USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1881-1890 > Part 3
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course. We are glad to state that our primary teachers generally have both the ability and the desire to carry out Mr. Allard's ideas, which are indeed the ideas of the best educators of the present day. We regret that very many of the parents and citizens of the town, who wish our schools to be efficient, do not yet understand, through personal visitation, the great advance that is being made in our schools. A thorough understanding of the work to be done in our schools, and of the fact that a Committee cannot do it, is a sufficient argument in favor of the employment of a Superin- tendent.
At the close of the Spring term of the High School last June, Mr. Hale, who had taught for ten years, retired from the position of principal. From a large number of applications, many of them
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with high recommendations, the Committee selected Mr. H. W. Lull, for some years assistant teacher in the large High School of Manchester, N. H., as principal of our High School. One of the best of his high recommendations was the anxiety of the Man- chester Committee to retain him. It was decided to make the school still more efficient by placing in it a college graduate as first assistant. Mr. F. B. Sherburne, a gentleman of finished schol- arship, and of experience as teacher of a high school, was secured for this position. Misses Anna M. Bancroft and M. A. Parkhurst were unanimously re-elected assistants. The ability, experience, faithfulness and- tact of these teachers arouse the interest and ambition of the pupils, and secure good work.
It is to be regretted that the High School house is not larger and more commodious, but perhaps the time for a change has not yet come.
We regret that we have to report the resignation of Judge Chas. A. Dewey, who has been a member of the Board and served as chairman for several years. His scholarship and his interest in the schools, his wise impartiality, his good counsel in difficult cases, which often come before a committee, made him a val- uable member of the Board. His genial character and his many good qualities made him a very agreeable colleague.
The appropriations made for the support of our schools for the past year were as follows :
For Salaries of teachers, $16,500 00
· Salary of Superintendent,
. 1,500 00
Evening schools,
700 00
Care of school-houses,
1,000 00
Fuel,
1,000 00
Repairs,
1,000 00 .
Incidentals, .
800 00 $22,500 00
Revenue from dog tax (one half), $214 04 ·
School fund. . 303 11 . .
517 15
Total, .
$23,017 15
The expenses of the year have been :
Salaries of teachers,
.
$16,400 87
Salary of Superintendent,
.
1,350 00
Evening school,
.
188 00
Care of school-houses, .
1,028 00 .
5
Fuel,
$1,112 14
Repairs,
717 20
Incidentals, .
827 15
Total,
$21,623 36
Appropriation by the Town, Mar., 1880, $22,500 00 Within the amount of appropriations, . 876 64
FOR TEACHING.
Paid S. W. Hale,
$562 50
Lillie B. Godfrey, .
168 75
Mary A. Parkhurst,
493 75
Anna M. Bancroft,
512 50
H. W. Lull, .
975 00
F. B. Sherburne,
455 00
Jennie A. Whiting,
610 00
Mary J. Kelley,
351 50
Jennie M. Russell,
314 50
Mallie F. Gleason,
314 50
Helen S. Eames, .
556 67
Alice B. Chapin, .
356 50
Mary F. Devine, .
307 70
Ellen A. Moriarty,
314 50
Edward Day,
610 00
Carra V. Saddler,
351 50
Lilla A. Cook,
310 25
Mary F. Aylward,
314 50
Carrie L. Harris,
407 00
Minnie L. Mann,
407 00
Kate F. Martin,
401 50
Eva W. Cook,
314 50
Ada A. Skinner,
314 50
Faustina M. Knight,
314 50
Kate Chapin,
289 00
Anna E. Sheldon,
241 40
S. Eldora Sheldon,
314 50
Emily T. Hart,
314 50
Maggie F. Madden,
314 50
Susan R. Inman,
314 50
Anna L. Bell,
314 50
Julia E. Barry,
314 50
Mary E. Cochran,
314 50
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Paid Sarah F. Burns, . ·
.
$314 50
Mary J. Kelley, 2d,
314 50
Delia C. Gleason,
337 25
Augusta A. Cay,
314 50
Jenny L. Goodrich,
314 50
Amanda C. Scammell,
314 50
Kate McNamara, .
314 50
Susan R. Broderick,
314 50
Hannah M. Broderick, .
314 50
Eva E. Aldrich,
407 00
Kate A. Wallace, .
314 50
Mary Fisher,
32 50
Unexpended,
99 13
$16,500 00
Appropriation, . .
$16,500 ·
FOR CARE OF SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Paid Wm. Kelly, .
$135 50
John Burke, .
