USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1878-1879, 1887 > Part 4
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2. Under the contemplated system we shall probably be better provided with school-rooms. Differences of
opinion in a district may now delay erecting, or repairing a school-house, and the quarrel is kept up, till the old house tumbles down. If the whole thing were a part of the regular town business, we should expect to have timely and efficient action.
Again, there are districts in every town, whose pecuni- ary means are unequal to the erection of a suitable build- ing, without great self-denial. We propose to make com- mon cause with them, and help them to as good a house as their neighbors have. To the Town it is a small mat- ter ; to the district it may be a very oppressive burden. The language of Mr. Boutwell is to our purpose : "I appeal to the Towns and ask them to reassume a burden which they ought never to have thrown off."
To illustrate this point of better school-rooms, we refer you to the fine brick buildings recently put up in the out- skirts of Springfield, which certainly would not have gone up under the district system. Our friends at Sixteen Acres certainly have reason to rejoice in its abolition.
3. We think that by putting the whole thing into the
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hands of a competent Superintending Town Committee, who would, of course, be chosen for a longer period than the Prudential Committee are chosen, we should find a double advantage in the matter of securing teachers. This Committee would have the means of securing better teachers, and more permanent teachers. Better teach- ers, for their previous experience will have given them a · wider acquaintance with teachers, and more skill in mak- ing selection. No Committee-man can do so well the first year as the second, nor the second year so well as the third. Better teachers, because it will secure more inde- pendent action-the full Board will be a check upon each member. All matters of personal favor, cousinships, " axes to grind," which have too often stood in our way, and which always will stand in the way of individual action, however honest the man, will be swept out of sight, in comparison with the vastly higher interests in- volved-the careful and judicious training of your chil- dren. More permanent teachers. No school can do very well under a frequent change of teachers. This has been one of our greatest difficulties the past year, yet on our part unavoidable.
Under the old system the teachers were selected by the Prudential Committee-man, chosen in March or April,- during the year he is trying experiments-he may be counted successful, if by the third term he is able to fix upon one who is a good instructor, whom he would like to retain, with whom the whole district are pleased. But just as he is ready to begin to do his work to real advan- tage, the annual meeting comes round and a new Commit- tee-man is elected. He has some "very particular friend," or he would like to try in his turn a few experiments with cheaper teachers, and the well tried, the proved, the faith- ful instructor must give place. Or if he desires to employ her it is too late, she is already engaged to teach in a neighboring town before his election.
We do earnestly advise and hope that power may be lodged somewhere, to contract with a good teacher when
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we find one, for a term or two in advance, that the Pru- dential Committee may not be obliged to say when the year closes, two weeks before school meeting, "we cannot tell whether we shall want you again." We ought not to run the risk of so great loss.
Moreover, if the towns about us have this power of se- lecting for the year in advance, they will snatch up the best teachers, and we shall be left to do as we can. Cer- tainly we shall be thus robbed, if they pay more liberally.
To secure better teachers, and more permanent teachers, we advocate the existence of some body of men who shall have authority to lay hold of tried and experienced teach- ers, and secure them as a prize for Wilbraham !
4. We advocate the system proposed, because it is so completely and purely democratic. It sets no one above an- other, it gives no one superior advantages over another, it puts all citizens on the most perfect equality possible !
Under its working the children of all the families in town will have equal advantages of school. Now it is not so. Now there may be two men who pay an equal tax, say ten dollars each for schools, of course they should have equal advantages. But one lives in district A, the other in district B. The former can have only five months' schooling, the latter ten months. Is this equality ? Sup- pose there were no districts in town, and the authorities should come and run a line just by the side of your door- yard, and say to you, " Sir, we are endeavoring to in- crease the benefits of our common schools, we have estab- lished a line close by, and have placed you on the north side, and because you are on the north side of that line, for no other possible reason, you can have hereafter only twenty weeks of school. Your nearest neighbor is on the south side of that line, and simply because he is on the south side he shall have forty weeks in the year." How long would you submit to that ?
Yet this is just the state of things you are living under with the old district system.
As the tax is levied equally upon all parts of the town,
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for the express purpose of educating the whole mass of the people, without distinction, there should be equality of privileges. We want all tax-payers, and all poor people, and all communities to have an equal length of good school, which would be secured under the new system, but which never can be secured under the present one.
