USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1891/1892-1894/1895 > Part 22
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Catherine Tynan,
Hendrick L. Smith,
Mary Kavanaugh,
Edward H. Hill,
Annie Monroe.
Thomas Boyle,
John Brogan,
James W. Ryan,
William H. Wilson.
Minnie Stone,
James Minns,
John Coldrick,
Andrew G. Ward,
Mrs. Albert Lovely.
For the Outside Poor we recommend an appropriation of $5,000 for the ensuing year.
94
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Inventory of Personal Property at the Alms= house and Farm, Feb. 28, 1895.
Class 1, Stock,
$1,391 40
2, Hay and grain, 165 40
3, Carts, wagons and farming tools, 857 65
4, Household furniture, 320 20
5. Beds and bedding, 275 00
6. Family supplies, 573 96
83,583 61
Inventory, 1894,
3,553 30
$30 31
WILLIAM C. BARNES, HIRAM P. MORSE, JAMES H. MASON,
Appraisers.
Farm and Almshouse.
The amount of orders drawn. $2.075 18, against $2,130 10 last year, a decrease of $54 92.
Whole number of inmates 27, with an average of 18 all the year.
The net cost $2 05 per week, includes services of Superin- tendent, Matron, hired help, physician, etc. The inventory of personal property is 83,583 61, against $3,553 30 last year, a gain of $30 31.
The management and care of the property by Mr. and Mrs. George F. Northup, has been to the satisfaction and approval of the Overseers, who have secured their services for another year and will commence their seventeenth year of continuous service.
Gain over last year.
95
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The expenditures have been kept within the appropriations with a credit balance of $407 86. For repairs of Farm Build- ings, $148 84 has been expended, with a credit balance of $67 66 to the account.
For the ensuing year we recommend an appropriation for support of Almshouse poor of $1,500, and $300 for Repairs of Buildings.
Account of Cash
Received and paid Town Treasurer. by C. A. Paige. for account of Overseers of the Poor for the year ending February 28, 1895.
Town of Sturbridge, aid
Mrs. Paul Phaneuf. $130 00
Bernard Greeley. 37 00
$167 00
Town of Spencer, aid
Isaac Linman,
20 50
Thomas Havey,
12 00
32 50
Town of Hardwick. aid
John Lachapelle,
18 00
City of Worcester, aid
Alfred Bushee,
$30 00
Charles F. Lovely,
42 00
Charles F. Brown,
19 00
91 00
Town of Sutton, aid Paul Bonner.
12 00
Town of Dudley, aid Duffy Grenier,
45 00
Town of Barre, aid Mrs. Sarah Sanderson. 18 00
Town of Millbury, aid Joseph Jacques, 42 00
96
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Town of Douglas, aid X. Roberts, $13 50
Town of Williamsburg, aid Helen L.
Witherell, 39 00
City of Cambridge, aid A. Burkett,
6 28
Geo. F. Northup, produce sold,
118 93
P. H. Carpenter Co., produce sold,
32 81
H. A. Morse, produce sold, 3 75
James Monroe, for hospital charges,
169 46
$809 23
Cash sales at the farm --
C. V. Carpenter,
5 10
M. Bradley,
1 10
James Mason,
1 28
Silas Morse,
15 64
G. Duprey,
1 50
M. Gagnon,
75
Miss Brown,
2 86
Frank Jennison,
1 25
Chauncey Brown,
3 00
Travelling man, apples,
27 50
Lonsway and Goddu, apples, 10 00
Joseph Boovia,
1 25
Clarence Winter,
1 44
.Mrs. P. H. Carpenter,
1 32
J. Robinson, 30
B. Johnson,
24
Mrs. Child,
60
Mrs. Hobbs,
24
G. W. Taylor,
3 60
C. Jackson,
4 20
J. McCarty,
15
Mrs. Geo. Truesdell,
3 00
C. A. Paige,
2 00
John Hanson,
77
Mary Bradford,
21
97
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Everett Brown,
$1 92
John Halpin,
8 00
Joseph Williams,
1 75
Mr. Proulx,
8 46
Frank Northup,
6 25
Zenas Marcy,
1 50
Miss Irish,
1 80
Henry Durfee,
75
$119 79
Short by error,
86
8118 93
Inmates of Almshouse.
Those marked * were inmates March 1.
