USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1911-1915 > Part 30
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E23r F4595t
Fielding, H .- Tom Jones
Fillmore, P .- The rosie world P487r
Fox, J., Jr .- The little shepherd of kingdom come
F79251
Fraser, Mrs. H. and Stahlman, J. I .- The honor of the house
F841h
Fraser, T .- The call of the east
F8425c
Froest, F .- The Grell mystery F926g
Gale, Z .- Neighborhood stories
G152n
Galsworthy, J .- The freelands
G178fr
George, W. L .- The second blooming
G-349s
Gordon, C. W .- The patrol of the Sun-dance trail
G662pa
Gorkey, M .- Tales of two countries
G669t
Grayson, D .- The friendly road
G784f
Grey, Z .- The lone-star ranger
G84210
Haines, D. H .- The last invasion
H15251
Hardy, A. S .- Diane and her friends
H263d
Herrick, R .- Clark's field
H566cl
Hitchens, B. S .- Bye ways Johnson, M .- The fortunes of Garin
J73f
King, B .- The giant's strength
K521g
King, B .- Let not man put asunder
K521le
King, B .- The steps of honor
K521st
Kingsley, H .- Geoffrey Hamlyn
K554g2
Kingsley, H .- Ravenshoe
K554r2
Lighton, W. R .- Letters of an old farmer to his son
L7241
Lincoln, J. C .- Thankful's inheritance
L7372t
London, J .- The mutiny of the Elsinor
L847m
London, J .- The star rover
L847st
Lynde, F .- Scientific Sprague
L988s
McCarter, M. H .- Winning the wilderness
M1235w
Mccutcheon, G. B .- Mary Midthorne
M133ma
Mccutcheon, G. B .- What's his name
M133w
MacGrath, H .- Pidgin island
M147pi
McIntyre, J. T .- Ashton Kirk, special detective
M1585a
Melville, G. J. W .- The gladiators
M531g
B626b
99
Melville, G. J. W .- Katerfelto
M531K
Montgomery, L. M .- Anne of the island
M787ao
Onions, O .- Gray youth 0585g
Oppenheim, E. P .- Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo
062mr
Oppenheim, E. P .- The vanished messenger
062v
Orczy, B .- The laughing cavalier
0631
Parrish, R .- Beyond the frontier
P261b
Parrish, R .- The red mist
P261r
Piper, M. R .- Sylvia's experiment
P665s
Poole, E .- The harbor
P822h
Porter, G. S .- Michael O'Halloran
P845m
Porter, E. H .- Pollyanna grows up
P844p
Pouskin, A .- Prose tales
P878p
Raine, W. N .- A daughter of the Dons
R155d
Rinehart, M. R .- K.
R579k
Roberts, C. G. D .- IIoof and claw
R643h
Sedwick, A. D .- The encounter
S348e
Smith, F. H .- Felix O'Day
S647fe
Steele, F. A .- The mercy of the Lord
S813m
Stockley, C .- Wild honey
S865w
Stoothoff, E .- The nightingale
S882n
Stowe, E .- Nancy, the joyous
S891n
Sue, E .- The wandering Jew
S944w
Vachell, H. A .- Quinney's
V118q
Van Schaick, G .- Sweetapple cove
V278s
Van Vorst, W .- Big Tremaine
V284b
Wason, A. R .- Happy Hawkins in the Panhandle Wells, C .- Patty's suitors
W453pj
Williamson, C. N. and A. M .- The heather moon
W729h
Wood, Mrs. H .- The Channings
W8755c
Wood, Mrs. H .- East Lynne
W8755e
Wood, Mrs. H .- Roland Yorke
W8755r
Zangwill, I .- Plaster saints
Z29p
Warner, A .- Sunshine Jane
W2792su
W312ha
100
JUVENILE
Altsheler, J. A .- The forest runners J-A469f
Altsheler, J. A .- The free rangers J-A469fr
Altsheler, J. A .- The last of the chiefs J-A4691
Altsheler, J. A .- The Texan star J-A469t
Altsheler, J. A .- The young trailers J-A469y
Barbour, R. H .- Left end Edwards J-B2391
