USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1916 > Part 4
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Article 1. To choose a Moderator to act in said meet- ing.
Article 2. To determine the rate per cent. to be paid the Tax Collector for the collection of the warrant of 1917.
Article 3. To choose on one ballot the following Town Officers and Committees :- Town Clerk and Treasurer for one year; one Selectman and Overseer of Poor for three years; three Herring Committee for one year; two Auditors for one year; three Constables for one year; one Tax Col- lector for one year; one Assessor for three years; one School Committee for three years; one School Committee for one
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year; one Road Commissioner for three years; one Trustee of Brooks Library for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years. Shall Licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors? . Vote Yes or No.
Article 4. To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Committees.
Article 5. To hear the report of all Town Officers and Committees for the year 1916, and act fully thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year, and act fully thereon.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town expenses for the ensuing year, and act fully thereon.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to instruct its Selectmen to control, regulate and prohibit the taking of eels, clams, quahogs, and scallops, within the town limits, as provided in Chapter 91, Section 85, and Acts in amend- ments thereto of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts, and to make any regulations in regard to such fisheries as they may deem expedient, and act fully thereon.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 293, General Acts of. 1916, entitled, "An Act to Authorize the licensing by cities and towns of
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motor vehicles carrying passengers for hire," and act fully thereon.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 59, General Acts of 1916, entitled, "An Act relative to the holding of annual town meetings," and act fully thereon.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 153, General Acts of 1916, entitled, "An Act relative to the license fee for slaughter houses in towns having less than ten thousand inhabitants," and act fully thereon.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 240, Section 1, General Acts of 1916, entitled, "An Act relative to the hours of labor of public employees and persons employed on public works," and act fully thereon.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Dollars for the purpose of enclosing with a suitable fence The Kelley Cemetery, near the Harwich Depot, and act fully thereon.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to harden with oil, stone or other material, the South county road, so-called, be- ginning at a point on the State macadam road near the resi- dence of Mrs. Emily F. Allen in Harwich Port, and extend- ing westerly one mile, and act fully thereon.
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Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to sell the Freeman Robbins homestead and buildings in South Harwich, and act fully thereon.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to top coat with oil the macadam road beginning at the meeting house corner, West Harwich, extending northerly 3,800 feet to the Dennis line. Also the section of macadam road beginning at North Harwich Depot, extending south to the Dennis line; distance about 700 feet, and determine in what way the payments therefor shall be met, and act fully thereon.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to resurface or repair in a proper manner the road known as the "Sisson Road," commencing at the State highway at Sisson's corner, and ex- tending to Main Street, Harwich Centre, and to act fully thereon.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to harden with oil the unfinished portion of the North Harwich road, from a point near the North Harwich schoolhouse to the junction with the main street, near the residence of Valentine Bassett, a distance of about one mile, and appropriate a sufficient sum of money therefor, and to determine how the same shall be raised, and act fully thereon.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to harden and improve with oil the road beginning in Harwich Centre, at the termination of the oil road near the residence of
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William F. Crapo, thence extending easterly about one and one-third miles to the macadam road near the M. E. church at South Harwich, and to determine in what manner the money shall be raised and payments thereof met, and act fully thereon.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to abolish the office and present system of Road Commissioners, and elect or appoint a Superintendent of. Streets.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to harden and improve the road in Harwich Port known as "Bayview Road," and act fully thereon.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to sell the Pleasant Lake schoolhouse and the lot of land on which it stands, and give a sufficient deed therefor ; the said sale to be at public auction during the month of August, 1917.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to sell the South Harwich schoolhouse and the lot of land on which it stands, and give a sufficient deed therefor ; the said sale to be at public auction during the month of August, 1917.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to resurface or other- wise improve the oil road leading from the Harwich Depot to Harwich Port, terminating at the State road near the residence of Elbridge A. Bearse, and act fully thereon.
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Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred Dollars with which to widen and repair with oil certain narrow, worn-out and dangerous portions of that section of the Brewster Oil road, so-called, beginning at the top of the Schoolhouse Hill in Pleasant Lake and thence extending northerly to a point at the bottom of the hill, beyond the residence of Joseph Butler, and to determine how the money shall be raised and the pay- ments thereof met.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $250.00 to harden with cinders the road leading from South Harwich Depot to the State road, a distance of about one-half mile, and act fully thereon.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Dollars to harden and otherwise improve the road leading from Dennis line, near Ocean Hall, West Harwich, to Ocean Avenue, near the resi- dence of S. A. Hayward, and act fully thereon. 1
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to turnpike and harden with clay, loam, or cinders, the road in Harwich Centre. leading from the late Esq. Underwood's, southerly to the corner at Jasper S. Small's, and act fully thereon.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to accept the road, as laid out by the Road Commissioners, beginning at the end of Bay View road and extending to the ocean, raise and appropriate money for the same, and act fully thereon.
