USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1901-1904 > Part 15
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From Thanksgiving until February 1 all schools begin at 1.15; the grammar schools closing at 3.30, primary schools at 3.15.
HOLIDAYS.
February 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.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF MILFORD :-
The passing of another year reminds us that the time for an account of the stewardship in conducting the schools of Milford has arrived.
Generally speaking, much has been done for the improve- ment of the pupils of the town. We have in two localities been placed to a disadvantage for want of sufficient school room to accommodate the large number of pupils that pre- sented themselves in those localities. In the "Plains," so called, we succeeded in renting the room of the Italian Operaia Society, and fitted the same for a section of the primary de- partment. This temporary arrangement relieved the situation for the time being. At the Chapin street school it was neces- sary to divide the primary class into two divisions, giving each but half time service daily.
We earnestly hope that at the annual March meeting of the town, measures will be taken to provide these localities with added room adequate for the needs of the increased and increasing numbers.
The fuel situation has caused us some anxiety. No con- tract could be made with dealers last season for a supply for the schools. We found it necessary to extend the winter va- cation, except the high school, for a period of two weeks; this gave some relief, and terms will be extended in consequence thereof.
We have furnished the high school with considerable apparatus and some needed books of reference during the year, made necessary by the event of the past conflagrations.
All in all we feel that the schools of Milford have a bright future before them. We wish that we could more thoroughly impress the youth that there is but one short period for them
5
to obtain the instruction which they will so much need to fit them for the responsible situations that will so soon be waiting for the faithful and competent to fill.
The appended report of the superintendent of schools will give information in detail and suggest matters pertaining to our schools to which we invite your careful attention.
We recommend the following appropriations for the en- suing year :-
Teachers and superintendent
$23,000 00
Supplies
·
·
2,200 00
Janitors
·
.
1,900 00
Fuel
·
.
1,800 00
Repairs
2,000 00
Transportation of pupils
250 00
Carriage hire for teachers
450 00
Incidentals .
1,700 00
Evening schools
700 00
$34,000 00
For the school committee,
GEORGE E. STACY.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
. $34,000 00
Tuition .
45 00
Sales ·
27 01
Balance from cantata of 1900
44 26
$34,116 27
EXPENDITURES.
Teaching
$20,896 15
Supervision
1,700 00
Carriage hire for teachers
424 25
Transportation for pupils
172 75
Janitors .
2,061 78
Fuel ·
2,787 17
Repairs .
1,484 55 .
Supplies
2,460 69
Incidentals
2,124 93
Balance on hand
4 00
$34,116 27
ITEMIZED ACCOUNTS. REPAIRS.
Eldredge & Son .
$173 95
S. B. Holbrook
49 25
Cooney & Higgiston
29 82
H. H. Lent
64 50
T. E. Morse
45 01
Carroll Bros.
.
10 20
S. G. Clark
2 85
Thomas Bentley .
6 10
Hilton & Crofoot .
.
112 94
Otis Whitney & Son
71 33
.
.
.
.
.
7
Weed Bros.
$ 75 89
J. L. Buxton
.
6 33
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
15 00
W. E. Cheney
54 51
Wm. McElwain .
67 70
Highway department
335 65
G. H. Whittemore
9 20
James H. Connors
6 05
John F. Damon .
149 32
N. B. Greaton
5 00
E. F. Lynch
75 36
Dillon Bros.
110 14
Andrew E. Macuen
2 75
L. E. Belknap
4 20
C. W. Wilcox
.
1 50
$1,484 55
FUEL.
H. A. Barney
$968 52
Wm. Johnston & Co. Macuen Bros. Coal Co. Harold M. Curtiss
863 78
127 15
438 65
Edwards & Mullane Milford Gaslight Co.
45 90
$2,787 17
SUPPLIES.
$ 18 70
95 27
182 14
288 07
6 67
E. E. Babb & Co.
330 81
Otis Clapp & Son Ginn & Co.
