USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1902-1907 > Part 7
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The increasing number of visits which parents are making to the schools indicate a more thoughtful interest in the welfare of their children and a desire to more fully understand the con- ditions which surround them when in the school room.
Parents should become acquainted with the teacher and know her desires and motives in school work. Thus the home and school are mutually helped.
GEOGRAPHY.
The science of Geography has been practically recreated in the past few years. The earth has become very much smaller through the marvellous inventions of the age ; railway, telegraph, steamships, and telephone make the earth one neighborhood.
The ever increasing intimacy of all the nations of the earth with one another, together with the fact of our expanding ter- ritory, has given the study of geography a new importance and made a knowledge of it more necessary.
"Geography is not a simple science by itself like botany, geology, or astronomy, but a collection of sciences levied upon to describe the surface of the earth of the dwelling place of man and to explain some of its more prominent features. '
Political geography, which formed the stock of much of the former geography teaching, should be relegated to history where it properly belongs. History is closely allied to structural geography. Former teaching gave the impression that the earth has always been just as it appears now, that climate depends solely on distance from the equator, and gave descriptions of countries, peoples, and places, while the new teaching, with scientific thought as its basis, assumes that the earth, as we know it, is the result of a process of evolution "that what is, has come from what was, by means of processes still in operation."
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It endeavors to make plain the processes by which land and water have taken their present form and demands constant reasoning from cause to effect instead of the memorizing of names and descriptions.
A study of the effects of land formation upon drainage, climate, agriculture, industries, and commerce constitute a most important part of the new geography. Pupils today know vastly more of these subjects than was formerly acquired by school children. These changes no doubt mark a definite ad- vance. What the present school children do not possess as did their fathers and mothers is the ability to bound every state in the United States, to name and locate every capital, and all the chief cities, and to trace the course of all the unimportant rivers. The non-essentials are fast being eliminated and teach- ers and pupils are putting time and thought on the more vital topics.
MUSIC.
This department under the supervision of Miss Samuels is doing most commendable work. Miss Samuels is an expert in her line and Westford is fortunate, with the limited funds at her disposal for this purpose, in securing so efficient a musical di- rector.
"Music is an education. To educate you must train the powers of observation and refine the taste; you must stimulate the imagination, and more than all, you must touch the spirit. Music does this, and does it in a pleasing way. In every phase of life it is a recognized power. No social function, no civic event, no form of worship is complete without it."
"The object of music in our schools is to bring the child a knowledge of the essential principles of the study. Music is an exact science. No other study is so absolutely dominated by exactness. Its rules are inexorable. This study like no other develops every side of the child's nature. Daily vocal drill in our schools is a healthful exercise, inducing correct position, expanding the chest and lungs, developing the organs of speech, improving the enunciation, and teaching how to use, and above all to save the singing voice. From this exercise the child ac- quires conformity to strict and systematic drill. He learns to
11
do quick and accurate work with thorough concentration. The beautiful songs sung are in themselves a refining influence, filling the mind with pure and wholesome thought."
"Music gives a soul to the universe, charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and leads to all that is good, just, and beautiful of which it is the invisible but nevertheless eternal form."
In conclusion I wish to express my hearty apreciation for the cordial relations that have existed and to thank the com- mittee for their continued support.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT E. RICHARDSON.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
MR. HERBERT E. RICHARDSON, SUPT. OF SCHOOLS,
DEAR SIR :- After three years of work under the Weaver system, we now feel that the scholars have a clear insight into music.
The work thus far has gone very smoothly, due to the hearty co-operation of the teachers and Superintendent. This year, two part singing has been introduced into the intermediate grades with good success. New books have been purchased for several rooms and we note an added interest the scholars take in singing from them. I would recommend that these books be furnished for all the intermediate and grammar grades of the town ; placing the books now in use in the ungraded schools.
I feel that more time should be given to music in our Acad- emy as a half hour a week is not sufficient for good work. In many places a whole morning is devoted to music in the High Schools dividing it into periods of sight singing; chorus work and Musical History and Harmony.
A glee club has been organized among the girls of the school and extra time outside of the regular singing period is given to their instruction. The work of the club has been done well and the interest shown by the girls makes me hopeful of an increase of interest in the whole school. Our grammar grades have just begun their part work, and so far we have met with good success.
To review briefly the work done during the year: The first two terms have been spent on drilling the elements of music with sight-singing, the last term is a general review taking up the rudiments of Harmony and Musical History.
