USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1900 > Part 3
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676 80
C. Kelley, 1898,
833 02
A. S. Megathlin, 1899,
2,587 07
C. Kelley, 66 1899,
3,316 29
2 60
A
1 00
57
Received from A. S. Megathlin, Collector 1900, $4,417 86 C. Kelley, 1900, 4,682 21
$35,132 93
J. H. Paine, in account with the Town of Harwich : Cr.
Paid Clerk, attending with Auditors,
$3 00
66 preparing tally sheets, -5 50
services at 3 special meet- ings, 4 75
Election Day, 2 50
" . meeting with clerks at So.
Dennis,
1 25
$17 00
Samuel Small, insurance . on
school house furniture, $37 50
A. L. Weekes, insurance on school houses, 86 75
124 25
Stationery for Clerk and Treasurer's office,"
7 68
Clerk, recording 52 deaths, $21 75
66
35 births, 17 50
66 27 marriages, 5 40
44 65
Postage stamps,
8 09
Expressage,
3 35
B. F. Bee, printing official ballots,
9. 00
Levi Long, return of 15 deaths, $3 75
J. B. Steele, 4 1 00
4 75
Justice's services,
5 25
G. W. Ellis, transporting ballot box, etc., 1 00
Return of Births by Physicians :
Paid Dr. D. R. Ginn, 4,
$1 00
Dr. Cummings, 1,
25
Salome Eldredge, 2, 50
58
Paid Dr. Edmonds, 11, $2 75
Dr. Handy, 2,
50
Dr. Rogers, 2,
50
$5 50
Order District Court :
E. H. Bearse,
$15 38
E. S. Bradford,
83
E. B. Hutchings,
3 55
Interest Malden Savings Bank, on notes,
$100 00
Interest S. A. K. Turner's note,
31 19
C. C. F. C. S. Bank, « 97 92
66 Grade Crossing loan, 40 70
County tax, E. L. Chase, Treas.,
Note, C. C. F. C. S. Bank,
$1,000 00
66 66 60 2,000 00
66
66 60 1,000 00
66 Malden Sav. Bank, No. 4, 500 00
66 S. A. K. Turner, 1,000 00
5,500 00
Clerk's horse hire on town business,
2 00
State Tax, 1900, to State Treas.,
690 00
National Bank Tax, 66
2,313 76 -
Second Grade Crossing Assessment to State Treasurer, 508 80
State, for delay of Overseers in making pauper returns, 4 00
Outstanding town orders of 1899,
18 78
Town orders of 1900,
18,670 28
State Aid orders, 1900
1,644 00
Cash on hand, Jan. 15, 1901,
2,940 59
$35,132 93
Respectfully submitted,
JOSHUA H. PAINE, Treasurer.
19 76
269 81 2,320 63
59
HARWICH, MASS., Jan. 15, 1901.
Your committee to settle the year's accounts with the Treasurer, Joshua H. Paine, have this day examined each and every account and voucher in his custody, and have also examined his bank account and funds and find them correct.
JOSEPH K. ROBBINS, THEOPHILUS B. BAKER, JR., JAMES M. MOODY, Committee.
AUDITORS' REPORT.
We, the undersigned, Auditors of the Town of Harwich; have examined the books, bills and all accounts of the town officers for the year 1900, and find them correct.
THEOPHILUS B. BAKER, JR., JAMES M. MOODY,
Auditors. Harwich, Jan. 15, 1901.
60
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT OF BIRTHS Recorded in Harwich in the year 1900.
DATE
NAME OF CHILD
NAME OF PARENTS
Jan. 20
Cyrenus Alonzo
25
Marion Stanley
Feb. 5 Daughter
16 Forest Nathaniel
Mar.
4
John
Forest N. and Jennie E. Smith John and Millie Fernande . Illegitimate
11 Daughter
Apr. 14
Son
Illegitimate
16 Florence Maria
22 Son, died unnamed
26 Daughter
May 10 Ruth Young
16
Dwight L.
