USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1901-1910 > Part 58
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The results obtained from the eye and ear test were as follows :
SCHOOL
NUMBER ENROLLED
DEFICIENT IN SIGHT
DEFICIENT IN HEARING
PARENTS NOTIFIED
Millbrook,
16
1
0
1
Point,
21
2
0
2
Primary,
25
5
0
5
Village.
41
13
13
South Duxbury,
15
1
0
1
Island Creek,
11
3
0
1
Tarkiln.
22
1
0
1
Ashdod,
17
3
0
3
North Duxbury,
16
6
2
6
No test was given at the Academy.
Teachers' Meetings.
Teachers' meetings have been held at frequent intervals, and they have added materially to the interest and efficiency in the work. The teachers have manifested a very commendable spirit in their efforts to attend these meetings. In spite of the long distances some of the teachers have to go to get to and from these meetings, absences from them have been very rare indeed.
The high school teachers have joined with the high school teachers of the other towns comprising the district in a series of joint teachers' meetings. In these meetings papers are read on professional subjects followed by discussions of problems that confront the various teachers in their work.
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Attendance.
The attendance, while it has been good in some districts, has not been all that could be desired. Some of those who pretend to attend school do not attend with that regularity necessary for the best results. This irregularity on the part of many pupils is due to apathy on the part of the parents. There are among us parents who use every means possible to evade the truant laws, and unfortunately they have been all too successful in their at- tempts. There are instances where pupils would attend regular- ly, but are kept out for every conceivable reason by parents who think more of their own plesaure than of the welfare of their children. I have caused the teachers to demand the reason for absences from school to be written and signed by parent. This demand caused no end of trouble, they much preferred to write an excuse something like this: "Please excuse John and oblige, etc." We persisted, and I will quote some of the excuses that we received. "Please excuse- I kept him out to tend the baby while I went to the Sewing Circle." Another, "I was obliged to keep - -- out to help me ;" still another, "I kept - and- at home while I went to Boston." Such excuses are not valid, and in many instance I was obliged to write to the parents to that effect, and tell them I should be obliged to enforce the truant law unless they kept their children in school. The result was an improvement, but even then we did not get good attend- ance.
Another serious draw back in the matter of attendance is the cranberry business. Children, in some of the districts, are kept out from two to three weeks to pick the berries. I realize this is an important industry, and that many of the parents need the aid of their children in the picking season. I would suggest, there- fore, that the schools in those districts commence two or three weeks later than they do now, and instead of two weeks' vaca- tion in winter, they have one. Such a policy would, it seems to me, be acceptable to both parents and pupils.
As to a remedy for the other difficulties which I have mention- ed I would quote from Sec. Martin's last report, "The list as given by the census should be compared with school registers and the children who are not in school noted. If they are not in public school it is the business of the school authorities to know why they are absent. A careful and complete record should be made, preferably by card catalogue, of the results of
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this investigation. If it should appear that there are children who are not in school and who are not exempt under any of the legal provisions, the next duty of the school authorities is to take necessary steps to enforce the law relative to non-attendance- against the parents if responsible, or against the child if he is an habitual absentee or truant." We need truant officers in the various districts who will not hesitate to enforce the law for any personal or political reasons.
School Laws.
As there seems to be a misunderstanding on the part of many regarding certain sections of the school laws I shall cause those sections to be printed in an appendix to this report.
In conclusion allow me to express my sincere thanks for the hearty co-operation of all those with whom I have been associ- ated in my work.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN E. DeMEYER.
December 31, 1902.
REPORT OF THE MUSIC TEACHER.
To the Superintendent of Schools :-
It seems difficult to write a report on music for the Duxbury schools. In speaking of one school there are certain things which state conditions, but in considering ten schools there are ten different ways of reporting. We try and adopt methods which will apply to the needs of each school, but the needs are so varied that it is impossible to see any general progress. In three schools the talent and numbers are so distributed that it was necessary to start an extra class for little ones. The ad- vantage in this method is that the smaller children get a real and correct start which prepares them for more advanced work when they reach upper grades, and at the same time keeps the present advanced grades progressing. The disadvantage is that the supervisor gives only a fifteen minute lesson to each class, and the time for practice in music allowed by the day teacher is
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divided. Yet the plan seems to have more in favor than against it, as it gives all children a chance to sing intelligently.
