USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1914 > Part 9
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I am glad to report a year of marked progress for Attle- boro High School. Our total enrollment for the fall term of 1914 has been 360 pupils as compared with a total of 325 pupils for the corresponding period in 1913. In the past five years, we have gained more than 100 pupils, the enrollment in 1909 being 254. We are pleased with this growth but still feel that these figures are too small for a city of Attleboro's size and that there must be many young people of high school age who should be enjoying the oppor- tunity for advancement that this school offers.
Several changes have occurred in the teaching force since my last report. Miss Purington, Miss Parker, and Miss Bennett resigned to accept positions in Passaic, N. J., Brockton and Newton. Their places have been taken by Miss Mira Poler, Miss Geordie H. Hamlin, and Miss Florence M. Holmes, all experienced teachers. Mr. Her- bert W. Hamilton, a former undergraduate assistant at Bates College, was secured to inaugurate the new Biology course.
The course of study has been altered by the substitu- tion of Biology in place of the second year Physics and the addition of another year of Manual Training, elective for all sophomore boys who have successfully completed the freshman work in the same subject. Mechanical Drawing is required of all taking this Manual Training course. A full account of this work is given in Mr. Eastwood's report. The work in Biology began in September with no equip- ment but at present the work is going on with a fair but inadequate amount of material. There is great need of better seating arrangements, closets and drawers, and a suitable lecture table with gas and an aquarium. For equipment, there are needed plant and animal charts and
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models, bacterial demonstration material, and a few more reference books. An effort is made to have the student realize the vastness and wonder of the living world, how to observe and interpret life, and above all, his own place among living things. About seventy pupils are taking this course.
The one proposed change in the curriculum next year is the addition of Domestic Science. It is needless for me to write at length about this. I am heartily in favor of it and believe it will afford as interesting and efficient train- ing for the girls as Manual Training does for the boys.
Our great problem in planning for next year's work is how to relieve the pressure of work in the commercial de- partment and in the Freshman divisions. Our commercial department has an enviable reputation which can not but suffer unless relief is furnished. Present indications point to at least 78 periods weekly of commercial work next year. This means 26 periods a week for each of three teachers and it is apparent that our present force of two teachers can not possibly do this work. I recommend that another teacher be added as assistant in the commer- cial department. . The addition of a teacher last year to care for the Biology and Freshman Science and the ar- ranging of the work of three other teachers made it possi- ble for us to take care of the increased number of Fresh- man divisions and French classes last year. This rear- rangement of studies was but a temporary makeshift and will hardly be possible next year. If the next entering class is a large one, as now seems probable, and the usual proportion of present Freshmen enters the Sophomore class, we shall be compelled to add another teacher. There is also great need of a drawing teacher as drawing will require at least 25 periods, probably more, next year.
For several years, it was impracticable to have a basket- ball team because of the great expense involved for rental of halls and coaching. Through the kindness of the local Y. M. C. A. we were permitted the use of their gymnasium
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for practice and games until we were able to get on our own floor in the new building. Under the skillful coach- ing of Mr. Willey, several excellent teams have been developed. Mention should be made here of the excellent record of the baseball teams, also coached by Mr. Willey, which tied for the pennant of the Bristol Interscholastic League but was unsuccessful in the play-off. Sometime I hope the school may have a baseball field of its own as there is always great uncertainty every year as to whether or not Brady Field will be available. I feel that our athletics are in a healthy condition. The Athletic Assoc- iation is out of debt and all money matters are in the hands of a Treasurer chosen from the teaching force. Miss Marrs has done this work efficiently for several years. The teacher who coaches the teams, sees that only clean methods of play and conduct are tolerated. In order to play on a school team a pupil must be doing passing work in studies totaling three-sixteenths of the entire number of credits required for graduation.
The wisdom of increasing the number of credits required for graduation becomes more apparent each year. Seventy credits are required of members of this year's graduating class, 72 credits in 1916 and thereafter. Scholarship in general is improving. Our honor lists are large and few pupils are satisfied with doing merely passing work. At the present time, fewer pupils are repeating work because of failure than at any time in the last four years. Possibly this may be in part attributed to the campaign for regular home study that we have been waging during these years. Of the 57 graduates in the class of 1914, ten have entered college and about an equal number are pursuing courses at Normal and private schools. Many of the graduates from the commercial course have obtained excellent posi- tions as bookkeepers and stenographers.
