USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1894-1900 > Part 14
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173 02
James Hill, care of hall,
57 00
66 66 " clock,
15 00
66 66 " flag,
5 00
Rex Fire Extinguisher Co, chemical, 400 00
J. L. Bradley, 11 hand chemical, 75 00
12 74
C. L. Bradford, attending registrar meeting,
1 50
" cleaning clock,
1 00
H. C. Sherwin, court fees,
5 66
Edward Dixon, postage and stationery,
11 66
Dennison Mfg. Co., labels,
3 67
Samuel Ward Co., paper,
1 55
M. Hannon, cleaning vault,
2 00
J. A. Bowen, acid,
3 83
C. H. Persons, piano cover, tuning piano,
2 00
Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee, 3 shovels,
1 86
3 shovels,
1 59
1 rake,
35
66
6
3 hooks,
1 05
66 66
2 picks,
2 00
66
3 50
D. H. Hall, testing chemical,
28
ANNUAL REPORTS
Paid Tuttles. Jones & Wetherbee, 1 hoe,
$ 20
66
1 shovel. 80
66
6.
1 handle, 10
..
1 fork,
60
: 6
66
1 pick,
58
6.
66
1 pair shears,
1 50
H. A. Littlefield, 6 shovels,
66
2 hooks.
74
2 rakes,
80
1 pick,
1 05
1 pick,
90
6.
66
3 shovels,
1 74
2 picks,
1 80
6.
2 hooks,
74
M. E. Taylor & Co., 2 rakes, 66
40
Isaac Davis Post,
100 00
F. S. Blanchard & Co., book,
1 50
Horace Partridge, flags,
4 12
N. J. Cole, soda,
6 35
D. C. Harris, repairing clock, " 4 posts,
1 00
Geo. W. Thibbets, casting for scraper.
1 75
W. H. Hill, watching fire,
2 50
Wm. Coons, 66
2 50
Francis Davis,
2 50
Lowell Tuttle,
1 75
Library Bureau,
5 63
Gutta Percha Rubber Mfg. Co.,
90
Jas. Devane, repairing and painting hearse,
33 50
W. F. Stevens, 5 books,
6 90
Thomas Scanlon, attending meeting,
50
A. H. Jones,
3 20
N. M. Allen, repairing and cleaning clock,
2 75
Samuel Jones, Jr.,
1 80
Nathan Jolinson,
3 50
F. W. Billings, care fire engine, 4 20
James Hill, 4 00
3 shovels,
2 16
SO
66 1 hoe,
1 50
4 32
29
TOWN OF ACTON.
Paid J. B. Tuttle, copying poll tax list, $5 00
F. E. Harris, shed in Mt. Hope,
93 27
Fred Norris, 7 50
W. F. Stevens,
7 00
A. H. Perkins, 66 66
4 88
E. Jones & Co., plank M. Hannon bridge, 25 45
M. A. Reed, moving school furniture, 13 20
W. F. Hale, 1 stamp, 1 60
J. L. Hammett Co., clock,
5 25
W. F. Stevens, notifying officers, 1 75
S. A. Christie, dif in clock, 3 50
66 cleaning clock,
1 00
H. T. Clark, shafts for truck, 6 1 closet, 7 50
E. H. Chamberlin, reporting 2 births,
50)
F. P. Flagg, 1
25
I. Hutchins, 66 3
75
J. E. Marsh, 66
5
1 25
I. L. Pickard, 1
25
F. E. Tasker, 66
1 75
F. J. Parker, 11 2 75
50
Greenough, Adams & Cushing, ink,
38
Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee, well cover, 2 75
H. A. Littlefield, soda and oil, 4 53
F. W. Green, care engine house, 4 25
H. T. Clark, 6 00
S. Robbins, fixing voting stalls, 50
W. F. Stevens, abatement of taxes, 80 97
E. Jones, wood for hall, 4 00
I. F. Duren, superintendent of burials, 57 00
E. Jonss & Co., coal for hall, 9 46
Geo. Greenough, wood for hall, 3 25
Universalist Society, So. Acton, use of vestry,election, 3 00
J. K. W. Wetherbee, postage and stationery, 4 25
