USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1908-09 > Part 19
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Condition of the Schools.
The opening of two new school buildings during the year-Washington School, February 8, 1909, and the
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Bliss School, September 7, 1909-has wrought a marked improvement in the condition of our grade schools. Last year nearly every room in the center of the town was overcrowded, two rooms were on half time, and eight assistant teachers were being employed. The average number of pupils per room in the center schools was 48. By the opening of these new buildings ten additional rooms were made available, and this fact, together with the withdrawal from the public schools of a consider- able number of pupils above mentioned, has reduced the number of pupils per teacher in most of the rooms to a most desirable number and placed them in a better con- dition than they have been since the opening of the Rich- ardson School in 1901. Today, the average number of pupils per room in the center of the town is 38, in the outlying schools 30, and in the whole town 35; no assist- ant teachers are employed, and no teacher has more than two grades in her room-in fact, thirty-five rooms have a single grade, only twenty-three rooms having two grades. The present conditions are the most favorable for good work that we have had for some time, and I am confident we shall see better results in the schools this year. If the coming year fulfills, however, what the present seems to indicate, next fall will see another big increase in our school enrollment. If we could keep the present num- bers as they are for a few years, the efficiency of our schools would certainly be greatly increased.
The High School.
I am sorry that I can see no way to relieve the situ- ation at the High School. A glance at the report of the principal will show under what disadvantages and handicaps the work is being done. To be sure, the num- ber of pupils is not much larger than it was a few years ago, but the number of classes has been increased and
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in this way the work is crowded. From present indica- tions, the commercial department will require the entire services of two teachers next year, some courses in his- tory that were omitted this year on account of changes in the course of study will probably be asked for next year, and the school will naturally increase in numbers. We cannot increase the number of teachers because of lack of room for additional classes, so that it would seem that we had reached the limit of effective work under present conditions in our High School.
I wish to call attention also to that part of the prin- cipals report and of the report of the supervisor of drawing regarding the work in drawing in the High School. It has always seemed to me that in a town whose principal industry is the manufacture of jewelry, drawing, especially work in designing and ap- plied design, should be given an important place in the High School course. Yet in our High School only the freshman class receives instruction during the regular school session, all other classes being obliged to return for instruction in the afternoon. As might be expected, the number of pupils who return is very small. The re- sult is that drawing is practically eliminated from the work of the three upper classes of the school, and under present conditions I do not see any remedy. Yet that some action is called for there can be no doubt.
Teachers.
The number of teachers employed in the schools January 1, 1910, was 80, divided as follows :
High School
IO
Grades I-VIII 60
Kindergartens 4
Special teachers for individual instruction 3 Supervisors 3
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Of these teachers sixteen began their work here with the opening of the fall term, and six others were en- gaged at various times during the year. Most of these changes in the teaching force were due to teachers re- signing to accept better positions, and Boston, Newton, Malden, and Taunton have taken teachers from us this year. The loss of three principals and the opening of the two new schools made it necessary to employ five new principals for the fall term.
This constant change in the teaching force, represent- ing 25 per cent. of the total number of teachers during a single year, is the most serious hindrance to efficient work that we have to meet. To find teachers equally as good, or who promise in a short time to be equally as good, as those who are leaving, to secure them at less than the maximum salary, which the teachers who are leaving usually have received, and to make these changes with the least possible interruption in the work of the schools, is to my mind the most vital work that a super- intendent of schools has to do. Courses of study, text- books, school furniture, important as they are, are of little value without good teachers, and only by securing good teachers can the standard of the schools be main- tained.
To be sure, the conditions in Attleboro are identical with those in many other towns and cities in the state. A teacher, who is. ambitious and worthy of promotion, very soon outgrows her position in a small town and as her ability increases can only advance herself by moving from one town to another till the maximum salary for teachers is reached. Thus necessarily, grow- ing teachers, unless influenced by a desire to be at home, or similar reasons, are changing from one place to an- other, and so long as the larger places can offer higher salaries and stronger professional inducements than the smaller ones, these changes must inevitably take place.
