USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1926 > Part 6
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This year I must report a similar need for room at South Dighton. Next year only seven of the eight grades can be housed in the building, and there is no place elsewhere in town for the overflow. What must be done would seen to be obvious.
In regard to school work the year has been marked by progress.
There has been during the year a distinctly observable gain in the efficiency of instruction. The children are receiving a larger return upon the time and effort that they expend in school work. Our methods are more effective, Upon the basis of established standards we rank higher in attainment.
There has been improvement in the value of school work. By this I mean that the work done is more pro-
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ANNUAL REPORT
ductive of ability to understand the economic and social life around us, and to participate therein. We are aim- ing directly at the cultivation of personal qualities that make for success. A general working technic that is productive of results, clear thinking, the initiative and originality that results from a wide acquaintance with facts, fundamental principles and authoratative opinion, a judicial attitude, and responsibility, are some of the specific results that we seek.
We are attempting to give to school studies a guidance value. Few adults, let alone children, realize the com- plexity of modern life or the rapidity with which condi- tions change. The actual condition creates a school problem of major importance. Specific preparation for conditions many years ahead is impossible because no one knows what they will be. We can only assume that preparation for present complexity will also prepare for future complications.
Today, at any rate, we are in a scientific-machine- factory-organization age. After the four foundation principles of scientific industrial management, this is sometimes called an era of the four B's. These are :
1. There is one best way to do anything.
2. There is one best person to do that thing.
3. There is one best method of training the best person to do a thing in the best way.
4. There is one best way to motivate the best person to do the thing in the best way.
What this view point implies for the schools is clear. At least our pupils must know what there is to be done in the world what various occupations demand, what their own capabilities are, which lines of endeavor give the greatest promise for their specific capacities, what they must secure from school life to obtain the required training to be a best person to do something the best way. All of this is easier said than done, and must be grown into gradually. Herein blind leaps are fatal. We
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ANNUAL REPORT
believe that our schools can show a sound start in these respects and promise a continued substantial growth.
We are attempting to provide our pupils with better working conditions. Our efforts in this regard are based upon the following guiding principles: Every pupil is entitled to, and therefore shall have the oppor- tunity :
1. To do all that he will do.
2. To do all that he can do.
3. To know that no one will hold him back or drag him down.
4. To know at the beginning of a term, a day, or a task, just what is expected of him at its end, to have a known standard for each task and a mens of measuring and realizing his own performance.
5. To know at the outset the significance of the thing he is trying to do, what values he should derive from it, and in what ways the matter can function in his own life to his own advantage.
6. To know from the start precisely the successive steps by which he is to attain his goal.
7. To work under conditions where compulsory haste does not make waste, where at any stage of development he may pause for needed practice and review until ready to proceed, and ideals of accuracy and mastery are actual- ly possible of attainment.
8. To work under conditions where pupil judgement rather than teacher judgement first passes upon the acceptance or rejection of statements, ideas and pro- posals, where each may develop responsibility through the exercise of discriminating judgement, and self con- fidence and self reliance through responsible participa- tion in the joint activity of a working group.
9. To obtain practice in helping others, so that to do so may become habitual and increasingly capable.
We submit that procedures such as the above are bound to build ability and produce results.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Along all the lines mentioned above progress should continue in increasing measure during the period just ahead. Chief among the reasons for this expectation is the professional improvement work being done by our teachers. During the calendar year just passed, eleven teachers completed, or were taking, at college normal school or through university extension, advanced courses in modern methods. The results of this are clearly evi- dent in the class rooms of the town.
The parent-teachers association continues its interest and help. This year the problem of nutrition is being cared for by milk contributed at the morning recess.
The town nurse idea recently entered into by the town is giving excellent satisfaction in the school health pro- gram, and the dental clinic continues to render valuable service to the children of the town.
In various ways the Bristol County Agricultural School has rendered assistance during the year, among others, in providing the only space in town adequate for certain public gatherings.
I append to this report a statement of enrollment both in High Schools and in the local schools.
In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation for the support that I have always received in every plan for the promotion of the welfare of the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD L. HILL,
Superintendent of Schools.
