USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1912 > Part 8
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In the first place, it must be realized that it will require a larger expenditure of money to efficiently establish and con- duct such a commercial course than to maintain the other usual High School courses. Vocational education is much more expensive than cultural education. The high type of teacher, special equipment, facilities, material, larger room space-all of these are necessary and much more expensive than is ordinarily required for general school work.
The salaries, in the second place, that must be paid to efficient teachers of commercial subjects are higher than those paid the regular High School instructors. One of the reasons for this is that the demand far exceeds the supply. Commer- cial courses have been introduced into so many schools during the past few years that even a poorly equipped instructor can demand a fairly good salary. There are instances within my knowledge where pupils who have graduated from a high school and have taken a one year's business course have gone into high school commercial work at salaries equivalent to those paid college graduates who are teaching other school sub- jects. This shows you what the demand for commercial teach- ers is at the present time. You can readily understand, then,
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in securing and keeping teachers of the caliber of those we have in our Commercial department that it is absolutely necessary for us to pay good salaries.
In the third place, the materials used for commercial work must be abundant and of good quality. It is safe to assume that the cost for commercial materials will average about twice the cost for supplies used in the other courses. Good results cannot be secured unless plenty of material of good quality is furnished.
In the fourth place, a commercial room properly equipped will not take care of nearly as many pupils as will the regular schoolroom. The larger desks and the installation of numer- ous office appliances take up much space. This equipment is expensive and calls for a large initial outlay ..
In the fifth place, the individual student must be turned out from the commercial course with a greater degree of thoroughness and ability to accomplish results rapidly than is required from other High School graduates. This means that the student who pursues the commercial course ought to be a pupil of good ability. It further means that pupils who feel that the regular four years' course is too stiff a course for them to pursue ought not to attempt the commercial course. In ordinary school subjects, an average of eighty per cent is considered a good passing average. The eighty per cent commercial pupil is one who lacks the amount of pro- ficiency and efficiency that the business world demands. The business world is the last place that the inefficient should en- ter to gain a livelihood. Commercial pupils must be pupils of good ability.
In the last place, it is necessary that the entire commer- cial instruction be given by specially prepared commercial teachers. It is impossible to secure the best results when you dovetail your commercial department's work with the work of the other departments of the High School. Special courses and special teachers for all subjects must be provided, if a strictly technical training is to be given.
The success of any commercial department run upon
+
43
purely technical lines will depend, to a large degree, upon the extent of consideration that is given the above-mentioned requisites. It is our endeavor to run our department as near- ly as possible along these lines. In order to do it, the depart- ment must be supplied with sufficient money. The expendi- ture of a few more hundred dollars for this work will mean its success; the refusal to supply this additional money may mean its death. In my opinion, a half alive commercial de- partment is no better than a dead one. If we cannot run a good department, I would advise that we run none. To prove some of the seeming assertions made in the remarks above, you will find below a table showing the wages commanded by our first graduating class. This class finished last June. Out of a class of twelve pupils, nine of them almost immediately secured positions. In fact, some of them secured places sev- eral months previous to their graduation. The other three are doing postgraduate work. This, alone, is a very com- mendable showing, and it will be further noted from the table that our graduates secured positions at salaries ranging from $350 to $650 per year. You will also note that the average salary received by these graduates, at a period within a year of their graduation, is $420.67 a year, or a weekly wage of $8.09. I believe that this will compare favorably with the graduates of any commercial school or commercial High School.
We have constant requests for pupils from the business men of Palmer. They have co-operated with us in placing our pupils to a large degree, and we feel that the success of our department is largely due to this co-operation. We shall recommend frankly pupils to those seeking office help. We shall tell them plainly what we consider their ability to be along the various lines. When we give our unqualified rec- ommendation, we will gladly stand back of it. We intend to keep close watch over our graduates in order that we may learn how efficiently they are doing their work. In this way, we can strengthen our department wherever it may be weak.
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SALARIES OF FIRST YEAR'S COMMERCIAL CLASS.
Began,
Present.
$660.00
$660.00
300.00
500.00
416.00
416.00
416.00
416.00
364.00
364.00
393.12
393.12
322.92
322.92
250.00
350.00
312.00
312.00
Total,
$3,434.04
$3,786.04
Average yearly wage,
381.56
420.67
Average weekly wage,
7.34
8.09
PENNMANSHIP
In the spring term of 1911, Mr.
