USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1906-1909 > Part 18
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75
5
13
Sophia A. Metcalf
74
1 17
Apoplexy Apoplexy Cancer of stomach Gastritis Pulmonary tuberculosis Nervous thenia Accidental Acute Nephritis Internal Hydrocephalus Broncho Pneumonia Chronic diffuse nephritis Angina Pectoris
Dennis Leary'and Katherine Duff Shadrach Curtis and Anna Cudworth Bates Elías Burrell and Abigail C. Alphonzo Damon and Ada Bartlett Michacl Roth and Bridget Russell Job Bailey and Lydia Bailey George Watkins and Snean James Everett G. Goodrick and Lillian McCaffrey James L Merritt and Emily Litchfield Paul Vinal and Marion Doanc Steplien Morse and Elizabeth Gordon
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70
-
16
Mary Ann Merritt
27
Frederick N. Damon
37
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN SCITUATE IN THE YEAR 1907
DATE
NAME.
NAME OF PARENTS.
MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER.
Janl.
8
Eunice Francis Clapp Helen Wickoff Jellows
Moses & Margaret
Jenkins Quinn
8
25
Catherine Leona Litchfield
William J. & Lillian
Mansfield
Feb.
2
Clifton Cook Newcomb, Jr.
Clifton C. & Florence
Roberts
4
Edward Barry McCarthy
James & Mary E.
Barry
20
Robert Fowler Leigton, Jr.
Robert F. & Hester W.
Towle
Mar.
10
Charles Lynwood Sylvester
Arthur F. & Jane
Richardson
15
Harold Bertram Blanchard
Alvin W. & Nora
Riordan
..
15
Gertrude Bernardine Stanley
Thomas & Mary
Flaherty
66
18
John Laforest Vinal
John & Bertha W.
Smith
19
Helen May Pelrine
James H. & May John & Ethel G.
Fox
27
Gertrude Liswell Merritt
Austin W. & Ellen
Liswell
Wilford Wade Litchfield
Stephen & Sadie
Pratt
66
20
Marguerite Pamelia Smith
John F. & Sarah E.
Peterson
23
Wallace Bradford Torrey >
Archie & Ethel T.
Spear
28 8
Mary Ellen Flaherty Ruth Collier Welch
William H. & Elizabeth
Wood
21
Wilfred Caleb Prouty Rose Hernan
Thomas F. & Katherine L.
McCarthy
22
Bernard Dwyer
Caleb T., Jr. & Nellie
Mahoney
July ..
30
Charles Willis Lane
Arthur H. & Ada Litchfield
Litchfield
Aug.
11
Marie Kelley
Michael B. & Eliza
Briphy Delano
26
Walter Edward Fuller
James I. & Bridget
Dineen
Charles H. & Mertie
Longfellow
John & Mary
Norris
Sept.
1
Charlotte Helen Doherty
Charles E. & Margaret
Burke
12
Bar ara Josephine O'Connor
James A. & Mary
Curran
12
Daniel E. & Elizabetlı
Sullivan
..
18
John N. & Helen
Nudd
66
24
Lewis Thomas Frazier
Hector J. &
Jellows
Oct.
5
Bessie Francis Scannell
Martin J. & Julia
Sullivan Webb
11
Wilson Emerson Burleigh
E. Cecil & Cora F.
Cole
21
James H. & Mary C.
Doyle
29
Helen Jenkins
10
Eleanor Adair Dwyer
Robert J. & Jane J.
Lucey
12
Priscilla Lizette Fish
Charles T. & Fanny
31
Marguerite Louise Pratt Clara Mildred McDermott
Mark & Delia
Brodrick
28
John William Stonefield
Apr. May
June
Caleb W. & Florence A.
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Geraldine May Ward Martha McNeill
Elijah T. & Olive J.
Oct. Nov.
1
7
11
Rosino Panetto Halnan Leonard Johnson
..
24
25
Ellis Bramhall Damon
Sept 25, 1906
Gertrude May Jellows
Fred L. & Edith L. Clement J. & Bessie W. Henry T. & Florence Grovanni B. & Ida L. Oscar L. & Mary F. Ellis E. & Mabel
Henry D. & Rose M.
Whitcomb Clapp Turner Holt Quinn Jenkins Frazier
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30
Ray Forest Litchfield Mary Leonard Prouty Henry Turner Fitts
-
Brought Into Town for Interment, 1907.
DATE.
NAME OF DECEASED.
AGE. Y. M. D.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
PLACE OF DEATHI
Jan.
Laura Emma Foulser
29
--
-
Hemorrhage
Boston
Feb.
