USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1900-1903 > Part 31
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8 00
66
M. P. Conley,
20 75
٤٠
..
66 Morgan Curran,
128 60
..
.. .. l'eter Curran,
20 00
..
Martin Curran.
23 60
Andrew Curran,
17 00
Renewals service pipe, labor P. Curran,
4 00
Morgan Curran,
87 00
Martin Curran, 66
2 00
64
Andrew Curran, 35 00
1,835 15
Rebate Account.
Fred L. Fisher, on service No. 869,
4 00
Stephen Conley,
863,
1 50
JJ. A. Bailey,
857,
4 50
Geo, Allen,
163,
2 10
Patrick Darcy,
"
821,
2 00
· P. Me Donongh,
805,
1 50
B. Contoy,
118,
3 00
Lewis Day,
13.
10 00
B. Curran,
705.
1 50
Mrs. JJ. E. ('Brien,
490
2 00
Thomas Lydon,
.. 815,
4 00
J. F. Brennan,
245,
2 50
39 00
Total orders drawn,
$18,889 98
Balance in treasury,
1,703 07
$20,593 05
18
Recapitulation, 1900.
For Sinking Fund requirements,
Water Takers' loan notes, (due January 1, 1901,)
750 00
Interest,
3,662 75
Maintenance,
344 49
Repairs,
20 38
Tool account,
4,073 58
Plant account, extensions,
419 76
Plant account, artesian wells,
34 87
Plant account, new valves,
1,835 15
Construction account,
39 00
Rebate account,
Orders drawn,
$18,889 98
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Water Commissioners, and find the same properly kept and vouched.
JAMES A. HARTSHORN,
FRANCIS E. EVERETT,
EBEN F. GAY,
Auditors.
$4.200 00
3,510 00
19
COST OF PLANT.
January 1900.
$160,640 36
EXTENSIONS.
Douglas Avenue, from Washington Street
to Winslow Avenue, $628 40
Quincy Avenue, from Savin Avenue, 309 17
Williams Street, from Clark to Lenox. 382 58
Upton Avenue, from Washington Street
to Highview Avenue, 247 58
Highview Avenue, from Morse Street to end, 1,125 36
Wilson Street, from end to Walpole line, 592 70
Cross Street, from Washington Street to end, 283 36
Rotten Row. from Market Street,
247 31
Linden Street, from Guild Street to Win- ter Street. 257 12
New valve on Washington Street main, 34 87
Artesian test wells (1899), 119 76
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
Service pipes, labor and mate- rial, $1,835 15
Less sales meters, etc .. 729 50 --- $1,105 65 $5,633 86
Total Cost of Plant January 1, 1901,
$166,274 22
20
CHAS. E. POND, TREASURER OF NORWOOD, in
DR.
1900.
Jan. 1. To Balance in treasury, $993 31
Received from Estabrook & Co., for 4
water bonds of the Town of $1,000 each, 4,000 00
Premium on same at $125 60, 502 40
7 Days accrued interest, 3 11
December coupons due on same, 80 00
Received from Edgar F. Roby, collector. 15,014 23
$20,593 05
21
account with the WATER COMMISSIONERS.
1900.
CR. By Commissioners' orders paid. $18,889 98 1901.
Jan. 1. By Balance in treasury, 1,703 07
$20,593 05
This is to certify that we have examined the accounts of the Town Treasurer with the Water Commissioners, and find the same correct and properly vouched.
JAMES A. HARTSHORN, FRANCIS E. EVERETT, EBEN F. GAY,
Auditors.
٠
1
TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
P UBLIC
S CHOOLS
OF
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1901.
NORWOOD, MASS. : ADVERTISER AND REVIEW PRESS. 1901.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1901-1902.
TERMS.
Winter term : January 7 to March 29,
Spring term : April S to June 21. Fall term : September 9 to December 20. Winter term begins December 30. 1901.
SCHOOL SESSIONS.
