USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1885-1886 > Part 4
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Oct.
8. Olive H. Thompson,
22. George F. Dejon,
22. Joseph L. Dennelry,
30. Mary P. Allen,
Nov.
1. Mabel W. Richards,
4. Harriet Cole,
Frank W. and S. Emma.
9. Lizzie I. Smart,
9. Joseph T. Shay,
16. Florence M. Smith,
21. John R. McDonald,
Dec.
1. John D. Dejon,
6. Edith O. Crocker, .
Luther O. and Sarah J.
George H. and Sadie E. C. Harold and Jennie B. James and Mary.
B. Herbert and Mina E.
Augustus and Bridget A. Orville M. and Addie M.
DEATHS.
1885. Jan.
Name and Birthplace.
Y.
M.
D.
1. Joseph H. Packard, Braintree,
-
3
29
7. George P. Hollis, Braintree,
59
2
28
9. James O'Brien, Ireland, about
65
19. Everett R. Sawyer, Braintree,
3
4
20
30. John W. Richardson, Mansfield,
55
10
26
30. Anna G. Oliver, Braintree,
28
10
21
Herbert G. and Nora L.
Charles A. and Mary A. Joseph D. and Susie L. George E. and Martha A. Wilbur F. and Mabel J. Peter B. and Susan J. William A. and Ann.
19. Ethel B. Sprague,
30. William H. Nugent,
12. Henry R. S. Vinton,
21. 28. Mary A. Loring,
Joseph and Mary. Frank S. and Bertha W. John and Mary.
John H. and Nellie M.
John V. and Mary C.
Arthur E. and Anna D.
Charles E. and Susie E. Edward and Maria L.
James F. and Nellie. William R. and Mary F. Joseph and Hattie.
7. Clara N. Holbrook,
13. - Stone,
15. Mary A. Ryan,
17. Edna E. Woodsum,
28. Joseph M. McRae,
28. Ethel M. Rogers,
65
1885.
Name and Birthplace.
Y.
M.
D.
Feb.
2.
S. Nelson Prescott, Maine,
41
-
10. - Pratt, Braintree,
-
-
1
11. Paul Wales, Braintree,
-
-
2
13.
Amos W. Stetson, Braintree,
82
9
17
12.
Adonijah Pennock, Vermont,
79
-
14
16.
Asa Mann, Randolph,
68
10
7
16.
Sophia F Haywood, Scituate,
51
1
16
17.
Mary Jenney, Braintree,
18
4
26
25.
Louisa Lombard, Boston,
5
2
24
March
3. David Thayer, Braintree,
78
4
7
9.
George A. Crockett, Nova Scotia,
28
1
7
16.
Edward Grant, New York,
41
6 28
18.
Susan Reed, Braintree,
81
6
23
19.
Charlotte Dyer, Holbrook,
80
5
25
31.
Estella C. Hearn, Brockton, ~
3
4
21
April
3.
William Bowditch, Braintree,
50
3
14
4. Irene N. Foss, Braintree,
52
6
8
4. Margaret E. Stevens, Braintree,
73
5
27
11. Reginald S. Tupper, Braintree,
98
-
-
19. John G. W. Arnold, Braintree,
37
9
25
22. James W. Wheeler, Chelsea,
23
11
25
25.
Sophia Hayward, Weymouth,
91
5
16
25. Waclaw Moshnicka, Braintree,
-
1
6
May
18. John Hayward, Braintree,
56
1 10
19. Abby A. Hayward, Middleboro',
54
3
21
23. Marion M. Fernald, Braintree,
16
7
21
24. Jessie M. Crockett, Braintree,
6
23
30. Mary Hollis, Braintree,
80
3
9
June
19. Samuel Hayden, Boston,
80
9
24
July
3. Adin P. Wilde, Braintree,
71
4
21
7. John Power, Boston,
1
7
4
14. Mary E. Benjamin, Braintree,
4
4
24
15. Harry E. Jones, Braintree,
-
1
3
17.
Nellie M. Richards, Braintree,
1
9
24
18. Louietta Porter, Randolph,
25
7
12
19. Harriet P. Stedman, Maine,
77
10
19
26. Peter Dejon, Braintree,
7
25
27. Kenneth Atwell, Chelsea,
-
2
3
6. Lucy Perkins, Easton,
87
1
18
August 3.
Percy C. Franklin, unknown,
-
10
-
4. Charles W. Hollis, Braintree,
1
6
-
6
16
-
13.
