USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Berkley > Town annual report of Berkley 1901-1909 > Part 12
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150 00
for teachers' salaries
100 00
66
for high school tuition
460 00
for tuition of state children
120 50
city of Boston for tuition
133 50
Bristol County dog fund
7 94
Total receipts $3673 88
*Overpaid $83.68, which will be deducted from next year's amount.
5
ANNUAL REPORT.
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers
$2164 00
Janitors
100 75
Fuel
157 90
High School tuition
475 00
Books and supplies
150 84
Repairs
321 24
School supervision
300 00
School committee
62 98
Truant officer
10 00
Miscellaneous
307 18
Total expenditures
$4049 89
6
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of the School Committee.
Another school year has closed, and the committee will make only a short report in regard to the condition of the schools, as a general one is given by the superintendent.
A new school house has been built at No. 7 (Myricks) which complies with the state law, is well equipped in every respect and which your building committee think is very sat- isfactory.
The school committee with the approval of the selectmen had an artesian well driven at No. 2 (Burt's Corner) which was very much needed. It is excellent water and there is plenty of it.
A pump has been put in the well at No. 1 (Common) at a small expense.
We would recommend that wells be driven at No. 3 and No. 6 school houses, if not at all of them. Residents of the town have complained to the committee in regard to getting water at their houses, as the children break the pump and otherwise annoy them. Consequently, we think it is no more than right and just for each school house to have a well, so as not to intrude upon the neighbors.
The school house at Burt's Corner needs painting and shingling, and the new one at Myricks, also, needs a coat of paint. Most of the blackboards are in bad condition and we would advise that slate be substituted for the old ones as far as practicable, which would cost from sixty to seventy dollars for each school house.
7
ANNUAL REPORT.
Alton W. Reed resigned as committee to comply with the new state law, as he preferred to teach. Your committee with the selectmen, appointed Herbert F. Briggs to fill the vacancy for the current year.
We believe the schools are gradually doing better work and that the pupils are reaping the benefits of their instruction,
We also believe that the teachers in your employment, as well as the superintendent, have been faithful to their trusts ; that in the care of their schools and in the progress of their pupils in the different studies pursued, they have been success- ful. Let us teach our pupils the true spirit of love and obedience, and encourage them to emulate the life of Washing- ton, Lincoln and others who have helped to make our country what it is to-day.
The superintendent held a joint meeting of the committee and teachers of the three towns in the Berkley Congregational Church, Feb. 17, 1905, which was interesting as well as in- structive for school work.
The joint committee of Berkley, Dighton and Rehoboth met in Dighton, April 15, and unanimously re-elected S. C. Hutchinson superintendent of schools for the above said towns at the same salary.
We hope that the parents will frequently visit the schools and deem it a pleasant duty, and in so doing they will help to encourage the scholars in their work and thereby all will share in the benefits derived.
In conclusion, we wish to thank the superintendent, teachers, parents and all who have in any way assisted us in the discharge of our duties.
EDWIN H. ALLEN.
HELEN R. STRANGE. School
HERBERT F. BRIGGS. Committee.
8
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee of the Town of Berkley :
I present my fourth annual report as superintendent of schools. In general, the educational work of the town has been progressive and satisfactory. Satisfactory in the sense that the work has been progressive, that it has improved in quality, that harmony has prevailed, and that the outlook is encouraging ; but not in the sense that our best achieve- ment has been realized. Far from it.
THE RURAL SCHOOL.
We have fairly good schools as schools go. They are rural schools. They are few in number. They vary in size. One teacher has ten pupils. Another has forty. No school has less than five grades. One has eight. The rural school has serious disadvantages. What shall be done for it ? Con- solidation is one remedy,-a successful one in many towns in many states. Some of the advantages of consolidation com- bined with transportation are, briefly stated :
1. Decreases cost, or gives better schools for same cost.
2. Requires fewer teachers.
3. Requires fewer grades to a teacher.
4. Permits better equipment.
9
ANNUAL REPORT.
5. Allows longer periods for recitations.
6. Conduces to better health.
7. Conduces to better morals.
8. Awakens healthy rivalry because of larger classes.
9. Improves attendance and punctuality.
10 Tends to keep children in school longer.
11. Insures better care and oversight of pupils on the way to and from school.
All these are desirable ends and are well worth considera- tion. The advantages of consolidation emphasize the disad- vantages of isolation. The child of the rural school does not have the advantages of the child of the city or the consoli- dated school, but he has a right to them or their equivalent. His need is real and his right is clear to the best that we can give him.
