Annual reports of the selectmen, treasurer, highway agents, and board of education of the town of North Hampton, New Hampshire, 1914-1922, Part 9

Author: North Hampton (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: [North Hampton, N.H.] : [The Town]
Number of Pages: 498


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 9


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Expenditures


1918


July 17, paid Hampton Water Co. $175.00


Aug. 26, Warren B. Moulton, repair on walk 15.27


1919


Jan. 8, Rockingham Light & Power


Co .. 150.00


Feb. 1, Hampton Water Co. 175.00


Rockingham Light & Power Co. 26.08


Warren B. Moulton, repair on walk . 16.51


18, Albert Bachelder, borrowed


money 150.00


Albert Bachelder 30.90


To balance account 267.16


$1,005.92


Due from uncollected taxes $148.63


state. 31.01


Appropriation for 1919


1,000.00


JAMES L. BACHELDER, Treasurer.


I have examined the foregoing account and find it correctly cast and properly vouched.


GEORGE A. BOYNTON, Auditor. ALBERT BACHELDER, EMMONS T. BROWN, DAVID H. EVANS, Commissioners of Little Boar's Head Village District,


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School Report


To the Citizens of North Hampton:


In submitting our annual report, there is much that could be said; we wish to make it brief as possible, and give you such information as we deem important.


Changes in school work are constantly taking place, new laws and regulations are placed before us each year, and at the present time we find our schools largely directed by State laws, the object being to give the children in small towns, as far as possible, an equal advantage with those in the large towns and cities. Much improvement has been made along these lines in the past ten years. House Bill, Number 262, which is now before the Legislature, will make some changes in our school laws. Some of the important matters mentioned are a State Board of Education, consisting of five members, in addition to the governor as member ex-officio. To form supervisory districts, appoint Superintendents, who shall be paid by the State, and each town shall pay the State two dol- lars for each child enrolled in the school for his supplort.


We are of the opinion that some improvement has been made in our schools the past year, and that the new system will show still better results in the coming year, as we have only got started at this time.


At the annual school meeting the Trustees of the Centennial Hall offered to turn over any right or title which they had in the building to the school district.


The offer of the trustees was accepted, and an appropriation of $5,000.00 was made to put the building in suitable condi- tion for schools, so it would meet the approval of State in- spectors.


A building committee was chosen, consisting of Mr. John W. Berry, Rev. Arthur S. Burrill, and the School Board, and Mr. Edward M. Smith was later added to this committee. Several meetings were held and no definite plans were made ..


26


The committee were advised that no plan would probably be approved unless made by a regular school house architect.


By recommendation and advice, Mr. Harold E. Mason, of Keene, N. H., was engaged to draw up a set of plans that would come within the appropriation. The plans were made and submitted for bids with all the best contractors and builders in this section. The specifications were such that not a bid was received. The lowest estimate on the plans sub- mitted was over $12,000. A settlement was made with the architect, and plans discarded.


The season was rapidly advancing, and nothing done. The situation was serious, if we expected to commence school at the usual time. Our prominent contractor and builder, Mr. Warren B. Moulton, was called to the rescue, plans were quick- ly made and work rushed to a finish, so that schools were opened the sixteenth of September.


The problem of heating the building was taken up from every point of view; it was decided, after consulting several heating and ventilating engineers, that steam heat was the best, most economical, and surest way to heat the building, considering both the hall and school. A contract was made with Mr. Arthur W. Brown, of Hampton Falls, on a cost and commission basis. The plant as arranged can heat the hall and school separate, or both together, as desired. The system has worked out very satisfactorily this winter.


The building as now arranged has four good school rooms on the first floor, Junior High, Intermediate, Primary, and Domestic Science. Manual Training in the basement.


The hall remains intact; outside of few improvements nothing has been changed.


The State Superintendent has inspected the building, and every thing is satisfactory and highly complimented.


Considerable equipment has been procured for Domestic Science and Manual training.


