USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1906-1909 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
room over 70 pupils. The Library (so called) where we are obliged to place the typewriters, is altogether too small and has no means of ventilation other than that of opening the doors into the other rooms. 'The sanitary conditions are such that at times sewer gas penetrates into this room from a toilet that opens from it. The Laboratory is without sinks for experi- mental work or proper cabinets for apparatus. It can comfort- ably seat about 12 pupils and under the present conditions from 20 to 25 are obliged to recite there.
The work in science cannot be done properly until we have a laboratory fitted up with the necessary apparatus. It is impossible to put the required apparatus in the present build- ing for there is absolutely no room for it.
The importance of the work in science will be understood when one takes into consideration the fact that all the colleges and technical schools make science one of the principal features in their requirements for admission. We cannot hope to give our pupils the fit they should have in these subjects, for such institutions as The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Har- vard and other colleges of high standing, until we have a better scientific equipment. There is an increasing number of our boys striving for a technical education and we should give them the best possible fit for such an education. Again, the sanitary conditions at the high school are bad. Instead of modern sanitary toilets, etc., the high school pupils are obliged to resort to an out-house. When you consider the number that are obliged to use this out-house, and its exposed condition you will readily see that the effect is anything but healthful or proper. The citizens of Scituate have always responded with commend- able generosity to the demands for educational purposes in the past, and it is to be hoped that the demand for a new high school building will prove no exception. When we expend money for any purpose, we want the greatest possible returns
-128-
for that money, and it is impossible to get such returns under the condition at our high school.
Salaries of Teachers.
Last March at the regular town meeting the citizens very gen- erously appropriated money enough to give the grade teachers a raise of $100 each. That was a very decided step in the right direction. Aside from placing the salary of the teachers more nearly on a par with that of the other professions, it has en- couraged those teachers who have served long and faithfully and shown them that the citizens of the town appreciate their efforts.
The growth in the child is stimulated by growth in the teach- er. Teachers, in order to grow in their profession, must spend time and money to keep up with the demands placed upon them. It is growing more and more difficult each year to secure good teachers, and still more difficult to keep them unless they are paid living wages. Our teachers, to do satisfactory work, must do professional work, either in the form of summer schools, reading or attending lectures. This is impossible if their salary. is only enough to pay necessary living expenses.
The teacher's salary should always depend upon the efficiency of her work, regardless of term of service. In no case should a teacher's salary be raised merely because of long service. She should be given a salary that will enable her to live and perfect herself in her particular line. The teacher who will not take advantage of such opportunity, is dear at any price and should be replaced at once by one who will. It is in connection with the salaries of teachers, if anywhere, that Channing's words apply: "There is nothing on earth so precious as the mind, soul, and character of the child ...... There should be no econ- omy in education. Money should never be weighed against the soul of a child. It should be poured out like water for the child's intellectual and moral life."
School Physician.
Professor Search says, "If education is ever to aim at that
.
-129-
which is complete and best, it must comprehend the entire child. Fundamental in this, it seems right to expect that the product of the school should be an individual blessed with good health. To that end, school provisions and practices must not be simply permissive of health, but they must contribute directly to its realization."
At our last annual town meeting, the town voted money to em- ploy a school physician as required by law. Dr. Wm. P. Groves- tein was appointed by the committee to act in that capacity. His services began Sept. 12, when school opened. Dr. Groves- tein has visited at intervals, the various schools and has attended to calls from the teachers for medical aid and advice for pupils under their charge.
The importance of the law requiring medical inspection in the schools can be realized only by those who have an opportunity to visit schools frequently and who know something of the dif- ficulties under which children are obliged to labor.
Statistics carefully collected and tabulated by eminent phy- sicians, show an astonishing increase of physical defects in child- ren of school age. Doubtless part of these defects is due to causes aside from their school life, but on the other hand many of them are due to causes that can be found in school. Many of these defects come on so gradually that only the practiced eye of an expert can detect them in their early stages. Then is the time to remedy them and that part of the work can best be done under the direction of a school physician.
Again comparatively few people realize what a handicap im- perfect sight or hearing, adenoids, etc., are to a child. The work is laid out for a healthy child and if he is suffering from any of the many complaints of childhood, he cannot possibly do it satisfactorily. Many a child has been called dull, when he simply needed medical attention to remedy some physical defect of which he was afflicted. The importance of medical inspec- tion in our schools can hardly be overestimated.
