USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1916 > Part 4
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are paid to teach children how to study, how to go at their work, and to train them in habits of industry and study, vastly more than they are to hear recitations. Our high schools would be doing a far better class of work if the teachers never conducted a recitation at all, but gave the time to assisting pupils to learn how to work rather then devote all the time to recitation work and send the pupils home to study. Home study is a farce and we might as well state it plainly. Parents all know it. . Teachers know it. Pupils themselves know it. The work in all departments in our high school is suffering because pupils go home to study, and find they don't know how to study when they get there, and give up in discouragement and fail the next day in lessons they were supposed to prepare at home. Home is not the place for study. The time of our young people ought to be devoted to other things during their 'teens besides ever- lasting book study, and they will take the time for these things outside of school any way. Book study is impor- tant but there is a place for that and it should be kept in that place. Our young people ought to have time for social functions in the evening to a proper extent. They should have time for play and out-of-doors after school hours are over; they should have time for music and other educational things not taught in school. They should leave the major part of their work behind them when they leave the shop except when work occasional- ly and necessarily presses.
But to accomplish all this there is need of a longer high school day. I would recommend a day long enough to do both the studying and the recitation work within school hours. At school we have our teachers, our ref- erence books; we have quiet and freedom from dis- turbance; the whole atmosphere is one conducing to school work. Teachers should have opportunity to direct habits of study. This plan could be accomplished by a high school day of six hours, divided into two sessions,
82
morning and afternoon, with periods of sixty minutes each. Half of each of these periods could be used for study of the lesson under the direction of the teacher and half for the recitation. Under some such plan I am convinced that pupils would gain in one year more than. they now gain in two and while the time spent in school. would be an hour longer than is now the case there would be far fewer books to take home. The way to nervous. prostration is paved with home study, so-called.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed), H. HOWARD PRATT.
83
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
"To the School Committee :
I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1917.
The membership and attendance of the school for January to June 1917 is as follows :
Total membership,
82
Average membership,
77.1
Total attendance,
10155
Average attendance,
73.75
For September-December 1916 inclusive :
Total membership,
71
Average membership,
66.26
Total attendance, 4737
Average attendance, 63.15
It will be observed that the membership of the school for the current year is smaller than in any previous year of the present principal's term of office. This is to be accounted for in great part by the fact that the enter- ing class is smaller than in any previous year and by the fact that we have no post graduates. Twelve students were graduated from the school in June, 1916, as follows :
Daisy Marguerite Bishop.
Ralph Ingalls Condon.
Bernard Carleton Dwinnells.
Gertrude Laura Evans.
Daniel Edward Flynn.
Norman Laurie Kinsman.
Frances May Laskey.
Gladys Addie McIlvin.
Nellie Bangs Nicol.
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Robert Livingston Reynolds.
Robert Cushman Welch. William Harold Whiting.
Miss Bessie Felstiner concluded her services as: teacher of English in June 1916, her place being taken by Miss Alice M. Cotton of Arlington. Miss Cotton left the school early in November leaving a most favorable impression of her personality and teaching ability. Her place has been filled by Miss Ethel S. Brown of North- bridge, Mass.
Miss Annabelle Lyons resigned as teacher of com- mercial branches at the end of the winter term, after. holding that position since September 1913. It is hardly possible to say too much in praise of Miss Lyon's work: in the school. When she came to us, our Commercial Course was what it is in High Schools generally, merely an easy path to a diploma. Not one quarter of those. taking it were doing so because they desired the train- ing furnished by its courses. Miss Lyons changed that. attitude in less than three months. By untiring effort she raised the standard of her department to a point which, in the judgment of the writer, is unsurpassed by any public school in the state. Miss Lyons left us to ac -. cept a salary offer with which this town could hardly be- expected to compete, and it is gratifying to state that her successor, Miss Helen M. Skinner, is maintaining the high standard of the department.
Miss Louise A. Morrison, teacher of foreign lan- guages since September 1912, resigned at the Christmas recess to take a similar place in Orange, Mass. Her place has been taken by Miss Gladys L. Cobb of Mansfield, Mass. Any characterization of Miss Morrison's work in Merrimac is hardly necessary in this place. The length of her service, its many sided character, her pleasing per- sonality, her thoroughness in all that she undertook have left an impression upon us all that will not be- quickly effaced. The writer, in particular, welcomes this.
85
opportunity to express his personal sense of the high val- ue of Miss Morrison's assistance and cooperation. She carries with her the cordial good will of all the citizens of the town.
