USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1892 > Part 4
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SECT. 16. The bodies of all persons dying of small-pox, scarlet fever, diptheria, membraneous croup, typhus or typhoid fever, must be imme- diately disinfected and placed in a tight coffin, which shall not be re- opened. No certificate of deatlı from either of the above-named diseases will be endorsed by the Board of Healthı until above regulations have been complied with. In above cases no public funeral will be allowed without permission from the Board of Health.
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SECT. 17. · Notice of domestic animals or cattle suffering witli con- tagious disease, or suspected of suffering from contagious disease, shall immediately be given to the Board of Health by those having the charge of such animals or cattle.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH-1891-92.
EXTRACT FROM THE TOWN BY-LAWS.
ARTICLE VII.
SECT. 6. The contents of any sink, cesspool, or privy shall only be removed in a vehicle effectually covered and water-tight, and the same shall not be emptied on any beach or into the sea adjacent to any beach in the town, but shall be carried in such cart and disposed of in the earth or otherwise as the Board of Health may by rules provide, but apart from dwelling houses.
SECT. 26. No person shall put or cause to be put into any catch basin in the highway any filth, sewerage, slops or dirty water.
[Signed]
JOHN I. ADAMS, EDWIN F. WILEY, JOSEPH W. GLASS.
SWAMPSCOTT, April 1st, 1891.
REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR. 1891-1892.
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
Again I lay before you the doings of another year in milk. That we have been fairly supplied with good milk, is fair to presume, as no complaint otherwise, of any nature has been made. For this reason, I infer our dealers have endeav- ored to furnish us with a good article. I again request, should any one have cause to believe an inferior quality of milk is served, "Notify the Milk Inspector that action may be taken thereon."
Amount received for Licenses, $7.00.
Amount paid Treasurer, $7.00.
CHARLES E. HARRIS, Milk Inspector.
Report of Committee on Street Lights. 1891-1892.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
The labors of your committee during the past year have not been very arduous, yet we have endeavored to meet whatever matters that have come before us in a business way.
We were instructed at the last March meeting to investi- gate the petition of the residents of Mountain Park calling for additional light, we did so and furnished the locality with an additional arc light and two incandescent lights; we have also placed an additional arc near the entrance of the "Mudge Estate " and two incandescents, one on Blaney and the other on Humphrey street.
With the exception of a few unaccepted streets, our town is beautifully and systematically lighted, and so general is the satisfaction given by the present system that your com- mittee recommend the adoption of the same plan, and that the appropriation be $6,000.
The lighting circuit comprises 80 arc lights, and 14 incan- descent lamps.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL F. CROSMAN, IVORY EMMONS, E. A. FARNHAM, THOMAS E. STONE,
CURTIS V. MERRITT, WILLIAM F. NORCROSS,
Committee on Street Lights.
Report of Committee on Sewerage.
1891-92.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
The committee appointed at the last town meeting to in- vestigate and report in regard to the necessity of a sew- erage system for the town, respectfully submit the following :
We have examined into the merits of the three plans sub- mitted to the citizens at the last town meeting, and after careful consideration, believe that the one marked "No. 1," and which proposes that our sewerage be emptied into the Lynn Intercepting Sewer at Eastern avenue, is, provided arrangements can be made with the City of Lynn granting us this privilege in consideration of a fair remuneration for the service, the most desirable system for adoption. This plan would be the cheapest to construct, the most economi- cally maintained, and be likely to occasion less trouble than either of the other proposed plans.
As the committee desired some further information in re- gard to the various plans, it was thought best to arrange a conference with Mr. Rudolph Hering, who prepared them and also those for the Lynn system. Mr. Hering stated to the committee that in his judgment the plan above men- tioned was in all respects the best one, and advised that it be adopted, provided satisfactory arrangements could be made with the City of Lynn. He further stated that when making the plans for the Lynn sewer he had in mind the possibility that sometime in the future Swampscott might desire to empty its sewage into the Lynn intercepting sewer, and with that end in view, the Lynn sewer was made larger than it otherwise would have been, and is now of ample capacity to provide not only for the Lynn, but for the Swampscott
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REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SEWERAGE-1891-92.
sewage if desired. Mr. Hering further informed the com- mittee that in his opinion it is necessary that portions of the town be sewered at once, referring particularly to the Ocean House, Pine street, and Paradise road districts, and those lo- calities in close proximity to our water supply.
