USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1920 > Part 3
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The Town received nearly $9,000. instead of $6,000, and the Committee was enabled to spend $24,131.15 on our schools without overdrawing.
Resignations made necessary the hiring of eight new teachers in September as follows:
High School, Miss Hazel Hill of Milford, Mass.
Fourth Grade, Miss Edith M. Pike of Groveton, N. H.
Fifth Grade, Miss Marjorie Arnold of Worthington, Mass. Seventh and Eighth Grades, Miss Hazel Butler of Chester, N. H. South Douglas, Miss Margaret M. Smith of Somerville, Mass. West Douglas, Miss Edith Fairfield of East Douglas, Mass. Supervisor of Music, Miss Helen P. Duguid of Penacook, N. H. Supervisor of Drawing, Miss Esther Lundberg of Worcester, Mass.
The small two-room building at Douglas Center again is proving inadequate, There was not sufficient room for a num- ber of State children who are boarding in the Center and the Committee was obliged to transport them to South Douglas. The expense of transporting these children and their tuition is paid by the State.
5
Electric lighting has been installed on the second floor of the brick building, also in the halls and basements.
In the repair account is included metal weather strips at the brick building and calking the windows. The roof of the West Douglas building was shingled. Other minor repairs were made outside, and inside the room was renovated.
The school rooms, one in the Town Hall, and one in the Fire Engine Hall were renovated. The heating and ventilating plant in the brick building demanded attention.
Details of the school year are covered by reports of the Superintendent, High School Principal, Supervisors of Music and Drawing, and School Physician.
GILBERT W. ROWLEY,
Chairman Superintending Committee.
6
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Total amount appropriated by Town. $22,000 00
Estimated to be received from State 6,000 00
$16,000 00
Total amount received from State
8,959 97
Tuition received
18 00
Books credited
21 27
- $24,999 24
Total amount expended from Jan. 1, 1920 to
Dec. 31, 1920
24,131 15
Balance unexpended $868 09
ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES
Teachers' salaries
$14,872 17
Superintendent's salary
1,048 00
Superintendent's expense
141 72
Janitors
1,499 05
Fuel
2,012 93
General expenses
886 13
Books
442 03
Supplies
736 59
Manual Training
174 25
Domestic Science
19 25
Transportation
866 60
New equipment
344 01
Repairs
1,038 42
Physician
50 00
$24,131 15
7
Appropriations are asked for as follows: General expenses, including Superintendent's salary, expenses of school committee and enforcement of the law $1,500 00
Expenses of instruction, including teachers' salaries, text books and supplies, and night school, also miscellaneous expenses in connection with the schools 20,000 00
Expenses of operating school plants, including janitors' salaries, fuel and miscellaneous expenses in con- nection with operating school plants 2,000 00
Maintenance, repair, etc., of school buildings 1,000 00
Auxiliary agencies, including health and transportation 1,500 00
$26,000 00
GILBERT W. ROWLEY, WILLIAM T. LOOMIS, FRANK H. BIRD,
Superintending Committee.
8
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee:
I herewith submit my sixth annual report of the schools of Douglas, it being the twentieth in the series of superintendents' reports of this district.
ATTENDANCE
The attendance has been very satisfactory during the past year, although children's diseases have been prevalent. The ave- rage per cent of 94.34 is above the average of the state. There were only 496 cases of tardiness in all the schools, which is certainly a very creditable showing. I do not think the schools of the town of Douglas have been in better condition since my con- nection with them for the past five years than at the present time, nor have we on the whole had better teachers. The pupils too show a spirit of willingness and effort that is seldom surpassed in any school system. We have an unusually fine class of pupils in the upper grades and high school especially, where much interest and effort are manifest. The introduction of manual training and domestic science has contributed in no small degree towards arousing this interest, which two years after the introduction of these subjects is as keen as ever. A hot water tank would add much to the value of the equipment in the domestic science course, and a wood-turning lathe run by electricity to the work in manual training.
9
A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING FOR DOUGLAS CENTER
Attention has previously been called in these reports to the need of better school accommodations at Douglas Center. Last fall there were sixty pupils in eight grades there in a building which could not have been intended originally for much over half this number. The heating, light and ventilation are all poor and the building and surroundings unattractive. Without going , further into details, it seems to me the time has come for pro- viding the children of this section of the town with up-to-date and adequate school accommodations. As I pointed out in my report last year, the small number of pupils at West and South Douglas could be brought to a central building at Douglas Center for less expense than is required to maintain those two schools.