Charles W. Holbrook, Braintree,
-
40
10
19
10. Mary Penniman, Braintree,
1
5
14. Jean B. Benjamin, Canada,
17
22. Mary M. Peters, Scotland,
5. Mary McManus, Braintree,
-
5
66
1885.
Name and Birthplace.
Y.
M.
D
August 4. Daniel Sullivan, Ireland,
62
-
-
5. Nancy E. Friend, Braintree,
30
6
18
5. Frederic A. Custance, Braintree,
-
8
5
13.
Edward H. Mellus, Braintree,
44
6
14
16.
Laura A. Hollis, Pembroke,
53
-
7
29.
Albert E. Brooks, Boston,
1
-
Sept.
1.
William H. Nugent, Braintree,
-
1
2
6.
Jennie M. Webber, Somerset,
1
5
14
9. Nicholas Decose, Nova Scotia,
18
10. Mary E. Dejon, Braintree,
-
1
11.
Frank J. H. Rhines, Boston,
19
6
3
12. Lewis J. Dyer, Braintree,
34
3
-
12.
Benjamin Hawes, Roxbury,
68
7
3
13.
Maurice J. Wallace, Braintree,
86
4
24
17.
Catherine A. Sager, Maine,
70
10
7
26.
Hannah Sampson, Carver,
78
7
25
30. Margaret L .. Hill, Braintree,
16
10
4.
Oct.
6.
Hannah Nute, New Hampshire,
76
-
-
-
22.
Mary A. Costello, Braintree,
57
6
28
31. Lizzie M. Libby, Boston,
15
1
21
Nov.
14. John Robinson, England,
35
-
-
19. Mary Penniman, Weymouth,
87
2
19
anders- 22. Harvey Thayer, Braintree,
79
9
20
28. Esther F. Burt, Nova Scotia,
58
4
28
Dec.
4. Jacob Buker, Maine,
82
10
2
16. Henry Ford, Pembroke,
85
3
1
17. Joseph H. Tuck, Nantucket,
47
1.
10
20. Michael Whearty, Ireland,
67
8
2
SAMUEL A. BATES,
Town Clerk.
31.
Henry R S. Vinton, Braintree,
-
1
3
16.
Samuel L. Holbrook, Braintree,
30
7
29
17.
Nora Hennessey, Weymouth,
24
28. Susan E. Hollis, Braintree,
19
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1885-86.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
THE undersigned respectfully presents the annual report of the School Committee of the town of Braintree, for the year 1885-6.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
FUNDS.
Town appropriation for schools . . $8,200 00
Town school fund
.
250 00
State school fund
189 48
Dog tax
489 00
Incidentals for schools
300 00
Incidentals for schoolhouses
300 00
Incidentals for text-books and supplies
800 00
Appropriation for salary of Superintendent .
1,200 00
Additional appropriation for text-books and supplies
150 00
Additional appropriation for schools
50 00
Incidentals, cash returned .
92
Total available fund
·
. $11,929 40
EXPENDITURES.
For schools
. $9,085 59
School incidentals
233 57
Schoolhouse incidentals
347 46
Text-books and supplies
·
1,034 15
Superintendent's salary to Feb. 1, 1886
900 00
Total disbursements .
. $11,600 77
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
For the purpose of grading the Union schoolhouse yard and repairing the fence ·
$200 00
For grading Pond schoolhouse yard .
100 00
·
·
.
.
1
70
For repairing Iron Works schoolhouse and grading yard of the same .
$100 00
For building a fence and grading the yard of the East schoolhouse .
150 00
For shingling roof of Southeast schoolhouse
75 00
$625 00
EXPENDITURES.
For Union School
.
$202 31
For Pond School
91 55
For Iron Works School
·
95 00
For East School
148 82
$537 68
ESTIMATES FOR ENSUING YEAR.
For schools
. $8,400 00
For school incidentals
·
.
· 300 00
For schoolhouse incidentals
500 00
For text-books and supplies
800 00
For Superintendent s salary
1,200 00
Total appropriations
. $11,500 00
Value of text-books and supplies on hand Feb. 1, 1886, $170 36 Value of text-books and supplies furnished schools
during past year
1,056 59
Since the Committee presented their last report, there has been an important and radical change in the immediate direction and supervision of the public schools in Braintree. At its annual meet- ing last March, the town availed itself of its right under the statute to direct the Committee to appoint a Superintendent of Schools, and, at a subsequent meeting, made appropriation for the salary of such Superintendent. The Committee, acting in accordance with such direction, advertised for candidates, and in a short time received somewhere from eighty to one hundred applications. After a care- ful examination as to the experience, qualifications, and recom- mendations of a large number of the applicants, they decided to appoint Mr. J. T. Clarke, and to have him enter upon the duties of his office on May 1, 1885. Mr. Clarke came very highly recom-
71
mended, having been during the last five years in Chicopee, and having brought the schools of that place to a high state of efficiency.
