USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Walpole > Annual reports of the town officers of Walpole, New Hampshire 1906 > Part 2
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By the recent death of Hon. Josiah G. Bellows the library com- mittee has lost a valued member, whose advice had been sought on all important questions and whose interest in the library was life- long and unfailing. His knowledge of books and his interest in the cause of education made his advice especially valuable and he will be greatly missed in the management of the library.
In order to meet the increased cost of lighting and the cost of coal, which is now paid out of the library appropriation and last year amounted to $65.61, as well as to enable the committee to pursue a liberal policy towards the branches at Drewsville and North Walpole, an appropriation of $500 is recommended.
Respectfully submitted,
HUDSON E. BRIDGE, Chairman.
THOMAS B. PECK, Sec., Treas.,
PATRICK E. GRIFFIN,
HENRY E. PUTNAM,
MRS. HUDSON E. BRIDGE, MRS. A. P. RICHARDSON,
MRS. ALFRED M. FOSTER,
MISS FRANCES M. SABIN,
MISS MARY H. BELLOWS, MISS ANNIE M. BUFFUM.
Library Committee.
29
LIST OF DONORS.
Charles B. Bedlington,
2
Pay Director Edward Bellows,
1
Hon. J. G. Bellows,
3
Miss Annie M. Buffum,
1
Dr. Richard Burton,
3
Col. Albert Clarke,
1
Col. Francis S. Fiske,
1
Rev. W. E. Griffis, D. D.,
2
Harper & Brothers,
1
Mrs. Lawrence Hatton,
1
Keene, city of,
1
Andrew R. Mason,
1 4
Mrs. James L. Mitchell,
1
New York, state. of,
1
Charles F. Palmer,
1
Ira W. Ramsay,
1
Thomas C. Rand,
1
Miss Anna C. Ray,
Reading Room Fund,
2 4 28 1
William P. Stoddard,
1
Miss Mary B. Stone,
2
Miss G. W. Treadwell,
1
U. S. Government,
14
80
TREASURER'S ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1906.
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand March 1, 1905, $26 10
Annual appropriation, 500 00
New Hampshire, state of,
Mrs. Norman Schults,
Small, Maynard & Co.,
30
Income of Mrs. F. A. Carpenter fund, Fines and use of books,
17 50
40 00
$583 60
PAYMENTS.
Miss Frances M. Sabin, services as librarian,
$133 80
Jarvis H. Hinds, services as janitor,
22 00
Books, 168 18
Binding and repairing books,
10 95
Express and postage,
8 60
Printing catalogue cards,
6 00
Care of building and grounds,
14 47
Stationery, printing, etc.,
2 00
Electric lights, 1 year to Feb. 1,
36 62
Water rate, 1 year, 6 00
Miss Anna C. Hartnett, services as librarian at North
. Walpole 1 year to March 1, 1906, 13 00
North Walpole Village district, rent of room 2 years. to March 1, 1906, 50 00
N. W. Holland, coal, 65 61
C. H. Slade, wood, 2 38
$574 61
Balance on hand,
$8 99
$583 60
31
REPORT OF WALPOLE CEMETERY COMMITTEE,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1906.
The town cemeteries have been cared for as usual during the past year. The cemeteries in Drewsville and on Carpenter Hill have been kept in order and the necessary attention has been given to the village cemetery. The entire cemetery has been raked over in spring and fall and has been mowed once in the summer. The driveways have been kept clean and fallen branches have been re- moved.
The lots supported by funds have received especial care. They have been mowed frequently with a lawn mower and were thor- oughly enriched last fall. A fund of $200 was received last year from the estate of Mrs. Theodore Schultz for the care of the M. J. Britton lot. A fund of $150 was received from the estate of Mrs. Anna E. Kibby of Worcester, Mass., for the care of the Heald and Munroe lots. There are now 23 funds for the care of special lots.
