USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1904-1907 > Part 45
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Another important need of vital importance is a school library well stocked with reference books and standard works pertaining to all departments of knowledge. Any one of means would make a valuable investment and contribute great- ly to the efficiency of the school by donations in this direction.
In justice to the school, I should recognize the fine spirit that dwells there. We have a good corps of teachers, and they are doing excellent work. The demands made upon them are rather exacting, but their desire to meet them fully and faith- fully is duly appreciated.
MEDICAL SUPERVISION.
The time has come when medical inspection of school - children should receive careful consideration. This sugges- tion does not come now as a novelty, as that is the consistent practice in many places. In some municipalities nurses are employed in addition to the medical service.
To indicate the reasonableness and advisability of such a policy, attention is called to the cases of disease found since
19
last September by the Secretary of the Board of Health in his casual visits to the schools.
Eyes examined and pupils now wearing glasses, 23
Eyes examined and pupils will get glasses, 5
Eyes examined, but nothing further done, 8
Notes to parents suggesting examination of eyes,
IO
Ringworm, pupils sent home for treatment,
5
Scrofula, treatment advised, 8
Scarlet fever, child sent home,
I
Adenoids and tonsils removed, followed by marked im- provement in school work,
3
Adenoids, removal suggested, 2
How much this list would be increased by systematic and thorough examination may be left to conjecture.
Moreover, from the opening of schools in September to February I, the following reports of contagious diseases have been received from the Board of Health. The record of last year for the same period is also included.
1904-'5. 14
1905-'6.
Scarlet Fever,
33
Diphtheria,
2I
8
Measles,
I
16
Typhoid Fever,
2
I
Tuberculosis,
0
I
Last year, with one exception, scarlet fever and diphther* were confined to one district. This year they are scatter over the town without discrimination.
School attendance has been seriously affected by so many cases of disease and the quarantine which accompanies them.
I think the facts justify the conclusion that medical inspec- tion, carried on with tactfulness and consideration, is desirable.
20
TEACHERS.
Since the last annual report was issued, seven teachers have resigned and eight new teachers have been employed.
RESIGNATIONS.
Elzura A. Chandler,
High school.
I. Maude Warren,
High school.
Lottie M. Draper,
High school.
Leon A. Winslow,
High school.
Willa H. Ferguson,
Everett school.
Lilian E. Moore,
Everett school.
Annie E. Fales,
Edmund J. Shattuck school.
APPOINTMENTS.
Joseph E. Goodrich,
High school.
Irene Van Kleeck,
High school.
Alice G. Smith,
High school.
Linda M. Lowell,
High school.
A. Mabel Cobb,
Everett school.
Joanna D. Croft,
Everett school.
Mary L. Kimball,
Everett school.
Mary V. Williams,
Edmund J. Shattuck school.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS.
General meetings have been held monthly and grade meet- ings oftener. In the former, general questions of school man- agement and pedagogy have been discussed by a somewhat systematic plan, modified by the results of daily observations in the school room. In the latter, the work as it pertains to the various grades has been taken up in detail.
There have also been meetings of the high school teachers and they have been addressed during the year by Messrs. Enoch C. Adams, head master of Newton High School; Geo. F. Jewett, principal of the Mount Ida School, Newton; and
2 I
James W. Brehaut, superintendent of schools and principal of the High School, North Attleboro. These men have all had very successful experience in preparing students for college, especially for Harvard University, and consequently their re- marks have been highly suggestive therefor.
The interest the teachers have manifested in all these meetings and the applications they have made in the school- rooms as a result, have been encouraging and inspiring.
ART IN THE SCHOOLS.
During the past year numerous pictures and casts have been placed in the schools. These were obtained through vari- ous sources : I. The proceeds of an art exhibit held under the administration of my predecessor, Mr. R. J. Fuller. 2. The munificence of Mrs. Edmund J. Shattuck in adorning the walls of the Edmund J. Shattuck school, and of Mrs. Harriet W. Lane in donating twenty-five pictures to the High School. 3. The efforts of teachers and pupils in individual schools.
The following are the names of pictures obtained by the proceeds of the exhibit :
HIGH SCHOOL.
The Forum,
Photograph,
Amiens,
Photograph. Guido Reni.
The Aurora,
Sistine Madonna,
Raphael.
EVERETT.
The Oath of Knighthood, Abbey.
Middelharnis,
Hobbema.
Temeraire, Turner.
S'enicaire,
Turner.
St. Barbara,
Palma il Vecchio.
22
GUILD.