Scituate
9
-130-
The Eye and Ear Test.
The importance of the senses of sight and hearing on the part of pupils needs no comment. Every effort should be made, both by parents and the school authorities to correct any defects of those senses that may be discovered.
The present school law requiring the school authorities to test the eyes and ears of the pupils, has produced some startling results. Many cases of defective eyes and ears have been dis- covered and reported to the parents and in most instances, the parents have sought professional advice with good results both to the health of the pupil and the quality of work done in the grades. There are cases, however, where parents have failed to have their children's eyes attended to, even after receiving several notices from the teachers. The unfortunate consequen- ces resulting from such neglect or oversight, on the part of parents, can hardly be exaggerated. The child sustains irrepar- able injury through such neglect. Aside from the injury to the eyes, he is unable to do anything like his best work and con- sequently is obliged, in some instances, to take two years to do the work he could easily do in one, under favorable circumstan- ces. Such neglect is, in my opinion, due to thoughtlessness, but such thoughtlessness as that which allows a child to injure a sense so important to his health, happiness, and efficiency in life, is almost criminal in its nature. The results of the eye and ear test were as follows:
School
Number enrolled
Defective Defective in eyesight in hearing
Parents notified
High school
62
5
3
Jenkins school
176
22
10
20
Hatherly school
186 .
19
6
19
High St. school
24
1
S
Attendance.
The attendance on the whole has been good, but we still have
-131-
with us those who do not attend with the regularity necessary for the best results. This irregularity on the part of many pu- pils is due to apathy on the part of the parents. The remedy is more stringent enforcement of the truant laws. A careful and complete record has been made by means of a card catalogue sys- tem, of all the pupils in town. This is at hand in the Superinten- dent's office to compare with the school registers. At present the number of truant officers is insufficient, or they are too far removed from the various schools, to be of practical use. In each district a truant officer should be appointed who will not hesitate to prosecute, either for fear of retaliation or lest his political and business interests will suffer.
Teachers' Meetings.
Teachers' meetings have been held at frequent intervals and have added materially to interest and efficiency in the work. The teachers have manifested a very commendable spirit in their efforts to attend these meetings. In spite of the long dis- tances some have to go to get to and from them, absences have been very rare indeed.
The high school and ninth grade teachers have joined the high school teachers in the other towns comprising the district in a series of joint teachers' meetings. In these meetings, papers are read on professional subjects, and are followed by discussions of problems that confront the various teachers in their work.
Owing to a misunderstanding on the part of some parents, I shall cause extracts from the school laws to be printed in an ap- pendix to this report.
In conclusion, permit me to express my sincere appreciation of the hearty co-operation of all those with whom I have been associated in my work.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN E. DE. MEYER.
December 31, 1907.
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT.
To the Superintendent of Schools-
I have pleasure in reporting the largest enrollment in the High School during my term of service, and probably in the history of the school. We have, at this date, 72 pupils,-two more than there are desks. This number is divided among the several classes as follows : Post-graduate, 1; Senior, 13; Junior, 12; Sophomore, 19; Freshman, 27; total number of boys, 34; girls, 38.
The course of study this year has been revised in order to meet different needs. There are now three courses, i. e. College Pre- paratory, Commercial, and Academic. The first, as its name signifies, is designed especially for those pupils who are prepar- ing to enter college. The commercial course has been arranged with a view to providing with a business preparation those pupils who will not go to any higher academic institution. The acad- emic course is designed for those pupils who are not preparing for college, but who desire a general course. In the first two years the Commercial and Academic courses are nearly identical, except that the pupils in the latter course have an option between Latin and Commercial studies. The pupils in each coursè num- ber as follows : College Preparatory, 17; Commercial, 33; Acad- emic, 22. One member of the class of 1907 obtained the priv- ilege of admission to Dartmouth College on examination, and several are planning to take college-entrance examinations in June.
The course in Trigonometry and Surveying was revived last spring, and an excellent surveyor's transit was added to the school's equipment. A class of 10 took the course last spring,
-I33-
and the work has been continued this fall. Two lots have been surveyed and mapped.
