USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1905 > Part 6
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School and Library.
The schools of Middleboro are fortunate in having such a valuable adjunet as the publc library. The efforts of the librarian and her assistants in stimulating the work of read- ing among the pupils of our schools are highly commendable. That the library is a source of help to our teachers is evident from reports submitted to the superintendent which show that during the past year 344 books of reference have been taken out by the teachers of the Central Elementary schools and 354 by the Suburban teachers - a total of 678 volumes. The teachers also direct to a great extent the
18
reading of their pupils by requiring certain books to be read. In some schools lists of library books are kept on the black boards. The teachers' library in the superintend- ent's office has been useful also, 127 professional books having been taken out by the teachers the past year.
School and Home.
It is often said that the schools of any place are as good as that place demands. It is certainly very encouraging to record the interest of the people of Middleboro in their schools as shown by liberal appropriations and school visi- tations. During the past year the registers show that the total number of visitations was 4647. Of this number the central schools had 3331 and the suburban schools 1316. While many of the visits were on special occasions yet many parents make a practice of visiting the schools monthly. The interest in the suburban schools is growing. The efforts of the teachers in these schools to bring the home and school into closer relationship are bearing good fruit. In November the superintendent held a series of reception days in the suburban schools which was a gratifying success. Nearly 200 parents and friends attended these exercises which consisted of class work, singing, rhetorical exercises and an address by the superintendent on "The Suburban School." The co-operation of the home with the school is a great factor in developing a successful school system.
Drawing.
Drawing has come to be regarded as an essential study and no town is keeping step in educational progress which does not provide a course in this subject under the charge of a trained supervisor. Of the 349 cities and towns in our state only three which have a population of over 4,000 do not employ a special teacher in this study. The method followed in Middleboro calls for a visitation to each central school once a week and a monthly meeting of the suburban teachers at which the supervisor outlines the work for each
19
month. Frequent conferences are held with the central teachers to unify and give definiteness to the work. What is being done in this department will be shown at the exhibition in Town hall, May 11 and 12. The true scope of the work is well outlined in the following extract :
" It is no more the business of drawing teachers to have the children make pretty pictures than it is of the language teacher to have them write poetry or blank verse, but if the children cannot tell much of what they know of geography, botany, and other subjects with pencil and chalk better than in words, there is a defect in the teaching of drawing some- where. Drawing is a much better and more natural method of telling many things than writing. If it is proper to demand that the graduates of our public school be able to speak and write good English, it is even more fitting to demand that they shall be able to express their ideas by means of drawing quickly and correctly."
Repairs.
The walls and ceilings of the rooms in the High school building have been kalsomined, and the wood work varnished. The rooms present a very attractive appearance. The ceilings of the Purchade and Fall Brook school rooms have been kalsomined. New adjustable chairs and desks have been placed in the Nemasket school and the out build- ings painted. The policy of reseating one suburban building each year with adjustable furniture is a practical one. Eight of the 15 buildings are now thus provided for-Pleasant street, Plymouth street, Purchade, Nemasket, Soule, Green, Rock, Highland. Repairs have also been made at Purchade, Soule, Waterville, Green, Fall Brook, Thomastown, Rock, South Middleboro, West Side building, Forest street, Union street, School street, and the boiler at the High school building has called for a large expenditure. The present year the following repairs are necessary : renovating the wood work in the rooms of the West Side building and placing next winter double windows on the north side of this building, repairing the pupils' desks and chairs in the Main street building, reseating one suburban building with
20
adjustable furniture, and repairing many of the blackboards. Minor repairs each year call for a large sum in the aggregate. The school building on Marion Road has been repaired at an expenditure of over $200.00 and this item will be included in the appropriation for this year.
Conclusion. 1
I have thus very briefly considered some of the details of the school work the past year. That our schools are progressive, that our teaching corps is enthusiastic, conscien- tious and working energetically to build up a system of schools which will materially aid the growth of the town as well as be productive of good citizenship should be gratifying to the people of the town. The present year promises better results in many ways than the past year and it is pleasing to recognize the possibility of greater advancement.