Grand Canal, Colored photograph.
Horse Fair,
Rosa Bonheur.
. Landscape with Windmill, Ruysdael.
By the River, Lerolle.
The Escaped Cow, Dupre.
Distinguished M'mb'r Hum'ne So. Landseer.
Children of Charles I. Van Dyck.
The Holy Family, Murillo.
EDMUND J. SHATTUCK.
The Grand Canal, Colored photograph.
St. Mark's, Colored photograph.
Yosemite, Colored photograph.
WEST.
The Holy Family, Murillo.
EAST.
The Children of Charles I., Van Dyck.
BALCH.
Return to the Farm,
Troyon.
The following were donated by Mrs. Shattuck to the Shat- tuck School :
GRADE VI.
The Triumph of Alexander, sections A and B, Thorwald- sen, cast.
The Spirit of '76, Willard, picture.
GRADE V.
The Triumph of Alexander, section C, Thorwaldsen, cast.
The Windmill, Ruysdael, picture.
GRADE IV.
The Singing Boys, Andrea della Robbia, cast.
The Children's Hour, Taylor, picture.
1
23
GRADES III. and IV.
Boys Playing Trumpets, Andrea della Robbia, cast. Spring, Mauve, picture.
GRADE III.
Cupids Singing, section I, Bologna, cast.
Divine Shepherd, Murillo, picture.
GRADES II. and III.
Cupids Singing, section II., Bologna, cast. The Holy Family, Knaus, picture.
GRADES I. and II.
Cupids Singing, section III., Bologna, cast. Watchers by the Sea, Artz, picture.
GRADE I.
Bambini, Andrea della Robbia, cast.
The Nursery, Waterlow, picture.
UPPER HALL.
Bacchantes Dancing, In the Louvre, cast. Flying Mercury, Bologna statuary.
King David, Mercie, statuary. Horse Fair, Rosa Bonheur, picture. Pilgrims Going to Church, Boughton, picture.
LOWER HALL.
Chariot Race, In the Naples Museum, cast. Alexandrian Procession, Thorwaldsen, cast. Sir Galahad, Watts, picture. Crayon Portrait of Mr. E. J. Shattuck. Hope, Burne Jones, picture.
TEACHERS' ROOM.
Aurora, Guido Reni, picture.
24
PENNY SAVING STAMPS.
This is the second year that a committee of the Woman's Club, of which Mrs. L. H. Plimpton is chairman, has conduct- ed the system of selling stamps for penny savings in the vari- ous school buildings. To show the response the children have made to the interest of the ladies in this matter, the amounts collected from the opening of schools in Semptember to Janu- ary 23, are stated below :
Everett,
$131 33
.
Guild,
278 97
Shattuck,
258 0I
East,
56 79
West,
94 32
Balch,
59 75
Total,
$879 17
LIGHTING.
" Where the light cannot come, the doctor must,"
-Italian Proverb.
"Fine art is the free and adequate embodiment of the idea in a form peculiarly appropriate to the idea itself."-Hegel.
It is generally agreed that the lighting of school buildings is one of the most important and serious subjects of school hy- giene. It is second only to that of ventilation and heating. This conviction, on the part of careful observers, is intensified by the prevalence of eye diseases in the schools and traceable to the schools.
Whenever a thorough examination of a large number of school children is made the results are significant and impres- sive, not to say startling. Among the most prominent dis- eases discovered is myopia, or near-sightedness. This dis- ease is found to increase with age and grade; it is a product
.
25
of civilization, never found among savage tribes *. It increases in badly lighted rooms t, and decreases in good light ;. In- vestigation has shown that from three to over 50 per cent. of pupils from 9 to 15 years old have this disease, ranging ac- cording to age and light conditions.
School rooms have been making a race of people afflicted with eye diseases, notably myopia. This is said with due re- gard for the fact that many cases are hereditary. But it would be interesting to determine how the ancestry contracted it.
It is insidious in its attack, not easily detected by the un- trained eye in its early stages. Its prevention and remedy are . also elusive, for many features of modern lighting, like those of ventilation, are unappreciated by the uninitiated.It is in- cumbent on school authorities, therefore, to check the tendency of the disease, in so far as possible, and this reflection justifies some remarks on the subject of lighting.
The child is fundamentally an animal, and his natural habitat is out of doors. Hence, if for any reason he remains or is confined indoors, much of the time, conditions must be as favorable as possible or he will suffer physically.
