USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1895 > Part 7
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There are certain definite things which you want this school to do. Let me frankly say : - 1. You want it to dignify, adorn, and give distinction to your town. Local pride and ambition are far too valuable forces to be ignored or surrendered. You do not want to be absorbed and obliterated by any neigh- bor-not by Lynn, not by Boston. The talk about Greater Boston is in the air to-day. The real meaning seems to be Bigger Boston. Our municipal expe- rience in this country seems to show that a city may be very big and yet have few elements of essential greatness in it. You will not get a well-governed city by throwing together a lot of badly-governed cities. The tendency to concentrate and centralize power is going to a dangerous extreme, and must be checked. I hope this school will help you to resist the tendency. Eco- nomic considerations are urged in its favor-lower taxes, cheaper service. But the further you remove your rulers from the sources of their power, the more dangerous they become to your liberty. Every great trust justifies its exist- ence, claims its vast concessions and privileges, and exercises its enormous tyrannies on the sole plea that it is a cheapener. Will you therefore sell your liberties to it? Will you surrender the principle of self-government-the very soul of liberty and progress-for a little cheaper gas, water, transportation, whiskey ? It will be a sorry day when we see all over our land the spectacle which too many communities already exhibit-a short-sighted, selfish, foolish people parting with their rights of manhood, independence and freedom for the sake of a little cheaper maintenance. Men have been at work for ages to get injustice and tyranny out of government. Now there arises a demand to put everything into the hands of "the government." There is a cry which sounds like the old one :- " Feed us and you may rule us," and it sometimes looks as though the children were selling at a bad bargain what the fathers bought with their costliest treasures. We may have to again depend on the church to restore individualism.
I hope this school will stand as a resister of all tyrannies, economic and political, and will educate and inspire your children to preserve your local autonomy.
2. You want this school to give every boy and girl in Swampscott the opportunity to make the most and the best of themselves, to raise every young life to its highest possibility, to give every child a chance to become a good, honorable, self-respecting man or woman, knowing the value and use of money, having a healthy horror of debt, and able to earn a living in independence and honor.
3. You want this school to help make good citizens, who will reinforce the great institutions of the Home, the Church and the Commonwealth with the plain, old-fashioned virtues of honesty, industry, self-control and public spirit.
4. Wanting this school to be a character factory, you already know that intelligence alone is not enough. Mill said : - " If much knowledge and pierc- ing intelligence suffice to make men good, then Bacon should have been honest and Napoleon just." The "dangerous classes" to-day are not alone the
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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ignorant and debased, but the intelligent and unscrupulous schemers for un- earned wealth, place and power. Conscienceless intellectual power is only splendid deformity. So you want to teach morals here, to inspire these young hearts with the great fundamental ethical truths, so that they will take fire and burn against the wrongs, shames and abuses of the world. You do not want them to be sordid worshippers of wealth, pitiful fawners upon power, nor abject slaves to public opinion, but you want this school, while it instructs them, to also strike a noble fire into their souls-make them redressers of wrongs, resisters of tyranny, protectors of innocence, and champions of honor and truth.
" What you would have come out in the life of the people you must put into the school."
May you have the desire of your hearts concerning the soul of this school, even as you rejoice to-day in the completion of its body.
PHILLIPS MEDAL FUND.
Among the guests upon the platform, whose presence was very greatly appreciated at these dedicatory services were the above mentioned D. K. & L. H. Phillips, and after the address of Rev. Dr. Pullman, the Chairman of the School Committee stepped forward and gave notice of the forth- coming Phillips Medal Fund, the details of which are explained in the following communication :
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, Massachusetts :-
We have deposited the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) in the Lynn Institution for Savings and the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) in the Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank, making in all one thousand dollars ($1,000) which we hereby offer to give to the town, to be held as a fund upon the following trusts and known as " Phillips Medal Fund." The same shall be managed and kept invested, with power to vary investments, by the Town Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen and School Committee, or their successors in office.
