USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1906 > Part 8
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Grades- 9 40
9 40
8 40
7 40
(7-8) 31
6 47
47 5 (5-6) 45
As the population of the town increases these schools will have a larger enrollment. As the number in some of the grades even now exceed the seating capacity of the rooms in the new building it would be an unwise policy to seat the rooms to their fullest capacity at the beginning and not allow for additional enrollment. The trouble at present is that many of the grades are too large for a single school and not large enough to be divided into two schools. This will not be so in a few years.
The increasing membership at the West Side building will be relieved next year by having the ninth grade transferred to the new School Street building, a grading in vogue five years ago, when the West Side pupils were transferred from
33
the Main Street Grammar school to the West Side building, owing to the large increase in the ninth grade which could not be accommodated in the Main Street building. This will leave eight grades in the West Side building. The rooms in this building will be graded next September as fol- lows :
Room Grades
1
2
4
Enrollment 1 2-3
40 41 3 4-5
6-7-8
42
This plan gives but one grade-the first-to room one and as this is generally a large grade, containing some children who cannot speak English when they enter school, it seems desirable to give all the time of the teacher in this room to the first grade work instead of to the first two grades as at present. The other rooms will be seated to their full capacity-as the rooms are planned for only 42 pupils in each room. The third and fourth grades at the Center will occupy the rooms in the Union Street building. On the first floor will be two third grades and on the second floor two fourth grades. The enrollment based on present member- ship would give schools as follows:
Grades Enrollment 50 3
3
4
30
48
4 30
Even with this enrollment it will be seen that it will not take a great increase to make these schools in the two large rooms too large to do satisfactory work. The two rear rooms will not be able to accommodate more than 30 pupils each on account of being so small. The two primary grades will probably continue to occupy the Chapel building. Sup- posing that within the next year 10 additional pupils should enter the third grade and. 10 additional pupils the fourth grade, this would increase the membership of one school to 60 pupils and of the other to 57, too large for doing satis- factory work. The conditions in the Chapel building and Union Street building next year will probably emphasize the need of a new primary building.
High School.
The past year has been a progressive one for the High school. The addition of another teacher to the corps has made it possible to divide the work so as to give smaller
34
divisions in the larger classes to each teacher, thus insuring better individual results. The action of the town in voting to separate the High and Grammer grades and to devote the whole building to High school purposes was a step in the right direction. The fitting up of an assembly room out of the two rooms now used for recitation purposes will give an opportunity for work along lines hitherto impossible. With an assembly lıall the work in music will be made more effective and rhetorical work can be carried on to a better advantage. I believe in every High school one period or more a week should be given to the consideration of that training which tends to inspire confidence to think and speak on general subjects and to keep students in touch with current events. Here now frequent talks on practical topics can be given to the pupils by professional and busi- ness men, speaking and debating can be made a part of school work and so prove the wisdom of the expenditure for fitting up this assembly hall for practical purposes. The fitting up of a physical laboratory on the third floor has given to the school as good facilities for science work as are found in many High schools in the cities of our state.
Changes in the text books in English History and Astron- omy have been made and more modern and better adapted books adopted. The tuition for out-of-town pupils has been increased from $40 00 per year to $55 00, divided by terms as follows: Fall term $20 00; Winter term $20 00; Spring term $15 00. This was done on account of the increased expense in maintaining the school.
The school board passed the following vote affecting the attendance of out-of-town pupils: That in the future no out- of-town pupils would be received into the school from towns maintaining an established High school.
Central Schools.
The plan for re-arranging the grades so as to more nearly equalize the number in each grade was adopted last June. Under this arrangement much better opportunity is given each teacher to secure better results. The first four grados now number less than 45 each and the former plan of hav- ing an assistant teacher in some of these grades has been wholly done away. Next September under the new grad-
35
ing, the schools will be placed in as good a condition for securing results as can be found in any school system in the state.
