USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1884 > Part 2
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A short review of the different schools, with remarks on their progress and condition, is here presented.
NORTH SCHOOL-MISS MARY L. TAFT, TEACHER.
This school, one of the largest in town, has been well taught by Miss Taft-an industrious, persevering and competent teacher. Commendable progress has been made by the scholars, especially in the Fall term, and they appeared more interested in their work and more prompt in their recitations as the year advanced. In the Winter term, this was indeed a difficult school to govern, and great credit is due the teacher for maintaining the discipline of the school.
CENTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL-MISS ISABEL C. COOK, TEACHER.
This school continues to exhibit its usual approved condition. Orderly and well advanced in all its studies, it bears evidence of quiet but persistent application on the part of the teacher. A class was sent into this school from the Primary in the Fall.
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PRIMARY SCHOOL-MISS MARY E. DUDLEY, TEACHER.
This is the largest in town the High school excepted. It has been excellently well taught, and has made great progress through- out the year. The teacher is devoted to her work, and her scholars seem to be very much attached to her. By her judicious manage- ment, the next class that enters the Grammar school will be a large one.
SOUTH SCHOOL-MISS BERTHA GASKILL, TEACHER.
Miss Gaskill has taught this school throughout the year in a satisfactory manner. Her methods of teaching are good ; and al- though this is the first school she has had charge of, it is evident that experience is all that is necessary for her to become a success- ful teacher.
EAST SCHOOL-MISS CORA E. GASKILL, TEACHER.
Miss Gaskill has taught this school during the year, with the exception of four days-on account of sickness-when a substitute was provided by her to finish the Fall term. The scholars manifest great interest in their work, and there is so much energy in the school, as conducted by Miss Gaskill, that it seems impossible for it to contain a dull scholar. £ It is a fortunate community that has such a school in charge of so competent a teacher.
WEST SCHOOL-MISS ANNIE W. GASKILL, TEACHER.
Miss Gaskill taught this school in the Spring, but could not be induced to teach it the next term. Miss Hattie E. Mason of Ux- bridge was engaged for the fall term. This young lady posessed many requisites of a good teacher, but lacked experience. Miss Gaskill was prevailed upon to teach again in the Winter term, much to the satisfaction of all interested. Remarkable progress was made by the school, and Miss Gaskill is highly commended for her perseverance in raising the grade of this school above the average.
ALBEEVILLE SCHOOL-MISS DORA TAFT, TEACHER.
This school was taught in the Spring term by Mr. W. Frank Hayward. The committee being unable to secure the same teacher for the next term, engaged Miss Taft for the remainder of the year. Miss Taft, who has taught this school before, is a strict disciplina- rian, conscientious in her work and earnestly desires to promote the prosperity of the school. But the scholars, with few exceptions, are backward in their studies, and as a school, it falls considerably below the average. Why this is so, it is difficult to determine, and the school committee would gladly co-operate with the parents in any plan that would contribute to the good of the school. It is earnestly desired that this subject be given the consideration it de-
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serves, as it is evident that better results might be attained if the right influence were brought to bear on the school.
It is to be regretted that during the Winter term that dreaded disease, scarlet fever, became prevalent in this part of the town. As soon as the nature of the disease became known, the school was promptly closed by the commttee.
A grave responsibility rests upon those in a community who first become aware of the presence of a contagious disease. In all cases, the proper authorities should be notified at once. In the present case, there was an apparent delinquency.
HIGH SCHOOL-MR. S. W. FERGUSON, TEACHER.
Mr. Bosworth having positively declined to teach this school the present year, Mr. S. W. Ferguson of Fitchburg was engaged by the committee.
Mr. Ferguson has had eight years experience in teaching, and came highly recommended. He is very enthusiastic in his work and labors hard for the prosperity of the school. It has been his es- pecial aim to make the school room as attractive as possible, and never has it presented so comfortable an appearance before as it has this year.
Vocal music is taught by Prof. W. M. Broad of Uxbridge, the school bearing the expense. One leason, of about an hour's dura- tion, is given each week. This takes the place of two, and some- times three, recitations ; but any scholar who does not wish to take the vocal lesson, may recite his regular lessons to Mr. Ferguson instead.
