USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1907-1908 > Part 7
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Motion made to adjourn. Carried.
JAMES E KELLEY, Town Clerk.
TOWN WARRANT
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, ss.
To William E. Swain, Constable of the Town of Wilmington. Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in the manner provided by Section 2, Article 1 of the By-Laws, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Wilmington, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, to meet and assemble at the Town Hall on Thursday, the thirtieth day of April next, at eight o'clock in the evening, to act upon the following articles, namely :
Art. 1. To choose by ballot a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Art. 2. To see what action the Town will take in regard to the construction of a sidewalk on the easterly side of Main street, beginning at the residence of S. R. McIntosh.
Art. 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select- men to sell the building formerly used as the office of the Sealer of Weights and Measures, or do anything in regard to the same.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of said meeting. Given in our hands and the seal of the Town this twenty- first day of April, nineteen hundred and eight.
NGTO
THE WHITEFIELD ELM
730
JOHN W. HATHAWAY, EDWARD N. EAMES, ARTHUR T. BOND,
Selectmen of Wilmington.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 30, 1908
Meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk at the appointed time, the warrant read, and Article 1 taken up.
Art. 1. Edward N. Eames was elected Moderator by ballot, the check list being used.
Art. 2. Motion : That a sidewalk be constructed from S. R. McIntosh's house to the junction of Lowell and Main streets. On being put to a vote it was decided in the negative.
Art. 3. A motion was made that the Selectmen be authorized to sell the building, but after some remarks the mover of the motion requested leave to withdraw the same. No objection being made, it was withdrawn. A motion was then made to pass the article, which was unanimously carried.
On motion, it was then voted to dissolve the meeting.
JAMES E. KELLEY,
Town Clerk.
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1908
No.
Date of Birth
NAME OF CHILD
1
Jan.
8
Thomas Alexander Sullivan ..
Patrick David Sullivan, Mary Brabant ...
2
Jan.
13
Wesley Byron Moody Millett
Roscoe E. Millett, Eustachia F. Moody.
3
Jan.
27
Emma Elizabeth Daisy
William James Daisy, Emma Hall . ..
4
Jan.
30
Laurence Parker Melzer
Eber Parker Melzer, Georgiana Eugenia Greene ·
5
Feb.
2
Charles Edgar Rice ..
Charles H. Rice, Susan Wells. ..
6
Feb.
9
James A. Murphy.
James Stephen Murphy, Elizabeth Frances White
7
Feb.
13
Mildred Evelyn Parker ..
Charles L. Parker, Annie Bartlett
8
Feb.
15
Ruth Louise Livingstone ..
Charles A. Livingstone, Eleanor Holmes
9
Feb.
27
Jennie Hilda Esephene Thompson
William Albert Thompson, Mary Jane Briley
10
April 1
Florence Elizabeth Carter
Ellis E. Carter, Emma Blaisdell. ..
11
April
11
James Devine.
Owen Devine, Ellen Gallagher ..
12
April
14
Dorothy Louise Wyman
Frederick U. Wyman. Flora K. Colgate.
13
April
14
William Alexander Atton
Harlan H. Kidder, Emily May Kidder.
14
April
17
Barbara Frances Kidder.
Charles R. Taylor, Alice R. Towle
16
May
12
Mary Gertrude Butters ..
Brewster S. Butters. Angelina Surrette.
17
June
4
Mary Carmella Russ.
George Russ, Vito Sara ..
Louis M. Marion, Alphonsine Brabant.
19
June
8
Theresa Catln.
William Catln, Rosie Colucci ..
20
June
10
Harold Winfred Rice.
Winfred W. Rice, Alice E. Cole.
21
June
24
Evelyn Julia Patnaude.
Ferdinand Patnaude, Agnes Florence
22
Aug.
6
Hilda Adalene Millett.
Harry Alonzo Millett, Laura Adelene Byine
23
Aug.
11
24
Aug.
11
25
Aug.
28
26
Sept.
3
27
Sept.
9
28
Nov.
4
Francis Eben Hathaway ..
