USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1882 > Part 2
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March 6
Sybil M. Cheney,
9 yrs. 7 mos. 29 days. 63 yrs. II mos. 9 days. 48 yrs.
Pneumonia. Accident.
May 27
Amy P. Fiske,
76 yrs. 2 mos. 2 days.
Pneumonia.
May 31 Anna M. Fiske,
79 yrs. 5 mos. 21 days.
Pneumonia.
June 8 William M. Smith,
Pneumonia.
June 19
David E. Plimpton,
59 yrs. 2 mos. 18 days. 37 yrs. IO mos. 2 days. 75 yrs. IO mos. I day. 54 yrs. 9 mos. 25 days.
Convulsions.
July 7 George Cummings,
Diabetes.
Aug. 23 Ruth P. Howard,
Consumption.
Sept. 12 Hattie Louise Grover,
Consumption.
Sept. I3 Ruby Jones,
15 yrs. 4 mos. 27 days. 88 yrs. II mos. 30 days. 70 yrs. 5 mos. II days. 79 yrs. 10 mos. 21 days.
Old age. Cystitis.
Oct.
24 Nellie B. Howard,
25 yrs. I mo.
Old age. Consumption.
Nov. 8 Cynthia M. Clark,
84 yrs. 8 mos. 2 days. 63 yrs. 3 mos. 14 days.
Apoplexy.
Dec. I Eunice M. Plimpton,
Pneumonia.
Dec. 6 Betsy F. Plimpton,
83 yrs. 4 mos. 23 days.
Bronchitis.
Dec.
7
Ednah L. Gilbert,
6 mos. 25 days.
Whooping Cough.
Total, 22.
Over 90 years of age, I Between 80 and 90 years of age, . 5
Between 70 and 80 years of age, . 5
Between 60 and 70 years of age, . 2
Between 40 and 50 years of age, . I Between 30 and 40 years of age, . I
Between 20 and 30 years of age, . I Between 10 and 20 years of age, . I
Between 50 and 60 years of age, . 2 Under 10 years of age, 3
CHARLES C. SEWALL, Registrar.
Cancer. Old age. Old age.
April 20
John Hackett,
Sept. 19 Henry Harding,
Oct. I Caroline Fisher,
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In obedience to the statutes of the Commonwealth, your Com- mittee beg leave to present the following report :-
We have endeavored to perform the duties which you have laid upon us to the best of our judgment and ability, and have been rewarded by witnessing a commendable progress in the schools generally. At the close of the school year in June last, the results of the written examinations by the committee, together with the known character of the daily management and the aspect of the schools in their closing exercises, gave assurance that the year had been one of the most successful in our educational annals.
In a matter so important as the education and training of an advancing generation, especially when educational experts them- selves are as wide asunder as the poles in regard to what is best, it cannot be expected that there should be entire unanimity of opinion in any community with regard to school matters. But we are glad to bear testimony to the general feeling of satisfaction which has been manifest among our people, and to the absence of that spirit of harsh and bitter criticism, which, when indulged, as it is in many towns, is so great a hindrance to the success of public schools.
TEACHERS.
We have been favored with fewer changes in the corps of teachers than is usual with us, all but one of those at present employed having been with us one or more years previously. When such is the case, the schools move on with much less hazard and loss of time than when compelled to a frequent change of instructors.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
For several winters past, it has been found impossible to make the Centre School-house comfortable in the coldest weather. Last fall, a small portable furnace was put in, to be used as supple- mentary to the large furnace in days of severest cold, as also to warm more thoroughly the lower anteroom which is at present unavoidably used for recitations. Storm windows are also placed
25
during the winter on the north side of the building. By this means, the seats for pupils on that side are made entirely com- fortable when north winds are blowing, which was not the case before. No extraordinary repairs have been made upon the North and South School-houses.
THE COURSE OF STUDY.
Last year, we reported that a course of study had been prepared and adopted as a basis for the instruction in all the schools. We are more and more satisfied of the necessity of such a plan, and can say that its adoption has been justified by the results. With the exception of the lower classes in the Centre School, which are prevented by their present circumstances from following it fully, it has been beneficial by unifying the instruction in all the schools. The same system of classification is retained; and, in the condi- tions of our schools, no change in this respect appears to be needed.