A class of fifteen scholars from the other schools was admitted in the Fall. All were obliged to enter existing classes. The num- ber of classes was reduced from sixteen to ten, and all scholars were required to take, at least, three studies besides Reading.
Writing and Spelling are taught in connection with all other studies.
A regular course of study for this school should be prescribed by the school committee, and the scholars compelled to pursue the course prescribed. By this means, a great deal of time might be saved that will otherwise be wasted in forming classes. Under the presentmethod (?) it sometimes takes two weeks to do what ought to be done in two days. That there has been a prescribed "course of study" for seven years, is perhaps forgotten by most people ; but the fact that there were sixteen classes in the school last year, and not all the studies required by the "course," shows little regard has been paid to it. Because one "course of study" is found imprac- ticable, is no reason why another should not be tried.
On account of the prevalence of scarlet fever in Albeeville, it was thought advisable to stop this school for a short time to see if any of the scholars who had been exposed to the disease would be unfortunate enough to have contracted it. At the expiration of a
29
week, there being no new cases, school was again commenced, and has since continued without interruption.
STUDIES.
At the commencement of the year, History, one of the studies required by law, was taught only in the East school. It has since been introduced into all the schools except the South. The classes formed appear to take great interest in this study, and remarkable progress has been made by some of the classes, especially those in the East and Grammar schools. In the Primary it is taught orally, in connection with the study of Geography, making the recitation a very pleasing and instructive one.
Drawing, another study required by law, was taught only in the East and Primary schools at the commencement of the year. This study having been neglected for the last two or three years, and there being no demand for books, those which remained on hand were of an old edition and are not now published. After consider- able trouble and delay in effecting a change, the agent procured some of the requisite numbers of the new edition, and the study is now in all the schools.
Great improvement has been made in Reading by the scholars of the High school and the first class in the Grammar. The be- ginners in Reading in the Primary school, also, showed careful training, but generally the methods of instruction in this study do not obtain the desired results. More attention should be given this important study. More attention has been given this year to writing. Still more might be given profitably, for this is a writing age, and good positions are sometimes unattainable by persons whose penmanship is bad, which might easily be obtained by good writers. Mr. Ferguson has paid considerable attention to the hand-writing of his scholars, and their examination papers show remarkable im- provement both in penmanship and neatness. Some very good specimens were seen in most of the schools, the East and North schools furnishing the best.
More attention should be given composition and letter writing, even if some of the regular recitations are omitted.
VOCAL MUSIC.
"Of all the fine arts," says Bain, "the most available and in- fluential is music. This is perhaps the most unexceptionable as well as the cheapest of human pleasures."
The influence of the singing in the High school has extended through all the studies, and what theoretical knowledge of music the scholar gains is nothing compared with the gain in other directions. Teachers of elocution require their pupils to practice the musical scale-not for the sake of acquiring a theoretical knowledge of its formation, but as an aid in giving purity and flexibility to the voice. One great fault with the reading in our High school has been the
30
bad articulation. At the Fall examination of this school, it was conceded that the scholars read more distinctly than they had for several years. If one hour a week given to singing will improve our scholars in reading as much as it has in the High school, it would be a good idea for the school committee to require it taught in all our schools ; for in no study are the scholars as deficient as in read- ing. Mr. Broad's method of teaching singing is the correct one. The proper position of the body, the right management of the breath, the production of the tone with open mouth, are the points which have a bearing on all recitations ; and on these points, princi- pally, the scholars are drilled. The knowledge of the theory of mu- sic is of secondary importance in our public schools. So far as I know, the parents of the scholars are well pleased with the vocal lessons.
TEXT BOOKS.
Harper's Series of Geographies have been adopted this year, in place of the Eclectic Series. This was a very desirable change, as the maps in Harper's are considered greatly superior to those in the Eclectic, the questions seem to be selected with greater care, and the books can be bought much cheaper. Scott's Histories have been adopted in place of Quackenbos'. One set of Supplementary Readers has been purchased for each school except the High. They supply a want long felt by the teachers, and have been used with good results.
TEACHERS' WAGES.
