USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1913-1921 > Part 35
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The Committee earnestly requests the parents to co- operate with them at a time when any contagious dis- ease is prevalent by closely watching their own children and isolating them at the least symptom of illness, not only for their own good, but for the interest of the pub- lic in general, thus putting a check to the disease in its early stages.
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ANNUAL REPORT
It was necessary to shingle the High School building last year, as there were so many leaks in the roof that we considered it poor policy to repair, and the ceilings weresuffering from the water coming onto them and causing them to loosen and fall on the children.
A repair that seems necessary this coming year is the building of a division fence between the school grounds and Mr. Thompson in place of the old fence, which has fallen down, and part of the way where there never has been a fence. This fence should be built out of consid- eration to Mr. Thompson, as it is impossible to keep the children from making a general thoroughfare of his yard, and Mr. Thompson will pay for one-half of the same where there has never been a fence.
(For the particulars regarding the general work, we refer you to the reports of the different officers of the school, to be found on the pages following this report.)
We recommend the following appropriations :
Teachers' wages, care and fuel $9,300.00
Books and supplies. 725.00
Incidental and industrial 800.00
School Superintendent 400.00
School Physician 50.00
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIS M. FULLER, JOHN J. EIDEN, OSWIN C. WOODWARD, School Committee.
January 1, 1919.
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ANNUAL REPORT
MONEY AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES
Teachers' wages, care and fuel $7,500.00
Books and supplies. 700.00
800.00
Incidental and industrial
550.00
Superintendent
1,331.15
State School Fund
263.14
Dog license
36.81
Interest on School Fund Note
24.00
Tuition from State
500.00
State for Support of High School ...
State for
Increase of Teachers'
100.00
Wages
50.00
School Physician $11,854 10
Teachers' Wages, Care and Fuel
$7,500.00
Teachers' wages, care and fuel.
100.00
Teachers' wages from State.
263.14
Dog license .
500.00
High School Support
24.00
Tuition from State
1,331.15
Transferred from State Fund.
36.81
Income from Town School Note. . .
$9,755.10
Expended
$6,824.88
Teachers' wages
1,536.90
Transportation
1,048.00
Janitor
744.93
Fuel
$10,154.71
$399.61
Overdrawn
Books and Supplies
$700.00
Appropriated
715.00
Expended
Overdrawn
$15.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
Incidental and Industrial
Appropriated
$800.00
Expended
948.54
O erdrawn
$148.54
School Physician
Appropriated
$50.00
Expended
50.00
$50.00
Superintendent
Appropriated
$400.00
Receipts
150.00
Total receipts
$550.00
Expended
400.00
Balance
$150.00
State Fund
Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1918.
$226.50
Received Jan. 25, 1918. 1,114.65
$1,331.15
Transferred to School Fund.
$1,331.15
Industrial and Incidental Account
Providence Telephone Co
$31.47
Charles Quirk
3.00
E. C. Barney 8.15
Carpenter & Howard Co 1.25
W. H. Riley Co 3.75
J. P. Ballou. .75
W. M. Hall Co.
65.60
Stone-Underhill Co
163.32
W. C. Wilkins 4.75
Ira A. Jenkins 7.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
H. I. Dahlman & Co. 16.30
16.60
Plainville Pharmacy
6.15
Adela L. Balch
8.69
Frank W. Zirngiebel.
15.75
Plainville Press
8.88
Herman S. Loud
7.00
W. M. Fuller
299.00
F. W. Bird & Son.
61.08
N. J. Magnan Co 22.00
Edward McNeil
12.78
Falk & Henrick
90.20
Henry F. Guild
.96
A. R. Block
2.98
Belcher & Loomis Hardware Co.
2.00
Charles S. Cobb.
2.98
Underwood Typewriter Co
2.70
F. H. Gould Co.
38.75
Perry Cook
.57
Yale & Towne Lock Co
22.50
Reformatory for Women.
4.95
J. L. Hammett 11.01
Price's Store
.94
H. P. Cornell
3.00
Mason Box Co
1.73
H. E. Thompson
$948.54
Book and Supply Account
$16.44
Remington Typewriter Company ...
212.58
Edward E. Babb Co.
5.76
Cable Co.
42.41
Kennedy Bros. & Wolkens
36.58
McMillian Co.
J. L. Hammett Co. 85.45
4.40
Arthur P. Smith
3.64
C. C. Richards & Co
74.39
D. C. Heath & Co.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Reporter Press
1.35
American Book Company.