Six lots in the village cemetery were assigned during the year to residents of the town applying for them. There were 19 burials in the village cemetery in 1905, 14 were of persons residing in town and five were of former residents who were brought here for burial. Two persons dying in town were taken elsewhere for burial.
The roll of Union veterans buried in the village cemetery has received one addition. Leonard S. Cady, a soldier of the Rebellion, died at the Soldiers' Home in Tilton, December 23, 1905, and was brought here for burial.
-
32
The cemetery committee has met with an irreparable loss in the recent death of Judge Bellows, who had served on the board for at least twenty years continuously. He always took the greatest interest in the improvement of the cemetery and even since his re- tirement from active life his advice had been indispensable on ac- count of his good taste, judgment and experience.
An appropriation of $100 is recommended to meet the expenses of the coming year.
Financial Report of Walpole Cemetery Committee,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1906. .
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand March 1, 1905,
$29 69
Received from town,
100 00
Income Livingston fund,
10 50
Income Plaistridge fund,
7 00
Income Kilburn fund,
3 50
Income Allen fund,
7 00
Income Lucke fund,
15 15
Income Holland fund,
3 50
Income Genzer fund,
2 45
Income Booth fund,
3 50
Income Livermore fund,
3 50
Income Dickey fund,
3 50
Income Thayer fund,
3 50
Income Murray fund,
63
Income Selkirk fund.
17 50
Income Ball fund,
3 50
Income Martin fund,
17 50
Income Blanchard fund,
42
Income Mead fund,
4 38
Income Hooper fund,
3 50
Income Watkins fund,
2 62
33
Income Wier fund, Income Spaulding fund, Income Britton fund, Income Kibby fund,
2 33
1 75
1 75
44
$249 71
PAYMENTS.
Solomon Ballam, salary for the year,
$80 00
Solomon Ballam, extra labor on special lots, etc., 57 65
Drewsville cemetery, paid E. C. Belden, care,
13 60
Ellis Bros., plants,
6 30
G. H. Holden, fertilizing special lots and shrubs,
19 15
Balance in hands of committee,
73 01
$249 71 THOMAS B. PECK, T. NELSON HASTINGS, Committee.
We 5
34
SCHOOL REPORT.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Board and Citizens of Walpole :
As I have not been connected with the work all of the past year, my report can not be as definite as it otherwise would.
Citizens of the town in general will undoubtedly be impressed with the amount of school expenses during the past year. As su- perintendent, I can speak only of the amount expended for books and supplies.
The increase of the number of school children, the growth of the schools, and the demands of the times, make it impossible to run schools with the same appropriation as years ago. Every enter- prise costs more, and schools should be the leaders of progress.
Considering the high rate of tax. the school officers have en- deavored to cut the expenses as far as possible. When we think of the number of pupils in our school district, or town, the running expenses of our schools are not as high as one might at first think.
The last reports sent to the state department of Public Instruc- tion show the average expense of the "current expenses," per capita for average membership to be $17.36, as compared with that of the towns about us which run from $20.00 to $25.00 per capita. Also, because of our large number of pupils, we have received nearly $1,000 state aid.
Money invested in the education of the growing citizens of our town is the best possible investment, and the money thus expended should be considered an investment not an expense.
35
SCHOOL MEETING.
There are a number of important questions which ought to, and are likely to come up in our school meeting. As so much of the money raised by taxation is appropriated at the school meeting, and as action is taken on questions which are of vital interest to the welfare of our children, and highest good of our community, it is imperative to good citizenship that every voter should be present at this meeting and take an active interest in the questions con- sidered.
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.
We are fortunate in having an excellent corps of faithful, conscientious, hard-working teachers, and all of our schools have gone smoothly and done excellent work.
The report of the salaries paid by no means represents the value of the service of our teachers to the schools. Neither do the six hours' time required by school law at all indicate the amount of time, thought and energy which the teachers use in their school work.