29
Nov.
20
Josephine Harriet Lavoie
Joseph E. Lavoie, Alphonsine M. Marion.
30
Nov.
29
Doris Feindel.
31
Dec.
18
Ruth Marie Tower.
32
Dec.
23
Mary Hoban ...
Patrick Francis Hoban, Charlotte H. Hooper.
....
33
Dec.
29
Walter Thompson Stirling
James Burton Stirling, Robina Thompson Moffet. ..
. . .
.
15
April
20
Donald Arnos Taylor ..
18
June
4
Frank Henry Marion.
Drusilla Alburta Shaw ..
Charles F. Shaw. Harriet E. Clark ..
John Angus McLeod, Minnie May Jaeger
.
Otto T. Martin. May E. Huffman
- Luther
Frederick William Doucette.
Robert Luther, Lillian Hall ... William H. Doucette, Mary A. Babine.
George S. Hathaway, Frances L. Woodcock
Charles L. Feindel, Anna Arbogast ...
Clarence A. Tower. Mary A. C. Smith . ... .
Lawrence Malcolm McLeod
William Huffman Martin .
NAME OF PARENTS
George A. W. Atton, Anna B. McCallum
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1908
No.
Date
Names of Groom and Bride
Age
Residence
Occupation
Place of Birth
Name of Parents
1
May 5
Edward W. Taylor Olive Blanche Kirkpatrick
44 38
Wilmington Wilmington
Teaming At Home
Burlington, Mass. Philadelphia, Pa.
John B. Taylor, Mary E. Butters Wm. H. Kirkpatrick, Mary A. Armstrong
2
June 18
Harry D. Carter Emma M. Milligan
31
Lynn, Mass. Wilmington
Druggist Stenographer
Gardner, Mass. Wilmington
David A. Carter, Mary E. O'Brien George M. Milligan, Mary E. Carter
3
June 26
Henry H. Cutter Lettie M. Purington
20 17
Wilmington
Moth Employee At Home
Wilmington Haverhill, Mass.
William H. Cutter, Susan M. H. Coburn Joshua W. Purington, Jennie L. Purington
4
June 28
Alden Noyes Eames Lena May Shaw
27
Wilmington ·Somerville, Mass.
Draughtsman Teacher
Wilmington Woolwich, Me.
Warren Eames, Elizabeth Ann Carter Albion Randall Shaw, Clara Thwing Trott
5
July 1
Thomas L. Canada Clara A. R. Fitchett
19
Wilmington Wilmington
Machinist Domestic
Plummerville, Ark. Woburn, Mass.
Anthony Canada, Rosa Robinson Rev. Wilson Fitchett, Ellen Burton
6
July
4
Luther H. Shattuck Nellie Brown
29
Wilmington Boston, Mass.
Photographer Packer
Malden, Mass. Boston, Mass.
William O. Shattuck, Ella A. Pierce William Brown, Mary Brown
7
Aug. 20
Walter J. Baldwin Mildred Gray
24 19
Tewksbury, Mass. Wilmington
Stenographer At Home
Tewksbury, Mass. Chelsea, Mass.
Joel W. Baldwin, Lizzie Mckinnon Frank B. Gray, Susie A. Dearborn
8
Sept. 2
James A. Bean Margaret F. Farrell
Wilmington Lowell, Mass.
Cook Waitress
Tilton, N. H. Lowell, Mass.
Darius K. Bean, Zilpha Holmes James J. Farrell, Elizabeth McCall
9
Sept. 17
52
Wilmington Wilmington
Chocolate M'f'g'r Bookkeeper
Berwick, Me. Germany
Ebenezer Roberts, Mary Fletcher Rankin Fred'k Albrink, Sophia Wilhelmina Gunther
10
Sept. 29
Albert L. Patten Ada M. Pinkham
22
Waterbury, Conn. Lowell, Mass.
Nurse Hosiery
Waterbury, Conn. Gardiner, Me.