The same is true of other pecuniary burdens, for example, the erection of a school-house.
In District A., a man worth $2000 must pay $50 towards the new building, while in District B., a man of the same means need pay only $10 to secure equally good accom- modations. Is this equal justice to all? Why should that arbitrary line make this difference ? Why should I be punished for living here, and my neighbor rewarded for living there ? Why should such inducements be presented to build up one section of the town at the expense of an- other section-to make the rich neighborhood richer, and the poor poorer by change of residence ?
We respect, as in duty bound, the rights of all classes of our citizens, and when we propose to abolish the district school system, we propose to abolish the glaring inequal- ities under which we are now living, but which we may not have thought very definitely about, and substitute in their place, equal privileges to every neighborhood, equal justice to every individual.
But after all, no argument can be so convincing as suc- cessful trial. You ask has the new system been adopted -- does it work well in practice ? We are able to answer emphatically. It does work well in practice ! The exper- iment has won many enemies over into friends, and has given well-nigh universal satisfaction.
Says the Secretary of the Board of Education at the close of the year 1859, "I entered upon the duties of the office I now hold with some faith in the district system ; my observation and experience have destroyed that faith en- tirely. It is a system admirably calculated to secure poor schools, incompetent teachers, consequent waste of public money, and yet neither committees, nor districts, nor towns be responsible therefor.
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It is unquestionably true that the best schools are found where the district system does not exist ; and the charge, in a few instances made or suggested, that there has been no improvement in the schools for twenty-five years, is limited in its origin, and in its truthful application to those towns which are divided into districts.
Whenever a town has established the municipal system, and adhered to it for two years, there has never within my knowledge, been a serious effort in favor of the restoration of the district system !
These facts are so encouraging and so conclusive that they ought, without argument, to convince the most scep- tical. The great object of the people is the establishment of good schools at the least cost, and they have no inter- est in the District system when it fails to secure these ends. (Report 23, p. 75.)
But, fellow citizens, the great object sought is better schools, however it may be brought about. We care little for methods ; we aim at results. If we discuss methods, it is only for the sake of results.
Your Committee have endeavored to look faithfully after the best interests of all your schools ; they have been conscientious in the discharge of their duties; they have sought, and sought only, the highest good of your child- ren ; but we confess we are not satisfied with the result. We see more deficiencies than any of you can tell us ; we have found it slow and laborious work to reform abuses and introduce better measures ; we have felt especially hindered by what seems to us an entirely unfounded prej- udice against our office.
But while our experience has laid open to us the defi- ciencies of our schools, it has greatly deepened our inter- est in their complete success.
From whatever point of view, we see the demand for better common schools-for our good name as a town- that we may diminish our taxes for pauperism and crime, that we may call in a class of good, substantial citizens, who always inquire, among the first things, about the
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schools in the town to which they contemplate removing- for the healthful, mental, and moral development of our own children. No interest upon which we act as a town is to be compared with this !
It is to be feared that many parents are not more than half awake to the importance of first rate instruction in the early years of life ! It is the work of laying founda- tion. If it be poorly done, no elegance of superstructure can make up the deficiency.
Let us bestir ourselves to think more deeply upon the momentous interests involved, and be willing to make personal sacrifices, that our children may grow up to be highly respectable and influential citizens, an honor to their parents, a blessing to the world.
Fellow citizens, whatever may be your course of action in regard to schools, we urge, as of the first importance, that you will keep this whole matter distinct from the strifes and divisions of party politics. Whatever our dif- ferences on other subjects, whatever our political stripes, or religious preferences, let us be a unit here. Whatever we quarrel about, let us quarrel never about our common schools !
DISTRICT No. 1. Miss Bushnell and Miss Whitaker, were both faithful, though with little if any previous ex- perience. With so poor a room, and so few scholars, there was little to awaken their interest, or call forth their en- ergies. The labor was at too great disadvantage to be a fair test of their success.
The winter term, taught by Mr. Bliss, was characterized by good order, and passed off, we believe, to the general satisfaction of the district.
The chattering of teeth in the "back seat," and the scorching of the little ones about the stove, were painful to the spectator, but were endured heroically. The first need of the district is a new school-house.
No. 2. Miss Seaver's pleasant, watchful energy tri- umphed over many annoyances, and gave a generally fa-
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vorable aspect to the school. More of thoroughness in ac- quisition, and self-reliance in recitation, would have been gratifying to the Committee.
