USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1876 > Part 4
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Of the fifty-two admissions on July 3, in nine instances the mark was not changed; in thirty it was increased; and in thirteen it was diminished. In no case, however, was the mark changed more than four in either direction. The following examples will illustrate these different results.
Scholar's
Arith- metic.
Gram- mar.
Geog- raphy.
His- tory.
Spell- ing.
Average mark.
Combination mark.
number.
54
90
73
90
84
74
82
82
84
90
89
87
75
34
75
79
23
65
68
79
77
86
75
73
In the first case the rank in all the studies was quite uniform. In the second case the first two studies ranked proportionally high and the last three studies ranked proportionally low. In the last exam- ple the Arithmetic and Grammar were proportionally low, while Geog- raphy, History, and Spelling were proportionally high. Other exam- ples illustrating these results can be found in the table on page 70 of this report. One scholar, No. 6, would not have passed examination on the average mark ; and one, No. 31, would not have passed on the combination mark. All others passed examination on either mark. It is a circumstance which speaks well of the uniformity of the system on which our schools have been conducted, that the average rank, on either mark, of the scholars who were promoted from the several upper Grammar Schools to the High, was so nearly alike.
The study of Drawing was introduced into the schools at the begin- ning of the present school year. The system of Prof. Walter Smith, State Director of Art Education for Massachusetts, was adopted. In order to give the teachers some knowledge of the principles of this art, a teacher of Drawing has been employed. Mr. Walter F. Brackett, a
61
graduate of the State Normal Art School, and a successful teacher of this branch of study, was appointed for this purpose. By the terms of the contract he agreed to give a two-hours' lesson each week to two classes of teachers, one at the north and one at the south part of the town, and to spend one day each week in the schools in supervising the work of the pupils. For this service he was to receive compensa- tion at the rate of $450 per year, and to teach up to the first week in March, a period of twenty-five weeks.
The teachers, with few exceptions, to their credit be it said, entered upon their new work with alacrity and enthusiasm. In order to fur- ther aid them in imparting a knowledge of this study to their pupils, it became necessary to supply their desks with manuals for Drawing .. which are designed for the use of teachers, according to the system which was adopted. Mr. Brackett met the teachers belonging to the north part of the town at the Commercial Street Grammar School- house, and the teachers belonging to the south part of the town at the Torrey Street School-house. On account of the shortness of the days in December and January, it became necessary to provide lamps for lighting the rooms. Permanent fixtures were supplied, which, we trust, will be of service on future occasions for this or other school purposes.
The new study of Drawing has now obtained a foothold in our schools, and, in our opinion, it has been conducted on correct princi- ples of instruction. In all the schools fair progress has been made, while in some remarkably good results have been obtained. Mr. Brackett has shown himself to be a competent teacher. The com- mittee hereby suggest that suitable (provision be made for continuing the services of a teacher of Drawing another year. In so short a period as twenty-five weeks it is not to be reasonably expected that all needed instruction can be given to our teachers in this study, most of whom have hitherto had little or no knowledge of it.
The committee make no apology for introducing Drawing. It is required by the Statutes of the Commonwealth equally with Arithme- tic and Writing. We are negligent to our trust if we do not encour- age its study in our schools. It is not claimed that all scholars will make skilful artists or adept draughtsmen. All who study Arithme- tic do not make astute mathematicians, nor do all who write learn to execute fine penmanship. What we do claim is, that the study of Drawing in our schools will be of benefit to the pupils, when, after their school days are over, they engage in the practical avocations o. life. This is a common-sense view of the question, and we trust it will be so regarded.
62
As there is a general desire and expectation that our schools shall accomplish greater results than they have ever yet attained, we sub- mit to the friends of education throughout the town, whether the study of Music might not be methodically taught by a teacher, employed for the purpose, whose duty it should be to visit all the schools at stated intervals, and give instruction in that science. Probably a teacher, if he devoted all his time to the work, might be able to give a short les- son to each school once a fortnight, the regular teachers also devoting a few minutes each day to musical exercises. We are authorized to state that efficient service of this kind could be furnished at an expense equal to that paid for Drawing. Proposals have already been made to the committee for giving instruction to the schools in both these studies at a united expense for salaries of $1,000.
The subject of truancy has received special attention from the Board. It is believed that there are many children who absent themselves from school without the knowledge of those who have lawful charge over them. No by-laws on truancy, which have hitherto been framed, have passed through the several stages of proceedings necessary to put them in force. Inherent difficulties pertain to the whole subject. A new set of by-laws has, however, been prepared by the legal mem- bers of the Board, and it is hoped that they will be adopted by the town and approved by the court. A copy of them is herewith sub- mitted.
