USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1887/1888-1890/1891 > Part 4
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NAMES OF TEACHERS, MARCH, 1888.
High School: F. E. Corbin, Principal; Anita C. Teele, Assistant.
Grammar School : Lizzie A. Potter, Mary E. Remington, M. E. Mason, Mary E. Newell.
Intermediate : Mary E. Clemence, Alice Holmes, Idella M. Brewster.
Primary : Mary A. Pellett, Etta A. Chamberlain, A. Rebecca Rowley, Mrs. S. M. Knight, Annie F. Morse, Addie M. Martin, Mary A. Ellis, Agnes M. Meagher, Mary E. Meagher.
Ungraded : Martha Cutting, Jane Farquhar, Carrie E. Haskell, Valetta M. Paine, Ida M. Plimpton, Alice B. Booth.
Special Teacher of Drawing, Jennie E. Chamberlain.
REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHBRIDGE :
Methods of school management depend largely upon theories of education. Two prominent theories are always in conflict. One aims simply to develop manhood ; the other, to transform the child into the most effective money-making machine. The latter is the popular cry at present. Parents are apt to com- plain if their children are required to study any subject which seems to them to have no direct bearing upon their business in after life. Too many educators pursue the same policy. It is certainly a very low idea of humanity that looks upon the child with the question : " How much bread and butter can he be made to produce ?" The grand possibilities of true manhood are lost sight of. The soul is degraded to become a slave and a drudge to the material wants of the body. True education seeks to develop manhood. The highest goal is the man himself, and not what he can produce. Good teaching is not so much imparting knowledge as training all the faculties of the soul to the highest activity under a rigid self-mastery. That is not the most suc- cessful teacher whose pupils can answer most rapidly the longest series of familiar questions, or recite the most glibly the largest number of facts, however important, but the one whose pupils have been trained so to think that no change in the form of questions disturbs their equilibrium, but whether in test exam- inations or in the practical problems of life, they can calmly think over, and under, and around, and through the topic pre- sented, and thus give an intelligent reply. If parents, school
85
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
officers and teachers could all work together, with the single aim of developing the highest possible manhood, schools would improve more rapidly every year.
The Committee are glad to report the schools as enjoying a good degree of prosperity, due in no small measure to the wise, faithful and laborious management of the Superintendent. For particulars you are referred to his report herewith presented.
The Committee invite your attention to the following points of special interest :
It is worthy of notice that not only has the number of enrolled pupils increased from last year, but what is of more importance the per cent of attendance has increased also.
Permanence in the teaching force is another favorable indica- tion, the roll showing only two changes from last year.
The Primary schools have been unusually full this year, requiring an extra teacher in this department.
To meet a special emergency, occasioned by a change in the State law, evening schools have been opened for those above school age who are unable to read and write the English lan- guage, and have proved highly successful. No money can be better invested for the public good than that which extends or improves the facilities of education for all classes.
The Town authorized the Committee to sell the school prop- erty on Plimpton street, but it proved fortunate that they received no satisfactory offer, as it has been necessary to use both school rooms for the last six months. The building will certainly be needed for school purposes for the present.
The statute requires the Committee to "keep the school houses in good order." Endeavoring to comply with the spirit of this law, they have found it necessary to make more exten- sive repairs than usual. They expected to have $1, 500 for this purpose from the sale of Plimpton street property, and last year's estimates were made with this in view. The failure to receive this, together with the unexpected increase of expense hereafter mentioned, compelled the Committee last summer to ask for a larger appropriation, which was readily granted by the
86
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Town. They believe it has been expended to good advantage. The Ammidown school house has been shingled, and various other minor repairs have been attended to. But the most extensive and important have been at the school house on School street. The case was one of urgent necessity. And, as often happens in repairing old buildings, when a beginning was made the expense proved much larger than was expected. The old foundation was found to be so weak that the house had already swayed several inches, and the Town is to be much congratu- lated on a narrow escape from a fearful disaster. The building was liable to fall at any time, with fatal results to many of the children. It is now in a good, safe condition, and, barring special accidents, will do good service with only ordinary repairs for many years to come. After careful investigation of the system in operation at Worcester, the Committee unanimously decided to put in Smead & Northcote's heating and ventilating apparatus, which is rapidly coming into use in our large towns and cities. The result has met the most sanguine expectations. The air in all the rooms is kept pure and wholesome throughout the day. A uniform temperature is maintained in every part of the room. There are no draughts, no cold feet. In the coldest weather the working is eminently satisfactory. Any apparent lack has been easily traced to some temporary oversight in the
management. The rooms are far more quickly warmed than by any other method. Perhaps the most important advantage of all is in securing absolute purity of air in and about the water closets and urinals. After six months' use by over a hundred and sixty children, absolutely no foul odor can be detected any- where about the premises. It is an admirable arrangement for the health and comfort of our children, which no town of this size can afford to be without.
