USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1885-1889 > Part 51
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New School Building.
The warrant for the annual town meeting in April, 1888, re- quired the town to consider the subject of building a new school house on Academy Hill, and the town at that meeting referred the subject to the Selectmen and School Committee, to report the facts relating to the necessity of building said school house. The referees met in joint convention for consultation and unanimously agreed to recommend to the town to build a new school house on Academy Hill, containing six rooms, with a seating capacity for fifty scholars for each room. The opinion of the referees was materially based upon the following facts and circumstances : The Centre Ist Grammar School holds its daily sessions in the upper room of the High School building, and the scholars are compelled to ascend two flights of stairs four times each day to reach their school apartments, and it is very difficult and injurious for children to ascend one of these flights which contains twenty- six steps, very steep of inclination, who are physically frail and
8
feebly constituted, and it is even a question of justice and propriety to make a like demand upon those children who are more vigorous and healthy in their physical organization. For this reason, the Committee, at the request of parents, have, in absolutely necessary cases, permitted scholars who lived within the limits of this school to attend the Hamilton Ist Grammar School. The scholars while in the school room during the warm season, are often un- comfortably effected by the heat received from the sun upon the slated roof near and directly over them, and in the more severe winter weather they suffer at times from the cold, three sides of the room being exposed to the winds, and the stoves not generating sufficient heat to warm the space occupied by them.
The expenses and labor of heating this room are important items for consideration in connection with this subject, for seven tons of coal were consumed from the time stoves were required in the fall of 1888 to February Ist, 1889, and the quantity of coal burned here during the year must be carried by manual strength from the cellar, which imposes a severe burden upon the janitor or carrier. These reasons convinced the referees that the school should be removed from its present location. The Centre Primary School No. 2, contains seventy-eight scholars, instructed by two teachers and confined in an overcrowded room with no system of ventilation except open windows and doors. It is not creditable to the civilization of the town to require this large number of small children to assemble daily in a room of such limited dimen- :sions, and in a condition dangerous to health, and under circum- -stances unfavorable of receiving the best advantages of their school privileges. It is apparent that this school should be divided into two equal divisions, each to occupy separate rooms, and then the general situation of the school for all educational purposes will be greatly improved and the objections to its present unhealthy conditions removed.
.
The 2nd Intermediate School numbers sixty-four scholars and is instructed by two teachers. The seating capacity of the school room accommodates only sixty-two scholars, and there being no recitation room for the school, or any suitable place for one, the teachings by both instructors must be conducted in the same over-crowded room, which is a serious hindrance to success- ful and efficient instruction. Forty or forty-five scholars are a
9
sufficient number for one teacher to manage and instruct with success, and a new school could be organized containing two departments with scholars from this school and ten or twelve pupils from the Third Grammar, which contains fifty-six scholars, without increasing the number of teachers and would improve the school advantages of the children. Three schools, two of which immediately require new and convenient school accommodations, will be organized and ready to occupy the building as soon as completed, and if the town continues to increase in population in the same proportion as it has in the recent past, the remaining rooms in the building would be occupied at an early day. These reasons, briefly stated, were the most important, considered by the joint committee, and was judged sufficient to justify their report and the Committee earnestly and unanimously hope that they will likewise convince the town of the necessity and importance of providing measures and means to fulfill the requirements contained in the report.
Public Schools in Wakefield.
There are twenty-four schools in active and successful operation at the close of the present school year, in which schools, thirty teachers are employed and twelve hundred and seventy-three children have received instruction. The Committee can make the customary and pleasing statement, that the schools, considered collectively, are in a flourishing and vigorous condition and the scholars by their diligence and attention to their studies, aud their observance to the rules and regulations of school government, assisted by the faithful teachings of kind and competent instructors, have strengthened their moral virtues and made reasonable pro- gress in their course of study. There has not been any conflict between the parents and school authorities regarding the discipline and management of the scholars, sufficient to interrupt or disturb the harmonious and friendly feeling which should be observed and maintained to secure the highest and most valuable results from our public schools. All real, or imaginary grievances resulting from any cause connected with the schools, have been amicably adjusted after all the facts and circumstances connected with the disturbing cause has been understood by mutual confer- ence between the parties.