The town can afford to erect a suitable building at this time, as it is being aided in its school expenditures very generously by the state. Last year, for instance, though $24,000 was expended for school support, $9,000 of this amount was received from the state.
RECENT SCHOOL LEGISLATION
Recent legislation which has become law, or is likely to become such, are bills for increasing the minimum of teachers' salaries one hundred and fifty dollars, which will not increase our expenses, as all our teachers are now receiving at least as much as this minimum salary, an act raising the tuition of state wards, which Douglas ought to benefit from, since nearly four hundred dollars was received for such tuition last year, a bill requiring the school census to be taken in September instead of in April as at present, and a bill compelling minors between the ages of fourteen and sixteen to obtain certificates in all employments as well as in connection with mercantile and manufacturing establishments, as at present.
Thanking the school committee for their co-operation and cordial support in all my work, this report is respectfully submitted,
C. L. JUDKINS,
Superintendent of Schools.
February 7, 1921.
.
IO
STATISTICAL STATEMENT.
Assessed valuation, April 1, 1920 $1,656,730
Population, census of 1920. 2,181
No. persons in town between 5 and 16 years of age, April 1, 1920-boys 265, girls 235. 500
No. persons between 5 and 7 years of age-boys 37, girls 52 90
No. persons between 7 and 14 years of age -- boys 185, girls 163
347
No. persons between 14 and 16 years of age-boys 43, girls 20 63
Illiterate minors, 16 to 21 years of aage-males 10, fe- males 12. 22
Total enrollment in all the public schools during school year ending June 18, 1920 445
Average membership for school year 398
Average attendance for school year.
375
Per cent. of attendance .
94
No. school buildings in use.
6
No. teachers required by the public schools
15
No. special teachers
2
No. teachers graduated from normal school
7
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 15
No. teachers graduated from college
Attendance for School Year Ending June 18, 1920. -
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.
16
0)
0
0
6
7
13.04
12.47
95.40
81
3
Florence M. Bartlett
Edith M. Baker ....
Florence A. Sweet
Mary Jenkins . . . .
E. Douglas 7-8. ...
47
0
0
26
21
0
40.68
39.28
95.65
93
8
Beatrice Manning
Eunice L. Buffington
6.
35
0
0
28
14
0
27.46
26.90
97.51
22
14
Agnes G. Sullivan. .
50
0
0
41
5
0
44.43
41.68
93.81
14
2
Deborah O'Connor.
4 .
46
0
0
43
1
0
43 98
41.41
94.29
43
5
May C. Buxton ....
66
3
50
0
0
48
1
0
44.24
42.91
97.13
20
1
Etta H. Johnson .. .
66
2 ..
48
0
47
0
0 42.29
40.91
96.74
21
1
Mollie H. Kelley . ...
1 a ...
49
0
0
49
0
0
44.46
42.45
95.33
19
0
Daisy E. Sweet.
1 b.
32
0
17
14
0
0
27.99
26.50
94.62
76
4
Gertrude M. Smith . Douglas Center 4-8
34
0
29
4
1
27.43
24.90
90.62
29
14
Edith L. Anderson.
66
1-3
24
0
2
21
0
0)
20.83
17.77
85.59
24
3
Alice Hackett. . . .
Alice Fairfield. ..
Mary Marshall. . .
W. Douglas, Mixed
22
0
Of 20
1
()
12.48
10.53
84.38
47
18
Eva Kennedy . . ..
Verna Sawin. .. .
Gladys Norton.
South
Mixed
17
0
0
8
1
0
8.39
7.49
89.30
7
0
Totals ...
470
0
19 374
54
S
397.70
375.20
94.34|496
79
.
..
. .
-- r
5 ..
. .
II
I 2
Rank of the Schools in Attendance and Punctuality for Year ending June 18, 1920.
Rank
ATTENDANCE
Per Cent. of Attendance
Rank
PUNCTUALITY
Per Cent. of Tardiness
1
East Douglas, 6
97.51
1
So. Douglas, mixed 5 East Douglas,
.08
3
66
2
96.74
3
1-a
.11
4
7-8
95.65
4
East Douglas, 66
3
.12
5
High
95.40
5
2
.13
6
East Douglas,
1-a
95.33
6
East Douglas,
6
.22
7
1-b
94.62
7
Douglas Center, 4-8
.29
9
5
93.81
9
Douglas Center, 1-3
.31
10
Douglas Center, 4-8
90.62
10
East Douglas,
7-8
.63
11
So. Douglas, mixed
89.30
11
1-b
.75
12
Douglas Center, 1-3
85.59
12
1.09
13
W. Douglas, mixed
84.38
13
W. Douglas, mixed High
1.66
Average,
94.34
Average,
.43
Average for State
93.00
.02
2
66
3
97.13
2
4
.27
8
4
94.29
8
NOTE-No record of tardiness is kept by the state. A higher tardiness than 1%, however, is regarded as unsatisfactory.