The question of public speaking in High school is apt to be a difficult one to approach. The old custom of "speaking pieces" by every pupil in school at stated times does not seem to us to be the right and natural way to meet the problem, yet something along these lines should be done. This year, on Friday after- noons, we are devoting a short time to the discussion of current topics. The pupils prepare themselves previously, and speak or read their contributions before the school. They have taken hold of this plan, in most cases, with an admirable spirit, and the discussions have been of much interest. Different maga- zines and papers are on the reading table for reference. We have also, by the courtesy of the proprietors of the Situate Herald, started a High School Column in that paper. The school has a regular correspondent, and other pupils may and do contribute.
An Athletic Association was organized in the fall, to which both boys and girls are eligible. Through the kindness of the Selectmen the boys have the Town Hall for basket ball on three afternoons, and the girls on two afternoons a week, after the school session.
The great and pressing needs of the High School are first, more room; and second, modern and sanitary toilet arrange- ments. The first we must have, to properly seat and instruct our boys and girls; and the second is absolutely imperative on the grounds of health and decency. As soon as the parents realize these facts, the improvements will be forthcoming, for it is not possible that they will knowingly subject their children to these extremely adverse conditions.
One question to which I have given some thought, and which I submit for your consideration, is that of the advisability of beginning some courses of study in the winter term, making them open to young people, especially boys, who are obliged to work at home or for hire during the fall and spring. This is
-134-
done in the rural High schools of New York state, with the result that many come in for work during the winter term. These pupils are given credit for the work done, which may count towards graduation if they desire. Some are thus en- couraged to go on and graduate, while many are glad simply for the added knowledge and help gained during one or two win- ters. This plan might make the school still more of a practical benefit to the community.
In conclusion I heartily thank you and the Committee for your helpful advice and staunch support during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD R. CLARK, Principal.
Scituate Center, Mass., January 20, 1908.
-135-
Class Motto, "Vincit que se Vincit"
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF THE
CLASS OF 1907
SCITUATE HIGH SCHOOL
TOWN HALL
Friday evening, June 28th, at 8 o'clock.
Invocation, Rev. G. A. Hathaway Chorus, Lullaby of Life, Leslie, High School Salutatory, with Essay, Ancient Myths and Legends,
Annals of the Class,
Carolyn May Doten Clair Byrd Paige
Oration, The Panama Canal, Lawrence Neil Litchfield
Vocal Duet, Breathe Soft and Low, Phelps,
Katherine M. Ide and Edwin T. Otis
Oration, Pracical Chemistry, Waldo Francis Bates, Jr. Essay, The Golden Age of Music, Marion Lincoln Richardson Oration, Jamestown, Class Prophecy, Ernest Lester Merritt Allen Marsena Ransom Chorus, Believe Me if all these Endearing Young Charms, Mouhl. High School Oration, Modern Agricultural Methods, Albert Francis Turner Essay, Women of the Nineteenth Century, Annie May Vickery . Presentation of Class Gift, Bust of Hermes,
Acceptance for the School,
Charles Cushing Lincoln Lizzie Howard Litchfield
-136-
Essay with Valedictory, Co-operative Societies,
Bertha Wallace Cushman Chorus, And the Glory of the Lord, Handel, High School Presentation of Diplomas, Mr. Peter W. Sharp Rev. F. B. Noyes Benediction,
CLASS OF 1907. Classical Course. Waldo Francis Bates, Jr.
Latin Course with One Year Commercial Allen Marsena Ransom
English Course with One Year Commercial.
Bertha Wallace Cushman, Carolyn May Doten Charles Cushing Lincoln
Lawrence Neil Litchfield Ernest Lester Merritt Clair Byrd Paige
Marion Lincoln Richardson Albert Francis Turner Annie May Vickery
DRAWING TEACHER'S REPORT.
To the Superintendent of Schools-
The drawing in the Scituate schools goes on very regularly. The pupils are interested and doing good work. The teachers, on whom its success largely depends, are doing everything to promote my plans and make the results satisfactory.
Drawing is almost as much a training for the eye as for the hand. Now and then we find an artist in embryo. The aver- age pupil does very good work. The absolute poor workers are few in number. The well graded schools of this town make it possible to have the work very satisfactorily allotted, each child having studies suited to his age and ability.
