USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1921 > Part 7
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20 Eleanor G. Fraher
9
24
Weymouth "
John T. A. & Theresa (Smith)
.
22 Richard A. Berchtold
1
4
4
2
May
3 |Eliza A. (Morgan) Harris
80|
2 18
, Mass.
Charles & Eliza A. (Bean)
4 Frances E. Bailey
14
5
8
Weymouth
4 George Washington Young
78| 2
5
Bethel, Me. Quincy
Hosea B. & Mary (Johnson)
6 James P. Stetson
69
11
Scituate
Pelig & Rachel (Pratt) Ancil & Eliza (Loud)
8|Ancil Burell
89
16
Weymouth
66
9 |Nelson W. Gardner
71
9 25
Plymouth Boston
Walter & Mary Herbert)
66
10|Minot. S. Mathewson
54 7 15
Weymouth "
`J. William & Myra C. (Welsh)
16|Catherine T. (Richards) Bates
85
1|17|
"
Nathaniel & Miriam C. (Hayden)
29| Audrey Quinn
2 14
"
Ralph T. & Ethel N. (Hersey)
June
5| Alberto M. Molisse
8| 6|17
"
Aneillo & Rosa (Emore)
5 Mary Foppiano
| 4
John A. & Mary (Shultz)
7 | Angelina W. (Bonney) White
93|
1|11
Taunton
Ezekel & Angelina (White)
7|Charles Atwood Belcher
62| 8| 9
Braintree
Elisha A. & Mary F. (French)
10|Patrick I. Kennedy
76| 2|21
Ireland
Luke & Ellen (Dahl)
21 |Charles E. Christensen
| 1| 6|11|
Weymouth
Neils & Elizabeth (Smith)
84
5 Mary E. Ellis
73 11
Samuel & Elizabeth (Lawrence)
9 Margaret L. Finch
16 4 13
James & Ann (Hayward)
16 |Rita Anna Hein
5|11|10
Edward W. & Nellie (Spillane)
24 |James Alias
"
Charles & Amelia (Hadded)
18 Alden Bradford
17 |Leon Howard Phinney, Jr.
22
Larne, Ireland Weymouth England New York City So. Scituate
Chester A. & Isabella M. (Mckenzie) William & Jane (Jones)
10|Caroline C. (Close) Close
2
"
Harry A. & Marion F. (Baldwin) Jared & Mercy (Day)
June 23|Edward E. Conathan
(35| 9|15| 70
24|Catherine (Kane) Cullen
66 27 | Mildred Frances (G'rdn'r) Tilden |34|
2|23
27|Rufus L. Osborne
69 77
70
6
9
9|Edward E. Orr
59 11:29
66 11 |John Q. A. Holbrook
79 1 27
66
14|John Francis Cushing
83 10 23 82
66
15 |Mary P. (West) Neal
5 20
66
17 |Belinda J. (Arnold) Ainslie
61
2 24
16|Lawrence E. Frazier
5
8
4
18 |John W. Connelly
66
3
8
18 |Joseph E. Ryan
52
2
8
21 |Stillborn (male)
66 22 Stephen Delorey
52
9|10
66 24 Mary A. (McInnis) Gilbert
61
6 3
66
24 |Judith E. (Damon) Richards
53
9 |22
25 |Edward J. Flannery
44
2 8
66
25 Mary A. (Bates) Ryder
84
5 19
6
27 Margaret (Glode) Massack 28 |John Coffey
74
12
Ernest & (- )
Daniel & - (Maloney)
Aug.