NORTH SCHOOL.
This school is happily in its second year under the management of Miss Elizabeth B. Bowers, whose experience and skill as a teacher are manifesting themselves in the constant improvement of the school in various respects. We have not seen this school in so good a condition for many years as at present.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Mr. Samuel N. Bentley closed his connection with this school in June, with results creditable to him as a teacher. We then secured the services of Mr. C. F. Merrick, a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School, who entered on his work in September. His success has thus far been gratifying. The number of pupils in this school is at present quite small; but the difficulty of main- taining sufficient enthusiasm in this case is met by extra effort on the part of the teacher.
UPPER SCHOOL, CENTRE.
The promise of a successful year under Mr. C. N. Bentley's instruction was abundantly realized, and he was engaged for the third year. A considerable number of the advanced pupils having graduated, and a small class only from the intermediate school being in readiness for promotion, and few pupils coming this year from the North or South Schools to the advanced course, this school is temporarily smaller than the probable average. A con-
26
siderable number of pupils, it is expected, will be in readiness to enter this school in the fall term. The smallness of numbers, how- ever, does not at all diminish the number of recitations or the amount of labor required of the teacher, which is still quite as much as one teacher can do well.
Five recent graduates of this school are now pursuing their studies at the Framingham Normal School, where they take rank very creditably to themselves and to the school from which they came.
INTERMEDIATE AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS, CENTRE.
The closing day in these schools last June was one of satisfac- tion to those who attended the exercises of that occasion. Both Miss Richards and Mrs. Dunn were engaged for another year.
During the vacation, the selectmen, in obedience to a vote of the town, removed the partition which separated the primary from the intermediate room. The fall term opened with one room for two teachers and eighty-six pupils. Since that time, the teachers have worked as best they might under the circumstances. But many exercises, which are regarded of vital importance in all good schools, must now be entirely omitted, and in every branch the progress has been much delayed.
The anteroom is altogether too small for the proper instruction of the classes in this school, besides being poorly lighted and ven- tilated ; and the time of the teacher left in charge of the school- room, while instructing her class, is largely frittered away by the extra discipline she is obliged to exercise. The teachers have worked together with entire unanimity of feeling and effort, yet the character and influence of the discipline is less salutary than under the previous arrangement. It cannot be of the kind most desirable for the youngest children; for the freedom which the little ones should have, if permitted with twice the numbers and with older pupils, becomes unbearable disorder, fatal to satis- factory school work.
The welfare of these eighty-six children demands that some provision be made for their suitable accommodation.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The sum appropriated heretofore - namely, $2,400 - will, in our judgment, be sufficient for the needs of this department for the ensuing year.
27
ROLL OF HONOR.
Names of those not Absent or Tardy for the whole of One Term.
Paulina F. Allen, Warren E. Newell, Alice M. Wight, Amos H. Mason, Irving Crosby, Bennie Crehore, Edward Franks, Willie Gilbert, Freddie Gamble, Robert Hardy, John Meany, Mary Sweet, Marion Leeds, Jennie Johnston, Eddie Abell, John Gamble, Eddie Morrill, Fred Morrill, Manford Sweet, Fred Wood, Vettie Allen, Addie Briggs, Pearl Brigham, Flora Crane, Lizzie Crom- well, Alice Fitzgerald, Alice Franks, Annie Morrill, Ellen Meany, Florence Pettis, Arthur Guild, John Martin, Orra Guild, Sammie Guild, Annie Guild, Mary Lambert, Allie Clark, Waldo Kings- bury.
Names of those not Absent or Tardy for Two Terms.
Cora Crosby, Alex Daniels, George Wilson, Agnes Crane, Willis Ricker, Fred Dix, Minnie Crosby, May Hamant, Delano Hamant, Mary Babcock.
Names of those not Absent or Tardy for Three Terms.
Cassie Sullivan, Affie Hanks.
SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1881-82.
Length of School in Weeks.
