Town annual report of Rutland 1900-13, Part 32

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 32


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If a similar method of reforming the faults of school sys- tems could be successfully applied, it would be a great blessing. But no close approximation to this effective plan is yet in operation. Human souls, not physical forces, are the elements of the school problem. Vitalizing a soul is a greater task than electrifying a wire. The personality of the man at the con- troller is a small factor in running a car. But in the school, qualities of mind and heart constitute the vital factors. The pupil must think and feel with the teacher, or her plans are of little effect. The teacher must think and feel with the super- intendent in his plans and purposes, not under orders, but from inner impulse. The response of the teacher to super- visory effort is the determining element in securing results from such effort.


I wish to illustrate the sort of response which makes for progress and which secures precious returns from the invest- ment in the school enterprise.


Economy in School Work .- The superintendent has tried to get teachers to apply the idea everywhere in practice in suc- cessful business and manufacture, namely, the idea of scrutiniz- ing processes and methods with a view to eliminating waste, increasing product, and decreasing cost. In reply to questions on the matter, teachers write as follows: .


Miss A. I have tried to use every moment of school time to the very best advantage: (1) by carefully planning each day's work, and carrying out that plan fully; (2) by making the study hour a time for study, and study only; (3) by trying to develop alertness of mind; (4) by trying to have pupils understand that it is for their good, and thus to arouse their interest so that they do not wish to be lazy or inattentive. A gain has been made in the amount of neat and accurate work performed in a


15


given time, in habits of study, thought, and expression, and in the right use of materials.


Miss B. I have endeavored this year to have pupils realize the im- portance of doing their own work well. I have tried to make them enjoy the satisfaction always found in thorough work. I have led them to see, in part at least, that I expect their best, as I give them my best.


Miss C. More emphasis has been laid on the preparation of definitely assigned lessons by each member of the class, thus saving time. Time has been used more economically by having the pupils do more talking and the teacher less.


Miss D. In the preparation of the lessons, I have tried to get pupils to know before the recitation what they are going to say, and then to say it in a clear and decided way.


Individual Teaching .- Our aim is to teach every child, by causing him to do certain work. The class exercise alone will not reach every child. For some there will always be need of individual teaching, as "the supplement and corrective of class teaching." Regarding this, teachers write :


Miss E. The individual period is of great benefit both to myself and the children. It brings me much closer to them, and it teaches me the mental capacity of each one much better than class work could. One girl in my room is extremely bashful or self-conscious. I have been helping her at the individual period, and she is much improved and does not appear so ill at ease when reciting.


Miss F. Especially in my large sixth grade, I can see results of my individual work in better recitations, a desire on the part of pupils to work out hard problems, and more accuracy in work.


Miss G. With children absent, backward, or mentally deficient, I have used the individual plan, and am convinced it is of great value, and intend to apply it more thoroughly in future.


Miss H. The most encouraging result of individual work is with a lazy boy, whose father and mother have both noticed his improvement with pleasure equalling mine. They say, "We are pleased with R.'s work; he studies at home now, he understands his work and is interested. We were beginning to feel discouraged about him."


Interest .- Conditions favorable to interest in school work and how to secure them, has been a leading topic for study this year. Asked about their personal study of the subject and its results, teachers say :


2


16


Miss I. I am forcibly convinced that a fresh knowledge and a thorough preparation of the next day's lesson on the part of the teacher are an actual necessity in arousing a lasting interest in the class.


Miss J. I have seen over and over again that interest begets interest. I have tried to make my pupils see that what they were studying was valuable, and that I liked it, and wanted them to like it.


Miss K. The study of "The Greatest Word in Education" has been an inspiration to me. It has taught me to observe my children more closely, and to make their interests my interests.


Definite Gains in School Subjects .- I have urged upon teachers the necessity of making their efforts for improvement definite and clear, by selecting one subject at a time for special attention. Here are some of the gains reported :


Miss L. I think the reading has improved since we began to read to someone, and the children delight in being asked to take charge of their class.


