USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1879-1894 > Part 13
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66 27, Harold La Roy Crosby,
27, Charles Barnard Cole,
31, Ethel Brown Hastings,
Nov. 5, Rebecca Nye Warren, Dec. 14, A daughter,
19, Charles T. Owens,
" 26, Roland Ellis Hutchins,
Frank and Honora (Baker) Daniel and Maggie (Callahan) Amos H. and Etta C. (Hatch) James P. and Laura A. (Jones) Anson C. and Ellen L. (Jones) J. Edward and Susie E. (Tuttle) Hiram S. and Sybil G. (Selleck) Wm. and Charlotte E. (Hatch) twin children of
Geo. E. and N. Edna (Walker) John and Julia (Carey)
Edward and Mary B. (McLearn) Frank W. and Lizzie I. (Walker) Oswald L. and Cora A. (Cooper) Rev. Chas. L. and Mary E. (Fitch) Nathan R. and Abbie M. (Martin) Jolin Jr. and Mary A. (McElligott) S. H. and Mary B. (Thompson) Franklin D. and Lucietta (Derby) Osha and Nellie F. (Handley) Frederick S. and Lizzie M. (Gates) Chas. E. and Marion E. (Brodie) Chas. and Phebe M. (Smith) Austin E. and Mary J. (Stebbins) Frank L. and Josie M. (Keith) Geo. W. and Anna Z. (Hewins) Lewis C. and Emma F. (Brown) Wm. S. and Rose E. (Stacy) Wm. G. and Sarah R. (Warren) Thomas and Eliza J. (Edwards) Geo. Y, and Hattie A. (Parker)
18
1885
MARRIAGES.
DATE.
NAME.
RESIDENCE.
1885
1 Feb. 7, Charles D. Griggs. Abbie E. Roberts.
Acton. Acton.
2 Feb. 8, Charles H. Handley. Katie B. Jewett.
Acton. Acton.
3 Feb. 22, Aaron Wheeler. Mary L. Hosmer.
Natick.
Acton.
4 Mar. 7, William Banks. Elizabeth Jane Tucker.
.
Acton. Acton.
5 Mar. 9, James B. Wheeler. Mary Amanda Wheeler.
Acton.
. Acton.
6 Mar. 17, George H. Brigham. Katie Lavelle.
Marlborough. Marlborough.
7 Apr. 25, Frank L. Crosby. Josephine M. Keith.
.
Acton. Acton.
8 May 25, George A. Conant. Mabel E. Dow.
.
Acton. Acton.
9 May 27,
Webster C. Robbins. Amelia H. Nichols. .
Acton. Concord.
10 June 10, Maurice Hefferman. Nellie A. Hannon.
Boston. Acton.
11 June 18, William G. Brown.
Sarah R. Warren,
· Acton. Stow. .
12 June 27,
Walter N. Sharp. Nettie C. Fuller.
Acton. Acton.
13 July 12, William F. Richardson. Flora A. Foote. ·
Acton. Acton.
14 July 12,
Walter A. Wright, Emma J. Willis,
.
Concord. Concord.
15 Sept. 11,
Benjamin F. Keith. Tinsa Wagner. .
.
Acton. Maynard.
16 Sept. 12,
John McCarthy. Ellen Louise Tuohey.
Acton. Acton. . .
17 Sept. 23, Frank Zeheth Taylor. Caroline Augusta White. .
.
Acton. Ringe, N. H.
18 Nov. 3, John S. Hoar. 1
|Minnie R. Hart.
Acton.
Acton.
.
.
.
19
No. |
DATE.
NAME.
RESIDENCE.
1885.
19 Nov. 13,
William T. Mason. Etta T. Hoyt.
Acton. Acton.
20 Nov. 15, James W. Hunt.
Mary E. Grimes.
Maynard. Acton.
21 Nov. 23, Rev. Howard M. Jones. Clara R. Tuttle.
Albert Lea, Minn. Acton.
