USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1879-1894 > Part 11
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1,188 55
School supplies.
685 55
Town officers.
514 50
Cemetery expenses
144 81
Printing.
107 95
State Aid
446 00
Support of Poor.
895 00
Repairs on Highways.
2,024 39
Miscellaneous expenses.
1,971 74
Temporary Loan paid.
2,312 44
State Tax.
1,480 00
County Tax.
680 80
$16,444 01
Amount due the Town from Collectors and
Treasurer . 5,288 06
Deduct Bounty Tax" 4,000 00
$1,288 06
D. J. WETHERBEE, - Selectmen J. K. W. WETHERBEE, of
J. W. DUPEE, Acton.
Acton, Feb. 26, 1885.
15
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
REGISTRY OF BIRTHS IN ACTON FOR 1884.
No. Date of Birth. Name of Child. Name of Parents.
1. Jan. 5, Ruth Mildred, daughter of Sidney L. and M. Kate Richardson.
2. " 7, Alice Beatrice, daughter of Nathan R. and Abbie M. Palmer.
3. " 12, Chester Arthur, son of Thomas J. and Kate Sawyer.
4. " 26, Howard Arthur, son of Howard B. and Bertha White. 5. Feb.10, Henry Franklin, son of William H. and Ida C. Lawrence.
6. " 14, Mable Gertrude, daughter of Edwin E. and Abbie F. Foster. 7. Mar. 1, James Ernest, son of Chas. H. and Fannie A. Taylor. 8. " 12, John Hubbard, son of Hanson and Florence M. Littlefield.
9. " 18, Annie May, daughter of James T. and Addie C. Goodsell.
10. " 28, Willie James, son of Thomas and Maria C. Scanlan.
11. June12, Walter son of Edwin L. and Hattie C. Hayward.
12. " 18, Ross Melvin, son of Fred C. and Sarah A. Reed.
13. July 5, Norman Asaph, son of Isaac B. and Ellen Spinney. 14&15." 16, Ada May and Annie Maud, twin daughters of Osha P. and . Nellie F. Knowlton.
16. " 25, Flora Blanche, daughter of Moses A. and Ellen A. Reed. 17. " 27, Mary Ellen, daughter of Michael and Sarah McCarthy.
18. Aug. 1, Rilla Lester, daughter of Samuel B. and Harriet L. Harris.
19. " 7, Thomas Edward, son of Joseph A. and Margaret J. Devane. " 16, Maud Beatrice, daughter of Andrew F. and Emma M. Priest.
20. 21. " 16, Ines Maud, daughter of Joseph E. and Ida C. Dole.
22.
" 29, Estean D. son of James A. and Flora C. Symonds.
23. Sept. 7, William Munroe, son of William H. and Lora M. Hartwell.
24. " 17, Henry Wilder, son of Edwin W. and Flora A. Taylor.
25. " 24, A son to Charles W. and Lena A. Melone.
26.
" 27, James, son of Isaac and Mary Frances Wood.
:27. Oct. 17, James Leonard, son of Jairus C. and Alice M. Wheeler.
28. " 23, Albert William, son of William H. and Ella E. Kinsley.
:29 " 27, Alice Marion, daughter of Edgar H. and Angie Hall. 30. Nov. 6, Loraine Esther, daughter of Charles I. and L. Lizzie Miller. " 8, Levern Lincoln, son of Roswell L. and Anna B. Tuttle.
131. 32. 33. " 26, Flora Elizabeth, daughter of John H. and Anna L. Clark.
" 22, Cora Edith, daughter of Edmund B. and Ella L. Hooper.
34. " 29, Charlotte Sophia, daughter of Rev. Franklin P. and Abbie O. Wood.
35, Dec, 20, Eldora Mary, daughter of Freeman and Etta E, Williams,
16
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN ACTON IN 1884.
No. Date of Marriage.
Names and Residences of Parties.
