USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1917 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
For all this I desire to thank you, and also for your con- fidence in me and your support. To the teachers also I extend my thanks for their loyalty and good will.
Respectfully submitted,
C. L. JUDKINS,
February 11, 1918.
Supt. of Schools.
I 3
STATISTICAL STATEMENT.
Assessed valuation, April 1, 1917 $1,420,942
Population, census of 1915 2.134
No. persons in town between 5 and 16 years of age,
Apr. 1, 1917 -- boys 200, girls 204 404
No. persons between 5 and 7 years of age -- boys 26,
girls 28 54
No. persons between 7 and 14 years of age -- boys 143, girls 139 282
No. persons between 14 and 16 years of age -- boys 31, girls 37 68
Illiterate minors, 16 to 21 years of age -- males 22, females 39 61
Total enrollment in all the public schools during school year ending June 23, 1917 396
Average membership for school year
360
Average attendance for school year
346
Per cent. of attendance. . .
96.11
No. school buildings in use
4
No. teachers required by the public schools
14
No. special teachers
2
No. teachers graduated from college
3
No. teachers graduated from normal school No. weeks high school was in session .
40
No. weeks E. Douglas 6-7 and 8-9 grades were in session
38
No. weeks other schools were in session 36
No. pupils graduated from high school . 0
No. pupils graduated from grammar schools 19
6
Attendance for School Year Ending June 29, 1917.
SCHOOL
TEACHERS
Enrolment
Under 5 years
Between 5-7 years
Between 7-14 years
Between 14-16 years
Over 16 years
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Per cent. of Attendance
No. Tardinesses
No. Dismissals
High. . . . . ..
Louis J. Peltier ... . Mabel Felton, Asst .. Ruth E. McIntyre .. Eunice L. Buffington Ethel M. Edwards. .
21
0
0
4
12
5
18.05
17.37
96.18
40
15
E. Douglas 8-9. .
29
0
0
15
12
2
25.37
24.31
95.78 130
5
39
0
0
37
2
0
35.57
34.02
95.66
19
11
44
0
0
43
1
0
36.37
34.52
94.91 110
9
66
4 .
.
May C. Buxton . . . .
45
()
44
0
43.90
41.26
94.00
48
6
2
Etta H. Johnson .. .
49
0
5
44
0
0
45.98
44.39
96.55
21
1
la.
·
Margaret Quinn .. ..
43
0
21
20
0
0
38.21
36 06
94.37
13
0
1 b .....
Daisy E. Sweet ....
21
0
8
13
0
0
20.88
19.30
92.65 152
2
Douglas Center 4-8 Gertrude M. Smith.
15
0
0
12
0
0
12.97
12.21
94.14| 51
3
W. Douglas, Mixed Jane F. Ryan . .
18
0
3
13
0
0
14.86
13.48
87.67 129
22
South “
Mixed May Butterworth .. .
7
0
2
1
1
4 99
4 41
88.36
57
8
Totals
399
0
46 307
29
8
359.63
340.28
94.62 840|101
·
6-7 .. ..
.) .
Pauline Carver. . . .
46
00
0
45
1
45.17
42.45
93.98
52
11
3
.
.
.
1-3 Mollie H.Kelley . ...
22
0
7
14
0
0
17.31
16.50
95.721
18
8
E. Louise Twohig ..
14
Rank of the Schools in Attendance and Punctuality for Year ending June 29, 1917.
Rank
ATTENDANCE
Per Cent. of
Attendance
Rank
PUNCTUALITY
Per Cent. of
Tardiness
1
East Douglas, 2
96.55
1
East Douglas, 1-a
2
.13
3
East Douglas, 8-9
95.78
3
6-7
.14
4
Douglas Center, 1-3
95.72
4
Douglas Center, 1-3
.31
5
East Douglas, 6
95.66
5
East Douglas, 3
.32
6
5
94.91
6
4
.34
7
East Douglas, 1-a
94.37
7
High
.58
8
Douglas Center, 4-8
94.14
8
East Douglas,
5
.89
9
East Douglas, 3
94.00
9
Douglas Center, 4-8
1.15
10
4
93.98
10
East Douglas, 8-9
1.44
11
1-b
92.65
11
1-b
2.12
12
So. Douglas, mixed
88.36
12
W. Douglas mixed
2.53
13
W. Douglas, mixed
87.67
13
So. Douglas mixed
3.35
Average,
94.62
Average,
1.03
Average for State
93.00
NOTE-No record of tardiness is kept by the state.
A higher tardiness than 1%, however, is regarded as unsatisfactory.
Rank of the Schools in Attendance and Punctuality, Fall Term, 1917.
