USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1906-1910 > Part 11
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SEVENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COM- MITTEE ..
To the Citizens of Acton:
We again have the pleasure of reporting to you that the past year in your schools has been a successful one and that the schools are now. as they have been for several years, in excellent condition. We wish to acknowledge here, as we have frequently done in former reports, the competent and faithful services of the superintendent and teachers, who have in large degree made our schools what they now are.
In the early months of the year the duties of your com- mittee and the anxieties connected therewith were increased and made somewhat onerous because of the rapid and un- expected changes in the superintendency. In March. after a faithful and very successful service of six years. Mr. Richard- son resigned to accept the Aver-West Boylston District. By the consent of these towns. however, our schools received the benefit of his supervision until May 1st.
On April 14th, Mr. E. L. Willard was chosen district superintendent and took charge of the schools on May 1st. Mr. Willard resigned on June 28th to accept the superintend- ency of the schools of Newburyport. On July 5th, Mr. Arthur B. Webber, the present incumbent of the office, was chosen superintendent and entered upon his duties August 1st. We have every reason to congratulate ourselves upon the selection of Mr. Webber for the position.
To the report of the superintendent. incorporated in and made a part of this report, we invite your careful attention.
We again urge upon your attention the pressing need of proper and sufficient accommodations for the graded schools at South Acton and again point out that the building in
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which the south grammar school is at present housed is, be- cause of its location and for other reasons, totally unfit for this purpose.
The constant din caused by the operation of the rail- road near this building not only makes the conduct of the school exceedingly difficult but is apparently working se- rious physical injury to the pupils. The south primary and intermediate schools are full to overflowing, the former to an extent that made imperative the employment of an as- sistant teacher at the beginning of the fall term.
All the room afforded by the school building at South Acton is needed for the accomodation of the graded schools and we ask more earnestly, if that is possible, than we have asked before that the town adopt such measures as will re- lieve the present and increasing congestion in the primary and intermediate school in this village and at the same time provide a suitable home for the grammar school.
At the opening of the fall term, the class entering the high school was found to be so large as to nearly double the number of pupils in attendance at this school in the pre- ceding year and to force upon your committee the im- mediate consideration of a subject which the board of edu- cation had kept quite constantly before them during several years. Believing that the best interests of the pupils whose training had been entrusted to this school demanded the ser- vices of a second assistant teacher, and that the town desired to afford to these pupils all the opportunities for an education possible, and believing also that the time had arrived when action in the matter could not wisely be longer deferred, vour committee appointed a second assistant teacher in the high school at the beginning of the school year. This in- crease in the number of the teaching staff makes it necessary for us to ask for an appropriation for the support of the high school of $2,300.00.
For some time past the employment of an instructor in drawing has been under consideration, it being our belief that the study of this art which enters so importantly into the
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work of so many business and professional men and women and so intimately into the lives of many others should no longer be left to the ordinary instruction of the school room but should have competent presentation in all your schools from the primary to the high. Accordingly at the beginning of the school year and in concert with the other towns of the district the services of an instructor in free-hand and mechanical drawing were engaged and these branches are now taught in your schools. Since a single instructor at present teaches both drawing and music the increased cost of instruction is but slight.
Owing to the very large number of pupils in attendance at the South primary school at the opening of the fall term. an assistant teacher was at that time appointed in that school.
An act of the legislature of 1906 requires the appoint- ment by the school committee of a physician or physicians who shall at stated times make certain examinations of the . pupils in the public schools for the purpose of detecting de- fects in hearing, eye sight, etc., which might otherwise be unobserved and who shall act at the call of the teachers in cases of suspected contagious diseases in the schools and on other necessary occasions. For the purpose of carrying out the requirements of this statute we ask an appropriation of $100.00.
The amount received from the Mass. school fund is $845.62 compared with $1.026.40 received last year, a reduction of $180.78, due to the fact the sum raised for the support of schools was smaller in proportion to the whole amount raised by the town by taxation than was the case in the preceding year.
During the summer the school house at South Acton was repainted outside, the interior of the building repainted and whitened and the finish and furniture renovated. One new floor was laid in the west house and one also in the house at the center.
It will be noted that the expenditure for books and
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supplies has this year quite largely exceeded the sum ap- propriated for that purpose. The heavy increase in member- ship in the high school and in the graded schools at South Acton, the introduction of drawing as a study in all the schools, and the fact that at the beginning of the school year an unexpectedly large number of books were found to be unfit for further use, are the causes of the expend- iture. In the matter of books unfit, by reason of wear, for further use, the conditions were met as far as seemed at all advisable, but much remains to be done in the direction of replacing worn out books. A somewhat larger annual ex- penditure in this department is demanded by existing con- ditions, and we therefore ask that the amount appropriated in past years for the purchase of books and supplies be in- creased by the sum of $100 00.
