USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1884-1889 > Part 20
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7,
DEATHS REGISTERED IN PLYMOUTH IN 1886-Continued.
AGE.
DATE.
NAMES.
Years.
Months.
Days.
July 29, August 3,
Francis Henri Weston,
79
29
Disease of Liver,
66
6,
8,
Mercy F. Holmes,
34
1
11
Phthisis,
12,
William Gilmore Morrison,
9
4
Cholera Infantum,
16,
Frank Edmund White,
11
13
17,
Louisa F. Knowles,
6
15
21,
Mary Boudrot,
74
9
12
24,
Henry W. Green,
Barnabas and Phebe.
16
24,
Barnabas Dunham,
86
7
11
27,
Alice H. Simpson,
-
4
14
Cholera Infantum,
28,
Geo. Chester Collingwood,
74
5
25
Apoplexy,
Edgar S. and Emma. Died in Brock-
Sept.
5, 7,
Martha Frances Weston,
2
8
Cholera Infantum,
12,
Hannah Tillson,
65
3
11
Congestive Chill,
13,
Mary Ellen Russell,
61
4
1 Heart Disease,
19,
Ella M. Chandler,
29
1
16
Bright's Disease,
20,
Hattie Stevens Bagnell,
-
4
1
66
20,
Chrissie Finney,
20
2
6
Phthisis Pulmonalis,
66
26,
John A. Morrison,
9
24
Cholera Infantum,
28,
George A. Blackmer,
24
4
1
28,
William A. Faunce,
35
10
26
Laryngeal Phthisis,
29,
Benjamin Pierce,
5
5
22 Diphtheria,
29,
Matthias Stegmaier,
62
2
4
Bright's Disease,
Oct.
3,
1
Jane Holsgrove,
53
2
10 Cancer,
Alexander and Margaret J.
Mary F. Morrison,
-
8
27
Cholera Infantum,
Coomer and Hannah.
[brook.
Teresa Rogan,
-
11
4
Cholera Infantum,
Joseph J. and Jennie. Died in Hol- Edwin and Elizabeth Lewis.
Simeon H. and Nancy W.
Peter and Gertrude.
Cholera Infantum,
Benjamin and Mary A.
7
Diarrhea,
[der,
William and Sophia.
Malignant Ulceration of Blad- Old Age,
Thomas and Mary A
66
29,
Bradford Lewis Battles,
7
3
Brain Trouble,
Everett Sherman Allen,
Robert H. and Lucia R.
Ezra and Hannah Thomas.
Thomas and Lydia C.
Jas. B. and Marion W. Collingwood.
Marasmus,
Allen and Mary E. Robert and Isabel H.
Alexander and Margaret J.
Typhoid Fever,
Sidney B. and Mercy A.
William S. and Salina F.
Ellis S. and Dora.
Matthias and Catharine.
John and Elizabeth Cunningham.
Oct.
Ralph
5, Ralph Shaw
94
William C. and Elizabeth L.
15
Marasmus,
John and Lydia. [ton.
Scrofula,
Frank and Amber G.
NAMES OF PARENTS, ETC.
CAUSE OF DEATHI.
Oct.
Oct. 3, Ralph Shaw, 4, 7, 9, 23, 24, 29, 31, Jennie F. Simmons, Eleanor W. Bramhall, Gilbert Graham Crocker, Elisha M. Dunham, Ellen Sullivan, Rebecca W. Collingwood, Daniel Soule,
1
6
4
-
80
10
7 4
27 Retro-pharyngeal Abscess,
53
- 70
10 11
67 75
1
23
Heart Disease,
Paralysis of Heart,
31,
George A. Drew, Salina F. Faunce,
62
2
4 19
Apoplexy, [Croup, Diphtheria and Membranous Heart Disease,
9,
Joseph Chester Mawbey, Abbie E. Cole,
49
1
7
16,
Jane M. Bradley,
77
1
18,
Arthur Finney Weston,
5
27
18,
William T. Rickard,
17
6
4
4
Inanition,
Isie V. Miett,
26 74
11
29
Heart Disease,
[orrhage,
Charles and Thankful. [Taunton. Asa and Lucy A. Joyce. Died in
95
Dec.
