USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1875-1890 > Part 38
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Many barely escape the operations of under-stringent laws in regard to school attendance, by securing an enrolment of their children at school, and then keep them out so often and much that the attendance becomes the exception, absence the rule ; thus rendering of little worth the enrolment of the child or his attendance. The whole thing is in piecemeal, patchwork and of little, very little, use. It is earnestly hoped that this bad work, this injustice and crying wrong, perpetrated upon the weak and dependent, whose prolific outcome may darken and cramp the life through long toil- some years, may speedily have an end ; giving place to a higher appreciation of duty and justice in the treatment of children, and a more conscientious discharge of grave re- sponsibilities as parent and citizen.
Some cases of the employment of school-children in vio- lation of the law by manufacturers and others, have within
37
the year come to the knowledge of the committee, but they were met without a resort to the remedies provided by the law. The committee respectfully, though earnestly, call upon employers of juvenile labor to co-operate with them and all good citizens and friends of the young, to secure a thorough compliance with and enforcement of the laws in regard of the attendance of children at school and their em- ployment at labor. The welfare of the children requires this, the good of the community demands it.
OVER-PRESSURE. - PROMOTIONS.
No one does or can blame parents that they are anxiously solicitous for the advancement of their children in their school work. They watch their procession through the several grades of schools with more or less interest, until they approach the higher grades, when the interest reaches the proportions of deep concern and feverish anxiety. Promo- tion is sought and sometimes demanded with ominous threats when the work necessary to sustain promotion and render it profitable has not been done, or, as often happens, done by an over-pressure applied to the child, alike hurtful to physi- cal and mental growth, and which develops in the succeed- ing years into a listless performance of school work, too often culminating in sickness, and sometimes in withdrawal from school altogether, -the clear result of undue pressure at home. Many can and should be urged on in their studies, and, with the combined influence of home and the school, with exhortation and threat, the pace is slow, the progress small and unsatisfactory. -
Others there are who need the restraining hand of wisdom, which justly measures and gauges. the strength of the casket that holds the precious gems that are to be wrought upon by
38
education into beauty, usefulness and endurance ; but the casket is through time to hold them, and through it -the body -must they have their manifestation and expression. It is worse than folly to stimulate the mind to a growth out of proportion to that of the physical organism whose limita- tions it cannot cast off or disregard. This class of children are spurred on at home, and doubtless at school too, greatly to their hurt, sooner or later, both mentally and physically. They should be restrained in their brain-work to the motion and step of the more moderate and plodding, who, by the wise providence of God, are placed in companionship to slacken their speed, perchance. Ambition is desirable. It has recorded many brilliant achievements, many steps in the world's advancement. So, too, along its path of vaulting power are scattered the wrecks of dazzling genius, sanguine hopes and "bold emprise," urged by its siren spell to flights beyond the reach of stoutest wing. So promotions in school are desirable and to be coveted, but not until all the steps necessary have been well taken, till the preparatory work has been well done and a development of body and mind secured equal to the proper performance of the advanced work with- out strain upon body or mind, - leaving no room for the play of the desire of pupil or parent to flaunt the name of promo- tion or advance to a higher grade of school, without the ability, or intent even, to perform the work attached to the advanced position. In this connection the committee with much concern suggest to parents and teachers the exercise of greater care and a nicer discrimination in dealing with this class of children at home and at school, lest, in a mistaken estimate of the child's welfare, the fruitful seeds of future harm be sown, in this over-anxiety for, and this crowding and cramming to secure, advance in school classification.
39
Since writing the above there has appeared in the public press a report of a lecture by Dr. Folsom in the " School Hygiene Course," delivered in Boston, which is so in keep- ing with the views of the committee, and enforced with the strength of professional authority, that they are induced to append the following extracts, regretting their inability to present the whole lecture : -
" The question of over-pressure in schools has not been answered. School training either has immediate effect upon the scholar, or has an effect later in life ; but one must con- sider the task of the schools." "Different standards of health can be provided for imperfectly, and only with the assistance of the parents." "To the nervous temperament belong great gifts, but also the lack of self-control; and children possessing this temperament need especial training." " St. Vitus' dance frequently occurs in school, and requires rest and medical treatment, instead of moral and mental training, which misguided parents often demand. Nervous children are capable only of a limited amount of work, and require low pressure." "The children of public schools are far below the proper standard of health, even when not pos- sessing the nervous temperament." "Children should not enter school before five years old." "To the age of thirteen they should not study at home; after thirteen they should study but one hour a day at home until the constitution is fully established." "Piano practice and social duties cannot be combined with the school."