June 7 Archelus Henry
12 Marion Elizabeth
July 1 Asseneth Brooks
Aug. 3 Beatrice Mildred 11 Ruth Elizabeth Anna
11 22 Gladys Pearl
29
Margaret Frances
Sept. 8
Laura Lillian
24
Mary Clara
30 Daughter
Oct. 5 Millard Parker
13 Osmyn
18 Lucile Wellington
23 Warren Dudley
Nov. 1 Lizzie
1 Ben
9 Hugh Sears
22
Sony
22
Son
Dec.
1 Bertram Wallace
16 Son
29
John
Darius A. and Cyrena B. Clark Walter M. and Mira L. Garfield Stillborn
Rufus H. and Eliza M. Eldridge Winfield C. and Inez Higgins Illegitimate
Clifton C. and Jane C. Nickerson Frank H. and Florence B. Emery Charles H. and Alice M. Cahoon Ernest L. and Geneva M. Cole Frank F. and Laura Thompson William H. and Gertrude I. Ellis Marshall E. and Ella H. Kelley Louis and Mary Noons
Sidney A. and Orinda J. Chase Fred W. and Matilda D. Baker Wilber F. and Bertha E. Bassett Joseph B. and Alseno K. Atkins Herbert F. and Kathlin Berry Charles D. and Annie L. Hall Osmyn and Lillian M. Berry Thomas W. and GenevaC. Kendrick Chas. A. and Geneva A. Eldredge Louis and Clara Lopes Antone and Balbina Ranes Hugh R. and Clara P. Fugerson DariusM.Jr. & Emeline B. Nicker- Geo. H. and DeliahB. O'Brien [son Isaiah W. and Lionne E. Eldredge Leston S. and Geneva Small Manuel and Mary Antone
61
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT OF MARRIAGES Recorded in Harwich in the year 1900.
DATE
NAME OF PARTIES
AGE
RESIDENCE
Jan. 10
Charles F. Freeman, Jr. Edna B. Baker
27
Chatham
22
Harwich
10
William N. Eldredge
22
Harwich
Mary T. Woodhouse
25
Harwich
22
Antone Ranes
23
Harwich
Balbina Fernande
19
Harwich
Feb. 20
Jacob B. Aldrich
29
Harwich
Chestena L. Gillion
30
Harwich
Mar.
4
Byron D. Small
24
Harwich
Annie G. Eldredge
19
Dennis
Apr. 25
Walter I. Hammond Lillian M. Small
19
Harwich
May 24
Benjamin F. Bassett Myra T. West
19
Dennis
June 19
Albyron Ellis
45
Harwich
Mary C. Corrigan
28
Harwich
27
George R. Thacher Maud M. Hall
22
Harwich
July
1
George E. Small Phebe L. Taylor
27
Harwich
4
Charles R. Adams Sally G. Friese
32
Boston
9
Charles G. Wood Elizabeth Driscoe
30
Cambridge
29
Cambridge
25
Chatham
30
Dennis
23
Brewster
46
Orleans
66
Boston
62
DATE
NAME OF PARTIES
AGE
RESIDENCE
Aug.
9
Joseph W. Bassett Nellie Viola Knights
29
Harwich Harwich
16
Erastus Chase
74
Harwich
Mary A. Melne
53
Fort Scott, Kan.
22
Edward N. Small
38
Brewster
Eva A. Cahoon
20
Harwich
23
Antone Correa Jennie Rosa
23
Harwich
Sept.
9
William R. Cahoon
48
Harwich
Mabel G. Russell
26
Wareham
10
George E. Kendrick Mary E. Baker
34
Wellfleet
Oct. 10
Jacob Warren Lee Alice M. Stone
28
Manchester, Mass. Harwich
13
Edward L. Clark
23
Chatham Dennis
17
Samuel M. Atwood Love C. Martin
47
Harwich
22
Eugena Pena Carlotta Derosa
20
Harwich
24
Merton E. Bassett Lelia Newcomb
18
Harwich
Nov. 28
Seth H. Rogers Emily W. Swift
63
Brewster
54
Harwich
Dec. 23
George Byron Stearns Nellie M. Nickerson
19
Chatham
20
Harwich
1
18
Harwich
Minnie B. West
19
66
Chatham
24
Harwich
32
Harwich
.
