USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Conway > Annual report of the officers of the town of Conway, New Hampshire, for the fiscal year ending 1905 > Part 3
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In the north part of the School District several changes have left their mark upon the schools of this part of the town, the greatest change being, of course, the substitution of a new steam heat plant for the old worthless furnace at No. 8, and a new system of closets placed there by the sanitary committee appointed at the last school meeting. The sanitary conditions at No. 8 were so bad that this committee considered immediate action necessary, and the school was by that means suspended for one week while the substitution was made. Later in the season the steam heating plant was installed, the committee realizing that it would be impossible to maintain a school during the past winter withont some new heating arrangement. The water supply proved insufficient, and a larger pipe was laid from the street, and an arrangement for the drinking water es- tablished on the first floor instead of in the basement with the closets as before.
So now we can say that the sanitary condition of the school-house at No. 8, which has caused the people of Conway so much anxiety, is of the very best. And in the ensuing year the same can be said of the school-house as a whole except that the four windows for the south side of the building asked for in last year's report are still needed, as in the short winter days the intermediate and grammar rooms are dark before closing time. The teachers have not been obliged to close the school for a day or a part thereof as a result of smoke or lack of heat, and this is something that has not happened for some time past. The School Board are of the opinion that the people of
47
TOWN OF CONWAY.
Conway should unite in their approval of the improvement made, where it was evident that if school kept improvement must be made, by appropriating whatever sum may be necessary to reimburse this committee for the money expended in making such improvements. The old furnaces were sold and the money turned into the town treasury.
The tax-payers of the School District, by referring to re- ports of past years, will find that a greater or less sum has been paid the principal for janitor work, and the sweeping has been done in any way that was found most convenient by the teachers themselves, or not done at all. As a result the build- ing was not properly taken care of ; and those who have exam- ined the furnaces and assume to know, say that their condition was largely due to improper care; hence the School Board thought that, as a man could be employed for slightly more than had been paid the teacher, giving his whole attention to the work, and better results be obtained as to the condition of the building and in the teaching, if the principal's attention was not divided as heretofore, it would be wise to employ a janitor, as has been done, and the condition of the building at this time with respect to its care, as compared with last spring, will amply demonstrate this, as anyone who has visited the schools at both time can bear us out in saying.
The roof of the school-house at No. 15 was found to be in such bad shape last fall that every rain meant the drenching out of one or more scholars from their seats, so the roof was newly shingled from the general repair fund.
The ceiling at the McMillan school-house is in very bad shape, the plastering being off in several places, and the rest is nearly all loose or hanging. Now it seems to the Board, and we recommend that this ceiling be papered and sheathed with- out removing the plastering ; in this way doing away with future mason work and making the building all the warmer. It has been estimated that it would cost, labor and material, complete, not exceeding and possibly less than $80. Also there is no opportunity for the scholars going to this school to procure drinking water. In the past, during the summer while school was in session, water has been obtained from a spring on the side of the hill opposite the school-house, or from the Tucker watering trough; but now the spring has gone dry, and the watering trough is closed the greater part of the school year. It would seem that some provision should be made for drink- ing water.
There has been but little change in the corps of teachers in this part of the town ; those who have served us in the past and been retained this year have certainly given us their best . fforts, resulting in efficiency and satisfaction. And as to the new ones engaged, they have proved most satisfactory. At
48
ANNUAL REPORT
the close of the last spring term the grammar room at No. 8 was in a demoralized condition : discipline was practically un- known ; but under the principalship of Mr. Dinsmore it has de- veloped into a school of which the School District may well feel proud. The Board were obliged to pay Mr. Dinsmore more than had formerly been paid for a principal here, namely $13, but considering the results obtained, we think the additional expenditure a good investment.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Considered as a whole, the schools of Conway are a credit to the town. They are steadily improving from year to year ; still the standard of school work is far from being all that is desired. The age is one of rapid advancement, and our public schools must keep abreast with the progress of the times. The old notion that anyone can "keep school" is fast disappearing from the minds of thoughtful people.
