USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1882-1886 > Part 53
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We give below a few returns, in detail, showing the high- est scores among the 47 returns above reported.
Names
Black Bass.
Pickerel.
Perch Perch laneous
No.
Total lbs. Weight.
Edmond Sweetser.
12
16
2 7
260 167
45
333
13616
E. w. Parks ...
15
15
204
129
W. S: Greenough.
8
119
19
62
23
231
125
D. W. Ferguson.
3
62
12
0
0
77
89
Herbert Hudson
3
2.2
4
211
122
362
79
J. C. Hartshorne
12
9
20
13
12
66
541/4
Geo. H. Smith
5
1
5
110
18
139
50
Jos. Morton.
21
10
0
0
35
47
Should we again attempt to pay our respects to the one hundred and thirty-three delinquent holders of permits, words would fail us, and we leave them to the accusations of their own consciences.
1
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL PARKER, JR., WILL H. WILEY, CHARLES H. DAVIS,
Fish Committee.
1
White!
Red
Miscel-
Total
0
143
POLICE AND NIGHT WATCH REPORT. i
WAKEFIELD, March, 1, 1887.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN :- The report of the Police Department and . Night Watch, from March 1st, 1886, to March 1st, 1887 is herewith respectfully submitted :
Whole number of arrests, 61
Drunkenness,
15
Assault,
6
Larceny,
6
Liquor nuisance,
8
Vagrancy,
6
Disturbing the peace,
4
Malicious mischief,
3
Threatening bodily harm,
2
Concealing mortgaged property,
2
Keeping unlicensed dogs,
3
Obtaining goods by false pretense,. .
2
Allowing dog to go at large after notice,
1
Non support of children,
1
Trespass and Bastardy, one each,
2
Committed to Danvers Hospital,
6
Furnished with lodging at Lockup during year,
161
CHARLES H. DAVIS,
Chief of Police.
144
Report of the Night Watch to the Chief of Police :
Arrests made,
8
Disturbances suppressed,
9
Places of business found open,
12
People assisted home,
13
People assisted in finding lodging,
9
Alarm of fire given,
1
Stray team and stray horse found,
2
Nothing reported from Thomas L. Whelan.
JOHN F. WHITING, R. H. MITCHELL,
Night Watch.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
-
147
1
REPORT.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Wakefield :
In obedience to the requirements of law, the School Committee have the honor to, submit the following report for the year commencing March 1st, 1886, and ending February 28th, 1887.
At the commencement of the present school year the Committee were embarrassed in the discharge of their official duties by the action of the town, taken at its annual meeting in April, by refusing to appropriate a sufficient sum of money to defray the necessary school expenses, as the schools were then organized, without reducing the salary of the teachers, or the number of school weeks.
As the Committee could not legally expend a larger amount of money than was appropriated for the purpose, they were compelled either to reduce the salaries of the teachers or shorten the school term for the year. There was no valid or substantial reason known to the Committee which would justify them in "cutting down" the teachers' salaries. In our last annual report it was clearly shown, by figures, that the teachers in the public schools of Wakefield did not receive larger salaries than those employed in neighboring towns, and reducing the number of school weeks would practically, "cut down" their yearly income.
It was evident to the Committee, if the salaries, or the number of school weeks were reduced, the town would eventually lose the services of its most useful and valuable
148
teachers, and the children be deprived of attending school the usual length of time, a privilege which their needs require, and the town in its present financial prosperity was able to furnish.
The Committee, under these difficult and embarrassing circumstances, after mature and thoughtful consideration, acting for the good of the greatest number, reduced the salaries of all teachers who received over $360 a year, a given per cent., and allowed the school year to remain as previously established.
According to the usual custom of the Committee, at their first meeting in April, the teachers were notified of their appointment, the salaries they were to receive, and the date they were to commence their schools.
