USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1877 > Part 3
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Shall we shorten our schools ? By the State census of 1875 we find that there are but twenty-seven cities and towns that exceed our municipality in inhabitants and valuation, and in every instance their schools average longer than ours. Further, there are but twenty-six other towns in the State which contain over five thousand inhabitants, only eight of which have shorter schools than ours. Are we ready to be left behind most of the towns whose population and resources are, some of them, but little more shan half as much as ours ? We believe it would be for our interest for all our schools to run thirty-eight weeks in the year. This would leave four- teen weeks for vacation, which is enough for all practical purposes.
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Shall we cut down the salaries of our teachers? Then again we give the facts and figures in reference to other towns, though we fear we shall hear from the lips of some of our citizens the old proverb, "comparisons are odious." In none of the cities and towns in the State, having a population of five thousand or more, has the principal of the High School a smaller salary than the principals of our High School re- ceive, with a single exception. That town, for some cause, supports four High Schools and it pays the principals, a thousand dollars each. How is it with the compensation of the teachers in our common schools ? though it will be re- membered that your committee are not responsible for the wages which they receive, as they are employed by the dis- trict committees. In the fifty-three cities and towns having five thousand inhabitants or more, there are nine where the average pay of the female teachers is less than the average compensation of our female teachers. We do not present the comparison in reference to male teachers, because, aside from our high school principals, we employ but two or three male teachers, and because we would spare them the morti- fication and chagrin of having the surprising disparity placed before their eyes.
The average daily wages of our female teachers is one dollar and sixty three cents per day, exclusive of board, for five days in the week, and for eight and a half months in the the year, not so large compensation as our dressmakers re- ceive ; we question whether it is as large as the skillful and experienced female operatives in our jewelry factories re- ceive. Is it not as responsible, and ought it not to be as re- munerative a work to train minds, as to fit garments or to manipulate metal links into bracelets and chains ? But it is said that teachers do not have to toil so many hours per day as most operatives. We can have no patience with this plea. The true teacher is constantly oppressed by the burden of his responsibility. If he could select six pupils, and have only those that are bright, teachable, conscientious and sub-
45
ordinate, his toil and care would be comparatively light, but in every public school of any considerable size, there will be an element of stupid, reckless, refractory ones who will tax his powers to the utmost, try his temper, torture his nerves and well nigh drive him to phrensy. We not only " testify that we have seen," but "we speak that we do know," for we have been there, and have some appreciation of the responsibilities and hardships of the consecrated teacher.
But it may be said that we can hire teachers, even good ones, for less money. Very probably. Those who have a decided taste for the profession, and have fitted themselves for it, might be compelled to yield to our terms, though they might not be so liberal as they now are. But is it generous to take advantage of their circumstances, and virtually say to them, " you shall work as we prescribe, or starve !" Is this the spirit with which capital should meet labor? Be- sides teachers are like clergymen who are " knocked off to the highest bidder." Those who should win a wide-spread reputation for excellence in their calling, would be likely to hear and heed the call to. " Go up higher," and their places would have to be filled by new and, perhaps, inex- perienced teachers. Taking all things into consideration, we cannot think it will be wise to advise the reduction of our teachers' recompense.
The only remainining alternative is to increase our school appropriation. But right here we shall have read to us a a homily on the necessity of economy, especially in these times of business derangements, and financial embarrass- ments. We do not need to be told that economy is a moral and christian virtue, we believe in it with all the heart, not only as a theory, but in actual experience, for some of us find that we have to practice it if we would pay our honest debts. The only question is in regard to the directions in which we should economize. If the physical system requires for its sustenance and health two loaves of bread per day, it would
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be poor economy for one to procure a single loaf, though he might save a dime by so doing. Are we certain that it is good economy to reduce the intellectual and moral aliment of our children, though dollars may be saved by the measure ? It would seem that our neighbors-the other towns in the commonwealth which are our peers-do not think so. We must be pardoned for referring once more to the last annual report of the Board of Education, for " facts and figures." We find but two cities and towns whose population reaches six thousand, whose appropriation is so small as ours, and five towns, with less than six thousand inhabitants whose ap- propriation is larger than ours. We believe in emulating the liberality of our sister municipalities, and as several of our districts have overdrawn the last year, and as singing will doubtless be an extra charge in many of our schools, we res- pectfully recommend for the appropriation, the coming year, the same for the High schools as heretofore, and thirteen thousand dollars, with the dog fund, for the district schools.
