USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1916 > Part 11
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Total
Enrolment, males
110
22
14
146
Enrolment, females
55
11
12
78
Total
165
33
26
224
Average attendance
73
15
16
104
Per cent of attendance to enrolment
44
45
62
46
Number of illiterates.
58
11
26
95
Statistics for the term October 16, 1916 to December 21, 1916 are as follows:
Enrolment, males
155
19
9
183
Enrolment, females
36
6
7
49
Total
191
25
16
232
Average attendance
78
14
10
102
Per cent of attendance to
enrolment
41
56
63
44
Number of male illiterates.
42
5
6
53
Number of female illiterates
16
1
6
23
Total
58
6
12
76
Number of male illiterate minors
18
5
5
28
Number of female illiterate
minors
13
1
4
18
Total
31
6
9
46
The attendance at the evening schools this year has been much smaller than usual. The primary classes for foreigners beginning to learn English and the class in mechanical drawing have been well at- tended but in the other classes the attendance has been small.
A class in American Citizenship was started this year, carrying out the idea of the department of naturalization at Washington. To each of the 115 men whose names were on record in October as hav- ing filed intentions of becoming citizens or as having petitioned for naturalization the following letter was sent:
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ANNUAL REPORT
Dear Sir:
You have just declared your intention of becoming a citizen of the United States. You must wait two years before you can file your Petition for Naturalization and then ninety days must pass be- fore you can take the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. You will be examined at that time as to your knowl- edge of Government in the United States.
You are probably anxious to begin at once to study about the history of our country, our forms of government-city, state and national-and your rights and duties as a citizen.
The City of Attleboro, through the School Department, is anxious to help you. A class for people preparing for naturalization has been organized in connection with our evening school. This class meets Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the High School build- ing on County Street, and will continue till February 20, 1917. A competent instructor is in charge.
Join the class at once. Go to the evening school and ask for Mr. McEvoy.
Very truly yours,
LEWIS A. FALES, Superintendent of Schools.
Ten joined the class only those being admitted who had a good knowledge of the English language. History has been read and dis- cussed. Questions in naturalization and government have been asked and answered. The work has been' interesting and profitable. It is to be regretted that more could not find it convenient to attend this class.
TOOLMAKING AND DESIGN
On account of the fact that last year the attendance at these two classes was seriously interfered with by the night work in the shops, it was decided by the advisory committee this year that it would be wiser to defer the opening of these classes till after the fall rush in the shops was over. Accordingly plans were made to start these classes in January, 1917. Those wishing to enter the classes registered December 19, 1916. Twenty-four enrolled for the toolmaking class and sixteen for the class in design. This is the best enrolment these classes have had, and the outlook is promising.
The interest shown in this work by manufacturers and the gen- eral public is decidedly encouraging. Mr. S. M. Einstein has given the school a cabinet for the toolroom. Mr. Joseph Finberg, learning that an engine lathe was needed, very generously sent a lathe from his toolroom to the school. Other friends offered the use of a speed lathe and a Thurston cutter milling machine. The Y. M. C. A. have helped the class in designing by placing in the school for use as long as needed, the equipment, consisting of desks, casts, and easels which has been used for several years by the Y. M. C. A. in instruction in this subject. These gifts have saved the City a considerable sum of money, and will help materially to increase the efficiency of the classes. To the donors of these gifts, I wish to express the thanks of the School Department.
These classes take up the fundamentals of the jewelry business, and offer to all engaged in the business an opportunity to learn some- thing of these two trades. Whether these classes will ultimately develop into a jewelry school will depend wholly upon the interest of the persons who desire such instruction. If sufficient interest is shown by the pupils, I believe the City will provide such instruction as may be desired.
153
ANNUAL REPORT
FIRE PROTECTION
The Peabody fire directed the attention of all school authorities to the protection against fire of the buildings under their control. In November, 1915, the state inspector of buildings for this district, Mr. William H. Cairns of Fall River, made a thorough inspection of all the school buildings in Attleboro more than one story high. As a result of his inspection he ordered fire escapes placed on the San- ford Street Grammar and the Hebronville buildings, all basement doors to be covered with metal, smoke partitions at Bank Street, Richardson and South Attleboro buildings, basement stairs made fire resistive by being covered with lath and plaster, and vari- ous other changes. These changes were made this year and after another visit by the inspector, certificates of inspection were issued for each school building in Attleboro so inspected. So far as our buildings are concerned they satisfy the requirements of the state inspector of buildings for this district.
