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 21
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Bradford Wild, auctioneer's license 2 00
Dog fund
342 33
Income of School fund . .
210 C5
Town of Plympton
100 00
Interest on taxes after March 1
72 74
$25,302 63
25
EXPENDITURES OF TREASURY.
Six months' interest on loan .
$120 00
Six per cent discount on taxes paid on or before October 15 . ·
747 30
Frank Dunbar, note and interest .
1,020 00
Frank Dunbar, note and interest ·
1,015 00
County tax . 1,199 26
Interest on loan .
80 00
Brockton Savings Bank, note and interest
2,040 00
State tax
1,000 00
Brockton Savings Bank, note and interest
2,068 44
Town officers
866 46
Sidewalks
296 65
Schools ·
3,648 25
School repairs
304 41
School supplies
150 00
Lectures
100 00
Library
341 57
Poor out of house
1,018 79
Highways
2,278 04
Incidentals
614 25
Abatement .
262 74
Town farm .
506 06
Memorial service .
43 83
Matfield road
565 73
State aid
1,282 50
Military aid .
246 00
Cash and uncollected taxes
3,487 35
$25,302 63
26
CONDITION OF THE TREASURY, FEB. 1, 1890.
Cash on hand ·
. $1,461 35
Uncollected taxes, 1887
28 61
1888
·
375 18
66
1889 .
1,622 21
$3,487 35
OUTSTANDING NOTES AGAINST THE TOWN.
Loaned from Brockton Savings Bank, $2,000, payable Nov. 1, 1890.
Loaned from Brockton Savings Bank, $2,000, payable Nov. 1, 1891.
We, the undersigned, have examined the accounts of the Treasurer of West Bridgewater for the year ending Feb. 1, 1890, and have found them properly cast and vouched for.
GEO. M. PRATT, LUCIUS GURNEY, CURTIS EDDY,
Auditors.
27
NAMES OF JURORS.
For acceptance or revision by the town at its annual meeting : -
Cyrus Alger.
Warren C. Kinney.
Bradford Copeland.
A. L. Alger.
Frank Copeland.
Erland Thayer.
Edward H. Keith.
F. W. Howard.
John A. Millet.
F. L. Howard.
Myron Packard.
George H. Knapp.
Japhet Packard.
F. E. Howard.
Herbert A. Millet.
Prescott T. Snell.
Curtis Eddy.
Ira Pratt.
Jonas Hartwell.
William Shipman.
Abial Washburn.
Horace W. Howard.
L. A. Flagg.
Charles C. Thayer.
Fred. H. Washburn.
Charles R. Packard.
Davis Copeland.
Almond Rounds.
Julius Hayward.
George W. Howard.
M. A. Ripley.
Seba H. Marshall.
George C. Howard.
Charles T. Williams.
Wm. H. Jennings.
NAMES OF JURORS DRAWN IN 1889.
Henry W. Leach.
George R. Drake.
Horace Bartlett. E. B. Wilbur.
Henry J. Le Lacheur.
William F. Ryder.
28
WE RECOMMEND THE TOWN TO APPROPRIATE :
For support of poor . $1,500 00
Support of schools . 3,500 00
School repairs and supplies 450 00
Highway repairs
2,500 00
Town officers
900 00
Incidentials .
700 00
Public lectures
100 00
Paying town debt
2,000 00
Interest on town debt
160 00
The next annual town meeting will be held on Monday, the tenth day of March, 1890.
JOS. A. SHORES, HORACE W. HOWARD, CHARLES T. WILLIAMS, Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor.
In obedience to the instructions of the town, the under- signed have examined the accounts of all town officers for the year ending Jan. 31, 1890.
We find all orders drawn by the Selectmen properly vouched by receipted bills.
GEO. M. PRATT, LUCIUS GURNEY, CURTIS EDDY,
Auditors.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
Marriages recorded in West Bridgewater in 1889.
Feb. 21. Chester Thayer, of West Bridgewater, and Cora A. Thomas, of Bridgewater.