5 |Mary E. (Waters) Wilder
77
6
1
15 |Priscilla (Fillmore) Huston
70|
8
66
15 John R. Tufts
84|
9 27
John & Lucy (Russell) Ezra & Emily (Bates)
66
18|Nellie (Thompson) Shaw 21|Ellen (Callahan) : Wilson
78|
Edward & Bridget (Doherty)
88| 6|12
Johathan & Salome (Shaw)
45
7 3
Middleboro Ireland
Albert & Adelaide (
23 |Frances A. (Ogle) Lindsay
185|
6 3
William & Elizabeth (Johnson)
66 23|Stillborn (male)
Weymouth Ireland Weymouth Hingham Ireland " Abington Weymouth " " Fairhaven Scituate Weymouth Waverly, Ohio Ireland
Thomas & Hannah (Sullivan) John & Margaret (Joyce) Alfred W. & Grace (Raymond) Henry & Sarah (Humphrey) Maurice & Catherine (Keefe) Phillip & (- Nathaniel & Sarah (Seabury) Thomas & Mary A. (Bates) Ira & Mary (Pratt) John T. & Elizabeth (Derby) John & Jane D. (Spooner) Edward F. & (- -)
Vincent & Mary (Delorey) Raymond & Jane (Towner) John & Ellen (Ryan)
John & Mary (-
Nova Scotia Philadelphia, Penn. Cohasset Weymouth "
Simon & Annie (Bunvie)
- & Ann (Leavy) Horace -. & Mary F. (Whitcomb)
Edward & Mary (Cullen) John W. & Mary G. (Cook)
85
Germany Ireland Hingham River Philip, N. S. Cambridge
Daniel & Deborah (Lincoln)
Robey Fillmore & - (Weatherhead)
50|
7 23
Weymouth Ireland Weymouth
22 Annie Maria (Robbins) French 22|Mary E. (Pierce) Prichett
9
July 1 |John Sheehan 3 |Bridget (Timmons) Brown 6 |Helen C. (Rogers) Stevens
56|10|21
1 29
20 Mary Joseph (Noonan) Robichan|51)
85
DEATHS-Continued
Date
NAME
Y |M |D| PLACE OF BIRTH
NAME OF PARENTS
Aug. 30 |Joseph A. Baron
62
England
&
Sept. 2 |Albert Franklyn Damon
70
So. Scituate
Somomon L. & Lucinda (Damon)
66
7 |Lanorah (Fuller) Sanborn
93
1
8
Tilton & Hannah (Pike)
66
10 |Harry Coombs
29
2
1
66
15 |Bela P. French
75
5 11
Weymouth "
Bela & Lucy E. (Lovell) &
)
19 Harriet (Wright) Clarke
53
1 16
Leicester, England
Joseph & Sarah (Wardwell)
19 Cassius C. Merritt
72
6 27
Scituate
William O. & Johanna (-
)
20|Mary L. (Stickney) Orcutt
68
5 23
Abington Boston
Joseph & Mary A. (Alden)
22 | William Humphrey
69
5 27
William E. & Mary (Webb)
27 Mary A. Tracy
51
17
Weymouth
James & Ann (Swift)
29 Illegitimate 'female)
Oct.
2 |Hannah (Holliday) Pollard
48 10
8
Bradford, England & Sarah (Collison)
86|3| 3
Rye, N. H.
Hopley & Lydia (Foye) James Lewis & Eliza J. (Johnson)
66
8|B. Frank Monroe
71| 7|23
Halifax, Mass.
Charles & Madiline (Thialaw)
6.
14
Channell
1 hour
Nova Scotia Weymouth Ireland
Peter & Catherine (Gardner)
17 |Edward M. Pray
7|21
Weymouth
Lawrence E. & Agnes (Morley)
17|Ralph Hutchinson
1|30
Lester & Gladys (Jermyn)
21 |Maria (Vigneau) Tanguy
54
1 6
Nova Scotia
Edmund & Marion (Bouchie)
66
22 |Perez Webster Loud
69
22
Weymouth
John A. E. & Betsey (Vining) Freeman & Prudence (Hatch) Kinsman & Susan (Stoddard)
Nov.
