USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1880 > Part 3
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UPPER SCHOOL.
Mr. Small closed his connection with this school at the end of the spring term. The committee then looked about for a teacher to take that position. They were fortunate enough to secure the services of Mr. C. N. Bently, a gentleman previously known to a portion of the committee as a popular and successful teacher. He entered upon his work at the beginning of September, and by his tact, enthusiasm, and genial bearing, soon had the school busily and pleasantly at work. His success thus far gives promise of a year of more than ordinary progress. The school averages younger than for several years, as a considerable number of the older pupils left school at the close of the spring term. The pro- portion of boys in the school is also much smaller than it has been hitherto.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Miss Mason, who had taught this school for several terms, resigned at the end of last year ; and the committee obtained the services of Mr. Herbert F. Sylvester, a graduate of the Newton High School. Though without previous experience in conducting a school, he was conversant with school-work as it is carried on in the excellent schools where he has resided ; and he has brought to
37
his work such a degree of energy and evident determination to succeed that a very marked improvement has been constantly observable. Indolence and aversion to proper control have had little chance of indulgence under his administration. The com- mittee have had no cause of regret in placing a male teacher in charge of this school ; and they see no reason, if the present arrangement of classes is continued, why the same course should not be pursued in the future. Mr. Sylvester has certainly shown us what vivacity in the teacher can do for a school.
NORTH SCHOOL.
Miss Morrill completed the spring term, and then secured a posi- tion more advantageous to herself. We had the good fortune to engage Dr. J. S. Burns, who had been a practical teacher for sev- eral years ; and having been obliged to abandon the Southern cli- mate, which he had chosen in commencing his profession, and to come North for recuperation, he entered again upon the work of teaching. He brought therefore to his aid the results of experi- ence. The North School had been for several terms in a condition very unsatisfactory to the committee. The order and quiet neces- sary for the prosecution of school-work had been almost unknown. Some improvement had been manifest in the beginning of the year indeed ; yet the committee looked forward to the fall term with confident expectation of better things, and they have not been dis- appointed. The school is steadily improving in discipline and scholarship under Dr. Burns' direction. We have been exception- ally favored in securing his services the present year.
OBSTACLES TO BE OVERCOME.
The committee have repeatedly called attention to the seeming apathy and indifference of parents. It is not that they are wholly indifferent, but that few show that interest in the school-work of their children which its importance requires. A manifestation of interest would do much to supplement the labors of committee and teachers.
A lack of sympathy with the objects of the school and with the methods and discipline necessary to secure them, on the part of parents or guardians, is a hinderance to prosperity, especially if expressed in presence of the children. It is a mistaken kindness.
Encouragement of the children in becoming absorbed in outside
38
affairs, so that they have little energy or interest remaining for the important business of obtaining education, is another powerful means of hindering school progress.
It is often asked, Why do children not now display the same interest in school that was evident a generation ago ? The answer is largely found in the absorbing effect of outside influences, many of which are either useless or pernicious in their nature. The attention of legislators is at this very time directed to some method of preventing mercenary persons from carrying on their business of exhibiting children upon the stage. Various exciting amuse- ments also, and the great number of books which are read, tend in the same direction. Indeed, in towns where great libraries are constantly open, it has been found necessary to limit, by a stringent rule, the number of books, especially of fiction, which are issued to pupils of the public schools.
Irregularity in attendance, from whatever cause, is another dis- turbing influence. Each lesson depends, in some degree, upon the preceding one ; and, if that is missed, a certain rottenness at the core will be perceived in subsequent performances.
The facility of employment suited to young persons is allowed to take away too many of the older pupils from school before the possibilities of public education can be shown. Could this tendency be counteracted in some way, we should have something more of the culture of the schools among the youth, alongside that of the workshop and the factory.
APPROPRIATIONS.
One year ago, owing to an oversight in balancing the accounts, it was supposed that we had expended about $100 less than had been actually expended ; and, on the strength of that supposition, the appropriation was made $2,200 instead of $2,300, as in the preceding year. A bill for coal for the Centre School, of nearly $100, was omitted from the account by mistake ; and this had to be provided for. We ask for the coming year the sum heretofore appropriated, with the addition of $100, the amount of the reduc- tion made through the mistake referred to, making $2,400.
39
PERCENTAGE OF ATTENDANCE.
Schools.
Spring Term.
Fall Term.
Winter Term .*
Centre Primary,
.80
.85
.84
Centre Intermediate,
.76
.88
.95
Upper School,
.83
.94
.91
South School,
.86
.91
.94
North School,
.67
.91
.82
* Unfinished term.
WHOLE NUMBER.