Much interest has been taken in the Junior High. The course for ninth and tenth grades would not be approved, unless we employed another teacher; it was decided best to put all the


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time on the seventh and eighth grades for this year, and this was a wise course and all one teacher should attempt. The Junior High should be continued, and with more equipment.


Miss Doris McNeil took up the work in the Junior High, after taking special training along this line. Her work was highly successful, and results satisfactory in every way. The work was too much for any one teacher; she held the position until January 25, when she broke down under the strain, and was obliged to resign. Rev. Arthur S. Burrill has kindly acted as substitute until another teacher can be procured.


We were very fortunate in securing the services of Miss Mabel D. Philbrook, to take the Intermediate School; her work is highly commended.


Miss Helen Thompson, of Epping, has the Primary room, where she has won much praise in her excellent work.


Miss Anne Lord has the East School, where she has so long served with marked ability; her work has always been satis- factory in every way.


Miss Helen Johnson, of Newburyport, the supervisor of music, is meeting with good results in her work; a visit to the school will show what she is doing better than anything we can say.


It was found that the $200.00 appropriated for the well at Center school was not sufficient to guarantee satisfactory results, so the work was not attempted.


There was a good cistern, put in when the building was erected; on examination this was found in a good state of repair. A new filter, with new pipe and a pump, gives ample supply of water for both school and hall.


Appropriation should be made for painting the building on the outside the coming spring, as it has had but one coat of paint in eighteen years, and this was put on twelve years ago.


Also some interior work should be done in the hall. This hall is now the property of the town, it is our meeting place for most all the social affairs in the town, the place of meeting for nearly all our lodges. We have visitors here from many


28


other places. We should take pride in having a place that would be a credit to the town.


The town is now in a supervisory district, including North' Hampton, Rye, Greenland, Newington, and Durham.


We are fortunate in having as Superintendent Mr. C. H. Walker, who came here highly recommended. Mr. Walker is a hard worker, he has a good system, under his direction we. may expect excellent results the coming year.


At present time the town is entitled to 4-22 of the Super- intendent's time. On account of changes in our schools we have received considerable more than our share, secured by over work on Mr. Walker's part to get the schools in good- working order.


The expense of Superintendent at this time, to the town, is" $176.74, the State paying a like sum.


It is hoped the parents will visit the schools as often as- possible, learn the conditions, and be able to co-operate with the teachers in bringing the school up to its highest efficiency.


ALBERT E. LOCKE, NELLIE F. DRAKE, ADA E. MOULTON, School Board of North Hampton.


Report of Superintendent of Schools


Mr. Chairman and Members of the School Board of North Hampton:


I have the pleasure to submit my first annual report of the condition of the schools of North Hampton.


Since assuming the office of Superintendent of this district,. I have devoted, as nearly as possible, about four twenty -- seconds of my time to the schools of North Hampton. I have attended two conferences for Superintendents of the


29


-state, one at Keene, for the week beginning August 20th, and one at Concord in October. I have held one general teachers' meeting with all teachers of the district and one special meet- ing with the teachers of North Hampton. I have not been able to hold as many meetings with the teachers as I would have liked, due to the fact that the work has been so broken up, on account of several sieges of the influenza epidemic. I have had many private conferences with the teachers when I have given assistance, suggestions and directions regarding school management and methods of instruction.


You have been very fortunate in having an excellent corps of teachers, who are all working faithfully and getting good results. Their scholarship is excellent and their understanding and practice of the most recent investigations of correct peda- gogical practice is especially good. They have taken kindly any criticisms or suggestions I have offered and there is a fine . spirit of co-operation among them.


