USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1876-1901 > Part 6
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Cash from Hiram Danks, Collector, 1881,
5,986 52
$10,139 03
DR.
To Cash paid County tax, $983 74
Cash paid Palmer Savings Bank, temporary loan,
1,000 00
Cash paid Palmer Savings Bank, interest on temporary loan, 25 00
Cash paid State Treasurer, State tax, 825 00
Cash paid State Treasurer, National Bank tax, 22 06
Cash paid Assessors' Abatement, 1880,
2 00
Cash paid Assessors' Abatement, 1881,
29 37
Cash paid State Aid,
80 00
Cash paid Selectmen's old order,
45 00
Cash paid Selectmen's orders,
6,488 27
Cash in Treasury, 638 59
$10,139 03
Assessors' Report.
Valuation of personal estate,
$185,145 00
Valuation of real estate, 514,857 00
Total valuation,
$700,002 00
Number of dwelling-houses, 279
Number of acres of land taxed,
12,741,20 151
Number of horses,
251
Number of cows,
475
Number of sheep,
86
Poll tax for men,
$2 00
Poll tax for women,
50c.
Number of polls at $2.00 each,
367
Number of polls at 50 cents each,
5
Total amount assessed on polls, $736 50
Amount of State tax assessed on property,
141 52
Amount of County tax assessed on property, 239 60
Town tax assessed on property,
4.650 00
RATE PER CENT, OR RATE PER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
State tax,
$0 20
County tax,
35
Town tax,
6 95
Total rate per cent,
$7 50 per $1,000 00
Total Town tax,
$4,650 00
Total State tax,
509 77
Total County tax,
607 85
Overlayings,
218 90
Total committed to Collector,
$5,986 52
20
TOWN APPROPRIATIONS.
For Schools,
$1,875 00
Seats,
20 00
Incidental School repairs,
50 00
Moving School-House,
300 00
Boundary Stones, School-House lot,
5 00
Highways and Bridges,
1000 00
Paupers,
1200 00
Prosecuting Liquor Sellers,
200 00
$4,650 00
CHAUNCEY E. PECK, Assessors JAMES K. BUTLER, of
ALBERT A. PHELPS, Wilbraham.
WILBRAHAM, March 16, 1882.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Wilbraham, 1881 - 82.
GENTLEMEN :- Your School Property is in tolerably good condition. Considerable repairs are needed in Schools No. 5 and No. 6, for which you will doubtless make provision. In some of the schools the black- boards are in a bad state, and some appliances, as maps, dictionary, etc., are needed. There has been no ruthless damage to property, such as we noticed last year. By reason of the more central location given to School No. 5, its numbers have been increased. New recitation benches have been bought for School No. 3, and a new stove for No. 4. Some changes have been made in the arrangement of the out-buildings at No. 6 and No. 8.
In giving the record of our scholars, we have gone to considerable trouble in tabulating some of the facts.
Number of children in Town, from 5 to 15 years, 256
Number enrolled for the year, of all ages, 288
Average membership, 217
Average attendance, 192
Ratio of attendance to number of children from 5 to 15, .75
Ratio of attendance to actual membership, .88
Actual absenteeism is, therefore, about 12 per cent. The reckoning in the latest Springfield report was 7
22
per cent. The 25 per cent of the above table is, for the State as given in the latest report, 24 per cent.
There are four scholars who have a clean record for the year; nineteen have a clean record for two terms, and fifty-six for one term, while it is probable that two-thirds of the whole enrollment have an almost clean record. The blemishes of tardiness and absen- teeism are on the part of about twenty scholars, who seem to have no pride in making a good record for themselves and their school.
The causes for much of this absenteeism are not far to seek. Sickness, distance, necessity of some supple- mentary work at home where father and mother are both employed in the mills, laxity or shiftlessness of parents, failure of the teacher to awaken interest in the scholar, and, especially for this present year, the bad traveling caused by the heavy snows of late Jan- uary and early February which for nearly a week ren- dered going to school almost if not quite impossible to many of the younger scholars.
