USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1920 > Part 2
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The seriousness of the situation should emphasize the imperative need at once for more adequate school accom- modations.
EVENING SCHOOL.
The evening school, which completed its term of eight weeks, had a fair attendance, but the small number in regular attendance the last of the term did not seem to make it advis- able to call for another appropriation this year unless the. type of school should be so changed as to take in others who could take up more advanced work. The school was for the most part for those who knew but little about the English language. The teachers in charge were interested in the work and did good service. Sickness and bad weather interfered seriously with the school the last few weeks.
WEST SIDE PORTABLE.
The congestion at the centre was relieved in September by the erecting of a two-room portable building at the West Side, thus leaving more room in the School Street building and allowing a system of grading to be carried out that would care for the housing of the pupils the present year.
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The portable building is well adapted for caring for the West Side congestion this year and has two schools with a total enrollment of 78 pupils. It is equipped with fine furni- ture, good blackboards and electric lights. The building with its furnishings, together with changes in the sanitaries and entrances to the basement have been paid for by the Peirce trustees. The building and equipment will cost upward of $8,000, and is without doubt one of the best portable build- ings for school purposes in the state. With this additional school room the pupils in that section will finish their elemen- tary grade work there and pass directly into the High School the same as in former years until the enrollment is so large as to require a change back to the plan of previous years.
UNION STREET SCHOOL BUILDING.
On account of the larger number of pupils enrolled in Grade 1 at the opening of the fall term, it was found necessary to divide that grade into two sections-one attending the morning session and the other the afternoon session.
The two rear rooms in this building, originally intended to be used only as recitation rooms, are not well adapted when overcrowded for school purposes, as the ventilation is not always good, the large number crowded into the rooms often causing a condition not at all satisfactory. In order that Grade 1 may have the benefit of a full day plan and more pupils be provided seats in the upper rear room I would recommend that an appropriation be asked of the town at a special town meeting for the enlargement of this building so that two full sized school rooms capable of seating 45 pupils each may be provided and the present congested conditions relieved.
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
There have been five changes in the teachers of the twelve suburban schools the past year. The policy of the School Board of relieving conditions in many of the larger suburban schools by transferring the pupils of the upper grades to the central schools has tended to improve many of these schools by giving fewer grades and smaller schools.
There are now attending the upper grades in the centre from the suburban districts 58 pupils.
The cost to the town in maintaining these 12 schools in- cluding instruction, janitors, transportation and fuel was for
1
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last year over $16,000. It is a question whether it would not be a good plan so far as practicable to bring many of these schools by motor buses to the centre, when more ade- quate school accommodations are provided for the central schools.
Even with the transfer of the three upper grades from the Purchade, Green and Rock Schools these schools still number 41, 37 and 38 pupils respectively. With the three upper grades retained each school would have an enrollment of between 50 and 60.
These three sections show an increase, while in nearly all the other suburban sections there has been a loss and twelve schools now accommodated the pupils where ten years ago there were 16 such schools. The average cost last year per pupil in the suburban school was $40.
GRADING.
The plan for reducing the number of grades in the elemen- tary schools from nine to eight is being satisfactorily worked out and it is hoped will be far enough advanced to be put in operation next September. It was hoped to have done so this year but it was not thought best to lower the grade standards by a too abrupt promotion.
When this is in full working order our school course will comprise 12 years-8 in the elementary and 4 in the High. With the erection of a new High School building this course will be arranged so as to have an elementary course of six years, a junior High School of three years and a senior High School course of three years.
With the exception of the West Side Schools the grading is practically the same as last year.
DRAWING AND MUSIC EXHIBITION.
A very interesting exhibition of the work in drawing and music was given the latter part of the school year in the Town Hall. The drawing work was effectively arranged by grades and gave the people an opportunity for seeing just what is the character of the work and the results that were. being obtained.
In the afternoon the work of musical instruction in the lower grades and the surburban schools was shown by pupils of the several schools and in the evening the pupils of the upper grades demonstrated the work of those grades. The
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exhibition was attended by a large number of parents and friends and reflected great credit on the faithful services of the supervisors and teachers. Miss Sears, who had carried on the work in drawing for the past two years in an efficient manner, resigned in October.
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
The work in a few of the schools has been retarded in some respects, especially the past term, by changes in the teaching corps. This is particularly the case in the High School where there have been two changes, since the opening in September, in the commercial department, two in the Latin and Spanish work and two in the mathematical depart- ment. There have been two different supervisors in pen- manship and two different supervisors of drawing since Sept. 8. The year opened with two new teachers in the Central schools and five new teachers in the Suburban schools. The total number of changes for the year, however, was no larger than in years past and in this respect we may consider ourselves fortunate.
