Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1917, Part 6

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Publication date: 1917
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 134


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EFFECT OF WAR ON EDUCATION.


No single phase of world endeavor can be found today which has not felt sharply the effect of the world war.


Education has felt it in several ways. In some ways, it has felt its bitterness. The chief effect, nevertheless, has been the. strong realization of the necessity of right education. We find in Germany an example of mis-education, a people tra- duced by a false philosophy deliberately taught them; in Rus- sia, a people deliberately deprived of an education. We know now what both mean. In contrast, we have the fine, temperate, altruistic, charitable-firm and determined, nevertheless-tem- per of the United States. Each condition is due to the educa- tional plan of each country.


· All countries now realize the value of good schools. In fact, nearly every branch of service is now being taught by present-day school methods. All are declaring that nothing must interfere with the education of the young people of school age.


What the night schools have done with illiterates and in citizenship-making is now seen. The only regret is that they did not have the means to do more.


22


The ultimate result will be that, as never before, the public schools of all countries will be supported. While the people as a whole may forget the lesson learned, those in charge of the destinies of the various nations will never allow their country to fall behind because of lack of education among the masses.


Much as we abhor the philosophy of Germany, we give her credit as being a nation whose economic development was marvelous. "This condition was brought about," in accordance with the expressed views of President Vanderlip of the Na- tional City Bank of New York," in spite of paucity of natural resources and of being not signally gifted with inventive genius or artistic temperament, by her schools." "The schoolmaster," he says, "is the great cornerstone of her remarkable industrial success." All who have watched events appreciate this. No nation means to be a laggard in this development when peace is once more restored. The schools will come into their just recognition.


A new era is dawning. The world will soon be governed by the people themselves in some form of democracy or con- stitutional monarchy. World demorcacy can not depend upon military and industrial preparedness alone for its perpetuation. It can not exist long unless the political and social organiza- tions are sane and safe, and are controlled by a real social con- sciousness and altruism. Wealth and territory do not make a nation great. A truly great nation is one whose spirit, tradi- tions, and emotions-the main springs of life-are right. To develop such broad ideals of true citizenship is the task of the school.


Huxley defined education's mission as "the development of the mind into a clear, cold logic machine;" Milton, as "the fitting of the individual to perform skillfully, justly, and mag- nanimously all the arts of peace and war." The real educa- tion must comprise both, as the reasoning mind, uncontrolled by justice and magnanimity, is prone to do evil. Emphasis in America's educational scheme has always been laid upon skill,


23


justice, and magnanimity, and will be still more strongly laid in the future. Other nations, especially the Central Powers, must do likewise.


The social and moral questions arising after this war are large questions ; they, in reality, will exceed in importance the winning of the war. Progressive German thinkers are already admitting that the Allies will win a moral, if not actual, vic- tory. For the solution of these questions, boys and girls of physical fitness, of strength of brain, of soundness of mind. of skill of hand, of abundant patriotism, of braveness of heart, of fairness of judgment, of broadness of vision, of breadth of ideals, all of which are dedicated to the cause of human justice, freedom, and brotherhood, must be turned out of our schools and the schools of the world. This is the big job of the schools.


Even now throughout this country the schools have re- dedicated themselves to this task as an immediate war effect. While this great conflict rages, American children are not being filled with hate and rancor. They are being taught to be firm and determined, yet charitable and generous. They are being taught the feeling that prompts the surgeon to remove the cancer-though he may hurt the patient, he does it, not through dislike of patient, but through desire to save a human life.


Two great benefits will come to education, locally, nation- ally, and internationally :- First, education will be properly evaluated, and will therefore be universally and liberally sup- ported, morally and financially ; second, education, everywhere, will be an attempt to educate, not merely hand and head, as formerly practised in many places, but hand, and head, and soul. Then the skillful hand and reasoning head will be di- rected by a soul that will keep it straight.


Education never leads astray ; mis-education always leads astray.


The local effort to educate for manhood and citizenship is strong. The main motive underlying all of our work is to provide our boys and girls such an education. While success, immediate or ultimate, is not always achieved, the results in


24


the large majority of cases are not unsuccessful. This is not unseemly praise, for such a statement can be made of every educational system in the United States.


The American school has been the shaper of our past, is the moulder of our present, and will be the designer of our future destiny.


Humble were her beginnings; modest are her claims; in- estimable are her accomplishments.


RECOMMENDATIONS.


Two recommendations are offered :


(1). That the need of additional school accommodations be still more persistently called to the voters' attention.


(2). That no curtailment of educational opportunities be made because of increased financial burdens entailed by war.


