USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > Town of Eastham Annual Report 1896-1912 > Part 3
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J. B. Steele, services as Overseer of Poor, 1897, 3 00
J. B. Steele, traveling expenses to Barnstable on acct. Peter Higgins, 3 00
I. H. Horton, Selectman, Registrar Voters and Elections, 50 00
I. H. Horton, stationery and stamps, 5 00
I. H. Horton, services as Overseer of Poor, 1897, 3 00
I. H. Horton, services as Board of Health, 50
I. H. Horton, traveling expenses to Barnstable on acct. of Peter Higgins, 3 00
I. H. Horton, record book, 40
I. H. Horton, telegram, express on town reports, 65
C. F. Horton, Teller at annual town meeting, Feb. 7, 1898, 1 50
Greenough, Adams & Cushing, record ink, 75
Geo. H. Clark, Auditor, 1897, 1 50
F. B. & F. P. Goss, printing town reports and town seal, 1897, 42 80
American Surety Co., N. Y., premium on bond Geo. T. Dill, 12 50
I. H. Horton, express on schedules and Assessors' book, 40
R. D. Wiley, Election Officer, special town meeting, May 31, 1898, 3 00
E. E. Knowles, Teller town meeting, 1897, 1 50
P. B. Murphy, Assessors' books, 1 40
Geo. H. Clark, Election Officer, special election May 31, 1898, 3 00
J. B. Steele, step for Town Hall, 1 50
N. P. Clark, assessing taxes, 1898, 35 00
J. B. Steele, assessing taxes, 1898. 35 00
American Surety Co., N. Y., premium on bond of R.
D. Wiley, 15 00
6
F. B. & F. P. Goss, tax bills and envelopes, R. D. Wiley, $2 30
I. H. Horton, assessing taxes, 1898, 35 00
M. R. Warren, collector book, 1 00
M. R. Warren, blanks, 42
Heman Smith, Ballot Clerk State Election, 1898, 1 50
S. T. Davis, registering 9 births, 1897, 1898, 2 25
Geo. H. Clark, services November election, 1898, 3 00
Wm. N. Stone, registering 2 births, 1898, 50
J. B. Steele, 18 death returns, 4 50
J. N. M. Hopkins, oaths and soldiers' monument, 3 25
J. N. M. Hopkins, Zara Higgins' cemetery lot, 1 00
Estate Jonathan Higgins, legal advice Geo. T. Dill, 10 00
Geo. T. Dill, stamps, notices, fare, 5 40
I. H. Horton, repairs on well, 90
E. Higgins, oaths and express, 2 45
A. D. Hatch, birth certificates, 1 00
J. B. Steele, copying valuation book, 7 50
I. H. Horton, special election, repairs town hall, ex- press, revenue stamp, copying valuation book, 11 85
N. P. Clark, special election, May 31, 1898, 3 00
E. Higgins, express, oaths, etc., 7 35
J. N. M. Hopkins, oaths, State Aid and Cattle In- spector, 1 50
A. F. Sherman, book of abstracts, 5 00
Mattie F. Snow, 2 tramps, 1 50
I. H. Horton, 1 tramp, 50
R. D. Wiley, Constable 1897,
10 00
R. D. Wiley, commission on $268.76 at 1 1-4 per cent. on 1897 taxes, 3 36
R. D. Wiley, commission on $159.44 at 1 1-4 per cent. on 1897 taxes, 1 99
R. D. Wiley, commission on $901.79 at 1 1-2 per cent. on 1898 taxes, 13 52
R. D. Wiley, stamps, non-residents, 3 50
R. D. Wiley, commission on $554.00 at 1 1-2 per cent. on 1898 taxes, 8 31
R. D. Wiley, stamps and stationery, 1 00
7
R. D. Wiley, commission on $104.57 at 1 1-4 per cent. on 1897 taxes. $1 31
R. D. Wiley, commission on $819.14 at 1 1-2 per cent. on 1898 taxes, -
12 29
A. L. Brewer, janitor Town Hall, 20 70
$587 99
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES.
