USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1886-1895 > Part 19
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Expense must be incurred the ensuing year in rebinding old books of value, and in replacing those that are mutilated or or worn out. It is to be regretted that so many publishers have more regard for ornament than for durability in the binding of their publications ; but rough and careless handling has caused much of the injury. The books are the property of the town, and it is a matter of personal interest to all tax-payers to re- quire proper care of the books from their children. Aside from the saving of expense to the Library, it is well to inculcate the habit of keeping books clean and uninjured. In some cases they have been brought back to the Library on rainy days with the covers and edges wet and badly soiled. Such careless us- age is inexcusable, and, if continued, will lead to the imposition of special fines.
It has become the sad duty of the Trustees to record the loss the Library has sustained in the death of Mrs. Catharine Abbot. She had rendered faithful and efficient service as a Trustee; but her interest in the Library, and her cheerful willingness to spend time and labor for it, were not in the least abated when her official connection with it
62
ceased. None were more familiar with the Library, or made wiser use of its treasures. Herself a lover of books and an ex- cellent judge of their merits, the lists she for many years pre- pared needed neither scrutiny nor revision ; the Library was always enriched by the works she recommended for purchase. To no other is it so deeply indebted for its present value. Just- ly regarding it as an efficient means for promoting the general welfare of the town, she gladly bestowed upon it such service and support as were characteristic of her beneficence, her rare culture, and her active sympathy for every worthy cause.
Acknowledgement is made to the donors of the following books, presented to the Library during the year: Memorial of Hon. Daniel S. Richardson, by D. M. Richardson, Esq .; The Chocolate Plant and its Products, by Walter Baker & Co .; Re- port of Railroad Commissioners for 1875, and of Board of Ed- ucation for 1874-5, by George T. Day ; Twenty years around the World, by J. G. Vassar; Thoughts on Religion and Morality, by James Eddy ; Manchester and its Leading Business Men, and two pamphlets, by Dr. W. J. Sleeper; Popular Biography of Connecticut, by J. A. Spalding for Insurance Companies of Conn .; Westford School Reports for 1865 and 1878-9, by Mrs. G. P. Wright; Village Improvement, by Westford Improvement Association ; Unitarian Review, by American Unitarian Asso- ciation; Good Health, by Good Health Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich .; Agricultural and other publications, by Secretary Rusk and Congressmen Greenhalge and Stevens; Catalogue of Westford Academy for 1850, and framed commission of John Abbot as first postmaster of Westford (1803), by John M. Fletcher, Esq.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Unexpended balance from last year
$ 7 21
Income from Stone fund 25 65
Income from Fletcher fund 50 00
Town appropriation . 150 00
From dog-tax. 200 00
Fines ... 5 72
$438 58
63
EXPENDITURES
For books.
$407 81
Manila paper ..
7 60
Librarian's supplies, labels, etc
10 25
Freight and express bills
5 30
$430 96
Balance unexpended
7 62
$438 58
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN.
Number of books purchased.
312
Public Documents from the State
15
Public Documents from the United States
6
Volumes presented
7
Pamphlets presented.
5
School Reports presented
2
Whole number of books added during the year,
340
Whole number of pamphlets added during the year
32
Number of books in the Library
6,814
Number purchased to replace lost or worn-out copies
12
Number of books issued
7,324
.
We recommend that the sum of one hundred and fifty dol- lars be raised and appropriated for the purchase of books during the ensuing year.
Respectfully submitted :
WILLIAM E. FROST, KATE S. HAMLIN, NETTIE M. STEVENS, Trustees of Westford Public Library.
LIST OF BOOKS
ADDED TO THE LIBRARY DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1891-92.
A
Acts and Resolves, 1891 518
Education, Annual Report of Board of, 1889-90 514
Education, Annual Report of Board of, 1874-75. 515
Interstate Commerce Commission, Report of, 1890
Journal of House of Representatives, 1891 516
524
Journal of Senate, 1891 . .
523
Laws and Resolves of Massachusetts, 1782-83
525
Manual of General Court, 1891.
