USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1888 > Part 2
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Other matters might be touched upon wherein town af- fairs involving expenditures have been acted upon and or- dered without consultation with me, or brought to my knowledge, until the bills for which were presented for pay- ment. I find no fault at being out-voted where I have a fair chance in argument, but when advantage is taken to pass upon important matters, without my knowledge during my absence, as in these cases when I cannot be heard, then I think I have grounds for complaint, and my constituents have a right to ask why such things should be, more especially as I am the only member of the Board who has been present in Town for the last two years any day, except Sundays and holidays, between 7 o'clock, A.M. and 7 o'clock, P.M., thus of necessity throwing the burden of the business on my shoulders, and the responsibility as well.
Much criticism has been exhausted on my action in rela- tion to the conducting of the dancing parties held in our Town Hall last summer and this winter, nothing of which do I wish to conceal, and which I believe is generally known and understood, I wish here merely to say that my motive for such action has been solely for the good name and reputation of our Hall and Town.
I do not feel that I owe any other apology to the voters of Swampscott for this trespass upon their time and patience
2I
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
than the presentation of these facts. In my three years' ser- vice of the Town I have ever had her interests at heart and have done all I could to further that end-but in none of those duties have I found any one more imperative, than in pre- senting this my MINORITY REPORT. All of which I hope will be received by a generous constituency in the same forgiving spirit in which it is written.
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. FARWELL, Chairman.
SCHOOL REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SWAMPSCOTT :
THE School Committee herewith submit for your information and consideration the annual report of the gen- eral condition of our schools. During the past year, we have been obliged by resignation, sickness and incompe- tence, to make several changes in teachers, and we think that our schools are now in a most excellent condition.
Owing to the lack of room in the grammar schools to accommodate all the pupils who were to enter them in September, we were obliged to provide another room, and consequently another teacher. The room was made by removing partitions, and throwing the several small rooms and entries on the lower floor of the grammar school building, into one room, and building a small ell on the south-west side for a coat room. The new school is called the Third Grammar, and is in charge of Miss Chase for- merly of the Beach Intermediate. At the same time Miss Norton of the Beach Primary was promoted to the Pine St. Intermediate, and consequently we were obliged to ap- point two new teachers for the Beach Schools. In one of these appointments we were unfortunate, and were obliged to make a new appointment at the close of the fall term. Miss Washburn, desiring promotion, was appointed. The Redington St. Primary made vacant by Miss Washburn's promotion has been placed in charge of Miss Joslin, a teacher of long experience, and the school is thriving un- der her care.
23
SCHOOL REPORT.
Miss Caswell of the Farm School resigned her position at the close of the fall term. and the committee consider themselves fortunate in securing the services of Miss Stan- ley to fill the vacancy. All the other schools where there have been no changes of teachers are progressing and doing most excellent work.
VISITING SCHOOLS.
Your committee in looking over the lists of visitors in the school registers, find very few names of parents. Now we wish to urge upon parents the importance of their visit- ing the schools and conferring with teachers and committee. If the parents would do this, it would often save the commit- tee much trouble, and be of vast benefit to the schools ; it would also encourage the teachers and, if the parents would report their observations to the committee, it would assist them to rectify any faults. Most of the parents who have visited the committee during the past year, have had some complaint to make, and, nearly all of them based their complaint upon what they have heard their own or other children say. Now how much better it would have been if those complaints had been made from personal observa- tion, we will leave with you to decide.
HEATING AND VENTILATION.
The facilities for heating and ventilating in some of our school-rooms are very bad indeed, and in a number of instances schools have had to be dismissed on account of the low temperature of the rooms. We would recommend that a competent committee be appointed to see what arrange- ments can be made for a better system of heating and ventilation in the Beach, and Pine St. School Buildings.
24
SCHOOL REPORT.
TRUANCY.
This department has been well looked after by the police, who report that they have investigated twelve cases, and have seen that all the children thus looked after, have been returned to school.
CONCRETE WALKS.
Concrete walks have been laid in the yards of the Red- ington St., Pine St. and Essex St. Schools. We con- sider it a good investment, as it insures a dry walk from the street to the buildings, where it often used to be wet and muddy. and saves the tracking of much mud and dirt into the school-rooms.
THE NEW BOILER.
We consider the new boiler in the Grammar School Building a good investment, in more ways than one. Be- sides being capable of furnishing all the heat that is re- quired, and its absolute safety from explosion, it consumed in the first year it was run eleven tons less coal than the old one, which is a saving of about ten per cent. of its cost.
DISCIPLINE.
School discipline is a subject which has ever been fraught with much difficulty, and many changes have been made in our school laws to obtain the desired results, viz :- good order with the least possible amount of friction.
