USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1909-1910 > Part 8
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Art. 5. Motion made that the Town withdraw from the Su- perintendency District made up of the union of the Towns of Bed- ford, Burlington and Wilmington. The vote on the same was unani- mous in the affirmative. Motion made that Mr. Files, Principal of the Wilmington High School, be given the privilege of the floor to address the meeting. Motion carried.
Art. 6. Motion made to pass the article. The vote on the same was in the affirmative.
Motion made to take Article 4 from the table, the vote on the same was in the affirmative. Motion made to rescind the vote taken under Article 2 of the warrant for the special Town Meeting held April 29, 1910. The vote on the same was decided in the negative. Motion then made to pass the article. Vote on the same was in the affirmative.
On motion it was voted to dissolve the meeting
A TRUE COPY - ATTEST :
JAMES E. KELLEY, Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING JULY 5, 1910
TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLESEX SS.
To William E. Swain, Esquire, Constable of the Town of Wil- mington, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in accordance with the By Laws of said Town, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, to meet and assemble at the Town Hall in said Town on Tuesday, the fifth day of July, current, at eight o'clock P. M., to act upon the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting. Art. 2. To see if the Town will vote to purchase a horse for the Fire Department, or do anything in relation to the same.
Art. 3. To see if the Town will vote to accept the Act of 1910, relative to the renting of boats and bathing suits for use on great ponds.
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 under our hands and the seal of said Town this twenty- fourth day of June, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and ten.
GTO
*IN
1730 .:
I THE WHITEFIELD ELM
ITED
EDWARD N. EAMES,
DUDLEY B. PURBECK,
ARTHUR W. EAMES,
Selectmen of Wilmington.
TOWN MEETING
RECORDS OF PROCEEDINGS OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING HELD JULY 5, 1910
Meeting called to order by the Town Clerk, the war- rant read, and Article 1 taken up for the election of Moderator, the check list being used and the vote being taken by ballot. On the ballot being counted the whole number was twelve (12.) Ed- ward N. Eames had six (6), Dudley B. Purbeck had six (6), and there was no choice. On a second ballot being taken Edward N. Eames had thirteen (13) and was elected Moderator.
Art. 2. On motion it was voted to appropriate the sum of $250 to purchase a horse for the Fire Department.
Art. 3. A motion was made that the Town accept an Act of 1910, authorizing towns and cities to restrict the business of rent- ing boats and bathing suits, for use on great ponds, to those per- sons who have been duly licensed. The following is a copy of said Act :
RENTING BOATS, ETC.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND TEN
AN ACT
to authorize towns and cities to restrict the business of renting boats and bathing suits for use on great ponds to those persons who have been duly licensed. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by authority of the same as follows :
Section 1. Any town by majority vote at a town meeting 00 000 lawfully called for that purpose, and any city by majority vote of its city council may forbid the business of renting boats or bathing suits, for use upon or in so much of the waters of any great pond as are located within said town or city, unless said person shall have obtained a license so to do from the board of selectmen of said town, or the board of aldermen of said city.
31
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the board of selectmen of such towns and of the board of aldermen of such cities as shall so vote to cause to be posted in several conspicuous places in the imme- diate vicinity of such ponds, notices stating that the town or city has so voted.
Sec. 3. Any person or persons who shall without first obtain- ing a license from the authorities specified in Section 1 of this Act engage in the business of renting boats or bathing suits for use upon or in such of the waters of any great pond as lie within a city or town that has voted as provided in Section 1 of this Act, shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding ten dollars for each offence.
On motion it was voted to accept said Act.
Voted to adjourn.
ATTEST : JAMES E. KELLEY,
Town Clerk.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING SEPT. 29, 1910
TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLESEX SS.
To William E. Swain, Esq., Constable of the Town of Wilmington, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in accordance with the By-Laws of said Town, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, to meet and assemble at the Town Hall in said Town on Thursday, the twenty-ninth day of September cur- rent, at 8 o'clock P. M., to act upon the following articles, namely :
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Art. 2. To see if the Town will vote to accept Lake avenue as relocated by the Selectmen, and change the name to Grove avenue, or do anything in relation 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 under our hands and the seal of said Town this nine- teenth day of September, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and ten.
