USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1896 > Part 14
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Yale. I know of no case of failure of one of our graduates in these institutions. Four young men, graduates of the class of '96, entered Dartmouth last September, and are, I understand, doing creditable work. One has recently taken a prize for excellence in scholarship.
The question of providing accommodations for high school pupils is one that must be met very soon. At the beginning of the present school year 77 entered the fourth class at the North high. As the fourth class room will seat 63, and the other class rooms were full, 14 of the entering class were transferred to the South high. Many parents of the pupils selected for the transfer strongly objected, but were persuaded, because of the necessity of the case, to submit to the change. The fourth class room at the South high will seat 31. The transfer made a class of 46. As there were no seats in the assembly room for the over- flow, the laboratory room that was never intended for a study room had to be used for that purpose.
The conditions next year will be still harder to meet. There are 130 pupils in the ninth grades of the grammar schools ; nearly 100 will enter the high schools next Sept. This number will more than fill the fourth class rooms in both buildings. There will be promoted to the third class about 30 in the South high, excluding those belonging to the North high, and 60 in the North high. The 30 in the third class at the South high, with the entering class of 30 or more and 39 in the two upper classes, will fill every seat used for high school purposes in the building, including the seats in the laboratory.
The third-class room at the North High will seat 40 of the 60 promoted to that class. The two upper classes will number about 62, the entire seating capacity of the upper room, so that there will be no accommodation for the overflow of the 20 pupils from the third class in either of the high school buildings. As there are 132 pupils in Grade VIII., 190 in Grade VII., 182 in Grade VI., and 199 in Grade V., the overflow must continue to increase for some years unless there is a decrease in the interest now taken in the public schools.
How shall the overflow be provided for? This question was
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answered by a special committee appointed by the town three years ago to consider the advisability of uniting the two high schools. This committee reported as follows : "That in their judgment it is advisable to consolidate our high schools, but that it is not practicable to do so at the present time." Now that our high schools have outgrown their present quarters, is it not time to make the consolidation and provide a suitable place in which to educate our young men and women? The buildings now in use are not in keeping either with the spirit and earnestness of the pupils, the educational spirit of the times, or the progressive ideas of our own citizens.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Although the results of our school work fail to satisfy either the public or the school officers, we believe that we are making some progress year by year. Looking at the past we are encouraged for we can see that we have made progress ; looking at the present we are full of anxiety for continued growth.
Our effort to study the individual child and adapt our instruc- tion to his needs has been continued for the past year with in- creasing success. In separating the schools into two or more sections and placing the pupils of corresponding abilities for development in groups, greater facility in attending to the wants of the individual pupil is acquired. Pupils who can advance more rapidly than their school fellows are easily picked out and trans- ferred to the division or grade corresponding to their abilities. This plan places in the hands of every teacher the power of over- coming the treadmill criticism that is so often made against the graded school system. The public schools contain the bright, the dull, and the indifferent, but it does not follow that these must be treated alike or held to the same course.
The public believes in the three R's, reading, riting, and rith- metic, and liold these as the core of school instruction. The pub- lic is right in the demand, for the three R's form a solid foundation which can be broadened as opportunity offers. These things the schools should teach and teach thoroughly but the teachers and the public must not expect every pupil to become proficient in all of
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them. To some it is not given to understand the abstractions of number, and if Nature says "No" in regard to any subject it is useless for the teacher to worry the life out of the pupil trying to overcome that edict. The public school must first of all teach manners and character, which are demanded by society ; next must come the three R's which are essential to practical life ; then should come those studies that give intelligence and culture.
The inside decoration of school buildings with works of art has continued through the past year. Many pictures have been placed upon the walls through the efforts of the teachers and scholars,. but not so much interest has been taken by the citizens as is desirable. One of the principal things taught in our schools is good taste, and how better can this be taught than by keeping constantly before the children beautiful pictures ? The picture- need not be an expensive one. If it has a noble thought or an in- spiring sentiment for the pupil it is a worthy addition to the school room.
