USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Rutland > Town annual report of Rutland 1914-23 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
Princeton
203 13
Holden
203 13
Hubbardston
322 81
Auburn
51 69
Rutland
269 93
Millbury
902 92
Sterling
132 93
Holland
77 26
$7694 03
Following is a list of towns comprising the Charlton Poor Farm Association :
Charlton
Auburn
Leicester
Rutland
Paxton
Millbury
Westminster
Sterling
Princeton
Holland
Holden
Oakham
Hubbardston
Hardwick
Phillipston
ROBERT RAYMOND, President E. W. MERRICK, Secretary A. F. PUTNAM, Treasurer
30
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
The town of Rutland voted to have sixteen hundred dollars ($1600.00) used for repairing its roads and bridges during the year 1913. In addition to this the town voted to have two hundred dollars ($200.00) used for building sidewalks on Maple avenue.
The following are the amounts that I have expended each month
In the month of April
$222 42
May
471 45
June
460 81
August
178 97
· September
145 50
October
64 50
$1543 65
Lumber for bridges
$ 6 31
Tools and blacksmithing
20 92
Gravel
25 20
$1596 08
By Selectmen's order for carting gravel
$66 92
Expended for sidewalks :
$67 40
In the month of August September
136 07
$203 47
31
THE LIST OF TOOLS BELONGING TO THE TOWN ARE AS FOLLOWS :
1 road machine
1 plow
7 shovels
3 picks
1 stone hammer
2 iron bars
5 hoes
1 fork
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK D. FORBUSH,
Highway Surveyor
3.2
REPORT OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT
The Water Department has made six new connections during the year and put in one new hydrant on Maple Avenue. There has been a steady increase in consumers of water until now there are only three houses which are located on the water line which do not take water from the town. We hope before long to be able to con- nect up the places with the town water system.
A few patrons have changed from the flat rate to the meter list. There are now 68 meters in use and 47 paying the flat rate.
It is expected that Edson Avenue will be made a public street this year. The town should appropriate out of the income of the water department a sum of money sufficient to lay a cast iron water main of six inches and connect two hydrants with the main. The records of the engineer, Edward Viner, taken from the indicator at the pumping station give as the amount pumped 39,806.824 gallons. The largest amount was pumped during the first week in July, 1,095,234 gallons. The largest amount in any one day was on March 18, 1913, 310,128 gallons. This was at the time of the sanatorium fire. Allowing for ship of the pump there was actually 34,956,021 gallons forced into the stand pipe of which the sanitorium meters registered 21,052,143 gallons and meters of patrons 3,845,217 gallons.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Dr.
Russell K. Pratt Coal Co., coal
$833 06
E. Dexter Marsh, screenings
15 74
M. M. Smith, wood
15 62
John J. Welch, wood 6 60
Edward Viner, wood
2 50
33
Iloward George, carting coal
$89 55
Arthur F. Brown, " 66
6 11
Henry W. Calkins, cartage 3 38
Fletcher B. Cannon, express 1 75
Boston & Maine Railroad, freight and demurrage 7 31
Michael Nihin, labor on leaks and frozen pipes 22 25
Michael Scott,
66 17 00
labor on new connections 20 20
Patrick Scott, new construction 7 00
Nestor Matson,
1 00
J. Hictman,
66 4 00
J. Prigado, 66 66 66 5 00
George Gordon, 66 66 66
7 00
66
66 " stand pipe 8 25
66
6. 66 " leaks 5 50
A. Harlow, labor on new connections 3 00
Edward Viner, engineer pumping
638 86
66
66 repairs at pumping station 34 30
66 66 labor on leaks 11 36
66
labor on new construction
4 45
Frank Gleason, labor digging ditch 8 00
Gordon Calkins, labor on leaks 2 75
I. E. Wheeler, filling ditch 75
1
George A. Putnam, filling ditch 75 Ludovic F. Hanff, labor stand pipe and thawing pipe 3 20
George H. Miles, labor new connections 66 locating leaks and labor on
9 20
repairs 15 20
Louis M. Hanff, salary supt. and reading meters 50 00
..
66 66 labor repairing stand pipe 9 00
66
.6
locating leaks and labor 3 25
.6 66 66 new construction 5 25
. .
6 6. rent of storage shed 10 00
!