Orders drawn on account of schools, $1,761 40
For details see School Committee's Report.
POOR.
Paid W. A. Moore, for board Caleb Sparrow, $182 00
W. A. Moore, for board Deborah Doane, 156 00
Brackett Bros., supplies, Caleb Sparrow, 3 90
Geo. H. Clark, pills and tobacco, Caleb Sparrow, 11 05
A. D. Hatch, attendance and medicine, Caleb Sparrow, 3 00
F. M. Smith, wrapper for Deborah Doane, 1 00
C. Anderson, board and supplies, Louisa Sparrow, 125 08
Geo. H. Clark, supplies, William Dill, 24 09
James S. Dill, care and support, William Dill and wife, 121 00
J. B. Steele, supplies, William Dill, 80
J. B: Steele, burial expenses, William Dill and wife, 44 00
A. D. Hatch, medicine and attendance, William Dill and wife, 22 00
S. T. Davis, medicine furnished William Dill, 1 25
Levina Lacount, labor for William Dill, 1 00
Almira A. Lewis, nursing and boarding William Dill and wife, 97 00
·
8
Paid C. F. Horton, beef, William Dill, $4 61 67
L. A. Hopkins, straw, William Dill, Rosaltha Smith, services and garments furnished Mrs. William Dill, 6 62
$805 07
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Paid John Fulcher, for widening and straightening road,
$96 90
John Fulcher, for labor on roads,
159 98
John Fulcher, for labor on bridge, 36 17
John Fulcher, for labor on snow,
80
W. H. Nickerson, labor and material for roads,
142 90
W. H. Nickerson, labor on snow,
2 35
W. H. Nickerson, labor on bridge,
23 35
W. T. Horton, labor and material for roads,
135 19
W. T. Horton, labor on snow,
14 90
$612 54
STATE AID.
Paid Warren H. Runnels, state aid,
$28 00
Ellen M. Pattison, state aid, 28 00
$56 00
CATTLE INSPECTOR.
Paid R. H. Horton, Cattle Inspector, $78 70
9
RECAPITULATION.
Paid Miscellaneous Expenses,
$587 99
School Expenses,
1,761 40
For Support of Poor,
805 07
Roads, Bridge, and Snow,
612 54
Cattle Inspector,
78 70
State Aid,
56 00
$3,901 70
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN, JAN. 1, 1899.
RESOURCES.
Due from Collector of Taxes, 1895,
$22 48
1896,
103 24
1897,
208 96
66
1898,
894 05
Note of Snow Y. Higgins,
20 01
66
Heman S. Gill, 62 15
Due on account State Aid,
56 00
Due on account Cattle Inspector,
29 00
Cash in Treasury,
965 32
$2,361 41
LIABILITIES.
Due soon on Schools,
$90 00
Due Town Officers,
250 00
Balance in favor of town,
2,021 41
·
$2,361 41
TRUST FUND.
Zara Higgins' cemetery legacy, $50 00
Respectfully submitted,
I. H. HORTON, J. B. STEELE, N. P. CLARK,
Selectmen of Eastham.
10
ROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
Expended on roads and bridges in Dist. No. 1, JOHN FULCHER, Road Commissioner :
John Fulcher,
$84 81
E. D. Fulcher,
30 74
H. Smith,
15 00
Sylvanus Freeman,
22 16
A. E. Doane,
64
A. L. Walker,
25
Willie Chase,
30
Sylvanus Knowles,
3 64
T. K. Paine,
2 24
F. W. Smith,
1 28
Chester Myrick,.
