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 1906-1909 > Part 3
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Mar. 6
Gladys Viola Lincoln
Female Charles I. Lincoln and Ida M. Peterson
Mar. 27
Elva Franklin Cheeney
Female
Clinton A. Cheeney and Mary E. Chamberlain
May I
Dorothy Lucetta Holbrook
Female
James R. Holbrook and Adele R. Edmondson
June 14 Harry James Sawyer
Male
James E. Sawyer and Nettie M. Durgin
Aug. I Alice Louise Denley
Female
J. Clifton Denley and Elsie W. Lambert
Aug. 4
Myrtle Louise Zwicker
Female
George F. and Elizabeth Zwicker
Aug. 4 Olivia Augusta Silva
Female
John Silva and Theresa R. Silveira
Aug. 9 Mary Louise Kinney
Female
Henry C. Kinney and Genevieve I .. Adams
Aug. 8 Ruth Esther Young
Female
James R. Young and Cora C. Vosmus Thomas Luddy and Nellie T. ()'Brien
Aug. 21 Grace Agnes Luddy
Female
Aug. 31
Arrum Bradford Alexander
Female Elexander G Alexander and Eleanor C. Brown
Sept. I Gladys Evelyn Nute
Female Clarence J. Nute and Ethel G. Babcock
Sept. 8 Mary Gertrude Wilson
Female
George E. Wilson and Mary A. McAuliffe
Sept. 10
Emeline Howland Bourne
Female
Edward L. Brown and Ethel M. Monk
Feb. 19
Arthur Perry
Male
Feb. 21
Not named
Male
Edward E. Gifford and Clara J. Pittsley
Female George W. Alger and Corelli C. Brown
Jan. 21
BIRTHS RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1906-CONTINUED
DATE OF BIRTH
NAME OF CHILD
SEX
NAMES OF PARENTS
1906 Sept. 27
Berton Edgar Stetson
Male
Berton A. Stetson and Adella Lyons
Sept. 27
Edith F. Crosby
Female
Willard V. Crosby and Gertrude E. Sherrick
Sept. 30
Nule R. Hallgren
Male
Gustaf Hallgren and Matilda Saunders
Oct.
3
Doris Luella Bates
Female
Albert Bates and Maud S. Wardwell
Oct.
IO
Ralph Thornton Roode
Male
Byron C. Roode and Elizabeth A. Thornton
Oct.
10
Anthony P. Pont
Male
Manuel G. Pont and Mary Augustine
Oct.
15
Antonio Sousa
Male
Joseph Sousa and Maria Joseph
Oct. 26
Illegitimate
Female
Nov. 19
Joseph Sousa
Male
Manuel J. Sousa and Mary Cabrel
Nov. 27
Joseph P. Laura
Male
Augustinho C. Laura and Umbelinna P. Chaves
Nov. 29
Mabel Perry
Female
Antone J. Perry and Mary Burges
.
53
DEATHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF WEST BRIDGEWATER IN THE YEAR 1906
DATE
NAME OF DECEASED
AGE YMD
CAUSE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
Jan.
3
- Gifford
-I Injury
Jan.
6 Lizzie A. Pillsbury
18 7 3 Mitral Insufficiency
Jan. 17 George U. Hopkins
325 Marasmus
Jan. 28 Mary Pike
64 8 21 Diabetes
Jan. 28 George M. Pratt
73| 325 Old age
Feb. 23 Annie G. McAnaugh
27 Septicarmia
Mar.
5 Richard F. Thayer
80 6 3 Mitral Insufficiency
Mar. 6 Fred J. Miller
2311 18 16 910
Gastro Enteritis
Mar.
IO Forest Monson
Mar. 17
Paul Clark
-|1|14 Heart disease
Mar.
27 Ethel Bernice Green
I 1 24 Heart disease
April 3
Andrew M. Ward
3 io
Convulsions
April 4 Elihu Leonard
85 2| 1 Old age
April 14 Julia A. Townsend
92 5 29 Mitral Insufficiency
April 19 Flora N. Green
3 3-
Measles
April 23 Mary N. H. Edgerly
70 2|17
Diabetes
May 3 Ruth J. Hopkins
54
5/16
Cirrhosis of Liver
May 20 Fidelia Howard Wilbar
84, 4 14 Oedema of Lungs
June 9 Timothy J. Madden
35
Unknown
July
22 Margaret Courtney
July 29 Alice J. Cobb
55 -
Hernia
Aug. 17 Stella Kinney
37 II 9
Peritonitis
Aug. 18 Olive Sylva
14 Enteritis
Aug. 18 Michael J. Broderick
27
- Dilated Heart
Sept. William H. Simmons
66 5 22 Diabetes
Sept.