34
W. J. Prescott, carpenter work $ 75
Charles Stewart & Co., grates and castings 19 30
Herbert M. Prouty, soldering pipe 2 25
James E. O'Connor, sharpening tools 1 70
H. E. Mitchell, inspecting boiler 5 00
Central Supply Co., pipe and fittings 86 61
Neptune Water Meter Co., meters 57 00
Knowles-Blake Steam Pump Co., valves, etc.
22 79
Braman, Dow & Co., cast iron pipe
14 20
C. W. Griffin, oil, chimnies, etc. 10 09
9 50
Ludlow Valve Co., hydrant
24 79
Brewer & Co., oil, pasting and paint 32 05
M. Loughman, making wrench
2 50
$2176 67
Cr.
Bills rendered Rutland State Sanitorium for water for year ending Feb. 1, 1914 $2778 01
Bill to Rutland State Sanitorium for one meter 8 75
Bills rendered Charles J. Campbell, collector
for town patrons Jan. 1, 1913, to Jan. 1, 1914 1482 16
Bills for construction work and fittings 117 98
$4386 90
Town appropriation, for hydrants $350 00
water for public building 20 00
water for 2 watering troughs 10 00
Total
$380 00 $4766 90
W. H. Sawyer Lumber Co., lumber
35
Bills approved and paid to March 1, 1914 $2176 67
Interest paid on water loan 500 00
$2676 67
Balance in favor of water department
$2089 23
Amount of bills rendered
$4386 90
Total expense Cash balance
$1710 23
COST OF OPRRATING THE WATER SYSTEM FOR THE YEAR.
Engineer's salary, pumping $638 86
Cost of repairs at pumping station, stand pipe and leaks 132 07
Material for repairs 82 18
Cost of fuel
898 52
Freight and cartage
111 10
Superintendent's salary
50 00
Inspection of boiler
5 00
Rent of storage shed
10 00
One-tenth cost of cylinders
32 00
Interest on water loan 500 00
$2459 73
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE II. MILES, WILLIAM WHITE, Water
D. J. FITZGERALD,
Commissioners
LOUIS M. HANFF,
Superintendent
Rutland, March 1, 1914.
2676 67
36
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Appropriation
$103 71
Due on last year's appropriation
20 58
Total
$124 29
Paid Librarian's salary
$100 00
$100 00
Balance unexpended
24 29
The Librarian has received from fines, etc.
$5 73
and has expended for express and magazines 5 73
The circulation of the Library has been 3917 vols.
The following organizations contributed to purchase periodicals for the reading table :
The Firemen
$10 00
Home Relief
3 00
Ladies' Union
2 00
Christian Endeavor
1 50
$16 50
Magazines have been given by
C. W. Dodge
Mrs. Converse
Mrs. Menges
Miss Catherine Munroe
The Library is indebted to Capt. C. W. Dodge who has kindly presented us with thirty-six volumes of valuable books; included in the list are: Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, 8 vols. Greeley's American Conflict, 2 vols. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, 2 vols. Life of U. S. Grant. Macauley's Miscellanies. Life of Abraham Lincoln. Works of L. Muhlback, Historical Novels, 18 vols. Gough's Sunlight and Shadow. The Dead Sea and the Jordan.
37
Mrs. Fred L. Packard of Campello has given 50 vols. of books for boys which are much appreciated.
Books have also been given by Mrs. Hubbel, 8 vols., Mrs. Nash, 5 vols., Mrs. Fitzpatrick, 2 vols., Miss Mary Tripp, 4 vols., Mr. Con- verse, 1 vol. Mrs. Hubbel has given a picture of Columbus and Mr. Spaulding a picture of counterfeit money.
The Trustees wish to extend their thanks to all those who have so kindly contributed to the Library the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM C. TEMPLE, Trustees MARY E. CONVERSE,
SADIE P. MORRIS, Library
38
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
H. Edward Wheeler, Treasurer, in account with the inhabitants of the Town of Rutland, Mass., for the year ending March 1, 1914.
Dr.