BOOKS AND OTHER SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
At the session of the Legislature last year the following law was placed among the statutes of the State : -
" SECTION 1. The school committee of every city and
40
town shall purchase, at the expense of said city or town, text-books and all other school supplies used in the pub- lic schools, and said text-books and supplies shall be loaned to the pupils of said public schools free of charge, subject to such rules and regulations as to care and custody as the school committee may prescribe.
"SEC. 2. Pupils supplied with text-books at the time of the passage of this act shall not be supplied with similar books by the committee until needed.
"SEC. 3. This act shall take effect upon the first day of August, eighteen hundred and eighty-four."
It will be observed that the above went into operation the first of last Angust, and consequently becoming applicable to this town practically on the opening of the schools, the first week in September following. The committee at- tempted to adjust themselves in money asked for last spring to this operation of the new law, but it was generally known that a law was passed making school-books and other sup- plies free to pupils in the schools, and the result was that many of those whose children needed new books at the beginning of the spring term, by reason of promotions, did not pay for the books and other supplies, though the new law had not gone into effect at that time. This circumstance has helped to swell the book account to unusual propor- tions, there having been less receipts from sales made during this first term of the school year.
The committee prepared a code of rules and regulations to meet this new condition of things in the book and supply department, as follows : -
41
RULES CONCERNING SCHOOL SUPPLIES LOANED TO CHIL- DREN OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Books and all other supplies purchased at the expense of the town by the school committee, in compliance with the law passed in the year 1884, and going into effect August 1 of the same year, shall be distributed to the pupils of the public schools by the several teachers, subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by the school committee, here- unto annexed, and such others as they may, from time to time, prescribe.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
1. Before distribution to pupils all books and other sup- plies, when practicable, shall be stamped, "The property of the public schools of Randolph, Mass."
2. All books and other school supplies shall be furnished to the pupils of the public schools free of charge as a loan, for their use while in attendance upon the schools aforesaid.
3. No pupil having the requisite books and supplies at the close of the last term - June 20, 1884 - shall be fur- nished with similar books and supplies until those on hand are used up or completed.
4. No books or supplies of any kind whatever, loaned to pupils under the law aforesaid, shall be taken by pupils from the school-rooms where used, without the consent of the teachers, who shall be responsible for books thus taken home ; and teachers are specially enjoined not to permit books or other supplies to be taken from the school-rooms on or about the last day of the term.
5. Writing and drawing books, pens and drawing-pencils, shall be taken up at the close of the exercises in writing and drawing and kept in the teachers' desks till again wanted for
42
use. Paper, blanks, &c., for dictation exercises or other special work, and slates for juvenile work, shall be kept by the teachers and distributed at times when needed by pupils for use.
6. Each pupil whose work is at such a state of advance- ment as to need them, shall be supplied with a slate pencil, a common lead pencil for ordinary work, and a piece of rub- ber, to be retained at his desk, unless it is found by the teacher that these several articles are being used in a care- less or wasteful manner, when the teacher shall cause the same to be left at his desk at the close of each session.
7. There shall be a set examination by the teachers, re- spectively, of all books and supplies, furnished under the law of 1884, excepting those mentioned in rule 5, at or about the close of each term of the school year, to ascertain the manner in which the books and supplies are being used and cared for by the pupils ; and the results of these exam- inations shall be reported to the school committee at the meeting when teachers are paid off. A careful supervision over this part of the public property from day to day by the teachers is not to be neglected by compliance with the fore- going.
8. As these books and other school supplies, to the amount of several hundred dollars, always on hand, are in- cluded in the term public property as decidedly as school- houses and fences are, any wanton, mischievous or malicious injury thereto, or destruction of, becomes an indictable offence under the laws against injury to or destruction of public property, and will be followed up by prosecution and punishment upon conviction. .
9. A record of all books and slates, with the exception of those mentioned in rule 5, shall be kept by each teacher in
43
a book to be provided by the school committee, stating the names of the pupils supplied, the articles furnished and the number in the list of each pupil's set.
The committee are pleased to be able to report that the teachers and pupils have been painstaking in compliance with the foregoing rules and regulations, and in the use of this new description of "town property," that no loss or unnecessary wear and tear be sustained. The supplies of every kind and description have been thus far used with as great economy and care as would have been the case had they been the property of individuals as in former years. What is to be the expense to the town in the long run, as compared with the expense under the old system and which was borne by those whose children used the books and sup- plies, sufficient time has not elapsed since the new law went into effect to determine. The indications from the short experience under the new law are that it will be greater ; though in part compensation for this excess, should it occur, will stand the important fact that the pupils are more fully equipped at all times for the work in hand.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS.
