USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1901-1904 > Part 4
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182.45
182 45
Cohasse street,
22
22
Common schools,
16,823 21
16,542 99
280 22
16,900 00
Contingent account,
6,300 00
7,647 83
3 500 00
Contingent schools,
3,565 24
3,412 57
152 67
3,400 00
Crane street walk,
1 41
1 41
563 23
Eastford road.
224 28
224 28
Eastford road bridge,
44 66
44 66
Electrician,
655 84
84 50
571 34
29 60
29 60
Engine house,
2,057 89
2,057 89
69 64
600 00
Everett street enlvert,
124 02
124 02
Fire department,
2,043 07
2,370 94
3:27 87
2,327 87
Foster street walk.
997 50
1.467 68
470 18
Fourth of July celebration,
3 15
3 15
Goddard couri,
200 00
197 65
2 35
Headstones of Rev. soldiers.
2 50
2 50
High school, -
5,098 58
4,469 25
629 33
4,075 00
Highways,
7,346 82
7,143 75
203 07
7,000 00
Insurance,
1,312 47
1,243 59
68 88
1.300 00
Interest, -
5,964 92
5,667 72
297 20
5,750 00
Land damages re-locating
Main street,
650 00
600 00
50 00
10 30
Lens street sewer,
327 00
337 30
Lovelly street,
200 00
200 00
Main street walk,
1,500 00
1,468 79
31 21
Mechanic street, -
2,000 00
1,357 46
642 54
Memorial day,
100 00
100 00
111 00
200 00
Militia, -
725 00
574 27
150 73
200 00
MyDott fund,
1,081 75
68 37
1,013 38
Outside poor,
9,014 72
9,014 06
66
8,000 00
Pine street ledge,
748 75
360 33
408 42
Pine street walk, east side,
44 84
44 84
Police department,
4,500 00
4,500 00
26 65
314 58
600 00
Preserving town records,
100 00
19 43
80 57
Printing.
1,500 00
1,348 32
151 68
1.500 00
Public library,
2,727 50
2,726 39
1 11
D. F. 2,000 00
Railing highways,
258 02
197 67
60 35
200 00
Repairs farm building,
500 00
402 34
97 66
500 00
Repairing road near G. La- prades,
1,000 00
950 55
49 45
Re-locating Carlton street,
747 50
277 28
470 22
358 40
4,500 00
School apparatus,
329 10
306 32
22 78
250 00
Sewers,
2,541 69
1,531 11
1,010 58
Sewer Committee, plans,
103 86
103 86
Sewer contingent,
561 55
745 67
Sidewalk repairs,
1,146 85
858 59 27 08
288 26
500 00
South street culvert,
27 08
South street gravel walk,
100 00
State aid,
1,839 31
1,138 00
701 31
Street lights, -
7,318 81
1,028 38
290 43
7,000 00
Support poor,
2,596 08
2,374 56
221 52
2,000 00
Special appro. highway be- tween Foster & Central Sts. Town hall contingent,
300 00
96 00
204 00
406 09
800 00
Town pound,
50 00
War relief,
1,301 53
1,320 48
18 95
1.000 00
Water supply,
2,883 25
3,134 71
251 46
2,750 00
Widening Wain St. (old acct.)
78 98
78 98
1.000 00
6 00
994 00
2,093 65
Outstanding obligations re- ported by town treasurer as in 1902.
18,585 00
Totals. -
$127.081 71| $109.240 99
$24,145 26| $4,210 89
$105,587 87
·
80
100 00
Military aid, -
231 00
120 00
Police duty,
26 65
Police station,
500 00
814 58
.
Salaries,
4,000 00
4,358 40
2,000 00
Engine men, -
673 84
609 20
Evening schools. ..
1.320 23
757 00
District court fees,
7 52
7 52
Edwards street walk, -
150 00
150 00
150 00
Enforcement of lignor law,
Hook street walk,
110 00
110 80
$11,979 25
Cemetery improvement,
2,268 28
1,424 04
1,830 13
50 00
Widening Main St (new acct) Unappropriated funds,
.
