USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1917-1927 > Part 26
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Fiction, 7,409; Magazines, 1,782; Bound Magazines, 72; Biography, 77, Travel, 10; History, 223, Literature, 117; Useful and Fine Arts, 98; Science, 35; All others, 63.
There are 7,066 volumes in the library. 138 volumes have been added the past year and 8 volumes have been taken out as they were worn out. 52 were bought by the Town and 87 as follows :
Massachusetts Library Commission, 53; Secretary of the Commnowealth, 2; Mrs. Sawyer, 5; Mrs. H. Lowell, 1, W. Johnson, 1; Anonymous, 13; by binding, 9; Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., 3.
The library subscribes for the American, Asia, Boy's Life, Century, Country Gentleman, Field and Stream, Harper's Monthly, Ladies' Home Journal, Life, Literary Digest, National Geographic, Radio News, Saturday Evening Post, Scribner's, St. Nicholas and Woman's Home Companion. The Library Com- mission sends the American Boy, Good Housekeeping, Popular Mechanics, and the World's Work. The Atlantic Monthly, Cosmopolitan, Dumb Animals, Everybody's, Elks, Farmer's Wife, How to Sell, National Republic, Motive and Specialty Salesman are given.
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The pupils of the High and Grammar Schools are making good use of the library. About every six weeks they are required to report on a book. This brings them to the library and helps them to pick out worth while books.
Any child, between grades four and eight, reading five books from the State Certificate Reading List before the first of May is awarded a State Certificate. Many of the pupils are doing this.
Miss Barlow, at the Albeeville School, has kindly taken care of the circulation of books there so it gives the people in that district a chance to use the books from the library.
$22.76 was received in fines during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
VERENA R. DALEY,
Librarian.
Mendon, January 1, 1927.
BOOKS ADDED IN 1926.
Fiction :-
Afternoon. Susan Ertz.
Alaskan, The. J. O. Curwood.
Aprilly. Jane Abbott.
Bardleys the Magnificent. R. Sabatini.
Bat, The. M. R. Rinehart.
Caravan. John Galsworthy.
Child of the Wild. E. Marshall.
Double Thirteen. A. Wynne.
Exile of the Lariat. Honore Willsie.
Hangman's House. Donn Byrne.
Happy Warrior. A. S. M. Hutchinson.
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Hearts of Hickory. J. T. Moore. High Adventure. Jeffrey Farnol.
Juliet is Twenty. Jane Abbott. Killer, The. S. E. White.
Lady of Pentlands. E. Jordan. Leap Year Girl. Berta Ruck.
Lengthened Shadow. W. J. Locke.
Lion's Skin. R. Sabatini.
Loving Are the Daring. Holman Day.
Markenmore Mystery. J. S. Fletcher.
Midwinter. John Buchan.
Minister of Grace. M. Widdemer. Moby Dick. H. Melville.
Oak and Iron. J. B. Hendryx.
Partners of chance. H. H. Knibbs.
Pig Iron. C. G. Norris.
Portrait of a Man with Red Hair. H. Walpole.
Private Life of Helen of Troy. J. Erskine.
Professor's House. Willa Cather.
Range Dwellers. C. M. Bower.
Reckless Lady. Philip Gibbs.
Red and Black. Grace Richmond.
Scarlet Letter. N. Hawthorne.
Shepherds. M. C. Oemler. Siege. S. H. Adams.
Slippy McGee. M. C. Oemler.
Snare, The. R. Sabatini.
Soul of Abe Lincoln.
Bernie Babcock.
Stories from Old Italian Romance. S. Cunnington. Treve. A. P. Terhune.
Unchanging Quest. Philip Gibbs.
Valley of Headstrong Men. J. S. Fletcher.
Virginia Cavalier. M. E. Seawell.
Wilderness Patrol. H. Bindloss.
Wrath to Come. E. P. Oppenheim.
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Juvenile :---
About Harriet. C. W. Hunt.
Blue Magic. E. B. Price.
Book of Legends. H. E. Scudder.
Boys' Book of Mounted Police. Irving Crump.
Brownies and Other Tales. J. H. Ewing.
Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows. M. Vandercook.
Child's Garden of Verse. R. L. Stevenson.