The sudden demolition of the Town House compelled the Committee to transfer the High school to Union street. The location is no less central than before, being about as far west of the center as the old house was to the east of it. The accommo- dations are better than in the old building.
The following statement gives the expenditures for the present year, with estimates for the year to come :
.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
HIGH SCHOOL.
Balance from last year,
$451 92
Appropriation,
2,000 00 .
$2,451 92
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Balance from last year, Appropriation, From State fund,
$2,075 09 8,000 00 140 47
-$10,215 56
CONTINGENT ACCOUNT.
Deficit of last year, Appropriations, From books, etc., sold,
$515 87
$7,400 CO 51 9.2 - $7,451 92
88
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
APPARATUS ACCOUNT.
Deficit of last year, Appropriation, From State fund,
$20 68
$200 00
46 79
$246 79
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Appropriation,
$400 00
Total resources,
$20,766 19
The Committee expended :
HIGH SCHOOL.
Salaries of teachers,
$1,672 50
Fuel and care of building,
91 02
$1,763 52
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Salaries of Teachers and Superintendent, $8,698 39 Care of buildings, 405 48 519 97
Fuel,
$9,622 94
89
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CONTINGENT ACCOUNT.
Deficit of last year,
$515 87
For books,
634 79
For supplies,
447 60
Repairs,
4,859 74
Furniture
304 03
Incidental expenses,
603 56
- $7,415 59
APPARATUS ACCOUNT.
Deficit of last year,
$20 68
For apparatus and books of reference,
126 47
$147 15
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Teachers,
$247 50
Janitors,
35 00
Fuel,
6 70
Books and supplies,
36 75
Cleaning and furnishing rooms,
76 00
$401 95
Total expenditures,
$19,351 15
Balance in hands of Treasurer, $1,415 04
Books and supplies on hand, not distrib- uted, March 1, 1888, 467 70
90
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
For High school,
Common schools,
$1,800 00 9,800 00
Contingent schools-
Books,
$700 00
Repairs, ordinary,
400 00
Repairs, special,
2,750 00
Furniture,
200 00
Incidentals,
500 00
Supplies,
450 00
$5,000 00
Evening schools,
$500 00
$17,ICO CO
Respectfully submitted, SILVANUS HAYWARD, For the Committee.
March 13, 1888.
SUPERIRTERDERT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF SOUTHBRIDGE:
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith respectfully submit this, my second annual report upon the public schools of the Town, for the year 1887-8, the same being the third of the series of the annual reports of the Superintendent of Schools.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Population of the Town, State census, 1885, 6,500
Valuation of the Town for 1887, $3,158.210 00
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, 1,515
Number enrolled in public schools during the year, 999
Number under 5 years of age,
17
Number over 15, 70
Number between 5 and 15, 912
Average number belonging,
694.43
Average daily attendance,
638.51
Per cent. of attendance, 91.59
COST PER PUPIL.
Current expenses, including teaching, fuel and care of buildings, $11,386 46
Cost per pupil, based on total enrollment, II 39
Cost per pupil, based on average enrollment, 17 83
Total expenditures less permanent repairs,
14,608 15
Cost per pupil, based on whole number, 14 62
Cost per pupil, based on average enrollment,
21 04
ATTENDANCE BY SCHOOLS,
SCHOOLS.
Whole number reg-
istered during year.
Average number
belonging.
Average attend-
dance.
Per cent. of
Attendance.
Average tardiness
of each pupil.
Number of weeks of school.
High School,
62
50.97
48.32
94.8
6.48
40
Higher Grammar-Main street, .
27
23.75
21.92
92.29
4.15
37
School street,
28
22.
21.
95.44
1.78
36
Lower Grammar-Main Street, .
56
49.89
48.28
96.76
.016
37
School street,
47
34.75
33.07
95.17
1.83
36
Intermediate-Main street,
62
48.57
44.09
90.78
3.16
37
Plimpton street, .
44
34.1
32.08
94.08
3.11
37
River street, .
36
20.85
19.21
92.13
1.64
37
Higher Primary-Elm street, ·
48
35.
30.
85.71
2.8
36
School street, .
32
28.8
27.
93.75
4.72
35
River street, .