From the above it will be seen that only one of our assistant teachers was in the school last September: that none of them were in the school at the date of the last an- nual report. We have been very fortunate in our new teachers ; that is to say, the committee and the town are to be congratulated alike upon the good fortune and the good judgment of the Superintendent of Schools; his good fortune in finding capable teachers in the market and his good judgment in choosing them.
We cannot expect that the good fortune will con- tinue. It is the exception rather than the rule to find good teachers unemployed in the middle of the teaching vear. Moreover, such frequent and wholesale charges cannot but hurt the efficiency of a school. No two teach- ers use the same methods in presenting subjects to class- es, nor is it desirable that they should. It follows that with every new teacher, there comes a certain period of readjustment, of the classes to the teacher, and of the teacher to the classes, during which progress is retarded if not stopped entirely. The work of the school is hurt. by just that period of readjustment, be it longer or short- er. I therefore urge that every effort be made, within the possibilities of the town, to retain in service its tried and useful teachers. As a rule, teachers dislike to leave a school where they have been successful to face new pupils, new supervision, new conditions of every kind. A small vearly increase in salary will usually hold teach- er's in the face of much more lucrative offers in other schools. For instance, Miss Morrison is now receiving two hundred dollars per year more than she received in this town. An increase of fifty dollars in her salary, taking effect last September, would have retained her for the current year.
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The attitude of the town of Merrimac toward its public schools is not niggardly. The citizens, as I find them, are not only willing but anxious to spend what- ever is necessary to maintain and improve our schools. It would seem, therefore, to be part of wisdom to give our successful teachers such remuneration as their ser- vices merit and will keep them in town.
A new course of study, a copy of which may be ob- tained either from the Superintendent or the Principal was adopted by the committee last June. This course of study comprises the least amount of work by which it is possible for the school to maintain its present stan- dard, i. e. prepare boys and girls for higher institutions as well as to give the great majority who finish their school work with the high school course the best possible preparation for life.
This course, however, loads every teacher to the ut- most; each one has all the work that can be carried with advantage and perhaps a little more. In some cases it necessitates classes which are too large, and many of the studies can only be offered in alternate years, a plan, which, with all its advantages, restricts to some extent the choice of studies and make it impossible for students to take exactly the courses which they desire. By hir- ing another teacher for the high school, all these diffi- eulties would be removed, and our course could be fur. nished with more than that which the bare necessity of the case requires. I may add, in this connection, that the refusal of the Agent of the State Board of Education to give our school the Class A privilege of certification to our Normal School for the year just past was based large- ly on the fact that our school was not sufficiently equip- ped with teachers.
The question of dances and plays given by the high school students has been forced prominently to the at- tention of the High School faculty during the past year. It is probably too late to argue for or against the produc-
87
tion of plays and holding of dances. The custom is firm- ly established everywhere. That the production of a play has its educational value seems unquestinable, and the writer, at least, believes that a school dance is a use- ful and well as a pleasant variation of the year's routine.
The management of all such affairs is left as much as possible in the hands of the students, a fact which cannot but be of benefit to them. The only argument against, which the writer has heard, lies in the state- ment that such things take the time of the student from his or her regular school duties. This argument, while somewhat plausible, falls to the ground in the face of the fact, that, by natural selection, only those who can afford the time are called upon to give it. That is those who are called upon for time and effort in connection with our plays and dances are invariably those who are taking high rank in their studies, or, in somewhat rare cases, those who can take high rank whenever they wish to do so. I have never known of a case where a stu- dent's rank in scholarship was lowered by participation in a play or in the management of a dance.
It seems too obvious to require argument that dances and plays, lasting until midnight should not be given on any evening which is to be followed by a school day. . The disadvantages of Saturday evening seem equally apparent. We are left then with Friday evening as the only suitable, convenient evening for such affairs. During the past eight months, the High School has been unable to secure the Town Hall, the only suitable place, on Friday evenings. The situation is this: Sargent Hall is rented for the purpose of moving pictures for every Friday evening. The proprietor has refused to give way even upon six or eight weeks' notice. He has been sus- tained in this attitude by a majority of the selectmen. I have not believed and do not believe now that either the committee or the public at large would support the faculty in permitting our school affairs on any of the
88
evenings of the week excepting Friday or Saturday. We have therefore been compelled to use Saturday evenings with a consequent loss of money and the somewhat ques- tionable practice of dancing until midnight and going home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
I wish to express again my appreciation of the sup- port and cooperation of the committee and all in any way connected with our schools.
