USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1897-1899 > Part 21
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When the present works were built in 1855, "The iron couplings used for connecting the wooden logs of the old aqueduct in this town, were found to have been diminished in their capacity for conveying water more than seventy- five per cent., by the accumulation of these tubercles." Again "In 1887 a joint of 12-inch cast-iron pipe, which had been used only six years at the pump station was removed, and found to have been reduced in diameter one inch by ac- cumulation of rust; that is it had lost more than one-seventh of its original capacity to carry water."
Such is not the experience of this town with wrought-iron, cement-lined pipe.
Whenever occasion has occurred to remove any portion of a pipe, it has been found to be of full capacity of bore, de- livering as much water today as it did 45 years ago.
In these days of electric street railways and lights, a new source of deterioration to cast-iron pipes has developed, viz., the electrolysis of the iron. The return current causes rapid oxidation of the pipes at certain points. The pipes soon be- come pitted to a considerable depth, and in many cases have caused considerable trouble.
So far as the committee is aware, no inconvenience has been noticed in this town from this source. This fact, so far as it applies, appears to be favorable to the continued use of the same kind of pipe which the town has used for nearly half a century. That the pipe is of sufficient strength to with- stand any service that may be demanded of it, has already been proven in the test of seven years already referred to- 1879-1886-where the pipe was subjected daily to an alter- nating pressure whose maximum was much greater than that to be had from the present high-service reservoir.
The method of constructing this pipe has been greatly improved since the first pipes were laid in this town, and
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while the principle remains the same, the details of manu- facture are in the direction of making a more perfect pipe; one more easily laid, and more readily preserved from de- terioration.
In this connection it may be mentioned that a sub-com- mittee of two members of the committee visited New Haven to investigate the present methods of manufacturing this style of pipe. They obtained much valuable information which will be available to the town in case the work under consideration should be performed.
In conclusion the committee recommend that the town lay the following quantities of pipes in the streets and routes as designated, with the necessary gates and hydrants in con- formity with the general plan outlined above:
From the high-service reservoir to Sandwich street via the Nook road 6,600 feet, 12-inch pipe; in Market, Main and Court streets, 4,200 feet, 12-inch pipe; in Standish avenue, Oak, Spooner and Court streets, 6,100 feet 10-inch pipe; in Sandwich street from Jabez Corner to Spring Hill, 5,200 feet, 10-inch pipe; from Jabez Corner, south on Sandwich street to Bramhall Corner, 6,400 feet, 6-inch or 8-inch pipe; for connections with cross streets 500 feet, 6-inch pipe; for connections with cross streets and hydrants, 2,500 feet, 4- inch pipe.
Estimate of Cost.
10,800 feet, 12-inch,
$10,800 00
11,300 feet, 10-inch,
9,040 00
6,900 feet, 6-inch,
3,450 00
2,500 feet, 4-inch,
1,000 00
35 hydrants,
1,200 00
85 gates from 12-inch to 4-inch,
2,500 00
$27,990 00
Add 10 per cent.,
2,799 00
$30,789 00
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These estimates are approximate only, but are believed to be ample to cover the cost of construction.
INCREASE ROBINSON. JOHN H. DAMON. E. F. SHERMAN.
H. P. BAILEY.
G. W. BRADFORD. NATHANIEL MORTON.
WILLIAM W. BREWSTER.
G. F. HOLMES. GEORGE MABBETT.
WALTER H. SEARS.
PLYMOUTH, MASS., June 23, 1899.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE YEAR
1 899
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TERM EXPIRES.
ELIZABETH THURBER,
1902
WILLIAM W. BREWSTER,
190I
CHARLES A. STRONG,
1900
Chairman, WILLIAM W. BREWSTER.
Secretary, ELIZABETH THURBER.
Superintendent of Schools, FRANCIS J. HEAVENS.
At its next annual meeting the Town will choose four per- sons to serve on the School Committee; two for three years, one for two years, and one for one year.
A regular meeting of the School Committee is held at their room in the Town House, on the first Monday of each month, and usually by adjournment on the third Monday, at 7 :15 P. M.
