USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1924 > Part 14
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200.00
168.78
200.00
$3,100.00
$2,631.23
$4,890.00
Evening Schools
2,700.00
3,188.12
3,200.00
Vacation Schools.
700.00
684.46
750.00
$293,120.00 $292,744.57
$303,603.00
Continuation School . $9,000.00
$8,999.71
$9,400.00
$302,120.00 $301,744.28 $313,003.00
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR 1925
Compared with Expenditures for 1924.
Appropriated 1924
Expended 1924
Estimated 1925
General Control
1. School Committee
$3,924.00
$3,750.78
$4,103.00
2. Superintendence .
6,400.00
6,897.32
6,850.00
Instruction. .
220,641.00
220,387.79
228,055.00
Operating School Plant 35,655.00
34,946.69
33,755.00
Maintaining School Plant.
10,000.00
10,103.27
12,000.00
Auxiliary Agencies.
10,000.00
10,154.91
10,000.00
Miscellaneous. .
3,100.00
2,631.23
4,890.00
Americanization ...
2,700.00
3,188.12
3,200.00
Vacation Schools
700.00
684.46
750.00
Evening Schools and
$293,120.00 $292,744.57
$303,603.00
169
ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE SHOWING EXPENDITURES.
For the Public Schools for the Past Three Years with Estimate for 1925.
1922
1923
1924
1925
General Control
School Committee
$3,577.28
$3,467.08
$3,750.78
$4,103.00
Superintendence . .
6,038.23
6,359.96
6,897.32
6,850.00
Instruction.
. 205,562.64
208,823.18
220,387.79
228,055.00
Operating School Plant 32,304.27
34,663.72
34,946.69
33,755.00
Maintaining School Plant 9,230.38
10,556.08
10,103.27
12,000.00
Auxiliary Agencies
8,939.38
9,645.92
10,154.91
10,000.00
Miscellaneous.
2,961.58
3,036.82
2,631.23
4,890.00
Evening Schools
3,317.84
2,536.79
3,188.12
3,200.00
Vacation Schools
687.25
698.78
684.46
750.00
$272,618.85 $279,788.33 $292,744.57 $303,603.00
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Attleboro:
I present herewith my twentieth annual report it being the forty- first in the series of superintendents' reports. Attendance statistics are for the school year from September 1923 to June 1924. The financial report covers the fiscal year ending December 31, 1924.
STATISTICS.
I-Population.
Population, census, 1920.
19,731
II-School Census-October 1924.
Number of children between the ages of 5 and 7
853
Number of children between the ages of 7 and 14 2,991
Number of children between the ages of 14 and 16.
797
III-Attendance.
School year from September 1923 to June 1924.
Total number of different pupils enrolled. 3,942
Average daily membership 3,692
Average daily attendance 3,476
Percent of attendance. 94
170
ANNUAL REPORT
Table showing the average membership and the per cent of attendance for the last ten years:
Average Membership
Gain over Previous Year
Per Cent. of Attendance
1914-1915.
2,669
83
95
1915-1916.
2,742
73
94
1916-1917.
2,770
28
94
1917-1918.
2,882
112
94
1918-1919.
2,962
80
93
1919-1920
3,234
272
92
1920-1921.
3,499
265
94
1921-1922
3,623
124
94
1922-1923.
3,544
loss-79
95
1923-1924.
3,692
148
94
In the last ten years the total gain for the schools has been 1106.
Fall Term 1924.
September
3,827
October
3,850
November
3,812
December
3,794
WILL THE SCHOOLS STOP GROWING?
A study of the membership figures since 1887 when Attleboro sep- arated from North Attleboro shows steady and consistent gains year after year. Few years show a loss, and when a loss 'occurs there is usually a good reason for it. In the three years from 1919 to 1922 the increase was more than 660 pupils. The schools grew so rapidly that it was impossible to build buildings fast enough to care for the growth and it was necessary to purchase portable buildings to provide accommodations for the pupils. This year the city has started on a building program which will eventually do away with the use of portable buildings.
The first step in this building program has been the erection of an eight-room addition to the Richardson school. This will provide for the two rooms in the old wooden building which was removed, and for the pupils now occupying the two portables at this school. It will also pro- vide for a kindergarten, an open air room and a room for ungraded pupils. This addition will probably be ready for occupancy in the spring.
