USA > Maine > York County > Berwick > Annual report of the municipal officers of the town of Berwick, Maine, 1881 > Part 2
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ATTENDANCE.
Spring Term, Whole No. 26.
Average, 21. 66
Fall 66
24.
18.
Winter 66 66
66 66 21.
66 16.
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DISTRICT No. 1 .- JAMES A. PLACE, Agent.
There have been three terms of school in this district the past year, all under the competent instruction of Miss Olive L. Clark of this town, who displayed the same superior skill in classing, teaching and governing that has attended her efforts in other schools. She gave her pupils the best of her excellent talents as a teacher, and they cooperating with her, were orderly and interested in their school, and made decided progress in all studies pursued.
ATTENDANCE.
Spring Term, Whole No. 20. Average, 17. Fall 18.
21. Winter יר 66 66
(The money in School District No. 2, is expended in South Ber- wick.)
DISTRICT No. 3 .- DANIEL E. KNOX, Agent.
The Spring term of nine weeks and Fall term of eight weeks in this district were both taught by Miss Flora Murray of Leba- non, whose success in this school fully sustained the high reputa- tion as a teacher with which she entered upon her duties. Having qualifications of a high order, both natural and acquired, she labor- ed willingly to give those under her care her best work. The school was well classed, in excellent order, and the scholars, anx- ious to profit by the valuable teaching imparted to them, learned in a marked degree all the studies pursued. Improvement in reading and arithmetic as well as in English grammar, was very observable.
The Winter term of twelve weeks was under the care of Mr. John A. Tebbets of Rochester N. H., an old and experienced teacher, who taught this school several terms a few years since Mr. Tebbets conducted all the exercises of his school in an ap- proved manner. Itsgovernment was efficient, and the highly
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satisfactory results attending the term reflect great credit upon teacher and scholars.
ATTENDANCE.
Spring Term, Whole No. 35. Average, 31. Fall 66 66 37,
Winter “ 66 66
66 31,
DISTRICT No. 4 .- AMOS WALLINGFORD, Agent.
The Spring and Fall terms of eight weeks each were kept by Miss Nellie Hanson of Rochester, N. H., who taught in this dis- trict last year. Miss Hanson showed a most lively interest in her work. The school was in fine order and the pupils manifested much interest in their studies, while the progress made in all branches was excellent that in reading, writing and spelling was very marked.
The Winter term of six weeks was under the instruction of Miss Bell E. Gowen of this town, whose reputation as a success- ful teacher is so well known in many of our school districts. Her efforts here were rewarded by good improvement on the part of the scholars attending the school, especially for so short a term.
DISTRICT No. 5 .- PATRICK DRURY, Agent.
The Spring term of twelve weeks in this district, was taught by Miss Cora E. Gilman of Portsmouth, N. H., this being her first experience in teaching. This term was not visited near its close, but when visited at the commencement, it was judged to give promise of fair results.
The Fall and Winter terms of twelve weeks each were under the iustruction of Mr. John O. Roberts of this town. Having a clear and accurate knowledge of the studies taught and an apt faculty of imparting that knowledge to others, Mr. Roberts gave the pupils attending this school the advantage of good teaching. They were interested in their studies, observed excellent order, and as a result, the school under his management was highly profitable.
ATTENDANCE.
Spring Term, Whole No. 24, Average, 21. Fall 66 66 66 66 37.
66 40.
Winter
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DISTRICT No. 6 .- SAMUEL H. PERKINS, Agent.
rhe school in this district has been in operation two terms Spring nine weeks and Fall twelve weeks, both under the instruc- ion of Miss Rose B. Libby of this town, who taught this school last year. Miss Libby performed her duties with much care and fidelity, securing great interest on the part of the scholars in their school exercises, and fully sustained the good reputation as a teacher which she gained in this district the previous year. Im- provement in all branches was clearly noticeable.
ATTENDANCE. Spring Term, Whole No. 12. Average, 11. Fall 6: 66 66 14. 66 12
DISTRICT No. 7 .- LEONARD EMERY, Agent.
Miss Bell E. Gowen, of this town, who is a successful teacher, · had charge of the Spring term it being eight weeks in length. The discipline of the school was good, and the teacher's manner of imparting instruction was marked by its efficiency; and as a result the progress made in all studies, especially in arithmetic was ·excellent.
The Fall term of ten weeks was taught by Miss Fannie A. Grant, of this town, who is also successful in the teacher's voca- tion. She applied herself with industry to the duties of the school-room, securing good order and giving needed aid to pupils in their class exercises by plain and direct instruction. The pro- gress made in all studies taught was approved, while that in read- ing and arithmetic was unusually good.
ATTENDANCE. Spring Te.im, Whole No. 11. Average 9. Fall . 11. 10
DISTRICT No. S .- JOHN C. BUNKER, Agent.
The Spring term of seven weeks was taught by Miss Hattie M. Bunker of this town. The school was smaller than usual at this- time of the year. But the teacher was anxious to do the best she could for those attending, and they made fair progress for so short a term, more especially in reading.
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For the Winter term of thirteen weeks, Mr. Daniel W. Spencer of this town so well known in former years as a popular and success- ful teacher, was engaged. Much interest was displayed by the . scholars in their school duties. The teacher secured excellent government, gave apt and timely instruction and the improvement in all branches was highly satisfactory.
