USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > Annual reports of the receipts and expenditures of the town of Salem, N.H. : for the year ending 1854-1870 > Part 23
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Richard Taylor, note in part,
800 00
Balance School House tax, Dis-
trict No. 6, 1866, 10 00
Joseph Webster, services as Au- ditor for 1866, 4 00
School District No 1, School
House tax, 75 00
Jesse Batchelder, sawing wood at Town House, 70
Mary R. Allen, note in part, 7 50
J. C. Ewins, one broom, 42
M. H. Taylor, services as Town Treasurer, and balance ser- vices as Selectman, 40 00
E. G. Duston, dinners for Town officers, 10 00
Geo. C. Gordon, balance services as Selectman, 1867, 14 00
E. O. Butler, note and interest, 316 55
J. C. Carey, balance services as Selectman in 1867, 10 00
Enoch Taylor, note and interest, 117 52
1,338 21
8
Paid Geo. C. Gordon, cash paid for din- ners for Town officers, 7 00
Geo. S. Merrill, printing Town Reports, Check List and Vouchers, 70 00
School House tax in District No. 8, in part, 150 00
Geo. Sumner, note and interest, 261 14
School House tax in District No. 7, in full, 20 00
Milton F. Austin, interest on note, Eliphalet Gage, for eleven bound stones between Salem and Methuen, 44 00
12 00
L. W. Chase, committee on hearse, 11 86
Jos. Buxton,
10 00
John Dix, sawing wood,
1 00
Mary R. Allen, interest on note,
6 55
Wm. G. Crowell, services as Moderator in 1867, 4 00
David Webster, interest on notes, 72 00
Isaac B. Corliss, note and interest, 277 98
O. F. Russ, services as Constable, 11 00
Enoch R. Morse, for safe, 450 00
Eliphalet Coburn, note and in- terest, 696 41
Manchester & Lawrence Rail-
road, freight on hearse, 9 40
County tax, 1,006 87
Richard Taylor, note and interest, 1,042 13 J. M. Emerson, interest on note, 92 00
Betsy Moulton, 66 13 50
J. L. Prince, 66 66 12 00
Wm. L. Stanton, 66 12 00
Hiram Cross, 66 12 76
L. P. E. Richards, services as auctioneer, 5 27
Mary A. Dustin, payment of note in part, 200 00
430 00
A. Tolman, hearse and covering, State tax, 2,781 25
Wm. H. Fisk, books and stationery, 33 84
9
Paid Willard W. Merrill, note and in- terest, 505 17
Benj. R. Wheeler, services as Town Clerk, 46 78
Chas. Lundberg, interest on note, Chas. H. Cole, services as Super- intending School Committee, Clinton Ewins, wood,
42 00
30 00
2 50
team to Lawrence, 1 50 Leroy Rogers, services as Town Clerk, 34 15
Abigail Austin, interest on note,
18 00
W. H. Woodbury, expense to pay State and County tax,
7 00
Joseph Webster, services as Au- ditor, 5 00
Wm. H. Woodbury, dicount on taxes, 493 40
George W. Rogers, services as School Committee, 35 00
Daniel Taylor, interest on note,
25 08
Wm. H. Woodbury, collecting taxes, 129 53
Wm. H. Woodbury, cash paid for printing tax bills, 8 00
Town of Methuen, for surveying line between Methuen and Salem,
15 00
Charles Austin, note in part, 800 00
Geo. C. Gordon, services as com- mittee to purchase safe and move same to Town House, 11 50 Geo. C. Gordon, services as com- mittee to purchase hearse, and cash paid out for ex- penses, 23 50
Geo. C. Gordon, services as Se- lectman, 104 50
J. C. Carey, services as Selectman, 103 64 Levi Cluff, 37 00
$14,208 73
10
PAID ON ACCOUNT OF ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
Paid A. E. Webster,
$3 12
John B. Pattee,
2 35
Moores Bailey,
1 31
Rollins Webster,
1 97
Richard Taylor,
1 00
John Lovering,
1 00
Wm. H. Woodbury,
122 60
Mary K. Emerson,
3 00
Wm. G. Crowell,
117 24
T. C. Adams,
5 00
Benj. H. Woodbury,
7 02
$265 61
PAID ON ACCOUNT OF ALMSHOUSE.
