USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1891/1892-1894/1895 > Part 23
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The following statement shows how the money at our dis- posal has been used, together with estimates for the coming year.
£
-
-
Financial Statement.
High School.
Balance from last year.
$609 97
Appropriation,
2,500 00
Tuition from other towns,
162 98
$3,272 95
Common Schools.
Balance from last year,
$272 10
Appropriation,
11,500 00
Tuition from other towns,
18 00
- $11.790 10
Contingent Schools.
Balance from last year.
$3 24
Appropriation, 2,900 00
Books. supplies. etc., sold.
33 38
$2,936 62
Apparatus.
Balance from last year. $15 78
Appropriation. 100 00
$115 78
121
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Evening Schools.
Appropriation,
$600 00
The committee have expended :
High School.
Salaries of teachers.
$2,547 00
Janitor and fuel.
500 00
83.047 00
Common Schools.
Salaries of teachers and superintendent, 89,809 30 Care of buildings.
761 00
Fuel.
636 65
Tuitions.
12 50
$11.249 45
Contingent Schools.
For books,
$491 40
For supplies.
525 67
For repairs,
1,196 64
For incidentals.
705 70
$2.919 41
Apparatus. For apparatus and books of reference. $106 22
122
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Evening Schools.
Teachers,
$382 75
Care of rooms,
63 00
Fuel and lights,
51 98
Books and supplies.
38 83
Incidentals.
30 05
Rent,
30 00
$596 61
Total expenditures, $17,918 69 Balance in hands of treasurer, 796 76
Books and supplies on hand, not distributed,
668 75
Appropriations for Next Year.
High school-
Teachers,
$2,600 00
Janitor and fuel,
500 00
$3,100 00
Common schools-
Teachers and Superintendent,
$9,800 00
Janitors,
775 00
Fuel,
700 00
$11,275 00
Contingent schools-
Books,
600 00
Supplies,
600 00
Repairs,
500 00
Incidentals,
750 00
$2,450 00
123
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Apparatus,
Evening schools,
$200 00 650 00
$17,675 00
Your careful attention is invited to the more particularized and specially important facts contained in the Superintendent's Report herewith presented.
Respectfully submitted,
In behalf of the Committee, SILVANUS HAYWARD, Chairman.
Southbridge. Mass., March 13, 1895.
Superintendent's Report. FOR 1894=5.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
The report of the schools herewith submitted is the tenth of the series of annual reports of the Superintendent and the ninth of the present incumbent.
Summary of Statistics.
Population of the Town, State census, 1890, 7,747
Valuation of the Town for 1894, $3,521,452 28
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, 1,731
Number enrolled in public schools during the year. 1.115
Number under 5 years of age,
16
Number over 15 years of age.
89
Number between 5 and 15. 1,010
Number between 8 and 14.
546
Average number belonging,
777.48
Average daily attendance,
728 22
Per cent. of attendance.
93 66
Cost Per Pupil.
Current expenses, including teaching, fuel and care of buildings.
$14.296 45
Cost per pupil, based on total enrollment, 12 82
Cost per pupil, based on average enrollment. 18 52
125
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Total expenditures, less permanent repairs, 16,317 45
Cost per pupil based on whole number. 14 63
Cost per pupil, based on average enrollment. 20 98
Cost per pupil in High school, 37 61
Through the courtesy of the instructors we are able to give the following statistics of the parochial schools:
Number enrolled at the Notre Dame Parochial school.
673
Average number belonging.
583
Average attendance, 572
Per cent. of attendance.
98.11
Total enrollment at St. Mary's Parochial school,
160
Average number belonging,
156.50
Average attendance, 147
Per cent. of attendance. 94.50
1:26
REPORT OF SCHOOL. COMMITTEE.
Attendance by Schools.
SCHOOLS.
Whole number
Enrolled.
Average Number
Belonging.
Average Attend-
Per cent. of At-
Per cent. of Tardi-
ness of each Pu-
Number of Weeks of School.
High School.
81
63.90
61.76
96.65
4.90
39.0
Higher Grammar-Main street.
36
33.59
32.85
97.79
3.86
37.0
School street ..
29
22.24
21.43
96.35
1.55
37.0
Lower Grammar-Main street .. .
54
39.20
36.77
93.80
.68
37.1
School street ..
41
32.93
31.79;
96.34
.92
37.0
Intermediate-Main street ..
54
51.85
47.62
91.84
3.54
37.0
Union street.
