USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1898 > Part 16
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Respectfully submitted,
I. M. NORCROSS, Supt. of Schools.
FEBRUARY 3, 1899.
APPENDICES.
1. Report of High School Building Committee.
In the last Annual Report we gave a general description of the building for which we had contracted, together with plans of the several floors, and reported the progress then made in the construction.
It does not seem necessary to repeat now what was submitted at that time. We would therefore state that the building was carried on to com- pletion by the contractor, Prescott H. Jackson, according to the plans published in that report and according to the contract entered into with him by the committee, and the keys were delivered to the town at the dedication,services which occurred on June 30.
It would be too much for any committee to expect, to complete a work of this character without its being subjected to the sharpest criticism, and we have not shunned or escaped such criticism.
We candidly say in this report of what we fully realized as a trust of more than ordinary importance which the town saw fit to place in our hands, that we have spared neither time nor labor in executing that trust, to secure to the town the very best possible result with the means at our disposal.
By this we mean that with a larger amount of money we could have secured a more ornate and elaborately finished building, but hardly one better adapted to the everyday needs of a high school.
We have labored with the interests of the future as well as the present generation at heart, and we are willing for time to demonstrate the value of our work.
It gives us pleasure to say that whatever of criticism has been made has arisen largely from those who have not familiarized themselves with the building, and that from the many who have so done we have heard little but praise.
All expenses incurred by your committee, from the purchase of the lot to the completion of the building, have been paid, and a balance of $12.50 remains to the credit of the appropriation of $50,000.
Perhaps we should make one exception to the above statement. The
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committee of three of the most careful and conservative men upon the board, who were appointed to negotiate for the lot, accepted as one of the considerations of the deed that a road fifty feet in width should be constructed upon the northerly side thereof, and this action was ap- proved by the full committee. It was thought that the town would not hesitate to accept as a town way, and construct this road. which would be of more benefit to the school than to any one else.
As this piece was included in a layont which was presented to the town at the last Annual Meeting, and which also ran along the westerly side of the lot and extended thence to Broad street, it was not thonght necessary to make special mention of it in the report.
This layout was rejected by the town, and it became necessary for the . committee to construct that .portion which extended along the first pur- chase, and the same was paid for from the building appropriation, the .portion along the second purchase - some sixty feet - a considerable proportion of which is ledge, has not been constructed.
We consider that the town should accept a layout of this piece of way, from Middle Street to the northerly corner of the lot, and complete the construction.
In closing this report we would say that your Committee are of the opinion that no mistake was made in the employment of Loring and Phipps as architects. We have always found them courteons and accom- modating in our numerous consultations, and their large experience as designers of school buildings has been of great value to us. With Pres- cott H. Jackson, who carried to completion what, to say the least, could not have been a lucrative contract, our relations have always been cordial.
The heating and ventilating plant, which was contracted for and com- pleted by L. E. Smith, of Gloucester, has been subjected to as severe a test as it probably ever will be and has given complete satisfaction.
The Fuller and Warren Cremating Sanitary Apparatus has thus far proved all that is claimed for or could be asked of it.
Your Committee has worked harmoniously, not only to secure to the town the full value of its money, but to provide a High School building which shall be adequate to our needs for many years to come.
Respectfully submitted.
W. A. DRAKE, BRADFORD HAWES, MARTIN E. HAWES,
For the Committee.
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II. Report of Instructor of Music.
To Mr. I. M. Norcross, Superintendent of Schools :-
SIR : - I respectfully present to you my fifth annual report as Musical Instructor in the public schools of Weymouth.
This is the first year that the Natural Music Course has been introduced into all the grades. This course consists of seven charts and seven read- ers so arranged as to represent systematic work for the entire school
course. It begins with the presentation of the scale as a musical thought, and proceeds step by step to the end. No new thought is intro- duced until the pupil has made the previous thought his own, then the new idea, a little more difficult, is presented, first in connection with the old, then alone, and finally applied to all the knowledge previously ac- quired. The technical work is interspersed with little songs, which are always pleasing to a child, because they seem more real than an ordinary exercise. The exercises as well as the songs are all representative of the best music that the world knows. Contact with master minds in any line of thought cannot be other than elevating and inspiring. This is particularly true in music, where one meets not only the mind but the personality of a Mendelssohn or a Beethoven.
Although I consider the Natural Music Course the best system now before the public, I found after a trial of three months that supplementary work was needed in the ninth grade. The change in the boys' voices made it impossible for them to sing the difficult music in Book V. and Reader No. II, Short Course in Music, by Ripley and Tapper, was kindly furnished.