The new system of teaching time this year, we find a great improvement on the old one, as it eliminates all difficulties which the children have found so troublesome heretofore.
13
The enforced vacation of two weeks with the large amount of sickness which has followed has somewhat interfered with the progress of the ungraded schools, yet I feel that their advance- ment has only been retarded temporarily as the teachers of our Westford schools are equal to any emergency.
It is our aim and object to make music real to the children and in watching the schools develop under the system we feel it has been accomplished.
I urge the parents to visit the schools and inspect the work done by the children in music.
The support which I have received from the teachers and Superintendent has made my work this year a pleasure.
Respectfully,
BLANCHE S. SAMUELS.
REPORT OF TRUANT OFFICERS.
In accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth and the vote of the Town, the following report is respectfully submitted. Cases investigated 204
Cases brought to trial
0
AI BICKNELL, JOHN A. HEALEY, Truant Officers.
Program of Westford Academy Graduation Exercises, June 20, 1902.
PROGRAM.
1 Organ Solo-"War March of Priests," Mendelssohn Mr. Charles R. Hartley.
2 Prayer. Rev. Merritt S. Buckingham.
3 Essay-"The Referendum." Archie A. Hartford, Westford.
4 Song-"Panis Angelicus,"' Franck
Mrs. Daisy Shaw Merritt.
5 Declamation. Edna L. Ferguson, of the Junior Class.
6 Singing by the School-"Sweet and Low," J. Barnby
7 Essay-"The Great Pyramid." Albert W. Gurney, Forge Village.
8 Song-"A New Heaven and a New Earth," Gaul
Mr. Albert E. Prescott, class of '81.
9 Essay-"Present Opportunities for Young Women." Eva L. Burnham, Westford.
10 Organ Solo (a) "Chorus of Angels," (b) "Gavotti in B Flat," Mr. Hartley.
Scotson Clark Handel
11 Conferring Diplomas.
Rev. Edward A. Horton.
12 "America."
GRADUATING CLASS.
LATIN SCIENTIFIC COURSE.
Eva Lockwood Burnham, Albert William Gurney Archie Augustus Hartford. Motto :- " Virtus sola nobilitat."
STATISTICS FOR 1901-1902.
Grades.
Number of Weeks.
Enrol- ment.
Average Member ship.
Average Attend- ance.
Per cent. of At- tendance.
Between 7 and 14.
Between 5 and 15.
Over 15.
X, XI, XII, XIIÍ
39
38
30
27
90
6
20
18
Academy
VIII,IX
36
35
32
28.6
89
16
25
10
Centre Grammar .
IV, V,
36
34
31.7
28.19
89
34
34
0
Centre Primary . .
I. II, III
36
31
26.6
22.8
85
12
30
0
VI, VII,
Graniteville Upper Grammar.
VIII
36
33
25.7
21.8
84.7
28
28
0
Graniteville Lower Grammar.
IV, V
36
38
33
29
88
33
33
0
Graniteville Upper Primary ..
II, III
36
29
22.9
21
91
29
29
0
Graniteville Lower Primary. .
I
36
44
38.5
33.6
82
16
43
0
III, IV,
V, VI, VII
36
30
20.3
18.4
90
30
30
0
Forge Village Primary .
I, II
36
55
46
40
87
32
55
0
Parkerville .
I to VIII
36
19
12.3
11.2
91
14
19
0
Minot's Corner
36
15
15
13
87
11
15
0
Nashoba .
36
15
13
11.8
90
13
15
0
Stony Brook.
36
26
32
20
87
18
23
0
Nabnasset . .
36
25
16.6
15
90
18
24
0
Totals
467
386.6
341.3
88
310
423
28
16
..
..
.
..
.
..
Centre Intermediate.
VI, VII
Forge Village Grammar
66
STATISTICS FALL AND WINTER TERMS, 1902-1903.
Enrol- ment.
Average Member- ship.
Average Attend- ance.
Per cent. of At- tendance.
Between 7 and 14
Between 5 and 15.
Over 15.
Academy .
34
31
29.8
96.5
1
7
26
Centre Grammar.
32
27
23
85
13
24
8
Centre Intermediate.
32
25
22
88
22
32
0
Centre Primary ..
34
30
27
90
28
34
0
Graniteville Upper Grammar.
33
31.7
28.6
90
32
33
0
Graniteville Lower Grammar.
32
28
25
89
28
4
0
Graniteville Upper Primary ..
