USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1900-1909 > Part 47
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L. B. CODDING, E. V. MITCHELL, ¿ Cemetery Committee. A. B. PARKER,
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TOWN HALL REPAIRS.
The Town Hall Repair Committee organized with Edwin V. Mitchell, Chairman, and Lewis K. Conant, Secretary.
The roof of the Town Hall was thoroughly overhauled and put in perfect condition. To relieve some of the strain on the roof, the middle chimney was torn down.
A steam heater was placed in the basement, and radiators were installed in the Post-office and all of the rooms on the first floor, also throughout the basement.
The upper hall is heated, at present, by the old furnace, but the new heater is of sufficient size to take care of the whole building, should the furnace give out.
A modern sanitary system was installed, and connection made with the sewer. There are two closets and two bowls on the ball- room floor, closet and bowl each in the lockup, Post-office, and back hallway on the street floor, two closets and two large sinks in the basement.
The large hall was painted and redecorated in oil, together with all the anterooms and hallways.
The balcony over the stage was cut away and the stage carried back to the outer wall, thus doing away with the need of the exten- sion in front.
The financial report is as follows :-
Expenditures.
John Bennett, labor
$4.00
Frank Quincy, labor
7.20
Clarence Ricker, labor
7.20
Warren Blake, labor
46.80
French Brothers, roofers
193.04
Carried forward . $258.24
60
Brought forward . $258.24
D. M. Bent, labor
87.00
Peter Callow, labor 28.60
John Simmons, labor
20.60
Michael Ryan, labor II.80
F. A. Taylor, plumbing
694.10
Frank I. Sherman, surveyor .
31.00
James Ord, supplies
3.75
J. J. Kelley, supplies .
6.90
Ingals & Kendricken, steam heater
1,448.00
E. M. Bent, supplies
20.40
W. J. Hayward, plastering
81.18
Mortenson & Holdenson, stencil .
4.00
L. B. Fairbanks, supplies .
2.99
George G. Babcock, painting
300.00
Total expenditure
$2,998.56
Appropriation
3,000.00
Balance unexpended
$1.44
Examined and found correct.
T. E. SCHOOLS, Auditor.
Although the Committee had used all its appropriation, there was such a sentiment in favor of a new floor in the hall that it was de- cided to lay one, and partly defray the cost by giving a ball and by soliciting subscriptions from the business men of the town.
The following gentlemen subscribed five (5) dollars each :-
H. J. Dunn.
E. C. Crocker.
David Stain.
E. V. Mitchell.
Emlyn V. Mitchell.
C. J. Sawyer.
Edwin S. Mitchell.
J. F. Greaney.
Granville C. Mitchell.
W. A. Fitts.
Raymond Weiker.
Willard Harwood.
N. G. Tibbetts.
G. G. Babcock.
E. J. Keyou.
L. K. Conant.
C. M. Clark.
William Grace.
E. B. Snow.
Including the above, $221.IO was raised at the dance.
61
The balance due on the floor was taken care of by Edwin V. Mitchell Company.
The new chandelier in the hall is presented to the town with the compliments of Edwin V. Mitchell Company, together with new wiring throughout the building.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN V. MITCHELL. LEWIS K. CONANT. WILLIAM F. ABELL.
-
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MEDFIELD
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JANUARY 30, 1909.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Members.
WALDO A. FITTS
Term expires 1909
LEWIS K. CONANT
IgIO
Rev. CHARLES H. WILLIAMS .
IQII
Organization.
WALDO A. FITTS
Chairman
LEWIS K. CONANT
Secretary
M. J. WEST
Superintendent
Calendar.
Winter term, 12 weeks, closes March 26, 1909.
Spring term, 12 weeks, opens April 5, closes June 25.
Fall term, 16 weeks, opens September 7, closes December 24. Winter term opens January 3, 1910.
Truant Officers.
J. ALLEN COLE.
JAMES E. PETTIS.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EXPENDITURES FOR TEACHING.
Paid W. J. Chisholm $1,000.00
Eloise H. Crocker 600.00
Lorenia Kimball 250.00
Bethia R. Paine . 501.25
Margaret E. Doyle 450.00
Agnes Kirby 462.50
Edna F. Kimball
420.00
Susan H. Chase .
450.00
Emma A. Perkins .
212.50
Edith Ames
75.00
Helen E. Bayley
200.00
Jennie F. Copland
160.00
Irvin T. Henshaw .
50.00
Angie L. Pulsifer
275.00
Louise Hoeckel .
