USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1909-1917 > Part 22
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Fighting France. Edith Wharton. First Hundred Thousand. Ian Hay.
From Cataract to Equator. J. T. Dennis. Golden Treasury, 2 vols. F. T. Palgrave. Harper's Encyclopaedia of U. S. History, 10 vols.
Harvard College. G. B. Hill. Hay, Life of John, 2 vols. W. R. Thayer. Hilltop on the Marne. Mildred Aldrich. How to Live. Irving Fisher.
In and Outdoor Games. B. Kingsland. Jews in the Eastern War Zone.
Johnson, Life of Samuel, 2 vols. James Boswell. Kipling's Works, 18 vols. Rudyard Kipling. 'Mademoielle Miss."
Massachusetts, Brief History of Constitution. L. A. Frothingham.
Memorial Day. R. H. Shauffler, ed. Men of the Old Stone Age. H. F. Osborn. Motor Rambles in Italy. Harris Credo. National Banks in New York. Nelson, Life of Horatio. Robert Southey. Nurse in Every Home. M. G. Overlock. Plain Facts About Mexico. G. J. Hagar. Political History, General Sketch of. A. D. Innes. Present Day China. G. L. Harding. Productive Poultry Husbandry. H. R. Lewis. Reading in the Primary Grades. Frances Jenkins. Romance of the Rhine. Charles Marriott. Russian Empire of Today and Yesterday. N. O. Winter. Scout Law in Practice. A. A. Carey. Second Post. E. V.Lucas.
38
Secrets of the German War Office. A. K. Graves. Shakespeare. John Masefield.
Shakespeare and Stratford. H. C. Shelley.
Shakespeare, Life of William. Sidney Lee. Shakespeare, Stories from. Jeanie Lang. Some Sporting Dogs. F. T. Barton. Soul of the War. Philip Gibbs.
Speaking of Operations. I. S. Cobb.
Story of a Pioneer. A. H. Shaw. Table Service. Lucy C. Allen.
Textiles. P. H. Nystrom.
Understanding the French. R. L. Hartt.
We Discover New England. L. C. Hale.
Webster's New International Dictionary, 1916. What is Coming? H. G. Wells.
Vital Records of Boxborough, Bridgewater, Burlington, Cam- bridge, New Ashford, Richmond, Salisbury and Westford.
$14.75 was received from fines. $1.00 was received from the sale of lamps.
Respectfully submitted, LENA W. GEORGE,
Librarian.
Finance Committee Report.
The report of the Finance Committee of the Taft Public Library for the year ending Dec. 31, 1916.
RESOURCES.
Appropriation
$300 00
Balance from last year
29 13
Cash for lamp
1 00
Fines
14 75
$344 88
39
EXPENDITURES.
Lena W. George, librarian $100 00
C. H. Gillis, janitor 15 30
Edward F. Driscoll, magazines 15 55
H. W. Wilson Co., readers' guide
4 00
H. M Burr, supplies
1 00
Gaylord Bros., guides and cards
7 30
Howard G. Ramsey, electric lighting supplies 10 76
Harry Taft, labor
75
E. H. Taft, wood 6 65
Old Corner Book Store, books
101 36
H. R. Hunting Co., books
18 20
Lena W. George, books 13 50
Mrs Sumner Allen, carrying books to
Albeeville School
3 00
E. L. Wilson, labor
75
Lena W. George, express
7 35
D. H. Barnes, supplies
40
S. A. Steere, painting floor
5 00
Worcester Suburban Electric Co., service
11 00
Lewis H. Barney, coal
15 38
$337 25
Balance on hand
7 63
$344 88
Respectfully submitted,
LYMAN COOK, SMITH A. STEERE,
Finance Committee.
40
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
I have examined the accounts of all the Town Officers who have received or disbursed funds belonging to the town for the fiscal year ending January 1st, 1917, and find them correctly kept and with proper vouchers.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. M. TAFT,
Auditor.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MENDON,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1916-17.
MILFORD, MASS .: MILFORD JOURNAL CO., PRINTERS, 1917.
ORGANIZATION OF
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-1916-17.
LENA W. GEORGE, (Secretary) CLARENCE A. TAFT, LYMAN COOK, (Chairman)
Term expires 1917. Term expires 1918. Term expires 1919.
SUPERINTENDENT. F. G. ATWELL.
TRUANT OFFICERS. GEORGE A. PARKINSON, LYMAN COOK, F. G. ATWELL.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT
The School Committee submit the following report for the year ending Jan. 1, 1917.
RESOURCES.
