USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1892 > Part 3
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74
ANNUAL REPORT.
Paid J. A. Thayer.
Loan of Piano, 4 00
Paid N. Frank Davis.
Material for repairs, 2 44
Paid Cyrus King.
Setting glass at Pine street, 60
Paid George W. Babcock.
Inspecting Sanford st. boiler,
5 00
Paid E. A. Wales.
Supplies for electric bells, 55
Paid Hebron Manufacturing Co.
Grading around school house, 4 25
Paid A. E. Walton.
Cleaning and repairing clock, 2 75
Paid George H. Herrick.
Metal numbers for doors,
90
Paid Truant Officers' bills,
31 75
Cleaning vaults,
6 00
Freight and cartage,
17 08
Boston School Supply Co.
Age and schooling blanks,
I
50
Printing, 20 25
$1,796 46
Amount overdrawn, $96 46
TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS.
Appropriation,
$625 00
Paid Seneca Cole.
Bringing children from Fisherville, $266 00
Paid M. F. Ashley.
Bringing children from Bancroft 351 00
$617 00
Unexpended balance, $8 00
75
ANNUAL REPORT.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCE.
Appropriation,
Paid Superintendent,
$1,200 00 1,150 00
Unexpended balance, $50 00
RECAPITULATION.
RECEIPTS.
Educational department, $17,825 31
Text book an supply department, 1,224 06
Incidental and repair department, 1,700 00
Transportation of pupils department, 625 00
School Superintendence, 1,200 00
$22,574 37
EXPENDITURES.
Educational department, $17,787 46
Text book and supply department,
1,177 61
Incidental and repair department,
1,796 46
Transportation of pupils department, 617 00
School superintendence, 1,150 00
$22,528 53 45 84
Unexpended balance, Cost of maintaining the schools for the year,
22,528 53
The following comparison will show the expenses in the different departments for the years 1891 and 1892:
1891. 1892.
Educational department,
$16,992 96
$17,787 46
Text book and supply,
1,377 05
1,177 61
Incidental and repair,
2,070 00
1,796 46
Transportation of pupils,
628 80
617 00
School Superintendence,
1,000 00
1,150.00
Total,
$22,068 81
$22,528 53
76
ANNUAL REPORT.
Increase of 1892 over 1891, 459 72
Cost per scholar, based on enrollment, 14 49
Cost per scholar, based on average men- bership, 18 94
In consequence of the tenements at Mechanics being empty since the burning of the mill we expected a diminution rather than increase of scholars in the year just closed. The census taken in May, however, shows a gain of 24 children between 5 and 15 years of age. The average membership increased 24; the average attendance, 32. Nothing shows more clearly the growth of the town than this steady increase of the number of scholars from year to year.
Since nearly four years have elapsed without an increase in the number of schools, some of them, especially of the lowest primary grades, are too much crowded. On the completion of the new Grammar house on Sanford street nearly four years ago, the entire building was occupied at once by withdrawing the Grammar school from the High school building, removing the school from the Bakery building on North Main street and the or- ganization of a new school. Since that time the Grammar grades have had ample accommodation, but the yearly increase of scholars has been largely of the lowest primary grades. Hence the crowded condition of the schools in the Academy and the Pine street house. There have been as many scholars in these four schools as would make five schools as large as any teacher should be required to teach. Present appearances indicate that it will be more difficult to arrange these schools on the opening of the spring term. Should the Mechanics mill start up and the tenements now vacant be occupied a new school will have to be opened during the year.
Considering the financial condition and the growth of the town it would certainly seem wise to build a little in anticipation of the urgent needs of the schools rather than to delay till com- pelled by necessity, the schools, meanwhile, being greatly hin- dered in their work. We dismiss the subject by expressing the belief that the building of a two-room primary house should not
77
ANNUAL REPORT.
be longer delayed, and the hope that it may be ready for occu- pancy at the beginning of the fall term.
A glance at the financial statement shows that the schools have been conducted without exceeding the appropriation in any department except the the incidental and repair. The aggre- gate of receipts exceeds that of expenditures.
