USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1916 > Part 10
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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Lewis A. Fales, 22 Mechanics St. . Telephone 238-J
Office, Sanford Street School. . Telephone 64-R
The Superintendent's office is open on school days from 8:30 to 12:30, and from 1:30 to 5; Saturday from 9 to 12. The Superintend- ent's office hours on school days are from 8:30 to 9; 4 to 5 Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 7 to 8 Monday evening.
Clerks
Alice I. Wetherell .32 Sanford St Telephone 347-J
Myrtle F. Goodwin. . 141 North Main St. Telephone 325-M
School Physician
Dr. Wilfred E. Rounseville 40 Bank St.
Telephone 320
Attendance Officer
Warren Parker, 9 Grove St. Telephone 175-M Office. Sanford Street School
Office hours on school days: 8:30-9:00 A. M. daily. 3:30-5:00 P. M., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.
School Calendar-1916-1917
Fall term. . Sept. 5 to Dec. 22, 1916
Winter term. Jan. 1 to March 23, 1917
Spring term. April 2 to June 22, 1917
Fall term begins
. Sept. 4, 1917
SCHOOL SESSIONS
High School-One session, from 8:15 to 1, with a recess of fifteen minutes.
Grammar and Primary Schools-Morning session from 9 to 11:45. Afternoon session from 1:30 to 3:45, from beginning of spring term to Nov. 1; 1:15 to 3:30 from Nov. 1 to March 1. Grade 1 closes fifteen minutes earlier than the other grades.
139
ANNUAL REPORT
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
Four Double Strokes on the Fire Alarm 2-2-2-2.
7:15 A. M. No session for the High School.
8:00 A. M. No morning session for all grades below the High School.
8:15 A. M. No morning session for the first, second and third grades. Afternoon session for all grades unless the signal is repeated at 12:15 or 12:30.
11:15 A. M. One session. Grades I to III will close for the day at 12 M. All higher grades then in session will close for the day at 1 P. M.
12:15 P. M. No afternoon session for all grades below the High School.
12:30 P. M. No afternoon session for the first, second and third grades.
6:50 P. M. No session for the evening schools.
The signal will be given at 8 A. M. and 12:15 P. M. only in very severe weather.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Dr.
To appropriations $114,599.41
To transfer from account of Independent Evening Indus- trial School to cover charges belonging to that ac- count, etc. 13.50
Total. $114,612.91
Cr.
By net expenditures for support of schools $111,055.16
By expenditures for Tiffany School repairs. 1,196.38
By expenditures for special repairs for fire protection .... 1,928.49
By amounts paid for individual telephones, books and sup- plies sold, use of High School Hall, etc., for which the City was reimbursed. 391.16
By balance
41.72
Total $114,612.91
GROSS EXPENDITURES.
High School
Elementary Schools
General Account
Evening Schools
Vacation Schools
Total
General Control
Agent
$414.80
Clerks
1,333.00
Telephones
318.34
Census enumerator
100.00
School reports
78.65
Office expenses
62.03
$2,306.82
Superintendence including Attendance Officer
Superintendent
2,400.00
Attendance Officer
687.52
Office expense, fuel, etc.
220.38
$15.25
Expenses out of town.
93.16
3,416.31
Expense of Instruction
Teachers
$16,404.56
$52,060.31
839.25
$222.00
Supervisors
Books
769.23
1,518.10
33.95
Supplies
971.75
1,624.96
5.75
99.86
Cooking
328.69
286.08
128.71
Sewing
15.21
Care of organs.
6.00
50.50
Operating School Plant
Janitors
1,970.54
7,948.40
Fuel
1,258.19
6,163.26
Water
71.27
582.21
.
110.00
140
ANNUAL REPORT
77,892.74
2,527.83
Manual training
GROSS EXPENDITURES-Continued.
High School
Elementary Schools
General Account
Evening Schools
Vacation Schools
Total
Operating School Plant -- Continued
Janitors' supplies, etc.
