USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1899 > Part 7
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
The aim of the committee is to provide the best instruc- tion which it is possible to secure. When vacancies occur the desire is to fill them with trained teachers, men and women who have prepared themselves as carefully for the work of teaching as does the lawyer for his work. the artist for his task.
This is not the time to place a premium upon inefficiency. nor is this the day when we should encourage the idea that teaching is something which is easily learned; that anybody ought to be able to teach the little folks to read and to spell.
We must demand the best, the most broadly educated. the most carefully trained teachers. Let the Attleborough standard be exalted, so that any teacher will regard it as an honor to serve in her educational army. This can be done. It ought to be done. Let every citizen in Attleborough say : " It shall be done !"
SUGGESTIONS.
The kindergarten at Hebronville has justified itself. Dodgeville will shortly be cared for as well ; and the day ought soon to come when we shall establish the kindergarten at the centre of the town. The kindergarten is not an experi-
165
ANNUAL REPORT.
ment; it is an established fact, and contributes a most salu- tary influence in the process of right, intellectual development.
Again, our course of study should be enriched and made more elastic. Especially is this to be urged relative to the Grammar and High Schools. At present only the brightest pupils are adequately prepared by the Grammar School to enter upon the work of the High School.
Another year should be devoted to the preparatory work. By this means those who enter the High School would be better equipped for that work, while those who leave school upon graduation from the Grammar School would be kept from the bustle of commercial life one year longer, and would be correspondingly better prepared to assume its responsibilities.
Moreover, our course of study should be sufficiently elastic to allow those who can advance rapidly to do so; this without unduly emphasizing the fact of the advance, and without dis- couraging those who must progress more slowly.
The High School course is especially in need of change. It is altogether wrong to insist that all pupils shall be shaped by the same influences and run in the same mould. It is a mistake to quench a boy's enthusiasm by requiring him to study Latin, when that enthusiasm might be kept aglow by the work offered by a broad English course of study. The classics have their rightful place and legitimate use, but a rich culture is by no means dependant upon familiar acqaintance with them.
We must provide an inviting English and business course of study for our High School. This will promise our manu- facturers a better order of service, and our town a finer quality of citizenship.
REPAIRS.
A glance at the incidental and repair account will suggest that unexpected work has been done. But nothing has been
166
ANNUAL REPORT.
attempted except what appeared imperative.
The long-felt need for better laboratory equipment at the High School has been supplied.
The school house at the Farmers has been thoroughly re- paired. This work included shingling, new seats, raising the building to provide for modern heating apparatus, and a new recitation room, which enabled us to employ an assistant teacher. thereby relieving the over-crowded conditions at Sanford street, and enabling fourth grade pupils to attend school near their homes.
The coming year must witness attention to the exterior of our school buildings. Many of them must be painted. The conditions at the City call for increased school accommoda- tions, and in some of the schools the interests of pupil and teacher alike demand such arrangements as will assure a fair amount of fresh air.
INCREASED EXPENDITURES.
It will be observed that the committee asks for a larger appropriation than hitherto. This is to be regarded not as evidence of extravagance, but simply one of the results of growthi. So long as our town continues to grow, then so long we shall be obliged to expend increasing sums for our schools.
We must provide a place for the pupils ; new books must be secured in increasing numbers ; school houses must be kept in repair, and sufficient teachers employed to care for the pupils for whose education we are responsible.
NEW BUILDING AT DODGEVILLE.
The demand for a new school house at Dodgeville has long been recognized as legit mate. By vote of the citizens at the last Annual Town Meeting money was appropriated for that purpose. The work was begun at an early day, but has been delayed for various reasons.
167
ANNUAL REPORT.
The committee feel confident that the building will be completed within a short time, and will merit and receive the gratitude of those who will be served by it, and the commenda- tion of all the citizens of our town.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
In addition to the needs already cited, the committee would urge one more thing which is vitally important to the efficiency of our schools.
