USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1893 > Part 2
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4.00
F. DeP. Tappan,
1.00
A. D. Mitchell,
4.55
C. C. Cundall,
.91
J. B. Peck, truant officer,
18.50 $1,096.95
32
FUEL.
T. S. Corson, coal,
$647.45
Henry T. Howard, wood,
14.53
Linus Ryder, charcoal,
17.00
John M. Hathaway,
wood,
10.00
Daniel W. Deane,
9.00
John P. Ellis,
5.00
Charles D. Sherman,
66
3.73
Andrew P. Jenney,
3.50
Manuel Joseph,
1.80
William D. Eldredge,
2.30
$714.31
THERE IS DUE THE TOWN:
From New Bedford,
$40.80
Fall River,
12.00
State paupers,
19.75
J. R. Taylor, Boston,
68.37
$140.92
Balance Incidental account,
$1,983.18
School account,
29.66
Poor account,
430.06 $2,442.90
Paid Highway from Incidental,
$1,435.02
" note since accounts closed,
1,002.00
2,437.02
Balance in treasury, $5.88
Present bonded debt, $3,000.00
Note New Bedford Institution for Savings, for schools, payable from taxes of 1894, 625.00
Total indebtedness, $3,625.00
JOHN I. BRYANT, EBEN AKIN, JR., JAMES L. GILLINGHAM,
Selectmen.
33
FAIRHAVEN, February 21st, 1894.
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Tax Collector, Treasurer, and Selectmen of the Town of Fairhaven for the year ending February 15th, 1894, with supplemental statement to February 21st, 1894, and believe them correct.
FRANCIS TABER, Auditors. ALBERT B. COLLINS,
To the Citizens of Fairhaven :
The Selectmen in the exercise of their duties have in their judgment taken such action as they believed was for the interests of the town in matters relating to high- ways.
At the last annual town meeting the Selectmen were authorized to hire and expend in construction or repair of
William street, $1,000.00
Harding road,
350.00
Kendrick avenue,
300.00
Sycamore street,
1,000.00
River avenue,
300.00 $2,950.00
All of these sums the assessors declined to include in the tax levy for 1893, and the Selectmen, being advised that a loan could not be obtained under the votes as passed and recorded, determined to construct the last four naned streets from the appropriation for highways, and, so far as that account fell short of the necessary amount, to trans- fer from the incidental account the amount necessary to balance the highway account. They do not claim to have
5
34
had any legal right to have done so. only the right which has arisen by custom in the transaction of municipal affairs, and in an honest endeavor to wisely carry out the will of the people. In arriving at this determination they were in part influenced by the belief that money expended for macadamizing streets which during the year would be broken up in laying the pipes of the waterworks would not be judiciously expended. Hence they did not cause repairs to be made upon William street.
They have caused the following expenditures to be made on the following streets :
Appropriation. Expenditure.
Harding road,
$350.00
$527.62
Excess. $177.62
Surplus.
Kendrick avenue,
300.00
350.57
50.57
Sycamore street,
1,000.00
988.26
$11.74
River avenue,
300.00
538.08
238.08
$1,950.00 $2,404.53
$466.27
$11.74
A net amount expended of $454.53 upon the four streets over and above the appropriations therefor; and without such additional expenditure the streets could not have been rendered reasonably safe for public use.
The net amount expended for general highway ex- penses, exclusive of the above, was $4,433.89 and an ad- ditional sum of $600 for stone for the crusher, which are now on hand uncrushed and unused. To balance the highway account it therefore became necessary to transfer from incidental account $1,435.02, but this sum is $515 less than the sum authorized to be expended on the above named streets, and for which no money was received by loan or tax levy.
