USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1901-1905 > Part 4
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girls 66 144
Total, 279
Number of boys in Town between 7 and 14 years,
99
girls 66
114
Total
213
Whole number enroled in all the schools,
298
between 5 and 15 years,
277
66 .
7 and 14 years,
214
66 over 15 years,
22
Average membership,
279
attendance,
252
Per cent. of attendance,
90.9
Number of teachers,
11
weeks in school year, 36
When entering upon my duties last April I found the schools well organized and doing commendable work. Acton is to be congratulated upon the consolidation of her schools and their consequent greater efficiency. Parents have reason to feel fully requited for any sacrifice that may have been necessary to bring about the present improved organization of schools. Time is nec- essarily required for the perfect adjustment of any new system but
11
Town of Acton.
an excellent foundation has been laid, the evidences of which will be more and more apparent as time goes on. When compared with schools in similar towns, where the same system is in force, Acton does not suffer by the comparison.
Last June written tests in all subjects were given by the superintendent in all grades, with very satisfactory results. The standing in scholarship of the pupils is generally well up to grade.
The course of study for the elementary schools had not been revised, with the exception of slight changes in the geography since it was first drawn up by Mr. Dixon. A revision was nec- essary to better meet the present needs of the schools. As few changes as possible were made although the history course is entirely new. The subject of history is now receiving more attention in the best schools throughout the country than at any previous time. Whereas it was formerly taught only in the upper grammar grades it is now begun in the lower primary and continued throughout the course.
Even the youngest children are attracted to stories from his- tory and while they have had little experience and cannot under- stand complicated forms of life, stories of the Indians and Eski- mos, especially adapted to children, representing the beginnings of history in ideas of time, place, and customs, they are much interested in.
History is a subject well adapted to two ends, to arouse a love for study and to give a knowledge of how to sudy. By the present method of teaching it pupils are given that best of helps , a key to the use of books.
Whatever tastes are formed in childhood will continue through life and if a love of study is not formed then it proba- bly never will be.
It has been well said that literature is best history as it takes us into the very heart and life of a people. So at the pres- ent time literature is correlated as much as possible with history, and thus pupils become familiar with many of the choicest selec- tions in literature. In Lowell and Whittier we breathe the very atmosphere of the Civil War, and who would think of teaching Puritan New England without Longfellow's "Miles Standish." or the French and Indian War without "Evangeline" ?
12
Annual Reports
In the history work pupils should be encouraged to use the Public Library and thus make it an efficient source of help to the schools. More of the best reference books, if added to your excellent Library, could be used to good advantage by teachers and students.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School is somewhat smaller in numbers this year, due to the formation of a ninth grade in the Grammar School, thus holding back for another year the ninth grade pupils who otherwise would constitute a part of the present membership of the High School, but an excellent standard has been maintained and the school has made marked progress. The standard of instruc- tion, the earnest spirit of the pupils, and other qualities which go to make a good school, are fully equal to those in other High schools in similar towns throughout the State, while the general equipment is far superior.
Mr. De Vault, after a very successful year's work as principal of the school, resigned at the opening of the fall term to accept a better position in Bristol, R. I. Mr. A. L. Faxon, his successor, is a graduate of Yale, a teacher of highly successful experience, and the town is fortunate in being able to command his services.
The one session plan is advantageous and the wisdom of the change is already manifest. There has been an inclination on the part of some pupils to do little home study, and it is thought that, with the co-operation of parents, one session will remedy this defect in great measure.
The following, on the greater efficiency of the High School, I quote in the strong but reasonable language from a recent report by J. W. MacDonald, State Agent :
" How shall the co-operation of the home be secured ? Of the many ways in which intelligent persons can increase the efficiency of the High School, the following need special em- phasis :
"First, they should take care that the physical conditions of their children are favorable to mental work.
"Second, they should restrain that excessive social dissipa- tion that is the bane of good school work.
13
Town of Acton.
" Third, they should establish and enforce hours for system- atic home study, not alone for the sake of improving scholarship, but even more for the cultivation of habits of study and applica- tion.
