USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1891-1900 > Part 13
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W. W. Allen, labor. 8.00
Michael Corkery, labor 3.00
William Hayward, cutting trees, etc. 2.25
Geo. Crouss, drawing stone. .. 3.00
W. C. Campbell, repairing water tank. 2.50
F. A. Bodurtha, labor.
1.OI
J. W. Moore, surveying 7.00
A. Champoux, labor. 1.00
George Covill, labor on water tank .75
L. R. Button, labor and gravel. 2.49
F. J. Pomeroy, labor. 4.95
$543.42
Feeding Hills.
A G. Demond, labor $15.38
Howard S. Hedges, labor 4.50
Daniel L. White, labor 83.60
F. B. Arnold, labor 8.10
Frank Burt, labor .. 15.00
Thomas O'Brien, labor.
3.00
F. M. Farnsworth, labor 33.76
William H. Granger, labor 8.00
E. A. Kellogg, labor. 105.10
James Kerr, labor I2.00
James J. Carroll, labor 9.50
James Collins, labor 2.25
John Buckley, labor .. 2.25
Robert Ely, Jr., labor 8.12
46
William H. Porter, labor 54.00
D. W. Corwin, labor. 30.50
Patrick Murphy, labor. 3.00
John Ahern, labor 9.00
James F. Cleary, labor 4.50
C. A. Frost, labor. 12.00
F. P. Halladay, stone. 5.00
H. O. Williams, labor
3.00
Julia Flower, gravel. 5.20
D. M. Steere, railing, etc.
3.91
J. F. Barry, lumber. .
1.67
Charles L. Brown, labor
12.90
W. E. Cooley, labor.
6.60
William Edgar, labor II.25
Ira F. Humason, labor 5.00
Myron Bates, labor 1.00
$479.09
Mittineague.
Joshua Desforges, labor ..
$7.35
B. L. Holt, painting signs
2.00
E. A. Kellogg, labor
32.40
Dennis Dubour, labor
3.00
David Beliveau, labor
3.75
D. J. Sullivan, labor.
1.50
Joseph Menard, labor.
1.50
James Collins, labor .
24.77
John Finnegan, labor
7.28
John Buckley, labor 11.18
16.43
Daniel L. White, labor
21.00
Robert Ely, Jr., labor
40.37
David Mahoney, labor
8.03
William H. Porter, labor
7.50
Dennis O'Brien, labor.
4.50
T. J. O'Brien, labor. 34.40
Thomas Welch, labor
47
C. E. Hitchcock & Co., lumber and pipe .... III.57
Alphonse Jasmin, labor. 2.25
Leon Dubour, labor. .75
Calix Menard, labor
John Sullivan, labor .. 1.50
2.7I
Patrick Moriarty, labor.
2.03
Cornelius Donovan, labor.
2.03
Patrick Crowley, care of manholes. 12.00
A. H. Brown, labor. 2.80
F. N. Leonard, gravel 9.20
M. Fitzgerald, labor 2.03
$375.85
Snow.
Richard Edgar, labor. $4.97
F. E. Morehouse, labor. . 2.85
Alfred Woodworth, labor 2.55
Leander Woodworth, labor 6.75
Henry J. Shaw, labor 6.30
F. B. Arnold, labor.
4.20
F. M. Farnsworth, labor
4.88
E. M. Wright, labor
23.30
E. N. Powers, labor 2.25
C. A. Frost, labor 3.75
A. S. King, labor 13.95
J. G. Burt, labor
10.20
George Covill, labor 9.68
Thomas Woodworth, labor 4.13
E. M. Pomeroy, labor 17.05
William H. Porter, labor 38.70 1
O. A. Cushman, labor
3.75
Frank Covill, labor
4.13
W. W. Allen, labor
6.75
D. L. White, labor 61.41
L. G. Jenks, labor. 12.30
A. G. Demond, labor 7.50
E. A. Kellogg, paid to men 8.00
James F. Barry, labor
9.78
$269.03
48
Bridges.
