USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1894-1900 > Part 11
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1 25
Stove,
10 00
Lounge,
5 00
Pork,
12 00
Butter,
1 25
Lard,
2 20
$1,188 50
33
TOWN OF ACTON.
Receipts from farm, Victualing and lodging 373 tramps,
$1,464 54
93 25
$1,557 79
Expenditures,
$1,569 96
Interest on farm $3,500 at 5 per cent,
175 00
Difference in articles on hand,
172 15
$1,917 11
Less receipts,
1,557 79
Cost of supporting poor on farm,
$359 32
LYMAN TUTTLE, EDWIN C. PARKER, MOSES A. REED,
Overseers of Poor.
34
ANNUAL REPORTS
Town Clerk's Report for 1896.
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN ACTON IN 1896.
NO. DATE OF BIRTH. NAME OF CHILD. NAMES OF PARENTS.
1. Jan. 8. Harold Moulton Richardson. Sidney L. and M. Kath- erine.
2. Jan. 16. Lillia Della Gilmore.
3. Feb. 4. Hanora McCarty.
Fred W. and Della.
Thomas and Hannah.
4. Feb. 8. Martha Elizabeth Wheeler. Elbridge L. and Flor- ence I.
5. Feb. 11. Raymond Hayes.
6. Feb. 13. Grace Louise Rice.
7. Feb. 26. Zelma Adeline Putnam.
8. Feb. 26. Frank Edwards Greenough. George E. and Sarah A.
9. Mar. 10. Doris Margarete Brooks.
10. Mar. 23. William Charles Coughlin.
11. Apr. 1. Antoni N. Matson.
12. Apr. 7. William Thomas Hayes.
13. Apr. 12. Clarence Burlin Lord.
14. Apr. 19. Sherman Creswell Warren.
15. Apr. 26. Roland Hall.
16. Apr. 27. Ramond Frank Farrar.
17. May 21. Martha Putnam Hale.
18. May 22. Eliza Brady.
19. June 4. David Moan.
20. June 8. Mary Alice Davidson.
21. June 16. Beatrice Sarah Rice.
22. June 17. Evelyn Kimball.
23. June 19. George Henry Espie.
Wm. H. and Annie B. Atti and Ulner. Wmn. J. and Mary L. Chas. S. and Annie N. Geo. C. and Hattie K. Eugene L. and Isa- belle H.
Frank B. and Dora J. Herbert and Lena.
Edward and Kate.
Frank and Margaret E.
Norman A. and Mary A. Charles W. and Isa- belle S.
Chas. M. and Carrie E. Alexan'r and Annie E.
Michael G. and Kath- erine A.
Thomas E. and Louise. Elsie L.
Roy G. and Libbie.
35
TOWN OF ACTON.
NO. DATE OF BIRTH. NAME OF CHILD.
24. June 21. Walter Raymond Morse. 25. June 27. Kitty Edna Gray. 26. July 4. Edith Elizabeth Harris. 27. July 14. Mildred Chestine Randall. 28. Aug. 12. Ruth Eleanor Tuttle. 29. Aug. 31. John Acton Parker.
30. Sept. 1. Hubert Raymond Rodway. 31. Sept. 4. John Francis Kennedy. 32. Sept. 15. Benjamin Anthony Goding. 33. Sept. 15. Alfred Francis Miller. 34. Sept. 16. Ray Linwood Harris. 35. Sept. 20. Myrtle Gray Blodgett. 36. Sept. 23. Bertram Clyde Morse.
37. Sept. 29. Arthur LeRoy Booker. 38. Oct. 9. Nathalie Frances Leach.
39. Oct. 11. Edgar Francis Buxton. 40. Nov. 10. Richard Peregrine White. 41. Nov. 24. William Cutler Allen.
42. Nov. 28. Catherine Mary Hurley. 1895.
43. Apr. 16. Frank McClellan Stevens.
NAMES OF PARENTS. Frank D. and JuliaA. Herbert and Catherine. Sam'l B. and Harriet L. Thomas E. and Rebecca Roswell L. and Anna B. Wm. H. and Annie A. Harry J. and Lucy E. Charles and Katie. Anthony I. and Flora E. Christian and Sophia. David C. and Betsey J. Wm. H. and Sarah A. Alfred J. and George- ana J.
