USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1906-1912 > Part 20
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As stated last year. we still believe that the only way to keep our schools up to the highest standard is to retain teachers of marked ability and tact. This may mean some additional expense, but the results achieved will justify some effort in this direction.
6
ANNUAL REPORT.
State supervision, changes in books, methods, and re- placements are responsible for some unusual expenditures the past year.
For detailed account of our schools we refer to the ap- pended reports of the Superintendent and Supervisors.
We recommend the following appropriations for the ensuing year :
Teachers' wages, care and fuel. $5,200 00
Incidentals
500 00
Books and supplies 450 00
Superintendent
525 00
Respectfully submitted,
RUFUS KING, GARDNER WARREN, JOHN BLACKWELL, School Committee of Plainville.
Money Available for School Purposes.
Teachers' wages, care and fuel $4,750 00
Incidentals 300 00
Books and supplies
500 00
Superintendent
500 00
State School Fund
2,765 84
Dog tax
307 57
Interest on Town School Fund.
29 09
State, for High School
500 00
State, for teachers' wages.
150 00
$9,802 50
Teachers' Wages, Care and Fuel.
Appropriated $4,750 00
Teachers' wages from State
150 00
High School support from State. 500 00
Dog tax
307 57
Interest on Town School Fund.
29 09
From Town, for coal used. 22 00
Fuel
713 58
Transferred from State fund.
1,544 92
$7,303 58
-
7
ANNUAL REPORT.
Expended :
Teachers' wages
$4,751 00
Care
624 00
Fuel
713 58
Transportation
1,215 00
$7,303 58
Incidental Account.
Appropriated
$300 00
Expended
319 63
Overdrawn $19 63
Books and Supplies.
Appropriated
$500 00
Received from sale of book.
2 36
Transferred from State Fund
147 89
$650 25
Expended
650 25
Superintendent's Salary.
Appropriated
$500 00
Expended
502 50
Overdrawn
$2 50
State Fund.
On hand
$1,507 43
Received from State.
1,258 4I
$2,765 84
Transferred to school account. $1,544 92
Transferred to book account. 147 89
$1,692 81
Balance in State Fund $1,073 03
8
ANNUAL REPORT.
Books and Supplies.
Edward E. Babb & Co
$196 36
Houghton, Mifflin Co.
32 33
D. C. Heath & Co. 8 88
A. S. Barnes & Co.
3 55
J. L. Hammett & Co
150 20
Silver, Burdett Co.
47 22
Ginn & Co.
51 05
American Book Co
44 33
Mabel Brigham
I 50
Oliver Ditson Co ..
4 19
F. W. Kling Co.
6 50
C. C. Birchead & Co.
I 14
Bobbs, Merrill & Co.
I 20
D. Appleton & Co.
13 07
Atkinson, Mertzer & Grover
8 75
A. R. Block.
I 25
G. W. Howland.
I 69
Phonographic Inst. Co
14 25
Smith, Lyheuriter Co 6 00
L. E. Knott Co.
20 87
Milton, Bradley Co.
17 17
American Humane Ed. Co.
75
J. D. Pearson.
18 00
$650 25
Incidentals.
John Stanley, repairs. . $9 05
Ellis Peck, transporting barge. 5 00
Geo. W. Greene, brushes .
IO 20
N. J. Magnan, lumber.
15 70
Underwood Typewriter Co., repairs.
2 15
Martin Cobb, waste baskets
5 00
Chas. Reed, electric work.
2 00
A. S. Keyes, laundry
3 00
Geo. M. Bemis.
3 67
W. M. Hall, hardware, pipe etc. .
29 44
Alonzo Palmer, tuning piano. 5 00
E. C. Barney, freight bills. 18 27
N. Perry & Co.
3 56
Providence Telephone Co.
I 40
Alonzo Bennett 80 .
Beal Press, diplomas. 6 25
9
ANNUAL REPORT.
