USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1912 > Part 3
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rooms are weil filled. The greatest number registered at any one time in this room is fifty-four, too many for one teacher to handle satisfactorily. Had it not been for having in this room an especi- ally strong teacher, Miss Poole, many of the pupils would have suffered for want of attention.
The opening of a new room for grade V taught by an excel- lent teacher, Miss Roche, has proved a success. This has enabled the teachers of the higher grades to carry on their work without congested conditions.
One difficulty, however, still confronts us in this building. The High School, since the fifth grade took up its work in the room formerly used as a laboratory, is without suitable accommo- dations for laboratory work in the sciences. Now as the pursuit of science without laboratory work is of comparatively little value, it becomes necessary in some way, to provide laboratory accom- modations.
It is well known this building has a large unused attic capable of being converted into valuable recitation rooms. If a portion of this spare room were to be converted into a laboratory that could be used the coming fall, it would solve the dfficulty of scarcity of recitation rooms for some time to come. The new room situated near the top of the building, arranged with hoods and exits for the elimination of foul air and noxious gases incident to work in chemistry, would be ideally located. A laboratory should always be located in a part of a building where the danger of vitiating the air in the rest of the rooms, is reduced to a minimum.
One stairway leading to this room, I believe, could be arranged to open directly from the high school room. A second stairway could be arranged to connect with the main corridor on the second floor.
Another need involving slight expense is a teachers' room.
It sometimes happens that a teacher or more often a pupil is taken suddenly ill. At present there is no suitable place to care for such a case. The room in which the matter comes up has to hold the person till assistance comes. This is attended with more or less confusion and loss of time. With a teachers' room pro- vided with a couch and two or three chairs a pupil or a teacher might be taken care of upon occasion, with little or no confusion or loss of time.
The room formerly occupied as an office by the superinten- dent and more recently as a recitation room for the small classes
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of the high school, though small, would answer for a teachers' room unless this space were needed in the construction of a stair- way to the proposed laboratory.
INFLUENCES OF SCHOOL LIFE UPON PUPILS.
For the most part the regularity in attendance on the part of the pupils during the past year has been commendable. How- ever considerable improvement may be made in the future if pupils and parents alike realize the importance of punctuality and regu- larity of attendance in the matter of character forming.
Since school life is a training essential, as we believe, to the creditable performance of civic duties, it behooves all in any way connected with the schools to insist upon the regular and conscien- tious performance of school work.
The most impressionable age of the child is the period in which he is spending a considerable portion of his time directly under the influence of the school.
If the school is able to inculcate correct habits of thought and action much good is secured. This, however, is not all. The school if it is to justify itself as an educative agency must promote the physical well-being as well as minister to the intellectual wel- fare of the child. The symmetrical development of the body must go hand in hand with the development of the mind. To this phase of child training the teacher must continually direct her attention. Physically weak children are too often the product of the school. Teachers must not only know the principles of hygiene but must know how to teach them and to have the pupils put in practice these principles in their daily lives. There is need of more practical teaching in hygiene in the schools. Under the training of the school cooperated in and supplemented by the home, pupils should leave school at the end of their course in as good physical health and vigor or better than they possessed on entering. If the school can not do this it has largely failed in its legitimate mission.
TEACHERS.
'The teachers of this town are doing conscientious. painstaking work and, for the most part, are giving excellent satisfaction. Several of the teachers have had years of successful experience and are a valuable asset to our school system. Others though having had less experience have had one year or more of profess- ional training which goes a long way toward insuring efficiency in school work. Other things being equal the teacher with liberal
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education and broad professional training is much more likely to be successful in school work. It is to be hoped, when new teachers are to be employed in our schools that only those who have had the advantages of professional training may be secured. If professional training is demanded, those intending to teach will avail themselves of the necessary training, and in the course of time the schools will have a professionally trained corps of teachers.
SALARIES.
By comparing the tables given at the end of this report with those of previous years it will be seen that salaries have been some- what increased within the past few years. This is as it should be. The cost of living has been on the increase from year to year with- out a proportionate increase in compensation for school work.
