USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Carver > Town annual reports of Carver 1904 > Part 3
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3.
Except at the Annual Meeting and adjournments thereof, no vote shall be passed at a Town Meeting appropriating or involving the expenditure of more than two hundred dollars, unless there shall be present at least twenty-five legal voters of the Town.
4.
The powers and duties of the presiding officer not specially provided for by law, shall be determined by the rules of prac- tice contained in Cushing's Manual so far as they are adapted to the condition and powers of the Town.
5.
The financial year of the Town shall end on the thirty-first day of December of each year.
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6.
No payment shall be made by the Treasurer on the order of any officers or agents of the Town to an amount exceeding ten per cent. in excess of the amount appropriated for such department. Town officers shall not draw orders for expen- ditures in their departments during the months of January and February in excess of twenty per cent. of the appropriation for the preceding year.
7.
All officers, agents or committees of the Town having the charge of the expenditure of money shall annually report thereon in such manner as to give the citizens a fair and full understanding of the objects and methods of such expenditures. Said report shall be printed and included in the Annual Town Report, which Annual Report shall be published and ready for distribution ten days at least before the Annual Town Meeting. 8.
The assessment of taxes shall be completed and a list of the same committed to the Collector on or before the first day of August of each year. l'axes shall be payable on or before October 15 of the year of their assessment, and interest shall be paid on all unpaid taxes after December I, at the rate of six per cent. per annum.
9.
The Auditor or Auditors shall examine the accounts of the Town officers as required by the statutes. Before certifying to the accounts of the Treasurer he shall examine his cash book wherein shall be entered his receipts and payments as they occur from day to day: shall see that he has paid out no moneys except on proper vouchers ; examine cash and bank accounts and see that the same correspond with the balances as appear by his books ; and see that the funds are intact. He shall certify in the Annual Report as to the correctness of all
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the reports of officers or committees entrusted with the expen- diture of money.
10.
The Treasurer shall pay the orders of the School Com- mittee for the expenditure of all money pertaining to schools.
II.
The yards of Field Drivers shall be Town Pounds, provided the Field Drivers are chosen Pound Keepers.
12.
The compensation for labor on the highway shall be left to the discretion of the Road Commissioners unless it is other- wise regulated by statutes.
I3
The Town Clerk shall publish in the Annual Town Report a list of the appropriations for the year covered by the report ; and all orders passed by the Town at the regular Annual Meet- ing or any special Town Meeting during said year. He shall also cause to be published in said report a list of all Town officers and committees for the year.
14.
Whoever violates any of the foregoing by-laws shall, unless other provision is expressly made, be liable to a penalty of not more than twenty dollars for each offence.
15.
No person shall be prosecuted or tried for any breach of the provisions of any by-laws of this Town unless the com- plaint for the same shall be instituted and commenced within six months from the time of committing such breach.
16.
All by-laws of this Town heretofore existing inconsistent with these by-laws are hereby repealed ; and these by-laws of the Town of Carver shall go into effect from and after their adoption by the Town and their approval by the Superior Court or any justice thereof.
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OPTIONAL LAWS WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED
BY THE TOWN OF CARVER.
March 26, 1888-
Voted, To accept the provisions of Section 17, Chapter 82, Public Statutes, and Chapter 186 of the laws of 1884, and that the Town Treasurer be authorized to receive all moneys for the purposes as called for in Art. 12 of the War- rant in relation to burying lots.
Voted, That the income of all funds deposited with the Town for the care and improvement of cemetery lots by paid by the Town Treasurer as follows :- In cases where the lots are in incorporated cemeteries to the order of the President of the Board of Trustees ; in cases where the lots are in unincorpo- rated cemeteries, to the order of the Board of Selectmen.
March 6, 1899-
Voted, To accept the provisions of Chapter 27, Sections 74, 75, 76, 77, of the Public Statutes, and choose Road Commissioners.
March 6, 1899-
Voted, To accept the provisions of Chapter 132, Acts of 1897, and that the necessary expense be taken from the Town incidental account. (Treasurer's bond. )
June 20, 1903-
Voted, To accept the provisions of the following chapters and sections of the Revised Laws: Sec. 17, Chap. 25; Sec. 24, Chap. 32; Sec. 14, Chap. 53; Sec. 9, Chap. 208. (Forester Act.)
HENRY S. GRIFFITH, Chairman By-Law Committee.