22 Dec. 3, H. Everett Burnham. Rachel E. Scott.
Maynard. Maynard.
23 May 23,
Hendrick Miller. Abbie A. Puffer.
Maynard. Concord.
24 July 15, Philip Allen. Ellen Gates.
Stow.
· Stow.
20
DEATHS.
1885
No. 000 2 3 4
1885 Date of Death.
NAME OF DECEASED.
RESIDENCE.
PLACE OF BIRTH.
Feb. 10,
George Frazier,
1 5
Acton,
|Mar. 1,
Blanche L. Hayward,
6
11
2
9
Acton.
5
66 19
Ellen Kearney,
8
5|15
66
Hudson.
6
66 22, Frances Booker,
9 11
Ludlow, Eng.
7
Apr. 22,
Lucretia A. Frost.
65
4 13
66
8
66
25,
Michael Mccarthy,
32
Boston.
9
23, Daniel Fletcher,
74
8
Acton.
10 May 5, Alvin A. Hayward,
37
9
11
15, Albert M. Horslin,
1
6
66
66
12 June 3, Isaiah B. Perkins,
85
19
66
Brookfield.
13
66
6, Ann Kinsley,
70
66
Ireland.
14
24 Sarah J. Reed,
56
3 20
Billerica.
15
66 29 W. J. McLaughlin,
1
22
66
Acton.
16
July 9, Ancil W. Knowlton,
33
1
66
Swanville, Me.
17
13,
Daniel T. Moore,
23
3 14
66
Acton.
18
Aug. 24, Frances A. Knight,
48
9
9
Concord.
84
9
66
Acton.
21 Oct. 20,
Silas W. Wetherbee,
79
8
4
Boxborough.
22 Nov. 5. Lydia R. Keyes,
73 4
Acton.
23
17, Frank H. Finch,
1 15
24
66
25, George H. Warren,
61
7
Littleton.
25 Dec.
1, Jennie McAllister,
33
7 22
Shrewsbury.
26
10, Mary A. Mehegan,
18|10
7
66
East Boston.
27
21, Olive May Harrington,
3
Acton.
28
66
23, Horatio Law,
85 8 21
66
66
2, Eldora M. Williams,
66
66
Wilton, Me.
66 11 Mary F. Wellington,
59
[DS.]
66
Lowell. Milford.
Whole No., 28; Average age, 37 6-10 years.
Alstead, N. H.
20
66 27, Ada M. Knowlton,
1
2
11
66
66
19 Sept. 15, Zabine C. Burroughs,
60
66
66
AGE.
21
AMOUNT RECEIVED FROM LICENSES OF DOGS, SINCE LAST REPORT, $236.00.
NAMES OF OWNERS.
No.
AMT. PD.
Dana F. Hayward,
1 $2 Joseph R. Bassett,
Augustus Fletcher,
1
2
William Barnes,
Antoine Bulette,
1
2 M. E. Taylor,
Ai Robbins,
1
2 George C. Wright,
1 2
Wm. D. Tuttle.
1
2 Otis H. Forbush,
1
2
Luther Conant,
1
2 Reuben L. Reed,
1
2
John Fletcher.
