USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1917 > Part 3
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Books in Library, January 1, 1917 7,954
Pamphlets
Pamphlets in Library February 1, 1916 1,252
Pamphlets received from U. S. Government 17
Pamphlets received from Secretary of Commonwealth 25
Pamphlets received from County of Essex 1
1
Copy
Librarian's Report. Books in Library Jan. 1, 1917. 7,954 added by purchase 82
gift from Mrs. Margaret Wade 2
11
" Sec. of Commonwealth 13 " Mrs. J. J. H. Gregory 2
" Free Public Lib. Commission 1
1
.. U. S. Brewer's assoc. · Carnegie Endowment Fund 1 national Security League 1 national Wholesale Liquor Dealo' assoc. 1
Nate. assoc. of employment for cured tubercular 1
Books in Library; Jan. 1, 1918.
8,059
Pamphlets in Library Jan. 1, 1917 1,397 197
" rec'd from U.S. Gov't. administration 6
U.S. Food Con
General Educ. Board 4
Chambre de Commerce de Paris 2
Sec. of commonwealth 10 Com. on Public Information 6
andover Library Salem Library
.1 1
"1
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Pamphlets read from Portland Cement assoc. Rockefeller Foundation 1 american Red cross 1 Virginia+Carolina Chemical Co. 4
1
State charities asaso. n. Y.
Otto H, Kahu 久
Nesbit G. Season
John D. Rockefeller, Is. / Mass Nautical School 2 Umer. Tel. + Jel, Co. 1 Trustees of Williston Seminary ! Sloom Thompson R. P. News Burac 1 World Peace Foundation 2 Prudential one. Co. 1 amer, Lesue Pub. Co. 1 Pamphlets in Library Jan. 1, 1918 1646 New borrowere registered- Circulation of books for year ending Jan, 1918 6, 954 Largest circulation of books in any mouth Jan 1917)727 Smallest 11
4 (Sept . 1917 ) 440 naember of volumes replaced 6 11 "matore registered 19 " drie Library was open 115
Edith L. Fletcher
middleton Mare. Jan. 1; 1918.
Librarian
55
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Pamphlets received from National Child Labor Committee 2 Pamphlets received from National Highways Association 1 Pamphlets received from American Trust Company 10
Pamphlets received from American Telephone and Telegraph Co. 1
Pamphlets received from George Washington Memorial Asso. 1
Pamphlets received from Mass. Nautical School 2
Pamphlets received from World Peace Foundation 5
Pamphlets received from Otto H. Kahn 2
Pamphlets received from Soil Improvement Committee 12
Pamphlets received from Chambre de Commerce de Paris 1
Pamphlets received from Butler Brothers 1
Pamphlets received from Boston Public Library
1
Pamphlets received from Abbot Public Library Marblehead 1
Pamphlets received from Salem Public Library 1
Pamphlets received from John W. Alexander Memorial Committee 1
Pamphlets received from Carnegie Hero Fund Commission 1
Pamphlets received from Latin American News Association 1
Pamphlets from General Education Board 1
Pamphlets from Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Turnbull 55
Pamphlets received from Mass. Agricultural College 1
Pamphlets received from Bethlehem Steel Company 1
Pamphlets in Library January 1, 1917 1,397
New borrowers registered 79
Circulation of books for 11 months ending Jan. 1, 1917 7,278
Largest circulation of books in any month June 1, 1916 821
Smallest circulation of books in any month May, 1916 355
Number of volumes replaced 6
Number of visitors registered 26
Number of days library was open 105
LILLIAN P. FLETCHER,
Librarian.
Middleton, Mass., January 1, 1917.
56
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Report of Electric Light Manager
Gentlemen :
Owing to the recent rise in price of copper wire, it had been thought best to do nothing with street light extension during the past year.
You will note there is an unexpended appropriation of $500 for this purpose, which may be used to better advantage later.
There still remain in various parts of the Town, six wired houses which are not connected. After carefully considering the tax payer and interest of the Town in general, the Select- men have agreed with me, that under present conditions these houses remain unconnected.
Respectfully yours,
ARTHUR W. LEAVITT,
Manager.
