USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1909 > Part 6
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1908-09
HERBERT E. ELLIS - - Term expires 1909
GEORGE F. WHITE -
Term expires 1910
JOHN J. MONAHAN -
- Term"expires 1911
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FREDERICK L. KENDALL
Report of the School Committee 1908-1909
In accordance with law, the School Committee submits the following report:
The schools in general have had a very good year; teach- ers are earnest, faithful and painstaking ; attendance has been good, and aside from the fact that there is too much tardiness, particularly in the High Schools, we believe that there has been a distinct gain in efficiency. Parents can help the teach- ers a great deal in this matter of tardiness, by insisting that their children must be on time.
TEACHERS AND SALARIES
The report of our Superintendent shows that during the year there have been employed eight new teachers, to replace those resigned. It is probable that one additional teacher will be required at the North Village at the opening of the schools in September.
In order to obtain efficient and experienced teachers it is necessary to pay fair wages, and while we have endeavored to keep our expenditures as nearly as possible within the amount appropriated, we have deemed it advisable and just to increase slightly the renumeration of some of our teaching force. Further increases will be made when considered expedient, drovided the appropriations asked for are granted by the Town.
130
SUPERINTENDENCE
The valuation of the Town having exceeded $3,500,000 on May 1, 1908, all State aid on account of superintendence and teachers' salaries ceases after the present year. This aid in recent years has amounted to $937.50. The State feels that from this time on we are able and should pay our superinten- dence and teachers in full ourselves, aid being extended only to those towns whose valuation will not warrant their being able to pay to these officials sufficient salaries to insure adequate guidance and instruction. Your Committee is undecided at the present time as to the course best for us to pursue. We must either have a superintendence by ourselves or continue in some superintendency union. Our actions will be governed in part by the State Board of Education, they having control of all towns receiving State aid. Although they have no con- trol of us in this matter, they do control such towns as might unite with us in the employment of a Superintendent of Schools.
MEDICAL INSPECTION
Every child attending our schools is examined by one · of the School Physicians, and if defects are found, notice is sent to the child's parent or guardian. The teachers report that in many cases no attention is paid to these notices, and the child continues at school handicapped by defects that could by intel- ligent treatment, be easily remedied. Children suffering from certain contagious or infectious diseases must by law be ex- cluded from school, and cannot be re-admitted until they present to the teacher a certificate signed by a reputable physician. As the law also requires that children between the ages of 7 and 14 years MUST go to school, it becomes the duty of parents or guardians whose children have been excluded to promptly secure medical aid.
The Committee desires to make it clear to all parents and guardians that children having certain diseases, which although not considered dangerous may be highly infectious and troublesome, must by law be excluded from the schools; that
131
they should promptly receive expert attendance so that they may be able to go to school, so required by law, and that the neglect of parents or guardians to provide for these children competent care, so that that may be in condition to attend school, makes the parents or guardians liable to a fine, upon complaints by a truant. officer.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Conditions at the North School require that more accom- modation for pupils be made this year. After having thor- oughly gone into the matter, your Committee recommends an addition of four rooms to the existing new building. Four architects were invited to submit sketches showing the pro- posed improvements, and after careful examination the plans of Messrs. Stickney, Austin & Rourke were selected, and they were instructed to prepare plans and estimates to be brought before the Town at the annual Town meeting for approval or otherwise.
The building at the Centre should be provided with fire escapes on the rear of the new part, and a portion of the roof needs to be repaired.
At the West School, walls and ceilings should be tinted and the basement floor repaired ..
The other buildings require some work done on furniture and some minor interior repairs.
The buildings, outhouses and sanitary equipment through- out the Town are, generally speaking, well cared for, and the janitors deserve commendation for the faithful performance of their duties and their care of Town property.
The new plumbing installed at the North School was a much needed improvement and is working very satisfactorily.
A play-ground is required at the Centre School, and the Committee recommends the purchase of a lot of land directly in the rear of the school building containing approximately three-quarter acre.
Grounds around buildings in the other parts of the Town require attention, but your Committee has decided to recom-
132
mend no appropriation for grounds this year, other than that for a play-ground at the Centre School.