Frank S. Patten, Fanny Arnold William A. Pinkham, Annie Church
11
Oct. 3
Owen J. Roche Margaret M. (Jordan) Nolan
34
Wilmington Wilmington
Currier Domestic
Ireland Boston, Mass.
Patrick Roche, Julia Devreux Thomas F. Jordan, Mary M. Murphy
12
Oct. 25
Walter A. Hill Alice Louise Downes
40 41
Stoneham, Mass. Wilmington
Shoemaker At Home
Stoneham, Mass. Southampton, Eng.
Amos Hill, Mary S. Gould Thomas W. Downes, Mary F. Leland
13
Oct. 29
Seth Arthur Loring Ruth Rebecca Cole
26 31
Wilmington Wilmington
Teacher Teacher
Auburn, Me. Wilmington
Milton 1. Loring, Justina Mower George Cole, Jane Ann Malpas
14
Nov. 12
Levy W. Derby Abbie Frances Bancroft
65 58
Grafton, Vt. Woburn, Mass.
Farmer Housekeeper
Grafton, Vt. Wilmington
Joseph Derby, Betsy Stearns Hiram Bancroft, Lydia Kingsbury
15
Nov. 15
Charles H. Buck Harriet S. Nichols
23
Wilmington Wilmington
Provision Dealer At Home
Wilmington Wilmington
J. Henry Buck, Catherine T. Warland Francis Nichols, Sarah A. Messenger
18
22
22
Fred H. Roberts Alice Albrink
35
22
37
19
West Epping, N. H.
23
24
25
DEATHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1908
No.
Date of Death
Name of Deceased
Sex
C'd'n
Age Y. M. D.
Disease or Cause of Death
Residence
Place of Birth
Names of Parents
1
Jan.
7
Maria Geeland
F
M
50
0
0
Apoplexy
2
Jan. 24
Elias H. Day
M
M
73
9
1
Paralysis
Wilmington Wilmington
Freeport, Me. Ireland
3
Feb. 17
Bridget Rose
F
M
73
1
17
1
Feb. 21
George M. Cusick
M
M
41
2
6
5
Feb. 23
Sybil J. Gilliatt
F
M
62
5
12
Angina Pectoris Erysipelis
Wilmington
6
Feb. 29
Frederick S. White
M
M
75
7
4
Bright's Disease
Wilmington
7
Mar. 20
Timothy D. Upton
M
M
69
7
18
Hemorrhage of Stomach
8
Mar. 21
William H. Cutter
M
M
60
8
5
Wilmington Wilmington
9
April 27
Edward Mears
M M
W
77
3
12
Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington
12
June 5
George W. Frost
M
S
40
3
22
Tuberculosis
Wilmington
13
June 10
Harold Winfred Rice
F
M
49
9
6
Nephritis and Apoplexy
14
June 12
Mary A. Kidder
Wilmington
15
July 10
E. Brewster Carter
M
M
60
11
18
Cancer of Jaw
Wilmington
16
July 10
F
M
55
Carcinoma of Uterus
Wilmington
17
July 12
F
M
38
6 12
Pneumonia
Wilmington
18
July
13
Lizzie T. Horton
S
65
Bronchial Consumption
Wilmington
19
July 30 July 31
Zilpha I. Bean James F. Buck
M
M
76
5
29
Apoplexy
Wilmington
22
Sept. 2
James A. Murphy
M
S
6
23
Jaundice
Wilmington
24
Sept. 25
Lucy J. Jenne
M
67
4
20
Hernia
Wilmington
25 26
Oct. 27
Mary M. Nee
F
S
13
7
1
Wilmington
27
Nov.