More than one school that has held a high place in music is now doing the work of low grades, and for that reason we find we cannot determine the progression. This is not due in the least to the ability of the teacher, or any change in method by the supervisor, but simply that the children who did such good work are now in the Grammar school or the Academy, and those left to fill their places have not yet reached their standard. Then, you say, of course the Grammar school is doing good work. It is, and there are some good singers there; the time has come for some extra material to work with, which would also bring enthusiasm to all. We try not to lose sight of the fact that children of different ability enter there, but under the careful management of the teacher it is possible for all to gain an equal knowledge of the subject.
There is a certain peculiarity noticable in most High schools. When the children leave the Grammar schools their teachers feel confident of their success, and congratulate themselves upon being able to get good results ; then when they are finally started in the High school we are horrified to find that they cannot read music, and don't know one note from another, and in some cases can't even look on their books. We try to get tone in the High school, to wake up to the fact that we have voices and means for using them to the best advantage, and that it takes absolute concentration of mind to apply those means; but what can we do on the subject when we are afraid to sing the notes ?
Now just a word in defense of the time when a school sings and makes the most dreadful discords, and the supervisor says "That's right !" At those times it is perfectly evident that all, big and little, wish to sing, and some of them are too young or a little slow in learning to manage the pitch. The listener can pick out the voices of those who are really singing, and can say to them "that's right"; and for the rest, does not their spirit of attempt deserve "that's right?" and oh, if the parents and close relations and all adults would only refrain from telling children that they can't sing. We know that they firmly be- lieve what they say, but why say it? In many cases children sing in school without a false note, but can give no imitation of a tune when singing alone; perhaps the grown-ups don't know this, if they don't visit the schools, but nevertheless those
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children should have the benefit of a doubt until they are well into their teens. Some learn to sing after the age of twelve, and some cherish a certain amount of ability not backed by con- fidence, until they reach conditions which appeal to them; but if they do not gain a knowledge of pitch before leaving High school, we may conscientiously allow them to say "I can't sing." Up to that time, however, please let us keep our own counsel.
The teachers have given me their usual support for which I am deeply grateful. Some look upon music as a bug bear, and some as a waste of time needed very much for other things, but always they work on it.
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN C. STODDARD.
DRAWING TEACHER'S REPORT.
To the Superintendent of Schools .-
The work in drawing goes on much the same as in the last few years. The drawing in the higher grades shows marked improvement, the gradual preparation is telling in good results.
It takes time and practice to see, and to record things as they appear to us. Drawing is almost as much a training for the eye as for the hand.
Our work, as before, is along practical lines as far as possible, applying our nature studies to design, and design to objects, such as books, cards, or any subject of timely interest which is related to school, or outside work.
The regular teachers are in full sympathy with the work and are very faithful in carrying out my plans. The success of the drawing depends largely upon them. In smaller schools I get some excellent work though not as good from the little ones as if the work were better graded, nor as advanced work as the old- er children could do, if they were in a class by themselves.
I hereby thank the committee for so willingly furnishing materials, and the teachers for their co-operation and interest.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRIET J. FORD.
Duxbury, December 31, 1907.
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PARTRIDGE ACADEMY
Graduation exercises of the class of 1907. In the First Parish Church, Duxbury. FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 21, 1907. At eight o'clock. "Finis coronat opus."
Programme.
March. Organ.
Prayer,
Rev. Andrew Hahn.
Response. Organ.
Chorus. "O Lord Most Merciful."
Salutatory and Essay. "Modern Occupations for Women." Dorothy Lavinia Adams.
Essay. "The Development of Modern Music." Gertrude Ada Glover.
Chorus. (a) "Forth to the Meadows."
(b) "Lovely Night."
Essay.
"Labor Essential to Success."
Viola Adele Wadsworth.
Essay. "The Origin and The Growth of Two Secret Orders." Mabel Church Sampson.
Chorus. Selected.
Biographical Sketch. "Louis Agassiz."
Carrie Frances Palmer.
Duxbury." Presentation of Diplomas. Chorus. "Holy art Thou."
Essay with Valedictory.
"The Settlement and The Growth of
Blanche Wilbur Simmons,
Mr. F. B. Knapp.
Benediction.
GRADUATES.
Dorothy Lavinia Adams, Carrie Frances Palmer,
Blanche Wilbur Simmons,
Gertrude Ada Glover, Mabel Church Sampson, Viola Adele Wadsworth.
4
DUXBURY SCHOOL STATISTICS.
TEACHER.
Total Mem- bership.
Ave. Mem- bership.
Ave Attend- ance.