With smaller schools the individual pupil can receive more attention and the people of the town under these new conditions have a right to expect better schools and it will be our aim to so improve their character and standard as to make them worthy in all respects the liberal appro- priation given for their support.
Suburban Schools.
I consider these schools as a whole to be much stronger in every way, in discipline, arrangement of work, habits of application of pupils and results obtained, than they were a year ago. There has been a marked improvement in the spirit of the rooms and the co-operation of the home and school has done much to emphasize the work.
The grouping of small classes in many of the smaller schools has been productive of excellent results. Each school has been supplied with a Webster's unabridged dictionary and a Twentieth Century Atlas, which have been of valuable assistance in the study of English and geogra- phy. I wish it could be arranged that all the pupils in the ninth grades could take that year in the Central School, as I think more would continue the work in the High School and a greater uniformity would result in having all ninth grade pupils under the direct supervision of one teacher, besides giving more time to the other grades in the Suburban Schools. I trust some encouragement may be given this year towards interesting the pupils of these schools in home gardens. I hope that the day is not far distant when agricultural studies and manual training will form a part of the Suburban school work. We are getting away more and more each year from the mere learning of facts from books to the real doing of things. When the boys in our schools can use arithmetic, language, spelling, book- keeping, nature work and drawing in connection with practical work of raising vegetables in their gardens, etc., they will be doing something worth while. I am a great believer in the opportunity offered a pupil in a suburban school. I am striving to make these schools an important part of our school system.
36
And right here I wish to suggest the great good that would come from a closer relation of these schools and the public library. If arrangements could be made whereby a number of boxes of books could be sent out each term to those schools under the charge of the teachers much better work could be done in the schools in thus having more material to work with and the influence of the library would be more widely felt. In many states traveling libraries are sent to the schools to be retained three months. These libraries number from 15 to 75 volumes ; each are sent in boxes and placed in charge of the teachers, who keep a record similar to the one kept at the library. Thus a great deal of supplementary reading is obtained and much valuable infor- mation gained. I hope the day is not far distant when the trustees of the public library may be able to extend the benefits already enjoyed by the central schools to the suburban schools of the town in adopting a plan of traveling libraries.
IN GENERAL.
In addition to what has been mentioned the following items will give an idea of some things done the past year :
1. Introduction of new geographies in the elementary grades, replacing old books.
2. Monthly inspection of all text-books in use.
3. Test examinations by superintendent each term in all the elementary grades.
4. New janitor regulations, whereby better co-operation between teacher and janitors has been secured.
5. Introduction of a weekly review period in all the elementary grades for the purpose of strengthening work of previous grades.
6. Re-arrangement of grades in .the central schools, whereby the lower grades were made more equal in number of pupils.
7. Regrading South Middleboro and Rock schools by transferring pupils to Central school.
8. Individual ownership by pupils of books to be used for more than one year, the same to be returned after use by pupil.
9. Inspection of writing system and suggestions to teach- ers by a writing expert.
37
10. Continuation of four hour plan for sessions in the two first grades at the center, and monthly grade meetings, Teachers' Association meetings, and flag days continued.
11. Extension of music work in the suburban schools, whereby more time is given by the supervisor to those schools.
12. Reports of unsatisfactory work of pupils sent to the superintendent and parents notified of same, thus ensur- ing a better understanding on the part of the parent of the child's standing.
Some of the school problems which may engage our at- tention in the near future are these :
Introduction of a Four Years' Commercial Course in the High School.
Nearly every High school in the larger towns and cities of the state has made a commercial course a part of the school curriculum. It needs no argument to show that with such a course in the school many more would enter and more would remain to finish the course if one practical course was added.
Up to the present time the question of suitable quarters in the building has been a drawback, but with the removal of the grammar grades from the building, good accommoda- tions can be furnished for a well equipped commercial de- partment. I hope the subject will receive thoughtful con- sideration and that the school can soon enlarge its scope of usefulness by furnishing to the young people of the town such an opportunity for a good business training. I con- sider it a very essential thing to do.
