USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1913-1919 > Part 5
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sight
hearing
notified
1907
697
122
25
74
1908
748
125
38
94
1909
732
137
32
113
1910
720
107
17
68
1911
767
97
17
54
140
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
1912
809
101
15
97
1913
817
48
14
31
Number of Pupils in the Grades in October 1913
Boys
Girls
First Grade
53
47
Second Grade
56
36
Third Grade
52
39
Fourth Grade
50
41
Fifth Grade
42
40
Sixth Grade
47
34
Seventh Grade
42
37
Eighth Grade
36
30
High School, Freshmen
25
23
Sophomores
22
19
Juniors
9
17
Seniors
4
13
Totals
438
376
Total enrollment
814
Resignations
Mildred Allen
Mary C. Smith
Marie W. Goodhue
Louisa Beale, Drawing Supervisor
Katherine Kiley
Mary H. Warren
141
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SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
Appointments
Gladys Haynes
Geraldine Kennedy
Mary M. Devlin
Marie W. Goodhue
Marion H. Dunphe
Olive E. Fuller, Drawing Supervisor
Mrs. A. E. Powderly, Substitute
STETSON HIGH SCHOOL
Graduates, Class of 1913.
Latin Course
Edward Francis Fahey Marshall White Leavitt
Kathleen Monica Donovan Rachel Clare McMahon
Elva Lenore Plunkett
English Course
Edith Catherine Carroll
George Thomas Dolan
Harold Holbrook Eddy Grace Florentine Foley
Mary Louise Hagney Elinor Elizabeth Smith
- Marjorie Rawson Holman
Gertrude Elizabeth Kelley
Eva Madora Luddington
Annie Marie Lyons
Mary Alice O'Connell
Martin Edward Young
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH
Commercial Course
Muriel Taylor Bailey
Julia Agnes O'Neil
Hazel Marguerite Bates
Mary Agnes O'Neil
Esther Ulricka Blomquist
Doris Mabel Perkins
Doris Hawthorne Burrell
Edna Gertrude Rhodes
Joseph Clifford Henderson
Ruth Walsh
Mary Josephine Long
Harold Edwin Ward
BELCHER GRAMMER SCHOOL
Graduates 1913
Helen N. Anderson
Mabel A. Mann
George Beane
Mildred N. Mann
Thomas E. Daly
Fred L. Mahoney
Charles R. Doyle
Frank L. Mahoney
Joseph V. Duffy
George McCabe
Robert Fitzgerald
Persis J. Nunes
Oren B. Hollis C. Everett Hunt
John E. Pomeroy
Francis Harrington
Martha J. Smith
Marguerite A. Jorgensen
Mary C. Truelson
Harold D. Kaulback
Charles L. Truelson
John M. Lee
Allen R. Thomas
Grace L. Libby
Marion A. Webster
PRESCOTT GRAMMAR SCHOOL
. Graduates 1913
Hattie Neary
Harold Kane
Mary A. Clarke
Isabel Dolan
Anna Brady Anna Leahy Charles Meaney Margaret Rohlfs
143
Francis O'Neil
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
Helen Burns Kenneth B. Hutchinson
Theodore Luddington Kathryn Lynch
Ralph Walsh Laurence White John Collins
Harold Keith
Albert Bolin Irene Finigan
Mae O'Leary Harold K. Eddy
Adelaide Murphy
Louise M. Mayo
Earl Croud
Alice Desmond
Lillian Dacey
Emery E. Delano Walter Rideout
Courses of Study of Stetson High School, 1913-1914
Note :- Sixteen credits are required each year, or sixty-four for the four years; a credit represents a rank of "C" or above in any subject during one quarter of the year; four subjects must be chosen for daily work,- making a total of twenty recitation periods per week. This is exclusive of music and drawing. Music and drawing are allowed one credit each per year.
Those who take the subject Latin for four years may receive a diploma in the so-called Latin Course. Com- pletion of all the Commercial Subjects of the second, third, and fourth years entitles a pupil to receive a diploma from the Commercial Course. Any other com- bination of subjects would lead to a diploma from the English Course. The only subjects required in all courses during the four years is English.
