USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1890-1895 > Part 7
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Stephen J. Lyons, Bridget Murray, Clarence A. Field, Joshua Gardner, Mary E. Cahill,
7 17 Marasmus,
Providence, R. I.
Milford. Phillipsburg, Me. Milford.
25 NOV. 3 3
Leander Holbrook, Mordecai L. Finch, Bridget Tormey, George Kimm, Edwin H. Hero, James W. Tobey,
31
8,Cholera Infantum, Diarrhea, Consumption, Interstitial Nepliritis.
Milford.
7
Milford. Milford.
Milford.
Milford. Hopedale.
20 19 11 14 Typhoid Fever,
Shrewsbury.
28
Boston. Brooklyn, N. Y.
27
John Martin,
7|11.16 Chron. Inflam. Diges. Org., 73 Old Age.
Walesbury, Vt.
JULY.
28 10 28|Peritonitis,
Norway. Milford.
1 2 10 Cholera Infantum,
Hebron, N. Y.
21
YMID
8 25 Endarteritis Chron. Dofor., Otisfield, Me.
12
AUG. 9
Framingham.
Milford.
25
48
DEATHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF MILFORD, 1890 .- CONCLUDED.
DATE OF DEATH.
NAME OF DECEASED.
AGE.
DISEASE OR CAUSE OF DEATH.
PLACE OF BIRTH.
YMD
11
George W. Morrison, Bridget Kain,
95 18
8 Consumption, Old Age,
Milford. Ireland.
15
Mary Etta Tully,
9 21 Typhoid Fever,
Milford.
15
Statira S. Drake,
86
2|26 Heart Disease, Nephritis, Phthisis,
Ireland.
16
Catherine Curran,
32
Ireland.
19
Alice M. Potter,
25
2 15 Pneumonia,
Hopkinton.
19
Margaret Bruce,
1
6| 2|Pneumonia,
Scotland.
25
Leon L. Steele,
18
8 11 Typhoid Fever.
Milford.
28
Julia E. Callahan,
16|11|26 Plithisis.
Milford.
29
Ella M. Leland,
4
7 20 Scarlet Fever,
Milford.
DEC. 1
Daniel Connors. Peverata Luisa Angela,
17
Pneumonia,
Milford.
1
Sarah Meagher,
20
Plithisis Pulmonis,
Milford.
10 4
Arthur O'Keefe,
65
Briglit's Disease,
Ireland.
4
Luthera A. Johnson,
71
5 14 Softening of Brain.
31 19 Phthisis,
Milford.
7 11
Marion G. Dennies,
1 73
91
6 Dilatation of Heart,
Cranston, R. I.
12
Patrick Lindsky,
SO
Paralysis,
Ireland.
12 19 15
Isabella Toohey,
80
Old Age,
Ireland.
73
Heart Disease,
Ireland.
15
Amasa Parkhurst,
75 8
2 Pneumonia Senile,
Milford.
18
Henry A. R. Ball,
28
5
7 Tuberculosis,
Milford.
19
Ernest L. Pond,
25
2 18 Bright's Disease,
Milford.
29
James Caruso,
67
Chronic Bronchitis,
Milford.
29
Daniel P. Underwood, 47
3 19 Nephritis,
Troy, N. H.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN,
Town Clerk.
1
.Jolin Thomas Kirby, William Damerell,
61
9 17 Railroad Accident,
England.
Marshfield, Vt.
Francis W Coughlin, George Rogers,
1
7 Marasmus,
Milford.
8 28 Convulsions.
Milford.
11
Lovina Warfield,
Stanley, 2 hours,
Paralysis of Heart,
Milford.
70
Paralysis,
Ireland.
1
61 11 Heart Failure,
Ireland.
Prospect, Me.
15
John Knights,
68
co 3
12
Johannah Murphy,
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS,
OF THE
TOWN OF MILFORD,
FOR THE -
SCHOOL YEAR 1890-91.