LIST OF TEACHERS, JANUARY 1921.
NAME
SCHOOL
HOME ADDRESS
GRADUATE OF
Salary
per year
When appointed in town
C. W. Holmes
High
East Douglas
Brown University
$1800
1918
Florence M. Bartlett
Cambridge Milford
Wellesley
1050
1919
Hazel E. Hill
Framingham Normal
1000
1920
Hazel B. Butler
Chester, N. H.
Keene, N. H. Normal
1100
1920
Eunice L. Buffington
East Douglas
Douglas High
1100
1890
Marjorie Arnold
Worthington
Westfield
1050
1920
Edith M. Pike
Groveton, N. H.
Gorham, Me. Normal
1050
1920
May C. Buxton
Douglas
Worcester
1050
1916
Etta H. Johnson
East Douglas
Douglas High
1050
1889
Mollie H. Kelley
1-a
1050
1908
Daisy E. Sweet
1-b
Symonds Training School
900
1916
Gertrude M. Smith
Douglas
Middlebury, Vt. High
1050
1900
Edith L. Anderson
Uxbridge
Worcester Normal
1000
1918
Edith F. Fairfield
W. Douglas, mixed
East Douglas
Douglas High
800
1920
Margaret M. Smith
Somerville
Lowell Normal
850
1920
Helen P. Duguid
Penacook, N. H.
Inst. Music Pedagogy
+ 260
1920
Esther Lundberg
Drawing
Worcester
Worcester Art Museum
+260
1920
East Douglas, 7-8
6
-
5
4
3
2
Cent. 4-8
Douglas C.
1-3
S. Douglas, mixed Music
* Attended without having been graduated.
t One-fifth time.
I4
Report of High School Principal.
To the Superintendent of Schools, Town of Douglas:
I herewith submit my third annual report of the Douglas High School.
The first notable feature of the high school at the beginning of the current school year was. the increased enrolment, which was more than double that of last year. The total enrolment has been 29. Of these, three have left town, leaving a present membership of 26. This reduces the per capita cost of the high school to about half of what it was last year, so Douglas can no longer be accused of extravagance in maintaining a high school.
The increased enrolment throughout the grades, as well as in the high school this year, brought forcibly to mind two great needs in our school system, more room and another teacher for the grades.
The teacher hired for the 7th and 8th grades was confronted by over 50 pupils. The arithmetic of both these grades and the 8th grade geography and history were taken over by the high school teachers. But for the four high school classes and the two grades there are only three recitation rooms. One of the smallest of the high school classes recites in the little "office" room, and the typewriting class is forced out into the corridor. During two periods a day, 20 or 30 grade pupils invade the high school room for recitation, and the high school pupils have to leave the room for them.
Under these difficulties the problem of working out a program which would include the many different subjects demanded in well. The remaining 31/2 units might well be taken up, in part, by introducing the pupil to a seventh great field of human enter- prise, the field of economics and business.
15
high school was a hard one. The problem was partly solved by combining the four high school English classes into two, and by the fortunate circumstance, rare in recent high school history, that all fourteen in the entering class agreed to take the same course.
This remarkable unity in the Freshman class is the second notable feature in the character of the high school of the pres- ent year. It was probably due to the campaign carried on last spring in the 8th grade. Every effort was then made to instruct and prepare the pupils of that grade for an intelligent choice of high school subjects. The slogan taken up was, "If you are not sure what to prepare for, prepare for college." This does not mean "take Latin." More and more college courses are being established that do not require Latin; but all require mathematics, and that begins with algebra. All fourteen in the entering class, therefore, not being sure of what to prepare for, took algebra, and are on the safe side if they decide later that they want to go to college. or any other higher school; for even a business school prefers a boy or girl whose mental fibre has been toughened and developed by high school mathematics to one who has had only the business training that the small high school is able to give. Any who fail to become interested in mathematics during the first year have still three years to pursue other interests . while those who succeed have the foundation for one of the most useful branches of learning, and also an indispensable aid in the still greater field of science.