ATTENDANCE.
Spring Term, Whole No. 15. Average, 12. Winter “ 66 28. 20.
DISTRICT No. 9 .- CHARLES H. GOODRICH, Agent.
There have been two terms in this district the past year. The · Fall term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Lizzie E. Goodrich of this town, a teacher of experience and having more than ordi- nary attainments for successful school-room work. And this term was marked by good order, scholars interested in their studies and by decided improvement, particular mention being made of read- ing, spelling and arithmetic.
The Winter term was taught by Mr. Stephen D. Lord, of Leba- non, who has had a long and successful experience as a teacher in district schools, and it is enough to say that at this term he gave his pupils the full benefit of his excellent methods of teaching and government. Progress in all studies was satisfactory; reading and arithmetic especially so.
ATTENDANCE.
Fall Term, Whole No. 13. Average, 11. Winter “ 66 18. 15.
DISTRICT No. 10 .- CHARLES S. HUSSEY, Agent.
The Spring term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Millie L. Tebbetts of this town. In knowledge of books and aptness to teach, Miss Tebbetts is well qualified. She entered upon her duties desirous to succeed. - The school under her care was in good order, well classed and interested in study, and progressed finely, notabiy so in reading and arithmetic.
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The Fall term of ten weeks and Winter term of eleven weeks were under the instruction of Miss Ella M. Fogg of Limerick, who came unusually well recomended. Having fine literary ac- quirements and natural fitness to teach, Miss Fogg secured the con- fidence of her scholars and created among them great interest in all their school exercises. The best of order was observed, and the teacher, in conducting recitations was prompt and clear in giving explanations. The progress made at both terms was high- ly commendable.
ATTENDANCE.
Spring Term, Whole No. 18. Average, 12. Fall 66 66 26. 23. Winter 66 6: 66 18. 14.
DISTRICT No. 11 .- SAMUEL B. ABBOTT, Agent.
In this district, during the past year there have been a Fall term of ten weeks and a Winter term of eight weeks, both taught by Mrs. Sadic E. Thompson of South Berwick. The teacher applied herself diligently to her duties. The school was orderly and studi- ous, and the improvement made in all studies good; that in read- ing and arithmetic was especially noticed.
DISTRICT No. 12 .- ANDREW GRANT, Agent.
The school in this district has been in session only at the Winter term, of twelve weeks and that term was under the instruction of Miss Fannie A. Grant of this town, who taught the Fall term in in district No. 7, and the same profitable results attended her la- bors here as in that school.
DISTRICT No. 13. - EZRA GOODRICH, Agent.
A Spring term of seven weeks and a short Fall terin have been taught in this district by Miss Emma C. Smith of this town. The school was small, but the teacher tried to make its exercises inter- esting, and the scholars made good progress.
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During the past year the most of the schools have progressed in a very satisfactory manner. ' There have been but few terms that have not accomplished all that could be expected. The teachers have worked faithfully to do their duty, and if there have been some failures to secure the best results, the same can always be said of all departments of human efforts.
The attendance at the Winter terms of many schools, has been greatly reduced by sickness.
The action of the Legislature in annexing that part of the town South of the old Boston and Maine Railroad to South Ber- wick, takes two whole school districts, numbers two and five. The school population of these districts has varied in the past few years from about 140 to 170; the last year it was 168. The sum of $462,00 was apportioned to those two districts out of the amount of school money raised by the town. The balance of the money apportioned to these districts was from the school funds received from the school funds received from the State. But as the amount received for schools from the State has been decreasing, and next year will undoubtedly be a fifth less than it was the past year, it is recommended that the amount of money raised for schools remain as at present.
The schools in the smaller districts need enough to secure at least 20 to 25 weeks of school, which they at present do not get. And the Sullivan School District, also requires more money to maintain its schools and pay all the teachers adequate wages. In relation to the smaller districts, it may be said that, upon the whole, they have reached a point as small in numbers as they will be likely to, and that they will now begin to increase. They all have suitable school houses, and are so situated that the schools maintained in their respective limits, is almost the only dependence of the youth residing in them for obtaining an education. During the past year many of these schools have been only 16 to 20 weeks in length. They should be from 20 to 25 at the least.
As to the Sullivan District, it is urged that the growth of the village within its limits, brings increasing wants for its schools Most of the scholars attending the schools here leave the school at quite an early age. It is then important to have the schools in this district, sustained in the best manner in order that this
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large class of scholars may be the best fitted for the duties of so far as an education is concerned, in the time they do remain in the school,;
It is therefore, recommended that the sum of $2500,00 be raised for the support of schools during the coming year.
In closing this report, the undersigned returns his thanks to the teachers of the schools for the past year for all courtesies extend -. ed to him in the performance of his duties, and more especially does he thank them for all their efforts to discharge faithfully their important trusts. He also thanks the scholars for the marked interest they have taken in the exercises of their several schools, commends to them the language of an other: "Wisdom is better than riches. Wisdom guards thee, but thou dost guard thy riches. Riches diminish in the using; but wisdom increases in the use of it."
Respectfully submitted,
BERWICK, March, 1881.
E. H. HAYES, Supervisor.
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