USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1880-1890 > Part 12
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8 10
James Murphy,
11 00
Elihu Leonard,
2 00
Horace W. Howard,
132 75
Charles Howard,
68 18
Horace Bartlett,
174 38
Ansel Bartlett,
6 75
Albert L. Alger,
93 00
Barnabas Dunbar,
18 00
Clinton P. Howard,
83 75
Frank Smith,
7 35
Owen King,
79 87
D. W. Gardner,
19 80
Geo. Hopkins,
60 38
Michael R. Murphy,
1 27
William Madden,
2 70
William Penpraese,
26 25
William F. Ryder,
16 20
Cyrus Alger,
107 18
Chas. Smith,
81 75
Henry Howland,
12 00
Amount carried forward,
$1,988 25
23
Amount brought forward,
$1,988 25
Paid Stillman Hersey,
52 95 **
James Howard,
26 50
George Howard,
4 50
S. N. Howard,
5 62
J. S. Jones,
9 00
Nathan Alger,
13 50
Chas. Egan,
10 50
M. Egan,
60 78
T. Carroll,
50 25
L. E. and E. Copeland,
41 40
J. Q. Hartwell,
5 40 .
John Oleson,
14 25
P. Connolly,
13 50
M. Willis,
36
S. D. Simpson,
3 40
M. Dunbar,
1 00
L. E. Hayward,
137 16
E. B. Wilbar,
322 45
D. Copeland,
301 27
Total,
$3,062 04
NEW ROADS.
The town appropriated three hundred dollars for rebuilding a part of Elm street, and two hundred dollars for rebuilding Union street. We have rebuilt a section of Elm street, ex- pending three hundred and fifty dollars. We have also built a part of Union street, expending one hundred and fifty dollars, and we recommend that the remaining fifty dollars appropri-
24
ated for that road be used there, together with such additional sum from the appropriation for highways as may be necessary to complete it in a thorough manner.
GUIDE BOARDS.
The Road Commissioners recommend that guide boards be maintained at the following places :-
Joshua T. Ryder's,
Chas. W. Copeland's,
Justin W. Richard's,
North Centre school-house,
Joseph Kingman's
Heman Copeland's,
Lewis Ryder's,
Nahum Leonard's,
Pine Hill Cemetery,
J. Q. Hartwell's, Stillman W. Hersey's,
Charles Howard's,
Charles T. Morse's,
Dwelley Fobes',
Molbry A. Ripley's,
Benjamin Howard's,
James Alger's furnace,
George Wilbur's,
Barnabas Dunbar's,
John B. Holmes',
Cyrus P. Browne's,
George R. Drake's,
Joseph Alger's,
Edward Lothrop's,
West of Almshouse,
Edmund Geary's,
D. W. Gardner's, Waldo Howard's,
North of Chas. N. Martin's.
STATEMENT.
Balance of appropriation for the repair of high- ways unexpended Feb. 1, 1885, $583 20
Appropriation for repairs of roads and bridges for 1885, 2,500 00
$3,083 20
Amount expended to Feb. 1, 1886,
2,562 04
Balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1886, $521 16
25
FOR NEW ROADS.
Appropriation for Elm street, 1885,
$300 00
Amount expended on Elm street,
350 00
Exceeding appropriation on Elm street,
$50 00
Appropriation for Union street,
$200 00
Amount expended on Union street,
150 00
Balance unexpended on Union street,
$50 00
DAVIS COPELAND,
L. E. HAYWARD,
Road Commissioners.
E. BRADFORD WILBUR,
26
Town Clerk's Report.
Marriages Recorded in West Bridgewater in 1885.
Jan. 1. Paul Revere, of Brockton, and Lucy L. Tisdale, of West Bridgewater.
Jan. 1. Horace Atwell, of Duxbury, and Mary Ann Barry, of West Bridgewater.
Jan. 14. Wallace C. Keith, of West Bridgewater, and Helen R. Ford, of Brockton.
