USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1876-1884 > Part 2
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" Repairs of Roads and Bridges,
2,500 00
" Town Officers,
700 00
" Printing, Stationery and Postage,
200 00
" Abatement of Taxes,
300 00
" Collection of Taxes and Discount,
350 00
" Interest on Ordinary Debt,
1,300 00
" Interest on Railroad Debt,
5,250 00
" Miscellaneous, 250 00
Total Town grant,
$17,650 00
Add amount of State tax (estimated),
1,820 00
County tax 66
1,524 00
Total estimated expense,
$20,994 00
Or, allowing for overlay $15.50 per $1,000 of the valuation of the Town.
24
LIST OF JURORS,
Presented for the consideration of the Town, to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting in March.
Turner Litchfield,
George W. Merritt,
Hatherly Merritt,
John Bradford,
Charles Damon,
Nathaniel Wade,
Albert Clapp,
Sumner O. Litchfield,
William C. Turner,
Freeman H. Gannett,
John L. Litchfield,
James Damon,
Joseph W. Morris,
Peter Murphy,
John B. Turner,
Joseph Bailey,
E. Parker Welch,
Galen Watson,
Asa J. Merritt,
Fenton W. Varney,
Charles O. Ellms,
Nathaniel J. Vinal,
Francis B. Lee,
William C. Bailey,
Harvey D. Northey,
Caleb Bates, 2d.
Franklin Damon, Alexander B. Anderson,
James C. Merritt,
Thomas O. Cole,
Edwin Young,
John B. Pierce,
Francis M. Litchfield.
GUIDE-BOARDS.
Several of them need repairing and painting. A new one is needed at the corner of Main and Charles streets ; also one at the corner of Main and Branch streets, and another at the corner of Branch and Willow streets.
THOMAS TILDEN, WM. H. LITCHFIELD, J. M. DAMON, Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor of Scituate.
SCITUATE, Feb. 2, 1875.
Charles M. Ferguson,
Cornelius Doherty,
Samuel H. Turner,
Job F. Curtis,
George W. Elliott,
25
ASSESSORS' DEPARTMENT.
VALUATION OF THE TOWN OF SCITUATE, MAY 1, 1874.
Real estate,
Personal estate,
$1,056,146 00 194,155 00
Total valuation of taxable property, $1,250,301 00
Number of polls, 657.
Number of acres of land taxed,
9,990
" houses 66
545
" horses 256
" COWS 66
255
66 66 " sheep 92
" children between 5 and 15 years of age, 461
66 . " persons between the ages of 18 and 45 years, liable to enrolment, 333
Tax on 657 polls, at $2, $1,314 00
$1,250.301, at $1.62 per $1,000, 20,254 87
Amount of assessment, $21,568 87
Valuation as compared with 1873.
Real estate, increase, $85,405 00
Personal estate, increase, 25,271 00
Total increase, $110,676 00
It is now fifteen years since the valuation of the Town was taken. The Assessors have spent more time than usual the present year in examination of property, and would recom- mend that a thorough examination of the whole property be made, as an act of justice to all concerned.
THOMAS TILDEN,
Assessors
WM. H. LITCHFIELD,
8
of
J. M. DAMON,
Scituate.
SCITUATE, Feb. 2, 1875.
26
REPORT.
The Directors respectfully submit to the stockholders this third annual report of the Duxbury and Cohasset Railroad Company for the twelve months ending September 30th, 1874.
Total amount paid for construction of road to September 30th, 1874, is as follows :-
Graduation and masonry,
$177,200 15
Bridging,
21,435 51
Superstructure, including rails,
159,541 78
Land, land damages, and fences,
48,843 80
Passenger and freight stations, wood-sheds, and water stations, 22,084 63
Engine-house, car-shed, and turn-table,
8,465 07
Engineering, agencies, and other expenses,
13,210 21
Telegraph,
1,596 79
$452,377 94
Of the amount above, there has been expended during the past year, in extending the road from South Duxbury to an intersection with the Old Colony Railroad at Kingston, the sum of $63,847.13, as follows : -
Graduation and masonry,
$39,724 51
Bridging,
608 68
Superstructure, including rails,
15,832 96
Land, land damages, and fences,
-
4,850 42
Engineering, agencies, etc.,
2,830 56
$63,847 13
27
It is estimated that the cost of completing the depots, fences, and side tracks on the extension, and settling the out- standing land claims, will not exceed $10,000; making the total cost of the road, $462,377.94.
