USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1918 > Part 6
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30
Broncho pneumonia, influenza .. Myocarditis
6 29 Broncho pneumonia, asthma . ..
5|27 Broncho pneumonia, influenza ..
Malden Weymouth Weymouth Weymouth
12 |Lobar pneumonia
Germany Weymouth
25|Ida E. Turnquist, wife of John E. 52|10|12 |Lobar pneumonia following influ-
23| 9|20|Mitral stenosis |Abington
13 Cerebral hemorrhage, chronic int. nephritis
|Scituate
8|28 |Cerebral hemorrhage Fracture of skull with injury to brain, struck by train . ·
Saco, Me. |Weymouth |Braintree
Cambridge 103
Hingham
44
24|Edmund S. Hollis 59
24|Carl W. Bowie 1
25 |Dennis Cohan
66 25 |Martha E. Horsmen, wife of Otto F. 29 59 6 27 Cerebral hemorrhage, arterio sclerosis .
enza
Sweden
5 | Uraemia 4 3 Fracture of skull, hemorrhage and shock, struck by R. R. train | Weymouth
73 6|11 |Cerebral
hemorrhage,
arterio
sclerosis
DEATHS-Continued
Date of Death
NAME
Age Y.M.D.
Disease or Cause of Death
Birthplace
Nov. 28 |Lillian M. Beladeau
1|15 Marasmus, bronchitis
28| William W. Thompson
31
2 27 Broncho pneumonia, influenza ...
28 Vincenso Slighani
2|14 Malnutrition
29| Annie F. Connell
28
7 1 Tubercular peritonitis
Weymouth
Dec. 1 Mary E. Hill, wife of George C. 29
7 16 Lobular pneumonia, influenza . .
|Weymouth
3 |William E. Hawes
64
6 14 Myocarditis, arterio sclerosis,
cerebral hemorrhage
66
4|Eyelyn M. Corneau
2
3 3 | Lobar pneumonia 5 22 |Myocarditis, arterio sclerosis,
66
6 |John D. Melville
85
bronchitis
Ireland
9| Elvin H. Raymond
70
13 Oedema of the brain, arterio sclerosis and slight attack of influenza
|Weymouth . |Weymouth probably .
|Braintree Weymouth
66 15 |Dominick Fasci
4
7
6 |Rt. lobar pneumonia Aortic regurgitation
|Ireland
66 16 |Mary R. Fasci ..
5
6 |Broncho pneumonia |Weymouth Ireland
66 18|Andrew Roche . ·
77
Lateral sclerosis
66 22 Beatrice G. Shaw ·
27 7|26|Broncho pneumonia, influenza .. |So. Dakota
104
66
9 |Harry M. Faulkner
39 9| 61| 8
3 Pulmonary tuberculosis 6 Natural causes, heart disease
66 10 Howard Baker
66 16 |Bridget Seeley, widow of Robert . 82 1
Pennacook, N. H. Haverhill Boston
Weymouth Weymouth
.
22 |Helen Burgess 23| Catherine P. Harden, widow of N. . Thomas .. . 82
24 |Pasquale Belcastro 29|Elsie M. Milliken, wife of Ralph W.
. 27
Lobaŕ pneumonia, influenza
31|Thomas Leary
67 7 27 Fibrosis of lungs
|25| 1|11 |Influenza-pneumonia (septic) ... |Weymouth
1 9 Valvular disease of heart, gen- eral senility 6 Convulsions of new born .
Bridgewater Weymouth
Chicago, Ill. |Hingham
105
106
BIRTHS.
1
Recorded in the Town Clerk's Office, Weymouth, during the Year 1918.
