USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1902-1903 > Part 6
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3 50
J. F. Sullivan, 66
16 00
J. Breck & Sons, tree pruners,
4 40
F. D. Weld & Co., ladder, 9 25
4 50
H. C. Gott, services,
28 00
C. S. Parker & Son, printing,
5 00
D. J. Sullivan, sharpening saws,
2 60
R. W. Shattuck, pruners, rope, etc.,
9 38
Francis Doane & Co.,
30
H. L. Frost, pruners and labor 30 92
C. A. Hutchinson, teaming brush, 12 50
Pierce & Winn Co., teams and labor,
41 76
Bowker Chemical Co., creosote mixture,
27 00
Charles Gott, repairs,
4 00
Boston & Maine, R. R., expressing,
25
J. C. Fletcher, expressing,
15
Total,
$1,001 84
987 00
Amount expended in excess of appropriation, $14 84
Conant & Newhall, letter heads, etc.,
ELBRIDGE FARMER FUND.
The Trustees of the Elbridge Farmer Fund herewith submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1902.
RECEIPTS.
Arlington Water Loan, 4's, 12 months' interest on $12,000 $480 00
Town of Orange, 4's, 12 months' interest on $10,000 400 00 .. City of Brockton, 4's, 12 months' interest on $8,000 320 00
Minneapolis Gold, 42's, 12 months' interest on $10,000 450 CO
Great Barrington, 4's, 12 months' interest on $10,000 400 00
Atlantic National Bank, interest on deposits 16 76
$2,066 76
DISBURSEMENTS.
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Co., rent of safe Atlantic National Bank, collection charges 40
$10 00
Treasurer, Town of Arlington, for Trustees of Robbins Library . 2,056 36
$2,066 76
93
ELBRIDGE FARMER FUND.
INVESTMENTS.
Great Barrington, 4's, due 1912 . $10,000 00
Town of Orange, 4's, due 1922
10,000 00
City of Brockton, 4's, due 1922
8,000 00
Minneapolis Gold, 42's, due 1922
10,000 00 .
Arlington Water Loan, 4's, due 1928
12,000 00
.
$50,000 00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. HARDY, WILLIAM G. PECK, E. S. FARMER, WILLIAM E. WOOD,
December 31, 1902.
Trustees.
COMMISSIONERS OF SINKING FUND.
1902.
Jan. 1. Amount loaned Town of Arlington, $9,433 89 Interest on $9,433.89 from Dec. 31, 1901 to Dec. 31, 1902, at 4 per cent. per annum, 377 35
Received of Town of Arlington amount of appropriation of April 15, 1902, 16,000 00 Interest on same April 15, 1902, 8 mos., 16 days at 4 per cent. per annum, 426 67
Received 6 months' interest to April 1, 1902, on $10,150, Locke School Loan, at 4 per cent., 203 00
Received 6 months' interest to Oct. 1, 1902, on $10,150, on Locke School Loan, at 4 per cent., 203 00
Received 6 months' interest to June 1, 1902, on $8,000, Cutter School Loan, at 4 per cent., 160 00
Received 6 months' interest to Dec. 1, 1902, on $8,000, Cutter School Loan, at 4 per cent., 160.00
$26,963 91
Amount paid Town of Arlington as per vote of the Town, April 15, 1902, to be used in liquidation of the Town debt maturing in 1902, as follows : -
95
COMMISSIONERS OF SINKING FUND.
Locke School Loan, due April 1, 1902, $1,450 00
Cutter School Loan, due June 1, 1902, 4,000 00
Crosby School Loan, due
Nov. 1, 1902, 3,800 00
Crosby School Loan, due Nov. 1, 1902, 600 00
Also the following amount as per vote of the Town May 5, 1902 :- Town of Arlington's note dated April 1, 1901, on one year's time due April 1,1902, 3,000 00
- $12,850 00
Nov. 1. Paid Town of Arlington $4,000, for four of the Town's notes dated Aug. 1, 1902, at 4 per cent., No. 1, payable Jan. 1, 1904, 1,000 00
No. 2, payable Jan. 1, 1905, 1,000 00
No. 3, payable Jan. 1, 1906,
1,000 00
No. 4, payable Jan. 1, 1907,
1,000 00
Three months accrued interest on the four notes, 40 00
Dec. 31. Interest on $1,450.00 April 1, 1902, 43 50
Interest on $4,000.00 June 1, 1902, 93 33
29 33
Interest on $4,400.00 Nov. 1, 1902, Interest on $3,000.00 April 1, 1902, Rent of safe at Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co.'s Vaults to March 14, 1903, 10 00 By balance on hand, 9,807 75
90 00
$26,963 91
96
COMMISSIONERS OF SINKING FUND.
