USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1911 > Part 7
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A little statement of what was done previous to December 31, 1910, is given below. It is pleasing to note that of the $226.09
143
deposited up to that time, only two dollars was withdrawn, and the period of Christmas purchasing was included during this time.
Amounts from one cent up are accepted, and when the amount of any one depositor reaches one dollar a regular pass book is issued.
One very satisfactory feature of the work is that the repre- sentative does nearly all the work so that very little of the teacher's time and attention is taken.
Statement at close December 31, 1910
CHELMSFORD CENTER SCHOOL
No. of
No. of Total Am't Amount
Balance
Depositors
Bank Books Received
Withdrawn
Dec. 10, 1910
108
24
$78.50 $2.00
$ 76.50
First deposit received Nov. 10, 1910.
NORTH CHELMSFORD SCHOOL
160 50 147.59
0 147.59
First deposit received Nov. 10, 1910.
STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDING IN JUNE, 1910
SCHOOLS
TEACHERS
GRADES
Total
Membership
Average
Membership
A verage
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Pupils under 5
Pupils Be-
tween 5 and 15
Pupils over 15
Pupils Be -
tween 7 and 14
CENTRE .
.
Ehner E. Harris
Higlı
42
39.65
37.04
93.07
0
10
32
3
Florence E. Flewelling.
IX
23
19.63
18.77
95.59
0
22
1
11
Susan S. McFarlin
VII, VIII ..
54
40.27
37.19
92.11
0
49
5
41
Ena G. Macnutt
VI, VII . . ..
40
35.39
32.44
90.94
0
38
2
36
Flora W. Campbell .
IV, V . . . . . .
47
39.62
35.76
90.25
0
47
0
44
Eva M. Godfrey. ..
II, III
46
40.09
37.52|
93.58
0
46
0
37
Grace C. Litchfield .
I . ...
33
28.12
24.62
87.55
1
32
0
9
NORTH .
Walter B. Pierce ·
-
High, IX.
48
40.85
36.82
90.1
0
27
12
14
Irena M. Crawford .
VII, VIII . .
58
49.97
44.89
89.8
0
56
2
52
Ella A. Hutchinson
VI .
39
35.11
31.34
89.3
0
38
1
37
V ...
36
33.38
30.5
91.3
0
36
0
35
Katherine L. Shea .
IV .
43
38.18
37.84
91.24
43
43
Katherine M. Quinn
III . .
39
33.57
30.35
87.94
0
39
38
Mary K. Prince . .
III . .
36
32.5
29.5
91.2
0
36
0
36
Margaret C. Gookin .
II . .
46
40.1
35.9
89.5
0
46
0
20
Catherine E. McDermott
.
( I .
85
61.8
52.98
85.7
10
75
0
21
...
. .
.
. .
·
May D. Sleeper . .
.
·
M. Grace McCue .
Alice J. Potter .
Marion E. Clase .
144
Mary W. Cross. .
Gertrude A. Jones . .
WEST ..
Berthia H. Long.
VII, IX . . .. 24
20.71
19.03
91.41
0
22
2
19
Agnes Naylor . .
Henrietta Drake .
IV, VI ..
29
26.63
24.4
91.64
0
29
0)
29
Frances Donovan
I, III .
35
31.53
29 25
92.76
0
35
0
17
EAST ....
Laura B. Desmarais · Hannalı H. Sleeper
I, IV .. .
44
22.28 34.65
20.22 30.16
90.74 87.04
3
41
=
22
SOUTH
Bethia S. Keitlı .
·
V, VIII ..
20
18.03
16.55
91.81
=
20
0
20
Mabelle C. Dame . .
Emma M. Graliaını
I, IV ... .
31
24.39
22.77
93.37
0
31
0
16
GOLDEN COVE.
Gertrude B. McQuade
I, IV ..
42
35.13
29.58
83.99
0
42
0
22
NORTH ROW . .
Eliza Spaulding .
I, V.
19
16.84
15.7
93.4
1
18
0)
13
SOUTH ROW . . .
Bessie M. Thompson
I, IV.