9
Francis E. Hathaway
28
Nov. 22
Hilda A. Millett
M
W
77
8
6
F
64
Arterio Sclerosis
Wilmington
30
Dec. 28
Laura A. Miller
The following named persons were buried in Wilmington, but died elsewhere, during the year 1908 :
Jan. 19 Laura Parker, at Reading, aged 71 yrs. 7 mos. 17 days
Jan. 23 William A. Manzer, at Andover, aged 73 yrs. 7 mos. 26 days
July 2 Esther Lundberg, at Lowell, aged 47 years
May 10 John H. Bancroft, at Woburn, aged 59 years
May 12 Albert Albano, at Boston, aged 55 years
May 14 Catherine C. Davis, at Billerica, aged 83 yrs. 2 mos. 10 days
June 18 Alexander MacGregor, at Boston, aged 57 years
June 22 Sophronia O. Eames, at Andover, aged,87 years, 4 mos. 24 days
April 4 Cyrus L. Carter, at Worcester, aged 68 yrs. 4 mos. 15 days
Aug. 24 Elizabeth Parker, at Danvers, aged 76 years
Oct. 1 James E. Canada, at Cambridge, aged 28 yrs. 8 mos. 25 days
Matthew Campbell, Mary A. Drury Elisha Day, Sarah Randall Hugh Hannon, Alice Kirk John Cusick, Hepsabeth Price James Young, Sarah Bettison Loronzo White, Louisa Harnden Timothy Upton, Ruth Burnham Ezra Cutter, Mary Pope Russell Mears, Hannah Phelps Franklin Kidder, Dorcas Buck Willliam A. Frost, Phebe E. Downs Winfred W. Rice, Alice E. Cole H. Allen Sheldon, Catherine Buck Elbridge Carter, Roxann Nichols Joshua Miller, Emeline Butters Samuel Zatta, Mary Zatta
H. Allen Sheldon, Catherine Buck Willard Dudley, Mary A. Cleveland Francis Holmes, Abigail Hinkley James F. Buck, Naomi Clark James S. Murphy, Elizabeth F. White Louis M. Marion, Alphonsine Brabant Caster B. Miner, Sophia Janes John Downie, not known Martin Nee, Nora O'Donnell Geo. S. Hathaway, Frances L. Woodcock Harry A. Millett. Laura A. Byrne
23
Sept. 10
Frank Henry Marion
St. Armand, Can. Ireland
Oct. 2
John Downie
M
M
68
7
Cholera Morbus Diphtheria
Wilmington
Boston, Mass.
M F
S
3
16
Pneumonia and Pleurisy
Wilinington
Wilmington
29
Dec. 16
Richard L. Folkins
Lobar Pneumonia
Wilmington
New Brunswick
Joseph Folkins, Hannalı - Lewis Pray, Mary A. Clark
7
15
10
May 1
Benjamin F. Kidder
M
S
M
S
77
9
Cancer of Face
Wilmington
Burlington, Mass. Italy
F F
M
60
9
26
Diabetes
Wilmington
Wilmington
21
Aug. 13
Cholera Infantum
Wilmington
M F
S
3
Wilmington
Lowell, Mass.
Mary Louise Dudley
Allentown, N. H.
20
Wilmington
Wilmington
W
80
Suicide, taking Paris Green Pneumonia
Tewksbury, Mass. Tewksbury, Mass.
Premature Birth
Wilmington
12 hrs
Wilmington
Wilmington
Phthsis
R. R. Accident
Somerville, Mass. Wilmington
New Brunswick Nova Scotia
Boston, Mass. Wilmington
Charlestown, Mass.
Charles O. Miller Rose Frolio
Wilmington
Boston, Mass.
S
5
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Tewksbury, Mass.
Wilmington
Ireland
RECAPITULATION
Births registered in 1908
32
Males
14
Females
18
Marriages registered in 1908
15
Deaths in 1908
30
Males .
17
Females
13
Dog License Account :
Number of licenses issued
149
By cash paid County Treasurer
$319 20
Account of printed Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths : -
Number on hand January 1, 1908 249
Sold during the year 6
Number on hand January 1, 1909 243 ·
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. KELLEY,
Town Clerk.
The Town Clerk will furnish to parents, householders, physi- cians and midwives, applying therefor, blanks for returns of births, as required by law.
ANNUAL REPORT
- OF THE -
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
- OF THE -
TOWN OF WILMINGTON, MASS.
