USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1905 > Part 9
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21 43
McKenney & Waterbury Co.
52 31
Sundries
10 26
C. S. Knowles
4 50
Electric Gas Lighting Co.
10 45
$213 18
NOTES
Edw. F. Parker, Treasurer
$1,400 00
$15,957 22
SUMMARY
Total credits, Maintenance account . $19,798 39
Total charges, Maintenance account . 15,957 22
$3,841 17
Amount loaned Construction account, 1905 $2,410 97
Cash on hand
1,430 20
$3,841 17
RECAPITULATION
CREDITS
Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1904 $933 18
Amount loaned Construction account, 1904 1,208 15
Appropriation for Arc Light Rentals 7,590 00
Total Receipts of Plant . 13,067 06
- $22,798 39
173
Amount due for Light and Meter Rents Dec. 31, 1905 $2,441 85
Amount due for Wiring, Labor, Fixtures and Incand. Lamps Dec. 31, 1905 ·
337 78
Maintenance Stock on hand Dec. 31, 1905 1,943 67
$4,723 30
$27,521 69
DEBITS
Fuel
. $3,314 23
Oil and waste
186 61
Water
20 52
Station wages
2,921 99
Repairs of real estate
779 41
Repairs of steam plant
354 88
Repairs of electric plant
414 49
Station tools and appliances
179 10
Wages, care of lights
400 51
Repairs of lines and lamps
1,370 42
Carbons
128 93
General salaries
634 00
Board expenses
1 70
Rents
110 04
Insurance
699 09
Incidentals
14 99
Interest
1,740 00
Stable
349 00
Wiring, labor and fixtures
213 18
Note
1,400 00
Maintenance stock on hand Dec. 31, 1904
1,771 22
Amount due for light and meter rent Dec. 31, 1904
2,538 48
Amount carried forward $20,266 92
Incand. lamps
386 09
General office expense
338 04
174
Amount brought forward $20,266 92
Amount due for wiring, labor and lamps
Dec. 31, 1904 538 47
$20,805 39
Balance gain for year . $6,716 30
INVENTORY
CONSTRUCTION STOCK ON HAND DEC. 31, 1905
Meters
. $105 83
Converters
333 36
Lines
401 32
Arc lamps and globes
139 92
$980 43
MAINTENANCE STOCK ON HAND DEC. 31, 1905
Carbons
$38 04
Oil and waste
25 55
Incandescent lamps
151 53
Repairs of lines and lamps
142 13
Station tools and appliances
141 14
Fuel .
821 25
Wiring and labor
94 03
Stable
530 00
$1,945 67
Total stock on hand Dec. 31, 1905
$2,924 10
175
Table showing the earnings each month from incandescent lights and meter rents and comparison with the previous year:
Meter Rents
Total 1904
January
Light $1,482 28
$33 70
Total 1903 $1,515 98
$1,266 82
February
1,179 89
34 30
1,214 19
1,083 77
March
1,038 18
35 60
1,073 78
1,122 33
April
921 24
36 70
957 94
806 75
May
737 44
35 20
772 64
698 45
June
629 14
36 20
665 34
993 52
July
515 89
32 30
548 19
478 22
August
658 38
36 10
694 48
734 96
September
1,018 66
39 70
1,058 36
989 93
October
1,311 25
35 20
1,346 45
1,355 39
November
1,672 22
37 80
1,710 02
1,554 20
December
1,880 64
39 40
1,920 04
1,808 99
$13,045 21
$432 20
$13,477 41
$12,893 33
Less discount allowed for cash payments
1,120 23
982 38
$12,357 18
$11,910 95
Our fellow citizens will kindly observe that the Light Depart- ment has a balance cash on hand of $1,430.20; and this in the face of the fact that we have been obliged to meet some extraordinary and unlooked for expenses.
It must also be remembered that the appropriation for street lights was six hundred and ninety dollars less this year than last ; also that the increased discount allowed for prompt payment reduc- ed the receipts at the rate of nearly six hundred dollars for the year.
We stated in our last report that the old open arc street lamps were gradually being replaced by new enclosed arcs; and this proc- ess of renewal is now complete.
The grading at the plant was an expense which we would have been glad to avoid ; but it was forced upon us by the accumulating of water in the basement.