All the pupils in our schools are learning to read good music, they are also learning to use their voices carefully, and in such a way that their development will be normal and healthy. The singing in all the grades has been very much improved, especially in the quality of tone. Our aim has been to teach the appreciation of good music, believing that "the best is not too good for the children."
True progress in the art of singing depends quite as much upon good discipline, the general management of the school, and correct methods of teaching, as upon any special musical endowment of either teacher or pupils. It is constantly becoming more evident that the success of music in the public schools depends largely upon the work of the grade teacher. Any supervisor, however skillful, cannot get satisfactory results unless he is properly supported by the grade teacher. We regret the uneven- ness of results in different school-rooms of the same grade; it is the con- sensus of opinion that it is due largely to the work of the grade teacher. It seems fitting then that there should be a desire for more special train- ing to successfully meet such responsibilities. Most of our teachers have
.
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seemed to realize this fact, and whatever of success has attended my work has come largely through faithfulness on their part.
In conclusion, allow me to thank the school officials and teachers for their hearty co-operation during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
A. J. SIDELINGER.
III. Report of Principal of High School.
WEYMOUTH, Jannary 31, 1899.
Mr I. M. Norcross, Superintendent of Schools : -
I have the honor to present herewith the first report of the Weymouth High School.
The school enrollment by classes and courses is as follows: First year, 92; second year, 77; third year, 62; fourth year, 36; English conrse. 110: Latin, 121: Classical, 37. The Latin includes all the first year class who would not necessarily decide between the Latin and the Classical until the second year, when the study of Greek is begun.
The course of study as followed the present year is much the same as in the old schools, but the rearrangement made possible in the larger school has made the work much more valuable.
Under the present conditions our conrse takes too many subjects to allow of thorough work in them all.
Our most notable changes have been in Mathematics, Science and His- tory, and these changes have been made with the aim of greater thorough- ness. In Mathematics this consists chiefly of additional time given to Geometry, which is now studied four periods a week throughout the second year, with a review of three periods a week during the last twenty weeks of the third year, making a total of two hundred twenty periods against one hundred forty-eight periods, the time previously allowed. This will, I think, be found to be ample for plain Geometry, though I find, by comparison with the schools of Massachusetts as given in the High School Report of State Agent MacDonald, that even this is less time than is allowed in many schools of this size.
But little time could be added to Algebra, which at present is not suffi- cient for thoroughness, and the experience of the graduates who have gone from our high schools to college goes to prove that we are not doing enough in this subject.
The greatest change has been in Science, due not only to the fact that the sub-master has been able to give almost his entire attention to this, but also to the new and enlarged supply of apparatus which was pro- vided both for Physics and Chemistry.
30
In the allotment of time to the several subjects we were able to give only three periods a week each to Chemistry and Physics -two periods for Laboratory and one for Recitation. I had hoped that this would be sufficient, but when we reached the middle of the year it was found that we had covered only about one-third of the work laid out. I find that many schools allow five periods for this work, and I hope such arrange- ments may be made another year that we may add a period to the Physics; also that the class may be provided with some book, similar to Stone's Experimental Physics, for laboratory work.
The study of the other sciences has been conducted much as usual. The fine geological collection, so generously given the school by Mr. Easton, has been especially helpful to the teacher of Geology, in enabling him to place excellent specimens before the class.
The study of History, which has heretofore been crowded into a single year, now begins in the first year and is continued two periods a week throughout the four years, in the following order: First year, Greek and Roman Mythology and Greek History; second year, Roman History, to which it is hoped a short course in Mediaval History may be added; third year, English History; fourth year, American History with a general review. It has not seemed wise to pursue this plan with all of the classes this year, but it has been so arranged that at the beginning of another year the three lower classes will be ready to follow this outline. This is taken by every pupil in school, and will, if well carried out, prove to be a strong line of work.
Additional time has also been given to the study of English, the course now consisting of three periods a week for all pupils. for the entire four years. Since the written lessons in History are also made to serve for English, excellent results will be obtained as the work becomes sys- tematised and established and the two subjects are more closely studied in relation to each other. We are well supplied in general with books of single selections ; but as the work becomes more settled and our imme- diate needs are supplied, great interest could be added to this branch if, from time to time, enough copies of some of the works of standard authors could be. furnished for a single division.
The changes in the Languages consist in the addition of one period a week to the second year of French, which fully satisfies the minimum re- quirements of the colleges ; and if the same method and the same teacher is employed from the start, a class can make excellent progress in the - language.
In our efforts to make a more even distribution of time to the several subjects, we were obliged to considerably lessen the allowance for Latin and Greek, which never was as much as is generally recommended, and is not enough for thoroughiness.