116 17
D. C. Heath & Co.
23 01
J. L. Hammett Co.
215 10
Wadsworth, Howland & Co.
42 26
Thompson, Brown & Co.
14 63
.
343 17
Atkinson & Mentzer George F. King & Co. Silver, Burdett & Co. American Book Co. D. Appleton & Co.
.
.
3 50
8
Franklin Laboratory Supply Co. $ 45 00
Esterbrook Steel Pen Manf. Co. 16 00
Thorp, Martin & Co.
3 60
F. W. Draper & Co.
10 20
University Pub. Co.
9 00
Wm. Ware & Co.
20 50
Werner School Book Co.
112 28
Samuel Ward Co.
1 10
National School Supply Co.
7 41
Suffolk Ink Co.
4 50
Charles T. Eastman .
7 78
S. A. Eastman 1. .
5 65
Allyn, Bacon
45 17
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. .
45 73
G. M. Billings
22 00
E. E. Vaughan
6 87
Remick Furniture Co.
5 25
Rand, McNally & Co.
41 65
A. W. Gould
3 62
J. Allen Rice
107 70
B. H. Sanborn & Co.
124 68
Boston School Supply Co.
57 62
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
124 04
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co. 272 98
Clark Ellis & Sons
24 00
$2,460 69
INCIDENTALS.
H. J. Dearing
$ 4 31
Milford Gaslight Co.
58 40
Milford Water Co.
268 64
G. A. Sherborne .
28 74
G. M. Billings .
79 05
A. Stevens
·
3 57
Prof. Paul H. Hanus
26 55
Dillon Bros.
176 00
Frank R. Lotz
250 00
W. B. Whiting
12 06
J. C. Witter
3 25
.
.
9
Nelson Libby
$ 2 25
Benj. F. Allen
5 00
Cheney Bros.
8 57
Cook & Sons
21 80
James B. De Shazo
4 00
F. W. Draper & Co.
25 70
A. W. Gould
4 02
Mrs. Leduc
1 95
Red Cross Chemical Co. .
6 93
Typewriter Exchange
14 71
James E. Macuen
60 20
W. E. Cheney
·
10 15
A. H. H. Warren .
3 50
Miss Lizzie Lundgren
2 00
N. E. Telephone Co.
26 12
Hillhouse & Taylor
1 50
Harry D. Whitney
3 15
Hilton & Crofoot .
21 96
Harold M. Curtiss
·
8 00
· Alfred Cadman
25 00
M. Davoren
6 50
Educational Publishing Co.
4 00
Charles W. Howard
3 00
Milford Electric Light Co.
33 04
G. H. Ragsdale
21 08
Mrs. Riley
4 50
Franklin Tompkins
.
4 25
Mrs. Fitzmorris
3 00
Joseph H. Ryan .
4 50
Prentice & Son
1 30
Y. M. C. A.
2 00
Martin Donahoe .
17 25
Wm. Johnston & Co.
5 00
Thomas Welch
18 25
Miss Ethelwyn Blake
11 70
Mrs. Bertha S. Draper
10 15
Robert Allen Cook
·
58 58
T. W. Keane
12 00
.
.
·
.
.
IO
Southwestern Normal School
$ 2 40
James McDermott 4 05 .
Norris, Staples & Gould .
66 09
Herman L. Dillingham .
6 10
Mrs. Weaver
1 50
Milford Daily News
2 10
Avery & Woodbury
26 80
James L. Lilley .
2 25
S. C. Sumner
74 00
Davoren's Express
75
Clark Ellis & Sons
280 65
Cook & Withington
1 50
Coughlin's Express
19 15
De Wolfe, Fiske & Co.
41 98
Dodd, Mead & Co.
90 44
Tewksbury & Weir
2 60
C. H. Waters
35 00
Secretary's salary
50 00
Adams Express Co.
