USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1898 > Part 4
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satisfactory location for a schoolhouse. It is almost neces- sary that there should be some changes in the interior. With the present number of pupils it is necessary to use the small room between the entries. This is only 11 by 15 feet in size ; is without ventilation and with no means of heating except with an oil stove, yet it is being used as a recitation room for classes of from 15 to 20 pupils.
This room could be enlarged by taking in a corner of the other classrooms. The Chemistry tables could then be placed in this room and the north class room could be seated.
TEACHERS.
Eight teachers have withdrawn during the year and the Principal of the High School has been granted a leave of absence on account of ill health. This is about twice as many changes as one year ago but only about the average for the past few years.
It is unfortunate for any system of schools to have such frequent changes in its corps of teachers, but you have been fortunate in retaining many of your best teachers as well as in the selection to fill vacancies so that at present the teaching force as a whole is probably more efficient than it has been at any time for some years.
PROMOTIONS.
The majority of the pupils need nine years in which to prepare for the High School but many, perhaps as many as one-third of them, could do the work equally well in eight years.
At present our schools and the graded schools of most other towns and cities expect all the pupils to do this work in the same time. The result is that those pupils who learn easily and quickly do not have to exert themselves to keep up with their classes, and therefore not only waste much valua-
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ble time but are apt to form habits of listlessness and idle- ness ; while the slower pupils are hurried along so rapidly, in the effort to give the others enough to do, that they pass - over much which they do not fully understand. This makes it more and more difficult for these pupils to do satisfactory work as they pass from grade to grade. Pupils soon lose their interest in school and become discouraged when they find that they get but small return for their hard work.
We hope during the coming year to arrange some plan for promotion which will break the present "lock-step" and make the rate of progress of each class or division depend more largely upon the ability of its pupils to do the work satisfactorily. This would probably do away with the regu- lar promotion of all classes in June and provide for the pro- motion of each class whenever it is found to be thoroughly prepared to take up the work of the next grade.
DIVISION OF TIME.
The amount of time to be devoted in the various subjects has been tabulated and is given below in minutes per week. In order that pupils may not become too dependent upon others for assistance it is important that they should spend a considerable portion of each day's time in school in indepen- dent study, with no assistance except from the book, there- fore in most of the subjects the classes are divided into two sections, one of which studies while the other recites, and they each receive one-half the time given in the table.
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GRADES.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI. VII. VIII IX.
Opening Exercises.
25
25
25
25
25
25
50
50
50
Reading.
500
500
350
300
250
200
200
175
150
Language,
125
125
175
175 175
175
175
200
200
Spelling,
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
Arithmetic,
250
250
300
300
300
300
275
275
250
Geography,
50
50
50
75
125
150
150
150
200
History,
50
50
50
75
75
100
150
150
150
Drawing,
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
Writing.
75
75
75
75
75
75
60
60
60
Physiology and Nature Study, 100
125
125 125
125
125
100
100
100
Music,
60
60
60
60
60
60
75
75
75
Physical Exercise,
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
Literature,
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
Recesses,
50
50
50
25
25
25
25
25
25
Unassigned time,
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
The plan of shortening the recesses to five minutes was tried last term and the arrangement seems to be giving entire satisfaction to all concerned.
The reports of the Supervisor of Music and the Truant Officer and also the Rules and Regulations of the School Committee are appended.
In closing I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the teachers for their faithful work and loyal support; to the Committee for their hearty co-operation and confidence, and to the citizens for their courtesy to me and their in- terest in the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
E. B. GRAY,
February 15, 1899.
Superintendent of Schools.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
Mr. E. B. Gray, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR :- It is with pleasure that I submit to you the report of the work done in music the past year. Every grade in town, as usual, has been visited once a week and thirty minutes devoted to the pupils.
Owing to the limited amount of time allotted to the study of music, compared to that given to other branches, we can- not expect such rapid strides as might be noticed in arithmetic or grammar, and yet I feel encouraged with the recent progress.