58.18
umnn & Co.
67.09
Filmore Music House.
1.80
White, Smith & Co.
2.11
Silver, Burdett & Co.
18.36
Scot, Forman & Co
5.08
F. S. Latta
.96
E. A. Merriam
2.00
Tufts College Press
1.20
Underwood Typewriter Co
32.50
Hinds, Haden & E!dridge.
2.72
Charles E. Merrill.
40.00
$715.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
Superintendent's Report
I herewith present my seventh annual report of the schools of Plainville. This is the fourteenth in the series of Superintendent's reports.
Teachers
Again I have the rare pleasure of reporting the same corps of teachers at the beginning of school last Septem- ber for the third consecutive year. I doubt whether there there is another town in the State with such a record.
Miss Jennie S. Dickson resigned the last of September to accept a more lucrative position nearer home. Miss Dickson began her services in Plainville in 1910. She established and developed the courses in industrial work, teaching a wide range of subjects, including carpentry, sewing, cooking, basketry and raffia. No other town in the State, the size of Plainville, has a better industrial department.
Miss Bethel L. Banks, a graduate of the domestic science department of the Framingham Normal School, has been secured to continue all the work except car- pentry. Miss Banks teaches three days a week in Plain- ville and tw odays in Foxboro.
It is hoped that a practical carpenter may soon be found to continue the course in woodwork.
On account of the large size of the schools, it has seemed necessary to employ an assistant on part time to relieve the teachers. Miss Agnes M. Russell, a resident of Plainville and a graduate of St. Joseph's Academy, Portland, Me., has been secured for each afternoon. She assists in three schools, grades III to VI inclusive. The enrollment in these schools is 44, 50 and 55, respectively. No teacher should have more than 35 or 40 pupils if the best results are to be attained. It will no doubt be neces sary in the near future to open another school.
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ANNUAL REPORT
When that time comes, it will be necessary to take the room now occupied by the Public Library. It would seem wise on the part of the town to make plans for a library in another building.
The School Budget
More money will be required for schools in 1919 than in any previous year since the town was incorporated. During the past six years the cost of transportation has increased 61 percent., janitor's services 79 percent., teach- ers' salaries 31 per cent., books and supplies, 23 per cent.
By State law the minimum salary of teachers is $550 per year for towns whose valuation is $1,000,000.00 or more. While Plainville was paying its teachers more than the minimum when the law was passed, nevertheless the margin over the $500 is only $50. Therefore, it is in- evitable that the salaries of the grade teachers must be materially increased to insure keeping the efficiency of the teachers to the present standard. We not only must maintain the present standard ; we must raise it.
New Books
During the year new language books and new physio- logies have been purchased for grades V, VI, VII and VIII. The old books had been in use many years and were out of date. It is hoped that much better results will be secured. New readers will be necessary in all the grades the coming year.
State Aid for the High School
The law whereby the State gave $500 for the aid of the High School has been repealed and a new law en- acted. The new law gives $250 per teacher. Plainville will, therefore, receive the coming year about $820.
Influenza
On account of the Spanish influenza the schools were
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ANNUAL REPORT
closed for three weeks in October, and for the same rea- son they did not reopen until January 13, 1919.
It is proposed that the High School omit the spring va- cation and that the grade schools close June 20th instead of June 13th. By so doing the High School year will be thirty-seven weeks instead of forty, and the grade year thirty-five weeks instead of thirty-eight.
Through the co-operation of the parents by supervising home study and by insisting that their children shall be regular in attendance at school, the teachers will be able łby emphasizing the essentials to bring the pupils up to grade by the end of the school year.
Grammar School Graduation Omitted
It seems best to omit the usual grammar school grad- uation for 1919. On account of the loss of time by the closing of schools, all the remaining time should be de- voted to the regular school work. It takes a great amount of time to prepare such programs for graduation as have been prepared for the past ten years. The work in arith- metic, language, geography, etc., has, therefore, neces- sarily been curtailed. Diplomas could be given to the pupils who complete the course on the last day of the school year.
Personally, I recommend the permanent omission of such elaborate grammar school graduations. I have felt each year that it was an unwise use of time. Much more can be accomplished by doing the regular work to the end of the year. I would favor a simple graduation, held in the afternoon, which shall illustrate the work that is done during the years of the course. That would be valuable and would stimulate each pupil to do his best each day.
Apparatus for the Playgrounds
I would recommend some simple apparatus, such as
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ANNUAL REPORT
swings and teeter boards, for the use of the pupils at re- cess and noon.