CONCLUSION.


The necessary summary of important school events of the past year has been given in this report. The main drive has been centered on the effects of this war on education. This has been deemed wise, even though we all may feel that we would like to read one composition that failed to mention war. Yet, what has been said is so true of, and essential to, education's cause that, were it omitted, certain distinct losses would be encountered. Education's value in a world made for man cannot be over-stated or over-emphasized.


Let us realize her worth and pay her a just recognition. This we can do in one worthy way only-by financially and morally giving her liberal support.


For a continuance of helpful guidance and rigid support, the School Committee deserve the highest commendation ; of friendliness and patience, the public merit the due recognition herein given. Again, as so often given in these reports, attesta- tion to the loyalty, whole-heartedness, and effectiveness of the


25


teaching force is made, for the teachers are the real corner- stone of Palmer's educational structure. They are the real warriors of peace who fight to make the United States and the world "safe for democracy."


Respectfully submitted, CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Superintendent of Schools.


Palmer, Massachusetts, December 11, 1917.


Appendix


A. GENERAL STATISTICS.


I. Population.


Census of 1910,


8,610


School Population, September 1, 1916, 5 to 15 years of age,


1,767


School Population, September 1, 1917, 5 to 16 years of age, 2,006


II. Pupils.


Number of children in town, September 1, as taken from the school census and registers :


1915-16


1916-17


Between ages 7 and 14,


1,269


1,334


Aggregate enrollment, Sept. to June,


1,921


1,934


Average daily attendance,


1,644.14


1,658.40


Average number belonging,


1,709.09


1,728.14


Per Cent of attendance,


96.2


95.96


Average number of pupils to each teacher :


In the High School,


20


19.33


In the other schools,


37.04


42


B. ATTENDANCE STATISTICS.


I. Attendance by Schools, 1916-1917.


Schools


Average


Membership


Attendance


Percent of


Attendance


Tardiness


Enrollment


High,


146.37


137.94


95.64


28


174


Palmer Grammar,


521.69


496.13


94.96


65


586


Thorndike Grammar,


284.57


277.61


97.1


43


320


Bondsville Grammar,


278.5


268.81


96.21


9


302


Three Rivers Grammar,


407.52


391.89


96.17


29


444


Wire Mill,


54.56


51.69


94,90


22


69


Palmer Center,


22.24


21.94


97.59


9


26


Shorley,


12.69


12.39


97.63


3


13


Totals,


1,728.14


1,658.40


95.96


208


1,934


Average


27


II. Per Cent. of Attendance by Buildings. 1916-1917.


Per Cent.


Shorley,


97.63


Palmer Center,


97.59


Thorndike Grammar,


97.1


Bondsville Grammar,


96.21


Three Rivers Grammar,


96.17


High,


95.64


Palmer Grammar,


94.96


Wire Mill,


94.90


III. Distribution of Pupils by Classes in Schools, November 1, 1917.


Palmer


Three Rivers


Thorndike


Bondsville


Wire Mill


Center


Shorley


High


Totals


Grade I,


88


102


52


70


28


6


2


348


Grade II,


59


82


54


49


16


1


3


264


Grade III,


65


61


39


50


12


7


1


235


Grade IV,


68


55


43


41


12


5


2


226


Grade V,


84


45


34


28


2


193


Grade VI,


67


33


25


27


1


153


Grade VII,


59


34


31


26


2


152


Grade VIII,


49


31


24


15


119


Grade IX,


31


24


12


9


76


Freshman,


84


84


Sophomore,


26


26


Junior,


34


34


Senior,


40


40


Post Graduates,


2


2


Totals,


570


467


314


315


68


19


13


186


1,952


School.


28


IV. Age and Grade Distribution Table in Elementary Schools, November 1, 1917.


GRADE.


Age


I


II


III


IV


V


VI


VII VIII IX Totals


5


147


147


6


135


92


7


234


7


51


95


74


8


228


8


9


47


75


59


3


193


9


3


21


48


66


54


4


196


10


5


19


53


67


36


2


176


11


4


7


18


34


55


41


3


162


12


3


13


20


31


50


40


3


160


13


1


1


4


14


25


50


52


34


181


14


2


1


3


1


8


7


19


26


67


15


2


2


3


9


16


16


2


4


6


Totals,


348


264


235


226


193


153


152


119


76


1,766


Above


Normal


Age,


15


30


31


40


35


33


9


5


4


202


Per Cent


Above


Normal


Age,


4.31


11.36


13.19


17.69


18.13


21.56


5.92 4.20 5.26


11.43


The figures printed above the black line indicate the number of pupils within and below the normal grade age.