The school has been the recipient of many gifts during the past year and I take this opportunity to publicly thank the donors. The class of 1911 has given apparatus for
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the gymnasium-jumping standards, vaulting pole, shot, etc. A much appreciated gift was that of a piano for the gymnasium from Mrs. F. W. Bliss. Miss Lucy Sweet and Mrs. E. S. Horton presented a portrait of General Grant, suitably framed. This was given to the school on the oc- casion of the annual visit of the G. A. R., Miss Sweet reading an interesting and valuable paper giving the history of Attleboro High School from its beginning to the present time. Mr. Godchaux has given a beautifully framed group portrait of the class of 1913.
The great event of the school year was the removal from the old Bank Street building to County Street. What a relief to have sufficient class rooms, and assembly hall, wide corridors, our own lunch room, a gymnasium, capacious individual clothing lockers, shower baths and the thousand and one conveniences that are a part of this beautiful and well appointed building! The entire school feels the debt of gratitude to the citizens of Attleboro that it will endeavor to repay by increased effort, higher ideals, greater results. May Attleboro High School always prove itself worthy of its new home!
In conclusion, I desire to thank teachers, parents, and pupils for their willing cooperation and you and the School Committee for many kindnesses.
Respectfully submitted,
H. R. EATON.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The work of the music department is proceeding along regular lines. I have accomplished the task of making the work so uniform throughout the schools, that if a pupil moves to a different part of the city he will find the work of the grade in the new school he enters the same as the work in the school he has left.
The introduction of our new music readers, which has been in process now for two or three years, is almost com- plete. These books combine the finest music with the best literature yet published for the public schools, and the increase of interest and love of music which has been shown by the pupils in all grades, since their adoption by the city, is very complimentary to the pupils of our schools and a hopeful sign for the future of good music. I am sure that the city should feel well repaid for their foresight and generosity.
In combining the eighth grades in the old high school building it has been possible to have one large class in- stead of three small ones as formerly. This has made it possible for me to arrange my schedule so that I can give the same time to the new Tiffany School as is given to the other schools. When the high school moved to the new building, the new concert piano, which was given the high school by the Richardson fund, was moved also, and it was necessary to find a suitable piano to accompany the eighth grade chorus. This we did by moving the old grand piano from the Sanford Street School and it is prov- ing very satisfactory and helpful in developing the many musical interests which have sprung from the combination of all the eighth grades. Here we have a chorus of one hundred sixty voices in the general class. We have a selected chorus of twenty boys and a selected chorus of thirty girls. This school is a power to be reckoned with in the development of music in the community.
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I have organized a boys' chorus in four of the largest schools which meets after school in their own building once a week. Every six weeks they are brought together in the old high school. At present we are singing the fami- liar patriotic and folk songs found in our regular singing books, but as they develop it is hoped that other music will be provided for their use that will prove interesting and instructive. The total number of boys in this special chorus is now one hundred ten, selected from the best boy singers in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
The music work in the high school is developing along several new lines. The work of the chorus is considerably changed for the better by the commodious and beautiful hall in which we meet to sing. The music seems more ideal and inspirational and the joy of singing in such beau- tiful surroundings must make an impression which will always remain in the minds of the pupils as one of the pleasantest memories of high school days.
It is my privilege and pleasure to know every good singer that goes through our schools and to encourage and assist him to develop the talent which is given him. To this end I have established the custom of solo singing in the high school. Once a month, two or more of the best singers will sing before the high school chorus. This ex- perience before a friendly audience gives confidence and assurance and is of great value to any young singer.
In November of 1914 was formed the high school Glee Club of twenty-five girls. This club meets after school hours once a week and is progressing favorably.
The boys of the high school interested in orchestral music are still rehearsing and I am hoping more may be done to encourage this form of musical activity.
It is quite a few years since I first advocated in one of my annual reports the advisability of using the phono- graph as a means of musical education and with a bor- rowed machine I gave several illustrated music lectures on the opera and oratorio. Since that time the phono-
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graph has been developed and improved until we have to- day the perfect Victrola, an instrument that can give as fine a reproduction of any music, either vocal or instru- mental, as is possible by mechanical device. Such an instrument the high school pupils have purchased for the school and I hope to use it to the interest and advantage of the music class of the high school.
The records for the instrument are expensive and I would like to bring to the attention of those interested in this work an opportunity to help by presenting the school with much needed records. What more delightful remem- brance could one give than a set of records of Handel's Messiah or Gounod's Faust or Verdi's Il Trovatore or Aida, or any other of the popular oratorios or operas, or the record of even one great song sung by one of the great singers. These would not only be an inspiration but a positive educational value to the musical student.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN LAING GIBB.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
It has been interesting to look at the School Report for 1908, and note the growth in the number of schools since then.