With such apparatus the teachers can organize the play of the children and make it valuable for their physi- cal development.
Thrift Stamps
During the year, 133 pupils have purchased thrift and war savings stamps to the amount of $1,167. This is an excellent showing. No better way can be devised to teach habits of thrift. I urgently urge that all pupils buy stamps during 1919.
Conclusion
Your attention is respectfully called to the reports of the Principal of the Schools, of the special teachers, and to the tables of statistics.
All the teachers deserve commendation for the excel- Jent way in which they have done their work.
I thank you and the citizens of Plainville for your hearty co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
IRA A. JENKINS, Superintendent of Schools.
January 15, 1919.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Principal of the High School.
Superintendent of Schools, Painville, Mass.
Dear Sir :- As Principal of Plainville's schools I am pleased to offer you herewith a constructive report, not- withstanding the handicaps of the war-times.
Both the grades and the High School are in a whole- some condition ; due largely, I believe, to the efficiency of a corps of teachers that has remained intact for the past three years, and who work in complete harmony.
In speaking of the High School, the writer's more im- mediate concern, its present efficiency may best be at- tested by the record of its graduates of the last two years. All but four of these are now students at insti- tutions of advanced schooling, for which they were pre- pared by Plainville High, and which they entered direct. ly upon its certification. Or else they are holding posi- tions in business as stenographers, for which they were expressly prepared at this school. The distribution is as follows: Two are regular students at college, three are in normal schools, one is in a secretarial school, and the remaining three are stenographers.
Further testimony, as to the practical value placed on their schooling by the pupils themselves, lies in the fact that not one of last years students who is still in town has failed to return and remain in high school this year. This demonstration of confidence in their high school by school pupils themselves and their parents is rather a convincing testimonial. For during these war-times, the temptation to drop school for remunerative work has de· pleted, more or less, practically every high school in the country.
Increased expenses have made it impossible to con- tinue the school socials without accepting the support of other than students. So, for the present, in spite of their
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ANNUAL REPORT
popularity, the socials will be replaced by basketball. A hall properly fitted for the game is available at a price that will permit the school to confine the attendance to its own pupils.
Finally, this opportunity is taken by the Principal, on behalf of himself and his associate teachers, to acknowl- edge their indebtedness to the Superintendent and the Committee. Both have shown us a considerateness that has kept the same teachers in the town's service contin- uously for the past three years.
Respectfully submitted, F. W. ZIRNGIEBEL, Principal.
GRADUATION EXERCISES OF THE PLAINVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Town Hall, Plainville, Mass. Friday Evening, June Twenty-eight Ninteen Hundred and Eighteen
Class Motto: "Labor Omnia Vincit Class Flower : Jack Rose Class Colors : Garnet and Gold
Order of Exercises
March- Gladys Alice Munroe, Pianist
Invocation-
Rev. W. T. Hale
Song "Speed Our Republic" School Keller
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ANNUAL REPORT
Salutatory and Essay : "Experience versus Education" Frank Harold Stolworthy
Song-"Banner of the Free" Jude
School
Essay-"Beauty and Art in Every-day Life" Julia Evans
Song-"America, Glorious Land of Freedom" Girls of School
Class History- Blanche Flora McGregor
Essay-"Do We at School Serve Also?" Annie Loring Weeman
Song-"America Triumphant" School
Demarest
Class Prophecy- Alice May McNeill
Song-"Up the Street, March" School
Essay and Valedictory- "Success or Failure, Which Shall it Be ?" Estelle May Dorset
Presentation of Diplomas-
Willis M. Fuller, Chairman of School Board
Class Ode- Words by Amie Loring Weemie Senior Class
Benediction-
Rev. W. T. Hale
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ANNUAL REPORT
GRADUATES OF 1918
Classical Course
Amie Loring Weeman Alice May McNeill
Frank Harold Stolworthy Blanche Flora McGregor
Commercial Course
Julia Evans Estelle May Dorset
CLASS ODE
Now on youth's pathway we're climbing,
Upward toward learning's fair spring ; Tho our feet sometimes may falter, Labor o'ercomes everything.
Farewell, our teachers and classmates, Round our hearts dear mem'ries cling ; Forever will this be our motto, Labor o'ercomes everything.
Oh, God, we pray Thee to guide us, Shield us beneath Thy great wing,
Till, when our life work is over, Labor's bright crown we shall win. Words by Amie Loring Weeman.
