USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1897 > Part 3
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The discipline of the schools is as nearly perfect as the nature of parents, teachers and pupils will admit. In all the rooms perfect order is maintained without resorting to cor- poral punishment in but very few instances. These favorable conditions are due chiefly to the excellence of the teachers.
There are now connected with the public schools of the town seventeen teachers: Eight at the Rogers, four at the High, three at the Oxford, one at Naskatucket, and one at New Boston.
We consider ourselves and the town unusually fortunate in the corps of teachers which we have been able to secure. Competent, faithful, and conscientious in the discharge of their duties, they have secured the entire confidence and cor- dial support of the Committee, and have deserved the grati- tude and confidence of the entire community. Not only have they earned for themselves good reputations at home but their report has so gone abroad, as to make it difficult and some- times impossible for us to retain them.
Early in the year the principal of the Rogers School, Miss Barton, resigned to accept a position elsewhere at advanced wages. We found a competent successor in Miss Sadie L. Blaisdell, who has now herself, for better pay, and other con- siderations known to the Committee, resigned and accepted a position in the new school building at Brockton. Madge L. Reardon, of Room 7, also resigned, whose place we supplied by Miss Fuller, who is doing very excellent work.
The Legislature has imposed upon the School Committee,
5
the duty of seeing to it that the public schools are in a condition, and of a character best calculated to advance the improvement and promote the good of the pupils. The character of the schools will depend upon the character of the teachers, and in no respect have the School Committee felt their responsibility greater than in their efforts to secure good and efficient teachers, and we doubt if any School Committee ever met with greater success in securing the services of educated, experienced and faithful teachers. Without exception they love their work and they have done it well. It will not be their fault, and we shall be much mistaken if the children under their charge have not found their improvement advanced and their good promoted.
Frequent changes in the teachers we deplore, but they do occur, and not unfrequently we find it difficult to supply the place made vacant.
Once a teacher has won the love of her pupils, and they have felt the power of her influence and her teaching, it is a misfortune that she, for any reason, should be obliged to leave, and we have done everything in our power to keep good teachers when we have them.
It is claimed by many that the education now afforded, and obtained, is not on the whole, such advance of what it was fifty years ago, as to justify the great additional expense.
In answer to that it is enough to say that the general demand for educated men and women is greater than it was then. At that time no employment was given to girls, while now all positions in mercantile and business houses are open to them, and employers are not satisfied with such acquire- ments as were possible in the olden time.
There is a necessity for educated workmen if they expect to command wages adequate to their wants. Our business is to fit our children to go out into the world, and to compete successfully with the children from other states and com-
6
munities. We may not succeed with all, but if we do not give them all a chance they will fail.
No man or woman ever yet received any education, no matter how useless it seemed at the time, but found it useful afterwards. While knowledge itself is not power, it is a very valuable aid to those who have it.
Let any young man or woman take an examination under the civil service rules and they will soon find out that they do not know any too much.
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT.
Under a recent Statute, provision was made for a District Superintendent of Schools, and the towns of Fairhaven, Mat- tapoisett and Acushnet formed a district, and united in the choice of Mr. Edward B. Gray as Superintendent, at a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum-apportioned, as was also his work, among the several towns. Fairhaven was to have his services for three days, and each of the other towns one day in each week. Fairhaven was to pay seventy-five and each of the other towns twenty-five dollars of his salary per month. The State is to repay seven hundred and fifty dollars to this town after he has been employed an entire year. Mr. Gray was appointed April 12, 1897.
The arrangement has proved a substantial success. Mr. Gray is entirely competent, devotes his whole time to the schools in his district, faithful in the discharge of his duties which have been somewhat onerous, been of great assistance to the Committee ; and, so far as we are concerned, has given entire satisfaction.
The average pay for the teachers is forty dollars per month. For further information on this head we refer to the Superintendent's report.
7
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
The number of children for whom public instruction is to be provided has been largely on the increase, so much so that the Committee have found no little difficulty in providing room for their accommodation. Early in the summer vaca- tion the Committee found themselves greatly embarrassed in this respect.
Several expedients were suggested, and considered, till at length with some misgivings we decided to provide more desks and rearrange the High School building to receive grades 8 and 9 from the Rogers School.
Under the good management of the Superintendent and Miss Hafford it has worked even better than we could have hoped for. It involved considerable expense, as will be seen from the detailed report, not anticipated by us, and for which no provision was made.
We see no reason to expect that so large a number of new pupils will come in upon us as did last year, still we are re- luctantly compelled to say, that another building will soon have to be provided.