50
34.23
33.16
96.87
.64
37.0
River street.
47
21.09
20.07
95.16
1.69
37.1
Town Hall.
29
24.08
22.76
94 52
1.34
37.0
Higher Primary-Elm street
69
53.12
49.69
93.54
4.39
37.1
School street.
57
40.80
38.16
93.56
2.60
37.0
Carpenter
61
33.79
30 91
91.49
2.03
37.0
Lower Primary-Elm street.
47
31.57
29.39
93.09
1.39
37.1
Main street
43
26.81
25.40
94.37
3.30
37.0
Town Hall.
45
31.71
29.12
91.82
1.06
36.3
School street ...
64
39.64
36.66
92.48
1.26
37.0
River street.
70
35.82
34.20
95.47
1.90
37.0
Carpenter
84
54.77
51.76
94.51
1.25
37.0
Mixed Primary-Sumner.
58
30.71
27.21
88.60
.81
37.0
Ammidown
.44
34.64
31 84
91.92
2.25
36.2
Ungraded-Bacon ..
15
12.98
10.80
83.28
2.22
37.0
Hooker
19
14.47
13.50
93.30
2.68
36.2
Dennison
18
13.54
11.37
83.97
9.44
29.2
1,115
777.48
728.22
93.66
2.09
36.4
ance.
tendance.
pil.
127
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Attendance Roll of Honor.
List of pupils reported as perfect in attendance, neither absent nor tardy during the year. Others have always been in their places except when detained by illness :
Ernest Herron, Eva Conner,
Emily Haynes,
Ethel Seavey,
Herbert Ellam.
Arthur Nichols,
Lillie Macnie,
Maude Barrett,
Flossie Bartlett,
. Herman B. Morse.
Katie O'Halloran,
Linne Tetrault,
Edmund Dupaul, Charles Sartie,
Frank Smith.
School Street.
Perfect in attendance two terms:
Clifford Chamberlain, Joseph Blanchard, William Henry, Robert Sanders,
Ruth Chamberlain,
Edith Dougherty,
Lizzie Kelly,
Alice Sanders, Jennie Simpson,
Arthur Lacroix,
John Coggans,
Alice Farland,
Peter Caplette,
Alfred Gaumont,
Marion Hill. Harry Ferron,
Deborah Fallows, Angelina Bachand,
Minnie Cook,
Rosa Chapdelaine, Thomas Taylor,
· Marion E. Morse,
Albert Wilson, Eugene Tetrault,
Benadetta Bordeau, Mary Baton,
Adelor Robidoux, Albert Demarchais,
George Lamothe,
Willie Smith,
Joseph Fallows,
Carrie Irons, Leva Tremblay,
Mary Metevier,
Arthur Mckinstry.
113 others have been perfect in attendance one term.
The May enrollment of the children of school age, as was anticipated, showed a less number than the previous en- rollment. The return was 1731 against 1783 the previous year. Not a few families whose bread-winners were thrown out of em- ployment had sought work elsewhere, as the vacant tenements in different parts of the town indicate. The total number en- rolled in the schools during the year is 72 less than in the year
Cora Longeway,
Hattie E. Dougherty, Annie McFarland,
George Edwards.
Amity Angell.
128
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1893-4, but the average number belonging is 32 more, and the average attendance 33 in excess of the previous year. The per cent. of attendance has been improving each year, and this year shows an advance. Many of the teachers by persistent attentions to regularity of attendance, secure for their schools results highly commendable. Seven of the schools show a per cent. of attendance for the year above 95.
The virtues of regularity and promptness in attendance can not be kept too constantly before the minds of teachers and pupils. The school that succeeds in promoting the growth of these virtues gains an important element of life and power in the subjects of study. All parents do not realize that prompt and regular attendance is a necessary condition of satisfactory progress.
The truant officers have rendered efficient service to the teachers in visiting families, looking up absentees, and, in many eases. returning delinquents to their places in the schools.
Evening Schools.
The work of the Evening schools did not differ materially from that of previous years. The general management of the schools showed the value of experience in dealing with this class of pupils. The instruction was confined to reading, writ- ing and, incidentally, to the correct use of language, the limited knowledge of the English language of most of those attending necessarily restricting the instruction to very narrow bounds. Most of the teachers were those employed in the day schools, bringing to their work the experience and methods of skilled teachers. The term continued 14 weeks, each school having about 40 sessions. Four members were present every evening : eleven, every evening but one: sixteen were absent twice, seventeen, three times; fifteen lost four nights, and fourteen
129
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
five nights. One-third of the whole number enrolled were absent not more than five evenings.
