USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1881-1890 > Part 28
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$162 53
LIQUOR LICENSES.
A. W. Beard, state treasurer, one fourth amount received, $1,670 25
1
MONEY BORROWED AND PAID.
Milford Savings Bank, notes, $47,000 00
STATE AND MILITARY AID.
Paid by L. Hayden, treasurer, as follows :- State aid, Military aid,
$4,099 00
1,595 00
$5,694 00
REPAIRS ON TOWN HOUSE.
Patrick Dillon, per contract,
$559 41
R. V. Carey, services as architect, 26 65
$586 06
STREET SIGNS.
Frank Marshall, signs,
$120 25
Carne & Jones, posts,
28 03
D. B. Rockwood, iron bands,
75
M. W. Edwards, team,
25 00
Clark Ellis & Sons, supplies,
3 12
J. T. McLoughlin, labor,
57 00
$234 15
TOWN PARK ACCOUNT.
Patrick Larkin, labor,
$ 6 00
Hugh Smith, labor,
25 00
C. E. Whitney, labor,
15 00
Michael McKeague, labor,
65 08
Moses Smith, labor,
2 00
T. E. Morse, painting,
11 20.
N. K. Sprague, repairs,
6 75
Field Bros. lumber,
14 62
Otis Whitney & Son, repairs,
1 65
Clark Ellis & Sons, supplies,
1 50
Eldredge & Beatty, paint,
2 85
$151 65
49
RECAPITULATION OF ORDERS DRAWN.
Town incidentals,
$ 6,401 56
Highway department :-
Incidentals and labor,
17,684 09
Sidewalks,
2,440 09
Central street sewer,
535 98
Schools,
22,646 85
Poor department,
12,239 51
Fire department,
4,970 77
Town library,
983 01
Interest,
5,219 45
Gas and street lights,
4,540 24
Town Hall and lockup,
706 79
Memorial Hall,
899.34
Memorial day,
100 00
Vernon Grove cemetery,
100 00
Water for fire purposes,
3,220 00
National bank tax,
4,297 65
State tax,
6,952 50
Support of paupers,
162 53
Liquor licenses,
1,670 25
State and military aid,
5,694 00
Repairs in Town House,
586 06
Street signs,
234 15
Town park account,
151 65
Care of burial lots,
21 00
Money borrowed and paid,
47,000 00
$149,457 47
P. P. FIELD, M. W. EDWARDS, Selectmen of Milford.
.
1
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MILFORD,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1888-9.
MILFORD, MASS .: G. M. BILLINGS, PRINTER, GAZETTE OFFICE. 1899.
School Committee 1888-'89.
GEORGE G. PARKER,
Term expires 1891
66
1891
GEORGE E. STACY,
66
1890
CHARLES MACKIN,
ROBERT H. COCHRAN,
1890
. JOSEPH F. HICKEY, . CHARLES E. WHITNEY,
66
1889
66
1889
ORGANIZATION.
· GEORGE G. PARKER, Chairman,
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
S. F. BLODGETT.
SUB-COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
R. H. COCHRAN, CHARLES MACKIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Repairs.
CHARLES MACKIN, GEORGE E. STACY, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Text-Books and Supplies.
J. F. HICKEY, C. E. WHITNEY, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Teachers and Examinations.
J. F. HICKEY, GEORGE G. PARKER, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Fuel.
CHARLES E. WHITNEY, R. H. COCHRAN.
Regular meetings of the Committee: The second Monday of each month, at 8 p. m.
Annual Report of the School Committee. 1889.
A larger proportion of the annual appropriation of the town is committed to the School Committee, than to any other board of town officers. The total of all town appropriations for the present year was $73,600, of which $21,000, or nearly 30 per cent, was for the support of public schools. This exceeds the combined appropriations for the highway and the poor depart- ments, and yet the financial committee of the town reported that $1,000 more would be needed than was granted.
It is not surprising that the tax-payer should inquire whether this great outlay is really needed; whether it is expended witlı economy and good judgment; whether it is not in excess of the amount expended by other towns of similar financial ability and equal population, for the same object ; and whether there is or is not an increasing extravagance in the management of the schools in our own town.
A few comparisons will show our relative position in this re- spect. Clinton, in 1885, had a population of 8,945, and its school appropriation the following year was $20,650. Framingham, with a population of 8,275, appropriated $20,000. Marlboro had a poplation of 10,941, and raised $23,087.20. Dedham, whose population was 6,641, gave $28,844.23 for public schools. Quin- cy appropriated $35,163.87, while its population was 12,140; and Waltham, $47,260.38, with a population of 14,609. The same year 102 towns and cities raised a larger percentage of their valua- tion for schools than Milford. Our percentage of valuation was 3-84% mills, while Medway's was 457% mills, and Upton's the same; Marlboro's 4,39% mills, and Dedham's 53 mills.