[SEAL] EDWARD N. EAMES, DUDLEY B. PURBECK,
Selectmen of Wilmington.
TOWN MEETING
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 29, 1910
Meeting called to order by the Town Clerk. The warrant read and Article 1 taken up for the election of Moderator.
Art. 1. Edward N. Eames was elected Moderator by ballot, the check list being used.
Art. 2. Voted to accept the re-location of Lake avenue and change the name to Grove avenue.
Voted to adjourn.
ATTEST : JAMES E. KELLEY,
Town Clerk.
33
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING DEC. 29, 1910
TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLESEX SS.
To William E. Swain, Esquire, Constable of the Town of Wil- mington, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and in accordance with the By Laws of said Town, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, to meet and assemble at the Town Hall in said Town on Thursday, the twenty-ninth day of December, cur- rent, at eight o'clock P. M., to act upon the following articles, namely :
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Art. 2. To see if the Town will vote to accept Wild avenue as laid out by the Selectmen, or do anything in relation 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 under our hands and the seal of said Town this 22d day of December, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and ten.
[SEAL]
EDWARD N. EAMES, DUDLEY B. PURBECK, Board of Selectmen.
34
TOWN MEETING
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING HELD DECEMBER 29, 1910
Meeting called to order by the Town Clerk and the warrant read.
Art. 1. Edward N. Eames was elected Moderator by ballot, the check list being used.
Art. 2. Motion made by Dudley B. Purbeck to accept Wild avenue as laid out by the Selectmen. After some explanatory remarks by the mover of the motion, the same was put to a vote, and decided by the Moderator in the affirmative.
On motion it was voted to adjourn.
A TRUE COPY - ATTEST :
JAMES E. KELLEY,
Town Clerk.
35
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1910
No.
Date of Birth
NAME OF CHILD
1
January
24
Mary Victoria Carter.
2
January
25
Winthrop Arthur Crohurst
3
February
4
Charles Edward Joseph Murray
4
February
14
Jean Lucile Harlow.
5
February 17
Charlotte Elizabeth Gould
.
6
February 25
Gretta Angie Mysheral !.
7
February
25
i
Victor Rudolph Simpson .
8
March
17
Charles Arthur Hooper
9
March
26
Norman Winfred Rice
10
March
28
Louise Bertha Atton . .
11
April
15
Theodore Amos Surrette.
12
May
1
Margaret May Porter.
13
May
7
Doris Eleanor Howard
14
May
7
George Tyler Hollis
15
May
15
Stillborn.
16 17
June
28
Marion Alma Cole. Walter Herbert Currier
18
July
13
Ruth Evelyn Robinson
19
July
14
Leon Francis McLane.
20
July
14
Perham
21
July
15
Roy Martin Luther
22 23 24 25
September 12
Gertrude Bertha Harris.
September 17
Herbert Warren Cutter
26
September 27
Martha Engberg ..
27
September 29
Cecil Grahame Saunders ..
28 29
October 9
Elliott Bowdoin Blaisdell.
October 20
-- Turney .
30
October 27
Jeannette Louise Doucette ..
31 32
November 13 November 27
Edward James Johnson . Louis Emory Marion
33
December 6
Francis Melvin Doucette.
34
December 13
35
December 19
December 25
Raymond Harold Swain. Thomas Morris Sullivan .. Daniel Stephen Reagan
NAMES OF PARENTS
Jerry Carter, Eva Leroche Alfred James Crohurst, Rosa Mary Merrifield
Charles Murray, Mary Jessie Doucette Harold T. Harlow, Işabella F. Dauskin Frank J. Gould, Ellen Francis
Gabriel Mysherall, Gretta Slippe
Adolph A. J. Simpson, Teckla M. Johnson
Charles C. Hooper, Clara Barry Winfred W. Rice, Alice E. Cole Arthur B. Atton, Harriet L. Formeister
Theodore A. Surrette, Mary E. Doucette
Rudolph Porter, Mary White John H. Howard, Elizabeth Kernon George E. Hollis, Mabel May Dunn
Chester Arthur Cole, Ellen Alma Ward Walter H. Currier, Mary E. Pike
Albert E. Robinson, Hattie F. Robbins Charles A. McLane, Annie C. Murphy Herbert E. Perham, Elin Mylerleck Robert C. Luther, Lillian P. Hall
Joseph A. Casaletto, Marie Michela Pafunda William J. Fitzgerald, Mary A. Walsh
Charles R. Harris, Bertha Lura Bisbee Henry H. Cutter, Lettie M. Purrington Gustave O. Engberg, Martha S. Wilcox John C. Saunders, Lula J. Canada
Charles V. Blaisdell, Arabelle Closson Harold E. Turney, Agnes L. Mahoney Bernard F. Doucette, Maria A. Doucet
James Johnson, Mary J. Slattery Lewis Marion, Alfonsine Brabant
Francis E. Doucette, Margaret Frotten Harold Swain, Beulah Elizabeth Eames Patrick D. Sullivan, Mary Brabant James L. Reagan, Catherine Sullivan
36
August August 19
1
Frank A. Casaletto. Wilfred Augustine Fitzgerald ..
