USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1897 > Part 15
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schools to April 1, 1897 $9,674 49
Total
$51,875 67
Expenditures from January 1, 1897, to January 1, 1898 :
Salaries of teachers and superintendent
$31,743 86
Text books and supplies
2,628 47
Fuel, janitors and cleaning
4,750 37
Repairs
1,576 44
Miscellaneous 369 07
Incidentals (including water rates) 280 00
Truant officers
81 50
Total
$41,429 71
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Leaving a balance in the Town treasury for the support of schools from January 1, 1898, to April 1, 1898, of
$10,445 96
The School Committee and Superintendent have endeavored to have all bills against the school department presented and paid before commencing another year. With the most careful over- sight, amounting almost to penuriousness, and in many instances omitting to do much that should have been done, they have been able to keep within the appropriation.
The amount of fuel on hand will average enough to complete the cold season. There are enough supplies on hand to carry us to April 1st of the current year. The janitors are paid monthly. Unless something unexpected occurs to make additional expendi- ture necessary the school funds in the treasury will be sufficient to meet the current expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The estimates for the ensuing year, based upon the policy of the last two years, is approximately the same as last year.
Salaries of teachers and superintendent $31,748 86
Janitors, fuel and cleaning
4,750 37
Text books and supplies
3,000 00
Repairs
1,977 00
Miscellaneous expenses
369 00
Water rates and incidentals .
295 00
Truant officers
81 50
Total .
$42,221 73
This may be reduced by one-half
the dog license tax . $512 18
Income from alewife fund
252 00
Tuition of non-resident pupils . ·
62 00
Total
$826 18
Leaving a balance to be raised by
taxation of $41,395 55
While the appropriation for schools has been liberal, consider- ing the burdens of a high tax upon a poor people, still we feel that we should be committing an offense of omission if we allowed
7
this opportunity to pass without calling the attention of the citi- zens to the fact that much of our school property is deteriorating for the want of funds to keep it in good condition. The supply account is far below the actual requirements of the pupils, and the only way in which we are enabled to get along and keep within the appropriation is by using much that should be con- signed to the flames. Worn and dirty books always tend to develop habits of carelessness in those who handle them. Give the children bright, clean and cheerful rooms and furniture, with books and supplies in good condition, and they will nat- urally take pride in keeping up with their environments. Nothing tends to demoralize a child more than untidy surroundings.
· It is impossible to take proper care of our school buildings with the small amount allotted to repairs. We should remember that twenty school houses, many of which are old and constantly get- ting out of repair, require a more careful oversight to make them habitable for the 2,200 persons who occupy them than the same number of ordinary dwelling houses would require. The appro- priation should never be less than $2,500 if we expect to get along without showing a depreciation in our property or an occa- sional deficit and the inevitable large appropriation to liquidate it.
We respectfully refer you to the Selectmen's report for a de- tailed statement of the expenditures under this head. No large repairs have been made upon any buildings since our last report. During the present year, it will be necessary to paint one or two buildings, besides making extended necessary repairs upon some others. These improvements, together with the usual minor re- pairs will, even with the most careful supervision, require at least twenty-five hundred dollars.
Last October, Henry A. Thomas, who has been an active mem- ber of this committee for over eight years, resigned by reason of change of residence. The vacancy was filled by the election of George C. Torrey for the remainder of the term, which expires at the annual Town meeting in March.
In accordance with a vote passed at the last annual meeting, the committee has carefully considered the condition and needs of the Shaw schools, and will submit a report at the next annual meeting.
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No change has been made in the supervision of our schools during the past year. Under the direction of our efficient Super- intendent, Mr. I. M. Norcross, assisted by an able corps of teach- ers, the steady advancement in the standing and requirements of the schools that has characterized them for several years has been maintained. 'Considering the expense of maintenance, together with the number of schools that we are obliged to continue, we believe that the facilities for obtaining a common school education in this town will compare favorably with other places similar in size, and show as favorable returns for the money expended. The committee wish to thank the citizens of the town, who have visited the schools during the past year, for their presence in the school room while the pupils were at their work, and their encourage -. ment to pupils and teachers.
It is impossible for the people to keep in touch with the educa- tional spirit of the age and to have an intelligent understanding of the grand position which our American school system occupies without a personal interest in, and study of, school room methods, and the only place to observe is in the school room while the schools are in session. It is always noticeable that the opposi- tion to our schools in our Town Meetings comes from those who never find time to visit schools, and have given no especial atten- tion to the educational requirements of the times.
