USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1900 > Part 8
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The fact that each year some of our best teachers leave us, either for a larger salary, or for what seems to be a richer educational atmosphere, suggests two oppor- tunities for our Town:
I. So soon as possible we should raise the scale of our teachers' wages.
2. As rapidly as is consistent with good progress, we should raise the standard of our educational work.
It is entirely within the bounds of reason for us to make for ourselves such a place in the educational world that superior teachers will esteem it a privilege and an honor to be invited to a place upon our teaching force. This is not fancy. It is entirely a reasonable supposition.
We should be satisfied with nothing else.
Your Committee are working for such a position. To that end we have established a standard to which candidates for positions in our schools must conform.
In May, 1900, the Committee adopted the following recommendation of Superintendent Kelly :
"The minimum qualification for those applying for positions on our teaching force shall be :
"I. High School Course.
"2. A Normal training, or an equivalent in college,
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or experience in teaching."
We do not hesitate to say that not every educated person is capable of teaching school. The fact that Jane Smith was born in town, has received the advantages of our schools, and wishes to try to teach, is no reason whatever why she should be allowed to test her powers of instruction in our schools.
Responsible positions in our shops are not thus filled. A man is first asked if he knows how to do the work required.
We do not give a man a chance to practise om our sick children simply because he wants to see if he can cure sick people. We ask that the man first prepare himself, at least theoretically, for such a task.
There is no reason why the position of teacher should be considered one to which a person is entitled by right of birth. The position is one of great respon- sibility. Its opportunities are almost without limit. A poor teacher is bound to do a great deal of damage. A good teacher. a person whose heart as well as head has been educated, will do a vast amount of good.
Let us get through with the nonsense that our Town ought to give its boys and girls a chance to see if they can teach.
Let us insist that, if they wish to teach, they shall first equip themselves for the work of teaching.
The application of a few simple, practical rules of business to this matter is all that is necessary.
Teaching is one of the learned professions, and re- quires not only theoretical knowledge of methods, but also skill and good sense in their use. To teach is a privilege. A person ought to regard it as necessary to get ready to teach, as it is to get ready to practise law or to make teeth.
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THE RICHARDSON SCHOOL.
The opportunity has been presented for our Town to honor the memory of one to whom the educational interests of the Town were very dear, and who made provisions for serving those interests perpetually.
Your Committee recognized this and suggested to the committee having in charge the construction of the new eight-room building that it be named the "Abiathar A. Richardson School," the name to apply to both build- ings on the Pine and Pearl street lot.
The suggestion was cordially received and adopted. Therefore this school is to be thus known.
This new school offers us also an opportunity to improve the teaching in our Town.
The work of supervision is becoming yearly more urgent. To supervise the work of our schools to-day is quite a different matter from what it was when we employed only two-thirds the number of teachers, and were instructing only two-thirds our present number of pupils.
We therefore propose to place in charge of the Richardson School a person who shall be the supervising principal.
As such, this principal shall know what is being done in all the grades of the school; shall seek to unify its work and spirit, and make for it a name as one of the model schools of Massachusetts. We believe that such a person, one who is able to do this work, can be found; and that the work which will be done is sure to commend itself to the good sense and wisdom of our citizens.
The school thus administered will afford an oppor- tunity for some of the work of a training school. Pos- sibly two Normal School graduates will find here an
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opportunity to apply their theories, thereby either prov- ing their efficiency or establishing the fact that God never intended them to teach school.
We solicit the hearty co-operation of our citizens in this attempt to increase the efficiency of our schools, and to raise the educational standard of our Town.
CHANGES IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In September, 1900, A. Francis Walch resigned his position as a member of the School Committee. In obedience to the legal requirements under such condi- tions, a joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen and School Committee was held September 19, 1900, to choose a successor to Mr. Walch for the remainder of his un- expired term. Mr. Harold E. Sweet was unanimously elected to that position.
SUGGESTIONS.
Attention is especially urged to the following sug- gestions :
We are confronted each year by the small proportion of boys and girls who enter the High School, and by the further fact that a large number do not complete the work of the Grammar school.
