USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1913-1915 > Part 17
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Since the report of last year, we have had the following changes in the teaching force.
At the close of the school year Miss May B. Clutterbuck resigned her position in the Hatherly school and Miss Blanche Hinds resigned from the Jenkins school. On account of her excellent work at the High Street school, Miss Marion Hammond was promoted to the vacancy at the Jenkins school. Miss Helen M. Webb of Boston was chosen to fill the position left vacant at the Hatherly.
Miss Marie Ward, a graduate of the Scituate High School, who has had three years of successful experience in teaching in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, was chosen to fill the vacancy at High Street, caused by the promotion of Miss Hammond.
We are fortunate in having no other vacancies to report.
The percentage of attendance for the year is again above the average reported for the state. This is in no small measure due to the faithful attention the teachers have given to the matter. Credit should also be given to the attendance officers, who have been prompt and efficient in responding to all calls made upon them.
In the school report of eight years ago the committee were devising ways and means for remedying the crowded condition at the Hatherly school and suggested that either one or two rooms be added or that a school building be located near Conihasset Hall. At that time there were 196 pupils at the Hatherly building; at present there are but 184. The largest number of pupils in any room is 44,
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Report of School Superintendent
which is less than the average number per school room for the state. The average number per room in the Hatherly School at present is less than 37 pupils. The average number of pupils per teacher for the Town is 32, which approaches the ideal number for class work.
While the number in the grades is less than was the case eight years ago, the number in the High School is more. That is we are having a larger attendance at the High School with a less number of pupils to draw from. This taken with the following is somewhat significant.
Eight years ago there were three changes reported in the teaching force of four at the High School. For more than two years there has been no change in the teaching force at the High School. There have been no added courses to hold pupils in school. It would therefore seem that the increased efficiency of the teaching force is such as to hold the interest of a larger percentage of the pupils and that this is resulting in more pupils remaining to complete the courses and graduate. This improved condition at the High School is directly owing to the increase in salaries paid to teachers.
It may be asked, can the Town of Scituate well afford this increase? The following taken from the latest report of the State Board of Education indicates the answer: Amount appropriated to the support of public schools for each thousand dollars of valuation by the Town of Scituate, $3.25. Average for the towns and cities of the state $4.54. This item was given in my report of two years ago. The foregoing shows an increase for the state and a decrease for the Town of Scituate as compared with two years ago. The cost of education is steadily increasing throughout the country. Since the town report of 1913, the state average annual cost per pupil in the public schools has increased $2.41, in Cohasset it has increased $5.77, in Scituate the increase is but $0.47.
Though much below Cohasset in this item we are still above the average cost for the state. This is caused by the fact that our cost for transportation is an average of
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Report of School Superintendent
$8.00 per pupil for the entire average membership of the schools, while the state average is but 81 cents per pupil. The population of Scituate is so widely scattered that this item, large as it is, will have to be increased rather than diminished if we are to maintain a modern system of schools.
Our low average of 32 pupils per teacher is also more expensive than would be the case had we fewer teachers, and the state average of 44 pupils per room with its inevitable accompaniment of several rooms with 50 or more pupils. We are fortunate in having a low average per room as it affords opportunity for much more thorough instruction than would be possible with the larger number of pupils per teacher.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
The work of the High School is approved by the State Board of Education and by the New England College Entrance Certificate Board, and under the same corps of teachers as reported last year continues to improve. There is however a chance for further improvement. Some of the pupils are hardly maintaining a standard of work and industry that we should require in our High School. The parents of pupils whose report cards do not indicate a desirable standard of efficiency should consult the principal and co-operate with the teachers to secure better results.
The average annual cost per pupil in the Scituate High School is $57.54. The average for the High Schools of the state is $68.45. The High School is doing commendable work and at comparatively low cost. It could do much better work in a much better building. In fact the present building is absolutely unworthy of the Town of Scituate. For further information concerning the High School, you are referred to the report of the principal.
THE MANUAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM
This problem was discussed in the report of last year, to which the reader is referred. Since that time the State Board of Education has been devoting much attention to this field of work. The following is quoted from the latest
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Report of School Superintendent
state report: "Educators generally are convinced that the elementary education of the future should be rich in practical arts studies. Nevertheless there still exists the utmost confusion both as to aims and as to methods of instruction in these fields. The entire situation is still in the experimental stage. In the upper grades and in the High School it may be expected that these subjects will be in charge of departmental teachers, a man for the boys' subjects and a woman for the girls' subjects. Until aims are more clearly defined it will be difficult for the normal schools themselves to decide how extensive shall be the scope of practical arts teaching in the upper grades."