March 23. Andrew Monson and Ida Sophie Nilsson, both of West Bridgewater.
April 2. Edward L. Allen and Phoebe Wetherbee, both of Easton.
May 5. Herbert M. Jones, of Brockton, and Ethel M. Vosmus, of West Bridgewater.
June 12. Allen Reardon, of Canton, and Julia A. Car- roll, of West Bridgewater.
June 27. Edward E. Brown and Lura M. Alger, both of Brockton.
June 28.
Harry H. Hunt, of Lakeville, and Lottie A. Logue, of West Bridgewater.
July 6.
Oscar C. French and Mary A. Cook, both of Lynn.
Aug. 31. Henry M. Holmes, of East Bridgewater, and Nancy Eaton, of West Bridgewater.
Sept. 29. James A. Washburn and Ada B. Daniels, both of West Bridgewater.
Nov. 27. Charles H. Andrews, of Easton, and Laura D. Hartwell, of West Bridgewater.
Nov. 28. Joseph B. Phillips, of West Bridgewater, and Emma E. Drew, of Fairhaven.
Dec. 24. Lincoln H. Allen, of Brockton, and Lana D. Shaw, of West Bridgewater.
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER DURING THE YEAR 1889.
DATE.
NAME OF CHILD.
SEX.
NAME OF PARENTS.
.
1887. March 5 1888.
Elvira Amanda Perkins.
Female.
Josiah A. and Sarah W. Perkins.
Jan. 11 July 20 1889.
Stella Ellen Turner. .
Female.
Luther C. and Emma F. Turner. Josiah A. and Sarah W. Perkins.
Jan. 5
Leon Ripley Perkins
Male.
Feb. 16
Eliza Jane Boyd Pratt.
Female.
Nathaniel and Esther Pratt.
Feb. 19
Ellen O'Neil .
Female.
John and Margaret A. O'Neil.
30
April 8 Not named (still born)
Female.
William N. and Sarah F. Shipman.
April 9
Inez Ames Robbins .
Female.
David B. and Aurelia E. Robbins.
April 15
Jennie Esther Holbrook
Female.
Ellis R. and Eudora Holbrook. Alton W. and Clara B. Snell.
May 19
Walter Henry Snell .
Male.
May 23
Olive Howard Churchill .
Female.
Thomas II. and Carrie M. Churchill. .
May 28
Forest Monson .
Male. Andrew and Ida S. Monson.
June 13
Mary Grace Penpraese
Female.
William and Catherine Penpraese.
June 15 Evelyn Reed Keith. .
Female.
Edward H. and Victorine S. Keith.
Cecilia Agnes Marmion.
Female.
Thomas J. and Catherine Marmion.
June 17 June 20 June 20 June 22 July 20 Aug. { Aug. 10
Thomas Everett Marmion.
James Edward Conlon
Sybil Hervey Holmes .
Walter Eldredge Howard ..
Male.
Female.
Ida Estelle Packard.
Female.
Arthur P. and Almira E. Packard.
Timothy Stack )
Not named Triplets
Not named J
[Male. -
31
Julia Hayward Kingman .
Female.
William B and Georgianna S. Kingman.
Female. John and Annie Cashin.
Male. George H. and Emma W. Holmes.
Male.
Joseph E. and Ellen H. Ryder. Eddy P. and Jennie T. Dunbar.
Oct. 17
Not named (still born) .
Oct. 20
A genstzine Belmore . .
Female.
Octave and Elise Belmore.
Oct. 22 Dec. 10
Mary Elizabeth Lynch ..
Female.
Michael and Ellen C. Lynch.
Everett Forest Wilds .
Male.
Male. Female.
Thomas J. and Catherine Marmion. Eugene and Margaret Conlon. Henry T. and Helen E. Holmes. George W. and Ada H. Howard. Charles E. and Eugenia E. Packard.
[ Male. Male.
Patrick and Mary Stack.