: The different mediums which we use, as pencil, ink and water colors. and the many studies and models we work from, give ever changing variety and interest. My aim in all the drawing is to make it practical for this reason. We have study in de- sign twice during the school year, design being most often ap- plied to industrial pursuits,
Respectfully submitted,
HARRIET J. FORD.
Duxbury, December 31, 1907.
REPORT OF THE MUSIC TEACHER.
To the Superintendent of Schools-
It becomes my pleasure to report to you the condition of the music in the schools of Scituate. It would seem that after years of earnest work on the part of the teachers, the results were beginning to show. Where we once began in the third grade to start music, we now begin with the first; and our pres- ent third grade is able to read quiet creditably simple little songs first with syllables then without, and lastly with words. Some- times the first has no talent, and then it is up-hill work. Such may have been the case last year, as they only learned to imi- tate songs well, towards the last of the year, but on entering the second grade this year they surprised us all by doing excellent work in all that was given them. This year the first grade has already learned to sing the scale or sections of it and begun on skips, which is a gain on any past work. As the upper grades seem to take up more advanced music each year, we feel it neces- sary to pay a great deal of attention to the beginners. We re- gret very much the stand-still in the second grade, which as yet seems unavoidable. Children enter this grade with a fair knowledge of the scale, but all books, time and attention go to the third grade-placed in the same room-in order that the third grade may not be neglected. We may soon be driven to beg some more books from the management, borrow some more patience for the day teacher, and steal time from the program in order to move the grading along more evenly.
So, although we know that the upper grades are doing a great deal with their opportunities, we wish to push along the work in lower grades, that the future high grades may be even better.
Owing to the generosity of the school board, the High School
-139-
was given beautiful new singing books at the close of the last school year; the pupils showed their appreciation by doing as earnest and efficient work as one could hope to find in any High School chorus. In five weeks they prepared a grand opera se- lection, and oratorio selection, a bass song with vocal accom- paniment, and a very beautiful song by Henry Leslie. This was as much as a chorus of trained singers could hope to do well in the same length of time, and seemed rather risky to attempt for public performance, but some of us know the value of con- centrated thought and watching the conductor, and were not daunted. We feel, generally speaking, that the result was pleas- ing to all at the graduation exercises.
It may not happen that the High School shall contain the same quantity of talent in the future, but can we not make the work of last year and this year a standard to never fall short of, but to gain upon if possible? Of course this rests with the children who are growing up, as the teacher has always given the best work in our support.
Respectfully submitted, LILLIE C. STODDARD.
1
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN'S REPORT.
To the Scituate School Committee-
I take pleasure in submitting the following report as School Physician.
I began my services in September when the schools opened and have visited the different rooms in town from time to time.
I have inspected the various buildings with reference to ven- tilation and general sanitary conditions and have attended to calls from the teachers for medical advice regarding pupils un- der their charge.
In no cases have I, as medical inspector, attempted to treat pupils or prescribe for them.
It has been my function merely to debar from school, any children whose presence might be a menace to the health of others, and to notify the parents in cases where medical attend- ance is desirable in order that the regular family physician may be called.
School buildings-
The Hatherly and Jenkins buildings are new and modern houses and are well adapted from the standpoint of health for school purposes. They are well ventilated and provided with sanitary plumbing.
The High Street school while it has no modern plumbing is large and commodious when one takes into consideration the number of pupils that attend that school.
The High school however is far from satisfactory. The san- itary conditions are bad throughout the building. Even the main room is very poorly ventilated and the recitation rooms are too small and the natural results follow : the air gets tainted with the various impurities that come from the system within a
-141-
very short time after the classes enter and the pupils are obliged to breath that bad air for a considerable time.
The building has no sanitary plumbing. The pupils are used to the modern plumbing in their school buidlings until they get to the high school and then when they are just enter- ing the early stages of manhood and womanhood they are obliged to resort to an outhouse. Modesty and also at- mospheric conditions prevents them from attending to the demands of nature as they should.
Such conditions are liable to result in physical complications which not only unfit them for their work but are liable to follow them in after life. Something should be done to better these conditions.
In conclusion I would express my appreciation of the kind- ness of the teachers and school authorities in assisting me in in every way possible with my work.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM P. GROVESTEIN.
