USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1913-1914 > Part 9
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84 0 1 Paresis
Wilmington Wilmington
Barnstable Pepperell
Job W. Handy, Rebecca Otis William Greene, Rebecca Stewart
4 Feb. 8 Winthrop B. Eames
M M
M
84 724 Neuritis
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington Nova Scotia Ireland Hallowell, Me. Wilmington
Warren Eames, Elizabeth A. Carter Not known, not known John Nee, Catherine Ridge Charles D. Doe, Louisa A. MaeIntosh Guy Holt, Gladys M. Lucas
10 Mar. 15 Doris Allen Hoban 11 |Mar. 30 Alpin Grant, Jr.
M
M
24 420 Railroad Accident
Wilmington Wilmington Charlestown
Wilmington Wilmington New Hampshire
Everett E. Taylor, Mary L. Cavanaugh Leo A. Hoban, Helen C. Sheldon Alpin Grant, Mary Doherty
12 Apr.
4 Stillborn
13 Apr.
4|Stillborn
14 Apr.
6 Caroline Pagliuca
15 Apr. 17 William W. Carter
M
1 4 0 Tubercular Meningitis
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
Angelico Pagliuca, Theresa Barbiere Otis Carter,Abby Pratt Walter W. White, Irone Simpson
16|Apr. 17 Elinor M. White
17 Apr. 24 Charles E. Hudson
18 Apr. 27 John Bailey
M
M W S S
70 0 0 Cerebral Hemorrhage 0 019 Inanition
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington Ireland Wilmington
Silas White, Rhoda H. Harnden Thomas Connell, not known Aristede Brabant, Amanda Brunelle
22 June 4|Charles T. Chopoorian 23| June 11 William B. Buck
M M
S 5 min. Premature Birth
Wilmington
Wilmington Wilmington
Meshach Chopoorian, Hannah Ford Forest H. Buck, Melisae L. Graffam
24 July 9 Glenn Alvin Nee
M
S
4 hours Premature Birth
Wilmington
Wilmington
Patrick J. Nee, Florence M. Keef
25 Aug. 1
- - Marsicovetere
S
1 hour Malposition 2 hrs. Premature Birth
26 Aug.
2 -- Harris
27 Aug.
2 Sarah F. Bartlett
F F
W M
73 5 1 Chronic Nephritis 25 11 0|Uremia
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington Wilmington Andover Detroit, Minn.
Frank Marsicovetere, Agnes Casaletto Charles R. Harris, Bertha I .. Bisbee Samuel Manning, Betsy W. Smith Amon Wentworth, Anna Boutwell
28 Aug.
6 Ida Boynton
F
M
58 019 Catarrhal Pneumonia
- 6 Feb. 22 Bridget Nee 7 Feb. 25 Albert E. Doe 8 Feb. 26 Donald Holt
M
M
158 116| Cancer
0 0 2|Umbilicum Hernia
9 Mar. 10 Ralph E. Taylor
M F
S S S
M M F M F M
S M 66 0 15 Cerebral Hemorrhage 85 0 0 Brights Disease
Chelmsford
Cambridgeport, Vt. Charles P. Hudson, Sophia Oakes Abner Bailey, Hannah Mears
19 May 18 Lorenzo White
M M M
79 10 0 Neuralgia Heart
20 May 25|John Connell
21 May 27 Joseph P. Brabant
0 010 Cardiae Malformation| Wilmington
F M
S
Bladder
62 2 5 Diarrhea & Enteritis
3 Jan. 25 Merril Alonzo Greene
M
S 34 1 16 |General Paralysis
5 Feb. 21 John A. Ray
M
0 8 3 Chronic Bronchitis
0 5 9 Uremie Convulsions
S S S 0 0 3| Congl. Hydrocephalus 68 1 9|Chronie Nephritis
29|Sept.19 George W. Pringle 30 Oct. 3| Roger C. Blaisdell 31 Oct. 10 Daniel W. Boynton 32 Oct. 25 John Andrew Reddy 33 Oct. 26 Louise Green wood 34 Nov. 12| Martha Ann Thompson 35 Nov. 12 Louise Kestner 36 Nov. 16 Walter F. Howland 37 Nov. 29 Decio Ugo Delbora 38 Dec. 2 Frederic C. Flint, Jr. 39 Dec. 3 Isaac Newell 40 Dec. 16 Mary Abbie Pike 41 Dec. 24 Edward Hamilton
