USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1916 > Part 6
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The three main objections that would have to be met are these :- (1) Some would object to the necessity of trans-
31
portation ; (2) some would question the expense of furnish- ing something warm for lunch; (3) others would seriously oppose the absence of their children from home for so long a time.
The first and second objections can be met. The ex- pense of transportation for the present pupils in Grades 8 and 9 would be twenty-four dollars ($24) per week, or nine hundred twelve dollars ($912) per year. The cost of fur- nishing something warm in the way of a soup or drink would not be as expensive as it seems.
The third objection is the hard one to satisfy. It can be met, but, in many cases, not satisfied. Many people would seriously feel that their children ought not be away from home so long during the day. Yet, they would feel so because they have not been accustomed to it. There are many pupils now living on the outskirts of the several vil- lages who bring their lunch and stay during the noon hour. In the Palmer building alone, there is an average of seventy (70) pupils, and on cold or rainy days this number will run up to one hundred (100), who do this very thing. Pupils above fourth (4th) grade are now transported from the Wire Mill School; above fourth (4th) grade from the Pal- mer Center School; above sixth (6th) grade from the Shorley School; and all pupils living in the Forest Lake and Mason Districts are transported. Surely, pupils in Grades 8 and 9, who are so much older than many of those just named, could do this without serious inconvenience or hardship. A fair trial would eliminate most of this unwill- ingness. After a year's practice, it would be taken as a matter of course.
This proposition of combining Grades 8 and 9 merits serious and fair consideration. Whether it meets with favor or not to-day, it will eventually be put into force, be- cause it is based upon sound pedagogical and physiological principles.
32
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The following recommendations are offered :
(1). That serious and careful consideration be given the establishment of a Combined Upper Grades plan.
(2). That the inclusion of a gymnasium in the next school building erected in Palmer be urged.
(3) That some "follow-up" scheme be added to the present Medical Inspection Work.
(4). That the present School Extension Work be con- tinued and further broadened as need and opportunity, with due regard to financial ability, present themselves.
CONCLUSION.
An attempt to individualize this report has been made. Six subjects only have been dealt with; and two of these were treated upon briefly, Attendance and Commercial De- partment. The main drive has been upon Cost, Extension Work, Medical Inspection, and Combined Upper Grades. The treatment of Cost and Extension Work, while seem- ingly largely a matter of accounting for things done in the past, is given as a possible vindication. The hopes for the future are registered in the enlargement upon Medical In- spection and Combined Upper Grades.
The continued active co-operation and thoughtful con- sideration of the School Committee, the hearty support of citizens and parents, the firm loyalty and active efforts of the teachers, the healthy spirit and friendliness of the pupils, . all have contributed greatly to whatever success crowned the efforts of the schools this year past. Taken as a whole, without any conscious feeling of egotism, it is a fair state- ment to make when it is said that Palmer has been ex- tremely blessed with a combined good spirit upon the part of all component parts of a successful school system-com- mittee, parents, pupils, and teachers.
Respectfully submitted, CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Superintendent of Schools.
Palmer, Mass, December 12, 1916.
Appendix
A. GENERAL STATISTICS.
I. Population.
Census, of 1910,
8,610
School Population, September 1, 1915, 5 to 15 years of age,
1,474
School population, September 1, 1916, 5 to 15 years of age,
1,767
II. Pupils.
Number of children in town, September 1, as taken from the school census and registers ;
1914-15
1915-16
Between ages of 7 and 14,
868
1,269
Aggregate enrollment, Sept. to June,
1,788
1,921
Average daily attendance,
1,582.2
1,644.2
Average number belonging,
1,640.54
1,709.17
Per Cent of attendance,
96.44
96.2
Average number of pupils to each teacher :
21.88
20
In the High School,
40.33
37.04
B. ATTENDANCE STATISTICS.
I. Attendance by Schools, 1915-16.
Schools
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Percent of
Attendance
Tardiness
Enrollment
High,
158.3
152.43
96.3
10
180
Palmer Grammar,
502.83
486.61
95.57
48
581
Thorndike Grammar,
274.89
265.14
96.51
7
306
Bondsville Grammar,
283.71
274.17
96.81
11
299
Three Rivers Grammar,
398.8
380.5
95.42
41
457
Wire Mill,
48.64
45.84
92.66
26
54
Palmer Center,
28.3
26.2
92.6
5
30
Shorley,
13.62
13.25
97.28
3
14
Total,
1,709.09
1,644.14
96.2
151
1,921
In the other schools,
34
II. Per Cent. of Attendance by Buildings. 1915-1916.
Per Cent.
