USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1911-1915 > Part 15
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We have added to the estimate for the support of the high school the sum of fifteen hundred dollars to meet the expenses incident to sending to Concord first year high school pupils, who elect one of the vocational courses. This matter is gone into in the report of the superintendent. In view of this situation it is a serious question from the standpoint of economy, whether the entire first year class ought not to be sent to Concord. We, however, do not feel prepared at this time to recommend it.
9
ESTIMATES FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1913-1914
For general expenses :
Salaries and other expenses of the committee $125.00
Salaries and other expenses of the superintendent and truant officers 250.00
For expenses of instruction :
Salaries of high school teachers including tuition of pupils at- tending Concord 6,000.00
Salaries of elementary school For textbooks:
teachers 5,000.00
For high and elementary schools it is anticipated that the amount to be received from dog tax will cover this. For stationery and supplies :
High school 25.00
Common schools 350.00
For expenses of operating school plants :
Wages of janitors, fuel and mis- cellaneous expenses 1,925.00
Maintenance and repairs 250.00
For auxiliary agencies :
Health 50.00
For transportation :
High school scholars 1,750.00
Elementary scholars 1,775.00
Total
$17,500.00
10
In addition to the above appropriations, we ask the town to vote to allow the committee to transfer any unex- pended balance from any fund to any other proving insufficient.
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS FOR FISCAL
YEAR 1912-1913
Appropriations
For general expenses :
Salaries and other expenses of the committee $125.00
Salaries and other expenses of the superintendent and truant officers 225.00
For expenses of instruction :
Salaries of high school teachers including tuition of pupils at- tending Concord 4,275.00
Salaries of elementary school For textbooks :
teachers 5,000.00
High school-(It is anticipated that the amount to be re- ceived from dog tax will cover this item) nothing
Elementary schools-(It is anti- cipated that the amount to be received from dog tax will cover this item) nothing
For stationery and supplies : High school 25.00
Elementary schools 460.00
For expenses of operating school plants :
11
Wages of janitors 1,050.00
Fuel 900.00
Miscellaneous expenses 50.00
Maintenance and repairs upon school buildings and grounds, 375.00
For auxiliary agencies :
Health 115.00
For transportation of scholars :
High school
1,750.00
Elementary
1,750.00
Outside sources :
Tuition 109.90
From state for supervision 343.75
Income Mass. school fund
1,145.05
Dog tax
310.78
Total receipts $18,009.48
EXPENDITURES
General Expenses
School Committee
Salaries : Paid A. B. Parker, chairman $75.00
E. F. Conant, taking census 15.00
$90.00
Other expenses : Paid A. B. Parker, telephone, postage, stationery, etc.
$19.55
Wright and Potter Co., blanks . . 1.26
Bertha B. McLean
. 40
$21.21
12
Superintendent of Schools and Enforsement of Law
Salaries :
Paid Frank H. Hill, superintendent .. $549.96
Thomas Scanlon, truant officer .. 6.50
Robert L. Randall, truant officer, 5.75
Asaph Parlin, truant officer . 3.50
Other expenses : Paid Frank HI. Hill, telephone, sta-
$565.71
tionery, postage, etc. $15.89
Expenses of Instruction
Salaries-High School :
Paid Town of Concord, tuition of high
school scholars $2,916.00
Elizabeth K. Paine
126.00
Alice N. MacIntyre 474.00
F. W. Brackett 10.85
Marion C. Taylor
9.00
Alice M. Genthner
18.61
City of Lowell
40.00
$3,594.52
Elementary Schools :
Paid Harriet H. Gardner $580.00
Agnes C. Greenhalge 235.20
E. Sophia Taylor 525.10
Martha F. Smith
526.50
Ella L. Miller 526.50
Minnie Gamble
526.50
Bertha B. McLean
546.00
Jennie E. Stowell
491.40
Julia L. McCarthy 511.60
Elizabeth K. Hinkley
517.00
13
Ethel G. Evans
234.00
Eva E. M. Gray
133.00
Helen M. Devlin
26.50
Miss Prescott
4.00
Ethel Whittier
5.40
F. K. Brackett
114.15
Marion C. Taylor
90.94
Alice M. Genthner
186.69
Mrs. Lawrence
13.50
$5,794.48
Textbooks
High School :
Paid Edward E. Babb & Co.