They did not immediately accept their appointments, but at an early day they requested, in a friendly and courteous manner, to' know why their salaries had been reduced. They were informed of the necessity which compelled the Committee to make the reduction, and were assured, if the town should appropriate, at a meeting then called, an addi- tional sum of money sufficient for the purpose, their salaries should be restored. The teachers accepted their positions and the several schools commenced April 26th, one week later than was originally intended. The town, with much unanimity, appropriated an additional fifteen hundred dollars for necessary school expenses, which enabled the Committee to restore the salaries of the teachers.
The Committee have considered it advisable to fully explain their action and the position of the teachers in this matter for the purpose of correcting the report which has been freely circulated, not 'only within the limits of the town, but throughout the country, that the school teachers of Wakefield had "struck." No strike was contemplated, and none occurred.
The object and purpose of our public schools can be sub-
1
149
stantially realized only by the employment of competent and qualified teachers, and to secure and retain such teachers we must pay them the salaries they would receive in other places for like services, for they are always in demand, and, being human, their ears are open to hear a "louder call". During the last year some of our best and most experienced teachers had received calls to teach in the public schools of the neighboring cities and towns with an increase of salary, and they were induced to remain only by advancing their pay. As frequent change of teachers is detrimental to the best interests of the schools it should be avoided when the services of a good teacher are to be lost only for the want of a few dollars. To use a commercial phrase, the market is over-stocked with candidates seeking employment in the profession of teaching, therefore, there is not so much diffi- culty to find a person to occupy a teacher's position as there is to acceptably fill it. In every branch of business where there is a surplus of laborers, those who possess the best natural and acquired abilities, generally obtain employ- ment and receive the highest pay for their labor. This principle is equally true in the department of education, therefore if the town would choose from the large army of teachers now in the field those who are best qualified by education, experience, and physical strength to teach, and it should select no others, it will be obliged to pay them the market price for their services.
LAWS RELATING TO THE ATTENDANCE AND EM- PLOYMENT OF CHILDREN.
The attention of parents and all other persons who have the control and management of children between the ages of eight and fourteen years, is directed to the laws-Chapters 47 and 48 of the Public Statutes-relating to the attendance of such children at school and their employment in certain occupations.
150
The laws require that all children, between those ages, of . sufficient physical and mental condition, shall annually attend some private or public school where they reside, at least twenty weeks in the year, taught by teachers ap- proved by the School Committee of the place, and prohibits their employment in any manufactory, mechanical or mer- cantile establishment, unless they have attended some school, as previously mentioned, twenty weeks during the year preceding such employment.
Every person who violates these laws will, upon convic- tion, be liable to pay a fine of twenty or fifty dollars. It is regretted that many parents, who are limited in their pecuni- ary circumstances, are obliged from necessity to limit the opportunities of their children in the school privileges provided by law, but it is more to be regretted when these privileges are sometimes abridged from indifference and mercenary motives, or to gratify the youthful notions of the unthoughtful child.
SCHOOL POLICY OF THE STATE.
It has been the policy of this Commonwealth from its colonial germ to its present development, to provide, by legislative enactments for the public education of every child. As the foundation of our Common School system rests upon the law of 1647, we include it in our report, together with its preamble.
"It being one of the chief points of Satan to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures as in former times, keeping them in unknown tongues, so in these latter times, by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded and corrupted with false glosses of Deceivers .to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers, in Church and Commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors. It is therefore ordained by this Court and
151
authority thereof, that every Township within this Jurisdic- tion, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty house-holders, shall then, forthwith, appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to them, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children or by the Inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint. Provided that those which send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns."
