USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1911 > Part 2
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53
1 23
Mar. 11. Lydia V. Dane
91
2
9
Apr. 12. Albert F. Allen
58
10
Apr. 24. Asa H. Jewett
71
9
6
Apr. 30. Roy P. Lefavour
66
9
June 8. Josephine F. Pepin
37
June 20. Martha A. E. Bean
80
July 9. Patrick Bresnahan
49
July 13. Charles E. Davis
81
July 16. Madeline E. Appleton
9
10
July 17.
Mary A. Roche
74
July 22.
Abner D. Gorham
85
3
8
Aug. 18. Frank H. Parker
55
9
9
Sept. 11. Allan Dass
3
Sept. 22.
Mary Dodge
47
2
1
Nov. 1. Sophia C. Preston
83
6
17
Nov. 20. Thomas E. Firmingley
59
3
9
Dec. 12. Edward L. Chase
7
4
3
Dee. 20. David M. Richardson
76
3
12
Dec. 29. Loena Badger
50
Dec. 31. Anna Chludzanska
38
REMAINS BROUGHT INTO TOWN.
Feb. 24. Isaac A. Lamson
Mar. 16. David B. Wallace
Apr. 15. Idela J. Trow
May 16. Jonathan P. Lovering
May 17. Helen Patch
May 25. Fred Hamnet
June 19. Ednah A. Averill
4
May 29. George T. Oakes
39
TOWN REPORT.
July 26. Walter I. Preston
Aug. 1. Nellie B. Downs
Nov. 23. Myron W. Haviland
Dec. 11. Charles Olin Swett
Dec. 28. Charles Rogers Child of Ralph Porter.
Report of Cemetery Commissioners.
(Account closed December 30, 1911)
At the Annual Town Meeting held March 14, 1911, George K. Knowlton was elected Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
ORGANIZATION.
GEORGE K. KNOWLTON, Chairman, Term expires 1914
GEORGE H. GIBNEY, Secretary, Term expires 1912
FRANK C. NORTON, Term expires 1913
RECEIPTS.
Town appropriation,
$300 00
EXPENSES.
Paid George E. Roberts, labor in cemetery, $45 50
George K. Knowlton, commis- sion services, 15 00
40
TOWN REPORT.
George H. Gibney, commis-
sion services, $15 00
Frank C. Norton, 15 00
$90 50
Balance unexpended, $210 50
An appropriation of $300 is recommended for Cemetery use.
GEORGE K. KNOWLTON,
GEORGE H. GIBNEY, FRANK C. NORTON,
Cemetery Commissioners.
Report of Park Commissioners.
(Closed December 30, 1911)
At the Annual Town Meeting held March 14, 1911, Clarence S. Knowlton was elected Park Commissioner for three years.
ORGANIZATION.
GEORGE K. KNOWLTON, Chairman, Term expires 1913
CLARENCE S. KNOWLTON, Secretary, Term expires 1914 FRANK C. NORTON, Term expires 1912
41
TOWN REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Town appropriation,
$500 00
EXPENSES.
Paid Fred Berry, labor and team in Wigglesworth cemetery, $57 80
George E. Roberts, removing remains of dead from Wigglesworth cemetery and other connected work, 41 50
J. K. Knowlton, work on title, records and other work, 20 84
Salem News, advertising, 2 63
$122 77
Balance unexpended, $377 23
GEORGE K. KNOWLTON, FRANK C. NORTON, CLARENCE S. KNOWLTON,
Park Commissioners.
42
TOWN REPORT.
Public Library Report.
Total number of volumes Jan. 1, 1911,
6318
added during year,
216
66
Jan. 1, 1912, 6534
Number of volumes issued :
Fiction
History
Biog.
Miscellaneous
Total
January
549
13
14
10
586
February
477
6
6
16
475
March
679
10
15
19
723
April
806
12
10
11
839
May
594
8
2
34
638
June
568
14
14
11
607
July
788
19
16
18
841
August
342
11
12
11
376
September
746
17
12
17
792
October
568
14
10
11
603
November
636
18
16
18
688
December
803
14
7
9
833
7526
156
134
185
8001
Number of new cards issued during year,
93
Amount collected for fines,
$2.96
In presenting the annual report for the Public Library, it gives me pleasure to state that the circulation is increas- ing. By examining the number of volumes issued during the year, it is very gratifying to find that the increase has not been in "fiction" alone, but in other branches as well.