As a matter of fact in the central elementary schools out of the 20 schools in the centre in June, 17 were in charge of teachers who had been in those schools for at least two years. Only in four of the central schools Grade 6 and Grade 9 School Street and Grade 8 Town House have there been many changes in teachers for several years.
The Suburban schools have the larger number of changes each year.
TEACHERS.
Of the 35 elementary teachers 15 have taught in the Middleboro schools for more than 10 years, 11 of these now being in the central schools. It is to this fact that much of the uniformity in grade work, as well as the satisfactory results in school work, is due. Frequent changes are not always desirable, especially if they occur during the year. It is to the credit of those teachers who have served the town so long and so faithfully with excellent results that the same intensive interest, co-operative spirit and love for their work still dominate their efforts. I gladly recommend the teachers to the voters of the town for any appreciation in the shape of an increased compensation which has been well earned and of which they are justly deserving.
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SALARIES.
The salaries of teachers were increased last year by the action of the town in appropriating a sufficient sum so that a flat increase of $300 for each teacher retroactive to Jan. 1, could be given.
Under the School Income Fund the town was reimbursed by the State to the amount of $12,848.34 for this expenditure.
Even with salaries at the present amount, Middleboro is paying her teachers a lower wage than the towns of the same size in the State or in many of the towns in the county. Be- cause of this fact it is difficult to secure the type of teacher well qualified to keep up the standard of the schools when a vacancy occurs. The minimum salary of grade teachers should be at least $1,200, where it is now $1,000 and of the High School teachers $1,500 where it is now $1,300.
If this is not done we are likely to lose the services of some of our best teachers in the near future. During the past year four of our teachers and probably several others refused out of town positions paying larger salaries, preferring to re- main in Middleboro with the hope that a larger wage would soon be paid here.
The salaries of Central school janitors were also increased, retroactive from Jan. 1, adding $500 to the janitor expense.
TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION AND MOTHERS' CLUBS.
The Middleboro Teachers' Association has held several interesting meetings during the year and the occasions served to create on the part of both teachers and school officials a splendid get together spirit.
Such an association is an excellent medium for the con- solidation of the teaching force in mutual interests and a co-operation for successful team works.
The Mothers' Clubs have been active in their interests and'to the number already organized was added one more last term at the Wappanucket school which has held several interesting meetings. These associations have always been productive of a better understanding of school problems on the part of the home, and have been of great help to the teachers.
HEALTH WORK.
More attention is being given each year to'the matter of the proper care of the health of school pupils, and it is an extremely vital problem. Even in a town the size of Middle-
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boro it would surprise one to find out how many pupils and parents need practical instruction in this matter. The work of the District Nursing Association and Welfare Committee is to be commended. The appropriation by the town of a sufficient amount to allow the services of a school nurse has proved to be a good investment, and the work as it goes on will prove of great physical advantage to the pupils. Several dentists have given free dental clinics and it is hoped that we may soon have such a feature as a regular part of school work. The opportunity for pupils to get a cup of hot cocoa at the noon hour is given in the School Street School and West Side School and has recently been extended to the High School. This work is under the direction of the Welfare Committee.
It is certainly a praiseworthy activity and a pleasing fea- ture of our educational work that the women of the town are so greatly interested in the health of the pupils and are doing so much to benefit the schools in the matter of health affairs.
The report of the School Physician shows the progressive health work that is now being done in our schools.
TOWN MANAGER.
Under the new form of town government which goes into effect the third Monday of this month all supplies, with the exception of text-books, will be purchased under the super- vision of the Town Manager.
All repairs of the school buildings will also be under his supervision as well as the purchasing of fuel for the schools.
This will change the method of having such things looked after by the several sub-committees and place them under one head.
› › All janitors' supplies, repair supplies and teachers' and pupils' supplies will be under the charge of the Town Manager instead of the Superintendent of Schools.
REPAIRS.
Although $2,500 was appropriated for ordinary repairs the past year the high cost of both labor and materials did not permit much that ought to have been done. The same amount expended in 1914 would have placed all our buildings in good condition. At least $2,500 will be needed for the necessary repairs this year. Several of the buildings need
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painting and their interiors renovated. I would suggest that the Board consider the policy of equipping each year one of the central buildings with slate blackboards, so that in a few years all the central buildings could be so equipped and the amount expended from time to time in resurfacing the present type of blackboard be not necessary.
The School Street building is the only building now thus equipped. During the past year the larger expenditures for repairs included the painting of the Fall Brook building, plac- ing beaver board ceilings in the Rock and South Middleboro school rooms, the renovation of the South Middleboro school room, the painting of the School Street Portable building, the painting of all the outside woodwork of the School Street building, the construction of a bituminous sidewalk around the West Side School building, and the painting of interior and outside woodwork of basement entrances at West Side build- ing, the building of a new fence one one side of Union Street yard, together with many bills covering the cost of plumbing and repairs on furnaces and sanitaries. Many additional bills in connection with the West Side Portable were paid by the Peirce trustees.