As a further safeguard against loss of life by fire the school buildings are inspected once a month by members of the fire depart- ment detailed by the chief engineer. The firemen in this way become acquainted with the construction of the school buildings and any suggestions they may have to make are reported to the School Com- mittee.
Still another measure taken this year to prevent possible loss of life by fire is the appointment in the large schools of a number of boys whose duty it is in case of fire to run to the nearest fire alarm box and ring the alarm. On their visits to the schools, the firemen have demonstrated to the teachers and the selected pupils at the nearest box just how to ring in an alarm. The number and location of the box are taught in the highest grade, and in case of fire any one of several pupils may be designated by the principal to sound the alarm while he devotes his attention to getting the pupils out of the building. Thus another step is taken to safeguard the lives of the pupils.
EIGHTH GRADES
In September, 1914, all the eighth grades in the center of the City were transferred from the Sanford Street, Richardson and Bliss schools to the old high school building on Bank Street. While this consolidation was necessary to allow more room for the lower grades in the schools mentioned, it was a wise step educationally and in accord with what is being done in many places throughout the coun- try. Whenever new buildings are needed to relieve crowded con- ditions in the grades, buildings are erected to care for the seventh and eighth grades or the seventh and eighth grades and the first year of high school, and these schools are called junior high schools or intermediate schools. These schools are conducted somewhat on the departmental plan and bridge the gap that has long existed be- tween the eighth grade and the high school. Boston, Brockton, Somerville, Arlington, Fall River and Plymouth are some of the places in Massachusetts that have recently adopted this system, and it is now common in many states.
In Attleboro only a partial consolidation of the eighth grades has been made; no attempt was made to move the eighth grades from the South Attleboro and Washington Schools. The time has now come when these eighth grades should be combined with the other eighth grades of the City in one school. There are several reasons
154
ANNUAL REPORT
for this. Some rooms at the Washington School are overcrowded and this is one way to afford relief. At the South Attleboro School the number of pupils in the seventh and eighth grade room has averaged 19 for the last three years there being only 14 this year. Next year there will be only two pupils in the eighth grade. Small classes are likely to lack ambition, interest, enthusiasm and the competition that are common in large classes. At the Bank Street School these pupils would become acquainted with a large number of their classmates and would not feel so utterly strange and alone when they enter the High school as those have felt coming from the smaller schools. They would all have the same instruction and thus would be equally prepared for high school work. There are bound to be some objections to this plan, but I am convinced that educa- tionally it is best for all.
SHOP VISITS BY PUPILS
Much is being said at the present time regarding the need of vocational instruction or guidance as a part of the public school work. Too many boys and girls on leaving school have no idea of the oppor- tunities for advancement which the different trades and occupations afford, they have little idea of their own abilities and what occupa- tions they would be most likely to succeed in, they think not of the future but only of the present. Too often on leaving school boys and girls accept the first positions offered, regardless of the nature of the work or future possibilities, only too often to find that they are in a blind alley and that their positions lead to nothing better. To save boys and girls from making such mistakes and to save them from losing two or three years of very valuable time, many schools are giving instruction in regard to the various industries of the city, the pay different workmen receive, the trade for which the pupils seem best fitted, the chances for promotion in each industry and what qualifications are needed to enable one to reach the highest position. Such instruction gives pupils an outlook upon the industries of the city in which they live which is of great help to them in determin- ing their future vocation.
In Attleboro instruction in vocational guidance took the form of visits to the various industries of the city. Through the efforts of Mr. Joseph Finberg and the Mayor, Harold E. Sweet, the coopera- tion of the manufacturers was secured and arrangements made for all the boys of the seventh and eighth grades and the High School to visit the various industries of the city in groups of twelve, each group being accompanied by a teacher. Sixty firms granted the boys the privilege of visiting their places of business and nearly fifty were visited. The foreman, superintendent or often the owner him- self showed the boys about the plant, explaining all the processes used in the manufacture of goods in that plant. These visits continued from January to April, the baseball season finally putting an end to them. That they were productive of much good there is no doubt. The visits were made the basis for language work in school and the boys told the rest of their class of their visits describing what they had seen and telling the impressions made on them. It was for them a visit to a new and strange world but a world which in a short time they will enter to try the fortunes of life.