My aim during the first four years of school life is to de- velop quick, accurate readers in the various keys, and I hope in time that the Grammar grades will show the results of the excellent work in this line, which the teachers today are carrying on with the little ones.
The books and charts purchased last year by the School Board have been of inestimable value in promoting this work. The foundations laid in the Primary grades MUST be strong, if you look for success in the musical years to follow.
A good quality of tone in the various rooms is sought for and soft singing demanded : although how to preserve the enthusiasm and the voice of the over-ambitious boy is often a difficult question to settle ; the former MUST be maintained and the latter MUST be protected.
One thing which needs attention in our Public Schools today, is more distinct, clearer articulation. The boys and girls do not enunciate as well as they might. and we are attracted daily to the indistinct utterances of pupils, both on the street as well as in the schoolroom. This indifferent manner of speaking can often be assisted and improved by music alone.
To vary the drill in notation, songs are introduced in
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every grade ; here we aim to keep in touch with the lan- guage work.
Songs for each season follow one another, and many na- ture lessons are taught in the little tunes presented ; our holidays too are not forgotten and lessons of patriotism are instilled into each heart through our national airs.
Only the best literature in song should be presented from the earliest years ; just as we aim to cultivate a refined liter- ary taste, so only what is best and purest in music should ever be given. The musical sense is deformed by inartistic, worthless music, just as the mind is vitiated by a trashy novel. Through song alone our pupils may become familiar with such writers as Robert Louis Stevenson, Celia Thaxter, Eugene Field, Helen Hunt Jackson, J. G. Holland, Marga- ret Deland, Tennyson, Lucy Larcom, and others, whose poems have been set in vibration so charmingly by many excellent composers.
The Grammar schools continue the work started in the Primary grades, while chorus singing occupies the time at the High School.
I most heartily commend the teachers of Fairhaven for their earnest efforts in carrying out my instructions, and for the sympathy expressed in my work.
Very respectfully yours,
ANNA BAILEY TROWBRIDGE,
Supervisor of Music.
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TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT.
The number of cases looked into between February 15, 1898 and February 15, 1899 were 34. Out of this number 9 were of truancy. One truant sent to Walpole for one year.
Respectfully submitted,
G. WINSTON VALENTINE,
Truant Officer.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
OF THE
FAIRHAVEN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD.
1. The annual meeting of the Board shall be held on the Thursday following the first Monday in March at 7.30 P. M.
2. At the annual meeting a Chairman and Secretary shall be chosen by ballot for a term of one year, and shall con- tinue in office until their successors are chosen.
3. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held on the last Thursday of each month at 7.30 P. M., unless otherwise ordered.
4. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or at the request of any two members of the Board.
5. At the first regular meeting of the Board, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Chairman shall appoint the following sub committees :
1. Committee on High School, two members.
2. 6 "' Rogers School, two members.
3. " Oxford School, two members.
4. " Rural Schools, two members.
5. " Books and. Supplies, Superinten- dent and two members.
6. The Chairman shall be a member of at least one sub- committee. *
7. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
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DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES.
1. The Chairman, when present, shall preside at all meetings and exercise the customary duties pertaining to his office.
2. The Secretary shall have charge of all records of the Board and of all papers ordered to be kept on file. He shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of each meeting of the Board in a book provided for the purpose, and shall enter upon the record the names of the members present at each meeting. He shall notify the members of the Board of all meetings, and all teachers of their appointment or election. He shall keep a systematic and full account of all receipts and disbursements of the Board, and shall submit to the Board at each regular meeting a statement showing the financial condition. He shall perform such other duties as by custom belong to his office, and as may be required by the Board.
3. Sub-committees on schools shall have the special care and direction of their respective schools ; but they shall not, without the authority of the Board, change the general ar- rangements and management. In cases of emergency they may incur an expense not to exceed ten dollars on account of any school, and shall report the same at the next meeting of the Board. Each committee, after a personal inspection of the condition of the school property under its charge, shall annually make a report to the Board at the regular May meeting and shall recommend such repairs as may be deemed necessary.
