Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1895-1898, Part 21

Author: Milford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 552


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1895-1898 > Part 21


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54 05


Milford Water Co


213 00


7


Geo. A. Sherborne $20 20


John Madden 5 00


M. Donohue 27 06


Chas. W. Harris


9 07


Milford Gas Co 9 90


Wm. Hynes. 30 00


J. L. Buxton


5 86


Coughlin's Express


4 50


Greenwood School Supply


IO 35


Mrs. Fitzmaurice


3 00


Albert N. Durfee


12 80


H. J. Dearing 22 14


Prentice & Sons


90


Raphael Marino


6 25


C. A. Hill


30 96


Carl Manmstein


2 00


E. E. Vaughan


19 92


Thos. Welsh


24 95


Geo. W. Benton


4 00


L. E. Belknap


2 33


Iowa Printing Co


31 13


W. E. Lackey


7 75


Oak Hall Clothing Co


II 75


I. W. Wheeler & Co


I 44


City of Malden [for guns]


91 50


Mrs. Alice F. Palmer 25 00


Milford Orchestra 14 00


J. F. McDonough


14 00


Music Hall Co


36 25


Avery & Woodbury


25 03


Cenedella Bros


3 75


Jos. C. Hughes


3 00


F. Foster Hartwell


9 30


T. B. Pratt.


106 OI


L. E. Knott


5 26


Franklin Educational Co 4 80


8


Mrs. John Hickey $1 50


Mrs. Celia Parkhurst 6 00


Miss A. A. Conroy 5 00


B. Brennan 4 40


A. H. H. Warren 38 89


Mrs. N. Burlingame


3 30


Hilton Bros. & Crofoot


57 20


H. Cheever 5 65


H. H. Lent.


23 50


B. Glennon 6 00


Clark Ellis & Sons


42 75


A. E. Tuttle


I 65


Damon & Avery


75


Wm. Johnston


6 51


C. H. Waters


18 00


C. W. Wilcox


4 50


J. F. Hickey


5 75


J. W. Eldredge


12 68


Henry Willard


50 62


Otis Whitney & Son


6 27


Howard Chemical Co


3 00


G. A. Wilcox


II 25


A. Stevens


I 80


G. H. Whittemore 7 00


Superintendent's horse hire


17 00


Secretary's salary 50 00


Express and freight.


18 50


Stamps and cards


10 65


Superintendent's incidental expenses.


23 55


E. E. Babb & Co


II 60


-


- $1,614 53


9


TABLE SHOWING AMOUNTS RECEIVED AND EXPENDED UNDER DIFFERENT HEADS, ALSO THE BALANCE OR DEFICIT OF EACH.


Appropri- ated.


Ex- pended.


Unex- pended.


Ex- ceeded.


Special Appropriation, for repairs


$2,000 00


$2,000 00


Carriage Hire,


350 00


402 00


$52 00


Fuel,


1,500 00


1,378 00


$122 00


Transportation,


150 00


168 50


18 50


Supervision,


1,600 00


1,600 00


Care,


1,300 00


1,373 00


73 00


Teachers,


18,500 00


18 543 55


43 55


Supplies,


1,600 00


2,056 14


456 14


*Unpaid Bills,


*700 00


700 00


+Incidentals,


1,400 00


-


Tuition,


30 00


1,614 53


172 15


Sales,


12 38


$29,142 38


$29,135 72


$822 00


$815 34


Balance,


6 66


6 66


$29,142 38


$29,142 38


$822 00


$822 00


1


*No account was kept under this head, but $511.24 of it is included in the amount paid teachers and janitors, $168.60 in the amount paid for supplies, and $20.16 in that paid for fuel.


+Nearly $200 of this amount went for additional repairs.


Some explanations concerning expenditures will be found in the Superintendent's report under the head of Repairs ?and Ex- penditures.


At a meeting of the Committee held Friday evening, Feb. . 4, the Secretary's report was accepted, and with the Superin- tendent's report, constitutes the report of the School Committee.


C. W. HALEY, Secretary.


1


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD. .


GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with the usual custom I hereby submit to you, and through you to the citizens of this town, my second annual report, it being the twenty-first in the series of annual reports of the Superintendent of Schools. .


STATISTICS.


Number of children in Town May 1, 1897, between 5 and 15 years of age, as reported by the census enumerator.


