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 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
Francis Dunbar, note and interest,
504 50
66 66 60
502 50
Mark Dunbar,
510 00
Susan E. Bowman, “
66
506 25
Brockton Savings Bank,
3,066 08
Discount on taxes,
581 95
Interest on loans,
40 00
State tax,
825 00
County tax,
1,014 76
Brockton bank, note and interest,
2,047 56
Francis Dunbar, 66
1,023 00
1,019 00
Town officers,
782 21
Poor out of house,
1,470 74
Town farm,
639 42
Highways,
3,017 49
Incidentals,
871 46
Bridges,
5,415 28
Abatements,
240 55
Schools,
3,562 92
School supplies and repairs,
411 49
State aid,
1,181 00
Military aid,
346 00
Library,
301 44
Lectures,
100 00
$29,980 60
Balance in treasury,
1,588 70
$31,569 30
23
CONDITION OF TREASURY, FEB. 1, 1887.
Cash on hand,
$246 04
Uncollected taxes, 1884,
40 86
1885,
132 56
1886,
1,169 24
$1,588 70
Due from state for state aid furnished,
$1,181 00
military aid furnished,
173 00
Bridgewater,
12 50
Braintree,
86 11
Rehoboth,
313 27
Plympton,
122 53
$1,888 41
We, the undersigned, have examined the accounts of the Treasurer of West Bridgewater for the year ending Feb. 1, 1887, and have found them properly cast and vouched for.
HORACE W. HOWARD. WARREN R. KEITH.
OUTSTANDING NOTES AGAINST THE TOWN.
Loan from Brockton savings bank, $1,000, payable Nov. 1, 1887.
$1,000, 66 1888. Borrowed from Brockton savings bank, $5000, on demand.
24
NAMES OF JURORS
For acceptance or revision by the town at its annual meeting :
Cyrus Alger,
Charles W. Bacon,
Clinton P. Howard, Henry Copeland,
Bradford Copeland,
John Copeland,
Frank Copeland,
Jonas G. Hartwell,
Samuel D. Bartlett,
Frank M. Hayward,
Horace Bartlett,
E. B. Wilbur,
Benjamin Howard,
F. E. Howard,
Edward H. Keith,
Joseph Vosmus,
John A. Millett,
Charles E. Churchill,
Myron Packard,
Prescott T. Snell,
Japhet Packard,
William F. Ryder,
Josiah Perkins,
Israel H. Ross,
Warren R. Keith,
Sylvester Rice,
Lucius Dunbar,
George T. Shaw,
William Shipman,
Abial Washburn,
Charles T. Thayer,
L. A. Flagg,
Charles R. Packard,
Fred H. Washburn,
Almond Rounds,
Davis Copeland. 1
NAMES OF JURORS DRAWN IN 1886.
William A. Linehan, L. E. Hayward,
James Howard, Joseph C. Howard,
L. Sumner Packard.
25
WE RECOMMEND THE TOWN TO APPROPRIATE :
For support of poor,
$1,400 00
support of schools, 2,800 00
school repairs and supplies,
300 00
highway repairs,
2,000 00
Larkin Bridge,
1,600 00
town officers,
700 00
incidentals, 700 00
public lectures,
100 00
The next annual town meeting will be held on Monday, the 7th day of March, 1887. .
HENRY COPELAND,
Selectmen, Assessors
MOLBRY A. RIPLEY, and
SAMUEL H. HOWARD,
Overseers of the Poor.
26
own Glerk's Report.
Marriages Recorded in West Bridgewater in 1886.
Jan. 2. Richard Pickett, of Bridgewater, and Nellie Hen- nessey, of West Bridgewater.
Jan. 23. Leander Merchant, of South Abington, and Asenath E. Tucker, of West Bridgewater.
Feb. 8. Willard E. Bonney and Cornelia F. Smith, both of Pembroke.
Feb. 18. Ernest Perkins and Addie F. Tyler, both of Brock- ton.
Mar. 29. Joseph E. Ryder, of West Bridgewater, and Ellen Holmes Benson, of Bridgewater.
April 16. James F. Mason, of West Bridgewater, and Carrie E. Barnes, of Brockton.
April 22. Eddy Perkins Dunbar and Jennie Thorpe, both of West Bridgewater.
April 24. Alexander P. Keith, of California, and Annie M. Zigler, of West Bridgewater.
May 26. Walter C. Whiting, of West Bridgewater, and Emma J. Higley, of Halifax, Vt.
