USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1893 > Part 9
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STANDING COMMITTEES.
THOMAS A. WATSON, Reading. Nature Studies.
MRS. A. M. BROOKS, Writing. Drawing.
MRS. CARRIE F. LORING, ( Language. Spelling.
SAMUEL C. BRIDGHAM, M. D. § Mathematics. Hygiene.
HENRY L. DEARING, M. D.,
(Music. Gymnastics.
A. C. DRINKWATER, Geography. History.
Truant Officers. HENRY B. VINTON, Braintree. J. R. CARMICHAEL, South Braintree. ALPHONZO TAYLOR, East Braintree.
{ *Resigned. Mrs. Carrie F. Loring chosen to fill the vacancy.
. THOMAS A. WATSON Term expires in 1894 66 66 1894.
MRS. A. M. BROOKS -
193
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
BRAINTREE, Feb. 1, 1894.
At the meeting of the School Committee, Jan. 29, it was voted that the report of the Superintendent, thereat read and discussed, be adopted as the main part of this Committee's report to the town, inasmuch as it fully covers the work of the schools during the past year and the changes and improvements that it is the desire of the Committee to introduce at the earliest practical moment, a separate report from the Committee would of necessity largely cover the same ground.
There has never been a time in the history of the public schools when so many earnest and practical educators were studying the possibilities of improvement in every branch of instruction as they are at present.
Many ideas new within the last ten years have been carefully tested in practical use until they are now far past the experimental, stage and have been adopted by the more progressive communities.
Many other ideas are being tested, and while they promise well, we prefer to wait until they have proven their usefulness before recommending their adoption in our schools. The attitude of this Committee has been to ascertain what has been and is being done in the line of progress and to adopt such well proven ideas as are within our means and of which it cannot be said that they are in the slightest degree experimental.
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The adoption of the kindergarten system, the employment of special teachers for music and drawing, the abolition of special promotion examinations, the reclassification of the grades in order to facilitate special half yearly promotions and systematic work in physical training, are some of the ideas already adopted and their adoption has given our schools the reputation of being among the most progressive in the state.
Among the improvements that are in progress or that are being considered are the reorganization of the high school so that it will fit for college, the Institute of Technology or the State Normal schools or afford a practical business education, the introduction of manual training, including sewing for the girls, the broadening of the studies in the grammar grades, where unfortunately so large a number of our children have to end their education, by the in- troduction of the elements of the sciences, geometry and algebra. All these points are treated in detail in the Superintendent's report.
Any progress that our schools may make is rendered possible only by the liberality of our citizens in making the needed appro- priations for carrying on the work. In making up the following estimates for the appropriations needed for this year, we have- borne in mind the business depression and have not asked for an unnecessary dollar.
The close of Superintendent I. W. Horne's second year's ser- vice finds our school system greatly improved by his earnest and energetic work. Ever alive to the responsibilities and require- ments of his office he has been untiring in the performance of his duties, and we take pleasure in expressing our entire satisfaction with his work. :
He has had throughout his two year's service but one object in view, the welfare of the schools. We ask for him a higher salary. That which he has been receiving is much smaller than his services are worth and less than he can easily command, and we feel that a recognition of his able services by an increase of salary this year is a simple act of justice. We sincerely hope that it will be. granted.
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Modern heating, ventilating and sanitary arrangements must be furnished for the Pond and Union schoolhouses in order to meet the requirements of the State laws. Estimates that we have pro- cured show that $4,000 will cover the cost of a first-class system for both buildings. We do not see how anything can be gained by postponing this matter, and we earnestly hope that that amount will be appropriated this year to be raised either by taxa- tion or on town notes.
The problem of placing our out-lying districts on anything like an equality with the more thickly settled districts in the matter of school facilities can only be solved by increased appropriation for transportation of pupils. We recommend the following appro- priations for this purpose : -
For conveyance of pupils of the Southwest district to Pond school $175 00
For conveyance of pupils of the South end of Liberty
street to South school . 250 00
For conveyance of pupils of the centre of Liberty street to Pond school .
250 00
Total .