23
Sarah A. Ferguson
87
11
Old Age
Boston
March
22
Charles S. Walker
19
Broncho Pneumonia
Taunton
11
Mary E. Vinal
9
1
Dilated Heart
Long Island
18
James W. Trueworthy
-
Typhoid Fever
City, N. Y
21
Elisha Otis
Old Age
Lexington
April
4
Cushing O. Litchfield
3
16
Apoplexy
- Litchfield
Stillborn
Whitman
May
1.1
Ruth Alberta Hunt
75
Arterio Sclerosis
Tewksbury
Sept.
19 Anna M. Young
51
20
4
12
Brockton
Nov.
5
Sarah E. Roberts
86
3
9
Acute Bronchitis
Boston
Dec.
18
Sarah J. Merritt
68
Heart Disease
-
-
Everett
Hemorrhage (Intestinal)
Brockton
16
James A. Harvey
-
Phthisis
'Tewksbury
Edith Ganley
Boston
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Boston
III- -
SUMMARY.
Number of births in Scituate for the year 1907,
Males, 19
Females, 23
Births in 1906 not recorded, 1
Whole number recorded for the year. 43
Number of marriage licenses issued. 26
Number of marriages recorded.
27
Number of deaths for the year,
48
Males. 23
Females, 25
Brought to town for interment, 14
62
Number of dog licenses issued for the year.
169
Amount, less Town Clerk's fees, paid into the County Treasury,
$421 20
Number of citizens between the ages of 18
and 45 liable to be called to perform military duty, 461
REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE TOWN OF SCITUATE
DECEMBER 1, 1907.
Males 688
Females,
38
JETSON WADE, Town Clerk.
All persons are requested to report omissions or corrections in the births, marriages and deaths. Blanks for the return of births will be furnished to those applying therefor, by the Town Clerk.
JETSON WADE. Town Clerk.
42
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NOTE ON TOWN DEBT AND INTEREST.
The debt of the town Dec. 31, 1904 was, represented in notes of different amounts and payable from about one to fourteen years from that date.
$97,200 00
On Dec. 31, 1907 the debt was, $86,200 00
A decrease of,
$11,000 00
The town voted to authorize the Treasurer with approval of the Selectmen to issue serial notes in place of notes coming due, the result being that the town is paying off its debt at the rate of from $4,000.00 to $5,000.00 each year.
On the other hand, owing to the large amount of uncollected taxes, the town is bor- rowing money in anticipation of taxes each year and paying out large amounts for inter- est.
The amount of interest on the debt has been reduced in 1907 $621.11 from the amount paid in 1906 and a steady reduction will be made each year under the present system pro- vided that no new debt is created.
The amount of interest paid on money bor- rowed in anticipation of taxes was in
1906, -
$ 617 74
1907,
1,149 95
Increase in 1907,
$532 21
Amount borrowed in anticipation of taxes 1906,
$30,000 00
1907,
40,000 00
Increase,
$10,000 00
Uncollected taxes Dec. 31, 1907 about, $35,000 00
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The Selectmen strongly recommend that no new debt be created, the town paying its way from its tax levy, and the continuance of the reduction of its debt to a normal limit at least.
JOHN D. FERGUSON, E. PARKER WELCH, CHARLES H. WATERMAN,
Selectmen.
Town of Scituate, Mass.
Scituate
8
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Scituate
FOR THE
Year ending December 3 I
1907
SCHOOL CENSUS.
September, 1907.
Number of boys between the ages of 5 and 15, 216
Number of girls between the ages of 5 and 15, 211
Total, 427
Number of boys between the ages of 7 and 14, 185
Number of girls between the ages of 7 and 14, 169
Total, 354
1
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Scituate-
Another year has passed away, and once again we desire to submit to you a brief retrospect of the year's work in the public schools of our town.
We believe on the whole, that the record of the past year will compare favorably with others, and furthermore that it will show that it has been one of progress.
This progress has been made chiefly along the line of provid- ing an education for those entrusted to our care, that will tend to make them practical in their life's work, to think and reason the why and wherefore for themselves, and above all to make them develop into better men and women and thus become bet- ter citizens and a credit to themselves and to the community.
In the handling of the school affairs of this town your com- mittee has a great many problems which confront them, and we will endeavor to review and present them to you as briefly as possible.
The citizens of this town are to be highly honored for the noble way and manner in which they responded to the request of the committee at the last March meeting in the matter of raising more money for Teacher's salaries. We believe it has been ben- eficial in more than one way. It has helped to make the teach- ers realize that the town appreciates their work, and that they are worthy of their hire. It has also encouraged them in a de- sire to prove more worthy of the trust and confidence that the citizens and committee have in their endeavor to conscientious- ly and zealously carry out their part in the care and culture of the school children of this town.
