USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1885-1891 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
abatement of taxes 200 00
printing, stationery, and postage-stamps 150 00
miscellaneous . 650 00
collection of taxes and discount 750 00
completion of repairs on Pond street . 200 00
repairs of public buildings 250 00
interest on debt
3,150 00
Total Town grant . $16,750 00
Add amount of State tax (estimated) 1,560 00
Add amount of County tax (estimated) 1,400 00
Total estimated expense
$19,710 00
GUIDE-BOARDS.
The guide-boards throughout the town remain about the same as last year.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. H. LITCHFIELD, H. H. NORTHEY, JOB VINAL, Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor of Scituate. January 1, 1885.
30
LIST OF JURORS,
PRESENTED FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE TOWN, TO BE ACTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, TO BE HELD IN MARCH, 1885 :
Alfred A. Seaverns,
Charles F. Clapp,
Nicholas Wherity, Otis Litchfield,
George W. Merritt,
E. Foster Peirce,
John E. O. Prouty,
Hosea B. Mott,
Thomas Tilden,
Hatherly Merritt, James Edson,
Fenton W. Varney,
George W. Elliott,
Charles E. Bailey,
Charles M. Ferguson,
Joseph Bailey, William Stoddard, John L. Manson, Jetson Wade,
Henry T. Otis, James Damon, James B. Totman, Hosea V. Orcutt, Marshall Litchfield, Jr., Job Vinal, Charles T. Chubuck,
Francis B. Lee,
Charles H. Mitchell,
Henry Young, Nathaniel J. Vinal,
Henry Merritt, Alexander Anderson,
George H. Damon, James C. Merritt, Israel C. Dalby,
Silas Newcomb, Lovell B. Lincoln,
Harvey D. Northey.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. H. LITCHFIELD, H. H. NORTHEY, JOB VINAL,
Selectmen of Scituate.
TRUST FUNDS.
The Selectmen have paid, from interest accrued on the Jen- kins and Thomas funds, to the following-named persons : -
Susan M. Otis .
$34 00
Mahala T. Vinal
29 00
Mary S. Bouve
24 00
Julietta Thorndike
15 00
Eliza A. Otis
13 00
Amount
$115 00
WM. H. LITCHFIELD, H. H. NORTHEY, JOB VINAL,
Trustees.
ASSESSORS' DEPARTMENT.
VALUATION OF THE TOWN OF SCITUATE, MAY 1, 1884.
Real estate . . $1,258,590 00
Personal estate
139,645 00
Total value of taxable property
. $1,398,235 00
Number of polls 629
of acres of land .
9,734
of horses taxed
335
of cows taxed
263
of sheep taxed
44
of houses .
638
Tax on 629 polls, at $2 .
$1,258 00
Tax on $1,398,235 at $15 per $1,000. 20,973 52
$22,231 52
TOTAL VALUATION COMPARED WITH 1884.
Real estate increase
$50,045 00
Personal estate increase 14,585 00
Total increase .
$64,630 00
WM. H. LITCHFIELD, H. H. NORTHEY, JOB VINAL,
Assessors of Scituate.
ARTICLES IN WARRANT
For Town Meeting, March 2, 1885.
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting. ART. 2. To hear the report of the Selectmen and other town officers, and act thereon.
ART. 3. To choose all necessary town officers for the year ensuing.
ART. 4. To see what sums of money the town will raise for the support of schools, repairs of roads and bridges, support of poor, and other necessary charges for the current year, and appropriate the same.
ART. 5. To establish the rate of wages for removing snow from the public highways for the current year.
ART. 6. To revise and accept the list of jurors, as prepared by the Selectmen.
ART. 7. To see if the town will authorize the Overseers of the Poor to contract, at their discretion, for the support of the town paupers.
ART. 8. To see if the town will authorize their Treasurer to borrow money, under the direction of the Select- men, in anticipation of taxes.
ART. 9. To see if the town will cause a statement of their financial report to be printed and distributed in the month of February next.
