USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1882-1886 > Part 42
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such young ladies the amount of their salaries, which they kindly gave, and we give this information as furnished us :
No. 1, $12 per week; No. 2, $15 per week; No. 3, $60 per month ; No. 4, $13 per week; No. 5, $15 per week. This means fifty-two weeks pay for fifty weeks work, in each instance. No one of the five would claim that her work is as arduous as that of the average school teacher. Tested by the judgment of the Trustees of the Public Library in the employment of a Librarian they are not. That most excel- lent lady and valuable public servant receives a salary of four hundred dollars per year for six hundred hours public duty annually, while the teachers are obliged to be at their sta- tions just double the number of hours each year, ten of whom have received a smaller stipend than the Librarian for the last year. Both the teachers and the librarian have duties outside those mentioned, and for the purposes of this dis- cussion we allow one to offset the other.
From 1864 to 1883, the expenses of the Fire Department were increased from $436.64 to $6,903.79 including $3,000 for hydrants ; during the same period the expenses of the Town House increased from five dollars twenty-one cents ($5.21) to eleven hundred and ninety-five dollars and fifty- five cents ($1195.55), while for seven of the intervening years the Town House was a source of income. In 1864 the expenses of the Public Library were two hundred and nine- ty dollars and forty-six cents ($290.46), and in 1884, nine hundred twenty-eight dollars and sixty-nine cents ($928.69). For the purpose of a more comprehensive comparison, we have prepared the following table which speaks for itself.
168
Year
Poor.
Fire.
Iligh'ys.
Town House
Library.
Schools.
1864
$1210 39
$ 436 64
$2013 28
$ 5 21
8 290 46
$4533 65
1865
1540 25
1090 73
1888 37
68 25 inc.
361 17
4585 92
1866
2851 23
906 76
1558 63
116 67 inc.
593 64
5779 94
1867
3524 64
1282 53
2187 59
7 70 inc.
346 80
8693 25
1868
2701 33
997 61
2409 08
58 85 inc.
584 23
6842 22
1869
3000 75
10/0 20
3970 62
54 10 inc.
379 91
7382 20
1870
3141 46
1922 79
4188 74
12 38 inc.
351 50
7332 72
1871
4611 70
2421 88
6438 60
123 99 inc.
926 02
8024 09
1872
4376 14
2310 43
8100 03
594 28
1014 79
17272 30
1873
4608 12
3560 08
6166 89
1614 87
743 67
14830 09
1874
4576 62
4855 15
7062 85
846 86
896 43
16453 53
1875
4671 57
4657 39
3670 18
1026 54
806 00
13460 30
1876
5006 83
4062 38
3558 24
1777 04
¥01 11
14262 15
1877
5403 50
1913 25
3282 48
671 17
738 85
12220 01
1878
5597 01
2022 45
3244 34
440 87
959 55
13116 39
1879
5841 47
1841 12
3694 95
582 45
666 29
11507 95
1880
4993 44
1630 76
3399 61
468 99
666 03
13070 33
1881
2761 41
3723 95
3729 41
1307 10
668 77
13384 47
1882
3750 99
6594 21
4450 29
1343 63
772 00
15618 32
1883
4019 21
2498 80
4447 01
1023 89
862 90
19148 32
1884
5270 59
6903 79
5165 88
1195 55
928 69
18031 92
From this table it will be seen that the expenses for the care of the poor, increased from 1864 to 1884, four and three tenths (4.3) times ; for the extinguishment of fires, fifteen and eight tenths (15.8) times; for the repair of highways, two and five tenths (2,5) times ; for Town House expenses, two hundred and twenty-nine (229) times ; for the Public Library, three and one tenth (3.1) times, and for the maintenance of schools, three and nine tenths (3.9) times.
We have prepared this table with the endeavor to make a fair comparison of the expenses of the most important de- partments of our town government, and to show the actual expenses of the town in these departments during the same years as are covered by the report of the Investigating Com- mittee. On account of the different methods of making up the Town Reports, and from the fact that many of the
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169
amounts given are obtained by computation, mistakes may have occurred. We have left out of the account all new buildings and new streets, but have reckoned the cost of new fire engines, hose and hydrants. In a comparison with the fire department alone it would be fairer to add to the school expenses for 1884, the cost of books and supplies under for that year the late law. We believe these figures to be ac- curate, at any rate they are sufficiently so for all practical purposes of the comparison. And in view of the facts which an analysis of them afford, we are constrained to believe that neither the public good nor the welfare of the schools is the motive which actuates the complaints which have been so industriously circulated.
EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR.