Henry M.and Estelle M. Chas. W. and Carrie V. Wilson R. and Effie M. J.Sidney and BerthaH. Chas. W. and Dessie W. James and Bridget.
Frank R. and Annie.
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN 1896.
NO. DATE. NAMES OF PARTIES.
James Hurley,
Acton.
Acton.
2. Jan. 26 Sarah A. Gray,
3. Feb. 16 Francis Pendergast, Josie A. M. Hayes,
Acton.
Acton.
4. Feb. 24
William A. Leighton, Lillian F. Kelley,
5. Mar. 1 Walter J. Adams,
K. Frances Coughlin,
Horace F. Tuttle,
6. Mar. 18 Carrie E. Taylor,
RESIDENCE.
1. Jan. 5 Bridget Neyland,
William H. Blodgett,
Concord.
Acton.
Acton.
Acton.
Harvard.
Harvard.
Acton.
Acton.
36
ANNUAL REPORTS
NO. DATE. NAMES OF PARTIES.
7. Mar. 28 Clarence V. Twitchell, Martha M. Haddock,
8. Apr. 23 Luke H. Tuttle, Hattie L. Miles,
Acton.
Concord.
Acton.
Worcester.
Acton.
Acton.
Lowell.
Acton.
Acton.
Maynard.
1
Daniel C. Lincoln,
Hopkinton.
13. July 3
2
Bertha I. Fisk,
Acton.
Acton.
14. July 22
Edward Abbott,
Acton.
Acton.
Richard M. Davis,
Acton.
Acton.
17. Oct. 7 Herman W. Parker,
Susie E. Conant,
Silas Monsen,
North Andover.
North Andover.
Acton.
Somerville.
Concord, N. H.
Acton.
Acton.
Acton.
22. Nov. 25 Joachim McCrossin, Acton.
Margaret Devine, Acton.
23. Dec. 24 Frank P. Fletcher,
Concord.
Concord.
Mira Veinot,
RESIDENCE.
Acton. Acton.
9. Apr. 27
Edward H. Carey, Ina S. Bryant,
10. June 2 ( Charles B. Heath, 2 Mary Cahill,
11. June 8 Charles W. Brown, Edna A. Knowlton,
( Charles J. Priest,
12. June 24 Mary A. Delaney,
Clarence A. Hosmer, Grace J. Jewett,
Concord.
15. Aug. 8 Ellen Weaver,
16. Sept. 7 Maud L. Morse,
Acton.
Acton.
18. Oct. 17 1 Hannah Christensen,
19. Oct. 26 George A. Dusseault, Mildred F. Mills,
20. Nov. 11 Francis S. Davis, L. Emily Noyes,
21. Nov. 25 Daniel J. Hennessey, Hannah T. Lynch,
37
TOWN OF ACTON.
DEATHS REGISTERED IN ACTON IN 1896.
NO. DATE OF DEATH. NAMES OF PERSONS.
YRS. MOS. DAYS.