34
ART. 10. To hear the report of any committee heretofore chosen, or act thereon.
ART. 11. To make allowances to town creditors.
.
ART. 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of fifty dollars, to be expended under the direction of Post 31, G.A.R., on Memorial day.
ART. 13. To see if the town will provide means for having snow-ploughs, run " when necessary," to make walks for school children and others.
ART. 14. To see if the town will allow a discount on all taxes paid on or before the first day of Novem' _; next, or act thereon.
ART. 15. To ballot upon the question of granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the town ; ballots to be " Yes," or "No," in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in this town?"
ART. 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate and expend a sum of money sufficient to complete the repairs on Pond street, during the ensuing year, according to the specifications of the County Com- missioners.
Alfr. 17. To see if the town will provide a suitable building for a lock-up, or act thereon.
REPORT
OF THE
TOWN CLERK,
1884.
1
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN SCITUATE DURING THE YEAR 1884.
DATE.
NAME OF CHILD,
PARENTS' NAMES.
MAIDEN NAME.
January
8,
Margaret Curran,
John and Barbara,
February
1,
Laurietta Josephine Ward,
Daniel and Kate, Wm. P. and Sarah M.,
Loonan. Mulcurn. Stickle.
6
3,
Frederick James Hunt, 2 twins,
Wm. W. and Julietta F.,
Briggs.
March
16,
John Melzar Vinal,
Melzar and Rosanna,
Hines.
36
26,
Ritchie Snow Maddock,
Thomas J. and Florence M.,
Cushman.
Graham.
April
16,
Elsie Louise Stoddard,
Allen.
66
27.
Hosea Dexter Hyland, Frankie Ward,
Daniel and Nellie, Joseph T. and Martha,
January
11.
Martha Atwood Gardner,
May
16,
Lester Davis Hobson,
June
17,
Jane O'Connor, .
29,
Florence Bates Lincoln,
July
8,
Margaret Geneva Flynn, Kate Welch,
Merritt. Ford. Quinn. Whitcomb.
August 66
28,
Jesse Delano Cushman,
Mary Francis Litchfield,
-. Ellis,
Joseph and Mary, John and Mary, Eugene and Emily C., Cassius E. and Mary N., Everett H. E. and Annie, Henry L. and Lucy A.,
Dryden. Linnehan. Damon.
September 22, 66
26,
John A. and Lena A., Dudley and Mary A., Lovell B. and Mercie T.,
Taylor. Carter. Gill.
18,
13,
Fuller,
Thaddeus G. and Julia E.,
Brumbraum. Reid.
May
7,
28,
Margaret Jane O'Neil,
Christopher and Jennie, Daniel W. and Sarah E.,
2,
William Stickle Richardson,
3,
James Frederick Hunt, j
October 3, Sarah Agnes Cullen, 13. 16, 19, George Anthony Emerson, Ibelle Frances Mott, Florence Maria Turner, Maggie Barber, Belva Cleveland Merritt, December 13, George Fenton Varney, Nina Howland,
November 1, 5,
1882. May 1883. July June
19, 28,
John Ford Smith,
2,
29.
Alonzo Austin Pratt, Lillie Thomas,
Patrick and Selina M , George and Ella A., Charles H. and Lydia T., Charles N. and Christiana, Marcus N. and Maggie, Billings H. and Amelia L.,
Fenton W. and Ella F.,
Louis K. F. and Sarah E.,
John H. and Floretta C.,
Alonzo A. and Annie, John and Louisa,
Meggs. Jenkins. Chubuck. Louer. Faloon. Marsh. Cushing. Prouty.
Bates.
Gibby. Vargus.
37
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN SCITUATE FOR THE YEAR 1884.
DATE.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE OF EACH AT TIME OF MARRIAGE.
AGE.
BY WHOM MARRIED.
Thomas John Maddock,
Scituate,
25
Rev. L. P. Causey, Scituate.