The income shall be drawn by the Town Treasurer, and expended as the School Committee or their successors shall direct, for annual prizes to the pupils of the high school of the Town of Swampscott, as follows :-
One gold medal for superior scholarship.
One silver medal for first in deportment.
One silver medal for second in deportment.
One silver medal for English composition and oratory.
The gold medal shall be awarded only to members of the graduating class.
The unexpended income in each year shall be accumulated, and the accumu- lated income may be applied in like manner after the fund, when the unapplied
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1895.]
accumulations of income exceeds the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000), or the town may, by a two-thirds vote, use the surplus fund in excess of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for educational purposes, as they may think proper.
In event of the present steel dies for medals being replaced, the amount required for this expense is to be taken from the surplus fund. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer and the School Committee, or their successors, to ren- der a yearly account, to be inserted in the town's annual report.
Upon the acceptance of this gift by the town, we will make a transfer of the funds deposited in the savings banks as above stated.
DAVID K. & LEONARD H. PHILLIPS.
Swampscott, Mass., Jan. 1, 1895.
In behalf of the pupils and teachers of our schools ; in be- half of our citizens generally, as well as in their own behalf, the committee most heartily thank the donors of this medal fund, and we would add that its fruits are already very per- ceptible in the improved deportment and scholarship of our pupils. We are under further obligations to the aforesaid gentlemen, for an elegant assembly hall clock, of the Howard make, as well as for eight other clocks which they have gen- erously donated for the use of our schools.
PHILLIPS SCHOOL BUILDING A SUCCESS.
It should be stated right here that the Phillips School Building is fulfilling our expectations in the way of general convenience, and excellent adaptation.
The heating and ventilating apparatus has proved eminently successful, having stood the test of the severest and most blustering weather of the winter.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
The erection of the Phillips School has by no means be- trayed your committee into any neglect of other school build- ings. Beginning at Essex street, we note the fitting and furnishing of a school room, formerly occupied by the Order of Red Men in the upper story, where a primary school is now conducted by Miss Emma J. Machon ; a furnace sup- plants the stove by which the lower room in the same build-
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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ing was formerly heated; the yard is improved by new con- crete, and better grading ; a stone gutter has been laid for the proper carrying away of the water from the hillside which formerly did much damage ; the roof has been newly shingled, and leakages stopped by permanent remedies of faulty con- struction, thus putting the Essex street schoolhouse in better condition than it has ever been,
At Pine street a new fence has been constructed and the grading greatly improved.
At the Farms school, a new floor has been laid, thus secur- ing to the teacher and pupils a warmth which they had never before enjoyed.
A room in the Redington street building, the one formerly occupied by B. Grammar, situated on the first floor, next to Holden's block, has been fitted up for a primary school, now under the charge of Miss Oliver.
It is due the committee to say that they did not feel, and do not now feel that there was any exigency which necessitated the calling of a special town meeting to make the necessary appropriation for the maintenance of this school.
Unable to convince the people in town meeting assembled that our view of the matter was the correct one, we have, in the best of feeling carried out the Town's instructions, rather than our honest judgment-a judgment which we may say has been strengthened by subsequent events with which all are not conversant.
The future is likely to call for some changes which may ne- cessitate certain re-adjustments that we are not now ready to recommend.
NEW SCHOOLS AND NEW TEACHERS.
The decided growth of our schools, consequent on the in- creased population of our Town has necessitated the starting of new schools, and the employment of new teachers.
Miss Mabel Ingalls, a graduate of our high school, and a sophomore student in the Boston University, is doing a much
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1895.]
needed service in the capacity of general assistant in the Phillips School. She teaches four classes in the high school, and gives valuable assistance to both pupils and teachers in the other rooms. Miss Mabel S. Knight, a Normal graduate and a teacher of experience in the Danvers schools, began her work at the opening of Phillips School as teacher of the fourth and fifth grades, a mixed school which was necessitated by the over crowding of the above grades.