Respectfully,
CLIFTON C. PUTNEY.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
To the School Committee, Merrimac, Mass.,
Gentlemen :
The following brief report for the past year is re- spectfully submitted.
During the past year the law regarding the inspec- tion of children's. throats and teeth has been complied with.
Throughout the school year the general health of the scholars has been good, up to the present winter', when we have been suffering from grippe colds and a widespread epidemic of measles. About twenty-nine years ago the measles visited Merrimac with a general epidemic and some fatalities. Since that year, while there have been occasions when we have had more or less cases, during my remembrance there has been no time when there has been so many cases as now. There have been many so light that no physician has been called to see them. There have also been many more with a serious type of the disease, with temperature of 104 and 105 and I have seen more cases of internal ear abscesses than ever before. This is a serious complication of this dis- ease and requires prompt and faithful treatment to avoid permanent impairment of hearing.
Up to this date there have been no cases of broncho pneumonia, which is the complication which is most liable to threaten the life of the patient, and with the severe winter weather we shall be fortunate if there are no deaths from pneumonia following measles.
Merrimac has been particularly fortunate in only having had one case of the dreaded infantile paralysis,
90
which has been so prevalent during the past summer and autumn in our neighboring towns and cities.
There was just one case of the mildest type with full recovery.
I find that the children's teeth as a whole, are re- ceiving much better care, by their family dentists, than they were a few years ago. The parents have become ed- ucated to the importance of this dental care, as having a decided influence on the general health of the children.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. SWEETSIR, M. D.,
School Physician.
91
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
To the School Committee :
Drawing in the Grades.
The subject of drawing includes representation, constructive work, design, picture study and picture making. The work in representation results in native drawings, animal drawings, and drawings of artificial objects.
Drawing is being taught in all the grades. Children work with interest and produce desired results if they see a tangible result from their work. For this reason, the greater part of the work results in a series of pro- jects. ex., the design work appears in the decoration of constructed objects, the constructive work in a series of objects which bear relation to each other as "A Farm Scene," the objects of which may be arranged on a sand- table; and the object drawing in booklets or in the form of advertisements. Drill lessons are given very often during the making of the problems.
The work is so planned that the pupils when through the primary grades, and when through the gram- mar grades have at their command a definite amount of information regarding the subject and are able to obtain a definite standard of work.
The pupils, when they leave the last of the primary grades should be able-
1. To use the crayon and the pencil freely.
2. To estimate and represent line directions fairly well, especially horizontal and vertical lines.
3. To represent the general proportion and shapes of objects.
1
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4. To draw certain common forms as cart, drum and sled from memory.
5. To show familiarity with the common wild. flowers and trees which grow in their community.
6. To put elements together such as trees, sky, grass, house, to tell a story.
7. To make simple units, to cut floral units, and to. space these evenly in a border.
8. To use a few good color schemes.
The constructive work should result in the children: being able --
1. To use the ruler for 1 inch and 11-2 inch meas- urements.
2. To cut on curved and straight lines, and to paste neatly.
3. To draw simple patterns neatly and accurately and to think out independently of the teacher's help pat- terns for simple envelopes and boxes.
The grammar grades should show more knowledge' and greater skill in producing the results aimed for in the primary grades. In addition the drawing work should' result in-
1. Ability to represent circular objects involving the drawing of ellipses and proportion well.
2. Ability to use the pencil freely to make light,. medium and heavy lines, as in accenting.
3. Ability to draw from memory typical leaves, as the elm, birch, or maple.
4. Ability to make original floral units for designs,. and to break up surfaces into interesting straight lined designs.
5. Ability to space well borders, margins, titles or- pages, single units on surfaces.
6. Knowledge of several good color schemes.
The constructive work should prepare the pupils-
1. To use the pencil well for the drawing of pat -. terns having full dimensions and both dotted and full' lines.
93
2. To plan and construct any model of ordinary dif- ficulty ; (a), from given measurements and description ; (b), from completed model; (c), to make originals.
Why teach drawing to children? For this reason, drawing is a new language of expression, a picture lan- guage and it is intelligible to all people in the world, hence a more universal language than a language of words.
Very few of the public school children of today may prove to be themselves artists, but every child can learn to observe, and to appreciate and even represent well the objects he sees around him. Also we find those who have truly great talent and these we encourage to study farther as a means of obtaining a livlihood or for pleas- ure. There are openings in the commercial work, de- sign work, mechanical work, architectural work, and in various other ways for those who can draw.
