USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1879-1894 > Part 2
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We have been pleased with the evidently growing in- terest in our public schools, on the part of the parents, and have been assisted very much by their co-operation.
The new and more natural methods of teaching which we have endeavored to introduce during the last year have been most heartily welcomed by the pupils and have met with little opposition from the parents, and that simply through a failure to fully understand the processes which we have endeavored to apply. Every thing that has been done in this direction has been at the suggestion and by the advice of the School Committee and we feel that the result in all the schools, where the methods have been enthusiastically and skillfully applied has justified the course which we have pursued, and we trust no adverse judgment will be passed until a sufficient time has elapsed to test the system.
Our schools are so far apart that it is not possible for us to have teachers' meetings without much inconvenience,
3
so that progress in methods of instruction depends quite largely upon the private suggestions of the Superintendent and is necessarily slow. We have not attempted to apply our ideas fully to the management of any of the schools and in some of the schools there has been but little change from the old methods, as we have feared teachers might be embarrassed and the pupils confused and the orderly ap- pearance of the schools disturbed, but we have entered upon a course which, if persistently pursued, will result in more practical, more pleasant and in every way more efficient schools than we have had in the past.
That the teachers and general public may have a bet- ter understanding of our views, we think it expedient to state them quite fully in this report, though it be at the ex- pense of some of the space which is usually devoted to a review of the different schools.
We wish to find and apply such a method of instruc- tion that the pupils will seek and find the knowledge, that the schools are intended to impart, with the same zest and growing interest that, in the first years of their lives, they sought and acquired the knowledge of language and of the external world which they possessed when they began to go to school. From the time of birth to the age when the school life begins the mental powers are only slightly developed, but the organs of the body are free from unnat- ural restraint, the attention is constantly excited by a change of scene or by the presentation of new ohjects, the senses are constantly on the alert and there is hardly a mo- ment of the conscious life of the child but contributes some- thing to his stores of knowledge, simply because he is so circumstanced that he is taught in a natural way. The necessity of the child is to have a knowledge of the things which surround him and he acquires it by a perception of the things themselves. He needs to understand language and to be able to use it and he gains the desired knowl- edge by seeing what he hears illustrated by actual objects and by illustrating it himself. These are the natural methods which we ought to strive to imitate in our schools.
When the pupils leave the free out of door life to be con- fined several hours each day to receive knowledge which
4
most of them can not otherwise acquire, they ought to be placed in such pleasantly furnished rooms that the transi- tion from home life will not be so abrupt and unpleasant as to prejudice them against the school and its pursuits.
Several of our school rooms are adorned with pretty mottoes and pictures and we see a growing tendency to cultivate flowering plants and to have vases of cut flowers in these rooms; which things indicate a drift in the right direction.
To every one who makes any marked progress in study there "comes a time of mental inspiration, when he begins to feel that knowledge is a pearl of great price. It is the fact of this inspiration. or the lack of it that usually marks the difference between the bright and the dull scholar. We wish to conduct our schools in such a way that, if possible, we may secure this inspiration to all the pupils at an early age, so that the school duties may not be irksome to them for so many years.
The natural methods of instruction have been most suc- cessfully applied, in this country, thus far, to the primary schools and it is in them that they are most needed, for, if the pupils acquire a love for study before they leave the lower grades, they will be sure to learn in the higher de- partments, though the methods of teaching are not so per- fect. If a man is really hungry he does not refuse to eat, though the food is coarse and poorly served, but if the ap- petite is poor, everything must be scrupulously nice or there is no relish. In our endeavors to benefit the schools, we have not only aimed at better methods of teaching but have encouraged our teachers to appear more enthusi- astic in their work and thus to kindle enthusiasm in the pupils. The teacher and the pupils are engaged in the same work ; if the manner of the former seems to indi- cate that she thinks it is drudgery, the latter will think it so in sober earnest. It is well and very necessary for the pupils to acquire habits of industry in school, but it is bet- ter for them to be made to feel that there is something so ennobling in work that they will pursue it out of love for it.