Number between 5 and 8


461


Number between 8 and 15


927


1388


SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.


Number enrolled under 5


27


between 5 and 8


469


8 " 14. 841


14 " 15


117


66 15 " 16 74


66


66 over 16 I2I


Total enrolment 1649


Total enrolment between 5 and 15


I427


Average membership in all the schools


1361.7


Average attendance 1307.7


Per cent. of attendance. 95.5


Number of days' absence in all the schools


11019.


Number of cases of tardiness in all the schools


2412


Number of cases of dismissal 2946


6I


Number of cases of truancy


30


Visits by the Superintendent.


518


Visits by Committee


59


Visits by others.


1502


Number of cases of corporal punishment.


11


ATTENDANCE.


There has been a marked improvement in the per cent. of daily attendance during the past year, it being 95.5 per cent. which is an increase of 1.4 per cent. over the previous year. This, while not satisfactory, is both pleasing and encouraging.


The matter of attendance has received considerable atten- tion during the year. The daily record has been kept upon the blackboard, and made in the presence of the pupils, whose daily attention is called to it .ยท Several schools have taken much pride in striving to secure perfect attendance for the week.


The teachers, I think without exception, have made special efforts to secure prompt and regular attendance, but I regret to call attention to an increased number of dismissals. The carry- ing of dinners causes a great many, while the various church societies, together with private music and elocution teachers, help to swell the number.


Much of the tardiness and a very large share of the dismis- sals could be avoided if the parents so desired. There seems to be a lack of appreciation of the importance of teaching children promptness and punctuality.


Upon these may depend the success or failure of school work, and of after life. I, therefore, again urge the parents to interest themselves in this matter, and to co-operate with the teachers in securing better attendance, less tardiness and fewer dismissals.


Truancy, if judged by the number of cases reported, seems to have increased, but I think such is not really the case. Both teachers and truant officer have been on the alert to investigate every case, and thus a greater number has been detected. Below is the truant officer's report :


To C. W. Haley, Superintendent of schools.


Dear Sir :-


At your request I present the following report :


Number of cases reported by teachers 38


Number found to be truants. 30


12


Number of visits to schools


II Truants returned to school from street 2


In investigating the different cases of truancy, I found that in many cases the parents were responsible for it by giving per- mission to their children to remain from school without a good reason, which is encouraging the child to be a truant.


I think that if the parents would co-operate with the teachers, this evil would be greatly decreased.


Respectfully submitted,


C. H. WATERS, Truant Officer.


Attention is hereby called to the summary of school laws on page 39.


PROMOTIONS.


The promotions last June were made partly on the teacher's estimate and partly on the results of examinations.


The intention being to promote only those who appeared to be well fitted to do the work of the next higher grade, and thus raise the standard of the various grades and the schools as a whole, but we failed to accomplish all that we desired in that respect.


Many of the pupils in their examinations fell below what is a fair average for promotion, but if the teacher's estimate of their daily work was above, in most cases they were allowed a trial. Others because of their age, or because they had been in the grade two years, or perhaps because of some condition peculiar to themselves, were allowed a trial in the next grade. Still another class of pupils who had been faithful but had done very poor work in some one or two subjects, was conditioned, and allowed to go on into the next grade, providing the condition was removed.


While a few of these pupils, promoted on condition or on trial, have done creditable work, a large majority of them have done unsatisfactory work and have been a source of constant lagging and dragging down of the class standard.


13


I believe, in the future, more rigid lines of promotion should be adhered to, by promoting only those pupils who are well fitted to do the work of the next higher grade. This may seem hard and even severe in some cases, but it would result in rais- ing the standard of our schools. I believe in rewarding earnest efforts and faithful application, but am opposed to putting a premium upon laziness, not only in school work but in any oc- cupation.


There are so many pupils doing poor and unsatisfactory work that I am inclined to believe there has been too much leniency in promoting, caused partly by a crowded condition of the lower grades. Pupils have been sent on to get them out of the way in order to make room for others.


This should not be done, as it is almost sure to work injury to the higher grades.


Who expects a child to run before it can walk? What car- penter would think of building a house without first laying the foundation ? Or how can a man become an expert machinist without first serving an apprenticeship ?


In like manner how can we expect a grammar grade pupil to do high school work? How can a primary pupil do the work of the grammar grades? Or how can a pupil do the work of . any grade without first understanding the principles which lead up to it, and without first laying a foundation ?