CHARLES H. BATES,
Superintendent of Schools.
SPECIAL REPORTS.
HIGH SCHOOL.
COURSE OF STUDY HIGH SCHOOL.
SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
STAMP SAVING SYSTEM.
22
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
MR. C. H. BATES, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir,-I take pleasure in submitting the following report for the year 1905. The year has been a successful one. The teachers have worked as a unit for the best interests of the school, and the best of feeling has existed between them and the pupils under their charge. Our teaching force, however, is too small for the size of the school. All our teachers have worked hard. Some of them have injured their health by overwork. According to the report of the State Board of Education for 1903-1904 there was no town or city in the Commonwealth, with an enrollment of 203 pupils or more in High school, that had as small a teaching force in her High school as the town of Middleboro now has with that enrollment. The following figures show the number of pupils and teachers in the High schools of some towns and cities whose High school enrollment was about 200 : Attleboro, pupils 179, teachers, 7 ; Newburyport, pupils 224, teachers 10; Westfield, pupils 233, teachers 10; Dedham, pupils 186, teachers 8; Milton, pupils 178, teachers 9; Middleboro, pupils (enrolled the present school year) 203, teachers 6. The following figures show the High school enrollment in some towns that had six teachers in the High school: Winchendon 124; Milford 149; Hingham 169; Braintree 158; Orange 157; Marblehead 112; Amesbury 175. I note these statistics to show the great need of a larger teaching force in our High school.
The following changes in teachers have taken place during the year : Miss Isabelle M. Briggs, teacher of English and History in the school for several years, resigned her position last summer and Miss Clara E. Parker was elected to fill the vacancy. Miss Mabel F. Barnum was granted leave of absence last November on account of illness and Miss Olive W. Sullivan is substituting in her position.
Something must be done in the immediate future to enlarge our High school accommodations. The town is bound to have a considerable increase in population. I
23
have stated that our enrollment for the present school year is 203. Of the number 181 are from Middleboro. If we estimate the population at 7,000, this would give a High school population of about 26 to every thousand. If the population of the town should increase 1,000 in consequence of the new business enterprise, and the High school enroll- ment should retain its present ratio to the entire population, the number of High school pupils residing in town would be 207. This number supplemented by out-of-town pupils would make a school of at least 230 pupils. We cannot have any more teachers without more class-rooms. Our present force cannot do more than it is now doing. With
our present number of pupils and with our present courses of study we should have two more teachers. When the increase comes we should have at least three more teachers. If a business course is introduced there should be an addition of four. The question arises, "What will the town of Middleboro do to meet this exigency?" I believe that a new High school building is the logical solution of this problem-a building supplied with modern conveniences for the most successful work, and built with an eye to the future growth of the town.
The class to be graduted next June numbers 32. This will make the total number of graduates from the Middle- boro High school 441. From 1876, when the first class was graduated, to 1890 the number was 144. From 1890 to 1906, the sixteen years of my connection with the school, the number of graduates will total 297. Of this number about 75 have entered college, scientific or professional schools. Many others have continued their studies in normal, business, or training schools. For the next few years the school will probably graduate between 30 and 40 pupils each year.
The annual graduating exercises were held in town hall, Friday evening, June 30. The class numbered 29, the largest in the history of the school.
Respectfully submitted, WALTER SAMPSON,
Principal of the High School.
24
COURSES OF STUDY
IN THE
Middleborough High School,
1 905-1906. .
Classical Course.
English-Latin Course.
English Course.
FIRST YEAR.
Latin,
200 Latin,
200
English, 120
English,
120
English,
120
Greek and Roman
Greek and Roman
Greek and Roman
History, 120
History,
120
History,
120
Algebra, 200
Algebra,
200 Algebra,
200 Physiology. 80
Botany,
120
SECOND YEAR.
Latin.
200 Latin,
200
English, 120
Greek,
200 Geometry,
200 English History, 120
Geometry,
200 Physics or #French,
200 Geometry,
200
| English,
120 | English,
120 Physics or #French, 200
THIRD YEAR.
