USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1912 > Part 7
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tardiness to exist to any degree without such lowering its whole moral tone. We have been very active within the last year and a half in the matter of absences and tardiness, and shall continue to be so in the future. I realize that we have been criticised somewhat severely for our activity along this line. We will frankly admit that some of this criticism may be just, for no good for the public at large can be accomplished without occasional hardship being inflicted upon some indi- vidual or individuals. Public good always calls for individual sacrifice. We mean to be fair and just in our demands, and we feel that the public at large so looks upon our methods. We do not wish to overdo the matter of attendance. Under no consideration whatsoever, do we desire the presence of a child in a single schoolroom whose health is such as to warrant and demand his staying at home. We do not wish the matter of perfect attendance carried to a degree that a child is expected in the schoolroom when ill. The spirit of being present every day on time that is engendered into the pupil by the desire to be perfect in attendance is very commendable. Any enthusiasm that can be awakened along this or any other line in your boy or girl augurs well. It simply goes to show that his work in life will be successful, provided the proper stimuli are brought to bear upon him.
This past year the Seventh Grade in the Palmer Gram- mar School went five months without a single absence, and in this time only one case of tardiness was registered against the room. This is really as remarkable a case of attendance as has ever come under my observation.
Our per cent of attendance for the last school year was 94.49. For the year previous it was 95.23 per cent. In spite of all our endeavors last year, we were unable to meet the high record of the previous year. A big decrease in tardiness was made. We registered 431 cases against 907 for the previous year, a decrease of 521/2 per cent. At the beginning of the school year, in our own mind, we set ont to make a decrease of 50 per cent, and it is our desire this year to make a still further reduction of 50 per cent. This can be accomplished, judging
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from our statistics thus far this year, unless we meet with some unforeseen handicap.
An examination of the Appendix of this report will show an interesting table of comparison relative to the matter of tardiness. We have tabulated the number of tardy cases reg- istered against each school for each month for the past two years. We invite your careful inspection in order that you may see the steady, gradual decrease that is taking place. The percentage of decrease for the entire school system last year over the previous year was 521/2 per cent. The greatest de- crease was in the High School, where a shrinkage of 74 per cent occurred. The Palmer Grammar School decreased 54 per cent : the Thorndike Grammar School, 70 per cent; the Three Rivers Grammar School, 60 per cent; the Bondsville Gram- mar School, 60 per cent. In the district schools, there was an increase of 40 per cent. This certainly is a remarkable show- ing in decreasing that worst of all school evils, tardiness.
ENROLLMENT The number of pupils in attendance at our schools is constantly increasing. This year we are registering some 53 more than at the same time last year. Upon comparing the attendance for the past two school years ending in June, 1912, it will be found that the enrollments were 1,412 and 1,618, respectively : that the aver- age memberships were 1,298.90 and 1,411.33 for these years. This means that the enrollment the past school year was 206 more than that of the previous year; that the average mem- bership was 112.43 more than the average membership of the previous year. These figures seem to indicate that there is a steady increase of some 5 to 10 per cent in our average mem- bership for the past two or three years.
At the present time there are enrolled in the Pahner Grammar School 466 pupils. There are eleven rooms available for use in this building, every one of which is now in oper- ation. This means that there is an average of 42 pupils per teacher. If we could divide the pupils so that we could give each teacher 42 pupils, the conditions would be much better, though bad enough, than they are at the present ; but, owing
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to the unevenness of numbers in the various grades, it is an absolute impossibility to so divide them; consequently, you will see that in our lower grades, particularly, the rooms are badly overcrowded.
In the four rooms which take care of the children in grades one to three, inclusive, there is an average enrollment of some 50 pupils per teacher. This is a double erime, in our opinion. First, it is a crime against the teacher in that it is taxing her strength beyond all rightful demands that we ought to exercise. In the second place, it is a crime against every child in the room ; for, no matter how capable the teacher may be, she cannot give the proper time and instruction to each individual pupil where the numbers are so large.
The Committee decided to better these conditions some months ago; but, owing to various reasons, it has not been possible for us to secure the right sort of teacher for the place. In the fall, we expect to use one room in the High school for an eighth grade room. We will then open up a room in the Palmer Grammar school for the pupils of the second and third grades. This will relieve our congestion in this building. This will mean that we have opened up, within the past two years, three new rooms in this building. This ought to give some idea of the rapidity of the increase in enrollment.