Homer Foot & Co., nails $0.40
Joshua Deforge. . .90
Robert Ely, Jr., lighting Agawam bridge .. 36.50
Robert Ely, Jr., oil. 6.00
Robert Ely, Jr., repairs. 17.62
Charles Hall, lamp and shade. 3.40
E. A. Kellogg, labor and plank. 16.50
James Collins, labor, . . 1.50
L. Phillips, snowing Agawam bridge 12.70
$95.52
Less one-half chargeable to West Springfield ... 47.76
Total expended for highways and bridges. .. . . 2,129.78
Less amount due from West Springfield . .
2,082.02
Appropriation 1,800.00
River Road.
Daniel Crowley, labor. $4.50
Alphonse Jasmin, labor. 50.70
Leon Dubour, labor .. 58.50
Joseph Menard, labor 50.70
Moses Menard, labor
50.40
Dennis Dubour, labor
39.75
David Beliveau, labor
55.50
Calix Menard, labor
54.30
August Menard, labor.
10.50
Daniel Curran, labor.
33.00
Delor Deforge, labor
26.25
Alex Menard, labor.
1.50
Dominie Brissette, labor
10.05
M. Zagnon, labor ..
.
7.50
John Corkery, labor.
4.50
Edward Hoar, labor
3.00
John Finnegan, labor
10.50
Dennis Finnegan, labor 37.50
John M. Sullivan, labor. 25.50
49
Daniel Sullivan, labor. 18.00
Daniel J. Collins, labor 9.22
Jerry Rivers, labor . 79.20
John Buckley, labor 55.50
Albert Provost, labor 13.50
Delor Perusse, labor 7.50
John Toissant, labor 36.00
Patrick Flynn, labor 39.00
Thomas Riley, labor 15.90
Eli Eggleston, labor and blasting material. . 47.60
L. H. Baton, labor 76.00
Jerry Adams, labor. 76.00
William W. Allen, labor.
76.00
C. L. Campbell, labor
4.00
John Oldroyd, labor 58.00
Michael L. Ahl, labor. II2.00
William B. Rice, labor.
78.00
Andrew J. Todd, labor 60.00
R. L. Blaisdell, labor. 124.00
F. E. Campbell, labor.
80.00
John G. Burt, labor. 94.00
T. W. Fowler, labor 72.00
Almon Jones, labor. I28.00
William H. Porter, labor 159.00
Daniel L. White, labor and plow I54.00
Patrick Riley, labor 107.35
James Collins, labor 40.65
H. A. Cook, labor
69.20
R. J. Smith, labor
O. A. Cushman, labor.
Oliver Smith, labor 42.00
E. A. Kellogg, labor
129.10
E. A. Kellogg, superintendent 106.25
John Curran, labor. 9.00
Thomas Welch, labor. 15.00
Patrick Murphy, labor 9.00
66.00
James R. Burke, labor. 70.00
102.00
50
Michael Corkery, labor. 15.00
Benjamin Verrier, labor 12.00
Joseph Bourgeon, labor. 6.75
James Stack, labor. 18.00
Philip Chandler, labor. 15.00
E. K. Bodurtha, gravel. 96.48
S. N. Bennett, labor . 16.00
James T. Brady, labor . 14.25
Mary Lester, use of land 3.00
J. C. Cooley, sand .40
H. W. Austin, sand .30
George H. Huntington, sand 2.20
James & Marra, caps .. 10.00
Estate of Charles Burton, dynamite 33.30
Total expended on River road $3,223.80
Specific appropriation for River road. $2,000.00
Received from County Treasurer .. 1,200.00
$3,200.00
Sewer Department.
Alphonse Jasmin, labor $3.98
Dennis Dubour, labor 2.48
Moses Menard, labor 5.48
David Beliveau, labor 2.48
Calix Menard, labor 5.48
John Tosen, labor. 3.98
James Shoven, labor
3.23
Daniel Curran, labor. 2.48
D. J. Sullivan, labor 3.38
Joseph Menard, labor
3.98
John Corkery, labor
3.38
John Finnegan, labor
2.48
John Buckley, labor
1.50
Dennis Crowley, labor
2.48
Patrick Moriarty, labor 4.88
Dennis O'Brien, labor
3.23
T. J. O'Brien, labor. 7.60
C. E. Hitchcock & Co., pipe 80.02
$142.52
Street Lights Department.