Latin,
200 Latin,
200 Englishı, 120
Greek.
200 French or German,
200 American History, 100
English.
120 English,
120
French or German, 200
American History,
100 American History,
100 One of the following :
1. Chemistry, 200
2. Higher Algebra,
80
Solid Geometry, 60
Trigonometry,
60
25
FOURTH YEAR.
Latin,
200 Latin,
200
English, 120
Greek,
200
English,
120
Civics, 100
Englislı,
120
Civics,
100
Two of the following :
One of the following :
One of the following :
1.
Astronomy,
80
1.
French.
200 1. French,
200
Geology,
60
2. Review Mathematics,
200 2. Review Mathematics, 200
Book-keeping,
60
3. German,
200 3. German,
200
2.
French,
200
3.
Review Mathematics, 200
4. German. 200
+ Pupils in these courses are advised to take English as an additional study.
# Only those pupils who intend to take French three years will elect the subject the second year. All others will begin French the third year.
* Pupils in the Classical Course are advised to take either French or German as an additional study during the third year.
Pupils preparing for higher institutions of learning are privileged to select subjects out of course, providing such subjects are equivalent to the regular subjects in course.
Music is required of all pupils throughout the course. Drawing is optional. The figures at the right of the subjects indicate the number of recitations per year.
26
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
MR. CHARLES H. BATES, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir,-It is with pleasure that I submit to you my fourth annual report. The work is going ahead and I believe we are beginning to see and realize that music is not simply for recreation, that its chief aim is not to get children to study music but to really know it. That the child may be able to read music and the class to render beautifully a song in one, two or three parts is not enough, but that from musical notation the child may develop mental training and character building fully as beneficial as the study of mathe- matics or kindred studies.
The work is being well graded and the classes, with few exceptions, are much interested in their work.
The conditions existing one year ago remain practically unchanged. The High school is doing good work and should have the best to do with-a new grand piano, a pianola and an assembly room large enough for chorus practice for the whole school.
Musical History. Some of the standard works of the great composers and short biographical sketches of their lives should be a part of the school curriculum.
Pupils should learn to listen intelligently.
They should learn to appreciate and understand the beauties in music as well as in any other of the arts, poetry, sculpture, painting or drawing. Statuary is studied in schools not that children may handle the chisel, but, rather that they should acquire the capacity to know and appreciate the plastic arts, similarly poetry, painting, drawing and the allied fine arts.
Ability to execute naturally augments the pleasure and enjoyment in any department in human thought, but it is by no means more requisite in music than in other lines of creative work.
27
The orchestra meets once each week and is a credit to our High school or would be to any other town of like size.
To the grade teacher must be accorded the praise for much of our gain in music. It is hoped they will be repaid by the personal profit to themselves which comes from a knowledge of the language of tones and from an acquaint- ance with the rich production of greatest masters of the art.
I feel very grateful to the superintendent and committee for their kindness and to the teachers for their hearty co-operation and faithful work.
Respectfully yours, A. M. HOWARD, Supervisor of Music.
28
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
MR. CHARLES H. BATES, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir,-The following is submitted as the third annual report of drawing in the public schools. The same plan has been followed this year as has been in use for the two. previous years ; ten hours a week having been devoted to the supervising of drawing in the central schools and two forty minute periods weekly in the High school.
At the beginning of each term there have been teachers' meetings, when the work for the term has been discussed. Monthly meetings with the suburban teachers have been held in the High school building, and the plan for the following month has been given out. This is divided into two groups, primary and grammar, and follows exactly the work done in the center schools.
The same general program that was used last year is being followed this year and already the work done bears comparison with that in other and larger towns. It is hoped that the work will soon be as thoroughly graded as it should be.
In the High school there are courses offered in design, freehand and mechanical drawing. In each course a definite aim is presented to the class: in design, the ability to recognize good designs and to know why they are good : in mechanical drawing, to be able to make accurate mechanical drawings that can be worked from; and in freehand drawing to represent an object as it looks ; to this course have been added a few "crafts" objects that can be easily made in the school room.