Appropriation $ 4,000 00
Appropriation for School Physician 25 00
From State
1,053 28
From State, Superintendent
375 00
From State, High School Assistant
5.00 00
From State, tuition
142 00
From City of Boston, tuition
70 50
From County Treasurer, dog tax
167 98
$6,333 76
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers
$3,623 50
Superintendent
615 00
Transportation
713 30
Fuel ..
520 99
School Physician
25 00
Care of Buildings
378 79
Text books and supplies
264 30
Incidentals
103 37
$6,244 25
Balance
$89 51
44
TEACHERS.
Charles H. Risley
$540 00
Charles P. Steward
360 00
Alice C. Pulsifer
530 00
Karin L. Ekman
276 00
Laura L. Strickland
456 00
Mary E. Dudley 456 00
Agnes M. Fraser
396 00
Clara M. Wilder
150 00
Maria E. Allen
351 50
Amy Wheelock
108 00
$3,623 50
SUPERINTENDENT.
F. G. Atwell
$615 00
TRANSPORTATION.
Milford & Uxbridge St. Ry. Co. $211 30
J. Franklin Leonard 380 00
Leonard E. Taft
120 00
W. G. Larking
2 00
$713 30
FUEL.
H. M. Curtiss Coal Co., East Mendon $ 8 20
H. M. Curtiss Coal Co., Center 496 79
Joseph Taylor, Center 2 00
Pierre Norman, Center
2 00
Justin F. Southwick, Albeeville
12 00
$520 99
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
Dr. K. A. Campbell $25 00
45
CARE OF BUILDINGS.
George A. Parkinson
$180 00
Fred Hoel .
40 80
George H. Whiting
99 99
Maria E. Allen
18 50
Georgianna Cook
11 00
Minnie F. Thayer
28 50
$378 79
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
White, Smith Publishing Co. $ 1 40
Silver, Burdett & Company 1 12
D. C. Heath & Co. 39 34
Bernard M. Sheridan
2 50
American Book Company
13 74
Graphic Text Book Company
1 08
Edward E. Babb & Co. 46 03
J. J. Gibbs 8 40
J. L. Hammett Company
72 01
Milwaukee Dustless Brush Co.
8 00
Ginn & Company
18 56
The Macmillan Company 34 31
Staples & Gould
2 60
Allyn & Bacon
6 99
Daniel O'Neill
1 10
F. G. Atwell
7 12
$264 30
INCIDENTALS.
R. C. Eldridge, cleaning clock $ 1 00
J. J. Gibbs, kresoline 1 25
Werber & Rose, table for High school 2 50
Clinton L. Barnard, repairing clock
1 00
T. E. Morse, glass and paint 2 55
Clark Ellis & Sons, lawn edge, thermom-
eters, batteries, lantern 2 20
46
E. T. Powers, labor and material 3 62
Herbert J. George, cartage 1 00
F. G. Atwell, telephone, express, sta- tionery, etc. 11 13
George E. Thayer, use of well . 3 00
Herbert C. Forbes, lettering diplomas .. . 1 00
Clark Ellis & Sons, screws, wire, valves, door bolt, glass 1 70
Milford Journal Company, programs and discharge cards . 5 25
Joseph H. Dudley, care of church 2 00
Jacob R. Brown, oil and labor on floors .. 10 00
Charles H. Allen, key, repairing window, etc. 1 00
Avery & Woodbury Co., shade
1 50
George H. Locke, shingles
2 00
Frank C. Albee, cement and labor
4 50
F. O. Wadman, reseating chair
1 15
H. S. Chadbourne, flag rope 1 18
George H. Whiting, labor 10 00
Henry L. Patrick, tools, brooms, etc ... 3 12
D. H. Barnes, brushes, dustpan, soap, etc.
1 92
J. F. Damon, labor on lock
35
Clarence A. Taft, cleaning vaults, etc .. ..
3 00
Lyman Cook, school census, district meet- ing, labor and supplies 14 45
Lena W. George, secretary
10 00
$103 37
Respectfully submitted,
LYMAN COOK, LENA W. GEORGE, CLARENCE A. TAFT,
School Committee.
Mendon, Jan. 2, 1917.
47
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MENDON :-
The twenty-third annual report of the superintendent of schools is herewith presented :-
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
During the summer vacation Mr. Risley was elected to the principalship of the Rutland high school at an increase of salary. While we had expected him to remain in Mendon, we could not properly stand in the way of his advancement. Mr. Steward, who was elected to fill the vacancy is a teacher of several years' experience. From the first day of school his success was assured. He has shown how much can be accomplished when both pupils and teacher are united in spirit and purpose.