Barbour, R. H .- The brother of a hero
J-B239br
Barbour, R. H .- The story my doggie told me J-B239s
Bassett, S. W .- Story of wool J-B319s
Blaisdell, M. F .- Pretty Polly Flinders J-B635p
Blanchard, A. E .- Elizabeth, Betsy and Bess, school- mates J-B639el
Blanchard, A. E .- The camp fire girls of Brightwood
J-B639c
Bond, A. R .- With the men who do things J-B711w
Brady, C. T .- The little angel of Canyon creek J-B812b
Brooke, L. L .- A nursery rhyme picture book J-B872n
Brooks, A .- Dorothy Dainty's visit J-B8725do
Brown, A. F .- The lucky stone J-B3771
Burgess, T. W .- The adventures of Jerry Muskrat J-B955ae
Burgess, T. W .- The adventures of Johnnie Chuck
J-B955ab
Burgess, T. W .- The adventures of Mr. Mocker J-B9551g
Burgess, T. W .- The adventures of Reddy Fox J-B955af
Burgess, T. W .- Mother West Wind's animal friends
J-B955mp
Burgess, T. W .- Old Mother West Wind's Children J-B955mo
Burgess, T. W .- Old Mother West Wind J-B9550
Chamberlain, A. C .- The Bailey Twins J-C442b
Curtis, E. S .- Indian days of long ago J-C9785i
Doubleday, R .- Cattle ranche to college J-D727c
Dyer, W. A .- Pierrot dog of Flanders J-D996p
Eastman, C. A .- Indian scout talks J-E13in
Eaton, W. P .- Boy scouts in the White mountains J-E14bp
101
Eaton, W. P .- Boy scouts of the Wildcat patrol J-E14bq
Ellis, E. S .- The three arrows J-E47th
Gilchrist, B. B .- Helen and the Find Out club
J-G467he
Gray, P .- Little Sir Galahad J-G7811
Higgins, A. C .- Little princess of the ranche J-H6361
Hoyt,E .- Little stories for little people J-H8661k
Kelland, C. B .- Mark Tidd in the backwoods J-K291m
Kilbourne, C. E .- Baby elephant and the zoo man J-K48b
Kilbourne, C. E .- Baby monkey and Wily Wolf
J-K18ba
Mathewson, C .- Pitching in a pinch J-M4382p
Meade, L. T .- Bad little Hannah J-M481b
Meade, L. T .- Girls of the true blue
J-M481gi
Meade, L. T .- Good luck J-M481go
Meade, L. T .- Polly a new fashioned girl J-M481po
Morgan, A. P .- The boy electrician J-M8476
Mullins, I. M .- Anne of the blossom shop J-M959a
Munroe, K .- Cab and caboose
J-M968ca
Olcott, F. J .- The jolly book for boys and girls J-043j
Otis, J .- Across the range
J-088ac
Parker, T. D .- Young heroes of the American navy
J9-P234y
Quirk, L. W .- Baby Elton, quarter back J-Q7b
Strathemeyer, E .- Dave Porter at Oak Hall J-S898d
Taggart, M. A. Beth's wonder winter J-T125he
Taggart, M. A .- Beth's old home J-T125bf
Theiss, L. and M .- His big brother J-T376h
Theiss, L. E .- In camp at Fort Brady J-T376j
Thompson, J. M .- Wild kindred of fur, feather and fin
J-T473W
Tomlinson, E. T .- Four boys and a fortune J-T659ft
Tomlinson, E. T .- Four boys in the land of cotton . J-T659fs
Tomlinson, E. T .- Four boys on Pike's Peak J-T659fr Trowbridge, J. T .- A start in life J-T863.51
Trowbridge, J. T .- Biding his time J-T863b
Trowbridge, J. T .- The adventures of David Vane and David Crane J-T86'a
Trowbridge, J. T .- The kelp-gatherers J-T863k
Trowbridge, J. T .- The lottery ticket J-T86310
102
Trowbridge, J. T .- The scarlet tanager and other bipeds
Weir, H. C .- Cinders
J-T863sc J-W425c
Weir, H. C .- The young wheat scout J-W425yo
Wheeler, F. R .- The boy with the United States ex- plorers
J-W562ba
MAGAZINES
Atlantic, July-December, 1914.