STATISTICS IN DETAIL.
No. 1 .- LOWER PRIMARY.
Teachers .- Spring, Miss S. S. Russell. Autumn, Misses L. C. Sturdy and E. I. Barden. Winter, Miss Barden.
Wages per month, $36.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 12, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 91, 83, 65
Average attendance, 77, 63, 66 51
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .80 nearly.
Pupils neither absent nor tardy for a full term : Bell Shaw, Joseph Miller, Kate Field, Hattie Ginnodo, Charlie Long, Henry Newell, Byron Shaw, Charlie Ward.
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No. 1 .- UPPER PRIMARY.
Teachers .- Spring, Miss H. P. Cowell. Autumn, Misses E. A. Whiting and F. L. Hancock. Winter, Miss Hancock. Wages per month, - $36.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 12, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 56, 62, 66 57
Average attendance, 66 50,
50, 66 49
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .85.
Scholars neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Abrie Glidden, Winnie Barden, Frank Curtis. For one term : Charles Flevin, John Ferguson, David Glidden, Jennie Sears, Hattie Witherell.
No. 1 .- INTERMEDIATE.
Teacher .- Miss E. W. Stanley.
Wages per month, $36.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 12, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 46,
66 38, 66 39
Average attendance,
39;
34, 66 34
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .87.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Annie McCarthy, Charlie Hostmiss. For one term: Edgar Barden, George Beers, Arthur McCarthy, Arthur Brainard, Lizzie Thompson, Willie Long.
No. 1 .- GRAMMAR.
Teacher .- Mr. A. Greene.
Wages per month, $70.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 12, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 32,
"
42,
66 42
Average attendance,
29, " 38, 66 35
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .88, nearly.
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Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Edgar Barden. For one term, Maggie Tills, Lizzie Rister, Arthur Pierce, Eddie Donnells, Joseph Galligher.
No. 2.
Teachers -- Spring, Miss J. A. Capron ; other terms, Miss F. I. Capron.
Wages per month, -
$36.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 14, Winter, 53
Number of pupils 14, 17, 66 11
Average attendance
10,
11, 66
8
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .70, nearly.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term, Rennie A Jordan.
No. 3.
Teacher-Miss J. E. Ellis.
Wages per month, $32.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 13, Fall, 10, Winter, 9
Number of pupils, 15, 9, 10
Average attendance, 13,
8, 8
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .85 plus.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term: J. Lewis Ellis, Pheba L. Henshaw, Ella F. Henshaw, Nellie J. Henshaw Jennie W. Henshaw.
No. 4 .- PRIMARY.
Teachers-Spring and Autumn, Miss L. A. Riley. Winter, Miss F. I. Phelps.
Wages per month, $40.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 10, Winter, 10
Number of scholars, 78,
" 68, 68
Average attendance,
63,
61, 66 52
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .82 plus.
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Neither absent nor tardy for the year : Louisa Armstrong. For two terms : Lizzie Schmadl. For one term : Charlie Bride, Bell Ryan, Annie Hall, Ida Ward, Charlie Draper, John Loftus, Frankie Ryan, Josie Schmadl, George Whiting, Freddie Lyon.
INTERMEDIATE.
Teacher-Miss A. A. Somes.
Wages per month, $44.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 11
Number of pupils, 49, 47, 45
Average attendance, 41,
41, 66 40
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .86 plus.
Scholars neither absent nor tardy for two terms : L. Anna Andrews, Fred. Schmadl, Arthur S. Bruce, Lawrence Ryan, Florence Lincoln, Jennie Rice. For one term : Harry J. Tuffts, Herbert E. Goff, Jennie M. Goff, Laura E. Ames, Bertie Goff, Charlie Bride, Jennie Stanley, Hattie A. Dean, Kate Ott, Minnie Hall, Olney Tracy, Willie Block, Horace Bowen, Georgie Day.
