USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1913 > Part 21
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Article 30. To see if the Town will authorize the use of $2,500.00 of the Reserve Fund of the Assessors, to reduce the tax levy of 1915, as recommended in the report of the Board of Assessors.
Article 31. To see if the Town will authorize the transfer of $1,366.38 remaining to the credit of the Sale of Armory, to the Town Debt and Interest account.
Article 32. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to install a police signal system, and make an appropriation therefor. (By request.)
Article 33. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum, not exceeding two hundred dollars for the benefit of the Manomet Public Library. (By petition.)
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to pay the Field Drivers and Fence Viewers a salary of $25.00 per year. (By petition.)
Article 35. To see what action the Town will take in regard to building a permanent road, either a macadam or oil road, the said road being the Bartlett Road in Manomet, Mass., and to make the necessary appropriation therefor. (By petition.)
Article 36. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to sell and convey in the name of and on behalf of the Town the Forest Warden's Truck, on such terms and conditions as they may think proper.
And you are hereby required to serve this warrant in the manner prescribed by a vote of the Town, by posting notices
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thereof in three public places in the Town, seven days at least before the meeting, one of which postings shall be in Chiltonville and one in Manomet Ponds, and also by publishing the warrant in the newspapers published in Plymouth, and make return thereof with your doings thereon at the time and place above mentioned.
Given under our hands this twenty-third day of February, 1915.
WILLIAM T. ELDRIDGE, EPHRAIM D. BARTLETT, JOHN L. MORTON, Selectmen of Plymouth.
Plymouth ss.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of Plym- outh qualified to vote in elections and Town affairs are hereby notified to meet at the time and place and for the purposes therein mentioned.
WILLIAM E. BAKER, Constable of Plymouth.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Plymouth
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1914
Plymouth Fourteen
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Term Expires
William M. Douglass, Chairman,
1917
George C. Peterson, Secretary,
1916
J. Holbrook Shaw,
1915
Edward W. Bradford, Jr.,
1915
The regular meetings of the School Board are held at 7.15 p. m., on the first and Third Tuesdays of each month.
Superintendent of Schools, Charles A. Harris.
Office open from 8:30 to 12 a. m., and 2 to 5 p. m. every school day.
Office hours of the Superintendent of Schools, 4 to 5 p. m. every school day except Wednesday.
7 to 8 p. m. every Wednesday.
Attendance Officer, John Armstrong.
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1914-1915
Term opened Tuesday, Sept. 8, closed Friday, Dec. 18, 15 weeks.
Term opened Tuesday, Dec. 29, closes Friday, March 26, 13 weeks.
Term opens Monday, April 5, closes Friday, June 25, 12 weeks.
Fall term, 1915, begins Tuesday, Sept. 7.
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VACATIONS
March 26, 1915, to April 5, 1915.
June 25, 1915, to Sept. 7, 1915.
HOLIDAYS
Washington's Birthday, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Co- lumbus Day, Thanksgiving Day and day following.
SCHOOL SESSIONS
High School,-8 a. m. to 1 p. m.
Nathaniel Morton School,-8 a. m. to 1 p. m.
All others except the outlying schools, 9.00-11:45 a. m. 1:30-3:45 p. m.
First grade is dismissed 15 minutes earlier than the other grades.
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FINANCIAL REPORT
RECEIPTS.
Maintenance appropriation,
$71,000 00
Murdock Fund, 18 48
$71,018 48
EXPENDITURES.
General Expenses,
$3,487 44
Teachers' salaries,
45,422 08
Text Books and Supplies, including
Household Arts and Manual
Training Departments, and Library,
4,753 40
Tuition, 174 00
Transportation,
1,097 50
Janitors,
4,510 23
Fuel and Light,
5,643 63
Furniture and furnishings,
154 30
Medical Inspection,
708 81
Repairs,
3,444 16
Other expenses on Buildings and Grounds,
1,540 64
Other expenses,
81 03
$71,017 22
Unexpended balance,
$1 26
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COOKING AND SEWING.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$2,000 00
EXPENDITURES.
Carpentering,
$97 90
Painting,
24 95
Plumbing,
435 85
Furniture,
810 80
Equipment,
335 47
Supplies,
171 77
Fuel,
42 91
Miscellaneous,
5 55
Part Teachers' Salaries,
74 80
$2,000 00
HEDGE APPROPRIATION
Balance from 1913,
$95 37
Expenditure,
59 22
Unexpended balance,
$36 15
MORTON APPROPRIATION
Balance from 1913,
$730 99
Expenditure,
348 89
Unexpended balance,
$382 10
1
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HIGH SCHOOL APPROPRIATION
Appropriation, Expenditure,
$35,000 00
31,888 86
Unexpended balance,
$3,111 14
.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The School Committee can now make an accounting for the two special appropriations granted at the last Town Meeting.
