USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1906 > Part 18
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It is difficult in the scope of a paper like this, to make plain the causes of defective eye-sight. Allow me, very briefly, to call your attention to some of the more common ones. The normal, and hence, the perfect eye, should convey to the brain a clear and distinct picture of an object situated more than twenty feet away, and which is of more importance in doing this, should be com- pletely at rest and require no strain on the muscles. In order to do this, several conditions are necessary, the most important of which is that the eye-ball shall be of just the right shape, and to the several deviations from this shape are due the different defects of vision. The first, and by far the most important in conse- quences to school children, is called Hypermetropia, commonly known as far sight. In this case, the eye-ball is too short. The child with this trouble is always born with it, and it remains with him through life, never growing any better or any worse. An eye like this is never at rest when looking at any distance. The muscles of the eye-ball are constantly straining to overcome this defect, and this strain is deflected directly on the nervous system, causing headaches, nervousness, stomach troubles, and other ills too numerous to mention. Now, this is the particular defect be- fore mentioned, where the child sees perfectly well, and his trouble
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cannot be detected by any ordinary tests of vision. Hence, the folly of placing test cards in schools for teachers to examine the eyes of the pupil. A child with this defect will often read the test card at double the distance set for him, and yet he does it by a strain on his eyes which does not appear in the test.
The second defect in importance is the myopic or near-sighted eye. In this case the eye ball is too long, and a child with this defect may have been born with it or may have since acquired it. It is a serious defect, and unlike far sight, always has a tendency in young people to increase, sometimes leading to partial or even total blindness. Fortunately, this trouble is apt to be discovered at an early age, and the proper glasses supplied. The child does not see well at a distance, and no amount of strain improves his vision, and so the need of some aid to his eye-sight is soon apparent.
The third defect is called astigmatism, and simply means that the front of the eye-ball is not a perfect mathematical curve. In this case, too, the child sees perfectly well, unless a large amount of the trouble is present, but here again nature endeavors to remedy the trouble by a strain of the muscles, and exacts her toll in the shape of head-aches and often more serious symptoms.
A word as to the nature of the examinations made : I have taken and noted the vision of each pupil at a distance of twenty feet. I have examined each one in a dark room by retinoscopy, and the results found I will now formulate as follows :
Whole number examined 139
Number who complain of head aches
40
Number who show defective vision .
59
Such is the condition we find in this school, and it is reason- able to suppose that a similar condition exists in the other public schools in Weymouth. Now, what is the remedy ? Understand me, I do not advocate the wearing of glasses by 42 per cent. of these pupils. Many of them show only slight defects of vision, which will probably never give them any trouble, but in some of the worst cases it is almost criminal to allow the children to remain in school without the proper glasses to aid their defective visions.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
FRANKLIN P. VIRGIN, M. D.
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MEDICAL INSPECTION.
The State law in regard to the physical examination of pupils is as follows :
ACTS OF 1906, CHAPTER 502. AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIANS.
SECTION 1. The school committee of every city and town in the Commonwealth shall appoint one or more school physicians, shall assign one to each public school within its city or town, and shall pro- vide them with all proper facilities for the performance of their du- ties as prescribed in this act : provided however, that in cities wherein the board of health is already maintaining or shall here- after maintain substantially such medical inspection as this act requires, the board of health shall appoint and assign the school physician.
SECTION 2. Every school physician shall make a prompt exam- ination and diagnosis of all children referred to him as hereinafter provided, and such further examination of teachers, janitors and school buildings as in his opinion the protection of the health of the pupils may require.
SECTION 3. The school committee shall cause to be referred to a school physician for examination and diagnosis every child return- ing to school without a certificate from the board of health after absence on account of illness or from unknown cause; and every child in the schools under its jurisdiction who shows signs of being in ill health or of suffering from infectious or contagious disease, unless he is at once excluded from school by the teacher; except that in the case of schools in remote and isolated situations the school committee may make such other arrangements as may best carry out the purposes of this act.
SECTION 4. The school committee shall cause notice of the disease or defects, if any, from which any child is found to be suffer- ing to be sent to his parent or guardian. Whenever a child shows symptoms of smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, chickenpox, tuber- culosis, diptheria or influenza, tonsilitus. whooping cough, mumps, scabies or trachoma, he shall be sent home immediately, or as soon as safe and proper conveyance can be found, and the board of health shall at once be notified.
SECTION 5. The school committee of every city and town shall cause every child in the public schools to be separately and care- fully tested and examined at least once in every school year to
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ascertain whether he is suffering from defective sight or hearing or from any other disability or defect tending to prevent his re- ceiving the full benefit of his school work, or requiring a modifica- tion of the school work in order to prevent injury to the child or to secure the best educational results. The tests of sight and hearing shall be made by teachers. The committee shall cause notice of any defect or disability requiring treatment to be sent to the parent or guardian of the child, and shall require a physical record of each child to be kept in such form as the state board of education shall prescribe.