4. The Committee on Books and Supplies shall have charge of the purchase of all books, apparatus and supplies including janitors' supplies.
APPROVAL OF BILLS.
1. The Chairman shall approve all bills for salaries es- tablished by vote of the Board.
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2. All bills, except for salaries established by vote of the Board, shall be presented to the Board by the Secretary, and if approved by a majority vote thereof shall be signed by the Chairman and handed to the Town Treasurer for payment.
ELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT, TEACHERS AND JANITORS.
1. The Superintendent shall be elected annually by bal- lot at a joint meeting of the Committees of Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Acushnet held during the month of April.
2. The annual election of teachers shall be held at the regular June meeting of the Board and shall be by ballot.
3. Janitors shall be elected by ballot at the regular June meeting, and the Board reserves the right to dismiss a jani- tor at any time for cause.
DUTIES OF SUPERINTENDENT.
1. The Superintendent shall be the executive officer of the Board and under its general direction and guidance shall have the care and supervision of all the schools and shall be the medium of communication between the Board and the teachers except when otherwise voted. He shall acquaint himself with whatever concerns the interest and progress of popular education for the benefit of the schools under his charge.
2. He shall keep regular office hours other than school hours, for the convenience of teachers and the public.
3. He shall visit all the schools at least once in each month, that he may obtain a personal knowledge of their condition and needs.
4. He shall from time to time inspect the grounds, buildings and other school property and report any defi- ciency in the same and, in general, he shall report anything which is unfavorable to the morals, health, physical devel- opment, and progress of the pupils.
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5. He shall prepare the courses of study for the schools, subject to the approval of the Board, and see that the same are followed.
6. He shall have the supervision and direction of the methods of teaching and discipline, and shall give such counsel and assistance to the teachers as may be needed.
7. He shall see that all the pupils are properly graded and classified, and shall direct the promotion of pupils from one grade to another.
8. He shall make all necessary regulations for conduct- ing examinations in the schools and shall see that they are faithfully carried out.
9. He shall hold meetings of teachers for the purpose of advising them concerning the best methods of instruction and discipline ; for the discussion of pedagogical subjects, and to inform them concerning his plan of work and their duties.
10. He shall submit to the Board a monthly report of the condition of the schools -; the needs of the several de- partments and such other matters as he may think proper or the Board may direct.
11. In February of each year he shall report to the Board in writing concerning the condition of the schools together with such suggestions, information and recom- mendations as he may deem proper.
12. He shall prepare all returns required by the laws of the Commonwealth or by vote of the Board.
13. He shall prepare for printing all blanks and reports necessary for use in the schools and for the Board.
14. He shall see that all teachers are furnished with necessary blanks for registers and reports, and that uni- formity exists in the same.
15. Under the direction of the sub-committee he shall purchase all' books, apparatus and supplies; shall care for
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and attend to the distribution of the same and see that they are properly used.
16. He shall keep a list of applicants for schools, and a record of such facts as may be known to him respecting their character, experience, and qualifications.
17. He shall examine applicants for positions as teachers and, under the direction of the Board, shall issue certificates as provided by law.
18. When a vacancy occurs in the teaching force through the resignation of a teacher, he shall recommend a person for such vacancy.
19. He shall fill all vacancies caused by the temporary absence of regular teachers, and shall report the same at the next meeting of the Board.
20. He shall give prompt attention to every case of a pupil suspended by a teacher, and if after due examination he does not receive satisfactory assurances of future good conduct he shall continue the suspension and report the case to the Board at the next meeting.
21. He shall carefully investigate all difficulties arising in the management of the schools and shall take such action as may seem expedient. His rules and decisions shall be subject to the right of appeal to the Board, but shall be binding until revoked by vote of the Board.
