USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1898-1905 > Part 8
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due to a vivid imagination, were it not for the fact that many of our pupils when they have gone to other towns, have not only maintained a creditable standing in grades where our discharge cards placed them, but have in a short time re- ceived double promotion.
In general, the language work, including grammar, com- position, and penmanship, of pupils from the larger centers of population, has excelled the work of our pupils. But in arithmetic, geography and history, we are doing fully as good, if not better work than they.
Such indications, therefore, of improvement in the lan- guage and reading as have been noted, lead me to believe that these, too, will before long take their place in efficiency alongside of the other fundamental subjects in which our pupils seem to excel.
In the subject of arithmetic, effort is made from the very first to make it as practical as possible.
There is a popular idea that this with its allied subject of book-keeping, is the one fundamental study, and the only one absolutely necessary. To use the old expressions, if a boy can "figure" or "cipher" well, he possesses all the knowledge that is absolutely necessary to enable him to take his place as an average intellectual being, according to this idea.
To suppose that the ability to "figure" is the whole aim of teaching aritmetic, is to perceive only a small part of its utility. Its purpose is two-fold. Aside from the useful knowledge it may give, it must cultivate exact reasoning and accurate mechanical operation.
Special effort has been made therefore to combine practi- cal every day work with exact reasoning and accurate opera- tion. The teachers have in all their work required these elements in their pupils, with the added qualification that all written work must be neat in order to be acceptable.
One element of the work I believe deserves special men-
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tion. There is a growing feeling among school workers, that not enough emphasis has, in the past few years, been placed upon so-called mental arithemetic. But in our schools this feature has been given its proper time and place in the regular work. Its effects are evident. Of course some teachers have made a better showing in this than others, from the fact that they have gone about it more systematically, and followed it up more persistently.
The rapidity with which the minds of pupils can be trained to make mathematical calculations, is surprising, and I have no doubt that in a visit to some of our schools, this feature of the work would amaze some of our citizens who pride themselves on their own ability to perform mental operations rapidly.
Geography has been made more interesting than ever by the methods of instruction now being used by the teachers.
As it is now most successfully taught, geography, to the pupils is not a collection of dry facts, but a real living sub- ject.
A study, as it is, of the earth as the home of man, it has been made to enlist not only the interest, but the enthusiasm of the pupils, by the manner in which the teachers have con- ducted their recitations.
In some schools, the pupils have become thoroughly ac- quainted with the surface and drainage, the animal and vegetable life, and the political and social life of the different countries studied, by a system of imaginary journeys to those countries.
As an illustration of how well this method fixes the points in mind, perhaps a sample question taken from one of the last examinations may not be amiss. It is this : ·What peculiarities are there in the animal and vegetable life of Australia? While there is nothing vital in possessing or not possessing the knowledge included in the correct an- swer to this question, still a correct answer would indicate
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something regarding the thoroughness of the instruction.
Ninety-seven per cent. of the pupils taking the test made in effect this reply : Many of the animals carry their young in pouches. Many of the trees shed their bark instead of their leaves. Many of the flowers are odorless.
These answers may or may not tell much. But the high standing of pupils in this study leads me to feel that teachers and pupils alike, are alive to the pleasure and profit there is in it.
Taught as it has been, much knowledge of history has also of necessity been acquired. The advantage of this sort of correlation lies in the fact that it is entirely unconscious to the pupils.
The history as suggested above, has followed hand in hand with the work in geography.
The work done in grades one to six inclusive, is almost wholly of a supplementary nature, and is closely correlated not only with the geography, but also with the language and reading.
The large amount of written work required of the pupils in these grades is made to count in language writing and spelling.
No attempt is made to introduce any regular text book into the work of these grades, on account of the belief that knowledge coming from a great variety of sources, would tend to hold the interest of the pupils to a greater extent.
The definite work of the seventh year in history is practi- cally to cover the period from the time of Columbus to the end of the Revolutionary War, while that of the eighth is to begin at that point and bring the work up to the present time.
The old idea, judging from old text books, that the teach- ing of history was concerned only with a rehearsal of the incidents of war and other national and international diffi- culties, has been partially supplanted by a more rational idea
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that school history should also deal largely with the growth of social, civil and religious institutions.