At the annual meeting in April the town voted that the School
10
Committee be instructed to give in their report the number and amount of text books and supplies furnished to each school sepa- rately, and also the town at the same meeting authorized the Committee to employ a clerk, who should keep a record of all books and supplies delivered to the several schools in such manner · as would convey to the town the desired information. Mr. Upton was chosen Clerk, under whose direction all books and supplies have been delivered during the year. A new form of requisition papers for the teachers was prepared, which contained an order to be signed by the teacher for the number, kind and amount of text books and supplies required, and also a receipt to be signed when they were delivered. The old form of requisition was used until the close of the summer term and the account of text books and supplies delivered from March Ist, to June 29, 1888, repre- sented upon them, have been transferred to the new requisitions, which have been correctly signed, and all requisitions for the year are on file in the office of the Committee.
HIGH SCHOOL.
At the close of the summer term Mr. E. D. Russell, who had filled the position of Principal for the two previous years, to the acceptance of the Committee, and the highest interest of the school, resigned to accept a like position in the Waltham High. School, a more lucrative situation, and Mr. C. T. C. Whitcomb, a graduate of Amherst College and Principal for the last five years of the Sandwich High School, received and accepted the appointment to the position vacated by Mr. Russell. During the year he has been assisted in his school work by Miss H. J. Wil- liams, Miss I. H. Howe, and Miss G. J. Barker, and by their combined labors the progress of the school in discipline and thoroughness of instruction has been marked and successful. As it is the desire and object of the Committee and teachers to raise the standard of scholarship in the school and to arouse in the scholars greater ambition to reach a higher grade in their intel- lectual attainments, we devote a large space in our report to the future aims and purposes of the school.
General Work of the School.
The general work of the scholars has been good during the past year, although from reports received from the Principal, it
11
might be improved in several directions. There seems to be a spirit of inactivity among the two lower classes which is in marked contrast with the enthusiasm exhibited by these same scholars when preparing for the examination for entrance into the High School. This spirit of idleness can be accounted for only on the ground that pupils consider themselves safe after once passing an examination successfully. Having reached the goal of their am- bition no further anxiety is needed, their previous efforts are relaxed and a life of ease is adopted, under the impression, evi- dently, that they will be allowed to remain in their classes regard- less of the character of their work. Such an idea cannot be tolerated even if scholars are obliged to return to the school from whence they came. The standard of school work must be kept to its present position, at least, and if any change is made it must be raised from year to year. The same idea of efficiency which is the basis of a promotion from the Grammar school, must be the requirement for a promotion from class to class in the High School. Pupils who come to school without thought of the value of an education and the opportunities furnished them, are not only seriously injuring their own minds, but are a positive stumbling block in the progress of the classes to which they belong.
Many scholars during the past few years have made application to take special studies in the school course. Such pupils may be divided into three classes-those who have failed in other studies and who'do not wish to make up their failures, those who have ambition to study only that which is easy and pleasing, and a small number who are anxious to study a few branches prepara- tory to some life work and who have not the opportunity of finishing the full course. This third class might be accommodated under some conditions, but the demand for special work became so great and the injury to the regular classes so marked, that it became necessary to prohibit the custom entirely, or else double the present corps of teachers to satisfy the wants of so many irregular courses.
The course of study remains practically the same as in the past, although new and better methods are being adopted whenever the wisdom of such a course has been clearly seen. More attention has been given to the study of English, without weakening, how- ever, the classical work of the school. The scientific course will
12
be greatly strengthened by the use of the chemical laboratory with its most approved method of study. The school has always made provision for the preparation of pupils for entrance into higher schools and colleges. The present Principal desires still further to encourage this department of the school work, and will frame a more definite and a more systematic course for those who pro- pose to fit themselves to enter college, after graduation from this school. The rhetorical work of the school, as essay writing and declamations, is a most beneficial part of school work. It broad- ens the minds of the pupils as no other branch of school work can do, drawing out the best efforts and thoughts of the scholars, and bringing a confidence and a training which is most helpful in after life. Beneficial as such work is no scholar can be excused from it except from some physical disability. More attention will be given to such training in the future. A school paper has been published as an incentive to the pupils to cultivate the art of writing. It is to be hoped that the citizens of the town generally will encourage this effort on the part of the scholars, as it cannot help being an important factor in advancing the interests of the school.
A new system of reports has been adopted during the past year, to be issued to parents of pupils at intervals of two months during the year. By it may be seen the exact work of the scholar not only for each interval of the year, but also the rank obtained for the entire period since entering the school, for the purpose of comparison. It is especially requested that parents will examine this report with great care, and consult with the Principal freely in regard to the work of those in whom they are interested. There are three honors for excellence in scholarship. An average of 95 entitles the pupil to first honor ; 90 to second honor, and 85 to third honor. The rank of pupils below 75 is very poor, and if below 70, is not sufficient for promotion. e
The work in calisthenics and military drill is being faithfully carried out and good results can be seen therefrom.
