USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1897 > Part 4
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High School, and the few who may leave school from the other classes, 140 would appear to be a conservative estimate of the number who will be members of the High School and Grades 8 and 9 next year.
As the High School building is now crowded, it can easily be seen that all the pupils in grades 8 and 9 cannot be accom- modated there next year.
However, if there is no unexpected increase in the number of pupils, it may be possible to get along one more year be- fore extra accommodations become necessary.
Next year the number of pupils in grade 7, at the Rogers, will probably be small, and it may be possible to seat about 20 of the pupils in grade 8, who live in the south part of the town. with grade 7 in room 8. Rogers. About 20 more, those living in the centre, can go to the High School build- ing, and the rest of grade & can remain at the Oxford.
This arrangement would leave the number of pupils and conditions at the High School about the same as at present, but would increase the number at the Oxford, so that it may be necessary to open the other room, or provide an assistant teacher to get satisfactory results.
INSTRUCTION.
Without neglecting or giving undue prominence to any subject, a special effort. in which the teachers have cooperated most heartily and earnestly, has been made to improve the work of the schools in Arithmetic, Reading and Language.
In Arithmetic, special attention has been given to the tables and the fundamental processes which form the basis of all advanced work, and an effort has been made to have the prin- ciples of this advanced work thoroughly taught and the pupils led to acquire the power to reason, in order that they may not be dependent upon rules, which are so easily forgotten.
In Reading, the object has been to obtain a more distinct enunciation and better expression : and in Language, as far
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as possible, to obtain the same ease and fluency in writing as in speaking, by much practice in writing upon subjects with which the pupils are thoroughly familiar as well as inter- ested.
Heretofore Grades 8 and 9 have occupied the same room at the Rogers and one teacher has been able to obtain fairly satisfactory results with these two grades in her room, but the number of pupils has usually been about 35, and I think has never exceeded 40. There are now 35 pupils in Grade &, and 20 in Grade 9, and it would be impossible for one teacher to do the work so that parents would feel satisfied with the results.
There are now four teachers at the High School building ; but one of these, Miss Trowbridge, spends only a part of her time in teaching there. She spends Friday of each week as supervisor of music in Mattapoisett, and also gives a half- hour music lesson every week in each of the fourteen schools in Fairhaven. The rest of her time, averaging three hours each day, is spent at the High School. The work is depart- mental, each teacher taking both the High School and Grammar work in those subjects which she is best qualified to teach.
The work is arranged so that the High School receives the equivalent of the services of two teachers, and one hour each day from the extra teacher ; while Grades 8 and 9 receive the services of one teacher, and two hours each day from the extra teacher.
Arrangements have recently been made with Mrs. Man- chester to spend one hour each Friday in giving elocution lessons to the pupils at the High School. This work does not interfere with the work of the regular teacher and promises to be very beneficial.
Mrs. Manchester is very much interested in elocution, and also in the schools, and the work she is now doing at the High School is entirely gratuitous.
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CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
In the last annual report, reference was made to the large number of withdrawals of teachers during the year. The number during the past year has been much smaller-only 4, as compared with 11 in 1896 and 8 in 1895-and our schools are beginning to show the benefits to be derived from con- tinued service, by the improvement in the quality as well as in the quantity of the work now being done in most of the schools.
Any system of schools must suffer greatly when there are frequent changes in the teaching force.
The new teachers are not acquainted with the pupils ; are not familiar with the course of study or plan of work; in most cases have used other text-books and are not acquainted with the people of the town or the spirit of the schools. Therefore they are compelled to drift along, until by hard work and some mistakes they are able to find their bearings, and can begin to do some really good work in the school room.
ABSENCES AND TARDINESS.
This is no new subject for your Superintendent's report, and yet it seems necessary to again speak of this matter; for to this one thing (irregularity ) more than any other, are we indebted for poor work and the loss of interest on the part of many pupils which often causes them to be taken from school, although their parents would gladly have let them remain in school several years longer, if their work had been satisfactory.
In some cases, the pupils are so irregular in their attend- ance and their excuses so trivial, that it seems as if the par- ents send them to school only when they can find nothing else for them to do.
One school authority has said that parents should consider " that the duties of the school constitute the regular business
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of the child so long as he remains a member of the school, and all other work should be made subordinate to this. If parents allow a son to become a clerk for some tradesman, they do not feel at liberty to keep him from his employer one or two days every week. If errands are to be done in the morning, he is not expected to do them, unless he can do them and still be on time at his employer's office."
Another says, "parents should come to feel that school duties ought to take precedence of all others, so long as the child is a member of the school. Irregular attendance is an offence against the community, whose substance, freely given in support of the schools, is thereby wasted ; that it is an injustice to the school, in that thereby the cares and labors of the teacher are increased, and the progress of the pupils is retarded ; and that it is an injury to the child who is allowed to form habits that will lead to bankruptcy in business, and disorder, waste and discontent in the home."