The second step in the building program will be the provision of a suitable building for South Attleboro. No part of the city has grown so rapidly in the past five years as the section in the south part of the town adjoining Pawtucket. My report last year gave the details of this growth. It is likely that extra accommodations will be necessary in September, 1925. A lot has already been acquired, and plans and speci- fications for a new building are being secured. The building will be needed as soon as it can be erected.
The third step in the building program will be the consideration of some plan to relieve the High School. This fall the enrollment has been 683. This is the absolute capacity of the building. It is likely that the enrollment will increase somewhat in September 1925. If the increase is very large afternoon sessions for part of the school may be necessary.
There are two ways in which the High School may be relieved. First, build an addition to the present building. The building is so planned
171
ANNUAL REPORT
that extra room may easily be added. The second way of furnishing relief is to erect a new building on a different site to care for the seventh and eighth grades and the first year of the high school. This plan would take from the high school the freshmen class which numbers nearly one third the school, and would give the remaining three classes ample chance for growth. Putting the seventh, eighth and ninth grades together would give the pupils in these grades better educational opportunities and place Attleboro in line with other progressive communities. Very careful con- sideration should be given both these plans as the decision made will affect the education of Attleboro's children for many years to come.
IV-School Buildings.
Number of· school buildings
26
Number of school rooms (High 25, grades 92).
117
Number of rooms in use
116
V-Teachers.
Number of teachers and supervisors.
137
Number of teachers in High School.
32
Number of teachers in grades I-VIII.
95
Number of teachers in kindergartens.
2
Number of teachers for individual instruction.
2
Number of special teachers:
6
Resignations.
Date
1924
Teacher
School Cause of resignation
March 22
Lee Bryant
Tiffany New Britain
May 5 Percy Fisher
Continuation
May
19 Thelma Kellogg
High
Study
May
19
Vesta Porter Thompson
Spec. Teacher At home
May
29
Elizabeth I. Dowler
Washington At home
June 2
Eleanor A. Williams
Washington At home
June 7
Lucile Snow
Bliss
Watertown
June 9
Iva M. Larkin
Bliss
Watertown
June
9 Edith P. Ormes
Tiffany
Watertown
June 10
Sadie M. Martin
Sanford St.
Watertown
June
10
Dolly B. Nerney
Sanford St.,
R. I. Col. Ed.
June
16
Ruth M. Cunningham
Richardson
Fitchburg
June 25 Adeline Allen
High
Medford
June 28 Frank A. Hilton
High
Thayer Academy
June 30 Lillian E. Townsend
High
At home
June
30 Leah D. Smith
Washington Maine
June
30 Edith B. Howard
Bliss
To be at home
July
9 Arabelle J. Stone
Hebronville
Holliston
July
27
Marcele Munroe
Bliss
July
30
Ruth B. Spence
Tiffany
Haverhill
July
30 Sara B. Dreney
High
Boston
Sept.
6 Julia L. Merry (Mrs.)
Bliss
Retired
Oct.
8 Alice J. Fairbanks
High
Glen Ridge, N. J.
Nov.
26 Gladys B. Miller
Farmers
At home
Dec.
5 Mary B. Ricker (Mrs.)
Richardson
At home
Cost of Instruction.
Valuation of Attleboro, 1924.
$23,369,155.00
Expended for support of schools excluding evening and vacation schools 288,871.99
172
ANNUAL REPORT
Average membership of day schools, Sepetmber 1923 to June 1924. 3,692
Expended per pupil based on average membership. 78.24
Cost of books and supplies per pupil. 2.53
High School.
Total amount expended for High School, including High School share of general expenses.
71,138.98
Average membership of High School, 1923-1924.
600
Cost per pupil.
$118.56
Cost of books and supplies per pupil.
5.89
Elementary Schools.
Expended for elementary schools.
217,733.01
Average membership of elementary schools, 1923-1924. . 3,092
·
Cost per pupil.
70.42
Cost of books and supplies per pupil.
1.88
THE SCHOOL SAVINGS BANK.
Deposits for each year since the establishment of the bank in 1908:
Year
Deposits
1908 (3 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
4,658.13
1915.
3,680.00
1916.
4,927.27
1917
5,487.04
1918
3,185.91
1919
5,176.32
1920
10,886.16
1921
7,637.33
1922.
6,902.89
1923
8,271.24
1924
7,849.22
Total
$92,161.49
Statement January 1, 1925.
Dr.