The Committee fully recognize the fact that, under the statute, the appointment of a Superintendent in no way relieves them of responsibility ; that they are still the directing power, and that the Superintendent acts merely as their agent and under their control. While, therefore, the Committee have handed over to the Superin- tendent most of the routine work, the purchase and distribution of supplies, the approving of teachers' bills, the daily supervision of the schools, they have been careful to keep themselves well informed in regard to all these matters, and to have such personal knowledge of the schools as shall enable them to co-operate with and give intelligent direction to the work of the Superintendent.
It is, perhaps, too soon to pass any decided judgment on Mr. Clarke's work, but the Committee feels justified in stating that his suggestions have been many and valuable, and that his close and careful supervision has already resulted in a perceptible increase in the efficiency and work of the schools.
GENERAL CONDITION OF SCHOOLS.
The general condition of the schools is very good, and the work accomplished during the year just passed has been very satisfactory. Not only has the standard of former years been maintained, but more and better work has been made possible by changes in various directions. Efforts have been made to have a more careful grading in the different schools, and still more will be accomplished in this direction when the courses of study as lately revised go into effect. More frequent and systematic examinations have been instituted in the higher classes, which are intended not only as a guide to the teachers as to the progress of the pupils, but also as an incentive to the pupils themselves. Additional exercises have been intro- duced, with a view to teaching pupils to think about what they study, to think rapidly, and to give proper expression to their thoughts ; in other words, to make use of their minds, and not to be mere receptacles for what is contained in text-books. Care, too, has been taken by instruction and by text-book, as far as possible, to implant in all the pupils a taste for good read- ing, and to encourage those in the higher classes to gain some knowledge of English literature by outside reading. To this end, the Superintendent has been directed to make lists of books in the
72
Public Library which would be advantageous reading for pupils, and to have such lists brought to their attention by the teachers. The study of physiology and hygiene, this year introduced in all the schools, will, it is hoped, have an excellent effect in impressing upon the minds of the pupils the importance of good health, and in giving them a knowledge of the rules necessary to its maintenance. And, together with other things, the Committee have tried in every way to have the children taught good morals and good manners, to have brought to their attention the absolute necessity of a proper self-control, and to have inculcated in them a love of truth, justice, reverence, and of everything that goes to make up good and useful men and women.
ATTENDANCE.
The number of pupils in the schools is somewhat larger than last year. The Committee have constantly endeavored to bring in view the importance, nay, the absolute necessity, of regularity and promptness in attendance on the part of the pupils, and there has been a decided improvement in both these respects,during the past year. The improvement in regard to regularity is not so apparent on the table of statistics, on account of the scarlet fever, which has been recently so prevalent in the south part of the town, and also on account of the absences caused by vaccination. In view of the prevalence of small-pox in Canada and the consequent danger of its spreading into this country, the Committee felt obliged to see that the law in regard to vaccination was strictly enforced, and the effect was more violent than usual, some of the children being kept at home two or three weeks. Aside from these two draw. backs, the improvement has been very encouraging, and the Committee would earnestly ask the co-operation of parents and guardians in their efforts for a still further improvement during the coming year.
TEACHERS.
Frequent change of teachers, involving frequent change in methods of discipline and teaching, must always be detrimental to a school, and it has been the aim of the Committee to have as little of this as possible. They have been fortunate in this respect during the past year, comparatively few changes having been ren- dered necessary.
73
Very early in the year Miss Nye resigned her position as assistant teacher in the High School, and Miss C. M. Bassett was appointed to fill the place. Rather than lose the services of Miss Bassett, the Committee decided in November to make a slight increase in her salary and to ask the town to appropriate a sum sufficient to meet such increase. Upon the request being made, the town gen- erously appropriated the sum asked for.
It was deemed advisable to make changes in the Iron Works Intermediate and the Iron Works Grammar, and Miss A. A. Scott and Mr. J. Edward Pickering were placed in charge of these schools respectively.
The vacancy in the Union Grammar, made at the end of the last school year, by Mr. Record's declining to serve further, was filled by the appointment of Mr. Charles W. Bean as teacher of this school. Miss Susan O. Lane was transferred from the West School to the Union Intermediate, to take the place of Miss Carter, resigned.