Estimates of Finance Committee for the year 1917
School Department
$3,200 00
School books and supplies
450 00
School incidentals
300 00
Current expenses
4,500 00
Highway Department
1,200 00
Bridge Department
1,700 00
Sidewalks
200 00
Tree Warden
250 00
Gypsy and brown tail moth State requirement
383 89
Poor Department
325 00
Cemetery Department
300 00
Memorial Day
125 00
Firemen
65 00
Fire Department
100 00
High School pupils carfares
200 00
Water and light in Hose house
125 00
Tax Collector
200 00
Street light current
500 00
Street light depreciation
228 00
Interest on electric light
175 00
Water pipe on South Main Street
300 00
Hydrant on Maple Street
150 00
(57)
1
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
Essex, ss. To William A. Russell, Constable of the Town of Middleton, in the County of Essex.
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in elections and in Town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall in said Town, on
Friday, March 2, 1917, at 7.30 o'clock
in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles :--
ART. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meet- ing and at the Election to be held Monday, March 5th.
ART. 2. By petition of B. T. McGlauflin and twelve others. To see if the Town will vote to reconsider any or all articles voted at the special meeting held February 16, 1917. These articles to be voted on by ballot. Yes or No.
ART. 3. To choose all Town Officers not included in the list to be elected by ballot at the annual meeting to be held March 5th.
ART. 4. To see what action the Town will take in regard to defraying Town expenses the ensuing year.
ART. 5. To see what action the Town will take in regard to enforcing the liquor law.
(59)
60
TOWN WARRANT
ART. 6. To see if the Town will vote to require the Highway Surveyors to provide a suitable quantity of sand and use the same on the sidewalks when covered with ice.
ART. 7. To see what action the Town will take in regard to compensation of Tax Collector.
ART. 8. To see what action the Town will take in regard to letting the Town Hall.
ART. 9. To see what measures the Town will adopt for the removal of snow from the sidewalks.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will authorize the Collector to use all means of collecting the taxes which the Town Treas- urer when appointed may use.
ART. 12. By petition of J. M. Grosvenor, and nine others, to see if the Town will vote to extend the Town water pipe on East Street as far as the estate of J. M. Grosvenor and Win- chester Smith, and appropriate for the same.
ART. 13. By petition of William W. Wilkins, and thir- teen others, to see if the Town will vote to put water in the Hose House and appropriate money for that purpose.
ART. 14. By petition of William W. Wilkins, and thir- teen others, to see if the Town will vote to put electric lights in the Hose House and appropriate money for that purpose.
61
TOWN WARRANT
ART. 15. By petition of J. N. Esty, and others, to see if the Town will approve of extending the electric light wires for home lighting on North Main Street and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will exend the water main on So. Main Street as far as John F. Milberry's house as was previously voted and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 17. To see if the Town will vote to purchase power sprayer and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will vote to extend the bitu- minus macadam rode from the Danvers line in connection with the State and County and appropriate the sum of $1,000 for the same.
And you are further directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town qualified to vote in Elections and Town affairs to meet at the Town Hall on
Monday, March 5, 1917
to choose by ballot the following town officers for the ensuing year.
Moderator for the present year, Town Clerk, three Select- men, one Assessor for three years, one Overseer of the Poor for three years, one Overseer of the Poor for two years, one School Committee for three years, Highway Surveyor, two Trutees of Flint Public Library for three years, Constable,
62
TOWN WARRANT
Treasurer, Tax Collector, Auditor, three Fence Viewers, Tree Warden, Superintendent of Burials, Janitor for Town Hall, one Water Commissioner for three years, one Water Com- missioner for one year, one Trustee of the David Cummings Fund for three years.
Also on the same ballot to give their votes "Yes" or "No" in answer to the following question : Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town.
Shall the town accept the Acts of Chapter 153, Acts of 1916 relating to the license fee for towns less than ten thous- and inhabitants.
The polls will be open at 5.45 A. M. and may be closed at 3 P. M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting up attested copies thereof, one at the Post Office, one at Town Hall, and one at Mrs. Tessier's Store in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said 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 meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this seventeeth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventeen.
H. K. RICHARDSON M. E. TYLER
H. E. HOWE
Selectmen of Middleton
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLETON
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JANUARY 1, 1917
OF
Knowledge
Power
SETTS
OUNDED
SALEM, MASS MILO A. NEWHALL & CO. PRINTERS 1917
Report of the School Committee
Middleton, Mass., January 1, 1917. To the Citizens of Middleton:
The School Committee herewith submits the annual reports of the Superintendent of Schools, the Principal and supervisors of special branches in the Middleton Schools.