43
TOWN REPORT.
This year, more books have been used by High School pupils in connection with their work, than in previous years. We have recently added, especially for school work, a set of "Vocations" consisting of ten volumes, set- ting forth the various phases of Mechanic Arts, Home Mak- ing, Literature, Wood Craft, Professions of Law, Min- istry, Medicine, etc. A new supplement to the Finding List will soon be printed. It has been suggested, by those much interested in library work, that a list of books added each year be printed in the Town Report. If this meets the approval of the Trustees, I shall be glad to furnish such a list. This has been tried in other libraries and found very satisfactory.
We received a number of books and magazines from Mrs. Augustus P. Gardner and we wish to express thanks to her for the same. Also from Mr. Reginald C. Robbins a book of his own composition, which we appreciate very much. We are also grateful to the Woman's Education Society for the loan of a set of photographs of India and other eastern countries. Among the Vital Records received this year are those of Hamilton, Ipswich, Essex and other near-by places, which may prove of interest to some of the patrons of the library.
GRACE C. STONE,
Librarian.
44
TOWN REPORT.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
AUGUSTUS P. GARDNER, Treasurer, in account with Trustees of Public Library at Hamilton, Mass.
H. AUGUSTA DODGE FUND.
June 20, 1907. Received from John L. Woodbury, Town Treasurer, check for $1000.00 for legacy from estate of the late Mrs. H. Augusta Dodge, for a free read- ing room in the Public Library in the Town of Hamilton, Mass., $1,000 00
December 30, 1911. Interest to De- cember 30, 1911, 112 42
$1,112 42
December 30, 1911. Amount on de-
posit to credit of Library Trus- tees at Merchants National Bank,
Salem, Mass., $1,112 42
(Signed) A. P. GARDNER, Treasurer, Trustees of Hamilton Public Library.
AUGUSTUS P. GARDNER, Treasurer, in account with Trustees of the Public Library at Hamilton, Mass.
DR.
January 1, 1911. Balance to credit of Library Trustees, $504 76
45
TOWN REPORT.
December 29, 1911. Received from Grace C. Stone, Librarian, amount of fines to December 29, 1911, $ 2 96
December 30, 1911. Received from John L. Woodbury, Town Treasurer, amount appropriat- ed at last Annual Town Meet- ing, $400 00
December 30, 1911. Received from Almy, Bigelow & Washburn amount overpaid in Warrant No. 4, December 28, 1911, 2 02
$909 74
CR.
May 2, 1911. Paid Warrant No. 1.
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn, books, $16 47
Edward L. Perley, binding books, 17 10
Newcomb & Gauss, call cards, 2 25
Young Folks Educational League, 15 44
Grace C. Stone, salary, three months, 50 00
Grace C. Stone, extra work, two weeks, 15 00
$116 26
46
TOWN REPORT.
August 24, 1911. Paid Warrant No. 2.
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn, books and magazines, $94 51
Newcomb & Gauss, cards and printing, 6 00
Library Bureau, supplies,
8 00
Grace C. Stone, salary, three months, 50 00
$158 51
November 2, 1911. Paid Warrant No. 3.
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn, books, $6 95
Grace C. Stone, salary, three months, ; 50 00
Grace C. Stone, cash paid R. E. Low for books ordered by Mr. Libby, 4 65
$61 60
December 28, 1911. Paid Warrant
No. 4.
Almy, Bigelow & Washburn, books, $40 39
Records of Past, magazine, 3 00
Arthur C. Cummings, teaming books, 1911, 27 00
47
TOWN REPORT.
Grace C. Stone, salary three
months, $ 50 00
Grace C. Stone, cash expended for sundries, 2 50
$122 89
$459 26
NOTE. In this Warrant Almy, Bigelow & Washburn were overpaid $2.02. This amount was returned and appears in the receipts of the Treasurer.
December 30, 1911. Balance to credit
of Library Trustees, $450 48
$909 74
(SIGNED)
AUGUSTUS P. GARDNER, Treasurer.
Trustees of Hamilton Public Library.
E. and O. E.
48
TOWN REPORT.
List of Appropriations as Recommended by the Selectmen.
