USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1910-1912 > Part 5
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Dec. 30 Service maintenance . 2 50
Dec. 30. Pumping station, maintenance 15 00
$27,284 42
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1910
Julia Elizabeth webb
JULIA ELIZABETH VINAL WAS BORN IN SCITUATE, JULY 15, 1839, AND DIED MARCH 27, 1910. :
SHE WAS EDUCATED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THIS TOWN AND AT MOUNT WASHINGTON SEMI- NARY, SOUTH BOSTON. SHE MARRIED GEORGE H. WEBB, MAY 22, 1877.
SHE WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN 1880 AND SERVED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THIRTY YEARS. DURING EIGHT YEARS OF THIS PERIOD SHE WAS SECRETARY, AND FOR THE LAST TWENTY- TWO, CHAIRMAN.
MRS. WEBB WAS A WOMAN OF INDIVIDUALITY AND WITH A CAPACITY FOR PUBLIC LIFE. HERS IS A REMEMBRANCE WHICH WILL NOT PASS AWAY. HER NAME REPRESENTS UNSELFISH EFFORT IN STRENGTHENING THE SCHOOLS OF HER NATIVE TOWN FOR A GENERATION.
105
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Frederick B. Noyes, A.B. (Harvard), Chairman, term expires 1913.
Clara M. Skeele, A.B. (Wellesley), Secretary, term expires 1911. Peter W. Sharp, Treasurer, term expires 1912.
SUB-COMMITTEES
Text-Books and Supplies, Peter W. Sharp.
Repairs and Maintenance, Frederick B. Noyes.
Regular meetings of the School Committee on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30 P.M.
TRUANT OFFICERS John F. Turner, Caleb W. Prouty.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN William P. Grovestein, M.D.
TEACHING AND SUPERVISION
William E. Chaffin, A.M. (Dartmouth), Superintendent.
HIGH SCHOOL
W. J. B. MacDougald, A.B. (Bowdoin), principal. Louise Adams, A.B. (Boston University), Latin, French and German Department (on leave of absence).
Lillian E. Wier, A.B. (Radcliffe), Latin, French and German Department (substitute).
Georgianna K. Fiske, A.B. (Wellesley), English and History. Rose Bernard, A.B. (Tufts), Commercial Department.
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JENKINS SCHOOL
Sarah L. Meigs, principal.
Nellie E. Adams, grades 7 and 6.
Josephine I. Barry, grades 5 and 4.
E. Gertrude Gardner, grades 3 and 2. Mary E. Gillis, grade 1.
HATHERLY SCHOOL
Grace B. Simmons, principal.
Ella S. Knight, grades 7 and 6.
Lilliette C. Jenkins, grades 5 and 4.
Sarah M. Kane, grades 3 and 2.
Eleanor E. Curtis, grade 1.
HIGH STREET, UNGRADED
Josephine G. Ward.
Lillie C. Stoddard, Instructor in Music (on leave of absence).
Harriet J. Ford, Instructor in Drawing.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter Term
Commences January 2 Closes March 31
Spring Term
Commences April 10
Closes June 23
Fall Term
Commences September 5 Closes December 20-
Holidays
Washington's Birthday, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
107
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Inhabitants of Scituate:
Few town officers face more interesting and more perplexing problems than those entrusted with educational administra- tion. The up-keep of buildings, the control of text-books and supplies, the appeals for extension of the transportation service, and the demands for advance in salaries, all call for careful handling. The responsibility has been divided the past year. Miss Skeele has exercised a guiding policy over the course of study; Mr. Sharp has purchased books and supplies, and the Chairman has had charge of the buildings.
Bills incurred by the Committee of 1909 have come to the present Committee as a legacy, which has drawn heavily upon the present year's appropriation, which was one thousand dollars less than that of 1909. In spite of this double handi- cap, by proper business methods and strict economy we have kept within the appropriation, and report an unexpended balance of $1,097.43. We can also state that we close our year with no outstanding bills.
. Seldom, if ever, has the school property been in such good condition as it is today. The excellent care of the janitors should receive commendation. The furnaces at the Jenkins School have been overhauled and reconstructed; black- boards added and new bell batteries installed at the High School. Part of the plumbing has been replaced, and changes in entrances and exits in all the buildings have been made, ¿by order of the State District Police. We have confidence that nothing has been left undone tending to protect the pupils in case of fire or panic. Floors have been oiled, ceilings and walls cleaned and put in good repair. Dirt and disease are twin brothers.
