USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1902-1907 > Part 6
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No change of name has been made in the North or West Cemeteries. In 1753 the town voted to receive "for a Burying Place a Piece of Land at a Place Called Tarkil hill being one acre more or less." This land was given "To the Town for a Burying Place for ever" by Ebenezer and Thomas Wright, and is now called the North Cemetery.
The Commissioners suggest the name of Hillside for the North and that of Westlawn for the West Cemetery, as appropriate. Only one person presented a name for either cemetery, in response to the request in the report of last year.
The Commissioners would recommend that the town raise and appropriate the sum of $200 for the coming year, the same to be expended for the care and improvement of the various cemeteries.
107
AMOUNT RECEIVED FOR CARE OF LOTS.
RESIDENTS.
Mrs. J. W. Abbot, Fairview, care of tomb $ 5 00
Mrs. John Baker, 330 E. D. 1 00
Edmund Barton, 40 and 41, W. D. 2 00
Mrs. Agnes Beebe, 234, E. D.
1 00
Joseph Bennett, 61, E. D.
1 00
Ai Bicknell, two lots, Fairview
2 00
Edson G. Boynton, 333, E. D.
1 00
Augustus Bunce, 11 and 12, W. D.
2 00
William Burnett, 37, E. D. 1 00
Income from Sally B. Burrill fund, Fairview
1 75
Mrs. J. T. Butterworth, 236, E. D. 1 00
Income from Francis Caldwell fund, Fairview 1 76
Mrs. Frank Calvert, 26, W. D. 1 00
John B. Carmichael, 345, E. D 1 00
John Carmichael, 68, W. D. 1 00
Mrs. Clara P. Carkin, 145 and 338, E.D 2 00
Mrs. William Carrick, 328, E. D
1 00
C. A. Chamberlain, 53, W. D. and one in Fairview
3 00
P. G. Collins, 35, W. D 1.00
Miss Annie L. Coolidge, 65, W. D
1 00
Mrs. E. Caunter, 21, 22, and 26, E. D. 3 00
Mrs. Mary A. Davis, 364, E. D. 1 00
Mrs. Sarah Drew, 30, E. D. 1 00
1 00
Mrs. J. Dugdale, 243, E. D
1 00
Estate of Mrs. Emily A. Fletcher, Fairview
1 00
C. L. Fletcher, 42, W. D.
1 00
F. L. Fletcher, 83, W. D
1 00
Mrs. Julia A. Fletcher, 69, W. D.
1 00
John M. Fletcher, 76, W. D 1 00
J. W. Fletcher, 154, E. D. 1 00
William E. Frost, 17, E. D.
1 00
August Gardel, 368, E. D 1 00
George Q. Gilson, 1 00
Amount carried forward
$47 51
Mrs. S. E. Drew, 43, E. D
108
Amount brought forward $47 51
L. S. Gilson, 60 and 75, W. D., 320, E. D 3 00
William Gower, 42, E. D 1 00
John Greig, 14, W. D 1 00
Mrs. Abbie Hamlin, 366, E. D. 1 00
Income from C. and C. A. Hamlin fund, 56, 57, E. D. .
3 52
W. O. Hawkes, 112, W. D.
1 00
Mrs. Charles A. Harris, 363, E. D
5 00
Income from M. Hennessey fund, 239, E. D
1 76
F. A. Hildreth, 43, W. D .. 1 00
1 00
Frank Hindle, 336, E. D
1 00
Francis Hosmer, 325, E. D
1 00
E. F. Humiston, 136 and 142, E. D
2 00
Edmund J. Hunt, 367, E. D
1 00
Albert E. Jenne, 310, E. D
5 00
Andrew Johnson, 158, E. D
1 00
Mrs. Lucy A. Keyes, 39, E. D
1 00
Miss R. E. Luce, Fairview
1 00
George A. Leland, 247, E. D.
1 00
Mrs. Arthur Longbottom, 249, E. D
5 00
George F. Millis, 57, W. D
1 00
F. Morton, 331, E. D.
1 00
James L. Moss, 242, E. D ..
1 00
Frank E. Miller, 36, W. D ..
1 00
William Petherick, 339, E. D
1 00
Miss Sarah Precious, 47, E. D
1 00
Edward Prescott, 25, W. D.
