Town of Eastham Annual Report 1923-1931, Part 19

Author: Eastham (Mass.)
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: the Town
Number of Pages: 1062


USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > Town of Eastham Annual Report 1923-1931 > Part 19


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520 00


Reserve Fund


300 00


Certification of Notes


25 00


Town Fires


100 00


Inspection of Wiring


50 00


$23,221 42


68


To authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipa- tion of revenue of the municipal year beginning Jan. 1, 1928 in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate the sum of $16,000.00, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable in one year. Any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.


To appropriate the sum of $10.00 for the observance of Memorial Day and for the purchase of flags for Soldiers' and Sailors' Lots and Monument Grounds. To be under di- rection of the Supervisor of Soldiers' and Sailors' Lots.


To appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the use of the Orleans Fire Department when called to Eastham building fires.


To appropriate the sum of $50.00 for the purchase of forest fire apparatus, to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen.


Not to rescind the vote whereby the Town voted to put the regulation of the shellfish industry in the hands of the Selectmen.


To use the balance of revenue from the shellfish permits after cost of policing the shellfish industry has been paid from said revenue, for the purpose of planting shellfish seed, provided the Town of Orleans will spend a like amount for that purpose in waters of said Orleans, the Selectmen to have supervision of planting said shellfish seed in Eastham.


To pay a flat salary of $1,500.00 per year for the offices of Town Clerk, Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, with


69


office of same to be in the Town Hall, office hours from 9 to 12 A. M. and from 1 to 5 P. M. each week day, Monday excepted.


To increase the salary of the Chairman of Selectmen to $600.00 per year.


To appropriate the sum of $600.00 for the purpose of extending the Kingsbury Beach road to the West Shore or such part of said road as the amount stated above will build, provided the owners of the land will deed to the Town 1/4 acre of said land for a turntable at a point on the said road. The money to be expended under the direction of the Road Surveyor. The site of the turntable to be left to the judg- ment of the Town Landing Committee.


To put a ceiling in the Manual Training room at the school and appropriate the sum of $200.00 for that purpose.


To appropriate the sum of $100.00, the same to be paid to the State Department of Conservation as the Town of Eastham's contribution toward the payment of the Fire Observation Tower at South Wellfleet.


Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted on Article 27 that the Town appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the purchase of the land of the Village Improvement Society. so-called, of Eastham, as deeded to the Trustees thereof, by two deeds, one of which is from Seth Knowles et als to the Trustees of the Village Improvement Society, recorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds in Book 246 Page 137. and the other from James B. Steele to the Trustees of said Village Improvement Society, recorded in Barnstable County Registry of Deeds in Book 352 Page 448.


70


together with the "Old Wind Grist Mill" standing thereon ; this appropriated sum of $500.00 being conditional, however, upon the return to the Town of Eastham under some form of trust agreement running to the Selectmen of Eastham and their successors in office as trustees of this appropriated $500.00, which shall be held in the form of a sinking fund, so-called, to be created in said trust agreement, the principal always to remain unexpended, but the income from said $500.00 fund, or any part thereof, to be expended annually, if necessary, for the proper care and upkeep of said "Old Wind Grist Mill" and the land mentioned in the two deeds above referred to, or the income to be allowed to accumulate as unexpended income, which unexpended income shall not in any event be considered as principal, and may be used at any time that necessity should require in the said care, upkeep, preservation and repairs of said "Old Wind Grist Mill" and the land referred to in said deeds.


Voted :


To build fences around the Town Dumps. It was also voted to instruct the Road Surveyor and Fire Warden to burn the contents of said Dumps once each month or oftener if necessary. Appropriated $200.00 for fencing the said Town Dumps and for signs directing the way to the Dumps.


To lay out a road from the State Highway westerly ap- proximately 2580 to the Herring Pond road, so-called, passing through land of Seth Knowles, Freeman C. Hatch, Irwin R. McKoy, Abbott S. Knowles and others and to appropriate the sum of $300.00 for grading and otherwise putting the road-bed in shape. The grading to be put out at contract under the direction of the Selectmen.


71


To pay a bounty of $1.00 for each woodchuck killed within the limits of the Town and appropriate the sum of $75.00 for the same.


To leave the matter of establishing a Town Forest in the hands of the Selectmen as a committee.


Voted to pay the moderator $10.00 for his services at this meeting.


SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, SEPT. 19, 1928


Elected :


Fred F. Dill, Moderator.


Voted :


To appropriate the sum of $300.00 to be applied to the Reserve Fund.


Motion to accept the layout of a road as surveyed, pro- vided the land owners relinquish all claims for damage, was not carried (State Highway to old Camp Ground through land of Freeman C. Hatch and others.)


Motion to accept road as laid out by the Selectmen carried unanimously.


Voted to pay the Moderator $3.00 for his services at this meeting.


72


SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, DEC. 28, 1928


Elected :


Fred F. Dill, Moderator.


Fred F. Dill, Chairman, reported for the Town Land- ing Committee, explaining the different enlargements of existing Town Landings as proposed by the Committee.


Voted :


To reject the report of the Town Landing Committee relative to enlargements of Town Landings.


To reject the layout of the Salt Pond Road, so-called, as laid out by the Selectmen.


To reject the layout of a road from Aspinet Road to the sea, as laid out by the Selectmen.


To accept that section of the road in Article 4, as laid out by the Selectmen, running from the Steele and Geertz Road to the sea in a westerly direction.


To accept the layout of the road at Mulford's Cliff as laid out by the Selectmen,


Voted to pay the Moderator $5.00 for his services at this meeting.


LESLIE E. CHASE.


Town Clerk.


73


Public Library


TREASURER'S REPORT


Receipts


Jan. 1, 1928, Cash in Treasury $134 55 Jan. 9, 1928, New England Trust Co., Dividend $350 00


Feb. 18, 1928, Blanche A. Keefe, Librarian, fines 15 00


July 11, 1928, New England Trust Co., Dividend 350 00


Dec. 20, 1928, Town Appropriation 25 00


Dec. 20, 1928, Timothy Smith Fund 100 00


Dec. 29, 1928, W. B. Higgins, Sale of Engine 15 00


855 00


$989 55


Expenditures


Orders of Trustees $764 88


Dec. 31, 1928, Cash in Treasury 224 67


$989 55


LESLIE E. CHASE, Treasurer.


74


TRUSTEES' REPORT


The Trustees hereby respectfully submit their report for the year 1928.


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Robert C. Billings Fund $14,000 00


RECEIPTS


Jan. 1, 1928 Cash in treasury $134 55


Jan. 9, 1928 New Eng. Trust Co. Dividend 350 00


Feb. 18, 1928 Blanche A. Keefe, Librarian fines 15 00


July 11, 1928 New Eng. Trust Co. Dividend


350 00


Dec. 20, 1928 Town Appropriation 25 00


Dec. 20, 1928 Timothy Smith Fund 100 00


Dec. 29, 1928 W. B. Higgins, Sale of Engine


15 00


$989 55


EXPENDITURES


Orders of Trustees $764 88


Dec. 31, 1928 Cash in Treasury 224 67


$989 55


ARTHUR W. PARNELL, SARAH A. SMITH, HARRIETT E. KNOWLES,


Trustees.


75


EXPENDITURES


1928


Feb. 9, A. W. Parnell, conveying books $35 00


Feb. 9, Cape & Vineyard Electric Co., for light 1 05


Feb. 9, W. G. Smith, insurance 11 75


Feb. 13, Emma L. Garrison, Atlantic Monthly 4 00


Feb. 20, R. S. Hopkins, three globes 3 00


Feb. 20, H. T. Moore, raising and lowering topmast 8 00


Feb. 21, W. G. Smith, insurance 9 23


Mar. 8, B. A. Keeke, Librarian and extra work 46 90


Mar. 23, Book of Month Club 2 60


Apr. 9,


Cape & Vineyard Electric Co., light 2 55


Apr. 9. H. W. Collins, load of wood 5 00


Apr. 27, Blanche A. Keefe, Librarian and Services 42 50


May 5, Cape & Vineyard Electric Co., light 60


May 5, Ryder's Inc., for books


151 09


May 21, Blanche A. Keefe, cleaning rearranging books 8 00


May 29, Mrs. J. W. Ryder, care of books for year


5 00


May 29, Wellfleet Market, three tons of coal


54 00


June 15, Ryder's Inc., for books


1 50


June 2, Library of Cong., printed cards


17 79 60


June 12, Cape & Vineyard Electric Co.


