USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1913 > Part 8
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This year it is practically certain that a bill will be
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ANNUAL REPORT
passed by the Legislature placing teachers on tenure af- ter three consecutive years of service. This, with the Teachers' Retirement System, will ensure teachers a practical permanency of position, and provide an annuity after a teacher reaches the age of sixty and the time comes for him to retire from service.
Sight and Hearing Tests
In accordance with the requirements of the law the pupils have been examined this year for defects in sight and hearing with the following result.
Number of pupils enrolled 2,633
Number found defective in eyesight 259
Number found defective in hearing 4I
Number of parents or guardians notified 228
No School Signals
For the school year from September, 1912, to June, 1913, schools were closed on account of stormy weather as follows :
Date Grades closed
December 30, 1912. Grades I-III afternoon
. Grades I-III all day
January 3, 1913. Grades IV-VIII, one session
March 20, 1913.
Grades I-VIII, afternoon
With the completion of the new High School Build- ing, and the readjustment and reorganization of the eighth grade, Attleboro will have a well organized and well equipped school system, in which the town may justly take pride. The reputation of maintaining good schools is a valuable asset, the character of the schools being an influential factor in the growth of the town. To maintain the standards of the past, to keep abreast of the progressive ideals and tendencies of the present, and to
177
ANNUAL REPORT
plan wisely for the future, is no easy task, involving an ever increasing burden of care and responsibility. What- ever degree of success has been attained in the adminis- tration and work of the schools the past year, our con- stant purpose and aim have been to improve the condi- tion of the schools, and this motive has inspired the work of all connected with the school department.
Respectfully submitted, LEWIS A. FALES.
178
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales. Superintendent of Schools :
I hereby submit my third annual report as Principal of Attleboro High School. Since my last report, Mr. Har- old E. Willey and Miss Edith E. Bennett have replaced Mr. Vail and Miss Maxwell as members of the teaching- force, Mr. Willey having been elected with the title of Sub-master. Both of these teachers have proved effi- cient.
During the first four months of the present school year. we have registered 325 different pupils. an in- crease of 25 over last year's enrollment. Our work with these pupils has been handicapped by the limitations im- posed upon us by our old building and the necessity of large divisions in many classes, yet I feel that excellent progress has been made and that our school. when hous- ed in its beautiful new building. will compare favorably with other schools in scholarship, discipline and school spirit.
The course of study was changed by the substitution of Elementary Science in place of Physical Geography and Botany in the first year. I recommend that Biology be substituted for Physics in the second year, deferring the teaching of Physics. as such, until the senior year, Biology is being taught successfully in many schools and ought to make an interesting and extremely profitable course. In it, zoology, physiology and botany are taken in turn for about one-third of the year each. Several excellent texts are available and one will have to be adopted if this subject is added to the course of study.
The overcrowded condition of some of our divisions and the increase in numbers which we may normally ex- pect will make it necessary to add at least one teacher to our force next year. In my opinion thirty pupils should
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ANNUAL REPORT
be the maximum number in a division. Some of our classes in English, French, Latin, Algebra and Commer- cial Arithmetic contain more than this number. The addition of a teacher for the proposed Biology course, who could take some of the mathematics or science, would relieve other departments by allowing a read- justment of studies among the teachers.
The following table, based on the enrollment of Jan- uary Ist, shows the number of pupils taking each study.
Senior
Junior Sophomore Freshman
Total
English
60
62
84
109
315
Latin
12
12
14
38
76
French
37
44
37
. .
I18
German
37
29
32
. .
98
Algebra
20
. .
8
61
89
Plane Geometry
. .
. .
30
. .
30
Solid Geometry
20
I7
36
93
I66
Physics
12
. .
38
. .
50
Chemistry
. .
26
. .
. .
26
Elementary Science
. .
. .
. .
86
86
Economics
9
. .
. .
. .
9
Stenography
25
30
. .
. .
55
Typewriting
26
32
. .
. .
58
Bookkeeping
24
30
. .
· ·
54
Commercial Law ·
. .
29
. .
. .
29
Correspondence
. .
. .
49
. .
49
Commercial Geog.
. .
. .
48
. .
48
Commercial Arith.
5
57
62
Manual Training
. .
. .
. .
