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tory of).
The Book of Worthies. (Yonge).
The Civil War. ( Anecdotes of, by The Oriental Christ. (Mazoomdar. ) Townsend.) Schools and Studies.
Edgar A. Poe. (Life and Works in Heroes and Hero Worship. (Carlyle.) one volume. American Girl's Home Book.
Legends and Folk Lore of N. E. Recollections of a Naval Officer. (Drake.)
Life and Letters of Elizabeth Pren- tiss.
Whence. What, Where? (Man's Or-
igin and Destiny.)
Star Papers.
The Divine Comedy. (Dante. Long- fellow's translation.) 3 Vols. Memorie and Rime. (Joaquin Miller.
Things New and Old. " (Washington 'Gladden.)
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF READING,
For the Year 1883-4.
REPORT.
The School Committee for the year ending March, 1884, respectfully submit the following report :-
According to the latest available statistics (Report of State Board of Education, January, 1884.) Reading ranks twenty- seventh among the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, and sixteenth among those of Middlesex county in respect to the amount of money appropriated for the education of each child between the ages of five and fifteen years. This shows the liberality of the town in its appropriation of money to its schools as compared with other cities and towns for the year 1882-3. But when Reading is compared with other towns in respect to the percentage of its valuation appropriated to the support of schools it will be seen that it occupies a very dif- ferent place in the scale. For instance, in this regard, Read- ing stands one hundred and forty-fourth in the State, 143 towns ranking above and 202 below. In the county its rank is eighteenth, 17 towns being above and 36 below.
In respect to average attendance, Reading, by the same sta- tistics, ranks fifty-first in the State and tenth in the county.
As regards the rank of Reading based on the percentage of its taxable property appropriated for school purposes, and com- parative valuation is usually considered a fair measure of com- parative ability, the present position of the town is considerably below its own average for the last twenty years, its average rank for that time being one hundred and nineteenth in the State. But, on the other hand, Reading at present appropriates a percentage of its valuation about equivalent to the average
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percentage appropriated by the town for the same period of twenty years. It therefore follows that while our appropria- tions, as compared with our valuation, have not greatly changed, other towns have increased their appropriations so as to outrank us in the comparison. Bearing this in mind, we trust the town will not contemplate any reduction in the amount appropriated for its schools at the present time.
Concerning attendance we need only say, that while liberal appropriations are necessary for maintaining the schools a suffi- cient length of time during the year for the employment of competent teachers and the provision of proper apparatus and other essentials of school work, nothing contributes more to the success of a school than constant and prompt attendance on the part of each pupil. The record of our schools in this respect has always been an enviable one, and we desire par- ticularly to call the attention of parents to the importance of doing everything in their power to reduce tardiness and absence of pupils to the minimum. It is of course improper to enforce attendance whenever regard for the health of the pupil requires his detention at home, but many pupils fall into careless habits, are not sufficiently impressed with the need of promptness, and are allowed by their parents to remain away from school upon friv- olous excuses. The remedy is obvious and should be applied. With these general remarks we now proceed to a presentation of the work of the past year.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE.
Organization was perfected at the first regular meeting by the choice of Horace G. Wadlin, Chairman, and the re-election of Henry G. Kittredge, Secretary. The following Sub-Com- mittees were appointed :-
67
.
High School-Messrs. Wadlin and Kittredge.
First Grammar-Mr. Kittredge.
Second Grammar-Mr. Putney.
Third Grammar-Mr. S. E. Parker.
Upper Medium-Mr. E. F. Parker.
Lower Medium-Mr. S. E. Parker.
Upper Primary-Mr. Putney ..
Lower Primary-Mr. Wadlin.
Walnut Street Schools-Mr. Kittredge.
Woburn Street Schools-Mr. Bancroft.
Lowell Street School-Mr. E. F. Parker.
Main Street School-Mr. Bancroft.
Haverhill Street School -- Mr. S. E. Parker.
On Prudential Affairs-Messrs. E. F. Parker and S. E. Parker.
On Accounts-Mr. E. F. Parker. On Music-Mr. Putney.
TEACHERS.