MILFORD, MASS .: G. M. BILLINGS, PRINTER, GAZETTE OFFICE. 1891.
School Committee 1890-91.
J. T. McLOUGHLIN . Term expires 1893 66
ROBERT H. COCHRAN
.
1893
GEORGE L. COOKE
1892
JOHN J. DUGGAN
6 : 1892
GEORGE G. PARKER
66
1891
GEORGE E. STACY
66
1891
ORGANIZATION.
GEO. G. PARKER, Chairman,
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. S. F. BLODGETT.
SUB-COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
GEORGE L. COOKE, R. H. COCHRAN, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Repairs.
GEO. E. STACY, J. J. DUGGAN, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Teachers and Framinations.
J. T. McLOUGHLIN, GEO. E. STACY, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Text-Books and Supplies.
J. J. DUGGAN, GEO. G. PARKER, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Fuel.
R. H. COCHRAN, GEO. L. COOKE.
Regular meetings of the Committee: The second Monday of each month, at 8 P. M.
.
.
.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The following provisions in regard to schoolhouses have been made by a recent act of the Legislature :-
Every public building and every schoolhouse shall be ventilated in such a proper manner that the air shall not become so exhausted as to be injurious to the health of the persons present therein. The provisions of this section and the preceding section shall be enforced by the inspection department of the district police force.
Any school committee, public officer, corporation or person neglecting for four weeks after the receipt of an order from an inspector, as provided in the preceding section, to provide the sanitary provisions or means of ven- tilation required thereby shall be punished by fine not exceeding one hun- dred dollars.
On or about January 30, 1890, each member of the Committee received the following order, under this law :-
GENTLEMEN :-
In compliance with the provisions of the Statutes of the Common- wealth relating to the inspection of factories and public buildings, on the twenty-eighth day of January, 1890, I inspected the building known as the Park School Building, Milford, and you are hereby notified that it appears to me, after a careful inspection, that further and different sanitary pro- visions and means of ventilation than those now provided are required in said building in order to conform to the provisions of Chapter 149 of the Acts of the Legislature of the year 188S.
And you are hereby directed to provide better and additional means of ventilation in said building by means of brick or metallic fin-s or ducts aided by heat or mechanical means.
All of which is to be done subject to the approval of this department.
JOSEPH A. MOORE,
Inspector of Factories and Public Buildings.
Approved,
RUFUS R. WADE, Chief Inspector.
At the same time a similar order was received in reference to the South Grammar schoolhouse. From these orders there appeared to be no appeal, and no room for evasion, even if it had been desired. At the annual meeting in March an appropriation
4
was asked to carry into effect these orders, and $3500 was granted. After much investigation and discussion, the Board unanimously decided to introduce what is known as the "Smead" system of heating and ventilation at the Park schoolhouse and the "Barstow" system at the South Grammar schoolhouse.
That these improvements, although expensive, will conduce to the good health and comfort of teachers and pupils cannot be doubted ; but whether the same results could be obtained with greater economy is an open question. In both cases the approval of the Inspectors' Department has been obtained. In the report of Superintendent Blodgett the itemized cost of these improve- ments will be found. And it is due to him to say that he gave the Committee much assistance in this matter as in all others, de- voting a large portion of the summer vacation to this extra work, at a season when a Superintendent is expected to be relieved of constant duty.
It is to be expected that similar changes will be called for in other school buildings, as it appears to be the policy of the In- spectors' Department to carry the law into universal effect. But in June last the Legislature made provision for an appeal from the Inspector's orders to the Superior Court, by which the neces- sity and extent of the work shall be settled. The Superintendent has furnished an important and interesting statement in detail of all the year's work as to school buildings, schools, teachers, and pupils, with the expenses of the year, and future needs, which is hereto appended, and it should receive the attention of all the people of the town.
Frequent changes of teachers, even when good teachers suc- ceed good teachers, are to be deplored.