Attention has heretofore been called to the ultimate necessity of increased school accommodations on the east side of the railroad. The work ought not be longer delayed. We need that school house to-day. The committee has carefully considered the situation. We do not advocate the policy of multiplying the number of small school buildings, but would urge the necessity of a building adequate for future needs as well as present necessities.
We recommend that the present Pine street building be moved to the Tinkham lot now owned by the Town, and that an eight room brick building be erected on the present site of the Pine street school, and for this purpose we recommend that a sum of money not less than $25,000 be appropriated.
The committee recommend the following appropriations for the ensuing year :
Educational, $30,000 and dog fund.
Incidental, repairs, and truant officers, $3,700 00 Text books and supplies, 2,800 00
168
ANNUAL REPORT.
Superintendent and clerk, £1,800 00
Transportation.
1.550 00
$39.850 00
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES E. BLISS. ORVILLE P. RICHARDSON. LEONORA P. BEERS. WILLIAM H. GARNER, HARRY P. KENT. BENJAMIN P. KING. DR. L. V. G. MACKIE, A. FRANCIS WALCH. J. HARRY HOLDEN.
169
ANNUAL REPORT.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF ATTLEBOROUGHI :
I have the honor to submit the seventeenth annual report of the Superintendent of Schools. If it is short, it therein corresponds with my term of service. It seems appropriate for me to confine my observations to those facts which concern the schools most fundamentally.
TABLE SHOWING THE RECENT GROWTH OF THE SCHOOLS.
Enrol- ment.
Member- ship.
Attend- ance.
No. of No. of Schools. Teachers.
New Houses.
Room Gained.
1894
1,674
1,260
1,134
27
40
Carpenter.
2
1895,
1,792
1,368
1,257
29
42
Turner.
2
1896,
1,917
1,567
1,439
35
44
Capron.
2
1897,
2,028
1,532
1,4II
$3
49
1898.
2,145
1,607
1,490
36
52
Pleasant.
I
1898-9*
2,132
1,646
1,491
36
53
1899-Fall,
1,989
1,768
1,606
36
57
Dodgeville.
I
* School year, September-July, to conform to new statistical requirements of the State.
TABLE SHOWING THE CONDITION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL DURING SAME TIME.
1 894.
1895.
1896.
1897.
1898.
1898-9.
1899-Fall.
Enrolled,
118
120
I28
IIO
109
I26
I26
Membership,
I12
115
118
107
107
114
119
Attendance,
105
108
II3
103
IOI
109
114
TABLE SHOWING THE AVERAGE AGES OF PUPILS BY GRADES IN
SEPTEMBER.
Kindergarten,
5 years 9 months.
First, .
6
II
Seventh,
12 years 11 months.
Second,
8
5
Eighth,
Freshman,
14
5
Fourth,
9
I Sophomore,
15
9
Fifth,
2
Junior,
16
4
Sixth,
12
3
Senior,
17
4
13
5
Third,
9
I respectfully invite your attention to the following adverse
170
ANNUAL REPORT.
conditions affecting the schools, some of which the accom- panying tables may help to make clear :
The serious overcrowding of the schools. The comparative stagnation of the High School.
The late start of children in the first primary.
The disproportionate number of assistant teachers, and The congested Grammar School curriculum.
If the Town takes care of the first, and votes to give the schools more room, the other difficulties can be handled. The large schools can be divided. kindergartens can be started at certain points, a higher qualification for teachers demanded, the Grammar School course lengthened, and better prepared students sent to the High School. The need of more room is indeed fundamental.
THE NEED OF MORE SCHOOL ROOM.
The situation more in detail is this : Every part of the town shows a growth during the last six years, as will be seen from this table, showing the increase of average membership :
New rooms New rooms
1894.
1899.
Gain.
added.
needed.
Attleborough,
921
1,250
3.29
5
8
Dodgeville,
100
128
28
1*
-
Hebronville,
94
157
63
-
1
S. Attleborough,
56
99
43
-
1
Rural,
99
134
35
2
-
Total,
1,260
1,768
508
8
10
* 2 including additions to old building.
The Hebronville and Dodgeville schools could combine on a grammar school, if the Town will grant transportation. This will save money and utilize room to the best advantage.