By rearranging the grades, as suggested in the Superin- tendent's report, we may be able to get along for the coming year. An additional teacher will be required, and some in- convenience to the pupils must be submitted to. It will, however, come into the work of the new committee, when organized, and may not, therefore, be further considered here.
Some complaints have reached the Committee in that we provided three teachers for the High School. We did not do it without being fully satisfied of the necessity for it. If we overestimated the needs of the school it was an error of judg- ment, and not a culpable indifference to the burdens of taxa- tion, and the ability and willingness of the inhabitants to pay taxes. And when the large additional number of pupils were
packed into the High School, we saw that still another teacher would be required, and we were glad to find in Miss Trow- bridge a lady who could and was willing to give a large por- tion of her time to supply the deficiency. and yet take upon herself the supervision and teaching of music, at very little extra cost. Miss Trowbridge has justified us in her election. Few teachers surpass her in knowledge of music, and her ability to teach.
THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The school buildings of the town are now in very good re- pair. Two of them. the Rogers and Oxford. are provided with modern appliances for heat and ventilation. The plant at the Rogers has been in use now for thirteen years, and, during the past year, has required expensive repairs. It is liable at any time to give out, and it cannot be far off when a new boiler will be needed, and a large outlay required. It is difficult at times to heat all the rooms sufficiently.
The plant at the Oxford does not give us entire satisfaction. It is now out of repair, and before the vacant room is opened it will have to be overhauled.
The High School building is old, and if it is long continued will need to have money expended upon it.
The other buildings will need but little to make them answer the wants of the public for some time to come.
TRUANCY.
Though there may be some children of the required age who do not attend school, we have had but little trouble with truants. The truant officer has been faithful.
There are some children, under little or no restraint at home, who cannot endure the confinement of the school room. and who become truants from habit and inclination, of whom there is little hope.
9
While we are satisfied on the whole with the advancement of the children in education as taught, and while our systems are as perfect as in the nature of things they can be, we are too often obliged to lament that it is the intellect only that is cultivated, while the conscience and moral sense are not reached. We are appalled at the daily outbursts of profane swearing from children hardly out of the nursery, while the mouths of some of the older boys are full of blasphemy and indecency. It must be there is something wrong at home when a boy does not hesitate to vent his rage in profanity in the presence of his mother, and when he feels that he is getting to be a man only when he has a cigarette between his teeth and his mouth full of oaths. It seems to us. the public conscience ought in some way to be aroused that this growing abomination may be checked.
EXPENSES.
By reference to the financial statement it will be seen, if it has not before been sufficiently made public, that the ex- penses attendant upon public instruction have for the past year been unusually large. All we can say about it is that we have been obliged to make costly repairs. We did not anticipate that it would cost so much, or anything, for the Rogers, nor did we know that the grading and draining, with other repairs, at the Oxford, would involve so much expense, nor did we foresee the expensive changes that would be re- quired at the High School building.
We have, however, done nothing which we did not believe was necessary to be done, and we rely upon the fair judg- ment of the town for our justification.
The charges for water supply have been unusually large.
We refer to the appended report of the Superintendent for further particulars and fuller details of the general condition and work of the schools.
10
We recommend the following appropriation for the ensu- ing year :
For teachers, $7,000; janitors, $1,340, $8,340.00
Books, $500; supplies, $350, 850.00
Fuel, $700: water, $210. 910.00
Incidentals, 700.00
Repairs, 1,000.00
This is a large sum, but we believe it will be needed, and we do not desire to embarrass the new committee by a lim- ited appropriation.
Our work, such as it has been, we submit to the people, firmly believing that we have done our duty to the schools and have not been indifferent to the well known burdens upon the inhabitants for the support of the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN T. HANNA, JR.,
GEORGE H. PALMER, GEORGE W. STEVENS.
SCHOOL ACCOUNTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RESOURCES.
Balance on hand Feb. 15, 1897.
$25.23
Received from town appropriations,
8,500.00
From town, special repairs.
100.00
For Superintendent's salary, 450.00
From Wm. Ware,
2.91
From town of Acushnet, tuition.
70.00
Special appropriations,
1,500.00
From State,
170.86
From County,
425.56
$11,244.56
BILLS APPROVED.
Teachers' salaries,
$6,460.25
Janitors' salaries,
1,303.00
Superintendent's salary,
562.50
Supplies,
410.53
School book agency,
168.30
Fuel,
923.90
Repairs,
536.23
Transportation,
226.00
Incidentals,
641.58
11,232.29
$12.27
12
TEACHERS' PAY ROLL.
