USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1906-1912 > Part 30
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12
ANNUAL REPORT
health, but may be made to develop desirable mental and moral qualities.
Individual instruction has become strongly established here -the idea met with general approval from the start. Our patrons are progressive. They realize that in every town or city there are children who need special attention, it they are to get the maximum benefit from their school life, and be- come efficient citizens. (In a previous report I tried to show why rgular teachers could not give the requisite time to this work.) Besides immature children, there are those suffering from some physical weakness or ailment, and hence called dull, listless or inattentative. Then there are the bright pupils who have dropped behind on account of absence caused by illness; those who come from other towns and are not up to grade in some subjects; children with a good verbal memory but lacking in ability to apply knowledge; those good in most branches, but backward in one. Pupils in every one of the above classes have received help during the year. How could a like sum of money be spent to better advantage than by giving such children a chance? I only wish we could do more for them. In some cases the results accomplished have been immediate and apparent ; in others progress has been slow, but real, nevertheless.
The proceeds of our entertainment and money contributed by the girls of the high school have enabled us to extend our courses along industrial lines. We now have a good equip- ment for wood working and domestic science.
Believing that work with the hands which has utilitarian and financial value is worth more from the educational standpoint and is also more interesting, we have had boys from both grammar rooms spend one hour each week refin- ishing desks. The process involves the use of planes, spoke- shaves, steel scrapers, sand paper, shellac and varnish. So far as possible we have tried to cultivate during this period the spirit of the ideal work-shop. There is something definite to be done. There must be feeling of mutual responsibility for
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ANNUAL REPORT
results. There must be co-operative effort, division of labor, intelligent, pains-taking use of common tools, and, above all else, honest hard work and absolute obedience to the word of direction. There must be no shirking, or waste of ma- terial. The motor centers of the brain are stimulated; the muscles are given healthful excerise; hand and eye are trained to act in harmony ; and the boy and his companions can see for themselves whether the finished product is a suc- cess or a failure.
A few of the high school boys are going on with the dav- enport which they began last year. We hope to have this finished in time for our annual exhibit in the spring.
It is neither safe nor wise to leave to incidental informa- tion the important problems connected with the home and home adminstration. Every girl should not only study them as a science but practice them as an art. The health, hap- piness and financial condition of her family will, in the years to come, to a large extent depend upon her intelligence, good judgment and skill in these matters. If it is essential that the would-be-farmer study chemistry of soils, rotation of crops, fruit tree culture, the care and feeding of domestic animals, is it not equally essential for the future wife and mother to acquaint herself with the chemistry, classifica- tion, and relative cost of foods? Home decoration, and fur- nishing, ventilation, sanitation and care of linen are, to my mind, as legitimate subjects for instruction in our schools as literature, art and music. More than this, I believe that this work should be made intensive, should be provided for upon the regular program and should count toward an academic diploma. In spite of the fact that it was given outside of school hours, nearly all the girls in the high school elected the course. It was found necessary to divide them into three sections-each having one lesson per week. Note books have been kept, much practical cooking has been done and a good start has been made.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Sewing has been a required subject in the grades for two years. An attempt has recently been made to put it upon a more systematic basis. In the third and fourth grades the girls are taught the common stitches, using burlap canvas, worsted and crewel needles. In the fifth and sixth, the same stitches are taken up, using stamped pieces of cotton cloth and colored thread. Mending, darning and patching are added. In the seventh and eight fancy and embroidery stitches, button-hole making, etc. are given. We hope soon to have our girls able to draft patterns, and to make simple garments for themselves. All through the course, practical articles are made by way of application and to increase the interest.
The class in basketry has completed, under Miss Dickson's direction, napkin-rings, twine bags, melon baskets, work bags and fern baskets.
Our annual speaking contest was held as usual. The prizes were awarded as follows:
High School-Miss Nellie Cheever Grades 8, 9-Miss Ida Corbin Grades 6, 7-Miss Annie Benker
Once more I wish to express my appreciation of the generosity of Mr. William Maintien, who, though no longer a resident of the town, manifests his interest in our schools by continuing to offer these prizes.
As Mr. Ward states in his report, our children do not do enough reading of good literature outside of school. Their vocabulary is meager. Their outlook is narrow. They ought to be more familiar with the works of the best authors before reaching the high school. Too much fiction (of the modern kind) not only perverts the taste, but is positively detrimental to character. Is it not essential that parents should protect their children from the influence of harm- ful books as carefully as they would from that of evil com- panions. The best way to do this is, of course, to substitute
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ANNUAL REPORT
the good and the wholesome. In school their reading ma- terial is selected with great care, and one poem is assigned to every grade to be memorized each month. It will require the best efforts of which the church, the school, the home and the community are capable to improve their tastes and to build up higher ideals among our children.
