USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > North Hampton > Annual reports of the selectmen, treasurer, highway agents, and board of education of the town of North Hampton, New Hampshire, 1914-1922 > Part 12
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Leslie L. Lovett, salary as Selectman
75.00
James F. Leavitt, salary and expense as Town Clerk 76.00
George L. Seavey, salary and expense as Collector 210.00
Otis S. Brown, salary as Treasurer ...
60.00
George G. Carter, expense on Town Reports, 1919 10.75
Edward C. Marston, Auditor
4.00
Edward M. Smith, Auditor
4.00
$719.75
ELECTION AND REGISTRATION
Oren B. Leavitt, Supervisor, 1919 and 1920 $32.00
John W. Berry, Supervisor, 1919 and 1920 32.00
Fred C. Leavitt, Inspector, 1919 and 1920 18.00
Estelle L. Leavitt, Inspector 3.00
Fannie A. Marston, Inspector
3.00
Gilman H. Moulton, Inspector
3.00
Irving W. Marston, Moderator, 1919 and 1920 20.00
Modern Press, printing check lists 17.90
$128.90
15
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Jesse E. Billings, services as Chief $35.00
Arthur A. Brown, services as con- stable 25.00
Irving W. Marston, services as spec- ial at beach
30.00 *
Oliver W. Henchel, services as special at beach 10.63
John B. Moulton, services as special July 4 5.00
Walter H. Clark, services as special, July 4 5.00
Police badges and charges
6.25
$116.88
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Silas Pierce & Co., supplies
$15.62
Jesse E. Billings, express 5.35
Charles L. Bachelder, care and labor on fire truck
52.10
Walter H. Clark, labor on fire truck.
13.40
Wallace S. Ware, labor and material, wiring fire house.
50.77
Robert Whenal, labor
2.00
Arthur E. Seavey, forest fires
13.50
Silas Pierce & Co., supplies
9.52
Arthur E. Seavey, forest fires
5.00
C. F. Fifield, labor, 1919
17.80
Charles L. Bachelder, storage of fire truck and gasolene 59.78
Samuel A. Dow, gasolene
3.85
Maurice R. Wright, driving truck
9.80
Olin H. Chase, license
15.00
. James L. Welch, charging battery
3.75
Samuel A. Dow, supplies 1.90
$279.14
16
DAMAGE BY DOGS
Thomas B. Whenal, chickens killed by dogs .... $7.50
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Dr. A. M: Fernald, vital statistics
$3.75
MEMORIAL DAY
J. P. Mace.
$25.00
The T. F. McGann Sons Co., me-
morial tablet
167.00
$192.00
TOWN HALL
George A. Marston, wood
$42.00
David W. Knowles, labor 5.00
Fred C. Leavitt, grading town sheds 14.00
William Carter, Janitor 8.00
Warren B. Moulton, labor
4.20
$73.20
CEMETERIES
Robert L. Mitchell, labor on tomb.