With our present number of teachers and pupils, the problem most dif-
31
flcult of solution is that of giving to each subject the amount of time necessary for thoroughness.
We have had two periods for music for the whole school, and, in addi- tion to this, a chorus has been formed by those most interested in the study of music, which meets once a week after school and is under the direction of the music teacher. With such an organization continued, it would seem as though one lesson a week for the whole school would be sufficient. In this way we could gain eight periods, which periods would be a considerable gain in time for those subjects calling for it.
In closing I wish to testify to the hearty support which my associate teachers have given me, for to them is due much of the credit for what- ever snecess has been attained.
I thank you for your kind advice and assistance, and through yon the School Committee, for their support ..
Very respectfully yours, E. J. BUGBEE.
IV. Course of Study in the Public High School of Weymouth, Mass., Adopted 1898.
The courses are designed to be equivalent in educational value, though varying widely in their adaptation to the wants of different pupils.
The classical course is designed for pupils fitting for college. Studies essential to good citizenship and general information are necessarily omitted. This course is not suitable for pupils who do not intend to con- tinue their studies in higher institutions.
Pupils interested in the sciences and those preparing for the Institute of Technology or other scientifle schools should take the scientific course.
The general course, which includes the study of modern languages, is quite complete in itself and affords an opportunity for pupils to acquire a good academic education.
The business or English course is designed for those pupils who are unable to complete a full four years' course in the high school. While it is in no sense an equivalent for the more extended four years' courses, it presents an opportunity for pupils to acquire a very good commercial education.
Upon entering the school, pupils, under the direction of their parents and the principal, may select any one of the courses. They will not be permitted to change courses except upon the written request of parents or guardians, and consent of principal and superintendent. Special courses are looked upon with disfavor by the School Board, and no pupil
32
will be allowed to take such courses without the consent of the principal acting upon the advice of the Superintendent and the High School Com- mittee.
Book-keeping, Business Practice, Stenography, and Type-writing are restricted to the Business Course. Drawing, when not specially desig- nated in the course, will be elective.
Diplomas will be given to pupils who have satisfactorily completed any one of the full courses. Suitable certificates, stating the amount of work accomplished, will be given to pupils who have satisfactorily completed a full course of one, two, or three years.
All these courses are subject to modifications as new conditions may require.
Parents are urged to see that their children attend the school regularly and make a business of their school work. Good results cannot be reached unless this request is heeded. Parents are requested to visit the school frequently. The hearty co-operation of the parents and teachers means the highest success of the school and the greatest benefit to the pupils.
COURSES OF STUDY, WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.
FIRST HALF YEAR, 20 WEEKS.
YEARS.
Classical.
Scientific.
English and Modern Languages.
Business.
Classical.
Scientific.
English and Modern Languages
Business.
|Algebra .... . . 5
Algebra ....
5
5 Algebra 5
Aigebra ......
Algebra .... ..
5 Algebra ..
5 Algebra ..... Com. Arith ..
3
Latin.
5 Latin.
5 French .. ....
3
Physics ..... .. 8
Physics .. . ...
3 Physics .. . . .
. 3 |English .. .... 3
3
illistory ..... ..
2
English. ...... 3 English .......
3 Ilistory. ......
History .... . . . 2
2 History ... ....
2
Physiology .... 2
ilistory ......
2 llistory .. . ...
. 2 Physics ......
3
Physiology. .. 2
2
Drawing . ... . 1
Drawing ..... I Drawing ..... 1'Physiology ...
2
Drawing .. .... 1
Physiology. .. . 1 Physiology . .. . I Drawing .. ...
1
Penmanship. . 1
Physiology ... 1 Physiology ... ] Drawing. .
Penmanship .. ]
Astronomy {
3
lieninctry .... i.arin .
4 Geometry ....
4 Geometry . .. . 4
. stron=my or Boumy
3 Astronomy for Botany ..
3
or Botany .. S
Geometry .....
4 Chemistry. .. .
3 French ... . . ..
or Botany ... S
4
Chemistry .. . .
3 |Chemi-try ....
3
Latm.
4| English .. . . . .
3, Chemistry .... 3 Chemistry ....
Larin ..
4
English. ..... 3
Greek ....
5 History . ....
History ... ..
2 History . . .... 2
English ......
3 French or .. }
3
German ...
3|Com'l Law ...
History ..
... or ..
1
German
3 Drawing .. ... 1
Drawing ..... 1
1
Algebra or Biology, or 3 U. S History
Latin ...
.
4 Latin .. . 4 German ....
Greek
4
Biology . ·
+ German.
Greek . . ....