" Fourth, they should furnish the encouragement and aspira- tion that will make the school the primary rather than a second- ary thing in their children's minds.
" Through the ignorance or indifference of parents, the public high school, as compared with a good boarding school or academy, is at a disadvantage in work that calls for application and study. The boarding school has charge of the entire time of the pupil, and can regulate the hours of recreation and study. Thus the pupils acquire systematic habits of working, and do not come to their studies or the recitation room tired out by social dissipation, or for want of sleep. On the other hand, boys and girls often go home from the high school to an afternoon of dis- tractions. A hundred petty things keep their minds from study, or, if they attempt to study, from close disciplinary application. Companions call, the time is spent in profitless chatter ; petty things occurring on the street or in the neighborhood have their attention the whole afternoon; the evenings are given to calls, parties and entertainments. For not one single hour a day are these scholars trained to sit down by themselves, and, abstracting their thoughts from all disturbing influences, to apply their minds systematically to work. When they are not engaged in sports, they are thinking of sports and talking of sports.
" There are homes, it is true, where the conditions are more favorable to school work, but they are the exceptions. There is no one reform that would do so much to increase the efficiency of the high school as the intelligent co-operation of the home in the particulars I have mentioned."
(1.) It would be a cause for gratification if the numbers enrolled in the High School were a larger percentage of the total enrollment of all the schools.
(2.) The outlook, however, is very encouraging. The num- ber of pupils to enter the High School, from the grammar schools throughout the town for the next number of years, promises to swell the membership to goodly proportions, there being at
14
Annual Reports
present twenty-one pupils in the ninth grade, twenty-four in the eighth, and thirty-seven in the seventh.
(3.) The High School should not be considered a school for the favored few, whose training is outside of that with which the lower schools are related. A high school training is the right of all and should be the goal placed before every pupil in the different grades throughout the town.
There is manifest a good deal of interest in higher education which should be fostered and encouraged. Acton may well be proud of the graduates of her High School who enter colleges and normal schools of highest rank and there receive honors.
Our High School prepares for college, normal, and technical schools, and also gives an all round training whereby pupils are prepared for life's duties and for good citizenship.
We are fortunate in retaining so many of the former corps of teachers. At the close of the summer term a few vacancies oc- curred, but since September no changes have been made, which is greatly to the advantage of the schools.
The several vacancies were filled in September by the fol- lowing teachers: South Grammar, Miss Louise l'oss; West Grammar, Miss Grace Trefethen ; South Intermediate, Miss Edith Kalloch.
Miss Eva Barton resigned from the South Grammar during the summer to do advanced college work; Miss Mary Randall of the West Grammar was offered a position in the South Hadley High School, which she accepted, and Miss Eva Brewer of the South Intermediate was elected to a more lucrative position in Hopedale.
The teachers as a whole are strong, earnest and efficient. For those who are looking for the best things the constant aim must be to seek and retain the most excellent, and never to be satisfied with less than the best results.
Four teachers' meetings have been held during the year. Time has been taken for such general recommendations as visits to the school-room suggest, as well as for the consideration of the different subjects taught in the schools. Mr. A. W. Clark of Boston was present at two of the meetings and gave the teachers valuable instruction in writing.
15
Town of Acton.
The music, the same as last year, has been under the direc- tion of Miss Marian M. Brown, a capable, well trained musician, whose work has been characterized by faithfulness and earnest- ness. The value of music as a disciplinary study is now gener- ally recognized. By conformity to strict and systematic drill pupils learn to do quick and accurate work. Daily vocal drill in our schools is a healthful exercise, inducing correct position, ex- panding the chest and lungs, developing the organs of speech, improving the enunciation, and teaching how to use the voice. Although a large part of the music period is required in learning to read the language, realizing that this is only a means to an end, the expressive side of the study should not be overlooked, and the aim should be to develop a love for and an appreciation of the best music. It has been well said, " Beautiful music pro- duces good impressions, good impressions lead to right living, right living encourages good citizenship, and good citizenship makes a state and nation strong."