Highways,
$5000 00
Street watering or oiling,
1500 00
Street lighting,
4500 00
Road roller,
700 00
Guard rail,
300 00
Sidewalks,
400 00
Poor department,
1500 00
Soldiers' relief,
150 00
State aid,
950 00
Military aid,
150 00
Decoration day,
50 00
Town hall,
1500 00
Fire department,
500 00
Cemetery,
300 00
Tree Warden,
150 00
Salaries and fees,
3500 00
Police department,
500 00
Library,
400 00
Snow removing,
2000 00
Board of Health,
500 00
Brown-tail and gypsy moth,
2500 00
Town and schoolhouse loans,
1980 00
Interest on said loan,
750 00
Bonding officers,
130 00
Assessors' department,
500 00
School house note,
2500 00
Miscellaneous,
2000 00
Schools,
13,000 00
Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting.
Essex, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Hamilton.
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, you are directed to notify and warn the inhabi- tants of the Town of Hamilton, qualified to vote in elections and in Town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall in said Town, on Tuesday, the twelfth (12th) day of March, nineteen hundred and twelve, at six (6) o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles :
ARTICLE 1. To bring in your ballots for
Moderator for one year.
Town Clerk for one year.
One Selectman for three years.
Overseers of the Poor, Board of Health, and Fence Viewers, for one year.
Treasurer for one year. Auditor for one year.
Tax Collector for one year.
Tree Warden for one year.
(49)
50
TOWN REPORT.
Six Constables for one year.
'One Assessor for three years.
One School Committee for three years.
One Trustee of Public Library for three years.
One Park Commissioner for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years.
And to vote on the following :
Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxi- cating liquors in this Town for the coming year? Yes or No.
All on one ballot. The Polls will open at six (6) o'clock and close at ten (10) o'clock in the fore- noon.
ART. 2. To choose or appoint all other Town Officers in such manner as the Town may determine.
ART. 3. To hear the Reports of the Town Officers and act thereon.
ART. 4. To raise and appropriate money for the repairs of highways, Town ways and bridges, and all other Town expenses, and to determine the manner of spending the same.
ART. 5. To see what action the Town will take towards gravelling and curbing sidewalk on the westerly side of Willow street and to raise and ap-
51
TOWN REPORT.
propriate a sum of money for the same as petitioned for by Robert Robertson and others.
ART. 6. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars and authorize the same to be used by the Park Commissioners in acquiring for Park purposes, under Chapter 109 of the Acts of the Legislature of Massachusetts for the year 1911, the parcel of land known as the Wigglesworth Cem- etery lot, on the northwesterly side of Main street in Hamilton, said sum being sufficient to meet the esti- mated expense of acquiring said land.
ART. 7. To hear the report of the Ipswich River Committee and to take any action thereon. Petition of L. E. Libby and others.
ART. 8. To see what action the Town will take regarding the investing the Miss Abigail Dodge and Dr. Justin Allen funds. Petition of L. E. Libby and others.
ART. 9 To see what action the Town will take towards gravelling the sidewalk on the westerly side of Main street, between the Meyer estate and the W. F. Nichols estate, as petitioned for by Fred. P. Kil- ham and others.
ART. 10. To see what action the Town will take toward acquiring a municipal water supply for its in- habitants and establishing a water supply system,
52
TOWN REPORT.
and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor, and pass any vote or votes in relation thereto, as petitioned for by Philip Scully and others.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will vote to divide the Town into wards and make the necessary ar- rangements to provide for a voting place at the Town Hall and one at or near the Engine House at South Hamilton and to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same, as petitioned for by L. E. Libby and others.
ART. 12. To see if the Town will elect a build- ing committee or Commission and take the necessary steps to give to them the authority usually vested in such boards, or to take any other action toward pro- tection against fire on account of inflammable roofs. Petition of L. E. Libby and others.
ART. 13. To see what action the Town will take to discontinue the public way commonly, called or known as "Dodge Lane," extending from Highland street to a point in front of the house of William Henry Dodge, as petitioned for by Charles H. Smith and others.
ART. 14. To see what action the Town will take towards the maintenance of an isolated hospital as required by Chapter 613, Acts of 1911, and appro- priate a sum of money for same, or take any action thereon.
-
53
TOWN REPORT.