Mr. HI. W. Lull was unanimously re-elected as principal of the High school, as he had been for the past ten years. During the decade of his service there had been no diminution in the zeal and vigor with which he entered upon his work. He was honored and respected by eyery pupil and parent, from first to last. It was, therefore, with deep regret that his resignation was received, in order to accept an invitation to a more attractive field of labor, and the prompt offer of increased salary here failed to change his purpose. The Committee were fortunate in securing Mr. W. C. Whiting to succeed Mr. Lull, and although he began with but
5
one of the three former assistants, the school has kept well up to the high standard it had already attained.
After taking into account the pay of teachers, cost of fuel, janitors, books and supplies, repairs and incidentals, the Commit- tee are compelled to ask the Town to appropriate $23,000 for all school purposes the coming year, which is $500 more than the appropriation last year, exclusive of the appropriation for special changes above alluded to.
GEO. G. PARKER, ROBT. H. COCHRAN, GEO. E. STACY, JNO. J. DUGGAN,
GEO. L. COOKE, JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN,
Committee.
-
Secretary's Report.
Following is a statement of the receipts and expenditures for the year ending Feb. 1, 1891 :-
APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS.
Amount voted by the Town
$22,500 00
One half of the dog-tax
386 90
Mass. School Fund ·
77 33
Sales at the office
16 32
- $22,980 55
EXPENSES.
For teachers' salaries
.
$15,676 16
Janitors' salaries
·
981 00
Supervision .
·
1,545 41
Fuel .
938 66
Repairs
885 96
Incidentals
1,014 71
Supplies
1,556 43
$22,598 33
Balance
$382 22
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FOR REPAIRS.
In the last report of the Committee, it was stated that the State Board of Inspection of Public Buildings had ordered re- pairs to be made in the Park and South Grammar buildings, for the purpose of providing better means of heating and ventilating these houses. At the meeting of April 29, the Town appropriated $3500 for this purpose.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
$3,500 00
.
.
7
EXPENSES.
Park School :-
Paid Smead Company for apparatus $1,080 00 John Taft, labor 439 39
L. A. Cook, brick, lime, cement
440 96
Z. E. Ball, labor
14 30
J. P. Daniels, sand .
20 50
D. B. Rockwood, iron and labor
18 18
Z. C. Field, lumber .
9 46
Otis Whitney, labor
209 98
T. Quirk, stone
6 00
A. S. Crofoot, labor and material 124 53
- $2,363 30
South Grammar School :-
Paid Barstow Stove Co. on acc't $1,200 00
P. Quinn, labor on ledge
160 00
P. Dillon, labor 41 77
P. Quinn, building drain
110 45
J. N. Darling, surveying ·
5 80
$1,518 02
$3,881 32
Exceeded appropriation
$381 32
Amount still due Barstow Stove Co.
·
400 00 ·
Total in excess of appropriation .
. $781 32
SUMMARY.
REGULAR APPROPRIATION.
Total moneys received $22,980 55
Total amount orders drawn
22,598 33
Balance
$382 22
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.
Amount appropriated $3,500 00
Amount orders drawn
·
.
·
3,881 32
Amount overdrawn
$381 32
.
.
Balance in treasury
.
.
$ 90
8
On Feb. 1, there were bills approved and not paid to the amount of $187.78, and the sum of $400 due the Barstow Stove Co., making a total of $587.78 of unpaid bills.
S. F. BLODGETT,
Secretary.
Milford, Feb. 9, 1890.
At the regular meeting of the Committee held this evening,. the Secretary's report was accepted, and it was voted to adopt the Superintendent's report as a part of the report of the School. Committee.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD :-
Gentlemen: I herewith present for your approval my fourth report, it being the fourteenth annual Superintendent's report, covering the work of the schools from January 1, 1890, to Jan- uary 1, 1891, and the finances from February 1, 1890, to Febru- ary 1, 1891.