James M. Bean, lighting $50.00
Albert Nutter, lighting 4.01
Amos Gosselin, lighting 25.00
Robert Ely, Jr .. 5.40
H. Letellier, supplies. 30.00
William T. Hastings, lighting 4.49
Oliver Smith, lighting. 5.75
Howard D. Steere, lighting 5.00
A. K. Fuller, supplies. 3.25
Appropriation .
$132.90 $150.00
Town Buildings Department.
Care.
Seth Ingel, janitor Feeding Hills Town Hall .. $27.48 Seth Ingel, janitor Feeding Hills schools ...... 15.45
A. E. Fuller, janitor Feeding Hills Town Hall. 5.35 A. E. Fuller, janitor Feeding Hills schools .... 25.10
W. C. Campbell, janitor Agawam Town Hall . . 49.75
W. C. Campbell, janitor Agawam schools .. ... 56.00
C. W. Hastings, supplies. 13.5I
A. K. Fuller, supplies. 7.45
H. Letellier, supplies .20
$200.29
Repairs.
Appropriation . $150.00
Frank E. Clark, nails . $0.54
Charles Hall, chandeliers 50.00
Hildreth & Cutler, iumber 23.19
E. L. Covill, labor. 17.50
C. W. Smith, labor. 16.50
J. V. Walcott, labor 3.75
H. C. Earle, painting .
4.80
Wm. H. Porter, fitting up library room.
19.50
Bennett Loomis, repairs West St. schoolhouse . 11.00
B. L. Bragg Co., pump and chain . 3.40
Whitcomb Stove Co., zinc, pipe and labor .. . 13.10 Whitcomb, Kirkham & Hazen, galvanized iron. 1.26
James Morgan, repairs .50
H. O. Williams, labor. 1.50
T. M. Walker, glass 3.25
Seth Ingel, repairs 7.05
Newell Talmadge, fence posts 5.55
$182.39
Appropriation
$200.00
State Aid.
Eunice Billings, under chapter 301, Acts of 1889 .. ... $48.00 William W. Hitchcock, under chapter 301, Acts of 1889 .. 48.00
A. K. Fuller, burial agent, burial expenses, Richard Johnson · 35.00
Theodore Hess 35.00 .
Appropriation
$166.00
$100.00
Memorial Day.
Cash paid E. L. Covill
$35.00
$35.00
Appropriation .
$35.00
Interest.
Desire A. Pyne. $120.00
Springfield Institution for Savings. 1,110.61
National Bank of the Commonwealth. 500.00
Appropriation .
-- $1,730.61 $1,800.00
Town Debt.
Sinking Fund. $800.00
$800.00
Appropriation
$1,500.00
Liabilities of Town.
One Note payable at the Springfield Insti- tution for Savings, May 1, 1895, inter- est 3 6-10 per cent. . $10,120.00
One Note payable at the Springfield Insti- tution for Savings, on demand, interest 4 per cent. 4,053.32
One Note payable to Desire A. Pyne, on demand, interest 6 per cent .. . ... Five Notes payable at the National Bank of the Commonwealth, Boston, June I,
2,129.50
1914, interest 4 per cent.
25,333.33
- $41,636.15
Assets.
Cash in Treasury .. $111.03
Due from P. T. Donovan, Collector for 1889, 12.54
Leon Dubour, Collector for 1890, 13.77 Ethan D. Allen, Collector for 1892, 6.60
Lewis A. Barden, Collector, 1893, 464.35
Edward M. Wright Collector, 1893, 203.86
Amos Gosselin, Collector, 1893 .. . 152.26
55
James H. Clark, Collector, 1894, 1,595.2I
Edward M. Wright, Collector, 1894, 936.05
Amos Gosselin, Collector, 1894 . . . 844.95 West Springfield, bridge account. . 47.76
Russell, care of paupers .
