USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oakham > Town annual report of the officials of Oakham, Massachusetts 1920 > Part 2
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G. A. Briggs, helping saw wood, 1 00 A. K. Reed, helping saw wood, 1 17 William Nye, helping saw wood, 3 25 J. Nelson Ball, shoveling snow and splitting kindling, 5 80
Minnie M. Day, taking school
census, 5 00
$22 97
Total expenditures,
$6,677 79
Receipts,
$6,691 13
Expenditures,
$6,677 79
Unexpended balance, $ 13 34
43
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Oakham :
Holden, Mass., Jan. 1, 1921.
This report is presented for your consideration, in ac- cordance with custom. It is the third by the present superintendent and the twenty-first in the series since the formation of the present union. The school statistics following cover the school year ending in June 1920. The financial report is for the calendar year 1920.
Oakham is most fortunate in that her boys and girls may receive their elementary school education under the guidance of the same teachers who have served the town with earnestness and loyalty in the past. No one thing lowers the efficiency of schools more than the frequent change of teachers.
We have not as yet been troubled with the problems of a shortage of trained teachers and financial competi- tion. But throughout the country these problems have been acute and there is no indication that the supply will meet the demand for some time to come. Those who have made a close study of the situation assure us that further increases in salaries are necessary, and that while there may be a readjustment in wages. teachers have always been so much underpaid as to require larger salaries now before anything like equality is established. Increased salaries alone will attract men and women of ability to the profession. In the other towns of this
44
.
ANNUAL REPORT.
union salaries have been inereased in many instances over 50% this past year. The high standard main- tained in our sehools has been possible largely because we have had the same eorps of cxeeptional teachers re- main with us from year to year. We should, however,. make provision for inereasing their salaries to compare favorably with those it would be neessary to pay in case we were unfortunate enough to have to find new teachers.
The closing of the West sehool has been of marked benefit to the children and at a saving of expense to the town. The disadvantages of the small group more than offset the efforts and ability of the best teacher. The problem of suitable transportation, especially in New England, has been so difficult of solution, it has seemed better to continue the small rural sehool in many places. But wherever transportation facilities may be made safe and comfortable, the verdiet of experienee has been de- eidedly in favor of consolidation. A reeent investiga- tion eovering more than fifty districts and fourteen thousand rural patrons brought the response that con- solidation actually resulted in better attendanee and practical elimination of tardiness. There was an in- crease in land values. Pupils remained longer in sehool and a larger percentage went on to high school. Just now a very interesting experiment is being tried in Windsor, Mass. This town is out in the Berkshires and has to faee all the problems of transportation. A new community sehool house has been built this year, with rooms for manual training, domestie science. and eom- munity gatherings. About 70 pupils will attend. They will be brought in by auto bus and team from all parts
45
1
TOWN OF OAKHAM.
of the town. We in Oakham have much the same situa- tion, and I believe the present arrangement will prove to be the most efficient and economical.
There have been practically no changes in text books though we have made a few additions to our equipment, and are gradually making exchanges of our old material for new. We hope that the cost of books may decline, for several changes should be made as soon as possible. The cost of supplies too has been almost prohibitive, and we have tried to keep this item of expense as low as pos- sible. Much credit is due the teachers and pupils for their exercise of care and economy in the use of all school material. Evidence of this care is found in the fact that we make changes in text books because they are out-of-date rather than because they are worn out.
There have beer several new educational laws recently enacted that are of interest to us.
1. Children between seven and fourteen years of age MUST ATTEND SCHOOL ALL THE TIME THE SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION. A child may not leave school after he is fourteen unless he has completed the work in reading, writing and spelling required for the SIXTH grade.
2. Towns may be required to pay for the transporta- tion of all pupils in the public schools who live more than two miles from the school they are entitled to at- tend.
