USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1887 > Part 4
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the teachers with classes disarranged and broken into at fre- quent intervals, besides, perhaps after the limitation of certifi- cates these absentees returning and seeking admission to the same class and position which they left. It is not necessary that we word the chilling effect upon the teachers as they con- template the ruinous results of inconstant attendance, not only upon the absentees, but with all the classes with which they are connected. Nothing in which the principle if one mem- ber suffers all the members suffer with it is more literally ex- emplified than a frequent absentee of a class in a graded school. The second term of most of the schools was much injured by unnecessary absenteeism. The third term is suffering to a much greater extent through a combination of the unavoidable with divided interest on the part of many parents. The measles have been very prevalent, entirely breaking up some of the schools for the time being and sadly interfering with the attendance at others. We truly sympathize with the sick ab- sentee hoping that renewed health will inspire him or her with the conviction that it is best to make the most of school when under favorable surroundings. The average attendance when compared with the whole number enrolled has been very poor, much less than the necessities of the case required. In this connection we wish to speak in relation to the matter of cer- tificates of age and school attendance which entitle a scholar to work in manufacturing establishments during the session of the school to which he belongs. We quoted the law on this subject in our last report, yet there is no one point in all the outside issues bearing upon school interest that seems so poor- ly understood by the masses, and when known so much deceit attempted by unprincipled parents as to the true ages of their children. They seem to forget that we have a record of every child's age as given by them when no pecuniary interests were involved ; and more, that every misrepresentation purposely made by them to the Committee, subjects the one making it to a penalty of not less than twenty dollars for each offence. We are forced to the conclusion that a few applications of law might be more profitable for all concerned than the mild rebuke and forbearance which we have exercised in the past. Besides
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there is another point connected with school attendance on which we think we have been too liberal in our construction of statute requirements for the best interest of the scholar and consequently of the school. For we wish it distinctly under- stood that the make up of any school is composed of individ- ual action taken collectively. We call special attention to the wording of the law in reference to compulsory attendance. "Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the town in which he re- sides at least twenty weeks, which time shall be divided into two terms each of ten consecutive weeks so far as the arrange- ment of school terms will allow." This provision compels steady and faithful attendance. But we have taken into ac- count every day which the child has attended during the thir- ty-six weeks without reference to their continuity, one hundred days constituting the twenty weeks required. Every experi- enced teacher knows that ten weeks of undivided attention to school duties is worth more to a child than fifteen when com- posed of two many fragmentary parts. We are confident a little stricter compliance with the letter of the law would add to its efficiency by promoting steadier attendance.
REPAIRS AND PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS.
In ordinary repairs we have only met the absolute demands of the hour, while several have been left over to the coming year which might well have been made during the present, only for the large amount of funds that was found necessary for building and permanent improvements in and around the houses already occupied. Our first improvements were con- nected with the High School building in the introduction of a steam heating apparatus. This necessitated the cementing of the entire lower room if we would render it convenient and respectable. This was done at quite an expense, but the util- ity and general appearance of the improvement well repays the expense incurred. We then turned our attention to the Nason schoolhouse which had been neglected quite too long for respectable appearance or economy. We painted all of
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the wood work, both outside and in. The house and fences had become so dry and rough that the cost of labor and mate- rial exceeded all estimates. We also kalsomined the interior of the building. As a whole the improvements have rendered the rooms, if not the whole surroundings, more beautiful and pleasant than when first occupied. In the mean time we were building the new house voted at the annual March meeting on the same lot yet on lower ground which required a large amount of filling and grading ; but thanks to Mr. Wm. E. Nason who gave us all the material needed for the work and very convenient to the school lot. Therefore this improve- ment cost much less than we had reason to expect. Still there was a lack which no school should suffer ; no water in connec- tion with either of the schoolhouses. Therefore, the present chairman who had charge of the grounds called upon the Su- perintendent of the water works to get terms for a supply of water to both houses, so that he might lay the pipes and cover them while filling and grading and so save the expense of dig- ging deep trenches for the pipes. Mr. Nason ascertained the terms and reported to the (then) Chairman of the Committee who thought the terms unreasonable and decided it were bet- ter to dig a well. We all felt that water was a necessity, with- out deciding the means of a supply. The chairman seeing the indecision of his colleagues proceeded to hire help and report- ed to the one in charge of outside work that workmen were engaged and wished him to engage in the work at his earliest convenience. The location of the well was selected by a wa- ter prophet and the work commenced. At the depth of eleven feet we struck a ledge. We excavated nearly twenty-five feet in depth of rock so hard and flinty that it not only tried our steel but the courage and patience of the one in charge as well as the funds of the town. Still a full supply of water was doubtful and after holding a consultation with the Selectmen we procured long drills and penetrated eight and one-half feet deeper in which we tried dynamic force. The first blast failed to rend the huge rock with which we had been so long con- tending. Mr. McCarthy reloaded with an eight-pound charge which not only opened a seam in the rock, but made itself felt
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in the seamy material underneath, making an entire depth of over forty-four feet from the surface. We have now a full supply of most excellent water, and we hope never-failing. To say the expenses of the well have more than doubled our expectations and caused us more care and anxiety than all other outside work for a decade is expressing it lightly. We have also painted the Northwest schoolhouse. Also the woodwork of the Brick house.
PRIMARY NO. 1 BUILDING.
In accordance with our recommendation in last year's re- port, and our verbal statements and request in open town meet- ing in March, the town voted to build a schoolhouse and ap- propriated $2,400 for that purpose. The house has been built as per request of the Committee, on Nason Street lot, similar in size and appearance to the other at a cost of $2,234.15. The balance was expended on outside improvements. Hav- ing no appropriation from the town for furnishing the house we availed ourselves of statute privileges and furnished it at a cost of $360, being less by over $100 than would have been required had we not used the stoves and much of the funnel taken from the High School building.
