USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1914 > Part 10
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5
Elementary School Teachers,
55
Teachers of Special Subjects,
5
High School Pupils,
278
Elementary School Pupils,
2,077
Janitors, 16
Meetings of the school committee are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, supplemented by special meet- ings when necessary. The school board devotes itself to ques- tions of policy, asking for appropriations, and supervising ex-
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penditures, and delegates to its executive officer the details of administration. There are no sub-committees.
THE SCHOOL PLANT
The school plant of any school system should be considered of primary importance, for the health of the child is paramount. Visits to the various school buildings will convince one that an attempt is being made to better the physical conditions of the class-rooms. On the whole the buildings are in excellent re- pair.
Each committee takes upon itself the heritage of former com- mittees, and they in turn have undoubtedly laid a foundation accepted as satisfactory during their incumbency.
The following suggestions may be useful in future work.
Blackboards. The blackboards, now a misnomer, as almost all writing surfaces consist of slate, are too high in every room containing a first grade, with one exception. Those at the Lin- coln Street Primary schoolhouse are properly placed. The majority of the others in the first-grade rooms are higher than those in the upper grammar grades or at the High School.
Lighting. The natural lighting of our school buildings in some respects is at variance with accepted standards. We have 29 rooms lighted on the left and rear; 11 lighted on the right, left and rear; 8 lighted on the right and left; 8 lighted on the right and rear, and 2 lighted on the front, left and rear. In other words, we have 50 per cent of the rooms lighted improp- erly as far as location of windows are concerned, and of the remaining 29 rooms with light from the rear and the left, only one room has the lighting which approximates correctness. Sev- eral rooms with lighting from the left and rear have the excess of light from the rear causing the body to cast a shadow on the desk.
The lighting of school-rooms should be urilateral, the light
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coming from the pupil's left on the supposition that all pupils are right-handed. If a school were composed of left-handed pupils the light should come from the right. If, perchance, supplemental light is imperative, the light should come from the rear. This rear light should always be weaker than the side light, otherwise the body will cast a shadow on the desk.
Too much is usually left to the architect who cares more for the external appearance of the building than its adaptation to the pupils' needs. The windows should be so near one another that they appear like one large window, and should extend as near the ceiling as the construction of the building will warrant. No window should be placed on the left, in front or in back of, the pupils' seats. The ratio of window space to floor space should be not less than one to five or at least 20 per cent in any instance, and a standard of one to four or 25 per cent should be adopted. Deficiency in window space may be partially made up by the use of prism glass.
Janitor Work. The janitor work of the schools is satis- factory. There are plenty of opportunities to criticise if the school houses were expected to be scrupulously clean in every detail. As it is, however, they are a credit to those who care for them. Much work falls to the lot of the janitor, that is left untold. In the large buildings it is impossible for one per- son to do more than keep each building in a passably neat con- dition. Few have any idea of the janitor's work. Besides car- ing for the fires, sweeping and dusting, which is constant, he must oil floors, supervise boys in basement, keep the playground presentable, have well swept walks in front of the building, adjust and repair seats and desks, look after supplies, clean win- dows, and perform other work of infinite variety. Plymouth is fortunate in having such an efficient number of janitors.
Ventilation, Heating and Humidity. Lectures to the teach- ers by experts on the aforementioned subjects, would do much for the children in our public schools. Many of the teachers do not seem to understand the system of heating and ventilating which they are called upon to regulate.
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Water Supply. Bubbling fountains are in use at most of the schoolhouses. A few are unsatisfactory, and the teachers have expressed their opinion in regard to them in no uncertain way. Several buildings are still without fountains, viz, Allerton. St., Spooner St., Cliff St., and Chiltonville Primary.
Toilets. The inadequacy of the toilet facilities at the Cornish building was brought to the attention of the committee, and during the summer vacation four new stalls, at considerable ex- pense, were provided for the girls. At the Cornish and the Mt. Pleasant buildings the toilet-stall doors had for some time been unhinged ; these were ordered back, making bad conditions bet- ter. The number of stalls at the Hedge building is under the number considered to be sufficient.
