Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1918, Part 6

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Publication date: 1918
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 134


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saving grace; (8) a right-thinking people, who had always been taught the truth in all things.


Whereas, all these conditions were not the sole creation of the schools-the church and other institutions have been mighty potent factors -- , the schools have, nevertheless, been a strongly nurturing, fostering, and developing element in their product. Surely, if, as all seem willing to admit, Ger- man mis-education created a wrong spirit, motive, concep- tion, and ideal, American education can be credited with helping to bring about right attitudes, ideas, convictions, and practices.


The one great crown that must be placed upon the brow of the American public school system is that of truth- fulness. She teaches the truth, in so far as attainable, in all matters.


DURING THE WAR


If one had opened the mail of any school superinten- dent during the period of the war, he would have ap- preciated that nearly every organization doing war work believed in appealing to the schools for active co-operation. They recognized that here was one of the greatest adver- tising mediums in the country. Without doubt, the great- est medium in constant use is the newspaper. Yet, in communities where there is a large non-reading foreign population, information given out through the schools is often more effective and farther reaching. The amount of such publicity work during Liberty Loan, War Savings, Red Cross, Food Conservation, War Chest, and other drives done in the local schools was not small. Publicity alone was not the only interest shown, as many pupils became active participators.


The trend of action on the battle line and at home was closely followed. Events and their significance were driven home while "the iron was hot." Incidents appealing to the spirit of courage, sympathy, charity, gallantry, heroism, and patriotism have been effectively handled so that lasting


.


24


moral impressions have been made which in later years will bear good fruit.


Readers of three types have been added to the upper grade list :- (1) The historical, dealing with story of the war chronologically ; (2) the patriotic, giving the addresses, old and new, of the great men of history; (3) the inspira- tional, treating of acts of valor, self-sacrifice, chivalry, and nobility. The study of these types will indelibly impress the minds of the boys and girls. Most good deeds spring from impulses which have been aroused within one as the result of some vital impression. Sometimes, the spark was implanted years ago, so long ago that it had apparently ceased to smoulder. The occasion calling forth manhood arises and, almost without conscious thought, the right re- sponse is given.


It seems not unreasonable to assume that the boys and girls in the schools during the past two years have re- ceived an inspiration such as few pupils have received be- fore ; and, while those to follow will not have the same close touch or contact with events that have transpired, they have been furnished a wealth of material of the most stimulating nature.


AFTER THE WAR


The schools must realize the tremendous task con- fronting them. In a few years, with the war in retrospect. enthusiasm for patriotism will not be at fever heat. Under the stress and excitement of war. it is easy to be patriotic ; .in times of peace. when things partake of uninteresting routine. it is not so easy. The work of inculcating true patriotism is an everyday job for the schools. This they must do, and especially now, for in the near years to come well-grounded patriotism will be an absolute necessity. Times and conditions that call for men will be upon us in the days of reconstruction.


The safety of a democracy is in the general education of the masses. Intelligent and educated leaders are always


25


necessary ; but the safeguard and the salvation of democ- racy lie in a common intelligence of its people. Russia is weak in the so-called middle classes; no other reason for her present condition need be given.


Private schools and colleges can take care of the providing of leaders. The provision of an intelligent citizenry is the function of the public school. No other agency can do this. With the tendency to allow the people a larger and more intimate participation in government, ad- ditional emphasis must be placed upon a more diffuse and better education of the electorate.


The two great branches of the public school system are the elementary and the high school. Were it possible for every boy and girl of sufficient mentality to go through both of these schools, the quality of the intelligence of the voters would be good. Could insistance require every pupil, barring certain physical and mental defectives, to complete the grades before leaving school, the quality would be an improvement over the present. Two great dif- ficulties exist-only a small percentage finish high school and an altogether too small a percentage finish grammar school. What must be done eventually is to correct these evils.