519
Massachusetts Reports, Vols. 151-2-3
520-22
Public Documents of Massachusetts. 5 vols. 526-30
Public Statutes of Massachusetts, Supplement, 1882-88. . 513
Railroad Commissioners' Report, 1875 517
B
Agriculture, Department of, 1864 460
Album of Agricultural Statistics of United States, 1891. . 463
Album of Agricultural Graphics, 1891 464
Census of United States, Tenth, 1880
462
Comptroller of the Currency, 1891 461
Map of United States and Territories, 1891 465
C
Bandobast and Khabar. Reminiscences of India. Col.
Cuthbert Larking 424
Four Months' Cruise in a Sailing Yacht. Lady E. Edg- cumbe and Lady M. Wood.
422
How We Defended Arabi. A. M. Broadley . 425
Indika. Country and People of India and Ceylon. John
F. Hurst. 429
My Life with Stanley's Rear Guard. Herbert Ward 419
Our Italy. Charles Dudley Warner 427
65
Pharaohs, Fellahs, and Explorers. Amelia B. Edwards ... 428 Six Months in Persia. Edward Stack. 2 vols 420-1 Spanish-American Republics. Theodore Child .. 430
Three-Months' Tour in Ireland. Madame de Bovet. .... Twenty Years Around the World. John Guy Vassar .... 426
423
White Umbrella in Mexico, A. F. Hopkinson Smith. . . .
418
D
Ancient Egypt and Assyria, Life in. G. Maspéro. 563
Ancient, Mediaval, and Modern Peoples, History of. Barnes. 574
Battle of Lake Erie, History of. George Bancroft. 573
Battlefields and Victory. Willis J. Abbot. 554 Brazil, Its Condition and Prospects. C. C. Andrews.
550
Franco-German War of 1870-71, The. Count Helmuth Von Moltke .. 559
Massachusetts, Story of. E. E. Hale.
561
Memorable Battles in English History. W. H. D. Adams. 2 vols.
551-2
Modern Civilization, History of .
553
New Mexico, Story of. Horatio O. Ladd.
562
People of United States. John Bach McMaster. Vol. III. 560 Scotland. From Agricola's Invasion to the Extinction of the Last Jacobite Insurrection. John Hill Burton. 9 vols. 564-72
Secret Service of the Confederate States in Europe, or How the Confederate Cruisers Were Equipped. James D. Bulloch. 2 vols ..
555-6
Siberia and the Exile System. George Kennan. 2 vols .. 557-8
United States of America, History of. Henry Adams. 9 vols .
541-9
Universal History, Outlines of. George Park. 575
E
Broglie, Duc De. Personal recollections. Edited by R. L. de Beaufort. 2 vols .
670-1
Browning, Robert, Life and Letters. Mrs. Sutherland
Orr. 2 vols .. 650-1
Bunsen, Frances, Baroness. A. J. C. Hare 656
Cass, Lewis. Andrew C. Mclaughlin 661
Catherine of Aragon, Divorce of. J. A. Froude. 673 . Chopin, Life of. F. Liszt. 676
Clarke, James Freeman. Auto., Diary, and Correspon- dence. Edited by E. E. Hale. 652
Cobb, Sylvanus, Jr. Memoir. Ella Waite Cobb 672
Columbus, Christopher. E. E. Hale. 675
5
66
Columbus, Christopher, and how He Received and Impart- ed the Spirit of Discovery. Justin Winsor. 669
Cook, Captain. Walter Besant . 659
Darwin, Charles. Charles Fred. Holder 653
Francis of Assisi. Mrs. Oliphant 680
Gordon, Charles George. Wm. F. Butler 664
Hastings, Warren. Sir Alfred Lyall.
666
Jackson, Gen. Thomas J., Life and Letters. Mary Anna
Jackson . 674
Johnson, Sir William, and the Six Nations. Wm. Elliot Griffis 663
Keats, John, Letters of. Edited by Sidney Colvin 660
Life of an Artist. Jules Breton .
