USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1913 > Part 3
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be a business proposition subject to rules and regulations that can- not be varied from too far without injury to the whole system.
Professionally trained teachers are now believed to be a necessity if results commensurate with expense, time and effort are to be attained. To such an extent is this believed to be true, that many towns now have the castiron rules that no teachers shall be employed who cannot submit proofs that professional training has formed part of their equipment.
It is gratifying to know that the sentiment of this town is toward a higher professional equipment on the part of the newly hired teachers. This is as it should be and must necessarily result in placing the profession of teaching upon a higher plane.
The foregoing in no way reflects upon the conscientious, pain- taking work done by those of our teachers who may have had lit- tle or no professional training. The character of their work is known to be of a high order. Years of successful experience combined with a natural aptitude for their work have made these teachers a valuable asset to the teaching force of our town. It is believed, however, to be the part of wisdom, whenever new teach- ers are to be employed to secure those so trained professionally as to bring to the work the latest and most improved methods and ideas, for immediate application. Thus time spent in experiment- ing both in method and discipline may be reduced to a mini- mum.
EVENING SCHOOL.
I believe there is a real need of an eveniug school in this town. A school of this sort coming at a time in the day when the mills are closed is accessible to those who, of necessity, must work in order to secure a livelihood. An hour and a half a day for three times a week devoted to real study may be and often is the means of placing those willing to put forth the effort, in a position to secure higher wages, and thereby to live on a higher plane. The cost of maintenance of an evening school of thirty evenings would be about $100. I would recommend that this sum be appropriated for the ensuing year for this purpose.
MUSIC.
Music during the year has been in charge of Miss Emma J. Williams of Providence.
The interest has been good and the progress commendable. The musical festival held near the close of the school year, showed conclusively that the training in music had been of a high order of
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excellence. In the fall Miss Williams resigned her position as director of music to accept a position of similar nature in Provi- dence. R. I.
Mrs. Vose of Woonsocket was hired to succeed Miss Williams. She seems to be keeping up the interest and has apparently been successful in securing the cooperation of teachers and pupils.
NUMBER OF PUPILS.
By consulting the tables at the close of this report it will be seen that the average attendance is slightly in excess of the pre- vious year. Furthermore it is a satisfaction to report that the number of pupils registered during the fall term just past is about thirty in excess of the number registered the corresponding term of the year before. This statement proves that the loss of one our industries did not result in loss of numbers in the schools as was quite generally predicted.
Some of the rooms as will be seen by consulting the tables are well filled. But up to the present time, by making transfers where necessary, serious crowding has been avoided.
At the beginning of the fall term it was found necessary to transfer some of the pupils from Grade I room to Grade II room. Even then the number remaining in Grade I was so great that in order to comply with the state statute, an assistant, Miss Marie Clarke was secured to work in this grade.
INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION.
As a matter of established school policy, individual assistance has been given careful attention. It frequently happens that a pupil leaves school merely on account of becoming discouraged for one reason or another. The most common cause of leaving school is doubtless due to the feeling of inability to keep up with the class.
When a teacher detects this not unusual feeling on the part of any pupil it is her duty at once to come the rescue with such assistance as the pupil may need, the teacher being the judge of amount and kind of assistance to be rendered.
The loss of one or two week's work on the part of a pupil may mean so much that repetition of the year's work may be necessary, unless help at suitable times and of sufficient amount be rendered. A large proportion of repeaters in any one room, year after year, calls for an investigation of the causes.
The skillful teacher will never allow the number of repeaters to be large. It is her business to keep most of her pupils up to
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grade and all of them if possible. Teachers are not hired for five or even six hours a day but to teach the school in a satisfactory manner, devoting such time to the work as may be necessary to accomplish the work needed to be done.
Individual assistance goes a long way toward keeping up the interest both on the part of the teachers and pupils and the results in the schools are usually directly proportional to the degree of interest manifested. Briefly stated, as the interest is so are the results.
COOPERATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY.
The town is fortunate in having a commodious, well equipted library. I find that the library is used to considerable extent by the pupils of the schools, but not to the extent that we could wish. The library with its well lighted and comfortably heated rooms offers an excellent opportunity for supplementing the work of the schools.
In order that the library may be of the greatest use in the community, teachers, parents and pupils must cooperate in urging a freer use of the books and periodicals therein contained. Teach- ers and parents have and excellent opportunity to use their influ- ence in promoting broader reading and in encouraging the con- sulting of the reference books.
MORE ROOM NEEDED.
Deputy Commissioner, William Orr, at the time of his visit to the High School in January of this year strongly recommended more room for the High School. He felt that the quarters were inadequate at present and that another year when a new class enters-there being no class to graduate-the accommodations would be entirely inadequate.
As has been suggested before, a room on the third floor of the East Douglas building could be furnished for school purposes without great expense.
This matter should be brought before the people for careful consideration and action at the coming town meeting.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
During the short days of the fall and winter, especially on stormy days, there is great need of artificial lighting throughout
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the East Douglas building. Impaired vision and waste of time and energy might be largely obviated by installing electric lights. Manufacturing establishments in our midst are regularly lighted on dark days so that the operatives may be at their best in turning off work. If this is good business policy in woolen and cotton mills how much more is this true in the schools where many of the boys and girls are being fitted to become the future operatives in our manufacturing establishments.
It is felt that all of the rooms cannot be equipted with lights at one time on account of the expense, a begining might well be made as soon as possible and the work of installing continued as the money becomes available.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion I wish to extend to the citizens of the town my hearty appreciation for the cooperation and support given the school officials in the discharge of their duties.
If success has been achieved, it has been due in no small degree to the helpful interest manifested on the part of the patrons of the schools. It is a satisfaction to work in a community imbued with the right school spirit.
My relations with the School Committee have been most cordial and all my dealings with teachers and citizens of the town have been of the most pleasant nature.
Respectfully submited,
CHARLES M. PENNELL,
Superintendent of Schools.
Douglas, Mass., Feb. 1, 1913.
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Douglas High School, Daily Program.
9.20-9.50
9.50-10.30
10.45-11.30
1.10-1.50
1.50-2.30
2.45-3.30
3.30-4
Mon.
Arith. I Eng. III
Geom. II Hist.&C III
Algebra Music* Latin
P. Geo. I Latin III
Physics II
Chem. III Eng. I-II
Rhetoric
Tues.
Arith. I Eng. III
Geom. II Hist.&CIII
Algebra I Latin II
French I-II Latin I
P. Geo. I
Chemistry
Chemistry Eng. II
Wed.
Geom. II
Eng. III
Algebra I Latin II
P. Geo. I
French I-II Latin I
Physics II Latin III
Chemistry Eng. I
Rhetoric
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Thurs.
Arith. I Eng. III
Geom. II Hist.&C III
Algebra I Latin II
French I-II Latin I
P. Geo. I Latin III
Physics
Physics Eng. I
Fri.
Arith. I Eng. III
Algebra I Latin II
P. Geo. I Hist.&C III
French I-II Latin I
Physics II Latin III
Chemistry Eng. I
Rhetoric
* Alternates every week.
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Table A. Douglas School Statistics, September 1911 to June 1912.
ENROLLMENT
SCHOOL
TEACHER
WHERE EDUCATED
Salary per week
Weeks taught
Length of school year
| Under 5 years, boys
| Under 5 years, girls
5-15 years, boys
5-15 years, girls
Over 15 years. boys
Over 15 years, girls
Total No. of boys
Total No. of Girls
7-14 years, boys
7 -14 years, girls
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Per cent. of Attendance
Tardinesses
Dismissals
Visitors including Supt.
High.
Geo. L. Michaud ..
22.50
13
Alice I. Cook ..... Brown University.