Locally, the percentage who attend high school is small ; the percentage who graduate, still smaller. The per- centage who graduate from grammar school is small. Roughly speaking, last year the total school enrollment was 2,090 ; the average membership, 1,856; the high school en- rollment, 191; the high school average membership, 171; the elementary school enrollment, 1,899; the elementary school average membership, 1,685; the number of high school graduates, 37; the number of elementary school graduates, 66. A study of these figures show that 2 per cent of the total average membership was graduated from high school; that 9 per cent of the total average member- ship was in attendance at the high school; that 4 per cent of the elementary average membership was graduated from the grades.


26


There are certain outside influences that cause this more than normal shrinkage, the chief one being "going to work." Approximately, based upon total membership figures, the high school should enroll 350 pupils.


Full appreciation of the failure to finish the grammar grades is possible with these figures :- Palmer Grammar School-average membership, 538; graduates, 30; per- centage, 51/2 per cent. Three Rivers Grammar School- average membership, 454; graduates, 18; percentage, 4 per cent. Thorndike Grammar School-average membership, 299 ; graduates, 9 ; percentage, 3 per cent. Bondsville Gram- mar School-average membership, 297; graduates, 9; per- centage, 3 per cent.


The public school cannot function fully until this loss is overcome. The raising of the age of employment or some other means must be put into operation, if the quality the intelligence of the citizenry is to be improved. Some day just such action will take place, based upon the ground of public necessity. The best democracy will be secured when the "most" people have the "most" education.


AMERICANIZATION


The greatest problem that faces American democracy is the orientation of adult immigrants, especially those with tongue, customs, ideas, and ideals foreign to ours. The schools will guide their children. Vast efforts are being put forth to handle the adult proposition. The great difficulty is to get the individual in the position where he will take ad- vantage of the opportunities afforded; also, to afford the right opportunities. "Urging has been tried and has lam- entably failed. It may seem a strange statement to make ; yet, I feel that, if there is a solution for this problem, it is one that savors of compulsion-for individual and com- munity. Possibly, the only solution is compulsory require- ment that all who remain in America must learn her language. This may seem contrary to our idealistic, liberal political philosophy.


The problem of this country is "to gather together people of different races, creeds, conditions, and aspira- tions" and merge them into one. Can it be done? If so, this will be the greatest of nations.


There are millions of illiterates in our country. We have in Palmer a large number of non-English-speaking people. If the America of the future is to be as good an America-say nothing about being better-as the America of to-day, the Americanization problem must be solved. This is a task worthy of our nation, in line with her best principles, her real spirit of Americanism. It should be tackled in a spirit of duty, obligation, and privilege, not fear.


CONCLUSION


The war has shown the worth of American public schools. Unless American people are very forgetful, the question of full and generous support, moral and financial, should always be decided in the affirmative. America, without or with any other kind of schools, would be an im- possibility. The good business man takes out insurance for protection. Education is insurance. That community, state, or nation without the best kind of educational in- surance is "not wise." It may be expensive, but it absolute- ly gives protection. A desire to impress this upon our own citizens has been the reason for the presentation of the second part of this report. Never again within our time will education be presented such an opportunity to demon- strate what she has done, and can do, for democracy.


In concluding, I wish to say, as I have many times said before, that these factors have been largely contribu- tory to whatever success the Palmer schools have at- tained :- (1) The warm, active, and constant co-operation of the School Committee; (2) the generous moral and financial support of the people; (3) the whole-hearted, loyal, and effective work of the teachers; (4) the strong, necessary, and constant "backing" of the parents.


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


Palmer, Mass., December 14, 1918.


Appendix.


A.


GENERAL STATISTICS


I. Population


Census of 1910,


8,610


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


School Population, September 1, 1918, 5 to 16 years of age, 2,008


II. Pupils


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


1916-17


1917-18


Between ages 7 and 14,


1,334


1,345


Aggregate enrollment, Sept. to June,


1,934


2,090


Average daily attendance,


1,658.40


1,765.22


Average number belonging,


1,728.14


1,856.83


Per cent of attendance,


95.96


95.06


Average number of pupils to each teacher :


In the High School,


19.33


21.22


In the other schools,


42


41.11


B. ATTENDANCE STATISTICS


I. Attendance by Schools, 1917-1918


Schools


Average


Membership


Average


Attendance


Percent of


Attendance


Tardiness


Enrollment


High,


171.68


165.18


96.40


15


191


Palmer Grammar,


538.58


499.75


92.96


75


613


Thorndike Grammar,


299.42


290.81


92.96


28


335


Bondsville Grammar.