HIGH SCHOOL.
At the last annual meeting the Town voted to raise and appro- priate the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to erect and furnish a new high school building suitable to accommodate three hundred pupils. The special committee appointed to select a site for the building secured a tract of land on Middle street, near Shaw's Corner, including something over five acres. The lot is large enough for all school purposes, and is very satisfactory to your committee.
The building is to be four stories, including an ample and well- arranged basement. By referring to the plans of the different floors, which are printed herewith, the general arrangement of the rooms may be seen. In the basement, in addition to the toilet rooms, with their most approved system of dry closets, the ample
9
wardrobes well-heated and ventilated, and the boiler and bicycle rooms, a large and well-lighted manual training room will be pro- vided. The manaal training will not be used during the present year, because of the want of equipment. Your committee, how- ever, hope that in the near future this valuable addition to our schools, which has been so often and forcibly urged by our Super- intendent, may be made. The first floor will contain the library, a teachers' room, two large study rooms to be used by the entering class, and three recitation rooms. On the second floor there will be a large hall suitable for graduation and other exercises of the school, and four recitation rooms, including a room for stenog- raphy and typewriting. The third floor will contain a large gym- nasium, physical and chemical laboratories, a lecture room, and a large cabinet room. The plan of the building and the arrange- ment of the rooms seem, to the committee, to be satisfactory. The building will be large enough to accommodate all the high school pupils that Weymouth will have for many years to come. It was designed by Loring & Phipps, architects of Boston, con- structed of brick and granite with freestone trimmings, and will be ready for occupancy at the beginning of the next school year. The consolidation of the two high schools will necessitate consid- erable miscellaneous expense which we are unable to estimate at the present time. The committee will endeavor to improve . the standing of the high school in every way possible, consistent with economy. We shall retain only the best teachers that the salaries, which we are able to pay, will procure. The requirements for ad- mission will be advanced as far as justice to all our citizens will admit. Especial attention is called to the new course of study adopted for the high school, which will be found in the appendix.
On the completion of the new building the committee will have no further use for the North High School house, and would recom- mend that it be sold. The location is not suitable for the re- quirements of that part of the town, and the building-originally poorly constructed for school purposes-would require extensive repairs to properly fit it for school use. All buildings decay rapidly when not in use, and the experience that your committee has had in the care of this building during the last decade warrants ad- vising a change of ownership.
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TRANSPORTATION.
The Town at the last annual meeting appropriated $2,150 for transportation of pupils who reside a long distance from the schools which they are required to attend. The numerous appli- cations for free transportation for short distances, even within three-fourths of a mile, made it necessary for the committee to limit, except in inclement weather, free transportation to those pupils residing outside of one and one-half miles from the school houses they were required to attend.
It is impossible for us to an make accurate estimate of the ex- pense for another year, as the number of pupils to be conveyed to and from the new High school cannot be ascertained at the present time.
The following is a statement of the expense for transportation . for the past year :
Balance for 1896 $612 10
Appropriated March, 1897 .
1,900 00
Total $2,512 10
Expenditures from January 1, 1897, to January 1,
1898
$1,465 00
Balance January 1, 1898. 1,047 10
The amount of expenditures since January 1, together with the amount necessary to pay for conveyance to April 1, will nearly or quite use up the above balance. The expenses for the ensuing year will require an appropriation fully as large as the total amount for last year. The committee would request a careful. perusal of the superintendent's report which is printed herewith, and the records in the appendices, for a more detailed account of the school work.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM A. DRAKE, WILLIAM HYDE, JR., JOSEPH CHASE, JR., JAMES H. FLINT, BRADFORD HAWES,
GEORGE C. TORREY.
FEBRUARY 5, 1898.
ANNUAL REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School . Committee of Weymouth :-
GENTLEMEN : In accordance with your regulations, I respect- fully submit this, my eighth annual report, concerning the prog- ress and needs of the public schools of this town.
A few changes in the course of instruction have been made since my last report. The general plan of teaching geography in the fourth and fifth grades, the extension of vertical writing into the upper grades, and the use of phonograms in teaching reading in the primary grades are the principal alterations. In the quality of the work done during the year there was evidence of a good degree of progress.