Miss M. I have tried to improve the spelling in my room this year. In order to secure better results, I was careful about the preparation of the lesson, and had it written correctly, and studied with my help. My efforts have been successful in many cases.


Miss N. The most improvement is shown in our history classes this year. Children are able to study and recite in a far more intelligible way than last year.


Miss O. We have had five-minute drills in arithmetic, each child work- ing on the same problems, and trying to perform the work neatly and accurately, and finish before the others. Fingers and brains have come to work more quickly and accurately.


Miss P. Results in geography are better than in previous years, due in part to the "study-recitation" with the lowest grades, and to a readi- ness of those older to seek information for themselves beyond the text- book.


I might go on through the alphabet, making extracts from the papers before me. Besides the topics already mentioned, these papers deal with the teachers' efforts in moral training, and specially with the means used for the development of patriotic feeling. Space forbids further quotation. I have illustrated how the results of the school enterprise are actually produced. It is by means of the intelligent, vigorous effort of the individual teacher in her own particular field. The super- intendent's suggestions, the instruction of the normal school


17


and teachers' institute, the good things in professional periodi- cals and books, all must be translated into concrete practice by · the teacher's personal effort, in order to become fruitful. The total of the gains made through the study and earnest effort of Miss A., Miss B., Mr. X., and Mr. Y., and all the rest of the teaching force, measures the progress of the year.


We have among our teachers all degrees of experience, from the teacher who, with no previous training, began a month ago in a district school, to the veteran of forty years in the school- room. Uniformity in results cannot be expected. But it is expected of every teacher worthy of the name that he or she shall "move steadily and unfalteringly along the infinite line of unrealized possibilities."


TOWN NOTES.


Holden .- A loss in the number of pupils enrolled was reported last year, and a further loss has occurred this year. The closing of the mills at Jefferson makes another decrease probable.


The Springdale district received a new family with several children, and the school there was reopened in the spring term. Miss M. Alice Morong, of Gloucester, was engaged as teacher, and has remained through the year.


Nine other new teachers have been engaged since my last report, one school suffering two changes. The statistical table shows the names of those who have gone and of those who have come.


At Jefferson, the failure of a part of the heating plant made it necessary to close two of the schools three weeks before the end of the winter term. This time will be made up by opening those schools March 9, or three weeks before the regular time of opening the spring term.


The appearance of a few mild cases of scarlet fever caused the closing of the South and the Chaffin schools one week before the regular close of the winter term. Unless advised otherwise by the board of health, these schools will open one week before the regular opening of the spring term, or on March 23.


The ninth grade pupils, now numbering seventeen, are still gathered at the High School for instruction. The cost of car-


18


fare for each day's attendance is allowed to pupils of this grade who live outside the Center district.


Including the ninth grade, the number of pupils now belong- ing at the High School is fifty-nine. Six were graduated in June last : Marjorie Ayers, Mae Fitman, Charlotte Mary Hol- den, Ida Frances Lobdell, John Thomas Daley and John Ed- ward King. Misses Ayers and Fitman and Mr. Daley are at their homes, Miss Lobdell is attending a business school, Mr. King is at a dental school, and Miss Holden is preparing for service as a trained nurse. Eight pupils are candidates for the diploma of the school in June next.


The teachers at the High School are the same as for several years, and are serving with growing efficiency.


The school physicians report as follows regarding their work:


The teachers of the six schools in my district have referred to me nine- teen cases. In one school two cases of scabies were isolated, and the books and papers used by the children fumigated or destroyed. All other cases in the school at all suspicious were examined by me.


In connection with the recent appearance of scarlet fever in town, I examined six cases more or less suspicious, and gave them all a clean bill of health. The remaining cases examined were for colds, tonsilitis, ade- noids, and one or two other mild diseases.


