USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1909-1912 > Part 25
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TABLE II -BOYS
GRADES
5 yı's
6 yrs.
7 yrs
8 yrs
9 yrs.
10 yrs.
11 yrs.
12 yı's
13 yrs
14 yrs
15 yrs. yr's.
17 yrs
18 yrs
19 yrs.
20 yrs.
21 yrs.
22 yrs.
TOTAL
First
83
29
10
3
1
. . ..
·
.
126
Second.
3
49
36
16
7
2
1
1
115
Third
2
46
42
15
3
2
1
2
.
·
.
.
.
113
Fourth
5
32
28
17
6
1
....
·
.
.
.
. .
. .
.
4
33
26
17
9
8
1
. . . .
. .
. ..
....
98
Sixth.
3
42
46
22
13
1
.. . .
Seventh
4
38
30
21
8
· ·
11
4
1
83
Ninth
. . . .
. . . .
..
.
27
30
12
3
... .
. .
..
....
78
High First ..
28
17
9
2
1
· .
.
....
63
High Second ..
7
17
11
3
1
... .
.. .
. . . .
....
39
High Third . .
.
.
. . ·
·
. . .
.
·
6
16
8
6
.
.
. . .
....
36
High Fourth ..
3
15
10
1
.
·
2
Total.
86
80
97
97
87
94
112
100
110
87
56
43
30
18
1
1,098
..
...
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.. . .
·
....
...
· ..
....
....
.
.
...
.
...
2
·
.
. .
101
Eighth
5
30
32
6
6
1
90
Fifth. .
125
.
.
.
29
Post Graduates ....
.
....
.
16
..
.
193
TABLE II-GIRLS
GRADES
5 yrs
6 yrs.
7 yrs
.8 yrs.
9 yrs.
10 yrs.
11 yrs
12 yrs.
13 yrs.
14 yrs.
15 yrs
17 16 yrs. yl's.
18 yı's.
19 yrs.
20 yrs
21 yrs.
22
TOTAL
115
First
76
29
5
1
2
129
Second
10
71
27
12
4
2
1
I
1
109
Third
6
58
24
16
5
1
111
Fourth
5
53
37
8
1
3
2
1
1
113
Fifth
6
50
34
13
8
1
1
89
Sixth
8
33
20
17
8
3
Seventh
39
37
23
4
1
Eighth
1
5
28
30
20
4
11
1
15
6
58
High Second
8
28
1
1
54
High Third
4
12
1
1
27
Post Graduate
Total
86
106
95
96
115
84
78
103
99
89
71
63
32
13
2
1
1,132
3
29
28
11
5
88
Ninth
59
High First
1
9/27
10
1
10
26
16 9
High Fourth
104
76
194
yrs.
1
195
To further illustrate in a more specific sense the retardation in each grade, the following Table (Table 3) is given which shows a comparison between the years 1905-6, and 1909-10 giving the number of pupils of each grade in the elementary schools who failed of promotion. The percent of failures of the total enroll- ment at the end of the years compared is about the same, showing that about the same number fail each year. In each case a large number failed of promotion the first and second years. This is largely due to immaturity. Grades five and six show an increased number of failures. Investigation shows that the reasons for failure are-immaturity, irregularity of attendance for one cause or another, changing from one school system to another, dull and sub-normal.
TABLE JII
Number promoted
Number failed
Total membership
Percent of failure
Grades
1905-6
1909-10
1905-6
1909-10
1905-6
1909-10
1905-6
1909-10
First
195
214
52
52
247
266
23+
19++
Second
212
219
14
30
226
249
6+
12+
Third
225
181
9
18
234
199
3+
9+
Fourth
253
200
6
16
259
216
2+
Fifth
192
222
14
17
206
239
6+
6+
Sixth
170
211
7
13
177
224
3++
5+
Seventh
174
158
4
10
178
168
2+
5+
Eighth
146
175
3
7
149
182
3+
Ninth
115
129
4
1
119
130
3++
Total
1,682
1,709
113
164
1,795
1,873
6++
8+
196
.
197
Upon further investigation, the result of which is somewhat startling, another table is given which shows the number of pupils in each grade or year throughout the school system who are now repeating or who have repeated a year at some time during their school course. The cases are numerous and will bear investiga- tion. A closer examination as to physical defects is worth while. A pupil who repeats is a double cost to the community, and this alone is worth considering If a physicaldefect can be removed, is this not an economical measure for the town to adopt ? A different line of work might be introduced for those who because of dulness are retarded.
