USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Rutland > Town annual report of Rutland 1900-13 > Part 17
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Your trustees herewith submit their annual report.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT. RESOURCES.
Cash on hand March 1, 1903,
$ 17 48
Appropriation,
150 00
Fines and cards,
4 38
$171 86
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Librarian's salary,
$78 00
New books,
51 62
Magazines,
5 75
Express and postage,
1 05
$136 42
Leaving a balance of
$35 44
Of this balance, $17.56 is in the hands of the trustecs, and $17.88 is due from the town.
The number of books taken out was 4,082.
The following named persons have given books :
Mrs. George Glazier, 6 vols. Gordon Glazier, 1,
Mr. Henry Lester, 1 Mrs. Henry Rice, 1,
From Lancaster, 1, Mrs. M. C. Miles, 1,
Mrs. Munroe, St. Nicholas Magazine.
Forty volumes have been added by grant from the State. Fifty volumes have been added by purchase.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM C. TEMPLE,
MRS. SARAH MUNROE, Library MRS. H. R. SPAULDING, Trustees
40
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Inventory of the Fire Apparatus belonging to the Rutland Fire Brigade :
1 two-horse reel, with 1,000 feet of hose
4 nozzels and pipes
2 hydrant wrenches
2 monkey wrenches
2 hose shackles ·
4 axes
1 hand pump, with 50 feet of effective hose, also 50 feet of de- fective hose
1 suction hose, 8 feet long
1 nozzle
1 spannier
1 iron bar
1 ladder hook
100 feet ¿- inch rope
1 low express wagon (single)
1 ladder truck, with 2 extension ladders and 4 roof ladders 1 30-foot ladder
22 fire pails, in good order
1 traverse runner sled, for ladders
24 arm chairs
10 bracket lamps
1 hand lamp
1 stove
5 cuspidors
1 dust pan and brush
2 hand lanterns
2 horse blankets
1 bell, for tower
Ladder and pails at North and West Rutland
FE
41
REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
Of the Town of Rutland, for the Year ending March 1, 1904
FELLOW CITIZENS :
We herewith respectfully submit our annual report: STATISTICS.
Number of persons in Town between five and fifteen years of
age, as per School Census, September 1, 1903,
254
Number of pupils enrolled since September 1, 1903, 276
Average membership for the year,
235.8
Average attendance for the year,
201.9
Per cent. of attendance, 85.6
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Town appropriations,
$4,300 00
State, toward Superintendent's salary,
250 00
County, part of dog fund,
25 03
Lyman School, tuition,
81 50
State Board of Charity, tuition
28 00
$384 53
Transferred from State School Fund.
772 39
Amount overdrawn,
239 55
$5,696 47
42
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers' salaries,
$2,624 50
Transportation,
1,407 85
Books and supplies,
212 86
Supervision,
396 62
Printing,
17 25
Repairs,
50 43
Janitors and supplies,
321 86
Fuel,
535 51
Sundries,
129 58
$5,696 47
BILLS APPROVED.
TEACHERS' SALARIES.
Geo. H. Ellis
$ 20 00
Edith I. Claflin,
129 50
Sfa M. Ward,
308 00
Elsie P. Newcomb,
336 00
Lucy M. Grant,
108 00
Grace S. Hathaway,
152 00
Annie M. Jenness,
210 00
Ethel C. Wetherbee,
101 00
E. M. Heald,
96 00
Anna I. Clark,
144 00
Etta M. Donovan,
16 00
R. Cushman, Jr.,
210 00
B. A. Albro,
364 00
Ethel R. Sellers,
182 00
M. E. White,
117 00
Sarah J. Kelley,
107 00
Mary F. O'Conner,
24 00
$2,624, 50
TRANSPORTATION.
H. E. Smith,
$242 50
Robert Ploetz,
192 00
Della Laton,
219 00
James Hammond,
100 00
W. G. Wales,
295 00
S. P. Allen,
160 00
D. A. Smith,
174 60
M. Gleason,
24 75
T
$1,407 85
43
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
American Book Co.,
$ 9 60
Silver-Burdett Co.,
2 30
Ginn & Co ..
