USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1918 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
During the summer it became evident that the fourth room in this building must be made use of in view of a probable increase in school attendance.
Owing to the location of the building fairly near the center of population it seemed desirable to transfer all the seventh and eighth grade pupils of the town to this building and organize the beginnings of a Junior High School. As the plan developed, however, obstacles appeared of such. a nature as to render the arrangement impracticable. Among these, was the probability that the building would not pro- perly accommodate the total membership of these two classes. When schools opened in. the fall it was at once evident that this forecast was justified as the building can accommodate only 140 upper grade pupils and conform to the proper seating standards, while the actual enrollment in these two grades was 155, or fifteen more than the normal capacity of the building. As a consequence the seventh and eighth grades were all housed elsewhere.
11
There are several features of this building that have proved unsatisfactory. These are concerned mainly with the problem of water in the basement, with features of the design that make overhead expense of operation unusually large and with poor workmanship and poor material in some elements of the construction. I would recommend to the committee that a competent consulting architect be engaged to make an inspection of this building and report on means for remedying these defects.
Washington Street School.
It is hardly necessary to call to the attention of the com- mittee the fact that the Washington Street School should be abandoned for school purposes at the earliest possible date as the conditions there are not creditable and the hygienic situation is at least questionable. The rooms are poorly lighted and poorly ventilated and the play ground entirely inadequate. This building should be replaced with a modern, well lighted, healthful school structure on a lot large enough to provide adequate play ground facilities.
The Rogers School.
In the process of reorganization that was carried out during the summer, it was found necessary to transfer the two fourth grades from the Rogers School, one going to the Washington Street building and one to the Job C. Tripp. Under the present arrangement the lower floor of the Rogers building is occupied by two fifth and two sixth grades; the upper floor is occupied by grades seven and eight, nearly but not quite, filling the seating capacity of the four rooms.
These two grades are organized on the departmental basis, each teacher having her specific subjects which she teachers in all divisions of both grades instead of confining herself to a single room and teaching all subjects in that room. The pupils of these two grades are also offered an opportunity to take beginner's work in direct method French and elementary or general science. Opportunity for
12
the introduction of this work has been made by bringing about moderate reductions in the amount of traditional geography, technical grammar and certain features of the least useful arithmetic. It is believed that the plan will work out successfully. The present day tendencies in the two upper grades is towards the organization of the Junior High School. The purpose of this type of school is to bridge over to some extent the gap that exists between the elemen- tary and high schools. It also aims to allow an earlier be- sinning in specialization, that is, allowing the pupil in the seventh grade to begin to apply himself directly to those phases of education for which he expects, in later life, to have some actual use.
The arrangement with the two upper grades at the Rogers School is merely a beginning, looking towards the Junior High School organization. It seems wise to make haste slowly, and carefully analyze the results of changed conditions. One of the most important reasons for the Junior High School being in bad odor in some towns where it has been tried, lies in the fact that an attempt has been made to transplant the entire system without properly preparing the soil. In other words the Junior High School has been started without giving pupils, parents or teachers an opportunity to get an appreciation of the principles, pedagogical, psychological, and economic involved. The worst feature of this condition is that comparatively few teachers have really grasped the view point. It is not strange that such a condition should exist and this is not intended as a criticism of upper grade teachers in general. As a matter of fact there has been until very recently, prac- tically no opportunity for teachers to secure a suitable type of training for this work.
It seems best therefore that the changes that are brought about in the upper grades should go no faster than a pro- perly guided community is ready to accept or teachers found to properly instruct. Acting on this suggestion, your super- intendent would recommend that towards the close of the
13
present school year a careful evaluation of results in your seventh and eighth grades be made and, if the evidence war- rants, further steps be taken in reorganization.
In going much if any further, it will be necessary to make minor modifications in the work of the grades imme- diately below, that is, the fourth, fifth and sixth and also have the full co-operation of the High School in a readjust- ment of content and method. At present there is very little direct sympathy between the attitude of the upper grades and of the High School-this comment to be interpreted not as a local criticism but as a statement of fact with refer- ence to school systems in general. Our grade schools con- sist of eight years, dealing more or less in logical order with subject matter. The term "High School" is a misnomer as the subject matter and the method of the High School have not grown up as a continuation of the elementary school system but have developed rather as they have been handed down from the college. As a consequence, we have the very definite and decided break between the eighth grade and the freshman year in High School.