Three hundred and seventy-five dollars have been re- ceived from the state on account of salary of superintendent of schools for the year 1905-1906.
The reports of the purchasing agent and of the truant officers are appended.
Receipts and Expenditures on Account of Schools for the Fiscal Year 1906-1907.
Receipts.
Appropriation for common schools, $3,800 00
Appropriation for high school, 1,800 00
Appropriation for school supplies, 525 00
Appropriation for transportation of pupils, 1,360 00
Appropriation for salary of superintend- ent of schools, 480 00
Received from Mass. school fund, 845 62
Received from dog licenses, 341 77
Received from tuition fees, 32 74
$9,185 13
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Expenditures.
For common schools, $5,116 72
High school, 2,037 67
School supplies. 840 89
Transportation of pupils. 1,420 00
Salary of superintendent of schools, 480 00
$9,895 28
Overdraft,
710 15
Estimates for the Support of Schools for the Fiscal Year 1907-1908.
For common schools.
$4,100 00
High school. 2.300 00
School supplies,
625 00
Transportation of pupils. 1,360 00
Salary of superintendent of schools, 480 00
Medical inspection of pupils, 100 00
$8,965 00
For the School Committee of Acton.
CHAS. J. WILLIAMS, Chairman.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee,
Gentlemen :
Herewith I submit the 15th annual report of the Su- perintendent of Schools.
This year being my first in the field must of necessity be largely spent in getting in touch with the work and learning the needs of the field. In the half year which has elapsed certain points of strength and certain weaknesses have manifested themselves. The main points attacked have been arithmetic and reading. There seems to be a general backwardness in the reading and language work which I attribute to the fact that the classes have been without basal text books in the grades. Upon this point I must differ radically with my predecessor. I do not believe that satisfactory work can be secured from children below the ninth grade without a uniform text to which the child shall be held, making use also of all the reference works available. The mind of the child in the grades is in need of discipline, and the habit of study along definite lines, and of definite facts, must be insisted upon. In cases where I have followed the method of using many texts with a lower grade the result has invariably been that the child hung upon the teacher, and failed to become an independent worker. This is very manifest in the seventh grade work, and in many of the grades above. That the work may be strenghtened in this line I would urge that each child be furnished basal texts in arithmetic, language, geography and history. In the majority of schools geography has al- ready been put upon this footing.
The general organization of the schools I have found to be in excellent running order, and the spirit shown by
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both pupils and teachers is most commendable. The at- tendance is in too many cases not what it should be. There is a tendency among parents to feel that the absence of a child once a week is not of great importance. While real- izing that there are times when the older children are a virtual necessity as helpers in the work of the home, I wish to emphasize especially the claim of the school to regular and unbroken attendance. The child has little enough schooling at best, and certainly only the extremest neces- sity should be allowed to deprive him of his just dues.
In as much as the school is a community, the training school for life, it behooves us to seek to inculcate in the pupils the principles of honesty, truthfulness, reverence, cleanliness, industry, a respect for the right of others, as well as the common school branches. Here it is that the child must learn the principles of punctuality, perseverance, honor and application to the task at hand. Unless he makes school work his business, and enters upon it with just that regularity and purposeful determination that mark the suc- cessful business man in his daily work just so surely will he fail to meet the demands of his later life.
A system of medial writing has been introduced in the hope that the more thorough teaching entailed by the use of copy books will produce a more satisfactory result. The medial system was chosen as productive of a speedier and more easily acquired handwriting, and in response to a de- mand from business men that vertical writing be discarded.
The new education, which to some seems to include certain "fads" is the logical outcome of changed conditions of society. The purpose of education is no longer the mere cramming of the mind with facts, and the ability in narrow lines of the fundamentals life today is far more complex even for the child than it was twenty years ago. The average boy leaving school today comes face to face with the need for greater mental alertness and a finer sense perception than did his equal of a generation back. The great cry today is for mechanical. or industrial training, not to fit the child
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for a trade, but to so round out the character that it is a unity. The older methods of instruction unquestionably produced good results, yet as we readily see by our own ex- perience, they failed to make the average pupil master of what he was taught. Modern psychology teaches that every sensation creates an impulse within the brain which seeks an outlet through motor activity. If this tendency to pro- duce something be curbed, and the child be given no op- portunity to express the awakening of the mind through action there is a distinct loss. This repeated leads to a mental laziness which is to be deplored.
In some of our schools there is an unorganized effort to furnish this training, and much of the work observed is commendable. It should, however, be made more systematic and present a more continous development.
The teaching force has been subject to the usual changes. but upon the whole we have been fortunate in securing able and enthusiastic teachers. They are to be commended for the willingness and earnestness with which they have under- taken work suggested, which was along lines new to many of them.
