USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1913 > 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).
Attendance
The good attendance noted in my last report was still better for the year 1911-12. Tardiness decreased from 255 to 106 and dismissals from 94 to 67. The fall term had the best record in recent years. The poor attendance is now confined to a very few pupils and their parents should realize that they
(58)
59
SCHOOL REPORT
are depriving their children of advantages which can never be made up to them after they have passed the time when the school can no longer be of service to them.
Text Books and Supplies
The only change in text books during the past year was the addition of new spellers in place of those that were worn be- yond further usefulness, and a set of music books for the gram- mar school. Realizing that teachers can do little work without things to do with, the committee is always ready to supply such material as is needed to carry on all departments of the work successfully. The willingness of the committee to supply the schools so well with text books and appliances arises also from the further fact that the teachers and children exercise the utmost care in the use of the books and economy in the use of supplies. The children are taught that they must respect public property and use carefully whatever is loaned to them.
Free Industrial Schools
It may be well for boys and girls over fourteen years of age to know that they may attend any of the new Industrial schools in Massachusetts at the expense of the Commonwealth.
Section 7 of Chapter 471, Acts of 1911, says:
Art. 1. Any resident of any city or town in Massachus- etts which does not maintain an approved independent indus- trial, agricultural or household arts school, offering the type of training which he desires, may make application for admission to such a school maintained by another city or town. The board of education, whose decision shall be final, may approve or dis- approve such application. In making such a decision the board of education shall take into consideration the opportunities for free vocational training in the community in which the appli- cant resides; the financial status of the community; the age, sex, preparation, aptitude and previous record of the applicant;
60
SCHOOL REPORT
and all other relevant circumstances. Art. 2. The city or town in which the person resides, who has been admitted as above provided, to an approved indepedent industrial, agricul- tural or household arts school maintained by another city or town, shall pay such tuition fee as may be fixed by the board of education; and the commonwealth shall reimburse such city or town, as provided for in this act. If any city or town neg- lects or refuses to pay for such tuition, it shall be liable there- for in an action of contract to the city or town, or cities and towns, maintaining the school which the pupil, with the appro- val of the said board, attended.
The most available of the sixteen free industrial schools in the state for residents of Middleton are the Beverly Industrial School (for boys), the Boston School of Printing and Book- binding (for boys and girls), the Boston Trade School for Girls and Lawrence Industrial School (for boys and girls).
Circulars describing the courses given in these schools may be obtained upon request.
Home Gardens
Through the kindness of Cong. A. P. Gardner and in co- operation with Prof. Hart of the Amherst Agricultural Col- lege, hundreds of packages of seeds, potatoes, corn and beans, were given to the children last spring for their home gardens.
The exhibits of "Home Garden" products at the Topsfield Fair and the prizes awarded them showed that the home gar- den movement was a success. But to make this work of the most value to the children, there should be some plan for fol- lowing up the work during the summer and giving the children help and encouragement at the time when they most need such help and encouragement. Some new plans are being formula- ted by the State College for the coming season and we very much hope that some way may be found to second those plans and carry them forward to most successful results.
61
SCHOOL REPORT
School Record System
There is in use in all but one of the towns of this district a card record system. This system consists of an "Admission, Discharge and Promotion" card for each pupil in the schools, which follows him through his entire course and contains im- portant data concerning his attendance, standing and progress in every grade and room through which he passes. There is also a duplicate "Office Record" card in the hands of the super- intendent. This card is kept up to date by means of reports from the teachers on a third card for that purpose. The "Office Record" card remains in the hands of the superinten- dent after the pupil has been graduated or has left school and to it may be added any important data concerning his after life. A little work in keeping track of the pupils who go out from our schools would furnish for this record much informa- tion that might be of value in later years.
We are also keeping a progressive card record of the re- sults of the sight and hearing tests from year to year and duplicate card record of all text books used in the schools. Each teacher has in her room a set of cards, one card for each set of books giving the number of books in each set in the room, and the superintendent has duplicates of these cards giv- ing, in addition to the number of books, the condition of all books. When any new books are added to the lists or books are transferred from room to room the cards are changed, thus revising the record to date.
Below are given the forms of the slips used, filled in to show how the record is kept up to date.
BOOK RECORD To be kept by the teacher
To the Teacher of Any school: I charge your book account with 5 Smith (Author)
Date
191
(No.)
Adv. Arith. (Title)
62
SCHOOL REPORT
Your number on hand was 10
Your number now is 15
If this is correct, please keep this half of this sheet and re- turn the other half to the Superintendent of Schools.
Signed Supt.
BOOK RECORD To be sent to the Superintendent of Schools
Date 191
Any School.
Received 5
Smith .
Adv. Arith.
(No.)
