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 1920-1924 > Part 4
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Kingdom of the Blind,
King Kippling Lee Leverage Lincoln Luehrman
Marshall Maryatt Oppenheim Oppenheim Oppenheim
84
Mystery of the Silver Dagger, Poor Man's Rock,
Camping Out (a gift),
Fox Hunting (a gift),
Lynx Hunting (a gift),
Kim-da-shon's Wife (a gift),
The Lyons Mouse,
The Second Latchkey,
Lydia of the Pines,
Still Jim,
The Virginian (a gift),
Fairfax and His Pride,
Big Tremain (a gift),
Parrish Sinclair Stephens Stephens Stephens Willard Williamsons Williamsons
Willsie Willsie Wister Van Vorste Van Vorste
ADULT NON-FICTION.
Uncensored letters of a Canteen Girl,
940-A Anson 327-B Bernstorff
My three years in America,
Have Faith in Massachusetts (coll. of speeches and messages), 308-C Coolidge 353-D David
Leonard Wood on National Issues,
American Red Cross in the Great War, D Davidson
A Pilgrim in Palestine, 940-F Finley
Modern Light on Immortality (gift),
130-F Frank
A Labrador Doctor, Outstanding Days,
Psychic Phenomena Sciences and Immortal- ity (gift), 130-F Frank 971-G Grenfell 394-H Herrick 921-Wood. Holmes 977-I
Life of Leonard Wood,
Illinois State Parks and Memorials (gift),
Gold Fields of the Klondike and Wonders of Alaska (gift), $79-I Ingersoll K. Keynes
Economic Consequences of Peace,
85
Talks with T. R.,
Raymond on Life and Death (gift), Survival of Man, If I were Twenty-one (gift),
Argonauts of Faith,
Old Plymouth Trails,
War in the Garden of Eden,
The Average American,
Winning Declamations and how to Speak Them, 808-S Shurter 972-S W 711-Y Yard
Winter in Central America and Mexico, Cook of National Parks,
824-L Leary 130-L Lodge 130-L Lodge 658-M Maxwell 974-4M Mathews 974-4P Packard 940-R Roosevelt 940-R Roosevelt
United States Coast Pilot, Atlantic Coast (gift), Ref. 030
JUVENILE FICTION.
Larkspur (a girl scouts story),
Why the Chimes Rang,
The Young Visitors, or Mr. Saltnias' Plan,
Girl Scouts of Red Rose Troop,
Lucky Penny of Thistle Troop,
Adventures of Bobby Coon,
Bob White,
Buster Bear,
66 Chatterer, the Red Squirrel,
Danny Meadow Mouse,
Grandfather Frog,
Jerry Muskrat,
Jimmy Skunk,
66
Johnny Chuck,
Old Man Coyote, 66
66 Old Mr. Mocker,
66 Old Mr. Toad,
Abbott Alden Ashford Blanchard Blanchard Burgess
86
Adventures of Ole' Mistah Buzzard, Burgess . 6
Paddy The Beaver,
Peter Cottontail,
66 Poor Mrs. Quack,
66
Prickly Porky,
Reddy Fox,
66
66 Sammy Jay, Unk Billy Possum,
66
Bowser The Hound,
Mrs. Peter Rabbit,
Story Hour Readers (Primer),
Coe and Christie
Story Hour Readers, Book 1,
Coe and Christie
Story Hour Readers, Book 2,
Coe and Christie
Story Hour Readers, Book 3,
Coe and Christie
JUVENILE FICTION.
Adventures of Twinkly Eyes the Little Black Bear, Chaffee Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (a gift)
Defoe Driscoll
Brighton Boys at Chateau Theirry,
Brighton Boys at St. Mihiel, Driscoll
Driscoll
Brighton Boys With the Engineers at Cantigney, Lucille Bringer of Joy. (Lucille Series).