A teacher in order to be at her best must be a good liver. She must have a comfortable home well warmed and lighted. She must have access to good books and magazines and plenty of them. Some opportunity to travel and to move in good society must be hers if she is to be able to impart what is demanded of her. All of these requirements are expensive and call for a salary sufficiently large to enable the teacher to have them. It is encour- aging to know that the tendency is toward larger salaries in school work. This fact ensures better teachers and, consequently, higher efficiency along educational lines.
MANUAL TRAINING AND DOMESTIC SCIENCE.
It is to be hoped in the near future that a course in manual training and domestic science may be given a place in our schools. In a manufacturing town like our own the value of such a course is obvious.
Though such a training seems to have a direct bearing upon vocations that are primarily mechanical, yet the person who is to engage in a calling essentially professional, would doubtless be equally benefited by pursuing such a course.
Any training tending to develop deftness of hand, quickness of eye and keenness of perception is well worth while. Statis- tics show that school work in general, is made more efficient by the introduction of manual courses.
The expense of making provision for such courses in the schools of our town would not be great. I am told that the cost of equipping a room with ten benches is about two hundred and fifty dollars. This would be ample equipment for a manual train- ing room for years to come.
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The principal cost of maintenance would consist in paying the teacher's salary. The cost of the material used is slight. A portion of the basement in the East Douglas school building would afford excellent quarters.
If manual work were to be installed I would suggest that the work be taken up by the advance classes in the Grammar School and the lower classes of the High School. Then the work could be extended throughout the grades when its usefulness had been demonstrated.
MUSIC.
Music in the schools for the past year has been under the direction of Miss Emma J. Williams, of Providence.
Much individual work in reading music has been done resulting in the ability on the part of the pupils to read with con- siderable facility. The interest in music is good and the progress commendable.
The report of Miss Williams is to be found at the end of this report and should be read.
HOME GARDENS.
The work in home gardens has been carried on successfully during the past school year. Considerable interest has been manifested and considering the extremely dry season many of the gardens were a pronounced success. Prizes were awarded to those who owned gardens showing the most care and the most satisfactory results. The home-garden idea is an excellent one, in that it promotes wholesome rivalry among those owning gar- dens, while at the same time it helps to bring the children into closer touch with one phase of nature's activities.
EVENING SCHOOL.
I believe there is a place for an evening school in this town. There are many living here who at a tender age are obliged to work during the day for a livelihood. If an evening school were maintained many of these could spend two hours an evening for three or four nights in a week, to great advantage. The evening school fills a place in a community that the day school fails to meet. I believe it would be a valuable addition to our school system if an evening school of perhaps thirty evenings were to be maintained.
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EYE AND EAR TESTS.
The eye and ear tests given early in the fall according to the provisions of the law resulted as follows :
Number of pupils examined 315
Number found with defective eyesight 42
Number found with defective hearing 10
These figures show a slight falling off from last year's report in the number having defective vision and hearing. This differ- ence is due partly to the fact that some who were found to be defective, in the examination of last year, have been relieved be- cause of much needed treatment received at the hands of medical specialists.
ATTENDANCE STATISTICS.
The total enrollment of pupils in all the schools for the school year 1910-1911 was 408, 21 more than for the preceding year. The average membership for the year was 316, about the same as for the year before. The average attendance for the year was 293, a gain of five over the preceding year. The per cent. of attendance for the year was 92.8% as against 91.1% for the year before, a gain of 1.7%, a creditable showing.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
From the census of school children complete up to Septem- ber 1, 1911, the following figures are taken :
Number of boys between five and fifteen 175
Number of girls between five and fifteen 172
Total number of boys and girls 347
Number of boys between seven and fourteen.
142
Number of girls between seven and fourteen. 145
Total number of boys and girls 287
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School though small, has done good work. It is unfortunate the school should be so small. With two teachers the number we now have, who are college graduates, a much larger school might be handled without inconvenience. I should be glad to see at least forty availing themselves of the advan-
tages offered by the school. We could accommodate this number to good advantage if one more room were available for laboratory and recitation purposes as before mentioned.