Our scholars have been very generally faithful to work, in sympathy with their teachers, and apprecia- tive of their privileges. We have seen a very com- mendable degree of orderliness, neatness, and industry. Many have already outstripped the advantages we can offer them, while others have fallen behind them. With only a few slight exceptions, we have had evi- dence of truthfulness and purity which has been highly satisfactory. Only a case or two of direct false- hood has been reported to us; and we have seen but few of those attempts to deceive a teacher which, though they may be regarded "smart" by some peo- ple, are, after all, to be frowned upon by teacher and parent as the vilest kind of wickedness. We have heard no profanity whatever, and have had only two cases of that kind of talk and conduct which have given the country schools of the past such a bad name and which have gone far to lay the foundations
23
of a low corrupt life. We do not think that there is no profanity, no obscenity, no untruthfulness, no tres- passing on the property and rights of others; but we are proud to say that the impression produced on our minds is, in this respect, good. And there is hardly a scholar in our schools of whom we are not proud, and towards whose future life we do not look with interest and hope. In proportion to the whole number en- rolled, our scholars have cost us $7.75 each; in pro- portion to average membership, $10.28; to average at- tendance, $11.62. The actual incidental expense has not exceeded 27 cents per scholar; and we are made to feel, therefore, that the Town is doing a large amount of good at a very low expense,-a good which is appreciated on the scholar's part, as these figures show. We have granted twelve certificates, and dis- continued one scholar.
In reporting the work of our teachers, we can speak mostly in commendation. Without exception they have been conscientious, and any failure has resulted from inexperience and want of tact, rather than from remissness. Of the work in Nos. 3. 4 and 7, we can speak with unmodified approval ; we are much pleased with the present arrangement at Nos. 5 and 8 primary. In schools as small as 5 and 7, "eternal vigilance " is necessary, lest the scholars should lose enthusiasm and the teachers method. Of the work of some of the other teachers, we have spoken in another place.
Only a few of our corps have shown the real teach- er's enthusiasm. Some, not lacking in knowledge. have failed in courage to grapple with the problem how to catch, retain, and direct the mind of the young and listless scholar. The appearance of school prem- ises, the neatness of the scholars, and the manner in which the register is kept, tell us a good deal about the capacity and fitness of a teacher. Let our teach- ers herein cultivate accuracy and neatness. Let them make authority and discipline felt at all times, whether
24
during study hours or recreation, while the scholar is on the premises; let them deal promptly in securing attendance and obedience, and failing that, let them appeal to the proper authorities.
In these days, when so much of information on teaching is abroad in book and newspaper, when insti- tutes are multiplied, and when teaching is coming to be regarded as a science superior to any other, that teacher must have a feeble mind and an unfeeling heart who does not catch an inspiration to do the best work, without reference to either obstacles or remu- neration. If you teach with full minds and warm . hearts, you will fill minds and warm hearts in return. If you create an interest, the scholar will come to school, and the tide of absenteeism will be in large measure turned.
The registers' Lists of Visitors show an increased interest on the part of parents and neighborhoods. We are glad for this. We hope the day is coming when no school year shall fail to record at least one visit from every parent whose family is represented in the school; we hope, furthermore, that those who were once young themselves, but have buried or bowed their youthfulness in the dust of toil or the din of daily work, will revive again those sunnier recollec- tions of former years, by putting on their better garb and paying an occasional visit to our schools. The doors are always open for such visits. They would mightily assist in the regulation and increased effi- ciency of the schools., You who live in the neighbor- hood of a school, ought to know more about it than we, who can pay it only occasional visits. We ask your kindly co-operation. We solicit your criticism. We ask your forbearance and charity. We have during the past year received all these, and are thank- ful for them. If there are any exceptions to this, they are, in nearly all instances, not among those who have been long resident with us. or of whose moral
25
status we have had reason to form a very high re- gard.