READING.


If there is any one subject in which the results during the past year please me, it is that of Reading in the Primary grades. I am not satisfied, however, as there is still room for improve- ment.


Not all the schools are securing equally good results in Reading, but many are doing good work, while several are doing excellent work. I want to commend the teachers for their efforts in carrying out my suggestions on this subject.


I have watched with much interest the marked improve- ment, and shall expect more in the future. I wish to emphasize


14


what I said in last year's report upon this subject. It is well nigh impossible to exaggerate the importance of reading. It is the foundation of education. "We learn to read that we may afterwards read to learn." Much care should be taken in select- ing reading material for our schools, for in this way we may exert a far-reaching and powerful influence upon the pupils.


While some of the books in our schools are very satisfactory, others should be replaced by those more interesting and attrac- tive, and additions made to the literature for the upper grades,


Baldwin's Third and Fourth year books and Pratt's Stories of Colonial Children have recently been added to our reading material, and it is hoped that before long we will be able to secure more for the higher grades.


TEXT BOOKS. THEIR USE AND ABUSE.


Never, anywhere, have I seen text books so used up as here. I have found a large number nearly worn out and too filthy for use. I have found them partly or wholly torn from their binding ; one or both covers gone ; the corners rolled up or . turned down; leaves gone, and the pages cut, marked, scratched and defaced in every conceivable manner.


I believe such abuse of text books should be sharply con- demned, and those who deface or destroy books be compelled to pay for them.


Text books belong to the town and are simply loaned to the pupils, who are expected to take reasonable care of them. Teachers should examine the books, at least once a term, and hold pupils responsible for them.


The tax payers do not care to furnish money to buy books for pupils to destroy. An effort is being made to prevent abuse of school books. Suitable paper with which to cover them will be provided and teachers will be expected to keep due watch of all books in their schools, causing pupils to pay for those marked or defaced, or report the same to the Superintendent.


15


SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.


If pupils continue to increase, it will not be long before there will be an urgent demand for increased school ac- commodations in certain parts of the town. Even now we can see the need of it pressing upon us. During the last term, the third and fourth grade rooms at the Spruce St., Claflin and Chapin St. Schools were full almost to overflow- ing, and it was only with difficulty that I was able to ar- range for their accommodation. The first grade classes in these schools, and also at the Plains and West St. Schools, already have as many pupils as the teachers can do justice to. With these grades full, I cannot see how we can admit pupils in April, unless we adopt the half-time plan,-a condition to be avoided if possible.


The classes at the Park School are quite large, while at the South they average larger, and I am now at a loss to know what we shall do with the eighth and ninth grades in the latter school after the promotions are made in June' and the schools open in September" as there will be many more to enter it than will leave to go to the High School.


There are two ways to provide for the increase. One is by enlarging the Chapin St. and West St. buildings; the other is by erecting a new High School building which would doubtless be built large enough to provide for the High School and also to accommodate, for the present, the ninth grade grammar pupils.


No one denies that the entire seating capacity of the school rooms in town is more than sufficient to accommodate all the pupils.


The trouble arises because of location, there being too few school rooms in some of the more thickly settled and growing sections, while there is room to spare in others.


THE TOWN HOUSE SCHOOL BUILDING.


It is to be regretted that the inside of this building is being used as a dumping ground by some one around the Town Hall.


I had occasion to go there during the fall and found the door


16


unlocked and just inside a pile of ashes fully three feet deep and a cart load in all, besides various other kinds of rubbish. I am told that the School Department no longer has control of this building, since it is not used for school purposes, but whoever does should not allow the present state of things to continue, as it is possible that this building may be needed again for school purposes. It is centrally located. The rooms are well arranged and could be easily fitted up for Manual Train- ing. The upper room as a kitchen for the Cooking department for the girls of the eighth and ninth grades, and possibly the lowest class in the High School, and the lower room as a wood- working room for the boys of corresponding grades.


This may seem visionary, but I think not when we stop to consider that Manual Training is no longer an experiment. It has been tried and tested until now it is seen to have both an educational and highly practical value. Itis educational because it trains both the eye and the hand. It is practical because its principles can be directly applied in every-day life; because it enables the pupil to make himself useful; because it teaches him that honest labor is not beneath him, and because it will add essentially to the comfort and happiness of home.