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Manual Training.
One of the most important actions of the Committee during the past year was the vote in October to intro- duce manual training into the eighth grade. Work in paper cutting and folding, cardboard construction, whittling and sewing, already had a place in the course of study for the grades below the eighth; but for the eighth grade no adequate work had been provided. The introduction of woodworking will complete the course in manual instruction for the grammar grades, and lead up to proper mechanical work in the High School when the opportunity for such work shall be provided.
The South Main Street school building has been fitted up for these classes and all the boys in the eighth grades will come to this school for instruction. Although woodworking will be the principal feature of the work, yet it is hoped that some simple form of metal work may be attempted in connection with it, the course being made as useful and practical as possible. The introduc- tion of this kind of manual instruction places Attleboro in line with other progressive towns and cities in the commonwealth, and when it shall have been extended by suitable High School instruction, will have a far- reaching influence on the educational interests of the town.
Transportation.
We have expended for transportation this year $2,872, thirteen dollars less than last year. The follow- ing table will show how this money was expended :
Barges.
Lona Cut $367.00
Fisherville 351.00
Bishop Street 351.00
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Briggs Corner 359.00
Read and Ide District. 316.50
South Attleboro 52.50
$1,797.00
Electrics.
Interstate $450.00
Taunton & Pawtucket. 375.00
Norton & Taunton 250.00
$1,075.00
With the town growing as it is on the outskirts, the amount expended for transportation must continue to increase year by year till transportation is made un- necessary by the erection of new school buildings, or by enlarging the present schools in the outlying districts. As the lower grades in the smaller schools increase in number, the upper grades are transferred to the larger schools in the center of the town, and this often means an increase in the transportation expense. Pupils in grades above the sixth are now brought to the center of the town from Briggs Corner, and in grades above the fifth from Dodgeville and Hebronville.
The part of the town demanding most earnest con- sideration in this matter, however, is that section in the vicinity of County and Thacher streets. The natural growth of the little settlement known as Lona Cut, the rapid building up of Jewell Park, and the opening up of other building plats, has increased the number of pupils in that part of the town, so that we are now furnishing transportation to about seventy pupils at an annual ex- pense of nearly $725. Present indications point to con- tinued building activity in that section, and it would
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seem the part of wisdom to make plans at this time to provide for suitable school accommodations in the near future for this growth.
Evening Schools.
The usual sessions of the evening schools were held from October I to December 23, at Bank Street, Dodge- ville and Hebronville.
Attendance Statistics :
Bank St.
Enrollment
164
Dodgeville Hebronville 61
56
Total 281
Average attendance per night 78
23
29
I30
Per cent. of attendance
to enrollment . . 47.7
37.8
51.8
46.2
Number of illiterates .... 49
8
I7
74
The work of the year has been most successful. The classes in bookkeeping and mechanical drawing have been very popular, the bookkeeping class standing next to the class for illiterates in highest average attendance. Some of these pupils have already bettered their posi- tions on account of this evening school work.
It is to be feared that the new labor law which took effect October 1, 1909, will tend to reduce the evening school attendance. While the evening schools are in session no minor who does not have an age and school- ing certificate can be legally employed unless he is a regular attendant at evening school or at a day school. Minors who are unable to read and write well enough. to enter the fourth grade of the public schools, are con- sidered illiterates and, if over sixteen years of age, are required by law to attend evening school. A minor has always been considered by us as a person under twenty- one, but the new law defines a minor as a person under eighteen years of age. Illiterates under sixteen are re- quired to attend day school, so that only illiterates be-
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tween the ages of sixteen and eighteen can now be com- pelled to attend evening school. From an educational standpoint it would seem as if the enactment of this law were a step backward, and that its application would tend to promote illiteracy.