APPROPRIATIONS
We respectfully recommend the sum of $24,637.50 for the support of schools for the fiscal year ending February 28, 1910, in items as follows :
Teaching
$15,625 00
Care
2,000 00
Fuel
1,750 00
Transportation.
1,100 00
Incidentals
275 00
Apparatus
50 00
Furniture and Repairs.
1,300 00
Text Books and Supplies
1,300 00
Superintendent .
937 50
Medical Inspection
300 00
$24,637 50
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. MONAHAN,
HERBERT E. ELLIS,
GEO. F. WHITE,
School Committee.
Chelmsford, Mass., March 1, 1909.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1909-1910
The school year for 1908-1909 will end June 25, 1909.
The school year for 1909-1910 will begin September 7, 1909, and will end June 24, 1910.
The fall and winter terms in the high schools will each be fourteen weeks in length, and the spring term twelve weeks.
The fall and winter terms in the common schools will each be thirteen weeks in length, and the spring term twelve weeks.
VACATIONS
High Schools : December 18 to 27, and March 19 and 27, inclusive. Common Schools : December 18 to January 2, and March 12 to 27, inclusive.
HOLIDAYS
Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, February 22, April 19 and May 30.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
GENTLEMEN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
I respectfully submit the following report concerning the schools of Chelmsford for the year ending February 28, 1909.
STATISTICS
Population of the Town, census of 1905 4,254
Valuation of the Town, May 1, 1908 $4,086 060
Children between five and fifteen years of age, September, 1908: boys, 419; girls, 416; total. 835
Children between seven and fourteen years of age, September, 1908: boys, 297; girls, 292; total .. 589
Illiterate minors over fourteen years of age, Septem- ber, 1908 0
FOR THE YEAR ENDING IN JUNE, 1908
Different pupils 914
Pupils under five years of age 14
Pupils over fifteen years of age 79
Pupils between five and fifteen years of age
821
Pupils between seven and fourteen years of age. 628
Average membership in all the schools 777.8
Average attendance in all the schools 713 4
Per cent. of attendance. 91 8
Average length of all the schools. 9 months, 6 days Average length of the high schools. 9 months, 15 days Teachers now required 29
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TEACHERS
On account of the change from the old plan of hiring teachers for a term at a time to the present one of engaging teachers by the year, but few changes in the force take place during the year. Between the ending of one school year and the beginning of another, however, many changes frequently occur. Last summer was no exception in this respect. for the schools opened in September with eight new teachers on the roll. Five of these are graduates of normal schools and two of colleges. With but one exception all are teachers of experi- ence. To be sure, such teachers demand larger salaries than do those who have not had experience But I think that the Town receives ample returns for the extra outlay.
Even at the best, the pecuniary reward of the teacher is not so great that but it is necessary for her to practise careful economy if she wishes to provide for the years of inactivity that are almost sure to come.
HIGH SCHOOLS
With the beginning of the present school year, Mr. Walter B Pierce entered upon his duties as principal of the high school in the North village; and at the same time Miss Mary W. Cross assumed the responsibilities of assistant in place of Miss Georgianna M. Clark, who had accepted a position else- where. Mr. Pierce and Miss Cross are both graduates of Bates College, and are teachers of experience.
The graduating class last June had five members, three of whom are continuing their studies this year. Veronica G. Lowe is attending a business college in Lowell; Jesse S. But- terfield, one in Boston ; and Elizabeth F. Flynn has returned to the high school for another year of study.
The teaching force at the Centre high school remains the same as last year. In fact, there has been no change for a little over two years.
The class graduating from this school last June was the argest in its history, consisting as it did of fourteen members
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Only three of these are not attending some school this year. Ruth E. Adams returned to the high school in September, Fred E. Carll and Ethel P. Parker are attending a business college in Lowell, Ellen A. Cudworth is studying at Lasell Seminary. Raymond W. Dutton is at Worcester Academy, Mabel M. Adams, Della B. Baker, Catherine E. Dunn, Carrie B. Knowlton and Anna A. Paasche are enrolled at the normal school in Lowell, and Mark W· Reed is at Dartmouth College. Mr. Reed entered by examination and secured one of the en- trance scholarships which are awarded in accordance with the following regulations :
" Four entrance scholarships of the value of $100 each will be assigned to those members of the incoming class who enter by examination with a rank of at least grade B. These scholarships will be assigned in order of rank.
