USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1919 > Part 3
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In conclusion I wish to thank the members of the school committee for their continued and cordial support.
C. L. JUDKINS,
February 2, 1920.
Superintendent of Schools.
1
13
STATISTICAL STATEMENT
Assessed valuation, April 1, 1919 $1,458,769
Population, census of 1915 2,179
No. persons in town between 5 and 16 years of age.
April 1, 1919-boys 162, girls 270 432
No. persons between 5 and 7 years of age-boys 35. girls 32. 67
No. persons between 7 and 14 years of age-boys 111, girls 197 308
No. persons between 14 and 16 years of age-boys 16,
girls 41, 57
Illustrate minors, 16 to 21 years of age-males 16, fe- males 16. 32
Total enrollment in all the public schools during school year ending June 27, 1919, 414
Average membership for school year
385
Average attendance for school year
355
Per cent. of attendance
92.08
No. school buildings in use
6
No. teachers required by the public schools
15
No. special teachers
2
No. teachers graduated from college
3
No. teachers graduated from normal school
6
No. weeks high school was in session
40
No. weeks grades were in session 38
No. pupils graduated from high school 0
No. pupils graduated from grammar school 8
Attendance for School Year Ending June 27, 1919.
TEACHERS
SCHOOL
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
C. W. Holmes .... . |High.
14
0
0)
3
5
6.
12.08
11.01
91.14|1231
Pearl Andrews. ...
§ Vera H. Daniels. .
41
0
0)
22|
17
2
44.57
41.30
92 66
26
11
Florence A. Sweet
Eunice L. Buffington E. Douglas 6.
32
0
0)
26|
6
0)
27.71
25.70
93.40
7
28
17
/ Agnes G. Sullivan Deborah O'Connor.
1
18
()
0
45 .
0
47.10
44 45
94 39|
24
25
May C. Buxton .
.
.
46
0
0
45
1
0
44.98
41.46
92.17
18
18
Etta H. Johnson .. .
6.
51
0)
1
50
0
46.22
44.18
95.72
9
4
Mollie H. Kelley . ...
66
1 a ...
50
()
13
37
0
0
45.34
41.20 19.99
92.75
86
13
Gertrude M. Smith. Douglas Center 4-7
25
()
=
23
·2
0
23.19
20 69!
89 96
28
20
Edith L. Anderson.
66
1-3
22
=
1
18
0
0
20.86
18.71
90 04
20
-I
{ Myrtle L. Warner
Gladys Norton.
South
Mixed
11
=
1
()
1
0
8 09
. 09
87.64
17
Totals . . .
414
41|329|
36
8
385.
354.53
92.09|416 130
.
.) ..
37
()
0
36
1
0
32.58
29.79
91.43
91.14
0)
0
Daisy E. Sweet .. .
46
1 b ....
25
0
10
15
0
0)
21.58
§ Julia E. Healey. . W. Douglas, Mixed
12
0
121
()
0
10.70
8.96
83.74
30
0
S Lovertia P. Chase
6.
2 ..
.
14
I 5
Rank of the Schools in Attendance and Punctuality for Year ending June 27, 1919.
Rank
ATTENDANCE
Per Cent. of
Attendance
Rank
PUNCTUALITY
Per Cent. of Tardiness
1
East Douglas, 2
95.72
1
East Douglas,
66
2
.05
3
66
66
6
93.40
3
66 East Douglas, 66
6
.07
4
66
1-b
92.75
4
3
.11
5
66
3
92.17
6
7-8
.16
7
66
66
5
91.43
7
5
.24
8
High
91.14
8
Douglas Center, 1-3
.28
9
East Douglas, 1-a
91.14
9
Douglas Center, 4-8
.35
10
Douglas Center, 1-3
90.04
10
W. Douglas, mixed
.51
11
Douglas Center, 4-8
89.96
11
So. Douglas, mixed
.62
12
So. Douglas, mixed
87.64
12
East Douglas, 1-b
1.15
13
W. Douglas, mixed
83.74
13
High
3.01
Average,
92.09
Average,
.51
Average for State
93.00
1-a
.00
2
4
94.39
2
East Douglas, 66
4
.15
6
66
7-8
92.66
5
NOTE-No record of tardiness is kept by the state. A higher tardiness than 1%, however, is regarded as unsatisfactory.
