USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1894-1896 > Part 12
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One amusing case occurred where the committee were fairly outgeneraled. Application was made for a permit for attendance at the Lincoln building, but it was explained that the permit could not be given as the children did not live in the centre dis- trict. " Very well," was the reply, " then we'll move into the centre district," which the family did at the first opportunity.
It is impossible under present conditions to arbitrarily enforce the observance of school boundaries, though the committee in- tend as nearly as possible to equalize the numbers in the different schools. This is much easier of accomplishment under the direction of a Superintendent than formerly.
BOYNTONVILLE.
This pleasant and growing section of our town has been the subject of considerable discussion, pro and con. Being situated about midway between the Melrose Highlands and Greenwood School's, there is a difference of opinion between the residents of that village and the Wakefield School Committee regarding the schools which the former's children should attend, those at Mel- rose Highlands or at Greenwood.
The Committee received some months since from a Melrose attor- ney several bills for tuition of Boyntonville pupils in various grades in the Melrose schools, accompanied with the request to settle with the Melrose Town Treasurer. No arrangement, or request for any arrangement whereby pupils from that district might attend the Melrose schools had ever been made. The committee, however, after due consideration of the matter, voted to pay the tuition of primary pupils in the Melrose Highlands School, there being a school of that grade nearer than the school in Greenwood. The committee at the same time approved two of the bills, being the only bills for tuition of primary pupils which we have received. Notice of the vote passed was sent to the Melrose Committee, and it was also printed in the Melrose Journal.
Our action was entirely unsatisfactory to the residents of Boyntonville, as they think we should pay the tuition of all their children from the Primary to the High School. This, however, we did not feel justified in doing.
PRUDENTIAL.
The average amount required for several years past for ordi-
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nary incidental expenses has been about $1300, which necessi- tates leaving something undone from year to year. For the past few years, except last, the town has kindly granted our request for a slight increase in this appropriation for the purpose of paint- ing one or more buildings each year, the work done in this way being much more thorough and satisfactory.
Several school rooms are much in need of internal improve- ment, and the Woodville School House needs painting. It is necessary that water should be put into the East Ward and Wood- ville School Buildings, but as the water mains do not pass the latter building it will be quite expensive to lay the pipe the dis- tance required. Owing to the malicious mischief of some of the boys, it is impossible to keep the pump in order, and the only alternative is to put water into the building.
The present class room for the Advanced Grammar School is too small for the purpose even by using extra chairs, and it is absolutely necessary that some other arrangement be made for their accommodation, possibly by the committee giving up their present room and seeking other quarters, or by moving some of the partitions.
Though scholars and schools have increased since the law requiring towns to furnish books and supplies, the appropriations for this purpose for the last ten years average only about $1444, including the first year's appropriation of $3000. The cost last year was only ninety-four cents and a fraction per pupil.
The committee last year presented to the appropriation com- mittee their estimates for the amount required for the support of the schools, and after spending the larger part of one evening in considering the matter, they voted to recommend to the town the appropriation of the amount asked for. At a later meeting of that committee, in fact the last meeting as we understand, they voted to rescind their former vote and made a reduction of $1000.
The School Committee make their estimates from a personal knowledge of the needs of the schools, and after careful consid- eration of all matters in detail, and it seems a questionable sort of wisdom for an appropriation committee without any further investigation to decide the matter off hand and entirely on their own judgment.
By this reduction and to keep within the appropriation, we
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have been obliged to do without needed supplies and repairs. One item which helped us very materially on the "general" ap- propriation was the purchasing of coal on the wharf and paying our own freight and teaming. 'By this means we saved about $300 on the price asked by the local dealers.
We were criticised severely by some for buying coal out of town and not supporting our local dealers, but using as we do in the schools over 300 tons of coal yearly, and as the local dealers made their proposals at retail rates, the Committee considered it their duty to take the course they did.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
We would respectfully recommend that the town take some action for the relief of the Centre and West districts. A school lot will be needed in the latter district, and preliminary steps should be taken relative to the early erection of a building.
For the support of schools for the ensuing year we respect- fully recommend the following appropriations :
General, for Superintendent, teachers, janitors and
$23,670 fuel,
Books and supplies, . .
2,000
Contingent, repairs, furniture, etc .. · 1,500
$27,170
The terms of office of Messrs. Upton and Hill expire in March and it will be necessary for the town to elect two members of the School Committee for the term of three years each.
We would call special attention to the following report of the Superintendent, and to his suggestions and recommendations which we fully endorse.
Respectfully submitted,
ASHTON H. THAYER. EDWARD A. UPTON. WM. E. ROGERS, SELIM S. WHITE, MELVIN J. HILL, MISS E. M. GREENWOOD.
