USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Milford > Annual reports of the Town officers of Milford, New Hampshire, 1920-1921 > Part 4
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The replacement of books which, from constant use, wear out, is a great item at our library. Today books are much more expensive than ever before. All papers, books and magazines are much more costly. The re- binding is an additional item which has to be met each year and each year it is a larger expense. The yearly wear and tear upon volumes of value is especially noted in increasing ratio when a library reaches its twentieth year.
These facts, together with the more important fact of retaining the services of our librarian and her assist- ant, will require a larger appropriation by the town than formerly called for by the trustees. If we are to main- tain the library with its present force and maintain the former standard of efficiency, we recommend that $2,250 be appropriated at the annual town meeting in March, 1920.
Respectfully submitted, EMORY D. HEALD, ELLA M. POWERS, B. F. PRESCOTT,
Trustees.
77
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Milford Free Library:
I herewith present the report of the Milford Free Library for the year ending January 31, 1920.
The library has been open 302 days for eight hours each day except Saturdays when it was open eight and a half hours.
The circulation has been 35,582, an average of 117 a day. This is an increase of 3,417 over that of last year ; but it is not back to what it was before the war.
If it were possible to keep separate the circulation of the adult and juvenile departments, our citizens would · be able to realize better the work of the library with . the children, and understand more fully the benefit their children are getting from this public storehouse. This work can be vastly increased when we have a suitable childrens' room. We have 1574 exclusively juvenile books. Where the books are in such constant circula- tion, there is continual need of replacement as well as buying of new books. This is done as far as possible with our present amount of money. Books in the juv- enile line are increasing in price as fast as in every other branch.
If the parents would enforce on their children the necessity of taking good care of library books, it would prolong the life and usefulness, as well as the sightliness of many books in that department. There is a stringent law on the statute books of New Hampshire against de- facing or mutilating in any form the property of public libraries.
In the buying of books this last year, the endeavor has been to add to our library such books on the voca- tions as seemed would be of service in our community. We could not buy all we wished, as we could not cripple one department for another. These books have been
78
displayed near the charging desk, and have seemed to give satisfaction. We should be glad to have our pa- trons suggest books in the line of the trades, which they think would be.of service to them, and if possible we will procure them.
The typewriter, which was the one improvement add- ed to our facilities for work this year, we appreciate and hope to make very serviceable.
An unusual number of books have been discarded, as we withdrew many of the obsolete books in the arts and trades to make room for those more modern.
We received from the estate of Mrs. C. E. Lilly thirty- two books, and have had given to us from other sources thirty-eight.
In regard to the increasing cost of books, I will quote from an article in the last Library Journal. "A book appropriation which has not increased by 30 percent . in the last two years has been going backward. Further increase in book manufacturing costs which recent fig- becoming operative and this means still higher prices in 1920. While fiction has generally increased from $1.40 list to $1.75 list in two years, and reprint fiction from 6oc to 85c, this does not represent the full percentage of increase in bok manufacturing costs which recent fig- ures have shown to be a little over 60 per cent in only two years. The making of library budgets will need to recognize this condition unless circulation figures are to suffer from lack of sufficient supplies."
ANNABELL C. SECOMBE, Librarian.
-
79
RESOURCES
Number of bound volumes at beginning of year :
Adult 11,922, Juvenile 1,533, Total 13,455
Number of bound volumes added by purchase : Adult 201, Juvenile 168, Total 369
Number of bound volumes added by gift : Adult 58, Juvenile 3, Total 61
Federal, state, and town documents added : Adult 9, Juvenile o, Total 9
Number of volumes of magazines added by
binding : Adult 35, Juvenile 4, Total 39
Total Adult 12,225, Juvenile 1,708, Total 13,933
Deduct number of volumes lost or dscarded : Adult 199, Juvenile 134, total 333
Total number of volumes at end of year : Adult 12,026, Juvenile 1,574, Total 13,600
Number of magazines and newspapers currently received : 64
.
Number of pamphlets on file : 2,97I
SERVICE
Number of volumes of non-fiction lent
10,154
Number of volumes of fiction lent 25,428
Number of unbound magazines lent
2,474
Total circulation for current year 35,582
Number of new borrowers added during the year 223
Total number of borrowers 2,072
NUMBER AND CLASS OF BOOKS USED
Class
Number
P.C.
