USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1895 > Part 3
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The highest interest of the schools are subserved when schoolhouses are provided, which are located in pleasant
4
and healthful locations, surrounded by sufficient grounds to admit an abundance of sunlight and air.
To sum up the whole matter, there should be suitable and adequate accommodations for all the pupils in the town, in order to do the best work, and thus secure the great results for which our public school system was insti- tuted.
Unfortunately for the schools, when it is necessary to reduce expenses, the first thing thought of is the reduction of teachers' salaries. Instead of being the first this should be the last. In this respect your Committee is greatly hampered by the small appropriations made by the town for the support of the schools ; for you must remember that it requires a great deal more money to run our schools in these days of free text-books, than it did a number of years ago.
The number of resignations among our teachers is about the same from year to year. Other cities are on the alert, by promise of less work, chances of promotion, and higher salaries, to entice our best teachers from us.
We all take just pride in our schools, but there will always be a chance for improvement, and we should all of us take a greater interest in that direction.
The Normal course of two years is none too long to learn the art and practice of teaching to make one's knowl- edge a power and to give one the ability to instruct.
The teacher should keep the minds of their scholars awake, not doing the pupil's work for him, but insisting that he shall do his own, giving them all the help and en- couragement they possibly can. In this way they would lift our schools upon a higher plane. The parents have a duty to perform in this work, and a privilege of the highest interest.
They should visit the schools more frequently, and see them in their every-day work; they would be surprised at the amount of work being done, and gratified at the help
5
they give it. They can hardly conceive, without trying it, how much a shake of the hand, a kind word, or an encourag- ing look, will do to infuse new life into both teachers and scholars. If the public would take more interest in our schools it would help elevate them.
With suitable school buildings, adequate for all the needs of the pupils in the town, with neat surroundings, teachers qualified to fill their positions, more frequent visits from parents, and judicious supervisions by Superintendent and Committee, we might make the schools of Fairhaven equal to any in the State.
We would respectfully call your attention to the High school building, which is sadly in need of repairs, especially the interior. We think it should be thoroughly cleaned, reseated, painted and the walls whitened, during the spring vacation, so that the members of the graduating class which leaves school in June in looking back will have some pleas- ant recollections of their last year in the High school, and also that the scholars which are to come up from the Rogers school, at the beginning of the year, will not have all the refined influences which has been created within them, by the pleasant and cheerful rooms they have been occupying, completely effaced by the strong contrast. To do this will require a special appropriation. The Committee at this time have been considering the advisability of discontinuing the Sconticut Neck school, on account of the small attend- ance, there being only four or five pupils in the school, making it quite expensive to educate a child in the Sconticut district.
There has been a change in the principalship of the Rogers school during the past year, Miss Cara M. Johnson resigning to accept another position in Medford. Miss Johnson's position has been filled by Miss Rose M. Barton, who comes to us highly recommended, and has entered upon her duties in a manner that is full of promise for the best results.
6
We wish to thank all the teachers for the earnest manner in which they have performed their several duties, and we are pleased to notice the good results which have been ob- tained. We also thank the Superintendent for his sugges- tions and his endeavors to make the schools better and lift them to a higher plane. For the many details of school work, for the statistics, and the progress of the schools reference is made to the report of the Superintendent.
We estimate the expense of the schools for the coming year to be $8,700.00. Deducting our unexpended balance, $82.22, and the average amount received from the State, $625.00, and it will be seen that an appropriation of $8,000.00 will be required, and the sum we recommend to be appropriated.
We also recommend a special appropriation of $175.00 for the resodding of the Rogers school lawn, which is in deplorable condition.
SCHOOL ACCOUNTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Resources.
Balance on hand Feb. 15th, 1895, $57.34
Received from town, appropriation,
7,100.00
Received for tuition from non-residents, 35.00
Received from sale of posts, 2.00
Received from special appropriation, 700.00
Received from State,
270.95
Received from County, "dog fund," 397.58
$8,562.87
Bills Approved.
Teachers' salaries,
$5,806.50
Janitors' salaries,
765.25
Fuel, 473.59
7
School books,
378.63
Supplies, Repairs, Incidentals,
342.38
139.22
575.08
8,480.65
Balance unexpended,
$82.22
Teachers' Pay Roll.