.
June
29
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1910
No. Date
Names of Groom and Bride
Residence
Age
Occupation
Place of Birth
Names of Parents
1
Jan.
7
Charles Murray Mary Jessie Doucette
Woburn, Mass. Wilmington
23
Fireman At Home
Arlington, Mass. Wilmington
John Murray, Margaret E. Wright Frank E. Doucette, Margaret Frotton
2 Feb. 11
Guy Holt Gladys M. Lucas
Wilmington Reading, Mass.
22
Conductor At Home
Wilmington Dover, N. H.
Martin F. Holt, Ella L. Carter William J. Lucas, Laila May Kimball
3 Apr. 14
Lamont S. Hemeon, Jr. Charlotte E. (Page) Wilcomb
Wilmington Wilmington
24
Brakeman Housekeeper
Medford, Mass. Enfield, N. H.
Lamont S. Hemeon, Annie P. Coombs Francis W. Page, Mary E. Heaton
4 Apr. 16
Albert A. Young Maude E. Dearborn
Wilmington Woburn, Mass.
23
Gypsy Moth Em. Shoe Stitcher
Wilmington Woburn, Mass.
Edward Young, Emma Miller Frank Dearborn, Susan McManus
5
June 00
Willie M. Boynton Ida Wentworth
Wilmington Wilmington
29
Dynamite Hand'r Typewriter
Wilmington Detroit, Mich.
Dan W. Boynton, Laura Butters Amen Wentworth, Clara Boutwell
6 June 19
George P. McLane Emma A. (LeGrow) Gould
Wilmington
45
Crossing Tender Housekeeper
New Brunswick Livermore Falls, Me.
Gabriel McLane, Ann Trites James LeGrow, Angelina Macomber
7 June 22
Eugene.A. Wildes Celia M. Whipple
Wilmington Wilmington
24
Machinist Stenographer
Kennebunkport, Me. South Nashua, N. H.
Bradbury D. Wildes, Ella M. Fletcher Henry J. Whipple, Celia M. Delaney
8 June 25
Warren Tarbell Gowing Catherine,Doyle
Woburn, Mass. Wilmington
24
Welder At Home
Woburn, Mass. Wilmington
Fred Gowing, Lizzie F. Richardson James Doyle, Catherine Brady
9
June 28
Everett F. Kidder Ruby F .¿ Foster
Wilmington Gloucester, Mass.
22
Clerk At Home
Pownal, Me. Gloucester, Mass.
William F. Kidder, Virginia E. Temple John E. Foster, Adella K. Pinkham
10
June 28
Lawrence F. Muse Mary M. Muse
Woburn, Mass, Wilmington
21
Building Mover At Home
Woburn, Mass. Somerville, Mass.
Cyril Muse, Mary B. LeFave Frank X. Muse, Mary J. Young
11
July 18
Eastburn Brown Taylor Bertha Gertrude Swain
Boston, Mass. Wilmington
19
Salesman At Home
Moncton, N. B. Wilmington
Geo. William Taylor, Margaret Crossman Lawrence C. Swain, Mina A. Taylor
12
July 24
Ralph Di Tucci Josephine Maconi
Wilmington Wilmington
18
Carpenter At Home
Italy Newton Centre, Mass
Joseph Di Tucci, Marianiadonia Strozo Thomas Maconi, Maria W. Valenti
13
Aug. 15
Martin J. Wilmot Margaret J. (Aker) Benner
Wilmington Wilmington
28
Laborer At Home
Nova Scotia Boston, Mass.