It can be seen, therefore, that there is a healthful spirit of work in the school, and a desire and a purpose among those who have it under their control not only to keep it up to the satisfactory position it has always held in the past, but to endeavor to raise the school still higher in the estimation of the people.
13
Chemical Laboratory.
Always desiring to furnish every opportunity for better work at the High School, and with a purpose to keep abreast of the im- provements which are being made in schools of the same grade throughout the state, and the old laboratory being required for a recitation room, the Committee decided during the summer vaca- tion to remodel an unoccupied room upon the third floor into a chemical laboratory. Heretofore no sufficient and convenient opportunity had been given to the pupil to make investigations for himself, a matter of vital importance in this branch of science. The course necessarily was confined to dry recitations from the text book, with an occasional day devoted to experiments, mostly performed by the teacher. In fact, for a year or two, the study had been dropped from the school course on account of the diffi- culty of teaching by the old method, and its unsatisfactory results. Scientific truth to be of lasting value, should be acquired by the pupil through his own efforts-a method whereby the learner is taught by his teacher to perform his own experiments, take notice of results, and draw his own conclusions. All sciences are valu- able for study for the vast fund of general information they furnish the student ; and yet the true value of such courses of study lies in the fact that the invaluable lessons of investigation, observation aad reasoning have been learned. For such purpose has this chemical laboratory been prepared, and gratifying results are expected from its use. The room is about the size of the recitation rooms on the second floor and is fitted with three parallel benches capable of accommodating twenty pupils at individual desks at one time. Each pupil's desk is furnished with gas jet, water faucet, shelves, etc., and in different parts of the room may be found a cabinet for chemicals and apparatus, a large gas ventilator for general use, and a blackboard for the teacher's instructions.
Provision also has been made for suitable heating and lighting and the laboratory will be well fitted for work as soon as the apparatus for the individual desks has been purchased. Owing to the expense already incurred in remodeling the room, it was thought wise not to add an extra amount for chemicals and apparatus, until after another appropriation had been made at the coming town meeting. The chemical laboratory, therefore, will be a marked addition to the facilities for study in the school, and the outlay, while necessarily
: :
14
large at first, will more than be repaid, by the gratifying results which are expected to be accomplished.
What has been done for Chemistry ought also to be supplied for the department of Physics. Apparatus and a suitable room should be supplied for individual work for the pupil, that he may, under the watchful eye of his instructor, make his own experiments and deduce his own laws. By such means, that which has been dry and unintel- ligible to many students by the old methods, will become a most fascinating subject of investigation. Pupils preparing for college, especially, need this work, as it is strongly urged by the college authorities for preparation for entrance examinations.
Minor Improvements.
A number of minor improvements have been made throughout the building during the year, to keep the rooms in good condition and meet the many wants of so important an institution. The boys' dressing room has been entirely renovated and a new gun-rack capa- ble of holding sixty guns, instead of the old stand which was quite unsafe when filled with heavy guns, has been placed in the middle of the room, thereby making it the armory of the building. The cabinet holding the Physical apparatus has been removed from the recitation room of the Grammar School and placed in the former position of the chemical cabinet upon its removal to the new laboratory. The school has been furnished with two fine classical maps and a valuable anatomical chart, besides the necessary books to supply the increase in classes from time to time during the year. Many of the books which were purchased at the time the Free Text Book law went in force, are becoming well worn from three or four year's usage, and must soon require new ones to take their places. As the majority of these books were obtained during one season, a larger appropriation than usual will be required to replace them during the coming year.
A class of fifteen members graduated last year, and the graduating exercises which were 'appreciated by a large and attentive audience, were held in the Town Hall, Wednesday evening, June 27, 1888.
15 PROGRAMME.
Music. Roman March,
Gounod.
Orchestra.
SALUTATORY. Our Commonwealth.
Lillian Wilkins.
DECLAMATION. The Parson's Secret,.
George Staples.
SINGING. Three Doughty Men,
Pearson.
ESSAY. Prometheus Bound.
Lilla Newhall.
RECITATION. Wild Zingarella,
. Mc Dowell
¿Lou Rosson.
CONCERTED SELECTION. A Summer Storm, · Lowell. Ida Henfield, Nettie Parker, Flora Staples, Henry Bouve, William Butler, Edward Larkin.
