USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1906 > Part 3
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Balance,
$2,211.61
Town funds,
2,011.61
Mary Janes lot,
200.00
$2,211.61
Respectfully submitted, N. CARRYL UNDERWOOD, Town Treasurer.
40.00
64
· We the undersigned, a Committee appointed to settle with the Treasurer have this day examined his accounts and find the same correct.
JOHN H. DRUM. JOSEPH K. ROBBINS. JAMES M. MOODY.
Committee.
Harwich, Jan. 15, 1907.
Town Clerk's Report.
Town Clerk's Report of Births recorded in the Town of Harwich in 1906.
DATE
NAME OF CHILD
NAME OF PARENTS
1904
Feb 14 June 17
Died nameless, Harding Donald Austin Nickerson
Edwin G. Harding, Juniata Crowell George E. Nickerson, Fannie Richards
1905
Jan II 21
Helen Louise Nickerson Died nameless, Bassett Lewis Nunes
Joseph D. Nickerson, Laura A. Kenney Freeman W. Bassett, Bertha E. Drew Mertis E. Nunes
1906 Jan II 14
Franklin George Small Lydia Maria Bassett Norman Eldridge
Feb I I
Joseph Brown Kelley
6 Stella May Ellis Bertha Lillian Ellis Ruth May Chase
Apr
23 3 4 Hugh Carlton Nickerson 29 Helen Estelle Eldridge Stanley Everett Gray Freeman Everett Bassett Vincent
May I
I
June 8 July 13 23 Aug I Sept 24
Ruth Elvesta Winn Mabel Frances Cahoon Isabel Clarenton Walker Linwood Earle Doane
Oct
5 19 Nov 15
Louise Helen Deane Fred'k Stanley Eldridge Cahoon
George L. Small, Evelyn M. Small Prince H. Bassett, Lillian M. Bassett Chas. A. Eldridge, Geneva A Nickerson Goo. A. Kelley, Mary A. Bassett Arthur Ellis, Ethel Allen
Wm. Carl Ellis, Lillian A. Bassett James Chase, Clara Spindle Edgar C. Nickerson, Adelena Eldridge Ralph W. Eldridge, Edna E. Bassett Richard E. Gray, Jr., Myra Sears Freeman W. Bassett, Bertha E. Drew Hiram H. Vincent, Etta Doane John C. Winn, Jennie Fifield Herbert R Cahoon, Susie B. Small Ernest F, Walker, Annie E. Crocker Chester Doane, Maud S. Nickerson Joseph Deane, Mildred C. Allen Samuel E. Eldridge, Rose M. Eldridge Roger W. Cahoon, Maud G. Smyth
July 15
66
Births Continued-PORTUGEE.
DATE
NAME OF CHILD
NAME OF PARENTS.
Jan 16
Bert Nunes
Peter Nunes, Mary Barlow
Feb
II
Manuel Rose
Frank Rose, Jennie Gonsalves
Mar 27
Lottie Fernand
Manuel Fernand, Amelia Fernand
Apr
5 Leroy Fernand
John Fernand, Amelia Correa
June 10
Edith Nunes
Lewis Nunes, Mary Neves Sateon
July
6
Elvera Rose
9
Benvin Gomes
Aug
3
James F. Rose
6
Olivia Silva
25
Jennie Viera
John Rose, Amelia Rose Isaac Gomes, Isabel Monteiro Joseph F. Rose, Mary Monteiro John Silva, Dominga Gomes Charles Viera, Amelia Gomes
Sept
3
Antone Nunes
Frank Nunes, Amelia Rose
Nov
8
Joseph Rose
16
John Rose
28
Pierce
Gideon Rose, Catherine Gomes Frank Rose, Lottie Fernand John Pierce, Mary Silva
67
Town Clerk's Report of Marriages recorded in Harwich in the year 1906.