Feb. 14. Milton Carter Thayer, of West Bridgewater, and Deborah Reed Willis, of South Hanson.
Feb. 17. Charles Monson and Ann Dorothea Normans, both of West Bridgewater.
Mar. 3.
James A. Hastings and Catherine B. Mackensie, both of West Bridgewater.
May 31. Michael J. Foley, of East Boston, and Annie E. McAnaugh, of West Bridgewater.
June 2. Farnham Gillespie, of Bridgewater, and Helen Porter Packard, of West Bridgewater. June 3. George Howard, of West Bridgewater, and Ada Fisher, of Cambridgeport.
June 17. John F. Freeman, of West Bridgewater, and Lizzie H. Shipman, of East Bridgewater.
Sept. 6.
Francis Willis and Mary Frances Ramsdell, both of West Bridgewater.
27
Sept. 6. Thomas Howard Churchill, of West Bridgewater, and Carrie Martin Brett, of Elmwood.
Sept. 29. Edward H. Keith, of West Bridgewater, and Vic- torine S. Dow, of Brockton.
Oct. 4. Charles E. Dwyer, of West Bridgewater, and Mary A. McCort, of Bridgewater.
Nov. 5. John O'Neil and Maggie Hennesey, both of West Bridgewater.
Nov. 8. George Hudson, of East Bridgewater, and Laura Martin, of West Bridgewater.
Nov. 23. William H. Burns, of Brockton, and Lydia B. Hayward, of West Bridgewater.
Nov .26. Joseph C. Howard, of West Bridgewater, and Mary E. Morse, of Jewett City, Conn.
Nov. 28. Linnaeus W. Lunn, of Easton, and Ada E. Dean, of Norton.
Dec. 17. Charles E. Tisdale, and Alice L. Packard, both of West Bridgewater.
Dec. 24. Clinton P. Howard, and Hattie F. Alger, both of West Bridgewater.
Dec. 30. A. C. White. of East Bridgewater, and Henrietta F. Clark, of West Bridgewater.
BIRTHS RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1885.
DATE.
NAME OF CHILD.
SEX.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
Aug. 27, 1884
Edward D. Matheson
Male
Aleck and Maggie Matheson. .
Dec. 1, 1884
Florence Isabel Gassett
Female
Nelson W. and Martha Gassett.
Jan. 7, 1885
Charles T. Williams, JJr.
Małe
Charles T. and Charlotte Williams.
14,
Honora Kellier .
Female
John and Margaret Kellier.
Feb. 21.
Chester Roland Leach
Male
Unite K. and Maggie J. Leach.
Mar. 25,
27, 31,
David L. Winberg Nute .
Male
August and Wendle Winberg.
April 2,
2,
Lucy Evangeline Wilds
Female
Edwin L. and Caroline E. Wilds.
17,
Herbert Clifton Hartwell
Male
John T. and Lizzie L. Hartwell.
May 1, 19,
Theodore Winthrop Stedman
Male
Theodore and Lillian Stedman.
22,
Ethel Holmes Millet .
Female
Herbert and Alice G. Millet.
June 19,
Ralph Eustace Howard
Male
Alfred E. and Edith S. Howard.
66
20,
Kate Gormley :
Female
Hugh and Susan Gormley.
6.
26,
Andrew Gerry Miller Agnes O'Fallen
Female
Michael and Ellen J. O'Fallen.
July 26,
Maggie Leary
Female
Lawrence and Margaret Leary.
Aug. 18,
Bertie M. Pratt
Male
Ira A. and Lucy A. Pratt.
66
19,
Arthur Lincoln Packard
Male
.
66
22, 66
James Boyd Pratt
Male ·
Sept. 6,
Henry Loring Tower
·
.
Oct. 2, 2.
66
Wilfred Farnham Gillespie
·
.
Female
L. Sumner and Helen R. Packard.
27,
יי
Cornelius Looney .
Male
·
Edward and Margaret Looney.
Nov. 21,
Robert Dean Alger
. Male ·
.
James O. and Carrie F. Alger.