W. C. Robbins, attending fires, horses, 9 00
Henry Livermore, 6 1 00
Luke Tuttle, 1 00
C. H. Clark, strap on truck, 50
3 25
F. U. Rich, 2
30
ANNUAL REPORTS
Paid James Kingsley, use of road, $8 00
Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee, 5 chairs,
5 50
E. F. Conant, express, telephone and expenses, 13 60
C. H. Mead & Co., 1 lock, 25
M. E. Taylor & Co., 99
66 66 oil, burners and chimneys for hall, 8 10
C. J. Williams, postage and expenses,
8 82
Edward Dixon, expenses,
8 11
IV. F. Stevens, postage,
62
T. Scanlon,
1 75
I. Hutchins, attending district com. meeting,
4 42
H. F. Tuttle, copying records,
1 50
66 attending meeting at Ayer,
1 50
66 collecting and recording 33 births,
16 50
recording 27 marriages,
5 40
recording 17 deaths,
3 40
certificates of births and deaths,
1 00
blanks,
52
6. express and postage, 2 74
$1,877 72
RECEIPTS AND APPROPRIATIONS.
Balance due from Treasurer, March 12, 1897, $847 90 Due from Collector, 1,702 37
Appropriation for common schools, 2,840 00
High school, 1,600 00
Transportation S. E. scholars,
270 00
Transportation East scholars,
240 00
Scientific apparatus,
100 00
Superintendent of schools,
465 00
School supplies,
475 00
Town charges,
6,000 00
Roads and bridges,
3,000 00
Memorial Library.
600 00
Street lamps,
400 00
Overlayings,
502 93
State tax,
1,050 00
County tax,
1,420 90
31
TOWN OF ACTON.
Received from First National Bank of Ayer, $3,000 CO Herbert A. Gray, 500 00
Nantucket, support Susan B. Winn, 67 00
John R. Fairbairn, fines,
100 00
Nahum Littlefield, road dust,
3 10
Charles Hunter, pool license,
2 00
Anthony J. Goding, pool license,
2 00
E. H. Woodard, pool license,
2 00
A. F. Blanchard, slaughter license. 1 00
Albert Wood, slaughter license,
1 00
C. I. Leland, tuition,
18 00
Town of Stow, tuition,
44 00
Town of Boxboro, tuition,
100 00
W. A. Charles, apparatus,
Interest on Wilde Library fund,
232 80
State Treasurer, inspection of animals,
66
corporation tax,
٠، 66
National Bank tax,
256 67
91 50
66
State aid,
624 00
66
66 burial of soldier, 35 00
Income Mass. school fund, 281 29
Supervision of schools,
375 00
County Treasurer, dog tax,
210 24
John Fletcher, lots sold Woodlawn cem. 52 00
Levi W. Stevens, “ Mt. Hope cemetery, 51 00
Julian Tuttle, hay " Woodlawn 5 00
Lyman Tuttle, milk from farm, 779 29
apples from farm, 143 05
66
66
hides from farm, 10 35
6. 66 calves from farnı, 15 00
66
66 2 cows from farm, 60 00
66
66 wood from farm, 22 25
66 use of bull from farm, 2 50
66
66 labor from farm, 3 50
Otis H. Forbush, 1 cow from farm, 11 50
Cattle Commissioners, 2 cows from farm, 60 00
M. E. Taylor & Co., potatoes from farm, 13 35
Rent of Town Hall and cellar, 22 75
42 82
779 90
military aid,
32
ANNUAL REPORTS
From Memorial Library fines, $14 00
Memorial Library catalogues, 21 75
IV. F. Stevens, interest on taxes,
38 06
Interest on money in bank, 49 48
$29,659 02
EXPENDITURES.
For support of Centre school,
$851 98
North school,
393 98
East school,
146 50
South school,
950 25
..