The work of the schools as a whole has advanced remarkably well throughout the year. We know that the greater part of what a pupil learns in school is forgotten in later life. The value of an elementary education, therefore, consists largely in the power gained through the acquirement of knowledge rather than in the knowledge acquired. Yet there are certain funda- mental facts belonging to all school subjects that should be so thoroughly taught as to remain permanently in the minds of the pupils and be available at all times. The aim is to give instruc- tion in all important facts, and through this instruction to de- velop and broaden the intellectual life of the pupils. Success in this depends upon the character of the instruction which, in every case, is more important than the quantity.
The purpose of true education is so to develop the indi- vidual as to enable him to make the most of himself, or, in other words, it consists in drawing out and developing all the God given faculties that he possesses. To the home and the school belongs largely the duty of accomplishing this purpose. If the home does not fulfill its duty in this respect, the school must supply the defect.
Parents sometimes underrate the aim of school work and consider that the mere accumulation of facts is the sole object of
16
Annual Reports
school training, but unless brain power is gained the work of the school is wellnigh void. In the proper and well directed per- formance of his school work, the child should gain such a com- mand of his faculties, and such an accumulation of will power, that he will be ready to seize every opportunity " by the fore- lock " and to meet every obligation of duty.
He should be so trained that when coming to the cross roads in life with no guide-board to direct, he may be able to choose for himself the right way. Every lesson should be so taught and learned as to contribute to this all desirable attainment. Merely to memorize, or to learn with reference to special display, is not educational in any proper sense of the term. Indeed it may weaken rather than strengthen the pupil.
To bring into action the latent faculties of the child is ab- solutely demanded of the teacher, and with this view a knowl- edge of the child mind is an absolute necessity to successful work in the school room. For school instruction should "adopt the means by which a non-thinking, non-reflecting, non-speaking child can most surely be trained into a noble citizen."
In the gift of free will we are endowed by our Creator with the power to work out our own destiny, andit is the highest function of education to help us to overcome the disadvantages of trouble- some environment and unfavorable circumstances, in the gaining of a noble manhood and womanhood. True education can but make a true man. If one seems to be educated and is not a true man or woman, it is safe to infer that one has been a victim of wrong or faulty instruction. In a word let it be said that any conception of education is imperfect and inadequate, that does not contemplate the production of that well-rounded character which shall embody in principle and action, "whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report."
In conclusion I wish to thank the committee for their strong support, and for the cordial manner in which I have been received, and the teachers for their co-operation in the work.
Respectfully submitted,
H. E. RICHARDSON.
17
Town of Acton.
Report of Musical Instructor.
MR. H. E. RICHARDSON,
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
Dear Sir-Last year musical instruction was a new feature in the Acton schools, and the remarkable interest manifested in the study has been fully maintained this year.
The results of the individual work have been especially satisfactory.
The pupils are entitled to much credit for their ready response to the instruction, and there has been a uniform im- provement both in tone and character of the singing.
The co-operation of the teachers and the willingness of the pupils has greatly assisted in making the year a success.
Respectfully submitted,
MARIAN M. BROWNE, Musical Instructor.
MR. H. E. RICHARDSON,
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Dear Sir-Our High School has steadily improved during this past year and changes have been made constantly to better the opportunities offered. At Christmas, by the almost unani- mous request of the parents, a change was made from two sessions to one. Thus far it has proved very successful, and has tended to raise the scholarship and discipline of the school. Pupils who are deficient in their studies or disorderly are required to return in the afternoon and make up what they have been found lacking in. Calisthenics has been introduced and is obligatory on all the pupils. This is a subject that has received but scant attention in the past. About ten minutes are devoted to the exercise daily and we hope, before long, to see an improvement in the physical development of the students. It is our purpose to do away with recess as far as possible, and to give them something that will more than compensate for the slight amount of exercise that they have been accustomed to have in the past.