A wide study of the problem simmers it down to this: Educators generally are striving to reach the necessary balance between mental activity and physical activity in the schools. The following brief extract from the letter of an alert business man has reference to this balance: "As an employer, I would rather have a boy with honest intentions, with a country school education, a boy in whom the habits of industry have been instilled by good hard work doing chores on the farm in connection with his education, than hire the advanced High School boy with his mental faculties only equipped, his physical faculties never having been given a chance."
At present little vocational efficiency is claimed as result of industrial studies in the grades and in High Schools. It is likely to be a long time before the state will have anything definite, practical and valuable to offer us along these lines.
Feeling the importance of developing the habit of physical industry and realizing that with our High School problem and other matters pending, departmental instruction for : this work is in the distance, I would recommend that school credits be given for home work properly certified to, this to apply to pupils in the higher grammar grades and in the High School.
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Report of School Superintendent
TRANSPORTATION
The transportation question, always an important problem with us, has at all times received the careful and judicious attention of the school board, and those who have been allotted the transportation of pupils have as a whole been faithful and efficient in the discharge of their duties. This will be realized more fully from the following extract from the State Board of Education, at the same time realizing that Scituate has about eight times as much transportation as the average in the towns and cities of the state per capita of school population:
"The problems of providing conveyance for children to consolidated schools make large demands on the time and judgment of school committees and superintendents of schools. To satisfy parents, and at the same time give due regard to the interests of tax payers, involves a careful consideration of many perplexing conditions.
"The problem has been worked out in many ways. In some cases school committees furnish conveyance for children from their homes to the school buildings, while in other cases a route is established and children walk from their homes to the nearest point where the barge passes. In some towns only children living at a greater distance than one and one-half miles from the schoolhouse are conveyed. while in another the minimum distance is two miles.
" It is clear that much dissatisfaction with conditions and methods of conveyance exists throughout the state. In every community special cases will continue to arise which cannot be adjusted to exact conformity to any rules and regulations and which will require special consideration."
PLAYGROUNDS AND EQUIPMENT
"Work, play, love, and worship" are set down as the chief essentials in a human being's existence by Dr. Richard C. Cabot in his recent book, "What Men Live By." That the country at large is fast coming to realize the vital importance of play is evidenced by the fact that in American cities
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Report of School Superintendent
today there are more than eight times the number of equipped playgrounds than there were eight years ago.
The two following quotations are selected from many of like import from prominent men and educators, who have given this subject attention:
"The thing that most needs to be understood about play is that it is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is not simply something that a child likes to have; it is something he must have if he is ever to grow up. It is more than an essential part of his education, it is an essential part of the law of his growth, of the process by which he becomes a man at all."- Joseph Lee.
"I hope that soon all our Public Schools will provide in connection with the school buildings and during school hours the place and time for the recreation as well as the study of the children."-Theodore Roosevelt.
It has been said that we are not at present in a favorable position to experiment with industrial education. We could however well afford to equip our school grounds with suitable gymnastic apparatus for use at recess, after school and during vacation. We could begin with a modest equipment and add to it each year until we have modern school playgrounds that would be a credit to the Town.
IN CONCLUSION
There has been but slight change in the course of studies and little remains to be said. We are however still striving for further improvement in the traditional branches. Reading and oral English are at present receiving special attention. It would seem an easy matter for all teachers to require pupils in reading to stand in the aisle, clear of the desk, hold the book properly and read distinctly, with clear- cut enunciation and good expression, in a natural tone of voice, and so as to interpret the thought of the author. Some teachers succeed in doing this, but indications are that it would be difficult to find any school system where all the teachers succeeded in so doing.
Also it would seem easy to require pupils in oral recitation
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Report of School Superintendent
to recite in complete sentences, using good English and good articulation, so as to be easily understood. It is however easy to find rooms where there is still much chance for improvement in this respect.
The discipline and atmosphere of the schoolroom should be such as to develop cheerful obedience to those in authority, a kindly regard for the rights and feelings of others, faithful attention to duty, and the habit of industry. Ex-Governor Walsh at a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Teachers' Association well said that the chief function of the public schools is to develop better and more efficient citizens and that all other things are but incidental. In Scituate we are striving to keep the discipline, the drill and the general school environment such as to improve the standard of citizenship.
In closing, attention is called to the special reports, the school calendar and other data in the appendix.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM E. CHAFFIN, Superintendent of Schools.
136
Report of High School
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
MR. W. E. CHAFFIN,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir: In accordance with the custom of previous years, I herewith submit my annual report of the High School.