But without further reference to the general principles which we wish to see applied to the management of our
5
schools, we desire to state, as clearly as we are able to in a few words, our ideas of the proper treatment of the princi- pal common school branches.
Reading. Under this head, we consider the following points important, When the child begins to learn, famil- iar objects should be presented and their names placed up- on the board in script (writing). It has been ascertained that a child can learn a whole word as the sign of an ob - ject or idea just as easily as he can learn the name of a single letter, composing the word. When the child has become somewhat familiar with one word, another should be placed upon the board with it and so on, as his list of familiar words is enlarged. The words should be placed in various combinations and the child should be required to point them out, that it may be certain that he knows the form of the word without reference to its location. The transition from script words to the printed forms is so easy that we do not advise teachers to print words upon the boards. The pupils will learn the letters and their sounds. later, when they have made some progress in acquiring a knowledge of words. By this method, we avoid the drawl- ing and labored reading which is so common in public schools. When the pupils have passed through one grade of readers it has been found very useful for them to pursue other reading matter of the same grade before they are ad- vanced to the next book in the regular series.
It ought to be borne in mind constantly that the ability to pronounce the words correctly is only a part of the art of reading. If a person is to read well he must be able, in the first place, to understand the ideas of the author and to promote a facility in this we think it well to require pupils to read selections silently and then state the sub- stance of what they read either orally or in writing.
Of course much attention should be paid to expression in reading and the teachers ought never to tire of question- ing the pupils as to the meaning of words which they read.
Writing. As we have stated above, the child's first reading lessons should be written upon the board. The pupil's first lessons in writing should be found in his- efforts to copy these words. At first the word "cat" and
other simple words should be set before him and he should be taught to trace them many times that he may become familiar with the forms and the use of the crayons and in a few weeks he will be found copying the words upon his slate.
Spelling should furnish a constant drill in writing. The words ought to be carefully written upon the board and copied by the pupils and thus learned. Experience has shown that, if the pupils copy a list of words five or six times, it so impresses them that they may be reproduced at any time and that they are more permanently retained than when learned from the printed page to be recited oral- ly. The principal use of knowing how to spell is the ability to write words correctly, and by this method the pu- pil is sure of a drill upon the very act which he will need to perform.
Of course it is very important that the teacher be a good writer and keep before her pupils excellent penman- ship, as she will have more influence than their copy books in determining the hand they will write.
Arithmetic. In teaching the first principles, it is of the utmost importance that every step be illustrated by ob- jects. The neglect of this practice has been the occasion of more poor instruction in this branch than in almost any other. It is very essential that the pupil thoroughly un- derstand one combination before another is made. It has been said that during the first term no combination beyond four should be made. We have used the Franklin Primary Arithmetic in one of our schools, as an experiment, and have found it admirably adapted to the object method, when supplemented, as it was here, by a stand abundantly fur- nished with blocks and other articles which were distribu- ted to the pupils to illustrate the principles of the book.
Practical problems out of the book involving the prin- ciples of the science should be frequently presented to the pupils through their whole course.
Geography should be ·first taught in its application to the vicinity of the school-room and of the town. This course will furnish the pupils a knowledge from which they may form an intelligent idea of that which lies beyond.
Geography is usually studied too much by rote and in
7 .
its dry details. Several of our schools have pursued the study during the past year by a scheme which has neces- sitated a more definite and practical knowledge of our globe than is usually acquired.
The plan has been about as follows :
1st. The study of the earth as a physical body, with reference to its vertical forms, the configuration of its land, water, etc.
2d. The study of it, as it has been affected by climate, the various causes which determine the climate and its ef- fect upon vegetable and animal life, and upon the condition of the different races of men.
3d. The study of the face of the earth, as man has arranged it, with reference to political divisions, cities, etc.
Grammar. This branch of knowledge has been de- fined, by a standard authority, as " The art of speaking or writing with propriety ; the right use of language." While we have a high appreciation of the value of a nice knowl- edge of analysis and parsing, we feel that there is a most urgent need of better instruction in English grammar as defined above.