166 50
P. Donahoe, .
54 00
F. A. Morrill,
176 00
Mrs. Milan, .
55 50
John Brennan,
55 50
Mary J. Kelley,
5 00
W. Stimpson,
24 00
Eva W. Cook,
6 00
Kate Wallace,
18 50
E. T. Hart, .
6 00
S. R. Broderick,
18 50
Eva E. Aldrich,
19 00
Carrie L. Harris,
18 50
Augusta A. Cay,
18 50
Hannah M. Broderick,
18 50
A. C. Scammell,
18 50
S. W. Hale, .
37 50
John Gaffeny,
112 50
Kate McNamara, .
12 50
Minnie L. Mann, .
12 50
Delia C. Gleason,
.
12 50
.
.
.
*
$16,400 87
7
Paid Jennie L. Goodrich, E. Gerry,
·
$12 50
3 00
$1,028 00
Appropriation, . ·
Overdrawn,
.
.
$1,000 00 28 00
FOR EVENING SCHOOL.
Paid Chas. J. Thompson, on Winter term of 1879-80, 66 66 1880-81, 41 67
$108 00
B. H. Montague, janitor,
12 25
F. B. Sherburne, .
·
26 00
J. W. Allard, sundries,
8 08
B. M. Montague, janitor, etc., .
6 00
$202 00
Appropriated, .
·
$700 00 ·
Within the appropriation, . 488 00 .
SUPERINTENDENT.
Paid John W. Allard, . $1,350 00
Appropriation,
$1,500 00
Unexpended,
.
·
·
FOR REPAIRS.
Paid Jas. Bergin, shingling school houses, etc., $65 57
Walnut Shade Tree Ass'n, trees at Park school, 13 67
T. E. Morse, . 75 94
John Taft, plastering,
14 00
Galen Davis & Co.,
3 08
L. L. Wheelock, mason work,
9 56
S. W. Pierce, 66 66
10 25
Field & Crosby, lumber and shingles, 136 08
Geo. H. Kendall, . 1 37
Eldridge & Beatty, blackboarding, painting, etc., .
301 50
.
.
150 00
.
8
Paid D. B. Jenks, supplies, . Chapman & Winn, laying shingles, etc., 69 11
$10 42
Richard Carroll, cutting steps at High school, John Gaffeny, sundries,
4 65
$717 20
Unexpended,
282 80
$1,000 00
Appropriation for repairs, . . $1,000 00
FOR FUEL.
Paid Field & Crosby,
$158 80
Barney & Son,
98 34
L. A. Cook, .
855 00
Expended,
$1,112 14
Appropriation,
1,000 00
Excess over appropriation, ·
$112 14
FOR INCIDENTALS.
Paid Thomas Quirk, use of well, . $5 00 ·
Baker, Pratt & Co., globe, etc.,
42 00
T. Donahue, truant officer,
30 00
John Madden, use of well,
5 00
Thos. Fitz Maurice, use of well,
2 00
David Ahern, use of well,
5 00
Geo. G. Parker, rent,
60 00
Chas. J. Thompson, Sec., two years,
65 00
John Gleason, use of well,
3 00
A. S. Tuttle, sundries,
14 41
Cook & Sons, printing, .
43 00
N. B. Johnson, book,
2 00
J. W. Harris,
55 41
A. E. Barker, cleaning privies,
24 00
J. W. Allard, supplies, books, paper, etc.,
259 54
Frank Morrill, cleaning,
4 25
Mary McCarty,
.
6 59
Wm. Kelly, .
·
5 50
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
2 00
9
Paid A. Trochsler, diplomas,
$30 00
John E. Burke, cleaning,
8 50
John Gaffeny,
13 75
R. C. Eldridge, repairing clocks,
7 00
Milford Gas Light Co., .
21 33
H. E. Morgan, chemicals,
3 10
Timothy Wallace, use of well,
5 00
D. B. Jenks, .
32 48
J. H. Putnam, furnace regulator,
15 00
Bartlett & Ellis, sundries,
19 49
Geo. O. Hatch, use of well,
5 00
O. B. Parkhurst,
5 00
William Kelley,
18 00
Geo. W. Stacey, papers, etc.,
9 80
E. Whitney, 2d, filling out diplomas,
2 00
$827 15
Appropriation, .
$800 00
Excess over appropriation,
27 15
We recommend the following appropriations :
For Salaries of teachers,
. $16,000 00
Salary of Superintendent, . .
1,500 00
Care of school houses,
1,000 00
Fuel,
1,100 00 .