M
S 42 924 Chronie Bronchitis
Wilmington
Tewksbury
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Merideth. N. H. Winchester Charlestown Wilmington North Reading New Brunswick Wilmington Scotland -
George Pringle, Mary A. Maynard
M M M F F
S
S
S 0 5 14 Diarrhea & Enteritis 0 2 5 Diarrhea & Enteritis 0 1 3 Heart Disease 0 5 18 Diarrhea & Enteritis 86 4 15 General Peritonitis 55 1 28 Cerebral Hemorrhage M 61 1 4 Angina Pectoris
S W M S
F M M M M F M
W
M
S S 19 2 6 Acute Nephritis 64 1 6 Dilatation of Heart 48 0 14 Railroad Accident
Stoneham Wilmington Wilmington 0 010 Umbilical Hemorrhage Wilmington 0 1 22 Broncho Pneumonia
Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
No. Reading Wilmington Wilmington Wilmington
Charles V. Blaisdell, Arabelle K.Closson Willie M. Boynton. Ida Wentworth Hugh J. Reddy, Addie Kernon Fred Greenwood, Mary A. Connelly
John Neal, Lois Mead Tobias Schrempf, Pauline Sley Zenas Howland, Peninah Foss Fiaravante Delbora, Alvira Iasillo
Frederic C. Flint, Louise Durkee Michael Newell, Mary Sherman George Walker, Hannah Eames William Hamilton, Sarah Hamilton
The following named persons were buried in Wilmington, but died elsewhere during the year 1914 Feb. 10 Robert Rowlands, at Dighton, aged 80 yrs. 9 mos. Mar. 28Robert Diack, at Vinal Haven, Me. aged 73 yrs. 1 mo. 26 dys. Apr. 29 Rufus C. Eames, at Reading, aged 64 yrs. 6 mos. 25 dys. May 2 Thomas A. McDonald, at the Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, Mass. May 18 George E. Swain, at North Troy, Vt., aged 63 yrs. 4 mos. 4 dys. June 18 Oscar E. Johnson, at Burlington, Mass .. aged 83 yrs. 0 mos. 9 dys. July 4 Thomas T. Valentine, at Belmont, aged 48 yrs. 4 mos. 16 dys. July 5 William Stevens, at Haverhill, aged 83 yrs. 11 mos. 25 dys. July 22 Robert J. Winton, at Haverhill, aged 64 yrs. 5 mos. 3 dys. Dee. 12 Dorothy O. Ames, at Somerville, aged 23 yrs. 3 mos. 4 dys. Dee. 14 William P. Holt, at North Reading, aged 86 yrs. 6 mos.
46
RECAPITULATION
Births registered in 1914
62
Males
36
Females
26
Marriages registered in 1914
18
Deaths in 1914
41
Males
.
29
Females
12
Dog License Account:
Number of Licenses issued .
204
By cash paid County Treasurer $481 20
Account of printed Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths:
Number on hand January 1, 1914 220
Sold during the year 4 .
Number on hand January 1, 1915
216
.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. KELLEY,
Town Clerk.
The Town Clerk will furnish to parents, householders, physicians and midwives, applying therefor, blanks for returns of births as required by law.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Together with the Reports of the SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL SUPERVISORS OF MANUAL ARTS SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
For the year ending December 31, 1914
--
School Committee
Alden N. Eames, Secretary .
Term expires 1915
Edward S. Lewis, Auditor
.
