USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1924 > Part 3
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There are now 230 pupils of Douglas who are depositors in the Uxbridge bank, and we hope the number will be considerably in- creased during the present year, as the thrift habit and its influ- ence on the lives of the children in the future is invaluable.
8
EIGHTH GRADE PUPILS.
Arrangements should be made to have the eighth grade pupils at Douglas Center attend the East Douglas school, as the Douglas Center teacher has too many grades to teach, and cannot do justice to the eighth grade pupils at this important period of their school course.
A few more pupils in the eighth grade at East Douglas does not materially increase the work of the teacher there, and on account of their mingling with larger groups the Douglas Center pupils become more enthusiastic and are incited to greater effort.
BEAUTIFYING THE SCHOOL GROUNDS AT DOUGLAS CENTER.
I regret that the school yard at Douglas Center was not seeded down, walks constructed and shrubbery appropriately planted last summer, as this building is truly attractive, and has called forth favorable comment from schoolmen and others who have visited it. The idea I have in mind is to make it a model rural school.
In conclusion, I wish to thank all who have contributed in any way towards making the work of the schools a success.
Respectfully submitted,
C. L. JUDKINS,
February 9, 1925.
Superintendent of Schools.
9
STATISTICAL STATEMENT
Assessed valuation, May 3, 1922. $2,131,277
Population, census of 1920 2,181
No. persons in town between 5 and 16 years of age,
April 1, 1924-boys 265, girls 303 568
No. persons between 5 and 7 years of age-boys 51, girls 61 112
No. persons between 7 and 14 years of age-boys 185, girls 192 377
No. persons between 14 and 16 years of age-boys 29, girls 50 79
Total enrollment in all the public schools during school year ending June 20, 1924. 517
Average membership for school year 478
Average attendance for school year 450
Per Cent. of attendance
94
No. school buildings in use
6
No. teachers required by the public schools
16
No. special teachers
2
No. teachers graduated from college
3
No. teachers graduated from normal school.
9
No. weeks high school was in session
40
No. weeks grades were in session. 38
No. pupils graduated from high school. 7
No. pupils graduated from grammar school. 22
Attendance for School Year Ending June 20, 1924.
SCHOOL
TEACHERS
Enrolment
Under 5 years
Between 5-7 years
Between 7-14 years
Between 14-16 years
Over 16 years
Av. Membership
Average Attendance
Per cent. of Attend.
No. Tardinesses
No. Dismissals
High.
C. W. Holmes. ..
46
0
0
0
21
25
43.93
41.00
92.34
80
35
Effie M. Stanhope ..
Helen J. Harriman.
Georgie Ripley .. ..
30
0
0
13
15
2
25.84
23.21
90.07
44
6
E. Douglas 8.
·
.
7.
.
Ethel M. Wellington ..
41
0
0
25
14
2
36.63
35.30
96.38
70
32
Eunice L. Buffington.
41
0
0
33
5
2
39.04|
38 51
98.64
26
22
6. ...
. .
.
Ida Z. Jacobs
43
0
0
43
0
0
43.62
41.85
95.94
81
90
12
4 ....
Carrie E. Daggett.
54
0
0
53
0
41
0
0
41.02
39.42
96.04
21
7
3.
...
43.72
95.26
7
2
1 a ..
Mollie H. Kelley.
46
0
21
25
0
0 41.88|
39 12
92.37
14
0
1 b.
.
Daisy E. Sweet ..
30
0
10
20
0
0
25.15
22.86
91.26
89
4
Douglas Center 5-8 Gertrude M. Smith
26
0
0
19
7
0
20.56
19.08
92.73
19
4
1-4 Edith L. Dixson . ..
38
0
5
33
0
0 32.75
29.02
88.48|
29
South “
Mixed Nellie F. Bowen.
15
0
0
14
1
0
14.17
12.78
90.19
8
W. Douglas, Mixed Ella Farrington.
19
0
3
13
3
14.65
13.00
88.73
10
1
Totals . . . . .