Miss Isabel Hutt has been promoted to fill the vacancy occasioned by the marriage of Miss Lula P. Washburn, to whose excellent service as a teacher in our schools for a period of seven years or more; we bear cheerful testimony.
Miss Hutt now occupies the position of teacher of the fourth grade in Phillips School, instead of the Beach Intermediate as formerly. Miss Fannie A. Gould occupies a position in Phillips School as instructor of the fifth grade, instead of Pine Street Intermediate as formerly.
Miss Edith Gardner, Miss May Jackson and Miss Emily Ellis, have been made regular primary teachers ; the first at the Beach, the second at Essex street, and the third at Pine street. These young ladies are all citizens of our Town and graduates of our high school.
Each has served well her allotted term as trainer and assis- tant, and we hope for them the best success in the new career which they have just begun.
GIFTS TO THE PHILLIPS SCHOOL.
PICTURES.
CLASSICAL, RELIGIOUS, HISTORICAL, ETC.
Subjects.
By Whom Presented.
AURORA, Copy of Painting by Guido Reni High School of 1878
ANNUNCIATION, Steel Engraving from Painting by Guido Reni, Miss E. J. Hadley
SISTINE MADONNA, Photograph from Painting by Raphael Class of '97
Sr. CECILIA, Photograph Class of '98
BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL, Engraving Class of '89
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[ Feb. 28,
HOME OF WASHINGTON, Engraving
Class of '89 SHETLAND PONIES, Steel Engraving from Painting by Rosa Bonheur
Class of '90
VIEWS.
ACROPLIS, ATHENS, Large Photograph Class of '93
ROMAN FORUM, Large Photograph Class of '93
CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO AND ST. PETER'S, Large Photograph Class of '94
GRAND CANAL, VENICE, Colored Photograph,
Class of '96
PIKE'S PEAK, FROM GARDEN OF THE GODS, Colored Photograph . Fifth Grade, '95
ST. MARK'S, VENICE, Colored Photograph Seventh Grade, '95
A MISTY MORNING (Boston Light), Etching . Eighth Grade, '95
LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD, Engraving · Seventh Grade, '87
PORTRAITS.
WASHINGTON, Engraving, Life-Size
Seventh Grade, '94 .
WASHINGTON, Engraving, Life-Size
HOLMES, Etching
WHITTIER, Etching .
LONGFELLOW, Engraving .
IRVING, Steel Engraving
COLUMBUS, Etching
. High School, '92
STATUARY.
SHAKESPEARE, Bust .
Class of '92 VICTORY, from Trajan's Column, Rome, Bas Relief, Origi-
nal Size Proceeds of Christmas Exhibition, 1894 SIX BOYS PLAYING ON TRUMPETS, FOUR CHILDREN DANC- ING, A High-Relief panel from Frieze of Organ Screen in the Duomo, Florence, by Luccadella Robbia . . Proceeds of Christmas Exhibition, 1894 LARGE GRAY OWL · Mr. Arthur Pecker James L. Bates Post, G. A. R., 118, has presented the Sixth and Seventh Grades each with a flag.
The School Committee take great pleasure in acknowledg- ing the above generous gifts and hereby express unfeigned gratitude to the donors, whose example can but prove a healthy stimulus in the right direction.
IN GENERAL.
We think our schools and school buildings are in general good condition. However, a considerable sum of money
Sixth Grade, '94 Eighth Grade, '95 High School of '89 Miss E. J. Hadley Mrs Lucy E. Rowe
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1895.]
must be expended for the painting of the old buildings the coming summer. Owing to the rapid growth of our town, and the ever onward march of improvement, which it is im- possible to resist, the last few years have been a period of transition, and such a period as makes the duties of the School Board difficult and delicate. It will be impossible for any School Board to either resist or ignore either present or future demands. The best men that can be found should be sought for as School Committeemen, and no man who has a just conception of its duties and difficulties is likely to seek the position.
The School Board are, as well as other town officials, entitled to the considerate judgment and hearty appreciation of the citizens, because of the important and sometimes com- plicated responsibilities which they bear.