The small financial compensation which teachers receive for their hard work still shows a deplorable condition of our public school system; yet as the greatest service to the world has always received the smallest financial reward, so the good teacher will work on with unabated zeal, regardless of the compensation, con- sidering only the mission of her work.
A teacher who is not willing to sacrifice selfish pleasure and her best energies for the success of her work, and ceases to learn and grow, has reached her highest limit of usefulness.
Only a few changes have been made from the corps of teachers in town last year. This condition has been very favorable for the success of the schools, as the best work can be obtained from con- tinued service of the teacher.
The work of our schools during the past year has shown a marked growth of onward progress; yet some conditions are not what they should be.
The moral atmosphere of the village schools is such as to de-
36
mand careful attention. The teachers have done their best to check the evil, but it is impossible to bring the morals to the high standard they should be without the carnest support and co-opera- tion of the parents and friends. We wish to thank the friends of the school for the hearty support they have given the schools, and we earnestly solicit your help in trying to improve this and other un- satisfactory conditions of the schools.
It is a credit to the intelligence and loyalty of the citizens of our town that they have so long held the service of such able and devoted teachers, and this faithful service can be compensated by the co-operation of the parents in raising the schools to that high standard of excellence.
It is most unwise and injurious to our school system for parents to oppose the regulations and work of the schools. A parent who takes his child out of school because he has some dislike for the teacher, injures the child and the educational interests of his com- munity. It is encouraging that this spirit is mostly in the past. In this age of advancement, time is too valuable for our schools to dally with such impediments to progress. Every person who has an interest in the success of our children and the welfare of our country, will stand firm in the support of our schools. No teacher is infallible. We can best help our schools by giving all encouragement and help to our teachers.
At North Walpole we have one of the best graded school sys- tems of the state, under the management of the competent super- vising principal, T. J. Barry. The good work of the new teachers with the excellent service of those who have been building up the school in years past, speaks fully enough of the success of the Wal- pole village schools.
The credit of the success of the graduating class of the Walpole Village Grammar grade last June is due to our efficient teacher as well as to the pupils who did so well.
I might speak of the good work of each teacher and school in- dividually, but it is sufficient to say that we are favored with the best of teachers, and are encouraged by the interest and enthu- siasm which the pupils have shown in their work.
37
HIGH SCHOOL.
The high school opened on a sound footing last fall with Chas. Savory as principal and Miss Annie M. Buffum as assistant. The good work of the past brought the school into a condition favorable for progress this year. The enrollment at the opening of school was larger than usual though it has fallen off some since.
The high school course, as now arranged, does not cover enough for a thorough preparation for college. The work of the course should be more complete, and, in order to raise it to the present standard required for college entrance, either more assist- ance in the high school is necessary or more should be done in the grades before entrance to the high school.
GRADING AND COURSE OF STUDY.
As was suggested in last year's report, the course of study which has formed the basis of gradation should be revised, made more definite and cover more work.
Last year, under necessity, the grading in the Walpole village schools was changed from nine to eight grades. This arrange- ment has proven unsatisfactory, as it is impossible to give the aver- age child an efficient preparation for high school in the eight years' course. It is almost imperative that some provision should be made for the nine grades, or a sub-primary should be provided for. Under the present conditions I would advise the latter proposition, if arrangements could be made so that our present efficient and much esteemed primary teacher could have the training of the new comers.
Nine grades, with a sub-primary have been maintained in the North Walpole schools during the past year.
On account of the increased number of pupils, it was necessary to fit up and equip another room and add another teacher to the teaching force of the North Walpole schools. The eighth and ninth grades which were together, were separated, Miss Duffy was engaged as teacher of the eighth grade and Mr. Barry took the ninth, thus giving him a part of the time for oversight of the other
38
grades. It was an encouraging feature that so many more pupils remained in school to take ninth grade work this year than in pre- vious years.
Miss Costello, who did such efficient work with the sub-primary, was called to a better position before the winter term opened, but her place has been ably filled by Miss McCarthy.