The enlargement of the High School has been accomplished, bearing out to the full all the promises we made to the town when asking for the appropriation.
We now have a building as handsome and practical as a new one would have been at a greatly reduced expense to the town.
With the appropriation for cooking and sewing, we have fur- nished two thoroughly up-to-date equipments, one in the old engine house on South street, for the grades, and one in the High School basement, and we believe that these two depart- ments are doing more practical good for each dollar expended than any other part of the school system, with the possible ex- ception of the limited amount of manual training we are doing.
The committee regret that more of the voters have not been interested in the result of these two appropriations, which they so generously voted, as the committee feel, we trust without un- due sensitiveness, that more thought and time are given to discussing and criticizing picayune things, that after all are matters only of differing judgment, than are given to consid- eration and commendation of large things successfully accom- plished, and progressive steps carefully and advisedly taken.
We regret to report that we found our. appropriation for the year inadequate, and had to put over payments into this year that should properly have been made in 1914. These amount to a little over $2,000. By comparing the town accountant's re- ports of 1913 and 1914, those interested may see where the in- creases have come.
SOME OF PLYMOUTH'S SCHOOL HOUSES
HIGH SCHOOL
MT. PLEASANT SCHOOL
CORNISH SCHOOL
BURTON SCHOOL
KNAPP SCHOOL
Monton SCHAAL
High School built 1892, enlarged 1914.
Mt. Pleasant built 1905. Cornish addition built 1904. Burton built 1896. Knapp addition, 1904.
Morton built 1913.
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The largest and most unlooked for increase was in text-books and supplies. These are things that must be bought as needed, and the increased demand in these lines will account for our shortage. The increase in salaries and some other items was anticipated by the committee.
The committee will therefore be compelled to ask for $78,000 for the year 1915, based as follows :
Actual cost in 1914, $73,000
Amount to be paid this year for 1914, 2,000
Expense of domestic science departments, 2,000
Natural increase in expenses,
1,000
$78,000
We submit herewith the reports of the Superintendent and the School Physician. We commend these both to your at- tention.
The report of the Superintendent in particular we trust that everyone will carefully read. It concerns your business, the way you are spending your money to educate your children, and treats impartially of the credits and defects of our system.
We call attention to the fact that these are the views of the Superintendent alone, and are published without criticism or endorsement of the committee, as he is so much better qualified to speak that either would be equally futile on our part.
We would merely say in comment that while many of his "anticipations" are our wishes, we do not ourselves anticipate many of these things for years to come, with the exception of further relief at the north end of the town, which we may be compelled to ask for next year.
Signed : EDWARD W. BRADFORD, JR. GEORGE C. PETERSON, J. HOLBROOK SHAW, W. M. DOUGLASS.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of Plymouth :-
I herewith submit for your consideration my second annual report.
It is not a theory that the citizens of Plymouth desire to give the children of the town a superior education. It is a reality. This was demonstrated at the last annual Town Meet- ing, when the voters appropriated the sum of $71,000 for regu- lar school expenses, $2,000 for the introduction of Cooking and Sewing under special teachers, and $35,000 for the renovation. and enlargement of the High School building.
The citizens have been exceedingly generous towards its edu- cational system, and it will be found, upon investigation, it is hoped, that the public schools have made progress commensurate with the expenditure.
It is nothing short of remarkable that the public schools of the various towns have accomplished what they have. Since the schools primarily are in the hands of the people, and the managers of the enterprise are chosen by popular vote, the policy of conducting the affairs of the educational system is constantly undergoing changes according to the progressive, conservative, or retrogressive attitude of the persons composing the board of education.
During the past twenty years the Town of Plymouth has had twenty-two different persons on its school board. The towns- people owe much to these individuals (as well as to those whom they have employed) who have given much of their valuable time and thought to the upbuilding of one of the greatest insti- tutions in America.
.
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The efficiency of a school system depends upon the voters. If the citizens demand good schools they get them. It is true that their demands may be temporarily thwarted, but in the long run the schools are what the citizens make them. In some communities the demand is merely for fair schools, in others the citizens are evidently satisfied with poor schools, and in still others the demand is for excellent schools.
