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ANNUAL REPORT
of the
TOWN OFFICERS
of
Middleboro, Mass.
for the
YEAR 1917
LEE
R
PLYMOUT
COUNTY
INCORPORATE
THE NAMASKETT PRESS Middleboro, Mass. 1918
3
TOWN OFFICERS 1917.
Town Clerk
ALBERT A. THOMAS
Term Expires 1918
Treasurer and Collector ALBERT A. THOMAS
Selectmen
EDWARD H. CROMWELL
Term Expires 1918
BOURNE WOOD
SYLVANUS T. LeBARON
Term Expires 1919 Term Expires 1920
Assessors
ALLERTON THOMPSON
Term Expires 1918
BENJAMIN C. SHAW
ALBERT T. SAVERY
Term Expires 1919 Term Expires 1920
Overseers of the Poor
ALLERTON THOMPSON Term Expires 1918
CHARLES M. THATCHER
Term Expires 1919
WILLIAM M. HASKINS Term Expires 1920
School Committee
GEORGE W. STETSON Term Expires 1918
THEODORE N.WOOD
Term Expires 1918
REGINALD W. DRAKE
Term Expires 1919
E. T. PEIRCE JENKS
Term Expires 1919
GRANVILLE E. TILLSON Term Expires 1920
JOHN V. SULLIVAN Term Expires 1920
Superintendent of Schools CHARLES H. BATES
4
Municipal Light Board
HARLAS L. CUSHMAN BURTON DINSMORE
WILLIAM A. ANDREWS
Term Expires 1918
Term Expires 1919 Term Expires 1920
Board of Health
DR. LEONARD A. BAKER
Term Expires 1918
CHARLES W: CLARK
RICHARD P. BYRNES
Term Expires 1919 Term Expires 1920
JOHN H. WHEELER, Health Officer and Agent of Board
Superintendent of Streets WILLIAM H. CONNOR
Registrars of Voters
LORENZO WOOD Term Expires 1918 WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN Term Expires 1919
WALTER M. CHIPMAN
-
Term Expires 1920
Trustees of the Public Library
HENRY W. SEARS
Term Expires 1918
GEORGE E. DOANE
Term Expires 1918
KENELM WINSLOW
Term Expires 1918
ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term Expires 1919
EDWARD S. HATHAWAY
Term Expires 1919
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term Expires 1919
WALTER L. BEALS
Term Expires 1920
Term Expires 1920
WALTER SAMPSON NATHAN WASHBURN
Term Expires 1920
Constables
WILLIAM CHAMBERLAIN FRANK W. HASTAY G. LOUIS HATHAWAY GEORGE H. MORSE FRED C. SPARROW
CHARLES M. THATCHER ICHABOD B. THOMAS CLARENCE E: THOMAS
Fish Wardens
BOURNE WOOD EDWARD H. CROMWELL GEORGE H. KEEDWELL
Tree Warden Auditor
LUTHER S. BAILEY WILLIAM W. BRACKETT
Moth Superintendent JOHN J. FOWLER, JR.
Forest Warden WILLIAM H. CONNOR
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE of Town of Middleboro, Mass.
for the
YEAR 1917
9
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ORGANIZATION, 1917-1918
GRANVILLE E. TILLSON, Chairman.
CHARLES H. BATES, Secretary.
MEMBERS
Term Expires
GEORGE W. STETSON, 118 So. Main St., 1918
THEODORE N. WOOD, 15 School St., 1918
E. T. PEIRCE JENKS, 26 No. Main St., 1919
REGINALD W. DRAKE, 45 Peirce St., 1919
GRANVILLE E. TILLSON, 114 So. Main St., 1920
JOHN V. SULLIVAN, 114 So. Main St., 1920
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
CHARLES H. BATES, 25 East Grove St. Telephone 81-W 1
Office, Room 7, Town Hall Telephone 81-R
Office Hours, School Days: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5 P. M., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 9 A. M.
10
Regular meetings of the School Board are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, excepting July and August, at 7:30 P. M.
All bills against the School Department should be sent to the Secretary's office not later than the Wed- nesday preceding the first Thursday of each month.
MEETINGS 1918-1919
1918
Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, June 27, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5, Dec. 26.
1919
Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, June 26.
SUB-COMMITTEES
Thomastown, South Middleboro, Rock and Highland Schools, GRANVILLE E. TILLSON.
School Street, Fall Brook and Purchade Schools, THEODORE N. WOOD. High, Green and Waterville Schools, E. T. PEIRCE JENKS. Union Street, Town House and Wappanucket Schools, GEORGE W. STETSON.