Per cent. Attend- ance.
Under 5 yrs of age. boys
Between 5 and 15 girls boys
Over fifteen yrs girls boys
Totals. boys
girle
Between 7 and 14 boys
girls
Florence Chaffin
27
23.4
21.2
90.
1
7
00 -? 8
8
8
6
5
Grace Peterson
13
12.2
11
89.7
1
7
9
10
5
ti
I. M. Raymond
26
23
20.7
90.5
16
10
16
10
11
10
Sadie Paulding
16
14.7
14.1
95.9
2
7
6
9
6
6
6
Ella Hodgdon
18
12.3
10.6
86.2
2 -
4
7
4
6
3
Grace Hastings
19
15.5
13 4
86.6
11
8
-
11
€
9
4
Mary Devereux
25
18.29
15.42
7.8
1
8
13
9
13
6
9
Mary Kauffman
39
37.51
33.23
89.1
17
18
8
2
25
20
15
18
H. E. Walker
65
60.14
54.41
90.46
1
15
18
18
12
33
12
9
7
-
8
Ellen Downey
16
13.37
12.19
91.1
8
12
-
-
-
-
1
-79-
girls
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EMPLOYMENT TICKET AND AGE AND SCHOOLING CERTIFICATE.
Section 32. The age and schooling certificate of a minor under sixteen years of age shall not be approved and signed until he presents to the person who is authorized to approve and sign it, an employment ticket duly filled out and signed. A duplicate of each age and schooling certificate shall be filled out and shall be kept on file by the school committee. Any explan- atory matter may, in the discretion of the school committee or superintendent of schools, be printed with such certificate. The employment ticket and the age and schooling certificate shall be separately printed, and shall be filled out, signed and held or surrendered, as indicated in the following forms :-
Employment Ticket, Revised Laws, c. 106, sec. 32. When (name of minor) , height (feet and inches) , complexion (fair or dark), hair (color) , presents an age and schooling certificate duly signed, I intend to employ (him or her).
(Signature of intending employer or agent.) (Town or city and date.)
Age and Schooling Certificate, Revised laws, c. 106, sec. 32.
This certifies that I am the (father, mother, guardian or cus- todian) of (name of minor) , and that (he or she) was born at (name of city or town) ' in the county of (name of county, if known) , and state (or country) of ' on the (day and year of birth) , and is now (number of years and months) old.
(Signature of father, mother, guardian or custodian.) (City or town and date.)
Then personally appeared before me the above-named (name of person signing) , and made oath that the foregoing certi- ficate by (him or her) signed is true to the best of (his or her) knowledge and belief. I hereby approve the foregoing certi- ficate of (name of minor) , height (feet and inches) , com- plexion (fair or dark) hair (color) , having no sufficient reason to doubt that (he or she) is of the age therein certified. I hereby certify that (he or she) (can or cannot ) read at sight and (can or cannot) write legibly simple sentences in the En- glish language.
This certificate belongs to (name of minor in whose behalf it is drawn) , and is to be surrendered to (him or her) whenever
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(he or she) leaves the service of the corporation or employer holding the same : but if not claimed by said minor within forty days from such time, it shall be returned to the superintendent of schools, or, if there is no superintendent of schools, to the school committee.
(Signature of person authorized to approve and sign, with offical character or authority.)
(City or town and date.)
In the case of a minor who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language the certificate shall continue as follows, after the word language :-
I hereby certify that (he or she) is regularly attending the (name) public evening school. This certificate shall con- tinue in force only so long as the regular attendance of said minor at the evening school is indorsed weekly by a teacher thereof.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. ATTENDANCE COMPULSORY BETWEEN SEVEN AND FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE.
Section 1. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides during the entire time the public schools are in session. subject to such exceptions as to children, places of at- tendance and schools as are provided for in section three of chapter forty-two and sections three, five and six of this chapter. The superintendent of schools or, if there is no superintendent of schools, the school committee, or teachers acting under author- ity of said superintendent or committee, may excuse cases of necessary absence. The attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if he has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school com- mittee of such city or town in accordance with the provisions of the following section, or if he has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if he has already ac- quired such branches of learning, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or
Duxbury
6
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impracticable. Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause him to attend school as here- in required ; and if he fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such con- trol to cause such child, whose physical or mental condition is not such as to render his attendance at school harmful or im- practicable, so to attend school, he shall, upon complaint by a truant officer and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Whoever induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors a child who, while school is in session, is ab- sent unlawfully from school shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIANS. Chapter 502, Acts of 1906.