BY-LAWS OF THE TOWN OF WEYMOUTH RELATING TO TRUANCY.
SECTION 1. Habitual truants and children wandering about in the streets or public places of the town of Weymouth, having no lawful occupation or business, not attending school, and growing up in ignorance, between the ages of seven and fifteen years, shall, upon conviction, be committed to the State Primary School at Monson, for such terms, not exceeding two years each, as the justice or Court having jurisdiction may determine; said State Primary School being hereby designated by said town of Weymouth as the place of confinement, discipline, and instruction for persons convicted under the provisions of these by-laws.
SECT. 2. Whenever any pupil of either of the public schools in the town of Weymouth shall be absent during more than three sessions of such school in any period of four weeks of term time, without reasonable cause, and whenever any child in said town, between the ages aforesaid, shall commit the other offence named in the first section of these by-laws, it shall be the duty of the truant officers of said town, appointed by the School Committee, to notify the parent or guardian of such child of the fact of such truancy or vagrancy, and upon the commission of any similar act of truancy or vagrancy
63
within three months after such notice to make complaint against such offender before a Court or magistrate having jurisdiction of the offence, and to carry into execution the judgment thereon.
The expense incurred for repairs during the year has been unusually large, and has exceeded the appropriation for that purpose. Due regard, however, has been allowed to a spirit of economy. The bills for painting form a chief part of this expense. The Mt. Pleasant School-house outside and in ; the Main Street two-story School-house, and the fence around the entire lot; the Washington Street School- house and fence ; the Pratt School-house and fence ; the Middle Street School-house inside, and the fence around the yard, have received two good coats of paint, and the last mentioned three. New fences and out- buildings have also been built in various localities, and unusual expense has attended the repairs of the heating apparatus of the school- rooms. In several instances the old apparatus for heating was beyond repair, as, for instance, in the Central Street building, where two worn-out furnaces were supplanted by four new stoves and new pipe. In other instances the stoves in use were inadequate to heat the rooms to a comfortable temperature, especially on cold days. Considerable expense also, which is classed under the head of "Repairs," attended the establishment of the Tremont Street Grammar, the Adams Intermediate, and the Commercial Street Primary Schools, for which there was no special appropriation. The transfer of schools in Ward Three from one house to another was also attended with some outlay. The committee believe that in no instance has money been spent in this department lavishly. They doubt whether it be true economy to allow buildings in need of repairs to be neglected and come to decay. Suitable heating apparatus is an absolute necessity. Minor repairs in all the houses, with the best of care, are inevitable. With a school property valued at $125,000, and consisting of twenty- two school-houses with furniture, outbuildings, fences, and grounds, our appropriation for repairs of $1,500 is entirely inadequate.
Mr. Gamwell, the Superintendent of schools, continued his services at the salary at which he was originally engaged until the end of the school year, when he was re-engaged for a period of twenty-five weeks at the salary allowed by vote of the town a year ago. He has attended most faithfully to the work assigned him, and the schools under his superintendence are believed to be in a prosperous condi- tion. For detailed information concerning the state of the schools we refer the reader to the very able report of the Superintendent.
The regulations for the government of the schools which were
64
adopted several years ago have been lately revised and some new ones added. If faithfully observed, it is thought they will contribute materially to the efficiency of our school discipline and management. It is the intention of the committee that they shall be enforced.
The Massachusetts Total Abstinence Society, during the year, offered to the schools, with the approval of the committee, prizes for the best compositions on the subject of " The Evil of Intemperance and the Remedy," - to each High School, one prize of six dollars, and to all the Grammar Schools, one prize of four dollars. These prizes were to be awarded on certain conditions, which were complied with. The committee, with the aid of the Superintendent, selected the required number from a large number furnished by the schools, and forwarded them to the General Agent of the Society. The committee are, as yet, unable to announce the names of the successful competi - tors, as no returns have yet been received. They improve this oppor- tunity, however, to commend the scholars who contested for these prizes for the general excellence of most of the compositions and the positive merit of a few of them.
It is for the town to decide whether it is ready to act, at the approaching annual meeting, upon the question of a new school- house in Ward Two. It is one which must be acted upon sooner or later, as the exigencies of the situation in regard to school accommo- dations in that ward are yearly becoming more critical. In addition to the facts, on the one hand, that the Middle Street and the High Street School-houses are unsuitable for the purposes for which they are used, are the other facts of a room having been hired during the past year for a Primary School, and the early prospect of more room being required to accommodate pupils promoted from the lower grammar grades. Owing to the reduced prices of labor and stock, a favorable opportunity is offered for accomplishing this much-needed improve- ment.
