USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1906-1909 > Part 5
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Holidays.
February 22nd, April 10th, May 30th, Thursday and Fri- day of Thanksgiving week.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
Number of boys between the ages of 5 and 15, 210
Number of girls between the ages of 5 and 15, 204
Total, 414
Number of boys between the ages of 7 and 14, I64
Number of girls between the ages of 7 and 14, I49
Total, 313
1
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Scituate :---
The School Committee of the Town of Scituate herewith submits its annual report.
Policy.
The policy of the School Committee during the past year has been to carry out as consistently as possible the laws of the State in regard to education, and to combine with the administration thereof, the application of common sense and reason. With the foundation of the public school rests the future prosperity of the town.
The character of our citizenship will in a great measure be determined by the character of our public schools.
By maintaining a high standard we give to our children the best advantages within our means, and the result to the town is beneficial, for the child of to-day becomes the citizen of tomorrow, taking his place in our public life, performing his duty as a citizen, and upon his intelligence, ability and progressiveness depends the future prosperity and growth of the town and the happiness and welfare of its people. Such being the case, the proper conduct of the schools, the appropriations that are made for their maintenance, the methods of instruction, personality, character and ability of the teaching force, the facilities given the scholars to obtain the highest and best education, become matters of vital importance to those of our citizens who desire the wel- fare of the town.
The question then arises, or is sometimes brought for- ward : Why this need of higher education, elaborate courses,
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expensive books and apparatus? Is not the education we received good enough for our children? It is not. The boy or girl of to-day has to think and act more quickly than those of a generation ago, therefore the more educated the mind, the more rapid it is to respond and act accord- ingly. The sentiment and needs of to-day are not those of yesterday, or will they be those of tomorrow. We are truly living in a strenuous age, and with the example of a strenuous President at the White House before 115. con- stantly on the alert to meet and combat adverse legislation, trusts and combines; does it not behoove the humbler citi- zen to be properly equipped, mentally and physically, so as to be ready for whatever comes along? The important thing is not : that we should be crammed full of knowledge, but that what knowledge we possess should be so arranged that it can be of immediate use. It is a well-known fact that the scholar of to-day knows more than the boy of a generation ago, but he can make use of a far smaller per cent. than his ancestors, who had fewer books, rules and exercises, but those few were properly classified and thoroughly drilled into his head.
The demand to-day is for a practical education. For this we desire to raise our voices. Out of the next class to graduate from our schools, and future ones also, a large percentage must earn their livelihood by the labor of their hands or brain. Therefore, outside of the teaching of those subjects which are absolutely necessary, the tendency should be to teach those that will best fit them for the future. Hav- ing this in mind, your Committee asked for and obtained an appropriation at the special Town meeting, for the pur- pose of starting a business course at the High school. It has been apparent from the beginning that it will be suscess- ful in more ways than one. Primarily, it will give those of our pupils, who do not desire or cannot afford to go to a business college, an opportunity to obtain a thorough and
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practical business education, and a knowledge of those sub- jects which are requisite in order to be able to obtain em- ployment in the offices and mercantile establishments of our neighboring metropolis, surrounding cities and towns.
It is not our desire, though, to foster this course in prefer- ence to any other: the student who may elect to take the classical or Latin course, can do so. The opportunity still exists for them to prepare for college or Normal school. Instruction in Latin and the modern languages is optional but the study of the mother tongue is emphasized.
Nearly thirty years ago Wendell Phillips in his address on the "Education of the People," stated that "The public schools teach arithmetic, philosophy, trigonometry, geom- etry, music, botany, history and all that class of knowledge. Seven out of ten of them, remember, are to earn their bread by the labor of their hands. Well, at fifteen we give that child back to its parents utterly unfitted for any kind of work that is worth a morsel of bread. If the pupil could only read the ordinary newspaper to three auditors it would be something, but this the scholar, so educated, so produced cannot do. .. We produce only the superficial result of the culture we strive for. "Now, I claim that this kind of education injures the boy or girl in at least three ways. First, they are able only by forgetting what they have learned, to earn their daily bread; in the second place it is earned reluctantly; thirdly, there is no ambition for per- fection aroused." It seems to be a fact which many of the public educators of to-day overlook, that seven-tenths of the people earn their living on matter and not on mind. Now, friends, I protest against this whole system of com- mon schools in Massachusetts. It lacks the first element of preparation for life. We take the young girl or the young boy, whose parents are able to lift them into an intellectual profession; we keep them until they are eighteen years old in the High school, we teach them the sciences; they go to
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the academy, or the college to pursue some course of pre- paration for their presumed work in life. Why not keep them a little longer and give them other than intellectual training for the business of life?"
