USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1885 > Part 9
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3,212 42
Janitors and cleaning
1,834 29
Fuel and incidentals . .
2,073 55
Repairs .
1,741 93
General incidentals .
368 72
Conveying scholars North High School
732 14
$34 049 60
Excess of expenditures over appropriation, $79 35
From the account of the Selectmen, it appears they have drawn orders for $33,667.95, and show a balance of 302.52 to the credit of the school appropriation ; the difference in our accounts is bills approved by the School Committee but orders not drawn.
166
Once again are we called upon to submit to the citizens of Wey- mouth the annual report of the welfare and progress of our schools. The School Board has been fortunate in remaining unchanged from the previous year. The relations existing among its members have been of the most pleasant and harmonious character. We think the record of the past year will not suffer in comparison with any preceding year, and we would also add, with any other schools in our neighboring towns. While we have come far short of the standard we would wish for our schools, we feel that our advance- ment has been sure and onward, andwith the hearty co-operation of parents, teachers and scholars, it will not be long ere the Wey- mouth schools cannot be excelled by any in the old Bay State. We believe that the plan of appointing visiting days continues to be successful in making the parents acquainted with the inner workings of the school-room, and in promoting pleasant relations between parent and teacher, while the children look forward with increasing pleasure to each return of the day. But there are many parents who still remain strangers to our school-rooms, and we would strongly urge them to avail themselves of these opportu- nities afforded them of informing themselves of the great impor- tance of the work carried on there.
While during the past year there have been some improvements in tardiness and attendance, still the frequent absentee and regularly tardy scholar continue to bar, in a measure, the healthy progress of our schools. During the past year the daily sessions have been shortened, amounting to five hours during the day, giving the scholars a longer nooning and a shorter afternoon session ; in addi- tion to this, we have recently adopted the plan of holding one con- tinued session on such days when, in the opinion of our superin- tendent, the inclemency of the weather shall demand it. We trust these changes have met the approval of parents, teachers, and scholars.
The subject of temperance, which has become a great national problem, has also been introduced into our schools during the past year, occupying twenty minutes of each week.
The hope of success of that great movement centres in the chil- dren, for it is among them the most important work is to be accom- plished, and the principles of total abstinence should be inculcated in the earliest education of the children, and cannot be impressed too early upon the minds of the youth of our country.
167
This year completes the fourth of the connection of Mr. Fisher as superintendent of our schools, and we would congratulate the town in so wisely retaining his services ; for shall we not attribute much of our present prosperity and success to his executive ability and the faithful performance of the duties of his office? We hope that the pleasant relations existing between him and our schools may remain for a long time unbroken, and may we show him, by our hearty assistance and support, that we appreciate the importance of his work among us.
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
In the North High School, Miss Mabel S. Robbins, as second assistant, succeeded Miss Hattie Tucker, resigned.
In the South High, Miss Harriet C. Torrey, a teacher of rare endowments and greatly beloved, was removed by death during the year, and Miss Carrie A. Tower was elected to succeed ler.
In Ward 1 Mr. A. Preston Averill succeeded Mr. Charles S. Haskell, resigned. The Adams School in this ward having a greatly reduced number of pupils, was reorganized as one school, occupying the upper hall and recitation room, with Miss M. Cora Wilder as assistant. Miss Wilder had been in charge of the lower primary room, succeeding Miss Agnes T. Dunphy, deceased.
In Ward 2 Miss Julia M. Talbot was promoted from High Street Second Primary to High Street Third Intermediate, to take the place of Miss Lizzie R. Healey, resigned ; and Miss Annie McGreevy was elected to fill the vacancy made by the promotion of Miss Talbot.
The additional Franklin Third Primary School, always required during the crowded spring term, not being required in the fall, Miss Sadie Stetson, who taught this school, was transferred to a position in Ward 5.
In Ward 3 an increase in the number of pupils required the opening of a new Second Primary School, and Miss Mary E. Walsh was elected to the position. Miss Annie W. Burrill was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss S. Lizzie Hunt of the Lincoln Third Primary.
In Ward 4 there have been no changes.
In Ward 5 Miss Sadie Stetson, transferred from Ward 2, suc- ceeds Mrs. L. B. Daniels, resigned.
168
TRUANCY.