The course of study may be seen by consulting the daily program on the following page.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion I wish to express my thanks to the people of the town who have cooperated so earnestly with the teachers and school officials in their efforts to bring the schools of the town up to a high standard of efficiency. Only when a fair degree of harmony and helpful interest is manifested on the part of teachers, pupils, parents and school officials, can anything like ideal con- ditions prevail in school work. I believe thése conditions prevail in Douglas.
The effort on the part of the parents to keep the children regularly at school have been for the most part highly commenda- ble, and truancy has been slight in amount.
The relations existing between the members of the School Board and the Superintendent have been most cordial and agree- able. Under the favorable conditions at present prevailing in the schools the outlook for highly efficient work in the future is most hopeful.
CHAS. M. PENNELL,
Superintendent of Schools.
Douglas, Mass., Feb. 1, 1912.
Douglas Schools, Daily Program.
9.20-10.00 10.00-10.30
10.50-11.30
1.10-1.50
1.50-2.30
2.45-3.25
3.25-4.00
Mon.
Geom. 2
Alg. 1
Physics
Com. Arith.
An. Hist. 1
French 3
Lat. 4
Music
Lat. 1
Lat. 2
French 4
Tue.
Geom. 2
Math. 4
Alg. 1
Eng. 3
Com. Arith.
Phys.
Lab.
Lat. 1
Lat. 4
Eng. 3
Lat. 2
P. M.
Read.
Wed.
Comp. 2
Math. 4
Com. Arith.
Eng. 2
An. Hist.
Physics
Lat. 1
Am. Hist. 4
Lat. 2
Eng. 3.
French 3
French 4
Thur.
Geom. 2
Math. 4
Alg. 1
Eng. 3.
An. Hist. 1
Com. Arith.
French 4
French 3
Lat. 2
Eng. 2
Lat. 4
Lat. 1
Fri.
Geom. 2
Alg. 1
Eng. 2
An. Hist. 1
Com. Arith. Physics
Lat. 4
French 3
Lat. 2
Eng. 3
Am. Hist.
French 4
Lat. 1
Am. Hist.
A. M.
Noon.
Recess
The first twenty minutes in the morning are spent in opening exercises and Singing. Chemistry alternates with Physics.
16
Recess
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Table A. Douglas School Statistics, September 1910 to June 1911
SCHOOL
TEACHER
WHERE EDUCATED
Salary per week
Weeks taught
| Under 5 years, Boys
| Under 5 years, girls
5-15 years, Boys
5 to 15 years, Girls
| Over 15 years, Boys
Over 15 years, Girls
Total number Boys
Total number Girls
7-14 years, Boys
Total membership
Average membership
Average attendance
l'er. cent of attendance
Tardinesses
Dismissals
Visitors including Supt.
High
C. E. Dinsey, Prin. Mary I. Gunn
Clark University Wellesley College
$26.25
20
9-19
0
15
10
05
8
20
18
15 10
39
32
30 1 94.2 80 35 133
W. W. Evans
Clark College
21.25
20
E. Dou., Gr. VII. VIII Lillie M. Maclean
Boynton High
13.50
15
9-8
0 0
22
13 1 1
23
13
19
13
37
30.6
28.8 94.2
79
0
20
16
0 0
20
16
15
36
31.6
30 2 95.4
34
17 143
66
V .- VI .... Eunice L. Buffington Douglas Iligh
Mild'd H. Chapman Lowell High
10.00
26
0
29
18
0
0
29
18
28.
18
53
42.8
38.6
90.2
66
41 87
66
IV . V ..
Grace S. Moore
Grafton Iligh
10.00
10
8-18
0
18
22
0
18
22
18 22
46
38.2
35.7
93.5
70 100 121
Edith Abbott
Douglas High
11.00
36
11.50
36
8-17
0
15
22
0
(
15
22
14,
15
54
36.8
34.6
95 4
14
91.6
12
90
Douglas Center.
Gertrude M. Smith
and Tr'g School Middleb'y, Vt. H.S.
10.00
36
8-13
()
0
17
0|
17
10
16
9
34
26
23.8
91
67
2 122
West Douglas .
Molly H. Kelly
Douglas Iligh
8.50
36
8-17
(
4
07
0
1
5
7
5
19
13.7
13.1
95 6
1:29
South Douglas.