In several of the schools a school library has been started dur- ing the past year. The Athens, I believe, has the honor of mak- ing the largest collection. Quite a large list of books has been purchased with money raised by the pupils, and several volumes. have been donated by citizens. . The pupils take a great interest in their library and are making good use of it. With a little con- tinuous effort on the part of teachers and pupils and a little sub- stantial assistance from the citizens, every grammar school build- ing would in a few years be provided with a very good school library.
The meetings of the grammar school principals have been con- tinued through the year and been productive of much good. The principals have become better acquainted with the course of study and with the work done in other schools. Several subjects have been discussed and schemes for teaching them presented. Thus the special thought given to a particular subject by one has been of service to all.
We have received many favorable comments during the past two years upon the work done in our schools in drawing and nature study. There can be no doubt but great improvement has
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been made in these lines. The teachers have studied the subjects faithfully and have followed suggestions intelligently, but it is im- possible for the superintendent, with his other duties, to give sufficient time to their direction to secure uniformity of effort throughout the schools. This department should be placed in the hands of a special teacher, who should give her entire time to directing the work of the pupils and giving instruction to the teachers.
In music a very important change has been made since the last annual report. At its meeting in December, the School Commit- tee adopted the Natural system of music in place of the National, which had been in use continuously since the introduction of music into the schools. The new system discards the use of pitch-names, time-names, use of figures, and music ladders, and puts the child at once to reading music from the staff. It claims that these de- vices are hindrances to teaching music rather than helps, and that the child should learn to sing from the staff at first and sing in all the keys. The results of such a radical change will be watched with interest. The change was made from the first to the fifth grades, inclusive. For a detailed account of the work in music for the year, see report of the Instructor in Music.
The work in numbers under the inspiration of the new series of arithmetics has been progressive. During the earlier weeks of each school year a thorough review of the work of the preceding years is made. This plan is beginning to show good results.
Our method of instruction is objective, rules are derived in- ductively, and closely related subjects are treated in their proper relation. In the higher grades the work is curtailed by the omis- sion of those topics that serve no useful purpose. By these omissions we lose none of the benefits of arithmetic and gain time for the pupils in the ninth grade to become familiar with literal expressions and algebraic symbols. Next year we shall be able to finish the work in arithmetic by the middle of the ninth year, and shall devote the last half of the year in mathematics to the elements of algebra and geometry, thus giving a broader training to all the grammar school graduates, and a better preparation for the work required in the high schools.
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Our aim in teaching history is to create in the pupils an interest in history and a love for historical and biographical reading. The most of our teachers endeavor to illumine this study by intro- ducing outside stories. Parallel text-books and supplementary reading are provided to encourage the habit of comparison and stimulate mental growth. All pupils should not be expected to become proficient in history, for there are varieties of minds in children as well as in grown people. The teacher has done well who has presented the subject in an interesting and enthusiastic manner and has awakened in a part of her pupils a love for his- torical study that will extend beyond school life. In connection with this subject more properly than with any other should come instruction in civics and good citizenship. In all our schools at the present time we salute the flag, pledging allegiance to our country, but how useless all this is unless beneath the formality there is breathed forth the true spirit of patriotism and loyalty. We have now in our country quite enough of the Fourth of July kind of patriotism, but not enough of the patriotism that recognizes both the advantages and responsibilities of American citizenship. The schools can and should do much to create in the pupils an appre- ciation of our government and a desire not only to receive its benefits, but to manfully and cheerfully bear its responsibilities.
In conclusion it should be said that no year's work in our sehools has been better done. The teachers have been untiring in their devotion to the best interests of the schools, and manifest advancement has been made in many directions. Fewer cases of suspension have occurred and corporal punishment is seldom used. Methods of instruction have improved and a deeper interest has been taken by the children in the school work.
The fact that the paramount need of the public schools is a good teacher is constantly forced upon the attention of the school authorities. Buildings, courses of study, regulations, appliances, and supervision cannot make a good school, but without any of these the good teacher may have a good school. With these the public has a right to expect great things of the public schools.
Respectfully submitted,
I. M. NORCROSS,
Superintendent.
WEYMOUTH, Mass., Feb. 9, 1897.
APPENDICES.
1. NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.
To Mr. I. M. Norcross, Superintendent of Schools :-
In compliance with your request, I beg to submit the following re- port of the work and condition of the North High School :-
The school graduated in June, 1896, a class of twenty-three; sixteen young ladies and seven young men. Of the former, five are contin- uing their study in normal or training schools and four have taken up stenography or book-keeping. Of the young men, three entered Dartmouth Co.lege and one has gone to each of the following: Harv- ard Medical College, Boston College and Burdett Business College.
In this connection let me add that Dartmouth College recently placed the North High School upon the list of " Approved Schools" for certificate admission to that college.
The school opened the present year with an attendance of one hun- dred and seventy-one. Of these, seventy-seven were of the entering class, and as the seating capacity was only sixty-three, fourteen from this class were necessarily taken out of the building, reducing our enrollment to one hundred and fifty-seven, divided as follows: Sen- iors, thirty-two; Juniors, nineteen; Sophomores, forty; Freshmen, sixty-three, and special students, three.
The attendance and punctuality while ranking well with other schools of its size are not what they ought to be, partially owing, per- haps, to the large territory over which the pupils are scattered.
Few changes have been made in the school, which I found in excel- lent condition.
The method of teaching the different branches has not varied much from that of other years. Geometry is being taught this year, as last, without text book, and with even more satisfactory and encouraging results. History has been taught by reference books only and the correlation of it and literature has been made more prominent. The
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work in English has been so arranged as to cover all of the college requirements. In French, conversation and translation have been introduced earlier in the year.
While the present course of study seems to have proven very satis- factory I think some changes could be made to good advantage.
The rhetorical work has been conducted as usual in the lower classes. The two upper classes formed a society and have conducted their own exercises. In addition to the usual rhetorical work, debates have been introduced, which, with the practice of conducting such a society, seem to me to be giving the pupils a more practical training.
At the opening of the school, Mr. Abbott turned over to me $130.84, the balance of the money raised by the prize speaking. From this I have drawn for the following :-
Printing school programs, $5; printing names of class of 1900, $1.75; Simplex Printer and supplies, $6.65; books, $6 15; plants and fixtures, $2.90. Total, $22.45.
There have been added to the school library during last year and this, by means of this fund, some twenty-five books of reference, among which are "Larned's History for Ready Reference," the com- plete works of the standard American poets, "Emerson's Essays," a mythology, historical books and literary criticisms.
The great need of more room, general repairs, better heating appa- ratus, and more modern methods of ventilation can only be realized by actual life in the building, and is too well known to need further suggestions from me.
We have had during the first twenty weeks thirty-two visitors, and a very large majority of these have been young people, only one parent having as yet visited the school. We therefore take this opportunity through you respectfully, but earnestly, to urge the par- ents and friends to visit the school more often and to become more intimately acquainted with the actual work of the school.
Respectfully yours,
E. J. BUGBEE, Principal.
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GRADUATING EXERCISES OF THE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, UNION CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS., THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 25, 1896.
Class Motto: "Esse non Videri."
PROGRAMME.
OVERTURE
Orchestra
INVOCATION.
SONG, Anvil Chorus from "Il Trovatore"
School
SALUTATORY
Emily B. Poulin
ESSAY, "Cuba"
. Bertram A. Dexheimer
DECLAMTION, "Description of, Webster's Reply to Hayne"
.
Edward J. Fraher
ESSAY, "No Time"
Grace A. Mckeever
RECITATION "Rising of 1776"
Elizabeth M. Hennessey
CLASS HISTORY Daisy B. Pratt
ESSAY, "Horace Mann"
Joseph W. Manion
.
DECLAMATION, "Eulogy on Governor Greenhalge"
Arthur M. Hunt
PROPHECIES,
Mary L. Reid and Julia A. Reily
DECLAMATION, "Our Duties to the Republic"
George P. Hunt
ORATION, "Esse non Videri"
Charles Whelan
VALEDICTORY,
Jane L. Kendall
SONG, "Till we meet Again"
School
PRESENTATION OF DIPOMAS
Rev. Wm. Hyde
CLASS ODE.
Words by FANNIE P. CHUBBUCK.
Music by REINE M. POK.