41
29.41
25.39
86.33
1
40
0
26
Ivy E. Kew .
Total .
1026
Duplicated Names .
16
Net total different pupils enrolled
.
.
1010
867.83 786.51
90.45
16
944
66
685
Totals for 1908-1909.
943
811.35 740.53
91.27
9
865
69
602
Totals for 1907-1908.
914
777.8
713.4
91.8
14
821
79
628
Totals for 1906-1907 .
917
775.2 696.4
89.8
8
844
65
629
Totals for 1905-1906.
882
750.9
685 3
91.3
7
811
64
626
Totals for 1904-1905.
865
718.4
1642.5
89.4
7
800
58
594
Totals for 1903-1904
830)
690 6
622.1
90 1
6
759
65
573
Totals for 1902-1903.
862
702.0
627.9
89.4
6
782
74
563
Totals for 1901-1902.
850
671.0
600.0
89.4
17
767
62
532
Totals for 1900-1901 .
828
677.7
605.2
89.7
6
749
73
538
Totals for 1899-1900.
772
631.4
556.0
88.1
10
702
60
527
V, VIII . . . .
26
26
24
Julia E. Fernald
145
Totals for 1909-1910.
.
1010
TEACHERS, FEBRUARY 28, 1911
SCHOOL
GRADES
TEACHERS
WHERE EDUCATED
BEGAN WORK
CENTRE . . . ..
Higlı ..
Elmer E. Harris .
Harvard College . .
Sept., 1909
Ida M. Gardner
Boston University . Tufts College.
Sept., 1910
VI ....
.
IV and V. .
Flora W. Campbell .
Sept., 1908
II and I1I
Eva M. Godfrey . ..
Bridgewater Normal Plymoutlı Normal, N. H .. . Lowell Normal . ..
Sept., 1908 Sept., 1907
NORTH
High and IX . .
Frank E. Holt.
Amherst College
Sept., 1910
146
VIII .
Gertrude A. Jones. . Julia E. King .
Framinghamı Normal . .
Sept., 1910
VI. .
Ella A. Hutchinson
Framingham Normal
V ..
May D. Sleeper . . Katherine M. Quinn
Lowell Normal . .
IV. .
Martha G. Roark .
Lowell Normal . .
Sept., 1910
III . ..
Gorham Normal, Me
Sept., 1907
II .
Mary K. Prince ... Margaret C. Gookin.
Lowell Normal ..
Sept., 1907
I and II
M. Grace McCue ...
Lowell Normal . .
Sept., 1909
I ...
Catherine E. McDermott . .
Lowell Normal . .
Sept., 1905
WEST .
VII - IX. .
Salem Normal
IV - VI
I - III . ..
Bertha H. Long Catherine E. Dunn. Rutlı Crowell .
Lowell Normal . Lowell Normal . .
April, 1896 Sept., 1910 Feb., 1911
·
Gloucester Training School
April, 1879 Sept., 1910
I ..
Emma M. Graliam-
.
Mary W. Cross . .
Sept., 1908
Irena W. Crawford .
Sept .. 1907
Salem Normal · ..
April, 1889
VII ..
North Chelmsford Higlı
Sept., 1905 March, 1907 Sept., 1905
IV.
Bates College . Tufts College
Sept., 1910
High and IX .. VII and VIII .
Rutlı G. Butters . Susan S. McFarlin . . ..
Framingham Normal ... .. Cora E. Crawford.
EAST
Laura B. Desmarais . . ..
St. Ann's Academy, Marl- boro, Mass. . . North Chelmsford High . . . .
Sept., 1909 Dec., 1908
SOUTH .
V - VIII . . . . . . I - IV .... ... .
Smith College Perry Normal Kindergar- ten, Boston ·
Sept., 1910
Jan., 1911
GOLDEN COVE .
I - IV .... . .
Gertrude B. McQuade. . .. .
Lowell Normal . . Sept., 1907
NORTH ROW
I - V . ..
Eliza Spaulding
Lowell Normal .
Sept., 1908
SOUTH ROW
I - IV ..