Our teachers are generally earnest and successful workers, and to their efforts is largely due the good standing of the Weymouth schools. At no time since my connection with the schools has there been such widespread desire to broaden the scope of their teaching and to improve their methods of instruction. Not all of the teachers are progressive ; some, possibly, are approaching the educational "dead line," but on the whole there has never been so much educational activity among them, and the schools are receiving the benefits of this activity. The following sum- mary of statistics, which is presented in the usual form to facili- tate comparison, will be of interest. In the appendices may be be found special matter pertaining to the administration of the schools.
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1
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Population, state census 1890
10,883
Population, state census 1895
·
11,291
Increase from 1890 to 1895
408
Valuation of town, 1896
. $6,754,004 00
Value of school property
141,650 00
Value of books, apparatus, etc. (estimated)
5,250 00
Current school expenses (including repairs)
.
41,429 71
SCHOOL POPULATION.
Number of children between five and fifteen (school
census, May, 1897)
1,871
Number of children between five and fifteen (school
census, May, 1896)
1,874
Loss .
3
Pupils distributed by wards as follows :-
May, 1897. May, 1896.
Gain.
Loss.
Ward 1 .
227
215
12
Ward 2 .
717
674
43
Ward 3 .
403
409
6
Ward 4 .
237
264
27
Ward 5 .
287
312
25
Total
1,871
1,874
55
58
PUPILS IN SCHOOL.
The following tables are based upon the school registers for the year ending June 26, 1896 :-
Number of pupils enrolled in all schools (excluding duplicate enrollments ) .
2,380
Average membership .
1,944
Average per cent. of attendance
93
Number of pupils sixteen years or over
·
115
Number of pupils fifteen years or over
219
Number of pupils between fourteen and fifteen
156
·
13
Number of pupils between eight and fourteen 1,277
Number of pupils belonging Jan. 1, 1897
1,913
Number of pupils belonging June 25, 1897 .
2,054
Number of pupils not absent for the year
86
Number of truants (reported )
58
Number of visits by members of school committee
155
Number of visits by superintendent (reported)
769
Number of visits by music teacher
957
Number of visits by citizens and friends
6,547
Number of instances of tardiness
1,366
Number of dismissals
4,116
SCHOOLS.
Number of high schools
2
Number of grammar school classes
21
Number of primary school classes
13
Number of mixed grammar and primary classes
12
Number of' school rooms in use .
53
TEACHERS.
Teachers in high schools, male, 3; female, 4
7
Teachers in grammar grades, male, 7; female, 14
21
Teachers in mixed grammar and primary, female .
12
Teachers in primary, female
13
Special teachers
1
Superintendent .
1
Total number
55
14
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
LOCALITIES.
Buildings.
Rooms.
Teachers.
Pupils.
Pupils per
Teacher.
Pupils per
Room.
Weymouth High.
1
4
4
157
39.
39.
South Weymouth High
1
3
3
98
33.
33.
North Weymouth.
3
6
6
260
43.
43.
Weymouth Landing
3
11
11
514
47.
47.
East Weymouth
4
15
15
776
52.
52.
Ward IV.
4
6
6
250
42.
42.
South Weymouth
4
8
8
339
42.5
42.5
·20
53
53
2394
45.
45.
TRUANCY.
Taken from the reports of the truant officers :-
Number of investigations from Jan. 1, 1897, to Jan. 1, 1898
130
Number of pupils out of school because of poor clothing .
8
Number out by consent of parents
35
Number out by neglect of parents.
.
29
Number of truants
58
Number of truants caught and returned to school .
29
Number of second offense truants.
12
Number of third offense truants . .
3
Number of arrests for truancy · . .
0
Number sent to truant school ·
0
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At the beginning of the school year 1896-'97 the attendance gave promise of being the largest in the history of the schools. The average attendance for the months of September and October was over 2,000. Protracted epidemics of measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever and mumps reduced this number month after month until in March the average membership was only 1,736. During the latter part of the year the attendance rapidly increased, but not sufficiently to make up for the great decrease during the . winter months. The average membership for the year was 1,744, or thirty (30) less than the previous year.