Rank
ATTENDANCE
Per Cent. of
Attendance
Rank
PUNCTUALITY
Per Cent. of
.00
2
East Douglas, 2
97.09
2
Douglas Center, 1-3 Douglas Center, 4-8 East Douglas, 2
.17
3
High
96.78
3
.20
4
East Douglas, 6
96.45
4
5
.22
5
7-8
95.21
5
66
3
.25
6
3
94.91
6
4
.30
7 8
Douglas Center, 1-3 East Douglas, 1-b
94.32
8
So. Douglas, mixed
.35
10
6 .
5
93.68
10
High
.53
11
1-a
92.95
11
W. Douglas, mixed
.54
12
So. Douglas, mixed
91.23
12
East Douglas, 7-8
.88
13
W. Douglas, mixed
89.78
13
1-b
1.34
Average,
94.47
Average,
Tardiness
1
Douglas Center, 4-8
97.11
1
7
6
.33
9
94.10
9
East Douglas, 1-a
.36
.42
2
High
96.18
2
66
.10
4
94.56
ENROLMENT BY AGES, JANUARY 1, 1918.
Age is taken from nearest birthday. Figures in black-face type indicate proper grade for age.
Age,
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Total Number
Per cent. in Grade
Number of over-age
Per cent. of over-age
Grade I ..
34| 1
31 10 1
10 20 12 2
16 21
11
4
2
1
1
66
21. 17.
16
20.
II
52
13.5
18
35.
IV
1
1
45
11.7
19
42.
V
12
15
7
6
3
43
11.1
16
37.
VI
7
12
13
5
2
39
10.1
20
51.
VII.
2
4 4
3
8
2
4
12
3.1
6
50,
3
1
4
1.
0
0
H. S. Sophomores ..
3
3
.8
0
0
H. S. Seniors.
1
2
1
1
5
1.4
2
40.
Totals . ..
35
42
44
51
48
43
36
37
24
10
4
8
2
1
1
386
100
136
35.
.
11
13
8
7
2
19
5.
2
10.5
VIII
17
4.3
2
11.8
H. S. Freshmen ..
1
3
2
2
H. S. Juniors.
3
2
1
81
35
53.
III
10
6
2
11
2
Pupils
Pupils
LIST OF TEACHERS, JANUARY 1918.
NAME
SCHOOL
HOME ADDRESS
GRADUATE OF
Salary
per year
When appointed in town
Louis J. Peltier
High
East Douglas
Clark College
$1180
1916
Esther M. Eckstrom
Worcester
Augustana College
600
1917
Pauline Carver
Dexter, Me.
Lowell Normal
608
1917
Eunice L. Buffington
East Douglas
Douglas High
608
1892
Lovertia P. Chase
Haverhill
Worcester Normal
494
1918
E. Louise Twohig
East Douglas
Westfield Normal
532
1915
May C. Buxton
Douglas
Worcester Normal
532
1916
Etta H. Johnson
East Douglas
Douglas High
532
1889
Ethel M. Owen
Whitinsville
Fitchburg Normal
494
1917
Daisy E. Sweet
East Douglas
Symonds Training School
456
1916
Gertrude M. Smith
Douglas Cent. 4-8
Douglas
Middlebury, Vt. High
513
1900
Mollie H. Kelley
East Douglas
Douglas High
494
1908
Eleanor G. Foley
W. Douglas, mixed
Worcester
Worcester Normal
418
1917
Beatrice Whitcomb
S. Douglas, mixed
Douglas
Douglas High
342
1917
Helen Greenhalgh
Music
Pawtucket, R. I.
Wellesley College
*150
1917
Ida A. Loomis
Drawing
East Douglas
Boston School of Design
175
1917
East Douglas, 7-8
6
5
4
3
·2
~
1-a
1-b
1-3
* Also allowance for traveling expenses.
18
Report of High School Principal.
To Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools :--
Dear Sir :- I submit the following report on the work of the Douglas High School for the year ending December 31, 1917 :-
School opened with twenty-seven enrolled. Since then, how- ever, three have left the Freshman class and one has entered leaving a total of twenty-five.
To these pupils it is our ambition to offer such a course of study as will prepare them for serviceable citizenship in after life. We cannot. in a two-teacher school, present every subject desired by all pupils. However by combining some first and second year classes, and third and fourth year classes ; also by giving certain subjects every other year, a broad course has been drawn up. Two courses are offered, viz :-- a classical course and a general course. There are now thirty-eight or more colleges admitting without Latin, and thus both courses may be considered as prepar- ing for higher education. Surely a step was taken in the right direction when algebra and geometry were left out, as required studies, of the general course and arithmetic put in for the Fresh- men. The educational world is fast recognizing the fact that it is the quality of work that determines a pupil's worth, rather than the subject in which it was done. Drawing and music are now allotted a full period a week.
The number of pupils enrolled in each course,-Classical 12, General 16.