H. E. Thompson, pump, oil, sundries. 16.94
F. W. Kling & Co., graduation printing 27 55
W. H. Nash, diplomas 2 80
Brownell Hardware Co., pencil
sharpeners 18 00
A. S. Phillips
3 00
Attleboro Sun, report cards.
I 75
Plainville Land Co., water
10 00
John Sullivan, repairs. .
10 00
M. F. Edwards, painting barge.
40 00
Combination Ladder Company, ex- tinguishers 20 00
J. A. Sharpe, tires. 19 00
C. F. Joy 9 25
R. King, school map.
2 00
G. W. Howland, census.
10 00
Silas Schofield, clock repairs 2 00
A. S. Bishop, curtain. I IO
Providence Paper Co.
5 75
$319 63
TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT
Number of cases reported and investigated. 22
E. WRIGHT SARGENT.
10
1
ANNUAL REPORT.
Superintendent's Report
To the School Committee of Plainville :
Gentlemen :- In submitting my third annual report I wish to present first a few general statements in regard to our efforts and activities.
Our purpose has been to make use of every available resource which would help to mould the boys and girls entrusted to us into the men and women we would have them become. They will be able to earn a better living if they possess good health, practical knowledge, originality, initiative, and skill of hand. They will be more valuable members of the community if they take the right attitude on civic, social and moral questions. They will enjoy life better if they have acquired right tastes and habits, if they have learned to love music, and to appreciate art and literature. All these aims have been kept in mind, and we have attempted to give to each subject the amount of time and attention which its relative importance seemed to war- rant.
This has been an unusually successful year in every department. Most of our children come from good homes. Parents have helped to build up and foster confidence in and respect for teachers. The mental capacity of our pupils is above the average. The percentage of attendance (92.6) is a credit to the town. Individual instruction supplement- ing the efficient work of our regular teachers has overcome many difficulties which stood in the way of rapid progress.
11
ANNUAL REPORT.
Teachers.
The influence of the sympathetic teacher is magnetic. Her personality counts far more than her scholastic attain- ments. She has the power to inspire and uplift, if she is imbued with serious purpose and definite aim. No financial return can adequately recompense such service as she renders. It originates in the heart and is given freely. The glad light of welcome which appears on the faces of her pupils when she steps into the room tells an eloquent story. They love and trust her because they intuitively understand that their feelings are reciprocated. Harshness and repres- sion are notably absent. Pupils are orderly and studious from a different motive. They are learning the great lesson of self-control in a way which makes their whole school life a delight.
Four teachers (Misses Eastman, Wilson, Conlogue, and Downing) left us during the year. They possessed so many admirable qualities and were so well adapted to their several lines of work that it was a difficult task to select worthy successors.
All of the new teachers had had good training and some experience and came to us well recommended. They deserve the cordial support which has thus far been accorded them.
The appointments were as follows :
High School (Science and Business Departments )- Miss Mildred E. Jones.
High School (English, French and German Depart- ments)-Miss Louise M. Saunders.
Grades 6, 7-Miss Marion Allen.
Grades 1, 2-Mrs. Mary H. French.
Individual Work-Mrs. Elizabeth Morey.
On account of illness, our Supervisor of Drawing, Miss Mabel Brigham, asked for and was granted a year's leave of absence. Miss Alice Sturdy of Chartley, Mass., a graduate of Boston Normal Art School, has had charge of this depart- ment.
12
ANNUAL REPORT.
STATISTICS.
(Year Ending June, 1908.)
Number of public schools, 6.
Number attending within school year under five years of age, I.
Number attending within school year over fifteen years of age, 29.
Number attending within school year between seven and fourteen years of age, 140.
Total membership for year, 221.
Average membership of all public schools, 191.47.
Average attendance of all public schools during year, 177.40.
Percentage of attendance, based upon average member- ship, 92.6.
Number of teachers required (on full time) by public schools, men I, women 7. (September since-8).