F. F. CARR, M.D.


I have made four visits to the North Woods school and two to the Jefferson schools. Itch and head-lice were the principal afflictions for which I have been called. Willing co-operation by the parents has brought about prompt relief except in one room, where re-contamination of pupils' scalps has repeatedly occurred, due, it seems, to lack of such co- operation by one family.


FRANK H. WASHBURN, M.D.


Rutland .- The number of pupils enrolled since Sept. 1 and the average attendance for the year show a small decrease as compared with last year. The closing of the mills at West Rutland accounts for the loss.


The teacher of the Center grammar school and of the North Rutland school resigned in June. Miss Beulah Higgins was transferred from the primary to the grammar room at the Center, and Miss Marion Kelliher was transferred to the Cen- ter primary from West Rutland. Miss Nellie K. Bishop was engaged for the North Rutland school, and Miss Joanna Kil-


19


main for the West Rutland school, both being graduates of the Framingham Normal School. Miss Kilmain accepted another position at Christmas time, and Miss Alice E. Buck was secured for the place.


Mr. W. S. Dunn accepted a re-election as principal of the High School for his third year, at an increased salary, but resigned early in the year to accept a much better salary else- where. Mr. George S. Boyden, of Worcester, a graduate of Harvard College, with two years' experience, was secured for the position, and served very acceptably for three months, when a flattering offer from Westport, Conn., took him away. Mr. John V. Jewett, of Worcester, a graduate of Dartmouth College, was engaged, and at the time of writing is still with us and doing good work.


The number of pupils in the High School is twenty-nine, the same as last year. Six were graduated in June last: James Edward O'Connor, Henry Robert Smith, Charlotte Helena Drury, Helen Augusta Hadley, Elsie Fuller, and Winnie Ger- trude Rich.


Mr. Smith is at the school this year completing his prepara- tion for the Worcester Institute of Technology. At least two others of the class expect to enter a higher insitution later.


Two young ladies are candidates for graduation in June next.


The school physician's report is not at hand. He has been called on for service several times during the year.


Paxton .- The membership of the schools increased over last year, but the per cent. of attendance is much lower. I shall report to the committee later what I can ascertain as to the responsibility for the irregular attendance.


Miss Sarah T. Britton, teacher of the primary room, resigned to accept a better position soon after the opening of the fall term. Miss Ethel G. Tolman, her successor, served for less than three months. After a month, during which the school was closed two weeks, and a substitute served two weeks, Miss Anna Finnerty of Clinton, a graduate of Fitchburg Normal School, was secured and is now in charge. Miss Jennie R. Burnham, the principal for five years, was given leave of ab-


20


sence for the winter, and Miss Agnes W. Welche was secured as a substitute. Miss Burnham will return March 30.


The members of the ninth grade of last year entered a Wor- cester High School in the fall with creditable standing. The present ninth grade numbers seven.


All the schools were closed one week before the regular Christmas vacation on account of the appearance of a case of diphtheria. Fortunately, the disease spread no further. The town has no school physician.


Oakham .- As usual, Oakham surpasses all the other towns in regularity of attendance. This seems to be mainly due to the greater interest in the matter by both pupils and parents. The Coldbrook school is again first in the Union in per cent of attendance.


Mrs. Effie T. Swindell succeeded Mrs. Minnie G. Woodis at the South school in the spring term, and continues the good work previously done there by Mrs. Woodis. No other changes in teachers occurred.


Mr. Stephen Rich was employed during the fall term as supervisor of music. The work is now being continued by the teachers without special supervision.


The town has a school physician, but his office is five miles away. Fortunately, there has been no demand for his ser- vices.


The citizen who is liberal in support of the school enterprise, the capable and efficient school official, and the army of earnest teachers who have the immediate care of our children, are doing a service to the country as patriotic as any ever per- formed on warship or battlefield. Nothing is more vital to the welfare of the nation than the education of its citizens. The foregoing pages have told you some of the aims and accom- plishments in our little part of the mighty task.


My thanks are due to my colleagues in the schools for their loyal co-operation, and to the members of the School Commit- tees for their continued support.