Cosmopolitan, June-November, 1914.
Everybody's, July-December, 1914. Harper's, June-November, 1914. National, October-March, 1914-15. Popular Mechanics, July-December, 1914.
Review of Reviews,. July-December, 1914. Scientific American, July-December, 1914. Scribner's-July-December, 1914.
St. Nicholas, May-October, 1914.
World's Work, May-October, 1914.
Youth's Companion, July, December, 1914.
REFERENCE
Acton town reports, 1904-1909.
Carnegie Peace Endowment Year Book, 1915.
General Education Board.
Journal House of Representatives, Massachusetts, 1915.
Journal of the Senate, Massachusetts, 1915.
Manual for the General Court, Massachusetts, 1915. Massachusetts Society, S. A. R., report for 1913. Municipal Finances, Massachusetts, 1912.
Proceedings United States National Museum, 1915. Reference Atlas of the World.
Report Commissioner of Education, United States, 1912 volume 1, and 1914.
Report Smithsonian Institution, 1914.
103
The best private schools in the United States and Canada.
Webster's New International Dictionary.
Twenty-sixth Annual Report on Railways in the United States.
Forty-ninth Encampment of the G. A. R., 1915.
Vital Records of Amesbury, Mass., to 1850.
Vital Records of Cambridge, Mass., to 1850.
Vital Records of Chelmsford, Mass., to 1850.
Vital Records of Heath, Mass., to 1850.
Vital Records of Rochester, Mass., to 1850.
Vital Records of Tyngsborough, Mass., to 1850.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee and Superintendent of Schools
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31,
1915
RATED
OONI
- 1735.
ACTON
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1916
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1916
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
March 10. Winter term closes 13 weeks Vacation, One Week
March 20. Spring term opens
June 16. Spring term closes. Summer Vacation
13 weeks
1916-1917
Sept. 5. Fall term opens
Nov.
24. Fall term closes
12 weeks
Vacation, One Week
Dec. 4. Winter term opens
Vacation (Dec. 22-Jan. 1) One Week
March 10. Winter term closes 14 weeks Vacation, One Week
March 26. Spring term opens
June 15. Spring term closes. 12 weeks
Total .38 weeks.
· 4
SPECIAL EXERCISE DAYS AND HOLIDAYS
1916
Feb. 11. Lincoln exercises, one hour.
Feb. 21. Washington exercises, one hour.
Apr. 18. Patriots' Day exercises, one hour.
May 29. Memorial Day exercises, one hour.
Oct. 11. Columbus Day exercises, one hour. Thanksgiving Day exercises, one hour.
1917
Feb. 12. Lincoln exercises, one hour.
Feb. 21. Washington exercises, one hour.
Apr. 18. Patriots' Day exercises, one hour.
May 29. Memorial Day exercises, one hour.
LEGAL HOLIDAYS
The words, "legal holiday," shall include the twenty- second day of February, the nineteenth day of April, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, the first Mon- day of September, the twelfth day of October, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day, or the day following when any of the four days first mentioned, the twelfth day of October, or Christmas day occurs on Sunday.
Arbor day occurs on the last Saturday in April, and is not a legal holiday.
Flag day occurs on June 14, and is not a legal holiday. It should be observed by any school then in session.
