USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1900 > Part 4
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Article 33.
To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the continuation of the work of grading, and laying out lots in the new cemetery at Chelmsford Centre, or act in relation thereto.
Article 34.
To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of widening and grad- ing the town-ways as relocated and accepted by the town, leading past the new cemetery at Chelmsford Centre.
Article 35.
To see if the town will vote to instruct the selectmen to ask the United States for two of the condemned cannon, together with such mounts and projectiles as they think best to be used for monumental purposes ; one of the aforesaid cannon to be placed at the centre village, the other at the north village, and appropriate a sum of money therefor. The location of the aforesaid cannon to be left with the selectmen.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to have a new valuation of real estate taken the present year; also decide by vote the way it shall be taken, and raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the same, or act in rela- tion thereto.
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AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this Warrant, by posting up attested copies thereof at the Post Offices in the Centre of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, West Chelmsford, and at the school house at East Chelmsford, ten days at least before the time appointed for holding said meeting.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding the meeting aforesaid.
GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS this fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred.
JOSEPH E. WARREN, JOSEPH A. PARKHURST, ARTHUR H. SHELDON, WALTER R. WINNING, WILLIAM H. SHEDD,
Selectmen.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS,
OF THE
TOWN OF CHELMSFORD.
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR ENDING 1899 -- 1900.
LOWELL, MASS. : - COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS.
I900.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Chelmsford :
Your committee organized for the year 1899-1900 by elect- ing Dr. E. H. Chamberlin, Chairman, and Stewart Mackay, Secretary.
Our schools are progressing steadily along modern lines, and upon the whole are showing results which justify the system of centralization adopted by this town during recent years.
We believe that by steadfastly following our present policy our schools will not only continue to do efficient work, but will be able to offer superior advantages to the children of our citizens, in the branches of learning commonly taught in our public schools.
We regret that at our busiest time our able Chairman thought fit to resign from the School Board; the consequent confusion in our work caused much annoyance to citizens and committee.
The vexed question of transportation of pupils is still one of the difficult problems with which we have to deal, and we have not been able to get satisfactory service in all cases. Wherever possible, we think that the electric car service is the best, and now that we get pupils carried for halt fare it is also the cheapest.
We ask parents to give the Superintendent's report a careful perusal, because it is an exceptionally truthful statement of the condition of our schools.
.
There is a growing tendency toward truancy in several sec- tions of our town, and we have been compelled to resort to vigor- ous measures so that this evil might be kept within bounds.
For the first time in our history, we have caused one of our boys to be consigned to the County Truant School.
We hope that it will not be necessary to send any more boys to that institution.
Conditions continue to be unfavorable at the North Village, but by the time that this report is printed we will be keeping school in the new building. When we are comfortably settled in our new quarters, we will be amply able to accommodate teachers and children and will be well equipped for the business of education.
Our citizens at East Chelmsford have much reason to com- plain of their poor school facilities, but as this matter is in the hands of a special committee we deem it out of our province to make extended remarks on the subject.
We simply wish to strengthen the hands of that committee by recommending urgency.
We know that our schools are doing good work, but we are aware that constant and earnest effort is required to maintain and advance the standard.
It is with perfect confidence that we appeal to the generosity of the taxpayers of the town for liberal school appropriations.
Money spent in the support of our educational institutions is the best investment that we can make; and our taxpayers are always willing to do right, and do it handsomely, when the mind development and character building of our children are at stake.
HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR.
Fall term begins September 3.
Fall term ends November 28.
Winter term begins December 3. Christmas recess begins December 24, one week. Winter term ends March 8.
Spring term begins March 18.
Spring term ends June 21.
COMMON SCHOOL CALENDAR.
Fall term begins September 10. Fall term ends November 2S.
Winter term begins December 3 Christmas recess begins December 24. one week. Winter term ends March I.
Spring term begins March IS. Spring term ends June 7.
Respectfully submitted, ERNEST C. BARTLETT, ALEXANDER J. PARK, STEWART MACKAY.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Gentlemen of the School Committee :
I have the honor of submitting the following as my report concerning the schools of Chelmsford for the year ending Feb- ruary 28, 1900 :
STATISTICS.
