USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1918 > Part 6
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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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