$116.80
Irving W. Brown, labor on tomb 953.58
Russell P. Marston, labor South
Cemetery
4.80
Hearse hire
62.00
$1,137.18
INTEREST ON LOANS
New Hampshire National Bank
$150.00
17
FEDERAL AID ROAD CONSTRUCTION
C. A. Badger $2,000.00
C. A. Badger 1,500.00
C. A. Badger. 2,700.00
C. A. Badger.
2,200.00
$8,400.00
TEMPORARY LOANS
New Hampshire National Bank
$2,450.00
New Hampshire National Bank
2,500.0;
New Hampshire National Bank
2,500.00
New Hampshire National Bank
2,500.00
$9,950.00
TAXES PAID TO STATE
State Treasurer, state tax
$4,395.00
special state tax
586.00
$4,981.00
TAXES PAID TO COUNTY
County Treasurer, county tax
$3,799.88
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Paid Treasurer
$11,355.00
GENERAL EXPENSES
Rockingham County Light & Power Co $1,144.00
Russell P. Marston, watering trough 3.00
Charles F. Smith, labor as Tree Ward- en 9.00
Charles L. Bachelder, auto trip to Exeter on legal business 3.00
Samuel A. Dow, tools
2.00
Times Publishing Co
2.50
18
Good Roads Machinery Co., repairs for road machine $ 57.39
Albert E. Locke, bonds for town officers 17.00
John Templeton, printing town re- ports
96.60
Edson C. Eastman, tax books
3.88
Samuel A. Dow, supplies
12.23
$1,350.60
SNOW WORK, TOWN ROADS
Elmer J. Smith, road agent
$40.25
George L. Garland
13.13
John Lynch
3.50
Roger Lovett
38.50
Arthur Lovett
5.25
Eben L. Dalton
42.00
Charles W. Barton
15.75
Chauncey Barton
15.75
Asa Booker
14.00
George Bachelder
11.38
George E. Frost
11.38
John O. Shea
16.00
Charles Dalton
7.00
Charles Block
19.00
John Lynch
19.00
Leonard Smith
19.00
Robert Whenal
21.00
Martin Whenal
8.00
Stanley Carter
2.00
William Carter
2.00
Roger Lovett
3.00
Arthur Lovett
3.00
Justin Drake
2.00
William Simpson
15.00
Dan Toomey.
7.00
19
Fred Dalton
$12.00
George Carter
4.00
William Betton
13.50
Amos F. Allard
1.50
Raymond Hobbs
15.00
Arthur Lovett
4.00
Francis Lovett ...
4.00
Charles W. Barton
8.00
Chauncey Barton
7.50
Asa Booker
4.00
Charles L. Barton
1.00
Austin Norton
10.00
James Barton
3.00
Roy Herford
2.00
Alvin Spear
2.00
Earl Spear
2.00
Forest Hills Farm
12.50
George Bachelder
7.00
George E. Frost
7.00
Edward S. Marston
9.50
Clarence Marston
9.50
Wallace Tuttle
2.50
William Berry
2.00
Frank Leavitt
11.00
Eugene Carbouneau
2.50
Perley Wells
2.50
Fred Nelson
3.00
Elmer J. Smith
22.50
Elmer Smith, road agent
52.50
George L. Garland
19.25
George D. Bachelder
12.69
George E. Frost
12.69
Roger Lovett
45.00
Arthur Lovett.
38.50
Eben L. Dalton
178.00
Charles W. Barton
24.00
Chauncey Barton
21.00
20
Asa Booker
$ 24.50
August Block
3.50
John O. Shea
24.25
Richard Goss
24.25
Charles Dalton
8.00
John Lynch
28.00
Charles Block
24.00
Raymond Hobbs
30.00
Robert Whenal
28.00
William Simpson
28.00
Fred Nelson
24.50
Roger Lovett
6.50
Arthur Lovett
7.50
Francis Lovett
3.50
Elmer J. Smith
40.50
William Betton
30.00
Leonard Smith
20.00
Robert Mitchell
12.00
William Carter
8.50
Teele Whenal
8.00
Raymond Clark
4.00
Edwin Page
10.00
James Page
8.00
George P. Frost
20.75
Edward S. Marston
17.00
Clarence Marston
14.25
William Berry
5.50
George E. Frost.