18.75
Southwick, care of paupers .. 118.18
Ludlow, care of paupers. 16.10
State, care of paupers 44.30 .
State, for state aid.
94.00
H. W. Halladay, slaughter house
license .
1.00
Due from sewer ssessments. 106.56
Value of town farm, stock and supplies. 2,100.00
Value of road machine and tools.
350.00
Sinking fund . 800.00
$8,197.27 Excess of liabilities over assets $33,438.88 Excess of liabilities reduced during the year . 2,760.69
JAMES F. BARRY, W. C. CAMPBELL, ALBERT H. BROWN,
Selectmen of Agawam.
Agawam, March 14, 1895.
Report of the Public Library Trustees.
Purchased of
The W. F. Adams Co., books. $238.73
The W. F. Adams Co., book covers .. 2.60
$241.33
Receipts.
Appropriation, dog fund . $285.89
Amount unexpended March 15, 1894. 42. II
Income of Mary A. Phelon fund. 20.00
$348.00 $106.67
Amount unexpended March 15, 1895. . . · Whole number of books in the library March
15, 1894 1,107
Added by purchase . 286
Added by gift of the state. 10
Whole number in library March 15, 1895 . ...
1,403
Number of book borrowers :
Agawam. . 159
Feeding Hills
I22
Mittineague. IO
Circulation :
Agawam. 2,200
Feeding Hills 1,002
Mittineague
The library is open at Agawam and Feeding Hills on Fridays from 3 to 5 P. M. ; at Mittineague once in two weeks. WILLIAM H. PORTER, JUDSON W. HASTINGS, HENRY L. TOWER,
Trustees.
Articles in the Warrant for Town Meeting.
April 1, 1895.
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
Article 2. To choose all necessary Town officers for the ensuing year.
Article 3. To vote on the question " Shall licenses be granted for the selling of intoxicating liquors in this Town."
Article 4. To hear and act upon the report of the Town offi- cers.
Article 5. To see what method the Town will adopt for the support of the poor for the ensuing year.
Article 6. To see if the Town will authorize its Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow temporarily in anticipation of the taxes of the present municipal year the sum of seven thous- and dollars, as the same may be from time to time required, and to give the note or notes of the Town for money so borrowed, and that he also be authorized to pay such loans from the said taxes.
Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not to exceed thirty-five dollars for Memorial Day.
Article 8. To hear and act upon the report of the committee appointed by the Selectmen to investigate the present requirements of the Town regarding schools.
Article 9. To make the necessary appropriations for the ensu- ing year, and vote to raise by tax such sums as may be required for the same.
58
Article 10. To see if the Town will take any action toward protecting the wing wall on north side of the Agawam bridge.
Article II. To see what action the Town will take in reference to appropriations for Sinking Fund.
Article 12. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow a sum not to exceed ten thousand dollars to refund a note due May 1, 1895.
Article 13. To act upon code of By-Laws reported at a special town meeting, May 17, 1894, and action deferred to next annual town meeting.
Article 14. To see if the Town will withdraw their claim on the Lester gravel bank taken under the provisions of Section 99 of Chapter 49 of the Public Statutes.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote a discount on all taxes paid on or before the fifteenth day of October.
Article 16. To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.
Article 17. To see if the Town will accept the following list of jurors : John G. Freeland, Elmer E. McIntire, William H. Flower, Henry C. Smith, Fremont H. King, Thomas Burke, Homer W. Halladay, R. Mather Taylor, Nelson G. King, Michael B. Kelley, Lewis A. Barden, Jerre Adams, Henry E. Bordurtha, Frederick A. Sykes, Elbert L. Campbell, Henry O. Pierce, Emerson L. Covell, Edmund N. Powers, Horace D. Blaisdell, Andrew J. Todd, Albert Provost, Arthur Roberts, John Curran, George E. Cooley, John E. Crowley, Charles A. Devenew.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOL OFFICERS.