-
Aug. 27 Sept. 5 Sept. 21 Sept. 22
Catharine Francis Cashin
Earle Warren Holmes .
Arthur Edward Ryder. .
Male.
Male.
George W. and Mary E. Wilds.
Edith Maud Packard ..
DEATHS REGISTERED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER DURING THE YEAR 1889.
DATE.
NAME OF DECEASED.
Y.
M.
D.
CAUSE OF DEATHI.
PLACE OF BIRTH.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
1888
May
13
Dwelley Fobes.
86
11
20
Apoplexy .
1889
Jan. 23
James Howard.
72
4
12
Chronic Endocarditis
West Bridgewater.
Feb.
18
Elizabeth Ryder.
80
General Debility
Feb. 28
Mary Luddy . ..
15
Phthisis ..
March 10
Jonathan Howard ..
82
11
9
Old Age ..
Marclı 18
Catherine Reed Howard ...
68
10
12
Paralysis .
May
4
David W. Tinkham.
75
0
24
Apoplexy and Heart Disease ..
Bloomfield, Me.
May 10
Mary W. Barrell.
25
10
21
Diabetes ..
East Bridgewater.
June 29
Dennis Harding ..
42
Aug.
23
Patrick McCarthy ..
20
4
29
Compound Fracture of Skull and Spine Diphtheria
Aug. 27
Lucinda S. I.othrop
78
11
7
Chronic Inflammation of Liver.
Aug.
27
Annie Belle Miller.
2
11
29
Convulsions .
Sept.
29
Daniel II. Dunbar.
63
6
21
Phthisis Pulmonalis.
Oct.
17
Henry HI. Whitman .
76
1
8
Paralysis ...
Oct.
17
Unnamed ....
Still born ..
Oct.
27
Jolın W. Cotter
.
4
7
2
Congestion of the Brain
Oct.
25
Henry Copeland.
54
8
9
Paralysis and Heart Failure.
Nov.
7
John F. Ames ...
50 .
3
13
Uremia ..
Nov.
10
Fear J. John'son
71
6
8
Cancer .
Dec.
26
Thomas Sullivan.
11
16
Marasmus.
New Bedford.
.
.
.
.
West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. Boston.
Uriel and Lucy C. Howard. Joseph and Kunice Kingman. John and Mary Luddy. Edward and Sarah Howard. Jarvis and Esther Lothrop. Andrew and Jemima W.Tinkham Thomas W. and Ann E. Barrell.
Michael and Elizabeth McCarthy . David and Deborah Baxter. Elbridge E. and Sarah E. Miller. Daniel and Nicholas Dunbar. Noah and Mary Whitman. Eddy P. and Jennie T. Dunbar. Richard and Margaret Cotter. James and Betsy Copeland. Charles and Abigail P. Ames. Samuel and Betsy Swift. Edward J. and Mary Sullivan.
32
West Bridgewater. Dennis.
.
.
.
West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. West Bridgewater. Wareham.
West Bridgewater.
Willam and Freelove Fobes.
.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
At the beginning of the school year of 1889-90 the following were members of the committee : -
J. A. SHORES and Mrs. M. K. CROSBY, for three years. F. S. TISDALE and C. T. HOWARD, for two years. Mrs. A. S. LELACHEUR and B. PERKINS, for one year.
The organization for the year was as follows : -
J. A. SHORES, Chairman. M. K. CROSBY, Secretary.
F. S. TISDALE and B. PERKINS, Committee on Repairs. B. PERKINS and C. T. HOWARD, Truant Officers.
The schools were assigned as follows : -
North and North Centre to Mr. Perkins.
Cochesett to Mr. Tisdale. Centre to Mrs. LeLacheur. South to Mr. Shores. East and Matfield to Mrs. Crosby. Jerusalem to Mr. Howard.
To J. A. Shores, A. S. LeLacheur, and M. K. Crosby was assigned the examination of teachers selected to fill vacancies.
34
FINANCIAL REPORT.
TEACHERS' DEPARTMENT.