*John Clark,
aged 89
*Charles Congdon,
aged 49
*Lucy Harding, aged 65
*John Murphy,
aged 71
*Catherine Welch,
aged 79
*Daniel Holden,
aged 74 aged 73
*Sarah J. McColquan,
aged 55
John McCarty, died April 28, 1894,
aged 67
*Catherine Curry,
aged 74
*Thomas Kerwin,
aged 52
* Ann Mitchel,
aged 62
*Frank Folsom,
aged 56
*John Mack,
aged 74
*Caroline Clark,
aged 82
*Lewis Homann,
Alic Scarbeau,
aged 66 aged 28
*Regina Fogle,
98
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Adelia Scarbeau,
aged 21
Alic Scarbeau,
aged 22
Ella Scarbeau,
aged 10
# Ann Coldrick,
aged 59
James Clifford, died Oct. 1, 1894,
aged 55
*Eliza Morrissey,
aged 67
*John Foley,
aged 88
* Catherine Foley,
aged 72
Augustus Burkett,
aged 45
*Julia Carney,
aged 67
C. A. PAIGE, HENRY A. MORSE, CHARLES HYDE.
Overseers.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Fire Engineers.
FIRE ENGINEERS.
To the Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Southbridge :
In compliance with the ordinance pertaining to the Fire Department, I hereby submit my Fourth Annual report. the same being for the fiscal year ending Feb. 28, 1895.
Accompanying this report is a correct and complete record of the department, with amount of expenditures, fires, alarms, losses, insurance, an inventory of all apparatus and material owned by the town and under charge of the Fire Department, with such suggestions and recommendations as are deemed necessary, trusting they will receive careful, unprejudiced consideration.
Manual Force.
The Manual Force: Board of Engineers, Chief, and four Assistants, two steamer companies of fifteen men each, two hook and ladder companies of ten men each, Superintendent of Fire Alarm, fifteen horses subject to the call of the department.
Roll Call of Fire Department.
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
C. E. Wilson, Chief.
B. C. Stone,
First Assistant.
M. Egan, Second Assistant.
Geo. J. Lamoureux, 'Third Assistant and Clerk.
Patrick Flynn, Fourth Assistant.
A. Fyfe Hall. Superintendent of Fire Alarm.
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Steamer & Hose Company, No. 1.
C. W. Mills, Foreman. M. L. Dillaber. Assistant Foreman. H. II. Clemence. Clerk and Treasurer. Chas. P. Phipps. Engineer. Geo. B. Works. Assistant Engineer. Stoker.
Joseph Bebo. Wm. P. Felton.
Steward.
HOSEMEN.
E. L .. Gay. Robert E. Moore,
Franklin Cady,
1 .. E. Davis, Geo. T. Armes, Charles F. Marble,
Jas. W. Marble. Arthur W. Davis. Substitute. W.m. E. Northup.
Hook & Ladder No. 1.
Nelson Gamache, Peter Caplette, -
A. M. Higgins, Louis Duquette, Jos. Therricanlt.
Ozias Patnaude. John Coggins, Louis Peloquin.
Foreman. Assistant Foreman. Clerk and Treasurer. James K. Egan. Thos. McGrath,
Substitutes, Geo. II. Chaffin, F. Favro, Edmond Hetu.
Steamer & Hose Company, No. 2.
John Hefner, Robert Wardle. Chas. W. Hall. Jas. A. Ryan, Lawrence Flynn. John Splaine.
Foreman and Steward. Assistant Foreman. Clerk and Treasurer. Engineer. Assistant Engineer. Stoker. -
HOSEMEN
Geo. Thayer. George Simpson. Alex. W. Paton.
Luke Reilley, Munroe Walters, William Walters.
Harry Hardenber. Geo. Burrough, Stermins Herber.
103
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Hook & Ladder No. 2.
John T. Hoben, -
Edward Splaine. John Brennan,
Foreman. Assistant Foreman. Clerk and Treasurer. :
John F. Cuddihy.
John J. Hogan. Michael Breen,
W. F. Kennedy.
Thos. Cuddihy, M. W. Kelley,
Thos. Brennan.
Substitutes, Patrick H. Fitzpatrick, Patrick F. Delehanty.
...
Fires and Alarms.
. There were twelve alarms with one general alarm.
May 10, 7.02 p. m. Box 42. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in dwelling owned by F. O. Letcher. Damage $15.00. Insurance, $15.00. Recall 7.07 p. m. Fire in sleeping room. Cause, unknown.