OF THE
TOWN OF AGAWAM,
For the Year Ending March I,
1 895.
OF A
INCOF
0
15.1855
ORATE
HOLYOKE MASS. : GRIFFITH, AXTELL & CADY CO., PRINTERS. 1895.
Report of the School Committee.
Your committee take pleasure in again making to you their annual report as to the condition and work of the schools of this town.
A careful consideration of the Superintendent's report by the citizens of Agawam will furnish food for reflection, as a faithful enunciation of principles that should guide in properly conducting the education of our youth. In preparing his report the Superin- tendent has been left free to express his own ideas and opinions on the subject, neither aided nor hampered by the intrusion of views or beliefs of the committee, and has, we believe, presented the sub- ject in the wisest manner from the standpoint of his experience.
While keenly aware of the severe and increasing burdens laid upon our citizens by the present educational policy, the board believes there should and will be a cheerful acquiescence on the part of the people, in the endeavor of the committee to bring the schools to a higher standard of excellence. Their policy has been in the past, as it will be in the future, to furnish the best aids and appli- ances for school work, which are compatible with prudence, discre- tion and economy. As the Superintendent's report is so full and ample a presentation of the various questions demanding attention, the committee will simply call attention to a few facts.
Repairs on School-rooms.
In nearly every school-room throughout the town repairs are needed to put them in proper condition. Some plastering, paint- ing, whitewashing and, in one or two instances, new flooring is necessary. This is especially true of the Riverside and South
4
Schools of Agawam. If the recommendation of the Superintendent in regard to closing these schools and transporting the children to the Center schools (which the School Board heartily approve) is adopted, considerable expense may be avoided ; and your com- mittee hope that the plan will be given a trial for at least a year. The much-needed work of improving the condition of the grounds around the West Street School building, Agawam, which was recom- mended by the committee last year, still remains undone and should no longer be neglected.
· Books and Supplies.
At the recommendation of the Superintendent, books to be used for supplementary reading have been introduced at a small expense, which may be somewhat increased in the future.
New arithmetics will be needed in all the grammar schools this year. The supplies of all kinds now on hand will nearly carry us through the present term.
Teachers and Pupils.
We have experienced the usual loss of teachers during the year, due, in some cases, to the offer of larger salaries. We regret the frequent changes and especially regret to lose an efficient teacher whose work is commendable for the reasons above mentioned.
The report of the year shows an increase in the number of scholars, in attendance and also in the per cent of attendance. We must urge parents to co-operate with teachers to make our schools what we desire them to be by avoiding as much as possible absence, tardiness and dismissals of pupils. The cost to the taxpayers is just as much for the education of a scholar who per- sists in absenting himself from school without cause, as it is if his attendance is perfect ; and to this indirect waste of money may be added the direct expense incurred in the work of a truant offi- cer. Great credit is due to the teachers for their efforts in this direction.
5
Deportment.
There is need of improvement in this direction, and this is im- possible without the co-operation of parents. Instances could be cited where the ungentlemanly and unlady-like conduct of pupils has most seriously impeded the work of a school and brought it into ill-repute. Deportment in the school-room and on the grounds should be insisted on by both teacher and parents. If parents would carefully inquire into all cases of discipline and make sure that there had been wrong-doing on the part of the teacher before condemning, much trouble might be avoided and the best good of the children gained.
Supervision.
In accordance with the vote taken at the annual meeting of the joint committee of the towns of Agawam, Southwick and Gran- ville, the Superintendent has divided his time equally between the three towns, which share equally in the expense of his salary. While the care of the Superintendent relieves the committee of direct supervision, they have been in closer touch with the work and conduct of the schools by frequent consultation with him, by the monthly report of teachers of all important facts concerning the schools, by holding teachers' meetings which have served to unite more closely the interests of teachers and committee in the welfare of the schools.
Mr. Whitney's course as Superintendent has been in all respects satisfactory and his work is cordially appreciated, not only by the committee, but, it is believed, by the citizens generally.