The condition of the schools during the year has been uni- formly satisfactory. The attendance, with the exception of the month of January, 1890, has been very good. The discipline has been excellent and maintained without friction. The pupils have been diligent, and the teachers have been prompt and faith- ful in the performance of their duties. Our expenditures have been unusually large, owing to the large sum expended for heating and ventilating the Park and South Grammar buildings. This is a work which was forced upon you by the State, and there seemed to be no alternative but to comply with the demands of the State authorities. I have devoted the greater portion of my report to the subject of Promotion and Ventilation, thinking that these subjects would be of special interest to you and to the citizens of the Town.
I append the usual statistics.
STATISTICS.
Population of Milford, state census of 1885, with Hopedale . 9,343
Population of Milford, census of 1890 . 8,780
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age in May, 1890 1,266
Decrease from last year
123
SCHOOLS AND BUILDINGS.
High school
.
Grammar schools
.
.
.
.
11
10
Primary schools .
16
Ungraded, or all grades
5
Buildings in use . .
17
Buildings not in use
1
Rooms in use
37
Rooms not in use
4
Number of sittings in all the rooms
2,121
TEACHERS.
High school (male 1, female 3)
4
Grammar schools
11
Primary schools .
16
Ungraded schools
5
Assistants
1
Drawing teacher
1
Total number now employed . Number of teachers graduates of Milford High school
37
30
Normal school or college
10
66 who have attended Normal school or college, (not graduates,)
7
Whole number of different teachers, assistants, and substi- tutes employed during the year 45
5
PUPILS.
Number registered between 5 and 15
1,296
Decrease from last year
53
Number under 5
1
Number over 15
172
Total number registered
1,469
Decrease from last year
43
Average number belonging for the year
1,206
Average daily attendance
1,118
Per cent of attendance to number belonging
92.7
Half-days' absence
29,620
Cases of tardiness
2,260
Cases of dismissal
1,850
Cases of truancy
.
32
Cases of corporal punishment
.
102
·
.
-
Resignations during the year .
.
·
·
.
11
Number of pupils between
5 and 6 years of age
101
66
66
6 and 7
66
130
66
7 and 8
66
.
132
66
66
8 and 9 66
.
122
66
66
9 and 10 66
133
66
66
10 and 11
66
150
66
66
11 and 12
66
.
149
66
66
12 and 13
66
.
156
66
66
13 and 14
66
143
66
14 and 15
66
80
These latter figures may be instructive in view of the proposed act of the Legislature to raise the age of compulsory attendance at school from 14 to 15 years. By comparing the last item with those preceding, it will be seen that nearly half the pu- pils leave school as soon as the age limit is reached, and by a ref- erence to the table of certificates granted, given below, it will be seen that only 31 certificates were granted to children between 14 and 15. From this we may infer that the majority of pupils who leave school at the age of 14 do not go to work, and that it would be better for them to continue their studies.
CERTIFICATES.
Number granted to children between 13 and 14 10
66
14 and 15
31
66 children over 15
25
-
Whole number granted
66
AVERAGE COST PER PUPIL.
Total cost of schools, not including special repairs . $22,598 33
Average cost per pupil based on cost and average number belonging .
$18 73
Average cost based on whole number registered ·
$15 37
.
·
REMARKS ON STATISTICS.
The percentage of attendance has fallen from 94.1 last year to 92.7 this year. This falling off was due to the prevalence of La Grippe during the month of January, 1890. The presence of scarlet fever in town during the past month will doubtless have a similar effect on the attendance for the present year. The increase
12
of absence is due to the same cause. The number of dismissals seems large, but it is owing to the fact that quite a number of children are dismissed daily between the hours of 11 and 12 A. M., to enable them to carry dinners to parents who work at a distance from their homes. A large number of these dismissals occurs in the Plains school, and in view of this fact it might be wise to change the hours in this school. £ The morning session now closes at 12 M., and the afternoon session begins at 1.30 P. M. If we should close the morning session at 11.30, and reopen at 1 o'clock, I think these dismissals could be dispensed with.