155
ANNUAL REPORT
HOME GARDENS
Cooperating with the Chamber of Commerce in a movement to beautify the city, 127 pupils were interested to have gardens at home. Money prizes were offered by the Chamber while the Attleboro Sun offered a trip to the National Dairy Show at Springfield for the six having the best gardens. These prizes stimulated the pupils to action and many pupils had gardens. These gardens were scattered all over the city from one end to the other. They were vegetable gar- dens for the most part, very few having flower gardens. They were all inspected during the summer by Park Commissioner John E. An- derson, whose purpose was not to judge the gardens but to give in- struction where it was needed, point out mistakes, and encourage those whose gardens were not doing well. In September the judges, Mrs. H. M. Daggett, Dr. C. A. Mooers and Mr. Ralph Gaskell, inspected the gardens and awarded the prizes as follows:
SCHOOL GARDENS
Sun Prize and Blue Ribbon
1. Louise J. Gazzola,
10 Louise St.,
Age 13
School
Grade
2. Richard Knowles,
Lindsey St., 13
Bliss
VII
3. Howard Williams,
236 Oak Hill Ave., 16 Sanford St. VII
4. William Sharkey,
31 Deanville St., 14 Bank St.
VIII
5. David Gray,
Turner St., 13 Washington
VIII
6. H. Hersey Johnson,
So. Attleboro, 14 So. Attleboro VIII
7. Alice Wuille,
5 Walnut St., 14 Bank St. VIII
8. Ethel Smith,
291 So. Main St., 11 Richardson V
First Prize $5 and Blue Ribbon
1. Ernest Anderson,
58 Tiffany St., 11
Tiffany V
2. Gertrude Cerronne,
Washington St., 12 Washington VI
Second Prize $3 and Red Ribbon
1. Viola G. Bennett,
West St., 11 So. Attleboro V
Third Prize $1 and White Ribbon
1. Earl Gross,
2. Albert Chartier,
3. Lester Carpenter,
391 No. Main St.,
12 Farmers VI
4. Archibald Sharkey,
31 Deantown, 12 Farmers VI
5. Kermit Hojaboom,
Read St., 13 So. Attleboro III
6. Percy Jennings,
401 No. Main St., 15 Farmers V
7. Hollis Jennings,
401 No. Main St., 13 Farmers V
88 Parker St., 15 Richardson VII
Honorable Mention
1. Emory Chapman,
2. Ethel Oliver,
3. Mildred Tingley
4. Esther Benson,
5. Manfred Carlson Turner St.,
14 So. Attleboro VIII
15 Bank St. VIII
15 Starkey Ave., Highland Ave., 13 So. Attleboro VII
100 North Ave., 12 Sanford St. VII
14 Washington VI
Hebronville, 13
Hebronville V
Hebronville, 14 Hebronville VI
8. Armand L. Pinault,
So. Attleboro,
Tiffany
V
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ANNUAL REPORT
Age School Grade
6. Marion A. Driscoll,
May St.,
13 So. Attleboro VII
7. Cornelius O'Brien,
8. William W. Sturdy,
12 Bank St. VIII
9. Harriet Groves,
69 Emory St.,
11
Bliss
VI
10. Arthur S. Bedard,
13 So. Attleboro V
11. James M. Lepper, 12. William Dion,
5 Fisher Ave.,
13 Dodgeville
IV
13. Edna M. Batchelor,
So. Main St.,
7 Dodgeville
II
14. Ernest Mehring,
75 Peck St.,
14 Sanford St.
VII
15.
John Redding,
131 Maple St.,
13
Bank St.
VIII
16.
Wallace Hodge,
9 Ellis St.,
11 Richardson
VI
17.
John Lacombe,
Wilmarth St.,
13 Briggs Cor.
VI
18. Sarah Parker,
Hebronville,
10 Hebronville
V
19. Harold Cole,
182 Pine St.,
12 Bank St.
VIII
20. Mildred Morse,
43 Carpenter St.,
11
Richardson
V
21. William McManus,
7 High St.,
13
Sanford St.
VI
22. James T. Kondi,
46 So. Main St.,
11 Sanford St.
IV
23. Walter Cruff,
15 Orange St.,
12 Richardson
VII
24. Evangeline Gallant,
6 Short St.,
13 French
25. Ralph E. Hudson,
10 Sibley St.,
12
Washington VI
26. Harold Carpenter,
35 James St., .
Monday, October 2, in the High School Hall, in the presence of over five hundred pupils from the upper grades from all parts of the city, the prizes were presented to the winners by Mayor Sweet. From the enthusiasm shown there is no doubt that more gardens will be attempted next year with the probability of a greater number being successful.