.. The town made a special appropriation for steel ceilings and storm porches of $700. The first alteration was so made
108
as to beautify the interior of the Hatherly building. After careful inspection and expert advice from one of our own architects, we were able to effect the second alteration by other means than by porches. We report on these two alterations an unexpended balance of $505.
The Jenkins building was originally so well built that the annual charge for repairs is small. The Hatherly building, on the other hand, has so many structural defects that the town will, doubtless, be called upon every year to make good crumbling masonry and shrinking woodwork. There is need of a small expenditure for reflashing a portion of the Jenkins School roof. There is need for a larger expenditure at the Hatherly building for pointing and relaying foundation wall and for grading to protect the same. Many leaks must also be repaired. The largest item in maintenance will be forty new desks for the two buildings.
We take occasion to remind the town of a forgotten asset, the beautiful park-like surroundings of our school buildings. We often visit those in other towns, framed in nothing but gravel.
In addition to the ever-increasing duties of your Committee, by vote of the town it was appointed a building committee for the High School alteration. The Committee demurred in starting the improvements until time and an adequate appropriation should enable it to push the work. Hamlet's ghost will not down, however, and the town still faces a building problem. The question is now pending, and must be met at the coming March meeting by definite action and an appropriation. It has been the practice of Scituate to appoint a building committee, and the town will be asked to continue this practice.
We feel that the sentiment of the town supports us in the following outline. A new and modern building similar to that built five years ago by the town of Barnstable at Hyannis. The building cost $12,621 exclusive of furniture
109
and land. Convenience, educational needs and economy were all closely studied in the planning of this building. Further additions could be made to such a structure most satisfactorily.
School boards compete like pirates for the successful teacher. Your Committee has been alive to this situation and "points with pride" to its solution of this problem. Scituate ranks fourth in Plymouth County in average wages paid teachers. This fact will enable the town to meet the keenest competition. The policy of Scituate has been to keep teachers who wear well, and this is the only theory of "permanent tenure" that is admissible. Nothing wears but manhood and womanhood.
As regards transportation, we now have a good thing and do not know it. Scituate ranks first among all the towns in the county in this respect. But the universal lack of appre- ciation and the down-pulling force of everlasting criticism have left their mark on the efficiency of the present service.
The Superintendent's report deals in detail with the educa- tional side. We may sum up our interpretation of the financial side of Scituate's school problem. Expenditures have shown an increase in text-books, supplies and sundries, and a decrease in repairs and maintenance of buildings and in transportation.
The percentage of the total school expense to the valuation of the town, that is, the rate of school tax levied on each dollar of assessed property, is 4-10 per cent. This places Scituate about midway in the list of three hundred and fifty- four cities and towns in the State. The expense per pupil, on the other hand, places Scituate fifteenth in the list. Our appropriation is not extravagant compared with our valua- tion, but we are near the top in the amount expended per child.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK B. NOYES. CLARA M. SKEELE. PETER W. SHARP.
110
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
In conformity with the custom that has been adopted by a large number of towns in the State, the School Committee voted in January, 1910, to elect one of their members as Treas- urer of the School Committee, and to draw their own orders direct on the Town Treasurer, instead of, as heretofore, sending their bills to the Selectmen. By adopting this system it simplified the accounting of the School Department, and made it possible for the Committee to have ready access to all the original vouchers and accounts. As it was in the past, if it were necessary to look up any particular item or bills, the Selectmen had to go over their accounts, which entailed extra work and some delay. All vouchers or orders drawn by the School Treasurer are countersigned by the Chairman, and each states the appropriation on which it is drawn.
This system was first considered five years ago; but as there was some doubt as to its legality, it was not adopted.
The Attorney-General for the State gave the State Board of Education a ruling or opinion that school committees could draw their own orders on the Town Treasurer, regardless of any town by-law or vote of the town. The by-laws of Scituate, however, do not state that all orders shall be drawn by the Selectmen, so in accordance with the vote of the Committee, it went into effect in March, 1910.
In presenting the report I would draw attention to the amounts which cover 1909 purchases. The total is $382.14. These should have been paid out of the 1909 appropriation ; if they had, there would have been a deficit of $158.73 instead of a balance on hand of $223.41, as shown in last year's Town Report. This year, to the best of our knowledge, there are no outstanding bills, and our balance is $1,097.43.
