USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1900-1909 > Part 20
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The methods, now employed in teaching may not be perfect, but decided improvements have been made in certain branches ; and the ordinary pupil should have few difficulties in keeping up with the required work if the proper amount of time and attention is given to study. The trend of education is upward; and the moral and intellectual standard of our schools is, we feel sure, steadily, if slowly, being raised to a higher level.
The expenditures for the year have not been abnormal. The price of fuel has been high ; but the amount paid for same during the fiscal year is not in excess of last year, owing to the fact that we have a small supply on hand at the present time.
Among the necessary repairs the repainting of the Lowell Mason School-building has been the most important item. The exterior work has greatly improved the general appearance of the building, while the work on the interior makes the school-room and halls much more attractive.
The recent change in the State law in regard to high schools presents a question of much importance, and the Committee feel that the matter should not be decided without due consideration.
The law compels every town of more than 500 families to main- tain a high school.
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In 1891 the State ordered that every town without a high school of its own should pay tuition in the high school of some other town or towns for pupils properly qualified and desirous of such schooling. .
In 1895 the law provided that towns having a valuation of less than $500,000 should receive from the State the total amount paid for tuition in high schools of other towns.
In 1902 such aid was extended to all towns having less than 500 families. Towns were divided into five classes, and Medfield comes under class five.
We now maintain a high school with only one teacher, and are, therefore, not entitled to an allowance from the State; but the town may receive aid in two ways.
First. The high school may be discontinued, and tuition paid in outside schools which are approved by the State Board of Edu- cation.
In towns having a valuation of less than $750,000, the State pays the total expense ; but, if the valuation exceeds that amount, the State pays only one-half.
Second. The high school may be strengthened by employing an extra teacher and receive $300 annually from the State if the con- ditions are approved by the State Board of Education.
Our high school now consists of two grades, the remaining two years of the course being furnished in the high schools of Wal- pole and Dedham.
We feel confident that there are some of our citizens who are of the opinion that a four years' course should be provided in town ; but the expense attending the establishment and maintenance of such a school would be large, while at the present time, with the small number of pupils in the higher grades, the portion of the expense to be borne by the town in sending all the high school pupils to schools of other towns would be comparatively small.
Certainly, whatever will be of the greatest advantage to the pupil should be the first consideration.
HENRY E. MARSHALL,
For the Committee.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TEACHING SCHOOLS.
Paid Clarence H. Jones, $850.00
Carrie A. Smith,
235.00
Frances E. Baier,
425.00
Bertha A. Pettee,
202.00
Susan M. Chase,
296.00
Ella B. Boyden,
425.00
Mabel H. Ellis,
158.80
Lucy Allen,
14.40
Florence M. Ferry,
48.40
Kathryn H. Turner, .
413.77
Louise W. Richards,
235.00
Mina G. Bunker, 223.00
Agnes E. Abbott,
223.00
Minnie H. Churchill,
129.00
$3,878.37
Transportation of pupils to Walpole,
$84.78
Transportation of pupils to Dedham, 63.76
148.54
Town of Walpole, tuition of pupils, .
$266.87
Town of Dedham, tuition of pupils,
157.50
424.37
Received interest on Town School Fund, $141.60
Income of State School Fund, .
344.76
From city of Boston, tuition,
10.00
From town of Dover,
18.00
Appropriation,
3,800.00
$4,314.36
Less appropriation exceeded in 1901, . 65.09
4,249.27
Appropriation exceeded, .
$202.01
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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Paid Abner A. Badger,
$600.00
Received from State Treasurer,
$500.00
Balance from 1901 unexpended,
125.00 625.00
Balance unexpended,
$25.00
REPAIRS ON SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Paid Lowell Babcock's Son, painting Lowell Mason School-house, $144.00 William McElwain, stock and labor on black- boards, 35.00
A. A. Sanborn, repairing boiler at Ralph Wheel- ock School-house, . 27.31
W. W. Preston, grates for boiler and labor, 27.30
J. H. Pember, labor on boiler, etc., 3.75
N. F. Harding, stock and labor, 19.53
$256.89
Appropriation,
250.00
Appropriation exceeded, $6.89
CARE, FUEL, SUPPLIES, ETC.