5
SCHOOL OFFICERS AND TEACHERS
School Committee
Bertram E. Hall, Secretary . Term expires 1916
Edwin A. Phalen, Chairman Term expires 1917
Herbert W. Lewis Term expires 1918
Superintendent
Frank H. Hill. Residence, Littleton, Mass. Telephone No. 36-3, Littleton
Attendance Officers
Thomas Scanlon. Address, West Acton Asaph Parlin. Address, Acton Center
Walter M. French. Address, South Acton
Janitors
Fred S. Glines. Address, South Acton Thomas Scanlon. Address, West Acton Asaph Parlin. Address, Acton Center
Teachers in Service, January, 1916
-
Teacher
School
Appointed
Educated
Home Address
Martha F. Smith
Center Primary
1902 | Lowell Normal
Acton, Mass. North Acton
Ella L. Miller
Center Intermediate 1899| Framingham Normal
Marion H. Barrett
Center Grammar 1915|Plymouth State Nor'l. | Derry, N. H.
Elizabeth A. Hinckley| South Lower Primary 1909| Hyannis Normal
Hyannis, Mass.
6
South Upper Primary 1906| Fitchburg Normal
South Acton
Julia L. McCarthy Jennie E. Stowell
South Intermediate 1907| Fitchburg Normal
South Acton
South Grammar 1914
Gorham, Me., Normal
Calais, Me.
Emma M. Halliday Harriet H. Gardner Ruth L. Harrington
West Primary 1889|
Ayer, Mass.
West Acton, Mass.
West Intermediate 1915
Fitchburg Normal
Lunenburg
Eula S. Taylor
West Grammar 1909| Mt. Holyoke College
South Acton
Alice M. Genthner
Supervisor of Music 1910| N. E. Con. of Music
Foxcroft, Me.
Marion C. Taylor
Supervisor of Drawing 1912| Mass. Normal Art
Acton, Mass.
7
STANDING RULES
Rule 1. * Children under five years shall not be ad- mitted to the public schools.
Rule 2. Pupils shall be promoted from grade to grade and school to school, according to merit. Thorough and satisfactory work will be required of pupils in a lower grade or school before entering a higher grade or school.
Rule 3. Children who have not previously attended any school shall be admitted to the public schools only at the beginning of the fall term.
Rule 4. Pupils shall be held responsible for books loaned to them until returned to the teacher.
Rule 5. No repairs shall be made upon the public pro- perty in the care of the school committee, except by their authorized agents.
Rule 6. There shall be no signal for "no school" on stormy or other inclement days, but parents shall determine in their individual cases whether it is expedient to send their children to school or not.
*When the birthday of a child falls on or before the 15th day of the month it is reckoned as falling upon the first day of that month.
8
GENERAL REPORT
The committee met and organized on April 2nd, 1915. Mr. E. A. Phalen was chosen chairman, and Mr. B. E. Hall, secretary. Meetings have been held nearly every month during the year.
Through advice from Superintendent Hill, it was learned that many books were lying idle and useless in the South Acton schools. The committee therefore deemed it best to dispose of these books, and accordingly bids were asked for from several book dealers. The prices offered, however, were so low that the committee did not think it advisable to accept any of these offers. Later, arrangements were made with Finney & Hoit for the sale of these books on a commis- sion basis to the townspeople. At this writing, we learn that there has already been received more money from a sale of part of these books than was offered by the dealers for the whole lot, and furthermore the books have remained at home to be a source of education and pleasure for our own people.
In presenting the following financial report, we wish to call your attention to the fact that, although the town finance committee at the regular town meeting in March, 1915, recommended a cut in the school appropriations to $15,000.00. and the town so voted, it was very apparent to this committee that such a sum would be insufficient to carry the schools through the year. With the idea of finding out how the finance committee proposed to save this much money, they were invited to attend the first meeting of this commit- tee after the town meeting. A general discussion of the situation was had but no tangible solution of the problem of
9
how to save on school expenses was brought out. It seemed to this committee that nothing short of some drastic action, such as closing the schools, etc., could bring the expenses down to the figure recommended by the finance committee.
