Annual report of the municipal officers of the town of Belgrade, Maine, 1916-1919, Part 1

Author: Belgrade (Me.)
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Belgrade, Me. : The Town
Number of Pages: 162


USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Belgrade > Annual report of the municipal officers of the town of Belgrade, Maine, 1916-1919 > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


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JEN


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01834 7341


GC 974.102 B415AR, 1917-1919


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS


OF THE


Town of Belgrade


FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR


1916-1917


FARMINGTON, MAINE The Knowlton & McLeary Co., Printers 1917


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS


OF THE


Town of Belgrade


FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR


1916-1917


FARMINGTON, MAINE The Knowlton & McLeary Co., Printers 1917


OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF BELGRADE FOR THE YEAR 1916-1917


MODERATOR E. F. YEATON


TOWN CLERK E. H. MOSHER


SELECTMEN, ASSESSORS AND OVERSEERS OF THE POOR


L. A. BARTLETT E. L. FOSTER A. P. WATSON.


TREASURER E. H. MOSHER


COLLECTOR C. E. TILLSON


C. E. TILLSON


SCHOOL COMMITTEE R. N. GUPTIL W. T. LARKIN


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS T. W. McQUAIDE


ROAD COMMISSIONERS


H. A. BICKFORD


JAMES WATSON


CONSTABLE PERCY H. YEATON


SEXTON C. B. STUART


J. M. CUMMINGS


CEMETERY COMMITTEE E. W. TOWLE GEO. A. P. BUCKNAM


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES F. C. FOSTER


FIRE WARD CHAS. H. MILLS


SELECTMEN'S REPORT


To the Citizens of the Town of Belgrade :


We herewith submit our annual report for the year ending Feb. 14,1917.


RESIDENT REAL ESTATE


Land values


Building values


$142,880 00 198,140 00


$341,020 00


NON-RESIDENT REAL ESTATE


Land values


$56,655 00


Building values


98,415 00


$155,070 00


Personal estate, resident


$101,625 00


Personal estate, non-resident


35,710 00


$137,335 00


Total valuation


$633,425 00


Amount of tax on above


$11,718 36


277 polls at $3.00


831 00


$12,549 36


Rate .0185


APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE YEAR 1916


State tax


$3,188 95


County tax


1,025 86


Town charges


1,000 00


Support of common schools


1,350 00


Summer roads and bridges


3,000 00


Special appropriation


200 00


6


Maintenance State Aid road


$ 80 00


State Aid highway


533 00


Winter roads, 1915-16


300 00


Cemetery purposes


75 00


For electric lights


100 00


School books


300 00


Repairs for schoolhouses


150 00


Superintendent of schools


135 00


Support of High school


850 00


Overlay


261 55


Excess


1 18


Total commitment


$12,550 54


LIST OF PERSONAL PROPERTY


LIVE STOCK


No.


Av. Val.


Total Val.


329 Horses


$93 51


$30,765 00


10 Colts, 3 to 4 years old


87 00


870 00


12 Colts, 2 to 3 years old


76 66


920 00


21 Colts, under 2 years old


45 71


960 00


530 Cows


27 88


14,777 00


18 Oxen


72 50


1,305 00


159 3-year olds


24 83


3,948 00


Total


$53,545 00


ALL OTHER KINDS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY


Stock in trade


$ 8,350 00


Launches and boats, 172


18,885 00


Logs and lumber


13,800 00


Wood and bark .


675 00


Standing lumber


1,500 00


Motorcycles, 1


75 00


Automobiles, 42


12,450 00


Musical instruments, 66


6,100 00


Furniture


4,150 00


Gas engines, 24


$ 2,205 00


Machinery not taxed as real estate


5,200 00


Other property


10,400 00


Total


$83,790 00


LIST OF UNTAXABLE LIVE STOCK


No. Av. Val. Total Val.


