USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > North Reading > Town of North Reading Annual Report of the Town Officers 1876 > Part 2
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WEST WARD SCHOOL.
This school, during the year, has been taught by Miss Jennie L. Dearborn. The school is not large, but shows evidence of having received careful instruction. A source of annoyance to the teacher, and a drawback to success, has been the fre- quent absence of some of the scholars. We hear noticed the proficiency of a class of the smallest scholars in writing and numerating numbers composed of many figures. There is in this school a class of young scholars in Geography, who answer
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promptly and seem much interested in the study. The reading of the highest class, although composed of but few pupils is, we think, somewhat in advance of the other Grammar School classes in the Fifth Reader. The penmanship of some here is very good. The higher classes in Arithmetic and Geography, compare favorably with other schools. Grammar, we consider to be a favorite study with the teacher, and the pupils have made some advancement in it. The discipline of the school ap- pears to be good. We here noticed on examination day, the singing, with respect both to the pleasing tunes selected, and the manner of executing them. The Composi- tions here were very sensible productions with respeet to matter, and creditable with regard to form. We cannot think that this school would be benefited by a change of teacher.
FRANKLIN SCHOOL.
This school is the largest in the town, and has had the same teacher, Miss Ella J. Davis, for two years. It is composed of scholars of all ages, from five to fifteen years. In some respects this school differs from all the other schools. A general promptness is required in recitations, which is not so observable elsewhere. The scholar is not here allowed to spend too much time in thinking in the class, but is expected to be fully prepared on entering it. We are constrained to say, that we have spent some days in this school when the general recitations were more nearly perfect than in any other school visited. The fault in this school is in little details ; which but partially modifies the statement made with respect to general attainments. For instance, the scholars in Intellectual Arithmetic are familiar with the problems and obtain correct results, but are deficient in their explanations. In Reading, the scholars generally, are acquainted with the words and read with some good degree of expression, but are not sufficiently careful with respect to the punctuation marks. The Spelling here is excellent, but there is a want of care in the pronunciation of syl- ables. In Written Arithmetic, the second class make a very creditable appearance ; no scholars in the town of the same age being more proficient. The reading of the class in the Fifth Reader is fully as good as the average. In Geography the school appears well. The penmanship of this school is good. The discipline might be somewhat improved, and should be, particularly among some of the older pupils. Some disappointment has been felt in connection with this school, caused by the ex- ercises on the day of public examination. Various causes combined to produce such a feeling, but the Committee are of the opinion, that should this school be uni- ted with all the other Grammar schools in a test examination, this feeling would dis- appear.
CENTRE SCHOOL.
This school has been a somewhat hard field of labor. The first term was taught by Miss L. J. Mansfield, who, at the close of the term, was offered a situation in the town of Wakefield, where she resided, which she accepted. Miss Mansfield did much hard and discouraging work here, and was, as the Committee hoped, about to
23
reap some satisfaction from it in the advance of the school during the second term, when she resigned. She was succeeded by Miss S. A. Putnam, who has taught this school for two terms. Miss Putnam is familiar with the methods of teaching both here and at the West, and has done a good work, particularly with the younger scholars. But it must be conceded, that there is still great cause for discourage- ment, when we find scholars so old as some here who have not proceeded beyond Division in Written Arithmetic. It is to this school that the attention of the Com- mittee has been called with respect to cases of discipline ; and we are happy to add, that the firmness of the teacher has overcome the obstacles arising from such causes, and that the order of the school is comparatively good. We fear that the lack of interest among some of the parents in this district, has somewhat to do with the backward condition of the school. Tardiness has been very frequent here. There are some redeeming features here, however, and among the younger scholars we find some good readers familiar with the punctuation marks, and read- ing with considerable regard to the meaning of piece selected. This is the first school in which we witnessed calisthenics. There was one Composition read here on examination day, the sentiments of which, we hope every scholar in the school will lay to heart. "I can't" is no proper motto for these scholars. Singing has not been much cultivated here ; we were however, entertained by a solo performance by a young pupil, and the sentiments he expressed we cordially approve of. The writing books look as well as many others. The Committee do not wish to speak disparagingly of any school, but we think the facts in each case should be known, with the hope that there may be a decided improvement in the future. There are bright and intelligent children here, who have advanced in their studies during the year just closed, and of whom we expect much in the coming year.