As reading is needed for impression, so is composition needed for expression. Originally of thought, logical pres- entation of ideas and choice diction are not easily attained. Careful study of the best models and much practice are re- quired. Without reducing the number of original papers, we have been using more of the material furnished by les- sons in geography and history. This serves the double nur- pose of providing a great abundance of interesting subject- matter and helps pupils to get a more clear-cut conception of important topics in those branches.
I believe I am safe in saying that on the whole our teach- ing staff has never been stronger during my term of service than it is at present. Moreover, all have agreed to remain with us during the year. They are working together har- moniously, and have the best interests of every child at heart. "In loco parenis" is a phrase of which they under- stand both the meaning and the spirit. They have spared neither time nor energy in the discharge of their duties, and have undertaken pleasantly and willingly anything asked of them. It has been a great pleasure to work with such a corps.
Before closing this report I wish to add a word of trib- ute to the memory of the man, whose recent death was keenly felt as a personal loss by all connected with the schools .. Mr. John Blackwell was a man whose character commanded respect and admiration ; who always stood firmly for what he believed to be right and who was ever fair- minded and just. In my relations with him as a member of the School Committee, I found him a loyal adviser, and co- worker, whose ideas on educational matters were sound and
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ANNUAL REPORT
helpful. The influence of such a life lives on, and continues to inspire and uplift.
To you and to your teachers, I attribute a large share in whatever measure of success may have been vouchsafed to us during the year.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE M. BEMIS.
MR. GEORGE M. BEMIS, Superintendent of Schools:
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Principal of High School
DEAR SIR :-
In this report I shall set before you three things. The first is certain facts which are gratifying to me in the work of the school since last September. The second is the policy of school administration which I have pursued for a year and a half. And the third is the needs of the school as seen from the teachers' viewpoint.
I wish also to thank you for your help and friendly counsel.
The beginning of this year finds us with an enrollment of forty-five pupils, as compared with twenty-seven, one year ago. All but five of the desks in our assembly room are occupied. And our largest classes, Freshman, English and Elementary Algebra, each have twenty-seven members.
Since last September we have not lost a single pupil from the High School, but absences and tardineses, as well as dismissals, have been far too numerous.
Another source of gratification to me is the interest which my associate teachers take in their work and the efficiency with which that work is performed.
In the administration of the school these points are con- sidered as very important and are emphasized accordingly :
1st. This High School costs the town of Plainville some- thing like $3,000 a year, and the taxpayers have a right to look for interest on this investment.
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ANNUAL REPORT
2d. Its privileges are intended for those who will make use of them. Therefore a pupil who will not submit himself or herself to reasonable discipline, or who will not do the tasks assigned, has no place in the school. Accordingly the best interests of the school and of the town demand that such a pupil be dismissed.
3d. That to make continuance in the school impossible for the loafer and the shirk will raise the school in the estima- tion of both pupils and townspeople and will give more weight to the diploma which the school awards.
A great difficulty heretofore, in the management of the school, has been the small amount of authority, in matters of discipline, possessed by the principal and teachers. But with the increased enrollment our committee has seen fit to clothe us with some added administrative power and much good has come of it. Nor has the increased authority, given us this year, resulted in the loss to the school of a single pupil.
A great need of the school is that of more interest on the part of the parents in school matters. Interest in the month- ly report cards, and in the course of study their child pur- sues ; interest in the doings of the school and in the methods of instruction which we are using; interest in whether their child is up in his work or behind in it ; interest in the school's social life and in the trip to Washington. The pupil spends five or more hours per day n the school, and the conditions under which he or she is during that time are worth looking into. The patrons of the school little realize how much it means for us to get their point of view first hand.
Even a hostile criticism often helps in correcting mistakes and adjusting misunderstandings. Therefore whatever be the parent's view on any school matter, we assure that parent a hearty welcome and courteous treatment. The patrons of the school are our employers and we cannot serve them ac- ceptably unless their wishes are made known to us.
These things, among others, we also desire for the school :
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ANNUAL REPORT
1st. More work from each pupil on each day's lesson.
2d. More ability to think when the pupil enters the fresh- man class, and far more training in that exercise during the High School course.
3d. The cultivation in all pupils of a habit of reading good books, good magazines, and good newspapers. To develop this habit one or two good daily papers and two or three good magazines, kept on file in the school room, would be of great value.