Employment of a Supervisor of Writing.
If it is possible to add a commercial course to the High school curriculum, it will at a small expense be possible to secure a supervisor of writing.
In many places where such a course is maintained the commercial teacher is given the supervision of writing in the grades below the High school. By continuing the two posi- tions we should be able to secure a better commercial teacher
38
and the writing of the schools would be vastly improved under his direction. The work could be carried on in the same way that drawing is now.
The supervisor would give a certain number of afternoons to work in the central schools and could meet the teachers of the suburban schools from time to time for instruction. I know of nothing that would add more effectiveness to our work than the employment of a skilled supervisor of writ- ing.
An Elementary School Course of Eight Years Instead of Nine.
In a course recently made of 195 school systems, 45 of which are outside of New England and 150 within, 41 out of the 45 outside of New England reported having eight grades below the High school, while 34 within New Eng- land reported an eight-grade system and 118 a nine-grade system. I believe in a few years the number of eight-year systems will greatly increase.
The course of study in our schools could, without any loss of efficiency, be arranged to finish the so-called gram- mar school studies at the end of the eighth year. I believe with a shorter course better application on part of the pu- pils would be gained and less of dawdling would be notice- able in the schoolrooms.
Formal Instruction in Arithmetic Not to Be Given Till the Second Year of the Course.
It is a practical idea not to begin the formal study of arith- metic till the second year of the course, giving the time of the first year to reading, language, nature work, writing, drawing and music. Where children enter school at the age of five, as is done here, it would be better to do well a few things the first year than to attempt too many things. I believe that pupils who do not begin number work till the second year would be as far advanced at the end of the third year as those who begin the study on entering school. It is a poor plan to bring before the pupil in his first year work that he so little comprehends as he does numbers. It is interesting to note that a recent investigation of this sub- ject gives the following results :
39
In places in Massachusetts having a nine-year system, arithmetic is begun in grade one in 51.9 per cent .; in grade two in 41.5 per cent .; in grade three in 6.4 per cent. With an eighth grade system, arithmetic is begun in grade one in 50.1 per cent .; in grade two in 36.3 per cent .; in grade three in 4.5 per cent. Outside of New England and in places having a nine-grade system, arithmetic is begun in grade one, 0 per cent .; in grade two, 100 per cent.
With an eighth-grade system it is begun in grade one in 39 per cent .; in grade two, 39 per cent .; in grade three in 21.9 per cent.
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
The work in these two special studies is progressing fine- ly. Supervisor Howard has had charge of the music work for nearly five years, and has developed an excellent sys- tem. It would much improve the work if more material was purchased for use in the schools. I hope this will be possible this year.
Supervisor Cook has outlined a good system in drawing, and is meeting with excellent results. The addition of two new schools in the central buildings the last term has inl- creased the work of the supervisors. Miss Cook, who is engaged for only two days in the week, has very kindly given her services on Wednesday afternoons to the schools in the Chapel building. I would recommend that the draw- ing supervisor next year be engaged for two and a half days each week. As there will be two additional schools next year. still more time under the present plan will be required by the supervisors. Both supervisors should have more time for their work.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
As the town will be called on at the annual meeting to con- sider the question of appropriating money for the services of a school physician, the law governing the matter is hereby given :
An Act Relative to the Appointment of School Physicians.
Section 1. The school committee of every city and town in the Commonwealth shall appoint one or more school
40
physicians, shall assign one to each public school within its city or town, and shall provide them with all proper facili- ties for the performance of their duties as prescribed in this act: provided, however, that in cities wherein the board of health is already maintaining or shall hereafter maintain substantially such medical inspection as this act requires, the board of health shall appoint and assign the school physician.
Section 2. Every school physician shall make a prompt examination and diagnosis of all children referred to him as hereinafter provided, and such further examination of teachers, janitors and school buildings as in his opinion the protection of the health of the pupils may require.