Dimensions. We have, exclusive of the High School, 23 rooms with length greater than the standard set by Boston, 34 with length less and one identical. We have 46 rooms with width greater than Boston, and 12 with width less. These larger dimensions mean an economic waste.
Desks and Seats. Plymouth has a commendable number of adjustable desks and seats. The non-adjustable furniture may be found as follows :-
Cold Spring, Grade II, 23 desks and chairs.
Russell Mills, 48
"
" "
Cliff Street, 27 " "
Chiltonville Grammar, 29 " " "
Chiltonville Primary, 31 " " "
Cedarville, 30
,, " "
Long Pond, 12
" " "
Allerton Street, 22
Cold Spring, Gr. III, 37 "
Total, 259
Many other details of the school rooms are on file at the Superintendent's office.
Plymouth Fifteen
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The distribution of the teachers and pupils follow :-
School
No. of Teachers
No. of Pupils
Boys
Girls
. High,
11
278
126
152
Hedge,
9
380
177
203
Knapp,
9
374
189
185
Cornish,
9
306
153
153
Mt. Pleasant,
6
240
118
122
Morton
4
142
66
76
Chiltonville, 4 bldgs., 4
96
54
42
Burton,
4
144
64
80
Manomet,
2
50
31
19
Oak Street,
2
82
37
45
Cold Spring,
2
72
35
37
Lincoln St. Primary, 2
55
31
24
Spooner Street,
1
21
11
10
Alden Street,
1
37
18
19
Allerton Street,
1
27
12
15
Wellingsley,
1
19
10
9
Cedarville,
1
9
5
4
Vallerville,
1
15
8
Long Pond,
1
8
5
3
71
2,355
1,150
1,205
Special teachers,
excluding High, 4
Total No. teachers, 75
Number of teachers regularly employed.
1900, 44
1907, 58
1901, 47
1908, 59
1902, 48
1909, 58
1903, 51
1910, 60
1904, 51
1911, 61
1905, 54
1912, 61
1906, 57
1913, 70
1914, 75
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The number of buildings and rooms are as follows :- Number of buildings in use.
Number of Rooms
Containing 9 rooms, 1
9
Containing 8 rooms, 2
16
Containing 6 rooms,
1
6
Containing 4 rooms,
2
8
Containing 2 rooms,
4
8
Containing 1 room,
11
11
58
High School,
1
Domestic Science Bldg.,
1
23
AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP OF ALL SCHOOLS
1898
1903
1907
1910
1914
1,421
1,587
1,878
2,065
2,228
COST PER PUPIL.
1896 $17.92
1914 $20.38
Teachers,
Books and supplies,
2.61
2.13
Fuel and Light,
1.96
2.53
Repairs,
1.08
1.54
Janitors and care of schoolhouses,
1.40
2.02
Superintendent,
1.62
.90
Attendance Officer,
.08
.05
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THE COURSE OF STUDY
During the last school year, grade meetings of all elementary teachers were held at the Superintendent's office. The teacher's point of view was taken into consideration, and a printed course of study was the result.
Time allotment tables were issued and programs made ac- cordingly. Thus the work throughout the town is as uniform as is desirable. A booklet of sixty-four pages, containing the Course of Study, may be procured by any citizen for the asking.
The Course of Study for the elementary schools prescribes seventeen subjects, viz :-
Moral Instruction
Geography
Physical Exercises
History
Reading
Physiology and Hygiene
Spelling
Nature Study
Language
Household Arts
Grammar
Manual Training
Arithmetic
Drawing
Writing
Music
Thrift
Teachers are encouraged to teach rather than to talk; to give practical rather than uncommon words in spelling, to eliminate much in arithmetic; to minimize the learning of dates; to ex- clude from the lessons much that is unrelated to the needs of life work; to cultivate the reasoning powers rather than to bur- den the memory with detached and isolated facts; to see that too much in teaching is artificial ; to have inexhaustible patience with the mentally sound but slow, and to realize that the great- est function of the teacher is to cause the child to think.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Plymouth is spending more than $22.50 per inhabitant to meet the cost of the town government. A little over one-fourth
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of the money appropriated by direct taxation is used for the running expenses of the schools. The per capita cost for in- struction in the High School was $39.00, and the per capita cost for High School support was $52.00. The per capita cost for the elementary grades was $27.00.