Shorley,
97.28
Bondsville,
96.81
Thorndike,
96.51
High,
96.3
Palmer,
95.57
Three Rivers,
95.42
Wire Mill,
92.66
Palmer Center,
92.6
III. Distribution of Pupils by Classes in Schools,
November 1, 1916.
Palmer
& Three Rivers
Thorndike
Bondsville
Wire Mill
A Center
+ Shorley
High
Total
Grade I,
68
52
53
24
290
Grade II,
65
69
46
50
11
6
1
248
Grade III,
66
63
45
42
8
9
2
235
Grade IV,
68
50
41
34
12
6
2
213
Grade V,
63
45
30
29
1
168
Grade VI,
65
39
26
32
3
165
Grade VII,
53
37
28
21
139
Grade VIII,
40
22
13
9
84
Grade IX,
49
17
12
13
91
Freshman,
71
71
Sophomore,
14
14
Junior,
50
50
Senior,
27
27
Post Graduate,
9
9
Total
537
427
293
283
55
25
13
171
1,804
School.
35
IV. Age and Grade Distribution Table in Elementary Schools, November 1, 1916.
GRADE.
Age
1
II
III
IV
V
VI VII VIII 1X Total
5
128
2
130
6
101
71
7
179
7
45
106
55
5
211
8
13
40
79
58
4
194
9
0
23
49
66
37
2
177
10
2
3
30
42
55
40
3
175
11
0
2
5
16
28
50
44
1
146
12
0
0
5
11
30
40
50
32
3
171
13
0
1
2
10
9
24
31
34
39
150
14
0
0
3
2
5
7
10
11
24
62
15
1
0
0
3
0
2
1
4
16
27
16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
7
9
17
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
Total,
290
248
235
213
168
165
139
84
91
1633
Above
Normal
Age,
16
29
45
42
44
33
11
6
9
235
Per Cent.
Above
Normal
Age,
5.52
11.69
19.49
19.72
26.19 20
7.91 7.14 9.89 14.39
The figures printed above the black line indicate the number of pupils within and below the normal grade age.
V. Record of Permanent Withdrawals and Reasons of Pupils from September, 1915 to July, 1916.
6 High
৳ Palmer
Thorndike
Three Rivers
Bondsville
Districts
Total
Removal from Town,
14
109
Going to Work, '
21
6
15
11
11
1
65
Illness,
2
2
4
6
2
4
20
Failure to Do Work,
1
1
Death,
1
1
2
Immaturity,
1
1
Total, 290
248
235
213
168
165
139
84
91
1,633
49
36
VI. Average Number of Pupils per Teacher in the Palmer Public Schools, November 1, 1915 and 1916.
Enrollment.
No. of
Teachers.
Av. No. Pupils
per Teacher.
School.
1916
1915
1916
1915
1916
1915
High,
171
174
9
9
19
19.33
Three Rivers Grammar,
427
406
10
9
42.7
45.11
Palmer Grammar,
537
526
12
12
44.75
43.83
Thorndike Grammar,
293
288
8
7
36.63
41.14
Bondsville Grammar,
283
294
8
8
35.37
36.75
Shorley,
13
14
1
1
13
14
Palmer Center,
25
27
1
1
25
27
Wire Mill,
55
50
2
2
27.5
25
All Schools,
1,804
1,779
51
49
35.37
36.31
High,
171
174
9
9
19
19.33
Grades,
1,540
1,514
38
36
40.52
42.06
Districts,
93
91
4
4
23.25
22.75
C. PROMOTION STATISTICS. Year Ending June, 1916.
I. Promotions in the Grades.
No. of pupils in
Grade in June
Promoted Un-
conditionally
Promoted Con-
ditionally
o Not Promoted.
- Per Cent Not
Promoted.
8 7 V œ O GRADE
74
72
2
97 /
83
12
2
2.06
96
81
11
4
4.16
6
151
118
25
8
5.3
5
167
141
20
6
3.59
4
180
152
15.
13
7,22
3
230
170
28
32
13.91
2
243
190
18
35
1.44
1
295
209
19
67
22.71
1,533
1,216
150
167
10.89
37
II. Reasons Ascribed by Teacher for Failure of Promotion.
Number of Pupils
Per Cent
Inability,
65
38
154-167
Lack of Concentration,
21
12
96-167
Immaturity,
16
9
97-167
Inattentiveness,
14
8
64-167
Inability to Speak English,
11
6
98-167
Mentally Deficient,
9
5
65-167
Lack of Application,
4
2
66-167
Absence,
4
2
66-167
Illness,
4
2
66-167
Late Entrance,
3
1 133-167
Absence and Inability,
2
1
33-167
Inattention and Poor Preparation,
2
1
33-167
Nervousness,
1
.5
165-167
Nervousness and Immaturity,
1
.5
165-167
Laziness,
1
.5
165-167
Peculiar Nature,
1
.5
165-167
Inability to Speak English and Peculiar Nature,
1
.5
165-167
Mentally Deficient and Absence,
1
.5
165-167
Lack of Effort,
1
.5
165-167
Mentally Deficient and Laziness,
1
.5
165-167
Inability and Laziness,
1
.5
165-167
Inability and Illness,
1
.5
165-167
Inability and Defective Hearing,
1
.5
165-167
Poor Preparation,
1
.5
165-167
167
III. Repeaters In The Grades. November 1, 1916.
Grade
Number Belonging.