Dec. 13,
Male ·
Julius L. and Ida Hayward.
·
Richard and Margaret Cotter.
John Cotter .
.
Male ·
Mary Rogers.
.
Male
Clarence W. and Eveline Nute.
.
.
Ernest Frank Tisdale
.
Male
Frank S. and Marion P. Tisdale.
28
.
Male
Elbridge E. and Sarah C. Miller.
27,
.
.
Charles E. and Eugenia Y. Packard. Nathaniel and Esther B. Pratt.
Male ·
Male ·
Male
I. Augustus and Mary S. Tower. William N. and Sarah F. Shipman. Farnham and Nellie P. Gillespie.
9,
Louise Packard
.
·
.
Male
.
.
DEATHS REGISTERED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER
IN 1885.
Date.
Name of Deceased.
Y.
M.
D.
Place of Birth.
Cause of Death.
Names of Parents.
Jan. 5
Edmund M. Ames:
6
West Bridgewater.
Convulsions.
Win. B. and Annie C. Ames.
Feb. 23
Gertrude E. Kinney.
2
15
West Bridgewater.
Pneumonia.
Warren C. and Hattie C. Kinney.
Mar. 1
Thomas J. Ames.
36
7
24
West Bridgewater.
Consumption.
Willard and Amelia Ames.
9
Julia Gorman.
3
4
22
West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater.
Still born. Consumption.
James and Margaret McFadden. Mary Rogers. Edmund and Mary D. Alger.
May 14
Leander Alger.
40
10
27
West Bridgewater.
21
Minerva J. Ames.
48
19
West Bridgewater.
Cancer.
Charles and Abigail Ames.
June 24
Alice Michie.
37
6
21
West Bridgewater.
Phthisis.
Elam and Keziah Howard. Noah and Mary Edson.
July 6
Ephraim Edson.
88
11
West Bridgewater.
Heart disease.
Aug 3
Caleb S. Lotlirop.
68
7 Easton.
Softening of brain.
Caleb and Hannah Lothrop.
10
Howard Alger.
45
9
West Bridgewater.
Dysentery.
Edmund and Mary D. Alger.
13
Emeline B. Grover.
75
3
20
Mansfield.
Paralysis.
25
Catherine L. Madden. Lovice M. Field. Male child.
56
11
21 Stoughton.
Consumption.
14
Lizzie D. Atwell.
47
3
21
West Bridgewater.
Dropsy of chest.
18
Galen Howard.
78
21
West Bridgewater. Ireland.
General debility. Pneumonia.
19
Timothy Dwyer. Jennie B. Packard.
18
1
24
West Bridgewater.
Typhoid fever.
Nov. 23
Daniel B. Taylor.
70
11
11
Boston.
28
Abigail S. Burrill.
50
6
23
Dec. 7
Jarvis D. Burrill.
87
11
7
Catarrh of lungs.
31
Charles Monson.
21
Killed by a falling tree.
William N. and Saralı F. Shipman. Smaca and Eunice Folsom. Galen and Sarah Howard. Dennis and Mary Dwyer. Japhet B. and Lucretia Packard. Eli and Mehitable Taylor. Jarvis D. and Nancy Burrill. David and Polly Burrill.
29
27
9
Ireland.
Phthisis.
Otis and Wealthy Sweet. John and Ellen Madden. Loring and Lovice White.
Sept.29 Oct. 2
West Bridgewater.
Bronchial hemorrhage.
48
27
Bright's disease. Septicaconia.
West Bridgewater. Randolph. Sweden.
Pneumonia. Inanition.
William and Hannah Gorman.
12
John McFadden. Male child.
27
30
Report of School Committee.
Herewith we submit the annual report by us required by law. At the beginning of the school year of 1885-6 the com- mittee was composed as follows :-
W. A. LINEHAN and F. S. TISDALE for three years ; JOSEPH E. RYDER and ALBERT COPELAND for two years ; LUCIUS DUNBAR and E. T. SNELL for one year.