In Grammar and Primary Schools: 9 A. M. to 11.45 A. M .; 1.30 P. M. to 3.30 P. M. In High School : 8 A. M. to 1 P. M.
NO SESSION.
The signal for no session is given on the fire alarm : at & A. M. for a suspension of the morning session : at 12.45 P. M. for a suspension of the afternoon session.
HOLIDAYS.
Thanksgiving Day and the day following : February 22 : April 19 : May 30 : June 17.
ORGANIZATION 1900-1901.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Term expires in March
Marcia M. Winslow.
1901
John J. Geary,
1901
George W. Cushing. 1902
Edward W. Jewett.
1902
Mary J. Alden.
1903
Clifford B. Sanborn,
1903
George W. Cushing, Chairman. Mary J. Alden. Secretary.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
Finance. Accounts and Claims : Mr. Cushing. Mr. Jewett. Mrs. Winslow.
Schoolhouses and Supplies : Mr. Jewett. Mr. Sanborn. Mr. Cushing.
Text-books and Course of Study : Mrs. Winslow. Mr. San- born. Mr. Cushing.
Music and Drawing : Mr. Sanborn, Mrs. Winslow.
Truancy and Evening Schools : Mr. Geary. Mr. Jewett. Physical and Manual Training : Mr. Geary. Mrs. Alden. Sewing : Mrs. Alden, Mrs. Winslow.
SCHOOL AND LOCAL COMMITTEES.
High School : Whole Board.
Everett School : Mrs. Winslow. Mr. Jewett. Mr. Sanborn. Mr. Cushing.
5
North School : Mr. Sanborn, Mr. Jewett. East School: Mrs. Alden. Mr. Jewett. West School : Mr. Cushing, Mrs. Winslow. Balch School : Mrs. Winslow, Mr. Geary. Guild School : Mrs. Alden, Mr. Geary. Mr. Jewett. Mr Sanborn.
LIST OF TEACHERS IN THE EMPLOY OF THE TOWN. FEBRUARY 1. 1901.
HIGH.
N. A. Cutler. Principal. J. Florence Ditmars. Elzura A. Chandler. Lila B. Lewis.
296 Walpole St. 9 Beach St.
91 Pleasant St. Washington St.
EVERETT.
A. P. Wagg. Principal and Supt .. Cora A. Polk.
Marion F. Maddocks.
Bertha F. Howard.
Nina N. Doanan.
Willma E. Bowden,
S. Lonise Rhodes.
23 Linden St. 9 Beach St. 623 Washington St.
623 Washington St. 17 Cottage St. 623 Washington St. 66 Hoyle St.
GUILD.
Charles H. Taylor. Principal.
Grace B. Whitford.
Julia R. O'Brien.
Grace L. Newton.
Lizzie M. Fisher.
Grace Stoddard.
Florence M. White.
Florence M. Ferry
25' Beacon St. - 47 Cottage St. 4 Railroad Ave. 623 Washington St. IT Cottage St. 159 Washington St. 19 Wheelock Ave. 623 Washington St.
7
Grace M. Train.
Charlotte Mitchell.
Julia A. Donovan. Grace K. Blackman.
115 Nichols St. 96 Winter St. 11 Monroe St. 72 Cottage St.
Alice L. MeIntire. Ass't and Teacher of Physical Culture. 53 Howard St.
EAST.
Jennie Naylor. Martha B. Parker.
53 Howard St. 462 Nahatan St.
NORTH.
Florence Hill. Mande A. Woods.
396 Washington St. 317 Nahatan St.
WEST. Henriette M. Wenzel. Amie G. White.
19 Gates St. So. Boston. 19 Wheelock Ave.
BALCH.
Caroline M. Young. Maple St. Marion D. Shepherd. 623 Washington St. B. Harold Hamblin. Director of Music. 23 Dana Ave .. Hyde P'k. Annie A. Robinson. Supervisor of Draw- ing. 32 Cottage St.