General works, including magazines
2474
7.00
Philosophy
64
.18
Religion
209
.59
Sociology
I535
4.3I
Philology
7
.02
Natural Science
416
1.17
Useful Arts
561
1.60
80
Fine Arts
305
.90
Fiction
25,428
71.00
Literature
1929
5.42
Geography and Travels
955
3.00
Biography
45I
1.30
History
1248
3.5I
35,582
100
CONTRIBUTORS TO READING ROOM
Chase, Miss Hannah
Periodicals 2
Christian Science Church
I
French, W. F.
I
"
Barber, H. H. Co.
I
Hodgman, Miss Charlotte
I
"
International Correspondence School
I
Luce, C. L.
I
McCrellis Mrs. Sarah
I
Milford Chapter D. A. R.
I
New Hampshire Anti-Saloon League
I
Rotch, W. B.
I
Seaverns,George B.
I
Stickney, Ernest M.
I
Whitehead, W. E.
I
Winslow, Miss C.
I
Wilton Home Missionary Society
I
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY
I Bound Volume
"
"
Bankers' Trust
I
Friend
20
"
„
Kendall, Mrs. Gertrude
4
Lilly, Estate of Mrs. C. E.
2
State of New Hampshire
S
"
"
Studebaker Corporation
I
"
United States
3
,
"
"
"
"
"
Armour, J. Ogden
"
"
"
"
81
Brown University
I Pamphlet
Dartmouth College
I
New Hampshire College
I
Renssaelaer Polytechnic Institute State Normal School, Plymouth
I
Concord Library
I
Derry Library
I
Nashua Library
I
Peterborough Library
I
Providence Library
I
Wilton Library
I
LIST OF PERIODICALS IN READING ROOM AND IN CIRCULATION
Ambition
Granite Monthly
American Boy
Harpers' Magazine Independent
American Magazine
Illustrated World
Atlantic Monthly
LaFicallo
Bird Lore
Leslie's Weekly
Boston Herald
Life
Boys' Life
Literary Digest
Building Age
Little Folks
Century
Liberty McCall's Magazine
Christian Register
Christian Science Herald
Manchester Union
Christian Science Journal Milford Cabinet
Christian Science Monitor Missionary Review Country Gentleman Motor Munsey Current History D. A. R. Magazine Nashua Telegraph Deliniator
Educational Review
Everybody's Magazine Forum
General Federation Mag.
Good Housekeeping
Nat. Geographic Magazine
New Hampshire Issue North American Review Our Dumb Animals
Outlook Outing
"
I
"
"
"
American City
82
Pictorial Review Popular Mechanics Photo, Era
School Scribner's Magazine
Railroad Trainman
Survey War Work Bulletin
Red Cross Bulletin
Watchman
Review of Reviews
World's Work
St. Nicholas
Youth's Companion
Saturday Evening Post
Scientific American
New England Kurn Hattin Homes
Scientific Am. SupplementAmerican Fruit Grower
83
REPORT OF TREASURER OF MILFORD FREE LIBRARY
Receipts
Cash on Hand $
18 83
Town of Milford Appropriation 1,700 00
Town of Milford Special appropriation for Soldiers' Photo Cabinet
100 00
Interest on Trust Funds 257 78
Fines, sale of Town Histories, books and old paper 205 86
$2,282 47 .
Disbursements
Salary of Librarian
660 00
Salary of Assistant Librarian
457 50
Books purchased 545 95
Magazine and periodical subscriptions 143 35
Binding
94 65
Supplies
64 27
Electric Light
78 52
Town Water
II 00
Postage 2 60
Repairs and Renewals 19 10
Flowers for Mrs. Gunnison's Funeral 5 34
Soldiers' Photograph Cabinet :
Circulars sent Soldiers 2 00
Hinges for Cabinet I2 00
Photograph Cabinet
86 00
100 00
Accounts paid by Librarian :
Janitor and cleaning 74 87
Express 5 53
Postage 3 95
Magazine I 30
Labor
2 45
84
Supplies
2 40
Post Office Box
4 00
Balance
94 50
5 69
$2,282 47
Respectfully submitted, BENJ. F. PRESCOTT, Treasurer.