June 30, B. A. Keefe, service, extra work


47 50


July 26, Ralph Rogers, lumber and labor


4 56


Aug. 1, F. J. Barnard, Inc.


32 00


Aug. 1, Cape & Vineyard Electric Co.


30


Aug. 27, Brackett & Young, varnish, etc.,


1 32


Aug. 30, B. A. Keefe, services


45 70


Sept. 10, Emma M. Garrison, magazines


8 00


Sept. 10, Cape & Vineyard Electric Co.


30


Oct. 3, B. A. Keefe, expense to Library Club 5 32


76


Oct. 3, Emma M. Garrison, Good Housekeeping, 2 years 4 00


Oct. 13, Arthur H. Knowles, caning chair


2 00


Oct. 18, Ryders, Inc., book


1 87


Oct. 18,


Cape & Vineyard Electric Co.


60


Oct. 19, W. G. Smith, insurance


4 55


Nov. 1, Emma M. Garrison; magazines


50 75


Nov. 1, Geographical Magazine


3 00


Nov. 1, B. A. Keefe, services


45 00


Nov. 8, Cape & Vineyard Electric Co.


90


Dec. 3, Cape & Vineyard Electric Co.


1 05


Dec. 31, Geo. Hardwick, janitor


50 00


Dec. 29, D. W. Sparrow, wood


3 50


Dec. 29, B. A. Keefe, services


42 50


$764 88


77


Librarian's Report


January 1. 1928, Cash on hand


$14 31


Received from fines 26 56


Received for damaged books


1 50


Received for old magazines


86


Total


$43 23


Paid out :


Express, and carting on books $5 03


Library supplies 5 16


Stationery, stamps, postage on


books and incidentals 3 09


Paid to treasurer out of fines


10 00


23 28


Cash on hand, January 1, 1929 $19 95


Total number of books in library, Jan. 1, 1928 6,291


Number discarded 29


6,262


Added during the year : Adult by purchase 82 Adult by gift 3


Juvenile by purchase


37


Juvenile by gift


16


Total of books, January 1, 1929


6.400


78


Circulation :


Adult fiction


4,577


Adult non-fiction


207


Adult magazines


707


Juvenile fiction


2,077


Juvenile non-fiction


381


Juvenile magazines


122


Total for the year


8,071


ACCESSIONS TO LIBRARY


Adult


West Wind


Deynard's Divorce (given)


Your Money's Worth


Changing Road


Light Beyond


Squealer


Black Sheep's Gold .


Look Out Girl


Boss of Tumbling H.


Daughter of the Sun


Flambeau Jim


Claire Ambler


Green Murder Case


Hue and Cry


Luckiest Lady


Eight Bells


Chivalry Peak


Confetti (short stories)


Drake's Quest


C. Garsti E. Goodwich Chase and Schlink McGrath Oppenheim Wallace Grimshaw Alice Colver F. Robinson


J. Gregory F. Spearman Tarkington VanDine P. Wentworth Ayers Waters


I. Cobb S. Kerr C. Rogers


79


Bellamy Trial Hardican's Hollow Crimson Roses


Second Honeymoon Ginger Ella


Emily's Quest Peggy by Request


Gay Year


Good Indian


Lady of Pentlands


Miss Nobody from Nowhere


Anne Belinda


Kitty


Padlocked


Planter of the Tree


More than Wife


Emerald Trails


Knights of the Desert


Mysterious Disappearance


Flash, the Lead Dog


Conflict Coming the Rose


L. Tracy Marsh O. Prouty E. Shephard


Delia Demonstrates Desert Hawk


Steadfast Heart


Morning Thunder


Cloudy in the West Lie


B. Braley H. Drago Kelland N. Bartley W. White H. Martin Rinehart R. Chambers


Tempermental People


Sun-hawk


Shores of Romance Pluck


Snowdrift


Cat's Eye


F. Hart J. Fletcher G. Lutz Hill Ayers E. Huestou Montgomery E. Dell D. Spear E. J. Rath E. Jordon E. Jordon


P. Wentworth W. Deeping Beach Ayers M. Widder J. Gregory W. Hoffman


G. Gibbs B. King J. Hendryk R. Freeman


80


Night Operator


Trumpeter Swan


Trail to Yesterday Points West


Love and the Ladies


Colorado


Hearthstones


Lion's Skin


Adam Chasers


Amarilis


President is Born


Red Rust


Life and I


Better Country


What Can a Man Believe


Trader Horn


Dark Road


Lone Hand


Bismark


Napoleon


Lone Star Ranger


Heritage of the Desert


Nevada


Grey Grey


('ruise of Diablesse


Herbert Hoover


Best Short Stories


Nuptials of Corbal


Outermost House (gift)