Another comparison shows that 144 towns and cities raised a larger sum per pupil than our own town, and among these were Holliston, Upton, Medway, Wrentham, Foxboro, and Framing- ham, our immediate neighbors.
Referring to the cost of schools in our own town of late years, we find that in 1878-9, ten years ago, when two of our
4
practical business men were on the board-Geo. W. Johnson and Z. C. Field-the total cost of schools was $23,403.95. This in- cluded the cost of two schools in the territory set off as Hope- dale. The year preceding the separation of Hopedale, the total cost of schools was $24,962.94, being $1,319.73 in excess of the past year. But it should be remembered that under the present law, all school books and other supplies are furnished free to the pupils at the expense of the town, which for the past year took $1,319.62 of the appropriation, thus relieving the parents of a. great and unreasonable burden. Summing up the whole matter, we find the cost of the year's education of each pupil in the schools, including high, grammar, primary, and all, is less than fifty cents per week. In no view of the case can this be called an extravagant expense.
The estimate of the committee for the year, made in their last report amounted to $22,560. This would have covered the expenditures within $83.21. To conduct the schools for the com- ing year the reasonable requirements are as follows :- Salary of superintendent and teachers,
$16,500
Fuel,
1,100
Repairs,
1,000
Text-books and supplies,
1,300
Incidentals,
1,000
Evening school,
500
Janitors,
1,000
Drawing teacher,
400
A full and detailed statement of the management of all our school affairs, including items of expenditures, number of pupils, and the general results of the school year, is to be found in the reports of the Secretary and Superintendent submitted herewith, and approved by the board. It will be seen that the year has been a prosperous one, and generally satisfactory to parents, chil- dren, teachers, and to all interested in the welfare of the public schools of Milford.
GEO. G. PARKER,
GEO. E. STACY,
CHARLES MACKIN,
ROBERT H. COCHRAN,
JOSEPH F. HICKEY, CHARLES E. WHITNEY,
School Committee.
REPORT OF SECRETARY.
Following is a statement of the receipts and expenditures during the year ending Feb. 1, 1889.
Last year the committee recommended that the following appropriations be made :-
For teachers' salaries, including teachers of drawing
and evening school,'
$15,860 00
For salary of Superintendent,
1,500 00
66 repairs,
1,000 00
66 text books and supplies,
1,100 00
6 incidentals,
1,000 00
" janitors' salaries,
1,000 00
Total,
$22,560 00
I have quoted this table, that, by comparing it with the table of expenses which follows, you may see that the committee asked for the money which was actually needed to carry on the schools. The total expenditure this year exceeds that of last year by $1439.13. Of this amount, $755.55 is in salaries, and yet no teacher's salary has been raised this year. Last year we em- ployed a third assistant in the High School, and four assistants in the other schools, during only the last term of sixteen weeks. This year we have employed the same number of assistants through the entire year. This accounts for the additional expen- diture for salaries. Our repair account is about $500 more, and our supply account $200 more than last year. These three items explain the increase in expenses.
We have drawn from the treasury $1207.06 in excess of the amount given by vote of the town, one-half of the dog-tax, and the state fund. At the town meeting in March, the committee on appropriations, after due consideration of the matter, recom-
66 fuel,
1,100 00
6
mended that $22,000 be appropriated for schools. The town voted only $21,000. Had the additional $1000 been given, it would have very nearly covered the expense for the year.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Amount voted by town,
$21,000 00
One-half dog tax,
383 01
Mass. School Fund,
48 53
Received for sale of books,
27 54
tuition, 9 00
Amount overdrawn,
1207 06
Total,
$22,675 14
EXPENSES.
· For salaries of teachers,
$15,944 10
janitors,
894 50
For salary of superintendent,
1500 00
For fuel,
1117 29
66 repairs,
1114 57
66 text-books and supplies,
1319 62
66 incidentals, 785 06
Total,
$22,675 14
SUMMARY.
Orders drawn on Town Treasurer,
$22,638 60
Received for books sold,
27 54
Received for tuition,
9 00
Total amount expended,
$22,675 14
Total appropriations and receipts,
21,468 08
Exceeded appropriations,
$1207 06
MILFORD, Feb. 12, 1889.
At a special meeting of the School. Committee, held this evening, it was voted to adopt the report of the Superintendent as a part of the report of the School Committee.