-
Report of the Trust Funds of the Milford Free Library for the Year Ending January 31, 1920
Date of Creation
Trust Funds-Purpose of Creation
How Invested
- Amount of
Rate | Balance of In- of come beginn- ing of Year |Principal Interest
Income | During Year
Expended During Year
Bal. of Income at End of Year
1890
Ezra M. Gay-Gen. fund[ $4000 Town Milford 31/2 note for Library [$1100 4th U. S. Lib. bond
5100 00
31/2
000 00
175 00
175 00
00 00
1892|Nancy Averill, General Fourth U. S. Liberty bonds fund for Library
100 00
41/4
000 00
3 50
3 50
00 00
1913 Alice C. Gray, Pur. of Fourth U. S. Liberty bonds scholars books for [ the Library
250 00
41/4
1
Jan,13'13 Marinda A. Smith, Gen |Town Milford water bond fund for Library
1000 00
4
1
4
000 00
20 00
20 00
00 00
Feb. 15, '13 Esther M. Thompson, Town Milford school bond | Gen. fund for library . Jan 14'07 Dorcas Peabody, child- Granite savings bank, Mil.
683 67
31/2
23 90
24 74
00 00
48 64
- rens room in library Jan 14,'07|Mary Ann Peabody, [ child. room in library |
Granite savings bank, Mil.
683 67
31/2
23 90
24 74
00 00
48 64
1
1
41/4 |
9 50
9 78
19 28
00 00
000 00
40 00
40 00
00 00
500 00
-
1
87
MILFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD James Thorne Young, Chairman, Blanche A. Bruce Arthur B. Rotch, Clerk
DISTRICT TREASURER Maurice G. Jewett .
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Harold C. Bales
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS W. H. W. Hinds, M. D. H. S. Hutchinson, M. D. J. H. Proctor, M. D.
SCHOOL NURSE Miss Charlotte A. Smith
TRUANT OFFICER John Reidle, Tel. 130
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I Report of School Board II Report of Superintendent of Schools
III Report of Headmaster of High School
IV Report of Supervisor of Music V District Treasurer's Report
VI Reports of Enrollment, Teachers, Medical Inspec- tion, Budget, Estimated Income, etc.
88
REPORT OF SCHOOL BOARD.
In April, 1919, subsequent to the annual district meeting a year ago, the state legislature passed the so- called Educational bill, and all schools in the state have since then been conducted under the new law. It has had a considerable effect on Milford schools, particularly in regard to finances, which could not have been fore- seen in March last year.
In May, 1919, the death of Mrs. Ellen G. Gunnison removed a valued member of the school board. Mrs. Blanche A. Bruce was appointed to fill Mrs. Gunnison's unexpired term, to March, 1920.
In August Superintendent A. W. Smith resigned to go to Rochester. Harold C. Bales was nominated by the Union District, and was subsequently appointed by the state board of education. In the Union District Brook- line has this year taken the place of Hollis.
The most drastic changes which the new state law had made for Milford are :
1. Deprived the district of the state aid for super- vision and required Milford to pay a two-dollar-a-head tax for all pupils registered.
2. Deprived the district of the Literary fund formerly paid by the state.
3. Made new laws for transportation of pupils, so requiring Milford to spend some $2500 more for this item than was anticipated last year.
The new law, therefore, which was not in effect at the last meeting has deprived the district of about $1000 of estimated income, and has added about $2500 to ex- pense of transportation.
In two other items have expenditures considerably exceeded the estimate of last year ; fuel and teachers' salaries.
89
About $900 more was spent for coal than was es- timated. This was due in part to the extreme cold weather this winter ; and in part to a large purchase of fuel late in the fall when a strike of coal miners made it seem probable that unless purchased at once fuel might become unobtainable and the shortage close the schools in midwinter.
Teachers' salaries overran the estimate because in the spring schools were continued two extra weeks, making up for lost time in the influenza epidemic in the previous fall; and because the estimate was made in the belief that Septemeber, 1919, would find mostly new teachers in Milford schools. Fortunately more experi- enced teachers were secured than had been anticipated. The Milford scale of pay allows more to teachers of experience and long service.
Except for the above items the estimates made a year ago proved very accurate.
While depriving the towns of two substantial items of income, and adding materially to the local cost of supervision, the state law is designed to give material state aid to towns whose expense for support of ele- mentary schools exceeds the sum raised by a tax of five dollars on a thousand of valuation in the district.
In Milford, for the present year (Sept. 1919 to Sept. 1920) this item from the state should amount to $4000. Next year, it is reasonable to suppose, it will be fully as large.
The state has refused to pay this money to districts which are not appropriating the entire amount of money at the March meeting needed to, carry the schools to a year from the following September.
Milford has not so appropriated. A year ago there seemed to be little or no advantage in so appropriating.