The present Board are grateful for the appreciation and considerate spirit of our people generally. We do not as- sume to be above criticism. We know that we are sometimes subject to unjust reflections.
We are especially grateful for the sympathy and support that came to us in a recent painful experience. In this affair we sought to maintain a quiet and dignified attitude. We gave careful and candid investigation to both sides, and were glad to have our judgment amply sustained by the Court.
The present Chairman is about to retire, and wishes to express thanks to the citizens who have kindly solicited him to accept the candidacy for a third term. Since it is im- possible for him to comply with this request, he wishes to say that he retires from this congenial and most delightful field of labor, bearing with him many of life's pleasant men- ories.
If I may be permitted to use the first personal pronoun, in conclusion, I will say that my relations with pupils, teachers and patrons have been most kindly, not to say cordial, in many instances. The committee has been a unit. After
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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the happiest association with these men for years, I leave the work in their hands, in the confident assurance that they are good men and true, and that they serve the public in the capacity of School Committee with the utmost singleness of heart.
Finally, I wish to say, with perfect sincerity, that in my humble judgment, every citizen in our community may well cherish the feeling that Swampscott is one of the best of the towns in one of the noblest of the Commonwealths in the nation.
THE HIGH SCHOOL PRIZES.
A noteworthy event of the school year was the awarding of prizes for essays prepared by scholars of the high school. Three prizes for the three best essays were offered, not by the Town, but by the gentlemen of the School Committee. Three subjects were assigned : "The Life of Abraham Lincoln," " Duties and Privileges of Citizenship," and " Past, Present and Future of Swampscott." Thirteen essays were handed in, and given to a committee consisting of Rev. Anthony Bilkovsky, Dr. A. Frost Hunt and Rev. G. A. Jackson for examination. The names of the writers were unknown to the committee, the papers being simply numbered. All of the essays were carefully read by each member of the committee, and marked upon a scale of one hundred, a cer- tain percentage being assigned respectively to material, gram- matical construction, spelling, punctuation, etc. The average of these markings by the three examiners resulted as follows: Nowell Ingalls (first prize), Maude F. Alden (second prize) and Edward H. Curtis (third prize). Hon- orable mention was also awarded by the Examining Com- mittee to essays found to be written by Addie L. Gibson, Grace L. Earp and Jennie A. Marble. The prize essays, also those honorably mentioned, were delivered at the anniversary exercises of the schools. At that time too the prize medals were presented.
113
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1895.]
GRADUATION EXERCISES.
Graduation Exercises of the Swampscott High School, held at Town Hall, Wednesday evening, June 27, 1894.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
INVOCATION Rev. L. A. Palmer
SINGING, Prayer from " Zampa " . School
ESSAY, " Duties and Privileges of Citizenship " Jennie A. Marble
ESSAY, " Abraham Lincoln " Grace L. Earp
SINGING, Gypsy Chorus from " Bohemian Girl" School
ESSAY, " Abraham Lincoln " Addic L. Gibson
ESSAY, "Duties and Privileges of Citizenship" Edward H. Curtis
a, " Jack Horner "
SINGING, (Nursery Rhymes) b, " There was a Man in our Town " School
ESSAY, " Abraham Lincoln " . Maude F. Alden
ESSAY, " Abraham Lincoln " Nowell Ingalls
SINGING, " Sea-birds" School
ESSAY, " The Four Honors "
Edith A. Farnum
PRESENTATIONS OF MEDALS by the AWARDING COMMITTEE.
SINGING, a, " Farmer Boy " b, " Jack and Jill " School
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMA to EDITH ALICE FARNUM, and the announcing of the Honors, gained in the High and Grammar Schools during the past year, by the CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SINGING, Patriotic Chorus from "Norma " · School
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[ Feb. 28,
CORPS OF TEACHERS, JANUARY, 1895.
Name.
School.
Date of Appointment.
Gardner P. Balch
Phillips High
Sept. 1888
A. Lillian Rideout.
66
High
Sept. 1893
Mabel E. Ingalls.