DATE
NAME OF PARTIES
AGE
RESIDENCE
Jan
George Southwood Winona McGregor
22
Boston
19
Boston
Feb 22
Richard H. Ellis
23
North Attleboro
Minnie L. Howes
21
Dennisport
24
Atherton B. Crowell
45
Boston
Josephine L. Paine
28
Harwich
Apr 21
Bernard A. Nunes Mary Forte
48
Harwich
June 16
Danforth S. Steele
24
East Harwich
Gertrude O'Marsan
22
East Harwich
25
Albion B. Howland
25
South Yarmouth Harwich
Edith M. Nickerson
28
Aug 12
Albert W. Nickerson Elsie L. Bearse
26
East Harwich Harwich
Sept
7
Christopher C. Chase
70
West Harwich
Kate M. Baker
37
West Harwich
24
Clyde Leonard Harlow Elvira Kelley
22
Lakeville Harwich
Oct
13
John J. Martin Ida Maral
18
South Harwich Providence, R. I.
22
Royden K. Hamer Pearl Edna Wilbur
30
Harwich East Harwich
24
Annabel J. Martin
25
Harwich Harwich
Bernice E. Bassett
I'7
27
John Gomes Jennie Gomes
23
24
Harwich
28
Wilson Kelley Mrs. Julia A. Noyes
58
48
West Harwich Manchester, Eng.
50
New Bedford
24
21
22
21
Harwich
68
MARRIAGES .- Continued.
Nov 9
Wilbur Prince Maker Huldah L. Nickerson
21
Harwich Harwich
29
Ozias H. Bassett Elizabeth Mae Bassett
21
Harwich
29
William L. Cook
22
Harwich
Nellie B. Nickerson
26
Harwich
Dec
6
Isaac B. Kendrick Myra E. Chase
31
East Harwich
24
Chatham
18
25
Harwich
69
Town Clerk's Report of Deaths recorded in the Town of Harwich in the year 1906.
DATE
NAME OF DECEASED
AGE
CAUSE OF DEATH
Jan
I
Orrin S. Mecarta
86
6 27
Cancer of Liver
I
James W. Jerauld
SI
5 II
Dilated Heart
20
Benjamin F. Robbins
82
2
8 Heart disease
26
Joshua H. Paine
7I
4 I5
Pneumonia
29
Fannie Kelley
55
7 I3
Nitral Insufficiency
Feb
IO
Edwin F. Tailor
76 8 IO
Uraenica
I2
Norton N. Steele
56 2 27
Valvular Disease of Heart
18
Alonzo F. Nickerson
62
4 27
Organic Heart disease
2I
Ella J. Woodhouse
53
4 28 Rheumatism and Heart disease
23
Gershom Hall
62
4 16
Pneumonia
26
Darius M. Nickerson Jr 42
4
I3
27
Viana R. Baker
76
I
Organic Heart disease
Mar 20
Susan G. Eldredge
61
8
5
Pneumonia
22
Priscilla Young
87
8 24 Gangrene
Apr I 5
Sarah H. Underwood
41
Intestinal Paresis (Post-Operat.)
16
George Kendrick
83
4
Organic Heart disease
May I
Ellen Kelley
68
Senility
4
Hannah Follett
55
Probably over dose Morphine
6
Hannah S. Kendrick
80
3:27
Heart disease
7 22
Mary Nickerson Julia A. Almy
65 II
4
Tuberculosis of Kidneys
22
Austin E. Baker
46
9
13 Collision with R.R. train
Benjamin Handren
77
8 18 Organic Heart Disease
Robert D. Baker
75
7
4
Cancer of Face
July I
Bethiah G. Kendrick Annie Ellis
37
4 23
Child bed fever
23
Harriet A. Nickerson
70
23
24
Catherine B. Ryder Emily E. Greenlow
48
9 25 Chronic diffuse Nephritis
Sept 12
Male Infant (Ellis) Nathan Walker Kezia Paine
76
8|27
Nephritis
Oct
2
Rebecca B. Doane
80
30
Abbie M. Small
23
20 Acute Bronchitis
30 8
Romena G. Lowell
.36 II
86 2
8 Old Age
Dec
Freeman Ryder
77|II
7 Cerebral Hæmorrhage
16
Elijah L. Stokes
56 II 5 Heart disease
23
Joshua S. Cash
75 6
25
Cancer
Aug I3 23
Isabel Clarenton Walker
23
Erysipilas
4
4
Cholera Infantum
2I
23
90 II
Senility Senility
67
Cerebral Hæmorrhage
Nov
25 7 15
Caleb K. Allen
72| 5
5 Nitral disease
28 June IO
59 10
18
Nitral Regurgitation
3
3
Cancerous tumor
66
9
6 Pulmonary Tuberculosis
72 4
I2
Heart disease
Shedrick Kelley
7 30 8 Pulmonary Hæmorrhage
Hannah C. Stokes
Y MD
Typhoid Fever and Pneumonia
70
DOG LICENSE ACCOUNT.
