USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1879-1894 > Part 35
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Sept. 26. Cr. by 50 old Readers,
2 50
4 10
$157 88
BOSTON SCHOOL SUPPLY CO.
Mar. 3. 9 Book-keeping Blanks, $ 84
Express prepaid, 15
$ 99
Mar. 24. 6 Scudder's U.S.History, 5 70
10 boxes Crayons.
1 20
2 dozen Slates.
2 40
3 doz. Spelling Blanks, 1 doz. Ink,
90
3 60
Mar. 28.
1 doz. Slates, 1 20
5 Martin's Civil Gov't, 4 05
3 Dana Geology Story,
3 11
6 Scudder's U. S. History,
5 70
18 Slates, 1 80
7
15 86
April 20.
4 Reams Practice Paper, 2 00
4 Reams Letter Sheet, 4 00
1 20
4 doz. Spelling Blanks, 5 doz. Slate Bands,
3 60
1 lb. Sponges, 1 20
12 00
42 65
13 80
26
ANNUAL REPORTS
AMERICAN BOOK CO.
Mar. 24. 24 Harper's 4th Readers, $14 40 24 Harper's 3d Readers, 11 52
16 Harper's School Geog- raphy, 12 96
38 88
Less 1-4 and 1-10, 12 63
$26 25
26 25
J. L. HAMMETT.
April 28. 48 lbs. Packet Blocks, $4 40
20 lbs. Note Blocks, 2 00
4 doz Manilla Blocks, 2 60
212 Reams Manilla Letter, 1 88 3 " Gem " Pencil Sharpen- ers, 9 00
2 lbs. Sponges, 2 20
$22 08
April 29. 600 Blotters, 3 60
3 60
May 23. 5 doz. D. Slates, 2 00
5 Reams Manilla Draw- ing Paper, 1 50
6 Boxes Pens, 2 28
12 Sets Meservey's Book- keeping, 8 64
5 doz. Manilla Pads, 2 60
5 doz. Boxes Crayons, 3 90
20 92
16 Packages Col'd Splints, 3 20
9 Boxes Splints for lay- ing, 1 80
16 Boxes Large Pegs, [1 92
16 Boxes Toy. Money, 3 20
5 Boxes Colored Cubes, 2 40
6
27
TOWN OF ACTON.
16 Boxes Thompson's Busy Work, 1 92
5 Boxes Pin Cards, 2 00
5 Boxes Little Artist, 1 00
7 Boxes Hallman's Beads, 2 88
20 32
Aug. 25. 19 Johnson's Wall Maps, 19 00
2 Maps Mass. 1 00
5 Sets Wood's Business Forms, 2 00
5 Gross Pencils, 11 25
50 Cornhill Pads, 2 75
5 doz. Slates, 5 50
3 doz. Pointers, 2 40
43 90
Oct. 10. 3 Gross Slate in wood Pencils, 2 25
5 1bs. Erasers, rubber, 3 75
5 doz. Slate Bands, 3 60
4 Reams Letter Sheet, 4 00
5 doz.Ginn's Trac'g Course, No. 1, 3 24
16 84
Feb. 3. 2 Reams No. 23 Letter Sheet, 2 00
2 Reams Manilla Letter Sheet, 1 60
$3 60 131 26
UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING Co.
April 28. 54 Davis' 1st Readers, $14 04
54 Davis' 2d Readers, 26 60
$35 64
Aug. 25. 50 Holmes 1st Readers, 4 50
4 50
Sept. 9.
7 Sharples Astronomy,
5 84
28
ANNUAL REPORTS
-
7 Greene's Zoology, 3 75
9 59
49 73
April 28. Cr. by 108 old Readers, 14 04 14 04
35 69
LEE & SHEPARD.
Aug. 25. 40 King's Geog. Readers, No. 2, $24 00 40 Boston Tea Party, 10 00 5 King's Geog. Readers, No. 1, 2 08
$36 08 36 08
PUBLIC SCHOOL PRINTING CO.
