USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1922-1933 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
Starting at a monument on the northlerly side of "Cutting Plain," on a knoll, being the easterly corner of Plainville and the southerly corner of Foxboro, and the corner of Monsfield and North Attleboro. Then taking a course south sixty-two degrees and forty-six minutes west, true bearing, 4,684 feet to a monument on the easterly side of the New Boston road, thence same course 3,509 feet to a monument on the southerly side of Messenger street, thence same course 3,638 feet to a monument on westerly side of Washington street, thence same course 1,038 feet to a monument on westerly side of South street, thence 1611 feet to a monument or road- stone on the westerly side of Moran street, thence 2,229 feet to a monument on the westerly side of West Bacon street, thence 5,616 feet to a monument on the westerly side of Peck road (so-called), thence 961 feet to the Angle Tree Stone. Thence changing our course to south eightly-nine degrees, thre eimnutes west, true bearing, 2,242 feet to the Stoughton Stone, thence same course 554 feet to a monument on the westerly side of Fales street, thence same course 995 feet to a monument on the southerly side of the Arnold's Mills road, thence same course 836 feet to a monument marked "R. I., Mass., N. A. and W.," marking the corner of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Selectmen of North Attleboro, H. ALTON HALL, Chairman. Selectmen of Plainville, JAMES E. McNEILL, THEODORE E. A. FULLER, (Substitute).
43
ANNUAL REPORT
The Selectmen of Wrentham and Plainville met, by appointment, on the sixth day of December, 1924, and proceeded to run and establish the line between said towns, permanent Stone Monuments being erected on each street as follows :
Beginning at a Stone Monument, marked W. F. & P., on the westerly side of Thurston street at the Foxboro' town line ;
Thence running south 69 degrees, 14 minutes, 38 seconds by true meridan about 3881 feet to a Stone Monument on the westerly side of Madison street, mark- ed P. & W .;
Thence in the same course about 846 feet to a Stone Monument on the northerly side of Washington street, marked P. & W .;
Thence in the same course about 4053 feet to a Stone Monument on the westerly side of Taunton street, mark- ed P. & W .;
Thence in the same course about 2375 feet to a Stone Monument on the westerly side of George street, mark- ed P. & W .;
Thence in the same course about 2383 feet to a Stone Monument on the southerly side of Wampum street, marked P. & W .;
Thence in the same course about 923 feet to a Stone Monument on the easterly side of Berry street, marked P. & W .;
Thence in the same course about 2456 feet to a Stone Monument on the easterly side of South street, marked P. & W .;
Thence in the same course about 948 feet to a Stone Monument on the southerly side of Green street, marked P. &. W .;
Thence in the same course about 198 feet to a Stone Monument on the easterly side of High street, marked P. & W .;
Thence in thesame course about 6355 feet to a Stone Monument on the westerly side of Hancock street, marked P. & W .;
44
ANNUAL REPORT
Thence in the same course about 2387 feet to a Stone Monument at the Burnt Swamp corner, at the north easterly corner of the state of Rhode Island.
And the line is hereby established as a permanent boundary between the said towns of Wrentham and Plainville in accordance with the above described courses, distances and monuments.
GEORGE S. SHELDON, CHARLES D. LEONARD, Selectmen of Wrentham, Mass. JAMES E.McNEILL, THEODORE E. A. FULLER, Sub., Selectmen of Plainville, Mass.
45
ANNUAL REPORT
BIRTHS RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE DURING 1924
Date
Name
Names of Parents
Jan. 1-Myrtle Erleen Everett, Chester B. and Florence Jan. 2-William Joseph La Fontaine, William J. and Ora Jan. 14-Beatrice M. Sylvia Erwin B. and Lydia F. Feb. 17-Mildred Mulligan Wm. N. and Edith March 13-Howard Ballou Bigelow
Howard P. and Eurilla J. March 26-Gladys Anna Sargent, Harold and Florence April 5-Donald Raymond Otis, Dexter L. and Lillian A. April 10-Stillborn.
April 27-
May 11-Lillian Hemmingsen Henry H. and Freda
May 20-Geraldine Riley Nelson I. and Ruperta E.
June 2-Hope Iris Beyersdorfer
Albert and Bertha L.
June 14 Le Blanc, Arthur L. and Sarah I .. June 23-Thelma May Jones
Frederick L. and Cecelia M.