296.85


277.84


95.51


10


322


Three Rivers Grammar,


453.98


440.87


97.11


10


509


Wire Mill,


64.96


60.56


92.97


18


8.2


Palmer Center,


19.59


18.93


96.78


5


23


Shorley,


11.77


11.28


95.83


4


15


Totals,


1,856.83


1,765.22


95.06


165


2090


29


II. Distribution of Pupils by Classes in Schools, November 1, 1918.


Palmer


Three Rivers


Thorndike


Bondsville


Wire Mill


00 Center


¿ Shorley


High


Totals


Grade I,


90


79


52


68


25


Grade II,


71


97


51


48


12


6


2


287


Grade III,


55


76


45


19


5


1


5


248


Grade IV,


64


53


34


43


10


8


1


1


214


Grade V,


75


46


36


33


2


5


197


Grade VI,


79


41


31


29


?


2


184


Grade VII,


66


33


20


18


1


1


139


Grade VIII,


54


22


19


15


110


Grade IX,


46


20


15


12


93


Freshman,


61


61


Sophomore,


25


25


Junior,


55


55


Senior,


25


25


Totals,


600


467


303


308


66


27


11


20


166


1968


Forest Lake


330


30


III. Age and Grade Distribution Table in Elementary Schools, November 1, 1918. GRADE


Age


I


II


III


IV


V


VI


VII VIII IX Totals


140


6


118


83


201


36


111


75


2


224


S


11


60


74


56


6


207


0


1


16


54


56


4.2


9


178


10


1


21


46


50


62


3


188


11


1


9


·19


35


60


33


3


160


12


3


3


22


16


36


53


36


3


172


13


6


10


18


22


46


4.2


146


14


1


2


2


12


20


31


70


15


1


1


1


3


3


13


22


16


1


1


1


2


17


2


2


Totals,


305


283


239


209


163


187


127


109


93


1,715


Above


Normal


Age,


13


27


36


49


30


20


16


4


4


199


Per Cent


Above


Normal Age,


4.26


9.53


10.87 15.10 12.26 10.69 12.59


3.66


4.30 10.69


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


IV. Record of Permanent Withdrawals and Reasons of Pupils from September, 1917 to July, 1918.


High


Palmer


Thorndike


Three Rivers


Bondsville


Districts


Total


Removal from Town,


41


10


19


28


11


109


Going to Work,


14


8


16


19


17


74


Illness,


5


8


6


1


1


2


23


Death,


1


1


Immaturity,


1


3


4


Enlistment,


4


4


Totals,


23


59


32


40


46


16


216


J


138


31


V. Average Number of Pupils Per Teacher In the Palmer Public Schools, November 1, 1917 and 1918. Enrollment


No. of Av. No. Pupils


Teachers


per Teacher


School,


1918


1917


1918


1917


*918


1917


Palmer High.


166


186


9


9


18.44


20.69


Palmer Grammar,


600


570


14


12


42.85


47.5


Three Rivers Grammar,


467


467


13


12


33.92


38.91


Bondsville Grammar,


308


315


8


8


38.5


39.38


Thorndike Grammar,


303


314


8


8


37.87


39.25


Wire Mill,


66


68


2


2


33


34


Palmer Center,


19


1


1


27


19


Forest Lake,


20


0


1


0


20


0


Shorley,


11


13


1


1


11


13


All Schools,


1,968


1,952


37


53


34.52


36.83


High.