Paid Miss L. W. Copeland, 34 weeks $306 00
Miss I. S. Wood, 34 weeks . 316 00
Miss M. A. Tisdale, 11 weeks 110 00
Miss L. Allen, 22 weeks
230 00
Miss N. M. Toothaker, 12 weeks 102 00 ·
Miss C. C. Brown, 22 weeks .
198 00
Miss M. F. Hanscom, 25 weeks
250 00
Miss L. V. Wesel, 9 weeks .
90 00
Miss W. A. Holmes, 34 weeks
315 00
Miss A. A. Frawley, 34 weeks
340 00
Miss M. A. Dewyre, 34 weeks
340 00
Miss I. C. Wyman, 27 weeks
246 00
Miss M. C. Keith, 7 weeks
63 00
Mrs. Toothaker, 34 weeks
340 00
$3,246 00
JANITORS' DEPARTMENT.
Paid for Jerusalem
$12 00
Cochesett
22 00
Centre
24 00
South
12 00
East
12 00
Matfield
12 00
North
12 00
North Centre
12 00
$118 00
35
FUEL DEPARTMENT.
Paid J. E. Ryder, 5 cords hard wood . $25 00
E. Thayer, ¿ cord pine wood .
2 00
O. King, labor on wood 9 00
W. King, labor on wood
18 00
E. T. Snell, 10 cords oak wood
50 00
E. T. Snell, 5₺ cords pine wood
22 00
F. W. Kingman, labor on wood C. Keene, labor on wood
18 00
3 50
F. Gillespie, 6 cords oak wood
30 00
F. Gillespie, 1} cords pine wood 6 00
Gillespie Brothers, 2 cords hard, and labor, 15 00
Gillespie Brothers, ¿ cord pine wood and labor 3 75
O. K. Ness, 1 cord oak wood and labor . 7 00
W. Penpraese, labor on wood
20 00
P. H. Bacon, 3 cords oak wood and labor
21 00
P. H. Bacon, 1 cord pine wood and labor 6 00 L. E. & E. Copeland, 2 cords hard wood and labor 12 50
L. E. & E. Copeland, 1 cord pine wood and labor
5 75
M. K. Crosby, 4 cords pine wood . .
16 00
For labor on wood at Jerusalem
2 50
$293 00
Expenditures.
Teachers' wages
. $3,246 00
Fuel .
·
293 00
Janitors
118 00
Balance
53 05
$3,710 05
36
Receipts.
Town grant .
. $3,500 00
Income of Massachusetts school fund 210 05
$3,710 05
DEPARTMENT OF REPAIRS.
Jerusalem.
Paid C. T. Howard, labor
$5 25
Express on desks . 50
For small supplies and furnishings . 3 25
$9 00
Cochesett.
Paid Lucius Gurney, repairing clocks $1 00
Wm. A. Cole, labor and stock
19 60
F. W. Howard, labor and stock
5 75
W. Penpraese, labor
1 00
For cleaning building
6 00
For call bell .
62
$33 97
Centre.
Paid L. Gurney, repairing clocks . $2 50
B. Perkins, labor and team
3 00
C. Eddy, labor on seats
2 50
A. K. Littlefield, furnishings (1888)
6 25
G. Wilbur, labor and stock (1888)
2 50
G. Wilbur, labor and stock . 11 95
For small furnishings
3 05
Cleaning buildings 5 63
B. H. Waugh, stock and labor on fence . 10 36
$47 74
37
South.
Paid for cleaning building · $2 00
For small supplies and furnishings 3 07
$5 07
East.
Paid C. Eddy, work and stock
$0 50
For cleaning clock
75
For cleaning house
2 40
For small furnishings
1 30
$4 95
Matfield.
Paid E. B. Wilbur, labor on lot
$36 95
B. Perkins, labor on lot
2 50
For cleaning building
3 50
For repairing clock
60
$43 55
North Centre.
Paid W. H. Tobey, bureau
$3 50
B. Perkins, labor .
75
For small furnishings
2 69
$6 94
· North.