Eva L. Miller. Supervisor of Penmanship.
623 Washington St.
Mary A. Medlearn. Supervisor of Sew- ing.
Dedham.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Norwood :-
The members of the School Committee submit, herewith, their report for the fiscal year ending January 31. 1901. We believe that in point of attendance and in the quality of the work accomplished, the year has been fairly prosperons: vet in our schools. as in every human institution, there is room for improve- ment. and a healthy dissatisfaction with existing conditions is a prerequisite to such improvement. More than any other public institution, the schools depend for their successful management upon the cordial and united support of all our citizens, and it is a pleasure to your Committee to be able to say that, as in former years, unjust and unkind criticism is conspicuous by reason of its absence.
The changes in the teaching force during the period covered by this report are indicated below. Mr. H. A. Halstead, after six years of faithful service as Superintendent. tendered his resignation to accept a lucrative position in another line of work. Mr. Halstead was a good superintendent and a good citizen, and did much to elevate the standard of our schools. It is a matter for congratulation that he is to remain a permanent resident of the town.
RESIGNATIONA.
H. A. Halstead, Sapt ..
Edith R. Noon, High,
. Nellie Henderson, Everett,
Anna K. Perkins,
* Grace B. Whitford.
AAPPOINTMENTS.
A. P. Wagg.
Lila B. Lewis.
Marion F. Maddocks.
Nina M. Doanan.
Willma E. Bowden.
* Transferred from Everett to Guild school.
RESIGNATIONS.
SCHOOL.
APPOINTMENTS.
Edith M. Whitford,
Guild,
Grace Stoddard.
Isabel Kingston,
66
Nan J. Grindle.
Grace K. Blackman.
Charlotte Mitchell.
Ella M. Gates,
West,
Henriette Wenzel. Winifrede A. DeWitt ..
Florence M. Henderson.
Balch,
Winifrede A. De Witt,
Caroline M. Young.
Teacher of penmanship,
Eva L. Miller.
Assistant and teacher of physical culture, Alice I. McIntire.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The attention of the Town has already been called to the im- mediate necessity of additional accommodations. There are now no unoccupied rooms. The number of pupils in the higher grades is larger than ever before. and more children are applying for admission to the first grade. We have this year been com- pelled to open three new rooms in the Guild building, and proba- bly an equal munber will be required with the beginning of the next school year. The erection of another building. of suitable size and in a central location, will also enable the Committee to bring about two changes that seem desirable .- to lessen the num- ber of pupils in many of the rooms and to admit to school in the spring term such children as become of school age between Sep- tember and April.
The increase in our school population during the past decade is shown in the following table :
TOTAL ENROLLMENT.
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE.
1891. 714
621
1892. 789 650
1893. 821
678
1894.
880
736
1895,
883
841
1896, 976
922
1897, 1,020
963
1898, 1,091
1,020
1899,
1,122
1,060
1900,
1,233
1,100
10)
FINANCIAL.
We give in tabular form a statement of the appropriation and of the expenditures for the year. The latter may be found in detail by reference to the report of the town treasurer. As will be seen. the appropriation has been overdrawn $203.50. a fact which was due to an increased attendance of pupils and to the consequent employment of additional teachers.
APPROPRIATIONS.
EXPENDITURES ..
Teachers. $16,800
$17.275.93
Janitors.
1.500
1.584.00
Sweepers.
200
210.80
Heat and Light.
1,900
1.963.02
Incidentals and Repairs. 1.700
1.542.05
Books and Supplies.
1,600
1.627.70
Insurance.
300
$24.000
$21.203.50
thendrawn. 8203.50.