West School,
1,088 04
High school,
1,642 83
School supplies,
472 38
Scientific apparatus,
98 39
Transportation of scholars,
510 00
State and military aid,
802 50
Memorial Library,
923 08
Loans and interest,
5,757 57
Street lamps,
401 72
Cemetery expenses,
358 09
Support of poor on farm,
1,618 59
Support of outside poor,
1,044 85
Repairs on buildings and grounds,
650 42
Town officers,
1,463 72
Printing,
120 63
Roads and bridges,
3,014 69
Soldiers' relief,
38 42
Miscellaneous expenses,
1,877 72
State tax,
1,050 00
County tax,
1,420 90
$26.697 25
Balance due from Treasurer, 643 81
Balance due from Collector,
2,317 96
$29,659 02
33
TOWN OF ACTON.
FINANCIAL STANDING OF TOWN, MARCH 12, 1898. John A. Bowen, note, $1,000 00
Interest from Dec. 6, 1897, to March 12, 1898, 13 33
Frank H. Jones, note, 600 00
Interest from April 27, 1897, to March 12,1898, 26 25
Frank H. Jones, note, 700 00
Interest from June 15, 1897, to March 12,1898, 25 96
$2,365 54
Amount due from Treasurer,
$643 81
Amount due from Collector, 2,317 96
2,961 77
Less notes payable,
2,365 54
$596 23
Interest due on taxes unpaid,
50 60
Balance in favor of the town,
$646 83
E. FAULKNER CONANT, WILLIAM F. STEVENS, DAVID C. HARRIS, Selectmen of Aeton.
I have examined the accounts of the Selectmen for the past year and find them correct.
HIRAM J. HAPGOOD, Auditor of the Town of Acton.
34
ANNUAL REPORTS
List of Jurors.
The following is a list of persons to serve as jurors for the ensuing year, as revised by the Selectmen of Acton, to be sub- mitted to said town at their April meeting.
A. P. Bean, Mechanic.
Elisha H. Cutler,
Farmer. 66
J. W. Dupee,
I. Warren Flagg,
Merchant.
Hiram E. Gates,
Farmer. Mechanic.
Eugene Hall,
66
E. L. Hayward,
66 Stone cutter.
Edgar H. Hall,
Manufacturer.
Lowell A. Jones,
Farmer. 66
Warren H. Jones,
John C. Keyes,
Hanson A. Littlefield,
Merchant.
Jerry McCarthy,
Farmer. 66 Merchant.
John D. Moulton,
Farmer.
Willis L. Mead,
Paint.
Thomas F. Noyes,
S. L. Richardson,
Moses A. Reed,
Win. F. Stevens,
66
Henry M. Smith,
6:
Horace F. Tuttle,
66
James B. Tuttle,
Farmer. 6:
E. FAULKNER CONANT, WM. F. STEVENS, DAVID C. HARRIS,
Selectmen of Acton.
G. E. Holton,
D. C. Harris,
F. P. Morse,
C. H. Mead,
35
TOWN OF ACTON.
Treasurer's Report.
TOWN OF ACTON, IN ACCOUNT WITH J. K. W. WETHERBEE, TREASURER.
RECEIPTS.
1897.