$6.77
Boston Book Supply Co.
41.89
Ginn & Co.
20.41
Allyn & Bacon
5.24
Fred S. Glines
3.40
Silver, Burdett & Co.
2.74
$80.45
Elementary Schools :
Paid Edward E. Babb & Co.
$170.82
Ginn & Co.
5.44
Boston Book Supply Co.
5.30
Thompson, Brown Co.
3.20
C. C. Birchard
.84
Fred S. Glines
11.40
Charles Scribners Sons
5.37
$202.37
Stationery and Supplies
High School :
Paid Edward Babb & Co.
$4.92
Ginn & Co. 2.62
C. C. Birchard .65
Fred S. Glines
4.65
.
14
Charles H. Persons & Co. .50
$13.34
Elementary Schools :
Paid Edward E. Babb & Co.
$92.92
Ginn & Co.
3.61
American Book Co.
3.56
M. A. Armstrong
1.26
C. H. Persons & Co.
3.50
Fred S. Glines
19.59
J. L. Hammet Co. 60.59
Bradley Milton Co.
1.20
Boston School Supply Co.
2.70
C. C. Birchard
.78
White Smith Music Co.
1.07
$190.78
Expenses of Operating School Plants
Wages of Janitors
High School :
Paid Thomas Scanlon
$93.44
Elementary Schools :
Paid Thomas Scanlon
$280.31
Fred S. Glines 513.60
Asaph Parlin
200.85
$1,091.76
Fuel-High :
Paid Hall Brothers $1.47
A. H. Perkins
1.25
George H. Reed
48.59
$51.31
15
Elementary :
Paid G. E. Greenough
$8.50
Aaron Fletcher 24.00
S. A. C. & L. Co.
336.67
L. W. Richardson
5.00
Thomas Downie
14.00
George H. Reed
322.59
A. H. Perkins
3.75
Fred S. Glines
3.65
Hall Brothers
4.40
$722.56
Miscellaneous-High :
Paid John S. Hoar
$4.08
E. T. Rice 2.69
George H. Gutteridge
1.00
Elementary :
Paid Tuttle and Newton $8.99
American Woolen Company
11.47
M. E. Taylor
13.76
J. S. Hoar
4.09
Fred S. Glines
7.05
E. T. Rice
8.10
J. W. Livermore 1.50
G. E. Greenough 3.45
George H. Gutteridge
2.00
$60.41
Maintenance
Repairs
High :
Paid E. T. Rice $.12
Thomas Scanlon .50
$7.77
16
S. A. C. & L. Co. .94
W. & S. Water Supply District,
4.85
E. A. Phalen 9.21
B. A. King
1.00
Pratt and Forrest
9.32
W. A. Snow Iron Works
65.50
Elementary :
Paid E. T. Rice
$16.08
Thomas Scanlon 2.50
Fred S. Glines
3.95
S. A. C. & L. Co.
46.88
Asaph Parlin
1.75
E. A. Phalen
47.69
W. W. Gough
6.50
F. S. Taylor
2.10
L. T. Fullonton
14.41
B. A. King
7.00
Tuttle and Newton
.69
L. E. Reed
39.38
Thomas Mccarthy
53.50
Pratt and Forrest
27.96
C. H. Persons & Co.
2.00
Ed. Jewett
2.00
W. & S. Water Supply District . .
14.55
W. A. Snow Iron Works 196.50
Finney and Hoit
1.15
$486.59
Auxiliary Agencies
Health
Paid George B. Robbins Co.
$30.00
Samuel A. Christie 8.00
$91.44
$38.00
17
Transportation
High School :
Paid Boston & Maine R. R.