Population of the town (1895), 3,215.
Valuation of the town (1899), $2,446, 18o.
Children between five and fifteen years of age, 597.
Number of public schools, I8.
Number of pupils enrolled since September, 1899, 728. Average membership, for the year ending Feb. 28, 1900, 628 56. Per cent. of attendance, 88.7.
Per cent. of attendance in the State, 92.
Cost of books and supplies per pupil, excluding scientific apparatus, $1.34.
Cost of books and supplies per pupil in the State, $1.50.
BUILDINGS.
The lower room in the Town Hall at the North Village has been used for a schoolroom since last September on account of the lack of room in the old schoolhouse. But by the time that this report is printed, the new building will probably be in use. This, together with the old building, will afford ample room for some time to come ; for it has four large and well-lighted school- roomns, a small room that can be used for a recitation room, and two large rooms in the basement. One of these could be fitted up for a laboratory or for the simpler forms of manual training without much expense, and the other will doubtless serve as a playroom for the smaller children. The halls and entrances are well adapted to their purposes ; and, indeed, are so planned that they will not need to be duplicated should it ever seem advisable to add four rooms to the rear of the building.
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The building committee consisting of Mr. Stewart Mackay, chairman, Dr. E. H. Chamberlin, Mr. Hubert Bearce, Mr. Alex- ander J. Park, and Mr. Martin Robbins, are to be congratulated upon the happy outcome of their exertions ; for they have succeeded in putting up an edifice of which the whole town should feel proud.
The question of erecting a new building for the East school should receive careful consideration. The one now in use is not suited to the needs of that growing section of the town, as the number of scholars is too great for one room. Even should it con- tinue to be used, it ought to have some money spent upon it for repairs. The conclusion of the whole matter seems to be, there- fore, that a new building of sufficient dimensions to meet the needs of the community should be erected in the near future.
The schoolhouse at North Row, now unoccupied, should be disposed of before its value has greatly depreciated.
TRANSPORTATION.
The policy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the distribution of the proceeds of the State School Fund is to give preference to the smaller and more isolated towns. The applica- tion of the same principle to town affairs would mean, it seems to me, that those who live in the more remote parts of the town should receive especial consideration in the distribution of the educa- tional appropriations of the town. Whether this shall mean con- veyance of the children to central schools, or whether it shall mean some other form of favor, is for the town to determine.
As far as the legal requirements are concerned, the Report of the State Board of Education for 1897-98 reads as follows :
I. It is made by law the duty of every town to "provide and maintain a sufficient number of schoolhouses, properly furnished and conveniently located, for the accommodation of all the children therein entitled to attend the public schools."
2. It is recognized everywhere throughout the State that a schoolhouse is conveniently located if it is within reasonable walk ing distance of its pupils, or if, the schoolhouse not being within such reasonable walking distance, the pupils are conveyed to it at public expense.
3. The law does not determine what a reasonable walking distance is ; that must be decided by the school committee.
4. Whatever the school committee decides to regard as a rea- sonable distance for school children to walk, that is the distance
they must walk. If a child within the compulsory age limits is not sent to school on the ground that the distance prescribed for him to walk is an unreasonable one, it is the legal duty, neverthe- 'ess, of his parent or guardian to send him to school, unless other legal provision is made for his education; failure to do so, if adjudged by the courts to be a violation of law, is punishable by a fine.
From the same report, we also learn that there seems to be a variety of opinions regarding what a reasonable walking distance should be. The opinion of Secretary Hill, quoted by Supt. G. H. Knowiton in last year's report is as follows :
" Little children should not be made to walk much over a mile, although older children of grammar school age may walk a mile and a half or even more. But numerous conditions may serve to modify this opinion. If for little children the mile lies through lonely, unfrequented, wooded or difficult roads, it would be too great or too dangerous a distance for them to walk. If, on the other hand, the way lies over a well-travelled thoroughfare, with good sidewalks, and houses all along the road, it would not be a hardship for the children to walk a considerably greater distance than one mile. Transportation should not be used to reduce sturdiness, self- reliance, and reasonable self-denial in boys and girls. It cannot be made equally convenient for all families. It often has to be partial for some while complete for others. In cases of genuine doubt, the leaning should be towards the convenience of the child."