The interest account will be a little over $5,000 per annum. During the past year, as will be seen by the following state- ment of income and expense, the earnings have been about equal to the operating expenses and interest on the debt.
It should be borne in mind, however, that the extension has increased the income without materially adding to the expenses, as nothing was charged in the expense account for keeping the track in adjustment, and that but very little in- terest has accrued on the money borrowed to complete the extension.
It should also be borne in mind that about five miles of the track, between Cohasset and South Duxbury, was laid with old rails, purchased at about two-thirds the cost of new. Some of these rails will have to be replaced during the com- ing year, which will add somewhat to the expense account.
Although this account includes the business of only about three months on the extension, still almost as many passen- gers are carried during those three months (July, August, and September) as during the remaining nine of the year.
While we cannot expect quite so good a result for the com- ing year, we believe that the South Shore will eventually become quite a resort for those who seek the sea-shore, and we may at least hope for an increase that will pay the oper ating expenses and interest on the debt, if not within a few years a small per cent. on the capital.
28
Statement of Income and Expense Account, Twelve Months ending Sept. 30, 1874. INCOME.
From Passengers,
$31,374 77
Freight,
6,706 19
" Expresses, 1,288 20
$39,369 16
EXPENSES.
PASSENGER DEPARTMENT.
Station Agents,
$2,146 56
Conductors and Brakemen,
2,519 48
Stationery and Blanks,
186 30
Train Baggage Masters,
1,447 00
Miscellaneous Items,
275 50
Use of Passenger Cars,
6,003 27
$12,578 11
MERCHANDISE DEPARTMENT.
Conductors and Brakemen,
$600 00
Merchandise Labor,
1,144 14
Damage to Merchandise,
100 00
Use of Merchandise Cars,
1,399 44
Stationery and Blanks,
3 50
$3,247 08
LOCOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT.
Use of Locomotives,
$5,785 02
Fuel, Coal,
3,992 65
Wood,
51 25
$9,828 92
MAINTENANCE OF WAY.
Repairs of Roads,
$8,553 94
Iron Rails,
508 65
Repairs of Bridges,
28 77
$9,091 36
29
GENERAL EXPENSES.
Clerks and Office Expenses,
$400 00
Treasurer and Office Expenses,
250 00
Miscellaneous Items,
39 05
Stationery and Blanks,
92 86
Advertising,
21 46
Repairs of Station Buildings,
431 04
State Commissioners,
20 00
Insurance,
225 00
Telegraphing,
26 65
$1,506 06
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Watchmen,
$458 37
Oil for Stations,
78 85
Cattle Killed,
22 00
$559 22
Income,
$39,369 16
Amount of Expenses,
36,810 75
Income after deducting Expenses,
$2,558 41
Interest on Bonds, Debt, etc.,
$3,406 02
Income after deducting Expenses,
2,558 41
Deficit,
$847 61
By order of the Directors, ONSLOW STEARNS,
President.
1
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK. Births Registered in Scituate during the Year 1874.
DATE OF BIRTH.
NAME OF CHILD.
NAME OF PARENTS.
MAIDEN NAME.
1834.
January 2 ..
Ida May Litchfield
Galen W. and Florence M.
Thomas and Emma ..
66
18.
William Cornelius Doherty
George and Charlotte .
22.
Frances Willis Whitcomb
George W. and Bethana E.
31.
Lucy Wallace Bailey .
James J. and Ellen M.
Febr'y 9 ..
Ellen Driscoll
Cornelius and Mary T.
66
9.
11.
Clara Willis Bellows .
16.
Charles James Ellms
20 ..
Ida May Harrub . .
Walter S. and Clara F. .
Caleb William Prouty
March 1 ...
Edith Clapp . . . .
1 .
James West Turner .
66
15.
John Bernard Cullen
15
James Cullen . . . .
April 3 ..
Elizabetlı Raymond.
Leonard and Betsey . .
6.
Mary Louisa Bates . .