This, we think is just as true to-day as when spoken by Phillips thirty years ago. Few of our scholars are able to express themselves in good English. While the study of ancient and modern languages is to be commended, still it seems to us that more time and attention should be given to the English language.
It is not our intention, however, to decry intellectual edu- cation, but we do think that the practical should be com- bined with the intellectual. It would not do any harm if we taught our girls something about domestic science, to help equip her for the future, possibly as the wife of one of the boys now going through school with her. He may know that she can speak French or German, and can tell the principal facts in history, but he does not know if she is competent, or will be, to attend to his material welfare or that of his children. The boy also needs our attention; if he is to become a farmer, as some perhaps will, why not teach him something about the soils, and the science of knowing how to put back, or to restore to mother earth that which is taken from her, only in another form .. Let him learn surveying, he will then be in a position to run out the lines of his own farm or any wood lots he may purchase. Should he decide to become a civil engineer, instead of a farmer, the knowledge will not come amiss; the tendency will simply be to broaden his vision, increase his practical knowledge, and thus make him a more useful man to the community.
Transportation.
One of the hardest problems that confronts any School Board in a country town is that of transportation.
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When your Committee took up the matter this year, it was with the desire to give each part of the town due con- sideration, and especially to make provision, if possible, for the conveyance of those scholars, who had labored faithfully in the past, and who by so doing had succeeded ir gaining entrance to our High school. It is an admitted fact that the Grammar school graduates of to-day. are not of such a rugged physique as those who graduated a decade ago. Even then, there were some who were not able to stand the strain of walking from five to ten miles each day, Winter and Summer, rain or shine, in order that they might complete their education by graduating from our High school.
The proposals were accordingly gotten out, and a copy placed in each Post Office in town. One specification called for bids on all the old routes with the addition of the High school route from the Harbor, and a route from Gannett corners, via Conihasset Hall and Mann Lot to Hatherly; the latter being contemplated to relieve the congestion that existed and still exists, in Mr. Sylvester's barge, and to pro- vide room for the carrying of the High school scholars from the West part of the town. The other specification was for a renewal of the same routes as specified in the contract made in 1904.
Upon the bids being opened it was evident that a different state of affairs existed from that which your Committee had anticipated. In the first place there were only four bid- ders, and secondly, the price asked seemed prohibitive, in view of the amount appropriated by the town. To carry all of the scholars would cost $3.784, that being the amount of the only and lowest joint bid received. Therefore, after carefully considering the matter, we decided to award the contract (which expires after March meeting), for the same routes as last year, but leaving off the Egypt and Willow street routes and putting them on for the Winter term only.
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This we deemed proper. as with a few exceptions, the Egypt children lived inside the mile limit. and to the Willow street scholars the same conditions applied. The citizens of Egypt, however, petitioned to have the barge restored, and your Committee (somewhat against their better judgement), consented to it. We believed though that a covered vehicle could be obtained, large enough to carry those scholars who lived beyond the mile limit, and at a more reasonable ex- pense than it would cost to have a regular barge. The con- tractors, however, had forseen such a possibility, and re- fused to sign the contract, unless it was stipulated therein, that they alone were to have the privilege of putting on any extra barges which might be required, and at the same amount pro rata that they received for the other routes.