It is a great misfortune to lose Miss MacNeill's services at this time, due to a nervous breakdown, caused by too close application to her school work and a lack of vacation for about two years. She had successfully organized her school for the Junior High school work and was making good progress in the subjects of the new program, which the Board approved last summer and which received the approval of the State Super- intendent. Although Miss MacNeill had never had any special training for the Manual Training, by individual study she had "worked up" the subject and had begun to make a start with the same. It will be very difficult to find a teacher at this time, with the training and ability to carry on this Junior High school work, if we can find any at all. We have been searching for such a teacher, now, for about three weeks for the Durham Junior High and without success. The Rev. Mr. Burrill has very kindly consented to do the best he can with the work for a time, until we can get a regular teacher.


The work in all the schools has been much broken into and slowed up, due to the epidemic, and it seems doubtful to me, : since we have lost so many weeks, whether we can make them


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all up, and therefore accomplish all the required work of the- State Program, without, at least, keeping later than usual in the spring term. I know the teachers are all endeavoring to the best of their ability to cover all the necessary work, but it will not pay to do the work so hurriedly as not to do it thor- oughly.


During the months of December and January, we have been giving standard tests to all the pupils in the district, in the fundamental subjects, reading, writing, spelling, composition, and arithmetic, beginning with the fourth grade pupils. These tests and the method of administering and scoring of them have been practically the same or similar to tests which were given last year. I have not been able to get the records in full and tabulate the results of these tests as yet; besides, I have not been able to find the records of such tests for last year, so have- no former results to compare them with. However, the results of these tests will be preserved, and I plan to conduct similar tests next spring term, and we shall thus "hang up" tentative standards, which we shall expect our pupils and teachers to attain to or to excel.


I believe the new program for our Junior High School is working out well. This program calls for concrete work in several fields of knowledge, because it is believed that the development of the child in this period does not respond readily to drill and abstraction. The subjects are inspira- tional, instructive and experimental; in fact, most of the subjects of the Junior High School may be said to be there largely for explorational purposes. The boy or girl at this. time of life little knows what vocation or profession he may later wish to follow, so we believe in bringing him in touch with many fields of knowledge, such as Mathematics, History, Foreign Language, Science, and the Domestic or Practical Arts; and by so doing he frequently finds where his real inter- ests lie, i. e., he sort of finds himself.


The organization of our schools in North Hampton is much better now that we have the third teacher at the Center than it was before with only two teachers to handle all the work of


1


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the eight grades. Both Miss Thompson and Miss Philbrook, with three grades in their rooms and from twenty-five to thirty pupils in each room, have all the classes that it is possible for them to teach effectively and give to each child the individual attention that is essential. We may expect much more efficient work to be done now in the first six grades of the work of the elementary school as outlined in the State Program. The Board has also made a very progressive step by doing away with the teaching of the seventh and eighth grade work at the East School, as with the remaining six grades and from twenty-five to thirty pupils Miss Lord has still an exceed- ingly full program to accomplish. All of the seventh and eighth grade pupils of the town are much better taught in the Junior High at the Center, where they are brought in contact with a much broader curriculum, which is far better adapted to their interests and abilities in this period of their educa- tion. We hope that we shall soon be able to find a teacher, whose training and experience is such that she will be able to carry out the work for this school as outlined in the State Pro- gram. Another year, we may possibly be able to add the ninth grade work or the equivalent of the first year of High School. If we can, we would thus save the tuition now paid to towns outside the district for our first year pupils in other High Schools or Academies and also make it much easier and better for all parents, by holding our pupils for one year longer in our own schools.


On January 3, 1919, Mr. James N. Pringle, Deputy State Superintendent, in company with me, inspected the schools at the Center and expressed himself as much pleased with the work of remodeling the building last summer and the new organization of the school work. Later, I received a letter from Mr. E. W. Butterfield, State Superintendent, stating how pleased he was with the nature of Mr. Pringle's report, a copy of which I have since received. In this report, I find we are commended in many respects, while at the same time there are several suggestions and helpful criticisms which I can better take up with you personally. One thing particularly


32


that Mr. Pringle regretted was that no satisfactory ventilat- ing system was installed in connection with the new arrange- ment for heating, which seemed to him to be entirely adequate. He spoke in high terms of the work of the teachers, which he observed.