To keep the school houses and premises in proper repair, and to make such permanent alterations and improvements necessary from time to time and pay the insurance, amounting to nearly $300 per year requires at least $2,000. On account of the great expense incurred in the month of January in making extensive repairs to the heating apparatus at the High and San- ford street houses, $2,000 will hardly meet the requirements for 1893.
To keep pace with the growth of the schools and the pro- gress now making in our country, and especially in this part of the country requires a steady increase of appropriations for the educational department, whose expenses include the payment of teachers', janitors' and fuel bills. The cost of this depart- ment for 1893 exceeded that of the previous year by about $800. of this amount $100 is chargeable to increased purchase of fuel. The employment of an additional teacher at the High school, the necessary increase of certain salaries of teachers, and the lengthening of the year of the High Grammar school from 38 to 40 weeks absorbed the remainder.
I have made a careful estimate of the needs of this depart- ment for the coming year and will state in detail the reasons why I think an increased appropriation should be asked by the committee and voted by the town. The bills for teaching on the present plan will be $14.974, which is $293 more than last year. To maintain the present standing of our schools and re- tain all our best teachers will require $150 for increase of salar- ies. Another year should not pass without lengthening the school year for all schools now kept 36 weeks to 38 weeks. Four years ago the number of grades in our elementary schools was reduced from nine to eight. This shortened the length of those schools from nine to eight years. Before the time arrives when
78
ANNUAL REPORT.
scholars will complete the Grammar school course after eight years attendance at school we ought to increase the number of weeks in the school year if we intend to give our children the advan- tages enjoyed in the ordinary towns. Quite a large number graduated from the Grammar school last summer after only eight years instruction in the schools, but as they all en- tered the high school they suffered 110 loss. We believe all our schools should be kept forty weeks, but we would propose adding two weeks this year and two next. To add the two weeks will require an increased appropriation of $540. To hire an additional teacher or two assistants from the beginning of next term to the end of the year will require $250. Should the town unite with North Attleborough in employing a super- visor of drawing as we hope it will, our share of the expense cannot be less than $500 per year. Should the supervisor be employed at the beginning of the spring term, since twelve weeks of the school year will have passed at that time, our share of the expense for the remainder of the fiscal year, will be, on the above estimate. $350. To carry out the plan as proposed above will call for an appropriation for the Educational depart- ment of $1,583 more than last year, add to this $300 for inciden- tals and repairs and $1oo for text books and supplies will re- quire an advance over last year's appropriations for the support of schools $1,983.
The following comparisons are given that all who care to know can see the cost of maintaining our schools as compared with the average cost in the State.
The cost to each scholar in the State between 5 and 15 years of age, excluding the amount paid for repairs and the erection of new school buildings as shown by the last report of the State Board of Education was $17.67.
The cost in our town last year was $16.37. Adding cost of repairs and new buildings the cost of each scholar in the state was $22.72. Adding cost of our repairs and $5,000 paid tow- ards the new Grammar school house, the cost to each scholar in town was $21.64. In response to my request, Secretary Dickin-
79
ANNUAL REPORT.
son of the State Board of Education has sent me the two items to appear in his forthcoming report.
Cost of each scholar between 5 and 15 years of age in State, omitting repairs and new school houses, $17.41, including re- pairs and new school houses, $24.32.
Should the town appropriate all recommended above, $24,525, the cost per scholar without reckoning any increase in the number of scholars, would be, excluding repairs and new houses, $17.71. Including repairs and $5,000, the final pay- ment for the Grammar school building $23.21. Surely for a town of our size, location and financial condition we are not making an unreasonable request.
Recommendations for appropriations, Educational depart- ment:
Teachers bills,
Janitors' bills,
$16, 114 00 1,656 00
Fuel bills,
1,450 00
Incidentals and repairs,
$19,220 00 2,000 00
Text books and supplies, 1,300 00
Superintendent of schools,
1,200 00
Transportation of pupils,
640 00
Total for support of schools, $24,360 00
I will mention some of the improvements that should be made naming them in the order of their importance as it ap- pears to me. The Farmers school house should be ventilated. The air in the room with the number of scholars who now occupy it is so impure it is unfit to be breathed. It should also receive other extensive repairs and alterations. The windows are so few in number and so small and low that the room is not properly lighted. In my opinion the windows should be made larger, as many as two or three should be added to the north side, the rout- age of the desks should be changed so that the teachers desk should occupy one end of the room instead of being at one side as it now is. If this plan could be carried out the seating capacity
ANNUAL REPORT.
of the room would be greatly increased and the room much more convenient.