IO Female Dogs, at $5.00,
$50.00
92 Male 66 2.00,
184.00
Total, 102,
$234.00
Clerk's fees
20.40
Paid County Treasurer,
213.60
Retained by County for damages,
20.83
Amount returned to Town,
192.77
Respectfully submitted, N. C. UNDERWOOD,
Town Clerk
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF HARWICH,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31,
1906
BROCKTON, MASS. The Keystone Press, 17 East Elm Street 1907
1
3
School Committee's Report.
The School Committee organized for 1906 by the choice of Thomas H. Nickerson, Chairman ; John P. Nickerson, Secretary, and Darius M. Nickerson, Jr., Treasurer. The vacancy in the School Board caused by the death of Darius M. Nickerson, Jr., was filled by the appointment of Arthur F. Cahoon, on March 15, 1906.
The schools of the town have been in session as follows :- Primaries, Grammar, Mixed and Intermediate thirty-four, and High School forty weeks, respectively.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
Number of boys between the ages of five and fifteen, 204
" girls 66 66
170
Total, 374
Number of boys between the ages of seven and fourteen, 143
" girls I35
Total,
278
TEACHERS' SALARIES, 1906.
HIGH SCHOOL.
C. A. Guild, J. Louise Long, 115.59
$850.00
76
Gertrude Butterworth,
180.00
Florence E. Evans,
140.00
HARWICH CENTER.
Etta B. Cameron,
$100.00
Ella W. Page,
132.00
Hattie F. Weekes,
I20.00
Mary L. Morrison,
220.00
Lillian E. Seaver,
120.00
Edna L. Taylor,
305.00
HARWICHPORT.
Mabel J. Hunter,
340.00
Abbie S. Baker,
340.00
WEST HARWICH.
E. Louise Hopkins,
$220.00
Florence MacReavy,
120.00
Hellen R. Ellis,
297.50
NORTH HARWICH.
Mary F. Bassett,
$192.50
Irene Baker,
105.00
EAST HARWICH.
Sarah B. Doane,
$297.50
Ella W. Page,
100.00
Gertrude (Marsan) Steele,
228.00
Mrs. J. Murray Baker,
12.00
PLEASANT LAKE.
Sarah J. Callagan,
$2.20
Sadie L. Cole,
108.00
$4,863.09
77
JANITORS.
Spencer P. Ellis,
$179.50
Benjamin D. Smith.
81.50
Mrs. Gertrude R. Ellis,
57.00
Elsie Ryder,
57.00
H. W. Nickerson,
73.25
Joseph Ashley,
73.25
$521.50
DRAWING AND MUSIC.
J. Louise Long,
$5.12
Flora B. Moran,
92.16
$97.28
FUEL.
EAST HARWICH.
Kendrick & Bearse, coal,
$52.50
Jabez Crowell, wood,
14.00
$66.50
HARWICHPORT.
C. S. Burgess & Co., coal,
$56.00
HARWICH CENTRE.
S. B. Moody, coal,
$127.00
Cyrus Baker, wood,
17.00
Cornelius Eldredge, wood,
2.50
Charles H. Taylor,
6.00
$152.50
78
WEST HARWICH,
Barnabas Sears, coal,
$62.17
Joseph A. Baker, wood,
7.00
$69.17
NORTH HARWICH.