Phillips, General Asst. ..
Sept. 1894.
Ellen M. Dewing
66 VIII. Grade.
Jan. 1894.
Elizabeth J. Hadley ..
66 VII. Grade.
Sept. 1880-Dec. 1872 ..
M. H. Fernald.
66
VI. Grade
Sept. 1888.
Frances A, Gould
66
V. Grade.
Sept. 1888.
Isabelle M. Hutt.
66
IV. Grade
Sept. 1894-Jan. 1892.
Mabel S. Knight.
66 IV. & V. Grades Nov. 1894
Emma J. Machon
Essex St. I. & II. Grades
April 1880.
May E. Jackson
Essex St. I. Grade
Nov. 1894.
Hattie A. Thayer.
Pine St. III. Grade.
Oct. 1888.
Emily P. Ellis
Pine St. I. & II. Grades. . Jan. 1895.
Florence A. Oliver ..
Redingt'n St. I. II. III. Gr Sept. 1893.
Edith S. Gardner.
Beach I. II. III. Grades. .
Sept. 1894.
Louise C. Stanley.
Farms I. II. III. Grades ..
Jan. 1888
Elizabeth A. Bill
Music and Drawing.
Jan. 1890
[Date of appointment to present position is given in Roman type. If the teacher has previously served in other schools in town, the earliest date of such appointment is stated in Italics.]
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1895.]
SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR 1895.
SCHOOL.
Number of sittings.
any one time.
Number enrolled.
Average age.
during winter term.
during spring term.
during fall term.
attendance
ing winter term.
attendance
attendance
Per cent. of attendance.
Per cent. of tardiness.
Phillips High.
50
47
34
16
36
36
47
34.5
35
45
96
.29
VIII. Grade.
42
47
25
143
24.3
24
43
23
22
42
96%
.13
66
VII. Grade. .
42
35
33
13}
33
31
34
32
30
33
97
.23
VI. Grade.
48
51
47
12.3
43
40
46
=
38
45
96
.27
V. Grade
18
65
63
10.8
56
55.5
51.6
54
52
50
95
0
44
IV. Grade
48
54
56
11.7
48
54
44
41
50
42
91
.75
IV. & V. Gr'de
48
31
3
10.6
34
33
97
.00
Essex Street Primary.
42
68
88
7.2
47
56
61
44
52
58
94
.23
Pine-Street Primary ..
44
54
67
9
45
47
50
43
44
48
96
.6
Redington-St.Primary
42
40
56
6.9
32
34
36
30
31
36
93
1.00
Beach Primary
42
42
54
8
38
40
33.3
32
39
31
91
1.2
Farms Primary.
24
24
37
-1
20
22
21
18
20
20
95
ir
Average number of pupils
Average number of pupils
Average number of pupils
dur-
dur-
dur-
ing spring term.
ing fall term.
Average
Average
Average
-
Number enrolled in Town-Jan. 1895, 560; 1894, 527; 1893, 493; 1892, 465. Largest number at any one time in all the schools, 514.
Largest number of pupils at
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[ Feb. 28,
ROLL OF HONOR.
Pupils who have been neither absent nor tardy during the year.
STUART P. ELLIS, M. LOUISE ASHTON,
BLANCHE P. BASSETT,
ALICE M. HILLIARD,
JOHN B. CAHOON, EVERETT F. CURTIS, GEORGE B. GILMAN, ETHEL L. MACPHERSON
SELECTED LIST.
Pupils whose rank in all studies was above 85 per cent.
EDITH A. FARNUM,
GRACE L. EARP,
OLIVE K. PITMAN,
MILDRED C. BULFINCH,
SIDNEY T. DOANE,
HOWARD G. ELLIS,
CHESTER A. BROWN,
EMMA F. HARDY,
ROY E. CRANE,
HELEN L. WEEMAN, JOSIE E. TWISDEN, MARY C. PITMAN, FLORA L. SMITH, ELIZABETH S. STEVENS REGINALD L. WEBB, J. FRANK BROWN, BESSIE B. HUSSEY, GRACE M. WEBSTER.