The exterior of the High school housed should be painted.
The school house at Briggs corner should be fitted with modern furniture.
It is difficult to decide what should be done in the Turnpike district. The members of the committee appointed by the town to consider a petition from the citizens in that part of the town, asking for a new school house on the plateau known as the Sib- ley plat, have visited the district and investigated the matter but. as yet, have been unable to decide what plan to recommend. The present house, which is so old, small and poor as not to be worth repairing is too far from that part of the district where the largest number of houses have been recently built. The center of the district and of the population, towards which most of the roads converge, is in the midst of a large tract of woods, and remote from all except a very few residences. For the want of a short road which could easily be constructed, two groups of houses within a short distance of each other are practically separated by nearly a mile. If all the children of school age should want to attend school in their own district either two houses or one house with two rooms if it could be conveniently located would be needed.
As many of the inhabitants living near the State line on the south and on the west send their children to parochial schools in Rhode Island the school is only of medium size.
Of the condition of the schools we can truly say that at no other time since we have had charge of them have they accom- plished so good work as during the last term of the year. This is due to several reasons. The credit is due to the teachers. The effects of the change in the number of grades which for a time disturbed somewhat the work have mostly disappeared. In consequence the schools are much better graded. Certain changes in the transfer of teachers from the charge of grades for which they were not so well adapted to others have contributed greatly to the good of the schools as well as to the teachers them- selves. After the schools had settled down to steady work at the
81
ANNUAL REPORT.
beginning of the fall term I found that the last poorly governed, noisy school had vanished from town.
Rather less than the usual number of changes have occurred on account of the resignation of teachers. In the spring vacation Mrs. S. K. McIntyre resigned to accept a higher salary else- where, and Miss Inez A. Hunt, a normal graduate was employed to take charge of the school. In the summer vacation Miss Aus- tin of the Pleasant street school and Miss Perry, one of the assist- ant teachers of the High school resigned to be married, and Miss Wheaton after many years of service as teacher of one of the Sanford street primary schools, desiring the rest which change of occupation gives, resigned to devote her attention to music. Miss Abbey N. Arnold, a graduate of Smith college, succeeded Miss Perry as Instructor in Greek and modern languages at High school. Miss Abbie E. Carpenter was transferred to the Pleas- ant street school and Roslyn L. Ferren succeeded her at the Turnpike school.
At Sanford street Miss Povey was transferred to the position of assistant in Mrs. Chatterton's school of the third and fourth grammar grades and Miss Parmenter to the charge of the third primary as successor to Miss Wheaton. Mrs. M. E. Brown a former teacher in town was employed to teach the school formerly in charge of Miss Povey, and Miss C. L. Maynard, also a former former teacher, followed Miss Parmenter.
In no department of instruction is more satisfactory work being done at present than in penmanship. The introduction of new writing books at the opening of the fall term and the secur- ing thereby the services of a competent instructor in penman- ship have resulted in awakening much enthusiasm on the part of the teachers. Tracing books with the use of pencil instead of pen have been put into the hands of pupils of the second year in school and syetematic training is in operetion through all the grades above the lowest primary. If any one would take the pains to examine specimens of the handwriting of the scholars of the lowest grades which receive special instruction on this subject, specimens which are open to the inspection of any visi- tor he would, I think, be surprised at the good quality of the
82
ANNUAL REPORT.
work. If the teachers see to it that the instructions they have received are faithfully carried out, very few scholars would graduate from our Grammar school without having established a good style of handwriting. While a special instructor of pen- manship is not to be expected in the near future, if we could have the services of one for two or three days of each term, the the small expense incurred would be one of the wisest expendi- tures. There have been so many public occasions during the last year on which the scholars of our public school have furnished the music that the public has had a good opportunity to judge of the quality and the result of the training in this de- partment.