184 12
600 00
100 00
4,500 00
1,347 83
List of Jurors.
Allard, Joseph A. Angell, Isaac O.
Ammidown, Lucius E.
Beecher, Herbert R.
Boyer, Jr., Alexis
Boardman, Romain Chamberlain, Elmer D.
Chamberlain, Dwight Chace, Emerson E.
Caron, J. Anatole Chapple, John
Chandler, William A.
Chipman, Oliver B. E.
Cronin, Thomas
Coderre, Joseph L.
Cheney, Wm. H. H.
Clemence, Herbert H.
Carney, William M.
Darling, Eugene L. Dennis, Paul
Dresser, George K.
Dresser, George A.
Dresser, George L.
Duquette, Louis N.
Davis, Linus E.
Dalton, Patrick M.
Durfee, Henry D.
Dinan, Henry
Eccleston, William H.
Egan, James K. Egan, Michael Earle, John J. Ewing, W. J.
Freeman, Herbert J. Flood, Mathew Flynn, Lawrence
Geer, Horace L.
Gagnon, Joseph
Goodell, Ulysses A. Gatineau, Felix Gay, Ernest L.
Galipeau, Alfred Harwood, Elmer E.
Hall, Charles W.
Hogan, John J. Hardenber, William E. Hughes, Thomas
Hancock, George
Harrington, John Hancock, Daniel
Hebert, Pitt H.
Herber, Sturmius
Hyde, Charles
Hefner, John E.
Herron, R. F.
Hyde, Alva L.
Johnson, A. Jerome
Jackson, Nathan N.
136
LIST OF JURORS.
Kennedy, William T. Keveny, James
Lamoureux, George E. F. Lusignan, Adolph Lamoureux, Wilfred J.
Olney, W. R. Olds, Alonzo W. Oldham, Harry P.
LeClair, Joseph
Prue, Joseph E.
Lawson, Roger C.
Pelton, Albert L. Plimpton, Manning
Litchfield, Herbert L. Lareau, J. E.
Ryan, Ferd F.
Laricheliere, Arthur
Lamoureux, George J. Morse, Hiram P.
Morrissey, James Merritt, Thaddeus C. Mason, James H.
Morrill, Daniel T.
Torrey, Edwin T.
Morris, Andrew J.
Morse, Silas B.
Troy, Thomas Tetrault, Francis X.
Mansfield, George E.
Vinton, Charles M.
Mason, Henry
Nichols, William E.
Whitney, George C.
Wilcox, Jeremiah
Nichols, Frank B.
Newell, Norvell Norman, Alfred
Lyon, Otis S.
Ryan, John
Ryan, Thomas H. Shumway, Clarence P. Smith, John M. Simpson, George Sutcliffe, Arthur Sanders, J. O.
Williams, Charles W.
ANNUAL REPORT
.... OF THE. . .
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
0
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1902-1903.
F. X. TETRAULT, HENRY WHITTAKER, J. ANATOLE CARON, . GEORGE GRANT. H. B. MONTAGUE. SILVANUS HAYWARD,
Term Expires 1902
. Term Expires 1902
Term Expires 1903
. Term Expires 1903 Term Expires 1904 Tam Expires 1904
OFFICERS OF SCHOOL BOARD.
REV. SILVANUS HAYWARD, Chairman. F. X. TETRAULT, Vice Secretary. Regular monthly meeting first Tuesday evening at S o'clock. J. T. CLARKE, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary of the Board. Office, Town Hall. Office Hours: School days, 3.30 to 4.45 p. m .; 7 to 7.30 Tuesday, and 6.30 to 7.15 Saturday evenings.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHBRIDGE :
The School Committee herewith submit the follow- ing report of the finances of the School Department of the town for the year closing Feb. 28, 1902, together with their recommendation of appropriations for the coming year. As to all matters connected with the policy and management of the Schools the Committee refer to the Report of the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. J. T. Clarke, which is hereby submitted as a part of our Report.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Balance from last year,
$ 751 88
Appropriation, 4,000 00
Tuition from other towns,
346 70
$5,098 58
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Balance from last year,
$ 1,020 21
Appropriation, 15,800 00 3 00
Tuition from other towns,
$16,823 21
CONTINGENT SCHOOLS.