$1,115.59
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. 292.85
Edward Pendergast 8.60
Thomas McCarthy
130.00
Walter C. Hayward
8.30
Lawrence Clark
8.00
E. L. Burke
5.25
William Hayes
15.00
John Cahill
12.75
Herbert A. Gray
11.75
Harriet E. Gibbs
13.35
Earl Randall
9.73
Albert W. Evans
14.03
Mrs. M. J. Foley
20.50
Winnona E. Hayden
15.00
Herbert Merriam
4.50
Willis H. Daisy
4.50
H. F. Robbins
60.00
Arthur S. Lowden
4.50
Hugh Hodgen
7.00
Patrick Foley
5.50
$1,166.69
Elementary :
Paid Walter M. French
$460.00
A. J. Christofferson 492.00
Jens Mekkelsen
532.00
Charles Edwards
531.80
$2,015.80
Total expenditures
$16,994.52
Balance unexpended $1,014.96
ALLEN BROOKS PARKER, For the Committee.
18
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Gentlemen of the Committee:
Following is my third report, it being the twenty-first in the series of such annual reports :
Since the last report the following changes in teachers are to be recorded: In the high school Miss MacIntire succeeded Miss Paine. Miss Greenhalge takes the place of Miss Evans in the West Intermediate school. Miss. Marion Taylor is supervisor of drawing in place of Mr. Brackett, and Miss Gray's services are no longer required as an assistant in the South Lower Primary by reason of a reduction in the number of pupils there. The work is going on satisfactorily and steadily advancing to a higher standard.
HIGH SCHOOL
The enrollment at the opening of the fall term, 1912,. was 34. Two have left town and one has dropped out by reason of illness, leaving the enrollment February 1, 1913, 31.
About half this number are taking the classical course, and will be able to go on through the Concord high school and enter college or normal school if they wish. Of course this assumes that the work will be done faithfully all along the line, for no one, without special effort, can do the college preparatory work as it should be done. The schools can but furnish the opportunity and the reasonable stimulus- the pupils must do the rest.
What of the remainder of the class who, when they enter the Concord high, break up into as many divisions as.
19
there are special courses in that school? It is not merely a question of the presentation of facts; a condition now exists that must be met deliberately and with the most careful judgment.
The College Preparatory, Scientific Preparatory and General courses we can prepare our pupils to enter in the second year high in Concord. Superintendent Hill assures me that Concord will accept the present class in the second year Commercial, Domestic Arts and Mechanic Arts courses, but succeeding classes must have had the first year's preparatory work in these courses or enroll in the first year classes at Concord. This means an extra year for these pupils in Concord at the expense of the town of Acton.
No one teacher can be so versatile in her attainments as to give the several courses offered at Concord in a manner to compare favorably with the work done by the several specialists in that school. It is not reasonable to expect to get one teacher to combine in herself expertness in college preparatory work, scientific preparatory work. commercial work, domestic arts work and mechanic arts work. It is little more reasonable to expect such a teacher to be an expert in the three last named courses. Besides, these new courses require special equipment and room that we do not have in Acton. Of the pupils now attending Con- cord 24 take the three special courses named last above, and 27 take the first named three courses. (See table elsewhere in report.) It is likely that about the same proportion of the Acton pupils will be found in these courses, year after year.
Since it is difficult to prepare the classical and scientific students for the second year at Concord, and because we have the necessary equipment which consists mostly of books; and since we have absolutely no equipment or room for entering upon the kind of work that will be demanded in the second year vocational courses at Concord after next
20
June, I feel that we ought seriously to consider sending the non-classical division directly from the grammar schools into the first year high at Concord. The other alternatives seem to be, to send all our high school pupils to Concord and discontinue our present first year high, or establish in Acton a high school of its own.
The time may come when high schools in adjoining towns with easy means of communication and transportation will be able to effect an exchange of pupils, one high school doing all the classical work and the other all vocational and dividing all expenses in proportion to pupils and cost of maintenance. This plan does not seem possible of execution at present in Acton.
