USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Rutland > Town annual report of Rutland 1924-32 > Part 8
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This report of the work of the schools is the twenty-sixth in the series since the formation of the present union. and the eighth by the present superintendent. The statistics are for the school year 1924-1925. I want to repeat my request of last year for a file of the old reports, for we frequently have calls for the information they contain. We still need copies of the Annual Report for the years back of 1892, for 1895 to 1900 inclusive, 1902. 1903, 1911 to 1917 inclusive.
I want to thank the Librarian, Miss Wheeler, for her friendly cooperation in connection with the loan of books to the schools. May I suggest that it would be helpful if a few books might be purchased each year from the list of prescrib- ed reading for children in the grades.
Teachers
There were no changes in the High School faculty, and the advantages in retaining good teachers are evident. Al- though there is no specific provision for Commercial courses in the school. Mr. Allen has given time for classes in Type- writing and Shorthand, and Miss Sprague has conducted a class in Domestic Science. Mr. Allen has also introduced a course for all pupils in training "How to Study." More than half the school have taken one or more of these courses and some provision should be made for carrying them on and
104
expanding them by providing more room for class work and by employing another teacher.
At the Center Miss Helen Barclay was appointed to teach Grades 7 and 8. Miss Barclay is a teacher with College and Normal training who is bringing fine scholarship and high ideals to her work. Miss Neylon is on her second year in Grades 5 and 6 and has proven herself a sincere and earnest worker. She has taken care of the School Savings accounts. Miss Barbara Donelson was appointed to succeed Miss Hen- ley in Grades 3 and4. After two years of service character- ized by fine loyalty and devotion to her work, Miss Henley went to a larger place with a substantial increase in salary. Such experiences should result in a careful study of our salary list as compared with that in other places, for it is of vital im- portance that we secure and retain the best possible teachers. A few hundred dollars more for salaries will count for more than any other expenditure. I believe we should have a sal- ary scale and employ no teacher who has not had successful experience. Mrs. Dodge in Grades 1 and 2 is doing good work that will count all through the school life of her boys and girls. There has been a beginning of departmental work in the building. and I hope to see the idea carried further. Miss Donelson is teaching Music in four grades. Miss Neylon Pen- manship in the same grades, and the eighth grade and the high school are being brought closer together by interchange of teachers.
Miss Hazel Ashworth of Lowell Normal School succeed- ed Miss Pratt in April, and has carried on the program of the North Rutland school successfully. Both Miss Bailey and Miss Paignon returned in September to West Rutland and have continued their good service there.
105°
The High School
Mr. Allen's report covers the work of the High School in detail, and I ask careful consideration of his recommenda- tions. It seems to me that we must face very soon the needs of the High School for more room, for a laboratory equipment sufficient to enable us to teach the Sciences, for additions to the Commercial Course, for a definite Course in Domestic Science for the girls, and for another teacher. I wrote last year of the advantage of having the Grades and the High School in the same building, but the decided advantages of a separate building are many. I know there is a sincere in- terest and pride in our High School felt by every citizen, as was evidenced when someone a few years ago suggested that we close it and transport high school pupils to Holden. . Rutland High School has a long and proud record, and every- one should get behind any movement to strengthen and im- prove its position in our community. I think it would be well to appoint a Committee of public spirited citizens to work with the School Committee, the Superintendent and the State Department of Education, and make a careful study of the present situation and our needs, and report at a special town meeting. It is easy to criticize and do nothing more, but it is your high school, and every man and woman in Rutland should be eager to help in giving Rutland boys and girls th very best high school opportunities.
The Grades
As the result of the decision of the Joint Committee to elect teachers of Music and Drawing and a School Nurse for the iour towns. we have been able to secure this service at con- siderably less expense than if we were to employ them in- dependently. We have been very fortunate in securing for our health work in the schools, Mrs. Naomi A. Cunningham, a graduate of the Mass. General Hospital, who has had special training for school service at Hyannis Normal School under
.
106
the direction of the State Dept. Miss Helen E. Mills of Boston Normal Art School was appointed to teach Drawing and Mrs. Frances B. Settle of the American Institute of Nor- mal Methods to teach Music. Mr. Allen has spoken of their work in the high school and I am glad to testify to their splendid work in the grades, where they have brought in- spiration and fine leadership.