INVESTMENT.
Town of Arlington, Locke School Loan, seven bonds, each $1,450, at 4 per cent., dated April, 1899, payable one in each consecutive year beginning with April, 1913, $10,150 00 Town of Arlington, Cutter School Loan, $8,000, dated June 1, 1900, at 4 per cent., i. e., No. 3, payable June 1, 1903, $4,000 00 No. 4, payable June 1, 1904, 4,000 00
$8,000 00
Four Town of Arlington notes dated August 1, bearing 4 per cent. interest as follows : -
No. 1, payable Jan. 1, 1904, $1,000 00 No. 2, payable Jan. 1, 1905, 1,000 00
No. 3, payable Jan. 1, 1906, 1,000 00 No. 4, payable Jan. 1, 1907, 1,000 00
Amount loaned Town of Arlington, Dec. 31, 1902, 9,807 75
13,807 75
$31,957 75
WILLIAM G. PECK, A. D. HOITT, THEODORE SCHWAMB, Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
December 31, 1902.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE PRATT FUND.
The Trustees of the Pratt Fund present the following report for the year ending December 31, 1902 : -
INCOME.
Received 1 year's interest on City of Boston
Water Bonds, $5,000, at 5 per cent., $250 00
Received 1 year's interest on $20,000 Cutter
School Loan to December 1, 1901, at 4 per cent., 800 00
$1,050 00
Less amount paid rent of safe in Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company's Vaults, 10 00
$1,040 00
DISBURSEMENTS.
Amount paid Town Treasurer for Poor Widow's Fund, $208 00
Amount paid Town Treasurer for Public Library, 416 00
Amount deposited in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, as a High School Fund, 416 00
$1,040 00
98
PRATT FUND.
INVESTMENTS.
Cutter School Loan, dated June 1, 1900, 5 bonds each $4,000, payable one in each consecutive year, beginning with June 1, 1905, Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8,9, $20,000 00
City of Boston Gold Water Bonds due Oct. 1, 1905, 5's,
5,000 00
$25,000 00
HIGH SCHOOL FUND INCOME.
Amount on hand in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, January, 1902, per last report, $8,275 71
Dividend one year to Jan., 1903, Book No. 4063, 292 16 Income of Fund for 1902, 416 00
Received interest for 1 year, 5 months, Town of Arlington Water Bonds, each $1,000, two of them due 1922, three due 1928,
200 00
$9,183 87
Less amount paid Town Treasurer for use of High School, 145 83
On deposit in Book No. 4063, in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank,
$9,038 04
INVESTMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL FUND INCOME.
Town of Arlington Water Bonds, Nos. 118 and 119, due 1922, 4's, each $1,000, Nos. 130, 131 and 132, due 1928, 4's, each $1,000, 1
$5,000 00
Deposit in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, Book 4063, January, 1903, 9,038 04
$14,038 04
99
PRATT FUND.
E. NELSON BLAKE JUNIOR MEMORIAL FUND.
1902.
Jan. Amount on deposit in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank, in the name of Trustees of the Pratt Fund, Book 12541, Add dividend January, 1903,
$2,541 89
89 72
2,631 61
Drawn and paid to High School to Jan., 1903, 100 00
$2,531 61
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM G. PECK,
WILLIAM E. WOOD,
GEORGE HILL, JAMES A. BAILEY,
HENRY HORNBLOWER,
HARVEY S. SEARS, ex-officio, Trustees of the Pratt Fund.
Arlington, Dec. 31, 1902.
REPORTS OF
Consolidated Board of Trustees of Robbins' Fund, Soldiers' Monument Fund, Trustees of Cemeteries and Samuel C. Buckman Fund.
ROBBINS' FUND.
Amount of this fund deposited in Arlington Five
Cents Savings Bank Dec. 31, 1901, was
$5,000 00
Accrued interest
640 56
Interest to December 31, 1902,
199 13
5,839 59
Amount paid Trustees of Cemeteries, expended 1902, 310 00
$5,539 59
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT FUND.