22. He shall direct the janitors in the performance of their duties, and shall report to the Board any neglect in the proper discharge of the same.
23. He shall decide when there shall be no session of the schools on account of stormy weather and give the signal for the same.
24. He shall make up the monthly pay roll and present the same to the Chairman for his approval.
25. At the regular April meeting he shall make a de- tailed report of the work of each teacher and the condition of each school.
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26. He shall attend all meetings of the Board, and shall express his opinion or communicate information on any sub- ject when requested by the Board.
DUTIES OF TEACHERS.
1. Teachers shall secure and preserve good order in their respective rooms; exercise a careful supervision over the pupils in the rooms, halls and on the school premises, both before and after school as well as at recess, so as to prevent any improper conduct or language : carefully attend to the physical education and comfort of the pupils ; thoroughly prepare themselves in the studies pursued in the several classes, and conduct the work of teaching in accordance with established principles and approved methods.
2. Teachers shall practice such discipline in their schools as would be exercised by a kind, judicious parent in a family, and shall avoid corporal punishment in all cases where good order can be preserved by milder means. All cases of cor- poral punishment with the cause, nature, and amount of punishment shall be immediately reported to the Superin- tendent.
3. Teachers shall report all cases of gross misconduct and immorality to the Superintendent for his counsel and direction.
4. Teachers may suspend from school any pupil guilty of gross misconduct or continual insubordination to school regulations. In all cases where it is practicable, notice of such misconduct shall be given to the parent or guardian before suspension. Immediate notice of all suspensions shall be given in writing to the parents or guardian of the pupil suspended, and to the Superintendent.
5. Teachers shall require their pupils to be in their re- spective school rooms punctually at the appointed hour, and all pupils not in shall be marked absent or tardy, as the case may be.
·
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6. Teachers shall not send pupils on errands during school hours.
7. All teachers shall be present in their respective school rooms, prepared for duty, fifteen minutes before the open- ing of both morning and afternoon sessions. Teachers not present in accordance with this rule shall report themselves as tardy.
8. No teacher shall dismiss school earlier than the regu- lar hour or for any part of the day except under the direc- tion of the Superintendent.
9. No teacher shall be absent from school without the permission of the Superintendent unless on account of sick- ness when such permission cannot be obtained. Immediate notice of a teacher's inability to perform her duties shall be given to the Superintendent so that he may have ample time to secure a substitute and have her present to begin work at the proper time. No teacher shall employ a substitute.
The Superintendent shall also be notified of the time when the teacher may be expected to resume her duties.
10. Teachers shall as far as practicable have a general supervision over their pupils on the way to and from school.
11. It shall be the duty of each teacher to keep a pro- gram of the daily exercises in some conspicuous place. A copy of this program shall be submitted to the Super- intendent for his approval.
12. Teachers shall keep their school registers and record books neatly and accurately according to the directions of the Superintendent and shall promptly hand in such reports as he may call for.
13. Each teacher shall take daily care that no school- room furniture, apparatus, or other school property of any kind, either in or out of the building, be in any way defaced or destroyed, and when any injury occurs, either by acci- dent or otherwise, shall give prompt notice to the Superin- dent.
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14. Each teacher shall be responsible for the proper and economical use of the books and supplies furnished to his or her classes and shall make a report upon the same to the Superintendent as often as required.
15. Teachers shall attend punctually and regularly all meetings to which they may be called by the Superinten- dent or the Board.
16. The Superintendent may allow teachers to take not more than two days each year, without loss of pay, for the purpose of visiting other public schools and observing modes of discipline and instruction, and they shall make a report to him of the time so spent, naming the schools visited, ex- ercises and methods observed with suggestions and criti- cisms in regard to the same. The Superintendent may put a substitute in the place of a teacher absent for this purpose, in which case the substitute shall be paid by the town.
17. Teachers shall not permit any person to enter the school premises for the purpose of promoting the sale of any article whatever ; nor shall they allow notices to be given, advertisements, circulars or other printed matter to be dis- tributed or any collection to be taken, without the consent of the Board.