30
24
Harwich
25
63
DATE
NAME OF PARTIES
AGE
RESIDENCE
Dec. 25
George R. Donnell Julia C. Small
42
44
No. Attleborough Harwich
28
Harry A. West Grace P. Chase
26
Taunton
22
Harwich
64
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT OF DEATHS Recorded in Harwich in the year 1900.
DATE
NAME OF PERSON
AGE y. m. d.
CAUSE OF DEATH
Jan. 13
Zadella M. Kelley
11 10
3
Consumption
17
Zebina H. Ellis, Jr.
62
3
Acute Gastritis
19
Justina Jasen
7
Congestion of Lungs
Feb.
5
Evelyn Burgess
59
3:21
Gangrene
15
Albert Gomes
6
6 Meningitis
25
Austin Baker
91
3 Old Age
Mar.
2 Sarah K. Robbins
72
Cancer
9
Mary Nickerson
82
Pneumonia
10
Chester M. Hopkins
26
3,29 Pneumonia
14
Jacob W. Aldrich
70
10 General Debility
15
Ralph S. Gage
7
1
1 Membraneous Croup
17
Susan M. Doane
63
8
4 Acute Bronchitis
24
Roxanna Durfee
75
Old Age 8
24
Frank Stimpson
75
5
.9 Pneumonia
31
Eliza E. Ellis
48
5
6
Pneumonia
Apr.
2
Patience C. Butler
53
Chronic Bronchitis
12
Freeman D. Ellis
64
LaGrippe
27
Roy D. Gage
9 9|24
Membraneous Croup
29
Zebina H. Howland
35 10
1
Consumption
29
Elkanah B. Long
59
6 Vital Degeneration
19
BenjaminBassett [gins 58
7 12
Uremia
29
Sylmada Gomes
1
9
1 Meningitis
June
7 Joseph A. Lopes
26
6 Tuberculosis
9
Henry L. Sparrow
65
Typhoid Fever
20
Elizabeth Kelley
63,10
4 Gall Stones
21
Anna Rosa
10 29
Pneumonia
24 Benjamin Correa
2
1
Inanition
25
Bathsheba Grew
86
5
8 Vital Degeneration
30
Alice M. Small
45
2 Ovarian Abscess
July
4 Charles R. Adams
66
4 23
Vital Degeneration
14
Olive N. Kelley
77.10 4 Heart Disease
16
Jabez Crowell
90
13
Old Age
30
Michael B. Chase
73.10,18
Pneumonia
May
11 Male (unnamed) Hig-
14 Spina Bifida
65
DATE
NAME OF PERSON
AGE y. m. d.
CAUSE OF DEATH
July
19
Betsey Snow
84
Pneumonia
28
Frank H. Washburn
48
5.26
Tuberculosis
Aug.
7
Edson E. Bassett
31
7 10
Consumption
21
William M. Eldredge
71
7 15
General Debility
22
Franklin J. Pierce
1 11 14
Meningitis
27
Rhoda Kendrick
76
21
Gastritis
Sept. 14
Rosanna Nickerson
64
9 Heart Disease
21
Henrietta Shorley
33
8 Abscess of Kidney
22
Matthew Baker
67|11
15 Cerebral Hemorrhage
Oct.
30
Margaret F. Baker
2
Marasmus
Nov.
15
Madonna T. Sisson
1
13
Convulsions
17
Lucinda Chase
73
Heart Failure
18
Mary C. Ellis
28
Accidental Poisoning
24
Eliza T. Ellis
81
7
General Debility
Dec.
2
Rebecca G. Nickerson 58
Heart Disease
12
Mary E. F. Welch
23
Mitrel Regurgitation
19
James Nichols
107
11 24
Old Age
31
Mary G. Taylor
50 11 15
Carcinoma Mammae
REMARKS.
BIRTHS.
The number of births recorded the past year has been seventeen less than the previous year. It is somewhat re- markable to notice how equally the gender is divided in the number of births given ; the total number being thirty-five, showing seventeen males and eighteen females. The parents of five children failed to have their children named at the close of the year, much to the regret of the Clerk, as it is his aim to have a perfect and complete record each year. The records of births in past years show too many blank H-5
66
spaces where the christian name ought to have been placed, because parents had not their children named at the time when the Clerk was collecting the births for record.
MARRIAGES.