Number of schools.
4
Number of teachers employed,
6
Number of pupils enrolled, boys, 131, girls, 101, total. 232
Members, who attended 70 per cent. of the sessions. 164
Average number belonging.
178.03
Average attendance. 163.25
Per cent. of attendance,
91.70
Total cost of schools for the season.
$596.61
Cost per pupil. $2.57
Repairs.
For certain repairs and changes at the school-houses-men- tioned in our last report-an appropriation of $500 was made in addition to the usual amount for ordinary repairs.
The largest amount was used at the Main street building in changing the closet system and connecting with the Sewer. This was done at a cost of $595.21.
The Elm street and School street houses were re-painted on the outside. The one at a cost of $65.20, the other, $106.75.
The tin roofs of the Main street, the Elm street and the Carpenter buildings were re-laid, the entire cost being $237.47.
As usual, the cost of these repairs and changes exceeded the estimates given, the total amount being $1,004.63.
The School=Houses.
Of the eleven school-houses in town, five now have - ap- proved systems of warming and ventilating and sanitary closets. The six other buildings are heated, after the old fashion, by box stoves, and have no means of ventilation except by doors
130
RERORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
and windows. Four of these are small, one-room buildings with a small number of pupils. Of the other two, the one on River street has four rooms, the two lower rooms of which are occupied by day schools, and the upper rooms are used for Even- ing schools. The school house at Union street has two rooms, one of which is used for the Intermediate grade of the group of schools at Globe Village.
Each of the schools in these six buildings has a number of . pupils requiring by the statutes, approved sanitary conditions. It devolves upon the committee to determine the changes need- ful to supply proper sanitary conditions to such of these school- houses as are likely to be continued in use.
The crowded condition of the Main Street Intermediate and the Elm Street Higher Primary made it necessary in Sep- tember to form an overflow school to relieve these two rooms. With the consent of the Selectmen, the room over the Superin- tendent's office at the Town Hall, was furnished and twenty- six pupils transferred to it. The schools thus relieved still have each an unreasonable number of pupils for one room. There are now two schools at the Town hall with 65 pupils, in rooms not designed for school rooms.
The present status of our school accommodations empha- sizes the pressing need of immediate action relative to the new building. Each year the demand is more urgent, and the interests of the schools require that there should be no further delay.
Ample accommodations for the village schools would open the way to important advances in other directions-matters which I have refrained from urging upon, attention so long as this most pressing need was unprovided.
One immediate result of a new central building would be a more satisfactory classification, making it practicable, by having only one year's pupils in each room, to arrange classes in half year grades, thereby greatly simplifying the matter of grading and promotions, and a saving of time to many pupils.
1×1
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
It would also, admit of departmental teaching to some extent if that plan seems advisable.
Ample room at the centers of population would present the question of consolidating some of the schools-the exped- iency of transporting pupils to the nearest village class of the same grade, thereby closing some of the small schools in the out districts. This is done in many towns of the commonwealth with results highly satisfactory to those most interested-afford- ing better opportunities to the pupils, and materially reducing the expenses of supporting the schools.
Were this great need met, it would be proper to urge. attention to the establishment of one or more kindergarten schools, for which there appears a growing demand. These schools have long held a place in the public school systems of the cities, and are being established in many of the larger towns, and in some towns of less population than Southbridge.
It would be practicable in a new building, to so arrange the basement as to give room for work in Manual Training-a. feature of education rapidly gaining in favor, and required by law in cities of twenty thousand inhabitants. Those most familiar with this element of training believe that two or three hours work every day for pupils in the grammar and high school grades is promotive of studious habits. of good morals, and manly character.
In a recent report the Kindergarten, Manual Training and. other features of progressive school-systems were considered at some length."
I take pleasure in presenting the following reports from ... the Principal of the High school and the supervisor of Draw- ing.
Report of the High School.
MR. J. T. CLARKE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:
Dear Sir :- I have the honor of presenting to you a report of the High school for the year 1894-95.
There have been eighty pupils connected with the school during the past year against eighty-five of the previous year : the smaller number attending is owing to the large size of the last graduating class, fourteen, and the small number in our Sophomore class. Of the graduating class one entered Holy Cross, and one entered Amherst on certificate of the school. One pupil also entered Smith on certificate at the end of a three years course.