During the past year the Selectmen have been called upon to make a number of special expenditures, for which
35
there was no appropriation, and which were not antici- pated by the board of 1892 in making the estimates for 1893; among them those of D. C. Ashley, Inspector of Cattle, Milk, and Provisions, $175. Dr. Ashley holds a similar position for the city of New Bedford, and July 15, 1893, his services were procured at a salary of $300 per annum. This appointment was made by reason of an existing law, and upon notice from the State Commission- er that unless the office was filled by the board an appoint- ment would be made by the Commissioner, at a salary not exceeding $500 ; A. B. Drake, for services as civil engi- neer, $276; the service rendered was in obtaining the grades of the streets of the town, and in making drawings of the same, which are now on file with the Town Clerk, pursuant to a vote of the last annual town meeting ; at the last annual town meeting, the layout of Linden avenue was accepted. The Board of Selectmen for 1892 assessed the damages to abutters caused by this layout, and the board of 1893 has been paid for such damages, $725.80.
At the close of the municipal year of 1892 timber had been purchased for the repair of the old New Bedford and Fair- haven bridge, but no special appropriation was made to complete such repairs, and in so doing the board expended $1,309.75, an excess over the expenditure on that bridge in 1892 of $523.76. Proceedings in the Superior Court were pending at the beginning of the municipal year of 1893 for the apportionment of the cost of construction of the new Coggeshall street bridge ; in protection of and in prosecution of the town's interest in this matter, the board have expended $293.96 for witness and counsel fees and incidental expenses attending the hearings on that subject ; and for repairs upon that bridge and approaches they have expended $102.96. In the matter of street lights, while the Selectmen made a contract with the New Bedford Gas & Edison Light Company for a year, at a less rate per
36
light than that paid in preceding years, yet the town add- ed nine new lights, and the expense for the total 80 lights now in use, was increased $232.38 over the amount paid in 1892 for 71 lights : a total expenditure for the forego- ing from incidental account, of $2,329.86.
The Selectmen believe that so far as known substantial- ly all indebtedness of the town incurred during the mu- nicipal year of 1893 has been paid, except the loan of $625, made for the benefit of the schools under the vote of a latė special town meeting, and which by that vote is payable from the tax levy of 1894.
The present known indebtedness of the town is :
Bonded debt,
$3,000.00
Loan for school purposes, 625.00
Assessment for construction of Cogges-
hall street bridge, 8,000.00 $11,625.00
Available assets :
Cash in treasury, $5.88
Cash in possession of Committee on Sale of Town Farm (estimated at) 15,000.00
Uncollected property taxes (estimated at) 1,340.00
Amounts due from other cities and
towns, 140.92 $16,486.80
Estimated balance of available assets,
exclusive of real estate, $4,861.80
The Selectmen were authorized at the last annual town meeting to make a contract with the Fairhaven Water Company for hydrant service for fire purposes. There are 82 hydrant services to be paid for in 1894 at a price not exceeding $25 per hydrant. A contract has not yet been
37
made, but the board for 1894 will be called upon to exe- cute such a contract. This will call for an appropriation of at least $2,000.
In deciding the amount of appropriation for inci- dental expenses, the necessary and probable expenditures of the special committee of the town on sewers should be considered.
The present board would recommend consideration by the citizens of the inadequate amount paid to their town officers for the services they are called upon to render. They therefore recommend that the following list of sala- ries be voted at the next annual town meeting : For Town Clerk and Treasurer, $600 ; for Chairman of Board of Selectmen, $200 ; for Clerk of Board of Selectmen, $175 ; and for a Selectman not acting either as chairman or clerk of the board, $150.
The board recommend the following appropriations for the year 1894 :
Highways,
$5,000.00
Poor,
2,500.00
Schools, salaries and inci-
dentals,
$7,000.00
Schools, repairs, 300.00
Schools, special loan of 1893, 625.00 7,925.00
Debt and interest, 2,210.00
Salaries,
1,500.00
General incidentals,
1,000.00
Street lights,
1,300.00
Fire department,
800.00
Fire department, hydrant service,
2,000.00 $24,235.00
-
2210. - 625;
2835, -
JOHN I. BRYANT, EBEN AKIN, JR., of
Selectmen
JAMES L. GILLINGHAM, Fairhaven.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
· TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN.