2,
8,9
Laura W. Manter,
1
3
10
Heart Disease,
9,
Sarah Bumpus,
64 65
6
22
Bright's Disease,
Congestion of Lungs,
12,
William McCarty, [about Sarah Ellis, Eunice Hirsch,
25
4
-
George and Priscilla Raymond.
66
Eliza H. King,
30
7
29
Phthisis Pulmonalis,
Joshua and Hannah.
22,
Isaiah Francis Atwood,
42
54
9
22
Cancer of Stomach,
Fracture of Hip Joint, [gitis.
Nathaniel and Polly.
Van B. and Hannah T.
66
24, Sarah Bennett, 79 27, Carrie Carleton Holmes, 17
3
1 27 Chronic Pylitis and Pharyn-
Eugene E. and Cordelia F. Robert L. and Rhoda E. Nathaniel W. and Mary Leonard. Seth S. and May E.
Eben and Betsey. Died in Florida. Bartholomew and Annie S.
Jonathan C. & Sarah Richardson. Died
Daniel and Content. [in Boston.
George and Fanny. Died in Franklin. Edward and Salina Doten. William H. and Sophia P.
Winslow and Lydia. Died in Marsh-
Died in Duxbury.
[field.
Alfred P. and Mary E.
Warren and Maria A.
Nahum and Dorcas Hatch.
24,
Roxanna Howard,
62
26,
66
29, John Clark Peterson, Lucy Ann Hall,
88
3
25
Hempligea from Cerebral Hem-
William and Sarah. [Malden.
Samuel and Polly Chamberlain.
10,
83
4
Old Age and Bronchitis,
17,
Priscilla McLauthlin,
73
1
1
Cerebral Apoplexy,
Charles and Caroline Wheeler.
Cancer,
Zephaniah and Lucy Shaw.
23, Augusta M. Morton,
7
13 Diarrhoea, Diphtheria, 5 Apoplexy,
20 29 Intestinal Catarrh, Paralysis of Heart,
Nov. 1, 9,
5
1
5
21
Typhoid Fever,
Francis H. and Pauline. Died in
Corban and Phebe Barnes.
Cyrenus and Ellen.
Consumption,
18, 21,
8 6 Recorded in Duxbury, [Croup, Diphtheria and Membranous Phthisis,
1
96
SUMMARY.
The following are the statistics of Births, Marriages and Deaths, registered in Plymouth for the year ending December 31, 1886 :
BIRTHS.
Number of births registered in 1886 151
Males 82
Females 69
The parentage of the children are as follows :
Both parents born in United States
91
66 66 Germany .
8
66
Ireland
6
68
Sweden
3
66
66 Italy
2
Portugal 1
66
66
England
1
Mixed, one parent American 23
Mixed, other nationalities 4
Unknown 5
MARRIAGES.
Number of marriages registered in 1886 75
Both parties born in United States 52
Germany
3
66 66 British Provinces
1
Ireland 1
Western Islands 1
Mixed, one American 13
Mixed, other nationalities . 4
7
British Provinces
87
DEATHS.
Number of deaths registered in Plymouth in 1886, 150,-29 of which occurred out of town, the burial taking place in Ply- mouth.
Females 82
Males
68
Born in United States
137
66 British Provinces 4
Germany 3
66 England 2
Ireland
1
at sea 1
Unknown 2
CURTIS DAVIE, Town Clerk.
7
1
1
13
-
1
1
1
1
5
ANNUAL REPORT
-OF THE-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
-AND-
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
-OF THE-
. TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
FOR THE YEAR
1 886.
PLYMOUTH : AVERY & DOTEN, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 1887.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Term Expires.