1. Jan. 31, Mr. William. H. Hartwell and Miss Lora M. Bickford, both of Acton.
2. Feb. 25, Mr. John McCarthy of Acton, and Miss Mary Ann MeElligott of Westford.
3. Mar. 12, Mr. Willis A. White of Acton, and Miss Clara B. Gay of Belfast, Me.
4. May 4, Mr. Chas. E. Worcester of Acton. and Miss Eliza G. Feeney of Hudson.
5. May 8, Mr. Franklin D. Barker of Acton, and Miss Lucietta Derby of Concord.
6. May 11, Mr. George Gallant of Concord, and Mrs. Mary Connell of Aeton.
7. May 22, Mr. Robert Hart of Boston, and Miss Eleanor Blackburn of Franklin.
8. May 31, Mr. John T. Bergrew of Cambridge, and Miss Agnes J. Wood of Acton.
9. June 3. Mr. Timothy Bissell and Mrs. Rhoda Carleton, both of Acton. 10. June 24, Mr. Henry D. Daley and Mrs. Mary L. Blanchard, both of Marlboro.
11. July 1, Mr. Edward Wood of Acton, and Miss Mary B. McLearn of Cambridge.
12. Sept. 9, Dr. Fred W. Whitney of Sherburne, N. Y., and Miss Emma F. Estabrook of Acton.
13. Sept. 18, Mr. Fred S. Mead and Miss Lizzie M. Gates, both of Acton. 14. Oct. 15, Mr. George Y. Hutchins and Miss Hattie 1. Parker, both of Acton.
15, Oct. 16, Mr. Frank Brooks of Acton, and Miss Jessie E. Purdy of Mansfield.
16. Nov. 23, Mr. James Kinsley and Miss Annie McCarthy, both of Acton.
17. Dec. 11, Mr. Charles H. Fairbanks of Cambridge, and Miss Nellie L. Tuttle of Acton.
18. Dec. 25, Mr. Ira Elliot Barber and Miss Mary Ann Bradley, both of Acton.
DEATHS RECORDED IN ACTON IN 1881.
No. Date of Death. Name and Age of Deceased
1. Feb. 19, Mr. John Chaffin, 75 years 9 months 18 days.
2. Feb. 24, Mrs. Ellen Coughlin, 96 y.
3. Mar. 20, Mr. James H. Burnham, 64 y. 7 m. &d.
4. Mar. 27, Mr. Levi Frost, 78 y. 5 d.
5, Mar. 27. Miss Edith V. Bean, 14 y. 7 d.
6, Apr, 1. Mrs. Lonisa M. Forbush, 52 y.
17
No. Date of Death. Name and age of Deceased.
7. Apr. 2, Pierre R. Nelson, son of Oscar P. and Mary Ann Nelson, 1 y. 2 m. 4 d.
8. Apr. 6, Mr. Thomas Smith, 90 y. 3 m. 15d.
9. Apr. 23, Mrs. Ella S. Baldwin, 34 y. 6 m. 12 d.
10. May 14, Mrs. Mary Fairbanks Tenney, 80 y. 7 d.
11. June 17, Walter Hayward, son of Edwin L.and Hattie C. Hayward, 5 d
12. July 7, Mr. Simon Hosmer, 84 y. 9m.
13. Aug. 12, Mrs. Eliza Beatty Downer, 61 y.
14. Aug. 14, Mrs. Martha M. Stevens, wife of George 1. Stevens, 67 y. 2 m. 16 d.
15. Aug. 18, Mr. Thomas Kinsley, 70 y. 15 d.
16. Aug. 20, Mrs. Lizzie E. Beck, 26 y. 13 d.
17. Sept. 7, (In Concord) Mabel F. Worden, daughter of Henry and Lizzie Worden, 3 y.
18. Sept. 24, A son of Charles W. and Lena A. Melone, 1 d.
19. Oct. 4, Mr. Charles H. Teele, 27 y. 10 m. 5 d.
20. Oct. 5, Mrs. Lois H. Freeman, 76 y. 10 mn. 13 d.
21. Oct. 23, Mrs. Maggie A. Mclaughlin, 27 y.
22. Dec. 25, Mr. Charles E. Worcester, 29 y. 1 m.
23. Dec. 29, Mr. James Hurley, 78 y.
WILLIAM D. TUTTLE, Toun Clerk.
18
AMT. REC'D FROM LICENSES OF DOGS SINCE LAST REPORT.