EAST WARD SCHOOL.
This has been a very small school, and the propriety of continuing it has been questioned by many of our citizens. The first two terms were taught by Miss Lizzie J. Graves, and she was engaged for the third term, but resigned her charge on account of sickness. We have always felt that the small number of pupils here was prejudicial to the best interests of both teacher and pupils, from the fact that her energies were not sufficiently taxed, and their ambition and enthusiasm were not enough aroused. The school was, however, receiving the teacher's careful attention and instruction, when she was obliged to resign. The school has been taught by Miss Elizabeth Colby, of Boston. The number of scholars has increased somewhat, and the school is making good progress. The examination exercises were inter- rupted by sickness among the scholars, which so depleted the school, that it was considered best to dispense with them. A few friends visited the school on the closing day, and expressed great satisfaction with the recitations of the few remain- ing pupils. We are happy to state that Miss Colby has signified her willingness to continue her valuable services for another term, and the Committee have hired her ; thereby giving satisfaction, we think, to all in the district.
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HIGH SCHOOL.
The reports which were in circulation at the beginning of the year concerning this school were such as to lead the Committee to suppose it to be a difficult school to deal with. No trouble has arisen and none is apprehended. The Committee were most happy in the selection of Miss Abbie E. Southwick, of Newburyport, for a teacher. Her pleasant manners, rare judgment and conscientious fidelity in the discharge of her duties, won the confidence of the Committee, and the good will, and love, of the scholars. Miss Southwick spent much time in the endeavor to arrange and systematize the various departments of the school, and the result of her labors was soon apparent in its greatly improved condition. The only new study introduced during the first term was Physiology; but a new text book was obtained for scholars commencing the study of United States History. Miss Southwick left us at the close of the Spring Term, expecting to return, but received an offer of a situation in Providence, which she was induced to accept. It was with some misgiving that we welcomed a new teacher for the second term. We are happy to report that our fear was soon dissipated, and that we were again fortunate in obtaining the services of Miss Emma M. Lunt, also of Newburyport. Possessing the same excellent qualities with the former teacher, and pursuing the same methods of instruction, the school has steadily progressed; and the Committee would greatly regret being obliged to commence the year with a new teacher here. The study of Latin was commenced with the second term, and the scholars have made commend- able progress in it. The exercises of the school on the public day were very satis- factory, showing that much thorough work had been done. Hardly a question was asked by the teacher or the Committee, which failed of a correct answer, either from the scholar reciting, or from some member of the class. The Compositions read were excellent, and call for considerable praise. The classes in the higher Mathe- matics, and in Physical Geography, are making steady progress. There is one feature of the school which we desire to change-the absence of any fixed course of study, and time for graduation. We are acquainted with scholars who can fix the date of their entrance into the school, but we have yet to meet with one able to tell when the course for him will have ended. We congratulate the town on the present appearance of our High School, and hope that whatever difference of views has existed with regard to it in the past, all may for the future unite in its support.
In conclusion, we must say that our schools as a whole are in a backward condition ; and that we consider it the duty of every citizen who desires the future prosperity of the town, to give his hearty sympathy, and support, to the cause of education among us. We desire to call the attention of parents to the fact, that it is unreasonable and useless, to find fault with teachers for not bringing forward dull pupils who have been allowed to drop behind for a long time ; and that the main hope for the future is that the younger scholars may now have a more thorough and vigorous school training, than seems to have been received by the older ones now in our schools. To this end, we must have good teachers; and in order to secure such we must have money to pay them with ; and money spent in this manner will never impoverish the town, or lessen its influence.