The City school has a large attic which can be finished into a good room with plenty of corridor and stair space.
171
ANNUAL REPORT.
This done, three teachers can do the work which now requires four.
In the center of the town the gain has been greatest. This table exhibits the gains since 1894, but before 1894 was there not room enough? Evidently not, since the two room building at Carpenter street had to be built that year. In order to care for the increase of 329 pupils since 1894, eight rooms of forty pupils each would be needed, and since but five were built, the shortage of two rooms in 1894 has increased to five rooms in 1899. These children are distributed through- out the various schools, nine of which are so crowded as to require assistant teachers, a teaching force large enough to equip a new grammar school. Before such a building can be completed we shall gain pupils enough to fill two rooms more- in 1899 we gained enough to fill three -- increasing our deficit to sevon rooms, which will be increased to eight, if the much needed year is added to the grammar school course.
An eight room building is the cheapest to build and the cheapest to run. If we were to wait several years to fill it, it would still be economy to build it rather than a smaller one, but it is evident that we shall not need to wait.
THE CONDITION OF THE FIRST PRIMARIES.
Notice the average ages of children upon entering the first primaries. They are supposed to enter at five, but the average is nearly seven, the next year it is over eight, the next nine and so on, showing that a large proportion of each class is being kept back at the start, and it never regains the lost time.
Immaturity, sickness, bad weather, long distances and poor teaching have caused it, and it is a plain duty to remove such of these causes as are under our control. Not one of these schools has as few as forty pupils, and, where the num- ber exceeds fifty, an untrained assistantis called in. So we have either a good teacher overwhelmed by numbers, or a
172
ANNUAL REPORT.
large proportion of the most difficult teaching entrusted to sheer beginners. That accounts for the failure in teaching. I fully respect the efforts of these teachers. The system. not the teachers, is chargeable with the poor results.
If the first year with its irregularities and immaturities could be spent wholly or in part in the Kindergarten. and the first primaries limited to forty children under the best teachers procurable. everything possible would have been done to obviate the present disproportionate lorses in this grade, and the schools could render the public vastly better service.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Now look at the High School. During the last few years while the other schools have gained fifty per cent .. it has stood still. The family necessities which send children early into the shops are not responsible for this. The chief cause is that the pupils lose interest in their studies, and gladly drop out. Many have been hurried in their preparation in the in the grammar school. and are unequal to the demands of the higher work. while others fail to feel the practical advantages of the studies they are pursuing. Granted a good preparation. the best high school course is one that gives sufficient variety in subjects to enable each pupil to study along the line of his natural tastes. Our course must be broadened by the intro- duction of new subjects. especially of a practical commercial character, and by a freer system of electives. A slight in- crease in the appropriation will be needed. but no business man foreseeing an increasing of fifty per cent. in his business would hesitate to enlarge ten per cent.
The experience of many places shows that whenever the courses having a present and practical value, in contrast to a theoretical and classic value, have been established. a great in- crease in the school is the result, indicating that its usefulness has been greatly extended. It is our duty to maintain a
173
ANNUAL REFORT.
school which serves all classes in Town equally well, and the enlargement I propose is entirely in the interest of the people whose needs have not been fully met heretofore.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The Grammar School presents an interesting study. Here are four rooms seating about seventy-five pupils each. A high state of tension is a natural result. To hold such large schools under proper restraint encourages repression at the ex pense of expression and spontaneity. The life of the schools becomes very mechanical. Then, too, there is another sort of tension resulting from the effort to master long courses from hard text-books in a short time. We need to send out some of these pupils to another building, and also to allow more time for doing the work. A ninth grade will give us an appor- tunity also to diversify the studies here, to meet the tastes, training and ambitions of the pupils, and to prepare them bet- ter for both the spirit and the matter of their future high school work.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
As I hinted before, these comments are not intended as strictures on the past conduct of the schools. The liberality of the town has been wisely directed, and each year has been marked by evidences of progress. In the natural course of events these subjects now come up for consideration, and settlement must not be deferred.