Comical Circus Stories. L. R. Smith.
Cuore. E. DeAmicis.
David Goes Voyaging. D. B. Putnam.
Derrick Sterling. Kirk Munroe.
Elementary History of Our Country. E. M. Tappan. Emmeline. E. Singmaster.
English for New Americans. Field & Coveney.
Flower and Berry Babies. E. G. Deihl.
Friendly Stars. M. E. Martin.
Golden Staircase. L. Chisholm.
Happy Manikin in Manners Town. L. R. Smith.
Heroic Deeds of American Sailors. Blaisdell & Ball.
Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains. C. A. Eastman. Italy. J. Finnemore.
Knowledge Primer Games. I. C. Mirriam.
Last of the Great Scouts. Zane Grey.
Little Boy France. R. J. Snell.
Little Jarvis. M. E. Seawell.
Little Mr. Thimblefinger. J. C. Harris.
Maid of Old Manhattan. E. B. & A. A. Knipe.
Makers of America. E. L. Dana.
Master Simon's Garden. C. Meigs. Men of the Mist. T. C. Bridges. Open Air Stories. C. J. Denton. Party Twins. L. R. Smith.
Pilgrims of Today. M. H. Wade.
Pinocchio. C. Collodi.
Pinocchio in Africa. C. Collodi.
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Practical Health Lessons, Part I and II. E. A. Heilman. Real Out-of-Doors Stories. C. J. Denton. St. Nicholas. Volumes 51, 52, 53. Sinopah, the Indian Boy. J. W. Schultz. Stories of American Discoverers. Rose Lucia. Short Stories of the New America. M. A. Laselle. Story of Three Great Artists. E. M. Cyr. Surprise Stories. C. S. Bailey. Tailor and the Crow. L. L. Brooke. Treasure Twins. L. R. Smith. Washington's Boyhood. I. C. Mirriam. Wisp. K. Adams.
Wonder Clock. Howard Pyle.
Working Thru at Lincoln High. J. Gollomb.
Young Forester. Zane Grey.
Non -- Fiction :----
Achievements of Stanley. J. T. Headley.
American Battery in France. E. A. LaBranche. American Homeopathy in the World War. F. M. Dearborn. American Red Cross on First Aid. Lynch and Shields. Clock Book. Wallace Nutting.
Comet Lore. E. Emerson. Dana, Vital Records. Declaration of Independence. J. F. Carr. Edward Jenner. Hallock and Turner.
Edward L. Trudeau. Hallock and Turner. Everyday Life in Washington. C. M. Pepper. Food for Plants. U. S. Myers. Food Supply of New England. Gilbert and others. Heart Songs and Home Songs. D. A. McCarthy. Help Yourself Lessons. Books I and II. Talbot. Henry Cabot Lodge. High Country. C. R. Cooper. History of Army Posts. History of Electric Light. H. Schroeder. Life of Abraham Lincoln in Verse. S. T. Mathews.
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Life of Shivaje Maharaj. N. S. Takakshav.
Louis Pasteur. Hallock and Turner.
Man Nobody Knows. Bruce Barton. Manual of the United States.
My Education and My Religion. G. A. Gordon. National Geographic. Volumes 45, 46, 47, 48. Niagara in Politics. J. Mavor.
Our Debt to France. Our Polar Flight. Amundsen and Ellsworth.
Roxbury, Vital Records.
Study of Costume. Elizabeth Sage.
Who's Who in the Theatre. J. Parker.
Yes, Lady Saheb. G. T. Seton.
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AUDITOR'S REPORT.
This is to certify that as Auditor for the Town of Mendon for the year ending December 31, 1926, I have examined the books of all the Town Officers and find them correct.
Respectfully submitted, RALPH W. COFFIN, Auditor.
Mendon, Mass., Jan. 28, 1927.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MENDON
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1926
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1926.
MRS. ANNIE COFFIN,
Term expires 1927.
GEORGE H. PICKARD, Chairman, Term expires 1928. ROY A. BARROWS, Secretary, Term expires 1929.
SUPERINTENDENT. CARROLL H. DROWN.
TRUANT OFFICER. JACOB R. BROWN.
SCHOOL NURSE. HELEN C. GRADY, R. N.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN. DR. K. A. CAMPBELL.
