USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1889-1909 > Part 23
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A number of pamphlets have been given. Whole number of books, 3900.
Respectfully submitted, SARA F. TOWNE, Librarian.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
I have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Superintendent of Streets, Town Clerk, School Com- mittee and Collector of Taxes ; also the accounts of the Treasurer of the trustees of the Taft Public Library for the municipal year ending March 6, 1899, and find them correctly kept and with proper vouchers.
CHARLES H. ALLEN, Auditor. Mendon, February 23, 1899.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MENDON,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1898=99.
MILFORD, MASS. : COOK & SONS, PRINTERS, JOURNAL OFFICE. 1899.
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1898-1899.
HENRY W. GASKILL, Chairman, Term expires 1900 1901 ERWIN A. SNOW, Secretary, LYMAN COOK, 66 1899
SUPERINTENDENT, ELMER E. SHERMAN.
SCHOOL BOOK AGENT. ERWIN A. SNOW.
TRUANT OFFICERS, JOHN L. DAVENPORT, LYMAN COOK, ELMER E. SHERMAN.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF MENDON :
The following report of the School Committee is respect- fully submitted.
As was the case last year, this report is made out two weeks before the end of the year. All bills for the year are paid ex- cepting for teachers, janitors and for transportation of scholars for these two weeks. This we have not given in detail, but have included the amount we have reason to expect it will be in this report, thus giving the cost of the schools for the full year of thirty-six weeks.
At the annual meeting of the School Committee of the three towns which is held in April, Mr. Sherman was re-elected Superintendent of Schools and his salary increased from fifteen hundred dollars to sixteen hundred and fifty dollars. As each town pays one-third of his salary, this will make an increase of fifty dollars for each, making the net cost for each town one hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents.
Slate blackboards have now been put into all of the school rooms except the East. This building is not worth putting slate blackboards into. It is so poor that it is simply a waste of money to try to put it in suitable condition for a school, and it will be necessary in the near future to provide a suitable build- ing for the school there. This district is so far from the center that a school will probably have to be maintained there, even if a school house is built in the center. At present there is quite a large school there.
At the North, the out-buildings are attached to the school- house, and at times in the summer make it very unpleasant in the schoolroom. These should be taken away and either set up some distance from the schoolhouse or new ones built.
We would respectfully refer you to the annexed report of the Superintendent on the condition and needs of the schools, which the Committee at its last meeting voted to accept and have printed.
We would recommend an 'appropriation of twenty-eight hundred dollars for schools for the ensuing year.
.
4
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation $2,800 00
Other Resources :-
Balance on hand March 1, 189S
32 00
Income from school fund
394 43
66 dog tax 180 66
of
Received from State on account Superintendent
416 66
Received for tuition
35 00
66 supplies sold
I II
Contributions from teachers and schol-
ars for school library
3 34
$3,863 20
EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR.
Teachers' Wages :-
Francis A. Rugg, High
$180 52
Newton D. Clark, High
291 69
S. Emma Dean, Grammar
130 00
Vina A. Dole, Grammar
252 00
Mary E. Dudley, Primary
340 00
Florence E. Snow, North
306 00
Ruth B. Cornwell, Albeeville
288 00
Marguerite Thompson, Albeeville
18 00
Cora L. Edmands, East
261 00
Frank H. Lowell, music teacher 26 00
$2,093 21
Fuel :-
Williams Bros.
$65 48
Henry W. Gaskill, wood and fitting same
12 50
E. A. Snow, wood and fitting same.
I2
37
Lyman Cook. 12 75
$103 10
Care of Rooms :-
Florence E. Snow, North
$17 00
Ruth B. Cornwell, Albeeville
9 00
Cora L. Edmands, East
9 00
Fred A. Snow, Center rooms
34 00
Mrs. Head, cleaning North
5 00
Mrs. Alger, cleaning Albeeville
4 50
Mrs. Alger, cleaning Center rooms
6 25
$84 75
5
Text books and supplies :-
Amount purchased as per report of school book agent $215 35
Apparatus :-
E. E. Sherman $1 35
Estes & Lauriet.
12 48
Franklin Ed. Co.
25 30
$39 13
Superintendent :- Elmer E. Sherman $530 00
Transportation of scholars :-
George M. Taft.