CHARLES I. LITCHFIELD,
1889
JAMES MILLAR,
1889
F. N. KNAPP, 1888
WILLIAM T. DAVIS,
1888
GEORGE F. WESTON,
1887
CHARLES S. DAVIS,
1887
CHAIRMAN-F. N. KNAPP.
SECRETARY-CHARLES S. DAVIS.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS-CHARLES BURTON.
NOTE .- Charles S. Davis was chosen in 1886 for the un- expired term of George A. Tewksbury, which would have expired in 1887.
I
Re Su
B
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee respectfully submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1886.
At the annual meeting of the Town in 1886, the following appropriations were made, subject to the order of the Committee :
For the support of schoools $22,000 00
For books and supplies. 1,800 00
In addition to the above, the School Department received the following credits :
From the Murdock fund 18 25
From the School fund 66 88
Total credits $23,885 13
The amount of bills paid during the year has been- For the support of schools $21,898 36
For books and supplies 1,746 99
$23,645 35
Leaving balances undrawn amounting together to $239.78
The classified expenses for the support of schools were as follows :
Salaries of Teachers. $16,619 73
Books and supplies, and expressage on the same .. 1.746 99
Repairs and room supplies 1,157 13
Superintendent 1,083 26
&Te
4
Janitors, etc.
$951 90
Fuel . .
756 64
Music teacher 720 00
Horse hire
167 50
Printing
126 95
Furniture for new school on Mt. Pleasant Truant Officers
110 60
Care of privies
38 00
Aid to scholars at Ellisville
30 00
Hall rent for exhibition
25 00
Tuning piano.
7 00
Travelling expenses
16 20
Sundries .
13 45
$23,645 35
The School Committee can report favorably in regard to the public schools of Plymouth. They are in good condition, yet not as good as they should be. Whatever deficiencies exist we cannot attribute them to any want of ability or of faithfulness on the part of the teachers, or of the Superintendent. The work of our entire corps of teachers, wisely directed and supported by the constant oversight, and personal presence of the Superintendent, is in itself all that we can ask for. But there are certain facilities for instruction which we lack. And the lack comes chiefly from a hesitation which the Committee has felt, to call on the town for such additional appropriations as would be necessary to secure these facilities.
Without entering into all the details, we need in the High School suitable apparatus for teaching physical sciences ; apparatus by which those sciences can be
che wan sub the
fa a fo us
t
C
75 00
5
explained and illustrated with familiar practical experi- ments : showing by actual test of them what the forces of air and water, heat and steam, electricity, attraction, gravitation all are ; and what simple uses can be made of them in mechanics. There is great need, too, of apparatus for making experiments in chemistry, which opens that rich field of study and investigation, leading to so many practical ends.
But it may be asked by the citizens who read this report, and reasonably too, whether all these branches of study have been neglected thus far. No, they have not been neglected. They have been taught as well as they could be from good text books, and by good teachers, but with very meagre apparatus, much of it of domestic manufacture. And it seems a waste of time, both of instructors and of pupils, to go on longer without better facilities -- more suitable tools to work with. Besides that, in all the public schools throughout the whole country, and in all the seminaries too, for advanced study, more and more provision, of both time and facilities, is made for instruction in the physical sciences and mechanic arts, for enabling pupils to understand the forces of nature, and how to apply them to practical uses.
To study in a book about forces and machines and chemical affinities is good, so far as it goes; but if we want pupils to become intelligibly interested in such subjects, and really comprehend them, there must be in the class room experiments made, with an application of
6
all these forces. And for boys and girls alike, this whole branch of study, with all its relations to nature and to art, is most important.
The Committee do not desire to ask for an increased appropriation for the purchase of apparatus, but hope to be able to devote a part of the money available during the coming year to that end. In another year, if the expenditure shall prove a judicious one, it is probable that the Committee will ask for a somewhat larger appropria- tion. A majority do not intend, however, to express their approval of the introduction of scientific instruction into the schools to the extent recommended in the report of the Superintendent. The amount recommended to be appropriated for books and supplies is $23,800.
