USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1915 > Part 3
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Mrs. Vose's report follows this report.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School under the management of Mr. J. W. Thomas has continued to do creditable work though the attendance is small and great difficulty is experienced in persuading pupils to complete the course. It is unfortunate the school is so small, the number enrolled, about 25 at present, should be twice this number in a town of this size. The course of study pursued has been worked out with the State Board of Education and is approved by this Board, entitling the town to State aid. A class of five was graduated from the school in June, receiving diplomas.
The class to graduate next June numbers only two but the other classes are somewhat larger and it is hoped that the gradu- ating classes in the future may be larger than in the past. The spirit of work in the school has decidedly improved during the past year. The outlook for the future of the school is encouraging.
Near the close of the fall term 1914, Mr. Thomas, the prin- cipal, was elected to a position in Connecticut, resigning his posi- tion in Douglas. To fill the position made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Thomas, Miss Pierce, the high school assistant, was ap- pointed. Miss Almira R. Wallace. a graduate of Bates College was appointed to the assistant's position made vacant by the pro- motion of Miss Pierce. Under the new arrangement the school is running very satisfactorily.
14
EVENING SCHOOLS.
For the past two years Evening School has been held at the town hall.
The compulsory attendance law obliges all between the ages of 16 and 21 to attend evening school who have not completed the equivalent of the work done by the fourth grade, providing an evening school is maintained. The interest has been good and the results satisfactory.
TRAINING AND FUNDAMENTALS.
Training and drill in fundamentals, or the three "R's" is be- ing insisted on throughout the schools. There is a danger in modern education of overlooking the importance of fundamentals where so many subjects all of more or less value, are knocking for admission to the school curriculum. It has been our policy and still is, that nothing making for higher efficiency in education should be overlooked. Business men are demanding that boys and girls entering offices and other places of business shall be fit- ted for immediate usefulness. It is the business of the school to furnish the training demanded. To be thorough in a few things is deemed better than to be superficial in many.
A system of schools that prepares pupils to read understand- ingly. to speak clearly, to spell correctly, to write legibly and to perform the fundamental processes of arithmetic accurately and rapidly, is making education a fit preparation for life.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The following figures are taken from the census of school children in town September 1, 1914.
Children between,
Total
5 and 7 Boys 36 Girls 48
84
7 and 14 Boys 143 Girls 135
278
14 and 16 Boys 33 Girls 35 68
Total number of Boys, 212
Total number of Girls, 218
Total Girls and Boys,
430
ENROLLMENT.
The total enrollment in the schools for the school year ex- clusive of those who have spent any part of the year in schools out of town was 397 as against 384 for the previous year, a gain of 13.
15
The average membership for the school year was 370.89 as against 347.35 for the previous year, a gain of 23.54.
The average attendance for the school year was 345.59 as against 327.39, a gain of 18.20.
The percentage of attendance for the year was 93.18 as against 93.12 for the previous year, a gain of .06 of one percent.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation for the kindly interest in school matters manifested throughout the town. During the three and one half years that I have been connected with the schools, not a word of objection has been raised against furnishing such sums of money as have been called for by the school officials. People vote school money freely and willingly where they feel that an equivalent for money expended is being received. It is a satis- faction to be associated with a people who so unmistakably approve of the efforts being made to bring the schools up to the highest point of efficiency. Words of commendation when deserved are appreciated and form a stimulus to intensified effort. Words of censure when given with a view to correcting mistakes and improv- ing school policy are graciously received and carefully considered. What ever makes for real worth in stimulating the schools to become more of a vital factor in promoting better physical, moral and intellectual conditions, is eagerly sought and made use of.
The teachers are conscientious and painstaking in their work and co-operate willingly with school officials in carrying out sug- gestions and recommendations intended to improve the schools. Un- der the present corps of teachers and with the feeling of helpful interest in school affairs, on the part of all concerned, the outlook for continued and extended usefulness on the part of the schools is most encouraging.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES M. PENNELL,
Feb. 10, 1915.
Supt. of Schools.
Table A. Douglas School Statistics, September 1913 to June 1914.
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
Över 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
Visits of Supt.
Visits of all others
High. . . .. ...