Term expires 1916
Howard M. Horton, Chairman
Term expires 1917
Superintendent of Schools Charles L. Randall, 97 Eighteenth St., Lowell, Tel. 3297-W.
Attendance Officers
E. L. Roberts Samuel R. Rice
School Physician Daniel T. Buzzell, M.D.
Manager of School Savings Bank Mrs. Helen H. Buck
49
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
At the present time when the administration of school affairs is so fully and ably discussed by the Reports of the Superintendent and the Supervisors in the various depart- ments, it seems almost as though a Report from the School Committee was in the nature of " a fifth wheel for a coach."
When we recall the fact that the prudent chauffeur carries an extra tire on his machine, it may be that a few words from the Committee will be beneficial.
The main event in our school system the past year has been the erection of the High School building.
In order that the citizens may have some idea how the new building appears to a stranger we will quote a remark from Mr. Richard S. Beyer of Boston: "In the course of my duties as Inspector for the District Police I have occasion to visit many school buildings. I have never seen a building which in my judgment is better fitted and equipped for High School purposes for a town of your size, than you have here. I am surprised that you have been able to get such a building for the amount you have stated."
We will say that the amount stated to Mr. Beyer was thirty-six thousand five hundred dollars ($36,500).
When the building was started it was intended to be used only by the High School, but it afterwards seemed best that the seventh and eighth grades occupy the two lower rooms.
50
The old building which in future will be known as the Centre Grammar is in need of extensive repairs.
The boiler, which is of the section'ed type, needs to be practically rebuilt, as one side was wrecked by the freezing of the heater in the Christmas vacation.
The ceilings of the two lower rooms are in bad shape and in our judgment should be replaced by steel ones.
The roof is leaking badly and the chimney should be retopped.
If the two grades were to remain in the High School building these repairs could go over until another year, but as the Walker School is filled to the limit, it is reason- able to suppose that the Centre building will be needed next fall.
We have included in our estimate for the ensuing year the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) for these repairs.
We desire to say at this time that the seating capacity of the Assembly hall in the High School has been fixed by the District Police at two hundred and fifty (250). We shall purchase fifty additional seats so that it may be occupied to the maximum limit.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Lewis, a baby grand piano was obtained for use at the Dedication Exercises and has remained in the hall.
We trust that the citizens will arrange for its purchase as it is essential to obtain the best results, both for the pupils and the public.
The hall can be used at any time for any suitable pur- pose at a nominal expense by application to any member of the School Committee.
TABLE OF STATISTICS
SCHOOL
TEACHER
PREPARATION
Total Enrollment
Present Enrollment
Average Attendance
Per cent of Attendance
Pupils under 7
Pupils between 7 and 14
Pupils between 14 and 16
Pupils over 16
No. of Pupils in Grade VIII
No. of Pupils in Grade VII
High School
F. W. Carrier Ruth Giles
*University of Vermont *Smith College *Salem Normal
105
97
90.46
94
()
17
45
13
0)
0
Eighth Grade
Eva L. Hersey
47
44
43.38
96
0
20
21
6
43
0)
Seventh Grade
Carolyn M. Swain
40
33
33.12
82
=
28
5
()
0)
33
Walker, Grade VI
Blan Alexander Ida L. Shaw
High School, Belchertown Salem Normal
50
45
43.26
04
0)
18
2
0 0
0
Walker, Grade V
Henrietta Swain
Salem Normal
48
45
41.09
04
0)
12
6
0
0
Walker, Grades I-II
Gertrude Eames
46
43
36.55
92
33
13
0
0)
0)
()
Whitefield Grammar
Florence Koford
31
30
25.67
96
()
26
5
0
11
Whitefield Primary
Nettie M. Haley
39
37
28.35
93
14
25
0
0
0)
0
North
M. Ethel Chapman
18
15
16.16
97
3
12
0
() 0
0)
0)
South
Grace Boyd
31
29
26.18
91
12
19
0)
0
0
Marion A. Perry Mildred Eames
39
34
34.63
95
12
22
0) 00
()
()
West
Jessie Carter
561
501
92
83
325
83
49
43
44
Note. * Indicate graduates.