40
34.95
32.03
91.64
3.52
36
Lower Primary-Elm street, ·
54
41.1
34.7
84.42
4.54
36
Main street, .
65
43.82
40.
91.28
3.97
36
School street, .
79
49.58
43.92
88.6
4.
34 1-5
Grade 1 .- River street, .
61
42.81
39.37
91.96
1.74
36
Grade 2 .- River street, .
47
33.13
30.71
92.69
3.29
36
Mixed Primary-Sumner, .
51
26.49
24.21
91.39
2.3
36
Carpenter,
77
48.68
44.42
91.25
1.09
36
Ammidown,
37
25.79
23.99
93.02
.48
36
Ungraded-Bacon,
11
8.5
8.09
95.88
4.27
36
Hooker,
18
10.7
8.2
76.63
8.
36
Dennison, .
17
15.2
13.9
91.45
5.12
36
Total, .
999
729.43
668.51
91.59
3.11
798
Total average,
.
45.41
33.16
30.39
91.597
3.11
36.27
93
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The following pupils are reported as perfect in attendance, having been neither absent nor tardy during the year :
George W. Booth,
Blanche E. Harwood,
Ralph Kerley,
Bertha L. Harwood,
Walter Freeman,
Nellie Toppan,
James Sanders,
Mabel L. Morse,
Charles French,
Della Smith,
Howard Laflin,
Pearl Walker,
Henry W. Belknap,
Etta Morse,
Charles Simpson,
Louisa Chapin,
Ezra J. Conner,
Mabel Morse.
Perfect in attendance two terms :
Myron Clemence,
Jennie Plimpton, Chrissie Sanders,
Roy Sanders,
Joseph Cook,
Rosalie Morse,
George Freeman,
Grace Bartholomew,
Herman Laflin,
Ethel Letcher,
Franklin Dresser,
Annie Tiffany,
Willie Welch,
Jennie Simpson,
Herbert N. Searles,
Amanda Grant,
George Mckinstry,
Mary Welch,
Harry Rose,
Bertha Freeman,
Herbert Albee,
Katie Ayers,
Edward Conner, Harold Martin,
Nellie Stone,
W. Wendell Sherman,
Lizzie Coburn,
Patrick Laughnane,
Maggie Lynch,
Mamie Tatrault,
Mary Tatrault.
Perfect attendance one term :
Carrie Hill, Ethel Martin, Willie Edwards,
Jacobina Taylor,
Sarah Fallows, Roswell Guy,
Mary Plimpton, Marion Bickerstaffe, Willie Olney,
Jessie Simpson,
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
· Emma Toppan,
Josephine. Mountain, John A. Whittaker,
Annie M. Aldrich, Albert B. Wells,
Josie Bennett, Agatha Delany,
Georgie Fuller,
Ellsworth Plimpton,
Hattie Dougherty,
Inez Geer,
Henry Mason,
Alice Sanders,
Mary Minns,
Fred Schesler,
Frances Ware,
Joseph Trembley,
Frank Hall,
Minnie Davis,
Joseph Blanchard,
Alex. Taylor,
Maggie Dougherty,
Clarence Morse,
Russell Walker,
Nettie Cady,
Albert Freeman,
Christopher Lynch,
Maggie Breen,
Francis Bulfinch,
Frank Morse. Charles Tatrault,
Lizzie E. Morse,
John Flood,
Henry Farrell,
Lizzie Minns,
Joseph Quevillion,
Frank S. Morse,
Mamie Wells,
Joseph Brown,
Oscar Paulowskey,
Lilian Bacon, Simeon Duquette,
Michael Collins,
Maggie Cuddihy,
Joseph Dragon,
Frank Duffy,
Alice Fitzpatrick,
James Bickerstaffe,
James Laughnane,
Lizzie Crawford,
James Barry,
Eddie Sheridan,
Mary Keating,
Willie Barry,
Clarence Hall,
Maggie Duffy,
Herbert Morse,
Stuart Martin, Joseph Pateneaud,
Agnes Udell,
Howard Edmunds,
Charles McGilpin,
Nellie E. Morrisy,
Samuel Perry,
George Clemence,
Blanche Wheeler,
Cheney Wells,
Holmes Carroll,
Carrie Grover,
Mary A. Flood,
Herbert Harris,
Mabel L. Gautier, Andrew Bartholomew, Sadie Cross, Christopher Hopwood.