I call your attention to the report of Miss MacIntire, principal of the high school, on her work in agriculture. It strengthens my assertion that one teacher cannot do the work demanded by the classical and vocational courses given at Concord. for her work even now is quite varied enough with a single vocational course in addition to the classical.
PROFESSIONAL WORK FOR TEACHERS
It is no more than reasonable to condition a teacher's employment upon a certain amount of professional work to be done during the year. I feel that this is coming in Massachusetts. The teachers who need this most are the teachers of our rural schools upon whom devolves all the work that in larger places is done by special supervisors. This means superior planning as well as prompt and energetic execution, and only those teachers broadly equipped with professional knowledge and spirit can respond efficiently to the many demands made upon them outside the requirements of the old-line subjects. I have this year furnished all teachers with weekly plan books, and have explained to them collectively and individually just what I hope to accomplish through these books. I wish them to
21
record. in the briefest possible way, the progress of the grades through the books furnished in the several subjects, the collateral material used to enrich a lesson or a subject, new ideas and how they are worked out, every effort made to incorporate the requirements of the tentative course offered by the state board of education for the first six grades, and finally, the specific exercises used to carry out the purposes outlined in my 1912 report under the heading, "Exercises recommended to vitalize course." The least of the reasons for keeping this plan book I enumerated first above, but thus far it occupies the largest space. The growth of professional spirit will change this, and the plan book will record the evidence of the progression of the teacher instead of the progression of the pupil, merely.
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES IN AGRICULTURE
The Massachusetts Agricultural College, through its extension service, offers two attractive courses, especially valuable to teachers : Course 15, Agriculture in the Elemen- tary Schools. and Course 16, Community Cooperation in Elementary Education. There is a growing interest in school and home gardens, cooking, sewing, poultry raising, etc., and to further stimulate this interest the N. W. Middle- sex Co. Fair Association offered liberal prizes and many of them, at the fair held in Chelmsford in the fall of 1912. There is reason to believe that the same competition will be encouraged this year. Acton pupils did not compete last year, but a few pupils in each of my other towns did compete and carried off prizes aggregating $8.75. A committee of three citizens should be appointed to encourage prepara- tion for this fair, inspect the work as it goes on, provide for transportation of exhibits and for return of same to the exhibitor when requested. A half, holiday should be given exhibitors to attend this fair without loss of school attendance.
22
PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS
.
The addition of fire escapes to the South and West school buildings has reduced to a minimum all danger from fire in those schools. Frequent fire drills are given to familiarize the children with the sensation of stepping from a solid floor onto an iron grating several feet from the ground. At the first drill I witnessed it took three minutes to empty the West school, on account of the timidity of the little ones in making that first step from the room. It ought to take not more than one minute to get them out in safety. Practice will do this.
Now that town water has entered the West and Center schools another source of dissatisfaction has been removed. The convenience of the schools has been served by this addition, and the menace of fire has been lessened.
ATTENDANCE
Scarlet fever and other contagious diseases will be responsible for a large shrinkage in attendance during the present school year. Incidentally it is likely to affect our promotion in June. This is a special reason why we should be very firm in following up cases of non-attendance and make sure that none are absent without sufficient excuse.
CONCLUSION
Acton is fortunate in having a very faithful corps of teachers. Generally speaking, the longer a teacher remains in a school the more valuable she becomes. Acton teachers are not given to roving; they work hard; they are happy in their schools; they have deserved promotion, financially, even if at this time the town cannot afford to grant it.
For their and your cooperation throughout the year I wish to extend my appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
1
FRANK H. HILL,
Superintendent of Schools.
Acton, March 3, 1913,
23
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ON COURSE IN AGRICULTURE
It is aimed to accomplish the following :
1. To complete Warren's Elements of Agriculture.
2. To take special topics from Daugherty & Jackson's Agriculture.
3. To keep note books corrected by teacher weekly. These books contain teacher's dictation on special topics of live interest gleaned from several different books on agriculture. The class also record their own personal observations on insects, birds, weeds, and so forth.
4. Pamphlets are used from the Bureau of Agriculture and the leaflets from Cornell University. Pupils give written or oral resume of these pamphlets.