In December several cases of diphtheria were reported at Nash which, under the strict rules of exclusion from school of any pupils whose presence might possibly spread the disease, so reduced the number in attendance that the Shaw schools were closed for two weeks. In April, owing to the prevalence of scarlet fever in several sections of the town, the spring vacation was extended for one week. It is safe to say that in no year for the past ten or fifteen have children's diseases made such havoc in our school attendance. Many children, who had not been absent for years, were obliged to break their record on ac- count of sickness. Last year 163 pupils were not absent for the entire year ; this year the number was reduced to 86.
The number of dismissals continues to be very large, but many of them are occasioned by requests of parents for children to be excused to carry dinners or to assist at home in preparing or serving dinners. If schools should begin at 8.45 and close at 11.45 the cause for a large number of these requests would be re- moved. I therefore bring the matter to the attention of the board and suggest an early consideration of the same.
In the census enumerators' reports it will be seen that there is a seeming loss for the year of 6 pupils in Ward 3, 27 in Ward 4 and 25 in Ward 5, or a loss of three in town. As the number of pupils in the schools between the ages of six and fifteen is con- stantly increasing, it would seem that the report of the enumerators must be incorrect. In fact, as many as fifty instances have been called to my attention by the teachers of pupils between those ages, who have lived in town all their lives, whose names do not appear on the census lists. In order that we may have a correct
-
16
rating with the other towns of the State in the State School Re- port, the enumerators should be very careful to make correct returns.
The following tables show the highest and lowest records of attendance and punctuality for the year ending June 29, 1897. This table does not give an entirely just comparison as size and grade of schools are not considered. An exact comparison may be made by referring to the summary of teachers' reports in the appendix.
ATTENDANCE.
HIGHEST.
LOWEST.
SOUTH HIGH
97 % PRATT, VI-IX
. 85%
ATHENS, VII-LX
97% PRATT, I-V .
· 86 %
FRANKLIN, VIII
97% JEFFERSON, sub-1 . 87%
TARDINESS.
BEST RECORD.
POOREST RECORD.
BATES, VI-VII .
2 cases NORTH HIGH
141 cases
PRATT, VI-IX
3 cases PRATT, I-V
70 cases
BATES, V-VI
5 cases SOUTH HIGH
64 cases
BICKNELL, VII-VIII, . 5 cases THOMAS, I-VI 62 cases
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
From January 1, 1897 to January 1, 1898 about one-third of our entire teaching force, as will be seen from the following lists, retired from the service of the town. Of this number eight re- signed to accept more remunerative positions in other places ; four to pursue special courses of study in normal schools and abroad ; and two on account of sickness. As several of these changes occurred on short notice during term time the management of the schools for the year was particularly difficult.
Very few, if any, large towns in the state are drawn upon so largely for a supply of teachers as ours. We are not vain enough to think that the great excellence of our schools is the cause of our loss of teachers, but rather that our nearness to the teachers' agencies of Boston is the principal cause. School authorities
17
coming to Boston, the center of the educational interests of the state, to look for teachers, find it very convenient and inexpensive to visit Weymouth. In our schools they find very large classes, generally with two or three grades, under good control and in good working order. They at once conclude that the teacher who is successful under such conditions would make a valuable teacher for them under more favorable circumstances. The result of the visit is that an offer is made, the terms accepted, and some more fortunate city or town secures the services of a valuable teacher at our expense.
This annual draft upon us for teachers will continue for years, or indefinitely, unless the large cities of their own accord or by command of the State provide paid substitutes of sufficient num- ber to take the places of all teachers who are obliged to leave their schools during term time on account of sickness or death. Our only hope of continuing the excellence of our schools is in our ability to fill the places of the teachers that we lose with others of equal ability and promise. To do this our range of supply must not be limited nor our choice hampered by local in- fluences.
In July, Miss Stella Tirrell, who for several years has had charge of the Howe school, was given a leave of absence for one year in order to take the teachers' course at Bridgewater Normal school. Miss Lizzie Hallahan was appointed to take charge of the Howe school during Miss Tirrell's absence.
The following is a complete list of changes of teachers for the year :-
RETIRED.
Date.
Name.
School.
Athens,
Grade. Principal.
Feb., 66 Maud Vanston,
Athens, I and II.
Feb., 66 Albert E. Kingsbury,
South High, Principal.
Feb., 66 Frank Titcomb,
March, 66 Juno F. Hutchins,
Bates, Pratt,
Principal. Principal. I.
April, 66 Jessie E. Barber,
Washington,
May,
Eli Edgecomb,
Athens, Principal.
June, 66
Ella W. Bray,
North High,
Assistant.