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Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Dollars to be used for a proper celebration of Memorial Day in the Town of Harwich, and act fully thereon. (By request.)
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to accept the road beginning at a point on the State highway, nearly op- posite Hepsabeth Lodge, thence running over lands of the Wychmere Trustees and others, following the line of the new Walther road, so-called, and terminating at the, town road near "Bonniview" cottage, in South Harwich, as laid out by the Road Commissioners, raise and appropriate money for the same, and act fully thereon.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase heating apparatus for use in building oil roads.
Article 33. To see if the Town of Harwich will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Dollars for the benefit of the Chase Library.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Dollars to harden and improve the road leading from the State highway, near the residence of F. A. Small in Harwich Port, and terminating' at the oil road near the residence of Joseph S. Small, and act fully thereon.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Dollars to remove trees and
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brush, and to improve by turnpiking, that part of Queen Ann Road from the four corners at or near the residence of J. E. Studley, westerly to the fork in the road to West Dennis, a short distance beyond the residence of F. L. Hub- bard, and act fully thereon.
Article 36. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Dollars to repair with cinders and to make passable, Bell's Neck Road, including sidewalk, be- ginning at the schoolhouse where the present improvement ends, and continuing north across Smith Avenue, a distance of 50 feet, and act fully thereon.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to purchase land in East Harwich to be used as a public dump, under the care of the Board of Health.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to repair the Lower Herring River Bridge, and approaches thereto, and act fully thereon.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by post- ing attested copies thereof, one in each Post Office in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
The polls will be opened at 9 o'clock A. M., on Monday, February 5, 1917, and may be closed at 2 o'clock P. M.
Hereof, fail not, and make due returns of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
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Given under our hands this twenty-second day of Jan- uary, 1917.
EPHRAIM H. DOANE, J. FREEMAN RYDER, THOMAS H. NICKERSON, Selectmen of Harwich.
. Correct,
Attest :
ELISHA H. BEARSE,
Constable.
İ
TOWN
THI ORATED SEPT. 14
INCORP
SEAL
WICH
ADOP'
1897.
ED
SEPT.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools OF THE
TOWN OF HARWICH 1916
ORGANIZATION FOR YEAR 1916
School Committee
HARRIE D. HANDY, M. D., Chairman, Term expires 1919.
JOHN H. PAINE, Secretary, Term expires 1917.
MRS. LILLIAN E. COOK, Treasurer, (Resigned) Term expires 1918. JOSEPH B. ATKINS (Appointed to fill vacancy.)
District Superintendent-LORING G. WILLIAMS. Advisory Board of Agricultural Department. JOSEPH K. ROBBINS, Chairman, MRS. JOSEPH B. ATKINS, (Deceased), ARTHUR F. CAHOON, ELISHA H. BEARSE, RALPH W. DOANE.
FRANK L. DAVIS, Instructor, clerk. Attendance Officer- WILLIAM H. BASSETT. School Physician-HARRIE D. HANDY, M. D.
.
Report of School Committee
FINANCIAL.
TEACHERS' SALARIES.
High School.
Louis J. Peltier.
$656.25
Roland H. Kinder,
350.00
Eleanor Berg.
348.75
Dona M. Corliss.
461.25
Amy F. Webster.
175.00
$1.991.25
Center Schools.
Lillian V. Lincoln.
$418.00
Madaline Small.
312.00
Augusta Ames.
120.00
Lillian Oram,
458.00
$1,308.00
Harwichport.
Esther E. Nelson. $420.00
Esther M. Bradstreet.
386.00
$806.00
5
Elizabeth Campbell, Flossie C. Hulse, Alice Freeman,
East Harwich.
$386.00
316.80
99.00
$801.80
West Harwich.
Annie E. Carlton, $420.00
North Harwich.
Katherine A. Moriarty,
$446.20
Ellen Driscoll, substitute,
7.80
Mary T. Cleary,
454.00
$908.00
$6,235.05
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
Lotta M. Murray, $320.04
SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY.
