USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1900-1909 > Part 34
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121.46
Gravelling Spring Street
26.14
Repairs on South Street
3.25
Repairs on Pleasant Street
2.78
Repairing culvert on Adams Street .
4.95
Cleaning up streets and catch-basins
199.33
Gravelling Frairy Street
96.55
Gravelling Short Street 57.71
Mowing bushes 67.60
260.40
Gravelling Farm Street
92.33
Widening and putting up railing on Hartford Street
289.71
Gravelling Pine Street
183.36
Gravelling Philip Street
162.44
Gravelling East Main Street
144.49
Gravelling Bridge Street
160.42
Catch-basin, corner of North and Green Streets
II.70
Gravel for the streets
71.80
Tool and sharpening picks, etc. 24.95
$2,485.00
Gravelling North Street
46
BREAKING OUT ROADS AND SIDEWALKS FROM FEB. I, 1905, TO FEB. 1, 1906.
Paid George W. Kingsbury, Superintendent $20.90
S. B. Ware 20.60
W. D. Kingsbury 9.00
C. Ricker
1.40
G. K. Ricker
2.80
C. Booth 6.00
C. Kingsbury 7.70
L. Kingsbury
5.40
Alex. McLain
5.40
R. S. Hardy
6.20
W. J. Cox
12.80
R. E. Cole .
.60
C. W. Wight
2.20
A. H. Smith
8.00
J. E. Bell
3.40
J. McCarthy
1.80
J. D. Lynch
3.60
Burns .
1.60
F. S. Wight
7.80
J. Mann 3.00
A. H. Bartlett, sand . .80
$131.00
LABOR ON THE HIGHWAY.
Paid George W. Kingsbury, Superintendent $235.58
Christopher Kingsbury 65.95
Charles Booth
I71.20
Sandie Beckworth
8.20
R. B. Blood
16.20
Theodore Peterson
I8.00
Charles W. Strang
I66.80
I. H. Crosby
16.20
J. A. Quincy
182.10
C. Bennett .
4.00
Thomas Rourke
104.80
F. B. Quincy .
66.90
Carried forward
$1,055.93
47
Brought forward $1,055.93
Paid J. Mitchell . 7.20
James Bell . 7.20
W. D. Gilbert
18.80
F. H. Wright .
3.IO
Jesse Mann
I.OO
T. L. Donley, stock and labor on catch-basin cor- ner of North and Green Streets II.70
Hamlet Wight, 74 chestnut posts II.IO
Willard Harwood, 60 chestnut posts 12.00
William F. Guild, 5 chestnut posts
.75
J. E. Lonergan, 24 chestnut posts
3.60
A. B. Parker, 2 stone posts
2.00
James Ord, spikes
5.50
H. A. Morse, lumber for railing
85.91
George W. Adams, keeping light on washout on E. Main Street 1.50
W. E. Kingsbury
3.65
$1,230.94
TEAMS EMPLOYED ON HIGHWAY.
Paid George W. Kingsbury
$238.01
Joseph E. Lonergan 91.80
G. L. Waterman 40.50
William J. Cox . 118.40
W. E. Kingsbury 318.50
J. A. Newell
65.50
F. S. Wight
284.60
$1,157.3I
GRAVEL FOR THE HIGHWAY.
Paid heirs of C. S. Hamant, for IOI loads
$5.05
John Allen, for 210 loads 10.50
Moses C. Adams, for 136 loads 6.80
David Meany, for 189 loads
9.45
Martin L. Cheney, for 445 loads
22.25
Edwin H. Ellis, for 155 loads
7.75
Sarah E. Wight, for 117 loads
5.85
Robert Powell, for 83 loads
4.15
$71.80
48
TOOLS, ETC., FOR THE HIGHWAY.
Paid Ames Plow Company, 6 hoes . $2.25
Morss & Whyte Company, gravel screen 6.85
Cash paid for 2 steel rakes . .90
Cash paid for I post-hole digger
1.25
Cash paid for 2 dippers and 2 steel rakes
1.20
Cash paid for iron for catch-basin
.35
Cash paid for 3 wet stones and sharpening picks .50
Cash paid for I shovel . .65
Cash paid for I pick handle .25
F. W. Cutter, for sharpening picks and drills, etc. . 10.75
$24.95
SIDEWALK ACCOUNT.
