac- tive.
2. About the middle of the year, a communication was received from the Board of Health, ordering that School Street and Union Street buildings be connected with the sewer. After due consideration it was decided to connect School Street building. The work was commenced and, at the close of the year, over one-half of it was completed. This involved an expenditure for which the Committee was not prepared.
3. During cold weather it had been found impossible to heat properly the rooms in Union Street building by the hot air furnace in use. To overcome this difficulty, the room on the first floor was furnished with a "Puritan Jacketed Stove," which up to the present time has proven very satisfactory. The room on the second floor is still heated by the hot air furnace.
4. The opening of an additional school in the West Side building necessitated the furnishing of another room. Single
18
desks and seats of the adjustable pattern were bought. All the rooms now in use in this building have adjustable furniture.
5. An important change, and one which involved some expense, was the transfer of the first and second grades from Union Street building to School Street building, and the transfer of the third, fourth and fifth grades from the latter building to the former. This change was made for a number of reasons.
In the first place, it made it possible to carry into effect the belief that the building and grounds whose conditions con- tributed most to the health and the comfort of the pupils should be occupied by the lowest primary grades. School Street building and grounds are superior in these respects to Union Street building and grounds. The rooms are more properly heated and ventilated, and the grounds are larger, more secluded, and better shaded.
Secondly, it made it possible to organize the first grade school into two first grade schools. Before the change, there were from eighty to one hundred first grade pupils in one large room under a principal teacher and an assistant, recita- tions being conducted in the main room and in a recitation room. Each teacher now has from forty to fifty pupils in a separate schoolroom. The conditions for more and better work have thus been greatly improved.
The change necessitated the reseating of the rooms. This gave an opportunity to arrange the desks and seats to much better advantage. As the old furniture had to be used the work proved to be difficult. It was finally accomplished,
19
and the present arrangement not only adds to the comfort of the pupils, but it also facilitates the work of the schools.
6. Repairs of some kind were made on all' the school buildings. Part of the roof of School Street building was re- shingled. The roof of Green building was reshingled, the inside walls repaired and painted, and a new floor laid. A new floor was also laid in the Thomastown building.
7. In each of the suburban buildings boards about a foot high were placed in front of the lower sash of the windows, about an inch distant from it. By raising the sashes to a proper height, fresh air may now be admitted to the rooms in such a way that the danger to the health of pupils from window draughts is greatly lessened.
8. New outhouses were built at Waterville and Rock. The buildings for boys and girls were placed some distance apart with a tight board fence between. The doors were sup- plied with locks.
9. Four of the rooms at the Center, and all of the suburban rooms were supplied with cabinets for books and supplies.
The increase in expenditure for transportation to the High School was due to the fact that the number of persons who at- tended the High School, and who were entitled to transporta- tion, was larger than formerly.
The increase in the sum expended for transportation to the Elementary Schools was due to the following causes :-
1. The Committee tried to satisfy every reasonable de- mand for transportation.
2. Proper care was taken to employ only careful and com- petent drivers, the Committee not being willing to take any risks.
20
It has been the aim throughout the year to secure and retain good teachers, to furnish the pupils with necessary books and supplies, to make the equipment of reference books and appa- ratus more complete, to make the school buildings more con- fortable and attractive, and to bring the schools as near to the people as possible. All expenditures were made with this constantly in view.
NEW SCHOOLHOUSE.
It has been very evident for several years that a new school building was greatly needed at Rock. The old building is not only very much out of repair, but it is entirely too small for · the size of the school. Anyone visiting the school will soon become convinced of this. Its system of heating, ventilation, and lighting could not be much worse. Regard for the health of the pupils alone should prompt the town to act favorably on the unanimous recommendation of the Committee for a new building, and grant an appropriation for the same.
CONSOLIDATION AND TRANSPORTATION.
Some progress was made during the year in the consolida- tion of the schools.
In July it was decided not to reopen the Thompsonville School and to transport the pupils to the Nemasket School. For a number of years it had been necessary to transport pupils to Thompsonville to make the school sufficiently large. All the pupils who attended this school are now transported to Nemasket, without an increase in expenditure. This not
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only effects a saving of about $340 a year, but it has increased the efficiency of the school.
While the policy of the Committee is thus committed to consolidation, it does not seem possible to consolidate all the schools at the Center, owing to the distance some of them are from this point. If this could be done, more and better results would be obtained by seven teachers than are now obtained by the thirteen teachers of the Suburban Schools, because the conditions for work would be more favorable.
It is possible, however, to consolidate in certain places, and this should be done whenever the opportunity offers itself. Since a new school building is needed at the Rock, it would be wisest to erect a two-room building, then close the Highland and Wappanucket Schools, and transport the pupils to the Rock School. This would enable us to organ- ize the one large and the two small schools, which, at present, are in separate buildings widely apart, into two medium-sized schools in one building.
The better grading of the schools and classification of the pupils, which this would make possible, would result in more and better work with two teachers, than is now accomplished by three. The superior heating, lighting, and ventilation of a modern building, together with more attractive surround- ings and a more complete equipment of school appliances, would contribute very largely to the intellectual, moral, and physical growth and development of the pupils. The ex- pense would be about the same as under the present arrange- ment.
The subject of consolidation and transportation is so fully
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and fairly treated by Agent A. W. Edson, in the "Fifty- eighth Annual Report of the State Board of Education," that it is given here in full, and I respectfully call your attention to the same.
" There is a decided tendency on the part of intelligent and progressive communities to close the small schools in remote districts and to transport children to the graded schools of the villages, where better classification, better grading and better teaching are the rule. This is done not so much from an economic standpoint as because of the firm conviction that the children receive greater educational advantages there than in the small ungraded schools.
" The number of children in the back districts is small, and growing less every year. With few children and small classes there can be but little enthusiasm and progress.
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