The amount of money expended in salaries is more than all other regular school expenses combined. That is, the pay roll including teachers, superintendent, clerk, school physician and school nurse exceeds $51,000. This leaves less than $20,000 for cost of operation, including fuel, janitors and repairs, text books, supplies, transportation, tuition, and miscellaneous ex- penses.
SALARIES
Through the courtesy of Supt. Atwell of Wakefield, the fol- lowing table, giving the maximum and minimum salaries of twenty-nine places in Massachusetts, is presented.
The minimum salaries given for the elementary schools in Plymouth coincides with those paid in the central schools, and the minimum salaries for the High School coincides with the salaries paid to teachers who recently entered the service of the Plymouth department with experience.
Among other deductions it may be noticed that the majority of places pay a greater maximum salary to High School teach- ers than does Plymouth. It will also be seen that the annual increase for teachers in the elementary schools is smaller in Plymouth than in the majority of other towns listed.
Salary Schedule.
Name of City or Town
Grade Teachers
High School Teachers
Minimum
Maximum
Annual Increase
Minimum
Maximum
Annual Increase
Arlington,
Ass't 500
800
50 except for last 2 yrs., $25,
700
900
50
Attleboro,
500
700
Braintree,
500
700
50
600
750-800
50
Brookline,
-
1000
-
1500
Clinton,
450
1-6
650
650
1000 female
1400 male
Concord,
550
750
600
900
Dedham
-
8
750
-
-
-
Danvers,
400
600
50
500
Framingham,
400
600
50
600
850
50
Marlboro,
500
625
not fixed
not fixed
825
not fixed
Melrose,
500
700
50
650
850
50
Methuen,
380
650
38
not fixed
800
50
Milford,
400
600
25 & 30
600
950
50
Natick,
500
650
50
600
800
50
Newburyport,
350
600
50
600°
1100 male 950 female
vote of com.
Norwood,
500
700
50
700
850
50
North Attleboro,
450
650
50
600
900
50
Peabody,
450
650
50
600
850
50
Plymouth,
500
625
25
700
800 female
50
Reading,
500
6-7
650
550
1000
8
700
-
-
-
Saugus,
500
600
50
600
700
50
Southbridge,
$11 week
550
800
50
Stoneham,
500
650
25
600
700
50
Wakefield,
450
650
25
800
50
Watertown,
not fixed
.700
50
not fixed
900
50
Webster,
$10 week
$16 weck
40
600
900
100
Weymouth,
450
700
50
600
900
100
Winchester,
1-6
750
none
$25 or $50
none
950
.$50 or $100
Winthrop,
650
750
25
750
950
50
-
700
850
7-8
700
9
750
1-7
700
900
9
925
-
-- 230-
-
7-8
800
-
1-5
600
-
Reg. 600
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TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
The retirement system for teachers passed by the General Court, took effect July 1, 1914. Teachers entering the service after that date are required to become members of the associa- tion. Membership of teachers who were in service before that date is optional. More than 7,000 teachers throughout the State have already become members, and more than 6,000 of these are voluntary members, having been in service prior to July 1, 1914. Retiring allowances have been granted to one hundred and thirty teachers, who are more than sixty years of age.
Twenty-nine Plymouth teachers have taken advantage of the law, and are paying into the treasury of the Commonwealth 5 per cent of their salary, or the aggregated yearly sum of nearly $1,200.
Number of Teachers
Each Paying Monthly
Total Monthly $20.00
Total Yearly $200.00
2
$10.00
1
5.00
5.00
50.00
2
4.25
8.50
85.00
3
4.00
12.00
120.00
21
3.50
73:50
735.00
29
$119.00
$1190.00
This new law has placed the following duties upon the school committee :---
Duties of the School Committee
Section 9. (1) The school committee of each town and city in the commonwealth shall, before employing in any teaching position any person to whom this act may apply, notify such person of his duties and obligations under this act as a condition of his employment.
