USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1890-1895 > Part 15
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8 9 10
Nancy J. Goodwin,
75
4 Heart Disease,
Andover, N. H.
11
53 11 9 Heart Failure,
Northbridge.
14
Martin F. Hughes,
4 15 Paralysis,
Milford.
18
E. Luella Field, Ann Leonard,
85
26 Old Age,
Ireland. Milford.
Martha A. Prentiss,
69 6128 Waxy Liver,
Hopkinton.
29
Charles H. Vezey,
34|11|16 Typho-Malarial Fever, 5 87
Milford.
29
Salmon Fessenden,
5 Apoplexy,
Halifax, Vt.
30
Julia A. Condon,
22 7
15 Dropsy,
Milford.
31
Willian Leah Hale,
9:10 B Brights Disease,
Milford.
31
Carrie M. Sibley,
55
La Grippe,
Upton.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
DOMNICK J. LANG,
Town Clerk.
2
Joel Irving Harris,
27 8
31|10 25 Valvular Disease of Heart, 59 7 Endo. Carditis,
Ireland.
1 123 Convulsions,
Milford.
Joseplı Hill Wood, Mary F. Griffin, Francis Mclaughlin,
59
Apoplex y,
Ireland.
25 5|25| Phthisis, 4
Milford.
Charles H. Snowling, 29
29
2|14 Peritonitis,
Holliston.
18 27 28
Mary A. D. Bradford,
80 6 Pneumonia,
Mendon.
Laura Harrington,
2 15|Chron.Interstit'] Nephritis, Milford.
24
Harold F. Hubbard,
45| 2 Brights Disease,
Ireland.
Ireland.
13
30
7 22 Phthisis,
Milford.
6
Eben Baker,
Milford. Milford.
1
2
Hugh Smith,
38
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MILFORD,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1891-92.
MILFORD, MASS .: G. M. BILLINGS, PRINTER, GAZETTE OFFICE. 1892.
School Committee 1891-2.
GEORGE L. COOKE
. Term expires 1892
1892
JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN
1893
ROBERT H. COCHRAN
1893
GEORGE G. PARKER
.
·
66 1894
GILBERT M. BILLINGS
.
1894
ORGANIZATION.
GEO. G. PARKER, Chairman,
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
SUB COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
G. L. COOKE, J. T. McLOUGHLIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Repairs.
R. H. COCHRAN, J. J. DUGGAN, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Teachers and Examinations.
G. G. PARKER, J. T. McLOUGHLIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Books and Supplies.
J. J. DUGGAN, G. L. COOKE, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Fuel.
R. H. COCHRAN, G. M. BILLINGS.
SUPERINTENDENT.
S. F. BLODGETT.
Office at Memorial Hall. Office hours, 8 to 9 A. M., daily, when schools are in session.
Regular meetings of the Committee are held on the second Monday of each month, at 8 P. M.
JOHN J. DUGGAN
·
.
.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The statutes of the state in regard to providing for the edu- cation of all children are positive and explicit. They require that money shall be raised for that purpose and the refusal or neglect of a Town to raise money as required subjects it to the forfeiture of twice the highest sum ever before voted for the support of schools therein. They also require that every Town shall choose annually a School Committee, under a forfeiture of not less than five hundred dollars ($500). They further require that in every Town there shall be kept, at the expense of the Town, a sufficient number of schools for the instruction of all the children who may legally attend; and every Town containing five hundred families or householders shall maintain a High School, for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the Town, ten months, at least, exclusive of vacations.
The Town must provide and maintain a sufficient number of schoolhouses, and the School Committee, unless the Town other- wise directs, shall keep such houses in good order, and shall pro- cure a suitable place for the schools, and provide fuel and all other things necessary for the comfort of the scholars therein, at the expense of the Town.
They must furnish text-books and supplies for all the pupils, without cost to the parents. Thus the law imposes the obligation upon the Town to raise money and to choose a Committee, with complete powers to apply and use it for the purposes specified. The duties are not optional, but mandatory, and the penalty is plainly set forth. No other board of Town officers can overrule or direct the action of the School Committee in these respects.