Flora King,
Frank Bacon,
Maud Litchfield,
Fred Hanson,
The May enrolment of the children of school age gave 1515, an increase of 96 over the previous enrolment. The public schools have enroled 999, which is III more than last year. The parochial school reports 625 as the number enroled, with an average attendance of 490. Allowing for those over 15, and for the duplicate enrolment of the few who have attended both the parochial and the public schools a part of the year, the result
95
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
indicates that there are very few children of school age in town who have not attended school a part of the year. The large in- crease in the public schools over the previous year is in part due to the fact that the parochial school, for lack of room, has excluded all children under seven years of age. This explains the increased number in some of the primary schools, but not for the larger number in the higher grades. There are indica- tions that some of the village schools will be larger next year than the rooms will accommodate.
ATTENDANCE.
An effort has been made the past year to secure a better record in attendance. The monthly reports, the greater part of the year, show that the effort has been in a good degree success- ful, the average attendance for some months being as high as 93 and 94 per cent. During the last term the attendance has fallen off to such an extent as to seriously impair the improved record for the year. This was occasioned by an unusual num ber of cases of sickness among the children. In cases of con. tagious diseases-as scarlet fever, diphtheria or measles-the law wisely requires the exclusion from the schools of every pupil from the household where the disease exists until at least two weeks after the recovery of the patient or disappearance of the disease. Thus a few cases of sickness may interfere with the attendance of a large number of pupils. The teachers are vigi- lant in guarding against the spread of disease, and, so far as practicable, depend upon the statement of the attending physi- cian as to the time when the pupil can safely return to school. Notwithstanding the break in attendance of the past term, the record for the year shows a gain of 2.45 per cent. over the previous year. Several of our teachers deserve special credit for the efforts made to secure a good record of attendance. The
96
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
number of pupils who have been able to be present at every session of school, is much larger than last year. Others have been present always when it was prudent for them to go out, and are equally deserving of credit.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
The " Illiterate Minor Bill," passed at last year's session of the legislature, caused no little disturbance among employers of minors in the manufacturing cities and towns of the common- wealth, and led to the establishment of an unusual number of evening schools. Since October Ist, the date on which the bill took effect, there have called at the office of the superintendent from the manufactories in town for examination in reading and writing, 369 minors; of these there were 123 who could not read at all in English, or could not read with sufficient readi- ness to comply with a reasonable interpretation of the law. It was found that many of these were seeking instruction in private schools opened to meet the emergency ; but a large number were unable to pay for private instruction. The demand seemed so urgent that the school committee decided to ask the town for an appropriation to open a school in each village to give instruction in reading and writing. The purpose was to give each school four evenings each week, but it soon appeared that one school in each village would not accommo- date all who applied for admission. This led to a division of each school into two classes, each to have three evenings a week. But this arrangement was found insufficient to accom- modate all who had a right to attend, and it became necessary to form three schools in each village, giving to each only two nights each week. This was done reluctantly, for it was feared that little would be accomplished with each class with so limited opportunity. The progress, however, made during the term was much greater than was anticipated. This is attributed to
97
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the fact that the majority of the pupils were eager to learn and devoted time outside of the school to the work in hand. Of those who at the beginning of the term were unable to read, one-half, at least, were able at the close of term, to read readily any part of the first reader. A few in each school were irregular in attendance and failed to secure.much benefit. Fifteen were present every evening, and 97 were absent only one, two or three evenings. The Plimpton street schools were in charge of Mr. James M. Ammidown and Mr. Henry S. Stevenson with Miss Nellie F. Ryan and James L. Plimpton assistants; the Carpenter schools in charge of Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Lendal Houghton, with W. J. Litchfield, assistant. The following were present every evening :
Hattie Mountain, Aggie Bolter, Corinne Reno,
Maggie O'Key, Margaret Tracy, Alice Boulanger,
Ida Chabott, Rosa Duclos, Elizabeth Duclos,
Victoria Livre, Augusta Plante, Mary St. Pierre,
Eugene Plante, Peter Baschand,
Mathew Himingil.
The results of the work of these schools, as here reported, and the fact that a considerable number of minors in town are still unable to read and write with any degree of readiness, warrant the recommendation of an appropriation for schools another season. They should commence earlier and each class should have three or four sessions each week. With such arrangements and regulations as added experience suggests, better results can be accomplished than were secured the past year.
98
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE.
SCHOOLS.
·
Number
Enrolled.
Average
Attendance
Per cent. of
Attendance
Plimpton street, Division I, Girls,
53
43.5
82.I
Plimpton street, Division 2, Girls & Boys,
5I
36.4
71.I
Plimpton street, Division 3, Boys,
47
34
72.3
Carpenter school, Division I, Girls, .
52
41.3
79.4
Carpenter school, Division 2, Boys, .
