USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1878/1879-1882/1883 > Part 13
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MORE SCHOOL ROOM.
Again we have to report to the town a demand for more school room. We have during the year fitted up the upper room in the Plimpton street building and established a school there. We have also had to hire the Universalist vestry for another, and the town hall has been continued as a school room during the year. We renew, but with more emphasis, our recommendation of a year ago for a new school house on Main street, near Oakes avenue and Cross street. This should have
81
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
at least six rooms, and then all the grammar and intermediate schools could be consolidated there. Such an arrangement would give the pupils in these grades much better instruction and at a reduced expense to the town, while it will give five rooms in different parts for primary schools-two on Main street, two on School street, and one on River street. We urge immediate action on this, as the Universalist vestry and town hall are ill adapted for school rooms.
DRAWING.
The drawing for the year has continued under the charge of Frank Parson, C. E., who has continued the good work he has done in years past. He has much ability for this business, and has carried the drawing of the schools to such a degree of per- fection that the work of many of our scholars even in the primary schools is remarkably good, and a credit to the town. If we were to make any suggestion, it would be that in the future a little more attention ought to be given to perspective and model drawing and designing, as the intent of the statute is to encourage industrial, not pictorial drawing.
Mr. Parson makes the following report :
The eclectic plan, adopted some years ago, has been continued with its usual marked success. The pupils are not. drawn like wire through a guage block, but the work and instruction is as far as pos. sible adapted specially to the genius of each scholar. This is one of the secrets of all good teaching, but it is far more easy of appli- cation in drawing than in any other department. The work has been done by the regular teachers, except in the high school, where lessons have been given by a special instructor, who has also super- intended the work of the other schools.
With perhaps two exceptions the teachers have all done excellent work with the material at their disposal. I did not mean to mention names for it is difficult to accord proper praise or censure in this matter. Some schools are filled with bright eyes that from baby- hood have been familiar with beautiful pictures; here the teacher does noble work in drawing. Go into other schools, you will find a sea of languid eyes, at the portals of whose sight Beauty rarely knocks for entrance, and is little heeded when she does. An equal
11
82
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
teacher here reaps only crooked lines and disappointment. But one success has been so marked, and in a way so vital that it must be noticed. The development of originality has been one of the year's chief aims. Miss Mary A. Pellett has met with wonderful success in this direction by persistent effort. In a class of twelve primary pupils ten will walk out into the floor and rapidly dictate to the rest a complicated figure in either bilateral or quadrilateral symmetry, composing the design as they speak. This is very gratifying, for whether in drawing or elsewhere originality is the power that moves the world; one ounce of this is worth more than 1000 pounds of machine. Teachers, let us have more of it. Till you seek it you have little idea of the vast facility of invention that lies hidden in the brain of a child. Some of you have done much to develop this great power, but really only the turf is removed from the mine; you have not got to the solid ore. Parents can materially aid the efforts of the teachers by showing a lively interest in the children's drawings and applying the stimulus of praise. People do not usually allow this department its due weight. Our power in this world depends very greatly upon having clear ideas. The vast majority of our ideas have to do with material things that have form ; the discipline of mind derived from drawing is a won- derful aid to gaining clear ideas of anything possessed of form and shape. It is to be hoped that the near future may find Southbridge supplied with the means of successfully teaching model drawing.
ESTHETICS.
We do not like the condition of the grounds about many of the school nouses. Thanks to the enterprise and thrift of our fellow-citizens, Southbridge is an uncommonly neat and beauti- ful village. The citizens in their corporate capacity ought to do at least as much as they do individually for the improved appear- ance of the place. There is no excuse for any town to have its school yards the neighborhood dumping place for ashes, or to have them ornamented with decaying brush heaps, projecting ledges, boulders, loose stones and weeds. But such a slovenly appearance is particularly out of place in a town like this. The committee of 1877-8 said: "The grounds surrounding the school houses are with few exceptions positively unsightly, and anything but a credit to the town."
83
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.
It is difficult and of infrequent occurrence for the teachers to be got together to receive suggestions; most that is done by way of advice is the individual work of the "local" of the different schools. We therefore wish to take space here to make three general suggestions to the teachers. The first is : Try to make your scholars love school and study. Some teach- ers have this knack, and the result is a great advantage; other teachers, though perfectly competent to instruct, though earnest and even ambitious in their èndeavors, lack the faculty of making their scholars love the school room. The result is a friction that is wearing to the nerves of both pupil and teacher. Our second suggestion is to give more attention to the pronuncia- tion of the English language. Scholars, who are learning to read and to use words, ought to learn to give them the right names. Thirdly, we desire to call the attention of teachers to the vast moral power they hold. They ought to lose no oppor- tunity-and there will be plenty -to sow a seed of honesty, truthfulness or reverence.