5. Germination tests of seeds planted in room.
6. Distribution of seeds for summer gardens.
7. Discussion of topics on local farming and products.
8. Home projects, like potatoes, poultry, etc.
ALICE N. MacINTIRE, Principal.
Note. For admission to the Massachusetts Agricultural College a year's course in agriculture counts for one of fourteen required units. The student will be required to bring a statement from the principal of the amount and kinds of work accomplished and of the text books used. The examination will be based somewhat upon this informa- tion. Note book required as part of preparation will be credited as part of the examination, which will be given in September only.
24
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Mass.
I herewith submit my third annual report on music in the public schools.
In all grades where sickness has not broken into the work, the progress in music has been very good this year thus far. Following nearly the same plan of study in the main principles of music as the year previous :
The first three grades are taught about two Rote songs a month, the first grade reading simple intervals from the staff and the second grade more difficult exercises; third grade singing from Introductory Sight Singing Melodies.
Grades 4. 5 and 6 are studying from second readers with songs for especial occasions from other sources. We are using at the West and South schools in 7th and 8th grades the New Normal Readers, which the 8th grades find a pleasant change from the song studies of the year previous.
Grades 7 and 8 at the Center school have the collection of songs purchased last year.
We continue the breathing exercises to maintain the habit of deep breathing, which of course is beneficial to the health, and in singing pure tone is especially dependent on good breath support.
From 3rd grade up, some time each week is devoted to certain written work, such as scale writing, placing Do after different key signatures, placing bars for different time signatures, naming intermediate or chromatic tones and placing sharps and flats for key signatures.
As much individual work is done with Weaver slips as is possible with two and three grades in a room, and limited time for music.
ยท
25
The high school is taking hold of the chorus work with good spirit and we occasionally have the addition of the violin with the chorus.
As in the previous two years, I find the teachers ready to cooperate with me, making work a pleasure, and I take this opportunity to thank them all heartily.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE M. GENTHNER.
26
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. Frank H. Hill, Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir: I herewith submit the report of the super- visor of drawing.
I entered upon this work in September, 1912. I have visited each school once a week. One week I go through the work with the pupils and the next week I criticize their work and give the teachers help if it is needed.
The fall and winter work has been the same as that of the last year, but the remainder of the year's work will be somewhat changed.
The primary grades have been working along lines that train the muscles of the hand and arm. The child must learn to make his hand work with his mind.
Free hand paper cutting of various forms is being taught at the present time. Their first attempt at this work was very crude, but with practice better results came. This work teaches the child to observe the shapes of different objects about him, and cutting trains his motor muscles.
Design work will be carried out in the spring, by cutting two colored squares of paper into tiny squares, circles. oblongs, etc., to form a tile design.
The spring nature work will be done by using the brush and ink or water color, representing the mass instead of detail.
The intermediate and grammar grades spent three weeks in the fall studying color, and applied the harmoniz- ing colors to various designs and fashion plates. A know- ledge of pleasing combinations of color is necesary, if one wishes to make his home artistic or his garments and the school room attractive. Nature drawing has been studied
27
for the artistic arrangement of plant forms within a given space, and for accurate representation of the parts of plants.
Some time has been spent on geometric solids, developing various forms in the different grades. Working drawings of different solids followed the pattern development. Various forms were developed from cover paper for making Christmas things and each child has made a folio to hold his work.
The past month has been spent on freehand printing, studying good spacing, page designing and learning to apply these principles to all their written work. Object drawing and various perspective forms will follow the printing. Object drawing trains the eye to judge distances and proportions. Nature work and color will be studied again in the spring for its decorative values. A little study of historic ornament will be taken up for designing purposes, in building up our homes and the schools, making them appear more attractive.
The work in the high school has been mostly mechanical drawing. The pupils have been taught how to use the drawing kit. Many geometrical problems have been given to the pupils, and free hand printing including a Shop Skeleton. Posters have been made of various descriptions using different styles of printing. The work along this line has been unusually good. Working drawings of various models and possibly a little machine drawing will be studied the latter part of the year.