112.25
441.65
Lights-Gas
61.50
Electricity
132.40
70.91
141.24
Power
315.76
53.64
Towels
16.87
92.57
19,542.66
Maintaining School Plant
Repairs
1,082.18
3,055.58
Furniture
142.68
Care of grounds
23.10
10.75
Flags
8.25
34.20
Tiffany School
1,196.38
Repairs for fire protection.
1,928.49
7,481.61
Auxiliary Agencies
Health
400.00
Transportation
3,029.00
3,429.00
Miscellaneous
Truant School
12.00
Benevolence
198.63
Graduations
69.03
92.73
Sundries
93.83
Express
1.84
33.99
502.05
$23,970.67
$80,443.87
$8,635.71
$1,199.08
$321.86
$114,571.19
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
ANNUAL REPORT
.
. .
.
#
.
141
142
ANNUAL REPORT
ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1917 Compared With Expenditures for 1916
Appro- priated 1916
Expendi- tures 1916
Esti- mated 1917
Increase over 1916
General Control
1. School Committee-
Agent
$425.00
$414.80
$425.00
$10.20
Clerks
1,319.00
1,333.00
1,413.00
80.00
Office expenses . .
50.00
62.03
50.00
-12.03
Reports
100.00
78.65
100.00
21.35
Telephones
232.00
318.34
235.00
-83.34
Census
100.00
100.00
100.00
$2,226.00
$2,306.82
$2,323.00
$16.18
2. Superintendence
including
Attendance Officer-
Superintendent
$2,400.00
$2,400.00
$2,500.00
$100.00
Attendance Officer
700.00
687.52
700.00
12.48
Office expenses,
fuel, etc.
200.00
220.38
200.00
-20.38
Expenses out of
town
90.00
93.16
90.00
-3.16
$3,390.00
$3,401.06
$3,490.00
$88.94
Instruction
Teachers' salaries $72,421.00
$70,992.70
$75,670.00
$4,677.30
Text-books, s u p-
plies and care
of organs
3,850.00
4,940.54
4,500.00
-440.54
Cooking
300.00
328.69
300.00
-28.69
Manual training
350.00
430.00
425.00
-5.00
$76,921.00
$76,691.93
$80,895.00
$4,203.07
Operating School Plant
Janitors
$9,715.00
$9,918.94
$10,071.00
$152.06
Fuel
6,400.00
7,421.45
7,035.00
-386.45
Water
650.00
653.48
650.00
-3.48
Janitors' supplies,
etc.
450.00
553.90
500.00
-53.90
Power
225.00
315.76
300.00
-15.76
Lights
250.00
264.81
250.00
-14.81
Towels
110.00
109.44
110.00
.56
$17,800.00
$19,237.78
$18,916.00
-$321.78
Maintaining School Plant
Repairs
$4,500.00
$4,137.76
$5,000.00
$862.24
Furniture
250.00
142.68
250.00
107.32
Flags
50.00
42.45
50.00
7.55
Care of grounds ..
50.00
33.85
50.00
16.15
Tiffany School ...
1,500.00
1,196.38
500.00
-696.38
Special repairs for
fire protection
1.500.00
1,928.49
-1,928.49
$7,850.00
$7,841.61
$5,850.00
-$1,631.61
. .
and sewing
143
ANNUAL REPORT
Auxiliary Agencies
Health - School
Physician
$400.00
$400.00 3,029.00
$400.00 3,688.00
$659.00
$3,788.00
$3,429.00
$4,088.00
$659.00
Miscellaneous
Truant School
$50.00
$12.00
$50.00
$38.00
Benevolence
300.00
198.63
300.00
101.37
Graduations
125.00
161.76
150.00
-11.76
Sundries
100.00
93.83
100.00
6.17
Express
50.00
35.83
35.00
-. 83
$625.00
$502.05
$535.00
$132.95
Evening Schools.
$1,450.00
$1,199.08
$1,000.00
-$199.08
Vacation Schools
450.00
321.86
400.00
78.14
$114,500.00
$114,571.19
$117,597.00
$3,025.81
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR 1917
Appro- priated 1916
Expendi- tures 1916
Esti- mated 1917
Increase over 1916
General Control
1.