Respectfully submitted,


HERBERT J. JONES.


Holden, Mass., March 7, 1908.


1909 RUTLAND EPORT


FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1909


DED


FEB. 23, 17/3


SE


HOME OF RUFUS PUTNAM . 1781-1788


WORCESTER : PRINTED BY EDWARD H. TRIPP 377 MAIN STREET


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS


OF THE


TOWN OF RUTLAND


FOR THE


Year Ending March 1, 1909


. FOUNDED


FEB. 23, 17/3


3+SIJ


HOME OF RUFUS PUTNAM 1781-1788


WORCESTER: PRINTED BY EDWARD H. TRIPP 377 MAIN STREET


2


TOWN OFFICERS For the Year ending March 1, 1909 TOWN CLERK


LOUIS M. HANFF


Term expires 1910


SELECTMEN


Term expires 1911


Term expires 1910


Term expires 1909


ASSESSORS


DENNIS A. SMITH JOSEPH E. WARE CHARLES J. CAMPBELL


Term expires 1910


Term expires 1909


OVERSEERS OF POOR


Term expires 1911


DAVID F. SMITH JOHN W. MUNROE JOSEPH E. WARE


Term expires 1910 Term expires 1909


TREASURER, EDWIN H. CROSBY COLLECTOR, JOHN W. MUNROE


WATER COMMISSIONERS


J. WARREN MOULTON


Term expires 1909


GEORGE H. MILES


Term expires 1910


CHARLES J. CAMPBELL


Term expires 1911


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


DENNIS A. SMITH LOUIS M. HANFF WILLIAM C. TEMPLE


Term expires 1911


Term expires 1910


Term expires 1909


BOARD OF HEALTH


WILLIAM E. CHAMBERLAIN


Term expires 1910


DAVID P. BUTLER


Term expires 1911


WALTER A. WHEELER


Term expires 1909


LIBRARY TRUSTEES


WILLIAM C. TEMPLE


Term expires 1910


MRS. MARY E. CONVERSE


Term expires 1911 Term expires 1909


MRS. SARA B. DRURY


HIGHWAY SURVEYOR, FRANK D. FORBUSH AUDITOR JAMES R. PUTNAM, Resigned JOHN V. JEWETT, Appointed TREE WARDEN, FRANK D. FORBUSH CONSTABLES


LOUIS M. HANFF J. WARREN MOULTON DENNIS A. SMITH *PETER S. O'CONNOR GEORGE E. SHARP *Did not qualify


WILLIAM C. TEMPLE J. WARREN MOULTON THOMAS P. O'HERRON


Term expires 1911


3


OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE SELECTMEN


MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK AND SURVEYORS OF LUMBER JOSEPH E. WARE


MILES E. GRIFFIN


ARTHUR E. CODDING


FIELD DRIVERS GEORGE. M. TAYLOR


LEWIS R. BIGELOW


PATRICK FITZPATRICK


POUND KEEPER PETER S. O'CONNOR


CATTLE INSPECTOR GEORGE. S. PUTNAM


MEAT AND PROVISION INSPECTOR GEORGE S. PUTNAM


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES LOUIS M. HANFF


FENCE VIEWERS EMORY LAWRENCE


WESTON R. UPHAM


MATTHEW DELEHANTY


·


SOLDIERS BURIAL AGENT ROLAND C. PRESCOTT


DOG OFFICER DENNIS A. SMITH


SPECIAL POLICE


GEORGE H. MILES


GEORGE S. PUTNAM


C. ELMER CARROLL


FOREST FIRE WARDEN HENRY CONVERSE


-


4


WARRANT


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


To EITHER of the Constables of the Town of Rutland, in the County of Worcester.


Greeting : Worcester, ss.


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the town of Rutland, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the town hall, in said Rutland, on the twenty-ninth day of March inst. at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles :


ARTICLE 1 To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.


ART. 2 To hear the annual reports of the town officers, and act thereon.