1
2 George Gardner,
1 2
Lester N. Fletcher,
1
2 William H. Teele,
1
2
James Tobin,
1
2 Frank R. Knowlton,
1
Tuttle, Jones & Wetherbee,
4
8 Frank E. Harris,
1
Elnathan Jones,
3
6 John C. Gates,
1
James Tuttle,
1
2 Herman Chaplin,
1
J. K. W. Wetherbee,
1
2 George Conant,
1
Charles Varney,
1
2 Moses A. Reed,
1
Moses A. Reed,
1
2 John Kelley,
1
Gustavus H. Waugh,
1
2 Edwin W. Taylor,
1 2
George W. Livermore,
1
2 A. H. Gilmore,
1
Isaiah S. Leach,
1
2 Moses Taylor,
1
2
Fred S. Whitcomb,
1
2 Chauncey B. Robbins,
1
2
Daniel McCarthy, 2d.,
1
2 Webster C. Robbins,
1 2
A. Lucien Noyes,
1
2 Chas. W. Grant,
1 2 2
John Temple,
2 John W. Aldrich,
1
2
E. F. Fuller,
1
2 Patrick Kearney,
1 2
George C. Conant,
1
2 Joseph F. Cole,
1 2
Isaac Barker,
1
2 Dr. Chas. B. Sanders,
2
4
Charles A. Taylor,
1
2 Nelson J. Cole,
1
2
Charles A. Harrington,
1
2 Everett Wayne,
1 2
Mrs. George F. Flagg,
1
2 Michael Hannon,
1 1 2
Mead & Stone,
1
2 Edward O'Neil,
1 2
Luke Tuttle,
1
2 B. C. Nickerson,
1
2
Wm. B. Davis,
1
2 Daniel Tuttle,
1
2
J. E. Harris,
1 2 Alonzo L. Tuttle,
1
2
George R. Keyes,
1
2 A. F. Blanchard,
1 2
William Barnes,
1
2 John Grimes,
1 2
Henry M. Smith,
2 Nathan R. Palmer,
1
2
John W. Randall,
J. E. Scofield, 2
1
2
Sylvester Haynes,
1 2 Geo. E. Whittier,
1
2
Willis S. Mead,
1
2 Geo. W. Worester,
1 2
Elbridge J. Robbins,
1
2 Henry Brooks,
1 2
Frederick Rouillard,
1
2 Charles L. Beck,
1
2
John Welch,
1
2 L. E. Reed,
1
2
Isaac W. Flagg,
1
2 Francis Pratt,
1
2
Charles J. Williams,
1
2
Chas. H. Handley,
1
2
Daniel J. Wetherbee,
1
2 Henry Haynes,
2
Mrs. Daniel Wetherbee,
1
2 Clas. H. Wheeler,
2
Cyrus Hayward,
1
2 Forbush & Hartwell,
G. H. S. Houghton,
1
2 George Pratt,
Chas. J. Holton,
1
2 Jairus C. Wheeler,
Henry Hanson,
1 2
Males, 103; Females, 6. Total, 109.
TAMT. PD. 22222222222222222 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
James D. Coburn,
1
2 Frank W. Houghton,
1
1
1
2 Chas. D. Griggs,
1 2 2
John H. Hannaford,
Job. W. Dupee,
1
2 Andrew J. Willis,
1
1
.
1
NAMES OF OWNERS.
22
Report of Receipts and Expenditures at the Almshouse in Acton,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 2Sth, 1SS6. .
ARTICLES ON HAND, FEBRUARY 28th, 1886.
7 Cows,
$350 00
100 lbs. ham,
12 00
1 horse,
200 00
Lard,
7 20
15 tons hay,
3 00
30 bushels potatoes,
22 50
Meal and shorts,
12 15
Bushels small potatoes,
3 50
900 C. S. meal,
11 25
Eggs,
1 60
Corn,
2 00
3 bbls. apples,
3 00
500 straw,
2 50
Butter,
1 80
Lot of bags,
5 00
Oil
60
17 cords wood cut for stove, 80 00
Flour,
5 00
31 hens,
15 50
Soap,
5 30
1 wagon,
90 00
1 cider barrel,
1 00
1 buggy,
25 00
50 lbs. corn beef,
3 00
57 barrels,
5 70
Beans,
1 00
2 tons coal,
12 00
2 lbs. tea,
1 00
4 market boxes,
40
Spices,
50
350 lbs. salt pork,
35 00
$1,215 50
Receipts from Town Farm,
FROM MARCH 1, 1885 TO FEBRUARY 28, 1886.