I recommend for the improvement of school accommoda- tions :
An eight room building east of the railroad.
Free transportation between Dodgeville and Hebronville, and a Union Grammar School for the two villages. A new room for the City School.
174
ANNUAL REPORT.
I recommend for the improvement of school advantages :
The opening of kindergartens to children under five at Dodgeville and Hebronville.
The addition of a year to the Grammar School course. The addition to the High School of a commercial course with the necessary teacher and equipment.
STUDIES.
Respecting the work of instruction something should be said. When the sequence of studies and their general method of treatment has been more fully defined, the teaching will improve. It will take time to do this fully for all subjects, but a small beginning has been made. The grades which lacked suitable history readers have been supplied, and now there is a chance for pupils to read a little of history each year. Much additional material in arithmetic was provided with the opening of the winter term, and the course of study will be remodeled somewhat. The geography will receive next attention. I shall inaugurate no changes except as a result of careful examination of the previous condition of our schools, and of the success of different plans in other places. I have already made several trips out of town for this purpose.
For detailed accounts of the several schools, I take pleasure in referring you to the reports of the principals, special teachers and other officers, which follow :
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
MR. W. P. KELLY, Superintendent of Schools :
Since my connection with the Attleborough High School has been too short for a mature study of existing conditions and needs, I shall confine my report to a brief statement of the condition of the school and one very urgent recommendation.
More or less confusion must necessarily arise when new
175
ANNUAL REPORT.
teachers come into a school, so in beginning the work of the year it was my aim to follow as closely as possible the lines of work laid down by the last principal without suggesting changes in methods or work. Some difficulty was experienced in adjusting the work of the sophomore class, as a considerable proportion had last year dropped some regular studies and assumed others. Our teaching force not being large enough to carry these pupils along as a separate class, and as it seemed unwise to keep them all back in the freshman class, it was arranged to continue most of these in the sophomore class and allow them to take up one freshman study which was omitted last year. To do this it was necessary for them to drop a regular sophomore study, so tliese pupils are one year behind their class in one subject, Several others in the school are found in the same condition for various reasons.
To suggest a remedy for this state of affairs would involve a plea for longer and more careful preparation for High School work, and a more liberal course of study in the High School branches.
During the summer vacation, some much needed improve- ments were made in the laboratory under the direction of Mr. Warren of the department of science.
The recent purchase of a Remington typewriter for use in the superintendent's office has made it possible to give some instruction and practice in this branch to two pupils in the senior class in connection with their work in commercial arithmetic and bookkeeping.
One thing which demands and is to receive early attention is the necessity of a well balanced, practical course of study. A temporary plan of work has been in use for the last two years, but the general sentiment of the school committee, teachers and patrons of the school seem to favor some changes in this, and an authorized course should be put into the hands of every pupil.
176
ANNUAL REPORT.
It is desired to offer some choice of subjects to first year pupils instead of requiring all to take the same course on entering the school as at present. To make this possible, and to offer more work in physics and chemistry it is necessary that another teacher be added to the present force next year. I know the objection will be raised by some that the number of teachers this year has been increased from four to five, but I find that two years ago five teachers were employed in the High School. so this year the old number has simply been restored.
As classes numbering nearly sixty are now coming into the school yearly. each class has to be divided. This year both the sophomore and freshman classes recite in two divisions. so we have practically thirty-two classes : and with the prospect of an unusually large entering class next year, it will be impossible to do satisfactory work without the aid of another instructor.
One teacher should have charge of all the English. A few years ago. English in the High School was perhaps the most slighted of all the subjects taught. But times have changed. and to-day the study of the English language and literature is made very prominent. as it should be.
To get the best results from any study which is continued for a course of years. there should be uniformity in the methods of teaching and arrangment of the work from year to year.
As we are situated this year, we are obliged to parcel out our English classes and put them into the hands of teachers who have fitted themselves particularly for other lines of work.
With English in charge of one person. we can give to another Latin, to another science, to another mathematics, etc .. thus taking a long stride toward specialization in our departments of teaching .
