USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1889 > Part 2
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If the evils of absenteeism were confined to the children who are absent it would be bad enough. But as a matter of fact the injury extends to the entire school of which they are members. Teachers who have suffered from this cause could speak feelingly upon this subject if permitted to do so. The true teacher delights in nothing more than in promptness and punctuality ; for he knows that upon these depends in great measure his success. The first thing he does upon opening
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his school is to cast his eye along the rows of seats to see if the pupils are all in their places. If the lines before him are full and unbroken, he girds himself for his work with a smiling face and a buoyant heart ; for he knows that all will be well for that session. But if there are gaps in the lines a feeling of discouragement steals over him, that he cannot wholly over- come. He sees the beauty and symmetry of his schoolroom, -in which he takes so much pride and pleasure,-wholly marred. He sees his classes broken up, his register despoiled, his hopes of a nearly perfect attendance dashed to the ground. He feels, moreover, sorry for his absent pupils ; for he knows there will be no end of trouble about lessons on the morrow.
We are painfully conscious that occasions may, and fre- quently do, arise where regular attendance at school is impos- sible. Such instances must be regarded as among the inevi- table ills incident to school life. But if parents would unite with teachers and school officers in trying to raise the standard of attendance in our schools to the highest possible maximum we should see the evils of absenteeism practically done away with.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
An unfailing indication of the growth and prosperity of our town may be found in the increasing number of pupils in our schools. Within the past three years two new school build- ings, containing four rooms, have been erected,-one on the Nason street lot, and one on Arlington street. And still more room is needed.
At the beginning of the fall term it was found necessary, ow- ing to the large number of pupils going up from the next low- er grades, to divide the Grammar School. This was done by making Central street the line of division-the result being two schools nearly equal in numbers.
For want of better accommodations one of these schools was placed temporarily in the town hall. This action of the com- mittee has been severely criticised by a few parents whose children, according to the line of division, were compelled to go there. It has been urged that the room is not suitable for school purposes. Of this fact the committee were painfully
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conscious. But they could do no better. It was a matter not of choice but of necessity with them. They could not crowd seventy-five or eighty pupils into a room large enough for only fifty. Two of the committee at least suffer with other parents in being compelled to send their children to the town hall.
Another room is therefore needed. The question for the town to decide is how this shall be provided for.
It must be evident to all who have given the matter any thought that the present accommodations of the High School are insufficient. Not only are the rooms too small for health and comfort but they are unsuitable in other respects. These rooms are, however, very well adapted to the wants of a gram- mar school ; and since it is very desirable on many accounts for the grammar schools to be in the same building the committee recommend that the present high school rooms be used for that purpose.
If this plan be adopted, it remains for the town to provide accommodations for the High School. For this three rooms, besides the usual halls, cloak rooms, etc., will be necessary ; namely, a schoolroom, which should be large enough for at least seventy-five seats, a recitation room, and a small labora- tory.
Up to this time the principal and his assistant have been try- ing to teach chemistry and physics from books, which is very much like trying to teach a man how to make a watch, or to run a type-setting machine, or to manufacture woolen goods, from printed directions, or drawings made for the purpose. In the study of the sciences object lessons are imperatively needed. It will not do for the pupils simply to read about what may be done with certain chemicals or with an electrical machine or a compound blow-pipe. They need to make the experiments themselves. As Horace Greely said of resump- tion of specie payments, "The way to resume is to resume": and the way to learn how to do things is to do them.
Our young people in the High School, under the direction of their teachers, have been doing the best they could to over- come the obstacles in their way. But they need to be helped and encouraged. Their enthusiasm and persistence under diffi- culties deserve to be rewarded.
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Two plans have been suggested for supplying the deficiency in school accommodations. One is to build an addition to the School street house, to contain three rooms, besides the usual cloak rooms, etc. This plan has been presented by a member of the committee, not as his choice but as one that might be resorted to under certain contingencies. The plan is perfectly feasible, and so far as present economy is concerned it would probably solve the problem of more room for the least money.
But there are several objections that might be urged against this plan. One is that it would be too much like putting "new cloth to an old garment." That is, it would be adding to an old building that is hardly worthy of being remodelled. It is true the new rooms could be made ample, pleasant, and con- venient. But how would they compare with the old ones? Comparisons are, said to be odious; and the contrast be- tween the rooms in the same building would be, to say the least, disagreeable.
Another objection might be that the present heating appara- tus would be insufficient for the new addition. Hence a new boiler would have to be put in, at considerable expense. But we think the objection that will occur most readily to the minds of our citizens is that, do the best we could by way of remodelling the School street house, it would still come far short of their ideal of what a High School building should be.
