USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Carver > Town annual reports of Carver 1911 > Part 4
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pations other than teaching. It is pretty generally conceded that a man or woman who has not done. in a business way, the work he would teach is worth little as an instructor. Organized labor was well represented in the convention. It demands
three things of education. that it shall be entirely free to all. that it shall be publicly supported and controlled. and that it shall train for citizenship as well as for work. It does not want an education that only makes its children better workmen and workwomen. but one that gives the broader culture that is given to the children of the well to do .-- a thing worth thought- ful consideration. Dr. C'arver of Harvard claimed that while we are doing much to conserve our natural resources, we are wasting our greatest resource, human energy, by neglecting to train it to its highest efficiency : that the preponderence of un-
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skilled labor in this country limits the producing power of the nation, and is the prime cause of much of the social inequality. Ile closed his remarks by saying, "He who makes two highly skilled men to grow where one grew before, does more for society than all the politicians and social reformers whatsoever."
The question that is of the most interest to us is, What can be done in industrial teaching in our schools? Under present conditions very little can be done. We have no teachers for the work. Those we have now cannot do it, and cannot be ex- pected to do it. All mechanical teaching would have to be done at the school house. There are no mechanical industries in town which would make part time teaching possible. We would have to have a building or addition to present buildings, material, tools, and a special teacher. We could not have these for all the schools, and it is not practicable to bring children from all schools to one central point for the work. If it is done at all, it should be done at the High school. The pu- pils there are older, and ready for the work. It should be a part of the regular school course, compulsory for all boys, and to a certain extent for all girls. In addition to the mechanical teaching, there should be at the same place sewing and cooking for the girls, and a certain amount of the latter for the boys. These should be taught by experienced women, under as near home conditions as possible. This should be done in addition to the regular school work, and the sessions should be extended to give time for it. It should be serious work, and not play, or it should not be done at all. If we should do this work, we should go into it with the intention of making it permanent, and not as an experiment. It is not an experiment ; it has been done in so many places similar to ours that we know it can be made a success. There is, however, another kind of industrial work that can be done withi little expense, and could be begun at once. We all know the value of fruit in a family. It is wholesome, greatly enjoyed, and adds much to support. Yet many families raise very little of it. This is partly because its cultivation is
Carver 7
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not well understood. but largely because we are not accustomed to raising it. We are not in the habit of having it in great variety throughout the season. We hope that all boys and girls will eventually become householders. The value of the habit and knowledge of fruit raising is so great, it adds so much to the health. happiness and support of householders in the country, and can be so easily and inexpensively taught, that I think we should begin to teach it in the High school this coming spring. The town should own a suitable lot of land as near the school as possible and should furnish tools and supply the necessary plants. This teaching. like the other industrial teaching men- tioned above, should be a part of the school course, and should be compulsory for all. The primary object is not to teach fruit raising as a business, although it might lead to that. but for family supply. If we should decide to begin this work, the Agricultural college would send a horticulturalist to study the conditions and advise as to suitable land. He would also ar- range to give lectures on preparing ground. fertilizing. plant- ing. pruning, spraying, and any matters relating to cultivation. If he was called on to do this he would expect to arrange a course of lectures to cover several years. I hope this matter will be brought before the people at the coming town meeting.
