USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1906 > Part 4
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Danvers Street Bridge.
During the past year the attention of the authorities was called to the condition of the Danvers Street Bridge. A carpenter was employed to repair what was at first considered a slight defect, but as the work progressed, the bridge was found to be in a dangerous condition. As there was no appropriation for this work, the bridge was repaired temporarily. The Selectmen recommend that a committee be appointed to ascertain the cost of a new bridge, and also to carry out the work of rebuilding.
Cemetery Land.
By vote of the Town at the last meeting, the Town procured a plot of about five acres adjoining the Cemetery, of the South- worth estate. This land is uneven and rocky and requires con- siderable attention before being salable for lots. As there are very few lots remaining unsold, the Selectmen recommend that the sum of $1,500 be appropriated for the improvement of a portion of the land purchased.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
1906]
Humphrey Street Improvement.
Many of the citizens have probably noticed the improvement of Humphrey Street between the Lynn line and the Galeucia estate. Arrangements were made with the Metropolitan Park Commissioners, whereby the old sidewalk was removed and the room turned into a street. An edgestone was laid on the inner line of the old sidewalk making a neat finished effect. The Commissioners favored the Town with two additional approaches to the beach, also a wide granolithic walk near the monument.
Orient Street.
On this thoroughfare nearly opposite the Lodge estate, is a prominent piece of ledge coming out into the street. The land is owned by Mr. Arthur Little, who will gladly give it for the purpose of strightening the street, if the Town will remove the stone. This would be a companion improvement with the work recently done at the Phillips estate, and the Selectmen recommend an appropriation for this purpose.
Street Improvement.
The Selectmen recommend that a committee be appointed to see what can be done to acquire land at the junction of Hum- phrey and Orient streets, recently occupied by the hay scales and the present drinking fountain. The Town has been paying rent for this land for a number of years past, and if it could be bought, a very sharp corner in the street could be done away with, and the grade greatly improved.
Stetson Avenue Drain.
This matter which has been a great inconvenience to the resi- dents of that vicinity, by reason of overflows and washing away of sidewalks has been attended to in the following manner. After a conference with the trustees of the Stetson Land Co., an arrangement was made whereby the Company was to lay pipe from the Railroad, through their land to the street.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
From this point the Town removed a twelve inch pipe and replaced the same with a twenty-four inch pipe, which runs to a catch basin near the bridge. This arrangement seems to effectually remedy the matter, and was accomplished at a cost of about $350, which was paid from the Selectmen's Department.
Sidewalks.
We would recommend that the Town take some action to determine the material to be used in the construction of side- walks, and if the Town desires to appropriate money and con- struct sidewalks as under Chapter 49, of the Public Statutes which was accepted at the March Meeting, 1904.
New Streets.
During the past year several petitions were received to lay out streets. In the several instances, plans were drawn, notices posted, and hearings given. The matter will come before the March meeting for acceptance.
By-Laws.
The Selectmen recommend that a committee be appointed to revise the By-Laws, as the present edition has apparently out_ lived its usefulness.
Fire and Police Departments.
We consider that these departments have rendered good ser- vice during the past year, and would respectfully refer to the several reports to be found elsewhere.
The following amounts are recommended as appropriations for the various departments, for the current year :
Highway .
.
$10,000
School
·
.
31,000
Selectmen's
.
5,700
Poor
.
.
2,500
1906]
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
69
Police
5,800
Fire, Receipts, and
8,500
Library, Receipts, Dog Tax, and
800
Street Light
10,000
Cemetery .
1,000
Sidewalk .
.
1,500
Town Hall, Receipts, and
1,200
Crushing Stone
1,500
Catch Basin and Gutters
1,200
Curbstone
500
Resetting Curbstone .
100
Memorial Day .
175
Monument Lot .
45
Tree Warden
250
Street Watering
3,000
Water Rates
·
1,150
Health
1 4,500
Soldiers' Relief
1,800
Park
.
.
1,500
Care Brooks
400
Care Snow
1,500
State Tax (estimated)
12,000
County Tax (estimated)
11,000
Interest (estimated) .