Date of Birth 1918 January
1 Everett Lewis Wright
2 Barbara Raymond
5 Anita Johnson
5 Ellen Florentine Nelson
6 Stanley Sabonis
7 Mary Ann Fabian
8 David Kearns
9 Riccardo Walter Paone
11 Arnold Erickson (
12 Vincent Pepe
13 Burton Thomas Pool, Jr.
1 13 Theresa Florence Wise
14 Cecilia McDonald
16 William Kenneth Wil- liams
17 Rita Gould
19 Lloyd C. Manuel
19 Norah Catherine Shee- han
21 Ellen Aocora Sjoberg
21 Margery Vera Callahan
24 Herbert Ignatius Sulli- van
24 Harry Allison Dexheimer
24 Anna Madeline Wright
24 Arline Marjorie Price
24 Felix Bileukevicius
28 Charles Sumner Welch
February 2 Elizabeth Marie White
Date of Birth 1918
3 Leo Francis McMorrow
4 Nathaniel McLean Sage
5 Leo Elmer Cheverie
5 Marjorie Alberta Fulton
6 Martha Mone
10 Helen Rita Shields
10 Annie Mary White
12 Marion L. Fisher
12 Henry Charles Cottell, Jr.
12 Jerome Edmund Walsh
13 Jennie Eleanor Ogren
13 William Edward Pray
15 Chester R. Malcolm
16 Robert Alexander Finch
16 Olive Winslow Bates
18 Marion Jane Leahy
19 Donald Welch
22 Pauline Martha Upton
22 Carolyn Louise Osgood
23 Martha Lewis Doyle
25 Shirley Arline Thompson
26 Ruth Marjorie Wright
26 Mary Virginia Burkett
28 Alice Janette Smith
28 Lawrence Peterson
March
4 Frank Nenna .
5 Thomas Harold O'Brien
5 Caroline Louise Cum- mings
.
6 Hazel Gertrude Wood
7 Elizabeth May Johnston
107
Date of Birth 1918
March
8 Annie Aida Scoppettuolo 13
8 Helen Frances Quirk
10 Morice Robert Perkins
12 John Joseph Malnate
12 Stella Kahkajian
13 Eleanor May Simpson
16 Dorothy O'Brien
18 Francis N. O'Leary
19 Thelma Gertrude Trask
21 John MacDonald Enella
25 Theresa Pauline Cos-
tanzo
25 Richard Elliott Gardner
27 Catherine Agnes Sheehan
27 Raymond Booth, Jr.
28 Allan Francis Clancy
30 Margaret Olivine Hodg- don
31 Esther Exilda Smith
April
1 Grace Marie King
3 Stanislow Bokslaw Grieb
5 Joseph Elbredge Gard- ner, Jr.
5 Cathleen Elizabeth Shee- han
5 George Russell Emanuel Johnson 6 Christine Allen Dizer
6 Antonnetta Calabrese
7 Dorothy Mildred Sher- man
7 Lillian Vernon Stowell
16 Rita Reidy
9 Elveria Ventre 16 Marjorie May Sylvester
11 William Thomas Sulli- 16 Mildred Marguerite van Freddette
Date of Birth 1918
11 Adelina Rubalino
Michael Pecoraro
13 Virginia Marshall Pray
14 Herbert Blackwell
14 Alice Edna Lunt
15 Barbara Bush
16 Howard Arthur Hudson
16 Cosmo Albert Colarusso
17 Onni Elijas Mikkonen
18 Mary G. Keohan
19 Elmas Drey McNeil
25 Carmela D'Allesandr o
25 Francis Kendall Newbert
25
David George Hall
26 Albert Malkom Anderson
26 Florence Catherine Veno
28 Evelyn Velma Lovering
29 Ethel Marion Glines
30 Filomena Villanova
May
2 Edith Mary Mulligan
6 Ruth S. Butman
7 Louise Jane Humphrey
9 Rita Linnehan
12 Philip James O'Brien
14 Olive Bertina Holbrook
14
Carmel DeMaso
14 Virginia Corbin Hall
15 Elizabeth Ruth Dacey 1
15 Muriel Elizabeth Salis- bury White
16 Evelyn Pearl Leslie
108
Date of Birth 1918
Date of Birth 1918
May
17
Aleck Altar
17
Robert Addison Shaw.