655
Lowell, James Russell. E. E. Brown
679
Marie Antoinette at the Tuileries, 1789-91. Imbert de
Saint-Armand
667
Mather, Cotton. Barrett Wendell.
684
Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley, Best Letters of. Edited by Octave Thanet. 685
Peel, Sir Robert. Justin McCarthy .
658
Petrarch, Life and Works. May Alden Ward.
657
Popular Biography of Connecticut. Compiled by J. A.
Spalding. 668
Queen of Naples, and Lord Nelson.
677-8
Prison Journals During French Revolution. Duchesse de Duras, née Noailles .
683
Richardson, Daniel S., Memorial of.
646
Salisbury, Marquis of. H. D. Traill
682
Sitting Bull, Life of, and History of Indian War of 1890- 91. W. Fletcher Johnson 645
Sovereigns and Courts of Europe. "Politikos"
654
Talleyrand, Prince de, Memoirs of. Edited by Duc de Broglie. 3 vols.
647-9
Thackeray, W. M., Life of. Herman Merivale and F. T. Marzials
662
Wellington. George Hooper.
665
Young Emperor, The. William II of Germany. Harold Frederic
681
F
Autobiography of the Earth. Rev. H. N. Hutchinson . . Book of the Farm. George E. Waring, Jr. 461
444
Building and Machine Draughtsman. 458
448
Canada and the Canadian Question. Goldwin Smith . . Chocolate Plant and Its Products, The. 436
Darwiniana. Asa Gray. 437
son. 2 vols. John Cordy Jeaffre-
67
Domestic House Planner and Sanitary Architect .. 459
Economic and Industrial Delusions. Arthur B. and Henry
Farquhar 460
Elementary Art Teaching. Edward R. Taylor 449
English Language. J. M. D. Meiklejohn . 465 English Social Movements. Robert Archey Woods 462
Evolution in Philosophy, Science, and Art 464
General Machinist. .. 457
Geographical and Geological Distribution of Animals.
Angelo Heilprin . 443
Glimpses of Nature. Andrew Wilson 466
How the Farm Pays. Wm. Crozier and Peter Henderson, 456
Lessons in Applied Mechanics. J. H . Cotterill and J. H. Slade . . 447
Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States. Thomas
Meehan. 4 vols. 452-5
Our Common Birds, and How to Know Them. John B.
Grant. .
446
Philosophy of Eating, The. Albert J. Bellows 441
Playtime Naturalist, The. Dr. J. E. Taylor.
442
Popular Natural History. J. Sterling Kingsley.
445
Practical Floriculture. Peter Henderson .
463
Question of Copyright. Comp. by George Haven Putnam. 440
Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs. Charles Dar-
win 438
Tobacco Problem, The. Meta Lander 439
Whist, American or Standard. G. W. P. 467
G
Greatest Thing in the World. Henry Drummond 302
Jesus, Life of. Ernest Renan .. . 301
Thoughts on Religion and Morality. James Eddy .. . 300
H
Agnes of Sorrento. Mrs. H. B. Stowe. 1520
Aldersyde. Annie E. Swan .. 1548
American Girl in London, An. Sara Jeannette Duncan. . 1521
Auld Licht Idylls. J. M. Barrie . .
Balaam and His Master. Joel Chandler Harris. 1510
1541
Betty Alden. Jane G. Austin. 1564
Book o' Nine Tales, A. Arlo Bates
1542
Brooke's Daughter. Adeline Sergeant. 1546
Campaner Thal. J. P. F. Richter
1584
Carlowrie. Annie E. Swan. 1555
Ciphers. Ellen Olney Kirke. 1554
Power Through Repose. Annie Payson Call. 2 vols .. 450-51
68
Col. Carter of Cartersville. F. Hopkinson Smith 1526
Criss-Cross. Grace Denio Litchfield 1529
Dally. Maria Louise Pool .. 1551
Dame Care. Hermann Sudermann . 1567
Daughter of Eve, A. Ellen Olney Kirke. 1553
Desmond Hundred, The. Jane G. Austin 1565
Divided Duty, A. Ida Lemon .. 1560
Faith Doctor, The. Edward Eggleston 1556
Felicia. Fanny N. D. Murfree 1536
First Family of Tasajara, A. Bret Harte 1568
Flower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces. J. P. F. Richter 1583
For a Woman. Nora Perry. 1532
Fourteen to One. E. S. Phelps. 1538
Gallegher and Other Stories. Richard Harding Davis. 1513
Gates of Eden, The. Annie E. Swan.