1893.
FAIRHAVEN, MASS. : FAIRHAVEN STAR PRINT. 1894.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
JOB C. TRIPP,
Term expires 1894.
WILLIAM P. MACOMBER,
Term expires 1894. Term expires 1895.
GEORGE W. STEVENS,
HENRY P. CROWELL, Term expires 1895.
C. C. CUNDALL, Term expires 1896.
JOHN T. HANNA, JR., Term expires 1896.
Report of School Committee.
To the Citizens of Fairhaven :
The School Committee would respectfully refer you to the annexed report of the Superintendent of Schools, show- ing the present condition of the schools and also contain- ing valuable suggestions, with other important information.
We present the following
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
COST OF SCHOOLS IN 1893-1894.
Teachers' salaries to Feb. 16, 1894,
$5,379.30
Janitors' salaries,
776.50
Fuel,
714.31
School books and supplies,
282.89
Incidentals,
1,094.95
Total cost of schools,
$8,247.95
Add deficit for 1892,
305.36
$8,553.31
Balance on hand,
29.66
$8,582.97
4
RESOURCES.
Appropriations. State fund,
County fund,
$7,975.00 233.55 374.42 $8,582.97
Your Committee would recommend for the ensuing year an appropriation of $7,000 for salaries, fuel, books, sup- plies and incidentals, and an appropriation of $300 for repairs and alterations on school houses.
In behalf of the Committee,
J. C. TRIPP, Secretary.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Fairhaven :
GENTLEMEN,-In accordance with the requirement of your regulations, I respectfully submit the following report of the schools under your charge. It covers the time from April 10, 1893, to Jan. 1, 1894, the period of my superintendency.
6
HIGH SCHOOL.
TEACHERS.
Wages per
month.
Whole No.
enrolled.
Average
member-
ship.
Average
attend-
ance.
Per cent. of
attend-
ance.
No. of weeks.
Etta L. Chapman,
$80
46
45
41
91
12
Margaret P. C. Tucker,
45
42
39
94
12
41
38
36
95
Winter. Spring. Fall.
16
RURAL SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Wages per
month.
Whole No.
enrolled.
Average
member-
ship.
Average
attend-
ance.
Per cent. of
attend-
ance.
No. of weeks.
OXFORD,
Kate Drew,
66
32
48
36
30
83
12
66
36
48
43
38
SS
14
NASKATUCKET,
Eliza D. Haney.
26
13
12
7
58
Winter.
12
66
26
15
13
11
S5
Spring. Fall.
122
Bertha H. Tirrell,
24
Florence Grinnell,
24
NEW BOSTON,
36
29
25
22
SS
Winter.
12
36
29
25
21
96
Spring. Fall.
123
Wm. P. Macomber.
32
32
SCONTICUT,
Minnie C. Ritter,
32
18
17
13
76
Winter.
12
66
32
22
20
17
85
Spring.
12
Annie Maxfield,
32
23
18
16
89
Fall.
14
$32
36
33
28
85
Winter. Spring. Fall.
12
Cordie Hillman,
24
17
14
13
93
Mary McAuliffe, 66
12
36
32
30
.28
93
Mary F. Lindsay,
12
TERM.
TERM.
-
7
ROGERS SCHOOL.
PRINCIPAL, LUCY F. WINCHESTER.
month.
Whole mumber
enrolled.
membership.
attendance.
Per cent. of
TERM.
No. of
weeks.
Room 8, L. F. Winchester, 66
50
22
21
19
90
Winter. Spring. Fall.
12
Room 7, Grace L. Bates,
40
30
27
26
96
Winter.
12
40
28
27
26
96
Spring. Fall.
12
40
32
28
26
93
77
Winter.
12
40
31
28
27
96
Spring. Fall.