H. S. Freeman, High school,
$1, 100.00
Marg. C. P. Tucker, High school,
640.00
Cara M. Johnson, Rogers school, 387.50
Rose M. Barton, 105.00
Mary C. Worden, 66
162.00
Faye D. Hayes, 66
198.00
Lillian E. Page,
66
153.00
Clara F. Hathaway,
189.00
Eva J. Smith,
333.00
Bertha M. Tirrell,
153.00
Nancy S. Allen,
189.00
Idella M. Libbey,
342.00
Amy B. Smith,
342.00
Louise M. Keith,
380.00
Jennie S. Betts,
1.80
Grace Nickerson,
7.20
Kate Drew, Oxford school, 342.00
Angie M. Lurvey, New Boston school,
153.00
Minnie E. Bisbee, New Boston school, 189.00
Mattie L. Norris, Sconticut Neck, 119.00
Amy Levare, Sconticut Neck, 105.00
Grace A. Knowlton, Naskatucket, 48.00
Mattie L. Norris, Shoe Factory, I68.00
5,806.50
Janitors' Pay Roll.
Samuel J. Baker, Rogers school, $540.00
Charles T. Akin, High school, 7.00
William P. Macomber, High school,
93.00
8
William P. Macomber, Oxford school, 38.00
Jeremiah Bumpus, New Boston, 35.00
Abby Sherman, Sconticut Neck, 26.50
Daniel S. Gertslaw, Naskatucket, 6.00
William C. Card, Shoe Factory,
19.25
765.25
Fuel.
T. S. Corson, coal,
$448.23
Henry T. Howard, wood,
15.36
John M. Hathaway, wood,
10.00
473.59
School Book-Agency.
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn, books, $14.00
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.,
35.5I
Maymard, Merrill & Co.,
14.70
D. C. Heath & Co.,
7.46
Holden Patent Book Cover Co.,
4.92
Ginn & Co.,
184.53
American Book Co.,
48.46
Silver, Burditt & Co.,
II.40
E. E. Babb & Co.,
47.65
Lee & Shepard,
8.75
H. S. Hutchinson & Co.,
1.25
378.63
Supplies.
Holden Patent Book Cover Co.,
$4.88
E. E. Babb & Co.,
72.09
H. S. Hutchinson & Co.,
I28.84
R. W. Taber,
33.83
Fairhaven Iron Foundry,
.50
L. M. Snow,
14.85
J. L. Hammett,
4.22
Fairhaven Water Co.,
66.81
H. S. Freeman,
1.49
Forrest & Long,
9.26
George A. Mathewson,
.60
9
E. H. Sears,
.47
H. F. Wilde,
.35
C. R. Sherman & Son,
4 19
342.38
Repairs.
W. K. Rogers,
$ .50
H. S. Freeman,
3.32
H. H. Hathaway,
15.76
Whitfield & Omey,
49.50
H. B. Howland,
1.OO
R. H. Taber,
1.75
C. D. Sherman,
3.32
Forrest & Long,
53.70
Taber Bros.,
9.62
George W. King,
.75
139.22
Incidentals.
Mortimer Searls, rubber stamps, $ .70
John I. Bryant, envelopes, 5.46
H. S. Hutchinson & Co., files, 2.00
Charles F. Wing, waste basket,
1.07
Pardee & Dodge, labor, F. W. Luscomb Mch. Co., repairs on mower, 1.00 William P. Macomber, labor, 29.25
3.96
C. D. Waldron, printing,
18.00
S. J. Baker, truant officer, 34.II
Perry P. Jenney & Son, repairs on mower, .40
Fairhaven Highway Dept., labor, 12.50
A. P. James, labor, 2.50
Fairhaven Iron Foundry Co., sharpening mower, 3.00
C. C. Cundall, expenses, 11.30
E. Manchester, Jr., flag pole, 26.00
Jeremiah Bumpus, labor,
9.00
George Pierce, tuning piano, 5.00
J. T. Hanna, Jr., diplomas and ribbon, 5.80
10
Haskell & Tripp, ribbon for diplomas, 1.78
H. S. Freeman, labor, 5.75
C. R. Sherman & Son, zinc, .15
J. L. Hammett & Son, B. B. cloth, II.25
Briggs & Lawrence, chairs,
6.07
Abby Sherman, labor, 3.00
C. F. Brownell & Co., carriage hire,
18.25
Forrest & Long, labor, 36.54
Luther Cole, labor, 2.50
Bobrick School Furn. Co., school desks, 86.40 N. Y., N. H. & Hartford Railr'd, expenses, 4.38 Whitfield & Omey. labor on Shoe Factory school, 196.03 R. H. Taber, labor on Shoe Factory school, 26.01 American Bargain House, scissors, .72
E. Anthony & Sons, printing, 1.20
A. B. Collins, drafting lease, 3.00
Warren Delano and Heirs of J A. Hawes,
rent, 1.OO
575.08
$8,480.65
Summary.