The entire number of children of school-age in the town, as returned to the town authorities last May, is 222. Registered in school, spring term, 188 ; fall term, 193 ; winter term, 192.
SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1879-80.
Length of Schools in Weeks.
Wages of Teachers per month.
Whole No. of Scholars.
Average Attendance.
Schools.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Scholars over 15 years of age.
Upper, ..
12
12
14*
· $80.00
$70.co
$70.00
46
45
47
38
43
42
0
18
Grammar, .
I2
12
14*
36.00
36.00
36.00
42
4 1
39
32
36
37
O
0
Primary,
·
12
12
14*
36.00
36.00
36.00
39
40
38
31
34
32
0
0
North, .
12
12
14*
36.00
36.00
36.00
36
33
34
24
30
28
O
I
South, .
12
12
14*
36.00
36.00
36 00
25
35
34
21
3
31
0
I
* Still in session.
ROLL OF HONOR.
Not Absent or Tardy during Three Terms.
Affie Hanks, Cassie Sullivan, Henry Marshall, Mariette A. Hamant, Samuel D. Guild.
Not Absent or Tardy during Two Terms.
Lottie Richardson, Allan A. Kingsbury, G. Delano Hamant, Delia Lambert, Annie M. Guild, Mary Briggs, Bertha O'Connor,
No. of Scholars un-
der 5 years of age.
No. of different
40
Fannie L. O'Connor, William F. O'Connor, Addie Briggs, Vettie Allen, Willie Gilbert, Willie Morse, Willard Newell, Fred Wood.
Not Absent or Tardy for One Term.
Florence Pettis, Manford Sweet, Ada Richardson, Mary Hewins, Kitty Whittemore, Bracey Curtis, Alex. Daniels, Waldo Fitts, Alfred Gould, Cora Crosby, Alva Crowell, Warren Newell, Frank W. French, John M. Richardson, Charles A. Schools, Lena Allen, Alice M. Wight, Fannie Gilley, Alice Fitzgerald, Mary E. Harding, Lucyas Strang, Addie Turner, Orra Guild, Margaret Callahan, Lizzie Cromwell, Carrie Gilmore, May A. Lambert, Walter Brigham, Cora Bullard, Eddie Briggs, Mary Griffin, Emma Weston, Minnie Crosby, Flora Pond, John Brennan, David Miller.
Respectfully submitted, W. S. TILDEN,
In behalf of the Committee.
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TRUANT LAWS.
ARTICLE I. The town of Medfield hereby avails itself of the several pro- visions of the statutes of this Commonwealth, now in force, relating to habitual truants and absentees from school, and, in pursuance of authority conferred thereby, adopts the following by-laws : -
ARTICLE 2. All children between the ages of seven and fifteen years, residing in said town, and who may be found wandering about in the streets or public places of said town, having no lawful occupation or business, not attending school, and growing up in ignorance, shall be committed to some truant school in Norfolk County; or, in the absence of any such school in the county, then to such other truant school as may be designated by the proper authority, for con- finement, instruction, and discipline.
ARTICLE 3. Two or more truant officers shall be appointed annually, whose duty it shall be to inquire into all the violations of the truant laws, and of the law relating to compulsory education, and to do all the acts required of them by the laws of the Commonwealth.
ARTICLE 4. It shall be the duty of every truant officer, previous to making any complaint under these laws, to notify the truant, or absentee from school, also his parent or guardian, of the offence committed, and of the penalty there- for; and, if the truant officer can obtain satisfactory pledges for the restraint and reformation of the child, he may at his discretion forbear to prosecute, so long as such pledges are faithfully kept.
ARTICLE 5. It shall be the duty of the School Committee, the teachers of ' the public schools, and the citizens generally, to aid the truant officers as far as possible in the discharge of their duties.
ARTICLE 6. It shall be the duty of the truant officers to keep a full record of all their official acts, and make an annual report thereof to the School Com- mittee, who shall publish the same with their own report.
ARTICLE 7. Nothing in these by-laws shall be so construed as to alter or · impair the obligation and duty of teachers to enforce punctuality and regularity of attendance, and to preserve good order and discipline.
This form of by-laws has been approved by the Board of Education, and is sent to the Committees of the several towns, as a suitable form to be adopted by them.
JOHN W. DICKINSON,
Sec. Board of Education.
BOSTON, January, 1879.
Read and adopted at a meeting of the town of Medfield, Jan. 6, 1880.
Attest : CHAS. C. SEWALL, Town Clerk.
NORFOLK, SS.
PROBATE COURT, February, 1880.
The foregoing Truant Laws, adopted by the town of Medfield, are hereby approved.
GEORGE WHITE,
Judge of the Probate Court.
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