Paid John Hallowell, for three lbs. yarn, $3 75
S. D. Crowell, services as Superintendent of Almshouse from April 1, to Oct. 1, 1867, 162 50 Poor & Robinson, for meat, 6 92
E. Coburn, cash paid out for supplies, 17 65
Henry Wilbur, for one pair oxen,
220 00
Geo. C. Gordon, for supplies,
131 24
66 services as Overseer of Poor, 23 50
$565 56
CASH PAID FOR SUPPORT OF PAUPERS NOT AT ALMSHOUSE. Paid Eliphalet Gage, for boarding Nancy Parker one week, $2 00
Abner D. Gage, for boarding Naucy Parker 25 weeks to April 2, in full, 31 25
Benjamin P. Hoit, for board of Sam'l Moffit 26 weeks, in full to April 10, 1867, 52 00
Moses Rowell, for 26 weeks board of Sally Rowell, 26 00
11
Paid cash for one pair shoes, 1 37
Insane Asylum at Concord, for S. Howarth, 55 02
Eliphalet Gage, for board of Nancy Parker 26 weeks, 52 00
Mrs. Sarah F. Howarth, for board of Sarah F. Howarth, 12 37
Benjamin P. Hoit, for board of Sam'l Moffit 26 weeks, 52 00
for mending boots,
1 50
Taylor, Hill & Co., for goods delivered to Mrs. F. A. Garland, 8 29
E. G. Haynes, for boarding Frank L. and Harriet L. Hildreth, 40 12
5 37 J. C. Ewins, supplies to Mrs. H. L. Hildreth, Mrs. C. Clark, 2 65
S. D. Crowell, for supplies furnished Mrs. Hildreth, 3 47
S. D. Crowell, for supplies furnished Mrs. Garland, 5 58
Mrs. Sarah F. Howarth, for boarding Sarah F. Howarth, 12 00
Benj. E. Woodman, medical attendance on Sally Rowell, 2 87
J. C. Ewins, goods delivered to Mrs. F. A. Garland, 4 48
Geo. C. Gordon, goods delivered to Mrs. F. A. Garland, 42 73
J. T. Douglass, coffin for Mr. Benwire, 7 00
H. French, goods furnished Mrs. Garland, 3 68
Taylor, Hill & Co., goods delivered to Wm. Duso, 22 00
Geo. W. Hill, clothing for S. Moffit, 2 20
Insane Asylum at Concord, board of Sarah F. Howarth, 52 27
A. Sharpe & Co., cotton cloth for S. Moffit, 1 40
S. Batchelder, 1-2 cord wood for Mrs. Clark, 4 00 Moses D. Rowell, for boarding Sally Rowell, 26 00 N. H. Paul, teams to Atkinson to transport Wm. Duso's family, 3 00
E. G. Haynes, for board of Hildreth children, 23 07 Geo. C. Gordon, supplies for transient poor, 121 40
$679 09
12
RECAPITULATION.
Whole amount in Selectmen's hands, $21,549 15 Paid for Schools, 1,768 47
Roads and bridges,
314 08
Non-resident highway taxes,
140 40
Snow paths,
163 04
Contingent expences,
14,208 73
Abatement of taxes,
265 61
Almshouse,
565 56
Transient poor,
679 09
Wm. H. Woodbury's note,
1,200 00
Cash in Treasurer's hands,
2,244 17
-$21,549 15
OUTSTANDING NOTES AGAINST THE TOWN.