E. L. THOMPSON, EDWIN LEONARD, H. L. TOWER,
School Committee.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
For Year Ending March 1, 1895.
Receipts.
Appropriation,
$5,500.00
Income Massachusetts School Fund, 216.06
State Treasurer for Superintendent,
500.00
$6,216.06
Expenditures.
FOR SUPERINTENDENT AND SUPPLIES.
J. L. Hammett, supplies,
$212.53
U. G. Wheeler. Superintendent,
150.00
Fairfield Whitney, .
383.28
Edw. E. Babb & Co:, books,
71.72
Ginn & Co., books, .
100.56
W. F. Adams Co., erasers,
1.00
Smith & White Mfg. Co., paper, .
17.60
Milton Bradley Co., kindergarten material,
2.55
A. F. Leonard & Co., brooms and pails, .
3.88
Loring & Axtell, printing, .
8.08
E. Luther & Co., table and hods, .
3.20
The Prang Educational Co., models,
1.44
R. H. Smith & Co., stamps,
2.65
E. L. Thompson, services as purchasing agent, .
26.00
$984.45
AGAWAM SCHOOLS.
Jennie E. Alderman, 22 weeks teaching, .
$176.00
66
22 " care of room,
11.00
Fannie Kathan,
1 week teaching,
8.50
S. Edith Westrich, 11
99.00
Belle S. Benjamin, 22
66
264.00
Jennie S. Thomson, 33 66 66 263.00
66
1
66 care of room,
.50
William R. Purple,
1 week teaching, . 12.00
7
Mildred J. Tanner, 32 weeks teaching, . 224.00
66
32 care of room,
16.00
Marie West,
33 66 teaching, . 291.50
66 66
11 66
care of room 5.50
Alicia T. Powell, 10 66 teaching, . 70.00
6.
10 66 care of room,
5.00
Nellie E. Hamilton, 16 66 teaching
112.00
16 66 care of room, 8.00
A. P. D. Tobien, 11
teaching, 132.00
Mrs. G. H. Havens, 6 66
66
42.00
66
6
66 care of room,
3 00
E. L. Thompson, postage, express, freight,
66
repairs, supplies,
2.00
66
drawing coal,
27.99
66
66 wood,
42.25
John Van Slick, sweeping and cleaning,
38.70
W. F. Cook, coal, .
135.35
Joseph V. Wolcott, repairs,
6.85
Whitcomb Stove Company, repairs,
1.75
L. W. Dickinson, water, .
5 00
$2,014.89
FEEDING HILLS SCHOOLS.
Alice E. Powers, thirty-four weeks' teaching,
$442.00
Lottie B. Strong, eleven weeks' teaching,
93.50
Nettie E. Demond, eleven weeks' teaching,
22.00
Mabel Welcker, twenty-two weeks' teaching,
187.00
Ada Hays, eleven weeks' teaching,
77.00
L. May Huntley, twenty-two weeks teaching, care of room,
11.00
Mabel Easton, care of room,
5.00
Mary A. Taylor, sweeping, . Edith Allen, 66
5.50
E. U. Leonard, sawing wood,
2.00
A. Jasmin, cleaning well,
4.00
James Morgan, cleaning well, W. F. Cook, coal,
137.79
D. B. Arnold, repairs,
1.50
F. A. Johnson, Jr., wood, .
3.50
James F. Barry, wood,
4.50
A. Champcux, cleaning,
1.50
66
12.00
154.00
16.25
3.00
8
Theodore Brown, sawing wood,
1.00
A. K. Fuller, supplies, ·
1.80
Edwin Leonard, repairs, ·
5.54
$1,179.38
MITTINEAGUE SCHOOLS.
