USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1898-1901 > Part 13
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The new instrument for disinfecting the debris of in- fectious diseases has proved a perfect success, and the thor- ough work of our inspector in disinfecting the banks of the Charles River during the stage of low water prevented much sickness.
The Sewage Disposal Company have introduced their works into two of the main streets leading into Charles River and has well answered the indications for which it was in- troduced.
The plea for general sewage which the Board have made in their reports for the last few years, is now, as in the past few years, a grand factor in the progress of the town. City water demands general sewage, and it will be but a few years when it will become compulsory, and the con- ditions looking for its introduction may not be as good as they are now. "A word to the wise is sufficient."
The Board have held monthly meetings through the year.
For the Milford Board of Health,
JNO. M. EATON, M. D., Chairman.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN LIBRARY.
t
NATHANIEL F. BLAKE, NATHAN W. HEATH, Terms expire 1900. OWEN F. CROUGHWELL, Term expires 1901.
CHARLES A. DEWEY, PATRICK E. SWEENEY, Terms expire 1902.
The resignation of Thomas F. Manning caused a vacancy, which was filled on the 30th day of March last at a meet- ing of the Selectmen and the Trustees by the election of Gustavus B. Williams as a Trustee, to hold the office dur- ing the remainder of the year.
CHARLES A. DEWEY, Chairman. OWEN F. CROUGHWELL, Secretary. NATHANIEL F. BLAKE, Librarian.
The members of the Board have been highly gratified the past year by the receipt of five hundred dollars from Hon. William F. Draper, to be spent in purchasing books for the Library. This generous gift of General Draper was accompanied by the request, on the part of the donor, that the money be spent "for the purchase of standard technical books of the latest editions, relating to mechanics, machine work, foundry work and the textile industry;" and also "books relating to the shoe, granite, and straw industries." The money thus given has not yet been expended. Of course we desired to carry out the wishes of the liberal donor, as far as possible, and the task proved to be one of no little difficulty. So we have delayed buying the books longer than we anticipated, hoping soon to secure a satisfactory list of books from those best qualified to judge.
There is another matter to which the Trustees desire to call the attention of our people, and that is the use that
80
might be made of our Town library for purposes of reference. We have a large and tolerably well selected library of 12,000 volumes. Our citizens do not seem to realize the treasures that lie within their reach. They make comparatively little use of it as a reference library. But that library contains a liberal supply of maps, charts, dictionaries, encyclopedias, large illustrated books, technical books, and historical works and other books of reference not allowed to be taken out for circulation, but kept there for consultation. And on the southerly side of the room a suitable place is provided for those who wish to examine books of this class, and there will be found a large table, with plenty of chairs, and such stationery as may be needed.
The Trustees desire to do what they can to promote this important use of the library, and hope the superintendent and teachers of our schools and the clergymen of the Town, will co-operate with them in regard to this matter, and thus induce the older pupils of our schools, and also the people generally, to use more largely certain of the more valua- ble works in the library, which are not and cannot well be circulated.
At the annual meeting of the Board on the ninth day of February current, it was voted to ask the Town to make its usual appropriation of $600, in addition to the dog tax, for the benefit of the library during the ensuing year.
CHARLES A. DEWEY,
Chairman.
81
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
MILFORD, February 9, 1900.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF MILFORD TOWN LIBRARY.
Gentlemen :-
I hereby submit a report of the receipts and expenditures of the library for the year ending Jan. 31, 1900.
Receipts :-
Balance from 1899
$124 35
Dog tax
.
837 69
Appropriation .
.
·
600 00
Fines
.
.
.
60 69
Catalogues
.
·
.
$1,626 13
Expenditures : -
Light
$140 62
Express
6 06
Covering books .
15 32
Librarian
360 00
Cases and supplies
205 35
Binding
.
61 08
Books
·
.
635 92
$1,424 35
Balance
$201 78
There is an order for books, only a part of which have arrived, which will require the greater part of this balance. All of which is respectfully submitted.
O. F. CROUGHWELL,
Secretary of Trustees.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN LIBRARY.
Gentlemen : I hereby submit my report for the year end- ing Jan. 31, 1900.