Aug. 15. 500 Baldwin's Report Book, $8 50
8 50
J. G. ROBERTS.
Sept. 3. Rebinding Books, $7 50
7 50
AUGUSTINE HOSMER.
Sept. 1. Printing,
$ 50
Sept. 2. Printing, 65
$1 15 1 15
MAYNARD, MERRILL & Co.
Sept. 9. 8 Keettels French Gram., $6 00
15 66 66 Reader, 15 00
$21 00
Sept. 18. 4 66
Gram., 3 00
4
66
Reader, 4 00
.
3 French Plays, 75
7 75
Sept. 22.
1 French Dictionary, 1 67
1 67
30 42
Sept. 9.
Credit by express charge paid,
30
30 12
29
TOWN OF ACTON.
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & Co.
Aug. 25. 40 Riverside Primers, $10 20 10 20
SUNDRY EXPENDITURES.
Paid James Fletcher estate, supplies, $2 62
C. H. Mead, supplies.
1 25
C. J. Williams, supplies,
65
N. C. Read, express,
2 20
Wm. Jennings, "
7 50
Luke Tuttle, יי
50
C. L. Bradford, “
50
$15 17
Cr. by sale of Word Book,
20
14 97
$502.25
CHAS. J. WILLIAMS, Purchasing Agent.
1
30
ANNUAL REPORTS
Superintendent's Report.
School Committee of Acton :
GENTLEMEN, -- The following report, presenting in a brief way the condition and progress of the schools, and stating suggestions for promoting their interests, is herewith presented.
This report is nominally to the school committee who are already familiar with its probable contents through writ- ten communications from, and by personal consultation with, the superintendent, from time to time during the year ; so I shall be pardoned if I assume I am not only reporting to the committee, but, through them, to parents, teachers, and all others interested in the school affairs of the town.
The statement made annually in many school reports that "Our schools have advanced rapidly the past year," may excite the thought that those particular schools must be in an almost perfect condition. But it should be borne in mind that the best schools in our land are far from perfect, and that only by intelligent and earnest efforts can schools be improved, or even prevented from becoming less efficient.
The phenomenal work mentioned in many school re- ports comes to my mind whenever I have to touch upon the progress of schools, so that I approach the subject with feel- ings of embarrassment; and yet not only has much been done to increase the efficiency of our schools this year, but the work of the teachers and the progress made by the schools have been eminently satisfactory. However, although
31
TOWN OF ACTON.
this year's work has been exceedingly gratifying, I deem it my duty and privilege to recommend other desirable changes, and state those needs which, in my opinion, will still further promote the interests of the schools.
THE YEAR'S WORK.
The most important changes made this year are as follows :
The permanent location of the High school.
The employment of an assistant for the High school.
The substitution of a four years' course of study in the High school for a three years' course.
The transportation of High school pupils.
The consolidation of the Centre schools.
The consolidation of the South East and South schools.
The first four changes directly affect the welfare of the High school, and indirectly they advance materially the ed- ucational interests of the whole town, and that, too, without increasing the total cost for schools, except for transporta- tion of High school pupils.
By these changes we have a High school that stands for firmness of character, as against fickleness in its nomadic age ; a High school course of study more befitting the size of the town and the intelligence of the community ; a school to which pupils of mature age, who need more attention than can possibly be given them in the lower schools, may be sent ; a teaching force adequate for present requirements, and means which have brought the High school nearer than ever before to the doors of all the people. That all the changes enumerated above have been made in one year, speaks well for the public spirit of the community.
The consolidation of the schools at the Centre, and of the Southeast and South schools, has proved judicious and economical,
32
ANNUAL REPORTS
In the Centre school the classes exhibit greater energy, and the pupils make more rapid progress than they did be- fore the schools were united. This is due to the more en- thusiastic class work and to the efficiency and the skillful management of the present teacher.
For similar reasons the South East pupils certainly have better educational advantages at the South than they had in their own districts.
EXAMINATIONS AND PROMOTIONS.