GRAMMAR. Teacher-Miss A. M. Quincy.
Wages per month,
- $52.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 11
Number of pupils, 32
" 35,
66 30
Average attendance, 28,
29, 27
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .86 plus
Neither absent nor tardy for the year: Jennie Hall. For two terms: Oswald Schmadl, Mattie Aston, Harry Tuffts, Mary M. Peirce, Mary Ryan, Laura Amos. For one term: Minnie White, Nellie Bishop, Charlie Sandland, Mary Donlon, Frankie Draper, Charlie Stanley, Fannie Barrows, Henry Martin.
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50
No. 5 -- PRIMARY.
Teachers -- Principal, Miss L. D. Peck ; Assistant, Miss E. F. Regan.
Wages per month: Principal, $40.00; Assistant, $24.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 12, Winter, 11
Number of pupils, 73,
61,
66 57
Average attendance, 56,
52, 66 54
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .80.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term: Julia Peirce, Clarence Wood.
GRAMMAR. Teacher, Mr. G. O. Smith.
Wages per month, $48.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 12, Winter, 11
Number of pupils, 38, " 39, 66 45
Average attendance, 66 30,
33, 66 35
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .80.
.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term : Emma Mackinson.
No. 6.
Teacher -- Miss M. A. Matthias.
Wages per month, -
$36.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 12, Winter, 11
Number of pupils, 35, 30, 66 35
Average attendance, 66 26,
25
29
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .80.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term : Eddie B. Philips, Willis Todd, Jennie Todd.
No. 7.
Teachers-Spring, Miss A. M. Griggs ; other terms, Miss D. M. Stanley.
Wages per month : Spring $44.00 ; other terms, $42.00. Number of pupils, Spring, 35, Fall, 38, Winter, 43 Average attendance, 66 26, 29, 32
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .75.
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Neither absent nor tardy for the year : Lillie P. Clark. For two terms : Henry B. Carpenter, T. Delmedia Clark, Grace M. Newell, Arthur I. Newell. For one term, Florence A. Guild, Abbie S. Newell, Jerome H. Tucker, Nettie Tennent.
No. 8. Teacher -- Miss S, Bailey.
Wages per month, $40.00. -
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 12, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 37, " 46, 66 42
Average attendance, 66 31, " 42, 66 36
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .87.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms : Charlie W. Shaw. For one term: Charlie E. Sadler, Freddie G. Gay, George W. Orr, Lottie Murphy, Kate Gallagher, Nancy J. Gatewood, Annie Coupe.
No. 9.
Teachers-Spring, Miss A. M. Metcalf; fall and winter, Miss L. C. Sweet.
Wages : Spring, $40.00 ; fall and winter, $36.00.
Fall, 13, Winter, 10 Weeks of school, Spring, 10,
Number of scholars, 66 24, " 22,
66 21
Average attendance, 18,
18, 17
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .79, nearly.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Lizzie E. Lewis, Mary E. Horton, Edith H. Horton. For one term : Bertha Arnold, Helen Haskins, Willie H. Raymond, Lavinia Allen.
No. 10.
Teachers-Spring, Miss D. M. Stanley ; fall and winter, Miss S. W. Jackson.
Wages : Spring and autumn, $34.00 ; winter, $38.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 12,
Winter, 12
Number of Pupils,
19,
19,
66 20
Average attendance,
16,
16, 18
52
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .86 plus.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Arthur H. El- dredge, Edith L. Thornton. For one term : Isabella L. Ide, Fannie E. Thornton, Marion A. Cooper, Camilla A. Briggs, Abel A. Thurston.
No. 11-PRIMARY.
Teachers-Spring, Miss L. C. Sweet ; fall and winter, Miss L. H. Capron.
Wages : Spring, $36,00; fall and winter, $40.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 12, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 47, 46, 66 35
Average attendance, 35, 66 28, 20
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .64 plus.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term: Lizzie Taylor Georgie Fawcett, Charles Boucher, Henry Boucher, Jo- seph Boucher, Clara Teal, Laura Teal, Jerry Driscol.
GRAMMAR.