Forest Street, Pleasant Street and Plymouth Street Schools, REGINALD W. DRAKE.
West Side, Soule and Thompsonville Schools, JOHN V. SULLIVAN.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
DR. JAMES H. BURKHEAD, 11 Peirce Street.
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SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER
SAMUEL S. LOVELL,
210 Centre Street.
JANITORS OF CENTRAL BUILDINGS
High School, CHARLES H. GOODWIN, Forest St. Ex- tension.
Union Street and Town House Schools, S. EDWARD MATTHEWS, 7 School St.
School Street School, THOMAS S. PHINNEY, 24 Pearl St.
Forest Street School, MARTIN HANLEY, 85 Oak St. West Side School, SAMUEL S. LOVELL, 210 Centre St.
TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
In School Committee.
Jan. 3, 1918.
Voted :- That the reports of the Secretary of the Board, Superintendent of Schools, Principal of the High School, Supervisors of Manual Arts, Music, and Penmanship, School Physician, School Attendance Of- ficer and Treasurer of the Stamp Saving System be ac- cepted and presented to the town by the School Board.
CHARLES H. BATES,
Secretary.
12
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Thirty-Third in the Series
Middleboro, Mass., Jan. 2, 1918.
To the School Board:
In accordance with your regulations I present the following report on the present condition and needs of the schools :
ATTENDANCE
The following table shows the attendance record for the year ending June 21 :
Central Schools
Suburban Schools
Total
Number of pupils,
1203
441
1642
Average membership,
1092
371
1463
Average daily attendance,
1044
354
1398
Percentage of attendance;
95.6
95.4
95.5
Cases of tardiness,
1083
450-
1533
Cases of dismissal,
443
146
589
Cases of truancy,
9
6
15
Cases of corporal punishment,
29
11
40
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS
The increase in membership the present year in many of the Central Schools, with nearly every school room filled to its seating capacity, emphasizes the need of more school room at once.
While the erection of a new High School building would relieve this congestion, yet as this is not likely to be done for a year or two, the present conditions must be met in some other way.
To meet the present demands I would recommend a two-room annex at the Union Street building and the removal of the Portable building in the rear of the
13
School Street building to the West Side grounds. This would furnish adequate accommodations until the oc- cupancy of the new High School building.
HIGH SCHOOL
The enrollment at the High School continues to in- crease each year and the inadequate accommodations become more and more apparent. From an enroll- ment of 171 pupils in 1908 it has increased in ten years to its present membership of 284-a gain of 113 pupils.
During this time the work of the school has been widened by the addition of commercial studies. There are now 10 teachers, two of whom are required for the commercial work. The commercial department has increased rapidly.
At the present time the number taking the work is as follows :
Bookkeeping 77, Stenography 68, Typewriting 77, Commercial Arithmetic 43, Penmanishp 45. It was necessary to purchase 11 new typewriters this past term to meet the demand. These were paid for by the Peirce Trustees. A new building would give opportu- nity for better facilities in this work.
We should like to broaden the scope of the work still more by the introduction of domestic science courses and manual training work, but this is not possible in the present building. As the entering class will be larger each year, more coming from Lake- ville and our own schools, the necessity of a new build- ing as soon as possible is evident.
These four things are now necessary :
1. Better accommodations.
2.
A larger teaching force.
3. More time for supervision by the Principal.
4. A higher maximum scale of salaries for the fe- male assistants.
A pleasing feature connected with the history of this school the past year was the conferring on Principal Sampson last June by Dartmouth College of the honor- ary degree of Master of Pedagogy in recognition of his faithful and successful work in this school covering a period of twenty-seven years. It is an honor richly
14
deserved and a merited recognition of the excellent preparation for college that has distinguished the school for many years.
CENTRAL SCHOOLS
During the past year there have been but two changes in the teaching force. The permanency of the teaching corps is an important factor in their success. Of the 21 teachers now in service in these schools 16 are on the tenure list and 15 of these are residents of Middleboro.
The West Side section of the town is increasing in population and the need of more school room there is evident.
We are now sending to the School Street and Town House Schools from this section the seventh, eighth and ninth grades and a few pupils from the fifth and sixth grades to relieve the congestion in that building.
The Central schoolrooms are now nearly all filled to their seating capacity and many of them are too large for any teacher to do her best work. These grades should be so arranged as to give fewer pupils to the teacher.