The pupils should be encouraged to describe objects and pictures which are presented to them and the language of their descriptions should be corrected if it is faulty in any respect. The teachers ought to make a note of all the incorrect expressions. which they may overhear and teach the pupils in what particulars and why they are wrong. The scholars should be required to write letters and compositions upon familiar subjects and these should. be carefully corrected.
Our limited space permits us only to glance at our ideas of the right methods of instruction in these branches, but we trust what we have said will suffice to illustrate the general principles which we wish to see applied.
We have referred to the branches of study which are usually taught in our schools and we have laid especial emphasis upon good instruction in them, but we think the cultivation of our pupils in morals and good manners is a matter which ought to occupy a very prominent place in the work of all our teachers.
8
We wish to say that one of the most pleasing results of the methods of teaching which we have briefly described is to be found in the fact that it almost completely obviates the necessity of corporal punishment. There are several of our schools in which there has not been a case of the kind during the year, and in all the schools the cases have been very rare, which fact makes our schools appear in pleasing contrast with some of those of our metropolis, as it appears from their superintendent's report. ,
Right methods of teaching seem to us of such vital importance that we wish all our teachers could have the benefit of the instruction of our normal schools, or, as this cannot be, we wish they might have some one or more of the excellent educational journals which are published at the present time. If the teachers do not feel able to pro- cure such helps, we think it well worthy of the careful consideration of the committee, whether it would not be a profitable investment of money to place such periodicals in their teachers' hands.
We now invite your attention to a brief notice of the different schools.
CENTER GRAMMAR.
The Spring and Fall terms were taught by Miss A. C. Davis whose excellent work has been noticed in several of our previous reports. The Winter term was somewhat disturbed by a change of teachers when it was about halt through. But the examination at the close showed that the scholars had made good progress in their studies. The teachers during the Winter term were Mr. Alfred N. Fuller and Miss Mary Fifield.
CENTER PRIMARY.
Miss Bessie M. Ball taught throughout the year, and by her enthusiastic application of the new methods of teach- ing and school management merits and has the apprecia- tion of all in this vicinity who desire the most efficient work in our schools. This was Miss B's first experience in teaching, but her complete success seemed to be assured from the very commencement of her work.
9
SOUTH GRAMMAR.
The Spring term was taught by Miss H. S. Symonds, a teacher of excellent mental accomplishments and of an extended experience. She devoted herself very earnestly to her work, and would have been highly successful had she been able to secure a more perfect co-operation.
The Fall and Winter terms were taught by Miss R. E. Stacy and under her care the school is making as rapid progress as we can reasonably expect.
SOUTH PRIMARY.
Miss Jennie M. McAlister, who was favorably men- tioned in our last report, taught throughout the year. This teacher has begun to apply the new methods of instruction with gratifying results.
WEST GRAMMAR.
Mrs. M .. W. Going, an enthusiastic teacher, who was mentioned in our last report continued in charge of this school during the Spring and Fall terms with excellent success, and was succeeded in the Winter term by Miss Elvira C. Gordon. Miss G. is a teacher of good. intellec- tual qualifications and has had much successful experience in her vocation, but, in comparison with her predecessor, seemed lacking in enthusiasm. The examination at the close of school proved that the pupils had not failed to make progress in their studies. Some of the classes ap- peared exceedingly well.
WEST PRIMARY.
Miss Clara L. Sweatt, who has been very favorably mentioned in two of our previous reports, taught during the Spring and Winter terms. Because of illness she was not able to teach during the Fall term and Miss Hattie H. Freeman, who was teaching in a neighboring town, took charge of the school. Miss F. practiced the most approvd methods of teaching and in the management of her pupils showed a natural faculty for government. We consider her instruction in reading especially good.
10
NORTH SCHOOL.
The Spring and Fall terms were taught by Miss Susie M. Wetherbee. This was Miss W.'s first experience in teaching, but the examination at the close of the Fall term was very satisfactory to the parents and Committee and showed that she had done her work well.