Teachers-Spring, F. R. Blanding ; other terms Miss L. C. Blanding.
Wages: Spring, $44.00 per month ; other terms, $48.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 29, 30, 23
Average attendance, 19,
21, 19
Per cent. of attendance during the year, .72, nearly.
Neither absent nor tardy for the year : Eva B. Fuller, Sarah A. Taylor. For two terms: Eddie J. Gate, Annie H. Fuller, Annie Burtonwood, Marianna Chadwick. For one term : Freddie · Babbia, William Dunn, Hiram J. Jones.
No 12. Teacher-Miss J. L. Briggs.
Wages per month, $32.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 11, Fall, 14, Winter, 12
Number of pupils 20, 16, 17
Average attendance, 16, 13, 66 15
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .81.
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Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Mary A. Briggs. For one term : Cherry M. Hebbert, Charles A. Hebbert.
No. 13.
Teacher .- Miss E. W. French.
Wages per month, $28.00; Winter, $30.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 12, Fall, 11, Winter, 13
Number of pupils, 20, 20, 19
Average attendance, 15,
17 66 15
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .80 nearly.
Neither absent nor tardy for three terms: George S. Perry. For two terms: Lizzie E. Perry, Nellie B. Perry, Emma J. Perry. For one term: Willard E. Perry, Elizabeth Coombs, Annie M. Torrey, Mariana Hunt, George L. Stoddard, Jennie O. Stoddard, Irving Hunt.
No. 14.
Teachers .- Spring, Miss L. C. Blanding; other terms, Miss H. L. Harvey. Wages per month, - $34.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 9
Number of pupils, " 31, " 20,' 66 12
Average attendance, " 17,
13, 9
.6
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .63 nearly.
Pupils neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Walter H. Follett. For one term : Anna L. Atkinson, Sarah A. Leonard, Hattie Walton, Charlie Walton.
No. 15. Teachers .- Spring, Mr. C. F. Cole; Fall and Winter, Miss J. A. Capron.
Wages per month, $50.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 13, Winter, 11
Number of pupils, 61, 55, 46
Average attendance, 44,
39,
38
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .74 plus.
No. 16. Teacher .- Miss L. B. Pond.
Wages per month, $40.00.
54
Weeks of school, Spring, 14, Fall, 8, Winter, 12
Number of scholars, 66 34,
" 22,
66 23
Average attendance,
24,
" 17,
20
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .64 plus.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Lavinia T. Cooper, Freddie B. Cooper. For one term : Chloe C. Briggs, Isaac Al- ger, Jr., Eddie Alger, Willie I. Alger, John W. Brown, Benjamin F. Brown.
No. 17.
Teachers .- Misses L. C. Sturdy and Clara L. Daggett.
Wages per month. - $32.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 11, Fall and Winter, 12
Number of scholars,
17,
16
Average attendance,
14
66
66 66 14
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .85 nearly.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term : Emma L. Parmenter, Fred. W. Parmenter.
No. 18 .- SOUTH PRIMARY. Teacher .- Miss L. A. Shepard. Wages per month, $40.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 10
Number of pupils,
63,
58,
66 40
Average attendance,
66
53,
52, 37
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .88 plus.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms : Edgar Weaver.
No. 18 .- LOWER INTERMEDIATE. Teacher .- Miss L. C. Beckett. Wages per month, $40 00
Weeks of School, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 10
Number of pupils, 64, 57,
66 51
Average attendance, 49, "
47, 44
Per cent, of attendance for the year, .81 plus.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Lizzie M. Chapman, Annie Haywood. For one term : Willie Dennis, Hattie Whit- man, Neddie Horton, Bertie Parker, Mary A. Lord, Henry 'A. Carlisle, James Bradley, Albert Parker.
€
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No. 18 .- HIGHER INTERMEDIATE. Teacher .- Miss L. P. Beers.
Wages per month, $40.00.
Weeks of school. Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 10
Number of pupils. 50, " 50
56
Average attendance,
41,
42, 47
Per cent of attendance for the year, .83 plus.