3. The travel expenses of the superintendent and a new minimum salary of twenty-five hundred dollars after three years of service. are to be paid by the union, and two-thirds of the amount to be reimbursed by the state, instead of one-half as formerly. This makes the net
46
1
1
ANNUAL REPORT.
cost less to the town. The state requires more and more of the superintendent in the way of reports and statis- tical data, in professional standards, attendance at con- ferences and special meetings, in the effort to raise the standards all over the state and to equalize educational opportunity. Very generously therefore it meets the town more than half way in the matter of expense.
4. A recent law requires the teaching in all ele- mentary and high schools of courses in American His- tory and Civics, with special emphasis on training for citizenship.
5. Another recent law requires that special classes be formed for the instruction of children who are mentally retarded, and provides for the determination of the num- ber of such children.
6. We have already seen the good effect of the legis- lation setting aside four million dollars from the Income Tax for the purpose of increasing teachers' salaries and so enabling towns of low valuation to compete with others in securing better teachers or retaining good ones. We will receive $600 from this source next year as a di- rect result of the increases voted onr teacher. this year.
The reports of the Music Supervisor and School Phy- sician are presented for your consideration. We find that about 36% of our children have defective teeth. Many towns are establishing dental clinics and finding that the results have far more than justified the expense. I would like to sce the same thing done in Oakham, either in combination with some other town or through the direction and aid of the Worcester County Farm Bureau.
We need very much to add to our equipment. A few 47
1
TOWN OF OAKHAM.
good pictures for the school room walls should be pur- chased. We need a desk for each room at the Center, and a book case or set of shelves in the Primary room to hold the special material used in the lower grades.
It is a pleasure to work with the Committee, the teach- ers and the pupils and I thank you for the many cour- tesies and the support I have received.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES R. CHILDS. Superintendent of Schools
48
. SCHOOL STATISTICS 1919-1920
School
Teacher
Training
Total Mem.
Average Mem.
Average Atten.
Per cent Atten.
Grammar
Florence E. Bothwell No. Brookfield High
30
29.1
25.4
87.3
Primary
Ethel M. Braman
Northfield Seminary
26
21.6
19.2
88.9
Coldbrook
Ruth E. Butterfield
Worcester Normal
22
19.1
18.1
94.8
West
Helena K. Rutherford No. Brookfield High
10
9.6
8.2
85.4
Music
Ruth B. Dwelly
Northampton
88
79.9
70.9
89.1
1
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TOWN OF OAKHAM.
ENROLLMENT FALL TERM 1920
Grade
I II III IV
V
VI VII VIII IX Tot.
Boys
2
5
6
8
3
4
7
3 38
Girls
4
5
7
4
4
3
3
10
4
44
Totals
4
7 12
10
12
6
7 17
7
82
SCHOOL CENSUS APRIL 1, 1920
Children in Oakham
Boys
Girls
Tot.
Between 5 and 7 years of age
7
6
13
Between 7 and 14 years of age
32
32
64
Between 14 and 16 years of age
5
10
15
Totals
44
48
92
PROMOTION BY GRADES JUNE 1920
Grade
I II III IV
Ý VI
VII VIII IX Tot.
Promoted
3
11
9
10
4
5
15
7
6 70
Promoted
on trial
3
2
3
4
12
Not
promoted
1
1
1
Totals
6
13 9
13
4
6
19
7
6
83
1
-
.
50
ROLL OF HONOR
Neither absent nor tardy for one year, except as indi- cated.
Charles Baxter
Dorothy Day (1)
Norman Baxter Burton Mullen (1)
Raymond Crawford
Neither absent nor tardy for two terms. John Briggs Roscoe Crawford
Neither absent nor tardy for one term, except as indi- cated.
William Miska (1) Sophie Lupa
Stephen Lincoln (1) Emily Waring Antoinette Dufault (T)
51
TOWN OF OAKHAM.