7|Ellen M. (Goodman) Coyle
59
5|10
Boston Weymouth
8|Annie J. Lynch
62
1|26|
8 Timothy L. O'Brien
83
8| 4|
14|Charles H. Burrell
78
3|21
Hanwell, N. B. Weymouth
Martin & Catherine (Conley) Matthew & Jane (Flannery) Unknown Richmond & Eliza (Pierce)
86
10|Maurice Hatfield
196| 7| 7
Frank & Wilhelmina (McKeen)
16 | Michael Gorman
160| 7|11
30 Love Frances (Rob'son) Lawrence|86|11| 9
66
31 |Abbie (Chamberlain) Brant Stillborn (male)
83
7
Weymouth
14|Stillborn (male)
83
9 4
Wilton, Me. Boston
Frank & Lena (Gilday)
66
18 Eliza A. W. (Gurney) Tenney
3 |Lucy J. (Hopley) Stoddard
Nov. 16|Nancy P. (Reynolds) Paine 18 |Eliza A. (Torrey) Carter
90| 96 54
4|25 2
No. Bridgewater Weymouth
21 |Mary J. (McDonald) Desmond
22 Frederick Fuller McIntyre 25 Stillborn (male)
50
8 2
Isaac T. & Catherine (Sutherland)
66 26|Susan C. (Callaghan) Deegan
52 49
3 21 4 27
Melbourne, Australia Edward & Catherine (Guthrie) John G. & Jennie B. (Whitcomb)
Dec. 66
28 Susan J. (Lovell) Sprague 2|Elizabeth Mckay 2 |Louise (Webb) Wrightington
71
7
2
91
2 29
Marsine & Martha (Lane)
81
28
Weymouth Quincy Weymouth
John M. & Harriet C. (Newcomb)
|71
2 21
70
Thomas & Mary (-
59
00 00 00
Prince Edward Is.
Alexander & Mary (Mclellan)
66
17|Martha V. (Rawson) Cole 18 |Sarah (Dickey) Partridge 19 |Charles Herbert French 21 |Edward R. Burns
33
1|17
Weymouth Abington
Matthew & Katherine (O'Brien)
22 |Hannah M. (Lane) Dunn 23 |Stillborn (male)
52| 7| 8
Weymouth
Michael & Mary (Crowley)
23|Gertrude Sheehan
4 hours
Weymouth
Holland, Vt.
Thomas F. & Esther (O'Donnell) Harvet & Diana (Caswell)
DEATHS NOT RECORDED BEFORE
Jn.27,'18|Arthur B. Hurley Oct.4,'18 Thomas Francis Donovan Nv. 2,'18|Ernest B. Mowry
27| |16| 24 2 9 |22| 2| 6
Weymouth Braintree Malden
Simon R. & Mary (Levangie Thomas L. & Rose (Duffy) Charles B. & Susan (McClellan)
87
66
75| 9|14
Rawsonville, Vt. Stawaska, N. S.
John & (-
John W. & S. Ellen C. (Lovell)
66
|52| 3| 6|
5 Bigby, Nova Scotia
William & Louisa (William)
16 |Roderick James McNeil
88| 8
Weymouth Scotland Scituate
George G. &Mary A. (Jordan)
89
3
6
Daniel & Jacob (Scott)
66 9 |William F. Bartlett 11 |Marcus Eugene Wight
William & Mary (Phillips)
14 |Elizabeth F. (Croker) Friary
14 Floretta (Peters) Cossaboom
77| 8|17
Lowell & Lucy (Gale)
. |81|11|18
29 Mary G. (Rogers) Loud
Thomas & Nancy (Pike) Phillip & Nancy (Loud) Sidney, Nova Scotia John & Mary (Morrison) Boston, Mass.
7 26
27 | Russell B. Worster 28 |Stillborn (female)
Weymouth
88
TOWN CLERK'S SUMMARY STATISTICAL REPORT
Births, Marriages and Deaths recorded during the year 1921.
Births
The total unmber of births recorded was 270; males 139, fe- males 131.
The parentage of the children was as follows: Born in Weymouth 102, born in cities and towns other than Weymouth 257, born in foreign countries 176, unknown 5.