Joe Wilmot, Elizabeth Paul James Aker, Margaret J. Morrow
45
17
18
21
22
21
Wilmington
14
21
30
26
27
28
19
No. Date
Names of Groom and Bride
Residence
Age
Occupation
Place of Birth
Names of Parents
14 Aug. 30
Francis Nichols Laura (Spencer) Hale
Wilmington Wilmington
51 42 Farmer Housewife
Tobahanna, Pa. Curryville, N. B.
Rodolphus Nichols, Lavina Frost William Spencer, Martha Hawkes
15
Sept. 14
George Arthur Colburn Mabel Emeline Fitch
Burlington, Vt. Somerville, Mass
24
Travel. Salesman Bookkeeper
Stafford, Conn. West Medford, Mass.
Russel Colburn, Lillie Briggs George W. Fitch, Sophie A. O. Heimann
16
Oct. 11
George Morgan Williams Lydia Morton Allen
Antioch, Cal. Wilmington
31
Farmer At Home
Susanville, Cal. Clinton, Iowa
Morgan Williams, Annie Breeze Boyce Alfred Morton Allen, Sallie R. Springer
17
Nov. 9
Ellis F. Colgate
Wilmington Wilmington
27
Telegraph Op'tor Nurse
Woburn, Mass. Somerville, Mass.
Donald K. Colgate, Mary Lizzie Taylor John H. Addison, Alice Grace Conant
18
Nov. 12
Forrest H. Buck Melisae Louise Graffam
Wilmington No. Reading
18
At Home
Wilmington Lynn, Mass.
Herbert N. Buck, Emma E. Hamlin John A. Graffam, Elizabeth King
19
Dec ._ 14
Clarence Hill Boyce Gladys May Powell
Wilmington Providence, R. I.
21
Conductor Nurse
Andover, Mass. North Adams, Mass.
David Boyce, Hannah Clark Edward Powell, Mary Palmer
20
Dec. 25
Lewis P. Cady Rose A. (Curtis) Brabant
Wilmington Tewksbury, Mass.
27
Mechanic Milliner
Wilmington Billerica, Mass.
Fred A. Cady, Abbie A. Spaulding Thomas Curtis, Sophie Chanpagne
F. Gertrude Addison
20
22
Clerk
20
27
22
37
DEATHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1910
No.
Date of Death
Name of Deceased
Sex
Cond'n
Age Y. M. D.
Disease or Cause of Death
Residence
Place of Birth
Names of Parents
1
Jan. 6
Mary F. Moore
F
W
81
1
6
Cancer of Womb
Exeter, N. H. Quincy, Mass.
John Lloyd, Mary Page John Faxon, Lucy Hardwick
2
Jan. 19
Wm. Lyman Faxon
M
M
72
10
23
3
Feb.
3
Daniel H. Gowing
M
M
43
8
12
La-Grippe
4
Feb. 19
Harriet A. Swain
F
W
75
4
26
5
Feb.
25
Gretta Mysherall
F
M
12
11
23
Hemorrhage
6
Feb. 28
Dorothy Walker
F
S
3
Nasal Diphtheria
7
Mar.
13
Walter H. Osborne
M
S
11
Paralysis
8
Mar.
20
William H. McCabe
M
M
64
7
10
9
Mar. 22
F
M
48
7
14
10
April 1
Charles H. Saunders
M
M
84
11
23
Senile Dementia
12
April 19
Harriet N. Wyman
F
W
86
7 22
Enlargement of Heart
Wilmington
Wilmington
13
May 11
Melvin B. Gilbert
M
M
27
Broncho Pneumonia
14
May 15
Stillborn
F
W
81
5
25
Paralysis
16
July 9
M
M
72
9
5
Heart disease
17
July 15
.Joshua Gowing
M
W
78
1
5
Senile Gangrene
Wilmington
18
Aug. 18
Judith D. Carter
F
W
37
7
26
Wilmington
Wilmington
19
Sept. 4
Susan Stokes
F
M
64
Paralysis
Wilmington
Ireland
20
Sept. 14
Ann Eliza Putnam
F
M
63
7
CerebralHe morrhage
Wilmington
Burlington Germany Pittsfield, Me.