SUPERVISION.
During the past year the committee have adopted a plan of supervision which we think is the best that has ever been in vogue here. Instead of apportioning the schools for supervision by localities as heretofore, it has been done by grades, one mem- ber taking the grammars and intermediates, another the second primaries and the third the first primaries. This plan has many advantages over the old one and we hope it will be continued. It is the next best thing to employing a superintendent, as all the schools of the same grade are under a single head, who is superintendent for that grade.
ARITHMETICS.
Greenleaf's intellectual arithmetic, which has been a prescribed text book, we have concluded to be totally unfit for the use to which it has been put. The mathematical puzzles are intolera- ble. We have therefore decided on a change of arithmetics and have adopted the Franklin series, which will be found more
84
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
simple and practical. No more working out examples on paper by the help of parents or teacher, then committing the figures to memory and reciting them, under the delusion that it is mental arithmetic.
NEXT YEAR.
We present below the schedule of terms for next year :
First Term.
Second Term.
Third Term .*
Weeks.
Begin.
Close.
Weeks.
Begin.
Close.
Weeks.
Begin.
Close.
High ....
13
April 4 66
July 1
15
Sept. 5 Dec. 16 12
Jan. 2, '82 Mar. 24, '82
Grammar .
12
4 June 24
11
5 Nov. 18 13
Dec. 5,
66
3,
Intermediate
12
66
4
66
24
11
5:
18
13
66
66
10,
Primary.
11
4
66
17
11
5
$6
18
12
66
5.
3,
Ungraded.
11
Mar. 28
65
10
11
5
60
18
12
66
5,
66
3,
* One week vacation during the holidays.
FIRST PRIMARIES.
The rapid increase in the number of pupils in this grade has necessitated the opening of two new schools-one in the school house on Plimpton street, the other, for lack of a better place, in the vestry of the Universalist church.
We sometimes think that we ought not to expect much from the schools of this grade, and that it matters very little what young lady may be appointed teacher; but the importance of having first-class teachers in our first primary schools is making itself more evident to the committee every year as they know the great difference of attainment in the several schools. Teachers of tact, kindness and energy are as much needed in this grade of schools as in any of the higher, and only when we have those of this character can we rightly begin reducing the number of our school years. We have quite a number of this kind of teachers, (we wish there were more), at the head of which, con- sidering the position of her school at the beginning and the result of her labors at the close of the school year, we would place Miss Mary Newell.
SECOND PRIMARIES.
After the pupil has acquired a good degree of facility in read- ing short words and the multiplication table, he is promoted
85
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
from the first to the second primary. Here he is continued in reading and spelling, and given a thorough understanding of the fundamental rules of written and mental arithmetic, besides receiving a general knowledge of geography. Oral instruction is largely used in both arithmetic and geography. There are seven schools of this grade, which are, with their teachers, as follows: Miss I. M. Brewster, Carpenter; Miss Mary Pellett, Elm street; Miss Josie M. Rice, Main street ; Miss Fanny Free- man, Union street; Miss Flora B. Allen, River street ; Miss Lizzie Douty, Plimpton street and Miss A. R. Rowley, School street. All are in good condition and about of equal grade. Miss Allen's is hardly up to the others, and Miss Freeman has had some difficulties to contend with that have put her school back a little. To Miss Pellett is due particular praise for the manner in which her school has advanced.
INTERMEDIATES.
This grade is steadily increasing. We shall have the coming year a large number enter from our first primaries. If this continues, as we hope it may, we shall find that the increase will soon reach our grammar and high school, thus giving a more healthy outlook to our public schools.
The teachers in this department have all done well. Some of them have surpassed all former efforts, and what has been said with reference to the grammar schools will apply with equal force here.
GRAMMAR.
Never since any member of the board has been in service have these grades taken so high a rank as the present year. Both teachers and scholars have seemed to bring every power into exercise in order to accomplish so desirable a result. A practical application is made of the study pursued, so that if the scholar is not able to continue beyond this grade, he will be very well fitted for active life. We give those schools our hearty approval.
86
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
HIGH SCHOOL.