-
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
RESOURCES FOR CURRENT EXPENSES.
General Appropriation ... $14,000 00
From County Treasurer, Dog Tax 374 92
Total Available for Current
Expenses
$14,374 92 $14,374 92
Total Current Expenses, 1926
14,041 14
Balance
$333 78
Appropriation for School Nurse
$200 00
Appropriation for School Physician
50 00
Appropriation for Worces- ter Trade School Pupils 300 00 *Appropriation for Repairs on East Mendon Build- ing 400 00 950 00
Total Appropriations
$15,324 92
Grand Total Expenses
14,755 45
Balance from Grand Totals $569 47
* $50.00 more was paid by the Town from the General Expense Account.
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REIMBURSEMENTS.
From General School Fund,
Part I
$1,190 00
From General School Fund, Part II 733 13+
For Superintendent's Salary 386 67
For High School Grant
512 50
For Tuition from State
733 87
For Tuition from City of Boston
45 43
Total
$3,601 60
SUMMARY.
Resources
$15,324 92
Reimbursements
$3,601 60
Balance
569 47 4,171 07
Net Cost of Schools to the
Town
$11,153 85
SCHOOL NURSE ACCOUNT.
Appropriation
$200 00
Expended
200 00
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN ACCOUNT.
Appropriation
$50 00
Expended
50 00
1-On account of the increase of the valuation of the Town, this receipt is about 30% of that in previous years.
65
TUITION-WORCESTER TRADE.
Appropriation
$300 00
Expended
64 29
Balance on Hand
$235 71
EAST MENDON BUILDING REPAIR ACCOUNT.
Appropriation
$400 00
Expended
450 00
Balance
*$50 00
*Balance taken from General Appropriation.
SUMMARY OF CURRENT EXPENSES.
Teachers
$8,737 60
Superintendent
810 83
Clerk
111 40
Transportation
1,222 00
Fuel
1,055 07
Care of Buildings
925 40
Text Books
299 89
Supplies
285 81
Miscellaneous
15 00
Repairs
324 01
Committee Expense
20 00
Health
250 00
Tuition (Millville)
100 00
New Equipment
493 70
Incidentals
40 45
City of Worcester
64 29
$14,755 45
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CURRENT EXPENSES ITEMIZED.
Teachers' Salaries
$8,737 60
Oscar L. Garland $2,000 00
Margaret W. McIntyre 1,290 00
Orrilla F. Park 1,195 20
Marguerite F. Pearson
1,173 60
Caroline W. Blackwood
966 60
Minnie Davidson 510 00
Lillian M. Martin 637 20
Alice Barlow 340 00
Agnes Riley
340 00
Beulah C. Thompson 165 00
Frances B. Settle
120 00
Text Books
$299 89
Houghton Mifflin Co. 1 14
Edw. E. Babb & Co. 7 22
World Book Co. 5 89
Ginn & Co.
8 66
Macmillan Co.
49 15
Benj. H. Sanborn Co.
21 93
C. C. Birchard 7 66
Allyn & Bacon
17 06
State of Vermont
3 50
Oliver Ditson Co.
80
Lyons & Carnahan
12 46
Arlo Publishing Co.
16 89
Scott Foresman Co.
1 28
John C. Winston Co.
94
Standard Book Co.
20 39
American Book Co.
9 13
D. C. Heath & Co.
79 72
Silver, Burdett & Co. 9 47
Dura Binding Co.
26 60
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Supplies $285 81
Dowling School Supply Co. $23 75
Wright & Potter 2 14
H. S. Chadbourne Co. 2 30
Loose Leaf Current Topics
3 50
J. L. Hammett Co.
144 40
Ryan and Buker
33 66
Porter-Motter
8 00
C. C. Shattuck
30
Fuller Brush Co.
3 00
Edw. E. Babb & Co.
48
C. H. Drown, express on supplies ยท
5 00
Laidlaw Bros.
3 57
Wilbur D. Gilpatrick
10 70
Morgan Envelope Co.
7 25
Avery & Woodbury Co.
