USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1889-1909 > Part 15
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TRUANT OFFICERS, W. W. NELSON, LYMAN COOK
EDWARD L. SMITH.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF MENDON :-
The following report of the School Committee is respectfully submitted :-
The Committee organized March 5, and assigned the general care of school property as follows :
West and Albeeville, Henry W. Gaskill; Center and North, Erwin A. Snow; South and East, Lyman Cook. Erwin A. Snow was appointed School Book Agent.
Miss George positively declined to serve as superintendent, but consented to look after the schools for a time, which she did.
At the March meeting the town voted to unite with Hopedale and Bellingham in employing a superintendent of schools. As the three towns did not have the necessary number of schools it required a special act of the Legislature, in order that we might secure state aid under the provisions of chapter 431 of the acts of 1888 and subsequent amendments. This was obtained April 13.
After several meetings of the school committees of the three towns, Elmer E. Sherman of Plymouth was elected superintend- ent of schools and began his duties about the first of June, since which time the schools have been under his care.
In the spring your committee thought it best to reopen the Albeeville school, there being at that time fifteen scholars in the district, and have continued the school throughout the year.
During the year a new outbuilding has been built at the South school, and the ones at the West and Albeeville changed so that both sexes are not obliged to use the same building.
There will be some general repairs needed during the com- ing year. We have put in a few slate blackboards this year, and like them so well that we hope to replace some of the old ones with slate the coming year.
As will be seen by the report, that while the cost of the schools for this year is very little more than last, we have exceed- ed the appropriation about $250. This is due to two causes :-
First : As will be seen by last year's report there was due at the end of the year $222.50 with a balance on hand of $50.42, leaving a net debt of $172.08 to be paid out of this year's appro- priation. This year all accounts are settled and there is no debt. It has been the custom for several years to carry the account along in this way, which your present committee dislike very much and shall ask the town to make a special appropriation to
4
cover this deficiency, so that we may have a year's money for a year's work and not be obliged to pay this year's bills out of next year's money.
Second: There is due from the state on account of superin- tendent $250, but we do not get this until the end of the year, which will be about the first of June ; this amount, if we had it, would make us practically square, and, while we have added eight weeks to the High and two to the other schools, we have not increased the expense to the town much of any. Although under the present system of supervision the town is required to appro- priate only $250 annually, we must pay $500, which is our share of the superintendent's salary, before we get any money back from the state; therefore in order that we may have the money to pay his salary, the first appropriation should be $500, after that $250 only is needed.
For several years F. H. Lowell has taught music in our schools more or less of the time, and has done excellent work. During this time he has received no compensation from the town and your committee thought it no more than justice that his ser- vices should receive some recognition from the town, and have therefore paid him the sum of $25, which is a very slight consid- eration for the amount of service rendered.
We would respectfully refer you to the annexed report of the superintendent on the condition of the schools.
We would respectfully recommend the following appropria- tions for the ensuing year :-
Special appropriation to cover deficiency $ 250 00
Support of schools and transportation 1,700 00
Text book and supplies 200 00
Incidentals
300 00
Superintendent
400 00
Apparatus 50
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriations :-
Support of schools and transportation $1,700 00
Text books and supplies. 200 00
Incidentals 300 00
Superintendent 300 00
Apparatus 50 00
Other resources :-
Balance on hand 50 42
Income from state school fund 345 09
66 dog tax 175 15
5
Received from out-of-town scholars $ 9 00 66 sale of supplies I 12
Money borrowed on personal note of school committee 250 00
Received from board of health for books destroyed. 2 55
$3,383 33
EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR.
Teachers' wages :-
Loyal E. Sherwin, High, balance of last
year $ 122 50
Fred N. Havener, High 328 13
Susan I. Seagrave, Grammar 320 00
Mary E. Dudley, Primary
320 00
Nettie McEwen, North
256 00
Mattie T. Howes, East
154 00
Florence James, East 70 00
Anna M. Staples, South 224 00
Ruth B. Cornwell, West
214 00
Florence E. Snow, Albeeville
192 00
Frank H. Lowell, music teacher
25 00
$2,225 63
Fuel : -
E. H. Taft, wood, Centre 5 00
Morton Holbrook, cutting and housing same 2 00
E. A. Snow, cash paid, wood and cut- ting, North 4 50
Lyman Cook, wood and fitting, East 17 19
Lyman Cook, 66 South
14 86
Henry W. Gaskill, “
Albee-
ville and West 21 00
L. A. Cook, coal, North 18 75
L. A. Cook, coal, Centre
22 75
106 05
Care of school rooms :- Lyman Cook, cash paid, care room. East 2 50
Lyman Cook, cleaning room, South.