Generally speaking, the present tendencies towards prac- ticalizing the work of the school are developing more rapidly in the grades than in the High School, due to the reasons inti- mated above, namely, that your elementary school system comes rather directly from the wishes of the public while the High School is, to a considerable extent, dictated to by the college faculty who can see but little outside of their own demands. As a consequence the High School is to too large an extent still obliged to "fit for college" instead of fitting for life. (A further discussion of the function of the High School will be found in the report of the principal which appears elsewhere) .
Special Classes.
The present-day school administrator is coming more and more fully to recognize the fact that our schools are not meet- ing the needs of the children to the extent that they should.
14
We have been rather content with our accomplishment if we have been able to keep a fair percentage of our pupils in the schools and get from them acceptable class-room recitations.
We have allowed but little variation to meet the needs of different types of children. Our courses of study have been rather dogmatic and founded upon tradition. They have not kept pace with changing conditions.
Generally speaking, our schools of today, and those of Fairhaven are fairly typical, are not doing what they should to fit the child for his place in life. This is true, not only with reference to the ordinary class-room material that we are attempting to teach, but it is more especially true in con- nection with those specialized lines of work that we are not attempting to teach.
There are many children who are classed as lazy or indo- lent, or stupid, or feeble minded, to whom no one of these adjectives properly applies. The difficulty is not that the child doesn't fit the school work, but that the school work doesn't fit the child. We have been and still are to too great an extent trying to make the child conform to a hard and fast curriculum of more or less useless material, rather than devis- ing a practical, worth-while, vitalized curriculum that will fit the varying child needs. Until we recognize that such a changed view point must be adopted, our schools will be very justly open to criticism for their failure to make the most of their opportunities.
To be sure these changes cannot be effected in any revo- lutionary manner. We have been trained for generations in the idea that education consists in book learning and it is hard to get away from that conception. It must be done, however, and it will be done. An intelligent public will demand that it be done, will demand that the child shall have an opportunity, in connection with his school, to study those things that are a part of life itself, instead of being obliged to pore for hours over certain forms of technical English grammar; facts and dates of history; rivers, mountains, lakes, cities of the far off places of the globe; and the spelling of words that they have no use for after they get them spelled.
15
Along the lines suggested above, one of the most crying needs of your local school system is provision for special classes for atypical children. There are in your schools a considerable number of pupils who are retarded generally or whose type of capacity is along practical or manual lines rather than bookish lines. These pupils must have work of this nature in order to develop the best that is in them. There are also those children who are above normal in capacity, and yet because of an established system of grading with annual promotions are obliged to spend a longer time in the school system than is necessary. These pupils are not only losing actual years in their education but they are acquiring dilatory habits as well. Semi-annual promotions would be a help in solving this latter difficulty as would a summer review school.
Building Needs.
In spite of the fact that the Job C. Tripp School has just been completed and occupied the town is confronted with a problem in the matter of still further school accommoda- tions. It is suggested elsewhere in this report that the Wash- ington street building should be abandoned and a new build- ing of modern design provided. In addition to this there is a very imperative need for additional school accommodations in the north end of the town. The Oxford School is filled to capacity. It was necessary last fall to remove the seventh grade from that building in order to allow room for the in- coming classes. From present indications there will be as large an entering class next fall as there was last fall. If this is the case it will be impossible to provide for all of the first six grades in the north end of the town in that building. As a matter of fact an increase of fifteen children, yes, even ten, in some grades will create a real problem.
At the present time the dividing line for pupils between the Oxford School and the down town schools is practically at Elm street. If present indications are correct it will be necessary to change that dividing line next fall to the vicinity
16
of Riverside Cemetery, in order to allow the Oxford building to be within its capacity. A survey of pupil location through- out the town is being made at the present time in connection with a general survey of the entire school situation. The figures from this survey are not as yet available, but it is fair to assume that your most imperative building needs call for an additional school building somewhere in the rear of the High School, between Main and Adams streets, in order to relieve the Oxford building and to a less extent the lower grades in the down town buildings. It is recommended that the committee take cognizance of this needed situation and provide for an immediate and thorough investigation in order that the needs may be met when they arise and that errors in location, design and construction may be avoided, so far as possible.
Physical Training.
There is no doubt that the present session of the General Court will make some form of physical training compulsory throughout the school system. It is recommended that im- mediate action be taken to provide a supervisor of physical training, who shall carry on the work both in the High School and in the grades. He should also include supervision of community play grounds during the summer vacation period, and a small appropriation for apparatus should be provided.
Health Supervision.
Below will be found brief quotations from the report of the school nurse, Miss Anna G. Perry, who has done faithful and efficient work in company with the school physician under very trying circumstances during the past few months. The supervision and care of the health of the pupils should be carried further than present conditions will allow. The Fair- haven schools should have the full time of a competent nurse, and the work of the physician should be extended to provide for more frequent inspections and for regular office hours
17
when exclusive attention can be given to the needs of the pupils.