School Committee.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee :-
The first annual report of the Superintendent of Schools is here- with respectfully submitted. My acceptance of this office was. dated April 18, 1893, and my acquaintance and connection with the schools began soon after this date.
Knowing the efforts that had been made for several years to. secure the services of such an officer, and the expectation of many that under his direction radical, speedy and wise changes and improvements could be effected with ease and little delay, having- in mind the various departments in school affairs, apart from the purely educational features, over which careful supervision was. expected, and realizing the difficulties of becoming thoroughly informed of the merits, the defects, the requirements of two school systems, of becoming acquainted and associated with two school committees and their constituents, I accepted the position: of Superintendent of Schools and entered upon its duties in two towns with some hesitation.
An experience of ten months has proved many of my reasons. for hesitation groundless ; and the scheme of two towns combin- ing in the selection of a Superintendent of Schools seems to be a practical one.
I add with pleasure the statement that I have been very courte -- ously received and treated by all with whom my duties have brought me in contact. Teachers have been willing to co-operate heartily with me in many suggestions; and my recommenda- tions to the School Committee have received cordial consideration.
COURSE OF STUDY.
The course of study now in use was adopted in 1885. It contained a list of studies to be pursued, together with the amount' to be taught, suggestions as to the work by grades, and an allott- , ment of time for each. This course has been followed with little deviation by the different teachers, and is essentially the 'same as. when adopted. It is almost needless to say that the past decade has been one of great improvement in all industrial and scientific departments ; no less has it been a period of radical changes in.
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educational work. Business men and business methods have compelled practical changes and innovations, the normal schools, state educational authorities, able educators in the higher schools and universities, a more intimate knowledge of our professional work abroad, the spirit of enterprise among us,-all have made us on the alert to note and willing to try, if not to accept, new theories.
The fundamental principles of teaching remain the same, but subjects that once took a prominent place have now assumed less commanding proportions, and new and better methods of instruc- tion have completely driven out many of the old ways. Not all that is new is adaptable to our use, nor is the old to be retained to our injury. Changes for the sake of changes are far from desirable, and when made it should be with the least friction and confusion possible.
It has seemed advisable to you to sanction certain additions to the present course ; it is my purpose to make other recom- mendations which I hope may commend themselves to your judgment. These recommendations will be in the direction of work now done in suburban towns near us which have had the benefit of skilful supervision and superior teachers coupled with a generous school equipment. And while changes may be accom- panied with adverse comment, and time also is needed to carry new plans into successful operation, it is expected that the results obtained will be such as to justify our anticipations.
RANKING SYSTEM.
Beginning my work in Wakefield near the close of the school year my attention was soon called to the review work of the pupils in their preparation to take the final examinations for pro- motion to higher grades. There were given to all the classes from grade IV to IX inclusive five sets of test questions prepared by the teachers for their classes and a final set for all pupils who had not attained a mark of eighty-five per cent. The last set was selected by the teachers of a higher grade for the classes to be admitted to the grade in which they were teachers, e. g a teacher in grade VI made sets of questions for the pupils in grade V. Cards were sent home stating the per cent. of the pupils in their classes.
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It is not my purpose to discuss the wisdom of a ranking system ; "it is sufficient to say that it has merits ; and it is open to severe „ criticism-Used with care by experienced teachers it may be accom- " panied with satisfactory results; but if carried to extremes, as it sometimes is, it falls short of securing beneficial results, and be- - comes a source of dread and injustice to many pupils and a hardship and burden to teachers. Worse than this, it changes the instruction given from broad, generous, and pleasant lines to restricted limits, having in view the probable examination questions at the close of the " next few weeks, and the severity of the teacher of a higher grade in making the final set of questions for yearly promotions.
If one is to place confidence in marks it is to be said that the pupils with few exceptions earned their promotions and that many · were advanced to higher grades with marks much to their credit, showing both faithfulness and perseverance in their various studies and progress sufficient to do the work of a more advanced class. This being true, there yet remains to be answered the question how " many were forced beyond their strength and years and ability, and - how large a proportion of the teacher's time was given to weaker pupils at the expense of the abler who can get along fairly well with- . out, but still deserve their share of the teacher's efforts.
The examinations have taken two or more hours and contained ten or more questions, possibly forty. It has seemed best to fix upon not more than ten questions in a single test and the time to be . allowed for it not more than sixty minutes.
This limiting the number of questions to ten and time to one hour -. will reduce the examination work from twenty-five to fifty per cent .; and while accompanied by a sense of relief on the part of all con- - cerned, I hope will not lessen the thoroughness of the instruction , given, but may stimulate the pupils and encourage the teachers. to present subjects with a broader horizon than can be gained if fettered by too close application to the text books and too much regard to coming examinations.