July 8-Frank Dexter Harris Frank D. and Hattie Aug. 25-Guy Herbert Wayne, Jr., Guy H. and Mary Sept. 10-Albert Berard Arthur L. and Rose Sept. 20-Marion Hilda Fisher, Raymond and Marion Sept. 26-Robert Henry Rammel, Thomas H. and Laura Oct. 20-Frank Martin Sharon, Arthur J. and Ida H. A true copy, attest :
Dec. 8-Frank Grzenda
Adolph and Annie
THEODORE E. A. FULLER, Town Clerk.
46
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE DURING 1924
Date.
„Name
Married by
March 26. Frank D. Harris, Plainville
Rev. John C. Hyde
Hattie M. Rice, Plainville
April 22. William Henry Kiley, Providence, R. I.
Rev. W. B. Greene
April
23. Walter Francis Butler, Plainville
Rev. P. J. Sullivan
May
1. Frank A. Martin, Plainville
Rev. P. E. McGee
May
14. Henry Joseph Martin, Providence, R. I.
Rev. Guy H. Wayne
May
24. Edward Francis Smith, Attleboro, Mass.
Rev. D. F. Sheedy
July 31. John W. Brown, Providence, R. I. Esther S. Victor, Providence, R. I.
Rev. Guy H. Wayne
Sept. 1. John Henry Goodall, Jr., Plainville Blanche Laplante, North Attleboro, Mass.
Rev. L. A. Dequoy
Sept. 17. Chester Miller Kettell, Plainville
Rev. Geo. E. Osgood
Sept. 26. Robert Walker, Providence, R. I. Vera Morrone, Providence, R. I.
Rev. Guy H. Wayne
Oct. 11. Arthur L. Crowley, Plainville Florence G. Washburn, Plainville
Rev. Guy H. Wayne
Oct.
29. Malcolm Harris Greene, Norfolk, Mass.
Rev. Guy H. Wayne
Marion Standish Brown, Plainville
Nov.
18. Charles A. Carpenter, North Attleboro, Mass.
Rev. Guy H. Wayne
Flora E. Smith, North Attleboro, Mass.
A true copy. Attest :
THEODORE E. A. FULLER, Town Clerk.
ANNUAL
REPORT
Isabelle Hudgkins Bartlett, Plainville
Mary Turbitt, Providence, R. I.
Lena Marshall, North Attleboro, Mass.
Bertha Frances Brown, Providence, R. I.
Grace Helen Engelbert, Plainville
Mildred Emily MacInnes, Wrentham, Mass.
DEATHS RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE DURING 1924
Date
Name
Y
Age M
D
Cause of Death
Jan. 2.
William Joseph La Fontaine
5 m
Asphysia nealonum
Jan. 3.
Melbourne Mclaughlin
58
10
23
Luctic Acrotitis
Jan. 26.
Maria Josephine Hindle
77
4
12
Cerebral hemorrhage
Jan. 26.
Arthur M. Fuller
80
2
1
Broncho pneumonia
Feb. 7.
Carl Edward Friberg
8
7
Convulsions
Feb. 11.
Marie Lillian Mailly
1
Asphyxia from oedema of glotti
Mar. 6.
John Joyce
68
10
3
Impactem of fecus
Mar. 16.
Walter Channing Rice
71
11
9
Carcinoma of liver
Mar. 20.
Samcel Henry Bell
32
26
Acute dilitation of heart
Mar. 25.
Ellen Matilda Blake
84
6
24
Cardiac dilitation
Mar. 25.
Iverson Pasquantonio
7
4
11
Crem fracture of skull
Mar. 31.
Julia Ann Thompson
72
5
29
Nephritis
Apr. 9.
Amelia Maria Woodward
88
8
3
Acute gastritis
Apr. 10.
Stillborn.
May 2.
Sarah Olivia Bragg
83
1
7
Cerebral hemorrhage
May 11.
Lillian Hemmingsen
Premature birth
July 5.
Charles Winslow Chace
72
2
17
Acnte nephritis
July 13.
Lucy Ann Sargent
78
3
6
Acnte nephritis
July 31.
Edward Francis Russell
65
10
27
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Sept. 19.
Hazel L. Feid
1
7
6
Accidental, burns
Oct. 3.