21 John Richards
85 5 13 Old age
Oct. I
David R. Simmons
68 2 16| Diabetes
West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater
West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater Mass.Gen. Hos, Bos West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater
Thomas Ryan and Catherine Sheehan Matthew P. Sanborn and Mary Trask Elias Durkee and Ernestina Goodwin John and Theresa Sylvia
James Broderick and Margaret Moran Elijah Simmons and Susan Hathaway John Richards and Hannah Kingman Elijah W. Simmons and Susan Hathaway
54
1
Tuberculosis
Edward E. Gifford and Clara J. Pittsley Nahum Snell and Lucy Howard
George A. Hopkins and Mary G. Sweeney James Hutchinson and Elizabeth Patterson Thomas Pratt and Susan Ames John Norris and Honorob Lane Richard Thayer and Anne Snell John Miller and Mary J. Georreor Andrew Monson and Sophie Nelson Arthur E. Clark and Sarah Glass Daniel W. Green and Anna D. Norman Andrew Ward and Isabella McFarran Amasa Leonard and Julia King Adonejah Benton and Anna Post City Hosp'l, Boston| Daniel W. Green and Anna D. Norman West Bridgewater S. Nelson Howard and Mary A. Dunbar
Hom. Hos'l, Boston| Sumner H. Haskett and Eliza Littlefield West Bridgewater Salmon Howard and Amelia Snell John Madden and Ellen Clark Bridgewater
66 - Intestinal Obstruc
4
DEATHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1906-Continued
DATE
NAME OF DECEASED
AGE YMD
CAUSE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
NAMES OF PARENTS
Oct. 23
Rebecca F. Shaw
56
I I
Heart Disease
West Bridgewater West Bridgewater
Thomas and Rebecca Cummings Sumner Davis and Mary Savage
Oct.
27
Mary M. Crawson
69 --
Heart Failure
Nov.
5
Harry S. Perkins
18 8 2
Tuberculosis
West Bridgewater Brockton
Fred A. Perkins and Nettie M. Southworth John McCarthy and
Dec.
4
Michael Mccarthy
86 0 23
Senestus
Dec.
5
George R. Drake
711015
Cirrhosis of Liver
Dec. 8
Ida W. Anderson
29 0|13
Accidental Burning
Dec.
18
Alma C. Snow
66 4 4
Cirrhosis of Liver
Dec.
27
Frank Deering
35 6
5
Tuberculosis
West Bridgewater West Bridgewater
George N. Deering and Mary A. Cook
Dec.
30
Jonas Hartwell
45 10 4
Inter Niphritis
West Bridgewater West Bridgewater West Bridgewater
Warren Drake and Hannah Sawin George Hollis and Eleanor Meles Albert Copeland and Mary A. Leach
Josiah Q. Hartwell and Hannah O. Holmes
55
NAMES OF JURORS.
For acceptance or revision by the Town at its annual Town Meeting.
Michael O'Fallon,
Leonard J. Goodridge,
Henry J. LeLacheur,
Charles H. Eldridge,
William E. Cobbett,
Horace Bartlett,
Charles Weatherbee,
James H. Alger,
Cleves C. Tracy,
Retired
Albert L. Alger,
Farmer
Azel Lothrop,
Joseph C. Howard,
Frank P. Hatch,
Algernon S. Lyon,
Lars Eklund, Henry O. Davenport,
Retired Farmer Blacksmith Contractor Farmer Farmer
Charles H. Egan,
Farmer
Elmer E. Howard,
Farmer
Edmund Copeland,
Farmer
Hiram E. Weston, Frank L. Howard,
Farmer Farmer Shoe Cutter
Averill A. Crocker,
Richard A. Cross, Ralph H. Mann,
Farmer Clerk
Machinist Farmer Real Estate Retired Gardener Farmer Machinist Moulder Retired
Horace W. Howard,
57
Charles Fullerton, Edw. B. Maglathlin, T. Prescott Snell, Everett Clark, Samuel G. Copeland, Edwin H. Thayer, Ellis R. Holbrook,
Real Estate Clergyman Farmer Farmer Farmer Farmer Stitcher
TOWN MEETING WARRANT.