Turning to the work in the schools, I am able to report a very encouraging change in the High School, in the number of pupils this year. Including the ninth grade, which num- bered nineteen, there were twenty-eight at the beginning of the year. But our satisfaction in this regard is tempered by re- gret that already four have left the school. It is not strange that this is so if the matter of attendance is left entirely to the decision of the children. Few have a real love of study unless it is acquired early through home influence, and it can not be expected that they will realize the need of education. For this reason I would strongly urge you parents to see that all chil- dren who can possibly do so, complete a high school course. That many of you do not do so I think is because it is not generally
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believed that an ordinary high school course increases one's earning capacity. It has been very difficult to prove that it does. The first attempt to prove it in a scientific manner that I have known was made by Cornell University. A report of the work, which was still going on at the time I heard it, was given by Professor Warren of Cornell last summer at a meeting of the National Educational Association. As I understood the
report, that the results of the investigation might be as fair as possible it was carried on among workers engaged in the same occupation. The University being in New York state, and
that being an agricultural state, farmers were chosen. A county was selected, and every farmer in every town, so far as the investigation had then gone, was interviewed. For record- ing and comparing the results of the investigation they were divided into three classes. The first class included those who had had only an elementary education, the common district school or the primary and grammar school; the second class included those who had had a whole or partial high school education ; and the third class, those who had had a whole or partial college education. It was learned from each what the net income from his farm was for the year, and how much capital he had invested in his business. From his net income was deducted an amount equal to five per cent of his capital, that it might be found what he received in a year as the re- sult of his individual efforts. At the time the report to which I refer was made many hundreds of farmers had been seen. The investigation showed that those who had received the ele- mentary education averaged $318 per year as the result of their personal efforts; those who had received the high school education averaged $632; and those who had received the col- lege education, $847. The high school man had increased his earning capacity $314. His high school education had a cash value to him of $5,000, since it returned to him a 6 per cent income on that amount of capital. The college man had in- creased his earning capacity $529. His college education re-
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turned him 6 per cent on $9,000. This education was not vocational, intended to fit directly for the special work of farming. but was the ordinary high school and college educa- tion. Many arguments were advanced to disprove the value of this investigation. It was claimed that the high school and college man had the larger capital. But it was found that while the capital of individual farmers varied from $1,000 to $11.000. and it was very equally divided among the different classes. It was as common to find a college man with a $2,000 capital and an elementary man with $15,000 capital as the other way. Also it was claimed that only the naturally brighter boys go to high school: but careful investigation has shown that this in not true, but that high school education depends largely upon location, and the ease with which a school can be reached. Lastly. it was claimed that the investi- gation was carried on by the university to make out a good case for itself. and therefore was prejudiced, which contention merits no reply whatever. But the fact stands that a high school and college education of the present type have a decided money value to the worker. Before leaving the subject of the high school. I wish to say that the increase in numbers in our school is due partly to the personal efforts of the committee to induce parents to send their children. and to the improved transportation which has been provided.
The changes in teachers this year are seven out of a total of eleven. Those who returned are Miss Dorothy Shaw at the South Primary, Miss Irene Nichols at the Center Primary, Miss Ida E. Torreson at the Center Grammar, and Mr. Studley at the High School. Those beginning in town this year are Miss Ethel V. Roy of Marion, South Grammar; Mrs. Bernice E. Barrows. Bates Pond ; Miss Jessie M. Howland of Berkley, Pope's Point : Miss Evelyn B. Pillsbury of Malden, assistant at the High School : Miss Olga S. Merritt of Rockland, North Grammar; Miss Marguerite Sanger of Hyde Park, North Primary: and Miss Eliza Kelley of Dartmouth. East Carver.
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Four of these had taught before coming to Carver, the others are beginning their work this year.
The total number of pupils in the schools on January 1, 1910, and January 1, 1911, was 205 and 200 respectively.
Jan. 1, 1910
Jan. 1, 1911
High School.
15
24
Center Grammar,
18
18
North Grammar,
23
21
South Grammar,
26
19
Center Primary,
25
21
North Primary,
29
20
South Primary,
22
21
East. Carver,
22
24
Pope's Point.
11
12
Bates Pond,
14
20
1
205
200
'There are five pupils in the eighth grade in the South Grammar, four in the Center Grammar, and two in the North Grammar, which will make eleven to enter the ninth grade another year, if all finish the work of their grade.
The only changes in text books have been the substitution of the Hollis Godfrey Chemistry for those formerly in use, and the addition of the Prince Grammar. Both are proving satis- factory.
Some very creditable work in design has been done in the High School; and very good work in music in two of the grammar schools.