During the terms of the school year there have been meetings of the teachers with the committee with tolerable regularity, when matters connected with school government and methods of teaching have been discussed, to the end that the best in theory and practice, found in any one school, might be incorporated unto all.
The interchange, as among friends having a common pur- pose, of thought, and comparison of theories, methods and practice for which these meetings furnish the occasion, have been of great value as means in bringing the schools of the
44
town, as a whole, to their present high standing. A healthy emulation among the teachers is awakened by a frequent comparison of results, and methods and plans which had once commended themselves are often abandoned for others shown to work better; thus recognizing the sentiment of " the survival of the fittest."
LENGTH OF SCHOOLS, ATTENDANCE, SICKNESS, &C.
The schools have been kept this year thirty-eight weeks exclusive of vacations, with the exception of single holidays from time to time, with the same number of teachers as last year at salaries shown in the financial statement making a part of this report.
By actual enumeration under the direction of the com- mittee, by law required, there were in the town, May 1, 1884, six hundred and seventy-six children between the ages of five and fifteen years, nine more than the year before. By the teachers' registers it appears that six hundred and sixty-nine have been enrolled during the year, exclusive of the High School enrolment and those in Miss Boyd's Kindergarten School.
The following named have been reported to the committee as not having been absent during the year, and constitute the " Roll of Honor " in attendance : -
Fred. A. Bodwell. Lizzie Brady. Arthur A. Thayer.
Wm. Ray Spear. Geo. N. Wilbur. Lillian J. Sloan.
Wm. L. Fulsom. Percy C. Whiting. Joseph Clark. Lillian A. Langley. Florence E. Langley. Sarah E. Stetson. Lizzie Dolan. William Pope. Alice Sullivan.
Total, 15 ; four less than was recorded last year in this " roll."
45
There has, without doubt, been more sickness this year than last to interrupt school attendance. Though the maladies more or less prevalent among the children have been for the most part of a mild type, they have interfered very seriously with the attendance at school, notably in the ungraded schools No. 1 and No. 3. Were it not for the seemingly unavoidable visitations of the so-called juvenile maladies, the committee feel that they would have the great pleasure of here congratulating their fellow-citizens upon the best school attendance known for years. The start at the beginning of the year was unprecedentedly good and full of promise.
During the year covered by this report, the connection with the public schools of Miss Sarah E. Shankland and Miss Emma H. King has ceased ; in the former case, after a pro- longed course of devoted service, remembered with respect and gratitude by many who are now active in the affairs of this community in sustaining institutions they learned under her instructions to understand and value ; in the latter case, after a course of service of less extent in time, but of equal devotion to the interests of the school department of the town. They retire from the service with the best wishes of the committee and the citizens of the town, for their pros- perity and happiness in whatever relations of life they may hereafter move.
REPAIRS.
The North Grammar School building has been painted outside and in, and the several rooms and halls calcimined in walls and ceilings and tinted to hues of beauty favorable to the eye of the student. This cost $138.
The yard here has been improved by removing the top of an outcropping ledge of rock which rendered dangerous a large and otherwise desirable part of the yard as a play-
46
ground, grading the same and adjoining portions in part, and putting up a strong, tight board fence along the south side of the yard. This cost $237.34.
A bookcase for the reception of books and other supplies under the new law was needed at this school-house, and has been supplied at a cost of $18, making a total of $393.34 for permanent repairs.
The committee recommend that the No. 1 school-house be painted outside and in at an estimated cost of $100, and that the ceiling of the upper room, which alone is used for school purposes, be newly plastered and other smaller pieces of mason work be done to prepare the room and the halls for the painter, at an estimated cost of $50.
A portion of the fence around the Prescott Primary School building will need to be reset, and the outbuildings to be renovated and enlarged, with suitable vaults to answer the ends of proper sanitary conditions, at an estimated cost of $100.
Thus making up the amount of $250 for what may be classed as permanent repairs for the ensuing year. Other than the above the committee do not anticipate more than the ordinary repairs from the usual wear and tear of things in school use, and will ask for the same amount as last year for incidentals, $400.
TRUANTS AND TRUANCY.
The truant officers have been called to investigate the causes of absence from school in quite a large number of cases, more than in former years, it seems ; but for the most part their efforts were successful in securing the attendance of the absentees.