William Crawford's note, due May 30th, 1868, $955 44
Matthew H. Taylor's 66 Feb. 19th, 1868, 848 00
David Loud's Aug. 25th, 1867, 424 00
Enoch Taylor, Guardian of
E. B. Taylor, note due March 4th, 1868, 1,437 07
School District No. 10, 66 Dec. 16th, 1867, 178 65
School District No. 2,
Dec. 16th, 1867, 190 06
Hiram Cross' Feb. 6th, 1868, 200 00
School District No. 3, 66 March 20th, 1868, 150 56
Thomas D. Lancaster,
May 31st, 1867, 133 81
Eliphalet Coburn, 66 May 4th, 1867, 535 27
Eliphalet Coburn, Sept. 3d, 1868, 66 1,484 00
John L. Prince,
66
Oct. 21st, 1867, 200 00
Milton F. Austin,
66
Oct. 23d, 1867, 200 00
William L. Stanton,
Oct. 20th, 1867, 200 00
Ira Sanborn,
May 8th, 1868, 212 00
Joseph M. Emerson,
66 May 4th, 1868, 1,590 00
Amos Dustin,
66 Sept. 14th, 1867, 297 29
Ann Loomis,
66 Oct. 10th, 1867, 5,099 90
Enoch Taylor,
May 28th, 1868, 315 62
Enoch Taylor,
66 June 19th, 1868, 424 00
Betsy Moulton,
June 24th, 1868, 238 50
Mary Austin,
July 26th, 1868, 4,519 90
13
Joseph H. Gage,
Jan. 2d, 1868, 338 22
Charles Lundburg,
66 Sept. 12th, 1867, 499 95
Henriette Currier,
66 Oct. 8th, 1867, 617 98
Mary A. Dustin,
Oct. 14th, 1868, 1,188 72
John Taylor,
66 Aug. 10th, 1868, 6,312 38
Charles Lundburg,
66 Oct. 24th, 1867, 112 36
Nancy Wheeler,
66
Oct. 27th, 1867, 571 70
Abigail Austin,
Dec. 24th, 1868, 318 00
Charles Austin,
66 Jan. 15th, 1868, 576 18
Mary A. Dustin,
66 Feb. 1st, 1868, 1,214 83
Seth Hall,
66 Feb. 11th, 1868, 416 85
Enoch Taylor, Guardian of
E. B. Taylor, note, due Feb. 4th, 1868, 595 50
J. Henry Dix,
Sept. 2d, 1868, 157 81
Daniel H. Day,
Feb. 27tn, 1867, 393 26
Jane Paul,
Jan. 18th, 1868, 1,060 00
Cyrus Wilson,
March 21st, 1867, 196 63
Abigail Emerson,
April 1st, 1867, 191 01
Mary Renou,
Dec. 4th, 1867, 365 48
Mary A. Dustin,
April 26th, 1867, 479 77
John Dix, 66 May 20th, 1867,
337 08
Mary Dustin,
Aug. 16, 1867, 112 36
Benj. F. Wheeler,
Aug. 15, 1867, 578 65
George W. T. Rogers,
June 12th, 1868, 1,272 00
Nathaniel B. Dustin, 66
Oct. 13th, 1868, 212 00
Daniel Taylor, Trustee of Or-
rille A. Taylor, note, due Sept. 16th, 1867, 418 00
Mary A. Dustin, 66 Jan. 29th, 1867, 1,966 30
Enoch Taylor, Guardian of
E. B. Taylor, note, due Feb. 13th, 1868, 337 08
Nancy Wheeler,
Feb. 14th, 1868, 78 65
Mary Allen,
Feb. 17th, 1868, 122 95
Stephen D. Crowell, 66 March 7th, 1868, 1,390 50
Abigail Emerson,
April 15th, 1867, 927 50
Gilbert Emerson,
April 25th, 1867, 212 00
Elbridge O. Butler,
March 4th, 1868, 569 22
John H. Dunlap, 66 April 28th, 1867, 132 50
Benjamin Day, 66 May 22d, 1867, 954 00
E. A. D. Kimball,
May 22d, 1867, 954 00
Stephen D. Crowell,
66 Dec. 10th, 1867, 466 93
David Webster, 2d,
Dec. 12th, 1867, 650 00
David Webster, 2d,
Dec, 25th, 1867, 150 00
14
Isaiah L. Webster,
66
Feb. 25th, 1868, 400 00
Isaiah L. Webster,
66 Feb. 7th, 1868, 200 12
Mary Campbell,
Sept. 25th, 1867, 179 77
$48,062 31
DUE THE TOWN.
From County for support of paupers,
$478 00
United States, for bounties,
3,343 00
William H. Woodbury, note,
1,200 00
Town Treasurer,
2 244 17
Total,
$7,265 17
Leaving a balance against the Town of
$40,797 14
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
Sept. 30, 1867.