$167 00
Alfred I. Barrows
165 00
$332 00
Incidentals :-
George S. Perry & Co., duster, pointers and blanks $3 55
George S. Perry & Co., pencil sharpener 66 66 slate black boards
3 00
66 liquid slating. 3 00
Clark & Barnes, freight and carting book-case 75
J. L. Hammett Co., 2 bells. I 55
W. W. Nelson, cleaning vaults and mowing brush I 50
Howard & Brown, High school diplo- mas 5 60
Walter Parker, giving graduation ad- dress 7 00
C. B. Williams, carting blackboards
2 00
Joseph Dudley, services at graduation .. 1 00
William H. Bennett, painting North schoolhouse 18 8I
7 74
William H. Bennett, labor and material C. H. Allen, labor and material putting slate blackboards
17 26
J. A. George, putting up stage
I 50
Ellis & Sons, school room supplies and articles used in repairs 17 00
6 50
G. M. Billings, printing
C. H. Allen, labor I 65
H. J. Dearing, stove grate and pipe 3 19
E. H. Taft, gravel and drawing same 5 34
John W. Estey, use of well 3 00
52 36
6
A. W. Gaskill, mowing school yards at Center
$3 00 Holden Patent Book Cover Co., book covers 6 25
Use of well, Center 7 00
H. W. Gaskill, services as school com- mittee
H. W. Gaskill, taking school census
2 00
66 glass and setting
I 50
lumber.
I 50
66 66 labor
4 50
Elmer E. Sherman, traveling expenses
6 85
cash paid for express
75
66 66 66 66 incidentals
I 37
programs 4 00
Elmer E. Sherman, cash paid telephone Lyman Cook, services as school com- mittee I 25
Lyman Cook taking school census.
I 00
" cash paid schoolroom sup- plies.
4 15
Lyman Cook, cash paid use of well. 66 labor
2 00
E. A. Snow, cash paid traveling ex- penses 4 00
E. A. Snow, cash paid express.
5 25
66
66 postage.
2 95
66 66 66 66
cleaning yard .. 1 00
66
66 66 66 66
66
after the masons 60
E. A. Snow, cash paid incidentals as per bill I 89
E. A. Snow, freight and carting supplies E. A. Snow, services as school commit- tee
I 25
E. A. Snow, taking school census 66 labor of boy and team 3 50
2 00
66 66 labor of self and team looking after and doing repairs as per bills. S 25
E. A. Snow, services as school book agent 9 00
E. A. Snow, services as secretary of school committee 10 00
$268 16
$3,665 40
-
66
graduation
40
4 50
I 90
I 25
7
Cash on hand to pay what will be due teachers, janitors and for transporta- tion of scholars at the end of the year, March 3, 1899.
$147 98
Cost of schools for the year
$3,813 38
Cash on hand unexpended 49 82
$3.863 20
RECAPITULATION.
Resources. $3,863 20
Expenditures :--
Teachers' wages, including amount un- paid
$2,216 99
Fuel.
103 10
Care of rooms, including amount un- paid
88 65
Text books and supplies
215 35
Apparatus
39 13
Superintendent
530 00
Transportation of scholars, including amount unpaid
352 00
Incidentals
268 16
Cash on hand
49 82
$3,863 20
HENRY W. GASKILL, ERWIN A. SNOW, LYMAN COOK,
Mendon, Feb. 18, 1899.
School Committee.
SCHOOL BOOK AGENT'S REPORT.
DR.
To books and supplies purchased :-
Ginn & Co $56 06
J. B. Lippincott Co 90
George S. Perry & Co
14 88
Greenough, Adams & Cushing
7 75
E. E. Sherman
I 50
J. L. Hammett Co
35 32
Edw. E. Babb & Co
14 40
8
Leach, Shewell & Co
$6 25
American Book Co
29 24
Houghton, Mifflin & Co
7 65
Henry Holt & Co
80
Silver, Burdett & Co
40 60
$215 35
Books and supplies on hand, March 1, 1898
80 12
CR.
By books and supplies furnished schools By supplies sold.
$215 12
By books and supplies on hand March I, 1899
79 24
$295 47
Mendon, Feb. 18, 1899.
ERWIN A. SNOW, School Book Agent.
$295 47
I II
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MENDON,
Gentlemen :- The fifth annual report of the present Super- intendent of Schools is hereby presented.
Slate blackboards have been placed in the Albeeville school room, and the North school building has been painted.
Owing to the increase in the East school, chairs and desks were taken from the unused South building and placed in the East building. This latter building is in need of constant re- pair. It is an old structure, the poorest school building in the town, and, excepting the Primary room at the center, the most uncomfortable school room.
