USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1901 > Part 6
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Number of pupils in each course, June, 1901 :
English : Boys, 17; girls, 23; total, 40.
English-Latin : Boys, 20; girls, 32; total, 52.
Classical : Boys, 8; girls, 16; total, 24.
NUMBER OF PUPILS IN EACH CLASS, WITH AVERAGE AGES, JUNE, 1901.
YEARS.
Boys.
Girls.
Total.
Average Age, Boys.
Average · Age, Girls.
Average Age, Total.
First .
20
24
44
15-10
15-6
15-8
Second
24
3.5
17-3
16-7
16-9
Third
2
15
17
16-3
18-I
17-II
Fourth
12
8
20
17-9
18-6
18-1
Total .
45
71
116
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
DISTRIBUTION OF PUPILS BY GRADES, JUNE, 1901.
PRIMARY.
GRAMMAR.
SCHOOLS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Central Suburban
99
74
103
56
52
55
56
43
44
68
56
60
44
50
48
29
35
7
Total
167
130
163
100
102
103
85
78
51
Grade D, 21; Grade C, 18.
Note .- The South Middleboro school was not in session in June. The number of pupils for May is, therefore, in- cluded in the foregoing table.
29
AVERAGE AGE OF PUPILS IN EACH GRADE, JUNE, 1901.
PRIMARY.
GRAMMAR.
SCHOOLS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Central . Suburban ·
6-6 6-10
7-1I 8-4
9-3 9-6
10-4 10-6
11-5 11-7
12-6
13-5
13-10
14-7
12-10
13-3
14-0
15-1
Total
6-8
8-1
9-4
10-5
II-6
12-8
13-4
13-II
14-10
Grade D, 10-1: Grade C, 11-1.
PROMOTIONS, JUNE, 1901.
GRAMMAR.
SCHOOLS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Central Suburban
80
73
99
53
52
54
43
45
50
52
56
39
51
35
25
7
Total
130
125
155
92
103
98
89
68
52
Grade D, 20; Grade C, 18.
TEACHERS.
Number of teachers employed, including assistants, June, 1901 · 37
High School : Men, 2; women, 2, total
4
Grammar schools : Men, 1 ;. women, 8; total . . Primary schools, women . . .
8
Suburban schools, women ·
.
14
Special, men
2
TEACHERS' TRAINING CLASS.
Whole number of pupils enrolled
9 Residents, 5 ; non-residents, 4.
.
9
.
.
PRIMARY.
54 44
30
Number of graduates in June, 1901
Residents, 5 ; non-residents, 4.
SCHOOLHOUSES AND SCHOOLS.
Number occupied June, 1901 . 19
Number of rooms, not including recitation rooms 29
Number of recitation rooms :
6
High School rooms .
.
4
Grammar schoolrooms, grades 4-9
Primary schoolrooms, grades 1-3
9 8 14.
Suburban schoolrooms, mixed grades .
Number of houses heated by steam .
1
Number of houses heated by hot air furnaces · .
6
Number of houses heated by stoves .
12
ATTENDANCE.
The total number of pupils enrolled for the year was 1,277, an increase of 41 over the previous year ; the average mem- 1 bership, 1,122, an increase of 15; the average daily atten- dance, 1,038, an increase of 22; the percentage of daily at- tendance to average membership, 92.513, an increase of .734; the number of cases of tardiness, 1,188, an increase of 23 ; and the number of cases of dismissal, 1,116, an in- crease of 9.
An examination of Exhibit A shows that only 6 of the 14 suburban schools had a percentage of daily attendance over 90, while only 2 of the Central schools fell below 90.
Hon. Frank A. Hill, Secretary of our State Board of Ed- ucation, says : "There are scores of reasons assigned for the non-attendance of children at school that cannot, in any fair-
9
.
31
ness, make the absence necessary. They are reasons that parents or pupils may readily overcome by a little extra pains, a little greater sturdiness, a little more self-denial, a little greater forethought, a little higher conception of duty. It is neither the parents nor the children, but the school authorities that finally determine whether the absence is nec- essary or not. Therefore, the school authorities are legally entitled to know the reasons that exist for absence. Persons who ask that children be excused for absence are doubly bound by common courtesy and by implication of law, to say nothing of a certain consideration for the right and welfare
of others, to state the reasons for so asking. It is so simple and obvious a thing for a parent to do, it so helps the teacher to discriminate between that necessary absence with which he should deal considerately and that unnecessary absence which he should discourage, it so strengthens the school authorities in their efforts to secure regular attendance and its resulting benefits, that it ought not to be necessary to re- mind a fair-minded person of his legal obligation to do what considerations of courtesy, co-operation, example and the like should naturally prompt him to do."