$675 00
For the regular expenses of the School Department for 1894, we recommend the following appropriations : -
Salaries of teachers, including kindergartners (in addition to dog tax and school fund)
$13,500 00
Janitors
1,350 00
Fuel
1,400 00
Incidentals for schoolhouses
700 00
Incidentals for schools
500 00
Text books and supplies
1,100 00
Salary of Superintendent .
1,450 00
Rent of Lyceum Hall for the North kindergarten
150 00
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Commercial instruction in High school (half year) $400 00
Conveyance of pupils to High school 200 00
Conveyance of pupils from West district
350 00
Conveyance of East kindergarten pupils (half year)
100 00
THOMAS A. WATSON,
HENRY L. DEARING,
A. C. DRINKWATER, S. C. BRIDGHAM, ANN M. BROOKS, CARRIE F. LORING,
Members of the School Committee.
197
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of Braintree :-
Ladies and gentlemen : I hereby submit to you my second an- nual report of the public schools, for the year commencing Feb- ruary 1, 1893, and ending January 1, 1894. It is the ninth of the series of annual reports of the superintendent of schools. In accordance with the desire of your Board, my report, as your secretary and superintendent, will constitute the Annual Report of the School Committee.
The Board has been constituted and organized as follows : At the annual town meeting, on March 6, 1893, Dr. H. L. Dearing and Rev. Oliver Huckel were elected members for three years ; Col. A. C. Drinkwater for two years, and Mr. T. A. Watson and Dr. S. C. Bridgham for one year. At the regular meeting of . the Committee, on March 20, Mr. T. A. Watson was elected chair- man, and Mr. I. W. Horne secretary. The resignation of Rev. Mr. Huckel was presented to the Board on September 11. On October 9, at a joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen and School Committee, Mr. Charles T. Crane was chosen to succeed Mr. Huckel. Mr. Crane declined to serve, and on October 30 the joint boards elected Mrs. Carrie F. Loring to fill the vacancy.
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SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Amount appropriated for schools for the year ending
Feb. 1, 1894
. $21,173 13 For teachers :
By taxation $12,300 00
Dog tax
743 13
School fund .
350 00
$13,393 13
Janitors .
1,080 00
Incidentals for schools
500 00
Incidentals for schoolhouses
700 00
Text books and supplies
1,100 00
Superintendent of Schools
1,200 00
Conveyance of pupils
200 00
Kindergartens
2,000 00
Fuel
1,000 00
$21,173 13
:
Amount expended for the support of schools for the eleven months ending Jan. 1, 1894, . ·
$19,005 40
Teachers .
$11,802 00
Janitors
968 00
Incidentals for schools ·
532 92
Incidentals for schoolhouses
798 69
Text books and supplies .
1,100 03
Superintendent of Schools
1,100 00
Conveyance of pupils
224 47
Kindergartens
1,276 28
Fuel
.
1,203 01
1
Disbursements for schools in January, 1894 . Unexpended balance of appropriation . 611.99
Percentage of valuation expended for schools .
.00467
.
$19,005 40
1,575.74
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Percentage of taxation expended for schools .
.24
Percentage of taxation expended for schools in 1892-93 .28
Monthly pay roll of teachers for Dec. 1893
$1,405 75
Monthly pay roll of janitors for Dec. 1893
$94 00
Number of teachers, regular and special
28
Number of regular teachers .
26
Number of female teachers
26
Number of male teachers
2
Average monthly wages of regular female teachers $46 33
Average monthly wages of regular male teachers .
$115 00
Number of pupils enrolled since September, 1893 . 922
Number of children in town between five and fifteen years of age, May 1, 1893 853
Increase upon number returned May 1, 1893
21
Average membership of schools in 1893 806
Average membership of schools in 1888 615
CONCERNING THE STATISTICS.
It will be noticed that the expenditures in the text book and in- cidental accounts do not agree with the same departments in the accounts of the Selectmen, but that the total is the same.
The deficit in the schoolhouse appropriation was made near the end of the year, on the advice of your Board at that time to do all that was possible as a temporary means of improving the ventilation and sanitation of the old school buildings and out- houses.
