USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1910-1919 > Part 47
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EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE
The best educational literature represents the careful investigation and thought of experts. Every instructor - of youth needs help and inspiration in solving various problems. A single article in some standard educational publication may furnish the needed help. Training the children of a nation is so great a task that each worker sees but a very limited portion of the whole field. We may gain a more complete idea of our relation to others, and inspiration for better work by broadening our view thru good educational literature.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT S. AMES, Superintendent.
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TEACHERS' DIRECTORY, DECEMBER 31, 1919
Ralph Wheelock School
Grade Teachers Where Educated
High Alton H. Hartford, A. B. (Prin.)
Boston University
High
Elizabeth Falvey, A. B.
Boston University
High Evelyn Hussey, A. B. Bates College
High Margaret Kannally, Com'l.
Hyannis Normal
VII-VIII Effie M. Griffin, A. A.
McGill Normal
V-VI Mary E. Park
Lowell Normal
III-IV Marion Clark
Framingham Normal
I-II Agnes Donlan
I-V Margaret Fealy
Supervisor of Music:
Nettie F. Hamant, Northampton Institute. Teacher of Drawing:
Helen M. Allan, Mass. Normal Art School.
STATISTICS
Total Membership for 1918-1919 271
Enrolled in other schools of state first 23
Between 5 and 7 years:
boys, 19; girls, 20. Total 39
Between 7 and 14:
boys, 79; girls, 81. Total 160
Between 14 and 16:
39
Over 16:
boys, 10; girls, 14. Total
24
Graduated from Grammar School:
21
boys, 11; girls, 10. Total
Graduated from High School: boys, 6; girls, 10. Total 16
Perry Normal Framingham Normal
boys, 12; girls, 27. Total
85
Membership by grades, December 1, 1919
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
26 17 27 22 19 26 27 22 18 21 15 12 252
Lowell Mason School:
I II III IV V
6
9
6 2 5 28
280
EYE AND FAR TEST
Pupils tested
265
Defective in Sight
42
Defective in Hearing
9
Parents and guardians notified
35
Attendance, Sept. 3, '18 to June 19, '19. Ralph Wheelock School:
Grade
Teacher
Total
Av.
Av. Per
Memb. Memb. Att. Cent.
High C. Harold Risley, Prin.
72
66
57
87
High Elizabeth Falvey
High Evelyn Hussey
High Margaret Kannally
High Mabel R. Barr
High Evelyn Nay
VII-VIII Isabel Sullivan Effie Griffin
50
48
43
90
V-VI Mary E. Park
53
43
41
95
III-IV Marion Clark
41
36
32
90
I-II Josephine C. Buckley
34
31
28
90
Susan M. Clark
Lowell Mason School:
I-V Margaret Fealy
21
20
19
95
Totals
271
244
220
90
Total
SỐ
MEDFIELD
Pupils not absent or tardy Sept. 2, 1919-Dec. 19,1919 Grade III
Marion Wills
Kenneth White
Romeo Rossi
Grade IV
Burton Herron
Myrvin Dyer
Grade I
John Tucker
Grades V and VI
Edwin Leeds
Dorothy Smith
Eleanor Marcionette
Herbert Haseltine
George Miller
Gordon Newell
Albert Ehnes
Grade VII
John Cornell
Linwood Herron
Warren Hunt
Harry Leighton
William Miller
Carolyn Hamant
Alma Hodgdon
Marion Kelly
Dolly Palumbo
Grade VIII
Gordon Bearse John Kiniry Gertrude Larue
LOWELL MASON SCHOOL Margaret McPherson, Grade V George McPherson, Grade II
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HIGH SCHOOL
Robie Bissell
Christian Ehnes (tardy once)
Clara Dray
Adelaide Dray
Grace McLeod
Mabel Miller
Villa Bailey
Lucille Spaulding
Mr. A. S. Ames,
Superintendent of Schools, Medfield, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I came to the Medfield schools in the fourth week, and lost two weeks in November, owing to holidays and an accident, and therefore, my report on the music in the schools extends over a short period of time.