DRAWING AND MUSIC.
The music instruction has been conducted on the same plan this year as last. Drawing has been carried on by the regular teachers ; and we were fortunate in securing Miss Florence Nut- ting of Vermont academy to supervise drawing in the Walpole vil- lage schools the last of the year.
While the generally admitted fundamental subjects of the curri- culum should receive the most serious attention, the education of no child is complete without the polished, intellectual, and emo- tional training of such subjects as drawing and music. These sub- jects, especially vocal music, are sadly neglected in many schools. If we are to keep up with the educational progress of the times, we must give more attention to this line of training.
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
About one-half of the amount expended for books and supplies was expended before last September. I believe some adoptions were made before Mr. Richards left ; but during this school year no new books have been adopted. We have simply bought what books were necesary to fill in what was lacking of the regular adopted text books. Some supplementary readers have been added. The increase in number of pupils in the schools and the equipping of the extra room at North Walpole has increased the demand for supplies.
Books and supplies are the tools with which pupils may ac- complish the best work. Money used in purchasing what is necessary is well spent.
Though I had thought it could be done, I find it is impossible to furnish the pupils of this town with the necessary supplies on the amount of money appropriated. At least $900 should be ap- propriated, and $1,000 ought to be.
39
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The subject of an additional school building for Walpole village has been up for discussion before and ought to come up this year. I do not wish to urge the appropriation of any money unless it is necessary, but the crowded condition of the high school demands that some provision be made for a class room; and a laboratory is necessary. The conditions of the high school rooms now are neither comfortable nor favorable for health. The crowded, poorly ventilated and very poorly heated condition of the recitation room makes it very inconvenient and hard for the teacher as well as the pupils.
The grade rooms are all crowded and poorly heated and venti- lated. If a proper heating and ventilating system were installed, the expense of heating would be much less.
Though I am not partial, I believe that the plans Mr. Nichols obtained last spring, with a little alteration, if possible to lessen expense, would furnish a building with a heating and ventilating system which will meet the present and prospective future needs of the schools. Other plans might provide for the needed room, yet I very much doubt if any other plans could meet the demands and still retain the historic artistic front of the present high school building.
From an educational standpoint, as soon as the majority of voters of the district will consent, the No. 14 school should be united with the village, but if this is not done, the building should be repaired soon. The room is too small, with no ventilation. It must be reseated at once, as many of the seats are broken, and there are not enough to accommodate the pupils.
I am not an advocate of increased taxation, but I have made some suggestions of improvements which seem to be absolutely necessary, as soon as possible.
With the enlarged facilities in buildings and equipments, a greater range of elective subjects could be given in the high school, and there would be opportunity for much more work in business and scientific lines.
The conveyance of pupils has been very satisfactory this year ;
40
and the attendance in the central school has been much better than in the out schools. The union of schools has that advantage. It also greatly increases the interest to complete the seventh and eighth grade work and to enter the high school.
Every enterprise is conducted on a different basis than it was years ago, hence our educational system must be different to keep up with the progress of the times. Yet we may be too radical and not consider that the "old days" had anything good. By intro- ducing the nature studies, study of home geography and agricul- ture, and the better methods of studying the essentials, we are en- deavoring to give the boys and girls a practical education which will fit them for life's work. £ We should do all we can to make our schools adequate and encourage home education that our children need not go away for preparation for college.
I am confident that, on the whole, the schools of Walpole are progressing, and much credit is due the faithful teachers, as well as the school officers and citizens in general.
I wish to express my appreciation of the cordial support of the school board, the earnest co-operation of the teachers, and the in- terest of the citizens in general. I have not been able to get ac- quainted as much as I wished, but the pressing duties of my work do not give me the opportunity; but I assure you that my whole interest is for the success of your schools and the welfare of your children.
Respectfully submitted,
CARROLL H. DROWN, Superintendent of Schools.
