USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1896-1898 > Part 20
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150
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The registers record 556 visits by parents and interested friends during the year, not including those of the Superintend- ent and special teachers.
These visits are an encouragement to teachers and Super- intendent, and parents are earnestly desired to visit schools frequently and to co-operate with teachers in the work which is of common interest. Every day is visiting day. If anyone has criticisms to make, suggestions of improvements, the Sup- erintendent and committee would welcome the benefit of such observations. Adverse criticism upon schools and teachers is productive only of mischief unless made to those who have the power to investigate and apply remedies. Children quickly catch the tone of criticism and the spirit of disloyalty and in- subordination is engendered, resulting only in injury to the school.
The following table shows the statistics for the past six year's.
May Enroll- ment.
Total Enroll- ment in the Schools.
Average num- Per cent. of ber belonging. attendance.
1892-3,
1701
1144
738.94
92.84
1893-4,
1783
1187
745.35
93.24
1894-5,
1731
1115
777.48
93.66
1895-6,
1678
1125
752.40
94.21
1896-7,
1651
1242
861.36
93.25
1897-8,
1708
1275
870.62
93.81
The financial statement shows a balance to the credit of each account.
There has been received for tuitions of pupils from other towns $331.37 and $94 have been paid for tuition. The total expenses of the year are $796.24 more than for the preceding year.
151
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Truant Officers.
The Truant Officers have attended to their duties, respond" ing to the calls of teachers to look after absentees, visiting the homes of delinquents and returning boys to their places in school. The excuses generally assigned for absence are illness or lack of clothing.
They report :
Number of visits to schools,
31
Number of calls upon parents,
103
Boys taken to school, 30
0
Number sent to Truant School,
0
MONROE REYNOLDS,
JAMES BROWN,
Truant Officers.
Evening Schools.
These schools were opened at the usual time and continued for three months, each of the four divisions having 41 or 42 evenings.
The schools were conducted in a quiet, orderly manner and with very little friction. The character of the work done was in the same lines as in previous years, reading, writing and language, some of the work being more advanced than in previous years.
It has been hoped each year that classes could be formed in more advanced studies, but very seldom has anyone pre- sented himself who was prepared for advanced work. It would be gratifying to see our young people interested to pursue a higher course of study, and ample provision would no doubt be
Number taken before the court,
152
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
made to meet such a demand. There are many boys and girls who were obliged to leave school at an early age to join the ranks of bread winners. It would seem that a good number of these should be glad to embrace the opportunity of broadening their limited education by a course in a higher grade at the evening schools; but the demand for a higher course has not yet appeared. At the Y. M. C. A. an opportunity was given last fall for forming classes for the winter in several import- ant branches of study to be conducted by efficient teachers, but the attendance was so small that the classes were soon discon- tinued.
Number of schools,
4
Number of teachers employed,
7
Number of pupils enrolled, boys 113, girls 83,
196
Number who attended 70 per cent. of the sessions,
155
Average number belonging,
160.93
Average attendance,
135.83
Per cent. of attendance,
84.40
Total cost of schools for the season,
$634 56
Cost per pupil,
$3 24
Repairs.
Repairs more extensive than usual were made during the summer at several of the school buildings. As recommended in the report of last year, the School street building was re- shingled at an expense of $152.73. At the Hooker school house a small addition was made, furnishing additional wood room and separate closets. The school room was much improved, a jacketed stove, with means of ventilation was provided, and a new case for books and supplies was placed in the room. The outside of the building was repainted. The total outlay was $104.49.
153
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
At School street and River street houses some rooms were kalsomined, and the inside work painted in both buildings. The cost was $117.27. The outside of the house at Sanders- dale was repainted at a cost of $53.95. At the Main street building the paint was renewed outside and inside at an expense of $60.02. In several buildings a floor dressing was applied much to the improvement of the rooms. This was done at an expense of $80.85.
When the new building on Marcy street is ready for oc- cupancy, considerable expense will necessarily be incurred in changing the furniture, and putting the desks and rooms in order for the several schools.
The Common Schools account will require some addition caused by this change, to the appropriation to cover increased ex- penses. Several schools are now altogether too large for effect- ive work, and in the re-organization, placing only a reasonable number of pupils in each room, additional schools must be formed, making an increased expense for teachers. More will also be required for janitors' services and for fuel.
At the River street school house three rooms are now occupied by day schools. After the new building is occupied, at least two of these rooms will still be required for the primary grades of that locality. The sanitary condition of this building is in every respect, unsatisfactory. The only means of ventilation is by windows and doors. The heating is by the old style box-stoves with no ingress of pure air to temper the heat. The closets are the worst feature. As this building must be continued in use, I recommend that a jacketed stove like those in use at Elm street, be placed in each of the rooms on the first floor, ventilating registers placed at the base of the chimneys-the chimneys being of sufficient size to funish con- siderable ventilation -- and the closets be improved and made as free from objection as possible until such time as aqueduct
154
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
water shall be available in this locality, making it practicable to provide a system of water closets.