The Winter term was taught by a teacher of tried ex- perience, Mrs.A.H.Loker, whose excellent work has been noticed in several of our reports, and who never succeeded better than during this term.
EAST SCHOOL.
Miss Florence Hartwell continued in charge of this school, during the Spring and Fall terms, and the school made a steady progress while under her care. The Win- ter term was taught by Miss Emma Esterbrook, a teacher of experience and excellent natural qualities for her voca- tion. We have never seen the order of the school more perfect or the school spirit of the pupils better than during this term.
SOUTH EAST.
There was but one term of school in this part of the town during the year and that was during the Winter months in charge of Miss A. W. Packard. We have commended this teacher's work in previus reports, but we considered the last term one of the most profitable schools in this part of the town for several years.
Appended are the usual statistical reports.
LUTHER CONANT, Chairman, )
C. B. STONE, Clerk,
School
I. W. FLAGG,
W. S. JONES,
Committee
G. H. HARRIS,
G. F. FLAGG,
of Acton.
F. P. WOOD, Supt. of Schools,
11
ROLL OF HONOR.
-
NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABSENT OR TARDY.
West Primary.
For one Term.
Bertie Gardner, Ida Littlefield, Ida Richardson, Bertie Going, Guy Mead,
Herman Parker,
Brooks Parker,
For two terms.
Bertie Preston,
Vio Preston,
Bertie Hall, Genie Hall,
Hobart Mead, Alfred Richardson.
Center Grammar.
For one term. Ella E. Daniels, Grace E. Taylor, Mary T. Waldron, John F. Kingsley,* Arthur B. Robbins, Arthur W. Taylor, Horace F. Tuttle,
For two terms. Sara E. Hammond, Julia M. Lane, Annie B. Lee, Elbridge R. Conant,
For three terms.
SUSIE E. CONANT, ANNIE M. HAMMOND, CARRIE A. LUND, GEORGE S. LEE.
Center Primary. For one term.
Jennie L. Ayers,
Almira Ayers, Abbie F. Coughlin,
M. Ida Davis, Bertha I. Fisk.
South Grammar. For one term.
Susie Billings,
Susie Pond, Myrtilla Richardson, George Kelley. For two terms.
Eda Shapley, Eva Shapley, Carrie Shapley, Etta Temple.
South Primary. For one term. Florence F. Fletcher, Carrie F. Hanson, Clara F. Leach, Sadie E. Sawyer, Tillie W. Burns, George C. Warren .*
12
For two terms. Ada M. Fones, Arthur Miller.
For three terms. MARTHA C. PRATT, LILLIAN F. RICHARDSON.
West Grammar.
For one term.
Mary A. Blanchard,
Florence T. Noyes,
Lottie S. Richardson,* Bertha T. Wright,
Emery W. Clark,*
Walter C. Gardner.
For two terms. Hattie A. Davis,
Mary L. Tuttle,
Herbert A Hapgood,
Willie B. Hart,*
Freddie S. Whitcomb.
For three terms. . J. IDA TUTTLE,
Center Primary.
For one term.
Nellie E. Lane,
Lizzie M. Schofield, Hattie L. Tuttle, Arthur C. Allen, Frank E. Fisk.
For two terms. Lucy M. Davis, Clara S. Hammond, Hattie M. Robbins, Clara B. Robbins, Grace E. Tuttle, *Were tardy once.
For three terms. Albert J. Reed, Oliver D. Wood,*
North School.
For one term.
Nellie Ryan,
Everett Rouillard,
James Ryan,
Edward Ryan,
Bertie H. Smith,
Edwin Smith,
Robert Wilson.
For two terms
Mattie Randolph,
Annie Ryan, Lizzie Ryan, John Ryan.
For three terms. MATTIE F. SMITH.
East School.
For one term.
Fred W. Billings,
Rov G. Brooks,
Arthur B. Davis,*
Willie O. Smith,
Ernest E. Wetherbee.
For two terms.