This is not a wholesome condition. It reveals the fact that many parents regard their children simply as financial possibilities. Children are tested by the gold standard. "How soon will these boys and girls help support the family?"
When this is a necessity, the fact may be regretted, but cannot be censured. But in many other cases, chil- dren could be kept in school longer if the parents were willing; or if they insisted upon it; or, if the children could be stimulated by an ideal bearing some other in-
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signia than a gold dollar or a greenback.
But the fact that so many of our children do leave school without anything like an adequate educational fit for life, suggests that perhaps we are not doing all that we might do for our boys and girls.
Ought not our Town to think seriously of establish- ing a
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL?
We are learning that it is not necessary for all chil- dren to be trained exactly alike. A man may be thor- oughly educated if he does not possess an accurate knowledge of higher mathematics, of Greek, and of Latin.
The hands need training as well as the head. Edu- cation means the fullest development of the power which lies within the individual. Our Town is peculiarly adapted to the work which a Manual Training School would do. We ought soon to establish such, and equip it in the very best possible manner.
Not only would it appeal to many children who find the present High School uninteresting. but it would also serve the industry of our Town, by furnishing our manufacturers with educated boys and girls; those whose have been trained to accuracy and skill.
APPROPRIATIONS.
In making provision for the future, forecasting that future as well as we are able, it seems apparent that our educational interests will require the following amounts of money, viz. : Educational,
$33,000 00
Incidentals and repairs,
4,000 00
Text books and supplies, 3,300 00
Transportation, 1,600 00
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Superintendent and clerk, 2,100 00 50 00
Care of needy children,
We ask that such appropriations be made
Respectfully submitted,
‘ HARLES E. BI ISS,
' EONORA P. BEERS, HAROLD E. SWEET,
J. O. TIFFANY,
ORVILLE P. RICHARDSON,
W. H. GARNER, LAURA V. GUSTIN MACKIE.
BENJAMIN P. KING, J. HARRY HOLDEN.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Attleborough :-
I have the honor to submit the eighteenth annual report of the Superintendent of Schools, the second dur- ing my incumbency.
One year ago I called attention to several adverse conditions resulting from the lack of school room, and made six specific recommendations for their improve- ment, five of which have been adopted. The beneficent results of these changes are already felt in some in- stances.
The Kindergartens at Dodgeville and Hebronville are doing excellent work in bringing into an English speaking school, while yet under five years of age, the children who hear only a foreign language at home. Each Kindergarten has been large enough to require the services of an assistant.
The new room opened at the City School has now forty-five pupils in three grades, and the teachers in the
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other two rooms are be to dispense wolte their assis :-
The full benefits of the year added to the grammar school pourse could not be realized during the first year. The ninth grade class has been incorporated for the con- verdence into the High School, and its membership has been determined largely by experience The result is that the present freshman class contains only those who are well quelifed for their work, and the ninth grade is Going preparatory work of an advanced character
The High School which as my last report shomed has iod of stagnation is alreday beginning to feel
The enrolment shows e gain, and the
gaining in school better than they did las: rear. The Erst year of commercial course was opened in September with twonty students
When I recommended the construction of an eight room building I restored to predict that the gain in numbers during its construction would be sufficient to require two rooms of forty pupils each My latest record shows that simide that was written the gain in membersinp has been :30 pupils, or more than enough for three schools of that size. As the Richardson School
2 for occupancy, it is too early to speak
promoting the cEciency of the schools. bret cole can easily lemagine what a relief to the existing schools the withdrawal of over coo pupils will mean.