Vacation Schools.
The usual sessions of the vacation school were held at Dodgeville and Hebronville for six weeks, from July 12 to August 20. The work was very much the same as that done in previous years with the addition of chair caning, weaving, work in hammered brass and stencil- ing. The work of the schools was exhibited in one of the store windows, at the close of the session, and re- ceived many favorable comments. The attendance and cost follow :
Enrollment
Dodgeville Hebro~vil'e
Total
135
82
215
Average membership
99
78
177
Average attendance
68
50
118
Per cent. of attendance.
69
64
67
Cost-Salaries . $227.80
Supplies, etc. 55.83
$283.63
Age and Schooling Certificates.
According to the present laws of the state no child under the age of fourteen can be employed in any fac- tory, workshop or mercantile establishment. No child under the age of fourteen can be employed for wages while the public schools are in session, or be employed at work before six o'clock in the morning or after seven o'clock in the evening. Such minors, however, are per- mitted to work on Saturdays between the hours of six in
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the morning and seven in the evening in mercantile estab- lishments. A mercantile establishment means any prem- ises used for the purposes of trade in the purchase or sale of any goods or merchandise, or for the purposes of a restaurant or for publicly providing and serving meals.
During the year 1909 there have been issued to minors between the ages of fourteen and sixteen 224 certificates, 172 being issued to persons living in the town and 52 to persons living elsewhere but wishing to work here. The record of certificates issued since 1904 is as follows :
I904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
166
190
292
23I
I52
224
School Savings Bank.
The school savings bank introduced into the schools in October, 1908, has had a remarkable success. Up to Jan. I, 1909, there had been deposited $2,429. Of this sum, $644 had been transferred to 90 individual accounts opened at the bank, leaving a balance on deposit Jan. I, 1909, of $1,786.15.
The statement January 1, 1910, is as follows :
Balance Jan. 1, 1909, including interest. $1,786.15
Amount deposited during year 1909. 4,497.85
Interest 59.81
Total $ 6.343.81
during the year $4,469.00 Withdrawn 93.II
Interest withdrawn 60.96
Totaal $ 4,623.07 Balance on deposit Jan. 1, 1910 $1,720.74
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Number of individual accounts opened at the bank during the year. 407
Total number of individual accounts opened, Jan. 1, 1910. 497
Total amount deposited, Jan. 1, 1910. . $6,926.85
Of the nearly 500 pupils for whom accounts have been opened at the National Bank during the year less than 5 per cent. have withdrawn their deposits and closed their accounts. Thus it would seem that the purpose aimed at in establishing this bank were being accom- plished, that the habit of saving both on the part of pupils and parents is being encouraged, and that the system will ultimately prove of great value to the town.
No School Signals.
During the year from Sept. 7, 1908, to June 25, 1909, the signal for no school was sounded four times and schools were closed as follows :
Date Grades Closed
December 7, 1908 Grades I-VIII, all day.
February 10, 1909. All schools, all day. February 16, 1909 One session. March 25, 1909. Grades I-VIII, afternoon.
On account of the failure of many pupils in various parts of the town to hear the fire alarm signals, ar- rangements have been made to have the signals for "no school" sounded on the whistles of the Allison Manu- facturing Company on Forest street, and the Howard & Bullough American Machine Company, Pleasant View. If some arrangement could be made for install- ing a signal at Briggs Corner, every part of the town would be able to hear the signals.
It is the intention of the superintendent to sound the signals only in very severe weather, or when the travel-
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ing is such as to render it unfit for pupils to attend school. One is not always able to tell just what change in the weather may occur in an hour's time, so that it may often happen that the schools are in session on some very stormy days. In such cases parents are ex- pected to use their own discretion in regard to sending their children to school.
Sight and Hearing Tests.
The usual examination of pupils for defects in sight and hearing was made during the fall term.