The expenditure for the conveyance of pupils is for thirteen months, since the railroad tickets supplied to the pupils in December, 1892, extended to March 1, 1893, while those pur- chased last December run to the end of March, 1894. It seemed best to do this, since there would be no expense of conveyance during vacation weeks.
From Feb. 1, 1893, to the end of the school year in June, $300 was paid for coal supplied to the schools during that time.
200
The price of this coal was $6.50 and $7.00 per ton. For the sake of economy, it was deemed advisable last July, when the price of coal reached the lowest point, to purchase the whole year's sup- ply. Thus it will be seen that the expense of fuel for the school year commencing in September, 1893, will be about $900.
The expense of kindergartens is at least $300 less than it otherwise would have been, since Mrs. T. A. Watson continued her private kindergarten, opened to the children of the East village during three months, and then furnished the public kin- dergarten by donating the entire equipment of her private kinder- garten.
During the past year and a half, the departments of music and drawing have been equipped at an expense of nearly $500, and the sum of $300 has been expended in furnishing the Science lab- oratories at the High school. These outfits are now fully equal to those in the best school systems.
A most careful inspection of school expenditures is invited. A rigid economy has been exercised at all times and in all depart- ments, while the bests interests of the schools have been kept in view. Whenever new books have been bought, not only the most available bargain possible has been made, but in many instances an exchange of old and condemned books has been effected. By this means, from books which were of absolutely no value to the schools, about $150 have been realized during the past year.
CHANGE OF TEACHERS.
APPOINTED.
In May-Miss E. Frances Hayward, West Street.
In April-Miss Hattie M. Hill, kindergarten, South Braintree. Miss Charlotte M. Hobart, kindergarten, Braintree. In Sept .- Mr. Oliver R. Cook, principal, High.
Miss Hattie F. Weeks, East.
Miss Julia Ellsworth, 6th grade, Monatiquot.
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In Sept .- Miss Anna K. Mckellar, 1st grade, Union.
66 Miss Robertina B. Trask, kindergarten, East Braintree.
TRANSFERRED.
In May-Miss Mary E. Vining, from West Street to grades 1 and 2, Iron Works.
In Sept .- Miss Mabel L. Bates, from 1st to 3rd grade, Union. Miss Josephine B. Colbert, from 5th to 6th grade, Monatiquot.
In Oct .- Miss Hattie F. Weeks, from the East to the 7th grade, Monatiquot.
66 Miss E. Frances Hayward, from the West Street to the East.
WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
During the past year all have worked together harmoniously for the welfare and improvement of the schools, and a kindly feeling and a unity of purpose have been manifested among parents, teachers and pupils. In all departments of instruction there has been a most commendable effort to give to the pupils a more per- fect physical development, greater activity and originality in thinking, and a more effective ethical and moral training. The work in all the schools has proceeded quietly and successfully. No radical changes have been made, but the work has been con- stantly broadening, and substantial improvements have been made in various directions. The only interruption in work was at the Pond school and South kindergarten, which were closed during two weeks because of the prevalence of diphtheria.
PROMOTION OF PUPILS.
The new method of determining the position of pupils in the grades, from the judgment of the teacher as to their ability to per- form the required work, needs to be supported by no argument.
.
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Its use has won universal approval. It induces the pupils to feel that the work of each day is an important factor in determining their progress. The aim of the teachers is not to prepare their pupils to answer a definite list of questions, but rather to develop in them such physical vigor, mental power and habits of activity as will enable them to accomplish successfully the work in higher grades. This alone is education. The tests and experiences of both teachers and pupils become, so far as possible, the tests and experiences of real life. A common, and, frequently too true, criticism of the public schools is that their graduates fail when they at first encounter the real problems of life. The best meth- ods of instruction and discipline must at all times have a sensitive regard for the children's future.
LANGUAGE.
In the primary classes an increased prominence has been given to language instruction, including reading, writing and composition, oral and written. The reason for this is obvious. These branches are the necessary instruments of acquisition in the higher grades. The pupils are continually dealing with language. They express their thoughts in oral and written language, and it is the language of the text books, the teacher and their classmates, which they are constantly required to understand. I believe that pupils in advanced classes experience more difficulty because of a deficiency in early language training than from all other causes combined.