We would respectfully refer you to these reports for detailed information concerning the work of the school.
Change of District
At the time of the beginning of the present school term in Sept. 1916, the State Board of Education decided to rearrange the districts of the School Superintendents and in so doing they saw fit to remove Middleton from the district in which it had been associated for a long period of years with the towns of Wenham and Essex and to which in latter years the towns of Topsfield and Lynnfield had been added, and put in a district
- consisting of Middleton, Wilmington and Boxford.
The Superintendent of Schools in the old district, Mr. Harvey R. Williams, with whom your committee were most highly satisfied and whose work was so pleasing and effective in our school, remained of course in that district while the superintendent of the district in which we find ourselves now is Mr. James A. MacDougall of North Wilmington. These changes were made by the State Board of Education who un- doubtedly have sought to serve the best interests of all con- cerned. It is also probably true that, notwithstanding the regret felt by the Committee at losing the opportunity to benefit by the services of Mr. Williams, the work of the school will be carried on efficiently under the guidance of Mr. Mac- Dougall, concerning whose work however, the shortness of the period during which he has been with us precludes the possi- bility of fair criticism or comment.
(3)
4
SCHOOL REPORT
The committee desires to state plainly and perhaps bluntly to the people of Middleton that the changes both in district assignment and in superintendency were made by the State Board of Education and without the sanction or approval of the School Committee of the Town of Middleton.
Superintendent's Report
To the School Committee, Middleton, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my first annual report, and as all arrangements had been completed for the opening of the schools in September before I assumed the duties of superin- tendent I shall make the report brief and general.
Permit me first to compliment you upon the excellent con- dition in which I found the schools. The teachers are well fitted for their work and are putting into this work all that energy and enthusiasm which are the product of high profes- sional standards combined with a personal acquaintance with, and interest in the lives of the individual children. Apart from the personal abilities of the teachers, two factors seem to me to be the chief contributors to the good work being done ; First, the centralizing of your schools in one building, thus giving facilities for careful grading and for intensive work. Second, the retention of your teachers on what is practically permanent tenure. The teachers are acquainted with the pupils, and are in a position to give special attention where needed to correct defects and overcome difficulties.
Thus the losses resulting from the weeks that the schools were closed on account of infantile paralysis have already been largely made up.
5
SCHOOL REPORT
It has seemed to me that a brief general statement of the aims of our school work would not be out of place at this time.
The work of the first three grades aims to give the child a mastery of the mechanics of reading, writing and number, and also to give the nervous system some training for the co-ordi- nating of the activities of hand and voice with those of eye and ear, a training for power to give expression to knowledge gained.
During the first year the main object is to teach reading, oral language and concrete number work taking second place, and other activites supplementary to these or independent of them receiving such attention as may be possible. During the second and third years the work continues along these lines, but broadens so that by the end of the third year the child should be able to read readily and fluently, and should have the ability to work out the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. He should be able to give a fairly well connected description of familiar activities. He should have had such a drill in number combinations as to give him the ability to do addition and sub- traction without counting, give him a knowledge of multipli- cation combinations to 10 times 10 or possibly to 12 times 12, the ability to do simple division, and some ability in the use of simple fractions. In writing and spelling he should know the letter forms and be able to spell the common words of his own vocabulary.
In the fourth grade the child is taught to use these "working tools," and to apply them for practical purposes. He is taught to read history and kindred subjects for informa- tion ; he learns how to apply the number facts in the solution of problems and he puts into written form such stories and descriptions as he has been giving orally. In addition to this line of work he is given further drill in reading for vocabu- lary, pronunciation, fluency and articulation ; in number work for accuracy and rapidity, in writing and spelling for greater proficiency, and in singing and drawing for proficiency and for
6
SCHOOL REPORT
that training in accuracy and power of attention to detail which these subjects so will give.
From the beginning of the fifth year onward the aims of the teacher are to give the child as great a fund of knowledge of history, geography, literature, etc. as possible, and by means of the teaching of these and other subjects to develop in him the power to add independently to this fund, and also to give the ability to apply his knowledge to such problems as may arise in his own life.