May 16, 2.05 p. m. Box 28. No. 2 companies responded. Brush fire on land owned by A. J. Bartholomew.
May 25, 7.30 p. m. Box 34. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in house owned by C. E. Monroe. . Damage $10.00. Insurance $10.00. Recall 7.33 p. m. Cause, explosion of kerosene łamp.
June 8, 2.11 p. m. Box 36. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in laundry building owned by L. Reynolds. No damage. Recall 2.15 p. m. Cause, fire in gasoline generator. July 3, 6.18 p. m. Box 34. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in barn owned by Cady estate. No damage. Recall 6.21 p. m. Cause, children playing with matches.
July 4, 1.42 a. m. Box 36. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in shed owned by L. Morton estate. Damage $40.00. In- surance, $40.00. Recall 1.45 a. m. Cause, incendiary.
104
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Oct. 21, 6.16 p. m. Box. 24. No. 2 companies responded. Fire in house owned by W. E. Alden estate. Damage $1,330.00. Insurance, $1,030.00. General alarm at 6.25. · No. 1 companies responded, followed by a recall at 7.06 p. m. Cause, defective open fire-place.
Oct. 25, 9.18 a. m. Box 42. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in barn owned by David Boucher. Damage, $190.00. Insurance, $190.00. Recall 9.41 a. m. Cause, unknown.
Nov. 18, 6.21 p. m. Box 42. No. 1 companies responded. Chimney fire in dwelling owned by G. W. Wells. No damage. Recall 6. 34. p. m.
Dec. 6, 5.08 a. m. Box 34. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in harness shop, building owned by Whitford estate. Damage, $25.00. Insurance $25.00. Recall 5.24 a. m. Cause, defective flue.
Dec. 18, 7.34 a. m. Box 38. No. 1 companies responded. Dwelling owned by L. Morton estate. Damage $950.00 Insurance, $950.00. Recall 8.06 a. m. Cause, defective flue.
Jan. 26, 1895, 3.26 p. m. Box 34. No. 1 companies responded. Fire in carriage repository owned by E. B. Cummings. Damage, $120.00. Insurance, $120.00. Recall 3.30 p. m. Cause, explosion kerosene stove.
Appropriation and Expenditures.
RECEIPTS.
Balance to credit of account March 1, 1894, $66 82 Appropriation, 1200 00
$1266 82
105
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
EXPENDITURES.
Hamilton Woolen Co., horses, year
ending 1894, $84 00
Geo. Faulkner, for board, 3 00
Cole Bros., repairs on steamers. 26 45
Southbridge Press, printing, 11 75
Jos. Ouimette & Son, repairs, 10 60
E. C. Ellis, coal, 24 00
Desrosiers & L'Homme, repairs, 9 45
Gilbert Dupuis, repairs on coats, 2 00
J. M. & L. D. Clemence, two ladders, 4 25 W. C. Lewis, supplies to Dec. 29, '94, 6 40 W. P. Plimpton, supplies, 5 25
Stone Estate, repairs, 26 30
American Optical Co., supplies, 1 76
Smith & Woodhall, repairs, 1 93
Geo. L. Winter, supplies, .75
W. H. Clarke, supplies to Jan. 18, '95, 21 45
Stone Estate, for painting apparatus, 100 00
Southbridge Water Supply Co., 18 00
Julius Gleason, supplies, 4 80
Central Mills Co., sheeting. 1 80
Wm. Booth, coal, 64 46
C. E. Wilson, general expenses, 36 24
A. H. Wheeler, boots, 6 50
Fire and Water, advertising, 3 00
Peter Caplette, repairs, 2 00
J. J. Bowlen, drawing steamer and hose No. 1, 207 00
W. & W. A. Seavey, drawing hook and ladder No. 1. and supply wagon. 102 00
10%
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Hamilton Woolen Co., draw-
ing steamer and hose No. 2. $91 00
I .. D. Vinton, drawing hook and ladder No. 2, 54 50
Southbridge Gas Co ..
33 94
J. Booth & Co., painting.
20 10
J. M. & L. D. Clemence. lumber. 1 50
N. S. Viall, storing truck. 13 00
Gas and electric lights. for two months. 5 68
$1004 86
EXPENSE OF FURNISHING NEW ENGINE HOUSE.