The branches of learning long held to be fundamental in the high school curriculum are five in number, namely, English, math- ematics, foreign languages, sciences, and history. Four years of daily recitations in English is now the universal requirement. At least two years with daily recitations should be spent in each of the other branches. These are the great fields wherein the world that we live in is revealed to the youth, wherein he learns how to equip hinself for the further pursuit of culture, or for taking some part in carrying on the world's work in the profes- sional or industrial pursuits, as his tastes may incline. To these branches a sixth is now added by a recent state law. Massa- chusetts state law now requires that every high school pupil shall spend at least a year in the study of civics and American history, with daily recitations, preferably in the Junior or Senior year. This brings into the high school very properly the work of preparation for the duties of American citizenship and the study of the problems of democracy. This makes up 121/2 of the 16 units of work that the average high school pupil is able to do
16
In view of the diversity of subjects required in the various fields named above and our limited accommodations, it is fortunate that during the present year there is so little demand for business subjects. Should there be more demand for such subjects in the future, there is likely to be a serious problem of administration to consider, as to the possibility of offering two high school courses that would be worth while. The introduction of domestic science and manual training and the new state requirements have limited to a considerable degree our room accommodations as well as the time and capacity of high school teachers.
The interest of the boys in manual training seems as keen as ever. Along the line of practical training, since the shop was opened, we have made six work benches of solid maple for the shop, seven chairs have been caned, and the boys are now working on book cases, magazine racks, music cabinets, etc.
Under Miss Hazel B. Hill of Milford, our domestic science teacher this year, the girls seem more interested than ever in the study of household arts. There is a larger high school class than usual in that subject this year, and Miss Hill teaches the subiect to both the 7th and 8th grades. Miss Hill also teaches the 7th grade arithmetic, 8th grade geography and history, the Freshman and Sophomore English, and a small class of Junior and Senior girls in advanced Physiology, which these girls asked for in preparation for their chosen calling of Trained Nurse.
Miss Bartlett, the assistant principal, teaches the 8th grade arithmetic, two classes in French, Community Civics for the Freshman class, Ancient history, and typewriting, which last is the most popular high school subject this year, with 22 in the class.
Besides manual training the principal teaches algebra, a small class in bookkeeping, physics, Junior and Senior English, and the Junior and Senior American history and civics.
In the general effort to bring the school system to the highest possible efficiency, acknowledgment is due the grade teachers as well as the high school teachers for the excellent spirit of cooperation and good will shown in all situations where co-operation is essential in general management in order to put the maximum time into actual teaching.
Respectfully submitted,
C. W. HOLMES, Principal.
January 17, 1921.
1 7
Report of School Physician.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR:
Following is the report of medical inspection of school children for year 1920:
Pupils examined 374
Enlarged tonsils 76
Defective teeth 41
Adenoids 6
Vaccinated 76
All pupils attending school who had not been successfully vaccinated were vaccinated this year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. QUINN, School Physician. February 10, 1921.
18
Report of Supervisor of Music.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Supt. of Schools, Douglas, Mass.
DEAR SIR:
In submitting my first report as Supervisor of Music in the . Douglas schools, let me state that it has been a pleasure to work with the teachers and pupils. I think that the results, as a whole have been most satisfactory, in spite of the fact that the music books are old and worn. We are now using the Harmonie Readers and I wish these might be replaced with the New Edu- cational Readers.
In Douglas town, the children in Miss Anderson's room have done excellent work, mastering the simple problems in time and tune.
Faithful efforts to accomplish the required work are being made in Miss Smith's room, but due to the fact that there are so many grades, and that they have used the same music book year after year, progress on the part of the older ones has been hindered and the interest is lacking in a small degree.
The work in the primary grades consists of rote songs largely, together with ear training and simple staff notation. Much time is spent in securing a pleasing tone quality and vocalises are given to pupils throughout the grades,
Special attention is paid to the monotones and they are given individual help.
The Intermediate grades are singing music independently, mastering difficult problems in time and tune. Individual sight singing is being carried out and as a result I have been enabled to develop a seating plan in some of the rooms. The values gained from individual sight singing are: independence, concentration and self-control and habits of accuracy are established.
The pupils of the fifth grade are singing two-part songs and I hope to start this in the fourth grade soon. The manner in which the sixth grade is rendering three-part songs is very pleasing and most encouraging. Attention is called to marks of expression and interpretation.