The question, however, arises as to whether or not the citizens
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are not satisfied, with simply seeing that the teachers are well paid. the scholars have proper equipment and comfortable build- ings. Do they not imagine that if they provide all these things it is sufficient? Still if these citizens hired a carpenter to build them a house, or a man to cultivate their field, would they not naturally inspect the work to see that it was, or had been done in a satisfactory manner ? Is not your child's welfare of more importance to you than the building of your house or the culti- vating of your fields ? Then why not take that deep considera- tion and see what the teachers and the schools are doing for your children. Again how many of the young men and women at- tending our High school have thought seriously of the why and wherefore of a High school education ? Do they realize that in most cases it means a sacrifice on the part of their parents in sending them to school for another four years? Just at the time too, when their help on the farm, at the store or in the home is beginning to be appreciated. In the old days the boy of fourteen or fifteen was in reality a man, capable of doing his part on the farm, and if necessary supporting the mother and younger children. How many could do it today ?
We all know that it is highly essential that we have a certain measure of education. The question is, when is that measure full, and how shall we fill it. Life is too short to press it down and have it overflowing with superfluities. What we most need is to consider the practical uses that are to be made of this edu- cation. It is at a great sacrifice that we provide it for our children, therefore it stands to reason, they should learn chiefly those things that will best fit them for their chosen vocation in life. Prof. Joseph Buchanan in an address delivered at Albany, before the University Convocation of the State of New York, stated that, "Intellectual training, however perfect we may make it, is not a liberal education. It is not an education at all, but only a fragment of an education, as an arm is a portion of a man." He goes on to state that, "the element of a liberal edu- cation is training for the business and duties of life, in other
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words, Industrial Education, without some share of which it were better for a man that he had never been born ; for without industrial capacity (unless a hereditary capitalist) he must either be a beggar, a thief, or a swindler." Industrial edu- cation giving the mastery of productive arts is the second neces- sity as the development of the body is the first. Would it be rational to confine the baby to the cradle for ten years, on the pretext that it must first acquire language perfectly before it learns to walk? The infant would be impaired for life, as men are impaired by any system which for many years separates prac- tical from literary culture. When industrial Education shall have become universal, we shall not only have a more honest and manly and fraternal race, but our fields will be more than doubled in their production, and our arts advanced from twofold to tenfold in their product ; and in the abundance thus produced poverty and pauperism will be submerged, as the Desert of Sahara will be gone when the ocean flood is let in upon it.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has seen the great need along this line, and has provided an Industrial and Technical Commission, who are doing all in their power to carry out in reality those sentiments so ably and truthfully expressed by Professor Buchanan nearly thirty years ago.
As a town, it is not in our power to do much in this direction, but what little we can, we are trying to do. It is encouraging to realize that we have the State back of us, and sometimes we believe that in these small towns and villages, the State will as- sist our children in the matter of obtaining an industrial or technical education, even as it now assists those towns who are not able to support their own High school. Meanwhile, let us not fold our hands in willing idleness, but let us learn to labor and to wait.
Transportation.
The most serious, and in some respects most farcical, problem that confronts us as a committee, is that of transportation. When
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the consolidation of the district schools was brought about, the first question that naturally arose, was that of transporting the children from their homes to the schools. The geographical situation of our town made it essential that arrangements be made for carrying those of our scholars who resided in its distant parts to the Grammar school nearest their district. From a cost of a few hundred dollars at its inception, it has now reached a stage where it requires quite a few thousands. Here, however
it should stop. We believe that the town is doing all that it should be required to, and that at the present time the routes as established are ample. Of course we realize that with an in- crease in our population, extra barges might be required, but so long as our town lines continue as they now are, we think it unnecessary to increase the number of routes. In giving the matter our consideration last year, we believed that the crowded condition of the Grove street and West end barges, required the establishing of a new route. This would take care of the over- flow from Grove street and would also accomodate the majority of the scholars who in the winter season used the North Main street barge. The remainder of these scholars we provide for by having them ride in the barge coming from the beach. These scholars, mostly resident of Blossom street, assembled at the Depot to take the barge, and were left there on their way home. In no case was the distance they had to walk more than a quarter of a mile.