By following Secretary Hill's suggestion that a mile is a reason- able distance for a child to walk to school, and drawing circles with that distance as a radius and the schoolhouses as centers, we find that there are eighty-six children, between the ages of five and fifteen, living, in a direct line, more than one mile from a school- house. They are distributed as follows :
I. In a northwesterly direction from North Chelmsford .. . 20
2. Towards Lowell from North Chelmsford. 17
3. On the Billerica road from Chelmsford Centre 5
4. On the Russell Mill road from South Row 6
5. On the Carlisle road from South Row
6. In the Byam district . 16
7. In District No. 2. IS
S
If the radius taken should be one mile and a half, there would be but two or three families outside of the circles thus described. This does not mean, however, that all the children of Chelmsford, with the exceptions mentioned, are, practically, within a mile and a half of some schoolhouse ; for, in order to reach the schoolhouse, many would have to walk a much greater distance than that on account of the windings of the roads.
Should it seem best to continue to follow the present excellent general plan of having not more than four grades in one school, some children of grammar school age will have to travel a greater distance than to the nearest schoolhouse. Practically, it means. that those above the fourth grade who live in the East village, those above the seventh grade in the South village, those in the Byam district, and a few from the West village, are more than a mile and a half from the schools which they should attend.
The erection of a new building in the East village, large enough to accommodate all pupils below the tenth grade, would quite materially reduce the number calling for transportation. And as the cost of electric conveyance is ten cents a day for each pupil, owing to the necessity of changing cars in Lowell, it would consid- erably diminish the total bill for transportation.
In conclusion, it seems to me that the application of the princi- ples advocated by Secretary Hill would result in a plan of transpor- tation similar to the one now in operation. There might be, possibly, some changes in detail that would result in a saving to the town. Small children might walk in pleasant weather, as in some other towns. it their homes were only a mile and a quarter or so from the schoolhouse, and the road was one over which teams were fre- quently passing. Where electric transportation is available, a forty- ride ticket might be given out at the beginning of the school year to each child who lives more than a mile from school, accom- panied with the distinct understanding that it is to be used only on stormy days, and that another ticket will not be issued untd the beginning of the next term. During the months of December, January and February, these children might have transportation all of the time. With the beginning of the spring term, one more ticket might be given to each child, for use on the stormy days of that term. In all cases, the use of a ticket for other than school purposes should lead to a demand for its immediate surrender.
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HIGH SCHOOLS.
I have taken the following statements from a pamphlet re- cently sent out by the State Board of Education, giving some facts of general interest gleaned from the sixty-third annual report of that body :
"The State law now recognizes but one kind or grade of high school, instead of two, as formerly. This high school, to comply with the statute, must conform to the following standard :---
(a) It must be thoroughly equipped.
(6) It must be taught by a principal and such assistants as may be needed, of competent ability and good morals.
(c) It must give instruction in such statutory subjects as it may be deemed expedient to teach, and in such additional subjects as may be required for general culture or for admission to normal schools, technical schools and colleges.
(d) It must maintain one or more courses, at least four years in length.
(e) It must be kept forty weeks, exclusive of vacations.
A town may meet a portion of the foregoing requirements in its own high school, provided it meets the rest in outside high schools."
"Every town of five hundred families or householders shall .... maintain a high school, adequately equipped." Chap. 496, Sect. 2, Acts of 1898.
In order to fully meet the requirements mentioned in (6), it will be necessary, next year, to have an addition to the teaching force of the high school at the Centre.
TEACHERS.