We are here having special reference to Districts No. 2 and No. 6. In the former, one or two families carelessly or otherwise persist in defying the law against truancy. Their laxity in this matter renders the present arrangement at No. 2 an experiment, and one which will have to be vigorously seconded by the Truant Officer, if it is to become a success. In No. 6. the case was of a somewhat different kind. The school was working well, if the teacher had met with a loyal backing. But when a parent goes into a school, and, in the presence of the scholars, dictates terms to the teacher, discipline, so far as that teacher is concerned, is likely to come to an end speedily. The case was not reported to us till some time afterward, or we should have tried to make the man see that his act was de- cidedly against law and subversive of discipline. The case in No. 8 advanced, was somewhat different from these just mentioned. It had shown a decided gain at the point where it was weakest, and the problem would have been fully solved if the parents had not pre- judged the case and had given their sympathy to the teacher instead of the scholar. It is not strange, therefore, that more sympathy was not awakened be- tween teacher and scholar, or that the vigor of disci. pline was somewhat relaxed toward the close. Par- don our mention of these exceptions to the loyalty which has been so general, and which we bespeak for ourselves and our teachers another year.
In regard to studies pursued, and ground lost or gained : Arithmetic, we must report as good, gen- erally speaking. Spelling has been very good,-a judgment based not only on oral but also written spell- ing, which is practiced in nearly all the schools. In reading, we have seen, with few exceptions, little to commend. We gave some very general hints on the subject, in our Report of last year. It does seem as
4
26
though the end might be attained, if our teachers would interest themselves beforehand in the lesson, ask questions to bring out the sense and force, and give occasionally original lessons from other books or papers. Geography and history are very good. Pen- manship has deteriorated, -a thing which can hardly be avoided where schools are so frequently changing teachers. On this point, we would call attention to our Report of last year. Grammar is only fair, with some exceptions.
A word in regard to the work of your Committee, who have sought to serve you promptly, faithfully, and fully as possible. We have made in all, 81 regular visits, occupying nearly an entire session of the school at each visit. We have made few remarks. Where commendation has been deserved, we have given it, and have only witheld our criticism where a teacher was no longer to continue in a position. To make these visits we have traveled upwards of 400 miles, in all kinds of going and weather. There have been 254 visits other than those made by us.
We are only imperfectly satisfied with the fruits of the year. This must be the case always, where visits are so infrequent and made at times when things wear often an unnatural appearance ; where we depend for a good deal of our information on the interest parents take in the schools, and on the fidelity of teachers who lack experience.
It has been our principle to select the teacher whom we thought best suited to a given locality, and to choose teachers from our own Town, if possible. We shall not hesitate to go outside, however, if we can get better service for the same price. These are days of strong competition, and the applicants from our Town should be equal to the best, if they would se- cure the market. It is with the deepest solicitude for the scholar, that we make our selection of teachers :
27
and in dread of too frequent changes, we make each new appointment with hesitation.
We ought to say a word about the change of Arith- metics. The change had long been needed. The new one is by the same author as the old one, and published by the same house. It is a "Practical Arithmetic," containing only those topics, tables and examples which are found in actual use. It will not lumber the mind with things that are unnecessary, and will allow more opportunity to thoroughly fix and impress what is taught.
We are very much in need of something in the line of Supplementary Reading to brace us up at the point where we are now so weak.
We feel the lack of system in our supervision, and are at present feeling our way toward a plan by which both teachers and committee may work with such me- thod as to insure real progress, not only for a term but for years. We have discussed the advisability of an occasional meeting in common of teachers and committee, that we may impart to one another of our experience. A teachers' institute was held on the 20th and 21st of October, 1881, by members of the State Board of Education. Upwards of one hundred visit- ors from abroad were present during the session, and all admitted the tonic effect produced.
We have thus sought, gentlemen, to include in our report all the facts and factors of education which have come under our notice. And we have endeavored to state ourselves so that our words may not only reach and profit this Town meeting, but so that they may be also read by the teachers, parents, and scholars into whose hands the Report may fall. Scholar, teach- er, committee, parents, are all essential elements in public education. It is not for us to decide whose share in this work is the largest and the grandest. Each is large enough to call forth the best efforts of all concerned. No scholar should fail to lay up large
28
stores of knowledge in these days when it is offered in such abundance, no teacher should lack the method and the aim that will give this desire after knowledge pro- per impetus and direction, no parent should regard lightly his indirect but most potent influence on the plastic nature of his child, no committee fail to meet wisely and promptly the demands of his school com- munity.