17 30
H. C. Forbes
8 00
Oliver Ditson Co. 7 46
Fuller & Wilson Express Co. 5 00
Care of Buildings $925 40
J. R. Brown 742 00
Mrs. Minnie Thayer 87 50
Mrs. Augusta Peterson 43 40
Sumner Allen
52 50
Fuel
$1,055 07
H. M. Curtiss Coal Co. 947 57
E. E. Chapman 93 50
L. F. Thayer & Son. 14 00
Miscellaneous $15 00
Worcester Sub. Electric $9 00
Geo. E. Thayer 6 00
Repairs $324 01
H. S. Chadbourne Co. 12 60
Harold C. Barrows 119 25
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C. C. Shattuck 30
Clark Ellis & Sons
1 28
E. T. Powers 20 94
Eldredge & Son 11 51
W. O. Barry
1 25
Frank M. Aldrich
155 20
H. M. Curtiss Coal Co. 1 68
Health $250 00
District Nursing Association
$200 00
K. A. Campbell, M. D. 50 00
Transportation $1,222 00
M. & U. St. Ry. Co. $150 00
Carl M. Taft 432 00
Frank Leonard 504 00
Stephen Bandilla
136 00
Tuition-Millville
$100 00
New Equipment
$493 70
J. L. Hammett Co. $33 00
Fuller & Wilson Express 2 00
H. A. Rogers
30 00
E. T. Powers
285 00
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
68 85
Avery & Woodbury Co. 8 40
Dept. of Correction
33 75
Ryan & Buker
32 70
Incidentals $40 45
C. H. Drown, telephone tolls, express, etc.
$22 60
H. C. Forbes, printing 12 85
Jos. H. Dudley
2 00
J. J. Gibbs
1 25
C. E. Cooney 1 75
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Clerk
$111 40
Superintendent
810 83
Committee Expense
20 00
Worcester Trade School
64 29
Total Current Expenses
$14,755 45
SCHOOL DIRECTORY.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
George H. Pickard, Chairman
Term Expires 1928
Roy A. Barrows, Secretary
Term Expires 1929
Mrs. Annie Coffin
Term Expires 1927
TEACHERS.
CENTER BUILDING.
Grade
Name
Local Address
Preparation
High-Science
Oscar L. Garland,
Mendon
N.H. State College
Fifth
Eng., Language,
Margaret MacIntyre
Mendon
Mt. Holyoke, B. U.
Third
History VI, VII, VIII
Orilla F. Park
Mendon
Castleton, Vt. Normal
Second
III, IV, V I, II
Marguerite Pearson
Milford
Worcester Normal
Third
Caroline Blackwood Mendon
Woonsocket High
Second
ALBEEVILLE BUILDING.
I-VIII
Alice Barlow
Milford Framingham Normal First
Years of Service in Town 70
Math., U. S. Hist.,
Principal
School of Education
I-VIII
Agnes Riley
EAST MENDON BUILDING. So. Milford Worcester Normal First
MUSIC SUPERVISOR.
Frances B. Settle
98 Dutcher Street N. E. Conservatory First
Hopedale A. I. N. M.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.
Mrs. Raymond Daley Mendon Beatrice Taft Mendon
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
K. A. Campbell, M.D. Hopedale 71
Tel. Milford 102
SCHOOL NURSE.
Helen C. Grady, R.N. Milford
Tel. Milford 862
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Carroll H. Drown Hopedale Tel., Office Milford 904 Residence Milford 802-J
JANITORS.
Center Building Albeeville
Jacob R. Brown
Mendon Tel. Milford 374-5
Mrs. Augusta Peterson
Mendon
East Mendon
Mrs. Minnie Thayer
South Milford
BARGE DRIVERS.
North Route
Carl M. Taft
East Route
J. Frank Leonard
Mendon Milford, R. F. D.
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATES GRANTED AT Office of the Supt. of Schools, Hopedale, on School Days-8.00 A. M. to 5.30 P. M. Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the School Building on the first Monday of each month at 7:15 P. M.
72
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SCHOOL CALENDAR. 1927.
ELEMENTARY GRADES.
WINTER TERM.
Opens January 3, Closes March 18 (11 weeks) (Vacation Two Weeks.)
SPRING TERM.
Opens April 4, Closes June 10 (10 weeks) (Summer Vacation.)
FALL TERM.