This law was the small and limited beginning of the great and wide-spread system of public education which now pre- vails throughout this country .. It is evident there is a growing sentiment and purpose in particular localities and among a certain class of citizens to withdraw their children from the educational privileges and advantages of our com- mon schools, and educate them in those schools privately conducted and maintained by voluntary subscriptions, or assessments. The greatest and principal advantage which our free system of schools has over any other school system, consist's in the right and privilege of all children of a certain age residing in town, irrespective of wealth, condition, or color, to attend the public schools "without money and. without price." The Committee do not oppose or under- value private schools, but for the great body of children they believe that the public schools afford superior opportu- nities and advantages for obtaining an education which will better prepare them to perform the duties of American citi- zenship.
The Committee cannot concur in the opinion, occasionally ,expressed, that the man who' trundles a wheelbarrow, uses a .shovel, or is employed in any manual labor, should be suffi- ciently educated only to ascertain the amount of his weekly wages, or to read his receipt bill and write his name thereto.
152
The fact is well recognized by all intelligent and patriotic men, that the stability of the government largely depends upon the intelligence and morality of the laboring class of our citizens, and no system provides such beneficent means for the education of all children, preparatory to the best citizen- ship, as the system of public schools. The organization and growth of this government sufficiently proves the practical importance of preserving intact this system. Therefore, that citizen does well to reverence the system which provides a free and universal education for all persons. He does BETTER when he cherishes that system as the best ever devised by man for the education of American citizens. He does BEST when he supports that system by his personal exertion and public influence.
This sentiment is constantly growing in the public mind as the various laws, through which the public speak, relat- ing to education, provide from year to year additional means for removing obstacles which prevent the poorest person from receiving equal benefit from the Common Schools. Valuable information can be obtained on this subject by comparing the law of 1647 with the laws now in force, and more especially with the law of 1884, which is here appended.
"The School Committee of every city and town shall purchase, at the expense of such city or town, text-books and other school supplies used in the public schools; and said text books and supplies shall be loaned to the pupils of said public schools, free of charge, subject to such rules and regulations as to care and custody, as the School Committee may prescribe."
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF WAKEFIELD.
The first appropriation for the support of schools by the town, which then included within its boundary lines Reading and North Reading, was made in 1693, and the sum appro-
153
priated was seven pounds, equal in value to thirty-four dollars, and that was divided between three schools, the two extremes being six miles apart. The last appropriation by the town for the same purpose, Reading and North Reading excluded from its territorial limits, was made in 1886, and the sum appropriated was nineteen thousand dol- lars divided between twenty-three schools. This statement is made for the purpose of showing to what proportions the public school system has attained from so small a beginning. Twenty-three schools are at the present time organized in town, giving employment to twenty-eight teachers and edu- cating ten hundred and sixty-nine children, and divided into High, Grammar, Intermediate and Primary grades.
Schools are graded only in those localities where the num- ber, age and qualifications of the children render a division into grades necessary, for the purpose of securing for them the largest benefit from their school privileges. The truth is well established, that the improvement of those scholars who attend a graded school is more uniform and marked, in the same period of time, than those scholars who comprise a mixed school, but this division, however important, cannot be made practical in the thinly populated districts of the town.
The Committee do not think it necessary to individualize the different schools, but to speak of them collectively. It is pleasing to report that a harmonious and friendly feeling has existed between the several teachers and the scholars under their charge during the year, which has materially assisted the Committee in their duties, and conduced for both teachers aud scholars to realize the best results from their combined labors.
As the proficiency of the scholars in thier studies largely de- pends upon their application to study, their punctual . attend- ance at school, their observance of order, and their strength of memory, there is a marked distinction observed among
154
he pupils of the several schools in the progress they made in knowledge during the year.
The parents and guardians of those children who are indif- ferent to their school privileges and without ambition to learn, should encourage them to overcome their indifference and create in them an ambitious desire to improve their mental faculties, for their counsels have an influential and a directing power which they cannot easily resist.
The Committee have happily observed that the scholars have generally appreciated and improved their opportunities, and their appearance and improvement compares favorably with any preceding year. The several teachers have labored to fulfil their obligations and perform their respective duties with the purpose to advance in knowledge and moral im- provement the youth committed to their care and attention. All teachers have not been equally useful or accomplished equal success in their several positions, for their qualifica- tions are diversified, but all have manifested a zeal in their work which entitles them to our favorable attention.