144
Rueben Nilsson
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
First Year :- English Greek History Algebra Latin Roman History
French Elementary Science
Drawing
Music
Physical Geography Physiology
Second Year :-
English Mediaeval History
French
Latin
Geometry
Stenography
Typewriting
Elementary Science
Mechanical Drawing
Freehand Drawing Music Third Year :- English Latin
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SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
Mathematics
French Physics
Stenography
English History
Commercial Arithmetic
Typewriting Freehand Drawing
Mechanical Drawing
Music
Fourth Year :-
English
Stenography
French
American History
Typewriting
Chemistry
Latin
Bookkeeping
Freehand Drawing Mechanical Drawing Music
The Work of the Schools
When I took charge of the schools in September I found them doing excellent work, under the direction of a corps of able and experienced principals and teachers.
146
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
It appears to have been the policy of the School Com- mittee to retain, as far as possible, the same teachers from year to year, avoiding frequent changes and main- taining a degree of permanency which tends to secure ef- ficiency in any teaching force.
Arrangements had been made for the introduction of several new text-books in the grammar grades, at the opening of the fall term, McMaster's histories in place of Eggleston's, Metcalf and Rafter's Language series to replace Scott and Southworth's and Hamilton's Arithmetics in exchange for Milne's; these changes would have called for a large expense if carried out in all grades, so it was decided to place the new books in the seventh and eighth grades where they were most needed and to complete the change next year.
The Palmer system of teaching penmanship has been partially introduced and is capable of producing excel- lent results, but in order to secure satisfactory work it will be necessary to provide the pupils with the exercise books in all the schools above the second grade, and to continue the work in the commercial department of the high school. These books can be procured at an ex- pense of ten cents per pupil, two cents more than the ordinary copy-book, but with reasonable usage they will last for several years and are in the end cheaper than the copy-books.
The conditions at the Belcher School demand im-
147
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
mediate attention in order that some plan may be adopted for their improvement; the first and second grades, with an average enrolment of over fifty pupils, are crowded into a small room, another small room con- taining the third and fourth grades has forty three pupils with the prospect of not less than fifty next year. The fifth and sixth grades, each in a separate room, are well accommodated but the seventh and eighth are in principal Belcher's room with an enrolment of sixty nine and an average attendance of over sixty. Experience has convinced me that two grades in one room is practical only when the number of pupils is small, and satisfactory results can not be obtained when it rises above forty since individual attention to back- ward pupils becomes impossible; this is particularly true of the first grade where the children make the great change from the freedom of home life to the more re- stricted life of the school, and in the eighth grade where they are to be prepared for the higher and broader curri- culum of the high school.
In order to secure ideal conditions in the school, each grade should have its separate room and teacher; and until such accommodations are provided we have no rea- son to expect that the results of our teaching will be as satisfactory as that of schools working under more favorable conditions.
I am much pleased with the work of the high school;
148
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
the principal, Mr. Chapin, has a deep interest in the pro- gress and improvement of the school and his extended experience as its head has given him a full appreciation of its needs and requirements ; his report on its condition and needs has my hearty approval and deserves careful consideration.
The salaries paid to high school assistants are not suf- ficient to retain the services of experienced teachers and the efficiency of the work is seriously impaired by fre- quent changes in the teaching force, at the present time three of the four assistants being on their first year's service in the school. Experienced teaching is such an important factor in determining the efficiency of high school work that we can not afford to lose a valuable teacher if an increase of a hundred dollars would retain her.
The Commercial Department of the school is doing ex- cellent work, the course is growing in efficiency and is chosen by an increasing number of pupils; the num- ber is now so large that the instructor has very little time for supervision of the classes in typewriting, which supervision is essential to securing the accuracy and rap- idity demanded by employers of graduates of this de- partment.
The course in science is not as comprehensive as it should be in a school as large as ours. The State Board of Education has called our attention to the advisability
149
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
of extending and strengthening our course in science in order that we may offer greater opportunities to that class of pupils who, under the new law affecting the em- ployment of minors, will be obliged to attend school un- til they are sixteen years old.
In a school as large as ours the principal should have at least one free period each day in which he may visit the class rooms to observe and supervise the work of his assistants; there is no one thing that we can do which would do more to raise the standard of the school than to give the principal time for such supervision. In view of these conditions I strongly recommend the employ- ment of another assistant to enable us to make these im- provements.
Considerable time and money has been expended to- wards the improvement of land in the rear of the school with the purpose of securing a suitable athletic field. It is estimated that two hundred and fifty dollars will be necessary to put the field into such condition that it may be used for base-ball and foot-ball. High school pupils need physical exercise, and the stimulus and interest which comes from participation in clean healthy out- door sports, and the money necessary to provied a suit- able playground would return a good dividend in the form of an increased interest in school life and a correspond- ing improvement in school work.