Paid Joseph E. Lonergan $9.00
Thomas Rourke
3.60
J. A. Quincy .
5.40
W. E. Kingsbury
17.10
W. J. Cox .
13.50
Charles Booth
9.00
Christopher Kingsbury
3.60
G. W. Kingsbury, Superintendent
13.80
$75.00
SEWER ACCOUNT.
Paid George W. Kingsbury, Superintendent
$17.12
W. E. Kingsbury
16.88
Charles Booth
4.60
Christopher Kingsbury
2.50
Thomas Rourke
1.80
N. F. Harding, catch-basin cover
1.85
$44.75
BRIDGE ACCOUNT.
Paid H. A. Morse, for plank
$31.64
Christopher Kingsbury, for labor
1.60
Charles Booth, for labor
1.60
George W. Kingsbury, Superintendent
5.16
$40.00
49
RECAPITULATION. RECEIVED ON SELECTMEN'S ORDERS.
On account of Highways $2,485.00
Sidewalks . 75.00
Snow
131.00
Sewer
44.75
Bridges
40.00
$2,775.75
EXPENDED.
On account of Highway
$2,485.00
Snow
131.00
Sidewalks
75.00
Sewer
44.75
Bridges .
40.00
$2,775.75
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. KINGSBURY, Superintendent of Streets.
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT.
Received on Selectmen's orders $40.35
For labor, removing and trimming trees $40.35
GEORGE W. KINGSBURY,
Tree Warden.
Examined and found correct.
T. E. SCHOOLS, Auditor.
REPORT OF ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
FOR YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1906.
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
Twelve calls, including three still alarms.
April 1, brush fire on Spring Street. No loss.
April 4, brush fire in Rocky Woods. No loss. April 24, brush fire near Dr. Inches. Small loss.
May I, house on Adams Street, owned by Ellen Clifford. Damage to house and contents, $700.
May 5, false alarm.
May 8, still alarm, woods near Junction depot. No loss.
May II, woods near Junction depot. No loss.
July 4, still alarm, Old Stone Mill. No loss.
October 19, Tibbetts's Market, North Street. No loss.
November 27, still alarm, grass land bordering on Dale Street. No loss.
January 23, house on North Street owned by E. V. Mitchell. No loss.
January 29, house on Main Street owned by Helen S. Brown. Damage, $400.
The large number of fires and comparatively small damage proves the efficiency and readiness of both companies.
The Hook and Ladder Truck has received the necessary repairs.
Oil suits and rubber boots have been procured for the companies.
The engine is in good condition. There is great need of new hose, therefore, we would respectfully recommend the purchase of one thousand feet of new hose.
WALDO E. KINGSBURY. R. E. CONRICK. J. ALLEN COLE.
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE.
Cash on hand . $4.50
Received appropriation from town 300.00
From trust funds 63.00
From care of lots 72.00
From lots sold 283.00
$722.50
DISBURSEMENTS.
Paid W. S. Blake, labor $69.30
R. B. Blood, labor
34.00
Martin Kelley, labor 18.60
Hans Pederson, labor
35.20
Clarence Bennett, labor
24.80
I. H. Crosby, labor 12.60
Chester Schools, labor . 15.60
J. H. Pember, lawn-mower and repairs 9.75
T. E. Schools, sundries 8.50
W. B. Roberts, flowers for trust lots
H. F. Maker, relaying out lots 1.50
39.90
Cornelius Bartus, labor
37.60
A. B. Parker, top dressing trust lots
20.00
A. B. Parker, labor men and teams 112.15
Town Treasurer 283.00
Due A. B. Parker, labor, men, and teams
188.25
$722.50
Examined and found correct.
T. E. SCHOOLS, Auditor.
It will be noticed that the expenses exceeded the appropriation. One reason for this was the town voted at the annual meeting in 1904 $75 to be used in righting and setting in line the stones in the old part of Cemetery. We commenced the same, using the $75. We found over one hundred and fifty that were loose in their bases, and in many cases the bases were broken, and had to be patched with cement. Before we reached that point, it was too late to use cement
53
on account of frost. We completed the work this season at an ex- pense of at least $100, using the best Portland cement.