Miss Wright brought to her first term of school a com- mendable degree of energy and interest. It may be ow- ing to no neglect on her part, that the older boys made so little real advance. The school was lacking in good order, and respectful deportment towards their teacher. They have largely fallen into the very unpromising habit of depending upon the teacher to assist their answers.
No. 3 .- This school has been taught the past year with great success by Miss S. W. Merrick. Having been en- gaged in teaching for several years, she was enabled to bring to the school an experience of much value; a thorough system of teaching, good order, and a respectful and commendable deportment on the part of the pupils, combined to make the school one of much interest.
No. 4 .- The primary school in this district has been taught through the year by Miss Maria E. Smith, who has excelled in sustaining a thorough system of instruc- tion, and order, administered in a quiet, efficient manner.
The summer term of the upper school was taught by Miss Sarah E. Cone, who is thoroughly prepared for her work, and with more attention to order cannot fail to be a successful teacher.
The winter school was taught by Mr. George S. Noyes. The obstacles to success in this school were more than ordinary. Notwithstanding the effect of outside influ- ence, he succeeded in sustaining the character of the school, and accomplished as much as could be expected under the circumstances.
No. 5. The summer term was taught by by Miss Mar- tha Curtis, with her usual success.
The winter term of nine weeks was taught by Mrs. L. A. Nichols. Much progress was made considering the shortness of the term.
No. 6. The summer term was taught by Miss Lucia D. Pease. This was her first term. With more experi- ence, she will make a successful teacher.
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The winter term, taught by Mr. Perlin S. Butler, was marked by a good degree of thorough instruction and im- provement.
No. 7 .- The school in this district has been taught the past three summers by Miss Phianda L., and the three winters following, by her brother, Mr. A. J. Blanchard, and has demonstrated most fully to the Committee, and to the parents in the district, the advantage of continuing the same good teachers in the same school.
These teachers have been in the habit of visiting each other's school, noticing improvements, and defects if any, and have thus been the better prepared to enter upon their own duties. The district have contributed to length- en the school, by boarding the teachers, the sum of seventy-six dollars,-equal to the pay of the teacher for four and a half months in the summer, and two months in the winter.
No. 8 .- Miss Jane E. Tupper has taught this school the past three summers, much to the gratification of parents, and the Committee; and is another standing monument to the permanent continuance of good teachers.
Miss Tupper is now in the Normal School, and will on ENtery no doubtless come out thoroughly prepared for the work she Building Sines so much loves. Owing to the dilapidated condition of the school house, and unorganized condition of the dis- trict, your Committee deemed it economy to expend most of the money in summer, making the winter term very short.
No. 9. The qualifications of Miss Kent were better than the average. She was exceedingly hindered in her work by the lamentable irregularity of her pupils.
More attention to some general exercises, to break up the monotony of the daily drill, would have increased the in- terest of the pupils, and made what appeared to be a good school, better.
Mr. Phelps taught in the winter with a high degree of success, considering the multiplied absences from school. Habits of good order and diligent study seemed to be
Corner st
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forming and maturing. The last few weeks were so bro- ken up by measles as to prevent a full closing examina- tion.
We commend to the notice of parents in this district the fact, that your children have lost, by absence, one thousand eight hundred and five days of schooling, which you have paid for in six and one-half months. We hope the district which can boast of the best school-house in town will wipe out their unenviable reputation for irregu- lar attendance.
No. 10 .- In this school Miss Burleigh labored with much fortitude, and patience, against (as may be seen by a glance at the table of absences) an obstacle which it seems to your Committee should never exist in any school; whatever of absences are occasioned by sickness are cer- tainly excusable, but are absences from other causes ? Making allowance for this obstacle in the way of the teach- er, and the school might be pronounced a success.
Miss Cone taught the winter term of this school. She brings to her school a book knowledge thoroughly fitting . her for the duties of teacher, and possessing great energy and perseverance, she is remarkably fitted for teaching. Better order, and a more respectful deportment of the pu- pils would have rendered this school unexceptionable.
No. 11 .- The summer and fall terms by Miss Pease. For a teacher so young and inexperienced, the school was remarkably well managed.
The winter school under Mr. Willard has done well. The examinations of advanced classes in Grammar and Intellectual Arithmetic were especially pleasing. The writing books deserve particular commendation.