A further aim is to so teach these various subjects that interest in them will continue long after school life has ended.
Since life is made up largely of habits it becomes one of the chief aims of school work to seek to fix in the pupils those habits that will contribute to success and right living. Such habits of thought should be established as will help the boy and girl to rightly estimate values, and to act as duty dictates.
The school must be regarded by all as a place for work. If poor work receive even passive approval by either parent or teacher the child unconsciously assumes that it is good enough, and after a time very likely, it will be the best that the child can do.
The Middleton schools are being so taught that pupils are getting not only the facts and drill referred to above but they are getting as well, that training in habits of thought that should go far towards insuring success.
I extend to you and to the teachers my thanks for the hearty co-operation given me.
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. MACDOUGALL.
Superintendent.
7
SCHOOL REPORT
Report of Music Teacher
Topsfield Mass., January 30, 1917.
To the Superintendent of Schools: -
Dear Sir :
I am glad to report the continued earnestness and good effort in the study of music in the Middleton schools.
The course of study this year has been practically the same as last year, with better results. Teachers and scholars are more familiar with the present arrangement of the course.
In the third and fourth grades, the remainder of the year will be given to the study of two part songs. Written work is begun in the third grade. The pupils are taught to make the staff, to write the scale, and later to write the scale in the different keys. This written work helps the child to remember what has already been studied. Some three part work is being done in the fifth and sixth grades.
I believe the old standard songs should be taught, and patriotic songs. Community music is a great moral force in uplifting the people.
At Christmas time the singing of carols is helpful and enjoyable to all. I trust the study of music in the schools may thus prove a benefit to the community as well as to the pupils.
The Superintendent, the Committee and the teachers have been helpful and faithful.
Respectfully submitted, '
GENIE FULLER KIMBALL.
8
SCHOOL REPORT
APPENDIX
Calendar for 1917-1918
February 24 to March 4, Winter vacation.
April 28 to May 6, Spring vacation.
June 22, 1917, Schools close for Summer vacation. September 4, 1917, Schools open.
November 28, 1917 to December 3, Thanksgiving recess. December 22 to January 2, 1918, Christmas vacation. February 22 to March 4, 1918, Winter vacation.
Penmanship Report June 1916 C. A. Manning
Diplomas
J. Roy Osborne Albert R. Berry Ethel C. Kelley Benjamin I. Evans Elva G. Rogers ®
Margaret A. Guss Mildred L. Porter Isabelle P. Durkee Mary L. Whiting Lydia C. Wade
Improvement Certificates
Mildred E. Smith Callie O. Douglass Eunice E. Russell Donald A. Henderson Edward Boyer
Arthur T. Powers Margaret L. Sylvester Geraldine Smith Paul H. Richardson Harriet Hood
9
SCHOOL REPORT
Progress Pins
Alfred H. Kitchin Mildred E. Smith Linwood Hatch Arthur T. Powers
Lydia C. Wade Geraldine Smith Dean L. Hosmer Joseph Leary
Buttons
Lydia C. Wade
Alfred H. Kitchen
Penmanship Grades V and VI
Twenty-five Drills
John Gage Lillian Raynor Maurice Tyler
Fletcher Whiting Randolph Bousley Raymond Berry Lillian Raynor
William Roberts Guy Morrison Joseph Russell
Arnold Leary Howard Hood
Richard Green Grant Morrison
Milton Evans
One Hundred Drills
Clarence Osgood Annie Sanford Pauline Wilson Ruth Howe
Jennie Stevens Guinevere Smith Clifford Clark John Reilly
10
SCHOOL REPORT
Prizes taken at Topsfield Fair -- 1916
Birdhouses :
Porter Durkee
$5 00
Dean Hosmer 3 00
Donald Henderson 4 00
Paul Richardson
2 00
Benjamin Evans
1 00
Albert Berry
75
Joseph Leary
50
Charles Fraser
25
Pigs and equipment :
Maurice Tyler
10 50
Poultry : Harold Tyler
4 00
Center School
Penmanship
$3 00
Collection of Birdhouses
4 00
Roll of Honor for 1915-16
Stars indicate not tardy during same period.
Room 4, Grades VII and VIII. First half year.
