USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1885 > Part 5
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Gymnastics. - As in previous years,
12
SCHOOL REPORT.
FOURTH YEAR - INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
Arithmetic. - Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. I. and II. Frank- lin Elementary. The four fundamental operations. Geography. - Harper's Introductory, to page 56. Spec- ial attention to maps of Massachusetts and of Swampscott.
Reading. - Franklin Advanced Third Reader. Supple- mentary reading. Exercises in articulation and pronunication.
Language. - Stickney's Child's Book of Language, No. 3. Committing to memory choice selections, each term. Writing. - Duntonian Series, No. I. Copying from the blackboard. Writing selection and dictated exer- cises in blank-books.
Spelling. - Worcester's Spelling Book, Sec. I. and II .; and words selected from the other text-books.
Drawing. - White's Primary Book, No. I.
Observation Lessons. - Hooker's Child's Book of Nature. Gymnastics. - Some simple exercise, once each half-day.
FIFTH YEAR - INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
Arithmetic. - Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. III. Bradbury's Practical, to page 80.
Geography. - Harper's Introductory finished.
Reading. - Franklin Fourth Reader, to page 164. Sup- plementary reading.
Language. - Stickney's Child's Book of Language, No. 4. Committing to memory choice selections, each term. Writing. - Duntonian Series, No. 2. Writing selections, original and dictated in blank-books.
Spelling. - Worcester's Spelling Book, Sec. III. and IV., and words selected from other text-books.
Drawing. - White's Primary Book, No. 2. Observation Lessons. - Hooker's Child's Book of Nature. Gymnastics. - As in fourth year.
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SCHOOL REPORT.
SIXTH YEAR - SECOND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Arithmetic. - Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. IV. and V. Brad- bury's Practical, from page 80 to page 119. Geography. - Harper's School, to page 36. Drawing maps.
Reading. - Franklin Fourth finished. Franklin Advanced Fourth to page 105. Supplementary Reading.
Language. - Swinton's Language Lessons, Sec. I. and II. Stickney's Letters and Lessons in Language, No. I. Write orders for goods and receipts for money paid. Commit to memory choice selections, each term. Write original and dictated extracts of poetry in blank-books.
Writing. - Duntonian Series, No 3.
Spelling. - Worcester's Speller, Sec. V. and VI. Words selected from other text books.
Drawing. - White's Free-hand Book, No. I. Observation Lessons. - Hooker's Child's Book of Nature. Gymnastics. - Some simple exercise each half-day.
SEVENTH YEAR - SECOND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Arithmetic. - Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. VI. Bradbury's Practical, from page 119 to page 160.
Geography. - Harper's School, from page 36 to page 73. Map drawing.
Reading. - Franklin Advanced Fourth finished. Supple- mentary reading.
Language. - Swinton's Language Lessons, Sec. III. and IV. Stickney's Letters and Lessons in Language, No. 2. Writing in blank-books as in previous classes. Practice in making out bills. Writing. - Duntonian Series, No. 4.
Spelling. - Worcester's Speller, Sec. VII. and VIII. Words from other text-books.
-
I4
SCHOOL REPORT.
Drawing. - White's Free-hand Drawing, No. 2.
Observation Lessons. - Johonnot's " How we live, or the Human Body, and how to take care of it." Gymnastics. - As in sixth year.
EIGHTH YEAR - FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Arithmetic. - Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. VII. Bradbury's Practical, from page 160 to page 209.
Geography. - Harper's School, from page 73 to page IOO.
Reading. - Franklin Fifth Reader, one-half. Supple- mentary reading.
Language. - Swinton's Language Lessons, Sec. V. Stickney's Letters and Lessons in Language, No.
3. Writing in blank-books, as in previous years. Letter writing.
Writing. - Duntonian Series, Book 5.
Spelling. - Worcester's Speller, Sec. IX-XI., and from other text-books.
Drawing. - White's Free-hand Drawing, No. 3.
History. - Barnes' Brief United States, to Washington's Administration.
Observation Lessons. - Johonnot's ".How we live." Gymnastics. - As in previous years.
NINTH YEAR - FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Arithmetic. - Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. VIII. and IX. Bradbury's Practical, from page 224 to page 280. Geography. - Harper's Schools, page 100-124. Special Geography of Massachusetts.
History. - Barnes' Brief United States, finished.
Reading. - Franklin Fifth finished. Supplementary read- ing. Language. - Swinton's Language Lessons, Sec. VI.
15
SCHOOL REPORT.
Stickney's Letters and Lessons in Language, No. 4. Writing in blank-books as in previous years. Writing promissory notes.
Writing. - Duntonian Series, book No. 6.
Spelling. - Worcester's Speller, Sec. XII .- XV., and from other text-books.
Drawing. - White's Free-hand, No. 4.
Observation Lessons. - Hooker's Child's Book of Nature. Gymnastics. - As in previous years.
FREE TEXT BOOKS.
One of the most important events of the school year has been the introduction of free text-books and other school supplies, in accordance with a statute enacted by the General Court of 1884.
The plan is not a new one ; many towns and cities hav- ing previously adopted it, and we had to some extent in- troduced it in our own schools previous to the passage of the law requiring it, and reference was made to our expec- tation in regard to it in our last annual report. In con- sequence of having no appropriation for this purpose (the Act having been passed some time after the town meeting of 1884) our expenditures on this account cause a marked deficit in the appropriation for the School Department.