That we pay our teachers very low wages, must be apparent to anybody who will examine the statistical table.
The following taken from the last Annual Report of Board of Education gives the average wages per month paid female teachers in Mendon and the surrounding towns :
Mendon
$24 00
Bellingham
31 14
Uxbridge
31 50
Blackstone 32 00
Upton
33 54
Milford
38 85
Northbridge
42 68
This proves conclusively that if we are obliged to go out of town for our teachers, we must take those that the surrounding towns do not want. Would that be true economy? Because we have good teachers in town who can work cheaper because they can board at home a part of or all the week, is it true economy to make them work for as small a sum as possible? Under the present appropria- tion it is impossible to pay an experienced teacher any more than would be paid a beginner ; and the wages are so low now that when the committee for the West school wanted a teacher for the Fall
31
* term, he was obliged to take one who had had no experience in teaching.
Seven years ago the town appropriation for the public schools. was $1700, and the town debt twice as much as it is now. It is hoped, therefore, that the town appropriation for public schools will be increased to $1500 this year, so that the school committee may be enabled to increase the salary of an experienced teacher, if necessary, in order to retain her services, and yet keep within the appropriation.
ROLL OF HONOR.
Exhibiting the names of scholars who have attended school one or more terms during the year without being absent or tardy.
HIGH SCHOOL.
FALL TERM.
Mary L. Aldrich.
Mary Bennett. A. Josephine Gaskill. Lizzie Quigley.
Mary E. Grady.
Emma E. Aldrich. Adaline Davenport. Evelyn J. Nutter. Silas Taft.
WINTER TERM,
Mary L. Aldrich. Florence H. Taft. John T. Morris.
Emma E. Aldrich. Florence H. Towne. Silas Taft.
FOUR YEARS .- Mary L. Aldrich. Emma E. Aldrich.
FIVE YEARS .- Silas Taft. Four years in lower grade. As the High School is now in session, the Record is to date.
NORTH SCHOOL.
SPRING.
Annie Quigley. Alice Quigley. Evelyn J. Nutter. Grace G. Nutter. Julia A. Grady.
Jennie L. Nutter. Mary L. Quigley. | Nettie E. Nutter. | J. Grace Taft. James Quigley. A. Dwight Davenport.
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FALL.
Annie Quigley. B. Annie Scriven. Julia A. Grady, Mabel P. Ballou. Medora A. Davenport. James Quigley. John Grady.
| Alice Quigley. ¡ Gertude Nutter. | Jennie L. Nutter. Nettie Nutter. Martin Grady. Newton Nutter.
WINTER.
Medora A. Davenport. Jennie L. Nutter. Alice Quigley. Newton Nutter.
--
Julia A. Grady. Annie Quigley. Martin Grady.
The year. Annie Quigley, Alice Quigley, Julia A. Grady, Jennie L. Nutter.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
SPRING.
Nettie F. Beals. Minnie M. Kimball. Florence H. Towne. Fred H. Brown. John M. Towne.
Minnie D. Gaskill. Nellie M. Nugent. William L. Beals. | Percy T. Kinsley. [ Paul Williams.
Nellie M. Kelly. Minnie M. Kimball.
Emily S. Moores. Grace F. Smith. Fred H. Brown. Paul Williams.
FALL.
i Sarah J. Kelly. Mary A. Moores. Nellie M. Nugent. Lena M. Wheeler. John M. Towne.
WINTER.
Minnie D. Gaskill. Emily S. Moores. John M. Towne.
Minnie M. Kimball. Percy T. Kinsley.
The year. Minnie M. Kimball, John M. Towne, Emily S. Moores *. *One terai in Primary.
PRIMARY SCHOOL.
SPRING.
Emily S. Moores. Lillie B. Wheeler. Harry C. Cook. Maurice Nugent. Clarence A. Taft. Morton A. Holbrook. Archibald Gunn.
-
--
Abigal Taft. Annie Barry. Arthur S. Kinsley. John P. Moores. Ernest L. Tucker. Martin Nugent. Clarence Moores.
33
Abigal Taft. Lillie B. Wheeler. Arthur S. Kinsley. Ernest L. Tucker. Everet Darling. Clarence Moores.
FALL.