1549
Hard-Won Victory, A. Grace Denio Litchfield.
Hesperus. J. P. F. Richter. 2 vols. 1527
1580-81
Her Only Brother. W. Heimburg
1562
History of David Grieve, The. Mrs. Humphrey Ward.
1571
Huckleberries. Rose Terry Cooke. 1566
Imperative Duty, An. Wm. D. Howells . 1569
In the Cheering-Up Business. Mary Catherine Lee 1535
In the Heart of the Storm. Maxwell Grey. 1525
In the "Stranger People's" Country. Charles Egbert
Craddock (Mary N. Murfree) . 1570
Invisible Lodge, The. J. P. F. Richter
1582
Khaled, a Tale of Arabia. F. Marion Crawford
1512
King of Tyre, A. James M. Ludlow .
1530
Lorna Doone. R. D. Blackmore.
1577
Marzio's Crucifix. F. Marion Crawford.
1511
Milners, The . 1552
Mistress Branican. Jules Verne. 1575
Mortal Antipathy, A. O. W. Holmes. 1574
Murvale Eastman, Christian Socialist. A. W. Tourgee ... 1514
New England Nun, A. Mary E. Wilkins. 1543
Next Door. Clara Louise Burnham. 1550
North Country Comedy, A. M. Betham-Edwards. 1558
Not All in Vain. Ada Cambridge 1563
Only an Incident. Grace Denio Litchfield 1528
On Newfound River. Thomas Nelson Page. 1524
Otto the Knight. Octave Thanet (Alice French) 1540
Peter Ibbetson. Edited by George Du Maurier
1585
Primes and Their Neighbors, The. Richard Malcolm
Johnston . 1516
Princess Amélie. .
1531
Romance of Two Worlds, A. Marie Corelli.
1561
Russian Priest, A. N. H. Hotaiiehko. 1547
She Loved a Sailor. Amelia E. Barr
....
1519
69
"Short Sixes." H. C. Bunner 1544
Sister to Esau, A. Amelia E. Barr. 1559
Some Emotions and a Moral. John Oliver Hobbs. 1534
Stories of Old New Spain. Thomas A. Janvier. 1537
Story of Colette. 1576
Strangers and Wayfarers. Sarah Orne Jewett 1539
Sweet and Twenty. Mary Farley Sanborn
1522
That Stick. Charlotte M. Yonge.
1573
There and Back. George MacDonald
1515
Titan. J. P. F. Richter. 2 vols ..
1578-79
Two Soldiers and Dunraven Ranch. Capt. Charles King. Urania. Camille Flammarion
1518
Vicar of Wakefield. Oliver Goldsmith
1572
Wanda. Ouida (Louise de la Rame)
Widow Guthrie. Richard Malcolm Johnston 1545
1517
Window in Thrums, A. J. M. Barrie. 1509
Word, Only a Word, A. Georg Ebers. 1533
J
American Explorers. T. W. Higginson 817
Betty, a Butterfly. A. G. Plympton . 834
Campmates. Kirk Munroe. 815
Changing Base. Wm. Everett.
821
Colonel's Money, The. Lucy C. Lillie.