29


V. Record of Permanent Withdrawals and Reasons of Pupils from September, 1916 to July, 1917.


High


Palmer


Thorndike


Three Rivers


Bondsville


Districts


Total


Removal from Town,


4


49


11


16


12


92


Going to Work,


22


10


6


18


14


11


81


Illness,


3


2


3


4


3


15


Failure to do Work,


10


10


Deatlı,


2


2


2


2


2


8


Immaturity,


3


3


Expelled,


1


1


Enlistment,


1


1


Totals,


40


63


22


44


31


11


211


VI. Average Number of Pupils Per Teacher in the Palmer Public Schools, November 1, 1916 and 1917.


Enrollment


No. of Teachers


Av. No. Pupils per Teacher.


School.


1917


1916


1917


1916


1917


1916


Palmer High,


186


171


9


9


20.69


19


Palmer Grammar,


570


537


12


12


47.5


44.75


Three Rivers Grammar,


467


427


12


10


38.91


42.7


Bondsville Grammar,


315


283


8


8


39.38


35.37


Thorndike Grammar,


314


293


8


8


39.25


36.63


Wire Mill,


68


55


2


2


34


27.5


Palmer Center,


19


25


1


1


19


25


Shorley,


13


13


1


1


13


13


All Schools,


1,952


1,804


53


51


36.83


35.37


High,


186


171


9


9


20.67


19


Grades,


1,666


1,540


38


36


43.84


40.52


Districts,


100


93


4


4


25


23.25


30


C. PROMOTION STATISTICS. Year ending June, 1917.


I. Promotions in the Grades.


No. of Pupils in


Grade in June.


Promoted Un-


conditionally.


Promoted Con-


ditionally.


Not Promoted.


Per Cent Not Promoted.


7 6 avo GRADE.


88


88


0


0


0


76


58


17


1


1.31


121


93


22


6


4.95


155


128


21


6


3.87


5


163


123


25


15


9.20


4


207


166


23


18


8.69


3


236


190


17


29


12.28


2


243


180


26


37


15.22


1


292


205


16


71


24.31


1,581


1,231


167


183


11.57


II. Reasons Ascribed by Teacher for Failure of Promotion.


Number of Pupils


Per Cent.


Inability,


69


36


12-183


Lack of Concentration,


38


20


140-183


Immaturity,


18


9


153-183


Absence,


13


7


19-183


Late Entrance,


9


4


168-183


Mentally Deficient,


7


3


151-183


Lack of Application,


5


2


134-183


Inattentiveness,


5


2


134-183


Illness,


5


2


134-183


Inability to Speak English,


4


2


34-183


Inability and Lack of Concentration,


3


1


117-183


Physical Condition,


2


1


17-183


Absence and Inability,


2


1


17-183


Peculiar Nature and Lack of Concentration,


1


.5


85-183


Defective Hearing,


1


.5


85-183


Inability and Lack of Application,


1


.5


85-183


31


III. Repeaters in the Grades. November 1, 1917.


Grade.


Number Belonging.


Number Repeating.


Percentage Repeating.


1


3.48


70


20.11


2


264


35


13.25


3


235


29


12.34


4


226


12


5.30


5


193


18


9.32


6


153


10


6.53


7


152


5


3.28


8


119


0


0


9


76


0


0


1,766


179


10.13


D. EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES.


Employment (Ages 14-16),


201


Literate (Ages 16-21),


319


Illiterate (Ages 16-21),


27


Home Permit (Ages 14-16),


5


Education Permit,


2


Vacation Certificates,


3


Total,


557


E. TABLES OF COMPARISON. I. Comparison of Attendance for Ten Years.


Ycar


Average Membership


Average Attendance


Per Cent of Attendance


1907-8


1,151.19


1,094.03


94.49


1908-9


1,193.56


1,130.3


95.


1909-10


1,243.38


1,157.35


94.7


1910-11


1.298.9


1,244.56


95


1911-12


1,411.33


1,333.62


95.23


1912-13


1,433.71


1,372.99


94.49


1913-14


1,526.97


1,471.52


95.76


1914-15


1,640.54


1,582.20


96.37


1915-16


1,709.09


1,644.14


96.41


1916-17


1,728.14


1,658.40


95.96


32


HI. Table of Cost


1908-9


1909-10 $30,744.50


Average Membership


1,151.19


1,193.56


Average Attendance


1,094.03


1,130.30


Cost per pupil based


on average membership


$28.02


$25.76


Cost per pupil based


on average attendance


$29.48


$27.20


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


1,849.53


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


Total


$39,506.20


$47.694.46


Evening Schools


885.73


Vacation School


$48,580.19


Average Attendance


1,534.44


1,617.31


excluding evening school and vacation school


$24.94


$28.54


Cost per pupil based on average membership including evening school and vacation school


$29.06


Cost per pupil based on average attendance


excluding evening school and vacation


school


$25.74


$29.49


Cost per pupil based on average attendance including evening school and vacation school


$30.03


* Short fiscal year-ten months only.