Opens September 6, Closes December 16 (15 weeks) (Vacation Two Weeks.)
1928.
WINTER TERM.
Opens January 2, Closes March 16 (11 weeks) (Vacation Two Weeks.)
HIGH SCHOOL.
1927.
WINTER TERM.
Opens December 27, 1926, Closes March 25 (13 weeks) (Vacation One Week.)
SPRING TERM.
Opens April 4, Closes June 24 (12 weeks)
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FALL TERM.
Opens September 6, Closes December 23 (16 weeks) (Vacation One Week.)
1928.
WINTER TERM.
Opens January 3, Closes March 24, 1928 (12 weeks) (Vacation One Week.)
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. When a holiday comes on Sunday the following Monday becomes a holiday.
IMPORTANT REGULATIONS.
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, 1928).
75
ATTENDANCE LAWS.
Every child from seven to fourteen years of age unless he is physically or mentally unfit, and until he is sixteen years of age unless he has completed the sixth grade, shall attend school all the time it is in session. Every child from fourteen to six- teen years of age shall attend school unless such child has re- ceived an employment certificate and is regularly employed ac- cording to law for at least six hours per day.
All minors under sixteen working in towns or cities which maintain Continuation Schools, must attend the Continuation Schools as prescribed by law.
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.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL.
The School Committee recently adopted a No-School Signal which is given below. It is important for parents to note the time and manner of this signal.
We hope the adoption of a no-school signal will not mean the closing of schools frequently because of the inclemency of the weather. The closing of all schools means a considerable loss of valuable time and expense, and always involves consider- able misunderstanding and difficulty because it is impossible for a no-school signal to be heard over the entire territory of the town.
Schools are maintained and teachers paid for the benefit of all children of the town. It seems wise that schools should be
76
in session at all times except in most extreme weather, thus giving an opportunity to those children and parents who want the ad- vantages of school. Keeping schools open even in somewhat stormy weather works no hardship upon any; for, when any parents feel that on account of weather conditions it is unwise for their children to go to school they are at liberty to keep them at home.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL.
Siren blast 2-2 sounded at 7.15 closes all schools for the day.
77
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND CITIZENS OF MENDON :-
During the past year the school work has been carried on very smoothly with a pleasing degree of success.
Although the salaries paid are not large, our schools are fortunate in teachers all of whom are equal to the task before them. They are devoted to their work and deeply interested in the welfare of the boys and girls of the schools. The two new teachers are doing excellent work. Salaries should be kept such as will retain teachers of the type we now have.
One of our greatest problems is the lack of inclination for scholastic attainment. The numerous attractions of these times rather deter children from working for high scholarship. It is quite natural that children should partake of that spirit which is now rather prevalent in business and other interests of life, to struggle only far enough "to get by."
We note that the general attempt throughout the country for curricula revision to meet the demands of progress seems so far to be only the simplifying of requirements and the lessening of demands of instruction in school subjects.
Another problem before us is the crowded conditions of our Center schools. Forty-five to fifty pupils of three grades in one room are too many for it to be possible to give sufficient instruc- tion advantages to all. If the suggested changes are made for the High School some little relief of the congestion could then be provided. This is especially needed in the grammar room. If better work must be done in the High School, more opportunity for special instruction must be given those who are to enter High School.
78
At times the East School is crowded, too many pupils for a school of eight grades. Some of the population there is transi- ent and thus the school is not as large all the time. Houses are being built and the number of school children is increasing in that district, and some provision for meeting the needs of the situation will probably have to be given before long.
Repairs that were much needed were made in the East Mendon building during the summer vacation. A new furnace was installed and new toilet buildings made. Now the building can easily be kept warm, and the old disgraceful toilet buildings are gone.
The Albeeville building was painted. This has greatly im- proved the appearance of the building. Minor repairs were made on the out buildings there.
The following are repairs which should be made this coming summer :
New seats and desks in the Albeeville building.
New outside door for this building.
New stove or repair of present one.
Painting the toilet building at East Mendon.
Repairs for taking care of the water from the roof of this building.
Fifteen or twenty new seats and desks for the Center build- ing
All improvements essential for State approval of our High School as suggested in another part of this report.