Before many years, the Town of Palmer will have to make some provision to take care of this increasing enroll- ment. It probably will mean the erection of another building in some part of this village. The present building cannot be added on to, unless more land is purchased and added to the present grounds. As it is now, the pupils have not nearly enough playground. So much is this true that the pupils are forced to use the public streets running in front of the school as a recreation place.
In Bondsville, we are also confronted with congested con- ditions. We have the following enrollments in the lower grades of this building: Grade one, 51; grade two, 46; grade three, 48; grades four and five, 49. As can be readily com- prehended, these rooms are overstocked with pupils; particu-
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larly, when you consider that some of the rooms include two grades. This past year, in order to relieve conditions in the first grade, some ten or a dozen pupils who should have re- mained in grade one had to be sent to grade two. A slight increase in the number of pupils entering in the fall would mean that conditions would be so deplorable that it would be almost impossible for us to secure teachers who would handle such a proposition. This building can be very easily enlarged, and this addition to it should be made at once. Ar- rangements in anticipation of such an addition have been per- fected. An estimate of the cost has been secured, and this matter will come before the appropriation meeting of the town for consideration.
MEDICAL New rules relative to medical inspection INSPECTION have been drawn up and adopted during
the past year. 'These rules, before their final adoption by the School Committee, were submitted to the town counsel and the medical inspectors for their approval. The following out of the rules will do much for the health of the children within our schools. It is our purpose during the coming year to more thoroughly look into the health of the children, with the idea of having them placed in as sound a physical condition as pos- sible. Medical inspection, when rightly practiced, does not mean the mere prevention of the spreading of contagious dis- eases, but it should also include the careful examination of each and every child in order that any physical disability which may interfere with his bodily or mental progress may be removed. Much matter in the way of suggestion, informa- tion and notification has been printed, so that the demands upon the medical inspectors and the teachers will be as light as possible.
DENTAL INSPECTION About a month ago, every parent of a child in our schools received a printed circular relative to the matter of Dental Inspection. In this letter we endeavored to set forth the reasons for the installation of this inspection and the ends sought by doing the same. Every parent was given an opportunity to express '
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his desire that such inspection should not be made in each individual case. The inspection as yet has not been made, but will be within a few weeks. A careful tabulation of the results will be kept and interesting statistics will be given out at a later date, showing whether or not such an inspec- tion is a good and necessary thing.
Many parents have expressed their desire that this in- spection should not be made. In many cases, we know that this was done because attention was already being given to the teeth of their children. Under these conditions, we are glad to be notified to this effect in order that we may not duplicate any work; nevertheless, many parents whose chil- dren, in our opinion, absolutely need this inspection have likewise expressed their preference that it should not be done. Possibly there are two reasons for this: one is that the par- ent thinks that sooner or later this will involve some personal expense ; the second is that the child, fearing that he might be hurt, has persuaded his parents to so express their desire. Either reason is not infallible. Every child born into this world has a right to expect from his parents that all physical defects shall be rectified, if possible. Poor teeth, surely, must be considered as a physical defect and should demand imme- diate attention.
We trust that the results of the dental inspection this year will prove to be so convincing that we will experience no difficulty in future years in having examined the teeth of all those children who need it most.
PENNY SAVIGNS
The present scheme of penny sav-
ings was instituted in our schools No- vember 20, 1911. The scheme has been in operation about a year and a half. This period of time ought to be sufficient to warrant us in deducing conclusions relative to the merits of attempting such a plan.
During this time a little less than $3,500 has been de- posited by the pupils of the various schools. According to a report handed to us February 1, 1913, by the Palmer Savings Bank, there were 882 pupils who were depositors in this bank.
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Of these 882 depositors, 638 have bank books which means that they have deposited at least $1.00. Our enrollment February 1. 1913, was 1,580 pupils, with a deposit of $3,500.00. This signifies that each child in the entire enrollment has averaged depositing more than $2.00. With 882 depositors, this denotes that each pupil who has an account has averaged depositing a little less than $4.00. This is an exceptionally good showing. The school officials and the bank officials are highly pleased with the way that this scheme is working out by the treasurer of the Palmer Savings Bank. Since our successful introduc- tion of the plan, many schools through the state have adopted it in its entirety, or nearly so.