An important change has been made in the use of exam- inations and in methods of promotion. Heretofore, pupils have been admitted to the High school provided they passed a final written examination in the common school branches. Happily for aspirants for High school honors and their teach- ers, the school committee have abolished the written exami- nation as the basis of promotion, and, instead of a final ex- amination, have made the year's work of the pupils the basis of promotion. Candidates from other towns, however, might have to take an examination before being admitted. The same method has been adopted for promotions from grade to grade in the lower schools. Examinations are now given from time to time by the teachers and by the superintendent, but they are used, by the teachers, to give reviews, and to emphasize important facts ; by the superintendent, to test the power rather than the memory of the pupils, to direct the work of the teacher, and to discover defects and omis- sions in the teaching.
While none of the subjects taught in our schools have been neglected, special prominence has been givento read- ing, writing, arithmetic and language.
Supplementary reading in these lines, viz: geography, history, and literature, has been furnished the pupils, and, by this means, the teachers have made quite an effort to cul-
33
TOWN OF ACTON.
tivate in the pupils a taste for good reading. A list of books contained in the public library suitable for, and desirable to be read by, the pupils, has been furnished each teacher, and the trustees of the library have very kindly voted to allow the teachers to take out eight books at a time under special conditions. Some of these books are read by the teachers to the school, and others are read by the pupils. The principle that the use of good reading in schools will tend to prevent a desire for worthless productions, is acted upon in providing this reading.
Teachers' meetings have been held monthly, except when within the month the teachers have attended an Insti- tute. At one of these meetings it was our privilege to be addressed by Messrs. Geo. A. Walton and J. W. MacDonald, agents of the State Board of Education. These meetings enable the superintendent to direct the work of the teachers more effectively than can be done by any other means, so that the time taken by the teachers from regular school hours is considered to be profitably spent.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The new condition of things affecting this school, in- volved not only the election of an assistant, but a change of principals, and we fully realized that upon the judicious se- lection of these teachers depended the success of the new system.
Principal W. A. Charles has proved to be the right man for the place, and he has been ably seconded in his efforts to raise the standard of the school by his efficient assistant, Miss M. Florence Fletcher. This school is in excellent con- dition. It has been so managed that the pupils are orderly, industrious, and enthusiastic, and the relations existing be- tween teachers and pupils are the most cordial. Among the
34
ANNUAL REPORTS
many excellent features of the school is a plan of self- government introduced by Mr. Charles, to allow pupils, whose previous deportment was satisfactory, the privilege of governing their own actions in school so long as they con- tinued to conduct themselves in a manner acceptable to the teacher. To train pupils to govern themselves is the highest order of discipline, so I note with pleasure the fact that, owing to the character of the teachers and the laudable inclinations of the pupils, the experiment has proved success- ful. He has also introduced military drill, giving the boys a good knowledge of military tactics, and an excellent train- ing in discipline.
Aside from the regular school work the pupils began in November the publication of a monthly journal called the ACTONIAN, the contributors to which are all members of the school. The publication reflects great credit on the school, and well deserves support from the alumni of the school and the citizens of the town.
The membership of the school is much larger than it was last year. The size of the school and the four years' course of studies necessitated the purchase of an extra sup- ply of text books. This has necessarily swelled the total of the "text book and supplies " account, but as pupils must be furnished all necessary text books and supplies, this addi- tional cost was unavoidable. Many more books will be needed in the near future to properly supply the school.
In addition to the regular text books every pupll should be supplied with a small dictionary. There is not a more important book in school than this, and every pupil should learn to use one intelligently before he finishes our school course.
There are probably few High schools in the state, as large as ours, that have so Ittlle apparatus for science work
35
TOWN OF ACTON.
as is found in our school. Modern methods of teaching make necessary the use of apparatus ; and until the pieces needed are furnished, the teachers will certainly lack im- portant means of good teaching, and the pupils will fail to get the full value of the training aimed at in the study of the natural sciences. When teachers have many subjects to teach they should be provided with all necessary helps in the way of apparatus.