January 10,
Florence Mabel Cushman,
Scituate,
18
Edmond Landers, Jr.,
Scituate,
27
20,
Annie Laurietta Mitchell,
Scituate,
20
Charles Nichols Turner,
Scituate,
24
Rev. Joseph Osgood, Cohasset.
20,
Christine Louer,
Scituate,
24
February 11,
Grace Greenwood Studley,
Scituate,
19
14,
Ellen Quill,
Cambridge,
33
March
6,
Adeline Leavitt Carter,
Scituate,
19
E. Weymouth,
23
66
21.
Susie Ella Randall,
Scituate,
19
Scituate,
23
April
18,
Mary Charlotte Mott,
Scituate,
21
Clifton Franklin Davis,
Boston,
21
24,
Dora Belle Peavy Blatchford,
Scituate,
23
Rev. N. Seaver, Jr., Scituate.
38
Edward Herbert Newcomb,
Boston,
27
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, No. Scituate.
James Dewire,
Scituate,
35
Rev. Wm. Orr, Cambridge.
Thomas Jefferson Newcomb,
Scituate,
43
Rev. Joseph Osgood, Cohasset.
Willis Rogers,
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, No. Scituate.
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, No. Scituate.
Alfred James Clapp,
Gerald Fagan, Hingham.
April 24,
Walter Eugene Bailey, Alice Lawrence Pratt, Wilson Everett Webb,
May
1,
Mary Augusta Smith,
66
8,
Nellie Harris (Duffee),
Scituate,
30
Scituate,
26
June
25,
Minnie Stella Pegram,
Scituate, 25
Scituate,
24
July
2,
Ellen Maria Bailey,
Scituate,
22
Marshfield,
26
August 2,
Hattie Hooper Taylor (Gardner),
Scituate,
24
Scituate,
22
Scituate,
22
Scituate,
24
Rev. J. B. Smith, Scituate.
39
66
7,
Amalia Merritt,
So. Scituate,
22
Cohasset, 21 -
Rev. Joseph Osgood, Cohasset.
6:
14,
Marianna Vargus,
Scituate,
16
24,
Henrietta Margaret Brown,
Stephen Otis Jacobs, jr.
Hanover,
29
66
24,
Emeline A. Litchfield,
Scituate,
23
Scituate,
23
25,
1 Carrie Mabel Davie,
Thomas Otis Jenkins,
Scituate,
27
27,
Laura Ann Sylvester (Osborne),
Scituate,
37
Rev. Charles Conklin, Chelsea. 29
Chelsea,
29
Scituate, 25
Rev. A. E. Woodsum, Rockland.
Rockland, 18
Scituate,
34
Gerald Fagan, Hingham.
Rev. Joseph Osgood, Cohasset.
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, No. Scituate.
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, No. Scituate.
Rev. II. J. Mulligan, Hingham.
October 26,
Annie Walls,
William Arthur Vickery,
December 2,
Maggie E. Stewart,
Charlestown, 21
Scituate,
24
Rev. W. H. Fish, So. Scituate.
Herbert Everett Webb,
Daniel Pool Arnold,
Charles Sumner Tilden,
Marshfield,
24
Rev. Ebenezer Alden, Marshfield.
Scituate, 19
Rev. T. W. Sheppard, No. Scituate.
Rev. J. W. Savage, Cohasset.
George Thomas Otis,
Scituate. 23
Rev. Wm. H. Fish, So. Scituate.
George Henry McDonald,
Ferdinand John Fabian,
George Bailey Vinal,
Nelson Thomas Bailey,
William Duffey,
Scituate,
DEATHS REGISTERED IN SCITUATE DURING THE YEAR 1884.
AGE.
PARENTS' NAMES.
DATE.
NAMES.
DISEASE.
Years.
Mos.
Days.
Jan. 12,
George Herbert Vinal
Tuberculosis Pulmonalis,
25
5
Martha Atwood Gardner,
Infantile,
Feb.
4,
James Frederick Hunt,
Premature Birth, 66
-
7
22,
Phillip Cogan,
Jaundice,
56
-
Mar.