While it may be thought that at present the sanitary con- ditions of the town are such that it is not necessary that im- mediate steps be taken towards building such sewers, the committee believe we should be prepared in case any exi- gency should arise, and would therefore recommend that a committee be appointed with power to confer with the Lynn authorities in regard to an arrangement for entering the Lynn intercepting sewer, and also obtain from competent en- gineers a close estimate of the probable cost of a system cov- ering the above mentioned districts. With this information at hand the town would be prepared to act speedily in case cir- cumstances demand.
SAMUEL F. CROSMAN, CHAIRMAN,
G. E. EMMONS, SECRETARY,
F. E. INGALLS,
J. A. KNOWLTON,
C. P. CURTIS, JR., A. R. BUNTING,
J. H. FARWELL,
A. C. WIDGER.
February 19, 1892.
Report of the Committee on the Extension of Pine St. under the track of the B. & M. R. R.
1891-1892.
Your committee have the honor to submit the following report :
After viewing the premises and obtaining valuable infor- mation upon the subject from the County Commissioners, we do not think the extension advisable, as Eastern avenue, but a short distance to the west is to be carried under the rail- road, the Pine street project would hardly seem necessary. And, if it were carried out, the Burrill street crossing, a very dangerous one, would probably remain as now. During the past year a petition has been presented to the Selectmen for the abolishing of this crossing. Under the new law of 1890 the expense of making this improvement would be shared largely by the R. R. Company and the Commonweath, the Town paying but one-tenth of the cost. As the law does not apply to Pine street the whole expense of the proposed ex- tension would fall upon the town. In view of the above we recommend that no further action be taken by the town on the extension of Pine street.
Very respectfully,
A. R. BUNTING,
J. H. FARWELL,
A. C. WIDGER,
J. H. CROSMAN, C. T. JACKSON,
Committee.
Report of the Library Trustees. 1891-1892.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
We are now entering upon the twenty-fourth year of our library, and we find from our annual account of material, taken in December last, to have collected together 5644 bound volumes in our circulating department. We have 355 volumes in our reference library, also many pamphlets of more or less value.
Each year we find, as a plain matter of wear and tear, many books must be discarded. In our examination this year 60 volumes were thrown out, and of this number 41 were replaced ; the others for various reasons were not.
The circulation for the year has been 14,512 ; for fines and sale of catalogues $19.10 has been realized. One hundred and eighty-nine new books have been added, a number of which are valuable additions of history, biography and travel.
The library is open every Saturday from 2 to 9 P. M., and on Wednesday 4 to 9 P. M.
Miss Honors still continues at the head of the department, and will cheerfully render at all times assistance to patrons. The Librarian will receive titles of any books desired by citi- zens that are not now in the library, and submit the same to the trustees, who will purchase them if unobjectionable and within our means.
In conclusion we recommend the same appropriation as last year.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. PEASLEY, Trustees of FRANK F. STANLEY, Public
CURTIS V. MERRITT, Library.
SWAMPSCOTT, Feb. 27, 1892.
Report of Committee on New Engine House. 1891-92.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
The committee appointed at the last annual town meeting to build and complete a new engine house on New Ocean street for the better accommodation of the fire department and for which purpose the sum of $4500 was appropriated, beg leave to submit the following report :
The first meeting of the committee was held April 17th, 1891, at which meeting Kendall Pollard was chosen Chairman and William G. Earp, Secretary.
As there were partial plans submitted to a previously ap- pointed committee there was something to start from, but on examination it was found, as is most always the case, that changes could be made for the better, it was finally agreed to adopt the plans submitted by Mr. Frank Griffin, after un- dergoing some changes.
The committee then advertised for bids or proposals on the plans as altered, and the following parties submitted the all- nexed bids, which were opened for the first time in the pres- ence of the full committee, with the following result :- John McDonald, $5075; B. F. Simmons, $3997 ; Frank Griffin, $3941, and Ivory Emmons, $3659.
The contract was therefore awarded to Mr. Ivory Emmons as the lowest bidder, at $3659.