190.00
Frances L. Swett
100.00
Jennie Taber, Substitute 7.00
Helen McCarthy, Substitute
6.00
Mabel M. Morton, Substitute
7.00
Emma Allen, Substitute
2.60
$5,418.85
TRANSPORTATION.
Paid H. W. Wood $225.00
225.00
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Paid F. W. Kingman
$209.00
M. J. West . 240.00
449.00
Carried forward
$6,092.85
67
Brought forward $6,092.85
JANITORS AND CARE OF SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Paid James E. Pettis .
$535.IO
George E. Pettis 4.60
Mrs. H. P. Mann
88.00
Flora Robinson .
8.45
George L. L. Allen
1.00
637.15
FUEL.
Paid J. E. Lonergan & Co.
$376.78
Willard Harwood .
20.00
M. A. Ritchie ..
9.50
406.28
REPAIRS.
Paid F. A. Taylor
$7.78
T. P. Simpson
36.43
Hiram Kimball
167.80
J. N. Wills .
.85
212.86
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid freight, express, and incidentals
$33.92
C. E. Rogers 3.25
Davis Press 3.00
Selectmen (for stove)
5.00
M. J. West, expenses
5.83
W. W. Preston
22.80
N. F. Harding & Co.
22.60
J. H. Baker
9.00
Medfield Water Company
7.09
112.49
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Paid E. J. Keyou $1.80
W. A. Fitts . 66.08
Masury, Young & Co. . 30.25
G. W. Woolvett . 3.00
J. L. Hammett Company 17.35
Carried forward . $118.48
$7,461.63
68
Brought forward $118.48 $7,461.63
Paid Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
5.23
E. E. Babb & Co.
403.73
D. C. Heath & Co.
15.50
Ginn & Co.
77.29
Schoenhof Book Company
2.82
Oliver Ditson Company
1.35
American Book Company
61.37
L. E. Knott Apparatus Company
39.08
Silver, Burdett Company .
1.25
John Pember 2.40
Phonographic Institute Company I.2I
Remington Typewriter Company
73.50
John H. Daniels & Son . 54.00
Arthur W. Hall Scientific Company
8.94
H. H. McQuillen 14.00
C. C. Birchard & Co.
3.55
883.70
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS.
Paid F. A. Taylor $104.01
J. A. Moore 75.00
W. J. Hayward 13.46
A. E. Reed .
4.30
Cole & Smith
246.33
Daniels Hamant
8.75
Lowell Babcock's Son
42.00
Kenney Brothers & Wolkins
160.80
E. M. Bent . 6.50
661.15
Total expenditure
$9,006.48
Receipts, town appropriation $6,300.00
Income State School Fund
868.81
State Treasurer for Superintendent,
500.00
State Treasurer for high school .
500.00
State Treasurer for tuition of scholars
57.50
Town of Dover for tuition of
scholars
78.50
Carried forward
$8,304.81
69
Brought forward
$8,304.81
City of Boston for tuition of
scholars
38.00
Lyman School for tuition of scholars, 20.00
Interest from Town School Fund . 141.60
Sale of old material 2.16
Balance from 1908
723.59
$9,230.16
SUMMARY.
Wages of teachers $5,418.85
Transportation of scholars 225.00
Supervision . 449.00
Janitors and care of school-houses 637.15
Fuel . 406.28
Ordinary repairs 212.86
Miscellaneous expenses .
II2.49
Books and supplies .
883.70
Permanent improvements
661.15
9,006.48
Balance unexpended .
$223.68
Received from State School Fund
$868.8I
Paid for teaching
868.81
ESTIMATE FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.
For support of schools and repairs $6,300.00
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR LOWELL MASON SCHOOL.
Expenditures.
J. N. Wills $132.00
H. H. Clark . 131.26
N. F. Harding & Co. 187.41
Reynolds Weiker
14.50
F. A. Taylor
12.60
L. B. Fairbank
5.05
J. L. Hammett Company ·
15.50
$498.32
Appropriation .
500.00
Balance unexpended
$1.68
70
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FOR SCHOOL FLAGS.
Expenditures.
W. A. Fitts
$12.75
Appropriation
15.00
Balance unexpended
$2.25
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
Expenditures.
Dr. F. H. Clough
$20.00
Appropriation .
50.00
Balance unexpended
$30.00
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS K. CONANT, Secretary.
Examined and found correct.
T. E. SCHOOLS, Auditor.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The annual report of the School Committee for the year ending Jan. 30, 1909, is respectfully submitted :-
By the re-election of Charles H. Williams at the March town meeting the School Committee remained unchanged, and at their regular meeting, held March Io, 1908, Waldo A. Fitts was elected Chairman and Louis K. Conant Secretary for the ensuing year. All regular and many special meetings have been held during the year.