Schools in general are no better than the citizens demand. The problem for the voters is to decide how well they care to. educate the children. Increased appropriations should and usually do show better school conditions. This, of course, must. be followed by judicious expenditure in order to get the most efficient results and the largest educational dividend. The ap- propriation of $108,000 shows conclusively that the verdict of the voters is in favor of the best possible educational atmosphere for the children.
Twenty years ago the school board of Plymouth wrote: "The cost of maintaining the public schools is a growing burden upon the tax-payer. Our town has given liberally for the needs of its schools, yet they are not fully met."
This applies to-day, and will always apply, for the ideal and perfect school system will never exist. Defects of greater or less magnitude, judged according to the standards of the critic, will always be apparent. So many defects exist in school sys- tems in general that the maximum of efficiency cannot be at- tained, for the more conditions are improved, the more prob- lems seem to present themselves for solution. The problem be- fore us is to secure the greatest possible efficiency with the funds in hand.
The attitude of the voters has changed, in one respect, how- ever. The school system, speaking generally, is considered more of an investment than a burden, and the dividends of the shares which the tax-payers hold are never passed. The people, rich and poor alike, look upon the educational system as an asset and. not a liability.
4
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There was a time when girls who received an education, even in the most elementary subjects, at the hands of the public, were considered the recipients of charity. Sentiment has changed. There was a time when the people thought that the High School- should not be supported at public expense. The sentiment has changed. All now look upon the education given the girls, and the maintenance of the High School as a just tax upon the public treasury. The same sentiment, in regard to Commer- cial Courses, Sewing, Cookery, Manual Training, Trade Courses, and many other features which necessitate expenditure of pub- lic money, prevails. In brief the schools of to-day seem des- tined to have the ever-increasing function of looking after the whole training of the youth, both to discover and to guide into the proper channel the latent capabilities of every child. The schools of the future seem on the point of acting in loco parentis in every particular.
If this continues, and it will, either supported by local or State funds, the future cost of transferring children from the state of dependence to a state of economic independence will be enormous.
A SURVEY OF THE PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS.
It may be more or less interesting to make a school survey without summoning the assistance of special educational ex- perts. Such a survey should be made, having cognizance of all commendable features, and should mention, in a constructive way, the existing defects. Only in such a way is an educational survey worth while. Intelligent criticism imbued with sincerity is invaluable and solicited. Unintelligent criticism, albeit sin- cere, has little worth, while adverse criticism per se has no value whatever. Too many surveys have incorporated too much of the two last kinds of criticism, and have placed the reputa- tion of the critics instead of the schools in jeopardy.
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Plymouth, known the world over as the landing place of the Pilgrims, has a population of about 13,000. The area of the town is more than 107 square miles, with 50,269 acres of tax- able property. The growth has been slow but steady. In 1900 its population was less than 10,000. Its present valuation is $13,922,110. Its per capita wealth is more than $1,000, and its per capita debt is about $16.50. The tax rate is $18.40 per thousand, and at its last annual Town Meeting it appropriated the sum of $294,184.51 for municipal expenses. In addition to this sum which was to be raised by direct taxation, $35,000 was raised by the issuance of bonds for the renovation and enlarge- ment of the High School building.
More than eighteen per cent. of all the persons in the town are engaged in attending school, and are distributed through the grades as follows :-
Total
Boys
Girls
Grade I,
267
133
134
Grade II,
328
161
167
Grade III,
313
161
152
Grade IV,
277
13"
140
Grade V,
231
114
117
Grade VI,
220
108
112
Grade VII,
180
78
102
Grade VIII,
151
71
80
Grade IX,
72
38
34
Special School, Spooner St.,
21
9
12
Special School, Burton Bldg.,
17
11
6
High School,
278
126
152
2,355
1,147
1,208
The pupils are housed in 22 buildings, four built of brick and eighteen of wood, the northernmost and southernmost schools being eighteen miles apart. 'Besides these is the brick building occupied by the Domestic Science department on South street.
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The management of the schools, which are in session forty weeks per year, is vested by the voters in a school committee, elected at large, and serving without pay. The committee is composed at the present time of four members, consisting of a chairman, a secretary and two other members. This board ap- points an executive officer, an attendance officer, a school phy- sician and a school nurse. There is one office employee.
There are five teachers of special subjects, two of Domestic Science, two of Drawing, one of Music and one of Manual Train- ing. The Manual Training teacher has charge of the drawing, hence the duplication.