SCHOOL HOUSES
I: would seem almost impertinent to ask for more sebboo! room, and jer ome most speak in time, to avoid 2 repetitivo of the deplorable overcrowding which has been the liame od ome schools of late It was thought that the erection of che Richardson s boel would afford
09
the needed room for the grammar schools, as the Capron, Pleasant Street and Carpenter Street Schools relieved the primaries a few years before. But the increase in the primaries is demanding the entire first floor of this new building, and there will be no room in it for either an eighth or a ninth grade. This fact points definitely to two things. First, the advancing tide will soon reach and overwhelm our High School building, already full. Second the new primary buildings just re- ferred to, built originally to accommodate children near home during the first four years of school, must be en- larged, if they are still to serve that purpose. Each of the buildings originally accommodated four grades. At Carpenter Street the first and second grades now take all the room. The Pleasant Street and Capron Schools are cach so crowded now as to require an assistant teacher. The fourth grade has already been sent from the Capron School; before another year the third grade will also have to go from the Capron, and the fourth from the Pleasant Street School.
The Briggs Corner School has already outgrown the enlargements made a few years ago. There are now 58 pupils enrolled and the location of the Bristol County Railway power plant there will tend to increase this number. The present house is of the district school type and in consequence of its small size (19 ft.x28 ft.) re- quires the use of the old-fashioned double desks, of which there are 27, nominally seating 54 pupils. If a modern building of the recent type were erected, two rooms would be in demand at the start.
At Hebronville one school is very comfortably housed in temporary quarters. It will not be long before the present four room building must be converted into an eight room one.
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The school yards ought to be made as attractive as circumstances will permit. so as to stimulate the good taste of people, rather than to violate it. The admirable improvements at Sanford street were the means of awakening a great interest in the children, who have not only respected them, but have extended them by raising money enough to set out six ornamental shade trees and fifty-one shrubs. With a small additional appropria- tion. the rest of the front could be made into a lawn. and still leave an amiple playground.
TEACHERS.
When the new Richardson School opens. the number of assistant teachers will be reduced to a minimum. This, together with the present requirement of the School Committee that the special professional preparation must be made elsewhere. cannot fail to improve the schools. Thus, the system of apprenticing teachers passes away. Each teacher appointed since April has presented the following qualifications : First, a High School or academic course. Second. a Normal course or its full equivalent in college or successful experience in teaching.
The number of changes in the personnel has as usual been great. The following have resigned :
Luella M. Allen. Effie M. Hunter, Florence M. Meserve. Emily R. MeCrillis. Alice B. Fisher, Mary B. Bartlett. Ethel E. Cass. Grace M. Tuxbury, Etta M. Rounds. Ada M. Shaw. Esther E. Murphy, Abbie E. Carpenter, E. Maude Putnam, Margaret H. Powers,. The following Were transferred :
Mary E. Farnes. Bertha L. Mowry, Susan K. McIn- tyre, Florence M. Everett. Bertha E. Gibson, Retta M. Barrett.
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On leave of absence :
Annie A. McNerney.
The following teachers were appointed during the year :
Grace H. Chamberlain, Ethel C. Jameson, Blanche G. Fuller, E. Maude Putnam, Olive A. Swift, Annabelle L. Troupe, Addie M. Swain, Frances E. Donovan, Clara W. Hooper, Mabel E. Wetherbee, Abbey A. Kirmayer, Lelia M. Small, Nellie F. Atwood, Mary E. Farnes.
Four additional schools have been opened since Jan- uary, 1900, a grade has been added which has required another teacher, and we closed the year with 130 chil- dren more than we had at its beginning, yet we have added but two teachers and are getting better service than we had a year ago. The reason lies largely in the fact that we are now accepting none but trained teachers.
COURSE OF STUDY.
The entire course of study has been revised. The courses in Drawing and Physical Culture contain specific instructions for each lesson and have not been printed on account of their voluminous character; that in Music is issued in the form of weekly written directions, and that in Reading and Literature will require a separate pamphlet ; but all the rest have been printed and dis- tributed. Since we mean to keep our schools alive, we expect to outgrow this course. The great essential is to keep its requirements with their modifications definite- ly before the minds of the teachers. I am indebted to principals and teachers for constructive criticisms on it, and for their testimony as to its helpfulness.
The Principal of the High School has made clear in his report the distinctive characteristics of the course for that school, and the gratifying results attending its use.