1500
Mrs. Frances A. Prescott, 167, and 168, E. D. and one in Fairview 3 00
Income from Nathan P. Prescott fund, 347, E. D ..
1 50
Alfred Prinn, 67, W. D
1 00
Miss Sarah Richardson, two lots in Fairview
2 00
Income from Sarah E. Richardson fund.
1 76
Mrs. David H. Shattuck, 322, E. D.
1 00
Miss M. Shaw, 355, E. D
1 00
Miss Clara A. Smith, 95, W. D
1 00
James Stewart, 138, E. D ..
1 00
Amount carried forward
$107 05
Mrs. Frank C. Hildreth, Fairview
109
Amount brought forward $107 05
Thomas Symmes, two lots in Fairview 2 00
Alfred Taylor, 258, E. D 1 00
S. L. Tylor, 101, W. D., 327, E. D., and one in Fair- view. 3 00
J. A. Walkden, 15, E. D
1 00
William Welch, 18, E. D
1 00
Mrs. Mary J. Wheeler, 77, W. D
1 00
C. E. Whidden, Whitney lot, Fairview
2 00
William Whigham, 54, E. D
1 00
Mrs. George H. Whiting, 159, E. D
1 00
Mrs. Hiram Whitney, 100, W. D 1 00
Samuel Willis, 20, W. D
1 00
John Wilson, 146, E. D
1 00
Myron J. Woods, 155, E. D
1 00
William L. Woods, 148, E. D
1 00
Mrs. F. C. Wright, 59, E. D
1 00
Andrew S. Wright, 28 and 29, W. D
2 00
G. P. Wright, 25, E. D
1 00
N. H. Wright, 46 and 47, W. D 2 00
1 00
NON-RESIDENTS.
Miss Lucy M. B. Abbot, Groton, Fairview 1 00
Mrs. Martha Bailey, Lowell, 51 and 52, W. D 2 00
Mrs. G. A. Brigham, Charlestown, 106 and 107, W. D 2 00
Mrs. S. A. Butterfield, Ayer, 334, E. D., one in Fair- view . 2 00
Edward Craven, Lowell, 63, W. D.
1 00
Miss Alice L. Davis, Somerville, 10, W. D
1 00
Jonathan Davis, Sterling, Fairview
1 00
Income from George Davis fund
87
J. C. Decatur, Boston, 268, E. D
1 00
Burt W. Decatur, Springfield, 64, W. D
1 00
Income from C. S. Dodge fund, 165 and 166, E. D
1 75
Mrs. A. E. Dupee, Roxbury, 144, E. D 1 CO
Mrs. Rachel Dupee, Lowell, Fairview
1 00
Amount carried forward
$148 67
W. M. Wright, 24, E. D
110
Amount brought forward $148 67
Mrs. W. P. Edwards, Brooklyn, N. Y., 66, E. D. 1 00
Income from Daniel Falls fund 87
Mrs. A. M. Felch, Chelmsford, 257, E. D.
1 00
Mrs. Lucy J. Fletcher, Arlington, 92, W. D
1 00
Mrs. B. Foote, Manchester, N. H., 22 and 23, W. D. .
2 00
Miss Louisa Garbett, Bristol, R. I., 55, E. D
1 00
Mrs. S. E. Green, Lowell, Fairview 1 00
Income from J. B. Griffin fund, Fairview 1 75
George P. Hamlin, Boston, 111, W. D 1 00
George E. Harris, Weymouth, 27, W. D
1 00
Miss C. E. Hewitt, Gleasondale, 116, W. D
1 00
Mrs. Ellen Hildreth, Pelham, N. H., 87, W. D., and one in Fairview 2 00
Miss Helen C. Hildreth, Cambridge, 115, W. D 1 00
F. S. Holt, Lowell, 39, W. D
1 00
Mrs. G. F. Horne, Nashua, N. H., 16, E. D
1 00
Income from Samuel Horne, fund
88
G. W. Hunt, Lowell, 341, E. D
1 00
Mrs. James Hunt, Lawrence, 53, E. D 1 00
S. M. Hutchins, Lowell, 54 and 89, and one in Fair- view 3 00
Miss A. L. Johnson, Somerville, 60, E. D
1 00
Mrs. J. H. Laws, Somerville, 114, W. D
1 00
Income from E. D. Metcalf, fund.