School Committee
$2,226.00
$2,306.82
$2,323.00
$16.18
2. Superintendence
3,390.00
3,401.06
3,490.00
88.94
Instruction
76,921.00
76,691.93
80,895.00
4,203.07
Operating School
Plant
17,800.00
19,237.78
18,916.00
-- 321.78
Maintaining Plant
School
7,850.00
7,481.61
5,850.00
1,631.61
Auxiliary Agencies
3,788.00
3,429.00
4,088.00
659.00
Miscellaneous
625.00
502.05
635.00
132.95
Evening Schools
1,450.00
1,199.08
1,000.00
-199.08
Vacation Schools
450.00
321.86
400.00
78.14
To be appropriated. .
$114,500.00
$114,571.19
$117,597.00
$3,025.81 $117,597.00
Transportation
3,388.00
144
ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE SHOWING EXPENDITURES
for the Public Schools for the past three years with estimate for 1917
1914
1915
1916
Estimate 1917
General Control
School Committee.
$1,870.05
$2,108.81
$2,306.82
$2,323.00
Superintendent and Attendance Offi-
cer
3,212.41
3,419.83
3,401.06
3,490.00
Instruction
64,327.46
71,439.58
76,691.93
80,895.00
Operating School
Plant
17,299.45
17,443.48
19,237.78
18,916.00
Maintaining School Plant
4,230.32
5,261.68
7,481.61
5,850.00
Auxiliary Agencies
3,501.02
3,575.13
3,429.00
4,088.00
Miscellaneous
900.91
555.26
502.05
635.00
Evening Schools.
1,411.66
1,187.52
1,199.08
1,000.00
Vacation Schools
466.75
303.49
321.86
400.00
$97,220.03
$105,294.78
$114,571.19
$117,597.00
Increase over previ-
ous year
$7,394.93
$8,074.75
$9,276.41
$3,025.81
INDEPENDENT EVENING INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
Dr.
Appropriation
$500.00
Cr.
Total expenditures
$94.17
Balance
405.83
$500.00
Amount due from State.
$47.09
Net expense to City .
47.08
Balance
405.83
$500.00
145
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the School Committee For 1916
To the Honorable Harold E. Sweet, Mayor:
Agreeable to custom the School Committee submit their annual report for consideration. The organization of the Committee was per- fected along the same lines as last year and the work was carried along with few changes from the preceding year. Changes were made where it appeared wise to do so for the best interests of the schools and the work has gone on without friction.
The work ordered done by the State Inspector to reduce the dan- ger from fire in the several school houses has been completed and pronounced satisfactory. As a further precaution arrangements have been made with the Chief of the Fire Department to have monthly visits of inspection made by the firemen to the school houses and reports made of their findings with recommendations as to changes that might be made to still better the conditions. So that we feel that the dangers from fire in our school houses are reduced to a minimum.
One room in the Tiffany school house was finished off for use last year and we find that we need to have the remaining room finished for use this year, which will probably cost about five hundred dollars.
The usual repairs will have to be made this year. Every year calls for something in that line, and while we feel that much was accomplished last year it is far from being finished and we ask for the same amount as last year, $5,000. Electric fixtures have been installed in the Bliss and South Attleboro school houses and the light furnished helps out the work during the short and dark days of the winter months. There are other houses where artificial light is needed for the safety of the children in the basement and stairways lead- ing to the basements. While it is true that this condition has always existed it is always wise to keep close to the safety line.
Mr. Alexander at the High School is proving by his work that the Committee made no mistake in selecting him for the principalship.
The final adjustment of the boundary lines on the Farmers School lot has not yet been completed. We hope this matter may be ad- justed before conditions become too dangerous.
By the constant watching and doing by our Superintendent, Mr. Fales, the schools continue to maintain the same high standard as heretofore. We wish to call the attention of all to the detailed report that the Superintendent has prepared.