(2) On or before October first of each year the school com- mittee of each town and city in the commonwealth shall certify
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to the retirement board the names of all teachers to whom this act shall apply.
(3) The school committee of each town and city in the com- monwealth shall, on the first day of each calendar month notify the retirement board of the employment of new teachers, re- movals, withdrawals, changes in salary of teachers, that shall have occurred during the month preceding.
(4) Under the direction of the retirement board the school committee of each town or city in the commonwealth shall fur- nish such other information as the board may require relevant to the discharge of the duties of the board.
,
(5) The school committee of each town and city in the Com- monwealth shall, as directed by the retirement board, deduct from the amount of the salary due each teacher employed in the public schools of such city or town such amounts as are due as contributions to the annuity fund as prescribed in this act, shall send to the treasurer of said town or city a statement as voucher for such deductions, and shall send a duplicate statement to the secretary of the retirement board.
(6) The school committee of each town and city in the com- monwealth shall keep such records as the retirement board may require.
A summary of the teachers' pay roll follows :-
Number of Teachers Receiving Annually
Total
20
$625.00
$12,500.00
16
600.00
9,600.00
2
575.00
1,150.00
5
550.00
2,750.00
5
525.00
2,625.00
3
500.00
1,500.00
1
475.00
475.00
1
425.00
425.00
2
400.00
800.00
2
360.00
720.00
5
800.00
4,000.00
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
-
-
-
-
--
-
*
-
-
SEWING DEPARTMENT-HIGH SCHOOL.
-
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2
850.00
1,700.00
3
1,000.00
3,000.00
12 1 2
650.00
650.00
750.00
1,500.00
2
700.00
1,400.00
1
1,150.00
1,150.00
1 1
2,000.00
2,000.00
1 1
160.00
160.00
75
$48,105.00
THE SCHOOL YEAR, 1913-1914
The school year 1913-1914 differed from the school year 1912-1913 in several particulars, viz :-
. 1. Outdoor recesses granted to pupils above the third grade, that is, to all pupils.
2. Folk-dancing introduced.
3. Organized play encouraged.
4. Completion of the four-room addition to the Hedge build- ing.
5. Nathaniel Morton school opened.
6. Dental inspection and treatment begun.
7. Instruction in Music given by special teacher to the Long Pond pupils.
8. Course of Study for elementary schools printed.
9. School Nurse employed.
10. Transportation extended.
11. Office employee hired.
12. Purchase of ten Victrolas by the school children.
13. Instruction in Manual Training given to boys of Chilton- ville Grammar school.
14. Use of text-book covers revived.
15. Purchase of kindergarten chairs for lower grades.
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 1914-1915.
1. Elimination of "High" and "Low" grades.
2. Cooking in grades.
3. Cooking in the High School.
4. School for non-English speaking children established.
5. Departmental work at Nathaniel Morton school introduced.
6. Over-age school at Burton building established.
7. High School building renovated and enlarged.
8. Mechanical Drawing room with equipment, at High School, installed.
9. Playground at Cornish put in excellent condition.
10. Sewing under special teachers.
11. Course of Study for High School revised and printed.
12. Adjustable desks and seats at Wellingsley.
13. Adjustable desks and seats at Spooner St. School.
14. Adjustable desks and seats for grade one in the Cornish building.
15. School session at Manomet lengthened.
16. Number of teachers increased from 70 to 75.
17 Retention of all teachers (with one exception), who en- tered the service last year.
18. School Savings Bank system extended.
19. School session at Long Pond lengthened.
ANTICIPATIONS
1. Establishment of an Evening High School.
*2. Improved Play Ground near Cornish Building.
3. Relief from crowded condition at the Hedge Building.
4. Maximum salary increased for teachers with pronounced professional spirit, increased scholarly attainment and marked accumulative efficiency.
