USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1911 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
November 16th was observed as parents' day in the Middleton school, and a large number of parents showed their interest by being present some time during the day. After school all those present met in the Grammar school room and the superintendent gave a talk on matters of interest and importance to the school.
The subject of attendance, which is given considera- ble space elsewhere in this report, was explained and better attendance was urged in the interest of all con- cerned.
H. R. WILLIAMS, Superintendent.
TEACHERS' SALARIES.
It is very encouraging to note that the people of Mid- dleton are willing to pay salaries that hold the teachers. A few dollars spent in this way brings large returns in the increased efficiency of the school.
RE-ARRANGEMENT OF GRADES.
On account of the large number in the upper grades it was deemed necessary to rearrange the classes giving three grades to the primary teachers and two to each of the other teachers. The number in the first three grades is small so that the work in these grades does not suffer from the change and the grammar school is greatly re- lieved.
60
SCHOOL REPORT
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
With the persistent work on the part of the teachers, the schools are doing very good work in these branches. The reports of the special teachers of these subjects fol- low and are submitted as a part of this report.
PENMANSHIP.
In September the Palmer Method of Business Penman- ship was introduced. This method of writing is presented in a test-book with plainly printed instructions telling teachers and pupils exactly how to proceed to master quickly and easily an ideal and permanent style of rapid, plain and tireless writing.
Where this method is introduced the teachers get free, a course of instruction, if they will give fifteen or twenty minutes a day to the practice necessary.
This work on the part of the teachers is necessary, as it is as much needed to know writing in order to teach it well as it is needed to know any other subject in the course. Our teachers have taken hold of this work with a great deal of enthusiasm and no doubt all of them will have completed the course by the end of the present school year.
The children are taking a great deal of interest in the work and are making rapid progress.
TEXT BOOKS.
The change in arithmetics was completed at the open- ing of the fall term and the Smith Arithmetics are now in use throughout the school.
Adams Commercial Geography was placed in the sev- enth grade as an addition to the course on that subject.
I wish to recommend that the Gulick Hygiene series be placed in the school as soon as possible as it is a valu- able series and full of interest for teachers and pupils.
61
SCHOOL REPORT
I would like also to see a change in the method of teaching reading and after a good trial am prepared to recommend the Progressive Road to Reading published by Silver, Burdett & Co.
SOME PLANS.
We are hoping to carry on in connection with the school, home gardens, and a school garden if a plot of ground can be secured. This work is very valuable to both the children and the community. It is also easy cor- rellated with the work of the school room giving it in- creased pleasure and profit.
The grammar teachers have already begun some work in manual training. The boys are doing some work in wood and the girls work in sewing.
While the beginning is small we hope that it will be extended with much profit to the boys and girls.
We are also planning to inaugurate as soon as possible a systematic plan for training for citizenship by giving the children an opportunity to practice citizenship in their little school community. The plan involves no books, and little time on the part of the teachers. In due time the scheme will be explained to parents, teachers and children.
Following are the reports of the music and drawing surpervisors which are submitted as a part of this report.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Several changes have been made this year in the work in music in the Middleton school; and these changes, I believe, will help considerably in the development of the musicianship of the pupils.
62
SCHOOL REPORT
In the first two grades greater insistence has been put on the key in which the first sight reading exercises are generally sung; for far more work has been done this year in this key than formerly. Greater stress has also been put on tonal and rythmical ear training. From time to time exercises have been given to the children for the purpose of giving out good tone quality. New note songs from a recent publication have been sung in a manner which shows conclusively that they have proved attrac- tive; and in the singing of these songs the third grade has taken part.
The children of the third, fourth and fifth grades have been singing rather advanced music-particularly for the third grade; and since success has attended their efforts, even more advanced music may be studied with profit in the near future. The children of these grades have done very gratifying work in their ear training ex- ercises.
The pupils of the sixth and seventh grades have sung in all the major keys, and they are now devoting some of their time to exercises in minor keys. Ear training exer- cises have been sung in both major and minor keys, many of which have been of rather puzzling rythmical construc- tion. The Fifth Reader has recently been taken up by these pupils, and very commendable work in this book is now being done by them.
In the eighth and ninth grades the regular reader has been partly discarded, and codas, and professional numbers have been substituted. Although the music has become necessarily more difficult and has required a high- er degree of musical understanding, the pupils of these grades have done their work in a highly creditable manner.
The teachers deserve much praise for their efficient efforts in music; the way they have taken hold of the work
63
SCHOOL REPORT
has certainly stimulated the pupils greatly. To them is due in no small measure the credit for having put their pupils in that happy and receptive frame of mind which has made my work with them a pleasure.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY L. STONE.
Mr. H. R. Williams, Supt. of Schools. Middleton, Mass.
Dear Sir :-
The work in drawing during the past year has shown very good results and I feel that this is greatly due to the interest and enthusiasm which is shown by both teachers and pupils.
The aim of the work is not only to truthfully represent the subject under consideration but to cultivate the taste in arrangement and in color, so that the pupils may be able to intelligently select what is good, and be able to state their reasons for so doing. Nature work, the study of color and the application of color to decorative ar- rangements, are studies which help to refine the tastes.
The work which best teaches accuracy is constructive design, and during the months of November and December all the grades had problems to carry out along these lines.
I wish to extend to the teachers my sincere thanks and appreciation for all they have done toward bringing the work to its present stage. I also wish to thank the committee for its past favors.
Respectfully submitted,
GOLDIE LONDON.
IN CLOSING.
I wish to express my highest appreciation of the very pleasant attitude of teachers, children and parents during these first few months of my work as superintendent of the schools of Middleton.
64
SCHOOL REPORT
I also wish to thank the committee for their very ap- preciative words and helpful advice.