William Carter. Susan Butters John Rose. Maria Catherine Michael Reuben Call, Angie Pollock Daniel Gowing, Saralı Ames Nathan Buck, Abigail Clark
24
Oct.
6
Otis C. Buck
M
W
84
9
18
25
Oct.
11
Susan Louise Lincoln
F
W
63
5
2.6
Heart Disease
26
Oct.
20
--- Turney
Dec.
7
Martin J. Wilmot
M
M
27
9
28
Dec. 13
Jessie Chisholm
F
M
59
9 27
Double Pneumonia
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Boston, Mass. Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington, Mass. Pictou, N. S.
Harold E. Turney, Agnes L. Mahoney Joseph Wilmot, Liza Paul Thomas B. Chisholm, Letitia Fletcher
The following named persons were buried in Wilmington, but died elsewhere during the year 1910:
‹
Feb. 18, George F. Harnden, at Woburn, Mass. aged 75 yrs. 2 mos. 25 dys.
Mar. 28, Helen Louise Harnden, at Boston, Mass., aged 3 yrs. 5 mos. April 19, Maude Lee Day, at Everett, Mass., aged 34 yrs. 1 mo. 5 dys.
Aug. 12, Mary Harnden at Groton, Mass., aged 84 yrs. Dec. 13, Hilda E. Scott. at North Reading, Mass, aged 2 mos. 25 dys.
22
Sept. 24
Timothy F. Call
M
M
39
6
16
Gastric Enteritis
23
Sept. 28
Robert H. Gowing
M
M
43
4
Heart Disease
Wilmington Wilmington, Mass.
Oliver Fullerton, Rachael Foret
M
S
1 hour
Imperforate foramen oval
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Nova Scotia
John Addison, Mary A. Waldren William Ritson, Margaret Ridley Joshua Gowing, Clarissa Gowing Rich Carter, Elizabeth Walker John Mellen, Jane Tate
21
Sept. 17
Charles Rose
M
W
66
Acute Indigestion
Wilmington
England England
15
May 28
Julia H. A. Crockett Unknown
M
not known
Railroad Accident
Not known
Not known Billerica, Mass.
11
April 13
Wilmington
Ebenezer Saunders, Lydia Saunders Rufus Carter. Betsey Newall Gustavus Gilbert, Hannah Ballew
Wilmington
Turner, Me.
-
Wilmington
Wilmington
Wilmington
Acute Indigestion
Wilmington Wilmington
Cambridge, Mass. Harrisburg, Pa. Wilmington. Mass.
Jonathan H. Gowing, Mary J. Taylor Joseph Clark, Maria B. Knowlton Thomas Slippe, Elizabeth Phillips Herbert Walker, Flora McKittrick Harry J. Osborne, Carrie W. Haskell Henry McCabe, Margaret Marsh Geo. W. McIntosh, Mary Ann Plummer Not known
Acute Indigestion
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
Paralysis
Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington, Mass. Milford, N. H. New Brunswick Wilmington, Mass.
2
Wilmington Wilmington
Cirrhosis of Liver Pneumonia
Caroline L. (Addison) Kincaid John Ritson
Acute Gastritis
W. Bridgewater, Mass.
27
RECAPITULATION
Births registered in 1910
36
Males
22
Females
14
Marriages registered in 1910
20
Deaths in 1910
28
Males
15
Females
13
Dog License Account :
Number of Licenses issued . 190
By cash paid County Treasurer
$420 00
Account of printed Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths :
Number on hand Jan. 1, 1910 237
Sold during the year 2
Number on hand Jan. 1, 1911
235 .
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.
41
ANNUAL REPORT
-OF THE-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
-OF THE-
TOWN OF WILMINGTON, MASS.
1910
School Committee
*ROBERT H. GOWING, Chairman
Term expires March, 1911
ALDEN N. EAMES, Secretary . Term expires March, 1912
EDGAR C. FOLKINS, Auditor Term expires March, 1913
Superintendent of Schools HAROLD W. FILES
Truant Officer WILLIAM E. SWAIN
. * Deceased
44
-
In Memoriam
Mr. R. H. Gowing, Chairman of the School Board, died September 28, 1910. Mr. Gowing was for many years connected with our school system and other organizations of the town, and made himself a prominent and helpful factor in all affairs looking to the common good of the com- munity. By his death we lost a man of high moral worth, a true philanthropist, a self- sacrificing worker for the welfare of our town.