15
Room 5, Sara L. Tallman, 66
36
35
34
30
88
Winter.
12
36
33
32
29
91
Spring. Fall.
15
Room 4, Annie C. Hart, 66
32
48
43
40
93
Spring. Fall.
14
Room 3, Idella M. Libby,
32
43
37
33
89
Spring. Fall.
14
Room 2, Alice Tallman,
24
24
24
18
75
Winter.
12
24
41
35
32
91
28
37
31
28
90
Spring. Fall.
14
Room 1, Louise M. Keith, 66
10
52
43
31
72
Winter.
94
40
58
46
39
85
12
40
64
51
45
88
Spring. Fall.
14
Grace Nickerson,
10
19
19
18
94
50
37
35
34
97
15
Room 6, Lillian E. Page, 66
40
:33
30
23
66
40
39
37
34
92
12
Annie C. Hart,
36
31
27
25
93
32
47
46
37
80
Winter.
12
Minnie C. Ritter,
36
36
33
30
91
Winter.
12
12
66
32
43
37
33
S9
32
41
37
29
78
attendance.
Average
Average
TEACHERS.
Wages per
12
50
15
11
12
12
8
ATTENDANCE.
The attendance this year in most cases compares favor- ably with last. We cannot expect our per cent. of at- tendance to be on a par with towns and cities which have no session when there is a severe storm. Some provision should be made for such an arrangement in our town. Many parents object to sending their children in a bad storm, especially the younger ones ; and not much can be accomplished with so many absent who must be taught the same subject the next day.
The attendance in our rural schools is not what it should be. Many parents seem to be ignorant of the law : 'Every parent having a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years shall cause such child to attend school at least thirty weeks of the school year, with an allowance of two weeks' time for absences not excused by the super - intendent or school committee, and for every neglect of such duty the person shall forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty dollars for the use of the public schools.'
No parent has a right to keep his child out of school for any reason except sickness. It is a duty the parent owes the child and the school of which he is a member, that the child be present at the beginning of every session.
A child should not be dismissed from school before the close of the session unless it is absolutely necessary. Ex- cuses are often sent by the parent for very trivial reasons and the child loses just so much thereby.
"Start in time, don't loiter on the way, be in your place when school begins, never waste a minute's time, stay until your work is done," - this is a good motto for every child in the public schools, and it will apply equally well to the other duties of life.
9 COURSE OF STUDY.
There was printed in the school report of last year a course of study covering a period of thirteen years. Nine of these years are devoted to the common branches of learning. Since many of our children never enter the High school, it has been and is our object to give them as broad an education as is possible in our lower schools. This course of study has been followed during the year with excellent results.
A definite course in nature study and physiology has been added, beginning with the fall term. These subjects will be mentioned later.
GRADES.
In the Rogers school there are nine grades, one in each room, with the exception of rooms seven and eight. Grades eight and nine are seated in the principal's room, grade eight reciting a part of its lessons in room seven and a part in room eight. Since these grades are not very large this arrangement proves very satisfactory.
In the Oxford school are the four primary grades. This school is intended for primary work only.
At Sconticut and Naskatucket, pupils above the seventh grade usually prefer coming in to the Rogers school. At present there are four grades at Naskatucket, and seven at Sconticut.
In the New Boston school there are nine grades. It being such a distance from the village few children ever enter the Rogers school but are promoted directly to the High school.
Pupils are not allowed to enter the Rogers school from the rural schools under the fifth grade.
2
IO
PROMOTION.
We have no rigid rule in regard to promotion. Pupils are promoted at the discretion of the teacher and by the advice of the Superintendent.
If a pupil has been in one grade two years, and yet he is not prepared to enter the next grade, it is many times thought best that the pupil be promoted. New work, new faces, perhaps another teacher may incite in him greater activity and be productive of great good.
As a matter of fact, in proportion to the number we have very few who remain in a grade more than one year.