Ivy E. Kew
Lowell Normal . .
Nov., 1909
SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC . .
Mary B. Raynies ·
School of Methods
Sept , 1902 147
SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING .
Bertha G. Bartlett
Normal Art School .
Sept., 1907
SUPT. OF SCHOOLS
Benj. E. Martin .
Brown University
Aug., 1910
V - VIII . . .. .. I - IV .. .. .... Hannalı H. Sleeper · .. Mary L. Martin Edwina P. Quincy .
148
HOME GARDENS
Last spring your Superintendent, acting on suggestion of Mr. Chace of the Dracut district, who had done something in the work previously, formed a Bean Club, a Corn Club, and an Aster Club. The first was for boys and girls of the lower grades, the second for boys of the upper grades. and the last for girls of the upper grades. There were many members of each club, especially of the first.
The Bean Club members were given 25 beans, from which they were to raise the largest number of beans possible. The maximum number raised in this town was 2800, which was a fairly close second among the contestants of all the towns.
The Corn Club members were given 400 kernels of corn each, from which they were to raise the ten best ears they could. There were some excellent exhibits of corn from this town, but little inferior to the best.
The Aster Club members received 25 aster seeds each. from which to raise the best dozen asters. In this department the exhibits clearly surpassed those of the other towns.
Prizes of the value of one dollar, fifty cents, and twenty-five cents, there were a great many of the last, were from a fund of $25 given by the Middlesex North Agricultural Society. The Chelmsford pupils certainly won their share.
The purpose of the movement was to arouse interest in gardening, and the results proved very gratifying.
This year I expect to continue the work in a similar way, and may do something more in connection with the officials of the State Agricultural College at Amherst.
TEACHERS AND TEACHING
Numerous changes took place in the teaching force at the close of the last school year.
At the Centre, Miss Emma Graham, transferred from the South Primary room, succeeded Miss Grace Litchfield as teacher of the first grade ; Miss Cora Crawford took Miss Ena Macnutt's
4
149
place in the sixth grade room ; Miss Ruth Butters became second High School assistant and the teacher of the ninth grade, in place of Miss Marion Chase; and Miss Florence Flewelling was suc- ceeded by Miss Ida Gardner as first assistant in the High School and ninth grade.
At the North School, Mr. Frank E. Holt has been serving as principal very acceptably in the place of Mr. Walter B. Pierce, who resigned; Miss Julia King was selected as teacher of the seventh grade ; and Miss Martha Roark took the place of Miss Katherine Shea in the fourth grade.
At the West School, Miss Catherine Dunn was given the intermediate room, succeeding Miss Agnes Naylor. Very recently Miss Julia Fernald has resigned her position in the primary room, and her place has been taken by Miss Ruth Crowell.
At the South School, the grammar room is being taught by Miss Mary Martin, who succeeded Miss Maybelle Dame. The transfer of Miss Graham to the Centre left a vacancy which was filled by Miss Elizabeth Cushing, who resigned about Christmas time, and was succeeded by Miss Edwina Quincy.
No other changes have taken place, but as this report goes to press the resignation of Miss Irena Crawford of the North High School has been handed in, to take effect the last of March.
Such a large number of changes in a teaching force of about thirty teachers is very undesirable, and makes it very difficult to maintain and improve the standing of our schools. Many of these changes have been due to offers of larger salaries. Other places outbid us. I believe that Chelmsford can well afford to pay sal- aries that will attract and hold first-class teachers.
Our appropriation for the support of public schools, based on valuation, is not so large as it was ten years ago, showing that the school department is not getting extravagant very rapidly. It is but fair to state that teachers' salaries have advanced materially in the decade, though not so much as in many other places in the State, nor hardly in keeping with the increased cost of living.
Our teachers, new and old, are giving, generally, good satis- faction, and are showing commendable interest in their work. They deserve the best of treatment.
150
The work of our special teachers in music and drawing seems to me to be worthy of special notice.
The study of good music, such as our children are taught, aids much in the education of the child, refining, elevating and brightening the child life.