Balance from last year, $4 84
144
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Appropriation,
3,500 00
Books, supplies, etc., sold,
60 40
$3,565 24
APPARATUS.
Balance from last year,
$79 10
Appropriation, 250 00
$306 32
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Balance from last year,
$28 84
Appropriation, 650 00
$678 84
The committee have expended :
HIGH SCHOOLS.
Salaries of teachers, $3,894 25
Janitor and fuel, .
575 00
$4,469 25
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Salaries of superintendent and
145
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
teachers,
$13,310 20
Care of buildings, .
1,584 02
Fuel,
1,374 27
Tuition,
78 00
Transportation,
196 50
-- $16,542 99
CONTINGENT SCHOOLS.
For books,
$602 15
For supplies,
792 28
For repairs,
1,104 91
For incidentals,
913 23
-
$3,412 57
APPARATUS.
For apparatus, chemicals and books of reference,
$306 32
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Teachers, Care of rooms,
$385 50
56 00
Fuel and lights,
34 08
146
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Rent,
35 00 .
Books and supplies,
36 95
Incidentals,
61 67
$609 20
Total expenditures,
$25,340 33
Balance in hands of treasurer, $1,154 64
Books and supplies on hand, not distributed. $597 50
APPROPRIATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
High School-
Teachers,
$3,500 00
Janitor and fuel,
575 00
$4,075 00
Common Schools-
Teachers and Superintendent,
$13,500 00
Janitors,
1,600 00
Fuel,
1,500 00
Tuitions,
100 00
Transportation,
200 00
-- $16,900 00
Contingent Schools-
Books,
$800 00
Supplies,
800 00
Repairs,
700 00.
147
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Indidentals,
1,100 00
$3,400 00 $250 00
Apparatus, Evening schools, $600 00 .
Respectfully submitted in behalf of the Committee. SILVANUS HAYWARD, Chairman, Southbridge, March 11, 1902.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF SOUTHBRIDGE:
Gentlemen: It is my privilege to present to you and through you, to the people of the town of South- bridge the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools. This is the seventeenth of the series of annual reports from this office and the sixteenth of the present Superintendent.
In the report one year ago, attention was called to adverse conditions resulting from lack of school room, and the pressing need of relief. Favorable action was immediately taken by you and later by the town .. The need grows more pressing and it is hoped that the proposed new building will be ready for occupation next September.
STATISTICS.
POPULATION AND VALUATION.
Population of town, U. S. Census, 1900, 10,025 Assessed Valuation of the town, 1901, $4,209,590 00
150
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Number of polls, 1,810
Rate of taxation, $18 20
Valuation of School houses and lots, $109,900 00
Valuation of other School pro- perty, 6,211 00
-- $116,111 00
Number of children between 5
and 15 years of age, Sept. 1900, 2,065
Number between 5 and 15, Sept. 1901, 2,098
ATTENDANCE.
SCHOOL YEAR ENDING WITH JUNE 1901.
Number enrolled in public schools during
the year, . 1,172
Number under 5 years of age, 34
Number over 15 years of age, 73
Number between 5 and 15,. 1,065
Number between 7 and 14, . 703
Average number belonging, 931.07
Average daily attendance 849.66
Per cent. of attendance 91.26
Number of elected teachers employed March
1,1902 33
151
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Number of helpers employed March 1, 1902. . 3
Through the courtesy of the instructors we are able to give the following statistics of the parochial schools :
Number enrolled at the Notre Dame Par- ochial school. 921
Average number belonging .813
Average attendance. 706
Per cent. of attendance. 86.83
Total enrolment at St. Mary's Parochial school. 163
Average number belonging 150
Average attendance. . 137
Per cent. of attendance . 91.33
COST PER PUPIL.