Paid A. A. Barrett, repairing clock
$1 00
B. Perkins, labor .
3 75
For small furnishings
1 30
B. H. Waugh, repairs
1 50
Cleaning building . ·
2 00
$9 55
38
In General.
Paid Albert Copeland, labor and stock . $8 24
Carroll W. Clark, music boards 12 00
Loring & Howard, window shades . 58 50
C. P. Hilstrum, labor 26 60
C. P. Hilstrum, stock
13 50
Harper & Bros., writing charts 7 50
C. Thayer, two moulding boards 2 50
For express, telegrams and furnishings .
5 80
$134 64
Whole amount of repairs
$295 41
Balance
4 59
Town grant
$300 00
According to the school census, taken for May 1, 1889, there were in town 285 children between five and fifteen years of age.
Two hundred and forty-one of these were in the com- mon public schools, ten in the Howard School, ten (three of these over fourteen years) at work, two sick, ten young and not yet entered, eight unstable residents, and four out for other reasons.
The provision made for cases of habitual truancy was the same as that for the last two years.
The statistics of attendance, etc., are made up to close of January, 1890.
39
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1890-91.
SPRING TERM, 14 weeks. March 3 to June 13, 1890.
Recess. Fast Day week. FALL TERM, 12 weeks. Sept. 2 to Nov. 21, 1890. WINTER TERM, 8 weeks. Dec. 1 to Jan. 30, 1891.
Recess. Christmas week.
This calendar, adopted by the committee for the next school year, provides for thirty-four weeks of school before the close of the financial year of 1890-91. To secure this and allow for an early closing in June, the spring term must begin about the first of March. A recess of one week, to include FastDay, will agreeably divide the long period of continuous school work in the spring term.
A change in the time of commencing the spring term may be found necessary for some schools, on account of the interruptions made by sickness during the winter term, or for other reasons. These changes will be made and properly announced by the local committees.
The committee take especial satisfaction in reporting the Matfield School grounds cleared and graded (from this year's appropriations), as far as practicable with the present bounds on the west side. If, at any subsequent time, the limits of the lot should be extended on that side, some additional grading will be called for. The young growth of wood in the rear of the schoolhouse has been trimmed and left to grow for future comfort and ornament.
In addition to the ordinary expenses for repairs, etc., all of the school buildings have been furnished with much needed window shades, without exceeding the grant made by the town for this department.
40
The appropriations recommended for the next year are the same as last year for each department. That for repairs provides for the outside painting of the new build- ing at Matfield and for that of the South schoolhouse.
While asking for the same amount to meet the expense of teachers, fuel, etc., we would say that a larger quantity of fuel is required than formerly, on account of having more weeks of school in winter. To provide for this and also to promote the " permanence of our teachers," an essential bulwark of ungraded schools like ours, it is probable that most, if not all of the grant asked for will be drawn from the treasury.
The appropriations recommended for this year are these : -
For the support of schools . $3,500 00
For furnishings and repairs . 300 00 .
For text-books and supplies . 150 00
At the next annual meeting there should be a choice of two members of the School Board for three years.
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. SHORES,
M. K. CROSBY,
A. S. LELACHEUR,
F. S. TISDALE, B. PERKINS,
School Committee.
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Feb. 1, 1889.
41
SCHOOLS.
Length in weeks.
Scholars enrolled.
Average member-
ship.
Average attendance.
Not absent or tardy.
Over fifteen years.
Less than five years
Wages per month.
SPRING TERM.
South
13
25
23.53
21.12
Centre Grammar
12
25
21.2
17.33
1
0
40
Centre Primary
12
28
23.3
19.6
0
0
36
East
12
35
32.25
29.54
9
2
0
40
Matfield
11
25
22.54
20.9
0
0
0
40
North
12
22
20.9
20 2
6
1
0
36
North Centre
12
27
25.67
22.2
1
1
0
40
Cochesett Grammar
12
19
16.75
14.23
4
5
0
40
Cochesett Primary -
12
32
28.82
24.82
3
0
0
36
Jerusalem
12
29
25.68
22.