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STATISTICS.
Schools.
Term.
Number
of
Scholars.
Per cent of
Attendance
Number
under five
years.
Number
over
fifteen.
Number
not
absent.
Number
not
tardy.
Wages of Teacher per week.
High
2
29
83
0
o
12
7
6
Centre
N
34
CO
88
.
3
6
5
Franklin
13
40
87
I
O
O
22
1
19
75
-
West
12
I7
77
I
1
a
$8 00
w
21
82
O
2
O
O
-
25
$8 00
w
34
12
57
3
2
N
O
-
w
3
16
| 67
O
w
I
IO
$8 00
5
4
14
16
$12 00
-w
37
74
2
I
N
1
7
$8 00
w
31
37
82
1
0 0
00
30
$8 00
w
34
85
I
I
5
1
DAVID R. GALLOUPE, ) SCHOOL COMMITTEE GEORGE L. FLINT, OF
DAVID G. EATON.
NORTH READING.
1
N
I4
67
O
-
O
I
O
6
$7 00
East
2
35
80
0 0
19
North
37
77
82
28
-
1
-
29
93
5
25
00
IO
I
25
a
ON- OVO
8
TOWN MEETING.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of North Reading, in the County of Middlesex,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of North Reading, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said town on Monday, the sixth day of March next, at eight o'clock, A. M., then and there to act on the following Articles, viz : Polls open at nine o'clock.
ART. I. To choose a Moderator.
ART. 2. To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.
ART. 3. To hear reports of Selectmen, Assessors and Over- seers of the Poor, and act thereon.
ART. 4. To hear report of Treasurer, and act thereon.
ART. 5. To hear report of School Committee, and act thereon.
ART. 6. To hear report of Trustees of Flint Library, Trus- tees of Cemeteries and of Committees, and act thereon.
ART. 7. To see how much money the Town will raise and appropriate for necessary Town expenses for the year ensuing, and the manner in which it shall be expended.
ART. 8. To see what instructions the Town will give their Collector in relation to collecting taxes and allowing discount on the same.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will give their Treasurer author- ity to hire money, or what they will do in relation to the same.
ART. IO. To take any action necessary to comply with Chapter 209 of the Acts of the year 1875.
ART. II. To see if the Town will furnish better facilities for the education of the children in " New Marblehead," or what they will do about it.
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ART. 12. To see if the Town will allow James P. Godfrey and L. E. Hayward to work out their proportion of the highway money raised, on the roads leading to their house, or what they will do about it.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will vote to widen the road opposite the house of R. B. Walsh, or what they will do about it.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will vote to widen Haverhill street near the house of William Campbell, or what they will do about it. ART. 15. To see if the Town will vote to widen Haverhill street at the Depot, or what they will do about it.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will vote to widen North street near A. V. Holt's house, or what they will do about it.
ART. 17. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the money received on account of dog licenses.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will discontinue the High School, or what they will do about it.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will ratify the lease given to W. P. Willis by the Selectmen.
ART. 20. To see if the Town will instruct their Selectmen to call their November meeting in the afternoon, or what they will do about it.
ART. 21 To see what instructions the Town will give their Selectmen in regard to the vestry of the Town Hall.
ART. 22. To see what action the Town will take in regard to keeping and selling gunpowder.
ART. 23. To hear report of Selectmen on guideboards.
ART. 24. To see if the Town will accept the list of Jurors as prepared by the Selectmen.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meet- ing as aforesaid.
Given under our hand this twenty-fifth day of February, A. D. eighteen hundred and seventy-six.
AUGUSTINE P. COOK, SELECTMEN JOHN B. CAMPBELL, OF TIMOTHY FOWLE. NORTH READING.
A true copy,-Attest : GEO. A. FLINT, Constable.
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