USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1889-1909 > Part 9
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24 90
Frank H. Wood, cash paid for snow bills,
52 70
A. W. Gaskill, gravel and snow bill,
17 16
Charles Fletcher, gravel,
8 48
L. B. Gaskill,
5 60
Gilbert Cook,
4 00
M. T. Harrington, 66
14 32
E. A. Bates, 66
17 92
Edward Dudley, 66
28 80
R. A. Robinson, 66
5 00
Frank Gunn, 66
3 00
Charles Howe,
66
4 90
G. M. Taft, posts,
1 33
Austin Wood, rails,
2 00
Clark Ellis & Sons, supplies,
9 40
H. W. Brown, repairs,
8 60
Team work,
$1,608 16 $459 60
Cost of clearing roads of snow,
$69 75
FRANK H. WOOD, Superintendent of Streets.
Mendon, Feb. 15, 1893.
COLLECTORS' REPORT.
LIBERTY FREEMAN, COLLECTOR FOR 1891.
DR.
Balance uncollected, Feb. 15, 1892,
$311 68
Interest received,
34 17
$345 85
CR.
$331 96
By cash paid Treasurer, Abatements,
13 89
$345 85
GEORGE M. TAFT, COLLECTOR FOR 1892.
DR.
To Taxes committed for collection,
$6,433 65
Additional assessment, 6 00
Interest received,
33 13
$6,472 78
CR.
By cash paid Treasurer,
$5,799 31
Paid county tax,
447 00
Abatements,
16 45
$6,262 76
Balance uncollected Feb. 17, 1893, $210 02 GEORGE M. TAFT, Collector for 1892.
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The Overseers of the Poor submit the following report for municipal year ending March 6, 1893 :--
John W. Barry, Mary C. Taft, Edna Allen, Edna French, Phileana W. Bean, Edward McNally, Annie Moore, Johanna C. Payson, Francis R. Scisco, the children of Andrew H. Gould, and the children of Eva Carlton Welles, (having a settlement in Men- don,) James D. Wilber (belonging to the state), Eben T. Metcalf (to Norfolk) Mrs. George H. Gabry (to Milford), the families of Joseph H. Wood, Jason G. Cummings and Samuel E. Everton (belonging to Uxbridge), have been wholly or partially support- ed. Dennis Holland, an insane person, has been boarded by the town the past year, the expense of which has been charged to his guardian, Albert W. Gaskill.
The Overseers charge themselves with the receipt of the fol- lowing named funds belonging to the town :-
Balance from last year,
$ 5 37
Twelve town orders,
1,275 00
A. W. Gaskill, guardian of Dennis Holland,
84 50
Town of Norfolk,
104 87
Town of Uxbridge,
103 14
Town of Milford,
71 35
$1,644 23
The Overseers credit themselves with paying the following amounts :-
For support of :-
John W. Barry,
$169 92
Mary C. Taft,
102 00
Edna Allen,
104 00
Edna French,
70 80
Phileana W. Bean,
125 63
Edward McNalley,
159 63
Annie Moore,
75 40
Johanna C. Payson,
1 00
Francis R. Scisco,
8 00
Andrew H. Gould (children),
120 00
Eva Carlton Welles (children),
80 00
James D. Wilber,
99 00
Eben T. Metcalf,
106 32
Mrs. George H. Gabry and family,
86 76
Joseph H. Wood and wife,
43 00
12
Jason G. Cummings and wife,
$ 16 50
Samuel E. Everton and family, Dennis Holland, 169 92
4 25
Gilbert Gaskill, care of tramps and fuel for the lockup, 36 20
Gilbert Gaskill, sundries for lockup,
2 95
George B. Cromb, fuel for lockup, 7 50
F. E. Stevens, care of tramps,
1 25
Cook & Sons, printing blanks,