51
Elizabeth Batchelder
Elizabeth Lord
*Alleghany College Boston University Salem Normal
*Lowell Normal
51
46
39.09
89
1
45
0
Mildred Eames
* Northfield Seminary Hyannis Normal
* Northfield Seminary
16
8
10.18
91
8
0)
0
East
Genenia Kimball
Ilyannis Normal Salem Normal
*Miss Rust's Kindergarten Wheelock Training School *Lowell Normal
Walker, Grades III-IV
Mary Carey
0)
-
52
During the past year, a new out building has been erected at the North School. The former building had been in use many years and was unsanitary, and too small to house the fuel.
While the number of pupils at this school is small, we trust that it may increase in years to come, and we feel that even the few at present are entitled to the same con- veniences of the larger schools.
Arrangements are nearly complete for the installation of a Course of Household Arts in the High School. This is rendered possible through the generosity of the Woman's Club, who have furnished an equipment complete in every particular.
In order that the reason for an increased appropriation may be understood by the citizens, we will say the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) is required for insurance. As already stated we have included five hundred dollars ($500) for the repairs on Centre Grammar building.
The increased cost of maintenance of the High School is estimated at one thousand dollars ($1000).
The general conditions in the several schools of the Town are stated in the following reports of the Superintendent, Principal and Supervisors.
(Signed) HOWARD M. HORTON, ALDEN N. EAMES, EDWARD S. LEWIS.
53
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Resources
Town Appropriation
$13,000 00
Massachusetts School Fund
1,313 36
Dog Tax
396 62
Massachusetts High School Account
500 00
Tuition of State Wards .
94 00
Account Superintendent's salary
400 00
High School Tuition
62 50
Received cash, scholars' tickets
2 80
Received cash, manual training
12 87
Received cash for book .
12
Refund on teacher's salary
.
10 00
Refund on janitor's salary
1 00
$15,793 27
Expenditures Itemized
Salaries High School
Fred W. Carrier
$1,402 50
Ruth M. Giles
690 00
Elizabeth Batchelder
603 75
Elizabeth Lord
·
555 00
$3,251 25
Eighth Grade
Eva L. Hersey
·
$600 00
$600 00
.
·
54
Seventh Grade
Carrie M. Swain
$565 50
$565 50
Walker School
Blan Alexander
$348 00
Ida Shaw
217 50
Henrietta Swain
546 00
Mary Carey .
276 00
Gertrude Eames
468 00
Mildred Eames
172 50
Alice Akers
4 60
$2,032 60
Whitefield School
Florence Koford
$540 00
Nettie Haley.
483 00
$1,023 00
District Schools
Grace Boyd .
$274 00
Mildred Eames
264 00
M. Ethel Chapman
390 00
Marion Perry
165 00
Jessie Carter
150 00
Genenia Kimball
390 00
$1,633 00
Special Teachers
Mabelle P. Counce
$209 63
Miriam C. Fearing
129 00
Cora I. Strong
231 00
Grace Jenkins
80 63
Winifred W. Rice .
164 00
William Beresford .
126 00
·
$940 26
55
Attendance Officer
E. L. Roberts $6 50
$6 50
Director of Savings Fund
Helen H. Buck (salary) .
$15 00
$15 00
School Physician
Daniel T. Buzzell, M.D.
$100 00
$100 00
Janitors
E. L. Roberts (High School)
$288 00
E. L. Roberts (Seventh Grade)
72 00
E. B. Mitchell
42 00
Mrs. Babine .
279 00
Mrs. Allen
39 00
Mrs. Surrett .
39 00
Carroll Horton
35 00
Lawrence Kincaid .
39 00
Samuel Rice .