S. B. Moody, coal,
$4.00
Joshua S. Baker, wood,
1.75
Irene Baker,
3.50
$9.25
PLEASANT LAKE.
S. B. Moody, coal, $28.75
Total,
$382.17
REPAIRS AND INCIDENTALS.
NORTH HARWICH.
Jeremiah Walker, repairs,
$3.25
Elsie D. Ryder, labor,
9.55
Alpheus Howes, supplies,
8.00
Martin L. Robbins, labor,
1.25
James M. Moody, supplies,
3.88
Elwyn Bates, labor,
1.20
Ralph Cummings, labor,
3.00
W. E. Nickerson, supplies,
2.10
$32.23
WEST HARWICH.
Ralph Cummings & Son, labor,
$32.25
Chas. E. Lothrop, supplies, 3.00
79
A. F. Cahoon, supplies, 1.50
Geo. F. Ellis, labor and supplies,
8.75
Chas. H. Fenn, labor,
5.00
C. S. Burgess & Co., supplies,
40.37
Alpheus Howes, supplies,
13.98
R. H. Ellis, labor,
9.23
$114.08
HARWICHPORT.
G. D. Smalley, supplies and repairs, $12.50
A. N. Smalley, supplies, .45
B. D. Smith, labor,
13.23
J. B. Eldredge & Son, labor,
9.36
M. W. Rogers, supplies,
.50
Wm A. Eldredge, labor and supplies,
4.75
Moses N. Chase, labor,
1.25
Harvey C. Phillips, labor,
2.73
C. S. Burgess & Co., supplies,
10.08
David A. Eldredge, labor,
5.50
B. C. Kelley, supplies,
2.88
$63.23
EAST HARWICH.
Harry W. Nickerson, labor and supplies, $26.30
Nickerson & Nickerson, repairs,
2.30
A. N. Smalley, supplies,
.25
G. D. Smalley, supplies,
11.00
Chas. A. Eldredge, labor,
4.65
$44.70
HARWICH CENTRE.
Alpheus Howes, supplies,
$24.90
James M. Moody supplies,
7.69
Spencer P. Ellis, labor,
18.80
80
Edgar F. Bassett, Jr.,
3.00
David L. Small, rent of play ground,
5.00
C. H. Fenn, labor and repairs,
11.00
B. D. Eldredge, supplies,
4.05
J. B. Cahoon, supplies,
7.75
Bassett Bros., labor,
6.50
J. F. Tobey & Son, supplies,
3.81
C. S. Hunt,
1.15
Samuel Moody,
1.15
$94.80
PLEASANT LAKE. 1
A. Howes, supplies,
$1.80
Geo. F. Ellis, labor,
2.75
J. F. Clark, supplies, 10.63
J. B. Cahoon, supplies,
2.50
Gertrude I. Ellis, labor,
3.50
A. H. Bassett, supplies,
.35
J. M. Moody, supplies,
5.87
John F. Bassett, labor,
5.51
$32.91
Total,
$381.95
TRANSPORTATION.
Benj. F. Eldredge, from Pleasant Lake to Center, $225.00
Thomas E. Small, from South Harwich to Harwichport, 164.00
$389.00
81
MISCELLANEOUS.
W. H. Bassett, truant officer, $32.00
S. A. Hayward, taking census, 10.00
Alpheus Howes, supplies, 12.75
F. L. Lowell, rent of office, 18.00
Henry T. Bailey, services at graduation, 25.00
Alton P. Goss, printing, I 75
$99.50
SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY.
Superintendent's salary for the year,
$691.44
To be refunded by the State, 541.67
Actual cost of Superintendent, 149.77
Appropriation, 150.00
SUPPLY AGENT'S ACCOUNT.
Stock on hand, January 1, 1906, $145.57
Supplies and books purchased 1906, 608.46
$754.03
Supplies furnished schools 1906,
$620.07
Supplies and new books on hand January 1, 1907, 133.96
$754.03
SUPPLY AGENT'S FINANCIAL REPORT.
