USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1917-1927 > Part 13
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The circulation by classes was as follows :- fiction, 8,330; biography, 219; travel, 182; history, 239; literature, 138; fine arts, 80; useful arts, 165 ; science, 163 ; magazines, 1,390 ; bound magazines, 52 ; miscellaneous, 116.
There are 6,539 books in the library. 333 were added in 1922. Of these 123 were bought by the town ; 210 were given as follows: First Parish Sunday School, 111; H. J. George, 40; Massachusetts Library Commission, 17; Harriot E. Darling Fund, 11; Secretary of the Commonwealth, 4; Mrs. E. A. Law- ton, 2 ; New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1 ; Worcester Bank and Trust Co., 1; Wilmer Atkinson Co., 1; American Jewish Commission, 1; Milford Central Labor Union, 1; Yozo Tamura, 1; Anonymous, 15.
The library subscribes for the American, Country Gentle- man, Century, Field and Stream, Harper's Monthly, Illustrated World, Ladies' Home Journal, Literary Digest, National Geo- graphic, Scribner's, St. Nicholas and Woman's Home Compan- ion. The Library Commission sends the American Boy, Good Housekeeping, Popular Mechanics and the World's Work.
Every Tuesday afternoon at 3.30 there is a story hour for the children in the lower room of the building.
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For several months books were sent to the Albeeville school- house for distribution under the direction of Mrs. Allen.
Fines taken in amounted to $25.83.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN H. HEMOND,
Librarian.
Mendon, January 1, 1923.
BOOKS ADDED IN 1922.
Fiction :-
Abbe Pierre. Jay W. Hudson.
Anchorage. Florence Olmstead.
Apron strings. Eleanor Gates. Babbit. Sinclair Lewis.
Ballingtons. Frances Squire.
Barbara picks a husband. H. Hagedorn.
Borough treasurer. J. S. Fletcher. Breaking point. Mary Roberts Rinehart.
"Burkeses Amy." J. M. Lippmann.
Captain Blood. Rafael Sabatini. Caravans by night. Harry Harvey.
Certain people of importance. Kathleen Norris.
Chestermarke instinct. J. S. Fletcher.
Cinderella Jane. M. B. Cook. Comrades. Mary Dillon.
Convictions of a grandfather. Robert Grant.
Council of seven. J. C. Snaith. Day of faith. Arthur S. Roche.
Daughter of the morning. Zona Gale.
Doors of the night. Frank L. Packard.
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Drusilla with a million. Elizabeth Cooper. Elizabeth's campaign. Mrs. Humphrey Ward. Fair harbor. Joseph Lincoln. Farringdons, the. Ellen T. Fowler.
Feast of lanterns. Louise J. Miln.
Fern seed. Henry M. Rideout.
Flaming forest. James Oliver Curwood.
Gentle Julia. Booth Tarkington.
Girls, the. Edna Ferber. Girls at his billet. Berta Ruck. Greatheart. Ethel Dell.
Great prince Shan. E. P. Oppenheim.
Head of the house of Coombe. Frances H. Burnet.
Hearts undaunted. Eleanor Atkinson.
Helen of the old house. Harold Bell Wright.
Helena. Mrs. Humphrey Ward.
Her father's daughter. Gene Stratton-Porter. Homeward trail. Waldron Bailey.
If winter comes. A. S. M. Hutchinson.
In the days of poor Richard. Irving Bachellor Jimmie Dale and the phantom clue. Frank L. Packard. Josselyn's wife. Kathleen Norris.
League of the scarlet pimpernel. Baroness Orczy. Light-fingered gentry. D. G. Phillips. Lost valley. Katherine Gerould. Lovers and friends. E. F. Benson.
Man from Glengarry. Ralph Connor.
Man in grey. Baroness Orczy.
Maria Chapdelaine. Louis Hemon. Marion.
Martie, the unconquered. Kathleen Norris. Martin Conisby's vengeance. Jeffery Farnol. Martin Pippin. Eleanor Farjeon. Merton of the movies. Harry L. Wilson.
Middle pasture. Mathilde Bilbro. Miller of old church. Ellen Glasgow. Miss Theodosia's heartstrings. A. H. Donnell.
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More Limehouse nights. Thomas Burke. Mountebank, the. William J. Locke. My friend the chauffeur. C. N. & A. N. Williamson. My South Sea sweetheart. Beatrice Grimshaw. New disciple. J. A. Nelson. Old crow. Alice Brown. Ommirandy. Armistead Gordon.