10
Hinckley Lincoln,
21 48
Abner L. Rogers,
20 48
Wallace Smith,
15 36
Asa Stubbs,
12 80
Frank Wiley,
8 00
Allen Young,
12 80
Clarington Smith,
4 80
$256 88
Expended on Bridge :
John Fulcher,
$20 70
Fulcher Bros., iron work,
1 50
" 224 ft. plank,
3 25
A. T. Newcomb,
72
A. Walker, labor,
5 00
Orien Higgins,
5 00
$36 17
Paid for clearing snow :
Asa Stubbs,
$0 20
Absalom L. Walker,
60
$0 80
11
Expended on roads in Dist. No. 2, W. H. NICKERSON, Commis- sioner :
W. H. Nickerson,
$17 56
R. H. Horton,
9 44
W. Moore,
9 84
H. Smith,
7 84
S. Y. Higgins,
9 88
W. Cole,
7 44
Horton Nickerson,
7 84
H. A. Nickerson, 6 72
W. Horton,
6 24
C. Horton,
16 94
G. Moore,
6 10
H. Moore,
2 90
J. Rogers,
9 90
W. Dill,
2 00
C. Chase,
2 50
T. C. Nickerson, 465 loads loam,
9 30
Mrs. Chipman Mayo, 183 loads loam,
3 86
N. P. Clark,
1 00
A. Cole,
1 60
I. Lecount,
1 00
M. D. Nickerson,
1 00
$142 90
Paid for clearing snow :
N. Clark,
$0 40
W. Horton Nickerson,
40
H. A. Nickerson,
40
R. Horton,
40
C. Horton,
75
$2 35
Expended on Bridge :
W. H. Nickerson,
$18 75
I. Lecount,
4 60
$23 35
12
Expended on roads in Dist. No. 3, W. T. HORTON, Road Com- missioner :
J. M. Dill,
$4 80
Howard Gill,
4 80
John Horton,
4 80
J. H. Horton,
8 20
O. W. Horton,
6 92
W. T. Horton,
18 24
R. D. Wiley,
7 20
Hiram Snow,
4 80
Addin Gill,
4 80
Frank J. Brewer,
3 00
Frank P. Brewer,
1 00
Overy Brown,
3 00
T. K. Gill,
3 00
H. K. Harding,
3 00
William Steele,
3 20
Harry Turner,
4 20
Fred Gill,
2 00
Russel Higgins,
3 52
A. K. Higgins,
3 52
Fred Fulcher,
3 52
Peter Higgins,
3 70
Frank Ellison,
1 50
Frank Daniels,
1 00
James Hinckley,
2 20
Henry Hinckley,
1 50
L. A. Hopkins,
2 20
Eben Holway,
2 20
Frank Lee,
70
Charles Hopkins,
70
Hiram Snow, for hardening,
1 92
Frank P. Brewer,
2 64
W. T. Horton,
15 04
Peter Higgins,
2 37
$135 19
13
Paid for clearing snow :
W. T. Horton,
$2 60
R. D. Wiley,
1 40
Frank Daniels,
1 40
H. K. Harding,
1 00
Fred F. Dill,
1 40
T. K. Gill,
1 30
H. S. Gill,
90
Addin Gill,
1 00
Jesse E. Brewer,
1 30
W. B. Higgins,
1 20
William Steele,
1 40
$14 90
GUIDE BOARDS.
Guide boards in good repair.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN FULCHER,
W. T. HORTON, W. H. NICKERSON,
Road Commissioners of Eastham.
14
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Treasurer's report, from Jan. 1, 1898, to Jan. 1, 1899 :
RECEIPTS.
1898.