18 Winnifred Louise Ralph
22 Ruth Isabelle Thompson
22 Raymond Kaplan
22 Robert Edgar Pitts
23 Helen Maria Gardner
26 Nicolas Wilson Nicollette
1 27 Robert Allen Stucker
28 Petrecia Eberhard Kiil Jorgeusen
29 Antonio Pizzi
31 John Edward McCaffrey
June
2 William McBride
2 Norman Joseph Reilly
2 Madalina Maturo
2 Ruth Parker Thayer
8 Harold Blanchard Nash 13
Nathalie Thomas
1
8 Lawrence O'Leary 13
14
Edwards, son
of William and Mabel
Arthur Marshall Ray- mond
9 Charles William Gam- mon 15 Bernard Henry Thiba- deau
10 Kenneth Ellis Thayer
10 Anne Elizabeth Burr
17
Uta Evelyn Hayden
Rose Marie McCullock
Arthur Tupper Bleakney
26 Ernest Russell Ferbert
15 Albert Vinal, Jr.
19 Antonio Gatto
22 William Leo Manning
23 Dorothy Copeland Wil- liams
23 Henry Francis Brackett, Jr.
24 Ina Oja
24 Rita Agnes Leavitt
30 Mary Emma Abbruzzese
July
1 William Alfred Wolfe
4 Margaret Louise Kelley
5 Caroline Barnes
8 Georgietta Ruth Chan- nell
8 Rosaria Caccavo
11 Thomas Bernard Mac- quinn
12 Margaret Sullivan
12 Myrtle Rolalie White '
12 Daniel Andrew Fitz- gerald
James Joseph Cunniff
9 Marguerite Elizabeth Johnson
15
10 John Francis Roche
19
14 Robert Lawrence Bren- nan
23
26 Myrtle Genevieve Wright
29 Giovanni Gaetano Pecor- aro
31 Frederick Walter Ochs
9 Joseph Mckinnon, Jr.
109
Date of Birth 1918
August
1
3 Mary Elizabeth Leary
4 Madaline Idabell Dixon
6' Clara Frances Henrich
7 Melba Irene Sample
8 William Richard Lang
8 Sherman Joseph Mosh- nichka
11 Arthur Waldo Cook
14 Rita Hurley
14 Paula Frances Eddy
15 Helen Joyce Miller
17 Sarah Iva Gallager
19 Walter Harold Pitts
19 Thomas Wright
20 Helen Grenovich
20 Theresa Marie Stagliola
22 William Curtiss Rayner
27 Lynwood Allison Ransom
27 Edward Felix Phillips
28 Iola Christina Collins
28 Fostine Ada Blanchard
28 Leonard Russell Hough- ton
29 Barbara Tisdale
31 Evelyn Peterson
September
1 Evelyn Marguerite Landry
4 James Leslie Cody
Marguerite Agnes Henry
5 Walter Andrew Bishop
6 Mary Blanche Curley
6 Dorothy Cheny
Date of Birth 1918
7 Elizabeth Pierson Our
7 Robert Waddell, Jr.
9. Frances Gwendoline Bicknell
9 Henry Linn Kohler
10 Ruth Jennie Gibbs
12 William Arthur Ellis
13 Vincenzo Sligham
14 Charles Burns
14 Leland Lewis Gladwin
16 Mary Goodrow
17 Jean Theresa Lindsay
17 Flora Elizabeth Lovell
19 Francis Eugene Hutchin- son
19 Helen Ekborn
20 James David Healey
21 Helen Louise Bourque (twin)
21 Harold Leon (twin)
Bourque
21 Wilbur Leroy Galusha
21 Barbara Helene Drysdale
22 Marie Frances Cullivan
23 John Ralph Tedesco
23 Sidney Gordon Perry
25 Earle Ainsley
25 John Henry Miller
27 Edward Francis Con- nelly
28 James McEachern
29 Ruth Elizabeth Gould
October
1 Ralph Monoogan
1 Marion J. Pratt
1 Lillian May Beladeau
110
Date of Birth 1918
Oct.
5 Mary Aloyse Hart
5 Barbara Helen Hart
8 Carlton Alfred Owens
9 Joseph Edmond Danubio
11 Norman Moody Smith
13 Persis Elizabeth McIn- tire
15 Margaret Mary Sullivan
15 Walter Francis William- son
15 Antonetta Palmieri
16 Margaret Alice Kendrick
20 Paul Kelcourse
21 Pauline York
22 Norman Wilfred Barnes
23 Barbara Cecilia Pratt
25 Eugenia Alfreda Cherin- awsky
27 Walter Woodrow Sevon
27 Helen Natilie Loud
28 Joseph Allen Thibeault
28 Marjorie Bicknell
28 Annie Elizabeth Smith
28 Janice Elizabeth O'Reilly
31 Mases Hazakorzian
31 Edith Linwood Bates
November
2 George Channing Lovell
3 Winifred Spalding
6 Edna Florence Corbett
8 George Butler Shanna- han
9 Guido Thomas DiGravio
Date of Birth 1918
10 Thelma Victoria Reyen- ger
11 Francis Victor Cote
12 Bertha Gertrude Fitz-
gerald
14 Robert Francis Whit- marsh
15 Geraldine Frances Gray
1
17 Pauline Helen Lester
17 Anna Baublis
17 Edmund Philip White
18 Robert Grover Sprague
20 Joanne Helen Hackett
22 Elizabeth Keegan
22 Robert Stanley LaSalle
23 Rita Madeline Chappell
24 John Louis Bouchard
27 Wayne Baker Garfield
28 Barbara May Blackwell
30 Philip Bailey Cole
December
1 George Willard Wyght
2 Flora May Edwards
6 Alfred Webster Ford
6 Robert John Piper
12 Marie Elizabeth Dusault
12 Lucy Leone
14 Evelyn May Ewell
14 Marie Jean Bavin
15 Anna Frances Dyson
16 Francis William Griffin
17 Pasquale Belcastro
20 Bernard Francis Everett
21 Albert Edward McGlone
2 Rita Madeline Slattery
-
111
Date of Birth 1918
December
22 Susie Mary Orana
22 Corey, son of Mastiff and Fanny
23 Joseph Desmond
24 Dorothy Cottell
25 Dorothy Arline Holbrook
25 Mary Tirrell
27 William Aston Liley
28 Linwood Francis Deere
30 Clifton Joseph McCaleb
31 Christine Gertrude Spil- lane
.