In the matter of Town By-Laws, after considerable research, we have arrived at the conclusion that the less By-Laws the
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more freedom, and as we regard freedom as the "paramount issue," we do not present a formidable array of articles, but simply report to the Town that it is "inexpedient to legislate."
Awaiting any further instructions and advising the Town to go slow, remembering that it is not so easy to annul a bad By-Law as it is to pass it, we are,
OLIVER L. SHURTLEFF, SETH C. C. FINNEY, Majority of the Committee on By-Laws.
OLD HOME WEEK.
The observance of Old Home Week in two successive years has met with a success far ahead of the anticipations of those who actively promoted the events, and the custom may be safely laid down as a permanent department of the town's cur- rent history. No event in our annual marches has called the people together and unified them in thought and action to the extent these celebrations have, and they can but result in great benefit to the town, not only in harmonizing the residents, but in recalling its absent sons and daughters, who annually re- turn to their former homes to renew acquaintances of other days. Doubtless the weak points of past efforts will be strength- ened by experience and the co-operation of our fellow-citizens, for in this humble way we can offer a testimonial to show our appreciation of the interest manifested so generously in the town by its former residents.
HENRY S. GRIFFITH.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
EXCERPTS FROM TOWN MEETING PROCEED-
INGS, 1903.
March 2, 1903-
Voted, That the Town Clerk be instructed to publish in the Annual Town Report an abstract of the proceedings of all Town meetings.
Voted, That compensation for labor on the highway be fifteen cents per hour for a horse and sixteen and two-thirds cents per hour for a man, or one dollar and fifty cents per day.
Voted, That taxes become due Sept. I and that interest be charged after Nov. I.
Voted, To pay the Collector of Taxes one per cent. for col- lecting, and the Treasurer one-half of one per cent. for dis- bursements.
Voted, To instruct the Treasurer to borrow money under the direction of the Selectmen if found necessary in anticipa- tion of taxes the ensuing vear.
Vote on the question, "Shall license be granted in the Town for the sale of intoxicating liquors ?" Yes, I0; No. 57.
Voted, To instruct the Selectmen to prosecute, compromise or defend any suit or suits against the Town.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to locate and provide a new school building or buildings at North Carver: that they be given discretion in the matter of utilizing one or both of the present buildings : and that the sum of eighteen hundred dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this vote.
Voted, That a committee of three, one of which shall be the
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Town Clerk, be appointed by the chair, to revise and codify the Town By-Laws, and bring them before the Town at the next Town meeting.
Voted, To pay the Moderator for his services at the Annual Town Meetings the sum of five dollars.
April 4 --
Voted, Unanimously, to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars to be added to a like amount to be allotted by the Massachusetts Highway Commission for the purpose of extending the macadam road from the foot of North Carver burial hill towards South Carver.
Voted, To instruct the Selectmen to name the streets of the Town and erect appropriate signboards thereon.
May 5-
Voted, To accept the highway leading from Lekenham Cem- etery to a point above the residence of T. T. Vaughan, as laid out by the Highway Commissioners.
Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars for the purpose of carrying out the above vote.
June 20-
Voted, To accept the provisions of statutes relating to the Forester Act. (See report of By-Laws Committee.)
Voted, That the Committee on By-Laws be instructed to publish its report in the next Annual Town Report.
November 3-
Voted, That the Building Committee appointed to erect a schoolhouse at North Carver is hereby authorized to sell the old North Carver schoolhouse and apply the proceeds to the cost of the new building, and the Town Treasurer of Carver is hereby instructed, in the event of such sale of said old schoolhouse and lot, by said committee, to make a deed of conveyance to the purchaser.
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Voted, To build the road leading from Pope's Point to North Carver as ordered by the County Commissioners.
Voted, To instruct the Moderator to appoint a committee of three to construct said road, and that Seth C. C. Finney be named as one member of said committee.
Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars for constructing said road.
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN CARVER, 1903.
Feb. 4. Arthur G. Beauchemin and Maude E. Dunham.
May 16. George Adams and Abbie E. Cole.
May 20. Edwin A. Gross of Plympton and Maude M. Thomas.
June 17. Irving N. Tilden of New Bedford and Evelyn F. Robbins.
July 3. Clarence Thomas of Plympton and Cora M. King.
Aug. II. George Lacroix of Fall River and Adonilda Bouget.
Sept. 5. Lothrop A. Hayden and Annie L. Thomas.