Jan. 1. Cash in Treasury,
$1,193 66
25. Received income of Mass. School Fund, 481 28
Apr. 1. Received of C. Chase for pedler's license, 3 00
May 28. Received of P. Higgins for slaughtering li- cense, 1 00
June 28. Received rebate from State on account of Supt. of Schools' salary, 163 05
28. Received rebate from State on account of Inspector of Animals, 24 60
July 1. Received of Cape Cod National Bank $500, less discount for three months, 492 50
30. Received of F. A. Collins for slaughtering license, 1 00
Oct. 3. Received of J. L. Snow for pedler's license, 3 00
3. Received fines from Second District Court for quarter ending Sept. 30, 1898,
1 34
3. Received of C. F. Horton for butcher's li- cense, 1 00
Dec. 10. Received Corporation Tax, $223 89
National Bank Tax, 86 06
State Aid, ' 64 00
66 Rebate on Teachers' sal- ary, 162 00
1 6 Rebate from State on ac-
count of tuition paid town of Orleans, 132 00
667 95
22. Received of J. B. Steele for auctioneer's li- cense, 2 00
31. Received of J. B. Steele for use of hearse for 1898, 4 50
15
Dec. 31. Received Dog Tax refunded, $58 12
31. Received of O. W. Horton, Collector, on account of taxes on 1895, 16 07
31. Received of O. W. Horton, Collector, on account of taxes on 1896, 72 26
31. Received of R. D. Wiley, Collector, on ac- count of taxes on 1897, 481 90
31. Received of R. D. Wiley, Collector, on ac- count of taxes on 1898, 2,413 03
31. Received of A. L. Brewer for rent of Town Hall, 1898, 28 75
31. Received of L. B. Dill for butcher's license, 1 00
31. Received of H. S. Gill on note, 2 13
31. Received of S. Y. Higgins on note, 2 12
31. Received from Zara Higgins' cemetery lega- cy, amount expended by town on lot, 3 00
$6,118 26
EXPENDITURES.
1898.
Paid 201 orders from the Selectmen,
$3,901 70
Sept. 25. Paid Cape Cod National Bank of Harwich, note, 500 00
Nov. 10. Paid County Tax,
403 59
Dec. 10. Paid State Tax,
180 00
Paid bounty on 27 crows killed in Jan., '98, 13 50
Aug. 29. Paid per order of Second District Court, 21 40
Dec. 31. Paid Public Library, Dog Tax refunded, 58 12
Paid Public Library from money on hand as per vote of town, 50 00
Taxes abated on 1897, 24 43
1899. Jan. 1. Cash in Treasury, 965 52
$6,118 26
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. T. DILL, Treasurer.
16
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
I, the undersigned, Auditor of the town of Eastham, have this day examined the accounts and vouchers of the Selectmen and Treasurer, together with the foregoing statement, and find them to be correct.
GEORGE H. CLARK, Auditor.
Eastham, Jan. 17, 1899.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The trustees of the Public Library respectfully submit the fol- lowing report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1898 :
TREASURER'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
1898.
Jan. 2. Cash in treasury,
$14 91
Mar. 17. Received of J. A. Clark for book-cases sold, 16 00
28. Received premium on insurance policy, 4 00
Dec. 16. Received from the town, 50 00
31. Received Dog Tax refunded, 58 12
$143 03
EXPENDITURES.
1898.
Jan. 5. Paid G. H. Clark for coal, $1 86
Feb. 26. Paid J. A. Clark on account of books pur- chased of Orange Judd & Co., 2 00
26. Paid I. H. Horton on account of notices in regard to Library, 1 75
Mar. 12. Paid J. A. Clark for magazines, 5 15
17
Apr. 10. Paid G. H. Clark for coal, $2 07
Nov. 18. Paid Mrs. Herbert Clark, for Librarian's services, 25 00
Dec. 22. Paid Geo. H. Clark for coal, 1 81
31. Paid J. A. Clark for books purchased, 33 68
31. Cash in Treasury, 69 71
$143 03
GEO. T. DILL, Treasurer.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
Number of books in Library,
1,351
taken out during the year, 1,305
Persons taking out books, 80
Largest number books taken out at one time,
53
Average number out each week,
25
Number of new books added during the year,
32
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1898,
$0 93
Received from sale of catalogues,
50
66 Fines,
4 20
$5 63
Paid for mucilage, etc.,
$0 94
Labels,
55
Step-ladder,
1 25
Kerosene and can,
61
For washing floor,
75
4 10
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1899, $1 53
MRS. HERBERT C. CLARK, Librarian.
The Trustees acknowledge with thanks the gift of a large num- ber of books from the North Eastham private Library.
J. A. CLARK, JAMES SAVAGE, MRS. I. H. HORTON,
Trustees.