AVAILABLE FUNDS.
Appropriation, From City of Boston,
From State Board of Charity,
$350.00 96.00 176.85
$622.85
82
AMOUNT EXPENDED.
Books and supplies,
$608.46
Balance unexpended,
14.39
$622.85
ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OF SUPPLY AGENT.
Kenny Bros. & Wolkins, supplies, $89.02
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., books,
44.27
A. P. Goss, printing, 10.00
American Book Co., books,
46.07
Town of Orleans, books,
5.50
Ginn & Co., books,
43.08
Silver, Burdett & Co., books,
75.81
The Scarborough Co., maps.
3.75
The J. L. Hammett Co., supplies,
25.49
Frank H. Hill, expense as supply agent,
15.78
Educational Publishing Co., books,
8.59
Milton, Bradley Co., supplies,
1.00
Edward E. Babb & Co., books and supplies,
149.50
D. C. Heath & Co., books,
10.93
Prang Educational Co., supplies,
12.26
Benj. H. Sanborn & Co., books,
13.00
David McKay, books,
2.29
H. M. Weigel, supplies,
8.00
American Library Co., supplies,
12.00
Allyn & Bacon, books,
2.50
Arthur W. Hall Scientific Co., laboratory supplies,
29.62
$608.46
83
RECAPITULATION.
AVAILABLE FUNDS.
Town appropriation for schools,
$5,700.00
Town appropriation for books and supplies, $350.00
From all other sources, 272.85
$622.85
Town appropriation for Superintendent,
150.00
To be refunded by State, 541.67
$691.67
Town appropriation for repairs and incidentals,
250.00
Dog fund,
192.77
State School fund,
639.88
Town appropriation for transportation,
250.00
$8,347.17
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers,
$4,863.09
Janitors,
521.50
Drawing and Music,
97.28
Fuel,
382.17
Books and supplies,
608.46
Superintendent,
691.44
Repairs and incidentals,
381.95
Transportation,
389.00
Miscellaneous,
99.50
$8,034.39
Balance unexpended,
$312.78
84
TO THE CITIZENS OF HARWICH :-
The committee would again call attention of the citizens, especially parents and guardians, to the matter of school attend- ance and ask their co-operation in the endeavor to improve this condition.
It cannot be too strongly forced upon the minds of parents that regular attendance at school is of the utmost importance if a child's education is to be in any way successful. Good work cannot be done in any school where the program is constantly interrupted by repeated absences. It is also essential that parents and friends should make frequent visits to the school room. This encourages the teachers, stimulates greater effort on the part of the children and affords the visitor an opportunity to talk in- telligently concerning our school system. We always invite friendly criticism, and the co-operation of all in the successful management of our school system, but we consider it manifestly unjust when occasionally we hear harsh criticisms and fault find- ing from those who never deign to honor the school room with their presence. We sometimes hear it said that our schools cost more than they should. It is true that the appropriations for schools comes under the head of our largest expenditures. But as a matter of fact our schools are run at a considerably less cost per pupil than the average of Barnstable County. This fact may be easily verified by a glance at the statistics published in the State census. For the money spent and under the present sys- tem we feel that the schools are doing good work. We cannot judge our schools by results attained in large towns and cities, where much more money is expended and where the most modern methods always prevail. The success of a school depends largely upon the teacher, and we try to secure the best possible for the salaries we pay. At the present time we have a very efficient corps of teachers, under whose direction, and in harmony with the Superintendent, our schools are making good progress. We realize that the building used for High School purposes is not satisfactory for the needs of the school. Could the town afford
.
85
to build a structure adequate to the demands of a modern High School, much better work could be obtained.
At this time we cannot refrain from saying a word in me- mory of our lamented colleague, the late Darius M. Nickerson, Jr. In his death the schools of Harwich have lost a friend who was deeply interested in their welfare and who worked with characteristic zeal to bring about all needed reforms. Such men are too few in our small towns and we deplore his loss from a per- sonal as well as official sense.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS H. NICKERSON, JOHN P. NICKERSON, ARTHUR F. CAHOON,
School Committee.