Number of teachers who have graduated from college, in High School 3, in elementary schools o.
Number of teachers who have graduated from Normal schools, 3.
Aggregate number of months all public schools have been kept during the year, 55 months, 10 days.
Average number of months the public day schools have been kept during the year, 9 months, 5 days.
Number of teachers on full time in High School, 3.
Number of special teachers employed on part time, 2.
Number of different pupils attending High School dur- ing year, 36.
Number gaduated from High School at end of school year, 8; from grammar school, 15.
Number admitted to High School during school year, II.
Number of months and days the High School has been kept during the year, 9 months. 131/2 days.
Eye and Ear Tests: Number tested, 200; defective in
13
ANNUAL REPORT.
sight, 59; defective in hearing, 34; number of parents noti- fied, 73.
Teachers' Meetings.
Besides our local meetings, which have been held from time to time, a general meeting of all the teachers in this district was held in the High School assembly room Thurs- day afternoon, January 29. It was very enjoyable and helpful. The following program was rendered:
Reading-"The Successful Preparatory Teacher."
Miss Alice R. Quinby.
Vocal Solo-
Miss Helen L. Harris.
Address-"Language Teaching."
John T. Prince, Ph.D., Agent of State Board of Education.
Board of Education.
Address and Model Lessons in Penmanship-
Mr. W. T. Turck, Representative of Palmer Co., Boston.
Prize Essay.
One of our public-spirited citizens, Mr. Fred W. Northup, who has always manifested much interest in the schools, offered a medal as a prize to the pupil who should write the best essay on "The Greatest Need of Our Town."
The medal was won by Fletcher Warren of the High School.
Speaking Contest.
Mr. Maintien has kindly offered prizes for a second speaking contest, which will be held in the Town Hall February 26. This time pupils will compete only with those in the same room. Last year's experience should prove of great value to the contestants.
Health and Sanitary Conditions.
It is a part of the business of the school to look after the health of the children. Their sight and hearing are
-
14
ANNUAL REPORT.
tested every year ; the school physician may be called upon at any time; children coming from homes where there are contagious diseases are excluded; seats and desks are adjusted to meet the needs of each child; right temperature and proper ventilation of school rooms are demanded ; tuber- culosis and its prevention are taught in all grades where instruction is given in physiology and hygiene ; exercises and games in the lower grades help to correct physical defects and afford needed rest and recreation.
Industrial Work.
"Compared with the opportunities afforded in Europe for acquiring knowledge and skill in productive industry, the work now being done in Massachusetts is strikingly and painfully inadequate, and while in this country the general public has been strangely blind to the narrowness of the public school education, in Europe there is the universal recognition of special education for every form of industrial life."-Massachusetts Industrial Commission.
Prof. Paul Hanus of Harvard University says: "The only real preparation for life's duties, opportunities, and privileges is participation in them, so far as they can be rendered intelligible, interesting and accessible to children of school age." He favors "liberal provision for elementary training in agricultural, industrial and commercial pursuits in addition to manual training at the upper end of the grammar school and also at the upper end of the high school."
In a community like ours there is an opportunity for pupils to acquire some knowledge and skill in agricultural and industrial pursuits at home. Almost any boy or girl may have the use of a small plot of land for a flower or vegetable garden. The preparation of the soil, the sowing of the seeds, the care of the plants and the gathering of the harvest furnish valuable lessons. In the school this work may be correlated with other studies.
At home, too, the boy may do simple constructive work 1
15
ANNUAL REPORT.
in wood or metals, and the girl may learn cooking and sewing.
Realizing that we needed the co-operation of the parents for the success of such a plan, last spring we organized a School and Home Association.
Early in the fall nineteen gardens were inspected and an exhibit of flowers, vegetables, wood-work, cooking and sewing was held in the library room.
The report of the committee appointed to inspect the work is here submitted :
Mr. G. M. Bemis, Superintendent of Schools :
The quality of the work by all grades was so good it was difficult for the committee to decide which was best. All should be commended for the good work done.