The office hours of the Superintendent on every school day are, morning, 8:30 to 9, and afternoon, I :15 to 2.
CALENDAR FOR 1900.
Winter Term began
Summer Term begins
Fall Term begins
Winter Term begins
Monday, January 1, 1900.
Monday, April 9, 1900. Monday, September 10, 1900. Monday, December 31, 1900. Vacations.
Easter recess-from Friday, March 30, to Monday, April 9, 1900. Summer vacation-from Friday, June 29, to Mon- day, September 10, 1900. Christmas recess-from Friday, December 21, to Monday, December 31, 1900.
Holidays.
Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee present their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1899, also the reports of the Su- perintendent of Schools and of the Truant Officer.
The Town Treasurer credits the School Department with-
Unexpended balance of preceding year,
$940 50
Appropriation for school purposes,
35,000 00
From the Murdock fund,
18 25
Rebate on bill of books,
8 16
$35,966 91
Expenditures as per statement,
35,883 56
Unexpended,
$83 35
CLASSIFIED EXPENDITURES.
Salaries,
$24,780 20
Books and supplies,
2,755 47
Fuel and light,
2,778 53
Repairs,
1,891 75
Printing,
63 75
Truant Officer,
100 00
Janitor and care of school houses,
1,934 70
Furniture and furnishing,
19 78
Maintenance of heating apparatus,
921 98
Freight and teaming,
125 53
Transportation,
312 10
Incidentals,
199 77
$35,883 56
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The item, maintenance of heating apparatus, was an ex- penditure of the previous year, and was so presented by the committee. The actual expenditures of the year were $34,961.58.
The teachers' salaries consume the larger part of the money given for the schools, and for a long time each annual report has drawn attention to the loss of efficiency due to our paying less than many other school departments. In this respect the past year has been particularly unfortunate, and that we have not met with even greater losses is due to the loyal affection for parents and homes that has retained with us teachers who are sought at double the compensation which we pay to them. This problem must be met, and will present itself to the enlarged committee of next year. They may feel that concession must be made by the taxpayer to the just demands of these loyal public servants, and we bespeak the careful consideration of every voter for that part of the Superintendent's report in which he explains this matter.
It has been suggested that some plan be adopted for train- ing teachers in connection with the regular work of our schools, but we have hesitated to consider any plan which would have to be worked out by the larger committee. Such plans do not have the approval of the State authorities, who are desirous that a normal school or college training be made obligatory on all teachers. We are not able to conform to their theory. We have not always been able to get satis- factory teachers with proper training, and have had to accept some who gained experience at the cost of the pupils. It would be better for all concerned if more of the aspirants for teachers' positions were willing, and felt able, to fit themselves before taking up their work.
The increased attendance at the school in Chiltonville, taught by Miss Kate W. Sampson, made it obligatory that the building should be replaced by a new one, or the old one be enlarged and improved. This school had no yard, and its out buildings were unfortunately placed. Through the
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kindness of Mr. Eben D. Jordan, we have been given land sufficient to enable us to make the conditions here very satis- factory, and at a very moderate cost.
The work of enlarging and repairing has been included in the item of repairs, in the regular expenses. The deed of gift imposes upon the town the maintenance of a suitable fence, and provides for the return of the title to the donor when the land is no longer used for school purposes.
At the opening of the fall term, the attendance of the school at South Ponds had become so reduced as to make it necessary that the school be closed, temporarily at least, and the scholars be transported to the school at Russell Mills. This school building is a good one, and should be main- tained in good repair, that it may be used again, when there is need of it. The town has three small buildings which are no longer to be used for school purposes, and we recommend that the Selectmen be authorized to dispose of them. One is at Darby, one on the Gurnet, and the third is at Indian Brook.
Each year we are obliged to spend more money for the transportation of scholars to and from school. New demands are being made upon the committee for transportation by those who feel that it is the business of the town to relieve them of the disadvantages of the location of their homes, while in other cases this expenditure stands for an improve- ment in school work, or a saving in other items. The voters have not yet given to the committee any authority, or in- struction, as to the extent or methods of transportation, and we have acted at our discretion, under the authority given by the laws of the State. It is not always easy to determine where lines should be drawn.