Their parents, though, considered this a hardship, a discrimi- nation, etc., and accordingly bombarded us with letters. and threatening the direst results if we did not have a barge come to their house and get their children. We, however, could not see that they were subjected to any great hardship in walking this distance, and have persistently declined to change our views. There are other parts of the town where the same conditions pre- vail, but those parents are not so anxious to assert that they or their children are being deprived of their rights. They evince by their compliance with the existing conditions, that they real-
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ize that we as a committee are trying to handle this matter for the best welfare of the town in general, and not for the benefit of a few disgruntled ones, who by the attitude they take show that their spirit of loyalty to the town and its official representatives is at a very low ebb, and consists chiefly in furthering their own selfish motives. The true spirit of town patriotism consists not in "seeing how much can I get back for the taxes I pay," but how best can I help by my hearty co-operation those officials whom the town has elected, in their endeavor to conscientiously and econ- omically administer the duties entrusted to them."
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Hatherly School. This building is in pretty good condition and its general aspect has been greatly improved by the shrub- bery placed on the grounds. The amount we asked for last year to fill in and strengthen the foundation at the back of the school is not sufficient, according to estimates received, and we therefore postponed doing anything in the matter, preferring to wait until we could get another appropriation from the town to cover the es- timated expense.
Jenkins School. The plaster that fell from the walls in the hall of the building has been replaced. There are some repairs needed in the sanitary arrangement, and which can come out of the appropriation for Town buildings. The greatest trouble we have experienced at this school, has been over an apparently sir- ple matter, viz : the flag pole. The constant beating of the hal- vards against the slate roof results in their quickly wearing through. To overcome this we had a piece of zinc placed on the edge of the roof and bent under, but the high winds soon blew this off. We then arranged to have a small standard set up on the ground from off the building, to which the halyards could be attached to keep them from the edge of the roof. This we hope will prove satisfactory. While we before stated it is a small matter, still there is a principle behind it. That principle is the one of instilling into the hearts of our scholars, a love, respect
1
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and admiration for their country's flag, and which cannot be well encouraged or fostered, by the sight of a bare pole.
High School. This building has outlived its usefulness. It is impossible to have good recitations in a room containing a great many more than it was originally intended it should. In the main room there is not sufficient seating capacity, and in the case of examinations, this works at a disadvantage. How to get around it is a problem. We are oppose i to adding another story, or to enlarging it in general, as we feel that it is not lo- cated where it should be. We do not feel justified in asking the town at this time to build a new school and we will therefore contrive to get along as at present. There must, however, he an additional class room added, and we have accordingly asked for estimate for this purpose. We have been hoping that some public spirited citizens of means, who had a deep sense of the val- ue of a High School education, would volunteer to build us a new school. We still entertain these hopes.
There is one other important matter, and that is in connection with the sanitary arrangements in the building. There is only one toilet, and that located between two class rooms, and not pro- vided with proper ventilation. Furthermore, it is only accessi- ble at certain times. In view of the large number of scholars that attend this school, there certainly should be at least three, instead of only one as at present.
In conclusion, we desire to thank those of our citizens, who, by various ways have shown that they have more than a passing interest in the welfare of our schools. To those citizens we de- sire to say, that if you have any honest criticisms to offer, that will tend to promote the standard of education in our public schools, rest assured that we shall be glad to receive them, and will give them due and proper consideration. Our chief aim and desire is to have our schools conducted in such a way or manner that it will reflect not only to the credit of this good old town by the sea, but also to those who graduate from them.
Let us look forward, not backward-the future has its possi-
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bilities, and we hope that one of the possibilities will be for our children to have an education that will fire them with inspira- tion, create in them high ideals, noble aims and aspirations. It will only be possible though, by being begun by that silent though potent influence, of the mother, at the altars of the home. If that fire is once kindled by her in the heart of her child, rest as- sured that no school or teacher will ever extinguish it, but will only help to fan it until it bursts forth into a fervent heat, which will permeate all with whom they come in contact by the true spirit of patriotism, and Christian citizenship as evinced by their lives.
Respectfully submitted, PETER W. SHARP, JULIA E. WEBB, CLARA M. SKEELE,
ESTIMATED APPROPRIATIONS.
Teachers,
$9,000 00
Janitors,
1,230 00
Coal and wood,
950 00
Supplies,
1.000 00
Transportation,
4,200 00
Superintendent,
533 33
Incidentals,
450 00
$17,363 33
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CORPS OF TEACHERS. Name, School, address.
Mr. Edward R. Clarke, A. B., principal High School, Scituate Centre.
Louise Adams, A. B., assistant, High School, North Scituate.
Marian E. White, Commercial Dept.
Grace B. Simmons, A. B., principal Hatherly School, North Scituate.