Current expenses, including teaching, fuel,
and care of buildings . $21,012 24
Cost per pupil, based on total enrolment. 17 93 Cost per pupil, based on average enrolment. 22 56 Total expenditures, less permanent repairs. . . 24,244 88
Cost per pupil, based on whole number. 20 68
Cost per pupil, based on average enrolment 26 04 Cost per pupil in High school. 55 86
CORPS OF TEACHERS, MARCH 1, 1902.
NAME.
Salary.
Date of first
election.
Grade.
Educated.
J. T. Clarke
$1,500 1SS6
Supt.
F. E. Corbin.
1,500 1886 Prin. H. S.
Ernest M. Gleason.
600 1900
Assistant.
Edith M. Cook.
600.1902
Laura B. Williams
600 1899
AAda J. Murdock
250 1900
Dartmouth College. Williams College. Dartmouth College. Normal & Colby l. Normal & Boston U. College of Oratory.
Grammar.
Laura E. Shepardson .. Alice Holmes.
520 1897 IX. 520 1878 VII.
Nichols Academy. Palmer High School
Per month
Isabel P. Taylor.
46 1890 VIII.
*Mary E. Meagher.
HANNOVI.
Margaret E. Dougherty Louisa O. Twombly, ... *J. Eva Conner.
44 1892 V.
40 1898 V.
Abigail C. Hitchcock. *1. Rebecca Rowley Mary Page
40 1899 IV.
*Bertha Harwood.
28/1901 IV.
Clara P. Chaco.
40 1896 111.
*Jano Farquhar
40 1887 11 and III.
Martha Cutting
40 15 HI and III.
40 1891 11.
Mary L. Boardman "Nettie V. Stono Mary A. Ellis.
40 1883 1.
"Agnes M. Meagher Susan M. Knight Jennie Simpson.
40 1858 1.
Mary E. MeCabe.
40 1890 1.
Margaret G. Butler
40.1×93 1.
Winnifred M. Kinney ... Gertrude M. Litchfield. Sarah P. Haskell.
36 1901
Mabel C. Teahan
24 1900 Helper.
"Annie M. Simpson Alice Sanders.
24 1900 ٠٠
Alice B. Aldrich.
*Annie F. Eager.
Mrs. H. N. Carpenter
40 1889 Substitute. 50 yr 1896 Drawing. Music.
Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S. Framingham Nor'l. Salem Normal Se. Worcester Normal. Bridgewater Nor'l. Southbridge H. S. Johnson Normal. Southbridge H. S. Brimfield High Se. Quincy Training. Southbridge HI. S. Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S.
40 1898 11 and III.
40 1886 1.
36 1897 1.
36 1896 Ungraded.
36|1901
Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S. . Framingham Nor'l. Quincy Training. Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S. Framingham Nor'l. Southbridge H. S. Westfield Normal. Worcester Normal. Southbridge H. S. Worcester Normal. Normal Art School.
* P. O. Address, Globe Village, Mass.
20 1899
..
40|1897 VI.
40 1898 V.
44 1865 1V.
153
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE.
For School Year Ending Jnne 26, 1901. ·
Grade.
istered.
Number of Girls Reg-
Total Number Regis-
Average Membership
Average Daily
Per Cent of Attend-
Per Cent of Tardiness
to Each Pupil.
Number of Weeks and Days of School.