Loring G. Williams, salary,
$899.96
State reimbursement, 498.05
Actual net cost, $401.91
6
JANITORS.
Leo I. Bassett, Center,
$187.50
Alfred M. Davidson, Center,
135.00
Benj. D. Smith, Port,
85.00
Harry Nickerson, East,
75.00
Geo. E. Nickerson. East.
10.00
Chas. E. Lothrop, West,
63.75
Holland Rogers, North,
85.00
$641.25
FUEL.
Harwich Center.
Harwich Coal & Lumber Co.,
$220.55
B. F. Eldredge, wood,
6.50
Chas. H. Taylor, wood,
8.00
$235.05
Harwichport.
Harwich Coal & Lumber Co., coal,
$57.56
Kendrick Bearse, coal,
16.50
Chas. H. Taylor, wood. .
14.00
$88.06
East Harwich.
Harwich Coal & Lumber Co.,
$42.75
Harry W. Nickerson, wood,
7.50
$50.25
7
West Harwich.
Harwich Coal & Lumber Co.,
$9.00
Barnabas Sears,
18.00
$27.00
North Harwich.
Barnabas Sears, coal, $44.00
Harwich Coal & Lumber Co.,
18.00
N. B. Walker, wood, 4.50
$66.50
$466.86
REPAIRS AND INCIDENTALS.
North Harwich.
A. Howes, stove fixtures and glass,
$11.63
H. G. Rogers, labor, 10.75
J. C. Baker, supplies, 1.70
J. F. Bassett, repair of blinds, 2.40
William A. Eldredge, painting outside
and inside, 108.10
$134.58
West Harwich.
A. Howes, curtains, brooms, glass, $3.90
Chas. E. Lothrop, labor and materials, 33.40
$37.30
S
Harwich Center.
A. Howes, stovepipes, repairs and material, $48.50
Isaiah Kelley, labor on pump, . 1.00
Walter I. Paine, labor, 2.50
Thos. E. Larkin, labor on pump, 2.60
H. E. Cook, supplies, 1.98
Leston Small, labor High School belfry, 12.80
Harry C. Cahoon, labor. 3.28
J. F. Tobey and Son., supplies. 20.58
C. S. Hunt, material, 1.50
S. S. Megathlui, material. 1.17
Vincent C. Bassett & Son .. labor, 1 3.00
W. A. Eldredge, painting. 2.62
$101.53
Harwichport.
Benj. D. Smith, labor. $22.80
J. O. Hulse, supplies, 2.09
W. B. Eldredge, supplies.
.70
C. S. Burgess, material,
1.24
W. A. Eldredge, labor on flagpole,
1.00
$27.83
East Harwich.
E. C. Nickerson, labor on pump, $8.56
Harry W. Nickerson, clearing, etc., 15.65
$24.21
$325.45
9
Permanent Repairs.
Appropriation, $400.00
Paid Jasper S. Small, shingling High and patching Grammar, $151.58 William A. Eldredge, painting High, 160.60
William A. Eldredge, painting North in part, 87.82
$400.00
Permanent Equipment.
Kenney Bros. and Watkins, desks, $36.40
J. L. Hammett, blackboards, 33.10
W. B. Eldredge, tools, 17.25
$86.75
TRANSPORTATION.
High School.
Appropriation, ' $600.00
Everett L. Ellis & Son, North and West to High,
$297.50
Joseph D. Nickerson, East to High,
187.50
Geo. E. Nickerson,
105.00
Geo E. Kendrick to High,
4.05
$594.05
Unexpended balance, $5.95
10
Elementary.
Thomas Taylor, South to Port, $154.00
· Seabury Taylor, South to Port, 108.00
Everett L. Ellis, P. Lake to Center,
375.02
Geo. E. Nickerson, Chase child, 3.40
$640.42
MISCELLANEOUS.