2 year old heifers and steers


161 $20 01


$3,223 00


1 year old heifers and steers


254 11 56


2,937 00


Sheep


414 3 00 1,242 00


Swine


131 12 01 1,574 00


$8,976 00


PAID BILLS ACCRUED PRIOR TO FEB. 14, 1916


E. E. Dunn, services as selectman $92 46


L. A. Bartlett, services as selectman 65 00


B. C. Bickford, services as selectman 52 00


E. H. Mosher, services as town clerk 10 00


M. L. Cook, gathering moth nests 1 75


W. O. Willey, gathering moth nests


. 50


W. C. Mills, gathering moth nests 1 75


J. W. Alexander, gathering moth nests


: 62


Printing town reports, Knowlton & McLeary Co.


46 40


Total $273 48


REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE


Unexpended, 1915


$24 11


Appropriation, 1916


75 00


Received from sale of hay


15 00


Amount available for 1916


$114 11


Paid for mowing and raking cemeteries


$56 50


G. A. Bucknam, for care of cemeteries 26 34


G. A. Bucknam, for pumping water


21 00


E. H. Mosher, for supplies 10 27


$114 11


J. M. CUMMINGS, Cemetery


GEO. A. P. BUCKNAM, Committee.


-


8


ABATEMENTS 1916-1917


F. E. Wells, not 21 $3 00


G. W. Buzzell, not 21


3 00


Fred Knowles, dead 3 00


James Colgan, residence unknown


3 00


Earle Lovejoy, paid at Augusta


3 00


Paul M. Yeaton, not here


3 00


$18 00


PAID FOR SUPPORT OF POOR 1916-1917


On account of Jane Mignault $192 54


Arthur Kaherl 7 58 -


$200 12


PAID FOR SUPPORT OF POOR OF OTHER TOWNS


On account of Angus M. Davis


$36 55


Mamie Gordon 34 00


Anson Quimby 13 00


$83 55


Due from town Solon on account Angus M. Davis


36 55


Augusta on account of Mamie Gordon


137 70


Interest on same


2 63


Total


$140 33


Received on above


106 33


Balance due $34 00


SHEEP ACCOUNT


Paid Roy Yeaton on account sheep killed by dogs $60 00


C. H. Chandler on account sheep killed by dogs 10 00


D. C. Stevens on account sheep killed by dogs 30 00


J. F. Hanson on account sheep killed by dogs 40 00


F. S. Kelley on account sheep killed by dogs 12 00


$152 00


152 00


Due from State on account of same


9


MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES


E. H. Mosher, for stationery and books $ 23 80


Dr. L. E. Reynolds, disinfecting Abbott house 11 57


Dr. M. S. Holmes, reporting births and deaths 1 25


Percy H. Yeaton 22 50


F. C. Foster, services as sealer of weights and measures 9 00


Dr. J. S. Milliken, reporting births


50


Dr. J. D. Ames, reporting birth


25


Dr. G. G. Downs, damage to automobile


20 00


Dr. L. E. Reynolds, reporting births and deaths


3 25


Belgrade Grange, for rent of hall


25 00


Dr. H. F. Shaw, reporting births and deaths


1 75


Dr. H. F. Shaw, trip to Augusta for antitoxin 6 00


Bowditch & Webster Co., antitoxin 5 80


H. E. Gowell, care of tramps 12 00


H. E. Gowell, truant officer 5 00


F. C. Foster, services on board of health 8 00


E. F. Yeaton, services as moderator 3 00


J. M. Lombard, rent of land for tramp house


2 00


Chas. H. Mills, services as fire ward


25 00


B. F. Maher, attorney in Mamie Gordon case


100 00


L. A. Bartlett, stationery, telephoning and stamps


17 81


C. O. Page, services as election clerk


8 00


J. M. Cummings, services as election clerk


8 00


W. T. Larkin, services as ballot clerk


8 00


C. H. Chandler, services as ballot clerk


8 00


E. H. Mosher, supplies and books


3 89


E. R. Bean, disinfecting and material


27 95


E. H. Mosher, sundries


18 30


T. W. McQuaide, expenses, telephoning, etc.


18 88


E. F. Yeaton, services on board of health


5 00


C. E. Tillson, collecting taxes 300 00