The library was open 284 days. Circulation for the year, 26,977 volumes. Circulation the previous year, 27,182 vol-
3 40
1
82
umes, a loss of 205 volumes. Largest daily circulation, Feb. 25, 1899, 364 volumes. Smallest daily circulation, Aug. 11, 1899, 8 volumes. Average daily circulation, 94. Amount received for fines, $60.69. Amount received for catalogues, $3.40.
The library contained as per last report 11,493 volumes. Added during the year, by purchase, 486 volumes ; by dona- tion, 47 volumes, making the total as per catalogue, 12,026 volumes.
The donors were: State of Massachusetts, 18 volumes ; U. S. Government, through Congressmen Draper and Sprague, 16 volumes ; Smithsonian Institution, 5 volumes; and Herbert S. Underwood, William and Abbie S. Heywood, C. A. Cook, Equal Suffrage Association, Unitarian Association, Town of Lexington, City of Malden, and a friend, 1 volume each.
CIRCULATION.
A
BCD
E
F
G
HI
J
Total.
Feb.
1899.
51
35
5
88
33
1487
74
4
29
594
2400
March,
86
53
8
95
45
1698
73
7
30
700
2795
April,
66
69
39
7
98
56
1530
74|14
32
672
2591
May.
66
42
46
4
87
49
1358
59|10
33
519
2207
June,
66
47
51
2
65
45
1319
59
5
20
794
2407
July,
66
28
53
78
47
1508
38
8
16
804
2580
August, «
6
9
1
14
13
351
12
2
155
563
Sept.
66
17
26
1
39
15
819
28
2
8
109
1064
Oct.
66
64
59
1
75
26
1175
65
16
30
651
2162
Nov.
66
66
66
1
80
27
1362
59
7
37
806
2511
Dec.
66
46
74
1
67
33
1402
74
5
20
940
2662
Jan.
1900.
44
89
94
54
1475
74 11
24
1170
3035
566 600 31 880 443 15484
689 89 281
6914
26977
The library was closed for the delivery of books from Aug. 13 to Sept. 7, for the addition of new cases, to relieve the crowded condition of the shelves, and a general examination of the library. The additions will accommodate about 3,500 books, and necessitated an entire change in the arrangement of the library.
83
A list of books which had become worn out and had not been replaced, covering the entire period since the catalogue was issued in 1881, was made, and orders placed to fill the vacancies, only a part of which, as the library year closes, have been received.
The closing of the library seriously affected the circula- tion not only of August but of September also. The circula- tion for these months, which is the smallest in the year, was in 1898, 3,954 volumes, while in 1899 it was only 1,627 vol- umes.
During the school year, the School Committee have had printed a catalogue of books suitable for school reading, which has been placed in the hands of the school children, and since the schools opened in September the use of books as printed in this catalogue has been largely increased, as is shown by the figures given below. For the last four months of this and the previous library year, the circulation from Oct. 1898 to Feb. 1, 1899, in History was 177; in Biography 197; in Travels 219; Fiction 5,761; Juvenile 1,971; while; for the corresponding period in this year it was History 220 . Biography 283; Travels 324; Fiction 5,414; Juvenile 3,567 The figures show a considerable loss in Fiction, but a decided gain in the other departments mentioned.
With an interest taken by the teachers in suggesting to their scholars the best books to read, the figures can be mate- rially increased during the coming year.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
N. F. BLAKE,
Librarian.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
I have examined the books of the different departments and find that the vouchers correspond with the orders drawn on and paid by the Town Treasurer; I have also ex- amined the accounts of the Tax Collector and Treasurer, and find them to be correct.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS F. MANNING, Auditor.
Milford, Mass, Feb. 20, 1900.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MILFORD,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1900.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1899-1900.
JOHN J. DUGGAN,
Term expires 1900
CHARLES MACKIN,
66
1900
GEORGE L. COOKE,
66
66 1901
GEORGE E. STACY,
66
66 1901
RICHARD A. GILFOYLE,
66
1902
W. B. WHITING,
66
66
1902
ORGANIZATION. GEORGE L. COOKE, Chairman.
C. W. HALEY, Secretary.
SUB-COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
R. A. GILFOYLE,
W. B. WHITING,
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Repairs.