5
0
0
36
South
12
22
21.41
21.
1
0
0
36
Centre Grammar
12
24
20.51
17.93
2
0
0
40
Centre Primary
12
21
20.5
18.3
0
0
1
36
East
12
33
32.33
28.8
5
1
0
40
Matfield
12
26
21.73
19.36
0
0
0
40
North
12
20
20.
19.2
4
3
0
36
North Centre
12
22
21.58
19.42
2
1
0
40
Cochesett Grammar
12
22
20.88
18.53
5
3
()
40
Cochesett Primary
12
34
29.
25.33
3
0
0
36
. Jerusalem -
12
29
25.
22.
6
0
1
36
( South
8
22
21.71
18.9
1
0
0
36
Centre Grammar
8
25
24.
18 5
0
0
0
40
Centre Primary . East
8
19
18.4
15.8
4
0
0
36
Matfield
7
20
16.
13.66
0
1
0
40
North
6
21
20.5
19.9
7
3
0
37
North Centre
8
24
20 9
18.25
1
2
0
40
Cochesett Grammar
8
22
20.28
16.64
1
4
0
40
Cochesett Primary
8
28
24.
19.5
2
0
0
36
Jerusalem
8
29
28.
19.5
1
0
0
36
8
33
32.
28.46
4
1
0
40
WINTER TERM.
FALL TERM.
0 $36
220
0
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
When our schools closed for the Thanksgiving recess, the prospect was excellent for reporting a prosperous year. In most of the schools the attendance for the spring term was fairly good, and during the fall it was, in many of them, unusually full and regular.
With favoring winter skies, it might reasonably be ex- pected that we should regain among the towns of Plym- outh County the good standing in average attendance that had been lost the previous year through sickness and from other causes, some of which were beyond our con- trol.
Winter has brought good school weather, but no ex- emption of our community from its share in the prevailing epidemic, whose baneful influence has been so far reach- ing that it may with propriety be called " international."
There has been no occasion for radical change in either studies or methods. Good results can best be reached by " faithful continuance in well-doing," when once a satis- factory plan of work has been adopted.
Such additions have been made to the appliances for teaching as our limited appropriations would permit
Small paper globes, that can readily be held for study and recitation, have given valuable assistance in geog- graphy. .
Portable black-boards, ruled for the purpose, have been furnished to help in the practice of vocal music, and the schools not already in possession of similar aids have been
43
recently supplied with Harper's excellent " Charts for Pen- manship."
The little paper "The Week's Current" still brings to our school-rooms its carefully prepared report of the world's progress.
On the teachers' desks have been placed several books treating of special branches of study, as Lessons on Plants, Lessons on the Human Body, Bert's Science Primer, Holt's Normal Music Reader, etc., thus increas- ing the small collection of reference books that live teachers find so essential in their daily work.
Magazines and books suited to interest children of dif- ferent ages are, from time to time, left in the school- rooms, to give relief and pleasure to both teacher and pupils.
It is intended that these extra supplies - outside the ordinary text-books - shall be accessible to the pupils in leisure moments, under proper restrictions, and discreet teachers will find them effective substitutes for reproof in cases of restlessness and disorder arising from lack of pleasant occupation.
At the meeting of the Plymouth County Association of Teachers, held in Brockton last autumn, a plan was recommended for introducing " Nature Study " through- out the county, and printed copies of the proposed plan have been sent to the towns for distribution among the schools. Our town was mentioned as the only one in the county in which the schools had already attempted any- thing in the way of systematic observation of plants.
For winter the work is to be "study of trees," etc., and during the warm season, "native plants in order of their flowering."
Some of our pupils have already begun collections of woods cut so as to show bark, grain, and fibre, and men
44
skilled in woodcraft or busy at their wood-piles will doubtless receive applications for help in preparing the desired specimens.