176
We beg permission to compare the financial condition of the department today with that of four years ago when there were cur- rent bills to the amount of nearly four thousand dollars due and overdue and no money with which to pay them. At that time the Town was raising and appropriating money for construction, main- tenance, interest and bonds. This year the money raised and ap- propriated for street lights together with the receipts from commer- cial and domestic lighting paid all bills-construction, maintenance, interest and a fourteen hundred dollar note. The two thousand dollar bond which came due in October was paid from the tax levy.
We believe this report shows the greatest balance gain-every- thing considered-of any year in the history of the department. Accidents only, can prevent a continuance of the prosperity during the present year.
In the matter of raising and appropriating money at the com- ing annual meeting the voters are likely to be caused some perplex- ity by a law passed last year and evidently prompted and dictated by the corporations for the purpose of crowding municipal owner- ship out of existence, thereby obtaining full sway for themselves and their exorbitant charges. This new law obliges the Town to raise more money than we need and is calculated to force all municipal ownership to make a poor showing.
This is a majority report.
WM. S. KINSLEY, W. F. COOK,
Municipal Light Board.
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Form 12
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF READING
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1905
School Committee
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman, Walnut St., Term expires 1908 GILMAN L. PARKER, Sec'y, Washington St., 66 1906
HORACE G. WADLIN, WOBURN St., 66 66 1908
MRS. ELIZABETH H. BROWN, Prospect St., 66 66 1906
MRS. MARY L. NESMITH, Main St., HENRY C. PARKER, Chute St.,
66 66 1907
66 66 1907
Superintendent of Schools MELVILLE A. STONE
Truant Officer A. A. SMITH
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman GILMAN L. PARKER, Secretary
SUB-COMMITTEES
Finances and Accounts
G. L. Parker
H. G. Wadlin
Books and Supplies
W. S. Parker
Mrs. Nesmith
School Houses and Property
H. G. Wadlin H. C. Parker
G. L. Parker Rules and Regulations
H. C. Parker H. G. Wadlin
Mrs. Brown
Teachers and Salaries
W. S. Parker
Mrs. Nesmith
Mrs. Brown
Mrs. Nesmith
H. G. Wadlin
G. L. Parker Music and Drawing
Course of Study
W. S. Parker Mrs. Nesmith
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
In accordance with law and custom the School Committee sub- mits the following report :
The past year has been an uneventful one, although we have experienced the same difficulties as in former years, in losing a large number of our teachers through our inability to pay the necessary salaries to retain them in the service of the Town.
In justice to the Superintendent, it should be stated that he has shown marked ability in selecting and engaging such a large num- ber of skilful, successful young teachers to fill the large number of vacancies which have constantly occurred.
We have, however, comforted ourselves with the knowledge that a young, progressive, skilful teacher whom everybody wanted is far better for the town to hire for one or two years than the teacher who works for ten years whom nobody wants.
There has been considerable agitation of late in regard to the alleged fact, that the "three R's" are neglected in our schools and the time, which rightfully belongs to reading, writing and arith- metic is taken up in pursuing fads, so called, like drawing, music, manual training, geography, history and language.
That question has been discussed over and over again during the last fifty years, but whenever the old examination papers of the good old time of years ago have been resurrected and compared with the examination papers of recent date, the comparison has always been of such a nature that it has proved beyond a doubt that the reading, spelling, writing and in fact all of the so called practical studies are better taught and more thoroughly learned by the average pupil than ever before in the history of education.
183
Everybody, at all conversant with the subject, is aware that the pupil of twelve or fourteen years now in school can write a far better letter, in every respect, than the pupil of the same age of twenty-five or fifty years ago. A set of old examination papers has been recently found in Springfield and when compared with those of today the comparison is simply laughable.
Although it is undeniable that the work is better now than formerly, yet we are positive that it should be still further improved in many ways and the school officials are working with this purpose constantly in view. Emerson in one of his essays says that the "gods sell everything at a fair price."
A good training cannot be received by a pupil except by hard work. Most of the work must be done by the pupil and not the teacher if he is to reap the harvest.
HIGH SCHOOL
The work on the High School building is progressing rapidly and unless something unforeseen occurs we expect to occupy it in the Fall. It is our earnest desire that the sentiment expressed on the tablet in front, "for the benefit of all," will be verified during the years to come. We are looking forward with high hopes to splendid work which will be done there in the various departments of learning.