GRADUATION EXERCISES OF THE PLAINVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
June 14, 1918
1. Operetta-Articania, or A Visit to the North Pole 2. Presentation of Diplomas
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ANNUAL REPORT
List of Graduates
Albert Wilfred Andrews
Dorothy Iris Del:
Beatrice Virginia Burton
John Wiliam Butler
Norman Merton Clark
Walace Sylvester Dorset
Annie Laura Esau
John Henry Goodall, Jr.
Everett Walter Hart
Dorothy Williams Hatch
Gladys Elizabeth Keith Leo Kenney McQuade Elsie Elizabeth Proal Ernest Leroy Randall
John Michael Roebuck
Ruth Rogers John Paul Russell
Kimball Herbert Sargent Eunice Elizabeth Sharp
Herbert Martin Thompson
Gladys Miriam Hutchinson Hilda Hamblin Whiting
In Memoriam
Henry C. King, July 5, 1903 ; Grade VIII, Sept. 14, 1918. Moses E. Rose, Sept. 28, 1904 ; Grade VIII, Dec. 25, 1918
Roll of Honor
The following pupils have been neither absent nor tardy for the year ending June, 1918.
High School
Amy L. Cook Grace H. Englebert
Hazel Kenyon Marion D. Olney
Leroy B. Wilson
Grade VII
Alice H. Stolworthy
Special Honors
Alice H. Stolworthy has not been absent or tardy for two years, and Grace H. Engelbert has not been absent nor tardy for three years.
Leroy Wilson has been neither absent nor tardy since he first entered the primary school in Pawtucket, eleven years ago.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Industrial Department
Mr. Ira A. Jenkins, Superintendent of School :
Dear Sir :- I took up the work of the industrial de- partment in the schools in October of this year, and up to the present time the progress of the children has been very satisfactory. Owing to the forced vacations this winter, due to the influenza epidemic, a good deal of time has necessarily been lost, but with a little sewing done outside of school time at home, I feel sure that the loss will not make any appreciable difference in the amount of work accomplished.
The youngest girls taking sewing are those in the third and fourth grades, and it is important that a good deal of time be spent in these classes in learning the various stitches. In the third grade, for instance, most of the children do not know how to sew, consequently we have had to learn how to thread a needle ; how to tie a knot in our thread, how to wear a thimble, etc. Next came the learning of the various simple stitches, and, in order to hold the interest of the little ones so that they would not get impatient with long practicing, we began almost at once in this grade to make simple needle books. It is my plan with these younger children to make the sewing outfit, which they are going to need and use in their work in sewing through the grades. as, for example, the needle- book, sewing bag, possibly a little apron, etc.
The girls in the upper grades have all known how to sew for a number of years, so in most cases they are working on garments for themselves. In some of these grades, particularly in the fifth and sixth, lessons in the threading and use of the sewing machine have been nec- essary, as some of the work must of course be done on the machine.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The classes in cookery are entirely confined to the High School girls, and the numbers are small. It means that they must return in the afternoon for the class, and a good many feel that they cannot comfortably do this. The work being done by these girls, however, is entirely satisfactory, and I am immensely gratified at the way in which they are taking hold under my supervision.
Besides merely learning how to cook the various foods and combinations of foods, I hope to be able to give them a practical working knowledge of :
1. The classes of foods. ,(a) uses of the foods in the diet.
2. The food values of different materials used in or- dinary cookery.
3. Planning of meals.
We have already spent some time on these phases of the course, and more work in this direction. will, 1 am sure. be of benefit to the pupils.
I have only a few classes with the boys, and these are made up of the boys in the third and fourth grades. So far this year we have done some simple raffia work and more difficult cardboard problems. Later it is my inten- tion to take up different kinds of basketry with them. These boys enter into their work with a great deal of in- terest and enthusiasm, and consequently obtain creditable results.
I sincerely hope that the work accomplished by the boys and girls of all the grades this year will prove to be useful work. I have tried to have that spirit come into our lessons, that our aim may be to make attractive, use- ful articles, rather than those which may prove to be merely ornamental.
I greatly appreciate the helpful spirit of the Principal
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ANNUAL REPORT
and the teachers in regard to my work; it has aided me greatly in planning my classes.
Very truly yours,
BETHEL L. BANKS.
January 20, 1919.
Report of Supervisor of Music
Mr. Ira A. Jenkins, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :- I herewith submit the annual report of the music in the public schools of Plainville.
