USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1887 > Part 8
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We were again without an Assistant. Such frequent changes in any school are a great detriment. We have obtained the services of Miss Bessie R. White, of Somer- ville, who was a graduate of the High School in that city, and later of Colby University of Maine. How long we shall be able to keep her. is a matter of great uncertainty, as the person qualified to fill this position will not remain here long for the price we now pay. We hope for the best, however, as she is doing her work to the satisfaction of both Committee and Principal.
We may well feel proud of our High School in its present condition, under the leadership of Mr. Murray, and we hope parents will use their influence to encourage pupils to remain and pursue their studies to the end. Let us graduate a full class in June. It can be done, it ought to be done. Another point right here. Parents, do not permit your sons to be absent on the last day of any term. It does not show proper respect to the teacher, after he has labored assidously to educate your
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children, and who desires that the people shall know what progress they have made, invites the people to see for themselves, and just then has no scholars to exhibit. Only eleven out of twenty-nine boys were present on the closing day of last term.
Our schools are generally doing well, and one thing we should be thankful for, is, that we have so many teachers of experience. Were it otherwise, it would be almost an imperative duty for the town to employ an educated, practical teacher for a Superintendent, for (to use the words of another), "I do not find that a novice in teaching, coming from the High School, has much knowledge of the philosophy of his work, or much skill in teaching elementary branches to young children," and as they thus come to the work without a Normal training, constant and almost daily supervision should be given, until they acquire the necessary knowledge and experi- ence. But we are fortunate in this respect, as nearly all of our teachers are veterans in the work, and the few who are not, are doing good work. .
There still lingers in the minds of many, an aversion to the introduction of teaching the elements of natural science. Prof. Agassiz said, years ago, " that we could not have scientific men in this country. for the reason that the foundations for scientific research were not laid in the elementary schools. These elements are especially adapted to train the mind through the powers of observa- tion, and so to fit it to pursue all studies by a scientific method." We believe the recent introduction of the elementary physiology will tell upon the physical con-
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dition of the generations to come. The introduction of industrial drawing (which is really required by statute) into our schools in its elementary form, would be some- thing of far-reaching and practical value. The child is first taught Observation, including all that pertains to knowledge of form; 2d, Expression ; 3d, Invention or Design, including all new arrangements of form, &c. How often drawing would be serviceable in illustrating other studies, Geometry, Philosophy, &c.
Since the great mass of humanity are "to eat bread by the sweat of their face," how necessary it is that they should be so thoroughly equipped in childhood, that they may come to the task with intelligent and even scientific knowledge.
There are several things we wish to lay before you for your consideration, concerning our school-buildings. They are now all painted on the outside, and will not need any outlay in that direction for some time.
The first of which we will speak, is our High School building. The time has not come for the Committee to ask for a new school-building, but we think better accommodations should be given for a recitation room. As it now is, twenty-two pupils, beside the teacher, are crowded into a room 10 x 112 feet, and only 82 feet high. . Think of this, and remember there is a stove in addition. How are they to have any ventilation what- ever, without opening the window or door ? then the scholars nearest the opening feel the draft and those nearest the stove feel too much heat. This room gives
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about 423 cubic feet of air to each scholar, while health demands 250 feet.
Our recommendation is, to close the present front entrance and remove all the partitions, separating the present small rooms, and let the present room, entry and Selectmen's room all into one recitation-room, which will then allow the use of the blackboard during the recita- tions, and give a little better ventilation. For a main entrance to the hall or school-room, make a two story addition, on the east side of the building, with vestibule on first floor, and Town Officers' room on the second. The expense would not be burdensome, but the con- venience would be great, and the health of teachers and pupils would not be jeopardized, as it now is under the present arrangements.
It will be remembered that, acting under Article 21 at the last Annual Meeting, the Town voted to move the Common Street Primary School building to some point near the Third Cliff, and that a joint Committee, consisting of the Selectmen and School Committee, were appointed to locate and move said building.
After due consideration of the matter and at the second meeting of said joint Committee, it was voted, That, as the Committee could not agree as to the location of the Common Street School-house, that we report to the Town in March next for further instructions. Voted, That the Chairman of the School Committee present the report to the Town.