$709 50


10


RECAPITULATION


Paid bills accrued prior to Feb. 14, 1916


$273 48


Abatements, 1916


18 00


Support of poor


283 67


Miscellaneous expenses


709 50


$1,284 65


HIGHWAY ORDERS DRAWN


Herbert Bickford, 1914-15


$ 5 70


Herbert Bickford, winter 1916-17


100 56


Herbert Bickford, summer 1916


1,519 64


James Watson, summer 1916


1,500 38


W. P. Sawtelle, summer 1915


6 08


W. P. Sawtelle, winter 1915-16


695 75


W. H. Knowles, summer 1915


11 00


W. II. Knowles, winter 1915-16


540 40


James Watson, foreman State Aid road


1,069 37


State on account patrol work


528 33


Total highway orders drawn


$5,977 21


Total school orders drawn 5,791 82


Total town orders drawn


1,668 46


HIGHWAY APPROPRIATIONS


Summer, 1916


$3,000 00


Special appropriation


200 00


Maintenance by town


80 00


State Aid highway by town


533 00


State Aid highway by State


514 80


Snow bills, 1915-16


300 00


$4,627 80


Total highway orders drawn


5,977 21


Overdrawn


$1,349 41


11


RESOURCES


Cash in treasury $295 03


Due from Rome on account High school


70 00


Rome on account common school


125 65


Mt. Vernon on account common school 159 24 Augusta on account Mamie Gordon 34 00


Oakland on account Anson Quimby


13 00


Solan on account Angus M. Davis 36 55


State on account sheep killed


152 00


Due on tax deeds -


80 38


Due from State, dog tax refunded, estimated


100 00 --


$1,065 85


LIABILITIES


Due L. A. Bartlett, services as selectman


$98 00


E. L. Foster, services as selectman 76 00


A. P. Watson, services as selectman 60 00


E. H. Mosher, services as town clerk


15 00


For gathering moth nests, estimated


20 00


Printing town reports, estimated


40 00


Due for printing moth cards


2 00


Outstanding treasury notes


1,500 00


$1,811 00


Liabilities above resources


$745 15


Respectfully submitted,


L. A. BARTLETT, ) Selectmen E. L. FOSTER, of


A. P. WATSON, Belgrade.


REPORT OF TREASURER


Town of Belgrade in Account with E. H. Mosher, Treasurer for the Year 1916 DR.


To paid treasury notes


$4,000 00


Interest


189 29


Town orders


1,568 46


Road orders


6,077 21


School orders


5,800 82


State treasurer, dog tax


120 00


State tax


3,188 95


County tax


1,025 86


State pensions


72 00


E. H. Mosher, services as treasurer


50 00


Cash in treasury


295 03


$22,387 62


CR.


Cash on hand March 6, 1916


$ 420 24


Rec'd from C. E. Tillson, collector


12,550 54


State treasurer, school fund and mill tax


2,066 51


R. R. and Tel. tax


14 00


On account State pensions


72 00


From State treasurer, dog tax, refunded


75 85


State treasurer, account High school


500 00


For Improvement State roads


514 80


Cash and gave treasury notes


5,500 00


From town of Sidney, account schools


70 00


Town of Rome, account schools


110 47


Mt. Vernon, account schools


144 00


For dog tax


120 00


Two burial lots


50 00


Hay in cemetery


15 00


14


Rec'd from F. E. Bunker for old stove For piece of culvert From Millard Gleason on tax deed Readfield for books Augusta on account Mamie Gordon Licenses


$ 1 00


4 00


10 28


12 60


106 33


30 00


$22,387 62


Road Commissioners' Report


SUMMER 1916


H. A. Bickford and team


$393 00


H. A. Bickford, lumber


28 00


Berger Mfg. Co., culverts


77 67


F. E. Clement


1 50


F. C. Judkins


88 13


Anson Quimby


72 75


Geo. Davis


65 96


H. C. Mills


4 50


M. Libby


6 65


E. R. Burgess


6 20


Jay Merrow


5 00


Walter H. Gleason


137 88


Foster Bros.