Section 1. The school committee of every city or town in the Commonwealth shall appoint one or more school physicians. shall assign one to each public school within its city or town, and shall provide them with all proper facilities for the perform- ance of their duties as prescribed in this act : provided, however, that in cities wherein the board of health in already maintaining or shall hereafter maintain substantially such medical inspect- ion as this act requires, the board of health shall appoint and assign the school physician.
Section 2. Every school physician shall make a prompt ex- amination and diagnosis of all children referred to him as here- inafter provided, and such further examination of teachers, jani- tors and school buildings as in his opinion the protection of the health of the pupils may require.
Section 3. The school committee shall cause to be referred to a school physician for examination and diagnosis every child returning to school without a certificate from the board of health after absence on account of illness or from unknown cause; and every child in the schools under its judisdiction who shows signs of being in ill health or of suffering from infectious or contagious disease, unless he is at once excluded from school by
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the teacher; except that in the case of schools in remote and isolated situations the school committee may make such other arrangements as may best carry out the purposes of this act.
Section 4. The school committee shall cause notice of the disease or defects, if any, from which any child is found to be
suffering to be sent to his parent or guardian. Whenever a child shows symptoms of smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, chickenpox, tuberculosis, diphtheria or influenza, tonsilitis, whooping cough, mumps, scabies or trachoma, he shall be sent home immediately, or as soon as safe and proper conveyance can be found, and the board of health shall at once be notified.
Section 5. The school committee of every city and town shall cause every child in the public schools to be separately and carefully tested and examined at least once in every school year to ascertain whether he is suffering from defective sight or hear- ing or from any other disability or defect tending to prevent his receiving the full benefit of his school work, or requiring a mod- ification of the school work in order to prevent injury to the child or to secure the best educational results. The tests of sight and hearing shall be made by teachers. The committee shall cause notice of any defect or disability requiring treat- ment to be sent to the parent or guardian of the child, and shall require a physicial record of each child to be kept in such form as the state board of education shall prescribe.
Section 6. The state board of health shall prescribe the di- rections for tests of sight and hearing and the state board of edu- cation shall, after consultation with the state board of health, prescribe and furnish to school committees suitable rules of in- struction, test-cards, blanks, record books and other useful ap- pliances for carrying out the purposes of this act, and shall pro- vide for pupils in the normal schools instruction and practice in the best methods of testing the sight and hearing of children. The state board of education may expend during the year nine- teen hundred and six a sum not greater than fifteen hundred dollars, and annually thereafter a sum not greater than five hun- dred dollars for the purpose of supplying the material required by this act.
Section 7. The expense which a city or town may incur by virtue of the authority herein vested in the school committee or board of health, as the case may be, shall not exceed the amount appropriated for that purpose in cities by the city council and in
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towns by the town meeting. The appropriation shall precede any expenditure or any indebtedness which may be incurred under this act, and the sum appropriated shall be deemed a suf- ficient appropriation in the municipality where it is made. Such appropriation need not specify to what section of the act it shall apply, and may be voted as a total appropriation to be applied in carrying out the purposes of the act.
Section 8. This act shall take effect on the first day of September in the year nineteen hundred and six. (Approved June 20, 1906.
Part Second
VALUATION OF POLLS AND ESTATES
OF THE TOWN OF DUXBURY
For the Year 1907
.
1
-
LIST OF PERSONS ASSESSED FOR POLL TAX ONLY, 1907.
Alden, Charles H. Allen, J. Milner Anderson, Frank W. Atwood, Eugene F. Alden, John W ..
Bradford, Gershom Bradford, Charles C. Baker, William C. Baker, Walter H. Baker, William D. Burgess, William J. Blanchard, Howard Bates, George T. Boylston, Charles A. Badger, Richard A. Bates, Robert T. Bates, Ernest Bickford, Frank W. Byrne, Fred D. Bolton, Joseph F., Jr. Bryant, Franklin Burgess, John P. Beadle, William Bartlett, Charles B.
Churchill. Walter T. Cook, Edwin W. Crafts, Charles W. Cushing, George B. Chandler, Van R. Church, Waldo B. Chandler, George W. Cobbett, George W. Curtis, Henry W. Chandler, John A. Chubbuck, George W. Clapp, William F. Coburn, George M. Cobbett, J. Elmer
Dunham, Brooks K.