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In the matter of purchasing books and supplies we have endeavored to be as economical as possible. Teachers must have material in order to accomplish results. A workman without proper tools is of no use. There is, however, a differ- ence in workmen, and there is a like difference in scholars and teachers. If children are taught economy at home they will be apt to practise it at school, especially with the teacher's assistance.
Our expense per scholar for books and supplies averages $2.27; Hingham, $2.00; and Cohasset, $2.12. If we deduct the amount paid this year for 1909 purchases, the average would have been only $1.59 per pupil.
PETER W. SHARP,
Treasurer and Purchasing Agent.
SALARIES
Appropriation .
$12,043 46
Disbursements:
Wm. E. Chaffin $546 62
W. J. B. MacDougald.
1,195 00
Louise Adams .
585 00
Helen S. Woodfin
406 25
Georgianna Fiske
576 26
Lillian E. Wier
280 00
Rose Bernard
240 00
Grace B. Simmons
840 00
Ella E. Knight
577 50
L. C. Jenkins
523 75
Sara M. Kane
525 00
Eleanor E. Curtis
462 00
Josephine G. Ward 525 00
Sarah L. Meigs
815 00
Nellie E. Adams
577 50
Josephine I. Barry
525 00
112
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
To the Board of Health:
This year there have been twenty-one licenses granted, leaving the number the same as last year, but two new names have been added, while two did not renew, having given up the business.
It is with regret I have to call the attention of some to their delay in presenting their application and it is hoped that another year will see them more prompt.
The general supply has been good and what samples I have tested have been found of good quality.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS H. FARMER, Milk Inspector.
1
113
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Board of Health:
The plumbing ordinances for the town went into effect June 1, 1910, which necessitated the appointment of a Plumbing Inspector, and having been so appointed by your Board, I wish to report that since the above date, besides inquiring into many proposed changes, 95 jobs have been examined, all of which have been given a water test satis- factory to the Inspector.
While perhaps to many it may seem unnecessary for the town to go to any expense as to plumbing, I am sure that the quality of work has been improved by so doing, especially throughout the summer colonies. Many times the owners of houses were satisfied with very crude and unsanitary plumbing arrangements, cesspools especially were neglected, in some cases no more than a barrel being set in the ground with sink and water closets draining to same, without proper traps or ventilation. Although our plumbing rules are not stringent, they at present seem to meet all require- ments, as none but licensed plumbers are allowed to do work within the town limits, and then only to the approval of the Inspector.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. WATERMAN,
Inspector of Plumbing.
114
Frank Cook
$573 85
Wiley S. Damon 3 90
$896 26
$896 26
PRINTING AND STATIONERY
Appropriation .
$61 49
Bound Brook Press.
$42 09
Hill, Smith & Co.
5 35
H. Dangel & Co. .
10 75
T. E. Thompson .
1 50
H. M. Weigel
1 80
$61 49
$61 49
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Appropriation .
$647 79
F. T. Bailey & Co.
$151 66
L. J. Studley
9 06
Edw. Nichols, Arch.
187 12
C. G. Everett
2 55
Gurney Heater Mfg. Co.
33 46
Robert F. Leighton
20 00
Thos. F. Bailey & Son
14 91
Harvey Curtis
17 58
Geo. F. Welch
25 90
L. F. Hyland
3 50
E. R. Seaverns
182 05
$647 79
$647 79
MISCELLANEOUS
Appropriation .
$397 66
So. Mass. Tel. Co., Chaffin $21 32
So. Mass. Tel. Co., Noyes 10 90
115
So. Mass. Tel. Co., Sharp 1 $11 11
So. Mass. Tel. Co., Jenkins 1 40
Sulpho-Napthol Co. 7 50
W. E. Chaffin, postage and expenses 8 00
Walter T. Newcomb, express
60
M. G. Seaverns & Co., sundry supplies 16 23
C. H. Eastman, team 4 00
Harriet J. Ford, express
60
Masury, Young & Co., disinfectant
5 25
Jos. Breck & Sons, brushes
5 88
P. W. Sharp, express . 1 93
C. H. Batchelder & Co., flag
2 28
Beale Press, plate
60 00
Beale Press, diplomas.
24 36
Bayfield Shop, sharpening lawn mower 1 25
Waldo Litchfield, cleaning vault .
3 00
Geo. F. Welch, sundries
26 00
Galen Watson, repairing clock .
