Town annual report of Rutland 1900-13, Part 21

Author: Rutland, Mass.
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 970


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Rutland > Town annual report of Rutland 1900-13 > Part 21


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The pupils named below were neither absent nor tardy for the number of terms specified.


CENTER SCHOOLS. ONE TERM.


Wendell Moulton,


Gordon Calkin, Edith Cannon,


Lewis Drury, Parmelee Drury, Ruth Hadley,


Laura Miles, Myrna Miles, Louise Maynard,


Georgia Rich, Winnie Rich,


Ethel Dickson,


John Newman, F. Courtney Stone,


Teneyck H. Reed, Linda Hanff, Nellie Viner,


Maud Cowan,


Mary B. Dickson, Thomas Glennon, Rollin Cannon,


Stephen Manning,


Dan Gleason,


Harold Dickson,


Joseph Cowan,


Gladys Moulton,


Bessie Pierce,


Marion Welch,


May Moulton, Jeannie Ward,


Joseph Murphy, Avery Putnam.


Charlotte Drury,


Frank Maynard, Christene Reed,


TWO TERMS. John Dickson, Fannie I. Miles, Willie Murphy,


Lewis Drury, Earl Griffin, William Wood.


40


.


THREE TERMS.


George Putnam, Annie Welch.


NORTH RUTLAND SCHOOL. ONE TERM. Edith May Strong.


WEST RUTLAND SCHOOL. ONE TERM.


Delphlin Beford, Edith Bigelow, Francis Burke, Gladys Cheever, Georgiana Taylor.


THREE TERMS. Inez Taylor.


As will be seen by the financial statement, your Committee have been able to keep practically within the appropriation the past year. The same appropriation for the coming year, if used with strict economy, may be sufficient to support the schools, but an ad- ditional sum would make possible the purchase of much needed ap- paratus at the High School.


We have been obliged to continue the transportation of pupils from West Rutland to the Center, which increases the already large amount, we are obliged to pay for transportation.


We wish to thank the voters and parents of the Town for their hearty support and co-operation during the year, without which the present good results could not have been attained.


Respectfully submitted,


DENNIS A. SMITH, WILLIAM C. TEMPLE,


School LOUIS M. HANFF, S Committee


Rutland, March 1, 1905.


41


REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR AND TREASURER.


Daniel S. Thurston, Collector and Treasurer, in account with the Town of Rutland.


RECEIVED.


1904


March 1 Uncollected taxes,


$6,726 67


1 Cash on hand,


1,028 08


4 People's Savings Bank, loan,


1,500 00


7


1,000 00


15


2,000 00


18 State Sanitorium, water rent,


83 33


21 People's Savings Bank, loan,


1,000 00


30 66 66


2,500 00


April 1 M. J. Quimby, rent of school-house,


2 50


2 People's Savings Bank, deposit,


1,272 30


2 Five Cents Savings Bank, deposit,


1,389 41


2 Worcester Co. Inst. for Savings, deposit,


1,181 84


2 Mechanics Savings Bank, deposit,


535 65


2 Bay State Savings Bank, deposit,


561 63


5 People's Savings Bank, loan,


500 00


18 State Sanitorium, water rent,


83 34


18 People's Savings Bank, loan,


600 00


18


2,000 00


May


4


66


2,500 00


4


60


1,000 00


42


May 12 City of Malden,


14 State Sanitorium,


$104 12 83 33


June 4 People's Savings Bank, loan,


1,000 00


7 City of Boston, tuition,


66 50


13 State Sanitorium, water rent,


83 34


29 People's Savings Bank, loan,


3,000 00


July


15 State Sanitorium, water rent,


83 33


15 People's Savings Bank, loan,


2,000 00


30


1,000 00


Aug.