The idea of its institution is to teach the habit of thrift. The carrying out of the scheme involves considerable work upon the part of teachers and bank officials. Nevertheless, the teachers of the town are repaid for their work by the in- culcation of a valuable habit. The town and the state will be further repaid. in future years, by having produced a class of citizens, who because of their thrifty habits, are less liable to become town or state charges.
The Palmer Savings Bank takes care of this system at an actual loss. The amount of time consumed by its employes and the amount of printed matter necessary cost the bank much more than they gain from the deposits: nevertheless, the bank realizes that it is a state institution and an institu- tion that belongs to the people and should, therefore, co-op- erate with the schools in teaching this habit of thrift. Furthermore, while its outgo is greater than its return at the present day, the bank is educating may future depositors. either here or elsewhere. depending upon where our pupils make their future homes. Below will be found two reports of the system. The first one runs from November 20, 1911, to July 1. 1912. The second one, from September 1, 1912. to February 1, 1913.
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PENNY SAVINGS REPORT.
From November 20, 1911, to July 1, 1912. PALMER GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Enrollment
Amount transferred
to Bank Books
Balance due on folders
Total amount collected
Grades
1,
47
$40.00
$12.55
$52.55
1 and 2,
50
60.00
10.25
70.25
2,
44
62.00
7.86
69.86
3,
48
58.00
10.72
68.72
4,
50
116.00
13.13
129.13
5,
51
92.00
7.06
99.06
6,
43
42.00
5.00
47.00
7,
36
42.00
7.14
49.14
8,
33
62.00
4.82
66.82
9,
33
50.25
1.70
51.95
435
$624.25
$80.23
$704.48
THORNDIKE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grades
1,
47
$46.73
$8.80
$55.53
2,
37
34.44
13.67
57.11
3 and 4,
32
45.00
5.75
50.75
4 and 5,
36
40.00
6.33
46.33
6 and 7,
34
25.00
2.92
27.92
8 and 9,
28
45.00
5.06
50.06
214
$245.17
$42.53
$287.70
34
BONDSVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grades
1,
52
$61.14
$18.32
$79.46
2,
52
53.09
3.19
56.28
3 and 4,
47
69.55
10.37
79.92
4 and 5,
36
96.38
7.80
104.18
6 and 7,
35
88.00
7.20
95.20
8 and 9,
20
18.00
2.86
20.86
242
$386.16
$49.74
$435.90
. THREE RIVERS GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grades
1,
45
$26.00
$9.72
$35.72
1 and 2,
42
31.00
8.76
39.76
2,
39
34.20
7.15
41.35
3,
38
46.89
7.21
54.10
4,
43
47.30
5.14
52.44
5,
33
72.00
6.86
78.86
6 and 7,
46
65.00
6.54
71.54
8 and 9,
24
46.00
3.32
49.32
310
$368.39
$54.70
$423.09
Districts
Wire Mill,
47
$66.25
$12.87
$79.12
Shorley,
18
7.00
3.07
10.07
Forest Lake,
19
3.00
3.65
6.65
Palmer Center,
27
38.00
7.33
45.33
111
$114.25
$26.92
$141.17
SUMMARY.