By some oversight (though we used, as we sup- posed, the greatest care) the school appropriation was taken as $1800, whereas it proved to be $1875. Our schools in consequence fell short a week. But there is in the treasury a surplus of $100 or more. If you will allow us this surplus and make the usually liberal apportionment, we will make up this deficiency. The running expenses of our schools are about $70 per week.
We recommend for the following year:
For Schools,
$1,900 00
Incidentals,
75 00
Total, $1,975 00
Respectfully submitted,
J. L. RICE, BENJ. GILL, Committee.
H. CUTLER,
Roll of Honor.
SCHOLARS NOT ABSENT OR TARDY FOR ONE TERM.
Sadie Campbell,
Eddie Pease,
Minnie Rice,
Harry Clark,
Willie Foskit,
Clara Rice,
Luke Kibbe, George Foskit,
Edwin Howard,
John Fitzpatrick,
John Mack,
Frank Howard,
Louise Alexander,
Mary Morrison,
Mary Merrick,
Loren Phelps,
Wesson Phelps,
May Kelley,
Lora Rindge, Geo. A. Bennett,
Herbert Tupper,
Wm. Green,
Homer Tupper, Milo Rindge,
Henry Green,
Lydia Green,
Herbert Morgan,
Elsie French,
Myra Olds,
Thos. Marshall,
Cora Day,
Willie Rice,
Frank Bradway,
Eddie Bradway,
Frank Brown,
Isabel Cutler.
Frank Lynch,
SCHOLARS NOT ABSENT OR TARDY FOR TWO TERMS.
H. Burdett Lyman, Annie Corbin,
Mary Warner,
Eddie C. Clark, Bessie Pease,
Aggie Coote,
Lillian Hitchcock, Susie Mack,
Chas. Bradway,
Herbert Green, Lilia Beebe,
Eunice Bell,
Oliver Green, Cora Beebe,
Nettie Bell.
SCHOLARS NOT ABSENT OR TARDY FOR ONE YEAR.
Frank J. Lyman, Josie A. Gill, Allyn M. Seaver.
THREE YEARS. Kittie E. Gill.
STATISTICAL TABLE.
NAMES OF SCHOOLS.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Sum.
Fall.
Win.
Summer
Fall.
Winter.
Atchin- son,
2%
21%
2% $27.00 $27.00 $28.80
12
14
12
11
13
11
$214.20 $21.37
..
2
Langdon,
216
21%
2%
27.00
27.00
28.80
21
28
26
17
23
19
214.20
22.17
236.37 Abbie A. Herrick.
A. A. Herrick.
Cora M. Pease.
3
Merrick,
21%
216
23%
28.80
28.80
30.60
34
30
34
28
26
27
2
228.15
38.22
266.37 Lizzie L. Corbin.
L. L. Corbin.
L. L. Corbin.
4
Wright,
2%
21%
2%
28.80
28.80
30.60
40
41
40
36
40
34
228.15
36.47
264.62 Mary Robbins.
Bliss,
21%
21%
234
25.20
25.20
27.00
10
13
13
9
12
11
200.25
35.52
235.77 Ella M. Firmin.
Cora M. Pease.
Jennie H. Swift.
5 6
Butler,
2%
21%
21%
28.80
28.80
32.00
34
36
35
29
29
31
1
224.00
29.76
253.76 Jennie H. Swift.
J. H. Swift.
John A. Bangs.
7
Glendale,
2%
2%
2%
25.20
25.20
27.00
8
9
10
7
8
200.25
19.41
219.66 Evanore Beebe.
E. Beebe.
E. Beebe. «
8
( Advanced
2%
2%
2%
28.80
28.80
30.60
22
24
23
18
21
19
228.15
32.14
260.29 Lauraetta Godfrey L. Godfrey.
L. Godfrey.
8
{ Primary,
21%
2%
28.80
28.80
30.60
40
38
32
34
33
26
228.15
31.00
259.15 M. Adelle Pease.
M. A. Pease.
MaryJ.Brewster
Totals,
2216 2216 241%
3
3 1,965.50 266.06 2,231 56
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
Length of Schools in Months.