Paige. Carpenter. Colburn Co .. carpet. $56 70
S. Williams. three tables. 6 75
W. D. Morse, crockery. 30 20
Pond Desk Co., two desks. 19 00
J. J. Delehanty & Co .. two tables. 24 00
$136 65
EXPENSE ON FIRE ALARM.
J. B. Prescott & Son. 50 standard zincs. $11 75
N. E. Gamewell Co., supplies. 39 50
A. F. Hall. supplies. 1 00
Electric Light Co. of Boston. tools. 14 98
Mutual Gas Light Co .. changing poles and wires. 15 00
Geo. H. Hartwell. 12 primary batteries. 10 00
Hamilton Woolen Co .. vitriol.
21 15
$113 38
$1.254 89
Balance to credit of account March 1. 1895. $11 93
107
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Special Appropriation for Fire Alarm Boxes.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation at Nov. meeting, 1893,
$150 00
EXPENDITURES.
N. E. Gamewell Co., two boxes, gong and wire. $150 00
Salaried Account.
By appropriation,
$1,910 00
EXPENDITURES.
Board of Engineers, Chief ($100) four assistants,
$25 00 each,
$200 00
Two engineers for steamers.
100 00 each. 200 00
Two assistant engineers for steamers,
50 00 each, 100 00
Two stokers,
50 00 each.
100 00
Two stewards,
75 00 each.
150 00
Four foremen,
35 00 each,
140 00
Four assistant foremen,
30 00 each,
120 00
Thirty-six hose and ladder men,
25 00 each,
900 00
$1,910 00
Inventory of Apparatus.
The apparatus in service consists of two steam fire engines, two hose carriages, two hook and ladder trucks, one supply wagon, one portable fire escape, one life net canvas, one Siamese coupling with discharge pipe, two perfection nozzle holders, 3.400 feet of leather hose, 800 feet rubber lined hose, and the
108
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Gamewell Fire Alarm System, which consists of two steam whistle machines, two steam gongs with apparatus necessary to operate the same, sixteen signal boxes with fourteen and one- half miles of covered number nine wire, nine gongs in the en- gine houses and livery stables, two standard galvanometers. sixty cups of battery with all necessary apparatus, and twelve primary batteries to operate sub-lines and clock.
Electrician's Report.
TO THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
Gentlemen :- The Fire Alarm system has given very little trouble this year, and has given but two unavoidable blows, one June 20, when wire broke on S. Main street, and one August 30, caused by a defective zinc.
All other irregular blows were caused while making repairs or changing wires, except on June 19 when a tapper was tam- pered with causing two blows at the Globe and one in the Town.
One new tapper has been added, (May 26, Assistant Engi- neer Flynn's house), and two boxes, No. 35, junction Charlton roads, June 27, and No. 39, Hillside Park, June 19, and would recommend the addition of a box at corner Everett and Park streets, and one on the Flat, as these parts of the town are some distance from a box, also one (1) indicator in each engine house, which would always locate the fire, even though there should be no steam. We have had twelve alarms of fire with but one general alarm, and in six cases the recall was sounded within five minutes.
The efficiency and reliability of the system would be much better if the circuit was divided into four circuits. The boxes on two circuits, one for each end of the town, and each whistle
109
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
on a separate circuit, then a break or trouble on one circuit would not disable the entire system as at present, and would greatly facilitate the finding of any trouble.
HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES.
1894.
May 19. 50 coppers, 1 coil No. 9 iron wire, 300 No. 14 copper wire.
Sept. 8. 50 zincs.
Sept. 13. 470 lbs. blue vitriol.
Oct. 15. 15 zines in exchange for old zincs.
1895.
Feb. 9. 50 zincs.
Battery supplies on hand March 1, 1895, 35 coppers, 64 zincs, 200 lbs. copper chips, 50 lbs. blue vitriol.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW F. HALL, Supt. Fire Alarm.
Southbridge, Mass., March 1, 1895.
Water Supply.
We feel it our duty to call the attention of the citizens to this question.
Last Summer, Pleasant street in Globe Village was wholly unprotected, the only resource, that of Mckinstry Brook, run- ning dry the greater part of the time, leaving property on Pleas- ant, River and Plimpton streets with Pleasure and New Mill - Ponds as their sole protection.
New Mill Pond is, at any time, liable to be and was drawn for a large portion of the Summer.
110
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Had a fire started in this vicinity, it would have necessitated the laying of a long line of hose, which is not practical.