5,500
Sewer Bonds .
4,600
Interest Sewer Bonds
7,500
Sewer Maintenance .
.
4,000
Bids. .
The following bid was received for coal for the current year : From B. O. Honors & Son, egg, $6.50; broken, $6.25; Cumberland, $4.50. This was the only bid received.
For Edgestone. From M. McDonough. Straight edgestone, sixty-four cents per foot ; circle, ninety cents per foot. One bid received.
6
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
Town Hall.
During the past year, four lights and reflectors have been placed on the tower to illuminate the clock. The success of this was not of the best, as the light shades in such a manner that the time can be seen only at a short distance away. We would recommend that an appropriation be made to instal illuminated dials. Under this idea, the light shades evenly over the whole face of the clock, and can be seen at a much longer distance. The cost of the lighting would be one-half of the lights now employed. We would recommend, also, that the Hall and Police Station be painted on the outside.
Monument Lot.
At the last meeting an appropriation of $50 was made to relay the curbstone surrounding the lot. As the money was not spent, we recommend the same amount be appropriated that the work may be done this year.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. R. HORTON, MARTIN L. QUINN, ALLEN H. COLE,
Selectmen of Swampscott.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1906]
Report of the School Committee.
To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott :
The administration of our School Department has been given careful attention by the Committee and Superintendent of Schools during the past year.
We believe that the educational history of the year has been marked by definite growth in the right direction.
We have an efficient and faithful corps of teachers, in our various schools, who are aiming to secure the largest mental and moral development in the lives of their pupils.
The question of needed additional school facilities, which was the important problem confronting us at the time of our report last year, has been satisfactorily solved.
Upon the representation of our Committee, at the annual Town meeting of March last, a special committee composed of the Selectmen, the Assessors and the School Committee, were appointed to consider the necessity of a new school building, and report at an adjourned Town meeting. This Committee, after a series of meetings, agreed unanimously to recommend to the Town the erection of an eight-room brick school building, and that the sum of thirty-three thousand dollars ($33,000) be appropriated for the purchase of a site and the construction of said building, the money to be raised by loan.
At the adjourned Town meeting, in April, the report of the Committee was accepted and adopted, and the money appropri- ated as recommended.
A Building Committe was appointed of the following : Rev. W. B. Shumway, E. A. Maxfield, G. A. R. Horton, Martin L. Quinn and S. Perry Congdon.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
The site selected by the Building Committe was at the inter- section of Middlesex and Norfolk avenues, just east of the junc- tion of the Boston & Maine Railroad with its Marblehead Division.
Plans prepared by Messrs. Wheeler & Betton, architects, of Lynn, were accepted, the various parts of the work contracted for, and ground was broken for the new building early in July. We had hoped it might be ready for occupancy the first of the year, but the settlement of necessary preliminary details and some unforeseen delays have hindered its early completion. The new building is substantially constructed, will be equipped with the latest appliances, and when finished will not only be an ornament to the Town, but a helpful centre of its educational plant.
We hope now to occupy a part of it, early in the Spring months, and the larger portion at the opening of che school year, in September.
The school work of the year has been carried on, thus far, under somewhat difficult conditions, because of insufficient room.
To meet the need of a school-room for the new second grade at Redington street, all the floor space we could spare was par- titioned off from the entrance hall, and a small class room was thus provided, temporarily, for the new grade.
. The entering class of the High School was so large this year, that many of the pupils must be accommodated simply with chairs, without desks, in some of the class rooms, and so work at considerable disadvantage.
With the completion of the new building however, and the readjustment of quarters for the various schools, these over- crowded conditions will be remedied.
On its tour of inspection, in the early summer, the Committee found many items out of repair in our various buildings that needed immediate attention, and during the vacation months these were cared for.
At the Phillips Building, the furnaces were fitted with new and improved grate bars, replacing the burned out and obsolete
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1906]
pattern, and the brick arches were partially rebuilt, thus render- ing the fireman's labor much less difficult.
The cases in the Laboratory containing the apparatus for chemical and physical experiments were found to be directly against the brick wall, with no sheathing to protect their con- tents from dampness and rust, and these were moved out from the wall and sheathed.