May 28. Jefferson S. Bearse, of Brockton, and Annie L. Hayward, of West Bridgewater.
27
July 20. James F. McAnaugh and Abbie M. Smith, both of West Bridgewater.
July 30. Albert F. Dunbar, of West Bridgewater, and Victorine A. Crocker, of Bridgewater.
Oct. 12. Arthur H. Alger and Dora M. Tisdale, both of West Bridgewater.
Oct. 15. Benjamin F. Brooks and Alice M. Hall, both of West Bridgewater.
Nov. 8.
Merton G. Churchill, of West Bridgewater, and Emma F. White, of Mansfield.
Dec. 2. George L. Howard and Jeanette Howard, both of West Bridgewater.
-
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1886.
Date.
Name of Child.
Sex.
Names of Parents.
January
1
Catherine Kendrick
Female
Fred P. and Mary E. Kendrick. .
February
14
Carrie Ella Rood
Female .
John A. and Sarah Helen Rood. .
March
21
John McCarthy, Jr.
Male
.
John and Mary Ann MeCarthy. .
66
31
Willie Atwood Nute
Male
Clarence W. and Eveline Nute.
April
12
*
Female
.
1
Edward Kent
Male
Philip and Margaret Kent.
66
18
Henry Herbert Marshall
Male
Charles S. and Louise B. Marshall. Frederick W. and Adelia M. Shaw.
66
22
Charles Knowlton Shaw
.
Male
Alfred E. and Edith S. Howard.
July
11
Lillian E. Barnes .
Female
W. H. and Lydia B. Barnes.
August
10
Roland Hartley Dunbar
.
Male
George E. and Mary E. Dunbar.
66
28
Sarah Luella Kinney . Annie Belle Miller
Female
Elbridge E. and Saralı E. Miller. .
September 16
23
John Williams Shaw
Male
Horatio S. and Olive B. Shaw.
October
5
Helen Stuart Keitlı
.
Female
John and Ellen Hayes.
November 10
Margaret Jane Marmion
Female
Thomas J. and Catherine Marmion.
December
3
Edward Nelson Gassett
Male
Nelson W. and Martha A. Gassett.
66
13
Thomas O'Neil
Male
John and Maggie O'Neil.
16
.
16
Rodney Melvin Hopkins
Male
.
George G. and Etta R. Hopkins.
.
14
Loren Wallace Flagg
Male .
Loren A. and Loraine A. Flagg. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
Female
Warren C. and Harriet Kinney.
Henry Morse Howard
Male
Joseph C. and Mary E. Howard.
Edward H. and Victorine S. Keith.
31
Catherine Theresa Hayes
.
·
.
Female
·
Peter and Mary Keenan.
9 Elizabeth Keenan
.
·
*Child adopted by Miss Elizabeth Kingman, not named.
28
15
May
11 Wallace Kingman Howard
Male
Female
DEATHS REGISTERED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1886.
Date.
Name of Deceased.
Y.
M.
D.
Place of Birth,
Disease or Cause of Death.
Names of Parents.
Jan. 1
Bertie M. Pratt.
4
14
West Bridgewater.
3
Jane B. Leach.
81
27
West Bridgewater.
14
Win. A. Linehan, Jr.
6
9
West Bridgewater.
Scarlatina.
18
Mary Donivan.
20
3
Bridgewater.
Consumption.
Feb. 20
Ebenezer Whitmarsh.
73
7
12
Plymouth.
Inanition.
Apr. 28
Nettie E. Snell.
25
11
10
West Bridgewater.
Phthisis. Meningitis.
May 13
Arthur Westwood.
9
8
20
Wollaston.
June 5
Thomas Snell.
73
9
27
West Bridgewater. Maine.
Heart Disease.
8
Francis Perkins.
69
23
Bridgewater.
Strangulation.
12
Eleanor Gardner.
82
20
Marshfield.
Phthisis.
July 9
Sarah H. Howard.
82
7
New Hampshire.
General Debility.
.. 10
73
11
West Bridgewater.
Aug. 7
19
25
6.
30
Mary Prentice.
79
7
Douglas, Mass.
Paralysis.
Sept. 7
Patrick Kenney.
42
66
15
Joseph Alger.
94
3
20
25
Mary W. Perkins.
84
5
21
Pembroke.
Paralysis.
29
Almira Fish.
85
10
2
Maine.
Disease of Liver.
Oct. 10 6 26 Nov. 4 .