E. B. Gray, High, $275.00
E. A. Hafford,
780.00
R. L. Rich,
385.00
M. L. Kyle,
318.00
R. M. Barton, Rogers. 373.75
S. L. Blaisdell,
429.00
M. L. Rierdon,
317.00
E. J. Smith,
343.00
M. L. Norris,
339.40
I. M. Libby,
343.00
Eugenie Collins,
153.00
Estelle Jackson,
303.00
Ruby Kenty, 66
164.70
Elizabeth Fuller,
139.00
H. J. Ardill,
36.00
Mrs B. T. Maxfield, substitute, Rogers, 7.50
Kate Drew, Oxford,
338.00
M. A. Donovan, 6.
315.00
G. M. Nickerson, .6
297.50
Marie Macomber,
12.75
B. T. Maxfield,
17.25
M. L. Kyle, New Boston,
54.00
N. M. Kimball,
248.40
N. A. Kinsman, Naskatucket, 306.00
A. B. Trowbridge, teacher and musical director, 165.00
6,460.25
JANITORS' PAY ROLL.
W. P. Macomber, High School. $205.00
S. J. Baker, Rogers School, 315.00
J. H. Hanna, Rogers School, 225.00
A. J. Jenney, Oxford School, 370.00
H. S. Geddis, Oxford School, 110.00
13
Jeremiah Bumpus, New Boston School, 39.00
('. A. Johnson, Naskatucket School, 35.00
4.00 1,303.00 Geo. W. Stevens, 66
SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY.
E. B. Gray, $562.50
SUPPLIES.
E. E. Babb & Co., $56.30
H. S. Hutchinson, 81.74
L. M. Snow, .35
J. E. Blake,
.36
Silver, Burdett & Co.,
45.20
Gage & Co.,
4.86
J. L. Hammett,
50.68
Fairhaven Water Co.,
140.97
Samuel Ward Co ..
26.50
R. W. Taber,
3.57 410.53
SCHOOL BOOK AGENCY.
Ginn & Co., $125.48
Wm. Ware & Co.,
17.50
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn,
10.42
American Book Co ..
10.40
D. C. Heath & Co.,
4.50
168.30
REPAIRS.
W. H. Day,
$97.60
Whitfield & Omey,
11.91
Lewis & Padelford,
11.37
H. H. Hathaway,
73.01
Forrest & Long,
.60
John Bertram,
139.80
J. C. Omey,
75.42
N. B. Foundry & Machine Co.,
111.55
E. F. Penney,
10.97
L. O. Pardee,
4.00
536.23
14
FUEL.
City Coal Co., (1896, carried over, ) coal, $337.85 City Coal Co. (1897), coal, 553.58
J. Bumpus, wood, 14.10
M. D. Douglas, wood, 8.75
H. T. Howard, wood, 6.12
J. P. Ellis, wood, 3.50
923.90
TRANSPORTATION.
Manuel Brown.
226.00
INCIDENTALS.
H. P. Wilde,
$16.56
T. M. Hart, 9.10
Hatch & Co.,
12.95
Forrest & Long.
23.38
C. D. Waldron,
30.10
C. R. Sherman,
9.20
Western Union Telegraph Co.,
5.60
Bliss & Nye,
16.25
George R. Valentine,
1.93
C. F. Wing,
16.79
E. Manchester, Jr.,
60.95
J. L. Hammett & Co.,
8.00
Pairpoint Mfg. Co.,
2.00
F. T. Akin & Co.,
4.25
R. W. Austin,
14.43
Carter, Rice & Co ..
6.00
J. P. Ellis,
5.00
H. S. Hutchinson,
19.54
Purrington, Brown & Richards.