I want to repeat the recommendation of last year that the North Rutland school house be moved nearer the village. A well should be dug to provide drinking and washing water, and electric lights installed. When moved it should be re- modelled so as to provide for more hallways, a larger wood shed, and sanitary toilets. It would be easier to take care of the building, and would save the long walk to the present location. Many hours are lost because the room is too dark to see to read.
At West Rutland we should do the grading and erect a flag pole. The Primary room needs to be repainted. This new building is giving us excellent service and is considered a model two-room school house construction. We should have curtains at the Center School like those at West Rutland. and more lighting in the halls at the Center. I am glad to speak of the excellent work done by Mr. Oliver in caring for the Center building, but the heating system is inadequate and the toilets unsanitary and offensive.
There should be a porch roof over the new concrete steps at the Center, to keep rain and snow off the steps. T am afraid some child will be seriously hurt unless there is some protection there.
Mr. N. H. Arnold, one of the editors of the Worcester Telegram, visited the school recently and told the children
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about the making of a newspaper. A number of the children have had their letters printed in the Sunday Telegram.
In May the State Dept. of Public Health held a "Well Baby Conference" and examined children of pre-school age who were brought to the Hall. Mothers were given an op- portunity to consult with the Nurses sent out by the Dept. of Health, and illustrated talks on the care of children were open to everyone. "Just as an engine needs to be looked over regularly, and have little things fixed, so your child should have a regular, careful examination." This service is free for children under school age, and is provided for through the School Physician and School Nurse all through school life.
The Roll of Honor is longer this year, but the attendance is still poor in the Center and North Schools. West Rutland had a fine record, with over 94%. Do not blame teachers be- cause your child is not promoted if you do not take interest enough in his success to see that he is in school every day, that he studies faithfully every day, and that he is getting nine or ten hours sleep every night. The schools are open, we have good teachers ready and eager to help, but the back- ing and support of parents is essential to promotion and suc- cess in school. The teachers are glad to discuss with any parents the problems of their children as related to school, and the superintendent is glad to help in every way possible.
I want to thank everyone who has taken an interest in our schools and express my deep appreciation of the friend- ship and loyalty of the teachers and the splendid support of the Committee.
Respectfully submitted. JAMES R. CHILDS,
Superintendent of Schools.
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School Calendar
Grades
Fall Term Sep. 8. 1925 to Dec. 18. 1925. . .. 15 weeks Winter Term Jan. 4, 1926 to Mar. 19, 1926. ... 11 weeks Spring Term Apr. 5, 1926 to Jun. 11, 1926. ... 10 weeks
Fall Term Sep. 7, 1926 to Dec. 24, 1926. ... 16 weeks Winter Term Jan. 10, 1927 to Mar. 18, 1927. ... 10 weeks Spring Term Apr. 4, 1927 to Jun. 10. 1927 ... .10 weeks
High School
Fall Term Sep. 8. 1925 to Dec. 18, 1925. . .. 15 weeks Winter Term Dec. 28, 1925 to Mar. 19, 1926. ... 12 weeks Spring Term Mar. 29. 1926 to Jun. 25, 1926. . .. 13 weeks
Fall Term Sep. 7, 1926 to Dec. 24, 1926. ... 16 weeks Winter Term Jan. 3, 1927 to Mar. 25, 1927. ... 12 weeks Spring Term Apr. 4, 1927 to June 24, 1927. .12 weeks
HOLIDAYS
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, Labor Day October 12. Thanksgiving Day and the day following
109
Report of the Supervisor of Music
Holden, Jan. 1, 1926.
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The work in the Primary Grades has been slow, due to the large number of monotonists, only two children in one school being able to sing a melody correctly. Much work is being done with these children however, so that the number of monotonists is constantly diminishing.
The songs in the Progressive Music Series are carefully graded to meet the childrens' needs, and the material is of the best, providing a good musical background for the work in the upper grades. In all the Primary Grades we have had songs, marching and skipping, to teach rythm and for musical experience.
I have tried to make the boys and girls realize the true enjoyment that music is able to give. When they sense this they want to gain the power to sing, and they begin to listen understandingly to the compositions of the great artists. At West Rutland a victrola has been loaned by one of the parents and reproductions of the great masters are played so that this music may become the possession of each child. In the High School the victrola is also used to illustrate the music of the orchestral instruments, pictures of the instruments are shown and talks given on each. In the drill work I have tried to show that drill is but a means to an end, leading to ability to sing new songs at sight.