The school, with commendable zeal, has begun to raise money with which to purchase a piano. By an entertain- ment given in the town hall, fifty dollars has already been netted for this object.
IN GENERAL.
If our teachers are expected to work in accordance with the best methods, and to keep up with the times, we must make the conditions favorable for good teaching. Under the present system of schools we require too much when we ex- pect the same quality of work and the same amount of indi- vidual attention per scholar from our teachers that is ex- pected in well graded schools. It is not the number of pupils, necessarily, but the number of classes that determine largely the character of the teacher's work. Our teachers have not too many pupils, but, owing to the present grada- tion, they do have altogether too many classes for the best kind of work. Where schools are well graded there are not more than two grades in each room. In our school we have not less than four grades in each room. It is not reasonable to expect a teacher to accomplish as much per scholar with twenty-four classes, as is expected of a teacher with only twelve classes. We need better graded schools, and the practical way to accomplish this result is by consolidation.
APPARATUS, TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Teachers of the lower schools, too, need apparatus with which to do, in a proper and profitable way, the required
36
ANNUAL REPORTS
work of their schools. The following list of articles (some of which, however, are in the schools), recommended by the State Board of Education, is quoted as necessary for each school.
Blackboards .- As much good blackboard surface as the size of the room will allow; blackboard cloth for extra sur- face for charts, maps, etc. ; a sufficient supply of good crayons, erasers, and pointers. There should be a ledge or trough below the blackboard to hold the dust. This should be cleaned whenever the room is swept.
Closet .-- A closet with lock and key for all text books, supplies and apparatus. The condition of this property should be inspected at each visit of the committee.
For Reading .-- Besides the regular series of readers, a chart for the beginners, and one or more different readers of each grade, at least three copies of each ; supplementary books for information ; a large dictionary, a dictionary of biography, and a gazetteer.
For Writing .-- Slates ruled on one side for the youngest pupils ; spaced practice paper for the older pupils ; good writing paper, pens and ink ; means of sharpening slate and lead pencils.
For Arithmetic .-- A low table for youngest pupils ; blocks or other counters, splints, etc. ; numeral frame, foot-rules. yard-sticks, measures of capacity, liquid and dry, toy money.
For Geography .- A globe, outline map of the hemis- pheres and of the continents; a map of the United States, and one of Massachusetts ; paper for map-drawing.
For Physiology .- Anatomical and physiological charts.
For Drawing .- Clay for modelling, geometrical forms, pencils, rulers, manilla and white paper, compasses.
Small dictionaries, too, should be provided for all pupils above grade IV.
37
TOWN OF ACTON.
Additions to the supplementary reading list in the line of history, geography, literature, and science are desirable.
I would also recommend a change in the text books on geography, history, and spelling. Many of the geographies now in use are practically worthless, being much worn and considerably out of date.
There are many more desirable text books on history and spelling than those in our schools.
If the teachers are expected to conform to the law in regard to teaching drawing, they should be provided with books and drawing material.
I would suggest that the schools have a daily in-door. recess instead of the customary out-door recefs, from Novem- ber 1 to the end of the winter term. By this plan there would be a few minutes in the forenoon and a few minutes in the afternoon that would be given to physical exercise of some kind ; and during this time the room could be venti- lated, and any pupils be permitted to leave the room.
ATTENDANCE.
Good attendance is one indication of a successful school. I would, therefore, call your attention to the attendance in our High school in the fall and winter terms, recorded in the tabular statement. It will be noticed, also, that at the Cen- tre, since the schools were united, the membership has been larger and the attendance better. The per cent. of attend- ance of all the schools for the year is .93. Many pupils de- serve great praise for punctuality and constant attendance. The " Roll of Honor" is quite large; and I trust, another year, the names of pupils neither absent nor tardy for one or more terms will be published in the town report. The teach- ers, too, deserve much commendation for their efforts to secure regularity of attendance in their pupils.