Duffield
. Lucille On the Heights,
Duffield
Lucille The Torch Bearer,
Duffield
Lucille Triumphant,
Duffield
Submarine Boys and the Middies,
Durham
Submarine Boys on Duty, or Life on a Tor- pedo Boat,
Durham Dyer
Snippy Snappy and Velvet Paws,
Tom Slade at Temple Camp (Tom Slade series), Tom Slade, Boy Scout,
Fitzhugh Fitzhugh Fitzhugh
Tom Slade on the River,
87
Uncle Wiggily's Automobile, Uncle Wiggily's Fortune,
Garis Garis
JUVENILE NON-FICTION.
Burgess Animal Book,
Burgess Bird Book for Children,
Young People's History of Plymouth,
Civics for New Americans,
Childs Story of America,
Motor Boat Hand Books, Nos. 1-2-3 (gift),
Motor Boat Hand Book, No. 4 (gift),
Two vols. St. Nicholas, bound. Nos. 68-69.
Y598B Burgess Y599B Burgess Y974-4G Griffin Y352H Hill Y973M Morris Y620M.
Y620P Potter
Report of Fire Department.
In compliance with the requirements I submit the report of the West Bridgewater Fire Department for the year end- ing December 31, 1920, which will include the cost of main- taining, loss of property, and cause of fires as near as can be ascertained.
CALL FORCE.
The force consists of twenty-two men, six forest fire- wardens, one chief, one asst. chief; fourteen men at Central station, six men at Hose Wagon No. 3 at Manley's.
APPARATUS.
One Auto Combination. One Auto Hose Truck. One Single Hose Wagon. One Forest Fire Wagon.
In performing this service the apparatus has travelled 100 miles. The department has laid 3,000 feet of hose, 1,000 feet of chemical hose. It has also raised 330 feet of ladders and used 500 gallons of chemicals. There are in service 2,500 feet of 21-2 inch hose and 250 feet of chemical hose. I would recommend the purchase of 500 feet of 21-2 inch hose the coming year.
89
CALL SYSTEM.
The department has a good call system to all the fire- men's houses. All alarms are sent out from the telephones 4137 Chief, 2463-W Capt. Gibson.
Stock used and work of the department: 300 feet of in- sulated copper wire was strung, and also two bells were in- serted. The department has now about 6 miles of strung wire and 15 call bells.
FIRES AS THEY OCCURRED.
Jan. 1. Fire in frame store owned by Octave Belmore.
Feb. 1. Chimney fire, Hamond's, East St.
Mar. 28. Chimney fire, Carlson's, Brooks Place.
Mar. 28. Brush fire on land owned by Lewis, Spring St.
Mar. 30. Fire in frame house occupied by Austin, Cres- cent St.
Mar. 31. Grass fire, East St.
April 1. Brush fire on land owned by Corbett.
April 2. Woods fire on Matfield St. land owned by Lyons.
April 3. Woods fire back of Anderson's, West St.
April 6. Grass fire, Crescent St.
April 12. Brush fire, West St. near Depot.
April 12. Frame building owned by O. F. Kinney used as blacksmith shop.
April 15. Woods fire, Aldrich St.
April 24. Chimney fire at Reed's, East St.
May 3. Brush fire, Ash St.
May 11. Brush fire, North Main St.
May 13. Brooder house owned by Gurney, Howard St.
May 30. Brush fire, North Main St.
June 27. Cement house owned by Joe Braga, Progressive Ave.
90
June 29.
Brush fire, Ash St.
July 26. Brush fire, Copeland St. land owned by Piver.
July 29. Brush fire, Spring St. land owned by Joe How- ard. Oct. 4. Frame house owned by Mills, West St.
Oct. 8. Frame Barn owned by Joe Alves, Walnut St.
Oct. 10. Woods fire, Copeland St. land owned by Clinton Howard.
Oct. 11. Woods fire, Copeland St. land owned by Clinton
Howard.
Oct. 20. Fire in frame house occupied by Austin, Cres-
cent St.
Oct. 22. Woods fire, Spring St. land owned by Joe How- ard.
Nov. 18. Frame garage owned by Manual Braga.