An explanation of the estimates for the coming year involves an explanation of conditions with which the Committee are nat- urally more familiar than the general public. The only depart- ment in which any material increase of appropriation is asked for. is that indicating the expenditures for teachers' salaries. Wo ask for this increase to be used for two purposes -in employing additional teachers, and in increasing to a moderate extent the salaries of some of those whom we now employ. No person who has not had experience as a member of a school committee appre- ciates how difficult it is to retain the services of an excellent. teacher or to secure a teacher of satisfactory caliber, when a va- caney exists. Norwood is in the immediate vicinity of cities. and towns which pay large salaries to the members of their
11
teaching force. We are therefore, when employing new teachers. forced to compete with these places, and pay salaries approxi- mately equal or to accept the alternative -- to engage a teacher of inferior capacity. Your Committee do not believe the latter to be the proper course. A school is what a teacher is -- no better and no worse. A child goes through school but once. and unless he is properly taught. the possibilities with which his Creator has endowed him are never fully developed. And for the reason that all homes are not ideal homes and that all pupils do not en- joy equal opportunities for personal improvement and for per- sonal culture, there is no school which does not require a teacher of broad scholarship and of strong personality.
It would be manifestly unfair to compare our salaries with those paid in the wealthiest towns of the state. and it is equally unfair to use the smallest and the poorest towns as a basis for comparison. The three facts on which any comparison should be based are the relative population and valuation of the towns and a teacher's expenses for board, etc., during the weeks that constitute the school year, and a study of the statistics contained in the reports of the State Board of Education shows that Nor- wood suffers by such comparison.
This town has always dealt generously with her schools. The people of Norwood believe, as do your Committee. that money which is spent for educational purposes will come back to us fourfold. It comes back in the form of better citizens. of a more enlightened and a more progressive publie sentiment. The ex- cellence of its schools will be a source of prestige and of pros- perity to any town. To have excellent schools. we must have excellent teachers, and to have excellent teachers. it is imperative that they receive adequate compensation. We therefore ask for the following appropriation :
Teachers and Superintendent.
Janitors.
$20,500 1,600
Sweepers.
225
Heat and Light.
1.900
Books and Supplies.
1,800
Incidentals and Repairs.
1.700
Water Rates and Insurance.
500
$28.225
-
12
Accompanying this report are the reports of the superinten dent and of the supervisors of the special departments.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. CUSHING, MARY J. ALDEN, MARCIA M. WINSLOW, EDWARD W. JEWETT, CLIFFORD B. SANBORN,
School. Committee.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee :
I submit, herewith, my first annual report as superintendent, of the schools of this town. As I assumed the duties of the position less than six months ago, it will readily be seen that any extended comments or suggestions would be nnwise. The general condition of the schools was found to be satisfactory, and they have evidently enjoyed the advantage of capable teaching and' of intelligent and progressive supervision.
Appended to this report will be found the reports of the special teachers, and statistics relating to school attendance. 1 believe that the work of each of these teachers is worthy of commendation. Your attention is called particularly to the report of the supervisor of penmanship, in which the advantages of vertical writing are specifically set forth, and to that of the supervisor of music. whose recommendation merits your approval.
HIGH SCHOOL.
This school has recently been placed under the jurisdiction of the superintendent,-a custom which has not hitherto been obtaining in Norwood. The enrollment is now less than for several years. This is to be regretted. Taking a child from school at an early age, unless his physical condition makes sneh action necessary, is an injury to the child, and an injury that. will become all the more apparent when in later years he is forced to compete with those who have made the most of their educational opportunities. When you educate a child, you are increasing his possibilities of future usefulness : you are opening the door to a career that otherwise would be improbable or impossible : you are putting in his possession a power which he
14
will use, not merely for his individual elevation. but for the betterment of every man and of every woman whose paths lie parallel to his. With larger elasses graduating from the Everett School. and with a fuller appreciation on the part of parents of the economic value of an education. it would seem that the numbers should increase materially in the near future.