One of ours. Willa Cather.
People like that. Kate L. Bosher.
Peregrine's progress. Jeffery Farnol.
Peter Binney. Archibald Marshall.
Peter's mother. Mrs. De La Pasture.
Pippin. Archibald Marshall. Pleasures and palaces. J. W. Tompkins. Pride of Palomar. Peter B. Kyne. Prize stories of 1921.
Quin. Alice H. Rice. Ranny. Howard Brubaker.
Rich Mrs. Burgoyne. Kathleen Norris.
Rich relatives. Compton Mackenzie. Road that led home. Will E. Ingersoll. Robin. Frances H. Burnett.
Rough-hewn. Dorothy Canfield.
Scaramouche. Rafael Sabatini. Scarhaven keep. J. S. Fletcher. Secret adversary. Agatha Christie. Settling of the sage. Hal G. Evarts.
Seven miles to Arden. Ruth Sawyer.
Silver sixpence. Ruth Sawyer. Skippy Bedelle. Owen Johnson.
"Some say." Laura E. Richards. Snow-blind. Katherine Burt. Starling, the. J. W. Tompkins. Story of Julia Page. Kathleen Norris. Sunshine beggars. Sidney McCall. Tangled trails. William Macleod Raine.
Teller, the. E. N. Westcott.
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This freedom. A. S. M. Hutchinson. This way to Christmas. Ruth Sawyer. Those Gillespies. W. J. Hopkins. Tillie ; a Mennonite maid. H. R. Martin. To the last man. Zane Grey. Tom Grogan. F. H. Smith.
Tree of heaven. May Sinclair. Vandemark's folly. Herbert Quick. Vehement flame. Margaret Deland. Virginia. Ellen Glasgow.
Way out. Emerson Hough.
When 'Bearcat' went dry. Charles N. Buck. When Polly was eighteen. E. C. Dowd. Whispering wires. Henry Leverage. Willing horse. Ian Hay. World for sale. Gilbert Parker.
Wrong Mr. Right. Berta Ruck.
Yellow streak. Valentine Williams.
Young enchanted. Hugh Walpole. You're only young once. Margaret Widdemer.
Juvenile :-
All the year round ; Autumn. F. L. Strong. All the year round ; Spring. F. L. Strong. All the year round ; Winter. F. L. Strong.
All the year round ; Summer. Margaret Lane. Black arrow. Robert Louis Stevenson. Book of pirates. Howard Pyle. Breakfast for two. Joanna Mathews. Broken mallet. Joanna Mathews. Community life and civic problems. H. C. Hill. Doodles. Emma C. Dowd. Folklore stories and proverbs. Sarah E. Wiltse. Fairy tales, books 1 and 2. Happy Jack. Thornton W. Burgess. Hereford Aesop. Oliver Hereford. Home radio. A. H. Verrill.
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Indian child life. Edwin Deming.
Japanese fairy tales. Teresa Williston.
Making of our country. Smith Burnham.
Man without a country. Edward Everett Hale. New American readers, books 1 and 2. Baugh and Horn. Peasant and the prince. Harriet Martineau. Peter and Polly in autumn. Rose Lucia.
Peter and Polly in spring. Rose Lucia.
Peter and Polly in summer. Rose Lucia.
Peter and Polly in winter. Rose Lucia.
Princess and Curdie. George MacDonald. Real Mother Goose.
Real stories from our history. J. T. Faris.
Resources and industries of the United States. E. F. Fisher.
Rhymes and stories. M. F. Lansing.
Star; the story of an Indian pony. Forrestine Hooker.
Stories for kindergartens and primary grades. S. E. Wiltse.
Stories of the day's work. Davis and Getchell. Stories old and new. A. O. Sheriff. Story of Dr. Dolittle. Hugh Lofting. Story of mankind. Hendrik Van Loon.
Toby Tyler. James Otis.
Tony Sarg marionette book. F. J. McIsaacs. Twenty-four unusual stories. Anna Tyler.
Uncle Remus ; his songs and sayings. Joel Chandler Harris. When Sarah saved the day. Elsie Singmaster. When Sarah went to school. Elsie Singmaster. Young puritans in captivity. Mary P. Wells Smith.
Non-Fiction :-
Along New England roads. W. C. Prime. An artillery officer in the Mexican war. R. A. Anderson. Art of lawn tennis. W. T. Tilden. Artemus Ward. Charles Martin.
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Books and characters. Lytton Strchey.