We can but refer our citizens to the time of the large fire in this section. (AAug 6. 1883.) as we firmly believe, had the de- partment the proper water supply. this fire would not have reached such magnitude.
The question of hydrants is an important item to this town, and knowing the Water Supply Co. has failed in putting them sufficiently close. in order to obtain the best possible results in protecting property, would call your attention to remarks made by the Fire Commissioners of Lyun. who. in the course of their visit to Southbridge. said they were surprised to find such magnificent buildings with so few hydrants to protect chem.
In the language of Chief Hopkins of Somerville, one of the oldest and most successful chiefs in the United States, that if no more hydrants were added. Southbridge would. some day. be placed in the same predicament as Hudson. Mass.
The expense may appear large. but. that prevention is easier and better than the cure is just as true, today. as it ever was. and while opportunity for prevention offers. it seems wise that the matter be looked into.
General Remarks.
The fact of the steamers becoming disabled was the cause of great annoyance to your Board. they being condemned, as unfit for use, by the Hartford Insurance Company.
After consulting with the Selectmen, who thought it ad- visable to have new boilers at once, we provided a temporary steamer and advertised for bids on two (2) steam boilers, con- tract for same being given to Stewart Boiler Works of Wor- cester.
111
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Would recommend that the sum of $2,500 be raised to defray expense of the same, also to procure two (2) small hose carriages and hose.
This sum will allow $1,200 for the two new boilers, and a balance to buy hose carriages, which will cost from $75 to $125 each, with 2,500 feet of good, serviceable, rubber lined hose.
Would ask you to consider the matter of the time lost in getting started to a fire; the past year having shown not only to the Board of Engineers, but to the citizens at large, that should two (2) small hose carriages be added to the department. a stream of water could be thrown on a fire in the center of the town and much time saved.
With the new water system it seems practicable to take advantage of the same.
No more men need be added in order to man these extra carriages, as the same men will care for them: while in laying out long lines of hose, as in the cases of the Alden and Morton fires, much valuable time was lost. in having to go back for hose.
The Steamer and Hose No. 2 were painted this year and it is the intention to paint Steamer and Hose No. 1 in order that the apparatus may be in good condition.
The matter of the new engine house being left entirely with the Selectmen, we can say little except that it is just what was needed at that end of the town, and the general opinion seems to be, that it is one of the best fire department stations in this section of the country.
As this building was not furnished, the Board of Engineers attended to the matter, which will be shown by their account.
Regarding the Fire Alarm, we have nothing but words of commendation, and consider this work worthy of the support of every citizen of the town, it being under the efficient care of A. F. Hall, whose report will give all particulars.
We would recommend that the appropriation to meet run- ning expenses be the same as last year, $1,200.
112
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
In conclusion would call your attention to the work done by the department during the past year.
My thanks are due the several members of the board, also to the members of the department for all good work accom- plished during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
C. E. WILSON, Chief Engineer.
GEO. J. LAMOUREUX, Clerk.
19099A JAUMMA
JITTIM
M00 J00H32
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
OFFICE OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
SOUTHBRIDGE, March 13, 1895.
The Chairman and Superintendent presented the annual reports for the school year ending March 2, 1895.
Voted to accept the reports and adopt them as the report of the Committee.
J. T. CLARKE, Secretary.
=
School Officials and Teachers.
School Committee for 1894=95.
GEORGE M. LOVELL,
Term expires 1895
A. J. BARTHOLOMEW.
Term expires 1895
ISAAC P. HYDE,
Term expires 1896
F. X. TETRAULT.
Term expires 1896
REV. S. HAYWARD.
Term expires 1897
REV. J. B. DRENNAN,
Term expires 1897
Officers of School Board.
REV. SILVANUS HAYWARD, Chairman. GEORGE M. LOVELL, Secretary. Regular monthly meeting first Tuesday evening at & o'clock. J. T. CLARKE, Superintendent of Schools and Clerk of the Board. Office, Town Hall. Office Hours : School days, 4 to 5 p. m. ; 7 to 7.30 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings.
Names of Teachers March, 1895.
HIGH SCHOOL. Fred E. Corbin, Principal. Annie M. Goodrich and Frank R. Arnold, Assistants.
116
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Maribelle Curtis. Minnie G. Riley, Alice Holmes. Maud Oldham.
INTERMEDIATE.
Louise O. Twombly, Mary E. Meagher, Jane Farquhar, Mary E. Clemence.