11 25


Geo. Pratt


25 01


Ralph Brown


6 13


Ralph Wyman


4 50


L. A. Cook


11 25


D. A. Cook


18 75


Herbert Alexander


69 00


W. L. Withers


45 00


A. Damren


1 00


Harold Farnham


4 37


E. S. Willey


11 20


Preston Willey


3 13


C. M. Conant Co.


8 50


Laforest Stevens


18 25


J. W. Alexander


40 06


Will Ellis


28 56


Hume, Newhall & Co., lumber


27 69


Minnie Cook, gravel


15 00


16


C. L. Spencer


$ 3 50


E. A. Wallace


16 38


W. P. Sawtelle


7 00


C. M. Bickford


4 00


H. L. Alexander


4 50


JohnĮStanley


4 12


Charles F. Hulin


4 00


C. E. Tillson


14 00


F. E. Bunker


5 00


C. A. Rowe


5 00


W. T. Larkin


8 05


Harry Bickford


4 12


Charles Mills


2 62


A. M. Alexander


4 50


J. B. Stevens


23 37


W. H. Stevens


5 25


Oscar Stevens


21 00


F. J. Lord


47 50


C. M. Kelley


5 25


Willis Childs


9 00


B. S. Damren


2 00


C. L. Willey


88


F. W. Tobin


7 25


D. M. Marshall & Co.


18 27


Mrs. E. S. Willey, gravel


2 00


S. Blaisdell, lumber


2 80


L. L. Castle


15 00


Charles Chandler


5 65


E. H. Mosher


2 72


S. H. Berry


2 90


A. P. Watson


13 50


Fred Meader


6 12


E. A. Mills


6 50


$1,519 64


HERBERT A. BICKFORD, Road Commissioner.


17


SUMMER 1916


James Watson,


for labor with team


$381 25


Carroll Sawyer


66


200 43


Willis Childs


66


66


66


66


102 75


Rodney Tibbetts


66 66 66


23 63


A. J. Buker


66 66 66 66


14 62


E. E. Waterhouse


66 66 66


31 50


Will Abbott


66 66


66


11 25


Charles Stratton, 66 66 on road


17 49


John Stevens


66


66 66 66


17 10


Percy Yeaton


66


66


81 74


Raymond Yeaton


66


30 75


Clyde Varney


21 87


Ernest Yeaton


66


66


40 25


Wilfred Childs


66


66


66


20 15


Charles Watson


66


30 75


John McKinnen 66 66 66


66


1 75


Archie Bickford


. 75


Fred Bickford


66 66 66


77 60


Ralph Bickford 66


66


66 66


1 50


Berger Mfg. Co., culverts


106 04


C. M. Conant Co., road machine blade


8 50


Walter Walker, for labor on road


11 75


Elmer Mosher, for labor with team


25 00


Ernest Abbott, for labor on road


3 50


Lawrence Minot


1 75


E. C. Wadleigh 66


66


3 00


Will Spaulding 66 66


66


11 50


F. B. Albee, for hardware


7 45


W. H. Sprague, for watering tub


5 00


Sidney Goodwin, for labor


4 60


James Lombard, for gravel


24 70


West Clark


2 00


Mrs. J. C. Hewitt “


6


30 00


Bert Farnham


66


15 00


Geo. Tracy, for lumber


91 77


James Watson


66


20 00


.


66


18


E. E. Waterhouse, for lumber


$ 8 56


R. N. Guptil, labor on road


12 13


$1,500 38


JAMES WATSON, Road Commissioner.


SUMMER 1915


James Tibbetts, gravel


$6 00


L. L. Castle, gravel


5 00


$11 00


W. H. KNOWLES, Road Commissioner.


WINTER 1915-1916


W. H. Knowles


$69 50


Page Pulsifer


3 50


Ralph C. Knowles


14 88


Leslie Bickford


25 50


Ralph Brown


2 63


Geo. M. Gowell


4 00


Pray Bros.