2
J. W. Thomas ..... |Wesleyan College Alice M. Pierce .... Mt. Holyoke .....
$25 00
40|
9-13 0
0
3
5
6 11
9
16
1
1
25
23.90
21.80
91.10 158 133
15
9
E. D. Gr. VIII, IX . Mrs. Nora E. Taylor Lowell Normal ...
14.00
38
9-2
0
15
8
1
1
16 26
27
24
53
24.84 48.
23.70 46.67
95.40 96.62
28 62
83
28
18
66
V ..
Mary F. Murphy. ...
Worcester Normal
11.00
36
8-15
0
0
9
21
0
9
21
9
21
30
28.62
26.90
94.
52
14
21
55
Edith W. Abbott. . . Douglas High ...
12.00
36
8-14
0
18|
17
0
0
18
30
16
16
46
45.53
43.90
96.43
36
15
15
41
Worcester Normal
12.00
36
8-14
0
0
21
25
1
21
26
10
47
42.31
38.32
90.57
22
46
66
I (a) .
Marie Clark, Asst .. .
Douglas High . . ..
5.00
10
2-8
0
0
1
1
0
0
14
12
2
6
26
25.28
22.58
89.30
8
89 0
8
Douglas Center.
Gertrude M. Smith . |Middleb'y, Vt.H.S.
11.00
36
0
0
11
7
0
12
8
11
6
20 19.80
18.00
90.75
35
12
20
42
W. Douglas.
O. A. Sweet ...
M. H. Chapman ... . Lowell Normal. .
9.00
27
S. Douglas. .
Grafton H. S. ... .
10.00
20
7-16
0
0
5
710
6
7
6
6
13
11 14
8 86
82.70
13
6
66
Mrs. G. S. Moore .. M. R. Bond.
Vassar College
11.00
12
506 122-2 480|98-15|
0 0
0 174 173 11 13 198 199 153 150 397 370.89
Totals Sept. 1912-13
1 182 177 13 |11 |189 195 136 139 384 347.35 327.39
~
VI, VII. . Eunice L. Buffington Douglas High . . ..
14.00
38
9-4
0
24
27
2
0
00
0 22
22
22
44
37.52
35.52
94.81
32
21
22
17
26
Etta H. Johnson. . . Douglas High .
12.00
36
8-14
0
30
16
0
0
0
9
9
8
8
18
15.29
13 90
90.26
4
20
21
40
0
6
8
0
0
6
9
5
8
15
14.26
12.39
86.85
75
44
13
16
Totals
93.18 511 493 232 357 93.12|513 438 218 468
44
15
23
IV. .
H. E. McGregor ...
Lowell Normal .. .
11.00
36
8-13
0
0
22
22
22 17
17
35 34.40
33.05
96.22
..
..
10.00
13
10.00
36
8-12
0
0
9
9.00
9
8-13
0
9
1
Mary H. Kelley ..
Douglas High . . . Douglas High .
11.00
7
4-15
I (b)
O. A. Sweet.
Douglas High .
15.00
40
9-13
0 0
9
12 22|
5
25
17
23
27
III. .
II ..
I (a) .
Margaret Quinn. ...
I (b) .
Mrs. F. Blume. ..
Whitman H. S .. .
8-16
0
18 30 7
Total Membership
345.59
I7
Table B. Teachers Engaged for School Year 1914-15
SCHOOL
TEACHERS
WHERE EDUCATED
SALARY
High
Joseph W. Thomas, Prin.,
Wesleyan College,
$25 00
Mt. Holyoke College, 15 00
as Principal, 20 00
Almira R. Wallace, Assist,
Bates College,
15 00
E. D. Grds. 8-9
Mrs. Nora E. Taylor,
Lowell Normal,
14 00
66
6-7
E. L. Buffington,
Douglas High,
14 00
66
5
Edna M. Dillon,
Westfield Normal,
11 00
66
4
Helen E. McGregor,
Lowell Normal, 12 00
66
3
Edith W. Abbott,
Douglas High, 12 00
66
2
Etta H. Johnson,
Douglas High, 12 00
1 Margaret Quinn,
Worcester Normal, 12 00
60
1 Etta Hewett, Asst.,
Douglas High, 5 00
Douglas C. Gram. Gertrude M. Smith,
Middlebury, Vt., High, 11 00
Douglas C. Prim. Mary H. Kelly,
Douglas High,
10 00
WV. Douglas,
Olive A. Sweet,
Douglas High,
10 00
S. Douglas,
May Butterworth,
Pascoag High
9 00
Douglas Public Schools Bulletin, Sept. 1914
Douglas High School, J. W. Thomas
27
27 25.50 26 25 43
94 44 97.77
38 22
66
Center. S & 9
Mrs. N. Taylor
26 51
51
49.68
97.41 12
1
66
66
5
E. Dillon
H. E. McGregor
E. M. Abbott
E. H. Johnson
49
47.38
46.50
98.14 20 4
66
66
1
M. Quinn
53
51.50
50.10
97.28
1
Gram. G. M. Smith
23
22.25
21.15
95.05 36
2
W. Douglas
O. A. Sweet
17
20.80 16.70
20.08 15.20
99 91 02 19 29
29
S.