Car that went abroad. Albert Bigelow Paine. Clemenceau. H. M. Hyndeman.
Companionable books. Henry Van Dyke.
Complete atlas of the world. Rand McNally Co.
Complete radio book. Yates and Pacent.
"Dear old K." James T. Duane. Diet and health. Lulu Peters.
Football and how to watch it. Percy Haughton.
Forging the sword. William J. Robinson.
General laws of Massachusetts. 2 vol. Glimpses of authors. Caroline Ticknor. History of Europe, our own times. Robinson and Beard. Historic events of Worcester.
Jewish chaplain in France. Lee J. Levinger.
Laurentians, the. T. M. Longstreth.
Life and letters of Walter H. Page. 2 vol. Burton J. Hendricks.
Life and recent speeches of Warren G. Harding.
F. E. Schortemeier.
Literature of the world. Richardson and Owen.
Little garden. Mrs. Francis King.
Lost ships and lonely seas. Ralph D. Paine.
Major Robert Anderson and Fort Sumter. E. A. Lawton. Manchuria.
Modern verse. Anita Forbes.
More that must be told. Philip Gibbs.
My discovery of England. Stephen Leacock.
My unknown chum. "Aguecheek."
Outline of science. 4 vol. J. A. Thomson. ed.
Provincetown book. Nancy W. P. Smith.
Random memories. Ernest W. Longfellow.
Revolt against civilization. Lothrop Stoddard. Tales of lonely trails. Zane Grey.
Talks to mothers. Lucy Wheelock.
Truth about Henry Ford. Sarah T. Bushnell.
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Vanished pomps of yesterday. Frederic Hamilton.
Vermont beautiful. Wallace Nutting.
Where the strange trails go down. E. A. Powell. Wilmer Atkinson, an autobiography.
World book. 10 vol. M. V. O'Shea.
There were also added 111 books, mostly Juvenile, from the old library of the First Parish Sunday School. A list of these books may be seen any time at the library, if requested.
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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 1, 1923, and find them correct with the proper vouchers.
Respectfully submitted, LUTHER W. HOLBROOK,
Auditor. Mendon, February 8, 1923.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MENDON
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1922.
ORGANIZATION OF
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1922.
A. SUMNER COLEMAN Term expires 1923.
SAMUEL E. D. HARTSHORN, Sec'y. Term expires 1924. GEORGE H. PICKARD, Chairman Term expires 1925.
SUPERINTENDENT.
CARROLL H. DROWN.
TRUANT OFFICERS.
LYMAN COOK. JACOB R. BROWN.
SCHOOL NURSE.
FANNIE S. BUCK.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN. DR. K. A. CAMPBELL.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1922.
, RESOURCES.
Appropriation $13,000 00
Appropriation for School Physician 25 00
Appropriation for School Nurse 1:00 00
Appropriation for Repairs, High School
800 00
From County Treasurer, dog tax
280 59 7
Total
$14,205 59
Total amount expended
14,107 29
Balance
$98 30
REIMBURSEMENTS.
From General School Fund, Part 1 .. $1,141 00
From General School Fund, Part 2 ..
2,684 45
For Superintendent's Salary 500 00
For Superintendent's Traveling Ex-
penses 80 00
For Tuition from State 420 48
For Tuition from City of Boston
89 01
For High School Tuition
510 00
Total
$5,424 94
42
RECONCILIATION.
Resources
$14,205 59
Reimbursements
$5,424 94
Balance
98 30
$5,523 24
Net cost of the schools to the town
$8,682 35
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers
$8,597 75
Superintendent
1,064 20
Transportation
1,152 00
Fuel
609 05
Care of Buildings
728 20
Text Books
400 82
Supplies
257 62
Incidentals
151 50
Repairs
129 40
Repairs (High School)
780 04
School Nurse
100 00
School Physician
25 00
Electric Service
9 00
New Equipment
54 82
Committee Expense
47 89
-
$14,107 29
TEACHERS.
August H. Wigren
$1,200 00
Oscar Garland
720 00
Emilia B. Sitterly
1,210 00
Eva Dubuque
656 25
Laura B. Clark
480 00
Mary A. Monehan
1,170 75
Alice R. Ritz
1,045 50
I
43
Josephine Meader 556 50
Lillian Martin
408 75
Maria Allen
900 00
Beulah Thompson
250 00
$8,597 75
SUPERINTENDENT.
Carroll H. Drown, (Salary)
$900 00
Carroll H. Drown, (Traveling Expense) 164 00
$1,064 20
TRANSPORTATION.