For the first time in the history of the school, a paper was published by the students. We believe it has been a credit to the school. The paper is to be edited three times this year, and it is hoped that it will convey to the citizens of the Town what is being done at the school.
In June, eleven were graduated from the school. The graduating exercises were the best held since I have been Principal and they speak well for the work done by the pupils during their High School course.
At the opening of school in September, there was a total enrollment of ninety-six, including an entering class of twenty-six, of which one was to repeat first year work.
Your Committee should feel no small amount of satis- faction in being able to retain all of the teaching force of the High School, for they thus secured a corps of teachers among whom there is perfect harmony, an element absolutely essential for the best work in any school.
The debating society was reorganized and officers elected. Debates that are a great credit to the school are being given and they should command the attention of the townspeople. This year the first subject discussed was: "Resolved that the United States should increase its army and navy." The question was argued in a most convincing manner and should show how much may be accomplished along that line. We earnestly wish that the parents and friends would make a special effort to attend these debates. They would not only be benefited thereby, but also by their
137
Report of High School
presence they would give encouragement to the speakers. Debates take place at 1.50 P. M. each Friday. You will be welcomed.
In accordance with the recommendations made by the State Board of Education, the High School is offering the usual college preparatory subjects, and so far as the finances of the school permit and the demands justify, courses are being offered in music, drawing and commercial subjects. It may be of interest to the citizens of the Town to read the following letter:
TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL,
Scituate, Mass.
Dear Sir: It gives me pleasure to inform you that your school has been approved by the New England College Entrance Certificate Board for three years, until De- cember 31, 1918.
Yours truly, FRANK W. NICHOLSON, Secretary of the Board.
The deportment and morale of the school during my principalship has never been better than it is at the present time.
Our greatest handicap is the present High School building. It is a disgrace to a progressive town like Scituate to have such a building which is inadequate in every way. The crowded condition, the poor ventilating system and the fact that there is no office for the Principal, or room for one, where it would be possible to talk privately with visitors or with parents in regard to a pupil's work, are arguments for a new High School. In September and October, in fact until cold weather comes, the sanitary condition, caused by the flies, is repulsive, and it is my opinion that any board of health would condemn such conditions and would recommend that some definite action should be taken immediately to overcome them.
Respectfully submitted,
GUY W. VAIL, Principal, Scituate High School.
138
Report of Supervisor of Drawing
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
MR. W. E. CHAFFIN,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir: Two exhibits of drawings given at Scituate last Spring, in which every grade was represented except the first, demonstrated very plainly what excellent material we have to work with in the Scituate public schools,-water colors of nature work, practical lettering completed in ink; blackboard drawings,-taking in all lines, and architectural details drawn to scale, were very well handled indeed, the High School and upper grades of the Hatherly school leading all others for their efficient manner of doing things.
At the High School two of our workers lettered in the names of graduates on their diplomas, which had been done previously by professional workers in the city. This work done in "Old English," and a most difficult letter to manage, was put through most creditably, with the result of securing the work in two other towns. Paid work done by school workers and handled in a way to give better satisfaction than most professional work proves the value of vocational work, of which we hope to do much and make . it a special feature.
With sincere appreciation of your school officials' and teachers' help, I remain,
Respectfully yours, SAMUEL WARNER.
139
Report of School Physician
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the Scituate School Committee:
As requested by your chairman I tender my report as School Physician for the year.
I wish it were possible to impress on parents and guardians of pupils the importance of their co-operating with the School Physician, and secure prompt medical, surgical or dental relief where so advised.
It is discouraging to report the same pupils every year with no attention. In cases where the parents have taken advantage of this notice to secure relief, the improvement in health and mental ability has been very gratifying.
The High School pupils have been much annoyed by flies during the fall term. If it is not by screening the building, would suggest the installation of receptacles for collecting the remains of lunches, and oblige pupils to use them. The building of a coal bin in the cellar of the High School similar to the one in the Jenkins School would help keep the cellar more free from dust, the presence of which seems to be one of the troubles at present; also would suggest the picture frames and walls receive a good washing.
In most of the schools the heat, light and ventilation is excellent. The flagrant exception however being the High School, there being many more pupils than the cubic dimensions of the room can support even with the most approved methods of ventilation.
I wish to thank the Committee for the first aid to the injured outfit placed in the Hatherly school; it has been found useful in a number of instances. I would further request the installment of like outfits in the Jenkins and High Schools.
The health of the school has been marred by an epidemic of whooping cough among the pupils of the Jenkins School. The first three grades suffering the most severely. There were a number of cases however in the fourth and fifth grades.