Actual truancy was developed in only a small number of
47
instances. The children were out of school, it appeared, for the most trivial reasons, often for lack of foresight or season- able thought on the parents' part in getting slight service from the child before school in season for attendance. They report that absence, and even truancy, are due rather to the parents through the want of proper home influence and man- agement, than to the bad heart or depraved disposition of the child. No case of truancy has been dealt with other than in the spirit of forbearance, through persuasion and entreaty ; but there are some cases, unless reformation soon takes place, that may require the rigors of the law in their treatment.
The committee respectfully recommend that the town raise and appropriate for the support of public schools the ensuing year the following : -
For teaching, .
$6,500 00
fuel,
350 00
care of rooms,
425 00
permanent repairs :
painting No. 1 building, $100
mason work " ce
50
resetting fence, &c., Prescott
Primary, .
100
250 00
general and incidental expenses,
400 00
books and other supplies,
350 00
Total,
$8,275 00
48
STATEMENT OF ATTENDANCE, 1884-5.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Whole No. belonging.
Average whole number
Average attendance.
Percentage of attend-
Number over 15 years.
Number under 5 years.
Number not absent
during the year.
Prescott Grammar.
Thomas H. West.
57
54
50.92.6
2
1
Isabelle G. Driscoll.
49
46
42 91.3
2
Kate E. Sheridan.
48
44
40,90.0
Mary A. Molloy.
36
34
32|95.0
3
Prescott Primary.
Mary E. Wren.
33
31
29 93.0
Kittie R. Molloy.
44
38
36,95.0
1
Sarah J. McGaughey.
62
44
37,84.0
10
0
North Grammar.
Joseph Belcher.
67
58
54 93.7
2
4
Alice A. Smith.
44
41
39 94.1
1
North Primary.
Emma D. Stetson.
38
37
32|86.4
0
Carrie L. Wilkins.
39
29
23 78.4
6
2
No. 1. Ungraded.
Minnie W. Corliss.
36
28
22 76.8
4
0
3.
Helen P. Henry.
45
40
34 85.0
2
0
66
5.
66
Sara C. Belcher.
34
26
24 92.0
1
3
6.
46
Emma H. King.
37
32
28 87.0
4
0
- Totals 669 582 522 89.0 7|26 15
belonging.
ance.
49
EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOLS-1884-5.
FOR TEACHING.
Paid Thomas H. West, 1 year,
$1,000 00
Joseph Belcher,
900 00
Sarah E. Shankland,
153 92
Isabelle G. Driscoll,
411 50
Kittie E. Sheridan,
392 50
Alice A. Smith,
375 06
Mary A. Molloy,
380 00
Sara C. Belcher,
362 90
Emma H. King,
342 00
Mary E. Wren,
367 00
Kitty R. Molloy,
342 00
Emma D. Stetson,
342 00
Minnie W. Corliss, .
316 50
Carrie L. Wilkins, .
297 50
Sarah J. McGaughey,
162 50
$6,508 28
FOR FUEL.
Paid Herbert C. Wilbur, preparing wood,
$3 00
Mrs. Lewis T. Stetson, preparing wood, broom, 3 85
Isaac N. Linfield, coal, . 90 00
Fred A. Spear, 26 barrels shavings,
3 25
Peter Sheridan, sawing and splitting wood,
13 50
Royal W. Turner, coal, .
169 50
Morton Holbrook, preparing wood,
No. Grammar, . 2 75
Edwid M. Mann, wood, · 10 00
.
362 90
Helen P. Henry,
50
Paid Adam F. Jones, ¿ cord wood, $2 50
Adam F. Jones, sawing and splitting, 1 50
Daniel Leahy, 3 cords pine wood, . 15 00
$314 85
CARE OF ROOMS.
Paid Margaret Riley, $218 26
Galen Hollis,
77 00
Herbert C. Wilbur,
25 00
Emma H. King,
21 00
Mrs. Lewis T. Stetson,
25 00
Mrs. Julia Connor,
8 33
Mrs. Rose Gill,
9 83
Mrs. Mary Shields,
5 00
John T. Wales,
33 00
Boy drawing water for cleaning,
5 00
$427 42
MISCELLANEOUS.
Paid David J. Foley, labor and removing snow, $6 00
David J. Foley, services as truant officer, . 25 00
John T. Wales, use of well two years,
6 00
E. M. Roel, gravel for Prescott school-yard, 1883, . 16 24
Thomas Farrell, services as truant officer, 1883, . 25 00
Galen Hollis, services as truant officer, 1883, 25 00
Galen Hollis, services as truant officer, 1884,
15 00
Winslow Alden, labor and material, .