Hiram and Louisa E. .
Alfred A. and Jane E ...
66
18
James Edward Hill.
Daniel E. and Jane M.
Edmund and Catherine
Charles W. and Abby B.
John and Delia. . . Henry and Emily S. .
Herbert James Young .
Charles H. and Mary T. M.
66
26.
14. · Isaac Magoon Nott .. Ellen Margaret Harris . .
Emma Boardman Litchfield
Harvey C. and Ann J. ..
John and Rosa . .
66
20.
Flora Gertrude Eldredge .
George W. and Lillis E ..
Orcutt. Trimm. Ward. Studley. Merritt. Gilboy. Damon.
Bates.
Damon.
· · Brown. Hodsdon. Albert and Mary A ... . . . . Packard. . James M. and Elizabeth W.
Patrick and Selina
Cottle. Maggs. 66
O'Heron. Wheelwright. Frasier. Jenkins. Fitzgerald. Merritt. Laughy. Dana. Harrub. Duffey. Quinell. Walls. Wade.
30
66 July 66
29 .. ·
10.
16.
James De Wire.
4.
May June 9. . ·
Ann Maria Landers. ... Clapp (male)
14 · ·
Honora Hubbard ...
George H. and Addie E. .
Henry L. and Lucy A.
26.
Malvina Hatch Litchfield
Joseph H. and Amanda M. ..
James L. 2d, and Louisa
10. Elmer Russell Seaverns .
.
Thomas and Nellie F. ..
5.
Rogers John Mann .
July August 2.
22. Cora Belle Fernald .. Mary Agnes Ward .. 6. . Margaret Elizabeth Burke
66 Sept. 66
17 .. 4. .
Elisha Francis Brown
George Mason Damon . . William R. and Mary F.
Bessie Gannett Hobson . Frank Alanson Damon .
. 12 .. .
13 ..
Henry Joseph Briggs . ·
Sarah Jane Ward ..
Nellie Maria Leach.
Charles Sumner Merritt.
Celestin Eugene Jelloes .
Meacham (male)
Charlotte Evangeline Leavitt.
Henry W. and Frances A.
John and Phebe.
George O. and Emeline
Frank N. and Priscilla J. .
Edwin A. and Eliza H. . Corthell.
Charles A. and Emily ..
Charles S. and Sarah L. .
Charles E. and Harriet A.
David S. and Mercy A.
Thomas B. C. and Joanna W.
Jesse W. and Eliza J. .
Richard S. and Harriet E.
Edmund Q. S. and Ella
Silas and Susan S.
Daniel and Margery .
Charles B. and Fostina D.
Henry and Mary A ..
Daniel, 2d, and Ellen.
John and Mary . . Langdon W. and Lydia M.
Simpson. Evans. Carroll. Brown. Bramhall. Birchmore. Brown. Brown. Devlin. Harmon. Clapp.
. Sweeney. Grow.
7 . . 21 .. 23.
27 ..
Nov. 10.
10. . 14.
28 ...
Dec. 66
8.
10.
13. . 14.
66
15
.
21.
1872.
Febr'y
17 .. 1873.
Jan. 30. June 22 ..
Sept. 30
Bryant N. and Henrietta C.
Hugh and Sarah A. . Martin and Margaret .. · Elisha J. and Henrietta F.
Andrew J. and Abby F ...
·
George H. and Harriet L.
.
George H. and Ada A.
. Jolin and Catherine . . .
Joseph W. and Lucy M. .
Cassius C. and Alice L.
Moses and Julia
Cola D. R. and Electa D.
John Sylvia Phillips ..
William Gaston Vinal ..
Arthur Noyes Coleman .
Herbert Stetson Turner.
Ella Gertrude Cole ...
Louis Holt Nutter . .
Percival Sanborn Brown Jenkins (female)
Orilla James Wade ...
Robert Christian Spooner
. Prouty. Archibald.
Taylor. Newcomb.
Rafferty. Coyle. Marsh.
Pettis.
Reed. Farren. Doane.
15 ..
17 ..
23 ..
October 1. 5.
Brown. Gomer. Merritt. Litchfield.
. · Bates. Holt. Sanborn. Randall. .