Today we try to leave out as much as possible of the de- tails of the blood and carnage of war, which cannot under the best of teaching, increase in any pupil the love of the true, the beautiful, and the good, and deal only with causes and effects, and with a few of the most important and vital events which led to that war resulting as it did.
Pupils have been taught in this subject to fix the most important events thoroughly in their minds, and around these to cluster as many as possible of contemporaneous events, having an historical, literary or social value. In this way, by the association of one event with others, pupils retain with little or no effort knowledge which tends to round out and build up a strong character.
There being no report from the principal of the High School this year, I take the liberty to make one suggestion regarding that school. It is that a thorough and practical business course be adopted, and put in operation at the be- ginning of another school year.
I believe there is no valid reason why so many of our boys either fail to enter the High School at all, or soon after entering drop out. If there is any reason, I feel that it is often because they do not find in the curriculum what they feel they most need. "When a boy enters the High School he is old enough to begin to think seriously of life's duties, as well as its privileges. His vision should be strong enough, and his horizon large enough to include some useful em- ployment as a life work."
To the boy or girl who expects to have a college training, this is perhaps not necessary at this period of life. To this class, those who expect to pursue their studies after leaving the High School, our school curriculum seems to apply and accommodate. But how many of our High School pupils ever do pursue study further ? A passing thought will
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show to any one that the proportion is very small. Yet, nearly all of our energy is expended on these few, while a majority must either take studies which are distasteful to them, studies in which, as William Hawley Smith would put, "they were born short," or drop out of school entirely.
I am aware that our High School teachers have all they can possibly do, and do well. It would be out of the ques- tion, therefore, to expect them to do the work which would be added by the course which I have suggested.
There are doubtless in the town expert accountants, some one of whom at a moderate expense could be procured three or four hours a week to take the burden of this work from the regular teachers.
I believe if this feature should be put into our High School work, it would hold many of the young men who are now slowly, but steadily dropping out.
No two communities are alike. No two pupils are alike. No course of study; no unvarying formula; no uniform method of procedure can be determined upon, whereby pupils may be brought into touch with the community. Each pupil must be sought out, and that presented to him, which meets his need, and his greatest need. The greatest good for the greatest number ought to be the recipe for making out the course of study-since we must have one-of every school.
In concluding my report I wish to express the hope that in the near future Scituate Harbor may possess a school build- ing equal in its beauty and advantages to the Hatherly School at North Scituate.
With this hope realized no town in the state could do bet- ter work.
I wish also to thank committee, teachers, and citizens, for the support accorded me during the last year.
The reports of the teachers of music and drawing, and of the truant officer, will be found on succeeding pages.
Respectfully submitted.
EDGAR LINCOLN WILLARD.
January 1, 1900.
Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT ON DRAWING.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The course in drawing used in Scituate the past year has been very similar to the outline followed the year before. Each school has been visited once in two weeks.
The plan in the lower grades has been to study the flowers, fruits, and vegetables in their season, and to adopt them to work in design; to study the type solids, the sphere, cube, cylinder, prism, and cone, and to make drawings of objects based upon the type forms; to study the geometric figures, and to draw similar shapes; to know the names of the dif- ferent lines and angles; to know the primary colors with their tints and shades; to make working drawings of simple objects, and to construct accurately some of the figures and borders used in the historic style of ornament and archi- tecture.
The children have also made original sketches illustrating their language work. "The First Day at School," "Gath- ering Apples," "Washing Day," "Thanksgiving Day," and "Christmas," have been some of the subjects. The sketches show a good deal of originality, and prove that young chil- dren are never at a loss for ideas, and are seldom afraid of attempting even impossibilities in pictorial expression.
More advanced work in design, historic, ornament and mechanical drawing has been given in the upper grades. Some of the pupils at the Hatherly school furnished them- selves with pictures of some of the most famous paintings of Hoffman, Rosa Bonheur, LeRolli and Millet. These pictures were discussed and explained, and the children
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wrote short stories about them, together with a story of the artist's life.
Recently some Japanese pottery has been purchased, with the intention of starting a collection of such objects as will be needful for the school work. These are to be kept at the High School, and carried to the other schools as occasion re- quires.
The committee have been most kind in furnishing neces- sary material for the work in drawing.