SECTION 6. The state board of health shall prescribe the direc- tions for tests of sight and hearing and the state board of education shall, after consultation with the state board of health, prescribe and furnish to school committees suitable rules of instruction, test- cards, blanks, record books and other suitable appliances for carrying out the purposes of this act, and shall provide for pupils in the normal schools instruction and practice in the best methods of testing the sight and hearing of children. The state board of education may expend during the year nineteen hundred and six a sum not greater than fifteen hundred dollars, and annually there- after a sum not greater than five hundred dollars for the purpose of supplying the material required by this act.
SECTION 7. The expense which a city or town may incur by virtue of the authority herein vested in the school committee or board of health, as the case may be, shall not exceed the amount appropriated for that purpose in cities by the city council and in towns by town meeting. The appropriation shall precede any expenditure or any indebtedness which may be incurred under this act, and the sum appopriated shall be deemed a sufficient appro- priation in the municipality where it is made. Such appropriation need not specify to what section of the act it shall apply, and may be voted as a total appropriation to be applied in carrying out the purposes of the act.
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect on the first day of Sep- tember in the year nineteen hundred and six. [Approved June 20, 1906.
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ACTS OF 1906, CHAPTER 371. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE TEMPORARY EXCLUSION FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF PUPILS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO INFECTIOUS OR CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
SECTION 6. A child who has not been vaccinated shall not be admitted to a public school except upon presentation of a certifi- cate signed by a regular practising physician that he is not a fit subject for vaccination. A child who is a member of a household in which a person is ill with smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, or any other infectious or contagious disease, or of a household exposed to such contagion from another household as aforesaid, shall not attend any public school during such illness until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health of the city or town, or from the attending physician of such person, stating that danger of conveying such disease by such child has passed.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [ Ap- proved May 8, 1906.
The following is a summary of the ear and eye test made by the teachers under the above law :
Total number of children examined 1774
Total number of children found defective in eye-sight 302
Total number of children found defective in hearing 112
Total number of parents notified 266
The physicians in town have co-operated in this work without charge and an appropriation of $300 is asked for another year.
In accordance with Chapter 502 of the Acts of 1906, the fol- lowing physicians have been appointed medical inspectors of the schools :
Dr. Drake at the Athens and Adams.
Dr. Fraser at the High School and Bicknell.
Dr. Doucett at the Washington.
Dr. Libbey at the Jefferson.
Dr. Chase at the Franklin.
Dr. Virgin at the Hunt, Tufts and Lincoln.
Dr. Granger at the Pratt and Holbrook.
Dr. Tirrell at the Bates, Pond and Hollis.
Dr. Mayberry at the Shaw and Howe.
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INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
The tendency of the age is to provide Industrial or Vocational training which shall possess in a large degree the educational value of the classics and at the same time prepare the student for a better introduction to the trades or to a business life. Chapter 505 acts of 1906 provide that when a town furnishes an indepen- dent system of Industrial Education beginning with pupils at least fourteen years of age the state will reimburse a portion of the expense -for Weymouth, one-half. Prof. Paul H. Hanus of Harvard is chairman of the State Commission. Hearings have been held at Worcester, Springfield, Fitchburg, and North Adams and the latter town has voted to establish such a school.
Prof. Metcalf of Tufts University has been engaged in the Tufts Course to present an illustrated lecture on this topic at the High School Hall February 9. Weymouth peculiarly needs some form of Industrial Education. It would undoubtedly interfere greatly with our present high school course, but at the same time it should be considered seriously. Industrial Education would no doubt be more expensive, as tools are more expensive than books. Certainly the best preparation for this, following the recommenda- tion of school committees and superintendents for many years, is the Manual Training or Sloyd System. With one plant each at the Fogg Library, Pratt, and the new school at East Weymouth, the town only needs one each at Athens and Hunt to be well equipped for Manual Training. This would cost about $1,000 and an instructor and material would cost about $1,300 per year, and your committee recommends that these amounts be appropri- ated. The work at South Weymouth has been carried on to demonstrate the value of Manual Training in connection with public schools and should the town take it up, the management. there will undoubtedly turn its attention to demonstrating the value of a "cooking school" or some similar work.
The manual training at the Fogg Library and the Pratt Schools. has been under the instruction of Mrs. G. W. Hastings since September, Miss Pearl C. Blair having resigned during the sum- mer to accept a very lucrative position in the West. At the Fogg Library the boys from the Bates and Shaw schools, in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades have had working periods from one and a half to two hours each week, while the girls of the same grades have had instruction in sewing and rafia work. The-
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expenses have been met as usual, by the Old Colony Club, the Stetson Shoe Co., and H. B. Reed. At the Pratt, the boys and girls from the 5th, 6th and 7th grades have had instruction in manual training. This school received $3.45 in prizes at the last Weymouth Fair, and the pupils voted to expend it for a picture to be hung in the new schoolhouse. Products from both these schools will be exhibited in June, in connection with the other school work.