Drawing in the High School.
Two drawing courses are offered to the pupils in the High School, one in mechanical drawing and the other in freehand drawing.
The pupils in the mechanical class 'are working with a great deal of enthusiasm and interest. The course we wish to cover this year includes the drawing of three views of simple objects, objects with oblique surfaces, assembly drawings, scale drawings from blue prints, making drawings larger, scale drawings from objects making drawings smaller, cylindrical work, and machine drawing. The machine drawing work is especially in- teresting. In some lessons, one or two views of a ma- chine will be given the pupils, and they are to visualize and work out the third view. In other lessons the pupils will draw directly from a piece of machinery. The pupils plan the arrangement of their sheets. They learn to print properly and carefully.
Those boys who intend to go to our higher schools of education such as the Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
94
nology, the Wentworth School and the Worcester Poly- technic need all the mechanical drawing they can get during the High School course. There are those boys who do go to these schools, without the preparation in the High School, and they find it exceedingly hard to complete the work in the required time, and some have to go an extra year.
The freehand class began in the fall with native work. Since then the pupils have been working up de- signs for pen-wipers, pocketbooks, and scissor-cases, and have applied these designs to leather.
Beginning in January and continuing through June the pupils will have drill in drawing with the pencil. Printing, object drawing and native work will be giv- en. There will not be any pretty work for results, but the pupils will, at least, learn to draw. They at pres- ent do not know how to draw well.
We are greatly hindered because of lack of time. Only forty-five minutes is given for each class. Each class should have, at least, ninety minutes a week in or- der to do the amount of work that should be given, and that work in the best way.
These reports are respectfully submitted,
(Signed) GEORGIA L. BLAISDELL.
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' REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
Supt. H. H. Pratt and School Board of Merrimac:
It has given me great pleasure the past year to see the improvement in singing in the Merrimac schools. In the high school in particular where there has been evi- dent a more friendly feeling between teachers and pupils, the music department has reflected this in better results.
It is often a disappointment to music instructors af- ter a year of teaching to find that many of the pupils are still unable to read music and sing tunes at sight. To obviate this, during the past year I have inagurated a system of teaching the signatures by means of the so- called "key stories." These have been memorized by the pupils through constant repetition, with a resulting grasp of the subject which has been gratifying.
It is impossible for me to take up in detail the mu- sic work in the various grades owing to a severe sick- ness which came upon me about the time of writing this report, but the change in conditions at the high school is worth even another mention. Working with harmony of spirit as well as harmony of music has accomplished much, and I wish to thank both teachers and pupils for their hearty cooperation.
Respectfully,
W. E. HARTWELL, Supervisor of Music. Haverhill, Mass., Jan. 22, 1917.
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SCHOOL CENSUS, SEPTEMBER, 1916.
Ages ..
5y
6y
7y
8y
9y 10y 11y 12y 13y 14y 15y 16y
No. boys, .. 21
14
20
18
19
17
9
13
15
20
17
No. girls. . . . 17
20
13
23
27
16
17
18
21
31
17
Total.
.35
34
33
41
46
33
26
31
36
33
34
Compulsory attendance,
246
Boys,
111
Girls,
135
Age limit; ages allowing employment certificates,
67
TABLE OF TEACHERS IN SERIVCE 1916.
School
Name of Teacher
Home Address
Where Educated
Salary per Yr.
Remarks
High School
Salaries are
Principal
C. C. Putney
Merrimac
Williams College
$1,200.00
paid twice a
Assistant
* Annabelle Lyons
Amesbury
Salem Commercial School
600.00
month in 20 equal instal- ments.
Helen M. Skinner
Springfield
Bay Path Institute
550.00
*Louise A. Morrison
Wellington
Jackson College
550.00
Gladys L. Cobb
Mansfield
Jackson College
500 00
*Bessie M. Feltstiner
Haverhill
Boston University
500.00
* Alice M. Cotton
Arlington
Jackson College
500 00
Ethel S. Brown
Whitinsville
Wellsley College
500.00
* Resigned during the year
Grade VIII
Helen R. Wiley
Waban
Bridgewater Normal
500.00
Grade VII
*Edna G. Smith
West Newbury Newburyport Training
500.00
Esther J. Woods
Newburyport
Salem Normal
475.00
Grade VI
Alice G. Warren
Abington
Bridgewater Normal
425.00
Grade V
Anna M. Kelley
Georgetown
Perry Normal
475.00
Grade IV
May M. Smilie
Merrimac
Portsmouth Training
475.00
Grade III
Mary A. Hughes
Merrimac
450.00
Grade II
Marguerite E. Burbank
Amesbury
Salem Normal
400.00
Grade I
Helen B. Cressey
Beverly
Salem Normal
400.00
Merrimacport Annie M. Sargent
Merrimacport
Music William E. Hartwell
Haverhill
Drawing
*Alice P. Killam
Haverhill
Georgia L. Blaisdell
Lowell
Normal Art School 162.50
450.00
.