The home garden work which has been ably conducted
150
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
by the Ladies Library Association has aroused much in- terest among the pupils in the grades and showed ex- cellent results at the exhibition of garden products held in the fall. The association deserves our hearty sup- port and co-operation in this work.
We are learning that the true purpose of the public school is to train and prepare the child for life, and to enable him to make the most of that life in whatever de- partment of activity he may enter; it follows that the nearer the schools approach to an ideal standard keeping this purpose in view, the better it will be for the welfare and prosperity of the community which the schools are designed to serve. It is a common criticism that the schools impose a heavy tax on the community because their support calls for about one third of the amount raised for public expenses ; is it not wiser to think of the schools as an investment which returns large dividends in the form of better conditions of life and greater in- telligence in the administration of public affairs ?
With a view to increasing the efficiency of the schools in this work of preparing the child for his work in life, a large and increasing number of communities are in- troducing important additions to the regular course of study ; these additions include sewing and cooking for the girls that they may be better prepared to become home makers and different forms of manual training for the boys to prepare them to enter those industries in which
151
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
their success will depend upon their ability to perform work which calls for co-operation of hand and brain.
Wherever these additions have been made they have been fully appreciated and heartily supported by the pub- lic. I feel that in Randolph some steps should be taken in this direction; this year sewing for girls of the sixth and seventh grades, next year manual training for the ninth grade to be extended the following year to the high school; then cooking and home economics for girls of the ninth grade and high school so that in a few years, without any decided annual increase in expenditure, we could have schools which would meet modern require- ments in every respect.
In conclusion I wish to express to the committee and teachers my appreciation of their hearty co-operation and support.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL F. BLODGETT, Superintendent.
152
APPENDIX TO REPORT OF
Superintendent of Schools
Schools Grades
Teachers
Boys
Girls
Total
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per Cent.
Stetson High
Prescott
8
Nelson Freeman, Prin.
19
19
38
33.14
32.37
97.67
7
J. A. Conlon
21
20
41
36.43
35.66
96.97
6
Hannah F. Hoye
31
16
47
44.4
42.54
95.9
5
Katherine Sheriden
27
22
49
43.74
42.6
96.75
4
Mary E. Wren
25
24
49
44.86
43.13
96.19
3
Ellen Mclaughlin
28
22
50
45.78
43.14
94.2
3,
4
Elizabeth Dean
24
20
44
35.7
32.9
92.52
2
Fannie Campbell
23
20
43
40.3
38.5
95.35
1
Kittie Molloy
27
29
56
47.7
44.8
93.9
Belcher
7, 8
Joseph Belcher, Prin.
37
28
65
55.
52.3
95.
6
Ellen P. Henry
19
25
44
39.
36.
92.
5 Sarah Belcher
29
16
45
35.34
32.96
93.21
3, 4
Mae L. Lundergan
33
34
67
44.73
44.14
95.69
1, 2
Clara A. Tolman
34
22
56
46.
42.
92.
West Corner 1,2,3
Marion H. Dunphe
32
27
59
39.86
37.7
88.99
Tower Hill
1, 4 Mary Forrest
21
15
36
28.23
26.34
93.29
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
Report of the Principal of Stetson High School
Stetson High School, Randolph, Mass., Jan. 29,1914. Superintendent of Schools, Samuel F. Blodgett.
Dear Sir: The principal of the high school has been summoned to several interviews with the agents of the State Board of Education, for the purpose of revising the course of study of Stetson High School; this is in line with the endeavor of the State Board to aid the high schools of Massachusetts in establishing courses of study which will be of greater practical value. It appears to be the aim of Mr. Snedden and of his associates to give to all our schools courses of study which will attract pupils, and lead them to study branches which have as much bearing as possible on their future life work.
The writer wishes to make the fact evident that the suggestions of the State Board are subject to the ap- proval of the trustees of the school. It is inevitable that some expense must be incurred if we are to adopt these suggestions, but such expense is open to challenge by our local school authorities. Your principal did not originate the suggestions of the State Board, in fact he was a somewhat reluctant attendant at the meetings, and he wishes to say most emphatically that he is not to be understood as advocating in this report increased ex- pense in the maintenance of the high school; on the other hand, the advice of the State Board appears to be
155
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
moderate in tone, and wise in conception; certainly we ought to welcome these suggestions, and to put in operation as many of them as our resources will permit.