Total amount of appropriation, &c.,
$8.562.87
Total amount of expenditures, 8,480.65
Balance in treasury, $82.22
JOHN T. HANNA, JR., GEORGE H. PALMER, C. C. CUNDALL. GEORGE W. STEVENS.
REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. OF THE
To the School Committee of Fairhaven :
GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with your regulations, I hereby submit the following report.
The tables are made up from January 1, 1895, to Janu- ary 1, 1896.
CALENDAR, 1896=7.
Friday, March 27-Schools close for spring vacation. Monday, April 6-Schools reopen for spring term. Friday, June 19-Excepting High and Grades 9, 8 and 7, Rogers, schools close.
Thursday, June 25-Graduation exercises of High school. Friday, June 26-Graduation exercises of Rogers school. All schools close.
Monday, Aug. 31-High school, and Grades 9, 8 and 7, Rogers, reopen.
Monday, Sept. 7-Labor Day ; no school.
Tuesday, Sept. 8-All schools reopen.
Thursday, Nov. 26-Schools close for Thanksgiving. Monday, Nov. 30-Schools reopen.
Friday, Dec. 18-Schools close for Christmas vacation. Monday, Jan. 4, 1897-Schools reopen for winter term. Monday, Feb. 22-Washington's birthday ; no school. Friday, March 27-Schools close for spring vacation.
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WINTER £ TERM
1895.
January 7 to March 29-12 weeks.
TEACHERS.
Wages
per month
Whole No.
enrolled
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent.
Attendance
No. over
15 years
8 and 14
Average
age
High School :
H. S. Freeman, A. B.
SIIO
45
41 9
39.6
94.7
38
4
16
3
Margaret P. C. Tucker
55
Rogers :
Grade
Cara M. Johnson,
9 & 8
50
20
18.
16 I
89.5
6
IO
14
2
Mary C. Worden,
7
36
23
22.7
20.5
90.8
I
21
I2
2
Lilian E. Page,
6
36
40
38.4
35.8
93.2
3
32
12
4
Catherine E Walters,
Jennie S. Betts,
5
36
48
47
40 9
91.3
48
IO
8
Eva J. Smith,
Bertha H. Tirrell,
4
36
48
46 73
38 45
82.3
44
8
2
Idella M. Libby,
3
36
38
20.9
25.3
Sı .9
3.5
7
Amy B. Smith,
2
36
44
41 2
35.5
86.1
27
8
I
Louise M. Keith,
I
40
43
36.5
31.5
86.3
13
6
IO
Oxford :
Kate Drew
36
41
36 3
39.7
SI.S
I
24
S
4
New Boston :
Angie M. Lurvey
36
28
23.4
20.S
8S.S
I
19
10
I
Sconticut Neck :
Mattie L. Norris
28
7
7
6.3
90.
7
9
I
Totals,
$571
465
409.53
358 35
87.51
60
290
20
19.5
I7 9
91.8
IO
6
15
I
yr. mo.
No. between
14
SPRING TERM.
April 8 to June 28, 1895.
TEACHERS
Wages
per month
Whole No
enrolled
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Fer cent.