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The Principal of the Sanford Street School in his report has contributed valuable comments on the ele- mentary course. Its requirements are parallel to those of the most advanced schools in New England in the subjects included. Some subjects of great importance are not included, notably Manual Training and Nature Study: the former, from lack of funds, the latter from dread of formalism. I am thoroughly convinced that we ought to include both branches without delay, and then we can expand the course as the Principal suggests. The coordination of the manual and the mental processes in education has been proved to be correct in theory and has been successfully worked out in practice. With a special teacher of Manual Training, and a small equip- ment of tools, we can start the work next September.
STUDIES.
Since the last report the schools have been supplied with many of the most recent and desirable text books. The subject of their selection has received the most care- ful study, and no change has been needlessly made. Whenever a book had any wear left in it, it was not dis- carded.
READING. With the assistance of the teachers, I have prepared a list of books for home reading in the various fields of literature-fiction, history, travels, etc. Many of these books were already in the Public Library, and many more were bought. We hope to have the rest of the list added soon, and to complete the classification of the juvenile department to correspond with the grades of the schools. As far as the work has gone, the lists have been issued to the various teachers. When it is completed we expect to publish it for distribution throughout the homes of the children. The Library
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Trustees contemplate measures to extend the circulation of these books through the outlying parts of the Town also. School children are now using the library more than ever before. The Reading in school is somewhat deficient, especially on its culture side. It is necessary now to replace many of the worn out readers, and the new books will be selected with great care. The day of the "information" readers seems passing away. Hence- forth we shall use our "Geographical Readers" only for collateral reading in connection with the geography, and furnish some book of greater literary importance for the reading class. The recitation period will then be de- voted to nuturing the spirit of true literary apprecia- tion, a task which exercises the teacher's highest powers. Thus the work in reading after the mechanical difficulties are passed, becomes the study of Literature, and, as such, continues through the High School, where one of the assistants devotes her entire time to this subject. It is our aim to unify and strengthen this line of work throughout the schools. We already have a good col- Jection of literary masterpieces in the school libraries, and no doubt additions will be made hereafter, as former- ly, from the Richardson School Fund. The work of the schools has been advanced by the reference books which the Trustees have placed in the Public Library for con- sultation.
GRAMMAR. Until pupils approach the end of their grammar school course we are subordinating the study of language structure and emphasizing its correct use. The most practical course is to teach the children the art of correct writing and speaking at first, and to make the science of language tributary to this, until they are mature enough to appreciate the analytical dis- tinctions of technical grammar, which is not earlier than
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the last year or two of the grammar school.
GEOGRAPHY. The general tendency of our pres- ent work is away from both the indiscriminate memoriz- ing of coast lines, boundaries, capitals and other locations on the wife hand, and the-undue emphasis of physical geography on the other. We teach the effect of natural conditions as they affect the human family, putting the emphasis on the life of the people of the world, In our own country we lay stress on its great natural re- sources. and how they affect the character and occu- pations of the people. The Trustees of the Public Library added a large list of geographical works, es- pecially for the benefit of the teachers and pupils of the grammar school>, The Richardson School Fund Trus- tecs provided also a large number of political wall maps and blackbeard outline maps
HISTORY. The study of American History in anything like a critical manner is reserved for the last year in the Grammar School. During the earlier years the subject is read in the form of simple narratives and Diographical stories. Throughout the four years of the High School. a wide range of historical study is under- taken, closing with a careful study of our own history and government. A valuable list of standard works has been added to the school library from the Richardson fund. One of the assistants has all of the work in this department.
PHYSICAL CULTURE. The beneficial results of this work are generally conceded. An exhibition was given in the Bates Opera House last winter. From the protects. some sample out-door apparatus was bought for the Grammar School An earnest attempt was made to extend the work to the High School. and an ex- haustive investigation made. but the limitations of the
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building proved an insurmountable obstacle. When the Town enlarges the High School accommodations, as it surely must do very soon, gymnasium space should by all means be provided.