Henry Brooks,
$2 00
Isaac W. Flagg,
$2 00
M. Augusta Hosmer,
2 00
D. J. Wetherbee. 2 00
Wm. D. Tuttle,
2 00
Frank E. Wetherbee,
2 00
Luther Conant,
2 00.
J. W. Dupee,
2 00
Elbridge J. Robbins,
2 00
George R. Keyes,
2 00
Antoine Bulette,
2 00
George Conant,
00
Alonzo L. Tuttle,
2 00
G. H. S. Houghton,
2 00
George W. Livermore,
2 00
Joseph Reed,
2 00
George Gardner,
2 00
Moses A. Reed,
2 00
Dana F. Maynard,
2 00
Gustavus H. Waugh,
2 00
Elnathan Jones,
6 00
James D. Coburn,
2 00
Tuttle, Jones & Wetherbee,
4 00
Sylvester Haynes,
2 00
Theron F. Newton,
2 00
Frederic Rouillard,
2 00
Francis Conant,
2 00
M. E. Taylor,
2 00
J. K. W. Wetherbee,
2 00
Augustus Fletcher,
2 00
Charles A. Harrington,
2 00
Solon A. Robbins,
2 00
Willie S. Fletcher,
2 00
James Tuttle,
7 00
John Fletcher,
: 00
J. W. Randall,
2 00
Emerson F. Fuller,
2 00
H. M. Beck,
2 00
Daniel McCarthy,
2 00
Cyrus Hayward,
2 00
A. Lucien Noyes,
2 00
Charles H. Wheeler,
5 00
Luke Tuttle,
2 00
Charles Wheeler,
2 00
George C. Conant,
2 00
Isaiah S. Leach,
2 00
John Hamaford,
2 00
Nahum Littlefield,
2 00
Mead & Stone,
2 00
James E. Harris,
2 00
Emmons Hanscom,
2 00
Lucius S. Hosmer,
2 00
William B. Davis,
2 00
George C. Wright,
2 00
Mrs. George F. Flagg,
2 00
James Kinsley,
2 00
James Tobin,
. 2 00
Joseph Cole,
2 00
John Temple,
2 00
John Kelley,
2 00
L. E. Allen,
2 00
Edward O'Neil,
2 00
Anson C. Piper,
2 00
Otis H. Forbush,
2 00
Lester N. Fletcher,
2 00
Charles J. Williams,
2 00
Willis L. Mead,
2 00
Frank E. Harris,
: 00
Fred Whitcomb,
: 00
Isaac Baker,
: 00
A. H. Gilmore,
2 00
Charles Varney,
: 00
Charles J. Holton
2 00
John L. Marshall,
:00
James P. Taylor,
2 00
J. E. Durkee,
2 00
A. W. Gardner,
2 00
Henry M. Smith,
2 00
Charles B. Sanders,
4 00
J. Everett Reed,
: 00
Herman Chaplin,
2 00
Frank R. Knowlton,
2 00
John W. Aldrich,
2 00
Edwin Taylor,
2 00
Moses Taylor,
2 00
Constance O'Neil,
2 00
Edward Wood,
5 00
Frank W. Houghton,
2 00
Forbush & Hartwell,
5 00
Everett Wayne,
2 00
Isaac Wood,
5 00
John C. Gates,
2 00
Freeman Williams,
5 00
A. L. Lawrence,
5 00
Henry Haynes,
5 00
George Pratt,
5 00
Jairus C. Wheeler,
5 00
Hanson Littlefield,
5 00
Charles H. Teel,
2 00
Joseph R. Bassett,
2 00
Webster C. Robbins,
2 00
Chauncey B. Robbins,
2 00
Mrs. Jarvis Williams,
2 00
Charles W. Grant,
2 00
Charles D. Griggs,
2 00
Reuben L. Reed,
2 00
Andrew J. Willis,
2 00
Henry Haynes,
2 00
Henry Hanson,
2 00
Daniel McCarthy,
2 00
Total number of Males
105, at $2,
$210 00
Females 10, at $5, 50 00
Whole amount received,
-- $260 00
Acton, March 10, 18S5,
WILLIAM D, TUTTLE, Town Clerk,
19
Report of Receipts and Expenditures at the Almshouse in Acton, FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1885.
ARTICLES ON HAND FEBRUARY 28, 1885.