G. E. STACY,
G. L. COOKE, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Teachers and Examinations.
W. B. WHITING, J. J. DUGGAN, THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Books and Supplies.
C. MACKIN,
R. A. GILFOYLE,
THE SUPERINTENDENT. Fuel.
J. J. DUGGAN,
G. E. STACY.
SUPERINTENDENT. C. W. HALEY.
3
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The regular meetings of the Committee are held on the second Monday of each month at 8 P. M.
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
Office at Memorial Hall. Office hours 4 to 5 p. M. daily when schools are in session, except Fridays ; 8 to 9 A. M. on Fridays.
SCHOOL SESSIONS.
High School .- 8 A. M. to 1 P. M.
Grammar Schools .- 9 A. M. to 12 M .; 1.30 to 4 P. M.
Primary Schools .- 9 A. M. to 12 M .; 1.30 to 3.30 P. M.
Country Schools .- 9 A. M. to 12 M .; 1 to 3.30 P. M.
HOLIDAYS.
Feb. 22, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL.
The steam whistle at the electric light station, 22 repeat- ed four times. When this signal is sounded at 8 A. M. there will be no morning session. When it is sounded at 12.30 P. M. there will be no afternoon session. When it is sounded at 8 A. M. and not repeated at 12.30 P. M., there will be an afternoon session.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
$30,000 00
Tuition
.
30 00
Sales and fines
.
~~~ $30,045 20
EXPENDITURES.
Teaching
$19,044 14
Supervision
1,700 00
Carriage hire for teachers
417 00
Transportation for pupils
166 50 ,
Janitors
1,449 75
Fuel
1,496 74
Repairs
·
·
.
1,880 71
Supplies
1,929 24
Incidentals
.
1,359 24
29,443 32
Balance unexpended
$601 88
ITEMIZED ACCOUNTS. REPAIRS.
Special appropriation for repairs $2,000 00
Paid H. H. Lent
$129 65
T. E. Morse
.
.
93 55
Weed Bros.
170 83
W. H. Britton
207 22
W. L. Bennett
201 50
W. E. Cheney
177 50
Avery & Woodbury
98 50
Eldredge & Son .
101 50
.
.
.
.
15 20
5
Heyward Bros. & Wakefield Co. .
$335 89
Nocola Mascio
16 62
C. A. Wood
21 50
Bay State Heating Co.
116 40
Fuller & Warren Co.
2 94
J. L. Buxton
20 00
S. B. Holbrook
8 60
Hilton Bros. & Crofoot
18 48
Otis Whitney & Son
55 74
Henry Willard
104 29
$1,880 71
Unexpended balance
$119 29
FUEL.
Paid Macuen Bros.
$188 58
Williams Bros.
.
321 66
H. A. Barney
·
248 00
Wm. Johnston & Co.
340 08
Quirk Bros.
396 66
A. Stevens
1 76
$1,496 74
SUPPLIES.
Paid Joseph Gillott & Son
$ 9 75
Boston School Supply Co.
11 00
Sibley & Ducker .
6 67
Ginn & Co.
192 10
J. Allen Rice
3 60
D. C. Heath & Co.
31 84
American Book Co.
160 65
Rand, McNally & Co.
64 20
E. E. Babb & Co. .
271 87
Oliver Ditson & Co.
16 85
J. L. Hammett Co.
291 79
Educational Publishing Co.
74 46
Franklin Ed. Co. .
100 00
Smith Typewriter Co.
6 75
Silver, Burdett & Co.
262 69
·
.
.
6
E. C. Claflin
$26 05
Goodyear Publishing Co.
1 78
F. S. Webster Co.
1 17
Harvard University
16 00
Howard Chemical Co.
8 00
Harper & Bros.
·
2 40
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. .
·
13 60
Tribodeau Publishing Co.
8 00
George F. King & Co.
.
51 93
Maynard, Merrill & Co. .
20 16
University Publishing Co.
14 40
Werner School Book Co.
9 60
Allyn & Bacon
75
S. G. Greenwood .
26 25
Thomas R. Shewell & Co.
51 16
Thompson, Brown & Co ..
49 54
Wadsworth, Howland & Co.