1908
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ROBERT H. GOWING, Chairman . Term expires March, 1911
HOWARD M. HORTON, Secretary
'Term expires March, 1909
CHARLES E. LITTLEFIELD, Auditor . Term expires March, 1910
SUPT. OF SCHOOLS WM. N. CRAGIN
TRUANT OFFICER WM. E. SWAIN
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TO THE CITIZENS OF WILMINGTON ; -
How the schools of this Town are being conducted, and what is accomplished in them, are matters which vitally interest the tax- payers of Wilmington, and in submitting these reports we hope to place before you an outline of the past year's work.
Your Committee has endeavored to use the means at hand to the best advantage possible, with the purpose of making the results of this year's work greater than that of the preceding year, and to show substantial progress in all directions.
In order to arrange the schools to suit new conditions several changes have been necessary, and the following briefly states what has been done.
HIGH SCHOOL
The entire building is now devoted to the use of this school, and the work is carried on with more convenience than heretofore.
The principal, Mr. Loring, and three assistants, Misses Cutler, Hodge and Keith, constitute the teaching force.
That we are getting good results is evidenced by the larger enrollment and the greater number who complete the course.
The number graduated last June was ten, and the class of nine- teen hundred and nine now contains twelve. We believe that from now on we shall graduate good sized classes.
WALKER SCHOOL
The need of the entire building for the use of the High School has made it advisable to place the eighth grade pupils living south of the center of the Town in the Walker School. By a slight change of the district lines and the opening of the West School this has been. accomplished without any serious hardship to anyone.
46
Miss Alexander continues as principal and has in charge the sixth and seventh grades ; Miss Goodrich the eighth, Miss Prescott the fourth and fifth, and Miss Norcross the first, second and third grades.
WHITEFIELD SCHOOL
Beginning with the fall term we transferred the teacher of the North School, Mrs. Haley, to the Whitefield building, to take charge of the first four grades, and Miss H. A. Swain from the East School, for the fifth and sixth grades.
Miss C. M. Swain continues as principal of the building and teaches the seventh and eighth grades.
This arrangement necessitated the opening and furnishing of another room in this building. We are confident that placing these two teachers of demonstrated ability in this school has greatly added to its strength.
The High, Walker and Whitefield Schools are now complete units.
WEST SCHOOL
This school is re-opened under Miss Ethel Carter, who has in charge the first four grades.
SOUTH SCHOOL
Miss Gurney continues the administration of this school with four grades.
EAST SCHOOL
On account of the small number of pupils in this school the Committee had under consideration the advisability of closing it and transporting the children to the Whitefield building. This arrange- ment, we learned, would be displeasing to the citizens of that part of the Town, so it was decided to continue the school. Miss Nina Kin- caid, who has charge, is a graduate of our High School.
NORTH SCHOOL
When Mrs. Haley was transferred to the Whitefield School the Committee engaged as teacher Miss Gertrude Eames, who, like the new teacher of the East School, was a graduate of our High School.
47
As we are now receiving a larger portion of the time of Mr. Cragin, the Superintendent, we felt that the two new teachers would receive especial attention and help from him, and that the efficiency of the work would not be impaired.
The Committee would like to make some improvements in the laboratory of the High School, and if no large unexpected expendi- ture is necessary, during the coming year, this can undoubtedly be accomplished.
The law providing for medical inspection in the public schools has not yet been adopted by Wilmington. We learn that where this law is in operation good results have been obtained. Contagious diseases have been detected in time to prevent serious results. The expense to the town would not be large. and we recommend that an appro- priation be made for this purpose.
We recognize that industrial or technical training is coming to the front as a part of our educational system.
Just what is within the province of the public school to do in that line is a question ; and it is best that we wait until the experimental stage is past before making any radical changes in the work of our schools.
The reports of the superintendent of schools, principal of the High School, and the supervisors of drawing and music will more fully explain the details of the work.
The increase of expenditure during the past year is due to several causes. Among them, the opening and furnishing of another room in the Whitefield School, an additional week of schooling for the first seven grades, the employment of one more teacher in the High School and the opening of the West School.