We think the appropriation should be doubled, making it $600. It takes close to $200 to get ready for Memorial Day. With the present appropriation it only leaves $100 for the rest of the season. It would take much more than that to keep the avenues and paths in fair condition. There should be some stones bought for bounds, as there are a number of lots with only three bounds. We are sell- ing a number of one-grave lots every year that need bounds. The gutters ·on the hills should be paved, to prevent washing, as it costs more or less every year to repair washouts.
WILLARD HARWOOD, A. B. PARKER, W. W. PRESTON.
Cemetery Committee.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
I submit the report of the Inspector of Animals the past year. I am very glad to say we have not had any farcy, or glanders, during the past year. One complete inspection was made of all the neat cattle and swine. There were at that time 70 stables, in which are kept 512 swine and 603 cattle. Six of these cattle were quarantined for tuberculosis, and, after passing through the usual course of investi- gation, were condemned and killed and the premises where they were kept were disinfected.
Yours respectfully, GEORGE S. CHENEY, Inspector of Animals.
*
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF MEDFIELD:
I respectfully submit the following report :-
I have complied with the law by advertising as required.
I have examined and sealed 96 dozen milk-jars, condemned 2} dozen.
The scales in stores have been examined and corrected.
The town weights and measures are in good order.
J. H. PEMBER,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The following report is respectfully submitted :-
The Board of Trustees for the year 1905 has consisted of the following: Stillman J. Spear, chairman; Willard Harwood, William H. Bailey, J. Herbert Baker, Herbert L. Mitchell, and George Wash- burn, Secretary. Miss Lucretia M. Johnson has continued to serve as Librarian.
The Library has been open from 6 to 8 P.M. on Tuesdays and from 3 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. on Saturdays. The reading-room, by arrange- ment of the Trustees, is now open every evening in the week except Sunday. This plan has worked successfully so far, and, when it becomes more generally known, the number of those who avail them- selves of the privilege will undoubtedly increase.
The statistics of the year are as follows :---
Whole number of books 4,989
Loaned to individuals 5,757
Loaned to schools IO2
Total number loaned 5,859
There have been added to the Library during the past year 126 new volumes.
The following periodicals, free for the use of all, are upon the tables of the reading-room :-
Monthly magazines: Harper's, American Illustrated, Scribner's, McClure's, St. Nicholas, Review of Reviews, Current Literature, Cos- mopolitan, Century, Bookman, New England, Country Life in Amer- ica, Munsey, System, Business Man's, Technical World, Good House- keeping, Critic, Our Dumb Animals.
Weekly publications: Leslie's, Harper's, Scientific American, Woman's Journal, and Saturday Evening Post.
Daily papers: Herald, Globe, Record, and American.
Of these publications the Review of Reviews, Harper's Monthly, and St. Nicholas are bound for preservation. The remaining peri- odicals are donated to the Medfield Insane Asylum at the close of each year.
The following insurance policies are held by the town on the books and fixtures of the Library :-
Holyoke Mutual Ins. Co., expiring March 15, 1907.
Lowell Mutual Fire Ins. Co., expiring April 26, 1908.
57
As there is an occasional call for books not found in our Library, it has been decided by the Trustees that books may be borrowed from other libraries through our Librarian, all express charges to be paid by the borrower.
The Library has received a donation from Colonel E. V. Mitchell of a large photograph of Governor Brackett and staff. This picture is unique and attractive.
The Woman's Education Association of Boston has loaned to the Library a travelling library treating of Greece. In connection with this are many beautiful photographs. The collection is loaned till June, and it will repay any one to visit the reading-room and ex- amine them.
Appended is the financial statement of the Trustees :-
Received.
Dog tax
$239.73
Interest on trust fund
210.00
Balance unexpended
2II.3I
$661.04
Expended.
L. M. Johnson, Librarian $100.00
De Wolfe, Fiske & Co., books
99.38
Macey & Co., bookcases 79.00
H. L. Mitchell, periodicals 52.00
George Pettis, janitor 50.00
Moulton Publishing Company
40.00
L. M. Johnson, cataloguing
28.00
F. J. Barnard, binding books
27.25
E. M. Bent, coal, etc.
21.00
Library Bureau, cases, etc.
12.00
S. J. Spear, books and printing
10.25
A. E. Read, electric lights
2.00
N. F. Harding, repairs 1.19
James Ord, supplies
.60
$522.67
Balance unexpended
$138.37
GEORGE WASHBURN,
Examined and found correct.