An unusual number of vacancies on the School Board has occurred during the year. Rev. F. P. Chapin, who was elected in March, met with the committee but once, and declined further service. Hon. James Humphrey was chosen to fill his place. In July, Mr. Lucius Brown, who had served on the Board for more than two years, ten- dered his resignation. The vacancy thus made was filled by the choice of a lady, who, in turn, declined to accept the position. Mr. J. H. Stetson was subsequently elected in Mr. Brown's place. In August, F. W. Lewis, Esq., who had filled the office for a year and a half, resigned. Again a lady was selected to occupy the vacant posi- tion, but she, too, declined the appointment. The final choice fell
65
upon Sam'l W. Reed, Esq., who has been a member of the Board for the past six months.
During the year now drawing to a close, the committee have been compelled by force of circumstances to do a great amount of work in the interests of the schools. The secretary's records show that twenty-five meetings of the Board have been held. Although these meetings have been usually quite protracted, yet they very inade- quately measure the time and labor which have been devoted to this service, inasmuch as they do not include that given to school-exami- nations, to examinations of teachers, to examinations of candidates for High Schools, nor the odds and ends of time consumed in attending to the numerous wants of our schools and school-houses. While this service has been cheerfully rendered and without compensation, and would again be performed did necessity demand it, yet we feel that the duties of the office are so important that they should not exact of any citizen for their performance a sacrifice of personal in- terests. Should the town be able to select persons to fill this office who have leisure and means at their disposal, the present Board will retire, well satisfied to be relieved of further responsibility.
The committee have felt deeply impressed with the importance of the trust which has been imposed upon them. The momentous sub- ject of school education is one which demands for its consideration the most progressive thought and the most practical knowledge of the capabilities of the youthful mind. We live in an age of advancing ideas. " New times," says the poet, " demand new measures and new men. The world advances, and in time outgrows the laws which in our fathers' day were best." We have no right to assume, and we have not the presumption to claim, that we have reached the climax of perfection in our system of instruction. On the contrary, we freely admit that it is far from perfect. New methods of teaching may be an improvement on those now in use, undue prominence may now be given to some studies to the detriment of other and important ones ; but while we would make suggestions concerning our schools, we would remember that every change is not improvement, yet withont change we must acknowledge that no radical improvement could be made, and we should soon find ourselves behind in the steady march of progress.
5
66
ESTIMATES.
Salaries of forty-seven teachers for ten months . $20,900 00
Salary of one teacher " four . 66 136 00
66 on half time for " 66
68 00
Total for salaries
· $21,104 00
Fuel, care of rooms, and incidentals 4,000 00
$25,104 00
The available amount from all sources for the past year has been $24,253.23.
The committee therefore recommend that the appropriation for the support of schools the ensuing year be $23,500 (twenty-three thou- sand five hundred dollars) .
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, 1876.
NORTH.
HATTIE B. BAKER,
FREDERIC T. HUNT,
WILLIAM F. BINNEY,
LAFOREST LINCOLN,
MARY A. BOYLE,
MARY H. PRATT,
ELLA M. BURGESS,
MARY E. RILEY,
FANNIE C. FOYE,
ABBOTT L. SPINNEY,
FRANCES M. GOODMAN,
WILLIAM L. TERRY,
MABEL F. HARLOW,
MARY A. WEBSTER,
MARTHA J. HAWES,
SOUTH.
MARTIIA E. BELCHER,
MARY LINFIELD,
ETTA W. CUSHING,
C. LOUVIE LOGUE,
MARY L. DYER,
CHARLES H. LOUD,
CORNELIUS J. GAVIN,
MABEL B. PIERCE,
EVERETT B. HOWE,
FANNIE I. THOMAS.
QUESTIONS USED AT THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS, JULY 3, 1876.
ARITHMETIC.
Each question counts 10.
1. Reduce (2 - 2} fifths) multiplied by (125 divided by 3) to a decimal.
2. Reduce (.25 divided by 25) divided by (.25 x 25) to a com- mon fraction in its lowest terms.
67
3. Find the cost of a pile of wood 7 ft. 4 in. long, 3 ft. 9 in. high, and 4 ft. wide at $6 40 a cord.
4. Find the simple interest of $640 for 3 years, 7 months, and 3 days at 7 per cent.
5. What principal in 6 months, at 6 per cent, will yield $6 interest, and how long will it take $200 at 7 per cent to yield $7?
6. Find the true present worth of $515 due in 6 months, without interest.
7. Find how many barrels of flour at $10 a barrel an agent can purchase with a remittance of $2,050 after deducting his commission at 22 per cent.