Julia H. Robbins
74
2
5
Valvular heart disease
Oct. 9. Charles Foster
63
6
7
Septicaemia emphysemia
Oct. 12.
Mae Wells Ford
47
6
20
Chronic nephritis
Oct. 28.
Martha Ellen Bolton
78
4 21
Carcinoma liver
Dec. 9.
Elizabeth MacDonald
74
1
17
Arterio-sclerosis
A true copy. Attest:
THEODORE E. A. FULLER, Town Clerk.
47
ANNUAL
REPORT
.
2
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
Town of Plainville Massachusetts
PLAINVILLE
OF
MASS 16 Lady 128 COLONY
E. MASS.
Angle Tree -1664
1673-
-1905
PLAIN
VILLE
INCORP
19
05.
Nov IV TO
4.1905.
RATED
APRIL
NMOL WREN
THAM
FOR Year ending December 31, 1924
4
SCHOOL OFFICIALS
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FRANK O. CORBIN, Chairman. .... Term expires 1925 Telephone North Attleboro, 543-Y
WILLIAM WHITE, Secretary. Term expires 1926 Telephone North Attleboro 309-J CHARLES H. PEASLEY Term expires 1927 Telephone: North Attleboro 121-\\'
Meetings of the School Committee are held in office. Town Hall Building, on the second and fourth Wed- nesdays.
Union Superintendent of Schools Norton and Plainville
LAURENCE G. NOURSE Residence telephone Norton 59-4 School telephone North Attleboro 385-R
The Superintendent may be reached at the office in the Town Hall building every Tuesday, and other days by appointment.
Authorized to Issue Work Certificates CHARLES H. PEASLEY Telephone North Attleboro 121-WV School Physician FREDERICK J. CARLEY, M. D. Telephone North Attleboro 481
School Nurse GINA F. WHITEHOUSE, R. N. Telephone Foxboro 138-13
Attendance Officer JOSEPH CRAIK
52
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1925
Elementary Schools-
Fall term closes Dec. 12, 1924. Winter term begins December 29, 1924.
Winter term closes March 27, 1925.
Spring term begins April 6, 1925. Spring term closes June 11, 1925.
High School-
Fall term closes Dec. 19, 1924.
Winter term begins December 29, 1924.
Winter term closes March 27, 1925.
Spring term begins April 6, 1925. Spring term closes June 18, 1925.
HOLIDAYS
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following. SCHOOL SESSIONS
High School: Regular session, 8 to 1; extra session, 2-4. Grammar School: 9 to 12 and 1:15 to 3:15.
Primary School: 9 to 11:45 and 1:15 to 3:15.
NO SCHOOL SIGNALS
7:15 A. M .- Four single blasts on fire alarm system signifies no school for all pupils for the day.
7:30 A. M .- Same signal signifies no school for ele- mentary school pupils.
11:45 A. M .- Same signal signifies no school in the af- ternoon and all pupils will stay in school one hour longer than usual and then be dismissed for the day.
53
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of the Town of Plainville :
The year 1924 has been one of many changes in the schools of our town, the most important one being the dissolution of the Foxboro, Norton and Plainvville su- perintendency district by the State Board of Education, and the forming of a new one comprising Norton and Plainville.
This new combination is going to be of great benefit to our schools, as they now get two days of the Super- intendent's personal attention each week, where we formerly had but one.
After several meetings with the Norton committee, when a number of Superintendents were interviewed, Mr. Laurence G. Nourse of Nahant, Mass., was elected to be Superintendent of the Norton and Plainville schools, with the stipulation that he spend two days in Plainville, and three in Norton, Plainville paying two- fifths of his salary, and Norton three-fifths.
Mr. Nourse came highly recommended by Nahant school authorities, and after several months' associa- tion with him, we feel that he is fulfilling all that was . said of him, in his recommendations.
Our High School began the Fall term with two new teachers, and a few days after school opened the two teachers who had been with us for several years, re- signed at short notice, requiring us to begin the school year with four new teachers.
Through the energy of the two teachers who had had a few days' experience with the resigning teachers, and the fine spirit to co-operate shown by those who took their places, our High School was soon operating as though nothing had happened.
Last year we called your attention to the over- crowded condition of the High School building, and we now feel it imperative that something be done at once to remedy that condition. Our recommendation in the matter will be covered by an article in the Town War- rant.