14.56
R. W. Taber,
4.70
Samuel Whitlow,
15.75
B. F. Cottelle,
2.75
A. R. Peckham,
5.50
15
G. B. Luther,
.25
Mortimer Searles,
1.65
W. P. Macomber,
17.00
J. D. King,
2.00
G. W. Valentine,
14.25
Z. W. Dodge,
15.86
A. C. Fuller,
1.50
J. T. Hanna, Jr.,
3.65
M. L. Bisbee,
4.25
C. J. Johnson,
2.00
De Wolf & Vincent,
2.67
Fairhaven Water C'o.,
39.34
Ginn & Co.,
2.11
E. A. Hafford,
10.00
C. F. Brownell & Co.,
8.75
Haskell & Tripp,
1.80
Jas. E. Blake,
5.05
E. F. Penney,
1.40
Church & Hammond,
2.75
F. A. Thrasher,
.25
Babbitt, Wood & Co.,
1.27
Gage & Co.,
5.63
H. H. Hathaway,
6.65
Howard & Brown,
20.00
L. M. Snow,
5.58
N. P. Hayes,
24.85
R. H. Taber,
3.75
C. F. Stetson,
91.50
G. W. King,
1.00
J. M. Clarke,
1.50
Alfred Nye,
3.08
C. F. Delano,
5.10
E. Boden, Jr.,
1.50
Geo. T. Lloyd,
2.25
16
F. L. Sowle.
4.50
J. H. Howland,
17.90
Chas. Allen.
3.00
A. J. Jenney.
.70
641.58
SUMMARY.
Total amount of appropriation, etc.,
$11,244.56
Total amount of expenditures,
11,232.29
Ballance in treasury. $12.27
OXFORD SCHOOL APPROPRIATION.
Amount appropriated,
$900.20
BILLS APPROVED.
Bobrick School Furniture Co ..
$386.16
C. F. Wing,
114.00
J. C. Omey,
111.86
E. F. Penney,
101.22
Whitfield & Omey,
42.89
M. Taylor,
27.75
J. L. Hammett & Co.
26.50
N. P. Hayes,
24.83
John H. Howland.
21.91
H. B. Howland.
11.50
Samuel Whitlow.
10.33
Z. W. Dodge.
6.30
Blossom Bros ..
1.35
A. J. Jenney.
1.25
887.85
Balance on hand,
$12.35
17
PEASE FUND.
Balance on hand Feb. 15, 1897,
$128.61
Received from Trustee,
271.82
$400.43
BILLS APPROVED.
Silver, Burdett & Co.,
$49.34
H. S. Inman,
25.00
S. Chilton Crocker, 20.00
American Book Co.,
19.83
Holden Pat. Book Cover C'o.,
16.77
Morse Co., 14.70
Ginn & Co.,
8.98
D. C. Heath & Co.,
4.00
Thompson, Brown & Co.,
6.00
Gage & Co.,
2.18
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.,
1.69
168.49
$231.94
UNPAID BILLS FOR 1897.
Fairhaven Water Co., Oxford,
$65.33
Bobrick School Furniture Co ..
173.20
L. O. Pardee, 71.60
Chas. S. Paisler,
57.50
Forrest & Long,
28.96
W. H. Day,
10.11
Herman H. Hathaway,
19.76
M. P. Whitfield,
31.99
H. F. Wilde,
1.35
Joseph C. Jenney,
22.22
John I. Bryant,
2.24
Teachers, two weeks,
352.50
Janitors,
56.50
$893.26
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Fairhaven :
GENTLEMEN :- In compliance with your rules and regula- tions I herewith submit the following as my report of the schools under your charge for the year 1897.
The tables are made up for the registration year, January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1898, and not the financial year, February 15, 1897, to February 15, 1898.
19
CALENDAR, 1898-1899.
Friday, March 25-Schools close for Spring vacation. Monday, April 4-High school and Grades 8 and 9 reopen.
Monday. April 11-All other schools reopen. Tuesday, April 19-Patriots' Day : no school. Monday, May 30-Memorial Day : no school.
Thursday, June 23-Graduation exercises of High school.
Friday, June 24-Graduation exercises of Grammar school. All schools close.
Tuesday, Sept. 6-All schools open.
Wednesday, Nov. 23-Schools close for Thanksgiving. Monday, Nov. 28-Schools reopen.
Friday, Dec. 16-Schools close excepting High and Grades & and 9.
Friday, Dec. 23-High school and Grades 8 and 9 close. Monday, Jan. 2-Schools reopen. Wednesday, Feb. 22-Washington's Birthday : No school. Friday, March 24-Schools close.
20
WINTER TERM, 1897.
JANUARY 4 TO MARCH 26.
TEACHERS.
Wages per
month.
Whole No.
Enrolled.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent.
Attendance.
Cases of
Tardiness.
High School :
E. B. Gray. A. B.
$110
38
37.42
33.51
89.55
48
Eloise A. Hafford.
67
Rogers :
Grade
Rose M. Barton. A. B.
9
65
18
17.
16.17
95.12
11
Sadie L. Blaisdell.
1
40
39
36.61
33.04
90.25
22
Madge L. Rierdon.