I am free to confess my belief that fifty per cent. of every class would get along quite as well without any tests. If it were possible to have smaller classes and in all classes to have experienced teachers, " the demand for examinations would no longer exist.
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INDIVIDUAL PROMOTION.
In many New England towns, where the classification of the pupils has not had careful oversight, where promotions, except at the close of the school year, have been regarded as undesirable, where the demands of the school and not the rights of the pupils as individuals have been considered, there exists a feeling in the minds of some of the most steadfast adherents of the public schools that the brightest boys and girls are hampered in the progress they make in their studies ; and your attention is called to the urgency of the demands of these pupils, who frequently are time-servers in classes too little advanced to give them the opportunity for their natural mental development.
In a recent report I spoke as follows, the conditions being similar :
The district school of fifty years ago did little, compared with the present schools, for the slow and indifferent pupils ; they did, how- ever, allow the brightest to proceed, both as to the selection of studies and progress in these studies, as fast as their energy and ability would warrant.
The tendency of the graded schools is to uniformity, and it is fre- quently carried to that point, where the individuality of the pupil is crushed or lost sight of in the unwise aspiration of preparing for the grade higher all the pupils under the teachers' care. Some teachers are also inclined to estimate their professional value and standing, or regard it as estimated by school authorities, by the percentage of their class, fitted at the close of the year, for the next higher grade.
Pupils are born with different capacities to learn ; they differ in temperament ; some are more fortunate in educational means at home ; a few enter school at eight years of age, the majority at five ; the weak and unhealthy, with irregular school attendance, are associated in the same class with the strong and robust. The rate of progress in the extreme of the various classes must be very marked, and the children of active and vigorous minds and bodies are made "to wait for the dull, the lazy, and the feeble, until many months of their precious lives are wasted." I quote from a recent report of the United States Commissioner of Education, "The school must provide for the difference in rates of development by frequent re-classification. If the brightest pupils are kept back for the slow and dull ones, a ·double evil arises. The bright ones acquire loose, careless habits of study, for they do not have to work one-half of their capacity to keep
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up with the others. The pupils of slower temperament are goaded and urged forward by their teachers to keep up with the best, and are- constantly made conscious of their lack of wit, often by stinging sarcasms ; they become discouraged and lose their self-respect. The- teachers, too, are obliged to give most of their time urging on the slower, less mature pupils of their classes, and the best pupils are much of their time, in the attitude of idle and amused spectators ;.. but this is only half of the result. The further consequence is that the most talented children are kept eight years on work they can. accomplish in six years or less."
The opinion is that the progress .of the brightest pupils is often sacrificed to the idea of uniformity, and in answer to the plea for- justice, pupils should have the assurance that they alone may fix the time for their stay in a grade, and that, while the studies pursued and knowledge gained should not be entirely eliminated from the ques -- tion, the requisite for advancement should be mental maturity and. power. As soon as a pupil has earned his promotion, he is entitled. to participate in its benefit ; and, if entitled, who is willing to take- the responsibility of putting any barrier in his path ?
DRAWING.
In the department of Drawing there has been no systematic in -- struction, and the study of it has not received its due share of attention. Lack of knowledge and of enthusiasm has been succeeded: by neglect, and the results have been disappointing.
To awaken an interest and give proper supervision, a teacher has: been appointed to give instruction for two days each week in all the schools. Miss Annie B. Parker, who has charge of the Drawing in the Reading schools, has been elected to this position. The days selected for work in Wakefield are Wednesdays and Fridays, and she will be able in this time to give in the high school one lesson each week to two classes, and in all other schools one lesson in each two" weeks. The regular teachers will give additional instruction each week in all grades including the high school, allowing for this work. one hour and fifteen minutes of the week's time.
CHANGES IN HOUR OF BEGINNING MORNING SESSION.
During the months of November, December, January, and February the hour of beginning the morning session of the grammar and.
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primary schools has been changed from 8.30 10 9 o'clock. This hour has been found to be the most acceptable to parents, and in many towns and cities has been made a regulation adopted by the school committee. It accommodates those who live at a distance, and especially the younger children, because they can get to their respective schools more comfortably and promptly than at the earlier hour. The temperature of the various rooms can be made more satisfactory and with the expenditure of less fuel. The noon inter- mission will still be one hour and three-quarters-from 11.45 to 1.30 -quite long enough to allow nearly all pupils to go home to dinner and return.
STORM SIGNALS.
The storm signals are as follows :
3-3 (one round.) At 7.45 no morning session. " 11.15 one session.
" 12.45 no afternoon session. 3-3-3-3 (two rounds.) At 7.45 includes the High school and Advanced Gaammar. 3-3-3-3-3-3 (three rounds.)