The board at their first meeting organized as follows : Lucius Dunbar, chairman ; Albert Copeland, secretary ; F. S. Tisdale, E. T. Snell and J. 'E. Ryder, committee on repairs ; F. S. Tisdale and E. T. Snell, truant officers. The schools were assigned to sub-committees as follows :-
North and'North Centre to Mr. Copeland. Cochesett to"Mr. Tisdale. Centre to Mr. Dunbar. South to Mr. Snell. East to Mr. Ryder. Jerusalem to Mr. Linehan.
Heretofore, owing to the time of closing the last term of the school in the year, the bills for the last term of the previous year have become payable at the beginning of the financial year of the town. To avoid this somewhat confused state of things, and to make the report of the condition of the schools and the state of the finances of the school department more complete
31
and distinct, the committee deemed it advisable to change the terms of the school year so that they should all close before the expiration of the financial year of the town (Jan. 31st of each year). This for the last year of 1885-6 has been accom- plished, and as far as known there are no unpaid bills of said school year carried over to be paid during the next financial year. If this arrangement is continued, the future reports will show each school year fully completed and duly reported. Another good feature of the present division of terms is, that it gives three-fourths of the schools in the warm season, thus making a large saving of expense in fuel, besides avoiding the usually inclement and stormy months of February and March, thus considerably increasing the percentage of attendance for the year. In this report we propose first to give the bills which were drawn from the treasury at the beginning of the financial year to complete the school year of 1884-5, and then give the bills drawn for the complete school year of 1885-6.
TEACHERS' DEPARTMENT.
Paid A. A. Frawley,
$120 00
A. K. Littlefield,
100 00
I. S. Wood,
90 00
W. A. Holmes,
85 00
M. A. Dewyre,
90 00
Jennie Thorpe,
102 00
E. H. Benson,
120 00
L. M. Swift,
90 00
L. M. Toothaker,
99 00
S. L. Waldron,
90 00
Amount carried forward,
$986 00
32
Amount brought forward,
$986 00,
JANITORS' BILLS.
Paid M. A. Dewyre,
$10 00
W. A. Holmes,
10 00
H. P. Snow,
10 00
A. L. McDonald,
10 00
C. H. Morrison,
8 00
$48 00
To complete the school year of 1884-5,
$1,034 00
TEACHERS' DEPARTMENT FOR 1885-6.
Paid S. L. Waldron,
$288 00
I. S. Wood,
288 00
M. A. Tisdale,
320 00
Jennie Thorpe,
272 00
E. H. Benson,
320 00
M. A. Dewyre,
320 00:
W. A. Holmes,
272 00
A. A. Frawley,
320 00
L. M. Toothaker,
288 00
L. M. Swift,
108 00
Clara B. Leach,
176 00
$2,972 00
33
JANITORS FOR THE YEAR 1885-6.
Paid C. H. Morrisson,
$20 00
M. A. Dewyre, 10 00
W. A. Holmes,
10 00
E. H. Benson,
2 50
J. Thorpe,
2 50
H. Webb,
5 00
R. D. Fobes,
10 00
A. C. Snow, 10 00
A. L. McDonald,
10 00
F. Hayward,
10 00
Geo. Kingman,
10 00
$100 00
FUEL DEPARTMENT.
Paid E. T. Snell, 52 cords oak at South, $27 50
1 cord pine 4 00
Owen King, cutting and housing,
13 00
Horace Bartlett, 5 cords oak at Centre.
25 00
6 00
Wm. Penphrase, cutting and housing,
Chas. T. Williams, 5 cords oak at Cochesett, 66 1 cord pine
22 00
Wm. Penpraese, cutting wood
10 00
C. H. Morrison, housing wood
2 50
L. E. Hayward, 2 cords oak at Jerusalem,
10 25
1 cord pine 4 00
cutting and housing wood. 7 50
L. T. Howard, 1 cord oak at North,
5 00
1 " maple 4 50
Amount carried forward, $158 25
12 " pine 13 00
4 00
34
Amount brought forward, $158 25
Paid L. T. Howard, 1 cord pine at North, 4 00
66 cutting and housing, 6 00
Davis Copeland, 4 cords wood, cut and housed, 28 00
J. E. Ryder, wood cut and housed, 25 40
Total amount for fuel for year 1885-6, $221 65
EXPENDITURES.