1. Feb. 3. Francis Hayward,
72
3 20
2. Feb. 5. Lucius D. Draper,
72
7 0
3. Feb. 20. Maria W. Willis,
88
4 5
4. Feb. 27. Dora J. Hoar,
51
5
5. Mar. 15. Mary A. Rich,
46
1
8
6. Mar. 16. Mary Elizabeth Law,
53
7 0
7. Mar. 19. Elizabeth B. Tuttle,
64
1
24
8. Mar. 29. Alden B. Johnson,
42
11
15
9. Apr. 24. Henrietta J. Tuttle,
85
8
8
10. May 3. Mary P. Hosmer,
82
4 10
11. May 4. Roland Hall,
0
0
8
12. June 1. John W. Wattslong,
61
0
16
13. June 7. Gertrude S. Harrington,
28
8
16
14. June 21. Annie E. Espie,
19
9 0
15. June 23.
George A. Clough,
22
5
15
16. Aug. 27.
Ann B. Littlefield,
80
3 0
17. Aug. 30.
Willie H. Gilmore,
18
11
4
18. Sept. 3.
Antoni N. Matson,
0
5
3
19. Sept. 19.
Charles A. Harrington,
81
8
27
20. Sept. 20.
Sarah A. Blodgett,
23
4 26
21. Oct. 3. Delmer G. Durkee,
1
5
14
22. Oct. 11. John Jackman,
52
3
7
23. Oct. 13.
Edgar F. Buxton,
C
0
2
24. Oct. 24.
Norman A. Davidson,
37
3
5
25. Oct. 28. Doris Margarete Brooks.
0
7
18
26. Nov. 5. Aaron C. Handley,
73
0
29
27. Nov. 22. Grace M. Cole,
23
4
15
28. Nov. 28. Mary Taylor,
79
4
7
29. Feb. 8. Child of Edward Goggin,
0
0
0
- AGE
38
ANNUAL REPORTS
PERSONS BROUGHT TO ACTON FOR BURIAL.
NO. DATE OF DEATH. NAMES AND RESIDENCE.
1. Dec. 25. Elizabeth B. Davis, of Chelsea,
51
0 0
2. Apr. 1. Eliza Rouillard, of Malden,
49
3
6
3. Apr. 5. Hannah T. Aldrich, of Somerville,
61
7
1
4. Feb. 11. Ada A. Johnson, of Pepperell,
22
6
14
5. Apr. 30. Levi Robbins, of Littleton,
56
9 26
6. May 4. Mary T. Severance, of Hudson,
83
0
0
7. June22. Ralph R. Burr, of Everett,
0
5
22
S. July 24. Ralph B. Stone, of Watertown, N. Y.,
14
6 20
9. July 29. Jerome B. Whitney, of Boxboro,
84
3
26
10. Aug. 21. Jerome Barton, of Sudbury,
71 0
0
11. Oct. 2. Betsey C. Temple, of Concord,
61
2
24
12. Oct. 12. William W. Hayward, of Boxboro,
20
7 11
13. Oct. 13. Benjamin A. Davis, of Waltham,
63
2
0
PERSONS HAVING DOGS LICENSED IN 1896.
Frederick H. Temple.
Walter M. French.
Smith Finney.
Frank J. Williams.
J. Sterling Moore.
Jeremiah McCarty.
Calvin S. Simonds.
Ellsworth H. Woodward.
Daniel Tuttle.
Frank Morrison.
James P. Brown.
H. A. Littlefield.
Otis B. Mott.
Chas. S. Hewens.
C. A. Hodges.
Chas. F. Shirland.
Frank W. Bulette.
L. Willis Mead.
Francis A. Houston.
Wm. F. Stevens.
E. Eddie Fletcher.
W. F. Kelley.
Elizabeth W. Barnard.
Chas. H. Wheeler.
Charles Morris.
A. L. Lawrence. Fred S. Whitcomb.
Charles J. Williams.
Fredson P. Brooks.
Lucius S. Hosmer.
Solomon L. Dutton.
Ira J. Manley."
Mrs. Henry Haynes.
James F. Stiles.
George H. Brooks. John W. Randall.
-- AGE -- YRS. MOS. DAYS.
39
TOWN OF ACTON.
Daniel H. Farrar. Luke Tuttle. M. E. Taylor. Lyman Tuttle.
A. J. Fletcher. S. D. Hunt.
Solon A. Robbins.
Blanche Varney.
Eda A. Shapley.
David A. Cutler.
Alonzo L. Tuttle.
Chas. W. Allen.
Wm. Barnes, 2.
Constance O'Neil. May L. Calder.
Lottie Flagg. C. L. Ford.
Chas. Calder. Warren H. Jones.
Hiram E. Gates.
Daniel J. Gallagher.
Henry Hanson.
Clara W. Standish.
Frank E. Harris.
L. V. Clough.
Wm. S. Jones.