Respectfully submitted. MRS. HARRIET S. BLAKE,
MRS. ANNIE C. MOORE, MRS. HOPE S. GOFF.
As this was the first exhibition of our industrial work, and as, in the judgment of the committee, who worked so faithfully in examining the exhibits, all of the articles were so deserving of praise, it has been decided to mention the names of all pupils who showed their interest by taking part :
Grade I:
Earnest Roney . Cabbages Henry Atwood Onions and potatoes
Carleton Greene Squash and potatoes
FRADE II and III xzfiflffffix
Grade II, III :
Catherine Zilch Flowers, doll's dress
Florence MacNiell Three dolls' dresses
Earl Roney . Vegetables Almon Roney Vegetables
16
ANNUAL REPORT.
Marion Smith . Flowers
George Fielding
Vegetables
Ralph French . Beans
Willie Langill Flowers
Harvey Hinton Squash
Frank Bigelow . Corn
Viola Fielding
Pin cushion
Frank Stolworthy Bow-arrow
Grade IV, V :
Emma Beaulac . Crochet-work, cake, sewing
Eurilla Franklin . Cake
Marion Barney Sewing, flowers
William Owen . Card-board work, squash, beets
Roy Corbin
Cabbage, turnip, tomatoes, boat, beet
Walter Fielding . Beans, pumpkins, squash
Mildred Marble . Cake
Walter Tingley
Beans, card-board work
Bernard Zilch
.card-board work
Marion Worral Cake, cookies, flowers
Leah Powers Cake, sewing bag Clara Rudolph . Cake, flowers
Marie Kirk Pie, sewing
Florence Brown Flowers
Marion Brown Muffins, flowers, beans, corn
Howard Stolworthy Card-board work
Gertrude Rose. Squash, beans, flowers, sewing, cooking Helen Nash Flowers, sewing Ernest Monroe
. Corn, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, turnip, carrot
Grade VI, VII :
Edward Morse . Garden, cake-board
Hiram Mowry
Flowers, potatoes, lettuce
Ivy Burton
Pin-cushion tops
Ethel Franklin . Apron Loretta Holden Cake, dolls, dress, two pillow tops
17
ANNUAL REPORT,
Freda Rudolph Cake
Alice Mullany Cake, pillow tops
Edna Bamberger Cake, pillow tops
Helen Crotty . Cake
Carrie Ware
Cake
Alice Herring Cake
Ida Corbin Bread, pillow top
Ruth King . Custard pie
Eda Barney Potatoe salad
Lillian Bigelow Cake
Ruth Hinton Cake
Grade VIII, IX :
Clarice Bartlett Linen hat
Alice N. Burton . Candy
Sadie E. Butler Prune pie
Hilda C. Bailey Candy, doll's dresses
Anna L. Golden
Patch work, apple jelly
Lily E. Hancock.
Bouquet of dahlias, basket dahlias, marigolds, needle- book, doll's dress, apron.
Louise M. King ... Sofa pillow, marigolds, nasturtiums, cake Edith M. Kelley Cake
Mabel R. Kenerson.
Tidy, basket flowers, bouquet dahlias, cake, pin-cushion Lee W. Burton
Pen-wiper, wooden-needles, goblet from nut-shell Edmund G. Fielding . Bouquet, squashes Frank L. Holden. Wood-work, metal-work Harold I. Nash .... Wood-work, comb and brush case, easel Geo. W. Prance . Metal Raymond N. Smith Beets, tomatoes, radishes Frank E. Ware. Broom corn, hemp, peanuts Walter R. Butler Cane Pauline J. Collier . Burnt wood
Wesley H. Burton .... Drawing, wooden needles for knitting
The best arranged and best kept gardens were those of Lillian Hancock, Raymond Smith and Leroy Corbin.
18
ANNUAL REPORT.