March 12, Cash in Treasury, $847 90
Received from First National Bank of Ayer, borrowed money, 3,000 00
Herbert A. Gray, borrowed money, 500 00
Town of Nantucket, for support of Susan B. Winn, 67 00
John R. Fairbairn, fines in liquor case, 100 00
Nahum Littlefield, road dust, 3 10
Charles Hunter, pool license, 2 00
Anthony I. Goding, pool license, 2 00
E. H. Woodward, pool license, 2 00
Arthur F. Blanchard, license to slaughter, 1 00
Albert Wood, license to slaughter, 1 00
C. I. Leland, tuition at Centre school, 18 00
Town of Stow, tuition at South Grammar school, 24 00
Town of Stow, tuition at High school, 20 00
Town of Boxboro, tuition at High school, 100 00 W.C.Charles, breakage of school apparatus, 77
Interest on Wilde Library fund, 232 80
State Treasurer, inspection of animals, 42 82
State Treasurer, corporation tax, 779 90
State Treasurer, national bank tax, 256 67
State Treasurer, military aid, 91 50
State Treasurer, State aid, 624 00
State Treasurer, burial of soldier, 35 00
State Treasurer, income of Mass. school fund, 281 29
36
ANNUAL REPORTS
From State Treasurer, supervision of schools, $375 00
County Treasurer, dog tax, 210 24
John Fletcher, lots sold in Woodlawn cemetery, 52 00
Levi W. Stevens, lots sold in Mount Hope cemetery, 51 00
Julian Tuttle, hay sold in Woodlawn cemetery, 5 00
Lyman Tuttle, milk sold from town farm, 779 29
Lyman Tuttle, apples
143 05
Lyman Tuttle, hides 66
10 35
Lyman Tuttle, calves 66 66 15 00
Lyman Tuttle, cows
66
60 00
Lyman Tuttle, wood
66
2 50
Lyman Tuttle, labor
3 50
Otis H. Forbush, cow
11 50
Cattle Commissioners, cows 66
60 00
M. E. Taylor & Co., potatoes
13 35
Use of Town Hall and cellar, 22 75
Memorial Library, for fines, 14 00
Memorial Library, catalogues sold, 21 75
Wm. F. Stevens,collector,taxes for '96, 1,702 37
WVm. F. Stevens,collector, taxes for '97, 16,645 87
W. F. Stevens, interest on taxes, 38 06
Interest on money in bank, 49 48
$27,341 06
EXPENDITURES.
Paid State tax,
$1,050 00
County tax, 1,420 90
On orders of Selectmen,
24,226 35
Cash in Treasury, March 12, 1898,
643 81
$27,341 06
J. K. W. WETHERBEE, Treasurer.
22 25
Lyman Tuttle, use of bull
37
TOWN OF ACTON.
TREASURER'S REPORT OF MONEY HELD FOR CARE OF LOTS IN CEMETERIES.
March 12, 1898.
DR.
To Mary Skinner fund,
$200 00
Cash received for curbing sold,
3 00
Nancy K. Handley fund,
500 00
Frederick Rouillard fund,
100 00
William W. Davis fund,
100.00
Mary W. Chaffin fund,
100 00
Mary Severance fund,
100 00
Hepsabeth Piper fund,
50 00
Jedadiah Tuttle fund,
50 00
Eliza A. Whitcomb fund,
75 00
Cash received from town, care of lots,
86 12
$1,364 12
CR.
By Cash paid-
Julian Tuttle, care of Skinner lot,
$35 56
Handley lot,
24 20
Rouillard lot,
3 00
66
Piper lot, .
6 44
66
Tuttle lot,
4 42
W. W. Davis, care of Davis lot,
5 00
Levi W. Stevens, care Whitcomb lot,
7 50
Balance in Treasury,
1,278 00
$1,364 12
J. K. W. WETHERBEE, Treasurer.
38
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF WILDE MEMORIAL LIBRARY FUND. March 12, 1898.
DR.
To cash deposited in North End Savings
Bank, $1,000 00
Cash deposited in Middlesex Inst.
for Savings, 1,000 00
Cash deposited in Home Savings Bank, 1,000 00
Cash deposited in Warren Institution
for Savings, 1,000 00
Cash deposited in Charlestown Five
Cent Savings Bank, 1,000 00
Interest received on deposits, 232 80
$5,232 80
CR.
By cash paid for books, $232 80
Balance in Treasury,
5,000 00
$5,232 80
J. K. W. WETHERBEE, Treasurer.
Auditor's Report.
I have examined the reports of the Treasurer and find them correct.
HIRAM J. HAPGOOD, Auditor of the Town of Acton.
TOWN OF ACTON.
Report of Overseers of Poor.
ARTICLES ON HAND AT TOWN FARM, MARCH 1, 1898.