I 50
Lyman Cook, 66 East 1 00
Nettie J. McEwen, care room, North
11 00
Mattie T. Howes, East
5 00
Anna M. Staples, South 8 00
E. A. Snow, care rooms, Center 32 00
Ruth B. Cornwell, care room, West 5 00
Florence E. Snow, 66 Albeeville 8 00
6
F. F. Brown, cleaning rooms, Center and North $10 50 H. W. Gaskill, cash paid, cleaning rooms, West and Albeeville. 3 00
H. W. Gaskill, cash paid, care room, West 3 00
90 50
Text books and supplies :-
Amount purchased as per report of school book agent. 201 40
Apparatus :-
E. O. Vaile, news Current. 9 00
George S. Perry & Co., sundries. 2 26
George S. Perry & Co., blackboard for High school. 15 00
26 26
Superintendent :-
Nancy C. George, balance of last year ..
100 00
Nancy C. George .. 30 00
Elmer E. Sherman
300 00
430 00
Incidentals :-
George L. Perry & Co., sundries 16 35
slate blackboards
7 95
King & Merrill, sundries
I 20
Cook & Sons, printing graduation pro- grams 3 00
Henry W. Brown, cleaning clocks
I 50
Joseph Dudley, services at church grad- uation day 1 00
D. C. York, dusters.
2 25
Albert Chilson, painting outbuilding and fence, South 6 32
C. A. Fletcher, labor and material.
13 68
Lyman Cook, repairs East
5 00
66
sundries East 66 South
87
services as school com-
mittee 8 75
Lyman Cook, cash paid use of well East
2 00
Henry W. Gaskill, repairs and labor, West
I2
75
Henry W. Gaskill, repairs, Albeeville 66 services as school
I 35
committee
8 75
Henry W. Gaskill, taking school census 2 00
66 fumigating school
room
50
3 55
7
Henry W. Gaskill, labor and material for outbuilding, West and Albeeville .. Henry W. Gaskill, traveling expenses .. 66 cash paid use of well
$27 67 I 00
West 2 00
E. A. Snow, postage
2 55
express paid ..
4 80
60
freight and carting paid.
I 77
traveling expenses.
3 10
labor
4 00
66
cash paid sundries.
I 72
66
taking school census
2 00
setting glass.
1 00
66
services as school committee
8 75
66 cash paid cleaning clocks ....
I 00
services as secretary school committee 10 00 E. A. Snow, services as school book agent 9 00
Otis Whitney & Son, labor and material for outbuilding and fence at South school and repairs at South and Center 65 58 Otis Whitney & Son, labor and material for Center and North 16 17
Eldredge & Beatty, paint
I 06
F. F. Brown, painting High school desks 66 paint and varnish for same ..
2 75
E. E. Sherman, postage and stationery. 66 traveling expenses.
1 00
66 freight paid.
25
R. C. Eldridge, clock 4 50
5 41
G. M. Billings, printing report cards. 2 84
W. W. Nelson, use of well
3 00
E. L. Smith, use of well.
7 00
F. J. Dutcher, stamped envelopes, etc., as secretary of district committee I 32
A. W. Gaskill, stone posts 1 00
J. A. George, I day's work of man on stage. I 50
299 24
3,379 08
Cash on hand
4 25
3,383 33
2 25
4 50
Clark Ellis & Sons, sundries
8
There is due from the State on
account of Superintendent ..... $250 00
There is due from Town of Upton 12 50
Supplies sold I 12
Cash on hand 4 25
267 87
Text books and supplies on hand less than there were last year. 64
267 23
Cost of schools for the year. ..... 3,116 10
RECAPITULALION.
Resources
3,383 33
Expenditures :-
Teachers' wages
2,225 63
Fuel
106 05
Care of school rooms
90 50
Text books and supplies.
201 40
Apparatus
26 26
Superintendent
430 00
Incidentsals
299 24
Cash on hand.
4 25
$3,383 33
As will be seen by this report $172.08 of this was last year's bills. This amount will pay the High school teacher's salary for the balance of the school year, thus adding eight weeks to the High school and two weeks to the others with but very little ad- ditional expense to the Town over last year.
HENRY W. GASKILL, ERWIN A. SNOW, LYMAN COOK, School Committee.
Mendon, Feb. 16, 1895.
SCHOOL BOOK AGENT'S REPORT.
DR.