This has been well provided for by the increase in both the Town appropriation and the allowance from the State. We recommend the appropriation of $8,000,-the same as last year.
ROBERT H. GOWING. HOWARD M. HORTON. CHARLES E. LITTLEFIELD.
48
RESOURCES
1
Town Appropriation
$8,000 00
Massachusetts School Fund
1,079 99
Dog Tax
306 34
Massachusetts High School Account 500 00
Massachusetts Superintendent account
625 00
$10,511 33
EXPENDITURES
Salaries
$7,595 94
Fuel .
628 50
Books and supplies
785 29
Superintendent
900 00
Transportation
154 00
Miscellaneous
440 90
$10,504 63
Unexpended balance ·
$6 70
EXPENDITURES ITEMIZED
TEACHERS
S. A. Loring
$980 00
R. R. Cole .
345 00
M. I. Cutler
535 00
E. G. Hodge
180 00
A. H. Keith
180 00
B. Alexander
507 40
A. R. Goodrich
510 00
S. C. Prescott
444 00
O. H. Norcross
387 35
L. M. Shaw
240 00
C. M. Swain
427 44
H. A. Swain
387 35
N. M. Haley
393 05
I. B. Gurney
363 35
L. Ordway .
240 00
49
E. E. Carter
140 00
G. Eames
84 00
N. Kincaid .
98 00
M. Proctor
200 00
M. Hill
120 00
A. M. Young
80 00
$6,841 94
JANITORS
J. A. Taylor
$500 00
Mrs. Babine
190 00
Mrs. Spaulding
19 00
Mrs. Surette .
19 00
Geo. Foley
12 00
Mrs. Allen
7 00
G. Chapman .
7 00
$754 00
SUPERINTENDENT
900 00
F. A. Eames, coal
$344 75
L. C. Swain, wood
182 75
H. C. Barrows, wood
24 75
E. W. Taylor, wood
5 50
C. Neilson, wood
5 50
George Lane, sawing .
50 75
Edward Young, sawing
13 00
Chester Horton, sawing 1
1 50
628 50
TRANSPORTATION
T. Call
$144 00
B. & N. St. Ry. .
10 00
154 00
W. N. Cragin
FUEL
50
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
E. E. Babb & Co. $667 27
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co. .
30 31
Royal Typewriter Co . 27 50
D. C. Heath & Co.
21 33
The Fairbanks Co.
9 00
Prescott & Co. .
7 50
O. Ditson & Co. .
5 04
Silver, Burdett & Co. .
2 71
N. H. Brown
4 75
C. C. Birchard & Co. .
1 30
Chandler & Farquar Co.
1 34
S. A. Loring
1 05
A. M. Young
2 40
J. L. Hammett & Co. .
3 79
$785 29
MISCELLANEOUS
American Seating Co., furniture . $184 55
Boston Regalia Co., flags
3 00
W. N. Cragin, express
95
Prescott & Co., brushes
2 50
Buck Bros., sundries .
7 65
J. W. Perry, repairs
1 00
W. E. & J. F. Twombly, printing
11 75
E. C. Metcalf, supplies
10 39
E. G. Avery, repairing clock
1 00
H. M. Horton, express, teaming, labor, sup- plies, etc. · 53 03
E. Caldwell, stove and supplies . 16 25
W. L. Kincaid, repairing clocks . 6 25
J. L. Hammett & Co., lettering diplomas 2 50
E. B. Nye, tuning pianos . 5 70
J. E. Kelley, measuring wood 1 75
Congregational Church, graduation 10.00
C. O. Blaisdell, cleaning vaults 11 00
51
Smith-Premier Typewriter Co., repairs $7 05 C. E. Littlefield, express and sundries . 7 98
S. J. Corey & Co, floor dressing . 8 50
E. Roxanna Eames, census .
18 00
Mrs. Roberts, cleaning
3 90
Mrs. Spaulding, cleaning
7 50
Mrs. Allen, cleaning
3 00
J. A. Taylor, cleaning
31 25
Mrs. Surette, cleaning
3 00
Mrs. Babine, cleaning .