44
37.7
32.7
86
18
44
0
Graniteville Lower Primary.
26
24
23
94
25
26
0
Forge Village Grammar
48
43.9
38
86
30
18
0
Forge Village Primary ..
18
16
14.8
90
12
18
0
Parkerville
14
12
11
91
10
14
0
Minot's Corner
17
10
9
90
15
17
0
Nashoba . ..
25
22
18
83
19
25
0
Stony Brook.
31
21
17
80
24
31
Nabnasset .
Totals.
455
391
348
89
311
362
34
.
.
. .
..
..
. .
. .
...
...
. .
..
35
32
29
86
34
35
0
17
LIST OF TEACHERS 1902-1903.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
APPOINTED.
EDUCATED.
SALARY.
Academy
Assistant .
Gertrude MacDonald
1902
Westbrook Seminary.
600.00
Center Grammar ..
Ruth Fisher.
1900
Lowell Normal ...
450.00
Center Intermediate.
Lillian G. Small.
1901
Bucksport Seminary.
396.00
Center Primary . ...
Anna A. Wood.
1901
Farmington Normal.
360.00
Granite ville Upper Grammar
F. E. George. .
1902
Brown University . .
540.00
Graniteville Lower Grammar
Issie A. Parker ..
1897
Westford Academy.
360.00
Graniteville Upper Primary .
Mary E. Bemis.
1900
Westfield Normal. .
360.00
Graniteville Lower Primary .
Flora E. Palmer
1901
Westford Academy ..
360.00
Forge Village Grammar. . ...
Mary A. Adams.
1902
N. H. State Normal
396.00
Forge Village Primary.
I. Millie Phillips . .
1901
Worcester .
450.00
Parkerville
Frances C. Banister.
1902
Westford Academy . .
288.00
Minot's Corner
Eva C. Bassett
1899
Framingham Normal
288.00
Nashoba .
Bertha M. Field.
1902
Fitchburg Normal.
288.00
Stony Brook
Anna Mellen. .
1899
Lowell Normal. .
324.00
Nabnasset .
Luanna DeCatur .
1901
Westford Academy ..
286.00
Supervisor of Music. .
Blanche S. Samuels.
1902
Westfield .
250.00
..
·
·
..
.
.
.
18
..
....
.
....
.
..
..
..
.
( Principal .
William E. Frost.
1872
Bowdoin '72 .
$1,700.00
.
...
....
Roll of Honor for Year Ending June, 1902.
ONE YEAR.
Buckingham, Edward Buckingham, Horace Wall, Rachael May.
TWO TERMS.
Blodgett, Marion
Butterfield, Hattie
Lord, Marion
Decatur, Elsie
Lord, Philip D.
Flynn, John
Morton, Blanche
Gilson, Ella Gilson, Alice May
O'Brien, Mary E. Petherick, Albert
Wright, Carl.
ONE TERM.
Balch, George
Leclere, Actor
Beele, Luella
Leclere, Mary
Beele, Walter
Lesseur, Flora
Buckingham, Willie
Morton, Thomas
Cann, George
Morton, Viola
Cann, Harvey,
Petherick, Fred
Cann, May
Prescott, Benjamin A,.
Champagne, Tilly
Prescott, Ebenezer C.
Charlton, Agnes
Prescott, Lester
Charlton, Raymond
Coburn, Charles
Pyne, Olive Record, Alice
Daly, Gladys K.
Reed, Annie
Dazrel, Renie
De Roehn, Elmer J.
Ferguson, Howard
Furbush, Ruth
Hambin, Evelyn C.
Hartford, Hazel B. Hartford, James
Helie, George Kimball, Elizabeth
Rockwell, Webster . anborn, Mabel . avoir, Annie ullivan, Mary :ıllivan, \ illie y mmes, / nna immes, Jaul Vinal, Oli e B. .alkden, erbert H.
Wright, Lillian
Prescott, Lucinda
Comey, Hazel M.
Leclue, Lorinne
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1903-1904.
SPRING TERM -- Begins March 16, 1903; closes June 12, 1903. Term's length, 13 Weeks. FALL TERM-Begins Sept. 8, 1903; closes November 20, 1903. Term's length, 11 weeks.
WINTER TERM-Begins November 30, 1903; closes February 26, 1904. Term's length, 12 weeks.
HOLIDAYS.
April 19; May 30; Thanksgiving week; Christmas week; February 22.