The entering class at Union Street School has regis- tered 61 pupils the present year and a student-teacher from the Bridgewater Normal School is assisting the teacher in her work. A census of this grade shows that in April when the school census is taken, 9 will be between 7 and 8 years of age, 41 between 6 and 7, and 11 between 5 and 6. If the present arrangements are to continue then the age of admission to this grade should be raised so that no child under 5 years and 6 months in September should be permitted to enter.
With a somewhat changed plan, since this grade was placed on a half-time plan, and with an increase in membership, it is thought much better results would be obtained by placing the pupils on a full-time school day.
At the West Side School during the winter term an evening school was conducted by the teachers in that building, assisted by a few outside teachers, with good
"
15
results.
It is pleasing to note that four pianos have been placed in these schools the past year-two in the Union Street building, one in the School Street build- ing and one in the Town House School.
The congested condition in these schools will call for a new arrangement in the grading next September. To meet these conditions I submit the following plan for consideration :
West Side School
Portable. Grades 4, and 5, 40.
Room I. Grade 1, 40.
Room II. Grade 2, 40.
Room III. Grades 3 and 4, 41.
Room IV. Grades 6 and 7, 42.
Forest Street School
Room I. Grade 1, 41. Room II. Grade 2, 41.
Union Street School
Annex.
Room 1, Grade 1, 40.
Room II. Grades 2 and 3, 46.
Main Building.
Room I. Grade 2, 46.
Room II. Grade 3, 47.
Small Rear Room. Grade 1, 25.
Small Rear Room. Grade 5, 27.
Town House School
Grades 7 and 8, 100.
School Street School
Room I. Grade 4, 40. Room II. Grade 4, 42. Room III. Grade 5, 45. Room IV. Grade 6, 45.
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Room V. Grades 5 and 6, 47. Room VI. Grade 7, 44. Room VII. Grade 9, 48. Room VIII. Grade 9, 48.
The above grading, based on the December enroll- ment, clearly shows the need of more room than now available to accommodate the schools next September. If the additional room is not provided a serious conges- tion will be present.
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS
The matter of consolidating the Suburban Schools in different sections of the rural districts was quite fully presented in the report of last year.
This seems to be the only solution financially and educationally for the best interests of the suburban districts.
It is a vital question which should receive emphatic endorsement by the parents of these districts.
I hope when industrial conditions are more normal and the uncertainty now present owing to war condi- tions shall have been changed, this problem may re- ceive the attention it deserves for the best welfare of the pupils in these schools.
To relieve the congestion at the Fall Brook and Pur- chade Schools the past term, pupils in the upper grades were transferred to the Central Schools.
The Suburban Schools are fortunate in retaining nearly the same corps of teachers the present year, there having been only one change. The increase in salaries has been one reason for this. Pupils in these schools promoted to the ninth grade in June should be given opportunity to attend the School Street School, especially if they are preparing to enter the High School.
SALARY REVISION
The salaries of the elementary teachers, exclusive of principals, were increased in September, 1916, so that all teachers on the tenure list received $600 in the
17
Central positions and $550 in the Suburban position. Other grade teachers n the Central Schools were. in- creased to $550 and in the Suburban Schools to $500. This increase in nearly all cases in the Central Schools amounted to $106 for each teacher, and in the Subur- ban Schools to over $50 in nearly each case, and in- cluded 34 teachers with a total annual increase of $3,- 000. Last June the salaries of all the Suburban teach- ers were increased $50 each, a total annual increase of $650.
In June the salaries of all the High School teachers were increased, the annual increase amounting to $652. The total increase in all grades has been, therefore, since September, 1916, $4,402.00
I would recommend the adoption of a salary sched- ule that will make $800 the minimum scale for female assistants in the High School, $700 for the salary of each female principal in the elementary schools, $650 for the maximum salary of female teachers in the Central elementary schools, and $600 as the maximum salary in the Suburban Schools on regular time plan. I would also recommend that the janitors of the Cen- tral school buildings be given an increase in salary the next school year.
A NEW COURSE OF STUDY
1
During the summer vacation an outline course of study in arithmetic, reading, language, grammar, geo- graphy and history was prepared and placed in the hands of the teachers at the opening of the school year in September. It covers the work of each grade in each of these studies beside containing many valuable and helpful aids in teaching and presentation of these subjects. It also contains a course in the "History of Middleboro" for the grammar grades.
The studies of the lower grades are more definitely outlined, while the work of the upper grades is given by topics. . It is hoped by this systematic outline to be able to carry on the work more uniformly and with a more definite aim.