4,
Elizabeth M. Taylor,
Bronchitis,
9
20
Heart Disease,
23
8
Dropsy,
74
11
Wm. H. and Annie A.
66
5,
Helen Thomas Jones,
Paralysis,
65
8
15
Geo. W. and Sybil Stetson.
7,
Joseph N. Bates,
Pyæmia,
70
1
18
John and Sally.
9,
Levinia F. Wilson,
Apoplexy,
76
8
11
Daniel and Nancy Hatch.
May
2,
Daniel Hill,
Dropsy.
42
4
Homer and Lydia.
Measles,
7
11
17
Waldo F. & Georgianna H.
Bright's Disease,
64
6
29
Christian and Sinna.
66
28,
John William Bailey,
Gun-shot Wound,
41
7
6 Edwin. and Margaret.
June
7,
Olive Hixon Lee,
Paralysis,
64
9
2
22
John and Elizabeth.
July
1,
Joseph Shurtleff Drew,
Gangrene,
69
3
1
-
Lazarus and Beersheba.
40
6.
24.
Mary Ann Dixon, May D. Sampson.
Noma,
-
7
11
April
2,
-
- Boyd.
11,
Lucy Merritt,
Disease of Heart,
63
3
Daniel and Elizabeth.
8,
Alfred Homer Studley,
Lung Trouble,
12,
Gertrude Evans Bates,
18,
Andrew Peter Trommer,
Ebenezer and Sarah Fisher.
Membranous Croup,
1
16,
-
Louie Bradford Weatherbee,
Geo. G. and Martha F. Jos. F. and Martha. Wm. W. and Julietta.
10,
Frederick James Hunt,
6
17,
6h
.
Katie A. Ward,
Chas. A. and Hannah E. Pat'k and Barbara Mulkern. Wainman.
59
-
July
6, 26,
Lydia Foster Bailey, Hannah Eliza'th B.Cushing, Frank Herbert Brooks,
August 3, 14,
Herbert D. Stafford,
17,
Sophia Peirce, Noah B. Nichols,
83
7
15
Mary Brown,
68
3
14
Thos. and Mary Sherman. Lewis and Lucy.
Liba Studley,
76
10
3
Sept.
28, 2, 3,
11,
Arletta B. Lovejoy,
16,
Hannah Paine,
Old Age,
79
9
6
Still-born,
Cholera-Infantum,
10
5
John and Hannah.
Oct.
27, 8,
13,
Mary Lizette Wills,
Paralysis Heart,
17
2
26
Wm. and Fannie D.
Inflammation of Stomach.
83
8
-
13, 17,
Frances Maria Chubuck,
Dropsy,
53
1
5
Barnard & Eliza Litchfield.
Lydia Foster Vinal,
Inanitian,
29
1
13
Nathaniel and Maria W.
17
19,
Jacob Cook Newcomb,
Paralysis,
72
1
26
Silas and Ruth.
Old Age,
85
21
Simeon and Rachel.
Old Age,
86
2
18
Nehemiah & Sarah Merritt,
Disease of Heart,
55
10
21
Chas. and Eliza H. Ewell.
Nov.
8, 9.
Russell Cook,
Cerebrites,
74
6
18
Benjamin and Abigail.
Inflammation of Bowels, Asthma.
49
10
25
John and Rebecca Sprague.
Peritonitis,
22
3
Patrick and Mary A.
Marasmus,
2
Geo. and Ella A.
Still-born,
Consumption,
22
4
26
Andrew P. and Katrina M.
Christine Petrea Trommer,
Paralysis,
88
2
26 16
29
10
16 14
4
-
1
93
3
23
Jotham and Margaret Wade. Jos. W. & Mandana Morris. E. Frank and Elizabeth. Norman M. and Celia M. John and Judith Briggs. Noah and Betha.
Puerperal Fever, Typhoid Pneumonia, Typhoid Fever, Old Age, Typhoid Fever, Consumption,
Old Age,
87
Convulsions,
1
1
22
Jonathan & Sarah Brown.