Respectfully submitted,
ELIZABETH E. MARVIN.
January 31, 1906.
29
REPORT OF STAMP SAVING SYSTEM.
The stamp saving system is now in its third year, and that it is gaining in favor among the children is shown by the constant demand for an increase in capital.
The Cabot club, realizing the need of teaching the children, here as elsewhere, habits of thrift and economy and that a little saved every week amounts to a sum in time, and as such can be spent to a far better advantage, introduced the system.
Through the kindness of the Superintendent of Schools I have been enabled to interest the teachers in taking up the work, thus securing a little more regularity. Home and social duties oftentimes prevent an agent from outside going regularly with the stamps, the children thereby losing interest and spending the pennies which otherwise might have been saved. In most of the schools ten minutes a week is all the time necessary for the selling of the stamps. While the children are encouraged to save and to obtain a bank book, yet a withdrawal like the following is not to be deplored. A little fellow came to the Treasurer and wanted to draw his money ; when asked if he did not wish to wait and save to- wards a bank book, replied, " Oh ! but mother wants to go to the concert to-night, and hasn't any money. I want to buy her a ticket."
It was a pleasure to look into the bright faces of the little people, who during the holiday season withdrew their money to purchase mittens, rubbers and in several cases money saved to buy papa and mamma a Christmas present.
The work has been taken up in all but three of the suburban schools.
The present treasurer has had charge of the work since October so only an estimate since that time is given.
Of the center schools the savings of the children of the West Side school amounted to fifty dollars in the three months. Of the suburban schools the savings of the children
30
at the Green amounted to fifteen dollars, and the Purchade school is credited with a like amount. Two hundred and fifty stamp deposit cards have been given out, making over eleven hundred in all.
Since October 1, three hundred and fifty dollars worth of stamps have been purchased and two hundred and twenty one dollars worth sold.
The withdrawals during the Christmas season amounted to fifty dollars.
MRS. C. W. M. BLANCHARD,
Treasurer.
1
31
STATISTICAL REPORTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT. DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES. ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS. COST OF SCHOOLS. CENSUS.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE. STATISTICS OF EACH SCHOOL. ENROLLMENT TABLE FOR NOVEMBER. SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE 1894-1905. STATISTICAL EXPENSE TABLE FOR TEN YEARS. GENERAL STATISTICS. TEACHERS. TEACHERS' TRAINING CLASS. SCHOOL HOUSES AND SCHOOLS. CHANGES OF TEACHERS. REPORTS OF TRUANT OFFICERS. MEMBERS OF TRAINING CLASS. GRADUATING EXERCISES HIGH SCHOOL.
GRADUATING EXERCISES ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. LIST OF TEACHERS. SCHOOL CALENDAR.
32
Financial Statement 1905.
RECEIPTS.
Balance from last year
$13 98
Appropriation for current expenditures
24,768 30
Appropriation for transportation
2,952 70
Appropriation for repairs
1,000 00
Appropriation for salaries of school committee
150 00
Town of Lakeville, tuition
704 00
Town of Plympton, tuition
40 00
State Board of Lunacy and Charity, tuition
442 00
City of Boston, tuition .
52 00
Tuition not paid by towns
188 00
Sale of books and supplies
30 00
$30,340 98
EXPENDITURES.
Instruction, superintendence, care of buildings
and fuel
.
.
. $23,944 77
Books and supplies .
·
·
1,368 80
Printing .
.
.
.
.
Sundries . . .
600 78
Conveyance to elementary schools
2,052 20
Conveyance to High school
683 80
Repairs . .
1,000 00
Salaries of School Committee
150 00
$29,961 15
Balance
$379 83
.
.
.
.
160 80
33
DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES.
INSTRUCTION.
High
. $4,450 00
Main Street
.
. 1,950 40
Union Street
.
. 1,671 30
School Street
.
1,688 50
Forest Street
.
874 00
West Side
.