ART. 3 To bring in and deposit their ballots for one Selectman for three years, for one Assessor for three years, for one overseer of Poor for three years, for a Treasurer for one year, for a Collector of Taxes for one year, for one Water Commissioner for three years, for one School Committee for three years, for one member of Board of Health for three years, for one


5


Library Trustee for three years, for a Highway Sur- veyor for one year, for an Auditor for one year, for a Tree Warden for one year, for five Constables for one year, and to vote "Yes" or "No" on the question "Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"


All the above to be voted for on one ballot, each to specify the person to be voted for by placing a cross (X) after his name.


The polls will be open at ten o'clock A. M., and may


1 close at two o'clock P. M. 1


ART. 4 To choose all necessary town officers and committees.


ART. 5 To see what interest shall be paid on taxes not paid in a specified time.


ART. 6 To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer to borrow money for the use of the town, in anticipation of taxes, under the approval of the Selectmen.


ART. 7 To see what sums of money the town will raise and appropriate for the support of the public schools, for repairs on highways and bridges, for sup- port of poor, for salaries of town officers, for use on Memorial Day, for contingent expenses for paying debts and interest, for employment of school physician, for use of public library.


ART. 8 To see if the town will vote to make an appropriation to the water department on account of hydrant service.


6


ART. 9 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for maintainance of street lights, or act thereon.


ART. 10 To see if the town will vote to appro- priate money to pay the corporate surety on the bonds of its bonded officials, as provided by Acts of 1897, or act anything thereon.


ART. 11 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for repairs on the public building.


ART. 12 To determine the compensation of the Collector of Taxes and Treasurer.


ART. 13 To see if the town will vote to appro- priate money to pay for use of teams for fires and forest fires.


ART. 14 To see if the town will vote to appro- priate money for beautifying the common.


ART. 15 To see if the town will vote to reim- burse the fire company for hose purchased.


ART. 16 To see if the town will vote to authorize the Treasurer to borrow, under the direction of the Selectmen, a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of refunding a portion of the temporary loan.


ART. 17 To see if the town will vote to sell any pine trees on West Rutland school-house lot.


ART. 18 To see what disposition the town will make of the old water bills.


ART. 19 To see if the town will vote to provide additional school-room for the use of the public schools.


ART. 20 To see if the town will vote to accept an act passed by the General Court in the year nineteen hundred and eight, entitled " An Act to provide for the protection of forest or sprout lands from fire."


And you are directed to serve this warrant, by posting up attested copies thereof agreeable to vote of the town. One at each post-office, one at store at North Rutland and one at the public building in said town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.


Hereof, fail not and make due return of this war- rant, with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting aforesaid.


Given under our hands this ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, nine hundred and nine.


WILLIAM C. TEMPLE, Selectmen J. WARREN MOULTON, of


THOMAS P. O'HERRON, Rutland


8


TOWN CLERK'S REPORT


The following Births, Marriages and Deaths are recorded for the year 1908:


BIRTHS


NAMES


PARENTS


DATE


Ruth Evelyn


John J. and May L. (Valley) Sullivan


Reginald Charles


Peter and May G. (Parker) Dame


Nov. 2, 1905 Dec. 7, 1906 1908


Gladys Muriel


Merrill and Edith E. (Dudley) Eccleston


Jan. 7


Stillborn Female


Jan. 20


Mildred Althea


Warren P. and Margaret M. Garven


Feb. 14


Myrtle Alice


Charles E. and Mary A. (Demond) Viner


March 18


Florence Augusta


Arthur K. and Florence L. (Locke) Goodwin March 26


Helen Henry and Florence M. (Parker) Hindon


April 7


Bertha Louise


Clarence T. and Sarah F. (Bemis) Oliver


April 14


Dora Marguerite


Edward W. and Ellen (Bailey) Aldrich


May 7


Bernard Chamberlain


Daniel M. and Bessie H. (Kinear) Valley Elmer and Ella (Haire) Willard


June 15


*Andrew Joseph


Andrew and Carrie (Leopold) Shultz


June 29


John


Daniel and Bridie ( Riley) McNamara July


16


Walter Aloysius


Patrick A. and Margaret (Murphy) Scott


Aug 22


Rosa


William and Nellie (Pragoda) Moreski


Aug. 17


Charles Milford


John C. and Harriet (Weed) Fisk


Oct. 5


Gertrude May


John V. and Frances I. (Johnston) Jewett


Oct. 5


Elsie May Fred A. and Mary E. (Riley) Laton


Nov. 27


Phillip Wesley Matthew F. and Bridget N. (Maloney) Delehanty Dec. 17 Mercie Helen A. Clifford and Mercie E. (Upham) Wheeler Dec. 24


Robert Gordon John and Mary L. (Foss) Dickson Dec. 31


June 11


John Frances


*Born at Bridgeport, Conn.


1


9


MARRIAGES


DATE 190S


NAME PLACE OF MARRIAGE


RESIDENCE


February 3


Victor R. Norstrom Ruth E. Nordquist


Paxton


Rutland


Rutland


May 20


John J. Tyler


Holden


Rutland


Nora A. O'Neil


Rutland


June 2


Joseph Kunin Annie Alkin


Rutland


Worcester


Ansonia, Conn.


June 3


William W. Wilson


Clinton


Rutland


Lillian J. Goldthwaite


Lancaster


June 6


Edward C. Damon Ida McDonald


Rutland


Westminster


Rutland


June 23


William F. Moore Carrie F. Rice


Boylston


Rutland


Worcester


August 11


Michael McGann Mary E. Carlson


Holden


Rutland


Rutland


August 20


Ciro Fiusco Mary A. Dorney


Holden


Rutland


Rutland


September 1


Chester E. Williams Susie E. Johnson


Worcester


Rutland


Worcester


October 1


Abram J. Steele, J.r. Annie M. Henderson


Pawtucket, R. I.


Worcester Rutland


October 24


William R. Edson Mary D. Winnie


Jersey City, N. J. Rutland


Brooklyn, N. Y.


November 4


David P. Butler Margaret H. McLeod


Bridgewater


Rutland Bridgewater


November 18


Germara Martuscilli Eldora E. (Draper) Somes


Manchester, N. H. Rutland


Rutland


November 25


John M. Shea Anna Sullivan


Boston


Rutland Boston


November 25


Harry A. Houck Bessie K. Chisholm


Holden


Worcester Rutland


10


DEATHS


DATE NAME


DISEASE


AGE


RESIDENCE


190S


y. .35


9 -


m. d. New Bedford


January 10 John McGann LaGripp and Bronchitis


73


7


26


Rutland


January 11 Lylian Thain Pulmonary Tuberculosis


37


9


13


Everett


January 20


Stillborn Male


Rutland


January 21 Harry Arvadon Pulmonary Tuberculosis


26


Boston


January 26 Bertha I. Lawless Cancer


34


1


11


Rutland


tJanuary 27 John M. McDonald Pulmonary Tuberculosis


22


S 29


Rutland


January 29 Elna Gray Acute Croupus Laryngitis


3


3


14


Holyoke


February 4


Edna L. Armstrong Pul. and Intestinal Tub.


28


9


16


Waltham


February 16 Dominic D. Alexander Pulmonary Tuberculosis


23


1 - Marlboro


February 19 Catharine Harrahy Heart Disease


44


Rutland


February 20 Marie A. Desilets Pulmonary Tuberculosis


31


8


9


Northampton


February 25 Arthur F. Good Pulmonary Tuberculosis


23 11


3 Boston


March 11 Hattie M. Martin Pulmonary Tuberculosis


39, 7


28


Somerville


March 13 Emily F. Hood Pulmonary Tuberculosis


40


11


28


Somerville


March 21 Joseph D. Mahoney Pulmonary Tuberculosis




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