Now the rural school as a rural school is our problem What shall we do with it? We can make the most of its peculiar advantages and opportunities. The teacher can know and teach the individual pupil. Each child has his chance. The teacher exerts a strong personal influence.
The pupil develops a sense of responsibility. There can be and should be a close relationship and co-operation be_ tween the school and the home. Out of such personal contact and combined influence there may come,-and does come,- strength of character and self-reliance, and the individuality that is the pride and glory of the rural school.
To strengthen the work of our schools, we may increase their equipment as our means permit and enrich our course of study by necessary and important additions. Constant attention should be given to school hygiene and to improving and beautifying school surroundings. The question of morals
10
ANNUAL REPORT.
is all important. Profanity and vile language require as rigid treatment as a contagious disease. Immorality and obscenity are difficult subjects to deal with, but they must be dealt with vigorously when necessary.
Obedience and courtesy at home lay the foundation of good manners in school and society. The rural school itself is almost a family with its children of varied ages and diversity of temperament, and the formation of good habits,-of manner, of speech, of observation, of study, of thought, of virtue and morality, in short, of character, is distinctly and specifically its vocation. Books, knowledge, lessons, play,- all are means, not ends.
The training in the rural school of the future is to be more practical. It must educate for rural life. Education must be adapted to rural needs. The boys and girls of the country must be trained for the home life. They must be taught to appreciate its opportunities ; to dignify and respect its occu- pations. Manual labor must be encouraged. The hands must be trained in school to do things. The principles of agriculture must be taught. The successful farmer must be trained in the science of farming. The rural school will make a beginning. Correlated with geography, nature study, science, and language, the elements of agricultural science,-the formation of soils, the growth of the plant, the selection of seed, the rotation of crops, the use of fertilizers, and the the variety of farm occupation will be taught. Is it not time to begin ? The school is so important a factor in a child's development that it must touch his life on all sides. To- gether with the home, it must teach the child to make the most of the life he has to live whatever be the labor of his days. . Whether his life is to be on the farm, in the shop or in any other occupation, the school must measure up to his need as an individual and as a citizen.
11
ANNUAL REPORT.
How rapidly shall we advance ? Permit me to quote from an address by Hon. Walter E. Ranger, Commissioner of Edu- cation for Rhode Island.
" Efficient school education is the reciprocal of industrial prosperity. Were farming made to pay better, the means for better rural schools would be at once forthcoming. Were. schools more efficient, youth would be trained to make farm- ing pay better. While the school is a means of the people's government for the betterment of the people, itself is the fruition of the people's life. On the one side the school is to enrich and elevate the life of the people by the right training of childhood and youth; on the other side, it receives its own enrichment, guidance, and inspiration from the people. Real educational progress is an experience of the people. Rural school improvement must come with the betterment of rural life. Conscious effort for rural betterment, to be successful, must be guided by a knowledge of rural conditions, and animated by a sympathy with rural life. The improvement of the rural 'school will not come so much through ready made schemes as by its simple efforts to meet the needs of its children in the most direct way with the means at hand. It must be the natural issue of the rural people."
It is, therefore, the people who maintain the schools, de- termine what their standard shall be, and regulate the rate of progress and development. The superintendent and the school committee recognize this and stand ready to meet the demands of the community for better schools, and to give full information concerning their needs.
12
ANNUAL REPORT.
DRAWING AND MUSIC.
I wish to refer again to the need of a special teacher in drawing and music. About 97 per cent. of the children of the state have the benefit of instruction by special teachers of drawing. Berkley children ought to be included. Special instruction in music includes 96.8 per cent of the school chil- dren of the state. The children of Berkley are in a rapidly diminishing minority. Local pride as well as need ought to stimulate us. The cost is not excessive. The returns are large in proportion to the outlay.
PARAGRAPHS.
Teachers' meetings are held as often as can be conveniently arranged.
New wall maps are being selected for the several schools and will be procured as rapidly as means permit.
Most of the teachers attended the meeting of the Bristol County Teachers' Association. The program was of unusual excellence.
The new Myricks school house is now completed and the school is well established in its new quarters. The building is modern in all its appointments and it has been built thoroughly and economically.
The attendance for the last school year gained in average per cent from 87.9 to 89.9. This is nearly to the average of Bristol County. Conditions thus far the present year have been favorable to good attendance and an average of 92 per cent may not be too much to expect. The monthly attend- ance bulletin has been a large factor in improving the at- tendance and punctuality.
13
ANNUAL REPORT.
The subject of reading has had especial attention. A gen- eral plan or outline of the work, the result of continued ob- servation and discussion, has been prepared and placed in the hands of the teachers. The aim has been to reach in a prac- tical way the weak points of our teaching and strengthen them all along the line from the lowest grade to the highest. Language and grammar are now the subjects of especial study and observation.