ENROLLMENT TABLE FOR NOVEMBER.
Central.
Suburban.
1895
662
337
Total. 999
1896
.
669
360
1,029
1897
686
391
1,077
1898
724
389
1,113
1899
727
384
1,111
1900
781
408
1,189
1901
860
401
1,261
32
The above table shows an increase in attendance from 999 in 1895 to 1261 in 1901, a gain of 262, while the average attendance for 1901 is 148 more than in 1895.
AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP, 1895-1901.
1895
974
1899
.
. 1,045
1896
948
1900
·
.
· 1,107
1897
·
.
968
1901
·
1,122
1898
.
1,024
·
TEACHERS.
The teachers of Middleboro are greatly indebted to Super- intendent Jacoby for his efforts for teacher improvement, especially along the lines of professional reading and study. With tireless energy he labored in the schools of Middleboro for eight years, always inspiring his teachers by his enthu- siasın to work for the highest good of the schools. A grow- ing man, he wished for growing teachers. The general excel- lence of the schools attest to his great success as an educator and his ability as a leader.
During the past year grade meetings, teachers' monthly meetings, fortnightly meetings of the Pedagogical Club, monthly meetings of the Principals' Round Table and weekly meetings of the High' School teachers have been held. At the teachers' monthly meetings such subjects as "Writing," " Mathematics," "The Art of Study," "Silent Reading," " Temperance Teaching," "Reading to Pupils," "Thinking and Learning to Think," have been discussed.
Addresses have been given as follows: February 9, " Progress in the Nineteenth Century," Rev. Fred R. Lewis,
33
Unity Church, Middleboro ; April 13, " Grammar Schools of the Twentieth Century, George J. Aldrich, Superintendent of Schools, Brookline, Mass; May 10, "The Social Ideal in Education," Henry S. Bailey, Agent State Board of Edu- cation.
The teachers' library has been well patronized, a total of 214 books having been taken out the past year. The largest number read by any one teacher was 22, the smallest 2. Twenty-two represents the number of different educational papers and magazines taken by the teachers.
It is not strange, therefore, that other towns and cities should look to Middleboro for teachers. But Middleboro should not be obliged to part with her efficient teachers who receive calls at an increase of salary. A good teacher should be worth as much to Middleboro as to any other town. It should be the policy of the school department to pay teachers any reasonable salary, so that the schools shall not be de- prived of their services.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The consolidation of both schools at North Middleboro, the Pleasant street and Plymouth street schools, into a new two room building would give to the citizens of that section of the town better graded and more efficient schools. The need of better accommodations is imperative. The question as to whether it would be better to erect new buildings on the lots now occupied by the old, or to erect a new two- room building at some central point, from an educational point of view, can have but one answer, and that is the last proposi- tion should be carried out. With a two-room building the
34
primary grade would occupy one room and the intermediate the other, while the upper grades as now would enter the Pratt Free School.
The Soule School building is too small and poorly adapted for school purposes. A new structure should take the place of the present one. Let any one visit this school-room with its 25 pupils and note the conditions under which work is carried on, and he will surely come away strong in convic- tion that this condition of affairs should be remedied at once. The spring term will enroll a larger school than at present. The people of the suburban districts are entitled to good school buildings, and should have as good teachers as the schools at the Centre.
SCHOOL EVENTS.
One of the most noticeable events in connection with school work during the past year was the exhibition of the musical work of the Middleboro schools in Town Hall, Wednesday, February 27, under the direction of the super- visors of music, Messrs. H. J. and H. E. Whittemore. In the afternoon the pupils of the Union street, School street, Forest street and West Side schools were heard in songs and exercises, while the evening was devoted to a musicale by the advanced grades.
The exhibition was a grand success. It is pleasing to note that the study of music is now a regular branch of the school work, and, under the energetic supervision of the Messrs. Whittemore, excellent results can be expected. It is hoped that another exhibition may be given the present year, as such exhibitions are pleasing to the parents and friends and
·
35
an inspiration to the pupils. As this was the first exhibition of musical work in the schools under the direction of special instructors, the programs are inserted. (See Exhibit C.)
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The munificent bequest of the late Mr. Thomas S. Peirce, whereby the town of Middleboro is to enjoy one of the best equipped public libraries in any town of our State, should be hailed by every one as a priceless gift for the betterment of the schools along the lines of original research and general culture. The income of $50,000, amounting to not less than $2,000, to be expended annually for books and periodicals !