Amount of this fund deposited in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank was, December 31, 1901, $2,000 00 Accured interest, 906 67
1
2,906 67
Interest added December 31, 1902,
102 60
Amount carried forward, $3,009 27
101
CONSOLIDATED BOARD.
Amount brought forward, $3,009 27
AMOUNT EXPENDED.
Paid Cemetery Trustees for care of
grounds, $30 00
Peirce & Winn Co., for fertilizers and manure, 4 50
N. E. Decorating Co., for Memorial Day, 10 00
Cemetery Trustees, grading, 6 00
$50 50
Balance December 31, 1902,
$2,958 77
PERPETUAL CARE FUND.
Amount of this fund deposited in Arlington Five
Cents Savings Bank Dec. 31, 1901, was $9,600 00 Amount received 1902, 200 00
Accrued interest, 372 88
Loan from Trustees of Cemeteries,
726 80
Interest to December 31, 1902,
334 42
$11,234 10
Paid Trustees of Cemeteries,
364 25
Balance December 31, 1902,
$10,869 85
S. C. BUCKMAN CEMETERY FUND.
Amount of this fund deposited in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank was, December 31, 1901, Interest added to December 31, 1902, 70 61
$2,000 00
$2,070 61
Paid for care and grading neglected lots, 1902,
70 61
Balance on hand December 31, 1902, $2,000 00
102
1. CONSOLIDATED BOARD.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation for 1902,
$1,200 00
For care of lots,
913 00
For sale of lots,
1,470 00
For grading, repairs on lots, etc.,
1,079 52
From Perpetual Care Fund,
364 25
From Robbins Fund,
310 00
From Soldiers' Monument Fund,
50 50
From S. C. Buckman Cemetery Fund,
70 61
Appropriation for improvement of existing parks,
637 65
$6,095 53
EXPENDITURES.
Paid E. S. Chapman, Superintendent,
$873 50
E. S. Chapman, extra services,
56 00
James Donahue, labor,
540 14
H. C. Goth, services,
329 00
R. W. Shattuck, wire, screws, etc.,
32 82
Wm. T. Wood & Co., chisel,
40
C. Donovan, labor,
12 60
Wm. Teed, labor,
419 98
Frost & Adams, box scale,
75
Conant & Newhall, stationery, etc.,
7 75
C. S. Parker & Son, printing,
75
John Tutten, stone posts,
50 00
Knowles & Marden, rakes and shovels,
9 34
B. McGrevey, labor,
403 90
Blanchard & Kendall, lathes, etc.,
4 01
Francis Doane & Co .. paper, letterheads,
12 18
J. Breck & Sons, seeds and bulbs, shears,
14 51
Amount carried forward,
$2,767 63
103
CONSOLIDATED BOARD.
Amount brought forward, $2,767 63
Paid Dennis Reardon, gravel,
16 00
H. A. Wheeler, canvass cover, 7 50
Engineers' services,
158 44
B. & M. R. R., freight,
75
N. E. Brick Co , brick,
55 50
Warren A. Peirce, receipt blanks,
50
W. W. Rawson & Co., bulbs and seed,
101 00
Johnson's Express, expressing,
80
Waldo Bros., gutter grates,
54 00
A. F. Brooks, labor,
12 00
H. J. Green, loan,
9 80
N. E. Decorating Co., decorating monument,
10 00
Arlington P. O., stamps and envelopes,
12 60
Arlington Water Works, pipe and labor,
653 34
L. K. Russell, use of private way,
10 00
Richard A. Welch, loam,
39 60
M. Kelley, contract,
1,057 05
Chas. Gott, repairs,
9 87
G. H. Lowe, concrete work,
5 90
Peirce & Winn Co., teams and labor,
346 16
C. A. Hutchinson, teaming brush,
10 25
Arlington News Co., blocks, paper,
75
F. W. Barry Beale & Co., paper,
1 25
Highway Department, stone dust,
24 54
M. C. Warren, diamond vise,
3 50
Loan to Perpetual Care Fund,
726 80
$6,095 53
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY.
To the Town of Arlington : -
The Trustees of the Robbins Library submit their annual report.