177
ANNUAL REPORT.
Attleboro is a growing and progressive town in a business way, and in the matter of improvements why should we not keep pace with this growth in the progress of our schools? Every year should be marked by some distinct advance,
It may be said that our recitation rooms will not accom- modate another teacher. This is true, but the library can be utilized to some extent for a year or two, as during that time we shall have a number of small classes in some subjects. At the end of that time the problem of larger accommodations will in all probability be the absorbing one,
In view of the needs thus outlined. I very earnestly. request that the committee give this matter their immediate attention in making recommendations for the appropriation of money for school purposes for the year ensuing.
Respectfully,
WILBUR D. GILPATRIC.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SANFORD STREET SCHOOLS.
MR. WILLIAM P. KELLY, Superintendent of Schools :
In presenting the annual report of the principal of the Sanford street schools, I have first to thank you for your courtesy and helpfulness ; and, second, to express my ap- preciation of the uniform kindness and consideration that has been shown me by the teachers. I wish also to express my appreciation of many kindnesses on the part of the pupils.
The number of scholars in attendance is very large, so that the rooms are all full, and in several the number of pupils registered has exceeded the seating capacity.
The per cent. of attendance has fallen a little below the average for the first term, largely because of illness. I am constrained to believe that some of the illness is due to the
178
ANNUAL REPORT.
fact that the rooms are poorly lighted. With seventy-four pupils in a room, light on one side only, and a cloudy after- noon, it is almost impossible for some to see at all, while the majority are under a severe strain, which results in headache and general lassitude. In this connection I would recommend that every possible measure be taken to avoid the use of blackboards in such a way as to compel children to read writing at long distances in a poor light and at an acute angle.
In taking up the work I felt very much the need of a systematic and clearly defined outline of the work to be done in the schools. This want is felt by the teachers generally. The course of study for the grades needs to be revised some- what, and to be put into definite form in order to secure uni- formity in the work, and insure co-operation on the part of the teachers.
In order to fit the pupils of the eighth grade for the High School some changes are needed. Either the requirements should be less, or more time should be given. The former is impracticable. Therefore, the latter is necessary. Another year is needed somewhere, either at the end of the Grammar School course or at the beginning of the High School course. With eight grades, bookkeeping should be omitted from the Grammar School course and taught in the High School, but with nine grades it might be retained with added work in arithmetic and algebra. Civics should certainly be intro- duced and a little time given for nature study in the form of elementary physics and chemistry. These subjects are recom- mended with especial reference to those who do not enter the High School.
Permit me to suggest also that there is a need of greater uniformity in methods of teaching, so far as it can be done without interfering with the individuality of the teacher. The pupils pass from teacher to teacher, and converge, as they
179
ANNUAL REPORT.
advance from the lower grades to the higher, and it would be to the advantage of both pupils and teacher to have the uniformity of a system from the lowest grades to the highest.
The few visits of parents and patrons have been very welcome. More are desired.
The departmental plan of work is carried on in part in grades VII. and VIII., as heretofore, with gratifying results. This method should be carefully considered in connection with any future plans for the conduct of the school.
Respectfully, S. C. HUTCHINSON.
REPORT OF HEBRON GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
MR. WILLIAM P. KELLY. Superintendent of Schools :
I submit the following as my fourth annual report :
There have been enrolled during the present term 209 pupils, the membership is 178 pupils, and the average mem- bership, for the month of November is 158 pupils. This is the largest number ever recorded.
The growth at the beginning of the fall term was such that the first primary grade was relieved by the removal of Grade II to Miss Walker's room, thus necessitating the trans- fer of Grade IV to the grammar room.
To lighten the work there, the principal was given an assistant.
Mrs. Evangeline M. Merritt, who organized the Kinder- garten, and who had a strong hold on the confidence of the parents, found it necessary to discontinue teaching, and her place was filled by Miss Kathrina S. Thayer, who gives promise of carrying on the good work.
The committee have purchased a piano for the use of the school, a flag, reslated the blackboards, shingled the school-
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.