TOWN MEETING.
Plymouth ss.
To any Constable of the Town of West Bridgewater in the County of Plymouth, Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabi- tants of said town qualified to vote at elections and in town affairs, to assemble at the Town Hall, in said town on Monday, the eleventh day of March, at six o'clock in the morning, then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
ART. I. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose all necessary town officers and bring in their votes "Yes" or "No" on the following ques- tion: "Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
ART. 3. To hear the annual report of town officers and committees, and act thereon.
ART. 4. To act on the list of jurors as reported by the selectmen.
ART. 5. To raise such sums of money as may be ne- cessary to defray the town charges for the ensuing year, and make appropriation for the same.
59
ART. 6. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of fifty dollars for a medical inspector in the public schools.
ART. 7. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for tree warden.
ART. 8. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for Memorial Day.
GEORGE F. LOGUE, ORVIS F. KINNEY, EDWIN H. LOTHROP,
THE SELECTMEN RECOMMEND THE TOWN TO APPROPRIATE:
For the Support of the Poor,
$2,000 00
Town Officers,
1,000 00
Incidentals,
600 00
Soldiers Relief,
500 00
Street Lights,
100 00
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The Finance Committee met Jan. 22nd, 1907 with the Selectmen. After discussing their recommendations voted them correct and that they be accepted.
FRANK P. HATCH, FARNHAM GILLESPIE, WM. F. LANGLEY, Sub. Committee of Finance Com.
CITIZENS' CAUCUS.
A caucus for the nomination of town officers, re- quired by law to be chosen by ballot, to be elected at the annual town meeting in West Bridgewater, Monday, March II, 1906, will be held at the Town Hall, Monday February 25, 1907, at 7.30 o'clock, p. m. The meeting will be called to order by the Chairman of the Caucus Committee.
EDDY P. DUNBAR, CHRISTOPHER REED, JOSEPH C. HOWARD,
Caucus Committee.
West Bridgewater.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE YEAR 1906.
BRIDGEWATER, MASS. ARTHUR H. WILLIS, PRINTER, 1907.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CALENDAR FOR 1907.
Winter Term,-January 7 to March 22. Eleven weeks. Vacation,-Two weeks.
Spring Term,-April 8 to June 14. Ten weeks. Vacation,-Twelve weeks.
Fall Term,-September 9 to December 20. Fifteen weeks.
Recess,-Thanksgiving week, after Wednesday. Vacation,-Two weeks, Winter Term, -1908, January 6 to March 20.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1906.
L. Augustus Tower, term expires 1909.
William E. Fay, term expires 1909.
Mrs. A. S. LeLacheur, term expires 1908.
Clinton P. Howard, term expires 1908.
Mrs. M. K. Crosby, term expires 1907.
Arthur E. Clark, term expires 1907.
ORGANIZATION.
Chairman, A. S. LeLacheur. Secretary, M. K. Crosby. Repair Committee, C. P. Howard, L. A. Tower, M. K. Crosby.
4
Supply Agent, M. K. Crosby.
Truant officers, Lionel H. Adams, E. H. Grout, and in June, J. C. Howard in place of L. H. Adams.
Superintendent of Schools, Edgar H. Grout.
Office hours, Mondays and Thursdays, from 3.30 to 5 p. m. on school days.
Office in Allen school building, East Bridgewater.
ASSIGNMENT OF SCHOOLS.
North to W. E. Fay.
Matfield to Mrs. Crosby.
South to C. P. Howard.
East to L. A. Tower.
Center to Mrs. LeLacheur.
Cochesett to A. E. Clark.
Jerusalem to A. E. Clark.
Financial Report.
EXPENDITURES.
TEACHERS.
Paid Miss E. A. Morrow, 36 weeks, $500 00
R. L. Macdonald, 36 weeks, .500 02
G. E. Downing, 36 weeks, 468 00
M. A. Dewyer, 36 weeks, 468 00
E. Randall, 36 weeks, 360 00
E. A. Lavalette, 36 weeks, 375 00
A. E. Hennessey, 36 weeks, 339 00
" B. C. Fuller, 36 weeks, 360 00
Ella L. Dickerman, 36 weeks, 432 00
66 Ethel Whitney, 36 weeks, 396 00
5
Mildred Packard, 36 weeks, 339 00
M. S. Jones, music, 36 weeks, 200 00
Conveyance of music teacher, 58 25
Miss L. Newman, drawing, 36 weeks, 113 32
Tuition, 3 terms, Easton high school,
36 00
$4,944 61
JANITORS AND CLEANING.