Annie M. Kelly. | Harold A. Wheeler. F. Mason Kinsley. Clarence A. Taft. Martin Nugent. William Nugent.
WINTER.
Abigail Taft. Sumner Butler. Morton A. Holbrook. John P. Moores. Ernest L. Tucker.
----
Florence E. Snow. Everett Darling. F. Mason Kinsley. Clarence Moores.
The year. Abigail Taft, Clarence Moores, Ernest L. Tucker.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
SPRING.
Agnes H. Aldrich,
WINTER.
Charlotte A. Allen. Francis A. Bebo.
| Mary E. Allen. | Irving E. Pearson.
EAST SCHOOL.
SPRING.
J. Stuart Cox. William M. Wood. Minnie F. Bicknell. Mary A. Bates. Bertha L. Sprague.
Russell E. Bates. Oscar A. Newhall. Sarah A. Howe. Marion E. Howe. Bertha V. Horton.
J. Stuart Cox. Oscar A. Newhall. Katie M. Wood. Minnie M. Barrows. Hannah S. Gaskill.
FALL.
Herbert O. Barrows.
Minnie F. Bicknell.
Sarah A. Howe.
Anna M. Staples.
J. Stuart Cox. Herbert O. Barrows. Jesse L. Bates. Marion E. Howe.
WINTER.
-
Clifton E. Bates.
Oscar A. Newhall.
Minnie M. Barrows.
The year. Oscar A. Newhall. Two years. J. Stuart Cox.
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WEST SCHOOL.
SPRING.
Lewis L. Wood.
| Samuel W. Wood.
Annie B. Aldrich. Edwin M. Aldrich.
Ruth B. Cornwell. Waldo M. Thayer. Samuel W. Wood.
FALL. Nancy C. Wood. Waldo M. Thayer. -
WINTER.
Nancy C. Wood. Lewis L. Wood.
ALBEEVILLE SCHOOL.
SPRING.
May Richardson. Cora Taft. Silas Taft.
-
Bertha F. Albee.
Hattie F. Albee.
Harry E. Richardson.
FALL.
Bertha F. Albee.
Alice J. O'Sullivan.
Blanche B. O'Sullivan.
Harry E. Richardson.
Frank E. Crawford.
-
Cora Taft. Estine Taft. Bertha B. O'Sullivan. Hattie F. Albee. James H. Morris.
James E. O'Sullivan.
Comparing the statistical table with that of last year, it will be found that the percentage of attendance is about the same this year for the corresponding time of last. Probably the attendance for the rest of the term of the Albeeville school will bring the per- centage for the year below that of last year. There are not quite so many tardy marks this year as last. Miss Bicknell, a scholar belonging to the East school, was unfortunately three minutes late one afternoon. Butfor this one tardy mark, she would have a perfect record of attendance for five years. The percentage of attendance is highest in the East school and lowest in the South.
EDWARD DIXON, SUPERINTENDENT.
SAMUEL H. TAFT, Chairman, EDWARD DIXON, Secretary, WILLIAM W. NELSON, JOHN C. WOOD, FREDERIC BATES, LOWELL C. COOK,
School Committee.
SCHOOLS.
TERMS.
TEACHERS.
Length of School
Teachers Wages
Whole Number
Average Attend'ce
Percentage of
Attendance.
Number of
Tardinesses.
& Roll of
Honor.
Number of Schol-
ars under five.
Number of Schol-
ars over fifteen.
Amount paid
Fuel and care
Exchange of
Repairs and
Supplies.
High.
Fall. Winter.
S- W. Ferguson ....
3
$55 55
38 37
36.93
96
61
9
19
54.86
North.
Spring. Fall.
Mary L. Taft. ... 66
.
. . .
2
24
23
22.62
95
2
10
Spring. Fall.
66
212
24:
20
20
98
2
11
Winter.
212
28
20
19.25
04
3
5
178.00
46.60
12.43
35
Primary.
Spring. Fall.
Mary E Dudley. ....
2
24
36
33.47 36.15
92
17
12
3
Winter.
Bertha Gaskill -.
21/2
20
10
8.71
89
11
1
1
20.87
South.
Spring. Fall.