DR
To cash on hand, milk,
97 38
butter,
29 41
potatoes,
50 29
calves,
75 91
cash from Overseer,
37 33
received for board,
15 00
lot barrels, use pasture,
9 00
meadow hay,
20 00
labor off Farm,
46 50
$481 54
By cash for meat,
$23 56
flour,
103 75
66 sugar and molasses,
18 13
tea and coffee,
11 40
66
salt and fish,
10 29
66
oil and soda,
6 75
66 nails and spices,
4 11
CR.
meal, corn and shorts,
79 26
$100 72
15
By cash for biscuit, rice and apples,
18 79
66
soap and tobacco,
10 44
blacksmith, 10 00
dry goods,
40 74
tin ware and wagon,
11 82
labor on farm,
52 50
Wm. Kimball, difference in cows,
5 00
phosphate of lime and sundries, 19 95
66
axe handles and filing saws,
2 57
66 red pepper and grass seed,
5 55
66 seed peas and tacks,
10 00
66
sythes and rifles,
18 60
66
shovel and hoe,
1 65
2 95
pasturing colt and use of plow,
5 20
66
candles and chimneys,
3 00
$481 54
S. D. CROWELL, SUPT.
SUPERINTENDENT OF TOWN FARM.
CR.
By cash paid out for supplies,
$31 96
DR.
To cash received for milk, potatoes and chickens,
$9 81
labor, 4 50
66 Town Treasurer, 17 65
$31 96
ELIPHALET COBURN, SUPT.
OVERSEERS OF POOR REPORT.
Received of S. D. Crowell, cash and supplies, $481 54
County for support of paupers, 942 13 Due from
478 00
door spring, paint, oil,
1 80
78
twenty-five apple trees,
2 95
shoes and standing grass,
sawing lumber,
16
Received of Geo. Davis, for oxen, 235 00
66 Harvey Harris, for cow, 47 00
66 Eliphalet Coburn, cash and supplies, 31 96
Total amount of receipts,
$2,215 63
Cash paid on account of Almshouse,
$556 56
66 66 transient poor,
679 09
66 S. D. Crowell for supplies,
481 54
66 66 salary,.
162 50
66 Eliphalet Coburn, for supplies,
31 96
Due Eliphalet Coburn, salary,
155 54
Outstanding debts for support of paupers,
85 00
Total amount of expenditures, $2,152 19
Leaving a balance in favor of the Town of
$63 44
NUMBER OF PAUPERS AT TOWN FARM.
Males, 3. Females, 3. Total, 6.
GEO. C. GORDON, ? Overseers JOEL C. CAREY. of Poor. .
PINE GROVE CEMETERY.
CR.
By cash received of M. H. Taylor, $37 64 66 for Deeds, 5 75
DR. $43 39
To cash paid for labor, $11 80
Leaving a balance in Selectmen's hands of $31 90
GEO. C. GORDON, JOEL C. CAREY, Committee.
17
The Committee take this opportunity to say that the fore- going accounts are all correctly kept and vouched for in the most satisfactory manner.
JOHN S. EMERY, Auditors. NATHAN G. ABBOTT,
APPRAISAL OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AT ALMSHOUSE.
