USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1924 > Part 3
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Periods per week
32
COMMERCIAL COURSE
THIRD YEAR
Periods
per week
REQUIRED:
5
American History and Civics* 5
Typewriting 5
ELECT TWO:
English I
5
Commercial Arithmetic
5
Elementary Science
5
Penmanship and Spelling
5
ELECT ONE :
Citizenship
5
Algebra
5
Ancient History
5
REQUIRED:
English IV
5
SECOND YEAR
Periods per week
REQUIRED:
English II
.5
Bookkeeping I
5
Modern History
5
ELECT ONE:
General Mathematics
5
Spanish I
5
Geometry
5
if school program will allow. All students may elect Glee Club, or Freehand or Mechanical Drawing.
The chief features to be noted in this revised course of study are these :
1. The subjects are arranged in four courses representing different and definite aims on the part of the students taking them. These courses are so named as to give a general indica- tion of their aim and nature.
2. Algebra, Ancient History, and Geometry are no longer required of every student in the school, but are required in some courses and made elective in others.
3. The Commercial Course, which previously consisted of four subjects offered only in the last two years when a considerable number of students have left school, has been ex- tended to include nine subjects, thus affording a broader and more complete training, especially to boys, through such sub-
5
FOURTH YEAR
Periods per week
Problems of American Demo- cracy
5
Typewriting
5
ELECT ONE :
Stenography
5
Finance 5
ELECT ONE :
Bookkeeping and Law 5
Chemistry or Physic's ** 5
*Required by law
** These subjects can be taken only
FIRST YEAR
REQUIRED:
Periods per week
Stenography 5
Salesmanship and Advertising 5
Bookkeeping and Geography 5
Spanish II
English III
33
jects as Salesmanship, Finance, Commercial Geography and Commercial Law. The placing of Commercial Arithmetic and Bookkeeping in the first two years serves to catch early the interest of the students.
4. A larger number of subjects has been made available to students not preparing for college: Elementary Science, Citizenship, General Mathematics, Modern History and Problems of American Democracy. These subjects are broad- ening rather than academic.
In view of these revisions and the reasons therefor, it may be interesting to observe the actual working out of these courses in the school.
THE REVISED COURSE HAS DRAWN PUPILS IN- CREASINGLY TO THE SCHOOL
Comparative Size of First and Second Year Classes
1922
1923
1924
First Year
93
100
125
Second Year
73
74
89
Note the slight increase between 1922 and 1923 and com- pare this with the striking increase between 1923 and 1924. This is clear indication of the increased drawing power of the school due chiefly to the extending of the Commercial Course downward into the first two years, where it secures the interest of the students before they get dissatisfied or discouraged and leave school. To present this matter from another angle; in Sept. 1923 10 students, not promoted in June, returned to school; in Sept. 1924, 25 students, or two and one half times as many non-promoted students returned.
It might be felt that these pupils would be unsuccessful and therefore a detriment to the school, but this is not the case.
1. Four have dropped out of school, still leaving more than twice the numbers of the previous years.
34
2. Of these remaining 21 students,
a. Eight (or 38%) are not failing in any subject.
b. Five (or 24%) are failing in only one subject.
c. This makes a total of thirteen (or 62%) who may be expected to pass the year's work successfully.
b, Three more (or 14%) are failing in only two sub- jects and therefore have a chance of reasonable success.
c. This leaves a failure to date of only 24% of these "repeaters".
Is this not a worthy record in so adapting the work of the school to the students that they will continue in school and continue with a high percentage of success?
II. THE REVISED COURSE OF STUDY HAS ALSO DE- CREASED THE AMOUNT OF FAILURE
Percent of freshmen failure marks Sept .- Dec. 1923 17.4% Percent of freshmen failure marks Sept .- Dec. 1924 13.5% Thus 1924 shows 3.9% less failure than in 1923, which is a 22.4% decrease. Moreover, this decrease has been accom- plished in spite of the following circumstances which might be expected to increase the amount of failure this year :
1. The 13.5% of failure for 1924 includes the marks of 25 "repeaters", whereas the 17.4% of failure for 1923 includes the marks of only 10 "repeaters."
2. The "repeaters" in 1923 were taking only four subjects. Eighteen of the "repeaters" out of the 25 this year are taking 5 subjects, which means one less study-period in school, and necessitates considerably more home study.