33
33
Mechanical Drawing
. .
3
I4
42
59
Freehand Drawing
II
II
35
50
107
8
. .
. .
8
History
. .
. .
Within the last few months a new office appliance, known as the Stenotype, has made its appearance in the business world. This is a machine for the recording of dictation and is designed to take the place of pen writ- ing certificates, 301 of those were signed. 70 vaccination
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ten shorthand. While it is not anticipated that this ma- chine will entirely displace shorthand, it has given good satisfaction wherever introduced and its use is rapidly increasing. It is claimed that Stenotypy possesses three great advantages over shorthand-accuracy, legi- bility and speed-and these contentions seem to be fully justified by trial of the machines. Owing to restrictions placed by the manufacturers, the machine must be own- ed by the operators and only those who can pass a com- mercial test of efficiency are allowed to purchase them. This insures to a business man hiring a stenotypist com- petent and efficient service.
I feel that the business men of this community who employ our graduates are entitled to the best possible service, and that the pupils of the commercial department who are fitting for business life should be given a know- ledge of all methods tending to increase their efficiency, and I therefore recommend for your consideration the question of the adoption of Stenotypy as one of the sub- jects of our commercial course.
Of the forty-two pupils graduating last June. it is interesting to note that sixteen have entered higher in- stitutions of learning as follows: Amherst. Massachu- setts Institute of Technology. University of Maine, Brown University, Smith, Saint Elizabeth. Upsala, Rhode Island State College. Bridgewater Normal School and Rhode Island Normal School. This excellent re- cord is highly gratifying as a proof of the school's in- creasing efficiency.
Respectfully submitted.
H. R. EATON.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools :
With the adoption of our new music readers which contain the finest combination of good literature and good music that has yet been published in America, the work in music has taken on an added interest that is very gratifying. The entire course of study has under- gone a complete change. During the first year in school, emphasis is laid on teaching every child to use his voice in singing songs that are suitable to his age and under- standing, also to distinguish notes by their colors, black and white, to write the scale on the staff, and to sing in time and tune simple exercises that he has written from the teacher's dictation.
In the second year in school the pupil is provided with a singing book with the notes printed in large type and he is taught to follow the notes and to sing correct- ly in tune and time the exercises assigned him.
In the third year all the music which is used is first read and then sung. The confusion of having different notes for the one beat note is entirely eliminated in the first three grades, only execises and songs in 2-4-3-4 and 4-4 measure are used. This gives the black or quarter note one beat, the white or half note two beats, the dot- ted half note three beats, and the whole note four beats. This simple arrangement has made it possible for any child to read music.
In the fourth year two part music is attempted; likewise the second and third motions, which in less technical terms, means singing two sounds to one beat, and the dotted quarter note or the one and one-half beat note. In the fifth year more two-part singing with the addition of chromatic sharps and flats is introduced.
Before the introduction of our new readers the
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ANNUAL REPORT
sixth and seventh grades sang only three part music. They now use one, two and three part songs. This has proved very beneficial in retaining a good quality of tone throughout the class. The variety of songs in our new readers has made the music work of these two grades decidedly more interesting and attractive.
The eighth and last year of the grammar school brings us to the problem of the growing boy with the changing voice. It is a matter of controversy as to whether a boy should or should not sing while his voice is changing. Some authorities declare that it injures the voice to sing, while other authorities maintain that it is not harmful. My own observation and experience is that it depends entirely upon the physical condition of the boy. I have in mind a youth who sang with a brilliant soprano voice when he entered the class in September and at his graduation in June sang a solo in a most beautiful baritone voice. This is one of the reasons why boys in the eighth grade in school seem indifferent to singing. They are in exactly the same condition vocally as they were in their first year at school, and it is only af- ter a few years in the high school that they begin to re- turn to their former assurance in singing.
Our high school chorus is always more or less of an uncertain quantity. Our best voices develop toward the end of high school course and leave us at graduation. Consequently we begin in the fall to build up an entire- ly new chorus. However, it is gratifying at times to hear what they can do. Our new high school singing book has proved even better then we expected and has added new inspiration to the singing. It contains many selections from the great masters, and a number of fine examples from our own American composers, men of national repu- tation, such as Parker, Chadwick. Kelly and Hadley. These selections by our best modern composers have given us a new interest in the better class of American music and are proving that America, though still
183
ANNUAL REPORT
young in the arts, is capable of producing musical com- positions that are inspiring and helpful.