517
0
39,378
68
31
478.
450.
94.
588 142
·
.
47
0
0
46
1
0
45.48
...
May C. Buxton .
41
0)
1
0
53.52
51.09
95.46
5 .. .
.
.
.
2
.
Etta H. Johnson ..
....
Alice L. Fairfield . ....
10
11
Rank of the Schools in Attendance and Punctuality for Year ending June 20, 1924.
Rank
ATTENDANCE
Per Cent. of Attendance
Rank
PUNCTUALITY
Per Cent. of Tardiness
1
East Douglas, 6
98.64
1
East Douglas,
2
.04
2
66
7
96.38
2
.
1-a
.09
3
66
3
96.04
3
3
.14
4
5
95.94
4
So. Douglas, mixed
.15
5
4
95.46
5
East Douglas, 6
.18
6
2
95.26
6
W. Douglas, mixed
.18
7
Douglas Center, 5-8
92.73
7
Douglas Center, 5-8
.25
8
East Douglas, 1-a High
92.34
9
East Douglas,
4
.46
10
East Douglas, 1-b
91.26
10
al
8
.46
11
So. Douglas, mixed
90:19
11
High
.47
12
East Douglas, 8
90.07
12
East Douglas, 66
5
.51
13
W. Douglas, mixed
88.73
13
7
.52
14
Douglas Center, 1-4
88.48
14
1-b
.98
Average,
94.16
Average,
.33
Average for State
93.00
1-4
.30
9
92.37
8
66
NOTE-No record of tardiness is kept by the state. Above 1%, however, is regarded as unsatisfactory.
LIST OF TEACHERS, JANUARY 1925.
NAME
SCHOOL
HOME ADDRESS
GRADUATE OF
When appointed in town
C. W. Holmes Effie M. Stanhope Helen Harriman Mary E. Murphy Ethel M. Wellington Eunice L. Buffington Ida Z. Jacobs Helen L. Bradley
High
East Douglas Middleton
Brown University
1918
Bates College
1923
Cornish, Me.
Bates College Presque Isle Normal
1923
East Douglas, 8
7
Littleton, Me. Chelsea, Vt. East Douglas Concord
Pottsdam, N. Y. Normal Douglas High
1890
Fitchburg Normal
1922
Boothbay, Me.
Gorham Normal
1924
May C. Buxton
3
Douglas
Worcester
1916
East Douglas
Douglas High
1908
-
1-b
Wheelock Training School 1916
Douglas
Middlebury, Vt. High
1900
Douglas
Worcester Normal
1918
Douglas
Worcester Normal
1924
Worcester
Worcester Normal
1924
Grace Kelliher Esther Costello
Auburndale
N. E. Conservatory Music
1924
Edwidge Lacouture
Domestic Science
Millbury
Framingham Normal
1923
12
6
5
4
2
1889
Etta H. Johnson Mollie H. Kelley Daisy E. Sweet Gertrude M. Smith Edith L. Dixson Myra Jillson
1-a
Douglas Cent. 5-8 1-4
S. Douglas, mixed W. Douglas, mixed Music
1924
1923
13
Report of High School Principal.
To the Superintendent and School Committee:
Herewith is submitted my seventh annual report on the Doug- las High School.
The greatest obstacle to good high school progress was removed by securing the use of the Town Hall basement for domestic science and other classes. There is a serious drawback, however, in the time lost, especially in the winter, in getting the classes back and forth between the two buildings. The distance is just enough to necessitate all the preparation for an out-door winter walk. Since there are no blackboards in the Town Hall, indispensable for most of the class work, it is impossible to arrange, as a rule, for a class to stay there more than one period, and this keeps two classes in transit nearly every forty minutes.
Although the situation is an immense improvement over former conditions, the inconvenience of class rooms in two separate build- ings is obvious to all. Let me invite your attention to one or two other facts that further emphasize the need of a new high school building.