At the Annual Meeting in 1885 the town appropriated for general school purposes the sum of sixteen thousand two hundred dollars ($16,200) ; for School Contingent the sum of fifteen hundred dollars ($1500), for the purchase of books and school supplies the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and at a special meeting six hundred dollars ($600) more.
Of the general appropriation the sum of sixteen thousand one hundred and sixty dollars and ninety - four cents ($16,170.94) has been expended ; for teachers' salaries the sum of fourteen thousand one hundred and eighty-six dollars and twenty cents ($14,186.20) ; for janitors' services the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars and two cents ($950.02) and for fuel the sum of ten hundred and twenty- four dollars and seventy-two cents ($1024.72), leaving a balance of thirty-nine dollars and six cents ($39.06) unex- pended.
The whole sum appropriated for School Contingent, to- gether with seventy - one dollars and sixty - seven cents ($71 67) received from the Mass. State School Fund and forty-eight dollars ($48) for tuition, has been expended, and
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170
there are now outstanding and unpaid bills for incidental and miscellaneous expenses of the schools to the amount of two hundred and thirty-five dollars and ninety - nine cents ($235.99), making the total expenditure for School Contin- gent the sum of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five dollars and sixty-six cents ($1855.66).
To the appropriation for Text Books and Supplies made at the Annual Meeting, was added an appropriation of six hundred dollars ($600), at a special meeting later in the year, making the total appropriation for books and supplies for the year the sum of sixteen hundred dollars ($1600). The whole of this sum has been expended and there are out- standing and unpaid bills to the amount of thirty-eight dollars and nineteen cents ($38.19), making the total expenditure for the above named purpose sixteen hundred and thirty-eight dollars and nineteen cents ($1638.19).
For concreting the yards and walks about the school houses the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) was raised, of which the sum of three hundred and eighty-six dollars and seventeen cents ($386.17) has been expended, leaving a balance unexpended of one hundred and thirteen dollars and eighty-three cents ($113.83).
In the Report of last year we recommended the raising of fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) for School Contingent ex- penses and the sum of twelve hundred dollars ($1200) for books and supplies. In the discussion which ensued, upon the appropriation for books, at the Town Meeting, we stated that our figures upon the books and supplies were fifteen hundred dollars ($1500), but that we desired to get through with less, if it were possible, and therefore recommended the appropriation of twelve hundred dollars ($1200). The result has shown that our estimate of expenses was compara- tively accurate, and exemplified the wisdom of giving some heed to the judgment of men who had some knowledge of the needs of any department, instead of those men who know practically nothing about them.
171 FREE TEXT BOOKS.
The time has not yet come when the wisdom of the law compelling towns to furnish free text books to the schools can be determined. It is, as yet, an experiment. Our observation and experience certainly show many things in its favor. We feel sure that it has a strong tendency to increase the attendance, especially in the higher grades of schools where the expense of books and supplies is greatest. The Secretary of the State Board of Education gives, in his judgment, an increase of ten per cent. throughout the State. This is a greater increase than we should estimate in this town, but of course the real reasons why there is an increase cannot be accurately ascertained.
At the beginning of the year we procured the Annual Reports of all the cities and towns in Middlesex County and of many cities and towns outside of the County, for the pur- pose of obtaining the views of the various School Committees and also of ascertaining the expense attending the execution of this law, and instituting a comparison between our own and other towns, and of laying the same before the town.
In attempting the work we found that so many elements entered into the consideration that it was, with the informa- tion contained in the Reports, impossible to make any intel- ligent or valuable comparison. The condition of the towns when the law went into effect, the time of promotion, the time to which the Reports were made, the number of the scholars in the different grades, the methods of grading as shown by the Reports, the different statistics in the reports, and the evident incompleteness of many, all tended to make the work impossible for us, however much we desired it. From what we were enabled to gather from these reports, and from inquiries of Committee and Superintendents within the last few months we are satisfied that we have pursued practically the same course as other towns, and that the ex- pense to our town since the law went into effect to the end
172
of the present fiscal year, compares favorably with that of other towns similarly situated. No valuable comparison of expense can be made till the law has been in force a series of years, and Committees have made similar observations and reported statistics covering the same ground.
Our course has been to supply what, in our judgment, the scholars needed ; that was the measure of our duty under the law, nothing more and nothing less. In the purchase and . distribution we have continued the same methods as were adopted at the outset, and find that the work is done as well as by any other method which we could devise and carry out. No doubt there have been some little leaks, some wasteful- ness perhaps, but this could not be avoided, without a mi- nuteness of supervision on the part of the Committee which it was impossible for us to give. We believe some saving could be made in this branch of expenditure under the charge of a Superintendent.