C t
E
There is another point to which we wish to draw the attention of parents, for we consider that these reports of the School Committee, are addressed not to voters only, but to all the parents who send their children to the public schools.
The School Committee and the Superintendent agree in the peculiar importance of giving time in our schools to imparting to the pupils information upon subjects not treated of in text books, namely, what is going on in the world today, "general knowledge" we call it ; what men are thinking about and doing, for instance, in the matter of peace and war, of arts and inventions, of protection of industries, of development of national resources, of securing safeguards against disease, and against fire and railroad accidents, of benevolent organizations, their methods and their humane work; of temperance
pe reas like
5 5 as P m da br sol
7
societies, of national defences; of our army and our navy, of our dealings with the Indian tribes, of attempts for universal suffrage, of our relation just now with Canada, with all it involves of national rights and duties. "This "general knowledge", including "news of the day," we regard as an important branch of school education ; it has been introduced in our High School in a limited measure, and with good results, but we now propose to give more time to it, and in order to do so some of the other branches will necessarily have less time than hitherto.
We enter into this matter somewhat at length in our report, because we are aware that some of the parents feel wronged if a very large proportion of study and of recitation is not given especially to French or German or Latin, or, perhaps, to all three together. This we consider a mistaken view, and one which we are inclined to believe would be changed by careful thought and by a wise estimate of the real worth of such a branch of study as we have now indicated. And we commend the subject to the serious commendation of both parents and pupils. May there not be, we would suggest, a mistaken ambition to have our children, especially our daughters, perfected in what are called, falsely, higher branches of learning, at the expense of branches of more solid and practical worth?
If we are right in our views of education, our young people, when they finish their course at school, should be reasonably well-informed upon all those topics which are likely to be subjects of conversation in the social and
ce
ľ n of d
1
8
business life of intelligent society. And, of still more importance, they should have acquired a habit of looking into all subjects of live thought and the movements of the times, and not be limited to a narrow range of interests. Let common schools secure all this to their graduates, and when these same young people become men and women, there will be more activity of thought and more intelligent social intercourse, and more fellowship also, the world over, with those persons who are engaged in doing true. and generous and human deeds.
So shall we enlist our public schools into the service of promoting that best end of all education, giving to our men and women, as they enter upon the responsibilities of life, the habit of serious thought and just conclusions upon the various practical questions that are pressing . upon society, involving the well-being of the community and the happiness of homes. For what the world wants is not so much special training of a few individuals in certain branches of learning, as mental, moral and phys- ical vigor among the people at large. Our public schools ought to be and can become efficient agents in securing all three of the forms of healthy vigor. We set forth these views as the result of an endeavor to answer to ourselves and to others in a way that shall approve itself to the common sense of men, the question,-what should public schools aim to accomplish? We feel that the statement we have made of our conclusions upon that one special division of the studies for a school holds a rightful place in our annual report, which is supposed to contain suggestions for improvements.
pr
51 the pro
alt acc
a Ist
tl
t t
9
The change of time for graduation from December to June has been quietly effected without serious annoyance to any one, and with decided gain to the pupils who, thereby, have secured an additional six months' study and instruction.
The amount expended for books and school supplies, large as it seems, is used only in the purchase of what is absolutely necessary for the schools, with an aim at strictest economy.
This special expenditure of the town's money is not optional with the Committee, but is required by a law of the State. Serious doubts exist in our minds as to the wisdom of this law, which we feel induces often a careless use of supplies by the children and obliges this town, for instance, to appropriate annually for schools an extra sum of from $1,500 to $2,000. Whereas, formerly, the outlay which this now meets, was fitly distributed among the individuals whose children attended school. When- ever a case occurred where parents could not afford to purchase books and supplies, these were promptly fur- nished by the Committee.