E-2
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, OF THE
TOWN of EASTHAM,
MASSACHUSETTS, FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1898.
OF EA
TOWN
INC
HAUSET 1620.
1651
HYANNIS, MASS. : F. B. & F. P. GOSS, PUBLISHERS AND PRINTERS. The "Patriot" Press. 1899.
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION.
School Committee.
FREEMAN A. COLLINS, A. MAY KNOWLES,
Term expires 1899 1899
MRS. WINSLOW HORTON,
1900
RUSSELL D. WILEY,
1900
GEO. T. DILL,
1901
CHESTER F. HORTON,
1901
District Superintendent. S. HOWARD CHACE. Organization for 1898.
A. MAY KNOWLES, Chairman. GEO. T. DILL, Secretary. Sub-Committees.
On repairs, fuel and hiring janitors :
South School, FREEMAN A. COLLINS.
Center School, GEO. T. DILL. North School, RUSSELL D. WILEY. On visiting schools and supplies : CHAIRMAN and MRS. WINSLOW HORTON.
Truant Officers.
RUSSELL D. WILEY, CHESTER F. HORTON, FREEMAN A. COLLINS. Corps of Teachers.
ALICE F. SEARS, IDA M. CLARK, ETHEL T. DYER.
North Eastham Mixed Center Eastham Mixed South Eastham Mixed
Janitors.
MERTIE M. DANIELS,
BLANCHE A. BREWER,
MRS. HATTIE RYDER,
North School Center School South School
Pupils attending the Orleans High School.
EDITH M. SMITH, AMY D. SMITH,
RUTH K. SMITH, LIZZIE C. HURD,
EVA L. COLLINS.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of the Town of Eastham :
The School Committee herewith submit their annual re- port which is followed by the Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
Acting upon the advice of the Superintendent, the com- mittee have had the out-buildings, at each of the schools, moved back from the school houses and repaired. A cis- teru has been made at the South school, the flag pole re- paired at the Center school and several minor repairs made at each of the schools.
The South school house needs a new floor, several new windows and the underpinning repaired. The Center school house needs to be reshingled. The committee recommend that an appropriation be made for these repairs; the amount to be raised will be found in the estimate of the amount of money needed to carry on the schools for the year.
ESTIMATE OF AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS FOR 1899.
Teachers' salaries,
$918 00
Janitors' wages,
90 00
Superintendent's salary,
35 00
Apparatus, text-books, etc.,
125 00
Fuel,
120 00
Incidentals,
35 00
22
Repairs-laying new floor, putting in new windows,
and repairing underpinning at South school house, $115 00 Reshingling Center school house, 35 00
Usual minor repairs, 25 00
Total amount needed for support of schools,
$1,498 00
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS.
Appropriation,
$900 00
Received from State, School Fund,
481 28
Received rebate on Superintendent's salary,
163 05
Teachers' salary,
162 00
Tuition paid to Orleans,
132 00
Balance of State School Fund from 1897,
62 10
Amount due for tuition of non-resident pupils,
10 80
$1,911 23
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Warren M. Dutton, Superintendent,
$48 90
S. Howard Chace,
143 99
Ethel T. Dyer,
370 00
Eveline W. Weekes,
210 00
Ida M. Clark,
120 00
Alice F. Sears,
360 00
Janitors' services,
47 33
For fuel,
90 65
For cleaning and painting,
28 40
For school books and supplies,
91 88
For repairs,
79 18
For sundries,
39 07
For tuition to town of Orleans,
132 00
Total,
$1,761 40
23
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Amount on hand Dec. 31, 1898,
$61 25
Books and supplies purchased,
91 88
$153 13
Amount furnished schools,
$128 13
" on hand, 25 00
RECAPITULATION.
Available for schools, $1,911 23
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Superintendent's Salary,
$192 89
Teachers' Salaries,
1,060 00
Janitors' services,
47 33
For fuel,
90 65
For cleaning,
28 40
For books and supplies,
91 88
For repairs,
79 18
For sundries,
39 07
For tuition to town of Orleans,
132 00
Balance State School Fund,
149 83
$1,911 23
Respectfully submitted,
A. MAY KNOWLES, FREEMAN A. COLLINS,
MRS. WINSLOW HORTON, RUSSELL D. WILEY,
GEO. T. DILL, CHESTER HORTON,
Committee.