4 French or .. }
3
English ... ....
History .......
Polit. Econ ... 3
3
English .... .
3
History ...... 2
3
Hi-torv ...
2
History .......
Drawing .....
1 Po.it. Econ. )
Banking & {
3
Algebra ....
Drawing ....
1
Drawing ... .
Drawing .. . ..
1
Office Prac. S
1
4 Latin. .
4
Germ n. .....
3
Latın .
French ....
German ....
fireck ..... . .
4 French or .. {
3 Coll. Physics. 3
Greek . .
4
3 Coll. Physics.
3
Frenci .. . . ..
German ... . .
French . ...
1
Engli-lı . ... ·
... or .......
1
3
Adv. Chem ..
.
4
.
4
English ......
3 Adv. Chein ... 4
Adv. Borany
History .. . ...
Drawing .....
1 |Drawing. . ..
1
History . . ...
2 Drawing ..
1 Drawing ...... 1
Rhetoricals and Music one period a week each, and Gymnastics or Military Driil, 4 half periods per week, are prescribed for all. Length of periods, 45 minutes. The figures denote periods per week.
33
1
4
French .... .
Geometry, (icology or U. s. History ) stenography ) and
5
French .... .
3
German. ... -
2 Civil Gov ....
3
German .... )
German .. . .
English ....
Algebra or {
English . .. ..
3
- ng ish .. ... . . 3
Geometry .... 3
.... or .....
3
History .......
History ..... .
„|Algebra .....
3 English .... ...
3 Typewriting
. . .or .. ..
.
3 English. ..
3
... or ....
1
liistory .. . . ..
History ..... . 2 Geometry .. )
33432 4 3
Typewriting
.... or .....
Binio zy . . . ... 4
French ..... )
fr.crman. . ..
(icology. .....
French ...
. 3|Stenography and
S
111.
Latin
4 |French ..
5
Aigebra .... . .
4 Phy. Geo'phy. 3
Latin ...
5 Latin .... ..
5 French ... . .. 3
Physics . ...
Physics . . . .
3 Physics ..
3 Physics . . . . .
3 | English . ... ..
3
English .. ..... 3
English .. .. . .
3. English .. ....
2 History .......
fiistory ..... ..
Drawing ..... 1 Drawing ..... ] |Physiology ...
1
4
Astronomy
4 Chemistry . . ..
3
French ... ...
3 Stonography .. 4
II.
English .
3 | French .... )
3 Drawing . . . ..
1 Com'l Law ... 2
History .. . . . ..
" German ....
Drawing . ....
1 Drawing ..... . 1
German .... Drawing. . . . . 1
2 Historv .... . .. 2
3
2 English . . ... 3 English ......
3
Greek .. .... . 5
ilistorv .... ..
English .....
3! English. .. .. .
History ..... .
2
Latin
Latin
4 Adv. French. 3 .
Latin .. . . . . . .
.
3 Coll. Physics. English ... . .
History ..
.
.
IV.
German ....
Engli-h. . . . . . 3 Adv. Chem ..
('oll. i'hy sics. 3 History ..... .
2
· ... or ....
Coll. Physic English . . . ..
3
Ilistory .. .. .. 2
..... or ...
.
3
|Adv. Chem .. 4 Adiv. Biology
2
. or .. German ..
2
... or .... .
3
Coil. Physics 3 History
2
German ....
Engli-h . .. . . 3
3
Englishı. . . . .. .
Civil Gov. 5
Geometry .... 3
1 Banking and { Offic- Prac .. Drawing 1
Drawing ....
Adv. French. 3
3 Book keeping 4
Latin .... .
3. English .... . . .
I.
SECOND HALF YEAR, 20 WEEKA.
34
V. Graduation Exercises of High Schools.
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.
Motto : "Strive to Live Worthily."
GRADUATING EXERCISES OF THE WEYMOUTH NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, BAPTIST CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, THURSDAY, JUNE 23. 1898, AT 7.45 O'CLOCK. Theme: Greece in History. PROGRAMME.
MUSIC
INVOCATION Rev. Willam Hyde CHORUS, Joy ! Joy ! Freedom Today School
SALUTATORY, Greece in History John A. McFawn "O, Liberty ! my spirit felt thee there." KASAY, Speaking Marbles E. Elise Foster " The cold marble leapt to life a God." CLASS HISTORY, Excavations . Florence T. South " "Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours." ESSAY, Marathon May Chessman " I dreamed that Greece might still be free."