54
ANNUAL REPORT
We also brought to your attention the matter of sanitation a year ago, and after a thorough canvass of the situation have decided that the present system, completely rebuilt, will be wholly efficient and by far the most economical.
Several systems were examined and the best figures submitted for the equipment of both buildings was seven thousand dollars. Our present system, made practically new and guaranteed to be efficient, can be installed for nine hundred dollars.
We are again indebted to the Parent-Teachers' As- sociation for installing electric lights in the High School building and take this opportunity to thank them for their interest in our schools.
Respectfully submitted,
F. O. CORBIN, Chairman WM. WHITE, Secretary CHAS. H. PEASLEY. School Committee.
We recommend that the sum of $23,500.00 be appro- priated for the support of schools during the current year, apportioned as follows :
$13,600.00
'Teachers' wages
2,325.00
Transportation
1,200.00
Janitor service
1,400.00
Fuel
1,200.00
Books and Supplies
1,100.00
Incidental
900.00
Sanitary repairs
1,300.00
Superintendent's salary
150.00
School Physician
School Nurse 300.00
School Dentist 25.00
$23,500.00
The Town will receive a reimbursement of approxi - mately $5,200.00 from the State.
55
ANNUAL REPORT
MONEY AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Teachers' Wages, Care and Fuel Account
Appropriated $18,700.00
Receipts from transportation
220.00
Heating Town Hall
75.00
Interest on Town School Fund.
75.49
$19,070.49
Expended
'Teachers' salaries
$13,631.99
Transportation
2,320.00
Janitor service
1,192.50
Fuel
1,387.63
Transfer to Superintendent's Acct. 229.18
Tran. to Books and Supplies Acct.
239.36
$19,000.66
Unexpended balance
69.83 $19,070.49
Books and Supplies Account
Appropriated
$950.00
Rebate
6.61
Transfer from Teachers' Wages
C. and F. Acct.
239.36
Expended
$1,195.97
Incidental and Industrial Accounts
Appropriated
$1,225.00
Rebate
.84
N. F. Tel. and Tel. Co., cancelled.
2.15
N. A. Gas Light Co. cancelled. . .
1.80
Thompson Bros.
22.31
Telephone returns
2.80
Expended
$1,254.90
Unexpended balance
$1,047.45
207.45
$1,254.90
$1,195.97
56
ANNUAL REPORT
Superintendent's Account
Appropriated
Transfer Teachers' Wages C. and
229.18
F. Account
$849.18 $849.18
Expended
School Physician
$100.00
$100.00
Appropriated
100.00
100.00
Expended
School Dentist
$25.00
$25.00
Appropriated
25.00
25.00
School Nurse
$300.00
$300.00
Appropriated
297.00
Expended
3.00
Unexpended
$300.00
Total for Schools
$22,795.54
$22,795.54
Total expended $22,515.26
280.28
$22,795.54
$22,795.54
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES ACCOUNT
Metal Crafts Supply Co.
$14.17
The Educational Supply Co.
7.14
Modern School Supply Co.
37.50
American Book Co.
76.39
American Ribbon and Carbon Co.
12.50
Edw. E. Babb & Co.
6.19
The Willis Music Co.
19.85
Allyn & Bacon
16.00
Lyons & Carnahan
15.43
The MacMillan Co.
125.89
Ginn & Co. .
116.54
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
60.68
Dowling School Supply Co.
55.22
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co.
$620.00
Expended
Total unexpended balance
413.80
57
ANNUAL REPORT
Silver, Burdett & Co.
20.12
Sam Fox Publishing Co.
4.32
Forster, Music Publisher
6.00
Houghton, Mifflin & Con.
17.78
D. C. Heath & Co.
11.98
Milton Bradley Co.
66.46
Wright & Potter Printing Co.
2.58
J. B. Lippincott Co.
3.40
Russell Sage Foundation
1.00
Sun Publishing Co.
5.75
Gregg Publishing Co.
2.30
Office Supply & Equipment Co.
1.37
Chas. Scribner's Sons
38.40
J. L. Hammett & Co.
37.20
$1,195.97
INCIDENTAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACCOUNT
Plainville Pharmacy
$3.44
Jordan, Marsh Co.
18.86
Plainville Public Market
40.95
Thompson Bros.
17.60
A. R. Block
2.10
North Attleboro Gas Light Co.
16.16
Edward E. Babb Co.