I am pleased to be able to report a decrease in the number of corporal punishments,-102 this year and 122 last year. In justice to Miss S. R. Broderick, teacher in Grade 6 at the Park school, it is necessary to state that of the twenty-two cases reported from her room, two only were administered by her, the twenty others being administered by substitutes. Miss Broderick was granted leave of absence on account of ill health during the winter and spring terms, and during her absence twenty cases of corporal punishment were reported from her room. Had she been able to be at her post, it is probable that all these cases would have been unnecessary.
This year we have had only one half as many cases of truancy as were reported last year; this speaks well for the promptness and efficiency with which Officer Burns performs his duty.
I append his report.
REPORT OF TRUANT OFFICER.
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE :-
During the year, I have received from the teachers 51 notices of the ab- sence of pupils. I have investigated these cases, and when the pupils were absent without the consent of the parents, they were returned to school. When I have found boys on the street without a good excuse, I have taken them to school.
I have visited the factories of the town every month when the schools were in session, and can say that the law regarding certificates is fully com- plied with.
M. P. BURNS.
PROMOTIONS.
In April of last year I made a report to the Committee, in which I stated my objections to the system of promotion then in use, and proposed a system by which I hoped to improve the
13
work of the schools. As the proposition I then made was adopted by the unanimous vote of the Committee, and is that under which the schools are now working, I give the report in full, although a portion of it covers essentially the same ground as that covered by the article on Promotions in my report for the year 1888 and '89
WRITTEN REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE, APRIL, 1890.
GENTLEMEN :- In the annual report for the school year of 1888-89, I stated some objections to the system of promotion used in our schools. I now wish to review these objections briefly, and to submit for your con- sideration a system which, I believe, will obviate many of the difficulties under which we are laboring.
Our system provides for six examinations during the year; three oral, given by the teacher, and three written, prepared by the Superintendent. On these examinations the pupil must obtain an average standing of 70 per cent, in order to secure promotion. Failing to secure this average, he has no resource but to repeat the year's work. I submit the following ob- jections :-
First .- These examinations are given in Arithmetic, Geography, History, Language, and Spelling, and these branches are held of equal im- portance in the average of percentages. Examinations are not given in Reading or Writing, because a pupil's work in these important branches cannot readily be marked by hundredths. The consequence is, that penman- ship and ability to read well have but little weight in determining a pupil's fitness for promotion.
Second .- The system affords no opportunity for a just consideration of the pupil's mental development, by which is meant his power of application, habits of attention, and ability to think.
Third .- It offers too great a reward for what may be called brightness in pupils, and does not make sufficient allowance for the faithful efforts made by those children who are naturally either slow or dull.
Fourth .- When much depends upon the result of the examination, it causes worry, excitement and overtaxing of nervous energy in preparing for, and during the examination.
Fifth .- The chief aim of the teacher's work should be to lead her pupils to acquire correct habits of study, thought, and attention, to awaken in them a desire to acquire knowledge, and to use her best efforts to fit them for practical life. She can hardly do this if she has constantly in her mind the dread of an examination, on the result of which her work is to be esti- mated.
The system which I have to propose in place of the percentage system, is as follows :-
PLAN OF PROMOTION.
At the close of each school month, the teachers shall hand to the Superintendent a list of the pupils under their charge, showing the standing of each pupil in the several studies pursued during the month. This stand-
14
ing shall be indicated by the words perfect, excellent, very good, good, fair, poor, and very poor, aud shall show the teacher's best judgment of the work performed by the pupil during the month.
At least once during each month the teachers in the grades above the second, shall give written tests in Arithmetic, Language, Geography and History, or such of these branches as are pursued in their grades. The re- sults of these tests shall be marked by the words given above. The Super- intendent, by referring to these tests, may see that the teachers do not err in their judgment of the pupils' work.