1
-142-
ROLL OF HONOR. 1906-1907.
Not absent during the year, twenty-
William Bartlett. Helen S. Collier. Ruth Curtis,
George Doherty, John C. Kane,
Bertram W. Litchfield,
Bernard Lee, Mildred Merritt.
Florence Perkins.
Phœbe Richardson,
Not absent for two terms, forty-one.
Cecelia Ainslee, Howard Bailey, Theodore Bailey,
Bertha V. Brown,
Mary E. Cushman,
Edwina S. Dalby,
William E. Franzien,
Mary Finnie, John S. Fitts, Elsie C. Merritt, Norma F. Morris,
Ella Osborne, Clair Paige,
Reed Prouty, May M. Randall, Muriel Seaverns, Byron Wood,
Edith Whittaker, Mary Ward, Fred T. Waterman,
Frank Bartlett Robert Collier Alice Crane Catherine Gillis Mildred Litchfield, Myron Litchfield Eileen Murphy Edward McCarthy Isabel Ward Bessie Richardson
Eudora Bailey Lawrence Bailey Annie E. Bartlett Bertha W. Cushman Florence Dorr Allen Doherty, Estelle Fitts, Eleanor Finnie, Lawrence N. Litchfield Kenneth V. Merritt Lillian MacQuarrie, Edward Pendergast, Roy Paige, Royal P. Richardson, Harold Sylvester Karl H. Steubeck Eva Whittaker Harold C. Whittaker, Marie Ward, Ethel C. Young,
George V. Yenetchi.
-143-
Not absent for one term, sixty-four-
Ella E. Ainslee, Marion Bailey, Gladys Burbank, Ruth Bartlett,
Frank Clapp, William O. Clapp, Walter Cole, Grace Damon, William S. Dorr,
Elwood Damon, Walter C. Elliott, Robert Niel, John Niel,
Laurence Hayward, Sarah E. Flynn, Edith M. Jenkins,
Mary Kane, Paul Litchfield, Frank Litchfield,
Elsie C. Litchfield,
Cora M. Merritt,
Esther N. Merritt, Justin Nott, Walter O'Hern, Edna Osborne, Helen Prouty, Effie M. Paige, Charlotte Reddy, Paul Spaulding, Myrtis Wood, Grace D. Waterman, Kenneth Whorf,
Grace Bailey, Dorothy Bailey, Vera G. Bates, Walter F. Crane, Ruth Clapp, Pauline Cole Amelia F. Dalby, Reed Damon, Elsie Dorr Edward Donnivon. Matthew Gannett. Katherine Niel Forest E. Hammond Velma A. Henderson Amedeo Feola Margaret L. Jellows, Willie Kane John L. Litchfield, Louis B. Litchfield Elizabeth Longfellow Chester McNutt, Matilda McLean Mildred Nott, Kathleen O'Hern, Margaret Pendergast Frederic G. Pierce, Rena Rowe, Gladys Roberts, Carl Wood, Alice Wheeler, Alice Webster Evelyn Whorf.
-144-
EMPLOYMENT TICKET AND AGE AND SCHOOLING CERTIFICATE.
Section 32. The age and schooling certificate of a minor under sixteen years of age shall not be approved and signed until he presents to the person who is authorized to approve and sign it, an employment ticket duly filled out and signed. A duplicate of each age and schooling certificate shall be filled out and shall be kept on file by the school committee. Any explan- atory matter may, in the discretion of the school committee or , superintendent of schools, be printed with such certificate. The employment ticket and the age and schooling certificate shall be separately printed, and shall be filled out, signed and held or surrendered, as indicated in the following forms :-
Employment Ticket, Revised Laws, c. 106, sec. 32.
When (name of minor) , height (feet and inches) ,
. complexion (fair or dark), hair (color) , presents an age and schooling certificate duly signed, I intend to employ (him or her).
(Signature of intending employer or agent.) (Town or city and date.)
Age and Schooling Certificate, Revised laws, c. 106, sec. 32.
This certifies that I am the (father, mother, guardian or cus- todian) of (name of minor) , and that (he or she) was born at (name of city or town) ' in the county of (name of county, if known) , and state (or country) of ' on the (day and year of birth) , and is now (number of years and months) old.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.