To make a beginning, the pupils, of each class, lerned some new songs, appropriate to their grades and of various mood. Soon, they began the study of a new principle in music, also in accordance with the graded method used in the school.
All the time, they work for good tone, ability in reading and correct interpretation of songs.
The high school sing from two books of the Musical Art Series, one, a book of folk songs, tne other, a book of standard popular songs.
There is an orchestra in the school, consisting, be- sides the piano, of four violins, played by three members of the high school and one pupil _from the grammar school.
At Christmas, we had a new supply of Christmas carols, and they were sung with accompaniment in all of the rooms. The orchestra assisted in the high school.
The same work has been done in similar grades of the Lowell Mason School.
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The very bright faces of the pupils, from the first grade up, are a great inspiration to me.
I wish to thank the teachers and the Superintendent for their very kind assistance and co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
NETTIE F. HAMANT, Supervisor of Music. Medfield, Mass., January 6, 1920.
To Mr. Albert S. Ames, Superintendent of Schools
Since writing a report last year on the drawing work in the Medfield schools, there has been scarcely any change in the course. In several rooms where the teach- ers were unusually crowded with regular work, less time has been given to drawing. Consequently there has been less drill in parts of the work.
The Mechanical drawing class in the high school is larger than it has ever been. I am glad to see that more pupils are interested in it. The course is brief but it gives an insight to work that is widely practical.
In resigning at this time I am glad to say that I have en- joyed teaching in Medfield. Sometimes it has been dif- ficult to keep it somewhere near the standard but I have always found it interesting.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN M. ALLAN.
Mr. A. S. Ames,
Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir,
I herewith submit my report as principal of the Med- field High School for the term ending December 31, 1919.
School opened in September with an attendance of fifty-nine. This has since increased to seventy: viz, twenty-one freshmen, twenty-one sophomores, fifteen juniors, and thirteen seniors. With a small graduating class in the high school this year and a large class in the
89
grammar school which should enter this fall the member- ship in the high school next year should be seventy-five or more.
During the first part of the term, work was con- siderably handicapped because we were running on a sort of makeshift program with only three assistants. It was thought that the work could be carried on by four teach- ers, but as the year progressed this arrangement became more and more unsatisfactory. We were unable to give some subjects which the pupils wanted to take. Recita- tion divisions and study divisions had to be crowded to- gether into the same room. Finally, when the resigna- tion of one teacher made a change in program necessary, it seemed an opportune time to again have a fourth assistant. The Committee voted to hire a fourth teacher. This will give an opportunity to offer subjects in addition to those which could be taught the first term; to have each subject taught by a teacher specially prepared in that subject; and to separate study classes from recitation divisions. This will help materially in scholarship and discipline. No teacher can do justice to her class if she has to watch a group of study pupils while she is trying to teach. Also few pupils will do their best work in · recitation if they feel that study pupils are listening, with a chance to criticize later outside of class. With four assistants we will again be able to furnish a room for study pupils only, and allow the recitation pupils a room where they are separated from all pupils except those of their own recitation division. The gain in efficiency is well worth the extra expense.
My experience this fall would indicate that the course of study, or at least the working out of it, needs some slight revision. Apparently there have been three courses: College, business, and general. But pupils have chosen subjects haphazard from all courses, with no sub- ject except English actually required. In other words the elective system has been carried to extremes. This has
90
resulted in the following condition. There are a senior, a junior, and seven sophomores who take algebra with the freshman class; two seniors and a junior who take Latin with the freshmen; three juniors who take geometry with the sophomores; two seniors and three juniors who take biology with the sophomores; one senior who takes junior French; and two sophomores who take freshman business. Under these conditions it is impossible to ar- range a program without conflicts between the various classes. Courses should be so arranged that only in ex- treme cases will it become necessary for pupils to be tak- ing classes outside of their year. In order to do this, it is necessary to make certain courses required or com- pulsory.