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We have very good books on the lives of the great com- posers, and we have made a start on the preparation of music note books. Names of the composers are used in spelling lessons. and stories of their lives are used for English composi- tions, thus correlating these subjects.
At Rutland Center we have Book 4 of The Progressive Series. The songs are interesting and beautiful and have been a great help and inspiration. They are also used in the High School, but we ought to have books more suited to the high school age, and the other books of the series are needed in the grades. Interest in Music is improving in the High School and we hope to have a good musical programme for graduation. A music book for each pupil is almost essential to good results.
The Ukulele Club members have been very loyal in attend- ing the rehearsals. We have one violinist who plays with the club. and we hope to have an orchestra, even though a small one. If there are any students who wish to study violin, classes could be formed and a teacher secured. This applies to other instruments as well. A good orchestra could be built up from the upper grades and the high school.
At this time I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the faculty who have done so much to help make the work in Music progress.
Respectfully submitted
FRANCES B. SETTLE,
Supervisor of Music.
111
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing
Holden, Mass., Jan. 1, 1926.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Drawing is being taught in the public schools to help each child appreciate beauty, observe keenly, and develop a fair ability to draw from observation, memory and imagination.
With this in mind I have outlined the work in the Grades as follows: September and October were devoted to Represen- tation. This included drawing from imagination and memory. figure sketching and Nature study. In November we took up principles of Design, following it with problems in Construction in December.
We are now to take up the study of Color, its theory and practical adaptation to exerything about us. Then will come Lettering as a preparation for Poster making. One month will be given to Picture study. Class projects, in which other studies may be correlated with Drawing, will complete the work of the year.
Each Grade has two Drawing periods each week. One is given by the Drawing teacher and the other by the room teacher.
The courses in freehand and mechanical Drawing in the High School are elective. Each division meets for one period on alternate weeks. Although we are limited as to time, equip- ment and space in which to work, the large classes are full of enthusiasm and are trying to get as much as possible from the course.
Respectfully submitted.
HELEN E. MILLS.
Supervisor of Drawing.
112
Report of the School Nurse
Holden, Mass., Jan. 1, 1926.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
This report covers the period from September 8, 1925 to December 31, 1925.
Visits to Schools 23
Assisted School Physician to examine 198
Children with enlarged tonsils 90
Children with carious teeth 133
Children 10% or more underweight 53
Many of the children, as shown by this record, are suffer- ing from the physical handicaps of bad tonsils, poor teeth and being underweight. All of these conditions can be overcome when the parents realize how serious this is. The Modern Health Educators are trying to teach us not to be satisfied with medium good health. The best of health should be the goal of everyone. It is within the grasp of almost everyone. To give children a good start in life by caring for their health and by building a good foundation of right habits of living is worth striving for.
During the past two months the school work has been. handicapped by a Whooping Cough epidemic. This brings up the matter of Standard Quarantine Regulations. There seems to be a very urgent need for the adoption and enforcement of rules and regulations regarding contagious diseases among school children, similar to those prepared by the State Board
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of Health. It would clear away all misunderstanding and con- fusion between teachers and parents as to whom to exclude from school, and fix the time for return to school after sickness or exposure. The law now requires a "health certificate" from a physician before re-entering school.
I wish to thank the teachers and pupils for their willing cooporation which has made my work among them very pleasant.
Respectfully submitted,
NAOMI A. CUNNINGHAM, R. N. School Nurse.
114
Report of the High School Principal
Rutland, Mass .. Jan. 1. 1926
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I have the honor to submit my fourth annual report for your consideration. and here express my thanks for the hearty co-operation of the School Committee and yourself.
The present enrollment in the High School is forty-eight. the largest since my incumbency. Although we are growing in numbers, no provision is being made to take care of the larger classes. The Chemistry Department is still housed in the labora- tony in the basement. This is utterly unsatisfactory as even a cursory examination will reveal. It is poorly heated, poorly ventilated, and the bare ground is visible in several places through the holes in the floor. The equipment is better than it was a few years ago, but it still is inadequate for the demands made upon it by the average class. A new laboratory should be built. I. have suggested before the use of the closet upstairs which could be extended across the end of the corridor and make a fairly sizable room. The objection has been offered that it could not be heated.