There have been a few changes in the teaching force since the last report was printed. Yet, notwithstanding these changes, the teachers now employed have had on an average four and one-fourth years of experience in the schools of Chelmsford, and an average of six and one-half years of experience in all places. Four of the teachers are teaching for the first time. One teacher has just com- pleted twenty years of service, and another has taught in a Chelms- ford [ schoolroom nearly as long. It is to be hoped that for many years to come they may continue to give the town the benefit of their experience.
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All of the teachers have had the benefit of a high school educa- tion or its equivalent. Ten are graduates of normal schools. This includes two who are graduates of a kindergarten normal and one who is a graduate of the Quincy Training School. One is a college graduate, and one has travelled in Europe.
With this combination of preparation and experience, there seems to be no good reason, other things being equal, why the schools of Chelmsford should not keep fully abreast of the times.
TEXT-BOOKS.
On Thursday, January 25, at my request, the teachers took an inventory of all the schoolbooks in their rooms, making two classi- fications, putting in one list the number of the books that were in good condition, and in the other, the number that were in poor con- dition. A book was considered as in poor condition if the covers were off, or if any leaves were missing, or if it was mutilated in any way so that the entire book was not available for use.
An examination of the result of this investigation brings to light some conditions which should receive early attention. About thirty per cent. of the readers and arithmetics, twenty per cent. of the histories, language books, and geographies, and eighty per cent. of the spellers and physiologies are so worn that they are not fit for use. Furthermore, these percentages do not tell the whole story. In the case of the readers, there are not enough of some kinds so that they can be used in any but the smallest classes. The Monroe series and the Lippincott series are both so thoroughly dilapida ed that it might be best to dispose of them altogether.
As a remedy for this state of affairs, I would suggest that the number of the Cyr's Readers be increased so that each teacher may have a supply in her room, and that other readers be added in suffi- cient numbers to give each teacher of the first three grades at least four full sets of readers for each grade in her room. The number of sets for grades above the fourth does not need to be so large. In the three upper grades, literary selections would be more valuable than readers.
The stock of arithmetics, histories, and geographies needs to be increased. It is possible, however, that rebinding would put a number of the books in condition for considerable service, and thus reduce the expense incident to replenishing the supply.
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The language books being used in the schools of the town are of three kinds. The same is true of the grammars. Some of the books are completely worn out, while others have been but little used. There are before us, then, two problems. One is regarding the kind of books, and the other is concerning their condition. While a supply of different kinds is not to be regretted, yet I believe that it would be better to adopt some text as the one to be followed and furnish all teachers of grades needing them with this. The other texts can easily be used in a supplementary way.
COURSE OF STUDY.
A course of study should not be so specific that there is no chance left for the individuality of the teacher to assert itself; nor, on the other hand, should it be so indefinite that the teacher cannot make use of it in planning her work for the year. The happy medium has been sought in the outline now presented. If it should seem to be too meagre after a little use, mimeograph copies of more detailed directions can be prepared very easily whenever necessity should seem to demand them.
OUTLINE FOR A COURSE OF STUDY.
GRADE I.
Reading .- Words and sentences from the blackboard. The easy parts of several First Readers. Phonetic drill.
Writing .- Letters, words, and sentences from the blackboard and from slips.
Language .- Oral reproduction of stories read or told by the teacher. Short sentences copied. Short pieces learned. Teach pupils to write their name, the name of their town, etc. Spelling.
Arithmetic .- All combinations of numbers to ten, with and without objects.
Physiology and 'Hygiene .- See the Third Report upon a Course of Studies for Elementary Schools by John T. Prince, for the work of this and following grades.
GRADE II.
Reading .- The difficult parts of First Readers and easy Second Readers.
Writing .- Use copy books in this and following grades until the eighth.
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Language .- Oral and written reproductions. Dictation exer- cises. Memory gems copied and learned. The use of the period or question mark at the end of the sentence and capitals at the be- ginning. Spelling.
Arithmetic .- Book I., Prince.
GRADE III.
Reading .- See list of reading printed in last year's report.
Language .- Daily composition and dictation exercises. Give attention to abbreviations, punctuation, capitals, choice of words, forms of words, spelling. Extend memory work. Hyde's First Book, Part I.