Sept. 8. Charles E. Vaughan and Lucy Thrasher of Han- son.
Nov. 10. John C. Owers of Plympton and Mabel H. Eames.
Nov. 21. Walter H. Dunham and Ethel Morse.
Nov. 22. Andrew Jackson and Alonia Quilia ..
Dec 23. William E. Holmes and Almira C. Dowsett.
DEATHS RECORDED IN CARVER IN
1903.
DATE.
NAME.
AGE. Y. M. D.
BIRTHPLACE.
PARENTS.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
Jan. 8 Marcus Bumpus
81
8
10 Silya Hoapakaski
16 Winthrop E. Messier
1
4
22 Carver
17 Eliza E. Bush
85
10
29 Wareham
25 Franklin E. Chace
60
- Yarmouth
29|E. Watson Shaw
64
4
28 Carver
Nathaniel Shaw and Betsey Shurtleff
Feb. 4 Lydia A. Murdock 9 Jennie Winberg
55
9
6 Sweden
M. Johnson and --
Henry P. Burgess and Jane G. Washburn Injuries at birth
April 7 Ellen M. Hayden
52
9
20 Nantucket
Andrew W. Reed and Mary Carnes Elcanah Long and --
8 Elkanah Long
89
9
- Brewster
Nicholas Cox and Margaret Callahan
May
1 James Cox
50
Wareham
Gustavus Silverberg and Sophia Johnson Cholera infantum
21 Solomon F. McFarlin
76
9
5 Carver
John McFarlin and Rebecca Blackmar Benjamin Ransom and Lucy Hammond
Asthma, heart failure Paralyis
July 21 Benjamin Ransom Oct. 24 Vina Opie Johnson
76
11
- Carver
Cholera infantum
Nov. 10 Joseph P. Kief 12 Walter R. Hall
73
3
29 Camden, Me.
Dec. 7 Mehitable King
78
9
1 Carver
22 Elmer B. Perkins
57
8 22 Carver
31 Frank Perron
-
April 4 Joseph T. Shurtleff
71
8
0 Carver
June 4 Ger. E. Fowler, Taunton
48
2
5
Amos Drown and Mary Bubarn
Cerebral hemorrhage
Dec. 29 Amos B. Drown, Sharon
81
10 3 Vermont
Samuel Bumpus and Chloe - John Hoapakaski and Silya Wumkaium Fred Messier and Caroline Beauchemin - Gibbs and -
Gastritis chronic Failing vitality Pneumonia Natural causes Organic disease of heart
Rheumatism Heart failure Heart failure
. - 61-
Hemorrhage of bladder Injuries received from kick in bowels
7 George Silverberg
11 - Carver
6 12 \ arver
1
67
Ireland -
Pneumonia Billio Gastric Fever La grippe Organic heart disease
Internal injuries caused by accident
67
Canada
Axel Johnson and Huldah Nalyah Patrick Kief and Katherine George Hall and Sally -- Jesse Lucas and Deborah Bagnall Jonathan B. Perkins and Olive Clark Ulrich Perron and Ursule Pairier Ichabod Shurtleff and Mercy C. Swift Joseph Pratt and Jane Ellis
Heart disease Diabetes
-
George W. Chace and --
69
1 12 Carver
Marstin Cobb and Anna Shaw
4 Carver
Mar. 7 Arthur E. Burgess 15 (Stillborn)
1 Carver
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BIRTHS IN CARVER IN 1903.
DATE.
NAME.
PARENTS.
Jan. 2 Elsie Elizabeth Potter
Feb.
5
Maynerd Griffith
March 2 Arthur Edward Burgess
8 Thelma Clementine Stringer
15 Mary Francis Cornish
April
19 Hiram Leslie Rickard
May
16
Lucy D. Kennedy
June
13
(Stillborn)
July
10 Bessie Victoria Parker
Aug. 9 Margaret Crocker Stockwell
66
17 Hazel May Griffith
Sept.
15 Ruth Adelie Goetz
Dec.
13 Theodore Edward Branillard
29 Morris
John L. and Elisabeth (Black) Lauriston and Maud C. (Smith) Albert C. and -- (Braddock, Alton H. and Lena F. (Tillson) Orlando P. & Helen B. (Shaw) Leander and Minnie R. (Lucas) Edward and -- (Riel) Geo. P. and Elisabeth (Chace)
SUMMARY.