The music in the grammar and the high school consists of chorus singing. Owing to a full program the amount of time given to the grammar school is slighted; therefore the results do not meet my expectations.
In closing I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers for their willing and efficient co-operation individually and as a body, in making the music in the schools a success.
Respectfully submitted, HELEN P. DUGUID.
19
Report of Instructor in Sewing.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Supt. of Schools.
DEAR SIR :
The sewing class last summer numbered 39 at the beginning, 34 of whom finished the lessons. The older class numbered 6 and they made work-aprons, white skirts and bloomers, while the younger ones made towels, needle-books and white skirts.
The attendance was the best of any summer. Red ribbons were given for perfect attendance; blue for attention, and pink for good work.
An exhibition of the work was held in the school room of Grade II, Sept. 17th, at 3:15 p. m.
Respectfully submitted,
September, 1920.
ETTA H. JOHNSON.
20
Report of Drawing Supervisor.
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Supt. of Schools,
DEAR SIR:
At the writing of this report, I have taught drawing in the schools of Douglas and East Douglas barely four months. During this time, an attempt has been made to keep the work varied and interesting and to fit it into the work and significance of each season. It has included drawing, design, color, lettering and construction. Its aim has been to help give pupils ideas which later might be used in original expression.
Under drawing might be classed the nature work done in the fall and the landscapes and figures drawn by the primary grades. Design includes the various borders and the all-over designs which are really simple beginnings of wall-paper and cretonne designs. The color work, done in colored crayons and water color, has been the rudiments of scientific color study. One simple alphabet, capitals and small letters, has been given with an easy way in which the letters might be constructed. The work in construction has really been applied design, in which all the previous modes of work have been utilized. It includes place cards, candle shades, booklets calendars, match-scratchers, and simple ways of con- structing "motifs" for design.
At the request of the principal, the principle of perspective is being taught in the high school. An attempt has been made to teach rather more persepctive than is usually done in a high school. As the time is rather limited-one lesson every other week-little attention so far has been given to the art side of the subject. Students in schools above the high school find diffi- culty in mastering this subject, so the result , although not evi- denced by finished drawings, is, considering the subject, fair.
In the grades, the results have been very gratifying, both from the standpoint of the interest shown by the pupils, and the work that has been accomplished.
I should like to take this opportunity to express my appre- ciation of the kindly interest and co-operation of the teachers, which has helped to raise the quality of the work.
Respectfully submitted,
ESTHER LUNDBERG.
January 26, 1921.
2 I
RESULTS OF THE TESTS FOR VISION AND HEARING.
Number of pupils tested
464
66 found defective in eyesight. 41
66 6. " hearing 8
66 parents or guardians, notified 46
ATTENDANCE OFFICER'S REPORT.
Number of cases investigated
72
66
absent on account of sickness
30
66 66 truancy
5
.
for other causes.
31
66
66 returned to school 6
Jan. 1921.
Attendance Officer.
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATES.
Issued January 1, 1920 to Jan. 1, 1921.
Number persons issued Certificates
Number of Certificates issued
Educational (literate). 30
Educational (literate) 41
Educational (illiterate)
0
Educational (illiterate). 0
Employment . 17
Employment 23
Summer vacation 4
Summer vacation 4
Special home permits
0
Special home permits 0
Total 51
Total 68
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, Hazel E. Hill, Hazel B. Butler, Marjorie Arnold, Edith M. Pike, Edith F. Fairfield, Mar- garet M. Smith, Daisy E. Sweet, Edith L. Anderson.
THOS. P. RITCHIE,
22
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 6.
96.00
2
February, "
66
66
3.
96.57.
5
March,
66
3
97.09
2
April, 66
66
3
97.77
5
May,
66
66
1-a
99.21
5
June,
66
66
66
1-a
99,13
0
September "
3.
99.46
1
October
66
66
2.
98.68
0
November “
66
4
97.77
3
December "
High
95.72.
26
HONOR ROLL.
Pupils neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed for two years : Harriet Conrad, Evangeline Dansereau.
Pupils neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed for one year :
John Condon, William Wasanen, Eva Cassista, Arthur Brule, Mary Bombara, John Pompa, Mabel Wiggins, Frank Chupka, Celina Cassista, Francis McCann, Stephen Herusik,
Andrew Kakur, Frank Kliseurez, Stephen Manning, Annie Bombara, Elizabeth Cupka, Irene Petri.
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