(Author)
(Title)
My number now on hand is 15
of these books are in good condition
fair condition
66
66
useless
Signed Teacher
Course of Study
There has been but little change in the course of study since the last annual report was made. The course in Civics has been made more practical by the use of Dunn's Community and Citizen, a book introduced last year. The purpose of this work is to interest the pupils in the immediate life of the commun- ity rather than to give them so many facts about the structure of the State and National governments, which properly belong to the work of the high school.
Manual Work
During the past year, the teachers of the intermediate and grammar grades have carried on most successfully much work in manual arts. To show the extent and variety of this work the following lists are given as prepared by the teachers:
63
SCHOOL REPORT
Fourth and Fifth grades
Clay modelling
Hemisphere Bowl, cup, bell.
Cylinder Windmill, mallett, firecracker
Cube Basket, house, etc. Relief Maps North America, United States.
Loom Work
4 Jute mats different designs. Rag Rug by weaving strips of cloth or braided strips.
Raffia Baskets.
Sewing Stitches baste, backstitch, running and overcasting. Articles made Small aprons.
Sixth and Seventh grades
Wood Whittling
Made garden sticks, key rings and paper knives.
Raffia Baskets and doll hats
Sewing Baste, running and hemstitches in making aprons.
Note. These pupils have not had the work now being given in the grade below.
Eighth and Ninth grades
Wood Bookracks and paper knives with original designs, table work baskets, frame for burlap for work display in primary room.
Sewing Review all stitches, cutting and making sewing aprons.
Reed and raffia baskets.
64
SCHOOL REPORT
It has been suggested that instead of having the music supervisor every week we have a lesson once in two weeks and a teacher of sewing be secured for the alternate weeks I am in sympathy with this suggestion and recommend that the com- mittee take the matter under consideration before the opening of another year. With this plan the sewing teacher could in- struct the girls and the regular teacher could give her time to the boys, increasing the value of the work to both boys and girls.
The School Building
I wish to call attention to some very pressing needs in the school building, and the most important is the matter of seats and desks. I have found that in the sixth and seventh grades the seats and desks are the same as were used when the fourth and fifth grade were in that room. They are much too small for the children that occupy them now and are wholly unsuited to the needs of the present time. The building should be refur- nished with modern adjustable desks and seats. This could be done by fitting up one room a year and the expense would not be large. In the second place, the room now occupied by the fourth and fifth grades has exceedingly poor light. There is practically no light from the left of the children, the direction from which most of the light should come. There should be at least two more windows in this room and the seats should be changed so as to receive the light largely from the left.
Again, in a building of four rooms with two on the second floor, there should be an effective fire alarm bell and fire drills should be established. There should also be other signal bells. This bell system would be very inexpensive as it could be in- stalled by the boys with very little help.
The janitor of this school is to be highly commended for the efficient service performed by him. He spares no pains to keep the building neat and clean and is always ready to render assistance to the teachers when needed.
65
SCHOOL REPORT
In Closing
In conclusion I wish to express my highest appreciation of the support given me by the school committee, the co-operation of the teachers and children and the manifest interest of all the parents and citizens in the work of the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
HARVEY R. WILLIAMS, Superintendent of Schools.
February 6, 1913
School Calendar for 1913-1914
March 28, 1913, Schools close for Spring vacation.
13 WEEKS IN TERM
April 7, 1913, Schools open for Spring term.
June 20, 1913, Schools close for Summer vacation.
11 WEEKS IN TERM. Summer vacation 11 weeks
September 8, 1913, Schools open for Fall term
November 26, 1913, Thanksgiving Recess.
December 1, 1913, Schools open.
December 19, 1913, Schools close for Christmas vacation.
15 WEEKS IN TERM.
December 29, 1913, Schools open for Winter term.
March 27, 1914, Schools close for Spring vacation.
13 WEEKS IN TERM.
April 6, 1914, Schools open for Spring term of 11 weeks.
66
SCHOOL REPORT
Eye and Ear Tests, Sept. 1912
Number of pupils examined 141
Number defective in eyesight 14
Number defective in hearing 3
Notices sent to parents
10
School Census, Sept. 1912
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age
Boys 87
Girls 79
Total
166
Number of children between 7 and 14 years of age
Boys
61
Girls
57
Total 118
Illiterate minors over 14 years of age
1
Registration and Average Age by Grades, Sept. 1912
Grade I 20 pupils
Av. age 5 yrs. 10 mo.
" 6 " 8 "
Grade II 3
Grade III 9
Grade IV 17 66
66
9
10
4 66
Grade VI 15
66
" 11
11
66'
Grade VII 19
12 9
Grade VIII 17
Grade IX 14
" 13 14
66
8
66
11 66
" 7 " 9
Grade V 17 66
67
SCHOOL REPORT
Roll of Honor
The following pupils have not been absent for the time named. Stars indicate that they have not been tardy.