64
44.4
69.4
Carpenter school, Division 3, Boys, .
55
34.4
62.5
Total,
322
234
72.7
EXPENDITURES.
Our financial statement shows an expenditure considerably in excess of that of the previous year. The account of common schools is somewhat increased by the employment of an addi- tional teacher in the School Street primary, made necessary by the unusual number of children in that grade-too many to be cared for by one teacher. The bills for fuel are larger from the fact that there was very little on hand at the beginning of the season, while the year before there was in several of the base- ments an accumulation of wood-enough, in some cases to last the entire season.
Under contingent account a larger appropriation was called for in anticipation of some much needed and permanent improvements. The item of Incidentals covers the expenses incident to changes made to accommodate the High School.
As recommended in the last report, new furniture was placed in the higher grammar room at Ma'n street, and the lower
99
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
grammar room at School street, at an expense of $300; and the several buildings were supplied with door mats.
The Ammidown school house was re-shingled, costing $132.96. Windows were placed in the basement walls of the Elm street, Union street and Carpenter buildings for better ven- tilation ; a part of the basement walls at Union street was relaid, a new fence built about the lot, and the lot otherwise improved. By order of the Board of Health, vaults were built at Elm street and Main street outhouses. In several rooms where the black board surface was past repair, the surface was renewed. In the repairs of the School street building, the expense was much greater than was anticipated, as is usually the case in repairing old buildings. Much had to be done which did not appear until the work was in progress. The basement walls were found unsafe and required relaying ; the rooms had not been replastered since the building was moved to this spot, and much of the plastering and nearly all of the black-board surface had to be renewed. Whatever may be said of the wisdom of putting so much money into so old a building, there is certainly reason to congratulate the children in that part of the town that they have school rooms comfortably and uniformly warmed in every part in the coldest weather, and so thoroughly ventilated that the air is pure at all times.
The Main street building is substantially the same as reported last year. Here we find three of our largest schools. Something should be done the coming year to improve the heating, ventilating and the general sanitary condition of this building. With the exceptions before mentioned, the improve- ments in the school premises were almost wholly confined to the class rooms. Little more was done to the grounds than to clear them of stones and rubbish. If every school were to observe Arbor Day by setting out each year one or more trees or shrubs, purchased by their own voluntary contributions, or otherwise, the grounds of the several buildings would soon pre- sent an attractive appearance and the children would take commendable pride in improving and protecting whatever of ornamentation they had a part in making.
100
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GRADING AND PROMOTIONS.
The following inquiries are sent to school superintendents and committees in accordance with action taken at the last meeting of the New England Association of Superintendents, and the request made that the reports of the year embody a statement showing the plan upon which promotions are made :
I. " In what way and upon what basis are promotions made in your schools ? "
2 " What written examinations are given (a) by teachers ? (b) by school superintendent or school committee ? "
There is no part of the work of the school authorities that requires more careful attention than the matter of grading and promotions. To determine what is best for each individual pupil, and, at the same time show due regard for the interests of the class as a whole, is not always an easy matter; as we advance to the higher grades more elements enter into the ques- tion. It is evident that the right place for a pupil is in that grade where, with regularity of attendance, proper attention to business, and reasonable application, the daily work of the class can be comprehended and fairly done. It is equally evident that no position is more unfortunate for the pupil than to be in a class where by his best efforts he is unable to grasp and com- pass the work in hand; discouragement and bad habits of mind and study are sure to follow. In our graded schools, those who attend with any degree of regularity seldom fail of promotion ; in fact, there are more pupils who go through the prescribed course to the High school in one or two years' less time than designated in the course, than there are of those who fail of regular promotion. In the lower grades promotion must depend very much upon the judgment of the teacher. No one else can have so intimate knowledge of the status of each pupil. The frequent visits of the Superintendent give him a definite impres- sion of the class as a whole, but a less positive knowledge of the individual. Teachers are expected, however, to call his atten- tion to all cases seeming to require special notice, whether of
IOI
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
those who show ability to advance more rapidly than the class, or of those who through irregularity of attendance, inattention to business, or inability to comprehend the work of the class, fail · to do satisfactory work, that such measures may be taken as each case seems to demand.
In the Grammar schools written tests are given at stated times-two or three times a term, and the results preserved for reference. Occasionally, examinations are made by the Super- intendent, usually when a subject is completed, as a topic in arithmetic, an epoch in history, or a country in geography. These examinations are sometimes written, but generally oral, the object being to test the knowledge and capacity of the pupil, the method of presenting the subject, and to determine whether or not the class is prepared to enter upon the next subject.
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