Frank H. Billings, Herbert H. Robbins,* Harry G. Robbins.
South East. For one term George Hooper, Ella Johnson, Harry Hooper.
13
FINANCIAL REPORT.
-
WEST SCHOOL.
Drawn from the treasury,
$681 21
Balance from last year, 4 71
$685 92
Paid to teachers,
$540 50
for fuel and preparing it,
55 44
" care of house and furnace, 45 00
" incidentals,
15 41
Balance on hand,
29 57
$685 92
C. B. STONE, Committee.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Drawn from the treasury,
$686 21
Balance from last year,
35 80
Due to the Committee,
39
$722 40
Paid to teachers,
$650 00
for fuel and preparing it,
49 00
" cleaning and caring for room,
5 39
6 6 " repairs,
4 54
" brooms, erasers, crayons, books, etc., 13 47
$722 40 GEO. F. FLAGG, Committee.
CENTRE SCHOOL.
Drawn from the treasury, $676 37
Balance from last year, 18 69
For fuel and care of room for writing school, 2 00
$697 06
14
Paid to teachers, $568 00
66 for care of house,
31 50
66 " fuel and preparing it,
56 56
66 " incidentals,
14 80
66
" maps,
9 00
66 " use of instrument two terms,
8 50
Balance on hand,
8 70
$697 06
LUTHER CONANT, Committee.
EAST SCHOOL.
Drawn from the treasury, $308 11
$308 11
Deficiency on last year's account,
4 67
Paid to teachers,
225 00
66 for fuel,
26 00
66 " incidentals,
6 57
66 "· care of house,
12 00
Balance on hand,
33 87
$308 11
I. W. FLAGG, Committee.
NORTH SCHOOL.
Drawn from the treasury,
$308 11 13 70
Balance from last year,
$321 81
Paid teachers,
$237 25
66 for fuel,
29 90
" care of house,
14 00
66 " incidentals,
4 58
Balance on hand,
36 08
$321 81
GEO. H. HARRIS, Committee.
SOUTH EAST SCHOOL.
Drawn from the treasury,
$150 00
Balance from last year, 18 55
$168 55
15
Paid teacher, $105 00
for fuel, 8 00
66 " cleaning school-house, 2 00
66 " ink, crayons and erasers, 3 38
66
" care of school house,
5 00
66 " sending scholars to So. Acton instead of having a school,
20 00
Balance on hand, 25 17
$168 55
W. S. JONES, Committee.
Amount appropriated by the town for
schools, $2500 00
Income from the State school fund, 177 63
Income from the dog fund 203 49
Total,
$2881 12
Number of children in town between the ages of five and fifteen, 303. Sum appropriated by the town for each scholar, $8.20.
16
TABULAR VIEW.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
L'gth of School in mos
. Wages per month.
Whole number scholars
Average No. belonging
Average attendance
No. under 5 y. of age. |
No. over 15 y. of age.
No. between 8 and 14.
Number of visits.
SPRING TERM,
Grammar Miss A C Davis
2 $34 00
29
274
25+ 0
Centre
Primary
" B M Ball
23
30 00
35
30
26
0
24
72
Grammar
H S Symonds
23
36 00
37
343
29+
0 3
21
8
South
Primary
" J M McAlister
2]
36 00
50
471
43
0 0
34
12
West
Primary
Miss C L Sweatt
21
32 00
43
423
39
3
0 19
25
North East
" F M Hartwell
21
30 00
23
213
19
0
1
16
11
Totals,
192 260 00 271 2541-6
225}
3.13 175 205
Grammar Miss A C Davis -
25+
0
8
21
29
Centre
Primary
B MBall
30 00
27
27
24
0
0
18
93
South
Primary
·' J M McAlister
3
36 00
52
50
45 2-3
0
0
36
19
West
Primary
Miss H H Freeman
21
32 00
42
42
38-
1
0) 21
43
North
·· S A Wetherbee
21
28 00
23
19
17
0
0
10
20
East
24
30 00
26
223
18
0
0
16
9
Totals,
21
264 00 274 2593
230
1 20 170 270
WINTER TERM.