Number of births in each quarter of the year 75, 55, 75, 65.
Marriages
The total number of marriages recorded was 145.
Married in Weymouth 78; in other places 67.
Either party born in Weymouth 79; born in cities and towns other than Weymouth 150; born in foreign countries 61.
Number of marriages in each quarter of the year 34, 51, 29, 31.
Deaths
The total number of deaths recorded was 183; males 91, females 92; 78 of the decedents were born in Weymouth; 67 were born in cities and towns other than Weymouth and 38 were born in foreign countries.
Residents of Weymiuth who died elsewhere 42.
Number married 75; widowers 10; widows 38; single 60.
The ages of the decedents were 17 under 1 year; 7 from 1 to 5 years; 10 from 5 to 20 years; 20 from 20 to 50 years; 14 from 50 to 80 years; 34 over 80 years; 10 stillborn.
NOTE: The object in printing the registration of births, marriages and deaths is to afford an opportunity for correction of errors and omissions.
If any be noted, notice should be immediately sent to the Town Clerk in writing, giving the correct facts, that the records may be perfected and correct copies prepared for the State archives.
!
89
ELLECTION OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE SELECT- MEN FOR THE YEAR BEGINNING
SEPTEMBER 15, 1921.
Precinct One
Warden : J. Herbert Libbey, 183 North Street. Clerk: Marjorie F. Dunn, 76 Lovell Street.
Inspectors : Wilson E. Beane, 12 Pierce Ct; Marion F. Bailey, 12 Manomet Rd; Joshua H. Shaw; Edwin C. Donavan, 30 Lovell Street.
Ballot Box Officer : George W. Hunt, 46 Pearl Street; Constable John A. Carter, 89 North Street.
Deputy Warden: Herman O. Collyer, 16 Sea Street; Deputy Clerk, Jeremiah J. Dwyer, 60 Lovell Street. Deputy Inspectors : Irving W. Morgan, 48 Standish Rd; Thomas F. McCue, 24 Beals Street; Clarke S. Page, 163 North Street; Edward P. McNamara, 69 Neck Street.
Precinct Two
Warden: James Knox, 412 Broad Street; Clerk: George D. Bag- ley, 3 Laurel Street.
Inspectors: Frank K. Raymond, 38 Hill Street; Charles A. Spear 862 Commercial Street; Fred N. Bates. 845 Commercial Street; C. Bernard Mitchell, 626 Broad Street.
Ballot Box Officer: Arthur H. Pratt, 434 East Street; Constable: Albert J. Osgood, 42 Putnam Street.
Deputy Warden: Michael H. Coffey, 664 Commercial Street; Deputy Clerk, Ward F. Humphrey, 733 Commercial Street; George S. Simmons, 820 Commercial Street; James L. Lincoln, 67 Madison Street; Bartholemew J. Connell, 798 Commercial Street; Webster L. Prat, 143 Middle Street.
Precinct Three
Warden: William S. Wallace, 26 Summer Street; Clerk Jacob Dexheimer, 25 Hunt Street.
Inspectors: James A. Pray, 232 Washington Street; Charles Dwyer, Garfield Ave .; Frederick A. Sulis, 35 Phillips Street; John F. White, 7 Worster Terrace.
Ballot Box Officers: Charles W. Baker, 139 Washington Street; Constable : Thomas Fitzgerald, 68 Phillips Street.
Deputy Warden : George P. Niles, 84 Front Street; Deputy Clerk : Mark J. Garrity, 15 Clapp Street.
Deputy Inspectors: Frederick H. Hall, 150 Front Street; John J. O'Connor, 212 Front Street; John B. Whelan, 36 Common Street; Albert T. Atwood, 5 Baker Ave.
Precinct Four
Warden: Thomas H. Melville, 268 Main Street; Clerk: John W. Seabury, 298 Main Street.
90
Inspectors: Charles H. Lovell, 784 Pleasant Street; Hugh P. Martin, 678 Washington Street; Arthur B. Maynard, 909 Pleasant Street; John F. Kennedy, 30 Park Ave.