On February 12 the Walpole School Committee notified the Med- field School Committee that they wished to discontinue the alliance known as the Medfield and Walpole Union, to take effect June I, 1908. Mr. Frederick J. Kingman resigned as Superintendent of the Medfield Public Schools. His resignation was accepted May 28, 1908.
It seems fitting at this time to recognize the merit of our retired Superintendent, Mr. Frederick Kingman, whose untiring efforts in our behalf during his three and one-half years of service helped in no small measure to place our schools on their present basis.
Under advice of the State Board of Education it was thought advisable to meet with the district known as the Westwood, Millis, and Norfolk district, and after careful consideration it was voted to join this district and extend to Mr. M. J. West, of Millis, the position of Superintendent. Mr. West accepted, and entered upon his official duties June 1, 1908. This union has proved very sat- isfactory in every way.
There have been few changes in teachers during the past year. Miss Lorenia Kimball succeeded Miss Angie L. Pulsifer as assistant in the high school. Miss Edna M. Kimball succeeded Miss Louise Hoeckel in Grades II .- III., and Miss Edith Ames succeeded Miss Frances Swett as instructor in drawing.
A hard proposition was presented in Grades 6-7, under Miss
72
Margaret E. Doyle. Fifty-eight pupils were enrolled in September. To give each child proper attention and keep up the standard of the grades, it was decided to secure an assistant. Miss Jenny F. Copland was elected.
The Committee is justly proud of their staff of teachers and the good work they have accomplished, also the school spirit they have developed in their scholars.
On May I the Committee presented the schools with new flags, the appropriation for which was so generously voted at the March town meeting. Appropriate exercises were held in the school yard in the presence of many parents and friends.
Fire-drills have been held at regular intervals during the year, with good results.
IMPROVEMENTS.
A chemical laboratory and class-room has been finished on the upper floor of Ralph Wheelock School. Two transom skylights furnish ample light and ventilation. Metal ceiling, sink, running water, and spacious lockers make an ideal laboratory and class- room. Had this room and the class-rooms not been rearranged last year, the Committee would have been obliged to procure addi- tional quarters outside of the school building. Thus we feel that money has been saved by equipping these rooms.
The boiler in the heating plant was retubed, and with a few minor changes was pronounced satisfactory by the State inspector.
To all pupils finishing the grammar school the Committee felt it was advisable to give a certificate entitling them to admission to the high school; and, in case any pupils were unable to continue school attendance, they would possess some recognition for work accomplished.
The crowning success of the combined efforts of the School Com- mittee, Superintendent, teachers, pupils, and parents, was cele- brated on June 25, when the first graduating exercises since June, 1899, were held in Chenery Hall. The programme and names of the graduates will be found on another page.
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LOWELL MASON SCHOOL.
Miss Helen E. Bayley succeeded Miss Edna M. Kimball as teacher of the Lowell Mason School.
IMPROVEMENTS.
The law required a fire-escape to be placed on the school building. After much thought it was decided to remodel the lower room. The partition was moved back about seven feet, making a larger and better room. Metal ceiling and side walls were used, and new desks were installed. The building was newly shingled and painted. When the sink was removed to its new location, it was found that all the waste water had for years been running under the building. A new dry well was dug about twenty-five feet from the school, and proper drainage is now maintained.
The expression of appreciation by parents and friends has been highly gratifying to the School Committee.
Taking everything into consideration, we feel that our schools are to-day on a firmer basis than ever before. The fact is being im- pressed upon the Committee, as each year our vacant seats are being filled and rows of desks are being added, that it is only a question of time when this method must be discontinued. How to better the situation is a matter for careful consideration.
The aim of the School Committee is to continue to give to the children of Medfield an education of high standard and practical value.
Respectfully submitted,
WALDO A. FITTS,
For the Committee.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MEDFIELD:
I have the honor to submit hereby my first report, which is the tenth in the series of annual reports of the Superintendent of the Public Schools of Medfield.
Much of the short period during which your present superintend- ent has been connected with the schools has been necessarily occu- pied with the details of the office, and I trust that it has been used to bring about the change in administration without any serious disturbance in the general working of the school system. It has not, however, given opportunity to study the conditions sufficiently to be able to judge exactly the definite needs of the schools. Fortunately, the solidity of the teaching force was not impaired by the change of administration, and the selections made to fill the vacant places that did occur have proven to be happily made.