REC'D FOR
REC'D FOR
Apples,
215 48
Labor,
$1 25
Milk,
575 50
Meat,
2 92
Potatoes,
89 65
Calves,
9 25
Eggs,
15 39
Beef cow,
40 00
$949 44
23
Expenses.
PAID FOR
PAID FOR
Coffee,
10 17
Hoes,
2 25
Yeast,
71
Dried apples,
98
Fish,
10 92
Castings,
1 85
Flour,
45 24
Meat,
123 53
Tea,
23 10
Soap,
15 10
Sugar,
16 94
Ginger,
25
Beans,
4 25
Oatmeal,
1 40
Shoes,
8 52
Medicine,
2 45
Butter,
51 98
Jug,
75
Cheese,
6 03
Molasses,
9 25
Vinegar,
70
Rice,
1 08
Cloth and clothing,
54 61
Pepper,
47
Nails,
97
Potatoes,
5 00
Tubs,
88
Raisins,
2 02
Phosphate,
19 95
Curtains,
43
Wash-board,
30
Barrels,
13 91
Seeds,
10
Brooms,
1 30
Stove polish,
29
Lard,
6 00
Starch,
16
Paris green,
25
Saleratus,
36
Plaster,
30
Spices,
1 30
Use of oxen,
8 00
Rope,
05
Onions,
1 00
Matches,
45
Pigs,
8 00
Crockery,
1 68
Gargetine,
87
Salt,
1 46
Shovel,
38
Cream tartar,
97
Carpeting,
2 00
Tobacco,
1 35
Chairs,
3 25
Oil,
3 09
Ammonia,
18
Snuff,
18
Axe,
83
Lemons,
66
Clothes line,
35
Alum,
02
Candles,
15
Crackers,
23 42
Repairing harnesses,
1 63
Tin ware,
: 29
Use of bull,
4 50
Twine,
05
Butchering,
2 50
Mustard,
66
Blacksmith bill,
11 38
Currants,
63
Smoking Ham,
60
Oyster shells,
18
Filing saws,
80
R. tacks,
61
Harness,
6 00
Blueing,
24
Buggy,
25 00
B. bricks,
08
Labor,
182 28
Glass,
31
Grain,
321 71
Handles,
76
Stoves and furniture,
62 65
Pails,
50
Coal,
17 64
Lime,
38
Burial of H. Law and
Cattle cards,
32
Mrs. E. Southard,
32 00
Turpentine,
30
Dr. Sanders' bill,
21 25
Brushes,
63
Repairs on house,
14 00
Paint,
1 70
Services of Warren Bemis and wife,
250 00
Paper,
31
Services of E. H. Cut-
Plow,
: 25
ler,
50 00
Lampblack,
07
Services of Luke
Lock,
52
Blanchard,
25 00
Scythes,
2 64
Services of Reuben L. Reed,
10 00
Rake,
25
Whetstone,
25
$1565 74
Basket,
45
24
Expenditures, Receipts,
$1565 74 949 44
Income less than expenses,
$616 30
Due from Treasury to balance account, Interest on farm,
$616 30 240 00
$856 30
Victualing and lodging 128 tramps at 40 cents each,
51 20
Cost of supporting poor on farm,
$S05 10
Whole number of persons exclusive of tramps supported in alms- house 7; average number 5}; present number 4.
E. H. CUTLER. LUKE BLANCHARD, REUBEN REED,
Overseers of Poor.
25
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 fifth day of April next, at twelve o'clock 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 to preside at said meeting.
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 the support of schools the present year, and liow 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 ap- point 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 Select- men, Overseers of Poor, School Committee and other Town Officers.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money for the Town, if necessary, in anticipation of the taxes of the current year.
ART. 11. To vote by ballot, Yes or No, in answer to the question, Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town the present year?