Sarah Welch,
11 James A. and Alice V.
Davis and Susanna Mellin.
Wm. L. and Emma F.
- Cushing,
Mary Ellen Fowley,
Allen Clapp,
41
21,
24,
Sophia Litchfield,
Sarah Eliza Damon,
85
4
Reuben and Lydia Damon.
18,
Lydia Clapp,
Marion M. Prouty,
Dec.
25, 11, 13,
Mary Ann Driscoll,
George Anthony Emerson,
Otis H. and Sarah A.
17, - Longfellow,
21,
Reuben Collins Bates,
-
Alexander and Betha.
25,
THE FOLLOWING WERE BROUGHT TO TOWN FOR INTERMENT.
AGE.
PLACE OF DEATH.
DATE.
NAME.
DISEASE.
Years.
Mos.
Days.
Feb. 22,
Tumor of Brain, Apoplexy, Epilepsy,
61
6
15
Hingham.
42
-
50
Lawrence.
May 23, 1870,
Consumption, Inanition,
-
Boston.
July 21, 1884,
James F. Conwell,
1
So. Scituate.
Aug. 13,
Christianna Litchfield, Sarah A. Koop, William Henry Jenkins, Nellie J. Damon,
Gastritis, Nephritis,
22
6
So. Boston. Boston.
Oct.
25,
Pneumonia,
47
6
Congestion of Brain,
75
6
Boston.
Nov. 9,
Phthisis Pulmonalis,
1
1
19
Cohasset.
Acute Meningitis,
-
3
11
Cohasset.
Urinary Disease,
49
1
-
Newport Hospital.
OMITTED.
March 5, 1883
Thomas O'Neil,
Infantile,
-
-
2
Dec. 30, 1884
Sarah A. Simmons,
Pneumonia,
72
5
15
Son of Christopher and Jennie. Died at Boston.
April 7, 17,
Francis H. Clapp, Oliver Hyland, Thomas R. P. Nash, Rhoda A. Ilayden, Lucy V. Clapp, Edith May Doten,
24
-
Boston.
March 16,
-
2
Boston.
Sept. 6,
27
Somerville.
Sept. 2,
66
9,
65
Eastchester, N. Y.
42
90
Cohasset.
25,
28.
Charles E. La Gallee, Ira Litchfield, Frederick Silvia,
Mary F. Rhoderick, John Harris,
11,
29, 66
Taunton.
43
SUMMARY.
Whole number of births during the year 1884
29
Males . 13
Females . . 16
Whole number of births recorded in 1884. 32
Number of marriages recorded
23
Number of marriage certificates issued .
22
. Number of deaths in Scituate during the year . 48
Males 19
Females 29
Whole number recorded during the year . 67
Of those who died in town, twelve were under ten years ; two between ten and twenty; six between twenty and thirty ; none between thirty and forty ; three between forty and fifty ; four between fifty and sixty ; six between sixty and seventy ; seven between seventy and eighty ; seven between eighty and ninety ; and one over ninety. Average age, 45 years, 3 months, 22 days.
Seventeen bodies were brought to town for interment.
Number of dogs licensed during the year 1884 119
Amount received for same $268
CHAS. E. BAILEY,
Town Clerk.
SCITUATE, Dec. 31, 1884.
1
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE,
FOR THE YEAR 1884.
SCITUATE : PRESS OF THE SOUTH SHORE HERALD. 1885.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In compliance with the statutes, and in accordance with previous custom, we submit our annual report.