Attention is called to the appendix of this report which contains some facts of interest to all concerned.
Respectfully submitted, H. R. WILLIAMS, Superintendent of Schools.
Middleton, Mass., Jan. 25, 1911.
APPENDIX School Calendar.
1911-1912.
March 25. . Schools close for Spring vacation.
April 4. Schools open for Spring term.
June 23. Schools close for Summer vacation.
September 11.
Schools open for Fall term.
November 29.
Schools close for Thanksgiving recess.
December 4.
Schools open.
December 22.
Schools close for Christmas.
15 WEEKS TERM.
January 1, 1912. Schools open for Winter term.
March 22, "
Schools close for Spring vacation.
12 WEEKS TERM. April 1, " Schools open for Spring term.
School Census. September 1910.
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age.
Boys
127
Girls
126
Total, 253
65
SCHOOL REPORT
Number of children between 7 and 14 years of age.
Boys
95
Girls
89
Total, 184
Number of illiterate minors over 14 . 0
blind
0
deaf
0
feeble-minded
3
Sight and Hearing Test.
Number of pupils enrolled- 134
defective in eyesight 31
hearing 14
66
parents or guardians notified 14
Roll of Honor.
Numbers after names show terms pupil has not been absent and stars indicate pupils have not been tardy.
GRADES VII, VIII AND IX.
Maggie Newman 1* Myrtle Peabody 3*
Elmer Campbell 3*
Raymond Currier 2
Otto Currier 2 Arthur Fuller 1
Raymond Godfrey 2* Frank Johnson 1*
George Merrill 3* Frederick Merrill 3*
Frank Parsons 1* Clarence Speed 3*
Mrytle Frommer 1 Maud Bent 1*
Carolyn Henderson 1* Arthur Furley 1*
Edward Phair 1* Albert Sheldon 1*
66
SCHOOL REPORT
GRADES V AND VI.
Evelyn Brown 1* Milton Collins 1* Willie Phair 2* Leon Soper 1*
Marion MacDonald 1* Alfred Kitchen 1* Alfred Perkins 1* Gladys Currier 1 Arthur Gould 1*
GRADES III AND IV.
Vessie Jackson 2*
Marguerite Kelley 1
Grace MacDonald 1
Thurston Jackson 1*
John Murphy 2*
Clarence Richardson 1*
Aldene Gardiner 1
Alton Brown 2*
Cecelia Kelley 1
Bernard Bent 1*
Willis Estey 1*
GRADES I AND II.
Virgie Jackson 1*
Vera Soper 2*
Stephen Swidersky 1*
Milton Evans 1*
Frederick Maynard 1* John Reilly 1*
67
SCHOOL REPORT
MIDDLETON GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Graduating Exercises Thursday June 16, 1910
March Henry L. Stone, Supervisor of Music
"Bell Song"
Chorus
Prayer
Rev. Dorrall Lee
"Let Love Undying" Chorus
"Henry Hudson's Last Voyage" Pierce E. C. MacDonald "The Wonderful Tar Baby Story" Emma S. Pervere
"The Rain Song" Chorus Essay "The Panama Canal" Clarence L. Speed
Read by Gertrude M. Hamilton
"Angling" Albert A. Sheldon
"Legend of Bregenz" Justina V. Curtis
"The Fairies' Revel" Chorus
"Aunt Hitty Tarbox" Marguerite Godfrey
Selection from "The Lady of the Lake"
Raymond J. Godfrey, W. Morrill Young, Roswell G. Wedgewood
"The Gay Gypsies" Chorus
"Class of 1910" Mabel E. Nichols, Dorothy K. Gordon
"Let's Be Laughing' Chorus
Presentation of Diplomas Mr. Albert F. Henderson Chairman of the School Committee
"Barcarolle" Chorus
March
Roger W. Estey
Pianist-Dorothy K. Gordon GRADUATES Justina Veronica Curtis *Marguerite Godfrey *Raymond Judkins Godfrey *Dorothy Kean Gordon Gertrude May Hamilton *Pierce Edward Corbin MacDonald *Mabel Evelyn Nichols *Emma Shove Pervere Albert Alonzo Sheldon Clarence Lester Speed Roswell Gordon Wedgewood William Morrill Young Pupils whose names are marked * have done excellent work.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
SCHOOL STATISTICS 1909-1910
Months and
Days
Number
Enrolled
Boys
Enrolled
Girls
Enrolled
Average
Membership
Average
Per cent of
Number between
5 and 15 years
Number between
7 and 14 years
Number over
15 years
Number under
5 years
Half-Day
Absences
Instances of
Tardiness
Dismissals
Grammar School
9-4
44
25
19
43.8
40.9
93.2
36
28
8
0
1073
131
54
Lower Grammar
9-4
38
19
19
36.5
31.6
86.6
38
38
0
0
1833
94
77
Upper Primary
9-4
35
18
17
34.
30.5
89.9
35
35
0
0
2287
152
67
Primary
9-4
30
15
15
23.7
21
88.5
29
9
0
1
2486
84
14
Total and Averages
147
77
70
138
12.4
89.6
138
110
8
1
7679
461
212
TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, SALARIES, ETC., SEPTEMBER, 1910.
NAMES OF TEACHERS
SCHOOLS
GRADES
SALARY
WHERE EDUCATED
C. Alice Manning
Grammar
VIII-IX
$14.00 per week
Somerville High
Bertha M. Sperry
Lower Grammar
VI-VII
12.00
Salem Normal
Hazel E. Weston
Upper Primary
IV-V
13.00
Salem Normal
Nellie C. Howe
Primary
I-II-III
13.00
Salem Normal
Attendance
Attendance
FLINT
MIDDLET.
PUBLIC
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.