The State Board advise that commercial arithmetic be introduced into the first year of the school, making this subject take the place of algebra, if pupils so elect. This would necessitate the purchase of about thirty books by the trustees, an expenditure which they have not as yet been able to make. Elementary science is insisted on
during the first two years.
This would include biology,
botany, and the-science of common things. New books would be imperative, and this change too has been laid on the table by the trustees because of the expense. The State Board also urge that the principal of the school teach only four periods per day. This would give him time to supervise the work of the other teachers, and is in keeping with the policy adopted in many smaller schools. In Canton, for instance, the principal, Mr. R. E. Cole, teaches only four periods each day.
The writer disclaims any responsibility for these pro- posed changes and simply reports the wishes and sug- gestions of the State Board. It is probable, if the ad- ditional science is to be introduced, and if the principal is to teach only four periods per day, that ultimately an additional teacher would have to be employed. If it is in order to express a personal opinion with regard to these changes and attendant expenses, the writer would
156
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
reassert what he has said so many times already, to the effect that Randolph is doing about all the town can af- ford to do, or reasonably be expected to do in its appro- priations for Stetson High School. All these matters are subject to the action of the trustees.
Our second year class has been unable to take up type- writing because of the lack of machines. This trouble has been overcome in part by the renting of machines for which the pupils tax themselves. A considerable portion of the class do not feel inclined to pay for the use of the machines and the arrangement is not wholly satisfactory. The reading between the lines here is that more typewriting machines ought to be purchased by the trustees.
The graduates of the school who have taken the com- mercial course have been very successful during the past four or five years. So many of them have found posi- tions in Boston offices that it would be possible to make up a long list of names of young men and young wo- men who are holding good positions as a result of their training here. One of the most pleasing features of the success of our graduates is the creation of a spirit of hard study among those now in school. We have nine machines in use in our typewriting room, while three more have been placed in other rooms for those who pay fifty cents per month. Here, at least, the school appears to be demonstrating its usefulness, so that the voters
157
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
may consider that increased efficiency in our business de- partment merits larger appropriations. If the teacher of stenography could be paid enough to allow her to re- main for a longer period than one year, it would be a great advantage. At present there is hardly a town in the state which cannot offer a higher salary to its steno- graphy teachers, so that we "break in" in a new teacher each year for some other town. Why not consider the interests of our own boys and girls ? The salary at present paid to our assistant teachers is barely enough to meet the unavoidable expenses of living, and we know from our past experience that these teachers must look for better paying positions as soon as they get the ex- perience which enables them to go to a larger school.
The class of 1913 presented to the school, on the oc- casion of its graduation last June, a large carbon photo of St. Gauden's Statute of Lincoln in Lincoln Park, Chicago. This picture hangs in our assembly room and adds much to the attractiveness of our surroundings and to our patriotism. A bust of the Appollo of Belvedere was also given by the class of 1913 and placed in Room H. It would be a most pleasing task to enumerate all the gifts of this nature made by the classes during the past fifteen years. Over $2,000.00 has been contributed at various times by our pupils and graduates. It has been a custom during several years past for the first year class to give a chair to the school. These chairs
158
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
have for the most part been made by the New England Reed Co., of Boston, and are worth about fifteen dollars each. They have the numeral of the class worked into the back of the chair and in this way perpetuate the names of the classes.
Our reference room is deserving of mention both with regard to number of reference books and the condition of the volumes. Fifty reference volumes have recently been placed in the room, the expense being met by an ap- propriation from the Seth Turner Fund. Naturally we need more works of reference, and the shelving capacity of the room ought to be augmented.
The certificate privilege extended by the State Board and also by the colleges has never been secured by Stet- son High School. Some of our better schools have found the privilege of questionable advantage and the writer is not by any means sure that our pupils would profit even if the certification of graduates of Stetson High were secured. Our pupils have no difficulty in passing the entrance examinations of higher institutions. The pre- sent method of certification of pupils has many op- ponents, and there is an urgent demand being made by college authorities and by principals to revise the plan now in operation, to the end that the secondary schools may be in closer touch with our higher institutions of learning. It may be assumed, other things being equal, that it makes very little difference to the pupil whether
159
.
SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
he passes an examination or goes to the higher institu- tions by certificate. The trouble in the certification of pupils to normal schools and colleges is that certain pupils, feeling confident that they will get their certifi- cates, do as little work as possible, and are often found to be deficient by the college. On the other hand, if a pupil knows that he is to take the examination he will do his very best to get ready and is usually much better prepared for the work of the higher institution than if he had known that a certificate would be forthcoming.