We append hereto a statement of the books and articles purchased during the year and prices paid therefor, similar to the one contained in the Report of last year, and invite the attention of the town to the same.
TEXT BOOKS.
Books.
Number.
Price.
Amount
Warren's Physical Geograghy,
33
$1.13
$37.29
Common School Geography,
138
90
124.20
66 Primary
56
40
22,40
Swinton's Language Lessons,
194
28
54.32
English Grammar,
3
42
1.26
66
First Reader,
9
25 1-6 off
1.88
Outlines of History,
48
1.44
66 57.60
. ‘
English Literature,
8
1.12
8.96
.6
Composition,
5
33}
1.67
52
60 1-6 off
26.00
Perry's Bible Manual,
Barnes' U. S. History,
54
1.00
45.00
173
Books.
Number.
Price.
Amount.
Franklin's Written Arithmetic,
107
75
66.88
Elementary
13
35
3.79
66
Primary
4
20
67
Elementary Algebra,
27
90
20.25
Third Reader,
5
42
1.75
Fourth
25
54
11.25
..
New “
10
60
..
5.00
Fifth
107
90
80.25
Sixth 66
11
1.00
9.17
Worcester's N. P. Speller,
245
23
46.96
Loomis' Glee and Chorus Book,
22
84
66
15.40
Fourth Music Reader,
10
75
6.25
Int.
16
40
5.34
Music Chart,
5.50
4.59
Crittenden's Com. Arith ..
1.13 1-10 off
7.12
Otto's French Grammar,
2
1.14
2.28
Wentworth's Geometry,
1
1.25 1-6 off
1.04
Steele's Geology,
3
1.00
2.50
Les Princes De L'Art
1
1.05
Classical Atlas,
13
2.00 1-6 off 21.67
Greenough's Virgil,
13
1.60
17.34
Harkness' Latin Grammar,
31
1.12
28.94
Meservey's Bk .- keeping Books, S. and D.,
3
80
6.
2.00
66
S. E.,
17
50
..
7.09
Gage's Physics,
18
1.12
16.80
Hilton's Greek Lessons,
12
48
4.80
Monroe's Ad. First Reader,
35
17
5.95
Xenophon's Anabasis,
10
1.50 1-6 off
12.50
Lippincott's First Reader,
18
20
66
3.00
Merchant of Venice,
29
45
66
10.88
Julius Caesar,
29
45
10.88
Classical Dictionary,
1
3.18
Physiology,
1
90
Laws of Health,
23
55
13.65
Walker's Physiology,
.51
1.00, $51.00
Cr. by old bks. 9.60 41.40
Teachers' ..
19
75 1-6 off
11.88
Canterbury Tales,
26
25
6.50
Teachers' Account Book,
- 12
Paradise Lost,
24
21
5.04
66 Bks. 1 & 2,
5
30
1.50
Alden's Science of Gov't.
36
1.00 1-6 off
30.00
..
66
66
174
Books.
Number.
Price.
Amount.
A. & G. Cicero,
17
1.12 1-6 off
15.87
Greek Grammar, 66
14
1.50
17.50
Crosby,
1
1.30
Jones' Latin Prose,
25
1.00 1-4 off
18.75
Harkness' " .
1.05 1-6 off
88
Invoice Book,
2.33
Nautical Almanac,
1.00
Key to Book-keeping,
80
Classics,
29
10
$6
2.42
$988.00
SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Copy Books,
31 8-12 dozen at $.70
$22.17
66
55 9-12 dozen at 1 00
55.75
Drawing Books,
32 8-12
.84 1-6 off
22.87
23 6-12
1.44 1-6 off
28.20
66
6 6
15 3-12 66 1.80
22.87
Slate Pencils,
35.00
Lead. Pencils,
6.25
Crayons.
15.75
Pens,
14.80
Sponges,
4.50
Call Bell,
68
Erasers Black board,
14.00
Rubber,
10.00
Ink and kegs,
21.70
Blank Composition Books
86.62
Examination Paper,
72.85
Practice Paper, .
5.85
Spelling Blanks,
19.50
Slates,
21.50
Chemicals for High School,
11.50
Apparatus for
21.60
Report Cards, ..
12.50
Bartley's Record Book No. 1, 18 p. 60 1-6
9.00
W. W. Bessey, services as messenger,
56.50
Object blocks for Primary School,
4.00
Expressing,
11.10
Mucilage,
10
Supplies, Geo. F. King & Merrill,
21.03
$628.19
.
