USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1915 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
PLAINS GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Repainted outside ; woodwork repainted inside-Cass Bros.
PLAINS ANNEX.
Repainted outside ; woodwork revarnished inside- Cass Bros.
CHAPIN STREET SCHOOL
School and outbuildings repainted outside ; new fence painted-T. E. Morse Co. (H. J. Bailey).
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Inside-Cass Bros.
WEST STREET SCHOOL.
Main building and outbuildings repainted outside- Eldredge & Son.
4
30
BRAGGVILLE SCHOOL. Walls repainted inside-Cass Bros.
PURCHASE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Building and outbuildings repainted outside - Cass Bros.
BEAR HILL SCHOOL.
Repainted outside-Cass Bros.
Plumbing. CHAPIN STREET SCHOOL.
Bubbling drinking fountain installed in each school- room-Staples & Gould.
WEST STREET SCHOOL.
Bubbling drinking fountain installed in each school- room-Staples & Gould.
HOBOKEN SCHOOL.
Bubbling drinking fountain installed-Staples & Gould.
PLAINS ANNEX.
Building connected with Town water system, and wash bowls and bubbling drinking fountain installed in each room-Staples & Gould.
Masonry Work. PLAINS DISTRICT.
Concrete walks repaired and three sets of steps reset- A. P. Clarridge.
WEST STREET SCHOOL.
Foundation and underpinning repointed; new tar walk to outbuilding-A. P. Clarridge.
HOBOKEN SCHOOL.
New concrete front platform-A. P. Clarridge.
PARK SCHOOL
Chimney repaired-P. Consigli ; east walk repaired and concrete steps made-A. P. Clarridge.
31
OLIVER STREET SCHOOL. North walk relaid in cement-P. Consigli.
BRAGGVILLE SCHOOL.
New ceiling-A. P. Clarridge.
As usual, stoves and furnaces were overhauled and other minor repairs made.
SPECIAL REPAIRS.
No new heating plant was installed at the Park school as had been planned, as the system designed for the de- partment was found to cost nearly twice as much as the amount available. I recommend that $2000 be set aside for this purpose and that a suitable system be installed next. summer.
New hot air installations were put in at the West .. Street and Purchase Grammar schools and these buildings. are now furnished with fresh, warmed air, and venti- lated at very little, if any more, expense than with stoves,. as formerly. The work was done by Clark Ellis & Sons,. they being the lowest bidders ..
For a number of years there has been more or less discomfort from cold halls and trouble from frozen pipes in the basement at the Spruce Street school. These condi- tions were removed early this year, and the health and comfort of pupils and teachers secured, and the water sys- tem protected, by setting up the heater recently taken from the Oliver Street school, and installing about 375 feet of radiation in halls and basement. The work was done by. Staples & Gould, they being the lowest bidders.
EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES.
The office of the superintendent of schools will" be open to issue employment certificates: 8 to 9 A.M. and 4 to 6 P.M. on school days, and every Monday night, 7 to 9, until further notice.
The new law governing the certification of minors should be fairly familiar to all parties in interest by this
32
time, but unfortunately it is not, if one may judge by the number of young people who come to the office with only a part of the required credentials or no credentials at all. The whole matter, while it involves a considerable amount of detail on the part of the applicant for certification, is simple enough in theory and need entail no particular hard- ship upon.anyone .if everybody in interest-employers, em- ployees, and parents or guardians of the latter-would take the trouble to familiarize themselves with the new law, once for all. A brief analysis of the requirements follows :-
I. All minors under 14 years of age must be in school during the entire school year.
II. Minors 14 to 16 years qualified to enter the fifth grade in the public schools may work eight hours a day, forty-eight hours per week, at non-prohibited trades or they may help at home, provided they have attended school 130 days since their thirteenth birthday. They require : -
A. A satisfactory proof of age.
B. Employer's promise to employ. On one card.
C. Physician's certificate of health.
.D. A teacher's school record card.
They should bring all the above when coming to the school office for a certificate.
III. Literate minors, 16 to 21 may be given educational certificates, literate, requiring the educational qualifications and proof of age, already referred to ; or illiterate, requiring only a proof of age. Holders of literate certificates are urged to attend night school. Holders of the illiterate cer- fificates must attend night school, while it is in session. Every minor must secure a new certificate when changing · employers.