In compliance with Cbap. 48, Sect. 10 of the General Statutes, the School Committee have arranged with the Commissioners of Hampden County, by the payment of ten dollars, it being the amount charged to each town per year for the privilege of assign- ing the " Hampden County Truant School " as the place of confine- ment of truants.
NEED OF BETTER SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS AT EAST WEYMOUTH.
Once more we would respectfully call the attention of the citi- zens of the town to the urgent necessity of better accommoda- tions in Ward 2.
Of the present schoolhouses, some are overcrowded, others in- conveniently located, and with two or three exceptions, so ba lly out of repair that it would be a waste of time and money to at- tempt to make them respectable. In these days, when so much attention is given to hygiene, where its study is so generally into- duced into education, it could hardly be believed that we would permit our children to spend the greater and better portion of the day in badly lighted and ill ventilated school-rooms. Again, chil- dren are very impressionable and are encouraged or discouraged by their surroundings. We wish to teach them early in life habits of order, method, cleanliness, etc. But how can this be done when they see around them so many evidences of neglect in the battered floor, the broken walls, and the tumbled-down furniture that dis- grace some of our schools ?
Those who have the misfortune, then, to attend these schools have no encouragement to be particular, either in the use of the school property, or in their general appearance, when they see such signs of carelessness on all sides. A glance at their school books or some of the children themselves, going to or coming from school, is a proof of this. There seems to be but one remedy for all these troubles, - a new schoolhouse. We would, then, earnestly re- commend the erection of an eight-room building, centrally located, to be a relief to the present overcrowded ones, and as an offset to the evil influences of the existing ones. By the erection of such a
169
building, a few unsightly ones would be happily dispensed with, the Middle and Pleasant Streets, and the lower room in the High Street, which is now a standing disgrace to the town. The schools would then be graded and distributed as follows : -
IN THE NEW BUILDING.
Ninth grade (highest below the High School) .
Probable number of pupils. 40
Eighth 66
.
45
Seventh 66
. . 45 .
Sixth 66
. .
45
Fifth
45
Fourth 66
. 45
First 66 (or lowest primary )
50
Seven rooms would be at once occupied in this building.
BICKNELL SCHOOL.
Seventh and sixth grades
40
Fifth and fourth
. 45
The Bicknell School would be an annex to the new building and serve to receive the overflow from it.
HIGH STREET SCHOOL.
(UP STAIRS.)
Third grade
45
SCHOOL STREET SCHOOL.
45
Second grade
GRANT STREET SCHOOL.
First grade
50
FRANKLIN SCHOOL.
Third grade
.
.
. 45
Second 66
.
.
· 50
First 66
.
.
.
. 50
1.0
The grammar and intermediate pupils would go to two centrally located buildings. There are now over six hundred pupils attend- ing school in this ward. The spring term will show a largely increased number, which will necessitate the opening of a new lower grade primary school in the Franklin building, to accommo- date the smaller children. The number of teachers will then be fifteen.
The erection of a four-room building in the vicinity of Shaw's Corner has been desired by very many residents of the ward, but the Committee consider it inexpedient for the present, as the school population in that part of the ward would not suffice to fill it for some time to come.
REPAIRS OF SCHOOLHOUSES.
During the past year the usual economy has been exercised in the expenditures for repairs.
At the River Street Schoolhouse the banking is constantly washing down against the building, necessitating an annual outlay for grading. This can be remedied only by building a substantial bank wall.
At the Athens building a new fence has been built in the rear of the house, and the old fence repaired. Some inside paint- ing was found to be necessary, and the blackboards have been treated to a preparation that makes them nearly as good as new. New wooden gutters will have to replace the old copper ones on this schoolhouse, as the latter leak so badly that they are dam- aging the building, and cannot be repaired. The roof of the Franklin building has been newly painted, which adds much to its general appearance. New out-houses have been built for the Grant Schoolhouse, and all the rooms in Ward 2 have been whitewashed.
New furniture has been put into the Pratt Primary, and the blackboards have been thoroughly repaired at the Pratt Gram- mar. Two schoolhouses have been painted during the year, - the Pond and the Pleasant Street. The latter has had a portion of the floor relaid, and has been painted inside.
The Committee have introduced water from the mains into the Hunt and Lincoln buildings. Many of our schools are poorly supplied with water, while several yards have none; in others
171
the wells are in a filthy condition from surface drainage that cannot be remedied.