As stated in our last report, the four room building on Whiting street has been equipped with modern heating and ventilating apparatus, but the appropriation being insuf- ficient to meet the cost of the work done, we were obliged
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to postpone the furnishing with suitable sanitary fixtures. The basement provides ample room for these fixtures; two ventilating shafts, now unused, are available to be connected with the basement, and the sewer has been brought to a convenient point for connection with the building. The present out buildings are inconvenient and unsightly, and have been repeatedly objected to by the neighbors.
We therefore recommend an appropriation of six hun- dred dollars to meet the cost of fitting this building with closets and urinals. It would be well to attend to this build- ing the present year, for other improvements will soon be needed, probably next year.
The schools at the north end of the town are now full, but not crowded, and the largenumber of houses recently erected, and in process of erection, make it very evident that addi- tional school room will soon be needed there. We think that the town should adhere to the policy it has recently adopted of concentrating its school buildings, and that this can be economically and wisely done by building on the front of building No. 3, now occupied by Miss O'Brien's school. The present room would then have the advantage of a modern system of heating and ventilating, the new school rooms would have a pleasant and desirable location, and the town would save the cost of a lot.
We present herewith the report of the Superintendent of Schools asking its careful consideration as a fuller explana- tion of the lines along which the Superintendent and the committee have worked in entire harmony in their efforts to faithfully execute the trusts you have assigned to them.
We have to ask for the same amount as was appropriated last year for the support of schools and the purchase of books and supplies, thirty-five thousand dollars, and for the special appropriation of $600, already explained.
WILLIAM W. BREWSTER. ELIZABETH THURBER. CHARLES A. STRONG.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Plymouth:
The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year 1899 is herewith respectfully submitted for your consideration.
The schools have had a prosperous year. Their work has been done quietly but earnestly and with good results.
Your attention is called to the following statistics :
I.
I. Number of school buildings in use, 26
2. Number school rooms in use, including High School, 44
II.
3. Number of teachers employed, 46
High School, 7
Grammar schools, 13
Primary schools, 20
Ungraded schools,
4
Music,
I
Drawing, I
46
III.
4. Whole number of pupils enrolled for the year, 1,758
Number under 7 years of age, 367
between 7 and 14 years, 1,023
between 14 and 15 years,
216
over 15 years, 152
1,758
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5. Present (Jan. 1, 1900), enroll- ment in all schools, 1,543
Average membership, 1,473
6. Average membership of all schools, 1,452
7. Average daily attendance, 1,358
8. Per cent. of attendance, 93.4
9. Number days absence of pupils, 17,330
IO. Number of cases of tardiness, 5,227
II. Number of cases of dismissal before close of school session, 1,714
12. Number cases of truancy reported by teachers, 4I
I3. Number days of teachers' absence from school, 54
14. Number visits made by Superintendent, 791
IV.
15. Assessed valuation of real and per- sonal property in Plymouth, May I, 1899, $7,085,755 00
I6. Percentage of valuation expended for schools in 1899, current expenses, .00392
17. Expense per pupil on average mem- bership, $19 14
18. Expense per pupil on same for all schools of the State, 1898-1899, 22 42
I9. Average expense per pupil for books and supplies, I 72
20. Average expense per pupil for draw- ing supplies, 17
V.