Repairs,
1,000 00
Evening school,
500 00
Incidentals, .
800 00
Repairs to High school house,
400 00
$22,300 00
If, in any instance, the figures in the above tables do not agree with those of the Selectmen, it will be due to the fact that an order or orders given by the School Committee may not yet have reached the Selectmen.
All of which is respectfully submitted, together with the following report of the Superintendent, for which we ask a careful perusal.
GEORGE W. JOHNSON, Chairman,
ZIBEON C. FIELD,
GEO. G. PARKER, JOS. F. HICKEY, CHAS. J. THOMPSON, Secretary,
School Committee of Milford.
·
.
.
.
4
Report of the Superintendent of Public Schools.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
In compliance with your regulations, I respectfully submit my second annual report, which is also the fourth of the consecutive series of annual reports made by the Superintendents of the schools of Milford.
Our schools have completed the work of another year. It is my present duty to record the results ; and it is with a fair degree of honorable pride and satisfaction that I now read to you this record of the last year's work. These feelings arise not from any idea that our system of instruction has reached the summit of per- fection, nor from any delusive thought that there is not now exist- ing a wide interval between the actual and the attainable in school management, but because it can be truly said that our schools have made marked and substantial progress in the year now closing.
The appended tables and statistics, and the history of the · work of the schools, will verify this statement. Our record of figures and facts will compare favorably with that of any previous year, and likewise with similar data from other towns in New Eng- land. Such records and such comparisons are often destructive to local pride and prejudice ; yet, by their study, we regret and abandon the errors and shortcomings of the past, and are aroused to wiser and more persistent efforts in the future.
While it is true that a general public sentiment favors a liberal and just policy toward the schools, yet a very small number of our people have a clear conception of the magnitude of their work, or an adequate appreciation of their necessities. If the patrons of the schools shall become more deeply impressed with their power and needs, and so thoroughly informed about their present condi- tion as to act intelligently in all matters connected with our school system, one object sought in this report will have been reached.
ENROLLMENT.
The whole number of names registered in the day schools during the past year has been 2,648.
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The transfers of children from one school to another, caused by a change of residence, the promotions made at unusual times, and other cases of double enrollment, have been deducted, and the 2,301 names which remain, represent the whole number of different pupils that have received some instruction in the schools. This number is only 72 less than last year's.
It was supposed that the withdrawal of nearly 200 children from the public schools to the church schools, would lessen the aggregate attendance by that number. But the rigid enforcement of the law concerning school attendance by the State police, and the accession to the public schools since September, of a large number of children from the private schools, have given us an enrollment nearly equal to last year's ; and the whole number registered in the Fall and Winter terms has been only 127 less.
ATTENDANCE.
The average number belonging and the average daily attend- ance, for the reasons above stated, have been lessened. But the per cent. of attendance and the average attendance for each term, in proportion to the whole number registered for any term, are better than in 1879-80.
Full statistics are appended to this report. The higher per- centage of attendance is due to the co-operation of parents, teachers and Superintendent, in earnest efforts to stop the waste of time, strength and money, which the great irregularity of attendance upon the public schools has hitherto caused.
Occasional absences or occasional cases of lateness are often regarded as of small importance. But in the graded school, where the teacher is expected to instruct and to keep together on a com- mon line of study, her entire class of 40 or 60 pupils, the absence for a single day, now of this pupil, now of that, is a hindrance to the absentee and to the class.
The effect of such an absence is not measured always by the loss in instruction and in discipline. When school work and school duties are made secondary, satisfactory progress is at an end. The pupil should be taught to discharge his school duties with as much regularity and devotion as his parent shows in his best efforts to gain a livelihood or win success in business or profes- sional life.
The actual attendance in a few schools has not been satisfac- tory. This is owing to local causes, and partly to a want of power and interest in the teacher. The punctuality of a school is due to the combined influence of teachers, pupils and patrons. As a rule, it is the surest index of their harmonious co-operation and of the interest and pride that pupils and teachers take in their work. Cases of absence and lateness must occur, but it is largely in the power of the teacher to keep the tardy marks within small limits.
1.2
But how is it with the teacher who violates, for pleasure or con- venience, your rule which requires prompt attendance at school ? Can she enforce upon her pupils the punctuality which she does not daily illustrate? I report with great pleasure that only a very few of your teachers-the digits of one hand will more than num- ber them-have yet to learn that even in this matter of lateness and absence, "example is better than precept." The aggregate number of marks for lateness is several hundred less than last year.
TRUANCY.