Paid James E. Pettis, care of Ralph Wheelock School-
house, $506.17
Walter D. Kingsbury, care Hannah Adams
School-house, 29.57
Clinton D. Ames, care Lowell Mason School-
house, 19.50
James R. Ogilvie, care Lowell Mason School- house, 11.25
E. M. Bent, coal and wood, 281.04
George D. Hamant, wood, 23.50
Hamlet Wight, wood,
22.00
Maude A. Ritchie, wood, 5.00
Haverhill Fire Appliance Company, extinguishers, 30.00
Medfield Water Company, 20.00
George Washburn, school census, 8.00
Carried forward,
$956.03
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Brought forward,
$956.03
Paid Masury, Young & Co., nodusto, .
24.00
D. C. Heath, supplies, 92.68
L. E. Knot Company,
24.17
J. L. Hammett Company, 66
38.73
American Book Company,
5.60
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 66
17.83
University Publishing Company, supplies,
1.44
Geo. H. Ellis Company, printing reports, 1901,
7.90
Abner A. Badger, supplies, etc., .
50.24
Prang Educational Company, 66
2.20
Education Publishing Company, "
7.50
The Morse Company, 66
1.26
Allyn & Bacon, 66
1.34
J. H. Hatfield, 66
5.25
Thompson, Brown & Co.,
66
1.24
Silver, Burdett & Co.,
4.73
Milton Bradley Company,
6.06
Ginn & Co.,
66
66.38
Edw. E. Babb & Co.,
66
123.01
F. A. Taylor,
66
2.80
Suffolk Ink Company,
66
2.50
Chas. F. Read, express,
.
11.07
$1,453.96
Appropriation,
$1,500.00
Less appropriation exceeded in 1901
112.59
1,387.41
Appropriation exceeded,
$66.55
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY E. MARSHALL,
School
LEROY M. PIERCE,
Committee.
GEO. WASHBURN,
ESTIMATES FOR 1903.
For support of schools,
$5,800
For repairs,
200
Total, .
$6,000
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MEDFIELD :
I hereby have the honor to submit my fourth annual report, which is the fourth in the series of annual reports of the Superin- tendent of the Public Schools of Medfield.
The general progress of the schools has been very satisfactory. An excellent spirit of harmony and good will has been manifest throughout the year between the pupils, parents, teachers, Super- intendent and School Committee, which is a matter of vital importance in any school system, if the best results are expected.
Half of our teaching force has changed during the year ; but, not- withstanding this, we have now a band of earnest, faithful, and progressive teachers, who are doing a work of vast importance for the present and future welfare of the town. We regret the loss of so many strong teachers; but we realize that our loss has been somebody's gain, and rejoice that it was our good fortune to have had their services as long as we did.
The parents and friends of the schools have continued to encourage and assist us by their numerous visits and kindly words of criticism.
We wish it were possible for parents and teachers to meet oftener, for the best good of the children can only be secured with the hearty co-operation of the home and the school. The child is under the direct influence of the school only about five hours a day, nine months in the year. Now whether he is under the direct influence of the street or home during the other nineteen hours a day of the nine months, and twenty-four hours a day for three months of the year, determines whether we have rude boys and girls on our streets and in our school, or whether we find there the manly boys and the womanly girls.
An unusual amount of sickness and inclement weather has
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caused a great deal of absence, so that the per cent. of attendance for the year is much lower than usual; but too often a child is allowed to remain out of school without any good reason for such absence.
Your attention is hereby called to the substance of some of the State laws regulating the attendance of children : -
CHAPTER 496, SECTION II. No child who has not been duly vaccinated shall be admitted to a public school except upon presentation of a certificate signed by a regular practising physician that such child is an unfit subject for vaccination. No such child who is a member of a household in which a person is sick with the small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, or measles, or a household exposed to contagion from a household as aforesaid, shall attend any public school during such sickness, or until the teacher of the said school has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health of the town or city, or from the attending physician of such person, stating in a case of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, that a period of at least two weeks, and in case of measles a period of at least three days, has elapsed since the recovery, removal, or death of such person, and that danger of the conveying of such disease by such child has passed.
SECTION 12. Every child between the ages of 7 and 14 years is required to attend some public school during the entire time such school is in session.