The High School is the summit of your school system. and is the college of a great proportion of the boys and girls of your town. It should be so managed. then. as to work the greatest good to the greatest number. There is a temptation, frequently vielded to, to over-emphasize the classical or college preparatory course. School officials emphasize it. mindful of the fact that their graduates after entering college. will meet in intellectual competition. the graduates of similar schools, and they are nat- . urally and rightly anxious that their school shall give a prepara- tion that shall be found entirely adequate. This ambition, laudable as it is, should not lead us to lose sight of the fact that in this town, as in every other town, the number of scholars who are desirous of securing preparation for a business-life largely exceeds the number who are looking forward to a technical or a collegiate education. If one boy ean secure in your schools at public expense. classical training, another boy should in all fair- ness, if he deserves it. be able to seeure business training. With the idea in view of making this possible, I recommend that your Committee organize in the High School, a distinctively commer- cial course, and that it be placed in charge of a teacher who has had special preparation for this line of work.
GRADING AND PROMOTION.
There is no phase of school work which requires more consid- eration, than do the grading and promotion of the pupils. Graded schools are an outgrowth of a condition and of a theory. The condition is that in every community there are to be found pupils who are approximately equal in age and in mental devel- opment. The theory is that by grouping these pupils into classes, the same quality and quantity of school work can be done with each pupil. thus leading to a great economy of the time and
15
labor of the teacher. That there are disadvantages to be found in the schools organized upon such a basis has long been evident and attempts are constantly being made to remove the cause of these disadvantages.
I desire, therefore. to call your attention somewhat in detail to improvements that should be made in the methods of classifi- cation and of promotion now in use in your schools The Course of Study is prepared upon a nine year basis ; that is. it is arranged so as to take a pupil of average ability nine years to complete the work of the elementary grades. Promotions are made in September of each year. It occasionally happens that a pupil exceptionally bright. is able to secure double promotion. thus omitting one of these years or grades. They do this by having outside assistance during vacations. It seems to me desirable to bring abont more frequent promotions by a rearrangement and re- organization of the classes in our grammar schools. Every course of study. as is intimated above, is prepared upon the basis of average accomplishment of the average pupil. There are of course pupils competent to do more work than the average pupil can do. just as there are pupils so constituted either physi- cally or mentally that they cannot or will not do as much as the average pupil. There may be found in every grade, pupils who may be classified as excellent. others as average, and still others as deficient. This is inevitable, no matter how careful and criti- cal a teacher may be in recommending pupils for promotion. To require from those three classes of pupils the same quantity of work during any given year is manifestly wrong. The excellent pupil certainly can accomplish more work than the others. This should be required, and he should be given the opportunity to do it. The pupil who is deficient should not be expected to do as much as the other two classes. The result is, when the excellent and deficient pupils are brought together in the same grade, that the work is too easy for the one and too difficult for the other, and the bright pupil is kept back while the teacher spends her time on the slower and less competent. The problem is, then, so to arrange the classes, that each pupil shall work to the full limit. of his ability, taking care that no pupil shall be over-worked. be-
16
cause of his ambition to excel. To do this the pupils of the va- rious grades should be classified according to their abilities and qualifications, and should be allowed to master the course of study as rapidly as they can do it well.
I recommend that the teachers from the fifth to the ninth grades, inclusive, be given permission to divide their classes into two divisions, as nearly equal in unmbers as circumstances will allow, the divisions being made by taking into account the age of the pupils, their ability and inclination to study. This plan, if carried out. would virtually give us semi-annual promotions, but with only an annual change of rooms and of teachers. Below the fifth grade this is already done, although the pupils have not made sufficient advancement to make either their natural defici- encies or those resulting from lack of application, apparent. The plan outlined above could not, even if adopted by your Commit- tee, be put in complete operation until after the expiration of the present school year without producing more or less confusion. As a partial and temporary substitute, I suggest the following for your consideration : That each teacher from the fourth to . the ninth grade be requested to send to the Committee the names of those pupils who could secure double promotion, by doing extra work during the eleven weeks which will constitute the interval between the spring and fall terms. There are many pupils who are considerably in advance of the requirements of their grades and who could without endangering their health spend a part of the summer vacation in study. This would be particularly true of those who are above the average age of their classes, and who have in the past developed physically more rapidly than they have mentally. To the parents of such pupils a statement could be sent of the exact amount of school work to be accomplished in order to entitle the pupil to admission to the higher grade. This would open the door leading to more frequent promotions, and would leave with the parent instead of the Com- mittee the duty of applying this plan of promotion to individual cases.