In order, therefore, for the Town to act understand- ingly, we anticipate that report by laying before you
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some facts. There are now within the two districts (Brook Street and Common Street), and also including the children on the southerly end of the Third Cliff, sixty primary children, showing that if the buildings could be properly located, they could all be comfortably accommodated, only thirty scholars to each school. Had the Committee located the Common Street School-house in Mr. Cumming's field, as some suggested, the scholars in the westerly part of the district would have been about as far away as the Cliff children are now, and with so large a number of houses west of that location, which may in the near future, be filled with children, it seemed as though we might soon have to build a new house on the Common.
The Brook Street School-house, placed at a point not far from the corner of Kent and Ridge Hill Streets, dividing the districts the other way, i. e., north and south, would, in many respects, be preferable to the other plan. But this we could not do under the vote of the Town.
One word in regard to the building of a new school- house on or near the Third Cliff. It seems to us that with only sixty primary scholars within this territory, such an outlay-which is not simply the first cost of the building, but the constant expense of running an extra school-is too much to be asked.
In view of all these facts, we reiterate what we have said before, that for the present, the cheapest, the most equitable plan is to furnish conveyance to those on the southerly end of the Third Cliff. The attendance at the
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South Street School was never so punctual and constant as during the experimental period of last year, and has not been since. The scholars made a marked progress as a result of their uniform attendance.
That the Town should do something is very evident. It is a good sign when parents want their children to be educated, and the Town in its corporate capacity, should do all it possibly can to give both rich and poor the advantages of a common school education ; but still it will not do to move a school-house as often as population changes
In 1884 the largest enrolment at the Beach Street School was thirty-five scholars. This Winter (only two years later) the membership is only eleven. Will any one say that this school-house should be at once moved or abandoned because so few attend ? In 1877 North Main Street School had forty-four enrolled ; in 1882, five years later, it had only twenty-six, now there are thirty-five.
By these statistics we can see that no rash policy should be pursued in changing the boundaries of dis- tricts, or in changing the location of school-houses.
We hope the Town will deliberately and dispassionately discuss this question, and arrive at a definite conclusion, and the Committee will endeavor to carry out the wishes of the Town.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES E. BAILEY, - JULIA E. WEBB, Committee. GEORGE W. BAILEY,
SCITUATE, January 17, 1887.
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Roll of Honor for Punctual Attendance.
HIGH SCHOOL. ONE YEAR.
Clayton Hyland,
Isabel Northey.
Two TERMS.
John. Damon,
Charles Wade, Lillie Crane,
Eddie Hyland,
Lester Merritt,
George Bailey,
Walter Vinal,
Belle Merritt, Nellie Marsh, Grace Otis,
Hattie Spencer.
ONE TERM.
Blanche Nott,
Nellie Cottle,
Emeline Hyland, Alice Sheppard,
Charles Waterman.
WEST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Carl F. Nott,
Two TERMS. J. Frances Newcomb, ONE TERM.
Arthur L. Seaverns,
Isaac B. D. Andrews,
Fred L. Litchfield,
Silas A. Newcomb,
Margaret E. Cullen,
John E. Manson,
Ella C. Merritt,
Minnie L. Spooner,
Stephen Litchfield,
Caroline A. Litchfield.
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EAST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
THREE YEARS. Arthur N. Colman.
Emma Clapp,
Annie Murphy,
Sarah Curran,
Gracie Doherty,
Julia Hoar,
Percy T. Mann,
Bertie J. Young,
Frank B. Pierce,
Two TERMS. Albion W. Hunt, Charlie Doherty. ONE TERM.
Lottie S. Torrey, Alice Ward, Walter J. Litchfield, Nellie P. Totman,
Emma Doherty.
SOUTH STREET SCHOOL.
ONE TERM.
Harry Sampson, Richard Clapp,
Alice F. Clapp, Arthur Sampson, May J. Damon.
BROOK STREET SCHOOL.
Harry B. Ellms,
ONE YEAR. C. Harry Smith.
Two TERMS.
Ralph D. Williams, John E. Prouty. ONE TERM. Minnie Williams, Bertie Williams.
Fred T. Swift,
Maggie Burke, Arthur H. Pierce,
ONE YEAR. Sadie Simmons.
13 WILLOW STREET SCHOOL.
Two TERMS.
Lucius L. Bonney,
Eric Goullaud, Willie H. Hern.
ONE TERM.