A change has taken place in the composition of the Board since our last report by the election of Dr. Charles A. Keegan in the place of Mr. Matthew Rowe, who closed his connection with the Library in February, after nine years of faithful ser- vice ; and by the election of Arthur J. Wellington, Esq., in place of Mr. Walter B. Farmer, who transferred his residence to Brookline. The presence of Mr. Wellington on the Board perpetuates the connection of his family with the management of the Library from the date of its organization in 1835 through four generations.
We again notice a falling off in the number of volumes taken, 43,914 for this year as against 47,369 last year. There is a slight falling off also in the number of books loaned from the Children's Room, 12,013 as against 12,188 last year. But the use of the reading room both on week days and on Sundays shows a gain. The public has made good use of the opportunity of selecting books directly from the shelves while the Library has not lost thereby a single volume.
We have continued to give exhibitions of photographs, etc., in addition to those hitherto reported.
FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
19. Photographs relating to the Revolutionary War and early Massachusetts houses.
105
TRUSTEES OF RORBINS LIBRARY.
JUNE.
20. Photographs of the City of York, England.
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
21. Photographs of Scenes on the Canadian Pacific R. R.
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
22. Exhibit of Albrecht Dürer.
DECEMBER.
23. Photographs of Alaska.
The attention of the public should be drawn to the fine col- lection of portrait-engravings in the Art Gallery, which can be examined by adults by application to the Librarian who will furnish them a catalogue carefully prepared by Miss Caira Robbins.
Mr. Winfield Robbins has continued his generosity to the Library by the gift of seven volumes.
Mr. Henry Dexter, of N. Y. City, has presented the " National Cyclopedia of American Biography," twelve volumes.
Judge James P. Parmenter has presented " Universities and Their Sons," five volumes, a valuable gift.
Mr. Thomas W. Lawson has presented in a sumptuous volume, " Lawson's History of the America's Cup."
A welcome gift was received of two copies of " Two Graves ; or, the Blue and the Gray and other poems " by the author, Thomas Moore Kenny,-a former resident of Arlington.
Mr. D. P Corey presented a " History of Malden."
The editors of the Advocate and Enterprise continue to send us files of their papers.
106
TRUSTEES OF ROBBINS LIBRARY.
The Trustees call the attention of the public to the need of a change in the grade of the lawn surrounding the Library, in order to turn the water away from the building and make effective the repairs, which cannot wisely be delayed, upon the areas surrounding the basement windows.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL C. BUSHNELL, E. NELSON BLAKE, JOSEPH C. HOLMES, CHARLES A. KEEGAN, JAMES P. PARMENTER, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON,
Trustees.
LIBRARIAN'S STATEMENT.
LIBRARY HOURS.
SUNDAY. - Reading Room, 2.30 to 5.30 P. M.
MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. - Reading Room, 10 to 12 A. M., 1 to 6 and 7 to 9 P. M. Book Room, 1 to 6 P. M. Children's Room, 1 to 6 P. M.
WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY. - Reading Room, 10 to 12 A. M., and 1 to 9 P. M. Book Room, 1 to 9 P. M. Child- ren's Room, 1 to 6 P. M.
Library is closed on Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Seventeenth of June, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
LIBRARY HOURS, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS READING ROOM.
TUESDAY .AND SATURDAY. - 1.30 to 6, 7 to 9 P. M.
THURSDAY. - 3 to 6, 7 to 9 P. M.
Books left at the Reading Room on Tuesday and Saturday between the hours of 1.30 and 3.30 P. M. will be exchanged, and books will be ready for delivery from 7 to 9 P. M. of the same day.
Books not left at the Reading Room on or before 3.30 P. M. on the days when due will be subject to fine.
STATISTICS.
Number of volumes in the Library, Jan. 1, 1903, 17,980
" periodicals subscribed for, 71
108
LIBRARIAN'S STATEMENT.
Number of periodicals given, 12
60 " newspapers subscribed for, 7
" books added from Jan. 1, 1902, to Jan. 1, 1903, 799
" books and single copies of magazines loaned, including those sent to Arling- ton Heights, 43,914
Number loaned from Children's Room,
12,013
Number of magazines loaned,
1,971
Largest number of books and magazines delivered in one day, 412
Number not returned to the Library, from Jan. 1, 1902, to Jan. 1, 1903, 7
Average Sunday attendance of the Reading Room, 39
Average Sunday attendance of the Children's Room, 22
Average daily attendance of the Reading Room, 53
Average daily attendance of the Children's Room, 11 Number of new names registered during the year, 468 Total number of names registered, 6,360
Number of volumes in Arlington Heights Reading Room, Jan. 1, 1903, 368
Number not returned, from Jan. 1, 1902, to Jan. 1, 1903, 0
Number of periodicals subscribed for,
19
Number of books and magazines sent by basket from Centre in 1902, 3,486
Fines paid to the Town Treasurer in 1902, $224.85
Amount paid to the Town Treasurer for sale of catalogues, $6.40
109
LIBRARIAN'S STATEMENT.