Charles H. Smith. Daniel Donovan. Horatio S. Shaw.
30
6
6
West Bridgewater.
23
Mary E. Leonard.
16
16
Canton.
Cancer.
25 Dec. 2
Mary Whitman.
96
2
25
Framingham.
Old Age.
Mary Mccarthy.
30
2
13 West Bridgewater.
Phthisis.
11
Lillian E. Barnes.
5
West Bridgewater.
Marasmus.
4
Ira and Lucy A. Pratt. David and Polly B. Leach. William A. and Linehan. Daniel and Hannah Donivan.
John and Mary Ann McCarthy. Nahum and Lucy A. Snell. Fred'k and Sophie R. Westwood. Jonathan and Abigail Snell. Peletiah W. and Polly Gould. Francis and Mary Perkins. - and Eleanor Sprague.
29
David and Hester Clay. Alpheus and Sally Howard. James and Rose Shields.
Bartholemew and Marg't Stackpole
Philip and Margaret Kent. Aaron and Prudence Willis.
Simon and Mary Kenney. Joseph and Olive Alger. Isaac and Averick Thomas.
Enoch and Deborah Winship. Oliver and Louise Smith.
Typhoid Fever.
3
15
Lexington.
Ireland ...
Pulmonary Consumption. Typhoid Pneumonia.
Leavitt T. Howard. James II. Shields. Catherine Dewyer. Edward Kent.
35
13
North Bridgewater Ireland.
51
28
24
West Bridgewater.
Whooping Cough.
Ireland. West Bridgewater.
Accidental Strangulation. Old Age.
36
6 321512734 2 1 1 8 3 6
12
Mitral Insuffieieney.
. 6
7
Ivory F. Gould.
72
1
West Bridgewater.
Mitral Insufficiency.
Mar.22
John McCarthy, Jr.
· Convulsions.
Cancer.
Paralysis. Phthisis.
Diarrhoea.
Horatio and Lydia H. Shaw. John and Rebecca Dunkin. Daniel and Bathsheba W. Perkins. Michael and Elizabeth McCarthy. W. II. and Lydia B. Barnes.
30
Report of the School Committee.
In obedience to law we herewith submit our annual report.
In the beginning of the school year of 1886-87 the commit- tee was composed as follows :
J. A. SHORES and MARTHA K. CROSBY, for three years. W. A. LINEHAN and F. S. TISDALE, for two years.
MRS. A. S. LELACHEUR and A. COPELAND, for one year.
The board at their first meeting'organized as follows :
J. A. SHORES, Chairman. ALBERT COPELAND, Secretary.
J. A. SHORES and F. S. TISDALE, Committee on Repairs.
J. A. SHORES and A. COPELAND, Truant Officers.
The schools were assigned to sub-committees, as follows :
North and North Centre to Mr. Copeland. Cochesett to Mr. Tisdale.
Centre to Mrs. LeLacheur.
South to Mr. Shores.
East to Mrs. Crosby . Jerusalem to Mr. Linehan.
Proceeded to elect teachers for the several schools, with the following results :
North, Cora F. Ellis. North Centre, L. M. Toothaker. Centre Primary, Jennie Thorpe.
31
Centre Grammar, Agnes K. Littlefield.
South Primary, Wealthy A. Holmes.
South Grammar, M. A. Dewyre.
East, Abbie A. Frawley.
Jerusalem, Sadie L. Waldron.
Cochesett Primary, Irene S. Wood.
Cochesett Grammar, Mary A. Tisdale.
At the end of the spring term Mrs. Jennie Thorpe-Dunbar resigned her position in the Centre Primary and Miss Edith Crowninshield was elected to fill the remainder of the school year.
At the annual meeting of the town, the whole matter of providing for the confinement of truants and the enforcement of the truant laws of the state, was referred to the School Committee. The Committee subsequently petitioned the County Commissioners to establish a truant school for the county as provided for by law, and also voted to designate the truant school of Hampden county as the place of confine- ment for all those convicted of violating the truant laws, from this town.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
TEACHERS' DEPARTMENT.