4th. A few books of permanent value to add to our refer- ence library. In particular these : A set of up-to-date ency- clopaedias, preferably the New International, an atlas, a few works of reference in each of the following subjects : U. S. History, Civil Government, Physics and Chemistry. One hundred and twenty-five dollars would provide these books.
5th. Last, and most of all, we want our most capable pupils to feel that it is worth while to put all their might into the school work. If one-half, or even one-third, of the pupils in the Plainville High School were really working for all they are worth, the standard of work in all classes would ad- vance two hundred per cent. To induce them to really work is "THE PROBLEM" of this High School. It is not a new one and that it is serious no one can deny.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM RALPH WARD,
Principal of the High School.
20
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Supervisor of Drawing
Mr. George M. Bemis, Superintendent of Schools, Plain- ville :
My Dear Mr. Bemis :- In the drawing exhibition of last June the regular work for the entire year for all the grades and the High School was shown.
What was most pleasing to me about the work was that it showed continued improvement in conception and execution, each year, though the subject matter grew much more com- plex. This was due to the co-operation of the regular teach- ers and to the children, who have been so well trained in habits of attention and application, and this applies equally in the High School, where the drawing, though optional, is chosen by three-fourths of the school and where the same splendid spirit is shown.
A good deal of time was spent on the study of color and its harmonies and design, the entire year being given to the subject. In the free hand class in the High School, with the special industry of the town, these are the most vital aspects of drawing. An interesting experiment in vocational train- ing in connection with a High School is being tried in Provi- dence. Five of the trades have agreed on an apprentice sys- tem, by which the boy divides his time equally between the school, Technical High, and the shop, alternating the weeks in each.
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ANNUAL REPORT
He attends school the regular school hours and in the shop works the regular shop hours, for which he gets a small pay- ment. In this way many boys would be able to keep in school and learn a trade, at the same time, and in this way the draw- ing could be made of great practical value, and the theory learned in school could be applied in the shop. There is hardly time for more than theory in school, with only an hour and a quarter a week given to the subject, but the power to appreciate and the standard of taste which the study of drawing forms are most important to everyone. I feel that the year was the most profitable we have ever had.
Yours very sincerely, MABEL BRIGHAM.
North Attleboro, Mass.
Plainville, Mass., February 18, 1911.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Supervisor of Music
Mr. George Bemis:
Dear Sir :- The work in music for the past year has, in many respects, been the most satisfactory of any of the pre- ceding years.
There are more children in school who can sing accurately in time and tune than ever before.
The good results of the "new key a day" method continued with the systematic teaching of time problems through the sense of system are more and more apparent in the upper grades.
The hard rythmic problems in six-eight time are so grad- ually and unconsciously developed that the pupils of the sixth grade master these problems with greater ease than the pupils of the eighth were able to do a few years ago.
The work is systematically and carefully graded, beginning with the rote song in the first grade, and developed into the full chorus work of the High School.
Written tests have been given the upper grades with very gratifying results.
The work in the High School has been particularly pleas- ant this year. The parts are well balanced and the voices are very good.
The school is preparing a short cantata, "The Village
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ANNUAL REPORT
Blacksmith,"which with other numbers we are intending to present to the public some time in March.
My sincere appreciation is extended to all the teachers who have so willingly co-operated with me in the work, for as we all know, without this co-operation the music cannot advance, and not only that, but the pleasure which the child should derive from each lesson is taken from him when he realizes he cannot get from his singing lesson that which is expected of him from the supervisor. Then the work is no longer a pleasure but a real hardship.
Thanking you and the school committee for cordial sup- port given me, I am
Very truly yours, MARTHA C. TISDALE, Supervisor of Music.
Truant Officer's Report
Number of Cases Reported and Investigated
E. WRIGHT SARGENT, Truant Officer. 10
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ANNUAL REPORT
Graduating Exercises Plainville High School CLASS OF 1910
Motto-Vincit qui se vincit. Class Colors-Blue and Gold.
PROGRAMME.
March.
Alice May Burton, Pianist.
Song-Largo,
School. Handel
Prayer.
Rev. George H. Rogers.
The Class History.
John T. Tierney.
Should Manual Training be Taught in the High School? Marion W. Blackwell.
Song-Love's Old Sweet Song, School.
Molloy
Alfred Tennyson, the Poet. Margaret E. Blackwell.
The Value of a High School Education. Howard B. Marble.
Song-Charms of Nature, School. Meyer-Helmund
Electricity.
Walter H. Chase.