Only three changes have been made in our teaching force during the past year. Miss Z. A. Wakefield resigned the position she had long held as teacher of the Haverhill street school, her successor being Miss Olena A. Wakefield of this town. Miss Clara J. Coney, of the Woburn street grammar school, resigned at the close of the summer term, her resignation being caused by her change of residence to Denver, Colorado, where she is now engaged in teaching. The vacancy was filled by the promotion of Miss Mattie Davis, whose efforts in the primary seemed indicative of success in the grammar department. The vacancy in the primary was filled
68
by the selection of Miss Mary E. Murkland, of Lynn, a normal graduate with some experience in teaching, who came to us highly recommended. Most of our teachers have been with us for several years and are generally to be commended for earn- est efforts in behalf of their schools, and for faithful and pains- taking service.
DISCIPLINE.
In accordance with the requirements of the statutes truant officers have been appointed by the Committee, whose duty it is to see that the laws relating to truancy and the employment of children are enforced. In but one case of truancy was it found necessary to take extreme measures, and in that instance the pupil was sent to the truant school in Lowell, where he is doing well, and under proper restraint is, we believe, acquiring such habits of order and self-control as will conduce to his wel- in life. In one other instance a similar course would have been taken by the Committee had not the offender, through cireum- stances not necessary to explain here, passed under the guard- ianship of the State Board of Health, Lunacy and Charity, thus relieving the Committee from responsibility. With but few exceptions the discipline maintained in the schools has been good.
HIGH SCHOOL.
28 pupils entered this school in September, 18 having pre- viously graduated. The present number of pupils is 73. We believe the record of Reading in respect to attendance at the High School to be unexcelled. There are no industrial estab- lishments in town to compete with this school for those who leave the grammar classes, and therefore a large proportion of our pupils enter it, and of these, an unusually large percentage. graduate. The attendance has undoubtedly been increased
69
by the policy of the Committee, which for many years has been to provide such courses of study as seemed best adapt- ed to the majority of the pupils in our own town, rather than to conform to some ideal standard fixed under different local con- ditions. We believe that the support given the school, and the high estimate placed upon it by our people justifies this policy. If evidence were needed of the good work done in the school none better could be given than the success which has attended its graduates, many of whom are filling positions of trust and responsibility, and the uniformly high rank taken by those who have gone from its classes into the normal schools at Salem and Bridgewater. The principal of the latter has never failed to compliment the applicants for admission to his school who have come from Reading, and in his opinion they are always among those best prepared for entrance. Such results as this speak more effectively for the school than can any words of ours.
The present three years' course was adopted several years ago. It seems to the Committee that with the number of teach- ers at present employed something might be done for those pupils who desire to remain four years in the school. With this end in view a plan for another year's work is in contemplation, and will be perfected before the beginning of the next school year.
The names of the graduates may be found in the appendix.
MUSIC.
Instruction in music has continued during the year under the able direction of Mr. Henry G. Carey. Mr. Carey's methods have met the approbation of the Committee, and his work is, we believe, thoroughly appreciated and highly valued by the par- ents.
BUILDINGS.
In obedience to a vote of the town the Walnut street school building was removed during the summer vacation to a lot on
70
Hopkins street. By vote of the board the school will hereafter be designated "The Chestnut Hill School." The new site, while not above criticism, was in the locality approved by a ma- jority of those residing in the district, and not far away from the old location. The slope of the lot to the west enabled a good cellar to be put under the building at moderate expense. When the surplus gravel is removed, which will be done as fast as it can be used upon the streets, and the grading is completed, its present unsightly appearance will be obviated, and we are confident that the choice of site will then be regretted by but few. The building itself was completely remodeled, two good first-story rooms being obtained, with proper entrances on each side. It was thus rendered much more convenient for the two schools which occupy it, and the primary department is no lon- ger confined to a small and poorly ventilated attic. A full statement of the cost of this, and other routine repairs of the year is appended.
We desire pointedly to call the attention of the town to the condition of the rooms occupied by the Union street primary schools. They are, as is well known, small, poorly ventilated, and totally unfit for the use to which they are put. In their pres- ent state they are a disgrace to the town. The front room, espe- cially, occupied by the lower primary, has no adequate clothes room for hanging the cloaks and hats of pupils, and conse- quently a portion of the school room wall is utilized for this purpose. On a wet day, when the room is heated, the steam arising from drying garments mingled with the impurities re- sulting from the crowded condition of the room, renders the air so bad as to be injurious to health.