The schools must be maintained, and the cost must be paid by the Town. The appropriation for the present year was $23,000, and the report of the Secretary, hereto appended, will show how it has been used. Of course it may be asked if the school money has been expended with discretion and economy. In answer to this it can be said that the wages of the teachers are less here than in a large proportion of other towns of equal population
4
Most of the teachers are re idents of the Town, and can afford their services at a less rate than persons who would have to ob- tain rooms and board at the present rates.
A comparison with other towns in the county shows that Milford is behind many of its neighbors in its liberality for schools. Southboro, Leominster, Barre, Brookfield, Upton, Hope- dale, and Shrewsbury appropriate more for each child between five and fifteen years than we do, and in the state there are 123 towns that exceed us in this respect; and there are 122 towns that appropriate a larger percentage of their valuation for schools, and 17 in the county of Worcester.
It should be remembered that the appropriation now provides for all school books and supplies, even to slate pencils, pens, ink and penholders. This was formerly a tax on those whose children attended the schools, and who were obliged by law to furnish them, and at an expense which exceeded the present cost.
The cost of repairs and improvements on our schoolhouses is, of course, constantly increased. The buildings suffer from age and ordinary use and wear. The last schoolhouse erected by the Town was completed over twenty years ago. This was the Claf- lin building, erected in 1870. During the twelve or thirteen years prior to this, and including the Claflin building, the Town built twelve of the schoolhouses now in use, averaging nearly one each year at a total cost of $58,823, averaging more than $4500 an- nually for the period. The Town has had a long respite of twen- ty years from this extraordinary burden.
But under these considerations the larger call for annual re- pairs becomes a necessity, and it must be said that the time is at hand when additional school accommodations will be required. The old Town House has been condemned and abandoned as a schoolhouse, and a building similar to the Chapin street school- house is needed to take its place. The Committee recommend the erection of such a building on land of the Town, in rear of Me- morial Hall. The cost would probably not exceed $3000.
It is also time for the Town of Milford to take into consid- eration the erection of a High School building to comport with its progress and growing importance as the second town in the county. The original High School house was built in 1850 at a cost of less than $6000, and for more than forty years has pre- sented the same pillared front and wooden steps to the street. It should be the pride and ambition of the people of Milford to have
5
a building that would compare favorably with the neighboring towns.
The Committee may not be able to give the exact amount that may be required for school purposes the coming year, and whether the estimate and appropriation be sufficient or not, the obligations of the Committee and the Town remain the same. We recommend the following appropriations :-
Salaries of Superintendent and Teachers, . $18,136
Janitors,
. 1,119
Fuel,
.
· 1,300
Repairs, .
· 1,600
Books and Supplies,
1,800
Incidentals,
1,000
The report of the Superintendent accompanies this report, and gives the usual details of the work of all the schools for the year, and should have the attention of all the people of the Town.
GEO. G. PARKER,
JNO. J. DUGGAN,
ROBT. H. COCHRAN,
G. M. BILLINGS,
GEO. L. COOKE,
JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN,
School Committee.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
Following is a statement of the receipts and expenditures for the year ending Feb. 1, 1892 :-
APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS.
Amount voted by the Town
$23,000 00
One-half dog tax
.
391 71
Sales at office
.
.
17 80
-$23,409 51
EXPENDITURES.
For teachers' salaries
$14,193 14
Janitors' salaries
977 75
Supervision
1,454 50
Fuel
1,270 69
Repairs
2,313 77
Supplies
.
2,064 26
Incidentals
.
.
.
1,309 49
Total
$23,583 60
Overdrawn
$174 09
.
·
.
--
There still remains to be paid the sum of two thousand forty-one dollars and thirty-three cents ($2041.33), the amount of salaries for January, 1892, and other bills to the amount of $621- .72, making a total of $2663.05 still to be provided for. Of this amount $587.78 was for unpaid bills of 1891, mentioned in the last report.
The remainder of the excess is due to the increase in the pay roll, the repair and supply accounts, and is explained more fully in the Superintendent's report under the head of Expenses.
7
SUMMARY.
Total moneys received
.