Within the walls of that inspiring edifice may there be found a well-equipped teachers' library, containing the mas- terpieces of educational thought, books in abundance for reference along all lines of work carried on in the schools, a table in its reading room where may be found the leading educational journals and magazines, and best of all a portion of this building devoted to the welfare of the young people of the town, where may be found a juvenile department with its own catalogue directing the young mind into channels of sound literature. In its outreaching influence may each suburban school become a branch of the parent library, where the teacher may carry from week to week suitable books for her pupils to read under her direction. Thus will be more closely united not only the library and the school, but also the school and the home. When the teacher can get at the heart of the pupil by showing him she is interested in what he does out of school, then she has gained a power which will help her in shaping that pupil's future. Home reading
36
is closely related to school work, and should be as much a part of school work as anything done in the schoolroom. May we all be awake to the great responsibility in the train- ing for citizenship and prize this gift for the promotion of culture and general intelligence at its true worth.
All honor to the memory of the donor who has so richly bestowed upon his fellow-townsmen such an imperishable legacy.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School is often called the "People's College," for it is truly an institution of the people and for the people. The people of Middleboro have a right to be justly proud of their High School for the excellent reputation it has in pre- paring students to enter higher institutions of learning.
While all this is pleasing, does not the High School owe much also to those who are not to pursue their studies beyond its courses ?
Ought its course of study not be broad enough to prepare for business life as well as for collegiate life ?
When we consider how very few of High School graduates enter college the question as to whether a High School is serving the best interests of a community becomes a practical one.
While, therefore, our High School has an excellent repu- tation for fitting students for college and for giving to those in its other courses a sound intellectual training, yet can it not also extend its scope and become equally successful in preparing its graduates for the humbler walks in life ?
The question is, then, not "Do we need a commercial de-
37
partment in our High School," but rather, "Can we have such a course ? "
Under present conditions the school is much cramped for room, but until this can be remedied a beginning can be made. If it is a wise thing to have such a course then the sooner it can be started the better. By placing the sixth grade either in a room in Town Hall or in some other build- ing a suitable room could be obtained for this work, a teacher for commercial work could be employed, and the commercial department become an assured fact. If such a course is es- tablished it should be of equal length and equal strength with the other courses.
Pupils who finish the other courses of study should after graduating be allowed to return and complete the commercial course in one year.
Cannot such a course be a part of the regular work at the opening of the school year in September? Will not the citizens of the town vote a sufficient appropriation at the annual March meeting, so that such a department may be- come one of the most useful and practical in the High School curriculum ?
This surely is a question that should appeal strongly to everyone who believes in a good business training. There should be something more than general culture and mental training in the High School course.
The following extract from the report of the Superin- tendent Carfrey, of Northampton, Mass., gives what is generally considered the true conception of what a success- ful commercial course should be :
.
38
"A commercial course, however, should not be less effect- ual as high school work than any other course there pur- sued. It should not have for its aim simply to turn out young persons fitted to do the mechanical work of a book- keeper, clerk, type-writer, or an office accountant. 'To establish the work on that basis in this day of improvement in high school courses would be a mistake. The public schools are not warranted in adding to the already over- crowded market, persons possessing simply a knowledge of the mere technical skill necessary to enter upon these employments. A pupil finishing what might be called a commercial course should have received the same intellectual training, and been made acquainted with the same essential branches as a pupil finishing any other course- the same amount of English, history, mathematics, and the elements of science ; to these should be added a modern language. The graduates of such a course should be able to feel that they are on common ground and deserving the respect of other tolerably well-educated men. The business man needs to know something as to the keeping of accounts, but he needs to know a great deal more in order to be successful in managing an enterprise."
The separation of the High School from the lower grades in the building would be highly beneficial to both. The present High School edifice is not suited to the needs of a modern High School. What is greatly needed is a new High School building. Then the present structure could be changed into an eight-room building, relieving the present congestion at Union street. May we not indulge the hope
39
that in the no distant future the High School will occupy a building better adapted to its needs than the present struct- ure - a building with a modern system of ventilation, con- taining an assembly hall where the whole school can gather for devotional exercises, rhetorical work, and instruction in music ; where may also assemble teachers and friends of education to listen to lectures along the lines of school work ; with excellent facilities for chemical and physical work in well-equipped laboratories ; with a room adapted for carry- ing on the study of drawing; and with all the necessary school equipment for a first-class commercial department ?
What a fitting companion building to the new library edifice such a structure would be !