9 cows,
$450 00
1 horse, 75 00
Double harnesses,
25 00
Express harnesses,
25 00
Light harnesses,
5 00
2 collars,
4 00
Horse cart,
10 00
Market wagon,
75 00
Mowing machine,
30 00
Hay wagon,
30 00
2 hay rakes,
20 00
1 wheelbarrow,
3 50
2 harrows,
8 00
15 tons hay,
225 00
Grain,
9 05
3 apple headers,
2 00
2 canvas covers,
2 50
Grind stone,
2 00
Tanning tools,
15 00
1 wrench,
75
1 blanket,
2 00
3 wood saws,
2 00
13 hens,
9 00
5 plows,
20 00
2 cultivators,
5 00
Hay cutter,
2 00
35 barrels,
5 50
7 ladders,
10 00
Set measures,
1 40
Salt,
50
Sled,
10 00
12 cords wood,
50 00
40
ANNUAL REPORTS
Lumber,
$8 00
Stone drag,
3 00
Pung,
8 00
Light wagon,
15 00
25 apple boxes,
2 50
Spray pump,
8 00
12 bushels potatoes.
12 00
Apples,
2 00
2 steel traps,
75
20 gallons soap,
5 00
Cooking range,
22 00
Tea and coffee,
1 00
Crackers,
2 00
Fruit jars,
4 00
Coal,
1 50
Brooms.
1 25
Spices,
25
Sugar.
90
Flour,
1 50
Pails and tubs,
2 00
Oil and tank,
1 50
Stove,
10 00
Lounge,
5 00
Butter,
2 25
Lard,
1 00
Washing machine.
9 00
Molasses,
80
Beans 45, vinegar 30,
75
18 cans fruit,
4 50
25 gallons paint oil,
8 75
$1,278 40
Stock on hand March 1, 1897,
1,188 50
Receipts from farm,
1,120 79
Victualing and lodging 459 tramps,
114 75
$2,424 04
Expenditures,
$1,618 59
Interest on farm $3,500 at 5 per cent.,
175 00
Stock on hand March 1, 1898,
1,278 40
$3,071 99
Cost of supporting poor on farm,
647 95
LYMAN TUTTLE,
EDWIN C. PARKER,
MOSES F. REED,
Overseers of Poor.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
Acton memorial Library.
1897='98.
LUTHER CONANT, Pres., WILLIAM D. TUTTLE, Secy ..
MOSES TAYLOR. ADELBERT MEAD, DANIEL J. WETHERBEE, DELETTE H. HALL,
HIRAM J. HAPGOOD, CHAS. J. WILLIAMS, L. A. HESSELTON.
43
TOWN OF ACTON.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF
ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
In accordance with custom the Trustees of the Acton Memorial Library submit their eighth annual report. The leading matter of interest in the history of the institution the past year has been the preparation and publication of a new catalogue, in which the volumes are classified as regards the subjects and in which each volume is entered twice, first by title and second by author's name.
The Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Mr. William D. Tuttle, had general charge of the business arrangements and preparation of the new catalogue, and gave liberally of time and labor to the undertaking. He was assisted by Mr. Arthur Davis, Rev. F. P. Wood, Mrs. Lyman Tuttle, Miss Viola S. Tuttle and Mrs. Frank Fiske. These assistants performed their duties entirely to the satisfaction of the trustees and received a vote of thanks from them, duly entered on the records, in addition to the very mod- erate compensation arranged for their services.
Six hundred copies were printed at a total cost of $267.28. The trustees fixed the price to be paid per copy at the small sunt of twenty-five cents in the hope that no family in town would be deterred from obtaining one by reason of the expense. It will be remembered that the condition of the acceptance of the endow- ment fund of $5,000, presented by Mr. Wm. A. Wilde, by the town was that the town should annually grant the sum of $200 to be expended in the purchase of new books. Mr. Wilde kindly consented that one half of this sum ($100) might be used in part payment of the cost of the new catalogue.