Balance on deposit Jan. 1, 1924, including interest (591.19) .. $3,714.91 Deposits in First National Bank from January 1, 1924 to De- cember 20, 1924. 7,849.22
Interest from November, 1923 to November, 1924. 102.75
Total
$11,666.88
The boys at the Continuation School have a variety of shop work that will be of service to them about the home.
The socialized recitation at the Hebronville School.
173
ANNUAL REPORT
Cr.
Transferred to pupils' individual accounts, January 1, 1924 to January 1, 1925. 8,054.00
Withdrawn, 1924, from interest to cover expenses. 33.00
Balance on deposit Dec. 20, 1924, including interest ($591.19) 3,579.88
Total. $11,666.88
Total amount deposited since October, 1908. 92,161.49
Number of individual accounts opened at the First National Bank from October 1908 to January 1924. 3,620
January 1924 to January 1925. 262
Total 3,882
Number of pupils depositing in the school bank Jan. 1, 1924 1,641
Special Room for Ungraded Pupils.
For several years the law has required special instruction for those pupils who are not able to do the regular classroom work. On account of lack of rooms there has been no opportunity to organize any of these special classes till this year. In October, however, such a class was started at the Sanford Street School, and the results have been most gratifying. It is planned to open another .class at the Richardson School in September.
Educational Growth.
I have cited above figures showing how the number of pupils has steadily increased and what has been done to provide for this growth. The development of the curriculum has kept pace with the physical growth of the school system. Teachers are constantly on the alert to increase their efficiency and to improve their class room work. Last year the principals spent a great deal of time in developing a set of standard tests for the work in arithmetic for each grade. The year's work in arithmetic has been divided into quarters and a test set up for each quar- ter. This makes the work more definite and results can be more easily compared. Any teacher in any grade can tell at the end of each quarter just how well her class is doing.
In the eighth grade, algebra has been added to the curriculum, to be taken up the last three months of the year. As treated in this grade the subject is merely an introduction to the more advanced study of algebra in the high school.
This year principals and teachers are giving special attention to silent reading. For years schools have emphasized oral reading, and have been satisfied with correct pronunciation and good expression without being sure that pupils understood all that was read. The aim of silent reading is to make certain that pupils comprehend what they read, and to this end special methods in the teaching of reading are being used. Oral reading will receive most attention in the primary grades and silent reading will be emphasized in the upper grades. If the aim of silent reading can be accomplished, the results will carry over into all content subjects, like geography and history and the entire work of the schools will be improved. Even problem work in arithmetic will be benefited by this work. The principals and teachers are enthusiastic about this new phase of instruct- ion and in the classes selected for trying out the new methods good re- sults are being secured.
174
ANNUAL REPORT
At the High School new wood-working machinery has been installed during the last three years so that now the school has an up-to-date equipment in every respect. For a school of our size the equipment is equal to that of any school in New England. The equipment consists of a circular saw with mortising attachment, band saw, surfacer, lathe, and jointer, each driven by a motor attached to the machine. With this equipment the school should be able to turn out a finished product of the best quality.
At the Continuation School the course in jewelry making has been changed to a course in household mechanics. This course does for the boys what a course in household arts does for the girls. The girls are taught cooking, sewing and home nursing. The boys are taught the elements of carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, cane seating, and painting, so that they will be able to do any little job of repair work about the home. This course meets the needs of all boys in the school and I am sure will prove more valuable than the former course. In connection with the new course a portable wood working machine consisting of a saw, planer, and sand drum has been purchased which will be available for the boys of the eighth grade as well as for the use of the Continuation school. This means better work in manual training by the eighth grade boys.
High Spots.
A modern school system is a complex organization embracing many activities. The following list of High Spots will give those not intimately acquainted with school work some idea of what is being done in the Attleboro schools.
1. Movable furniture is found in many primary grades and in some grammar grades.
2. Individual Teachers, in the large schools help backward pupils and those who have been absent.
3. A school record card contains the school history of each pupil. This is supplemented by the physical record card. Both cards follow the pupil from grade to grade.
4. Sand tables are used in many primary rooms for project work in geography and history.
5. A special room has been opened in one school for giving ungraded children special instruction emphasizing manual work.
6. The Joseph Finberg Educational Fund is available for graduates of the high school who desire help in paying their expenses in college or other institutions of learning.
7. Bulletin Boards are found in every school, containing specimens of pupils' work, notices, news-items, etc.
8. Pictures for the school rooms are being added each year, espec- ially at the High and Tiffany Schools. These are purchased through the efforts of the principals and teachers.