If the work of the "repeaters" for the last two years be left out of consideration, the decrease in amount of failure becomes more striking, and the effect of the revised course of study can be seen even more clearly.
Per cent of failure marks of "regular" freshmen :
Sept .- Dec. 1923 =17.8% Sept .- Dec. 1924 =6.9%
35
Hence 1924 shows 10.9% less failure than 1923, which is a decrease of 61%.
This has occurred in spite of the fact that nearly half these students have five subjects and one study period in school as compared with four subjects and two study periods for all students last year.
In connection with the above figures the thought might occur as to whether or not the students are having a course which adequately tests their powers and provides sufficient intellectual training. An investigation to determine the average amount of time per day given by pupils to study out- side of school reveals the following facts:
28% study 3 hours or more 54% study 2 hours or more 74% study 11/2 hours or more 98% study 1 hour or more 2% study less than an hour
When it is remembered that every pupil has either one or two 40-minute periods in school, it is clear that the present courses demand a degree of application that provides adequate means for the intellectual development of our pupils.
To insure regular application to home lessons a system is in use this year whereby an "unprepared" slip is sent to the office every time a pupil comes into any class, showing in- sufficient effort to prepare his home work. These slips are checked up daily by the Principal or Sub-master, laggard pupils are called to account, and, if necessary, they are brought back to the school, for extra study. The teacher-advisor system mentioned in another part of this report is also serving to keep the students closely at their work.
That the above-mentioned decrease in failure is due in considerable degree to the fact that the new courses offer pupils a larger opportunity to take subjects in harmony with their interests and abilities is indicated by the following figures:
-
36
Number taking Algebra
Percentage of failure in Algebra
1923
112
1924
61
14.7% 4.1%
Number taking Ancient History. Percent. of failure in A. His.
1923
112
15.2%
1924
43
12.7%
The larger percentage of failure in 1923 is chiefly due to the fact that in 1923 all first year pupils were compelled to take these subjects whereas in 1924 these subjects were elective.
In this connection it is interesting to note the failures in Latin for the corresponding years:
Elected Latin
1923 36
1924 37
Failed Latin
6 (or 16.6%)
7 (or 16.2%)
Latin is, if anything, a more difficult subject than Algebra or Ancient History, but in both 1923 and 1924 it has been an elective subject taken only by those who desired it and who, therefore, doubtless possessed reasonable aptitude for it. As a result, there is no such difference in the per cent of failure between the two years in Latin as there was in the case of Algebra and Ancient History. The point to be noted is that to require students to take subjects unsuited to their tastes and capacities is likely to result in a high rate of failure, which in turn tends to drive pupils out of school, while to offer them reasonable choice in harmony with their interests and abilities tends to reduce failure and to hold children in school longer.
The school is society's agency for developing good citizens ; but to do this it must keep the children in school. Therefore, a school is fulfilling the purpose for which it is maintained when it is so organized and administered as to hold the pupils in school and enable them to succeed, within the limits of their several abilities.
Another feature of the administration of the school that is calculated to reduce the likelihood of pupil failure is the effort
37
put forth by the entire faculty this year to keep intimately in touch with the work and progress of each individual student and with the parents. Every pupil in school has a "teacher- advisor" who keeps in touch with his welfare and progress. The problems of importance are brought to the Sub-master or Principal to be taken up with the parents by personal con- ference, telephone, or mail. Together with this advisor system use is being made of intelligence tests, and slip systems are steadily employed to secure an individual understanding of each student and to guide him in his school progress. I wish to mention in this connection the high degree of skill and the great earnestness with which the teachers are carrying out this vital work of personal contact with the individual student.
And this leads directly to the question of professional viewpoint and professional study on the part of the teacher. Nothing is of more importance either to the teacher or to the school than that the teacher should keep constantly alive to her subjects and to progressive, methods of school administra- tion and classroom teaching. Nothing will do more to stimu- late this condition than a salary consideration awarded for professional study. I recommend that consideration be given to a plan which works effectively in communities where it is in force, of awarding a bonus of $50 to any teacher each year that she takes professional study approved by the school authorities, and provided that she remains in the service of the town the ensuing year. Such a plan serves not only to stimulate professional study but also to keep teachers in the service of the town after they have taken such professional study.
In closing, permit me to express to you and to the members of the School Committee my appreciation of the help and support constantly furnished in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the boys and girls.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL S. NICKERSON, A. M.
38
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Middleboro, Mass., January 1, 1925.