As the glorious sun fades away in the West, And leaves on the sky a pure light, So the sky of our lives is illuminated with hope, As the sun of our past sets to-night. We turn to the future which heckons us on And from out of the past brightly gleam These words, plainly written, to which we'll e'er turn, Our motto "To be and not seem."
When a beautiful mirage appears to one's view, In trav'lling the wild desert land, Then be presses on eagerly after the prize, But it sinks in the glistening sand Our motto in sebool life has taught us to seek For the the things which are not false and vain, And following its guidance we're sure to suceed, For we'll ever due and not feign.
We have toiled side by side, now to-night we must part, Our motto we'll d'er keep in sight, That we may not with sorrow look back to this hour,
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When our hopes and our prospects are bright, And when on this earth all our toil is well done, And the years of our sowing are past, We'll then rest above in the peace of God's love, Our sheaves duly garnered at last.
Music
Orchestra
GRADUATES.
Classical.
Bertram Allison Dexheimer. Edward Joseph Fraher. Arthur Milton Hunt. Jane Louise Kendall. Joseph William Manion.
Latin-English,
Fannie Porter Chubbuck.
George Pratt Hunt.
Mattie Alice Loud.
Emily Bailey Poulin.
Daisy Blomgren Pratt.
Stephen Francis Pratt.
Mary Lizzie Reid.
Julia Agnes Reily.
English.
Alice Louise Griffin. Mary Agatha Mahoney.
Elizabeth Mary Hennessey.
Grace Agatha Mckeever.
Reine Marie Poe.
Edna May Sterling.
Rose Thayer.
Elizabeth Teresa Tracy.
Grace Ella Walsh.
Charles Whelan.
Il. SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr. I. M. Norcross, Superintendent of Schools :-
SIR :- I respectfully present the annual report of the South High School.
The attendance at the opening of school, Sept. 8th, was eighty-six, and by the addition of twelve at the commencement of the second week made a total number of ninety-eight. The largest in the his- tory of the school.
I find that the three rooms now in use do not give us accommoda- tions for the accomplishment of the work desired. If we could have the use of the large room, now occupied by one of the lowest grades
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we would have ample room for our present number, and also for thirty or forty more, and our physical and chemical laboratory would then be used wholly for recitation and laboratory work.
The school building is in good repair, as is also the heating appar- atus. We find no difficulty in keeping the different rooms comfort- able except in extreme weather.
The per cent. of attendance for the past year has been excellent, and the number of tardinesses very low.
As the laboratories and apparatus of a school are a fair indication of the quality of the work done, it is needless for me to go into detail as to the work accomplished. I am convinced that better work is accomplished here every succeeding year on account of the yearly in- crease in chemical and physical supplies and apparatus.
It has been convenient and profitable for me to visit, during the past year, twelve different laboratories, and to study the work accom- plished and the methods. It is my desire to have practical work in physics as well as in chemistry. Recitations wholly, and experi- ments performed by the instructor do not inspire or encourage an in- vestigative spirit.
The English course has been enlarged during the year to enable us to meet the requirements of the different colleges. This change effects favorably the English, not only in the classes preparing for college, but also all other classes.
It has been our aim to cultivate a taste for good literature, and thereby prevent the reading of worthless books. The pupils of all classes have to read and report upon a number of standard works during the year in addition to their regular work. The majority of the pupils do this cheerfully.
The past year has been a pleasant, and, I trust, a profitable one.
Useful knowledge and right mental habits are two very important results to be obtained in public school work.
I wish to express my appreciation, both to the Superintendent and members of the committee, for the readiness in doing whatever has been for the best interests of the school.
Yours sincerely, ALBERT E. KINGSBURY,
Principal South High School.
FEB 1st, 1897.
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TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL GRADUATING EXERCISES OF THE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL AT FOGG'S OPERA HOUSE, SOUTH WEYMOUTH, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 26, 1896, AT 7.45 O'CLOCK.
"The End is not yet."
PROGRAMME.