At the commencement of the year the committee organized by the choice of Charles E. Bailey, chair- man, and Mrs. Julia E. Webb, secretary. We are aware that these school reports must necessarily be somewhat of a repetition of reports in former years, and that they furnish but the briefest notice of matters most important to the future welfare of the town. We de- sire to call attention to these matters under the follow- ing heads: -
I. SCHOOL-HOUSES.
It has been the aim of the committee to keep the school-houses in good repair, and, as a whole, they are in a very satisfactory condition. Some of them still require an additional outlay of money to make them more comfortable and convenient. The Central-street school-house has been thoroughly painted, and half of the roof of the Willow-street shingled. This year the other half will have to be attended to. It is necessary that the ceilings and walls of most of the school-rooms should be whitened, in order to make them clean and
4
healthful. We congratulate the town in having so fine a school-house as the one erected last fall on the Com- mon, which gives great satisfaction to the teachers and scholars. At the dedication, in December, a large au- dience listened with pleasure to the exercises, which consisted of addresses by Hon. J. W. Dickinson, Sec- retary of State Board of Education; Mr. Walton, Agent of State Board, and Rev. Joseph Osgood, of Cohasset. The clergymen of our town, Mr. Robert Hall, Chair- man of the Building Committee, and Mr. Charles E. Bailey, Chairman of School Committee, made brief re- marks. It was an occasion of great interest to the district and town.
We hope that the appearance of the new school- house will stimulate our citizens to make the old ones as attractive and cheerful as a little money expended in paint and whitewash will effect.
II. SCIIOOLS.
There have been only two changes in our Primary teachers this year. Miss Clara W. Wilder, from Marl- boro', was engaged to teach the Grove-street school. This school has suffered in the past from frequent change of teachers, and Miss Wilder consequently found the school disorderly, and comparatively little interest felt by the pupils. We are happy to say that the school has improved in all respects under her management, and we hope the interest she has awakened will con- tinue, and that the parents will appreciate her efforts
5
and encourage her in her work. At the beginning of the year Miss Annie M. Edson, a recent graduate of our High School, was placed in the Greenbush School, but owing to ill-health she was obliged to resign her position. Mrs. A. P. Rouviere, one of our experienced and successful teachers, was appointed in her place, who, thus far, has merited the approval of the committee. The other primary schools have shown gradual im- provement. Greater attention has been given to pen- manship, following the advice of Mr. Martin, who, as State agent, made an examination of the scholars and found them quite deficient in writing. If he were to visit them to-day he would see marked improvement.
The writing of composition, on simple subjects, has been introduced into these schools with great success. We hope that in the coming year it will be adopted by them all, so that when the pupils enter the Grammar and High Schools they will be better prepared for those literary efforts which belong to, and are required in, these schools. Most of these scholars dislike this branch of study, and sometimes the parents encourage this feeling; but, in the judgment of the committee and of many of our best educators, no exercise is more im- portant, and none comprehends such a variety of knowl- edge; for to express one's ideas clearly, grammatically, and intelligently, makes a demand upon such studies as spelling and grammar, and teaches the pupil to think, which is of the highest importance.
Supplementary reading has been introduced to some extent, and has awakened an interest among the pupils,
6
and has remedied in part the monotony and drawl so common among those who are just learning to read. The introduction of this kind of reading costs but little, and a few dollars thus expended will result in great good to the scholars. The Grove and North Main street schools were compelled to suspend for one week, the winter term, owing to an epidemic prevailing among the children.
Miss Baker, of the Central-street school, was out two weeks after the Christmas vacation. Her place was filled by Miss Mabel Cole, who gave satisfaction to the committee.
The Willow-street school, though reduced in num- bers, still is one of the largest in town. The teacher, Miss Carrie Litchfield, has taught it for nearly six years. Her experience and ability are evinced in the manner in which she has succeeded in calling out the best mental powers of her pupils, and in sustaining their in- terest in their studies. As a disciplinarian Miss Litch- field is unsurpassed. The Egypt school has been unusually small, and, for this reason, the committee allowed the graduating class to return to it for the winter term. This must have been gratifying to the teacher, Miss Gardner, who has given great satisfaction to the district.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The East Grammar is under the same teachers as last year. For the spring term Miss Young had the en- tire charge of the third class, and Mrs. Neely the other
7
classes. When the school went into the new school- house the whole school came under the discipline of Mrs. Neely. It is very evident that so large a number of scholars -eighty-five - are too many for the care of one person. . This evil, however, will be remedied in part this year, as the promotions from the Primary Schools will be very much smaller. On account of absence many of the larger boys are obliged to remain in this school longer than the time required. We hope in the future they will be more regular in their attend- dance, and thus prepare themselves earlier for promo- tion to the High School.