The Superintendent shall give, in the branches named, at least two written examinations during the year, one during each half, and oftener if he thinks advisable. The object of these examinations shall be to test the mental ability and development of the pupils, rather than the amount of knowledge acquired, and shall also serve as a means of indicating to the teachers desirable subjects for teaching and drill. The results of these ex- aminations shall be marked in the same manner as the teachers' monthly tests, and shall be preserved till the close of the year, for reference in mak- ing promotions.
Two weeks previous to the closing of the schools in June, the teachers of the several grades shall hand to the Superintendent a list of pupils recom- mended for promotion, and a list of those not recommended. From these lists the Superintendent shall make his promotions, and in all doubtful cases he shall take into consideration the pupil's work for the year, his age, health, habits, home influence, and mental ability. At the end of the third, sixth, and ninth school months, ( November, February, and June, ) the teachers shall prepare and send to the parents, reports of each pupil's work, showing his standing for each month in the studies pursued, his deport- ment, absence, punctuality, and application.
Respectfully submitted,
S. F. BLODGETT, Superintendent.
This report was accepted by the Committee and the system was adopted.
Following is the form of report card now used, showing a very good report for the month of September :-
15
TOWN OF MILFORD. REPORT OF
SCHOOL.
GRADE,
This report shows the pupil's fidelity and ability in daily work. The letters Pr. denote perfect work; E, excellent; G, very good; G, good; F, fair; P, poor; P, very poor. Any rank below G (good) is not satisfactory.
TEACHER.
NOTICE TO PARENT.
This report will be sent to the parent or guardian at the end of the third, sixth and ninth months, November, February and June. The parent is requested to sign and return at once to the teacher.
Nov
FEB.
JUNE
MONTHS.
Reading.
Writing.
Language.
Spelling.
Drawing.
Arithmetic.
Geography.
History.
Deportment.
Times Tardy.
Half Days
Absent.
Application.
September .
E
G
G
G
E
G
E
F
E
0
2
E
October.
November.
December.
January.
February.
April.
May.
June.
16
The last item on the report, marked " Application, " demands a word of explanation. It indicates the degree of faithfulness with which a pupil has performed the work of the month, or as I have explained to the children, when it is marked " Excellent " it shows that he has tried hard to do the work assigned to him. To the Superintendent in making his promotions it is of great im- portance, as it is the intention that no pupil who has an excellent record in this particular shall fail to secure promotion.
Some advantages which will accrue from the use of this system are, that the teachers will feel free to do better and broad- er work, particularly in Language, Geography, and History; the pupils will be made to feel that promotion depends on the fidelity with which they perform their work from day to day, rather than on their ability to answer a few questions in written examination.
The power of promotion rests with the Superintendent, who, although depending largely on the teachers' judgment as indi- cated by the monthly reports, will give careful attention to all the circumstances before making his decision in doubtful cases. Last June, as the system had been in use but one term, it was not pos- sible to rely entirely on the results obtained from its use. It was necessary to take into consideration the results obtained from the examinations of the previous terms under the old system, and promotions were made on the work of the entire year.
I selected a number of pupils from the list of those not recommended for promotion, and advanced them on trial; a few of these will be unable to advance next year, but the majority are doing good work.
Next June promotions will be based entirely on results ob- tained by this system, and I shall then be better able to judge of its merits, but I am well satisfied that it will be of great ad- vantage to both teachers and pupils.
CHANGES IN THE CORPS OF TEACHERS.
During the summer vacation Mr. H. W. Lull, who for ten years had given universal satisfaction as principal of our High school, was offered a more advantageous position as principal of the Quincy High school. The Committee offered to increase his salary to $1800 if he would remain here, but he decided that he ought to accept the position at Quincy.
17
During Mr. Lull's term of service here our High school en- joyed a period of uninterrupted success. He was a most efficient teacher, an able disciplinarian, and a thorough scholar. During his entire term of labor in Milford, he held the confidence and re- spect of the community. We wish him the best of success in his new field of labor.
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