No. 12 .- Miss Whitaker's first experience in teaching gave us a fair school. She secured at once the love of her scholars. If she could have combined with her very desirable gentleness of manner, a little more energy, and perhaps inventive power to interest her pupils outside the daily routine, her school would have been better.
Miss Abbie Merrick taught a good school in the fall.
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All were pleased and would gladly have retained her through the year.
Miss Luce, in the winter, taught an admirable school of fifteen weeks. She succeeded in awakening a deep in- terest in all the studies and classes, which increased to the last day. In recitations, the scholars were self-reliant, prompt, natural. Your Committee wish that larger dele- gations from other districts could have been present to witness the manifest advantage of our Outline Maps, which we are satisfied no district, certainly no poor district, can afford to be without.
The following Statistical table will, it is believed, ex- plain itself. Nothing more than a careful examination of that table will be needed to convince the most scepti- cal, that our common schools need much improving. But for fear of being tedious, we should desire to draw out from these statistics some instructive comparisons, e. g. Our average attendance in the summer has been 56+ per cent., 4 per cent. less than the lowest in Hampden County in 1859, when it ranged in different towns from sixty to eighty-eight per cent. In the winter we did a trifle bet- ter, but even then did not reach the sixty per cent.
Again it will be seen that some districts have enjoyed thirty-five weeks of school in the year, while others have been allowed only twenty-three. This is the equality of the district system.
Again in one school of twenty-four scholars, there were four hundred and seventy-eight marks for tardiness in fif- teen weeks. In another school of forty-two scholars, one thousand and thirty-four days were lost by absence in six- teen weeks.
But we have no right to ask your indulgence longer, we commend you to the statistics, and your own profita- ble reflections.
WALTER HITCHCOCK,;) Superintending School Committee.
H. M. SESSIONS, J. P. SKEELE,
STATISTICAL TABLE.
DISTRICTS.
Whole No. Scholars
between 5 and 15 yrs.
| Snm.[Whole number
Win. between 5 & 15.
Sum. No. of Scholars
Win.
Sum.
Win
Sum.
Win.
Sum.
Win.
Sum.
| Win.
Sum.
Win.
Summer.
Winter.
WINTER.
1 D.L. Atchinson.
20,11 18
0 4 82-9 1414
0
0'231
22+
19.323
23
54
202
6:2
4
4%
21.
3
284 44
26 44
16 00
17 00
M. E. Smith.
Mr. Geo. S. Noyes. Miss M. E. Smith.
5 Scantie.
15 14 10
2.12
14
27
10
90
108
0
2
25
97 64
9 64
18 00
20 00
M. Curtis.
Mrs. L. H. Nichols.
6 Hendriek.
22 19 23
1 4'20
221
111
434
132
129
4
0
118 27
6 00
16 00
28 00
L. D. Pease.
Mr. P. S. Butler.
7 Chapin.
26 22,25
1
5,163226.3%
14
00
354 2291
0
3
126 21
10 28
16 00
30 00
P. L. Blanehard.
A. J. Blanehard.
9 Potter.
42 36 31
0
7 20,8
211
107
176 1034
771
3
0
0
0
43
158 13
20 00
20 00
" E. C. Burleigh.
Miss S. E. Cone.
12 Jas. Merrick.
27.17 19
1
0,133₺
163
102
90
398
149
1
1
5
33
138 18
21 11
15 00
18 00 1st T. Miss A. L. Whitaker. Miss L. H. Luec.
392
11 44 2223 2653 1117 1858 6036 3014 23 12 531 384 $1775 56
$212 90 $298 67
0
0
$117 61 $13 65
191 62
24 10
20 00
18 00 Miss M. A. Seaver.
Miss L. A. Wright.
126 82
7 50
14 00
20 00
" S. M. Merriek.
S. M. Merrick.
4
28 41
4,11 23
27%
39
60
287
78
210
716
0
0
43
2일
1
13 21
151 30
16 38
16 50
26 67
H. E. Kent.
" W. L. Phelps.
11 Langdon.
44 27 27
0, 3 191
118
91
867
269
2
1
3
144 60
12 50
14 40
25 00
J. E. Pease.
Mr. C. M. Willard.