Other musical activities are gradually developing in our high school. It is a sign of better things for the fu- ture of music to find our boys and girls forming them- selves into a class for the study of orchestral music. It is this sort of thing that is to be encouraged by all the means in our power. I am hoping that with more room at our disposal in the future an opportunity may be given those who play musical instruments to come together one period each week in school hours and receive credit for attendance and work accomplished as in other studies.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN L. GIBB.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools :
While the general plan of the drawing course is as it has been for the past few years, there is all the time a greater effort to apply art principles to problems which will interest the teachers and pupils.
Art study in the schools should develop skill in ob- servation. representation and in the application of design to simple forms. but the problems which develop power in the child must be of real interest to the child. There are many instances in the work this year where schools are especially interested in a project and are doing ex- ceptionally good work.
We are undertaking a problem in two seventh grades which is proving that children can do wonder- fully well when they are thoroughly interested. It is not always practicable to correlate drawing so closely with the manual work as we are doing in these two grades. However, in these grades our drawing is plan- ned in relation to a house the boys are making in their manual work. We have had work on home decoration before. but never before so much enthusiasm shown. and such good work done, as now the work is for a particu- lar house. The children are not working in hopes that sometime they will do better work. but because they are interested in the present work.
This year we are experimenting with picture study. The result I hope is an awakening of a real liking for good pictures, that shall lead the children to see and love beauty.
The arrangement by which I was relieved of the mechanical drawing at the high school makes my work there more satisfactory and allows me more time for work in the grades. I am not able to visit the rooms any
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ANNUAL REPORT
oftener than last year as there are two more rooms to visit, but it is possible to make the periods longer. At the high school, there is a steady gain each year in the number of pupils taking drawing. This year one hun- dred seven elected freehand drawing, an increase of twelve over last year.
Respectfully submitted, PERSIS A. CROWELL.
186
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE TEACHER OF MANUAL TRAINING
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools :
It is with great pleasure that I submit to you my fourth annual report of the work of the manual training department.
A noted lecturer once said, "Mav we never reach our goals, for then we should be dead." Our aim to se- cure in the work from the pupils beauty, fine finish and attractiveness both inside and out, or, in other words to obtain efficiency with sincerity, truth and honesty, still beckons us onward and upward. More boys elected the manual training course this year than last. The number of pupils from the various schools is as follows :
High School (Freshmen) 33
Bliss School I7
Richardson School 20
Sanford Street School 25
Washington School IO
South Attleboro School 5
Total IIO
The freshmen are studying advanced bench work, pattern making, wood turning and a short course in brass, copper and silver. Besides this regular systema- tic course the freshmen have made taborettes, music cabinets, medicine cabinets, model yachts, three model motor boats thoroughly fitted with luxurious velvet up- holstered seats, and with electric engines to run them, (brass fittings, etc., made by the pupils), inlaid tea trays, a morris chair, a mantlepiece with turned pedestals, a hall tree and a utility box with long brass strap hinges.
In the metal course there were made strap hinges, escutcheon plates and catches for boxes, paper knives bookmarks and several silver rings engraved with sim-
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ANNUAL REPORT
ple designs. One boy did a little spinning of aluminum.
Besides the freshmen from the High School, four boys from the sophomore year and one from the junior class have voluntarily worked in this department dur- ing the afternoons, making things for home use; e. g., window screens, ash sifter, kitchen table, etc .; for their own amusement and experiments, electrical apparatus, wireless outfits and model boats, etc.
This desire on the part of these boys evidently should inspire us to offer a course of study in advance of the freshman class.
The grammar school course consists of elementary bench work, working drawings, and problems in shop arithmetic. It is planned to make the boys able to think better, to observe more closely, to promote effi- ciency and to stimulate creative power. As in the past years every opportunity is given to the boy to work out ideas of his own when he has proven his ability to exe- cute the regular course with good work. Some of the grammar grade boys have made bulletin boards and one boy made a lantern slide box for his school. Others have brought broken furniture to be repaired. Taborettes, tool boxes, a cage, a chopping board, a model yacht and a model motor boat were made outside of school hours.