One of the disadvantages under which we labor is the immaturity of our pupils. If six is the minimum age at which entrance to the primary grades is permitted, and if the eight years of the grades is insisted upon, then the average age at entrance to the high school would be four- teen. A certain degree of maturity is necessary to take up high school work with success, and our teachers feel that too many pupils have been sent to this school at the age of twelve, and, in some instances, eleven.
Our first year pupils were compared with the first year pupils of two other high schools during the past term; it was found that we were a little taller but just a bit younger, and that our average weight was about one pound less ; so that the result of the comparison indicates that there is very little difference between our beginners and those in other towns, in point of physical develop-
160
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
ment. Perhaps it is only fair to say that in both the classes of the other high schools there was a considerable number who had failed of promotion, while with us there were very few such cases, since nearly all who failed of promotion here last June chose to leave school.
In conclusion the teachers of Stetson High School wish to express their gratitude for the kindly feeling mani- fested by the trustees during the past year and to as- sure the superintendent of schools that we have profited by his suggestions and spirit of helpfulness.
Sincerely,
F. E.CHAPIN.
Randolph, Feb. 4th, 1914.
Mr. Samuel F. Blodgett,
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit report for the year ending 1913.
During the past year I have been called upon to inves- tigate seventeen cases of absentees, and in most cases I found that the parents were at fault in keeping the children at home.
Yours respectfully
FRANK J. DONAHUE, Truant Officer.
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SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
Randolph, Feb. 4, 1914.
Mr. Samuel F. Blodgett,
Dear Sir:
During the past year I have been called upon to in- vestigate twenty one cases of ailments. I found some were sick and others were truants; and some kept home for simple reasons. I told the parents it was against the law to keep the child from school except in cases of sickness.
I have sent quite a number from the streets and off the teams in school hours.
Yours respectfully,
A. S. FRIER,
Truant Officer.
162
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
Honor Roll, Stetson High School From Sept. 1912 to June 1913
Numerals indicate terms of perfect attendance.
Muriel T. Bailey 3
John H. Walsh 2
John F. Bustard 3
Dale M. N. Allen 1
Edward F. Fahey 3
Ruth J. Walsh 2
Gertrude E. Kelley 3
Helen B. Brady 1
William J. Leahy 3
Ruth Brown 1
Everett E. Madan 3
Gertrude M. Cahill 1
Henry Morgan 3
Walter Carney 1
Elva L. Plunkett 3
Agnes M. Conlon 1
Mary Isabella Rae 3
Henry C. Dillon 1
Charles A. Roel 3
Hildegarde M. Dahlquist 1
Letitia F. Scannell 3
Joseph J. Dench 1
Robert F. Wallace 3 .
Mary F. Devine 1
Elberta B. White 3
James Donovan 1
Marion L. Leavitt 3
Grace F. Foley 1
Esther U. Blomquist 2
David J. Good 1
Arthur Brennan 2
Mabel M. Good 1 Winnifred Hess 1
Arthur E. Curtis 2 Charles J. Cunningham 2 Margaret M. Desmond 2 George T. Dolan 2 Kathleen M. Donovan 2 Harold H. Eddy 2 Charlotte M. Evans 2 Heiman Greenburg 2 Ida Greenburg 2
Hobart H. Kemp 1 Walter F. Kelliher 1
Jenniette M. Hollis 1
Mary J. Long 1
Fabian E. Hogan 2
Leona M. Hogan 2
Carlton B. Lyons 1 Ruth C. Mayo 1 Joseph G. McDonald 1 Rachael C. McMahon 1 Mary A. O'Connell 1 Doris M. Perkins 1
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SEVENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
Barbara M. Hoye 2
Thomas Kenny 2
Hazel M. Jones 2
Leonard E. Plunkett 1
Gertrude Mahan 2
Herbert F. Porter 1
Marshall W. Leavitt 2
Edward L. Roddan 1
John T. O'Brien 2
Grace E. Scannell 1
Walter O. Leary 2
Jennie A. Schultz 1
Mary L. Patten 2
Vivian M. Shurtleff 1
Alta N. Payne 2
Hazel G. Stetson 1 William W. Thomas 1
Jennie L. Preble 2
Anna M. Sullivan 2
Harold E. Ward 1
Gertrude F. Sullivan 2
Viola F. Wood 1
Prescott School Grade VIII
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