The Athletic Association at the High school is in a flourishing condition, and a movement is on foot to secure an athletic field near the schoolhouse.
The committee realizes that the success of any public school system depends largely upon the public sentiment behind it, and has therefore encouraged every attempt to build up a public interest in the schools. The Horace K. Turner Art Exhibit at the High school, with the hearty co-operation of the public, netted $400, and the sum has been expended for pictures for the schoolrooms. The Weymouth Educational Association has raised $400 by public subscription to begin the grading of the High school grounds. Mr. William F. Hunt, an alumnus of the school, has kindly made plans for same, free of charge, and these plans have been framed and hung in public places in town. A sys- tematic survey of the grounds has been made and paid for. It appears to be about impossible to carry out the plans in the immediate vicinity of the building, as the ledge comes very near the surface; and as the work should begin there, and as $400 would not produce much of an effect, it was thought best to delay, hoping that the matter would be taken up by the town in the near future.
The Weymouth Agricultural and Industrial Society offered prizes for the best kept school yards. The Howe received first prize, $10; the Bates second prize, $5; and the Hollis third prize, $3.
A marked influence in favor of better schools in recent years has come through the Women's Clubs. Throughout the land they are taking an interest in educational matters. The Woman's Club of Brockton has shown the past year what can be done. It has carried on a stamp saving system, a free sewing class, a free kindergarten for six weeks after schools closed, given a statue of Apollo to the high school, conducted evening school for Man-
.
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ual Training work, and provided glasses and treatment for the school children, etc. In Weymouth, the Monday Club has given an afternoon of entertainment to the school children, has arranged to present the School City idea at an early date, and is consider- ing other plans to increase the efficiency of our schools. The Old Colony Club has also provided an afternoon. entertainment and raised funds for the manual training school by a May breakfast.
The subject of the schools has been presented to the Industrial Committee appointed by the town at the last March meeting.
NEW BUILDINGS.
An eight-room building on Lake street, East Weymouth, to cost with full equipment $40,000, to be ready next September, and a four-roomed building at Porter for which $13,000 was ap- propriated, show that the citizens of Weymouth, continuing to follow the policy of the last few years, believe that the school buildings in themselves are important factors in our educational system.
We append herewith the report of the superintendent of schools.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY B REED, H. FRANKLIN PERRY, MARY F. HOLBROOK, JOSEPH A. CUSHING, THOMAS V. NASH, JOHN F. REARDON.
EAST WEYMOUTH, MASS., Dec. 31, 1906.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
-
To the School Committee of Weymouth :
I hereby submit my second annual report as superintendent of schools, which is the twenty-first in the series.
The year has been one of decided progress and improvement in the school system of Weymouth. The school work as a whole is decidedly better in every way than it was one year ago and the outlook for another year is even more promising for when the "eight year course and kindergarten" is put in operation the schools will be in a position, other things being equal, to do as good work as anywhere in New England. We must not be de- ceived by thinking that our schools are so good that they cannot be improved. No school system is perfect though every town, no doubt, is striving each year for better schools. It is our business then to make the Weymouth schools at least a little better the coming year than ever before. Every citizen iu Weymouth is anxious to see the town grow and prosper. No one thing will assist that growth and prosperity more than good schools in well lighted and ventilated school buildings. Many a town has lost valuable citizens and much taxable property by allowing the schools to deteriorate for lack of funds and an interested public. Let us then strive to make our schools second to none, not merely for the sake of the reputation of the town, but for the sake of the schools themselves and the pupils in them. This can be done I feel sure if we all work together with a single purpose for "what is the best thing for the schools."
To say that onr schools are as good as those of some other town is not enough, nor is it an excuse for our condition. Rather let us say that they must be the best that honesty of purpose and hard work can make them. "The good is always the enemy of the best," someone has said. The town must spend more money for schools, though, in the future, if they are to be kept in the front ranks of educational progress. The schools need also a
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united and interested public standing strongly behind the school officials and teachers.
The school system of any town depends more on its consecrated teachers than upon any other one thing. Teachers who are con- secrated to the work of making better boys and girls, better men and women, better citizens. The demand for such teachers was never greater than now, due mainly to the faet that teachers' sal- aries have not advanced in proportion to other things. Here in Weymouth the salarles have not been advanced since 1892 till this year, while the cost of living has increased about 40 per cent. during the last ten years. Therefore our teachers are not as well paid today as they were twenty years ago, though they may be receiving the same salary. Can we hope then to keep the best teachers long in onr service when their salaries are continnally growing less ?