8 50


W. E. Farnham


45 00


S. H. Berry


1 75


E. H. Wadleigh


53 88


Walter Knowles


45 00


Ernest Yeaton


4 00


Manley Childs


1 75


John Stevens


11 38


Percy Chute


3 50


Charles Farnham


88


Archie Bickford


3 50


Charles Webster


9 00


Sidney Goodwin


1 02


Will Stratton


. 75


Charles Stratton


1 75


John Tibbetts


6 50


Charles Stuart


49 50


Harold Farnham


88


H. H. Hewitt


2 00


19


Charles Chandler


$ 1 55


Philip Chandler


4 76


L. A. Bartlett


16 80


A. M. Wadleigh


15 00


A. C. Dudley


18 00


Foster Bros.


45 00


E. H. Mosher


24


W. J. Spaulding


10 25


E. C. Wadleigh


9 00


E. C. Knowles


16 75


Joseph Ashland


19 50


E. E. Dunn


12 00


$540 40


W. H. KNOWLES, Road Commissioner.


SUMMER ACCOUNT 1915


F. M. Tobbins, clay


$3 50


C. E. Tilson, plank


1 88


Anna Foster, gravel


70


$6 08


W. P. SAWTELLE, Road Commissioner.


SNOW BILLS 1915-1916


H. B. Sanford


$ 9 14


Chas. A. Rowe


8 95


M. M. Larkin


7 25


Ralph Wyman


22 75


Wm. O. Willey


19 85


H. A. Bickford


40 75


Harry Alexander


40 50


Oral D. Page


5 00


W. H. Gleason


39 25


W. T. Larkin


9 45


Forest Stevens


3 98


Willis Stevens


5 05


W. P. Sawtelle


28 00


Wm. Withers


38 25


Chas. H. Mills


10 85


20


W. N. Judkins


$ 6 00


Denis A. Cook


11 73


Leroy A. Cook


20 79


H. M. Bickford


24 94


Chas. W. Moody


7 00


C. L. Meader


2 63


Chas. M. Bickford


7 25


Geo. Eldridge


3 75


John F. Stanley


20 92


C. L. Spencer


88


E. A. Wallace


6 65


Edward Burges


4 38


Edward A. McCartney


1 50


Ralph Brann


4 38


Clarence M. Kelley


1 75


·Albert Furbush


11 50


Oscar Stevens


12 75


James Stevens & Son


21 50


A. A. Gleason


3 50


E. S. Willey


95


H. A. Alexander


10 00


E. C. Lord


4 70


Clarence Chase


5 00


F. W. Pray


26 50


John Chandler


88


Forest Judkins


1 40


F. J. Lord


46 00


C. H. Wyman


23 00


H. H. Page


33 50


Harry Mills


40 75


A. E. Page


40 25


$695 75


W. P. SAWTELLE, Road Commissioner.


SNOW BILLS 1916-1917


$ 5 25


Wilbur Judkins


Herbert Alexander


18 00


W. H. Knowles, repairing roller 5 00


21


Anson Quimby


$ 6 12


Jay Merrow


5 68


C. A. Rowe


6 40


Fred Patten & Son


7 00


Albert Furbush


6 61


O. D. Page


3 00


Ralph Wyman


3 00


Willis Childs


4 00


Harry C. Mills


15 25


C. H. Wyman


15 25


$100=56


HERBERT[A .¿ BICKFORD, Road Commissioner.


SNOW BILLS 1914-1915


W. P. Cummings


$2 00


W. O. Willey & Son


3 70


$5=70


HERBERT A. BICKFORD, Road Commissioner.


STATE AID ROAD


James Watson,


and team


$135 72


C. R. Sawyer


102 00


Willis Childs


96 75


Herbert Bickford


65 77


Arthur Alexander


74 25


Elmore Farnham 66


43 50


E. L. Foster


66


38 25


Frank Lord


66 66


3 00


Lester Yeaton


66


9 00


Adelbert Pray


9 00


Percy Yeaton


45 10


Raymond Yeaton


46 00


Elmer Mosher


53 32


Wilfred Childs


24 00


Page Pulsifer


20 00


Clyde Varney


6 44


Bert Roberts


26 00


22


George Buckman


$24 00


Joe Alexander


35 00


Fred Bickford


43 32


Bert Damren


18 00


Forest Judkins


24 00


Ernest Stevens


33 00


John Chandler


2 00


James Watson, paid for material


39 25


Frank Lord, gravel


20 00


Fred Scribner


66


20 20


W. D. Damren


12 50


Total amount


$1,069 37 JAMES WATSON, Foreman.