In no year have the regular teachers worked more har- moniously with the instructors in music and more carefully car- ried out their suggestions. In consequence we believe no year has yielded better results. We are glad to be able to include the report of these instructors in which they can speak for them- selves.
J. O. Tiffany, Superintendent of Schools:
In compliance with your request we take pleasure in pre- senting our report for the year 1893:
During the year the higher classes have frequently been in- vited to sing on occasions of public interest, and the favorable comments of those qualified to judge have made it unnecessary for us to speak at length of the progress of music in the village schools.
In all the outlying schools we are able to report progress.
The work outlined by the special teachers has been en- grafted into the regular work of the school and improvement will be noted by any one who may investigate.
Hebronville, Dodgeville and South Attleboro schools are now more regularly visited by the special teachers and the regu- lar teachers seem anxious to have their classes compare favor- ably with the village schools.
In regard to the other outlying schools we desire to state that the foundation for reading music and voice culture, is laid and good work done, although the small numbers in these
83
ANNUAL REPORT.
schools do not admit of the brilliant part singing to be found in larger classes.
At the beginning of the school year in September when we classify the voices of the High and Grammar classes, we have frequent occasion to notice the advantage of those who come from these outlying districts, over those pupils who come from committees where music is totally neglected.
This fact is frequently overlooked by those who judge merely by listening to songs of the school room.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. AND MARY E. WHITTEMORE.
In our repart issued a year ago we spoke of 1891 as excep- tional in respect to to the small number of scholars who dropped out of the highest grammar grades and the large per cent of Grammar school graduates who entered the High school. The record in both respects is still more satisfactory for 1892. Of the 42 scholars who graduated from the Sanford Street Grammar school 40 entered the High, and now, after the middle of the school year the entire number, 40, are members of the school. We call the attention of those, who, through ignorance of the true condition of affairs, complain that many of our scholars are compelled to go out of town to get an education to this fact. Note the facts in regard to Mr. Walker's school which has the scholars of the two highest Grammar grades. Of the 62 who were promoted to the highest grade last June, 55 presented them- selves in September. Of the 52 promoted to the second grade from the schools on Sanford street, 49 presented themselves in September. This is surely a good showing and one which, when compared with the average in other places is highly creditable to our schools.
The appropriation of $600 by the trustees of the Richard- son School fund has been a great benefit to the schools. The Encyclopedia Brittannica and other useful and costly books of reference furnished the High school the supply of supplemen- tary reading costing nearly $150 furnished the grammar schools, the supplying of very useful and expensive charts for the schools of the town, and, lastly the appropriation of $100 for the depart-
84
ANNUAL REPORT.
ment of drawing are helps of great value. Coupled with our thanks is the wish that that they may do so some more. We would suggest that there is an opportunity to expend quite a large amount wisely in equipping the Grammar school with cabi- nets of specimens to illustrate the different departments of Natu- ral History and Elementary Science, and with apparatus to en- able the teacher to perform the experiments necessary to teach elementary physics successfully.
We do not wish to close our report without assuring our teachers, one and all, that we appreciate fully their faithfulness, zeal and efficiency in their responsible positions. To each, the consciousness of having been actuated by noble motives and of having achieved a fair degree of success must afford more satis- faction than all the conventional forms of praise that could be set in type.
We thank these teachers for their co-operation and the school committee, individually ond collectively, for their cordial support.
Respectfully submitted,
J. O. TIFFANY,
Superintendent of Schools.
Appendir.
"Esse Quam Videri."
Graduating Exercises of Class of '92, of the Attleborough High School at Bates Opera House, Thursday Evening, June 23d, 1892.
INVOCATION.
I. Chorus-Fairy Chorus, Verdi
2. Salutatory-
Bertha Miriam Hill.
3. Essay-Sir Walter Scott, Mabel Foster Briggs.
4. Essay-Westminster Abbey, Mary Viola Dolan.
5. Oration-The Chinese Immigration Bill, Charles Ellsworth Dexter.
6. Solo and Chorus (for female voices) £
(a) Chorus of Maidens, from Oratorio of Naaman. Solo -- Florence Rice Parker, (b) Summer Day, McCabe
3
7. Essay-The Russian Famine,
Grace Elbertine Stone.