Mr. Charles H. Bates,
Superintendent of the Schools.
Dear Sir:
My report for the year, owing to so many after school acti- vities, will be necessarily long. All of these are of importance in shaping the musical lives of boys and girls of this age. Music is of great value other than its aesthetic side. It is possible to plant the seeds which will germinate and grow in after years to the full grain, and possibly some of our students will be future Sousa's or Galli Curci's.
In the spring we had a demonstration of the grades from first to ninth inclusive and also two surburban schools, which was of interest to the general public. The evolution of the orchestra, presenting primary, grammar, and High School orchestras, and the School Street Drum Corps, was a novel number showing how we build from the first to the last step in instrumental music.
The surprise band from the West Side, composed of twenty- four boys of the fifth and sixth grades, drilled by Mrs. Jones, was a splendid demonstration of psychology, many of these boys who think they can only growl were led to use their highest tones in playing on the Kazoo, and forgot all about their limitations.
The work in the grades is going on in its usual order. A new organization has been formed in the School Street build- ing, a girls' ukulele club, which is directed by Miss Donahue; they are having weekly rehearsals and are making splendid progress. The drum corps is practicing regularly; two of the drummers play for school entrance and exits each day.
39
The orchestra was depleted last spring by graduations, but the ranks were filled by new members and we number eighteen with quite a variety of instruments, playing a fairly difficult grade of music. We are planning to start an epidemic of harmonica playing in the schools. This instrument has great possibilities, and tides over as does every instrumental activity, the time when a boy "is between hay and grass" the change of voice, and anything that keeps him interested in music is of value.
The High School concert last spring was a great success. The new organizations, the boys' glee club, and boys' quartet, made a decided hit. We are planning two concerts this year, the mid-year event by glee clubs, quartet, and orchestra, the proceeds from which is to establish an instrumental fund, to be used in purchasing instruments which are to be loaned to pupils who will learn to play them and later join the orchestra. We have a splendid start on our list, base viol, B flat tuba, slide trombone, mellophone, set of song bells, song whistle, and orchestra drums and traps having already been purchased and students studying, with many of them already in the orchestra.
The Boys' quartet had a fifty percent change in personelle, but the same spirit prevails that animated them last year. The boys' glee club will fully maintain the standard set by their predecessors. They will take a special part in the mid- year event.
The girls' glee club of sixty is probably the best one in the experience of the present incumbent of the office of supervisor.
The glee clubs each have a manager and leader chosen from their ranks who have their special duties to perform.
The High School chorus is the largest we have ever had and is preparing a splendid program for the spring concert.
The orchestra is one of which we may be justly proud, having grown in five years from none at all to an organization of thirty, with a variety of fourteen different kinds of instru- ments, capable of playing most interesting selections, when a city near us with a High School membership of fourteen hun-
40
dred has an orchestra of only thirty, it is quite remarkable that we have one so large and of such splendid instrumentation.
We hope to have a joint concert this year with one or more of the surrounding towns.
I would suggest that a good phonograph be placed in every school room if possible. If this is not practicable, at least one in each building.
Very respectfully,
WIRT. B. PHILLIPS,
Supervisor of Music
41
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. Charles H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir :
I have been trying to make the drawing not merely drill to develop technique but a forceful, interesting language with which one can do many worth while things.
The lower grades have learned to draw common objects and animals in a simple way. Our success in this is measured not by perfect drawings of these objects but by the fact that the children do them in school and then are able and anxious to do them over and over at home. In the middle grades we have drawn objects about which the children have been studying in history and geography and have found that both subjects gained in interest. The upper grades have worked chiefly for increased accuracy in observing line, proportion and shape.
There has been a gradual change in the attitude of most of the pupils toward the problems in design. They have develop- ed a commendable amount of initiative and good judgment. The principles of good design have become to them more than rules which must be followed in the drawing lesson, helps in creating attractive things in school and out.
Interest has been stimulated in the rural schools by the regular visits of the supervisor, made possible this year for the first time. This has given the rural teachers and the teachers in the center schools an equal amount of assistance and guid- ance.
By rearranging the supervisor's schedule, it has been possible to have drawing classes at the High School during an entire forenoon. This has given everyone who desires it an opportunity to take drawing and has increased the enrollment
42
from around fifty last year to 102 this year. It is noticeable that most of this increase is in the number of boys taking mechanical drawing.