Total amount for janitors for year 1885-6, $100 00
" teachers 66 2972 00
Paid East Bridgewater for tuition,
145 36
Showing cost of schools to be
$3,439 01
RECEIPTS.
Town grant, 1885, $3,000 00
Income of Mass. school fund,
216 46
Received of Owen King for standing wood,
5 00
Total receipts,
$3,221 46
Overdrawn,
217 55
$3,439 01
Drawn from treasury to complete the school year of 1884-5, $1,034 00
Whole amount drawn for the financial year end- ing Jan. 31st, 1886, $4,473 01
35
DEPARTMENT OF REPAIRS.
Paid E. T. Howard, for mason's work at Cochesett, $27 00
A. Copeland, for painter's stock at Cochesett, 9 20
A. Copeland, for painter's work, 7' days at Cochesett, 18 00
A. Copeland, for frieze at Co- chesett, 4 25
$58 45
Paid A. Copeland for painter's stock at East, $9 93
A. Copeland for work, 52 days at East, 13 75
$23 68
Paid A. Copeland for painter's work, 5g days at North, $13 00
A. Copeland for painter's stock at North, 8 98
A. Copeland for 1 pair blinds at North, 1 75
A. Copeland for chalk trough and frieze at North, 2 50
$26 23
Paid A. Copeland for painter's stock at North Centre, $8 01
A. Copeland for painter's work, 4 days at North Centre, 10 00
A. Copeland for 1 pair blinds at North Centre, 2 25
$20 26
Amount carried forward, 128 62
36
Amount brought forward, Paid Mary Dugan, cleaning Centre houses, 8 60 66 . . South Grammar, 3 00
$128 62
Mrs. McDonald, 66 North,
1 25
Mrs. Toothaker,
North Centre,
2 00
H. S. Shaw,
wells,
4 00
E. T. Snell, 60 at South,
2 00
W. A. Linehan, repairs at Jerusalem,
7 15
G. R. Drake, brooms,
58
C. H. Morrisson, repairs on clock and lock,
75
Wales Bros., 2 log pumps,
40 00
J. E. Ryder, repairs at East,
5 15
A. Copeland, glass and setting at South,
2 00
E. T. Snell, repairs on outbuilding, 2 00
F. S. Tisdale, repairs at Cochesett,
9 07
F. W. Howard,
6 84
Lucius Dunbar, 6 Centre, 4 05
$227 06
Town grant,
$300 00
Expended,
227 06
Unexpended, $72 94
37
REPORT OF THE AGENT FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Gentlemen of the Committee :- Since the last report I have paid as follows :-
To Knight, Adams & Co., writing books, $16 00
Harper Bros., spellers, geographies and grammars, 90 72
Leach, Sewell & Sanborn, lessons on human body, 10 80
Chas. H. Whiting, U. S. histories, 10 00
Geo. F. King & Merrill, paper, pens, etc., 15 60
Thompson, Brown & Co., arithmetics,
36 24
Hooper & Clark, slates,
62
G. R. Drake, slates,
83
Wm. Ware & Co., readers,
1 00
W. P. Adams, readers,
12 96
Postage and express,
2 03
Total bills paid,
$196 80
Received inventory of stock on hand Jan 31st, 1885,
$73 33
Bill due from C. C. Merritt's Express Co., 12 08
Cash in hands of agent Jan. 31, 1885,
9 18
Drawn from town treasury,
182 69
$277 28
Inventory of stock on hand Jan. 31, 1886,
$47 33
Cash on hand Jan. 31, 1886, 7 15
Books and supplies furnished schools,
222 80
$277 28
38
INVENTORY OF BOOKS AND SUPPLIES ON HAND JAN. 31, 1886.