Girls' Trio-Morn Rise,
Czibulka
The Class Prophecy.
Sadie M. Fuller.
Presentation of Diplomas.
Superintendent George M. Bemis.
Song-Carmena, School. Wilson
Benediction.
25
ANNUAL REPORT
ROLL OF HONOR
(The figure at the right of the name indicates the number of terms during which the pupil has been neither absent nor tardy.)
HIGH SCHOOL.
Clarice Bartlett, 2,
Louise King, 2,
Frank Ware,
Howard Bigelow,
Louis Reynoldson,
Wesley Burton,
Edward McQuade,
Gertrude Evans, 3,
Nellie Cheever,
Arthur Evans.
GRADES 8, 9.
Percy Rogers, Thomas Virgin,
Alice Mullaney,
Edith Reynoldson, 2,
Carrie Ware,
Frank Holden, 2,
Lillian Hancock, Loretta Holden, 2
Winthrop Morgan,
Lillian Bigelow,
Ida Corbin,
Ruth King.
GRADES 6, 7.
Florence Brown, 3, Marion Brown, 3, Marion Barney, 2, Isabella Bartlett, George Fisler, 2,
Clara Rudolph,
Ruth Hinton,
Owen Brunner,
Willie Benker, Alma James,
Earnest Munroe.
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ANNUAL REPORT
GRADES 4, 5.
Margaret Englebert, 2,
Helen Nash, 2,
Margaret McQuade,
William Owen, 2,
Leah Powers, 3,
Frank Bigelow,
Frank Stolworthy, 2,
Roy Corbin,
Howard Ware, Reginald Prew,
Albertus Greene, 2,
Howard Stolworthy, 2,
Evangeline Wolf.
GRADES 2, 3.
Florence Noonan,
Charles Nash, 2,
Herman Fielding, Ralph French,
Harvey Hinton, 3,
Margaret Owen,
William Hancock, 2.
GRADE 1.
Mary Miner, 3,
Anna Sargent.
DIRECTORY
School
Teacher
First Elected
Where Educated
Local Address
Home Address
High High
Wm. R. Ward, A. B., Prin. 1909 Baker University Eudora Ripley, A. B. 1910 Radcliffe
Plainville Plainville
High
Dora Thayer, A. B
1910
Tufts College Simmons College
110 Spring St. Plainville
Grades 7-8 Grades 5-6
Lillian Patterson
1909 Lowell Normal
Burlington, Mass,
Grades 3-4 Ethel Phillips Grades 2-3b Alice T. Lee
1910 Scituate High Miss Simond's
Huntington, Mass. North Scituate, Mass.
Grade 1
Marion H. Jewett
Lexington, Mass.
Ind. & In- dust. Work
Jennie Dickson
Prin. of Primary Building
Music
Mrs. Martha Tisdale
Drawing
Mabel Brigham
1910 Kindergarten Norm'l Salem Normal 1910 Cambridge Train. ( Hyannis Normal N. E. Conservatory Normal Art
Cambridge, Mass. 149 Austin St.,
N. Attle'o North Attleboro North Attleboro
GEORGE M. BEMIS, A. B., (Yale) Superintendent of Schools
Residence, Pleasant Street, Plainville, Mass.
Plainville Office Hours, Town Hall Building, Wednesdays, 3 to 4 p. m.
Auburndale Mass. 71 W. Pine St., Medford, Mass.
Anna Ware
1886 Plainville High
1910 Framingham Normal
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ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1910.
School.
Total Mem.
Av.
Av.
P. C. of
Mem.
Att.
Att
High,
30
28.2
26.3
93.27
Grades 7, 8,
33
29.2
29.2
93.93
Grades 5, 6,
38
34.71
31.72
91.38
Grades 3, 4,
38
37.86
34.74
91.74
Grades 2, 3,
44
45.83
38.97
85.05
Grade 1,
36
24.55
20.39
83.05
(Ten pupils were transferred from Room I to Room II in
October.)
Total membership for the year,
219
Grand total membership (including pupils previously enrolled elsewhere in Massachusetts),
231
Average membership for year,
200.35
Average attendance for year,
181.31
Percentage of attendance for year
90.5
SCHOOL CENSUS, 1910.
Number of boys between ages of five and fifteen,
99
Number of girls between ages of five and fifteen, 104
Total, 203
Number of boys between ages of seven and fourteen,
73
Number of girls between ages of seven and fourteen,
84
Total, 157
STATISTICS FOR STATE REPORT, YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1910.
Number of public schools, 6.