250 00
Gould Buckle
39 00
Chester Dodge
1 00
$1,123 00
Superintendent
Charles L. Randall
$693 32
$693 32
School Committee
Howard M. Horton
$50 00
Alden N. Eames
50 00
Edward S. Lewis
. .
50 00
$150 00
56
Industrial Tuition
Middlesex County Training School . $ 52 00
Lowell Vocational School · 140 00
$192 00
Transportation
Bay State Street Railway
$250 00
George L. Allen
105 60
Adolph Simpson
14 40
.
$370 00
Fuel
Fred A. Eames (coal)
$414 64
H. C. Barrows (wood)
12 00
A. W. Eames (wood)
240 61
Elizabeth A. Eames (wood)
85 77
John C. Horton (sawing wood)
43 75
James E. Kelley (measuring wood)
2 05
H. C. Barrows (measuring wood) 25
Lloyd S. Lewis (sawing wood)
9 00
Repairs
S. R. McIntosh
$25 85
C. B. Coburn
7 90
Horton & Rice
233 86
William Beresford grate bar)
(pattern for
22 50
Barbour-Stockwell (grate bars)
10 00
C. H. Rice
1 25
E. E. Carter
7 38
R. P. Burgess
11 70
Smith & Anthony .
6 00
L. H. Kincaid
1 50
American Seating Co
2 40
H. M. Horton
6 20
.
.
.
$808 07
$336 54
·
57
Books and Supplies
J. L. Hammett Co
$347 88
Milton Bradley Co
.
28 97
American Book Co.
56 04
Little, Brown & Co.
2 90
E. E. Babb
161 28
Ginn & Co. .
120 79
Butterfield Printing Co.
4 48
Silver, Burdett Co
9 87
A. G. Pollard
35 63
Cambridge Botanical Supply Co.
36 78
Collins Hardware Co.
2 48
A. N. Palmer
29 70
Frontier Press Co.
4 41
E. E. Carter .
94 80
S. R. McIntosh
37 40
Wright & Potter Co.
2 87
Funk & Wagnalls .
9 75
Oliver Ditson Co. .
6 53
C. C. Birchard
4 28
Rand McNally
11 68
Frost & Adams Co.
3 00
D. C. Heath
66 23
Henry Holt & Co. .
16 63
Allyn & Bacon Co
21 29
Millard F. Wood (clock).
5 00
Miriam C. Fearing
1 00
F. A. Lowell
14 00
Horton & Rice
5 35
$1,141 02
Miscellaneous
S. R. Rice (cleaning)
$19 50
L. C. Swain (rent)
.
.
100 00
Howard M. Horton
1 51
Charles L. Randall
43 33
Fred A. Lowell
12 50
58
American Express Co 1 08
Lloyd Lewis . 7 35
Mrs. Allen (cleaning)
4 00
E. L. Roberts (cleaning)
25 00
C. V. Blaisdell (grading) .
7 00
C. V. Blaisdell (cleaning vaults)
18 00
A. & E. Burton Co.
19 80
E. B. Mitchell (sundries)
72
Dennison Mfg. Co
4 60
N. E. Telegraph & Telephone Co
21 20
C. H. Stapleton (diploma)
50
Boston Regalia Co.
10 85
Wilmington Grange
8 00
L. H. Kincaid (cleaning)
5 00
Mrs. Surette (cleaning) .
5 00
W. L. Kincaid (repairing clock)
3 00
C. Herbert Eldredge (cleaning vaults)
4 00
Charles Blaisdell (freight and team-
ing) . 1 89
Mrs. Babine (cleaning)
12 00
Gould Buckle (cleaning)
3 00
Harriet Swain (school census) .
25 00
J. F. Fairbanks (record book) .
1 65
Carroll Horton (auto hire)
2 00
Charles H. Wilson (express)
1 86
Boston & Maine Railroad
80
Buck Bros.
7 59
Buck Bros., North Wilmington
4 20
Boston Mirror Co.