The average high school pupil does not know when he enters, just exactly what he wants. If left to choose his subjects, he naturally selects those which to him seem to require the least work, or those which some member of his family or influential friend suggests to him. Frequently he realizes later that it would have been better had he taken some study which he omitted, as witness the nine upper class pupils who are this year tak- ing freshman algebra. For this reason the work of the first year should be rather carefully prescribed for the pupil, and courses should be strictly limited. As the pupils gow older and advance in school, more courses can be made elective and greater freedom of choice given to the pupils.
For this reason all the members of this year's fresh- man class have been required to take algebra, civics, and general science, and to choose between Latin and business. Algebra can do no harm to any pupil, even those wishing the business course; civics ought to be taught to all chil- dren in these days when so much distrust of and antagonism towards the government is rampant; and cer- tainly every person should know at least as much as a course in elementary general science teaches about the world in which he is to live. For the first two years
91
then it seems that courses might well be limited to two: Business and college; with a larger choice of subjects in the last two years from which the pupil who is not going to college may select a general course. I should recom- mend the adoption of the following course; at least four full subjects to be taken by each pupil each year.
First year
Second year
English R
English R
Algebra R
Geometry C
Community Civics R, } course Biology E
General Science R, ¿ course
Latin (Caesar) C
Latin C
French C
Introductory Business B
Bookkeeping B
Drawing E, ¿ course
Third year
English R
Review algebra and geome- try C
Fourth year
English R
Latin (Cicero) C
U. S. History and govt. E
French C
Latin (Virgil) C
Physics C
French C
Shorthand and typewriting B Chemistry C
Bookkeeping B
Drawing E, ¿ course
R-required of all pupils
B-business course
Shorthand and typewriting B
Drawing, ¿ course
C-college course E-elective in any course
Such a course would furnish the equivalent of a first class college course, also a good business course, with op- portunity for those not going to college nor yet wishing business work to take a good general course. Pupils choosing subjects for a general course, however, should take such subjects in the years when they are offered in order to avoid conflicts in the program. This course does not differ materially from the present one, except in the
Commercial Geography B, ¿ course History (to 1700) E Drawing E, & course
History (Europe and since 1700) E
Economics R
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first year. Spanish and commercial law have been dropped; the former because it does not seem very popular, the latter because of its doubtful value in a high school, course. By proper alternation, of subjects in the last two years, such a course could easily be carried out by five teachers as at present.
Before closing, I wish to say just a word or two about attendance. Absence and tardiness are very prevalent- in fact, much too prevalent. Some pupils have been tardy on an average of two days a week all during the fall term. I wish to ask the co-operation of the parents in prevent- ing this. Pupils should realize that while going to school . they are forming habits which will stick to them during their lifetime. Unpunctuality in the business world
often costs dear. A pupil whose school record is full of absence and tardiness can not be recommended as wholly reliable to a business man who is looking for help. Parents must realize this, and should see that absences occur only when absolutely necessary, and that tardiness is very infrequent. Can we not have a great improve- ment in this during the rest of the year.
In closing, I wish to thank you and the members of the School Committee for the courtesy and spirit of co- operation shown towards me and my work.
Respectfully submitted,
ALTON H. HARTFORD.
January 15, 1920
93
TOWN WARRANT COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
NORFOLK, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Medfield, in said County, greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth you are directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Med- field, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall in said Medfield on Monday, the 1st day of March, A. D. 1920, at 6 o'clock in the morning, then and there to act on the following articles:
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To choose the following named town of- ficers, under the provisions of Chapter 835 of the Acts of 1913, namely: One Town Clerk, one Moderator, one Treasurer, one Collector of Taxes, Three Constables, one Tree Warden, all for one year; one Selectman fo: 1 year. 1 Selectman for 2 years, one Selectman for 3 years; one School Committee for 3 years, two Trustees of the Public Library for 3 years, one Cemetery Commissioner for 3 years, one Assessor for 3 years, one Assessor for 1 year to fill vacancy, one Member of Board of Health for 3 years, one Member of the Board of Health for 1 year to fill vacancy, one Park Commissioner for 3 years.