TRANSPORTATION.
The cost of transportation climbs steadily upward each year and it is an expenditure that has to be met.
At the present time we have seven school teams in different sections of the town which convey pupils to several of the suburban schools. These teams carry 74 pupils in all at an expenditure last year of $3,560.00. More pupils from the suburban schools are now attending the Town House School, resulting in an increase in transportation for that school, while the increase in fares has made a larger transportation expense for High School pupils.
The total cost for transportation for this fiscal year end- ing Dec. 23, was $5,372.90 as compared with $3,899.09 for the previous year, an increase of $1,473.81.
CHANGES IN SCHOOL BOARD.
Mr. Granville E. Tillson, who was elected a member of the Board in March, 1911, and who had served as chairman of the Board since March 12, 1912, a period of eight years, decided not to be a candidate for re-election this last March. The Board in appreciation of his long and faithful service, at the February meeting, adopted resolutions to be inscribed
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on the records as a testimonial to his fidelity and active interest for all measures which were for the best interest of the schools. It is interesting to note that for the nine years Mr. Tillson was a member of the Board he was present at every one of the 95 meetings of the Board held during his membership, with two exceptions, when he was obliged to be out of town.
Surely such a record of devotion to duty is worthy of the highest commendation.
Mr. E. T. Peirce Jenks, who was elected to take the place of Mrs. Dora T. Leonard in Sept. 1904, after completing a membership covering 16 years resigned in September, as he had moved out of town.
Mr. Jenk's term of service was marked by a fair and unbiased consideration of the different measures which came before the School Board, and it was fitting that the Board should show their appreciation of his services by causing to be placed in the records appropriate resolutions expressing their regret at the serving of the pleasant associations of so many years.
The town has for years been fortunate in the personnel of its School Board, and their consideration of school affairs has been marked by a fair mindedness and a frank expression of opinion in all things that looked for the betterment of the school system.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES H. BATES,
Superintendent of Schools.
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REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr. Charles H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools :-
· Dear Sir :- In writing this brief annual report I shall first cite a few statistics in regard to the High School. The total number in attendance during the fall term was 229. Of this number 179 were from Middleboro, and 50 from adjoining towns. Of those coming from out of town 23 were from Lake- ville, 19 from Plympton, 7 from Rochester, and 1 from Free- town. The number of town pupils residing two miles or more from the High School building and therefore drawing trans- portation money was 46. This means that 44 per cent of our schools are included in the tuition and transportation lists. It is an unusual circumstance that of the 90 pupils in the fresh- man class 54 are boys and 36 are girls.
Since my connection with the school there has never been a year when we have had so many changes in our teaching force. Mr. Ernest N. Seavey, head of the Commercial De- partment, resigned about two weeks before the beginning of the fall term. Mr. Charles W. Pearson was elected to fill the vacancy. Within a short time Mr. Pearson resigned to accept a more lucrative position in Arlington. Mrs. A. G. Mathers substituted in the position for three weeks, and Mr. Harold C. Sears, of the Manchester, N. H. High School, was elected as a regular teacher, and assumed the duties of the position about November 1. Miss Grace Allen, teacher of French and Span- ish, on account of ill health, asked for a leave of absence early in the term, and Miss Mabel Butman is substituting for her. Miss Ida L. Bullard, teacher of Algebra and Geometry, re- signed to accept a better position in the Taunton High School, and Miss E. Carrie Hall is a substitute teacher in this depart- ment. Miss Katherine L. Sears, teacher of Drawing, also re- signed, and Miss Odessa M. Long has been elected to fill the vacancy.
Tuition in the Middleboro High School has been advanced to $100, (one hundred dollars) per year, or about 50 cents per day for the out-of-town pupil. We assume that it costs the town that amount for each resident pupil. The town also pays from 5 to 20 cents per day to pupils drawing transportation
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money. This means an individual cost of 70 cents per day for many of the town pupils. It is a question for pupils, teach- ers and parents to consider whether enough effort is being made on the part of the individual pupil to warrant such expendi- ture or, in other words, whether the town is making a profit- able investment in the case of several of its High School pupils. The able bodied student should spend at least from two to three hours at home on school work each day. Many of our pupils fall far short of this standard. I sometimes think that many pupils and parents would put more of a premium on home study and the curtailment of social pleasures if they were obliged to pay the educational costs from their own pockets instead of depending on a common treasury to pay the bills. I would earnestly and respectfully solicit the co-operation of parents that pupils spend a proper amount of time on school work outside of school hours, and that they improve to the limit the advantages for an education which the town so gen- erously affords them.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER SAMPSON, Principal of the High School.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF PENMANSHIP
Mr. Charles H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools :- Middleboro, Mass.