175
TEMPERANCE.
The Legislature of 1885 enacted the following Law :
CHAPTER 332.
An Act requiring Physiology and Hygiene to be taught in the Public Schools.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows :-
SECTION. 1. Physiology and Hygiene, which in both divisions of the subject, shall include special instruction as to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics on the human system, shall be taught as a regular branch of study to all pupils in all schools supported wholly or in part by public money, except special schools maintained solely for instruction in particular branches, such as drawing, me- chanics, art, and like studies. All acts or parts of acts relating to the qualifications of teachers in the public schools shall apply to the branch of study prescribed in this act.
SECT. 2. All penalties now fixed for neglect to provide instruction in the branches of study now prescribed by law shall apply to the branch of study prescribed in Section one.
, SECT. 3. This act shall take effect on the first day of August in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-five.
Approved, June 16, 1885.
The enactment of this law was procured almost wholly by the efforts of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and kindred organizations, and its purpose was to impress upon the minds of the young the evil effects of the use of alcohol, tobacco and other stimulants and narcotics upon the human system, to the end that early in life they might be educated and warned, and thus escape the long train of miseries which inevitably follows in the wake of their continued use.
This law, not only added somewhat to the expense of
176
books, but raised very serious questions of law and duty, and added considerable responsibility and labor in the choice of text books and methods of executing the law. We were at once flooded with instructions as to our duty, bol- stered by opinions from distinguished lawyers, judges and legislators, from our own state, Maine, New York and sev- eral of the Western States, and also with a large number of text books for our examination, each vouched for and recom- mended by persons of distinction and in many cases high in authority. From the chaos of opinion which ensued we endeavored to extricate ourselves by endeavoring to ascer- tain the spirit and purpose of the Legislature and then enforce that spirit and purpose in the most practical way we could devise.
We required all teachers, not already fitted to teach such subjects, to prepare themselves at once. We determined that the most effective way to teach these subjects would be in the higher grades to use text books in connection with the general instruction upon Physiology and Hygiene, as already provided by law and the course of study, adding such lectures and oral instructions as would best imbue the minds of all scholars with the facts and importance of the subject. In the lower grades of schools it was deemed impracticable to use text books for scholars, so the teachers were supplied with text books of various authors and required to give oral instruction, every week, to all their scholars. This has been done, and we trust the result will be satisfactory. If only one boy or girl is saved it will pay for all the cost and labor.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
During the past year the school buildings have required the usual amount of repairs only, except in the instance of the East Ward Building, which was damaged by lightning during the summer. Had this occurred during the sessions of the school, judging from the course of the electric fluid,
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177
the result would have been the death or injury of a large number of the pupils. In structure, arrangement and sani- tary condition we believe our school buildings will compare favorably with those of adjoining towns. During the year Dr. D. F. Lincoln of the State Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity, in the course of an official inspection of some of the school buildings of the State, visited our town, and exam- ined five of our school buildings.
From his report we learn that he visited one hundred and seventy-two buildings in twenty-five cities and towns in the Commonwealth, including Boston, Newton, Brookline, Mel- rose, Fall River, Salem, Worcester, Springfield and Pitts- field. We take pleasure in copying his report in regard to our own town in full, as the opinion of a learned, impar- tial and independent official.
(REPORT.) WAKEFIELD.
Five buildings were visited. Their character on the whole was equal to the average.
The two central schools stand in a very spacious lot, on a moderate elevation, which gives perfect drainage. The paths are very good. In the south building there are four rooms and two staircases ; the model is peculiar. The heating was spoken of; coal stoves have been substituted for wood-burn- ers in both these buildings, proving so much more economical that it costs little more to heat both than it formerly did to heat one. The thermometers did not range high, but there was little complaint ; 64°, 68°, 67º, 67° at the usual height, while at the floors it marked 59º in the first room and 63º in the others. In each of the lower rooms there was a brick heated flue a foot square for ventilation ; in each of the upper ones, two of wood, 1 by 2 feet, suitably capped. The privies are not roomy enough, and the urinals are not as they should be in regard to cleanliness.
The north building has three rooms. Those on the first floor have heated ventilating flues which draw fairly well. In the second primary class the air was tolerably pure, the
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178
thermometer at 66°; but in the other (first primary ), the air seemed very bad; the temperature 72°; the children were dirtier than the others ; the ventilation not well planned. The upper room is twice the size, the temperature 72°; boards so arranged as to throw air directly upon the scholars as it enters windows. The plan of this building has been advantageously remodeled.