2 75
Henry W. Gaskill, services,
6 00
Gilbert Gaskill, services,
6 00
Liberty Freeman, services,
35 00
Liberty Freeman, postage,
1 58
Cash on hand to balance,
2 87
$1,644 23
From the whole amount paid for the sup- port of the poor,
$1,641 36
Deduct what was due for the support of the paupers to March 7, 1892,
$ 96 00
What has been paid out for James D. Wil- ber,
99 00
What has been paid out for Eben T. Met- calf,
106 32
What has been paid out for Mrs. George H. Gabry and family,
86 76
What has been paid out for J. H. Wood and wife,
43 00
What has been paid out for J. G. Cum- mings and wife,
16 50
What has been paid out for S. E. Ever- ton and family,
4 25
What has been paid out for Dennis Hol- land,
169 92
621 75
Add what will be due for support of pau- pers to March 6, 1893,
116 52
Cost of supporting the poor for the year ending March 6, 1893,
$1,136 13
Due from the Commonwealth for support of .James D. Wilber, $137 00
Due from Uxbridge Feb. 1, 1893, Wood and Everton families, 5 25 Due from Milford Feb. 1, 1893, Gabry family, 14 41
$1,019 61
13
Due from A. W.Gaskill, guardian of Den- nis Holland,
$85 42
$242 08
Respectfully submitted, GILBERT GASKILL, LIBERTY FREEMAN, HENRY W. GASKILL, Overseers of the Poor.
Mendon, Feb. 18, 1893.
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
DOGS REGISTERED IN 1892.
90 male dogs, 7 female dogs,
$180 00
35 00
$215 00
Registration fees,
$ 19 40
Paid County Treasurer,
193 80
Cash on hand,
1 80
$215 00
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN 1892.
DATE OF
BIRTH. NAME OF CHILD.
NAME OF PARENTS.
1886.
Sept. 8,
John Harrington,
Michael T. and Mary J. Harrington.
1891.
Feb. 4,
Mabel Moore Taft,
George M. and Emma A. Taft. William C. and Hattie E. Robinson.
1892.
Feb. 22, George Washington Smith, Edward B. and Josephine F. Smith.
Mar. 23,
Harold Clayton Wilcox, Bertha Eldora Pearson,
Fred S. and Minnie M. Wilcox.
Apr. 13,
28, Carrie Amber Cromb,
June 4, Ada Eliza Gabry,
8, Ethel Rose Ballou,
Albion A. and Abbie F. Gaskill.
17, Miranda Blake,
Albert W. Barrows and Alice L. Blake .. George and Margaret A. Scrivens.
26, Curtis Scrivens,
July 4, Charlotte Armsby Snow, Erwin A. and Charlotte A. Snow.
11, Carl Mather Taft,
George M. and Emma A. Taft.
20, Annie Evelyn Newman,
Ulysses G. and Jennie A. Newman. Alfred B. and Isabella Fiske.
Aug. 2, Ada Luella Fiske,
21, Irene Rosalie Coleman,
Horace S. and Bertha Coleman.
Sept. 7, Frank Leslie Davis,
William H. and Mary L. Davis.
Nov. 16,
Raymond Leroy Daley, William and Mary A. Daley.
19,
Grace Willian Thayer, George E. und Minnie F. Thayer.
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN 1892.
DATE OF MARRIAGE. NAME OF GROOM AND BRIDE. RESIDENCE.
1892.
Horace S. Coleman,
Mendon.
Bertha Gaskill,
Mendon.
May 22,
William Bryson,
Med way. Mendon.
June 8,
Peter O. Gaskill,
Mendon.
Caroline A. R. Ford,
Mendon.
July 27,
Patrick H. Gaffney,
Milford.
Lena A. Miskill,
Mendon.
August 1,
Charles H. Bradford,
Milford.
Enola L. Wilcox,
Mendon.
Sept. 5,
William Daley,
Mendon.
Mary A. Kinsley,
Mendon.