TABLE IV
Grade
Number
1st
71
2d
71
3d
85
4th
90
5th
62
6th
76
7th
64
8th
51
9th
36
High First
32
Second
21
Third
14
Fourth
10
Total
683
198
The preceding tables with reference to retardation have a peculiar significance.
1. Retardation would be lessened in the first and second grades by raising the age of entrance to five and one-half or six years. Many pupils are too immature at the age of five to do the work of the first year of school.
2. A different kind of work is necessary for certain classes of children-work in which the use of the hands predominate.
3. A more specific medical examination of children to discover physical defects, which taken in time may be remedied and the pupils rendered capable of doing regular school work. (Removal of adenoids and enlarged tonsils would possibly help a number of pupils ) .
4. Greater care on the part of parents to see to it that their children are more regular in attendance; that more attention be given to the health of the children in the home.
5. Dental inspection would no doubt reveal many cases where the condition of the teeth is a hindrance to the progress of the pupils-producing poor health.
The expense necessary to discover physical and mental defects and then put into operation such plans as will alleviate and make it possible for a greater development of the pupil would be much less than it costs now to educate the many pupils who because of some mental defect must repeat the work of each year. As be- fore stated, it costs twice as much to educate the child who repeats a year as it does the one who is promoted regularly.
From the truant officer's report the following facts are gleaned :
Whole number of absent cases investigated
143
Causes :
Truancy
51
Negligence of parents
.
.
.
.
46
Sickness
·
.
19
Miscellaneous
.
27
.
Five cases were taken into court.
199
EVENING SCHOOL
The Evening School owing to the change in the interpretation of law by the legislature with reference to the term "Minor" from age of 18 to 21, has caused a falling off in the registration of illiterate minors or those who are required to attend.
The registration is as follows :
Whole number of illiterates between 16 and 18, 34. 66 over 18, 29.
Whole number attending who desire to take advan- tage of the evening school to extend their educa- tion, 15.
The first class are obliged to attend regularly according to the law. The second and third classes deposit a certain amount which is returnable and insures regular attendance.
SEWING CLASS
An evening sewing class has been maintained since Nov. 1st. The number is limited to 55. Entrance is restricted to young women who are not members of the public schools. Much inter- est is manifested, and the attendance has remained normal. The course is intended to give instruction in plain sewing, cutting and fitting and the use of the sewing machine. To this will be added incidental instruction in Arithmetic and English ; talks on hygiene and home making are also planned for the season.
DRAWING
With the opening of the present school year, our new Supervisor, Miss Amy L. Butterfield, took charge of the work. She comes to us well recommended and her grasp of the various problems pre- sented, proves that she is a capable and efficient supervisor. It is the aim of this department to make the work of the drawing practical in such a way as to justify its existence as a subject to be taught in the schools. The mere teaching of drawing-color, design, construction work, free-hand and mechanical as such with no apparent idea of its usefulness-is only little more than a pa
200
time. Unless there is a development of the esthetic in such a way that pupils will become keen observers of the beautiful and prac- tical in the home and elsewhere; unless they are led to see the use that can be made of the subjects in the home, in business, in the trades and elsewhere, it does not justify the time and money expended.
MUSIC
It is little appreciated, I fear, how much is done for the com- munity in the study of music in the public schools. If music is made a business as other subjects there is as much real education in the subject as any other in the curriculum. We are doing this, and instead of the former chorus singing we are endeavoring to teach music as music. Pupils should master the notation of music which will enable them to sing with ease any music set before them. The quality of tone receives its due share, so that music is enjoyable. Pupils should be able to sing without the aid of the piano, and the efficiency of the work is measured by what can be done in the upper grades. If 90 per cent of the puplis cannot and do not sing in the upper grades then we are not accomplish- ing what we should. The chorus singing in the high school and at the graduation is the admiration of all, and speaks well for the efforts made.
MANUAL TRAINING
Sewing and Sloyd work are making the usual progress. The sloyd work has been enlarged somewhat in that the pupils are given opportunity to make practical what they have learned in the use of tools. A certain amount of work by the pupils in re- pairing desks and chairs, making shelves and the like is done. It is the intention to increase this as fast as possible, that pupils may repair doors and windows, paint interior woodwork where needed and various other ways put into practical use the knowl- edge gained in the Manual Training Room. Under the direction of Mr. Peabody, the teacher, a steady improvement is rapidly going on in the department.
The sewing for the girls is eminently practical in every way. Much interest is manifested, and the articles of usefulness seen in
201
the every day work, certainly indicates that in after life the work done in the schools will be of great benefit to all. It is hoped that in the near future the course in the subject may be extended to the high school. It is also desirable that sewing machines be added to the present equipment that girls in the 9th grades may be taught how to use them. Hand sewing, cutting and fitting are useful, but the sewing machine is almost an indispensable article in every household, and is quite necessary that the girls should be taught to use them under a competent instructor. The sewing teacher has asked for these for several years and it should meet with approval.