In September, plans were begun for an exhibition which we hope to hold next spring. This will not be a collection of things made especially to show, but samples from the lessons of the graded course in drawing which we follow throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted, EVELYN B. WELLS,
Supervisor of Drawing.
43
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF PENMANSHIP
Mr. Charles H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir :
I am submitting this report of the penmanship in the schools for your consideration.
During the past year a representative of the Palmer Com- pany visited our central schools at my request and reported favorably on the condition of the penmanship here.
Most satisfactory results have been obtained in some of the primary grades in the developing of correct habits of post- ure and movement. These pupils are going on to the grade next higher up with a better foundation and I am watching their progress with interest.
The fact that the schools are at present working in some cases on a part time basis has compelled me to increase the number of my visits. I find that these schools have less time to devote to any subject, and, as a result, are working under a great disadvantage.
On account of the lack of proper transportation facilities I am unable to visit our rural schools. My only contact with the teacher of these schools is through the Teachers' Institute held every term. I would suggest that if transportation could be furnished it might be possible to give these schools more direct supervision.
Through the reorganization of the course of study in the High School, the subject of penmanship has been placed in the Freshman year. Practically one half of the present classes enrolled in the course and the results obtained thus far are highly satisfactory.
Respectfully submitted, ' H. C. SEARS, Supervisor of Penmanship.
44
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the School Committee:
The scope of the work of the School Physician was enlarged somewhat last year by carrying on a campaign to induce parents to permit their children to submit to the Schick test for the prevention of diphtheria. While two hundred and thirty five children were given the test by the School physician, it was not a complete success doubtless due to the unwarranted newspaper notoriety the test received on the eve of our cam- paign.
As a result of the routine examination of school children by the School Physician, and the "follow up" work done by the School Nurse I am able to report that during the past year thirty eight children have undergone operation for the removal of tonsils and adenoids and one hundred and twenty-two have had dental defects corrected. In December 1923 we had one hundred school children that were 10% underweight; through the good offices of the School Nurse with the cooperation of the teachers and parents this number has decreased 60%. The School Nurse has devoted her time to the prevention of disease among school children as evidenced by the fact that during the year she made four hundred and fifty three visits to the various school buildings, three hundred to homes, and took twelve hundred throat cultures for the prevention of diphtheria.
While the School Nurse, Miss Mary Canning, came to us without special training as a Public Health Nurse she has approached her duties with enthusiasm that has made her year's work satisfactory and commendable.
I again acknowledge my appreciation of the kindly coopera- tion of the Supt. of Schools, and the various Principals and Teachers.
J. H. BURKHEAD,
School Physician.
45
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Charles H. Bates,
Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report as attendance officer for the year ending Dec. 31, 1924.
No. of absentees reported
184
Reason given by parents for pupils absence-
Colds
45
Diphtheria
12
Scarlet Fever
8
No clothes
4
No shoes
7
Chicken Pox
15
Bronchitis
1
4
Mumps
14
Working without a permit
10
Whooping Cough
13
Truants
13
Boils
1
Sore Throat
28
Broken glasses
1
Exposed to Diphtheria
6
Pediculosis
3
184
Pupils working without a permit were compelled to get a permit or return to school. Most of the truants were looked up and taken to school. If not located, their parents were notified and requested to see that the children attended school thereafter.
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. WHEELER,
Attendance Officer.