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD :-
Gentlemen: I respectfully submit for your consideration my second report, which is the twelfth. annual superintendent's report, and covers the time from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1888. I have included the usual statistics, and have made such a review of the work in the schools and such recommendations for the future as I have thought to be of interest to you.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Population of Milford in 1880,
9,310
1889, estimated, 10,000
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, May, 1888, 1,405
Decrease from 1887,
124
SCHOOLHOUSES.
Number of buildings occupied,
17
66 not occupied,
1
rooms. occupied, 36
4
SCHOOLS.
High school,
1
Grammar schools,
11
Primary 66
.
15
Ungraded
5
Evening school,
1
TEACHERS.
High school, (male 1, female 3,)
4
Grammar,
11
Primary,
15
Ungraded schools,
5
Assistants,
4
Drawing,
1
not occupied,
8
Evening,
Total,
Number of teachers graduates of Milford High school,
66 Normal school or college,
66 who have attended Normal or Training school,
19
Number of times teachers have been tardy,
half days teachers have been absent, 125
PUPILS.
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age in May, 1888, 1,405
Decrease from May, 1887,
124
Number registered between 5 and 15 years of age, 1,370
over 15 years of age,
180
under 5 years of age,
1
Total number of children registered,
1,551
Decrease from 1887,
38
Average number belonging in day schools, 1,262
1,179
Per cent of daily attendance to average number belonging, 93.4
Number of half day's absence,
31,724
66 cases of dismissal,
1,279
tardiness,
2,436
16
corporal punishment, 112
EVENING SCHOOL.
Average attendance February and March, 1888, 40
66
November, December and January, 25
66
February to February, 31
FINANCIAL.
Salaries of teachers, janitors and superintendent, $18,338 60
Fuel,
1,117 29
Repairs,
1,114 57
Text-books and supplies,
1,319 62
Incidentals, 785 06
Total,
$22,675 14
Value of supplies on hand Feb. 1, 1888, $ 671 71
66 bought during year, 1,319 62
$1,991 33
1
40
27
11
47
Average daily attendance,
truancy,
44
9
Value of supplies on hand Feb. 1, 1889, $ 676 10 27 54
66 sold during year,
$703 64
Net cost of books and supplies,
$1,287 69
Total expenditures, Books and supplies on hand Feb. 1, 1888,
$22,675 14
671 71
-- $23,346 85
Books and supplies on hand Feb. 1, 1889,
$676 10
sold,
27 54
$703 64
Net cost of schools,
$22,643 21
Average cost per pupil, based on net cost and average number belonging, $ 17 91
Cost of evening school,
443 61
Average cost per pupil, based on cost and average at- tendance,
14 31
CENSUS AND ATTENDANCE.
The census, as taken by the assessors this year, shows a total of 1,405 children between 5 and 15 years of age, a decrease of 124 from last year's census. But the total number registered this year is only 38 less than last year, the average number belonging only 5 less, and the average daily attendance shows an increase of 26 over last year. This fact is important, as it raises our percent- age of attendance to 93.4, an increase of 2.4 per cent during the year. There is also a creditable decrease in the number of absences, dismissals and tardinesses. Corporal punishment has decreased from 160 to 112 cases, and truancy from 56 to 44 cases. The last item means more than is shown by the figures; for, through the promptness and efficiency of Truant Officer Burns, the truants have learned that an attempt to play truant means a speedy arrest and return to school. It is a pleasure to be able to state that this evil is decreasing. Since Mr. Burns assumed the office he has performed the duties to the entire satisfaction of the Committee. He has made regular visits to the factories, and reports that no children are employed who do not hold proper certificates. He has visited 22 schools, returned 24 children to school from the streets, and notified 27 parents or guardians that their children were not in school.
10
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
I have found much pleasure in my work in the schools during the year. It is true that the results obtained have not always been such as I have desired, but in all branches taught I can see steady progress. No sweeping change in methods has been attempted, and, on the part of the teachers, I have met a spirit of hearty co-operation in carrying out the suggestions I have made. In the primary grades, excellent work is done in reading. The children are led to grasp the thought of the sentence before attempting to read it alond, and the result has been the disap- pearance of the halting style of reading which is necessary when the reader grasps only one word at a time. In the grammar grades, the work in this branch is not so satisfactory, for reasons which I have stated in the article on grades. The work in num- ber in the primary grades is also good. We have aimed to give the pupils only work which they can do weil. Special stress is laid on accuracy and neatness of work. Neatness and accuracy are largely matters of habit, and should therefore be insisted on at the very beginning of school life.