8. Class History- Annie Amelia Wheeler.
9. Essay-Witchcraft, Florence Rice Parker.
86
ANNUAL REPORT.
IO. Oration-Public Education,
George Allen Monroe.
II. Calisthenics.
12. Debate-Resolved that the Worlds Fair Should be Opened on Sunday.
Affirmative-Florence Marion Howarth,
William Roe O'Neil.
Negative- Alice May McNerney, William Briggs Savery.
I3. Chorus-(For mixed voices.) Tyrolese Chorus, Rossini
14. Essay-The Great Composers, Ada Bradford Crosby.
15. Essay-A Plea for Public Parks, Gertrude Walker Briggs.
16. Class Prophecy, Arthur Baylies Cummings.
17. Valedictory, Mary Alice Bennett.
18. Presentation of Diplomas.
19. FinaleTrio-The Distant Chimes,
20. Benediction. Glover
Graduates.
COLLEGE PREPARATORY COURSE.
William Roe O'Neill, William Briggs Savery.
CLASSICAL COURSE.
Mary Alice Bennett,
Mabel Foster Briggs,
Bertha Miriam Hill,
Florence Marion Howarth,
Alice May McNerney, Grace Elbertine Stone,
Annie Amelia Wheeler.
ENGLISH COURSE.
Gertrude Walker Briggs, Ada Bradford Crosby,
Arthur Baylies Cummings, Charles Ellsworth Dexter,
Mary Viola Dolan, George Allen Monroe,
Florence Rice Parker.
names of Grammar School Graduates.
SANFORD STREET SCHOOL.
Minnie Franklin Appleton, Annie Mabel Bennett,
Mabel Ingraham Cobb, Olive Eveline Carpenter, Mary Etta Virginia Evans, Aurora Elizabeth Evans, Marion Hawes Gould, Gustina Amelia Hanmore, Jennie Rose McClatchey, Anna Stephenson Perry, Louise Grace Richards, Ethel Raymond Wetherell, Lawton Bates Capron, Fred Elkanah Babcock, Richard Frederick William
Gertrude Virginia Blaney, Ruth Melissa Blanchard, Lizzie Frances Carr, Florence Adelaide Everett, Blanche Elizabeth Carpenter, Florence Louise Gould, Mary Emeline Hatten, Ida Marsden Macdonald, Mabel Josephine Mulligan, Grace Emma Povey, Mabel Clementine Wilbur, William Hunt Goff, Willard Barber Atwell, Oscar Dean Briggs,
Crawford,
Howard Tinkham Bates, Willie Hopwood,
Fred Henry Kendall,
Arthur Becket Lamb,
Percy Allen Randall,
Elmer Austin Thompson,
Edwin Schuyler Cobb, Edward Lawrence Heagney, Joseph John Heywood,
Roland Manchester Lamb, Arthur Elton Rhodes,
Fred Simmonds, Edwin French Thayer.
BRIGGS CORNER SCHOOL.
Henrietta Francena Rounds, Carrie Shurtliff Mason, Jennie Helena Johnson,
Mary Elvina Johnson,
90
ANNUAL REPORT.
Mertilla Sarah Worrall, Ralph Haden Cole, Oliver Bates Worrall.
CITY SCHOOL.
Mabel Alice Boyd, Lotta May Coupe.
Grace Emma Knight, Edith Evelyn Mayall,
Bertha Francis Wheeler.
School Statistics.
Number of High Schools,
I
Grammar Schools,
5
Primary Schools,
14
Semi-graded Schools,
3
Ungraded Schools,
3
Number same as last year,
26
TEACHERS.
Number in High School,
4
Grammar Schools,
8
Primary Schools,
I6
Semi-graded Schools,
3
Ungraded Schools,
2
Music,
2
Number one more than last year.
36
PUPILS.
Enrollment:
Boys.
Girls.
Total.
High,
29
70
99
Grammar,
162
161
323
Primary,
480
432
912
Semi-graded,
68
43
III
Ungraded,
64
47
III
Total,
803
753
1,556
92
ANNUAL REPORT.