8 Cows,
$420 00
8 Barrel Apples,
$12 00
1 Horse,
200 00
15 Gallons Soap,
2 00
13 Tons Hay,
234 00
40 Pounds Lard, 5 20
Meal and Shorts,
10 10
20 Pounds Butter,
3 00
Straw,
1 50
125 Barrels,
15 00
Lot of Bags,
5 00
2 Gallons Oil,
25
Salt,
1 00
Flour,
. 00
27 Hens,
13 50
Crackers,
50
15 Cords wood cut for stove, 70 00
95 00
Hard Soap,
40
4 Market Boxes,
40
2 Pounds Tea,
1 00
125 Bushels Potatoes,
62 50
Molasses,
40
250 Pounds Salt Pork, 25 00
Spices,
50
75 Pounds Ham, 9 00
1 Cider Barrel,
1 00
$1,200 35
RECEIPTS FROM TOWN FARM, FROM MARCH 1, 1884, TO FEBRUARY 28, 1885.
Apples,
$305 30
Calves,
$10 25
Potatoes,
34 45
Poultry,
1 00
Eggs,
14 39
Berries,
3 80
Bag,
25
Paper,
90
Board and clothing, M. E. Grimes, 35 00
Meat,
4 08
Board, Edward Johnson, 4 50
Butter,
4 62
Milk,
745 12
$1,308 66
EXPENSES.
PAID FOR
PAID FOR
Cows,
$173 75
Thread,
$ 96
Labor,
157 77
Extracts,
20
Meat,
93 93
Curtain Fixtures,
90
Grain,
374 76
Crockery,
1 05
Potatoes,
8 80
Curtain cords,
49
Vinegar,
75
Rice,
54
Barrels.
39 24
Mustard,
47
Repairing harness,
1 01
Pepper,
12
Butchering,
5 00
Saleratus,
18
Onions,
50
Raisins,
06
Pigs,
8 00
Tacks,
10
Pump and repairing,
10 50
Stove polish,
21
Tinware,
2 46
Note paper,
10
Stove and repairs,
4 00
Oat meal,
70
Repairing lounge,
1 50
Tapioca.
40
Soap,
11 05
Molasses,
7 84
Use of oxen,
10 00
Ginger,
55
Blacksmith bill,
18 50
Tomatoe plants,
30
Use of bull,
4 00
Wash board,
25
Lumber,
1 53
Starch,
32
Filing saws,
1 35
Burners,
30
5 Pounds Coffee,
50
Wagon,
30 Bushels Small Potatoes, 6 00
Eggs,
60
Cows,
145 00
20
PAID FOR
PAID FOR
Cheese,
, 21
Wicks,
12
Dried apple,
1 36
Jars,
1 33
Phosphate,
13 58
Needles.
6
Fish,
10 74
Cocoa,
9
Flour,
41 34
Oil,
1 04
Butter,
64 68
Jug,
25
Tea,
23 60
Globes.
24
Lard,
10 58
Yarn,
1 10
Oyster shells,
38
Kettles,
92
Blueing,
2.2
Dressing,
25
Coffee,
10 26
Trap,
12
Brooms.
95
Lime,
50
Cream tartar.
56
Spoons,
34
Cultivator.
5 00
Mattresses.
13 50
Salt,
2 79
Table,
1 15
Yeast.
56
Mirror,
67
Paris green,
50
Drag,
: 30
Scythes,
3 80
Spade,
87
Beans,
83
Grass seed,
5 64
Lemons,
13
Castings,
90
Turpentine,
15
Pails,
2 28
Seeds,
49
Hoes,
88
Cloth and clothing,
35 99
Oil cloth,
70
Comb,
5
Whet-stone,
33
Shoes.
3 65
Castor,
12
Sulpher.
1 36
Peas,
20
Sugar,
15 50
Tubs,
60
Puty,
Baskets.
1 00
Nails.
1 99
Barrel header,
1 12
Crackers, Spices,
1 02
Halters,
1 16
Currants,
Cabbages.
23
Matches.
20
Bed-spreads.
4 80
Medicines.
2 35
Blankets.
7.15
Saltpeter,
2
Wall paper,
6 01
Snuff,
38
Oil Meal,
93
$1.284 92
Services of Warren Bemis and wife.