825
Crossing the Quicksands. S. W. Cozzens. 816
Crowded out o' Crowfield. Wm. O. Stoddard 846
Dash for Khartoum. G. A. Henty 849
Electrical Boy, The. John Trowbridge 818
819
Hildegarde's Holiday. Laura E. Richards. 829
Household of Glen Holly. Lucy C. Lillie. 824
In the High Valley. Susan Coolidge (Sarah C. Woolsey). 853
Jolly Good Times at Hackmatack. M. P. W. Smith . 830
840
Lady Jane. Mrs. C. V. Jamieson
841
Last Words. J. H. Ewing
835
Little Marjorie's Love Story. Margaret Bouvet
848
Lulu's Library. Louisa M. Alcott. 3 vols.
826-28
Midshipman Paulding. Molly Elliot Seawell. 832
845
New Senior at Andover, The. Herbert D. Ward
Nurse Heatherdale's Story. Mrs. Molesworth. 854
Old Rough, the Miser. Lily F. Wesselhæft.
831
Phil and the Baby, and False Witness. Lucy C. Lillie ...
823
Picturesque Geographical Reader. Book II. Charles F.
King . . 814
Schoolboys of Rookesbury. Ed. by L. H. Francis 838
Snow-Shoes and Canoes. W. H. H. Kingston 850
Going West. Wm. T. Adams
Knockabout Club on the Spanish Main. Fred A. Ober.
1523
70
Stories for Boys. Richard Harding Davis 855
Story Hour, The. Kate D. Wiggin and Nora A. Smith .. 852
Straight On .. 842
Thine, not Mine. Wm Everett 822
Three Vassar Girls in the Tyrol. Elizabeth W. Champney, 837
Tim
847
Up the River. Wm. T. Adams
820
We All. Octave Thanet (Alice French) 844
Witch Winnie. Elizabeth W. Champney 843
836
Witch Winnie's Mystery. Elizabeth W. Champney · With Axe and Rifle. W. H. G. Kingston 851
Young Folk's Cyclopaedia of Games and Sports. J. D.
Champlin and A. E. Bostwick . .. 813
Zigzag Journeys in Australia. H. Butterworth 839
L
Dickenson, Emily. Poems. 2 vols. 200-1
Dryden, John. Poetical Worbs of. 2 vols. 197-8
Early Renaissance, and Other Essays on Art Subjects. James M. Hoppin . .. 203
Handful of Lavender, A. Lizette Woodworth Reese .... 199
Light of the World, The. Edwin Arnold.
196 Studies in Wagnerian Drama. Henry Edward Krehbiel. . 202
Tennyson, Alfred, Works of. 6 vols. 190-95
M
Adopting an Abandoned Farm. Kate Sanborn 645
Albany Depot, The. Wm. D. Howells
672
As We Were Saying. C. D. Warner.
646
Barracks, Bivouacs, and Battles. Archibald Forbes 669
Bird-Dom. Leander S. Keyser
Chats with Girls on Self-Culture. Eliza Chester 673
668
Eli Perkins' Thirty Years of Wit. Melville D. Landon. . Essays on English Literature. Edmond Scherer
674
Frenchman in America, A. Max O'Rell.
664
From the Easy Chair. George Wm. Curtis
671
Gray Days and Gold. William Winter.
647
Handbook to Works of Robert Browning. erland Orr . Mrs. Suth-
643
Heroes and Hero-Worship. Thomas Carlyle.
666
House and Hearth. Harriet Prescott Spofford ..
627
How the Other Half Lives. Jacob A. Riis.
650
Japanese Girls and Women. Alice Mabel Bacon
642
Library of American Literature. Comp. and edited by E. C. Stedman and E. M. Hutchinson. 11 vols 652-62
Literature, Lectures on History of. Thomas Carlyle ..... 667
648
71
Marius the Epicurean. Walter Pater 641
Nantucket Scraps. Jane G. Austin 670
New Fragments. John Tyndall. 665
Ocean Steamships. F. E. Chadwick and Others.
663
Old Sea Wings, Ways, and Words, in the Days of Oak and Hemp. Robert C. Leslie. 651
Patriotic Reader. Henry B. Carrington.