Secretary.
T. E. SCHOOLS, Auditor.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Members.
HENRY E. MARSHALL
term expires 1906 66
GEORGE WASHBURN
1907
Rev. CHARLES H. WILLIAMS
66 1908
Organization.
HENRY E. MARSHALL
Chairman
GEORGE WASHBURN
Secretary
FREDERIC W. KINGMAN
Superintendent
Calendar.
Winter term, 12 weeks, closes March 23, 1906. Spring term, 12 weeks, opens April 2, closes June 22, 1906.
Spring term, 10 weeks, opens April 2, closes June 8, 1906. Fall term, 16 weeks, opens September 4, closes Dec. 21, 1906. Winter term opens Dec. 31, 1906.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TEACHING SCHOOLS.
Paid Thomas H. Kenworthy $870.00
Bertha C. Folsom
525.00
Mina G. Bunker 109.10
Elizabeth O. Kimball
426.25
Agnes E. Abbott 486.60
Susan M. Chase
461.60
Ethel Faulkner
204.00
Alice Bent 461.56
Grace Alexander 360.00
Mabelle F. Gilman
220.00
Bethia R. Paine
47.00
Inez F. Damon .
60.00
Emma A. Perkins
50.00
$4,28I.II
TUITION OF PUPILS.
Paid town of Dedham
$184.50
Town of Walpole 184.70 369.20
TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS.
Paid to Dedham
$85.00
To Walpole 120.47
H. W. Wood .
235.70 441.17
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Paid Abner A. Badger
$200.00
F. W. Kingman
400.00
$600.00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Paid Henry E. Marshall
$35.00
George Washburn
35.00
Charles H. Williams
35.00
105.00
Carried forward
$5,796.48
60
Brought forward $5,796.48
CARE, FUEL, SUPPLIES, ETC.
Paid James E. Pettis, care R. W. School $534.19
Joseph E. Lonergan, coal 355.50
Ginn & Co., books and supplies 171.25
Edward E. Babb & Co., supplies 118.34
Kenney Brothers & Wolkins, supplies, 109.85
D. C. Heath & Co., supplies. 57.89
Abner A. Badger, miscellaneous 48.13
Edward M. Bent, wood, etc. 47.00
Milton Bradley Company, supplies 35.22
A. L. Allen, wood 30.00
Silver, Burdett Company, books, etc.
29.10
Medfield Water Company, water to Aug. 1, 1905 27.13
Lucy L. Allen, care L. M. School
23.00
Willard Harwood, wood .
20.00
Mrs. W. C. Allen, care L. M. School
19.45
Interstate School Supply Company, supplies 15.00
C. L. Chase, wax oil 15.00
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., books
II.89
James Ord, supplies
10.07
George Washburn, school census and hand stamp 8.90
American Book Company, books 8.16
Atkinson, Mentzer & Grover, supplies, 7.70
Fred A. Taylor, supplies, etc. 7.18
Clara Babcock, labor 6.75
David Meany, services as truant officer, 6.50
Allyn & Bacon, books 5.84
Educational Publishing Company, books, 5.25
Benjamin H. Sanborn & Co., books 4.59
F. W. Kingman, supplies, etc. 4.55
D. Appleton & Co., books . 4.34
Allen Shade Holder Company, holders, 4.00
Boston Branch, supplies 3.5I
F. J. Barnard & Co., binding books 3.30
Carried forward $1,768.58
$5,796.48
61
Brought forward $1,768.58 $5,796.48
Paid E. J. Keyou, germicide 3.30
L. E. Knott Apparatus Company, supplies 3.2I
Ambrose Brothers, stationery
3.00
J. L. Hammett Company, supplies
3.00
G. G. Babcock . 2.75
Stillman J. Spear, stationery 2.75
Thompson, Brown & Co., books 2.7I
E. C. Crocker, supplies 2.69
American Humane Educational Society, books 2.50
Rand, McNally & Co., books
2.40
Alice E. Bent, supplies .
2.12
The Davis Press, books
2.00
Thomas E. Schools, supplies 1.60
W. W. Preston, trucking, etc.
1.40
De Wolfe, Fiske & Co., books
1.32
Oliver Ditson, music
1.14
Roy Hunt, repairing clock
1.OO
J. H. Pember, supplies .95
W. A. Fitts, supplies
.65 $1,809.07
$7,605.55
Receipts, appropriation for support of schools, $6,000.00 Income of State School Fund .