Births recorded in 1903, 16
Marriages recorded in 1903,
12
Deaths recorded in 1903,
25
DOGS LICENSED.
Males, I02
Females. 9
I hereby give notice that I am prepared to furnish blanks for the returns of births and deaths, according to law. HENRY S. GRIFFITH,
Town Clerk, Carver.
Chas. I). and Bertha (Johnson) Henry S. & Helen A. (Tillson) Hen. P. & Jane G.(Washburn) Wm. F. and Annie (Stringer) Ellis G. and Mary (Sears) Chester R. and -- (Coombs) James P. and Lulie (Stringer)
14 Rolland Littlefield Bradford
17 Marjorie Griffith
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
FINANCES, YEAR ENDING DEC. 31. 1903. Support of Schools. DR.
Appropriation,
$3,500 00
State school fund,
526 34
Tuition-State pupils,
42 00
Tuition-Poor towns,
300 00
Dog tax,
205 II
Pratt fund,
125 00
Ellis fund,
230 00
Superintendent account,
200 00
Balance from 1902,
264 00
CR.
Paid-
$3,655 00
Janitors,
246 55
For fuel,
384 46
For transportation,
344 00
For cleaning,
15 23
Balance unexpended,
747 21
$5,392 45
Paid-
A. S. Burnham, teaching,
$600 00
W. L. Waite, teaching,
386 00
A. L. Veazie, teaching,
297 00
L. G. Murdock, teaching,
324 00
$5,392 45
Teachers,
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E. G. Cornish, teaching, 324 00
Jennie F. Cowen, teaching, 258 00
Grace Gammons, teaching, 270 00
Elva B. Tillson, teaching, 300 00
A. R. Gifford, teaching, 324 00
M. C. Rogers, teaching,
291 00
L. F. Wood, teaching,
192 00
J. L. D. Russell, teaching,
72 00
Sarah S. Alley, teaching, 17 00
E. G. Cornish, janitor, 160 00
E. C. Churchill, janitor, 15 00
M. C. Rogers, janitor, 12 00
A. R. Gifford, janitor, 12 00
L. F. Wood, janitor,
9 00
A. L. Veazie, janitor,
9 00
L. G. Murdock, janitor, 6 00
J. F. Cowen, janitor, 12 00
Elva B. Tillson, janitor,
12 00
Grace Gammons, janitor,
12 00
Sarah S. Alley, janitor,
50
J. L. D. Russell, janitor, 2 25
Elmer and Clarence Braddock, janitors,
4 80
Geo. A. Shurtleff, coal, High school, 224 75
G. W. Cornish, sawing, 2 92
T. T. Vaughan, wood No. 5, 10 00
G. P. Lincoln, wood and sawing, No. 5, 9 00
J. A. Vaughan. wood, No. 5, 7 50
J. A. Vaughan, wood, No. 3, 18 33
J. A. Vaughan, wood, High, 25 88
E. H. Murdock, wood, No. 2, 12 50
S. S. Richards, wood, No. 2, 5 00
B. W. Robbins, wood, No. I, 39 97
S. D. Atwood, wood, No. 4, 3 00
Gustavus Atwood, wood, No. 4, 2 50
Gustavus Atwood, wood, No. 8, IO 25
E. G. Cornish, wood and sawing, 4 06
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A. E. Beauchemin, sawing, 4 74
A. M. Derose, transportation, 72 00
Autti Haski, transportation, 149 60
-
Oscar Johnson, transportation, 86 40
Kustaff Nyland, transportation, 36 00
Mrs. N. E. Chase, cleaning No. I, 63
L. F. Wood, cleaning No. 5, 3 00
Grace Johnston, cleaning No. 5, 3 00
H. S. Petty, cleaning No. 8, 3 00
Mrs. B. T. Kelley, cleaning No. 4, 5 00
Lillian G. Murdock, cleaning No. I, 60
$4,661 18
Repairs of Schoolhouses.
DR.
Appropriation,
$300 00
CR.