9. 10. . Joseph Stacy Gardner . Litchfield, (female)
Silas Augustus Newcomb . .
Maud Matilda Boyle .. Pratt (male)
Henry Herbert Mott
Michael Ward Alice Boylen . . . Stella May Cook
.
Marriages Recorded in Scituate during the Year 1874.
DATE OF MARRIAGE.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE AT TIME OF MARRIAGE.
AGE.
BY WHOM MARRIED.
1874.
Jan. 7.
Jeremiah McCarthy
Scituate .
35
By Rev. H. P. Smyth, at Weymouth.
Jan. 22.
Dennis O'Keefe .
Scituate
35
By Rev. Peter J. Leddy, at Weymouth.
Jan. 29.
Samuel W. Cook ..
66
54
By Rev. N. P. Gilman, at Scituate.
Mar. 22.
William P. Litchfield
Scituate
32
By Rev. Charles S. Nutter, at Scituate.
Mar. 31.
Jolın Sloane ..
E. Boston
53
at East Boston.
Apr. 16.
George W. Eldredge.
Boston .
21
By Rev. Wm. B. Greene, at Scituate.
Apr. 30.
George F. Cushing
By Rev. Wm. B. Greene, at Scituate.
May
1:
Royal J. Freeman.
30
Katharine H. Brown
21
May 31.
Daniel McCarty .
24
By Rev. Peter J. Leddy, at Scituate.
June 7.
George H. Hunt. .
Brockton
27
Emma A. Sylvester.
25
June 14.
Clarence H. Bisbee.
Scituate
19
By Rev. Charles S. Nutter, at Scituate.
June 16.
George H1. Lincoln
Cohasset .
26
Scituate
21
June 16.
William E. L. Dillaway .
Boston . .
22
Gertrude St. C. Eaton
Scituate
.
June 17. Daniel W. Taylor ...
21
66
20
·
.
.
.
21
Lizzie Bryant . ...
Cohasset .
40
Harriet D. Nightingale
56
By Rev. George Whitaker,
Annie W. Barnes . .
.
.
Scituate
18
Addie F. Newell .
19
· . .
·
·
. .
.
·
·
·
.
.
Amelia O. Jenkins.
22
.
By Rev. N. P. Gilman, at Scituate.
By Rev. A. W. Stevens, at Scituate. By Rev. T. S. Norton, at Scituate.
32
Lillis E. Wade ...
24
By Rev. Wm. B. Greene, at Scituate.
Helena Hickey. .
21
By Rev. Geo. A. Litchfield, at Scituate.
Lucy E. Marsh.
21
Mary J. St. C. Spurr .
Cohasset.
38
Catherine Queeney
Catherine O'Brien .
.
25
June 17. Richard S. Gardner
22
So. Scituate Scituate
17
June 21.
Thomas Donovan .
26
66
22
June 21.
Daniel W. Stoddard .
21
June 24.
Elijah P. Pratt . ..
27
Mary E. Rodriguez .
18
July 19.
Charles H. Hardwick
Cohasset. .
21
Eliza D. Vinal .
Scituate
21
Sept. 26.
John E. Ney.
Cohasset . .
23
Lois Litchfield
18
Oct. 6.
Lowell E. Smith
Scituate .
19
Annie F. Rogers
Needham
20
Oct. 30.
Seth A. Curtis .
So. Scituate.
22
Hattie S. Hatch .
18
Nov. 6.
Benjamin E. Stetson.
Scituate
30
So. Scituate
33
Dec. 13.
Joseph E. Geary .
Scituate .
21
Mary J. Bowditch.
18
Dec. 13.
Francis M. Damon
.
. .
.
20
Dec. 17.
Lorenzo Curtis . .
.
.
.
Fitchburg
22
Dec. 20.
Luther C. Litchfield
Scituate
24
Cohasset . .
17
1872.
Oct. 13.
James Sullivan .
Scituate
28
Catherine Butler
30
1873.
Jan. 28.
Thomas Patterson
49
Mary Comaskay.
Boston .
39
Nov. 27.
Edward Lynch . .
Hingham .
31
Mary A. Doherty .
Scituate
21
By Rev. T. S. Norton, at Scituate. By Rev. H. P. Smyth, at Scituate. By Rev. Chas. A. Cooke, at Scituate. By Rev. N. P. Gilman, at Scituate.