54.19
Underwood Typewriting Co.
3.17
N. E. Telegraph and Telephone Co.
53.00
John E. Miner Co.
99.75
Jos. Watrous
23.20
W. E. Edwards
103.58
Eleanor M. Kiely
.50
Stone, Underhill Heating and Ventilating Co.
18.00
· Belcher & Loomis Hardware Co. Ira A. Jenkins
.86
F. W. Averill
9.89
Schofield Hardware Co.
4.70
George L. Claffin Co.
2.60
C. S. Cobb
2.75
No. Attleboro School Department
20.00
Cora R. Leonard
12.00
H. S. J. Loud
15.00
A. R. Brais Co.
1.00
19.04
Remington Typewriter Co.
. . 9.39
10.28
Indigo Corporation
54.10
William White
58
ANNUAL REPORT
18.57
Reformatory for Women
47.03
Anchor Co.
15.50
Commercial Press
15.00
Cyclone Fence Co.
7.50
American Ribban and Carbbon Co.
3.74
Metal Crafts Supply Co.
9.55
O. Wakefield
5.66
E. F. Roy
7.78
Burgess Express
108.75
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
3.80
Gorham Press
9.60
Oakes H. Ellis
11.92
Attleboro Lumber Co.
3.55
Plainville Pharmacy
10.11
C. H. Nichols
2.25
H. C. Martineau
22.73
H. I. Dahlman Co.
4.42
J. A. Clarner
2.45
Thompson Bros.
14.20
R. J. MacNeil
30.36
Eleanor M. Muldoon
13.33
Lawrence G. Nourse
5.80
Office Appliance Co.
1.50
E. H. Elliott
$1,047.45
Total
January 1, 1925.
Bernice F. Hatch
24.00
Union Light and Power Co.
10.05
W. M. Hall Co.
22.19
59
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the Plainville School Committee :
I have the honor of presenting my first report as Superintendent of Schools and the twentieth in the series. This report will be short, covering the last four months. I shall give some of the conditions as I found them and what changes have been made.
Buildings and Equipment
The consolidation of the schools of the town in the central group of buildings is a great advantage. (f course, this itself brings a transportation problem which, I believe, has been successfully met.
Crowded conditions in the high school and upper grades make the greatest problem of the School De- partment. The laboratory is not a suitable place for general class room work. The commercial room is far too small for its purposes. The equipping, this Fall, of the former room of the Selectmen with tablet arm chairs and a blackboard has helped somewhat. High school classes meet in the grade rooms of that building before school in the morning and during the noon hour. More space is needed by the High School. The worst chample of crowding in the school system is in the 7th and 8th grade room, where there are over 50 pupils. The present work is as good as possible under the con- ditions, but a change is imperative. The pupils of the 8th grade need more than at any other place in the ele- mentary school the full time of the teacher and not to share it with another grade. Another grade room and teacher is very necessary. The remodeling of the pres- ent Town Hall (if the functions of that hall can be pro- vided for by other plans), or the addition to the High School building, will furnish the space needed for sev- eral years. I recommend that an appropriation be re- quested in order to allow you -- the School Committee- to have definite building plans prepared and submitted to a special town meeting to be held as soon as possible after the annual meeting.
The toilets are in bad and dangerous condition. Of this everyone is aware. While it would be much better
60
ANNUAL REPORT
if a more modern type could be installed, the repair of the present system, with proper painting and lighting of the part of the basements used for this purpose, will be adequate and satisfactory.
The equipment of scientific apparatus in the High School laboratory is very inadequate for a school to properly prepare its pupils for entrance to college. This High School has the certificate privilege and it should not be endangered by lack of equipment.
All grades suffer from lack of enough textbooks. The greater emphasis on a wider range of reading and subject matter demands more and new books. Several changes have been already made, as far as the balance of this year's account permitted. The books in a num- ber of fundamental subjects need to be replaced with new editions.
The installation of electric lights in the High School through the Parent-Teacher Association has been very helpful. The grade rooms in that building and those in the Town Hall building need lights on many days in the late Fall and Winter. As most of the wiring has al- ready been done, the completion of this work can be done at a reasonable expense.
The school grounds are not large but serve well most purposes. The speedy erection of out-of-doors basket- ball equipment by the principal and boys of the High School is to be commended. Organized and group ac- tivity is much more beneficial than haphazard play.