18
Annual Reports
The people of Acton should feel proud of their High School and of the opportunities that it offers. The school is equipped with good laboratory apparatus for Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology. Also attached to it is a constantly increasing refer- ence library, so that the pupils have tools to work with better than can be found in a majority of the high schools in the State. Though there is but one assistant yet, under the circumstances it is all that is required to do the work. At present there are but three classes in the school, owing to the formation of a ninth grade two years ago, and our present staff of teachers is fully capable of handling the classes for two years at least, by which time we hope the number of pupils will be sufficient to justify engaging an additional teacher.
During the past year the number in the High School has been very small, yet the work accomplished has been of a high order. Each pupil has received a great deal of individual atten- tion and marked progress has been noticed. The graduates of our school are now fully prepared to pass the entrance examina- tions to college, as a three years' course in German has been introduced, which may be taken as a substitute for Greek. Of the graduates of this year, two will probably enter college, and one, the normal school. Last year one of our graduates entered Boston University, receiving honors.
What is needed more than anything else in this town is a careful investigation by the people into the facilities offered by our school, and we feel assured that if this were done there would be fewer children receiving their instruction elsewhere. During the past year there has been but one parent who has visited our school and seen the work that is being done. We sincerely hope that more interest will be shown in the future, as it is a stimulant both to the teachers and pupils.
A. L. FAXON.
19
Town of Acton.
Fourteenth Graduating Exercises of the Acton High School, CLASS OF 1900, In the Town Hall, Thursday Evening, June 21st., at Three Quarters after Seven.
PROGRAM.
1. March, Orchestra
2. Prayer, . Rev. W. F. Dusseault
3. Song, "Soldiers' Chorus," School
4. Address, Mr. Joseph G. Edgerly, Supt. Schools, Fitchburg, Mass.
5. Parting Hymn, . Class of 1900
6. Conferring of Diplomas, Supt. H. E. Richardson
7. Music, Orchestra
Music by UNITA ORCHESTRA, Acton. Geo. F. Dusseault, Director.
GRADUATES-Classical Course.
Ethel Mildred Quimby. Jennie Etta Reed, Cora Lewis Rouillard, Eula Sophia Taylor.
English Course.
John Edwards, Rilla Lester Harris,
Sarah Augusta Richardson.
Class Motto "Rowing, Not Drifting."
The river of life is deep and wide With its waters swiftly flowing : Let's make up our minds we will not drift, But keep a steady rowing.
Near our journey's end, though clouds be dark, We shall certainly find them lifting, If we look for the light, and keep in mind That our motto is - "ROWING NOT DRIFTING." Isabel H. Floyd.
Class Colors : PINK AND GREEN.
20
Annual Reports
Roll of Honor, Sept .. 1899, to June, 1900.
ONE YEAR.
Bean, Milton C.
Charlton, Kenneth
Kingsley, Richard
Lincoln, Arnold
Piper, Ralph
Richardson, Clara
Sawyer, Benjamin Schnair, Lara
Schnair, Charles Wayne, Arthur.
Two TERMS.
Brewster, Irving
Burke, Henry
Clark, Lester
Fletcher, Carrie E.
Harris, Alfred
Hastings, Ralph
Hoar, Carl
Lawrence, Eva
Lincoln, Arnold
Mekkelsen, Ida
Mekkelsen, Bertha
Moan, Frank
Moan, Edward
Owen, Wallace
Priest, Maud B.
Quimby, Margaret
Reed, Bennie
Schnair, Ella
Tuttle, Varnum
White, Leonard
Worden, Irving
Wood, Sarah.
ONE TERM.
Beach, Clayton
Blodgett, Lester
Brown, Lizzie J.
Chandler, Winnifred G.
Charlton, Vera
Chute, Agnes
Crane, Lowell
Dacy, William
Dacey, Alice
Davidson, Guy
Deven, Ethel
Emery, Grace
Esterbrook, Fred
Foley, Nellie
Gough, Edward
Green, Isabella
Harris, Arthur
Harris, Bertha
Harris, Maud
Harris, Eva Hastings, Ethel B. Keith, Ella M. Kinsley, Annie
Kimball, Elnathan
Lang, Ethel L.