59 97
D. C. Heath & Co.,
25 89
Carter, Rice & Co.,
4 00
E. E. Babb,
11 21
Gaylord Bros.,
2 50
J. C. Hammett & Co.,
97 39
$212 86
SUPERVISION.
H. J. Jones, superintendent,
$311 62
D. A. Smith, committee, 1903,
25 25
D. A. Smith, committee,
13 25
W. C. Temple, committee,
25 00
George S. Putnam, census enumerator,
15 00
L. M. Hanff, truant officer,
4 00
W. F. Moore, truant officer,
2 50
$396 62
PRINTING.
G. W. Hunt,
$ 1 25
F. S. Blanchard,
16 00
$17 25
REPAIRS.
D. A. Smith, carpenter work,
$32 10
F. S. Hunt, lumber,
5 00
Outside windows at Center,
13 33
$50 43
JANITORS AND SUPPLIES.
West Rutland, $ 8 53
North Rutland, 14 09
Two-thirds of janitor's salary at Center,
299 24
$321 86
44
FUEL.
West Rutland, Lakeville Woolen Co., $ 2 50
North Rutland. Joseph Davis,
16 75
Two-thirds of fuel at Centre,
516 26
$535 51
SUNDRIES.
J. L. Barney, repairing clocks, $ 5 00
Town of Paxton, tuition,
9 00
R. Ploetz, moving desks and wood,
3 50
H. J. Jones, supplies,
11 55
B. A. Albro,
1 11
Mary Aldrich, cleaning school house,
3 00
Boston & Maine Railroad, freight,
4 56
Two-thirds oil at Centre,
22 27
Two-thirds sundries at Center,
69 60
$129 58 .
STATE SCHOOL FUND ACCOUNT.
1903.
March 1. Received from State,
$772 39
1904.
March 1. Transferred to general account,
$772 39
SCHOOL CENSUS.
Mr. George S. Putnam was appointed enumerator, and the fol- lowing is his report :
Number of boys between the ages of five and fifteen, 138
Number of girls between the ages of five and fifteen, 116
254
Number of boys between the ages of seven and fourteen, 82
Number of girls between the ages of seven and fourteen, 81
163
417
45
ROLL OF HONOR.
The pupils named below were neither absent nor tardy for the number of terms specified :
*CENTER SCHOOLS. ONE TERM.
Mildred Ballard, Earl Griffin, Joseph Murphy,
Fannie Miles,
Avery Putnam, Frank Maynard,
Dan Gleason, Wallace Forbush, Louis Maynard,
Laura Miles, Myrna Miles,
Ralph Hammond,
Olive Buss, Everett Handy,
John Dickson,
Georgie Rich, Louis Skinner,
Harry Parks,
Mida Wentworth, William Hunt,
Winnie Rich.
TWO TERMS.
Harold Hunt, Willie Murphy, Helen Murnan, Annie Welch
WEST SCHOOL. ONE TERM.
Edith Bigelow, Guy Cheever, Annie Scott,
Charlie Taylor,
Georgiana Taylor, Hazel Taylor,
Herbert Taylor.
THREE TERMS. Inez Taylor.
We regret that it has been necessary to exceed the appropria- tion to such an extent; while, however last year, we had no fuel on hand at the close of the year, this year we had some twenty-five tons of coal, besides considerable wood. Also other things at the public building have been charged to the school department that were not included in our estimates for the year, which if credited to the schools would balance the amount overdrawn.
We realize that the cost of our schools is a very large item of expense in proportion to our valuation, but we do not see how they can be materially reduced, under the present system.
The matter of transportation seems to be always on the increase. Owing to the increase in population at West Rutland, the school was so overcrowded that it was necessary to transport some of the
*Report for Intermediate School was not received in time.
46
scholars to the Center. The same arrangement will have to be car. ried on this year, unless the town deems it better to build an addi- tion at West Rutland.
We trust that our schools will receive from the voters, the same careful consideration they have alway had; and your committee stand ready to execute, to the best of their ability, your wishes in regard to them.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID P. BUTLER,
DENNIS A. SMITH, School WM. C. TEMPLE, Committee
47
TRUANT OFFICERS' REPORT.