SECTION 31. Any parent who allows such child who is able to attend school to remain out for five whole day sessions or ten half- day sessions in a period of six months shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $20.
The school authorities are directed to discriminate between legally excused absence and that not legally excused. The follow- ing would be considered legal excuses : child's own sickness, contagious disease in the home, death in the family, or very inclement weather.
The following would be considered illegal : absence occasioned by lack of proper clothing (town authorities are responsible when parents are unable to provide), absence due to the child's being kept from school to work, take care of smaller children, etc.
During the spring term the work of the fourth and fifth grades in the Ralph Wheelock was greatly broken up on account of the illness of Miss Pettee, who was obliged to give up the work early in the term; and three different substitutes finished the term for her. The bad effect of all these changes has been very noticeable
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this year in the work of the sixth grade. However, the children are rapidly recovering the lost ground now, as Miss Baier is able to give them a large share of her time, thanks to the valuable but gratuitous services of Miss Roberts, who for the love of the work has been assisting Miss Baier.
The course of study pursued has been the same as that of last year, with one or two slight changes. The work of the ninth grade has been strengthened by giving the pupils a review of United States history, based on its relation to English history. The elementary science course has been improved by making the study of physiology a part of this course through the grades.
We have endeavored to give more time to language - good English - than to any other branch of the curriculum; and the results obtained have been very satisfactory, indeed. Language, history, and geography are correlated studies, and should be pur- sued at the same time.
Number and arithmetic work are important, but should take second place in any course of study. We are giving no instruction in number work below the third grade, and the results obtained so far are very satisfactory.
The work in music and drawing has not been all that could be desired. We need a supervisor in both branches to bring the work up to its best. The expenditure of $100 for this purpose will bring better returns than a like investment for any other school purpose.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The work of the high school has been very much better than last year ; yet it is too much to expect one teacher to teach all the subjects in the first two years of the high school course, and do justice to the pupils or himself. The students who are finishing their course in the high schools in Dedham and Walpole are doing good conscientious work. Two of them, who finished their Junior year in the Walpole High School last June, passed the en- trance examinations for the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which speaks well for them and the school. Such instances go to prove that the present plan of maintaining only a two years' course is a wise one ; but the State passed a law last year that will greatly assist towns like Medfield financially and educationally. In sub- stance it is as follows : -
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Towns maintaining high schools of their own with only one teacher to each are entitled to no allowance from the State. They may discontinue their high schools and pay for tuition in approved high schools outside, in which case the State will reimburse them in full if their valuations are less than $750,000 each, and for one- half if their valuations are more than $750,000 each. Or they may strengthen their high schools by an additional teacher, and receive $300 annually from the State, provided their high school conditions are approved by the State Board of Education.
There are, therefore, two courses open for Medfield: either pur- sued will increase the efficiency of the work of the high school. Another teacher may be added to the teaching force, a room secured, by addition or a new building, and fitted up for the satis- factory work of a year's course in chemistry or physics, and thus bring the work of the school up to the standard required by the State, and receive the State aid of $300 annually. Or the high school may be abolished, and all the pupils sent to an approved high school in some other town, in which case one-half of the tuition will be paid by the State. The latter plan is the better one, it seems to me, both financially and educationally, as the town will save about $700 over the present method, and at the same time give all the students the advantage of a whole four years' course in a first class high school. The Walpole High School is for two reasons the most desirable : first, it is the nearest ; second, it 'is in the same superintendent district as Medfield.
If twenty-five or thirty pupils can be assured, a train service can be secured, so that the pupils may leave Medfield about 8 A.M. and return about 2 P.M., so that the time of waiting before and after school will be reduced to a minimum. It only requires about seven minutes for the train to travel from Medfield to Walpole, so that the time spent in travel also will be very short.
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WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The State requires of the high school : --
I. That it shall be " adequately equipped " and " kept by a principal and such assistants as may be needed, of competent ability and good morals " (section 2, chapter 42, Revised Laws).
2. That it shall give instruction in such subjects designated in section 1, chapter 42, Revised Laws, "as the school committee consider expedient to be taught in the high school, and in such additional subjects as may be required for the general purpose of training and culture, as well as for the purpose of preparing pupils for admission to State normal schools, technical schools, and colleges " (section 2, chapter 42, Revised Laws).