Rosanna Picard
Syncouls School
10.00
36
8-14
0
10
1
9
10
8
9
20)
13.4
11.7
87 1
19
14 27
Totals . Totals Sept. 1909-1910
404
93-5 0 0 182 161 7 11 190 169 152 131 408
203
92 8 441 297 976
404
89-121 2 1 173 173|10 101185 184 134 123 387
315.9
70
50.6
46.4
I
Elizabeth Poole
Fisher's Kinderg
11.00
36
8-17
0
0
34
33
0
34
33
9
13
Etta H. Johnson
Douglas High
14.00
21
Jennie L. Irwin
Brookfield High
12.00
36
8-17 0
8-13
0
0
10
0
-
-
315.7
288.8 91.1 567,221 817
Length of school year
Enrolment
7-14 years, Girls
12.00
40
77 91
20
III ....
10 133
II ...
1|
Table B. Teachers employed for School Year 1910-1911
SCHOOL.
TEACHER.
WHERE EDUCATED).
HIGH.
Howard W. Dunn, Jr., Principal.
Alice L. Cook, Asst.
Mildred I. Ross,
Eunice L. Buffington,
Douglas High School. Worcester Normal School.
..
VI-VII. V.
Annie L. Roche, Grace Moore,
Grafton High School.
.6
66
III.
Edith W. Abbott,
Douglas High School.
.6
Il.
Etta H. Johnson, Elizabeth Poole,
Douglas High School. Fisher's Kindergarten and Training School, Boston. Middlebury, Vt., High School.
Douglas Center. West Douglas. South Douglas.
Gertrude M. Smith, Mollie H. Kelly, Edith S. Manahan,
Douglas High School. Douglas High School.
Bates College. Brown University. Worcester Normal School.
E. Douglas, Grades VIII-IX.
E. Douglas Grades
IV.
I.
00
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Report of the
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
Mr. Chas. M. Pennell, Superintendent of Schools :
My Dear Sir :
I wish to submit the report of the Douglas High School which I trust will meet with your approval.
The work done by the pupils thus far has been satisfactory and the spirit in the school is very good. There are many ways in which the courses might be strengthened but these improve- ments will take time as well as a great deal of additional equip- ment, as for instance, suitable classroom and science laboratory, especially have we been limited for room, and had it not been for the fact of unusually small classes we should not have been able to carry on the work so satisfactorily.
I wish to make especial mention of the work of Miss Cook in the language department which has shown a great deal of care- ful study to meet the demands of the pupils and the conditions.
We have made quite a number of changes in the course as planned at the beginning of the year, which we feel have strength- ened the work and brought the school nearer to the required standing for admission to college on certificate. In the place of book-keeping we are taking commercial Arithmetic which seems to be meeting the needs of the pupils.
A copy of the revised schedule which is now in force is here printed in order that it may be readily seen just what is being done in the school.
Yours respectfully,
HOWARD W. DUNN, Jr.,
Principal.
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Report of
SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Charles MI. Pennell,
Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :
The educational value of music is now almost universally conceded. and there are at present comparatively few schools where it is not taught. Enlightened teaching is needed to correct the vitiated taste of the public. The inartistic vaudeville songs will take possession of the souls of children hungering for music unless we give them something better, and the good material in our public school " Music Readers" is helping our boys and girls, not only to read music readily, but to develop a musical in- telligence and appreciation of the best. In Douglas we are work- ing along that line and with good results. The new method of developing the child's voice from the head tone down, rather than by forcing up the lower register is doing a great deal towards making good tone quality.
Last May the Donglas schools gave a musical festival. Selections were rendered by all the grades beginning with the first-year children and ending with " The Wreck of the Hesperus" by Anderton, rendered by the High and Grammar schools assisted by soloists and orchestra. It was a very satisfactory performance throughout and apparently much enjoyed by the large audience present.
The Harmonic series is now being used in some of the grades. It is progressive and enjoyable. The "listening" class in the lowest grades is in time a sure cure for monotones. The work of the grade teachers in helping to advance this beautiful art, which comes into our lives with a thousand delightful minis- tries, is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted. EMMA J. WILLIAMS.
Supervisor of Music.
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