The Committee are convinced that the Primary grade of schools should receive as much consideration and support from the authorities, as the schools of a higher order, for they believe "as the twig is bent the tree inclines." Acting upon this principle the salaries of the principal teachers of the Primary Schools, who had been called to more lucrative positions in neighboring cities, have been increased in order to retain their services. It is not the opinion of the Com- mittee that anybody and everybody can teach a primary school, which opinion is sometimes expressed by intelligent persons. A teacher of this grade, besides other qualifica- tions, requires a greater fund of natural endowments-as wit, tact, invention, vim,-than the teacher of any other grade. Professor Hoyt well and truly says : "It is a mis- taken notion that, while the highest order of talent and acquisition is requisite in the instruction of advanced schol-
155
ars, anybody will do for beginners. The poet has expressed no truer thought than that contained in the simple line, 'The child is father of the man.' A teacher of small chil- dren should be a sort of locomotive patent office, full of "all manner" of inventions. The young love novelty as much as they hate routine. To secure their interest, therefore, one .must excite their astonishment and admiration, every hour of every day in the week with some 'new thing under the sun.' The teacher of the primary school sweetens or em- bitters the waters at the fountain. An infusion which would poison the heart and life of the child, might be poured into the man without especial harm. There is no grace, however winning, no wisdom, however exalted, which may not find full scope for its highest exercise, even in an infant school."
A small increase has been made in the salaries of some of the teachers in the Intermediate schools upon the principle that the "laborer is worthy of his hire," and also in conform- ity with the rule of the Committee to increase the salaries of those teachers who have rendered long and successful service.
An assistant teacher has been required and continued in the Advanced Grammar school, and her salary, which was not in proportion to her services, and much below a living rate, was sufficiently increased to more equalize the money she received for her labor performed, and to relieve the town of the responsibility, if she failed to realize the happi - ness contained in the Scriptural injunction, "Owe no man anything."
The High School was organized in 1845, and began its life in a small building, 20x30, situated on Lafayette street. with an average attendance of twenty-eight scholars during the year. It struggled, during its early years, for existence, but under the parental and fostering care of the town, it has grown into one of the solid and prosperous schools of learn- ing. In sight of the cradle in which its infancy was rocked,
156
it lives and flourishes in a building beautiful in proportions and architecture, and sends out a radiating influence of moral power which is recognized and felt through the entire town. It no longer creeps with a hesitating movement, but walks strongly and proudly in the full strength of maturity. It provides means for all to obtain a practical and finished edu- cation and to establish a character for true manliness and future usefulness. At the close of the Summer term Mr. Walter C. Hill and Miss Martha Keith resigned their situa- tions as Principal and Assistant. These teachers occupied their positions for several years and established for them- selves a valuable reputation as successful and thorough instructors, and the scholars advanced rapidly in knowledge while under their tuition. It was soon publicly known that these vacancies in the High School existed, and the Com- mittee were deluged with written applications from anxious persons, and besieged with persistent applicants coming from every section of the country, who were ready and desirous to fill the vacant situations. The Committee did not quietly sit down, and without effort engage the services of those teachers who were only seeking a job, and willing to hire out on trial, pay or no pay, according to their success or failure, but investigated, examined and employed those teachers who were successfully teaching in pleasant and lucrative situations, and the present healthy condition of the school proves the wisdom of their choice. Mr. E. D. Rus- sell, a graduate of Harvard College and principal of Brad- ford High School, and Miss L. I. Marion Butterfield, a graduate of Boston University and first assistant teacher in the Wellesley High School, were appointed to the vacant positions. Mr. C. S. Jackson continues as sub-master.