$23,409 51
Total orders drawn
23,583 60
·Overdrawn
$174 09
Amount still unpaid
. $2,663 05
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
At the regular meeting of the Committee held Monday even- ing, February 8, the Secretary's report was accepted, and it was voted to adopt the Superintendent's report as a part of the re- port of the School Committee.
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD :-
Gentlemen : I present for your consideration my fifth report, it being the fifteenth annual Superintendent's report, covering the work of the schools from Jan. 1, 1891, to Jan. 1, 1892.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
TEACHERS.
High school
4
Grammar schools
.
11
Primary schools
16
Schools carrying all grades below the High school ·
5
Special teachers, (Drawing 1, Music 1,)
2
Total number now employed
38
PUPILS.
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age in May, 1891 ·
1,283
Increase over last year
17
Number of pupils in High school .
140
Number of pupils in Grammar schools
571
Number of pupils in Primary schools
670
Number in schools carrying 9 grades
101
Total enrolment
1,482
Increase over last year
13
Number under 5 .
1
Number between 5 and 15 . .
1,295
Number over 15
186
Average number belonging for the year
1,219 .
Per cent of attendance to number belonging
92.6
Half days' absence for the year in all the schools .
. 30,769
Cases of tardiness ·
2,210
Cases of dismissal
.
.
2,251
Cases of truancy reported by teachers .
·
19
·
·
.
.
.
.
·
.
Average daily attendance .
·
1,129
·
.
.
9
Cases of corporal punishment reported 87 Average cost per pupil, based on average enrolment . $21.67
CERTIFICATES.
Certificates granted to children between 13 and 14
years of age
3
To children over 14
. 32
Whole number granted .
35
REMARKS ON STATISTICS.
The percentage of attendance is one tenth below that re- ported last year, 92.7 in 1891 and 92.6 in 1892. There were sev- eral cases of scarlet fever in the town during the months of Jan- uary and February. Two schools, the Hoboken and that at Sil- ver Hill, were closed for a period of two weeks each on account of this disease among the pupils. No other schools were closed, but fear of the disease led many parents to keep their children from school while it was present in the town.
Only 19 cases of truancy were reported to me by the teachers ; and Officer Burns has reported a total of 28 truants returned to school by him during the year. Mr. Burns hands to me, at the close of each school month, a full report of his work, and these reports show that he has investigated 42 cases reported to him by the teachers, and of these, 28 were, in his opinion, truants, and were returned to school.
His reports also show that he has visited the factories each month when the schools were in session, and that the laws regard- ing the employment of children are well observed by the em- ployers.
From the reports of the Truant Officer and reports received from the teachers, I am led to believe that many of those pupils who were absent with the consent of their parents were practi- cally truants, the consent being given after the absence to shield the truant from the Officer.
There is another class, somewhat larger than the truant class, who, by reason of their irregular attendance, derive very little benefit from the schools, and are a source of great annoyance to the teachers. These pupils are absent from one to three days of each week, and are either kept away or are allowed to stay away from school for very trivial, or at least very insufficient reasons. Losing, as they do, from one fifth to one half of their schooling, they are unable to keep up with their classes, lose interest in
10
their studies, and finally drift into the class of habitual truants.
Realizing the necessity of reaching this class of chronic ab- sentees, the Legislature in June, 1890, passed the following law :-
[CHAPTER 47.]
Of the attendance of Children in the Schools.
SECTION 1. Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides, and such attendance shall continue for at least thirty weeks of the school year if the schools are kept open that length of time, with an allowance of two weeks' time for absences not excused by the superintendent of schools or the school committee, and for every neglect of such duty the person offending shall, upon the complaint of the school committee or any truant officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town a sum not exceeding twenty dollars; but if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such city or town, or if such child has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable, such penalties shall not be incurred.
SEC. 2. For the purpose of the preceding section, school committees shall approve a private school only when the teach- ing in all the studies required by law is in the English language, and when they are satisfied that such teaching equals in thorough- ness and efficiency the teaching in the public schools in the same locality, and that equal progress is made by the pupils therein, in the studies required by law, with that made during the same time in the public schools; but they shall not refuse to approve a private school on account of the religious teaching therein. - [Ap- proved June 4, 1890.
This law makes it possible for us to compel a more regular attendance on the part of the pupils, and its enforcement will be a benefit to the schools.