The Truant Officers desire to call the attention of parents to the following Section in Chapter 44 of the Revised Laws:
"Every person having under his control a child as described in this Section, (between 7 and 14 years of age) shall cause him or her to attend school as herein required (during the ENTIRE time the public day school is in session) and if he fails for five days' session or ten half days' session within any period of six months while un- der such control to cause a child, whose physical or mental condi- tion is not such as to render his attendance at school harmful or im- practicable so to attend school, shall, upon complaint by a Truant Officer, and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $20.00."
We have been called upon to investigate several cases where children have been absent from school, the parents claiming they were sick with colds, and have found the children out sliding, and in one case the boy was at work sawing wood. These pupils were sent to school the next day.
We found one case where the family came to Rutland from an adjoining town, where two children, one nearly eight years and the other nine years old, and neither had ever attended school a day .- Since the visit of the Officer, they have attended every day the weather would permit.
If parents would take an interest in this matter they could re- lieve the Truant Officers of the unpleasant duty of entering com- plaint for violation of the law.
WILLIAM F. MOORE, S Truant LOUIS M. HANFF, Officers
Rutland, March 1, 1904.
ـا
FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Superintendent of Schools
FOR
The Central Worcester District.
TOWNS : Holden, Oakham, Paxton, Rutland, Worcester County, Mass. March, 1904.
THE CENTRAL WORCESTER DISTRICT.
The district was formed July 16, 1900. The services and salary of the Superintendent are shared as follows: Holden, five-tenths; Oakham, two-tenths; Paxton, one-tenth; and Rutland, two-tenths. The Superintendent's year begins Aug. 1. Thirty-four teachers are employed in thirty-two schools. The chairman of the joint commit- tee is Jesse Allen of Oakham, and the secretary is Mrs. Marion E. Warren of Holden, The names of the members of the various com- mittees, with the expiration of their respective terms, are shown below:
HOLDEN.
Term Expires
T. Walter Howe,
-
1904
Mrs. Marion E. Warren, secretary,
1904
Mrs. Addie M. Holden,
1905
William J. Powers, - -
-
-
-
-
1905
James A. Holden, chairman, -
1906
Mrs. Martha E. Graham, -
-
-
-
1906
OAKHAM.
Term Expires
H. W. Lincoln, -
1904
Mrs. Minnie L. Woodis, secretary,
-
-
- 1905
Jesse Allen, chairman,
-
-
1906
RUTLAND.
Term Expires
Dr. David P. Butler, chairman, -
1904
Dennis E. Smith, - - - -
1905
William C. Temple, secretary, -
-
1906
PAXTON.
Term Expires
Lewis S. Clapp,
1905
Rev. George H. Pratt,
-
-
-
-
1906
Mrs. Susie E. Flint, - -
-
-
- 1907
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ANNUAL REPORT.
To the School Committees of Holden, Oakham, Paxton and Rutland :
The fourth annual report of the superintendent of schools for the district comprising your towns is herewith presented.
The year just closed has been filled with activities similar to those which I have described in detail in previous reports. On the road, in the schoolroom, or at the desk, my time has been devoted to the interests of the schools of the district. Through the loyal co-operation of my fellow-workers and your continued confidence and support, I trust that our standards have been maintained and progress made.
ATTENDANCE.
Your attention is called to the "Summary of Attendance " inserted below, and to the tables which follow. In the tables
SUMMARY OF ATTENDANCE.
HOLDEN
OAKHAM.
PAXTON.
RUTLAND.
Total.
No. enrolled since September 1, 1903. .
572
94
76
276
1018
Average membership for year
491.2
78.5
64.7
235.8
870.2
Average attendance for year
437.9
72.4
54.3
201.9
766.5
Per cent. of attendance for year
89.1
92.2
85.7
85.6
88.1
Per cent. of attendance for last year.
89.3
93.1
88.7
85.1
89.1
STATISTICAL TABLES.