G
40
47
42.75
40.20
94.04
41
Eva J. Smith.
5
36
43
39.09
33.6
86.06
26
Mattie L. Norris.
1
36
49
47.52
43.43
91.39
11
Idella M. Libby.
3
36
47
44.43
38.43
86.48
46
Eugenie Collins.
2
36
43
40.
33.27
83.18
33
Estelle Jackson.
1
32
19
45.44
36.19
79.64
141
Oxford :
Grades
Mary AA. Donovan.
5 and 6
36
22
19.01
16.53
86.95
14
Grace M. Nickerson.
3 and 4
32
35
27.
21.40
79.26
40
Kate Drew.
1 and 2
40
38
30.66
25.68
83.76
36
New Boston :
Madeline L. Kyle.
36
29
26.90
23.79
88.44
36
Vaskatucket :
34
20
17.76
15.
84.46
26
Totals. 1897
$676
534
488.26
425.49
87.14
531
Totals, 1896
637
490
446.4
387.4
86.8
..
1895
571
465
409.53
358.35
87.5
..
1894
591
421
390.
354.7
90.9
1893
555
432
397.
332.
83.63
17
16.67
15.21
91.24
Nellie A. Kinsman.
21
SPRING TERM, 1897.
APRIL 5 TO JUNE 30.
TEACHERS.
Wages per
month.
Whole No.
Enrolled.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent.
Attendance.
Cases of
Tardiness.
High School :
Eloise A. Hafford.
$85
Ruby L. Rich.
50
36
34.59
32.98
95.34
49
Madeline L. Kyle.
36
Rogers :
Grade
9
65
15
15.
14.53
96.87
1
Sadie L. Blaisdell.
7
40
39
38.47
36.12
93.89
10
Madge L. Rierdon.
6
40
44
42.67
40.85
95.73
14
Eva J. Smith.
5
36
40
35.87
32.41
90.35
7
Mattie L. Norris.
4
36
49
46.44
41.15
88.61
20
Idella M. Libby.
3
36
51
48.37
42.53
88.37
26
Eugenie Collins.
ยท2
36
48
48.67
38.79
79.70
29
Estelle Jackson.
1
34
70
45.31
37.09'
81.86
76
Oxford :
Grades
Mary A. Donovan.
5 and 6
36
21
20.33
18.61
91.54
11
Grace M. Nickerson.
3 and 4
32
36
31.29
28.52
91.14
18
Kate Drew.
1 and 2
40
47
40.34
37.39
92.69
24
New Boston :
Nina M. Kimball.
36
26
26.
24.37
93.73
8
Naskatucket :
Nellie A. Kinsman.
34
23
21.47
18.99
88.45
29
Totals. 1897
$672
562
511.82
459.92
89.86
326
Totals, 1896
632
518
452.7
411.4
90.9
..
1895
581
500
455.95
413.37
90.8
..
1894
591
459
409.5
373.1
91.1
. .
1893
555
460
403.
365.
90.57
Rose M. Barton. A. B. .. 66
8
17
17.
15.59
91.71
1
22
FALL TERM. 1897.
SEPTEMBER 7 TO DECEMBER 24.
TEACHERS.
Wages per
month.
Whole No.
Enrolled.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent.
Attendance.
Cases of
Tardiness.
High School Building :
Eloise A. Haflord.
High Grade
$80
50
49.22
45.78 93.01
63
Ruby L. Rich.
52
Madeline E. Kyle.
9
42
20
18.12
16.41
90.56
7
Anna B. Trowbridge.
33
35
33.71
31.24
92.68
18
Rogers :
Sadie L. Blaisdell.
-1
52
46
43.03
40.48
94.07
14
Madge L. Rierdon.
40
30
28.56
27.07
94.78
1
Eva J. Smith.
40
48
43.97
40.00
90.97
8
Mattie L. Morris.
4
40
46
42.38
38.38
90.56
6
Elizabeth Fuller.
3
36
49
45.35
39.61
87.36
51
Idella M. Libby.
40
44
40.79
35.34
86.64
30
Ruby Kenty.
36
44
39.50
33.52
84.86
-1
Estelle Jackson.
1
34
45
40.10
31.01
77.33
32
Oxford :
Grades
Mary A. Donovan.
5. 6 and 7
- 36
40
36.66
33.88
92.42
31
Grace M. Nickerson.
3 and 4
34
26
21.39
19.45
90.98
20
Kate Drew.