ART. 12. To see if the Town will widen and straighten the road lead- ing from the house of Orlando Leland through the village of West Acton, to the house of Geo. A. Stevens.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars for Memorial Day.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will build a sluice near the house of Reuben L. Reed.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will paint the School House in the centre district.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will furnish Intermediate Schools in the South and West districts.
ART. 17. To see if the Town will furnish an assistant teacher for the High School.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will furnish transportation for scholars attending the High School.
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 twentieth day of March in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-six.
J. K. W. WETHERBEE, Selectmen J. W. DUPEE,
T. F. NOYES, S Acton.
26
Town Officers for 1886.
Town Clerk, WM. D. TUTTLE.
Selectmen,
JONA K. W. WETHERBEE, JOB W. DUPEE,
THOS. F. NOYES.
Assessors.
WM. D. TUTTLE, PHINEAS WETHERBEE, HIRAM J. HAPGOOD.
LUKE BLANCHARD,
Overseers of the Poor. JOHN E. CUTTER, JONA W. LOKER
Constables. LEWIS V. CLOUGH, at South Acton. [Three to be chosen.]
School Committee.
CHARLES H. MEAD, for 3 years, THERON F. NEWTON, for 2 years, WILLIAM S. JONES, for 3 years, JOHN E. CUTTER, for 2 years, LUKE J. ROBBINS, for 1 year.
CHARLES I. MILLER, for 1 year,
Highway Surveyors.
CHARLES WHEELER,
ISAAC REED, ABEL COLE,
FRANCIS PRATT, ELBRIDGE J. ROBBINS, JOB. W. DUPEE.
Surveyors of Wood.
WM. B. DAVIS,
J. W. LOKER, GEO. H. HARRIS,
I. W. FLAGG, S. L. DUTTON, CHAS. H. TAYLOR,
E. F. FULLER, JOHN F. DAVIS, HERBERT T. CLARK,
HENRY D. PARLIN, CHAS. H. MEAD.
Ww. B. DAVIS, GEO. H. HARRIS,
E. F. RICHARDSON,
LEVI W. STEVENS,
E. J. ROBBINS, HERBERT T. CLARK,
CHAS. A. BROOKS.
Fence Viewers. O. W. MEAD,
FRANCIS HOSMER.
JOHN FLETCHER,
Surveyors of Lumber.
NAHUM C. REED,
Cemetery Committee. M. W. DAVIS, LEVI W. STEVENS,
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON,
For the School Year 1885-6.
To the Town of Acton :
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
BY ITS SUPERINTENDENT.
The School Committee, having been allowed by you to act in the schools during the year past through a Superintendent, now makes its report to you through the same officer.
REPORT.
Perfect unanimity has existed between members of the Com- mittee, and between the Committee and its Superintendent, dur- ing the year.
No step of importance, in the way of discipline, introduction of books, or further progress in establishing courses of study and grades in the schools has been taken without the action of the whole Committee.
The first matter of special importance that required attention, was the course of study in the High School. Recommendations had been made, but no regular course adopted. It was not pos- sible, therefore, for the teacher to the hold the scholars to any sys- tem of study, or keep the school in proper grade.
After painstaking correspondence with, and examination of courses of study in other schools, a course of study was recom- mended, and after full discussion, adopted. The following is a copy of the same :
30
ACTON HIGH SCHOOL.
COURSE OF STUDY.
FIRST YEAR.
-
SECOND YEAR.
1st TERM:
Algebra.
Rhetoric.
Physiology.
2d TERM:
Algebra.
English Literature.
Physiology.
3d TERM:
Algebra.
English Literature. Physics.
THIRD YEAR.
1st TERM:
Geometry.
Latin or French.
Physics.
2d TERM :
Geometry.
Latin or French.
Chemistry.
3d TERM:
Botany.
Latin or French. Chemistry.
-
-- Ist TERM:
Astronomy.
Latin or French.
Geology.
2d TERM:
Astronomy.