The high schools are sadly in need of water that the experi- mental studies in chemistry may be properly conducted, as well as for other uses. In many instances the supply comes from private families and neighboring stables, for which the town has been pay- ing an annual water tax. This, with the usual repairs on the pumps now in use, will justify us in recommending that our appro- priation be sufficient to enable us to introduce water into these buildings where it can be done with economy. The school-house yards in Ward 3 will require considerable grading during the
present year. The Hunt and Lincoln yards are in a deplor- able condition, and can only be made to compare favorably with the buildings by extensive grading. Heretofore it has been im- practicable to do this work on account of the drainage that would flow into the well, but as water has been put into the buildings, there seems to be no reason why the yard cannot be made to com- pare favorably with the others.
At the North High new steps should replace those leading from Tremont Street to the schoolhouse. The present ones are but little better than unsafe stepping stones, well calculated to cause serious accidents. 1
Considering that there are twenty-three school buildings to be kept in repair, and some of these old and dilapidated, the Commit- tee have been unable, with the limited means at their disposal, to make any repairs on yards save those that were imperative.
SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS ASKED FOR.
Salaries of teachers
. $23,600 00
Janitors and cleaning
.
· 2,000 00
Fuel
. 1,500 00
Repairs of school buildings
1,700 00
Text-books and school supplies .
3,300 00
Miscellaneous expenses .
500 00
Grading school-house yards
500 00
·
$33,100 00
172
Which may be diminished
By Pratt fund . . $275 00
By alewife fund · . 252 00
By State school fund .
206 86
By one half dog tax .
. 436 39
1,170 25
Leaving a balance to be raised by assessment. $31,929 75
Respectfully submitted.
AUGUSTUS J. RICHARDS,
LOUIS A. COOK,
JOHN C. FRASER,
School Committee.
ORRIN B. BATES,
WILLIAM H. BOLSTER,
WILLIAM A. DRAKE,
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee, Weymouth, Mass. :
I have the honor to submit herewith my fourth annual report as superintendent of schools.
SHORTENING OF SCHOOL HOURS.
During the year you received a petition signed by nearly all the teachers, asking for a reduction of school hours from six a day to five. I joined the teachers in making this request, because I felt that the limit of successful study, as well as the limit of successful teaching, is reached in five hours. At the end of that time the teachers need to go home and rest, as a rule, and the pupils have ceased to be in a receptive condition. They are better off at work or play.
Few people know how much is demanded of the teacher. Even those parents who find it hard to gratify the wants of their children, and find it hard to control them, do not realize this. They are, in fact, the last ones to realize it. So much is done for children at home that much must be done for them at school. Like grown-up people they have become fastidious. The teacher is obliged to put forth much the same effort to control and interest his pupils, - to entertain them, in fact, - that the public speaker puts forth to arouse, fix, and hold the attention of his hearers. At the end of five hours he is practically exhausted.
For these reasons I think it was wise to effect a reduction of time. At any rate, the experiment has been tried, and has so far worked successfully. The schools drag less than formerly. They
171
have more snap and life. The people appreciate the change and would not go back to the old arrangement even if they could, - a proof that you have only to inaugurate a good movement in Wey- mouth to have it supported.
Before the change was made, however, a letter of inquiry was addressed to all the cities and towns of the State, of more than 10,000 inhabitants, and this brought out the answers from which the table on the opposite page is made up (revised to date in case of Attleborough, which effected a change but recently).
A COLLATERAL ENTERPRISE.
Since writing my last report, I have delivered two lectures in each of the Weymouth villages, for the benefit of the schools, one on " New Orleans and the World's Fair," and the other on the " Great Northwest." I wanted to raise some money for the intro- duction of the School Solar Camera and for the decoration of school-house yards. As the town had never been asked to appro- priate money for either of these objects, and there were those who might say, and with reason too, that the people should not be taxed for anything of· a novel nature until its merits had been tested, I thought it better to raise the money, if I could, by some form of popular subscription, - or at least, enough to make a be- ginning - and so I hit upon the plan of lecturing. I was reason- ably successful and realized $160.24. This amount has now been expended, - about four-fifths for camera, slides, screen, etc., and about one-fifth for loam, plants, etc. Although the work to which this money has been devoted has been but a side issue during the year, I really think it has accomplished considerable good and is likely to lead to far greater and better results than I had at first anticipated.
TEACHING THROUGH THE EYE.
