USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1910 > Part 8
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at the suggestion of the School Board made a few explanatory rulings in regard to cases other than diphtheria, scarlet fever, smallpox and infantile paralysis. These rulings are as follows :
EXPLANATORY RULINGS OF CONTAGIOUS DIS- EASES.
Children ill with MUMPS are to be excluded from school, and may return without a certificate if there is no swelling of the face. Other children in the family where this disease is present may remain in school.
Children ill with CHICKEN-POX and WHOOPING COUGH are to be excluded from school and must present a certificate on returning to school. Other children in the family where these diseases are present may remain in school.
All children in families where MEASLES are present are to be excluded from school. Children in the same residence but not in the affected household may remain in school.
CHANGES IN TEACHING CORPS.
There have been more than the usual number of changes in the teaching corps the last year.
The great problem here as in many other towns is the teach- er. Only by raising the salaries to such an amount that the salary question will not enter into the question of accepting another position, can Middleboro expect to retain her teachers, especially those not residents of the town. Brockton has recent- ly raised the annual maximum wage for elementary teachers to $700. Whitman to retain desirable elementary teachers last year voted to place all on a salary of $600 per year.
During the past year there have been 9 changes in the School Street building alone, and since its occupancy in 1907 there have been 22 different teachers in the eight rooms of this building.
During the last five years there have been 32 changes in the Central elementary schools and 24 in the suburban schools.
The High School has had fewer changes, but even here four have resigned to accept more lucrative appointments else- where since 1905. While it is gratifying to note that many Middleboro teachers are offered more lucrative positions else- where, yet it interferes seriously in carrying out any well de- fined policy. Only by a reasonable term of service can any plan of work be effectively carried out.
161
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 superintendent :
No. of Pupils
No. Found Defective in Eyesight
No. Found Defective in Hearing Notified
No. of Parents
High School,
19I
7
I
8
School Street school,
343
49
I3
52
Union Street school,
I58
14
O
7
Forest Street school,
IIO
2
O
2
West Side school,
163
14
2
16
Pleasant Street school,
24
3
3
E
Plymouth Street school,
25
3
I
4
Purchade school,
34
3
O
3
Thompsonville school,
16
5
O
I
Soule school,
26
I
I
Waterville school,
18
0
O
O
Green school,
42
3
I
3
Fall Brook school,
39
I
O
I
Thomastown school,
38
3
2
Rock school,
35
I
0
I
South Middleboro school,
38
I
O
I
Highland school,
26
3
2
4
Wappanucket school,
18
7
O
7
Marion Road school,
9
O
O
0
France school,
I6
O
I
I
In addition to the above requirements the state last year passed a law abolishing the common drinking cup. To carry out the provisions of this law bubbling fountains have been placed in each of the central buildings, and for each suburban school a galvanized iron pail fitted with a faucet has been pro- vided.
COURSE IN LOCAL HISTORY.
The course in local history is continuing to be one of the most interesting in our school curriculum.
Teachers and pupils are awake to the great value that comes from such a study.
Weekly talks are given by the teachers in the seventh,
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eighth and ninth grades and the pupils are questioned from the notes taken.
When this course was published in the local papers it was warmly commended by the county papers and many educational magazines. It seems to deserve an important place in our course of study. Besides this course the weekly period given to the discussion of current events is also very profitable. It is now nearly eight years since the advent of the little weekly paper -The Current Events-into our upper grammar grades, and the interest today in this line of work seems to be as great as ever. It is very gratifying to be able to commend such efforts.
SCHOOL MEMORIAL DAY.
The notable observance of the School Memorial day, May 27, is worthy of preservation in this report. For the first time in the history of the schools on such an occasion all the ele- mentary schools at the Centre took part in a grand school pa- rade, the line being made up of four divisions, representing the schools in the Chapel, Union Street, School Street, Forest Street and West Side buildings. These schools escorting the members of the local G. A. R. post marched through Centre street, down South Main street to Town House avenue, where they formed about the Soldiers' monument in front of the Town House. Exercises consisting of a flag salute, prayer, songs and an address, together with Lincoln's Gettysburg speech were given.