18. The principals of the several schools shall have a general supervision of the pupils in the buildings and on the grounds, and a concurrent jurisdiction with the other teach- ers in their respective rooms. They shall make all neces- sary regulations, subject to the approval of the Superin- tendent, for the orderly assembling and dismissing of pu- pils and for the maintainance of good order throughout the buildings and on the grounds. They shall exercise proper supervision of the schoolhouses and the appurtenances thereto and shall see that the persons in charge of the build- ings attend carefully to their duties, giving prompt notice of any delinquency on the part of such persons.
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19. Principals are at all times entitled to the hearty co- operation of all assistant teachers in carrying out their plans, and shall give prompt notice to the Superintendent of any failure to receive the same.
20. No teacher shall resign without giving four weeks written notice to the Superintendent.
PUPILS.
1. Every pupil is expected to attend school regularly and punctually ; to conform to all the rules of the school, and to obey all the directions of the teacher; to observe good order and propriety of deportment ; to be diligent in · study, respectful to teachers, kind and obliging to school- mates and clean and neat in person and attire.
2. No pupil shall be allowed to depart before the ap- pointed hour of closing the school, except in case of sick- ness or on the request of parents or guardian. A pupil leaving school without the permission of the teacher shall be considered to have severed all connection with the school.
3. Any pupil who shall be guilty of defacing or injuring any school property shall be liable to pay for all damages, and be subject to such penalty as the nature of the offense may require.
4. Pupils are forbidden to throw stones, snowballs, or missiles of any kind upon the school grounds, or in the im- mediate vicinity thereof.
5. Any pupil found to be incorrigible or persistently disobedient may be suspended from school by the teacher and no pupil suspended from a school shall be again ad- mitted to that or any other school without permission of the Superintendent or by vote of the Board.
6. In all cases of absence or tardiness pupils shall fur- nish their teachers with satisfactory excuses from their parents or guardians.
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7. Pupils shall be regularly admitted to the first grade (lowest Primary) only during the month of September. This rule, however, shall not apply to pupils over seven years of age.
8. Pupils who are qualified to join existing classes may be admitted at any time during the year. Pupils under five years of age shall not be admitted to any school.
9. Pupils desiring to enter school, except those already classified, should present themselves to the Superintendent for classification.
10. "No child who has not been duly vaccinated shall be admitted to a public school except upon presentation of a certificate signed by a regular practicing physician that such child is an unfit subject for vaccination. No child who is a member of a household in which a person is sick with small- pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, or measles. or of a household exposed to contagion from a household as aforesaid, shall attend any public school during such sickness, or until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health of the town or city, or from the attending physician of such person, stating in a case of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, that a period of at least two weeks, and in case of measles a period of at least three days, has elapsed since the recovery, removal or death of such person, and that the danger of the convey- ing of such disease by such child has passed."
11. No pupil shall be allowed to attend school while af- ficted with whooping-cough, and teachers shall have author- ity to exclude temporarily pupils who may be afflicted with other diseases or eruptions of a doubtful character, and all such cases shall be reported promptly to the Superintendent.
ATTENDANCE. [Public Statutes, Chapter 496, Acts of 1898.]
SECTION 12. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall attend some public day school in the town
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or city in which he resides during the entire time the public day schools are in session, subject to such exceptions as to children, places of attendance and schools as are provided for in sections three, seven, ten and eleven of this act : provided that the superintendent of schools may excuse cases of necessary absence ; and provided, further, that the attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such town or city in accordance with section two of chapter four hundred and ninety-eight of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-four. Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause such child to attend school as required by this section.