7 40
Postage
11 30
Traveling expenses
.
8 84
Incidentals
2 85
$2,124 93
1
II
TABLE SHOWING RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
The following table shows the estimated amounts needed under the several headings for school expenses in 1902, the amount expended under the different headings, also the bal- ance or deficit of each :-
Appropria- tions.
Expended.
Unex- pended.
Ex. ceeded.
Teaching,
$21,300 00
$20,896 15 $ 403 85
Supervison,
1,700 00
1,700 00
Carriage hire for teachers,
450 00
424 25
25 75
Transportation for pupils,
250 00
172 75
77 25
Janitors,
1,900 00
2,061 78
$
161 78
Fuel,
1,800 00
2,787 17
987 17
Repairs,
2,000 00
1,484 55
515 45
Supplies,
2,200 00
2,460 69
260 69
Incidentals,
1,700 00
2,124 93
424 93
Tuition,
45 00
45 00
Sales,
27 01
27 01
*Evening schools,
700 00
*700 00
Bal. from Cantata of 1900,
44 26
44 26
$34,116 27
$34,112 27 $1,838 57
$1,834 57
Balance,
4 00
4 00
$34.116 27
$34,116 27
$1,838 57 $1,838 57
*Included in expenditures for teaching, supplies, janitor and fuel.
At a meeting of the school board held Monday evening, February 3, the reports of the secretary and superintendent were accepted, and will constitute a part of the report of the board to the citizens of Milford.
C. W. HALEY, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD.
Gentlemen :-
My sixth annual report and the twenty-sixth in the series of superintendents' reports, is hereby submitted to you and through you to the citizens of this town.
The statistical part is for the school year ending June 20, 1902, and that relating to the financial affairs for the year ending Jan. 81, 1903.
STATISTICS.
Number of children in town Sept. 1, 1902, between 5 and 15 years of age, as reported by the census enumerator :-
858
Number of boys
859
Total number between 5 and 15 years
1,717
Total number in September, 1901 1,741
Decrease
.
24
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
Number enrolled under 5
4
66
between 5 and 8
448
8 and 14
931
14 and 15
121
66
66 15 and 16
68
66
over 16
90
Total enrolment
1,662
between 5 and 15
1,500
Average membership in all the schools
1,502.2
Average attendance "
1,413.9
Per cent of attendance ·
94.1
·
·
Number of girls
I3
Number of cases of tardiness in all the schools
2,161
"
" dismissal 66 66
1,152
66
" corporal punishment
:52
66 truancy ·
27
Visits by the superintendent . 431
committee ·
8
66 others
1,514
The total enrolment in all the schools for the year ending in June, 1902, was 1662. This shows a decrease of 1 over the previous year. The average daily attendance was 1413.9, an increase of 22.9 pupils. The census report as taken last Sep- tember shows a decrease for the year of 24 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, but the actual enrolment in the public schools last September shows an increase of 27 pupils over the preceding year.
The attendance for three consecutive years is given below for comparison.
1900. 1901. 1902.
Total enrolment between 5 and 15 years 1,418
1,473 -1,500 Average membership in all the schools 1429.7 1,471.6 1,502.2 Average attendance
. 1,358.9 1,391.4
1,413.9
Per cent of attendance
95
94.5
94.1
Number of half days' absence
.. 22,744 26,237
29,999
Number of cases of tardiness .
. 1,625
1,989
2,161
Number of cases of dismissal . . 1,353
1,317 1,152
TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT.
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Dear Sir :-
As truant officer I submit to you the following report :- Number of cases reported by teachers and superintendent
41
66 66 found to be truancy 27
66 66 66 sickness ·
4
66 due to careless parents .
5
66 due to lack of proper clothing
5
Truants returned from street
.
.