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ANNUAL REPORT
HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS
Seniors. Taunton
Lois Blinn
Norma Bowen
Alice' Goodell
Katherine Menges
Mildred Morrissey
Elwyn Stafford
Verna Staples
Juniors. Taunton
Clayton Atwood
Eugenia Barney
Ruth Brown
Mabel Gilbert
Eunisa Greenlaw
Lewis Horton
Josephine Walker
Helen Wheeler
Fall River
Avis Eddy Agnes Hornby
Sophomores. Taunton
Constance Babbitt
Dorothea Babbitt
Chester Barber
Elbert Cameron Clara Cavanaugh
Lucy Cavanaugh Eleanor Perry
Harold Phillips
Benjamin Sherman
Russell Smith
Vernon Stead
John Synan
Irving Wheeler
Russell Wood Allen Briggs
Freshmen, Taunton
Charlotte Brown
Robert Cavanaugh
Lillian Deslauriers
ANNUAL REPORT
11
Fall River
Elinor Goodell Richard Perry Gladys Potter Thelma Potter Hester Rose
Keith Soper Anna Ludovicz
Agnes Marsden
Louis Menard
Ruth O'Connell
Gladys Perry Margaret Soper Leonard Sousa
Lucius Stafford
Mildred Streel
Samuel Taylor Louis Carr Harold Kossoi
Somerset
Julia Roderick Faith Varney
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ANNUAL REPORT
MEMBERSHIP OF DIGHTON SCHOOLS
Grade
1
2
3
!
4 5 6 7 |8
S
Total
No. Dighton
33
31
31
31
34
35
36
24
14
269
So. Dighton
29
34
13
21
27
34
18
10
186
Segreganset
17
2
6
15
Brick
10
12
8
30
Williams
6
15
3
24
Fish
9
1
9
3
22
Flat Rock
6
4
4
5
3
9
9
34
Broad Cove
8
5
2
9
24
102
89
73
75
79
75
63
34
14
604
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The first consideration in all music work in the school is the child; his mental and emotional condition, his tendencies and possibilities for absorbing music. The goal is not so much the stimulation of the gifted as it is the musical culture of the average boy and girl. The fundamental purpose is to develop a desire for music, and at the same time to cultivate a knowledge of music; for the highest desire cannot exist without an adequate background of knowledge nor can one proceed in pursuit of any kind of knowledge without having a genuine desire aroused.
Apart from the cultivation of a beautiful singing tone, the aim of all music in the schools may be summed up as follows :
Music reading is simply a means to an end which per- mits a wide experience in
Song singing which is an incentive to musical growth and results in
Music Appreciation which is the open door to greater opportunities in the world of music.
Music appreciation, or the understanding and enjoy- ment of good music, is the aim of music education in the schools. The musical activity common to the greatest number of people in life is listening, and listening not only to vocal music but perhaps more often to instru- mental music. Therefore pupils, while their minds are molding should hear the best music, both vocal and in- strumental, and be taught to listen intelligently.
The permanent success of music in the schools is traced directly to the loyalty and faithful cooperation of the class teacher. It is the class teacher who comes in close contact with the pupils day in and day out in every
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ANNUAL REPORT
detail of school work. It is largely to the work of the class teacher that the music supervisor owes success in the teaching of music in the schools.
Respectfully submitted, MARY F. CULLINAN, Supervisor of Music.
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER
To the School Committee of Dighton:
I herewith submit my report for the year ending Dec. 31. 1926
During the year 128 visits were made to ascertain the cause of non-attendance of pupils. As usual in most of the cases the children were kept at home by the parents to work on the farms. The chance for the child to get even a small amount of education is almost wholly taken away by short sighted parents who think only of the gain from the child's labor and nothing at all of what the child is losing by being kept at home.
Repsectfully submitted,
HOWARD C. BRIGGS,
Attendance Officer.
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ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter Term, 8 weeks, Monday, Dec. 27, 1926 to Friday Feb. 18, 1927.
Late Winter Term, 8 weeks, Monday, Feb. 28, 1927 to Friday, April 22, 1927.
Spring Term, 7 weeks, Monday, May 2, 1927 to Friday, June 17, 1927.
Fall Term, 16 weeks, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 1927 to Friday, Dec. 23, 1927.
Winter Term, 7 weeks, Monday, Jan. 3, 1928 to Friday, Feb. 17, 1928.
Late Winter Term, 7 weeks, Monday, Feb. 27, 1928 to Friday, April 13, 1928.
Spring Term, 8 weeks, Monday, April 23, 1928 to Friday, June 15, 1928.
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ANNUAL REPORT
1
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1926
RECEIPTS
Appropriation
$50,000 00
Dog Tax
665 01
$50,665 01
EXPENDITURES
Supt. and Law Enforcement
$2118 59
Teachers
22,911 38
Supplies and Books
3,587 70
Janitors
2,550 25
Fuel
2,646 97
Repairs
992 49
Health-Including Dental Clinic
1,403 46
Transportation
4,689 50
Tuition
6,177 50
Contingent
1,140 06
New Equipment
474 94
Ned Addition to N. D. Primary Bldg.
1,825 37
$50,518 21
Balance January 1, 1927
146 80
$50,665 01
Respectfully submitted,
T. F. GOODELL,
Financial Secretary.
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