8. Find the face of a draft on Chicago, which can be bought for $5,820 at 3 per cent discount.
9. Find the equated time for paying the following bills : Jan. 20, mdse. on 30 days, $100. Feb. 20, mdse. on 20 days, $100. March 20, mdse. on 20 days, $100.
10. Find the difference between the square root of 30.25 and the cube root of 166.375.
GRAMMAR. Each question counts 10.
1. Write a common and a proper noun ; a pronominal adjective ; an ordinal and a cardinal numeral.
2. Write the nominative singular of the five compound personal pronouns.
3. Write an intransitive and an irregular verb; an emphatic, a potential, and a tense auxiliary verb.
4. Write an adverb of cause and an adverb of manner ; a copu- lative, an adversative, and an alternative conjunction.
5. Write the possessive plural of man, boy, box, chief, loaf; the superlative of near, more, less, fore, far.
6. Write the second person singular of do, did, may, might, have ; the past participles of flee, fly, lay, pay, slay.
7. Write in the present indicative, the common form, the em- phatic form, the progressive form, and the passive form of strike ; and the synopsis of strike in the indicative active.
8. Write the six participles and the four infinitives of strike.
9. Write an element of the first, one of the second, and one of the third class ; name the two elements of the passive form of the verb ; and change the following to the passive voice : "James had struck John."
10. " Christopher Columbus, a distinguished Genoese navigator,
68
discovered the continent of America in the year 1492" Indicate the proximate analysis of the above sentence ; i. e., place a perpen- dicular bar between its sentence elements, and write over each ele- ment its abbreviated name as follows : -
Subj. Adj. Pred. " Boston, | situated on Mass. Bay, | is the capital of Mass.
GEOGRAPHY.
Each question counts 10.
1. Name the eight States that touch the great lakes, and two States separated by the Ohio River.
2. Name three rivers that empty into Chesapeake Bay and two into San Francisco Bay ; the boundary river between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, between South Carolina and Georgia, between Texas and Mexico, between Arizona and California, and between Oregon and Washington Territory.
3. Name the four largest cities of the United States on the At- lantic coast, the largest rice producing, the largest cotton producing, the largest sugar producing, and the largest tobacco producing State ; the latitude of the southern point of Florida, and of the northern boundary of Washington Territory.
4. Name the three physical divisions of South America, its three river systems, its three great plains, and its most eastern cape.
5. Name the most northern, southern, eastern, and western capes of Africa, its two great rivers, and the four Barbary States.
6. Name the three southern and the two northern peninsulas of Europe; two rivers that empty into the Caspian and three into the Black Sea.
7. Name the three countries of the island of Great Britain, the six different waters by which the island is surrounded, and its great cotton manufacturing city.
8. Name the three great southern peninsulas of Asia and the two waters by which they are separated ; the two eastern peninsulas and the three seas that touch them.
9. Name the three most important colonies of Australia, its three most important cities, its two principal rivers, and its two principal mountains.
10. Name the three races of men, the three forms of government, and the four systems of religion.
69
HISTORY. Each question counts 10.
1. Name the four general divisions of United States history, and give the length of the second division in years.
2. Who settled New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania ?
3. Give the date of the discovery of America by Columbus, the settlement of Jamestown, the landing of the Pilgrims, the beginning of the Revolution, the beginning of the Rebellion.
4. Name the oldest town in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, and Georgia.
5. Name five wars that occurred in the colonial period.
6. Name ten battles of the Revolution.
7. Name five British and five American generals of the Revolution.
8. Name the first President and Vice-President of the United States, and the three members of the first President's Cabinet.
9. Name the Presidents in whose administration the following events occurred : the War of 1812 ; the abolition of the United States Bank ; the Mexican war; the Kansas-Nebraska Bill; and John Brown's raid.
10. Name the President in whose administration the Rebellion occurred ; the year in which it began ; its first battle, and the year in which it closed.
SPELLING.
Each word counts 2.