Miss Helen E. Bayley, a graduate from Bridgewater Normal School, is successfully filling the position in the Lowell Mason School which was left vacant by the transfer of Miss Edna M. Kimball to grades two and three in the Ralph Wheelock School.
The vacancy in the high school faculty caused by the resigna- tion of Miss Pulsifer is acceptably filled by Miss Lorenia M. Kimball, a graduate from Mt. Holyoke College and Simmons College.
The problem of providing for the needs of fifty-eight pupils in the room occupied by grades six and seven was solved by hiring Miss Jennie Copland, a graduate from Salem Normal School, to assist Miss Doyle, and by using one of the high school recitation- rooms. This was possible because of the new room which was furnished for a laboratory. It is not entirely desirable to use the laboratory, at all times, for a recitation-room, but it is necessary under the circumstances.
In the resignation of Miss Doyle, at the end of the fall term, we have again a reminder that the small towns must suffer such losses
75
just as long as the larger towns can hold out the inducements of higher salaries and better advantages. It may not be possible for us to compete successfully with the larger towns and cities in this respect, but I do believe that it is a wise plan to pay salaries high enough to keep our teachers with us through the entire year. Mr. Henshaw, who takes Miss Doyle's place, is a graduate from Hyannis Normal School, and has had successful experience. It is hoped that a man teacher will be able to improve the general discipline about the school yard and building, since he can take charge of many things that could not be looked after by the principal of the high school without interfering with his high school duties. Our efficient teacher of drawing resigned to accept a similar position in Foxboro. Miss Edith B. Ames, a graduate from Massachusetts Normal Art School and a teacher with experience, is successfully carrying forward this important branch of our work, and I refer you to her report for a detailed account.
The number of pupils in Miss Doyle's room during the fall term is evidence that the rooms are becoming overcrowded in the Ralph Wheelock building. This is a condition which promises to become more acute, and must force a remedy erelong.
It is possible to have the high school cover a course of five in- stead of four years, and utilize the two recitation-rooms as perma- nent class-rooms. In my opinion this would strengthen the high school, furnish added advantages to the ninth grade, and would for a time relieve the grade teachers by reducing the number of pupils in a room. This is, however, but a makeshift, and would place the high school in close quarters, and subject to the annoyance caused by the noise of so many other pupils.
There is urgent need of more room for the commercial department. This department furnishes nearly all the opportunity that our pupils have for training along special industrial lines, and the good work done in shorthand and typewriting proves that this department should be fostered and room should be provided for its extension.
The interest taken in the graduating exercises of last June, the excellence of the class which graduated, and the earnest work being done this year proved that the high school is moving on to success. I refer you to the report of the principal herewith, and ask for a careful consideration of his suggestions.
The public concert which was given so creditably by the high school shows that the training in singing, under the direction of
76
Miss Perkins, is developing confidence and ability on the part of the pupils. You are referred to her report for particulars.
We are just beginning to understand how much of successful school work depends upon a healthy condition of the children, and that medical inspection, properly carried out, will remove many of the causes which place pupils in the list of "backward" children. A proper use of the authority of the school physician will aid in en- forcing the laws in regard to infectious diseases, prevent their spread, save much suffering, and save to the parents, in money, many times the expense of maintaining medical inspection. When a case of infectious disease appears, the matter should be placed in the hands of the school physician at once, and his directions should be fol- lowed. In this way a spread of the disease may be prevented, and the loss of time occasioned by closing schools will not appear.
The eye and ear test has been taken by the teachers, as required by law, and the summary is submitted herewith, also the report of the school physician.
There are periodic times when school text-books seem suddenly to wear out and pass beyond usefulness. Some sets of our books reached the worn-out stage this year, and it has been necessary, in the interest of good work, to replace the arithmetics and language books and grammars with new books. A set of new music readers has been purchased for grades four and five, and Mrs. Chase is making a test of the Aldine Method of teaching reading in the first grade, which has also called for new books.
In my judgment these larger bills for books need not be repeated next year, for, on the whole, our books are now in fairly good con- dition.
The spirit of harmony which marks the attitude of all pupils and teachers is an indication that the waste of energy which is being put forth is very slight, and a year of successful work is assured.
Respectfully submitted,
M. J. WEST, Superintendent of Schools.
MEDFIELD, MASS., Jan. 30, 1909.