To the apparent lack of interest shown by those of our citizens, who were competent to bid on the transportation is due, in a measure, the condition of affairs that exist in the conveyance of the scholars in this town. If there had only been competition a different arrangement might have been made. We do not desire to find fault with these citi- zens, as we realize that the amount raised by the Town is entirely inadequate to properly transport all the scholars, and when it is possible for a citizen to get five dollars a day for a pair of horses and man, we do not blame them for re- fusing $2.20; that being the amount we now pay. In Co- hasset, they pay $15 per week for the Beechwood routes, and even at that figure few who are not in the livery busi- ness care to bid for it.
We believe that the town should raise a sum of money, sufficent for the purpose, but until it does we do not feel justified in exceeding the appropriation.
If the district schools had been left as they were, and a large Joint Grammar and High School erected on the line of the railroad, near Egypt or Scituate stations, the ques- tion of transportation would not have cost the town as much as it does to-day, or have become such a momentous issue.
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Buildings and Grounds.
The condition of our school buildings is one that needs consideration at the coming March meeting.
The Jenkins needs a thorough overhauling; the plaster in the main hall is dropping off, the roof leaks and a change is necessary in the sanitary arrangements, so as to prevent the overflow of water, etc., into the street.
From the estimates received, it is apparent that it will cost several hundred dollars to put the building in proper con- dition.
The Hatherly also requires some attention. A drain is needed to carry off the water, which in rainy seasons stands in one part of the basement and which threatens, in time, to weaken the foundation.
The back of the building should have a banking of stone or suitable material to strengthen the foundations.
The grounds need some attention; there ought to be some shrubbery placed along the fence on each side similar to that at the Jenkins.
It will not be long before we shall have to enlarge the High school, or at least the recitation rooms. The main room is just about large enough for this year's classes, but the class rooms are too crowded for comfort or convenience.
Medical Supervision.
The law passed by the legislature of last year, makes it necessary that we appoint a school physician. It will be his duty to examine the physical condition of each scholar at stated intervals, also to see that the testing of the pupil's eye sight and hearing, has been attended to, under the imme- diate direction of the superintendent and teachers.
Before we can appoint said physician it will be necessary that the Town raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose.
.
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We are unable at this time to obtain any direct data as to the cost, but will, no doubt, have same in time to insert in the town warrant.
Teachers and Salaries.
Owing to the resignation of Mr. E. L. Willard, who had served the town as superintendent of schools, so faithfully and well, for the last eleven years, it became necessary to choose a new superintendent to take his place. Accordingly in April last, we elected jointly with the towns of Marsh- field and Duxbury, John E. De Meyer, a graduate of Bates College, Me., and' former principal of the High school in Norwell, to serve as superintendent of the public schools in our town. In the staff of teachers, three changes have been made, Miss Alice F. Clapp, after having spent three years of earnest and faithful labor as principal of the Jen- kins school, decided that the opportunities were better else- where, and accordingly tendered her resignation. This we accepted with great reluctance and in her place Mr. Albert Craigin of Boston University was elected to serve as prin- cipal. Miss Helener G. Robertson, having also resigned as teacher of the sixth and seventh grades, we accordingly elected Miss Nellie Adams of Duxbury to fill this vacancy.
At the Hatherly school Miss Eleanor Curtis was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Bertha Bryant ..
We think. on the whole, that the past year has shown progress in our schools, and in justice to the teachers it is fair to say. that they have rendered efficient and capable service. We believe that we have been fortunate in our teachers, their long term of service, coupled with the fact that they strive to keep in touch with up-to-date methods in the outside school world, make them of inestimable value to our schools. We are of the opinion that the town can afford to pay them a generous amount for their services.
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The average citizen falls into error many times in consider- ing this question. He looks at the monthly wage and says, "pretty good pay." He forgets that the teacher has to di- vide by twelve instead of ten; that makes the monthly wage a different story. Again, it costs more to live now than it did a few years ago, and teachers' salaries have not ad- vanced commensurately.
If we stop and realize, that with a few exceptions. teach- ing is one of the poorest paid professions, we ask ourselves why it is then that we are willing to trust our child's present and future welfare to the care of one who is not paid much more than the average domestic.