Section 3. The school committee shall cause to be re- ferred to a school physician for examination and diagnosis every child returning to school without a certificate from the board of health after absence on account of illness or from unknown cause; and every child in the schools under its jurisdiction who shows signs of being in ill health or of suffering from infectious or contagious disease, unless he is at once excluded from school by the teacher; except that in the case of schools in remote and isolated situations the school committee may make such other arrangements as may best carry out the purposes of this act.
Section 4. The school committee shall cause notice of the disease or defects, if any, from which any child is found to be suffering to be sent to his parent or guardian. When- ever a child shows symptoms of smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, chickenpox, tuberculosis, diphtheria or influenza, tonsilitis, whooping cough, mumps, scabies or trachoma, he shall me sent home immediately, or as soon as safe and proper conveyance can be found, and the board of health shall at once be notified.
Section 5. The school committee of every city and town shall cause every child in the public schools to be separate- ly and carefully tested and examined at least once in every school year to ascertain whether he is suffering from defec- tive sight or hearing or from any other disability or defect tending to prevent his receiving the full benefit of his school work, or requiring a modification of the school work in order to prevent injury to the child or to secure the best educational results. The tests of, sight and hearing shall be made by teachers. The committee shall cause notice of
41
any detect or disability requiring treatment to be sent to the parent or guardian of the child, and shall require a physical record of each child to be kept in such form as the state board of education shall prescribe.
Section 6. The state board of health shall prescribe the directions for tests of sight and hearing and the state board of education shall, after consultation with the state board of health, prescribe and furnish to school committees suit- able rules of instruction, test-cards, blanks, record books and other useful appliances for carrying out the purposes of this act, and shall provide for pupils in the normal schools instruction and practice in the best methods of test,- ing the sight and hearing of children. The state board of education may expend during the year nineteen hundred and six a sum not greater than fifteen hundred dollars, and annually thereafter a sum not greater than five hundred dollars for the purpose of supplying the material required by this act.
Section 7. The expense which a city or town may incur by virtue of the authority herein vested in the school com- mittee or board of health, as the case may be, shall not exceed the amount appropriated for that purpose in cities by the city council and in towns by a town meeting. The appropriation shall precede, any expenditure or any indebted- ness which may be incurred under this act, and the sum appropriated shall be deemed a sufficient appropriation in the municipality where it is made. Such appropriation need not specify to what section of the act it shall apply, and may be voted as a total appropriation to be applied in car- rying out the purposes of the act.
Section 8. This act shall take effect on the first day of September in the year nineteen hundred and six. [Ap- proved June 20, 1906.
Sight and Hearing Tests.
In accordance with the law of 1906 requiring that tests for sight and hearing of the pupils shall be made in every school of the commonwealth each year, the teachers in the several schools have examined the eyesight and hearing of their pupils and made the following' report to the Superin- tendent :
42
No. Found No. of Defective No. Found Defective Parents Pupils. in Eyesight. in Hearing. Notified.
High School
199
14
9
22
Main Street School
147
25
11
35
Union Street School
155
31
3
28
School Street School
119
13
4
11
Forest Street School
75
21
2
19
Main St. Primary School
80
7
2
1
West Side School
161
26
1
27
Pleasant Street School
35
1
2
2
Plymouth Street School
16
2
1
2
Purchade Street School
31
2
0
2
Nemasket School
18
1
1
1
Thompsonville School,
12
0
0
0
Soule School
35
4
3
4.
Waterville School
26
0
0
0
Green School
31
3
1
4
Fall Brook School
22
0
0
0
Thomastown School
40
8
3
11
Rock School
33
2
1
3
South Middleboro School
47
2
0
2
Highland School
26
2
0
2
Wappanucket School
18
1
0
1
Marion Road School
13
4
1
2
The testing of pupils' eyesight and hearing is an excellent thing. I approve of the law. If we succeed in helping boys and girls to make a better success in life by thus early in life preparing them physically to meet the demands upon them, we have done for them at least a good work. I believe that the present day education must look after the health and physical defects of the pupil as well as his moral and intellectual training. Good health is a most valuable asset.