Palmer Grammar School,
435
$624.25
$80.23
$704.48
Thorndike Grammar School,
214
245.17
42.53
287.70
Bondsville Grammar School,
242
386.16
49.74
435.90
Three Rivers Grammar School,
312
368.39
54.70
423.09
Districts,
111
114.25
26.92
141.17
1,312 $1,738.22
$254.12 $1,992,34
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From September 1, 1912, to February 1, 1913. PALMER HIGH SCHOOL. 157 $33.03 $29.00 23 16
PALMER GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grades
1,
55
$40.97
$35.00
25
15
1 and 2,
56
33.86
26.00
22
17
2,
52
57.85
58.00
35
26
3,
60
59.85
59.00
26
17
4,
47
35.33
34.00
24
17
4 and 5,
43
55.25
53.00
28
19
5 and 6,
42
60.43
59.00
27
23
6,
43
54.49
52.00
22
19
7,
36
44.70
39.00
18
14
8,
29
66.25
65.00
17
13
9,
27
.75
1.00
11
9
490
$509.73
$481,00
255
189
THORNDIKE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grades
1,
34
$22.73
$13.00
23
9
2,
40
39.05
32.00
34
22
3,
33
34.47
33.00
30
19
4 and 5,
47
37.07
32.00
30
23
6 and 7,
41
38.33
36.00
21
13
8 and 9,
32
31.55
32.00
13
12
227
$203.20
$178.00
151
98
BONDSVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grades
1,
52
$81.51
$68.00
31
25
2,
48
55.03
51.00
32
30
3,
49
66.69
60.00
36
30
4 and 5,
50
58.56
58.00
30
28
36
6 and 7,
36
63.82
64.00
20
20
8 and 9,
26
11.76
12.00
10
7
261
$337.37
$313.00
159
140
THREE RIVERS GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Grades
1,
57
$37.28
$25.00
28
10
1 and 3,
40
19.63
15.00
26
15
2,
37
19.07
15.00
26
15
3,
48
50.90
41.00
37
23
3 and 4,
49
37.85
35.00
29
19
5 and 6,
50
30.01
28.00
31
25
6 and 7,
45
72.58
68.00
24
19
8 and 9,
24
52.75
52.00
15
13
350
$320.07
$279.00
219
136
Districts,
Wire Mill,
40
$43.21
$35.00
35
28
Shorley,
23
11.48
9.00
8
4
Center,
32
46.44
41.00
32
27
95
$101.13
$85.00
75
59
SUMMARY.
Palmer High School,
157
$33.03
$29.00
23
16
Palmer Grammar School,
490
509.73
481.00
255
189
Thorndike Grammar School,
227
203.20
178.00
151
98
Bondsville Grammar School,
261
337.37
313.00
159
140
Three Rivers Grammar School, 350
320.07
279.00
219
136
Districts,
95
101.13
85.00
75
59
1,580
$1,504.53
$1,365.00
882
638
Average total enrollment, 1,446.
Average total deposits, $3,496.87.
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LIBRARY EXTENSION In last year's report, certain definite schemes relative to a possible co-operation between the local library and the Palmer schools were out- lined. This year, we are pleased to report that, to a certain extent, some of those plans have been put into operation. Books have been installed in the Thorndike, Three Rivers, and Bondsville Grammar schools. Some forty books were sent to each school. These books were suited to pupils in grades four to nine, inclusive. The books are good standard litera- ture, carefully selected from well graded lists of reading mat- ter for Grammar school children. These books have been placed in the various schools for the purpose of creating in the children the habit of reading good literature. Reading so enters into the very life and character of the individual that it is highly important that, in his early years, he should be trained to read only that which is good and profitable. The reading habit, like many of our other habits, depends entirely upon the sort of guidance, direction, and influence that shall be brought to bear upon them. The average person will read with relish good literature, provided he has been brought in contact with it before he has been allowed to pervert his taste by having fed himself upon that which is trashy and cheap, This is our main object in putting library books into our pub- lic schools. The books have been in use in the schools but a few months; nevertheless, the evident appreciation of the op- portunity to secure such books and the commendation of the plan by pupils and teachers seem to indicate the wisdom of such an installation.
HIGH SCHOOL The work that is being done in the High School today, in my opinion, is worthy of special commendation. There has been a complete change in the school in a great many respects. The discipline maintained is good; the spirit of the pupils toward their work is good; the general air about the entire school is wholesome ; the instruction given is exceptionally good. This improve- ment has been steady and gradual, and, in my opinion, much
-
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of it has been made possible by the constant, gradual, and steady tightening up along disciplinary lines. It is always im- possible in school work to obtain good spirit, profitable instruc- tion, and cheerful work unless the discipline is of the best. We are very fortunate in the possession of a very strong teach- ing corps in our High School. I question if ever a stronger one has been connected with the school. There are several features of the work of this school that I wish to speak of more specifically.
Last year, during the spring, an interesting prize speak- ing contest was held in the Opera House. Fifteen dollars in gold, given by one of our interested citizens, was offered as prizes. There were ten contestants, and each one spoke well. It was with much difficulty that the judges were enabled to render their decision.
A debate before the Palmer Historical Society by four boys from the High School was also very pleasing. The work done by the participants was of an extremely high order. It is safe to say that the caliber of this debate was far better than that of the average High School debate. The impression made by this feature of our school work upon the public was, I believe, very good.