Average membership of the high school for five years:
1920-'21 25 1922-'23 40
1921-'22 30 1923-'24. 44
For the present year to date, 51.
Probable membership next year :
Pupils now in high school expecting to return 43
Pupils now in 8th grade expecting to return. 18
61
A year ago my forecast for the present was 50, and we have 51. The forecast for next year, made with equal care, is 61. This num- ber can hardly be seated in the present home room.
Even if there were room enough, with continued use of the Town Hall, for the steadily growing high school, yet, with the best of teachers and equipment, a very great obstacle remains. A high school is badly handicapped in the same building with the grades. The high school schedule has to conform to that of the grades, with two recess periods, for example, necessary for the grades, but only absurd interruptions for the high school. For high school pupils
14
there is relaxation enough in passing from one room to another between recitations, and in short physical training exercises which should be provided several times a day. The long noon recess is desirable for the grades, but an hour too long for the high school, because, for one reason, it means an hour mostly wasted by one- third or more of the high school pupils, who come from a distance and loiter around waiting for the afternoon session. For many other reasons, which I will not take time or space to outline, I believe that the efficiency of the high school teachers, as well as of the system, could be increased a good fifty per cent in a separate high school building.
The distribution of the present high school membership by classes is as follows:
Boys
Girls
Freshmen
12
10
Sophomores
2
12
Juniors
2
7
Seniors
4
2
20
31
The distribution by subjects follows, with English omitted, which is required of all :
First year algebra
21
Plane geometry
9
Senior mathematics
3
Chemistry
11
American history and civics
15
Ancient history
22
Modern history
14
First year French
24
Second year French
20
Bookkeeping
11
Typewriting
15
Domestic science
5
The destination of pupils after graduation is kept in view and every effort made to provide the instruction most likely to lead to their success. Twenty-seven students recently declared their desti- nation as follows:
Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen
College
3
1
2
3
Normal School 1
3
3
2
Business School
1
1
4
Textile School
1
. . .
Hospital Training
1
. .
1
Yours respectfully,
C. W. HOLMES, Principal.
January 20, 1925.
15
Graduation Exercises
OF THE DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL
Douglas Town Hall, Friday Evening, June 20, 1924, at 8 o'clock
PROGRAM
March Orchestra Invocation Rev. Hubert A. Allenby Chorus
Song-"Spring is Here" (Macy)
Salutatory-"The Super-Power Project"
Matthew Wilfred Rinfrette Harry F. Johnston Orchestra
Essay-"Our Railroads"
The Jolly Bandits
Essay-"Washington as a Farmer"
Hazel A. McCann
Essay-"The American Indian"
Mildred L. Lambert Chorus
Song-"O'er Waters Gliding" (Offenbach)
"Dangerous Days," a Book Review Dorumiene V. Thivierge
Essay-"A Useless College" Andrew N. D. Sanborn
Blue Danube Waltz Orchestra
Presentation of Class Gift
Harry F. Johnston
Acceptance for the School William Wesanen
Valedictory-"The Ideal American" Octavie M. L. Jarvis
Presentation of Diplomas C. L. Judkins, Supt. of Schools
Song-"Boosting the Old High School" Chorus
"Our Cheer Leader" (Creighton) Orchestra
CLASS MARSHALS
Jerry Kelly
Marilda Leduc
CLASS ROLL
Octavie Marie Louise Jarvis Andrew Nelson Dudley Sanborn
Harry Frederick Johnston Hazel Agnes McCann
Mildred Louise Lambert Matthew Wilfred Rinfrette
Dorumiene Victorine Thivierge
16
PRIZE SPEAKING CONTEST
Town Hall, East Douglas, Friday Evening, May 9, 1924
PROGRAM
Exercise by Eight Girls of Grade 3
GRADE 6.