In view of the fact that it would require considerable of some one's time to superintend the work it was voted to place the work in the hands of Mr. Kendall Pollard and Mr. J. H. Farwell, who gave their best attention to the work.
-
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REPORT OF COMMITTEE, NEW ENGINE HOUSE-1891-92.
The following are the bills of expense :
Ivory Emmons, contract . $3659.00
Ivory Emmons, extra roof and ventilator
71.00
Ivory Emmons, extra windows and stock 25.20
Frank Griffin, plans 65.00
Edwin Earp, Jr., plans . 25.00
Hastings & Son, advertising
5.15
D. A. Johnson, typewriting .
10.00
J. B. Duffy, iron bands and hose hooks
18.30
Allen Hay, flag pole
10.00
W. A. Delory, gas piping
35.30
L. A. May Co., boiler
342.00
L. A. May Co., gas fixtures
45.00
H. S. Tuttle, grading
64.00
Marblehead Water Co., pipes and fixtures
103.72
S. N. Breed, lumber in hose tower
5.12
H. W. Heath, extra fittings
3.39
Iron tracks for steamer
12.00
Total
. $4499.18
The Committee sold the old Atlantic house to H. Scott Tuttle for $50.
The old engine house at the request of the Selectmen was turned over to the town, who have decided to use it for a store house for the Highway Department, which was much needed.
The committee feel that the town has to-day a first-class engine house in every particular, convenient, roomy and comfortable, for both man and beast, well lighted and heated, and the thanks of the town are due to the members of the company who so willingly have performed the work pertain- ing to the piping free of charge.
68
REPORT OF COMMITTEE, NEW ENGINE HOUSE-1891-92.
Hoping that the town will be well satisfied with the work of the contractor and committee, also with the expenditure of the appropriation, we make this our final report.
KENDALL POLLARD, J. H. FARWELL, C. H. ROBERTS, GEO. P. CAHOON, JOHN P. FARMER, JR. D. H. PRATT, WM. G. EARP, SECRETARY,
Committee on new Engine House.
SWAMPSCOTT, Nov. 20th, 1891.
SCHOOL REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
Your attention is respectfully called to the account of our stewardship. We may not have been successful. We have endeavored to be faithful.
Our common schools are the pillars of our Commonwealth. Our teachers are the "nation builders. " Our business is to give every boy and girl in Swampscott the best chance to know, and to do, and to be all that he can. We are not troubled with shiftless, unprogressive routine teachers. They are quick to grasp every new and true idea in methods. For their originality, willingness, and faithfulness, they are worthy of good support and of an adequate equipment. They teach more weeks in the year, and have fewer recesses for storms than most teachers in other towns. As compared with other towns, the exemption of our teachers from absence by reason of la grippe has been remarkable. Not one has been detained on this account. Miss Stanley extended her Christmas vacation two weeks by the urgent advice of her physician. Her place was well supplied by Miss Hayford, and now Miss Stanley is fully equal to her task. Mrs. Hus- sey, Miss Colcord and Mrs. Larkin rendered acceptable ser- vice as substitutes for Miss Washburn, who was detained six weeks by sickness and death in her father's family. Early in the year, Miss Shackley, now Mrs. Hoxie, resigned her posi- tion at the Redington Street Primary. Miss Wells of the Beach Primary, became her successor, and Mrs. Hussey a former successful teacher in our schools, took the place of Miss Wells. At the end of the fall term, Mrs. Hussey re- signed, and at the first of the winter term, Miss Isabel Hutt was appointed teacher of the Beach Primary. Miss Hutt is a graduate of our High School, and also of the Salem
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SCHOOL REPORT-1891-92.
Normal School, and gives good promise of being a successful teacher. The infrequency of the changes in the corps of teachers has been advantageous. Unity and strength is there- by secured, especially where all work is under competent di- rection according to a good and well understood system.
SCHOOL SUPERVISION.
The plan of the committee to secure the assistance of the principal of the High School in the management of all the schools is entirely successful. This service is simply indis- pensable, and in character and extent is such as no school committee can render with the small amount of time which their meagre compensation will allow them to devote to the work. The principal simply has a particular and efficient oversight of the schools under the general oversight of the school committee. Scholars are accountable to the teachers, teachers to the principal, the principal to the committee and the committee to the people.