Neither absent nor tardy for the year: James Coughlin. For two terms: Louisa Carpenter, Frankie Carpenter, Frank Rhodes. For one term : Ida Warren, Nellie Ryder, Willie Rodman, Charlie Engley, John Coughlin, Christie Spier, Jennie Sanford, Jennie Dunn, Melissa Babbitt, Percy Crandall, Harvey Kingsley, Mamie Sturdy, Ella Gay, Bell O'Connor, Clara Powers, Annie Wheaton, Carrie Martin, Louisa Briggs, Eddie Kingsley, Walter Thayer.
No. 18 .- GRAMMAR. Teacher .- Miss H. L. Horton
Wages per month, -
$50 00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 10
Number of pupils, 50,
53, 52
Average attendance 44, 47
43
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .87 nearly.
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Eddie B. Richards, Charlie Chadwick. For one term : George B. Chapman, Frank C. Gray, John F. Coughlin, M. Addie Stanley, Mamie M. San_ ford, Rena F. Sturdy, Mattie J. Crawford, Willis Nye, Willie Bodman, Ella McRae, Ada Thayer.
No. 18 .- NORTH PRIMARY.
Teacher .- Miss H. S. Beers.
Wages per month, -
$37 00.
Weeks of school.
Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 10
Number of pupils,
71,
69,
51
Average atendance,
46,
55, 42
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .75 nearly.
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Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Eddie Norton. For one term : Eddie Alfred, Clinton Burr, Gertie Carpenter, Jessie Adams.
No. 19.
Teachers-Spring and autumn, Miss D. Jacobs ; winter, Mr. O. Martin.
Wages : Spring and autumn, $34.00; winter, $36.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 10, Fall, 12, Winter, 12
Number of pupils, 66 10,
11, 66
Average attendance, 8,
“ 9, 66 14
Per cent of attendance for the year, .81,
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Nellie Chambers, Lewis N. Cutting, John H. Cogshall. For one term: Aggie Chambers.
No. 20.
Teachers-Spring, Miss M. H. Wolfenden ; other terms, Miss E N. Davis.
Wages per month, $48.00.
· Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 12
Number of pupils,
66
72,
72,
73
Average attendance, 66 50, 66 47, .
66 49
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .66.
Neither absent nor tardy for one term : Kate Conus, Richard Quinley, John C. Sherman, James E. Sherman.
HIGH SCHOOL-EAST.
Teachers-Principal, Mr. J. O. Tiffany ; Assistant, Miss A. S. Hawes.
Wages per month : Principal, $120.00 ; Assistant, $50.00.
Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 12
Number of scholars, 45,
60,
66 60
Average attendance,
38,
54, 54
Per cent. of attendance for the year, .88.
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. Neither absent nor tardy for two terms: Philip Brady, Sarah Potter, Alvin Cooper, William Luther, Edward Wales. For one term : Aurelia Beach, Sarah Dean, Nellie Collier, Mary Thurber, Ada Cummings, Ada Hammond, Annie Nye, Clara Norton, Cora. Sturdy, Willie Everett, Ervin Tucker.
HIGH SCHOOL-NORTH.
Teachers-Principal, Mr. B. Porter, Jr .; Assistant, Miss E. K. Goss.
Wages per month : Principal, $120.00; Assistant, $50.00. Weeks of school, Spring, 15, Fall, 13, Winter, 12 Number of scholars, 53, 66 51,
54
Average attendance, 48, "6 47, 66 50 Per cent. of attendance for the year, .91.
Neither absent nor tardy for the year: Lulu Capron, Snsie A. Porter, Anna Codding. For two terms : Lizzie Sadler, Harry Hall, George Pame, Lillian R. Bruce. For one term : Celia At- kinson, Nellie Phelps, Ida Kent, Inez Freeman, Frankie Dag- gett, Emma Barden, Willie Mason, Bertha Peirce, Frank White, Eva A. Smith, Katie Donley, Edna G. Smith, Nellie Philips, Edwin H. Whitehill, Wallace Barden, Frank Mason, Freddie Amos, Fred. Barden, Benj. Eaton.
Per cent. of attendance in all the schools for the year, .793.
Respectfully submitted,
S. P. LATHROP, G. A. ADAMS,
School Committee.
J. D. PEIRCE,
58 2015
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