Miss Perry reports as follows :
"Marked improvement has been noted in the health of the school children. There have been comparatively few con- tagious cases in the schools and children with any suspicious symptoms have been promptly excluded. Unfortunately influenza crept into the school rooms, though most of the cases were mild. The vaccination law has been strictly enforced. Several children with pediculosis have been treated and ex- cluded from school until free from the parasites. This dis- ease seems prevalent among a certain class of children whose parents are slow to carry out instructions. There are also parents who are reluctant to act because they refuse to be dictated to by school health inspectors.
"Several children too poor to buy glasses have been sup- plied. Several children too poor to pay a doctor for advice or treatment have been sent to the New Bedford free clinic. Articles of clothing have been given to many children. So far as possible weekly visits have been made to the schools. The follow-up work in the school accomplishes much more than individual child instruction. The homes are visited, the mothers instructed with reference to specific cases, and also with reference to child hygiene, sanitation and the care of the family.
"The general prevalence of influenza has made it impos- sible to do, during the fall, as much school work as is desir- able. However, the co-operation of the teachers and of most of the parents has been very gratifying and much appre- ciated."
The statistical summary of the nurse's activities is as follows :
Cases of Tonsils and Adenoids 42
Cases of Defective Teeth. 19
Cases of Defective Eyes 27
Cases of Defective Ears 7
18
Cases of Impetigo. 16
Cases of Pediculosis. 114
Cases of Miscellaneous Diseases 42
Cases of Influenza 9
School Visits 95
Follow-up Visits
224
Number Children under treatment or struction .304
in-
Still under care. 241
Furnished with glasses 14
Sent to Free Clinic. 18
Tonsils and Adenoids removed. 8
Sent to Dental Clinic. 3
Families reported to S. P. C. C .. 2
The High School.
Following is the report of the Principal of the High School, giving a brief outline of the work of the school for the period since the present building has been in use :
Fairhaven, Mass., January 10, 1919.
Mr. O. H. Toothaker, Supt. of Schools,
Dear Sir :
In accordance with your request, I here- with submit a report of High School conditions as they exist today with a brief comparison with conditions that have obtained during the twelve years of the present organization.
The academic work of the school, along the line of traditional school subjects, has been efficiently maintained as is shown by the success of its graduates in various walks of life and by the success of those who have elected to con- tinue their education at normal school or college.
19
Instruction in the only subjects taught at the school by means of which graduates may immedi- ately expect to earn a living wage, typewriting and stenography, is now confined to pupils of the commercial course. This is a retrograde movement from the original organization of the school when these subjects were elective for pupils in the general course. The conditions leading to this state of affairs are, increase in school enrollment, lack of teaching staff and insufficient equipment. I would strongly recom- mend providing additional typewriters and a a teacher so that this work may once more be made available for all pupils in the school.
In manual training less is being done than formerly because there has been a loss from the teaching staff, at present not supplied.
Mechanical drawing is a subject that ap- peals to many boys and is of practical value. Through this subject many boys have been led to a livelihood or to further educational train- ing. There is now a demand for women to fill positions as draughtsmen, and this subject should be made available and attractive for girls as well as boys.
The work in printing, which was intro- duced about four years ago, has more than proved its worth. About 30 boys are taking this work each year. This branch should be reorganized and provided with.a teacher who does not have to divide his exercise period be- tween two different classes in two different rooms. It should also be made available for girls as well as boys. In place of a part-time teacher of manual training (a teacher shared with another town) I would recommend a teacher who would give all of his time to Fair- haven schools. The work in mechanical draw-
20
ing, printing and manual training could then be properly administered.
In the household arts, additional oppor- tunity has been given the girls for instruction in sewing, and the work in cooking and sewing is efficiently administered. Many girls expect- ing to become nurses, dietitians or instructors of household arts have been well served by these courses.
During the last few years courses in civics and general science have also been organized. These have been in the line of progress. The number and scope of such courses should be in- creased as changed conditions of living come into vogue, otherwise a static condition will ensue which will neither be in the line of progress nor permit the school to serve the needs of the pupils.
The problem of part-time education for pupils over 14 years will soon have to be con- sidered by the High School. For such pupils the school will have to provide courses that will assist the worker in his vocation and educate specifically for citizenship. In order that we may be prepared I recommend that greater atten- tion be given to those subjects most nearly vocational and most likely to function in the life of the pupil going directly from school to work. Commercial branches, mechanical draw- ing, printing, .sewing, cooking, household and practical arts illustrate my meaning.