One thing which I would suggest is the organization of a Parent-Teachers-Citizen's Association in North Hampton. By means of such an Association I believe we might obtain closer co-operation between the home and the school, to the mutual benefit of the parent, teacher and pupil. Through this organization the aims of the teachers and the value of our methods could be demonstrated and dispersed.


I suggest that the Board, if anything, increase their recom- mendations for appropriations, since nearly everything, sup- plies, fuel, wages, etc., is on the increase. There is, especially, a very severe teacher shortage, the greater demand tending to increase wages materially. The opinion of educators every- where is that the present is no time to retrench, but rather that the schools, the keystone to sound American Citizenship, should be kept at the highest point of efficiency possible.


We have collected some school statistics for 1917-1918 as a part of this report, from a study of which you will see your per cent. of attendance for last year increased by 2.9 per cent. and the number of cases of tardiness decreased from 89 to 86. This is a very creditable record when we consider the ex- ceedingly severe winter we experienced last year. The other towns of this district fell down quite badly in this respect last year. Of course, our attendance this year has been lowered somewhat, due to the prevailing influenza epidemic; however, to date, it has been nearly as high as the average for last year. The attendance problem is one of our big problems and one of great injury to the best work of the schools. We appeal to the parents for their co-operation, in order that we may have better attendance and even less tardiness in the future.


Miss Helen C. Johnson has continued to give excellent service as Supervisor of Music and I refer you to her report,


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which is appended and made a part of this report, for informa- tion regarding the work in Music.


In conclusion, I wish to express my gratitude to all the teachers for their loyalty and co-operation in trying to make our schools what they ought to be, and to you, the Members of the School Board, for your support and advice.


Respectfully submitted,


C. H. WALKER.


Exeter, N. H., February 15, 1919.


NEWBURYPORT, MASS., February 1, 1919.


Mr. C. H. Walker, Superintendent of Schools, North Hampton, N. H.


DEAR SIR :- I have the honor herewith to submit my second 1 annual report of the Music in North Hampton.


Of course with Music, as with all the other subjects, the work has been impeded by the schools being closed through the epidemic.


With the exception of changing the course in the lower grades, the work has been carried on much the same as last year.


I think the last two years has made us realize as never before the value and necessity of having Music taught in the schools. Certainly if Music was considered essential in keep- ing up the morale of our armies, so that trained leaders were engaged to teach the boys to sing, I think we all must see the importance of having it taught to the children.


If the slogan, "I Hear America Singing," is to be fulfilled in the near future, the work must go on in our schools.


It is the instructor's first endeavor to have all the children sing and to obtain that result the simplest of rote songs are taught to the youngest children. These songs not only appeal to the children through the words and simple melodies, but at the same time they are unconsciously acquiring a taste for


34


good music, as the songs are taken from the best composers and many are folk songs.


In the second year notation is presented, first through the presentation of a song already familiar to the children. From then on the children receive drill in sight singing. Rote songs are still continued, however, for the artistic side of Music is not neglected through the drill period.


Through the year, standard hymns, folk songs, carols and patriotic songs are taught so that all the children may know the most familiar ones.


The results obtained, depending on the ability of the pupils and their interest in the work, have varied in the different grades.


The instructor wishes to take this opportunity to thank all who have co-operated with her in her work.


Respectfully submitted,


HELEN C. JOHNSON, Supervisor of Music.


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SCHOOL STATISTICS


"School and Teacher


Boys


Girls


Av. Daily


Attendance


Cases of


Tardiness


Per cent.


Attendance


Grammar


27


16


33.47


25


91.69


Doris L. McNeill


Primary


19


22


28.65


58


91.5


Lila C. Moulton East . . 11


12


17.73


3


93.16


Anne H. Lord


·


Music Supervisor, Helen C. Johnson.