166


186


9


. 9


18.44


20.69


Grades,


1,678


1,666


43


40


38.51


41.65


Districts,


124


100


CI


24.8


25


C. PROMOTION STATISTICS


Year ending June, 1918


I. Promotions in the Grades


No. of Pupils in


Grade in June


Promoted Un-


conditionally


Promoted Con-


ditionally


Not Promoted


0 4 A · Per Cent Not


Promoted


66


66


0


0


100


85


11


4


91


2.2


11


8.87


144


112


23


9


6.25


199


117


69


13


6.53


218


179


22


17


7.79


3


227


1.9


20


28


12.33


261


187


28


46


17.62


321


240


59


1.83


1,660


1,256


217


187


11.26


6 4 A & G - 8 Grade


1


32


II. Reason Ascribed by Teacher for Failure of Promotion


Number of Pupils


Per Cent


Inability,


86


45


185-187


Lack of Concentration,


31


16


108-187


Immaturity,


22


11


143-187


Absence,


11


5


163-187


Late Entrance,


6


3


39-187


Mentally Deficient,


?


1


13-187


Lack of Application,


10


5


65-187


Inattentiveness,


6


3


39-187


Illness,


2


1


13-187


Inability to Speak English,


1


100-187


Inability and Lack of Concentration,


3


1


113-187


Physical Condition,


1


13-187


Peculiar Nature and Lack of Concentration, 1


100-187


Defective Hearing,


1


187


Inability and Lack of Application,


2


1


13-187


Slow of Comprehension,


1


100-18%


III. Repeaters in the Grades November 1, 1918


Grade


Number Belonging


Number Percentage Repeating Repeating


1


307


63


20.52


274


40


14.59


3


225


25


10.66


4


174


12


6.89


5


164


10


6.70


6


187


10


5.34


7


135


7


5.20


8


110


1.81


9


92


0


0


1,660


169


10.07


33


D. EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES


Employment (Ages 14-16),


229


Literate (Ages 16-21),


337


Illiterate (Ages 16-21),


7


Home Permit (Ages 14-16),


2


Education Permit,


4


Cacation Permit,


1


Total,


580


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


Year


Average Membership


Average Per Cent of Attendance Attendance


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


. 96.44


1916-17


1,728.14


1,658.40


95.96


1917-18


1,856.83


1,765.22


95.06


34


II. Table of Cost


1909-10


Total


$30,744.50


Average Membership


1,195.56


Average Attendance


1,130.30


Cost per pupil based on average membership


25.76


Cost per pupil based on average attendance


27.20


*1914


General Expenses


$2,452.79


Teachers' Salaries


18,869.14


Text Books, Supplies


2,212.99


Transportation


2,294.00


Janitors' Service


2,067.25


Fuel and Light


3,205.61


Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds


913.48


Repairs on School Buildings


1,195.53


Music, Manual Training and Drawing


1,849.53


Other Expenses


894.69


Furniture and Furnishings


843.18


Rent®


104.50


Commercial


2,603.46


Total


$39,506.20


Evening Schools


Vacation School


Average Membership 1.584.16


Average Attendance 1.534.44


Cost per pupil based on average membership exclud- ing evening school and vacation school $24.94


Cost per pupil based on average membership includ- ing evening school and vacation school


Cost per pupil based on average attendance exclud-


ing evening school and vacation school $25.74


Cost per pupil based on average attendance includ- ing evening school and vacation school


*Short fiscal year-ten months only.


** We have earned from tuition about $1,961.54; this would re- duce the actual costs per pupil to $33.85, $33.88, $37.15, and $37.19, respectively.