Dunham, Harry W. Dawes, Frank H. Delano, Adelbert
Delano, Arthur N. Delano, Walter S. Delano, Herman H., Jr. Delano, Edwin F. Davis, Charles H. Derosier, Nolbert Decatur. Frank O.
Davis, William F. Dunham. William J.
Ellis, John Ellis, James W. Eastman, Sumner P. Eaton, Arthur D. Edwards, Arthur O. Edwards, Charles S. Erickson, August
Fowler, Alfred B.
Foster, Cyrus R. Freeman, George F. Freeman, Harry L. Flood, Thomas H. Freeman, William E. Frost, Edward F. Ford, Johnathan S. Fowle, Edward A.
Flagg, William R.
Frazar, Walter E. S.
Glass, Frank W. Glover, Eden S.
Grueby, Charles P. Grover, Edwin S. Gage, Albert J. Green, George A. Green -
Holmes, Charles W. Hastings, James W. Hill, Adoniram J. Holmes, William F. Harris, Max Henderson, Henry E.
Hanlin, George W. Holmes, George A.
Holmes, Oscar M. Hodgdon, Charles A. Hodgdon, Nahum Hannigan, Harold F. Hannigan, Thomas Hannigan, Martin
Hunt, Charles W.
Ingalls, Harry P.
Jackson, Stephen H.
-3-
POLL TAX LIST-CONTINUED.
Leach, Fred H. Lamb, Victor E. Loring, Horace L. Lapham, George E. Lane, George E. Lynch, William F. Lewis, Thaddeus A. Leavitt, B. C.
Merrill, Albert B. McCarty, Fred C. Merry, William J. Morgan, Walter R. McNaught, Charles C. McNaught, Harry A. Moulton, Phillip H. Moore, William S. Martin, John E. Mason, Henry B. Marcotte, Triffle Mann, Alonzo W.
Nickerson, Avner S. Needham, Hubert J. Nilson, Aron
O'brien, Patrick
Peterson, William B. Peterson, Lorenzo W. Paulding, Fred G. Phillips, Wendell B. Peterson, Leroy Peterson, William D. Peterson, Seth Peterson, Paul C. Pinder, Edward L. Presby, Charles E. Phillips, Frank E. Prior, Arthur E. Pratt, C. R. M. Peterson, Arthur S. Parker, J. Knowles
Packard, Herbert Pierce, Leander B.
Reed, Elijah Reynolds, Lauriet E. Rich, Hiram F. Randall, Freeman L. Randall, Arthur
Randall, James F. Remich, George B. Ryan, Michael Ryder, Herbert A.
Rogers, Edward Russell, Matthew Ryder, Oscar B. Ryder, Everett A.
Soule, George J.
Smith, Clarence M.
Soule, Oscar B.
Sherman, Frederick P.
Stearns, Guy A.
Stearns, Ray A.
Stevens, Edward Steele, Lewis H. Sampson, Franklin S. Sampson, Howard L. Simmons, William W. Sampson, Nathan L. Soule, Daniel L. Sanataire, John Simmons, George A. Sanataire, Joseph Sanderson, Robert L. Simmons, William E. Simmons, John K. Studley, Fred B. Sollis, Edwin S.
Smith, James H. Steele, Fergus Simmons, Fred E.
Taylor, Lewis Turner, William P. Thomas S. P. R. Tammet, Harry A.
Winsor, John M. Wadsworth, Archie M. Wadsworth, William W.
Wadsworth Fred W.
winsor, Lorenzo L. Winsor, Everett
Walker, Collingwood Q.
Walker, Lysander C.
Weston, Walter F.
Walker, Isaiah Wadsworth, Edwin H. Walters, George W. Wyman, Lemuel H. Wadsworth, Alexander
Wadman, George Weston, Parker E. Weston, James S.
-4-
RESIDENTS ASSESSED FOR MORE THAN POLL TAX, 1907.
NAMES
Poll Tax
DESCRIPTION OF PERSONAL AND REAL ESTATE
Total Estate
Total Tax
DISTRICT NO. 1
Alden, William J. Ayers, David J.
·
2 00
House 2200, house lot 1/2 a. 225
.
.
2425
40 32
Burgess, Samuel P.
Personal 75. house lot 1/2 a. 150
225
5 56
Burgess, James K.
2 00
Bartlett, Seth (Estate)
House 2250, stable 800, shop 75, house lot 1/2 a. 200, H. O. Winsor land 2 a. 75. Leonard land 1 a. 75. school house land 3% a. 50
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