H. M. Small, printing. $7.38
Wm. H. Bassett, attendance officer. 36.00
A. P. Goss, printing and advertising, 26.70
School physician, salary, 40.00 Office account blank. Wright & Potter, Freight. express, carting, telephone, postage, expenses securing teachers, 40.73
2.32
H. D. Handy. M. D., special medical in- spection on account infantile paralysis, School committee expenses to State Conference. 5.56
111.60
$270.29
11
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Edward E. Babb & Co.,
$282.99
B. M. Sheridan,
5.00
Silver, Burdett & Co.,
3.29
Ginn & Co.,
4.27
Gregg Publishing Co.,
· 3.87
J. L. Hammett Co.,
95.46
MacMillan Co.,
14.12
Oliver Ditson,
3.82
J. S. Ferris & Bro.,
1.56
P. L. Nickerson,
.50
Educational Publishing Co.,
13.25
American Book Co.,
2.49
D. C. Heath & Co.,
6.14
Allyn & Bacon,
31.67
Milton Bradley,
30.06
$498.49
12
STATEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Available Funds.
Town appropriation,
$500.00
State reimbursement, 3/4 of a year,
492.96
Tuition Town of Chatham, 1915,
55.00
Tuition, Town of Chatham, 1916,
170.00
Tuition, Town of Eastham, 1916,
255.00
$1,472.96
Expenditures.
M. S. Rose, instructor, salary,
$933.28
Frank L. Davis, instructor, salary,
200.00
Bobbs, Merrill Co., books,
8.00
Bristol County School, supplies,
3.60
Library Bureau, supplies.
5.53
Expenses securing teacher, telephone, etc.,
9.26
$1,159.67
Balance unexpended,
$313.29
Town appropriation,
$500.00
Unexpended balance,
313.29
Net cost to town,
$186.71
Reimbursement due from State, $720.78.
1
1
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RECAPITULATION.
Available.
General appropriation,
$8,400.00
High School transportation,
600.00
Repairs of School buildings,
400.00
Agriculture,
500.00
Massachusetts School Fund,
903.28
Rebate on agriculture, three-quarter year,
492.96
City of Boston tuitions,
34.50
State Board of Charity tuitions,
100.00
Rebate on superintendent,
498.05
Tuition from Chatham, agriculture,
225.00
Tuition from Eastham, agriculture,
255.00
Dog tax,
150.00
$12,558.79
-
Expenditures.
Teachers' salaries,
$6,235.05
Music and drawing,
320.04
Superintendent's salary,
899.96
Janitors,
641.25
Fuel,
466.86
Repairs and incidentals, .
325.45
Permanent repairs,
400.00
Permanent equipment,
86.75
Transportation, High,
594.05
Transportation, Elementary,
640.42
Miscellaneous,
270.29
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Books and supplies, Agriculture, Unexpended balance,
498.49
1,159.67
20.51
$12,558.79
The undersigned auditor of the town of Harwich has this day examined the bills, books and vouchers of the school committee for the year of 1916, and found the same correct.
CHARLES T. CHASE,
Jan. 6, 1917.
Auditor.
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To the Voters of the Town of Harwich :
Your School Committee takes pleasure in calling atten- tion to the reports, for the past year, of the several depart- ments of our schools and feel that each and every one is sufficient unto itself and is also self explanatory and calls for no elaboration on the part of the Committee. The crowded condition of the centre schools has been mentioned . by the Principal of the High School in his report. The same condition is true of the other or elementary grades. Last year an effort was made to get an appropriation to build a new school building but the town seemed to feel that the time was not ripe for such an expense.
H. D. HANDY, JOHN H. PAINE, JOSEPH B. ATKINS, School Committee.
Superintendent's Report
To the School Committee :
Gentlemen :- I present herewith for your consideration and approval my ninth annual report of the schools of Har- wich, the same being the twenty-sixth in the series of such reports.
School Betterment.
The joint committee, made up from the school commit- tees of Harwich, Chatham, Orleans and Eastham, met in Orleans, Dec. 22nd. Matters of importance were discussed. Among them being the needs of transportation, looking for- ward to motor vehicles for the work; the extension of prac- tical arts courses-shopwork, household economics, voca- tional subjects, business courses; salaries and living condi- tions of teachers; new buildings; enlargement of buildings and quarters and acquisition of equipment, to relieve crowded conditions and to give opportunity for such work.
A vote was passed that the joint committee meet quar- terly for consideration of educational problems. The fol- lowing resolutions were adopted.
The Joint School Committee of the Superintendency District of Harwich, Chatham, Orleans and Eastham in joint
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meeting assembled and also the Committee of the several towns, fully realizing the important trust, the great respon- sibility vested in us in the administration of Public Educa- tion, and considering also the great undeveloped opportunity for enlarging the scope and the efficiency of every line of our Educational Systems, hereby resolve as follows:
That we jointly and severally declare that we believe that the physical growth and development of the child is of the first importance in the child's education.