We earnestly invite the attention of every citizen to the reports herein contained and solicit the careful reading of the detailed financial report as indicating clearly the way in which the generous appropriation was expended.
The town at the last regular meeting instructed the committee to sell the school house on Main Street, which was done for the sum of seventy dollars, which was paid to the Town Treasurer.
We were also instructed to sell the Sheak house, which was sold for two hundred and fifteen dollars and that also was paid over to the Town Treasurer less ten dollars for auctioneer.
1
184
VACANCIES
The terms of Elizabeth H. Brown and Gilman L. Parker expire at the ensuing town meeting.
APPROPRIATIONS
The Committee recommends the sum of $27,000 for general school expenses and the sum of $5000 for school incidentals. Also the sum of $500 for insurance on the new building, and $500 for furnishing two additional school rooms.
Adopted in School Committee, Feb. 10, 1906.
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman. GILMAN L. PARKER, Secretary. MARY L. NESMITH. HORACE G. WADLIN. ELIZABETH H. BROWN. HENRY C. PARKER.
€
-
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of the Town of Reading :
My seventh annual report, the thirteenth of the series, is herewith respectfully submitted.
The past year has been one of great changes in the corps of teachers.
Of the High School corps Miss Florence B. Messer resigned to accept a position of large opportunity in the Springfield High School. Miss Mary J. Bourne accepted a larger salary to take the direction of the work in History at Melrose. Miss Alice I. Man- dell also yielded to an offer considerably in advance of our own from Springfield. Mr. W. W. Keyes decided to accept the position of sub-master in the High School of Clinton, Mass., at quite an advance in salary.
These positions were filled by the election of Mr. E. N. Babcock, of Bates College, as sub-master and head of the depart- ment of Physical Science, Miss Helen P. Abbott of Vassar College, department of French and German, Miss Mary Gordon of Mt. Holyoke College, department of History, and Miss Natalie A. Smith of Wellesley College, department of English.
It is pleasant to be able to report that these teachers have carried on the work in their respective lines in a very creditable way.
Although seriously affected by the inconveniences of the old building and by the short periods, the school is doing work of which the people may be justly proud.
186
The adoption of the system of "diploma points" a year ago is working out the beneficial effects prophesied at that time.
In spite of the long hours for the teachers, 8.30 to 3.15 approximately, and the conditions requiring short periods for class- work and an overlapping of the first section of the school and the freshman class, which enters later, the scholarship of the school is maintained at its usual high standard.
This is due mainly to the splendid system by which the Master keeps informed of the condition of each pupil regarding his work as well as his conduct, and the manner in which he comes in con- tact with the pupils and their parents. For encouraging the slow, for spurring on the careless and lazy, for securing the hearty co-operation of the parents, Mr. Watkins is doing untold good to scores of our young people.
This year our course in History comes into conformity with the recent recommendation of the Committee of Ten on History for Preparatory Schools.
This year also expires the time limit of our certificate from the Board of New England Colleges, but with the record our graduates are making at Harvard, Wellesley, Mt. Holyoke, Mass. Institute of Technology, Amherst Agricultural College, Boston University, and other institutions, we have no reason to fear that it will not be renewed upon our application.
Another feature of the work in the Reading High School is the plan of having the teachers render reports to the Principal each week giving results of the preceding week and the plans for the coming week.
This makes the work so definite that much more is accom- plished in the class than would be otherwise and at the same time enables the Master to know the condition of each class and the prospects for covering the requirements for any course undertaken. The teachers find this plan so helpful that even those who leave for other positions continue it though not required to do so.
The report of the Principal also shows athletics in the High School on a sound, rational basis, under the splendid management of sub-master E. N. Babcock.
4
187
The Athletic Association, heretofore numbering about seventy- five members, now enrolls about two hundred and twenty, and prospects are good for finishing the year with all bills paid, in spite of the outlook at the first of the year.
The Pioneer has become more of a periodical, being issued quarterly, under the control of a board of editors including repre- sentatives from each class, the alumni, and the faculty.
"It is a pleasure to record that every student who was author- ized by the school to take examinations for higher institutions succeeded in passing in every subject without condition. Of the graduating class of 1905, one entered Harvard, two the Mass. Institute of Technology, one Wellesley, one Mt. Holyoke, one Tufts, and two the Normal Art School, and reports received from these students since their entrance show that the work of the teachers was thorough as well as effective."