Carelessness and inaccurate work seems to prevail in a number of grades, but a great improvement has been made along that line lately. I wish to thank the teachers, super- intendent and committee for their kind support throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
MARIAN CELESTE TAYLOR.
28
ROLL OF HONOR
For Three Terms
High School-None.
West Acton -- Grades 7 and 8, James Kinsley ; 4, 5, 6, none; 1, 2, 3, Mary Kinsley.
Acton Center-6, 7, 8, Florence Morse, Helen Robbins; 4, 5, none ; 1, 2, 3, Dora Livermore, Norman Livermore, John Chick, Herbert Thompson, Chester Daily, Evelyn Farrar, Caroline Shaw.
South Acton-7, 8, Annie Foley; 5. 6, Anthony Foley; 3, 4, none ; 1, 2, none.
For Two Terms
High School-Ray Harris, Raymond Farrar.
West Acton-Grades 7, 8, Isabella Geer, Lyman Wether- bee, Bessie Davis, Ruth Hall; 4, 5, 6, Richard Schnair; 1, 2, 3, Beulah French, Gerald Rubin, Gladys Schnair.
Acton Center-6, 7, 8, Leonard Worden, Ella Fredrik- son, Ebba Fredrikson ; 4, 5, none ; 1, 2, 3, Alfred Cote, Delia Cote, Spencer Murphy, Thelma Noyes, Roger Shaw.
South Acton-7, 8, Patrick Foley, Hazel Hoit, Herbert Merriam, Irene Merriam; 5, 6, Ernest Greenough; 3, 4, Mary Hearon; 1, 2, none.
For One Term
High School-Hazel Coolidge. Thomas Foley, Edward Burke, Irma Durkee.
West Acton-7, 8, Leland Campbell, James Hurley, Thelma MacGregor, William McCharles, Roger Brown, Fannie Davis; 4, 5, 6, Grace Bezanson, Eileen Hurley, John
29
Hurley. Gordon Macomber, Emelie Goucher, Naomi Schnair, May Bradford. Perry Willis, Henry Hall, Willie Schnair; 1, 2. 3. John Peach, Martha Decoster, Minetta Decoster, Edward Goucher, Elizabeth Hall, Evelyn Smith. Clyde Russell, Kenneth French, Dorothy Geer.
Acton Center-6, 7, 8, Florence Prentiss, Laurence Smith. Merritt Farrar, Florence Cheney. Annie Coughlin ; 4, 5, Rebecca Fredrikson, Edith Tuttle, Agnes Coughlin, Gunnar Fredrikson, John Mekkleson, Ralph Smith. Jennie Tuttle, Abbie Coughlin; 1, 2, 3, James Downey, Margaret Rayner, Adelaide York, Mary Andries. Lillian Fredrikson, Carrie Peterson, Anfin Anderson.
South Acton-7, 8, Nettie Nimms, John Hardy, Nathalie Leach, Theron Lowden; 5, 6. Helen Anderson, Arthur Desorcy, Philip Lowden; 3, 4, Irving Smith, Margaret Whitney, Mary Hearon, Dorothy Lowden, Laura Donnelley ; 1. 2. Edward Carney. Edith Anderson. Arthur Donnelley.
STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1911-1912
School
Grades
Number Different
Pupils Enrolled
Membership
Average
Average
Attendance
Percent of
Attendance
Boys Number
Between
Girls 5 and 15
Number
Between
Girls 7 and 14
Number
over 15
Number
vys
jirls
Center Primary
. . I .- III.
19
22
41
32.75
30.67 94.91
19
22
19
22
0|
0
C
Center Intermediate ... IV .- VI.
16
18
34
29.43
27.17 92.33
14
15
14
15
Center Grammar .. . VII .- VIII.
9
13
22
21.00
19.51 93.49
9
13
8
12
0
0
South Lower Primary .... I .- II.
24
26
47
42 00
35.20 80.96
23
27
12
19
11
28
26.30
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