This school has labored under the disadvantage of having two changes of teachers. In the fall Miss Silverthorne succeeded Mr. Spooner as assistant. Miss S. is a graduate of Wellesley college, with good education and a good faculty for imparting to others what she knows. At the close of the second term of the year Mr. Mellen resigned the principalship. We were sorry that it was necessary to make a change just at the time when there was to be so much reviewing and other work incidental to the close of the school year and the graduation of a class-work which could be best done by one familiar with the school. F. M. Smith, A. B., (Yale, '80), who was engaged to do this difficult task, has succeeded very well, and the school is in good condition.
We wish there was more popular interest in, and appreciation of, the high school-that there was not such a difference between the number of scholars in the lower schools and in high school. We have a most excellent place of higher education - one which will compare favorably with even many academies; and we are sorry that such a comparatively small number of parents avail themselves of the opportunity thus freely given for the education of their children.
UNGRADED.
Hooker, taught by Miss Clara L. Nichols, has been a good school, though small in numbers.
Sumner, taught during the last term by Mrs. Moulton, has done fairly. Mrs. Moulton gives promise of becoming an excel- lent teacher.
Bacon school .- There is but one scholar in this district be- tween 5 and 15 years of age. We have maintained a school here 13 weeks, and for nine weeks more have paid the board of the single pupil in the Centre village.
Dennison school .- Mr. Wetherell labors under the disadvan- tage of having 26 daily recitations, and has done as well as could be expected.
Sandersdale .- Miss Remington has great tact as a teacher, and has done good work in this school.
87
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
IN CONCLUSION.
We bespeak for the future the same indulgence that has been extended to us in the past. Our school system is not perfect, neither is it a failure. One person in looking at a landscape will see the beauties, while some unsightly pile of rubbish or other unpleasant feature may be all that another can see. And so one person may look at the schools and only carp at the defects, while another will see the excellencies and the great work that is being accomplished. He who notices the faults should do it with a view of helping to remove, rather than of gloating over them.
Respectfully, E. M. PHILLIPS, · B. V. STEVENSON, GEO. M. WHITAKER, Committee.
The tabular statements of the schools are appended :
Number of children in town May 1, 1880, as per census. 1,279
Whole number of different scholars 1,375
Average number. 1,025.5
Average attendance 902.3
Average rumber per school
36.4
Average attendance per school
32
Average percent of attendance
88
Number of scholars over 15 years
35
Number of scholars under 5 years.
6
Number of scholars between 8 and 14
774
Number of different teachers
29
Number of male teachers
3
Number of female teachers.
26
Salary of teacher in high school
$1,000
Salary of assistant teacher in high school per week. $12 00
Average pay of teachers per week, except high school.
$8 10
TABULAR VIEW OF SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS.
No, of different scholars.
Average number.
Average attendance.
Average percent of at-
tendance.
No. of weeks of school.
High school
45
36
31
.86
36
Grammar-Main street
33
25.3
22.8
.90
36
School street.
33
26.5
25
.94
36
Intermediate-Main street
52
36.2
31
.856
36
Town hall
51
35
31.8
.91
36
River street
42
37
30
.81
36
School street
42
37
30
.81
36
Second Primary-Main street
47
42.8
38.4
.897
34
Carpenter
40
25.2
22.7
.90
34
Elm street
42
30.6
27.7
.90
31
Union street
41
34.2
29.1
.85
34
School street.
60
37
31.6
.85
34
Plimpton street
32
23
18.9
.82
34
River street
76
55.2
46.5
.844
34
First Primary-Main street
73
52.5
44.8
.85
34
Carpenter
68
40
35.6
.89
34
Elm street
56
36.5
31.4
.86
34
School street
76
54
49
.90
34
Plimpton street
10
45
42.3
.94
24
Union street ..
96
57.5
47.3
.82
24
River street, No. 1
76
51.3
45.7
.89
34
River street, No. 2
42
34.6
28.2
.81
34
Hamilton street
40
32.1
25.5
.704
22
Ungraded-Dennison
46
32
.875
36
Hooker
17
11.9
10.3
.87
33
Sandersdale
51
41.3
42.9
968
34
Sumner
78
42.8
34.3
.80
34
Bacon
10
10
9.5
.95
13
For all the schools
1,375
1,025.5
902 3
88
933
Average per school
49
36.4
32
33.33
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Library Committee
OF THE
Town of Southbridge.
(89)
12
REPORT.