17
RECOMMENDATIONS.
That the salaries paid to the teachers be graded by the etti- ciency of the teacher rather than by the length of the period of service.
That regularity of the attendance of pupils be encouraged and rewarded by publishing in the annual report the names of those who are neither absent nor tardy during the year.
CONCLUSION.
I desire to express a lively appreciation of the cordial support with which your Committee have favored me. Most of the teachers by their kindly co-operation have added to the pleasure as well as to the profit of my service.
Respectfully submitted.
A. P. WAGG, Superintendent.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
The work in drawing is along the same lines as last year, doing a little more in each department and striving to attain a higher standard of excellence. The work in design for the spring months will add a new interest and lead the boys and girls of Norwood to a keener appreciation of the beautiful.
It would be a great advantage to the boys if something in the way of sloyd could be introduced into those grades in which lessons in sewing are given.
More interest has been taken in the High School, but much inore could be accomplished if each class could have two periods each week instead of one. A great lack is felt in models and casts for the free hand work.
I wish to express my gratitude to the Superintendent and Committee for their generous support, and to the teachers for their hearty co-operation. as I realize whatever for good has been accomplished is due to their untiring efforts.
Respectfully submitted.
ANNIE ROBINSON. Supervisor of Drawing.
18
REPORT OF TEACHER OF SEWING.
The course in sewing has been so arranged as to give. as far as is possible in the time allowed. each class a substantial knowl- edge of the art of sewing, enabling the pupils to put the knowl- edge thus obtained to a practical use in the home. The children are first taught the simple stitches of basting. back-stitching, hemming and over-casting on unbleached cotton slips. Later these stitches are used. the first year, in making bags to hold future work. and aprons.
The next year. new stitches, running. over-sewing. are added, and button-holes are taught: also gathering, putting on skirt bands, and hem-stitching,
In this grade the girls make doll's skirts, and pillow cases. also hem-stitched ties, if the time permits. In each grade much prog- ress has been made, and the result thus far is most satisfactory. The interest of the girls in the sewing is very gratifying.
MARY A. MOCLEARN, Teacher of Sewing.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF PENMANSHIP.
Ten years ago the rank and file of American teachers had scarcely heard of vertical writing. - it was practically an nn- known art. Five years ago it was a novelty. an experiment, a fad some people thought. To-day it is a commonplace, as familiar as nature study. as much a matter of course as geography, and like them it has proved its right to our respect and friendship.
When Mi: Newlands at our Chicago World's Fair exhibited the work of the Kingston schools, most educators looked askance at the unfamiliar. upright letters, and comparatively few found anything in them worthy of their notice or commendation. In- deed, as Dr. Winship has recently said :- " The vertical hand had no friends among teachers or superintendents, educational jour- nals or schoolbook publishers. A more unfriendly reception was never given any stranger in the schoolroom than awaited vertical penmanship. It has won its way single-handed." And yet to- day vertical writing is taught as a matter of course in most of the schools of our country.
19
The reasons for this great change are not hard to find. Many eminent physicians maintained that the unnatural position usu- ally assumed by pupils when using slant writing was responsible, not only for the alarming increase of eye troubles among children and adults, but also for many cases of spinal disease. especially various kinds of curvature, and even predisposed to lung diffi- enlties and derangements of the digestive apparatus. The un- equal strain upon the eyes, caused by the twisting of the paper, was in itself sufficient to arouse the disapproval of oculists. while teachers, who did not realize the constant eye strain from which pupils suffered, could not fail to observe the twisting of back and neck and hunching of the shoulders.
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