Corporal punishment is being largely displaced by other means of correction which, as a rule, are fully as effectual in their results.
The one thing which we feel is needed is the hearty co- operation of the parents, in sustaining the highest possible standard of honor and integrity for our scholars separately
25
SCHOOL REPORT.
and collectively ; that any breach of deportment at school is to be met with reproval and suitable correction at home. rather than approval and shielding from reasonable school regulations.
Let us urge upon you. parents, the fact that it is your duty to visit the schools and see for yourselves what is being done. Our schools cost too much. and our children's time is worth too much to them. to be left to any one less in- terested than parents should be. Your influence would be of inestimable value as a help in the discipline of the schools. and you would be able to report intelligently to your committee any matters which you think need correction.
ATTENDANCE.
A prompt and regular attendance at school is of the first and greatest importance, and should be secured by every means within the control of school officers and teachers, aided by the sympathy and best efforts of the parents.
Of so great importance is it felt to be, that in some states, very stringent laws are enacted to secure the desired results. It is not of truancy we are now speaking but of absences from school for very trivial causes, for which the parents are responsible. That the average at- tendance in our schools is very fair as compared with other places, we accept. but that absence is a great detri- ment to the schools for various reasons we do insist. In each school the greater part of absences is confined to a few scholars. and the habit of being absent now and then a day has necessitated the result of losing just as many days of school work and, consequently, just so many places are left to be bridged over, and the forty scholars who were in attendance have to be subjected to the irksome duty of helping patch up the absentee's day's work, or all pass on. and the few remain in ignorance of what was taught that day, which no scholar can afford to lose.
4
26
SCHOOL REPORT.
Many parents think if their child learns the lesson assigned for a given day from the various text books, that no more is required or needed; if that were so, a day's absence would be of minor consequence, but no ! the text book lesson is but a mere frame-work for the teacher to build upon and beautify, and the parents who allow their child to be absent from school, accept for such child a blotched and, patched, rather than a finished and beautiful structure, which every child in after years will value above any price.
Rules and regulations we have enough of, what we ask is the decided co-operation of each and every parent, to see that their child is at school, and there on time, for tardiness is nearly equal to real absence in its injurious effects on the school, it is very annoying to the teachers, and diverts the minds of the scholars from their work, as each tardy-one enters. So fully is this realized that in some places tardy pupils are not allowed to enter the school, and we sincerely hope that we shall see fewer marks of absence and tardiness on the registers for the ensuing year.
SUPERINTENDENCE OF SCHOOLS.
Until within a very few years the public demands upon a School Committee were seemingly satisfied if the members kept the school buildings in repair-were shrewd enough to hire reasonably good teachers for small salaries, and occasionally made a brief call, say once a term on each school. Practi- cally, the whole responsibility was turned over upon the teachers: A new era, however, is dawning. The law requi- ring towns to furnish free, all text books and school supplies, has done much to bring committees and schools into closer rela- tions. The committee man is no longer a mere figure head. There is in the care of school property-the purchasing and distributing of supplies and general ordering of material in- terests, a large work to do. But there remains a higher kind of service to be performed, such as the mapping out of courses of study-the choosing of the best among various
27
SCHOOL REPORT.
systems of teaching, and the imparting of that stimulus to better work which a competent overseer gives.
This superintendency of schools has come to be a calling or profession not unlike the regency of a university. To be qualified for it requires first, certain of those natural abilities which characterize the successful general. The Superintend- ent must be able not only to direct the course of pupils but of teachers as well. He must have a broad education and an active mind keeping abreast of the rapidly advancing times. Such men, were they to be found in our Town would not accept the office and salary of a committee. As a rule those who most earnestly seek this office are least qualified for it. Already most of the larger towns and cities about us are em- ploying Superintendents, and the work of their schools is pronounced by our State Board of Education to be more sat- isfactory than the work of others unaided thus. So desirable is it considered that all our schools be under competent Su- perintendents, that prominent educators are suggesting that the State give aid to towns which would otherwise be unable to hire them. Our ten schools would not require the whole time of a Superintendent. Quite likely arrangements could be made with some neighboring town to share with us the benefit and cost of such an office.
We do not wish to have the present prosperous condition of our schools under-rated. We believe that more efficient work is being done now than ever before. The committee desire to thank the teachers for their faithfulness and cheer- ful co-operation. We acknowledge our obligations to Mr. E. P. Barker, who has materially helped to systematize our course of studies.
In conclusion, we recommend that a Committee be ap- pointed with instructions to confer with the authorities of some neighboring town or towns as to the feasibility of join- ing us in hiring a Superintendent of Schools.