Nov. 22. Chimney fire, house owned by Harold Lyon, No. Main St.
Dec. 4. Chimney fire, house occupied by William Cor- bett, Commonwealth Ave.
In closing I wish to thank the Selectmen and all others who have in any way helped the department. To the officers and members of the department I extend my hearty thanks for their co-operation.
WARREN P. LAUGHTON, Chief.
Report of Road Commissioner.
The town has 1 road machine, 1 tar kettle, 1 road plow, shovels, picks, rakes, forks, stone forks, iron bar, gravel screens and snow plows.
Work has been done on nearly every street in town Almost every street has been scraped and cleaned up twice. Gravel has been put on the following streets : South Elm, North Elm, Maple, Matfield, East, Copeland and Charles Streets.
Cinders have been put on East Center, Matfield and Plain Streets. There has been a number of culverts cleaned out. One on South Elm, one on North Elm, one on East, one on Howard, one on Spring and one on Manley Streets.
Gravel has been put on the sidewalks of West Center and Matfield Streets. Cinders and gravel have been put on South Main and East Center Streets. The bridge on the swamp road has been newly planked, and stone and plank put on Cross Street There has also been small repairs on other streets and sidewalks.
I would recommend using all the cinders obtainable on the side streets. I would like to see the town vote to build pieces of permanent road on North Elm, West Center, Mat- field and Plain Streets ; not all at once, but as the town can afford. I also would like to see continued, the cinders on East Center Street. I would like to see the town vote to buy a steam roller. I am not much in favor of a stone crusher, but the roller I think would be a great thing for the town to own. It would be a great help to the Road Commissioner, and I am sure the people would be pleased with it.
GEORGE G. TUCKER, Road Commissioner.
Report of Police Department.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I submit the following report of the Police Department of the Town of West Bridgewater for the year ending Dec. 31, 1920.
There have been 118 complaints investigated: 30 arrests; 21 summonses served; 3 search warrants served,
The arrests were as follows: 4 assault, 6 drunkenness, 9 disturbance, 6 larceny, 1 idle and disorderly, 1 neglect of children, 2 operating automobile under influence of liquor, 1 damaging trees.
Traffic officer at the Centre when necessary through the Summer.
Also 2 silent policemen at the Centre through the Sum- mer.
Recovered property valued at $249.00.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY O. DAVENPORT, Chief.
Town Clerk's Report.
BIRTHS RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1920.
Date
Name
Name of Parents
1919 Jan. 8 Esther Frances Hunter
1920 Jan. 1 Winifred Ballsdon
8 Lucille Mabel Berry
8 Still Born
.17 Illegitimate
20 Merton Joseph Vosmus, Jr.
25 Howard Lyle Farnum Feb. 8 Richard Dickron Habib
25 Grace Dorothy Silva
26 Thomas Francis Carr, Jr. Mar.
7 Robert Joseph Sturgis
14 Frank Louis Galry
26 John Antone Bettencourt Apr. 4 John Alton Conant
16 Illegitimate
19 Florence Evangeline Salvador
19 George W. Hanson
24 John Ivan Alan Olson
May 13 Arthur Alex Pulos 15 George Brown June 4 Jennie Sharples
4 Adams
12 Eleanor Josephine Swanson
13 Blanche Mildred Andrews July 15 William Crowley 17 Lillian Gertrude Cowell
Howard F. and Grace L. Gray
William E. and Winifred Walsh Charles W. and Ivanetta C. Wilbur
Merton J. and Jeannette M. Ingalls Lyle J. and Sarah E. Fidler
Charles and Ruth A. Sadoian John and Rosie S. Frates Thomas F. and Mary Morris
Harold S. and Grace W. Cyr Joseph M. and Hattie F. Libby Antone B. and Anna Isabel
Herbert W. and Jeannette G. Poper
Joseph N. and Mary Chaves Lawrence Hanson and Doris S. Hambly John Olson and Sigyn Wennergren
Alexander and Josephine Silvia Edward J. and Margaret W. Guenther
Charles Sharples and Annie Faneouis Eugene B. and Ada S. Jordan Oscar and Ellen J. Briath Henry E. and Margaret C. McDonald