A most important factor in promoting the welfare of the schools is the continuance of a teacher in the same place. I quote from Hon. W. W. Stetson, State Superintendent of Maine: "The value of what a teacher does depends on what she is; her personality teaches more than her works. Unless she helps to develop in the children worthy motives and en- nobling ideals she is a failure. The desire to be useful is worth more than glib recitations; the thirst for knowledge is more to be coveted than high ranks; a love for the best in literature and art is more fruitful than class honors, and the wish to do right, because it is right, is more blessed than fantastic diplomas. The work of the school is to give such instruction, furnish such stimulus, and form such habits as will help the child to be prompt to do justice, and alert in responding to the best that is within him."
The teacher who is worthy of the name, puts herself in
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touch with her pupils and their home environment at the earliest possible moment. Until she knows what influences in the home and in the community are helpful and what are hindrances she cannot do her best for her school; hence fre- quent changes are disastrous both to the schools and to the teachers. The schools suffer because of the loss of an in- fluence potent for good; the teachers because such an in- fluence is not easily gained. "Good reputations are not easily or quickly made."
"Education at every stage of life consists of two pro- cesses; the training of powers and the acquisition of know- ledge." The mere accumulation of facts should be of the least importance. The development of power, of self-con- trol and initiative should be the leading aim in all our school work. It is here I find the greatest lack. Certain tests now underway show a good knowledge of fact, but a deficiency in thought power. The teachers are alive to the situation and signs of an awakening are apparent. In all the branches this change is to be looked for. The relation of school to daily life is essential to the maintenance of interest.
Teachers' meetings for the district have been held once each term. At Littleton the subject chosen for discussion was Medial Writing, and at Westford, Miss Mary Lang, the able instructor in Psychology at the Hyannis Summer School, and formerly of the Oswego Normal School, gave a most helpful and suggestive talk upon Interest. Groups of the teachers are meeting monthly for reading and study along lines of professional growth. No teacher can stand still, and the increase of salary should be based upon a teacher's growth, not upon length of service.
Drawing and Music.
After many attempts to secure a supervisor of music it seemed wise in view of the fact that no systematic work had been done in drawing, to choose a supervisor for both music and drawing. As many of the teachers were apparently well
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able to look after the music with a minimum of supervision, the new supervisor has given a major part of her time to establishing the work in drawing. In consideration of the fact that the work was wholly unorganized the results are most satisfactory. It is to be hoped that the time may come soon when a supervisor of each subject may be secured. To get over the territory within the time allows but a meagre period to give much instruction. For more detailed inform- ation upon these subjects I refer you to the report of the supervisor.
To Superintendent Arthur B. Webber.
Dear Sir :- Beethoven has said that " Music is a higher manifestation than all wisdom and philosophy." If this is so, music is worthy of one of the most important places in the school curriculum.
There are two essential things to be considered in the musical education of the child-first : the cultivation of the musical sense,-the appreciation of the musical sense; sec- ond : the development of the understanding in the elements, - the ability to read at sight, etc.
These two branches should go hand in hand, being introduced in a very simple way in the first grade and in- creasing in difficulty as the child advances.
In the beginning of the first school year an interest in music is developed by means of the rote songs; later the child studies the representation of music from the board. When this is mastered the Weaver slips are used and the child is tested as to his ability to sing at sight. All through the grades these slips are used, also work in tone perception. the teacher or some pupil singing a series of tones and the others writing the notes on the staff or singing the melody with the syllables. In addition to the board work and the Weaver slips, the educational music course is used. The
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ease with which the pupils overcome the difficulties in time and intervals in the songs, speaks very loudly in favor of the Weaver slips.
In all the schools especial drill has been given on songs which are to be used on Longfellow's birthday.
In this department I wish to thank teachers and pupils for their kind co-operation and sympathy.
Respectfully submitted,
J. LOUISE LONG,
Supervisor of Music.
Westford, January 14, 1907.
To Superintendent Arthur B. Webber.
Dear Sir :- Since beginning my work in your schools, I have been very much encouraged by the spirit of enthu- siasm with which the pupils have taken hold of the work in drawing, and also by the kind co-operation of the grade teachers. The aim of teaching drawing, is to develop the mind of the child through the eye as well as through the hand. He is taught to appreciate all the beautiful and true there is in life, and is led to a keener perception of details.
There are three branches or kinds of drawing-pictorial, structural and decorative. Under the first topic come plant drawing, perspective, landscape sketching, animal and pose sketching, and picture study. Through these studies the child gains an appreciation of beauty in nature, accuracy of observation and skill in drawing what he sees.