Also to vote on the following questions:
First-"Shall Chapter 807 of the Acts of 1913 being an act to provide for compensating laborers, workmen and mechanics for injuries sustained in public employment and to exempt from legal liability counties and municipal corporations which pay such compensation be accepted by the inhabitants of this town of Medfield?" The vote to be "Yes" or "No".
Second-Shall license be granted to sell intoxicating liquors in the town for the ensuing year? The vote to be "Yes" or "No." All the above to be voted for on one bal-
94
lot. The polls to be opened at 6.15 o'clock in the fore- - noon and may close at two o'clock in the afternoon.
Article 3. To choose Fence Viewers, Field Drivers, and Pound Keeper.
Article 4. To see if the town will accept the re- ports of the several town officers for the past year.
Article 5. To grant and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 6. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the present municipal year to an amount not exceed- ing in the aggregate thirty thousand dollars, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of the present municipal year.
Article 7. To determine in what manner the taxes shall be collected for the ensuing year, also determine what percentage shall be allowed the Collector for the ensuing year.
Article 8. To see if the town will authorize the Col- lector to use all such means in the collection of taxes as the Treasurer might if elected to that office.
Article 9.
1 To see what compensation the town will allow the members of the Fire Department for the en- suing year.
Article 10. To see how much per hour the town will allow for work on the highways for the ensuing year, or do or act anything relating thereto.
Article 11. To see if the town will accept the fol- lowing named sums as perpetual trust funds for the care of lots in Vine Lake Cemetery, the interest thereof, or so much as may be necessary, to be used for said care: viz.
95
For care of Albert C. Shumway lot $150.00
For care of Edward P. Tucker lot 100.00
For care of Oliver A. Clark lot 100.00
Article 12. To see if the town will grant and ap- propriate the sum of three hundred dollars toward the support of a Visiting Nurse as authorized by the Acts of 1911, Chap. 72, Section 1, or do or act anything relating thereto. (Petition).
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer on Adams Street to connect with existing sewer system, grant and appropriate money therefor, or do or act anything relating thereto. (Petition).
Article 14. To see if the town will grant and appro- priate the sum of Fifteen hundred dollars to be used in conjunction with the State and County, for the purpose of re-surfacing and improving grade of North Street, Southerly from the Dover town line provided that said State and County will each grant a like sum.
Article 15. To see if the Town will grant and appro- priate the sum of $200.00 for the purpose of building a sidewalk on the Westerly side of Vinald Road. (Petition).
Article 16. To see if the town will sell or dispose of discontinued apparatus not required by the Fire De- partment.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to adjust and establish the salaries of Town Officers; or do or act anything relating thereto.
Article 18. To see if the town will grant and appro- priate the sum of Thirty-two hundred dollars for the pur- chase of a Howe-Ford Gasoline Fire Engine, or do or act. anything relating thereto. (Petition).
Article 19. To see if the town will grant and appro- priate $610.69 assessed by the County for the construction of a Tuberculosis Hospital; said sum to be appropriated or borrowed as the town may decide.
.
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Article 20. To see if the town will grant and ap- propriate money for the purpose of re-surfacing the side- walks on Green Street with tarvia or do or act anything relating thereto. (Petition).
To hear and act on the reports of any committees ap- pointed at previous meetings.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by post- ing an attested copy thereof, in the usual place for post- ing warrants in said Medfield, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, unto the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this 9th day of February, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty.
DANIELS HAMANT, FRANK E. DAY, NELSON C. TIBBETTS, Selectmen of Medfield.
L
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