Milford & Uxbridge St. R. R. Co. $225 00
Carl M. Taft
150 00
J. Frank Leonard
525 00
Harvey Trask
252 00
$1,152 00
TEXT BOOKS.
D. C. Heath
$29 98
A. S. Barnes
17 51
David Farquart
54 56
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
1 56
Benj. H. Sanborn
5 21
Iroquois Publishing Co.
1 93
Henry Holt & Co.
8 85
The Cable Co.
2 08
Lyons & Carnahan
20 95
World Book Co.
52 46
Edward E. Babb
24 01
MacMillian Co.
43 35
44
Carroll H. Drown 45
American Book Co.
17 52
Ally & Bacon 3 81
Ginn & Co.
51 75
J. L. Hammett
2 47
Charles E. Merrill Co.
2 66
Silver Burdett
50 00
Charles Scribner & Sons
9 71
$400 82
SUPPLIES.
Ryan & Buker
$1 25
August H. Wigren
2 64
Oliver Ditson
2 29
Dowling School Supply Co.
20 51
W. M. Welch
37 12
G. & E. Merriam
6 00
L. E. Knott Co.
27 63
J. J. Gibbs 75
Charlescraft Press
8 75
Carroll H. Drown
12 56
J. L. Hammett 138 12
$257 62
REPAIRS.
Charles E. Clark
$22 90
E. T. Powers
13 70
H. S. Chadbourne
12 90
Avery & Woodbury
8 40
Jacob R. Brown
9 60
W. L. & E. E. Bennett
55 00
J. L. Hammett 6 90
$129 40
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FUEL.
William Irons
$72 00
Joseph Saucier 12 00
L. F. Thayer & Sons. 26 00
Milford Coal Co.
29 00
H. M. Curtiss Co. 470 05
$609 05
COMMITTEE EXPENSES.
Charlescraft Press
$3 50
Thomas Groom 26 89
Milford Daily News
1 50
S. E. D. Hartshorn
13 00
George H. Pickard
3 00
$47 89
INCIDENTALS.
Charles Kimball, express
$4 25
Reformatory for women, merchandise. . 8 28
George H. Pickard, merchandise
3 50
The Forbes Co., merchandise
2 00
Charlescraft Press, merchandise
6 25
Hebert J. Mann, lettering diplomas.
3 00
Henry Bullard, merchandise
2 00
Mass. State Prison, merchandise
7 17
Helen Hemond, School Census
15 00
R. Norberry, cleaning vaults
15 00
Town of Hopedale, oil 4 40
Joseph Dudley, services
2 00
Geo. E. Thayer, use of well one year ...
3 00
Carroll H. Drown, express and postage
43 91
Avery & Woodbury, merchandise
17 75
H. S. Chadbourne Co., merchandise
13 49
Charles Allen, sealing scales
50
$151 50
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CARE OF BUILDINGS.
Jacob R. Brown
$538 00
Sumner Allen
90 00
Minnie Thayer
87 30
Charles H. Jewett, Jr.
7 90
George Johnson
5 00
$728 20
HIGH SCHOOL REPAIRS.
Appropriation
$800 00
F. C. Townsend $780 04
Balance
$19 96
SCHOOL NURSE.
Milford, Hopedale and Mendon District
Nursing Association
$100 00
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
Dr. K. A. Campbell $25 00
BEQUEST FROM THE WILL OF HARRIOTT DARLING.
Balance on hand
$17 56
Edward E. Babb
15 65
J. J. Gibbs 1 91
$17 56
$00 00
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. PICKARD, Chairman, S. E. D. HARTSHORN, Secretary, A. SUMNER COLEMAN,
School Committee.
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The following appropriations are recommended by the School Committee for the year 1923.
Teachers
$8,950 00
Superintendent
1,020 00
Transportation
1,200 00
Fuel
900 00
Electric service
9 00
Text books
800 00
Supplies
250 00
Tuition
100 00
Janitors
800 00
Repairs
250 00
$14,279 00
SCHOOL DIRECTORY.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
George H. Pickard, Chairman,
Term expires 1925.
Samuel E. D. Hartshorn, Secretary,
Term expires 1924.
A. Sumner Coleman,
Term expires 1923.
TEACHERS.
CENTER BUILDING.
Grade Name
Local Address
Preparation Year of Service 48
High-Prin. Sci., Math., U.S.Hist., Oscar Garland
Mendon
New Hampshire State College First
Eng., Lang., Hist.