There are many children greatly benefited by two years' work in one grade. Because a child is not promoted each year, the parent should not feel that he is dull, lacking in mental capacity, or that he never will be a scholar. The mental ability of the child is very largely dependent upon his condition physically.
Promotion to the High school is conditioned upon an average in each branch of study, of seventy per cent. for the year. Those pupils not attaining this average may at the discretion of the Superintendent be given written ex- aminations. In this case a mark of seventy per cent. on each paper will promote the pupil.
TEACHERS.
Few changes have been made in our corps of teachers the past year. This is one reason for the prosperous con- dition of our schools. I believe we should exercise great care in the selection of our teachers, and a good teacher once secured should not be allowed to leave us unless it is beyond our power to keep her.
Miss Sara L. Tallman of Room 5 resigned at the close of the spring term. Miss Annie C. Hart, teacher in
II
Room 4, was given that room and Miss Minnie C. Ritter of the Sconticut school transferred to Room 4.
The resignation of Miss Lila D. Haney at Naskatucket left a vacancy. This position was given to Miss Bertha Tirrell, a graduate of Bridgewater Normal school. Miss Annie Maxfield, a graduate of our High school and also of Bridgewater Normal school, was given the Sconticut school.
In October Miss Mary McAuliffe, teacher at New Bos- ton, resigned to accept a better position in New Bedford. Mr. William P. Macomber taught in that school for a few weeks until another teacher could be procured. Miss Mary F. Lindsay, a graduate of the Boston Normal school, was elected to fill the position and assumed her duties the first week in December.
The crowded condition of Room I at the Rogers school caused the appointment of Miss Grace Nickerson, a graduate of the High school, as assistant during the months of October and November. After Thanksgiving many of the little ones are absent on account of the winter weather.
Miss Margaret Tucker, who has taught the music in the high and grammar grades, was elected at the close of of the spring term as supervisor of music for the Rogers school.
Our present corps of teachers includes eight normal school graduates ; the other six are graduates of acade- mies, training schools, or high schools.
LIBRARY.
The Millicent Library, the gift of the son and daugh- ters of Mr. Henry H. Rogers, has not only proved a blessing to the town in general, but it has been of special benefit to the teachers and school children. Our re-
I2
sources in the line of supplementary reading and reference books have been very limited, but this difficulty for both teacher and pupil is now removed. Each teacher in the town is provided with a card on which she can take out four books, which may be kept four weeks. As the lib- rary is open every day, it is possible to have suitable refer- ence books at hand at all times. It has been recom- mended that a list of good books, adapted to the age of her pupils, be given by each teacher to her scholars. This has been done in some cases, with the result that the child is not so much pleased with the bright cover and fan- ciful title, as with the reading matter within, which quick- ens 'his imagination, stirs his intellect, and improves his memory.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The Rogers school building was thoroughly repaired during the summer vacation. The High school building is in as good condition as one would expect and very little money will have to be laid out there.
Slight repairs will have to be made at Sconticut and Naskatucket.
Our Oxford school has grown more in the last few years than any other, and our school room is too small. It is proposed that the dressing room be let into the school room, thus making it considerably larger, and a projection be built on the front to serve as entries. This can be done for a comparatively small sum.
13
REPORT OF TEACHER OF MUSIC.
Miss Etta L. Chapman, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR MADAM :- This year, beginning with September, is the first in which the music lessons of both primary and grammar grades of the Rogers school have been under the direction of one teacher. In the grammar grades, there has been a marked improvement during the fall and winter terms, both in the quality of work done and in the interest shown by the pupils.
The aim of the work is to give the pupil at the end of the primary course, the ability to read at sight simple ex- ercises and songs in all the different keys. After some preparatory work we use the "music chart" in these grades. All work is in unison. The first two grammar grades sing two part music, while the three upper grades sing in three parts. Here we use the "Normal Music Readers."