Miss Pulsifer's salary was increased enough to retain her ser- vices for a second year. This was strongly recommended in last year's report. The results certainly justify the added expense. While she is temporarily away on account of illness in her family, it is expected she will return for the spring term.
On account of a change of residence, Mrs. Strickland resigned her position at the close of the fall term, and the school is now in charge of Mrs. Caroline Blackwood. Mrs. Strickland had taught this school for more than two years, always in the same quiet, efficient manner. Miss Ekman resigned after two years of service in the grammar school and Miss Fraser, who had declined to return to the East school, was elected to fill the vacancy. Miss Clara Wilder, a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School, was secured for the East school.
Nothing could prove more conclusively than some of the experiences of the past year that it is the teacher that makes the school. This fact has been illustrated in the primary school for several years. The important question, therefore, is not so much
48
what salary is paid as what quality of teaching is received. There is no doubt in my mind that a little more money expended to retain the services of a teacher known to be efficient and satisfactory will be found to be the best kind of economy in the end.
PRIZE ESSAYS.
The Daughters of the American Revolution offered prizes for the best essays on the general topic of the Causes of the American Revolution. The high school prize was won by Martha Lowell, and the grammar school prize by William Brown of the Albeeville school.
The pupils of the Mendon high school are eligible to compete for the Delano Patrick Peace Prizes, but as a rule only a very few enter the competition. Probably this is not due so much to lack of interest as to lack of confidence.
The kindness of the parties offering these prizes is deeply appreciated. The subjects are those in which every pupil should be interested and of which all should possess some definite knowl- edge. The pupils are greatly benefited by the reading involved in securing the necessary material for an essay. As an exercise in thinking and in English composition, nothing could be better. It is hoped that more pupils will compete for these prizes.
THE ADVANTAGES OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Until comparatively recent years, the main purpose of a col- lege education was to prepare for the so-called learned professions. Unless one intended to become a minister, a doctor, or a lawyer, he saw no necessity of going to college. The old-fashioned district school, or at most the high school, could supply all the learning he would ever need. And his reasoning was not so very far wrong for those times, but life is much more complex now, and more edu- cation is necessary to meet modern conditions. In these days there are a great many positions in business, in mechanical pursuits, in engineering, in architecture, and in teaching which demand more than a high school education. Many types of farming are rapidly developing into skilled occupations requiring technical knowledge and training. Agricultural education has made wonderful prog-
1
49
ress during the last decade, and the end is not yet. Higher educa- tion, especially of a technical type, has a utilitarian value today such as it never possessed before. This fact should receive the serious consideration of every high school graduate.
THE SCHOOLS AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
More intimate relations between the schools and the library would greatly promote the educational interests of the town. Aside from ethical values, probably the best thing the schools can give to children is a love of books and some knowledge of how to use them. Any child who has once acquired the habit of reading books of real merit will most assuredly educate himself even if his school days do not extend beyond the grades. The schools should spare no effort to lead children to read widely and intelligently. We have too long clung to the tradition that text-books above all others are the most valuable and appropriate for the school-room. Some years ago a prominent educator said that if half the text-books in common use were thrown into the waste basket and library books of the right sort and such magazines as the "World's Work" put in their place, the pupils would be enormously benefited by the change. Another educator said he would like to see in every college a "professorship of common sense" and another of "general infor- mation." These quotations indicate there are those who believe the public schools should show every child how to inform his own mind through judicious reading. I hope we shall use the library a great deal more, and with all, have faith to believe that the pupils will be the gainers and that their progress in their regular text- books will be even greater than now.
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
It will be noted that the roll of honor is very brief this year, nothwithstanding a few fine records. That of Gladys Blood is quite remarkable. Thirty-two terms, almost eleven years, with- out either tardiness or absence is a very unusual achievement. It involves excellent health, a firm purpose, and constant vigilance. Other records of ten and twelve terms are very commendable, but all of these are the showing made by a few star pupils. Some
50
means of improving the attendance of the rank and file of the pupils and thus bringing up the percentage of attendance for the entire town is the real problem. It is possible for a particular school to have two or three names on the roll of honor year after year and yet the percentage of attendance in that school might be very low and the instances of tardiness very numerous. Can some scheme be devised which will improve the attendance of all pupils, which will induce every pupil to be present and on time unless prevented by some perfectly valid reason ?
THE COST OF SCHOOLS.