Our next step for the girls is cooking, and I trust that the town may see fit at no distant day to furnish the equipment for the 9th grade and the first year of the high school, that this may be carried forth.
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION
During the last school year there was organized in the Green- wood district a Parents' Association. This we hope is only the beginning of such organizations to be formed throughout the town. The above organization has been very active since its in- ception and has done a great deal to bring the parents and the public in general in close touch with the school and its needs. Through its efforts a very successful experiment in school gar- dening among the pupils was carried forth. During the Fall term of the present school year an exhibition of the products of the gardens was held, and much interest was manifested by pupils and parents. Under the auspices of the same organization a stereop- ticon lecture was given by Supt. O. A. Norton of Marlboro, Mass., showing views of various forms of industrial school work in different parts of the country. Many questions of vital im- portance to the schools are planned to be discussed by this Association during the school year It is hoped that some of these may take shape and be made effective in the schools.
The outgoing class of the 9th grade at Greenwood last year presented the school with a stereopticon lantern which has been a decided addition to the equipment of the school. It is proposed and plans have been made to procure slides on the subjects of
202
Geography, Science and History and give talks to the different classes. It seems to me that it would be well for the school department to own such a lantern to be used in any of the schools for this purpose. Slides may be procured as a loan without cost on any of the above subjects, the use of which would create a de- cided interest on the part of the pupils in their studies. Face to face wi h views as above mentioned with explanation would clear up many obscure things in the minds of pupils and make the sub- jects more real.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS
The law prohibiting drinking cups in public places and in school buildings went into effect Oct. 1 last. The School Author- ities have just completed the equipment of all schools with drink- ing fountains to conform to the law. These fountains are simple and inexpensive, and admirably serve the purpose. There is no extra and expensive work upon these, and we believe we have solved the problem of a wholesome and sanitary fountain.
GIFTS
We beg leave to acknowledge at this time all gifts made to the schools during the past year, and trust the donors will accept this as voicing our full appreciation of their generosity.
In conclusion, I wish to say that I deem it an honor to be con- nected with the schools of Wakefield as Superintendent and I desire to thank publicly all who have been and are my co-laborers.
Respectfully,
J. H. CARFREY.
Dec. 31. 1910.
203
High School Principal's Report
MR. J. H. CARFREY, Superintendent of Schools.
DEAR SIR :- Herewith is presented my sixteenth annual report and the eighteenth in the series of the High School Principal's reports.
ATTENDANCE. PUNCTUALITY.
The year ending June, 1910, saw the largest enrollment ever recorded in the history of the school, viz., three hundred and eighty-two. Of this number, twenty were I ynnfield pupils, dis- tributed about equally among the four classes. The present year of 1910-1911 has shown, thus far, an enrolment of three hundred and sixty-seven, the falling off from the record of last year being due almost entirely to the unusually large number leaving by graduation last spring. The percentage of attendance for the year, 96.4, does not differ greatly from that of years past and is about as high as, in reason, could be expected.
The record for tardiness for the last five years is as follows ; 1905-6, 1.46 cases of tardiness per pupil ; 1906-7, 1.77 cases ; 1907-8, 1.59 cases; 1908-9, 1.12 cases ; 1909-10, 1 23 cases. I cannot help thinking that this record is needlessly high. Neither do I feel that an apology is called for when I urge that greater attention be given this homely virtue of punctuality by High School pupils. There are, of course, occasions when tardiness is unavoidable and in every way excusable. Concerning these I have nothing to say ; but it is the needless cases about which I am concerned. Most of these can be traced to the tendency, too widely prevailing, to leave little or no margin for accidents, variations in clocks, etc. Snowy or icy sidewalks, or a heavy rain storm almost inevitably bring their crop of tardy marks. Forethought seems hardly to have a place among the possessions of the youth of today. I ask for the cooperation of parents in .our efforts to correct this failing.
204
WORK OF THE SCHOOL
Although the school year was somewhat broken by the enforced vacation due to the epidemic of small pox, on the whole the year's work was satisfactory. An unusual number of pupils tried examinations for entrance to college, the results of which indi- cated successful work on the part of the various departments. Something over ninety percent of the examinations taken in June were successfully passed and those failed at that time were finally passed this fall.
DRAWING
I desire to renew my recommendation of the last two or three years that more time be allotted to the subject of drawing. Pupils from this school entering technical schools find themselves in competition with those who have studied drawing four times. weekly, with periods fifty-five minutes in length.