$247 93
E. H. Cutler.
45 00
Luke Blanchard,
10 00
Julian Tuttle.
12 00
$314 93
Expenditures.
$1,609 85
Receipts.
1,308 66
Income less than expenditures.
Due from Treasury to balance account, Interest on farm,
240 00
$541 19
Victualing and lodging 192 tramps at 40 cents each,
76 80
Cost of supporting poor on farm,
$464 39
Whole number of persons exclusive of tramps supported in alms- house, 7; average number, + 1-2; present number, 4.
E. H. CUTLER, LUKE BLANCHARD, JULIAN TUTTLE,
& Overseers of Poor.
23 15
Hatchet,
62
$301 19
$301 19
21
TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To John E. Cutter, Constable of the Town of Acton, in said County, Greeting:
You are hereby requested in the name of the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts, to notify the legal voters of said Town of Acton, to meet at the Town Hall, on MONDAY, the sixth day of April next, at half-past ten o'clock A. M. By posting copies of this Warrant by you attested, at the Post Office, in the centre of the town, also at the stores of Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee, Mead & Stone, and Isaac W. Flagg, in said town, seven days before the time appointed for said meeting, then and there to act upon the following articles as they may think proper, viz:
ART. 1. To choose a Moderator.
ART. 2. To fill all existing vacancies in the list of town officers.
ART. 3. To see what amount of money the town will raise to de- fray town charges the present year.
ART. 4. To see what amount of money the town will raise for sup- port of schools the present year, and how it shall be expended.
ART. 5. To see what amount of money the town will raise to repair the roads the present year, and how it shall be expended.
ART. 6. To see if the town will instruct the School Committee to annually appoint a Superintendent of Schools.
ART. 7. To see if the town will choose a Superintendent of Burials.
ART. 8. To consider and act upon the acceptance of the Jury list as revised by the Selectmen.
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to accept the reports of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, School Committee, and other town of- ficers.
ART. 10. To see if the town will instruct their Treasurer to borrow money for the town if necessary.
ART. 11. To hear and act upon reports of any committee chosen to report at this meeting.
ART. 12. Shall the Selectmen grant licenses for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in this town the present year, vote by ballot.
ART. 13. To see if the town will paint the school houses in North, East and South-east district, or pass any vote thereon.
ART. 14. To see if the town will build a fence at Mount Hope Cem- etery, or pass any vote thereon.
ART. 15. To see if the town will order the removal of the stones or rocks lying in the highway between Simon Blanchard's and Nahum Lit- tlefield's farms, or take any action thereon.
ART. 16. To see if the town will pay Hannalı Trainor for manure bought by the Overseers of the Poor, and not paid for, or take any action thereon.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant to us with your doings thereon, at or before the time appointed for said meeting.
Given under our hands this eighteenth day of March, in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-five.
D. J. WETHERBEE, Selectmen J. K. W. WETHERBEE, of
J. W. DUPEE, Acton.
Town Officers for 1885.
Town Clerk. WM. D. TUTTLE.
Selectmen.
D. JAMES WETHERBEE,
J. K. W. WETHERBEE, JOB W. DUPEE. Assessors. PHINEAS WETHERBEE, HIRAM J. HAPGOOD.
Overseers of the Poor.
ELISHA H. CUTLER,
LUKE BLANCHARD,
One vacancy to be filled at April meeting. School Committee.
CHARLES I. MILLER, for 2 years, FRANKLIN D. BARKER, for 1 year,
THERON F. NEWTON, for 3 years, LUKE J. ROBBINS, for 2 years, GEORGE GARDNER, for 1 year. One member to be chosen at next meeting.
CHARLES WHEELER, ELBRIDGE J. ROBBINS,
Highway Surveyors. ABRAM H. JONES, ISAAC REED,
GEORGE R. KEYES, FRANCIS PRATT.
Fence Viewers.
JAMES B. TUTTLE, NAHUM C. REED, OLIVER W. MEAD.