Education has practically been reduced to a science, and mere scholarship is not sufficient intellectual outfit for the teacher's work. A diploma, faithfully carned, does much to make a good teacher, as it does to make a good physician or a good lawyer ; but few employ a physician or a lawyer who has not added to his general training some special training for his profession. Is it unreasonable to apply the same rule in the selection of teachers? Certainly, a careful and systematic study of the laws of mind with reference to mental growth will enable a person to deal more wisely with the perplexing prob- lems of child-life that are constantly presenting themselves to a teacher for solution. The teacher needs to know not only the subjects taught but how to present them to the young minds, and therefore cannot be too highly cultivated. The work of the teacher is too closely related to the welfare of the com- munity to be passed by with a simple comment. Every citizen has a right to know, and should know by personal ac- quaintance, who our teachers are, what their habits are, and what influence they exert over the pupils. Not everyone who secures a school necessarily teaches : "IIe alone teaches who is a teacher." Emerson replied to his daughter's question of what she should study, that it made no difference what she studied ; the question was with whom she studied. When our citizens are awake to the fact that the teacher is the soul of the school, and that the school is the safeguard of the State, they will see to it that none but true and inspiring men and women long hold such a position of trust in the community. The somewhat common idea that the teacher's work is confined to the few hours the school is in session is far from true ; many of our teachers are engaged from early morning until late at night with the work of their schools. They frequently deny them-
49
TOWN OF CONWAY.
selves social pleasures in order to satisfy the demands of the school. Such teachers have made our schools what they are to- day, and are deserving of words of commendation from the School Board, parents, and all interested in the welfare of the town. To know that their work is appreciated will give them new energy and inspiration.
We desire to thank the teachers who have labored so faith- fully for the best interests of the schools for their many kind- nesses and words of encouragement that have rendered our work with them so pleasant.
In closing, we wish to thank the tax-payers for the support they have given the public schools in the past ; we feel that they are loyal to the interests, and willing to be taxed liberally for their support. The past school year has been one of 32 weeks. While we should be glad to have the year lengthened by one or two weeks, in order that the work of the pupils as laid out by our course of study may be thoroughly done and the reten- tion of our best teachers guaranteed, we do not desire to in- crease excessively the burden of taxes by asking for too much demanding too many changes in a single year. Our only de- sire in this respect is to give the people of Conway just as good schools as possible for the amount of money they feel able to expend upon them. We hope that no less than twenty-five hundred dollars above that required by law will be appropri- ated. The average cost per week for teachers. transportation. and janitor work has been two hundred dollars. It is not prob- able that it will be any less the coming year.
We presume the tax-payers will notice the overdraft of thirty dollars. It was a question with the Board whether they should give all schools an additional week the past winter terin or have a balance in the treasury of the difference between $30 and $200. We felt it only just to pupils and teachers to con- tinue the schools.
We desire to express our obligations to all for their continued support and co-operation.
Respectfullly submitted, ABBIE M. D. BLOUIN. CHARLES P. BUZZELL, ARTHUR E. KENISON, School Board.
STATISICAL TABLE.
Name and Number of school.
Length of school in weeks of
No. of pupils enrolled.
Average No. belonging to
Average daily attendance.
No. of pupils not absent of
No. visits by school board.
No. of visits by parents and
No. pupils under 6 years of
No. pupils over 16 years of
No. of cases of tardiness.
Wages per week,
No. scholars between 5 and
16 years of age reported by enumerator.
East, No. 1, ..
......
.
32
22
14
3
6
16
2
1
13
$7 00
18
Potter, No. 3,.
Center Primary, No. 4, ..
31
48
43
38
8
37
6
57
10 00
1
Center Grammar, No. 4,
31
33
28
26
4
8
23
5
12
11 00
West, No. 6,
31
38
38
24
4
7
41
28
7 00
34
Echo Lake, No. 7,
30
18
18
9
2
30
12
5 00
10
North Conway Primary, No. 8,
30
53
52
31
3
8
36
11
9 00
North Conway Intermediate, No. 8, ..
30
12
42!
35
1
9
33
25
9 00
North Conway Grammar, No. 8,
31
55
48
16
9
35
1
55
11 00
Green Hill, No. 12, ...
31
13
12
11
1
6
22
1
1
35
6 00
12
Conway Primary, No. 13, ..
31
51
50
34
2
7
139
19
14
9 00
1
Conway Second Primary, No. 13.
31
. 39!
38
30
4 2
9
30
57
9 00
Conway Grammar, No. 13,.
31
35
33
26
3
6
43
4
76
11 00
McMillan, No. 14, ...
31
29
20
2
9
25
4
65
7 00
Kearsarge, No. 15,.