18
MEDICAL REGULATIONS
A pamphlet covering the duties of the School Phy- sician and also containing directions by the School Phy- sician to the teachers of the Central and Suburban Schools has been issued the past year. This places the subject of the regulations concerning health matters on a more systematic basis and clearly defines what is expected of the School Physician and what is re- quired of the teachers in the matter of health require- ments and contagious diseases.
Parents may feel assured that under the present plan of medical inspection and the regulations cover- ing contagious diseases their children in school are carefully looked after, and every precaution taken to guard against contagious diseases and their spread in the schools.
CIRCULAR LETTERS
A new plan for assisting work in the grades was started at the opening of the school year and has met with much success. It consists of sending from the Superintendent's office from time to time circular let- ters bearing on different phases of school work and presenting a survey of interesting school problems. 26 of these letters were issued last term and the plan will be continued through the year.
The subjects of a few of these circulars will give an idea of the plan: "Marking of Pupils," "Promotion of Pupils," "Repeaters in the Grades," "Exercises in Concentration," "Supervised Study Periods," "Efficien- cy of the Teacher," "Weaknesses in Grade Work," "Plans for Recitation in Different Studies," "Profes- sional Reading of Teachers," "Determining a Teach- er's Efficiency in the Boston Schools," "The Teacher."
PATRIOTIC OBSERVANCES
It is a pleasing matter of record to incorporate in this report the part the schools have taken during the past year in matters pertaining to the world war.
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At the Preparedness Parade last spring the schools numbering over 1,000 pupils formed one division and called forth much favorable comment on their appear- ance. Again on the occasion of the departure of the young men from town for their training camp Oct. 3, the schools again, with larger numbers, formed an im- pressive part of the parade. On the occasion of the visit of the French envoys to Boston the pupils of the town contributed a substantial sum to be placed in the hands of these men for the benefit of the children of France who had been made orphans by the terrible ravages of war. At Christmas time the children con- tributed $83.40 for the children of the Allies to help bring a little Christmas cheer into their desolate lives.
In response to the call of the State for pupils of the schools to help in the matter of food conservation and government work, several boys and girls of the High School engaged in this work.
The pupils have been interested in making articles for the Red Cross and have shown their patriotism in many ways. Such service is a practical way of culti- vating in our schools a proper spirit of Americanism.
NEW PLAN OF PAYING TEACHERS
At the October meeting of the Board it was voted to place all the salaried employes of the school de- partment on a bimonthly payroll and that such em- ployes should be paid on and after the fifteenth and thirtieth of each month.
The school year is now regarded as the period be- tween September 1 and June 30, and the salary of each teacher ,therefore, is divided into 20 equal pay- ments-two for each month.
This method of payment is more satisfactory to the teachers, as they are not now obliged to wait so long for payment, and the necessity of making out monthly bills is now done away with as the Superintendent pre- pares the bimonthly payroll, which is signed at the Town Treasurer's office by each teacher on receiving payment.
20
HOME GARDENS
In common with other towns in the state Middleboro children have the past year been much interested in the subject of home gardens. A large number of the pupils of all grades, both in the Central and the Subur- ban Schools, have successfully carried on this work. Early in the season the Cabot Club took charge of the work and engaged F. N. O'Coin, Principal of the Town House School to supervise the home gardens. A finely arranged exhibition of the garden products was held in the Town Hall school room the latter part of Septem- ber and was visited by nearly 1,000 people. Prizes were given for the best individual and group exhibits and many of the pupils also won substantial premiums at the Brockton Fair. A pleasing feature of this work was the award to the schools of Middleboro by the di- rectors of the Brockton Fair of a silver cup as a sec- ond prize for the best town exhibit of vegetables in Plymouth County. The appropriation of $25 made by the town last March was given to the Cabot Club for carrying on this work. It is hoped that the present year will produce greater activity in this line of work and an appropriation for this purpose should be again made by the town.
MOTHERS' CLUBS
Middleboro has at the present time five organiza- tions closely identified with the interests of the schools. In the Central Schools are the West Side Mothers' Club, The Forest Street Mothers' Club and The School Street Mothers' and Teachers' Club. In the Suburban Schools are The Waterville Mothers' Club and The Fall Brook Mothers' Club. All these organizations have had a very successful season. Beside the inter- esting programs at their regular meetings these clubs have done much in the way of assistance in many needy cases. As the result of benefit entertainments at the local theatres a fund was raised by both the West Side and School Street Clubs which has been used in procuring shoes, rubbers and clothing for
21
needy children.