It is true that more is being expended upon the public schools throughout the State than ever before, and the expendi- ture is far more likely to increase than to decrease. In the smaller towns it constitutes approximately one-third of all town expenses, surely more than any other single item. It is easy to see why the modern school should cost more than the district school as it existed even twenty-five years ago. Teachers' salaries are almost twice as high and certain to go higher. No just comparison can be made between the cost of heating now and twenty-five or fifty years ago. Then a box-stove in the middle of the room consuming three cords of wood per year furnished all the heat. Janitors, also ventila- tion, except by windows and cracks were unknown. It costs more to maintain a modern heating and ventilating system for a building of four rooms only than the entire cost of running two district schools of the old type. At the preesnt time we are paying enough for transportation of pupils to support two more such schools, and this is a change wholly unknown to the district schools. But practically all towns are committed to this newer and more ex- pensive method of conducting their educational affairs, and there is little likelihood that any of them will ever go back to the earlier and cheaper district schools.
With sincere gratitude for kindly co-operation from all sources, this report is
Respectfully submitted, F. G. ATWELL, Superintendent of Schools.
Mendon, Mass., February 8, 1917.
51
TEACHERS AND SALARIES, JANUARY, 1917.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
SALARIES PER MONTH.
PREPARATION.
High,
Charles P. Steward,
$90 00
Assistant,
Alice C. Pulsifer,
57 50
Grammar,
Agnes M. Fraser,
44 00
Northfield Seminary.
Intermediate,
Caroline W.Blackwood,
44 00
Woonsocket High School.
Primary,
Mary E. Dudley,
48 00
Mendon High School.
East Mendon,
Clara M. Wilder,
40 00
Bridgewater Normal.
Albeeville,
Maria Allen,
38 00
Wareham High School.
Music,
Amy Wheelock,
Mount Holyoke College.
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1916-1917.
SCHOOLS.
SCHOOL YEAR.
Opens.
Closes.
Opens.
Closes.
Opens
Closes.
High School, Grades,
40 weeks. 36 weeks.
1916 Sept. 4 Sept. 11
Dec. 22 Dec. 22
1917 Jan. 1 Jan. 8
1917 March 23
April 2
June 22
March 16| April 2
June 15
Holidays :-
Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday following, January 1, February 22, April 19, and May 30.
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1917-1918.
FALL TERM.
WINTER TERM.
SPRING TERM.
SCHOOLS.
SCHOOL YEAR.
Opens.
Closes.
Opens.
Closes.
Opens. Closes.
High School, Grades,
40 weeks 36 weeks
1917 Sept. 3 Sept. 10
1917 Dec. 21 Dec. 21
1917 Dec. 31 Jan. 7
1918 March 21 March 15
1918
1918
June 21
April 1 April 1
June 14
Holidays :-
Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday following, January 1, February 22, April 19, and May 30.
FALL TERM.
WINTER TERM.
SPRING TERM.
1916
1917
1917
Bates College. Jackson College.
STATISTICAL TABLE, SEPTEMBER, 1915, TO JUNE, 1916.
High School.
Grammar.
Intermediate.
Primary.
East Mendon.
Albeeville.
Summaries and averages.
Total enrolment
32
43 39.24
33 31.18
24 21.71
17 19.00
21
170
Average membership
29.6
19.87
160.6
Average attendance
27.7
33.74
25.58 82.04
17.69
18.20
17.20 86.56
140.11 87.24
Aggregate attendance ..
5220
5702
4317
2966
3016
2941
24162
Days of actual schooling
188
169
169
167
167.5
170
171.75
Number of pupils under 5 years of age
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Between 5 and 7 years of age
0
0
0
10
3
3
16
Between 7 and 14 years of age
4
37
33
14
12
16
116
Between 14 and 16 years of age
20
6
0
0
2
2
30
Over 16 years of age.
8
0
0
0
0
0
8
Total days of attendance
5220
5702
4317
2967
3016
2941
24163
Total days of absence.
361
928
938
671
167
628
3693
Instances of tardiness
494
104
49
53
85
109
894
Of dismissal
80
95
24
23
44
17
283
Number of truants.
0
1
1
1
0
0
3
Cases of corporal punishment
0
6
1
0
1
2
10
Visits by superintendent
60
48
52
38
17
7
222
Visits by school physician
2
4
3
3
0
1
13
By others
50
45
31
35
31
28
220
. .
..
.
..
.
.
...
..
.
Per cent. of attendance
93.59
85.98
81.49
95.79
52
53
ROLL OF HONOR, 1915-1916.
THIRTY-TWO TERMS.
High School-Gladys Blood.