To books and supplies purchased :-
American Book Co
$12 56
Ginn & Co. 86 32
J. L. Hammett 39 65
George L. Perry
35 93
George F. King Merrill
26 94
Books and supplies on hand
132 84
$334 24
9
CR.
By books and supplies furnished $200 92
Supplies sold
I 12
Books and supplies on hand.
132 20
334 24
ERWIN A. SNOW, School Book Agent.
Mendon, Feb. 16, 1895.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF MENDON :-
The fourth annual report of the Superintendent of schools is hereby presented.
May 28, 1894, the Superintendent of the district comprised in the towns of Mendon, Bellingham and Hopedale, first entered upon his duties, since which time he has endeavored to become thoroughly acquainted with the schools under his charge.
The schools of Mendon bear record to the good work that has been done in them and for them during the past few years.
The success of a superintendent's work largely depends upon the support his measures receive from the teachers, the commit- tee, and the community at large. Only by the loyal co-operation of all can the best interests of the schools be subserved. It gives your superintendent great pleasure to record the hearty interest of the teachers in his plans, the support of the committee, and the cordial welcome which he has experienced from all.
STUDIES PURSUED IN THE SCHOOLS.
ARITHMETIC.
An effort is being made to teach the subject in a practical way. A large amount of daily drill in simple problems for the sake of acquiring facility in rapid, accurate work, combined with equally constant drill in mental arithmetic, ought to train the child to do the every-day arithmetic of real life.
READING.
The pupil should learn to read orally with ease, and silently with rapidity. To do this he must have much practice.
The schools should develop a taste for good literature. This can be done by furnishing the pupil with examples of the best work, suited to his understanding, and especially arranged for the purpose. There is an abundance of such material which can be obtained at low cost.
LANGUAGE.
The pupil's work in language should train him to express his spoken or written thought clearly and easily. The successful
II
study of a language other than his own aids him to comprehend the structure of his native tongue. To be able to write a well-ex- pressed letter or a correct business form, to give an order or a direction clearly, and to carry on a conversation in correct English ought not to be too much to expect of a graduate from our schools.
HISTORY.
This is a subject which interests children. It helps to form character. The study of the lives and deeds of those who, by their self-denial, "built better than they knew," stirs the young mind to imitation and leads to reverence for the principles for which they lived and died. The study of history in the schools should aim to cultivate a taste for broader reading, to be pursued in after life.
GEOGRAPHY.
There has been a great advance of late in the teaching of this subject. Its scope has changed. It is no longer considered suffi- cient to learn the numberless facts connected with this science. They are easily forgotten and the time so spent is wasted. Ob- jective teaching is required. The earth as a whole in its relations to man is the object of the study, and facts are presented in their relations, that the child may remember by association.
DRAWING.
Something has been attempted in our schools in the line of drawing. An outline of study was prepared in this subject, cov- ering work for the first eight years of school-life. If this be fol- lowed for a number of years, the child now in his first year at school will have received a fair training in this subject when he shall have completed the grammar school course.
The freehand work is from the object and not from a copy. In this way the child is trained to see. Work in plan-drawing, color, and design is also given.
MUSIC.
It is due to the kindness of Mr. F. H. Lowell that four of our schools, three in the Center building and the North school, are receiving excellent training in this great art. Much gratify- ing progress has been made.
1 2
ABSENCE AND TARDINESS.
The attendance in some of the schools has been much better than is the average in many towns. In most of the small, un- graded schools where the distances are greater and the interest less, the attendance is very irregular and the percentage of the average attendance to the total membership is exceedingly small. These schools fail in large measure to accomplish that for which the money expended in their support was intended.
Regular habits, promptness, and punctuality are business virtues which it is an aim of the schools to inculcate. The aid of the parents is necessary that the best results may be realized.
OUTLINE OF COURSE OF STUDY.
The school system, like any other business system, needs a definite plan for the guidance of its workers. A frequent illus- tration of this need is seen when a change of teachers occurs in those towns having neither head nor plan to their school system. The new teacher knows little or nothing of the plan pursued by the previous teacher. She therefore places the pupil where, in her best judgment, presumably, he ought to work. The pupil, instead of proceeding in his studies to that which would logically follow, is usually put back or set ahead, with consequent dis- couragement or confusion. With an outline course of study this would not be likely to occur.
Again, an outline followed by all the teachers of the town gives to the pupils of each school similar opportunities. The re- moval of a family from one portion of the town to another would not materially affect the standing of the children in their studies. But the principal benefit derived from the outline is the saving of time which always results from working with a plan in distinc- tion from working without one.