A careful analysis of the following disbursements will show that nearly one-half of the total expenses for the sup- port of our schools is for out-of-town pupils. In other words, it costs nearly as much to maintain approximately eighty- five pupils out of town as it does something like three hun- dred forty scholars at home. Fully realizing this very dis- proportionate cost, this committee was loath to take any action which would be detrimental to our elementary schools in favor of those attending outside schools, where the com- mittee has practically no jurisdiction. Therefore, at a special town meeting in September, we asked for an addi- tional appropriation, and even this, with receipts from out- side sources amounting to almost $2,500.00, was insufficient to cover the total cost, which came very close to the original estimate of this committee. In fact, with the addition of one tuition bill to the town of Concord for agricultural scholars, which was paid from other sources, our estimate was only a few dollars from the actual expenditures.
Our estimates for the coming year have been prepared with equal care, and in view of the probable addition of about twenty pupils to the Concord high school, we feel that the additional amount asked for in the following estimate is fully warranted, and we ask your careful consideration.
The committee wishes to publicly thank the donor of the beautiful old engraving, called "Cornelia and Her Jewels," which adorns the wall of our South Acton grammar school. This picture was the gift of Mrs. Sophia Faulkner Campbell in memory of her sister, Lottie Faulkner, who was once a teacher here.
Following is our estimate of expenses for 1916, and the details of receipts and disbursements for 1915 :
10
ESTIMATES FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1916
For general expenses :
Salaries and other expenses of the committee $100.00
Salaries and other expenses of the superintendent and truant officer 600.00
For expenses of instruction :
Tuition of pupils attending out of town schools 8,000.00
Salaries of elementary school For textbooks :
teachers 5,890.00
For elementary schools it is antici- pated that the amount to be received from dog tax will cover this item 290.00
For stationery and supplies : Elementary schools 313.00
For expenses of operating school plants : Wages of janitors, fuel and mis- cellaneous expenses 1,795.00
*Maintenance and repairs 375.00
For auxiliary agencies : Health 75.00
For transportation :
High school scholars 2,300.00
Elementary scholars 1,850.00
Total $21,588.00
Less estimated income from various outside sources 2,500.00
$19,088.00 *Includes installing town water in South school and electric lights in basements of West and Center schools.
11
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1915
Appropriations
At regular town meeting in March, 1915
$15,000.00
At special town meeting in September, 1915; unexpended balance in 1914 Outside sources :
1,867.82
Income Massachusetts school fund $1,103.83
Superintendent of school fund ... 343.75
Massachusetts state treasurer : Tuition of children 158.60
Educational Independent Indus- trial school 567.38
Tuition of Enid Sadler
13.50
Tuition of Charlotte Gooch
9.00
B. & M. R. R., refund on ticket . .
2.00
Dog licenses 292.01
Sale of old papers 1.07
$2,491.14
Total
$19,358.96
12
DISBURSEMENTS
General Expenses
School Committee
Salaries : Paid B. E. Hall, salary for nine months to December 31, 1915
$56.25
Miscellaneous :
Paid Rumford Supply Co. $1.00
Wright & Potter Printing Co. 1.57
Samuel Ward Co.