For several years some of our schools have taken note of plants (including trees), beginning in the earliest spring, and have kept lists of their names with the dates of their first flowering.
The simple botany and small magnifying glass with which each school is supplied, render valuable aid in this pleasant study which - as must be readily seen - is chiefly carried on outside the school-room.
The Centre schools have met with changes, as in pre- vious years. Miss Brown's temporary absence during the spring term, on account of serious illness, was provided for in a satisfactory manner by placing Miss N. M. Tooth- aker in charge of her school.
Just after the Thanksgiving recess, Miss Hanscom, of the grammar school, reluctantly withdrew to secure in Orange, Mass., higher compensation for her faithful work. Her self-sacrificing labors tended to promote a spirit of harmony and good-will in the school, and her regret at leaving was fully shared by her pupils, the School Board, and others who had made her acquaintance during her brief stay among us.
Her successor, Miss Lena V. Wesel, of Wenham, Mass., brings to her work the recommendation of Normal training, with several years' experience in teaching. We trust she will continue in the school, to carry forward the work she has begun with. so much energy and prospect of success.
In the early autumn the grammar department of Co- chesett lost, by change of residence, the services of one who was beloved in the community, both as a teacher and companion. Miss Tisdale's honorable record, achieved
45
during several years' successful labor in the school of her childhood, is that of a teacher "not without honor in her own country."
Miss Louise Allen of East Bridgewater accepted the offer of this vacancy, and took charge of the school in September. In addition to her ample preparation (by education and previous teaching) for the duties of the school-room, Miss Allen engages in her work with enthu- siasm and an evident purpose to offer her pupils every opportunity of advancement within her power.
The North school, for the last few weeks of the winter term, has been conducted by a former instructor, Miss Mary C. Keith, on account of the severe sickness of its excellent teacher, Miss Wyman, who expects to resume her place in the spring.
It will be seen that the school at Jerusalem now holds a high rank in membership, and the impetus given by the new railroad to that section of our town would seem to in- dicate permanence in this increase. .
The Matfield school has suffered most from the unstable element alluded to in last year's report. This school has lost during the year, by changes of residence, eleven pupils and received ten, - five of these making both changes.
The North Centre, Cochesett, and Centre schools have also been seriously interrupted by the same cause.
Whole number of pupils enrolled for the year . 300
Number that have left town . · 41
Number that have moved into town . .
· 29
Several children have also changed schools within the town.
The High School received from the grammar schools in September fourteen pupils, - eight girls and six boys.
46
The total membership of this school since Jan. 1, 1889, has been thirty-seven : girls, fifteen ; boys, twenty-two.
In order that there may be no delay in entering upon the course of study arranged for the High School, appli- cants for admission will, in future, be required to possess the following qualifications : -
Ability to copy neatly and correctly, and to write from dicta- tion.
A thorough knowledge of the parts of speech, their use, proper- ties, and construction, with a good knowledge of analysis.
In United States History candidates must be able to pass a satis- factory examination on the Discoveries and Settlements; the Wars (causes, principal events, and results); the Administrations; and must also know the location of places mentioned in the history.
In Geography they must be prepared to draw from memory, maps of Massachusetts and of each of the Grand Divisions, marking in these maps the principal natural features and political divisions, and locating the chief cities. They should have a knowledge of the climate and productions of different countries, and be ready to describe journeys between important points.
In Arithmetic there will be expected a thorough knowledge of the four fundamental operations; of Common and Decimal fractions (including miscellaneous questions as given in the Franklin Arith- metic); of Denominate numbers (not including metric system); and of Percentage, Interest, and Profit and Loss.
Pupils presenting themselves must also bring from their respec- tive teachers a certificate of correct deportment and good moral character.
These requirements are reasonable and can be attained by persevering efforts on the part of pupils, teachers, and parents.
If the most advanced pupils in the several schools could be brought into one class for one or two years, in prepara- tion for the High School, results far more satisfactory to all concerned could be attained. As this is not feasible at the present time, I would suggest that whenever there
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