The attention of employers is called to the following, printed on the back of every employment or educational cer- i tificate : -
"This certificate must be returned by the em- · ployer to the office of the superintendent of schools
E
from which it is issued, within two days after em-
33
ployment by him of the person named hereon ter- minates. Penalty for non-compliance not less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars."-Chap. 779, Sects. 15 and 22, Acts of 1913.
The attention of employers of illiterate minors is called to the following, printed on the back of every educational «certificate, illiterate : -
"The holder of this certificate to be legally em- ployed must present to his or her employer each week while a public evening school is maintained in the city or town in which the said holder resides, a record of his or her attendance in such school. When such record shows unexcused absence, the continuance of his or her employment is unlawful. His or her employer, and said holder, as well as the latter's parent, guardian or custodian, are subject to penalty for violation of this requirement."-Chaps. 467 and 779. Acts of 1913.
"It is incumbent upon the employer to see that the person who holds this certificate regularly at- tends evening school during the term thereof."
There have been issued by this department, under the new law : -
During 1915. To Jan. 1, 1916.
Employment certificates
82
244
Home permits
7
11
Educational certificates, literate ..
217
866
Educational certificates, illiterate
19
156
Total
325
1277
HEALTH INSPECTION
Again I would call your attention to certain facts :
Most school systems of the size of Milford's have den- tal clinics. Milford has none.
In many towns the size of Milford, and many smaller
34
than Milford, the schools enjoy the ministrations of a dis- trict nurse. In Milford they do not.
In some cities and towns, the schools enjoy the pro- tection and help of an eye clinic. In Milford they do not ..
In some cities and towns the school children have the advantage of a clinic for nose and throat. In Milford they' do not. It is thought that this can be arranged with very little expense to the town.
With reference to the dental clinic, Section 1, Chapter- 677, Act of 1914, provides : -
Section I. Any city or town is hereby authorized to- establish and maintain one or more dental dispensaries for- children of school age, the funds appropriated therefor to be expended upon such terms and conditions and under such regulations as the local board of health of the city or town may from time to time prescribe. Section 2. This act shall' take effect upon its passage.
I earnestly recommend that steps be taken to secure the benefits of that statute for Milford, that an eye clinic be established and arrangements be made for the ser- vices of a school nurse as soon as possible.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
I. That graduates of the new Stacy school be awarded certificates on completion of the third year's work ; that they' have graduation exercises, with an address by a suitable: speaker.
2. (MADE LAST YEAR) That we do away with' commencement parts at future High school graduations,. and have a worthy address by a suitable speaker each year,.
3. That in the partial appropriation for repairs pro- vision be made for :
(a) PAINTING: -
High school-Trim outside; finish interior deco -- ration.
Park school-Walls throughout.
Purchase Grammar school-Inside. Bear Hill school-Outside.
Braggville school-Outside.
35
Hoboken school-Outside.
Spruce Street school-Walls painted; woodwork scraped and finished.
Chapin Street school-Inside.
(b) CARPENTER WORK :-
Build a new fence on the north side of the High school.
New floors at the West Street school.
(c) SPECIAL: -
A new tar and gravel flat roof on the High school. (This refers to the central portion above the the slant roof, now tinned and painted.) Re- grade and improve the combined High and Stacy school lots.
4. That in the partial appropriation for supplies pro- vision be made for self-verifying busy-work for grade I, and for new arithmetics.
5. (a) That the Board of Health be called on to main- tain a dental clinic, according to law.
(b) That this department join with others in employ- ing a district nurse.
(c) That this department start and maintain an eye clinic.
(d) That an attempt be made to secure clinical atten- tion to the noses and throats of the school children.
6. That your committee consider improvements of the older units in the plant at the Plains, to be undertaken not later than the summer of 1917.
I thank your committee for continuing the policy of improved heating plants in the older schools.
In conclusion, 'I thank your committee cordially for the many courtesies, professional and personal, that have marked the year just closed, and I thank the principals and teachers for their consideration and loyal support.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
ALMORIN O. CASWELL,
Superintendent of Schools,
Milford, Mass., January 21, 1916.
Report of the Principal of the High School.
High School, Milford, Mass., Jan. 14, 1916. Mr. Almorin O. Caswell,
Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir,
I have the honor of submitting the following report of the work accomplished in Milford High school during the past year.