Should comparison be made with the librarian's report the last year, it should be remembered that for six months of this year no catalogue was available, and that books could only be selected
44
ANNUAL REPORTS
by reference to the bulletin sheets giving a part of the volumes in the library, and a portion of the time only to the books as re- arranged on the shelves.
In the collection of books which are seldom called for, some of the sets are catalogued as one volume, so that the whole number of volumes in the library is somewhat in excess of the number given by the librarian.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
Total number of volumes in library, 6,249
Added by purchase the past year, 319
Added by gift, 45
Total added, 364
Total number of persons who have taken out cards. 1,319
Fines, $14.00
Number of books taken out during the year, 7,055
Largest daily use,
Feb. 26, 1898, 201 volumes
Smallest daily use. Feb. 16, 1898, 18 volumes
Visitors registered during the year, 352
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY.
Mr. Moses Taylor has placed in the library a very valuable relic -an old musket carried by his grandfather, Capt. Silas Taylor, in the battle of Bennington.
Donation of books: Mrs. Lydian E. Whitcomb, West Acton. 5; state, 9; Social library, 3; United States government, 14' McCormick Co., 1; O. B. Brown, Malden, 1; Mrs. M. E. A. Wil- liams, 1; Prof. Geo. A. Barton, Boston, 1; J. F. Adams, Boston; 1; town of Sudbury, 1; town of Littleton, 1; W. F. Adams Co., Springfield, 1; R. C. Winthrop, Jr., Boston, 1; Franklin S. Pratt and Chas. H. Pratt, Boston, 1; town of Ayer, 1; Luther Conant. 1; Mrs. Luther Conant, 1.
Periodicals donated for the reading room : "Child's Hour," "Our Sunday Afternoon," W. A. Wilde ; "Our Paper," Mass. Reformatory; " Congressional Record," Chas. J. Williams ; " Our
45
TOWN OF ACTON.
Dumb Animals," Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ; " Spirit of '76," Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Magazines same as last year with the addition of "The Book- man " and " Scientific American."
VIOLA S. TUTTLE, Librarian.
The requirement of the School Committee that a certain num- ber of books of an instructive character should be read each year, such as standard works of literature, history, travel and bio- graphy, seems to be very generally complied with by the pupils of the schools. The result has been an increased demand for this class of books, which cannot but be to the advantage of our youth- ful readers. The Board of Trustees recommend the same appro- priation as last year ($400) for current expenses of the library, and the same ($200) for the purchase of new books.
LUTHER CONANT for the Trustees.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON, MASS.,
FOR
SCHOOL YEAR 1897-98.
RATED -1
PONI
-1735.
ACTON.
HUDSON, MASS .: THE ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY, 1898.
Report of the School Committee.
To the Citizens of Acton :
We respectfully submit to you our annual report, in which is embodied that of the Superintendent of Schools, to which position Mr. Edward Dixon was again chosen by the District Committee in April, 1897. Mr. Dixon's services to the schools, and assistance to the Committee have been, as in preceding years, of the highest value.
The consolidation of the East school with those at the center of the town has proved, as it was believed that it would do, of very decided benefit to the pupils from East Acton. The ad- vantages afforded by schools having even so many as four grades over those having seven or eight are very great, and it is hoped that the time has come when the people of North Acton and of the town so clearly recognize the fact that provision will be made that will permit the consolidation of the North school also with those at the Center.
It may be stated here that the consolidations thus far effected have resulted in a reduction in the cost of maintenance of about $200 per annum.
Improved methods of heating the school building at Acton Center should be adopted. The rooms are not and cannot be properly heated by means of stoves, and the halls and stairways are necessarily not heated at all. We respectfully request that the Committee be provided with the means requisite to effect this improvement, and that the sum of $275 be appropriated therefor.
For reasons which your Committee regarded as urgent and imperative, an intermediate school was established at West Acton at the beginning of the winter term. That the step was a judicious one is attested by the present condition of these schools. They are all doing good work and are in a very satis- factory state. The several grades are distributed among them as follows : Primary school, grades I, II and III; Intermediate, IV, V and VI; Grammar, VII and VIII.