1 50
George C. Moore, North Chelmsford, 343, E. D
2 00
Mrs. Mary F. Morse, Lowell, 58, E. D
1 00
J. M. Osgood, Racine, Wis., 6, E. D.
1 00
Mrs. H. S. Parker, Lowell, Fairview
1 00
Parker & Buxton, Lowell, 365, E. D 1 00
Income from J. M. Parker fund. . 87
Income from Mary A. Putnam fund, North Cemetery. 3 58
Miss Carrie E. Read, Littleton Common, Fairview. . 1 00
George E. Reed, Lowell, 70, W. D 1 00
Income from Sarah S. Reed fund, West Cemetery
3 52
Mrs. Anna Richardson, Melrose, 74, W. D
1 00
M. T. Richardson, New York, Fairview. 1 00
Mrs. F. K. Ripley, North Chelmsford, 2, E. D
1 00
Amount carried forward
$194 64
111
Amount brought forward $194 64
Mrs. Nancy Sargent, Brookline, N. H., 59, W. D 1 00
William Saville, Boston, Fairview 1 00
Mrs. Charles J. Searles, Lowell, 66, W. D. 1 00
Mrs. George Scrutton, Lowell, 375, E. D 1 00
J. F. Spaulding, North Chelmsford, 346, E. D 1 00
Richard Stancomb, North Acton, 340, E. D 1 00
F. O. Stiles, Littleton, 41, E. D 1 00
Mrs. S. H. Trumbull, Beverly, Fairview 1 00
Income from Sarah E. P. Wells fund, West Cemetery . 3 01
Isaac G. Wheeler, Allston, 105, W. D 1 00
Mrs. E. J. Whitney, Littleton Common, 28 and 29, E. D 2 00
Mrs. A. M. Whitney, Spanaway, Wash., 21, W. D., and in one Fairview 2 00
Income from C. M. Wiley fund 1 75
Income from Luther Wilkins fund, 88, W. D
1 31
William T. Willis, Lowell, 19, E. D
1 00
A. A. Wright, Hudson, 34, W. D 1 00
Income from V. B. Wright fund
88
$215 59
EXPENSES.
Fairview :
Paid A. P. Richardson and others, for labor.
$285 31
G. H. Holt, for repairs on pump 1 00
J. H. O'Brien, for top dressing and freight on same. 66 83
$353 14
North Cemetery :
Paid B. F. Nutting, for labor $10 00
W. H. H. Burbeck, for labor 2 50
$12 50
112
West Cemetery :
Paid J. T. Colburn, for labor $ 6 50
M. F. Hutchins, for labor 6 53
for 800 1bs. dressing. 14 00
$27 03
General expenses :
Postage stamps for notices
$5 00
Grass seed, etc ..
3 26
$8 26
$391 93
Amount appropriated by the town
$200 00
Amount received for care of lots
215 59
$415 59
Amount expended.
391 93
Unexpended balance
$23 66
TRUST FUNDS HELD FOR CARE OF BURIAL LOTS.
Sally B. Burrill fund, lot in Fairview $100 00
Francis Caldwell fund, lot in Fairview 50 00
George Davis fund, lot in Fairview 50 00
Charles S. Dodge fund, lot in Fairview
100 00
Rachel Dupee fund, lot in Fairview
50 00
Daniel Falls fund, lot in Fairview.
50 00
S. D. Fletcher fund, lot in Fairview
50 00
S. D. Fletcher fund, lot in West Cemetery
50 00
Joseph B. Griffin fund, lot in Fairview
100 00
T. H. Hamblett fund, lot in Fairview 50 00
C. and C. A. Hamlin fund, lot in Fairview 100 00
M. Hennessey fund, lot in Fairview 50 00
Samuel Horne fund, lot in Fairview
50 00
Edwin D. Metcalf fund, lot in Fairview 50 00
James M. Parker fund, lot in Fairview 50 00
Nathan P. Prescott fund, lot in Fairview
50 00
Amount carried forward. $1,000 00
113
Amount brought forward $1,000 00
Mary A. Putnam fund, lot in North Cemetery 100 00
Sarah S. Reed fund, lot in West Cemetery 100 00
Sarah E. Richardson fund, lot in Fairview
50 00
Sarah E. P. Wells fund, lot in West Cemetery 100 00
Clara M. Wiley fund, lot in Fairview
100 00
Luther Wilkins fund, lot in Fairview
75 00
John Wilson fund, lot in Fairview
50 00
Varnum B. Wright fund, lot in Fairview
25 00
$1600 00
G. W. HEYWOOD, Chairman, MELBOURNE F. HUTCHINS, GEORGE T. DAY, Secretary, Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX SS.