Benjamin I. Evans * Dean L. Hosmer *
Second half year
Linwood Hatch * Dean Hosmer
Callie O. Douglass
11
SCHOOL REPORT
Room 3 Grades V and VI. First half year
William Roberts * Maurice Tyler Mildred Jackson Lillian Raynor * Second half year
Raymond Berry Clarence Osgood * Mildred Jackson
Room 2. Grades III and IV. First half year
Ida E. Douglass Helen A. Tibbetts *
Second half year
Harold K. Smith *
M. Antoinette Phaneuf *
Daniel M. Dearborn *
Marie Diehonen * .
School Savings Bank
The savings bank which was established in the school a year ago is still proving a source of value both as an instruc- tional matter and also as tending to inculcate the valuable habit of thrift.
Teachers
The appended reports will show you that the corps of teachers remains unchanged with the exception of the super- visor of drawing. We have a very efficient lot of teachers and their work in maintaining the high standard of excellence which obtains in our schools is deeply appreciated by the school committee.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK S. PERKINS GEORGE W. EWING ANSEL P. TYLER School Committee.
12
SCHOOL REPORT
Graduation Exercises of the Class of 1916
Middleton Grammar School, June 15
March
Invocation
Rev. K. F. Norris
Cantata, "Barbara Frietche"
Chorus
"Columbia's Banner"
. Serena P. Russell
"Dot Long Handled Dipper" Albert R. Berry Composition, "Our New Waterway" Mildred L. Porter "The Leak in the Dyke" Mary L. Whiting "If" J. Roy Osborne "Lest We Forget" Benjamin I. Evans "The Well of St. Keyne" Lydia C. Wade (Excused)
"A Forenoon's Work"
Isabelle P. Durkee
"When De Co'n Pone's Hot"
Ethel C. Kelley
"Voices of the Woods"
Girls' Chorus
The Prophecies.
Margaret A. Guss
Presentation of Class Gift
.
Serena P. Russell
Presentation of Class of 1916
Presentation of Diplomas
Supt. H. R. Williams Mr. Frank S. Perkins Chairman School Board Alfred H. Kitchin
Bass Solo, "Anchored" Chorus
Benediction
Rev. K. F. Norris
Music under the direction of Mrs. Genie Fuller Kimball assisted by the Misses Curtis and Tyler and the Masters Curtis and Barnaby
-
13
SCHOOL REPORT
-
Graduates
Albert Rea Berry Isabelle Pike Durkee
Benjamin Isaac Evans Margaret Ada Guss Ethel Cecilia Kelley Alfred Henry Kitchin John Roy Osborne Mildred Louise Porter Ellsworth Towne Russell Serena Putman Russell Lydia Clementine Wade Mary Louise Whiting
ATTENDANCE STATISTICS
SCHOOL
Aggregate Attendance in Days
Average Daily Attendance
Total Membership
Average Membership
Percent. of Attendance
Days School was in Session
Primary
5257.5
30.3
41
34.6
87.5
172.5
Intermediate
5084.5
29.5
39
32.1
91.9
172.5
Second Grammar
4761.5
27.7
35
29.3
94.5
172.5
First Grammar .
5004.5
29.2
34
31.2
93.6
171.5
Totals
20108.
116.7
149
127.2
91.8
PUPILS ENROLLED NOT ENROLLED ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE
Between 5 and 7
Between and 14
Between 14 and 16
Over 16
Totals
Boys
22
64
5
1
92
Girls
11
33
8
52
Totals
33
97
13
1
144
TEACHERS' DIRECTORY, JANUARY, 1917
NAMES
SCHOOLS
APPOINTED
GRADES
SALARY
EDUCATED
C. Alice Manning ·
1st Gram. Prin.
1902
VII-VIII
$624.00
Somerville High
Caroline Knight
2d Gram. Prin.
1912
V-VI
507.00
Salem Normal
Fannie C. Hinkley .
Intermediate Primary
1914
III-IV
507.00
Salem Normal
Elizabeth Henderson .
1913
I-II
507.00
Salem Normal
Genie F. Kimball ·
Music
1912
150.00
Holyoke
Elizabeth Burnham
Drawing
1916
80.00
Salem Normal
B. Gertrude Hayward
Sewing
1914
.
1
FLINT
MIDDLETON
PUBLIC L:
. .
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