Nov. 26,
J. Edward Barns,
Milford.
Grace F. Smith,
Mendon.
6,
Herbert C. Robinson,
Irving E. and Jennie E. Pearson. George B. and Nettie L. Cromb. Eli F. and Sarah F. Gabry. Charles H. and Charlotte T. Ballou.
14, Ralph Hicks Gaskill,
23, Lillian Gertrude Worthen, George W. and Effie E. Worthen.
January 7,
Ella Plympton,
15
DEATHS REGISTERED IN 1892.
NAME.
AGE.
RESIDENCE.
Y.
M.
D.
John G. Metcalf,
90
4
2
Mendon ..
February 1, S,
Willard H. Swan,
63
2
25
Mendon ..
13,
Timothy Ellis,
86
11
20
Mendon.
28,
John George Barrows,
2
9
Mendon.
March
3,
John G. Barrows,
42
4
Mendon.
16,
Herbert C. Robinson,
1
1
10
Mendon.
April
25,
Francis R. Scisco,
81
3
3
Mendon ..
28,
Henry W. Wood,
78
2
7
Mendou.
May
3,
John Curly,
67
Mendon.
Urana Cook,
90
11
8
Mendon.
June
20,
Arthur C. Albee,
7
7
2
Mendon.
26,
Curtis Scrivens,
1
Mendon.
August
20,
William A. B. Brown,
6
11
Mendon.
25,
Liberty Goss,
74
3
Mendon ..
Sept.
30,
Mary A. Congdon,
1
11
4
Mendon.
October 30,
Laura A. Cunningham, 17
21
Mendon.
Nov.
14,
Mary Cook,
77
Mendon.
19,
Eli Bates.
71
8
10
Mendon.
21,
Ormand Bates,
7
7
23
Mendon.
Dec.
11.
Homer W. Darling,
60
10
25
Mendon.
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE C. ADAMS,
Mendon, Feb. 18, 1893.
Town Clerk ..
DATE OF DEATH. 1892.
January 12,
Raymond A. Cook,
1
5
17
Mendon.
8,
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Trustees have but little to add to the report of the Librarian submitted herewith.
Very much to the regret of all who take books from the library, Miss Annie W. Gaskill's health obliged her to resign the position of Librarian early in the year. The Trustees were for- tunate in securing the services of Mrs. Sara F. Towne for the re- mainder of the year, and she has been engaged for the ensuing year.
The books were examined Feb. 10th, current, and found ac- counted for and in satisfactory condition. The library was re- opened Feb. 11, 1893.
Two copies of the Annals of Mendon have been sold during the past year, and one copy exchanged for a town history.
The Trustees recommend an appropriation of one hundred and sixty dollars for the use of the library for the ensuing year.
JULIUS A. GEORGE, HORACE C ADAMS, ERWIN A. SNOW, Trustees Taft Public Library.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY :-
The library was re-opened for the delivery of books Feb. 20, 1892. The whole number of books given out from the library during the year was 4009, 537 more than the year before.
The largest number delivered on any Saturday was 107; the smallest number, 53; the average number, 78.
The delivery by divisions was as follows: Agriculture, 29; Biography, 60; Documents, 5; Fiction, 3086; History, 170; Poet- ry, 45; Miscellaneous, 55; Periodicals, 402; Religion, 10; Science, 46; Travels, 131.
The library has been increased by 110 volumes, making a to- tal of 3063. The town purchased 70, besides a considerable number of unbound periodicals, 14 volumes of which have been
17
bound. The History of Oxford was obtained in exchange for the Annals of Mendon.
Twenty-three books have been given ; 6 by the Secretary of the Commonwealth ; 5 by the Rev. C. A. Staples; 5 by The Civil Service Commission ; 2 by The Bureau of Education ; 1 by the Interstate Commerce Commission ; 1 by Hon. J. H. Walker ; 1 by Mrs. M. D. Bartlett ; 2 by Miss Ella Ellis.