Though the state department at first gave Milford no encouragement to expect the state aid this year it now seems possible at this date (Feb. 10) that the state
90
will grant Milford's aid on condition that at this March meeting the district finances its school to correspond with the legal fiscal year, September to September.
The school board has assured the state board that Milford would undoubtedly do so, in consideration of the large sum to which we are entitled.
It is not the schol board's intention to publish a re- view of the school year. Many items of information usually incorporated in the board's report are to be found in the report of the superintendent, including estimates of money needed for next year, and also for the balance of this fiscal year.
The estimates for teachers' salaries include an ad- vance of 20 per cent, effective from Feb. I, and for a somewhat higher scale next year.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES T. YOUNG, ARTHUR B. ROTCH, BLANCHE A. BRUCE,
School Boarc.
91
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Board of Milford :
I herewith submit my first annual report and the fifteenth since supervision was established.
Teachers
This subject is by far the most important matter educationally at the present time because there is a serious shortage of trained teachers and a more serious shortage of teachers about to enter training. The reason lies in the matter of salaries and it is imperative that salaries be 'materially increased or the usual changes from year to year will give us increasingly inferior teachers or no teachers at all. It was reported at a meeting of Superintendents at Durham, on Dec. 29, that fifty schools in New Hampshire were then closed through lack of teachers. And that in all probability, the turn over of teachers during the coming summer would re- quire from 400 to 500 recruits, while the normal schools would graduate next June less than 100. Our neighbor- ing states can furnish no material. We must make it worth while for New Hampshire girls to enter the pro- fession.
What is the situation about salaries? As Commis- sioner Butterfield so clearly stated at a recent Teachers' Institute in Nashua, there are three elements which con- stitute a teacher's salary. They are :
Financial return or wages.
Popular respect.
Inner satisfaction.
Wages should be sufficient for every teacher to live and be well dressed ; to keep abreast of the times profes- sionally through books, magazines and advanced study ; and finally to provide a thrift wage against old age or other incapacity. No, fixed amount in dollars can be stated as costs vary in different localities.
92
Fopular respect means public sympathy and support that is alert to recognize and reward deserving teachers in other ways than by money alone. Popular respect comes only when the value of education and the dignity of teaching is appreciated. Popular respect manifests it- self in many ways: it provides comfortable homes, it searches out the teacher at her work, it regards teach- ers as assets in the social life of the community, it en- courages boys and girls to become teachers if they are fit. But it dies the moment that interest drops-that moment when the other fellow becomes the doer. Teach- ers on their side cannot expect full measure of popular respect unless they are worth it at all times.
Inner satisfaction or power is ever present in the teacher who likes to teach and knows how, but rarely exists in those who are marking time in the profession until some other job turns up. No encouragement should be given to incompetent or unprepared candi- dates for appointment or reelection.
Money is not all and will not alone solve the prob- lem of shortage of teachers. There must be an increase in all three elements of the teacher's salary-wages, popular respect, and inner satisfaction-until the teach- ing profession attracts and holds the best minds in the country. For just as the training of experts in war was the key to victory, so education of both native born and foreign born is the key to Americanization.
Gifts
The executors of the estate of Mrs. C. E. Lilly have . presented to the schools a large number of her books and magazines including many professional books for teachers. This collection is much appreciated and is being used with pleasure and profit.
An interested friend of the high school has given some chemicals and pieces of apparatus for the chemi- cal laboratory. Especially valuable in this gift is a bal-
93
ance. To both donors is extended the thanks of the schools.
The New Hampshire School Law of 1919. Finances.
These two subjects will be considered together, as they are closely allied. The law will not be quoted in full, but certain sections will be mentioned and discussed.
Section 9 states in effect that after Sept. 1, 1919, all school districts in the state shall be under supervision. The several school boards of districts forming super- visory unions together constitute a joint board which board nominates the superintendent. The state board then employs him and fixes the minimum salary (now $2000.) Any union may add to this minimum, in which case one half the excess is paid by the state and one half is pro-rated to the districts in the union by the joint board.
The Milford supervisory union is now composed of the school districts of Amherst, Brookline, Milford and Mont Vernon. Joint expenses consist of one half the excess salary of the superintendent ($200), salary of superintendent's clerk ($400), and office expenses, ($24), all as voted by the joint board in August 1919. Ot these amounts Amherst pays one fourth, Brookline one sixth,; Milford one half, and Mont Vernon one twelfth.