LIST OF TEACHERS, JANUARY 1920.
NAME
HOME ADDRESS
SCHOOL
GRADUATE OF
Salary
per year
When appointed
in town
C. W. Holmes
East Douglas
High
Brown University
$1600
1918
Florence M. Bartlett
Cambridge
Wellesley
850
1919
Edith M. Baker
New London, Conn.
Conn. State College
850
1919
Florence A. Sweet
Douglas
East Douglas, 7-8
-
6
Douglas High
900
1892
Agnes G. Sullivan
Worcester
Worcester Normal
850
1918
Mae M. Sullivan
Gilbertville
4
Fitchburg
850
1919
May C. Buxton
Douglas
3
Worcester
850
1916
Etta C. Johnson
East Douglas
2
Douglas High
850
1908
Mollie H. Kelley
-
1-a
Symonds Training School
750
1916
Daisy E. Sweet
Douglas
Douglas Cent. 6 8
Middlebury, Vt. High
850
1900
Edith L. Anderson
Uxbridge
1-3
Worcester Normal
800
1918
Verna Sawin
Holyoke
* Wheaton College
750
1919
Gladys Norton
Worcester
Worcester Normal
750
1918
Mildred E. Taft
Uxbridge
W. Douglas, mixed S. Douglas, mixed Music
Mt. Holyoke College
+200
1919
Mildred Christenson
Worcester
Drawing
Mass. Normal Art School
+200
1919
66
5
Rhode Island Normal
850
1919
Eunice L. Buffington
East Douglas
875
1889
1-b
Gertrude M. Smith
* Attended without having been graduated.
+ One-fifth time.
-
17
Report of High School Principal.
To the Supt. of Schools, Town of Douglas :--
I herewith submit my second annual report of the East Douglas High School.
During the current school year there have been three nota- ble changes in school administration; the restoration of the 4- year high school, the hiring of a third teacher for the high school, and the introduction of manual training.
The first of these changes resulted from the unpopularity of the Junior High School experiment and the strong local sen- timent against compelling boys and girls to go out of town to finish their high school education. This is highly commend- able since there are so few who accept the educational advan- tages which their town offers, and those few could be sent to school elsewhere at a cost to the town considerably less than the cost of their instruction here at present. It is a loyal at- tempt of a typical New England town to maintain its dignity in the face of the adverse educational conditions confronting it. One of these conditions is probably only temporary, a result of the premium put upon the price of labor by the war. Only the ignorant can continue to discount education; time will re- assert its value.
If the decrease in high school membership is due to an in- creasing proportion of foreigners in town, there is all the more reason why Douglas should maintain its high school. These foreigners wish to be good Americans, and they must be per- suaded to send more of their children to high school. To dis- continue the high school or to reduce its grade is to make a con- cession to threatening conditions against which there is a Na- tion-wide rallying at this moment of the forces that stand for Americanism. Our own State, as usual, is in the lead, and has come forward with two decisive measures to advance the cause
18
of education in Massachusetts: the law requiring children to complete the 6th grade before receiving employment certificates, and the increase of teachers' salaries. The Town of Douglas should not curtail the educational advantages offered to its child- ren. The effort should be rather to stimulate more interest among pupils in the upper grades for high school work. This is the task of the teachers, and they should be aided by an organ- ized effort on the part of the Parent-Teachers Association, work- ing among parents to secure more good high school students. This organization, which has been so helpful in so many ways, might well adopt as its special mission for a few years, the work of influencing our foreign neighbors to send their children, many of whom are excellent students, to high school.
The restoration of the 4-year high school forced the Com- mittee to hire three high school teachers, now required by recent State law for the 4-year high school. Since there is no Senior class this year, about half of the work of the 8th grade was taken over by the high school teachers, besides the manual training and domestic science in the 7th grade.