The whole was attended by many hundred people, and formed one of the most inspiring sights ever seen in Middle- boro.
NINTH GRADE WORK.
An effort is being made this year to secure as good a prepar- ation on the part of those pupils in the ninth grade who intend to enter the High School as will make their work satisfactory in the High School studies. To this end the superintendent is preparing each half term test questions in the essential studies and the results of these examinations will be counted as a part of the pupil's standing at the end of the year. This is proving to be an incentive for closer studying and will result in a much better preparation.
To make the certificate of graduation awarded to each grad- uate in the ninth grade in June of more real merit the School Board has voted that any pupil who falls below C in two or
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inore studies shall not be awarded such certificate of gradua- tion, although any pupil falling below C in two or more stu- dies, whose average is C, will be admitted to the High School on probation. By thus raising the standard of work fewer un- prepared pupils will enter the High School on certificates.
ARITHMETIC.
The course in Arithmetic has been somewhat modified by excluding some topics not now thought worthy of considera- tion in the body of a modern text in Arithmetic. This has sim- plified the work and made it possible to give more time for the consideration of the essentials of the subject.
By eliminating all abstract work in the first two grades more time can be given to work which the pupils in those grades may more quickly assimilate. With the changes in this course our schools have taken a progressive step in this study, and one which is in accord with the best educational thought of the day.
TRAINING CLASS.
The training class still keeps its place as a valuable adjunct in our educational system. This year the class numbers nine, the largest class for many years. The plan adopted last year of requiring a certain amount of preparation for admission to the class has been of great benefit. Nearly all the members this year are taking special instruction in drawing at the High School on Thursday and Friday mornings, under the super- vision of Miss Cook. Of the last class 6 members were as- signed regular positions in the suburban schools, and two of the present class are also teaching. All the present class have had substitute work in the different grades during the fall term.
DRAWING AND MANUAL TRAINING EXHIBITION.
A very successful exhibition of drawing done in all grades and of manual training in the first two grades was held in the Town hall May 20 and 21.
Although there were no entertainments connected with the exhibition many parents and friends of the pupils were present to inspect the work. So satisfactory were the re- sults in this line of work that at the invitation of the trustees of the public library the exhibit was removed to the rooms on
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the second floor of the library building, where it remained for a number of months and was visited by many teachers from other cities and towns as well as by many residents. The ex- hibit received many words of commendation and reflected great credit on the supervisor and teachers.
EVENING SCHOOL.
The evening school which was opened in the High School building during the winter of 1910 at the request of 47 for- eign residents of the town, was very successful. The primary section was so large that it was necessary to engage two teachers for the work. The advanced section also had a good attendance.
The pupils were much interested in the studies, and the at- tendance during the time the school continued was excellent. Many of these pupils are still continuing their studies in the evening school now conducted by the local Y. M. C. A.
The success of the school certainly justified the small ex- pense in carrying it on for the benefit of nearly 90 pupils who were enrolled in the two sections.
REVISION OF COURSE OF STUDY.
It is now over eight years since the present course of study was placed in printed form and as many changes have oc- curred since then in several lines of work it seems wise that a revision of the courses should be made and submitted to the board for approval. We have many requests from educators for our course of study and we wish to send to them one that is modern in every particular.
STAMP SAVING SYSTEM.
The Stamp Saving system is still carried on under the direc- tion of the Cabot club. Both the central and the suburban schools have a large number of pupils interested in this plan of saving money.
In the central schools for the year ending June 24, the fol- lowing amounts were represented in the pupils' stamp books : West Side schools $103 78
Main Street school
90 00
Union Street school
66 09
Forest Street school 56 28
School Street school
44 29
Total
$360 44
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This method of encouraging pupils to form habits of saving is in accordance with the new compulsory study of thrift added to the curriculum by the last legislature
MARION ROAD SCHOOL.
This school, the smallest in town, at present numbers but eight pupils. It is a question whether it would not be better to transport these pupils to the Wappanucket school than to maintain the school for so few pupils. The Wappanucket school now numbers 18 pupils, and there are seats enough for both schools. If at any time the school population in Marion Road district should increase the school could be reopened. Another factor that enters into this case is that there are no pupils in the first three grades, the school having no grade be- low the fourth. So that no hardship would be placed on the children in thus transporting them.