An outline of study was prepared for the schools, which has been in use since September. It is divided into periods of one year each and covers the first eight years of school. As far as possible, each pupil has been placed in the grade to which his attainments entitled him. By First Grade is meant the first year of school life, etc.
Your attention is requested to the following course of study for the grades below the High school :-
First Grade.
Language :- Talks about common things; as plants, ani- mals, qualities, actions, directions, pictures. Writing of words and short sentences upon paper or blackboard, from blackboard or dictation. Choice literary selections memorized.
13
Reading :- Vocabulary learned from objects and read in easy sentences from the blackboard. Reading from the primer. Phonetic spelling.
Writing :- Mostly upon the blackboard of the small letters, i, u, w, n, m, v, x-e, c, o, r, s, a, d, p, t-1, k, h, b-j, f, g, y, q, z.
Spelling :- Oral, as soon as the alphabet is learned.
Number :- Numbers from one to twelve. All combinations and separations of those numbers. Easy problems. Adding of single columns and rows. Halves and fourths.
Physiology :- Observation of correct positions in sitting and walking. Height. Naming of external parts of the body. Care of parts.
Drawing :- Lessons in form, color, arrangement.
Second Grade.
Language :- Name and describe the parts of common plants, fruits, and animals. Short stories selected from classics. In- vention and reproduction of short stories. Written exercises from dictation consisting of short sentences to teach correct use of capital letters, period, question-mark, exclamation point, homonyms, adjectives, prepositions, pronouns. Letter writing. Memorizing.
Reading :- Primer continued. All new words used in orig- inal sentences. Second Reader begun. Phonic drill. Silent reading. Reproduction of story from memory. Supplementary reading.
Writing :- On blackboard. Capitals in groups : A, M, N- O, C, D-E, H, K, B, F, G, L, P, R, S, T-I, J, Q, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
Spelling :- Words from lessons and common words in daily use. Oral and written.
Number :- Review. Numbers from 10 to 50, all combina- tions and separations. Roman numerals to XXX. Addition and subtraction by 2's. 3's, etc. Simple problems. Add single columns and rows. Halves, fourths, thirds, etc., to tenths. Multiplication table to 50.
Physiology :- Continue first year's work. Simple stories of evil effects of narcotics and stimulants. The senses.
Drawing :- Form, color, arrangement.
Third Grade.
Language :- Lessons on plants, animals, minerals. Narra- tion of stories suggested by pictures, personal experience. Classic stories. Write simple description of objects. Dictation exercises continued. Drill in correct use of personal pronouns. Begin use of book. Memorizing of poetry and prose selections.
14
Reading :- Talks about the lesson before reading. New words placed on board. Phonic drill. Finish Second Readers, and begin Third Readers.
Spelling :- Continue work of second year. Syllabication in oral spelling.
Writing :- Finish work of previous year, using pen and ruled paper. No. I copy-book.
Number :- Numbers to 1000. Continue oral and written drill of previous year. Fractional parts of divisible numbers to hundredths. Expression by decimal point. Expression of easy fractions to denominator 12. Roman numerals to C. Toy money, easy problems. Written addition, subtraction, multipli- cation, division. Multipliers, divisors less than 12. Long meas- ure, liquid and dry measures.
Physiology :- Review senses. Familiar talks on organs of body as wholes. Skin, muscles, fat, nerves, blood vessels. Ef- fects of alcohol and tobacco on these.
Drawing :- Review and continue same work.
Geography :- Home geography. Land projections, water projections, islands. Mold in sand. Weather. Soil. Plan of school-room and yard to a scale. Map of town.
Fourth Grade.
Language : Continue use of book. Continue dictation exer- cises for drill in correct use of common expressions. Continue other work.
Reading :- Work in Third Readers. Supplementary read- ing. Use dictionary.
Spelling :- Continue previous year's work. Use blank books. Begin use of spelling book.
Writing :- Movement exercises, elements of letters. Copy book practice.
Number :- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. Multipliers and divisors larger than 12. Add in columns dollars and cents. Numbers to 100000 and to .001. Roman numerals to M. Simple problems; written analysis of them. Tables of weight and time. Change fractions to whole or mixed numbers and reverse. Add and subtract common fractions to twelfths, decimal fractions to .001. Constant oral drill.
Physiology :- Continue. Bones, joints, food, air, exercise, sleep. Review.
Drawing :- Freehand from objects, instrumental design.
Geography :- Use globe. The earth as a whole ; form, size, rotation, imaginary lines, hemispheres. Continents and oceans. Mold in sand, draw (profiles contours), North and South America as wholes.