"' The examination for these scholarships must be taken at the college or at places specified in the catalogue at the June examinations. This examination cannot be divided between preliminaries and finals, nor between the June and September examinations."
The revised courses of study which had been under con- sideration for a number of months went into effect with the beginning of the present school year Greek is omitted from the list of studies offered because so few pupils care to take it, and also because nearly all of the colleges now have classes for those who wish to begin the study of that language.
The studies offered are grouped in two courses: the Latin and the English. The Latin course being planned especially for those who expect to go to college, and the English course for those who expect that their school days will end when they leave the high school. Either course may be taken by those who are preparing for entrance to the normal school.
In order to restrict the number of classes so that they may be taught satisfactorily without increasing the teaching force, we have planned to offer several of the subjects only every other year. The year that any one will come may be ascer- tained by consulting the courses of study as printed elsewhere in this report.
137
Furthermore, because of our small teaching force and lack of accommodations, it seemed wise to omit altogether such subjects as stenography, typewriting, agriculture, commercial geography, and kindred topics. This suggests the thought and hope that some day there may be a single high school in Chelmsford, housed in a commodious and well equipped build- ing.
· TRANSPORTATION
The idea that it is a good and wise plan for some children to have public transportation to and from school has spread widely since its inception and has become quite firmly estab- lished. The practical application of the principle to local conditions, however, frequently leads to some perplexing ques- tions for solution, and to readjustments to meet changing conditions. Because of the latter, it has seemed wise this year to add one barge to the number already in use, and to employ it for transporting the pupils from the south-eastern part of the Town to the Centre. Some of the children had not been transported before, some had moved into town recently, and some were partially accommodated last year by the barge from the South village. On account of the numbers that was im- possible this year, as will be seen by consulting the tabular statement given below. In addition to this reason, the citizens of the South villige strongly desired direct transportation to the Centre in place of the indirect transportation previously furnished.
The following table shows the number of pupils being transported. as well as where and how they are carried :
Every Day
Stormy Days Only
Total
To the C'entre :
From the Byam district by barge ...
22
22
From the South village by barge ...
16
16
From South Row by barge.
13
13
From North Row by barge.
7
7
From the East by electrics.
6
6
From Golden Cove by electrics
15
3
18
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Every Day
Stormy Days Only
Total
To the North :
From Tyngsboro line by electrics ...
30
1
31
From Lowell line by electrics . . ...
15
11
26
On the Fitchburg Street Railway ...
9
6
15
Totals
133
21
154
PARENTS' DAY
Realizing that but few parents visit the schools under ordinary circumstances, plans were made last spring for an extraordinary occasion with the hope that many of the patrons of the schools in the two largest villages would visit them on that day. The teachers placed work done by the pupils on ex- hibition, and spent considerable time and thought in arranging the work on tables and walls.
Although the day selected for the event at the North school, March 19, proved to be a disagreeable one to venture out, about seventy-five people visited the school, passed through the different rooms and inspected the work. As might have been expected from the nature of the study and the excellence in execution, the work done under the direction of the super- visor of drawing attracted much attention.
Not the least pleasing feature of the occasion was the pres- ence of a number of the fathers of the pupils who seemed greatly interested in what they saw and heard.
The day chosen at the Centre, May 20, proved to be more suitable for the occasion than was the one at the North. About the same number of people visited the schools, listened to the recitations, and inspected the written work and drawings that had been carefully arranged by the teachers.
A number of people who could not be present when school was in session visited the building and looked at the work that had been placed on exhibition.
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The interest shown by the parents in both villages was very gratifying and proved that although they do not often visit the schools, they are deeply concerned about what is done there.
MUSIC AND DRAWING
The work in music has been carried on during the past year along the lines that have produced such good results heretofore.
The work in drawing has taken more of an industrial phase than last year, as many of the pupils have made a practical application of the designs that they have worked out.