Harry Houston, Supervisor of Pen- manship in the public schools of New Haven, Conn., was called to Palmer by the School Committee to examine the pen- ยท manship as produced by our schools and diagnose the trouble with the same. The penmanship secured at that time was ex- tremely poor; comparatively little time and attention were given to this subject, apparently.
Mr. Houston has visited our schools about six times within the past two years. He has given talks to the teach- ers and has personally conducted lessons in penmanship .in all of the rooms of our graded schools. The result has been that a marked improvement in the handwriting of the pupils has taken place. The teachers have become enthused, the pupils have had their interest awakened, and our schools are producing specimens of penmanship which are a source of pride to all who see them. The pupils write with a free and easy arm movement, which is pleasing to watch. Mr. Houston is very enthusiastic over the rapid progress that has been made and feels that much of it is due to the read- iness of our teachers to accept and adopt the suggestions given by him.
45
The results of this training in the grades have been very apparent in the work of the Freshman Class in the com- mercial department of our High School this year. Mr. Clement, who teaches penmanship in the High School, was able within the first two months this year to secure as good, if not better, work in penmanship than he could possibly se- cure with the Freshman Class of the preceding year in June. The reason for this is that the pupils have been thoroughly trained in proper penholding, arm movement, and obedience to directions.
This work in penmanship is, in my opinion, very firmly established. It partakes of nothing of the nature of a "splurge" or "splash"; it has come to stay. In addition to the beneficial results that accrue from the formation of cor- rect habits of handwriting, there are other results that, to my mind, are of more lasting importance.
It is a pleasure to witness the lessons in penmanship in our schools today. The enthusiasm and readiness of the pupils when the penmanship period is announced is very pleasing. The manner in which the forty or more pupils obey implicitly and immediately the various directions of the teacher in nearly every room in town is a thing worthy of be- ing witnessed. I think those that visited our schools last May at the time of our annual exhibition were impressed with this fact. This was particularly true, I believe, at the exhibition given by the upper grades in the evening. We maintain that the habits of concentration and implicit obedience that are gained by this daily training in penmanship are habits of much value. In fact, I maintain that the discipline of mind secured from instruction in penmanship is worth more to the child than the actual ability to write prettily. In saying this, I do not mean to minimize the valuable acquisition of good handwriting; in fact, I place high value upon this ability. But in this study, as in all other studies, I believe that the pri- mary value attained is that of mind discipline rather than the possession of certain specific facts. It is not so much what the child remembers after he has left school that will
46
be valuable to him in life as it is the ability to think clearly and logically, to be able to concentrate his mind upon the sub- ject in hand, and to readily and willingly carry out the in- structions of those who may be above him in authority.
LABOR The matter of granting certificates CERTIFICATES to all minors between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one has been given very careful attention by the present superintendent. Within a few months of my induction into this office, I went through all of the large cot- ton mills granting certificates to all employes between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one.
In towns where compulsory night schools are maintained, all between these ages, who cannot read and write sufficiently well to do the work required in these subjects by third grade pupils at the time of their promotion to the next grade, must attend evening school. It is not, therefore, necessary, in Palmer that all between these ages must possess certificates stating whether or not they can read and write the English language. While it was not absolutely necessary that certifi- cates should be granted to all of these, the present incumbent thought it would be for the best interests of the mills and schools if such certificates were granted. The law requires that all between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years must present an age and schooling certificate.
It was an easy matter under the previous conditions for a child who was large for his age to inform his employers that he was sixteen years of age. In fact, several employes were found in some of the mills who had not told the truth relative to their age. While they were sixteen at the time interviewed by the superintendent, nevertheless, they had been in the em- ploy of the mills without certificates for a year or more when they were not sixteen years of age.
All minors who apply for certificates have to prove to the superintendent that they were born on the date specified by them. This can be done, if they are native born, by con- sulting the records of our town clerk. If they have been mem- bers of our schools, we have their ages on our registers for
47
several years back; then again, we have their ages given to the census enumerator. In case the school registers and the school enumeration do not agree and the child was not born in Palmer, we require a copy of their birth certificate. In case of foreign minors between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years, if there is any doubt in the mind of the superintendent that they are at least sixteen years of age, a copy of the birth certificate from the European country from which they came must be obtained. All ages given on these certificates have to be sworn to by the parent or guardian, in case the appli- cant has either. In this way, it is apparent that much care and caution are exercised in granting these certificates. This scheme has received the heartiest co-operation from all the factory employers. It also relieves them of all responsibility as to the presence of minors in their employment. If they are sure to require everyone to produce a certificate, there is ab- solutely no responsibility which devolves upon them; the superintendent assumes all of it.