Five tons English hay, 125.00 ; 1 1-2 tons English hay, 37.50. 2 1-2 tons meadow hay, 25.00 ; lot corn fodder, 6.00; 5 cows, 260.00 ; lot of fowls, 8.00 ; 2 shoats, 25.00 ; 12 bushel corn, 19.20; 4 bushel beans, 19.00 ; lot meas- ures, 50 ; lot salt, 1.50; 19 cords prepared wood, 114.00 ; 1 bag meal, 3.00; 3-4 barrel flour, 10.87; 1 bushel rye meal, 2.00 ; 20 lbs. dried apples, 3.00; 94 lbs. lard, 15.48; 85 lbs. butter, 38.25 ; 6 lbs. sugar, 81; 5 lbs. granulated sugar, 85 ; 1 box salt, 40; 4 stone jars, 4.50 ; 2 earthen pans, 50; 130 lbs. ham, 22.10; 44 lbs. shoulders, 6.60; 375 lbs. pork, 62.50 ; 125 bushels potatoes, 137.00 ; 3 bush. potatoes, 3.60 ; 5 bushel small potatoes, 6.00 ; 1-2 bbl. soap, 1.13 ; lot onions, 1.70 ; lot casks, 5.00 ; lot vegetables, 2.00; lot tubs, 1.50 ; lot tobacco, 1.50 ; 1 peck apples, 40 ; 1 peck cranberries, 75 ; 1 12 dozen eggs, 50; 1-2 bbl. cider, 4.00 ; 1-2 bushel beans, 1.00 ; 45 lbs. fresh pork, 6.75 ; 50 lbs. pop corn, 2.00; 3 pair steelyards, 50; 1 paint mill, 5.00 ; 5 cans, 2.00 ; lot paints and chest, 5.00 ; cheese hoops, bas- ket and press, 5.00 ; feed boxes and hay cutter, 3.00 ; grain chest, 4.00 ; lot baskets, 1.50 ; pails and keys, 2.50; 2 churns, 3.25 ; 2 brass kettles, 6.00 ; 2 mirrors and 2 clocks, 3.00; lamps and candlesticks, 1.00; trunks, chests and drawers, 12.00 ; 1 side board, 10.00; 10 milk cans, 10.00 ; tray, morter and lantern, 3.00; 2 unbrellas, 50; 1 dray, 2.00 ; ox-cart, rack and wheels, 65.00 ; 1 harrow and yoke, 6.00 ; 2 plows, 14.00 ; 7 hay forks, 4.50 ; sieve and wash- boards, 1.00; 1 pair hand-cuffs, 1.00 ; clothes lines, 1.50 ; 3 iron kettles, 1.25 ; flat irons, 50 ; knives, forks and spoons, 2.50 ; window curtains and fixtures, 3.00 ; clothes wringer, 8.00; iron ware, 5.00; lumber, 15.00 ; lot stone tools, 2.00; lot rasps and files, 50; chest and contents, 1 50 ; shaving horse and vice, 2.00 ; old iron, 2.50. stoves and funnel,
18
25.00; wearing aparel, 185.00; chairs and tables, 16.00 ; bedsteads and cords, 22.00; 14 feather beds and ticks, 131.00; 15 pair sheets, 25.00; 34 pillow cases, 10.00 ; quilts and comforters, 3 -. 00 ; 24 pillows, 9.00 ; 2 blankets, 2.50; 5 tables, 6.00; 1 cupboard, 2.00 ; lot books, 4.00 ; 1 safe crib, 10.00 ; 3 shovels, 1.50; 6 rakes, 1.00; 1 drag rake, 1.00 ; 1 horse rake, 3.00; 3 yokes, 3.50; clevis and pin, 1.00; 1 sleigh, 5.00; 2 harnesses, 14.00; 2 chains, 5.00; 10 chains, 6.00 ; 2 iron bars, 4.00 ; hoes and manure hook, 3.00; 2 wheelbarrows, 5.00; 7 axes, 4.00; 1 ox sled, 10.00 ; 1 cultivator, 1.00; horse sled, 8 00; scythes and snaths, 3.00; augers and bog hoe, 4.00; pick and wrench, 1 50; 2 ladders, 1.00 ; sickle and corn-cutter, 50 ; saws and planes, 5.00 ; beetle and wedges, 1.50; blanket and halter, 1.00 ; buffalo robe, 3.00 ; 5 shares and hammer, 2.00; 6 meal bags, 3.00; trough and spout, 1.50 ; bucket and riging, 3.00; tin ware, 15.00; crockery ware, 10.00; lot jugs, 4.00; warming and bed pan, 2.00; 18 towels, 2.00; long table oil cloth, 3.00; 2 broad axes, 1.50; 1 sledge hammer, 2.50; 2 squares, 30; 1 cow bell, 25; 9 bolsters, 6.00 ; lot manure forks, 2.50; 1 wagon, 5.00 ; lot matches, 32; 8 lbs. cheese, 1.28; 1 1b. hops, 35 ; 1 gallon molasses, 55 ; 3-4 lbs. tea, 1.33; 1-2 1b. pepper, 25; 1-2 allspice, 25; 1 1-2 lb. soda, 15; 1 1-2 1b. ginger, 20; 1 1-2 lb cassia, 25 ; 2 lbs. whole coffee, 66 ; 1 horse, 125 00. Whole amount, $1.877 22.