As stated in my last report, to secure the quantity of light needed in a school room, the window space, exclusive of sash- es, should be from one-sixth to one-fourth the floor space. If all days were bright and sunny, the ratio of one to six would be sufficient ; but usually the sky is somewhat cloudy, and often wholly so, then the ratio of one to four is little enough.
But the light in a room may be bad and injurious, and yet in mere quantity be equal to the maximum required. To get the best quality with the requisite quantity, several important principles must be observed.
I. The direction of light. Light from the front of the room should, for obvious reasons, be avoided ; direct sunlight
* Kotelmann. School Hygiene. p. 246.
t Barry. The Hygiene of the School Room, p. 62.
# Barry. The Hygiene of the School Room, p. 62.
26
should not shine on the face of the pupil. Neither should it come from both the right and the left sides *. The cross lights and half shadows thus caused are injurious. Moreover, the reflections of light from the blackboards are disagreeable and obscure the writing on them. Where otherwise quantity is in- sufficient, small windows can be placed high up on the right, if only light from the left still predominates. Light solely from the right, or from right and rear, is bad, as it obliges the pupil to look through dark shadows to see his work and thus causes annoyance and severe eye-strain.
Authorities generally agree in the above prohibitions ; they are, however, somewhat divided as to whether light should enter from the left alone, or from the left and rear. My experience is that either is good, under circumstances favora- ble to each, the unilateral plan naturally requiring more win- dows on the side. When the lighting is bilateral, from left and rear, care should be taken to have the left light predomi- nant, otherwise the excess in the rear causes the pupil's body to shade his work. An objection to rear light is its effect on the teacher's eyes, when she faces it, particularly when there is snow on the ground. Still she, unlike the pupils, is free to move about and favor herself.
It is desirable to have rooms so arranged, if possible, that direct sunlight will shine in during a portion of the day. North rooms in which the sun does not shine at all, are likely to be a little gloomy ; they should certainly have the maximum win- dow space and the curtains clear up all the time, except some- times when the snow is dazzling.
2. Height of windows. All authorities, so far as I know, agree that windows should reach as near the ceiling as possible, their top's not being more than six inches distant. A. P. Marble, in a circular of information published by the U. S. Government, says : " The windows should extend to the ceil-
* Kotelmann, p. 52. Me. State Report, p. 263, etc.
27
١
هـ
A SCHOOL BUILDING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
29
ing of the room, and no fancied architectural consideration should ever prevent this." If it costs more money, it should be paid.
There are several reasons for this construction. The higher the windows the farther the light will extend across the room. It is important that even the last row of pupils receive good light. It is said that 20 feet is the greatest distance any pupils should be seated from a well lighted window *. Light diminishes as the square of the distance, so that a seat twice as far away receives only one fourth as much light. Accord- ing to the principle that the last seats would better not be distant more than one and a half the height of the top of the window t, the space between the ceiling and the windows must be very slight in a room 12 or 13 feet high and 25 feet wide.
Again, it is found that the upper fourth of the window furnishes one-third the light of the whole window #, and is worth more than twice the same space at the bottom ||. The height of the window sills should not be more than 3 1-2 to 4 feet §.
3. Massing windows. The windows should be placed as near together as possible, since bands of light and shade are injurious to the eye. The distance for brick buildings is sometimes fixed at one and a half feet, but frequently it is less, and the less the better. This as well as the height of windows is one of the distinct features of modern lighting, when the best ideas are embodied in construction.
The first window on the left side can be placed as near as two feet to the rear corner, but the first in the rear, in bilat- eral lighting, can be at a greater distance from that corner I, notwithstanding certain conventional rules of architecture.
* Dr. Prince, Mass. State Report, Marble, etc.
+ A. P. Marble, Government Circular of Information, p. 51.
į Shaw's School Hygiene, p. 18.
| Marble, p. 52.
¿ Shaw, p. 15.
T Shaw, p. 21.
I
30
It involves no sacrifice of art for architecture to modify what is traditional in order to promote higher human interests.
With these ideas in mind, no room needs to have the rear light predominant.
Under the same general principle, there should be few panes of glass in a window, not more than one in the lower sash or two in the upper.
Of course only a brief treatment of this subject is possible in a report like this. But if the principles herein considered are observed, the comfort and health of children will be great- ly promoted. I believe there should be, and some time there will be, government control of this matter, as already of heating and ventilation, and as there is, to some extent, in European countries.
Two cuts are inserted to illustrate in general the difference between the old and modern methods of lighting. They are taken from "The Hygiene of the Schoolroom," by William F. Barry, M. D. The plates were kindly loaned by the author and Silver, Burdett & Co., the publishers.