By Rev. Jonathan Tilson, at Hingham. By Rev. C. D. R. Meacham, at Scituate. By Rev. Moses Winch, at Needham. By Rev. Wm. B. Greene, at Scituate. By Rev. N. P. Gilman, at Scituate.
33
.
.
19
By Rev. Joseph Osgood, at Cohasset. By Rev. Joseph Osgood, at Cohasset.
Lucy J. Litchfield
. .
..
27
By Rev. W. W. Colburn, at Fitchburg. By Rev. T. S. Norton, at Cohasset.
By Rev. Peter J. Leddy, at Weymouth.
By Rev. Peter J. Leddy, at Weymouth. By Rev. H. P. Smyth, at Scituate.
.
Sarah E. Allen . .
21
.
. .
co
.
.
Mary F. Harris
Lucy E. Stevens
Hattie M. Bates. .
.
Harriet E. Taylor
Mary Hurley . .
Deaths Registered in Scituate during the Year 1874.
Maiden names denoted by a star (*).
DATE OF
NAMES.
DISEASE.
AGE.
PARENTS' NAMES, ETC.
DEATII.
Y.
M.
D.
January
6
Maria E. (Vinal*) Webb ...
Consumption
38
11
23
66
15
Catherine (Mahoney*) Supple . .
Old Age ·
85
. .
. .
18
Maria (Merritt*) Litchfield.
Dropsy ·
70
7
18
Wife of Paul Litchfield.
February
8
Anthony D. Martin.
Heart Disease
57
7
. .
Francis and Mary.
Paralysis.
79
·
·
66
24
James Quinn .
Disease of Brain ..
57
·
·
John and Hannah.
March
1
8
Charles D. Young .
Consumption .
41
8 00
6
William and Dolly S.
10
Congestion of Lungs . Jane S. Clark. .
68
9
Benjamin and Sally.
14
Charles J. Ellms.
Infantile .
. .
. .
27
Henry L. and Lucy A.
15
James Cullen .
Infantile
. .
. .
3h
Patrick and Selina.
66
31
Mary L. F. (Bryant*) Merritt ..
Cancer. .
44
.. .
1
Wife of Henry Merritt, 2d.
April 66
25
Emily Jenkins .
Old Age .
80
5
9
Calvin and Elizabeth.
May
1
Nathan Rogers. . .
Dropsy .
76
4
4
Isaiah and Hannah.
66
11
Charles F. Brown
Drowned. .
25
8
29
Joseph and Emily (died at Boston).
June
28
Charles R. Hayes
.
Meningitis .
1
8
2
Consumption .
26
1
6
Job and Betsey B.
July
21
Rebecca E. Hyland. ...
39
6
6
Isaiah and Deborah A.
August
6
Margaret (Carroll*) Burke.
. .
Scarlet Fever .
3
5
28 George O. and Emeline.
19 Francis M. Cook .
Dropsy . .
35
11
8
J. T. Freeman and Philenda (died at Boston).
23
Ella L. Vinal. .
Scarlet Fever
13
4
27
66
24
James T. Smith .
Cholera Infantum . .
.
10
15 James T. and Louisa (died at E. Boston). George O. and Èmeline.
·
.
. .
. .
Infantile .
.
:
. .
Albert and Mary A.
34
.
·
78
1
10
Joseph and Mercy.
25
Artemus Thorndike.
Disease of Stomach ..
62
. .
23
Israel and Mercy.
Charles R. and Laura A. (died at Cohasset).
29
Job HI. Vinal .
. .
·
·
Childbirth .
35
. .
Wife of Martin Burke.
18
Lewis C. Vinal. .
.
·
Thomas and Ruth.
15
Luther Stevens
Dennis and Maria.
26
Naney (Cummings*) Mann. Editli Clapp. .
Consumption .
64
.
.
28
Charles Brown . .
Disease of Brain
·
Consumption .
Wife of George H. Webb.
Richard and Mary.
1874.
1
August 31 Margaret E. Burke. September 8 Elmer R. Seaverns .
Infantile .. Cholera Infantum . .. . Typhoid Fever . · Softening of Brain . ..