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
There have been, during the year, no important changes in the management of the schools or in methods of instruction. It is our aim to adopt new methods when they have been thorough- ly tried and proved to be productive of good results. The corps of teachers is nearly the same as last year, there having been only three changes-two resignations and one death-since the last report.
11
Good work is being done in all branches pursued, and while we can not be satisfied with our work so long as there is room for improvement, we know that each year's experience is full of use- ful lessons for every teacher who desires to become a successful educator of children. I am sure that we may rely upon the hearty co-operation of our teachers iu carrying out any sugges- tions made by the Superintendent and approved by the Com- mittee.
The studies pursued by pupils during the four years' course in the Primary schools are Reading, Arithmetic, Language, Wri- ting, Spelling, oral lessons in Physiology and Hygiene, Drawing, Music, and the geography of Milford and Massachusetts, taught orally.
The studies of the five years' course in the Grammar schools are the same with the addition of United States History in the eighth and ninth grades, and Bookkeeping in the ninth. In these schools Geography becomes a regular branch of study, and pupils are furnished with text-books.
From careful observations made during my visits to the schools, I have prepared the following estimate of the time de- voted to the several branches pursued. This estimate is not a correct one for each school, but is approximately correct for the . schools, considered as a whole.
In the Primary schools Reading occupies about 25 per cent of the time devoted to recitation and study ; Arithmetic, 20 per cent ; Language, 15 per cent ; Writing and Spelling, 18 per cent; Music, 6 per cent; Drawing, 6 per cent; Physiology, 5 per cent. The remaining 5 per cent is devoted to general exercises and oral lessons in Geography. In the first and second years a greater portion of time is devoted to Reading and Writing than in the third and fourth years, where more attention is given to Arith- metic, Geography and Language.
In the Grammar schools, Arithmetic occupies about 25 per cent of the time; Geography and History, 20 per cent ; Writing, 10 per cent ; Spelling, 8 per cent; Language, 15 per cent ; Music, 6 per cent ; Drawing, 6 per cent; Physiology, 5 per cent. The remaining 5 per cent is devoted to physical exercise and rhetori- cals. In the ninth grade Bookkeeping occupies about 6 per cent of the time, but on the days when Bookkeeping is taken, some other study is omitted, so I have not included it in the estimate.
In this connection I would call your attention to the Town
12
of Winchester, Mass., where the School Board have introduced the study of Algebra, Geometry and Latin as part of the Gram- mar school course. It is argued that since only 20 or 25 per cent of our pupils take the High school course, these important branches should be placed within their reach at as early an age as possible.
This action of the Winchester Committee has attracted the attention of educators throughout the country, and will be watched with much interest.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
In October, the Committee received orders from the State Board of Inspection of Public Buildings, to provide additional and better means of ventilation in the Town House school build- ing. A communication was also received from the inspector, stating that he considered the out-buildings unsuitable for the use of children.
At a special meeting of the Committee, held Oct. 22, for the purpose of considering these orders, it was deemed inadvisable to expend money in repairing this building, and it was voted to transfer the two schools then occupying it to the Claflin building, where there were two unoccupied rooms. These rooms were fitted for occupancy, and the schools transferred to them on Mon- day, Oct. 26. While these rooms afford sufficient accommodation for the pupils of these two schools, the Claflin building is unfor- tunately situated so far south of the Town House district as to make a long distance to be traveled by children who live in the northern part of it, in the vicinity of and beyond Walnut street. If these upper rooms of the Claflin are to be occupied, it will be necessary to expend about $200 for a new fire-escape, as the one now in use will not be accepted by the State Board of Inspec- tion. There is no doubt that the Town must soon erect a new building in the Town House district.
For several years the Chapin street building has not afforded sufficient accommodation for the children of the district, the aver- age attendance in the south room being over 70, and at times the enrolment having reached 90.
During the summer vacation, a partition was placed through the south room of this building, dividing it into two rooms of fair size, each capable of seating 56 pupils. The only objection to this division is that the rooms, being small, are more likely to be
13
over-heated, and good ventilation is not so easily secured.