The medical inspection of pupils this year was very thor- ongh. I accompanied the school physician on his visits to several schools, that I might learn the physical condition of the children as he saw it. I feel justified in calling the atten- tion of parents to two things regarding the health of the children. A number of cases of enlarged tonsils and adenoids
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were found. Probably most people are more or less familiar with the tonsils and the trouble they cause, but know less about adenoids. Any one can easily see the tonsils in a child's throat, glands on either side of the passage. In several of the children these were so large as to seriously block up the open- ing, and needed the attention of a physician. Adenoids are a group or cluster of small bodies identical in structure with the tonsils, situated in the middle of the roof of the throat, just back of the posterior opening of the nostrils and above the soft palate. They can be seen only with the aid of a mir- ror. They are often the sole cause of the apparent dullness and stupidity of children, as is shown by the results of their removal. They are the cause of most cases of earache, and nearly all cases of deafness in children; they impair digestion and stunt the child. Their presence is indicated by the open mouth, short upper lip, pinched and contracted nostrils, prom- inent and irregular teeth, and listless expression of the eyes. Their removal is a very simple operation, and the results are often surprising. The other thing I wish to call attention to is the condition of the teeth. Many children showed strong, clean and healthy sets, but some had the opposite. The gen- eral health is so much affected by them, that the physician urged thorough and regular cleaning in all cases. There were comparatively few cases of pediculosis, head lice; but con- stant watchfulness is needed, as all are liable to visits from them. Following is the law regarding medical inspection in schools: "Chapt. 502, Acts of 1906, amended 1910, Section 1. The school committee of every city and town in the common- wealth shall appoint one or more school physicians, shall as- sign one to each public school within its city or town, and shall provide them with all proper facilities for the perform- ance of their duties as prescribed in this act; and shall assign one or more to perform the duty of examining children who apply for health certificates in accordance with this act. Sec- tion 2. Every school physician shall make a prompt examina-
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tion and diagnosis of all children referred to him as herein- after provided, and such further examination of teachers, jan- itors and school buildings as in his opinion the health of the pupils my require. Every school physician who is assigned to the duty of examining children who apply for health cer- tificates shall make a prompt examination of every child who wishes to obtain an age and schooling certificate, as provided in section sixty of chapter five hundred and fourteen of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and nine, and who presents to said physician an employment ticket, as provided in said section, and the physician shall certify in writing whether or not in his opinion such child is in sufficiently sound health and physically able to perform the work which the child in- tends to do : Provided, however, that the age and schooling cer- tificate may be approved and issued without a physician's certificate if there shall be on file in connection with the pub- lic schools a written record in regard to the child's physical condition made within one year, and the person authorized 10 approve said age and schooling certificate after having ex- amined such record shall certify that in his opinion said minor is in sufficiently sound health and physically able to perform the work which the minor intends to do. Section 3. The school committee shall cause to be referred 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 infectious or contagious disease, unless he is at once excluded by the teacher ; except that in schools in remote and isolated situations the school committee may make such other arrangements as may best carry out the purposes of this act. Section 4. The school committee shall cause notice of the disease or defects, if any, from which any child is found to be suffering to be sent to his parent or guardian. Whenever a child shows symptoms
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of smallpox, scarlet fever, measles, chickenpox, 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." All minor details of the work of the school physician are regulated by the school committee. Sight and hearing tests are directed by law to be made by the teachers.
I want to close this brief report with a word to the teachers : Avoid, by every possible means, becoming narrow and preju- diced; seek to become cosmopolitan. Cultivate a spirit of uni- versal brotherhood, and an open and receptive mind. Own and read a few books that deal with the fundamentals of life. Own a good translation of Hugo's "Les Miserables." John Fiske has called it the greatest work of one of the greatest seers of our time. Read Kingsley's "Hypatia," Dicken's "Tale of Two Cities," "A Doctor of the Old School," in Ian Maclaren's "Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush." Read also "Abraham Lin- coln," "Alexander Hamilton" and "Benjamin Franklin," in Choate's "Abraham Lincoln and Other Papers," recently pub- lished by The Century Company.