Attendance
No. of
Weeks
High School :
H. S. Freeman, A. B.
$IIO
45
40.9
39.1
95.5
12
Margaret P. C. Tucker
65
Rogers :
Grade
Cara M. Johnson, 66
9
50
20
19.8
18.5
93.5
I2
66
8
2I
19.8
18.3
92.2
12
Lilian E. Page,
6
36
41
39.7
37.3
94
II
Eva J. Smith,
5
36
52
47
40.9
91.3
II
Bertha H. Tirrell,
4
36
52
50.25
45.3
90.2
II
Idella M. Libby,
3
36
52
47.4
41.5
87.5
II
Amy B. Smith,
2
36
57
50.5
4.5 . 1
89.3
II
Louise M. Keith,
I
41
40
36.4
31.2
85.7
I 1
Oxford :
Kate Drew
36
5I
42.6
38.4
90. I
II
New Boston :
Angie M. Lurvey
36
37
31.7
29.6
93.3
Sconticut Neck :
Mattie L. Norris
28
9
8.9
7.87
88.4
Totals,
$581
500
455.95
413.37
90.8
36
23
2I
20.3
96.6
12
Mary C. Worden,
7
15
FALL TERM.
September 3 to December 20, 1895.
TEACHERS
Wages per
month
Whole No.
enrolled
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent
Attendance
No. of
Weeks
No. over
15 years
8 and 14
Average
age
High School :
yr. mo.
H. S. Freeman, A. B.
$IIO
45
42.6
39.5
92.8
I6
36
3
15
9
Margaret P. C. Tucker
65
Rogers :
Grade
Cara M. Johnson,
9
20
19.5
18.3
93.9
16
IO
6
14
6
Rose M. Barton, A. B. J
8
2I
19.8
18.7
96.I
2
I5
I3
2
Faye D. Hayes,
7
36
41
36.8
34.9
95
16
6
28
13
Clara F. Hathaway,
6
.36
41
30.1
27.9
92
15
3I
II
8
Eva J. Smith,
5
36
52
46.7
43.4 92. 9
15
I
48
II
I
Nancy S. Allen,
4
.36
52
42.7
40.3
94.4
15
I
47
IO
3
Idella M. Libby,
3
36
40
35.4
31.4
88.7
I5
46
9
4
Amy B. Smith,
2
36
52
43.6
39.4 90.3
I5
34
7
7
Louise M. Keith,
I
40
51
44.6
37.I
83.2
1 5
Oxford :
Kate Drew
36
50
36.3
31.2
85.9
15
22
7
9
New Boston :
Minnie E. Bisbee
36
41
33
31.I
94.2
15
2
25
9
7
Sconticut Neck :
Amy Levare
20
8
7.6
6.5
85.5
15
4
8
4
Shoe Factory :
Grades 5 & 6
Mattie L. Norris
32
3I
31
27.2
87.7
15
31
II
3
Totals,
$605|545
469.7
426.9
90.8
56
348
&
50
8
6
5
No. between
.
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SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR. January 7 to December 20, 1895.
SCHOOL
Whole No.
enrolled
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent.