To supplement this article, the figures relating to the ratio of window space to floor space are reprinted in the appendix from last year's report.
GENERAL REMARKS.
It remains now to refer incidentally to several matters which are worthy of consideration.
In the Everett building a school was organized in September containing seventh and eighth grade pupils. The seventh grade division is composed of pupils selected last June from the different sixth grades in town for their probable ability to accomplish two years' work in one. This school has been a marked success, the chief elements of which have been :
I. The school was placed in charge of an experienced
31
A MODERN SCHOOL BUILDING.
33
teacher well acquainted with the requirements of the ninth grade.
2. The two divisions have been kept distinct until now, the middle of the year, when the process of merging has begun.
3. The school has not been allowed to exceed 36 pupils.
4. The ninth grade assistant has devoted part of her service to the school, so that the regular teacher has had the time and energy to look after the details of the work carefully.
The number of tardinesses during the year has been exces- sive-2094 for all the schools, equal to a pro rata of one and a half for each pupil of the average membership. It is hoped that parents will co-operate with teachers in impressing upon the children the importance of punctuality and in arousing their pride in a good record and reputation for their schools.
Attention is called to the special reports, in the appendix, of the supervisors and the principal of the High School.
This report should not be closed without repeating the suggestion made in the last of the need of a new modern grammar school building adequate in its equipment for the pro- gressive needs of grammar school pupils. It should have reci- tation and manual training rooms and laboratories for science work. When the growth of the town justifies the construction of such a building, education in the town will take on new and important phases.
In conclusion, it is a pleasure to express my appreciation of the cordial co-operation of the teachers and the high char- acter of the work they are doing. I take this opportunity, also, to acknowledge the kind consideration and support of the Committee, without which my efforts would not be of much avail.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM C. HOBBS, Superintendent.
1
APPENDIX.
37
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
To MR. W. C. HOBBS, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
I hereby present my seventh annual report.
There has been but little change in the number attending the High School during the last three years. The enrolment for the present year is three greater than that of last year while the average membership is a little less. The change from three to four years in the commercial course will have the effect of making the class graduated the coming June unusually small as the largest part of this class was graduated last year from the commercial course.
The tinting of the walls and ceilings has made the build- ing much more attractive and homelike. This attractiveness has been increased by the pictures purchased with the money obtained in connection with the art exhibit held two years ago. The class of 1904 has presented the school with a cast of the frieze, Alexander's Triumph, by Thorwaldsen. The class of 1905 at their graduation presented a cast of the large statue of Minerva. As a companion piece to this the Diana has already been ordered by the class of 1906 and is to be put in position as soon as it is received. Mrs. Harriet W. Lane has given the school twenty-five copies of famous paintings. These have been hung in the halls and small rooms of the building. They are what we needed to relieve the bareness of the walls.
I wish to express the regret felt by all at the resignation of Miss Elzura A. Chandler, which took effect last September
38
on account of her ill health. From her eight years of con- scientious and efficient service she won the esteem of all with whom she came in contact.
Respectfully submitted,
N. A. CUTLER, Principal.
39
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
To MR. W. C. HOBBS. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
The plan of work followed this year is much the same as in former years with certain lines more fully emphasized. The subjects of nature and object drawing were given especial attention last spring and this fall we have spent considerable time in mechanical drawing and constructive work.
In the lower grades we try to use the drawing as a means of expression, illustrating rhymes and stories. "Expression is the result of impression and the child in expressing him- self in drawing gives us his own conception of that impres- sion."
William Morris Hunt has said, "You can develop a child's faculties by drawing better than by books : and no other study will so quicken his perceptions. Children should learn to draw as they learn to write, and such a mystery should not be made of it."
The gifts which the children in all grades made and took home at Christmas showed much careful work.
This fall more time was given to the High School. We have a large mechanical and two free hand drawing classes, all of which are working well.
Much interest is shown in drawing by teachers and pu- pils and the prospects are bright for a successful year's work. "Only by doing can we realize."
Respectfully submitted,
BESSIE M. PARKER,
40
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
To MR. W. C. HOBBS, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
Dear Sir-In compliance with your request for a report on the music in the Public Schools, I take pleasure in stating that our music was never in better condition than at present. All the teachers have been willing and earnest in their en- deavor to advance this subject and the results are gratifying.