-


Report of School Committee


We, the undersigned superintending school committee of Belgrade, recommend the following school appropriations for next year, viz :


Free High school


$ 850 00


Common schools


1,350 00


Text-books and supplies for High and common schools


300 00


Repairs 300 00


Superintendent's salary


135 00


High school reference library


75 00


Schoolroom at Belgrade Lakes


600 00


Kaustine closets at High school


C. E. TILLSON, Superintending R. N. GUPTILL, School Committee.


W. T. LARKIN,


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


To the Superintending School Committee of Belgrade:


In accordance with the provisions of the school law, I here- with submit to you, and to the citizens of Belgrade, my annual report for the town year 1916-17.


The school census of April 1st, 1916, showed 302 persons between the ages of 5 and 21; of these 137 were of compul- sory school age, between the ages of 7 and 15. There were enrolled in the schools during the year a total of 263 pupils, 226 in the common schools, and 37 in the High school.


HIGH SCHOOL


The High school has been in charge of the same teachers for almost three years. The policy of retaining the same teachers as long as their work shows growth and improvement, has demonstrated its value in the advanced standard of the school and in the fact that our pupils are now entering the dif- ferent colleges direct from the High school. But while we realize that it is unquestionably the duty of a standard A grade High school to prepare for college, yet we have kept in mind the interests of the pupils who cannot go to college, and their course of study has been made as practical as possible.


A soil tester has been added to the school equipment for the double purpose of providing practical work for the pupils of the scientific course and for the benefit of Belgrade farmers who desire to have their soils tested to determine what is needed in the way of fertilizer and treatment.


26


COMMON SCHOOLS


With the exception of the Adams School the length of the school year has been from 31 to 33 weeks. Conditions at the Adams School necessitated doing away with the Winter term, and having longer terms in the spring and fall. We are still from two to four weeks below the average of the State in the length of our school year and provision should be made for ex- tending it next year.


The majority of our schools have been in charge of the same teachers throughout the year. All our teachers have had ex- perience and the work of the schools, on the whole, has been very satisfactory.


The course of study is being constantly enlarged and strength- ened and more is required of the teacher in methods of appli- cation, especially in the fundamentals. We have now reached the point, for the first time in the history of our schools, when we can adopt a complete and well-balanced course of study and provide our pupils with the text-books and materials necessary to carry it on at a very reasonable expense.


We have been very fortunate in having no epidemics of sick- ness this year and, as a result, there has been a great increase in the percentage of attendance during the fall and spring terms. The winter term even under the most favorable conditions, will always be unsatisfactory and unprofitable. Storms, bad travel- ing, blockaded roads, the prevalence of colds at this season of the year, and the fact that many of the children are not prop- erly clothed for such severe weather, make it advisable to have a very short winter term and include as much of our school year as possible in the fall and spring terms.


The eye and ear test was given, as usual, during the year and some improvement was noticed in the attention paid by parents to notices of defective sight or hearing. There is still much room for improvement in this respect, however, as there are many children in the schools who should be wearing glasses.


27


There have been very few cases of truancy during the year. Once in a while some parent gets " niffed " at the teacher and the child is kept at home for a few days, but these cases are fast disappearing.


A great deal of good could be accomplished by a closer re- lationship between the home and the school. The superintend- ent is always glad to confer with the parents, individually, upon any subject pertaining to school welfare. It sometimes hap- pens that parents who live near the school and therefore have the advantage of daily observation may see things which need correction, especially in connection with the playground or outside life of the school. Such things should be called to the attention of the teacher or the superintendent. Frequent con- sultations between the parents and the teacher or superintend- ent will do away with those misunderstandings which some- times arise on account of the parents attaching too much im- portance to the tales which children are apt to carry home from school. It is frequently necessary for the teacher to adopt cer- tain methods or plans for reasons which the pupils may not understand. The less the pupils understand, however, the more likely they are to form wrong conclusions and to carry those wrong conclusions home. This is especially true in cases where the child is accustomed to hear criticism of the school at home. Children do not mean to do any harm in these matters, but they sometimes get wrong impressions and for that reason parents should not accept the child's judgment in such cases. A few words of explanation from the teacher or superintendent will usually make these things clear to any parent who will take the trouble to enquire. And it should be borne in mind that anything which is of sufficient importance to justify the parent in criticising the school is of sufficient im- portance to justify that parent in first making enquiries of the proper persons before deciding that he has a right to criticise the school.