57 74
Hammond Typewriter Co.
1 86
Marigold Publishing Co ..
1 40
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co.
9 40
Williams & Rogers
58 83
$1,929 24
INCIDENTALS.
Paid H. J. Dearing
$ 1 65
J. L. Buxton
14 60
C. A. Wood
8 00
C. A. Hill
15 78
Milford Water Co.
213 00
J. F. Hickey
·
10 66
F. A. Bishop
1 40
Otis Whitney & Son
16 35
G. M. Billings
132 50
E. E. Vaughan
20 96
Thomas Welch
14 65
E. C. Claflin
16 00
Dennis P. Flynn .
75
Wm. Johnston & Co.
6 00
Cook & Sons
28 70
.
.
.
·
.
1
7
F. Foster Hartwell
$ 1 00
Milford Gas Light Co.
4 14
Frost & Adams Co.
1 10
John Cochran
.
3 30
P. Marr, jr. ·
19 25
G. A. Sherborne .
12 92
Sherborne Bros. Express Co.
23 77
Wheelock & Davis
18 80
M. Davoren
5 00
Congregational Publishing Co.
5 62
J. L. Hammett Co.
3 68
L. A. Lebbossiere .
.
7 80
Ethelwyn Blake .
57 10
A. W. Gould
7 62
Hammond Typewriter Co.
35
Oliver Ditson & Co.
12 07
J. C. Hughes ·
3 00
Iowa Lith. Co.
16 00
Avery & Woodbury
24 70
Raphael Marino
2 25
Carr & Bartlett
30
Ethel J. Emery
10 25
Annie Lawless
1 50
Martin Donahoe .
23 90
Teachers' Lecture Course
10 00
John McEnany
3 80
Bertha Draper
5 50
Edwin A. Grosvenor
37 50
Peter Calabrese
4 80
Hilton Bros. & Crofoot
71 71
W. B. Whiting
3 78
Milford Music Hall Co.
36 00
C. H. Randlett
25 00
S. B. Holbrook
9 20
Coughlin & Co.
6 10
Oak, Lily & Ivy
12 00
Mrs. Bridget Buckley
2 70
W. E. Cheney
4 00
.
8
John Cochran $ 9 30
Mrs. M. Cashman . 2 50
Susie Bates 2 10
Ralph W: Woodward
12 00
H. H. Lent
10 25
Gillian Sherman
1 50
J. F. Damon 75 .
Holcomb & Hoke Mfg. Co.
13 97
S. C. Sumner .
81 25
C. W. Wilcox
6 00
A. A. Conroy
2 00
Greenwood School Supply Co. 4 80
J. B. Price
2 00
Tewksbury & Weir
.
2 90
Mary L. Cook
.
3 50
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
3 40
W. D. Miller -
3 00
A. H. H. Warren & Co.
.
3 65
J. Allen Rice
.
18 32
Crowell & Kirkpatrick
.
3 00
Bent & Bush
·
1 25
Phonographic Institute Co.
·
3 82
Prang Educational Co.
.
5 48
Patrick Quinn
.
4 00
G. E. Stacy
·
·
3 32
H. L. Willard
.
2 00
C. H. Waters
.
35 00
Milford Gas Co.
13 50
Secretary's salary .
.
50 00
Adams Express Co.
9 85
Postage
9 55
Incidental and traveling expense of Superintendent and Com- mittee .
41 77
$1,359 24
.
.
.
9
TABLE SHOWING RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
The following table shows the estimated amounts needed under the several headings for school expenses in 1899, the amount expended under the different headings, also the bal- ance or deficit of each :-
1
Estimated Needs.
Expended.
Unex- pended.
Ex- ceeded.
Teaching,
$19,000 00
$19,044 14
$ 44 14
Supervision,
1,700 00
1,700 00
Carriage hire for teachers,
400 00
417 00
17 00
Transportation for pupils,
250 00
166 50
$ 83 50
Janitors,
1,350 00
1,449 75
99 75
Fuel,
1,500 00
1,496 74
3 26
Repairs,
2,500 00
1,880 7
619 29
Supplies,
1,800 00
1,929 24
129 24
Incidentals,
1,500 00
1,359 24
140 76
Tuition,
30 00
30 00
Sales,
15 20
15 20
$30,045 20
$29,443 32 601 88
$892 01
$290 13
Balance,
601 88
$30,045 20
$30,045 20
$892 01
892 01
At the regular meeting of the Committee held Monday evening, February 12, the reports of the Secretary and Super- intendent were accepted, and will constitute the report of the School Committee to the citizens of Milford.