** We have earned from tuition and interest on funds about $1,497.89 ; this would reduce the actual costs per pupil to $30.26, $30.70, $31.58, and $32.03, respectively.


Total


$32,257.23


Average Membership


1,584.16


1,671.26


Cost per pupil based on average membership


** 1914


1915


33


Ten Years Compared.


1910-1911


1911-1912


1912-1913


1913-1914 $43,236.15


$35,950.30


$38,177.54


$40,060.21


1,243.38


1,298.90


1,411.33


1,433.71


1,157.35


1,244.56


1,333.62


1,372.99


$28.91


$29.39


$28.38


$30.15


$31.06


$30.68


$30.03


$31.49


1916


1917


$3.140.73


$3,395.49


26,996.07


29,193.71


2,338.14


2,441.52


2,723.68


3.156.00


2,579.01


2,615.50


4,113.00


4,784.96


922.05


1,646.04


1,627.78


982.53


1,971.94


2,230.05


910.16


1,198.37


596.73


654.14


175.00


3,577.48


3,418.02


$53,671.77


$55,716.33


1,349.45


788.93


94.07


$53,115.29


$56.505.26


1,719.17


1,791.77


1,650.00


1,717.09


$30.06


$31.10 **


$30.90


$31.54 **


$31.31


$32.45 **


$32.19


$32.91*


Owing to a change in the classification of accounts made four years ago, it has been possible to compare in detail the expenses of the last four years only. The amount expended annually is given for the previous six years.


til. Cost per School.


High


Palmer


Thorndike


Three Rivers


Bondsville


Districts


Office


Total


General Expenses.


$10.00


$43.00


$22.00


$28.00


$38.00


$10.00 $3.244.49


$3.395.49


Teachers' Salaries,


5.930.75


6.447.64


4.471.54


5,905.61


4,330.87


2.107.30


29.193.71


Text Books, Supplies.


585.20


533.16


319.59


490.59


325.22


166.86


20.90


2,441.52


Transportation,


1,102.75


1,002.70


115.40


91.20


32.95


809.00


3,156.00


Janitors' Service,


550.00


550.00


441.00


528.00


440.00


106.50


2,615.50


Fuel and Light,


1,075.17


1,444.72


836.12


521 80


716.84


190.31


4,784.56


Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds, 272.65


363.71


627.86


121.04


141.89


118.89


1,646.04


Repairs of School Buildings,


138.14


12.69


690.67


52.94


21.02


67.07


932.53


Music, Manual Training and Drawing, 278.93


529.12


402.27


470.40


436.65


112.68


2.230.05


Other Expenses,


295.52


239.15


172.62


184.90


201.43


72.50


32.25


1.198.37


Furniture and Furnishings,


24.00


141.90


447.94


12.00


28.30


654.14


Rent.


3,418.02


3,418.02


Day,


$13.681.13 $11,287.79


$8.099.07 $8.842.42 $6.684.87 $3,773.11 $3,325.94 $55,716.33


Evening. Total.


300.43


51.50


164.50


168.00


104.50


788.93


$13,891.56 $11.339.29


$8.263.57 $9.010.42 $6,789.37 $3,773.11 $3.325.94 $56,505.26


Average Membership.


158.97


532.60


293.74


426.15


288.87


91.44 1,791.77


1,791.77


Cost per pupil, based on average Membership,


$86.05


$21.19


$27.57


$20.75


$23.14


$41.26


$1.86


$31.10


--


-


34


·


Commercial,


IV. Cost per Pupil per Account Based on Average Membership.


High


Palmer


Thorndike


Three Rivers


Bondsville


Districts


Office


Total


General Expenses,


$ .06


$ .08


$ .08


$ .07


$ .13


$ .11


$ 1.82


$ 1.90


Teachers' Salaries.