Wages of Teachers Whole No. of Scholars. per Month.
Average Attendance.
Schools.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
No. of Scholars under
No. of different Scholars over 15 years of age.
Upper,
14
13
$80.00
$90.00
$90.00
43
39
37
35
35
30
12
Grammar,
I
14
13
36.00|
36.00|
36.00
39
39
37
32
34
32
O
Primary,
II
14
13
36.00
36.00
36.00
41
47
46
32
35
30
North,
14
13
36.00
36.00
36.00
32
26
30
29
24
27
O
2
South,
14
13
36.00
36.00
36.00
26
24
21
23
19
O
o
5 years of age.
J. B. HALE, W. S. TILDEN, WILLIAM. F. GUILD,
School Committee.
28
TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
HINSDALE F. BULLARD, one of the constables of the town of Medfield, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Med- field, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Medfield, on Monday, the sixth day of March next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles : -
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting. 5. Fish ART. 2. To choose all necessary town officers for the year ( ensuing.
ART. 3. To hear the Annual Reports of the Selectmen and other town officers, and act thereon.
ART. 4. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges for the ensuing year, and make appropriations of the same.
ART. 5. To determine the manner of repairing the highways, town-ways, and bridges for the year ensuing.
ART. 6. To determine the mode of collecting the taxes for the year ensuing. /10/12 ml per.et.
ART. 7. To see if the town will authorize the Collector to charge interest; and, if so, what interest upon all taxes remaining unpaid after the first day of December next.
ART. 8. To see if the town will authorize the Collector to make use of all such means for collecting the taxes, as the Treasurer would, if appointed Collector.
ART. 9. To see if the town will accept the list of jurors pre- pared by the Selectmen for the ensuing year.
Clyjord
29
ART. 10. To see if the town will authorize the Overseers of the Poor to hire a keeper of the Almshouse for the year- 1883.
ART. II. To see if the town will, by its vote or otherwise, ask the Legislature to extend to women, who are citizens, the right to vote in town affairs, and to hold town offices, on the same terms as male citizens. dismissed the article
ART. 12. To see if the town will, or will not, authorize licenses to be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town dur- ing the ensuing year. no 8 4- yes 5-
ART. 13. To hear the report of the committee chosen at the last annual meeting, to consider the expediency of publishing a history of the town, and to act anything relating thereto.
ART. 14. To see if the town will make any appropriation for the expenses of Decoration Day. $ 50%
ART. 15. To see if the town will make any appropriation for the Public Library for the year ensuing. $ /W. + dos Fort
ART. 16. To see if the town will amend and add to the By-laws of the town, or act anything relating thereto. dis creation of recent w
ART. 17. To see if the town will hire a night watch for the en- suing year, or act anything relating thereto. 10 -
ART. 18. To see if the town will accept and adopt the report of the Selectmen recommending the widening and relocating of West Mill Street, and the discontinuing of portions of the street as orig- inally laid out, or act anything in relation thereto.
ART. 19. To see if the town will defend the suit of Jane John- ston against Charles Dunn, now pending in the Superior Court for Norfolk County, and employ counsel for that purpose, or act any- thing relating thereto.
ART. 20. To see if the town will build a new primary school- house, or make suitable accommodations for the primary school in the centre of the town, and grant money for the same, or act any thing relating thereto.
ART. 21. To see if the town will build a school-house in the eastern end of the town, or act anything relating thereto. Uco meses
ART. 22. To see if the town will pay the heirs of Moses Bullard for land, taken to widen Pleasant Street, at the same rate per rod as was paid the heirs of James Hewins, or act anything relating thereto.
ART. 23. To see if the town will determine the compensation of the Fire Department for the ensuing year.
30
ART. 24. To see if the town will take any action in regard to the danger resulting from the sliding of snow from the roof of the Town Hall.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up an at- tested copy thereof in the usual place for posting warrants in the town of Medfield, ten days, at least, before the time for holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twentieth day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
HAMLET WIGHT, Selectmen GEO. W. KINGSBURY, of Medfield.
WM. F. GUILD,
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