Miss Baker teaches domestic science in the 7th grade two periods a week of 70 minutes each, two periods of the same length in the 8th grade, and the two classes combined one period of 40 minutes. In the high school, Miss Baker teaches Fresh- man and Sophomore English, Chemistry, and General Science.
Miss Bartlett teaches United States History, Geography, and Arithmetic in the 8th grade, and French, Modern History, Latin, and Civics in the high school.
The principal teaches the Junior English, Bookeeping, Type- writing, Algebra, and mechanical drawing.
Mechanical Drawing has now broadened into Manual Train- ing, thanks to the persistent efforts of the friends of that sub- ject. Last June the High School Alumni Association voted to give $30 towards the purchase of manual training equipment; the Parent-Teachers Association had already voted $50 for that pur- pose : the Committee then came forward with the balance need- ed for tools, which they bought. But there were only two work-benches, while a dozen were needed. Then, at a sug- gestion from the Superintendent all the teachers of the village schools united in a final effort, gave an entertainment, cleared over $50,, and soon six more work-benches were ordered. They are now set up in the room assigned for this work in the Fire Station building, and the high school boys and boys of 7th and 8th grades have all had several lessons there in tool work.
19
Although the attendance is so small in the high school, the few we have are indeed a faithful few. The first of the cardinal school virtues, regularity of attendance, has been exemplified in a marked manner. The average percentage of attendance through the Fall term was 97.75; for one month it was 99 per cent. There is every other indication that these boys and girls are interested, trying to live up to good high school traditions, and endeavoring to repay the efforts of a generous school ad- ministration which gives them a per capita cost of high school education probably the highest in the State.
C. W. HOLMES,
Jan. 10, 1920.
Principal.
20
Report of School Physician.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR :-
Following is report of medical inspection of school children for year 1919.
Pupils examined 379
Enlarged tonsils
154
Defective teeth 113
Adenoids 7
Vaccinated 48
I examined schoolhouses and outbuildings before the opening of school and found them in excellent sanitary condition.
The poor condition of tonsils and teeth among the pupils is particularly noticeable. The parents have been notified in regard to this and I know personally of several cases where tonsils have been removed, and teeth cared for by dentists, showing that the parents are inclined to heed the notices sent from school, and to co-operate with the teachers and school physician in caring for the physical condition of the children.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. QUINN, School Physician.
2 I
Report of Supervisor of Music.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools :-
MY DEAR MR. JUDKINS :
In submitting my report of the work done in music in the Douglas schools during the first five months of the school year, I wish to state that the progress of the pupils in the grades has been, on the whole, quite satisfactory.
In Douglas town, in Miss Anderson's room, the children have learned an unusually large number of rote songs, in addition to work with the chart, and some board work. In Miss Smith's room we have attempted two-part singing, discussing the new technical problems presented in the advanced work. It is difficult, because of limited time, to give the same grade of work to the pupils of four different grades, especially at this changing period, but de- spite this obstacle, I feel that we have done some profitable and enjoyable work together.
In East Douglas, in Grade I, besides the imitative singing of rote songs, the children have worked with the scale syllables in preparation for simple staff reading, to be taken up soon. In Grade II, more difficult rote songs have been given, staff reading from the chart introduced, and the pitch names learned. In Grades III, IV, and V, we have given special atten- tion to drill in reading, to the new problems in time and tune, to artistic interpretation of songs, and to the production of the light head tone natural to the child voice and essential to good quality. The pupils of Grade V are singing two-part songs. Grade VI is doing successful three-part work, and is well advanced in theory.
22
Our music period in the high school and grammar grades is chiefly devoted to chorus singing. In all the schools, during Dec- ember, we made a study of Christmas carols, ancient and modern.
We are greatly in need of new readers. and may I suggest that as soon as a change can be made, that the first three books of the "New Educational Music Course" be introduced in the grades. We are using the Junior Song and Chorus Book of this series in the grammar school.
