USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1898 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
The gain of 76 children between 5 and 15 years of age as shown by the census of May 1, the increase of 117 in eurol- ment, of 75 in average membership, and of 78 in average attendance, all show a satisfactory growth of the Town and strongly emphasize your request for a new school house. this
172
ANNUAL REPORT.
year. The small falling off in the percentage of attendance is to be regretted, but is not to be wondered at when we consider the small degree of interest manifested by a large majority of the parents.
There may seem to be no need of my discussing the needs of a new school house since you propose to ask the Town to build one, but on account of my long and intimate relations with every form of school management in Town, I ought to be able to feel the great annoyance and loss to our schools should the building be deferred till another year.
The growth of the Town has been of such an extent for a number of years as to need the opening of two new schools each year. No new house was built in 1897, consequently our schools became crowded again and demanded increased accon- modations last year. To give the relief needed the Superin- tendent recommended the erection of a four-room building. centrally located on the east side of the railroad. The School Committee asked for two two-room houses, on the same side. The Town built one two-room building. This was hardly sufficient to relieve the crowded condition of the central schools without making any provision for future growth. Con- sequently we are compelled to renew the same old cry of overcrowded schools, and recommend immediate relief.
Outside the Sanford Street, counting the Farmers' house, there are six bouses, four of them containing two rooms each, occupied entirely by primary grades. It seems to me unadvisa-
173
ANNUAL REPORT.
ble to build any more small houses for the present. For the relief of Sanford Street, and for the better accommodation of the pupils a four-room house, for the use of higher grades than now attend east of the railroad should be built. If we are to look forward and consider the probable needs of the Town for the next five years it would serve the interests of economy better to build a six-room building.
Considering where it would be located, the increasing im- portance of the Town. and the greater immunity from loss by fire. this house should be built of brick, and in its architectural design, its provisions for heating and ventilation and other sanitary matters it should be so wisely planned as to be a eredit to the Town and the time in which it is built.
The enlargement of the Briggs Corner house was most timely. The school has so increased that the present number of pupils could not possibly be accommodated in the old house. I hope the day is not far distant when it will be fully equipped with modern furniture. I hope, also, that the time for certain other improvements is not far distant. I refer to the grading and beautifying of our school grounds. The condition of the Sanford Street lot is far from worthy a Town possessing the enterprise and wealth of _Attleboro.
A STEP FORWARD.
The introduction of the department of Physical Culture into our school system, and the employment of a competent
174
ANNUAL REPORT.
and well trained teacher to supervise it is one of the wisest acts of the year. In this work there should be no retreat. In many places the plan is followed of employing a special teacher for this department for two or three years till the teachers are regularly trained and then to intermit the training by a special teacher for awhile.
As we have never before had the benefit of the work of a specialist in this department a great majority of our teachers were lacking the knowledge to enable them to take up the work systematically.
Miss Mabel L. Cummings, whom you have selected to take charge of this department, is a teacher of recognized ability. She was selected to take charge of the department of Physical Culture in the Summer School conducted by the State authorities at Hyannis, last year, and is at present employed by the city of Cambridge in its public schools. It gives me pleasure to testify to her enthusiasm, tact, and energy in her work and to the readiness of the teachers to accept her lead- ership and to co-operate with her heartily to secure success in this special department.
I considered one of the chief benefits that would result from its introduction would be the great help it would give the teachers in the matter of discipline. I have watched its pro- gress closely and in many instances the benefits resulting from its introduction are plainly apparent. In other instances pro- gress is making surely but more slowly. Its operations in the
175
ANNUAL REPORT.
schools as a whole was somewhat retarded by the many changes of teachers at the beginning of the fall term.
While the teacher is not expected nor required to exercise that exacting discipline that is characteristic of military cus- toms, still, it seems to me proper that in the few minutes that pupils are called upon. daily, to go through the evolutions ro- quired that as great exactness in regard to movement and time should be demanded and secured as is expected from a company of soldiers of parade. And if any teacher is con- scious of failing in this with all of her pupils should she not ask herself seriously if she has secured the proper control over her pupils ? I do not include schools of the three lowest grades in which certain childish games and less formal exercises are required.
I would recommend every teacher who feels that she is not accomplishing all she would wish in this respect to discuss the matter frankly and frequently with the supervisor of the work, who can render her great help by advice and suggestions which her extensive training and experience can furnish.
CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
I said of the High School last year, " It is gratifying to note its steady and constaut improvement, during the year, in its discipline and scholarship." The same is even more clearly correct of it during the year just closed. Its further remove from certain demoralizing influences of the past, the harmony
176
ANNUAL REPORT.
between Principal and his assistants, the closer acquaintance of Principal and pupils, the retention of its Submaster, who had become fully acquainted with the school and its needs, and the judicious selection of teachers to fill the vacancies, have all contributed to help the Principal in his administration of the affairs of the school.
It is a long time since the discipline and work of the school have been so good as at present. I still recommend more rigid requirements for admission to it. It would be much better for the High School itself and for some who are admitted to it if they were retained in the grammar school another year. We have no voice in deciding the amount of work that must be done in the college preparatory course. The colleges decide upon the amount and quality of this work. All who enter and take the classical course-and wisely, I think. all who euter are required to take it -- for the first year, at least. must do the stune work in Latin and modern languages. or we must greatly increase the teaching force.
Of late years so many of our pupils have gone from the High School to a more advanced course that the High School bas taken an advanced position, and the requirements of this class must largely control the rank of the school. It is highly gratifying that so many who go from our school carry with them the unmistakable evidence of having received a good preparation. It is safe to infor that whoever goes without
177
ANNUAL REPORT.
this preparation cannot justly charge it to the fault of the school.
When the course of the elementary schools was reduced from nine years to eight, some years ago, it was not considered by those who advocated the change that all who completed the course would be fitted to enter the High. The change was made, partly, to give those who could and would do the work well enough. to save a year; but it has come to this, that parents demand that they children who stay in the elementary grades eight years, whether they are- fitted or not. shall enter the High. There is a remeily. The law distinctly says that the School Committee shall decide where pupils shall attend schoo !.
The Grammar school sustained the loss of two efficient teachers. The wisdou exercised in the choice of their succes- sors is shown by the fact that under the direction of its present Principal and assistants its work has advanced quietly, smooth- ly and prosperonly. It cannot. and ought not to be expected to fit all who complete its course. as far as time is concerned. for the High School. It cannot make brains. It is doing all that can reasonably be expected to develop and promote the growth of brain power.
:As we review the schools down through the intermediate and primary grades, and call to mind the many changes, the result of promotions, transfers and employing new teachers. it is gratifying to feel that no backward step has been taken that has caused more than temporary injury.
12
17.
ANNUAL REPORT.
I feel it my duty to assert again that the most important duty that devolves upon school officials is the selection of suit- able teachers to fill vacancies. We cannot afford to place in charge of any of our important school teachers who do not possess the proper natural ability, adequate preparation and successful experience.
The most important events of the year are the building of the Pleasant street house and the opening of the two schools there. In the closing of the old Pleasant street house and the transfer of its teacher of proved ability. and in the selection of a teacher for the lower grade school. no mistake has been made. We have two fine schools there. The lower grade. consisting of the first and second primary grades, has had an average of fifty pupils. To teach such a school properly is more than one teacher can do. However. I doubt if better results could be secured by furnishing an assistant. The proper remedy for the difficulty is reducing the school to a proper number for one teacher. As a new company of httle ones may seek admission at the beginning of the spring term. an additional teacher may be required.
I have only praise for the Kindergarten at Hebronville in respect to its conduct and the result of its work. The teacher of the primary school to which the children go from the Kill- dergarten testifies to the greater ability acquired by the little ones who have enjoyed its training than is generally gained in
179
ANNUAL REPORT.
the first year of a primary school. I repeat my views of last year in substance by saying : If the town should build a new four-room schoolhouse on the east side of the railroad this year, as I think it ought. a kindergarten should be opened in one of its rooms and another in the lower room of the academy build- ing on Sanford street. And when Dodgeville gets the new house it needs, deserves and ought to have, it can enjoy equal privileges with Hebronville.
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
Superintendents and grammar school principals of cities suburban to Boston have looked through our schools and taken away the usual number of our good teachers. The number of changes in consequence of resignations and promotions is fully up to the average. Without taking the space to speak of all these changes in detail. I must speak of four teachers, the benefit of whose efficient and faithful services it has been the good fortune of the town to retain for a number of years. I refer to Miss Helen W. Metcalf of the High School, Mr. Her- bert E. Walker and Miss Nellie E. Briggs of the Grammar School and Miss Mary A. Stephenson of the Dodgeville school. I should fail in politeness did I not express my appreciation of the services of these, and my congratulations on their advance- ment.
Miss Metcalf and Miss Stephenson have positions in the city of Cambridge. Miss Briggs in Somerville, and Mr. Walker
180
ANNUAL REPORT.
was called to the principalship of an endowed academy in his own town of Duxbury.