The High School Cadets, a military organization com- posed of the boys belonging to the school, is under the command of Capt. Ernest A. Knight, and the company has made excellent proficiency in military drill under his
157
instruction. The Company meet twice a week, in the after- noon, for military exercise, and a commendable ambition is manifested by all the members to become proficient in the manual ofarms. The exercise is a school in itself, and excites enthusiasm in the ambitious, or indolent boy, and teaches him obedience, attention, exactness, organization, prompt- ness, manliness, qualifications which strengthen and build him into a live, active man. The Company has relied on its own pecuniary resources for support, but it may be necessary for the town to make a small appropriation to assist it in de- fraying the future expenses for the Armory, or some other place for drilling.
The following changes have been made in the Course of Study :
Latin is begun the first year of the course, and Greek the second. The study of English, which is to be continued throughout the entire course, began in the last half of the first year, with English Composition. Physics, which is thus displaced, will be studied by the second year's class, and, together with Geometry, continue through the year. Otherwise the course has not been materially changed. New text-books introduced are - Jones' Latin Lessons, Halsey's Cæsar, La France, Irving's Sketch Book, and Avery's Chemistry .- The only book that has been discarded, however, is Steele's Chemistry.
Comparing the number of scholars attending the High School in 1882, with the numbers in 1887, and estimating the future increase to be in the same proportion as during the time mentioned, it will be seen that additional accom- modations for the scholars cannot, with propriety, longer be deferred. The number of scholars belonging to the school in 1882 was sixty - eight; 1883, seventy - four; 1884, seventy-four; 1885, eighty-nine; 1886, one hundred and five; and 1887, one hundred and sixteen. The seating capacity of the main room is fully occupied, and the recita-
158
tion rooms are crowded beyond their capacity to comfortably and conveniently accommodate the scholars now using them. If some of the larger classes could be divided into two divisions so that a greater portion of the class could take a more active part in the 'recitation, and receive more atten- tion from the teachers, better and more profitable results would be obtained from their labors. If the necessary division of the classes should be made, and suitable recita- tion rooms provided, the change would result in a marked and visible improvement, for large classes pressed into a room of limited dimensions are generally controlled with difficulty, for the disorderly scholars take advantage of every circumstance of their crowded condition, and the dull and unambitious ones are not stimulated to interest them- selves in their duties by frequent rehearsals of their lessons before their teachers, and a spirit of indifference and mental drowsiness is likely to develop itself throughout the school. To overcome and remove the existing difficulties, it is rec- ommended that the entire building, or at least all that portion above the first story, should be occupied by the High School, and other provision made for the First Centre Grammar School and Committee.
The largest class graduated last year since the organiza- tion of the school, numbering thirty scholars. The gradu- ating exercises occurred on the evening of June 30th, in the Town Hall. An appreciative audience gathered and filled the hall to hear and witness the exercises, which the gradu- ates performed with credit to themselves, the school, and the town.
The following is the programme of the graduating exercises :
PROGRAMME.
CHORUS .- "Beneath the Shades."
· Meyerbeer.
SALUTATORY POEM .- "Gradatim." Miss Sweetser.
SCENE FROM "JULIUS CAESAR." Shakspeare.
R. G. Eaton, S. P. White.
/
,
/ 159
RECITATION .- "The Moor's Revenge.".
ESSAY .- "High School Graduates." CALISTHENICS. LATIN DECLAMATION .- Cicero against Catiline.
. Mickiewiez. Miss Hurley. Miss Perry.
CLASS PROPHECY.
PIANO DUET .- Vienna Galop.
DIALOGUE .- "Nobility,"
ESSAY .- "An Outlook." .
MILITARY DRILL.
CHORUS .- "Wandering Song."
Miss Fay. Miss Fitzgerald, Miss Godfrey, G. A. Packard. § Miss Mansfield, Miss Skinner. § Miss Nott, ¿ G. F. O'Connall. . Miss Hamilton.
"ODE TO THE PASSIONS." Collins.
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