46
STATISTICS OF SCHOOL YEAR 1923-1924
Number of men teachers
5
Number of women teachers
39
Number of supervisors
4
Number of pupils
1,831
Number of boys enrolled
943
Number of girls enrolled
888
Number of High School pupils
293
Number of boys in High School
143
Number of girls in High School
150
Number of non-resident pupils
70
Average daily attendance in High School 286
Average daily attendance in Elementary Schools 1,317
Average membership in High School 284
Average membership in Elementary Schools
1,398
Aggregate attendance
281,633
Average number of days actually in session
High School 182
Elementary Schools
176
Membership classified as to ages, April 1, 1924
(a) Pupils 5 years of age or over and under 7 136
(b) Pupils 7 years of age or over and under 14 1214
(c) Pupils 14 years of age or over and under 16 226
Registration of Minors, ages of April 1, 1924
(a) Persons 5 years of age or over and under 7 334
(b) Persons 7 years of age or over and under 14 1,210
(c) Persons 14 years of age or over and under 16 262
47
Membership in schools by grades April 1, 1924
Grade 1
221
Grade 2
186
Grade 3
173
Grade 4
216
Grade 5
173
Grade 6
138
Grade 7
137
Grade 8
108
Grade 9
94
1,446
High School Membership
First Year
109
Second Year
65
Third Year
60
Fourth Year
48
Post-Graduates
2
284
Total
1,730
Teachers graduates of College
10
Teachers graduates of Normal School
14
Teachers graduates of High School only
9
Teachers graduates of Training Class
11
44
Total number enrolled year ending June 21, 1923
1,796
Total number enrolled year ending June 21, 1924 Gain
1,831
35
Average membership year ending June 21, 1923
1,628
Average membership year ending June 21, 1924 Gain
1,682
54
Number for whom reimbursement from School Income Fund was claimed 50
48
Amount received
$9,040.00
Number of visits of Superintendent of Schools Central Schools Suburban Schools
700
125
825
Number of cases of defective vision
224
Number of cases of defective hearing
27
STATISTICS OF EACH SCHOOL Year Ending June 20, 1924
School
Total Average Average P.cent Grade Member Member Attend Attend-
ship
ship 284.5
274
96.4
School Street
9
47
42
39.7
93.8
9
47
43.8
40.9
93.5
8
50
47
44
93.7
7 & 8
54
45.5
42
92.5
7
52
47.3
44
93.6
6 & 7
56
46.7
43.5
93.5
4 & 6
50
44.3
41
92.6
5
103
94.7
92
90.9
4
55
45.9
41.9
91.3
3
44
38.4
35.3
92
Union Street
4
30
29.7
27.9
94
3
47
45.5
41.7
91.6
2
48
46.5
42.8
92.3
1
56
54.8
48.7
86
Forest Street
1
44
42.9
40
90.6
2
41
38.8
35.4
91
West Side
7 & 8
41
33.7
32
95.2
5 & 6
51
41
38.4
93.
4 & 5
46
46
43.7
94.9
3
51
43.3
42.8
94.2
ance
ance
High
10-13
293
49
2
58
47.3
43
91.3
1
55
45.8
41.4
90.4
Pleasant Street
4, 5 & 6
33
29.5
27.9
94.5
Plymouth Street
1,2 & 3
31
26.9
25.5
94.7
Purchade
1-6
55
48.2
43.5
90
Thompsonville
1-8
30
29.3
27.5
93.8
Soule
1-9
26
21
19
89.7
Waterville
1-8
40
38.5
35.2
91
Green
1-5
47
44.6
40.6
91
Rock
1-7
59
56.7
54
95.4
Thomastown
1-9
27
27
25.7
94.4
South Middleboro
1-9
53
45.6
43.4
95
Wappanucket
1-9
21
19.8
18.8
95
PRESENT SCHEDULE OF SALARIES
Superintendent of Schools
$3,100.00
Supervisor of Music, 3 days a week
1,500.00
Supervisor of Drawing, 4 days a week
1,400.00
Principal of High School
2,900.00
SubMaster of High School
2,500.00
Head of Commercial Dept.
2,200.00
1 Assistant
1,600.00
4 Assistants each
1,500.00
4 Assistants each
1,400.00
Principal of School Street School
2,000.00
Principal of Union Street School
1,400.00
Principal of West Side School
1,400.00
Principal of Forest Street School
1,250.00
Assistant of Town House School
1,300.00
Grade Teachers
1,200.00
Suburban Teachers
1,200.00
Teachers on a longer school day are paid $100.00 additional.
JANITORS
High School School Street School
$1,130.00
1,200.00
50
Union Street School
West Side School ยท
700.00 1,000.00
Forest Street School
340.00
Salaries of the Suburban school janitors range from 75c. to $5 a school week.
DRIVERS OF SCHOOL CONVEYANCES
North Middleboro District
$7.00 a school day
North Middleboro and Green District
8.00 " 66
Thompsonville District
4.00 "
Thomastown
3.00 " 66
Wappanucket
3.00 "
66
South Middleboro
9.75 "
Salary of School Physician
$400.00
Salary of School Nurse
500.00
Salary of Census Enumerator
120.00
Salary of Attendance Officer
30.00
51
GRADUATING EXERCISES Middleboro High School TOWN HALL Wednesday Evening, June 25, 1924 At eight o'clock
Class Flower :
Fleur-de-lis
Class Motto:
Nil sine numine
Class Colors :
Blue and Gold
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