4
Visits to schools
6
14
I visited all the factories and found no child employed without a certificate.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. WATERS, Truant Officer.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
Practically the same overcrowded condition in certain parts of the town exists now that did a year ago. At the opening of schools in September, it was found that the pupils in the first grade in the Plains district numbered between eighty and ninety. To accommodate these it was necessary to hire, somewhere in that vicinity, a large room suitable for school purposes. After some delay the Italian hall on Genoa avenue was secured and fitted up temporarily for school use. About forty-five of the youngest children were transferred to that building and Miss Mary McCool put in charge of them.
It seems imperative that some additional schoolrooms be provided for the accommodation of children in that end of the town. During the past two years there has been considerable building in that section. Its nearness to the quarries, where conditions seem to indicate that business will continue to be good, leads us to believe that the population will steadily in- crease in this district. It is our opinion that at least two ad- ditional rooms should be provided, and that these, judging from present conditions, will be full inside of three years.
Now that the matter seems to be in the hands of the school committee by vote of the town at a special town meet- ing held Nov. 25, it is hoped that some action will be taken and the building be pushed to completion before the opening of schools next September. In order to do this, it will be ne- cessary to have the plans prepared at once and the contract let so that work may be begun on the foundation in the early spring.
The demand for increased accommodations in the south part of the town is nearly as great as at the Plains. Until re- cently one room at the Brick school bas accommodated both
1
15
the eighth and ninth grade pupils, but at the opening of schools in September these classes were so large that it was necessary to put them in separate rooms. This afforded an opportunity to relieve the upper grade room at the Plains by transferring the ninth grade pupils, 10 in number, to the Park and Brick schools, thus putting all of the ninth grade pupils in town into two classes.
Again we were confronted with a crowded condition in the fifth and sixth grades, and were forced to send those pupils living north of Hollis street to the Claflin school, and those living on Lawrence street and the upper part of Water street to the Park.
In the Chapin street district the building is inadequate. For the past .two years we have found it necessary to transfer many third and fourth grade pupils to the Claflin school, even from families living within a stone's throw of the Chapin street school, while the first grade children have been obliged to go on half time. This has crowded the Claflin school until the third, fourth and fifth grades have over fifty pupils each.
The parents at this end of the town feel that additional schoolrooms should be provided, and a careful study of the conditions would naturally lead one to that conclusion. It is difficult, however, to know just what to advise. Some have advocated enlarging the Chapin street building, others have advised buying a lot somewhere on South High or Water street and building a four-room building, while still others are inclined to favor portable schoolhouses. It seems to me that whatever is done, plans should be made for the future rather. than simply for the present.
The following table indicates the number of pupils in each grade in the various buildings, the number in each grade in town, the number in each building, and the total number in all the buildings :---
16
NUMBER OF PUPILS IN EACH GRADE IN SEPT., 1902.
SCHOOL.
NO. OF ROOMS
'IN BUILDING.
H
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
FRESHMAN.
SOPHOMORE.
JUNIOR.
SENIOR.
GRADUATE.
TOTAL.
High,
61 36 27
17| 7
148
Park,
4
40
47
51|37
175
South,
4
23
22
41
42|38
166
Plains,
6
44
45
37
39
29
19
20
15
248
Italian Hall,
1
44
44
Claflin,
6
57
43
52
53
50
36
291
Spruce St.,
4
36
40
20
30
50
176
Chapin St.,
3
52
25
31
145
West St.,
2
27
37
31
17
112
Purchase Gram.,
1
8
8
6
22
Purchase Prim.,
1
6
4
7
2
19
Hoboken,
1
22
9
31
Fountain St.,
1
4
9
4
5
22
Silver Hill,
1
1
1
3
4
4
13
Bear Hill,
1
5
5
4
3
4
2
1
24
Braggville,
1
7
6
7
6
7
33
Totals,
305 236 190 186 175 129 110
115 75 61 36 27 17 7 1669
PRIMARY NUMBER.