Lawrence, Ralph
Lawrence, Flora
Littlefield, Harold
McCarthy, Eugene
Mekkelsen, Christine
Mekklesen, Henry
Meade, Idelle Morse, Arthur Quimby, Russell
Morrison, Frank Quimby, Ethel M. Reed, Flora B.
Smith, Ernest
Spinney, Forest
Taylor, Sophia E.
Thompson Mabel.
Schnair, Joseph Spinney, Gaylon Symonds, Harold Thompson, Carl
Boyce, Elmer Jones, Karl
Hoar, Crosby
21
Town of Acton.
STATISTICS FOR 1899 -- 1900.
NAME OF SCHOOL
Grades
No. of
Weeks
Enrollment
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent.
Attendance
No. Between
No. Between
5 and 15
No. Over 15
High,
10-13
40
31
26.48
24.6 16.
92.
6
18
13
South Grammar,
7-9
36
19
17.4
91.9
14
19
1
South Intermediate,
4-6
36
27
25.35
24.
94.6
27
27
0
South Primary,
1-3
36
46
43.9
38.38
87.4
35
46
0)
Center Grammar,
7-9
36
19
20.
18.7
93.5
14
14
5
Center Intermediate,
4-6
36
38
35.7
32.3
90.5
38
38
0
Center Primary,
1-3
36
34
31.4
27.
86.
23
34
0
West Grammar,
7-9
36
24
21.98
19.45
88.4
19
22
2
West Intermediate,
4-6
36
21
21.
20.
95.
20
20
1
West Primary,
1-3
36
39
36.
32.45
90.
18
39
0
Totals.
36
298
27.9
25.2
90.93
214
277
22
LIST OF TEACHERS, 1900 -- 1901.
SCHOOLS
TEACHERS'
Ap- point- ed
EDUCATED.
Sal- ary.
Year
High
§ Principal, { Assistant
Bertha Merrill.
1900
Yale. Smith,
Week
South Grammar,
Louise M. Foss,
1900
1 Farmington, Me., Normal,
10
South Primary,
Annie W. Chase.
1899
Fram'h'm Normal,
10
Center Grammar.
Sara G. Small.
1898
Salem Normal,
10
Cen. Intermediate,
Ella L. Miller,
1899
Fram'h'm Normal, 66
10
Center Primary,
Cora F. Warren,
1899
10
West Grammar,
GraceF. Trefethen
1900
Taunton,
10
Salem Normal,
10
West Intermediate West Primary,
Kather. Sweeney, Harr't H. Gardner
1899
1889
Ayer
12
-
$10
So. Intermediate,
A. L. Faxon,
1900
$1,000
500
Edith M. Kalloch,
1900
7 and 14
22
Annual Reports
STATISTICS-FALL AND WINTER TERMS, 1900-1901.
NAME OF SCHOOL
Grades
No. in Each
Grade
Enrollment
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent. of
Attendance
No. Between
No. Between
5 and 15
No. Over 15
High,
12th
OVA
21
19.
17.4
91.6
N
6
13
11th
10th
10
South Grammar,
8th
5
26
24.4
24.
98.5
21
25
I
7th
16
35
30.
27.99
93.00
34
34
1
South Primary,
2nd
16
45
41.44
36.
87.00
22
44
0
Center Grammar,
8th
9
os
26.9
24.8
92.26
17
23
5
Cen. Intermediate,
5th
14
35
31.46
28.57
90.8
35
35
0
4th
10
S
Center Primary.
2nd
12
36
32.5
28.95
88.98
25
36
0
West Grammar,
8th
10
28
24.77
22.8
92.
18
27
I
West Intermediate
5 th
10
27
25.6
24.35
95.
27
27
0
West Primary,
2nd
10
41
40.23
37.38
92.9
21
41
O
1st
23
Totals,
322
322
29.6
27.2
92.2
222
298
21
0
So. Intermediate.