Paid Mrs. S. L. Waldron, 32 weeks,
$288 00
Miss Irene S. Wood, 32 weeks, 288 00
Miss Mary A. Tisdale, 32 weeks,
320 00
Mrs. Jennie T. Dunbar, 11 weeks,
94 00
Miss E. Crowninshield, 21 weeks,
183 50
Miss Agnes K. Littlefield, 32 weeks,
320 00
Amount carried forward,
$1,493 50
-
32
Amount brought forward, $1,493 50
Paid Miss Mary Dewyre, 32 weeks,
320 00
Miss W. A. Holmes, 32 weeks,
288 00
Mrs. L. M. Toothaker, 32 weeks,
320 00
Miss Cora F. Ellis, 32 weeks,
288 00
Miss Abbie A. Frawley, 28 weeks,
280 00
$2,991 50
JANITORS' DEPARTMENT.
Paid Mary Dewyre,
$10 00
Wealthy Holmes,
10 00
C. H. Morrison,
20 00
Elton A. Bailey,
20 00
Albert C. Snow,
10 00
Aaron L. McDonald,
10 00
Adelaide Taylor,
10 00
G. J. Kingman,
10 00
$100 00
FUEL DEPARTMENT.
Paid J. E. Ryder, 2 cords oak wood,
$10 00
66
1-2 cord pine wood,
2 00
sawing and splitting,
3 15
E. T. Snell, four cords oak wood,
20 00
1 cord pine wood,
4 00
Owen King, cutting and housing,
11 50
Geo. M. Pratt, 5 cords oak wood, 66 2 cords pine wood,
8 00
William Penpraese, cutting and splitting,
15 00
Davis Copeland, 3 cords wood, split and housed,
27 50
21 00
Amount carried forward, $122 15
33
Amount brought forward, $122 15. Paid Leavitt T. Howard, 3 cords wood, cut and housed, 20 00 Martin Dunbar, 2 cords oak wood, 10 00
R. Hayward, cutting wood, 5 50
H. W. Leach, 3 cords oak wood, 16 50
C. H. Morrison, cutting and housing wood, 13 00
2 00
Adelaide Taylor, housing wood,
W. F. Ryder, housing wood,
3 33
$192 48
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers' wages,
$2,991 50
Fuel,
192 48
Janitor,
100 00
East Bridgewater for tuition,
145. 50
$3,429 48
RECEIPTS.
Town grant,
$3,000 00
Income of Mass. school fund,
220 95
Overdrawn,
$208 53
Owing to interruptions caused by sickness in the family of its teacher, the East school shows but seven months school up to the end of the financial year, leaving four weeks to be carried to the next year's account.
DEPARTMENT OF REPAIRS. Repairs at East.
Paid M. K. Crosby, for repairs and furnishings, $5 05
J. E. Ryder, repairs, 50
$5 55
34
Repairs at South.
Paid J. A. Shores, cleaning and repairs, $7 55
S. L. Ryder, outbuilding, 30 00
Albert Copeland, dressing blackboards and setting glass, 3 50
George Wilbur, for platform and other repairs, 6 75
$47 80
Repairs at Centre.
Paid Albert Blanchard, mason work, $19 30
F. W. Howard, for shingling primary house, 37 00
J. A. Shores, repairs on stove pipe, 1 75
George Wilbur, well platform,
5 00
Mrs. Dugan, for cleaning houses,
9 02
Gurney Bros., for cleaning clock,
75
Mrs. LeLacheur, for small repairs and furnishings,
8 12
A. P. Hazard, stove pipe,
1 01
S. Bartlett, for work and stock,
3 15
A. Copeland,dressing blackboards and set- ting glass, 4 75
$89 85
Repairs at Cochesett.
Paid F. W. Howard, for lumber,
$8 33
for other stock found, 5 54
glass and setting,
75
for 62 hours' work,
16 50
J. E. Carr & Co., for stove, 14 00
F. S. Tisdale, for furnishings,
6 24
Harriet Packard, for cleaning school-house, 7 00
Shaw & Rice, furnishings, 5 78
$64 14
35
Repairs at Jerusalem. Paid Albert Blanchard, mason work,
$7 30
Albert Copeland, painter's stock, 21 92
to 12 1-4 days' work,
31 23
to lock and hardware,
2 55
W. A. Linehan, cleaning school-house, 3 00
small repairs and furnishings, 5 95
$71 95
Repairs at North.
Paid Albert Blanchard, mason work, $8 38
F. W. Howard, shingling, 37 19
Howard & Clark, repairs on school furniture,
11 00
A. Copeland, dressing black-boards, and re- pairs,
4 50
Mrs. McDonald, cleaning house and yard,
2 50
$63 57
Repairs at North Centre.