Attendance
No. of
Weeks
High,
45
41.9
39.4
94.1
40
Grade 9,
20
19.4
18.3
93.2
40
Grade S,
2I
IS.S
17.5
93
40
Grade 7,
23
27.8
26.2
94.3
40
Grade 6,
41
35.5
33.I
93.2
38
Grade 5,
48
47.5
43.5
90.9
38
Grade 4,
53
46.1
41 2
89.3
38
Grade 3,
44
37.4
32.4
86.6
38
Grade 2,
75
44.9
39.8
SS.I
38
Grade I,
99
39.8
33.6
84.4
38
Oxford,
69
38.1
32.8
86
38
New Boston,
41
29.6
27.4
92.5
38
Sconticut Neck,
9
7.7
6.8
SS.3
38
Shoe Factory,
3
31
27.2
S7.7
1 5
Totals,
591
465.5
419.2
90
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During the past year we have had thirteen teachers, the last four months of 1895 . fourteen, at present, fifteen. The year before I found eight of the teachers were new in their positions ; last September, when school began, there were· five who had not taught in our schools ; since then we have had one resignation. This is a matter that needs serious consideration. In the Rogers school, which affords an opportunity for good grading, during the year ending Feb- ruary, 1895, there were new teachers in grades two, four, five, seven and eight ; since that time grades four, five, six, seven, eight and nine have had new teachers. We cannot now tell how many of our present staff will make a change before next September. All of the teachers have had train- ing and some of them had experience, yet the result of change is injurious to the children. They have to pass through nine grades, if they wish to graduate from the Grammar school ; must they meet, every year, a new teach- er, one that has not been teaching in that room? What ad- vancement can the children make? They lose a large part of their time owing to the teacher's having to get ac- quainted with her school and her environment. A new teacher cannot go to work systematically and continue the work where the previous grade left it. The second year, the teacher can be expected to do good work, but then that class will have passed to the next room poorly prepared, or be kept back to repeat the year's work. An effort should be made to keep a teacher in her grade several years; she then gets familiar with her position, knows where to apply herself to get the best results, and finds out in advance some of the characteristics and attainments of each new class of pupils. Under the present system we arrange a course of study, each grade advancing upon the work of the previous. A new teacher steps in. The details, as elaborated by con- ference with the teachers, not having been committed to paper, are not available. After the summer vacation, she
-
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takes her class and her course and begins work. During the vacation something has been forgotten which needs re- calling by review work; she accordingly finds that the · children do not know some of their work and puts them back with a view to making them thorough. She will then spend considerable time in again teaching what has been taught and now needs merely reviewing. If that is stopped the teacher is at sea not knowing where to steer, she knows nothing about her pupils, what they can do and ought to do. This is intensified if the teacher of the lower grade has not returned, for then there will be the additional impression, which is always entertained, that the work of the previous year has been poor. This is where the pupil loses so much. A new teacher has to be sized up by the pupils, and she has to size up her pupils. This process often ends in retarding progress and creating a dislike for work.
If the pupil finds he does not get ahead as fast as for- merly, that perhaps he is just marking time to an old tune, he loses interest and ambition, then at the end of the year he may find he has not graded, and the next step is such a dislike for school that unless under strong compulsion he will not attend. Where the head of the school as well as the other teachers are continually shifting, there seems to be no goal or fixed standard by which advance can be made or marked. The time thus lost by the pupils can never be regained. The influence of it is easily discernible in the Rogers school today. The average child should complete the work of a grade in one year, and do it well ; the clever in less time, and none should need more than two years. When something different exists there is a weak spot some- where that needs attention. One remedy is to increase the salaries. Take the teachers at a minimum, and increase them to such an extent that sufficient inducement will be offered to them to remain in their places at least three years.
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Our maximum is now so low that even then it would not be greater than the minimum of the cities and large towns of this State.
Another possible remedy is to make the work · more mechanical. If the town should join with some of the neighboring towns to form a Superintending District, then the Superintendent would be able to devote enough time to the work, to map out the particular work of each grade, for each week or month, and see that it was all done just as he wants it. The teacher would have to be more of a ma- chine, so that a change would not be felt so much. Now, where the work is marked out for the year, the work is examined, suggestions for future work are made, the teacher is given a chance to do the best she can, to get out of the ruts if she can accomplish more in that way ; consequently, when the change comes no confidence can be felt in the future work of that grade. The Superintendent must get acquainted with the abilities of the new teacher. If he has but a short time at his disposal, and that the last part of the day after a day's work in his own school, proper supervision cannot be given to the work. He cannot get into the school when the teacher has the subject which is presenting the difficulty, so that he can give the necessary assistance. I am strongly of the impression that if the town cannot afford to increase the salaries sufficiently to prevent such frequent changes in our staff, the mechanical system of supervision, and a District Superintendency will be necessary to accom- plish the best results in the Rogers school. The extra cost to the town will be not more than one hundred and fifty dollars.
The State law fixes the minimum salary of the Super- intendent at fifteen hundred dollars. The State gives to the towns seven hundred and fifty dollars to pay the Super- intendent, and five hundred dollars to pay the salaries of the teachers, making the total reimbursement to the towns
20
· of twelve hundred and fifty dollars, leaving a balance of two hundred and fifty dollars to be made up by the towns. Now if this town, according to its vote in 1890, should unite with some of the neighboring towns and secure the services of the Superintendent for three days in the week, it would have to pay three-fifths of two hundred and fifty dollars, that is one hundred and fifty dollars, or in like pro- portion for the comparative time of service. I think it a profitable investment as well as a necessary one.