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Report of School Physician
I have examined 480 pupils and have found 121 defective.
Of the total number of pupils only about ten per cent have been vaccinated.
I wish to thank the School Committee and teachers, for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
T. B. ALEXANDER, School Physician.
141
Reports of Truant Officers
TRUANT OFFICERS' REPORTS
To the School Committee:
I wish to report that I have attended to all cases of truancy which have been called to my attention during the year.
JOHN F. TURNER, Truant Officer.
December 31, 1915.
To the School Committee:
I wish to report that I have attended to all cases of truancy which have been called to my attention during the year.
ELMER F. BURROWS, Truant Officer.
December 31, 1915.
142
Graduating Exercises
"CARPE DIEM"
GRADUATING EXERCISES
OF THE
CLASS OF 1915
SCITUATE HIGH SCHOOL
TOWN HALL Friday Evening, June 25 At 8 o'clock
PROGRAM
MUSIC Orchestra
INVOCATION . Rev. B. Z. Stambaugh
SALUTATORY Frederic Torrey Waterman
MUSIC BY THE SCHOOL, "Away to the Woods," Wilson CLASS HISTORY . . Geneva Metcalf Given
HISTORY OF SCITUATE Rena Lois Damon
THE PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION, Arthur Wendell Damon MUSIC BY THE SCHOOL, "The Nights". . Roberti
CLASS PROPHECY . Florence Gertrude Newcomb THE MILITARY PROBLEM OF THE UNITED STATES
Edward Francis Ward
MUSIC BY THE SCHOOL, "Oh, Lovely Night". Hills
PRESENTATION OF CLASS GIFT. ... Arthur Wendell Damon THE RED-CROSS MOVEMENT. Vera Gordak Bates
DOUBLE TRIO, "The Dragon Flies" Bargiel
Lois Clapp Mary Ward Ethel Duffey
Alice Jenkins Alice Crane Mildred Hunt
AWARDING OF DIPLOMAS .
Mr. Charles S. Short Chairman of School Committee
VALEDICTORY . Olive Alberta Litchfield
MUSIC BY THE SCHOOL, "The Fisherman," McLaughlin BENEDICTION Rev. Ezra M. Cox
CLASS COLORS Black and Gold
143
Graduating Class
CLASS OFFICERS
President, Arthur Wendell Damon Vice-President, Ethel Marguerite Duffey Secretary, Frederic Torrey Waterman Treasurer, Edward Francis Ward
THE CLASS
CLASSICAL COURSE
GENEVA METCALF GIVEN OLIVE ALBERTA LITCHFIELD FLORENCE GERTRUDE NEWCOMB FREDERIC TORREY WATERMAN
GENERAL COURSE
VERA GORDAK BATES ARTHUR WENDELL DAMON RENA LOIS DAMON HENRY GRANT DOHERTY
COMMERCIAL COURSE CATHRYN FRANCES DRISCOLL
ETHEL MARGUERITE DUFFEY EDWARD FRANCIS WARD
Music furnished by the BOSTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
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Appendix - School Statistics
APPENDIX
SCHOOL CENSUS AND STATISTICS
Number of children in town on the first of September,
1915, 5 years of age or over and under 7 years of age . 82
Number of children 7 years of age or over and under 14 years of age . 323
Number of children 14 years of age or over and under 16 years of age . 59
Number of illiterate children 16 years of age or over and under 21 years of age . 0
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Number of pupils enrolled in the schools between 5 and 7 years of age. 87
Number of pupils enrolled in the schools between 7 and 14 years of age. 328
Number of pupils enrolled in the schools between 14 and 16 years of age. 67
Number of pupils enrolled in the schools over 16 years of age. . 47
Total membership of the schools for the year ending in 1915 . 529
Average membership 476.66
Average attendance 445.10
Percentage of attendance 93.37
Number of schools . 4
Number of regular teachers
Number of teachers who have been graduated from college . 15
5
College graduates teaching in the High School 4
College graduates teaching in elementary schools ... 1
Number of teachers who have been graduated from normal schools .
1
145
Appendix - School Statistics
Number of different pupils at the High School during the year ending in June, 1915 . 96
Number of pupils at the High School December, 1915 92 Number of months the High School has been kept. . 9.6
Average number of months all the schools have been kept. 9.5
TABLE OF ATTENDANCE
Name of School
Average Membership
Average Attendance 83.33
Percentage of Attendance
High
88.67
93.97
Jenkins
187.09
172.76
92.34
Hatherly
185.30
174.10
93.95
High Street
15.60
14.91
94.00
EYE AND EAR TESTS
Whole number of pupils examined
483
Number found defective in sight
29
Number found defective in hearing
5
Number of parents notified
21
-
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Appendix - School Statistics
TABLE SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF PUPILS, DECEMBER, 1915
NUMBER IN GRADE
SCHOOL
123456789
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Room Totals
High
23 30 19 20 92
Jenkins, Room I . . 25
25
Room II. 18 23
41
Room III
13 32
45
Room IV
20 24
44
Room V
18 19
37
Hatherly, Room I. . . 22
22
Room II.