Geo. Conant.
F. M. Keezer.
C. M. Kimball. F. R. Knowlton. O. A. Knowlton.
George T. Knowlton.
Chas. A. Leighton.
Wm. J. Morse.
Wm. B. Manning.
Yea Simonsen.
WV. W. Philbrick.
William Coughlin. A. Risso.
C. B. Robbins, 2. George W. Worster.
Webster C. Robbins.
Luke T. Willard.
A. Dusseault. J. E. Durkee. H. E. Faulkner. C. H. Mead & Co.
O. W. Penniman. S. B. Ineson. Abel Farrar.
A. Peterson.
Hattie White.
F. J. Taylor.
S. Hammond Taylor. Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee. Frank R. Stevens. Elnathan Jones.
James R. Cole. Wm. J. Hayes. Michael Hannon.
A. C. Jenkins.
A. Merriam. D. Mahoney. Frank Pratt.
Josephine Nash. Nahum Littlefield. Henry M. Smith. A. L. Noyes. Chas. S. Moulton.
Chas. A. Taylor.
Luther Conant.
40
ANNUAL REPORTS
106 males at $2.00, 3 females at $5.00, Total 109, $227 00
$212 00 15 00
NOTE .- To make the registration as complete as possible, the Town Clerk requests information of any omission or error in the lists of births, marriages and deaths.
NOTE .- In accordance with Section 8, Chap. 32, of the Public Statutes, the Town Clerk hereby gives notice that he is prepared to furnish to all physicians, midwives, and persons applying therefor, blanks for the return of births.
HORACE F. TUTTLE,
Acton, January 1, 1897.
Town Clerk.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
ACTON
MEMORIAL LIBRARY
1896=97.
43
TOWN OF ACTON.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.
OF
ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
The seventh annual report of the Acton Memorial Library to the town need not be a lengthy one. In our report last year mention was made of the proposal of the Hon. William A. Wilde to permanently endow the institution with the sum of five thousand dollars, the income of which was to be used in the pur- chase of new books, provided the town would vote to appropriate a sum of not less than two hundred dollars a year for the same purpose. At the annual town meeting April 6th, the town voted unanimously to accept the proposal.
On May 9th, Mr Wilde forwarded to the trustees his check for $5000, which was immediately deposited in the Broadway National Bank, drawing interest at 3 per cent. and when interest paying day occurred, was re-deposited in the following savings banks in sums of $1,000 each : Middlesex and Warren Inst. for saving, Charlestown Five Cent, Home and North End Savings Banks. The interest on the temporary deposit in the Broadway National Bank amounted to sixty dollars. We may reasonably expect an income approaching $200 a year from this fund, which with the $200 voted by the town, will enable the trustees to make a larger addition of new books than has been possible be- fore and also to secure a few volumes each year of more expensive books for special uses. We have been fortunate during the past year in receiving by donation some very valuable works of art and some series of desirable books containing a large number of volumes. From Mr. Wilde, life size busts, mounted on marble pedestals, of Washington and Lincoln, the work of perhaps the world's greatest living sculptor, Thomas Ball of Florence, Italy. The presentation of Lincoln is especially striking in its boldness
44
ANNUAL REPORTS
and originality while that of Washington is equally good, being a copy of the famous picture by Trumbull, by which the counte- nance of the father of our country is universally known.
From the West Acton Library and Literary Society, we have received a complete series of the official records, both federal and confederate of the war of the rebellion; 102 vols. issued to date, also 35 sets of maps and plates. The earlier volumes of this series are out of print and are very difficult to obtain at the present time.
The President of the Board of Trustees has presented to the library, 70 vols. of Harpers' Magazine, so that we have now a complete set of this valuable work from the commencement June 1, 1850, to the present time.
We have also received from the widow of Col. W. H. Chap- man, the swords and revolvers worn and carried by him during his long term of service in the war of the rebellion, also some rifles captured from the rebels.