35


Ten Years Compared


1910-11 $35,950.30


1911-12


1913-14


$38,177.54


1912-13 $40,060.21


$43,236.15


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


1915 ***


1916 ***


1917 ***


1918 ***


$ 2,982.08


$ 3,140.73


$ 3,395.49


$ 3,796.43


25,293.18


26,996.07


29,193.71


32,668.48


1,971.55


2,338.14


2,441.52


3,485.86


2,635.40


2,723.68


3,156.00


3,478.46


2,517.50


2,579.01


2,615.50


3,196.00


3,680.17


4,113.00


4,784.96


6,567.72


1,323.95


922.05


1,646.04


2,122.82


505.20


1,627.78


982.53


1,551.09


1,895.48


1,971.94


2,230.05


1,500.75


1,098.52


910.16


1,198.37


1,836.26


937.44


596.73


654.14


474.10


22.50


175.00


810.00


2,840.49


3,577.48


3,418.02


3,720.97


$47,694.46


$53,671.77


$55,716.33


$65,208.94


885.73


1,349.45


788.93


61.75


94.07


$48,580.19


$53,115.29


$56,505.26


$65,270.69


1,671.26


1,719.17


1,791.77


1,868.41


1,617.31


1,650.00


1,717.09


1,702.31


$28.54


$30.06


$31.10


** $34.90


$29.06


$30.90


$31.54


** $34.93


$29.49


$31.31


$32.45


** $38.31


$30.03


$32.19


$32.91


** $38.34


*** Owing to a change in the classification of accounts made five years ago, it has been possible to compare in detail the ex- penses of the last five years only. The amount expended an- nually is given for the five previous years.


III. Cost per Pupil per Account Based on Average Membership


High


Palmer


Thorndike


Three Rivers


Bondsville


Districts


Office


Total


General Expenses,


$ .03


$ .02


$ .07


$ .10


$ 1.99


$ 2.03


Teachers' Salaries,


$38.26


12.98


15.64


15.84


16.21


$26.35


17.51


Text Books, Supplies,


3.72


1.06


1.94


1.52


2.16


3.18


.04


1.87


Transportation,


8.18


2.86


98


.03


.05


2.04


1.87


Janitors' Service,


3.95


1.22


1.73


1.54


1.74


1.35


1.71


Fuel and Light,


8.79


3.05


3.92


2.28


3.56


1.56


3.52


Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds,3.30


.62


1.59


.23


1.55


2.00


1.14


Repairs of School Buildings,


4.51


13


.77


.27


.40


2.73


.83


Music, Manual Training and Drawing, 1.19


.59


.93


.71


98


.95


.80


Other Expenses,


3.23


.57


.93


.63


.97


1.39


98


Furniture and Furnishings,


.41


.02


.23


.02


1.30


.25


Rent,


.36


1.67


.43


Commercial,


22.58


1.99


Total,


$98.07


$23.52


$28.47


$25.04


$27.74


$42.88


$2.03


$34.93


36


IV. Cost Per School


High


Palmer


Thorndike


Three Rivers


Bondsville


Districts


Office


Total


General Expenses,


$ 16.50


$ 7.53 $


31.50 $


31.00


$3,709.90 $ 3,796.43


Teachers' Salaries,


$ 6,304.00


7,323.11


4,676.07


7,045.97


4,809.68


$2,509.65


32,668.48


Text Books, Supplies,


612.69


595.33


578.78


683.48


642.23


302 .. 85


70.50 - 3,485.86


Transportation,


1,348.41


1,614.30


291.75


15.00


15.00


Janitors' Service,


651.34


690.94


516.00


692.72


516.00


129.00


3,196.00


Fuel and Light,


1,448.63


1,718.85


1,171.96


1,020.27


1,056.24


151.77


6,567.72


Maintenance of Buildings, Grounds, 543.99


352.48


175.86


101.35


458.47


190.67


2,122.82


Repairs of School Buildings,


743.85


74.14


230.87


122.39


119.59


260.25


1,551.09


Music, Manual Training, Drawing, 196.00


330.55


277.50


316.45


289.66


90.59


1,500.75


Other Expenses,


531.75


320.40


278.95


284.45


287.85


132.86


1,836.26


Furniture and Furnishings,


234.08


7.00


102.42


7.00


123.60


474.10


Rent,


60.00


750.00


S10.00


Commercial,


3,720.97


3,720.97


Day,


$16,161.63 $13,270.68


$8,512.27 $11,166.00 $8,232.72 $4,085.24 $3,780.40 $65,208.94 61.75


61.75


Total,


$16,161.63 $13,270.68


$8,512.27 $11,227.75 $8,232.72


$4,085.24 $3,780.40 $65,270.69


Average Membership,


164.78


564.29


299.07


448.37


296.65


95.25


1,868.41


1,868.41


Cost per pupil, based on average Membership,


98.08


23.52


$28.46


$25.04


$27.75


$42.89


$2.02


$34.93


37


Evening,





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