Number
Percentage
1
290
67
23.1
2
248
32
12.9
3
235
27
11.49
4
213
12
5.63
5
169
6
3.55
6
164
4
2.43
7
139
1
.71
8
84
0
0
9
91
0
0
1,633
149
9.12
Repeating.
Repeating.
38
IV. Repeaters In The High School By Subjects. November 1, 1916.
Number Repeating.
Name of Subject.
6
Latin I
4
Latin II
2
Science I
1
Science III
6
English I
1
English II
1
French I
3
Shorthand I
2
Algebra
D. EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES.
Total Number Issued Past Year.
Employment (Ages 14-16),
314
Literate (Ages 16-21),
410
Illiterate (Ages 16-21),
198
Home Permit (Ages 14-16),
10
Education Permit,
11
Vacation Certificates,
1
-1
Total
944
E. PENNY SAVINGS.
YEAR.
DEPOSITS.
1912
$2,579.82
1913
2,789.23
1914
2,985.95
1915
1,772.23
1916
2,070.30
5 years
$12,197.53
Average Yearly Deposit,
$2,439.51
39
F. TABLES OF COMPARISON.
I. COMPARISON OF ATTENDANCE FOR TEN YEARS.
Year
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Per Cent of Attendance
1906-7
1,039.24
982
94.49
1907-8
1,151.19
1,094.03
95
1908-9
1,193.56
1,130.3
94.7
1909-10
1,243.38
1,157.35
95
1910-11
1,298.9
1,244.56
95.23
1911-12
1,411.33
1,333.62
94.49
1912-13
1,433.71
1,372.99
95.76
1913-14
1,526.97
1,471.52
96.37
1914-15
1,640.54
1,582.20
96.44
1915-16
1,709.09
1,644.14
96.2
II. COMPARISON OF TARDINESS FOR TEN YEARS . Ten Years Compared.
'06-7
'07-8
'08-9
'09-10
'10-11
'11-12 '12-13
'13-14 '14-15 '15-16
High School
51
222
161
230
322
85
22
9
29
10
Palmer Grammar
149
327
344
158
178
83
86
48
48
48
Three Rivers Grammar
32
106
108
126
165
63
47
35
33
41
Thorndike Grammar
26
27
45
56
104
31
14
8
10
7
Bondsville Grammar
19
28
21
25
29
16
13
6
11
11
Wire Mill
14
. .
52
46
61
51
11
12
21
26
Center
17
37
19
28
12
9
2
2
3
5
Shorley
. .
. .
8
26
32
8
3
4
3
308
747
750
727
907
431
203
123
159
151
E
42
III.TABLE OF COST-
1907-8
1908-9
Total
$27,801.07
$32,257.23
Average Membership
1,039.24
1,151.19
Average Attendance
982
1,094.03
Cost per pupil based
on average membership
$26.75
$28.02
Cost per pupil based
on average attendance
$28.31
$29.48
+1914
1915
General Expenses
$2,452.79
$2,982.08
Teachers' Salaries
18,869.14
25,293.18
Text Books, Supplies
2,212.99
1,971.55
Transportation
2,294.00
2,635.40
Janitors' Services
2,067.25
2,517.50
Fuel and Light
3,205.61
3,680.17
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
913.48
1,323.95
Repairs of School Buildings
1,195.53
505.20
Music, Manual Training and Drawing
1,849.58
1,895.48
Other Expenses
894.69
1,098.52
Furniture and Furnishings
843.18
937.44
Rent
104.50
22.50
Commercial
2,603.46
2,840.49
Evening Schools
885.73
Vacation School
$48,580.19
Average Membership
1,584.16
1,671.26
Average Attendance
1,534.44
1,617.31
Cost per pupil based on average membership
excluding evening and vacation schools
$24.94
$28.54
Cost per pupil based on average membership including evening and vacation schools
$29.06
Cost per pupil based on average attendance ex- cluding evening and vacation schools
$25.74
$29.49
Cost per pupil based on average attendance including evening and vacation schools
$30.03
tt We have earned from tuition and interest on funds about $2,489.63; this would reduce the actual cost per pupil to $28.60 and $29.44, respectively.