Arithmetic .- Book II., Prince.
GRADE IV.
Reading .- See list.
Language .- Daily composition or dictation exercises. Give attention to punctuation, capitals, choice and forms of words ; also to clearness and conciseness of expression. Continue memory work, Hyde's First Book, Part II.
Arithmetic .- Book III., Prince.
Geography .- Local geography in the fall term. Frye's Pri- mary to the World Ridge in the spring term.
History .- Local history in the winter term.
GRADE V.
Reading .- See list.
Language .- Continue the work of the fourth grade. Met- calf's Elementary English to page 102.
Arithmetic .- Book IV., Prince.
Geography .- Frye's Primary to the New England States.
History .- Montgomery's Beginners.
GRADE VI.
Reading .- See list.
Language .- Continue the work as outlined for the fourth grade. Metcalf's Elementary English from page 102 to the end.
Grammar .- Teach the pupils to recognize the parts of speech. Arithmetic .- Book V., Prince.
Geography .- The New England States in Frye's Primary and a review of the whole book. In the spring term, begin Frye's Complete and take to North America.
History .- Guerber's First Thirteen Colonies.
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GRADE VII.
Reading .- See list.
Language -Continue the work as outlined for the fourth grade.
Grammar .- The sentence. Kinds of sentences. Phrases and clauses. Analysis of simple sentences. Metcalf's Grammar, Part I.
Arithmetic .- Book VI., Prince.
Geography .- North America, the United States, Groups of States, New England States to Maine, and South America in Frye's Complete.
History .- Montgomery's Leading Facts of American History to The Union, p. 191.
GRADE VIII.
Reading .- See list.
Language .- As outlined for the fourth grade.
Grammar .-- Kinds, forms, and uses of all the parts of speech. Rules of syntax. Analysis of sentences. Metcalf's Grammar, Part II.
Arithmetic .- Book VII., Prince, or some equivalent.
Geography .- Frye's Complete finished.
History .- Montgomery's Leading Facts of American History completed.
GRADE IX.
Reading .- See list.
Language. - Frequent composition exercises. Correlate with other work.
Grammar .- Continue the work outlined for the eighth grade. Metcalf's Grammar, Part III.
Arithmetic .- Involution and evolution. Review percentage and its applications, and measurements. First half of the year.
Geography,-Review topically, giving especial emphasis to the United States and its dependencies. First half of the year.
History .- Review topically, introducing civil government in e r part of the year.
Algebra .- Second half of the year.
Physiology .- Second half of the year.
Nature work once a week during the spring and fall terms. Drawing once a week throughout the course. As occasion arises, impress upon the pupils, both publicly and privately, the importance of politeness and morality.
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COURSE OF STUDY FOR CENTRE HIGH SCHOOL.
PREPARED BY PRINCIPAL D. HOWARD FLETCHER.
FIRST YEAR. Required-English, Algebra. Elective (one must be chosen)-Physical Geography }, Botany }, Latin Lessons.
SECOND YEAR. Required-English, Geometry. Elective (two must be chosen)-Cæsar, Beginning French, Beginning Greek, Bookkeeping and Commercial Arithmetic, Physics or Chemistry, Ilistory, either English and American, or Roman and Grecian.
THIRD YEAR. Required-English. Elective (three must be chosen)-Xenophon, Cicero, Advanced French, Physics or Chemis- try, Commercial Law }, History, either English or American, or Roman and Grecian.
FOURTH YEAR. Required-English. Elective (two must be chosen)-Homer, Virgil, Solid Geometry }, Studies not taken in previous years.
Some work in Physiology and Hygiene will be required of all.
Military drill is required of all boys, unless a physician's certifi- cate of disability is presented. Provided, however, that if any parent states, in writing, that he has conscientious scruples in regard to the drill, his son may be excused.
This course includes all subjects required for admission to any of the State Normal schools, to any of the New England colleges, or to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It also includes such subjects as are wanted by all those who finish their schooling with this course. Pupils in choosing their studies are required to consult with the Principal and must obtain his consent to their selection.
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