1 school geography,
$ 80
3 Intro. geographies, 1 05
3 English grammars, 1 38
6 language lessons,
1 68
7 Brand's human body,
3 00
2 U. S. histories,
1 60
12 readers,
5 01
9 Harrington spellers,
1 35
1 gross penholders,
35
3 dozen ink powders,
5 40
1 pointers,
1 50
100 slate pencils.
25
1 gross slate erasers,
85
1 call bell,
36
8 reams letter paper.
10 80
5 ex. paper, white,
2 25
4 . 66 buff paper,
1 60
8 1-12 dozen writing books,
8 10
1 dozen blackboard erasers,
90
$47 33
The average number of pupils enrolled in the schools is 260; the cost of books and supplies furnished has been $222.80, or .857 cents per scholar. If the furnishing of free text books and supplies is continued, which must be unless the law should be repealed, the town will need to raise the same sum as last year, namely, $150, for this department.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
ALBERT COPELAND, Agent.
39
At first sight it looks as though the expenses of the depart- ment of schools were very much in excess of previous years, but when it is considered that heretofore in making the report. the financial year of the schools has closed with the fall term, leaving the whole expense of the winter term of the schools to be paid at the beginning of the financial year of the town, and has come into the expense of the next year, leaving the closing term of the schools, in most cases, unreported, which by the ar- rangement of terms as last year, the school year and the finan- cial year of the town closed at the same time, and all the bills for the year are paid and there is no balance to be drawn from the treasury at the commencement of the year. As far as now appears there will be no draft on the treasury for the schools until the expiration of the next spring term, and for once the department of schools will have no outstanding balance to be drawn from the treasury in the first weeks of the year, and enters the new town year with a clean financial record, which, in the opinion of your committee, is the way it should be, thus bringing all the departments of town expenditures to a close at the end of the town year.
In regard to the conditions of the several schools, we call your attention to the report of the Superintendent of Schools, which accompanies this report, as embodying all that need be said under this head. In regard to the school prorerty, the report under the head of repairs gives the items of expenditures under this head, giving as it does the special repairs on the several school houses and the premises therewith connected, $168.62, and for miscellaneous small repairs to be $58.44.
For the ensuing year, unless something unforeseen takes place, there will be no special repairs except at Jerusalem, where the house needs painting outside and inside, and at the Centre where the small house may require to be shingled. We
40
-
think one hundred and twenty-five dollars may be ample for these, and also estimate that the miscellaneous repairs on the other property need not exceed seventy-five dollars, thus mak- ing for repairs two hundred dollars.
In March, 1885, there was a petition presented to the board requesting that the two schools at the Centre be placed under one teacher, as a measure of efficiency and economy. In con- sidering this subject, the committee did not see the propriety of uniting in one school at the Centre, and thought with equal propriety, looking exclusively at the subject economically, that the two schools at Cochesett and the two at the South should be united and placed under one teacher each. The committee are of the opinion that the uniting of these schools, while making a decided saving of expense, would be detrimen- tal to efficiency and progress. The petitioners, in support of their case, cite the instance of Miss Frawley's school at the East, and seem to have lost view of the fact that Miss Frawley was permitted to dispense with certain studies to enable her to get through with her work, while Mrs. Crosby kindly lent her aid and very materially supplemented the labors of the teachers. The labors of Mrs. Crosby in the school were gratuitous, but were of such a nature as to warrant some testimonial of appre- ciation, either by the patrons of the school or the town. We think if the town would instruct the committee by vote, in this direction, that they might be inclined to listen to such instruc- tion, although this matter of the number of schools necessary to be maintained by the town is by law placed in the hands of the superintending committee.