ARITHMETIC. In common with many other pro- gressive towns, we shall henceforth teach no Arithmetic to children in the first year of school, first, because ex- perience has shown that they can learn much of it in- cidentally. without being taught, and second, because they can learn other studies faster at this time, while Arithmetic comes easier when they are a little older. The books adopted a year ago are giving general satis- faction.
EVENING SCHOOL.
"Any town or city may, and, every town and city of ten thousand or more inhabitants shall, maintain annually evening schools for the instruction of persons over four- teen years of age, in orthography, reading, writing, the English language and grammar, geography, arithmetic, industrial drawing, both free-hand and mechanical, the history of the United States, physiology and hygiene, and good behavior. Such other subjects may be taught in such schools as the school committee deem ex- pedient."-Chapter 496, Section 6, Acts of 1898.
The Town is now required by statute to maintain an evening school, and judging from the experience of other towns, about $500 will be needed for that purpose.
ADMINISTRATION.
COST OF SCHOOLS. A town's rapid growth may be a positive embarrassment in many ways. It is . usually the case that imperative public improvements are disproprotionately demanded of rapidly growing places.
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This applies to all departments of the town, highway, water, etc., but it affects the School Department es- pecially. Since 1894 seven new school houses have been built. and the end is not yet reached. Yet the cost of administration is kept down at every point. The follow- ing table shows that in relation to other large towns we have neither been parsimonious nor extravagant.
Table showing the rank of Attleborough with refer- ence to the cost of schools in the list of fourteen towns having each over 10,000 inhabitants.
Population
Sum expended for each child in the average membership of the pub- lic schools 1899 1900.
Percentage of the valu- ation of 1899 expended for schools 1899-1900- equivalent to mills and hundredths of mills on a dollar.
Brookline.
19,935
$41.29
$.001-74
Clinton.
13.667
20.04
.005-22
Hyde Park.
13.244
29.01
.004-44
Leominster.
12,392
21.48
.005-76
Westfield.
12.300
25.63
.005-61
Peabody.
11.523
20.99
.004-10
Milford,
II.376
20.66
.004-94
Attleboro.
II,335 (8th)
21.68 (10th)
.005-58(7th)
Weymouth,
11,324
21.55
.006-75
Framingham.
II.302
24.16
.005-21
Adams,
11,134
18.42
.007-36
Gardner.
10,818
20.41
.006-39
Revere.
10.395
24.63
.004-60
Southbridge.
10.025
24.24
.005-96
During the last ten years the annual taxation cost per child in average membership throughout the State has risen from $21.08 to $26.06 an increase of $4.98 (64th Report of the State Board of Education, Jan., 1901, p. 143.)
During the same period in Attleborough it has risen from S18.16 to $21.68 an increase of $3.52. Thus Attle-
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borough is advancing more conservatively than the rest of the state.
PRINCIPALSHIPS. The Town has now reached the necessity of having Supervising Principals in the large schools, who shall unify the spirit and direct the teaching in them. When the High, Sanford Street and Richardson Schools are thus administered, twenty-five teachers will be directly responsible to their principais, and thirty-three will still be directly responsible to the Superintendent. Considering the complexity of the lat- ter's duties, and the scattered location of the thirty-three schools, the'r supervision will even then be none too close.
PROMOTIONS. We aim to subdivide the grades, by grouping children of nearly the same abilities to- gether, and permitting those who are the better scholars to advance the more rapidly. The practical difficulty in carrying this idea out fully during the current year has been the necessity of breaking up classes in April along geographical lines so as to enter the Richardson School. After this change is made a fairly settled policy may be followed. Many special promotions have been made.
DEFECTIVES. There are probably fifteen or twenty children of school age in town, who are mentally or morally defective to such a degree that they not only derive no benefit from the school, but their presence is positively an injury to it. The public school is simply a day nursery for them. The time may come when either the State or the Towns will make provision for them just as it does now for other unfortunate classes, to pre- vent them from becoming charges on society during their adult life. At present nothing is being done for them. KINDERGARTENS. I believe in the Kinder-
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