The second topic is a science of facts. This trains the child in accuracy and he studies geometric problems and becomes acquainted with the work-shop and the limitations
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of different materials in order that he may make practical structural designs.
In the field of decoration, is the study of color theory, through which the child gains an appreciation and enjoy- ment of color in nature, good taste in the practical things of life and a gradual development of a refined color perception. In order to make good designs the children are referred to the ancient schools, where purity and simplicity of form may be found which will have an influence in cultivating good taste and will later develop originality and individual power.
Two half-hour lessons a week are given in all schools ex- cepting the high, which has one forty-minute period. All the teachers are furnished with the supervisor's outline so that the work may continue without any interruption.
Respectfully submitted,
J. LOUISE LONG,
Supervisor of Drawing.
Acton, January 14. 1907.
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The bill passed by the last legislature providing for medical inspection for all public school pupils by regular physicians, and for eye and ear tests by teachers has been put into effect in our schools. The following is the text of the law :
Act of 1906, Chapter 505.
Section 1. The school committee of every city and town in the Commonwealth shall appoint one or more school physicians, shall assign one to each public school within its city or town, and shall provide them with all proper facilities for the performance of their duties as pre- scribed in this act : provided, however, that in cities wherein the board of health is already maintaining or shall hereafter maintain substantially such medical inspection as this act requires, the board of health shall appoint and assign the school physician.
Section 2. Every school physician shall make a prompt examination and diagnosis of all children referred to him as hereinafter provided, and such further examination of teach- ers, janitors and school buildings as in his opinion the pro- tection of the health of the pupils may require.
Section 3. The school committee shall cause to be re- ferred to a school physician for examination and diagnosis every child returning to school without a certificate from the board of health after absence on account of illness or from unknown cause: and every child in the schools under its jurisdiction who shows signs of being in ill health or of suffering from infections or contagious disease, unless he is at once excluded from school by the teacher: except that in the case of schools in remote and isolated situations, the school committee may make such other arrangements as may best carry out the purpose of this act.
Section 4. The school committee shall cause notice of
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the disease or defects, if any, from which any child is found to be suffering to be sent to his parent or guardian. When- ever a child shows symptoms of small-pox, scarlet fever, measles, chicken-pox, tuberculosis, diphtheria or influenza, tonsilitis, whooping cough, mumps, scabies or trachoma, he shall be sent home immediately, or as soon as safe and proper conveyance can be found, and the board of health shall at once be notified.
Section 5. The school committee of every city and town shall cause every child in the public schools to be separately and carefully tested and examined at least once in every school year to ascertain whether he is suffering from defective sight or hearing, or from any other disability or defect tending to prevent his receiving the full benefit of his school work, or requiring a modification of the school work in order to prevent injury to the child or to secure the best educational results. The test of sight and hearing shall be made by teachers. The committee shall cause notice of any defect or disability requiring treatment to be sent to the parent or guardian of the child, and shall require a physical record of each child to be kept in such form as the state board of education shall prescribe.
Section 6. The state board of health shall prescribe the directions for tests of sight and hearing, and the state board of education shall, after consultation with the state board of health, prescribe and furnish to school committees suitable rules of instruction, test cards, blanks, record books, and other useful appliances for carrying out the purposes of this act, and shall provide for pupils in the normal schools in- struction and practice in the best methods of testing the sight and hearing of children. The state board of education may expend during the year 1906 a sum not greater than fifteen hundred dollars and annually thereafter a sum not greater than five hundred dollars for the purpose of supply- ing the material required by this act.
Section 7. The expense which a city or town may incur by virtue of the authority herein vested in the school com-
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mittee or board of health, as the case may be, shall not ex- ceed the amount appropriated for that purpose in cities by the city council and in towns by a town meeting. The appro- priation shall precede any expenditure or any indebtedness which may be incurred under this act, and the sum appro- priated shall be deemed a sufficient appropriation in the mu- nicipality where it is made. Such appropriation need not specify to what section of the act it shall apply, and may be voted as a total appropriation to be applied in carrying out the purpose of the act.
Section 8. This act shall take effect on the first day of September in the year nineteen hundred and six. (Ap- proved June 20. 1906.)
Under this law it will be necessary to ask for an ap- propriation for the services of the school physicians. Besides the annual inspection the school physician should be expected to call at least once a term. I would urge a ready response to the call for an appropriation, as the results of the inspec- tion in the other towns have been of undoubted advantage. By preventing the spread of disease it has contributed materially to improve the attendance and has protected the general health of the children.
An especial benefit has been noted in the discovery of cases of advanced growth and enlarged tonsils. Some have received prompt attention after being reported and have shown marked improvement in consequence. Many parents are unaware of the serious nature of these troubles and unless their attention is called to the matter the children would continue to suffer.
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