The problem of heating looms large again. With the system now in use we can hope to do nothing, although Mr. Oliver gets every bit of service from the heaters that they are capable of giving. It is no uncommon occurrence to have a room filled with coal gas, or deprived of heat because some other room or the Selectmen's office is using it.
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Repeatedly it has been brought to my attention that the existing sanitary arrangements of the building are far from what they should be. The entire system is so far from sanitary that it should be condemned as unfit for use. The argument, again, is that if flush toilets are installed they will freeze in winter.
Since all improvements which are so obviously necessary depend upon heating. I think it is not too much to suggest that an entirely new heating system be installed. Certainly there would be no more expense for operating one large heating plant than is now involved in maintaining fires in four furnaces. With the proper amount of radiation, the rooms could be kept at even temperature and heat could be had in all parts of the build- ing where it is needed.
It is not uncommon to have three classes taking place during the same period. This naturally necessitates three rooms. We are still using the Grange Hall and are glad to have it as a sub- stitute for something better. It is not satisfactory, however, as there are no blackboards, and it is too large for the average class.
Relative to the organization and administration of the two schools combined under one roof, I feel that the system in vogue during the past two years is the only satisfactory one, that is, to have but one Principal for the building. There is need for more close coordination between the work of the Grades and the High School. In order to bring this about, I feel it to be the duty of the Principal to devote a part of his time to the supervision of the work of the Grades. At the present time, your Principal has from five to six periods per day occupied in the conducting of classes in the High School. This leaves little time for the necessary over-sight of the other departments. What I am about to propose will be regarded as highly revolu-
116
tionary, no doubt, but I sincerely recommend its consideration.
There should be another teacher for the High School. It seems to me that at first it would not be necessary to obtain the services of a full-time teacher, but a teacher of part-time subjects might be utilized. This would relieve the load on the Principal and leave him more time for the performance of those duties which are essential to the well-developed growth of the two schools, and to attend to the sundry routine matters which make up the average day's work.
I believe I have mentioned in previous reports the need for "badweather play-rooms." At the present writing, this need has not been recognized in any tangible way, and it still exists. Parents are often in communication with the teachers asking that their children be permitted to stay in their rooms instead of being forced to play in the basement. We feel that they are justified in their requests, and yet it is not advisable from many points of view to have children playing in the classroom.
For four years the Principal has answered the telephone in the building for all kinds of business entirely outside of school affairs. This year the telephone has been placed on a party line. It seems that this is false economy. and the con- stant ringing of the phone is a disturbing element in the build- ing. Since the Principal is generally the one to answer the phone during the school hours, and since there is already one phone in the Selectmen's office, he wishes to suggest first, that the school be given a distinctive ring so that classes will not be interrupted to answer a call meant for some other official or building, and second, that the phone now in the office next to the Selectmen's room be removed and placed in the Principal's office at the other end of the hall.
The matter of attendance comes up for discussion. There
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is altogether too much absence. Reports to the homes do not elicit any very hearty response. It may be that some are un- familiar with the State law which provides a penalty for the parent who habitually keeps or permits his child to be kept from school.
The High School is fortunate this year in having secured the return of both Mrs. Hope H. Moulton and Miss Miriam B. Sprague. Mrs. Moulton is conducting the English and French departments with success, and already has the Senior class working hard on the production of a costume play for presenta- tion sometime in January.
Our long-felt need for a Music Supervisor has been met in the person of Mrs. Frances B. Settle, who visits the Center schools once a week for Music instruction. She has stimulated a desire for knowledge of singing, and is organizing an orchestra in the High School.
Miss Helen Mills has been engaged as Supervisor of Draw- ing. and examples of her splendid work are on exhibition in every room. In the High School there are two divisions of drawing-the boys study Mechanical Drawing, and the girls study Freehand Drawing.
We are particularly fortunate in having a School Nurse in the person of Mrs. Naomi A. Cunningham. Her visits are a source of delight to the teachers who recognize in her the means of correcting. through expert advice, certain conditions existing through lack of knowledge. The children have been examined and weighed. Cases of underweight and physical defects are being followed up.