Wages
of Teachers
per Month.
Whole Number
of
Scholars.
Average At-
tendance of
Scholars.
Under 5 years
old.
old.
Total Wages
of Teachers.
Incidentals.
Total of
School Money
Expended.
| No.
1
.
$235.57 Dora M. Merrick.
Clara Markham. Mary E. Brewer.
Mary Robbins.
Mary Robbins.
248.40 248.40 266.00 221
233
225
189
:205
1185
Over 15 years
.
. REPORTS
OF THE
Selectmen, Overseers of Poor, .
TREASURER,
School Committee and Assessors
OF THE
TOWN OF WILBRAHAM,
For the Year ending March 15, 1883.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. : PRESS OF SPRINGFIELD) PRINTING COMPANY. 1883.
D
REPORTS
OF THE
Selectmen, Overseers of Poor,
TREASURER,
School Committee and Assessors
OF THE
TOWN OF WILBRAHAM,
For the Year ending March 15, 1883.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. : PRESS OF SPRINGFIELD PRINTING COMPANY. 1883.
ARTICLES IN TOWN WARRANT.
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the annual reports of the Selectmen, and Overseers of the Poor, Treasurer, School Committee, and all other Committees whose duty it may be to report to this meeting, and act thereon.
ART. 3. To fix the compensation of the Collector of Taxes for the year ensuing ; also to see if the Town will vote to add interest to all taxes unpaid after a certain date.
ART. 4. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges ; also to determine the number and manner of electing High- way Surveyors for the ensuing year ; also, to see if the Town will fix the compensation of labor on the highways ; also, to see how the Town will apportion the appropriation for highways among the Highway Sur- veyors.
ART. 5. To choose Town Clerk, Treasurer, three Selectmen, who shall be Overseers of the Poor, three Assessors, four Constables, four Fence Viewers, all on one ballot, also one School Committee for three years, on a separate ballot, also a Collector of Taxes for the year ensuing, on a separate ballot ; also to choose all other necessary Town officers for the ensuing year.
ART. 6. To see if the Town will accept the list of Jurors as revised by the Selectmen.
ART. 7. To see what disposition the Town will make of the Dog Fund now in the hands of the Treasurer.
ART. 8. To decide by ballot, which shall be "Yes" or "No," the ques- tion, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town ?"
ART. 9. To see if the Town will instruct their Selectmen to prose- cute any person or persons selling or transporting intoxicating liquors within this Town, contrary to the laws of the Commonwealth.
ART. 10. To see what measures the Town will take to provide for the adequate lighting of the streets of the Center Village.
ART. 11. To see if the town will vote to pay any portion of the ex- pense of the sewer at the North Village, constructed in 1882.
4
ART. 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise a sum of money to improve the Cemeteries of the Town.
ART. 13. To raise such sums of money as may be deemed necessary for the ensuing year, and appropriate the same, and vote how the same shall be raised.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will vote to instruct their Treasurer to borrow such sums of money as may be sanctioned by the Selectmen, to pay the orders of the Selectmen in anticipation of the taxes for the current year.
REPORT
OF THE
Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor.
SCHOOLS.
Appropriation by the Town for schools, $2,000 00
Appropriation by the Town for inciden- tals for schools,
75 00
Income from Massachusetts school fund,
225 63
Dog fund appropriated for schools, 91 75
Interest on Town loan,
78 50
$2,470 88
Total amount available for schools, As the School Committee have entire con- trol of the expenditures for schools, the Selectmen have given orders for bills approved by said Committee to the amount of · 2,418 99
Balance unexpended, $51 89
A detailed account of the expenses of the schools may be found in the Report of the School Committee.
PAUPERS.
Appropriation by the Town, $1,400 00 Received from the City of Springfield, for aid fur- nished the Bronson family, 14 84
Cash received from State Treasurer, for burial of John
A. Jones, State pauper, 10 00
.