A covered way was constructed from the main building to the Laboratory to protect the pupils in their transit from one build- ing to the other in the wintry weather, and to cover the steam pipe which furnishes heat from the main building.
The Farms School building was repaired and painted inside and out, much to its improved appearance.
At Redington street, in addition to the partition for another class room, the old fence between the school yard and the prop- erty on the north was torn down and replaced with a new and substantial one. A new asphalt walk was laid from sidewalk to the school building to replace the old one partially torn up dur- ing the repairs of last year. The steps were renewed and yard graded, and a trench dug to carry off the water that drained from the higher ground on the north.
At Essex street, zinc plates for the better conduction of heat were added to the furnace plant. A catch-basin and drain were laid on the west side of the school yard to carry off the water which constantly washed down stones and soil upon the asphalt walks.
General repairs were made to windows, fences and steps at the Beach School.
These, with necessary minor repairs during the year, have placed our school properties in better condition than for many years past.
The work of Superintendent of Schools Martin has been increasingly valuable. He has relieved the Committee of much of the detail of its work, as well as having been a helpful factor among our schools.
His days of supervision have been changed to Monday and Tuesday, and he can be consulted at his office in the Town
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
Hall on those days, from 3.45 to 4.45 P. M. The remainder of the week he gives to the schools of Ipswich, where he likewise fills the position of Superintendent.
In conclusion we recommend to the parents or guardians of our pupils their hearty co-operation with the committee and teachers for the accomplishment of the best results in the impor- tant work and duty which is mutually ours.
WALTER B. SHUMWAY, ELEANOR G. HOLDEN, S. PERRY CONGDON,
Committee.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1906]
Superintendent's Report.
To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott :
My second annual report is herewith presented.
Our New School-House.
The new school-house is now in the foreground of our thought and hope. We of the schools are grateful to the committee and to the citizens of the Town for the commodious and substan- tial edifice. It meets a need of several years' standing. It relieves the Redington Street School of the pressure which the housing of five grades in a four-room building has compelled. It releases the ill-starred teachers and children of the first and second grades there from the box-stall in which successively they have been " cribbed, cabined and confined " these many months. It allows the sixth grade also to flit from their hired house on Elmwood road with the elation of possessors of a home of their own. The Pine Street folk will relish the promotion of quitting a plain abode of wood to appropriate a lordly mansion of brick. Moreover, one of the grammar grades in the Phillips School will be dispossessed to make place for the High School, grown to such greatness this year that it has been at its wits' end to find where to bestow itself. If all this is done, as it should be to give fit habitation to the needy among us, more than half of the new house will be utilized as soon as it is completed. We are anticipating this consummation of our hope within a few weeks. At the opening of schools in the coming fall there will be other claimants for the new rooms awaiting tenants. Essex Street School is over-filled, and will probably by that time have a
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
colony to come to its own in the new domain. Our school family had outgrown the old homestead. The brick house on Middlesex avenue has arisen none too soon.
Ravages of Sickness.
Sickness has preyed upon our school life to an extraordinary degree in the months past. Violent inroad was made upon us by the somewhat sudden and altogether unexpected death of Miss Emma J. Machon of the Essex Street School, April 10, 1905. In that very month Miss Machon had rounded out a quarter century of service in the Swampscott schools. Only one other teacher, Miss Elizabeth J. Hadley (May Miss Hadley be . preserved to honor our ranks for many years to come), was Miss Machon's senior in service. A union of high character, strong intellect, and naive personality made Miss Machon a rare teacher. She had also a spicy wit-a saving grace in the routine, depressing tendencies of the vocation-which flavored her personality, and served to endear her to pupils and associates alike. She wrought with fidelity and devotion. She re-lives in other lives which she has inspired. She leaves precious memories.