Constant practice in the correct use of language, has taken the place of memorizing the uncomprehended rules and definitions of grammar in the lower grades. With the teachers there is an in- creasing appreciation of the value of the habit of using good English in all branches of study. Nothing else can improve the schools so much at the present time as the unanimous effort of the teachers to secure definite thinking and a correct expression of thought in all exercises.
School House at Last Braintree
Baston Muss
Laring - Phipps Architects
-
is -
-
LE
١
205
NUMBERS.
In elementary number work less time than formerly has been given to non-essentials and entertaining devices, and greater em- phasis has been placed upon a drill in the fundamental processes and combinations.
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
Music and drawing have been supervised and taught excellently. These departments are of immense value in broadening and enrich- ing the course of instruction. 1
It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of drawing. Manual training and manual occupations must be based upon it. Without it natural history, geography and geometry cannot be taught in the best way. Students who enter the state Normal school must be graduates of a high school. Since they are required to pass an examination in drawing they should be taught this study in the high school.
PENMANSHIP.
There has been a marked improvement in penmanship in all the grades during the past year. One year ago Prof. Clark gave addresses before our teachers and visited the schools to develop systematic teaching of writing. There has been a successful and systematic effort on the part of the teachers not only to obtain good copybooks, but also to produce neat looking and well written papers in all school exercises.
ADMINISTRATION.
The methods of discipline have been such as to foster a spirit of co-operation and to develop in the students the power of self-
1
206
control. Many pupils can be governed by a teacher : few can govern themselves. Discipline is of very little value unless it secures this result. It is the habit and tendency of the life, and not a knowledge of facts, that is the most valuable thing to be obtained by education.
THE KINDERGARTENS.
On March 13, the town made an appropriation to equip and sup- port three public kindergartens. During the second week in April two of these schools were started, one in the former High school apartments at the town house, and the other at North Braintree, in Lyceum Hall. As it was difficult to arrange for a. room in a suitable location in the East section, Mrs. T. A. Wat- son opened her private kindergarten to the public until the end of the school year, and in September the East Braintree kinder- garten was opened in the upper room of the East schoolhouse. There was no expense of equipping this school, as Mrs. Watson donated to the School Committee the entire outfit of her private kindergarten, thus saving an expenditure of at least $125. Since. it was necessary to locate this school at one end of the East vil- lage and Mrs. Watson had saved the town an expense of $150 by supporting it during three months, it was thought just and proper- to provide transportation for those children who were living at the other end of the village. Mr. W. B. Hollis was engaged to do. this work.
I cannot adequately express my appreciation of the value of these schools. From the beginning they have been well pat- ronized. Over ninety pupils were immediately enrolled and the average attendance has been unusually high. If the aim of edu- cation is to make of human beings men and women who can talk, act, think, observe and feel rightly, and express themselves clearly in various ways, certainly no other grade of school has done so much to educate its pupils.
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Some of the many excellent results of kindergarten training are : highly quickened powers of observation, clear ideas, power of expression in conversation, a considerable knowledge of num- bers and of forms and colors, a developed activity to acquire easily drawing, reading, writing and pencil work ; a sense of jus- tice, habits of kindness and generosity, politeness, truthfulness, and neatness. All this is not only a preparation for the tradi- tional school work, but is a most substantial advancement in that work. The primary school must be adjusted to the kindergarten at once, so that it will not repeat, but continue the work. But the greatest gain is not in the amount, but in the habit and method of acquisition upon which will depend an increased progress throughout the entire course. As soon as the full results of the kindergarten reach a grade in the school course, we shall be permitted to extend the work of that grade materially. Two years ago it was thought best to lengthen the course below the High school to nine years. The kindergarten has obviated the necessity for further increase, and one of its great points of value lies in the fact that this extra year is placed at the beginning of school life, where time previously wasted is utilized. Between the grammar and secondary schools it would have been more ex- pensive and would not have served so useful a purpose.