ACADEMY.
SPRING TERM-March 23, 1903; June 19, 1903. FALL TERM-August 31, 1903; November 25, 1903. WINTER TERM-December 7, 1903; March 11, 1904.
-
Extracts from the Public Statutes of the Commonwealth.
CHAPTER 494.
AF ACT TO REGULATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF LABOR.
Section 1. No child under fourteen years of age shall be employed in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment. No such child shall be employed in any work performed for wages or other compensation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the town or city in which he resides are in session, nor be employed at any work before the hour of six o'clock in the morning or after the hour of seven o'clock in the evening.
Sect. 2. No child under sixteen years of age shall be employed in any factory, workshop or other mercantile establish- ment unless the person or corporation employing him procures and keeps on file and accessible to the truant officers of the town or city, and to the district police and inspectors of factories, an age and schooling certificate as hereinafter prescribed, and keeps two complete lists of all such children employed therein, one on file and one conspicuously posted near the principal entrance of the building in which such children are employed, and also keeps on file a complete list, and sends to the superin- tendent of schools, or, where there is no superintendent, to the school committee, the names of all minors employed therein who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language.
Sect. 4. An age and schooling certificate shall not be approved unless satisfactory evidence is furnished by the last school census, the certificate of birth or baptism of such child, the register of birth of such child with a town or city clerk, or in some other manner, that such child is of the age stated in the certificate.
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Sect. 6. Whoever employs a child under sixteen years of age, and whoever having under his control a child under such age permits such child to be employed, in violation of section one or two of this act, shall for such offence be fined not more than fifty dollars; and whoever continues to employ any child in violation of either of said sections of this act after being notified by a truant officer or an inspector of factories thereof, shall for every day thereafter that such employment continues be fined not less than five nor more than twenty dollars. A failure to produce to a truant officer or inspector of factories any age and schooling certificate or list required by this act shall be prima facie evidence of the illegal employment of any person whose age and schooling certificate is not produced or whose name is not so listed. Any corporation or employer retaining any age and schooling certificate in violation of section five of this act shall be fined ten dollars. Every person authorized to sign the certificate pre- scribed by section five of this act who knowingly certifies to any materially false statement therein shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.
Sect. 8. Truant officers may visit the factories, workshops and mercantile establishments in their several towns and cities and ascertain whether any minors are employed therein contrary to the provisions of this act, and they shall report any cases of such illegal employment to the school committee and to the chief of the district police, or to the inspector of factories for the district. Inspectors of factories and truant officers may re- quire that the age and schooling certificates and lists provided for in this act of minors employed in such factories, workshops or mercantile establishments, shall be produced for their inspec- tion. Complaints for offences under this act shall be brought by inspectors of factories.
CHAPTER 496.
AN ACT RELATIVE TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND TRUANCY.
Sect. 11. No child who has not been duly vaccinated shall be admitted to a public school except under presentation of a certi- ficate signed by a regular practising physician that such child is .an unfit subject for vaccination. No child who is a member of a household in which a person is sick with smallpox, diptheria, scarlet fever or measles, or of a household exposed to contagion from a household as aforesaid, shall attend any public school during such sickness or until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health of the town or city, or from the attending physician of such sick person, stating in a case of smallpox, diptheria or scarlet fever, that a
23
period of at least two weeks, and in a case of measles a period of at least three days, has elapsed since the recovery, removal or death of such person, and that danger of the conveying of such disease by such child has passed.
Sect. 12. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall attend some public day school in the town or city in which he resides during the entire time the public day schools are in session, subject to such exceptions as to children, places of attendance and schools as are provided for in sections three, seven, ten and eleven of this act: provided, that the superinten- dent of schools or, where there is no superintendent of schools, the school committee, or teachers acting under authority of said superintendent of schools or school committee, may excuse cases of necessary absence; and provided, further, that the attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such town or city in accordance with section two of chapter four hundred and ninety-eight of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-four, or if such child has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable. Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause such child to attend school as required by this section.
Sect. 19. The several school teachers shall faithfully keep the registers of attendance daily, and make due return thereof to the school committee or to such person as such committee may designate. No teacher of a public school shall receive payment for services for the two weeks preceding the close of any single term until the register, properly filled up and com- pleted, is so returned. All registers shall be kept at the schools, and at all times during the school hours shall be open to the inspection of the school committee, the superintendent of schools the truant officers, and the secretary and agents of the state board of education.