Twenty-seven marriages have been returned for record the past year, nine less than the previous year. The age of the oldest groom is seventy-four years ; oldest bride is fifty- four. Youngest groom is eighteen, youngest bride 'is eighteen. The marriage rites were performed by thirteen different clergymen and one Justice of the Peace. The number married by each is as follows : Rev. Mr. Chase, 6 ; Rev. Mr. Rowley, 5 ; Rev. Mr. Woodward, 2; Rev. Messrs. Eddy, Nicholls, Tirrell, Hollingshead, Bradley, Hill, Hink- ley, Smith, Ford and Hastings, one each. J. H. Paine, Justice of the Peace, 4.
DEATHS.
The death rate was quite large in 1900, nine more than were entered in 1899, the total number being fifty-two. The leading cause of death appears to have been pneumonia. The oldest male person, according to the physician's certifi- cate of the cause of death, was one hundred and seven years. There is no record of any person ever before reaching that remarkable age in this town, and it is doubtful if such an extreme age was ever reached by any person in the county before. The oldest female is recorded as eighty- four years old at time of death.
67
TOWN CLERK'S DOG LICENSE ACCOUNT.
Number and account of dogs licensed during the year 1900 :
Male dogs licensed, 98
Female dogs licensed,
7
Total number, 105
Total amount received for licenses,
$231 00
Clerk's fees for issuing licenses deducted, 21 00
Balance paid County Treasurer,
$210 00
Retained by County to pay damages by dogs, 20 89
Amount returned to the town by County Treas- urer, Jan. 10, 1901,
$189 11
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. PAINE,
Town Clerk.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE
TOWN OF HARWICH,
MASS.,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, -
1900,
HARWICH, MASS. : ALTON P. GOSS, STEAM PRINTER. 1901.
1
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee organized Feb. 17 by the choice of G. N. Munsell, chairman, and W. F. Sears, secretary and treasurer. W. F. Sears having resigned on May 26, Thomas H. Nickerson was elected to fill the vacancy.
The schools of the town have been in session thirty-four weeks, and the High School forty weeks.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
SCHOOL CENSUS OF HARWICH, SEPT. 1, 1900.
Number of boys between the ages of five and fifteen, 207 66 girls 66 161 66
Total, 368
Number of boys between the ages of seven and four- teen, 155 、
Number of girls between the ages of seven and four- teen,
116
Total, 271
TEACHERS' SALARIES, 1900.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Paid Herman N. Knox, $750 00
280 00
Caroline E. Howe, Edith H. Moore,
120 00
72
HARWICH CENTRE.
Lillian E. Moore, . $340 00
Tamson D. Eldridge,
340 00
Minerva A. Bearse,
327 50
HARWICH PORT.
Mary E. Ellis,
105 00
Mary E. Welch,
184 80
Carrie Crowell,
12 25
Abbie S. Baker,
252 50
Flora P. McKenney,
15 00
WEST HARWICH.
Bertha A. Atkins, 240 00
Eliza D. Howes,
100 00
Helen R. Ellis,
327 50
NORTH HARWICH.
Sarah L. Howes,
330 00
PLEASANT LAKE.
Josephine E. Marrs,
240 00
Sarah E. Clark, 100 00
EAST HARWICH.
Beulah M. Eldridge,
320 00
SOUTH HARWICH.
Grace M. Parkinson, 220 00
Alice M. Leadbetter, 100 00
$4,704 55
73
JANITORS' SALARIES.
N. C. Underwood,
$145 50
Benj. D. Smith,
75 75
Jos. Ashley,
72 75
Benj. F. Hall,
42 00
Edwin F. Ryder,
19 00
William H. Ellis,
57 00
Alpheus Doane,
8 00
Edward E. Doane,
31 00
Lloyd C. Nickerson,
12 00
Elisha Doane,
57 00
$520 00
FUEL.
CENTRE.
Watson B. Kelley, coal,
$41 58
Kendrick & Bearse, coal, 59 50
$101 08
HARWICH PORT.
Watson B. Kelley, coal and wood,
67 16
WEST HARWICH.
J. A. Baker, wood,
1
$6 00
T. L. Snow, wood,
4 50
Jas. Raymond, coal,
66 50
77 00
NORTH HARWICH.