Walter D. and Margaret M. Cotter Sidney A. and Ola M. Geilear
94
July
20 Evelyn Mae Phillips
26 Lucy Meader Barker
30 Still Born
Aug. 10 Elsie Barnard 24 Lillian Emily Walker
27 Walter Channing Dunbar, Jr.
30 Ralph Edward Packard Sept. 9 Veronica Wershkuk 12 Ruth Vivian Bolster
16 Dorothy Ida DeLaura
16 Meredith Alice Walker
19 Still Born
Oct. 16 Henry John Cassiani William May Mahoney Nov.
19
25 Clifford Alfred Hayward Dec.
14 Henrietta Irene Macomber
15 George Arthur Salvador
16 Hazel Elizabeth Studley
17 Melvin Otis Raymond
24 Jennie Mary Silva Number of Births, 45.
William W. and Grace G. Smith Albert D. and Mildred Thomas
Manuel and Emily C. Chaves George C. and Frances M. Hull Walter C. and Alice M. Fuller Harold O. and Hazel F. Mosher
Philip and Annie Supranowicz Harold G. and Dorothy E. Wallace Victor C. and Emelia C. Carralho Howard N. and Iris A. Sabine
John and Suza Lucchetti Francis A. and Margaret May
Eldred E. and Susan C. Linehan
Alfred H. and Irene A. Boudreau Joseph Mediros and Helen S. Chaves Harold E. and Flora B. Nash
Rupert L. and Violet M. Perry Michael Silva and Mary E. Deluz
95
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1920.
Jan. 14. John Y. Marland and Bernice H. Keith, both of West Bridgewater.
Feb. 16. Freeman E. Burgess of Brockton and Harriet G. Barnes of West Bridgewater.
Mar. 4. Algot I. Bergland of Easton, and Myrtle A. Cob- bett of West Bridgewater.
" 16. Everett O. Hill and Edith E. Simmons, both of West Bridgewater.
66 20 Earl L. Moore of West Bridgewater and Arlene F. Cross of Bridgewater.
27. Raymond F. McCabe of Easton, and Maybelle N. Ingalls of West Bridgewater,
" 29. Fred W. Baker and Lida M. (Polley) Whiting, both of West Bridgewater.
Apr. 11. William H. Braley and Pauline L. (Mosher) Locke, both of West Bridgewater.
May 3. William H. Hopkins of Brockton, and Clarissa B. Ryder of West Bridgewater.
6. Mikel Pingree of West Bridgewater, and Frances Jordis of West Bridgewater.
16. Arthur C. Judson of West Bridgewater, and Mar- ian L. Surdam of Abington.
June 5. Chester R. Gurney of West Bridgewater, and Ethel Kelley of Scituate.
19. Locke L. James of Brockton, and Katharine B. Alger of West Bridgewater.
" 22. William B. Smith and Carrie E. (Munroe) Walker, both of West Bridgewater.
" 22. Charles E. Fowler of Baltimore, Md., and Eliza- beth B. Dunbar of West Bridgewater.
95
June 26. Ralph H. Saline of Brockton, and Esther C. Erick- son of West Bridgewater.
"
30. Walter K. Chisholm of West Bridgewater, and Anna C. Leonard of Stoughton.
July 1.
Frederick E. Erickson of West Bridgewater, and Ruth M. Tevlin of Brockton.
3. Norman E. Baribeault of Brockton, and Lena A. Malouin of West Bridgewater.
12. Edward F. Winslow of Brockton, and Elva H. Thayer of West Bridgewater.
" 28. William R. Roscoe of Bridgewater, and Helen K. Fairbanks of West Bridgewater.
Sept. 5. Patrick E. Kent of West Bridgewater, and Grace L. Barry of Brockton.