The attendance is nearly one-half of a per cent. higher than last year, being over 93 1-4 per cent. This is 1 1-4 per cent. above the average for the state. The number of tardy marks has increased. A glance at the statistical table on page 16 will reveal which schools have made the best showing in this par- ticular. It is to be desired that pupils, teachers and parents will make efforts to improve the record for next year.
'The teachers in Mendon are doing good work. The town is fortunate in having competent, faithful teachers working in her schools.
The teachers' meetings occurring on the afternoon of the first Monday in the month, have been well attended. The teachers are enjoying a course of seven lectures. These lectures are open to the public and are of general interest. Those in Hopedale are given in the hall of the new building on Dutcher street, and those in Milford in the High school building. The following is a program of the course :
September 29, 4.30 P. M., Milford .- "Literature in Elementary Schools," Miss Sarah L. Arnold, Supervisor of Primary Department, Boston.
October 20, 4.15 P. M., Hopedale .- "History," Mr. A. C. Boyden, Bridgewater Normal School.
December 15, 4.15 P. M. Milford .- "Educational Leaders," Mr. A. E. Winship, Editor "Journal of Education."
January 18, 4.15 P. M., Hopedale, "The Development of the In- dividual," Dr. Gertrude Edmands, Lowell Training School.
February 15, 4.15 P. M., Milford .- "What the Pupil Taught the Teacher," William E. Bates, Superintendent of Schools, Fall River.
April 12, 4.15 P. M., Hopedale .- "Froebel's Method of Child Cul- ture," Miss Lucy E. Wheelock, Chauncey Hall School, Boston.
May 10, 4.15 P. M., Milford .- "The Place and Power of Drawing in Public Education," Mr. Henry T. Bailey, State Supervisor of Drawing.
10
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Massachusetts requires each town and city to provide every eligible child who desires it with a high school education, either by supporting such a school or by paying the pupil's tuition in the high school of some other town. Mendon has a high school which she supported, to her honor be it said, years before there was any compulsory statute. This school offers two four-year courses, and at present runs thirty-six weeks each year. The school is doing better work than formerly, but, nevertheless, it is not up to a grade of work equal to the ordinary high school, and under present conditions it can never reach such a standard. There are two plans, either of which would enable the town to provide a suitable high school education.
First Plan: To pay the tuition of the high school pupils elsewhere.
If this plan were adopted it would be desirable to have another year in the grammar school, that those who should wish to go on elsewhere might be well prepared, and that those who should leave school at the close of the grammar course might have a fair English education.
Second Plan : To provide our High school with rooms for its exclusive use and furnish two teachers for its instruction.
The usual membership of the school is in the neighborhood of thirty, sometimes more, sometimes less. Two teachers are absolutely necessary for good work.
The sciences as now generally taught require laboratory practice, a room where experiments may be prepared before- hand and left as long as desired. This is impossible in a room used for other purposes.
Should the town desire to follow the second plan, a build- ing in which at least two rooms could be devoted to the High school would be necessary.
If few pupils sought a high school education elsewhere, as might be the case after a year or two, the first plan would be cheaper than the second, but if the town were to continue pay- ing the tuition of thirty pupils, the difference in expense would not be so great.
The second plan has the advantage in that probably a greater number would receive a high school education than would be the case if parents had to provide transportation and pupils were obliged to make the effort to reach a distant school at an early hour. If the second plan were followed the average culture and intelligence of the population of the town twenty years hence would probably be greater than would result under the first plan. The second plan would mean the greatest good to the greatest number.
It is well for a town to educate its children within its own borders.
11
MUSIC.
Music as a subject of regular instruction in the schools is a desirable thing. We tried the experiment in our schools for some time, but owing to causes arising from the circumstances under which we are placed it did not seem to be a success. The results did not appear to warrant the expenditure of the neces- sary time and effort, and the committee decided in September to drop the music as a regular study. The teachers are expected to teach rote songs in the lower grades for patriotic and devotional exercises and to allow singing as a part of the opening exercises of their respective schools. This is very different, however, from the study of musical notation and practice in reading music and in voice culture, all of which would occupy more time than our schools of many grades can furnish without encroaching upon the essentials of the three R's.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
The work in our schools is planned by the year, the school year covering the time from September to June. The children are arranged in grades, the first grade doing the work of the first year in school, the second grade that of the second year, etc. The course from the primary through the high extends over twelve years, four in the primary, four in the grammar and four in the high.