SECTION 24. Every habitual truant, that is, every child between seven and fourteen years of age who wilfully and habitually absents himself from school contrary to the pro- visions of section twelve of this act, upon complaint of a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, and if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
SECTION 25. Every habitual absentee, that is, every child between seven and sixteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets or public places of any town or city of the Commonwealth, having no lawful occupation, habitually not attending school, and growing up in idleness and ignorance, upon complaint by a truant officer or any other person, and conviction thereof, may be com- mitted, if a boy, at the discretion of the court, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial
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school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
SECTION 26. Every habitual school offender, that is, every child under fourteen years of age who persistently violates the reasonable regulations of the school which he attends, or otherwise persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, at the discretion of the court, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
SECTION 27. Any court or magistrate by whom a child is committed to a county truant school may make such order as said court or magistrate deems expedient concerning the payment by the parents of such child to the county, of the cost of the support of any such child while in said school, and may from time to time revise and alter such order, or make a new order, as the circumstances of the parents may justify.
SECTION 28. Any court or magistrate by whom a child has been convicted of an offence under this act may in his discretion place such child on probation under the oversight of a truant officer of the town or city in which the child re- sides, or of a probation officer of said court, for such period and upon such conditions as said court or magistrate may deem best ; and within such period, if the child violates the conditions of his probation, such truant officer or proba- tion officer may without warrant or other process take the child before the court, and the court may thereupon pro- ceed to sentence or may make any other lawful disposition of the case.
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GENERAL.
1. The school year shall consist of forty weeks for the High School and thirty-eight weeks for the elementary schools.
2. All legal holidays shall be observed and the schools shall be closed on the day of the annual meeting of the Bristol County Teachers' Association.
3. The school sessions shall be as follows : High School, from 8.30 A. M. to 1.30 p. M., with fifteen minutes for re- cess. Graded schools, from 9 A. M. to 11.45 A. M. and from 1.30 p. M. to 3.45 P. M., except that from December 1 to February 15 the afternoon session shall close at 3.30 P. M. Rural schools, from 9 A. M. to 12 M. and from 1.15 to 3.45 P. M., with a recess of fifteen minutes in the forenoon and ten minutes in the afternoon.
4. The school buildings shall be open for the admission of pupils fifteen minutes before the opening of both morning and afternoon sessions.
5. Three rounds on Fire Alarm box 22 struck at 8.15 A. M. or 12.45 r. M. will signify that the next session in all schools of grades 1 to 5 inclusive will be omitted.
DUTIES OF JANITORS.
1. To have the schoolrooms warm and comfortable as early as 8.45 A. M., and to aim faithfully to keep the tem- perature in the schoolrooms at a standard of 68 degrees.
2. To keep all rooms, halls, stairways and furniture properly cleaned and dusted, thoroughly sweeping and dust- ing them not less than twice each week.
3. To thoroughly clean all blackboards, chalk racks and erasers, at least twice each week, and oftener if necessary.
4. To keep the walls, ceilings and mouldings clean at all times and wash all floors of the schoolrooms, recitation rooms, halls, and stairways, three times each year.
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5. To thoroughly wash all the windows and wood-work once each term.
6. To keep the outhouses and water-closets clean and in a healthful condition, and to wash the closet seats once each week, and oftener if necessary.
7. To keep the walks free from snow and ice, and from dirt and rubbish, and to try in every way to keep the grounds as attractive as possible.
8. To ventilate the rooms before and after school.
9. To properly store all fuel when delivered, without extra charge, and to use the same economically.
10. When required by the Board or Superintendent, to make such slight changes and repairs as may be necessary.
11. To keep the buildings properly closed when the schools are not in session.
12. To have charge of their respective buildings and grounds during all vacations, and keep the same in proper condition.
13. To see that no tacks or nails are driven into the walls or woodwork, except by their direction, and they shall be responsible for all injury caused by the same.
14. To perform such other duties under the direction of the Board or Superintendent as properly belong to their office.
15. Each janitor shall be responsible for all the damage done to the buildings, grounds and property contained there- in, occasioned by his neglect.
16. Each janitor shall be under the general direction of the Superintendent, and under the immediate direction of the principal of the school.
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