To either Constable of the Town of Westford, in said County, GREETING :
You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections, and also in Town affairs, to meet at the Town House, in said Westford, on Monday, the sixteenth day of March, being the third Monday in said month, at eight o'clock A. M. The polls will be opened at 8.15 o'clock A. M., and may be closed at one o'clock P. M .; and they are then and there to act upon the following articles, to wit :
Ist. To choose a Moderator.
2d. To bring in their votes for Town Clerk, one Selectman, one Overseer of Poor, one Assessor, two School Committee, one Commissioner of Public Burial Grounds, one Trustee of the Public Library, all for three years; Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, two Constables, one Auditor and one Tree Warden, all for one year; also to vote on the following question : " Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?" all on one ballot.
3d. To hear the report of the Selectmen, and act in relation to the same.
4th. To hear the report of the Selectmen on Guide Boards, and act in relation to the same.
5th. To hear the report of the Selectmen on Naming Streets and Roads, and act in relation to the same.
6th. To hear the report of the Overseers of the Poor, and act in relation to the same.
7th. To hear the report of the School Committee, and act in relation to the same.
8th. To hear the report of the Trustees of the Public Library, and act in relation to the same.
9th. To hear the report of the Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds, and act in relation to the same.
10th. To see if the Town will accept the report of the Auditor chosen to audit the accounts of the Town Officers, and act in relation to the same.
115
IIth. To see if the Town will accept the List of Jurors as reported by the Selectmen, and act in relation to the same.
12th. To see if the Town will determine the compensation of the Tax Collector, and act in relation to the same.
13th. To raise and appropriate money to repair Roads and Bridges.
14th. To raise and appropriate money for Town Debts and Charges.
15th. To raise and appropriate money for Public Schools.
16th. To raise and appropriate money to pay tuition of High School scholars, residents of the Town, at Westford Academy.
17th. To raise and appropriate money for support of Poor.
18th.
To raise and appropriate money for School Text Books and Supplies.
19th. To see it the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, under the written direction of the Select- men, to borrow such sums of money as may be required for the demands upon him in anticipation of the taxes for the current year and payable therefrom, and act in relation to the same.
20th. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the ensuing year, also the rate of interest on taxes remaining unpaid at a time to be fixed by vote of the Town, and when and how said taxes shall be paid into the treasury, and act in relation to the same.
2Ist. To choose all other Town Officers necessary to be chosen by hand vote, and act in relation to the same.
22d. By request of the Veteran Association, to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) to commemorate Memorial Day, and act in relation to the same.
23d.
By request of the citizens of Graniteville, Forge Village and Brookside, to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Seventy-Five Dollars ($75) for the pur- pose of distributing books from the Public Library in these three villages, and act in relation to the same.
116
24th. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to act as its agents in any suit or suits that may arise during the current year ; also in such other matters which may arise, requiring in their judgment the action of such agent, and act in relation to the same. 25th. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to mail a copy of the Annual Town Report to voters and property holders only, and act in relation to the same.
26th. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) to be expended in such manner as the Tree Warden and Village Improvement Society may direct for the purpose of protecting shade trees or setting out the same or improvement of the roadside, and act in relation to the same.
27th. By request of the Abbot Worsted Co., H. E. Fletcher & Co., George C. Moore, William C. Edwards, Herbert V. Hildreth and C. G. Sargent's Sons, to see if the Town will appropriate Two Hundred Dollars ($200) for the suppression of the liquor traffic in town and instruct and authorize the Selectmen to employ or appoint Constables or Police Officers to enforce the law, and act in relation to the same.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies at the Town House and each Depot in said Westford, eight days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands and seals, this second day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and three.
SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, WESLEY O. HAWKES, ALBERT P. RICHARDSON,
A TRUE COPY. ATTEST :
Selectmen of Westford.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD, MASS.,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1903.