In closing our report, permit us to suggest to the considera- tion of the voters of the town the subject of the East and Mat- field or Beaver territory. The East, during a portion of the last year, has had fifty pupils, a number rather too large in a
41
mixed school to be under one teacher; while from Beaver we send into East Bridgewater schools eighteen pupils, and with the present prospect it may be more, rather than less, in the future. Now the citizens of this town and the town authorities have no knowledge of the condition of these pupils, as all things connected with their school life are looked after by the authori- ties of East Bridgewater, and we have no voice in the subject, but pay to said town upwards of of $180 per year for tuition. The point to which we would call your attention is, would it not be well for us to consider the expediency of taking those eighteen pupils who now go into East Bridgewater and the pupils on both sides of the road leading to the powder house corner to Matfield station, and thus form another school to be located in the vicinity of Matfield station, thus relieving the East school of its surplus, and gathering all our scholars into our own schools and under our care and supervision.
Therefore in view of the facts stated in this report, we rec- ommend that the town raise for the ensuing year sums as fol- lows :
For the support of schools,
$3,000 00
For repairs and furnishings, 200 00
For free text books and supplies, 150 00
There were on the first day of May last three hundred and ten scholars between five and fifteen years of age. Of this number two hundred and seventy-eight are in our schools and those of East Bridgewater, besides those under fifteen belong- ing in town who attend the Howard Institute and boys' high school, which schools we have failed to receive reports from. The terms of office to which Messrs. Dunbar and Snell were elected expire with the present school year, and also Mr.
42
Ryder has resigned his office, to take effect on the first day of March next. Thus there are three members of the board to be- elected at the next annual meeting, two for three years and one for one year.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
LUCIUS DUNBAR, J. E. RYDER, F. S. TISDALE, E. T. SNELL, ALBERT COPELAND, W. A. LINEHAN,
School Committee ..
West Bridgewater, Feb. 1, 1886.
43
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Gentlemen of the School Committee : -
Having been appointed by your board superintendent of the public schools, permit me to report to you the condition of your schools at the close of the school year of 1885-6, and also to offer some suggestions in relation to the future operations of your board.
It is rarely that men who look forward to the strict perform- ance of duty are satisfied with their achievements ; such, at least, has been my experience in the performance of the duties im- posed upon me, and no doubt you, in your capacity, have reached the same results. The year just closed has been one of general progress. In some of the schools the gain has been very marked, while others have failed to realize our hopes. It is my purpose to take up each school separately, to speak of its progress and present condition, and make some suggestions for your consideration as to the future.
COCHESETT GRAMMAR.
This school, for the last two terms of the previous year, was in charge of Miss Agnes K. Littlefield, of East Bridgewater, a teacher of a great deal of energy and force, and who did much to redeem the school from the broken and disordered state in which she found it. We hoped to continue her in the school for the coming year, but at the time to begin her work she was prevented from doing so by sickness. After delaying the com- mencement of the school one week, it was placed (after much
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reluctance and many misgivings on the part of the teacher, and which your superintendent and the committee shared to some extent) in charge of Miss Mary A. Tisdale, a former pupil in the school, but more recently a graduate of the State Normal School at Bridgewater, and who had taught with a good degree of success in the schools of other towns. Miss Tisdale engaged in her work with the enforcement of a mild, decisive and effi- cient discipline, while her methods of instruction were such as has made her work a decided success, and at the close of the year this school stands well in comparison with the other schools of the town.
COCHESETT PRIMARY.
This school for the entire year has been in charge of Miss I. S. Wood, of this town, a teacher of many years' service in this school. Her work has been commented upon in former re- ports as being eminently successful. She is not satisfied with simple success, but labors to make her work progressive. The school stands well among the others of similar grade in the town.
JERUSALEM.
This school, from its somewhat isolated position and small number of scholars, has been one in which it has been difficult to maintain that ardor and interest in its work enjoyed by larger schools, but its numbers have been increased and it is no longer to be classed as a dead school, and while it is not prominent among the other schools of the town in scholarship, yet its pro- gress in the work of the year has been better than in some of the other schools. The school is in charge of Miss Sadie Wal- dron, of South Easton, who taught it the preceding year. She was a graduate of the Easton high school, who brought to the
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