Our pupils study the subject once a week for forty-three minutes. Drawing instruction is much sought here and as a. consequence the entire time allotted to the teacher is given up to teaching, one class following close upon another. All prepara- tion and distribution of drawing materials and boards must, there- fore, be taken out of the single period assigned each class, When the time occupied in reaching the room from the last recitation and in putting out drawing material at the beginning of the period and in collecting it again at the end has been deducted, not more than thirty minutes of the period is left for actual drawing. If it. is not feasible to increase the time allotment to four periods weekly in the form of two double periods, the efficiency of the work could be more than doubled if each period as now offered could be made of double length. This would require the services. of the drawing teacher four days in the week.
GERMAN
Since the introduction of German into the course, several years. ago, it has been confined to the last two years of the course. French, meanwhile has been offered three years, being a compul- sory subject except for pupils beginning Greek. As a subject for
205
entrance to college, German stands on a par with French and there is no reason why pupils who desire to enter college on max- imum German should not be allowed to do so. It seems to me, therefore, that German should be a three year subject as well as French
MUSIC
The conditions under which the subject of Music is carried on are far from satisfactory. In the first place the building has no room large enough to accommodate the larger of the two choruses into which the school has been divided. It has been found neces- sary to divide the second year class, allowing each half to sing each alternate week with the senior and junior classes. Further, the larger chorus crowds uncomfortably the room assigned to its use. Considering the adverse conditions under which the work is done it is, and has been for a long time, a source of wonder to me that Mr. Wilson has been able to achieve such success with the chorus. However, whenever suggestions for enlarging still further and strengthening the music work, have been made, the conditions forbid any consideration of the subject.
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
A very commendable interest has been shown in these subjects by those electing them. This interest has been fostered by the attempt to connect the class room work with the living interests of the pupils.
ENGLISH
In this subject a serious effort has been made to co-ordinate the work with the work of other departments. Much attention has been given to English grammar and also to spelling. It is a question whether it is not best to refuse credit for written work in which is any considerable number of misspelled words. Oral English is also receiving attention.
20€
THRIFT
By a law passed last year, the teaching of thrift in school is now required. In the early fall, a representative of the Savings Bank Life Insurance League addressed a meeting of the senior and junior classes upon Savings Bank Life Insurance. It has occurred to me that it would be a wise move to secure the services of a representative of the Cooperative Bank to describe the modus operandi of these institutions. I can think of no better way to encourage thrift than allowing an accredited agent of the local Cooperative Bank to receive at the school building the monthly dues of those pupils holding shares.
BOTANY
An attempt has been made in a small way to correlate this subject with home life. If the time now given to this subject as taught from the text book could be given to elementary work in agriculture or market gardening, it would be to the advantage of the children.
A few weeks ago forty-eight pupils were asked if their parents had fruit or vegetable gardens Of the forty-eight, twenty-eight answered "Yes" and twenty "No." An estimate was made of the value of the fruit and produce raised in these gardens and it was found that it amounted to almost exactly a thousand dollars. For the entire town at the same ratio between thirty and forty thousand dollars would be the value of the fruit and produce raised in the numerous home gardens of the town. In view of these efforts to add to the family income it would seem worth while to make these gardens more profitable still, by means of a study of soils, of the kinds of produce best suited to each, and of he proper methods of raising and caring for the various products.
I believe that some modification of the course in botany is called for, looking toward the introduction of something more practical and everyday. When this is done, the boys, who now are far from interested will become, I venture to say, enthusias- ic over the subject.
207
RESORT TO HIGH SCHOOL
Below is a table which will be of interest to the people of Wakefield. The table includes the enrolment in June, 1910, of practically all the High Schools in Massachusetts in towns between 8,000 and 16,000 of population, together with that of a few cities, nearest to Wakefield, like Everett and Malden, and four or five in other portions of the country. It also includes the population of the same places according to the census of 1910 and the num- ber of pupils for each thousand of population, in High School. It will be noted that Wakefield is second in the list with 31.6 pupils in the High School out of every thousand of its population, being surpassed by Melrose only, with the phenomenal number of thirty-seven.
208
Town
Enrolment
Population
Pupils per thousand of population
Adams
209
13,026
16
Amesbury
288
9,894
29.1
Arlington
345
11,187
30.8
Athol
166
8,536
19 5
Attleboro
252
16,215
15.5
Auburn, N. Y.
566
34,668
16.3
Bangor, Me.
638
24,200
26.3
Beverly
400
18,650
21.4
Chelsea
486
32,452
15
Danvers
256
9,407
27 2
.Dedham
226
9,284
24 3
Elgin. Ill.