It pleases me to be able to say that the only faculty changes since my last report were in the nature of additions. To meet the increased enrolment, and to properly care for the commercial department, two teachers were added : Miss Florence M. Whittemore, Milford High school, 1909, and Boston University, 1915, is this year teaching freshman subjects, and Miss Kathryn M. Morrill, St. Mary's, 1912, and Bay Path, 1913, is assisting Miss Birmingham in the commercial department. Thanks to the committee's gen- erosity the ratio of pupils to teachers is now much nearer what it should be than for several years past, and I can also say for the first time that typewriting is supervised dur- ing every period in the week,
· The enrolment in September showed an increase of twenty-two over that of September. 1914. The present en- rolment figures are 136 boys and 166 girls.
Cost Accounting has been added to the course of study, and a class in Commercial Correspondence has been formed. This latter study was on the Course of Studies last year, but no class could be formed on account of the lack of teachers. New text books have been adopted for freshman Latin, Commercial Correspondence, and Plane Geometry, and a new book of Song Classics has been pro- vided for the Glce. Club.
The graduating class of 1915 numbered fifty,-the
37
largest class to be graduated from Milford High school. A larger percentage of the members of this class entered higher institutions of learning than of any recent class. Thirty-three members of the class are continuing their studies, thirteen in colleges, five in technological institu- tions, eight in normal school, and seven in business schools. The remainder are either engaged in commercial pursuits or employed in their homes. The program of the graduation exercises followed the plan of the past few years in that- the several essays dealt, from various viewpoints, with a common topic, "The Aftermath of War." The complete program and a list of the graduates will be found elsewhere in this report. On the evening of graduation, six Under- wood, and two Remington diplomas were awarded to mem- bers of the 1915 class for proficiency in typewriting. It was also announced that, in the Patrick Peace Prize Con- test-open to members of this and neighboring high schools -- the first and third prizes were won by members of this school, and the gold awards were presented to Fred Clar- ridge, '16, and Ina Nelson, '16.
To add to the enjoyment of the weekly assemblies, vocal and instrumental solos by talented members of the student body have been -interspersed with the rhetoricals. The rhetorical work itself is of a generally high calibre and much credit is due to my colleagues of the faculty for the patience they have manifested in this important work.
For the first time in many years the senior class pre- sented a drama. The two-act playlet "Sally Lunn" was staged under the direction of Miss Larkin and Miss Fitz- patrick. The acting was excellent and evoked high com- mendation. The experiment will be repeated since it was. a complete success,-artistically, socially and financially. The proceeds were presented by the class to the Athletic Association fund.
After many patient years of devoted support to the boys' athletic teams, some small provision has been made for the girls through the purchase of a Volley Ball outfit.
38
During the fall a large number of girls participated in this simple, excellent game ; and it is my hope to interest more during the spring months, and to provide other games. I respectfully submit that a town of Milford's size and pro- gressiveness should maintain at least one public tennis court.
At this time and place, I wish to propose to the Com- mittee the introduction,-I believe I should say re-intro- duction -. of military drill for the boys of the school. In my opinion, based on experience as a Boston High school cadet, military drill provides an excellent opportunity for physical development which would reach all the boys in- stead of the small percentage now participating in foot- ball and baseball. But more to the point, in the view of a teacher, is its wide range of influence on the character of the boy. I do not wish to take space here to outline these points of influence, and believe them to be commonly under- stood.
In addition to the $88.90 donated to the Athletic As- sociation fund, as a result of the Senior play, the Senior class contributed $192.74 for the purchase of books for the school library. The class of 1890, at its twenty-fifth anni- versary celebration in July, presented a handsome copy of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa; a cash balance left after this purchase has been added to the library fund. An ex- cellent work on Sanitary and Applied Chemistry was pre- sented to the library by the class of 1887. The school is indebted and very grateful to these classes for their gener- osity.
The faculty of the High school desires to express to the Committee and Superintendent their grateful apprecia- tion of the co-operation given them, and I take this oppor- tunity to thank the members of the faculty and others who have helped make my first year as principal a successful and pleasant one.
Respectfully yours,
C. A. FITZGERALD.
REPORT OF THE EVENING SCHOOL.
Mr. Almorin O. Caswell,
Superintendent of Schools.
My dear Mr. Caswell: -
I am herewith submitting my report of the Evening School for the term just finished and I am also enclosing the monthly reports and the card with each night's at- tendance on it.
ATTENDANCE.
Evening school opened Oct. 4, 1915.
Evening school closed December 22, 1915.
Length of term-twelve weeks.
Total enrolment 150
Average membership
82.1
Average attendance
63.3
Per cent of attendance
81.9
STATISTICS.