2 10
Singer Sewing Machine Co.
37 44
C. S. Harriman Co
11 40
Chandler & Farquhar
2 96
Oliver Typewriter Co.
93
Frank Hamlin (repairing chair)
1 00
Massury Young Co.
77 30
George E. Hutchins (stamp)
1 55
Day Bros.
60
A. N. Eames
2 00
$519 20
59
Expenditures
Salaries (teachers) .
$10,045 61
Salaries (janitors) .
1,123 00
Salaries (school committee)
150 00
Manager of Savings Fund
15 00
School Physician
100 00
Attendance Officer
6 50
Repairs
337 04
Fuel
808 07
Books and Supplies
1,141 02
Superintendent
693 32
Miscellaneous
519 21
Transportation
370 00
Insurance
28 50
Industrial Tuition .
192 00
Construction
229 10
$15,758 37
Construction New Woodshed at North School
C. H. Eldridge (stone)
$15 00
C. S. Harriman (lime and cement)
9 10
Jeremiah Doucette (labor)
41 25
George Lane (labor)
4 50
Horton & Rice (labor and material) .
159 25
$229 10
Bills Outstanding
Fred A. Eames (coal)
$369 75
Fred A. Eames (insurance of Walker School)
118 08
E. E. Carter
156 41
$644 24
Total Resources
$15,793 27
Total Expenditures
15,758 37
Unexpended
$34 90
60
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Wilmington:
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my second annual report which is the nineteenth in the series of Superintendent's reports. The past year has been a notable one in the school life of your town. There have been but few changes among the teaching force. All your schools are doing satisfactory work. The number of pupils is increasing, there being thirty-six more than were in school one year ago.
Your High School building recently occupied, is a credit to any town, and will be an inspiration to the pupils.
In this report I shall call to your attention whatever feature of school work is new, or has been strengthened this year, making recommendations for what seems to me to be for the improvement of the schools.
Teachers
In June of the past school year four teachers resigned their positions in your schools, Miss Blan Alexander, Miss Mary Carey, Miss Grace Boyd, and Miss Miriam Fearing. Miss Alexander had served a long term as teacher in ele- mentary grades and principal of the Walker building. She is the first teacher in town to be retired under the provisions of the new State pension law. She was an able and successful teacher; it must be a satisfaction to her to feel that she closed her work with a successful year. Both Miss Carey and Miss Boyd were good teachers, the officers of the school wish them every success.
61
Miss Ida L. Shaw, a teacher of a successful experience succeeds Miss Alexander as principal of the Walker build- ing. Miss Shaw is showing great tact and skill in her management, and is a strong teacher.
Miss Mildred Eames of the West school was transferred to the Walker building, grades three and four, where she is starting her work very acceptably, Miss Jessie Carter and Miss Marion Perry are at the West and South respec- tively; both are doing well.
Miss Grace Jenkins of Andover was engaged to teach drawing and the manual arts; I am much pleased with the work she is doing.
I wish that I could take the space to speak of the teachers individually, but will say that all are doing creditably, while several are proving themselves exceptionally successful.
Supervisors
The time of the teachers of drawing and music should in my opinion be increased. The number of pupils has nearly doubled I understand since the time allotment, one day per week, was made. This is true of both branches though especially so in drawing, as more time is needed in pre- paration for this subject.
You will find it interesting to compare the time of the supervisors and the number of schools and pupils with the number of schools and pupils, and supervisor's time in the other four towns of the district.
Wilmington has thirteen schools with 518 pupils; one day per week is given by each supervisor. The schools as you know are so situated that some time must be lost in travel. Dracut has nineteen schools and seven hundred pupils; the supervisors of music and drawing spend two and a half days each in this town, but little time is lost here, except once in two weeks, when but two schools can be visited in half a day. Tewksbury has nine schools and 332 pupils: the supervisors spend one and a half days per week in town. The time lost by travel is about the
62
same as that in Wilmington. North Reading has four schools with 160 pupils. Tyngsboro has four schools with 147 pupils. The supervisors spend one-half day in each of the last named towns, no time being lost in either by travel.