The town ought to build at some time in the near future a four-room school building in the centre district, properly arranged, well lighted and ventilated, and such as other towns in this vicinity provide for their schools. The fact that the Union street building was built many years ago for other pur-
71
poses, interferes with its adaptation to the educational wants of the present. If, however, the town is not ready to erect a new building some other plan ought to be devised to improve the condition of things, and the best that we can suggest is to raise the John street school building, adding a story underneath to be occupied by the lower primary, and to devote the entire first story of the Union street building to the upper primary, chang- ing the arrangement of rooms therein to conform to its needs. This would afford some relief and could be accomplished with- out great expense. The matter will come before the town at the ensuing meeting by an article in the warrant.
INSPECTION OF THE SCHOOLS.
During the winter term the High School was visited by Mr. George H. Martin, and all the schools inspected by Mr. John T. Prince, both acting as agents of the State Board of Education.
The work of the teachers was carefully observed, the schools examined and the character of the buildings noted, after which Mr. Prince met the teachers collectively and addressed them upon their work, and offered such criticisms and advice as seemed to be needed.
Early in the coming year it is proposed to secure the services of Mr. Charles M. Carter, of the State Normal Art School, who volunteers to give a series of practical talks to the teachers on methods of teaching drawing.
FREE TEXT-BOOKS.
An important change in the statutes relating to public schools has just been made. For several years by Section 40 of Chap- ter 48 of the public statutes a town by vote might authorize its school committee to purchase text-books and stationery for use in the public schools, such books to be the property of the town, and to be lent to pupils under such regulations as the school committee might make. What a town by this statute was permitted to do, it is now required to do by the provisions of the following act just passed :
72
SECTION 1. The school committee of every city and town shall pur . chase, at the expense of said city or town, text-books and other school supplies used in the public schools, and said text-books and supplies shall be loaned to the pupils of said public schools free of charge, subject to such rules and regulations as to care and custody as the school committee may prescribe.
SECT. 2. Pupils supplied with text-books at the time of the passage of this act shall not be supplied with similar books by the committee until needed.
SECT. 3. This act shall take effect upon the first day of August, 1884.
To conform to the requirements of this act will demand an appropriation of $600 to be made by the town and included in the tax levy of the present year.
VACANCIES.
There will be two vacancies in the board to be filled by the town at the ensuing meeting, the terms of Messrs. Putney and Wadlin expiring.
APPROPRIATIONS.
We recommend the same amount to be appropriated for support of schools as was raised last year, viz. $8,100. We also recommend the same amount as that of last year to be raised for incidentals, viz. $700, together with the additional sum of $600 for text-books, making the total appropriation for incidentals of $1,300.
.
HORACE G. WADLIN, Chairman, HENRY G. KITTREDGE, Secretary, JAMES A. BANCROFT, STILLMAN E. PARKER, EDWARD F. PARKER, GEORGE E. PUTNEY,
School Committee of Reading.
ADOPTED IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
March 14, 1884.
Table showing Salaries, Attendance, and Number of Visitors.
Average Mem'ship.
Average Attend'nce.
NAMES OF SCHOOLS.
No. of visitors.
TEACHERS NOW EMPLOYED.
SALARIES NOW PAID.
Ist Term.
2d Term.
3d Term.
Ist Term.
2d Term.
3d Term.
Pupils during yr
under 5 years.
High School .
70
Miss Mary L. Stinchfield, Ist Assistant ...
$1,200 00 per year. 12 00 per week
64
76
76
62
75
73
45
First Grammar ..
120
Miss Jennie R. Barrus ..
13 00
37
51
48
36
49
46
1
Second Grammar
87
Miss Alice M. Barrows.
12 00
30
36
35
28
34
34
1
Third Grammar.
64
Miss A. M. Buswell .
10 00
34
33
33
33
32
31
Upper Medium
85
Miss Ella F. Wakefield ..
10 00
35
37
35
32
34
33
Lower Medium ..
89
Mrs. Alice W. Emerson.
10 00
31
28
28
29
26
24
Union-st. Upper Primary ....
124
Mrs. Sarah A. Goodridge.
10 00
66
56
55
54
53
52
49
Union-st. Lower Primary ....
115
Miss Ruth L. Pratt.
8 00
17
20
21
15
19
19
1
Chestnut Hill Primary ....
47
Miss Mary W. Howard.
7 00
39
39
40
34
36
31
Woburn-st. Grammar ...