Sickness deprived us for a time of the service of Miss Gardner, also of the Essex Street School, and finally necessitated leave of absence from May, 1905, till September, 1906. Serious illness also laid aside Miss Shaw of the Elmwood Road School and Miss Stanley of the Farms School, for several weeks. Thus, through death and disease, four of our schools suffered grave loss. Miss Maud B. Kennerson of Melrose and Miss Jennie Carey of our own town were substitute teachers in the fourth and second grades respectively of Essex street for the last ten weeks of the school year; while Mrs. Angie B. Markley and Mrs. Edwin Bailey came to our help during the illness of Miss Shaw and Miss Stanley. We have been indebted at various times dur- ing the year to Mrs. George R. Hussey, Mrs. M. A. Wilson and Mrs. E. J. Owen, who have cheerfully and acceptably substituted for yet other teachers absent for short periods by reason of bodily ills or of family affliction.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1906]
In more recent months sickness has assailed our scholars. The chief sufferer has been the first grade at Redington street, Miss Kimball's charge. Whooping-cough greatly depleted this school for many weeks. Now, however, the children are back in their places, and Miss Kimball is devoting herself with characteristic energy to the recovery, so far as may be, of ground lost.
Changes Among Teachers.
Our present roster of instructors presents more than ordinary change. There appears the reinstated name of Miss Mabel S. Knight, after a year's leave of absence welcomed back to her sixth grade in the Phillips School. Miss Clara L. Miller, who taught that grade last year, was transferred in September to Miss Gardner's grade, the fourth at Essex Street. There are five new names on the roll. Miss Mabel L. Butler, of Peter- boro, N. H., who has the chair of science and mathematics in the high school, which was made vacant by the resignation of Mrs. Mary J. Keese, came to us from successful work in the high school at Franklin Falls, N. H. Miss Butler is a graduate of Mt. Holycke College. The second new name on the roll, Miss Kathleen Robinson, of Vineyard Haven, is likewise a graduate of Mt. Holyoke. The unprecedented increase of high school pupils compelled an additional teacher. Miss Robinson was, therefore, elected in October. She is carrying some of the English, French, and history, to the relief of other teachers in these several departments. Miss Eva M. Macomber of West- ford, Vt., resigned her place in the schools of Lynnfield Centre to take the eighth grade in our Phillips School, which Miss Elizabeth E. Thompson, now teaching in Malden, left vacant. Miss Laura Clarke Brooks of Peabody, who is in the first grade at Essex Street, the former charge of Miss Jackson, relinquished position of higher salary in the Pierce School at West Newton that she might serve us, and enjoy the advantage of living at home. Miss Jackson was assigned, at her own request, to the second grade which Miss Machon had taught. Another new name is that of an additional teacher in our grades, Miss Florence Gregg of Beverly, who, after large experience there,
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
resigned to accept service here. By Miss Gregg Miss Prescott is relieved of the burden of the second grade at Redington Street, which she carried last year along with the third grade, her present charge.
All these new teachers, with the exception of Miss Robinson, have won marked success in schools elsewhere, on experiences ranging from four to ten years. Miss Robinson, though inex- perienced and just out of college, is by good workmanship commending herself to both pupils and fellow workers.
We are to be felicitated on the merit and splendid service of each of our five new members. They constitute a strong acces- sion to our already strong body of teachers. If indeed, the good teacher ensures a good school under almost any conditions, then Swampscott is assured of many good schools. These superior teachers, moreover, are with us, not by happening, but as the reward of determined purpose and of painstaking, persistent search to procure the best. The wisdom of the people of Swampscott, I am confident, expects us to proceed on the prin- ciple that the best instruction is none too good for the children of Swampscott; their sober judgment, also, will approve us in going abroad for the best, when in time of need we do not find it at home. Certainly Swampscott's daughters should have, and shall have, the preference when they are the peers of other candi- dates for positions in our corps of instructors ; and scrutinous care will be exercised by us lest the home prophetess shall fail of honor in her own town.
Teachers' Salaries.
We have been able to secure talented teachers because Swamp- scott has paid salaries at least as high as most other places. We shall retain and secure such teachers for the future only as we continue to pay as well as others. It is to be noted that the question of the best teachers is, in the last analysis, a question of the best wages. There is now quite general recognition that teachers have been underpaid, and better wages are becoming general. Some neighboring cities and towns have recently increased their salaries beyond what we are paying, and are,
-
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1906]
therefore, in a position to draw upon the flower of our teaching force. The attempt indeed, has already been made. It should seem, therefore, that in sheer self-defense we shall be obliged to grant our teachers the advance in wages, for which they are earnestly petitioning the committee.