Paid janitor at Center, $204 00
Janitor service at other schools, 164 II
368 II
FUEL.
Paid S. H. Marshall, I cord hard, labor, $7 00
E. H. Thayer, 5 1-2 cords hard, 3 pine, labor, 55 75
Ira Pratt, labor,
5 80
E. T. Snell, 1 1-2 cords hard, 1-2 pine, labor, 9 50
B. Copeland, 4 cords hard, I I·2 pine, labor,
33 00
C. P, Howard, 4 cords hard, 1-2 pinc, labor, 31 50
Alger Brothers,
5 50
Alger Foundry Co.,
6 50
Philip Fay, labor,
5 75
F. Randall, labor, 75
C. H. Eagan, labor,
75
G. R. Drake, 20 tons broken Lehigh coal,
140 80
7 tons white ash coal, 49 00
$350 80
6
CONVEYANCE OF PUPILS.
Paid D. R. Simmons. coach, 2 terms, $175 00
J. C. Howard, coach, I term, 145 80
Everett Clark, 36 weeks, 85 00
C. P. Howard, spring term,
25 00
E. E. Howard, winter term,
20 80
Electric car tickets,
238 75
$690 35
SUPERINTENDENT.
Paid East Bridgewater for 1905
$250 00
East Bridgewater for 1905,
250 00
$500 00
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Paid Milton Bradley & Co., general supplies, $25 43
E. E. Babb & Co., books and supplies, 118 98
J. L. Hammett & Co., supplies, 98 36
American Book Co., text books, Educational Pub. Co., text books,
58 75
Rand, McNally & Co., histories,
23 70
Silver, Burdett & Co., copy books,
9 15
Wadsworth, Howland & Co., supplies, 9 17
Small supplies, 2 20
Periodicals, (Transcripts), 13 62
$430 70
INCIDENTALS AND FURNISHINGS.
Paid J. Burrill, labor and stock, $8 17
Expense for diplomas, 5 45
J. C. Howard, truant service, 5 00
L. A. Adams, truant service, 3 00
E. H. Grout, for travel in district, 33 33
71 34
7
E. H. Grout, incidentals,
4 76
Team for school supplies and service,
12 25
Clerk of committee,
10 00
Taking school census,
15 00
Express,
14 85
Postage,
3 56
Small supplies for all schools,
29 43
C. H. Shaw, labor and stock,
25 40
Stove for South school,
16 00
$186 20
EXPENDITURES, SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Teachers,
$4,944 51
Janitor service,
368 II
Fuel,
350 80
Conveyance,
690 35
Superintendent,
500 00
Books and Supplies,
430 70
Incidentals and furnishings,
186 20
$7,470 77
RECEIPTS, SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Town grants,
$5,775 00
Balance from 1905,
490 10
On account of district supervision,
166 67
Tuition of state wards,
132 50
State return for high school tuition,
18 00
From Howard trustees, music,
40 00
Mass. School fund over paid in 1905,
167 40
66
paid in 1906,
858 99
66
balance from 1905, 29 52
$7,678 18
8
REPAIRS AND PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS.
Repairs.
N. Bradford, stock and labor, $45 75
G. H. Stone, labor on black boards, IO 30
Liquid slating, 3 gals, 13 50
J. E. Sawyer, stock and labor, (Jerusalem) 27 35
Small repairs, (Jerusalem) 3 00
J. E. Sawyer, labor, fence and pump, (Center) 15 00
C. P. Howard, lumber, 18 48
Permanent Improvements.
J. L. Hammett, slate black boards, $53 00
W. A. Cole, labor, 3 40
C. P. Howard, team, I 00
C. Eddy, closets, labor and stock, (Matfield and East), 26 66
$217 44
Town grant,
$350 00
SUMMARY.
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Receipts,
$7,678 18
Expenditures,
7,470 77
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
Receipts, $350 00
Expenditures,
217 44
TOTAL.
Receipts,
$8,028 18
Expenditures,
7,688 21
$339 97 NOTE .- The balance includes $33 91, the balance from the Massachusetts School Fund for 1906.
9
At the annual meeting of the Joint Committee of our Union School District, in April 1906, Mr. Edgar H. Grout was reelected unanimously as superintendent, a position he has filled most satisfactorily for several years.