Miss Lucy Keith was appointed to fill the vacancy in the West School caused by the transfer of Miss Lane.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
It has been the endeavor of the Committee to keep the school buildings and everything connected with them in the best possi- ble repair and order, in conformity with the means at their dis- posal. Not only is this in the line of true economy, as tending to the better preservation of the buildings, but it is in recognition of the fact that there is no more important item in promoting the good health and efficient work of both teachers and scholars than clean, well-ordered, and attractive school-rooms. The Committee have been able to accomplish very satisfactory results in this direction during the year, notwithstanding some extra expense for work not looked for at its beginning.
The present buildings are not of the highest grade ; they are not supplied with the best methods of heating, ventilation, etc. ; and they have not perhaps all the apparatus that could be used to advantage. The Committee, however, have not thought that the town was ready or could afford at present to go into the expense that any radical changes would involve, and, moreover, have thought that good results could be obtained for the present with-
74
out such changes. As the town grows larger, and the increased number of scholars makes necessary increased accommodations, it may be that the Committee will have some definite recommenda- tions to make in this regard.
For the better accommodations of the pupils, and especially also in the interest of good morals, the Committee at the beginning of the present school year had all the out- houses thoroughly cleaned and repaired, and, with the aid of the Superintendent,' have made a determined effort to keep them so, and their efforts have met with very good success.
During the coming year there will be one or two items calling for a slight increase in the appropriation for schoolhouse inciden- tals ; for instance, the mats in all the school buildings are in very bad condition, and will have to be thoroughly renewed ; most of the buildings need cases for the preservation of the books belonging to the town, and the furniture and woodwork in one or two of the buildings ought to be repaired. The outlay here will not be large, and aside from these, the Committee know of no extra expense that will have to be incurred.
GENERAL REMARKS.
, At the beginning of this report will be found a statement of the special appropriations made for school purposes during the past year, and the amounts expended under each. The results of these expenditures have been for the most part very satisfactory, and permanent improvements have been made. Owing to unfavor- able weather, the work on the Southeast schoolhouse has not been completed, and consequently no statement can be made of the ex- penditures under this head. As soon as the weather allows, the work here will be finished.
For the benefit of those who do not understand the condition of the High School, and may have been misled by occasional captious and erroneous statements in regard to it, perhaps it may be well to say that the law requires certain studies to be taught in high schools ; that the studies so required are now taught in our High School, as heretofore ; that though the average age of entrance is less than it was twenty-five years ago, the scholars go over as much ground and as thoroughly as in past years. The courses of study and the examination papers given will be found to bear out these
75
statements fully. To repeat what has been stated in former reports, the Committee would again say that, to meet the demand for entering upon a business life at an early age, scholars are allowed to graduate after completing a three-years' course, though all who can are advised to remain an additional year. Moreover, there is a high-grade Academy in the town, which scholars can enter after being in the High School one or two years, and for the establishment of which the town has paid large sums of money, so that there would seem to be no reason why the Committee should compel scholars to take studies in the High School which they could take perhaps to better advantage in the Academy.
At its last session the Legislature passed an act requiring physi- ology and hygiene to be taught " in all schools supported wholly or in part by public money, except special schools maintained solely for instruction in particular branches, such as drawing, mechanics, art, and like studies." In compliance with this direction, the Com- mittee have introduced suitable text-books in the different schools. And in order to defray the extra expense thus caused they were obliged in November to ask the town to appropriate $150 for text- books and supplies, in addition to the amount already appropriated for that purpose.
There has been much complaint in regard to the difficulties of reaching the schools where pupils live at a distance, especially during the winter months. After some consideration and discus- sion of the matter, the Committee have decided to recommend the town to make an appropriation to be expended at their discretion for transporting pupils to and from school.
In the report of last year, mention was made of the fact that some children were prevented from attending school by a lack of proper clothing. The Committee can only state that this trouble still exists, and repeat the hope that the town may think best to take some action in regard to it.
In many of the surrounding towns the duration of the afternoon session has been reduced to two hours, and the Committee, hav- ing been frequently urged to make this change in Braintree, have, after some thought, fixed the afternoon session of school from half past one till four, hoping thus to give the children ample time for rest and dinner without keeping them in school too late in the afternoon, and at the same time without cutting short the hours
76
of school to such an extent as to prevent accomplishing the work laid out for them.
Appended to this report will be found the report of the Super- intendent, to which the Committee would ask the careful attention of all interested in the welfare of our schools.
L. H. H. JOHNSON, - For the Committee.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Braintree:
GENTLEMEN, - The first annual report of the Superintendent of Schools is herewith respectfully submitted.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Population of the town, State census 1885 4,040
Number of children between five and fifteen years of
age, school census, May, 1885, males 341 ; females 364 ; total 705
Total number of pupils enrolled in the public schools during the year . 835
Number under five years of age
3
Number over fifteen years of age
58
Number between five and fifteen .