37.31


12.11


15.22


13.86


14.99


23.05


16.28


Text Books and Supplies,


3.68


1.00


1.09


.15


1.14


1.82


01


1.35


Transportation,


6.94


1.87


.39


.22


.11


8.85


1.76


Janitors' Services,


3.46


1.03


1.50


1.24


1.52


1.16


1.46


Fuel and Light,


6.76


2.71


2.85


1.22


2.48


2.08


2.67


Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds,


1.72


.68


2.14


.28


49


1.30


92


Repairs of School Buildings,


87


.02


2.35


.12


.07


.73


.55


Music, Manual Training and Drawing,


1.75


.98


1.37


1.10


1.51


1.23


1.2.4


Other Expenses,


1.86


.45


.58


.44


.70


.79


.02


.65


Furniture and Furnishings,


.15


.26


1.05


.13


.01


35


Rent.


Commercial,


21.50


1.95


Totals,


$86.06


$21.19


$27.58


$20.75


$23.14


$41.25


$ 1.86


$31 10


. .


. .


. .


. .


·


. .


.


..


35


F. LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOME OF PUPILS.


PALMER.


Grade.


I


11


111


IV


V 82


VI


VII


VIII


IX


Total


Total Number of Pupils,


85


55


64


66


65


57


48


31


553


From English Speaking Homes,


56


31


48


5.2


59


39


41


41


26


393


From Non-English Speaking Homes,


29


24


16


14


23


26


16


7


5


160


Per Cent. from Non-English Speaking Homes,


34.11


43.63


25


21.21


28.04 40


28.07


14.58


16.12 28.93


THREE RIVERS.


Total Number of Pupils,


101


82


60


25


45


33


33


31


23


460


From English Speaking Homes,


10


11


14


10


15


8


8


15


13


104


From Non-English Speaking Homes,


91


71


46


42


30


25


25


16


10


356


Per Cent. from Non-English Speaking Homes,


90.09


86.59


76.67


80.4


66.67 75.75


76


51.6


43.4


77.39


THORNDIKE.


Total Number of Pupils,


52


55


37


42


36


29


25


24


11


311


From English Speaking Homes,


6


11


7


10


11


6


12


6


3


72


From Non-English Speaking Homes,


46


14


30


32


25


23


13


18


8


239


Per Cent from Non-English Speaking Homes,


83.46 80


81.03


76.19


69.44 79.31


52


75


72.9


76.85


36


BONDSVILLE.


Total Number of Pupils,


69


50


49


43


29


23


23


15


9


310


From English Speaking Homes,


14


5


9


12


15


10


7


8


8


88


From Non-English Speaking Homes,


55


45


40


31


14


13


16


7


1


222


Per Cent. from Non-English Speaking Homes,


79.71


90


81.63


72.09


48.27


56.51


69.56


46.67


11.11 71.61


DISTRICTS.


Grade.


I


=


IV


V


VI


VII


Total


Total Number of Pupils,


35


20


22


19


2


1


2


101


From English Speaking Homes,


10


4


9


8


0


0


0


31


From Non-English Speaking Homes,


25


16


13


11


2


1


2


70


Per Cent. from Non-English Speaking Homes,


71.43


80.00


59.09


57.9


100


100


100


69.3


HIGH SCHOOL.


Fresh.


Soph.


Jun.


Sen.


Spec.


Total


Total Number of Pupils, From English Speaking Homes, From Non-English Speaking Homes,


81


45


35


19


3


183


71


4.3


34


17


3


168


10


2


1


2


0


15


Per Cent. from Non-English Speaking Homes,


12.34


4.44


2.85


12


0


8.2


37


38


LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN HOME OF PUPILS.


High


Palmer


Three Rivers


Bondsville


Thorndike


Districts


Total


English,


168


393


104


88


72


31


856


Polish,


8


51


320


186


232


11


803


French,


3


45


20


32


7


19


126


Italian,


1


37


5


11


54


Swedish,


2


17


14


33


Danish,


4


1


5


German,


4


4


8


Hebrew,


1


1


7


9


Hungarian,


1


6


7


Lithuanian,


4


4


Portuguese,


4


4


Scotch,


2


2


Greek,


2


2


Total,


183


553


460


310


311


101


1,918


The accounts of the School Department were closed on Wednesday, December 26, 1917.


At the close of 1917, the bills payable and receiveable were as follows :


BILLS PAYABLE


Yawman & Erbe, office supplies,


$ 2.60


D. E. F. Radasch, floor oil, 11.00


A. W. Holbrook, use of hall, 60.00


Total,


$73.60


BII LS RECEIVABLE


Town of Monson, Tuition,


$674.27


Town of Ware, Tuition, 50.00


Town of Greenwich, Tuition, 37.50


Total, $761.77


50





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