"Nahum Prince"
"Abou Ben Adhem"
"The Soft Spot in B 606"
"What is a Boy Scout"
"The Night Before Thanksgiving"
"The Enchanted Shirt"
Felix Piepszak Lena Abram Elizabeth Cupka Jerome Quinn
Annie Stefanak Bennie Holmes
GRADE 7.
"What She Said"
Anna Susanski
"No Room for Mother"
"Hide and Go Seek"
"The White Lily"
Helen Kelly Frank Hippert
GRADE 8.
"Aunt Sophronia at the Opera"
Pauline Loomis
"Douglas and Marmion"
Salvatore Coppola
"A Patriotic Creed"
Grace Dudley
"Living in the Country"
Edward Buxton
"Mark Antony to the Romans"
Florence Vecchione
HIGH SCHOOL.
"The Great Guest Comes"
"Freedom-What Is It?"
"Bobby Shaftoe" "The Joys of Now" "A Musical Instrument"
Doris Jussaume Albert Wright Cleophas Lynch Elinor Dunleavy Mary Mercak
Grade 6, 1st prize, 2nd prize,
Bennie Holmes
Elizabeth Cupka
Grade 7, 1st prize, Anna Susanski
2nd prize, Elizabeth Chapdelaine
Grade 8, 1st prize, Pauline Loomis
2nd prize, Edward Buxton
Cleophas Lynch
High School, 1st prize, 2nd prize, Doris Jussaume
Elizabeth Chapdelaine Harriet Conrad
"Biff Perkins' Toboggan Slide" Exercise by Twelve Girls of Grade 4
17
Report of Supervisor of Music
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR:
I herewith submit my report covering my first five months in Douglas as Supervisor of Music.
I have tried, as far as possible, to instil into the hearts and minds of the children a love of singing.
In the primary grades little art songs have been introduced, some by the great masters of old, as well as some by well-known composers of today, which appeal strongly to the children. Scales and mechanical exercises have no place at this time, as their very monotony serves to deaden the child's musical interest. Light, mel- low tones and sweet singing have been insisted upon at all times. Here, as in the grammar grades, individual singing is being con- stantly encouraged.
The two-part singing in the fourth and fifth grades, and three- part in the sixth, seventh and eighth must be commended, and a higher standard should be reached before the year is out.
I am very much pleased with the progress made in the high school during the last few months, the interest taken by the boys and girls being very gratifying.
I wish to thank all the teachers who have co-operated with me in my work as supervisor.
Respectfully submitted,
ESTHER COSTELLO,
Supervisor of Music.
February 15, 1925.
18
Report of Domestic Science Teacher
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR :
It is with pleasure that I submit my annual report as teacher of Domestic Science in the schools of East Douglas.
My aims in the course for the year were as follows :-
I. To give the child a practical and economical knowledge of cookery.
II. How different foods act in the body.
III. What they do for the body.
IV. How they should be combined in a meal.
V. Table etiquette.
VI. Household duties: 1. dishwashing; 2. sweeping; 3. way of keeping room clean and sanitary; 4. care of silver.
Sewing.
This year sewing was introduced in the seventh grade.
The children made articles which included simple stitches, basting, back-stitching, overcasting, hemming, overhanding and stocking darns. They are now starting their cooking uniforms to be used the following year, which includes the apron, cap, towel and holder.
In closing, I wish to express my hearty appreciation of the cordial and helpful support of the Superintendent, school officials and teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIDGE LACOUTURE,
Teacher of Domestic Science.
February 2, 1925.
19
Report of Instructor in Sewing
Mr. C. L. Judkins, Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR:
The class this summer consisted of 39 members, the largest number that has ever attended.
The children showed much interest and attended very regularly.
The pupils made towels, bags, underwear and dresses. I wish to thank the Committee for their helpfulness in purchasing a book, "One Eyed Fairies," which the children much enjoyed, and to the pupils and parents for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
ETTA H. JOHNSON,
Supervisor of Sewing.