SINGING a. Watch of the Stars, Pezold.
b. Hymen's Torch, .
. Meyerbeer.
RECITATION. Nix's Mate, · Butterworth.
Lillian Dowse.
SOLO. Break ! Break ! Break !
T. P. Ryder.
Ida Henfield.
PRESENTATION. £ Bust of Apollo Belvedere. Hannah Ardill.
MUSIC. Artist Life Waltz, Strauss.
Orchestra.
DECLAMATION. Signing the Declaration, Messer.
Edward Larkin.
UNISON CHORUS. Fest Gesang. Mendelssohn.
ESSAY. "Class Prophecies.
Etta Woodman.
RECITATION. Phaeton, .
Saxe. Harris Dolbeare.
TRIO. Sweet May, . F. Barnby. .
VALEDICTORY. Hero Worship.
Adele Eaton.
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS.
A
.
Anon.
16 NAMES OF GRADUATES.
CLASSICAL COURSE, FOUR YEARS.
Adele Hortense Eaton,
Lilla Maria Newhall,
Emma Louise Rosson, Lillian Truell Wilkins.
ENGLISH COURSE, THREE YEARS.
Hannah Jane Ardill,
Ida Angeline Henfield,
Henry Stanwood Bouve,
Edward Todd Larkin,
William Henry Butler,
Nettie Ella Parker,
Harris Mason Dolbeare,
Flora Abbie Staples,
Lillian Mattoon Dowse,
George Moses Staples,
Carrie Etta Woodman.
Names of pupils neither absent nor tardy during the year.
Henry S. Bouve,
Fanny I. Crosby,
George M. Staples,
Annie F. Emmons,
Fred H. Anderson,
Edith R. Marshall,
George A. Taber,
Adah B. Phinney,
Cyrus B. Wakefield,
Grace B. Day.
Whole number of pupils, , I32
Average membership of year,
.
.
123.84
Average attendance of year, .
.
.
'118,26
Average per cent. of attendance,
95.5
TEXT BOOK AND SUPPLY ACCOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
Text Books.
History of Rome, Pennell, - 4 Odyssey, 2
66 Leighton,
4 Keep's Iliad,- 2
Greece, Pennell,
6 Gulliver's Travels,- 5
Greek Reader, Goodwin, 2 Frieze's Virgil, - 11
English Literature, Swinton,
8 Bryant's Leaflets, - 16
How Plants Grow, Gray,
How to write Clearly, Abbott, 4 French Books, - 17
Plant Analysis, - - 31 Modern Classics, 16
Arey's Chemistry, -
2
Creasey's Decisive Battles, 1
Hill's Rhetoric, - 13
Plutarch's Lives, - 2
French Grammar, - 10 Cameos of History, 1
Greek Dictionary, - 1 History of Greece, - 5
Whittier's Classics, 16
Younge's History,- 2
Anatomical Chart, 1
Poems, Longfellow, Whittier &c., 10 Herodotus, 2 The Coda. Music, 235
4 As You Like It, 3
17
Supplies.
Composition Blanks, Board cov-
Crayons, -
6 boxes
Spelling, ers,
47
Blackboard Erasers, - 1 box
10
Blotters, . 50
Common Lead Pencils, - 32 doz.
Red Ink, - 1 box
Erasive Rubber,
- 1 box
Note books, Composition blanks, 109
Writing Books, 12 No. 5, 12 No. 6
Note Books, No. 1, - 75
Pens, - 3 boxes
Book-keeping Blanks, 20
Examination l'aper, - 17 reams
Physics, Blank Books, 41
Practice Paper, 6
Thermometer,
1
ADVANCED GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
This school was organized in the fall of 1872, and from that date to the present time it has been under the wise and judicious instruc- tion of Mrs. M. E. Wentworth. At the close of the suminer term, Miss Nash resigned her position as assistant teacher, and Miss M. P. Whitman, of Newton, was appointed to fill the vacant position, who subsequently was promoted to the teachership of the Greenwood Intermediate school, and Miss Riggs of Bath, Maine, received the appointment as Assistant.
Whole number of pupils,
72
Average membership for the year, .
65.2
Average attendance for the year,
61.2
Per cent of attendance, .
93.86
Text Books.
Music Readers, -
70 Bartley's Record Book, 1
Franklin Written Arithmetic,- -
4 Lessons on Manners, - 1
Supplies.