At 7.45 no schools all day for all schools.
In not very severe storms it should not rest with a school official to ·decide whether certain smaller children or those of older years, but not very robust, should attend school or not, but with the parents in every · case, who well understand the physical strength and condition of their children and whose control over their children would be sufficient to prevent unnecessary risks from exposure while suffering from tempo- rary illnesses. In ordinary storms a large majority of the pupils can and wish to attend school, and I hope not too frequently to deprive them of the privilege.
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
I call your attention to the equipment of the schools. There exists now great unevenness in the supply of books. The primary grades have had your special care and are fairly well furnished with the books they need. Their work can be carried on with the expectation of as good results as are obtained in neighboring towns. Grades IV to IX are not well supplied, the demand for supplementary reading being an urgent one. The text books in arithmetic, spelling, and
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language have been in use for several years, and should either be exchanged for more recent publications or new copies by the same author purchased. A text book in hygiene ought to be put in the hands of every pupil to carry on properly the work in this study. Provisions for making these exchanges and purchases should not be- neglected in your estimates for the coming year.
ACCOUNTS.
There are kept in the rooms of the School Committee books giving a full account of all expenditures during the year, together with duplicate bills of all purchases of school books and supplies-the original vouchers being in the hands of the Town Treasurer. The balances under every appropriation are also given to date.
An account is kept with every teacher, stating in full the name and number of all text books and reference books in their possession, for which she is responsible, both as to safety and good usage, and is expected at the close of the school year-June-to make full return or account for loss. This will show at any time with little extra work a complete inventory of all property in the hands of the School Com- mittee.
CHARLES E. HUSSEY,
Superintendent of Schools.
High School Principal's Report.
To the Superintendent of Schools,
SIR :- In response to your request for a report of the High School for the past year, I have the honor to submit the following :
In general, the record of the school has been one of faithful per- formance of duty and attainment of commendable progress. Little can be said of special interest regarding the every day work of the school more than was outlined in last year's report. The year has been a busy one and there has been no decrease in the amount of work to be accomplished.
The corps of teachers remains the same, with the exception of
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of Miss Weston, who resigned in December, and Miss Strong, who was elected to fill the vacancy.
The membership of the school has increased somewhat, the total enrollment since September being one hundred and thirty-seven. It may be of interest to know that one hundred and seventy-three different pupils have been enrolled as members since Feb. 1, 1893. This number includes those who graduated in June, and those who" entered at the beginning of the school year.
The course of study, adopted in 1891, provides for a four years English course, and in consequence, no English division will graduate this year, the present Junior Class having entered at the time the change was made. The class to be graduated in June will, therefore, be a small one.
From statistics gathered at the beginning of the year, it is learned that the per cent. of pupils, who are intending to seek a higher education, grows larger and larger each year. These must be encour- aged and assisted in this purpose with all the means the school can command, and yet it is even more imperative that the larger portion, who end school life when they sever their relations with the High School, must be faithfully prepared for citizenship.
Taken as a whole, the present animus of the pupils for their work is encouraging. They are working faithfully, and, in most instances, successfully. There is a certain number of pupils in every school, who, from sickness, outside duties, indifference, or lack of ability, fail to reach required standards. The number of such delinquents in the school at present is as low as it is reasonable to expect. On the other hand, many of the college preparatory pupils are more ambi- tious than they should be. This is especially true of the girls. A few plan to take five or six branches a day and can not be persuaded that it is detrimental to their health to overtax themselves. I strongly recommend that some regulation be passed defining the amount of work which a pupil may be permitted to take, consistent with health and thoroughness. Twenty periods a week is as much as any pupil can properly undertake in the best interests of his own advancement.
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The introduction of Latin, Algebra, and Book-Keeping into the Advanced Grammar school is an important step in the right direction. It will bring great relief to the crowded curriculum of the High School.
An attempt has been made to improve the department of physical education by putting it upon a more scientific basis. The time of
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the drill occurs in the best period of the program, and the exercise is planned to be taken for a short time each day. A scientific method, the Ling system, has been introduced for Calisthenics. I take pleasure in mentioning the fact that this was accomplished through the interest of Miss Batt. who volunteered to learn the system and teach it in the school. It is hoped that every girl will take these exercises, for it is known from reports from other schools that they are very beneficial.
The needs of the school are not as many as formerly, as a number of improvements in the building and in its appointments have helped to put the school in a good condition generally. Important wants at present are reference books and maps, a matter I have mentioned in the past two reports. They might be obtained by giving a school exhibition ; but in many respects this is a most costly method of obtaining funds, for pupils and teachers must devote many valuable hours to its pre- paration. A small appropriation would soon place the school in splendid condition in this regard.
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