Most of our school-houses are in comfortable condition, although the long-existing need still exists for better accommodations for the High School, where suitable provision can be made for the health and comfort of the hundred and fifty pupils who are now collected in a room ill suited to the purposes of a large school. Whenever the town can feel justified in making the necessary ap- propriation for such a building as is required, they will
ol is
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confer a very great blessing upon all the children of the town, for in their turn the majority of 'all the school chil- dren pass into the High School.
The question of what to do with truants, continues a perplexing one. The State laws on this point are inadequate or inoperative. If the people of the town see truant children on the street, they may be assured that the School Committee have exhausted their re- sources to meet such cases.
We will conclude our report by urging upon parents the importance of the punctual attendance of the scholars at school, and their continuance through the entire school session, without interruption. Scarce anything else so wrongs both teacher and pupils as tardiness of scholars and frequent absences.
All which is respectfully submitted.
F. N. KNAPP, CHARLES I. LITCHFIELD, JAMES MILLAR, School Committee.
GEORGE F. WESTON, WILLIAM T. DAVIS, CHARLES S. DAVIS,
Plymouth, Feb. 24, 1887.
11
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, PLYMOUTH :
GENTLEMEN : As required by your rules, I present for your acceptance my annual report on the condition of the schools of the town. I have endeavored to confine my- self to the few changes that have been made in the past year, and the pressing wants for the future, trusting that a very general report of other matters will be sufficient.
The general statistics of the schools are given in the following table :
STATISTICS.
Population of the town .. 7,239
Children between the ages of 5 and 15. 1,224
Number of Public Schools 33
Number of Private Schools.
Months the Public Schools were in session 2
10
Number of School-houses. 25
Number of teachers in High School. 5
Number of teachers in Grammar Schools 4
Number of teachers in Intermediate Schools. 8
Number cf teachers in Primary Schools .
16
Number of teachers in Ungraded Schools.
3
Number of scholars in Public Schools 1,452
Average number belonging. 1,207
Average attendance. 1,048
Number between 8 and 14 years of age. 790
1
0
12
The whole number of schools is one less than in the report of last year. The temporary school, opened in the extreme north part of the town, for the purpose of relieving the over-crowded Intermediate school in that district, has been closed, the decrease in the number of scholars rendering it no longer necessary. In the central part of the town one more sub-Primary school was needed, and to meet the necessity of the case, the school was established in the school-house on South Street, and the Primary, heretofore occupying this place, was re- moved to a room in the new building on Mount Pleasant.
ATTENDANCE.
In some parts of the town, irregularity in attendance is increasing very much ; to such a degree, indeed, that I doubt whether it is advisable to try to keep two of the schools in the extreme southern part of the town open for ten months of the year, as the demand for the labor of children is so great that there is not a sufficient num- ber of scholars present in Spring and Fall, to justify the expense of carrying on these schools. In the extreme north part of the town, also, there are two schools very seriously affected by absence of a large part of the scholars in Spring, who are tempted by the profitable employment which is offered to them at this season of the year, and which they do not feel able to refuse. In all of the schools, I have reason to believe, the efforts of the teachers are unremitted in securing regularity of attendance, at whose call the truant officer stands ready to render any assistance in his power.
e
P
m
T
13
MUSIC.
The progress of our schools in vocal music, during the past year, is very gratifying. On three public occasions scholars have had opportunities to sing, and they won for their efforts universal praise. One of these occasions was an exhibition of nearly all the schools of the central part of the town, in which each school was called upon, separately, to sing, and the children, down to the Prima- ries, acquitted themselves to the entire satisfaction of all present.
There was a time when it may have been doubtful whether we should succeed so far in establishing this important art in the schools, that the public would spon- taneously and energetically support the school authorities in the expenditure necessary to bring about the desired result. Now, after the public has had opportunities of learning what the scholars can do, there is no longer any doubt about future support ; for music is a fixed fact in the instruction given in the public schools. This is a great point gained ; for it can easily be seen that this success must increase the love of music throughout the town, and, in time, make all capable of appreciating the highest efforts of art.