12.50
40
E. D. Gr. VIII, IX . Mildred I. Ross. ...
Worcester Normal
14.00
38
0
0
9
1
0
18| 29|
14
26
15
43 24 24.95
23.69
94.95
24
12
65
66
IV. .
Grace Moore ...
Grafton High ....
10.50
36
8-19|
0
23
18|
23
18
23
18
41
34.97
33.25
95.09
55
16
57
III. ..
Edith W. Abbott. ..
Douglas High .
12.00
36
8-17
0
14
24
0
0 14
24
14
24
38
35.25
33.17
94.08 97.59
34
10
71
66
I
Elizabeth Poole ...
12,00
36
8-17
0
28
0
0
28
31
0
0
59
48.91
47.83
96.47
10 14
62
Douglas center.
Gertrude M. Smith. Mollie H. Kelley. . . Edith S. Manahan. .
garten Trg. Sch. Middleb'y, Vt. H.S. Douglas High . . .. Douglas High . ...
10.50
36
8-18
0
0
19
1
1
20
15
18
35
27.
24.80
91.17
24
96
W. Douglas.
8.50
36
8-19
0
9
0
9
4
5
13
14.9
13.67
91.33
5
6
24
S. Douglas
Totals
442
99-6 0
0 181 168 10 5 191 173 136 120 364
Totals Sept. 1910-11
404
93-5|0| 0|182 161| 7|11|190 169 152 131 408 315.7 | 293.
.
V .
Annie G. Roache .. .
Worcester Normal 9.50
36
8-19|
0
12
12|
0
12
12
12
12
23.4 37.2
22.27 35.31
95.81 95.44
7
12|109
VI, VII. . Eunice 1 .. Buffington Douglas lligh . ...
13.50
36
0
0
14
1
0)
0000
25
22
22
18
47
42.28
41.26
35
18
54
II .
Etta H. Johnson. ..
Douglas High . ...
12 00
36
8-17
0
0
25
22
0
十十
0
0
4
8
-4
12 11.09
9.80
88.11 133
18
43
*
X
*
322 45
305.89
93.87 405 148 753 92.8 |441 297 976
9-15
0
0
7
1
14
10
1
2
24
22.5
20.84
92.52
75
64
74
Zelina Dwinal. . .
Bates College . ..
22.50
2
9-8 8-19
18 27
0
0)
0)
Fisher's Kinder-
8.00
36
8-18
0
0
0
4
*
10
12
7
28
25
14
98
H. W . Dunn. Jr ... Bates College.
$22 50
25
0
31
14!
11
Total Membership
*These numbers include no names of those whose names appear on the supplementary enrollment list.
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Table B. Teachers Employed for School Year 1912-13.
SCHOOL TEACHERS
WHERE EDUCATED SALARY
High
George L. Michaud,
International College,
$22 50
Springfield, Mass.
Alice L. Cook,
Brown University, 13 75
E. D. Gr. 8-9
Mrs. Nora E. Taylor,
Lowell Normal, 12 00
E. L. Buffington,
Douglas High, 13 50
5 Mary F. Murphy,
Worcester Normal, 10 00
4 Cora A. Wheeler,
Worcester Normal, 10 00
3
Edith W. Abbott,
Douglas High, 12 00
66
2
Etta H. Johnson,
Douglas High, 13 00
1 Elizabeth Poole,
Fisher's Kindergarten 12 00
66
1 Marie Clark, Asst.,
5 00
Douglas Centre Gertrude M. Smith,
Middlebury, Vt. High,
11 00
W. Douglas
Mary H. Kelley,
Douglas High, 9 00
S. Douglas Edith Manahan,
Douglas High, 8 50
Table C. School Census.
The following figures are taken from the census of school children, com plete up to Sept. 1, 1912.