It is a pleasure to teach among the children who welcome the supervisor so enthusiastically, and who take so much in- terest in the work.
The unusual interest among the pupils at the High School has produced particularly gratifying results. The best work is posted each week, and quite an advance has been made in drawing the past year.
The pupils at the East Grammar, also, welcome the draw- ing period each week with an enthusiasm which promises well for the future.
On the whole the past year has been one of progress, and it is the aim of both teachers and pupils to make the work of each year better than the last.
Respectfully submitted.
SARA TILDEN BAILEY.
REPORT ON MUSIC.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The report on music in the schools must of necessity be unsatisfactory this year.
The work was very much broken up by the resignation of Estella Litchfield-now Mrs. Willard-and by settling a new supervisor, who was wholly uninformed as to the work which had been done, the art of teaching, and the science of holding children's attention.
During that trying time the pupils showed their willing- ness to do what they could, and the teachers conducted the daily practice as the needs of their several schools demanded, while the supervisor suggested and learned.
Each school was found to be thoroughly acquainted with the syllable of the scales, which they had studied, but quite unable to recognize the tones to which the syllable belonged, , and the relation of one tone to another, consequently while they quickly read the syllables in a speaking voice, they found it difficult to sing the correct tones. This usually oc- curs when the teachers allow their schools to learn their ex- ercises, or sometimes try them in the speaking voice, which should never be done; also the aid of an instrument will quickly teach the pupils to rely upon it, so that they lose all independence.
Since September we have taken up a special drill in the singing of promiscuous syllables, as they are called, separ- ately and in twos, three and fours.
In this drill the pupils have worked hard and interestedly, which is shown by their great improvement, although they
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yet make mistakes, and sometimes sing the same tone to dif- ferent syllables.
The half hour devoted to the work by the supervisor is all too short in which to copy exercises and teach the lesson; the whole half hour should be given to the voices, and the exercises furnished in some other way.
Music in the schools of Scituate would be much more ad- vanced today, if the pupils had books with a plentiful supply of exercises for sight reading, rather than the few lessons on the charts, which they soon learn from memory.
The teachers have been especially faithful in practicing the lessons assigned, nearly every lesson having been pre- pared so carefully that we were able to go right on.
Each school has a new song to be learned by rote with every lesson, which shows the careful and constant drill by the teachers.
We are all steadily hoping for books with which to make the proper advancement.
Respectfully submitted.
LILLIE C. STODDARD.
December 31, 1899.
TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT.
Whole number of cases investigated, 19
Negligence of parents,
Cases of actual truancy, 9
IO
Respectfully submitted.
EDGAR LINCOLN WILLARD.
Truant Officer.'
January 1, 1900.
GRADUATING EXERCISES. of the CLASS OF '99. SCITUATE HIGH SCHOOL. En Avant. Friday Evening, June 23, '99.
PROGRAMME.
Prayer, Salutatory,
Rev. Albert Bryant. George F. Turner.
Music.
Class History,
Lilla B. Litchfield.
Music.
Presentation of Picture, Acceptance,
Percie L. Merritt. Ella J. Doherty.
Music.
Sara L. Burleigh. L.
Class Prophecy, Music.
Address, Valedictory, Conferring of Diplomas,
Mr. Henry T. Bailey. Lilla B. Cook. Mr. J. K. Gannett, Jr. Music.
CLASS OF '99.
Sara Lyda Burleigh. The Harold Willis Poland. Lilla May Cook. William Augustus Seaverns. " May Davie. Ralph Fome John Ford Smith. Lilla Bates Litchfield. www.axa ... George Freeman Turner. Percie Lincoln Merritt. . Augustine Francis Ward. Music by Albion Quartette of Boston.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DEC. 31,
1 900
ATE
SC
SS.
NCORPO
.1633
SATUIT
E
ORAT
PLYMOUTH THE MEMORIAL PRESS
190I.
...
TOWN MEETING.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING HELD IN SCIT- UATE, MARCH 5, 1900.
HENRY T. BAILEY, Moderator.
ARTICLE 3 .- Voted, To accept the report of the Select- men and other town officers as printed.
ART. 2 .- Officers chosen for the year :
For Town Clerk-Charles Manson.
Voted, That the persons chosen for Selectmen shall serve as Assessors and Overseers of Poor.