Two volumes of unbound St. Nicholas have since been bound. The Social Economist for the year was given by Gen. William F. Draper. A number of pamphlets have been given by various persons.
All books accounted for February 11, 1893.
SARA F. TOWNE, Librarian.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Report of the Treasurer of the Trustees of the Taft Public Libra- ry for the year ending Feb. 10, 1893 :-
DR.
To cash on hand, 61
To cash received on 4 town orders, 170 00
Annie W.Gaskill,cards, fines
and catalogues, 8 00
To cash received of Julius A. George, covers, 50
66 Sara F. Towne, cards,
fines and catalogues, 12 64
$191 75
CR.
By cash paid Carrie A. R. Ford preparing catalogue, $ 6 60
By cash paid W. B. Clarke & Co., books, 74 44
By cash paid Annie W. Gaskill, arranging books, etc., 8 55
By cash paid Julius A. George, wood and fit- ting, 7 50
By cash paid A. H. H. Warren & Co., binding, 24 27
By cash paid G. M. Billings, printing, 3 25
By cash paid Annie W. Gaskill, services as Librarian, 26 12
By cash paid D. L. Brownell, book, 4 75
By cash paid Sara F. Towne, cash paid, ex- press, etc., 6 64
18
By cash paid Sara F. Towne, services as Li- brarian, $24 00 5 63
Cash on hand,
$191 75
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE C. ADAMS, Treasurer.
Mendon, Feb. 10, 1892.
Examined, found correct and with proper vouchers.
J. A. GEORGE, E. A. SNOW, Auditing Committee.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MENDON
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1892-93.
MILFORD, MASS .: a. M. BILLINGS, PRINTER, GAZETTE OFFICE. 1898.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1892-'93.
FRANK H. WOOD, Chairman, ERWIN A. SNOW, Secretary, LYMAN COOK,
Term expires 1894
1895
1893
TRUANT OFFICERS.
W. W. NELSON,
LYMAN COOK,
ERWIN A. SNOW.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF MENDON :-
The following report of the School Committee is respectfully submitted :-
The Committee organized March 9 and elected Frank H. Wood Chairman and Erwin A. Snow Secretary, and assigned the general care of school property as follows :-
West and Albeeville, Frank H. Wood; Center and North, Erwin A. Snow ; South and East, Lyman Cook. Erwin A. Snow was appointed School Book Agent.
Miss Nancy C. George was re-elected Superintendent of Schools for the year, and has given the best of satisfaction to your Committee, and we think to the people generally. We con- sider that we as well as the town are very fortunate in securing her consent to accept the position another year.
The Albeeville school has been closed during the fall and winter terms, and the scholars conveyed to the Center. The school there was very small, and by so doing the expense was less, and the scholars given much better advantages.
It will be necessary to do some repairs on school buildings the coming year. The North schoolhouse must be shingled, and the chimney rebuilt from the roof up. The Center rooms need some papering and painting, and something should be done with the East schoolhouse, either move it back from the road to the center of the lot and build on, or build a new one.
A report of the condition of the schools and recommenda- tions by the Superintendent will be found in the Superinten- dent's report.
We would respectfully recommend the following appropria- tions for the ensuing year :-
$1,700 00
Support of schools,
200 00
Text books and supplies,
350 00
Incidentals,
Superintendent, 360 00
Apparatus, 50 00
FINANCIAL STATEMENT, BALANCE 1891-92.
Lyman Cook, teaching East school, $ 88 00
J. F. Allison, teaching high school, 130 00
I. O. Rhodes, supplies, 3 19
E. A. Snow, Secretary School Committee, 7 00
E. A. Snow, School Book Agent, 5 00
4
F. H. Wood, 2} days' work getting teachers, $ 5 00
Nancy C. George, Superintendent, 60 00
Nancy C. George, diploma,
45
$298 64
Balance unexpended,
$ 34 87
Deficiency of appropriations that has accumu- lated to date,
263 77
-
$298 64
RECEIPTS.