THE SCHOOL SAVINGS BANK
Deposits for the calendar year since the establishment of the bank in 1908:
Year
Deposits
1908 mos.)
$2,429.00
1909
4,497.85
1910
4,198.25
1911
4,142.16
1912
3,826.22
1913
4,406:50
1914
3,658.13
1915
3,680.00
1916
4,927.27
Total
$35,765.38
STATEMENT JANUARY 1, 1917
Dr.
Balance on deposit January 1, 1916, including ($175.48)
$1,736.93
Deposited from Jan. 1, 1916, to Jan. 1, 1917.
4,927.27
Interest from November, 1915, to May, 1916 ..
30.18
Interest from May, 1916, to November, 1916.
24.35
Total
$6,718.73
...
..
.
interest
17 Bank St. VIII
55 Fourth St., Chartley,
Highland Ave., Snell St.,
10 Tiffany
III
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ANNUAL REPORT
Cr.
Transferred to pupils' individual accounts, Jan. 1, 1916, to Jan. 1, 1917.
$4,234.00
Withdrawn, 1916 122.78
Withdrawn, 1916, from interest to cover expenses. 19.78
Balance on deposit January 1, 1917, including interest ($210.23)
2,342.17
Total
$6,718.73
Total amount deposited since October, 1908.
$35,765.38
Number of individual accounts opened at the bank from Oc- tober, 1908, to January, 1916. 1,590
January, 1916, to January, 1917 173
Total
1,763
Number of pupils depositing in the school bank Jan. 1, 1917 1,394
GIFTS
The schools are indebted to the Trustees of the Richardson School Fund for additional equipment which otherwise they would not have had. Six sewing machines have been purchased for the seventh and eighth grades and prove a great help to the classes in sewing. A dining room outfit has been provided for the domestic science department at the High School, furnishing an opportunity for the girls to receive instruction in setting the table, serving and table etiquette. Practical demonstrations of the ability of the girls were given when they prepared and served lunches for the members of the School Committee and for the Trustees of the Richardson School Fund. Stereopticons for the High and Bliss schools have been bought, together with the necessary equipment. The pupils in these schools can now receive instruction through pictures thrown on the screen, an effectual method of instruction. The biology depart- ment at the High School has had six microscopes added to its equip- ment, greatly increasing the efficiency of that department. Several maps have been furnished for the High School and a case of seven maps for the Bank Street School. These gifts represent an ex- penditure of several hundred dollars and greatly enrich the education the schools are able to furnish. The schools are under obligation to the Woman's Relief Corps for silk banners furnished many rooms to keep before the pupils patriotic ideals, and to Mrs. H. R. Packard for an organ for the Bliss School.
VACATION SCHOOL
July 10 to August 18, 1916-30 Days
Dodge- ville
Hebron- ville
Total
Enrolment, boys
59
33
92
Enrolment, girls
56
40
96
Total
115
73
188
Average membership
89
61
150
Average attendance
59
53
112
Per cent. of attendance
66
87
74.7
158
ANNUAL REPORT
COST
Teachers' Salaries
$114.00
$108.00
$222.00
Supplies
50.30
49.56
99.86
Total
$164.30
$157.56
$321.86
Cost per pupil based on average at- tendance
$2.78
$2.97
$2.87
SIGHT AND HEARING TESTS
Number of pupils enrolled.
2,852
Number found defective in eyesight
163
Number found defective in hearing
38
Number of parents or guardians notified.
178
NO SCHOOL SIGNALS
For the school year from September, 1915, to June, 1916, schools were closed on account of stormy weather as follows:
Date
Grades Closed
September 16, 1915 (Heat)
. I-VIII afternoon
October 5, 1915 . I-III afternoon
February 3, 1916 I-III morning
February
14, 1916.
High all day
February
25, 1916.
I-VIII
morning
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS A. FALES.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I, herewith, submit my second report as principal of the Attleboro High School.
Our total enrolment for the year is as follows:
Post graduates
6
Seniors 59
Juniors 79
Sophomores 135
Freshmen
153
Total 432
This is five less than our enrolment a year ago due to the smaller freshman class. In the three upper classes we have 273 as compared with 258 last year. We have, at present, something over four hun- dred pupils in school.