.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Wilmington we respectfully submit the fol- lowing report, with the appended reports of the Superintendent of Schools and Instructors of Music and Drawing :
When dealing with questions relative to public schools we fully realize that more people are interested and take part in the discus- sion of these matters than any other topic of public concern.
One does not need to attend all public and private gatherings to be convinced that the above statement is true, since such discus- sion can readily be heard on our street corners and public convey- ances.
Fair and honest discussion of any subject always tends to a better and more friendly understanding of the matter in hand, but destructive criticism, when used as the cudgel at afternoon and evening social calls to beat out the existing good of a school system, to indirectly satiate the personal dislike for members of the School Board or corps of teachers, tends more to destroy concentrated and co-operative action, which are the essentials of successful educational pursuits, than the combined efforts of all parties truly interested in the success of such institutions can overcome.
The members of the School Board ever stand ready to receive first hand and just criticism concerning the school system, since they well understand the many weak places and are only too ready to accept suggestions as to how these can be most quickly and effectually strengthened. Our meetings are times when any citizen is welcome to talk over such matters as pertain to our school system and its good. Come with your questions and suggestions, and meet us in the interest of better schools, but please bear in mind we do
45
46
not solicit hearsay information, or care to take our time to listen to such criticism as comes from immature minds.
Perhaps you are saying, how can we get such information as you desire ? The first and best way is to visit the schools and see for yourself, get acquainted with the teachers and their methods, and the next most reliable source from which to get information is through our Superintendent or other officers of the school system.
The first and most important aim of your school officers is to get the confidence and co-operation of the citizens, and with this once assured the work throughout the town must be a success, but without this most fundamental factor all work must be accom- plished with friction and the minimum amount of good.
On other pages of this document you will find the report of the Superintendent, which deals clearly and directly with the gen- eral work of our schools, but about these general subjects cluster certain conditions which control very largely the amount of real good obtained by a community from the public schools.
A school does not exist simply to supply a certain amount of Mathematics, English, Geography, etc., to boys and girls, but to deal more largely with the moral, physiological and economic devel- opment of all concerned, and unless the work conducted tends to bring all to a higher level along these lines the school is failing of its purpose and citizenship is not strengthened thereby.
We are dealing primarily with the child, his development, and are endeavoring to mould him into a well-formed, healthy citizen of high moral and intellectual worth, but in the fulfillment of this con- ception are many barriers, and the one which most directly con- fronts us, as all other communities, is limited parental responsibility, first, to the child's common good, and second, to his intellectual training. When all responsibility for the proper development of the child is left to the school how imperfectly it must be done. Fathers and mothers are directly responsible for much instruction and oversight which the school cannot supply.
Home influences, choice of associates, permitting the child to roam the streets after night-fall unattended, frequenting of loafers' quarters, the individual weakness, all are directly under the control
47
of parents and should be regulated by that love found in the heart of every true parent.
Again it should be the parents' constant endeavor to encour- age the habit of industry, as idleness is always the gateway to evil. Sometimes it appears to parents that their children in the High School do not seem to advance, and the result is dissatisfaction on the part of both children and parents, and too often is it true that the lack of home study and parental encouragement and co-opera- tion have assisted to drive the child from the school, and, worst of all, have left him on the street to follow the ways of folly and lead other younger children to first taste the fruits of idleness. If the child must leave the school, put him to work at some business where he may be kept busy and develop into noble manhood.
The aim of your School Board, with the support of the Super- intendent and corps of teachers, and the hearty co-operation of our citizens, is to build up a school system that shall fit boys and girls to be of use to themselves and the country which they honor and serve, by supplying practical courses of study and able instructors, but you will all agree that time and expense are both attached to this motive, and patience, with a liberal appropriation, must be your part in the undertaking.
The crowded condition of the schools in the Centre, South and West will later necessitate some changes in school attendance, while the scattered condition of the scholars in the East and North sections of the town would seem to point to other school buildings or some method of transportation. By consolidating certain schools it was possible for us to dispense with the services of two teachers but, in accordance with the desire of our citizens, we shall return to the former plan and maintain the smaller schools.
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