If in the whole category of subjects taught in the Public Schools today, there is any one of them more than another, aside possibly from that of reading, that deserves special consideration from a practical point of view, I believe it is that of Manual Training. I should be pleased to discuss the subject further but space will not permit. If this brief mention of it sets the people of Milford to thinking along this line I shall feel repaid.


THE DEER BROOK SCHOOL.


It seems to me that this building is totally unfit for school purposes.


It is the poorest apology for a school house that I have ever seen.


If a school is to be maintained in that part of the town, a new building should be erected, one worthy of being called a school


17


house. If a new building cannot be had, the pupils in that dis- trict should be brought into town where they can have the ad- vantages of better and graded schools, also of better and experi- enced teachers.


None but young and inexperienced teachers will take such a school as that at Deer Brook, and then if they are successful and have any ambition they will not remain there long.


There are not more than a dozen pupils in the school, and nearly twice as many classes with seldom two pupils together.


This is not conducive to good results. The ordinary teacher can neither properly prepare nor teach lessons under such circumstances, and for the want of rivalry, pupils lack in- terest and enthusiasm.


The cost of bringing these pupils into the center would probably not exceed $20 per month, while the cost of sup- porting a school for them at Deer Brook would be at least $48 per month.


The movement all over the state to consolidate small and scattered schools, by transporting the pupils into the center, where they can have the advantages of larger and better equipped schools, is no passing fad, neither is it the result of a desire to change for the sake of changing, as some may suppose. On the contrary, provisions were made in this state in 1869 for the transportation of pupils, and the plan has been constantly growing in favor ever since, until last year no less than 213 towns had adopted it.


The secretary of the State Board says : "The general policy of transportation, as a factor in the solution of the ques- tion as to what can be done for small ungraded schools in sparsely settled regions of the state, is proving to be very help- ful."


TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.


In the early fall I attempted to arrange for a state Institute to be held here, but was unsuccessful. I then planned for a private Institute to be held on Dec. 6th, and was exceedingly


18


fortunate in being able to secure the assistance of two teachers from Framingham Normal, State Agents J. T. Prince, J. W. MacDonald and Henry T. Bailey, Miss Sarah Arnold, Super- visor of Boston Schools, and Miss Celia P. Battles of Brookline.


The Institute was very satisfactory, and many of the teachers expressed themselves as receiving much benefit from it. One valuable feature was a small exhibition of written work from every school in town, the object of which was four-fold. First-to show the character and quality of the work from each school; second-to show the neatness and arrangement; third- to give the teachers and committee an opportunity to compare the work of the various schools; and fourth-to show to some extent, each teacher's standard or ideal of school work. I felt that the object aimed at was accomplished. Some of the work was poor; much of it was good, and some excellent. On the whole it surpassed my expectations. I heard many a word of praise for it from those who saw the work, and was told by several that the town's people should see it, but this I could not allow, in justice to the teachers, as I had previously told them that the work was not for exhibition, although very many of them might well have felt proud of it.


In the evening a public meeting was held in the town hall for parents and citizens and addressed by J. W. MacDonald on "The Home as a Preparation for School," and by Henry T. Bailey, on "The School as a Preparation for Life." While a fair audience was present, I regretted exceedingly that so few people in a town of more than 9000 inhabitants, were sufficient- ly interested in education to attend such a meeting.


THE SUMMER SCHOOL AND PROFESSIONAL IM- PROVEMENT.


To avoid getting into ruts, to keep abreast of the times and do progressive work, it is necessary for teachers to devote some time to professional improvement. There are several ways by which much can be accomplished in this direction, and I believe one of the best is to attend some good Summer School, for it is


19


there that one comes in contact with progressive teachers and educational workers from far and wide. It is there that one has the privilege of listening to talks and lectures by many promi- nent and enthusiastic educators, and it is there that one has the opportunity to learn what other teachers are doing in various parts of our own state and many others, or it may be to pursue some special subject. It puts one in touch with modern means and modern methods, and if the work there is supplemented by home reading, home study and home reflection together with a careful preparation of work, teachers will begin to grow and their time and services become more valuable.