Ballot Box Officer : Willie F. Tirrell, 853 Washington Street; Constable: Willard F. Hall, 900 Front Street.
Deputy Warden: John W. Heffernan; Deputy Clerk: Ralph N. Griffin, 30 Highland Pl.
Deputy Inspectors : John P. Halloran, 171 Main Street; Lewis W. Callahan, 85 Mill Street; Thomas F. Moore, Main Street.
Precinct Five
Warden: Otis B. Torrey, 239 Pleasant Street; Clerk: JohnF. Welch, 14 Reed Ave.
Inspectors : George A. Benson, 45 Tower Ave .; Elmer E. Sar- gent, 630 Main Street; D. Frank Daly, 792 Main Street; Patrick J. Welch, 187 Union Street.
Ballot Box Officer: Elbert Ford, 768 Main Street, Constable: Joseph L. Brennan, 23 Central Street.
Deputy Warden: George H. Shaw, 270 Union Street; Deputy Clerk: John J. Santry, 214 Pond Street.
Deputy Inspectors: Kenneth L. Brennan, 98 Union Street; John Reidy, 49 Union Street; Nathaniel A. Thomas, 735 Main Street; Edwin L. Madden, 189 Central Street.
Prencinct Six
Warden: Charles E. Dunbar, 777 Broad Street; Clerk: James E. Lynch, 1046 Pleasant Street.
Inspectors: John H. Tobin, 48 Shawmut Street; Edward F. Cullen, 1109 Pleasant Street; Arthur M. Hawes, 41 Myrtle Street; Horace M. Randall. 297 Middle Street.
Ballot Box Officer : Edward F. Butler, 1027 Pleasant Street; Constable: Thomas A. Boyle.
Deputy Warden : Arthur L. Blanchard, 587 Broad Street; Deputy Clerk: George E. Cuniff.
Deputy Inspectors: Henry C. Pratt, 18 Cedar Street; Daniel Reidy Jr., 1060 Pleasant Street; Harry A. Belcher, 12 Myrtle Street; Albert R. Humphrey, 111 Hawthorne Street.
CLAYTON B. MERCHANT Town Clerk
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
1921
93
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
There are now in this town and have been for longer than a year last past more than three thousand pupils enrolled in our schools, and for whose proper training provision must be mode. This number will steadily increase. We have not at this time ade- quate means for the education of so many children. How this need may be met most efficiently and economically will be one of the problems to be solved by study and discussion before the next annual town meeting, and it is hoped, one of the matters which will be properly settled at the town meeting. We hope every citi- zen of the town will carefully read and consider the report of the Superintendent of Schools with its summary of the work done and the many suggestions of what remains to be done.
The pressure at the High School must presently be relieved if the school is to continue its work efficiently. Last September such a condition was made easier by the portable schoolhouse which can accomodate no more than seventy pupils. The main building is now overcrowded, every room, including the assembly hall, being constantly used. In September next the High School will have one hundred and fifty more enrollments than in September last. Your committee believe that the time has come to make adequate and permanent provision for a High School, which will within a year have more than six hundred members, and probably within five years closely approach a membership of eight hundred.
To that end an article will be placed in the town warrant un- der which appropriate action may be taken at the annual meeting. It is hoped that there will be such public interest in this article that the entire subject may have thorough discussion before the appropriation committee, and, when the time for action comes, that it will be taken with full understanding of all the in- cidental needs and obligations. Your committee believe an ad- ditional building at the High School is required, and so recommend, they also believe that the whole matter requires full public dis- cussion before the time of the annual meeting.
The improved sanitary conditions at the High School, made possible by the special appropriation of last summer, were greatly appreciated. Four other schools are in great need of similiar improvements, the Shaw, Washington, Jefferson and Franklin Schools. This need is most particularly felt in the first two nam- ed. Your committee feel that $4,500 ought to be allowed for such improvement during the current year, not enough to cover all the cases named, but certainly enough for two.