60
Miss Martha F. Davis ..
10 00
34
29
29
33
28
27
Woburn-st. Primary.
50
Miss Mary E. Murkland ..
8 00
32
39
41
27
29
29
Lowell-st. Mixed.
32
Miss Kate L. Beard .
9 00
35.
41
39
30
35
34
10
I
Main-st. Mixed ..
30
Miss Annie P. Reid ..
6 00
11
9
9
1]
9
8
Haverhill-st. Mixed.
36
Miss Olena A. Wakefield.
6 00
18
18
14
16
13
1
532
559
548
489
516
487
50
6
1,062
.
.
. . .
. ....
....
. . .
.
. . .. . .
.
.
.
.
. .. .
..
..
... .
.
..... .
10 00
66
59
48
46
49
42
36
4
Chestnut Hill Grammar ...
53
Miss Sarah M. Pearson ..
.
....
.
.
( E. P. Fitts, Principal ..
(Miss Cora F. Adams, 2d Assistant ..
9 00
Pupils during yr
over 15 years.
APPENDIX.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Population of Reading 3,118
Number children between 5 and 15 years of age May, '83. 561
Number children between 8 and 14 years of age May, '83. 413
Amount appropriated for instruction, fuel, and care of rooms · $8,100 00
Amount appropriated for incidentals 700 00
Amount drawn from State School Fund 225 90
Amount received from other sources 22 12
Total receipts. 9,048 02
Expended for instruction, fuel, and care of rooms 8,252 86
for incidentals 795 16
Total expenditures
9,048 02
PUPILS.
Number of different pupils enrolled for the year 648
Average membership of all the schools . 546
Average attendance in all the schools during the year 497 ... Percentage of attendance, based upon the average mem- bership 91
Number attending within the year between 8 and 14 years of age (compulsory school age) 364
75
Number of pupils admitted to the High School
28 Youngest pupil admitted, age 12 years, 7 months. Oldest pupil attendance, age 16 years. Average age of pupils admitted, 14 years. 2 mos.
TEACHERS.
Number of male teachers employed. 1
Number of female teachers employed. 16
Average wages, per month, of female teachers
$37 50
Number of teachers who have attended normal schools ... 8 Number of teachers who have graduated from normal schools. 8
NAMES OF PUPILS GRADUATED FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL, JUNE, 1883.
Mary A. Bancroft,
Helen E. Miller,
Mabel F. Brown,
M. Angie Pearson,
|| Emma M. Damon,
Lillia A. Sweetser,
Lulu L. Eames,
Josephine E. Stimpson,
Abbie J. Eames,
Mary R. Tabor,
Ellen M. Jackson,
Edward M. Harrington,
Mabel S. LeClair,
E. Clinton Holden,
Hattie B. Lewis,
H. Lindsey Prentiss,
Marion F. Lombard,
Melvin C. Skinner.
ROLL OF HONOR,
Giving the names of those who have been neither absent nor tardy since March, 1883, and the schools to which they belong :
HIGH SCHOOL.
Emma M. Damon, Percy N. Carter,
Frank L. Norris, Helen M. Parker,
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* Annie P. Channel, ¿Nathaniel G. Hill, Annie M. Kingman.
*Hattie M. Richardson, Hattie M. Walker, George A. Walker.
FIRST GRAMMAR.
Alice Peabody,
Mary E. Vermill.
SECOND GRAMMAR.
*Minnie L. Jones, *Edith B. Parker.
Walter B. Nichols,
THIRD GRAMMAR.
Albin Parker.
UPPER MEDIUM.
Wilfred A. Bancroft.
UPPER PRIMARY.
+Susan C. Berry,
Alverde Parker.
CHESTNUT HILL GRAMMAR.
Delia Converse.
MAIN STREET.
Amy A. Nichols.
HAVERHILL STREET.
John J. Wakefield.
*Neither absent nor tardy for two years.
¡Neither absent nor tardy for three years.
#Neither absent nor tardy for four years.
#Neither absent nor tardy for seven years.
1
EXPENSES OF SCHOOLS.
INSTRUCTION.
Paid for teaching High School. $1,998 00
First Grammar. 488 80
Second Grammar 456 00
Third Grammar 380 00
Upper Medium
370 00
Lower Medium
376 00
Upper Primary .