High School,
34
46
80
70.42
64.75
91.95
$8 00
38-1
Grammar, Marcy street,
1X
18
9
27
20.70
19.15
91.51
6.00
38-1
66
VIII
18
21
39
31.67
29.65
93 63
1.85
38-1
6
VII
22
30
52
41.94
33.63
94.49
2.51
38-1
66
VIe
20
19
39
39.14
37.62
96,12
.86
38-1
66
VIn
27
15
42
38 99
37.07
95.05
2.00
38-1
Ungraded,
-
-
-
10
16
26
15.59
14 00
89.23
2.00
38-1
Ve
17
28
45
39.04
36.42
93.37
2.67
38-1
66
III
38
16
54
45.68
42.75
93.
5.39
38-1
II
29
31
60
49.18
42.29
90.31
4.23
38-1
Ie
32
27
53
41 84
37.36
89.37
2.49
38-1
I-III
22
23
45
32 87
29.17
88.70
4.00
38-1
Elm street.
IV
23
32
55
43.27
39.40
90.97
3 00
38-1
I
29
26
55
37.05
32.84
89.46
1.49
38-1
School street,
IV
15
15
30
27.79
25.93
93 36
4.30
38-1
66
TI III
17
20
37
34.63
31.91
91.59
4.00
38-1
I
25
17
42
31.54
28.01
88.83
4.00
38
River street.
II-III
28
1!
39
30.13|
28.98
96.18
1.00
38-1
16
I
39
26
65
46.38
44.12
94.90
1.54
38-1
Carpenter,
II-III
30
31
61
50 90
47.03
93 82
2.52
38-1 1-2
66
I
46
52
_98
65.12
60.44
92.77
1.24
38-1
Ammidown.
Ungr.
23
21
36.24
23.66
92.80
7.23
38-1
Bacon,
66
6
6
12
9.20
8.10
92.00
7.50
38-2
Hooker,
13
11
24
12.84
11.41
88.87
2.04
38-2
606
566
-1.172 931.07
849.66
91.26
3.35
38-1
At-
tendance.
ance.
2.88
38-1
27
15
42
38.89
35.96
93.67
Main street,
Number of Boys Reg.
istored.
tered.
154
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ATTENDANCE ROLL OF HONOR.
List of pupils reported as perfect in attendance, neither absent nor tardy during the year. Others have always been in their places except when detained by sickness.
Annie Vincellette,
Margaret Tobin,
Oscar Gatineau,
Marion Simpson,
Eugene Tetrault,
Philip Tetrault,
Kathleen Clarke,
Genevieve Demers,
Geo. R. Lombard,
Roy Plimpton,
Arthur Dellage,
Chas. L. Peloquin,
Bretna L. Morse,
Phileas I. Reneaud,
Eugenie Tetrault,
Evon Blais,
Lydie Tetrault,
Winnie May,
James May,
Henry Larent,
Samuel Toppin.
Perfect in attendance two terms :
Rose A. Pinsonneault,
Herman Morse,
Elizabeth Sanders,
Elzear G. Cabana,
Florence Davis,
Everett A. Simmons,
Mary Thimblin,
Alvilda Robillard,
Wm. Farland,
Antoinette Ammidown,
Rock Lepage,
Rosanna English, George Dumas,
Harold Vinton,
Florina St. Martin,
Hector Blair,
Louise Corbin,
Antonio Dellage,
Howard Brackett,
Edith Rowley,
Gertrude Flood,
Anna French,
155
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Tellesphore Leduc,
Israel Leduc,
Arthur Perry,
Winnifred Tully,
Ovella Martin,
Henry Savory.
103 others have been perfect in attendance one term.
The school census of 1901, taken in September, en- rolled 2,098 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years of age-33 more than the enrolment of 1900.
The whole number of pupils registered in the pub- lic schools is 1,172. The total number in the Parochial school is 1,084 making the total enrolment in all the schools 2,256-191 more than the number given by the school census. The number under 5 years of age and over 15 registered in all the schools is 203, showing that nearly all the children of school age were in school.
The number of pupils registered in the public schools thus far during the first term of this school year is 1,182, with "an average number belonging of 1,035 ; 104 more than last year.
The following table shows the statistics for the past ten years.