Mention was made in the last annual report of some mod- ification of the teaching of number in the two lowest grades. It might be well to state here more in detail some of the changes made and some of the methods adopted. Formerly efforts were made to teach every first-grade pupil, before pro- moting him to the second grade, all possible combinations of numbers from one to ten and sometimes to twelve, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, but now we have almost entirely eliminated the subject from the first grade. What little is done is confined chiefly to counting, to reading numbers, such as telling the page of the reader, etc., together with such number facts as the children may learn incidentally.
In the second grade the work of the first was reviewed, and the number combinations continued to 30 or more. This was dry and uninteresting work for the children, and often beyond their comprehension, as well as unsatisfactory to the teacher.
-
17
We are now basing the number work on linear and sur- face measurements, the outline of which was planned by Miss Sarah J. Walter of the State Normal school at Willimantic, Conn. The child is first provided with a set of measures from one inch to twelve inches in length. With these he measures, compares, judges of length, and makes his own lit- tle problems under the direction of the teacher. He thus finds out for himself the number facts from one to twelve. Here he begins with a new unit, the foot, and learns to use it as readily as he used the inch. From this he advances to the yard measure. In the mean time he has been supplied with a number of inch squares cut from card board. With these, using the square inch as a unit, he is taught to construct rec- tangles and squares of various dimensions. He finds out their length and breadth, the distance around them, the number of square inches in a row, the number of rows, the entire sur- face, etc. He is thus working out for himself the fundamen- tal number facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Work in cubic measure is gradually introduced, un- til in the third grade the class is supplied with a set of solids consisting of a quantity of cubes varying in size from one to six inches, and a suitable number of rectangular solids of va- rious dimensions. With these the children build other solids as directed by the teacher, and then by means of the edges and faces they compute the contents and ascertain other num- ber facts and relations.
By this method of teaching the child learns to measure with a fair degree of accuracy, to judge of length and breadth and height. He becomes familiar with surfaces and surface® measure, and acquires considerable knowledge of solids and solid contents-all, of course, in small denominations. The children are delighted with the work. They love to measure lines and distances, to construct rectangles, to find areas, and to build solids. They are sure of the facts, and seem to have confidence in their ability to solve problems pertaining to the work. The problem work is an important feature. Each child has his own. It is unlike any other in the class, and he is expected to solve it before he can have another. This
18
f
necessitates his working independently, and persevering until the task is completed.
We have been unable to accomplish as much in this work as we had hoped to because of a lack of suitable, material, which it was impossible to secure until recently. A begin- ning has been made, however, and we now expect it to pro- gress rapidly.
The teachers appear to enjoy the work, and consider it a great improvement over the old method of teaching number.
Several of them speak for themselves as follows :-
MISS KATE MCNAMARA.
A new departure has been made this year in the method of teaching number in the second grades, which is received with marked favor and enthusiasm by the teachers and pupils.
The observations, comparisons and even judgment of the pupils of the second year are clearly suggestive of the neces- sity for most favorable conditions to develop the "number sense." And the superior feature of this method is that it possesses these qualities. The child is taught to observe, image, compare, draw or express and test magnitude relations. He acquires an ability to estimate lengths that is truly surpris- ing. His actual measurements secure accurate results, and have a tendency to prevent errors. This gives the child confidence, and he manifests increased interest and is encouraged by his progress to make further inquiries; so that the outcome of his investigations leads forth the germ of individuality which it is the true province of the public school to develop.
MISS S. E. SHELDON.
Although I have used Miss Walter's system of teaching number but a short time, I am much pleased with the results. The visualizing and imaging required, train the children to observe closely and to think. The individual problems help them to be self-dependent and accurate. The knowledge gained by the daily use of linear, square and cubic measures prepares them for many practical problems, and must be of great value.
19
MISS J. L. DEVINE.