" 8. James C. Thomas and Clara L. Johnson, both of Brockton.
" 15. William T. Elliott and Annie Brown, both of West Bridgewater.
" 18. Andrew W. Barker of Somerville, and Helen M. Denley of West Bridgewater.
" 29. Henry I. Wheeler and Ethel M. Andrews, both of West Bridgewater.
Oct. 6. William F. Sylvia and Emma F. Collins, both of Provincetown.
“ 17. Frank W. Simono of West Bridgewater, and Louise A. Kingston of East Bridgewater.
" 24. Frank P. Browne of Brockton, and Effie G. Pierce of West Bridgewater.
31. Sydney D. Peck of West Bridgewater, and Ruth H. Porter of Easton.
Nov. 16. Elmer G. Harlow of Avon, and Hope G. Keith of West Bridgewater.
" 17. Harold E. Choate and Gladys Penney, both of West Bridgewater.
97
Nov. 20. John W. Madden of West Bridgewater, and Edith E. Dehline of Brockton.
25. Luther Churchill and Sarah R. Perkins, both of East Bridgewater.
25. Joseph D. Gonsalves and Louise F. Perry, both of West Bridgewater.
25. Daniel T. Harkins of Brockton, and Dorris E. Browne of West Bridgewater.
Dec. 5. Joseph B. Piva of West Bridgewater, and Lena I. De Pasque of Brockton.
66 7. John W. McFarlan of Amherst, Mass., and Mar- jorie E. Sullivan of West Bridgewater.
6 6
24. Otis M. S. Stone and Jeannette La France, both of West Bridgewater.
66
24. Algot A. Wetterberg of West Bridgewater, and Margaret A. Wolschendorf of Brockton.
Number of marriages, 40.
98
DEATHS RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1920.
Date
Name
Age
Cause of Death
Jan.
Y
M
D
8 Still Born
26 Harris E. Leach
37
0
16 Cardis cenol
Feb.
2 Albert Faulkner
79
0
0
Anginia Pectoris
8 Sarah A. Keith
78
3
19
Broncho-pneumonia
15 Luther Turner
75
9
19 Broncho-pneumonia
16 Jesse Perry
42
0
0 Lobar pneumonia
17 Julia A. Martell
74
0
0
Broncho-pneumonia
27 Rita Tarvis
2
4
17
Acute nephritis
Mar.
3 John A. Asach
27
0 0 Myocarditis
18 Martin L. French
68
0
9 Chronic valvular heart disease
26 Donald R. Foye
17
2
3
Drowning
Apr.
7 Otis F. Kinney
39 10
15
Pulmonary tuberculosis
12 Eldora A. Dunham
72
7
7
Cancer of stomach
14 Emily W. Benson
74
0
0
LaGrippe
16 Mary J. Helanius
47
0
15 Cancer of utrus
21 Mary P. Whitman
92 11 29
Arterio sclerosis
May
17 Kate McDonald June
80
3
2
Arterio sclerosis
15 Mary A. Dewyer
66
5
7 Cerebral hemorrhage
18 Henry J. LeLacheur
75
1
11
Carcinoma of stomach
23 Ada S. Adams
27
9
29
Myocarditis
July
21 Fannie Crocker
34 7 12
Chronic interstitial nephritis
30 Still Born
Aug.
12 Hannah E. Phillips Sept.
71
6
16
Cerebral hemorrhage
4 George W. Whitcomb
64
4
15
Anaemia
15 Ann E. Tinkham
75 9
14
Pulmonary Oedena
Oct.
61
5 20
Pulmonary tuberculosis
5 Anna M. Pearson
69 11
25 Arterio sclerosis
7 Henry Bruneau
47
5
9 Automobile accident
13 Mary J. Packard
84 10
16 Arterio sclerosis
30 Viola F. Tucker
43
0 16
Fracture of skull
Nov.
2 Edward E. Browne
58
4
26
Arterio sclerosis
17 Charles A. Johnson
65
7
5
Chronic nitral insufficiency
25 Eliza A. Dalton
71
3 12
Carcinoma of bowels
Dec.