Within a period of a year and a quarter, the school de- partment has issued 183 illiterate minor's certificates, 66 lit- erate minor's certificates, and 83 age and schooling certificates, making a total of 332 certificates issued. This gives some idea of the amount of work in tis one particular that is done by. the school department.
INTERESTING FIGURES Last November the school depart- ment gleaned certain figures relative to the percentage of children of Polish parentage in our va- rious schools. At the same time, figures relative to the num- ber of operatives in the mills of Palmer of Polish extraction were likewise gleaned. These figures are of interest and are, therefore, given in this report.
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MILLS.
No of Operatives
No. of Polish Operatives
Per cent of Polish Operatives
Palmer Mill,
943
529
56.1
Bondsville Mill,
679
482
71.
Thorndike Mill,
600
240
40.
Wire Mill,
400
165
41.05
Carpet Mill,
100
4
4.
Total,
2,722
1,420
50.21
SCHOOLS. Palmer.
No. of Pupils
No. of Polish Pupils
Per cent. of Polish Pupils
Grades 1 to 6,
370
26
7
Grades 7 to 9,
87
5
5.75
Total,
457
31
6.78
Three Rivers.
Grades 1 to 6,
276
172
62.3
Grades 7 to 9,
41
4
9.75
Total,
317
176
55.5
Bondsville.
Grades 1 to 6,
218
106
48.6
Grades 7 to 9,
36
6
16.67
Total,
254
112
44
Thorndike.
Grades 1 to 6,
173
118
68.2
Grades 7 to 9,
48
8
16.67
Total,
221
126
59.4
High School.
157
2
1.33
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District Schools.
Wire Mill,
41
4
10
Palmer Center,
32
0
0
Shorley,
18
4
22
Total,
91
8
9
Total of Schools
1497
455
30.4
In obtaining these figures, we had several purposes in mind, one of which was the introduction of cooking into our schools. There is no question but that there is a need of teach- ing our girls how to properly cook foods. This is true of all classes of children, but particularly true of those who are un- able to secure such instruction from their parents at home, who, themselves, are unfamiliar with American ways of cook- ing.
The results upon the mind and body of a person from eating properly cooked foods are unquestionably vital. The school has recognized it as its duty in hundreds and thousands of cities throughout the United States to give instruction along this line.
The installation of such a course in our grades would not be very expensive ; but whether or not it is expensive does not alter the fact that this installation is imperative. When we speak of introducing cooking, we mean the teaching of the cooking of the common everyday foods, and not fancy cook- ing. The great difficulty that we would have to overcome would be the planning of our work so that we could reach some of the children who need it most who are in our lower grades. So many children leave school as soon as they are fourteen that if we taught this subject only in the last three grades, as will be seen from the figures above, only a few would receive the benefit. I know from personal conversation with some of the mill agents of our large mills in town that they are interested in the introduction of such a course. I trust that the time is not far distant when we shall be able to have cooking as a part of our regular school work.
This past year we have kept a careful expense account
50
with each individual school in order that we might be able to determine definitely the cost of each. We herewith present in tabular form the results of our labor.
Comparison of Same Towns.
Maximum and Minimum Salaries Paid in High School and Grades.