28
SCHOOL REPORT.
IN MEMORIAM.
CHARLES A. MORRIS, DIED NOVEMBER 15, 1887.
MR. MORRIS was born in Turin, New York ; he came to Swampscott when quite a young man, and has since resided here ; he followed the business of painting with good success ; he served on the School Committee about six years, and was very much liked by the teachers, and by his associates ; he was always known to be fair and impartial in all matters which came before the Board for settlement. He had had a throat trouble for a number of years, and taking a severe cold, died, being confined to the house only one week.
29
SCHOOL REPORT.
COURSE OF STUDY.
FIRST YEAR .- PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
Arithmetic .- Franklin Primary, Complete development of numbers to ten.
Reading .- Franklin First Reader, Other First Readers for supplementary use, Reading from the blackboard and chart, Elementary Sounds and Symbols learned and associ- ated.
Writing .- Copying on ruled slates, words and sentences from the blackboard, Short sentences written from dictation.
Observation Lessons .- (1) Lessons to develop ideas of color, form, place, size and prominent qualities of objects. (2) Physiology, with special temperance instruction, Buck- elew & Lewis' " Practical work in the School Room, Part I, The Human Body."-(3) Simple conversational studies of familiar plants, animals, and things .- (4) Observations of nature.
Spelling .- Words selected from Readers.
Drawing .- On slates from solids.
Gymnastics .- Some simple exercise each half day.
SECOND YEAR .- PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
Arithmetic .- Franklin Primary, Complete development of numbers to 25.
Reading .- Franklin Second Reader, Other Second Readers for supplementary use, Phonic-Analysis, Reading stories from the blackboard.
Language .- Stickney's Child's Book of Language, No. I, Committing to memory choice selections each term.
Writing .- Copying exercises from the blackboard, writing selections from the reading books and from dictation.
30
SCHOOL REPORT.
Spelling,-Words selected from Readers.
Drawing. On slates from solids, and White's primary cards. Observation Lessons. Those of the first year continued. Gymnastics .- Some simple exercise each half day.
THIRD YEAR .- PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
Arithmetic .- Franklin Primary, Complete development of numbers through 100.
Reading .- Franklin Third Reader, Other Third Readers for supplementary use, Phonic-Analysis, Sight reading.
Language .- Stickney's Child's Book of Languages, No. 2., Committing to memory choice selections each term.
Writing .- From the blackboard, reading book and dictation. Spelling .- Words selected from readers and other text books. Drawing .- On slates and paper from White's primary cards. Observation Lessons .- Subjects of second year, treated more fully, Physiology 71 pages finished.
Gymnastics .- As in previous years.
FOURTH YEAR .- INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
Arithmetic .- Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. I and II, Franklin Elementary, The four fundamental operations.
Geography .- Harper's Introductory to page 56, Special at- tention to maps of Massachusetts.
Reading .- Franklin Advanced Third Reader, Supplementary reading, Exercises in articulation and pronunciation.
Language. - Stickney's Child's Book of Language, No. 3, Committing to memory choice selections each term.
Writing .- Duntonian Series, No. 1, Copying from black- board, Writing selection and dictated exercises in blank books.
Spelling .- Worcester's Spelling Book, Sec. I and II, and words selected from other text books.
Drawing .- White's Primary Book, No. I.
3I
SCHOOL REPORT.
Physiology .- Buckelew & Lewis' "The Human Body," continued.
Gymnastics. - As in previous years.
FIFTH YEAR .- INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS.
Arithmetic .-- Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. III, and Bradbury's Practical to page 80.
Geography .- Harper's Introductory finished.
Reading .- Franklin New Fourth Reader, and Supplementary 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 orig- inal 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.
Physiology .- Buckelew & Lewis', " The Human Body," com- pleted.
Gymnastics .- Same as in fourth year.
SIXTH YEAR .- THIRD GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Arithmetic .- Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. IV and V, Brad- bury's Practical, page 80 to 119.
Geography .- Harper's School to page 36, Map drawing. Reading .- Franklin Fourth, Supplementary Reading. Language .- Swinton's Language Lessons to page 60, 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.
32
SCHOOL REPORT.
Physiology .- Blaisdell's "How to keep well," Chap. I to 3 inclusive.
Gymnastics .- Some simple exercises each half day.
SEVENTH YEAR .- SECOND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Arithmetic .- Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. IV, Bradbury's Prac- tical from page 119 to page 160.
Geography .- Harper's School from page 36 to page 73, Map Drawing.
Reading .- Franklin Advanced Fourth, Supplementary read- ing.
Language .- Swinton's Language Lessons to page 115, 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.