$12,488 20
Suburban schools :
Pleasant Street
.
.
.
$380 00
Plymouth Street
332 00
Purchade
357 00
Nemasket
380 00
Thompsonville
357 00
Soule
380 00
Waterville
.
380 00
Green
379 60
Fall Brook
380 00
Thomastown
357 00
South Middleboro
380 00
Highland
·
357 00
Rock
.
·
379 20
Wappanucket .
.
.
$5,155 80
Music
500 00
Drawing
400 00
Manual training
.
·
JANITORS.
Central schools :
Main Street building
$586 00
Union and School Street buildings
420 00
Forest Street building
180 00
West Side building .
.
240 00
$1,426 00
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
357 00
$ 580
.
.
120 00
1,854 00
34
Suburban schools :
Pleasant Street
$38 00
Plymouth Street
38 00
Purchade .
13 55
Nemasket .
29 00
Thompsonville .
14 00
Soule
38 00
Waterville
19 00
Green
.
.
14 65
Fall Brook
15 15
South Middleboro
13 85
Highland .
17 25
Wappanucket
.
.
.
17 25
Thomastown
.
.
.
17 45
Rock
.
.
38 00
-
$322 55
FUEL.
Central schools :
S. E. Matthews
$6 88
B. C. Shaw
61 13
Bryant & Soule
.
.
1,278 46
Suburban schools :
Bryant & Soule
$19 92
B. C. Shaw
.
.
79 25
T. C. Savery
25 50
A. H. Soule .
57 00
J. L. Jenney .
5 43
O. E. Deane
16 00
C. N. Atwood
3 00
I. E. Perkins .
88 75
Henry Howe . .
8 00
$302 85
SUNDRIES. Middleboro Fire District, water West Side school . $27 00
C. H. Bates, traveling expenses and sundries
121 00
·
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
$1,346 47
35
J. & G. E. Doane, sundries
$48 07
W. H. Southworth, sundries
12 80
Thomas W. Pierce, sundries
21 99
Geo. W. Hammond, salary as truant officer .
6 00
The Talbot Co., disinfectants
3 00
So. Mass. Tel. Co., rental of telephones Supt's office and High school bldg.
28 66
F. N. Whitman, sundries
4 83
E. T. Lincoln, salary as truant officer
7 00
John McNally, freight and cartage .
27 44
N. Y. & B. D. Express Co., express
18 45
W. H. Goodwin, sundries
3 88
Lottie W. Tinkham, labor
1 50
Mass. Gas & Electric Plant Co., gas
41 61
George L. Finney, sundries
9 46
J. A. Burgess, cleaning school bldgs.
68 50
S. E. Matthews, sundries
·
7 75
Geo. A. Deane, labor
3 20
Jos. N. Shaw, labor
0 50
W. A. Andrews, cash paid
6 00
Mrs. W. H. Price, cleaning school room
3 60
J. H. & B. Sears & Co., sundries
3 79
Walter Sampson, sundries
5 60
C. W. M. Blanchard, filling in certifi- cates .
3 00
J. L. Jenney. carting chairs
1 00
Jones Bros. Co., sundries
20 95
W. E. Bump, brooms
3 00
J. H. Dimock, labor
2 00
L. O. Tilson, sundries
4 20
Carrie Lord, cleaning school room
7 00
H. C. Keith, repairing lawn mower
4 50
Carrie L. Jones, taking school census
45 00
S. S. Lovell, sundries
7 90
F. E. Pierce, labor .
6 00
W. H. Paige, tuning two pianos .
5 25
A. G. Hayes, care of High school sewer
5 00
H. W. Stone, filling in diplomas 4 35
$600 78
.
.
.
.