The school enrollment has fallen below that of last year owing largely to war conditions. The total enrollment at the High School, the enrollment of Fairhaven pupils alone, the population of the town and theoretical enroll- ment which the High School should have are
21
shown by graphs in preparation. For the last two years the immaturity of the entering class has been marked and in two years this will be reflected in smaller graduating classes.
During the last twelve months the school has lost, through leave of absence or resignation, 60 per cent of its teaching staff including all of the teachers of English, mathematics, and commercial branches,-Mr. Woodbury, Miss Leach, Mrs. Bailey, Miss Grant, Miss Janowsky, Mr. Hill, Mr. Parker, Miss Baker.
This constitutes a handicap which will be overcome as the new teachers become familiar with their work. It has been necessary to drop the physical education for some months. This fall, work for the girls was resumed upon a satisfactory basis, and is efficiently conducted by Miss Winslow. The boys have been without an instructor for a longer time than the girls. Never before have the beneficial results of the physical instructor's work been so manifest as during the time that we have been compelled to be without such a leader. The work of the commercial department is being well carried on by Miss Jennison and Miss Combs and when the other positions are permanently filled the school should look forward with renewed vigor. The past year has been a trying one, as in all High Schools, but the coming year is one of promise.
The loyalty and patriotism of our High School pupils have been conspicuous. They have entered the army and navy in large numbers, they have served as nurses and Red Cross work- ers, they have purchased bonds and Thrift Stamps, they have conserved supplies of all kinds. I have the honor to hold in trust for the High School $400 in bonds, bought and paid for
7
22
by the classes of 1917 and 1918 and by the Ath- letic Association.
I wish to gratefully acknowledge the loyal support and hard work of the High School teachers, past and present, to whom a large share of praise is due for their unremitting efforts to make our school efficient.
Yours respectfully,
A. B. KIMBALL, Principal.
The enrollment at the High School has fallen off some- what from that at the beginning of the school year 1917-18. This is probably due in a large measure to economic con- ditions. It is possible that poorer preparation on account of the necessary readjustments in the elimination of the ninth grade may be a minor factor. There is every reason, how- ever, to believe that the condition is only temporary. In this loss of enrollment Fairhaven shares with practically all other High schools throughout the country, as there has been a general falling off in secondary school attendance.
As suggested in Mr. Kimball's report there have been. during the past few months, a considerable number of changes in the teaching force. Some of the teachers have left to go into war service, some into industrial occupations, and some to accept higher salaried positions elsewhere. It has been necessary in order to retain some of our teachers to increase salaries, and, in filling the positions of those who have resigned, it has been necessary to pay higher salaries in order to secure competent material. Outside of teachers' salaries, general economic conditions have made the other factors in operating the school considerably more expensive than here- tofore.
During the past year the work in physical and manual training has been carried on to a reduced extent on account of the difficulty in securing men capable for the work.
The most notable event of the year in connection with High School affairs has been the final adjustment of the sources of revenue for the support of the school. Early in the fall the
23
four heirs of Mr. Henry H. Rogers subscribed to an indenture of trust in the sum of $479,000 in favor of the Fairhaven High School. This trust is administered by the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company of New York city. This shows, at the present rate of income, a net annual fund for High school expenses in the sum of $24,928. The income at present is being paid to the town treasurer in quarterly installments in advance, the amount being determined by an estimate on the part of the school committee of the expenses for the quarter. This plan became effective October 1, 1918.
The estimated cost of the school for the year 1919 is $26,250. The estimated revenue from tuitions from Acushnet and Rochester is approximately $1,500. In view of the fact that extensive repairs to the building are impending, it seems wise that the town of Mattapoisett should be asked to pay tuition for its pupils who are attending the school. The attend- ance has varied recently from 37 to 41. In New Bedford, the high school tuition is $100 per year. It would seem fair to ask Mattapoisett to pay a tuition rate of half that charged by New Bedford or, for the year 1919, a flat sum of $2,000. This gives the school a total income of $28,500 per year. With an annual outlay for operating expenses as estimated above amounting to $26,250, this would leave a margin of $2,250, which is no more than a safe amount for repairs, in view of the size of the plant that must be kept up, and particularly in view of the fact that considerable expenditures are needed at once in order to avoid a large and unwarranted deterioration. Following is a letter which has been approved by the school committee expressive of its appreciation and forwarded to each of the subscribers to the indenture :
"In grateful appreciation of the generous gift of Mr. H. H. Rogers and his children, the undersigned members of the special committee appointed for this purpose wish to express the thanks of the School Committee and the people of Fairhaven for the gift and endowment of the Fairhaven High School.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.