681.73
From State Treasurer for Superintend- ent of Schools
500.00
Income from State for high-school tui- tion 223.05
Interest on Town School Fund 141.60
Tuition from Dover . 93.00
Interest on Chickering note 15.00
From sale of junk 9.00
From sale of books
3.60
From sale Historical Catechism
5.40
Balance unexpended last year
334.65
8,007.03
Balance unexpended
$401.48
62
REPAIRS ON SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Paid Smith, Anthony & Co., furnaces $445.00
N. F. Harding, & Co., carpentering . 230.96
Fred A. Taylor, heating fixtures and labor 55.62
George Babcock, painting
39.98
T. F. Donlan, masonry
II.60
H. H. Clark, glazing
.90
$784.06
Appropriation .
$750.00
Balance unexpended last year
62.03
812.03
Balance unexpended
$27.97
ASSETS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1906.
Due from town of Dover
$50.00
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE WASHBURN, For the Committee.
ESTIMATES FOR 1906.
For support of schools
$6,000.00
For repairs
300.00
$6,300.00
Examined and found correct.
T. E. SCHOOLS, Auditor.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The annual report of the Medfield School Committee for the year ending Jan. 31, 1906, is hereby respectfully presented.
At the last annual town meeting Rev. Charles H. Williams was elected a member of the board, Rev. Leroy M. Pierce retiring.
At the first meeting of the present board the Committee organized by electing Henry E. Marshall chairman and George Washburn secretary.
David Meany and Raymond Weiker were appointed truant officers for the year.
The Committee have held regular monthly meetings during the year, also several special meetings, besides those in conjunction with the Walpole School Board.
At a joint meeting held April 24, 1905, Abner A. Badger was re- elected Superintendent of Schools. A few days later he tendered his resignation to accept a similar position in Weymouth, Mass. After deliberation and careful investigation Frederic W. Kingman, of Barnstable, Mass., who came to us with the highest recommen- dations, was elected to the position, and the work so satisfactorily done by Mr. Badger, through the six years of his superintendency, has been very successfully carried on by Mr. Kingman.
It is gratifying to report so few changes in the corps of teachers. We were fortunate in being able to retain the services of Mr. T. H. Kenworthy, principal of the high school, and his assistant, Miss Bertha Folsom, during the year, that the work in the high school . could continue without interruption. Miss Abbott, Mrs. Chase, and Miss Bent have also remained with us.
Last spring Miss Bunker, of the fourth grade, resigned, and Miss Grace Alexander, of Hyde Park, Mass., was elected to fill the va- cancy. Before the opening of the fall term Miss Faulkner, of the first grade, accepted a better position elsewhere; and Miss Mabelle Gilman, of Plymouth, N.H., was chosen as her successor. At the close of the fall term Miss Kimball, teacher of the seventh and eighth grades, tendered her resignation, and the position is now being filled by Miss Bethia R. Paine, of Harwich, Mass. Miss Emma A. Per-
64
kins, of Somerville, Mass., was elected as special teacher of music, in place of Miss Damon, and is giving instruction in our schools one day each week. We are glad to note that much progress is being made.
We feel that the schools were never in a better or more prosperous condition, and a large majority of the pupils seem to show a decided interest in their work. The Committee have used their best judgment to improve and elevate the schools. We secure the best teachers at our command, and our desire is to retain the services of good teachers as long as possible; for we find that frequent changes usually prove detrimental. The daily intercourse of the pupils with noble-minded, conscientious teachers does much to attain the desired end for which our public schools exist.
The teachers are always glad to have parents and friends visit the schools, and thus be kept better informed concerning the methods used and the progress made.
It seemed necessary, during the summer vacation, to enlarge the recitation-room in the Ralph Wheelock School-house, which was too small and poorly lighted. This change has given us a very attrac- tive, amply lighted room on the second floor, extending the entire width of the Pleasant Street end of the building. A partition was built, dividing the anteroom on the first floor, and one of these rooms is now used by the Superintendent for an office.
Two new furnaces, to replace old ones, were purchased and set in place during the summer, and thus far have proved satisfactory. These expenditures mentioned constitute the chief items for repairs.