From what I have been able to observe of the Walter method of teaching number, I think it has many excellent features. By this method each child is furnished with the fol- lowing material: All the different linear measures from one up to twelve inches, surfaces and solids from which he learns to consider simple, exact magnitude relations and to express them numerically. One great advantage of this method is the attention required of the child in handling the material to ob- tain relations of magnitude at the teacher's dictation. There is a tendency, also, to greater accuracy on the part of the child because he must refer to his measures to correct errors, and he is required to work on his problem until it is correct.
MISS M. F. GALLAGHER.
During the fall term the Walter method of teaching number was introduced into the second grade of the Milford schools, and I think it will prove superior to any I have ever used. At different periods of the previous year I visited the South Framingham schools, where the method is used, to ob- serve the work and was very much impressed by it. The sur- face and linear measures connected with the method afford opportunity for an indefinite variety of drill. They train the child to image these types, and to combine, separate into parts, and compare the different measures. The constant drill and repetitions fix the fundamental facts clearly and positively in the child's mind. It is extremely interesting to notice the pleasure the children manifest in the work, and, even at this early stage, their accuracy in determining lengths and com- binations is surprising. I feel quite satisfied with the results already accomplished, and am confident that by the end of the year they will be most gratifying.
EVENING SCHOOL.
The evening school opened this year on Nov. 3, with Mr. John E. Swift as principal and Misses L. E. Gilfoyle, A. S. McDermott, Kate Tully, K. G. Gilmore and Mary F. Gallagher as assistants, all of whom have done good work. The school was in session three evenings per week for twelve weeks. For
20
some reason the school as a whole was more elementary in character than last year, there being but few applications for anything beyond the very rudiments .
Although the pupils did not come in promptly at the opening of the school, there were about 90 in attendance dür- ing the first four or five weeks. Then they began to drop out until at the end of the eighth week the number had dimin- ished one half. At the re-opening of the school after New Years, however, there was a general influx of illiterate minors who had suddenly found it necessary either to attend the even- ing school or quit work. Heretofore we have had no report of the illiterates in town. It was apparent, however, that illiteracy existed to quite an extent, and that the law in rela- tion to it was being evaded. Steps were taken to ascertain some of the facts in the case, and this resulted in between 60 and 70 illiterates appearing upon the scene shortly after the visit of the state inspector.
After the experience of the past two years, we are con- vinced that in the future the evening school should be con- ducted on a somewhat different plan. The time for registra- tion should be limited to the first two weeks of the term. The truant officer should visit the shops and factories and insist upon the attendance of illiterate minors. A small deposit re- quired of those other than illiterate minors, the same to be re- turned to them providing they attend a certain proportion of the time, would probably insure a more regular and constant attendance. Careful attention could then be given to the sub- ject of grading, and the efficiency of the school greatly in- creased.
That a few, at least, of the more advanced pupils appre- ciate the privilege of an evening school is shown by their con- stant attendance both last year and this. They attended closely to business and made good progress.
The value of a good evening school is becoming more and more apparent. It is an important factor in an educational system, especially in this commonwealth. The laws of the state indicate this, as legislative enactments are supposed to embody the sentiments of the people.
21
It seems pertinent to quote here from a report presented at the November meeting of the New England Association of School Superintendents in Boston. "A problem of grave import in connection with this subject which confronts school 1 officials today is that of dealing with minors above school age who have no knowledge of English, or whose familiarity therewith is slight. The reports that come to your committee indicate that strenuous efforts in many cities and towns are being put forth in the endeavor to place the advantages of an evening school within reach of many who in no other way will be enabled to obtain a knowledge of English. These reports tend to establish the conviction that serious consideration has been bestowed upon this problem within the past decade. Many and varied are the suggestions for dealing therewith. Progress can be reported upon this line, and in submitting this report it may not be inappropriate to review in some manner the legislation upon this subject. The movement, it is understood, had its origin in Massachu- setts, hence the review thereof will be confined to the legisla- tive enactments of that commonwealth.
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