F. Fenger Irwin O'Brien Sabatini Beston


Juvenile


Playing with Clay (given by H. Beston) Piece Bag Book (given by H. Beston) Suppose We Do Something (given by H. Beston) Twins at Home


F. Packard T. Bailey C. Seltzer B. Bower J. Abbott


W. Raine E. Payne Sabatini B. Bower C. Curtis Hurst


C. Cannon C. Bradford D. Sharp Barton A. Horn Bindloss Bindloss Ludwig Ludwig Grey


Wheeler Blauvlet


Clark Whitehill


81


Twins Wedding


Twins Adventuring


Whitehill Whitehill


Head Coach


Paine


Lost in the Air


Snell


Red Skin and Cowboy


Henty Banks


Polly's Garden


Honor Girl


MacDonald Dix


Turned About Girls


Sunny Boy in the Country


White


Sunny Boy at the Seashore


White


Sunny Boy in the Big City Aprilly


Abbott


Dorothy's Playmates


Brooks


Dorothy Dainty at School


Brooks


Dorothy Dainty at Gem Island


Brooks


Dorothy Dainty's Red-Letter Days


Brooks


Dorothy Dainty's Treasure Chest


Brooks


Dorothy Dainty's Castle


Brooks


Outdoor Girls Along the Coast


Hope


Outdoor Girls at Spring Hill Farm


Hope


Ruth Fielding and Her Great Scenario


Emerson


Tale of Paddy Muskrat


Bailey


Tale of Ferdinand the Frog


Bailey


Tom Swift and his Great Oil Gusher


Appleton


Tom Swift and his Chest of Secrets


Appleton


Tom Swift and his Air Line Express


Appleton


Tom Swift Circling the Globe


Appleton


X Bar X Boys in the Thunder Canyon


Ferris


X Bar X Boys on Whirlpool River


Ferris


Conor House Girls Snowbound


Hill


Conor House Girls Growing Up


Hill


Mary Jane's Vacation


C. Judson


Letty and the Twins


Griffith


Letty at the Conservatory


Griffith


White


82


Letty and Miss Grey Judith and Jane Sugar and Spice (given by H. Beston) House at Poor Corner (Given by H. Beston) Stowaway and Other Stories (given by H. Beston) Rocky Billy (given by H. Beston) Once There Was a Prince (given by H. Beston) Magic Gold (given by H. Beston) Clearing Weather (given by H. Beston) Dr. Doolittle in the Moon (given by H. Beston) Sandals of Pearls (given by H. Beston) Pool of Stars (given by H. Beston)


Why-So-Stories (given by H. Beston) Red Cape (given by H. Beston)


Griffith Abbott Tileson Milne Harper Holling Dunbar Lancing Meigs Lofting Howes Meigs


Quart of Moonlight (given by H. Beston) Sherman Rich Varble


During the year several books were loaned us through the Division of Public Libraries at the State House. If, any one wishing a book, which they cannot get at the library would let the librarian know, she will be glad to borrow it for them, providing it is a non-fiction.


Mr. Henry Beston has been very kind in donating so many books to our library, mostly for the children.


During the year we had 45 books rebound.


During the spring I attended the Library Institute which was held at Hyannis for four days. Two of the trustees attended the meetings one day.


I also attended the Cape Cod Library Club at Prov- incetown at a two days' session. The trustees, Mr. Parnell, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Knowles were present at the first after- noon and evening meeting.


BLANCHE A. KEEFE,


Librarian.


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND


SUPERINTENDENT OF


SCHOOLS


Town of Eastham


FOR THE YEAR 1928


OF EA.