HOLDEN.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
TERMS, 1903- 04
No. Weeks
in Term
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per Cent. of
Attendance
Per Cent.
for Year
No. Cases of
Tardiness
High School
1
A. K. Learned. Prin. Spring .. Marion E. Bascom. Fall
11
43.2
41.7 48.2
94.4 89.3
....
27 58
Alma M. Atwell
Spring . .
12
31.0
31.0
91.2
15
Center. Grammar. -
Mary E. Lewis
Fall.
16
39.6
38.6
92.0
33
1
Mary E. Lewis
Winter ..
6
40.0
33.7
84.2
89.1
25
⑈
Margery A. Rice
Spring . Fall ..
12
34.9
30.7
87.9
79
Center, Primary .. -
Margery A. Rice
Margery A. Rice
Winter ..
8
27.6
23.5
85.1
... 87.8
53 73
Jefferson, Higher. -
1
Adella L. Adams
Winter ..
8
15.1
12.6
83.6
89.7
40 16
Jefferson, Room 4. -
Clara K. Bascom.
Fall
16
37.0
34.3
92.8
1
Clara K. Bascom
Winter ..
8
32.5
27.5
84.5
89.7
30 1-1
Jefferson, Room 3. -
1
Elizabeth Hoxie
Winter ..
8
35.1
30.1
85.5
91.5
Esther C. Hendricks. Spring ..
12
27.9
25.4 30.1
91.5
Jefferson, Room 2.
Esther C. Hendricks. Fall
Esther C. Hendricks. Winter ..
8
32.4
23.5
72.4
85.4
Mary L. Gove.
Spring ..
12
39.1
34.0
86.8
Jefferson. Room 1. -
Mary L. Gove.
Fall
16
34.4
30.5
88.6
Mary L. Gove ..
Winter ..
8
18.3
11.0
60.1
78.5
1
Florence L. Johnson. Spring ..
12
30.4
28.1
91.9
Chaffin. Grammar. -
Florence L. Johnson. Fall
16
35.0
32.5
92.8
Florence L. Johnson. Winter ..
8
31.9
28.8
90.3
91.6
12
39.1
37.2
95.9
Chaffin, Primary.
Mabel C. Reid Mabel C. Reid
Winter ..
8
27.7
22.5
74.5
88.1
Quinapoxet, 1
١
Ida G. Abbott
Fall
16
35.0
32.0
91.0
Grammar
1
Ida G. Abbott.
Winter ..
28.0
24.0
86.0
90.0
Quinapoxet. Primary
1
A. Florence Kirby.
Winter ..
8
34.0
27.5
0.5
84.5
1
Katharine Sullivan
Spring ..
12
20.3
19.3
94.9
North Woods
1
Katharine Sullivan .. Winter ..
20.0
16.8
84.0
91.3
1
Maud F. Findeisen ... Spring ..
12
23.7
20.7 16.6
87.4
Springdale
Anna M. Tracey
Fall
16
18.7
14.8
11.2
75.1
1 83.8
1
Margaret A. Dolan ...
Spring ..
12
20.0
19.0
92.0
Dawson
Margaret A. Dolan ...
Fall
16
20.0
19.0
89.0
1 1:
( Margaret A. Dolan ...
Winter ..
00
18.0
14.0
77.0
86.0
1
Sadie I. Packard.
Spring .. Fall
12
21.8
21.6
99.4
--
South
< Sadie I. Packard.
16
22.7
22.4
98.5
/ Sadie I. Packard.
Winter ..
8
22.0
21.2
96.6
98.2
Florence Kirby.
12
19.6
17.7
1
Unionville
Florence Kirby. Mary E. Lamberton
Winter ..
8
20.0
15.0
89.6 86.0 75.0
. .
83.5
58 16 .27
40 21 19
16 16 6
3 3 1
14 1 3
24 41 34
A
Lillian A. Warner
Spring .
12
25.4
22.2
87.5
Lillian A. Warner
Fall
16
23.7
20.5
86.5
33 -}
21
Katharine Sullivan .. Fall
16
21.6
20.7
95.2
8 3
12 27 15
89.0
Sarah G. Donaher.
Winter ..