Ella S. Knight, grade sixth and seventh, Hatherly School, North Scituate.
Lilliete C. Jenkins, grade fourth and fifth, Hatherly School, Scit- uate.
Sarah M. Kane, grade two and three, Hatherly School, Green- bush.
Eleanor E. Curtis, grade one, Hatherly school, Scituate.
Lois Thompson, principal Jenkins school, Egypt.
Nellie E. Adams, grade sixth and seventh, Jenkins school, Scit- uate.
Josephine J. Barry, grade fourth and fifth, Jenkins school, Scit- uate.
E. Gertrude Gardner, grade two and three, Jenkins school, Scit- uate.
Mary E. Gillis, grade 1, Jenkins school, Scituate.
Lillie C. Stoddard, music, North Scituate.
Harriet J. Ford, drawing, Millbrook.
SCITUATE SCHOOL STATISTICS.
SCHOOL
TEACHER
Number Average Enrolled Membership Attendance
Average Per Centage of Attendance 92.6
High, 66
Louise Adams, Asst.
Sarah E. Bell. Asst.
Hatherly 66
Persie L. Merritt }
45
41.1
37 2
90.
..
Lilliette C. Jenkins
48
43.4
42.9
91.
Sara M. Kane
49
41
37.4
90.
6.
Eleanor E. Curtis
28
21.9
18,6
85.
High Street, Josephine G. Ward
26
24.6
21.4
89.
Jenkins,
S. Albert Cragin, Principal
34.3
31.5
90.
..
Nellie E. Adams
43
42
39.5
94.
Josephine I. Barry
45
43.3
39.2
90.
E. Gertrude Gardner
44
39.5
35,8
90.
Mary E. Gillis
25
17.8
15.5
87.
Harriet J. Ford, Drawing
.
E. R. Clarke, Principal
67
66
61.5
Grace B. Simmons, Principal 40
36.1
34.5
94.
Ella L. Knight 5
66
Mrs. Lillie C. Stoddard. Music
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Scituate School Committee-
I take pleasure in submitting, for your consideration, my sec- ond annual report.
The past year has been one of growth both in the quality of the work done and the number of pupils enrolled. There have been some changes in the personnel of the teaching force, but the work has gone steadily forward. The vacancies caused by the resig- nation of Miss Percy Merritt, sixth and seventh grade, at the Hatherly, Miss Sarah Bell, Commercial department, High School, and Mr. Albert S. Cragin, principal of the Jenkins school, have been filled as follows : Miss Ella Knight, Miss Marion White and Miss Lois M. Thompson.
Courses of Study.
No attempt has been made to make radical changes in our course of study. The course in reading, which was introduced into the first grade last year has been extended into the second and will be extended through the higher grades as times goes. Supplementary reading material has been added to the reading course in the upper grades. There is, however, a need for many more supplementary readers for the grades, and these should be purchased as soon as the state of your finances will allow. It is quite as important to teach the child what to read, as to teach him how to read, and selections from the masters of English should be placed in his hands as soon as he is able to read them understandingly. We should teach the child how to read in the first five or six grades, and then devote a large part of the time commonly spent on that process, in teaching some of the simple things in literature.
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New arithmetics have been introduced and consequently some modifications in the course have been made. Every effort is be- ing made to make the number work as practical as possible.
The work in language has been modified and more emphasis placed on written work in all the grades. We cannot expect to make poets or novelists of our boys and girls, but the work in language should be of such a quality as to enable them to use correct English in all of their written exercises. This can be accomplished only by long continued and conscientious work in written English. In many instances the pupils hear incorrect English at home, and on the playgrounds, and the teachers are obliged to counteract the impressions thus formed.
In all language exercises opportunity should be given for the greatest possible individuality on the part of the pupil. The language exercise must be related to the child's interests. What a child doesn't know about his pet animals and pet plants, the things he has reared and fed, or the numerous other childish things he is interested in, is scarcely worth knowing; when he begins to tell of these with tongue or pen, the story glows with warmth and individuality. A course that attempts to substitute for such work, reproduction, etc., defeats its own end.
High School.
Few changes have been made in the high school work. The Commercial Department has become well established, and is proving a valuable acquisition to the school. The course has been so arranged as to give a good practical knowledge of busi- ness and business methods, and at the same time give the pupil a broad, general education. The object of this course is not to provide an avenue of escape to the deficient or indifferent pupils, but rather to provide an opportunity to acquire a knowledge of business methods together with a good general education.
Accomodations.
The present crowded condition of the high school prevents
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it from doing its best possible work. The main room can ac- comodate about 55 pupils comfortably. There are now in that
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