HIGH SCHOOL .- Three stories, with one large and several small rooms in each. The arrangement did not seem entire- ly judicious. Ventilators of considerable size are found in the large rooms, but there is difficulty in warming. The two recitation-rooms used by the High School are very close, have no ventilators, and contain 24 pupils each, or more ; they are not roomy enough. There is a peculiar arrangement of hours, giving a long recess of 30 minutes at noon to enable some of the scholars to get their dinners at the family hour. There is no doubt that the demands of school are made to conflict with those of nature in many high-school pupils in this State. Any arrangement which seeks to remedy this deserves praise.
The master remarks : "Out of a school of 87 pupils, 29 complain of headaches ; but only 9 attribute them partially to school work. Twenty-nine complain of susceptibility to · colds, 23 of whom attribute it to defective heating. Three are troubled with deafness, and six with defective sight, only one of whom thinks it due to school work."
A great improvement has been made by removing the boys' water closet from the cellar, though the place in the yard is not what it should be. The girls' water closet is in a perfectly close room in the cellar ; the room is reached by a very dark passage, and has a penetrating odor which is perceptible in the room above. The apparatus is a flush- tank.
HAMILTON .- Built in 1884, of brick, 4 rooms; neat in appearance. The halls are roomy, stairs good ; cellar very well lighted. Each room has 2 wooden ventilating flues, 20 by 10, leading by too many turns to a box at the ridgepole, and thence discharging upwards through a louvred cupola. The currents were unequal. A good model, on the whole.
FRANKLIN .- A wooden two-story house with 2 rooms, 12 years old ; the model is not modern. There are 4 others in the town built about the same time, 40 years ago. The
179
entry is very dark, and in the others the entries are less roomy, The upper room is rather large, and 14 feet high ; it had a neat, pleasant look; themometer 73º. One small ventilator. Cellar sometimes wet. Privies 13 feet distant ; no annoyance.
THE SCHOOLS.
An honored member of the State Board of Education, who has recently visited thirteen of our schools, said that the schools of Wakefield have improved as much in the last decade as in any town of his acquaintance, and that they were fully up to the average of schools in towns in which no superintendent is employed. Better than that we could not expect. While we are not as well qualified to judge as one whose life has been spent in schools, our own observation and judgment lead us to believe that our teachers, as a body, are as well qualified, faithful and devoted as can be found elsewhere, that the children of the town are as capable and alert as children in other towns, and that the progress made corresponds with the character of the teachers and scholars. . As we review the last decade and compare the schools of 1876 with those of 1886 a marked change is noticeable in their organization, system, grading, discipline, work, and in their general tone and character, and we do not hesitate to say that the change is an improvement. It has been a gradual one, scarcely observable from year to year, but nevertheless silently and without noise of hammer it has made its way. We do not propose to speak of the schools individually, except in a few instances, for special reasons.
HIGH SCHOOL.
At the close of the summer term Mr. Bacon, the Sub- master for the previous year, resigned to accept a situation as Professor in Beloit College. His place was filled by the choice of Mr. C. S. Jackson, who still occupies the position.
180
A few days after the commencement of the fall term Mr. Hill received an invitation to take charge of the High School in Newburyport at a salary of $2,000 per year. The Com- mittee felt that they ought not to take the risk of a change of principals at that time in order to save two hundred dol- lars, and his salary was increased to the amount first offered by Newburyport, and his services retained ; he was after- ward offered a substantial advance at Newburyport, but declined to entertain it. Miss Keith still retains her position as assistant. The September term opened with one hundred and fifteen scholars, but the number is now reduced to one hundred and five. The graduating class of this year numbers twenty-eight, the largest ever graduated, There are in the Advanced Grammar School sixty-six, of whom it is safe to say fifty-five will enter the High School in September, thus making a school of one hundred and thirty scholars probably. The present seating capacity of the main room is one hundred and fourteen ; the ante-rooms are not large enough to contain the present junior class or the incoming class. The scholars are jostled together upon settees in the sub-master's room, without desks or facilities for work, or places to put books. In this situation it is evident that good work cannot be done, and that discipline must be difficult. The seats are uncomfortable, the blackboard room unequal to the demand, and the air vicious and unhealthy. The time has come which the projectors of the High School Building had in mind when it was erected. It was intended for a High School Building and to be used for High School purposes and the High School will need the whole of it at the beginning of another year. Of course it could get along with either one of the rooms now occupied by Mrs. Wentworth or Miss Hamblin, but for the most effective work the whole building is needed. With the advent of the incoming class it is evident that the services of another teacher are demanded. This state of facts is laid before the town for its action and something should be done at once. The action suggested in the report
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