Among the recommendations made is one calling for the lengthening of the course in Modern Languages.
French and German each need an additional year of work to compare favorably with that done in other schools, and what is more to the purpose, to give the necessary preparation for advance work.
In these days the graduates of technical schools find it neces- sary to read French and German works to keep informed on the progress along all scientific lines.
In the grades the following tendered their resignations : Miss Alice T. Nudd of Grade VIII, Miss Emma E. Morse of Grade VII, Miss May M. Badger of Grade VI, Miss Ada R. Evarts of Grade IV, Miss Gertrude B. Howard of the upper Grades of Chestnut Hill school.
Her many friends were saddened by the death of Miss Ruth E. Lane of Grade III, Union street school. She had rendered the schools of Reading very efficient service since Sept., 1901. Her quiet ways and tact in dealing with the young children made her beloved of all who made her acquaintance, and her loss is keenly felt.
188
As Mr. Makechnie declined to accept the contract offered him, his place was filled by the election of Mr. Leon R. Maxwell, who holds the degree of A. M. from Tufts, and who made special study of music while in college. He had also been in charge of glee clubs and choruses from the days of his work in the Medford High school. The work in Music is making good progress under his direction.
To provide for the work in the Grades left vacant, Miss Alice Hood was given the work in Grade VIII, and Miss Estes was transferred to her room of Grade VI, while Miss Barr in turn was transferred to Grade V thus vacated. Miss Ethel B. Macomber was secured for Grade VII, Miss Mary F. Osborne for Grade VI, Miss Fannie C. Whittemore and Miss Harriet M. Foster for the two rooms of Grade IV.
During December, 1905, Miss Paterson was elected at Everett at an increase of salary, so that it became necessary to secure a new teacher for her room of Grade VII. Miss Leonora W. Goodsoe was elected. Miss Edith A. Wright was transferred from the Lowell street school to the room of Grade III at the Union street school.
As Miss Annie P. Reid desired leave of absence for the fall term, Miss Ethel M. Flanders was secured to take that work.
The fourteen pupils of Grades V and VI who would have formed two-thirds of the school at Chestnut Hill, had it been continued, were given transportation to the Highland school at a considerable saving in expense.
The closing of the Sheak school gave us large primary schools at John street and the three teachers, Miss Wakefield, Miss Bab- cock, and Miss Parker, have together carried on this work by the application of the Batavia method of individual instruction, to some extent.
At Lowell street Miss Bessie M. Parker has been in charge and the work has been kept well up to standard. New pupils have entered till three additional seats were called for, making forty-five in all.
189
At the Prospect street school the former teachers still continue to render their faithful services to those living in that section.
The school at Chestnut Hill still continued, comprises the first four years of work and and numbers twenty-four pupils, who enjoy their school life under the able management of Mrs. Florence Parker Atwood.
The crowded condition at the Highland school makes it cer- tain that two rooms will be needed in the old or the new High School building to accommodate the pupils next September.
We have been fortunate in the matter of building the new High School in many ways, and this of providing room for the intermediate grades is not the least important.
An enrollment of 518 for ten rooms is too high an average for the modern, model school, and too great a task for a teacher to do full justice to.
REPAIRS
With reference to the repairs needed it is evident that the Prospect street school needs painting and it is probable that it will be necessary to shingle it before we can feel secure from the rains. The recent attempts at patching the roof have proved futile.
The roof of the old High School also gives trouble with every storm and no sure way of securing dry ceilings seems possible without applying new shingles. With the necessity of using the building for pupils of fourth grade this coming year, it seems proper to put the building in suitable condition both in regard to the roof and the steps which have hardly warranted expense for repairs for the past two years.
While the Highland School in a general way is still in good condition, the assembly hall is in need of paint and tinting. In a few places the masonry needs pointing.
COURSE OF STUDY
Our Course of Study is nearly ready to give to the printer and we expect to have it prepared in separate booklets for the different subjects. It is the outcome of the gradual changes that have
190
taken place during the past six and a half years of my term of supervision. A brief description may not be out of place in this report.
READING
With the proper combination of the word method, the phonic method and the sentence method, we find that our pupils are able to take up reading material of first reader grade without the use of the primer. This result has already been secured in the first half of this current year by the use of the Passaic Method devised by Supt. F. E. Spaulding of Newton.