TOWN


INC


AUSET 1620


651


F. B. & F. P. Goss, Publishers and Printers The Patriot Press Hyannis, Mass. 1929


84


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Stanley M. Walker, Chairman Mrs. James Knowles, Secretary Mrs. Fred F. Dill


Term expires 1931 Term expires 1930 Term expires 1929


UNION SUPERINTENDENT (Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham) William F. Sims-Residence, Harwich


JANITOR George Hardwick


Attendance Officer Walter F. Nickerson


School Physician Dr. A. P. Goff


School Nurse Ada S. Creelmen, R. N. Residence, Brewster


85


SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1929


Winter Term: 7 weeks-JJanuary 2, 1929 to February 15, 1929


Spring Term : 7 weeks-February 25, 1929 to April 12, 1929 Summer Term : 9 weeks-April 22, 1929 to June 21, 1929 Grammar Graduation : June 19, 1929, at 8 p. m.


Fall Term: 16 weeks-Wednesday, September 4, 1929 to December 20, 1929


Winter Term: 7 weeks-Monday, December 30, 1929 to February 14, 1930.


PUPILS ATTENDING ORLEANS HIGH SCHOOL


September - December 1928


Class of 1929


Joseph King


Esther Knowles


Class of 1930


Emma Knowles William Mahoney Maude Rogers


Class of 1931


William Knowles Almond Nickerson Henry Saunders


Class of 1932


Emma Atwood Natalie Chadbourn Charles Campbell


Raymond Day-Left school December 10


Elizabeth Douglas-Left school September 13


Cora Fulcher


Louis Fulcher-Left school December 17


William Hoffman-Entered school December 13


James Mills-Entered school September 18


Vivien Murphy Raymond Nickerson


Post Graduate Students


Doris Lee


Jennie Rogers


86


Report of the School Committee


To the Citizens of the Town of Eastham :


Our annual report is brief. The usual statistics and re- ports are published herewith for your consideration. There has been little to interfere with the regular work of the school and we feel that we have had a rather satisfactory year.


The ceiling placed in the manual training room has made the heating of that room easier and consequently this room has had more use than it otherwise would have had.


Likewise the piano placed in this room has contributed much to the usefulness of this room which is used very much for activities that would generally be carried on in an auditorium.


We have always had more or less complaint about the transportation from those families whose children were transported only on stormy days. Sometimes it would be stormy and the bus would not come. Sometimes the bus would come and the children would be gone. So to avoid misunderstandings and to give more satisfactory service we have changed the transportation routes so that the children to be transported will be transported every day whether stormy or not. This arrangement has been tried sufficiently long to warrant our saying that it is very satisfactory to all concerned.


87


We have this year two pupils taking a post graduate course in the Orleans High school. These pupils are taking the Commercial Course which was recently established there. We have given our permission to these pupils to do this just as we would do if we were maintaining a high school in Eastham, and for the same reason. This, of course, increases the cost of our high school tuition which we are getting from the Town of Orleans at actual cost to the Town of Orleans. We have had twenty-one pupils attending the Orleans High school this school year. Three of these, how- ever, have withdrawn. So with a larger number of high school pupils and a higher tuition rate our bill for tuition will be somewhat larger. This is offset to some extent by tuition received for state and city wards and also by the state reimbursement for high school transportation.


In view of the fact that we have an unexpended bal- ance of $222.38 and also because we do not foresee any other unusual expenditures for the coming year we are ask- ing for the same appropriation as for the past two years, namely, $13,750.00


Respectfully submitted,


STANLEY M. WALKER, Chairman, M. LOUISE KNOWLES, Secretary, NELLIE M. DILL,


School Committee.


88


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Eastham School Committee Expenditures for the Fiscal Year, January 1, 1928 to December 31, 1928


General Class


Specific Class


Amount


Total


Needed for 1929


Committee, Salary


$200.00


Superintendent


$425.04


'Taking Census


10.00


Clerical Services


57.05


Attendance Officer


15.00


Miscellaneous


40.37


$747.46


$800.00


Expense of Instruction


Teachers' Salaries


4,601.20


Books


16.64


Supplies


468.04


5,085.88


5,000.00


Operation of School Plant


Janitor's wages Fuel


648.00


190.50


Miscellaneous


8.94


847.44


1,000.00


Maintenance


Repairs and Upkeep


408.64


408.64


350.00


Health


186.40


Transportation


3,604.00


Tuition


2,615.31


Miscellaneous


2.49


6,408.20


6,500.00


Outlay


New Equipment


30.00


30.00


100.00


Total


$13,527.62


$13,527.62


$13,750.00


Appropriation


$13,750.00


Expenditures


13,527.62


Unexpended Balance


$222.38


SUMMARY FOR 1929


Appropriation


$13,750.00


For Superintendent


$221.90


State Tuition


425.85


Transportation and School Fund


2,391.17


3,037.92


Net cost to the Town for the year 1928


$10,712.08


(Note: Still due from City of Boston, $433.57)


General Control


Auxiliary Agencies


89


Superintendent's Report


On account of the numbers in the first five grades we have had to assign grades one and two to Miss Keith and grades three, four and five to Mrs. Horton. This is a better division because of the necessity of giving as much time as possible to the first grade.