38
ANNUAL REPORTS
A course of study to be practical must meet the needs of the schools for which it is made. The course prepared by the State Board of Education, an excellent one and very suggestive, has been nsed by the teachers as a guide in their work. This course was not expected to exactly meet the needs of all schools in the state, and while it will be used wholly for the course in drawing and nature study, it was deemed advisable to prepare one especially for our own schools, in other branches of study. This and the High school course is appended.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion I wish to thank the committee for their cordial support, for the courtesy they have shown me, and for the assistance they have given mne in my work during the year.
I wish, also, to thank the teachers for their hearty co- operation, for the good work they have done, and for the kindly manner in which they have taken my criticisms and suggestions.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD DIXON,
Superintendent of Schools.
39
TOWN OF ACTON.
TABULAR STATEMENT.
TEACHERS.
TERMS.
SCHOOLS.
Enrollment.
Average membership.
Average Attendance.
Per cent of attendance.
Pupils under 5 years of age.
Pupils over 15 years of age.
Pupils between 8 and 14 years of age.
Wages of teachers per month.
C. A. Crooks.
Spring
43
37.5
30.4
80
W. A. Charles.
Fall
High.
67
64.9
63.2
97
36 24
40 00
W. A. Charles.
1
Winter
64
63.5
59.1
93
40 00
Hattie L. Tuttle.
Spring Fall
South Grammar.
33
30.7
29.8
97
31
40 00
34
31.5
29.4
93
Bertha L. Gardner.
South Primary.
48
44.
41.9
95
15
40 00
Winter Spring Fall
West Grammar.
33
30.9
29.9
97
2|29
40 00
Harriet H. Gardner.
Winter
28
24.8
22.2
89
Clara B. Holden.
¿ Centre Gram'ar.
17
12.4
11.7
94
40 00
Sarah E. Hammond.
Spring Fall
Centre Primary. Centre.
37
33.7
32.5
96
3
27
40 00
Susie E. Conant.
37
27.9
26.5
95
M. Florence Fletcher.
Winter Spring Fall
East.
26
25.9
24.7
95
1 26
40 00
Lucy M. Booth.
Winter
28
26.7
24.9
93
Susie E. Conant.
Spring Fall
North.
20
19.3
18.3
94
1
2 10
36 00
Lillian F. Richardson. Lena Hayward.
Winter
16
12.1
9.5
78
Spring
Southeast.
11
6.6
5.9
89
0
1
9
36 00
31
30.
28.5
95
43
34.5
32.1
93
37
33.6
30.7
91
Albertie M. Preston.
Winter Spring Fall
34
32.8
30.4
93
47
39.
36.1
93
West Primary.
33
28.4
27.4
96
22
14
9.5
8.6
90
40 00
Susie E. Conant.
28
26.4
23.5
89
40 00
Lucy M. Booth.
40 00
23
20.4
19.3
95
Lillian F. Richardson.
Winter Spring Fall
42
37.9
35.8
94
-
$102 22 102 22
M. Florence Fletcher.
102 22
M. Florence Fletcher.
40 00
40
ANNUAL REPORTS
Summary of Statistics.
Number of schools, - - -
-
8
Whole number of children enrolled,
-
-
- 356
Number under 5 years of age, -
- -
1
Number over 15 years of age, - -
43
Number between 8 and 14 years of age, - - 184
Average membership of all the schools, -
- 261.6
Average attendance of all the schools, - - 244.1
Per cent. of attendance of all the schools, - 93 -
- -
41
TOWN OF ACTON.
Report of Principal of High School.
Having been requested by Mr. Dixon to say a few words concerning the High school, I submit the following :
September 5, Tuesday morning, on reaching the High school building, I found an assembly of about sixty-five boys and girls, varying from fourteen to eighteen years of age. In entering into a new school, with new teachers, and a new course of study, it took some little time to arrange matters satisfactorily, but matters finally adjusted themselves to circumstances, and the school machinery seemed to be running smoothly.
The course of study, as you know, was enlarged and increased to one of four years. I would still further advo- cate raising the standard, until algebra be pursued the first year, and all studies, which belong to the Grammar grade, be dropped from the High school curriculum.