Grammar Mr A N Fuller
3
$40 00
37
343
32}
0 19
15
28
Centre
Primary
" B M Ball
3
32 00
34
30
26
0 1
21
70
South
Primary
" J M McAlister
3
36 00
45
441
37
0 0
33
11
West
Primary
JL Sweatt
33
32 00
43
421
374
0
0 21
29
North
Mrs A H Loker
3
34 00
23
22
20-
0
3. 12
15
East
Miss E F Estabrook .. A W Packard
3
80 00
24
22ª
19
0
0 18 12
South East
33
30 00
14
13
12
0
2 10
10
Totals,
283 308 00 307 2953
299 5-6
0 46 194 218
Aggregate for vear,
691
832 00 852 809
755 1-6 4 79 539 683
223
40 00
36
35-
33+
0 12
23
12
Grammar
Mrs M W Going
28
34 00
39
373
30+
0
0
25
45
Grammar
RE Stacy
3
40 00
45
42
36
0 18 27
6
Grammar
" E C Gordou
33
34 00
42
34
30+
0
3 37
37
Grammar
Mrs M W Going
21
34 00
.33
33
30
0 1
30
11
‘ S A Wetherbee
28 00
21
17}
143
0
0
10
39
FALL
TERM.
$34 00
29
263
Grammar
" R E Stacy
F M Hartwell
21 27
8 0
Miss Mary Fifield
The average attendance during the year 93} of the average No. belonging to the schools.
REPORTS
OF THE
SELECTMEN GOmm
AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON,
FROM
FEB. 26. 1880, to FEB. 26, 1881,
INCLUDING THE
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN 1880,
ALSO, THE
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
- 1735.
NI
ACTON.
P. ELECTRO.CA
- BOSTON.
ACTON : PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE ACTON PATRIOT, SOUTH ACTON. 1881.
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1881.
Town Clerk. William D. Tuttle.
Selectmen.
D. J. Wetherbee, John White, Phineas Wetherbee.
Assessors.
Wm. D. Tuttle, Phineas Wetherbee, Lucius S. Hosmer.
1
Overseers of the Poor.
John E. Cutter, Otis H. Forbush, Lyman C. Taylor. School Committee.
Job W. Dupee, 3 years ; Lucy M. Mead, Chas. D. Griggs, 2 years; Luther Conant, George F. Flagg, I. W. Flagg, 1 year. Highway Surveyors.
Daniel Wetherbee, Chas. Wheeler, Abram H. Jones.
Fence Viewers.
John Fletcher, John R. Houghton, Nahum C. Reed.
Surveyors of Lumber.
Wm. B. Davis, Edward F. Richardson, L. W. Stevens, Geo. H. Harris, Chas. B. Stone, E. J. Robbins, James B. Tuttle.
Surveyors of Wood.
E. J. Robbins, H. D. Parlin, Wm. B. Davis, I. W. Flagg, J. W. Loker, George H. Harris, Chas. B. Stone, Lucius S. Hosmer, Solomon L. Dutton, A. S. Fletcher, James B. Tuttle, Charles H. Taylor.
Cemetery Committee.
John Fletcher, Wm. W. Davis, Joseph F. Cole.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
DR.
Paid State Treas. for liquor licenses, $87 75
66 " State tax, . 1,080 00
County Treas., County tax, 542 70
Selectmen's orders,
9,299 62
Outstanding orders, 999 81
Balance due the Town Feb. 26. 1881.
1,470 42
$13,480 30
CR.
W. S. Jones, unexpended school money,
$25.17
Liquor licenses. 351 00
City of Boston, for care F. J. Aiken,
35 36
State Treas., corporation tax,
727 07
66 National Bank tax,
545 71
66 Mass. School Fund,
179 56
66 66 State Aid,
96 00
.. Relief of indigent soldiers, 178 00
Chas. Wheeler,digging stone near Dutton's 1 50
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