SOCIAL LIFE OF PUPILS.
So many pupils attending schools often come in such a phy- sical condition owing; to nervous excitement attending late hours, loss of sleep, impaired vigor, etc., that satisfactory re- sults in school work cannot be obtained.
The School Board of Middleboro has had this fact of poor results in school work, owing to children being permitted to take part in so many public entertainments in the evening, brought so forcibly to its attention that the following expres- sion of opinion was given publication last September to show the attiude of the Board toward too much participation in so- cial pleasures on the part of children while attending school. It is hoped that the parents will seriously consider this ques- tion and co-operate with the school officials and teachers in making school work a business proposition requiring the best physical and mental stamina.
EXPRESSION OF SCHOOL BOARD REGARDING SO- CIAL LIFE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Recent years have brought to Middleboro a large number of shows, fairs, entertainments and social occasions of all kinds. The pupils, both in our High School, and in the lower grades, are attending these attractions in constantly increasing numbers. Besides those children in the audiences frequently scores take parts in entertainments that call for
166
many rehearsals. At these times there is great preparation of costumes, much unnatural excitement, loss of sleep and ir- regularity of meals. After late hours and exciting evenings, the ability of many to do school work is entirely destroyed for days and our schools suffer in a marked degree.
Your school board knows that it can pass no regulation nor make any suggestion that could meet the needs of all our children outside of school hours. The board does earnestly ask and urge all parents and guardians in this town to give a simple life with plenty of fresh air, wholesome play and re- freshing sleep, to the children committed to their care. In our school-rooms we shall then find rested minds in rested bodies.
Your Middleboro teachers are a body of conscientious workers. They realize that to them is given the care of those to whom we owe the most, and with whom lies all the prom- ise of our future. Let us all co-operate with them.
MANUAL TRAINING.
By vote of the School Board in 1908 manual training was introduced into grades one and two and was to be extended one grade each succeeding year until it was introduced in all the elementary grades. It will, therefore, be extended to grade four the coming year.
The time will soon come when it will be necessary with the extension of this work to secure a teacher for sewing and cooking. Both boys and girls should be treated alike in this respect and if it is necessary to teach boys along the lines of manual work it is also only just to give to the girls a course in domestic science and household arts.
When the time comes in a few years to introduce this work into the higher grades more room will be necessary for carry- ing on such work and more instructors for its direction.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
The law regarding the employment of minors between the ages of 14 and 16 in any factory or mercantile establishment requires that such a minor before he is given a certificate by the Superintendent of Schools must be examined by a phyi- cian appointed by the School Committee to ascertain if he is physically fitted to do the work he wishes to do. In accord- ance with this law the School Board last September appointed Dr. J. H. Burklead to act as school physician for this purpose.
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The functon of the school physician is, however, more than this and I recommend that the duties of this office be extended to take in what is intended by the law.
Many times during the past year such an official would .. have been of valuable service to the schools.
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION.
A Parent-Teacher Association has been formed the past year, and several meetings have been held in the Assembly hall of the High School building. Such, an association can do much to stimulate a better co-operation between parents and teachers. At these meetings problems of mutual interest to home and school are considered and a better understanding of . the responsible work of each is made possible.
The association promises to be an important factor in the educational work of the town.
cepting that one year ago the salary of each of the three lady principals was increased one dollar a week.
SALARIES OF FEMALE TEACHERS. .
At the January meeting of the School Board last year the Superintendent was instructed in presenting the estimates for school expenditures to the Committee on. Appropriations to ask for an increase in the salaries of the female teachers of the elementary schools.
That the members of the Committee on Appropriations might have sufficient data as to the justice of such a recommenda- tion the Superintendent prepared a statement for their con- sideration and as this may be of interest to the citizens of the town it is inserted in this report :
Middleboro, Mass., Feb. 7, 1910.
Dear Sir :-
I am sending enclosed at the request of the School Board a copy of "The Estimated School Expenditures for 1910" to- together with such statistical information as may help you judge whether it is anything more than fair that the female teachers of our elementary schools should be paid a larger wage the coming year.