Walpole, N. H., February 20, 1906.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
To the Town School District of Walpole:
The school board herewith respectively submits its annual re- port. The office of superintendent of schools was made vacant about April 1st by the resignation of Mr. Richards, very much to the regret of the school board. Mr. W. S. Nichols was chosen to
41
fill the vacancy or until another superintendent chould be chosen. The board was most fortunate in securing Mr. Carroll H. Drown of Johnson, Vt., who commenced his duties as superintendent about July 1st. Mr. Drown came to us well recommended and well qualified for the work and we are sure that under his wise manage- ment the improvement in our schools that has been so marked dur- ing the past few years will continue. We commend to your care- ful consideration his report. At our last annual meeting an ap- propriation was made to provide more and better accommodations for pupils at district No. 1. Plans for enlarging the high school building were secured but they called for an expenditure of a larger amount of money than was appropriated, so nothing has been done as vet in that direction. But there was an urgent demand for a recitation room for the assistant in the high school. The only practical thing to do was to enlarge the cloak room and use this room as a recitation room. This is wholly inadequate and was only done as an expedient. More room is an absolute necessity. Will the district make an additional appropriation so that these plans, which seem to meet the needs of the schools, may be carried out ?
Some permanent improvements have been made this year. San- itary closets have been placed in the basement of the building on School street, connection made with the town water and sewer sys- tem, and another room finished and furnished at North Walpole.
Our financial report, which follows, shows the receipts and ex- penditures for the year beginning and ending Feb. 15th. The bal- ance shown this year is about two hundred dollars less than last year. We have expended for fitting up the room at North Walpole and in kalsomining one of the buildings, work on grounds and other repairs about five hundred dollars ; for fitting up the recita- tion room in the high school building, putting in the sanitary closets, connecting with the town water and sewer system and for the plans for enlarging the high school building about nine hundred dollars. One additional teacher has also been employed at North Walpole. A part of this expense was anticipated and provided for in the estimates of last year, but the larger part was not. We have received from the state treasury in accordance with the pro-
We 6
.
42
visions of Sec. 6 of Chapter ?7 of the Laws of 1899, the sum of $972.39. This money has been used to pay bills as it was needed, and a balance of $476 on hand.
Mr. W. S. Nichols resigned from the board in November and C. H. Barnes was chosen to serve out the unexpired term. The school board greatly appreciates the interest and co-operation of the district for the past year and asks for its continuation another year, and for that liberality in its appropriations which shall make our schools second to none.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. BARNES, Chairman, H. E. PUTNAM, J. BARRETT, C. J. O'NEIL, J. W. GRAVES, E. A. WATKINS, School Board of Walpole.
ROLL OF HONOR.
Perfect attendance from August, 1904, to August, 1905.
Walpole Village .- High School: Jessie M. Barclay, Clifford S. Felch, May K. Richards. Grades: Harold Glazier, Minnie Clough, Harold Kilburn.
North Walpole .- James Shaughnessey, Mary Fitzgerald, Mar- garet Gallagher, James Wolfe, William Hayes, Alice Brown.
Drewsville .- Hazel Buswell.
43
STATISTICAL TABLE, FROM AUGUST, 1904, TO AUGUST, 1905.
SCHOOL.
TEACHER.
Length of school
in weeks.
No. of pupils.
Average daily at-
No. not absent or
tardy.
Supt.
No. of visits by others.
Wages of teacher per month.
High
F
Joseph D. Danforth
13
30
27
3
4
21
$80.00
High
W
Joseph D. Danforth
11
30
26
4
6
20
80,00
High
S
Joseph D. Danforth.
10
30
24
3
3
3
80.00
Gram
F
Elizabeth Bowers.
13
37
33
7
7
44.00
Gram
W
Elizabeth Bowers.
11
34
30
3
2
7
44.00
Gram
S
Elizabeth Bowers.
10
33
31
7
1
15
44.00
Inter
F
Ava M. Robinson.