9. Extra-curricular activities are found in the High School and upper grammar grades. Among these may be mentioned the High School orchestra, the band, the glee club, and various clubs such as the French Club, the German Club, the Ex Libris, etc.
Results of canning season at the High School.
At the Bliss and Washington Schools, the pupils eat their noon lunch under excellent conditions.
175
ANNUAL REPORT
10. At the Bank Street School each teacher has charge of a club not connected with school studies. These include:
Reading Club 25 Dramatic 38 Lend a Hand 15 Know Your City 15
Nature Study 13
Poultry 18
11. Socialized Recitations, classes conducted by pupils, with a class chairman, secretary, class questions and class criticism, are common in such subjects as history and geography.
12. The High School Library, with a full-time librarian, increases the efficiency of the whole school.
13. Schools having eighth grades are supplied with modern up-to- date sets of encyclopaedias in twenty-four volumes.
14. The editing and publishing of the Blue Owl give the High School pupils excellent training in language and business.
15. Pupils in the Commercial Department at the High School work afternoons in offices and shops during the last year of their course, thus gaining practical knowledge to supplement the class room instruction.
16. Table manners are taught in schools having pupils who stay at noon. Pupils wash their hands before eating, use a paper towel as a napkin while eating and the same towel to dry their hands when washed again after eating.
17. Branch Libraries at Hebronville and Washington Schools are patronized by many pupils under the guidance of the teachers, and are a great aid to education.
18. Foreign Languages at the High School are taught by the so- called direct method. Phonographic records in French and Spanish help in getting correct pronunciation.
19. Sixteen teachers attended summer schools last summer.
20. The. Sewing Classes make many articles of clothing for their own use.
21. The Cooking Classes at the High School serve a dinner for the School Committee each year.
22. . A musical atmosphere pervades the schools. The annual con- cert of the High School is looked forward to each year by lovers of good music.
23. Credit for Outside Music Study is allowed in the High School toward a diploma.
24. A Junior Orchestra is made up of pupils from various elementary schools.
25. Drawing is taught in every grade from the first grade through the High School. The drawing classes have furnished posters for many occasions.
26. Citizenship papers are filled out by the Director of Americaniza- tion, who has helped many to secure citizenship.
176
ANNUAL REPORT
27. Short unit courses in the evening schools, especially at Hebron- ville, and reorganization of the classes at the end of the courses creates interest and keeps a full membership of the classes.
28. Markings on school buildings and obscene writings in toilets very rarely occur.
29. Lanterns for using slides are found in the larger schools. A set of 1000 slides for use in history and geography is available for the teachers' use. The Bliss and Richardson Schools have sets of 600 slides which they purchased themselves.
30. Stereoscopes, and stereographs corresponding to the 1000 slides, are at the Superintendent's Office and are sent to each school as called for.
31. State Certificates in Reading have been granted many pupils in the elementary schools who have read the prescribed number of books and passed the examination.
32. Two Business and High School Certificates, thirty-nine Student Certificates, 71 Improvement Certificates, 292 Progress Pins, and 724 But- tons were awarded by the Palmer Company for excellence in penmanship for the year 1923-1924.
33. The School Bank received deposits of $8335 for the school year 1923-1924. Total deposited since the Bank was organized in October 1908, $92,161.
34. Safety Patrols have been organized in several schools to protect the pupils in crossing the streets at the close of the morning and afternoon sessions.
35. The Health of the Pupils receives careful attention. A physical examination is given every pupil once a year.
36. Pupils having contagious diseases are excluded from school and allowed to return only on a physician's certificate.
37. The School Nurse visits many homes in follow-up work.
38. Thirty cases of tonsils and adenoids were treated this year at the Sturdy Hospital through the efforts of the school nurse.
39. Nutrition instruction is given pupils 10% or more underweight. These pupils are weighed monthly and each pupil's weight charted on his weight card.
40. Many Nutrition Posters have been made in various schools to be used in teaching proper habits of eating, sleeping, etc.
41. Scales for weighing and measuring the height of pupils have been provided every school by the Junior Red Cross Fund.
42. A tennis court has been laid out at Hebronville by the pupils and is much enjoyed by the school and neighborhood.
43. Physical exercises in the open air under pupil leadership improve the health of the pupils and develop leaders.
44. The Salute to the Flag is given in many schools at the close of the open air exercises.
,
1
Physical Training under pupil leader- ship in the open air.