31 8 James R. Putnam, hay in old cemetery,


2 00


10 State Treasurer, one-half compensation, cattle inspector, 53 50


10 Lyman School for Boys, tuition, 50 00


17 Town of Oakham, one-half boundry stone, 3 00


Sept. 5 City of Malden,


55 31


5 State Sanitorium, water rent,


83 34


5 State Treasurer, school supplies,


80 00


15 J. A. Solandt, stove pipe,


90


16 State School Superintendent, salary,


250 00


21 People's Savings Bank, loan,


1,000 00


Oct. 5


14 State Sanitorium, water rent,


166 67


18 People's Savings Bank, loan,


2,600 00


29


1,000 00 |


Nov. 4


12 A. B. Pratt, grass on school lot,


1 00


Dec. 5 People's Savings Bank, loan,


10 State Treasurer, corporation tax,


42 12


10


national bank tax, 1 82


10


state and military aid, 561 55


10 high school, 300 00


10


6€ State Board of Charity, tuition, 22 00


10 County Treasurer, dog fund, 101 00


500 00


3,000 00


1,500 00


66


2,500 00


43


Dec. 22 M. J. Quimby, rent of school-house,


$2 50


29 People's Savings Bank, loan,


3,000 00


31 State Sanitorium, water rent, 250 00


1905


Jan. 15


People's Savings Bank, loan,


$2,000 00


25


State Treasurer, State school fund, 1,052 92


31 People's Savings Bank, loan, . .


600 00


Feb. 18 24


State Sanitorium, water rent,


166 67


28 People's Savings Bank, loan,


1,000 00


March 1


2,600 00


1 P. S. O'Connor, coal from water department, 6 64


1


B. J. Sprague, rents of town hall,


156 85


1 C. R. Bartlett, supt. of water department, 897 45


1 Tax bill for 1904,


13,077 57


1 Interest collected on taxes,


160 38


1 I .. M. Hanff, taxes, 2,951 26


1


interest collected,


145 34


1 Two extra poll taxes, 4 00


$79,331 19


PAID


1904


March 4 People's Savings Bank, note,


$1,500 00


4


interest,


11 25


6


note,


1,000 00


6


66


interest, 7 50


15


66


note,


2,000 00


15


interest,


22 50


22 State Treasurer, note,


500 00


22


interest,


48 75


People's Savings Bank, note,


2,500 00


30 30


"6


interest,


16 67


2,500 00


44


April 2 People's Savings Bank, note,


$5,000 00


2


interest,


100 00


18


note,


2,000 00


18


interest. 30 00


19 Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, interest,


10 00


19 State Treasurer, interest,


73 13


20 66 note


500 00


May


1 Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, interest,


8 00


4 People's Savings Bank, note,


1,000 00


4


interest,


7 50


4 66 note,


1,500 00


4 .


interest,


11 25


5 State Treasurer, interest


218 75


7 Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, on note, 50 00


14 People's Savings Bank, interest,


· 45 00


June


4 Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, on note, 50 00


30 People's Savings Bank, note,


3,000 00


30


interest,


45 00


July


1 Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, on note,


30 00


1 People's Savings Bank, interest.


100 00


8


note,


1,000 00


8


interest,


20 78


15 60


note,


2,000 00


15


66


interest,


30 00


30


66


note,


2,500 00


30


66


interest,


57 50


Aug.


1


66


interest,


180 00


2 State Treasurer, note,


2


interest,.


403 13


15


note,


300 00


15


interest,


29 25


31 Jose Parker & Co., interest,


13 13


Sept. 20 State Treasurer, interest,


40 62


500 00


45


Sept. 21 People's Savings Bank, interest,


$22 50


21


60 note,


1,000 00


Oct. 7


note, 500 00


66 interest, 10 63


7 18 State Treasurer, interest,


65 00


People s Savings Bank, note,


2,000 00


18 18


66 interest,


42 50


note,


600 00


66


interest, 12 75


Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, interest,


5 00


People's Savings Bank, note, 66 interest,


10 00


State Treasurer, interest.


210 00


Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, interest,


10 00


E. H. Gay & Co., note, 66 interest,


500 00


8 75


People's Savings Bank, interest,


70 00


4 10 66 note, 3,500 00 14 interest, 66 45 33 14 One-half County Tax, 385 00


3 Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, on note,


10 00


4 People's Savings Bank, note,


1,000. 00


4 66 interest,


20 00


5


66


note,


500 00


5


66


interest,


3 33


10 State Treasurer, state tax,


550 00


12 One-half County Tax, 385 00


29 People's Savings Bank, note,


3,000 00


29


interest,


60 00


1905


Jan.