Emelia Sitterly
Mendon
Smith College Second
VI, VII, VIII
Mrs. Laura Clark
Mendon
Framingham Normal First
Albert Sampson
Mendon
Leviat Institute First
III, IV, V
Mary Monehan
Hopedale
Framingham Normal Third
I, II
Alice Ritz
Upton
Framingham Normal Second
ALBEEVILLE.
I-VIII
Mrs. Maria Allen Mendon
Wareham High
Eighth
EAST MENDON.
I-VIII
Lillian Martin
Beulah Thompson
Hopedale . MUSIC SUPERVISOR. Milford,
19 Church St.
Framingham Normal First N. E. Conservatory Ins. Normal Methods Second
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.
Mrs. Raymond Daley Mendon Mrs. George Hemond Mendon
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
Dr. K. A. Campbell
Hopedale,
Tel. Milford 102
SCHOOL NURSE.
Fannie S. Buck Milford, Tel. Milford 862-W
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Carroll H. Drown Hopedale
Telephone, Office Milford 904 Residence Milford 802-J
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TRUANT OFFICERS.
Jacob Brown Lyman Cook
JANITORS.
Center Building Albeeville East Mendon
Jacob Brown
Mendon
Sumner Allen
Mendon
Mrs. Minnie Thayer
South Milford
BARGE DRIVERS.
North Route
Harvey Trask
Mendon
Carl M. Taft
Mendon
East Route
J. Frank Leonard
Milford R. F. D.
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATES GRANTED BY
Carroll H. Drown Hopedale Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the school building on the first Monday of each month at 7.30 P. M.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1923.
ELEMENTARY GRADES.
WINTER TERM.
Opens January 2, Closes March 16. (11 weeks.) Vacation two weeks.
SPRING TERM.
Opens April 2, Closes June 8. (10 weeks.) Summer Vacation.
FALL TERM.
Opens September 10, Closes December 21. (15 weeks.) Vacation two weeks.
HIGH SCHOOL.
WINTER TERM.
Opens January 2, Closes March 23. (12 weeks.) Vacation one week.
SPRING TERM.
Opens April 2, Closes June 22. (12 weeks.) Summer Vacation.
FALL TERM.
Opens September 4, Closes December 21. (16 weeks.) Vacation one week.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1924.
ELEMENTARY GRADE.
SPRING TERM.
Opens January 7, 1924, Closes March 21, 1924. (11 weeks.)
HIGH SCHOOL. SPRING TERM. Opens December 31, 1923, Closes March 21, 1924.
LEGAL HOLIDAYS.
Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, January 1, February 22, April 19 and May 30. There will be no session of schools on the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. When a holiday comes on Sunday the following Monday becomes a holi- day.
The town cannot have any "No School" Signal. Schools will not be closed on account of weather unless it is practically impossible or unreasonable for children to attend. When parents feel that it is very unwise for their children to go to school, they are advised to keep them at home. All other days children must attend school.
T
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IMPORTANT REGULATION.
A regulation of the school department is that no child can enter school for the first time unless such child shall become six years of age on or before January 1, of the year following the fall term when he wishes to enter school. (For entrance to school this coming fall term a child must be six years of age on or before January 1, 1924.)
The attention of the parents is called to the following facts of the state laws governing school attendance.
Every child from seven to fourteen years of age unless he is physically or mentally unfit, and until he is sixteen years un- less he has completed the sixth grade, shall attend school all the time it is in session. Every child from fourteen to sixteen years of age shall attend school unless such child has received an em- ployment certificate and is regularly employed according to law for at least six hours per day.
If a child fails to attend school according to law for seven day sessions or fourteen half day sessions the child shall be con- sidered an habitual truant and may be sent to a truant school.
If a parent or guardian fails to cause the child under his charge to attend school according to law he shall be fined not over twenty dollars for each offense.
54
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND CITIZENS OF MENDON :-
It is not necessary to rehearse the details and plans of opera- tion of the schools which have been on the same general plan this last year as in previous years. During the school year 1921-22, the schools were very successful. Without exception our teachers were of the best. The amount paid in higher salaries was well invested as was shown by the excellent work done.
The school directory shows that three of our teachers did not return to their positions in September. Each teacher was re- elected and strongly urged to return this year, but they resigned to accept positions giving larger opportunities and better salaries.