Course of Study
The greatest need in the schools is the reorganiza- tion of the course of study in all grades. The fact that there was no change in the teaching staff in the elemen- tary grades will help make the grade of work continu- ous. But the standardizing and reorganizing of what is to be accomplished is very necessary. With this in mind three teachers' meetings have been held. The topics were : Spelling, Arithmetic and Physical Education. Each of the remaining subjects needs careful study, in- vestigation, and plan for future work. This will be done.
Spelling
This was the topic of the first teachers' meeting of the year. Various methods of instruction and plans for
61
ANNUAL REPORT
carrying on this work were discussed. A definite plan of work for each week was formulated. A chart show- ing the standing of each pupil is on display in every class room. The Ayres standard spelling lists were given in all grades early in September. These results were used to show the rooms where greater effort was necessary. These also indicated the pupils needing spe- cial attention. In the last week of the term in Decem- ber a test covering the work of the term was given. The results show improvement in most of the grades. The results by grades follow :
Grade 8.
.95 per cent.
Grade 7
94 per cent.
Grade 6
92 per cent.
Grade 5
92 per cent.
Grade 4
.94 per cent.
Grade 3
.82 per cent.
Grade 2
45 per cent.
Arithmetic
Examination in arithmetic on topics suitable for each grade were given soon after the opening of school. Some rooms showed satisfactory scores, but a number were very low. Arithmetic was discussed at the sec- ond teachers' meeting. The value of practical prob- lems, the emphasis on mental arithmetic, the checking of his work by the pupil, the proper use of the recita- tion period, standard tests, and the main topics to be studied in each grade, were some of the topics consid- ered. Some grades have been given new books and others must have them soon. Tests will be given to see that each grade covers the work assigned.
At the third teachers' meeting, Mr. Carl L. Schrader, Supervisor of Physical Education in the State Depart- ment of Education, spoke to all the teachers on the place of physical education in the schools. State law requires that instruction be given in this branch. The import- ance of the instruction in health habits and physical development is gradually being realized. No special in- structor for this work is necessary in a system this size. The State Department pamphlets, which give practical and detailed suggestions to the teachers, were placed in their hands. Mr. Schrader in his lecture gave in general outline the types of work by grades. A start has been made and progress can be expected.
62
ANNUAL REPORT
High School
It is to be regretted that there is a complete change in the teaching staff of the High School since last June. The present teachers have begun their work well. The energetic efforts of the principal, Mr. Corydon R. Nichols. are producing results. The program of studies, giving the College Preparatory, Commercial and Gen- eral Courses is included in the report of the principal. I endorse this program as the best it has been possible to arrange. Some changes were made to conform to State law and at the suggestion of the State Supervisor of secondary education. The first course in civics usually given in the Freshman class will be given in the seventh and eighth grades in connection with the study of United States History. The study of Commer- cial Law will be displaced by Business Correspondence and Methods. World history will take the place of An- cient History. I believe these changes will open a wider and more valuable source of knowledge to the pupils. The program as printed has the approval of the State Department of Education.
The High School session is short for seven periods. Most schools have six periods, but in a school of this size seven are necessary with the present number of teachers. The length of each period is very short for accomplishing proper amount of work, especially in the college preparatory subjects. The plan of cutting the recess to fifteen minutes, which is the usual length of time, will give some help. A change in the school day may be necessary. The results of this year's work will show whether the need is imperative or not.
The general spirit of the High School seems to be very good. The attitude of most of the pupils is more business-like and serious than is often found. This is an important factor in the work of the schools.
Miscellaneous
The lack of a school reference library equipped to furnish the material needed by the pupils is very notice- able. By gifts from pupils and classes, friends of the Iligh School, and the yearly addition of some books from school funds a small library can be built up.
63
ANNUAL REPORT
The response of the parents and public to the appeal to visit the schools during National Education Week were gratifying. Several rooms had 90 per cent. of the parents present sometime during the week. The plan of an evening session in the High School was inaugu- rated in order to give the fathers and those who could not visit during the day an opportunity to see the schools in operation. Not only during this week but at any time the schools have a welcome for all. There is no problem but that its solution can be advanced by the better mutual understanding of the parents and the teachers. The Parent-Teacher Association has this for its aim. The Plainville association is a great help and can be more so with a larger number of parents active in its work.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.