The Safety Patrol in action at the Richardson School.
Folk Dancing and games as a part of physical education in the elementary schools.
177
ANNUAL REPORT
45. Athletic teams as a part of the physical training have been or- ganized in all upper grade schools. Inter-class and inter-school contests bring many pupils into athletics.
46. A Basket Ball outfit has been presented to the Washington School by the Mothers' Club which takes a lively interest in all phases of school work.
47. Playground equipment was purchased at the Briggs Corner School with money raised at a school entertainment.
48. Supervised play at recess time takes the place of rough and tumble play formerly found on the school playground.
The above High Spots indicate-in part some of the advance steps being taken in the Attleboro schools. The credit for the progressive spirit of the schools is largely due to the wholehearted interest and professional attitude of the teachers.
Respectfully submitted, LEWIS A. FALES, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The following communication is my fourth annual report as Principal of the Attleboro High School, for the year ending December 31, 1924.
Information.
Distribution of students
Present registration.
667
Number of boys.
317
Number of girls. 350
Number of first year students. 221
Number of second year students. 180
Number of third year students 141
Number of fourth year students. 109
Number of fifth year students. 4
Number of Post Graduates
12
Number in the College Curriculum 213
Number in the Technical Curriculum. 125
Number in the Commercial Curriculum 286
Number in the General Curriculum 43
Pupils who have left school during this school year:
Number of boys 18
Number of girls 9
Total
27
Number passing in all their work. 12
Number failing in one subject. 1
Number failing in two subjects 2
Number failing in three subjects. 2
Number failing in all their work. 2
Number who did not remain in school long enough to receive credit 8
Total 27
178
ANNUAL REPORT
A careful study of the reasons why these pupils withdrew from the high school without completing the year or course shows that a large num- ber left in order to aid their families financially, another group returned to the school in the fall for special preparation in certain subjects and as soon as this was accomplished withdrew from the school. Changes of address, poor scholarship, poor ability and the indifference to study were other factors considered.
Organizations.
School Orchestra
72 members
School Band.
. 30 members
Glee Club.
25 members
Wireless Club.
24 members
Mathematics Club
.30 members
Spanish Club
. 40 members
German Club
45 members
French Club.
40 members
Hooks and Crooks
. 50 members
Blue Owl Association.
577 members
Ex Libris.
50 members
New Marking System.
B
A Superior work of high excellence of a quality warranting certification. Good and satisfactory work. (This ordinarily means work above the average).
C Fair work, entitling the pupil to proceed in that subject. This may be called a qualifying mark. In the case of subjects in which a thor- ough foundation must be secured in order that the pupil may under- take the work of the next year, with reasonable success, this mark will not be given unless the work is distinctly good.
D Passable. This mark when given for a course indicates that it is not advisable for the pupil to continue the subject.
E Failure.
The percentage of A's in a subject should ordinarily range between 3% and 10% of the total number of marks given in that subject. The percentage of E's in any recitation division should be small and under normal conditions should not exceed 10% as a maximum.
College Students.
Class 1924.
Members of the class of 1924 are represented in the following Col- leges and Universities:
Massachusetts Normal Arts
Harvard University
Bridgewater Normal School
Lowell Textile School
Averett College
Burdett College
University of Maine
R. I. College of Education
Holy Cross
Boston University
Brown University
Middlebury College
Rhode Island State College
Miami University
Wentworth Institute
New Hampshire State College Framingham Normal School Sargent Bryant & Stratton Commercial College
Smith College Simmons College
Bentley College
Fitchburg Normal
The boys of the seventh and eighth grades at the Bliss School have an excellent equipment for manual training.
Silent reading and keeping store at Hebronville. The movable furniture allows freedom in class room arrange- ment.
Teaching loyalty and patriotism, Saluting the flag.
1
179
ANNUAL REPORT
At the present time it is not necessary for a student of the high school who graduates with a good scholastic, deportment and application record to attend a preparatory school before entering a college.
College Alumni.
During the school year 1923-1924 a careful investigation was made, as far as possible, of the grade of work the graduates of the high school were doing in college. The following Colleges and Universities are re- presented :
Boston University
Keene Normal School
Cornell University
Bridgewater Normal School
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Framingham Normal School
Tufts College
Rhode Island School of Design
Simmons College
Mass. Nautical School
Brown University
New Bedford Textile School
Dartmouth College
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