M. Butterworth
12
11.10
9.10
82
Douglas Totals,
12 schools 392
387.50 373.22
95.29 210 65
66
66
6 & 7
E. Buffington
37 35 42 41.90
34 87
34.45
96.79 7
3
66
66
3
40.73 97.21 11
66
66
2
66
Prim.
M. H. Kelley
21
37 35 30
95.40 21
66
4
CHARLES. M. PENNELL,
Superintendent of Schools.
66
E. Mialma Jenckes,
Wellesley College,
11 00
Alice M. Pierce, Asst., 66 66
66
17 1
18
Report of the HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
Mr. Charles M. Pennell, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :
As I have been principal but two months, I feel that any re- port I can give will be very unsatisfactory.
This year we have tried to meet the needs of the pupils, as far as this has seemed possible. The following is the daily pro- gram :
(a) Algebra, Geometry, Latin IV, Latin I, Physical Geography and Botany, Rev. Math., Chemistry.
(b) Book-keeping, English II, History, French IV. French II, English I.
The subjects in paragraph (a) are under my supervision : those in paragraph (b) are in charge of my assistant, Miss Wallace. Calisthenics is given once a week. We are trying to offer a course that will be practical for pupils who do not expect to con- tinue their studies beyond the High School, and also meet the re- quirements for college entrance. It would now be possible for a conscientious pupil, after completing our course, to pass the exam- inations of the College Entrance Examination Board.
The pupils, as a whole, seem to enjoy their work, and the application to their studies is encouraging.
Thirty-seven pupils have been enrolled in the evening school. and the majority of them show a real desire to learn and to make use of the opportunity open to them.
The loyal support and co-operation of the teachers has been most gratifying to me.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE M. PIERCE. Principal.
19
GRADUATION EXERCISES of the Douglas High School SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH EAST DOUGLAS Friday Evening, June 19, 1914, at 8 o'clock. PROGRAM
Prelude and March,
Invocation,
Orchestra Rev. V. H. Deming School
Chorus-"Praise Ye the Father,"
Salutatory Essay-"Electricity,"
William Niles Palmer
Chorus-"High School Bells," School Class History, Ida Annie Loomis Solo-"Voices of the Woods," Aliene McMahon Orchestra
Selection,
Class Prophecy,
Bertha Lyle Cole Beatrice Lucinda Whitcomb
Selection,
Orchestra
Valedictory Essay-"The Mexican Situation,"
Chorus-"With Fife and Drum,"
Etta Florence Hewett School Class President
Presentation of Class Gift,
Presentation of Diplomas,
Supt. Charles M. Pennell
Selection, Orchestra Benediction, Rev. V. H. Deming Orchestra
Postlude,
CLASS OF 1914.
BERTHA LYLE COLE ETTA FLORENCE HEWETT
IDA ANNIE LOOMIS WILLIAM NILES PALMER
BEATRICE LUCINDA WHITCOMB
ALUMNI MEDAL SCHOLAR. WILLIAM NILES PALMER CLASS MOTTO "HONESTA QUAM SPLENDIDA" (Things honest rather than things splendid) CLASS COLORS-Dark Blue and Gold. CLASS FLOWER-Mountain Laurel.
20
Report of SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Charles M. Pennell, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :
There is little to report concerning the music in the schools of Douglas.
The teachers carry on the work with the same careful atten- tion as heretofore.
I have made twelve visits since the opening of the year in September.
The rooms at Douglas Center were closed for a time on ac- count of scarlet fever, and during the month of December I gave all the time to the East Douglas schools.
We are preparing for the annual exhibition which is to occur soon, and later on the graduation exercises will claim our atten- tion.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE G. E. VOSE.
610 Park Ave., Woonsocket R. I., Feb. 16, 1915.
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