1 People's Savings Bank, interest,


$280 00


2 Mabelle and Ethel M. Heald, on note, 10 00


2 Hersom Bros., interest, 26 25


15 People's Savings Bank, note, 2,000 00


18 18 24 30 30 31 2 2 2


1,000 00


Nov.


Dec.


46


Jan. 15 People's Savings Bank, interest,


$40 00


30


66 note,


2,500 00


30


interest, 70 00


Feb. 2 State Treasurer, interest,


393 75


17


24 38


20 People's Savings Bank, note,


2,600 00


20 .6 interest,


34 67


23


note,


1,000 00


28


interest,


13 33


March | 1


Jose Parker & Co., note,


300 00


1


interest,


13 13


1


Uncollected taxes, 1903,


2,836 04


1


1904,


6,334 25


1 Abatements, taxes, 1903 and 1904,


339 83


1


457 Selectmen's orders,


13,534 03


1 Cash to balance,


2,996 03


$79.331 19


1904


RUFUS HOUGHTON CEMETERY FUND.


1904


March 1 Balance in Five Cents Savings Bank, $100 00 Dividend, 3 50


$103 50


March 1 Paid W. C. Temple, 1905


3 50


March 1


Balance in Bank,


$100 00


Respectfully submitted, .


DANIEL S. THURSTON, By ETHEL B. THURSTON, Collector and Treosurer.


Rutland, March 1, 1905.


47


AUDITOR'S REPORT.


I hereby certify that I have examined the accounts and vouch- ers of the Selectmen, Overseers of Poor, Collector of Taxes, Treas- urer, and Superintendent of Water Department, for the year ending March 1, 1905, and that I find the same correct.


A. F. BROWN,


Rutland, March 1, 1905.


Auditor


ANNUAL REPORT.


To the School Committees of Holden, Oakham, Paxton and Rut- land:


My fifth annual report as your superintendent of schools is herewith presented. I trust that the report may prove of interest, not only to you, but also to the large body of intel- ligent, public-spirited citizens, of whom you are the chosen representatives.


In any group of schools there are usually some weak spots due to the teachers' deficiencies in power to manage or to teach, to lack of interest on the part of parents, or to other causes. I am pleased to say that such "weak spots" in the schools of this union are fewer in number and less serious in character than at any time since I began my work among you. The year just closed has been marked by harmonious and earnest effort on the part of all connected with the schools, and as a result of such effort considerable progress may be reported.


ATTENDANCE.


In the "summary" inserted below, and in the detailed tables which follow, the reader is asked to note particularly


SUMMARY OF ATTENDANCE.


HOLDEN.


OAKHAM.


PAXTON.


RUTLAND.


Total.


No. enrolled since September 1, 1904 ..


549


98


84


264


995


Average membership for year


522.7


84.5


71.0


224.9


904


Average attendance for year


476.3


79.8


63.9


201.7


821.7


Per cent. of attendance for year


91.1


94.4


88.9


89.7


91


Per cent. of attendance for last year ..


89.1


92.2


85.7


85.6


88.1


STATISTICAL TABLES. HOLDEN.


SCHOOLS.


TEACHERS.


TERMS, 1904-05


No. Weeks


in Term.


Average


Membership.


Average


Attendance.


Per Cent. of


Attendance.


Per Cent.


for Year.


No. Cases of


Tardiness.


High School


A. K. Learned, Prin. Marion E. Bascom,


Spring .. Fall


11


51.3


45.8 55.5


89.5 94.0 88.5


90.7


31


Marion L. Mann


Spring


13


38.8


36.4


93.8


20


Center Grammar ..


Marion L. Mann


Fall


16


34.4


3.4


94.2


Marion L. Mann


Winter


8


34.1


29.7


87.1


92.0


co


Margery A, Rice.


Spring


12


36.0


33.0


91.6


Center Primary ...


Margery A. Rice.


Fall


16


41.0


38.0


92.5


Margery A. Rice


Winter ..