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It is not a good plan, however, for the parents to select the teacher for their school. There may be very good reasons for the people wanting some certain teacher but there may be even better reasons, which the people may know nothing about for not putting her in their school. Then, too, when a teacher is placed in a certain school solely because the people of the community want her, it often happens that she gets the idea that she is so solid with the community that she can disregard the instructions of the school officials and do about as she pleases. This always results in trouble, sooner or later, for all parties concerned.


It should be apparent to any fair minded person who will give the matter a moment's consideration that any superintend- ent who has had years of training in school supervision and methods of teaching, and who visits the schools every two or three weeks, should be the best judge of what the children need in the way of a teacher, and he should be permitted to select, with the approval of the school committee, the teacher whom he believes to be best adapted to the school.


Repairs for the year include the following :


Washington school - Straightening up the underpinning, sills and floor, boarding up the foundation, building new front steps, repairing the toilet and painting the schoolhouse.


Franklin school - New doors and painting the schoolhouse. Lowell school - New doors and painting the interior.


Lincoln school - Repairing fence.


High school - Painting buildings, repairing belfry, placing new windows to provide proper lighting, installing a simple heating and ventilating system, enlarging shed to provide more wood room and suitable toilet facilities for the girls.


Your school committee recommends the following appropria- tions for next year, viz. :


High school $ 850 00


Common schools 1,350 00


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Text-books and supplies for High and common


schools


$300 00


Repairs


300 00


Superintendent's salary


135 00


High school reference library


75 00


Schoolroom at Belgrade Lakes


600 00


The committee also recommends an appropriation for the pur- pose of installing Kaustine chemical closets at the High school.


With the exception of the item for repairs, these are the same as last year's appropriations with the addition of the items for a schoolroom at the Lakes and for a High school reference library. This latter appropriation is made necessary by a rul- ing of the State Department of Education, which requires all High schools to provide certain reference books for their pupils in addition to the regular text-books. Rather than attempt to provide these reference books all at one time, however, it seems advisable to appropriate $75.00 this year and $25.00 each year until the necessary books are secured.


The request for an appropriation of $600.00 for an additional schoolroom at Belgrade Lakes is the result of a serious con- dition of the school at that place. That school has thirty-eight pupils enrolled, representing all of the nine grades with sub- divisions of some grades. It is almost impossible to maintain discipline and at the same time teach the children where there are so many pupils and so many grades. In order to give these children the time and attention which each child is en- titled to receive, and which other children of the town are now receiving in the smaller rural schools, it would be necessary to have over fifty recitations each day. As there are only 330 minutes in the school day, this would allow only about six min- utes for each recitation, including the time lost in passing to and from the class, assigning the next day's lesson, explaining it when necessary, etc. This only allows one-half to one-third of the time required for that purpose. A well trained teacher,


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with a well prepared recitation, may be able to handle a primary grade recitation satisfactorily in ten minutes, but in the inter- mediate and upper grades at least fifteen minutes should be allowed for each recitation, and such subjects as arithmetic and English should receive twenty minutes. An attempt is some- times made in situations of this kind to afford relief by combin- ing classes or putting two or three grades into one class. This is a very poor plan, because the work of such a class must be based on the ability of the average pupil or middle grade of the class; consequently the pupils below the average find the work too difficult and they become discouraged and do not ac- complish anything, while the pupils above the average find the work so easy that they do not have to study but can devote most of their time to mischief, learning nothing themselves and, in many cases, preventing the other children from learning any- thing.




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