16
28.5
26.8
94.0
Spring .
12
26 0
24.0
93.0
Ida G. Abbott.
Spring . Fall ..
12
21.0
19.7
93.5
Adella L. Adams
Spring .
12
31.9
29.4
91.9
39
Elizabeth Hoxie.
Spring . . Fall
12
37.3
34.9 35.6
94.0
Elizabeth Hoxie.
16
36.5
32.9
27.1
90.5
16
30.0
16
17.8
16.4
92.2
90.4
Assistant
Winter ..
12
54.1
47.5
87.7
28
16
54.5
Spring .. Fall .
16
20.5
17.0
. .
Helen L. Smith
Clara K. Bascom.
95.0
92.5
Mabel C. Reid
Spring .. Fall
16
PAXTON.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
TERMS, 1903-'04.
No. Weeks
in Term.
Average
Average
Attendance.
Per Cent. of
Attendance.
Per Cent. for
No. Cases of
Tardiness.
Grammar
1
Jennie R. Burnham ..
Winter ..
7
16.0
13.8
86.3
88.4
38
16
20.7
18.1
87.4
64
Intermediate
M. Alice Converse M. Alice Converse
Spring .. Fall ...
12
25.4
23.4
92.1
49
M. Alice Converse
Winter ..
26.3
21.3
80.8
86.7
42
Lulu M. Baker.
Spring ..
16
27.5
24.1
88.2
76
Primary.
Isabelle Jones
Fall ..
12
25.3
20.7
81.8
31
Bertha B. Pierce.
Winter ..
21.5
13.3
76.3
82.1
27
RUTLAND.
Robert Cushman,
Spring ..
11
28.6
26.5
92.7
54
Principal
Fall ..
13
24.0
22.7
84.0
50
Sarah W. Kelley, Asst.
Winter ..
11
20.0
14.0
70.0
82.2
135
Elrie P. Newcomb
Spring .
12
44.1
39.9
Center, Grammar.
Elrie P. Newcomb.
Fall
13
40.4
36.8
90.6 91.2
69
Elrie P. Newcomb.
Winter ..
7
37.2
32.5
87.2
89.6
31
Center,
Ethel R. Sellers
Ethel R. Sellers
Winter ..
41.2
33.0
80.0
86.2
55
Center, 2d Prim ...
Sfa M. Ward.
Spring. Fall ..
13
34.1
30.6
89.3 85.6
..
42
Sfa M. Ward.
Winter ..
7
29.9
25.8
87.4
29
Annie M. Jenness
Spring ...
12
59.6
50.5
84.0
67
Center, 1st Prim.
Annie M. Jenness. .
Fall ..
13
30.8
28.4
92.0
...
49
Ethel C. Wetherbee ..
Winter ..
7
25.3
18.9
73.0
83.0
54
Mabelle Heald
Spring ... Fall ..
12
26.9
22.7
84.3
56
North Rutland ...
Anna I. Clark
11
29.2
25.7
88.0
96
Anna I. Clark
Winter ..
9
24.6
18.3
74.0
82.1
18
West Rutland.
Lucy M. Grant Grace S. Hathaway. Grace S. Hathaway ..
Spring .. . Fall .. .. Winter ..
12
41.0
28.0
15.0
53.0
78.3
8
OAKHAM.
Center, Grammar.
1
Florence F. Bothwell. Spring .. Florence E. Bothwell. Fall. Florence E. Bothwell. Winter ..
10
15.3 19.5 20.5
14.3 18.7 18.9
94.0 96.0 92.5
94.1
8
Minnie M. Mellen
Spring ..
10
17.2
16.2
96.8
12
Center, Primary ..
Minnie M. Mellen.
Fall
11
18.7
17.8
95.1
8
1
Minnie M. Mellen
Winter ..
11
17.6
16.8
94.7
95.5
3
Coldbrook
Blanche Packard ..
Fall ..
11
9.0
8.6
95.0
1
Blanche Packard ..
Winter ..
11
11.7
10.4
90.0
92.6
0 0 ONO
1
Mrs. Minnie G. Woodis Mrs. Minnie G. Woodis Fall
Spring . .