Is it not because we realize that they love their work, and regardless of the salary received, they conscientiously en- deavor to do their very best for our children; looking after not only their intellectual training, but often taking the moth- er's place and caring for the body also. The "laborer is truly worthy of his hire," and it is only by being liberal in this respect that we can expect to retain their services.
As it is, we have had to raise the pay of some of our teach- ers, during the past year, to keep them from going elsewhere, and we believe that it is advisable that they be slightly in- creased throughout all our schools.
In conclusion, we desire to thank those of our citizens who have taken an active interest in our schools; not alone by visiting them but also by the interest they are showing in the welfare of the scholars when out of school.
Too much cannot be said of the need of the parents taking the time to find out from their children what they know, or do not know. This ought not to be confined merely to an ex- amination of the report cards, but to a questioning of the child him or herself, to having it read aloud at home, or giv- ing it some examples in studies in which we ourselves may be proficient.
It is also highly essential that the child be encouraged
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and, if necessary be forced to remain at school, until it grad- uates from the High. Too often, we are sorry to say, the parents do not feel the great responsibility that rests upon them, and lets the child' decide for itself, whether or not it will go from the grammar to the High school. This is rad- ically wrong.
If we encourage our children in a more ardent desire for education, (practical if possible), if we labor with and for them, and if those of our citizens who have no children, are generous also in the financial support of our schools; then indeed will Scituate have cause to be proud in the future, and, "her children shall rise up and call her blessed."
.
Respectfully submitted,
PETER W. SHARP.
JULIA E. WEBB. CLARA M. SKEELE.
ESTIMATED APPROPRIATIONS.
Teachers,
$8,200 00
Janitors,
1,100 00
Coal and wood,
950 00
Books and apparatus,
950 00
Transportation,
4,000 00
Superintendent.
500 00
Incidentals,
450 00
$16,150 00
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CORPS OF TEACHERS.
Name, Grade and Post Office Address.
Mr. Edward R. Clarke, A. B., Principal High School, Scitu- ate.Centre.
Miss Louise Adams, A. B., Assistant High School, North Scituate.
Miss Sarah L. Bell, Commercial Dept. High School, North Scituate.
Miss Grace B. Simmons, A. B., Principal Hatherly School, North Scituate.
Miss Persie L. Merritt, Grade 6 and 7, Egypt.
Miss Lilliete C. Jenkins, Grades 4 and 5, Scituate.
Miss Sara M. Kane, Grades 2 and 3, Greenbush.
Miss Eleanor E. Curtis, Grade I, Scituate.
Mr. Albert Craigin, A. B., Principal Jenkins School, Scitu- ate.
Miss Nellie E. Adams, Grades 6 and 7, Jenkins School, Scituate.
Miss Josephine J. Barry, Grades 4 and 5, Jenkins School, Scituate.
Miss E. Gertrude Gardner, Grades 2 and 3. Jenkins School, Scituate.
Miss Mary E. Gillis, Grade I, Jenkins School, Greenbush.
Mrs. Lillie C. Stoddard, Music, North Scituate.
Miss Harriet J. Ford, Drawing, Millbrook.
STATISTICS, 1905-1906.
SCHOOL
TEACHER
Number Enrolled
Average Membership Attendance
Attendance
High.
E. R. Clarke. Principal
55
54.8
50.
91.
66
Louise Adams, Asst.
44
44
42.8
40.3
94.4
Hatherly, ..
Persie L. Merritt
38
37.7
33.7
87.8
Lilliette C. Jenkins
48
47.1
39.9
85.
66
Sara M. Kane
38
37 3
32.5
87.
6.
Bertha Bryant
29
28.7
24.4
85.
Jenkins
Alice F. Clapp, Principal
31
28.6
26.4
92.
Helen G. Robertson
47
43.2
39.4
91.
Josephine I. Barry
45
41.7
37.4
.89.
E. Gertrude Gardner
42
40.8
36.2
86.
Mary E. Gillis
29
27.4
23.5
91.