The other plan is to erect a new building upon a suitable lot, to contain four rooms, besides the usual halls, cloak rooms, recitation rooms, etc. We think there should also be a good sized hall for school purposes. This could be obtained by put- ting on a mansard roof at a moderate additional expense.
The advantages of such a hall will be fully appreciated by the teachers, and by all who are conversant with school work. It is a common practice in many of the larger towns of the state for the pupils of the high, grammar, and intermediate grades to essemble every Friday afternoon for general exer- cises, to be conducted by the principal or superintendent. The programme for this is prepared by the principal, and the parts are assigned the week previous. The exercises consist of read-
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ings, recitations, declamations, dialogues, discussions, etc., etc., interspersed with vocal and instrumental music and gym- nastics.
It seems hardly necessary to speak of the advantages to be derived from exercises of this kind. But it may not be amiss to mention a few of them. By bringing the teachers and pu- pils together they would serve to unify our schools. Once a week they would assemble in the same room, under the eye of the principal. He would thus become acquainted with the teachers and pupils, and would naturally take a deeper and more personal interest in them. The pupils of the lower grades would have the example of the High School scholars constantly before their eyes, This would be a powerful in- centive to faithful work. They would be looking forward to the time when they should occupy similar places.
The pupils in all the grades would be learning to read, speak and sing in public, without that painful shyness and awkwardness so natural to the young. Those in the higher grades would be forming the habit of ready speaking upon public questions,- a matter of no little importance in a republic like ours.
This is no new or untried plan. It is already in successful operation in many towns in the state. We believe that by the expenditure of a small sum of money in this direction great and lasting benefits would be conferred upon our schools.
No vote has been taken to ascertain the preference of the committee as to the plans mentioned. But if a suitable lot could be obtained at a fair price they would undoubtedly favor the erection of a neat, tasteful, and substantial High School building as a measure of the truest economy.
Our town is growing in population ; and with new indus- tries just starting up, and with others soon to be established, it is likely to grow faster in the future than it has in the past. We shall probably need all of the four rooms of a new build- ing within two or at the most three years.
We need moreover a High School building as a sort of hub or centre around which our other schools may radiate. A structure of this kind built of good materials, on a good plan, and of pleasing architectural proportions, would give tone and
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character to our whole school system. It would, moreover, be an ornament to the town.
This is a matter that requires careful thought and delibera- tion in order that the interests of our schools-which are those of the town-may be subserved. We therefore recommend that a committee be appointed by the town at its coming annual meeting to take the matter into consideration.
FURNITURE AND APPARATUS.
Our school houses are for the most part comfortably fur- nished. In some of the older rooms the desks are double, which is a great disadvantage in teaching. Many of them are also badly defaced. We think these should be replaced with new single desks. To say nothing of the convenience and im- proved appearance of the rooms that would result from this change we think the example of vandalism set by these desks must have a demoralizing influence upon the pupils. To the average Yankee boy the temptation to try his hand at carving the wood before him is strong enough without the force of ex- ample being added.
Until recently many of our schoolrooms have been without globes or maps. These we consider quite as important in the study of geography as the text books. They also serve as ob- ject lessons to educate the eye and induce habits of observation on the part of the pupils. Moreover, they break up the mo- notony of bare walls, and thus render the schoolroom more cosy and attractive. From the portion of the state fund which can be legally used for this purpose we have purchased a com- fortable supply of these useful appendages.
Shelves and bookcases are still needed in a few rooms, and these will doubtless be soon supplied. As a member of our committee has well said, all such appliances pay many times their cost in increased comfort for the pupils, and in teaching them habits of system, order, and neatness. The schoolroom is the only place where we can cultivate these habits in pupils ; hence all the school furniture should be adapted to this end.
We believe this matter, as also that of æsthetic surround- ings, is an important one ; and it will doubtless receive more
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attention in the future than it has in the past, since we have on our school board, those who will look more closely after the housekeeping (if we may be allowed to use the term in this connection) of schoolrooms than we of the sterner sex have done.
It would not perhaps be in good taste for the committee to speak in praise of their own work. But it may be admissible for the chairman in behalf of himself and of the gentlemen upon the board to acknowledge the excellent work done by our lady members in improving the appearance of our school- houses. In making suggestions for this, as in other matters, they have shown rare judgment. taste, and discrimination. The wisdom of the town in making this forward movement is thus made manifest. Here, as in other towns, the ladies have come into our school councils to stay.
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.