For the last ten years the maximum salaries of the female teachers of the Central schools have remained unchanged, ex-
The School Board has felt for some time that the salaries of
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the female teachers of our elementary schools should be in- creased.
By referring to tables one and two you will see that in comparison with other towns in the county of nearly the same size as Middleboro that the cost per pupil for instruction, text- books, supplies, and sundries is much less and there seems no reason on the question of great expense why Middleboro should not be more generous towards her female teachers.
Table three certainly does not make a creditable showing in the salaries paid our female teachers, and it is no wonder that teachers leave Middleboro to take more lucrative positions, sometimes even in much smaller places, when such small towns as Carver. Lakeville. Plympton and Halifax can offer maximum salaries of $45. $48, $50 and $52 per month in small district schools, while in Middleboro for the same type of school, often much larger, $40 per month is the maximum wage.
Table four shows how some of the neighboring towns en- courage their teachers by using a sliding scale in the salaries paid.
Wareham for example pays $10.00 per week the first year, SII.Oo the second, $12.00 the third, $13.00 the fourth.
There is but one town in the county that pays as low a wage for teachers in district schools as Middleboro. Pembroke pays $9.00 as minimum and $10.00 as a maximum.
That the salaries of the female teachers have not before this time been raised is in no way due to any action of the Com- mittee on Appropriations which has always endorsed the rec- ommendations of the School Board and which will now doubt- lessly give this matter serious consideration.
I shall be glad to aid you in any way in the consideration of this question of a just wage for our female teachers who I believe are justly worthy of your consideration as faithful. painstaking and enthusiastic workers, and I sincerely hope that you may not only strongly favor an addition of $500 to the tax levy for such a worthy object, but that you may go still further and recommend that the sum of SS64 shall be added to the school estimate of 1910 that these female teachers may secure this increase at the beginning of next term.
Very truly yours,
CHAS. H. BATES.
Supt. of Schools.
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COST OF SCHOOLS. TABLE I. TOWNS IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY OF NEARLY THE SIZE OF MID- DLEBORO.
Text books, supplies, and
Cost ยท
Teachers.
Pupils.
sundries.
per pupil.
Abington
27
992
$3,617 74
$3 64
Bridgewater
32
937
1,891 40
2 OI
Hingham
27
893
3,241 67
3 63
Plymouth
56
2018
3,618 71
I 78
Rockland
3I
I197
3,418 23
2 85
Whitman
35
I346
4,598 34
3 4I
Middleboro
43
I50I
2,298 83
I 53
TABLE II.
Cost of instruction.
Cost per pupil.
Abington
$16,047 25
$16 17
Bridgewater
23,448 00
25 02
Hingham
18,457 50
20 66
Plymouth
32,896 74
16 30
Rockland
18,092 62
15 II
Whitman
20,70I 30
15 37
Middleboro
20,484 50
II
34
TABLE III. WAGES OF FEMALE TEACHERS.
Wages of female teachers per month in state
$59 58
Wages of female teachers per month in Plymouth County 52 83
Number of towns in Plymouth County
27
Rank of Middleboro 24
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AVERAGE MONTHLY WAGES.
Abington
$50 81
Plymouth
$57 41
Bridgewater
53 92
Rockland
50 46
Brockton
60 85
Scituate
58 00
East Bridgewater
47 51
West Bridgewater 46 46.
Halifax
49 00
Whitman
54 94
Hingham
52 95
Plympton
47 33
Hull
55 00
Rochester
46 00
Kingston
46 00
Lakeville
46 16.
Mattapoisett
45 57
Wareham
44 07
Marion
44 80
Hanover
43 93.
Hanson
44 48
Duxbury
43 35
Norwell
43 87
Including high school
Middleboro
42 06
teachers
44 13
Of the three towns paying less than Middleboro the aver -. age monthly wages of female teachers are:
Carver
$40 90
Marshfield
42 00
Pembroke
39 00
TABLE IV.
The following table shows the minimum and maximum monthly wages of female teachers in neighboring towns :
Minimum
Maximum.