High Street, Josephine G. Ward
21
22.9
20.9
Scituate
8
Average Per Centage of
Grace B. Simmons, Principal
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Scituate School Committee :
I respectfully submit for your consideration my first an- nual report. Owing to the fact that I have served you in the capacity of Superintendent only since last May, this report will of necessity be brief and in some respects incomplete. I shall attempt to give a concise statement of conditions as I found them together with the changes that have been made this year and those I consider advisable in the near future.
The work of the schools during the past year has been uni- formly good. The untiring efforts of you as a committee and my predecessor have resulted in a graded system that is highly commendable and an excellent teaching force. That there is still much to be done to improve our school system is true but it is equally true that reforms to be effective in the best sense of the word, must come about gradually. Prof. Hanus in an address on, "School Reforms," delivered to the Superintendents of New England, said : "More conservative- ly but more." I believe that has been your attitude as a committee in the past and will continue to be in the future.
The vacancies caused by the resignation of Miss Clapp, Miss Robertson and Miss Bryant have been filled by Mr. Albert Craigin, Miss Nellie Adams and Miss Eleanor Curtis respectively.
Courses of Study-
A course of study should be a matter of growth. It should be modified from time to time to meet new condi- tions as they arise. A course of study so inflexible as to prevent its adaptation to conditions is a hindrance rather
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than a benefit. No attempt has been made to introduce a new course of study, but certain modifications have been made in the one we already have. The course in reading has been changed by the introduction, in the first grade, of the Ward System of reading. The Ward method consists of a combination of the best features of the word and sen- tence method and the phonetic method. The present first grade will continue the same line of work in reading in the second and so on up through all the grades this preventing the breaks in the development of the work that comes from changing from one teacher to another where no method is employed.
One of the chief purposes of the school should be to de- velop power and ability to read and appreciate good litera- ture. The early processes in teaching reading must be care- fully considered by every teacher; much of what is some times considered mechanical in the early training of the child can be made interesting by a careful and thoughtful teacher. The child delights in a story and under skillful direction will assimilate the elements that have the slightest parallel in his own experience. Without assistance very little attempt is
made by young pupils interpretation. Interest must be aroused and experience interpreted by the aid of the teacher.
In the grammar grades there is a great opportunity to establish a taste for good literature in our public schools. This can be done by enriching our reading course so that our pupils, instead of reading from one text book, may have a number of complete short stories from the best authors placed at their disposal. Thus the authors in whose master- pieces are found the clearest pictures of life and the most ac- curate expressions of truth, are introduced to the pupils at an age when they are most susceptible to impressions. I would respectfully urge that this phase of our school work have your most careful consideration.
In the Hatherly Schools certain modifications have been
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made in the work in Arithmetic and Geography which seemed advisable to meet conditions until the courses in those subjects could be revised somewhat.
Methods of Promotion-
The function of the public school is to train youth into social efficiency and not merely the acquisition of facts. The question that confronts us is, how may the highest de- gree of intellectual vigor be secured? When determining whether a pupil shall be promoted or not, one should take into consideration the ability of the pupil to solve new prob- lems for himself as well as his ability to pass a certain requir- ed per cent. in the' subjects he has taken during the year. In our elementary work even greater stress should be placed up- on mental development than mere acquisition of facts. The results obtained from any one set of examination papers de- termine neither the intellectual status of a child nor his abili- ty to do the work in the grade above. These facts can only be obtained by a careful estimate on the part of teachers and superintendent of the daily work of the child and his power of application together with a series of short tests (both oral and written) given at short intervals. The object of these tests should be not merely to ascertain how much the pupil knows of the subject but also to ascertain where his weak points are before it is too late to strengthen them. Instead of tests given at the end of the term by the superintendent, I would recommend that the above plan be adopted.
The High School-
A commercial course has been added to the High School this year. By means of this course our pupils are enabled to obtain at home a good, practical knowledge of business methods. The course has been made sufficiently difficult to prevent its becoming what is commonly termed a "snap" course and yet not so difficult as to make it in any way im- practical. The commercial colleges advertise a complete busi-
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