STAMP SAVING .SYSTEM.
The stamp saving system was started in the schools un- der the direction of the Cabot Club, in 1904. It has been productive of excellent results, and is now more firmly es- tablished than in former years. It now includes not only the central elementary schools, but the work is carried on by the teachers in all the suburban schools. Great credit is due to the Cabot Club in thus introducing and carrying on
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a system that teaches thrift and encourages a spirit of in- dependence and self-respect which accompanies the honest accumulation of an individual bank account.
The report of the treasurer of the work last June shows the amount of stamps sold in the different schools the past year was as follows :
Main Street School
$34 42
School Street School
64 41
Union Street School
37 87
Forest Street School
45 51
West Side School
75 43
Thomastown School
12 59
Highland School
9 50
Wappanucket School
9 29
Soule School
26 36
Purchade School
16 90
Fall Brook School
14 49
Nemasket School
9 60
Waterville School
7 49
Pleasant Street School
23 76
Pratt Free School
9 00
$396.61
Three hundred and sixty-nine stamp deposit cards have been issued during the year, and 30 children have opened bank accounts. Many have added to their previous ac- counts. The extending of the work to the suburban schools called for an increase of capital of $50, which was gladly met by one of the members of the Cabot Club.
SCHOOL EXHIBITION.
The public exhibition of school work held in Town Hall, May 11 and 12, was a decided success. The interest in the exhibition was shown by the large number in attendance. The plan of presenting the work was similar to the exhibi- tion two years ago-each school being given a space in which was shown the work of the pupils in the various studies. The work in all departments, both in the central and suburban schools, was exceedingly praiseworthy, and received much favorable comment by educators from neigh-
boring towns and cities. Some special work showing the original talent of the exhibitors was much admired. The home work table. showing work in cooking. sewing and sloyd. was much more creditable than the similar exhibit two years ago. On Friday afternoon the pupils of the Lower grades. under Supervisor Howard's direction. gave an in- teresting program of chart work and songs, and in the evening the grammar and High school grades gave a similar program. In connection with the school work Friday even- ing an excellent concert had been arranged by Supervisor Howard. It was estimated that nearly 900 people attendel the exercises Friday evening, many being unable to get into the hall. The work in music was pleasing to those present. and showed the methods of work and the results securedl.
I believe it is an excellent plan to bring the home and the school thus together, and we are planning this year to have an exhibit along one line of work. It is probable that in May a drawing exhibition will be held similar in char- acter to those already given.
GIFTS TO SCHOOLS.
We are pleased to acknowledge a number of gifts received during the year. Mr. E. T. Peirce Jenks of the School Board presented grade 2 School Street school a school organ. which has been a source of pleasure and profit to the little folks. Nothing brings so much life and pleasure into school work as music.
Mr. W. H. Southworth of the School Board has given Marion Road school & school organ. which now completes the equipment of the suburban schools as regards musical in- struments. There are probably few towns in the state that can say that every suburban or rural school has a school organ. There are 15 in the Middleboro suburban schools.
Out of the proceeds from the school exhibition in May an organ has been purchased for the Forest Street building. Many of the teachers have secured pictures for their rooms by contributions of the pupils. I wish in some way funds could be raised for purchasing a new piano for the new School Street building. and also that some pictures and statuary might be secured for making more attractive the corridors of that building. Such things have a high educa-
15
tional value. I would suggest that if each ninth grade in the future would leave as a class gift at graduation either a picture or a piece of statuary the new School Street building would in a few years be well supplied with beautiful orna- mentation. I am glad that the present graduating class of the High school will this year inaugurate this praiseworthy custom.
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