Below will be found a list of the different schools in town, the names of the teachers, and their salaries. The length of of the different schools is given at the end of this list.
High School, spring term, T. W. White; fall and winter terms, C. A. Brodeur ; salary, $100 per month ; assistant, Edna Bright ; salary, $381 ; total, $1381.
Grammar, No. 1, Frances E. King ; salary, $480.
Grammar, No. 2, Martha E. Davis, two terms only ; salary, $288.
Sub-Grammar, No. 1, spring term, Martha E. Davis; fall and winter terms, Mary A. Sawyer ; salary, $40 per month ; total, $360.
Sub-Grammar, No. 2, Isabel M. Reilly ; salary, $360.
Intermediate, No. 1, Ella G. Daniels ; salary, $360.
Intermediate, No. 2, Emilie Albee ; salary, $360.
Intermediate, No. 3, Susie E. Young, two terms ; salary, $240.
Primary, No. 1, Louisa A. Metcalf ; salary, $324.
Primary, No. 2, first term, A. Daisy Dorr ; salary, $36 per month ; fall and winter terms, Rebecca Dunning ; salary, $32 per month ; total, $300.
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Primary, No. 3, first term, Susie E. Young ; fall and winter terms, Mrs. L. A. Harris ; salary, $36 per month ; total $324.
Primary, No. 4, first term, Mary A. Sawyer ; salary, $36 per month ; fall and winter terms, Adeline McDonald ; salary, $32 per month : total, $300.
Primary, No. 5, Nellie J. Cleary ; salary, $324.
Primary, No. 6, May J. Blaisdell ; salary, $324.
Primary-Intermediate, one term only, Delia M. Bailey and Mrs. L. A. Harris ; salary, $36 per month ; total, $108.
Populatic, first term, H. M. Howard; salary, $36 per month ; fall and winter terms, Ella B. Daniels ; salary, $32 per month ; total, $300.
Northwest, Jennie B. Haslam ; salary, $306.
Unionville, Clara M. Craig ; salary, $324.
South Franklin. Julia C. Stockbridge ; salary, $288.
Mount, Mary J. Burr ; salary, $288.
City Mills, Hattie Gay ; salary, $288.
Music, Mrs. L. T. Hosmer ; salary, $325.
LENGTH OF SCHOOLS.
High School and Grammar, No. 1, 40 weeks; Grammar, No. 2, 24 weeks; Sub-Grammar, Intermediate, Primary and outside schools, 36 weeks each, with the following exceptions : namely, Intermediate, No. 3, 22 weeks; Primary-Intermedi- ate, Arlington street, 12 weeks.
For the Committee,
GEO. B. DORR.
GEO. B. DORR,
GEORGE KING,
WM. F. RAY,
MRS. R. M. FARNUM,
MRS. M. A. WIGGIN,
MISS LYDIA P. RAY,
School Committee.
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REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF POOR.
In accordance with the custom of former years we now pre- sent to you our annual report of the pauper department for the year 1888. The duties and responsibilities of Overseers of the Poor are sometimes simple, often complicated, but always imperative. One applicant may be reasonable in requests for aid while another will urge his demands regardless of reason or justice. In some cases little satisfaction is gained in either giving or receiving, but our aim in all cases has been to give reasonable and needful aid without encouraging a spirit of pau- perism. It has been our endeavor in all cases to render aid with our best judgment according to the facts of each case.
OUTSIDE POOR.
The total number of persons having applied for and received aid during the year are 127 ; of these 46 have legal settlements In other towns ; 17 were state paupers ; the remaining 64 have settlements in this town. We have due us bills from the state to the amount of $305.42 which have been approved but will not be received in time for this report.
ALMSHOUSE.
This department during the year has been under the same management as last, with like results. The farm has been very profitable to the town and is being greatly improved. We would strongly recommend a sufficient appropriation to repair and paint the buildings which must be done the coming sum- mer. We would also recommend the putting in of steam heat, not only for comfort but for safety.
G. E. EMERSON, W. H. BRIGHT, C. M. ALLEN, Overseers of the Poor.
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INMATES AT ALMSHOUSE.
Age.
Time.
George Daniels,
46
52 weeks
Levi Fisher,
79
52
Orin Adams,
78
52
Daniel Green,
83
52
James W. McPherson,
75
52
Charles A. Clark,
75
52
Pliny Cook,
87
52
Henry Grimes,
73
12
376 weeks
Amount of property appraised by Overseers, January 27, 1889, $2,518.38.
GEORGE E. EMERSON, Chairman Overseers of the Poor.