March 1, 1913, cash on hand $1225 57
Rec'd of C. J. Campbell, collector 26122 99
M. H. Scott, hall rents
265 87
Interest on deposits
97 54
Wheeler Foundry Co., serap
15 86
Worcester Trust Co., temporary loan
8000 00
Geo. E. Sharpe, slaughter license
1 00
Victor Norstrom, slaughter license
1 00
W. F. Doran, Sunday license
2 50
D. J. Fitzgerald, Sunday license
2 50
Clifford Parker. Sunday license
2 50
L. M. Hanff, auctioneer's license
1 00
City of Boston, tuition
284 00
Boston & Maine R. R., reimbursement for forest fires 56 75
W. C. Temple, Supt. School account
312 50
State Treas., ¿ compensation inspection animals
66
corporation tax, public service
6 46
.6
National Bank tax
2 57
State Aid
330 00
66 ،، Iligh School tuition
500 00
66 income Mass School Fund
1172 51
on account of State Highway
2000 00
66 reimbursement for loss of taxes on land used for public institutions
271 30
Worcester Trust Co., temporary loan
8000 00
County Treasurer, dog fund
176 55
D. J Shippee, pool license 2 50
HI. Edw. Wheeler. Treas., Asbestos Curtain Co. 58 00
$48937 35
25 88
39
Cr.
Paid State Treasurer, State tax
$1680 00
יי road tax .
58 00
County Treasurer, County tax
764 00
Selectmen's orders
41047 56
Cash on hand to balance
5387 79
$48937 35
RUFUS HOUGHTON CEMETERY FUND
In Five Cents Savings Bank
$100 00
Interest accrued
4 04
$104 04
Paid W. C. Temple, Treas., Rural Cemetery Association
4 04
$100 00
Balance in Bank
Respectfully submitted,
H. EDWARD WHEELER,
Treasurer
40
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1914.
DR.
1910 Tax Amount uncollected March 1, 1913 $8 30
$8 30
CR.
Paid Town Treasurer
$6 05
Abatement orders
2 25
$8 30
DR.
1911 Tax
Amount uncollected March 1, 1913 $2232 48
Interest collected
254 07
$2486 55
CR.
Paid Town Treasurer
$2466 76
Abatement orders
19 79
$2486 55
DR.
1912 Tax
Amount uncollected March 1, 1913 $6684 06
Amount committed
2 00
Interest collected
333 39
$7019 45
CR.
Paid Town Treasurer
$6758 94
Abatement orders
127 37
Uncollected tax
133 14
$7019 45
41
DR.
1913 Tax
Amount committed to collect
$21385 21
Interest collected
18 14
$21403 35
CR.
Paid Town Treasurer
$12755 78
Abatement orders
414 60
Uncollected tax
8232 97
$21403 35
WATER ACCOUNT
Bills received
Paid
A bated
Due
July 1. 1909, to Jan. 1, 1910
$22 97
$22 97
Jan. 1, 1910, to July 1, 1910
22 97
22 97
July 1, 1910, to Jan. 1, 1911
26 45
26 45
July 1, 1911. to Jan. 1, 1912
1 15
1 15
Jan. 1, 1912. to July 1, 1912
42 86
32 50
10 36
July 1, 1912, to Jan 1, 1913
172 71
155 81
60
16 30
Jan. 1, 1913, to July 1, 1913
813 12
701 31
111 81
July 1, 1913, to Jan. 1, 1914
669 04
360 40
308 64
$1771 27
$1251 17
$ 60 $519 50
EXTRAS
July 1, 1911, to Jan. 1, 1912
$1 00
$1 00
July 1, 1912, to July 1, 1913
33 10
33 10
Jan 1, 1913, to July 1, 1913
34 01
34 01
July 1, 1913, to Jan. 1, 1914
83 97
63 52
20 45
$152 08
$97 53
$54 55
Sanatorium water, 12 months Old water bills
$2786 76
$2786 76
294 54
294 54
$5004,65
$4135 46 $ 60
$868 59
Respectfally submitted,
CHARLES J. CAMPBELL,
Collector
42
REPORT OF TOWN AUDITOR
This certifies that I have examined the accounts of the Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Water Commissioners and Selectmen, and found them to be correct.
CLIFFORD J. GRAY, Auditor
Rutland, March 9, 1914.