APPRAISAL OF REAL ESTATE OWNED BY THE TOWN.
$4,800 00
Town Farm,
Wood-land, 100 00
Town House, 1,000 00
1,877 22
Personal Property at Town Farm,
450 00
Town Safe,
Hearse, 430 00
$8,657 22
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
OF THE
TOWN OF SALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1868.
At the Annual Town Meeting, in March last, it was voted to pass over the Article in the Warrant to choose a Superintending School Committee, and leave it to the Selectmen to appoint a suitable per- son to fill the office, as the law directs in such cases.
Accordingly, in the month of May following, Rev. Charles H. Cole was elected to superintend all the Schools except those in the Centre Village, this district having a special Superindending Com- mittee under the Somersworth act for high or graded schools.
Mr. Cole entered upon his duties immediately, and filled the office in an acceptable and faithful manner, visiting the schools frequently, and making such suggestions as he deemed necessary, both to teachers and scholars, until the month of October, when he resigned the pastoral care of the First Baptist Society and removed from town. At the same time he sent in his resignation as School Com- mittee. The Selectmen then appointed the present incumbent to fill the vacancy, which he has endeavored to do to the best of his ability, as in former years. A part of this report, it should be stated, relating to the Summer schools, is from data furnished by Mr. Cole, and the report of the sub-committee of the schools in the Centre Village is a joint production from members of the same.
20
With these remarks, and with the simple observation that the dis- tricts will not be taken up exactly in the order of past years, and that the usual preparatory statistics before the remarks will be omitted and inserted in tabular form at the close, the committee will proceed to speak of the schools in the
CENTRE VILLAGE-DISTRICT NO. 1.
At a school meeting in this district, April 13th, 1867, the provisions of the Laws of the State in relation to High Schools in the town of Somersworth, passed in 1848, and also in 1852 and 1856, were adopted. A Superintending School Committee, consisting of five legal voters were chosen to grade the school and take the oversight of the same during the year.
The new system which has been adopted is working well. The teachers of both schools now find time enough in the daily exercises for thoroughly teaching each class. They have also been able to adopt such methods as the character and organization of the schools would allow, and which at the same time perhaps would make the speediest show of progress. The classification of the pupils under this new arrangement is not presumed to be perfect, and there must necessarily be inequalities until we are furnished with better accommodations, but the committee have endeavored to grade the school in such a manner as to equalize the number of scholars in each department, and then, as far as possible, to distribute those of the same age and similar attainments in the separate schools, while at the same time they have tried to carefully select the teachers with reference to their particular work.
A brief statement, however, of the condition of the district is necessary for a proper understanding of what the committee have attempted to do. The district has one good school house, arranged to conveniently accommodate 65 scholars. But there are in it 115 different scholars, in all the various stages of advancement found between the A B C pupil of four years of age, and those who have had the benefit of some fifteen years instruction.
These scholars are furnished with an indifferent supply of a large variety of text books, and required to attend school when convenient. Many of them, and usually those who are the most backward and consequently need the advantages of school the most, are kept at home much of the time during the several terms, for their labor. Improvements on this method readily suggest themselves, and some of these the committee have attempted to introduce, such as to have the number of studies taught at each term so small that the teacher can have ample time for thorough instruction in each. This may be
2.1
obtained by, 1st, limiting membership to such as are nearly equally advanced, and 2nd, by uniformity in the use of text books.
A serious obstacle in dividing the scholars by rank in scholarship arises from the fact that no time can be found when the employ- ment, health or readiness of all who belong to the same grade will permit them to attend at the same time, and keep together in their studies. Those who by absence fall behind the others with whom they properly belong are yet too far advanced to be put back with the next lower class, for if this is done the short time which they are sent to school will merely suffice to bring them up to where they were at the close of the preceding term. If they are retained in their own class their lessons will not be thoroughly learned, and still less perfectly understood. Hence the importance of regular attendance, not only for the benefit of each pupil, but also for the general welfare of the whole school.