W. H. H. Weston, High, $20 52
Charles E. Vaughan, labor, High, I 50
George E. Blair, labor, No. 3, 14 00
George E. Blair, labor, High,
3 75
J. W. Lewis, pump, High, 7 52
E. G. Cornish, labor, High, I 50
S. C. C. Finney, locks, High, I 50
Town of Plymouth, desks, No. I,
30 75
A. S. Buckman, pump, No. I,
51 00
George Adams, labor, No. I, 25
Gustavus Atwood, stovepipe, No. 2,
I 25
Finney Bros., cement and curtains, No. 3,
IO 75
Albert Leach, labor, No. 3,
3 40
A. E. Beauchemin, labor, No. 3,
2 66
J. H. Davis, labor, No. 3.
80
J. A. Vaughan, labor, No. 3, I 50
H. R. Bailey, shelves, No. 4, 3 00
A. D. Griffith, labor, No. 4, 2 70
Carver
5
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J. E. Dunham, paint, No. 4, I 65
S. F. Ryder, mason, No. 4, 3 50
S. D. Atwood, lumber, No. 4, II 72
H. S. Griffith, material and labor, No. 4, 8 00
W. F. Stanley, labor, No. 4,
2 00
H. S. Griffith, labor and material, No. 4, 5 II
E. F. Co., pipe, etc., No. 4, 5 42
Smith & Thayer Co., pump, No. 4, 7 88
George P. Lincoln, well, No. 5, 8 75
Gustavus Atwood, labor, No. 8,
2 79
E. Anthony & Sons, 2 25
Longmans, Green & Co.,
85
Overdrawn, 1902,
28 25
Balance unexpended, 53 48
$300 00
Text Books and Incidentals.
DR.
Appropriation,
$800 00
Overdrawn, 285 75
$1,085 75
CR.
Adams, Cushing & Foster, books, $2 20
D. C. Keith & Co., sundries. 1 15
Thompson, Brown & Co., books,
36 33
Mortimer, Searles & Co., books,
I 20
A. E. Gifford, express, 3 45
A. W. Peterson, express, 27 72
J. L. Hammett & Co., books, 62 63
Edward E. Babb & Co., books, 83 66
Henry Holt & Co., books,
2 IO
Thompson, Brown & Co., books,
7 50
Ginn & Co., books,
80 22
Silver, Burdette Co., books,
83
Allvn & Bacon, books, I 16
E. G. Cornish, sundries,
7 80
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American Book Co., books, 20 21
Atkinson & Co., I 25
DeWolf & Vincent, tape measures, I 50
C. W. Humphrey, postage, 3 83
Grace B. Gammons, ex.,
70
M. C. Rogers, ex ..
35
S. H. Pink, broom,
30
George P. Morse, cubes,
3 75
The Morse Co., books,
80 60
E. Anthony & Sons,
6 00
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., books,
52 76
Rand, McNally & Co., maps,
8 80
Rand, McNally & Co., maps,
16 80
Thorp & Martin Co., paper,
I 50
Brausch & Lomb Optical Co.,
9 27
Samuel Ward Co., thermometres, 2 15
J. B. Lippincott Co.,
2 32
Elva B. Tillson, supplies,
75
J. A. Vaughan, measures,
21 40
C. C. Birchard & Co., 20 80
E. M. Drury, apparatus,
3 00
Samuel Ward Co.,
3 45
Samuel Ward Co.,
1 65
Strowhr (ige & Clothier,
5 49
Franklin Co. 36
Longmans, Green & Co.,
5 44
A. R. Gifford. Sundries,
80
M. C. Rogers, sundries,
2 50
J. A. Vaughan, brooms,
60
Longmans, Green & Co.,
1 67
Elva B. Tillson, scissors, etc.,
I 50
E. F. Co., supplies,
90
Mortimer, Sears & Co., mdse.,
10 00
Franklin College Record,
I 40
Samuel Ward Co.,
2 50
Milton Bradley Co.,
7 75
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Chandler Adjustable Co.,
6 50
S. C. C. Finney, express,
45
S. C. C. Finney, supplies,
3 35
Samuel Ward Co.,
I 25
Carter's Ink Co.,
3 75
Edward E. Babb & Co., books,
139 70
Milton Bradley Co.,
3 30
J. A. Kenney, mats,
3 80
C. W. Humphrey, postage and telephone,
8 06
C. W. Humphrey, maps,
I 60
Crane & Co., chart,
20 00
Overdrawn in 1902,
272 0I
$1,085 75
State High School Fund.
DR
Received from state,
$300 00
Overdrawn,
82 78
$382 78
CR.
Paid-
Frank M. Patten,
$6 95
George S. Briggs, labor, 67 75
Franklin Laboratory Supply Co.,
136 10
George S. Briggs,
II 28
Wood, Brightman & Co.,
7 II
Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.,
21 37
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co.,
78 II
J. W. Lewis, labor,
7 52
C. B. Tillinghast,
35 00
C. T. Harris,
II
95
$382 78
Superintendent of Schools.