5. Public interest in making the compulsory attendance law more effective.
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6. More adequate natural lighting of school rooms.
7. Discardment of all non-adjustable desks and chairs.
8. Classes not to exceed forty pupils.
9. Fire-proof vault for the preservation of school records.
10. The establishment of a Junior High School.
11. The co-operation of the town industries whereby boys working alternately between shop and school, receiving compensation for the shop work, may learn a trade.
12. The installation of adjustable window shades.
13. Suitable fire extinguishers in all two-story buildings par- ticularly.
14. Diploma credits awarded to High School pupils for specific and. systematic outside work.
15. Consideration of the feasibility of making kindergartens. a part of the public school system.
16. The appointment of an unassigned teacher.
17. Recess luncheons, financed and run by the school authori- ties, to be undertaken at the High School.
18. Suitable sidewalks and drainage to eliminate the insular condition of the Hedge Building in stormy weather.
19. Men teachers in the upper grammar grades, and more in the High School.
20. One room in each large building to be furnished with mov- able desks and chairs.
* Since making this enumeration, No. 2, through the efforts of the Civics Committee of the Plymouth Woman's Club, is ap- proaching a realization.
COOKING AND SEWING
In the year 1897 the school board voted to introduce sewing into several of its schools. This was initiated by the voluntary services of twelve ladies, at least two going weekly into the schools to instruct the girls in this branch. In 1902 the Plym-
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outh Lend-a-Hand Society volunteered to furnish instructors in sewing without any expense to the town.
From this humble beginning, instruction in sewing is now given to all girls of grades six, seven, eight, and nine, and is offered as an elective to all girls at the High School, by two regularly employed special teacher's.
For the first time, cooking was made a part of the school curriculum at the beginning of this school year, although Mr. Charles Burton, formerly Supt. of Schools, recommended such a course nearly a quarter of a century ago.
THE NEW DEPARTMENTS OF HOUSEHOLD ARTS
At the last annual Town Meeting the sum of $2,000 was ap- propriated for the introduction of cooking. Instruction is now given in this subject, as well as in sewing, by two special teach- ers, one at the High School, and one at the Domestic Science rooms on South street.
All girls of grades seven, eight, and nine with the exception of those at Long Pond, Cedarville, Vallerville and Manomet, receive instruction in cooking sometime during the year.
In the first half year there have been 105 girls below the High School in the cooking classes. During this last half year there are 176 girls in the classes. In other words 210 girls will have had the advantage of receiving instruction in cooking by the close of the year. Of these 34 are in Grade IX, 79 in Grade VIII and 97 in Grade VII.
The plan for cooking and sewing is as follows :---
Grade VI; Sewing, once a week, throughout the year.
Grade VII; Sewing and Cooking, half a year each.
Grade VIII; Cooking, throughout the year.
Grade IX; Cooking and Sewing, half a year each.
The total number of girls in the cooking classes arranged by schools follows :---
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First Half Year
Morton Building, Grade IX, 34
Morton Building, Grade VIII, 37
Knapp Building, Grade VIII, 13
Cornish Building, Grade VIII,
21
105
Second Half Year
Morton Building, Grade VIII, 37
Knapp Building, Grade VIII, 13
Cornish Building, Grade VIII,
21
Cornish Building, Grade VII,
23
Burton Building, Grade VII, 20
Mt. Pleasant, Grade VII,
25
Knapp Building, Grade VII, 29
Chiltonville, Grade VIII,
8
176
The use of the South Street Engine House was granted to the school department by the Selectmen. The heaters, considerably out of repair, were put in running order, toilets were installed, a gas range, and a coal range with hot-water connections were pur- chased, a cabinet for dishes and cooking utensils was made to order, a slate sink, with adequate dresser, was placed in a well- lighted part of the room, two ten-foot tables with four drawers on each side holding individual cooking outfits, with special gas burners running the entire length, leaving space for four pupils to work on each side of the table, were constructed, and other equipment such as a linen closet, stools, dining-room table with chairs, china, silver-ware and the regular cooking utensils were furnished.