May En-Total En-|Average Per cent. rolment. rolment in number of attend- ance. the schools belonging.
1892-3
1701
1144
738.94
92.84
1893-4
1783
1187
745.35
93.24
1894-5
1731
1115
777.48
93.66
1895-6
1678
1125
752.40
94.21
1896-7
1651
1242
861.36
93.25
1897-8
1708
1275
870.62
93.81
1898-9
1685
1301
995.42
92.22
1899-1900
2018
1338
924.21
91.77
1900-1901
2065
1198
903.91
91.38
1901-1902
2098
i
1172
931.07
91.26
156
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The financial statement shows a balance to the credit of each account with no outstanding bills.
From other towns the sum of $316.36 has been re- ceived for tuitions of pupils, and $78.00 has been paid for the tuition of children of the Dennison district. The total expenditures of the School Department for the year, not including permanent improvements, and the Evening Schools amounts to $24,244.88.
TRUANT OFFICERS.
The Truant Officers have attended to their duties, responding to the calls of teachers to look after ab- sentees, visiting the homes of delinquents and return- ing boys to their places in school. The excuses gener- ally assigned for absence are illness or lack of cloth- ing.
They report:
Number of visits to schools, 184
Number of calls upon parents, .
551
Boys taken to school, .. 92
Number taken before the court, 0
Number sent to Truant School, 0
PETER CAPLETTE,
JOSEPH JAGGER,
ALBERT BACK, Truant Officers.
157
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Sec. 5. Chap. 496 of the Acts of 1898 requires in towns of 10,000 or more inhabitants the maintenance of public evening schools for the instruction of minors over 14 years of age, in orthography, reading, writing, the English language and grammar, geography, arith- metic, industrial drawing, both free hand and mechan- ical, the history of the United States, physiology and hygiene and good behavior. Such other subjects may be taught in such schools as the School Committee deem expedient.
A further provision of the statutes forbids, under penalty, the employment-while the Evening Schools are in session-of persons under 21 years of age who cannot read and write in the English language, unless such persons are regular attendants of an evening school, or of day schools.
The work of the evening schools the past year was very similar to that of previous years, the majority of those in attendance being able to take only the most elementary course-reading, writing, language and simple work in arithmetic with such incidental in- struction as could be taught correlative to these sub- jects. A few were able to take more advanced studies. A small class composed of pupils who had completed -or nearly so-the Grammar school course in the public schools, had lessons in commercial arithmetic, algebra and history.
It is evident that additional schooling is desirable for a large number of our young people who from
158
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
necessity or otherwise left school at an early age. These would be much benefitted by a higher course in- cluding history, business arithmetic, book-keeping, type writing and mechanical and industrial drawing, but the committee would not be warranted in estab- lishing evening classes for higher grades unless there were a reasonable demand for them.
The general behavior of the pupils was better than in any previous year and highly creditable to all in at- tendance. The average attendance was 87.12 per cent. This is based on the average number belonging. If based on the total enrolment it would be 68.58 per cent, which is much higher than the average of the evening schools of the state which is only 53 per cent. It would be unfair to base the per cent of attendance on the total enrolment from the fact that a consider- able number were in town only a part of the time the schools were in session, and could attend only a part of the time.
Length of term 14 weeks-Three nights per week, Number of schools. 4
Number of teachers employed. .8
Number of pupils enrolled, boys 88, girls 80, total, . 168
Average number belonging 132
Average attendance . 115.21
Per cent. of attendance 71.12
Total cost of the schools for the season $609.20
Cost per pupil .. $3.63
Of the whole number of pupils registered 13 were present at every session, 8 all but one; 12 were absent
159
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
twice, 13 were absent three times and 13 four eve- nings. Thirteen were present less than one half of the time, of whom nine were not in town the whole of the time, and seven others were excused on certificate of a physician.
REPAIRS.