The manual training which was begun last year has been continued and extended into the upper grades. We hope to hold a fair in June for the sale of industrial products. The money will be used to purchase additional materials and equipment.
Penmanship.
In the rooms where the teachers themselves practice and use muscular movement the pupils are making good progress in penmanship. Commercial schools have never taught anything else, and surely no bookkeeper or accountant could stand the strain of writing hour after hour with the finger movement.
I certainly believe that any boy or girl of average ability can become a good penman, if he or she will carefully follow the directions given in the Palme Method of Business Writing, and persistently practice it in all forms of written work. The claims for the system are "legibility, rapidity, ease and endurance." This skill once acquired will become a good business asset and will be a lifelong satisfaction to its possessor.
Reading.
In our primary grades the children are reading with greater appreciation and enjoyment and therefore with better expression than ever before. They play the stories and are thus able to enter into the real spirit of the selections. They study and talk about pictures. memorize rhymes to assist with sight words, and learn phonics that they may master new words for themselves. They learn the alphabet and begin to spell orally about the middle of the first year. In their writing they have, of course, been spelling simple words almost from the first day. At the end of the third year. with the Aldine Method, which we introduced in September, the children should have a spelling vocabulary of at least 2500 words, and should possess the key to the whole English language.
19
ANNUAL REPORT.
It has been estimated that during his course the present day child does ten or fifteen times as much reading as in the old days. By improving the reading we shall surely improve the work along every other line, for the pupil who is a poor reader will make but slow progress in such studies as history and geography.
Individual Work.
Last year I attempted to point out some of the theoretical advantages of individual instruction, and recom- mended the employment of a special teacher. You decided to give the plan a year's trial. I am now prepared to report results.
Mrs. Elizabeth Morey, a graduate of Castine Normal School. began the work in September. Her varied experi- ence had made her familiar with the requirements in all grades. Her strong personality and kindly interest in each child quickly won for her the good-will and confidence of pupils. They have frankly told her their difficulties and she has skillfully helped them to overcome them. No help has been given where none was needed. Little time has been wasted. A definite portion of each day has been set apart for the pupils in each room. The regular teachers have determined to whom and in what subjects instruction should be given. Mrs. Morey has kept a daily record of pupils, subjects and time spent :
Number of different pupils assisted since September : Grade I, 8: Grade II. 15: Grade III. 16: Grade IV. 16: Grade V, 19: Grade VI. 4: Grade VII. 9: Grade VIII, 8: Grade IX, 9. Total. 100. Per capita cost (since Septem- ber ) $2.64.
Most of these children have been drilled on the funda- mental operations in arithmetic : much time has been devoted to reading and language, and some to spelling, writing and other subjects.
Recent tests and the marked improvement shown all along the line convince me that every pupil in the schools has been directly or indirectly benefited.
20
ANNUAL REPORT.
To my mind, however, the strongest argument in favor of the continuance of the plan is the fact that by means of it nearly every child will be able to meet the minimum requirements of his grade and win promotion at the end of the year.
Conclusion.
An interesting study of modern school conditions has recently been made in New York City by Mr. James Creelman. In his article, "What Shall We Do With Our Sixteen Million School Children?" which appeared in the January number of Pearson's Magazine, he says: "I went honestly to condemn ; I came back to explain and praise."
There is less difference than is generally supposed between the school work of the large city and that of the small village. Superiority in equipment and a more highly paid body of teachers may be offset by the right educational spirit and by the greater physical, mental and moral vigor of our children. Statistics show that the country boy is able to hold his own in competition with his city brother.
Your excellent business management and progressive educational ideas have helped greatly in making our schools what they are to-day. I thank you for the personal encouragement and support which you have rendered.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE M. BEMIS.
21
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of Principal of High School
Mr. George M. Bemis, Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir :- It gives me pleasure to write for you the history of the High School for the past year, because I am able to report satisfactory results.