The study of drawing as taught here produces similar effects upon the child, besides adding its practical training. I have been pleased to note, during the year, the practical turn that has been given to a part of the work in this subject.
The reports of the supervision in these subjects are given as a part of this report.
The reports of the two High School principals give us some points concerning the work of these two schools.
Two teachers' meetings for all teachers in town have been held, and two others were planned, but owing to inability to ar- range dates with the speakers who were to visit us, they have been postponed. Group gatherings, individual talks and circular letters have served in place of these meetings. It is rather inconvenient for all the teachers to gather at one point.
All teachers took a visiting day in January, and, in response to my request, each teacher wrote a short essay on the results of the visit, touching upon certain points which I suggested and others of interest. Some of these essays were excellent and showed keen perception and good judgment in observation. Some of the best ones will be read at our next teachers' meeting, that we may gain additional benefit. I feel that the day was an instructive and val- uable one.
Through the courtesy of the Lowell Normal School principal, Mr. Durgin, and his teachers, I secured the privilege of the at- tendance of our teachers upon a series of lectures for teachers given on Tuesday afternoons. Not all could attend, but those who did attend report much of enjoyment and of value from the course.
I have endeavored to aid my teachers by words of apprecia- tion, suggestion, advice and warning, if it has been needed, striv- ing to impress upon them the fact that we are working together for a common good, and not as taskmaster and slave.
151
SPECIAL REPORTS
Report of the School Physicians
MR. BENJ. MARTIN,
Dear Sir :
I beg to submit the following report of findings in the last inspection of the schools of Precincts One and Two.
Abscess 1 Anemia 3
Acne.
2 Blepharitis 1
Adenitis 1 Mental Difficiency 1
Adenoids 20
Nasal Obstruction
1
Spinal Curvature.
1
Tonsils enlarged.
16
Ring worm 2 Pediculosis, several cases
I found 113 children unvaccinated, 79 of whom have passed the fifth grade. With a very few exceptions the teeth are, or have been, slightly or entensively diseased. A large proportion has been cared for. Some have received no care whatever.
Sanitary conditions are generally good.
It is very gratifying to see the willingness some parents have shown in accepting suggestions for the betterment of their children's health.
Very respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR G. SCOBORIA,
School Physician.
February 3rd, 1911.
152
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Town of Chelmsford
Gentlemen :
I wish to make the following report as school physician after inspection of schools' pulpil -.
I have made a personal inspection of every pupil and when indicated an examination of heart and lungs. Have also given special attention to the adjustment of seats and desks.
I have found the teachers willing to co-operate with me and showing real interest in the health and personal appearance of their scholars.
Within three years there has been marked improvement in health and personal cleanliness. The seats in Miss Queen's room are not adjustable and the scholars there are not seated properly.
Disinfectants should be used in the vaults at West Chems- ford.
There was quite an odor noticeable, a new cess pool is needed at the North. Enclosed find a table of condition as found. These tables contain only condition at time of inspection.
Those found since do not appear. I suggest that hereafter a book be furnished each teacher in which she keeps the records of inspection as well as all subsequent condition found at later visits.
Thanking you for your assistance, I am anxious and willing to help in every way to advance the welfare of our schools.
F. E. VARNEY.
December 20, 1910.
1
Bad Teeth
Tonsils Enlarged
Adenoids
Pediculosis
Enlarged
Glands, Neck
General De-
bility
Anaemia
Nasal
Obstruction
Chorea
Mentally
Deficient
Granular Lids
North Grade I. ..
16
3
4
5
2
1
. .
:
North Grade II ...
18
4
1
. .
North Grade III ..
17
6
3
10
. .
.
.
North Grade IV.
2
9
15
. .
Miss Quinn
North Grade IV
7
3
1
6
Miss Roarke
North Grade V ..
20
5
2
8
1
North Grade VI.
12
6
. .
6
North Grade VII. .
8
4
3
8
North Grade VIII . .
3
5
. .
5
North High IX.
9
3
1
1
1
:
West Grades I, II, III. .
9
2
2
4
. .