While Wilmington leads the towns of the district in industrial studies a comparison of the above figures will show you that she is behind in drawing and music. I recommend that at the completion of the present school year the time allowed to drawing and music be doubled.
Exhibition
An exhibition of drawing and all form of handwork was held last June, in Grange Hall. Drawings were shown from every pupil in town, and attracted very favorable comment from the patrons present.
The exhibition of sewing under the direction of Miss Strong was a marked success and reflected great credit upon the teacher.
Owing to some misunderstanding, the exhibit in wood- work was not as large as I had expected, but the several articles shown were well made, and indicated what it is possible to do in this important subject.
There was also an exceedingly good display of business writing, the method taught in the schools, in which several of your pupils have become proficient.
I trust that the exhibit will become an annual affair at the close of the year's work, as it gives the parents a chance to see what has been accomplished in handwork throughout the year, and furnishes a keen incentive to supervisors, teachers, and pupils.
Manual Training
In its broadest sense any form of drawing or even writing is manual or hand training, that is, education through the hand and the eye. It is used in a more specific sense to refer to sewing for the girls and wood-working for the boys. Wilmington leads the smaller towns of this locality in the
63
hand training given to the pupils of the elementary schools.
Mr. Winfred Rice, who started the wood work last year. felt obliged to give up the work at the end of the year. Mr. William Beresford, of Cambridge, was engaged in September to carry on the work. Mr. Beresford has shown skill and thorough workmanship which argues well for his success if he cares to make a study of the subject prepara- tory to becoming a teacher.
It is expected at the time of this writing that the old shop which has been hired will be given up and that the manual training will be carried on in the old High School building, a room being fitted up by the class for a per- manent home. I take this opportunity to invite the parents to call upon their boys to make any small article needed about the home. If the boy is unfitted to make the particu- lar article the instructor will tell him so, and no harm will be done, but if there are several cases where the boys make an article that father or mother actually want, it will be a rare way of connecting the work of home and school. The same will be true of the work of the girls. Several instances have come to my attention during the past year, where the girls have been a decided help in the home because of the training in sewing which they are receiving in school. While talking to the School Committee of Tyngsboro recently on this subject, I cited the case of a girl in the Wilmington High School who had aided herself materially by sewing for her neighbors as a direct result of the school work. One of the gentlemen exclaimed, " Yes, Mr. Randall, and a single case like that is worth a hundred dollars" (the estimated cost of starting the course in that town).
I wish to call to your attention in connection with this subject, the special report of Miss Strong and Mr. Beresford.
Home Gardens and Fairs
During the spring term a large amount of seed was dis- tributed among the pupils of the grades and they were
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encouraged to prepare home gardens and to compete for prizes offered by the local grange.
The most of this seed came from the State College at Amherst, but quite a variety was contributed by citizens of the town. The grange offered prizes sufficiently generous to encourage the children to strive to succeed. The fair was held in connection with the regular grange fair. The names of the prize winners follow. Potatoes: Ernest John- son, William McMahan, Talbot Livingston, Theresa Ducette, Mary Babine, Edwin Buck, Helen Buck. Corn: Walter Buck, Joseph Morgan, Mary Russi, Theresa Ducette, Johanna Reagan. Bread: Susie Hale, Mary McMahan, Miriam Buck, Sarah Hunter. Cake: Myrtle Carter, Beatrice Ducette, Frances Swain, Florence Haskell. Sewing: Margaret Nee, Lulu Hemeon, Hazel Hawn, Margaret Babine. Wood- work: Fred Maconi, Norman Perry, Edwin Buck. Flowers: Miriam Buck.
I trust that members of the grange felt that the children did well enough to merit the interest shown in them. I wish this feature to become permanent.
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