Number of boys between 5 and 15. 218
Number of girls between 5 and 15. 210
Total number of boys and girls. 428
Gain over census of last year. 81
Number of boys between 7 and 14. 146
Number of girls between 7 and 14. 150
Total number of boys and girls between 7 and 14. 296
Gain over census of last year 9
EYE AND EAR TESTS.
Number of pupils examined. . . 314
Number found with defective sight . 32
Number found with defective hearing 16
6-7
Training School,
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Report of the HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
East Douglas, Mass., Feb. 5, 1913.
Mr. Charles M. Pennell, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :
In compliance with your request for a report on the Douglas High School I beg to offer the following information, trusting that it may be of some value to those persons interested in the school.
There were 24 students enrolled at the beginning of the school year 1911-1912. Five left during the year, and nineteen finished the course. At the beginning of the year 1912-1913 there has been an enrollment of 29 students. Three have dropped out, but as a further decrease is unlikely 26 students will probably finish the course, a total increase over last year of seven students.
The classes by years are divided as follows :
First year
5 boys 5 girls
Second year 4 boys 6 girls
Third year 2 boys 4 girls
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We have no fourth class this year. The six members of the third class, however, are expected to finish the course and four of them will probably enter college.
A change for the better has been made in raising the number of credits required for graduation from 68 to 72. This means that
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a total of 16 studies or units must now be covered during the course at the rate of 43 recitations a week. This, together with the fact that greater severity is used in ranking students, will en- able future graduates to enter college without spending additional time in a preparatory school. Students not expecting to pursue higher studies will be equally benefitted. On the other hand if the pupils wish to obtain satisfactory results they are expected to de- vote at least two hours a day for studying outside of regular school hours.
The course of studies is as follows :
Ist year :
2d year :
3rd year :
Periods a week Periods a week
Periods a week
English 5 English 5
English 5
Algebra 43
French 4
French 4
Science 4 Geometry 4
Chemistry 5
Latin or
Physics 5
Latin or
Arithmetic 4
Latin 5
Hist. & Civ. 4
Rhetoricals 1
Rhetoricals 1 Rhetoricals 1
At the beginning of the present school year about two hun- dred dollars was expended for the equipment of the physics and chemistry laboratory. This expenditure has helped materially to render the study of the sciences more interesting and more profit- able. The improved conditions are highly appreciated by both pupils and teachers.
A difficulty will have to be met at the beginning of the next school year. There will probably be, then, over thirty students divided into four classes. As certain alternate studies sometimes require a combination of two classes we shall have groups of fifteen or more reciting in one room, while another class of ten or more will recite in another. The small room formerly used as an office does not accommodate more than seven and the laboratory is unsuit- able for conducting recitations other than in the sciences.
I should strongly recommend, therefore, that the proposed conversion of the attic of the building into one or two recitation rooms be effected during the coming summer. The need for more room is becoming imperative and the increase in the number of students would seem to warrant the expenditure.
Respectfully submitted,
G. L. MICHAUD,
Principal of High School.
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Report of SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Charles M. Pennell, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR :
I began the teaching of music in the Douglas schools October the 22d, 1912, succeeding Miss Emma J. Williams of Providence, resigned.
It is a pleasure to report that both pupils and teacher are fol- lowing the prescribed course with diligence.
Our youngest pupils begin at the fountain-head, the major scale, and work up as fast as possible. Some of our little people are not able to change pitch. There are others who vary the pitch but are not able to sing in tune. There are still others who can sing in tune when singing with those whose sense of pitch is good, but cannot alone. These three difficulties are overcome in time by listening intelligently-that is, ear-training.
A true scale accomplished, the pupil is ready for a thorough drill in intervals accompanied by the singing of songs using nu- merals and words. In this way a substantial foundation is laid for future progress.
Excellent two and three part work is being done in the various rooms.
The High school pupils have shown much interest in study- ing various choruses from our best writers.
Altogether the outlook is very favorable.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE G. E. VOSE.
Woonsocket, R. I., Feb. 6, 1913.
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