Edwin F. Ryder, wood,
$1 10
Austin E. Baker, wood,
3 00
Joseph Raymond,
43 50
47 60
74
PLEASANT LAKE.
Joseph Raymond, coal,
$42 72
EAST HARWICH.
Kendrick & Bearse, coal, $36 00
Jabez Crowell, Jr., wood, 5 50
41 50
SOUTH HARWICH.
Kendrick & Bcarse, coal, $21 00
Elisha Doane, wood, 1 50
22 50
Total,
$399 56
REPAIRS IN SCHOOLROOMS, &C.
CENTRE SCHOOLS.
N.C. Underwood, repairs, cleaning, &c., $25 04
Everett Ellis, cleaning, 3 50
J. F. Tobey, supplies, 4 50
Alpheus Howes, supplies, 8 49
H. N. Knox, supplies, 4 33
Edgar F. Bassett, repairs, 75
$46 61
HARWICH PORT.
Benj. D. Smith, cleaning, repairs, &c., $12 57 S. B. Kelley, supplies, 1 18
Geo. D. Smalley, Jr., supplies, - 4 40
S. K. Sears, supplies, 50
75
F. A. Small, repairing pump,
$2 15
Watson B. Kelley, supplies,
52
David A. Eldredge, carting,
1 75
W. N. Eldredge, repairing desks,
1 50
WEST HARWICH.
Clarence H. Nickerson, supplies,
$3 20
Otis E. Kelley, supplies,
1 62
Seth Paine, repairs,
17 55
Alpheus Howes, supplies,
1 75
Chas. H. Chase,
14 00
W. K. Adams, tuning organ,
5 00
Marion Howland,
8 00
Joseph Ashley,
1 76
F. C. Chapman,
4 95
57 83
NORTH HARWICH.
Benj. F. Hall, repairs,
$5 25
Alpheus Howes, supplies,
4 58
J. M. Moody, supplies,
52
C. H. Chase, repairing pump,
12 85
Edwin F. Ryder, repairs, etc.,
2 90
Joseph A. Snow, repairs,
60
S. Kelley, repairs,
6 60
1
30 30
PLEASANT LAKE.
W. H. Ellis, repairs,
$10 35
Alpheus Howes, supplies,
3 10
Sheldon K. Crowell, labor,
1 75
J. M. Moody, supplies,
2 15
F. A. Small, repairing pump,
5 90
$24 57
23 25
76
EAST HARWICH.
Walter Emery, repairing pump, $5 50
W. F. Sears, supplies, 30
Chas. A. Eldredge, repairs,
2 75
M. E. Small, labor and repairs,
9 66
J. M. Moody, supplies,
2 06
Geo. D. Smalley, Jr., labor,
1 50
T. Freeman, supplies,
20
Jabez Crowell, cleaning, etc.,
8 79
$30 76
SOUTH HARWICH.
Elisha Doane, supplies and cleaning, $11 42
W. F. Sears, supplies and travel- ling expenses,
4 07
S. B. Moody, supplies,
75
H. L. Crowell & Son, supplies,
81
F. A. Small, repairing pump,
2 25
19 30
$232 62
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
A. P. Goss, printing and advertising, $20 00
S. W. Rogers, taking school census, 14 00
McConnell School Supply Co., cloth, paint, etc., 19 65
Wm. A. Eldridge, labor on schoolrooms, 11 70
Geo. N. Munsell, rent of supply room for 2 years, 20 00
S. K. Sears, ribbon for diplomas, 1 35
E. H. Bearse, truant officer,
7 50
W. F. Sears, expenses to Boston,
5 00
Ebenezer Weeks, labor on cabinets,
18 00
77
W. F. Sears, material for cabinets, $25 15
N. C. Underwood, labor and carting cabinets, 3 45
$145 80
SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY.
Superintendent's salary for the year,
$750 00
To be refunded by the State, 625 00
Actual cost of Superintendent, Appropriation, $125.00.
$125 00
SUPPLY AGENT'S ACCOUNT.
S. H. Chace, in account with Town of Harwich :
Dr.
Stock on hand, Jan. 1, 1900,
$166 64
School supplies purchased,
457 92
$624 56
Cr.