For Selectmen-Geoorge H. Webb, John J. Ford, Thomas F. Bailey.
For Treasurer-Roland Turner,
For Collector-Fenton W. Varney.
For School Committee for three years-Henry E. Da- mon.
For Surveyor of Highways-John T. Fitts.
For Constables-John F. Turner, William E. Supple, Elmer F. Burrows.
For Auditor-Francis B. Lee.
For Tree Warden-John T. Fitts.
For Pound Keeper-Stillman Litchfield.
For Field Driver-A. Judson Bates.
For Fence Viewers-John J. Ford, Hosea J. Stockbridge, William O. Clapp, Caleb T. Jenkins, Jr.
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For Fire Wardens-Alfred A. Seaverns, Edward Rogers, John J. Ford, Charles W. Peare.
For Surveyors of Lumber-Ansel F. Servan, Edward Rogers.
ART. 13. Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxi-
cating liquors in this town? Yes, 172; No, 223.
ART. 4. Voted, To raise and appropriate the following sums of money :
For removing snow,
$1,000 00
Support of poor,
4,000 00
Town officers, 1,400 00
Collection of taxes,
50 00
Repairs of public buildings,
350 00
Repairs of roads, bridges and sidewalks,
5,000 00
Reduction of debt,
3,000 00
Printing, stationery and postage,
250 00
Support of schools,
7,500 00
Superintendent of schools,
250 00
Abatement of taxes,
400 00
Miscellaneous expenses,
600 00
Interest on debt,
2,900 00
Free libraries,
240 00
ART. 5. Voted, That the rate of wages for removing snow be the same as last year; twenty-five cents per hour.
ART. 6. Voted, To accept the list of jurors as prepared by the Selectmen.
ART. 7. Voted, That the Town authorize the Overseers of the poor to contract at their discretion for the support of the town's poor.
ART. 8. Voted, That the Treasurer be, and is hereby au- thorized and directed, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow temporarily in anticipation of the taxes of the pres- ent municipal year, such sums of money as the same may be from time to time required, and to give the negotiable note
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or notes of the town for money so borrowed, and that all such temporary loans shall be payable from the said taxes.
ART. 9. To hear the report of any Committee passed over.
ART. 12. Voted, That the way and manner in which the taxes shall be collected be the same as last year-five per cent. discount to be allowed upon all taxes paid on or before October 1, 1900; four per cent. on or before November I, 1900; three per cent. on or before December 1, 1900.
Voted, That all the taxes shall be collected by the first of January, 190I.
Voted, That the Collector may use all means in the col- lection of taxes that a Town Treasurer when chosen Col- lector may use.
ART. IO. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $100 for Memorial Day.
ART. II. To make allowance to Town Creditors. Pass- ed over.
ART. 15. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 for special repairs on Central street be- tween the residence of George H. Webb and the railroad sta- tion.
ART. 16. Voted, That the Selectmen be a committee to look up the title of Dunbar Lane, and report at a future town meeting.
ART. 17. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $50 to make passable, for foot travel, the way from Central street to the Harbor school house.
ART. 18. Voted, That the Town pay a bounty of twenty- five cents per head for all woodchucks caught and killed with- in the limits of the town, and that the Treasurer be paid five cents a head for his services.
ART. 19. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $30 for trees and shrubs for Hatherly school yard.
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ART. 31. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $500 to widen and raise the grade of that por- tion of Gannett street crossing, the marsh between upland of Benjamin T. Ellms and Hans G. Dick, said sum to be ex- pended under the direction of the Highway Surveyor.
ART. 20. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 for repairs of the road from North Scit- nate railroad station to the beach; the Highway Surveyor to use his discretion in regard to material used.
ART. 2I. To see if the Town will allow James E. Otis to sell loam from the Ellms gravel pit. Passed over.
ART. 22. Voted That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $100 to build a sidewalk on Brook street, Scitu- ate Harbor, between the residence of Frank Cushman and land of H. Lucius Vinal, to be expended under the direction of the Highway Surveyor.
ART. 23. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $100 to grade Prospect street on the north side in front of the Catholic church, to be expended under the direc- tion of the Highway Surveyor.