To parents I would say, remember how difficult it often is for us to properly train two or three children, at home, after some years of experience; and remember that teachers try to do this for many more than that number, without any ex- perience.
Very respectfully yours,
CHESTER W. HUMPHREY,
Superintendent.
Carver. Mass., January 1, 1911.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1911-1912.
Fall term-Oct. 3, 1910, to Dec. 23, 1910, 12 weeks. Winter vacation-Dec. 23, 1910, to Jan. 2, 1911, 9 days. Winter term-Jan. 2, 1911, to Mar. 24, 1911. 12 weeks. Spring vacation-Mar. 24, 1911, to April 3, 1911, 9 days. Spring term-April 3, 1911, to June 23, 1911, 12 weeks. Summer vacation-June 23, 1911, to Oct. 2, 1911. Fall term-Oct. 2, 1911, to Dec. 22, 1911, 12 weeks. Winter vacation-Dec. 22, 1911, to Jan. 1, 1912, 9 days. Winter term-Jan. 1, 1912, to March 22, 1912, 12 weeks. Spring vacation-March 22, 1912, to April 1, 1912, 9 days. Spring term-April 1, 1912, to June 21, 1912, 12 weeks. Summer vacation-June 21, 1912, to Oct. 1, 1912.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY
Citizens of Carver :-
As the library has increased more and more in size and cir- culation. it has seemed necessary to classify the books in order to find out quickly, on request. just what material the library could furnish. and to satisfactorily meet the demands of the public.
With this work in view, the librarian took a course in cata- loging and general library work at a librarians' school last summer, and planned to do the work herself. Speaking of it to the State Secretary of the Massachusetts' Public Library Association at a library institute, assistance was offered. and Miss Z. Brown of the State Library Department gave three and one-half days' service in getting the work started, work- ing with the librarian and others. The work is well begun, and steps have been taken to complete the work as speedily as possible. The library having outgrown its quarters. we trust that the town will arrange as soon as possible to relieve the crowded condition.
FINES ACCOUNT.
January 1, 1910-
Received from librarian. $: 00
Paid for book. 1 5%
Amount on hand Jan. 1. 1911, $5 43
The trustees recommend the appropriation of $150 for the ensuing year.
J. M. BUMP,
H. S. GRIFFITH.
S. C. C. FINNEY.
Trustees of Public Library.
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SUPPLEMENT TO CATALOGUE, 1910.
Books for Reference,
Seventy-first Annual Report of the State Board of Education,
271
Vital Records of Dover,
272
Celebration of the Birth of John Milton.
273
Vital Records of Hamilton,
274
Vital Records of Westminster, 275
Massachusetts Minute Men of 1861,
276
Miscellaneous,
Manual of Business Corporations, 3041
Joe's Luck, 3042
The Short Stop, 3043
Sink or Swim, 3044
Andrews, Jane
Seven Little Sisters, 3045
Bailey, L. H.
Garden-Making, 3046
Baker, Ray Stannard
Boys' Book of Inventions,
3047
Baldwin, James
Fifty Famous Stories Retold,
3048
Bostock, Frank C.
Training of Wild Animals,
3049
Brown, Alice
Meadow Grass, 3050
Brush, Christine C.
The Colonel's Opera Cloak,
3051
Bryant, Sara Cone
Stories to Tell to Children, 3052
How to Tell Stories to Children, 3053
Call, Annie Payson
Nerves and Common Sense,
3054
Connor, Ralph
The Doctor, 3055
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Coolidge, Susan What Katy Did,
3056
Corelli, Marie God's Good Man, 3057
Duncan, Norman Adventures of Billy Topsail. 3058
Eggleston, Edward
Stories of American Life and Adventure. 3059
Fitz. Rachel Kent and George Wells Problems of Babyhood. 3060
Fuller, Anna
Pratt Portraits, 3061
Goss. Warren Lee Jed. 3062
Henderson, W. J.