Latin or French.
Geology.
3d TERM: 1
Politics.
Latin or French.
General Review.
Those taking only a three years' or English course will substitute for Latin or French the following studies for the third year:
1st TERM: Astronomy.
2d TERM:
Geology.
3d TERM:
Politics.
NOTE .- Exercises in Reading and Spelling will be had during the entire course. Exercises in Declamation or Composition will be re- quired weekly throughout the course.
FOURTH YEAR
1st TERM:
Arithmetic.
English Grammar and Composition. English Grammar and Composition.
General History.
2d TERM:
Bookeeping.
General History.
3d TERM:
Arithmetic.
Rhetoric.
General History.
31
Immediate steps were taken to classify the school as closely as possibly under the circumstances, and teacher and scholars have become settled into systematic work. The good effects have been apparent in many ways. Each scholar knows beforehand his place in the term and terms to come. Each study prepares the way for the one following, and steady and satisfactory progress is thus assured.
This step also led to other important results. It made it simple and easy to fix the grade of scholarship for entering the High School, and consequently prepares the way for classifying, or grading more perfectly the lower schools and classes.
Another step of importance has been the changing the school year. Heretofore the school year has been from the beginning of the spring term to the close of the winter term. This gives but the short vacation between the winter and spring terms to make any changes that may be thought wise. It places teachers and committee in straightened relations with each other. This custom has also made our schools to be out of the uniform plan of the schools around us.
The school year now begins with the fall term, and ends with the spring term, making our school year uniform with those of the commonwealth, and giving the committee and teachers abun- dant time to consider the advisability of another year's engage- ment.
BOOKS.
With one exception there has been no change in text books, and that has been of minor importance, so far as expense is con- cerned.
We must either have purchased a new supply of Higginson's United States Histories, or make a change.
Taking advantage of this need, Scudder's United States His- tory was purchased to replace the other. This change has been proven to be a wise one.
Higginson's History was not planned for a text book in schools, and lacked many essential elements for that purpose. The newione by Scudder is specially adapted for a text book, and the study of it has aroused new interest among the scholars.
The new Temperance Education Law made the teaching of
32
Hygiene and the evils of narcotics, (alchohol, tobacco and opium) compulsory in the common schools.
After close examination and comparison of different text books issued by various publishers, one was selected, recom- mended and adopted.
The supplying of all the schools with this text book was quite a large expense, but your committee had no choice in the matter, except in the selection of a book ; and though a committee would hesitate to take this responsibility without the law, the benefits resulting from compliance with this law can hardly be estimated.
We have had reason to congratulate the committee on the choice of books made. The interest of teachers and scholars has not flagged, but at times has had to be restrained, so desirous were they to follow up this study so pleasantly placed before them.
The advancement of the High School into higher studies made the purchase of text books necessary, and much care has been taken in the selection of them, to secure those that embraced the most advanced scholarship, expressed in such manner as to meet the wants of our scholars.
These text books, though more expensive than those of the lower grades, are not subject to as frequent change or renewal. The line of text books for the full course is now nearly complete.
One other step of great importance has been taken. And we may say that no other received more careful consideration. This was the selection and purchase of suitable reference books for the schools.
The use of only text books finally becomes a slavish follow- ing of them, and results in a narrow and unsatisfactory progress. Geographical, historical and biographical notices in common school text books are necessarily short, while many important and interesting truths in geographical discovery and progress, in histori- cal epochs, and the lives and thoughts of great men are not men- tioned at all. A gradually increasing library of well selected ref- erence books in our Grammar and High Schools, will furnish an element of power that cannot be overestimated. Your committee, after mature deliberation, authorized the purchase of a copy of each of Lippincott's " Biographical Dictionary," and Lippincott's " Gazetteer of the World," for each school district and the High School. In addition to these they authorized the purchase of
33
Lippincott's edition of " Chambers' Encyclopedia," for each one of the village districts and the High School, the same to be used by all the scholars and teachers in the town.