*RECITATION, The Olympic Crown, . Margaret 1. McEnroe " Press toward the mark of the prize.". ORATION, The Men who Made the State Ralph W. Randall " The immortal names that were not born to die." CLASS PROPHECY, Delphic Oracle Blanche S. Hall
" Mount of the voice and vision ! robed in dreams." ESSAY, Decay of Greece Margret H. Hunt " Inmortal tho' no more: tho' fallen great." VALEDICTORY, Olympic Games Nellie F. Hollis .. Thy deeds now are the seed corn of eternity." CHORUS, Damascus. School
* Exensed.
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS .- REV. WILLIAM HYDE.
SINGING, CLASS ODE, MAY CHESSMAN.
As o'er the threshold now we pass To win our place in life. With all the glow and strength of youth As armor for the strife. Uncertain though our future look With nothing clear to view. Time, like an ever open book. Unfolds its duties new.
.
35
Be ready, classmates ! meet your share Though oft times mix'd with pain ; God knows the place we each should till And He will make it plain. Seek noble friends ! be strong and true, Your motto keep in sight ; Help others rise to higher aims. And battle for the right.
And treasured in our hearts we'll tind A memory rich and rare Of friendships sweet we formed in school When life was free from care: Of lessons learned in those bright days Whose worth we never knew, "Fill in life's field of earnest work, We'd gained a broader view.
MUSIC.
GRADUATES.
Classical.
Margret Heywood Hunt, Florence Thomas South, Nellie Florence Hollis.
Latin-English.
John Arthur McFawn. Ralph Waldo Randall. Bertha Webster Bass. Lydia May Chessman.
Susie Chessman Nash.
Margaret Irene McEuroe, Blanche Sherman Hall, Ethel Elise Foster, Mabel Ella Keene. English Marguerite Lillian Foster.
Annie Knox.
TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL GRADUATING EXERCISES OF THE WEYMOUTH SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL. AT FOGG'S OPERA HOUSE, SOUTH WEY- MOUTH, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 24, 1898, AT 7.45 O'CLOCK. " The secret of success is constancy to purpose."
PROGRAMME.
OVERTURE Orchestra INVOCATION. School SONG, "Let our voices be glad." SALUTATORY AND ESSAY, " Self Control" Nellie L. Reidy .
36
RECITATION, " The Heroism of Victoria " Mary M. Tirrell
ESSAY, " Egyptian Civilization " . Constantine J. Church CLASS HISTORY, "Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it." Mae R. Poole ESSAY, " Monroe Doctrine " Edward P. McGrory
SONG, " The Nation's Hymn of Praise " School
ESSAY, " Boers and their homes " Mary E. Reily (excused)
ESSAY, " Are we degenerating?" W. Carlton Barnes
ORATION, "New England's Fairest Boast " John F. Kennedy
ESSAY, "Effective treatment of criminals " Helen M. Wheeler
CLASS PROPHECY, " Reveries of a Bachelor " Jeremiah J. Flynn
ESSAY AND VALEDICTORY, " The secret of success is constancy to purpose " Eva L. Simmons
CLASS HYMN
School
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS.
BENEDICTION.
CLASS HYMN, WORDS BY EVA L. SIMMONS
Our happy schooldays end tonight, Let us go hence with lofty aim; And striving ever toward the right, Seek true reward -not that of fame.
Our friendship is not ended here, We'll work together though apart. And keep the memory of each year Forever fresh within our heart.
May we with guidance from on high, Aspire to things beyond - above, And lift the burden, soothe the sigh Of sorrowing ones, with helpful love.
Let us take as our guiding star True constancy - fidelity, And sometime in the future far We'll gain the crown of victory.
GRADUATES.
Mae Raymond Poole, Nellie Loretta Reidy, Mary Elizabeth Reily, Eva Loring Simmons, Mary Maria Tirrell,
Helen Mar Wheeler, Willard Carlton Barnes, Constantine Joseph Church, Jeremialı James Flynn, John Francis Kennedy, Edward Patrick McGrory.
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VI. Graduation Exercises of Grammar Schools.
ATHENS.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, AT 2.30
Class Motto :
" No Legacy is so Rich as Honesty."
SONG, " Watch on the Rhine"
School
CLASS EXERCISE, An Epoch in Modern History .
Ninth Grade
DECLAMATION, " The Black Regiment " Matthew Sweeney
ESSAY, " My Trip to Virginia " Vaun Rand
ESSAY, " The Loss of the Maine "
Joseph Lane
DECLAMATION, " A Hot Axle "
Stanley Torrey
ESSAY, " Silk "
Lillian Woodward Lutie Litchfield School
DECLAMATION, " The State Immortal "
. Daniel Doherty
ESSAY, "A Summer in New Hampshire" Belle Littlehale
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