LIST OF PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS.
Amateur Work. American Kitchen Magazine. American Monthly Review of Reviews. Architectural Record. Arena. Arlington High School Clar- ion.
Art Amateur. Atlantic Monthly. Bird Lore. Birds and Nature.
Book Buyer.
Bookman. Boston Cooking School Mag- azine.
Boston Public Library Bul- letin .* Brookline Library Bulletin .*
Cambridge Public Library Bulletin. *
Century. Chautauquan. Christian Endeavor World. Club Woman. Congressional Record. Cook's Excursionist. Cosmopolitan. Critic.
Cumulative Index. Current History. Educational Review. Etude.
Forum.
Good Housekeeping. Good Roads Magazine. Great Round World.
Handicraft. Harper's Bazar.
Harper's Monthly. Harper's Weekly. Harvard University Calen- dar. Historic Leaves. House Beautiful. Illustrated London News. Independent.
International Quarterly. Journal of Education. Journal of Ethics. Library Journal. Life.
Lippincott's Magazine. Literary News .* Literary World. Little Folks. Living Age. McClure's Magazine.
110
LIBRARIAN'S STATEMENT.
Masters in Art. Munsey's Magazine. Musical Courier.
Nation.
New England Homestead.
New England Magazine. Nineteenth Century.
North American Review.
Official Gazette, U. S. Pat- ent Office. *
Our Dumb Animals .* Outing.
Outlook.
Perry Magazine.
World's Work.
Photo Era.
Young Idea.
Popular Science Monthly.
Youth
Youth's Companion.
*Given to the Library.
NEWSPAPERS.
Arlington Advocate. Arlington Enterprise.
Boston Daily Advertiser.
Boston Evening Transcript.
New England Farmer.
New York Times, with Sat- urday Review of books and art.
Springfield Weekly Repub- lican.
Respectfully submitted,
ELIZABETH J. NEWTON, Librarian.
Arlington, December 31, 1902.
Scribner's Magazine. Spectator.
Studio.
Success.
Temple Bar.
Tuftonian. *
Tufts Weekly .*
Wilkes-Barre Osterhout Free Library Bulletin .*
Public Libraries.
St. Nicholas. Salem Public Library Bul- letin. *
Scientific American.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
December 31, 1902. To the Town of Arlington :-
Your several schools have been, characterized by excellent and efficient work the past year. No distinction is to be drawn between them, and so no special report is required of any of them. The matters contemplated at the beginning of the year have been attended to and the safety of the pupils has been pro- vided for by placing in each building suitable fire extinguishers. The additional property for the enlargement of the Locke School yard has been acquired. The matter of fitting the new grounds foruse as a playground will require the immediate attention of the Town.
In the Locke School one new room has been opened for the fifth grade, and Miss Gertrude Williams has been elected as the teacher. In the Cutter School a new room has been opened for the fourth grade, with Miss Caroline Young as the teacher. There is one room still vacant in the Cutter building, and this is the only vacant room in Town.
Two rooms have been furnished during the year, one, a new room at the Locke, the other a room at the Russell for the fifth and sixth grades.
Miss Newton has been granted a second year's leave of absence through the desire on the part of the Committee to have the High School, if possible, ultimately retain the benefit of her services. Miss Mary B. Lippincott is substituting for Miss Newton. Mr. M. W. Mather is substituting for Miss Cutler.
112
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Miss Laura M. Sylvester, a teacher of the ninth grade, has resigned and Miss Cora S. Burleigh has been elected in her place.
In the Crosby School, Miss Louise M. Wooster and Miss Hattie A. Snell have resigned, Miss Ethel Fletcher has been elected in Miss Wooster's place, and Mrs. Esther G. Hatch transferred from the first grade to the second grade taking Miss Snell's place. Miss Carolyn H. Parker has been elected teacher of the first grade.