In nearly all public school systems at the present time there is a serious evil connected with the lowest primary grade. From 30 to 50 per cent. of the pupils who enter it remain two years. This indicates one of two things - either that the requirements are too great, or that the children are not sufficiently developed. From this unnatural condition, by discouragements and the acquisition of harmful habits, are produced the vast majority of those who pass for dullards in the advanced grades. This is a wrong which should not be tolerated for an instant. Immediate provision should be made for transferring to the kindergarten those who are not sufficiently developed in physical vigor and mental activity to perform the work in the lowest primary grade. Here the kinder- garten will supply a pressing need.
It should be known that the kindergarten is rapidly becoming a
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permanent part of public school systems, about 30 cities and towns in this state having adopted them last year; that the work is so important that kindergarten instruction is to be made a department in the State Normal schools, and that a special agent is to be appointed by the State Board of Education to aid and advise in regard to the introduction of kindergartens.
CHANGES IN PROGRESS, OR ADVISABLE.
GEOGRAPHY.
This branch of study as now taught is essentially a work of memorizing the text-books. The teachers are in no way respon- sible for this condition, as they have followed faithfully the course which was given them. I have spent much time since September preparing a new course of study in geography. This will provide for the development of its fundamental ideas by the pupils' observation of the real processes and things around them, such as occupations, productions, soils, slopes, hills, valleys, etc. The pupils will be brought to understand various kinds of maps by making them, beginning with the diagram of the school room and proceeding outward. In the primary grades the work will be associated with drawing and nature study. In the advanced course, the study will be less a memorizing process and more the acquisition of systematic knowledge. The study of political and industrial history will be combined with mathematical and physi- cal geography. Such a study will not only exercise the memory. but stimulate the pupils to independent thought and investigation.
READING.
At the present time, the aim in this department is mainly to : give instruction in oral expression. This work in the lowest classes has been much improved during the past year. In Sep- tember, Supt. E. H. Davis, Chelsea, Mass., author of the thought method of reading, delivered before the teachers a most
209
inspiring lecture on this subject, which was illustrated by one of his most skillful teachers, Miss Nellie E. 'Boyd, with a class of pupils from one of our schools. Those teachers who have been able to grasp this method, are not only teaching reading much more rapidly, but succeed in preserving those graces of expres- sion which are natural in childhood. Silent reading should be taught as thoroughly and systematically, especially in the higher grades. This work should not only include the reading of all text books, but occupy a. definite amount of school time and consist of giving information in the regular lines of work, such as geography, nature study and history. Throughout the whole course the students should constantly memorize selections of prose and poetry containing the noblest ethical and moral sentiments and ideals. These and the life of the teachers are the most effect- ive forces in moulding the characters of the pupils. "I hold in memory," says President Eliot, " bits of poetry learned in child- hood, which have stood by me through life in the struggle to keep true to just ideals of love and duty." The oral reading and recit- ing in grammar schools should be from the masterpieces of literature. Lists of books suitable for the work and pupils of each grade should be arranged. These books should be made available to the pupils and their reading of them should be dili- gently encouraged and guided by the teachers. Such a course in reading will give to the graduates of our schools a taste for, and love of, good books and a knowledge of literature which will be of inestimable value. Such a course will bring the pupils into .closest contact with great minds, and to do this, as one has said, is to be educated.
COMMON AND HIGHER STUDIES.
With the development of the High school in the educational system of New England came a separation of the studies into what are known as common and higher branches. It was con- sidered necessary that the common branches should be completed
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in the elementary schools, and that the pupils should not be allowed to pursue the higher branches before reaching the High school. There is certainly nothing in the nature of these studies to warrant this arrangement. The elements of the higher branches are not more difficult than most of the common studies. Besides they have many things in common, and their natural union in instruction would be in the interest of economy and usefulness. In the vain attempt to complete the common branches in the ele- mentary schools, much that is most practical has been omitted. For example, arithmetic has been so changed that pupils who have completed it cannot even measure a pile of wood ; and yet teachers are constantly endeavoring to teach in this branch some of the profoundest theories in mathematics.
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