·
West Grades IV, V, VI.
4
2
1
2
.
.
..
.
West Grades VII, VIII, IX
7
5
2
. .
. .
. .
.
151
57
21
78
4
2
A
4
1
3
1
1
1
. .
6
2
..
1
3
. .
I
153
154
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing
MR. BENJAMIN MARTIN,
Superintendent of Schools,
Chelmsford, Mass.
Dear Sir :
I respectfully submit the following report concerning the drawing in the Schools of Chelmsford, for the year ending March 1911.
The aim of the Manual Arts in the public schools is to develop the thinking power of the child, to train his observation and to give him a keener appreciation of the beautiful.
The program of drawing has followed in the main that of last year. The program is divided into three parts-free-hand draw- ing, from nature and objects; constructive drawing, the actual making of objects ; and picture-study.
Special work has been given in the High Schools for those pupils who are intending to go on with the work in more ad- vanced schools.
That the work is of value to the pupils is shown in the fact that within the last two years three pupils have entered the Normal Art School and one has entered the Textile School. There are at present several more pupils intending to enter the Art School upon their graduation from the High School.
In closing I wish to thank the Superintendent for his interest in the work and the grade teachers for the able assistance and hearty co-operation in my work.
Yours respectfully,
BERTHA GREENLEAF BARTLETT,
Supervisor of Drawing.
Chelmsford, Mass., March 3rd, 1911.
155
Report of the Supervisor of Music
MR. B. E. MARTIN,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
School music is a subject the possibilities of which are endless. It has made for itself a place in the schools. as an educational factor of the highest possible value, developing the mind and at the same time furnishing an inspiration pecu- liarly its own.
In my last report I gave an idea of the way the work is taken up by grades. I have not changed it materially, but added a little book in the second grades, "Individual Sight Singing Melodies," which is much enjoyed by both teachers and pupils, for it paves the way for the regular book of the course. It is very interesting to hear the little ones work out the words and music of the melodies at sight. Most of the old books have been replaced by the new edition of the course, " The Harmonic Readers," so the grades are well equipped for their work.
This year I have made a special effort for the monotone voice, and it is very gratifying to see how many have yielded to the treatment. Several years ago, before school music had reached the high standard of the present day, if a child came to school with a low voice and was unable to sing as the other children did, he was immediately told he couldn't sing or else he was allowed to drone along, disturbing the entire class. In my opinion a child should never be told that he cannot sing until he has been in school several years, and every effort to improve his tone failed. By that time he is usually old enough to realize it without being told. A child is often sensitive and it is needless to hurt his feelings in this way, besides prevent- ing the development of a little voice that with a little patience will give much pleasure. We have classes for just such voices, with special treatment as the case requires. Not long ago my attention was called to a boy, in one of the lower grades, who
156
was not singing with the class. Upon inquiry I found he had been told at home that he couldn't sing. I persuaded him to ry it with me. His voice was low, but he was not a perfect monotone I told him his mother probably meant that he couldn't sing as his sister did, but that he could sing, and that I wanted him to try every day. He sings as well now as the average child in the room, but had he been let alone he never would have been able to sing, which goes to show what a mis- take it is to discourage a child.
We are always glad to have the parents and friends visit the schools, hear the children sing, and see for themselves just the way the work is carried on. How much real benefit and pleasure the children derive from their music is felt in the home as well as in the schoolroom It is our aim to give to the pupils the power to render and enjoy music wherever they may be, as well as to add to the pleasure of others.
I thank the Superintendent for his interest and the teach- ers who do so much to assist me in the work.
Respectfully submitted.
MARY BLANCHARD RAYNES,
Supervisor of Music.
North Chelmsford School
MR. BENJAMIN E. MARTIN,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
I respectfully submit the following report of the North Chelmsford School for the year ending Feb. 28, 1911 :
The school opened on Sept. 6, 1910, with three teachers new to their respective positions, and the addition of a fourth at a little later date was made necessary by the increased num- ber of pupils in our seventh and eighth grades.