Drawing .- White's Free-hand Drawing, No. 2.
Gymnastics .- As in the previous year.
Physiology .- Blaisdell's "How to keep well," Chap. 4 and 5.
EIGHTH YEAR .- FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Arithmetic .- Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. VII, Bradbury's Prac- tical from page 160 to page 209.
Geography .- Harper's School from page 73 to page 100. Reading .- Franklin Fifth Reader, Supplementary reading. Language .- Swinton's Language Lessons finished, Writing ing in blank books as in previous years, Letter writing. Writing .- Duntonian Series, No. 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 Ad- ministration.
33
SCHOOL REPORT.
Physiology .- Blaisdell's " How to keep well," Chap. 6 to 8 in- clusive.
Gymnastics .- As in previous years.
NINTH YEAR .- PREPARATORY .- HIGH SCHOOL.
Arithmetic .- Eaton's Intellectual, Sec. VIII and IX, Brad- bury's Practical, from page 224 to page 280.
Geography .- Harper's School, page 100 to page 124, Spec- ial Geography of Massachusetts.
History .- Barnes' Brief United States finished.
Reading .- Franklin New Fifth, Supplementary reading.
Language .- Reed and Kellogg's "Higher Lessons in English," Writing in blank books as in previous years, Writing promissory notes.
Writing .- Duntonian Series, Book No. 6.
Spelling .- Worcester's Speller, Sec. XII to XV, and from other text books.
Drawing .- Prang's Free-hand, No. 4.
Physiology .- Blaisdell's "How to keep well," Chap. 9 to II inclusive.
Industrial Geometry .- Prang's Form Study, and Hill's Geom- etry begun.
Book Keeping .__ Meservey's Single Entry, and Barker's Actual Business Practice.
Gymnastics .- As in previous years.
HIGH SCHOOL .- FIRST YEAR .- JUNIOR CLASS.
Geometry .- Hill's Geometry for beginners.
History and Civil Government .- Stone's History of England, and Martin's Civil Government.
Latin .- Harkness' First Year in Latin.
Reading .- Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice,Julius Caesar, and Hamlet.
Composition .- Chittenden's English Composition begun.
5
34
SCHOOL REPORT.
Drawing .- Prang's, Nos. 5 and 6.
Writing .--- Duntonian Series.
Spelling .-- Gymnastics .- Elocution.
HIGH SCHOOL .- SECOND YEAR .- MIDDLE CLASS.
Rhetoric .- Kellogg's.
Commercial Law .- Clark's.
Double Entry Book Keeping .- Rochester Business Universi- ty Course, Ward's Business Forms, and Barker's Actual Business Practice Course.
Political Economy .- Meservey's.
Commercial Arithmetic .- Thompson's.
English Literature .- Shaw's and Swinton's.
German .- Worman's First and Second Book, Collar's Eysen- bach, Stern's Studien and Plaudereien.
French .- Sauveur's Petites Causeries, Keetel's Grammar, Bernard's Les Mythologies begun. Algebra .- Wentworth's Shorter Course.
Physiology .- Blaisdell's " Our Bodies."
Latin .- Harkness', Caesar, and Standard Grammar.
Botany .- Gray's " How Plants Grow," Apgar's Plant Analy- sis.
Composition .- Chittenden's English finished.
Drawing .- Prang's, Nos. 7 and 8.
Writing .- Duntonian Series.
Spelling .- Gymnastics .- Elocution.
HIGH SCHOOL .- THIRD YEAR .- SENIOR CLASS.
English Literature .- Shaw's and Swinton's.
Natural Philosophy .- Avery's First Principles. Chemistry .- Avery's Elements.
German .- Collar's Eysenbach, Grimm's Maerhchen, Goethe's " Hermann und Dorothea."
35
SCHOOL REPORT.
French .- Keetel's Grammar, Bernard's "Les Mythologies," Racine's Athalie, Moliere's " Le Misanthrope."
Latin .- Harkness' Cicero, Seven Orations, Virgil, Chase and Stuart's begun, Harkness' Standard Grammar. Drawing .- Prang's, Nos. 9 and 10.
Writing .- Duntonian Series.
Arithmetic .- Thompson's Commercial.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT B. WARDWELL, REUBEN B. JORDAN, School
CHARLES P. JEFFERS, Committee.
36
CORPS OF TEACHERS.
CORPS OF TEACHERS, JAN., 1888.
Name.
School.
Salary.
Date of Election.
Edmund P. Barker
High
$1100
Sept. 1883
Susan M. Barker .
High
450
Sept. 1883
Abbie M. Mott . .