31
24
20
17
25
52
6 00
South, No. 16,
31
23
20
17
3
6
3
2
36
7 00
22
Redstone Primary, ..
31
43
40
35
2
9
8
6
94
9 60
-
3
35
30
25
2
7
8
120
9 00
75
Redstone Grammar,.
.
-
Total,.
550
643 5961
468
51 132 1678 65
74 1774 |$151 00
540
ANNUAL REPORT
50
·
6
116
9
9 00
>141
Conway Intermediate, No. 13, ..
31
331
30
i
·
five days.
school.
tardy.
and others.
age.
agc.
1
160
5
Public Library.
To Henry B. Cotton and Hiram H. Dow, Auditors of the town of Conway, I hereby respectfully submit an account of all money received and disbursed by me as Treasurer of the Trustees of the Conway Free Public Library for the fiscal year ending Feb. 15, 1905.
RECEIPTS.
Cash on hand Feb. 15, 1904, $30 29
Check from Town Treasurer July 25,
100 00
66 Nov. 8, 250 00
Jan. 30, 260 00
Cash from H. W. Berry for grass,
6 00
$646 29
DISBURSEMENTS.
Library bureau, $ 6 00
L. H. Hamblen, Librarian, 16 25
Geo. Flanders, shoveling snow off roof,
1 65
Mrs. Minnie Drown, labor,
3 00
HI. W. Berry, janitor,
49 59
L. H. Hamblen, Librarian,
32 50
Abbie M. D. Blouin, Center Conway,
25 00
Mrs. Sherman, Atlas,
5 75
H. W. Berry, janitor,
41 95
L. H. Hamblen, Librarian,
65 00
Geo. II. Neal, binding books,
34 35
B. F. Clark, lights to Dec. 1, '04,
46 67
Freight and cartage,
90
II. B. Fifiekl & Co., lamps,
7 40
Sawyer & Churchill, lamps,
2 00
Carlton & Thoms,
30
A. C. Kennett, coal and wood,
178 37
John B. Nash, books,
. 63 00
52 ANNUAL REPORT
James L. Gibson, lumber, 3 66
H. W. Berry, janitor to Feb. 15, '05, 47 56
L. H. Hamblen, in part, 15 39
$646 29
Respectfully submitted, SEWELL M. HOBSON, Treasurer Board Trustees.
AUDITORS' CERTIFICATE.
We, the undersigned, Auditors of the town of Conway, have examined the accounts of the Treasurer of the Conway Free Public Library. We find the accounts properly entered on the books and correctly footed, and proper vouchers for each and every item.
Conway, N. H., Feb. 23, 1905.
HENRY B. COTTON, HIRAM H. DOW,
Auditors.
-
Report of Librarian of Conway Branch
OF CONWAY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1904.
The year's work has been interesting, helpful, and in some directions encouraging. The circle of readers has been ex- tended, 83 new cards having been issued, while some old readers have moved away or dropped out. As is always the case in a Public Library, the circulation of books of fiction is the largest. The circulation for the year has been : 3403 fiction, 1333 juve- nile, 116 biography, 58 history, 65 travel, 9 religious, and 72 miscellaneous books ; making a total of 5056, a daily average of 48 16-105, as the Library was open 105 days. It will be noticed how large a proportion of the circulation is juvenile books. There has been a falling off in the circulation from 5548 to 5056. This is due almost if not entirely to lack of suitable books. No juvenile books, none of the up-to-date and popular books, have been added, except an occasional volume by some friend of the Library.
The Life of Lincoln by Ida M. Tarbell, a set of books, Makers of History, have been added and are much liked by one class of readers. A set of Poe's works and of Balzac's have also been added. The children and young people are being trained in the schools to like a good style of reading matter, and books are called for in connection with school work and studies. Our older readers, while most of them ask for fiction, want a good class of fiction, something readable and at the same time helpful.
Government, State, and City books have been given by Hon. C. A. Sulloway, Hon. J. H. Gallinger, Mr. Arthur II. Chase, State Librarian, Mr. E. N. Pearson, Secretary of State, and Dr. A. W. Burnham; books of fiction and other classes have been added by Mrs. S W. Abbott, Mrs. Anna Simmons, Mrs. S. P. Hodgkins, Mrs. S. C. Hill, Mrs. J. P. Brayton, Mrs. E. A. Fifield, Mrs. B. F. Clark, Mrs. Lucy Drew, Mrs. Junie Hill, Mrs. Ellen Bowles, Mrs. E. B. Carlton, Mrs. Abbie S.