112
Number of marriages recorded in the Town Clerk's office, Weymouth, during the year 1918 where one or both of the parties resided in town. 145 Non-residents 6
, Total 151
Number of births :
Males
147
Females 166
Total 313
Number of Deaths :
Males
143
Females 154
Total 297
Excess of births over deaths. 16
JOHN A. RAYMOND,
Town Clerk.
Weymouth, January 30, 1919.
1
ANNAUL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
of the
Town of Weymouth, Mass.
1918
THE CRAWFORD PRESS SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MASS.
-
· SCHOOL . BUILDING . AT . WEYMOUTH . MASS .. CLARENCE P HOYT & CURTIS W DIXDY, ARCHITECTS, 6 DEACON STREET BOSTON.
NEW HUNT SCHOOL, WEYMOUTH
115
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
Never before in recent memory have so many difficulties at one time beset the administration of our schools. In this, Weymouth is not unique.
The high prices affecting all commodities have been met by the town with liberal appropriations, cheerfully given, and by your committee, especially during the past year, in the limiting of purchases to the most pressing necessities.
The absolute scarcity of coal has caused much anxiety, and while the schools have been kept open with but little loss of time on this account alone, positive discomfort has been nar- rowly averted. The coal supply for the coming year will probably be ample, although prices will not fall to the old levels.
The time lost by reason of the prevalent sicknesses, affect- ing both teachers and scholars, can be, and it is expected, will be made up by earnest effort during the remaining months.
The fine spirit that has been shown by the many women who have served as substitute teachers is worthy of the high- est commendation; and at this time it is fitting that equal tribute be paid to the loyalty of the regular teaching force, who have, in many instances, kept to their daily work of teaching, when much more lucrative employment has been open to them elsewhere.
At present, the transportation of pupils, chiefly to the High School from Wards 4 and 5, is far from satisfactory. Before the discontinuance of the trolley lines the fares had been so advanced by the adoption of the zone system that the amount of money counted on to cover such expense for the school year, would be, under the new rates, greatly insuffi- cient.
116
The motor service hitherto substituted for the cars which were lost has been expensive, but if such service should be continued, a better form of omnibus would undoubtedly be used.
At writing, the operation of the trolley cars on the two discontinued lines has been resumed, and a schedule of fares adopted which is no lower than before. Under half rates, it will cost fifteen cents a day, or more, to carry a South Wey- mouth pupil to and from the High School. Less than two years ago this cost 'was five cents a day. Besides this, there is pending in the United States Court a petition seeking to take away the right of half fares from scholars. If this pe- tition should prevail, the transportation of High School pupils from South Weymouth alone would cost more than $5000 in a school year, and there would be an equal amount needed for transportation furnished elsewhere in the town.
There can be no question that under such circumstances it would be very much cheaper for the town to provide its own equipment for school transportation, of liberal capacity and of enduring quality.
The amount estimated by your committee for transporta- tion for the coming year, $5000, seems to be the smallest amount that can possibly serve, under existing conditions; and if such amount is to be depended on, the art of walking or cycling may need to be to a large extent exercised.
Your committee makes no request for motor equipment, although it is used successfully in certain towns of the Commonwealth. An inferior equipment, which might serve the High School and a portion of the grades would cost, for three cars, a sum near $4000; and a better equipment could be procured for $6000. Motor equipment to cover transporta- tion for the pupils throughout the town would need a capital investment of at least $10,000.