Cassie H. Murphy, six weeks' teaching, . $72.00
Alice E. Durant, thirty-three weeks' teaching, 330.00
Mary F. Healy, thirty-three weeks' teaching, 297.00
Marguerite Young, four weeks' teaching,
36.00
Bessie F. Leonard, thirty-three weeks' teaching, 289.00
Annie K. L. Houghton, four weeks' teaching, 48.00
Mrs. R. O. Harper, twenty-nine weeks' teaching,
159.00
Hattie J. Strong, twenty-four weeks' teaching,
288.00
Frank R. Ross, janitor, thirty-three weeks,
99.00
W. F. Cook, coal and wood,
82 22
Wilfred Duclos, repairs,
47.75
Stuart Young, wood,
6.00
H. L. Tower, repairs,
1.80
Total expended,
$1,755.77 $5,934.53
Report of Superintendent.
To the School Committee of Agawam.
GENTLEMEN : I herewith submit the annual report of your Superintendent of Schools.
From May 19, the date of my election, to the close of the spring term, I devoted my time to learning the methods and pur- poses of my predecessor, and the condition of the schools.
In Mr. Wheeler's able reports you have had a statement of his lines of work. I have attempted to follow these closely enough to give the school system continuity and prospective completeness. For many helps and suggestions in carrying on this work, my thanks are due the committee, teachers, and your former superintendent.
Monday evening, May 21, Mr. Edson held a teachers' meeting at Mittineague. His chief subject was arithmetic. Mr. Edson also held a Teachers' Institute at Southwick, September 25, to which all the teachers of the district were invited.
The program was as follows :
9 a. m. Drawing, H. T. Bailey IO a. m. Arithmetic, G. H. Danforth
II a. m. Geography, Miss Elvira Carver I2 m. Lunch.
I p. m. Arithmetic, G. H. Danforth
2. p. m. Drawing, H. T. Bailey
3 p. m.
Discussion-Relations of the teacher to the community.
Miss Benjamin of Agawam Grammar School, Miss Powers of Feeding Hills Grammar School, Mrs. Carpenter of Granville, Mr. Leonard of your honorable board, and Messrs. Fletcher and Hud- son of Southwick participated in the discussion, which was closed by Mr. Edson.
IO
These meetings, together with the summer schools and educa- tional gatherings at Springfield, have given the teachers excellent opportunities for improvement. Many have availed themselves of all within reach.
Aside from these special helps five teachers' meetings have been held during the fall and winter without the use of any school time. Reading, writing, physiology, school management, and geography have been treated at some length, and other subjects more briefly. Both committee and teachers have added to the value of these by their regular attendance and willingness to participate.
Eleven teachers have been called into service during the year to supply vacancies caused by resignations. Two of these had pre- viously taught in the same schools to which they were elected. Two have been transferred and one has been promoted from assistant to principal. Miss Murphy left the Mittineague Grammar School during the spring term, and Miss Hamilton the Riverside School during the winter. Josie W. Danahy supplied at Mittineague No. 3, during the few weeks' absence of Miss Durant, and Mrs. G. H. Havens took Miss Tanner's place for a short time at the South School.
I appreciate the fidelity with which you have labored to secure good teachers and help them in their work. As a result I think you have closed the year with a strong corps of teachers.
As one instance of interested service, I cannot forbear mention- ing the fact that Miss L. May Huntley of the West Street Feeding Hills School taught an extra week in the winter term gratis.
The "visits" given in the table of statistics do not include those of the committee and superintendent. It will be seen that the number per school varies greatly. In one section of the town parents and friends have visited quite freely. This is right. Such friendly oversight stimulates the teachers and encourages the pupils.
As a rule, I have visited each school once in three weeks. The teachers have made a general effort to give each subject the law requires taught its allotted portion of time. I will speak particu- larly of a part of these.
II
Reading.
Reading, from its importance in school and throughout life, deserves serious attention. The results in this work are to some extent unsatisfactory. There are too many children of the fourth grade and above who cannot intelligently read the text books essential in the preparation of their lessons, and the faulty enun- ciation and lack of expression among older pupils show the need of drill in the simple principles of elocution. I have advocated oral spelling, spelling by syllables, and practice on the sounds of letters as a partial remedy, and those teachers who have had intel- ligent faith in the value of such drill have testified to its usefulness. Small dictionaries for individual use are a help in making inde- pendent readers.
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