Your superintendent has given much emphasis to the necessity of a new High School building because he believes that to be the best solution of the problem how shall the lower grades now numbering in some of the rooms 91, 69 and 66 pupils be provided with better accommodations. The paramount need is better school accommodations.
CONCLUSION.
It is the duty of the Superintendent of Schools to present the needs and conditions of the schools. It is for the citi- zens of the town to say how far such recommendations can be carried out. The people of Middleboro have always taken a just pride in the public schools, and even although burdened with a heavy debt and a high rate of taxation have always cheerfully appropriated a sufficient sum for carrying on the necessary work in the schools that they might not lose anything of their efficiency. With a brighter outlook
40
for the town, which in a short time will receive the benefit of the Peirce legacy, may we not hope that the schools with better equipment may grow in efficiency, that better build- ings may be erected, that successful teachers may be retained in service, and that a progressive school system strengthened and enlarged in its usefulness may become more and more the pride of every home ?
CHAS. H. BATES,
Superintendent of Schools.
Middleboro, Mass., December 31, 1901.
41
EXHIBIT A.
STATISTICS OF EACH SCHOOL.
SCHOOLS.
Room.
TEACHERS.
Grades.
Total
Membership.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent of Attendance.
High
Walter Sampson, Prin.
10-13
I33
122
119
97
Isabelle M. Briggs
Leonard O. Tillson
Susan M. Briggs
Main street .
4
Edgar M. Copeland, Prin.
9
52
47
43
93
3
Sophie S. Hammond
8
49
46
43
94
2
Emma Lois Herrick
7
5.5
48
45
93
I
C. Augusta Thomas
6
52
4.3
40
92
Union street
2
Alma L. Hodgdon, Prin.,
5 & C
66
58
54
93
R
Florence L. Dean, Ass't. . Bessie B. Gibbs .
4 & D
79
71
67
94
School street
3
Lucy P. Burgess
3
89
81
76
94
R
Emma N. Phinney, Ass't., Edith Willis
2
40
31
29
92
I
Eleanor A. Barden, Prin.,
I
56
42
38
89
Forest street
2
A. Belle Tenney, Prin.
2
29
26
25
93
I
Delia R. Kingman
I
46
39
36
93
West Side
3
Frances M. Perry, Prin.
5-7
39
3.5
33
93
2
Myra L. Atwood
3-4
37
27
25
92
Pleasant street .
E. Frances Dunham
mixed
35
25
22
88
Plymouth street,
Lizzie W. Wade .
22
20
18
88
Purchade
Lena M. Baldwin
66
41
36.
34
87
Nemasket
Elizabeth Landgrebe
66
41
34
32
92
Thompsonville,
Mary E. Deane
66
20
19
17
92
Soule .
Carrie E. Soule
66
29
20
18
94
Waterville
C. Florence Hathaway
66
30
26
22
84
Green .
Bertha E. Vaughn
66
37
34
30
91
Fall Brook
Ruby L. Howes .
66
26
20
16
85
Thomastown
Lucy E. Merrihew
66
42
34
32
91
So. Middleboro,
Veretta F. Shaw
66
45
37
33
87
Highland
Grace E. Bailey
66
25
15
I3
86
Rock
Florence I. Reed
34
31
29
92
Wappanucket
Bessie L. Thomas
66
34
26
23
86
-
I
Estelle E. Herrick
I-2
42
30
26
88
I
R
Mattie M. Bennett, Ass't.,
2
42
EXHIBIT B.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr. C. H. BATES, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir,-I hereby submit my annual report of the High School. The enrollment during the fall term was larger than ever before, and the attendance during the year was very satisfactory. With our constantly increasing members, it seems a pressing necessity that our High School quarters should be quite materially enlarged and our corps of teach- ers increased if the standard of the school is to be main- tained. Our teachers are overworked and our classes, in some instances, are so large that the slower pupils cannot get the individual assistance they need in order to keep apace with the class. To remedy this in part, the teachers spend a great deal of time outside the regular school session with pupils who need their assistance.