TWELVE TERMS. High School-Lloyd Whiting, Charles Gillis.
TEN TERMS.
High School-Marjorie Bullard.
SIX TERMS.
Albeeville-Gladys Powell.
FIVE TERMS.
High School-Martha Lowell.
FALL AND WINTER TERMS. Grammar-Elmer Sears, Ella Springer.
FALL AND SPRING TERMS. High School-Minnie Daffon.
FALL TERM.
Intermediate-George Johnson.
East Mendon-Mary Gill. Albeeville-William Brown.
SPRING TERM.
High School-Ralph R. Cook. East Mendon-Elmer York, Clifton York.
54
Graduation Exercises of the MENDON HIGH SCHOOL, AT THE
Unitarian Church, Friday Evening, June 23, 1916
Processional March
JOHN E. DALTON.
Prayer
REV. R. W. SIMPSON.
Song-The Red Scarf Veazie
SCHOOL
Essay-The Red Cross.
MINNIE VIRGINIA DAFFON
Essay-The Making of Motion Pictures HILDA MARGARET THAYER.
Song-Whispering Breezes o'er the Mountain
(Schubert's Serenade,)
GIRLS' GLEE CLUB.
Essay-Booker T. Washington.
GLADYS BURNS BLOOD.
55
Song-The Evening Wind Saint-Saens (Arr. from Samson and Delilah) SCHOOL
Class History and Prophecy
DONALD WINFRED GOODNOW.
Song-Life of Youth Geibet
SCHOOL
Presentation of Diplomas
SUPT. F. G. ATWELL.
Recessional March
JOHN E. DALTON.
CLASS OF 1916.
ENGLISH COURSE
Donald Winfred Goodnow Minnie Virginia Daffon
Hilda Margaret Thayer
LATIN COURSE Gladys Burns Blood
Class President-Donald Winfred Goodnow. Class Secretary-Hilda Margaret Thayer. Class Colors-Lavender and White. Class Flower-Lavender Sweet Pea. Class Motto-Tachons Reussir. (Try to Succeed)
56
TOWN WARRANT
WORCESTER, SS.
To the Constable of the Town of Mendon in the County of Worcester,
Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Mendon, qualified to vote in Elections and in Town Affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Mendon, on Monday, the fifth day of March, punctually, at 9 o'clock, A. M., to act on the following articles, viz :---
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside in said meeting.
Article 2. To bring in their ballots for the following offi- cers, viz: A Town Clerk for one year; three Selectmen for one year ; three Overseers of the Poor for one year; a Town Treasurer for one year ; one Assessor for three years; a Tree Warden for one year; a Collector of Taxes for one year ; an Auditor for one year; a Constable for one year ; three Fence Viewers for one year ; one Trustee of the Taft Public Library for two years; one School Committee for three years ; one Trustee of the Taft Public Library for one year, to fill va- cancy ; also to bring in their votes Yes or No in answer to the question, Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?; all on one ballot ; designating the office in- tended for each person voted for.
Article 3. To hear the report of the several town officers and committee and act thereon.
Article 4. To choose all the necessary town officers for the ensuing year.
Article 5. To raise such sums as are necessary to pay town charges and make appropriations for the same.
57
Article 6. To see what measures the town will adopt to secure the speedy collection of taxes.,
Article 7. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to hire money, and to what amount, to pay current expenses for the financial year commencing January 1, 1917, in anticipation of revenue.
Article 8. To see if the town will raise and appropriate any sum of money for Memorial Day services, and appoint a committee to expend the same.
Article 9. To see what action the town will take relative to actions that may be brought by, or against the town.
Article 10. To see if the town will raise and appropriate any sum of money for the extermination of insect pests in public ways and places, said appropriation to be expended under the direction of the tree warden.
Article 16. To see if the town will take any action in re- gards to the celebration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anni- versary of the incorporation of the town, or act in any way in rela- tion thereto.
58
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to make any changes in the list of prices charged for the use of Town Hall building, or take any action in relation to the same.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to make any changes in the salaries of its officers, or act in any way in relation thereto.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be expended on State Road at South Milford, or take any action in relation thereto.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to have the names of candidates for Park Commissioners for three years placed on the official ballot at all future elections.
The polls may be closed at 4 P. M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up an attested copy thereof at the Post Office in said Mendon, and caus- ing a copy of the same to be published one time in the daily
INTITUR DROWN, Constable of Mendon.
1. .
Date Loaned
974.41 AUTHOR Menden Town Report 1909-1917 BORROWER'S NAME
DAI RE UTHIL
LANE
Deposit 9-1977
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