The ordinary appropriation for general repairs was thought to be sufficient to meet the demands for the year, but the Committee on repairs found it neces- sary to do more than was contemplated. On taking out the imperfect parts of the heating stack at Marcy street building, other branches of the castings were found broken making a renewal necessary. It also seemed advisable, while engaged in the work, to put in additional radiating surface to insure readily warming the rooms on the north side. The whole work cost much more than was estimated, $280.75. At the High school department the ceiling and walls of the remain- ing part of the halls and of one recitation room were tinted to correspond with the work done last year. The cost of this was $41.63. A new Jacketed stove was placed in the lower room at the Carpenter school house and a drinking fountain in each school room. This was done at a cost of $114.60. The River street and Elm street buildings were repainted on the out- side; and the walls and ceilings throughout of the Eln
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street, Carpenter and Hooker were re-kalsomined, the total cost being $331.84. £ At the Marcy street building storm porches have been built at the rear entrances at a cost of $48.27. Other general repairs have been made making the total amount drawn for this part of the contingent account $1,104.91, nearly half of which was in the line of permanent improvements. Unless something unusual happens, the ordinary appropri- ation for general repairs will meet the requirements of the coming year.
The Smead furnaces at the Main street and School street buildings have done good service for thirteen years. They are now somewhat out of repair and must be put in order before another season.
ATTENDANCE.
The statistics of attendance given in this report are for the school year ending in June, 1901. The record is about the same as for two preceding years, and lower than it ought to be. A large majority of the pupils are commendably regular in attendance. The record is lowered by the irregularity of a few. It is of the utmost importance that the habit of punctu- ality be formed early in life, and this is an essential element of the discipline of the schools. In any line of business the employed are expected and required to be on time. In school one day's work is closely de- pendent upon another, and the loss is not confined to
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the one who is irregular in attendance, but the prog- ress of the whole class is materially affected. Parents have a large responsibility in the matter of regularity of attendance and we earnestly request their co-opera- tion.
A large class of children leave school as soon as they reach the age when they can be employed, and many drop out later in the course. Of a class of 23 entering the High school in 1898, only 6 remains in the class for graduation. Credit is due the boy or girl who, at the call of necessity and duty takes up the burden of life as bread winner, but if from choice the opportunity of gaining an education in youth is delib- erately neglected, the mistake will be a cause of deep regret in later life when it may be too late to rectify it.
During last fall term many of the schools at the center of the town were greatly over-crowded, the average number belonging being 100 more than during the preceding year. This congestion was somewhat relieved by retaining the Globe Village division of grade 5 at School street and transferring grade 4, us- ually attending at Elm street building, to Marcy street. During the winter the number in attendance has been considerably less, many children, evidently, being kept at home for fear of exposure to contagious disease. With too large a number of pupils in one room, even with the assistance of a helper, satisfactory work can- not be done. The most favorable conditions are where the class is of such a size that the regular teacher can do the work well, and can become thoroughly ac- quainted with the peculiarities and needs of individual
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pupils. In the last report of the State Board of Edu- cation we find: "Fifty is altogether too large a num- ber for one teacher to care for. Sometimes the burden of the single teacher rises to 60 and even 70 or more pupils-an imposition upon the teacher, an injustice to pupils and parents and a reproach to the town."
DISCIPLINE.
Good discipline is a primary condition of a good school. The idea of what constitutes an orderly school is very different from what it was years ago. Then effort was directed to controlling the children rather than teaching them to control themselves. In the class room we do not now look for the old time pin- drop quiet, but rather expect the rustle and hum of untrammeled werk. The discipline in most of our schools is excellent, the pupils quiet, orderly and in- dustrious, with very little or nothing said about it by the teacher; the looks and manner of the children show a ready and cheerful response to the will of the teacher, the work in hand always more attractive than any mischief. During recitation we find the pupils generally alert and attentive and during study periods diligently at work. As a rule the children like work and like to be in school. Much attention is giv- en to neatness and orderliness in daily work and to economy in use of materials.
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