It is simply a matter of a business firm employing a fore- man to do what they have not the time to do, or what they may not be so capable of doing as well in all respects. While this supervision relieves the committee of the responsibility of looking after important details which must be carefully guarded in order to success, it does not take from, but rather adds to their general responsibility, so that we doubt if any committee of recent years have spent more thought and time in the interest of the schools than the present com- mittee. Nor could a competent oversight of the schools be so economically secured in any other way. Our present plan has the approval of our best educators.
SALARIES.
Right here we wish to add a word concerning the princi- ple that should govern in the matter of salaries. It is not surely to get the teachers who can be procured at the cheap- est rates ; nor yet to get the best teachers at the lowest pos-
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SCHOOL REPORT-1891-92.
sible rates. But the true principle rather is to get the best teachers and to pay them what their services are worth.
As a matter of fact, however, we aim to secure the best teachers, and we are compelled to pay them the market price. And this is true from the principal down to the teacher of the primary grade. The ethical view does not rule out the business consideration.
DISCIPLINE.
Cases of gross misconduct are few, but it cannot be said that they are unknown. The teachers generally find them- selves able to govern their pupils by an expression of gen- uine interest in their welfare. The character and bearing of the teachers, their firmness combined with gentleness ; their strictness united with patience, and their general fidel- ity is the real governing power. The pupil's interest, as well as the teacher's perogative, is to be taken into account in this matter of discipline. To quote from a recent annual report of the Haverhill schools : "The loud-voice, impatient or sarcastic autocrat, to whom the possession of power means the abuse of power is as much out of place in a school-room as the weak and flaccid individual who mistakes the anarchy of weakness for the law of kindness." The rattan is not ban- ished from our schools, because sometimes it is the only cor- rective agent, but its use is limited to flagrant cases of diso- bedience. It is the exceptional punishment which is visited upon exceptional perversity, and we are glad to note that the exceptions are few.
MORAL TRAINING.
There is a growing conscientiousness on the part of our teachers in regard to the moral development of their pupils. It is quite important that our boys and girls should know how to spell the word "honor." It is vastly more important that these pupils should come to be, in character, the personal embodiment of honor. I quote again from a Winthrop school report : "The problem of education as defined by one
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SCHOOL REPORT-1891-92.
of Boston's most eloquent clergymen is this : Teach the child, if you do nothing more, the difference between right and wrong, how to earn an honest living, and how to vote intelligently. If we fail in any of these we are not doing our duty." Mrs. Livermore has well said, "that system of education is a failure, no matter how complete it may be otherwise, which ignores moral training or gives it a second- ary place." 1
TRUANCY AND TARDINESS.
The Truant Officer's report is subjoined. The summoning of two truants before the officer in Lynn, which was done strictly according to law, has had a healthy and restraining effect. Some of the schools have a most discouraging record as to tardiness and absenteeism. It is feared that the negli- gence and indiscretion of parents has something to do with this. It is not unfrequently the case that a large school has its record sadly discounted in this respect, through the in- difference of two or three or four habitually absent or tardy pupils. This is very discouraging to the large majority of scholars who are doing their very best to keep the record high.
In the First Grammar School, presided over by Miss Mott, there were only nine cases of tardiness for a term of sixteen weeks. In another school in the same building, a single boy was tardy twenty times in a period shorter than sixteen weeks. Miss Mott's school had a record for a term of six- teen weeks. which is indicated by the following figures :
Whole number enrolled 35
Average whole number
·
·
33.6
Average attendance 33
Per cent of attendance
98.4
We solicit the earnest co-operation of parents in our endeavor to make this record of the First Grammar School to be the rule and not the exception in all our schools.
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SCHOOL REPORT-1891-92.
VENTILATION AND SANITATION.
As civilization advances, both children and adults grow more and more sensitive as to bad air and inferior sanitation. The modern improvements in public buildings along these lines are such as must sooner or later compel some positive changes in our school buildings. True, our teachers have not been often detained from their work during the past year by sickness, but both teachers and pupils have often prosecuted their work under the disadvantages of bad head- aches and colds.