OF
WES
F
TOWN
OR
D
INCORPO
1729. 0
3,
PORATED
T. 2
SE
LOWELL, MASS. COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1903.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1902-1903.
A. R. CHOATE, Chairman
Term Expires 1904.
H. M. SEAVEY, Secretary
Term Expires 1903.
JOHN C. ABBOT .
Term Expires 1904.
GEO. H. HARTFORD .
Term Expires 1903.
ARTHUR E. WILSON Term Expires 1905.
ELBERT H. FLAGG
Term Expires 1905.
Superintendent of Schools.
H. E. RICHARDSON, Residence, Littleton Depot.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF WESTFORD :-
We hereby submit the report of the School Board for the past year, together with that of the Superintendent of schools.
We have been fortunate in retaining a superintendent and teachers who are progressive, and in sympathy with the best educational thoughts and methods, thus keeping abreast with the time.
It seems hardly necessary for the committee to reiterate the work done in the schools, as the superintendent's report which is endorsed by the committee, will cover all, including some pertinent suggestions for the future,all of which we heartily approve. We would especially emphasize the necessity of a new school building at the Centre, and think it would be well by another year, for the committee to submit to the Townspeople for their approval, something definite as to a site and the cost of a building such as would meet our requirements.
The conditions of the school buildings remain about the same, with the exception of the Forge Village school house which has been repainted, and the stony Brook school house which has undergone repairs. A well, which was greatly needed, has also been added to the latter the past year.
A. R. CHOATE,
J. C. ABBOT,
G. H. HARTFORD,
E. H. FLAGG,
T. A. E. WILSON,
H. M. SEAVEY,
School Committee.
1
4
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
INCOME.
Balance unexpended from 1901
$131 54
Appropriation 6,000 00
From State on account of Superintend- ent of Schools 250 00
Income Massachusetts School Fund
426 34
From Westford Academy for services of music teacher 25 00
Tuition of scholars at Westford Academy 1,500 00
State Board of Charity 10 50
$8,343 38
EXPENDED.
Teachers $5,327 09
Fuel 535 30
Janitor service and cleaning 382 00
Transporting scholars
493 00
Tuition scholars Westford Academy
1,500 00
$8,237 39
Balance unexpended $105 99
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES FURNISHED SCHOOLS.
Appropriation
$600 00
Amount expended
569 11
$30 89
Balance
$30 89
EXPENSE OF SUPERVISION.
Salary paid by Town
$800 00
Rebate from State
625 00
Net cost to Town 175 00
APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED.
Schools $6,000 00
Tuition scholars at Westford Academy .. 1,500 00
Text books and school supplies 600 00
$8,100 00
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE WESTFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
GENTLEMEN :- My third annual report is hereby presented to you, and through you to the citizens of the town.
STATISTICS.
The statistics for the school year ending in June, 1902, are given in detail at the end of this report. Below I give a sum- mary of these statistics.
Whole number of children of school age 459
Number of boys between 7 and 14 years
133
Number of girls between 7 and 14 years 145
Total 278
Number of boys between 5 and 15 years 204
Number of girls between 5 and 15 years 203
Total 407
Whole number enrolled in all the schools 467
Whole number between 7 and 14 years
310
Whole number between 5 and 15 years
423
Whole number over 15 years
28
Average Membership 386
Average attendance 341
Per cent of attendance 88
Number of Teachers 16
Number of weeks in school year . 36
In reviewing the work of the past year we are impressed by the spirit of harmony that has prevailed among all connected with the schools. The teachers have been loyal and have ren- dered faithful, efficient service. The committee have been con- stant in their support and earnest in their endeavor to further the best interests of the schools. Everything considered it has been a pleasant and profitable year but it is not the part of wisdom
6
to be satisfied for such a condition would stand in the way of future progress. Only by earnest striving after better things can improvement be expected.
The subject of public school education is receiving marked attention everywhere. It is the purpose of the public school to help in preparing the children for the duties of life and citizen- ship and to this end may it not justly expect the sympathy and support of the entire community ?
The schools of Massachusetts have attained a high degree of efficiency and the value of her educational system is recognized throughout the country.
A comparatively recent report of Hon. N. T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education, states that each child in Massachu- setts receives on an average seven years' of schooling, while each child in the nation receives only four and three tenths years.
Thus each child in the commonwealth reecives on an average 63% more schooling than each child in the nation at large.