Superintendent's Report.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF HARWICH :
Gentlemen :- Following is my sixth annual report which is the sixteenth in the series of superintendent's reports.
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
In my last report I devoted considerable space to the subject of music and drawing, and recommended the employment of a supervisor of those subjects by the district. I am pleased to re- cord the adoption of this plan by the towns of Harwich, Chatham and Orleans, and to express my belief that as the work progresses we shall see results that will entirely justify the expense of maintaining this department. Miss J. Louise Long, a graduate of the Boston Normal Art School and of the Institute of Normal Methods, was first selected for the work. Within a few weeks and much to our regret, she left us to accept a more remunerative position elsewhere. After some delay Miss Flora Belle Moran, of the Detroit Normal Training School, was secured to fill her place, since which time there has been no break in the continuity of the work. Miss Moran gives Harwich two days each week. Between her visits each teacher should give at least one formal lesson in drawing and a lesson each day in music. These lessons should conform in every particular to the plan of the supervisor in order to secure harmony, continuity and progress. The responsibility of the regular teacher for the success of these branches is no less than that of the supervisor, and she should feel the same en- thusiasm, and display the same zest in the preparation and pre- sentation of those subjects as she does in the other prescribed subjects of the course. To the average teacher drawing lacks the boundary lines that time, training and experience have thrown
87
so definitely and clearly around arithmetic, geography, history and grammar. There is the same sort of haze around each part of it as there is around the whole subject. Teachers are constantly asking "What is this for ?" and "What next ?" and "Why ?" So much the more need of the frankest confidence and the cheerfullest co-operation with the special teacher of the subject. If drawing is to be in the largest degree successful, it must be through the regu- lar teachers, educated to the same efficiency in that as in the other subjects they are required to teach; and not through the in- frequent and short visits of the supervisor except in so far as those visits help, inspire, and educate the regular teachers.
SIGHT AND HEARING TESTS.
In accordance with the Chapter 502 of the Acts of 1906 our teachers have examined the pupils for the purpose of testing the sight and hearing, and have notified parents as required whenever any defects have been discovered. Of three hundred and sixty- seven pupils examined, fifty-two were found defective in eyesight and thirty-eight in hearing. The duty of the school ends, in a way, with the discovery of defects and the proper notification to the parents. I venture to hope, however, that the parents will do their duty by the children, and seek to remedy the troubles pointed out by the schools. There are at least two reasons why this should not be 'neglected. Quoting from G. Stanley Hall's Adolesence :- "In Chicago, among 2,030 boys and 2735 girls, Smedley found 32 per cent of the former and 37 per cent of the latter with visual defects. These increased rapidly during the first year of school life, decreasing after the age of nine, first slowly, then more rapidly, till the age of thirteen was passed. From ten onward those with visual defects stand lower than those whose sight is normal, and the same was found to be true for nearly all ages in cases of defective hearing." And from an article in the Journal of Education of December 27, 1906 :-- "It has long been under- stood by medical scientists that certain phases of crime may be fairly and logically traced to some physical defect ; and that if
88
that defect can be detected and remedied there are the best of chances of rescuing the wrong-doer from his vicious tendencies and habits. About 50 per cent of the children examined (child- ren brought before the Juvenile court of Philadelphia for some misdemeanor or other) have been found with defective vision. Parents of such children are advised as to the glasses to be provided . .. . sometimes the examination shows that a sur- gical operation is necessary to remove the defect." If the testi- mony of such an eminent physician as Dr. S. Weir Mitchell is not to be disregarded, parents have a mighty responsibility, not alone to the welfare of their children but to the welfare of the community, and should take the earliest opportunity to correct the defects dis- covered. Meanwhile our teachers will give those children every possible advantage in seating whenever board or class work is being done, lest the defects be aggravated or any other injustice be done them.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Better work is being done in the High School than has been done there for years. This is due to several contributing causes.