WM. B. DAVIS, GEORGE H. HARRIS,
Surveyors of Lumber. EDWARD F. RICHARDSON, LEVI W. STEVENS,
ELBRIDGE J. ROBBINS,
HERBERT T. CLARK, CHARLES A. BROOKS. Surveyors of Wood. JONA W. LOKER,
GEO. H. HARRIS,
WM. B. DAVIS, S. L. DUTTON, ISAAC W. FLAGG,
CHARLES H. TAYLOR,
JOHN F. DAVIS, EMERSON F. FULLER, H. T. CLARK,
HENRY D. PARLIN, CHARLES H. MEAD.
Surveyors of Hoops and Stares.
DAVID M. HANDLEY,
AUGUSTUS FLETCHER.
Cemetery Committee. WM. W. DAVIS, LEVI W. STEVENS.
JOHN FLETCHER,
Field Drivers. 1
JAMES KINSLEY, FRED S. MEAD.
CHARLES H. HANDLEY, F. D. BARKER, WM. H. KINSLEY ,
CHAS. D. GRIGGS, JOHN MCCARTHY.
WM. D. TUTTLE,
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
FOR THE
School Year 1884-5.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
The town, which has provided so munificently for the educa- tion of its children ought of right to be well informed as to the use made of its expenditures, and the measure of success resulting therefrom.
Such is one of the purposes of this report. Another purpose is to explain the methods of descipline and instruction employed, and recommended, so that committee, superintendent, teachers and parents, may the better understand and co-operate with each other to accomplish the desired results.
To have good schools we must have earnest, capable, ener- getic teachers, who have been well trained, in excellent schools from primary to high or normal school, proper supervision, and the zealous co-operation of parents.
Given these requisits, the results will be regular and prompt attendance, excellent deportment, and satisfactory progress. Your superintendent has, in the limited time at his command, done what he could to make the descipline as steady and uniform as possible in all the schools and to encourage thorough and practical instruc- tion.
The system of monthly reviews and examinations commenced two years ago has been faithfully continued by the teachers, and the results, together with the deportment and attendance, report- ed to parents. The benefit of this was manifest in the prompt- ness and accuracy of recitation at our recent annual examinations, and is also apparent in the increased average membership and attendance as shown in the tabular statement herewith printed. Such improvement in attendance shows a commendable increase of interest on the part of parents which is further evinced by the generally excellent deportment of the scholars.
26
We enter upon the new school year with a corps of compe- tent teachers, but we must remember that they are but human and liable to err, and so long as they are animated with zeal for their work and are striving to perfect themselves in their high calling, we should retain, uphold and encourage them, and not dis- charge them, especially after several terms successful work, until after the most careful investigation the committee become satisfied that they have manifested a disposition or incapacity incompatible with the proper performance of their duties.
METHODS OF DISCIPLINE.
Usually the better the discipline the less the corporal punish- ment. Indeed in a school properly governed such punishment need seldom or never be resorted to. Let parents and scholars distinctly understand that implicit obedience is the condition of continuance in school, and disobedience will be rare.
The successful teacher will keep her pupils so busy with book, slate, crayon, gymnastics, music, or recitation, will so ap- peal to that love of praise and fear of blame to which children are most succeptible, will so bring to bear on the offender the moral sentiment of the school, and impress upon him the certainty of suspension or expulsion for persistent disobedience, that resort to physical force will very rarely be necessary.
METHODS OF TEACHING.
While we aim to get the best teachers and let them pursue their own methods, it is proper for us to make a few suggestions.
In Reading scholars are too often allowed to pass to the high- er book before they have mastered the lower one. The scholar who merely pronounces all the words in a book correctly and readi- ly, is just fitted to be drilled in that book in emphasis, inflection, ex- pression-to be taught to read as a good speaker talks. Parents should not be over anxious for their children to take the higher book.
Spelling receives its due share of attention in all the grades, but we advise the more constant use of the spelling book, and the taking it in course from beginning to end, that no common word in our language may be omitted. Both the oral and written methods should be practiced, but mainly the latter.
In Arithmetic, the giving of practical examples drawn from ordinary business transactions should be practiced in all the
27
grades. One such example performed by the shortest and sim- plest method, in the neatest manner, and clearly explained, the teacher and each member of the class giving the closest attention and sharpest criticism, will be so impressed on the mind as not to be forgotten, while the explanation of a dozen examples at one recitation will fade from the memory.