The Forest Street Club gave quite a sum to the Red Cross society, the proceeds of a very successful carn- ival on the school lawn in June.
The Suburban Clubs have not only been a social help in the communities, but they have been interested in many improvements in school accommodations. The Waterville Club has purchased a Victrola and a large flag for that school. Such organizations are mutually helpful and serve to bring the teachers and parents into a more sympathetic co-operation.
THE ANN WHITE WASHBURN SCHOLAR- SHIP FUND
The scholarship fund, established in 1916 by Hon. Albert H. Washburn in memory of his mother, to aid deserving students living either in Middleboro, Kings- ton or Rochester who wish to continue their education in higher institutions of learning, had, as its first Mid- dleboro recipient, Henry Francis Palmer, Jr., valedic- torian of the class of 1917.
From the income of the fund of $8,000, $150 was awarded to Mr. Palmer who entered Dartmouth Col- lege last September. This fund will be a great aid to worthy students and an encouragement to the young people of these towns who desire to fit themselves for some honorable calling.
The fund is not awarded for scholarship standing alone, but the trustees who have the matter in charge determine to whom such help may be deserving and can give aid in any sum within the income for a longer or shorter period to one or several students from these three towns.
INSURANCE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The matter of a wider policy in the insuring of school property was considered at the last annual town meeting and as a result all the Central school buildings together with their contents were insured for a term of five years at a cost of $1,110.60. Previous to this
22
date only the High School and School Street School buildings carried any insurance, with no insurance on their contents. By this action of the town ample pro- tection is given against loss by fire in any of these buildings.
TRUSTEES OF THE THOMAS S. PEIRCE FUND
I take this opportunity of expressing publicly an ap- preciation of the generous actions of the Peirce Trus- tees in so liberally financing matters of importance in the school work for the past 15 years. During this time they have among other things financed the in- stallation of a new heating plant in the High School building, purchased chairs for the Assembly hall, fin- anced the total expense of the commercial department, including payment of salaries, the cost of 30 typewrit- ers, typewriting tables and chairs, also payment of books and supplies, since the inception of that depart- ment, and during the summer vacation have installed a new system of sanitation and toilets in the basement at a cost of nearly $3,500. In addition to the expen- ditures in the High School they have paid for the ren- ovation of the Union Street building at the time of the fire in that building and also financed the cost of the installation of a new heating and ventilating system in that building.
It is a conservative estimate to say that during this time the Peirce Trustees have given from their funds over $25,000 for school purposes.
Surely the great benefit to the town by the generous bequest of the donor is well shown in what it has done for the cause of education.
REPAIRS
No extensive repairs have been made the past year, although quite a large sum has been expended on a few buildings. At the High School building the whole sanitary arrangements in the basement have been changed and up-to-date lavoratories with an excellent system of ventilation installed at an expense of nearly $3,500. This work was financed by the Peirce Trustees and, therefore, the expense incurred in the change does not appear in the financial report.
23
A new snow guard has ben placed on the School Street building and the floor in the Portable building repaired. The metal ceilings in the two upper rooms at the West Side building have been painted.
In the Suburban schools the only repairs of note have been in the Green, Fall Brook, Soule and Wappa- ® nucket Schools. The interior of the Wappanucket School has been thoroughly renovated, walls, ceiling and wood work having been painted.
At the Waterville School a new floor has been laid, the interior painted and roof shingled.
The ceiling at the Fall Brook school has been paint- ed. At the Soule School the interior has been reno- vated.
All the blackboards in the schools have been resur- faced and are now in good condition.
Many minor repairs have been made.
CONCLUSION
In concluding this report I wish to acknowledge my obligation to the School Board for their interest in the work of the schools and the policy followed in matters of school administration that have made my work of more value in directing the affairs of the schools.
I wish to commend the supervisors and teachers for their earnest co-operation and to express my appre- ciation of their faithful and efficient services.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES H. BATES,
Supt. of Schools.
24
-
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Charles H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir: I herewith submit a brief report of a portion of my 28th year as Principal of the Middleboro High School. There were four changes in teachers at the beginning of the fall term. Resignations were re- ceived from Miss Helen R. Scammon, Miss Gertrude M. Butler, Miss M. Lazelle Sutliffe and Miss Winifred A. Thomas, and Miss Florence L. White, Miss Mildred E. Rackliffe, Miss Agnes L. Shelton and Miss Sadie H. Pickard were elected to fill the vacancies.
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