Of the class of '95 one will enter Amherst and two the Boston School of Technology. The number preparing for the higher institutions is gradually increasing. but what is most needed is a heartier co-operation of the parents. Most of the school period is devoted to recitations and it is self-evident that considerable time must be devoted to home study. The fact that a pupil does no work at home is proof that he is not deriv- ing all the benefit he should from his school course. although he may be able to attain the required sixty per cent. and graduate with his class. The main advantage of the private school con- sists in the fact that pupils are obliged to study from seven till nine in the evening.
134
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In accordance with the custom of recent graduating classes in leaving some memento to beautify the school-room, the class of '94 presented the school with an eight-day clock.
The custom tends to increase both the interest of the graduates in the school and render the room more cheerful and attractive for the attending pupils. I believe that the four classes now in school each plan to continue this custom.
The change in time of graduation from March to June puts us is line with other schools and stops the trouble that has occurred nearly every year in classifying pupils moving here from other towns.
During the past year I have arranged and labelled the mineralogical specimens belonging to the school and have the pleasure of acknowledging the following gifts: Seventeen speci- mens from Mr. F. R. Arnold; twelve from Mr. A. M. Cheney : eight from Mr. J. T. Clarke : four from Miss Annie Goodrich; also some twenty from various pupils. These specimens have been in almost daily use in connection with natural science teaching. and I trust form the nucleus for a much larger collection.
Miss Goodrich, with the assistance of her class in Botany. has begun an herbarium, and seventeen specimens were pressed and arranged last spring. I think that in a few years we shall have a complete collection of the flora of Southbridge.
The course of study was changed at the beginning of the school year and arranged in accordance with the " Report of the Committee of Ten" and I take pleasure in recording the fact that we were the first country High school in the state to adopt the suggestions of this committee in our courses of study.
The English course has been arranged to meet the require- ments of those pupils who lack the ability or application required to learn Latin. Of the last entering class, four have taken the classical and twenty-eight the general course.
Respectfully submitted, F. E. CORBIN.
135
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Course of Study.
GENERAL
FIRST YEAR.
SECOND YEAR.
Latin,
5 periods.
Latin, 5 periods.
Algebra,
5
Mathematics, 5
History.
3
History, Civil Govt., 3
..
Rhetoric,
6)
Physics,
3
Phys. Geography, 8
Botany, 6)
..
Reading, 2
Reading.
66
THIRD YEAR.
FOURTH YEAR.
Latin or French,
5 periods.
Latin or French. 5 periods.
English Literature, 3
Rhetoric, 3
Chemistry,
3
Geology, half year, 5
..
Bookkeeping,
Economy, 5 6.
Astronomy,
.6
Arithmetic.
..
CLASSICAL COURSE.
First year same as general course.
SECOND YEAR.
Greek,
5 periods.
Mathematics. 5 periods.
Latin, 5
..
History, Civil Govt .. 3 ..
THIRD YEAR.
FOURTH YEAR.
Latin. 5 periods. Latin.
5 periods.
Greek, 5
Greek, 5
Roman History, 3
Greek History, 3
English Literature, 3 66 Rhetoric, 2
English course same as general with the exception of Latin.
Singing is required of all throughout the course. and Drawing for the first two years.
136
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
MR. J. T. CLARKE, SUPT. OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS :--
I found here a well established course in drawing, with plenty of material furnished, proving to me that the Board of Education had recognized the value of drawing as an educa- tional element, and had furthered its cause by providing a cap- able instructor, and wisely given her materials and the power to use them as she deemed best.
The exhibit in June must have plainly told its own story. There are some difficulties, peculiar to the town, which make it. at present, impossible to secure a uniform grade of work throughout the town. Some understand very little of what the instructor says, yet the French children have a keen appre- ciation of color, and are very quick with anything to be ex- pressed directly by means of the fingers. The grade work needs to be brought to a higher standard as soon as possible. Good order in the class-room, faithful work by instructor, the co-op- eration of teachers, and honest individual effort on the part of pupils will soon accomplish such desired result. The more the drawing is used as an aid in other studies, the better for the pupil and the class as a whole.
I have endeavored to give to the High School Freshman class a fair outline of Historic Ornament, which should come in their grade in connection with the study of Ancient History Previously, I have given more facts in a series of talks, but it seemed impracticable to do the same here.