In closing I wish to thank you, Mr. Judkins, and the teachers for the hearty co-operation in my work.
Very sincerely yours,
Feb. 3, 1920.
MILDRED E. TAFT.
23
Report of Instructor in Sewing.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Supt. of Schools :-
Dear Sir :- The sewing class last summer numbered 29. The oldest member was 13, and the youngest 7, the average being about 10 years. The older class numbering 15, made aprons, pil- low-cases and corset-covers; the younger class made bags of cretonne and pillow-cases. Five of this class finished the above and in addition made some princess petticoats. I wish to thank the mothers who insisted that the children do the work, and do it as directed.
An exhibition of the work was held in the school room of Grade II, Sept. 18th at 3.15 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
Dec. 1919.
ETTA H. JOHNSON
24
Report of Drawing Supervisor.
To 'the Supt. of Schools, Douglas, Mass .:-
Dear Sir :- The work of the early part of the year in the primary grades centered about Indian and Pilgrim sandtables, this making use of the child's easiest tool-the scissors. Later the work centered about designs applied to simple construction problems. We are now finishing free cutting of letters which we are using in poster alphabets, calendars, mottoes, etc.
The intermediate grades have had more accurate work in making paper furniture for a dolls house. This at Christmas gave place to the problem of a bird-shaped plant stick which they planned and colored. The lettering has had to be a drill for a greater degree of accuracy through attention to details, finally applied to door and store signs.
The upper grades have devoted part of their time to trees. The Christmas work was a butterfly flower-stick cut with scis- sors from thin wood. The work in lettering was applied in the designing and printing of "Your Flag and My Flag."
The next work is to be costume work through paper dolls and colored paper in the lower grades; and fashion plates and pictures in the upper grades.
The High School work has been posters and printing. The latter is now being used on problems in simple book-binding of paper and vellum.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the teachers for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
MILDRED E. CHRISTENSON. February 7, 1920.
25
RESULTS OF THE TESTS FOR VISION AND HEARING.
Number of pupils tested 405
found defective in eyesight. . 33
" hearing 8
66 parents or guardians notified 38
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS' REPORT.
Number of cases investigated
86
.6
absent on account of sickness 6. .. " truancy. 6
60
. .
.. · for other causes. 20
ALEX. JOHNSTON,
THOS. P. RITCHIE,
Attendance Officers. Jan. 1920.
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATES.
Issued January 1, 1919 to Jan. 1, 1920.
Number persons issued Certificates
Number of Certificates issued.
Educational (literate) 64
Educational (literate) 89
Educational (illiterate).
0
Educational (illiterate) 0
Employment
60
Employment 97
Summer vacation
0
Summer vacation
()
Special home permits.
Special home permits.
()
Total.
124
Total
186
Mr. C. W. Holmes 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. Holmes.
MEMBERS OF TEACHERS' RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION
C. W. Holmes, Florence M. Bartlett, Edith M. Baker, Florence A. Sweet. Agnes G. Sullivan, Mae M. Sullivan. Daisy E. Sweet, Edith L. Anderson, Gladys Norton. Verna Sawin, Mildred E. Taft, Mildred E. Christenson.
26
SCHOOL BANNERS.
The School banner awarded for excellence in attendance and punctuality each month has been won for the past year as follows:
Per cent. Attendance
Number Tardinesses
January, East Douglas, Grade 4
88.61
·)
February, "
6
96.90
0
March, .6
66
2
99.42.
0
May.
66
66
2
99.30.
0
June,
66
66
66
6
99.05.
2
September “
66
66
6
97.94.
3
October, 66
66
High
99.37
8
November, “
66
Grade 6
99.57
5
December, “
.6
6.
96.60.
·)
.
HONOR ROLL.
Pupil neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed for one year :
Margaret Brown, Dorumiene Thivierge, Catherine Kostka, Marilda Le Duc, Levi Poirier, Norman Keith, Harriet Conrad, , Evangeline Dansereau, Ruth Sweet.
2
98.51.
0
April, 66
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