There are now eighteen more rooms open for drawing than in 1908. In the high school five periods a week were given to the mechanical and freehand work at that time, and now thirteen periods are given to the freehand work alone. In 1909 there were twenty freshmen in the free- hand class, nine in the sophomore, one in the junior, and two in the senior class. This year there are seventy-two freshmen, thirty-nine sophomores, seven juniors, and six- teen seniors, making the whole number this year one hundred and thirty-four as compared with thirty-two in 1909. This is just the freehand work.
In 1908 the seventh and eighth grades were visited every week, and all other grades once in two weeks, but as the work increased, the seventh and eighth grades were also visited once in two weeks. After a time, the first three grades were visited once a month, and later the fourth grades came in for the monthly visit. This year all grades are visited once in three weeks.
The general plan of the work is not changed this year, but I am putting more emphasis on constructive work. Children are fond of this kind of work, not only because they like to do something with their hands, but because of the "use" side of what they make.
In the first three grades we are trying to make the work more vivid, not only by illustrating stories by cutting and drawing, but by constructing them. We have done this before, but are now doing more of it.
I feel the need of better constructive work in the middle grades, that more effective work may be done in the upper grades. What we have done in the constructive work so
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far this year shows a larger percent of good work than be- fore, due partly I believe to what was done last year. I want better results.
The conditions under which we work at the high school are more favorable to good work than ever before. The pupils as well as myself appreciate our drawing room. Here I am emphasizing construction and applied design. Design must have a purpose and that purpose decoration. A person looking at the designs hanging in our room might think we are making just pictures of design for the sake of design. This is only part of the process. We are seeing the pattern before putting it into material. Some of our designs have been worked out in leather, and we hope soon to see other designs appearing on sofa cushions, curtains, table runners, book covers, and various other articles. Last spring our object drawing was better than it was possible to get in the old building, because it was possible to place objects so that they could be seen by the whole class. We want to see better results this year.
Respectfully submitted,
PERSIS'A. CROWELL.
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REPORT OF THE TEACHER OF MANUAL TRAINING
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I have great pleasure in submitting to you my fifth annual report of the manual training department.
The most important change to note is the removal of the High School to the new building and the transfer of the eighth grade work from the South Main Street Schoo to the Bank Street building. Much valuable time is thus saved as the pupils do not leave the buildings.
In the new High School we have two rooms in the basement, one for wood-working and bench work, the other for wood-turning and metal work. The wood-working room is rather small for the number of pupils who have elected this work. We have added an up-to-date circular saw to our excellent equipment for wood-working. For the metal work we require the installation of gas and gas fixtures which will enable us to use the blowpipe for solder- ing.
Manual training is a very popular study with the boys. We again note an increase. The number of pupils from the various schools is as follows:
High School, Freshmen . 41
- Sophomores. 27
Juniors 5 Senior 1
74
Grammar Grade VIII
86
Total . 160 An increase of 50 pupils.
Besides the boys who take manual training as a regular course of work it is our pleasure to report that a number
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of boys from the academic courses ask permission to do some special work, both in and after regular school hours, e. g., fitting out wireless telegraph apparatus, household furniture repairs, window screens, picture framing etc. This is a gratification to the teacher although it entails extra work.
The regular course of study for the freshmen covers the same principles as before but wherever the application of them can be improved upon and greater interest devel- oped, a change is made in the projects covering those principles.
NEW FEATURE. The removal to the new High School opened up an avenue to a long hoped-for desire of the teacher and to a much discussed opportunity on the part of the boys, viz., manual training as an elective for the sophomore class. Twenty-seven sophomores, five juniors and one senior seized this chance. The course consists of wood-turning, pattern work, advanced bench work, in wood; and the elements of the jewelry industry such as sawing, drilling, filing, riveting and finishing in copper, brass or silver; soldering and fitting simple jewelry; raising, hammering and annealing metal shapes in copper; design, chasing and simple engraving. The wood-turning is necessarily limited by not having enough lathes for the size of the classes. We really need at least twice as many in order to secure the best possible work with the best economy of time and interest.
The practical value of the manual training has been ably demonstrated. Some die balls were required for the Industrial Evening School. It was found that if a pattern in wood could be made, the cost would be considerably reduced. A boy in the Sophomore class made one to the satisfaction of the moulder and the Evening School instru- or. A cupboard containing pigeon holes for each boy's work was made for the manual training room, a rack for the floor in the shower-bath room, and shelves have been
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fitted in the school safe. Tables, telephone stand, skees, electrical apparatus, etc. have been made.