Besides having charge of the manual training I was asked to teach the mechanical drawing in the High School. The numbers attending are as follows :
Freshmen 42
Sophomores I4
Juniors
3
Total 59
Whilst working under difficulties, having to use the wood working benches for tables, the work is pro- gressing satisfactorily. Two of the classes are much too large to secure the very best results. Transference to
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ANNUAL REPORT
the new High School will provide working conditions equal to those of the best up-to-date schools.
Thanking you most heartily for your ready coopera- tion and advice, I am,
Yours faithfully,
WILLIAM FIRTH EASTWOOD.
189
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE TEACHER OF SEWING
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools :
The course in sewing changes but little from year to year. The principles taught must of necessity be the same, but the application of them is varied each year through the efforts made to bring the work close to the needs and interests of the children.
The work is started in the fifth grade. The major- ity of those girls have never been taught to sew and are unable to control the muscles of their fingers, conse- quently two full months are spent on stitches and the use and handling of thimble, needle and thread.
Small useful household articles appeal to children of this age, as do doll clothes; so as soon as one or two simple stitches are mastered, they are at once applied to the making of some of these articles.
In this way a lasting impression is made of the use of certain stitches and principles, which would probably be made in no other way.
The same idea is carried out in the other grades. In the sixth grade there are three class lessons; darning stockings, hemming table linen and matching stripes on the bias, after which each pupil is free to make for her- self any garment she may choose.
The seventh grade have class lessons in patching, making buttonholes, sewing on hooks and eyes, and put- ting in a placket. After finishing these each girl makes her own choice of application work.
The work of the eighth grade begins with a class lesson in darning cashmere followed by the making of a work apron, dust cap and graduation petticoat. The choice of work is optional after these are finished.
Perhaps it will be of interest to know the amount of work accomplished from September, 1912 to June,
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ANNUAL REPORT
1913; part of which was on exhibition at Bliss Hall in June, 121 work aprons, 22 cooking aprons, 100 fancy muslin aprons, 2 baby bonnets, I doll bonnet, 6 laundry bags, 18 fancy work bags. 40 gingham sewing bags, 5 bu- reau scarfs hemstitched, 4 pairs of curtains hemstitched, 28 waists, 2 embroidered cuff and collar sets, 23 dresses, 6 doll dresses, 9 hemstitched handkerchiefs, 18 kimonas, 79 night dresses, 12 needle books, I neck scarf hem- stitched, 20 pillow cases, 81 pin balls. 39 pin cushions, 71 dish towels hemmed. 5 guest towels embroidered, 7 rub- ber cases, I Russian blouse suit, I sofa pillow, 81 white petticoats, 18 flannel skirts.
As the girls furnish material for all work except class lessons, the cost to the Town was less than twenty dollars, a small amount considering the pleas- ure and profit derived therefrom by the pupils.
The girls show a fondness for the work and I am often told that the sewing day is the best day of all.
We are badly handicapped at present by the lack of room for cutting out our work. Most of this has to be done outside class hours on that account, but we hope, in the near future, to have a properly equipped sewing room in the old High School building for the use of all eighth grade girls.
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE A. WALKER.
191
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools :
The School Physician submits the following report of his work, covering the time from September 15th to January Ist.
The general inspection of every school child was made during the three and a half months of the Fall term. The work, although new to me, was extremely in- teresting and explains the advantages which larger cities have of developing the care of the school child along hygienic lines. Through the school physicians and their inspection, epidemics of disease can be checked, for it is in the schools that one or more representatives of a majority of families in a town gather together five days of each week. What place have we more adapted for dis- tributing disease ?.
The total number of examinations made was 2,924, including other necessary examinations besides the reg- ular inspection. Owing to increased attendance, this number is larger than it has been in previous entire years. Also, owing to the new laws regarding minors and their work, all being obliged to have new age and school- ing certificates, 301 of those were signed. Seventy vac- cination certificates and 52 permits to return to school, after some illness, have been filled out.
The three troubles which I found most pronounced were the lack of care of the teeth, enlarged tonsils and vermin. In a large majority of cases of bad teeth, I found bad tonsils, and in a large percentage of bad ton- sils, I found vermin. In other words, it is through neg- lect that I believe a large number of these cases have their etiology.