No two pupils do this work in exactly the same way. Some move at a rate requiring more than twelve years, some less. Some accomplish ninety per cent. of the work in a given sub- ject, others only sixty or seventy per cent. There are some minds to whom certain things are impossible of accomplishment, while in other directions they may excel. It is true that some things are essential for everybody to know, but there are many things not necessary for all to understand, and it is wrong to demand of every child the same kind and amount of work. He should do that which teaches him to think, and if he is gaining the power of thought he is being educated, even though he may have little knowledge of some branches. Pupils differ in their requirements. For the child who must early in life earn his own living the schools should do something to fit him for that struggle ; while the one who expects to finish his public school course and perhaps continue his education elsewhere, needs a different training. Courses of study should be arranged to give the greatest possible good to the individual at whatever point he is obliged to leave school.
Courses of study should be elastic, the grading flexible, the teacher watchful and sympathetic, and the school equipment in the way of buildings, materials and teachers should be generous
12
to render it possible to do individual work with the pupils. This ideal system means classes of pupils nearly equal in age and ability, and not over forty in number to a teacher, the pro- motions to occur quarterly instead of yearly, and a course which should include manual training in the shape of cooking for girls, and Sloyd, or wood-working, for boys.
Manual training aims to connect a plan with its execution, mind with muscle. Whoever has had occasion to employ the or- dinary mechanic, expecting to have directions followed and work executed as planned, will realize the desirability of better training for the next generation. Manual training seeks to impress truth as a cardinal virtue, not only in word, but in action, for slighted handiwork is untruthful dealing.
Those fortunate children who come from homes where the girl is carefully trained by her mother to help in the kitchen and the boy by his father to assist in the farm work, may not need to include manual training in their school course.
This school system thus briefly suggested, may be ideal, but it is well to have ideals if they be good and high, for only by striving for the ideal does the world progress.
THE THREE R'S OF TO-DAY.
When a little one stands before his teacher for a first lesson in reading, she talks to him about something with which he is familiar and which she knows is the subject of a lesson in the primer that he is to use later on. It may be about baby and mamma. She writes baby on the board, pronounces it, and calls upon him to pronounce it also. The same with mamma, and so on for several lessons, adding more words and reviewing all the time, until he knows several words at sight. Perhaps in the second lesson she teaches the word see. Then combines See baby, and so from the start uses the words in short sentences. In a few weeks he is ready for the primer, and will readily recognize the words he has learned, in new combinations. Then the teacher begins to give the child a key to new words by teaching him the sounds of letters and combinations. Of letters, as f, l, m, n, r, s; of combinations, as ing, ight, an, at, which he learns to pronounce as one sound. Then she teaches the child to put them together, as l-ight-light, might, night, right, sight, etc. By the end of the first year the child reads readily in a primer or first reader. It is designed that two or three first readers shall be read before the second reader is taken up, and the same with the second readers, etc.
During the second half-year the alphabet is learned forwards and backwards, and the child begins to spell orally. He learns poems, which he speaks with the others and alone. This mem-
13
orizing of selections from the great poets is continued for years, and the teacher attempts to have them spoken with expression. The reading books are selected with reference to their literary qualities. Much advance has been made of late in the prepara- tion of such books for children.
Work in writing the English language is begun in the first year and carried on throughout the entire school course. At first they copy simple sentences, then construct sentences from words given and fill blanks with the proper word or form. Then write short stories from memory. These are followed by origi- nal sentences, and finally paragraphs and essays. They are taught the forms of social and business letters.
Later they come to technical English grammar and learn to tell the parts of a sentence, to determine the uses of words in sentences, to name parts of speech, and finally to analyze and parse.
The penmanship is begun in the first year. The writing of single small letters at the black-board and at the seat upon large sheets of manilla paper is the first step. No small writing is re- quired the first year, because the little hands ought not to be cramped before the mind is developed to control the smaller muscles. Ink is taken almost at first. Slates are not used dur- ing the first three years because the habit of bearing down upon the pencil is unavoidable in using the slate, and, too, slates are filthy, noisy things in the hands of the little ones. In many schools they are not used in any grade.
The vertical script is used because little ones naturally write that way and in former days had, with much time and trouble, to be taught the slant, and because business men are united in declaring the vertical script to be more legible. Movement exercises precede each lesson, and books are used to furnish a correct copy and to record progress made.