52
SCHOOL REPORT
The great number of pupils in the Primary school at South Acton, seconded by an urgent and unanimous appeal from the parents of the pupils attending this school, compelled the ap- pointment of an assistant teacher in January of this year.
An Intermediate school should be established in South Acton, thereby permitting a reduction in the number of grades in the several rooms of the common schools, but no action in this direction can well be taken antil the necessary accommoda- tions shall have been provided.
Your attention is again requested to the need of better ac- commodations for the High school and for the common schools in South Acton. In the report of the School Committee for 1886. written by the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. C. L. Roades, there appears this paragraph : "In the schools at the West the average attendance has been 66, while that at the South has been 62. These 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 the Committee and Super- intendent needed for the best interests of these schools.»
In the report for 1887 the Committee say : " And it is now, as it was last year, urged upon the town by its School Committee, that it take speedy action to provide for the necessity now be- fore us. The South Primary school, with its membership of 52, and the West, with its membership of 46, would have presented difficulties that your Committee could not have answered for had not sickness taken many from their desks and given room for others."
In later years this matter has at intervals been presented for your consideration.
In their report for 1895, the School Committee recommended the enlargement of the school building at South Acton for the better accommodation of the High and common schools, and that the Board of Selectmen be appointed a committee to con- sider the subject and report thereon. At the annual meeting in that year the committee was appointed and instructed agreeably to this request. At the annual meeting in the succeeding year, 1896, the committee of the Board of Selectmen requested an ex-
53
TOWN OF ACTON.
tension of time, and that the School Committee might be joined to it. Both requests were complied with, and the town there- upon instructed this committee to procure plans and estimates of cost of the proposed addition to the school building at South Acton, and to present them to the town at an early date.
Acting under these instructions, the committee procured plans for an addition to the South school building, which in their judgment provided for the needs of the High school and for those of the common schools at South Acton for a term of years, and at a cost well within the resources of the town.
The committee reported at the special meeting in June, 1896, in favor of the purchase of a tract of land of about one and one quarter acres in the rear of the school building, and of the erection of an addition to the latter, which should provide upon the lower floor accommodations for an Intermediate school and upon the upper floor recitation rooms and a laboratory for the use of the High school. The price of the land was $600, and the cost of the addition to the building was estimated by Mr. John S. Hoar, of West Acton, who drew the plans, at $2,250.
The report was laid upon the table.
It was the opinion of your Committee then, and it is now, that the plan then submitted was a good and feasible one. That under it all needed accommodations for the High school and for the common schools at South Acton, for at least the next ten or twenty years, would be provided for (the growth of the town re- maining normal) and that it is deserving of your further and serious consideration.
A generation of pupils has entered and left your schools since your attention was first invited to this subject, twelve years ago. It may fairly be assumed that definite and favorable action upon it will presently be taken.
At the beginning of the school year the study of music was made a part of the course in all the schools. Work in this branch of study would be greatly facilitated by the employment of a special teacher of music, who would be able to afford much valuable assistance to teachers as well as pupils. Such teachers are employed for one day, or one-half day, in each week in neighboring towns-Littleton, Westford, Shirley and Harvard-
54
SCHOOL REPORT
and we recommend an appropriation of $150 to enable us to pro- cure the services of such an instructor.
As there is apparently, in some cases, a misconception of the purpose intended to be served by the monthly report books with which the pupils of the public schools are provided, the follow- ing statement is here made :
All pupils of the public schools above grade II are fur- nished with report books. In this book, at the end of each month, is written by the teacher a clear and concise statement of the standing of the pupil, both in scholarship and deportment. This statement is intended for the information of the parent, and to enable him to intelligently assist the teacher in the de- .velopment of his child. With exceedingly rare exceptions these reports are most conscientiously made by the teacher, and when errors occur they are almost uniformly in favor of the pupil. The signature of the parent in these report books is simply an assurance to the teacher that the report has been duly delivered to him by the pupil-it is, in fact, a receipt for the report and nothing more.
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