.85
$3.42
Superintendent of Schools and Enforcement of Law
Salaries :
Paid Frank H. Hill, superintendent . $577.50
Asaph Parlin 2.00
Thomas Scanlon
4.00
$583.50
Miscellaneous :
Paid Rumford Supply Co. $2.06
J. L. Hammett Co. 1.26
Frank H. Hill, telephone, postage and stationery 14.35
Eleanor L. Hill, secretary to sup- erintendent 36.73
$54.40
13
Expense of Instruction
Paid Town of Concord, high school .. $5,718.54
Town of Stow, high school 100.00
Town of Concord, agricultural . . 616.75
City of Lowell, industrial 90.00
$6,525.29
Elementary Schools :
Paid Harriet H. Gardner
$561.00
E. Sophia Taylor
494.10
Esther Vance
268.80
Ella L. Miller
513.00
Martha F. Smith
513.00
Minnie Gamble
310.50
Emma M. Halliday
527.00
Elizabeth A. Hinckley
513.00
Julia L. McCarthy
513.00
Jennie E. Stowell
513.00
Emily Nagle 154.00
Mrs. Frank K. Howe 37.60
Alice M. Genthner
200.18
Marion C. Taylor
200.18
Ruth L. Harrington
185.00
Marion H. Barrett
187.50
$5,690.86
Text Books
Paid E. P. Dutton & Co. $2.36
Edward E. Babb & Co.
205.20
Boston School Supply Co.
25.24
J. L. Hammett Co.
1.97
Ginn & Co.
22.14
Silver Burdett & Co.
17.49
H. H. Gardner
.72
$275.12
14
Stationery and Supplies
Elementary :
Paid Edward E. Babb & Co. $273.81
J. L. Hammett Co. 11.61
Fred S. Glines 2.89
Ginn & Co.
2.44
Boston School Supply Co.
3.54
Finney & Hoit
5.86
Oliver Ditson Co.
1.87
H. H. Gardner
. 49
G. L. Noyes
1.65
Thomas Scanlon
.96
A. Flanagan Co.
2.25
Huntley S. Turner
11.60
$318.97
Expenses of Operating School Plants
Wages of Janitors
Elementary :
Paid Fred S. Glines
$360.00
Thomas Scanlon
337.00
Asaph Parlin
291.00
$988.00
Fuel
Paid T. C. Downie $7.00
Fred S. Whitcomb
18.00
South Acton Coal & Lumber Co., 38.75
George H. Reed
647.46
Hall Bros. Co. 2.50
$713.71
15
Miscellaneous
Paid Tuttle & Newton
$4.53
W. & S. Water Supply District of Acton
24.00
J. T. McNiff
1.00
Asaph Parlin
15.83
American Woolen Co.
7.28
Thomas Scanlon
13.00
Fred S. Glines
12.90
D. Hennessey
3.00
Finney & Hoit
.50
Hopkinson & Holden
3.75
$85.79
Maintenance
Repairs
Paid E. T. Rice
$33.84
M. E. Taylor & Co.
49.08
George H. Gutteridge
4.00
Alma Stowell
.85
Tuttle & Newton
4.72
George H. Reed
5.63
South Acton Coal & Lumber Co.,
6.13
Finney & Hoit
.36
E. Z. Stanley
4.50
Thomas Scanlon
3.00
E. C. Page
8.67
B. E. Hall
1.00
$121.78
16
Auxiliary Agencies
Health
Paid Thomas Scanlon
$2.83
George B. Robbins Disinfectant Co. 87.50
H. W. Lewis . 44
D. Hennessey
5.00
J. W. Livermore
1.50
F. S. Glines
.47
$97.74
Transportation
High School :
Paid N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
$355.15
B. & M. R. R. Co. 1,530.28
Helen E. Hardy
2.40
E. H. Carey
30.80
H. W. Bursaw
11.10
$1,929.73
Lowell Industrial School :
Paid N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
$41.10
B. & M. R. R. Co.
20.00
Herbert W. Merriam
2.58
J. B. Nims
1.72
$65.40
Elementary :
Paid A. Christofferson
$418.00
Walter M. French
354.00
James Mekkelsen
532.00
Charles Edwards
545.00
$1,849.00
Total transportation ·
$3,844.13
17
Total disbursements
$19,358.96
Total receipts 19,358.96
Unpaid Bills
Town of Concord, balance of tuition
bill
$208.26
Respectfully submitted, EDWIN A. PHALEN, HERBERT W. LEWIS, BERTRAM E. HALL,
Acton, January 14, 1916.