21. Average expense per pupil for whole enrollment (1758) on aggregate ex- penditure for schools ($34,961.58) in 1899,
19 88
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22. Same on enrollment in 1898, 19 99
23. Average expense per pupil in average membership on aggregate expendi- ture in 1899, 24 07
24. Same on average membership in 1898,
24 30
25. Average monthly wages of men teach- ers in Plymouth in 1899, 100 00
26. Average monthly wages paid men teachers in the State, 136 23
27. Average monthly wages paid women teachers in Plymouth, including all High School teachers, except the pricipal, in 1899, 40 0I
28. Same paid women teachers in the State in 1898-1899, 51 43
In table IV. the items are based upon the average mem- bership of the schools. Items 16 and 17 are based upon the amount paid for teachers' salaries, fuel and light, janitors and transportation of pupils. This amount ($27,805.53) is regarded as the current expenses of the schools, and is the sum to be certified to the State authorities as having been raised by taxation and expended "for the support of the public schools." It may be seen from the statistics that nearly every item of expense for the year 1899 has been less per pupil, both on the total enrollment and on the average membership of the schools, than the expense for the same purposes the preceding year. A little larger amount ($66.67) was spent for the current expenses last year than the year before, but the increased membership of the schools made the expense smaller per pupil than that for the year 1898.
Nearly all these statistics are called for each year by the State authorities for incorporation in their annual report. They are here given a little more in detail that those who wish may know definitely how much of the money ap- propriated for the use of the school department is spent, and for what purposes.
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ATTENDANCE.
The record of attendance for the year shows a small in- crease in the whole number of pupils enrolled, in the aver- age membership, and in the average daily attendance over the record of the preceding year. The percentage of atten- dance is a little higher also. There has been no unusual amount of sickness the past year to interfere seriously with school attendance. Many cases of contagious diseases have appeared, but the promptness with which the Board of Health has reported to the School Department all cases which have been brought to its notice, has enabled us at once to exclude from school all children who come from house- holds where any contagious disease exists. These children are not admitted again to school until they present to the teacher a certificate from a physician or from the Board of Health stating that all danger is past. No doubt many cases have eluded all our vigilance, but it is our intention to keep the public schools, so far as the condtions will allow, free from danger of disease.
Our attendance record for the past year is a fair one. We cannot hope to make it very much better as a whole in a town as sparsely settled as this is. In most of the schools teachers and pupils are to be congratulated upon the spirit which has enabled them to reach and continue so good a record. It is as essential to train pupils to fixed habits of promptness, punctuality and regularity of attendance as it is to train them in other lines of work at school, and all reason- able means used to secure these virtues are commendable. There are some schools, however, in which the ambition of pupils to reach and preserve a high attendance record causes unjust and unkind treatment of those of their mates, who for unavoidable causes, must sometimes be absent from school. Often, too, earnest and responsive children will risk their health rather than lower their own record or that of the school. The duty of the teachers in such cases is plain.
*
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On the other hand there are other pupils whose attend- ance at school is fitful, who have no ambition or interest to do well themselves or to cease being a hindrance to the well doing of others. If the irregular attendance of such pupils is caused by indifference or wilfulness, every spur and in- centive should be employed to stop it. It is much pleasanter for all concerned to let such cases alone; but it is these pupils who are a menace to the school and later to the community if their irregularity is allowed to continue unchecked. Their development into delinquents, offenders, and, later, criminals is usually sure. For such children's highest welfare and in its own defense the State has enacted stringent laws; and no false sentiment should be allowed to interfere with invoking their aid when that seems the proper remedy.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
The average membership of all the schools in December was 1,473, of this number 779, about 53 per cent. of the whole number, were in the primary schools-grades one to four, inclusive-and distributed in twenty school rooms, giving an average number of forty pupils to a teacher. While there is a considerable increase in the number of children in attendance this year over the number of last year, they have been more evenly distributed, so that none of these schools are crowded. The plan of admitting new pupils to the lowest grade only at the opening of the schools in the fall term is working well; it brings into the schools at the beginning of the year all, or nearly all of those chil- dren who are eligible for admission, prevents the crowding of the schools in the spring, and the rearrangement and transferring of children made necessary by over-full schools, and renders the conditions for work and results secured much more satisfactory for teachers and pupils. Each year the lowest primary classes admit 50 to 200 children from five to eight years of age, varying greatly in their training, ability
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and capacity. Not a few of these children come from homes which do not furnish them the nourishment their bodies need, and where there is little provision for their mental or moral development. Some of them cannot speak the Eng- Ish language, and others who can speak it rarely hear it except at school. Side by side with these children are others who are well nourished in body and mind, well trained and of good capacity. All these children must be classed together with little regard to age, ability or previous training. It is often the case that the teacher has not seen one of the thirty or forty assigned to her until she finds them grouped about her on the first day of school. To discover their individual needs, and, if possible, supply them, to determine their various capacities and assign work suited to the ability of each, to train all to habit of cleanliness, industry, orderliness, neatness, obedience and respect for the rights of others, these duties and many others of a like nature belong to the teacher in every primary school, and it is of the utmost im- portance to the sucess of the children's future work that these duties be well done.