This work in debating and prize speaking is simply an extension of the regular work that is carried on in the English department of our High School. Once a week the members of the sophomore class are called upon for rhetorical work; once a week the members of the junior and senior classes are called upon to give an oral presentation of some subject along the line of current events before the class. Most of the pupils use notes for guidance in doing this work. The design of this work is to train our boys and girls in speaking upon their feet upon any subject that they may be interested in in later life.
Many people have ideas while seated, but if called upon to express the same publicly upon their feet, they are abso- lutely unable to think a single thought. We hope by this training to eliminate this inability to a certain degree.
Each year the senior class presents a play in order to earn
39
money for a trip to Washington. These plays are worked up under the guidance and instruction of the English depart- ment. The last two plays have been very creditable.
This year, the High School has issued a paper. This pa- per will appear once a term, or four times a year. The pa- per is aptly called The Palmer. Thus far, one edition has come out. In my opinion this was a highly creditable effort. The articles written, the editorials, the grinds, the athletic news, and the alumni notes were all a credit to any paper of this nature.
The presentation of "The Trial Scene" from "The Mer- chant of Venice" by the sophomore class before the Historical Society, this year, was another commendable feature of our High School work. This was also very favorably received by those present.
All of these features are simply an extension of the regu- lar work in the English department of our High School. The work and training that we are attempting to give the pupils in English is very good and extremely helpful. These public exhibitions are, for the most part, simply a demonstration of what is going on regularly within the walls of our High School. I believe that this training alone, to say nothing of the valuable instruction that the pupils are receiving in many other lines, warrants the existence of our High School and ought to command the heartiest moral and financial support from the citizens at large.
COMMERCIAL COURSE The Commercial department of our High School is today one of its strongest features. The work that is being done in the de- partment is strong. We maintain, with a fair degree of cer- tainty that our Commercial department is as strong and effi- ciently conducted as any similar department in any high school of our size in the state.
A great many of the smaller high schools have had Com- mercial departments for several years. Many of them in- stalled them because they considered it the proper thing to do. They have in charge one teacher, generally a woman in-
40
structor. She endeavors to do the work of this department. together with what help she can get by placing her pupils in a regular class of the High School for instruction in commer- cial arithmetic, English, and kindred subjects. The product of such a department must necessarily be poor.
Until a year ago last September, we were endeavoring to do the same thing with one exception-we had a man in- structor. It was realized that, if this department was to prove successful and warrant its continued existence, a marked change must take place in our method of procedure. Two ex- ceptionally strong teachers, Mr. Clement and Miss McGrath, were secured as instructors. When I say strong instructors, I am positive that my judgment is correct, in that Mr. Clement has had since last June at least four opportunities to go else- where at a much larger salary than he is receiving from us, and Miss McGrath is now teaching in the public schools of Bos- ton, having ranked the highest in her examinations for a posi- tion in these schools. Last year, the work of this department was placed upon a very firm basis. Instruction equal, if not superior, to that of any business school was given our pupils. This year, we filled the vacancy caused by Miss McGrath's res- ignation by employing Miss Fish. In my opinion, the employ- ment of Miss Fish has still further strengthened our work. In order that pupils in the Commercial department receive real valuable instruction, it is necessary that they should have teachers who are sufficiently trained for their work. This means that they must have had practical office experience as well as special training for teaching. Both of our teachers have had this, and we deem ourselves very fortunate in the possession of such a force.
In maintaining a Commercial department it seems to me that there are two possible aims that may be responsible for the existence of such a course. The work of this department will depend entirely upon which aim is adopted. Commercial subjects may be taught as strictly technical subjects, or they may be taught as general cultural subjects. In the first instance, definite and specific training must be given. Pu- pils must be fitted to compete in the business world with the
41
graduates of the best business schools in the vicinity. This means the maintenance of a very efficient course. In the lat- ter instance, where merely a general knowledge is to be given and where the pupil is not to compete with the product of other commercial schools, a commercial department may be conducted much more economically, inefficiently, and loosely than under the first requirement.
We early decided that our Commercial department should be conducted with the idea of making it as strictly vocational and technical as possible. This, we are doing and we feel per- fectly free to allow our pupils to meet the graduates of the business schools of this vicinity in the business world, and we know that they will not be lost sight of in such a competition. In order to conduct our Commercial department upon this ba- sis of efficiency, there are several important facts that must be taken into consideration.
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