Paid Albert Blanchard, mason work,
$6 75
J. E. Carr & Co., stove,
9 50
sink and pipe,
2 11
labor and furnishings,
1 96
drain pipe,
1 68
2 00
Mrs. McDonald, cleaning,
Albert Copeland, dressing blackboards, and repairs, 4 30
$28 30
36
Whole amount of repairs,
$371 16
Town grant,
$300 00
Overdrawn,
71 16
$371 16
For a report of the work done in the schools, and their present condition and prospective needs, we refer you to the report of the Superintendent which accompanies this report. Also the report of the agent for purchasing and distributing free text books, gives the work of that department. The school property of the town is subject to constant wear and waste despite the utmost care and vigilance of teachers and committee, and although we have overdrawn the sum appropriated for repairs, yet the committee having in care this department, have done as little as they consistently could, and much less than in their opinion the merits of the case demanded. For the ensuing year we anticipate no extensive repairs on any of the school houses ; the grounds and premises connected therewith, in several cases, demand somewhat extensive repairs.
In the report of last year it was suggested that in view of the crowded condition of the East school, the amount of money yearly paid East Bridgewater for tuition, and the growth of the Matfield neighborhood, that the town would soon be called upon to provide better educational facilities for this part of the town.
Your committee are unanimously of the opinion that the time has come when some definite action to this end must be taken. We therefor ask you at your next annual meeting, to take this subject into serious consideration and by your votes provide for the construction of suitable buildings and premises for the
37
use of this part of the town for school purposes. Should you grant this request, it will have the effect to greatly relieve the East school, and will accommodate the extreme east part of the town and save the sum heretofore paid East Bridgewater yearly for tuition, and also provide better for the wants of the pupils and bring them under our immediate care and supervision, and the committee should so arrange to consolidate the schools as to bring upon the town no additional burdens for the support of schools, other than the providing of the necessary buildings, etc.
We would call your attention to the fact that this town raises a less sum per capita than the majority of the towns in the county, also that we have less months of school during the year than most of the adjoining towns. While in view of the state of the finances of the town, we do not deem it advisable to press this matter for the ensuing year, we suggest that in the future it is advisable that to the school year should be added at least four weeks, and a sufficient sum added to the appropriation commensurate with the increase of costs.
We recommend that the town, for the ensuing year, raise sums as follows :
For the support of schools, $3,000 00
For furnishings and repairs on school property, 300 00
For text books and supplies, 150 00
There were on the first of May last three hundred and nine scholars between the ages of five and fifteen years. For a record of their enrollment, membership and attendance in the schools, we refer you to the statistical tables at the close of this report. The terms of office to which Mr. Copeland and
38
Mrs. LeLacheur were elected expire with the present school year, therefore there are two members of the board to be elected at the next annual meeting, for three years.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
· J. A. SHORES, M. K. CROSBY, A. S. LELACHEUR, F. S. TISDALE, A. COPELAND, School Committee.
West Bridgewater, Feb. 1, 1887.
-
39
Superintendent's Report.
-
. To the School Committee :-
In presenting a report of the important work entrusted to me at the organization of the School Board in March, 1886, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks for your prompt co-opera- tion throughout the year, and especially for the ready sympathy and valuable counsel received from those members of the committee who have preceded me in the office. The most faithful and zealous labors of a superintendent may lose much of their worth from a lack of cordial support in the appointing school board.
After providing for the maintenance of its schools, the town cannot do more for their present and future prosperity than to require of the committee, or some one appointed by them, a careful supervision of the same, not only in respect to the studies pursued, but in the more important matters relating to physical and moral education. No place is so favorable as the school-room for impressing upon children a due regard for the feelings, rights and possessions of their fellow-beings, and for giving practical lessons in the careful use of books and all other public property provided for their convenience.
The following extract from the state laws shows plainly the duty of the school committee to insist upon the proper treat- ment of all school property :
[Pub. Stats., chap. 203.]
SECT. 78. Whoever wilfully and maliciously or wantonly and without cause destroys, defaces, mars, or injures a school-
40
house, church or other building erected or used for purposes of education or religious instruction, or for the general diffusion of knowledge, or an outbuilding, fence, well or appurtenance of such school-house, church or other building, or furniture, apparatus or other property belonging to or connected with such school-house, church, or other building, shall be punished by fine not exceding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the jail not exceeding one year.