3. That it shall maintain "one or more courses of study, at least four years in length " (section 2, chapter 42, Revised Laws).
4. And that it " shall be kept open for the benefit of all the in- habitants of the city or town for at least forty weeks, exclusive of vacations, in each year."
Your attention is also called to the following law concerning the raising of money for school purposes.
Two Groups of Expenditures for the Public Schools : -
I. Expenditures for the support of public schools.
2. Expenditures for public-school buildings.
The legislature of 1900 so extended the statutory definition of support that now for the first time it includes expenditures of every kind for the public schools except those for public school buildings, such expenditures being for the following designated purposes : -
I. Teachers' wages.
2. Conveyance of pupils.
3. Fuel and care of school premises.
4. School committees, clerks, truant officers, etc.
5. Superintendents of schools.
6. Text-books and supplies.
7. School sundries.
Expenditures for public school buildings, for whatever purpose, are separated by statute from expenditures for support. Building expenditures are for the following purposes : -
I. New school-houses.
2. Alterations and permanent improvements.
3. Ordinary repairs.
7I
MEDFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS PENNY SAVINGS.
Although the deposits have not been as large as last year, we think the children have done well to save as much as they have. The coal famine has affected this institution quite as much as it has other concerns of a similar nature.
Amount deposited at end of term Dec. 20, 1901, $143.46.
Amount deposited at end of term Dec. 20, 1902, 205.31.
The number of depositors, 102.
The number of pupils holding bank books, 55.
SCHOOL-ROOM DECORATION.
The beginning made last year in school-room decoration has been continued, but more ought to be done this year. Each school-room ought to have at least one good picture hanging on its walls.
In May the schools held a lecture course, from which they realized about $30. This was increased to $37 by donations, and three pictures were purchased : "The Water Gate," by Marcke ; " The Aurora," by Guido Reni ; " Saved," by Sperling.
We are to circulate these pictures, keeping each one in each room one month, so that each room may receive a visit from each picture during the year.
We thought it better to purchase two or three good pictures, and circulate them in this way, rather than purchase a cheap one for each room.
We plan to hold an Art Exhibit some time in May, the proceeds of which are to be spent in school-room decorations.
If this Exhibit is held, we trust that all those who are interested in the schools will do all they can to make it a success. The Exhibit is an education in itself, so that, if it is held here four days, we shall all be greatly benefited, whether we secure much money or not.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
Owing to lack of funds, the " school libraries," the plan of which was outlined in our 1902 report, have not grown much. We trust that we shall receive more money this year for this worthy object. For the benefit of those friends of the schools who have no money to give, but who would like to donate books, a list of some of the books desired is given below.
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LIBRARY BOOKS.
Andrews's Stories Mother Nature told her Children.
Strong's All the Year Round Series, Parts 1-3.
Long's Ways of Wood Folk, Wilderness Ways, Secrets of the Woods.
The Wide World.
Spyri's Heidi : A Little Swiss Girl's City and Mountain Life.
Ramee's Bimbi : Stories for Children.
Greene's King Arthur and his Court.
Chamisso's Peter Schlemihl.
Fouqué's Undine : The Water Spirit and her Knight.
Lamb's Adventures of Ulysses.
Martineau's Peasant and Prince.
Open Sesame, vols. 1-3.
Wiltse's Stories for Kindergartens and Primary Schools. Wiltse's Kindergarten Stories and Morning Talks.
Strange Peoples, Frederick Starr.
Martineau's The Crofton Boys.
Browne's Rab and his Friends.
Scudder's Book of Legends.
Tales of New England, Sarah Orne Jewett.
Bird-ways, Olive Thorne Miller.
Being a Boy, Warner.
Up and Down the Brooks, Mary E. Bamford.
Coal and the Coal Mines, Homer Greene.
A New England Girlhood outlined from Memory, Lucy Larcom. The Story Hour, Kate D. Wiggin and Nora A. Smith. The Republic of Childhood.
England's Story.
Guerber's Stories of the Chosen People, Greeks, and Romans. Clarke's Stories of Troy, Ulysses, Æneas, and Cæsar. Bradish's Old Norse Stories.
Shaw's Big and Little People.
Alice's Visit to the Hawaiian Islands.
Guerber's Myths of Greece and Rome, Northern Lights, and Middle Ages.