We now have one hundred slides or pictures that can be shown upon the walls of the schoolroom whenever the sun is shining, - grographical subjects. Of course it is necessary to darken the schoolroom somewhat during the exhibition, but not so much that the pupils cannot see to take notes while it is in progress. I should like to increase the number of slides on hand to one thous-
175
LENGTH OF SESSIONS AND RECESSES IN SCHOOLS BELOW THE HIGH, AS REPORTED FROM ALL CITIES AND TOWNS OF MASSACHUSETTS OF MORE THAN 10,000 INHABITANTS.
Where two sets of figures are given, the upper is for Grammar, and the lower for Primary Schools.
IN SCHOOLS BELOW THE HIGH.
SESSIONS. (Hours.)
RECESSES. (Minutes.)
A. M.
P. M.
A. M.
P. M.
Attleborough
Boston
·
3
2
20
₹10
Brookine
5
0
30
0
Cambridge .
3
2
10
₹10
Chelsea
21
2
5
5
Chicopee
3
2
15
15
Fitchburg
3
2
15
5
Gloucester
3
2
20
[10
Haverhill
3
2
15
0
Holyoke
n
2
14 3
0
0
Lawrence
3
2
20
1
0
Lowell
3
2
15
5 0
Lynn .
3
2
20
110
Malden
3
2
20
10
Marlborough
00
2
20
5
Milford
3
15
5
New Bedford
3
2
15
0
Newburyport
3
3
15
15
Newton
23
2
₹ 10 to 12
10 to 12
North Adams
21
23
110
10 }
Northampton
3
24
15
₹15
Pittsfield
3
3
15
15
Quincy
3
2
15
1
5
Salem .
3
2
15
15
Somerville .
2
2
5
5
Springfield .
2?
2
5
5
Taunton
3
2
15
0
Waltham
3
2
15
0
Woburn
21
2
15
15
Worcester
3
2
20
10
1
0
Weymouth .
3
2
15
5
5
1
Brockton
3
2
15
0
-
0
23
2
U
0
Fall River
§ 2}
2
1
5 3 to 5
3 to 5
1 0
0 }
0
0
0
5 5
5
1
Some of the Pittsfield schools have been trying the experiment of an afternoon session of two and one-half hours, without a recess. "The plan meets with favor and may be generally adopted." The schools of Newburyport have an afternoon session of two hours in winter.
/10
5 0
0
110
21
21
5
176
and as soon as possible. I do not want to take the time of the pupils to tell them about forests, rivers, mountains, scenery, cities, people, buildings, bridges, and the like, in remote parts of the globe ; I want to show them all these things, and many more besides, with the least possible delay, and give them an ocular dem- onstration of what the world is like. I should like to carry these photographic reproductions into history, geology, and other sub- jects.
Weymouth is, so far as I know, the first town to move in this matter. Individual teachers have introduced the camera here and there, - notably, Prof. Chas. F. Adams, of the State Normal School, at Worcester, Mass., who may be said to be the chief promoter of the pictorial presentation of subjects in the school- . rooms of America, - King, of Boston, Lyford, of Worcester, and others ; while nearly all the great colleges and normal schools of the country have either a camera or a stereopticon of their own ; but Weymouth is, so far as I know, the first town to hold the slides and camera in common, to pass them around from school to school, and make them an integral part of the common school system. Should not the work in which we have made so good a beginning receive substantial encouragement from the town and be permanently maintained? It has passed out of the experimental into the practical stage. It pays. It is in keeping with the times, and has the endorsement of the world at large ; for just as we employ pictures. to bring far-away scenes around us, so do the great railroads employ them to advertise their routes of travel, and so do the great newspapers employ them to make their col- umns more attractive. What we are doing the great world outside is doing, - teaching through the eye.
DECORATING SCHOOL-HOUSE YARDS.
Over two hundred dollars was expended last summer for flowers, trees, lawn borders, "rockeries," and the like; of this amount about one hundred dollars was raised by the pupils, and fifty dol- lars given by the Village Improvement Association, of South Wey- mouth. The rest was obtained from the other improvement asso- ciations of the town, or taken out of my lecture fund. Then there were individual gifts of flowers, which, if purchased outright, would have raised the amount expended to three hundred dollars. I am
177
proud to say that not a pupil in the public schools, so far as I know, did any damage to this property. Not a flower was plucked nor a twig bent, so far as I know, without permission from the teachers, This is important testimony ; it goes to show that it is always safe and wise to treat pupils about right. Surround them with the beautiful, and they will grow up with improved tastes, and a dis- position to respect the property and rights of others. Schoolhouses and school grounds should be up to the level of the average home. The moment you let them fall below that level, as in the case of the schoolhouses at East Weymouth, you practically say to the pupils : " The work you are engaged in is not of much consequence, and you are not entitled to much consideration at our hands." That moment the lowering influence upon the lives of the pupils begins.