Appropriations :-
Support of schools,
$1,600 00
Incidentals,
300 00
Superintendent,
300 00
Text books and supplies,
150 00
Apparatus,
50 00
Other receipts :-
Income from state school fund,
334 64
dog tax,
171 70
Due from out of town scholars,
25 00
sale of outbuildings,
4 00
From sale of outbuilding,
8 00
From sale of school supplies,
1 18
By mistake and returned,
10
Exceeded appropriation,
60 12
$3,004 74
EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR.
Teachers' wages :-
Grace Jackson, High,
$280 00
Serena B. Adams, Grammar,
240 00
Mary J. Stalker, Grammar,
120 00
Mary E. Dudley, Primary,
270 00
Addie M. Blanchard, North,
80 00
Cora L. Morse, North,
160 00
Mary Leathers, East,
240 00
Anna M. Staples, South,
190 00
Cora Taft, West,
60 00
Nettie J. McEwen, West,
120 00
Medora Davenport, Albeeville,
60 00
Amount that will be due Miss Jackson at 1 end of year, 140 00
1,960 00
Fuel :- Lyman Cook, 2 cords wood and fitting same, East, $11 90
Lyman Cook, shavings and kindlings, East, 1 05
-
1
5
W. W. Nelson, 1 cord wood and fitting same, North, $ 5 80 L.B.Gaskill, 2 cords wood and fitting same, South, 12 50
L. A. Cook, 3} tons coal, Center, 24 50
L. A. Cook, 2 tons coal, North, 14 00
Henry Holbrook, cutting wood and kind- lings, Center, 2 00
E. A. Snow, cash paid shavings. Center, 50
George M. Taft, 1 cord wood, West, 5 00
F. H. Wood, fitting one cord wood, West, 1 95
$79 20
Care of school rooms :-
E. A. Snow, cash paid cleaning rooms, Center,
$ 4 50
E. A. Snow, care of rooms and fires, Center, 30 00
Lyman Cook, cleaning room, East, 1 00
Lyman Cook, cash paid care of rooms and fire, South,
2 00
F.H. Wood, cash paid cleaning room. West,
1 00
F.H.Wood, care of fires, West, 3 00
W. W. Nelson, cash paid cleaning rooms, North,
3 00
W. W. Nelson, care of fires, North, 11 00
W. W. Nelson, schoolhouse, North, 7 50
Cora Taft, care of room, West,
1 50
Nettie J. McEwen, care of room, West,
2 00
Mary Leathers, care of room and fires, East,
5 50
Medora Davenport, care of room and fires, Albeeville, 1 50
Nancy C. George, cash paid care of rooms and fires, South, 4 50
78 00
Text books and supplies :-
Amount purchased as per report of School Book Agent, 183 24
Apparatus :-
Prang Educational Co., models, $ 2 24
Silver, Burdett & Co., map of England, 4 00
E. S. Ritchie & Son, apparatus for High School,
35 04
N. C. George, 3 00
44 28
Superintendent :--- Nancy C. George, $200 00
There will be due Miss George at end of year,
100 00
300 00
6
Transporting scholars :- George B. Cromb, Incidentals :-
$103 00
Julius A. Cummings, slating black-boards, $19 75
F. H. Wood, 1 day's work with team, 3 00
66
setting door stone, Center, 2 00
sundries for West, 1 25
hinges for Albeeville,
30
Nancy C. George, fare to Worcester, 1 00
postage,
44
sundries,
1 75
express, 5 00
programs for Colum-
bus Day,
2 00
Lyman Cook, sundries for East,
5 44
repairs on schoolhouse, East, 66 South,
5 70
sundries, South,
65
repairs on schoolhouse, North,
2 25
cash paid use of well, East, 2 00
W. W. Nelson, repairs of schoolhouse, North,
1 62
W. W. Nelson, carting loam,
3 00
use of well,
3 00
sundries, 1 67
E. A. Snow, services as Secretary School Committee,
10 00
E. A. Snow, services as School Book Agent,
7 00
E. A. Snow, fare to Boston twice,
4 00
66
cash paid sundries,