698
25,000
27 9
Everett
669
33,484
20
Framingham
301
12,948
23.3
Gardner
330
14,699
22.4
Greenfield
228
10,427
21 9
Helena, Mont.
335
15,000
22.3
Hyde Park
370
15,507
24
Leominster
319
17,580
18.1
Malden
954
44,404
21 5
Marlboro
396
14,579
27.1
Medford
584
33,150
17.6
Melrose
581
15,715
37
Milford
185
13,055
14.1
Milton
219
7,924
27.7
Natick
289
9,866
29.2
Newburyport
437
14,949
29 3
Newton
1,249
39,806
31.4
North Attleboro
187
9,562
19 5
Northbridge
137
8,807
15.6
Norwood
189
8.014
23.6
Palmer
115
8,610
13.4
Peabody
370
15,721
23.5
Plymouth
196
12,141
16.2
Quincy
800
32,642
24.5
Saugus
135
8,047
16.9
Southbridge
109
12,592
8 6
Stoneham
164
7,090
23.1
Ware
147
8,774
16.7
Wakefield
360
11,404
31.6
Watertown
206
12,875
16
Webster
120
11.509
10.4
Westfield
391
16,044
24.4
West Springfield
154
9,224
16 7
Weymouth
290
12,895
22.5
Winchester
286
9,309
30.7
Winthrop
267
10,132
26.4
209
Town
H. S. Enrolment No. Graduated
% of Graduation
Wakefield
382
61
16
Quincy, Ill.
476
67
14
Gloucester
448
60
13
Chelsea
431
82
19
Newton
1,240
172
13
Brockton
1,040
173
17
Boston
11,144
957
9
Haverhill
670
120
18
Fitchburg
720
71
10
Taunton
400
70
18
Cambridge
1,534
199
13
Holyoke
800
105
13
Lynn
1,260
186
15
Malden
873
106
12
Somerville
1,728
264
15
Lowell
1,214
200
16
Springfield
1,799
210
12
Fall River
913
122
13
New Bedford
500
64
13
Lawrence
670
109
15
Worcester
2,430
333
14
Auburn
550
71
13
Manchester, N. H.
610
108
18
Easton, Pa.
403
64
13
Morristown
445
63
14
Williamsport
540
75
14
Col. Springs
753
79
10%
New Britain
550
71
13
Aurora
750
75
10
Elgin
700
80
11
Bloomington
575
75
13
Helena
300
48
16
Saginaw
793
108
14
Bangor
637
88
14
Newport
300
40
13
Anderson
528
61
12
Muncie
474
63
13
Marion
525
41
8
Poughkeepsie
517
51
10
New York
37,677
2,948
8
Cleveland
5.516
671
12
St. Louis
5,656
477
8
Detroit
5,189
575
11
Baltimore
4,457
487
11
Philadelphia
11,555
1,390
12
Chicago
17,772
1,470
8
210
PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATES
Another interesting table is found on page 209, showing the per- centage of the entire enrolment that graduated. If all the four classes in school were of equal size and graduated the full number with which they entered, the percentage graduating would be 25% of the entire number - a perfect record. From the table it will be seen that five cities named in the table surpass Wakefield, viz., Chelsea, Brockton, Haverhill, Taunton and Manchester,N.H. For the data, other than the percentages in the table, which are my own, I am indebted to the Journal of Education.
SCHOOL STATISTICS
February
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
Dec. 1910
Number graduated
57
35
58
53
61
*55
Average age at graduation
18.5 '12
18.6 1 2
18_2 12
18 6 12
18 1 12
187 12
Senior class.
58
36
61
58
66
55
Senior class when entered.
95
75
112
121
124
127
Junior class.
42
65
66
76
69
89
Junior class when entered .
75
112
121
124
127
142
Second year class .
90
76
91
88
101
92
Second year class when entered
112
121
124
127
142
125
First year class.
113
113
114
131
115
117
First year class when entered. . .
121
124
127
142
125
122
*Estimated.
The dark faced figures of the table indicate the membership of the present Senior class throughout the course.
211
MISCELLANEOUS
During the year, the school's certificate right has been renewed for three years by the new England College Certificate Board, whereby approved graduates are admitted without examination to the colleges composing the Board.
CLASS OF 1910
The following entered colleges and higher institutions of learning during the year.
Marjorie T. Bunker, Boston University.
Marjorie G. Smith, Simmons College.
Ruth E. Hickey, Salem Normal School.
Walter C. Hickey, Boston College.
Frances L. Holmes, Radcliffe College.
Lillian M. Lawrence, Simmons College.
Winifred B. Watkins, Salem Normal School.
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