380 00
Lower Primary . 380 00
Walnut Street Primary . . . .. 216 00
Walnut Street Grammar .. .. 288 00
Woburn Street Grammar ...
404 00
Woburn Street Primary. . .. 282 00
Lowell Street Mixed . ....
342 00
Main Street Mixed. .
226 80
Haverhill Street Mixed 228 00
Music Teacher 400 00
$7,215 60
JANITORS.
Paid for care of Centre School buildings. ..... $304 00
Woburn St. School buildings. 77 00
Walnut St. School buildings. . 49 00
Lowell St. School buildings. .. 32 00
Main St. School buildings. .. . 28 50
Haverhill St. School buildings
38 00
$528 50
Amount carried forward,
$7,744 10
78
Amount brought forward,
$7,744 10
FUEL.
Paid J. C. Gleason, for coal. $87 75
Wendal Bancroft, for coal 320 12
Edward F. Parker, for wood 83 26
Labor on fuel . 17 63
508 76
Total amount expended $8,252 86
Receipts : -
Appropriation $8,100 00
Drawn from school fund. 152 86
8,252 86
INCIDENTAL SCHOOL EXPENSES.
Paid Walter S. Parker, for horse hire. 1 50
N. W. Broad, for labor and materials for repairs 29 67
S. G. Fales, for globe for high school .... 10 00
H. G. Kittredge, for postage stamps and supplies. 13 12
Citizens Gas Light Co., for gas for high school. 7 00
Willard Small, for dictionary . 3 35
S. D. Hicks, for chemical apparatus. . . Thomas Hall, for chemicals. 25
2 00
S. R. Roby, for repairs on Woburn St. school house. 3 81
C. M. Barrows, for printing 20 75
Old South Society, for use of church . ..
15 00
J. F. Runnels, for services at high school exhibition 3 00
Wendal Bancroft, for labor . 7 25
A. W. Carr, for school supplies ..
2 80
Amount carried forward, $119 50
79
Amount brought forward, $119 50
Wendal Bancroft, for labor and material for repairs .
523 43
Wilbur C. Parker, for labor. 1 30
M. Hanley, for repairs, chairs and settees 12 30
Charles H. Whiting, for crayons
9 00
Parker & Stone, for supplies. 9 66
John N. Nichols, for glazing
45
A. S. Richardson, for repairs on pumps . 2 50
D. Lathrop and Co., for books 13 50
Charles H. Whiting, for book. 1 44
Moses E. Nichols, for painting, etc. ..
4 79
D. Appleton & Co., for book
84
H. G. Wadlin, for school supplies. ...
1 25
Wm. M. Titus, for supplies and labor for schools. 19 10
Winkley, Thorp & Dresser, for ink. ..
10 00
George O. Batchelder, for rent of school lot. . 5 00
Wm. H. Willis & Son, for books.
1 59
T. Littlefield, for labor and supplies.
13 10
Cummings Express, fees .
7 75
W. W. Davis, for labor and material 1 45
A. W. Danforth, for books. 10 03
Adams and Westlake, for ventilators .... 12 00
Edward F. Parker, for labor and supplies. 3 68
D. Pratt & Son, for repairs on clock ..... 1 50
Smith & Anthony, for repairing furnace. 7 50
Garfield & Co., for painting blackboard . 2 50
$795 16
Receipts : -
Appropriation
$700 00
For tuition of non-residents
19 00
For books.
3 12
Drawn from school fund.
73 04
795 16
80
EXPENSES OF REMOVING AND REMODELING WALNUT STREET SCHOOL HOUSE.
Expended : -
Paid Patrick Burns, for labor
6 65
Peter Froton, for labor 8 25
D. Doucette, for labor.
197 00
Henry McElwin, for blackboards.
18 08
Moses E. Nichols, for painting.
32 86
Albert Bancroft, for labor and stock ....
4 73
Wm. E. Moulton, for moving building ..
163 25
Patrick Conley, for labor.
9 00
Wendal Bancroft, for labor and materials
147 96
Lewis Norris, for stone work .
164 72
Clara Gowing, for damages for cutting trees .
25 00
Everett Parker, for cleaning windows ... 1 50
$779 00
Receipts : -
Appropriation . $500 00
From sale of old lot.
200 00
From T. J. Mayall, for extra work in remov- ing house.
75 00
From H. McElwin, discount on bill
4 00
779 00
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