STATISTICS.
Whole number of children in town between 5 years and 15 years of age, May 1st, 1898, 70 Whole number between 8 years and 14 years, 40
24
Whole number of different pupils in the schools during the year,
76
Number under 5 years of age,
1
between 5 years and 15 years of age, 68
over 15 years of age,
2
STATISTICS OF ATTENDANCE, 1898.
NAME
.
·
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Percentage of Attendance
Half-day Absences
Tardy Marks
Dismissals
16
2
1
1
6
North
Winter 23 21.6 Spring Fall 22 17.4 22 17.7
18.2
84.2 89.8
222
14
7
7
2
0
6
Year
26 18.9
16.4
87.3
889
50
29
14
4
6
15
Winter
24 21.35
18.95
88.76
219
39
10
9
2
3
3
Center
Spring Fall
26,25.592
24.30
94.95
155
21
27
-1
3
7 19
Year
25,23.07
20.85
90.13
730
69 42 27
8 10.23
Winter
20|17.08
15.72
92.
164
19
3
7
2 6 20
South
Spring Fall
20 18.86
17.89
94.8
117
11
0
9
2
0
3
Year
24 18.87
17.75
93.9
406
41
5
26
5
11|43
All Schools
Winter Spring Fall
67 60.03
52.87
88.32
794
82 29
18
5 10 29
71 60.65
54.84
90.46
703
34 14 28
6 5 27
68 61.852
57.49
92.55
528
44,33 21
6 12 25
Year
75 60.84
55.0
90.44
2025 160 76 67 17 27 81
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
·
.
·
.
.
OF
.
.
Visits by Superintendent
Visits by Committee
Visits by Parents
Visits by Others
Term
Enrollment
15.3
87.9
256
12
6
5
1
5
3
26 22.27
19.30
86.69
356
9
5
11
3
0
1
23 20.68
19.64
94.9
125
11
2|10
1
5|20
.
.
.
SCHOOL
.
15.9
411
24
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
School Committee of Eastham:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit herewith my first annual report upon the condition of the schools of your town.
Although school reports are addressed to the School Committee, I realize that they are really reports to the town's people and shall treat this as such.
The general condition of your schools is fairly satisfac- tory. The teachers are working faithfully and are earnest in their desire to improve their schools in every way possi- ble.
One evidence of their earnestness is the fact that they have formed a teachers' association and meet every two weeks on Saturday afternoon.
One of the great hindrances to progressive work in our schools is the enforced isolation of our teachers, which tends to deaden their ambition and to cause them to follow a dull routine in their school work.
These meetings on Saturday afternoons will tend to coun- teract the effects of geographical isolation and will improve and encourage the teachers by an opportunity to exchange ideas.
I found the schools were following the course of study prepared by Supt. Dutton, though some difficulties were necessarily experienced from the fact that the work of the schools had previously been less definitely directed. Adopt-
26
ing a course of study and insisting that it be followed will greatly improve the efficiency of our schools.
With the help of the tests given last June, the pupils were graded as well as was possible under the circumstan- ces. This year we shall be able to more accurately deter- mine each pupil's fitness for promotion. Teachers are to give pupils credit for their work each week, and toward the end of the spring term the Superintendent will give exami- nations based upon the course of study. (See latter part of Eastham Town Report of 1897.)
It is essential to good schools that pupils should satis- factorily complete the studies of one grade before attempt- ing to struggle with those of a higher grade.
During the summer vacation a catalogue of all books and apparatus in the schools was prepared and a hektograph copy of the same given to each teacher, in order that she might know the full resources of the town in these respects and might make use of all that was available.