1 50
Wm. Read & Son, repairing wheel
2 50
Jas. Litchfield, cleaning cesspool . 15 00
Stone & Forsyth, toilet paper
7 00
W. W. Manson, cleaning cesspool . 10 00
C. M. Litchfield, expressing
2 55
A. E. Burton & Co., brushes
2 50
C. M. Skeele, postage and expenses. .4 25
Jordan Marsh Co., towels
1 50
L. F. Hyland, teams .
6 00
P. W. Sharp, expenses 32 51
30 05
Harriet Noyes, taking census 25 00
S. C. Webster, express
10 55
F. B. Noyes, expenses
S. C. Webster, express, 1909 5 74
Louise Adams, sundries 2 40
116
C. W. Prouty, truant officer, 1909
$15 00
J. F. Turner, truant officer, 1909
12 00
$397 66
$397 66
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION, HATHERLY SCHOOL FIRE ESCAPES AND DRIVEWAY
Appropriation .
$200 00
T. F. Bailey & Son
$12 95
Unexpended balance
187 05
$200 00
$200 00
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS Receipts
Balance, Jan. 1, 1910
$223 41
General appropriation
14,000 00
Transportation
4,000 00
School Committee
250 00
Special, Hatherly
200 00
Public buildings
647 79
County Treasurer, dog fund
407 54
State tuition
97 00
P. W. Sharp, Treasurer, tel. tolls
80
Broken window
20
Damaged books
1 25
American Book Co., credit. 22 60
E. E. Babb Co., credit 3 33
$19,853 92
Payments
By salaries
$12,043 46
Fuel
896 26
Transportation
3,301 75
School Committee
250 00
Special appropriation
12 95
117
Public buildings
$647 79
Printing and stationery
61 49
Books and supplies
1,145 13
Miscellaneous
397 66
$18,756 49
Balance
1,097 43
$19,853 92
Respectfully submitted,
PETER W. SHARP, Treasurer.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee:
In accordance with your regulations I herewith submit my second annual report. During the year reported for the schools have continued their work without interruption by epidemic disease or other serious disturbance.
School census statistics vary but little from those of last year. While the total enrollment for the year is slightly less than for last year, the table of enrollment by grades recently taken for the current year shows a slight increase in total enrollment over that given in a like table in the previous report. While school statistics on the whole indicate neither a tendency to increase nor decrease in numbers at present, the population of Scituate, census of 1910, shows a decrease of one hundred and fifteen from that of 1900.
There has been a slight gain in the percentage of attendance for the year. We hope for a more decided improvement the current year, as we are still much below the State average. With the present system of transportation our percentage should be materially above the average for the State. The subject of attendance was mentioned in the report of last year, and it would not be alluded to at his time were it not realized that its importance merits the attention of all interested in the schools. Irregular attendance results in a loss of that school spirit which is so essential to the best school work.
GRADE WORK
The work of the grades continues along lines mentioned in the last report. Certain weaknesses were then noticed, and continued effort is being made to strengthen the work at these points. Among other things the necessity of improving the work in the fundamental operations in arithmetic and in the
119
reading of the higher grades was then mentioned. The follow- ing from the recently issued course of study for the schools of Boston indicates that other school systems recognize the importance of this work: "This course of study rests upon the belief that arithmetic teaching should aim to train children to an automatic reaction to number facts, and to a high degree of facility in the use of fundamental opera- tions, to the end that intelligent and skillful application of abstract numbers may be made to practical problems of everyday life." Also the following: "It should be un- necessary to spend time on the mechanics of reading in the eighth grade; time should be given, therefore, to training the pupils to express orally the finest passages in the litera- ture lesson. Happily, the right teaching of the oral reading of such passages subserves the higher purposes of all reading, . increasing the ability to take in the sense and sentiment and to feel their force. To express a noble thought nobly and sincerely is a great spiritual experience. When such an experience is realized, the supreme purpose of the reading lesson is attained, for genuine warmth of feeling for what is pure and good results in the creation of high ideals, and the possession of high ideals is the first step towards the formation of character. Good reading, then, is an accom- plishment worthy of earnest cultivation. 'Of equal honor with him who writes a grand poem is he who reads it grandly,' Longfellow has said; and Emerson, 'A good reader sum- mons the mighty dead from their tombs and makes them speak to us.'"