First -- The condition for teaching was greatly improved when an assistant was employed to devote all her time to the High School work.
Second-That it is impossible by this arrangement to secure a college graduate as assistant.
Third-A new meaning has been given to the school by the fact that four full years of any course are required to entitle a pupil to a diploma and to enjoy full honors at graduation.
Fourth-A higher standard of admission was set this year, and the final examination was given by the superintendent per- sonally.
Fifth-Records of the work in the school are carefully kept, reports are sent out twice each term, and promotions are made only after the most careful consideration of each pupils record by the principal and superintendent.
89
Sixth-The principal's standard is high and his ideals are just, stern and mature, the result of years of experience and as devoid of the theoretical as I have ever observed.
Seventh-Frequent debates, current events daily in which all contribute, a school paper, special attention to declaiming, a school orchestra, base-ball and basket-ball organizations, prize speaking contests and many other things of this nature, make the school a live institution and the pupils live participants in its interests and duties.
I heartily endorse what Mr. Guild has said concerning the value of prompt and regular attendance. I have seen recently a list of the habits every school ought to encourage, and at the head of the list is Punctuality. Business men require punctuality in their clerks. The man who is not on hand when the tide serves loses his day's fishing. Trains and steamboats do not wait for the man a half mile away, however fast he may be running. Time is a valuable asset, and punctuality cashes it.
I also endorse what Mr. Guild says of the recitation room. It is utterly unfit for the purpose for which it is used, in lighting, heating, ventilation, seating arrangement, capacity. I hope some steps will be taken early for the better accommodation of the pupils in the recitation room, and for better laboratory facilities.
HALF-DAY ABSENCE.
The average number of half-day absences per pupil for the year was 31. This is due to an excessive number of absences in a few schools, and not to the majority of the schools ; just as in those few schools the greater part of the absences as confined to a few pupils rather than to the pupils as a whole. Following is a table showing this :
Average No. Half-Day Absences in all the schools, 31.
Average No. in North Harwich, 51 ; West Primary, 43 ; High 35; East Grammar, 32 ; Centre intermediate, 31 ; Centre Primary, 30; East Primary, 29 ; PleasantLake, 29 ; Centre
90
Grammar, 28; Port Primary, 19; West Grammar, 14; Port Grammar, 10.
If all the schools had had the same low average of half day absences per pupil as the Port Grammar, the total in the town would have been 4170 instead of 13,057. And if the average number had been the same as that at North Harwich, the total half-day absences in town would have been 21,264.
It hardly seems necessary to comment on this. We are making strenuous efforts to improve the conditions in North Harwich, and shall look for the support of the people in that section. Children must be in school in order to obtain the ad- vantages of the school, and it ought not to be necessary to have them dragged to school by the truant officer.
COST OF THE SCHOOLS As COMPARED WITH COST IN BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Av. Cost per pupil in high schools in Barnstable Co., $48.28
Av. Cost per pupil in high school in Harwich, 27.37
Av. Cost per pupil based on Av. Membership in all the schools of Barnstable County,
$23.70
The same in Harwich, 18.08
Av. Cost per pupil in Barnstable Co. Common Schools, $19.71
The same in Harwich, 16.48
Av. Cost per pupil in Massachusetts, based on average membership (all schools), $29.80
In Harwich, 18.98
Av. Cost per pupil in Massachusetts, on same basis (common schools), $26.75
In Harwich, 16.48
Ranked according to the amount yielded for each child in the average membership of the public schools by the local tax for school support, in a list of 353 cities and towns, Harwich stands number 254; and the per membership local tax in
91
Harwich is given as $18.08 as against the highest (Weston) $61.65 and the lowest (Gay Head,) $3.08.
The above requires no comment. To have the best, one must be ready to pay for it.
LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR.
Average Length of school year in Massachusetts, 9 mos. 7 days Same in Barnstable County, 8 mos. 14 days
Same in Harwich, 8 mos. 7 days
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