The public High School is becoming more and more an in- stitution for all our youth. It should be considered an integral part of the public elementary school system. We should not at- tempt to make it either a university or a vocational school, though subjects worthy of each may be taught in the High School.
The High School should rather be an institution for train- ing in the elementary essentials for society, such as the elementary tools of knowledge, appreciation of art, the beautiful in every- thing, music, literature, common principles of natural phenomena,
79
accuracy and attractiveness in diction (including spelling), man- ner and personality, carefulness and thrift, and all that goes toward making a good citizen.
This year the State Department of Education has declined to put the Mendon High School upon the State list of approved High Schools.
This action was taken we trust not so much because of the lack of good work in the school, as because of lack of equipment and other requirements which small High Schools do not meet.
The spirit of the school is excellent, having improved much during the past few years. Our teachers are capable, both hold- ing State certificates.
During the past few years the scholastic work of the school has improved much, and at no time since the writer has known the school has better work been done than is being done at present.
Considerable correspondence has been carried on with the officials at the State House, and visits made there dealing with the question of approval of the school. Two visits have been made at the school by Mr. Morse, State Inspector of High Schools.
There are some advantages in having the school receive State approval.
Believing that the people of Mendon wish their High School to be upon the State Approved list, your superintendent makes the following recommendations :
1. That a new room to be used as a Science Laboratory and class room be finished off in the attic, and sufficient required exits be provided.
2. That $400 be appropriated for Science Laboratory equipment.
3. That one additional teacher, as required, be engaged for the High School.
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4. That when this additional teacher is provided the eighth grade be put in with the High School and that the instruction for this grade be done by the High School teachers.
5. That the High School day be lengthened, at least 45 minutes.
6. That enough new seats and desks be purchased for the High School room to seat the incoming eighth grade.
Recommendation four will provide some relief from the con- gestion in the other schools. It is hoped that this plan will be approved by the State Department of Education.
We recommend that appropriations for these improvements be made at the next annual town meeting, so that all plans for the proposed changes can be made before the opening of school next September.
Efficient health work is being done in our schools by our school nurse, Miss Grady, of the District Nursing Association. Training for health is one of the very most important phases of our work. Co-operation of parents is essential in order that the instruction in health principles may be effective. Unless the home sees that principles of proper food, rest, recreation, pure air, etc., are carried out, instruction is of but little value.
Miss Thompson, our music supervisor, resigned in June to become Mrs. Ripley. We appreciated her kindly, willing dispo- sition and efficient musical ability, and she had the best wishes of us all for life's happiness and success.
The music instruction this fall was well started and the schools were making excellent progress, especially in tonal pro- duction as well as in the reading and technique of music. All much regret that illness at her home prevented Mrs. Settle from returning after the Christmas vacation.
We feel that we have a group of splendid children and young people in our schools. Sometimes some of them fail to obey rules, they lack courtesy, nearly all are very careless and once in a while some unpleasant event breaks out; but these are
81
only characteristic of humanity. Most of us older people are guilty of the same or worse. These failings should be corrected and we are constantly struggling for improvement. Assistance of parents is needed.
When some unpleasant episode which may be of disgrace to the schools happens, the least possible comment about it is the best method of keeping a good reputation for the schools. The proper authorities will do all possible to correct such mistakes. Gossips better find some other topic for entertainment.
In spite of its failings, the American public schools have as high a moral standard as any of our institutions except the Church. Though we are strongly in favor of the Sunday School, we are sometimes inclined to believe that the conduct of pupils in the public school is even as commendable as that of the Sunday School.
It is a great satisfaction that there is no place where parents feel more secure in placing their children than in our schools. The moral standards are higher than those of moving picture houses, the workshops, the streets, etc.
If Democracy of which so much has been said is to succeed, there is yet a great work to be done in the education of its sub- jects.
Some of the greatest needs of society today are more common aims and ideals.
Monarchies succeeded when the masses were encouraged and forced to think and act with their leader, or ruler; thus the people had common interests. Increase in freedom of thought has tended to lessen common interests.
These suggestions do not imply that training should be for the idealistic alone. Real humanism is a valuable characteristic of an educated person. Society needs much of it.
Is education tending to make people more contented and happy and more interested in the common welfare? If it is not, our methods and courses of instruction should be improved.
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