August 1, 1924.
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 1924:
Pupils examined
520
Vaccinated
76
Defective teeth.
191
Enlarged tonsils 155
Adenoids
92
Enlarged glands
63
Heart
5
Mentality (backward children)
4
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. QUINN,
School Physician.
February 1, 1925.
20
Report of School Nurse
Mr. C. L. Judkins,
MY DEAR SIR :
In reply to yours of recent date, I herewith submit a report of the school nurse from September 1, 1924, to December 31, 1924.
Assisted School Physician in 520 physical examinations and 76 vaccinations.
Made 63 visits to schools and 192 advisory visits to pupils' homes, making a total of 255 visits on school service.
Respectfully yours,
A. T. RICE,
School Nurse.
January 30, 1925.
RESULTS OF THE TESTS FOR VISION AND HEARING.
Number of pupils tested .. 523
Number found defective in eyesight. 34
Number found defective in hearing. 12
Number of parents or guardians notified. 34
ATTENDANCE OFFICER'S REPORT.
Number of cases investigated 85
Number absent on account of sickness. 50
Number absent on account of truancy 6
Number absent for other causes .. 25
Number absent returned to school. 4
THOMAS P. RITCHIE,
Attendance Officer.
January, 1925.
21
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATES.
Issued January 1, 1924, to January 1, 1925.
Number Persons Issued Certificates.
Number Certificates Issued.
Educational (literate) . 37
Educational (literate) 37
Educational (illiterate) 2
Educational (illiterate) 3
Employment 27
Employment 27
Summer vacation.
2
Summer vacation.
2
Special home permits
2
Special home permits 2
Total
70
Total
71
Mr. Thomas Ritchie has been appointed by the Superintendent of Schools to issue certificates, and these may be obtained by those entitled to them by making applications to Mr. Ritchie.
MEMBERS OF TEACHERS' RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION.
C. W. Holmes, Edith L. Dixson, Daisy E. Sweet, Ida Z. Jacobs, Effie M. Stanhope, Helen Harriman, Ethel M. Wellington, Mary E. Murphy, Helen L. Bradley, Myra Jillson, Grace Kelliher.
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 of Tardinesses
January, East Douglas, 6.
99.70
3
February,
6.
97.38
1
March, 66
6.
98.49.
1
April, 66
6.
98.64.
2
May,
66
6.
98.99
3
June,
66
66
6.
99.87
0
September,
5.
99.33.
0
October,
66
2.
98.87
0
November, 66
66
6.
99.88
0
December,
66
6.
99.35
4
22
HONOR ROLL.
Pupil neither absent, tardy nor dismissed for 6 years: Harriet Conrad
Pupil neither absent, tardy nor dismissed for 4 years: Albert Dansereau
Pupils neither absent, tardy nor dismissed for 3 years: Celina Cassista, Evangeline Dansereau
Pupils neither absent, tardy nor dismissed for 2 years: Lillian Johnston, John Pompa, Katherine Bombara
Pupils neither absent, tardy nor dismissed for 1 year: Kenneth Costine, Ethel Aldrich, Ruth Crockett, Mary Hanley, Anna Bacca, Mary Bombara, Blanche Cassista, Anna Susanski, Stephen Bezik, Andrew Duda, Paul Kostka, Felix Piepszak, Annie Stefanak, Helen Aldrich, Marguerite Therrien, Eva Cassista, Mary Cupka, Annie Gonsorick, Stephen Bombara, George Neslusan, Yvonne Belanger, Mary Duda, Homer Ald- rich, Walter Klieswicz, Grace Anderson, Annie Macuga, Jacob Kolumba, Stanley Klieswicz, John Macuga, Clemence Prince, Michael Zifcak, Annie Bloniaz, Annie Morrose, Florence Cas- sista, Edward Therrien, Rose Cassista, Annie Ofcarcik, Helen Piepszak, James Hanley, Helen Wojtalick.
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