That we jointly and severally hereby commit ourselves unqualifiedly to the development of Practical Arts Educa- tion.
That we believe that Academic training be strengthened not as an isolated abstract training only, but in conjunction . with practical and vocational courses.
That in consideration of the foregoing resolutions we pledge ourselves in so far as consistent with good judgment. and the financial means of our several towns to lose no op- portunity to present before the citizens and the town meeting the great needs of the schools, that buildings, quarters, sani- tary conditions,' transportation, heating and ventilation. re- pairs, courses and instruction, consideration of the comfort of teachers in good homes, may be greatly improved through- out the District.
Financial.
The school department reports a small balance on the right side of the ledger to be turned back to the town treas-
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ury. The expenses of the department have been larger this year along many lines. Salaries have been automatically in- creased by the salary schedule, adopted several years ago by the board. Fuel costs more. Books and supplies have in- creased-school papers have increased generally 300%. A supply sufficient for present needs is now on hand, having been bought at about one-half the present prices.
The special appropriation for painting outside and the shingling of the High school, building and painting of the North Harwich building has been used for the purpose. This appropriation, on account of increase in materials and labor, was not sufficient to pay the full bill. The balance being paid from repair money available in the general ap- propriations.
Last year the committee returned a large balance to the town, and did so by reducing the stock of supplies and doing very little in the way of general repairs of buildings. This year the general repairs have necessarily been large because of it.
An overdraw of school funds has been avoided this year because several schools have been closed on account of diph- theria and other causes and therefore salaries stopped for a time. To make up the lost time within the present school year will require just that much extra in the year 1917.
Another unforeseen expense was made necessary by special daily medical inspection of all children during the fall from infantile paralysis epidemic.
The state sent notices that schools might open on time if the children could be daily inspected. We opened schools on time and adopted the state requirement.
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Buildings.
Our old buildings need constant care and considerable money to keep them in repair. Floors have worn out in many buildings, plaster on walls and ceilings poor, paint needing to be renewed inside and in two buildings outside. The old double non-adjustable desk and chair must go and be replaced by modern single adjustable ones. A definite policy should be followed from year to year. The regular perma- nent school building appropriation should be made year after year to give opportunity to make our old buildings at least comfortable.
The above plans are for the present and the interim be- tween now and the day when Harwich will feel that her children deserve better at her hands and a new building be- comes a reality.
For detailed report of expenditures consult the financial statement.
Teachers.
Some changes have taken place in our corps of teachers, but the proportion of changes is small as compared with some years. Mr. R. H. Kinder succeeds Mr. Peltier as Prin- cipal of the High School, Miss Amy F. Webster succeeds Miss . Berg, Miss Augusta Ames succeeds Miss Small, Miss Alice Freeman succeeds Miss Hulse. All other teachers were with us last year.
The work of the schools is standard, and the children are in good hands.
In this connection I mention the plan to make two Har-
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wich schools rural training schools for practise work of normal school girls at Hyannis. The Committee have adopted the plan and the Commissioner of Education of Massachu- setts has now to give his approval. A practice teacher should be of real assistance in our large schools.
Teachers do their best work when they are satisfied and contented with salary, living conditions, relations with school officials, etc., and at the same time ambitious to do the most for their schools and incidentally for themselves. Men in all walks of life are ambitious and looking forward to promotion. Teachers are no exception. Salary, working conditions and home conditions are important factors, and generally all the factors which enter in to make the teacher satisfied or dissatisfied, contented or discontented, efficient or inefficient. Every effort should be made and serious consid- eration given by the school officials to make these things the best possible. But when a teacher accepts an appointment at the hands of the committee and the agreement is made between them, neither party is at liberty to break the con- tract for little or no excuse. The Committee would be con- demned for discharging a teacher doing good work only be- cause they saw someone else whom they thought could be had for less money. The teacher has no moral right to break his contract solely for an increase in salary. . It is presumptuous to accept another position before even asking for release.
Courses of Study.
State courses of study in nearly all of the subjects are now in the teachers' hands, together with detailed outlines
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of the work required of each grade. This is especially in the first six grades of the elementary schools. High school courses have been recently revised and approved by the state according to law. In answer to those who are ques- tioning the standard of our High School I will say for their information that we offer a straight four year Classical Course-fitting pupils for College. Normal Schools and other higher educational institutions.
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