At the beginning of the fall term our work was somewhat handicapped by the crowded condition of several of the rooms
157
and by the difficulty experienced in ascertaining the location and number of text books on hand. Temporary arrangements were soon made to relieve the condition first mentioned, how- ever, and a book inventory was taken in order to provide against a repetition of the latter.
In accordance with the wishes of the School Committee, and in order to enable the person directly concerned to teach those subjects in which they are best equipped to give instruc- tion, a few changes have been made in the High School pro- gramme. The result is that the language departments are now entirely in charge of the assistant teachers; the science work is in charge of the principal, and the mathematics, his- tory and other departments are divided between the assistants and principal. One period each week, too, has been set aside for the study of music in the High School and ninth grade. The time thus spent will, I think, prove to be a wise invest- ment.
The general condition of the school as a whole is good. The spirit shown by the pupils is of the best, and we have almost none who are intentionally troublesome. In scholar- ship and attendance the records are, in some cases, not all that is to be desired ; but here the school must share the responsi- bility, both for excellency and for failure to achieve, with the home.
Not all pupils are capable of doing high grade or even thoroughly satisfactory work in all subjects, to be sure, but practically no High School student is able to attain satisfactory results unless required to do from two to three hours' studying at home each day.
This is the amount of work provided for by the evening study hours kept in some of our best preparatory schools. In our public schools it devolves upon the parents to see that the pupils' evenings are kept free from disturbing factors and that a proper amount of time is spent in preparing the lessons for the next day. Each day's assignment, well prepared, means success in the end, and insures the pupil against that discour-
158
agement and lessened interest in school work which is almost certain to follow failure.
In closing, I wish to express my appreciation of the efforts and loyalty of the teachers of the school and to thank the Superintendent and School Committee for their kindly in- terest and co-operation in its work.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK E. HOLT,
Principal.
Center School
MR. B. E. MARTIN,
Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir :
During the past school year much has been attempted and something accomplished toward the betterment of conditions at the Center. The continued hearty co-operation on the part of the grade teachers toward this end together with the en- thusiastic willingness of the new high school instructors have made this progress possible
We are ever trying to have our school measure up in general efficiency to the standard of the city. Circumstances render this somewhat difficult. Yet the teamwork of the entire teaching force combined with a general desire to learn manifested by a large majority of the pupils are helping won- derfully.
While the social and athletic activities of our school are encouraged we are emphasizing scholarship this year. Especially is this true in the high school. We are trying to win recognition from the State Board of Education, and, in time, to attain a standard whereby any of our pupils who desire to enter college can do so on certificate as they do from the city high schools. Of course all this means work, and hard work, too. Yet in our high school of forty-one pupils there are almost none who are not inclined to work. Some,
159
indeed, have to be discouraged from a tendency to overstudy -a much easier task for the teacher than continual prodding.
In other lines of activity our high school shows signs of life. Eleven girls of the senior and junior classes have recently given together a cleverly acted play in this town, and in Westford. The senior class alone has given a dance and one or two most enjoyable entertainments. This class hopes to spend its spring vacation in Washington. Not to be outdone in a social way the junior class has already given a very successful dance and is planning another.
In athletics the loss, last year, of several of our big boys prevented the formation of a school foot ball team this year, the Town grammar school boys got together and defeated North Chelmsford in a series of foot ball games. We are hoping to arrange several base ball games for the little fellows in the spring. Though beaten in the speaking contest with North Chelmsford last June we hope to retrieve ourselves in another contest this spring.
The continued interest of the village clergymen and others in coming to speak to us is a pleasant feature of our school life. We have averaged one speaker a month thus far. The talks are very inspiring.
The pleasant duty remains of acknowledging in behalf of all the teachers at the Center, the cordial support of both Committee and Superintendent in promoting the welfare of the school. Their interest has been unfailing.
Very respectfully,
ELMER EASTMAN HARRIS.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The rearrangements of seats in two rooms at the Centre School.
Further provisions for a water supply at the Centre School.
The purchase of gas fixtures for two rooms at the Centre School.
160
Some provision to relieve the overcrowding at the Centre School.
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