Considerable extra service devolves upon the Committee in consequence of this system, and the additional appropri- ation needed for supplies will probably not vary much from eight hundred dollars per annum for the present school population. The same supplies furnished by the pupils themselves, as formerly, would represent an expense of ten or eleven hundred dollars, besides a great deal of friction in the matter of delays, etc. The advantages manifest may be summed up as favoring the poor, lessen-
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SCHOOL REPORT.
ing the aggregate expense, securing greater uniformity and promptness, and thereby preventing waste of time, and in case of removal from town to town no loss need be sus- tained. The tendency to extravagance in the use of books and other supplies may be mainly prevented by the vigil- ance of teachers and Committee.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCE.
During the past two years the Committee has had under consideration the advisability of proposing to join with the neighboring town of Marblehead in the employment of a Superintendent of Schools. This is permissible under the school-laws of the State, and we believe the arrangement would be an immense benefit to the public schools without any marked increase in expense. We do not know with what favor this proposition has met in Marblehead, but it has been strongly recommended by several members of the State Board of Education.
The working of such a system would be about as follows : Marblehead having about thirty schools and Swampscott ten, one-fourth of a Superintendent's time and salary would belong to Swampscott, which service would undoubtedly add a great deal to the effective force of the schools. A trained educator, whose whole business is to promote the welfare of the schools, would be an invaluable helper to the Committee of this town ; but they, in that case, would not be entitled to compensation under the law. This fact, by the way, might to some extent make the position to be simply honorary, and less to be sought after !
MISCELLANEOUS.
A room has been recently fitted up at the Town Hall for the storage and distribution of school supplies and other Committee business. It is proposed that this room shall be
I7
SCHOOL REPORT.
open regularly on Saturday evenings during the school- year, where one or more members of the Committee may be found.
Monthly meetings of teachers and Committee have been held regularly during the past year, when appointed sub- jects have been discussed, and much progress made in exchange of experiences and in counsel as to matters of general interest. Official meetings of the Board are held with tolerable regularity on alternate Monday evenings.
During November a Teacher's Institute was held in the Town Hall, under the auspices of State Board of Educa- tion. The occasion was one of very great interest and profit, and withal exceedingly enjoyable. Teachers and members of School Committee from Marblehead, Saugus and Winthrop were invited, and joined with us in making the occasion pleasant. The fraternity of interest in our public schools, and the variety of topics discussed have lent an added stimulus to the work in our own town, and the hospitality shown by teachers, pupils and citizens gener- ally, called forth the warmest expressions of appreciation from our many visitors.
In addition to weekly written examinations by the teachers, the Committee have adopted a system of exami- nations for the advanced schools at the end of each term; preparing the questions themselves, thus taking a more re- sponsible part in that portion of school work than in former years. The system, if faithfully followed, will result in a decided benefit to both schools and Committee.
VALEDICTORY.
In concluding this report, written at the request of his associates, the Chairman of this Committee takes the opportunity to tender his thanks for the generous treatment he has received at the hands of his fellow-citizens of Swampscott during the seven years in which he has en-
3*
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SCHOOL REPORT.
deavored to discharge faithfully the duties with which they have intrusted him. At all times his endeavors to promote the school's interests have been heartily seconded by our best citizens, and the appropriations for needed improve- ments have been liberal. The service rendered has been at a serious pecuniary loss to himself, but it has been in a work that has been greatly enjoyed, and which will ever after ensure on his part a warm friendship for the schools. Contrary to the experience of some who have served in like capacity, he has had very few unpleasant experiences, and almost without exception his dealings with his associ- ates and teachers, with parents and pupils, have been such as to leave behind only pleasant memories. For whatever of success that may have attended his endeavors, and the leniency manifested toward him in his errors of judgment and other failings, he feels deeply indebted to his towns- men, and retires from this public trust with gratitude to them, and with unshaken confidence in that bulwark of our free institutions, the Free Public School.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
FRANK O. ELLIS, Chairman, SAMUEL O. INGALLS, School Committee.
CURTIS MERRITT, Secretary.
19
SCHOOL REPORT.
TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT.
During the year I have investigated 26 cases ; visited in all 15 families, and returned 4 pupils to school.
A. F. NESBETT, Truant Officer.
STATISTICS OF SCHOOLS, 1884.
WINTER
SPRING TERM.
FALL
TERM.
TERM.
January March
April
June
Dec'ber
Whole No.
in attend.
Average No.
in attend.
Whole No.
in attend.
! Average No.
Whole No.
in attend.
| Average No. in attend.
FIRST PRIMARY
Miss C. F. Mott
36
33
36
33
34
27
7.5
PINE STREET PRIMARY
Miss A. E. Boynton
38
33
40
35
39
30
7+
BEACH PRIMARY
Miss S. A. Porter
48
42
44
3S
45
40
7.6
ESSEX STREET.
Miss E. J. Machon
24
20.5
26
22+
27.5
S
FARMS
Miss C. E. Gale
24
20
35
2S
31
27
8
BEACH INTERMEDIATE.
Miss H. M. Norton
30
29
31
29
30
29
10.8
PINE STREET INTERMEDIATE.
Miss H. J. Thing.
44
40
44
37
52
47
10 |
SECOND GRAMMAR
Misses Hadley & Chase ..
70
60.5
69
60.5
73
65.5:12
FIRST GRAMMAR
Miss A. M. Mott
36
34
31
29.6
36
35
13.6
HIGH
Mr. & Mrs. Barker
22
21
21
20
22
'22
16.5
AVERAGE AGE.
SCHOOL.
TEACHER.
-
-
-
in attend.
Sept'ber
Baldwin® Collection Does Not Circulate
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SWAMPSCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1996 00132 2983
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