We are greatly handicapped in our work by the great advance in prices along all lines of school supplies, especially paper stock, books and fuel, and there seems to be no immediate relief. In making up our budget this fact was constantly before us and the amounts asked for have been as closely figured as is consistent with the stand- ard of work expected of this department. We therefore feel that we must ask for the sum of $117,600.
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN P. KING, Chairman, For the Committee.
146
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Attleboro:
I submit herewith my twelfth annual report as Superintendent of Schools, it being the thirty-third in the series of superintendents' re- ports. The attendance statistics are for the school year from Sep- tember 1915 to June 1916; the financial statistics are for the calendar year 1916.
STATISTICS
1
Population, Census, 1915
18,480
11-School Census
Boys
Girls
Total
Number of children between 5 and 7
369
310
679
Number of children between 7 and 14.
1,196
1,092
2,288
Number of children between 14 and 16.
204
210
414
Total
1,769
1,612
3,381
Il1-Attendance
Attendance statistics for the school year from September 7, 1915 to June 23, 1916:
Number of different pupils enrolled.
3,045
Average membership
2,742
Average daily attendance
2,586
Per cent of attendance.
94
Table showing the average membership and per cent of attendance for the last ten years:
Average membership
Gain over
Per cent of previous year attendance
1905-1906
2,086
16
92
1906-1907
2,109
23
93
1907-1908
2,207
98
93
1908-1909
2,351
144
94
1909-1910
2,213
-138
93
1910-1911
2,317
104
93
1911-1912
2,302
15
95
1912-1913
2,407
105
95
1913-1914
2,586
179
95
1914-1915
2,669
83
95
1915-1916
2,742
73
94
Fall Term, 1916.
September
2,824
97
October
2,821
96
November
2,812
96
December
2,817
93
Average
2,819
95.5
147
ANNUAL REPORT
IV-School Buildings
Number of school buildings September, 1916. 20
Number of school rooms (High School 25, grades 78) 103
Number of school rooms in use. 92
V-Teachers
Total number of teachers and supervisors now employed 99
Number of teachers in High School 17
Number of teachers in grades I-VIII 72
Number of teachers in kindergarten
2
Number of teachers for individual instruction. 4
Number of special teachers and supervisors.
4
VI-Cost of Instruction
Valuation of the City of Attleboro, 1916. $22,253,675.00
Total raised by taxation. . 451,124.77
Total raised for the support of schools 111,500.00
Total net expenditure for support of schools excluding vacation and evening schools.
109,534.22
Average membership of day schools, September, 1915, to June, 1916 2,742
Amount expended per pupil based on average member- ship 39.95
Cost of books and supplies per pupil based on average membership
2.04
High School
Total amount expended for High School including High School share of general expense.
$24,919.00
Average membership of High School, 1915-1916 ..
392
Average cost per pupil, based on average membership .. 63.57
Cost of books and supplies per pupil. 5.89
Elementary Schools.
Total amount expended for elementary schools.
$84,615.22
Average membership of elementary schools for the year 1915-1916
2,350
Cost per pupil based on average membership. 36.01
Cost of books and supplies per pupil. 1.40
Teachers' Salaries
In my report last year I recommended that the maximum salary of all grade and High School teachers be raised fifty dollars. In consideration of the financial situation of the City the Committee felt that no action should be taken at that time. During the past year, however, the cost of living has increased materially and there is a general movement throughout the state to increase the salaries of teachers. Comparing the salaries paid in Attleboro with the salaries paid in the ten cities and towns of about the same size, five being larger and five being smaller than Attleboro, we find the max-
148
ANNUAL REPORT
imum salaries paid in Attleboro, except for the principal of the High School, are below the average of the group as shown by the following table,
TEACHERS' MAXIMUM SALARIES
Supt.
Prin.
High School Men Teach- ers
Women Teach- ers
Gram. Prin. Kinder- Gram. Prin. Teach- Teach- gar-
Prin. Asst.
ers
ers
tens
Revere.
$2,650
$2,400
$1,750
$1,000
$1,600 $850 $800 $800
Gloucester
2,300
2,300
1,400
800
1,600 None 700
575 None
Beverly
2,850
2,500
1.600
900
1.200 None 800
750 None
Northampton .