The plan pursued by me has been first to make the acquaint- ance of the schools in a general way, noting carefully the work attempted by the teachers and the methods used, and after- wards to suggest such changes as the peculiar circumstances of each school seemed to require. Without exception, the teachers have responded cordially and intelligently to ali suggested changes, and have made my efforts to establish a familiar acquaintance with their pupils not only possible, but very pleasant. The times of my visits have been so arranged as to bring under observation the recitations of each class in its several studies. Near the close of the fall term the teachers gave, at my request, written tests in most of the school studies, and from an examination of these papers I was enabled to obtain a still more definite knowledge of the standing of each pupil. Teachers' meetings of two sessions each were held Saturday, June 17, and Friday, Nov. 19. The interest of the teachers in the object of these gatherings was evinced by a full attendance and free participation in the discussions upon studies and methods.
Where the schools are so widely separated as ours, the distribution of school supplies can be most easily performed by the person who has the supervision of the schools. If, at the close of each term, a list of supplies for the commencement of the next should be received from each teacher, there ought to be no delay in starting the work when the term opens. In
41
this respect the present system of supplies is much superior to that formerly used. It also permits the use of a variety of readers that can be transferred from one school to another, thereby affording a larger amount of reading suited to the wants of the several classes. New readers, of other series than that adopted here a few years ago, have been supplied as needed, and if this course is continued, our schools will eventually enjoy advantages for this fundamental study, similar to those of thoroughly-equipped towns and cities.
By the introduction of many sets of small alphabet cards, the spelling of words and sentences has been made so attractive as to happily employ the younger pupils, thus partially reliev- ing the teacher of the unfortunate necessity of conducting recitations with a divided attention. A more enlightened pub- lic now permits teachers to exercise their ingenuity and tact in devising new ways for usefully occupying idle moments, with- out incurring the suspicion of misusing the hours of school time.
Considerable interest has been awakened in the practical study of physiology and hygiene now required by law in all grades of public schools, and it is reasonable to presume that the good effects of this study will be far-reaching. The law is as follows :
AN ACT REQUIRING PHYSIOLOGY AND HYGIENE TO BE TAUGHT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows :
SECTION 1. Physiology and hygiene, which, in both divi- sions of the subject, shall include special instruction as to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics on the human system, shall be taught as a regular branch of study to all pupils in all schools supported wholly or in part by public
42
money, All acts or parts of acts relating to the qualifications of teachers in the public schools shall apply to the branch of study prescribed in this act.
The two vacancies existing in the corps of teachers at the commencement of the school year were filled by the selection of Miss Cora F. Ellis for the North school, and Miss Agnes K. Littlefield for the Centre Grammar school.
Miss Ellis had previously taught with success in the East school, and she has come back from similar work in a neighbor- ing town to enrich our schools with her valuable experience. The orderly bearing of her pupils, their readiness to engage in all of the school exercises, and the great improvement shown in their oral and written work, merit generous commendation.
The spring term opened at the Centre Grammar school under very disheartening circumstances. Those who daily, or even occasionally, endured the discomfort of the cold, smoke- bedimmed school-room, will not readily forget the zealous and persistent efforts of the new teacher to bring the school into conditions favorable for study. A comparison of this school as described in the report of last year, with its appearance at the close of this year, shows great and encouraging progress. The recent public exercises were given in a neat and attractive room, and consisted of selections from the ordinary work for the year. presented with almost no special preparation. Every member of the school took part in one or more of the exercises, and, with few exceptions, in a very satisfactory manner. The music was a very pleasant feature of the occasion.
At the close of the spring term, a vacancy was made at the Centre Primary school by the withdrawal of its teacher, Mrs. Jennie Thorpe Dunbar. The school while under Mrs. Dunbar's care had been so well taught and controlled that her successor,
43
Miss Edith Crowninshield, was spared some of the many diffi- culties that usually attend such changes in the country. Miss Crowninshield's enthusiasm in her work roused a like spirit in her pupils, which was clearly manifest in the cheerful activity and excellent work that characterized her school.
As occasional changes in the corps of teachers must occur, it is of great importance that a permanent record of the attain- ments of classes and individual pupils should be kept in each school, in order that valuable time may be saved when a new teacher enters upon her labors. The schools were provided with blank books for this purpose during the fall term, and in these the teachers have briefly recorded the results of the last two terms of the year, together with their programs for the daily school exercises.
The remaining schools have been very fortunate in retaining the instructors of the previous year, all of whom have labored faithfully and successfully to raise the standard of attainment in their respective schools.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.