· While we are earnestly and hopefully striving to improve the work in the so-called three R's, to raise the standard of attendance and to maintain such discipline as will result in good character building, we are mindful of the fact that we are nearing a period of change in the courses of study. In the past the aim of the primary teacher has been to fit her pupils for the grammar school, the grammar school teacher
120
to fit pupils for the high, and the high school teacher to fit pupils for college.
The academic standard of the schools of the past has been fairly good, but the pupils who have completed their schooling at the end of the grammar or high school course have left school entirely unfitted to do their part of the world's work; that is, they have not been trained to do any kind of useful work. The world is calling more loudly each year for skilled workers. The school of the future will not only be required to improve upon the academic standards of the past, but will have also to train pupils for industrial efficiency.
Many schools in this and other States are now meeting this demand for industrial work, and the time is coming when all school systems will be required to meet it. Mr. Warren has a most instructive article on the rural school in the latest report of the State Board of Education, from which ' the following is taken: "Some attempts are being made to meet these new demands upon the school. At Hinsdale, a town of 1,452 inhabitants, a school population of 255, a valuation of $584,668, and a school tax of $7.02 a thousand, agriculture, the use and care of tools, cooking and sewing have been taught to the children in the grades in the four-room building at the Center. A special study of the potato, and the soil and fertilizers adapted to its growth, was made in the school garden. The formalin solution was used to destroy scab, and the vines were sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture to prevent blight and assure the con- tinued growth which means a large yield. Text-books and bulletins from the national and State agricultural depart- ments were at hand and eagerly read by the pupils. The boys learned and used about all the knowledge existing on the subject of potato raising. Radishes were put up in bunches, lettuce heads were boxed, and other vegetables were prepared for market in the most approved manner.
121
The vegetables were sold, bills rendered, collected and re- ceipted. Letters relating to fertilizers and other matters connected with the school garden were written and sent through the mails. These boys, in the pursuit of agriculture, did the kind of work done by the students in the best high schools of commerce. The girls had very practical courses in sewing and cooking." The foregoing gives some idea of one of the many different kinds of industrial work that are now being taken up by schools in this country. The people of Scituate may not at present wish to afford time for industrial work in the schools, but a few books on agriculture, garden- ing and industrial work might well be furnished to the grammar schools as a nucleus of scientific libraries. Home gardening might well be encouraged by the schools.
Domestic science for the girls is a subject that is deserving of consideration.
Such subjects would not only furnish valuable practical training, but would dignify work and give young people a different attitude towards those who labor.
Some of our grade teachers have made a beginning in industrial work. They have received little support and some adverse criticism in so doing. In the end the schools can teach only such subjects as are approved of by the people. It is with the hope that industrial work may receive consideration that the subject has been taken up at this time.
TEACHERS
According to the returns we have but one normal graduate on the teaching force. Scituate pays enough to secure normally trained teachers. The other two towns of this district each have a much larger percentage of normally trained teachers than Scituate, though paying smaller salaries. If the girls who go through our schools wish to devote them- selves to teaching it would be better for them, as well as the schools, if they fitted themselves for their profession
122
before applying for a school. I would recommend that in filling future vacancies in the grades only normal graduates or teachers of successful experience be considered. In ad- vising this I cast no reflection on the present corps of teachers. Our teachers at present are all experienced teachers, have worked loyally and well and are deserving only of com- mendation.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM E. CHAFFIN.
123
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT
MR. W. E. CHAFFIN,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir: I herewith submit to you my second annual report of conditions in the Scituate High School.
The enrollment of the school at the beginning of the fall term was ninety-one. The large entering class of thirty- four crowded the building to its limits.
The attendance during the year has been very good, con- sidering the long distances that many have to come.
During the fall term a debating society was organized, comprising the whole school. Debates have been held weekly. Although the society is young the work has been quite successful. Our greatest difficulty has been to obtain books of reference and magazines with material for debate. As a part of the work of this society we plan to have some practice in parliamentary law, that the pupil may know something about the conduct of organized meetings.
Although considerable gain has been made in the matter of home study, we feel that better results would be obtained if the pupils had a regular study period at home each day. It is impossible for a pupil to do satisfactory work without, at least, two hours of home work. As our school closes at two-thirty, it does not seem unreasonable to ask this. If this study is made the regular business of the pupil, it will make him systematic and will teach him habits of industry that will be very valuable in the future.
Changes in the course of study could be made, but it does not seem wise to do so until the building is improved. The course should then be entirely revised to meet the needs of this particular locality. I would suggest that the course in Algebra be started in the High School rather than in the
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