8 John Bliss.
23 1410
0
3 131
1039
58
136
239
77
3'
0
4%1
120 74
13 00
14 00
26 0
J E. Tupper.
H. Dwight.
10 McCray.
29
0 0,16-3.
25
871
Neither Absent
nor Tardy.
Length of
School
Amount of
School Money.
Cost of Fuel &c., paid
from public money.
Wages
per month
including
Board.
NAMES OF TEACHERS.
No.
NAME.
attendi'g school
over 15.
Average
Attendance.
No. of times
Tardy.
No. days lost by
Absence.
in months.
SUMMER.
1st T. Miss. C. A. Bushnell.
2 R. R. Wright.
22 14 16
2 5|12.4
0
234
2335
87 328
77
478|
645
268
5
0
1
4 Centre, So.
18 00
30 00
S. E. Cone.
Lower.
74,32 30
2
2}
-4
1
4
2d “ A. Merriek.
201
115
$15 00
$20 00,2d " " A. L. Whitaker. Mr. H. M. Bliss.
3.P. Cross.
Upper.
48.33 24
5
431 292
114
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REPORTS
OF THE
electmen and Verseers of the Poor.
TREASURER,
School Committee,
AND ASSESSORS,
OF THE
TOWN OF WILBRAHAM,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
March 15th, 1878.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. : CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1878.
REPORTS
OF THE
electmen and
Derseers of the
TREASURER, 1
School Committee,
AND ASSESSORS,
OF THE
TOWN OF WILBRAHAM,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
March 15th, 1878.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. : CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 1878.
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 determine the number of School Committee the town will elect, and the time they shall serve.
ART. 4. To determine the number and manner of electing Collectors of Taxes ; also to see if the town will vote to add interest to all taxes unpaid after a certain date.
ART. 5. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges ; also to determine the number and manner of electing Highway Surveyors for the ensuing year ; also to see if the town will fix the compensation for labor on the highways.
ART. 6. To choose a Town Clerk, Treasurer, three Selectmen, who shall be Overseers of the Poor, three Assessors, and one School Committe for three years; also such others, if any, as the town shall vote to choose, four Consta- bles, four Fence-viewers, all on one ballot ; also to choose all other necessary town officers for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To see if the town will accept of the list of Jurors as revised by the Selectmen.
ART. 8. To see if the town will vote to act in conjunction with the town of Ludlow to raise the bridge at Collins Depot, and put a pier or other sup- port under the same, and appropriate money therefor.
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to build a School-house in District No. 8, and appropriate money therefor, and choose all necessary Committees to carry the same into effect.
ART. 10. To see if the town will vote to build a road from the West entrance in the new Cemetery in the South Parish, so as to make the lots in said Cemetery more accessible.
ART. 11. To see what disposition the town will make of the Dog Fund now in the hands of the Treasurer.
ART. 12. To see if the town will grant to Reuben H. Chaffee a right of way from the East gate of the new Cemetery in the South Parish to his pri- vate burial lot.
ART. 13. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary for the ensu- ing year, and appropriate the same.
Selectmen's Report.
SCHOOLS.
Appropriation by the Town for Schools, Interest on Town Loan, 102 31
$3,000 00
Dog fund appropriated for schools, 227 77
State school fund, 246 62
$3,576 70
The School Committee, alone, being responsible for the expenditure of the money available for support of schools, the Selectmen have given orders for bills ap- proved by them to the amount of $3,312 35
A detailed account of school expenses will be found in the Report of the School Committee.
PAUPERS.
Appropriation by the Town for support of paupers, $2,500 00
Paid for the support of paupers as follows : For salary of Town Physician,
$50 00
Sally Munsell,
116 20
Caroline Abby,
127 39
Polly Truden,
116 66
Corrydon L. Kibbe,
96 28
Pelatiah Glover, 25 49
Alvin Banister, 129 08
Ruby Giles, including funeral expenses, 114 56
Reuben Caldwell, 118 93
Wm. L. Crocker, including funeral expenses, 116 16 Charles M. Willard, 115.14
4
For Ebenezer Stacy, 14 45
Edward W. Colton, at Reform School. 42 30
Daniel A. Warner, at Insane Hospital, 212 10
Ann M. Clark, at Insane Hospital,
189 00
Caroline Bliss, at Insane Hospital, 192 42
Charles A. Hunn, at Insane Hospital. 63 06
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