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REPORT OF ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Your Engineers would respectfully submit the following re- port :
The loss by fire the past year has been light ; only one alarm June 12, for fire at Miller's cranberry storehouse ; building and contents total loss.
Feb. 22, house of Betsy Harris, near Norfolk line, destroyed ; no alarm.
July 14, house of Patrick Philips near Medway line ; alarm responded to by Medway department ; building total loss.
Dec. 6, stone mill, in Unionville, used by F. B. Ray as a picker house, was discovered on fire, but by the prompt ar- rival of Engine No. 2 the fire was soon out ; loss small.
Dec. 23, small fire in house of Charles Johnson on Main street ; no alarm.
Your department consists of five engineers, two engine com- panies, two hose and one hook and ladder company ; depart- ment in good condition.
We have added the fire escape the past year, as required by law, at a cost of $120.
We would recommend the purchase of more hose.
For other appropriations we would refer you to the recom- mendations of your Selectmen.
G. E. EMERSON,
B. M. ROCKWOOD, FRANK SHINER, WM. H. SPEAR, WM. BUCKLEY,
Engineers.
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ASSESSORS' REPORT.
Valuation of the Town, May 1, 1888. Assessed value of personal estate, real estate,
$490,475 00
1,664,425 00
Total,
$2,154,900 00
Assessed value of buildings,
$1,036,665 00
land taxed.
627,760 00
Total,
$1,664,425 00
Number of acres of land taxed, 15,628 7-12.
dwelling houses, 752.
barns, 407.
66 horses, 537.
66 oxen, 24.
66 cows, 694.
66 other neat cattle, 132.
66 swine, 63.
6: sheep, 11.
dogs, 273.
soldiers enrolled, 657. polls, 1103.
Rate per thousand, $15.
ASA A. FLETCHER, WILLIAM ROCKWOOD, SABIN HUBBARD, Assessors of Franklin.
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REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN :
The Library has been opened regularly during the year, ex- cepting the usual vacation, when the books are called in for the annual examination.
The number of different persons taking books was 635. The number of volumes drawn was 11,124.
Collected in fines, $30.15 ; for catalogues and cards, $14.80. Total, $44.95.
Number of volumes covered 825 ; at a cost of $16.50.
There were three volumes not accounted for in the examina- tion in August.
The committee has added to the library 138 volumes. There have been received, also, by donation, 30 volumes as follows : Census of Massachusetts, from C. D. Wright. Reports of Commissioner on Fish, 7 vols. Reports from Bureau of Edu- cation, 3 vols. Consular Reports, 8 vols. The Tenth Census. Reports of the State Board of Agriculture, from E. W. Som- mers. The Village Church, from M. M. Fisher. Index to Public Statutes of Massachusetts. Trial of Henry Goodwin and Sarah Robinson, from the Secretary of State. Commer- cial Relations between the United States and Foreign Coun- tries, 2 vols. Ayer's Almanac, and two pamphlets.
Number of volumes rebound, 88.
Expense of taking charge of the library, $346.15.
Expended for books, $192.67.
WM. M. THAYER, For the Directors,
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SPECIAL POLICE REPORT.
The work in this department has been continued during the past year on the same line as for the two years previous, and in some respects quite as effectual.
I have served thirty-seven search warrants, and made twen- ty-two arrests in my work during the year.
No seizures have been made of any amount, nearly all the business being carried on with pocket flasks.
The prosecution of Charles W. Weeks for perjury in cases connected with the McParlands has been beneficial in its effect upon witnesses brought to rebut evidence for the Common- wealth.
James McParland, Phillip McParland, and Phillip Byers, who occupied the Pond building on Cottage street, were suc- cessfully prosecuted. James McParland now serving time at Dedham, and Phillip McParland and Phillip Byers are wanted for service, but are at present in another state, fleeing from justice.
James WV. Miller and George W. Spear were each prosecut- 1 ed for keeping a liquor nuisance. They plead guilty and paid fines each of fifty dollars and costs, signing at the same time agreements never to engage in the illegal sale or traffic in intox- icating liquors in this town again.
Edson B. Rhoads, John Reardon, and James Desper were successfully prosecuted for illegal keeping of intoxicating liq- uor for sale. Rhoads and Reardon were furnished money and paid their fines of fifty dollars and costs, and Desper was sent to jail. These men were engaged in what is termed the pock- et business, getting the liquor in such quantities as they can readily handle, then finding their customers on the street, or wherever they can pick them up, and taking them into some corner or dark place to sell them a drink. Most of this busi- ness is carried on in the evening.