ART. 15. To see what action the Town will take toward reducing the number of Constables.
ART. 16. To see what action the Town will take toward shingling the roof of South Schoolhouse and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ART. 17. To see what action the Town will take towards raising and appropriating a sum of money not to exceed fifty (50) dollars for the purpose of observing Decoration Day by the Soldiers of the Rebellion.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the current municipal year, beginning March 12, 1912, in anticipation of the taxes for said municipal year, such sums of money as may be nec- essary to meet the current expenses of the Town, giving the note or notes of the Town therefor.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will authorize the Collector to use all means of collecting taxes which a Town Treasurer when appointed Collector may use agreeable to Chapter 25, Section 75, of the Re- vised Laws.
ART. 20. To determine what time tax bills shall be issued and taxes become due, and take any action thereon.
54
TOWN REPORT.
ART. 21. To act on any other matters that may legally come before said meeting.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one at the Meeting House, one at the Town Hall, and one at the South Hamilton Post Office, in said Town, seven days, at least, before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this war- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-eighth day of February, A. D. 1912.
GEORGE H. GIBNEY, GEORGE W. FITZ, CLARENCE S. KNOWLTON,
Selectmen of Hamilton.
SCHOOL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF HAMILTON
1911-1912
ASSA
ILTON
. HA
TTS.
INCOR
793
SALEM, MASS. BARRY PRINTING CO. 1912.
.
School Committee's Report.
Annual report of the School Committee of the Town of Hamilton for the year 1911-1912.
ORGANIZATION.
GEORGE K. KNOWLTON, Chairman, Term expires 1913
C. AUGUSTUS NORWOOD, Secretary,
1914
EDWIN A. BLAKE, Ph. D., 1912
C. AUGUSTUS NORWOOD, Purchasing Agent. HENRY G. BLOUNT, Superintendent.
REPORT.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
(Closed December 30, 1911.)
Amount appropriated for Schools, $12,800 00
Received from Dog Tax, 1910,
374 77
Received from City of Boston, tuition,
76 00
Balance on hand December 31, 1910, 769 78
Damaged Books,
59
$14,021 14
Total payments on following pages,
12,856 15
Balance on hand December 30, 1911, $1,164 99
(3)
4
SCHOOL REPORT.
PAID TEACHERS.
Mr. Henry G. Blount, Principal and Superintendent, $1,432 50
Miss Harriet E. Boynton, 375 00
Mrs. Laura D. Blount, 525 00
Miss Lillian E. Eaton,
695 63
Mrs. Mattie P. Buell,
719 73
Miss Louise E. Dearing,
560 70
Miss Harriette A. Wetherbee,
333 75
Miss Ada E. Moulton,
535 09
Miss Edith L. Fletcher,
535 09
Miss Marcia A. Gordon,
536 67
Miss Nellie G. Cutting,
431 86
Mrs. Grace C. Stone,
431 86
Miss Flora Lipson, 450 01
Miss Eloise A. Pitcher,
254 25
Miss Mildred B. Skerry,
225 00
Miss Susan E. Knapp,
217 09
Miss Anna Mellen,
177 61
Mr. Henry L. Stone,
185 00
Miss Cora E. Hill,
15 50
Miss Edith F. Cotton,
5 00
Miss Maude V. Ellis,
6 00
Miss Gladys Smith,
4 00
$8,652 34
PAID FOR CARE OF SCHOOLHOUSES.
James H. Perron, $740 00
Mrs. A. F. Lougee, 38 90
Sylvester Day, 34 00
5
SCHOOL REPORT.