676
Popular Romances of the West of England, or the Drolls, Traditions, and Superstitions of Old Cornwall. Coll- ected and Edited by Robert Hunt. 649
Professor's Letters, The. Theopilus Parsons . 644
Sharp Eyes. Wm. Hamilton Gibson. 678
Short Studies in Literature. Hamilton Wright Mabie 675
Tales and Legends of England. W. Carew Hazlitt 677
N
Chamber's Encyclopaedia. 8 vols . 102-9 Curious Questions in History, Literature, Art, and Social
Life. S. H. Killikelly. 2 vols 100-101
Cyclopaedia, Annual. 1890. 93
Dictionary of the Bible. Dr. Wm. Smith. 4 vols. 94-7
New York and Its Environs. Gustav Kobbe ... 99
7000 Words Often Mispronounced. W. H. P. Phyfe. 98
PAMPHLETS.
A
Agricultural Experiment Station, Amherst, Report of, 1889-90. 14-15
Amended Manual of Laws of Massachusetts Concerning Children 18 Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Chil- dren. 10th Annual Report, 1890. 17
Public Libraries of Massachusetts. Henry S. Nourse. ... State Library, Report of Librarian, 1891 . 13
19
State Normal School, Bridgewater, Catalogue, 1891. 16
B
Agriculture, Department of. Sisal Hemp Culture in U. S., 1891. . . 125
Consular Reports, Nos. 123-32
110-18
Consular Reports, Special.
Beet-Sugar Industry and Flax Cultivation in Foreign Coun- tries 121
Canals and Irrigation in Foreign Countries .
Coal and Coal Consumption in Spanish America 124
123
Olive Culture in the Alpes Maratimes
120
Post Regulations in Foreign Countries.
122
Streets and Highways in Foreign Countries
119
Education, Bureau of :
127 Dictionary Catalogue, Rules for. Charles A. Cutter, Higher Education in Indiana. 126
Publications of United States Bureau of Education, from 1867-90 with Subject-Index. 128
M
Address in Behalf of the Indians, by Religious Society of Friends. 9
Lakes and Summer Resorts in New Hampshire . 10
Manchester and Its Leading Business Men. Geo. F. Bacon, 11 Medical Communications of Massachusetts Medical So- ciety, 1887 .. 12
University of Pennsylvania. Opening of Library, Feb. 7, 1891.
8
Village Improvement. Hon. B. G. Northrop 13
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD, MASS., .
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1892.
LOWELL, MASS .: VOX POPULI PRESS: S. W. HUSE & CO. 1 892.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1891-92.
A. J. ABBOT, Chairman.
A. R. CHOATE.
FRANK H. HILDRETH.
J. S. MOULTON, Secretary. A. G. POLLEY. GEORGE DREW.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1892-93.
A. G. POLLEY ·
Term expires 1893
FRANK H. HILDRETH
66
66
1893
A. J. ABBOT
66
66
1894
GEORGE DREW.
66
66
1894
66
1895
.
66 66
1895
REPORT.
Fellow-Citizens and Friends :
Our Committee once more most respectfully present the fol- lowing report as to the condition and work of the public schools of this town.
The condition of our schools may be considered from two different standpoints : one of fact, the other of opinion.
The facts in regard to schools and their condition, which, if not the most interesting part, form, perhaps, the most valuable part of such reports, can be most accurately and concisely stated in statistical tables, which show the attendance, cost, and other necessary information. Such facts will be found in the following table, and in others at the end of this report, and should be carefully studied by those who desire to have an in- telligent understanding of the condition and needs of the schools, or of the problems with which the Committe have to deal ..
In order that the facts may be more readily understood, the figures for this year and for last year are placed side by side, as far as possible :
1891. 1890.
Population of the town, census of 1890
2,250
Number of children enumerated by assessors
353
335
Number of different pupils registered .
417 430
Number of terms in school year .
3
3
Number or days' sessions (each school)
173
180
Total number of sessions
2,615
2,675
Average membership for the year
311.09
317.72
Average attendance for the year .
275.62
284.4
4
1891.
1890.