Last year the High School studied the "Cantanta of Ruth " by Gaul. Because of its length it seemed unwise to present it at graduation. The cantata was given in Village Hall last May ; the solo parts were rendered by members of the school assisted by an orchestra, and the performance reflected much credit on the High School. I wish to thank the Superin- tendent and the School Board for their cordial support and in- terest in my department.
Yours Respectfully, B. HAROLD HAMBLIN, Supervisor of Music.
41
REPORT OF THE TRUANT OFFICER.
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
I now take pleasure in submitting my sixth annual report as truant officer. I have reported to the office of the Superin- tendent each day and have investigated all cases of absence which have been referred to me. It is also a great pleasure to be able to say that this year has been the best in attendance of the last six years. The number of truants has been a few more, but they have not been of a bad nature. Also what is quite a record for Norwood, there has not been one court case for two years.
Whole number of cases investigated, 175
Truants,
29
Sickness,
5I
Parents at fault,
59
Lack of suitable clothing,
4
Withdrawal cards,
IO
Left town,
6
Good reasons,
2I
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL D. CREED,
Truant Officer.
42
REPORT OF THE CENSUS ENUMERATOR.
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
I take pleasure in submitting my report as census enumer- ator for the year 1905. I have taken a house to house canvass as required by law.
Number of children between 5 and 15 years old, Sept., 1905, 1,370
Number of boys between 5 and 15 years old, Sept., 1905, 678
Number of girls between 5 and 15 years old, Sept., 1905, 692 Number of children between 7 and 14 years old, Sept.,
1905, 908
Number of boys between 7 and 14 years old, Sept., 1905, 459
Number of girls between 7 and 14 years old, Sept., 1905, 449
Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL D. CREED,
Enumerator.
43
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Population of Norwood, June, 1905,
6,73I
Valuation, 1905,
$5,421,670 00
Tax rate, 1905,
$17 40
Number of children in town, September, 1905,
between 5 and 15 years old, as per census,
1,370
Number of boys, Number of girls, 692
678
Number children in town, September, 1905, be-
tween 7 and 14 years old, as per census,
908
459 Number of boys, Number of girls, 449
Enrollment of all children in the schools during
the school year ending in June, 1905,
* 1,520
Number of boys, Number of girls,
756
Number of children under 5 years of age,
I3
Number of children over 15 years of age,
+ 145
Number of children between 5 and 15 years old,
# 1,362
Number of children between 7 and 14 years old,
| 1,024
Average membership,
1,392 23
Average attendance,
1,300 19
Per cent. of attendance,
93
Number of tardinesses,
2,094
* For State enrollment, 1,453 ; boys 729, girls 724.
+ State, 143.
# State, 1,295.
| State, 973.
.
764
44
Pro rata of tardiness,
I 50
Aggregate number of days the schools were in session, 6,050
Number of teachers required, 1905-'06,
44
Number of schools, 1905-'06,
33
Number of buildings, 7
Cost per pupil for books and supplies based on the average membership, $1 85
Cost per pupil including all expenses,
$27 39
45
COMPARATIVE STATISTICS BY BUILDINGS.
SCHOOL YEARS, SEPTEMBER TO JUNE.
Enrollment.
Average Membership.
Average Attendance.
SCHOOLS.
*1904
11905
*1904
11905
*1904
11905
High,
166
149
156.00
138.70
149.60
133.20
Everett,
261
230
244.69
216.88
228.13
203.22
Guild,
518
552
489.04
492.29
452.10
459.41
E. J. Shattuck,
274
331
254.65
315.35
247.44
291.04
East,
86
87
83.00
83.34
78.00
78.45
West,
90
87
74.91
78.33
67.39
72.27
Balch,
95
84
67.59
67.34
60.51
62.60
1,490
1,520
1,369.88
1,392.23
1,283.17
1,300.19
STATISTICS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE PRESENT YEAR.
SEPTEMBER, 1905, TO JANUARY 26, 1906.
Enrollment,
1,541
Average membership, 1,464.72
Average attendance,
1,380.22
* School Year, 1903 and 1904.
t School Year, 1904 and 1905.
46
ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE
TEACHERS.
SCHOOLS.
Grades.
Enrollment.
Boys.
1
N. A. Cutler,
High, Everett,
10-13
149
66
2
Mary Stuart Fellows,
9
36
20
3 Julia R. O'Brien,
66
9
32
16
4
Estelle Gilmore,
S
33
14
5
Willa H Ferguson,
S
37
12
6
S. Louisa Rhodes,
7
47
21
7
Lilian E. Moore,
66
7
45
20
8
Katharine L. Carbee,
Guild,
7
34
18
10
Julia E. Danahy,
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