Visits by Superinten dent, 90; by School Board, 15; by others, 135.


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T


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PROMOTION AND RETARDATION


Grades .


1


2


3


4


5


6


7 8 Total


No. promoted .


9


11


11


9 12


12


8


5 77


No. not


pro-


moted


3


1


.


1


1


1


-7


No. not pro-


moted on sec-


ond trial 2


1


1


4


Aver. age Sept. 1 6.3 7.5 7.9 8.9 10.5 10.8 12.5 14


ENROLLMENT BY GRADES, FALL, 1918


Grades .


1


2


3


4 5


6


7 8 Total


Junior High


12


8 20


Intermediate


8


8


8 24


Primary


6


7


7


. .


. .


20


East


7


2


5


4


2


6


29


Total 93


ROLL OF HONOR


Perfect Attendance Two Years Wilfred Cromie Perley. Rollins


Perfect Attendance One Year


Leavitt Moulton


Clarence Marston


Josephine Moulton


Arthur Burrill


Mary Lamprey Francis Carter Morris Lamprey


Perfect Attendance Two Terms


Ruth Carter. Basil Smith Teele Whenal Prentis Moulton


William Carter John Mackenzie


Nellie Moulton Frank Hobbs


John Twomey


Stanley Carter


Ramona Hill Wesley Carter


Hayden Brown


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Perfect Attendance One Term


Fred Dalton


Gordon Dow


Gladys Carter


John Moulton


Mildred Dow Evelyn Clark Eula Parshley


Raymond Chevalier


Lena Dow


Margaret Brown


SCHOOL DISTRICT OF NORTH HAMPTON, N. H.,. FINANCIAL STATEMENT, AUGUST 31, 1918,


Receipts


Balance from last year $1,180.73


Received from Town Treasurer, regular .. . 6,954.50


Received from Town Treasurer, extra money :


Received from Literary Fund


90.00


Received from dog tax


101.00


Miscellaneous receipts


1.98


$8,328.21


Disbursements


Teachers' salaries (regular)


$2,457.00


Salary of music teachers


231.40


Text books.


73.26


Reference books


47.99


Supplies


199.66


Flags


3.84


Clerical expenses


3.00


School Board, salaries and expenses


57.23


Other district officers


25.00


High School tuition


738.34


Transportation of pupils


964.75


Building supplies .


29.51


John Drysdale


. Carl Clark Elisabeth Dow-


37


Repairs


$715.28


Janitor service :


241.25


Fuel


241.79


Water


15.70


Insurance


82.00


Graduation expenses


22.65


Superintendent's salary and expenses


336.14


Labor


50.44


Teaming and livery


33.56


Remodeling Center School house


404.81


$6,974.60


Balance in treasury .


1,353.61


$8,328.21


EDWARD M. SMITH, Treasurer.


NORTH HAMPTON, September 9, 1918.


We certify that we have this day examined the accounts of Treasurer of School District and find them correctly cast and properly vouched.


JAMES F. LEAVITT, RAYMOND O. HOBBS,


Auditors.


BIRTHS Registered in the Town of North Hampton N. H., for the year ending December 31, 1918


DATE-1918


PLACE OF BIRTH


SEX


NO. OF CHILD


COLOR


CHILD'S NAME


FATHER'S NAME


MOTHER'S NAME


January


11


North Hampton


M


5


W


John William


January


25


Portsmouth


1


James Albert


April


15


North Hampton


F


4


Annie


June


18


Exeter


M


1


Martin Clarence


July


10


North Hampton


F


5


Margaret Isabella Amy May


August


5


North Hampton


1


1


Mabel Elizabeth


August


28


Exeter


August


31


North Hampton


M


2


¥


Norman Edward


September


3


North Hampton


2


John Kenneth


September


30


Exeter


F


1


Eleanor Irene


October


10


Portsmouth


5


Mary Virginia


October


15


North Hampton


4


Dorothy Lois


December


3


Boston, Mass.