As in the progress of the world the lamentation " The King is dead!" and the salutation "Long live the King!" must go out on the same breath, so the schools must go on, and we must do our best to fill the places made vacant. This is one of the most important and one of the most difficult duties that devolve upon the school officials. Had we more money at our disposal so that we could compete with other large places in eastern Massachusetts it would not be so difficult. If, as the result of good fortune rather than the offer of adequate pay, we have succeeded in filling vacancies satisfactorily, the incumbents of those positions remain with us but a short time. as they are apt to be called to positions which offer better pay.
Never have we spent so much time and effort to secure the right teachers to fill these vacancies, and never have these efforts secured better results. We have been fortunate in the selection of Miss E. Florence Eaton as first assistant in the High School, of Mr. Henry W. Hall and Miss Annie L. Good- rich to succeed Mr. Walker and Miss Briggs in the Grammar School, and Miss Alberta M. Harold to succeed Miss Stephen- son at Dodgeville. Miss Edith M. Larrabee, who served us very efficiently as teacher of modern languages in the High School. was compelled to resign at the end of the year on account of impaired health, and Miss Luella M. Allen was
181
ANNUAL REPORT.
elected to fill the vacancy. We were none the less fortunate in filling this vacancy than in the other named instances.
It has been highly gratifying to see the increased interest shown by all the teachers in the common subjects they are called upon to teach, and the greatly increased study they have devoted to some of these. Owing to the operations of our navy and army during the past summer, an increased interest has been felt by all, whether connected with the schools or not, in the subject of geography.
Early in the fall term a teachers' meeting was held at which the Superintendent expressed his purpose to discuss with the teachers one or two of the most important studies of the schoools. The choice was left with the teachers, and they almost unanimously selected geography. As our country made conquests in the Torrid Zone, and in longitude opposite to that of the United States, new questions naturally presented themselves, and some of these were assigned to different teachers who willingly accepted the work of preparing to dis- cuss them at subsequent meetings. As a result of this move- ment a series of interesting and instructive meetings was held, and so well did the teachers do their part that great interest was awakened and a renewed zeal in the subject of geography. Many of the teachers have expressed themselves as having been greatly benefited by these researches and discussions, and it must follow that the pupils under their charge have been benefited as well.
182
ANNUAL REPORT.
The school laws were extensively amended by the legisl :- ture of last year. That the public may have an opportunity to become better acquainted with these. I quote some of the most important :
SEC. 11. No child who has not been duly vaccinated shall be admitted to a public school except npon presentation of a certificate signed by a regular practising physician that such child is an unfit subject for vaccination. No child who is a member of a household in which a person is sick with smallpox. diphtheria. scarlet fever or measles, or of a house- hold exposed to contagion from a household as aforesaid. shall attend any public school during such sickness or until the teacher * of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health of the town or city, or from the attending physician of such sick person, stating in a case of smallpox. diphtheria or scarlet fever, that a period of at least two weeks, and in a case of measles a period of at least three days. has elapsed since the recovery, removal or death of such person, and that danger of the conveying of such disease by sneh child has passed.
SEc. 12. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall attend some public day school in the town or city in which he resides during the entire time the public day schools are in session, subject to such exceptions as to children, places
" By vote of the School Board the Superintendent receives these notices and issues directions to the teachers.
183
ANNUAL REPORT.
of attendance and schools as are provided for in sections three, seven, ten and eleven of this act : PROVIDED. that the superin- tendent of schools or. where there is no superintendent of schools, the school committee, or teachers acting under anthor- ity of said superintendent of schools or school committee, may excuse cases of necessary absence ; and PROVIDED. FURTHER. that the attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such town or city in accordance with section two of chapter four Inmdred and ninety-eight of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-four, or if such child has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools. or has already acquired the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable. Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall canse such child to attend school as required by this section.
SEc. 21. Every habitual truant, that is, every child be- tween seven and fourteen years of age who wilfully and habitually absents himself from school contrary to the provi- sios of sections twelve of this act, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be' committed, if a boy. to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two
194
ANNUAL REPORT.
years, and if a girl. to the state industrial school for girls. unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
SHO. 25. Every habitual absentee. that is every child between seven and sixteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets or public places or any town or yity of the Commonwealth, having no lawful occupation. habit- wally not attending school. and growing up in idleness and ignorance, upon complaint by a truant officer of any other person. and conviction thereof. may be committed. if a boy, at the discretion the court. to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys. and. if a girl. to the state industrial school for girls .. unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty- eight of this act.