The pupils in the lower grades have received instruction in paper folding and cutting, cardboard construction, cardboard . sewing, and the use of the foot rule. Those in the upper grades have made desk sets, lamp shades, trays and fern dishes of brass or copper; they have stenciled table scarfs, sofa pil- lows, chafing dish aprons, bags and shirt waist boxes; and have made belts, bags, card cases, pocket books and magazine covers of leather. They have also made portfolios of strong paper, which are useful for holding the papers that they have at their desks.
This work appeals to the children which suggests the thought that extension of opportunity along the same direction may be very desirable.
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
The appropriation for text books and supplies made last March was eleven hundred dollars. Another hundred dollars could have been used to good advantage for maps, spellers and reading books. Some of the maps are antiquated, the supply is insufficient, the spellers have passed the point of usefulness and new reading material is in constant demand.
The following statement will show for what the money has been spent.
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Books for the High Schools
$104 06
Books for the grades 356 42
Supplies for drawing 91 71
Books and supplies for music
37 68
Maps, paper, pencils, pens, ink, chalk, erasers, printing, etc
498 62
Total
$1,088 49
For the year ending in February, 1906, the sum of one thousand ninety-nine dollars and eighty-five cents was spent for text books and supplies. The average membership in the schools for the year ending with the previous June was fifty- nine less than the average membership for the year ending in June, 1908. Furthermore, we did not have a supervisor of drawing at that time, and therefore the expense for drawing supplies was much less then than now. From these statements it is easy to infer that if we are to have the schools as well equipped with working tools as in the past, it will be necessary to materially increase the amount appropriated for text books and supplies.
MEDICAL INSPECTION
The school physicians, Dr. F. E. Varney and Dr. A. G. Scoboria, examined the pupils in the fall term, and reported that they found the general health much better than when they made the examination the previous year. Parents of children who were suffering from any disease that would interfere with school work, received cards stating the nature of the difficulty, and requesting that competent medical advice be secured.
The physicians found numerous cases of decayed teeth, many children not vaccinated, fifty-seven cases of adenoids and enlarged tonsils, thirteen of pediculi capitis, ten of anaemia, four of mental deficiency, three of impetigo, two each of acne, infantile paralysis, and enlarged neck glands; and one each of club feet, spinal curvature, deafness, nervousness, ring worm, scabies, nasal obstruction, psoriasis, diseased eyelids, and suspicion of tuberculosis.
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EYE AND EAR TESTS
The results of the eye and ear tests by the teachers accord- ing to law were as given in the following table :
Number Enrolled
Defective Eyesight
Defective Hearing
Parents Notified
Centre
225
31
20
32
North
343
40
5
30
West
84
10
5
12
East
57
1
1
2
South
46
10
1
9
Golden Cove
27
1
0
1
South Row
23
0
1
1
North Row
. .
17
3
3
1
Totals
822
96
36
91
FIRE
On October fourteenth, one of the boys discovered fire in a box of sawdust in the basement of the Centre schoolhouse. He immediately notified his teacher and the principal, Mr. H. H. Rice, who gave the signal for the drill. The pupils passed out in excellent order, although some of them knew of the fire, and remained in line even when the smoke poured into their faces from the basement windows.
The janitor, Mr. Fred Chandler, seized one of the fire ex- tinguishers and with its aid had the flames under control before they had done any serious damage. The delay of a few min- utes, however, would have been disastrous.
The following Monday, Mr. F. F. Flynn of the district police made an investigation and gave it as his opinion that the cause of the fire was spontaneous combustion.
As an incipient fire was discovered in the same place about six weeks later, the committee decided to banish the box from the building and store the sawdust in a metal receptacle cov- ered and locked, so as to prevent, if possible, any further trouble from that source. Since that time there has been no indication of fire.
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DINING ROOM
The perplexing question of how to provide a suitable place at noon time for the children of the Centre school who bring their dinners has been solved by making use of the recitation room for that purpose. As soon as the forenoon recitations are over, the janitor and two monitors set up the tables and arrange the chairs and benches. The pupils pass up to the room, seat themselves according to companionships, and eat their dinners in orderly fashion. During this period they are in care of the janitor.
This arrangement can be best appreciated by those who were acquainted with previous conditions.