8


40.6


35.3


86.9


90.3


Adella L. Adams


Spring


12


15.0


14.0


95.3


25


Jefferson, Higher.


Adella L. Adams


Fall


16


22.4


20.8


92.7


Adella L. Adams.


Winter ..


8


21.4


17.9


83.9


90.3


52 17


Clara K. Bascom.


Spring


12


34.5


31.7


91.9


Jefferson, Room 4.


Clara K. Bascom


Fall


16


40.1


37.8


94.2


..


92.2


Elizabeth Hoxie


Spring


12


35.8


33.2


92.0


Esther C. Hendricks.


Fall


16


39.5


37.7


95.3


90.6


Esther C. Hendricks.


Spring


12


88.7


36.7


93.6


25


Jefferson, Room 2.


Laura L. Chenery.


Fall .


16


41.4


38.8


93.7


36


Laura L. Chenery.


Winter


8


38.6


28.9


74.6


87.3


11


Mary L. Gove


Spring


12


33.0


31.5


88.4


88.4


18


Jefferson, Room 1.


Marion E. Jones


Spring


12


29.3


26.6


91.2


3


Chaffin Grammar ..


Marion E. Jones


Fall


16


31.9


29.8


93.4


0 1


Mabel C. Reid.


Spring


12


27.9


26.5


93.5


0


Chaffin Primary ...


Mabel C. Reid.


Fall


16


26.6


24.9


94.5


0


Ella O. Petersen


Winter ..


8


26.1


19.9


76.2


88.1


1


Ida G. Abbott


Spring


12


28.6


26.1


91.1


25


Quinapoxet Grammar


Ida G. Abbott.


Fall


16


29.2


227.8


93.2


30 15


Quinapoxet } Primary


1


Margaret V. Gray


Spring


12


22.4


21.7


96.8


North Woods


Margaret V. Gray


Fall


14


22.3


19.7


88.3


Margaret V. Gray


Winter ..


10


22.3


20.6


92.3


92.6


Spring ..


12


20.3


19.2


94.4


3


Springdale


Mary G. Cahill


Fall .


16


20.5


18.7


91.2


19 14


1


M. Agnes Dolan


Spring .


12


17.1


16.1


94.3


Dawson


M. Agnes Dolan


Fall


16


17.2


15.9


93.5


1


M. Agnes Dolan


Winter ..


8


17.9


15.1


84.5


90.4


Sadie I. Packard


Spring


12


24.8


23.9


96.3


30


South


Sadie I. Packard


Fall


16


20.5


19.9


97.4


51 73


1


Sadie I. Packard.


Winter ..


8


20.8


18.7


89.8


94.5


May E. Lamberton ...


Spring ..


12


24.0


21.1


Unionville


Agnes L. Kirby.


Fall


16


24.2


21.7


88.1 89.4


3-


Agnes L. Kirby


Winter ..


24.8


21.1


84.5


87.3


38


·


8


32.0


30.5


94.0


92.7


10 6


35 17 23


Mary G. Cahill.


Winter ..


S


21.5


17.1


83.4


89.6


Ida G. Abbott.


Winter ..


8


25.8


24.7


93.8


93.4


A. Florence Kirby


Spring


12


34.0


30.3


90.0


8


A. Florence Kirby.


Fall


16


33.0


30.8


94.0


L. Ula Skelton.


Winter ..


31.7


28 3


90.4


91.7


29 57 19


Clara K. Bascom


Winter ..


8


34.7


31.4


90.5


Jefferson, Room 3.


Esther C. Hendricks. Winter.


8


38.6


32.8


84.5


36 38 17


16


59.0


54


Assistant


Winter ..


12


56.7


50.2


21


63 40 47


23 17 0


Fall


Winter.


A. Florence Kirby


Winter ..


Mary G. Cahill.


PAXTON.


SCHOOLS.


TEACHERS.


Terms 1904-05.


No. Weeks


in Term.


Average


Membership.


Average


Attendance


Per Cent. of


Attendance.


Per Cent.


for Year.


No. Cases of


Tardiness.


1


frame ar


1


Jennie R. Burnham


Winter ..