20 21
41
Room III .
19 23
42
Room IV
20 15
35
Room V
23 21
44
High Street
1052
4
12
Enrollm't by Grades 48 38 49 34 59 40 39 41 40 23 30 19 20 480
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Appendix - School Calendar
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1916 Winter Term
Commences January 3 Closes March 24
Spring Term
Commences April 3 Closes June 23
Fall Term
Commences September 5
Closes December 22
Holidays Washington's Birthday, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
ROLL OF HONOR 1914-1915
NAMES OF PUPILS WHO HAVE BEEN NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR THE YEAR, TWENTY-SEVEN
Edwina Dalby
Irlene Dalby
Mildred Hunt
Norma Morris
Frederica Wade
Grace Waterman
Annie McNayr
Kenneth Bates
Mildred Whittaker
Whitford Merritt
Martha Lincoln
Kenneth R. Merritt
Arthur F. Sylvester
Harold Blanchard
Robert Tilden
John Ward
Ruth Evelyn Fitts
Walter S. Foster
John D. Webb
Bertram Cole
Wilfred C. Prouty
Camille I. Williamson
Henry T. Fitts
Edward Carson
Helen Andrews
Wilford Brown
Harold Burbank
NAMES OF PUPILS WHO HAVE BEEN NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR TWO TERMS, FORTY
Edith Jenkins
Esther Litchfield Olive Litchfield
Henry Merritt
William Murphy
Leona Seaverns
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Appendix - Roll of Honor
Muriel Seaverns Annie Wilder Ellis M. Litchfield George Kelley
Fred Waterman Beatrice V. Bates Alice Litchfield
Ruth Somers
Allerton L. Bonney
Wendell Beale
Frederic D. MacNeill
Lloyd R. Wolfe
Leonard F. Wolfe
Robert Bonney
Clara A. Stoddard
Harold Whiting Wilhemina Stoddard
Louis Smith
Adella R. Stenbeck
Irene V. O'Connor
Mildred M. Vinton Paul Callahan
Hilda Stenbeck
Dorothy Appleford
Chester I. Smith
Eunice F. Clapp
Mary E. Flaherty
Catherine Murphy
Geraldine Ward
Ellis B. Damon
Lillian Williamson
Walter Hardwick
Meyer Edelstein
NAMES OF PUPILS WHO HAVE BEEN NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR ONE TERM, SEVENTY
Celeste Callahan
John Curran
Arthur Damon
Joseph Dwyer
Ola Longfellow
Clinton Merritt
Florence Merritt
Charlotte Noonan
James Panetta
Hazel Ramsdell
Karl Stenbeck
Helen Timpany
George Vinal
Mary Ward
Milton Bates
Lawson Kelley
William Vargus
Evelyn Whorff
Evelyn Merritt
Ina Litchfield
Florence Edelstein
Eugene V. Blanchard
Ernest M. Damon
Marion L. Hobson
Olive M. Hyland
Alberta F. Jenkins
Carlton F. Merritt William R. Scannell
William A. Roberts
Chester Locklin Charles Olson
Evelyn Bonney
Nathaniel Tilden
Velma Jenkins
Alice K. Doherty
William Ward
Louise Murphy
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Appendix - Roll of Honor
Florence M. Townsend
Esther Damon
Eugene J. Jellows
Louise Ward
Lawrence Webster
John Curran
Frederick Maitland
Donald Wells
Marion Curran
Benjamin Curran
Frank Feola
Ruth Hall
Russel Hall
Joseph Dwyer
Henry Webb
Gertrude Jellows
Gertrude Stanley
Herbert E. Cole
Bartley Curran
Harold L. Dwyer
Gordon J. Tucker
Walter Jellows
Stenson Priestley
Elliott Pratt
Michael Connolly
Joseph Rose
Forest Faulkner
Robert A. Cole
Ray Ellis
Richard Rowe
Rose Cohen
David Edelstein
John F. Burbank
Franklin Sharp
NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR TWO YEARS, ONE Henry Fitts
NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY FOR THREE YEARS, TWO Frederica Wade Annie McNayr
2
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