Principal
Assistant Principal
, Teachers
Grammar Principal
Minimum
Maximum
Minimum
Maximum
Maximum
Minimum
Maximum
Montague,
$1,400.00 $1,400.00 1,800.00
$750.00
$1,000.00 1,700.00
Minimum $500.00 700.00 600.00
$700.00
$400.00
$650.00
Greenfield,
Ware,
1,500.00
1,700.00
North Attleboro,
1,400.00
1,750.00
1,000.00
1,200.00
600.00
800.00
650.00
800.00
Great Barrington,
2,000.00
800.00
900.00
550.00
750.00
612.00
750.00
Braintree,
1,500.00
1,700.00
600.00
800.00
1,000.00
1,200.00
Danvers,
1,600.00
2,000.00
900.00
1,200.00
550.00
1,000.00
700.00
900.00
Whitman,
1,600.00
800.00
1,100.00
500.00
825.00
1,100.00
Saugus,
1,500.00
1,700.00
800.00
1,000.00
600.00
650.00
550.00
750.00
Athol,
1,600.00
1,800.00
700.00
1,000.00
500.00
700.00
850.00
1,000.00
Northbridge,
1,400.00
1,800.00
400.00
750.00
600.00
700.00
Easthampton,
1,500.00
550.00
650.00
750.00
Amherst,
1,750.00
800.00
900.00
600.00
650.00
550.00
700.00
West Springfield,
1,800.00
600.00
1,000.00
625.00
1,000.00
Gardner,
1,800.00
1,900.00
1,300.00
1,300.00
600.00
750.00
550.00
600.00
Concord,
1,800.00
1,400.00
600.00
800.00
1,200.00
Andover,
1,800.00
2,000.00
900.00
1,200.00
750.00
850.00
600.00
850.00
Winchester,
2,300.00
1,600.00
750.00
900.00
1,500.00
1,800.00
Middleboro,
2,200.00
1,000.00
1,100.00
600.00
700.00
1,000.00
1,200.00
Norwood,
1,700.00
850.00
1,500.00
Milton,
2,200.00
2,500.00
1,800.00
1,800.00
750.00
1,000.00
1,200.00
1,200.00
Average.
1,609.09
1,842.86
962.50
1,226.67
595.00
802.05
761.69
964.29
Palmer,
1.200.00
1.600.00
600.00
700.00
608.00
608.00
870.00
600.00
850.00
800.00
1,000.00
Methuen,
800.00
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SALARIES Inquiries were sent out to some twenty-two towns whose population or valuation compared favorably with that of Palmer. In a few instances the population is considerably larger than ours, and in four or five instances, the valuation is largely in excess of ours. The statistics of these twenty-two towns have been tabu- lated, and comparison has been made between the statistics of Palmer and the average of the statistics of the other towns. It will be seen, in glancing at this table, that the average popula- tion is slightly less than ours, and the valuation is exceedingly larger than that of Palmer, primarily due to the fact that we included towns like Milton, Winchester, Norwood, and Green- field, some of which, although not larger in population, are much wealthier in valuation. It will be readily seen that, if we omitted from the valuation column the towns of Milton, Nor- wood, Winchester, and Greenfield, this would decrease the to- tal valuation of these twenty-two towns some sixty-three mil- lion dollars, and, if we divided the total valuation by the re- maining eighteen towns, that we secure an average valuation of a little more than $6,000,000.
A comparison of the school expenditure and the cost per pupil shows that Palmer is considerably under the average of these towns. The amount appropriated for every $1,000 of valuation for school purposes is larger in Palmer than is the average of these towns. This is due to our smaller valuation.
In glancing at the salaries paid in our High School and paid to the principals of our Grammar schools, it is soon evi- dent that those of Palmer are considerably under the average of the towns compared. We pay the principal of our High School nearly $250 less than the maximum paid by the aver- age of these towns. In fact, there are only two towns which pay less than Palmer, while there are about eighteen that pay more. We pay our High School principal $1,600; the aver- age paid by these towns is $1,842.86. The average wage paid to women teachers in the High schools is $802.05; our maxi- "mum is $700, $100 less. There are only three towns who pay less than we do; there are sixteen towns that pay more,
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The average maximum paid Grammar principals is $964.29; our maximum is $608. There is a wide discrepancy in the maximums paid to the principals. There are only two towns that pay less than we; all the others pay more, and most of them considerably more.
Our teaching corps in the High School is the strongest, in our opinion, that we have ever had. Our High School is steadily growing in numbers and the classes that are taught are consequently larger. During the past year, two of our High School teachers have been offered opportunities to leave us at much larger salaries. One teacher was offered $550 more than his present salary; the other was offered an in- crease of $250. We wish to maintain as efficient a High School as any of the towns of our size. To do this, we must pay at least as much money to our High School teachers as do they. I would suggest that an increase be made.