The Prize Speaking Contest which has come to be a regu- lar institution in the High School was won by E. Viola Bigelow
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for the girls, and by T. Emmett Myers for the boys. Cups were donated through the kindness of Dr. George N. Lapham and Mr. James F. O'Herron.
The medal given by the Massachusetts Society. Sons of the American Revolution, for proficiency in American History was won by T. Emmet Myers.
The session of the High School has been lengthened this year to give time for a class in Domestic Science conducted by Miss Sprague, and for a period for gymnastics for the boys.
Respectfully submitted.
FRANK A. R. ALLEN. Principal. Center Schools.
School Statistics
SCHOOL
TEACHERS
TRAINING
Began Here
Total
Membership
Average
Membership
Average
Daily
Attendance
Per Cent.
Attendance
Enrolled
Dếc. 1925
High
Frank A. R. Allen, Prin. Hope H. Moulton Miriam B. Sprague
Brown Uni.
Apr. 1922
42
39
37
93 48
Radcliffe
Sep. 1924
Mt. Holyoke
Sep. 1924
Center
7-8
Arnold S. Bryant
Wash. Acad.
Sep. 1924
33
30
26
87
28
5-6
Catherine Neylon
Fitchburg
Sep. 1924
28
23
21
92
32
3-4
Georgia L. Henley
Worcester
Sep. 1923
35
31
28
91
36
1-2
Bertha II. Dodge
Framingham
Apr. 1922
36
32
29
90
33
North 1-6
Dorothy F. Pratt Hazel Ashworth
Lowell Lowell
Apr. 1924
281
22
19
87
18
Apr. 1925
West
5-8
Lowell
Sep. 1924
20
18
17
95
15
1-4
Ida E. Paignon Bessie M. Bailey
Farmington
Sep. 1923
35
30
28
94
25
Totals
257
225
205
911
235
.
119
120
Enrollment By Grades, December, 1925
School
1
3
4
5
6
7
1
8
Totals
High
48
Center
21
12
18
18
16
16
12
16
129
North
1
4
3
2
5
18 .
West
5
5
8
5
1
6
3
40
Totals
30
21
29
27
26
17
18
19
235
List of Promotions in June, 1925
Grade
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Totals
Promoted
17
30
22
20
18
15
15
12
149
Trial pro.
3
6
0
5
1
2
5
6
28
Repeat
5
1
2
1
2
2
0
0
13
190
121
Registration of Minors, April 1, 1925
Number of Children in Rutland
Boys
Girls
Total
Between 4 and 7 years of age
23
17
40
Between 7 and 14 years of age
96
92
188
Between 14 and 16 years of age
20
16
36
Illiterate Minors 16 to 21
0)
0
0
Totals
139
125
264
122
Age and Grading Chart, April 1, 1925
AGE
10| 11| 12: 13|
14
15| 16|
17|Totals
GRADE
I
15
II
40
III
27
IV
24
V
21
VI
20
VII
1
22
VITI
16
IX
15
X
15
1
XI
4
XII
7
TOTALS
15. 303 208
23:
181 26. 18: 271
18
14!
10.
S
201
1
124193
1423
224
123
Roll of Honor
The following had perfect attendance for TWO YEARS, except as indicated :
Robert Marsh (1)
The following had perfect attendance for ONE YEAR, ex- cept as indicated :
Irma Alinovi (1)
Jennie Pasierb (1)
Dorothy Bonoyer .
Dorothy Phillips (1)
Evelyn Bonoyer (1T)
Edward Prescott (T)
Edward Brown (12)
Edna Sullivan
Kauko Ketala Margaret Sullivan
Evelyn Myers (T)
Thomas White
124
State Reading Certificates
The State issues a Certificate through the local Librarian for reading books from a prescribed list, one for each five books read and reported on, to Miss Wheeler.
Eleanor Cole 1 David Darrah 1
Germaine Julsonnet 1
Mildred Maynard 2 Marjorie Talbot 1 Grace Wheeler 3
INDEX
Appropriations (Table)
.
Band Concert Committee Report
Charlton Poor Farm Association Report 98
Dogs Licensed
27
Fire Engineers' Report 71
Finance Committee Report
11
Highway Engineer Report
78
Jury List 28
Overseers of Poor Report
97
Park Commissioners' Report
70
Public Library Trustee Report
Resources and Liabilities 10
School Committee Report 101
School Superintendent Report
103
School Principal Report 114
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