Each of the six large elementary buildings, which have a total of 39 rooms, has a principal responsible for the general conduct and efficiency of the work. In one building the principal teaches only afternoons, having the forenoons for general over- sight. Sixteen janitors care for the school buildings. There are in all 75 teachers and the average attendance during the last school year was 2096.75.
The organization of the Plymouth schools is as follows :-
Voters, (Male), 2,243
School Committee,
4
Superintendent,
1
Office employee,
1
High School Principal,
1
High School Teachers,
9
Elementary School Principals,
5
Elementary School Teachers,
55
Teachers of Special Subjects,
5
High School Pupils,
278
Elementary School Pupils, Janitors,
2,077
16
Meetings of the school committee are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, supplemented by special meet- ings when necessary. The school board devotes itself to ques- tions of policy, asking for appropriations, and supervising ex-
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penditures, and delegates to its executive officer the details of administration. There are no sub-committees.
THE SCHOOL PLANT
The school plant of any school system should be considered of primary importance, for the health of the child is paramount. Visits to the various school buildings will convince one that an attempt is being made to better the physical conditions of the class-rooms. On the whole the buildings are in excellent re- pair.
Each committee takes upon itself the heritage of former com- mittees, and they in turn have undoubtedly laid a foundation accepted as satisfactory during their incumbency.
The following suggestions may be useful in future work.
Blackboards. The blackboards, now a misnomer, as almost all writing surfaces consist of slate, are too high in every room containing a first grade, with one exception. Those at the Lin- coln Street Primary schoolhouse are properly placed. The majority of the others in the first-grade rooms are higher than those in the upper grammar grades or at the High School.
Lighting. The natural lighting of our school buildings in some respects is at variance with accepted standards. We have 29 rooms lighted on the left and rear; 11 lighted on the right, left and rear ; 8 lighted on the right and left; 8 lighted on the right and rear, and 2 lighted on the front, left and rear. In other words, we have 50 per cent of the rooms lighted improp- erly as far as location of windows are concerned, and of the remaining 29 rooms with light from the rear and the left, only one room has the lighting which approximates correctness. Sev- eral rooms with lighting from the left and rear have the excess of light from the rear causing the body to cast a shadow on the desk.
The lighting of school-rooms should be urilateral. the light
-
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coming from the pupil's left on the supposition that all pupils are right-handed. If a school were composed of left-handed pupils the light should come from the right. If, perchance, supplemental light is imperative, the light should come from the rear. This rear light should always be weaker than the side light, otherwise the body will cast a shadow on the desk.
Too much is usually left to the architect who cares more for the external appearance of the building than its adaptation to the pupils' needs. The windows should be so near one another that they appear like one large window, and should extend as near the ceiling as the construction of the building will warrant. No window should be placed on the left, in front or in back of, the pupils' seats. The ratio of window space to floor space should be not less than one to five or at least 20 per cent in any instance, and a standard of one to four or 25 per cent should be adopted. Deficiency in window space may be partially made up by the use of prism glass.
Janitor Work. The janitor work of the schools is satis- factory. There are plenty of opportunities to criticise if the school houses were expected to be scrupulously clean in every detail. As it is, however, they are a credit to those who care for them. Much work falls to the lot of the janitor, that is left untold. In the large buildings it is impossible for one per- son to do more than keep each building in a passably neat con- dition. Few have any idea of the janitor's work. Besides car-
ing for the fires, sweeping and dusting, which is constant, he must oil floors, supervise boys in basement, keep the playground presentable, have well swept walks in front of the building, adjust and repair seats and desks, look after supplies, clean win- dows, and perform other work of infinite variety. Plymouth ยท is fortunate in having such an efficient number of janitors.
Ventilation, Heating and Humidity. Lectures to the teach- ers by experts on the aforementioned subjects, would do much for the children in our public schools. Many of the teachers do not seem to understand the system of heating and ventilating which they are called upon to regulate.
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Water Supply. Bubbling fountains are in use at most of the schoolhouses. A few are unsatisfactory, and the teachers have expressed their opinion in regard to them in no uncertain way. Several buildings are still without fountains, viz, Allerton St., Spooner St., Cliff St., and Chiltonville Primary.
Toilets. The inadequacy of the toilet facilities at the Cornish building was brought to the attention of the committee, and during the summer vacation four new stalls, at considerable ex- pense, were provided for the girls. At the Cornish and the Mt. Pleasant buildings the toilet-stall doors had for some time been unhinged; these were ordered back, making bad conditions bet- ter. The number of stalls at the Hedge building is under the number considered to be sufficient.