In the grammar grades, "Greenleaf's Complete Arithmetic" was substituted for the "Brief Course" in the two lower grades, and the entire subject, as presented by this book, is divided as equally as possible into four parts, so that the work may be com- pleted at the end of the eighth. year. In the ninth year the subject is carefully reviewed, and book-keeping is taken during the last period of twenty weeks.
No change has been made in the teaching of geography except that special attention is given to the geography of Milford in the fourth grade. The study is completed in the eighth year and more time devoted to United States history in the last year.
A systematic and uniform study of language was made possi- ble in the primary grades by the adoption in the third and fourth grades of Miss Hyde's "Lessons in English," a little book which is of great value in this work. In the grammar grades no change has been made in this branch.
I consider our work in writing as the weakest part of our work, and there is no good reason why it should not be made the strongest.
In writing, drawing, and the making of figures, we touch the subject of manual training. Here we can train the hand
11
as well as the mind, and it is of the greatest importance that we spare no time or pains to obtain the best possible results. During the first two or three years of school work, much atten- tion is given to writing, and the progress is good. In the higher grades the work is far from satisfactory, as the teachers have been obliged to neglect it in order to do the other work of the course. I have recently called the attention of the teachers to the importance of this subject, and I feel confident that in the future we will be able to show a marked improvement in this respect.
Excellent work is done in drawing. Early in the spring term, Miss M. B. Smith, who had charge of this department, was compelled to give up her work on account of sickness. The work suffered much by the absence of so faithful an instructor, but the teachers did their best to carry on the work she had planned. At the commencement of the fall term, the committee engaged the services of Miss L. R. McLauthlin, who, having had the advan- tage of the same training which Miss Smith had at the Normal Art School, has been able to continue the work by the same methods that were so successful last year.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
This school continues to do excellent work in spite of the large number of pupils, and notwithstanding the fact that a com- plete change in the corps of assistants has been necessary. The school provides a liberal course of study for the children of the town, and there is constant effort on the part of the teachers to give the pupils such training as will fit them for the practical business of life. In September Miss L. B. Essex was engaged to take the position held by Miss Leavens last year. At the close of the fall term, Miss Patrick resigned and Miss Parkhurst asked for leave of absence for one term. This necessitated the selection of two teachers, and Miss I. C. Ashley of Westfield, Mass., and Miss Nellie Pickering of Portsmouth, N. H., were elected. Some friction was anticipated as the result of so many changes, but the usual excellent discipline has been maintained, and it is safe to say it will be maintained as long as the school is under the man- agement of the present Principal.
The graduating exercises of last June, given in Music Hall, were unusually good. While the entire programme was admira- ble and showed the most careful preparation, I will speak particu-
12
larly of two numbers, "Alcohol and The House We Live In,'" given by the class in Chemistry, and "The Earth, Our Storehouse," by the class in Geology. These exercises were not only very interesting as parts of the programme, but gave evidence of the practical work of the school, to which I have referred.
PROGRAMME.
See your guests approach ; Address yourselves to entertain them sprightly.
-Winter's Tale.
Chorus *- Song of Greeting.
Excursions, · Olie L. Brown
They are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time. -Hamlet.
FIRST EXCURSION.
List if thou canst hear the tread of travelers.
Caricatures: Uses and Abuses,
-Henry IV. Lillian E. Thompson Nellie Brown
The Fame of Science,
Chorus-Sea Song.
SECOND EXCURSION.
O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no other name to be known by, let us call thee devil !- Othello.
Alcohol and "The House We Live In,"
Harold E. Fales, Patrick J. Keelon, Patrick J. Lawless, Grace L. Blood, Etta M. Green, Lydia A. Roberts. Chorus-June Day.
THIRD EXCURSION.
In nature's infinite book of secrecy A little can I read.
-Antony and Cleopatra.
The Earth, Our Storehouse,
Minnie F. Bicknell, Grace J. Crosby, Florence E. Hale, Susie T. Miller, Mary L. Toohey.
Chorus-The Voice of the Grass.
FOURTH EXCURSION.
You, that are old, consider not the capacities of us that are young.
Little Folks in Dickens, Manger Births, The Citizen,
-Henry IV. Josephine Thayer Harriot M. Coburn Philip H. Tirrell
Now our sands are almost run ; More a little, and then done.
-Pericles.
13
Presentation of Diplomas, Chorus-Class Ode,
Chairman G. G. Parker
Written by Florence E. Hale
We know what we are, but we know not what we may be .- Hamlet.
* Accompaniments by Lydia A. Roberts.