I find in the assembly-room a fine picture of St. Marks, Venice, the best example of Italian Byzantine architecture. I wish there were more of such. Last year I was substitute for the Professor of Drawing at the Iowa State Normal school, and the President allowed me to purchase photographs of the best examples of classic architecture including those taken from ruins in Egypt, Greece and Rome ; four were mounted on one card and framed. I wish the same might be purchased for the High school here, gradually, if the expense is too great to incur at once ; and I earnestly request that you place one good repro-
137
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
duction of a masterpiece in art, in each class-room, the same to be changed occasionally throughout the town. Let students have one such before them always in the room, and its influence will be apparent. The simple casts you allowed me to pur- chase for the Sophomore class are appreciated by them.
Thanking you and all the regular teachers, through you. for kindness and co-operation, I remain.
Yours respectfully,
EVA BENHAM.
Schedule.
Monday, a. m., School street, 2. Union street, 1.
p. m., Carpenter school, 2.
Tuesday, a. m., Main street, 4.
p. m., Elm street, 2. Town hall, 1.
Wednesday, a. m., School street, 4.
p. m., River street, 2. Union street, 1.
Thursday, a. m., Town hall, 1. High school, 2.
p. m., Main st., 3.
Friday, p. m., District school.
At the close of the Summer term an exhibit was made at the Town Hall of selected specimens of work in Drawing, Nature studies, Kindergarten and a variety of other class exercises. This exhibit was highly creditable to pupils and teachers, and called forth hearty expressions of commendation from the large number of visitors from our own, and neighboring towns.
In the summer, Miss Patterson, who for two years had been Supervisor of the Department of Drawing in our schools, resigned to accept, at much higher salary, a similar position at
138
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Portsmouth, N. H. Miss Patterson had systematically organ- ized the work of her department, and it was with regret that her resignation was received. We were especially fortunate in securing, in September, the services of Miss Eva Benham to continue this work. Miss Benham had had years of successful experience, and is conducting the department with ability. We would call special attention to the suggestions in her report, and hope that her recommendations will result in favorable action.
The action of the School Committee last October, in chang- ing the time of closing the school year from the end of the winter, to the end of the summer term, brings our school year in harmony with the schools generally throughout the state, and will avoid difficulties so often met in adjusting pupils, coming from other towns, to the classes in our schools. The extra term of this year, affords an excellent opportunity of introducing some of the features of the " Report of the Committee of Ten," thereby giving the Grammar classes a foretaste of some of the High school subjects of study.
I take pleasure in reporting a steady and healthful growth in the most of our schools. In some lines improvements have been made which give promise of an increasing degree of efficiency. In a large proportion of our class-rooms are found well-conducted schools. A well-ordered school is one where there appears little or no attention to matters of discipline, while every pupil is busy with the work in hand, and nothing else. The teacher is enthusiastic, and the pupils interested and attentive.
In conclusion, I once more thank you for your continued confidence and liberal support, and would record my acknowl- edgment of the uniform kindness and hearty co-operation of the teachers in the work of the year.
Respectfully submitted,
J. T. CLARKE. Superintendent.
189
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Calendar 1895=6.
Spring Term, 15 weeks, begins Monday, March 11, ends June 28, 1895. Vacation one week ending April 6.
The Fall Term begins Tuesday, September 3, ends December 20, 16 weeks.
Winter Term begins January 6, 1896, ends March 6.
Spring Term 1896, 15 weeks begins Monday, March 9, ends June 26. Vacation one week ending April +.
The First and Third Terms, the Common schools close one week earlier than the High schools.
HOLIDAYS.
Every Saturday ; Washington's Birthday ; Memorial Day ; Labor Day ; Thanksgiving and the day following.
Extracts from the Public Statutes.
LAWS OF 1894.
SECTION 1. Every person having under his control, a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, and in every city and town where opportunity is furnished, in connection with the regular work of the public schools, for gratuitous instruction in the use of tools or in manual training, or for industrial educa- tion in any form, a child between the ages of eight and fifteen years, shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides, and such attend- ance shall continue for at least thirty weeks of the school year. if the schools are kept open for that length of time, with an al- lowance of two weeks' time for absences not excused by the su- perintendent of schools or the school committee. Such period of attendance shall begin within the first month of the fall term of school, and for each five days' absence of any such child there- after, in excess of the above allowance, before the completion
140
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
of the required annual attendance of thirty weeks, the person having such child under his control shall, upon the complaint of the school committee or any truant officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, but if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such city or town, or if such child has been otherwise in- structed for a like period of time in the branches of learning re- quired by law to be taught in the public schools, or has already acquired the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable, such penalties shall not be incurred.
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