His report presents the condition of our schools with recommendations for their improvements, and also the need of action by the town in respect to the new state law requiring medical inspection in public schools.
Our citizens are expected to co-operate cordially with the superintendent and school officials in their efforts to keep up and advance the standard of our schools.
When the districts were formed for school superin- tendency, a state law was passed prohibiting school com- mittees in these districts from receiving compensation for their services.
It is now several years since this law was repealed, and this year our town will be given an opportunity to allow the school committee to receive pay like other town officials.
The law now reads in part as follows: "In towns * *
which vote to authorize the school committee to re- ceive compensation, the members of the committee shall each be paid two dollars and fifty cents a day for the time actually spent in performing the duties of the office, and such additional compensation as the town may allow."
Another state act is this:
Acts of 1904. Section I. No town shall receive any part of the income of the Massachusetts School Fund unless it shall have complied, to the satisfaction of the board of education, with all laws relating to the public schools.
Section II. No part of the income of the Massachu- setts School Fund shall be used for payment of the com- pensation or expenses of members of school committees.
All school expenditures except those for repairs are classed by State authorites as "Support of Schools."
IO
In our recommendations for appropriations, "Teachers, Janitors, and Fuel" are included in "Support of Schools."
An increase is needed for support of schools and conveyance of pupils.
Our estimate for incidentals is considerably increased to allow for some items that have heretofore been under repairs and furnishings.
This will conform to the returns required by the State in which repairs and improvements are separate from other school expenses.
Permanent improvements have been made by putting supply closets into the East and Matfield buildings, and slate black boards, to a considerable extent, in the two rooms at Cochesett.
As the interior of the Matfield building needs this year a general renovation it seems a fitting time to supply that school room with slate boards.
A special grant to cover the whole expense is recom- mended.
The committee has carried out the vote passed by the town at the March meeting, in reference to purchasing a school lot in the North district to be held for future needs.
A sub committee composed of C. P. Howard, L. A. Tower and W. E. Fay, after careful examination of loca- tions, decided upon lots Nos. 8 and 9 belonging to Rev. Mr. Moulton, and situated nearly opposite his house upon a street leading from North Elm St., at a cost of $475.
The town is asked to vote the appropriation required for this purchase made in the name of the town.
We recommend the following appropriations: Support of schools,
$4,800 00
Conveyance of pupils, 600 00
Text books and supplies, 250 00
Superintendent's salary,
250 00
Incidentals and furnishings,
200 00
General repairs,
175 00
Special repairs at Matfield,
150 00
Respectfully submitted,
A. S. LELACHEUR,
M. K. CROSBY,
C. P. HOWARD, L. H. TOWER,
W. E. FAY,
A. E. CLARK,
School Ccommittee
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee, West Bridgewater, Mass .:
It gives me pleasure to submit for your consideration my fourth annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
TABLE OF STATISTICS.
Population of the town, census 1905,
2,006
Number of schools,
IO
Number of regular teachers required,
II
Number of different regular teachers employed during the year,
II
Number of special teachers,
2
SCHOOL CENSUS.
1905
1906
Number of boys between 5 and 15,
163
175
Number of girls between 5 and 15,
165
170
Total,
328
345
Number of boys between 7 and 14,
116
I29
Number of girls between 7 and 14,
122
II7
Total,
238
246
13
SCHOOL RECORDS.
Year ending June, 1905.
Year ending June, 1906.
Number of pupils enrolled,
329
329
Number of pupils enrolled be-
tween 5 and 15,
319
324
Number of pupils enrolled be- tween 7 and 14,
239
234
Average membership,
307
313.55
Average attendance,
283
289.49
Per cent. of attendance,
92
92.61
Total expenditures for school purposes,
$7,688 21
Cost per pupil based on average membership,
24 48
Total cost of schools for the year (exclusive
of repairs and permanent improvements),
7,470 77
Cost per pupil based on average membership,
23 79
Taxation cost of schools for the year (exclusive of repairs and permanent improvements), Cost per pupil based on average membership,
5,841 60
18 60
ATTENDANCE BY SCHOOLS, YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1906.