774
Average number belonging .
611.61
Average daily attendance
542.07
Per cent of attendance 88.63
Cost per scholar based on whole number enrolled $11.65
Cost per scholar based on average number belonging $16.32
In entering upon the duties of the office to which you have appointed me, I have made it my first business to thoroughly acquaint myself with the present condition of the schools, that I might intelligently plan for their future best interests. To this end, a large share of my time during the hours of school has been spent in the school-room. In my endeavor to promote the welfare of the schools, I have studiously avoided such overturnings as would produce confusion, and in the end serve only to retard prog- ress. I have constantly borne in mind that the best schools are those that best meet the want of the community where they exist ; that real progress in education is necessarily slow, and secured
78
only by persistent effort ; that the processes of improvement should be carried on intelligently, cautiously, and steadily, and that the place to begin is in the lower grades. With correct teaching and training there secured, a corresponding benefit may be expected in higher classes.
I find in the schools teachers earnest and faithful, much excel- lent work, and in most cases pleasant and cordial relations between teacher and pupils. There has been uniformly manifested a desire to learn of better methods, and a readiness in grasping and putting to immediate use suggestions for improvement. With few exceptions, the order in the schools is generally good, many of the teachers having learned that important lesson, that the most important element of successful management is found in keeping the children occupied and interested.
While it has been to me a pleasure to note these and other com- mendable features of the schools, as they show so much advance- ment toward the higher plane to which your efforts have been directed, and a good foundation, with conditions favorable for mak- ing the schools equal to those of any town of this character, my attention has been more especially directed, as you have expected of me, to the needs of the schools, and to determining measures for their improvement. The matters that require greatest attention are : (1) securing a greater thoroughness in the elementary work ; (2) more uniformity in the work of corresponding grades; (3) more systematic work in some of the branches taught, as Language, Drawing, and Penmanship ; and (4) a more careful classifica- tion.
The revised course of study which you have just adopted and ordered to be embraced in this report will be found an important auxiliary in accomplishing desired results. The limits designated will show the teachers the amount of work expected in each grade, and will curb the tendency to advance too rapidly, and so lead to more thorough work. This course has been prepared with great care, and is believed to be well adapted to the present condition of the schools. Reading, Writing, Language, oral and written, and Arithmetic must always hold prominent places in the work of the elementary schools, as being not only the most useful, but as con- stituting the foundation work of all higher attainment. By follow- ing this course the idea of number will be developed in regular and logical order ; language lessons, with writing, are begun at the out-
79
set and continued throughout the course, nearly every exercise of the school aiding in cultivating the power of expressing ideas correctly and with facility. The prominence given to oral and written exercises, so far from detracting from the general advance- ment, will be found to be an important aid, giving a more ready and correct expression in all recitations ; all other subjects usually belonging to these grades will receive due attention. The changes in the High School curriculum provide for a course in American and English Literature, to give the students some knowledge of authors and books ; and a thorough drill in the most practical pro- cesses of Arithmetic during the last term of senior year.
The nearest approach to regular gradation in the elementary. schools appears in the Pond and Union Schools, where are the pupils of two years, or grades, in each room. In the Iron Works School, the eight grades are in three rooms, while in the East School the eight grades are in two rooms. In the out-districts the schools have classes ranging from beginners to the eighth grade. No part of the work of supervision requires more careful judgment and dis- crimination than the matter of grading and promotions. The greatest care should be exercised to avoid injustice to individual pupils. Nothing is more unfortunate for a pupil than to be classed above his attainments, to be in a class the work of which he cannot by his best efforts do well, mastering the daily lessons ; it is not only discouraging, but a waste of time, and, what is worse, fruitful of bad habits of mind and study. A course of study is necessarily made out for the average healthy pupil. Many at some time are deficient in bodily health or mental quickness to an extent to retard progress, making it advisable to repeat a year's work. The gen- eral welfare demands a regular gradation of classes, and pupils who at any time show clearly the ability, mental and physical, to advance more rapidly, should be encouraged by promotion to a higher grade, while others who, through irregularity of attendance, necessary or otherwise, indolence or inability, fail to do the work of their class, and so become a hindrance to others, should be re- moved, in justice to themselves as well as the class, to a lower grade. Those who are not present enough to follow the work of the class, and keep up an interest in the subjects of study, cannot he expected to hold their places. It usually happens that those most absent are those who most need the every-day drill, and who can least afford to lose any part of the work. Failure to maintain
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