Per cent. of attendance based on membership
89
90
Number of pupils over 15 years of age
6
15
Number of pupils under 5 years of age
3
4
Number of different teachers employed
24
21
Number of instances of tardiness
635
595
Average number of days lost per pupil
16
22
Number of visits by Superintendent
190
185
Visits by other members of Committee
4
6
The statistics for the evening school in Graniteville are as follows :
1891.
1890.
Number of pupils enrolled
47
68
Number of sessions
36
36
Average attendance per session
27
48
Teachers employed
2
2
Average cost per pupil .
$3.16
$2.09
Average cost per session per pupil
.09
.06
These figures show very briefly how the facts of this year compare with those of last year. Other matters, cost of schools, etc., will be spoken of in another place.
From the standpoint of opinion, the report of the School Committee may be of very little value. Opinions as to schools and school work are almost as numerous as the individuals hold- ing them. The report of the School Committee may not be read ; or, if read, it will very likely be unheeded. Nevertheless, its appearance may remind the citizens that the persons to whom they have entrusted the important and difficult work of caring for the educational interests of the town are at their posts of duty, striving as faithfully as they can to increase the efficiency of our schools.
The Committee are not able, however, this year to give a very satisfactory account of the schools. The year has been, in one way, a year of experiments, and the experiments have not all resulted happily. Two good teachers who were with us last year declined to return this year, and at the close of the spring term four more of our teachers resigned. This left nearly half of our schools with new teachers. And as most of those who left had been with us for a series of years-some of
5
them as many as twenty years-and had become thoroughly familiar with their work, the loss to us was a serious one. Who- ever took their places, the work must be practically begun anew, and much time be lost until the new teachers became as familiar with their pupils and their duties as were the retiring ones. The result has shown conclusively the desirability of retaining satisfactory teachers in the same school for long periods of service.
In the selection of teachers to fill these vacancies the Com- mittee were sometimes successful, sometimes not so. Of the eight new teachers employed during the year, one failed utterly, and was not employed the full term; one other was only par- tially successful, and resigned after two terms of service; two others began their work in the last term of the year, and so have been with us but a short time. With the exceptions inti- mated, however, the new teachers have given satisfaction. Some of them have been decidedly successful.
Besides changes in our teaching force, five of our schools have suffered interruption, more or less serious, from sickness. One school was three weeks late in opening the winter term, and four others, after opening, were closed for one or two weeks, owing to the prevalence of "La Grippe." This makes some schools late in closing, and such interruptions, coming after work is fairly started, of course interfere with the best results. Some schools have suffered much in this way.
CENTRE SCHOOLS.
The schools of this village have both suffered from the causes indicated. The primary department has been under the care of Miss Meta J. Fisk for the year, but the winter term was inter- rupted for two weeks by sickness. In the higher department, Miss Lilla Fisher taught the spring and part of the fall term ; Miss Clara Fisher teaching the remainder of the year. Owing to the prevalence of sickness in the community, this school was also closed for one week. These teachers have been in our schools some time, and are well known, but this year they
6
have worked under disadvantages. Enrollment, primary, 34; grammar, 17. Average attendance, primary, 22 ; grammar, 15.30.
STONY BROOK.
This school has been especially unfortunate this year. Not being able to retain the teacher who had taught there, the spring term was given to Miss Alice Beane, who was only fairly successful. With the thought that she might meet with more success in a smaller school, Miss Beane was transferred in the fall, and this school was entrusted to Helen M. Osgood of Lowell, who was well recommended, but whose work did not justify her recommendations. At the opening of the winter term, Miss S. M. Peasley took charge of the school. Miss Peasley is a lady of character, excellent education, and good ability to discipline, and under her the school did as well as could be expected, perhaps. But after teaching four weeks, and getting on well with the work, sickness so reduced the school that it was closed for two weeks. Several were not able to return at all during the term. Of course, under such cir- cumstances the best results can not be expected. It is much to be hoped that the experience of this year will not be soon repeated. Enrollment, 30; average attendance, 19.31.
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