Dear Sir :- Owing to the fact that I have had such a short time to observe the actual condition of writing in our schools, I will not, at this time, attempt to give a thorough and com- plete report, but will, rather, confine my remarks to a brief statement of our aims and plans for the future.
Some poor writers console themselves by stating that many of the most successful men of today are poor penmen. Now, although we know this to be a fact, still we also realize that it was not on account of this that they succeeded, but rather in spite of it. Business men in general agree that the ability to write legibly, rapidly, and tirelessly is an important business asset, and, by writing, we also include the making of clear, legible figures. In short, good penmen are always in demand, and the typewriter has not and will not affect the need of them.
To state that PENMANSHIP is WRITING would seem like descrediting the intelligence of anyone who has attained the use of reason. Nevertheless PENMANSHIP is under- stood by some pupils to be a term used to describe the work done in one special recitation period of possibly fifteen minutes each day, while all written work is merely WRITING. Until pupils realize that these two terms are synonymous, and that the same care and intelligent practice should be taken in the preparation of all written work as that of the class devoted entirely to the study of penmanship, satisfactory results can not be obtained.
Beginning in the primary grades, we aim to teach correct posture, which is essential to health and efficiency, but only that degree of proficiency in speed and legibility which is com- mensurate with the age of the pupil. Perfection in penman- ship, as in all other studies, comes only with practice, and is only to be expected of those of the upper grades.
I heartily appreciate the co-operation of all the grade teach- ers, on whom rests the responsibility for carrying on this work, and who deserve full credit for all satisfactory results produced through their efforts.
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD C. SEARS, Supervisor of Penmanship.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
Middleboro, Mass., Jan. 5, 1921.
Mr. Charles Bates, Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir :- I am very glad to submit to you my annual report of the progress of music in the schools during the past year. It has been one of steady growth, and I hope the results have met with your full approval.
The High School Chorus and the Girls' Glee Club gave a most successful concert in the Spring. Many of the audience were loath to leave the hall after the regular programme was concluded, and the singers entertained those who remained for sometime by singing college songs with the abandon and en- thusiasm of a College Glee Club. I received a letter from a Boston Publishing House telling about two boys from a neigh- boring city, who attended the concert and how delighted they were with the spirit of the boys and girls in their singing of the several numbers on the programme.
In May we had an exhibition of drawing and music in the town-hall. In the afternoon every grade in the town from the First to the Seventh, was represented. And two suburban schools were present with full membership; in the evening the eighth and ninth grades with the orchestra from the grammar school gave a concert. While these affairs entailed much hard work and many rehearsals, for the teachers, pupils, and my- self, yet we all felt more than repaid by the splendid results of our efforts, as evidenced by the close attention and approval of the audience. Both of those exhibitions were carried out on scheduled time (one hour each) which contradicts the Scotch saying about "The best laid plans of mice and men."
The music at the grammar school exhibition in June by the 9th Grade Chorus and the Orchestra was eminently satisfac- tory.
The Girls' Glee Club sang two selections at the High School Graduation and did better work if possible, than at the Spring Concert.
We are arranging a programme to be given this Spring and will present a work by E. H. Hosmer, founded on The Landing
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of the Pilgrims. The spirit of the pupils in the different chorus- es which was so evident last year, is again manifested by them this season in their desire to outdo last year's work. Larger enrollment in the schools has added to the work of supervision, but we still have time to carry on our (outside of school hours) work with the Orchestra and Glee Club.
The Public School Orchestra has increased in numbers this year and has played at many public affairs outside of school events. They are fast getting to be a factor in the com- munity. We have rehearsals every Monday after the second session and the members are very regular in their attendance. Their playing has stimulated others in the town to take up the study of orchestral instruments, and it will be possible and advisable to start a Junior Orchestra for them in the near future.
Respectfully submitted,
WIRT B. PHILLIPS,
Supervisor of Music.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
Mr. Charles H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :- The following is my report as drawing supervisor in Middleboro, during the past year.
The general outline of work has not been materially changed The theories and rules of drawing are always adapted, as much as possible, to the general interests of children, and correlated with other school studies or current events. The general object of the course is practicability, "art for life's sake," "not life for arts sake."
In the High School the class in mechanical drawing is twice as large as was last year's class, also, the freehand class is larger. The increase of interest in these studies might make double periods worth while.
The exhibition of drawing and manual work in May at the Town Hall gave a very complete showing of the type of work the schools have been doing. The exhibition of the rural schools was very interesting and satisfactory, especially so be- cause the teachers have worked entirely without supervision, only the lesson plans being supplied them. The whole ex- hibition was the result of excellent co-operation and interest of all the teachers.
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