10
16.9
14.2
84.0
0
South
Mrs. Minnie G. Woodis Winter ..
11
15.0
12.8
82.4
... 87.2
3
West ..
Althea Russell Ruth Butterfield Ruth Butterfield
Spring .. Fall
11
14.9
13.9
93.2
2
Winter ..
11
14.0
12.4
88.5
91.1
10
1
Jennie R. Burnham
Spring .. Fall
16
15.1
13.4
Jennie R. Burnham ..
12
16.7
15.1
88.4 90.5
·
...
74
Intermediate
Sfa M. Ward.
Spring ... Fall.
12
39.0
34.2
87.8
40
13
39.0
35.5
91.0
.....
.
1
11
17.8
16.9
95.4
91.7
13
10
19.0
17.4
93.0
Blanche Packard ..
Spring ..
10
9.0
8.4
94.0
9
12
33.0
31.0 36.0
88.0
9
3
11
10
11
53
. . . ..
. .
High School
Bertram A. Albro, Prin.
52
25
Membership.
Year.
6
the column headed " Average Membership " shows the number of pupils who are expected to be present every day in any given term, unless prevented by reasons which make absence neces- sary. The column headed " Per Cent. of Attendance " shows the proportion of this number actually present on the average through the term. The difference between this per cent. and 100 shows the part of its expenditure for which the town has re- ceived no return in actual service to its pupils, simply because pupils were not present to enjoy their privilege.
The following are the superintendent's instructions to teach- ers on the matter of attendance :
1. Try to make the school attractive through interest in the work and pleasant associations.
2. Use the Roll of Honor as a stimulus, and judiciously stimulate competition with other schools.
3. By personal interviews try to interest any parents who may not be alive to the importance of regularity and punctuality.
4. Insist on promptly rendered reasons for all absences. On the register mark e (excused) only necessary absences. Mark others n (not excused). Warn parents when the number of half-days of ab- sence approaches ten, if unexcused. See Chap. 496, Sec. 31. Require explanation of failure to enter promptly at the opening of the term. Such absence, unexcused, counts on the " ten half-days."
5. Report to the truant officer cases of continued absence for which you cannot find a good reason. Ask the officer to report to you the result of his investigations. Keep a memorandum of all cases requiring the officer's attention.
In short, use all means needed to secure what the law requires. See Chap 496, Sec. 12.
The references above are to the State law, which requires the at- tendance at school, during all the time the school is in session, of every child between the ages of seven and fourteen, and which further requires every person having under his control such a child to cause him to so attend.
The evils of irregularity are so forcibly stated in the last report of the lamented secretary of the Board of Education, Hon. Frank A. Hill, that I quote his words :
Needless irregularity of attendance is, of course, an exceedingly burdensome weight for the pupil, the teacher, the school, the family, the community to carry. It causes irreparable breaks in the child's
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training; it is fatal to his interest in study; it forces the teacher to repeat her instruction, or to let the child go without it; it wounds the school; it hurts the family; it vitiates the expenditure of the school money; from it issue a thousand rills of evil consequences. So deeply are the rights of others and the welfare of the child involved in it that the State has authorized stringent measures for reducing it to a minimum. The efforts of the teachers to secure constancy of attendance have, therefore, great impelling reasons behind them, and are to be highly commended.
I have found many cases of real heroism among pupils in their effort to get to school under adverse conditions, and many parents show a commendable spirit of sacrifice in trying to secure for their children the full benefit of the school priv- ileges furnished by the town. But there are also a good many short-sighted parents who allow trivial causes to interfere with the school duties of their children, and some who deliberately keep their children from school when it is convenient to do so. It is for these that the compulsory law is designed, and I shall advise its enforcement in the cases where enforcement is evidently needed.
TOWN NOTES.
This year I change the usual order and place in the early part of the report the notes pertaining to particular towns, and fol- low with matter of interest to the district as a whole.
HOLDEN.
Attendance .- The South school, as usual, shows the highest per cent. of attendance of any in the town ; this year it has the high- est in the district. The interest of the children and their par- ents in maintaining their remarkable record for regular attend- ance is worthy of imitation. `I wish it might spread through all the schools.