1
43
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE For the Year Ending March 1, 1914
STATISTICS
Number of persons in town between five and fifteen years of
age, as per school census September 1, 1013 179
Number of pupils enrolled since September 1, 1913 235
Per cent. of attendance 92.84
For the attendance by schools and terms, see the statistical table in the Superintendent's Report.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
APPROPRIATIONS
Town appropriation
$4975 00
State, Superintendent's salary
312 50
Income Massachusetts School Fund
1172 51
State, for High School
500 00
City of Boston, tuition
142 00
School physician
25 00
$7127 01
TOTAL EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING SCHOOLS
Salaries of teachers
$3860 50
Transportation
1752 25
Supervision
460 10
Books and supplies
280 11
Janitors
394 00
Fuel
284 98
Sundries
40 63
Promotion of health
25 00
Unexpended balance
$7097 57
29 44
44
BILLS APPROVED
TEACHERS' SALARIES
Edward H. Leonard, Principal High School
$1100 00
Miss Gertrude Theobald, Asst. 66 66 176 00
Miss Esther L. Lovejoy 66 66
264 00
Miss Henrietta HI. Brigham "
264 00
Miss Agnes Morrison, Grammar Center 132 00
Miss Gladys Dean, Intermediate Center 395 00
Miss Helen Moran, 66
132 00
Miss Margaret Power, West Rutland and Center 362 00
Miss Gertrude Lovett, Primary Center 374 00
Miss Margaret Kennedy, North Rutland 374 00
Miss Mary Monaghan, West Rutland 220 00
Miss Ruth B. Dwelley
67 50
$3860 50
TRANSPORTATION
Matthew J. Cullen
$442 75
George N. Jenkins
322 00
Horace E. Smith
289 80
Weston R. Upham
257 60
Julia L. Davis
209 10
Deller Latowne
163 00
George H. Rice
68 00
$1752 25
SUPERVISION
Charles L. Randall, Superintendent
$214 60
Robert I. Bramhall, 187 50
Louis M. Hanff, School Committee
25 00
William C. Temple, School Committee
15 00
Dennis A. Smith, school census
15 00
66 attendance officer
3 00
$460 10
45
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
E. E. Babb & Co.
$142 40
J. L. Hammett & Co. 99 39
Central Scientific Co.
13 64
Ginn & Co.
9 31
American Book Co.
4 37
Houghton, Mifflin Co.
7 21
G. Schirnier 2 83
A. M. Palmer Co. 96
$280 11
FUEL
Center Building, fuel and two-thirds public buildings sundries
$248 63
West Rutland, wood, Joseph E, Ware
15 00
North Rutland, wood, Arthur E. Codding 21 35
$284 98
JANITORS
Michael H. Scott, Center Schools
$360 00
Julia L. Davis, North Rutland
17 00
Miss M. Power, West Rutland
6 00
Miss M. Monaghan, West Rutland
11 00
$394 00
PROMOTION OF HEALTH
Wm. E. Chamberlain $25 00
$25 00
SUNDRIES
Henry W. Calkins, cartage and freight
$1 50
Boston & Maine Railroad, freight 25
Mrs. E. Erickson, cleaning N. Rutland school 1 00
46
James E. O'Connor, cartage $ 50
C. H. Batchelder, canvas for stools 9 00
Edward H, Leonard, cash paid for express, etc. 2 53
Miss Esther L. Lovejoy, cash paid for supplies
50
Miss Henrietta Brigham, "
2 04
Wright & Potter, blanks
50
M. H. Scott, moving desks 1 00
Ludovic F. Hanff, electric bell 2 00
Charles L. Randall, office supplies, etc. 9 93
Robert I. Bramhall, « 2 28
Julia L. Davis, cleaning school and one broom 1 40
C. W. Griffin 1 20
Miss Clara Bascom, writing diplomas 1 50
Louis M. Hanff, postage, express, etc. 3 50
$40 63
STATE SCHOOL FUND
Received from State Treasurer
$1172 51
Transferred to the general fund 1172 51
SCHOOL CENSUS
Mr. Dennis A. Smith was appointed enumerator and he reported as follows :
Number of boys between the age of 5 and 15 101
Number of girls between the age of 5 and 15 78
179
Number of boys between the age of 7 and 14 90
Number of girls between the age of 7 and 14 72
162
CALENDAR-1914-15
SPRING TERM-Tuesday, March 31, to June 19. High School to June 26, inclusive, 12 and 13 weeks.
FALL TERM-Monday, Aug. 31, to Nov. 20, inclusive, 12 weeks.