2 70
postage,
1 43
taking school census,
2 00
cash paid fixing spring, South,
50
Avery & Woodbury, waste baskets and curtain fixtures, Center,
2 72
Town of Uxbridge, tuition of Leon South- wick,
25 00
Otis Whitney & Son, labor and material,
86 18
closet for high school
apparatus, 10 82
J. L. Hammett, desk for high school, 10 00
Clark Ellis & Sons, sundries for Center, 6 10
7 00
Cook & Sons, printing diplomas,
6 75
A. W. Gaskill, labor, 3 75
J. A. George, labor of man 1 day,
1 50
" express paid,
1 20
setting glass, Center,
75
E. L. Smith, use of well, Center,
3 80
Edward L. Southwick, use of well, West, $2 00
$257 02:
$3,004 74
Total expenditure, Text books and supplies on hand more than there were last year, as per report of School Book Agent,
$22 23
Supplies sold,
1 18
23 41
Net cost of schools for the year,
$2,981 33
RECAPITULATION.
Resources,
$2,944 62 60 12
Exceeded appropriation,
$3,004 74
Expenditures :-
Teachers' wages,
$1960 00
Fuel,
79 20
Care of schoolhouses,
78 00
Text books and supplies,
183 24
Apparatus,
44 28
Superintendent,
300 00
Transporting scholars,
103 00
Incidentals,
257 02
$3,004 74
FRANK H. WOOD, ERWIN A. SNOW, LYMAN COOK, School Committee.
SCHOOL BOOK AGENT'S REPORT.
DR.
To books and supplies purchased : -
J. L. Hammett,
$48 02
Boston School Supply Co.,
4 80
Milton Bradley Co.,
4 61
Prang Educational Co.,
12 21 ยท
Nancy C. George,
2 85
Thompson Brown & Co.,
1 58
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn,
24 72
Ginn & Company,
83 70
Mary J. Stalker,
75
Books and supplies on hand,
48 16
$231 40
CR.
By books and supplies furnished,
$159 83
sold,
1 18
66
on hand,
70 39
$231 40
ERWIN A. SNOW, School Book Agent.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MENDON :-
Gentlemen: I submit for your consideration my first re- port for a full year's work as Superintendent of your schools. I wish here to express my appreciation of the encouragement and support which you have given to my efforts.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
SCHOOLS.
High school,
1
Grammar school,
1
Primary schools,
1
Ungraded schools,
5 (later 4)
TEACHERS.
One for each school. PUPILS.
Total enrolment,
160
Number under 5 years of age,
1
Number between 5 and 15 years of age,
145
Number over 15 years of age,
14
Number of pupils in High school,
19
Number of pupils in Grammar school,
35
Number of pupils in Primary school,
32
Number of pupils in ungraded schools,
74
Average number belonging through the year, Average daily attendance,
144
Per cent of attendance to number belonging,
93.7
Number of cases of tardiness,
329
ATTENDANCE AND PROMPTNESS.
The percentage of attendance is the same as that of last year. The number of cases of tardiness is larger. Of the 329 cases this year, 240 belong to the North school, which is over two and a half times the sum of the cases in the other schools. 240 cases of tardiness in one year for a school of 25 are startling. I think the parents in the district should give their attention to the matter. Surely they do not wish their children to form the habit of being always behind time.
The attention of parents and guardians is called to the fol- lowing law passed by the Legislature in June, 1890. :-
135
10
"[CHAPTER 47.]
"Of the Attendance of Children in the Schools.