215
20
13
12.83
93
16
2
20
16
15.37
42
1
140.00
.87
Winter.
Spring. Fall.
Cora E. Gaskill ... 66
212
24
20
19.25
98
3
10
2
24
20
19.02
95
1
10.60
East.
Winter.
66
....
22
28
19
18.21
96
Spring.
Annie W. Gaskill.
21/2
20
16
14.28
95
11
2
2
West.
Fall.
Hattie E. Mason ....
212
20
13
12.1
93
3
4
Annie W. Gaskill ..
2
20
14
13
93
S
5
I
140.00
1.43
.
Spring.
W. Frank Hayward
2
24
26
24.5
90
14
6
.
Albeeville.
Fall. Winter.
Dora Taft ...
21,4 2
24
30
27.54
95
23
11
1
9.00
212
28
33
* For all the schools.
+ Including cost of woodshed.
178.00
212
28
31
28.05
89
12
7
2
2
178.00
3.87
Winter.
216
28
27
25.83
94
41
97
24
12 13
1
24
31
29.02
94
9
9.27*
19.50
24
25
24.12
-
....
59.
....
212
24
42
89
14
14
18
....
...
......
......
66
....
178.00
11.25
Winter.
in Months.
per Month.
of Scholars.
of Scholars.
Books-
Teachers.
of Fires.
Grammar.
Isabel C. Cook ......
n
36
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
. RESOURCES.
Amount unexpended, April 30, 1883
$102 17
Town appropriation for 1883
1300 00
Income from dog tax.
101 84
Received from school fund
220 93
Amount
$1,724 94
EXPENDED.
Teachers' wages }
$1500 00
Fuel and care of fires.
117 82
Apparatus, from school fund.
17 76
$1,635 58
Balance in Treasury
89 36
$1,724 94
# Including what will be due the teachers of High and Albeeville schools for the remainder of the term.
37
TOWN WARRANT.
WORCESTER, SS .- To the Constable of the Town of Mendon, in the County of Worcester, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the town of Mendon qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the town hall, in said Mendon, on MONDAY, the third day of March, next, punctu- ally, at ten o'clock A. M., to act on the following articles, viz. :
ART. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the reports of the several town officers and committees, and act thereon.
ART. 3. To choose all necessary town officers for the year en- suing.
ART. 4 To raise such sums of money as are necessary to de- fray town charges, and make appropriations of the same.
ART. 5. To determine the manner of repairing the roads and bridges in said town the year ensuing.
ART. 6. To see if the town will require the school committee annually to appoint a Superintendent of schools.
ART. 7. To see if the town will vote to accept the list of jurors reported by the Selectmen, or make any alterations in the same.
ART. 8. To see what measures, if any, the town will adopt to secure the speedy collection of taxes.
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to continue the High School.
ART. 10. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer to hire money to pay current expenses for the municipal year com- mencing March 3d, 1884, in anticipation of the collection of the taxes.
38
ART. 11. To see what measures, if any, by borrowing money or otherwise. the town will take for the redemption of town bonds maturing during the municipal year commencing March 3d, 1884.
ART. 12. To bring in their ballots "Yes" or "No" in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in this town ?"
ART. 13. To order and prescribe by vote of the town the manner in which meetings of the town for elections and town busi- ness shall hereafter be called and notified.
ART. 14. To see if the town will vote to sell any of its land to John Barry, or act in any way in relation to such sale.
ART. 15. To see if the town will authorize and direct the al- teration and reconstruction of the stairs and entrance to the Town hall, or act in any way in relation to the same.
ART. 16. To see if the town will authorize and direct spe- cial repairs on the road leading from the house of Dr. J. G. Met- calf to Milford town line, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or otherwise act in relation to such repairs.
And you are directed to serve this warrant, by posting up attest- ed copies thereof at each of the following places in said town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting : At the post- office, and on the door of the school-house in Albeeville, and at the post-office at South Milford.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen or Town Clerk, before the time of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Mendon, this twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four.
GUSTAVUS . B. WILLIAMS, Selectmen of
LIBERTY FREEMAN, Mendon.
A true copy .- Attest :
Constable of Mendon.
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