9


18.9


17.0


89.9


90.5


41 92


1


M. Alice Converse


Spring


17


25.7


21.5


83.6


98


ntermediate


M. Alice Converse ...


Fall


11


28.6


26.4


92.2


38


( M. Alice Converse.


Winter ..


9


27.3


24.4


89.1


88.3


54


1


Annie C. Pottle


Spring


17


22.8


20.3


Primary


1


Minnie F. Hodgkins. Minnie F. Hodgkins ..


Fall


11


33.2 27.6


22.9


89.0 90.5 82.5


87.3


19


RUTLAND.


Bertram A. Albro,


Spring


14


17.3


16.6


96.0


22


Principal


Fall


11


27.3


24.4


89.4


28


Assistant Winter


16


28.3


25.2


88.7


91.3


69


Elrie P. Newcomb ....


Spring


32.5


30.4


90.3


37


enter Grammar. ‹


Katie L. Johnson.


Fall


11


46.9


43.0


91.6


Katie L. Johnson.


Winter.


9


43.5


38.1


87.4


89.7


120 86


-


Martha E. Bemis.


Spring


12


44.8


40.5


90.4


60


enter


Martha E. Bemis.


Fall


11


36.8


33.4


90.6


Intermediate


Mary E. Carpenter


Spring


12


31.5


28.9


91.2


6


enter. 2d Prim ..


Mary E. Carpenter


Fall


11


24.2


27.0


94.6


21


Mary E. Carpenter ..


Winter ..


9


30.6


27.5


89.1


91.6


38


Ethel C. Wetherbee. .


Spring


12


31.1


27.3


85.8


39


enter. 1st Prim.


Ethel C. Wetherbee ..


Fall


11


29.2


26.7


91.4


1


Blanche Kelley.


Winter ..


9


24.7


19.5


79.1


85.4


11 20


orth Rutland.


M. Louise Spencer


Fall


11


32.7


27.1


84.0


1


M. Louise Spencer ..


Winter ..


9


30.5


24.5


80.0


85.3


76 107


est Rutland


Genevieve Doran


Fall


11


33.6


30.0 29.0


86.0


88.9


9


OAKHAM.


nter Grammar.


1


Florence E. Bothwell. Florence E. Bothwell. Florence E. Bothwell.


Spring . Fall . Winter.


11


17.1 17.8 22.5


16 4 17.4 20.7


96 0 96.0 92.0


96.6


1


Inter Primary.


Mrs. Minnie M. Day .. Mrs. Minnie M. Day ..


Winter ..


11


15.7


14.5


92.5


95.0


Spring .


10


15.2


14.7


96.0


(ldbrook.


Blanche E. Packard. . Ruth E. Butterfield .. Ruth E. Butterfield .


Winter ..


11


15.9


15.3


96.2


95.8


4


Spring .


10


17.3


15.9


91.9


2


:uth


Mrs. Minnie G. Woodis Mrs Minnie G. Woodis Nellie E. Gueley. .


Winter ..


1


19.1


17.0


86.0


91.8


12


Ruth E. Butterfield .. Alma G. Russell


Spring .. Fali


11


11.3


10.4


92.2


24


( Alma G. Russell.


Winter ..


11


11.4


9.7


84.8


91.0


63


.


1


Genevieve Doran.


Winter ..


9


33.7


10


10


18 38


Mrs. Minnie M. Day ..


Spring


10


22.9


22.4


Fall .


11


17.9


17.3


96.0


1


Fall


11


17.2


16.4


95.3


3


Fall .


11


19.3


18.8


97.4


9


10


13.0


12.5


96.0


. .. .


0


est


M. Louise Spencer


Spring


12


26.7


24.7


92.0


36


Grace S. Hathaway.


Spring


13


34.0


31.0


88.0


92.7


18


Martha E. Bemis


Winter.


34.9


30.4


87.0


89.3


63 60


17


13.2


11.7


Jennie R. Burnham


Spring . Fall .


11


18.4


17.6


88.3 93.3


67


Jennie R. Burnham . .


Winter ..


8


igh School


Edna H. Johnson.