It is my hope that as time goes on, these conditions may be satisfactorily remedied, but in order for this to come about, we must have the cooperation of the parents.
Respectfully submitted,
WILFRED E. ROUNSEVILLE, M. D.
ANNUAL REPORT
Pupils Examined by School Physician, 1913
High
Bliss
Briggs
Corner
Capron
Carpenter
Street
Dodgeville
Farmers
Hebronville
Plat
Pleasant
Street
Richardson
Sanford
Street
South
Attleboro
Washington
Tiffany
Totals
1912
1911
No. of pupils examined
310
354
81
55
77
73
111
138
20
78
439
476
111
147
202 2672 2370 2403
Vermin .
1
7
20
2
7
28
4
36
13
12
77
23
6
26
29
311
117
88
Tonsils .
36
54
18
15
12
22
'22
36
6
19
88
62
30
25
32
477
340
347
Adenoids
2
18
3
8
6
3
8
5
4
47
65
Tonsils & Adenoids . ..
8
Throat ..
Eyestrain .
6
2
1
2
4
5
3
1
3
11
8
1
58
17
29
Anaemic .
1
1
5
6
3
3
9
8
3
36
15
8
7
23
162
3
4
Bad teeth ..
63
93
39
11
17
22
41
35
13
22
104
73
39
43
41
656
Mentally deficient . .
Ear disease. .
1
1
2
1
1
3
Tuberculosis .
Whooping cough
5
Total Number of Examinations . 2947
Vaccination Certificates . . .
.. 70
Age and Schooling Certificates. .301
Permits to return to school .. .. 52
·
Other eye conditions. . . Skin disease ·
13
10
4
2
2
1
2
9
1
1
Enlarged glands
12
20
2
8
1
1
2
3
4
1
1
3
33
4
18
3
17
3
3
43
1
5
3
5
1
6
1
1
20
39
50
3
1
2
6
5
2
2
5
Chicken pox ...
4
192
193
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools :
The undersigned respectfully submits his report as attendance officer for the year ending December 31, 1913.
No. of cases in- No. of cases aided vestigated for from benevolent fund absence
January
82
35
February
36
14
March
48
25
April
49
25
Mav
54
26
June
22
5
September
40
I6
October
51
I7
November
38
9
December
50
IO
Total 470 182
Employment Certificates and Cards issued 403
Committed to Walpole as habitual truant I
Taken to court for illegal employment of children under fourteen years of age
I
Parents taken to court for allowing their children under fourteen years of age to be employed when schools were in session
4
Cases aided with clothing donated by friends 14
Calls made to Private and Evening Schools IO
Calls made to private and evening schools. IO
During the past year I have endeavored at all times when schools were in session to be prompt to investi- gate all cases of absence arising from various causes. I find in quite a number of cases that the parents are more to be blamed than the children ; but, in summing up the whole matter, I would say that it is gratifying to know that the standard of attendance will compare favorably
194
ANNUAL REPORT
with any in the state, according to the information that I receive from other cities and towns in the common- wealth.
My sincere thanks are due to the superintendent and all in authority for their support and sympathy at all times.
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN PARKER.
195
ANNUAL REPORT
In Memoriam
ELIZAETH C. HUNT
For eight years a teacher in Attleborough Public Schools. Died May 3, 1913.
MARY E. HATTEN
For fourteen years a teacher in Attleborough Public Schools. Died November 14, 1913.
School Directory, January 1914
SCHOOL TELEPHONES
Bliss
218-R
Briggs Corner
263-L-1
Dodgeville
620-J
Hebronville
535-Y
High
390-W
Plat
Pawtucket 213-J
Richardson
215-R
South Attleboro
Pawtucket 818-R
Tiffany
406-W
Washington
Pawtucket 213-M
TEACHERS
High School-Cor. of Bank and Peck Sts.
Hal R. Eaton, Principal
22 Elizabeth St.
Harold E. Willey, Sub-Master, Science
10 Prospect St.
Edith L. Claflin, German and Science
144 Pleasant St.
Lida H. Marrs, Commercial Branches
62 North Main St.
Alice J. Macomber, English
21 Hodges St.
Martha A. Clapp, Latin and English
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