AGE AND GRADING CHART SEPT. 1, 1920
Grade I
II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
Age
6
2
61/2 7
1
71/2 8 81/2 9 91/2
3
3 3
1
1
3
3
2 3
10
2
2
101/2
2
11
2
1
111/2 12 121/2
2
1 1
3
13
1
1
2
1
131/2
1
1
5
14
5
3
141/2
1
1
1 2
15
2
1 . 1
151/2 16 161/2
-
1
17
1
52
1
. 1
5
1 2
1
1
ANNUAL REPORT.
The number of children represented by the figures in heavy type are considered as normal in age and grading. Those below are retarded or behind the normal, and those above are accelerated or ahead of the normal or average. Twenty-seven, or about 32% are above the average for their age and grade, and fifteen, or about 18% are below, but none are far enough below to come under the requirement referred to in the law for special classes for special cases of retardation.
REPORT OF MUSIC SUPERVISOR
Mr. J. R. Childs, Superintendent of Schools, Dear Sir :
The course in music has been conducted along the same lines as formerly. My aim has been to teach the value and nature of musical appreciation and its appli- cation ; to develop tone quality, and to teach the funda- mental principles of note reading. Sight singing is a very important part of the course.
All children love to sing, and they sing naturally of happiness, joy and patriotism, so we count music one of the many things in modern education, which appeals to the child and serves to create higher ideals.
'The first step in the childs musical education is to era- dicate false tone estimate, to make its ear tone perfect through watching or imitating right tones. All children who are without serious physical defects can become
53
TOWN OF OAKHAM.
singers if patiently trained along these lines at an early age.
In all grades I find an eager interest in music, mani- fested in enthusiastic singing, largely inspired by the power of appreciating the best in music.
I have put especial emphasis on note reading both in- dividually and as a class, so that in spite of too many grades working together, I feel that we shall complete a well defined course of study.
Respectfully submitted,
RUTH B. DWELLEY, Supervisor of Music.
-
54
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
South Barre, Mass., Jan. 1, 1921.
To the Superintendent of Schools :-
In reply to your request I submit my report as School Physician for the Town of Oakham.
June 1920 Dec. 1920
Number of pupils examined
83
76
Number of pupils absent
5
7
Cases of defective teeth
29
28
Cases of excessive wax in ears
8
7
Cases of enlarged tonsils
4
5
Cases of adenoids
1
3
Number of notices sent home
40
37
Respectfully submitted, E. S. DOUGLASS, M. D.
55
AUDITOR'S REPORT 1921
This is to certify that I have examined and approved all bills of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, School Committee, Road Superintendent, Cemetery Committee, Tree and Fire Wardens, and Library Trustees, and found them to be correct. I have also examined the accounts of the Treasurer and Collector and found them to be correct.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN ROBINSON, Auditor.
56
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LIST OF JURORS
Thomas C. Gaffney, Farmer.
Frank Boyd, Farmer.
Fred Parkman, Farmer.
Fay Russell. Carpenter. Alden Bacon, Painter. Walter B. Green, Painter.
Donald Rutherford, Farmer.
57
61
CONTENTS
Auditor
56
Cemetery
30
Charlton Poor Farm
26
Collector's Report
23
Fobes Memorial Library
25
. Jurors, List of
57
Librarian's Report
31
Overseers of the Poor
29
Road Commissioners
33
School Committee
39
School Statistics
49
Selectmen's Report
17
Superintendent of Schools
44
Town Clerk's Report
11
Town Officers
3
Treasurer's Report
13
Warrant
7
CONTENTS
Auditor 56
Cemetery
30
Charlton Poor Farm
26
Collector's Report
23
Fobes Memorial Library
25
. Jurors, List of
57
Librarian's Report
31
Overseers of the Poor
29
Road Commissioners
33
School Committee
39
School Statistics
49
Selectmen's Report
17
Superintendent of Schools
44
Town Clerk's Report
11
Town Officers
3
Treasurer's Report
13
Warrant
7
A
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