Average membership:
High School,
94.61
Grammar Schools.
297.73
Primary Schools,
630.08
Semi-graded Schools,
90.60
Ungraded Schools,
76.15
Total.
1188.97
Average attendance:
High School,
90.35
Grammar School,
275.52
Primary Schools.
552.76
Semi-graded Schools.
79.42
Ungraded Schools.
67.11
Total. 1065.16
Per cent of attendance based on average mem- bership. 89.58
TABLE SHOWING NAMES, GRADES, TEACHERS, MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE.
Teacher.
Name of School.
Grade.
Different Scholars
Boys.
Girls.
Average
Average attendance.
Per cent of
IO. L. Beverage. .....
Bank street .....
High
99
29
70 94.61
90.35
95.
2 Helen W. Metcalf. . ..
. .
·
.
-
-
5 Herbert E. Walker ... Sanford street ...
Ist & 2d Grammar.
139
61
78 121.
114.
94.7
6 Rhoda C. Slate. . .
·
.. .
-
. . .
=
... 3d
48
26
22
42.25
39.4
93.
3d & 4th
43
23
20
50.78
47.63
93.8
Io Adelina S. Povey . ...
II Hattie R. Jewett ... .
. . . 4th
18
27
2I
42.78|
38.1
89.
12 Inez A. Hunt. ..
. .
45
25
20
39.92|
36.4
90.
93
ANNUAL REPORT.
3 Abby N. Arnoid ... · 4 M. Alinda Lathrop ...
-
. .
.
7 Nellie M. Toothaker .. 8 Hannah M. Pratt ..... 9|0. Cora Chatterton .. .
-
...
66
.. .
Registered.
membership.
attendance.
13|Carrie L. Perry . . . 14 S. Elizebeth McRae .. 15 May E. Brown ....
16 Cora L. Maynard. . ...
... 3d
·
49
3I
18
46.67 43.II 48.6 49.52 50.88 45. 45.27
39.2 38.27 38.83 43. 41.15 43.55 37. 39.91 35.76
93. 87.1 91.84 90. 89. 83. 85 82. 88.15
87.
23 Anna D. Newman .
Primary Grades .. .
I18
56
62
63.84
53.85
84.3
24 Hattie E. Shepard ... .
Hebronville.
Semi-Graded
38
26
I2
25.1
21.67
86.
Primary Grades ..
IOI
47
54
66.6
59.2
89.
28 Mary A. Lyon .. .
City .
Grammar
. . .
30
I3
17
24.5
22.
89.8
29 Clara F. Bourne.
Primary
42
20
22
29.
26.
89.65
30 Roslyn Ferren. . .
Turnpike. .
Ungraded.
40
22
18
21.33
19.04
89.26
31 Julia L. Brigham .
Briggs Corner ...
47
27
20
39.82
36.47
91.
32 Cassie S. Thayer ..
Perry . . . .
23
14
9
15.
II.6
77.4
Primary Grades ...
48
3I
I7
34.
32.
94.
. .
38
I7
21
46.6
20.8
84.5
94
. ..
. ..
2d
· 49
34
I5
17 Mary F. Parmenter .. . 18 Alice B. Fisher. . .
66
...
. .
I2I
65
23 56
19 Mary L. Felt ...
Pine
·
. .
.
47
26
2I
20 Dora A. Sweet. .
97
42
55
21 Lucy C. Sweet .. ..
South Main street 2d &3d "
48
25
23
22 Mary A. Stephenson. . Dodgeville . . .
. Semi-Graded ·
43
29
14
4I.
...
3d&4th" . .
59
36
46 49
25
2I
40.
43. 45.
25
24
·
-
·
33 M. B. Hawes. ... . Farmers .. . . . 34 Abbie E. Carpenter .. . Pleasant street. . 35|H. J. Whittemore. ...
Music Teacher ....
4th . . 3d&4th" . . 4th
.
·
25 Nellie E. Briggs. . . . . 26 Minnie A. Walker .. . . 27 R. Grace Field. . .
·
.
.
ANNUAL REPORT.
... Ist Primary
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