. There is good reason to believe that the maintenance and operative costs of such comprehensive equipment need not exceed $5000, and would be, not counting interest and depre- ciation, much less than such amount.
The school buildings are generally in good repair, but
117
this does not mean an acquiescence in the existing sanitary arrangements in some schools; and especially in the High and Shaw schools present conditions demand immediate remedy.
Certain other' betterments would be desirable, and will be made whenever favorable prices and sufficient funds con- cur. In the estimate provision has been made for sanitary changes at the High and Shaw schools.
A year ago the congestion at the Athens school was noted in your committee's report. Conditions are now worse. Twelve class rooms are in operation in this eleven-room build- ing, and most of these class rooms are greatly overcrowded. This building now houses at least one hundred more pupils than properly should attend, although it is only a few years since the four-room addition was placed thereon.
Further addition to the Athens structure is out of the question. The existing school house lot is not large enough to contain a second building. Some action should be taken. at the next town meeting toward securing an additional school house location in North Weymouth. A location below Bick- nell Square would be near the new growth, and as there is much vacant land in this vicinity, a reasonable opportunity to secure such a location might be expected.
The need for the additional housing is present, and it is for the town meeting to determine whether, and in what manner, this need shall be supplied. It is to be hoped that the citizens of North Weymouth will in this behalf exercise their right- ful and proper initiative.
In the summary of expenses for the past, and estimates for the current year, which follows, the item of fuel should be noted. The amount expended in 1917, $4,848.52, was not relatively small because coal was cheap, but because only a portion of the coal used in the year 1917 was purchased with the funds of that year. During 1918 not only nearly all the fuel used was purchased during the year, but also a consider- able future supply sufficient to carry most of the school buildings through the early months of 1919, until the advent of warm weather.
In normal times it has been the practice, as it has been
118
profitable, to lay in a year's supply of coal during the sum- mer months. During the past year of especially high prices it has been necessary to buy coal whenever any coal was in sight. The best information now is that coal will be some- what cheaper before many months.
The estimate for janitors is based upon the actual payroll today; that for instructors upon the present payroll, adopted immediately after the vote in town meeting last year, plus increases in similar proportion in cases where increases are to be expected, and the ordinary maximum rates have not been attained. There are now 82 instructors on the payroll of the town.
Expended
1918
Estimated for 1919
Superintendent
$2,433.36
$2,500.00
Instructors
64,888.25
70,000.00
Janitors
6,659.20
7,500.00
Fuel
10,612.54
7,000.00
Repairs
3,133.33
4,000.00
Water rent
490.66
500.00
Supplies
4,276.84
5,000.00
Miscellaneous
1,423.99
1,500.00
Transportation
3,013.56
5,000.00
Evening school
172.00
800.00
Totals
$97,103.73
$103,800.00
Respectfully submitted,
1
ELMER E. LEONARD,
SARAH S. HOWE,
EDWIN R. SAMPSON, FREDERICK D. NICHOLS, THERON L. TIRRELL, PRINCE H. TIRRELL.
119
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Members of the School Committee:
I herewith submit my tenth annual report, the same being the thirty-third in the series of annual reports of the super- intendents of this town.
As nearly ten years have passed since I took charge of the schools in Weymouth, it may be of interest to make a state- ment of present conditions together with a brief summary of the changes and improvements that have occurred.
The public schools of Weymouth are educating over twenty- seven hundred children, approximately one-fifth of the popu- lation of the town. Three hundred and fifty-seven are en- rolled in the High School and two thousand three hundred and forty-eight in the elementary grades.
ORGANIZATION.
The schools are organized on the basis of thirteen grades, nine in the elementary schools and four in the High School. According to the last State report, of the two hundred eigh- teen cities and towns maintaining high schools, seventy-seven have a thirteen grade system and one hundred and forty-one have a twelve grade system. Of the forty-four towns and cities in the State having from two hundred to five hundred pupils in their high schools, twenty-six have a system organ- ized on a thirteen year basis and eighteen have a system or- ganized on a twelve year basis.
ENTRANCE AGE.
The entrance age for pupils of the first grade is slightly under five years. Any child who becomes five before the first
120
of November may enter during the first two weeks of school. Only ten of the cities and towns maintaining a complete school system have as low an entrance age as Weymouth and only four of the twenty-six cities and towns with systems or- ganized like our own, have as low an entrance age.