Before the next school year the Committee hope to do something to improve the rooms in the north wing of the Ralph Wheelock School-house. The light in these rooms is very poor, and must be an injury to the eyesight of both teachers and pupils. Although two extra windows were placed in the lower room (which was the worse of the two on account of the light being shut off more by other parts of the building) some two years ago, the additional light thus obtained is still insufficient.
We regret that there is not as much interest in the School Penny Savings as heretofore. This excellent scheme for teaching thrift should be encouraged, and we wish that the deposits might hence- forth increase from year to year.
Arrangements have again been made to have the No School Storm
65
Signal given. This consists of five blasts of the whistle at the fac- tory of Edwin V. Mitchell & Co. at 7.45 A.M.
The length of the school year is forty weeks, excepting in grades one, two, and three, which have thirty-eight weeks.
A further and more minute account of the condition of the schools is given in the report of the Superintendent of Schools.
HENRY E. MARSHALL,
For the Committee.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
The first annual report of the present Superintendent of Schools is respectfully submitted through your honorable board to the citi- zens, parents, and tax-payers of Medfield.
This report is the seventh in the series of Superintendent's reports.
My impressions of the town's educational affairs have been gained from an official connection with the schools since June 1, 1905. A period of eight months is too short a time to enable one to speak of conditions and tendencies with a fulness of knowledge, yet it is perhaps long enough to acquaint one with the general movement of the schools, to discover their more important needs, and to gauge the attitude of the public towards the department in which the town has its largest interests.
ATTENDANCE.
It has been most gratifying to learn that there is a strong senti- ment for good schools. At the same time it is a disappointment to find that an essential condition of efficient schools, excellent attend- ance, has not been regularly and faithfully insisted upon by some fathers and mothers. It may be interesting to compare the records of the town and State in the matter of attendance for the past ten years. For this purpose I insert the following percentages taken from reports of the State Board of Education :-
195-6196-797-8 198-9 19-0' 00-01 ' 01 -2 (2-3/03-4'04-5
Medfield . 94
93
92
92
92
88
92
9I
9I
89
State . .
. 92 92
92
92
92
9I
92
92
9I
No record
This comparison shows that in the latter half of the decade the attendance of the town came up to the average of the State in two years only; namely, 1901-02 and 1903-04. The State's record for the past year is not yet published, but it is safe to say that it will be above 90, while the town's record for the past year is only 89. In the first half of the decade the town's attendance went above that of the State twice, and not once did it fall below it. It is a reasonable
67
ambition, and one that ought to be easily attainable, to make as good a record in attendance as the generality of towns in the Common- wealth.
It may be that many parents do not know how stringent the pres- ent attendance laws are, and how little leniency school authorities may rightfully exercise toward laxity in non-attendance. Children within the compulsory age, seven and fourteen years, are by law re- quired to attend school during the entire time schools are in session. Neither school committee nor parents can set the law aside with im- punity and be laws unto themselves. Laxity in the matter ought not, and is not, to be overlooked. With the hearty co-operation of all, more particularly with the aid of those who have probably trans- gressed the attendance laws in the past unwittingly, a more satis- factory record can be made in the future. In accomplishing this- end, we shall make a real contribution to educational advancement and civic virtue.
CHANGES IN TEACHERS.
The School Committee in their report have enumerated the changes in the teaching corps. The only reason for alluding to this subject is to suggest that it may be well to make the maximum wages a little higher as an inducement for teachers to remain longer in our service. A small increase, say $25 per year, added to the present maximum would place the teachers receiving it in the $500 class,-a goal much sought after by young, ambitious teachers. In the long run, towns that pay this amount to grade teachers secure better service and enjoy a greater degree of permanence in the teaching force than towns whose compensation is smaller.
There can be little doubt that larger financial rewards everywhere would be a boon to the teaching fraternity and to the schools under their charge. A disinterested opinion on this matter may not be out of place here. Alfred Moseley, an eminent Englishman and the originator of an educational commission which came to the United States a few years ago to study American education in all its phases and results, makes this comment on the wages paid to teachers: "I find comparatively few men engaged in teaching, but also few pre- paring to become teachers; and upon investigation I discovered the reason to lie in the smallness of the remuneration, which is inefficient to attract a good class of men. This, I think, is a serious defect, and I venture to suggest that higher salaries should be paid to teachers
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