The work for the first part of the year until the sum- mer vacation progressed very satisfactorily, and we started the work in September with great expectations, having had, as we thought, good preparation to carry out our aims in music ; but the closing of the schools in Oc- tober, followed by the irregularity in attendance, has re- tarded the progress in music as in other subjects.
However, we have had some excellent work in chorus singing, especially in the High School, where the en- thusiasm of the singers and the splendid behavior are the best indication that the music period is a favorite one with the pupils in the Plainville High School.
All of the upper grades, High School included, are sing- ing the songs which the boys in the camps are singing, and which no doubt have come to stay, and will be found in all song collections of the future.
When we read in the various papers and magazines of what singing has done for the boys in this war, I am sure there is no doubt in any one's mind of the value of such instruction in our public schools.
6
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ANNUAL REPORT
We know why the Training Camp Commission sent out the numerous song leaders to all the Army and Navy Camps.
It was to keep up the vitality of the men through nusic. Singing keeps the men cheerful, keeps up the morale of the army, thus preserving the mental and phy- s'cal fitness ci the men so necessary to win any war.
Now if music is so essential to the moral and mental equipment of the boys working in the camps, is it not « qually essential to the boys and girl, working in our public schools, and also essential to our community life ?
In regard to the songs sung by the boys, we must put aside our long conceived ideals of the style of music which our young people should sing and enter into the spirit of the times.
I think Mr. Kenneth S. Clark, formerly on the editorial staff of Musical America, and who was Camp Song Leader at Camp Meade, Md., voiced the correct idea when he addressed the Music Department of the General Fed- eration of Womens Clubs at Hot Springs, Ark., last April. He urged the folks at home whenever they met together to sing, and to sing the songs which the sol- diers sung. He said a fitting slogan for a nation would be "Sing, Smile, Serve."
At the same convention, Mr. J. Lawrence Erb, Dean of the Music Department of the University of Illinois, gave highly interesting examples of the importance of mitsical work at the aviaton camps and the schools of telegraphy. He said that the instructors told him that those pupils who had had musical experience were far more responsive to the work, as they had already been trained to listen through their musc.
Our aim in relation to school music is to create a love for music, with the ability to interpret the printed page
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ANNUAL REPORT
into music. In order to do this, much thought is needed to discriminate as to what is the most essential to pro- duce this.
Being allowed only fifteen minutes a day for music, much techincal work that would otherwise be desirable must be discarded on the ground that any knowledge that does not directly lead to this end, in view of the limitation of time, must be eliminated and only that taught which will be really useful in the path of attain- ment.
To be able to find one of the keys in the simplest way, to recognize the rythm through the time problems, to be familiar with all the chromatics, and the most common marks of expression, are the essentials in technique which experience has taught are the most vital in public school music which is primarily singing.
Other technique should be taught under the head of elementary harmony, and requires more time that is al- loted to music in our public schools.
Music should fill a large part in the life of the masses of the people ; therefore, school music should be taught so that it may serve the highest interests of the com- munity.
I am sure all who have availed themselves of the pri- vilege of hearing the various schools sing must be pleased with the tone quality.
Of course, the only way that the work of a special teacher can progress is by having the hearty co-opera- ton of the teachers with whomsheworks.
We are fortunate in having such teachers in every school, and I am grateful to them for such co-operation and help.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Also to you, and the School Committee for support and appreciation of my work.
Respectfully submitted, MARTHA C. TISDALE, Supervisor of Music. North Attleboro, Dec. 31, 1918.
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing
Mr. Ira A. Jenkins, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :- The work done in drawing was exhibited in the school rooms last June and, as it was possible to show more of each pupil's work, the exhibition as a whole was more satisfactory than when given in the Town Hall.
The High School exhibited applied design and stencils, which received much praise; also the designs for the Honor Roll, of which Mss Catherine Zilch's was chosen to be framed and hung in the main room of the school.
It has been possible to start the class in metal work again this fall and we hope during the coming year to have more equipment and better facilities for this and the work in jewelry.
Any one having tools which they can spare would be helping very much if they would send them to the High School. I wish to thank Mr. John Kenerson for his gift of jewelers' saws; also Mr. Frank Corbin for all his as- sistance.
The work this fall has been as satisfactory as could be expected with so long an interrupton, and the teachers show the same splendid co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
MABEL BRIGHAM, Supervisor of Drawing.
North Attleboro, Dec. 31, 1918.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Promotions, June, 1918
Unconditioned Conditioned Not Promotions Promotions Promoted
Grade I.
23
4
9
Grade II.
18
6
0
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