SH. 26. Every habitual school offender, that is. every (Libi under fourteen years of age who persistently violates the easmjable regulations of the school which he attends. or other- wie persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom. upon complaint by a truant office !. and conviction thereof. may be committed, if a boy. at the discretion of the court. to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years. or to the Lyman school for boys. and. if a girl. to the state industrial school for girls. unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
185
ANNUAL REPORT.
SEC. 31. Any person having under his control a child between seven and fourteen years of age who fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six monthis while under such contrel, to cause such child to attend school as required by section twelve of this act, the physical or mental condition of such child not being such as to render his attendance at school harmful or impracticable, upon com- plaint of a truant officer, and conviction thereof, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Any person who induces or attempts to induce any child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors while school is in session any child absent unlawfully from school, shall for- feit and pay a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
By the same enactment the authority of the truant officers is greatly increased, and they are directly charged to enforce these laws.
To the members of the school committee, teachers, and all who have co-operated to promote the best interests of our schools the thanks of your Superintendent are cordially given.
J. O. TIFFANY,
Superintendent of Schools.
Attleboro. Mass.,
Jan. 23, 1899.
136
ANNUAL REPORT.
REPORT OF THE INSTRUCTOR IN DRAWING.
MR. J. O. TireANY. Superintendent of Schools. DEAR SIR :
Michael Angello in one of his sonnets says :
" But in every block of marble I see a statute - see it as distinctly As if it stooa before shaped and perfect. In attitude and action-I have only to hew Away the stone walls that imprison The lovely apparition. and reveal it To other minds as I already see it."
With the same belief art teachers throughout the country have been endeavoring to "hew away the stone" and reveal the sensitive love of beauty which to greater or less extent is found in every child.
It has been a problem how best to develop an intelligent appreciation of nature and art. Environment is doubtless strong in its influence. " But what we get from nature or art depends upon what we bring to them."
Therefore one of the important studies in this department the past year has been the study of reproductions of the best works of art-together with talks upon the lives of the artists.
Thanks to the generosity of the Trustees of the Richard- son School Fund, the pictures which the children bought for their individual school room have been framed and placed upon the walls where they will greatly assist in this line of study.
187
ANNUAL REPORT.
There are twenty-five pictures in all-excellent copies of the works of representative artists.
An exhibition of the work by the pupils was shown in the High School Building December 16 and 17, which showed a marked improvement in quality and interest over the work ex- hibited two years ago.
The High School has shown a decided change for the bet- ter in regard to enthusiasm and ability for the work and we hope that each succeeding class that enters that school will preserve the present standard, if not exceed it.
Such results as have been attained in this department are due entirely to the intelligent and appreciative work by the teachers whom I have always found ready to forward any plans.
Respectfully submitted,
DOROTHY G. RICE.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC.
MR. J. O. TIFFANY, Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR :
In accordance with the usual custom, I submit the follow- ing report of the Department of Music.
The music from the primary through all the other grades has been very creditable.
It is certainly gratifying to see so much interest mani- fested by both teachers and pupils.
188
ANNUAL REPORT.
A few of the schools have not, until recently, been sup- plied with books, but now the work in those schools is great- ly improved, and made much clearer for all.
It is hard for a good workman to work without the proper tools. so also is it hard to teach music without the proper materials.
New charts have been placed in our primary rooms, thus aiding us greatly in our work there.
Some of the semi-graded schools have used the same books for such a length of time, that I have resorted to the use of ยทยท Coda " for a change, and a new interest has been created in the pupils.
In the Grammar and High Schools I have also used the '. C'oda " to some extent.
By its use we get a variety and a very good class of music.
Since the opening of school in September, I have had a system of marking each room every week, and the children take great pride in preparing their lessons that they may obtain the excellent mark.
With but few exceptions my plan of study has been car- ried out and the results have been satisfactory.
I would heartily thank all who have aided me in my work
Yours very respectfully. LAURA S. ROBINSON, Director of Music
189
ANNUAL REPORT.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL CULTURE.
MR. J. O. TIFFANY, Superintendent of Schools.
DEAR SIR :
I beg leave to submit the following report.
Instruction in gymnastics was begun under my supervision in the Attleboro Public Schools on January 13 of the current year, when the Ling or Swedish system was introduced into all grades above the first primary. At the same time was begun the instruction of the teachers, in the first of eleven weekly meetings held during that term. Each meeting consisted of one half hour's instruction in the theory of gymnasties and one half hour's practical drill in gymnastic exercises. Since that time fifteen minutes of gynmastic work have been conducted daily in each room by the regular teacher, and a visit of fifteen minutes has been made by the supervisor, once in two weeks to each room of the centrally located sehools, and once a month to those of the more outlying schools.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.