BUILDINGS.
There are fifteen school buildings, five of brick of modern . construction and housing over two-thirds of the pupils; and ten small wooden buildings representing, with the exception of two four-room buildings, the oldest construction in the town.
The buildings fall naturally into groups according to the period in which they were built. The Adams, the Lincoln, and the Bicknell, which is no longer used for school purposes, were evidently built in the '60's, although I have been able to find no record to that effect. They are of the same general type and are excellent examples of two-room buildings. The rooms are large, airy, and have plenty of light.
The Hunt and the Franklin, built in '71 and '78 respective- ly, are of a more ornate type, well built but poorly designed. The rooms are too high, the windows few in number and small, the entrances obstructed by the arrangement of the coat-rooms and stair partitions. These buildings cost much money at the time they were built, and evidently were in- tended to be good examples of school architecture.
The Washington and Jefferson built in '87 and '89 are splendid types of what a building should be, with the single exception that they have no modern toilet arrangements.
During the four-year period extending from 1898 through 1902, three buildings were erected, the High School in 1898, the Shaw in 1900 and the Athens in 1902. These were all designed by the same architect and show a similarity of type. The High School and the Athens are of brick, the former hav- ing granite and the latter sandstone trimmings; the Shaw school is of wood. These buildings are in excellent physical condition. They have served the town well and will continue
121
to do so for many years to come. They were all equipped with the cremation system for toilets, a system which was considered excellent at the time, but which has proved cum- bersome and impracticable. In the Athens school modern toilets have been installed. The same change should be made in the other two buildings as soon as possible. The Athens school, originally a seven-room building, was enlarged in 1913 by the addition of two new wings, making it an eleven-room building.
In 1906 and 1907 two more buildings were erected, the Humphrey, a brick structure of eight rooms and the Pratt school, a wooden building of four rooms. The former is of excellent design and construction, but the latter, although of good design is poorly constructed and will always be a source of expense to the town.
Ten years later the New Hunt, an eight-room building, was completed, in 1916, and the Edward B. Nevin, a ten-room building, in 1918. These buildings naturally represent the best that can be offered in the way of comfort and conveni- ence, considering the amount of money spent on them. In comparison with the other buildings of the town the corri- dors and basements are particularly light and free from dark holes and corners.
A cut of the New Hunt and a cut and the floor-plans of the Edward B. Nevin are shown in this report.
The building of the past has been to a large degree the replacement of antiquated structures with such provision for additional accommodations as a moderate increase in the school population in the various parts of the town has- demanded. The building of the future of which there is immediate need will be for additional accommodations.
The High School is crowded. The hall, the basement and even the corridor used for the storage of chemicals and min- erals have been requisitioned for recitation purposes.
In the Athens school five hundred eighteen pupils are en- rolled, twenty-five per cent. more than can be safely accom- modated in the building. If dissatisfaction arises either re- garding the discipline or quality of work accomplished, the
1
122
principal and teachers should not be held responsible, as it is physically impossible to do standard work under the exist- ing conditions. Steps should be taken immediately to pro- vide a separate building for the primary grades.
CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS.
During the last ten years the curriculum has been greatly enriched. Sewing has been introduced for the girls of the seventh, eighth and ninth grades, and dressmaking for the girls in the High School. Manual training has been given to the boys of the corresponding grades, and a complete equip- ment of benches and tools has been purchased for all parts of the town. A special teacher has been employed to supervise home-gardens and to enlist the interest of the pupils in home economics, canning, and pig clubs. An agricultural depart- ment has been started in the High School, which offers at present a three-year course to students desiring to take up that line of work. Next year there will be a four-year course. Millinery has been taught for two years to the girls in the High School. The work of the business department has been greatly strengthened. Music has become a strong feature of the school work, particularly in the High School.
Medical inspection has been introduced, seven physicians being employed to visit the schools at weekly intervals.
With the exception of a few rooms in East Weymouth, all the buildings are now equipped with adjustable furniture.
UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS.
Many difficulties of an unusual character have arisen dur- ing the past year. The intense cold of January and Feb- ruary caused a postponement of the opening of the schools for two weeks at the beginning of the year and occasioned considerable damage by the freezing of pipes and fire ex- tinguishers. The shortage of coal through the winter and spring made it a question of extreme doubt whether the schools would be able to run from week to week. The epi-
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