IMPROVEMENTS
The new building at the South village, the much needed increase in the play-ground, and the modern sanitary arrange- ments at the North village are valuable additions to the school equipment.
As stated in last year's report, more room is needed at the North school. If present conditions continue, two rooms for the grades and a recitation room can be utilized as soon as they can be constructed.
CONCLUSION
In closing this report, I wish to thank the Committee for their helpful suggestions, the teachers for their spirit of will- ing assistance and co-operation, and the citizens of the Town for their interest manifested in many ways.
FREDERICK L. KENDALL,
Superintendent of Schools.
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COURSE OF STUDY
ALL GRADES
Physiology and Hygiene .- Once a week during the winter term.
Nature Study .- Once a week during the fall and spring terms.
Drawing .- From sixty to eighty minutes a week.
Music .- From sixty to eighty minutes a week.
Morals .- See Revised Laws, Chapter 42, Section 18.
Insist upon neatness, order and politeness at all times.
GRADE [
Reading .- Follow the instructions in the Ward Manual. The Ward Primer and other primers.
Writing .- The letters and short sentences from the black- board and froni slips.
Language. - Oral reproduction of stories read or told by the teacher. Short pieces memorized. Teach each pupil to write his name, the name of the town, etc. Spelling.
Arithmetic. - Counting and reading of numbers to one hundred. Writing of numbers to twenty. Teach incidentally.
GRADE II
Reading .- Follow the instructions in the Ward Manual. The Ward First Reader and other readers.
Writing .- Use copy books in this grade and in the follow- ing grades until the eighth.
Language .- Oral and written reproductions. Dictation exercises. Memory selections copied and learned. · The use of the period or question mark at the end of the sentence and of capitals at the beginning. Spelling.
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Arithmetic .- Numbers to twelve for operations; }/2, 1/3, 1/4 ; inch, foot, yard ; cent, nickel, dime ; pint, quart ; + and -. Smith's Primary, Chapter I.
GRADE III
Reading .- See Course in Reading.
Language .- Frequent composition and dictation exercises. Give attention to abbreviations, punctuation, capitals, choice of words, forms of words, spelling. Continue memory work.
Arithmetic .- Numbers to one thousand for counting and for writing. The forty-five combinations; multiplication to ten times five ; }/2, 1/4, 18, 1/3, 16 ; ounce, pound; pint, quart, gallon ; quart, peck, bushel; making change to one dollar. Smith's Primary, Chapter II.
GRADE IV
Reading .- See Course in Reading.
Language .- Frequent composition or dictation exercises. Give attention to punctuation, capitals, spelling, modifying words, choice and forms of words, clearness and conciseness of expression. Continue memory work. Dunton and Kelley, Book I.
Arithmetic .- Numbers to 10,000. Multiplication tables to and including tens; multiplication by two order numbers, long division begun, simple work in fractions. Smith's Primary, Chapter III.
Local History.
Local Geography.
GRADE V
Reading. - See Course in Reading.
Language .- Continue the work outlined for the fourth grade. Metcalf's Elementary English to page 102.
Arithmetic .- Numbers to billions. Multiplication and division with three-figure multipliers and divisors, common business fractions, areas of floors and plots of land, tables of long measure and cubic measure completed, rapid oral drills. Smith's Primary, Chapter IV.
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Geography .- Land, water, the earth and its surface, heat. wind, rain, people. North America, the United States. Frye's Elements.
History .- Montgomery's Beginners read carefully and dis- cussed.
GRADE VI
Reading .- See Course in Reading.
Language .- Continue the work outlined for the fourth grade. Metcalf's Elementary English completed.
Grammar .- Teach the pupils to recognize the parts of speech.
Arithmetic .- Common and decimal fractions, denominate numbers, business transactions, percentage, measurements, Smith's Intermediate. Chapter I.
Geography .- South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Aus- tralasia. Plants and animals. United States by groups of states. Foreign countries. Frye's Elements.
History. - Guerber's First Thirteen Colonies read carefully and discussed.
GRADE VII
Reading .-- See Course in Reading.
Language .- Business letters, friendship letters, formal social notes, telegrams, advertisements for articles lost or found.
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