The joint meeting of the teachers of the district was held in Berkley, February 17, 1905. The meeting was of unusual interest. The speakers were : Walter Sargent, agent of the State Board of Education for the Promotion of Industrial Drawing, Clarence F. Boyden, Superintendent of Schools in Taunton, and F. A. Bliss, chairman of the School Committee of Rehoboth. Among the special features were the exhibit of pupils' written work by the teachers, the special exhibit of drawing by Miss Jennie P. Holmes, Supervisor of Drawing and Music in Swansea, Somerset, Freetown and Dighton, the singing by pupils of the Assonet Grammar School of Free- town, and the hospitality of the Congregational Society of Berkley.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
I will emphasize but two particular needs in my recom- mendations ;
1. Music and drawing under the direction of a supervisor.
2. The consideration of agriculture as a subject to be taught in the schools.
14
ANNUAL REPORT.
CONCLUSION.
Mutual congratulations in school reports are ornamental and may mean much or little. Appreciation is best appre- ciated by strict attention to deserving it. It is the personal element that makes it valuable. I feel that we have much to be thankful for.
Respectfully submitted,
S. C. HUTCHINSON.
15
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of Truant Officer.
To the School Committee of Berkley :
The only truants that have been reported to me this year were from No. 6 School. I saw their parents, and they said they would see that their children attended school more regularly in the future.
Yours truly, CHAS. COREY,
Truant Officer.
16
ANNUAL REPORT.
High School Pupils.
1905-6
TAUNTON HIGH SCHOOL.
Frederick M. Paull
Ralph Christie
Lewis Greene Annie Rothermel
YEAR. Fourth Third Second Second
B. M. C. DURFEE HIGH SCHOOL.
Susie Davis
Third
Sarah Davis
First
17
ANNUAL REPORT.
Rank of Schools in Attendance and Punctuality.
1904-1905.
ATTENDANCE.
PUNCTUALITY.
RANK. SCHOOL. TARDINESS.
1
Number Six
93.8
1
Number Seven 0.
2
Two
93.6
1
Five
0.
3
66
One
93.1
2
One
1.
60
Four
91.8
Two
2.88
Three
S9.5
4
..
Three
3.3
5
Five
89.5
5
Four
5.27
6
Seven
79.5
6
Six
.15.
Changes of Teachers.
1905.
RESIGNATION.
SCHOOL.
APPOINTMENT.
('lara V. Purdy
Number One
66
Four
Josie E. Russell Laura M. Howland
Angie L. Rose
66
Seven
Alton W. Reed
1. Louise Allen
Three
-
Euphemia D. Christie
AVERAGE
RAANK.
SCHOOL.
PER CENT.
1
Edith L. Ward
18
Teachers --- 1904-1905.
SCHOOL.
TEACHER.
EDUCATION.
When Elected
Weeks
Wages per Week
Number One
S Clara V. Purdy
Lowell Normal
1904
14
$10 00
Josie E. Russell
Middleboro Training School
1905
22
8 50
Number Two
Ethel M. Hamilton
Goddard Seminary
1903
36
10 00
Number Three
A. Louise Allen
B. M. C. Durfee High School
1903
36
8 50
Number Four
Edith L. Ward
Fall River Training School
1904
31
8 00
Number Five
Mary E. White
Taunton High School
1903
36
7 00
Number Six
Mary L. Corey
Bristol Academy
1901
36
3 50
Number Seven
Angie I .. Rose
Middleboro Training School
1902
36
10 00
Substitute Teacher
Number Four
Ada H. Strange
Taunton High School
8 00
ANNUAL REPORT.
Attendance Statistics.
1904-1905.
SCHOOL.
Boys
Girls
Total
Enrolment
Enrolment
5 to 15 yrs.
Enrolment
over 15 yrs.
Enrolment
7 to 14 yrs.
Membership
Average
Membership
Average Attendance
Per cent of Attendance
Half Days'
Number of
Tardinesses
Av. No. of
Tardinesses
Number of
Dismissals
Number of Visitors
Number of
Supt.'s Visits
1
20
S
28
27
1
26
28
24.1
22.9
93.1
653
25
1. 2.88
7
46
17
Two
20
20
40
38
2
31
40
34.7
32.5
93.6
748,100
Three
7
9
16
16
15
16
15.3
13.7
89.5
503 51
3.3
24
23
10
Four
3
9
12
00 =
-
11
14
11.
10.1
91.8
357
58
5.27
14
26
11
1
7
8
..