"SECTION 1. Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides, and such attendance shall continue for at least thirty weeks of the school year if the schools are kept open that length of time. with an allowance of two weeks' time for ab- sences not excused by the superintendent of schools or the school committee, and for every neglect of such duty the person offending shall upon the complaint of the school committee or any truant officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town a sum not exceeding twenty dollars ; but if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such city or town, or if such child has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable, such penalties shall not be incurred.
"SECTION 2. For the purpose of the preceding section, school committees shall approve a private school only when the teaching in all the studies required by law is in the English lan- guage, and when they are satisfied that such teaching equals in thoroughness and efficiency the teaching in the public schools in the same locality, and that equal progress is made by the pupils therein, in the studies required by law, with that made during the same time in the public schools; but they shall not refuse to approve a private school on account of the religious teaching therein .- Approved June 4, 1890. j.'
CHANGES IN TEXT-BOOKS.
Arithmetics and histories were made uuiform throughout the town, and the grammars, which had been in use for a long time, were exchanged for Tarbell's Lessons in Language; Prang's draw- ing-books were bought for all schools, with models for drawing, and all copy-books on hand were exchanged for those of a new system.
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
Of the eight teachers of last year, only one has remained with us. One resigned because of ill health, two left us for the purpose of study, and for various reasons the others did not continue in their work. Of the six engaged for the spring term (no High school in the spring), five were without experience, and two of these had had no training beyond a High school course; three were Normal school graduates.
11
For the Grammar school, a Normal graduate, a teacher of some experience, was secured at a larger salary than had usually been paid. The increase was given with the thought that thereby we should be able to keep a valuable teacher, but in this we were unsuccessful. A better position was offered elsewhere, and again we were obliged to go in search of a teacher for this school.
Four new teachers were hired in the fall : a Wellesley College graduate for the High school, two Normal graduates, one for the Grammar and one for the North school, and a graduate of the Uxbridge High school for the West school. None of these had had mnuch experience.
With the changes of the year and with the number of inex- perienced teachers has come more work for the Superintendent and less satisfactory results than might otherwise have been the case. But the year has been full of useful. lessons, and future work will doubtless show good results from these experiences. The teachers are to be commended for faithfulness and enthu- siasm.
ALBEEVILLE SCHOOL.
During the spring term there were five pupils in this school. It is impossible for any teacher to arouse much enthusiasm in an ungraded school of this number, or even of a few more. No teacher of training or experience will take such a position for what the School Committee would feel justified in giving ; so for several reasons it seemed wise to have the children taken to the schools in the centre of the town. Some time during the fall four new scholars came into the district, and all were regularly and comfortably conveyed. In the winter term, with the excep- tion of one strong, good sized boy, they were taken directly from their homes to the schoolhouse, and in bad weather were taken back to their doors.
The work of these scholars has been gratifying, and the change seems to have been well made. So for as studies are con- cerned, the children certainly gain much, and as to health, I can see no cause for complaint. It would be well for the other dis- tricts, it seems to me, if the schoolrooms in the centre were large enough to receive their scholars too.
A good building, well arranged, well heated, ventilated and lighted, large enough for all the scholars in town belonging to grades below the High school, and a good building for the High school, would together be a great boon to Mendon.
WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
It has been my endeavor to have those methods which have worked successfully here and elsewhere employed in all our schools.
Our experienced Primary teacher is wonderfully successful in teaching beginners to read by the word and phonic system, and
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teaching the use of numbers without a tedious drill on arithmetical tables. Inexperienced teachers might well learn here.
Writing in all the schools has received much attention. A talk was given to the teachers by the originator of the system of books which we have introduced, and his suggestions followed.
In many of the schools, classes of upper grades, besides using the regular readers, have read good books during the year, such as Ivanhoe, Tom Brown's School Days, Robinson Crusoe, The Boys of '76, Black Beauty, and parts of books of travel and of natural history.
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