The attendance in Room 1, Jefferson, which is composed en- tirely of very young children, has been so small during the winter term of this year and last as to suggest to some the ad- visability of closing the school in future for the winter. The small number of pupils in the higher room further suggests the possibility of organizing the pupils at this building into four rooms, as was formerly done.
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The membership at Quinapoxet during the fall term com- pletely filled both rooms. The extensive enlargement of the C. G. Wood Company's mills, now going on, may bring to the village such an increase in the school population as to require a third room in the near future.
Teachers .- At the opening of the spring term, Miss Ida G. Abbott replaced Miss Alice Frye in the Quinapoxet grammar school. Miss Lillian G. Ryan, at North Woods, resigned in May to be married and Miss Kathryn Sullivan was her success- or. Miss Helen L. Smith, the principal at Jefferson, resigned after one year's service to accept a more attractive position, and Miss Adella Adams was secured for the place. Miss Alma M. Atwell, who had taught the Center grammar school for two years, resigned in June to be married and was succeeded in September by Miss Mary E. Lewis. Miss Maud Findeisen, teacher at Springdale, accepted a better place than this town could offer her, and Miss Anna M. Tracey was elected at Spring- dale. Miss Tracey resigned during the winter term and Miss Sarah G. Donaher is the present teacher. Miss Lillian Warner of the Quinapoxet primary school was called to West Boyls- ton during the fall term, and Miss Florence Kirby was trans- ferred to the place from Unionville. Miss Mary E. Lamberton was engaged for Unionville.
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Thus in a force of eighteen teachers, seven new names appear on the list this year. Resignations have recently been received from the teachers of the grammar schools at the Center and at Chaffin. It is with especial regret that we lose from our force Miss Florence Johnson, who has taught the grammar room at Chaffin with unusual efficiency for more than six years.
The High School .- The following were graduated from the school last June : James F. Beaumont, Minnie A. Findeisen, Edith L. Hendricks, Dagny C. Lindgren, Edith F. Lobdell, Mary O. Lowell, Gilbert E. Moore, Laura V. Nadeau.
Regarding the class, the principal hands me this note :
We follow with solicitude and hope the graduates of the school. Of the eight graduates in the last class, one of the young gentlemen is profitably employed in a large manufacturing establishment of Worcester; the second of the two entered Clark College at the begin- ning of the academic year, but has been obliged to give up study tem-
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porarily because of ill health. Two of the young ladies are engaged in home duties; the other four entered the Worcester Normal School in September, and are holding honorable rank in that institution.
Nine students are candidates for the diploma of the school in June next. In 1905 there will be no graduating class. In 1906 the four regular high school classes will all be repre- sented. If the ninth grade continues to be taught at the high school, as now, it will then be necessary to employ a third teacher.
Of the fifteen members of the ninth grade who completed the work of last year, all but one returned to begin the high school course in September, and this one removed from town. Of the twenty-one pupils who completed the eighth grade work, six- teen entered the ninth grade at the high school. Two are pur- suing the same work at Chaffin.
The regular attendance of those members of this class and of the high school who are obliged to come from a distance is par- ticularly commendable.
Miss Mabel E. Dickinson, who for several years had spent one day each week at the High School as teacher of drawing, ended her work with us with the spring term, to our great regret. The weekly drawing lessons are continued by Miss Harriot Andrews of Worcester.
The modified courses of study adopted last year have been continued. The English course is of necessity nearly identical with the Classical, aside from the omission of Latin. Nearly all the pupils in the school are taking the Classical course. In Latin and French the course is strong and the instruction satis- factory. In the mathematics offered, thorough work is done. A year in English history, and opportunity for more work in literature and composition are offered by the new course. In science our course is very deficient. Physics is taken, but the absence of facilities for laboratory work by pupils seriously limits the practical value of the subject. Nothing is done in chemistry, geology, zoology, or botany. In short, our pupils are afforded the merest glimpse of the great group of sciences which are so fundamentally related to the utilities and the pleasures of every-day life.
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