We have received other donations that if space permitted deserve special attention.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
Total number of volumes in library,
6109
Added by purchase the past year,
305
Added by gift, 214
Total added, 519
Total number of persons who have taken out cards,
1173
Fines,
$16.00
Number of books taken out during the year,
7896
Largest daily use,
March 14, 1896
Smallest daily use,
December 12, 1896
Visitors registered during the year,
281
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY.
Set of scales and some scrip presented by Mrs. Joseph Barker. Plate and copy of Connecticut Gazette, presented by Mrs. Susan Keen, Cranston Print Works, R. I. Portrait of him- self, presented by Mr. Luke Smith.
45
TOWN OF ACTON.
Donation of books: Mr. Joseph Barker, 10; R. C. Winthrop Jr., 5; State, 11; Corps 62, W. Acton, W. R. C., 1; Wm. A. Wilde, 2: Rev. Geo. A. Tewksbury, 1; Miss Edith Pitman, 2; City of Boston, 1; Lexington Hist. Society, 1; Rev. F. P. Wood, 2; A. F. Davis, 1; Mrs. M. W. Dorrison, 6; Luther Conant, 2.
Periodicals donated for the reading room: Child's Hour, Our Sunday Afternoon, Wm. A. Wilde ; Our Paper, Reformatory ; Congressional Record, Hon. J. F. Fitzgerald; Our Dumb Ani- mals, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; magazines same as last year.
VIOLA S. TUTTLE.
The very large additions in the way of new books made to the library since its opening, make a new catalogue absolutely necessary. We shall proceed at once to prepare it. In closing we would remind the people of the town of the many objects of interest always to be seen on the days when the library is open ; that the table in the reading room is covered with the best magazines and periodicals for the use of all visitors ; that the costly works of art presented by Mr. Wilde, in the hope and belief that their study and contemplation would be an education and constant inspiration alike to the old and young people of his native town, and help to keep that town in the front rank of the municipalities of our state.
LUTHER CONANT, for the Trustees.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON, MASS.,
FOR
SCHOOL YEAR 1896-7.
ATED
ONI
-1735.
ACTON
ACTON, MASS. : THE ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY. 1897.
Report of the School Committee.
To the Citizens of Acton :
As required by the statute we submit herewith our annual report.
The district committee at their meeting in April, 1896, again selected Mr. Edward Dixon as Superintendent of Schools. The report of the Superindendent, whose conscientious work and de- votion to the highest interests of our schools are fully recognized, is included herein, and is worthy of your careful reading and thoughtful consideration.
We again request your attention to the yearly growing need of better accommodations for the High school, and of provision for an increase in the number of its teaching staff.
In June, 1896, your Committee received a petition praying that the pupils of the East school might be provided with trans- portation to the schools at the center. This petition was signed by a number of citizens resident in the east part of the town, including all but two of those who, as parents or guar- dians, had children in attendance at the East school. Your Com- mittee, having no funds at their disposal, which could be legally expended for the purpose prayed for, laid the matter before the town at its June meeting, and requested that the required amount might be transferred from the appropriation for the support of schools to a transportation account - a measure at once in the interest of economy and of the petitioners. This action the town declined to take.
We again recommend that the pupils of the East school be provided with transportation to the schools at the center, and we request our fellow citizens, who are especially interested in the North school, to give to this question of consolidation of schools their earnest consideration.
52
SCHOOL REPORT
The lengthening of the transportation route in the south-east part of the town has necessitated an increase in the cost of ser- vice upon that route. The new rate, $7.50 a week dates from Oct. 12, 1896.
The appropriation of $150.00 for the purchase of apparatus and reference books for the High school has been expended as follows : Apparatus, $67.90; books, $81.44.
The sum of $375.00 has been received from the state on ac. count of salary of Superintendent of Schools.
The report of the Purchasing Agent of the Committee is published herewith.
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS, FOR THE YEAR 1896-97.
RECEIPTS.