I5
Fifth Grade.
Language :- Continue Nature study. Continue use of book.
Dictation drill. Simple business forms. Memorizing.
Reading :- Finish Third Readers. Supplementary reading for information. Read one classic.
Spelling :- Continue work of previous year.
Writing :- Continue work of previous year.
Arithmetic :- Review. Reading and writing of whole num- bers and fractional expressions. Work in fractional numbers ex- pressed by both common and decimal forms, using small num- bers. Oral work in percentage. Much daily mental work based on written work and review. Review previous tables. Square and cubic measure.
Physiology :- Study to learn facts of bony, muscular, tegu- mentary, respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems.
Drawing :- Continue work of previous year.
Geography :- Lessons on evaporation, condensation, freez- ing, contours. Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceanica as wholes.
Require some home work for three days each week.
Sixth Grade.
Language :- Continue Nature study. Use of book. Dictation drill. Expression of the substance of a prose selection from memory. Memorizing.
Reading :- Fourth Reader. Supplementary reading mostly for information ; facts.
Spelling :- Continue work of previous year.
Writing :- Continue work of previous year.
Arithmetic :- Review. Drill on fundamental rules, with whole and fractional numbers. Continue work with whole and common and decimal fractions and tables. Very simple work in percentage. Practice bills and receipts.
Physiology :- Review. Nervous system. Emergency talks. Drawing :- Continue work of previous year.
Geography :- Countries of North America in detail. Pro- gressive map-drawing.
U. S. History :- Read small outline history. Discussion of lessons and topical outline developed.
Require a half-hour of home work four days each week on some subject requiring concentration.
Seventh Grade.
Language :- Continue use of book and lessons on natural objects. Simple original composition. Poetry changed to prose. Letter writing. Dictation drill as before and also in the use of capitals, punctuation marks, advertisements, etc.
16
Reading :- Fourth Readers. Current literature. Easy his- torical prose and poetry, and easy classic. Drill in silent read- ing. Some vocal drill.
Spelling :- As before. Use dictionary as a text-book.
Writing: - As before. Review elements.
Arithmetic :- Review problems covering measures, fractions, United States money. Board and wood measure. Compound, numbers. Percentage. Interest. (Ledger accounts).
Physiology :- Begin use of text-book.
Drawing :- Continue work of previous year.
Geography :- Countries of South America, Europe and Africa in detail.
History :- Use a fuller text-book than before. To President Washington's administration. Constant use of progressive maps constructed by pupil. Simple lessons on civil government.
Eighth Grade.
Language :- Continue written work on nature study. Be- gin the study of technical grammar, parsing and analysis. Dic- tation drill. Original composition. Sketches of books read. Memorizing of standard poems.
Reading :- Miscellaneous readings from standard literature. Complete poems and books. Home reading.
Spelling :- Use spelling book and dictionary.
Writing :- Copy book and drill. Review.
Arithmetic :- Review percentage and its applications. Bank discount. Ratio and proportion. Partnership. Square root, with simple application. Business papers written. Ledger ac- counts.
Physiology :- Continue use of book.
Drawing :- Continue to advance on same general lines as be- fore.
Geography :- Countries of Asia and Islands of Oceanica in detail.
Detailed study of the United States.
United States History :- The United States under the Con- stitution. Review of entire subject topically.
The High school year has been increased from six to eight months. The benefit derived from lengthening the course by one-third is out of all proportion to the additional expense in- curred, which is less than one hundred dollars.
The change in time necessitated a revision of the course of study. Two courses have been arranged, one with Latin and one without it. A pupil taking the Latin may elect one or more
I7
of the English substitutes, but the Academic course is designed to contain as much work as the average student can well accom- plish.
Much of the pupil's time in the High school is occupied in recitation. This necessitates more or less time out of school de- voted to the preparation of lessons, that he may obtain the most from his course.
The course of study for the High School is presented in this report.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER E. SHERMAN, Superintendent of Schools.
COURSES OF STUDY IN THE MENDON HIGH SCHOOL.
ACADEMIC COURSE. FIRST YEAR.
TERM.
I. Latin 5,*
Algebra 4,
English History 4,
II. Latin 5,
Algebra 4,
English History 4,
III. Latin 5,
Algebra 4,
Rhetoric 4,
English Composition 1, News of the Day 1, English Composition 1, News of the Day 1, English Composition 1, News of the Day 1,
SECOND YEAR.
I.
Latin 5,
Algebra 4,
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