ART. 24. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $300 to reduce the hill in front of Freeman H. Gannett's on Blossom street, and to use the material. and ob- tain as much more as may be required to widen and repair the road-bed from the Mill to the intersection of said street with Gannett street, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Highway Surveyor.
ART. 25. Voted, That the Town instruct the Selectmen to place a monument stone on the line of the road from Sand Hills, as it enters Bay street, also to erect a Guide Board on said corner and name said street. -
ART. 26. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $150 to repair and put in good condition the road leading from Charles street to the ocean, to be expended un- der the direction of the Highway Surveyor.
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ART. 27. Voted, That the School Committee and the Se- lectmen be a committee to consider the matter of a new Union school building in the easterly part of the town, said committee to report at a subsequent town meeting.
ART. 28. Voted, That the Treasurer pay on the note of $25,000 due January 15, 1901, as much money as has been raised for the reduction of our debt since 1895, and that the Treasurer under the direction of the Selectmen be authorized to borrow the balance of said note, on notes of the town to run, not to exceed ten years' time.
(Note). At a town meeting held December 4, 1900.
ART. 5. Voted, That the Town Treasurer be, and here- by is authorized, to pay out of the treasury of the town, upon the note of the town due January 15, 1901, the sum of $10,800, and to issue, under the direction of the Selectmen, note or notes of the town, for the period of ten years, in the sum of $14,200, in renewal of the balance of said note due January 15, 190I.
ART. 29. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $150 for a series of Open Air Band Concerts in different parts of the town during the summer months, to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
ART. 30. Will the town accept the seal as prepared and adopted by the Selectmen ?
Voted, No.
Voted, That the Selectmen have further time for the con- sideration of a Town seal, and report at a future meeting.
ART. 32. In regard to selling the Wills pit lot at public auction. Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 33. Will the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the suppression of the sale of intoxicating liquors. Voted, To indefinitely postpone.
ART. 34. Voted, That the Town amend Sections 4, 5 and 6 of Article 2 of the Town's By-laws.
ART. 35. In regard to building a new road on Third Cliff. Voted. To indefinitely postpone.
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ART. 36. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $50 to be spent under the direction of the High- way Surveyor to widen the street at the junction of Front and Willow streets, as ordered by the County Commission- ers.
ART. 37. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $50 for counsel.
ART. 40. Voted, That the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $75 to build a fence around the High Street schoolhouse yard.
Voted, That the thanks of the Town be extended to Henry T. Bailey for the expeditious manner in which he has handled this meeting, and that he be paid $5.00 for his services as Moderator.
Voted, To dissolve the meeting.
Attest :
CHARLES MANSON. Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
Of the receipts and expenditures and financial condition of the town of Scituate for the year ending December 31, 1900.
PAYMENTS OF STATE AID.
Chapter 374, Acts of 1899.
Edwin Bowman,
$72 00
Salome A. Litchfield, $24 00
Harriet Bowman,
16 00
William Litchfield, 24 00
John Barry,
48 00
George B. Litchfield, 16 00
Joseph Bailey,
48 00
Benjamin F. Merritt,
· 48 00
Charles E. Brown,
60 00
William O. Merritt,
72 00
George S. Bates,
9 00
Eglantine A. Merritt, 48 00
Abby B. Clapp,
48 00
Joseph O. Marsh, 36 00
Shadrack B. Curtis,
55 00
Charles H. Nott,
38 00
Rose Doherty, 48 00
Thomas J. Newcomb,
31 00
Mary F. Damon,
48 00
Lucinda Norton,
36 00
Lincoln T. Damon,
16 00
Patrick O'Brien,
18 00
George Emerson,
27 00
William H. Osborne,
16 00
Luke G. Fitts, 48 00
Harriet E. Perry, 48 00
.
Charles M. Ferguson,
40 00
Caroline E. Spencer,
48 00
John P. Giffin,
48 00
Charles P. Seaverns, 36 00
Reuben S. Gurney,
53 00
George O. Vinal, 60 00
Daniel Goslin,
30 00
Allen Vinal, 16 00
Joy K. Gannett,
15 00
Nicholas Wherity, 48 00
Edmund L. Hyland,
48 00
Nathaniel Wilder,
49 00
Andrew J. Hobson,
36 00
Bethana E. Whitcomb, 48 00
Annie M. Heath,
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