I am glad to report that five of our teachers, Miss Toohey, Miss Gilfoyle, Miss Gallagher, Miss M. H. McDermott and Miss Conroy, attended the summer school at Martha's Vineyard last summer. They enjoyed their vacation, came home with new ideas and enthusiasm, and several of them have expressed their intention to go again next season.


It is a mistake to think that only inferior teachers attend summer schools, for such is not the case. Many of the best teachers in Massachusetts make it a point to attend some Sum- mer School every two or three years. High School teachers, special teachers, superintendents, normal and college graduates, in fact whoever wishes to progress by studying methods, or by pursuing some special subject, all are attending summer schools.


Many teachers say they cannot afford to attend a Summer School; that their salary is altogether too small. We will grant the latter, but can they, afford not to progress? Is not that the very thing which will make their services more valuable, and thus enable them to command better salaries?


But summer schools will not make teachers any more than normal schools or colleges. The writer is inclined to believe that the real teacher is born, not made. The born teacher, how- ever, will save much time and make fewer mistakes if properly trained for the work. The person who is not adapted by nature for teaching, may, by careful training, be fitted to do fairly good work ; but in the words of another: "The teacher not fitted for


20


her work by nature or by art, is a wicked infliction upon the children intrusted to her care."


ASSIGNMENTS.


At the election of teachers in June the Committee thought it wise to elect all teachers below the High School as teachers in the Public Schools of Milford, rather than for any particular school.


It is well known that all teachers are not equally adapted to any and all grades of school. Some are best fitted for and con- stitutionally adapted to primary work; others for intermediate classes and still others for upper grammar grades.


Taking this into consideration, together with local condi- tions and surroundings, the Committee deemed it best to make assignments somewhat different from previous years. In order that the best good of all the schools might be considered and the matter studdied from every point, the final decision was delayed until the August meeting, and even then the assign- ments were unsatisfactory, but, after a five months' trial, it is plain to be seen that, with a few exceptions, the changes were beneficial.


RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.


During the past year we have had an unusual number of resignations, which were as follows :--


Misses E. M. Richardson and Claribel Moulton from the High School.


Miss B. F. Powers from the Plains School.


Miss M. E. Whitney from the Spruce Street School.


Misses A. B. Chapin and Lillian Smith from the Chapin Street School.


During the year the following appointments have been made :


For the High School :- Miss Adeline C. Teele, who had a special four years' course at Wellesley and some experience in teaching. Miss E. L. Bishop, a graduate of Boston University,


21


with two years' experience in teaching, and Miss M. H. Woodbury, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke.


For the other schools :- Miss Margaret Lewis, a graduate of Philadelphia Normal Schools, with two years' experience. Miss Harriet M. Parkhurst, a graduate of Wellesley. Miss Julia Boyle, a graduate of Newburyport Training School and one year at Salem Normal, and Miss Mary E. Mullane, a graduate of Worcester Normal.


REPAIRS AND EXPENDITURES.


An effort has been made in expending the money, so gen- erously appropriated by the town, to use it to the best possible advantage, and where it seemed to be the most needed.


The bulk of the repairs has been at fewer places this year than usual, the most of them being quite extensive and of a permanent and durable nature.


The repairs at the Plains School exceeded the estimate because unexpectedly the roof had to be repaired and the ceil- ing was found to be in such poor condition as to need replacing. A metal ceiling was thought to be more desirable and cheaper in the end, so it was supplied at considerable additional ex- pense. Besides this each room has had new floors, new ad- justable desks, two coats of paint upon all woodwork and the ceiling, the walls kalsomined, thus making these rooms as pleasant and attractive as any school room in town.


Quite extensive repairs have been made at both the Bragg- ville and High School buildings. We regretted to expend anything upon the latter, but with the increase of both pupils and teaching force, it seemed absolutely necessary that some changes be made, that the work of the school might be done to better advantage.


The grading of the grounds at the Claflin school made as much show for the outlay as anything that has been done.


Aside from concreting, the other repairs have been minor and incidental.


.


22


Many of the text books in both the High and Grammar schools were in a very filthy and dilapitated condition, and had to be replaced, so that quite an outlay for this purpose seemed imperative.


An increased number of pupils in the High School made it necessary to purchase additional books, besides the Commercial Course required several complete outfits. Fully one-third of the expenditures for supplies has been for the High School, while all of the schools have been liberally, but not extrava- gantly, supplied with working material, such,as blank books, paper, pens, pencils, etc.




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