12.25
George D. Batchelder
12.25
Frank Leavitt
6.00
Arthur H. Allady
1.50
Russell Marston
19.00
Ralph Seavey
4.00
Justin E. Drake
16.00
Earl Spear
1.50
Alvin Spear
15.50
Austin Norton
17.00
21
Asa Booker
$13.50
Charles L. Barton
3.00
James Barton
1.00
Chauncey Barton
11.50
Charles W. Barton
11.50
Grant Nelson
9.00
Martin Whenal
9.00
Webster Knowles
9.00
Payson Marston
5.00
Amos Allard
4.00
Joe Murray
1.00
John White
.50
Norman Marston
.75
Irving Marston
6.00
Roscoe Flanders
4.00
Woodbury Knowles
10.50
Leon Knowles
10.50
Forest Hill Farm
8.00
N. Sherman Rand, Rye Road Agent, labor on snow
20.00
Arthur A. Brown, Road Agent, labor
on snow 46.90
$1,695.17
TOWN ROADS
Arthur A. Brown, Road Agent +
$198.42
Fred L. Colton
139.28
Roger S. Lovett 399.00
O. J. Moulton, gravel
7.20
Irving W. Brown, drain pipe
6.00
George D. Brown, cutting bushes 38.40
Daniel Hartford, cutting bushes 21.60
John Hartford, cutting bushes 57.60
Bert Elliott, cutting bushes 38.40
George Arnold, cutting bushes 48.80
Perley Hartford, cutting bushes
9.60
22
George E. Moulton, cutting bushes .. $19.20
Frank R. Sleeper, labor 9.25
$999.75
Alvin Spear, Road Agent
50.00
F. S. Lovett.
4.40
R. S. Lovett
7.90
A. R. Lovett.
7.15
R. Whenal
7.15
R. I. Goss
11.55
J. C. Drake
7.15
Sperry Locke
15.95
John O. Shea
7.15
Fred Nelson
4.95
Martin Whenal
1.38
George P. Frost.
24.75
Webster Knowles
19.80
Leon Knowles
11.00
Woodbury Knowles
28.60
Austin Norton
31.12
James Dunlap
6.60
Fred Dalton
2.75
Charles Block
13.20
Frank Norton.
2.20
Raymond Hobbs
1.10
Sheldon Marston
2.75
Asa Booker
8.80
Marshall Holman
6.60
George E. Frost
2.20 .
Edward S. Marston
2.20
George Batchelder
5.70
William Barton
33.70
$327.80
23
Asa Booker, team $32.00
Austin Norton, team
132.20
C. W. Barton, team
229.20
John Lynch, team and man
265.40
L. W. Knowles
91.60
George Frost
22.20
J. E. Drake, team
217.60
Peter Bearnard
37.80
Walter MacKensy
18.00
R. P. Marston 94.00
Robert Mitchell
4.80
Melvin Chevalier
69.60
Martin Whenal
19.20
R. O. Hobbs, team 28.80
George L. Garland, team
12.80
Fred Dalton
18.40
C. F. Moulton
4.00
H. L. Norton, team
40.00
C. F. Smith, team
603.75
Shovels, scythes and repairs 7.75
Alvin Spear, 287 loads of gravel 43.05
Leon Knowles, 73 loads of gravel 10.95
$2,003.10
Elmer J. Smith, balance due for labor $7.75
Roger E. Lovett 5.50
Standard Oil Co., road oil 1,526.70
N. E. Metal Culvert Co., galvanized culvert for Lovering Rd. 75.48
Irving W. Brown, labor and pipe
134.83
Arthur E. Seavey, blacksmith work repairs on road drags. 11.50
Charles Raymond, blacksmith work
repairs on road machine 5.30
Forest Hills Farm, removing tree 5.00
$1,772.06
24
STATE AID ROADS
Roger S. Lovett, State Patrolman $1,318.25
Elmer J. Smith 355.50
C. W. Barton 16.00
George Garland 64.00
Amos Atkinson
38.40
F. H: Leavitt
32.00
F. L. Cotton
40.20
R. I. Goss
38.40
Clarence Marston
36.00
Russell Marston
50.40
August Block.
72.10
Robert Whenal
139.20
Melvin Chevalier
4.80
T. P. Dean
12.00
Martin Whenal.
19.50
Hillard & Kimball, tools
21.25
S. A. Schurman, tools
3.50
S. A. Dow, tools and supplies 2.50
O. J. Moulton, material 34.35
Edward Moulton 3.60
Frank Taylor 22.05 -
Grant Nelson
1.20
J. O. Hobbs 11.00
R. L. Mitchell 63.60
Arthur A. Brown
3.00
Evan Brown 8.40
Simon Lamprey 81.60
G. W. Moulton
28.80
A. R. Lovett 40.00
C. Raymond, repairs on tools 10.65
L. L. Lovett, repairs on tools
14.88
H. Keene 9.60
Lila Block, material. 6.00
$2,602.73
-
25
Irving W. Marston, Acting Road
Agent, emergency work
4.40
William Barton 28.00
Fred L. Cotton 14.00
Roger S. Lovett 28.00
Frank A. Taylor
28.00
Forest Hill Farm, man and team
21.00
Charles F. Smith
17.60
Austin Norton
13.20
Fred Daltón
17.60
Richard Goss
17.60
Robert Whenal
13.20
John O'Shea
8.80
Alvin Spear
17.60
Sperry Locke
4.40
ABATEMENTS
Emma B. French
$164.50
James F. Hobbs
23.50
Joseph Leveque
2.35
Walter Goss
5.00
Thomas O. Moore
5.00
William A. Timson
2.00
Elena C. Jackson
70.05
Caroline W. B. Fish.