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
SUPERINTENDENT M. J. WEST:
Dear Sir,-I herewith submit the first report of the Ralph Wheelock School since the introduction of the four years' course in the high school. The past year has been a vital one in the history of the Medfield schools, inasmuch as the feasibility of a four years' course in the high school was put to the test. When the proposed change was brought before the citizens of the town, many openly expressed strong opposition to the establishment of a complete high school, while many felt that the plan would prove a dismal failure. Those, however, who were directly interested in the progress and welfare of the schools felt confident that the change would be in every way beneficial, and, thanks to their energetic efforts and untiring zeal, success has crowned the undertaking.
Many reasons might be advanced to prove the advisability of supporting a local high school. Perhaps the strongest incentive is the deep interest and pride which are aroused in the pupils them- selves. They feel that the school is theirs, that they are factors in its success, and that any honor or distinction that is bestowed upon their school is indirectly theirs. In this way a better spirit for the advancement of local enterprise is fostered, and thereby the school is meeting one of the great needs of the community. Again, the existence of a local high school encourages our boys and girls to continue their school work, and to embrace the opportunities afforded by the advanced course. The necessity of entering upon a high- school career under strange conditions, among new pupils and teachers, often destroys the desire to continue a high-school course, and consequently the pupil drops out, whereas at home he finds conditions more suitable to his needs, people who are personally interested in his school career, and those who are endeavoring to assist him to higher intellectual development. The opening of the high school in September, 1907, proved this fact. The enrolment
.
78
was forty-three, the largest number in the history of the Medfield High School. One more pupil was added during the course of the year.
Teachers and pupils shared the spirit of the "experimental stage," as it was called, but, before the year had fairly begun, we felt that the high school had come to stay. A genuine school spirit was infused in all, and the work progressed with little interruption throughout the year. After the Christmas recess the one-session plan went into operation, and, despite the temporary inconvenience attendant on the new arrangement, it has proved in every way beneficial to the pupils. More time is afforded the teachers for doing individual work with backward scholars, and more time is allowed the pupils themselves for their physical needs.
The graduating exercises, held in the Town Hall June 25, 1908, crowned the efforts of those who labored to make the first year of our complete high school a success. Our first graduating class num- bered eight. Six of this number have gone to other institutions of learning, where they are taking up advanced work. The other two are doing well in business.
The present school year opened under very favorable auspices. The old course of study was revised to suit the needs of the majority of the pupils. The commercial branches especially were enlarged upon, and excellent work is being done in this department. This year we hope to be placed on the list of schools whose graduates are admitted to normal schools on certificate. Our present graduating class numbers nine. Two are preparing to enter training schools, and three will take examinations for entering college.
I am glad to commend the work of my new assistant. She has taken up the work with praiseworthy zeal, and has won the respect and good will of the pupils. I desire to express my appreciation for the generous co-operation of my first assistant, and to commend her earnest efforts in the welfare of the school. All the teachers are working in harmony, yet I feel that the permanent success of the school must come not alone from the efforts of the pupils nor from the teaching force, but must depend, in great measure, upon the sympathy and co-operation of the parents and the friends of the school. The high school, to be sure, is in its infancy, but, if we may be allowed to predict its development by its first steps, we can safely say that it will grow and wax strong with its years.
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In conclusion, I will add that the work in the Medfield High School has been pleasant and encouraging. I wish to thank you for the assistance and advice rendered me in the conduct of my duties.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM J. CHISHOLM, Principal.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
MR. M. J. WEST, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:
Dear Sir,-I present the following report on the work in music of the Medfield schools :-
The development of the art of music in the community lies in our public school training. Music in the school curriculum is whole- some and stimulating. From the school the influence radiates to the home, to the church. Mood is not all that music study infuses. The mastery of the music translation is more difficult than the interpreting of French or Latin. As a mental discipline, it is a strong study.
The Weaver System is founded on the doctrine that the construc- tive side must be learned before satisfying appreciation can be secured. The system gains over all others by individual practice, thereby exacting accurate thinking and self-reliance.
Children, during the first year of school, are taught a store of rote songs suited to child mind and voice. Through imitation a perfect scale is secured individually, and at the end of the year music reading begun. Many children are worked out of the mono- tone stage to a perfect carrying of tune. The second year con- tinues with song and reading drill, while in the third year the diffi- culties in time and reading increase and the compass of songs is more extended. Tone quality is sought first, then the science of the subject. The fourth year begins two-part singing, which is pursued with greater problems in tune and time in the fifth year. At the end of the sixth grade year all fundamental principles of music are secured, and three parts carried. In the seventh and eighth grades, the work is three or four parts, as the changing voice chances to determine. Throughout the grades the pupils are taught to write principles in correct music form.
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