The other special appropriation of last summer, $6,000, was intended to cover the additional expense of the unexpectedly large increase in the incoming class. The larger part of this appropria- tion, $3,694, was paid for a portable schoolhouse, an exact dup- licate of the one completed in November of the previous year at North Weymouth, which has proved in use to be so satisfactory. These two buildings are true portable buildings, and as occasions arise, may be taken apart and erected elsewhere without material
94
damage or defacement. The balance of this appropriation was used in purchasing equipment, fuel, and in partly paying the salaries of the two additional teachers.
The Town Accountant's report contains the details of both these special appropriations.
The budget submitted is in the form now being used by the various towns in their reports for the Commonwealth.
We-expect the need of six additional teachers in the High School and one more teacher in the grades, and have so allowed in the estimate below.
The acquisition of the land at North Weymouth provides ex- cellent and ample grounds for future school development in that part of the town.
Expended
Estimated
Superintendent
$3.100.00
$3,100.00
Other General Salaries
1,344.70
1,300.00
Other General Expenses
653.94
540.00
Teachers' Salaries
110,778.06
118,500.00
Text Books and Supplies
7,611.30
7,000.00
Tuition
839.91
1,200.00
Transportation
8,973.70
9,500.00
Support of Truants
198.60
200.00
Janitors' Services
9,200.78
10,250.00
Fuel
9,689.28
9,000.00
Light
523.28
600.00
Plumbing-Special
2,497.00
4,500.00
Maint. Bldgs & Grounds
6,506.41
5,000.00
Water Rent
460.00
460.00
New Buildings Portable "High"
5,355.50
Other Expenses
1,027.43
1,000.00
Continuation School
3,883.15
1,720.00
Evening School
1,756.83
2,000.00
Americanization School
51.00
120.00
School Nurse
240.00
1,500.00
$174,690.87
$177.690.00
Respectfully Submitted
ELMER E. LEONARD
SARAH S. HOWE
EDWIN R. SAMPSON
JOHN P. HUNT .
FRANCIS W. REA
PRINCE H. TIRRELL
School Committee of Weymouth.
.
.
.
.
95
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Members of the School Committee:
I herewith submit my thirteenth annual report, the same being the thirty-sixth in the annual reports of the superintendent, of this town : -
THE CONTINUATION SCHOOL AND ITS GENERAL EFFECT UPON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
It is safe to presume that when the Continuation School law was passed in 1919, the purpose of that law was to provide ad- ditional schooling facilities for minors employed in factories, and not to force them out of employment altogether. The general effect however, as been to automatically raise the conmpulsory school age to sixteen. The factories do not now employ minors between four- teen and sixteen except in scattered instances.
In the year closing December 31, 1919, between two and three hundred different minors under sixteen were employed in various occupations in this town. The larger part of this number was em- ployed regularly. In the year closing December 31, 1921, only eighty-nine different minors were employed. Actually at the present time, only twenty-four of these are working and attend- ing the Continuation School one-half day per week.
We are therefore in the position of having a school well equip- ped but with very few pupils. At the beginning of September the amount of time devoted to this work was reduced to two days per week. Miss Alden is employed two days in the Continuation School, one day in teaching at the Hunt, and two days in sewing at the High School. Mr. Berry devotes three days to the Continu- ation School and follow-up work and two days to his regular work as principal of the Hunt School. The pupils who would ordinarily be in the Continuation School are now in the regular grades and have helped to increase the numbers in the upper grades to the extent that we are having difficulty in providing accomodations for them. This return of pupils between fourteen and sixteen to the regular schools is one of the reasons why we shall have so large a number in the High School in September and shall continue to have large classes to enter that institution in the future.
Every effort has been made to make the work profitable both to the pupil and to the employers, but with the present policy of the factories not to employ minors between fourteen and sixteen, there is absolutely no need of continuing the work. I strongly advise that it be discontinued in June or at an earlier date if necessary. If, however, the factories begin to employ these minors again, we shall be in the same condition as we were two years ago and it will be necessary to re-open the school.