On Oct. 22, 1914, invitations were extended to everyone to in- spect the rooms, which were open from 3.30 to 4.30 o'clock in the afternoon and from 7.30 to 8.30 in the evening. Many took ad- vantage of this opportunity, but it is to be regretted that not more
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than half a dozen men availed themselves of the invitation. Any- one interested however, is urged to visit at any time. You are always welcome. The schools belong to the tax-payers, and are not private enterprises.
The work of the Cooking and Sewing department in the upper grammar grades, as presented by Miss Ross, the teacher in charge, follows. Owing to the fact that this department was inaugurated in September, the work in cooking pursued by grades seven, eight and nine is the same. Since grades seven and nine take the course for a half year only, their work was through X, and since the eighth grade pursues the course the entire year, those pupils will have taken by the end of the school year the entire course submit- ted.
Next year a differentiation of work in both cooking and sewing will be necessary.
OUTLINE IN COOKERY
1. Housekeeping,
Building and care of fire.
Care of room.
Care of sweeping utensils.
Dish washing.
2. Measuring.
3. Beverages.
4. Cooking of vegetables.
5. Cooking of cereals.
6. Cooking of white sauce, cream soups.
". Baking powder mixtures, biscuit.
8. Steam mixtures.
9. Sugar work at Christmas time.
10. Bread making, Mixing and baking. Uses of stale bread.
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11. Table setting and serving, Preparation of simple breakfast or luncheon.
12. Pastry lesson.
13. Gelatine dishes.
14. Cookery of eggs.
15. Cookery of fish.
16. Cookery of meat.
17. Cake lesson.
18. Cookies.
19. Salads- Salad dressing.
20. School lunch boxes.
21. Invalid cookery.
22. Frozen mixtures.
:23. House cleaning.
OUTLINE IN SEWING FOR GRADES VI AND VII
1. Ability to thread needles. Use of thimble and emery. Making of knot.
2. Stitches and Uses.
Basting, even and uneven.
Running. Back stitch.
Hemming. Over casting. Top sewing.
3. Buttons, two-eyed and four-eyed.
4. Buttonholes.
5. Seams, French.
6. Patches-Hemmed Patch.
7. Mending, stocking darning.
8. Stitches are taught, practiced and applied on a cooking apron.
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OUTLINE IN SEWING FOR GRADE IX
1. Review of stitches and uses,
Basting-even and uneven.
Running. Back stitch.
Hemming. Over casting. Top sewing.
2. Use of machine.
3. Use of patterns.
4. Patches, overhanded patch.
5. Mending. Darning tears. Darning stockings.
6. Stitches applied on chemise or nightgown.
THANKSGIVING OFFERING TO BELGIAN
CHILDREN
A Thanksgiving offering of the Massachusetts school children to the Belgian children was started about the middle of No- vember.
The children of the Plymouth schools responded to the ap- peal to aid the children of Belgium as follows :---
High School, $20 47
Cornish, Burton and Oak St., 17 01
Knapp,
14 84
Mt. Pleasant,
9 33
Hedge,
6 18
Morton,
1 66
Lincoln Primary,
1 50
Wellingsley,
1 50
Allerton St.,
1 46
Manomet,
1 00
-- 241-
Vallerville,
1 00
Alden St.,
1 00
Long Pond,
1 00
Cold Spring, Grade II,
1 00
Cold Spring, Grade III,
75
Chiltonville Grammar,
85
Russell Mills,
60
Cedarville,
50
Chiltonville Primary,
39
Cliff St.,
36
Spooner St.,
61
$83 01
Copy.
Dec. 9, 1914.
Charles A. Harris, Esq., Supt.,
Plymouth, Mass.
Dear Sir :-
I beg to state that the contribution of the school children of Plymouth was published in the Boston Morning Globe of Dec. 8, 1914, and in the Transcript of Dec. 8th.
Enclosed I hand you receipt for your files, and will ask you to congratulate the children of Plymouth on behalf of the com- mittee for their excellent showing in this worthy work for the Belgians.
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