In regard to text books, such a series should be used as will con- duct the scholar along by a gradually ascending course, and no two books covering essentially the same ground should be tolerated in the same school. With this thing in view the committee have endeavored to reduce the number of arithmetics used in the district, and believe the same should be done in reference to grammars.
At the first term, it was thought advisable to limit the number of scholars, but to confine the instruction simply to the elementary branches. Under Miss Sawyer's thorough instruction and strict dis- cipline the school made good progress ; at the second term, under her care, the grade was reduced still lower, excluding some of the larger pupils, and the school retained to its close a very satisfactory standing.
The standard for admission to the winter term could not be so easily adjusted owing to the greater diversity of scholarship among the larger pupils. If it was placed so high as not to include any of those studies taught at the primary terms-which might be consid- ered a proper division-it would deprive many children who had not been sent during the summer of their entire school privileges ; if it had been placed so low as to include these, others of the same grade would have had an equal right to attend, and the number would have been too large either for the size of the room or the ability of any one teacher to properly instruct.
The primary scholars needed instruction or they must inevitably lose ground. Contributions were therefore solicited, and the use of a room secured for another term of primary school.
In making the division of scholars, regard was had to their scholarship and also to the capacity of the rooms, and, although the
22
standard of the grammar school was lower than it should have been, yet it seemed the best attainable under the circumstances.
It being Mr. Dustin's first effort in teaching, that prompt action and decided tone was not exhibited which a larger experience would probably develop. Tardiness and absenteeism were the principal failings in this school; with very little close application on the part of many of the scholars, the school made fair progress, the credit of which must mainly be attributed to the good tact and suavity of the teacher.
Miss George, who had charge of the primary school, brought to her task a larger experience, and has kept a very profitable school, under the unfavorable circumstances of an inconvenient school- room and backward scholars. The money raised by the town for school purposes is, by law, whether equitable or not, divided among the districts according to the valuation. The sum apportioned to the several districts varies widely, but not in proportion to the num- ber of scholars. Last year there was $5.61 to each scholar in No. 10, while in No. 3 there was but $2.59, and in this district $2.77 to each scholar. This year the entire amount expended in this district gives $2.93 for each, which is below the average of the town. It remains with the voters to determine whether the children of this district shall not have at least as much money expended for their education as any in other parts of the town.
With these suggestions, and in the hope that the system adopted the past year will be continued, and measures taken to improve the school accommodations, this report is respectfully submitted.
JOSEPH MARSTON, CHAIRMAN. GEORGE W. ROGERS, SEC'Y OF SUB-COMMITTEE OF DIST. NO. 1. JOSEPH WEBSTER, E. S. WOODBURY, LAROY S. ROGERS.
23
DEPOT VILLAGE-DISTRICT NO. 6.
This district was very fortunate in securing the services of Miss Richardson, who is an experienced and successful teacher. She maintained good order and imparted thorough instruction without much apparent effort, the good effects of which were manifest from the commencement to the close of the school.
The above is Mr. Cole's report of the Summer term. In regard to the Winter school, the committee is happy to say that it has con- tinued to improve, and is now in an excellent condition. It has been under the care of an able teacher, who, though young, has had considerable experience. The attendance has been good, and the instruction as satisfactory, perhaps, as at any time during the three years the committee has been acquainted with it. The order, also, has greatly improved since he first knew the school. It is pleasant, now, to witness the good deportment and studiousness of the pupils, and the earnest devotion of the teacher. Yet, in this, as in all our schools, there is still room for improvement, and the committee hopes there will be a generous rivalry between the different dis- tricts-that they may vie with one another to see which shall be the best and do the most for the young and rising generation among us.
The special attention of parents and guardians, in this district, is called to the fact that the school house is not as convenient as the large and constantly increasing population of the village demands. To say nothing about keeping up with other improvements, such as the new depot and the tasteful and commodious church of the Methodist society, it will soon be necessary to grade the school to accommodate the children. When that time comes, it is desirable that a building, attractive and inviting in its appearance, with suit- able internal arrangements and furniture, should be erected, suffi- ciently large to meet the wants of the district for years.
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