HIGH SCHOOL.
This community has ample reasons for regarding the High School with increasing interest every year, for its power to advance the general intelligence of the town makes itself felt more perceptibly as it advances in years. This fact is fully appreciated by those who have the most
·
e y
le of In of of dy
14
intimate relations with the school, and who have, on that account, the best means of judging of the quality of work done there. The course of study will compare favorably with that of the best schools of its kind ; the manners and character of its members are excellent ; the interest, and even enthusiasm, pervading all departments, ensures success to those who pass through the prescribed course. The influence which such a school must have on the in- telligence of the community where it exists, must be very great, and especially at the present time, when there is a larger per centage of good teaching than ever before.
The departments of learning in which we meet with most success, and which we emphasize most, are English Literature, History, Mathematics, and Science, discarding, as an exploded notion, the opinion that learning consists wholly, or even mainly, in a knowledge of foreign lan- guages. It is true, we give a fair proportion of time to this study, sufficient to fit scholars for those colleges which do not require Greek as an essential for admission, as Wellesley, Institute of Technology, and Harvard, in the two former of which we have several scholars at the present time.
We labor under great disadvantages in teaching Science, for want of a chemical and physical laboratory- an indispensable requisite for training according to modern scientific methods. The close adherence to text- books, memorizing, and the mechanical instruction which must be the result of such a method, are discreditable at the present time. We have done all we could with the apparatus which we have, and have hoped every year to
15
have more, but something has always intervened to pre- vent the accomplishment of this purpose.
We have an unused room in the High school building which will be convenient in all respects for the arrange- ments required. As a beginning, we shall need to intro- duce into the room, water and gas ; tables for a class of twenty scholars to work at, to prepare their chemical experiments ; various machines for the proper teaching of mechanics ; telegraphic and other electrical apparatus, all of which are needed at once ; and I recommend the appropriation of $500 for the immediate commencement of this long-promised work.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The Grammar Schools have been very much improved in the past year by the introduction of book-keeping. It takes the time formerly occupied by penmanship ; and the exchange works very successfully ; for the interest in writing is greatly increased, owing, doubtless, to the fact that the scholars see a definite application of their skill, to a work in which they take much pride.
The introduction of this branch into the Grammar Schools has given, I think, universal satisfaction ; for parents attach great importance, and very justly, to book-keeping. as it is a knowledge needful to all, and to some, very necessary, in order to obtain desirable em- ployment. At present, it is taught, also, in the High School ; but I hope the subject will be so well managed in the Grammar Schools, that hereafter it may be omitted in the High School.
8
ng - to xt- ich e at the ar to
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Another change may be made in the Grammar School course of study, which will add greatly to the usefulness of these schools, and especially benefit those who do not enter the High School. By reducing the time heretofore given to Geography, opportunity will be afforded to in- troduce two recitations in Elementary Science, for all the scholars ; a study which will tend to form habits of ob- servation on everything that occurs in nature about them. This will enlarge and complete the Grammar School course, an arrangement which has been long desired by many in our town. The steady improvement in the character of the teaching in these schools is highly satis- factory.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
A sense of duty always prompts me in every report of the condition of schools, to call attention to the state of the building in which about one-ninth of all the children of the town spend the school-hours of every day. In Winter, especially, the smaller inconveniences which have to be borne, and the serious dangers to health, are a source of perpetual complaint on the part of teachers and parents. Delicate young girls are often detained at home in order to avoid their being exposed drafts of air which are met in all their movements about the rooms ; and others are out of their places at school on account of ill-health, contracted in the sudden changes of temperature, experienced in moving through the cold passages, which lead from the upper to the lower recitation rooms, and from the bad ventilation of
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