Composition Blanks, - 72
Practice Paper, - 60 blocks
Spelling Blanks, 72 Drawing Books, 72 No. 5, 72 No. S
Pen Holders, - 1 doz. Writing Books, Bus. Stan., 72 No. 5
Common Lead Pencils, - 10 doz. Report Cards and Envelopes, - - 72
Drawing Lead Pencils, -6 doz. Rubbers,' - 50
Pens, - -
3 boxes
Crayons, - - 1 box
Examination Paper, - 5 reams
Blackboard Erasers, -6 pks.
Practice Paper, - 1 ream
Call Bell, . - 1
CENTRE FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
This school was taught by Miss Mary J. Kelly until the close of the summer term, and since September Miss Mattie Bruce, promoted from the Franklin Street 3rd Grammar school, has been its instructor.
18
Number of scholars, .
.
45
Average yearly membership, .
36.4
Average yearly attendance,
32.93
Average yearly per cent of attendance,
90.46
Text Books.
Franklin Fifth Reader, 1 Lessons on Manners, - - - 1
Supplies.
Composition Blanks, - - 72 Examination Paper, - - 4 reams
Spelling Blanks,
- 78 Practice Paper, - - 2 reams
Slates, - -
10 Writing Books, Bus. Stan., 72 No. 4 Blotters, - - 1 pk.
Common Lead Pencils, - -4 doz.
Drawing Lead Pencils, 3₺ doz.
Report Cards and Envelopes, - - 42
Erasive Rubber,
36 Drawing Books, - 40 No. 7
Pens,
3 boxes
Bay State Blanks, 1 No. 7
Pen Holders,
-1 doz.
Feather Duster,
1
HAMILTON FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
This school has been under the tuition of Miss M. A. Warren in its present location, since September, 1884.
Number of pupils,
38
Average yearly membership.
35.
Average yearly attendance,
33.
Average yearly per cent of attendance, .
94.
Text Rooks.
Written Arithmetic, - 1 Key to Franklin Arithmetic, 1 1
Barnes' United States History, 3 - Lessons on Manners, - 1
Supplies.
Composition Blanks, - 96
Examination Paper, - - 2 reams
Drawing Books, - 36 No. 7
Blotters, - - - 3 doz.
Slates, -
7 Report Cards and Envelopes, - - 48
Slate Pencils, 2 boxes Writing Books, Bus. Stan., 36 No. 4 Common Lead Pencils, · 3 doz. Teacher's Account Book, - - 1
Erasive Rubber, - 36
Practice Paper, 1 ream Pens, 2 boxes
CENTRE SECOND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Miss M. E. McLaughlin received her appointment as teacher of this school September 1887, and has remained in that position to the present time.
Number of pupils, .
53.
Average yearly membership, . .
.
49.7
19
Average yearly attendance,
45.68 Average yearly per cent of attendance, ·
91.9
Text Books.
Franklin Fifth Reader, - 4 Bartley Daily Record, 1
Music Reader, 4 No. 3 Lessons on Manners, - 1
Dictionaries, - 26 Bible Manual, -
1
Supplies.
Composition Blanks, - 56
Crayons, - - 10 boxes
Spelling Blanks,
56 Blackboard Erasers, - 12
Slates, -
6 Writing Books, Bus. Stan., 57 No. 3
Slate Pencils, - 1 doz.
Blotters, 60
Drawing Lead Pencils, 10 doz.
Drawing Books, - 60 No. 5
Erasive Rubber, - 80
Primary Practice Paper, - 1 ream
Pens, -
3 Report Cards and Envelopes, - - 88
Examination Paper, 6 reams
Call Bell, -
1
HAMILTON SECOND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
In November, 1886, Miss Clara E. Emerson was appointed in- structor of this school, and so continues.
Number of scholars, ·
41.
Average yearly membership, . .
.
.
41.4
Average yearly attendance, .
.
38.6
Average yearly per cent of attendance, .
93.2
Text Books.
Franklin First Reader, 3 Swinton's Language Lessons, - 3 Dictionaries,- 23 Bartley's Record, - - 1 No. 1
Warren's Geography, large,
3 Lessons on Manners, - - 1
Colburn's Mental Arithmetic, -
1
Supplies.
Composition Blanks, 90
Practice Paper, 1 ream
Slates, -
3 Crayons, - - 2 boxes
Slate Pencils, 2 boxes Report Cards and Envelopes, - - 48
Drawing Pencils, -
- 1 doz. Sponges, - -
45
Erasive Rubber,
- 1 doz. Writing Books, Bus-Stan, 45 No. 3
Pens, -
2 boxes
Drawing Books, 4S No. 6
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