4 Jennie Dunbar
50 11
19
Carcinoma of breast
6 Lucy Shaw
66
6 18
Diabetis
9 Adaline T. Chase
82
4
3 Arterio sclerosis
14 George R. Severance
77 2 21
Chronic interstitial nephritis
31 David W. Stevens,
37
7 25
Aneurysm of aorta
Number of deaths, 39.
19 Still Born
2 Carl O. Johnson
99
ABSTRACT FROM CHAPTER 99 OF THE REVISED LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Sec. 3. Physicians and midwives shall, within forty-eight hours after the birth of every child in cases of which they were in charge, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the city or town in which the birth occurred, a notice stating the date and place of the birth, giving the street number if any, color and the family name. They shall within fifteen days after the birth, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the city or town in which the birth occurred, a report of the birth, stating the date and place, the name, if any, of the child, its sex and color, and the names, ages, places of birth, occupations and residences of the parents, giving the street number, if there be any, and the number of the ward in a city, the maiden name of the mother, if the full return is not made within the forty-eight hours.
The fee of the physician or midwife shall be twenty-five cents for each birth so reported. A physician or midwife who neglects to report each birth within forty-eight hours or fifteen days thereafter, shall for each offence forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars.
Sec. 6. Parents, within forty days after the birth of a child, and every householder within forty days after a birth in his house, shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the city or town in which such child is born.
The facts required for record, as stated in section 3, shall, so far as known or obtainable, be included in every notice given under the provision of this section.
Sec. 8. A parent, or other persons who, by section 6, is required to give, or cause to be given, notice of a birth or death, who neglects to do so for ten days after the time lim- ited therefor, shall forfeit not more than five dollars for each offence.
100
Sec. 24. The Town Clerk will furnish blanks for returns of births to parents, householders, physicians and midwives who apply therefor.
EDWARD H. CROCKER,
Town Clerk.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE YEAR 1920
A. H. WILLIS, PRINTER BRIDGEWATER, MASS.
1921
Report of School Committee.
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1920.
HIGH SCHOOL.
First Term-January 3 to March 25. Twelve weeks. Vaca- tion, one week.
Second Term-April 4 to June 24. Twelve weeks. Vacation, Ten weeks.
Third Term-September 6 to December 23. Sixteen weeks.
GRADE SCHOOLS.
First Term-January 3 to February 18. Seven weeks. Va- cation, one week.
Second Term-February 28 to April 15. Seven weeks. Vacation, one week.
Third Term-April 25 to June 24. Nine weeks. Vacation, ten weeks.
Fourth Term-September 6 to December 16. Fifteen weeks.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Edwin H. Thayer, term expires 1921.
Lester M. Fairbanks, term expires 1921. Mrs. Corelli C. Alger, term expires 1922.
4
Dr. W. C. Whiting, term expires 1922. Walter C. Dunbar, term expires 1923.
Mrs. Laura W. Worthing, term expires 1923.
In taking a survey of our records of the past year, we find that several important changes have taken place, the most important, perhaps, being the change in the superin- tendency. After careful thought and due consideration, we decided unanimously to ask the town, at its annual town meeting, to dissolve the union which had existed between East and West Bridgewater for many years.
In so doing, we fully realized that in Mr. Grout we were losing a man of unusual ability, sterling character, sincere and faithful in the performance of his duties. We, however, realized also, that the schools of West Bridgewater were not receiving enough supervision, and that henceforth the schools would receive less, rather than more.
We have now formed a union with Raynham, and have chosen Mr. Thomas E. Gay of West Lebanon, N. H., as Superintendent. He devotes two-thirds of his time to our schools, resides in town, and we feel confident that he will maintain the high standard of efficiency which we have pre- viously had in our schools.
In our High School, a vacancy caused by the resignation of the principal, Mr. A. H. Smith, was filled by the election of Mr. Stuart R. Race of Oxford, New Jersey. With Mr. Race at the wheel, we are sure that Howard High School will enter port in safety.