DR.
Appropriation, State aid,
$700 00
500 00
$1,200 00
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CR.
Paid- C. W. Humphrey,
$600 00
Support of schools,
200 00
Overdrawn in 1902,
100 00
Balance unexpended,
300 00
$1,200 00
In presenting our annual report our aim is to place the con- dition of our schools as vividly as we are able, before the citi- zens of the town. Our financial statistics are for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31 ; and our census and enrolment statistics for the natural school year ending August 31st.
The revolutionary theories in school matters can but be un- derstood by looking back at the milestones. Time was when free schools were defended on the theory that the first duty of organized society was to protect itself, and it was argued that it would be more humane and cheaper in the end, to educate the youth, than to maintain police and prisons for their custody. The justification for this theory rests upon whether police, houses of detention, armies and navies, have kept pace with schools. Be this as it may, we have seen a revolution in school theories, but whether we have evolved a perfect system may be a matter for discussion.
In view of existing conditions of society, we hold that, to a certain extent, the old theory should still be in vogue, so how far we have a right to tax the people should be a matter not only for the consideration of the voters, but for the instruction of the young. The idea has been carefully nourished that there is no limit to school expenditures, and it is regarded as un- popular to criticise a proposition in school matters, whatever may be its nature.
While we admit that we cannot do too much for the edu-
-70-
cation of our young, we are inclined to think there may be a point beyond which expenditures are superfluous.
The pupils must learn, we cannot "learn" for them by any amount of money or effort. The old adage : "There is no royal road to learning," appears to have been displaced by "The more sacrifices you make to the goddess of education, the more learning she will shower upon you." This, in our opinion, is erroneous. The youthful mind, like the youthful body, re- quires a stated time for development, and how to strengthen both in the alloted time -- not how to puff both in half the time -- should be our aim. An overfed body and mind should be avoided, for both can be weakened by indigestion.
In noting the changes in the methods of instruction, we are led to believe that a per cent. is chargeable to the prevailing epidemic of commercialism, and we are convinced that much of it will not stand the test of analysis from the standpoint of education. Permanent effect and not transient amusement is the end we should strive for.
The legitimate object of educating the young rests on a foundation deeper than the mere matter of pushing them through a prescribed "course" in the least possible time. To develop both mind and heart, to create a deeper respect for home and parents, to restrain evil tendencies, to ground the young mind in its duty towards civil government and human society, to enliven a sympathy for the animal world, to show that all have an honored place in life, and to prepare the adult for a judicial and tolerant career, in our opinion constitutes education, and to accomplish these results the instructors must cultivate qualities not always associated with scholastic train- ing.
We have read statements from leading educators to the ef- fect that the object of (ducation is to prepare the student to escape the drudgery of their parents. This we should look upon as a false doctrine, which, if persisted in, will neutralize the moral effect of the school. Should our instructors hold out the promise that a few years spent in school entitles the pupil to a
-71-
ticket which insures him against the burdens of life? Shall we be guilty of saying that labor is a degrading state which may be avoided by education ? By so doing are we not poisoning the springs of society and swelling the army of "grafters"? To make the conditions of labor better, to make the next gener- ation better mechanics and factory girls, better farmers and sailors, better merchants and manufacturers, better ministers and lawyers, and not mislead them with the mathematical ab- surdity that an education will ensure everyone a "soft snap" in life, should be the aim of public instruction.
POLITICAL SYSTEM.
We note with regret the tendency in this state to take the control of the schools from the hands of the parents and lodge it in the hands of a state bureau. The arguments which lead up to the change may be summed up in a current political maxim, Ultimo ru'io regum.
The states of Michigan and Kansas, which boast of the best school systems of the Union, maintain the district system. A director, clerk, and treasurer, constitute the local board, and each township elects an inspector, who watches the progress of all the schools. These inspectors of a county hold annual meetings, at which a county board of examiners is chosen, and no teacher can make a valid contract with a local board who has not first obtained a certificate from the county board.
Such a system rests upon the theory that the people may be trusted with the welfare of their children, and it may be added that if the people are unwilling or incompetent to provide for the education of their young, they have fallen from. a posi- tion they once held, and no state bureau can replace them.
Aside from the increased expense the new system involves, it tends to divorce the interest of the parents-a vital point in a true educational system.
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