The State has approved of the policy of Superintendency Districts to such an extent that it pays five-sixths of the cost. This present Legislature has before it a bill to com- pel all towns to form districts, if they are not able to employ a Superintendent all the time.
The bill may not pass this year, yet where the State is so strongly committed to the principle, it is a matter that will be forced upon the towns in a very few years. In such a case this town may be forced to unite with others which may not be convenient of access. It may be prudent to effect a union voluntarily with some of the neighboring towns.
Within a very few years the State has taken such an interest in High school work that for certain purposes it is necessary that the High school be approved by the Board of Education. Some of the larger schools have been ap- proved, some of the smaller have been disapproved. This one has not yet been reported upon although the data have been forwarded and a report is expected. I have been given to understand that not less than the full time of two teachers would be approved. This will prevent the Princi- pal of the High school from acting as Superintendent. If he does, and the school is not approved, the question will then arise whether a parent cannot send his child to an approved High school elsewhere and make the town pay the tuition. From the above consideration you can readily
21
see that it will not subserve the interests of this town to con- tinue the present arrangement. This town of Fairhaven, with a High school of fifty pupils, which under suitable conditions, must increase in size in a few years, is not willing to maintain an inferior school, nor pay the tuition for its pupils to attend an approved school.
As outlined in last year's report, the High school course of study follows the outlines of the classical scientific as set forth in the Report of the Committee of Ten. That you may better understand the fundamental basis of the work, I will repeat some of the extracts : "They give time enough to each subject to win from it the kind of mental training it is fitted to supply ; they put the different principal subjects on an approximate equality so far as time allotment is con- cerned ; they omit all short information courses ; and they make sufficiently continuous the instruction in each of the main lines, namely, language, science, history, mathemat- ics." Some pupils have asked to be allowed to drop Latin, and we have refused to allow it. We have a course which will keep all the pupils profitably employed all the time they are in school, and if they improve their time they can accomplish the work. It does not provide too much work for any ; if they do the work they cannot waste any of their time in school and must do some work at home. To do this work with our present staff it is necessary to make one course for all. According to the school law of this State, Latin is one of the subjects necessary to be taught in every High school. Aside from its intrinsic value as a subject for study these are some of the reasons why Latin is in our course of study.
It is not necessary for a pupil to be excused from it so that he can do the rest of his work, but if he is excused he wastes that much more of his time in school, as we can- not find time to provide some other subject to take the place of that; he would be behind his class if he should remove
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to another town ; if he should wish to go to college it would take him that much longer to prepare. When a pupil enters the High school he cannot tell whether at the end of four years he will wish to go to college or not. Those who go to college are admittedly the most advanced pupils ; consequently it would not be wise to lower our course and let the pupils take an easier when they can take a more ad- vanced course in the same time, and with a reasonable amount of application. As a rule, when a pupil has applied for exemption from Latin, there has been a desire to get clear of the subject because it is hard and demands appli- cation. I have generally found that when a pupil com- plained that he could not learn Latin, his deportment showed a lack of application to work rather than inability to perform it. We can give one strong course and think it better to do so, than to give two weak ones. Pupils are beyond the age of compulsory attendance when they enter the High school. They are sent there by their parents, often at considerable sacrifice, to employ their time in profitable work.
If when the monthly reports are sent home, the parents will examine them carefully, they can tell whether their children are improving or wasting their time. If the mark in any subject or in deportment is below seventy, time is wasted despite the efforts of the teachers. According to the present arrangement of our school work, there is no opportunity for the teachers to remain after hours to see that the pupils prepare the work they have failed on. The only thing is to give the pupil a mark ; and often he will not re- gard that until he has lost his grade and has to take his year over again. That is a punishment which is even more expensive for the parent than the child. If the parents will follow the report cards closely they can materially aid the teacher in advancing the pupil. The teacher wishes to see each pupil advance as rapidly as he is capable of doing, which is often much faster than he does.
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