1
Stock on hand, Jan. 1, 1901,
$158 01
Supplies furnished the schools,
466 55
$624 56
SUPPLIES SOLD.
Town of Eastham, supplies,
$10 31
Hinds & Noble, books,
9 20
Principal H. N. Knox, book,
60
Mrs. Sidney Chase, book,
31
Ida Marks, book,
25
$20 67
78
SUPPLIES FURNISHED.
Average Membership.
Supplies.
Books.
Total.
High School,
49
$38.12
$69.98
$108.10
Centre Grammar,
24
13.88
5.18
19.06
Port
15
15.58
33.87
49.45
West
28
20.64
13.49
34.13
Centre Intermediate,
39
15.94
10.96
26.90
Centre Primary,
32
8.36
13.41
21.77
Port
21
11.06
7.68
18.74
West
66
23
12.93
3.39
16.32
North Mixed,
28
22.72
13.22
35.94
Pleasant Lake Mixed, 40
28.85
14.09
42.94
East Mixed,
25
10.21
34.43
44.64
South
25
14.35
28.90
43.25
Miscellaneous,
5.31
5.31
Totals,
$217.95
$248.60
$466.55
AVAILABLE FUNDS.
Appropriation for school supplies,
$350 00
Books and supplies sold,
20 67
From City of Boston for supplies,
63 50
" State Board of Charity for supplies,
25 00
$459 17
Amount of supplies furnished,
457 92
Unexpended,
$1 25
79
RECAPITULATION.
AVAILABLE FUNDS.
Town appropriation for schools,
$5,000 00
Town appropriation for school supplies, $350 00
From other sources 66
(see report of supply agent), 109 17
459 17
Town appropriation for Superintend-
ent,
$125 00
To be refunded by State for Superin- tendent, 625 00
750 00
Town appropriation for school houses, Dog fund,
200 00
189 68
State school fund,
294 38
$6,893 23
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers,
$4,704 55
Janitors,
520 00
Fuel,
399 56
Superintendent,
750 00
School books and supplies,
457 92
Miscellaneous expenses,
145 80
Repairs on school houses, etc.,
232 62
$7,210 45
Exceeded appropriations,
$317 22
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. N. MUNSELL, D. M. NICKERSON, JR., THOS. H. NICKERSON,
School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
School Committee of Harwich,
GENTLEMEN : I have the honor to present herewith my third annual report, which is the tenth in the series of su- perintendents' reports :
CHANGES DURING LAST TEN YEARS.
It may not be amiss at this time to review hastily the changes that have occurred during these ten years. Statis- tics show that the population of Harwich has decreased from 2734 to 2334; the valuation has increased from $1,019,991 to $1,119,643 ; the number of your schools has decreased from 13 to 12; the number of different pupils in the schools has decreased from 448 to 390 ; the average membership has decreased from 392 to 348; the average attendance has de- creased from 347 to 312; the tax rate for schools has de- creased from .005-15 to about .004-75 (.004-72 in 1898-9) ; the average number of months that the schools are in session has increased from 7 months, 8 days to 8 months, 10 days ; the average wages of female teachers has increased from $32.50 to $37.91 per month, (the average in the State has increased from $48.17 to $52.50) ; the number of Normal trained teachers employed has increased from three gradu- H-6
82
ates to six graduates besides three who have had the advan- tage of some Normal School training.
As regards the quality of the school work I shall make only a few suggestions that are brought out in the reports of my predecessors. Formerly there appears to have been no uniformity of text-books, courses of study, or methods ; teachers' meetings were not held regularly; Drawing was not taught ; slates were in good and regular standing ; there being no outline of work to be performed satisfactorily be- fore completing the grammar schools the admission of pu- pils to the High School had to depend upon a single en- trance examination, a system admitted by all authorities to be unwise and unfair.
The first four superintendents introduced systematic courses of study, uniform text-books in corresponding grades of all the schools, methods were harmonized; teach- ers' meetings held regularly ; the use of filthy slates abol- ished, and pupils were prepared systematically for the High School.
The number of grades in the elementary schools has been reduced from 9 to 8. With the exception of Latin which however was not compulsory, the former first year's work in the High School is now completed in the Grammar School.