Josie Barry,
Maggie Barry,
Ida M. Clapp,
Percy B. Clapp,
Ellen O'Hern,
George Dewire,
Lucy Kenney,
Thomas H. Harris.
John Fay,
Nellie Murphy,
Charles Doherty,
James Sullivan,
Allie Bonney,
Maggie Muse,
Hattie Hyland,
Edna Goullaud.
BEACH STREET SCHOOL.
Two TERMS.
Fred L. Pratt,
Elsie E. Turner.
ONE TERM.
Allie L. Carter,
Grace L. Carter,
L. Gertrude Carter, Sadie M. Spooner, Gussie Pratt,
HIGH STREET SCHOOL.
ONE YEAR.
Florence E. Bates, Everett R. Marsh,
Winnet G. Litchfield, Herbert L. Marsh.
Two TERMS.
Ethel Merritt, Bennie L. Damon,
Harrie Merritt, Francis N. Hyland.
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ONE TERM.
Lucius E. Bates, EdgarĮL. Hyland, Arthur A. Hill,
Aaron Bates, Frank A. Damon, Chauncey Litchfield, Abbott Litchfield,
COMMON STREET SCHOOL.
Two TERMS. Bennie M. Young. ONE TERM.
Esther Hoar,
Walter S. Harrub,
Oscar H. Simmons,
Johnnie Elliott,
Arthur Manson, Frank L. Young.
CENTRAL STREET SCHOOL.
Two TERMS
Frank T. Whittaker,
Fred Thayer,
Eddie Otis, Harry W. Otis,
Willie M. Brown.
ONE TERM.
Willie C. Andrews,
Alice Wyman, Luther Andrews,
Willie Hunt,
Cora Vinal, Mamie Schenck, Charlie Whittaker, Frances W. Whitcomb,
Heman L. Andrews.
GROVE STREET SCHOOL.
Kilborn Merritt,
ONE TERM. Archie W. Torrey, Mary J. Emerson.
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CHARLES STREET SCHOOL.
THREE YEARS. Moses L. Brown. ONE YEAR. L. Gracie Litchfield. Two TERMS.
Eunice Litchfield,
Herbert D. Litchfield.
Cora E. Bearce, Daniel J. Sullivan,
ONE TERM. Esther J. Cullen, Irving F. Litchfield.
NORTH MAIN STREET SCHOOL.
May H. Seaverns,
ONE YEAR. Winnie L. Seaverns.
Edith M. Stoddard,
Fred G. Reed,
Two TERMS. Harry N. Lincoln, Waldo M. Orcutt,
Addison C. Poland. ONE TERM.
Carl F. Nott,
Clifton B. Lee.
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SCHOOL STATISTICS.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Greatest Number
Enrolled During any term.
Average
Number Belonging.
Average Attendance.
Per Cent.
Charles T. Murray,
71
59
53
.89
High School,
Hattie Weeks,
Assistants.
East Grammar,
-
Sarah L. Young, Asst.
79
73
68
.93
West Grammar,
Sarah R. Damon,
47
38
33
.87
North Main Street,
Mary L. Clapp,
35
29
27
.93
Willow Street,
Carrie W. Litchfield,
44
34
32
.94
Common Street,
Mabel Cole,
32
28
26
.93
South Street,
Mrs. Hattie Ferguson,
38
25
21
.84
Central Street,
Minta C. Bowditch,
25
24
22
.92
Brook Street,
E. Gertrude Gardner,
27
20
19
.95
High Street,
S. Alice Reed,
36
30
28
.93
Grove Street,
Clara W. Wilder,
16
14
13
.93
Charles Street,
Josephine M. Litchfield,
22
18
16
.89
Beach Street,
Annie E. Chubuck,
20
15
14
.93
Mabel Stevens,
Abby J. Gannett,
Bessie R. White,
Mrs. J. A. Nealy,
-
.
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REPORTS OF TRUANT OFFICERS.
To CHARLES E. BAILEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF SCITUATE, MASS.
The following are the complaints made to me as Truant Officer :
June 9, 1886, on complaint of S. Alice Reed.
September 24, 1886, on complaint of C. E. Bailey. Respectfully, &c.,
HOSEA D. NOTT, Truant Officer.
As Truant Officer, I would respectfully report I have attended all cases coming to my knowledge.
Yours truly,
HENRY YOUNG, Truant Officer.
SCITUATE, December 29, 1886,
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