There are ventilating appointments now which do not necessitate the raising or the lowering of windows, thus sub- jecting some one to a cold draught, in order that the school at large may breathe pure air. In modern school buildings the sanitaries are often placed in the basement, which base- ment has hard cement bottom and affords a light and airy place for play ground in stormy weather. Proper and pleas- ant surroundings are an important feature in securing a good education.
Of our Grammar and High School building the following must be said :-
First, The halls and stairways are dangerous and dis- graceful.
Second, The primary room is so dingy and suffocating as to warrant the word of State Agent Martin concerning it- " abominable."
Third, The High School room is so cramped that there is neither proper space for necessary furniture or for the free movement of the scholars. For the chemical and physical apparatus which has too long been an urgent necessity, and without which no High School building is complete, there is now no room.
Fourth, In every room of this building except the primary room, the last row of seats is so near the steam pipes that the scholars backs are uncomfortable.
Fifth, The basement is a dungeon.
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SCHOOL REPORT-1891-92.
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
This department is still under the charge of Miss Elizabeth A. Bill, and our pupils are getting a musical drill that in- volves also a mental drill. Lessons in time and tune, and lessons in drawing are favorable to the development of good character, because the finer instincts are thus brought into exercise.
In place of a tabulated statement in the course of study the principal submits the following concerning the study of of music : The department of music has become a part of the regular course of instruction in all grades. The course in music begins with the little children as soon as they enter school, and is conducted on the same general plan as that of all other branches, following a natural method which leads them to observe, to think, and to do. By the aid of the technical drill in tune and time in the varied exercises, and the attendant exercises in song work, the pupils not only ac- quire considerable mechanical skill, but breadth of intelli- gence in the appreciation of good music. They are exercised in one-part, two-part, three-part and four-part songs, and are made acquainted with a great variety of musical composi- tion.
SUPPLIES.
During the past year the popular Century dictionary has been supplied ; also a copy of the Biographical Gazeteer and a copy of the Geographical Gazeeter. By a small outlay in toys, our primary children are taught reading by means of object lessons. We especially fecilitate ourselves on the pos- session of McCoun's Historical Chart, which presents to the eye of the pupils a capital representation of the historical development of our country from the early settlements down to the present time. We have not yet seen our way to sup- ply a popular encyclopedia, but hope soon to do so, as also we contemplate procuring for each building maps of the town of Swampscott.
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SCHOOL REPORT-1891-92.
PROMOTIONS.
The rule for promotions remains the same as that pub- lished in subsequent reports.
CLOSING EXERCISES.
An excellent musical and literary entertainment, under the charge of Mr. Balch and Miss Bill took the place of the regular graduating exercises last June.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
The statute concerning school attendance has been amend- ed, and thirty weeks of school during the year, with two weeks of unexcused absence is now the requirement, instead of twenty weeks as heretofore. Parents should note this change in the law. We also call attention to the law as published in previous reports concerning the injury of build- ings, fences, etc., and concerning the sale and the giving of cigarettes to minors, which latter is an offense punishable with a fine of $50.
CONSOLIDATION.
An effort made last summer to make the present Grammar School building longer serviceable by means of repairs only established the conviction that a new building will prove the only adequate accommodation, which the present and the future both demand. This necessity for a new building has brought the question of consolidation to the front.
In other towns, where the people have been confronted with this necessity for new buildings, consolidation has been adopted, with satisfactory results. The State Board of Edu- cation has recommended the plan to our careful considera- tion. It cannot be denied that the system has merits. Con- solidation seems to be the rule in all departments of activity. It gives us the advantages of city schools, with which we are compelled to compete by reason of close contact. It is the
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SCHOOL REPORT -- 1891-92.
only system that affords proper grading, so that each teacher shall have but one grade after the manner of specialties which is the law in modern activities. It gives every scholar the full privileges of any scholar. It secures the healthiest incen- tive, and is favorable to better morals, better discipline, bet- ter supervision, and better and more economical distribution of supplies. It allows of better buildings which can be better kept. Are children willing to forego warm dinners for the sake of these better privileges? They do so uncomplainingly in other towns, and as it is, many of our pupils now carry cold dinners. Can the school committee provide for the per- fect safety of the pupils from the time they leave home until they return again in the afternoon? They have done so for years in many other towns.
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