Number of pupils enrolled. 2279
Number found defective in eyesight. 329
Number found defective in hearing. 149
Number of parents or guardians notified .. 257
These numbers vary but little from the report of last year.
School work necessarily requires somewhat of a strain on the eyes. For this reason it would seem as if those children whose eyes are inclined to be weak should rest their eyes as much as possible outside of school. The prevailing popularity of moving picture entertainments and the general attendance of children at these places of amusement, would seem to be one cause for increasing defective sight, as it is generally admitted that gazing steadily at the moving pictures for an hour or more is very trying to the eyes. Parents of such children ought to give this matter due consideration.
Gifts.
The trustees of the Richardson School Fund each year set apart a certain sum for the use of the schools. This year there have been purchased from this fund for the High School, a Miller grand piano and a Webster's International Dictionary ; for the Sanford Street School,
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a set of eight maps in a roller front case; and for the Bliss School two sets of maps, a globe and a Webster's Dictionary. The Woman's Relief Corps have supplied the school rooms with silk flags for the past four or five years, and this year about twenty-five such flags have been placed in various schools by them.
Your attention is called to the reports of the principal of the High School, the special supervisors and the truant officer which accompany this report.
The past year has seen many things accomplished in the advancement and improvement of the educational interests of the town. These results are not due to the efforts of any one person, but have been attained through the hearty and sincere co-operation of all con- nected with the schools. So long as this spirit exists, results will never be in doubt.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS A. FALES.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools :
In my second annual report, I shall try to cover briefly the progress of the year and to speak of the needs of our school. Our total enrollment for the fall term of 1909 was 254 as compared with 236 for the fall term of 1908. Under suitable conditions this growth would be encouraging.
In June the course of study was revised. A course of study can be, at best, but temporary, and frequent revision is one of the demands of progress. The purpose of our present course is not only to cover the general fields of knowledge-History, Language and Literature, Arts, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics-but also to insure continued study along some one line. A hurried glance at the printed course might lead one to think that the elective system had been greatly curtailed. But a more careful study shows that "freedom of choice" has been restricted only so far as is necessary in order to systematize the elections. It is hoped that under the present system a pupil graduating from the high school will have more than a mere collection of points to his credit.
The revised course of study simplified the arrange- ment of a daily program. The program was arranged during the summer vacation and went into effect on the second day of the fall term. No change in this program has been necessary.
During the year we sent our course of study and data showing the work we are doing to the Worcester Poly- technic Institute and asked for a certificate of privilege. Upon the evidence submitted the Institute granted this privilege. This was especially encouraging as the re- quest had previously been refused.
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At the beginning of the fall term several committees consisting of teachers were appointed by the Principal. The purpose of these committees is to give each teacher an increased opportunity to participate in the develop- ment of the school. The following committees have been appointed : Athletic Committee, Blue Owl Committee, Employment Committee, Library Committee, and Com- mittee on Alumni Data. These committees are already doing some excellent work. A brief mention of the work of the employment committee will give an idea of our aim. A set of questions was given to each pupil and the pupil asked to answer as many as he wished. From the answers to the questions the committee learned the number of pupils who are employed out of school, the hours of work, the salaries received, the pupil's need of work, home conditions, etc. While we aim at dis- couraging pupils from outside employment when it is unnecessary, at the same time we find many pupils who must work if they are to continue their high school course. Employers frequently send to the high school for employees and these requests are passed to the Em- ployment Committee. The committee tries to find some one who needs employment and is qualified to fill the position. If the position happens to be one calling for a stenographer or a bookkeeper, we often cannot fill it because the capable pupils are already working. At present there are three positions which the committee has not filled because of want of applicants. The com- mittee has filled several positions, however, that did not call for stenographers. One case will show how much this means to the pupil. In June a boy was recom- mended for a position at eight dollars a week. He kept this position until October and then received besides his wages forty-eight dollars in commission. That is an ex- ceptional case, but it shows what may be done for a worthy pupil.