The Library Committee respectfully present their eleventh annual report for the year ending February 28, 1881.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in treasury March 1, 1880. $ 157 68
Appropriation. 1,300 00
Dog fund, 1879. 291 85
Received by librarian for catalogues, fines, etc. .. 77 93
-- $ 1,827 46
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Lee & Shepard and others for books and peri-
odicals, paper for covering books and binding. A. J. Comins, librarian, for services, etc. ...
707 77
Mutual Gaslight Co., gas for year 144 91
E. S. Ellis and others, for coal and wood
53 17
R. & W. Economy Co., desk, card case, etc
63 63
Cummings & Conant, repairing pipes, etc 27 21
G. S. Truesdell, sheathing shelves, etc. 20 95
P. M. Clarke, varnishing, etc. 13 25
Thomas Todd, cards and printing
10 47
Geo. M. Whitaker, printing.
6 95
H. Hobbs, labor on desk, etc
4 66
Wm. C. Barnes, record book
1 88
1,775 31
Balance unexpended. $ 52 15
720 46
92
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
BOOK ACCOUNT.
Balance to debit of account last year .S 18 65
Expended during the year
720 46
-$ 739 11
Appropriation for this account.
700 00
Debit balance
$ 39 11
BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS.
Number last year
Volumes. 7,698
Pamphlets. 2,399
Added by purchase
358
Added by gifts.
115
170
Added by commonwealth
4
....
Added by town officers
S
1
Added by magazines bound
36
. . . .
Number in Library March 1, 1881
8,219
2,570
DONORS AND GIFTS.
Volumes.
Pamphlets.
Hon. W. W. Rice.
34
S
Francis W. Bacon, M. E
25
62
Hon. Charles L. Flint.
14
48
Dr. S. C. Hartwell.
11
Bernard A. Leonard.
6
. ...
J. M. Cochran, Esq .
5
. ...
Holmes Ammidown, Esq
3
4
Geo. M. Whitaker ..
2
24
Sampson, Davenport & Co.
2
....
American Swedenborg Publishing Co
2
. ...
Dr. H. J. Bowditch
1
....
George M. Mellen
1
. .. .
Charles E. Cady .
1
. ...
L. A. Clark.
1
....
Worcester Savings Society .
1
....
Smithsonian Institution.
1
....
Hartford Library Association
1
6
Pittsfield Athen æum.
1
5
Turner Free Library, Randolph.
1
. ...
North Brookfield Public Library
1
....
Providence Public Library ...
1
....
...
93
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Worcester Public Library
....
1
Concord Public Library .
...
1
Leicester Public Library
. .. .
1
Boston Public Library.
....
4
Hon. Geo. F. Hoar
. . . .
1
Rev. J. M. Avann
.1
E. M. Phillips.
... .
1
A. J. Comins.
. .. .
2
Trustees of Children's Hospital, Worcester.
. ...
1
For the Reading Room.
Hon. W. W. Rice-Official Gazette of United States Patent Office. E. H. Ammidown, Esq .- Boston Commercial Bulletin, 1880-1. F. W. Bacon-Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine, 1881. Geo. M. Whitaker, Editor and Proprietor-Southbridge Journal, July, 1879, to Jan., 1881.
Henry C. Gray, Editor and Proprietor-Malden Mirror from 1872.
For the Museum.
Dr. H. F. Leonard-An Indian stone hammer.
Herbert L. Grant-A collection of birds' eggs. J. F. B. Litchfield-A piece of the "charter oak." Tickets to the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson.
REMARKS.
During the year 54 volumes have been rebound, and 25 vol- umes have been purchased to replace those too much worn for further circulation. Of the former, 19 were from section I - works of fiction - and 14 from section 2 - juvenile works. Of the latter 12 were from section I, and II from section 2.
By the favors of Holmes Ammidown, Esq., whose liberality in providing rooms for the library, should be held in grateful remembrance, and the generous appropriations of the town, the inhabitants of Southbridge are to be congratulated that they are now in possession of a well appointed library of more than 8000 volumes.
Many persons, whose knowledge of books makes them com- petent judges, pronounce it one of the very best libraries of its size in the country. The custom has been to accept all books donated, so that we have some that the committee probably would not have purchased, and many that they could not, for the terms of the lease of the rooms prohibit the purchase of books " which are partisan in politics, or denominational or sectarian in religion."