58.75
$331.15
DISCOUNT
Discount on taxes
$1,261.60
NORTH HAMPTON, N. H., February 11, 1921.
We, the undersigned have examined the foregoing ac- counts of the Selectmen, Collector of Taxes and Town Clerk, and certify them to be correctly cast with proper vouchers.
EDWARD C. MARSTON, EDWARD M. SMITH,
Auditors.
$230.40
26
Trust Funds
REPORT OF TREASURER OF TRUST FUNDS
1884, Donor, John W. F. Hobbs and Town: Centre Cemetery trust fund, general care of cemetery; invested in Strafford Savings Bank, Dover, 4% $1,000.00
Centre Cemetery trust fund, gen- eral care of cemetery ; invested in Portsmouth Trust and Guar- antee Co., 4% 1,000.00
1913, Donor, Jonathan French, per- petual care of lot; invested in Amoskeag Savings Bank, Man- chester, 4% 100.00
1913, Donor, William F. Preckle, per- petual care of lot; invested in New Hampshire Savings Bank, Concord, 4% 100.00
1915, Donor, John E. Leavitt, perpet- ual care of lot; invested in New Hampshire Savings Bank, Con- cord, 4% .: 125.00
1916, Donor, George H. Lamprey, per- petual care of lot; invested in Amoskeag Savings Bank, Man- chester, 4% 300.00
1917, Donor, S. Oliver Lamprey, per- petual care of lot; invested in Amoskeag Savings Bank, Man- chester, 4% 100.00
27
1918, Donor, John W. Hobbs, perpet- ual care of lot; invested in New Hampshire Savings Bank, Con- cord, 4% $100.00
1920, Donor, Richard Taylor, perpet- ual care of lot; invested in Portsmouth Trust and Guar- antee Co., 4% 100.00
1921, Donor, Individuals and Town: East Cemetery trust fund, gen- eral care of cemetery; invested in Amoskeag Savings Bank, Manchester, 4% 1,000.00
East Cemetery trust fund, gener- al care of cemetery; invested in New Hampshire Savings Bank, Concord, 4% 800.00
Total amount of Cemetery Trust Funds, January 31,1921 $4,725.00
CENTENNIAL HALL TRUST FUND
1918, Donor, John W. F. Hobbs, in- come to be applied to the sup- port of Centennial Hall build- ing $5,000.00
$1,659.43, Manchester Savings Bank, Manchester 4%.
1,504.50, Merrimack River Savings Bank, Man- chester, 4%.
756.77, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Portsmouth, 4%. 597.14, New Hampshire Savings Bank, Con- cord, 4%. 482.16, Loan and Trust Savings Bank, Con- cord, 4%.
28
CENTENNIAL HALL REPORT
Received interest, Manchester Savings
Bank $67.36
Merrimack River
Savings Bank 60.76
Piscataqua Savings Bank 30.54
New Hampshire Sav-
ings Bank 23.88
Loan and Trust Sav-
ings Bank 19.66
$202.20
Paid Treasurer of School Board
$202.20
CEMETERY REPORT CENTRE CEMETERY
Receipts
Cash on hand from last year
$83.66
Expenditures
Paid Orrin B. Leavitt, Superintendent
$80.15
1
Otis S. Brown, expenses 1.00
$81.15
Cash on hand $2.51
Jonathan French Fund
Cash on hand from last year $2.24
Paid for care of lot 1.50
Cash on hand
$ .74
29
William F. Preckle Fund
Cash on hand from last year $ .79
Received interest on fund to date. 12.48
$13.27
Paid for care of lot
2.50
Cash on hand $10.77
John E. Leavitt Fund
Cash on hand from last year
$13.68
Paid for care of lot 2.50
Cash on hand.