A DIFFICULTY OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
So long as Harwich retains the present system of schools that have from four to eight grades she cannot always secure the best teachers in the prime of their usefulness. Occa- sionally we may be more fortunate than is our due and get a superior teacher but we cannot retain such a teacher. For the most part therefore we must depend upon teachers who have had very little experience.
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Before accepting positions candidates consider the num- ber of grades they will be required to teach, as well as the amount of salary they will receive. Women who have es- tablished a reputation as first-class teachers are not often so situated that they are willing to accept a position where the conditions are such that excellent grade work cannot be done, however faithfully they may try. This is the case in an or- dinary mixed school as all progressive teachers in mixed schools will testify. Many such schools do good work, but the same teacher and the same pupils could do better work in well graded schools. Under present conditions it is not only difficult to secure the most desirable candidates but it is equally difficult to retain them when secured. A teacher will resign a position in a school of four grades to accept one at the same salary in a school of two grades even though the latter has twice as many pupils. In a school of two grades she can devote twice as much time to the work of each class and can approach nearer those ideals for which every true teacher is constantly striving.
Besides these disadvantages our elementary schools are in session only thirty-four weeks in the year while many towns and cities require forty weeks. Even at ten dollars per week it makes an appreciable difference to a teacher's sal- ary, whether she teaches thirty-four, thirty-six, or forty weeks.
QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS.
In selecting teachers the following qualifications should have weight, in the order in which they are named: 1st, Character ; 2d, Scholarship; 3d, Training ; 4th, Experience.
1. Character includes not only ethical traits but person- ality, manners, etc. The importance of employing only teachers who by their example lead pupils to form right
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habits cannot be overestimated. In order to determine the character of a candidate a personal interview is essential, for testimonials are seldom, if ever, sufficiently explicit to be relied upon for this, the most essential of all qualifica- tions. It would be good economy for the town to follow the practice of many other towns and send one member of the school board to interview eligible candidates before any one is elected to a position.
2. Scholarship is the next essential, more important, I think, than either training or experience. Even trained teachers may be unable to teach successfully because their intellectual ability is too limited, and they have not that broad culture so essential to the best service. All their efforts must be expended upon preparation of the subject matter of the lessons, and no time is lett for considering the best method for presenting them. They may work long and faithfully, yet their pupils may not develop into strong- minded boys and girls, because, not recognizing the "wheat from the chaff" in the subjects of instruction and in meth- ods, they waste their pupils' time in drills upon non-essen- tials.
3. There was a saying that a "teacher is born, not made," but modern thought upon the subject claims that "a good teacher is both born and made." Whatever natural aptitude for teaching a person may enjoy, professional training is essential for making him the most successful teacher possible, and, in this day of Normal and training schools, we should accept no others.
4. Experience may be valuable if acquired under favor- able conditions, but ten years of continuous experience in a small, isolated, ungraded school that has not been under good supervision is almost sure to be worse than no exper- ience at all.
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On account of the importance of securing the best possi- ble teachers for the salaries that we can pay, the following recommendation was adopted on March 24, 1900 :
"In considering the candidacy of applicants for positions in the Harwich schools, the following qualifications shall be investigated and have weight in the order in which they are named-Character, Scholarship, Training, Experience.
"No teacher shall be elected until after having had a per- sonal interview with one or more members of the School Board, unless circumstances render an interview impractica- ble or unnecessary.
"The following shall be the minimum of professional qualifications required in new teachers :
"For the High School-Graduates of four-year courses in university, college or normal school.
"For Elementary Schools-1, Graduates of two-year courses in Normal School; 2, Graduates of satisfactory training schools ; 3, Teachers who have had two years' suc- cessful experience under supervision.
"Other things being equal preference shall be given to candidates who are qualified to give instruction in elemen- tary music.
PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT AMONG OUR TEACHERS.
Much depends upon the professional spirit of the teacher. If she is alive to the necessity of offering her pupils only the best and feels the need of constantly searching for it, there is no danger that her work will be done poorly or that she will "get into the ruts" and become a mere mechanical, pedantic school-keeper. As an assistance in encouraging the professional spirit which is already highly commendable among our teachers we shall hold meetings every month dur-
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