Whole Number Registered
Average Member- ship
Average Attend- ance
Per cent. of Attend- ance
Center Grammar
40
35.49
33.13
93.34
Center Sub-Grammar
60
56.37
52.88
93.77
Center Primary
48
45.33
41.41
91.34
Cochesett Grammar
35
24.61
22.61
91.80
Cochesett Primary
47
35.40
33.02
92.91
Matfield
29
25.76
24.05
93.35
Jerusalem
23
17.66
16.06
90.99
North
21
19.85
18.06
91.07
South
29
24.85
23.35
93.96
East
30
28.23
24.92
87.56
14
REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
The year recently brought to a close has been one of quiet, steady progress, and though characterized by no radical innovations, it has seen changes in plans and methods worthy of consideration in this report.
It is a pleasure to report a slight improvement in the percentage of attendance over that given one year ago, though the record leaves much to be desired in this respect. Comparatively few of our pupils live at long distances from their respective schoolhouses, and of these the larger part are furnished with transportation. It would seem, therefore, that conditions were favorable for a better record of attendance than our reports show. Much of the absence is caused by illness, which in the case of conta- gious diseases in the immediate family causes enforced absence, even though the pupil himself escapes contagion. Such absences must be recorded against the pupil for ten successive days, at the end of which time he loses mem- bership. It happens not infrequently, however, that a pupil returns to school after prolonged absence from illness, only to find his strength unequal to the strain of the schoolroom. He has regained his membership, even though he remains but a day, and absences must again be recorded for a second period of ten school days, should he be so unfortunate as to be absent that length of time. Again, the record of attendance is lowered very materially by the so-called occasional absences, which in the aggre- gate are fully as harmful as those caused by prolonged ill- ness. In proportion to their frequency the pupil gradually loses interest in his work, falls behind in his studies, and eventually fails of promotion. Furthermore, these occa- sional absences mean additional work for already over- worked teachers, and to some extent at least retard the progress of the class as a whole. The most serious feature, however, is the moral effect upon the child, who soon becomes the victim of his own whims and caprices, gradually
15
losing the power of continuous application to work. In later years he is likely to be found among that class of "ne'er-do-wells" who are constantly drifting from one occupation to another and frequently satisfied to eat the bread of idleness. In the light of these statements parents are urged, for the sake of their children and as an example to others, to co-operate with the teachers in their efforts to secure regular attendance.
The town is to be congratulated on its efficient corps of teachers and especially on the fact that good teachers can be retained a reasonable length of time. While other towns about us have lost from one-fourth to one-half of their teaching force during the past year, ours has remained unchanged. An earnest, progressive spirit has charac- terized the work as a whole, with the result that commend- able progress has been made by the larger part of the pupils in our schools.
Other considerations than that of salary determine to some extent the length of time good teachers can be retained on the teaching force. My own experience has taught me that pleasant surroundings, opportunities and advantages not found elsewhere, and a feeling that one's work is appreciated, all prove attractions not easily resisted. Among these attractions may be mentioned opportunities for professional growth through reading magazines and books devoted to educational subjects. Our teachers are ready to respond to suggestions, and at their own expense provide themselves with such books and papers as they can afford. To supplement their efforts at professional improvement and thus to raise the standard of work in our schools, I recommend that a few dollars of our regular appropriation for books and supplies be used each year in building up a library of professional books and papers for the use of teachers and others interested in education. Such a. use of public funds I believe to be perfectly legiti- mate, and would result, as it has resulted wherever the
16
plan has been tried, in greater interest and increased efficiency.
At the beginning of the school year your superinten- dent placed in the hands of each teacher a revised course of study in geography, in which the work for each grade is outlined in detail. The use of this course will tend to unify the work in the different schools and to make the transition from the district schools to the Centre easier · for the pupils. For some time there has been a feeling on the part of teachers and superintendent that the work in geography outlined for the fourth grade was too diffi- cult, and that the text-book in use was better adapted to a higher grade. Consequently the work for this grade has been simplified and a new text-book introduced. The book formerly in use in grades four and five has been moved up into grades five and six with results satisfactory to all.
In keeping with the policy outlined in last year's re- port, more reading material has been furnished the various schools, and the results have equalled our expectations. With a variety of reading books giving a wide range of material, interest can be sustained throughout the year. Pupils are taught to see that one object of the reading les- son is facility in getting thought from the printed page. In an abundance of reading matter, however, there lurks a danger against which teachers and pupils alike must guard themselves, the danger of thinking that quantity can in some way atone for lack of quality. In one's de- sire to read much, he may fail to get from the printed page before him all that it contains, a fault that can be corrected only by careful and oftentimes repeated reading of the same passage. In other words, pupils must be taught to discriminate between books that are to be skimmed over and those requiring more careful and thoughtful reading.
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