Apprapriation for Common Schools, $3,100 00
High school, 1,600 00
66
" School supplies, 475 00
66
transportation S. E. pupils,
180 00
66
H. S. « 60 00
66
apparatus, etc., for H. S., 150 00
salary of Superintendent, 475 00
Received from Mass. School Fund,
261 58
66
66 dog taxes,
194 94
66
66
tuition in High school, 104 00
66
" common schools, 6 00
$6,606 52
53
TOWN OF ACTON.
EXPENDITURES.
For Common schools,
$3,371 38
High school,
1,655 97
School supplies,
495 83
Transportation S. E. pupils,
227 50
H. S. pupils,
30 00
Apparatus, etc., for High school,
149 34
Salary of Superintendent of Schools,
465 00
Unexpended balance, $211 50.
$6,395 02
ESTIMATES FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS, FOR THE YEAR 1897-8
For Common schools,
$3,100 00
High sbhool,
1,600 00
School supplies,
475 00
Transportation S. E. pupils,
270 00
Apparatus, etc., for High school,
125 00
Salary of Superintendent,
465 00
$6,035 00
For the School Committee,
CHAS. J. WILLIAMS, Chairman.
54
SCHOOL REPORT
Superintendent's Report.
School Committee of Acton :
GENTLEMEN .- The following report for the year is respect- fully submitted :
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Number of children in town May 1, 1896, between 5
and 15 years of age, 245
Number of children in town May 1, 1896, between 8 and 14 years of age, 148
Whole number of pupils enrolled in all the schools,
334
Number of pupils under 5 years of age,
0
Number of pupils over 15 years of age, 49
Number of pupils between 8 and 14 years of age, 185
Average membership of all the schools, 262.88
Average attendance of all the schools, 249.9
Per cent. of attendance of all the schools, 95
Average wages of female teachers a month, $39 61
Compared with last year, the number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age is fifteen less ; the number of pupils en- rolled, nineteen more; the average membership and average attendance, each ten less, practically. The number of tardy marks is 106 less and the number of dismissals 296 less than last year. Improvement in these two respects is cause for con- gratulation.
The High School, the South Acton Grammar and the Primary, the West Acton Primary and Center Primary have been taught throughout the year by the same teachers. The West Acton Grammar has had four different teachers this year, the
55
TOWN OF ACTON.
Center Grammar has had three, the East Acton school three and the North Acton school, two.
Much to the regret of Committee and Superintendent, Miss Preston felt obliged to resign her position at the end of the spring term on account of ill-health. She was succeeded by Miss Prindall, who resigned at the end of the first month of the term, because, I am sorry to say, she felt she was not properly supported in the management of her school by the people of the community. She was followed by a Miss Coffman who stayed until the end of the term. A change of teachers is sometimes desirable, but frequent changes tend to make more difficult the inculcation of moral principles on the minds of the pupils. This difficulty manifested itself when Miss Hapgood, who had taught very successfully the East Acton school and the Acton Grammar school, and who had, and has, the confidence of the committee and superintendent, took charge of the school at the beginning of the winter term. The situation was one of grave concern to the school authorities, and it has not yet ceased to trouble their minds; but with the cordial support of the parents and committee, the school, although it cannot this year fully regain lost ground, will do satisfactory work under Miss Hapgood's management.
Miss Conant, another of our excellent teachers left us at the end of the spring term after several years of very successful work in the Acton schools. Few teachers possess the teaching and executive ability that she possesses. She is a great loss to our teaching force. Miss Conant was succeeded at the Center Grammar school by Miss Hapgood who was transferred from the East Acton school. Miss Hapgood was transferred to the W. Acton Grammar school at the beginning of the winter term and Miss Sloan took charge of the Center Grammar school. Miss Rich took charge of the East school at the beginning of the fall term, but resigned in the middle of the winter term and was succeeded by Miss Standish. Miss Richardson resigned her position at North Acton at the end of the spring term and was succeeded by Miss Miller.
Our supplementary reading takes four lines, viz: Literature, science, history, geography; and reading matter in these lines
56
SCHOOL REPORT
have been added this year. For the convenience of the teachers I append the following:
READING LIST.
GRADE I. Davis's "Beginner's Book," Thompson's "Fables and Rhymes," Cyr's "Primer," and "First Reader."