3,000
1,900
1,500
900
1,850
750
700-
650
$500
Peabody
2,300
2,200 .
1,000-
850
1,350
650
650
650
Westfield
2,600
2,600
1,600
950
1,500
650
650
650
Leominster
2,600
2,200
1 500
900
896
750
700
700
Melrose.
3,000
2,500
1,500
850
1,200- 750
700
700
Watertown
2,200
2,200
1,500
900
1,800
800
700
700
Woburn
2,400
1,900
1,400
850
1,500
700
650
Average
2,610
2,270
1,505
870
1,480
760
720
683
617
ATTLEBORO ยทยท 2,400
2,400
1,400
850
1,400
700
700
650
550
Good schools cost money. If the boys and girls of Attleboro are to receive an education that will fit them to compete with the boys and girls educated in other cities and towns, sufficient salary must be paid to secure for Attleboro as good teachers as other places can se- cure. A good teacher means a good school. The higher the salary the better the teacher that can be secured. If Attleboro is to secure and retain that quality of teachers which is necessary to keep the schools up to the high standard which has always been maintained, teachers' salaries should be increased.
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS
So many criticisms of the results of public school education have been heard in the last few years, that one who has the supervision of a public school system hardly knows what the public expects or how to meet that expectation. He feels keenly his responsibility in the matter and is constantly trying to improve the condition of the schools under his charge. In an attempt to get the opinion of the teachers regarding the weak spots in the work of the schools, the following questions were submitted to the teachers October 27, 1915:
1. In what subject do the pupils in your room do poorest work?
2. To what do you attribute this poor work?
3. What action would you suggest to correct this deficiency?
4. In what way can the general work of the schools be improved?
The replies indicated that the pupils were doing poorest work in language and arithmetic. Following the suggestions of the teachers steps were taken at once to improve the teaching in these two sub- jects. New outlines in language were provided and new text-books furnished for the lower grades. In arithmetic further information from the teachers was sought in the following questions sent out in December:
Elementary Schools
750
1,300
1,500
149
ANNUAL REPORT
1. In the teaching of arithmetic is there any other purpose than the acquiring of skill in figuring? What other purpose, if any?
2. Do you think any time should be spent on step by step analysis of problems? If so, how much per week with average classes ? 3. Pupils of Grade VII are unable to do work like. the following: If 3/8 yd. of lace make one collar how many collars can be made from 334 yd .? If reduced to the simpler form, Divide 334 by 3/8, many do not know which is the divisor; but if written 33/4 divided by 3/8 they can do it readily. What in your opinion is the cause of this? What remedy would you suggest?
4. Are we doing enough oral work in arithmetic?
5. In doing written work what harm, if any, is there in using scrap paper and copying from it to the final paper? Is there any ad- vantage in the above procedure?
6. Should we insist in all written work that the intermediate results should be labeled throughout, not simply the final answers named? If so, why? If not, why not?
7. Do you find as a rule that pupils work for answers with little or no thought about or knowledge of the method involved?
8. What part of the time do you think should be spent in your grade on oral analysis of problems?
With the answers to these questions as a basis a study was begun of the whole subject of teaching arithmetic. Copies of three of the newest text-books in arithmetic were placed in the hands of the teachers, with the courses of study accompanying the same. Pamph- lets on arithmetic were distributed for study. Great help was derived from "How to Teach the Fundamental Subjects" by Kendall and Mirick, which was read and discussed by the teachers in each build- ing. The teachers showed keen interest in the subject and as a result of this study the teaching of arithmetic has greatly improved. Em- phasis is being placed on motivation and the solution of problems with constant drill on the fundamental processes.
Recently teachers have been asked to read "The Motivation of School Work" by Wilson, a book which they are finding both inter- esting and profitable. Beginning January 3, 1917, a reading club of fifty teachers will meet once in two weeks to read and discuss "A Brief Course in the Teaching Process" by Strayer. Attendance is entirely voluntary and the fact that fifty teachers are ready to join such a club shows a professional spirit that is decidedly pleasing. Teachers must be students as well as teachers and those will teach with most interest who are still anxious to learn.