$11.18
George H. Lamprey Fund
Cash on hand from last year
$4.74
Paid for care of lot 1.50
Cash on hand
$3.24
S. Oliver Lamprey Fund
Cash on hand from last year
$ .58
Received interest on fund to date
4.08
$4.66
Paid for care of lot
2.50
Cash on hand
$2.16
John W. Hobbs Fund
Cash on hand from last year $3.62
Paid for care of lot 2.50
Cash on hand $1.12
EAST CEMETERY Receipts
Cash on hand from last year
$161.44
30
Expenditures
Paid Arthur A. Brown, labor
$78.60
1
Otis S. Brown, expenses. 1.00
$79.60
Cash on hand $81.84
Cash on hand, Centre Cemetery fund. $2.51
Jonathan French fund .74
William F. Preckle fund 10.77
John E. Leavitt fund .... 11.18
George H.Lamprey fund 3.24
S. Oliver Lamprey fund 2.16
John W. Hobbs fund 1.12
East Cemetery fund 81.84
$113.56
Received from sale of cemetery lots
$55.00
Paid Town Treasurer $55:00
No interest drawn the past year on Centre Cemetery, Jonathan French, John E. Leavitt, George H. Lamprey, John W. Hobbs, Richard Taylor, and East Cemetery funds.
OTIS S. BROWN, Treasurer of Trust Funds.
North Hampton, N. H., February 1, 1921.
NORTH HAMPTON, N. H., February, 1921.
We, the undersigned, having examined the books and accounts of the Treasurer of Trust Funds, certify them correct with proper vouchers.
EDWARD C. MARSTON, EDWARD M. SMITH,
Auditors.
31
Report of Trustees of Public Library
NORTH HAMPTON, N. H., February 12, 1921.
During the past year we have purchased 63 new books, of which 41 were fiction. The number of volumes in the library is now about 2,570, of which about 1,430 are fiction. Four magazines: Harpers', Scribners', Century and St. Nicholas' have been provided for the reading room.
The contract has recently been let for building the two new bookstacks mentioned in last year's report and this change will necessitate a re-arrangement of the electric lighting. The expense of this improvement will be pro- vided for in our new budget.
The Library expenses for the past year are given below :
Salary of Librarian
$100.00
New books
104.64
Magazines
20.00
Lighting
15.00
Miscellaneous
5.93
$245.57
Received from sale of old magazines
6.00
$239.57
32
We estimate the ordinary running expenses for the com- ing year as follows:
Salary of Librarian
$100.00
Fuel and lighting
55.00
New books
115.00
Magazines
15.00
Miscellaneous
15.00
$300.00
Add estimate for permanent improvements
200.00
Total $500.00
We therefore recommend that the above sum of $500 be raised for the ordinary running expenses and the permanent improvements.
EDWARD M. SMITH, FRED L. DOW, ADA E. MOUTLON,
Trustees.
Little Boar's Head Village District Account
Receipts
1920
Cash on hand
$117.68
Aug. 29, Received from George L.
Seavey 38.03
Sept. 6,
A. Bachelder, on account 450.00
Dec. 18,
George L.
Seavey 520.13
27, George L.
Seavey
104.20
1921 Jan. 11,
George L.
Seavey 91.88
$1,321.92
33
Expenditures
July 14, Paid Rockingham Light &
Power Co $19.64
Sept. 4, Rockingham Light & Power Co. 40.86
7, Hampton Water Co. 175.00
I. W. Brown, bill in full 364.07
Dec. 20,
James L. Bachelder 35.00
27, Rockingham Light & Power Co. 126.50
Hampton Water Co. ... 175.00
1921
Jan. 3, Irving W. Brown 56.49
E. W. Holmes 4.00
To balance account
325.36
$1,321.92
Cash on hand
$325.36
Due from uncollected taxes
378.67
Appropriation for 1921 2,000.00
JAMES L. BACHELDER, Treasurer.