The following table shows the number of pupils studying each subject taught in the school :--
1st and 2nd year Englsh 18 Latin A 4
3rd and 4th year English 8 Caesar 4
Biology
10
Cicero
Physics 8
Bookkeeping 5
Ancient History 15
Typewriting 9
Algebra
5
Spelling 28
Geometry 5
Singing 28
Arithmetic
7
Physical Training . . 28
French A Freehand Drawing. 23
French B 1 Mechanical Drawing 5 28
Rhetoricals
19
It was expected that the Freshman class, due to the abolition of the ninth grade, might present some difficulty in regard to schol- arship. This, however, has not been the case.
Generally speaking there has been very satisfactory progress. A girls' literary society has been formed in charge of Miss Eckstrom.
The typewriting class has been able to aid the Red Cross in co-ordination with its work.
In closing I wish to thank the pupils for their kindly wel- come a year ago and their hearty good-will ever since. The loyal co-operation of the teachers and janitor has been very gratifying to me.
Respectfully submitted,
LOUIS J. PELTIER, Principal.
Jan. 15, 1918.
COURSES OF STUDY IN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL.
Adopted September 4, 1916.
COLLEGE COURSE.
First year -- Latin 5, Algebra 5, Ancient History 4, English 5, Drawing, 1, Music one-half.
Second year-Latin 5, English 5, Geometry 4, French 4, Drawing 1, Music one-half.
Third year-Latin 5, English 5, Physics 4, French 4, Draw- ing 1, Music one-half.
Fourth year-Latin 5, English 5, Revised Mathematics 4, Chemistry 4, Drawing 1, Music one-half.
GENERAL COURSE.
First year-Elementary Science 4, Ancient History 4, Arith- metic 4, English 5, Drawing 1, Music one half.
Second year-French 4, English 5, Science 4, Com. Civics 4, Drawing 1, Music one-half.
Third year -- French 4, English 5, Physics 4, American His- tory and Civil Government 4, Drawing 1, Music one-half.
Fourth year -- French 4, English 5, Bookkeeping 4, Chem- istry 4, Drawing 1, Music one-half.
Spelling and Rhetoricals during the year.
20
Report of Supervisor of Music.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools .-
DEAR SIR :--
I am submitting the following report to you subject to any change you may see fit to make :
Within the last three months, I have tried to instill into the teachers, as well as the pupils, enthusiasm to learn how to read music and a joy in singing. We have used the books and sheet music already in the grades and high school. Two-part singing was started in the fourth grade with apparent success. The sixth, seventh and eighth grades were singing well in three parts and work in the bass clef was begun. The work in the high school did not reach my expectations due partly to lack of interest among the pupils, and to the repeated use of old books.
The work in music in the public schools is three-fold :
1. To enable the largest possible number of children to participate correctly and tunefully in the singing.
2. By this means to develop in them a love for good music.
3. To teach as many of the principles, and to furnish as much of the practice of sight singing as may be possible under the conditions.
I have tried to work along these three lines throughout the fall.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN GREENHALGH,
January, 7, 1918.
Supervisor of Music.
2 [
Report of Supervisor of Drawing.
Mr. C. L. Judkins. Superintendent of Schools :-
DEAR SIR :-
In this, my first report as Supervisor of Drawing in the Douglas schools, I am pleased to state that good progress has been made.
Some of the important features of the work are color, object drawing, design and printing.
Color scales have been made to show the different values of a color, and to show the difference between the tints and shades of a color.
Object drawing develops the power to see and picture what one sees. For a foundation we have the type solids, as the sphere, cylinder and prisms.
Design develops the true standards of good judgment in what is best in objects and their decoration. Original designs were made for Christmas cards in the upper grades. In making these cards printing was also used. The plain square letters are used and will always be of service.
In the high school the work in both the freehand and me- chanical divisions has shown much improvement. Posters for the Red Cross ball were designed and printed by the pupils and much interest was taken in the work.
Constructive drawing is being taken up by those in the mechanical division.
Geometry is the basis of accurate constructive drawing, and therefore geometric problems have been made so that the student will become familiar with those constructions that are ordinarily employed.
I thank the teachers and principal for their interest and loy- alty, and the school committee and superintendent for their sup- port.
Respectfully submitted,
IDA A. LOOMIS, Supervisor of Drawing. Jan. 8, 1918.
22
Report of Instructor in Sewing
SUMMER OF 1917.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools :--
DEAR SIR :-
The sewing classes held during the summer vacation contin- ued for 10 weeks, two classes meeting each week, and were attended by 30 pupils, 27 of whom finished the entire work.
The older class hemmed handkerchiefs for the Red Cross, darned stockings, mended thin dress goods, and made shirt waists.
The younger class hemmed napkins and tray cloths for the Red Cross, darned stockings, mended thin dress goods and made holders and bungalow aprons with set-in sleeves. The material used, costing ten dollars, was paid for by the pupils themselves.