Number under twenty years of age 78
Number between twenty and thirty years of age
67
Number over thirty years of age
5
Number of females enrolled
47
Number of males enrolled
103
Number of illiterates
75
PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT.
Archer Rubber Co. . 16 Lapworth Mills 5
Draper Co.
35
Milford Iron Foundry 6
Greene Bros.
20
Milford Shoe Co. S
Huckins & Temple
6
Quarries
5
Williams Shoe Co.
5 Regal Shoe Co.
6
Taft Woolen Mills
2 Miscellaneous 42
40
NATIONALITY OF PUPILS.
Americans
3
1 Hebrews
2
Austrians
1
Swedes
3
Armenians
6
Italians
109
French
1
Poles
5.
Germans
1 Portuguese
15.
Greeks
3
Russian
1
Respectfully,
JAMES E. LUBY,
Principal.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
Mr. Almorin O. Caswell,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir : ----
The following is presented as my annual report as supervisor of drawing.
Since the object of the Manual Arts in the public schools is to develop the thinking power and esthetic appreciation of the children, the same general lines of work are pursued throughout the public school course, the problems becom- ing more difficult from grade to grade.
The outline is planned in relation to the two natural methods in which the child's mind instinctively expresses itself, namely by "doing things" and by "talking about things." In "doing things" we use paper, cardboard, fab- rics, wood, and leather. Bookmarks, clipping cases, cal- endars, memorandum pads, whiskbroom holders, blotting pads, handkerchief, and jewel cases were some of the ob- jects constructed and decorated in the grades.
In "talking about things" we use crayon, paint, pencil, charcoal, and ink, telling our stories in lines and masses in- stead of words.
At the high school, freehand and mechanical drawing are taught as usual. Interesting objects were constructed in leather, such as hand bags, pocketbooks, cardcases, and blotter corners, and these were ornamented by cutting or tooling the leather, the object being lined with some ma- terial of a harmonizing color in most cases. Dresser and sideboard covers and pillow tops were stencilled with oil paints, original stencils having been made.
It is partly by means of these constructed objects that we hope to bring the art influence into the homes, and to teach the child to appreciate the value of a sinple bat well-
42
constructed object which is suitably but not superfluously decorated.
In closing this report, I must express my sincere ap- preciation of your kindness and that of the members of the school committee, and of the valuable co-operation of the teachers who have so faithfully assisted in the accomplish- ment of the work.
Respectfully yours, GENEVIEVE M. TOOHEY.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
Mr. A'lmorin O. Caswell,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Mr. Caswell: -
Dr. Charles W. Eliot has said, "The place which music now holds in school programs is far too small. By many teachers and educational administrators, music and drawing are still regarded as fads or trivial accomplishments not worthy to rank as substantial educational material ; whereas they are important features in the outfit of every human being who means to be cultivated, efficient and rationally happy."
What then can music in our schools do to make the life of the community fuller and more complete? For unless music reaches into the masses of the people it has no place in our public schools. And if the subject is to be treated as a mere decorative frill then its cultivation must be left to those who have been blessed with the means to afford private instruction.
But we know far differently. The very large place which music holds in the community is very often over- looked by those who have not given the matter sufficient serious reflection. Practically no gathering of people is held without some form of music. We ask for music at our political campaigns, our banquets, our weddings and our funerals. The band plays at our fairs and pageants. We wish for music when we are happiest and we wish for its consolation in our saddest moods. What would life be with- out this, the divinest of arts? Someone has very fittingly remarked : "When words fail, we still have music."
Since music holds such a high place in the community, it should be developed to the highest degree, and there is no more suitable place for the beginning and growth of
44
this development than the public school. For, in our schools are to be found the musician and singers of the future. Our choirs will be filled by these same boys and girls and it is through the art of music that the co-operation between home, church and state is strongest.
In our High school much more enthusiasm has been manifested this year, due, I think, to the fact that music has been made elective, and credit given therefor. The "Standard Song Classics" have been introduced and they will do much toward keeping up interest.
In the grades the work is very satisfactory, a steady improvement in sight reading and tone being very notice- able. The Junior Song and Chorus Books, another of the New Educational Series, has been adopted in the eighth grade and fine work will result.
I wish at this time to thank you for your kindnesses to me, and also to thank the teachers for their goodwill and co-operation.
Very respectfully submitted,
ELIZABETH MCNAMARA.