I have examined the foregoing account and find it cor- rectly cast and properly vouched.
GEORGE A. BOYNTON, Auditor.
ALBERT BACHELDER, EMMONS T. BROWN, DAVID H. EVANS, Commissioners of Little Boar's Head Village District.
34
School Report
To the Citizens of North Hampton:
At a meeting in May, Mr. C. H. Walker was re-elected superintendent of schools for this Union.
We re-elected the same teachers at the Centre school as last year. Mrs. Lena Smith has charge of the Junior High room, Miss Mabel Philbrook, the Intermediate room, and Miss Helen Thompson, the Primary room. It was voted at our last district meeting to employ two teachers at the East school. Mrs. Lila Drew has charge of the Primary room, and Miss Esther Baker, the Inter- mediate room. We believe that better results are ob- tained by employing two teachers, as the pupils have more individual instruction. It was necessary for us to purchase a new stove, blackboard, and teacher's desk in order to open the second room. The room was painted and the necessary repairs made.
The flag pole at the Centre became weak and was blown down by the winds. It will be necessary to appro- priate money for a new pole at our next district meeting.
It was voted at our last district meeting to pay the tuition of pupils attending Newburyport High school. We later found that it was an illegal vote, for according to the school laws, High school tuition cannot be paid out- side of the State.
It is necessary for us to make certain changes in our schools from time to time to meet the requirements of the State Board of Education.
We ask for co-operation in managing our school, for with co-operation comes success.
AUSTIN J. NORTON, NELLIE F. DRAKE, ARTHUR A. BROWN, School Board of North Hampton.
35
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the North Hampton School Board:
I have the honor to submit my third annual report as superintendent of schools. The reports of your super- visor of music and school physician are made a part of this report and merit your careful reading and I have tabulated school statistics which will prove interesting to all citizens no doubt, as well as to the board.
WORK OF THE YEAR
After a careful analysis of the scores made in the differ- ent grades in the standard tests that I gave last spring and comparing the results with standard scores for all the different grades, I find our grades fall below the standard scores in some subjects, more particularly in Reading and Composition, whereas they about equal or excel the stand- ard scores in other subjects, more frequently in Writing, Spelling and the four fundamentals of Arithmetic. This failure in the Reading and Composition, judging from the scores attained, appears to be quite uniform through- out all grades; middle and upper grades, as well as in the Primary grades. In Composition, almost every grade is below the standard for that grade, and so our teachers this year must give much more consistent drill in this subject. This should be done by requiring more of both oral and written composition and seeing to it that there is steady improvement in the quality of the same. In Reading, practically all grades are below normal in both the factors of speed or rate of reading and also in com- prehension. This indicates we must give much more at- tention to the teaching of Reading in North Hampton, in order to increase the speed or rate of reading and also
36
to raise the factor of comprehension, wherever they are below standard. At the East school, the scores obtained for all grades was below normal, in both multiplication and division, and so, much more drill in these processes must be given to raise the standard of achievement. With these exceptions I feel that our teachers last year, for the most part, did some very effective teaching.
One thing with which I am much pleased, is the fact that of all the number of pupils who failed of promotion, which was 11, (See table of Promotion and Retardation), 8 of those who were retarded, were in the first three grades. This is a common or expected condition. Under normal conditions the greatest amount of retardation takes place in the first two or three grades, due to several reasons, as immaturity, or poor attendance, because of bad storms or illness. The second most frequent point of retardation usually is in grades 6 and 7 due to the fact that some few pupils invariably reach about the limit of their ability in these grades. The total amount of re- tardation was only 13 % plus, which I consider an ex- cellent showing. In some of the other districts of this Union we did not make as good a record in this respect and the greatest amount of retardation occurred in grades, where it should not have occurred. This resulted pro- bably, because some teachers did not give the attention that was essential, to a few individual pupils, in order to bring them up to grade. Our teachers must see that this is done, as retardation means more expensive education for the school district, to say nothing of the handicap to pupils severally and individually.