These teachers work diligently and faithfully, and, under all circumstances, accomplish all the committee can reasonably expect. The West Grammar School is taught by the same teacher, Miss S. R. Damon, whose experience is making her a very acceptable teacher. This school has no assistant, as it has only fifty scholars.
HIGH SCHOOL.
For a year and one term Mr. C. T. Murray has been the popular and successful teacher of this school. His method of instruction wins the interest and excites the enthusiasm of his scholars. He seldom uses a text- book, and his oral instruction presents so great a variety of topics that his pupils are ever on the alert to listen attentively to all that he says. The assistant, Miss Lucy S. Pierce, resigned after four terms of suc- cessful teaching, as she was called to Natick to receive a larger salary.
8
The committee engaged Miss Mabel Stevens in her place, and she has devoted her strength and energy to the best interests of the school. Miss Stevens is a rare teacher. Her culture, refinement, and devotion to her work have gained the admiration of the committee. Of all the branches taught so well here, few have created such enthusiasm as surveying, which will prove of great practical value hereafter to the boys. One of the graduates returned to devote his time to this study.
The entertainments given by the scholars have fur- nished money for the purchase of apparatus, which is of great value in the illustration of scientific subjects. One class has graduated under Mr. Murray, the names of which are as follows: Julia E. Jenkins, Gardner Bates, Charles C. Turner, Frank W. Litchfield. Their essays were of a high order, and were received with great commendation by a large audience of parents and friends.
The new system of purchasing free text-books by the town, legalized by the last Legislature, has incurred a large expense, which will, of course, be much smaller in succeeding years. We cannot do better, in speaking of this law, than to quote from Governor Robinson's inaugural address: -
Satisfactory results are already shown in the operation of the free text-book law, which went into effect in August last. Among other advantages the new system reduces in a large amount the expense of providing school-books and school-supplies formerly paid by individuals, enables the teachers to effect prompt organization of their schools and a better classification of the pupils at the begin-
9
ning of the terms, increases the attendance, removes mortifying distinctions, possible under the old system, and makes the public schools of the Commonwealth literally free schools, offering equal opportunity to all children alike.
Most of the schools need maps and globes, which are indispensable aids to the scholars and teachers in the study of geography. We are happy to say that the High and Grammar Schools have been furnished, and a few Primaries have been supplied at the expense of the teachers.
We hope that soon no school will be without these very important helps.
III. TEACHERS.
On the whole the schools have a good corps of teachers. They are earnest, devoted, and efficient. The teachers' duties are manifold; consequently the preparation must be thorough. They must possess physical, mental, and moral qualifications, not only qualified to impart knowledge from the text-books, and to preserve order in the school-room, but also good in the highest sense of the word. When their pupils feel the influence of their moral character no one is more susceptible to the tone of the teacher than the child, who quickly detects any moral deficiency in those with whom they have daily contact. Kindness, gentleness, courtesy, decision, and firmness are requi- site qualities to successful teaching, and they who
10
add to their learning these virtues will not fail to gain the confidence and respect of their scholars.
IV. SCHOLARS.
That commendable progress has been made by the scholars, in all their studies, no one can doubt who knows of the devotion and fidelity of the teachers. In some of our schools there are unruly boys; to man- age them and make them obedient is a problem diffi- cult to solve. The committee are opposed to corporal punishment; they advise the teachers to use the rod sparingly; never to use it save when all other means of discipline fail. The teacher should aim to govern through the affections, to have the scholars obedient and studious from the highest motives; but when, as in some cases, a rough, unruly, surly boy, is obtuse to all such treatment, and will only yield to submis- sion through corporal punishment, then it may be tolerated.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.