Rochester Business Inst.
INDEX.
Auditor's Report 20-21.
Assessors' Report 34-35
Appropriations 1916 .5-6
Centre School, Special Committee Report 66
Cemetery Trustees' Report 36-37
Church and Lower Corner
37
·Locust Grove
36
Perpetual Care of Lots .36
Collector's Report 31-32-33
22
Engineers, Fire Report 38-40
48
Light, Municipal Board Report
Assets
68.
Balance Sheet 64
Bonds, Notes, Interest 64
60
Cost of Construction 65
63
Expended
64
Fuel
61
General Salaries
. 63
Insurance and Incidentals
63.
Lamps, etc.
65
Liabilities 65
Electric Current Bought
62.
Renewals of Electric Plant 62
Renewals Street Lines 62
Maintenance -1
Meters 1
Office Expense 53
Oil and Waste 61
Repairs Electric Plant
62
Repairing Lines 62
Station Wages .61
Salaries Municipal Light Board.
63
Police Department Report
41-42
Public Library Report
43-45
Selectmen's Report
Assessors . 9 .
.59
Financial Statement, Jan. 1, 1917
Kimball Park Trustees' Report
Construction
Distribution Tools
Assessors' Department 15
Auditor
. 9
Bonds
19
Bonding Town Officers
19
Board o
Health
8-19
Cattle Inspector
.9
Collector
.15
Cemeteries
18
Election Officers
10
Election Dept.
16
Fire Engineers
10
Fire Alarm
18
Forest Warden
18
Fire Department 12-13
17
Highway and Bridges 13
7
Insurance 19
Inspector of Animals .9
17
Lungmotor
19
Miscellaneous Department
14-15
Memorial Day
19
Military Aid
8
Mothers' and Dependent Children
11-12
Notes
7
Overseers of the Poor
11
Public Library
17-18
Police and Night Watch
10
Police Department
10-16-17
Registrars of Voters
16-9
Registrars Department
16
Railing
14
Road to Lake Attitash
14
Rock's Bridge
14
Sargent Hall
20
Sealer of Weights and Measures
8
School Committee .9
School and Broad Streets Improvement 19
Selectmen
.9
State Aid
8
Sidewalks and Crossings
14
Snow and Washouts
14
Soldiers' Relief
.12
Soldiers' Burial
12
Taxes 18
Town Officers 8-9 .
Town Clerk 17-9
Treasurer's Department 16
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth
Interest
Inspector of Slaughtering
Tree Warden 18
School Department
69
Committee's Report 69-70
Expenses
.71
Financial Statement
.71
High School Principal's Report
83-88
Janitors
.72
School Physician's Report 89-90
Supervisor of Music Report.
.95
Supervisor of Drawing
91-94
Superintendent's Report
74-82
Table of Teachers in Service 1916.
.97
Transportation
73
School Census
96
Recapitulation Table
21-22
Sargent Hall
20
Town Officers
2-4
Town Officers' Pay
8
Town Clerk's Report
46-47
Treasurer's Report, F. C. Grant
23-30
Cemetery Trust Funds
28-29-30
Electric Light Depreciation Fund
30
Funded Debt
27
General Account
23-26
Kimball Park Fund
.30
Public Library Fund
30
Interest
28
Receipts
23
Uncollected Taxes 1915-1916
32-33
Water Commissioners 49-50
Additions
.55
Bonds, Notes, Interest
53
Balance Sheet
.55
Construction
51
Cost up to Jan. 1, 1916,
.53
Estimate Ensuing Year
50
Expense
.50
Expended
56
Fuel
53
Income
50
Insurance
54
Maintenance
52
Oil and Waste
52
Office Expense
53
Salaries
.53
Supplies to Station
.53
Station Wages
.53
Receipts
.55
Water Analysis Table
.57
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