Respectfuly submitted,
ETTA H. JOHNSON,
Instructor in Sewing.
23
Report of Medical Inspector.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR :---
I inspected all the children of our public schools at the beginning of the term in September, and again after the Christ- mas recess I examined all in two or three grades, which com- prised children suspected of having been exposed to scarlet fever infection So far as I know, however, there has been but one case in town.
The pupils actually inspected at the first inspection numbered 375 and a very large proportion were reported to the parents as in need of either medical or dental attention. There was no attempt to discover any but the most easily detected defects, and those which are most likely to produce illness of some sort.
Among 68 children of the primary grade, about 10 per cent. were free from obvious trouble, 35 per cent. had throats which should have medical attention, 80 per cent. had more or less de- fective teeth, and 22 per cent. had both bad teeth and bad throats.
Among 27 pupils of the grammar grades, nearly 40 per cent. were free from these readily recognized defects, 48 per cent. had defective teeth, 44 per cent. had more or less throat trouble and 29 per cent. had both classes of trouble.
So far as these figures indicate anything, it would seem that half of those who have had bad teeth in the first grade, either drop out, or have their defects remedied, while those whose throats demand attention at the beginning of school life, simply have nothing effective done. One condition is probably as important · as the other as far as effect on efficiency of physical condition goes.
The deciding factors in causing teeth to be looked after better than tonsils, are perhaps, first, the fact that the beneficial results of dental care are better understood generally, while the results of carelessness in that regard, are both painful and obviously disfiguring.
In the second place the cost of a single operation on the throat needed by most of the children examined, when performed at a
.
24
hospital, is not far from $10, including the usual hospital charge, for use of the operating room, and the cost of transportation to the hospital and board and nursing for a day or two, while the patients are under observation to guard against possible accidents which would interfere with recovery. This sum of money is called for in a lump, whereas a larger total expenditure on the teeth may be spread over a considerable period of earning time. Such an operation performed by the family physician would cost about the same as at the hospital, and while the services of a more experi- enced operator are sought, the cost runs to several times this amount. While the operation is not of the most critical and dan- gerous character, it has its possible accidental complications, though they are rarely seen, and requires competent assistance and after-care. If people generally knew as well as doctors know the benefits resulting from such treatment, the operation would be performed much more commonly than is now the case.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL, F. ELA, Medical Inspector.
Feb. 10, 1918.
MEMBERS OF TEACHERS' RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION
Louis J. Peltier, Esther W. Eckstrom, Pauline Carver, Lover- tia P. Chase, E. Louise Twohig, Ethel M. Owen, Daisy E. Sweet, Eleanor G. Foley, Beatrice Whitcomb, Helen Greenhalgh, Ida A. Loomis.
RESULTS OF THE TESTS FOR VISION AND HEARING.
Number pupils tested 395
66
found defective in vision 48
66 hearing 5
66 parents or guardians notified 49
ATTENDANCE OFFICER'S REPORT.
Cases investigated 63
Absent on account of sickness
43
66 6 " truancy 13
for other causes ..
4
Number returned to school
11
ALEX. R. JOHNSON, Attendance Officer.
25
SCHOOL BANNERS.
The school banner, awarded for excellence in attendance and punctuality each month (high school excepted), has been won for the past year as follows :
Per cent Attendance.
Cases Tardiness.
January, Douglas Center, Grades 1 and 3
98.00
8
February, East Douglas, Grade 2
97.36
2
March, East Douglas, Grade 2.
97.82
4
April, East Douglas Center, Grades 1-3
98.69
1
May, East Douglas, Grades 8-9
97.82.
21
June, Douglas Center, Grades 1-3
98.81
2
September, South Douglas, mixed
97.75 2
October, Douglas Center, 4-8
98.80 2
November, East Douglas, Grade 2
99.13
3
December, East Douglas, Grade 6.
98.16
6
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATES.
Issued January 1, 1917 to January 1. 1918.
Employment certificates. (14-16 years). . 31
Educational certificates, (16-21 ; can read) 31
Educational certificates, (16-21 ; cannot read
1
Total . 63
Mr. Alex. Johnson has been appointed by the Superintendent · of Schools to issue certificates, and these may be obtained by those entitled to them by making application to Mr. Johnson.
HONOR ROLL.
Pupil neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed for three years : Everett Conrad.
Pupil neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed for two years : Albert Dansereau.
Pupils neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed for one year :
Stewart Barnett, Eddie Richard, Joseph Valliere, Katherine Danmore, Annie Grivalsky, Freida Parker, Elizabeth Bylonick, Ethel Maynard, Stella Pierpriak, Margaret Brown, Alexina William- son, Joseph Stanick, William Wesanen, Elizabeth Grivalski, Eva Therrien.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.