Dimensions. We have, exclusive of the High School, 23 rooms with length greater than the standard set by Boston, 34 with length less and one identical. We have 46 rooms with width greater than Boston, and 12 with width less. These larger dimensions mean an economic waste.
Desks and Seats. Plymouth has a commendable number of adjustable desks and seats. The non-adjustable furniture may be found as follows :-
Cold Spring, Grade II, 23 desks and chairs.
Russell Mills,
48 " " "
Cliff Street, 27
" "
Chiltonville Grammar,
29 " " "
Chiltonville Primary, 31
" "
Cedarville, 30 "
Long Pond,
12
"
"
Allerton Street,
22
"
"
"
Cold Spring, Gr. III, 37
"
"
"
Total, 259
Many other details of the school rooms are on file at the Superintendent's office.
Plymouth Fifteen
1
"
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The distribution of the teachers and pupils follow :-
School
No. of Teachers
Pupils
Boys
Girls
High,
11
278
126
152
Hedge,
9
380
177
203
Knapp,
9
374
189
185
Cornish,
9
306
153
153
Mt. Pleasant,
6
240
118
122
Morton
4
142
66
76
Chiltonville, 4 bldgs., 4
96
54
42
Burton,
4
144
64
80
Manomet,
2
50
31
19
Oak Street,
2
82
37
45
Cold Spring,
2
72
35
37
Lincoln St. Primary, 2
55
31
24
Spooner Street,
1
21
11
10
Alden Street,
1
37
18
19
Allerton Street,
1
27
12
15
Wellingsley,
1
19
10
9
Cedarville,
1
9
5
4
Vallerville,
1
15
8
Long Pond,
1
8
5
3
71
2,355
1,150
1,205
Special teachers,
excluding High,
4
Total No. teachers, 75
Number of teachers regularly employed.
1900, 44
1907, 58
1901, 47
1908, 59
1902, 48
1909, 58
1903, 51
1910, 60
1904, 51
1911, 61
1905, 54
1912, 61
1906, 57
1913, 70
1914, 75
No. of
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The number of buildings and rooms are as follows :- Number of buildings in use.
Number of Rooms
Containing 9 rooms, 1
9
Containing 8 rooms, 2
16
Containing 6 rooms,
1
6
Containing 4 rooms,
2
8
Containing 2 rooms,
4
8
Containing 1 room,
11
11
58
High School,
1
Domestic Science Bldg.,
1
23
AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP OF ALL SCHOOLS
1898
1903
1907
1910
1914
1,421
1,587
1,878
2,065
2,228
COST PER PUPIL.
Teachers,
1896 $17.92
1914 $20.38
Books and supplies,
2.61
2.13
Fuel and Light,
1.96
2.53
Repairs,
1.08
1.54
Janitors and care of schoolhouses,
1.40
2.02
Superintendent,
1.62
.90
Attendance Officer,
.08
.05
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THE COURSE OF STUDY
During the last school year, grade meetings of all elementary teachers were held at the Superintendent's office. The teacher's point of view was taken into consideration, and a printed course of study was the result.
Time allotment tables were issued and programs made ac- cordingly. Thus the work throughout the town is as uniform as is desirable. A booklet of sixty-four pages, containing the Course of Study, may be procured by any citizen for the asking.
The Course of Study for the elementary schools prescribes seventeen subjects, viz :-
Moral Instruction
Geography
Physical Exercises
History
Reading
Physiology and Hygiene
Spelling
Nature Study
Language
Household Arts
Grammar
Manual Training
Arithmetic
Drawing
Writing
Music
Thrift
Teachers are encouraged to teach rather than to talk; to give practical rather than uncommon words in spelling, to eliminate much in arithmetic; to minimize the learning of dates; to ex- clude from the lessons much that is unrelated to the needs of life work; to cultivate the reasoning powers rather than to bur- den the memory with detached and isolated facts; to see that too much in teaching is artificial; to have inexhaustible patience with the mentally sound but slow, and to realize that the great- est function of the teacher is to cause the child to think.
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Plymouth is spending more than $22.50 per inhabitant to meet the cost of the town government. A little over one-fourth
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of the money appropriated by direct taxation is used for the running expenses of the schools. The per capita cost for in- struction in the High School was $39.00, and the per capita cost for High School support was $52.00. The per capita cost for the elementary grades was $27.00.
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