Seven new teachers have taken places upon the faculty. They are Miss Harlow and Miss Thompson in the commercial department, Miss Wilbur in biology, Miss Masse in French, Miss Galpin in Spanish, Mr. Nicholas in history, and Mr. Watts in mechanical drawing. The faculty is somewhat stronger than it was a year ago.
159
ANNUAL REPORT
The various departments are doing good work. The cooking department prepares lunches for the teachers at recess which are sold at cost. This plan gives that department a moderate amount of practise in cooking food in quantity and is a much better plan than where the cooking department is required to prepare the food for the regular lunch room for the pupils. The preparing of a few hundred sandwiches, each day, for the pupils' lunch soon loses its educational value and becomes drudgery.
Our teachers in French, German and Spanish have adopted the direct method for the beginning classes and the result has been most satisfactory.
Of our teaching force, two are drawing teachers and do not spend a full week with us, one is a manual training teacher, and one is a Cooking teacher. In diploma credits, no one of these classes counts more than two-fifths of a regular school class, such as French, algebra, etc. That is, pupils do not elect these subjects in place of a regular subject but rather in addition to their regular year's work. This leaves us but thirteen regular teachers to care for more than four hundred pupils and makes our classes far too large for good results. Nearly one-half of our classes have over thirty pupils in them, some are in the forties, and one has fifty pupils.
The afternoon session has been established on four days a week so that teachers are here and pupils may return to receive extra in- struction. Teachers are also in charge of the building during the noon hour. On these four days, the school is actively in session from 8:15 A. M. until 4 P. M. The regular day of 8:15 to 1:30 is far too short for efficient work and many of our high schools, realizing this fact, are adopting a six hour day. Such a plan would increase the effectiveness of our school.
Miss Helen Claflin of the Public Library, after expending much time and effort, has succeeded in placing our school library in use as an excellent reference room. A large number of books has been loaned us by the Public Library and an attendant from there takes charge of our school library from one to two o'clock each day. During that hour, books are issued by this librarian under the same system as that used in the Public Library. In this way, pupils may receive their necessary reference books from our school library. The plan is working very successfully. The library is open during the recita- tion periods under the supervision of the English teachers.
At graduation last year a new plan was adopted whereby the more humorous parts were eliminated and were delivered at the class banquet instead. The graduation was thereby raised to a more dig- nified plane and apparently met with the approval of parents and pupils. A similar program will be carried out this year.
Our athletic teams were decidedly successful in basketball and fairly so in baseball, securing second place in the league and losing the championship by but one game. We are exceedingly fortunate in having a coach whose influence over the boys is a remarkably strong one. Wherever our athletic teams go, they represent us in a manly and creditable fashion.
The orchestra has been increased to over twenty members and has become a most necessary part of our school life.
Two cabinets recently added to the commercial department are appreciated. We need several modern office appliances and machines to prepare our pupils properly for the business world. Our manual training department is severely handicapped by lack of machines and our science department should have a modern equipment of apparatus.
160
ANNUAL REPORT
The work of the school for the past year has gone on very smoothly. The cordial cooperation of the parents and the excel- lent spirit of the pupils toward the faculty and toward their work have had a strong and helpful influence upon the school.
The Principal desires to express his thanks to each member of the faculty and to the Superintendent for their hearty support. It has been a real pleasure to work under these conditions.
Respectfully submitted,
W. B. ALEXANDER, Principal.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The work of the music department is progressing along regular lines in general use throughout the country. We aim to teach the pupil to sing and enjoy music, to help him attain a reasonable capac- ity to read and appreciate music, and to help develop the musical talent of the boys and girls in the schools of our city.
Singing is the principal element of study in the first two grades. Here it becomes a pleasant and refreshing recreation in which all the pupils take part, the combined effort making a complete and beautiful expression of child life. In the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh grades, the arrangement of music difficulties is such as to lead the pupil gradually through the problems of music reading and part singing. Special effort is also made to preserve that flute- like quality of voice that is considered the ideal to be obtained in public school singing.
The music work of the eighth grade is developing along broader lines. By means of the phonograph we are now able to give the pupils some idea of the music of the opera, the oratorio, and other of the music classics. We also study the biography of the most famous composers. The interest taken by the pupils in this new departure is quite surprising and encourages one to continue along this line. The vocal difficulty of the eighth grade due to the changing voice of the boys is and always will be with us. However, the singing as a whole is good, tuneful and hearty, and the evident enjoyment of the pupils in singing is one of the encouraging signs.
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