The High School and the Grammar School should not be in the same building. Under the present arrangement, the High School pupils are obliged to remain in the schoolrooms during recess so as not to disturb the Grammar School by going up and down stairs or by being on the playground. To relieve the crowded condition in both schools, either a High School or a, Grammar School building is one of the necessities of the near future. I believe that a new High School building should be erected. The present building is not in line with modern structures used for that purpose. A High School building should contain an assembly hall. It should be arranged so that pupils having a study period
43
could be divided among the various recitation rooms instead of nearly all occupying one large room while a recitation is in progress. Ample opportunities for laboratory work should be provided. It should be built with an eye to our future needs. When I took charge of the school 11 years ago there were 87 pupils in the fall term. Last fall 145 pupils were enrolled. This was an increase of 663 per cent. during the 11 years. If this same rate of increase should be kept up during the next three periods of 11 years each, the school would number 671. This may seem a wild estimate, but I think that Middleboro's prospect for future growth will guarantee the rate of increase I have just cited. At any rate, there are many growing towns that have recently erected high school buildings that find, at this early date, that the school has outgrown its accommodations.
There is a popular demand for a business course in our High School. Many schools in the State have such a course. I think the time is fast ripening when this course should be added to our curriculum. This should be fully equivalent to the other courses in the school. It should continue four years and consist, in part, of other than the so-called practi- cal branches. I find that this is the plan adopted by most of the High Schools that have added the business course. This phase of work is entirely out of the question with our present accommodations and our small corps of teachers.
In order to compare our teaching force with that of other towns, I have written several high school principals, asking them the number of teachers in their respective schools and the number of pupils enrolled during the fall term. I have
44
arranged the following table on the basis of the returns I have received :
Number of Teachers
Number of Pupils
Attleboro
7 regular, 2 special
152
Bridgewater
5 full time, 1 part time, 2 specials, 111
Hingham
5 regular
133
Braintree
5 regular
141
Plymouth
6 regular, 2 special
137
Whitman
4 full time, 1 half time 111
Marblehead
6 regular 130
Amesbury
6 regular 133
Milton
9 regular, 5 special
145
Middleboro
4 regular, 1 music .
145
I think the comparison shows conclusively that we need more teachers to carry on the work. With the addition of a business course, we should have at least 6 regular teachers.
A good percentage of our pupils do not conclude their school life upon graduation. Twenty-seven boys and 9 girls, graduates of the Middleboro High School, are continuing their studies in higher institutions of learning. The graduat- ing class last June numbered 20. The annual graduating exercises were held in the Town Hall. The following is the programme :
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Prayer.
Rev. F. R. Lewis.
Salutatory and Oration .
The Value of a High School Education Henry Chester Perry.
45
Essay .
A Banquet in Rome Jennie Congdon Potter.
Oration
Massachusetts in History Fred Sheldon Sparrow.
Essay . The Results of Application Polly Jane Clark.
Oration Our Merchant Marine Bourne Wood.
Chorus. Happy and Light From Bohemian Girl High School Glee Club.
Oration Ruins and Their Significance to Us Hermon Trafton Gammons.
Class History.
Angie Louise Rose.
Oration American Relations with Cuba Luke Francis Kelley.
Essay . Character as Determined by Surroundings Frederica Hodgson Thomas.
Oration
Our Debt of Honor
James Douglas Kirkpatrick.
Trio. a Lulled to Rest · Verdi
b The Distant Chimes Glover
c Old Kentucky Home . Foster
Oration The Power of Civilization Harold Clinton Eddy.
Essay .
The Dignity of Labor Mary Ellen Sheehan.
Oration The Consolidation of Railroads Ernest Clifton Staples.
46
French Recitation
Le Sauvetage. From Quatre-vignt-treize. V. Hugo Alice Clifton Tinkham.
Oration . Business a School Walter Clifford Thomas.
Four-Part Song. The Sailor's Glee Leslie
High School Glee Club.
Oration . Education the Cry of the Hour Dennis Edward Sheehan.
Essay. . The Era of Queen Victoria Mary Sampson Morse.
Oration The Probability of Universal Peace James Rendall Glidden.
Class Prophecy
Wallace Leonard Sampson.
Essay and Valedictory . Per Aspera ad Astra Maude Barker Perry.
Four-Part Song · . Parting Ode High School Glee Club.
Presentation of Diplomas
Rev. W. C. Litchfield, Chairman of School Committee.
Benediction .
Respectfully submitted, WALTER SAMPSON, Principal of High School.
47
EXHIBIT C .:
MUSIC.
Mr. CHARLES H. BATES, Superintendent of Schools, Middle- borough, Mass .:
Dear Sir, -- In compliance with your request we herewith present our report of music in the public schools of Middle- borough. We have not completed our first full year of in- struction, but we can safely say that, taking the school as a whole, a good beginning has been made. When the pupils that are now in the primary and intermediate grades, together with the youngest pupils now in the mixed schools, shall have reached the ninth class and the High School a much greater degree of evenness will be apparent with reference to both voice and ear.
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