The gratitude of the teachers was almost unbounded. At first the scholars hardly knew the use of these new tools of educa- tion ; but as, under the lead of their teachers, they gradually became acquainted with the treasuries within their grasp, their enthus- iasm was as great as that of the teachers.
Now almost any hour of school, in some schools, from one to three or more of the scholars may be found digging into these new mines of mental wealth, searching these volumes in con- nection with places, persons and thoughts suggested in their les- sons. These reference books have thus become permanent teachers in our schools without salary or further expense, and for years their steady influence will he felt.
SCHOOLS.
The only schools in which changes of teachers have been made have been, the Centre Grammar and Primary, and the South East Schools. Miss C. L. Haynes, of the Centre Gram- mar, resigned at the close of the fall term, and Miss Davis was employed to take her place. Miss Davis' health failed, so that she was compelled at the holidays to resign, and Mr. O. W. Dutton was secured. Notwithstanding these changes, the school has kept steadily on with its work. Miss B. Ball of the Centre Primary, on account of ill health, gave place to Miss Edith Gar- field for the fall term, and in the winter term resumed her place
again. Miss Bertha Manley, of the South East District, resigned at the close of spring term, and Miss C. A. Granger was em- ployed in her place, and has kept the school since. The other schools have kept the same teachers, and all have worked hard. Uniformity of teaching cannot be attained, even if it were desira- ble, but general uniformity of advancement has been attained throughout the town. We do not consider it necessary to partic- ularize in regard to each school. Similar methods as to disci- pline, teaching and examinations have prevailed throughout the town. Each district has had thirty-six weeks of schooling. The pleasantest relations have existed between the teachers and the Committee and Superintendent. In discipline, punishment has
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been discouraged, and scholars made to feel that the schools were for their benefit, and they were welcome to get all the good pos- sible from them ; but, if ignoring this, they persisted in disturb- ing the work of the school, and maintained a spirit of insubordi- nation, they would be expelled. These methods have proven ef- fectual.
The general system of monthly reviews and examinations has been maintained. In methods of teaching, the old and safe method of memorizing important facts and rules has been supple- mented by conversational exercises, so that the student might not only know, but know how to use his knowledge. To this same end, the highest classes in the Grammar schools, and all the scholars in the High school, have been required to prepare and read an essay, a selection for public reading, and a declamation once in three weeks, thus giving each of them one of these im- portant exercises each week. There have been no examinations during the year for the purpose of passing from class to class or school to school.
In accordance with the vote of the Committee, the school year will begin in the fall, though the examination for advancement will be at the close of the spring term. These examinations will be mostly in writing, and so framed as to, so far as possible, be a test of scholarship, a certain percentage of accuracy being re- quired before a scholar can pass into a higher class or school.
SUGGESTIONS WITH REASONS.
The increase of scholars in the West and South districts re- quires consideration. The average attendance of the Centre Grammar school this last year has been twenty ; this is the largest school outside of the two above. In the schools at the West the average attendance has been 66, while those at the South has been 62, making an average three times as large as that of the Centre Grammar. Three school rooms are crowded; more room is needed ; the classes are too large and difficult to teach, the few minutes the teacher has for each, when all the classes must be heard. An intermediate school is recommended for each of these districts, and in the opinion of committee and superintendent, needed for the best interests of these schools. More scholars will come into these schools this spring and fall than will go out by examinations-and thus increase the present need.
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HIGH SCHOOL.
This year for the first time the High school is working its three years' course-those who come in the first year, and have continued, have been followed by two other classes and now three regularly formed classes are doing steady work. This has of course necessitated the steady introduction of new text books, as the first class advanced from first to second, and then into the third years' work, and their places were steadily filled by those coming after ; thus eighteen different text books come into use, besides reading, spelling and writing, with declamations and essays required by the course.
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