The Story of Music. 3063
Jacobs. Joseph
English Fairy Tales, 3064
Jewett, Sarah Orne
Country of the Pointed Firs, 3065
Kipling. Rudyard
Just So Stories, 3066
Laughlin, Clara E. The Complete Dressmaker,
3067
Lee, Jennette
Uncle William, 3068
London, Jack
White Fang. 3069
Long. William J.
English Literature, 3070
Martin, Martha Evans
The Friendly Stars, 3071
Mavo, Nelson S.
Diseases of Animals, 3072
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Monroe, Kirk
Derrick Sterling,
3013
Canoemates, Montgomery, L. M.
3074
Anne of Green Gables,
3075
Otis, James
Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus, 3076
Page. Thomas Nelson
Two Little Confederates, 307%
John Ward, Assistant, 3078
Pasture, Mrs. Henry de la
Peter's Mother, 3079
Pearv, Robert E.
Snowland Folks, 3080
Phelps, Elizabeth Stuart Walled In, 3081
Ray, Anna Chopin
Quickened, 3082
Reed, Myrtle
Old Rose and Silver, 3083
Richards, Ellen H.
The Healthful Farmhouse, 3084
Richards, Laura E.
The Silver Crown,
3085
The Wooing of Calvin Parks, 3086
Richardson, Anna Steese
The Girl Who Earns Her Own Living,
3087
Seaman, Hervey J.
The Expert Cleaner, 3088
Slocum, Captain Joshua
Around the World in the Sloop Spray,
3089
Smith, F. Hopkinson
Peter, 3090
Tappan, Eva March
European Hero Stories, 3091
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Our Country's Story, Story of the Greek People, Van Dyke, Henry Out-of-Doors in the Holy Land,
Washington, Booker T. Up from Slavery, Watson, George C. Farm Poultry.
Waugh, F. A.
The American Apple Orchard, 309
Wheeler, Marianna
The Baby : His Care and Training,
Wiggin, Kate Douglas Penlope's Progress, Susanna and Sue.
Donations.
Mr. P. A. Barrows, Lincoln, Neb., 1 Bool
Mr. E. A. Richards, North Carver, 2 Books
Mrs. Louise Savery,
Twentieth Century Pub. Co ..
The Outlook, 1910 Twentieth Century Mag., 1910
Publishers, Middleboro Gazette,
Middleboro News.
Our Dumb Animals.
Ladies' Journal. One paper each issue.
Statistics.
Number of patrons, 300 Number of books taken from the library during the year, 4,639 Number of books added during the year, 60 Total number of books in the library, 3,099
Number of books for reference, 276
309 3093
309-1
309
309
3098
3099 3100
BENJAMIN SHURTLEFF, M. D.
Born in Carver. Sept. 7. 1821. of a long line of Old Colony ancestors. going back to the Mayflower crew. Attended Carver schools. Pierce Aca Jemy in Middleboro, and graduated from Harvard Medical school August 23. 1848.
Sailed for the Pacific coast in the schooner Boston, January 27, 1849. and arrived in San Francisco July 6th. Engaged in mine prospecting for a short time, then took up the practice of medicine in Shasta. Returned East in 1852 and married Miss Anne M. Griffith, after which he returned to California.
Shasta County's first treasurer; in the State Sonate from Shasta from 1861 to 1863; County Physician ten years; alternate Pres .- Elector in 1872.
Settled in Napa in 1874. Delegato to Constitutional convention in 1878; President Board of Directors of Napa State Asylum 16 years; first mayor of Napa: and held many other positions of trust. Life member of Society of California Pioneers: member of Harvard Alunni Association. etc. Died at his home in Napa. Dec. 22, 1911.
Donor of Shortleff Park to his native town.
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