Number attending within school year under five years of age, 0.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Number attending within school year over fifteen years of age, 25.
Number attending within school year between seven and fourteen years of age, 143.
Total membership for year, 219.
Average membership of all public schools, 200.35.
Average attendance of all public schools during year, 181.31.
Percentage of attendance based upon average membership, 90.5.
Number of teachers (on full time) required by public schools, men, 1; women, 8.
Number of teachers who have graduated from college, in High School, 3; in elementary schools, 0.
Number of teachers who have graduated from Normal Schools, 3.
Aggregate number of months all public schools have been kept during year, 55 months, 19 days.
Average number of months the public day schools have been kept during the year, 9 months, 61/2 days.
Number of teachers on full time in High School, 3.
Number of special teachers on part time, 2.
Number of different pupils attending High School during year, 30.
Number graduated from High School at end of year 6; from grammar school, 30.
Number admitted to High School during year, 12.
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, 217: defective in sight, 15; in hearing, 4; parents notified, 12.
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ANNUAL REPORT
STATISTICS SHOWING PRESENT CONDITIONS.
High
Grades 8 - 9
Grades 6 - 7
Grades 4 - 5
Grades 2 - 3
Grade 1
Total
Seating capacity,
50
48
46
48
50
30
272
Number registered
since September,
45
32
28
42
36
30
213
Number registered at present,
45
30
28
37
33
29
202
Number of grades,
4
2
2
2
2
1
13
Number in Grade 1.
29
29
Number in Grade 2,
20
20
Number in Grade 3,
9
13
22
Number in Grade 4,
28
28
Number in Grade 5,
15
15
Number in Grade 6,
13
13
Number in Grade 7,
16
16
Number in Grade 8, 14
14
High School.
Grade 9,
27
27
Grade 10,
9
9
Grade 11, 4
4
Grade 12,
5
5
Total, 202
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1911.
Winter term of all schools begins January 2, 1911.
Winter term of all schools closes March 24.
Spring term of all schools begins April 3.
Spring term of all common schools closes June 9. weeks).
(Ten
Spring term of High School closes June 23. (Twelve weeks ).
Fall term of all schools begins September 5.
Fall term of all schools closes December 22. (Sixteen weeks).
High School graduation, June 21.
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ANNUAL REPORT
HOLIDAYS.
February 22, April 19, September 4, October 12, Thanks- giving Day and day following.
PAY DAYS.
January 27, February 24, March 24, April 28, May 26, June 9, June 23, September 29, October 27, November 24, December 22.
STORM SIGNALS.
Three double blasts, 2-2-2, of the whistle at Schofield, Mel- cher & Schofield's factory at 7:15 A. M. signifies no morning session. The same signal at 12 :05 signifies no afternoon ses- sion.
Two double blasts, 2-2, of the whistle at 7:15 signifies no morning session, with the exception of the High School. The same signal at 12 :05 signifies no afternoon session.
Valuation of Property
IN THE
TOWN OF PLAINVILLE
MASSACHUSETTS
And State, County and Town Tax
FOR 1911
PLAINVIL
OF
MASS
-E
NMOI
16
28 COLONY
MASS.
1673
-1664
-1905.
...
PLAIN
VILLE
19
Wrentham
05.
Now 29, 792-4
4.1905.
ORPORATED
APRIL
WREN-
THAM.
Angle Treet
Press of the Evening Chronicle, North Attleborough, Mass,
1
VALUATION LIST
Adams, George H., Cottage st., 1 poll,
$ 2 00
House, $1200; house lot 1/2 acre $250.
$1450 29 00
Adams, Emma L., Broad st., house $1000, house lot 1/2 acre $200, 1200
24 00
Abercrombie, Mrs. Ralph, Melcher st., and others, exempt $1500, house $1500, house lot 1/2 acre $200, barn $150,
350
7 00
Alix, Joseph, Washington st., poll, Personal estate,
90
1 80
Allen, Arthur A., Taunton st., poll, Personal estate,
50
1 00
Atkinson, Mrs. George, Pleasant st., 2 houses, $2400; 2 house lots, 1 acre, $400, triangular lot 14 acre $50, 2850
57 00
Averill, Bertha M., Spring st., house $1600 ; house lot 1/2 acre, $200,
1800
36 00
Ayer, Willard G., Walnut st .. poll,
2 00
Personal estate,
50
1 00
House $850, barn $350, house lot 1/2 acre $100, sprouts 7/8 $25,
1325
26 50
Bacon, Harland G., guardian Emeline Ba- con, Warren pasture, 6 acres,
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