He quotes from the report of the chief of the Massachusetts Labor Bureau of Statistics to the effect that the average daily wealth producing power of each man, woman, and child in the state is 66 cents per working day, while in the nation at large the average production is 37 cents per working day. Thus the average wealth producing power of each man, woman and child in Massachusetts is 78% greater than a similar average in the nation at large. From these statements may we not infer that the prosperity of a community depends largely upon its educa- tional advantages?
TEACHERS.
Few changes have occurred in the corps of teachers. Dur- ing the summer vacation Miss Jennie Stowell resigned, after three years' faithful service at Parkerville, to accept a school in Chelmsford, and a town girl, Miss Frances Bannister, was elected to the place. . Mr. Jacob Sanborn, who had taught suc- cessfully at Graniteville, resigned to do High School work and Mr. F. E. George, a graduate of Brown and a teacher of several years' experience, was chosen as his successor. Mrs. Loker of Acton, who had substituted at Nashoba for two terms, was
7
unable on account of ill health to continue teaching, and in November Miss Bertha M. Fields of the Fitchburg Normal School took the school for the rest of the year.
The Grammar School at Forge Village has been under the charge of Miss Mary A. Adams, an experienced teacher and grad- uate of the New Hampshire Normal School, and Miss I. M. Phil- lips has continued in the Primary department.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
Many of the schools in Westford present favorable condi- tions for doing highly commendable work. Those in Graniteville occupy a modern four room building and compare well in organ- ization and equipment with many of the best schools in the larger towns and cities. Conditions are also favorable at Forge Village, during the past two years many necessary repairs have been made, a new heating apparatus has been put in, painting, etc., have been done so that now the general arrangement and equipment for a two room building are such as to meet all pres- ent needs.
But unfortunately the same cannot be said of the Center schools where conditions are, to put it mildly, far from satis- factory. Owing to the unfortunate location of the school build- ing the cellar is damp much of the time, a constant menace to health of children and teachers alike, and is not deep enough to admit of a proper heating apparatus. The grammar room is unpleasantly situated in the roof of the building. As there are but two rooms in the building it is necessary to have more grades in each than can be handled to the best advantage.
A new school building is one of Westford's greatest needs. One which could accommodate the upper grammar, now in the Academy building, as well as the lower grammar and primary grades would be a credit to the town and a great step toward per- fecting the organization and general efficiency of the Center schools.
It is a truism that one's surroundings have a pronounced influence for good or ill, upon character. Arrangements should be such as to permit both teachers and pupils to do their work under the most favorable conditions and inflict upon them the least possible annoyance.
S
PROMOTION.
The regular promotions are decided upon in June but as a a child shows ability to advance during the year he is promoted to the next higher grade. For a number of years promotions generally have been made to depend upon the judgment of the teacher supplemented by that of the superintendent in special cases.
No one is kept back to mark time for it is recognized that there is quite as much danger in undertaxing as in overtaxing the mind. Every pupil should have enough to do to call into healthful activity all his mental faculties.
The question which teachers and superintendent try to answer before assigning a pupil to his place in the school is "Where will he get the most good?" that is, "Where will he find, all things considered, the best opportunity for growth?"
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT.
We ask careful perusal of the following quotation, which concerns the cooperation of parents and teachers, from the re- port of a neighboring town.
"But after all, there is one consideration which must not be overlooked. In establishing a system of public schools the state never intended to release fathers and mothers from their sacred obligation to train and educate their children but simply to assist them by providing facilities which ordinary means cannot pro- cure. Cooperation then, between parents and teachers will not only give better schools but better children in the schools."
Parents often ask, "Are you giving us good schools?" It is fair for us to ask them a few questions.
"Are you sending us good children?"
"Are they trained to habits of prompt obedience?"
"Are other duties and pleasures allowed to interfere with school work?"
"Are your children allowed to speak disrespectfully of their teachers?"
"When you speak of the teacher before them, do you re- member that she is a person of education, training, and good moral character?"
9
"Do you teach your children to understand that the habit- ual schooloffender bears the same relation to the school that the criminal does to the community?"
"The methods of school management have changed some- what, but there is today the same need of regular attendance, punctuality, obedience, accuracy, thoroughness, and cooperation between home and school that has been referred to in report after report for the past fifty years."
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