We are fortunate in being able to retain the same effi- cient corps of classroom teachers that we have had for the past three years. This continuity of service means better and more efficient work in the classroom. Personal con- ditions together with an adequate salary are responsible for our happy situation. Our salaries are approximately the average paid for similar work in Massachusetts. Our finan- cial condition permits us to pay an average salary since we are above the average community in this respect.


OUR REMOTE SITUATION


Generally speaking our remoteness from large centers would make it difficult for us to retain the best teachers even though the salaries we offer may be somewhat larger than those in communities nearer the large centers. With us desirable entertainment and opportunities for profes- sional improvement are conspicuous for their absence. When, therefore, we consider these matters we are force- fully reminded of our very fortunate condition in retaining the corps of teachers that we now have.


90


PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT


A salary increment coupled with a mandatory regula- tion of the school committee would be a strong incentive for our teachers to make a more pronounced effort at pro- fessional improvement. No teacher would fail to respond to such an incentive without some very satisfactory explana- tion to the School Committee. It is neither expensive nor difficult to make such an incentive operative. So often have I observed teachers putting into practice in the classroom some devices, plans, and methods acquired by taking special courses that I am ready to make it obligatory for the teach- er to pursue some professional course having a specific rela- tion to her particular classroom work. Professional courses for teachers have developed very rapidly in recent years. Particularly is this true of summer schools. Yet when we think of the great body of teachers, the hundreds found in summer schools are relatively few. As a means of improv- ing our schools stimulated professional growth should not be overlooked.


VENTILATION


The need for better ventilation referred to in previous reports still exists and should receive your earnest consid- eration. Better ventilation by means of jacketed stoves with the approval of State authorities can be had at no very great expense. The health of the pupils demands that we right this matter at an early date.


SPELLING


ยท Richard Saunders as town champion represented the town in a spelling contest held in New Bedford on April 19, last, for Southeastern Massachusetts. These spelling con- tests are improving the spelling in our schools.


91


STANDARDIZED TESTS


Last June by means of standardized tests we ascertain- ed the mental capacity of all the pupils above the sixth grade. We also found the grade of work that was being done. Some of the "brightest" pupils in some subjects were doing a very poor grade of work. Some were doing average work and some were doing excellent work. We need to do more of this kind of testing and make known to both teachers and pupils what they are really accomplish- ing. More often than not both teachers and pupils have the delusion that they have attained a very satisfactory achieve- ment. Without some standardized testing the real facts can not be known.


COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS


We had fewer pupils than last year taking the examina- tions of the College Entrance Examination Board. The re- sults were more satisfactory. We can successfully prepare pupils to pass these examinations. But it requires a greater concentration of effort on the part of both teachers and pu- pils than has been manifested heretofore. We have found by the intelligence tests that we have given that the mental ability of our pupils, contrary to a too oft expressed opin- ion, compares very well with that of most communities. There are a few cases of low mentality, many of average mentality, and some of a high degree. The mental ability is here. It needs to be trained, and given an incentive. Otherwise our schools must be given a rather low classifi- cation.


INSTRUMENTAL CLASSES


Before the close of the present school year classes will be organized and instruction given upon various musical in- struments. There is a demand for this work and since there


92


is no opportunity here for our young people to get this in- struction the school is justified in creating the opportunity. The instruction may be free or the pupil may be charged a nominal fee of twenty-five cents per lesson. The experi- ence of those who have been connected with this work is that better results have been secured where a nominal charge was made to each pupil for the instruction. While there are some problems to be solved in establishing this work we have no doubt that a satisfactory solution to all these problems will be found. In one of our high schools no regular classes are omitted for special work. On the day of the special work the periods are shortened so as to give time for the special work. In the same way this special work can be provided for. For a long time some school sys- tems have been doing this work. At the present time it is rapidly being established in many communities.




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