+ Short fiscal year-ten months only.
Owing to a change in the classification of accounts made three years ago, it has been possible to compare in detail the expenses of the last three years only. The amount expended annually is given for the previous seven years.
-
Total
$39,506.20
$47,694.46
43
TEN YEARS COMPARED.
1909-10 $30,744.50
1910-11 $35,950.30
1911-12 $38,177.54 1,298.9
1912-13 $40.060.21
1913-14 $43,236.15
1,193.56
1,243.38
1,411.33
1,433.71
1,130.3
1,157.35
1,244.56
1,333.62
1,372.99
$25.76
$28.91
$29.39
$28.38
$30.15
$27.20
$31.06
$30.68
$30.03
$31.49
1916
$3,140.73
26,996.07
2,338.14
2,723.68
2,579.01
4,113.00
922.05
1,627.78
1,971.94
910.16
596.73
175.00
3,577.48
51,671.77
1,349.45
94.07
$53,115.29
1,719.17
1,650.00
$30.06++
$30.90++
$31.31
$32.19
IV. COST PER SCHOOL.
High
Palmer
Thorndike
Three Rivers
Bondsville
Districts
Office
Total
General Expenses,
$15.00
$31.50
$24.50
$51.00
$29.00
$10.00 $2,979.73
$3,140.73
Teachers' Salaries, Text Books, Supplies,
5,624.00
6,116.77
3,955.55
5,232.92
4,067.73
1,999.10
26,996.07
660.57
540.32
310.27
476.00
185.92
134.81
30.19
2,338.14
Transportation,
898.25
1,403.43
50.50
11.00
22.50
338.00
2,723.68
Janitors' Services,
550.00
550.00
410.00
524.00
440.00
105.01
2,579.01
Fuel and Light,
1,016.78
1,047.99
752.55
466.88
641.82
179.48
7.50
4,113.00
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds,
206.97
313.76
106.45
119.25
154.93
20.67
922.05
Repairs of School Buildings,
98.92
1,057.23
370.30
20.00
34.15
47.18
1,627.78
Music, Manual Training and Drawing,
216.40
458.81
388.52
410.86
379.87
117.48
1,971.94
Other Expenses,
304.95
157.45
121.13
136.43
112.03
78.17
910.16
Furniture and Furnishings,
61.33
22.95
151.52
264.64
32.80
63.49
596.73
Rent.
175.00
Commercial,
3,577.48
3,577.48
Day,
$13,230.65 $11,700.23 $6,641.29 $7,888.04 $6,067.95 $3,062.70 $3,080.91 $51,671.77
*Evening,
454.10
52.57
218.50
356.64
267.64
1,349.45
Vacation,
94.07
94.07
Total,
$13,684.75 $11,846.87 $6,859.79 $8,244.68 $6,335.59 $3,062.70 $3,080.91 $53,115.29
Average Membership,
156.60
512.91
276.60
400.82
281.47
90.77
1,719.17
1,719.17
Cost per pupil, based on av. Membership, $84.49
$22.81
$24.01
$19.68
$21.56
$33.74
$1.79
$30.06
*The expenses under Evening Schools are for the fiscal year from January, 1916. to January, 1917. This in- cludes the twenty-eight nights that these schools were in operation during the past school year and eighteen dur- ing the present school year, making forty-six in all.
44
175.00
V. COST PER PUPIL PER ACCOUNT BASED ON AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP.
Accounts
High
Palmer
Thorndike
Three Rivers
Bondsville
Districts
Office
Total
General Expenses
$ .10
$ .06
$ .09
$ .13
$ .10
$ .11
$ 1.73
$ 1.83
Teachers' Salaries
35.91
11.93
14.30
13.06
14.45
22.02
15.70
Text Books and Supplies
4.22
1.05
1.12
1.18
.67
1.49
02
1.36
Transportation
5.74
2.74
.18
.03
.079
3.72
1.58
Janitors' Services
3.51
1.07
1.48
1.31
1.56
1.16
.04
1.50
Fuel and Light
6.49
2.04
2.72
1.16
2.28
1.98
2.39
Main. Building and Grounds
1.32
.61
.39
.30
.55
.23
.54
Repairs of School Building
.63
2.06
. 1.34
05
.12
.52
.95
Music, Manual Training and Drawing
1.38
.90
1.40
1.03
1.35
1.29
1.15
Other Expenses
1.95
.31
.44
.34
398
.86
.53
Furniture and Furnishings
.39
.04
.55
.66
36
04
.35
Rent
.10
Commercial
22.85
-
-
-
-
2.08
Total
$84.49
$22.81
$24.01
$19.68
$21.56
$33.74
$ 1.79
$30.06
-
45
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