At the end of each week the teachers send to the Super- intendent a report upon attendance and such other matters as should be brought to his attention. The Superintendent returns to them a report which compares and ranks the at- tendance in all the schools of the district and also gives general notices and directions which apply to the entire district. This plan has been of great assistance in keeping the Superintendent in touch with all the schools and in in- creasing the interest and relations of the schools to each other.
Teachers have been asked to keep an account of all books used by pupils and to insist that at least the newer books be covered. These requests were made in order that child- ren might feel a greater responsibility for the care of town property. The free text-book and supply system, unless carefully supervised by the teachers, may lead to the for- mation of habits of extravagance and of wastefulness of the property of others.
27
The public visiting days which were instituted last De- cember, bid fair to be a success throughout the district. It was unfortunate that a severe storm marred the success of the only one held in Eastham thus far. The first Friday of . each month is devoted to a review of the work done during the month in each study. This furnishes the public an ex- cellent opportunity to see the regular work of the school and to note its progress. Parents, in particular, are urged to visit the schools. If they would do so, and would con- verse freely with the teachers, and with their own senses compare the work of their children with the work of others in the school, our whole educational system would be won- derfully stimulated. I call attention to the small number of visits by parents compared with the number of visits by others, as is shown in the last two columns of the table of school statistics in this report.
The most unsatisfactory feature in the Eastham schools is the general irregularity in attendance. This is a very important matter, for upon attendance depends in large measure, the success of the entire school system. Further- more, there is no habit more important for a boy or girl than that of prompt and regular attendance at school. The boy who attends school irregularly would not be highly recommended for his prospects of becoming a man who would be diligent and faithful in business. All the ab- sences have not been caused by illness. I fear that some parents do not fully appreciate their duty towards their children in respect to school attendance. One evidence of this is the amount of visiting which must (?) be done while schools are in session. While I do not believe in the employment of force except in extreme cases, yet I believe it is essential to the best interests of our schools that the truant officers of the town of Eastham interview and, if necessary, prosecute any person guilty in the future of wil- ful or unnecessary violation of the laws of the State of Massachusetts which relate to school attendance. Copies
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of the laws were distributed to the pupils during the fall term, and they also appear in this report, so that pupils and parents may understand what is required of them.
Under the law of 1898, truant officers are to inquire into all cases brought to their attention by teachers or Superin- tendent, are to serve processes, and carry into execution judg- ments thereunder. They are empowered to act directly, upon their own responsibility, and are not required to act "under direction of the School Committee," as formerly. Teachers have been asked to notify the truant officer of all absences which do not satisfy the spirit of the law, and they should be held responsible by the School Committee for the faith- ful performance of their duty in this particular. I believe that absence should count against promotion, not only be- cause no pupil who is absent can have learned as much as one who has attended school and is therefore less entitled to promotion, but because if this recommendation were adopted, pupils would realize that absence had a direct ef- fect upon their chances for promotion, and in consequence they would be more careful about their attendance.
I wish to bear testimony to the faithful work of the jani- tor at the Center school. I always find the building in ex- cellent condition and see evidences that it is also economi- cally cared for. There has been an improvement at the South school during the present term.
I suggest that you pay the janitors better wages and then insist that the buildings be properly cared for. It is essen- tial to the formation of habits of cleanliness and order that the school room and its environment be clean and well-kept.
It is to be hoped that the appropriation for next year will be sufficient to allow the purchase of some much needed desk-books for the assistance of our teachers. If teachers were supplied with books which offer suggestions and ad- vice regarding the best methods of teaching the several sub- jects, I believe we should get better results at less expendi- ture than we will by the change of text-books which may
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have certain unsatisfactory features. This plan is particu- larly necessary in Eastham where the topical method of studying History and Geography is followed.
Your Committee should be highly commended for the se- lection of Miss Ida M. Clark to teach the Center school. The school is in excellent condition. Miss Clark seems to possess in an eminent degree two qualities which are essen- tial to the success of a teacher, viz: The power to appreci- ate the needs of individual pupils while at the same time. keeping in view the requirements of the whole school. The first is essential to thoroughness, the second to progress.
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