John E. Cox,
$24 00
Flora Lipson,
6 00
Harry Smith,
6 00
Charles E. Grant,
24 00
$872 90
PAID FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Ginn & Company,
$181 30
A. D. Handy,
105 20
F. J. Barnard & Co.,
123 33
Library Bureau Co.,
13 45
Silver, Burdette & Co.,
9 59
John S. Cross,
2 00
William J. Murdock,
30 74
Educational Pub. Society,
38 60
Underwood Typewriter Co.,
107 00
The Palmer Co.,
1 50
A. N. Palmer,
6 01
Edward E. Babb & Co.,
403 56
Horace E. Andrews,
30 98
Educational Supply Co.,
1 00
Hobbs & Warren Co.,
2 10
Louis M. Pignolet,
5 60
George Checketts, Jr.,
1 00
D. C. Heath Co.,
13 63
American Book Co.,
33 55
L. E. Knott App. Co.,
205 14
William G. Webber Co.,
18 32
Charles E. Merrill Co.,
5 12
$1,338 72
6
SCHOOL REPORT.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Timothy A. Moynihan, fuel,
$778 87
Timothy A. Moynihan, clearing cesspool,
10 00
New England Tel. & Tel. Co.,
57 74
Beverly Gas and Electric Light Co., 28 99
Robert Robertson Co., repairs,
12 63
Frank P. Trussell, repairs,
117 77
W. L. Smith, repairs,
56 30
Waters & Brown, repairs,
10 00
Zina Goodell, repairs,
42 69
Frank E. Burnham, repairs,
36 76
Rider-Erison Co.,
1 85
Joseph W. Lee & Co., repairs,
35 80
Thomas Atherley, cleaning clock,
1 00
John B. Hill & Co., cleaning clock,
1 70
A. J. McGinley, supplies,
1 90
John W. Goodhue, supplies,
23 07
Stanley Liquid Soap Co., soap and towels, 46 97
S. E. McGlauflin, services as truant officer,
16 95
Henry Bushek, boiler inspector,
12 00
Frank R. Shaller, tuning organ,
1 00
Fred C. Shaller, printing,
20 00
Philip Sculley, repairs,
1 10
O. J. Kimball, supplies,
15 66
William M. Currier Co.,
18 00
S. C. Gould, supplies,
11 48
William W. Bancroft,
134 32
7
SCHOOL REPORT.
Standard Oil Co., $10 95
American Seating Co., seats for
High School,
86 40
Paine Furniture Co.,
18 98
A. L. Perley, repairs,
5 90
Remington Typewriter Co., repairs
1 52
C. A. Peterson, repairs,
104 64
John R. Mann, team,
11 00
George K. Knowlton, seven trips,
printing, repairs,
23 25
George K. Knowlton, taking school census,
15 00
$1,772 19
TRANSPORTATION OF SCHOLARS.
Boston & Northern St. Ry. Co.,
$ 6 00
William A. Brumby,
25 20
Quinn McGregor,
25 40
Patrick Sullivan,
24 80
John E. Cox, Jr.,
12 00
William Cox,
12 00
Horace Cook,
12 00
Edith Fitz,
3 90
Charles Grant,
12 00
James Hart,
12 00
Keith Nutter,
3 90
James Poole,
3 90
Mildred Smith,
12 00
Mabel Cole,
12 00
$177 10
8
SCHOOL REPORT.
PAID EXPRESS, POSTAGE, ETC.
Peoples Express, Inc., $2 40
C. Augustus Norwood, repayment of cash advanced, 12 36
Henry G. Blount, repayment of cash advanced, .8 40
James H. Perron, repayment of cash advanced, 13 54
George K. Knowlton, repayment of cash advanced, 6 20
$42 90
TOTAL PAYMENTS.
Paid Teachers, $8,652 34
Paid for care of Schoolhouses, 872 90
Paid for School supplies, 1,338 72
Miscellaneous expenses, 1,772 19
Transportation of Scholars, 177 10
Paid for Express, Postage, etc., 42 90
$12,856 15
SCHOLARS' TICKET ACCOUNT.
Balance in hands of George K.
Knowlton, Dec. 31, 1910, $34 80
Received rebate on scholars' tickets from B. & M. Railroad Co., 5 01
$39 81
Paid B. & M. R. R. Co., for scholars' tickets, 35 10
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1911, . $4 71
9
SCHOOL REPORT.
ESTIMATE FOR SCHOOLS 1912.
The following is an estimate of the amount of money that should be raised and appropriated by the Town for all public school purposes for the municipal year, 1912-13, $13,000.00.
TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT.
To the honorable Board of School Committee :
Gentlemen : - I hereby tender the following report. During the year ending December, 1911, I have made twenty one (21) calls and in all cases the children have been sent back to school without having to resort to the Courts.
I am informed by the School Superintendent that the percentage of attendance has been raised from 92% to 94% ยท I feel that the parents have co-operated very fairly with the School Superintendent and the truant officer and wish to thank them for so doing.