36
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
American Book Co., books $122 74
E. E. Babb & Co., books and supplies 467 78
Allyn and Bacon, books, . 11 69
D. C. Heath & Co., book ·
118 47
Guin & Co., books . ·
160 97
Silver, Burdett & Co., books 28 75
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., books
7 16
J. L. Hammett Co., supplies . 144 32
Hinds, Noble & Eldredge, books
16 00
Milton Bradley & Co., supplies 13 52
Henry Holt & Co., books 11 20
Little, Brown & Co., books
4 08
Wadsworth, Howland & Co., supplies
58 38
B. H. Sanborn & Co., books ·
35 84
T. H. Castor & Co., books
1 75
Smith and Hathaway, supplies .
78 11
Ellis Pub Co., books
12 40
Gurney Bros. Co., supplies
2 25
F. J. Barnard & Co., binding books 49 10
A. M. Howard, books 4 40
4 00
A. F. Lewis Co., books .
1 00
Scarborough Co., maps,
7 10
J. K. & B. Sears & Co., supplies
1 54
Benj. W. Caswell, books .
2 00
The Palmer Co., books
4 25
$1,368 80
PRINTING.
Wood & Tinkhanı
$85 10
H. L. Thatcher & Co.
75 70
$160 80
CONVEYANCE TO HIGH SCHOOL.
Phineas P. Dow
$5 80
Sarah E. Murtagh
.
·
·
5 55
Cordelia B. Richmond
5 40
Franklyn H. Standish
.
·
.
5 50
.
E. E. Marvin, supplies .
.
.
.
.
·
37
Joseph H. Westgate
$5 25
Vira N. Cambell
.
8 75
Frank A. Davis
9 10
Catharine M. Lewis
9 15
Alta M. Maxim
25 50
C. Amory Newhall .
2 50
Margaret Parnell
27 45
Dorothy Shaw
36 60
Myrtie A. Shaw
S 50
Walter L. Shaw
37 60
Willis U. Snow
9 15
Alice M. Ward
26 10
Louise S. Wilber
18 30
Lottie M. Blakeslee .
9 00
Shirlie C. Clark
8 95
Frederick G. Fies
12 93
Jay G. Galligan
5 60
LeRoy M. LeBaron
27 75
Charles E. Reed
19 90
Minnie F. Russell
15 75
Mary Shaw
36 00
Elmer A. Sisson
19 60
Mildred A. Thomas
18 40
Arlena F. Tinkham
8 80
Herbert L. Wilber .
18 70
George L. Barney
9 05
Winsor A. Carver
26 85
Ruth M. Davis
9 05
Ella G. Glendall
6 85
Ethel Macomber
9 20
George H. Shaw
8 90
Leroy C. Tinkham
5 50
Clifford H. Tobey
4 85
Elbert V. Warren
5 60
Joseph E. Wood
9 20
Bernard C. Bryant
8 00
Harrison Shaw
8 93
Elsie B. MacKeen
1 50
Mary E. Standish
0 30
Willis C. Holcomb .
3 55
.
38
Mary C. Azevedo
$7 00
Frank W. Durant
6 70
Erma J. Hazelton
.
.
3 05
Rose Jordan
3 20
Orton C. Newhall
3 50
Arthur C. Ripley
10 50
Celesta O. Shaw
13 80
Eliza A. Slesser
7 39
Alfred E. Standish
.
·
.
.
.
3 50
Ernest E. Thomas
3 50
Forest B. Standish
7 00
Leslie M. Thomas
.
.
3 50
Lyman H. Thomas
·
.
.
.
7 00
Stephen G. Thomas
.
.
.
.
3 25
Robert L. Tomblen
3 50
Ellis M. Wilber
.
.
.
.
7 00
Clarence H. Wilber
19 45
$683 80
CONVEYANCE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
Schools teams :
Pleasant Street, Robert W. Thorson .
.
$350 00
Nemasket, C. E. Libby
368 50
Thompsonville, Joseph A. Carver
171 45
Thomastown, C. T. Morse
165 00
Thomastown, Dana H. Shaw
133 65
South Middleboro, Anna M. Shaw
.
283 50
South Middleboro, Anna M. Blackwell
59 50
Wappanucket, Calvin Bradford
301 25
Wappanucket, Joseph LaCroix Individual transportation :
175 00
South Middleboro, T. J. LeBaron
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