Habits of promptness and regularity are exceedingly important for one who would win success in life, and should be insisted upon in our schools. Parent should be urged to be more careful about this matter of absence and tardiness, in order that these evils may be reduced to the minimum, which illness and unavoidable causes render necessary.
READING.
In a majority of persons the reading habit and the reading taste are formed during school days. If, therefore, the reading of the pupils can be wisely directed by the teachers, the results of their labors in this direction are likely to be lasting and productive of much good. To this end the careful reading of one good book, recommended by the teacher, has recently been made a part of each term's work in reading and language.
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FIRE DRILL.
To provide as far as possible for their safety, and to enable them to get out of the building quickly and without confu- sion, in case of fire, the pupils at the Rogers have been given some practice in a fire drill. At a recent trial, every pupil was out of the building in 55 seconds after the signal was given.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS.
Meetings of the teachers in this district are held at the School Committee room in the Town Hall. on the second Saturday of each month, at 9.15 A. M.
Methods of teaching and matters of interest in connection with the schools are discussed. Parents and others interested in the schools are always welcome.
The Superintendent can usually be seen at his house on Thursdays, from 5.30 to 7.30 P. M., whenever the schools are in session.
In closing this report, I wish to express my appreciation of the zeal and faithfulness of the teachers, the cordial support of the Committee and the kindness and cooperation of the parents.
Respectfully submitted,
E. B. GRAY,
Superintendent of Schools.
February 15. 1898.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
Mr. E. B. Gray, Superintendent of Schools, Fairhaven, Mass. :
DEAR SIR :- It is with pleasure that I report to you the work of the schools in the department of vocal music.
Since the first of September I have visited every grade, including the schools of New Boston and Naskatucket, once a week, spending thirty minutes in each room.
In the Primary grades much time has been spent on interval work by dictation, also in the study of simple time and tune in the different keys. This work is done from charts, supplemented by work from the board.
In the upper grades greater difficulties in time and tune are studied and part singing carried on. Here the work is somewhat impeded from a lack of books, which are necessary to give sufficient practice in the various difficulties presented. Much time is necessarily lost in writing and rewriting exer- cises on the board, where twice the amount of work could be accomplished if we had the proper material to place in the pupils' hands. I hope the town will see the wisdom of furnishing the schools, this coming year, with more music readers.
My aim in all the grades is to make the pupils independent sight-readers, and to cultivate a quality of tone which comes naturally when pupils sing softly, and so avoid the danger of straining the voices by loud singing, which is always harsh and unmusical.
Songs have been introduced into all grades, so that the aesthetic side of the child's nature has not been neglected.
I wonder if parents fully realize what an important part music plays in the education of the child? Consider its value as an aid to other studies. How it cultivates the speaking voice and what an influence it has over the reading lesson ! The child who sings will enunciate more distinctly. Those muscles at the side of the mouth, which almost fall into
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disuse from a careless, indifferent manner of speaking with closed teeth, will be brought into play and distinct utterance be the result. This seems to be of sufficient importance to commend music, but let us look at it as a mental discipline. What subject calls for such active use of the mental faculties as sight-singing? How the mind must work in grasping a new piece : first, the note, its pitch, its length, the quality and quantity of tone required, the accent, words, expression, and movement. Is there any subject that can excel this ?
Singing is one means of physical culture. We never breathe deeper than when we are singing, and respiration is necessary to life. It arouses circulation, expands the lungs, gives good chest development, promotes free, deep breathing, and imparts vigor to the whole system.
What a great factor music is as an aid in discipline ! How it calms the exuberance of spirit or restrains the restlessness from confining study ! It has for its aim the cultivation of the soul, and that means character building.
Honesty, truth, love, obedience, patriotism, are the senti- ments that many a song leaves behind in a child's memory and are never forgotten; and so, let us never deprive the children of one of the noblest and most refining influences that can surround them in the school room.
There is no reason why music, if presented in a practical and progressive manner, should not reach the same standard that is required in other branches of learning in our schools, and with the hearty cooperation of the teachers who so faith- fully carry out my instructions, I hope the time will soon come when every pupil will sing as intelligently as they read.
Very respectfully,
ANNA BAILEY TROWBRIDGE, Supervisor of Music.
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TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT.
FROM FEBRUARY 15, 1897, TO FEBRUARY 15, 1898.
Reasonable excuses for staying away, 19.
Unreasonable, 21.
Truants, 19.
To date add one case unreasonable excuse for staying out. Whole number, 59.
Respectfully submitted, G. WINSTON VALENTINE, Truant Officer.
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