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In its work the Committee on Employment seeks the co-operation of the business men. The interest taken by some in the welfare of our school is especially gratifying. Recently a superintendent of one of our large factories called at the principal's office and said that several pupils had answered an advertisement for help. He said he wished to hire only those who needed the work and who could spare the time from their school duties. We wish more business men would thus co-operate with us.
There is need in our school for vocational talks. Most of our high school pupils are inexcusably weak on this point. To prove such a statement we have only to ask a high school graduate what he knows or what he has ever heard about the various vocations. How many high school graduates, for illustration, know that the Civil Service Employment at Washington affords an excellent chance for college and professional training ? How many know that a pupil can take such training while employed, and pay his own expenses? To a needy and worthy pupil such information may be more valu- able than any subject in his high school course. At least one period a week ought to be given to a vocational course. Something along this line is being done in our school at present. Each Friday at 12:30 the Seniors who have no recitations meet in the Principal's office for informal talks by the Principal and by persons outside of school. Much more might be done if we had the room and the time.
In the early part of the fall term the "two dismissal" plan was begun. I am pleased to report that this plan . is working exceptionally well. All pupils who have their day's work done are dismissed at 1:00 o'clock, and all others at 1:30. The time from 1:00 to 1:30 is given to individual help and to the making up of lost work. This plan lengthens the session for all teachers fifteen minutes, but it lessens the afternoon work. It is a great convenience to pupils who live at a distance.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Especial attention should be called to the small num- ber of changes in the high school teaching force. During the year 1908 and 1909 not a change was made. Since the opening of the fall term one change has been caused by the appointment of our History teacher to the Girls' High School in Boston. Of course we do not hope to hold teachers who receive Boston appointments, but we are pleased to be beyond the competition of some of the smaller towns and cities. Permanency in the teaching force means accumulated success.
I turn now to the one great need of our school-more room. I should not feel that I had done my duty to the pupils and the committee if I said nothing about the real condition of our school. The present age is certainly filled with the scientific spirit. Such a spirit leads men in all professions to examine their work critically and squarely face the results. The high school situation should be no exception. An examination of the daily workings of our school shows a great waste of skilled labor caused by overcoming unnecessary obstacles.
The function of the high school has changed with changing social and economic conditions. The classical conception of the high school as a place for teaching classics and mathematics with the sole aim of preparing pupils for college has passed. The modern conception of the high school as a school fitting pupils for active participation in life has come upon us, but we are try- ing to teach the new under the conditions of the old. Our high school building would be adequate if we aimed solely at preparing for college, and admitted from the grammar schools only those who signified their intention of going to college. That would reduce our attendance at least one-half. But we should aim to reach the big majority of pupils, those whose formal education is com- pleted in the high school. Attleboro should have a high school enrollment of 500 instead of an enrollment of 250.
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ANNUAL REPORT
We need more recitation rooms. Five or six classes recite in the Principal's office during the week, and three classes-Latin, French and English-recite daily in the chemical laboratory. A class reciting in the office must necessarily have many interruptions ; and suitable seats cannot well be provided. The room in the chemical laboratory has been utilized for the chemical tables and apparatus, and the only space left for classes is in a dark corner. Here a French class of sixteen recites daily. I hardly need say that these recitations deprive the chemistry classes of the laboratory just one-half of the time each day. And even the typewriting room has to be used for one recitation a week.
There is no drawing room in our high school, yet we have four classes in drawing. As a substitute for a drawing room, the physics laboratory is used four periods a week in the regular forenoon session. For these periods all physics apparatus has to be cleared from the tables and all laboratory work must stop. No more room is available for drawing in the forenoon so ad- vanced drawing has to be given at an extra session in the afternoon. Many pupils cannot return in the after- noon for drawing; twenty-three pupils who are not taking drawing asked for it if it could be given in the regular session.
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