The following is a list of the graduates of 1888 :-
FOUR YEARS' COURSE-ENGLISH, FRENCH AND LATIN.
Nellie Brown, Olie Lawrence Brown,
Grace Jeannette Crosby, Harold Everett Fales,
Patrick Joseph Keelon, Patrick Joseph Lawless,
Susie Theresa Miller, Mary Lizzie Toohey.
ENGLISH AND FRENCH.
Grace Lydia Blood, Lillian Eliza Thompson.
CLASSICAL.
Harriot Morton Coburn, Josephine Thayer,
Philip Henry Tirrell.
PARTIAL DIPLOMAS-ENGLISH, FRENCH AND LATIN. (Given for an incomplete course.)
Minnie Frances Bicknell, Etta Melissa Green,
Lydia Anu Roberts. CLASSICAL.
Florence Edith Hale.
OUTLYING SCHOOLS.
The work in the country schools has been very good, when we consider the disadvantages under which they labor. The chief difficulty arises from the fact that there are few pupils and many classes. In endeavoring to carry all the grades, the classes multiply to such an extent that I have found teachers trying to hear thirty recitations in three hundred minutes, giving an aver- age of ten minutes to each class. We have tried, with some success, to reduce this excessive number of classes by uniting two grades in one class. . In reading, spelling and geography this may be done, not only without detriment to the pupils, but to their advantage; since, by the reduction of the number of recitations, the teacher is able to devote more time to each class. Another difficulty is that these schools are poorly equipped in the way of wall-maps, charts and globes, things particularly necessary in schools of this character, because a teacher who is so cramped for time for recitations, should have all possible helps in her work. I have thought that in these schools it would be wise to cease the
14
attempt to carry the several grades distinct, and adopt some system of classification similar to the one suggested by Mr. Prince of the State Board of Education, in his book on "Courses of Study and Methods of Teaching." I quote from his article on the classification of ungraded schools :-
"The following classification might be made in many ungraded schools, consisting of pupils from five to fifteen years of age: four classes in reading, including one class in the reading of history ; five classes in arithmetic; two classes in geography, besides the class of younger pupils who are reciting orally lessons in home geography; four classes in spelling, two of which may be heard at the same time; one class in physiology-the rest to be heard orally ; one class in history ; one class in English gram- mar; and one in language."
A classification similar to this would be more profitable to the pupils in these schools than the system we are now attempt- ing to follow.
GRADING.
In my last report, I suggested the advisability of changing our course of eight years to one of nine years. After careful con- sideration, the committee decided to make the change. At the time the matter was under consideration, I called the attention of the board to the following extract from the report of the State Board of Education. I quote here because it embo lies the chief advantages which a course of nine years has over one of eight years :-
"To learn what was the approved period of time required to prepare well for the High School, a letter was addressed to a number of cities in various parts of the country. This letter was responded to by ninety-five cities. Some reported a seven years' course, one or two a ten, thirty-five an eight, and forty-five a nine. A nine years' course is nearly coincident with the cities reputed to have the best system of schools. A nine years' course, then, seems to be favored by custom and demanded by good sense. In the returns above referred to was given the average age of pupils entering the High Schools. Under the eight years' course it was fourteen years, eight months. Under the nine years' course it was fourteen years, eleven months-a difference of only three months. . And this was what might have been expected. Whether eight or nine years was given to the course, since no essential change was made in it, the length of time required to complete it would be about the same. Under the eight years' course fewer pupils would reach the standard for the several grades, and many would have to be demoted. Under the nine years' course the standard would be reached by a larger number, hence a greater number of promotions. Here, then, is
15
an argument in favor of a nine years' course. It affords encour- agement and healthy stimulation, while an eight years' course tends to discouragement and repression."
In making this change, I have altered the numbering of the grades. Formerly the lowest primary grade was called the eighth grade, and the highest grammar the first. In the new course, the first grade corresponds to the first year of school work, and the ninth grade corresponds to the last year of the grammar course. The ninth grade was made in this way‹ All the pupils in the No. 2 grammar schools were promoted to No. 1, and were there divided into two divisions according to the ability of the pupils as shown by their work of previous years. This was done with a desire to do justice, it being the intention to keep back no one who could be prepared to enter the High School at the close of the year.
In the Plains Grammar School, where there were already two grades in the No. 1 room, only three pupils were qualified for the ninth grade; of these, two were sent to the No. 1 at the Brick, and one to No. 1 at the Park. This leaves only the seventh and eighth grades in the No. 1 Plains School.
I am confident that much good will result from this length- ening of the course, as time will be given for important work in the grammar grades which has been crowded out by the pressure of work.
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