ATTENDANCE
The per cent of attendance was 90.2 per cent or about the same as it was the previous year, which was 90.64 per cent. The number of cases of tardiness last year in- creased from 236 of the year before to 280, an increase of 18 % plus. Granted, that we had an extremely severe winter last year, yet it does not seem that our pupils
37
should have failed so in the matter of promptenss. This year we have made a much better record with respect to attendance and tardiness, up to date, due to the excellent weather conditions. I again wish to urge all parents to co-operate to the fullest extent possible to make a good record with respect to both attendance and tardiness, as both are vitally important factors in increasing the morale of any school, which makes for successful school work.
TEACHERS
We were fortunate to retain all our teachers who were with us last year, with the exception of Miss Greta Myers, at the East school, who resigned to accept a better posi- tion. We were disappointed to lose her as she had done good work for us. At the last district meeting it was voted, for the board to fix up the spare room at the East school and to engage another teacher in order to keep all six grades in that school. This was done, and Miss Esther L. Baker was engaged as principal of the building to teach grades 4, 5 and 6 and Mrs. Lila M. Drew to teach grades 1, 2 and 3. The present organization of the work there could hardly be better, however the expense of these two schools is very large when we consider the cost per pupil of average membership, since there are only 11 pupils in one room and only 8 in the other. In my opinion, one strong teacher can do entirely efficient work with all the pupils there, in as many as four or five grades. How- ever, this would mean the transportation of the sixth grade and possibly the fifth grade to the Centre school, and I realize the people in that section of the town are quite opposed to this.
All our teachers are thoroughly efficient in their re- spective positions. In fact, I believe our corps of teachers this year is fully as strong in all respects as that of last year, and stronger in some respects. Their scholarship is excellent and their understanding and practice of the most recent investigations of correct pedagogical practice is very good, considering their professional training and
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experience. They have taken kindly any criticisms or suggestions I have offered and there is a fine spirit of co- operation among them. All they need is strong backing by all school officials and by all our people in general.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
In my report of last year and the previous year I point- ed out many of the defects in our present school plant, and so will only refer you to those sections for further con- sideration.
MEDICAL INSPECTION
A careful study of Dr. Fernald's report of the physical examination of last year will no doubt surprise many parents. Few perhaps could have realized the poor phy- sical condition among so many of our children. I am very sorry that I have not as yet received the results of the examination for this present year. The real test will come when we are able to check up the number of defects that have been remedied as a result of the cards sent to parents. From the report here published it appears that defective teeth is the most frequent defect, and indicates that an active campaign of dental education is imperative in all our schools and homes. Besides, it shows the great need of a dental clinic for a town like North Hampton and also the benefits that would result physically and therefore educationally, if we were only able to have the services or part time services of a district nurse for "fol- low up work" in the homes of the community. This work of a district nurse is fully, if not more important, than merely the physical examination.
SCHOOL COSTS
One thing, which I believe will be interesting to you is the comparison of costs of schools in the different dis- tricts of this Union for last year. I have computed the same on the basis of cost per pupil of average member- ship.
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Cost per pupil of average membership:
Newington, $33.97
Newcastle 30.75
Rye
46.24
North Hampton 68.81
Hampton 47.93
Hampton Falls
48.24
Seabrook.
35.28
For the State
59.71
These figures were obtained by omitting extraordinary payments, such as for repairs, remodeling, etc., and count- ing only the necessary running expenses of the schools. They illustrate to a certain extent the business efficiency of the management of all our schools, by the different school boards, at a time when all school costs have been mounting rapidly. You will note that the cost per pupil of average membership for North Hampton is greater than for any other district in the Union and also about $9.00 per pupil more than for the State as a whole. This does not necessarily mean poorer management however, since we must take into consideration the efficiency of the service rendered as well as the figures. The principal reason for this greater cost of our schools is the fact that we have very many less pupils per teacher than in the other districts, which should mean that we are getting better service than they are. However, it may be well for the board to consider how we may reduce our ex- penses, without impairing the service rendered to the district.
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