Hiawatha, the Indian. Legends of the Springtime. John Quincy Adams. Alexander Hamilton.
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Thomas Jefferson.
Daniel Webster. James Madison. John Adams.
Thomas H. Benton.
Henry Clay, vols. 1, 2.
George Washington.
Patrick Henry. Benjamin Franklin.
Abraham Lincoln.
Charles Sumner.
History of the Flag of the United States of America; and of the Naval and Yacht-club Signals, Seals, and Arms, and Prin- cipal National Songs of the United States.
Stories from Old Germany.
Myths of Old Greece.
Stories of King Arthur.
World History in Myth and Legend.
The Adventure of a Brownie.
The Child of Urbino.
Horse Stories and Stories of Other Animals.
IMPROVEMENTS.
There are several things that might be done to improve the public schools of Medfield. First, as has been suggested, the high school might be abolished, and the pupils sent to an ap- proved high school.
Second, the kindergarten ought to be made a part of the school system, as it is considered to be the foundation of all education. It might be called the sub-primary, and children between the ages of four and six should be admitted any time during the year. Then, when they had attained a certain development, they should be pro- moted to the first grade, but only once each year, in September. If this were done, the ninth grade might be abolished, and the pupils allowed to enter the high school directly from the eighth grade as is done in most towns of the State.
Third, the Lowell Mason and Hannah Adams Schools might be closed and the children transported to the Ralph Wheelock School, if they lived more than a mile away.
.
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If the above-named improvements should be carried out, our teaching force could be reduced to six teachers, so that, after pay- ing tuition and transportation, there would be a direct saving to the town of about $600, and at the same time give all the children in the town much better educational facilities.
Better salaries could be paid the teachers, thus insuring a longer service from our best teachers. A supervisor of drawing and music could be employed, and still have the schools cost less than they do now.
The other rooms in the Ralph Wheelock School should be tinted, and new shades hung at all the windows. The two north rooms in this school ought to have more windows, as on cloudy days the light in the rooms is insufficient, making it exceedingly dangerous for the eyesight of the pupils.
The present cross light is the worst kind possible.
The outhouses should be removed, thus allowing more space for playgrounds and recreation, and toilet-rooms fitted up in the base- ment. The ethical, moral, and physical well-being of the children demands that all this be done.
I would also recommend that the school year be increased to 40 weeks in all the grades.
I sincerely trust that all the improvements mentioned in this re- port will be carried out in the near future, for then the conditions will exist for securing to the children of Medfield just as good edu- cational training as anywhere in the State. In closing, I wish to extend to the pupils, parents, and teachers my hearty appreciation of their kindness and co-operation, and to thank you for your con- tinued confidence and support.
Yours respectfully,
ABNER A. BADGER.
MEDFIELD, MASS., Jan. 31, 1903.
INSTRUCTIONS TO TEACHERS IN RE- GARD TO CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
MUMPS.
This is a contagious disease, and occurs chiefly in childhood, youth, and early manhood. About twelve days after the child has been exposed to mumps, he will begin to complain of tenderness in the depression immediately under the lobule of the ear; and this will be followed by swelling in the same place. This swelling is firm, but slightly elastic, and presses the lobule of the ear out- ward. It gradually increases for a few days, then remains station- ary for a short time and then declines. The total duration of the disease is from eight to ten days. In most cases the swelling occurs on both sides. If only one side has been affected, the disease may occur at some subsequent period. The left side is usually the first affected. As it requires twelve days from the time of exposure before the disease manifests itself, all the children from the family where the disease exists should remain from school at least two weeks after the disease has disappeared, unless the first one who takes it is at once entirely separated from the others.
WHOOPING-COUGH,-"CHIN COUGH."
This disease is highly contagious. Most cases occur between the ages of one year and eight years ; but it occasionally occurs in adults, and even in old people who have not been attacked pre- viously. It is in nearly all instances, if not in all, contracted by inhaling the breath of the patient, and is not, so far as I can learn, ever carried by a third person. Hence only those who actu- ally have the disease need be kept out of school. This disease usually lasts from two to three months. It comes on in about ten days after exposure. As the breath is the great source of con- tagion, children should not be allowed to return to school until they are entirely free from the spasmodic cough.
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