Six
14
14
28
28
22
17.6
16.5
93.8
290,285
15.
JUIN
45
10
Seven
14
18
32
31
1
21
35
31.7
25.2
79.5
709
-
Total
79
85
164
159
5
133
170
141.1 126.9
89.9
3487 519
3.68
78
206
81
ANNUAL REPORT.
21
=
Five
7
00 00
6.7
.00
89.5
227
39
12
6
10
Number One
Enrolment
under 5 yrs.
Total
Absences
19
20
ANNUAL REPORT.
Statistics.
1905.
Population, 1905
930
Valuation
$416,255 00
Tax rate per $1000
13 50
Expended for school purposes :
Teachers
$2164 00
Janitors
100 75
School committee
62 98
Superintendent of schools
300 00
Truant officer
10 00
High school tuition
475 00
Books and supplies
150 84
Repairs
321 24
Fuel
157 90
Miscellaneous
307 18
Total
$4049 89
Received from outside sources :
From the Massachusetts School Fund $1001 94
" state for district supervision 150 00
" teachers' salaries 100 00
66 66 66 " high school tuition 460 00
66
" tuition of state children 120 50
66 city of Boston for tuition 133 50
66
6 Bristol County dog fund 7 94
Total
1973 88
21
ANNUAL REPORT.
Total amount raised by taxation and expended for
school purposes $2076 01
Amount of local tax per $1000 expended for school 4 99
Total expenditure per pupil 28 70
Total cost to town per pupil 14 71
Average cost per pupil in the state, 1903-4
29 63
Cost per pupil for books and supplies
1 07
Average cost per pupil in the state for books and supplies, 1903-4 1 50
Average wages of teachers per week
8 59
Average wages of teachers per week in state, 1903-4
13 84
Number of schools
7
Length of school year in weeks
36
Per cent of attendance 89.9
Average per cent of attendance in the state, 1903-4 91
Average per cent of attendance in Bristol county, 1903-4 90.
Number of children between 5 and 15 years 150
Number of children between 7 and 14 years 111
Number of illiterate minors over 14 years
Number of pupils attending high school 6
22
ANNUAL REPORT.
Extracts from School Laws.
ATTENDANCE.
(Revised Laws, ( hapter 44.)
From 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 day schools are in session."
The attendance of a child shall not be required : (a) “if attending a private day school approved by the school com- mittee," or is being "otherwise instructed ** * in the branches of learning required by law "; (b) " if he has already acquired such branches of learning "; (c) " if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inex- pedient."
" Every person having under his control a child as de- scribed in this section shall cause him to attend school as herein required ; and if he fails for five day sessions or ten half- day sessions within any period of six months * * to cause the child to attend school he shall * * * be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars."
By Chapter 320, Acts of 1905, the age for compulsory school attendance has been raised from fourteen to sixteen years for children " who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language."
23
ANNUAL REPORT.
TRUANCY.
(Revised Laws, Chapter 46.)
From Section 3. " A child between seven and fourteen years of age who wilfully and habitually absents himself from school * * * shall be deemed to be an habitual truant, and * * ** may, if a boy, be committed to a county truant school * * * and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls ***. "
From Section 4. " A child between seven and sixteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets or public places * * * , having no lawful occupation, habitually not attending school, and growing up in idleness and ignor- ance,shall be deemed to be an habitual absentee," and is liable to commitment as in section three.
From Section 5. " A child under fourteen years of age who persistently violates the reasonable regulations of the school which he attends, or otherwise persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom, shall be deemed to be an habitual school offender," and be liable to commitment as in section three.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. (Revised Laws, Chapter 75.)
From Section 51. " The board of health * * * shall give immediate information to the school committee of all conta- gious diseases reported to them."
24
ANNUAL REPORT.
(Revised Laws, Chapter 44.)
Section 6. " A child who has not been vaccinated shall not be admitted to a public school except upon presenta- tion of a certificate signed by a regular practising physiciau that he is not a fit subject for vaccination. A child who is a member of a household in which a person is ill with small- pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or measles, or of a household exposed to such contagion from another household as afore- said, shall not attend any public school during such illness or until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a cer- tificate from the board of health of the city or town, or from the attending physician of such person, stating that, in a case of smallpox, diphtheria or scarlet fever at least two weeks, and in a case of measles, at least three days, have elapsed since recovery, removed or death of such person, and that danger of conveying such disease by such child has passed."
EMPLOYMENT. (Revised Laws, Chapter 106.)
From Section 28. "No child under the age of fourteen years shall be employed in any factory, workshop, or mer- cantile establishment. No such child shall be employed at work performed for wages or other compensation, to whom- soever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the city or town in which he resides, are in session, nor be employed at work before six o'clock in the morning or after seven o'clock in the evening."