57


30.0


21


11


94.7


1


6


the "per cent. of attendance." These figures are the best in- dication of the degree to which the members of the schools actually enjoy their privileges. For example, Rutland's per . cent. for the year, 89.7, means that for each one hundred pupils belonging to the schools more than ten are absent every day.


Secretary Martin says: "Where the absences average ten per cent. year after year, there is indication of looseness of administration." For five years at least there has been this average absence in two of our towns. In that time Oakham has never gone below 92, and this year its per cent. is 94.4. With equal interest on the part of parents and children, other towns should approach that figure.


As usual, a large part of the absence is chargeable to a comparatively few families. I shall furnish the committees a list of those pupils who have been absent unexcused for more than ten half days in a period of six months. For the parents of such children the law provides a penalty. I pre- sume that Mr. Martin has in mind, in his remark quoted above about "looseness of administration," the failure to deal properly with such parents. Some special activity on the part of the truant officers is doubtless needed among us.


It is gratifying to note that the "summary" shows an in- crease in the per cent. of attendance over last year in every town. With the exception of one town, Holden, for one year, . the per cent. is larger than in any previous year of my super- vision. The average for the union, 91, is the same as the State average last reported. With continuance of effort on the part of interested parents, and with proper attention given to the negligent ones, we hope another year may show a still greater gain. A large reduction of the number of cases of tardiness, recorded in the last column of the tables. is also very desirable, and united effort to that end will be sought during the coming year.


TOWN NOTES.


I here insert some notes regarding particular towns. Fol lowing these will be found other matter which is of interes to the citizens of the entire superintendency union.


7


HOLDEN.


Attendance .- An increase of thirty-one in the average mem- bership of the schools, and of two per cent. in the per cent. of attendance, is pleasant to note. At North Woods the school was closed for two weeks on account of scarlet fever in one family. The teacher, Miss Gray, has generously made up the lost time at her own expense.


Failure to warm rooms often affects attendance. Aside from some complaint at the Centre, no trouble from that source has been experienced. Mr. Thaddeus Clark, janitor at Jefferson, deserves special mention for his care and faith- fulness for this and many winters.


Holden parents are requested to run their eyes down the last column in the table, and to resolve that there shall be less tardiness next year. I see no good reason for more anywhere than the Chaffin schools show.


Teachers .- At Jefferson, the suggestion mentioned in this report last year was carried out, and in September the five rooms were condensed to four, with two grades in each room. This makes one less teacher employed in the town, the num- ber njow being seventeen. Of these, seven have been engaged during the year. Nearly all who have left us accepted more attractive positions elsewhere. The last to leave was Miss Mabel C. Reid, who had served in the primary room at Chaffin for seven years. On account of her long service and marked efficiency, her loss was particularly regretted. All the new teachers have proved successful.


The High School .- The following received the diploma of the school in June last: Annie C. Buck, Mary A. David, Ervin L. Maynard, Della S. Scott, Luella Morrow, Martha T. Lindgren, Jennie L. M. Hendricks, Daniel M. Shewbrooks, Sarah B. Marsh.


No class will be graduated next June, no class having en- tered in 1901. It is expected that about twenty pupils will enter the ninth grade next September, thus making five classes in the school, with about eighty pupils in all. It is evident that the employment of a third teacher will be im-


8


perative, if the present efficiency of the school is to be main- tained. Of course all citizens of Holden will rejoice at the growth of the high school, and will cheerfully provide the funds for the needed increase of the teaching force.


All but ten of the pupils in the high school classes are taking the Latin course. With the present teaching force it is found impracticable to give those not taking Latin the full equivalent of that subject in other lines. The English course should be strengthened by the addition of more work in science and history than is now offered. When a third teacher is employed this improvement may be made.


RUTLAND.


Attendance .- The summary shows a decrease of ten in the average membership, but the same average attendance as last year. The regularity of attendance is therefore greater.


The difficulty experienced last winter in warming the rooms at the Centre has been entirely removed, and this has favor- ably affected attendance. A glance at the tables will show great need of further improvement. The town still loses more than ten per cent. of its school investment through non- attendance.