13
48
41
6
6
16
40.00
Inter
W
Ava M. Robinson.
11
42
35
1
8
9
40.00
Inter.
S
Ava M. Robinson.
10
42
36
4
4
12
40.00
2d Prim
F
Annie B. Kimball
13
38
35
8
9
3
40.00
2d Prim
W
Annie B. Kimball
11
36
29
1
10
7
40.00
2d Prim
S
Annie B. Kimball
10
38
33
8
1
5
40.00
1st Prim.
F Carrie L. Wightman
13
45
41
10
3
18
40.00
|1st Prim.
W
Carrie L. Wightman
11
42
32
8
3
15
40.00
(1st Prim .. S
F
Thomas J. Barry
12
36
35
11
3
45
82.35
Grade 8 and 9
W
Thomas J. Barry.
12
33
15
3
10
82.35
Grade 8 and 9
S
Thomas J. Barry.
10
34
31
9
4
23
82.35
Grade 7
F
Helen R. Neyland
12
23
22
8
3
11
40.00
Grade 7
W
Helen R. Neyland
12
37
28
10
3
12
40.00
Grade 7
S
Helen R. Neyland
10
36
33
10
0
21
40.00
Grade 6
F
Clara M. Duffy
12
34
30
7
6
9
32.00
Grade 6
W
Clara M. Duffy.
12
-45
28
2
5
61
32.00
Grade 6
S
Clara M. Duffy ..
10
30
26
6
2
17
32.00
Grade 5
F
Margaret M. Flaherty.
12
38
13
4
20
32.00
Grade 5
W
Margaret M. Flaherty.
12
41
31
7
6
1
24
32.00
Grade 4
Mary A. Keefe ..
12
44
40
10
5
33
36.00
Grade 4
Mary A. Keefe.
12
44
41
7
2
9
36.00
Grade 4
Mary A. Keefe ..
10
41
33
2
0
18
36.00
Grade 3
F
Annie L. Donovan.
12
37
30
9
1
5
32.00
| Grade 3
Annie L. Donovan.
12
33
28
7
2
12
32.00
Grade 3
Annie L. Donovan
33
26
2
2
24
32.00
Grade 3
F
Mary M. Barrett
36
32
9
5
6
32.00
I Grade 3
W
Mary M. Barrett
37
31
3
4.
28
32.00
Grade 3
S
Mary M. Barrett
10
35
30
6
0
19
32.00
Grade 2
F
Anna C. Hartnett
12
34
31
8
5
37
40.00
Grade 2
W
Anna C. Hartnett
33
29
3
3
3
40.00
Grade 2
S
Anna C. Hartnett
33
27
2
0
24
40 00
Grade 1
F
Mary F. McCormick
12
44
38
6
4
5
36.00
Grade 1
W
Mary F. McCormick.
12
43
37
2
3
33
36.00
| Grade 1
S
Mary F. McCormick
10
41
33
0
1
12
36.00
Sub. Prim
F
Genevieve Costello
12
52
40
9
0
7
46.00
Sub. Prim
W
Genevieve Costello
12
49
33
0
1
17
46.00
Drewsville
F
Bessie L. Barker
11
22
17
3
4
23
32.00
Drewsville
W
Bessie L. Barker.
11
23
17
7
5
13
32.00
Drewsville
S
Bessie L. Barker. Lizzie Turkington
12
22
16
0
2
5
32.00
Christian Holl'w
W
Lizzie Turkington
12
19
14
0
3
49
32.00
Christian Holl'w
S
Lizzie Turkington
11
18
16
0
0
18
32.00
Division 14
F
Nellie H. Smith
11
18
13
0
5
13
32.00
Division 14.
W
Nellie H. Smith
12
19
13
0
4
17
32.00
Division 14.
S
Nellie H. Smith
12
19
16
1
2
28
32.00
1
2
6
46.00
Sub. Prim
S
Genevieve Costello
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