Much more is also required of the teacher in the way of pre- paration than ever before. It costs more to get ready and keep ready than it did even ten years ago.
The action of the committee in raising the salaries of some of the teachers last May not only increased the efficiency of the schools by retaining some of our best teachers longer in the schools, but those teachers did better work, being stimulated and encouraged by the thought that they were appreciated. Morover it had its effect on the teachers whose salaries were not raised for in that action they saw hope for themselves and their efforts were renewed in making their work the best ever, trusting that their turn would come next. "I therefore recommend that the salaries of all the teachers in the grades be raised in accordance with the schedule outlined in my last report.
The abolishment of the grammar school graduation exercises and the adoption of the Weaver System of Music have been the most important reforms inaugurated this year and they have done more to improve the actual work of the schools than anything else. Closing the River School, and transporting the pupils to the Athens has done more, educationally, for that section, than half the people realize. For those pupils to have the benefits arising from the use of a modern school building with only one teacher to a grade is an education in itself. The admission of pupils to the first grade only in September of each year and short-
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ening the school day for the first and second grades are important advance movements the results of which are already seen.
At the High School arrangements have been made to have a lecture every month on some topic of general interest. The sub- jects are as follows : For January, Forestry, by F. W. Rane ; for February, Tuberculosis ; for March, Law; for April, Busi- ness ; for May, Medicine ; for June, Literature. These lectures will be given in the mornings following the regular morning exer- cises, and the public is cordially invited to attend.
That the parents and teachers may become better acquainted and that the home and school may co-operate more fully, we plan to hold two or three "mothers' meetings" at each school during the year. These meetings will be very informal and various phases of educational topics will be talked over. We also plan to hold an exhibition of the school work early in June in the town hall to which all the parents and friends of the schools will be cordially invited.
It is certainly very encouraging for a superintendent to work in a town where the "women's clubs" take such an interest in the schools as they do in Weymouth. The Old Colony Club is to be commended for the interest and hard work manifested in helping to maintain the "kindergarten" and "manual training" schools at the Fogg Library ; the Monday Club is to be commended for hav- ing taken an interest in the matters of Penny Savings and School City Government for the schools and as a result I trust that these may become a part of the school system. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the "clubs" for the great assistance rendered last May in making the Turner Art Exhibit such a decided suc- ยท cess.
TEACHERS.
Several changes have occurred in the teaching force and though we have lost several excellent teachers, we have, I think, a stronger corps than one year ago. Our teachers are a faithful, hard-working band of instructors and I trust the coming year will see fewer changes and a stronger corps.
Last year two additional teachers were required, but this year, though one more has been required in Ward II, the closing of the River School leaves the total number the same as one year ago. The opening of the new Pratt School in Ward IV the coming year will require another teacher there, and owing to the increase in
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school population in Ward II, it will be necessary to open an- other first grade next September, hence another teacher. An- other teacher will also be needed at the High School if the English and Commercial courses there are to be improved. Therefore it will be necessary to take the above into consideration in making up the estimates for another year.
COURSE OF STUDY.
The same general course of study has been followed this year as last, but the coming year this course will have to be recast to fit the "eight year course " recently adopted. There will be no material change in the work below the high school, simply making eight divisions instead of nine. Next September all beginners will enter the kindergarten instead of the first grades, and that will be about the only visible change noticed for the other changes necessary to bring the nine years into eight, will be so gradual that no one will notice when they take place other than in name. Only those children in the present eighth grades who can pass the required examinations will be allowed to enter the high school next September. I wish to rewrite the "course of study " making a few changes necessary to better fit our conditions, and have it adopted and printed before the opening of the schools in September.
TEXT BOOKS.
The expenditure for text books during the past two years has been larger than for some years previous, owing to the fact that in several subjects the books were so badly worn and soiled that it necessitated new books. Much new supplementary reading matter has been purchased, not only for the benefit of the course in reading and literature, but also to improve the work in history and geography. Much more reading matter is needed, also phy- siologies for grades five, six and seven. In the high school new literature books are needed for two classes, new grammars for the freshman class, and one or two sets of new encyclopaedias besides numerous reference books for every school room in town, so that the appropriation for books and supplies ought to be somewhat larger than formerly for the next few years.
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DRAWING.
The reputation that the schools acquired in drawing under the supervision of Miss Hackett has been maintained and the work has steadily progressed under the direction of Miss Lancaster who began her work with us one year ago. The benefits arising from the employment of a supervisor five days a week instead of three, as formerly, are very much in evidence. Now that we are to have the kindergarten where the foundation of the work in drawing is laid, we trust that the time is not far distant when the manual training will become a part of the public school instruc- tion in every school in Weymouth. It is in this branch of in- struction that certain principles taught in the kindergarten are given a chance to develop and grow. In it also much of the work in drawing finds interpretation and correlation. I append herewith the report of the supervisor.
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