Jan., 1897, A. W. Greene,
18
Date. Name.
School.
Grade.
June, 1897, Henry S. Hall,
Washington,
Principal. Principal.
June, 66 Arthur B. Bennett,
Jefferson,
June, Mary A. Webster,
Washington, IV.
June,
Luther S. Hatch,
VIII.
June, 66 Angie Fearing,
July, 66 Elwyn G. Campbell,
Franklin, Principal.
July, 66 Hattie Achorn,
Athens,
I and II.
Aug.,
Nellie Baker,
Athens,
V-VI.
Oct.,
Louise E. Humphrey,
North High,
Assistant.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Aug., 1897, Stella Tirrell,
Howe, III-IV.
SUBSTITUTE.
Sept., 1897, , Lizzie Hallahan,
Howe, III-IV.
TRANSFERRED.
Date.
Name.
From.
May, 1897, Edwin R. Sampson,
North High,
Assistant.
Principal.
July, 66
Hattie J. Goodnow,
Tufts,
Hunt.
IV.
VIII.
APPOINTED.
Date.
Name.
School.
Jan., 1897,
Eli Edgecomb,
Athens,
Feb., 66
Hattie Achorn, 1 Athens,
Feb., 66 William D. Mackintosh, South High,
Feb.,
Alanson Crosby,
Bates,
April, 66 Leanora Taft,
Florence Pratt,
Washington,
North High, Jefferson,
Assistant. Principal.
July,
66 A. W. Kallom,
July, Lewis A. Fales, 66
Washington,
Principal.
July,
66 Maud Walker,
IV.
July,
66
Walter F. Sayward,
Washington, Franklin,
Principal.
Grade. Principal. I and II. Principal. Principal. Principal. 1.
April, May, 66 Grace M. Pinkham,
Pratt,
To. Athens.
Hunt, Shaw, III . V.
19
Date.
Name.
School.
Grade.
July, 1897,
Florence E. Locke,
Athens,
I and II.
Sept., 66
Mary Wilson,
Tufts,
Principal.
Sept.,
Maud Kendrick,
Athens, V-VI.
Sept.,
Mary Gove,
Shaw, III-V.
Sept.,
י כ John C. Johnson,
North High, Assistant.
Oct.,
66
Clara B. Count,
North High, Assistant.
FREE TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
The experience of the past fourteen years confirms the wisdom of furnishing books and other supplies for the children of the pub- lic schools. The saving to the community, by the care the teach- ers exercise in the use of the material supplied together with the decreased cost by reason of wholesale prices, is very large. If parents were required to purchase all books and supplies used by pupils in school at the present time, it would cost from two or three dollars per pupil in the primary grades to ten or twelve dol- lars in the high school. By the present method the cost per pupil last year in all the grades was $1.10, based on the whole number enrolled, or $1.35 based on the average membership. This amount not only includes cost of books, paper, pencils, etc., but also the cost of brooms, dusters, pails, brushes and other material used about the school buildings.
The expense per pupil next year will be slightly increased ow- ing to the necessity of making several changes in text books, and supplying suitable new books and material to carry out the en- larged course of instruction in the high school. The average cost for supplies the first six years of free distribution was $3,286.76 ; the average cost for the last eight years was $2,803.60. To suit- ably supply the schools next year the sum of $3,200 should be expended.
It is a source of surprise to me that so few parents, who are amply able to do so, purchase school books for their children. Probably not more than 5 per cent of the pupils in the high schools have school books of their own at home. The general impression seems to be that a school book is of value in the school room only,
20
or for the preparation of lessons to be recited in school. This is a mistaken idea. Many of the books now used in school, even in the lower grades, would make valuable addition to any home library. These books of travel, biography, history, literature, etc., are so interesting that, if placed within the reach of the child- . ren at home, they would be read over and over again. The child- ren would thereby unconsciously learn to love good and healthful reading. The few books thus supplied by the parents, at a very little cost, would often become the nucleus of a library that would be highly prized by the child in later life. Arrangements can easily be made whereby any parent desiring to purchase books or other material used in the public schools may do so at town prices.
The question of health naturally springs from, and is closely re- lated to, the use of books in the public schools. The close contact of children, one with another, renders it possible for diseases to be easily communicated, and imposes upon the school authorities the necessity of taking every precaution to prevent the spread of contagion.
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