The course in reading has been somewhat modified, more time being given to literature and silent reading in the upper grades, a list of memory selections has been compiled for each grade, and the teaching made more uniform throughout the schools. On Monday, March 6, Miss Hannah P. Waterman, of the North Adams Normal School visited several of our schools to hear the classes read and then addressed the teachers on the subject of reading. Her address was both critical and helpful and encouraged teachers to attack the teaching of reading with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.
Children are not created equal. They may have certain equal rights but they do not all have the same ability to learn and to do school work. This is apparent as soon as children enter the first grade and it is always evident throughout the grades and the High School. The school is not a machine that can take all kinds of chil- dren into the first grade and grind out a uniform set of scholars of equal abilities and attainments at the end of the eighth grade or the
150
ANNUAL REPORT
High School. They will differ at the end as they differed at the be- ginning. The school presents an equal opportunity for all, and a cer- tain minimum standard of attainment is established for promotion and graduation, but above this minimum requirement the knowledge and abilities of pupils differ greatly. The same is true of classes as a whole; they vary as their individual members vary, and it is im- possible to expect all classes of the same grade in all the schools to do work of the same quality. Home environment and heredity have much to do with the kind of work children do in school, and the best that some children can do often falls far short of being satisfactory. If however, we can get all children to do their best, to work at the top notch of their ability, we must be satisfied with the result.
Tiffany School
During the year one of the rooms at the Tiffany School left un- finished when the building was constructed, was finished and fur- nished and was occupied in September. Seven rooms in this build- ing are now in use, with a total enrolment for December of 249. The first and the fourth grades are crowded and the arrangements for the first and second grades are unsatisfactory. The lower grades in this building have been crowded ever since the building was opened, these grades filling up as fast as the new rooms have been opened. To relieve this situation as much as possible the remaining unfinished room should be completed during the summer, and plans made to occupy the room in September.
There are one hundred more pupils in the Tiffany School to- day than there were four years ago when the school was opened. Then only four rooms were in use. If this rate of growth continues, the opening of the eighth room will not long relieve the crowded con- ditions of the grades mentioned.
Contagious Diseases
During the school year 1915-1916, several rooms were closed on account of an outbreak of diphtheria. Much time was lost by many pupils, the attendance in the rooms affected before and after they were closed was very poor and the work of these classes for the year was sadly interrupted. The school physician and the health officer watched the schools very carefully, but the disease spread from one part of the city to another, and it was a long time before the schools were finally free from the disease. The loss to the schools by such an epidemic can hardly be estimated. Such outbreaks re- quire constant daily attention on the part of the city physicians, who are not always able to devote to them the time and energy which such occasions require. The Committee decided that the employment of a school nurse to aid the school physician would ensure proper attention at the start to such cases of contagious diseases, prevent their spreading and thus safeguard the health of the children. The Committee were unable to hire a nurse, however, as no appropriation was made for that purpose.
This fall the District Nursing Association very generously offered to provide a school nurse to work under the direction of the school physician. The Committee gladly accepted this offer and the school nurse began her duties October 23rd. The same day that the nurse began her duties, a case of diphtheria was discovered at the Bliss School. Daily inspection of pupils was made, suspicious cases sent
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ANNUAL REPORT
from school and the parents notified. Many cultures were sent to Boston and in this way three or four more cases were discovered. One primary room was closed for a week. The disease spread no further, however, and no more cases developed other than those found by taking the cultures. Had these cases not been discovered as they were, the disease would probably have spread throughout the building, as none of the children having the disease complained of being ill. In fact, some parents said their children were not sick and objected to their being excluded from school. Prompt action by the school physician and the school nurse prevented an epidemic. The school nurse has justified her employment. It is hoped that in the near future she may be employed by the school department.
EVENING SCHOOLS
Statistics from October 4, 1915 to February 3, 1916:
Attleboro
Dodgeville Hebronville
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