Arithmetic, the fetich of the old-time school, still holds a very important place, not only as a practical subject, but as furnishing, when rightly taught, excellent mental discipline.
Mental arithmetic has a prominent place upon the daily program and is designed to develop principles and give facility in the use of figures. A pamphlet carefully .outlining the subject of arithmetic has been prepared by the superintendent for the use of the teachers. A copy will be furnished to any parent upon application to the superintendent. The most stress is laid upon addition, common and decimal fractions, percentage, and ratio, or the rule of three. In the earlier years small numbers are used, and the difficult reasoning underlying problems in the multiplication and division of fractions, and percentage, is left till the last years of the grammar course.
14
RECOMMENDATIONS.
First: That a committee be appointed at the March meet- ing of the town to recommend a location, plans and estimates for a new school building at the Center, and to report at a meeting called for the purpose.
Second: That the old West school building and lot be sold.
Third: That a committee be appointed to ascertain the feasibility of moving the South building to the lot now occupied by the East building and placing the same in a suitable condition for school purposes, or, in case of an adverse report from said committee, that the South building be sold.
Fourth: That the school committee begin to provide the school rooms with new chairs and desks for the pupils, re- furnishing the primary room first.
In closing I wish to express my appreciation of the cordial support given to the superintendent by committee, teachers and townspeople. It cannot fail to react favorably upon the schools.
Respectfully submitted, E. E. SHERMAN, Superintendent of Schools.
BRIEF EXTRACTS FROM EDUCATIONAL LAWS.
1. All children between 7 and 14, unless sick, feeble-minded, at an approved private school, or otherwise instructed in branches required by law, to the satisfaction of the School Committee, must attend the public school during the entire time of each school year. Penalty to parent or guardian for failure in attendance for five days' sessions within any period of six months, $20.
2. No child under 14 can be employed "in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment." "No such child shall be employed in any work performed for wages or other compensation" during the hours when the public school is in session nor before six o'clock in the morning or after seven in the evening.
3. No child under 16 can be employed in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment without a certificate from the Superintendent of Schools. He must present an employment ticket from the person who wishes to employ him, on applying for a certificate. The father, if living and a resident, must sign the certificate of age; if not, the mother ; if neither, the guardian.
4. Children between 14 and 16 must either attend school or be regu- larly employed.
5. Children must be vaccinated before attending school, but a cer- tificate from a regular physician, saying a child is an unfit subject for vaccination, allows attendance.
15
No child can attend school from a household in which there is a case of small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, or measles, or from a household exposed to contagion from a household as aforesaid. Two weeks after the death, removal or recovery of the patient in a case of the first three mentioned, or three days after in a case of measles, the child may return on presentation of a certificate from the attending physician or from the board of health.
6. "The last regular session prior to Memorial Day, or a portion there- of, shall be devoted to exercises of a patriotic nature."
7. A United States flag not less than four feet in length shall be displayed on the schoolhouse grounds or building every school day, when the weather will permit, and on the inside of the schoolhouse on other school days.
8. A written excuse stating cause of absence, and signed by parent or guardian, must be presented by the pupil on his return to school.
TEACHERS, DECEMBER, 1898.
SCHOOL.
TEACHER.
WHERE FITTED.
SALARY.
North,
Florence E. Snow,
Mendon High.
$324 00
High,
Newton D. Clark,
Dartmouth College.
500 00
Grammar,
Vina A. Dole,
N. H. Academy.
432 00
Primary,
Mary E. Dudley,
Mendon High.
360 00
Albeeville, East,
Ruth B. Cornwell,
Friend's School.
324 00
Cora L. Edmands,
Bridgewater Normal.
288 00
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1899-1900.
SPRING TERM. 12 WEEKS.
FALL TERM .* 14 WEEKS.
WINTER TERM. 10 WEEKS.
OPENS.
CLOSES.
OPENS
CLOSES.
OPENS.
CLOSES.
First Eight Grades,
March 27 June 16 Sept. 11 Dec. 22
Jan. 1, '00
Mar. 9, '00
Iligh School, March 20 June 9
Sept. 11 Dec. 22
Jan. 1, '00
Mar. 9, '00
*The Fall Term has a recess of one week at Thanksgiving.
HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR.
Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day.
STATISTICAL TABLES-1898.
SCHOOLS.
Average Member- ship.
Average Per Cent. Attend- ance.
Half of Attend- Days of ance.
Absence.
Cases of Tardi- ness.
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