S. E. MCGLAUFLIN,
Truant Officer of Hamilton.
In presenting our school report to the citizens of the town we are glad to record a year of good work in the schools.
Under the direction of the superintendent and principal of the High school, Mr. H. G. Blount, all our teachers have been working faithfully and conscientiously and are entitled to much praise for their excellent service.
10
SCHOOL REPORT.
We have reason to be thankful that no serious epidemic has invaded the schools during the year.
We have not been able to use the new annex at the south schoolhouse as much as desirable. It was not ready for occupancy till two weeks after the opening of the schools in September, and when the extremely cold weather came on in January, it could not be made warm enough for the comfort of the scholars, and several weeks schooling have been lost to the three primary grades.
The matter of heating and ventilating the building was somewhat experimental, and the unusually cold weather put the heating plant to a very severe test. The building com- mittee has spared no pains or expense to put the annex into first class condition, and hope this result is now obtained.
For a detailed report of the work and progress of the schools see the report of the superintendent.
GEORGE K. KNOWLTON, C. AUGUSTUS NORWOOD, EDWIN A. BLAKE,
School Committee.
Report of Superintendent.
To the School Committee of Hamilton :
I have the honor to submit my second annual report on the public schools for the year ending December 31, 1911.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
A new building has been erected on the South School grounds to accomodate pupils of the Grade Schools who gave up their rooms in the main building because they were needed for the High School. Thus farit has been impossible to heat the building satisfactorily and school has been interrupted and some little time lost. At present each divison of pupils from the new building is having one session in one of the High School rooms and the teachers are each having an assist- ant at a nominal cost. This plan will certainly enable our pupils to recover lost ground and reach standard at the end of the year.
We sincerely desire to see this building well heated because the success of our first three grades for this year depends upon it. At present a new system of heating is being installed which is confidently expected to work.
(11)
12
SCHOOL REPORT.
But there is another situation to be faced for the future - that is the centralization of our school system. This means an increase of efficiency and a decrease of cost. There are four district or outlying schools in our town and they are maintained at an annual cost of practically twenty-three hundred dollars. Moreover some three hundred dollars is being paid each year for transportation. This makes the total cost of the district schools, irrespective of text books and supplies, twenty-six hundred dollars. It is a conserva -. tive estimate that all our pupils could be transported safely and comfortably for sixteen hundred dollars a year and that all could be taken care of at the South Building with the addition of another teacher at a cost of 8550. This would leave a balance in favor of centralization of more than four hundred dollars. Unification of schools is being tried in a town of Barnstable County, that is much like Hamilton, with good results. Business men are talking of centraliza- tion and unification, why shouldn't we school men and parents talk of it and bring it about ?
If saving four hundred dollars by centralization were the only argument, however, I should not say another word. But there is a stronger argument-that of increased interest, activity, and efficiency on the part of the pupils.
At present, each teacher of a district school has the care and instruction of from five to seven grades. It is a great responsibility, since the needs of each grade are differ- ent and methods to be employed for primary and grammar grades are not the same. This means that a teacher in order to give the proper kind of instruction must be a specialist in methods of teaching different grades. It is almost impos- ble to find a teacher who is equally proficient in the work
13
SCHOOL REPORT.
of all grades. In a centralized school system it is possible to offer better salaries and secure specialists for each grade.
The second reason for centralization is the increase in length of periods for recitation it would bring about. The class recitation is the most important need of a pupil of the grade school. He needs the guiding hand and encouraging word of a teacher. He must be taught how to study, how to centralize his attention on work. Willing as a teacher may be, she could not find time for this if she must carry out a daily program for seven grades. That our teachers of fifty years ago did this is no reason why we should do it to-day. Our motto should be "progress."
A third reason for centralization is an increased interest that comes when pupils are constantly looking forward to promotion, a change of action and something novel. It creates a spirit of rivalry, too, and when we instill motive for education into a child's mind we add an incalculable factor to his education.
Fourth, centralization will bring about more efficient supervision and make possible instruction in other branches not at present possible. Under the present system nearly half of the time I spend in the supervision of district schools is spent en route to the schools-a great but necessary waste of time. It is also true of the music super- visor. Centralization will make manual training possible for all grades where it is practical at no great cost.
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