In the way of physical and chemical apparatus, the school is totally devoid of appliances, and it is as impossible, to build the traditional "bricks without straw," as to teach those branches without performing a certain amount of ex- periments. The one thing which I think would tend to better work,in all directions, would be one session in the High school. In order for this to be a success the closest co-operating, of parents would be necessary, that the time which should be put into school work is not squandered in other ways, and right here I must utter my one word of dissatisfaction, and that is, the seeming lack of interest shown by parents, in the High school. Up to the present time just two persons, who
42
ANNUAL REPORTS
had children in school, have visited us. Now this shows one of two things : 1st, that you take no interest in your chil- dren's welfare, or 2d, that you have implicit confidence in your teachers.
I could not write an article of this kind without paying tribute to Miss Fletcher, and if the school has advanced at all during the past year, I would attribute a very large degree of it to her zeal, application, and hearty co-operation in everything concerning school work, and best of all, to the interest which, in a large degree, she awakens in all the pupils with whom she comes in contact. She is eminently the right person for the place. My relations with Mr. Wil- liams and Mr. Dixon, too, have been most helpful to me, and I can see nothing in the future for the Acton High school but success, if the people will only arouse themselves and open their eyes. It is the height of folly to support a High school in your midst, and then send your children to Concord or elsewhere. Give us the money which you are paying other schools. Give us the appliances which go to make a modern school-house, and we will give your children the education which by right they ought to have.
In closing, I wish to say that our labors have not been directed wholly toward book learning, but we have also endeavored to instill some of the first principles of what goes to make up a young lady and a young gentleman. A man is estimated by good society to-day no more for what he knows than for his good breeding, and we think we should not be fulfilling our duty did we stop with simply the daily lessons. The Acton High school can be a credit to the town of Acton. Will you let it be ?
WM. A. CHARLES, Principal.
43
TOWN OF ACTON.
HIGH SCHOOL.
CLASSICAL COURSE.
FIRST YEAR.
TERM.
Fall. Latin. Arithmetic. Civil Government.
Winter. Latin. Arithmetic. Physiology.
Spring.
Latin (Gate to Cæsar). Arithmetic. Physical Ge- ography.
SECOND YEAR.
Fall.
Cæsar. Algebra. Physics. English Literature.
Winter. Cæsar. Algebra. Physics. English Literature.
Spring. Cæsar. Algebra. Physics. English Literature.
THIRD YEAR.
Fall. Virgil or French. Plane Geometry. English History.
Winter. Virgil or French. Plane Geometry. Greek History.
Spring. Virgil or French. Plane Geometry. Roman History. FOURTH YEAR.
Fall. Cicero or French. Zoology. General History.
Winter. Cicero or French. Astronomy. General History.
Spring. Cicero or French. Chemistry. Political Economy.
ENGLISH COURSE.
FIRST YEAR.
TERM.
Fall. English Grammar. Civil Government. Arithmetic.
Winter. English Grammar. Physiology. Arithmetic.
Spring. English Grammar. Physical Geography. Arith- metic.
44
ANNUAL REPORTS
SECOND YEAR.
Fall. Rhetoric and English Literature. Algebra. Physics.
Winter. Rhetoric and English Literature. Algebra. Physics.
Spring. Rhetoric and English Literature. Algebra. Physics.
THIRD YEAR.
Fall. Erench. Plane Geometry. Geology.
Winter. French. Plane Geometry. Elocution.
Spring. French. Plane Geometry. Botany.
FOURTH YEAR.
Fall. French. Zoology. Solid Geometry or General History.
Winter. French. Astronomy. Solid Geometry or General History.
Spring. French. Chemistry. Solid Geometry or Political Economy.
Readings, declamations and compositions throughout each course. Book-keeping once a week.
COURSE OF STUDY.
LANGUAGE.
Object. To train pupils early to use good English, and to make this use a matter of habit by long, consistent, and progressive training, and to lay the foundation for the gram- matical study of the language at a later period. The correct forms only should be emphasized.
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