Committee.
18
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Gentlemen of the Committee :
Following is my sixth report, the twenty-fourth in the series of such annual reports.
Since issuing my last report two changes have taken place in the teaching force of this town. After a long term of faithful service, Miss Minnie Gamble resigned in June from the Acton Center grammar school, and Miss Marion H. Barrett, a graduate of McGaw Normal Institute and of the Plymouth, N. H., Normal school, was appointed teacher of grades 7 and 8 in that school. Miss Esther Vance of the West Acton Intermediate school having resigned to take a position in her home town of Norwood, Miss Ruth Harring- ton of Fitchburg Normal school was appointed in her place. Thus two teachers in a force of twelve (including special teachers) are new teachers, not a large percentage of loss for a town accessible to larger and wealthier communities paying higher salaries and offering other inducements in the way of fewer grades, longer school year and systematic increases of salary for continued and successful service.
As the subject of thrift is authorized by the state, and since it is quite as important in its effect upon the future welfare of the pupil as many other subjects in the school program, I feel that the school savings bank system, intro- duced several years ago as a direct means of encouraging thrift, should be recognized as a legitimate school enterprise to the extent that any expense in the collecting and deposit- ing of school savings shall be borne by the school appro- priation. I think the sum of fifteen dollars will be sufficient
19
for this purpose and recommend its appropriation. The present collectors are entirely satisfactory, but their ex- penses to and from the bank should be borne by the schools instead of by themselves or by organizations. One collector living at Acton Center could well stop at West and South Acton for the collections in those schools, and still further reduce the cost of carrying on this excellent system.
There seems to be a need for more constant and effective interpretation of the laws of truancy. I recommend an additional truant officer with enough leisure time to attend promptly and vigorously to reported cases of truancy. I further recommend that when explanation of the law and a return to school of the offender shall not result in permanent attendance, without reasonable excuse, that the offending parent be taken to court for a clearer understanding of the law of truancy, and that the truant officer, in receiving his appointment shall be assured of our moral support in such an emergency.
With many holidays coming in term time, with many conventions and an occasional visiting day, the school year is all too short. I recommend that the week containing Thanksgiving be a vacation week, thus saving two days to the schools. Another day might be saved by beginning the school year the Monday following Labor day, and extending the closing of the school year one week later into June.
The longer I am associated with the schools the more convinced I am that, that the responsibility for getting the children to school on stormy days should rest with the par- ents; that, so long as other people go about their business, with trains running and roads and sidewalks open, the schools should be open for business ; that parents should ask themselves, not, will there be a school today. but, are my children properly equipped with health and clothes to go to school through this storm. Upon this answer the school at- tendance for that session should depend. It might happen that the school would be so manifestly inaccessible by reason of snow or mud and rain, that common sense would rule against the opening of the school. There would be no at-
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tendance on such a day and the school would close auto- matically. Should a system of closing the schools on stormy days be adopted, less rigorous than that I have proposed, some method should be devised whereby all the schools should close, either for a half or a whole day. Heretofore the lack of concerted action has kept some teachers at their desks, while others have enjoyed a whole or half-holiday. I recommend that a no-session system be devised to make the closing of schools uniform on stormy days; or that par- ents be instructed to use their own judgment on stormy days, knowing that the schools will be in session.
I am interested in a home work system of awards de- vised to bring about a closer cooperation between the home and school. The system would add somewhat to the cost of administration, and impose an extra burden upon the teachers. The result, however, must show a contribution of benefit to our present efforts in the teaching of thrift, effi- ciency, art, hygiene, music; and a more positive vocational guidance, inasmuch as qualities and aptitude, so little recog- nized under our present system of education, must come out into the open under this treatment. The plan is to give credits for home work of various kinds. I will cite a few of the different kinds to make the meaning of the plan clear :
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