The Grammar School principals have been working with $608 as a maximum for many years. I, for a fact, know that the maximum has not been changed within a period of eight years. The amount of work that we ask our principals to do is far in excess of the salary we pay. It seems to me that a principal who is compelled to teach every minute of the day either one or two grades, take charge of the supplies, disci- pline, etc., of a building with 220 to 470 pupils is entitled to more than $608 a year. The only reason that we can retain our four Grammar School principals at our present salary is simply and solely that they all live in town. I can assure you that were this not the fact, we would not be able to hold such capable principals for the money that we offer. With them, then, it is not a question of whether or not an increase in salary will retain them; it is simply a question of paying the laborer his due ; it is not a question of expediency, but a ques- ton of right.
I believe that an increase should be given to our High School principal and teachers and to our Grammar School principals. There is no question but that our grade teachers are entitled to more money and I hope in time the wisdom of increasing their salaries will likewise be considered.
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COMPARISON OF TWENTY-TWO TOWNS.
Town
Montague,
$6,866
$4,222,955.00
$34,415.69
$32.50
$7.90
Greenfield,
10,427
10,130,132.00
50,082.54
30.58
4.87
Ware,
8,774
4,814,775.00
34,055.08
30.38
6.99
North Attleboro,
9,562
7,732,240.00
41,802.09
29.73
5.41
Great Barrington,
5,926
6,030,715.00
31,635.74
31.02
5.03
Braintree,
8,066
6,265,880.00
44,777.57
30.46
6.92
Danvers,
9,407
6,470,425.00
44,005.43
29.73
6.55
Whitman,
7,202
4,994,721.00
34,399.11
27.74
6.68
Saugus,
8,047
5,510,516.00
40,720.01
26.02
7.26
Athol,
8,536
4,643,701.00
32,029.60
25.77
6.50
Northbridge,
8,807
4,594,600.00
34,025.10
23.47
7.39
Easthampton,
8,524
5,961,261.00
25,233.92
23.17
4.00
Amherst,
5,112
3,877,639.00
21,946.04
24.14
5.13
Methuen,
11,448
7,198,034.00
41,643.13
23.12
5.40
West Springfield,
9,224
7,319,159.00
40,562.65
22.76
5.16
Gardner,
14,699
8,245,905.00
52,464.10
29.07
6.26
Concord,
6,421
7,319,263.00
41,537.09
40.45
4.69
Andover,
7,301
6,737,207.00
38,363.94
33.59
5.12
Winchester,
9,309
12,758,750.00
60,170.82
35.39
4.67
Middleboro,
8,214
4,644,805.00
34,540.29
26.78
6.89
Norwood,
8,014
14,033,280.00
47,953.32
31.28
3.40
Milton,
7,924
26,689,650.00
76,821.08
54.48
2.88
Average,
8,540.91
7,934,559.09
42,642.48
31.35
6.04
Palmer,
8,610
4,364,687.00
34,950.30
28.12
7.83
Population 1910
Valuation 1910
School Expenditures 1910-11
Cost Per Pupil
Amount Appropriated per $1000 of Valuation
INSURANCE In 1908, new insurance rates were promulgated upon the Thorndike and Three Rivers Grammar schools, raising the insurance from a rate of 11/2 per cent to 3 per cent, and upon the Bondsville Grammar and District schools, raising them from 21/4 to 3 per cent. - These new rates would go into effect as soon as the poli- cies, then in existence, expired.
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During last year and this year, many of these policies have expired or will soon expire. Unless a reduction in rate was secured, this would mean that our total premiums would have increased some $600 for a period of five years, or an aver- age of $120 per year. About a year ago this time, the Super- intendent took up the matter of insurance with the New Eng- land Insurance Exchange. This is the board that fixes the rates of insurance for all legitimate companies doing busi- ness in New England. As a result of these communications and visits by the members of this Exchange, some minor re- ductions were secured.
Not content with these reductions, further efforts were made to secure a fair rate, in our opinion. These agents vis- ited all of the village schools, looked them over thoroughly, were shown the fire protection that the mill companies afford- ed in each village, and agreed with us that a better rate ought to be given.
We were supposed to be carrying 80 per cent of insurance upon our buildings and contents. The total insurance carried was $109,450. In order to be certain what the value of our buildings was at the present day, a careful estimate was made of all by a competent builder, and a careful estimate of the value of the contents of all of the buildings was also made. As a result of this, it was found that the total building value was $164,638, and that the total contents value was $18,900, or a grand total of $183,538. In figuring 80 per cent of the value of our buildings and 90 per cent of the value of the contents, we discovered that we should carry $131,000 on our buildings and $17,000 on our contents, or a total of $148,000 of in- surance.
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