C. W. HALEY, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD.
Gentlemen : My fourth annual report, the twenty-third in the series of annual reports of the Superintendent of Schools, is hereby submitted to you and through you to the citizens of this town.
STATISTICS.
Number of children in town September 1, 1899, between 5 and 15 years of age as reported by the census enumerator :-
750
Number of boys,
724
Number ofgirls,
Total number between 5 and 15 years, .
1,474
Total number in May, 1898,
1,281
Increase,
193
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
Number enrolled under 5
8
between 5 and 8
398
66
8 and 14 .
·
813
66
66
14 and 15
.
111
66
66
15 and 16
60
66
over 16
109
Total enrollment
1,499
Total enrollment between 5 and 15
1,322
Average membership in all the schools
·
1,334.5
Average attendance 1,260.1 ·
Per cent of attendance 93.9
Number of half days' absence in all the schools
25,655
Number of cases of tardiness in all the schools 1,442 ·
Number of cases of dismissal
1,387
·
·
.
.
·
11
Number of cases of corporal punishment
68
Number of cases of truancy
29
Visits by the Superintendent ·
446
Visits by the Committee
.
56
Visits by others
964
ATTENDANCE.
In the last previous annual report mention was made of the fact that a change had been made in the time of beginning and closing of the school year for the purpose of making up the school statistics or attendance report, thus falling into line with the custom already established in most of the cities and large towns of the state. A new rule of the State Board of Education has now brought all the towns and cities of the state into line; so that all statistical reports of attendance are made to embrace the entire school year from the opening of the schools in September to their close in June.
The average membership in all the schools in this report shows a decrease of 38.2 and the average attendance shows a decrease of 60, due no doubt to a falling off in the actual number of children between 5 and 15 years of age. This was occasioned probably by the depression in business which caused many families to leave town.
The decrease of per cent of attendance of 2.2 was mainly due to two causes, viz: illness, due to an epidemic of measles in the fall and la grippe in the winter, and a new rule of the State Board of Education relative to attendance. Heretofore it was the rule to drop a pupil from membership after five con- secutive days of absence. By the new rule pupils retain their membership until the register shows ten consecutive days of absence. This increases the average membership and the number of absences and decreases the percentage of attend- ance.
In the last report it was regarded as a cause of congratu- lation that the number of cases of tardiness and of dismissal had very materially decreased. This decrease had gone on to a still greater extent, so that during the past year the number of cases of tardiness has been only 59." per cent and the num-
12
ber of cases of dismissal has been only 46.9 per cent of what they were two years ago. This is a very satisfactory reduc- tion, and much praise is due to all who have contributed to this result. It is believed, however, that the number may be still further reduced to the great advantage of the schools. Let us continue our efforts in this direction.
The following is given for comparison :---
Total enrollment, 5 to 15 years
1897. 1,427
1898. 1,317
1899. 1,322
Average membership, all schools
1,361.7
1,372.7
1,334.5
Average attendance
1,307.7
1,320.1
1,260.1
Per cent of attendance
95.5
96.1
93.9
Days' absence, all schools
11,019
9,105
12,827
Cases of tardiness, all schools
2,412
1,943
1,442
Cases of dismissal, all schools
2,946
1,914
1,387
Previous to the year 1899 the census enumerator has re- ported the number of children in town between the ages of 5 and 15 years on May 1, but the statutes of 1898 changed the time of taking the census from the first of May to the first of September.
The census report for 1899 shows an increase over the previous report of 193 children between 5 and 15 years of age. This increase was due largely to an influx of families brought here during the last summer by the rapid improvement in business.
During the school year which this report covers but 28 employment certificates were issued. Thus far, since July 1, 1899, 42 such certificates have been issued. Doubtless this increase is due to the greatly increased opportunities for employment since the revival of business which began to be felt during the summer.