54
ANNUAL REPORT
Merrill, Mr. J. H. Bridge, Mr. B. F. Clark, Mr. T. W. Sillo- way, and Mr. II. H. Jones.
Various additions have been made to the Curio depart- ment, the most valuable being the bust of Moliére, given by Mrs. Ira Atkinson, of Wakefield, Mass.
The usual list of friends have given magazines and papers to the Reading Room : Mrs. IT. B. Fifield, Mrs. Mary Redion. Mrs. A. C. Kennett, Mr. A. C. Kennett, Mr. O. C. Johnson, Mrs. Anna Simmons, Mr. C. E. Blanchard, Miss Winnie Blais- dell, Mrs. J. E. Potter, and The American Baptist Publishing Company.
The work of the new year has opened encouragingly. The World's Work, The Technical World, Success, Cosmopolitan, The Delineator, Epworth Herakl, Young People, and the daily papers are on the reading tables regularly, with occasional numbers of other magazines and papers. If we could have new books for the children and also the older readers, our circula- tion would be largely increased.
LOUISE II. HAMBLEN, Librarian.
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN OF FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY AT CONWAY CENTER.
It is very gratifying to be able to report that the interest in the Library has been unusually good throughout the year, especially among the youth. Lack of new material has caused the patronage of adults to drop in numbers. The reading table has been fairly well supplied, through kindness of friends. Mrs. J. E. Morrill subscribed for The Outlook for the year, Mrs. Nettie Hill subscribing for Success ; the librarian finding ways and means whereby Ladies' Home Journal, Good House- keeping, Review of Reviews, and Foor Track News were regu- larly received. Mr. and Mrs. Everett Thoits kindly supplied Everybody's Magazine and Munsey. At various times maga- zines have been given by Mrs. J. E. Morrill, Mrs. HI. S. Nich- ols, Mrs. T. P. Ivy, and Mrs. R. G. MeLoy. For each and all of these gifts we are very grateful.
During the past year the Trustees have purchased The Makers of History, thirty-two volumes, and People's Natural
-
55
TOWN OF CONWAY.
*
History, five volumes. The pupils and teachers of the public schools at Center Conway gave an entertainment at the close of the spring terin of school. The sum of twenty dollars was realized, which was expended for books for youth for the libra- ry, thirty volumes being purchased. Mrs. A. S. Stott very generously gave for the youngest readers twenty-one volumes, besides various papers and magazines. Gen. A. W. Greely gave one book, Richard S. Greenhalge one; Mrs. Anna M. Simmons, through Miss L. H. Hamblen. one book; Miss Isa- belle Wells, three books: Mrs. Blouin, two books, and with fines collected purchased seven books, making an addition of one hundred and three books during the year. We should also mention that Mrs. W. J. Comstock, Mrs. HI. S. Nichols, and Mrs. Annie B Lapham each contributed to the fund raised by the school children. To each and all who have, by their gifts, shown an interest in our library, we wish to extend our thanks again, and trust that their interest will still continue ..
The Public Library is coming more and more to be recognized . as a potent factor in school education. The skillful teacher uses it as an assistance in disciplining the school and a help in stirring up the minds of the dull boy or girl. She has on hand interesting and helpful books for the bright pupil who does his work in less than the allotted time, and suggests the best books to be read at home. Our teachers are fortunate in having the public library, and librarians who are interested in the reading for the young. We can all clearly see the relation between a school of readers and a reading community.
AL
To TOS SELACININ ?- In compilance with an act of the legislature passed June Session, 1887, requiring clerks of tonos poil eilles to furnish » transcript of the record of births, marriages, sod ileathe to ths munid' spal ofleere for publication in the .\nuuml Report, I hereby wibtalt the following:
BIRTH. REGINIEHED IX THE TOWY OF COXWAY, N. H. TOS TILE; YXAN ENDISHI DECZWECK 1, 101.
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DEATHA REGISTERED IN THE TONS NIF COXYAT, X 11_ FOR THE TRAB ENDING DECEMBER #, IAL
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN TITE TOWE IF COXWAT, 5.11. TOT TIE TEAN FXDIAD DECKNDER . IM
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