The Grammar School work is done on the top floor of the Bank Street School which makes an excellent room having plenty of space and light. The course here is ele- mentary bench work, working drawings and problems in shop arithmetic. After a pupil has proven his ability to execute the regular course with exactness and finish, he is allowed to work out his own ideas, thus stimulating in- terest, efficiency and creative power. Toys and things for home were made for Christmas. Taborettes, music and phonographic record cabinets, model yachts and motor boats, card tables, etc. were some of the extra projects made.
MECHANICAL DRAWING. In this department the new High School provides an up-to-date equipment in an excellent room with abundant light, accommodating thirty pupils. The number of pupils electing mechanical draw- ing are 50 freshmen, 36 sophomores, 10 juniors, and 3 seniors, a total of 99, an increase of 40. Four of the classes are much too large making it difficult to secure the very best results with the individual pupil.
The freshman course consists of lettering, figuring laying out sheet, freehand sketches of simple objects of which finished working drawings are made to scale. A few drawings are inked.
The sophomore course is more advanced introducing machine drawing-sketching of machine parts and making finished drawings of same to scale.
The juniors and seniors continue the machine drawing and take some architectural drawing. The aim of the architectural drawing is not to train architects but to
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teach the boys the principles of building construction and the practical method of drafting plans of small frame, brick or cement buildings. Three boys already have drawn plans for bungalows or modified the plans of their parents' homes. One boy has drawn the plans of his wire- less outfit in order to secure a government permit to use his apparatus.
Thanking you most heartily for your ever ready advice and cooperation, I am,
Yours faithfully,
WILLIAM F. EASTWOOD.
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REPORT OF THE TEACHER OF SEWING
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
During the past year, as in previous years, instruction in sewing has been given to the girls in grades five, six, seven, and eight, making thirty-two classes in all. The opening of the Bank Street School made it necessary this year to visit four of the outlying schools but once in two weeks. All others are visited each week although, in some buildings, classes have had to be combined making them too large for good work.
Two new sewing machines were bought in September and placed in the sewing room of the Bank Street School for the use of the eighth grade girls. They were very much needed and thoroughly appreciated, as so much more work can be accomplished with them. At present the condition of our sewing room is rather unsatisfactory. I would recommend it be fitted out with comfortable seat- ing arrangement and facilities for cutting and for storing material and specimens of finished work.
In planning for the sewing I have endeavored to make the work as practical as possible, having the children make articles for themselves and such as are used in the home, with just enough fancy work to vary the work a little and keep the children interested. Experience teaches that a child when working on a real object of use not only does better work but gets more good from it through the arous- ing of interest, than when simply practising stitches, so a slight change has been made in the beginner's class. Last year they learned the stitches by sewing on small squares of cloth while this year they began at once on simple arti- cles.
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The girls are doing well in their work. The results are not always an indication of the amount of effort put forth, for inability in this work varies as much as in regular studies and often a girl who is handicapped by lack of natural taste for sewing, is as deserving of commendation as an- other girl who accomplishes more with much less effort.
The interest developing in the work is teaching them to be self reliant, accurate and painstaking-three qualities of untold value to them now in every kind of work after leaving school.
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE A. WALKER.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The following report is submitted to you in regard to the medical inspection of the schools during the year 1914.
Every child attending school has been examined by me with the exception of those absent on account of sickness. As usual a great deal of work was found to be done, work that requires more careful examination than can be given in the schools. I hope that some time soon we may have a free clinic for children where the School Physician can send children needing more careful supervision than they can get in school. This would be of especial value in sus- pected tubercular cases. This last year I have been very fortunate in having the services of the district nurses of the Anti-Tuberculosis Society as an aid to my work. They have visited and cared for many of the children and with their help several operations have been performed for the children's benefit.
Last spring, with cooperation between the Board of Health and myself, we were able to prevent any spread of small pox, a case of which we had in the vicinity of the Tiffany School. A sister of the child affected was in at- tendance at that school, where over thirty pupils had to be re-vaccinated. During the school year, whooping cough, mumps and chicken pox have spread through first one school and then another in spite of precautions. There have been very few cases of measles, scarlet fever and diptheria. When parents regard children's diseases in a more serious light, we shall have the contagion well in hand. Children should be kept at home, when at all ill, and their physician called. In this way, serious results for the child in question will be checked, as well as the ex- posure of a whole school room.
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As in my report of last year, I reiterate that the co- operation of the parents is most essential if we hope for better results each year, and it has been a disappointment to find that in many cases fault has been found rather than appreciation felt. Whatever report may be made on the condition of a child is always made with the intent to benefit the child.
As a summary, the total number of examinations made has been 3,216, physician's certificate of health 186, vac- cination certificates 80, and permits to return to school 138.
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