First Grammar
550
Sept. 1879-Sept. 1874
Elizabeth J. Hadley
Second Grammar
550
Sept. 1880-Dec. 1872
Lucy G. Chase . .
Third Grammar .
450
Sept. 1887-Fan. 1882
Lulu P. Washburn
Beach Intermediate .
450
Jan. 1888-Sept. 1886
Hattie M. Norton
Pine St. Intermediate
450
Sept. 1887-Dec. 1883
Emma J. Machon
Essex Street
450
April 1880
Hazel H. Seger .
Pine St. Primary . .
350
Sept. 1886
Annie A. Early .
Beach Primary . .
300
Sept. 1887
Malvina M. Joslin
Redington St. Prim.
400
Jan. 1888 .
Louise C. Stanley
Farms
300
Jan. 1888 .
[The date of election to present position is given in Roman type. If the teacher had previously served in other schools in town, the earliest date of such appointment is stated in Italics.]
STATISTICS OF SCHOOLS.
STATISTICS OF SCHOOLS, 1887.
Winter Term.
Spring Term.
Fall Term.
January. March.
April. June.
Sept'er. Dec'ber.
SCHOOL,
TEACHER.
attendance.
| Average No.
in attendance
Whole No. in
attendance,
Average No.
in attendance
| Whole No. in
attendance.
| Average No.
| in attendance
High
Mr. and Mrs. Barker .
40
37
38
33
39
35
15.7
First Grammar
Miss A. M. Mott . .
54
48
43
41
31
29
14.2
Second Grammar . Miss E. J. Hadley . .
58
51
57
50
47
43
12+
Third Grammar . .
Miss L. G. Chase . .
52
42
12
Beach Intermediate .
Miss L. P. Washburn
33
27
35
30
37
25
10++
Pine St. Intermediate Miss H. M. Norton .
44
39
44
38
44
36
10+
Essex Street
Miss E. J. Machon .
39
36
41
39
34
32
8.7
Farms
Miss L. C. Stanley .
18
12
22
17
25
18
S
Redington St.Primary
Miss M. M. Joslin . .
38
33
43
40
34
31
7+
Pine St. Primary
Miss H. H. Seger
42
35
47
39
40
34
7+
Beach Primary
Miss A. A. Early
.
34
31
32
30
35
32
7+
.
·
·
. .
·
Whole No. in
Average Age,
37
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
1887.
BIRTHS RECORDED.
Males, 26; Females, 25 ; Total, 51.
In January, 3; March, 3; April, 2; May, 3 ; June, 5 ; July, 10; August, 4 ; September, 3 ; October, 5 ; Novem- ber, 7 ; December, 6.
Nativity of Fathers .- Massachusetts, 27; Maine, 8 ; Nova Scotia, 3; Ireland, 3; Prince Edward Island, Sweden, England, Scotland, Norway, New Hampshire, New York, I each ; not known, 3.
Nativity of Mothers .- Massachusetts, 29; Maine, 2 ; New Hampshire, 2; Prince Edward Island, 2; Nova Scotia, 3 ; Ireland, 5 ; New Brunswick, 2; Sweden, Eng- land, Newfoundland, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, I each; not known, I.
Fathers born in Swampscott, 7 ; mothers, 9.
DEATHS.
Males, 15 ; Females, 21 ; Total, 36.
In January, 2 ; April, 6; May, 2; June, 6; July, 6; August, 6 ; September, 4 ; October, I ; November, I ; De- cember, 2.
Under 5 years, 10 ; 20 to 30, 4 ; 30 to 40, 3 ; 40 to 50, I ; 50 to 60, 3 ; 60 to 70, 5 ; 70 to 80, 7; 80 to 90, 2 ; 90 to IO0, I.
39
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
Causes .- Pneumonia, 4 ; old age, 4 ; heart disease, 4 ; cancer, 3; consumption, 3; cholera infantum, 3; still- born, 2 ; inflammation of bowels, drowning, brain disease, peritonitis, premature birth, marasmus, abscess of brain, cerebral hemorrhage, measles, inanition, disease of kid- ney, leukaimia, membraneous croup, I each.
70 to 80 years .- Mary A. Hinckley, heart disease, 78 yrs. 10 mos. ; Eliza Richardson, old age, 75 yrs. II mos. : Jane C. Ward, disease of brain, 75 yrs. 3 mos. ; Harriet Harriman, pneumonia, 75 yrs. I mo. 22 days ; Ann Maria Cushing, abscess of brain, 77 yrs. I mo. 2 days ; Sarah F. Newhall, inanition, 70 yrs. 3 mo. ; Dudley R. Palmer, 70 yrs. 13 days.
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