Section 12 states that the superintendent shall nom- inate and school boards elect, all teachers, and that su- perintendents shall direct the work of these teachers.
Sections 14, 15 and 16 require that every school district in which reside or are employed 15 or more per- sons between the ages of 16 and 21 years, or in which reside or are employed 20 or more persons above the age of 21 years who can not read and speak the Eng- lish language understandingly, shall maintain an evening or special day school. Milford must therefore conduct an evening school, and is so doing. This school :, a continuation of the school conducted during 1918 and
94
1919 and is supplying a real need, with three classes for men and one for women.
Section 20, amending public statutes Chapter 92, states : "The district shall furnish transportation to all pupile below the ninth grade who live more than two miles from the school to which they are assigned, or it may, with the consent of the pupils' parents provide board for them in some suitable home near the school. Pupils who are to be transported may be required to walk any reasonable part, not exceeding one mile, of the distance from their homes to the school. The school board may furnish transportation to pupils in grades above the eighth or to any pupils residing less than two miles from the school to which they are assigned when it finds that this is desirable, and shall furnish it when directed by the commissioner of education."
Under this law the transportation problem both from the point of view of expense and difficulty, has increased 500 per cent over estimates of a year ago. It must be recognized that a considerable sum expended for trans- portation may actually be less than would be expended should another school room be opened with all the at- tending expense.
Section 21 amends Public Statutes, Chapter 88, to read: "The selectmen in each town shall assess an an- nual tax of three dollars and fifty cents on each thousand dollars of the value of the ratable estate taxable therein for the support of the public schools."
"The school board of each district in its annual report shall state in detail the additional sums of money, if any, which will be required during the ensuing fiscal year for the support of the public schools, for the purchase of text books scholars' supplies, flags and appurtenances, *** ** and for the payment of all other statutory obliga- tions of the district. The selectmen of the town in their next annual assessment shall assess upon the taxable property of the district a sum sufficient to meet the ob-
95
ligations above enumerated, with such alterations thereof as may be voted by the district, and when collected shall pay the same over to the district treasurer."
Section 22 states : "In any district in which the money produced by a tax of five dollars on a thousand dollars of the value of the ratable estates in the district is in- sufficient to maintain the required elementary and spec- ial schools, and to purchase the required text books, scholars' supplies, flags and appurtenances, the state board shall provide the balance of the money necessary from the money appropriated for that purpose by the provisions of this act. In districts so aided the state board, acting through the local school board, shall ad- minister all money available for the maintenance of the public schools and shall account for the money raised by the districts as well as that furnished by the state."
Section io states: "Each school district in the state shall pay to the state treasurer on or before December I in each year, as its share of the expense incident to state- wide supervision of the public schools, a sum equal to, two dollars for each child residing in the district who was enrolled in the public schools in the last preceding school year, and the selectmen shall annually assess up- on the value of the ratable estate of the district a sum sufficient for this purpose."
This means that the school board reports the number of children registered to the selectmen, who assess this two-dollar tax without vote of the school district.
Laws of 1909, Chap. 22, state: "At its annual meet- ing each school district shall determine and appoint the salaries of its school board and truant officer. Truant officers or agents appointed by school boards are re- quired annually in September to make enumeration of children.
Laws of 1917, state: "The fiscal year of town and special school districts beginning February 16, 1917, shall end August 31, 1918, and thereafter the fiscal year
94
1919 and is supplying a real need, with three classes for men and one for women.
Section 20, amending public statutes Chapter 92, states : "The district shall furnish transportation to all pupile below the ninth grade who live more than two miles from the school to which they are assigned, or it may, with the consent of the pupils' parents provide board for them in some suitable home near the school. Pupils who are to be transported may be required to walk any reasonable part, not exceeding one mile, of the distance from their homes to the school. The school board may furnish transportation to pupils in grades above the eighth or to any pupils residing less than two miles from the school to which they are assigned when it finds that this is desirable, and shall furnish it when directed by the commissioner of education."
Under this law the transportation problem both from the point of view of expense and difficulty, has increased 500 per cent over estimates of a year ago. It must be recognized that a considerable sum expended for trans- portation may actually be less than would be expended should another school room be opened with all the at- tending expense.
Section 21 amends Public Statutes, Chapter 88, to read: "The selectmen in each town shall assess an an- nual tax of three dollars and fifty cents on each thousand dollars of the value of the ratable estate taxable therein for the support of the public schools."
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