In the High school we work with chorus singing, using the "Independent Music Reader."
In the lower grades more attention is paid to accuracy of intervals and time, and in the upper grades we work especially for quality and expression.
The lessons of each grade of the Rogers school are given weekly by myself. During the week the lesson thus given is learned by the class with the regular teacher.
The grade teachers are doing careful work in this line. In the High school we have two lessons per week.
Respectfully submitted.
MARGARET P. C. TUCKER,
Teacher of Music.
I4
REPORT OF TRUANT OFFICER.
FAIRHAVEN, Feb. 10, 1894.
Miss Etta L. Chapman :
DEAR MADAM :- The total number of cases of truancy and absenteeism attended to by me during the year is seventy-four. The number called on twice or more. eighteen.
Most of these cases were absenteeism, the number of truants being three.
In calling on parents in regard to their children's absence, I have in most cases found them courteous and willing to cooperate with me. Lack of intelligence on the part of some has made the performance of my duties dif- ficult.
The excuse has been given that the child has not proper clothing, but a child whose clothing will admit of his being on the street can surely attend school.
Many other poor excuses have been made. The parent seems to forget that he is robbing his child of an education and of that which is necessary for good citizenship.
The teachers of the schools have faithfully worked with me in securing the attendance of the children.
JOSEPH B. PECK,
Truant Officer.
NATURE STUDY.
The aim and purpose of nature study is, first and pri- marily, to interest the child in the natural objects around him, to create and develop in him the love of nature. Secondarily, to train the child to observe accurately, to make comparisons for differences and resemblances, to find reasons for uses, to see the adaptation of parts, and to express in both oral and written language what he has observed. These give the child right habits.
I5
No text-book is needed, and none should be used ; deal with the object itself in every case, each pupil being pro- vided with a specimen, if possible.
The teachers should not furnish much of the material. Let the children bring it. Definite directions may have to be given as to the place where the material may be found. Walks should be taken with the children. These lessons should be made the basis of much of the work in lan- guage, writing, and drawing. It is closely related to geography, and may even be used in arithmetic. The time to be given to this subject, as stated, is for the actual work with the objects in school hours. The knowledge gained from this observation should be brought out in all the other branches. Encourage the children in making collections and neatly arranging them. Interest the chil- dren in stories of nature, both in prose and poetry. Have memory gems learned and recited. Teach the child to care for natural objects.
PHYSIOLOGY.
Although physiology was given a place in our course of study last year, no definite work was laid out. This subject is required in all the schools, by state law.
Every child leaving the public schools should have a knowledge of the parts of his body, their relation to each other, their functions, and the proper care of the body. He should also know how to treat a burn, scald, bruise, or cut.
This knowledge cannot be obtained from text-books, but should be obtained from observation of the human body and the bodies of other animals, - this by the pupil's own experiment. Text-books, maps, diagrams, and charts should be used to supplement this work in some cases.
Respectfully submitted.
ETTA L. CHAPMAN,
Superintendent of Schools.
Fairhaven, Feb. 14, 1894.
16
NATURE STUDY AND PHYSIOLOGY.
Acknowledgments are due to the "Course in Physiol- ogy," by Mr. F. F. Murdock, of Bridgewater Normal School, and the "Outlines of Work in Nature Study," by Prof. A. C. Boyden and Miss Sarah E. Brassill, for as- sistance in the framing of this course.
PLANTS.
Time : September, October, April, and May. One-half hour a week.
FIRST YEAR.
Observe plants, trees, and shrubs, on the street, at home, and in the school room. Recognize and name ; tell where found; name the parts; find single qualities ; as form, color, size, arrangement. Principal uses. Make col- lections.
Language: First, oral descriptions or stories ; then read and write names of plants in sentences ; later, read and write short sentences giving single qualities or uses. Give short, simple stories of how a plant lives and grows. Learn simple poems descriptive of plants. Some drawing should be done in connection with this work.
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