In the second and third grades the pupils are made familiar with fairy tales, folk lore, and material giving a good idea of the life of children in other lands, while in all of the first three grades this subject matter is supplemented with memory gems for the pur- pose of introducing the pupils to the best in literature they can appreciate, and for bringing to bear upon their lives some whole- some lesson in morals or ethics.
In fourth, fifth and sixth grades, historical and geographical readers are used to supplement the regular study of history and geography, or rather perhaps to create a keen interest in these studies that receive more thorough treatment in the succeeding grades, by introducing interesting biographical sketches and vivid descriptions of noted places.
In seventh and eight grades the reading matter consists of selections from our classic writers and in some cases entire works are read and studied as literature.
Among the authors thus brought into requisition for this soul development are Longfellow, Whitter, Hawthorne, Lowell, Holmes, Bryant, Irving, Cary, Thaxter, Field, Alcott, Carroll, Kingsley, Jackson, Burnett, Harris, Ruskin, Cooper, Shakespeare, Dickens.
I am sure it is well worth all the effort it requires to give in this manner some faint glimpses into the great abundance of excel- lent writings available to all readers, while incidentally the truth of the few memory gems will permeate the life of many a child who otherwise would never know these beautiful passages.
191
ARITHMETIC
Our plan of giving no formal instruction in numbers in first grade is proving satisfactory. The objective teaching in second grade well fits the pupils to take the first book of the Werner Series of arithmetic the third year.
This series with the introduction of constructive geometry in seventh grade and the first principles of algebra in the eighth grade gives the pupils a good preparation for the mathematics of High School.
GEOGRAPHY
In the talks on nature study topics in the primary grades, the pupils are prepared for talks and reading lessons on home geog- raphy in third and fourth grades.
The Frye Series is in use as the basis of the work in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades, while Tarr-McMurry, Carpen- ter, and Adams Commercial are used for supplementary work in the different grades as needed. Information is also derived from various other sources as the Tiffany Cabinet for a study of indus- tries, and Stoddard's Lectures for vivid descriptions of various countries, a set of which was presented to the school by the publishers, Balch Brothers, of Boston. It is a fine acquisition to our library.
The Tiffany Cabinet was secured from the proceeds of an entertainment given Jan. 15th but planned for in December, so that mention of this addition to our equipment properly comes in this report.
The Cabinet is one of the best helps ever devised for the purpose of interesting pupils in a broad study of peoples and pro- ducts of different lands. It deserves a more extended notice than the limits of this report will allow.
The entertainment given by Mrs. Southard, from the proceeds of which this was secured, was one that appealed to both old and young. Under the title of Hiawatha Mrs. Southard gave us several legends of the Indians, especially of the tribe of Ojibways, from
192
which, with other facts about their religious ideas, Longfellow derived his material for his poem, Hiawatha.
After this introduction she rendered portions of the poem in a manner to captivate both old and young, and as the stereopticon views were thrown upon the screen the murmur of admiration or the hush of rapt attention told the enjoyment of the audiences.
The first audience was composed of the primary children and those of fourth and fifth grades; the second of pupils of sixth, seventh and eighth grades, both of which were held in the after- noon at the Highland Hall. In the evening the parents and others interested attended.
Mrs. Southard did credit to her elocutionary training and showed a thorough appreciation of the poem, all of which resulted in making the entertainment one of the finest for schools it was ever my privilege to attend. Aside from its office in purchasing the Cabinet it is one of the best programs that could be given to schools in these days when so much is made of the study of primi- tive races as a means of developing the childhood of our own race.
Our equipment was enlarged by the purchase of a large num- ber of stereoptic views of noted places by the last graduating class of the Highland School.
In addition a full set of Relief Maps was secured nearly a year ago, thus making our equipment for the teaching of geog- raphy well up to the standard of the best schools in the State.
HISTORY
As stated under our consideration of Reading, we aim to interest the pupils of the grades below the sixth in the prominent men and great events of our nation's history.
In the sixth grade we devote more time to the study of the subject, using Montgomery's Beginners History and using other recent books of like grade on certain topics.
The continued use of the Ivanhoe Historical Note Book in seventh and eighth grades makes the study of history in these grades more definite and proves a better preparation for similar
193
study in High School, or for self culture from historical reading in later life in case the course in High School is not found practical.
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