We respectfully suggest the following appropriations for the coming year :
5
APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED.
General control,
$1,850.00
Teachers' salaries,
25,666.00
Text books and supplies,
2,500.00
Janitors,
2,000.00
Janitors' supplies,
100.00
Repairs,
1,500.00
Fuel,
2,000.00
Transportation,
3,000.00
School Nurse,
100.00
Miscellaneous,
700.00
Medical Inspection,
90.00
$39,500.00
EDWIN H. THAYER, Chairman,
CORELLI C. ALGER, Secretary,
LESTER M. FAIRBANKS, W. C. WHITING,
WALTER C. DUNBAR,
LAURA W. WORTHING,
School Committee.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
To the Members of the West Bridgewater School Committee:
I have the honor to submit herewith my first annual report as Superintendent of Schools. The task that con- fronted the writer when he took charge of the schools last July was both easy and difficult. It was easy from the fact that the schools had so long been under the supervision of so able a superintendent as Mr. E. H. Grout. It was and is difficult to maintain the high standard set by your former Superintendent. The Town should consider itself fortunate in having been able to retain Mr. Grout so long.
Every educator has his ideas and ideals and the writer believes that his own are best set forth in the following quotation from a new book, "The Classroom Teacher," by Strayer & Engelhardt:
"Universal public education is the foundation upon which democracy is built. In an autocracy, or in a society organized upon the basis of a ruling class, education may be reserved for the few; but in a democracy the welfare of every member of the group depends upon the intelligence of each. Free schools for the education of all of the members of a democratic society are quite as fundamental to the con- tinuance and development of democracy as is the idea of universal suffrage or of equality before the law."*
*Strayer and Engelhardt, "The Classroom Teacher," Page 1.
7
In other words the spirit of democracy and patriotism that inspired us during the war must not be forgotten now. We must not be lulled to rest by a false sense of security but we must look carefully to the education of our youth, that the America of to-morrow may be a safe and happy place in which to dwell.
Our greatest concern to-day is the shortage of teachers. As is well known a large number of teachers left the profes- sion during the war because of more attractive salaries in other lines. It is true that some of these teachers are now returning but they are going to the better paying positions, of which there are any number open and they will not con- sider such positions as we have to offer. The Normal schools all over the country will graduate in June, 1921, the smallest classes in years. Some of our schools are of the type that require teachers of excellent training and long and success- ful experience and yet there are no such teachers to be had. Our only hope, then, seems to be to secure the most promis- ing beginners that we can find, give them all the encourage- ment and advice that we can and try to retain them after they have proved themselves valuable members of our teach- ing force.
There is a bill before the present session of the Legisla- ture which in effect will make the minimum salary of a Normal graduate without experience $900; with one year's experience $950; and with two year's experience $1,000. The Commonwealth under this new law will reimburse the towns from $250 to $350 for each Normal graduate employed, the amount of reimbursement depending upon the experience of the teacher concerned. At the present time the reim- bursement is from $100 to $200.
There were quite a number of changes both in the High school and grades during the summer. In the High school there were the following resignations: Mr. A. H. Smith,
8
Principal; Miss Amy S. Damon, Miss Maude E. Metcalf, Miss Mary F. Toland; and in the Grades: Misses Mildred V. Chat- field, Bessie R. Baker, Dorothy E. Adams and Dorothy E. Packard. Miss Charlotte T. Baker, Supervisor of Music, resigned last November. In the High school we have the following new teachers: Mr. Stuart R. Race, Principal; Miss Miriam A. Johnson, English; Miss Lucile Spalding, Latin, Spanish and Civics; Miss Beulah M. Newell and Miss Laura MacSwan, Commercial Subjects. In the Grades there are Misses Mae E. Calnan, Una W. Monaghan and Marie Spillane. Mrs. Lois J. Snow, for some years supervisor of music in Raynham, succeeded Miss Baker.
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