5 th
4th
26
3rd
12
17
Ist
7th
10
6th
11
14
1st
10
9th
7
7th
11
6th
5
4th
12
3rd
00
-
13th
9th
5
6th
9th
9
3rd
7 and 14
23
Town of Acton.
Report of Purchasing Agent.
Department of School Supplies.
To the School Committee :
The annual report of the expense account of this department is respectfully submitted.
J. L. HAMMETT CO.
March 22. 200 No. 120 blank books,
$2 50
5 gross 4 B. pencils, 4 25
1 1b. No 120 erasers,
75-
$7 50
March 23. 3 Frye prim. geog.,
1 62
10 Little Nell,
3 60-
5 22
March 28. 10 hand globes.
2 50
200 No. 140 blank books,
7 00
2 gross penholders, No. 611,
2 20
11 boxes Middleton fasteners,
2 20
13 90
April 9. 2 doz. Treasury ink,
6 00-
6 00
April 10. 2 sets spring rollers, Excelsior maps,
44 00-
44 00
April 20. 100 lbs arithmetic paper,
3 00-
3 00
April 21. 10 gross Esterbrook, No. 556, pens,
4 88-
4 88
June 5. 10 doz. No. 30 rulers,
1 84
2 gross J. L. H. school pens,
90
200 lbs. arithmetic paper,
6 00
200 Cornhill pads,
8 00
12 reams H. 3 paper,
6 00
5 reams H. 1 paper,
2 50
10 gross H. B. pencils,
8 50
2 doz. Treasury mucilage,
1 50
1 1b No. 120 erasers,
75
100 mathematical cards, No. 9, 2 00
3} gross No. 787 pencils, 9 63
24
Annual Reports
June 5. 6 boxes colored cubes,
$2 88
3 66
plain cubès, 1 20
6
number builders,
58
6
66 sentence builders,
3
colored pegs,
36
6 domestic animals,
96
6 wild animals, 96
6 birds, 66
96
6
66
leaves,
96
4
66 Little artist,
80
6
No. 1021 sticks,
1 20
6 No. 470,
1 92
12 pkgs. colored splints,
2 40
6 boxes practical busy work,
1 20
18 boxes, 1 44
2 doz. peg boards, 2 80
10 pkgs. 00 medium drawing paper, 4 00
6 Manilla drawing paper, 9x12,
2 40-
75 11
Sept.
18. 1 doz. folios,
3 00
1 1b erasers, No. 120,
65
3 doz gem erasers,
1 50
60 No. 140 blank books, 2 10
10 reams No. 27 letter paper,
9 00
5 Round the World, book 2,
2 28
3 doz. water pans,
1 44-
19 94
Sept. 26. 3 copies Colonial Children,
1 08
3 Story of Ulysses,
81
9 Legend of Norseland,
3 24
3 66 La Salle,
15
3 66 Robert Fulton,
15
3 Cortez, 66
81
3 Siegfried,
1 80
3
66 Story of Ulysses, Cook, .
96
3
Tales of Troy,
72
3
66 Nature Myths,
60
3 Smith's Songs for Little Children, 5 40
3 Hiawatha, 1 and 2, 79
40
July 21. 5 lbs. letter pads,
40
25
Town of Acton.
Sept. 26. 5 copies Round the World, bk. 1, $1 60 250 Baldwin report books, 3 75
1 box yellow crayons, 65
1 box orange crayons,
65-
24 24
Sept. 29. 7 primary peg boards, Repairing 2 gem sharpeners,
83
Oct.
3. 1 Webster International Dict.,
8 50-
8 50
Oct. 16. 3 copies Marquette,
15
3 doz. color boxes,
6 84
140 No. 140 blank books, .
4 90
1 box brown crayons, 60- 12 49
Oct.
17. 200 No. 140 blank books, ·
7 00-
7 00
Jan. 1. 1 gross Easterbrook best pens, No. 556,
2 25
12-
2 37
Jan.
10. 1 lb. rubber erasers, No. 120, 100 blank books, No. 120,
1 25-
1 95
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