--
6
Received from State, aid to State paupers refunded, $41 07 Avails of A. S. Tufts' effects sold, 15 75
Received from the Town of Chicopee for aid rendered Ada Burnette, 5 00
Received for aid rendered Mary Callahan, 6 00
Received from Chas. M. Willard's effects, 48.00
Total amount available for the support of paupers, $1,540 66
Paid for support of paupers having settle- ment in this Town, as follows :
Hospital for Insane, Northampton, for D. A. Warner, 190 92
Hospital for Insane, Northampton, for Caroline Bliss, 169 48
Dexter Tufts, for board and care of A. S. Tufts and wife, $260 00
Dr. Hamilton's bill for medical attend- ance on A. S. Tufts, 8 00
Dr. Foskit for medical attendance on Mrs. A. S. Tufts, 6 25
Hiram Danks, for clothing for A. S. Tufts and wife, 9 05
283 30
Nellie Gilligan, for aid for herself and family to July 1, 1882, 24 00
Bridget Dupray, for two days' work for Daniel Murphy, 2 00
Elizabeth Callahan, for twenty-two and one-half days' labor for Daniel Murphy, 30 00 W. E. Stone, goods for Daniel Murphy, 3 29
35 29
W. E. Stone, for groceries furnished Ja- cob Adams, 17 09
P. P. Potter, for supplies furnished Jacob Adams, 41 61
7
Dr. Foskit, for medical attendance on Ja- cob Adams,
$24 00
$82 70
E. B. Gates & Co., for goods furnished Munn Jones' family, 44 96
P. P. Potter, for aid rendered Munn Jones' family, 11 37
Franklin Calkins, for potatoes furnished M. Jones' family, 2 13
58 46
Calvin G. Robbins, for keeping tramps, 18 24
Calvin G. Robbins, for fuel for tramp house, 50
E. B. Gates & Co., for coal furnished tramp house, 6 71
25 45
Hiram Danks, for aid furnished Ada Bur- nette, 5 00
Mary Callahan, for support of self and family, 6 00
H. S. Swan, for burial expenses of C. M. Willard, 23 00
H. H. Burbank, supplies furnished Bron- son family,
9 34
Emma Campbell, for labor in Bronson family, 1 50
Dr. Foskit, for medical attendance on Bronson family, 4 00
14 84
Roger Laplant, for board and care of Wil- liam Carlin, during sickness, 10 50
Dr. J. W. Hannum, for medical attend- ance and provisions furnished for Benway family, 22 57
George W. Ely, for goods furnished John A. Jones' family, 3 30
8
E. G. Washburn, for casket furnished John A. Jones, $10 00
J. M. Foster, for medical attendance on John A. Jones, 11 00
Hiram Danks, for supplies and rent of house for John A. Jones and family, 7 20
$31 50
Total expended for paupers,
$983 01
1
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Appropriation by the Town,
$1,000 00
To Henry Clark, Surveyor, Dis- trict No. 1,
$85 00
$63 89
John Albray, Surveyor, Dis- trict No. 3,
80 00
80 00
Luther Markham, Surveyor, District No. 4,
90 00
92 30
P. Knowlton, Surveyor, Dis- trict No. 5,
190 00
151 37
Alvin Chilson, Surveyor, Dis- trict No. 6,
150 00
169 53
Randolph Beebe, Surveyor, District No. 7, 105 00
111 62
A. A. Phelps, Surveyor, Dis- trict No. 8, 100 00
78 30
$900 00
$808 37
Paid the Town of Ludlow for lighting and snowing bridges, 13 32
5° $821 69
Balance unexpended,
$178 09 41
Amount Apportioned.
Amount Expended.
Harvey Kent, Surveyor, Dis- trict No. 2, 100 00
61 26
9
CONTINGENT ACCOUNT AND TOWN OFFICERS.
Appropriation by the Town,
$1,500 00
Nelson F. Twing, for printing six hun- dred Town Reports, $40 50
Charles B. Fisk, for printing yes and no ballots, 1 50
Calvin G. Robbins, for posting Town warrants and notifying Town officers, 8 40
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