FIRST GRAMMAR
2 yrs. * Ruby Richardson
1 year *Martha Groce
2 terms *Raymond Currier
1 year *Felton Metcalf
1 year *Laura Peabody
1 term *Gertrude Peabody
1 term *Myrtle Peabody · 1 term Edward Tynan
SECOND GRAMMAR
3 terms Gladys Currier
2 terms *Helen Irving
2 terms *Gladys Mayo
2 terms *Raymond McKenney
2 terms *Marion Peabody
2 terms Lawrence St Jean
1 term *Stewart Baranaby 1 term *Evelyn Brown
· 1 term *James Flynn 1 term *Aldine Gardner
1 term George Hatch 1 term *Marguerite Kelley
1 term *Marion MacDonald 1 term *Leon Soper
1 term Frank Swidersky
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
3 terms *Esther Ogden 3 terms *Gertrude Rowell
3 terms *Mildred Irving 2 terms *Dorothy Collins
2 terms *Vera Soper
1 term *Milton Evans
1 term *Percy Lewis 1 term *Serena Russell
1 term *Harriet Hood 1 term *Porter Durkee
1 term *Mary Whiting
PRIMARY SCHOOL
2 years John Reilly 1 year William Roberts
1 year Elliot Rowell 2 terms *Howard Hood
2 terms *George Soper 1 term *Antone Azulay
1 term Frank Bryer 1 term *Jennie Flynn
1 term *Fred Maynard 1 term *Grant Morrison
1 term *Annie Sanford 1 term *Ruth Soper
1 term Maurice Tyler 1 term *Fred Tynan
1 term *Mary Tynan
68
SCHOOL REPORT
Middleton Grammar School-Graduation Exercises Monday Evening, June 24, 1912
Program
March
H. Maude Bent Myrtle E. Peabody
"The Pilot"
Chorus
Prayer
Rev. Dorrall Lee
Welcome and Recitation, "Home, Sweet Home"
Myrtle E. Peabody
Declamation, "The Dignity of Labor" Ernest F. Pevere
"The Old Kentucky Home" Chorus
Essay, "The Education of Boys" . Jennie E. Jones Recitation, "The Sun Browned Dads of Maine" E. Lloyd Hatch
Declamation, " The Union Soldier" Frederick A. Merrill
Solo, " To the Rose" . G. Ethelyn Fuller Essay, "We Build the Ladder by which we Rise"
Martha F. Groce
Recitation, " The Dandy Fifth" Adelaide L. Morgan
Class Prophecy
G. Ethelyn Fuller
Class Will and Closing Words Ethel M. Perkins
"A Summer Holiday" Chorus
Presentation of Class
Mr. H. R. Williams
Supt. of Schools
Presentation of Diplomas
Mr. Frank S. Perkins Chairman of School Board
"Queen of Night''
Chorus
69
SCHOOL REPORT
GRADUATES
Hetty Maude Bent
Grace Ethelyn Fuller
Martha Franklin Groce Elwin Lloyd Hatch
Jennie Edith Jones Frederick Arthur Merrill Adelaide Lucretia Morgan
Myrtle Etta Peabody Ethel Maude Perkins
Ernest Franklin Pevere
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, 1911-1912
Schools
Length of
Year
Number
Enrolled
Boys
Girls
Enrolled
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Percent of
Number between
5 and 15 years
Number between
7 and 14 years
Number over
15 years
Number under
5 years
Half Day
Absences
Tardiness
Dismissals
M. D.
First Grammar
9-8
26
8
18
25.9
24.8 30.
96. 95. 91.5
36
36
0
0
382 1133
12
20
Second Grammar
9-8
36
19
17
31.5
37.1
33.9 34.
92.3
34
14
0
2
1027
28
7
Totals and Averages
138
73
65
131.2
122.7
93.7
122
98
14
2
3193
106
67
DIRECTORY OF TEACHERS, 1912-1913
NAMES OF TEACHERS
SCHOOLS
WHEN APPOINTED
GRADES
SALARY
WHERE EDUCATED
C. Alice Manning Caroline Knight
1st Grammar 2nd Grammar
1912
VI-VII
429.00
Salem Normal
Ella L. Richardson
Intermediate
1912
IV-V
507.00
Plymouth, N. H., Normal
Mrs. A. F. Henderson
Intermediate
Substitute
IV-V
Nellie C. Howe*
Primary
1889
I-II-III
507.00
Salem Normal
Genie Fuller Kimball Genorie P. Solomon
Music Drawing
1912
All All
150.00
Holyoke
1911
80.00
1
0
651
18
21
Intermediate Primary
9-8
40
19
21
39
35
9-8
36
27
9
36.7
13
13
13
0
48
19
Somerville High
1902
VIII-IX
$546.00
Salem Normal
Enrolled
Attendance
1
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.