REPAIRS NEEDED THE COMING YEAR.
Beside the usual repairs it will be necessary to shingle and paint the High School house, also the Populatic. Extra ap- propriations are recommended to cover the expense. Wealso advise that an outbuilding be furnished the City Mills school- house.
TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.
High School, taught by Mrs. Mary A. Wiggin. Assistant, Miss Ella G. Daniels. Length of the first term 12 weeks. Salaries per month, $132. The second term, assistant, Mrs. A. W. Jefferson. Length of school 11 weeks. Salaries, $136 per month. The third term, the same teachers. Length of school 15 weeks. Salaries, $136 per month. Total, $1,280.
Grammar School. Teacher, Mr. S. W. Clark, for the year. The first term, 12 weeks; the second term, 11 weeks; the
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third term 15 weeks. Salary. $60 per month. Total, $570.
Sub-Grammar. Teacher, Miss F. E. King. Assistant for the first term of 12 weeks, Miss D. M. Bailey. Salaries per month, $74. At the close of the first term the school was di- vided, Miss King remaining in charge of the first division, and Mr. H. E. Ruggles elected to the second division. Length of second term, 11 weeks. Salary, $10 per week each. Third term, 11 weeks. Salary and teachers the same as the second term. Total, $662.
Intermediate, No. 1. For the first term of 12 weeks, Miss Matie G. Knapp, teacher. Salary. $10 per week. At the close of the first term Miss Knapp resigned and Miss Ella G. Daniels was elected to fill the vacancy. The second and third terms 11 weeks each. Salary per month, $40. Total, $340.
Intermediate, No. 2. Miss Emelie Albee, teacher for the year. Three terms: first of 12 weeks; second and third, 11 weeks each. Salary, $40 per month. Total, $340.
Primary, No. 1. Miss Louisa A. Metcalf, teacher. Entire length of school, 34 weeks. Salary, $36 per month. All four of the Primaries were so crowded that a sense of duty compelled us to pay the teachers $1 a week extra for eight weeks of the first term. Total, $314.
Primary, No. 2. Miss Daisy Dorr, teacher. Length of school and salary the same as No. 1. Total, $314.
Primary, No. 3. Miss Susie E. Young, teacher. Length of school and salary as in the preceding. Total, $314.
Primary, No. 4. Miss Isabella M. Reilly, teacher. Length of school and salary as above. Total, $314.
Primary, No. 5. Miss Nellie J. Cleary, teacher. This school in its present form is only temporary. It is made up of the overflow of Nos. 3 and 4, and for this year is only a relief to the other schools, consisting of two terms of 11 weeks each. Salary, $36 per month. Total, $198.
City Mills. Miss Mabel E. Howard taught the first term of 12 weeks and commenced on the second and resigned. Miss Julia Stockbridge was elected to the position. The second and third terms 11 weeks each. Salary, $32 per month. To- tal, $272.
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Populatic School. Mrs. Nellie M. Kelsey, teacher. For the first term of 12 weeks, salary $32 per month. For the second and third terms of 11 weeks each, salary $36 per month. Total, $294.
Northwest School. Teacher for the first term of 12 weeks, Miss Nellie J. Cleary. She was transferred to Primary No. 5 and Miss Delia M. Bailey was elected teacher for the second and third terms ; salary, $32 per month. Total, $272.
Unionville. Miss Mary O. Sawyer. teacher for the year. Entire length of school, 34 weeks. Salary, $36 per month. Total, $306.
South Franklin. Mr. Isaac C. Jenks, teacher. Whole length of school, 34 weeks. Salary, $32 per month. Total, $272.
Mount. Miss May Blaisdell. teacher of the first term of 12 weeks and a part of the second, then resigned, and Miss Mary J. Burr was elected to the vacancy. Whole length of school, 34 weeks ; salary per month, $32. Total, $272.
Total wages of teachers, $6,334.
This only pays for 38 weeks of High and Grammar Schools and 34 weeks each for the others excepting the two new schools which have had only twenty-two weeks each.
Insufficient appropriations or too much school. It is not our intention to arraign the town as being wanting in a dispo- sition to furnish funds to carry on this important factor in the higher type of human civilization, but simply to state facts so the town may act understandingly. We are free to say for several years the town has made the highest appropriations asked by us, and during the present year has laid the founda- tion for largely increased permanent expenditures in the school domain without our recommendation. We do not say the new schoolhouse will be a useless appendage when completed, but a desirable acquisition if the town will be as earnest and lib- eral in granting future appropriations to build up and maintain the schools as it has in building the house. But while the an- ticipated new rooms will enable the Committee to organize two more new schools with a desirable number of pupils froin the existing schools, without in any way disturbing their use-
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fulness, it must be borne in mind that extra schools means in- creased appropriations or else a less number of weeks in all the schools. It should be distinctly understood that the appro- priation of $6,500, with dog money and State funds was bare- ly sufficient to maintain the schools previous to the present year. That four new schools additional, kept the same number of weeks as formerly, will require at least an appropriation of $8,200. Would it not be well for the town to specify by vote the number of weeks for the coming year? There can be no doubt but the organization of two new schools, one composed of lower class primaries and the other of first-class primaries and second-class intermediates, would add much to the gen- eral efficiency of all the schools of these grades. The State Board of Education, through their secretary, advise from 30 to 35 pupils only to each teacher in the Primary grade, while we have enrolled 286 primaries within the limits of the village schools, being an average of 47 2-3 for six schools not includ- ing the class of second Intermediates.
For expenditures during the fiscal year we refer to the Au- ditor's report.
Respectfully submitted,
S. W. SQUIRE, G. B. DORR, A. R. MORSE,
Committee.
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