67 69
9
6 Charles and Ellen.
66
24
Noah C. Bailey
66
27 5
Frederick Hammond. Joanna McCarty ·
Consumption . .
. . 79 38
2
7 Experience and Lettice. Timothy and Catherine. . .
Novemb'r 12 66
13
William C. Doherty Driscoll : .
Stillborn
. .
. .
. .
2 David S. and Mercy A.
Richard Supple .
Old Age
96
. .
. .
John and Catherine.
1856.
Sept.
26
Allen P. Young .
Whooping Cough ...
1
5
. .
Chas. D. and Amelia M. (died at Weymouth).
1867.
August
16
George H. Webb, Jr ..
2
16
> George H. and Maria E. (died at Dorchester).
Whole number of Births recorded during the year 1874, 61. Number of Births during the year, 57 - males 30; females, 27. Number of Marriages recorded, 30. Number of Marriage Certificates issued, 27.
Whole number of Deaths recorded, 40. Number of Deaths during the year, 36. Whole number of Dogs Licensed, 82. Amount received for same, $170.00.
JAMES L. MERRITT, Town Clerk.
35
· ·
. .
24 28
Martin and Margaret. Alfred A. and Jane E.
4
21
John Hayward
9 Ebenezer and Mercy.
1 Charles H. and Mary T. M.
Isaac M. Nott .
October
9
Mary McCarty ..
Consumption
26
. .
Timothy and Catherine.
Chronic Diarrhea . . .
. .
9
· 25 George and Charlotte. Patrick and Mary A.
66 27 December 8
Jenkins
Infantile
·
18
.
·
.
3 8 Cholera Infantum . . . . Disease of Brain. .. .
1
A
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE,
1875.
BOSTON : PRINTED BY J. FRANK. FARMER, 21 SCHOOL, AND 75 DEVONSHIRE STREETS. 1875.
REPORT.
In accordance with the law of the Commonwealth the School Committee of the Town of Scituate hereby submit their Annual Report for 1874-75.
It is certainly a fact that the School Committee of this town are charged with the most important duty entrusted by the Town to any of its officers. The total expense of carry- ing on your schools, including the pay of teachers, fuel and its preparation, the making of fires and care of school-rooms, repairs of school-houses, salaries of committee, printing, and incidentals, amounts to nearly one-fourth of the entire ex- penses of the town. One item only, on your annual list of expenses, exceeds the item of school expenses ; and the Inter- est on the Railroad Debt is an extraordinary item, and is not a part of the ordinary annual expenditures of a New Eng- land Town. We are entrusted, therefore, with the largest annual appropriation, not of an exceptional kind, made by you. We realize the importance of a wise and economical use of the funds entrusted to us. But the importance of the public schools on account of their cost is as nothing to their importance on account of their present and future influence upon the welfare of the town. In this age knowledge is power, and education is wealth. The public schools are a most efficient agent in increasing the wealth of any town, since they increase the value of the work of every man and every woman, who, as children, have come under their influence. No one needs to be convinced of the fact that the real wealth of a town consists in the amount of skilled labor be- longing to it; the difference between unskilled and skilled labor is a difference originating in the knowledge imparted
4
by our common schools. The direct influence of the schools upon the wealth of a town is naturally the first considera- tion with those who have to pay for their support. Their indirect influence is a consideration no less important. In these United States we all recognize the fact that the public school is the most efficient public police, preventing crime by raising up men and women to whose characters it neces- sarily gives a tendency to industry and sobriety. To a community where the public schools are well kept and flour- ishing, parents, about to change their residence, are attracted. The population and the valuation of the town are increased by these additions, and it retains those of its own citizens who might be induced to move away by superior advantages in other towns.
To reap the advantages of a good school system, we know that the schools must keep up with the times. Every- where in our large towns and cities the methods of education have been very greatly improved within the last twenty- five years ; the apparatus of education has been very greatly increased. The words, "a good common school education," mean much more now than they did twenty-five years ago. They mean that the amount of knowledge given shall be greater, and that it shall be imparted in a more natural, effective and attractive manner.