15 70
Chas. Blaisdell, moving pianos
5 00
D. Robert Carter, moving desks .
75
$440 90
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
Gentlemen : - I respectfully submit, herewith, my ninth annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
During the past school year we have had an unusual amount of sickness to contend with, and our attendance record has suffered accordingly. The fact that our per cent. of attendance has fallen from 93 per cent. in 1906 to 92 per cent. in 1907, need not, how- ever, occasion any great concern, for we know that most of the absence was necessary and occasioned by sickness, and there is nothing to indicate that there has been any letting down in the standard of regular attendance.
In the matter of tardiness, we have not done as well the past year as we ought. The North School alone has made a decided improvement over its record of previous years. We have been steadily reducing this evil for some years past, and it is not pleasant to find that we have lost ground during the past year. Such, how- ever, seems to be the fact and to regain this lost ground and con- tinue the improvement of our record calls for increased vigilance on the part of all our teachers. We are not trying to eliminate tardi- ness ( there are times when it is necessary and proper.) What we wish to do is to fix the habit of punctuality, and it requires unceas- ing watchfulness on the part of the teacher to do this. I hope that the next year may show us to be again on the road to improvement.
Some changes in the organization of our schools have taken place during the year. The necessity of removing the eighth grade from the High School building has caused a partial readjustment of the grades in other schools. By reopening the West School, room has been found for most of the eighth grade in the Walker build-
53
ing; the rest of the class is accommodated at the Whitefield build- ing, where the opening of another school has relieved the some- what crowded condition which prevailed last year.
In the Whitefield building, the new arrangement is a great improvement. It reduces the number of pupils in a room to a reasonable number, permits better grading of the classes, and makes the work of the teachers more satisfactory in every way.
Some changes have occurred in our teaching force, but not more than the usual number. Miss Cole, Miss Shaw, Miss Ordway and Miss Hill terminated their work with us at the end of the year, and to fill the vacancies caused by their retirement and to provide for the West School and for additional work in the High School the following teachers have been added to our corps : Miss Hodge, Miss Keith, Miss Carter, Miss Eames, Miss Kincaid and Miss Young.
One of the difficult problems in a small town is that of keeping up the standard of its teaching force. The teachers that we lose from year to year are, as a rule, our strongest teachers, and unless we secure good material in filling their places, it is only a question of time when the quality of our teaching force will deteriorate. If we could insist upon character, scholarship, agreeable personality, normal training and successful experience, as requisites to an ap- pointment in our teaching force, there would be little danger of deterioration. But all these virtues have a market value and their sum is considerably beyond the salaries that we can offer; so that if we were to insist upon all these excellencies in our candidates we should be unable to fill our vacancies at all. However, though we cannot command them all, I think that we might with propriety insist upon good character, a reasonable degree of scholarship and either normal training or successful experience on the part of can- didates for positions as teachers in our schools. In view of the scarcity of trained teachers, we cannot demand much more than this ; and in justice to the children we ought not to accept less.
In the regular school work no changes of importance have been made, except the adoption of a new series of geographies and the substitution of slant for vertical writing in the grades.
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We are trying to teach to our pupils of the High and Grammar Schools a plain, practical, business handwriting, and though the change of hand will produce poorer writing for a time, yet I think we shall secure better results in future.
The work in music and drawing seems to show good progress from year to year. The popular demand for industrial education has given an increased importance to the work in drawing and has broadened its scope to include metal, wood, leather, reed and cane work and various kinds of weaving. We have not done much along these lines as yet, but hope to do so in the near future.
The class that entered the High School last fall was a small one, and as several pupils have left the school the total membership is slightly smaller than it was last year. However, it appears to be only a temporary halt, for the next entering class will be a large one, and it is probable that the school will continue to grow for some time longer. It should be borne in mind, however, that the school is already a large one for a town of this size, and that it cannot be expected to increase indefinitely. In years past we have been solic- itous to increase the attendance of this school, for it was. necessary that it should reach a certain considerable size before the Town could afford to provide an adequate teaching force and necessary apparatus.
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