From Section 29. " No child under sixteen years of age shall be employed in a factory, workshop or mercantile estab lishment unless his employer procures and keeps on file an age and schooling certificate
25
ANNUAL REPORT.
From Section 30. " An age and schooling certificate shall be approved only by the superintendent, or by a person au- thorized by him in writing * * ? '
From 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
By Chapter 267, Acts of 1905, no age and schooling certi- ficate may be issued to a child under sixteen who is not able to read at sight and to write legibly simple sentences in the English language.
Children between fourteen and sixteen years of age who apply for an age and schooling certificate must bring an em- ployment ticket properly filled out by their intending em- ployer and be accompanied by parent, guardian or custodian. Employment ticket blanks may be procured from the superin- tendent.
26
ANNUAL REPORT.
Authorized List of Books.
TEXT BOOKS.
TITLE
AUTHOR PUBLISHER
Arithmetic
Winslow
American Book Co.
Geography, Natural
Redway &
Hinman
66
66
IIome
Tarr and
McMurry The McMillan Co.
History, U. S.
Montgomery
Ginn. & Co.
Language and Grammar
Southworth &
Readers
Baldwin American Book Co. Silver, Burdett & Co. Ginn & Co.
Physiology
Blaisdell
Speller, The Description Aiton
Writing, National Vertical
Barnes American Book Co.
DESK AND REFERENCE BOOKS.
Bible, Abridged Arr. by D. G. Haskins D. C. Heath & Co. Dictionary, Unabridged Webster
Common School
G. & C. Merriam Co. American Book Co.
Primary 66
First Book of Birds Miller Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
Nature Study by Months I.
Boyden
New England Pub. Co. Silver, Burdett & Co.
Plans for Busy Work Arnold 66
Waymarks for Teachers
Goddard
Thos. R.Shewell & Co.
Reading, The Rational Method in Ward
27
ANNUAL REPORT.
SUPPLEMENTARY BOOKS.
Arnold Primer
Silver, Burdett & Co.
Book of Nature Myths
Holbrook
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
Discoverers and Explorers Shaw American Book Co.
Fairy Tale and Fable
Thompson Silver, Burdett & Co.
Fifty Famous Stories Retold Baldwin
American Book Co.
66
Geographical Readers Hiawatha
Carpenter 66
Longfellow Hougliton, Mifflin & Co.
Hiawatha Primer
Holbrook
66
History Reader
Wilson
McMillan Co.
Morse Reader, First
Old Greek Stories
Baldwin
The Morse Company American Book Co.
Short Stories of Our Shy Neighbors
Kelly
66
66
Stories for Children
Lane
66
Stories of American Life and Adventure
Eggleston
66
66
Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans
6.
Stories of the Old Bay State Brooks
Stories of the Red Children
Story of the English Guerber
Educational Pub. Co. American Book Co.
Story of the Great Republic
66
Story of the Greeks
66
66 66
Story of the Romans
66
66
66
Story of the Thirteen Colonies 66
66
66
Wonder Book
Hawthorne Hougliton, Mifflin & Co.
66
Old Stories of the East
66
66
66
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF BERKLEY
TOGETHER WITH A
Valuation and Tax List,
FOR TIIE
Year Ending Dec. 31, 1906.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF BERKLEY,
TOGETHER WITH A
Valuation and Tax List,
FOR THE
Year Ending Dec. 31, 1906.
FALL RIVER, MASS. WARBURTON & DOVER CO., PRINTERS, 43 FOURTH ST. 1907.
Town Officers -- 1906.
TOWN CLERK. Charles W. Cook-1905 for 3 years. SELECTMEN.
Chas. H. Macomber, Chas. F. Paull, James McCall.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Edwin H. Allen-for 3 years. Herbert F. Briggs-for 2 years. ASSESSORS.
Gideon H. Myrick, Chas. W. Cook, Rollin H. Babbitt.
COLLECTOR AND TREASURER. Noah H. Strange. AUDITOR. Thomas P. Paull.
HIGHWAY SURVEYORS.
Gideon H. Babbitt, Edward E. Whitaker, Walter A. Strange,
James H. Macomber, Charles E. Chase, George F. Chapman,
Chas. M. Wade.
CONSTABLES.
Edwin H. Allen, Jonathan M. Alexander, Walter A. Strange,
Geo. A. Harmon,
Chas. Corey, Simeon W. Luther, Chas. M. Wade.
FISH WARDENS.
Chester E. Phillips, James Maguire, Gideon H. Babbitt.
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