8 92
John Lyons, carriage hire, 1883,
1 50
D. H. Huxford, printing and advertising, 1883, . 18 75
51
Paid D. H. Huxford, printing and advertising, 1884, . $19 00
William B. Brown, labor and material, 7 80
Joseph Belcher, binding dictionary, . 2 00
Thomas H. West, selling books, one term, 16 67
N. H. Tirrell, glass, repairs, &c., 4 37
E. W. Campagna, repairs, 39 43
Nathaniel Noyes, repairs, 4 64
Lawrence Hayes, use of well, 1884,
3 00
J. A. Littlefield, tuning piano, 2 00
W. Battles, taking census, 20 00
J. E. Nash, repairing clocks, 1883 and 1884, 12 00
T. S. Rounds, repairing reference book, 2 30
Richard Stevens, setting glass, 37
W. T. Piper, labor and repairs, .
2 50
Thomas Riley, removing snow, 1 50
M. M. Alden, labor and material, 3 10
Charles Prescott, 4 44
Charles A. Wales,
31 34
D. B. White & Co.,
14 90
Colin Boyd, care of committee's room,
6 00
John B. Thayer, labor on water-pipes, 5 50
A. J. Gove, expressage and teams,
27 90
$378 17
PERMANENT REPAIRS.
Paid E. W. Campagna, fence $40, bookcase $18, $58 00
M. P. Pike, labor on North Grammar school-yard, 178 34
N. H. Tirrell, painting North Grammar school-house, 138 00
52
Paid Thomas Fardy & Son, iron posts, North Grammar school . $19 00
$393 34
SCHOOL SUPPLIES - BOOKS, &C.
Paid Knight, Adams & Co., merchandise,
$21 00
Claflin & Brown, cc
8 50
A. C. Stockton,
35 50
Copperthwait & Co.,
13 64
Harper Brothers, ce
4 80
Ward & Gay,
ce
.
2 00
Charles H. Whitney,
ec
1 17
Harrison Hume,
11 34
Boston School Supply Co., ce
16 98
William Ware & Co., ce
107 63
Ginn, Heath & Co.,
ce
9 72
Rubber Co., Derry, N.H., 3 stamps for books, 12 00
Harrison Hume,
merchandise,
39 13
William Ware & Co., ce
181 36
Harper Brothers, ce
54 52
Carroll W. Clark, ce
12 60
Geo. F. King & Merrill,
ce
21 30
Ginn, Heath & Co., ce
55 50
Claflin & Brown,
4 65
Boston School Supply Co., ce
17 36
Knight, Adams & Co., ce
18 40
Boston School Supply Co.,
8 55
Geo. F. King & Merrill,
.
11 20
William Ware & Co., ce
17 87
Gardner Wright, two pencil sharpeners, .
10 00
Ward & Gay,
2 00
Claflin & Brown,
4 50
·
53
Paid Carroll W. Clark, . $7 00
$710 22
RECAPITULATION.
Teaching,
$6,508 28
Fuel,
.
·
314 85
Care of rooms,
427 42
Books, school supplies, &c.,
710 22
Permanent repairs,
393 34
Miscellaneous and incidental, .
378 17
Total expenditure,
$8,732 28
FUNDS APPLICABLE TO SCHOOLS.
Appropriation by the town for teaching,
$6,120 00
ce
fuel,
378 00
ce
ce care of rooms, . 436 00
ce
ee ce
books and supplies, 316 00
ce
ee
ee permanent repairs, 350 00
er ce miscell. and incid., 400 00
Received from State,
193 37
re
" Coddington fund,
100 00
ce
" sale of books, 1884, 149 01
$8,442 38
Expense of schools,
$8,732 28
Income from all sources,
8,442 38
Excess over amount applicable to schools, $289 90
To offset the above there is, of stock paid for, the value of $408.41.
WINSLOW BATTLES,
THOMAS DOLAN, Committee.
School JOHN B. WREN,
Randolph, March 19, 1885.
5
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HEADQUARTERS FIRE DEPARTMENT, RANDOLPH, February 28, 1885. To the Selectmen of Randolph :
Gentlemen, - The undersigned, engineers of the Randolph Fire Department, submit the following report of the depart- ment for the year ending February 28, 1885 : -
In accordance with instructions from your office, we met at headquarters and organized the department as follows : -
ENGINEERS.
C. A. Wales ( Chief), John Haney, W. A. Croak ( Clerk).
COMPANIES.
Steamer No. 1, A. J. Gove, Driver; J. H. Wales, En- gineer; W. B. Brown, Fireman.
Hose Co. No. 1, 20 men, James Farrell, Foreman.
Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, 25 men, S. A. Foster, Fore- man.
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