Omitted from Selected List of 1893.
OLIVE K. PITMAN,
MAY E. JACKSON.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1895.]
SCALE OF SALARIES FOR TEACHERS.
Grammar-4 or more years' experience (maximum), $550. . Primary-3 or more years' experience (maximum), $450. Primary-2 years' experience, $400. Primary-I year's experience, $350. Primary-No previous experience, $300.
HOLIDAYS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
Washington's Birthday.
Patriots' Day.
Memorial Day.
17th of June.
Labor Day.
Thanksgiving recess, beginning Wednesday noon.
CALENDAR FOR SCHOOL YEAR, 1895.
Winter term 1895 begins Jan. 7; closes March 29. Spring term 1895 begins April S; closes June 28. Fall term 1895 begins Sept. 3; closes Dec. 20. Winter term 1896 begins Jan. 6.
1IS
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[ Feb. 28, ,
COURSE OF STUDY.
FIRST YEAR.
Teach 300 words by aid of toys and reading from blackboard. Begin reading from books the fifth month. Read first half of as many First readers as possible.
Spelling .- From the reading lessons.
Language .- Copy easy sentences from the board, object les- sons from familiar objects, correct errors in use of lan- guage.
Arithmetic .- Numbers from I to 10, fractional parts, Roman numerals, use objects, lines, etc.
Writing .- On slate and paper.
Drawing .- On slates from solids, clay modeling.
Geography .- Familiar objects about home, at school, out of doors, domestic animals, well-known birds, common insects. flowers, plants, etc.
Music .- As directed by music teacher.
Nature Work .- Following Boyden's Outlines.
SECOND YEAR.
Reading .- Second half of five First Readers, and first half of four Second Readers, phonetic analysis.
Spelling .- Oral and written spelling from reading and lan- guage lessons.
Language .- First year's work continued.
Arithmetic .- Numbers through 25, Roman numerals, original concrete problems by the pupils, fractional parts.
Writing .- Tracing books, copy exercises from the board, writing selections from reading books and from dictation.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1895.]
Drawing .- From objects, clay modeling.
Geography .- Familiar objects, houses, school-room, streets, buildings, neighborbood, a village, a city, cardinal points of compass, horizon, earth, land, air, etc.
Music .- As directed by special teacher.
Nature Work .- Following Boyden's Outlines.
THIRD YEAR.
Reading .- Last half of Second Readers, phonetic analysis.
Spelling .- Oral and written, exercises dictated from reading lessons.
Language .- Part I, Mary Hyde's Language Lessons, dictation exercises.
Arithmetic .- Numbers to 100, use of common measures, Ro- man numerals, written arithmetic, four operations with no multiplier or divisor exceeding two figures, writing num- bers through thousands, fractional parts, common measures. Writing -With pen and ink.
Drawing .- Prang No. I Drawing Book. Supplementary work.
Physiology .- Taught orally, the external parts of the body, hygiene.
Geography .- Our town, our State, position, boundaries, plans and maps, land and water in town and the state, parts of animals vegetables, etc.
History .- Stories, holidays.
Music .- As directed by special teacher.
Nature Work .- Following Boyden's Outlines.
FOURTH YEAR.
Reading .- First half of Third Reader, King's Geographical Reader, The Beginner's American History, Fables and Folk stories, phonetic analysis.
Spelling .- Graves' Spelling Book, and from reading lessons and Geography.
Language .- Part I, Mary Hyde's Lessons.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[ Feb. 28,
Arithmetic .- Mental arithmetic, written arithmetic, four operations, addition and subtraction of decimal and com- mon fractions, United States money, denominate numbers, elementary work with simple examples.
Geography .- Studied from Globe in hands of pupil, the world as a whole, form, size, motions, hemispheres, zones, seasons, animals, plants, people, races, civilization, continent, oceans, position, form, size, etc., North America, United States, our State.
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