1. Vehicle.
18. Victuals.
35. Lineament.
2. Orchestra.
19. Saleratus. 36. College.
3. Inexhaustible. 20. Receivable. 37. Serviceable.
4. Medicinal. 21. Chargeable. 38. Routine.
5. Vehemence. 22. Aisle. 39. Recipient.
6. Immense. 23. Centennial. 40. Peasant.
7. Transient. 24. Paralysis. 41. Heinous.
8. Crystal. 25. Grievous.
42. Pamphlet.
43. Reindeer.
9. Sapphire. 26. Eying.
10. Requisite. 27. Seizing.
44. Gorgeous.
45. Picnic.
11. Acquisitions.
12. Buoyancy. 29. Martyrdom.
30. Blithesome.
47. Hosiery.
48. Condense.
16. Righteous.
33. Facilitate.
34. Annihilate.
46. Champagne.
13. Courtesy.
14. Reservoir. 31. Insatiable.
15. Banana. 32. Lieutenant.
49. Molasses.
50. Business.
17. Maintenance.
28. Wearisome.
70
Table showing the per cent of correct answers to the foregoing questions given by pupils admitted to the High Schools in July, 1876, and general results deduced therefrom .*
Scholar's Number.
Arithmetic.
Grammar.
Geography
History.
Spelling.
Average
Combination
Mark.
Relative
Rank.
From which School promoted.
4
96
81
73
45
76
74
78
40
Broad Street.
6
90
68
39
85
50
66
70
51
Commercial Street.
15
100
85
90
90
80
89
90
5
Torrey
66
17
100
90
94
85
90
92
93
2
Broad
66
18
87
77
84
88
86
84
84
12
Main
66
20
80
71
88
78
74
78
78
35
Torrey
66
21
71
88
68
78
90
79
79
31
Pratt.
23
65
68
79
77
86
75
73
44
Torrey
66
25
63
66
88
68
72
71
70
49
Broad
26
90
83
68
96
64
80
82
24
Pratt.
28
55
76
84
60
86
72
70
47
Broad
66
29
99
70
95
80
46
78
80
30
Adams.
30
83
81
93
84
64
81
81
23
Torrey
66
31
40
75
87
78
84
73
68
50
Athens.
32
63
67
84
67
78
72
70
48
Torrey
66
33
69
92
85
84
82
82
81
19
Pratt.
36
63
80
69
82
72
73
72
46
Torrey
66
37
79
74
73
89
58
75
75
42
Pratt.
40
70
82
92
96
52
78
78
Broad 66
66
42
96
81
69
64
72
76
80
34
66
43
75
79
90
.65
54
73
74
45
66
66
45
88
70
85
91
52
77
78
37
Torrey
66
47
88
72
90
94
52
79
80
29
66
66
48
78
78
80
90
82
82
81
22
Commercial
66
50
95
76
66
90
70
79
81
27
Pratt.
52
98
65
97
88
56
81
82
21
Torrey Street.
Commercial Street.
54
90
73
90
84
74
82
82
Torrey Street.
56
100
76
82
76
74
82
16
Main
57
70
61
82
85
82
76
43
Athens.
61
84
65
91
84
62
77
38
Broad 66
63
75
78
79
88
88
82
25
Torrey
66
65
95
97
89
30
75
77
40 20
67
90
87
88
87
62
83
84
14
Broad
69
89
85
66
81
72
79
81
28
Commercial Street.
70
100
89
94
92
88
93
93
Torrey Street.
72
73
88
87
66
78
78
79
33
Athens.
76
96
72
80
91
78
83
13
Pratt.
78
100
91
81
76
86
87
7
Torrey Street.
84
90
89
87
75
34
75
79
39
Broad
66
88
70
88
82
88
50
75
76
41
Pratt
89
80
75
89
93
82
84
82
15
Main
91
90
81
77
84
94
85
86
11
Athens.
92
73
84
90
86
72
81
80
26
Pratt.
93
77
83
82
85
66
78
79
32
Adams.
96
100
85
94
88
80
89
91
4
Commercial Street.
98
80
89
96
98
98
92
90
3
Torrey Street.
100
100
82
93
86
78
88
89
6
66
46
96
69
84
88
74
82
83
17
Main
66
49
100
95
79
86
54
83
87
10
53
100
80
75
94
88
87
89
8
18
66
95
70
91
90
58
81
82
36 9
66
41
90
87
88
83
80
86
86
84
74 77
80
66
1
84 89
* The original examination papers from which these marks are taken are still in possession of the committee.
Maik.
1
71
The average mark of the 69 candidates was
. 69.5
combination 66
69.8
" average mark of the 52 successful candidates was . 80.0
combination
66
66
66
66 80.5
average 23
78.7
66 combination 66 23
66
66
66
66
79.7
66 average
66 29
66
South
81.0
66 combination
29
66
66
81.3
66 average 66
4
66
66
Athens“ 66 66
78.0
66 combination 66
4
66
66
76.7
average
2
66
Adams " 66
78.0
66 combination
2
66
6:
79.5
" average 66
6
66 Comm'l St. 81.0
" combination mark of the 6 successful candidates Commer- cial St. was
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