Sect. 24. Every habitual truant, that is, every child between seven and fourteen years of age who wilfully and habitually absents himself from school contrary to the provis- ions of section twelve of this act, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, and if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
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Sect. 25. Every habitual absentee, that is, every child between seven and sixteen years of age who may be found wan- dering about in the streets or public places of any town or city of the Commonwealth, having no lawful occupation, habitually not attending school, and growing up in idleness and ignorance, upon complaint by a truant officer or any other person, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, at the discre- tion of the court, to a county truant school for a period not ex- ceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
Sect. 26. Every habitual school offender, that is, every child under fourteen years of age who persistently violates the reasonable regulations of the school which he attends, or other- wise persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, at the discretion of the court, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
Sect. 31. Any person having under his control a child between seven and fourteen years of age who fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such control, to cause such child to attend school as required by section twelve of this act, the physical or mental condition of such child not being such as to render his attendance at school harmful or impracticable, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Any person who induces or attempts to induce any child to absent himself un- lawfully from school, or employs or harbors while school is in ses- sion any child absent unlawfully from school, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
Sect. 34. The truant officers of towns and cities shall in- quire in all cases arising under sections eleven, twelve, twenty- four to twenty-six inclusive and thirty-one of this act, and may make complaints, serve legal processes, and carry into execution judgments thereunder. They shall perform the duties of over- sight of children placed on probation as may be required of them under section twenty-eight of this act. A truant officer of any town or city may apprehend and take to school, without warrant, any truant or absentee found wandering about in the streets or public places thereof.
.
INDEX.
Page Officers of the Town of Westford 3 Births 6
Marriages 7
Deaths
8
Town Clerk's Report on Dogs
10
Annual Town Meeting 13
Special Town Meeting, June 5, 1902.
8
State Election, Nov. 4, 1902 .
19
Petition of Order of Notice Upon and Granted to the Lowell & Fitchburg Street Railway Company
22
Tree Warden's Report. 33
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures 34
Assessors' Report 35
Tax Collector's Report
40
Selectmen's Report.
49
Report of Selectmen on Naming Streets and Roads. 73
Report of Board of Health
79
Report of Overseers of Poor.
86
Treasurer's Report 94
Auditor's Report 96
Library Report 100
Report of Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds. 106
Warrant for Town Meeting 114
Annual Report of School Committee
1
School Committe, 1902 -- 1903. 2
Report of School Committee 3
Financial Statement 4
Superintendent's Report
5
Report of Supervisor of Music
12
Report of Truant Officers
14
Program of Academy Graduating Exercises
15
Statistics for 1901 - 1902
16
Statistics Fall and Winter Terms, 1901-1902
17
List of Teachers, 1902-1903
18
Roll of Honor 19
School Calender, 1903-1904 20
Extracts from Public Statutes 21
TOWN OF WESTFORD
Annual Report For Year Ending March I, 1904
Also
Town Warrant for Annual Town Meeting to be held March 21, 1904
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1904.
ALSO
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
TO BE HELD MARCH 21, 1904.
WESTFO
NMOJ
OR
1729. c
CORPORATED
23
SEP
LOWELL, MASS. COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1904.
Officers of the Town of Westford, 1903.
Town Clerk.
EDWARD FISHER Term expires March, 1906
Selectmen. SHERMAN H. FLETCHER, Chairman .. Term expires March, 1904 *ALBERT P. RICHARDSON . Term expires March, 1905
WESLEY O. HAWKS, Secretary Term expires March, 1906
Assessors.
GEORGE H. HARTFORD, Chairman .. Term expires March, 1904 J. WILLARD FLETCHER Term expires March, 1905
SAMUEL L. TAYLOR . Term expires March, 1906
Overseers of the Poor.
LEONARD W. WHEELER, Chairman .. Term expires March, 1904 CLARENCE R. P. DECATUR Term expires March, 1905
ARTHUR H. BURNHAM Term expires March, 1906
Treasurer. NAHUM H. WRIGHT.
Collector of Taxes. LEONARD W. WHEELER.
Auditor. HUGH F. LEITH.
Constables.
JOHN A. HEALY,
SAMUEL H. BALCH.
School Committee.
JOHN C. ABBOT Term expires March, 1904 ALBERT R. CHOATE, Chairman Term expires March, 1904 ELBERT H. FLAGG. Term expires March, 1905 T. ARTHUR E. WILSON Term expires March, 1905
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