47
WINTER FERM-Monday, Nov. 30, to Dec. 18, 3 weeks. Dec. 28 to Feb. 12, inclusive, for Grades, 7 weeks, to March 19, inclusive' for High School, making 40 weeks for High School and 34 weeks for grades.
SPRING TERM, 1915-Tuesday, March 30, to June 18. High School to June 25, 12 and 13 weeks.
The school houses at North Rutland and West Rutland need some repairs which should be done during the summer vacations.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM C. TEMPLE, - School
GEORGE N. LAPHAM,
LOUIS M. HANFF, Committee
Rutland, March 1. 1914.
48
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Holden, Mass., March 10, 1914 To the School Committee of the Town of Rutland :
I take great pleasure in submitting my first annual re- port as suberintendent of your schools. With so brief an acquaintance with your schools my report must necessarily be partial.
TEACHERS
Rutland has been fortunate to have so few changes in its teaching force this year. Most teachers do better work, both in teaching and discipline, during their second year in a school.
Under an act of 1913 there will be started on July I, 1914, a Teachers' Retirement Association. All teachers in service on that date may elect to join or not, but all entering service in the state after that date must become members. The annual dues will be five per cent of the salary, with a minimum of $35 and a maximum of $100. Teachers will con- tinue to pay these dues until they have made thirty pay- ments or reach the age of sixty. Any member may retire at sixty and must retire at seventy. The retirement allowance will be made up of two sums. The first is an annuity, the amount of which will be based on the amount paid in by the teacher. An annual payment of $35 for thirty years will produce an annuity of approximately $150. The second part i- a pension, equal in amount to the annuity and paid by the state. The minimum retirement allowance has been fixed by law at $300. Arrangements have been made for refunding all money paid in, together with three per cent compound interest, to all teachers who withdraw from service before
49
they reach the age where they become entitled to the retire- ment allowance. As a large part of our teachers do not teach many years this will enable them to withdraw their money with a reasonable allowance for interest.
The operation of this law will probably make it neces- sary to raise the teachers' salaries to meet this added ex- pense. If a teacher earns but $340 a year, and pays out $190 ot that for board during 34 weeks, can she afford to lay aside $35 a year for a pension ?
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
In 1913 the laws relative to the employment of minors were revised. Under the new laws all under 21 must hold certificates from the superintendent of schools before they can go to work in any mercantile or manufacturing establish- ment. All minors under 16 must regularly attend day school unless they hold working certificates, or have the written permission of the superintendent of schools to engage in profitable employment at home. Failure to comply with this law is punishable by a fine of $20.
COURSE OF STUDY
Last June by vote of the School Committee the ninth grade was abolished and both the eighth and ninth grades were promoted to the high school. By so doing it was pos- sible to reduce the number of grade teachers at the Center to three and to add a second assistant to the high school. At North Rutland it has seemed necessary to maintain a . ninth grade this year because of the great expense of trans- porting the two ninth grade pupils to the high school. It would have proved impossible for them to have attended at all during the month of severe weather we have had this vinter.
The abolition of the ninth grade was in keeping with a movement that is going all over the country. Text-books
50
and courses of study are everywhere being revised on an eight grade basis. This is made possible by a more careful consideration of what is essential in each subject. It is hoped that this change will result in an increased attendance at high school, where the course of study is being enriched to attract and benefit a larger number.
HIGH SCHOOL
The high school course of study was radically revised last summer by Mr. Randall and Mr. Kingsley, agent of the State Board of Education. Instead of teaching three foreign languages the emphasis will be laid on one, German. It is also planned to offer first year Algebra and second year Geometry every other year, making them optional. All of the subjects for the two upper classes will be given every other year. In this way it is possible to offer a larger range of subjects, and the classes are a better size, than if each subject were offeerd each year. Considerable criticism has been aroused by the dropping of Latin from the course of study. In deciding whether Latin should be kept we must consider whether we can afford to give one half of the time of one teacher to a subject which is taken by so few. Would it not be better to employ this teacher with classes containing ten of twelve pupils each, instead of with classes of three or four in Latin? If the town feels that it can afford to continue to teach Latin, Latin can be restored to the course of study. But it will mean benefiting a very small number at the ex- pense of the majority. Rutland can still fit its students for several of the New England Colleges without Latin. At the present time no foreign language is required for admission to the following higher institutions : Clark College, Conn. Agri- cultural College, International Y. M. C. A., and the State Normal Schools. The following colleges will accept two years of German as meeting their foreign language requirement: Agricultural colleges for men and women :
51
University of Maine, Mass. Agricultural College, N. H. College, R. I. State College, University of Vermont. Technical courses for women :
Simmons College.