In the Russell School the following changes have occurred : Miss Lena H. Abbott has resigned as master's assistant, and Miss Eleanor B. Mitchell has been elected in her place. Miss Mabel C. Pond has been transferred from the third to the sixth grade to take the place of Miss Carrie M. Poor, resigned. Miss Grace Osborne has been elected as teacher of the third grade.
During part of 1901, and the larger part of 1902, it has been necessary to employ an assistant in the first grades of the Crosby and Locke Schools, on account of the large number of pupils.
The manual training teacher is now employed three days per week. The time of his employment must be extended.
In the early summer the Committee voted to increase to $600 per year the salaries of all the grade teachers who had been in service more than two years, the increase to begin with the fall term.
The principals of the Crosby, Locke and Cutter Schools were voted an increase of salary of $100 each, beginning with the April term. The present salaries of these principals are each $850.
The Russell School is still under the principalship of the Superintendent. Full superintendency, as required by law, was given to Mr. Sutcliffe beginning with the fall term. His
113
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
entire services have been extraordinarily satisfactory, whether from the Committee's point of view or that of the teacher, parent and child. He still acts as Secretary of the Committee. In performing this work the Superintendent attends to the financial work of the Committee in all its details. This finan- cial work is a burden on him to such an extent that we believe it should not be borne much longer. His other, larger, and more important duties are a sufficient tax upon the energies of one person. It was hoped that in the adjustment and differen- tiation of the Town's work, the financial work of the Commit- tee, beyond the necessary approval of bills by the Board or its sub-committees, would be given to the person who would be selected to do other like work for the Town.
A very extraordinary and unexpected expenditure has been made for fuel the current year. The usual expenditure in this respect has more than doubled, and has prevented the Commit- tee from purchasing the usual year's supply, lasting till the end of the school year. It is fair to add here that all the janitors have performed their duties with the utmost fidelity in their efforts to hold in check the heating expenses.
Very little sickness has been manifested in the schools and no schools have been closed for that cause.
The grammar school buildings of the Town, which now include the first eight grades, are all located along the central line (a northwest and southeast line) of the Town. The dis- tances at all points from the sides of the Town to this central line of schools are not so great as to seriously inconvenience any pupils of nine or ten years of age or upwards. The proposition of the Committee unanimously entertained by them, was and is that outlying school buildings of three or four rooms each should be built as occasion might require on either side of this line for the accommodation near home of the pupils of the first four grades. These buildings rightly placed would give the needed relief for
114
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the expansion of the other grades in the grammar school build- ings. It is hardly conceivable that within the life of any of the proposed outlying buildings substitutions of eight-room buildings will be required. In case the future growth of the Town shall make it imperative to have a large building on either side of the Town, it by no means follows that the primary buildings should be abandoned. They should continue to serve the school population until their abandonment shall be required by reason of an insufficient number of pupils. It is believed to be a matter of good judgment that children of the first four years should be schooled apart from the other grades, and this wholly aside from the question of nearness of the school to the young child. If the matter of location of buildings and distribution of pupils were to be settled de novo, the common judgment would undoubtedly be against the gathering in one building or in one playground of hundreds of pupils comprising all the school ages, except so far as economy and lack of space might be con- trolling factors.
The plan of the Committee contemplated inexpensive but attractive wooden buildings, which the Committee thought would, with proper architectural skill and proper painting, be more in harmony with the surroundings in a residential district. The artistic aspect must be left to the taste of the Building Committees and the final judgment of the Town.
Education is not a matter of buildings or building materials. The teacher is the all important agent, and the individual, and not the class or grade, is the true school unit. Teaching is not like mechanical work where the material is all alike and the machinery to work it into shape is all alike. The teacher must have the time to assist at the right points the sometimes called dull pupils, and the sometimes called bright pupils must be allowed to go ahead with work which will properly exercise their faculties. Most pupils can do profitable and
115
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
even good work, with only a very little wisely-directed indi- vidual help. More attention to the individual and helpfulness for him, more opportunity to progress according to ability, and more opportunity for essential school work in school hours, will vastly improve the individual and the school.
The "effort" mark on the child's report-card should be among the first, if not the first to attract the parents' attention and approval. Except in the rarest cases the child who works will "win out" in the mastery of his subjects. It is very difficult however for the child to give attention to a matter where certain preliminary processes are in reality unknown to him, while a good boy or girl may speedily become trouble- some from a lack of sufficient subject matter to work upon.
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