It is likely that a similar division of the north room will be necessary, as there are, at present, over 50 pupils in the room with the prospect that the number will be much increased when schools open in September.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Since the last report there have been two changes in the corps of teachers at the High school.
Miss M. A. Parkhurst declined a re-election in June, and her place as assistant was filled by the election of Miss A. G. Sim- mons of South Boston, a graduate of Smith College.
Miss Parkhurst had been connected with the school since 1879, and was a valuable and successful teacher. At the close of the fall term in December, Mr. W. C. Whiting received an offer of the principalship of the Chicopee High school, and as the salary was $300 in excess of the amount he was to receive here, the Com- mittee voted to release him from his agreement to teach in Mil- ford. Mr. Whiting was an excellent instructor, and he carries with him the best wishes of the Committee and people of Mil ford.
From a large number of applicants for the position of princi- pal, the Committee elected Mr. George B. Chandler of Franklin, Mass., a graduate of Bowdoin College and a teacher of several years' successful experience. Mr. Chandler has had charge of the school for three weeks, and there is every prospect that it will prosper under his management.
The chemical apparatus in the laboratory of the school was replenished and placed in good working condition at an expense of $100.
The Committee, having thought best to revise the course of study now pursued in this school, have requested the Superin- tendent and Principal to report a new course for their considera- tion and approval before the beginning of the fall term in Sep- tember.
PROMOTIONS.
The system of promotion which I described at length in my last report has now been tried in two annual promotions, and we are in position to judge of its merits. The results of its use have been even more satisfactory than I had anticipated. Promotions
14
were made last June with less friction than ever before, and with more justice than they could possibly have been made under the system of percentages based on examinations.
Under the system now in operation, pupils are promoted on the record of the year's work as shown in the teachers' monthly estimate of each pupil's progress and ability. No fewer exami- nations are given, but the children know that the examination is only a part of their regular school work, and that advancement depends on careful attention to duty and the faithful performance of the work assigned them from day to day.
Individual reports have been sent to the parents once in three months, but it is my intention to have them sent monthly, that the parents may be better informed regarding the progress of their children.
A pamphlet prepared by Supt. E. E. White of Cincinnati, and published by the United States Bureau of Education, treats of this subject at length, giving a large list of cities and towns in which the system of promotion on percentages has been super- seded by some system based largely or entirely on the judgment of the teacher. I take the liberty to quote the closing sentences of Dr. White's article :--
"It is thus seen that the promotion of pupils on the estimate or judgment of teachers does not involve the exclusion of the searching examinations, oral or written, from school work. On the contrary, it means a closer and more helpful union of exami- nation and instruction, the former being made the open eye, the guide and spur of the latter.
"It means the freeing of instruction from the domination of the examination, the latter becoming the attending servant and not the directing master. It means the freeing of the examination from the rule of the time table, and making it alert, spontaneous, helpful in daily work.
"It means that teaching is to be guided and inspired by high ideals, and not to be subject to the domination of low, artificial, and unworthy motives; that it is to ask 'What is best?' and not 'What will count?' that it is to be a noble art and not the sorry trade of preparing wares for the examination market. It means that the teacher shall be a soul-trainer and not a crammer, that he shall know the progress of his.pupils, and that his knowledge shall be respected and honored; that he shall be worthy of such freedom and confidence, or 'step down and out.'
15
"It means that the Principal is to be the head teacher and not the pencil sharpener and boss whipper; that he is to be the trainer and guide of teachers and not a crank-turner and method grinder. It means that the Superintendent is to be the instructor, inspirer, and leader of the teaching corps, and not a mechanical engineer of the 'school machine.' It means that schools are to be for the pupils, and not the pupils for the 'system'; that health and vigor are to stand before 'per cents'; mental power and culture before 'cram,' and character before 'rank.' It means that school life is to be more and more an inspiration and delight to all true souls that love knowledge and mastery."
MUSIC.
Early in the year the Committee began to consider the ad- visability of making Music a part of the course of study. A sub- committee was appointed to investigate the merits of the several systems, and the expense which would be incurred by the intro- duction of Music. At the regular meeting in October this Com. mittee reported in favor of the Normal Music System, published by Silver, Burdett & Co., and it was adopted by a unanimous vote of the Committee.
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