Changes of Text Books.
Reading. The Gordon method of teaching reading, which was introduced into our primary grades last spring, is winning the hearty approval of our teachers, and is commending itself by its fruits. The present reading of the first grades is noteworthy. The children acquire the ability to read in less time than by our former method. They are reading with more fluency, more mas- tery of thought, more naturalness of expression. They show skill in word building. The method induces confidence to attack the longer words, a confidence often found lacking even in the upper grades. The system is also a sure aid to correct spelling. The reading and spelling of our scholars in the present first grade, trained by this Gordon method, will, I predict, bring unwonted satisfaction to the teachers to whom they advance from year to year.
New basal readers have been introduced throughout the grades with beneficial results. Both teachers and scholars have given more attention to excellence in reading. The study is pursued with new interest and zest. There has been palpable progress manifest both in intelligent comprehension of the author's thought and in ready, natural, vivacious, forceful utterance." We are seeking to inspire a love for the best reading and to inculcate the habit of reading the best aloud with the power to command the interest of listeners.
Our grades are in need of more books for supplementary read- ing. I recommend early attention to this need.
Writing. We have at length fallen into line with the multi- tude, and have substituted the medial slant for the vertical writing. The Ginn Medial System of writing was brought into use last fall. Mr. A. W. Clark, of the house of Ginn and Company, early in the school year set forth the merits of the system at a meeting of the teachers of the eight grades, and gave
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
helpful directions for the teaching of it. The change was applied to the first five grades, and will be continued by them. The present sixth, seventh, and eight grades retain the vertical, as we deemed it unwise to turn them from the system in which they have been trained, and which had become their habit. I would earnestly ask your consideration of the question whether we should not have a supervisor to teach writing, as we now have, to teach drawing and music. Cities and towns, which have supervisors, are getting greatly improved penmanship. A supervisor would need to spend but part time with us.
Arithmetic. There seems to be general admission that the present generation of school children are neither as interested, nor as accurate, nor as quick, in "figures," as preceding genera- tions. With the hope of putting more spirit into our pupils, and of getting more proficiency in this study, we resorted to the help which change of books might effect. We are now using the Smith arithmetics. It is too early yet to pronounce upon the results of the change ; but we believe that we have a sane text book, which takes the middle course between the "spiral" and the old topical methods, and should be an aid to better work. Yet best book and best instruction combined will not suffice. Ample time and persistent drill are indispensable to the mastery of principles and to correctness and speed in processes. The sensible return to such practice as some of us had in Colburn's Mental Arithmetic will surely do much to improve existing deficiencies.
Geography. The Dodge geographies, published by Rand, McNally & Co., have also been adopted. We are among the first in the introduction of this new publication. Teachers and scholars are enjoying it, I believe, and we have eager expecta- tion of substantial advance in this all-important branch of learn- ing, the name of which is indeed familiar to men in middle life to-day, though the scope and contents of it is largely unknown to them. To supplement this department of work, we have given to the third and fourth grades Fairbanks' Home Geography as a reader, and to one upper grade Carpenter's Geographical Readers on Asia and Africa. Complete sets of these valuable Carpenter Geographical Readers should now be in the possession of our grammar grades.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1906]
Progress Achieved.
The current year shows a noticeable advance on the former year in spirit, discipline and work. The spirit of the teachers, and of the scholars as well, merits praise. In scholars, there is large room for keener appreciation of the business of the school, but perhaps our scholars are bringing a more earnest mind to their tasks than is common in this age conspicuous for play. While last year we had schools restless and disorderly, this year we have not a school that can be so designated. Much credit for this belongs to our teachers, but some credit must not be withheld from our scholars. With progress in spirit and in order, there follows naturally progress in work. There is promise of classes in June next considerably better prepared for promotion than the classes of June last. Delinquents there will be, of . course, but they will be fewer.
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