OVERTURE
INVOCATION. Orchestra
SALUTATORY AND ESSAY, "Character Building" Alice Ruth Willis ESSAY, "Beauties of Nature" Sarah Frances Derby . DECLAMATION, "The Rivals," H. Greenough Smith John Reidy
CLASS HISTORY, "Can Such Things Be" Alice Gertrude Barnes SINGING, Anvil Chorus from "Il Trovatore," Verdi School ESSAY, "Ancient and Modern Warfare" Cornelius Urban Tırrell READING, "The Execution of Sydney Carton."
"Tale of Two Cities," by Charles Dickens. Catherine Alicia Roche ESSAY, "Time and Space" . . Electa Lincoln Hawes READING, "Antigone," Mary Stuart Phelps, Rosa Florence Hallahan CLASS PROPHECY, "The Yawning Void of the . Henry Christopher Kohler Future" .
ESSAY AND VALEDICTORY, "The End is Not
Yet"
Catherine Jeannette Hawes
SINGING, "Till We Meet Again" School
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS .
H. A. Thomas
CLASS ODE.
Composed by JOHN REIDY. Music by CORNELIUS URBAN TIRRELL. As we glance back o'er our school days, What a scene now meets our eyes ; We are standing on the platform, We've been reaching toward the skies.
Four long years we've spent together, Working with this end in view, And no matter what our duties, We have met them brave and true.
Day by day we've worked together As we climbed toward wisdom's height, As we gained each high endeavor, As we labored for the right. But our school days now are ended, Life's great work is just begun, There are noble truths to guide us Toward the goal now partly won.
BENEDICTION.
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GRADUATES. College Course. Catherine Jeannette Hawes.
Latin-English Course.
Sarah Frances Derby. Electa Lincoln Hawes.
Henry Christopher Kohler.
Cornelius, Urban Tirrell.
Catherine Alicia Roche. Alice Ruth Willis.
English Course.
Alice Gertrude Barnes. Rosa Florence Hallahan. John Reidy.
III. MUSIC.
Mr. I. M. Norcross, Superinundent of Schools :-
: I have the honor of submitting to you my Third Annual Report as Musical Director in the Public Schools of Weymouth.
The past year has seen marked changes in the methods of musical instruction. The "National Music Course" was used until Jan., 1897, when the "Natural Music Course," by Ripley and Tapper, was introduced. Up to this time there was an insufficient supply of books and charts, and most of the work in the lower grades had to be copied upon the boards Although good progress was made it did not reach that degree of proficiency which would have been possible under other conditions.
In my report for 1895, I stated that the "Natural Music Course" was far superior to the one then in use. Now that it has been intro- duced into the first five grades I find it heartily endorsed by both teachers and pupils, and feel sure that rapid advancement will be made.
To enable the teachers to become more thoroughly acquainted with the charts and books, teachers' meetings have been organized, those using charts A and B meeting the first Tuesday, and : hose using charts C and D the second Tuesday of each month. At these meetings the teachers are formed into a class and receive the same instruction that they are to give their respective classes. in this way more time can
-
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be taken for developing the methods to be employed, and the result will be a uniformity of work throughout the town.
Prof. Wade said, "It will be found in all cases that loud singing is harsh, unmusical singing, the vocal organs of the child being utterly incapable of producing a large, and at the same time, musical tone." There are but two registers to be considered in the voice of a child- the head or thin register and the chest or thick register. Loud sing- ing is invariably produced by the chest register, this should be avoided as it is physically harmful, besides making the child's voice incapable of rendering musical tones. Our aim this year has been to procure soft tones as the fundamental principle of voice training. Better re- sults will now follow as the work of the present system is so arranged that much practice is required in this direction.
In closing this report I wish to thank the teachers, members of the school committee and superintendent for their co-operation and sup- port during the year.
A. J. SIDELINGER,
Supervisor of Music.
NORTH WEYMOUTH, MASS., Feb. 8, 1897.
IV. INSTRUCTIONS TO TEACHERS IN REGARD TO CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
CHICKEN-POX.
This disease is the mildest of eruptive fevers. It is very contagious and few children escape who are exposed to it. The disease begins about fifteen days after exposure, and usually lasts but one week. As it does not seriously incommode the patient, and never of itself en- dangers life, it is not necessary to exclude from school any except those who actually have the disease.
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