The library has been in operation ten years and three months, and the following is a tabular statement of the expense of main- taining it :
Paid for books, reviews, magazines, binding, etc $8,946 01
Librarian and assistants. 4,706 83
Catalogues, printing, binding, etc. . . 1,577 79 Gas for lighting the rooms 1,388 28
Coal and wood for heating the same 613 18
Other expenses 1,488 71
Total ex penses
$18,720 80
95
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
It is very evident that the library is not accomplishing all the good it might and ought. By the librarian's report, which is appended, and as heretofore is made a part of our own, it will be observed that the best books are not those most read. Almost 44 percent of the books taken from the library the past year have been works of fiction. We feel like appealing more earnestly than ever to teachers of our schools, parents and all others of influence, to labor unremittingly to effect a change in the reading of many who patronize the library. It now con- tains a large number of excellent books, the careful reading of which will aid in acquiring an education that can never be obtained from reading novels.
No books have been lost the past year, and only four since the library was established. Two books have been so damaged by borrowers that new ones have been purchased to replace, at their expense.
To defray the expenses of maintaining the library the ensuing year, we recommend the appropriation of $1,400 and the dog fund of 1880.
Respectfully submitted by the Library Committee,
MANNING LEONARD, Secretary.
Public Library, March 7, 1881,
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
In reviewing the past year we find no new feature in our progress as a library to mention. There is reason for congratu- lation that we have evidence of an increasing recognition of its value as an educator.
The change in the manner of reading, as well as amount and matter read, is one of the promising points to mark.
This change is particularly noticeable with regard to some of the pupils of the high school, as well as some of the schools of lower grades, who, under the supervision of their instructors, are learning to read much more carefully and wisely than hith- erto. But the advance is not so great that we do not regret it is not greater. It may be argued that it is outside the province of library matters to discuss or suggest how education shall be conducted. But is not a library, rightly used, the most efficient educator within reach of the community? Should it not only - aid in the elementary steps, but supplement all those steps ? Is not the great mistake made in many of our educational plans that effort is made to acquire what is showy, to the exclusion of what is useful ? Teachers are to a great extent like a librarian, expected to supply what is demanded. Where and how shall a reformation begin ? Should not our youth first of all be taught to read critically, rather than for excitement or amusement - taught to read so as to glean the good and reject the bad - so as to learn high moral lessons from the mistakes as well as the successes of life ? In what better way can this be done than by such co-operation between schools and library as shall direct and limit the reading of pupils ? Can it be said our library and schools are putting forth their best endeavors for the right use
97
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
of means within their power until some plan has been adopted to bring about such a result?
We have issued from the library during the year 14, 166 books. The daily average has been 46. The largest number issued any day was 142, the smallest number, II. In addition to the books issued, an account of those used in the library has been kept, the number of which is 3,000, making the total number 17, 166. 162 names have been added to our accounts, making from the opening of the library, a little more than ten years, 2453 differ- ent accounts. At the yearly examination, February 21, it was found all the books were accounted for, none having been lost. Two have been injured and paid for by the borrowers, their places being supplied with new books.
The Museum has been opened the first Monday afternoon and evening of cach month, and also has been accessible other days through the kindness of one of our committee, Mr. E. M. Phillips. There have been during the year 770 visitors to this department.
The sectional record shows there have been issued of
Works of fiction
Volumes. .6,210
Percent. 43.93
Juvenile works
.3 871
27.42
Historical ..
491
3.56
Biographical.
535
3.79
Travels and description.
688
4.96
Poetical and dramatic.
312
2.31
Scientific and educational.
407
2.97
Literary and esthetical
378
2.68
Religious and philosophical
144
1.02
Complete works
96
.69
Miscellaneous works
359
2.64
Magazines and reviews
493
3.47
Agricultural. ..
57
.40
Law books (reserved)
. .
...
Public documents of Massachusetts
4
.02
Public documents of United States.
4
.02
Reserved section
17
.12
14,166
100.00
10
98
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
The amount received has been for
Fines
$49 61
Cards S 7S
Catalogues. 12 75
Waste paper
54
Injured books.
2 00
Registry slips returned
1 25
Moses Hemingway of Charlton for taking books 3 00
$77 93
The amount paid bas been for
Express and freight § 10 28
Postage .. .
6 04
Mucilage, glue and twine 1 95
Labor and repairs.
4 14
Material for repairing books
2 6S
Stationery and printing
2 30
Rubber bands and gas lighters
85
Iron step and fixture and pail
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