Now, I would not ask you to spend any part of the town's money for mere flower-beds, and you would not probably think of doing so, although public money is often expended in worse ways, but there are certain improvements that ought to be effected at once. The North High School yard is in a very unsightly state. So too, al- though in less degree, is the Broad Street school yard, at the Lai.ding. It seems a pity to erect such fine school buildings and then stop short suddenly, when a few hundred dollars more would set them off to such advantage. A village improvement associa- tion is needed in this part of the town to smooth the way to reform.
With twenty school yards in town, not including the unsightly premises that surround the Town House, in the back part of which the Centre Schcol is located, we have an opportunity to create as many attractive little parks that would enhance the value of prop- erty throughout the town, and contribute not a little to raise it in the public estimation. Numerous little touches are needed here and there, and in some quarters the removal of fences, and extensive grading.
I would extend my thanks to the managers of the Weymouth Agricultural and Industrial Association for the interest they have taken in our efforts to improve the lo ks of things, and the prizes they offered for the best bouquets the pupils could make of the flowers gathered on the school grounds.
178
IMPROVED OUT-BUILDINGS.
I think it would be well to expend $500 or more, the coming year, in improving the out-buildings in various parts of the town, even if, to do this, it is necessary to pass over quite a number of other matters that really ought to be attended to. The out- build- ings in Ward 4 were recently renewed and enlarged, and since then they have been well cared for. The fact that we can take care of flowers and shubbery ought to be accepted as evidence that we can and would take care of out-buildings, if properly con- structed ; and floral decorations in the front part of school grounds hardly seem in keeping with out-buildings in a vile condi- tion in the rear. Repairs on out-buildings, after those on leaky roofs, should, in my opinion, take precedence of all other repairs the coming year. Work of this nature was proposed some years ago, but it has been put off from time to time, until now I hope it will be no longer delayed.
MUSICAL INSTRUCTION.
Some one says that the whole boy and the whole girl should be put to school. The observation is a very shrewd and just one, and applies, by way of protest, to our own schools. We put about two thirds or three fourths of a boy to school ; in other words, the instruction we impart is too narrow and one-sided. It does not reach all parts of the boy. Until we remedy this state of things, we shall have no cause to be remembered with gratitude by those who are now under our charge.
Looking back to my own school days, I can see how meagre the in- struction was. It did not include music, it did not include drawing, it did not include the elementary sciences. It did not help a child to grow up into a great love of nature. It stuck too closely to the three R's. I do not blame the school authorities for not pro- viding a more liberal course of study, for the times were not ready for it. But the times have changed now, and we should do some- thing to broaden our lines of work. A special instructor in music should be employed in our schools, and other provisions made for the regular and systematic instruction of the pupils in this branch. Our schools are running upon too narrow a gauge. They do not
179
lay hold of the child as they ought, and build him up and round him out and make him many-sided, so that when he goes out into the great would he will be able to " catch on," as the expression goes, to the complex social life around him, and derive full benefit from the newspapers, the high-class concerts, the Chautauquan circles, and the like, as well as to grow up into active sympathy with the natural world, - the earth, and air, and sea, and sky. Music enters too largely into the life of the people now for us to ignore it in the schools. The town is all ready and ripe for its in- troduction. A few would oppose it, but the great majority would welcome it heartily.
When a rich man discovers in his daughter an unusual talent for music, what does he do? He gives her the best private instruction ; he places her under some celebrated teacher ; perhaps he sends her to Europe. At any rate, he does all he can to encourage the development of the talent by which he feels that a special distinc- tion is conferred upon his child. When the rich so strenuously demand musical instruction for their children, the poor should have it, - at least, within bounds, - in this republican land of ours. There is no caste in education. The schools are for all classes. High and low, rich and poor, meet upon a level before a school- house door. While we cannot go so far and do so much for each individual child as the rich, out of their abundant means, can do for themselves, we can and should give each child a good start in music. We can and should teach every child the elements of . music.
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