Lakeville
$40
$48
Carver
38
45
Wareham
40
52
Rochester
40
48
Kingston
40
56
Plympton
46
50
Halifax
40
52
Pembroke
36
40
This data was received last week from the school officials: of the above towns.
TABLE V.
At the present time there are in Middleboro :
8 teachers receiving $9.00 per week each or $288.00 per month .. 9 teachers receiving $10.00 per week each or $360.00 per month ..
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IO teachers receiving $11.00 per week each or $440.00 per month.
3 Female grammar teachers $12.00 per week each or $144.00 per month.
.3 Lady Principals $13.00 per week each or $156.00 per month. Average monthly wages, $42.00.
To increase the wages of the female teachers in the elemen- tary schools $1.00 per week would call for an increased annual appropriation of $1,260.
If such an increase should begin in April $864 would be necessary. If such an increase should begin at the beginning of the school year in September $500 would be necessary.
STATISTICS FROM STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT. Number of towns and cities in state, 354.
Middleboro's rank in amount expended for the support of
public schools according to the amount yielded for each child, 173.
Rank in county, 16.
In the amount appropriated to the support of public schools for each thousand dollars of valuation :
Middleboro appropriated
$6 68
Whitman appropriated
6 69
Rockland appropriated
6 92
Abington appropriated
8 56
Bridgewater appropriated 6 55
Average cost for all school purposes for each child in the state $38.32.
Average cost for each child in Middleboro $27.29.
The Committee on Appropriations recommended that the sum of $864 should be added to the regular appropriation for such an increase, the citizens of the town gladly voted for it, and at the opening of the spring term the teachers were given the increase.
With this increase and subsequent increase in a few cases the average monthly salary of female teachers in the elemen- tary schools is now $48.
Conclusion.
It gives me great pleasure to report the general work in the schools as an improvement over last year. The application is better, the discipline is stronger, and more intelligent re- sults are being obtained. The teachers are faithful, conscien- tious, and thoroughly in earnest in their work. There is a
172
good spirit of co-operation between the homes asd the schools.
For the pleasant co-operation on the part of the School Board and teachers with the Superintendent and for the con -. fidence placed in my administration of school affairs I wish. to express my sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES H. BATES, Superintendent of Schools ..
SPECIAL REPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING AND MANUAL TRAINING TRUANT OFFICERS
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,
1
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr. C. H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :- It is my pleasure to report another successful year for the High school. The pupils, as a whole, never did better work, and the teachers were never more zealous and conscientious in the performance of their duties. There has been only one change in our teaching force during the year. Mr. A. R. Dorman of the commercial department resigned his position last summer to accept a similar position in the New Bedford High school. Mr. W. A. Harthorne of Wolfboro, N. H., was elected in his place.
The enrollment for the fall term was larger than for some time, the total being 191. The boys numbered 98 and the girls 93. This was quite unusual for our school, as the girls generally outnumber the boys by a considerable margin. This increase was due to a large entering class, as a liberal percen- tage of the grammar school graduates continued their studies in the High school. The senior class, numbering 23, is small- er than usual this year. With a small class leaving the school, and with the probability of a large entering class, the prospects are that next fall we may have the largest enrollment in the history of the school.
The number of tuition pupils last fall was 21. The number of pupils drawing transportation money was 47. This means that nearly 25 percent of our total enrolment came from a dis- tance of over two miles, a very good showing for the suburban districts.
It has been our constant aim to impress upon students the importance of sound scholarship, and their duty, so far as is consistent with good health, to spend a great deal of time and concentrated effort to secure this desired end. Knowing how to study is an art not acquired by a great many pupils. The power of concentration, whether it be natural or acquired, is
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the key that unlocks the door of many difficulties. Combined with system it serves as the great time saver in the perform- ance of any mental task. If the town furnishes the opportun- ity for pupils to gain a good education, it should be their duty not to engage in outside matters to such an extent as to in- capacitate them for school work, either through lack of time or in consequence of an exhausted mental or bodily condition. It should be the daily query of each pupil, "Is the town of Middleboro making a good investment in paying for my educa- tion ?"
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