1


Katherine Mary


John Whenal James L. Bachelder Cecil R. Seavey Martin J. Corliss William Drysdale Clarence L. Fogg Herman L. Norton Edward S. Marston Chester E. Seavey George A. Moore


Carrie Marston Viola Redden


Jennie Eastman Annie M. Dalton Margaret Cannon Phebe G. Storer Mary E. Young Addie Burleigh Margaret Brown Sarah Bennett


Asa A. Booker Harry E. Carter Leslie H. Page


Emma Brown Nellie Marston K. McDonough


1


MARRIAGES Registered in the Town of North Hampton, N. H., for the year ending December 31, 1918


DATE-1918


PLACE OF MARRIAGE


NAMES


RESIDENCE


AGE


September 10


Hampton


Edward J. Taylor Lillie G. Dyer


North Hampton North Hampton


61


51


November


6


Portsmouth


Ernest R. Flanders Georgie R. Day


North Hampton Portsmouth


34


29


DEATHS Registered in the Town of North Hampton, N. H., for the year ending December 31, 1918


DATE-1918


NAME


Yrs.


Mos.


Days


March


27


Daniel W. Dalton


69


10


6


Daniel Dalton


Martha Brown Harriet Fowler


April


11


Ellen Tobey


May


30


William A. Godfrey


34


3


22


William C. Godfrey


Eliza Marston


May


31


Levi W. Fogg


72


11


13


David Fogg


June


19


Mary E. Leavitt


70


9


21


. David M. Dow


Mary C. Knox


July


3


William P. Fowler


67


9


Asa Fowler


August


11


George D. Cotton


72


8


20


Jonathan Cotton


August


13


Daniel Fisher


80


4


6


Brewster Fisher


October


12


Sarah A. Moore


21


6


5


Samuel Bennett


October


20


C. Osgood Garland


17


2


19


Charles L. A. Garland


November


17


Levi W. Dearborn


86


10


11


Jeremiah Dearborn


Alice Jones Hannah Dearborn


AGE


NAME OF FATHER


NAME OF MOTHER


Joseph A. Fenwick


66


21


Ezekiel Fenwick


Abbie Hobbs


Mary W Sleeper


معد شا


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


SELECTMEN, TREASURER


HIGHWAY AGENT


BOARD OF EDUCATION


AND OTHER OFFICERS


OF THE TOWN OF


NORTH HAMPTON


FOR THE YEAR ENDING


JANUARY 31, 1920


EXETER, N. H. Che Pews-Letter Press 1920


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


SELECTMEN, TREASURER


HIGHWAY AGENT


BOARD OF EDUCATION


AND OTHER OFFICERS


OF THE TOWN OF


NORTH HAMPTON


FOR THE YEAR ENDING


JANUARY 31, 1920


EXETER, N. H. The news-Letter Press 1920


Town Officers


Moderator IRVING W. MARSTON Town Clerk JAMES F. LEAVITT Selectmen


GEORGE G. CARTER


IRVING W. MARSTON


LEWIS D. HILL


Tax Collector GEORGE L. SEAVEY


Treasurer OTIS S. BROWN


Representative to General Court GEORGE A. BACHELDER


Highway Agent ELMER J. SMITH


Supervisors of the Check List


ORRIN B. LEAVITT


JOHN W. BERRY ·


ARTHUR A. BROWN


JESSE E. BILLINGS


Board of Health ALBERT BACHELDER


EDWARD C. MARSTON


EDWARD M. SMITH


AUSTIN J. NORTON


ELEANOR F. DRAKE


ADA E. MOULTON


Library Trustees


FRED L. DOW


ADA E. MOULTON


Fire Warden ARTHUR E. SEAVEY


Trustees of Trust Funds


EBEN L. DALTON


ORRIN B. LEAVITT


OTIS S. BROWN


Police and Constable


Auditors


Board of Education




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