In Geography the method of map drawing from memory has been pursued in most of our schools, with excellent results. While we require the scholar to master the whole of Harper's Introductory Geography we have required only such portions of the larger book as we deem essential. An excellent exercise is to let the class make imaginary journeys along the coasts, up the rivers, and by the principal lines of railroad, drawing the map and des- cribing the natural divisions of land and water, and naming the cities, boundaries, climate, productions and occupations.
It is a stubborn fact that many who know Grammar " by heart " still speak very incorrectly. Why is this? It is because they have been learning rules, but not practicing the use of correct forms of speech.
The two should go together, the practice, however, predom- inating. We think that only the simplest parsing and the more common rules and definitions should be taught in the Grammar schools, and abstruse rules and exceptions, and difficult analysis, be postponed to the latter part of the High school course.
But in all grades of school the study of grammar can avail little if the use of incorrect expressions is allowed to pass un- noticed. Such an expression affords a golden opportunity for a practical lesson in language. Be not satisfied with merely cor- recting the error, but insist that the scholar and even the whole class or school, repeat the correct form, and drill them to criticise an error in expression as readily as one in substance.
We have sought to introduce the simplest and most concise text books and discouraged the verbal memorizing of all but the tables and more essential rules and definitions, in order that more time may be given to such work as is herein indicated.
In correcting the monthly examination papers and other Written exercises, the teachers should merely indicate errors by certain marks, and insist that the scholar make the correction himself and re-write the work in whole or part.
Let us now pass to a review of the different schools.
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CENTER GRAMMAR.
The Committee were fortunate in securing the services of Miss Carrie L. Haynes of Framingham, whose long and success- ful experience as a teacher in that town enabled her to enter upon her duties with all the advantage that an educated trained teacher has over one who is new in the work.
The discipline was good, the methods of instruction excellent, and the examination at the end of the year a most successful one. One exercise deserves special commendation-the recitation of brief gems of thought from the works of our best authors. If each of our schools were required to memorize weekly a few choice lines from some standard author, our scholars on going from school would carry with them rich treasures of noble thought, ready to spring to the lips in apt quotation.
CENTER PRIMARY.
Of our old teachers we must speak briefly, having spoken so fully of them in our previous reports. Miss Ball so combines thorough instruction with varied and interesting exercises that her scholars go not " unwillingly to school," but deem it a great loss to be absent a day, and make excellent progress.
NORTH SCHOOL.
Miss Alice Mansfield of Chelmsford, taught the Spring and Fall terms with good success, but was obliged to employ a sub- stitute for a few weeks on account of the sickness of a member of her family, and for a similar reason resigned at the end of the Fall term. Miss Eugenia Shea of Lynn, a normal graduate of two years successful experience as a teacher, succeeded Miss M., but in a few weeks went home ill, and soon passed from this life.
Miss Mary E. Davis of Chelmsford, completed the term. Notwithstanding these drawbacks the older scholars appeared well examination day, and deserve special praise for excellence of deportment.
EAST SCHOOL.
Miss Susie A. Wetherbee continues to teach and govern this school, with that ability of which we have spoken in former re- ports. The large number of daily recitations-about twenty-five -comprising all grades, from the lowest primary to studies more properly pursued in the High School, render the task of teaching
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very arduous ; much more so than is the teaching of thrice as many scholars well classed. We remedied this evil all we could, by putting classes together when only a few pages separat- ed them. The parents of scholars fitted for the High School should, if possible, send them there, instead of letting them do as best they can with only such brief instruciton as the busy teacher can give them. If not too inconvenient on account of distance, it would be better for all concerned if scholars from this school were to spend their last year before admission to the High School in the Center Grammar School, where they would be stimulated by the enthusiasm of a large class, and could receive that careful in- struction which is possible only in a graded school, or a very small ungraded one.
SOUTH EAST SCHOOL.
Miss Bertha Manley has now taught this school more than two years, and it has steadily improved in deportment and schol- arship. Absenteeism is the great drawback here. Much of it is caused by sickness, and in case of very young scholars, by incle- mency of the weather, but if parents would resolve that their children should be absent only for good cause, the school would make a better showing examination day, and in the tabular state- ment.
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