The number of habitual truants is much smaller than last year. Occasional truancies are less frequent. For this desired result, a large share of credit is due to the efficient truant officer of the last two years. But even now the days of "splendid coasting " and skating, the warm days of the early Spring, and numerous street parades, allure too many pupils from school. Many children are dismissed by their teachers for certain parts of each school session to assist their parents. This practice is not the most advantageous to the pupils, since many important lessons are missed, and much valuable information is imparted during their absence. But good reasons often exist, teachers should remember, which compel the parent to withdraw the child from school. The choice is between the partial attendance now daily given, and non-attendance for a term. This practice demands the pupil's close attention to study when in school, and prompt obedience, otherwise the parent should be notified that the permit for daily dismissal will be revoked.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The law requires the School Committee to take annually, in the month of May, the names and ages of all persons between the ages of 5 and 15 years, belonging in Milford on said first of May. At the request of your Board, the school census was taken by the Assessors, and recorded in a book prepared for the purpose. The number of names recorded is 1,874. The Assessors returned 2,032 children in the year 1879, and 2,138 in 1878. The number of children is probably smaller than in 1878 ; but there has been no such falling off as these figures indicate. In the opinion of the Assessor, your Secretary and your Superintendent, the number of school children equals 2,000.
False returns are made to the Assessors, who have learned to look with suspicion upon numerous small boys and girls who are "just 14," or "going on 15." Parents seek work for their children in the shops. Their ticket of admission is the certificate of age and school attendance which the law for compulsory school attend- ance prescribes. The motive for deception is obvious. Shiftless and unprincipled parents often deceive the Assessors and the
13
school authorities about their children's ages. At the present apparent rate of decrease, there will in a few years be no children in Milford between the ages of 5 and 15 years! If the children were born here, the date of birth is recorded in the Town Clerk's books, or in the parish register. The school registers have con- tained the ages in years only. When the age can not be deter- mined, the applicant for a "certificate to work," should bring a line from the Town Clerk, stating the date of birth. No fee should be exacted from the child for this. If it is not the duty of this official to give such information, as I suppose it is not, the Board should incur the expense. It should be stated that many of those persons, who seek to deceive in this matter, have children who were not born in Milford, and who have not been long in attend- ance upon the public schools.
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE.
The State police are vigorously enforcing the laws of 1876 and 1878 concerning the employment of children in industrial establish- ments. These laws forbid the employment of children under the age of ten years. Children from ten to fourteen years of age, who are unable to read and write, cannot be legally employed during the term time of the schools ; but if able to read and write, they may be thus employed, provided they attend school for twenty weeks of each year.
The following form of certificate, approved by the Attorney General of the State, is issued from this office :
Milford, Mass. 1881.
This Certifies that
born in. is .years months old,
and has attended school in weeks, during the year next preceding this date, and has attended school twenty weeks since 18
Teacher.
Approved, Supt. of Schools.
Duly authorized by the School Committee.
These certificates are required to be kept on file in the office of every establishment where children from 10 to 16 years of age are employed.
The only essential items on the certificates of employees from 14 to 16 years of age are the age and place of birth. The prepar- ation of these certificates by your Superintendent has taken much
14
time. Sometimes eight or ten applicants will come in an evening, as every change of place of employment requires a new certificate. The school registers and the school census must be consulted ; the record of births in the Town Clerk's office must be examined, and personal interviews with parents, teachers and employers are often necessary.
The employers and the parents or guardians of the children are liable to considerable penalties for violating the provisions of the statute.
But the owners and agents of our industrial and mercantile establishments have complied promptly with the requirements of the law. The weak point is, that many boys under fifteen years of age, receive from their parents a "roving commission " to seek work or attend school, and are found neither at labor nor at school. For this, no remedy exists unless parents and employers combine beyond the terms of the law.
The present law bears heavily in one direction. Families with children under fourteen years of age, are constantly arriving from other States and across the ocean. In such cases, the children often have no certificates of school attendance, and can obtain none. The parents, destitute of means, at first find no employment, while the services of the children, which would "keep the wolf from the door " of the household and prevent the parent from becoming a pauper, are in constant demand. But the existing law does not permit the employment of a child under fourteen years, for a single day, unless it has attended school the one hundred days. Thrift and humanity would seem to demand some amendment of the law, in order to allow the school or State authorities to grant permits, in such extreme cases, to labor for a while, the time thus conceded to be added to the school attendance demanded in the ensuing term or year.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Sixteen wood and four brick school houses, with their out- buildings and inclosures, will call annually for a large sum of money to keep them suitable for school purposes and in economical repair. To determine when and where to make many of the minor school repairs and improvements, must require a minute knowledge of the wants and conditions of the schools. Space would fail to record the many small, yet important repairs on school property. Most of the work, in the past year, has been done on the High School, Plains, Park, Claflin, South Grammar, City, Fountain and Braggville houses. Many of the rooms have been carefully cleansed, their walls tinted, and the blackboards thoroughly re- paired.