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There are a few unprincipled men who are selling on our streets every night, but it is almost impossible to secure evi- dence that will be sufficient to convict.
The selling of cider is one of the chief troubles, as it can be sold in as small quantity as a quart not to be drank on the premises.
I have received from the Treasurer for this branch of my work for the year, $581 96
Paid for outside services, $78 25
For use of teams, 75 15
For railroad fare,
14 36
Blanks and postage,
1 95
For services of self, 1649 hours,
412 25°
$581 96
All of which is respectfully submitted.
AARON R. MORSE,
Special Police.
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ESTIMATES FOR CURRENT EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1889.
The Selectmen, as required by Sec. 5 of Art. 1 of the By- Laws of Franklin, have prepared the following estimates for current expenses of the town for the fiscal year of 1889, and respectfully submit the same :
For Support of schools, $8,500 00
Repairs of buildings,
700 00
School books and supplies,
700 00
Miscellaneous school expenses,
600 00
Repairs of roads and bridges,
4,000 00
Repairs and construction of walks,
500 00
Support of Poor,
3,000 00
Repairs of town farm buildings,
500 00
Fire department,
2,000 00
Purchase of hose,
300 00
Water supply for hydrants,
3,600 00
Town officers,
1,800 00
Interest account,
800 00
Abatement and collection of taxes,
800 00
Street lights,
3,000 00
Printing and stationery,
350 00
Payment of police,
1,500 00
Payment of soldiers' aid,
500 00
For Franklin Library Association,
350 00
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For Post 60, G. A. R., Decoration day, Suppression of illegal liquor traffic, Miscellaneous town expenses,
$100 00
600 00
1,200 00
Total, $35,400 00
HENRY R. JENKS, WILLIAM ROCKWOOD, ASA A. FLETCHER, Selectmen of Franklin.
February 14, 1889.
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HENRY R. JENKS, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT
1888.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in the treasury Feb. 1, 1888,
$1,293 87
Town of Oxford,
on pauper account,
258 86
Bellingham,
1
45
Wrentham,
66
66
95 24
Mansfield,
19 84
Milford, .6
106 00
Hopkinton,
66
66
76 96
Norfolk,
124 00
North Adams, 66
40 50
Wm. E. Nason, collector, taxes, 1882,
37 29
. 6
1886,
1,786 43
66
3,700 00
1888,
29,721 85
Town Farm, sales of produce, 1,075 84
Benj. Franklin Savings Bank, temporary loans,
21,500 00
King David Lodge of Odd Fellows. 66
2,000 00
Interest on Lucretia Pond fund,
40 40
Licenses, Auctioneers,
2 00
Circus,
10 00
66
Pool tables,
8 00
Dogs,
519 88
C. S. Merrill, court fees,
20 00
Anthony Connor, "
9 29
George King, sale of school books,
6 36
Nelson Corbin, sale of lamp,
1 50
Commonwealth of Mass., Income of school fund,
66
Corporation tax,
3,516 69
66
National bank tax, 294 37
66
Military aid under chap. 252, 363 00
66
State aid, under chap. 301, 484 00
66
State paupers,
20 00
66 Expense contagious diseases, 114 25'
30 00
J. Dolan, on pauper account,
85 35
A. C. Dana and H. S. Wilkes, licenses,
4 50
Commonwealth of Mass., on account of paupers,
192 43
William Mann, sale of horse, 125 00
66
66
1887,
672 40
66 Burial State paupers,
$68,357 55
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WITH THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN.
1888. EXPENDITURES.
Teachers' salaries,
$7,788 90
Schoolbooks and supplies,
1,141 20 846 3S
Fuel for schools,
Care of schoolrooms, 477 15
Repairs of school buildings, 458 58
Miscellaneous school expenses,
493 36
Repairs and construction of roads, bridges and walks, 5,270 09
Support of almshouse, 1
1,909 12
Outside pauper expenses,
3,419 18
Fire department expenses,
2,154 63
Street lights, 2,110 24
Police expenses,
1,145 44
Town officers,
1,589 97
Printing and stationery,
299 85
State, county and bank taxes,
5,242 88
Decoration day expenses,
100 00
Improvement of North Park,
48 50
Tree planting,
50 00
Franklin Water Co., water supply,
3,342 81
Franklin Library Association,
350 00
Town notes,
23,500 00
Interest, 699 85
Military aid, under chap. 252,
792 00
State aid, under chap. 301,
453 00
Abatement of taxes,
891 28
Suppression of liquor traffic,
601 96
Miscellaneous town expenses,
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