The work of the primary school teacher is most important and demands more substantial recognition. Nowhere are tact, patience, preseverance and skill put to better and more profitable service than when employed by the teacher in the primary school. Not all who try can meet the requirements of the teacher's position. Those who do meet them are in great demand. Higher salaries or positions more to their liking are responsible for changes of teachers in more than one-third of all our primary schools during the past year. The losses caused to the pupils in the schools where these frequent changes occur are, in most cases, irreparable; but the changes will be avoidable only when we can offer suf- ficient inducement to retain the good teachers we have, and to secure successful teachers to fill vacancies which occur. That the work of the primary schools, notwithstanding some
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adverse conditions, goes on from day to day and from month to month with so little friction and with so much pleasure and profit and lasting good, speaks well for the earnestness and practical skill of the teachers in those schools.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The grammar schools, including grades five to nine, have an average yearly membership of 524 pupils in thirteen school rooms, giving an average number of forty pupils to a teacher. At Mount Pleasant School two rooms have had more pupils than could well be provided for; elsewhere the accommodations have been ample.
The general spirit of the schools, the relations existing be- tween teachers and pupils are good. Children go to school because they like to go, and their work is done willingly. This is generally true. There are a few pupils who go to school because they must go, who are there as little as possi- ble, who do no more work than they are obliged to do, and who, when present, make themselves a hindrance and an- noyance to the rest of the school. Home training, or the lack of it, is in many instances responsible for these cases, and when an appeal is made to the home to exercise its in- fluence to support the school for the welfare of the child it is often found easier to throw all responsibility in the matter upon the school. There are such cases in the best schools; no teacher can hope to escape them except by re- forming them.
The schools, both primary and grammar, are comfortably housed and seated, and as well graded as present conditions permit. They are not overcrowded, their general spirit is good, and their discipline, in the main, rational and efficient. At no time during my connection with the schools have they been so well provided as they are now with more or better appliances for awakening and stimulating the in-
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terest of both teachers and pupils in their work. But when circumstances are most propitious, when the pupils are sup- plied with all the helps the modern school can furnish, when the conditions of the school leave the teacher the most at liberty to do her real work-that of teaching-there is danger lest the teacher forget or mistake the purpose of these conditions, and allow them to defeat the end for which they are sought. They give opportunity to the teacher to help, lead and assist pupils much more than is good for them, and thereby develop in them that helpless, dependent spirit which is fatal to successful work anywhere. It is the convictionof many competent and fair-minded critics that the helps and aids and methods of the modern school all con- spire to make the way too easy for the pupil. They believe that he is helped too much, and too often is not left alone to meet and wrestle with the difficulties and problems of his work, and to gain therefrom that sturdy independence in thinking and that self reliance and good judgment which we are led to believe characterized the majority of pupils years ago.
The school curriculum of today demands much of both teacher and pupil. Apparently much more can be accom- plished in a given time if the teacher works with her pupils, and is to them an ever present help. No doubt pupils learn more rapidly in this way, they know more things, their knowledge is wider and more varied. But if this desirable gain is accomplished with the loss of opportunity to gain power in independent thinking the work is a failure. The power to think, to reason and to form correct judgments is a test of real growth, and anything which interferes with the opportunity of the pupil to acquire this power is a serious evil. "Too much is done for pupils, too little by them. Close application, greater self activity and self dependence, more sturdy wrestling with difficulties and less coddling and vicarious effort on the part of the teacher is needed to pro-
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