EYE AND EAR TESTS.
SCHOOL.
NO. OF PUPILS
EXAMINED.
FOUND DEFEC-
TIVE IN EYE-
SIGHT.
FOUND DEFEC
TIVE IN
HEARING
NO. OF PARENTS
OR GUARDIANS
NOTIFIED.
High School,
303
26
5
30
Park,
262
36
8
10
South,
161
15
5
18
Plains Grammar and Annex,
249
31
3
33
Plains Primary,
39
0
0
0
Purchase Grammar,
24
4
0
4
Purchase Primary,
399
22
3
25
Claflin,
271
33
4
31
Spruce Street,
173
- 1
1
5
Oliver Street,
165
11
0
11
Chapin Street,
110
9
0
7
West Street,
78
4
5
9
Fountain Street,
20
0
0
0
Hoboken,
33
0
0
0
Bear Hill,
21
0
0
0
Braggville,
11
1
0
1
Total,
2319
199
34
174
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIANS.
To the School Committee of Milford.
The following tables present a brief summary of the results of our work in the schools of Milford for the school year 1915-'16. It must be remembered that the defects here reported do not include those of sight and hearing, which are reported by the teachers.
TABLE I. CLASSIFICATION AS TO THE GRADE OF THE DEFECTS. PRIMARY GRADES.
French. Gallagher. Total. Percent.
Whole number pupils inspected, 534
595
1129
Number having no noticeabledefects, 33
38
71
6
Number having only slight defects,
300
295
595
53
Number having serious defects,
201
262
463
41
GRAMMAR GRADES.
Whole number pupils inspected, 456
357
813
Number having no noticeabledefects, 46
58
104
13
Number having only slight defects, 220
112
332
41
Number having serious defects,
190
187
377
46
HIGH SCHOOL.
Whole number pupils inspected, 151
144
295
Number having no noticeabledefects, 35
69
104
35
Number having only slight defects,
70
23
93
32
Number having serious defects,
46
52
98
33
WHOLE SCHOOL.
Whole number pupils inspected,
1141
1096
2237
No. having no noticeable defects,
114
165
279
12
Number having only slight defects, 590
430
1020
46
Number having serious defects,
437
501
938
42
47
TABLE II. CLASSIFICATION AS TO THE NATURE OF THE DEFECTS. PRIMARY GRADES.
French. Gallagher. Total. Percent.
Whole number of pupils inspected, 534 595 1129
Number having mouth and teeth defects,
440
243
683
60
Number having nose and throat defects,
385
513
898
80
Number having miscellaneous de-
fects, 41
64
105
9
GRAMMAR GRADES.
Whole number of pupils inspected, 456
357
813
Number having mouth and teeth defects,
323
174
497
61
Number having nose and throat defects,
301
222
523
64
Number having miscellaneous de- fects,
51
38
89
11
HIGH SCHOOL.
Whole number of pupils inspected, 151 Number having mouth and teeth defects,
81
52
133
45
Number having nose and throat defects,
54
34
88
30
Number having miscellaneous de-
fects,
46
13
59
20
WHOLE SCHOOL.
Whole number of pupils inspected, 1141
1096
2237
Number having mouth and teeth defects,
844
469
1313
59
Number having nose and throat defects,
732
769
1501
67
Number having miscellaneous de- fects,
138
115
253
11
These tables differ only in detail from those of last
144
295
48
year, showing in the majority of cases a slight improve- ment in the higher grades over the previous year.
In the Claflin Street school of six grades, the experi- ment was tried of weighing and measuring each child. The object in view was to determine the average or normal height and weight for each year of school life, and by com- paring this with the standing in school of each pupil, to determine the relations of over and under height and weight to the mental ability. The figures obtained were as fol- lows: -
Average Height. Average Weight.
(inches)
(pounds)
Grade I.
44.14
43.30
Grade II.
46.59
48.94
Grade III.
48.63
55.53
Grade IV.
51.62
61.17
Grade V.
54.56
69.02
Grade VI.
56.61
78.26
There are, however, so many complicating circum- stances to be considered in order to gain the desired in- formation from this table, that it was not considered worth while to go farther with the experiment this year. There are so many repeaters in all grades above the first, that the grade-ages are very indefinite. Nationality and sex must necessarily be considered, since they influence both height and weight. To complete the work, the standing in school of each pupil must be made use of. It is possible that in the future this experiment may be taken up and carried to a successful conclusion.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.