PRIMARY.
Mabel J. Newell, A. Rebecca Rowley, Mrs. S. M. Knight, Agnes M. Meagher, Mary A. Ellis, Mary E. McCabe. Martha Cutting, Maud Joslin, Margaret G. Butler.
UNGRADED.
Ida M. Plimpton, Laura M. Geyer, Mary E. Morse. Mary L. Boardman, Margaret L. O'Hara.
Special Teacher of Drawing. Eva Benham.
.. ....
Report of School Committee.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHBRIDGE:
"Our Common Schools, our Country's Hope" is a senti- ment worthy of being impressed on every heart. A publie system of education free to all classes is certainly one of the principal safe-guards of Liberty, a perpetual fountain of intelli- gence. virtue and strength, pouring streams of life and blessing into every household of the land. We need as citizens to realize that all other municipal interests are small in comparison with this. Especially we need to feel our individual responsibility. The character of the coming generation, to whom are soon to be entrusted all the interests of State and Nation, depends almost wholly upon the faithful discharge of our individual duties as citizens and parents. We cannot throw off responsibility by saying "The Town will take care of the Schools." Individuals make the Town. and the welfare of the children can be secured only as individual parents attend personally to the matter.
Your Committees for fifteen or more years have been con- tinually urging the necessity of better accommodations. Indif- ference and opposition have hitherto prevailed to preventaction. The need is more pressing than ever before. Good citizenship demands of every one an earnest effort to secure the immediate erection of a school building such as was recommended by your special Committee of two years ago.
To provide commodious, well-furnished buildings, good teach- ers, suitable supervision, and generous supplies to meet running expenses is the sine qua non for all schools. Citizens who have. done this have so far done well. But parents especially should remember that this is not all. Beyond this, in the management of their children, and in their personal relations .. to the schools
118
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
and the teachers, they can do very much to help or hinder suc- cess. They should cultivate friendly relations with the teach- ers. and place confidence in them, assuming, as a matter of course, that they are seeking the best welfare of the pupils. Parents can never be justified in speaking ill, or slightingly of teacher or Superintendent in the presence of their children. To do so is to inflict a life-long injury on the child, and oftentimes to bring disaster to the school. Children should never be per- mitted to tell at home anything unpleasant occurring in school, except what concerns their own conduct and success. Parents are entitled to know, and should take pains to know, all that pertains to their own children both in scholarship and deport- ment. If these are nusatisfactory, they should at once seek a remedy. In all cases of faulty deportment, and in most cases of defective scholarship, the difficulty is with the pupil himself, and parents have far more power than teachers to remedy these evils. With the too frequent opposition of parents the best teachers are rendered almost helpless.
"To err is human, " and teachers are no exception to the rule. But parents should never catch up flying reports, nor accept without investigation the statements of the most truth- ful children. Conscientious pupils often fail to see or under- stand the exact facts as the teacher knows them. Not unfrequent complaints are made by parents when their children are dis- ciplined, because definite charges of some specific act are not furnished. They fail to realize what every experienced teacher is familiar with, that pupils frequently deserve the severest dis- cipline although no particular offence can be specified. The general tone and spirit of a child is often so insolent and un- ruly as to do more harm in a school than many specific acts of insubordination. The greatest perplexity arises when consid- erate parents, after candid and thorough investigation, become convinced that a teacher is unjust or unwise in discipline, or incompetent as an instructor. In the former case, a full and friendly expression to the teacher in regard to what seems to be
119
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
wrong, manifesting only a sincere desire for what is right, will nearly always secure the desired result. When this fails, or in case of apparent incompetence, parents should make a complete and candid statement of facts to Superintendent or Committee, remembering however, that only in rare circumstances can rem- edies be immediately effective. Forbearance and patience are needed while time is allowed to accomplish the work. These suggestions may seem to some too obvious to require expression here. But experience teaches that we all do need to be re- minded again and again, of the simplest and most primary truths.
We believe there is progress in the schools from year to year, for which great credit is due to the faithful assidnity of our Superintendent. Neither rashly changeable, nor stupidly conservative, he brings into practice, as far as present means and accommodations permit, the best suggestions of the wisest educators of today. We believe the Town has made no wiser or more paying investment than that by which we have secured and retained his valuable services. Advance, not by sudden revolution, but by healthy growth, is the constant aim of both Superintendent and Committee.
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