During the coming year some of the houses should be newly shingled, many fences re-built, and steps, stairs and floors relaid.
15
The buildings which will demand the most repairs are the North Grammar, Bear Hill, Claflin, Old Town House, Silver Hill, North Purchase, South Milford and the High School. If Hopedale con- tinues to grow, and the schools there to increase in numbers, pro- vision will have to be made for a third room. In the Old Town House are found two of our most important schools. The health and comfort of teachers and pupils call for very extensive repairs on this building. The High School building shows plainly the need of such renovation and repair as will involve a consider- able expenditure.
These particulars are enough to show any intelligent taxpayer that it must be a constant study of the Committee how to place the comparatively small amount of money appropriated to school re- pairs "where it will do the most good."
SCHOOL CLASSIFICATION.
One High School, six Grammar schools with their seventeen dif- ferent rooms, eight Mixed or District schools and thirteen Primary schools, have been taught during the year by forty-two teachers.
Four years is the time assigned for completing the work in the Primary, Grammar and High Schools. A few pupils spend only three years in the Primary schools ; but the great majority, perhaps seven-eighths of the whole number, take the four years. Pupils slow to learn, delicate in health or irregular in attendance, may require more time. The Primary schools comprise two distinct departments under two teachers. The Claflin primaries are in three rooms, under three teachers. Some surprisingly incorrect statements have been made about the grading and work of these schools, doubtless through misconception and not from any purpose to be unjust.
The middle room in the Claflin building, I am informed, was changed into a separate school about two years ago. Itwas thought, perhaps unwisely, that 100 or 125 pupils were too many for one teacher with one assistant. The children in the three Claflin rooms have gone over the same ground in their studies, as those in the two rooms at the "Sand Bank," or "Town House," and have taken no more time.
So far from the children in the Claflin school being longer in the Primary grades than those in the other Primaries, or taking a year more to complete the Grammar school course, the reverse is true. The pupils in the Claflin upper Primary average younger by several months, than those in the corresponding grade at the Town House, Plains or Sand Bank. The fourth grammar class also averages younger than the same grade at the Plains, Park or South Grammar. Now these are the only two grades that could be affected by the change made some two years ago in the Claflin school.
The new parochial school withdrew about 200 pupils from the public schools last September. The Plains, Old Town House and
16
Claflin classes were most affected. It did not seem judicious to dispense with any of the schools during the Fall term. But it seemed probable that a Grammar or a Primary room could be closed at the Claflin in the Winter. At the opening of the Winter term many of the smaller children did not attend; this reduced one school in the Claflin building to about 35 pupils and another to about 20.
Hence one room was closed and the children were transferred to other rooms. By this arrangement the children are as well cared for as before, and a considerable saving has been made in the expenses. In April, large numbers of small children enter the schools for the first time. It is expected that the room will be then re-opened by its former teacher; this assurance was given when the school was closed.
Whenever an overcrowded school demands an added room and another teacher, I shall urge the matter upon your Board. When- ever the pecuniary interests of the Town can be subserved, and the best interests of the schools will not suffer, I shall not hesitate to advise the consolidation of small schools.
After the current year, the Grammar school pupil of average ability and regular attendance, can reach the High school easily in four years. A considerable number of scholars now in the first classes of the Grammar schools, entered the lowest, or fourth class when the standard of admission was very low, and from six to eight years were taken to complete the course. It should not be expect- ed that all will pass through the grammar grades in the same time.
SCHOOLS.
During the past year much good work has been done in all the grades ; but the same measure of success has not been obtained in all. "The teacher or the pupil who seeks little, finds it and is satisfied ; but he who seeks more does not find all he seeks, and he is therefore dissatisfied ; for it is the inseparable characteristic of all good work that it does not satisfy the worker."
I am not aware that in any particular the schools hold a lower rank than last year. In several important respects decided im- provement has been made. The attendance is better ; the general tone and spirit of the schools has been raised ; more natural and attractive methods of management and instruction have come into general use ; the relations between teachers and scholars, as a rule, have become closer and more sympathetic.
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