Your School Committee see no reason why the advance made in enterprising towns all around us should not be imi- tated here ; we see no good reason for remaining a genera- tion behind the age. Our schools must be kept after some fashion. It is for our profit and reputation that they be well kept. Poor schools are expensive and wasteful. Good schools are expensive and profitable. Representing your interests in this matter, we are glad that the town has taken the most decided step possible in the improvement of its schools. The change from mixed district schools to graded schools has already done much good ; it is destined, we be- lieve, to be of still greater benefit hereafter. We have con-
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sidered that this change was made, on your part, after due deliberation, and with a resolution to have your schools graded as they should be.
The change from the district system to the graded system requires several years to show its true results. This will be evident when we say that the present First Classes in our Pri- mary Schools are the first classes in order of time which have had the full benefit of the change. In the Grammar Schools the same is true. The work of the past year has been to give effect more completely to the change which you determined upon, three years ago -to make the graded system something more than a mere name among us. At the last annual meeting no vote was passed by the Town to authorize the Committee to choose a Superintendent of Public Schools. We have, however, believed it to be in the high- est degree advantageous to have some one person charged with the special oversight of the schools. The Division of Labor is not a principle that works well in the superinten- dence of our schools. They will be much better attended to, when one person is chosen because he is supposed to be capable, is given large powers and duties, and is held to a stricter responsibility than are the rest of the Committee. At the beginning of the past school year the Committee chose one of their number a Sub-Committee on visiting schools, with the understanding that his duties should be those of a Superintendent in effect, though not in name. His report to us is herewith submitted.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH O. COLE, Chairman. C. W. PROUTY, Secretary. A. J. WATERMAN. H. A. SEAVERNS. EDWARD JAMES. N. P. GILMAN.
SCITUATE, March 1, 1875.
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REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE : - I hereby sub- mit to you my report of the schools of this town, on which I was, last spring, appointed by you a sub-committee on visiting and superintendence. With your permission, I will take a brief view of our educational situation.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
We have in Scituate ten school buildings, which, under the system abandoned by the town three years ago, were the school-houses of the ten districts into which the town' was divided. Under the new graded system these buildings are now used for the ten Primary Schools. Though, on account of the necessary decrease in the number of scholars in each dis- trict, these buildings are, as a rule, larger than they need to be, and though, in other respects, they show that they were not built especially for Primary Schools, there is no need, that I can perceive, of any particular alterations.
They are tolerably well adapted to our present purposes, and only need to be kept in good repair. The kind of desk at which a scholar sits is of little importance when compared with the books he studies, and with the teacher from whom he learns. At the last annual meeting of the town, a Super- intendent of Public Buildings was appointed. He has taken the entire charge of the repairs needed in the various school- houses, relieving you from the annoyance of attending to many very small details. I hope that the same plan, which has been found to work so well this year, will be adhered to next year. Under Mr. Edwin Young's direction all the Primary School-houses have been whitewashed, and such interior painting done as was needed. The money spent in this direction has been very well spent, and a great improve- ment has been made in the interior of several of the schools. I would recommend that, before the beginning of the next
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school year, the blackboards in the Primary Schools be put in good condition. In some of the schools they are quite unfit for their purposes.
The curtains and the stoves also need attention in a few buildings.
The West Grammar School-house, being the last built, is, of course, the most creditable to the town, and the best adapted for school uses, of all our school buildings. Some additional blackboard needs to be put in, and a few other un- important improvements made. It is to be regretted that the East Grammar School has not a room equal in attractive- ness and convenience to that occupied by the West Grammar School. I suggest for your consideration the subject of some improvements which would make it more inviting to teacher and scholars. The large stove, formerly used in the Town Hall, has been set up in this room. and no difficulty is now experienced in heating it. The greatest change has been made in the room, which, unfortunately, must serve the double purpose of a High School room, and a Town Hall. It is well adapted for neither use, being too large for the one, and too small for the other. The Superintendent of Public Build- ings has, however, with taste and skill, made it a more con- venient and pleasant school-room. Painting and papering have been done, new stoves render it possible to keep the room warm in severe weather, and a movable partition im- proves the appearance of the room, while making the build- ing easier to heat and easier to speak in. The facilities for ventilation, in all our school-rooms, are not too great; but they would answer well if all the teachers were sufficiently aware of the value of good air and the evils of bad air.
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