GRADE II. "Second Reader," Davis ; "Æsop's Fables," vols. I and II ; "Heart of Oak Books," book I; In Mythland.
GRADE III. Introduction to Leaves from Nature's Story Book, Stories of old Greece, Riverside Primer.
GRADE IV. Scudder's "Fable and Folk Stories," "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," " Through the Looking Glass."
GRADE V. Pratt's History Stories, vols. I, II, III; "Water Babies," "Boston Tea Party," "Heart of Oak Books," book III.
GRADE VI. "True Stories from New England History," "Book of Stories," "Beginner's History," "Robinson Crusoe," "Little Nell."
GRADE VII. "Franklin's Autobiography," King's "Second Book," " Glimpses of Europe," "Sketches of the Orient," "Old Ocean."
GRADE VIII. "Two Great Retreats," "Stories of Mass- achusetts," King's "Third Book," "The Spy," "Rob Roy," "The American Tropics."
In connection with this list I add for reference a table, giv- ing the number of pupils in the High School by classes, class I being the freshman class, and in the other schools by grades. I also give the time lost by each school through tardiness and dis- missals. Time lost by absence is not included.
57
TOWN OF ACTON.
SCHOOLS.
Spring Term.
Fall Term.
Winter Term.
No. of Pupils by Grades.
D. H
M
D
HM
D
H
M
1
2
3 4
5
0
8
High
18
1 24
6
2
21
11
4 37
18
16
3
17
. .
So. Grammar
2
2 20
2
50
6
4.33
.
12
6
9
So, Primary
3
0
32
1
2
8
0
4,50
17
5
14
.
.
West Grammar
4
2
0
4
2
20
4
2 23
.
.
.
13
7
9
West Primary
7
2
25
3
3
5
1
1 45
8
7
5
10
. .
.
Centre Grammar
1
1.45
2
4
10
1
4
0
.
. .
.
1
0140
0
1
0
1
2
0
7
3
6
0
. .
East
0
1
30
1
4
30
0
2
5
7
3
6
4
·
North
12
3
6
6
1
47
7
5
3
3
4
5
4
0
0
5 0
50
3 42 29
2 11
37|
1 16
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Vertical writing has been adopted for the primary grades. A decided improvement in the neatness and legibility of the pupils' penmanship has been noted since the introduction of this system. Grammar school pupils were allowed to change their style of writing from the slant to the vertical if they desired to and most of them have availed themselves of the privilege, because with the vertical, their writing was so much more legible.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Arithmetic has been dropped from the list of first year studies and Algebra substituted for it. Our High School has maintained its record for industry and good progress. With an additional teacher, the course could be broadened and more time · given to particular studies and the school would receive the approval of the State Board of Education.
The following quoted from the report of the State Board of Education, may throw some light on the trend of high school matters :
1. The Board of Education voted, April 7, 1893, that can- didates for admission to the normal schools in September, 1894, and thereafter, should be graduates of high schools whose courses of study have been approved by the Board, or have an equivalent education. For the current year (1894) it was ordered that the principals of the normal schools should be authorized to admit to
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Time lost, by Terms, in days, hours, mins.
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SCHOOL REPORT
examination for admission graduates of high schools whose course of study covers three or more years.
2. It was voted by the Board, on May 3, 1894, that the ex- aminations for admission to the normal schools in 1895 and there- after should cover high school subjects as well as elementary.
Among the towns of the state whose schools have only one or two teachers, there is an earnest discussion as to what consti- tutes a high school.
The following definition quoted from the same report is con- sidered an adequate one :
1. Primarily, a provision for a good liberal training in recognized secondary subjects and by approved methods for those pupils who end their schooling with the high school.
2. The preparation of pupils for the normal schools. This will be adequately provided for if the provision mentioned under number 1 is made.
3. The preparation of pupils for high technical schools, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Lawrence Scientific School, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the Mass- achusetts Agricultural College and others. This, too, will be adequately provided for if the provision mentioned under number 1 is made.
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