Below is the truant officer's report :-
Number of cases reported by teachers and Superintendent 53
66
found to be truants .
34
66
sickness .
11
66
66
careless parents
3
66
66
66 66
lack of proper clothing 5
13
Truants returned to school from street 6 Visits to schools 6
Visited the several factories and found employed under
16 years of age, without certificates, 10 boys and 2 girls
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. WATERS, Truant Officer.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
I am convinced that one of the first and most important things to be considered in school matters is increased accom- modations for the primary and intermediate grades. At pres- ent the demand seems most urgent in the Spruce Street and Chapin Street districts, In the former we are no longer able to accommodate those who apply for admission to the third, fourth and fifth grades. From the latter, we have had to transfer eighteen or twenty pupils to other schools, thus changing the bounds on one side to within about a stone's throw of the school.
This matter will need immediate attention if the school population continues to increase, and according to present in- dications it will, especially in the above mentioned districts, and also in the Plains district. In the latter there is a vacant room in the Annex which can be fitted up easily in case of an overflow.
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
The repairs and improvements made upon school prop- erty in Milford during the past four years have greatly im- proved the condition of many of our school buildings, especially the interior of them.
The South Grammar, Plains, Park, Claflin, Bear Hill, Pur- chase Grammar and Braggville buildings have all been kalso- mined and painted upon the inside and fitted, with, single desks and chairs, the most of which are adjustable, besides new floors and other interior improvements in several buildings. During the past two seasons, the Park, Plains and Claflin buildings have been painted upon the outside, and several
14
buildings shingled. The Chapin Street building was sup- plied last summer with single desks cut from the double desks taken from other schools. This building also needs painting both inside and out, but owing to a probable need of enlarging the same in the near future it was thought unwise to paint it "at present. The remaining double desks are now in the West Street, Hoboken, Fountain Street, Purchase Primary and Plains Annex buildings; these I think can and should be replaced with single desks during the coming year.
The committee on repairs considered putting a modern system of heating and ventilating into the Claflin building and received several estimates for the same, but finding that the appropriation was insufficient they had to abandon the plan for the present.
If as much can be expended for repairs during the next three years as has been during the past three I believe our school buildings will be in very creditable condition, al- though not of modern architecture.
SCHOOL WORK.
Practically the same plan of work has been followed this year as last. In quality and general excellence, how- ever, there has been marked improvement which was notice- able at the exhibition in June.
I am very much dissatisfied with our present method of promotion from grade to grade, but as yet have been unable to obtain a satisfactory solution of the problem. By talk- ing with superintendents I find that the same dissatisfaction exists in many other places. This matter will receive further consideration in the near future, when it is hoped a better plan may be devised.
By far the most important change and probably the greatest progress,during the year has been made in the method of teaching reading in the primary grades.
After trying the Rational Method in two schools for several months, at the regular meeting of the School Board in April its adoption was recommended, and after having it explained the Committee at once saw its merits and very
15
wisely voted to introduce it into the first and second grades at the opening of the schools in September.
Teachers' Manuals were bought and put into the hands of the teachers of those grades, and immediately after the close of our schools in June several of our primary teachers visited the schools in Everett, where the system had been taught for a year. This, together with a careful study of the manual, enabled them to take up the work at once at the opening of the schools in September.
Wishing to know more myself about the system and the best methods of teaching it, I decided early in October to spend several days in Brooklyn, N. Y., the home of the system. There I visited schools, heard and saw classes at work, talked with teachers, principals, and Superintendent Ward, the author of the system. I came home feeling well repaid for my visit, and more thoroughly convinced than before that we had adopted the right system. The results to date also justify that conclusion.
The system itself is a combination of the Word, Sen -- tence and Phonetic Methods. The first step is to teach the pupil to recognize the written and printed symbols of many common words with the use of which the English speak- ing child is familiar before he enters school. This is done by giving him many short sentences to read from the black- board, until at the end of from eight to ten weeks a list of about eighty selected words has been taught. Carried along co-ordinately with this work is a thorough drill on the following letters and combination of letters: f, l, m, n, r, s, ã, ē, ō, ing, ings, ight, and ights. These are called phonograms and are known as the initial stock.
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