GENERAL DATA .- Our enrollment has been the same as that of the .previous year, thirty-five pupils, while the attendance has averaged somewhat better than that of last year-in fact, during one term it reached ninety-six (96) per cent .- the high-water mark of the last five years. There continues to be about the same amount of tardiness and dismissal, due in large measure to the requirements of the parents in the way of outside work, yet, comparatively, the steady attendance has resulted in stronger work on the part of both pupils and teachers.
TEACHING FORCE .- In September we had two new teachers, Miss Louise M. Saunders, a graduate of Tufts College, who took the place of Miss Wilson, and Miss Mildred E. Jones, a graduate of Boston University, who took the place of Miss Eastman. The school has not suffered such a setback as might have been expected from so great a change. for under Miss Saunders the work in English has become interesting and very practical, while those who are working hard under Miss Jones are showing very good progress in the Commercial branches.
GIRLS' CLUB .- During the year the girls gave a success- ful entertainment, and with the proceeds purchased two casts for the assembly room of the school. These certainly add much to the attractiveness of the room, and the young ladies
22
ANNUAL REPORT.
and Misses Wilson and Eastman are to be congratulated on their success, and the use to which the proceeds were put.
DRAWING .- Our work in this is still divided into two sections : one engaged in freehand work; the other in mechanical. Miss Brigham, our excellent and enthusiastic teacher of previous years, resigned, and Miss Sturdy has filled her place so acceptably that there has been no apparent break in the work. As the subject is counting now in securing a diploma, one-quarter point each year being given for successful completion of a year's work, I think that we shall secure better work. 1
MUSIC .- When the committee voted to allow music to count in securing a diploma, our musical work immediately became better. In particular the boys responded more readily. Over three-fourths of the pupils have elected the course, and a very large majority of them are doing good work. This year Mrs. Tisdale has brought to the notice of the class the lives of a number of the greatest composers with happy results in the way of added interest.
TYPEWRITING AND STENOGRAPHY .- Those of our grad- uates who have gone out and taken up this work have "made good." Perhaps this is sufficient to say of our course, as more could not be said that would be as much to the point.
BOOKS .- This year a number of good books have been added to our collection, among them a most acceptable set of Lossing's History of the United States. In our History work we have found the Public Library of much use to us, and we shall undoubtedly find it more and more so as the years pass.
COURSE OF STUDY .- "What subjects shall my child take up in the High School?" is a question that is rather fre- quently asked. No answer, which will be applicable to every pupil, can be given. All depends on the probable life work of the child. Yet, if one will look over the require- ments for entrance to our higher institutions of learning, one may at least find what subjects are regarded as necessary as a foundation for advancement, whether it be in a cultural college, a technical college, a normal school, a textile school,
23
ANNUAL REPORT.
or an agricultural college. These subjects will be found to be as follows: English, in which is included Spelling, Grammar, a knowledge of some of the world's best litera- ture, Punctuation, Oral Reading, Silent Reading, and Composition. Mathematics: in which are included Arith- metic, Algebra, and Geometry. History : a Foreign Lan- guage, either Latin, German, or French; and the Sciences : which include Physics (thirty years ago called Natural Philosophy ), and Botany. That you may see that these are correct, I insert here the requirements for entrance to some of our leading schools, or else the first year's work required in them.
Entrance Subjects for Amherst College : Latin, English, Physics, Greek, History, Chemistry, Algebra, French, Botany, Geometry, German, Physiology.
Smith College: Latin, English, Physics, Greek, His- tory, Chemistry, Algebra, French, Botany, Geometry, Ger- man, Zoology.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology : Algebra, Chemistry, Mechanical Drawing, Geometry, History, Biology, Physics, English, French, German.
Massachusetts State Normal Schools : English, Algebra, Physical Geography, Physics, Latin, Geometry, Chemistry, French, History, Physiology, Botany, German, Geography, Hygiene, Drawing.
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