Engineering colleges :
Brown University, University of Maine, N. H. College, Norwich University, R. I. State College, Tufts College, University of Vermont.
B. S. course in Liberal Arts for men and women :
Bates College, Colby College, N. H. College. B. S. course in Liberal Arts for men :
Bowdoin College, Dartmouth College, Middlebury Col- lege, Norwich University, Tufts College, Wesleyan Col- lege.
B. S. course in Liberal Arts for women : Jackson College.
The revision of the course of study has made possible the introduction of some of the commercial studies and domestic science. Next year it ought to be possible to add a third com- mercial course, such as elementary business, or commercial law and geography. In the domestic science course this year the attention has been confined to sewing. But it ought to be possible to introduce some of the elements of cooking and other household activities. The sewing class has made sam- plers of the various stitches, sleeve protectors, button-holes and aprons. They have designed and made doilies. At the present time they are taking up crochetting and tatting. The girls held a candy sale in connection with the play given by the girls' club, and raised $14 toward a sewing machine. In connection with the practice the girls are keeping notebooks and reading in selected books.
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Two district schools have been maintained this year. The enrollment at the West School has been good for a successful district school, but the North School has been too large again
52
this year. Unless there is a prospect of a smaller school in the near future, it will be necessary to take some steps to relieve this condition. No teacher can do good work with thirty-nine pupils and nine grades. The enrollment at the North School is as follows: I-4, II-8, III-4, IV-6, VI-5, VII-1, VIII-7, IX-2, total 37. With a comparatively large number to graduate from the eighth grade this year the size of the school may be better next year, unless there is a large entering class. It might be well to raise the age for en- trance to six years in order to keep the school down to a rea- sonable size. I want to commend the larger children in this school for the excellent way in which they have helped the teacher in her work. Several of them have been very helpful in the drill work with the smaller children in reading and number and spelling. They have also shown their interest in school by cleaning up the yard, setting a hitching post, and decorating the school room with autumn leaves and ever- green.
At the West School the enrollment is as follows: I-5, II-4, IV-5, V-I, VII-4, total 19.
The extremely cold weather this winter has made it difficult to heat these schools. I recommend that jackets be placed on the stoves. I also recommend that the wooden blackboards be gradually replaced by slate ones. The district schools make much use of the boards. It is possible to save considerable time by having one class working at the board in arithmetic, while the teacher is developing a new process with another class.
INDUSTRIAL CONTESTS
A very successful exhibition of vegetables, flowers and handwork was held in the fall under the auspices of the Grange. The exhibits were a credit to the children. I hope tc stimulate the work this year through the assistance of Prof. O. A. Morton, of the Mass. Agricultural College, who
53
has charge of this work all over the state. The state is offer- ing prizes for contests in raising corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and vegetables, and also for cooking, sewing and handwork. These contests are open to all children between the ages of 10 and 18. The prizes include a trip to Washington, a trip to places of interest in New England, and a week at the agricultural college. I want to thank the Grange for their help and support during the past year. I trust they will con- tinue to take an active interest in the work for the coming year.
DISCIPLINE AND ATTENDANCE
I want to take this opportunity to ask every parent to cooperate with the teachers in the matter of discipline and regularity of attendance. Much of the trouble can be easily eliminated if the home and school work together. I wish more of the parents would visit the schools to see for them- selves what their children are doing, and to get better ac- quainted with the teachers.
Your attention is called to the several reports that ac- company this report, and to the school statistics and the roll of honor.
In concluding I wish to thank the teachers and the com- mittee for their hearty support and help during the first year of my work in your midst.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT I. BRAMHALL,
Superintendent
54
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Rutland, Mass., March 6, 1914 To the Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :- At this time last year I advocated, at the sug- gestion of the State Board, a combination of classes whereby the grammar teacher could be displaced by a second assistant in the high school. This plan was carried out, though not exactly as at first intended. We have now seen this change in practice more than six months and find it all that we had anticipated.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.