Teachers .- Of the eight teachers on the list a year ago, just one. the principal of the high school, remains in our service. All who left us, except one, were called to more lucrative posi- tions elsewhere. Our short school year, the moderate weekly salary we pay, and the high cost of living in Rutland con- spire to make it easy for other towns to win away our good teachers. Melrose, Attleboro, Natick, Millbury, and Gardner have each taken one or more teachers from Rutland within two years.


It is evident that our progress is seriously hampered by frequent changes of teachers. We ought to have for our own children the increased teaching power which lengthened ser- vice alone can give. I see no way to retain superior teachers except through an increase of salaries. For the present I strongly recommend that the increase take the form of a lengthened school year. With three or four weeks added to


9


the present thirty-two weeks, our positions would gain some- what in attractiveness to the kind of teachers we want. The towns which give their children only the amount of schooling which the law compels, are diminishing in number, and are mostly in Berkshire County. I suggest that it is time for the progressive town of Rutland to move out of that class.


It should be added that our present teachers are. proving efficient, and that the work is proceeding as satisfactorily as in any previous year of my superintendency.


The High School .- The committee's application for the special State grant to assist the town in maintaining a legal high school, was acted upon favorably by the State Board, and the sum of $300 was received. This is on last year's account. The school has not yet been inspected for the present year, but Mr. J. W. MacDonald, the agent in charge of the matter, writes me as follows:


If the school has two teachers, keeps forty weeks, and I find the pupils studious and the teaching efficient, as it ought to be, there need be no fear of its not being approved, but I can give no pledge to that effect till I make my final report.


I consider the condition of the high school as decidedly better than it was last year, and therefore expect the State grant to be continued. No better plan than the present one of properly providing for the schooling of the young people who reach the high school is vet available.


The length of the high school year is now by law forty weeks. The short year in the schools below renders it ex- ceedingly difficult to give the classes entering the high school adequate preparation for the advanced work. It is hoped that this difficulty will be at least partially remedied soon.


The school now has twenty-eight pupils. Sixteen are tak- ing the Latin course, and twelve the English. A class of five are candidates for graduation next June. In both the amount and the quality of the work they will have completed, they compare favorably with graduating classes of other high schools.


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OAKHAM.


Attendance .- Three schools in Oakham are above any other in the union in regularity of attendance. They are, in order, Coldbrook, at 95.8 per cent., Centre primary, at 95, and Centre grammar. at 94.7. South school, Holden, is now fourth, at 94.5.


The conditions in Oakham are not exceptionally favorable, and the result seems mainly due to the faithfulness of Oak- ham parents and the sturdiness of the children.


Teachers .- In September, Miss Ruth Butterfield was trans- ferred from the West school to Coldbrook to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Blanche Packard; Miss Alma Russell was placed in charge of the West school. Mrs. Minnie G. Woodis was given a leave of absence for the winter term on account of illness, and Miss Nellie Gueley was em- ployed as a substitute.


The problem of securing teachers for the Oakham schools has been simplified by the employment wholly of residents of the town. This practice, when followed for a series of years, is often a hindrance to progress. Such a result should be guarded against by requiring in local candidates as high qualifications as to scholarship, training, and efficiency as would be required of other candidates. Fortunately the schools of Oakham are well cared for in this respect.


The School Year .- Oakham still belongs to the small class of towns which limit the length of the year's schooling to the number of weeks required by law. According to the last re- port at hand. Rutland, Charlton, and Westminster are the only other towns in Worcester County in that class. Most . of the remainder are in Berkshire County. Of Oakham's near neighbors, Barre, Petersham, and New Braintree each have thirty-six weeks. Paxton thirty-seven weeks. Hubbardston thirty-five weeks, and Phillipston thirty-eight weeks. The average length of the year for the whole State is thirty-seven weeks, or five more than the law requires.


The large share of the State school fund now enjoyed by Oakham and other small towns, makes the lengthening of the


11


year financially feasible. I trust that the town is now ready to take this advanced step. I suggest that one week be added to the coming spring term, and that the year beginning in September be at least thirty-five weeks long.




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