1 and 2
40
51
43.83
39.38
89.85
27
Ver Boston :
Nina M. Kimball.
36
26
23.41
21.28
90.90
Vaskatucket :
Nellie A. Kinsman.
34
24
22.50
20.27
90.09
43
Totals. 1897
705
624
572.52
513.10
89.62
1366
Totals. 1896
672
549
500.00
453.70
90.70
..
1894
567
502
430.4
397.3
92.3
..
1893
573
480
422
376
91.49
1895
605
500
469.70
426.90
90.80
23
SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR.
JANUARY 4 TO DECEMBER 24.
SCHOOLS.
Whole No.
Enrolled.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent.
Attendance.
Tardiness.
No. of weeks.
High,
41
41.29
38.26
92.67
160
40
Grade 9,
21
16.85
15.49
91.93
22
41
Grade S.
17
23.59
21.74
92.16
19
41
43
39.74
36.94
92.95
46
40
49
37.05
35.14
94.84
56
38
48
40.08
35.82
89.37
41
38
..
..
5.
..
1
56
45.22
40.78
90.18
37
38
6.
..
4.
3
52
45.98
40.13
87.28
123
38
..
3.
2
51
42.93
35.75
83.28
92
38
11
39.50
33.52
84.86
7
15
..
1.
.6
1
100
43.26
35.99
83.19
249
38
Oxford, Grades 5, 6 and 7
27
26.46
24.09
91.044
56
38
..
3 and 4
41
26.79
22.76
84.96
78
38
..
1 and 2
65
38.38
34.67
90.33
87
38
36
25.23
22.95
90.96
52
38
26
20.77
18.30
88.11
98
38
Totals, 1897
684
553.12
492.33
89.01
1223
1896
626
473.60
419.60
88.70
1895
591
465.50
419.20
90.00
.
1894
513
415.
379.66
91.40
1893
526 ?!
406.
358.
88.
..
7.
..
6
..
..
6.
..
5
New Boston. Naskatucket.
2.
2
Rogers. Room 8, Grade 7
Cases of
24
EXPLANATION OF TABLES.
By referring to the tables it will be seen that there is quite a difference between the "whole number enrolled" and the "average membership". This in most cases is not caused by any considerable number of pupils leaving school before the close of the term, but by the continued absence, usually on account of sickness, of pupils who return to school again as soon as they are able.
The tables are made in accordance with the instructions of the State Board, and a pupil is not counted as a member of the school after five consecutive days' absence. When he returns he again becomes a member of the school. Therefore. pupils, who for various reasons, are absent two or three weeks at a time, very materially reduce the "average membership" without diminishing the amount of school accommodations needed.
The "whole number enrolled," under "summary for the year." does not give the whole number who have attended each school : but the number who have attended that school and have not previously (during the year) attended any other school in town. Pupils are enrolled but once even if they attend two or three different schools during the year.
The large number always enrolled in Grade I is explained by the fact that the pupils who are in this grade during the first part of the year, are promoted in June to another room, although not again enrolled, and their places are taken by pupils who have never attended school before.
The 21 pupils who entered the High School in September do not appear in the enrollment for that school, but in the Grammar schools where they attended the first part of the vear. The total enrollment 684. represents the number of different pupils who have attended the schools of the town during the year.
25
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
For the last two or three years the lower grades at the Rogers school have been growing more and more over- crowded, until, on the opening of school in September, it became necessary to provide another room for their accom- modation.
After careful consideration of the conditions it was thought best to transfer the 55 pupils-more than could be seated in one room-in Grades 8 and 9, to the High School building. This leaves the Rogers school comfortably filled and well graded. All the pupils in each room are of the same grade. The rooms are arranged to seat 48, and the enrollment for this school during the past term has been 352, or an average of 44 pupils for each room.
There are now 50 pupils in the High School proper. This number is slightly larger than it has been for the past few years. To this must be added the number transferred from the Rogers, which gives 105 attending at the High School building.
The number of pupils at the Oxford is considerably larger than it was a year ago. They occupy three of the four rooms in the building. In this school the number of pupils in the different grades is very unequal, so that the Primary room is crowded, while the Intermediate has a comparatively small number.
FUTURE ACCOMMODATIONS.
It will soon be necessary to provide increased accommoda- tions for the pupils in the centre of the town. The vacant room at the Oxford cannot be used for this purpose on account of its distance.
There are now 65 pupils in Grade 7, and 55 would be a fair estimate of the number to enter Grade 8 next year. Taking into consideration the 9 who will graduate from the
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