The following figures, taken from the June registers, may be of interest :-
1
96
BOYS
GIRLS
Number between 14 and 15 -19 Number between 14 and 15-14
Number between 15 and 16
-46 Number between 15 and 16-41
Total number boys
65 Total number of girls -55
Number of non-residents
-13 Number of non-residents -10
Number of residents
-52 Number of residents -45
Per cent. attendance
95.2 Per cent. attendance 96.7
ARE WE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
This is the question which has been absorbing for some time the public attention and concerning which there is much confusion in the public mind. I doubt if anyone would quarrel with the statement that we as individuals get from life about what we put into it in intelligent thought and effort or that we as members of the community get from the School Department or any other department of the town, a fair return for what we put into them in active support or financial backing.
More money is being spent in this town today for roads, fire and police protection and the education of the children than would have been deemed possible or advisable a few years ago and yet I doubt if any would question the statement that this is a more de- sirable town in which to live than before such expenditures were undertaken. Money well spent is not wasted but brings a return either in kind or in added comfort, convenience and service. Money spent on good roads or adequate police and fire protection brings a direct return in convenience or safety. Money spent on education brings a return less immediately noticeable but none the less certain.
The children are our heritage from the past and our hostages for the future. Upon their proper training will depend not only their own success or failure but also the prosperity and develop- ment of the community in which they live. They are our chief asset and as such they should be preserved in health and mentally trained to fill the positions which they must occupy.
In every well-regulated family the children are the chief concern of the parents. Every sacrifice is made to give them the benefits which the parents may not have enjoyed. Every effort is made to preserve them, to protect them and make them able and fit to occupy positions of trust and responsibility.
In every well-regulated community the children should be the chief concern of the citizens, but are they? The very thing which we seek as individuals we lose sight of as members of a group. That which is everybody's business becomes nobody's business. The sacrifices which were a pleasure become a duty to be avoided wholly or in part. The interested effort, the striving for the welfare of the child deteriorates into a more or less perfunctory knowledge of school affairs and infrequent visits to the school, generally occasioned by trouble between teacher and pupil.
If the schools in this community or in any other community are to function properly, the same interest and care that surrounds the child in the home must follow the child into the school and guard him there. The children make the home, they are the reason for the existence of the school, they should command the best thought and effort of the community.
97
The schools are either a necessity or a luxury. If a necessity, they should rank as high as war, which is a purely destructive agency and which is costing three or four times what the schools cost. If a luxury, they should rank as high as tobacco, which is costing the people of this town annually three times the cost of the schools. And yet in the amiable age in which we live, no monitor stands at the shoulder of the man who purchases a cigar to remind him of this peculiar condition. If we could have for the schools next year an equal amount to that which will be spent in the town for candy and soft drinks, we should have more money than if we get the appropriation requested.
These observations are not made with the intention of criti- cising the past action of the town relative to the schools. The question is merely one of making existing conditions clear to the public. It has always been my experience that when the need became apparent the money was forthcoming. Finan- cially the town is perfectly well able to meet the needs of the schools. It would be a far better policy to meet them as they arise than to allow them to accumulate.
SCHOOL ACCOMODATIONS
Any consideration of school needs or any estimate of future expense for the school system must take into account the fact that on September next we shall be face to face with a serious problem in the matter of providing school accommodations. The population of the town has been increasing, not rapidly but steadily for more than ten years.
At North Weymouth we have a two room portable to supple- ment the Athens School, an eleven room building. At the High School, a two room portable was erected in August to provide for a part of the increase in that building. The new ten room building at South Weymouth is already overcrowded, the ninth grade being on part time. In East Weymouth with an enrollment of over nine hundred pupils there is one room in the Franklin School which may be used to accomodate any increase which may occur in that ward. In Weymouth Landing two rooms will be available if the Continuation School is abolished.
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