The late resignation of the Center Grammar teacher made it very difficult to successfully fill the position at the salary we pay. Such changes in teachers are injurious to the schools, even if the new teacher is as capable, for it takes time for the adjust- ment of teacher and pupils, and there is a considerable loss to the school. At present our schools are all doing well with a strong teacher at the head of each school. We urge that the town make a sufficient appropriation at the coming annual town meeting so that we may offer sufficient salaries to secure and hold competent teachers. Again we say that it is better to invest more money in good schools than less in poor schools.
The cost of living is on the incline rather than the decline, and the teacher shortage, especially for grammar school posi- tions, is more acute than ever before. A study of the compara- tive table of statistics will show that teachers' wages is one item in the cost of the Mendon schools that is lower than that for towns in Group III and for the state as a whole.
This table also shows that the High School cost of education
55
per pupil of average membership, is much larger than the state average. This is not due to the cost of any item, but to the pro- portionately small number of pupils.
We have one real problem in the condition of our Center schools which must be solved before the opening of the next school year. The Intermediate and Grammar rooms are over- crowded and the number next year will likely be larger. For the welfare of the children, some arrangements must be made so that each room may have a smaller number of pupils. Such a large number of pupils in a school room as at present not only makes life very strenuous for the teacher, but it does not give a fair op- portunity to each child for teacher help. Especially is this true in the Intermediate room with its enrollment of fifty pupils. Crowded conditions make the problem of discipline difficult es- pecially when it is necessary to make changes in teachers.
We have no extra room in which we can open another school, even if the cost could be met. There seems to be one quite desir- able solution of this problem. Since the High School is so small, arrangements might be made for what is to-day called a "Junior High School" to include the seventh and eighth grades and the first two year pupils of the Senior high school. This would make it possible to have only two grades in each room below this school. The pupils of the third and fourth year high could be sent to neighboring high schools. This plan would give whatever advantages there may be in the large high school to the pupils of the last two years, and the younger pupils could be at the home school and thus our High School would not be thrown up.
The same number of teachers would be retained in the build- ing, and with the rebate from the state for those pupils sent to other high schools, the actual cost to the town would be but little if any more than our present arrangement. We feel that it would be wise to have this matter brought before the citizens of the town at the next town meeting.
Some repairs have been made upon the buildings this past year. The Center building has been newly shingled; and a few minor repairs made in an attempt to keep the building warmer,
56
and thus make a saving in fuel. It is about impossible to heat the building in coldest weather. The writer still believes that if the walls are plastered under the blackboards, the rooms could be heated more easily. Also if storm windows could be put on the entire north side of the building much fuel might be saved. In these times of scarcity of fuel it becomes necessary to take every possible measure for fuel economy. An appropriation should be made for carrying out the above suggestions this com- ing year.
The school rooms of this building are sadly in need of re- finishing and brightening up, and this should be done as soon as possible, either by finishing one room at a time, or by an especial appropriation for doing all rooms.
The East building school room has been much improved and brightened by tinting the walls and ceiling. This not only makes far more attractive appearance but better light.
Some very necessary minor repairs must be made on the Albeeville building.
Some new singing books and Hygiene books have been pro- vided a part of the schools, and more must be purchased at once. Other new books furnished are supplementary readers and a few books here and there to fill out sets. A small number of science books have been purchased for the high school. Literature books are needed. The increase in the number of pupils in the grades and the short life of books have made the schools rather desti- tute of books. A larger appropriation for books will be needed for the coming year.
Since books and supplies are public property there is a great tendency for children to be very careless and wasteful in the use of them. Our continued admonitions seem to be necessary. Books that should last five years or more are often completely worn out in two or three.
Books are often badly injured when taken home. Children of the lower grades should not be allowed to take text books home. The dangers from storms and ill treatment are so great that books are quite likely to be ruined. There is but little need for any pupils of the elementary grades to take books home. If
57
good intensive study is done in school hours, the time outside of school may profitably be used in other ways than on text books lessons. Pupils who do have to take books home from any school should be required to provide a book bag or box in which the books can be protected in transit to and from school.
Health Education is one of the most important phases of education. Physical examination is necessary for a knowledge of conditions for health training. The goal of health knowledge is to learn how human soceity may be kept in such health and physical fitness that it may avoid ill health and avoid or safely pass through disease without breaking up the necessary order of the daily duties of life, and that life may be a joy. The resort to so much exclusion from society is an evident admission of in- ability to cope with ill health and disease. Much attention should be given to health and physical education in our schools, and this should increase as the knowledge of Physical and medi- cal science increases.
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