Attention is again called to the insufficient light in the rooms at the Main street and School street buildings. There is lack of window space at the rear of these rooms, so that on cloudy days frequently the regular work of the classes has to be suspended. The lower rooms at the Main street building have less light than the others on account of the large building in close proximity in the rear. At School street additional win- dows could be inserted over the black boards at moderate cost, as this is a wooden building. The remedy should be applied at both houses, as the imperfect light is liable to result in injury to the sight of the children.
Text Books.
The books in our schools, with very few exceptions, are of the latest issues. Books in constant use last but a few years. As the town is required to furnish these, it costs no more to buy new, fresh editions than to replenish with the old. So great in these days is the advance in scientific discovery that the most of our books must be revised every few years to hold their place in the schools.
The series of Geography now in use were issued in 1897, the Arithmetics in 1895, the Language books in 1889. The Histories are recent revisions. In no direction has greater change and advance been made than in the reading books for schools. Instead of the regular reader series, in general use a few years ago, made up of extracts and articles of questionable value, books having a special purpose are now provided,- geographical readers, stories from history, biographical sketches ; books of classic literature and nature-study,-books of interest
155
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
to the pupil, instructive and helpful in the various branches of study pursued in the schools, so that when History or Geogra- phy is taken up for formal study, the pupils are already some- what familiar with the language and characters of the subject, and are able to make more rapid progress. It is the aim of our teachers to have the children read intelligently, grasping the thought of the author, and to interest them in good literature so that after leaving school they will be well informed in a variety of subjects and have a taste for literature that is worth reading.
Supervision.
From questions often asked it would seem that the office of Superintendent of schools is not well understood by the gen- eral public. The idea is quite prevalent that he is under no restrictions, that he can be guided by his own judgment in all matters pertaining to the conduct of the schools; that he can employ or dismiss teachers, that he can exchange books or in- troduce new books, as it seems best to him, without reference to the school Committee. The facts are otherwise. The Super- intendent may not appoint, dismiss or transfer teachers, change the course of study, the marking system, or the form of grad- uating exercises without direction of the board. He may suspend or discipline a pupil, but it is the province of the Com- mittee to expel. He may not transfer a pupil to another school by his own authority. In short, he is the agent of the board, advising and suggesting, but guided always by their decisions. The regulations of the school Committee of Southbridge give to the Superintendent the same authority that is ordinarily given in other places, and more power than he is given in some towns. By the rules of the Committee, as by the statutes, he is the
156
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
executive agent and secretary of the school board. Under the direction of the board, he is to see that the school houses are kept in proper condition ; he is to purchase and distribute all necessary supplies ; prepare the pay roll of teachers and jani- tors, present all bills to the board for approval and draw all orders authorized by them; he is to recommend teachers for positions, examine and issue certificates to those appointed ; superintend examinations and regulate the grading of pupils ; he is to hold teachers' meetings and direct in methods of in- struction and discipline ; to see that the school laws are faith- fully observed and at regular meetings of the board, make report of his doings.
He is expected to keep himself informed of what is going on in the educational world, to be familiar with all new and pro- gressive methods, to make teaching a study, and to recommend such changes in books and methods of work, as in his judgment will be for the advantage of the schools.
There is a growing tendency in the state to give the Superintendent more power. In some cities he is given full control by committees, and is held responsible only for results.
The average member of the school Committee cannot be expected to concern himself in the detail work of the class room ; his previous training has given no special fitness for such work. The detail work of methods in teaching and courses of study must of necessity be left to Superintendent and teachers.
High School.
At the High School the average number belonging for the year has been 88, the largest number for any one month was 97. The seating capacity of the main room admits of 63 desks. Whenever the entire school meets in this room about one-third
157
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
of the pupils must sit upon settees. It would be a great ad- vantage in the management of the High School to have a sufficient number of desks to accommodate the entire school. The school increases each year, and some provision must be made in the near future for this increase.
The rear part of the High School room is under a separate, one story roof-a projection from the main building, and can be extended without affecting the main building. An extension of 15 feet would increase the seating capacity to 108. An ex- tension of 21 feet would admit 126 desks. The extension should be 25 feet, giving an open space of a few feet in the rear of the room.
The reputation of our High School has suffered in the past from the conduct of a few boys who attend school for no good purpose. They show little interest in their studies, and appear to have no higher ambition than to plot ways of mischief with- out being discovered. There has been less of this the past year but too much for the good name of the school. The reputation of the school has suffered less from real happenings than from exaggerated reports of very small-boy misdemeanors. The tendency to make a large story of a small foundation of fact shows a spirit of disloyalty to the school which is anything but commendable.
In many High Schools the regular course to fit for college has been extended to five years. One year of Latin in the Grammar school would relieve to some extent the pressure of work in the High School, and for those contemplating the classical course it may seem desirable.
The requirements of the Grammar and High Schools cannot be successfully accomplished without home study. Home study needs the co-operation of parents with teachers. Pupils should understand that school is their business, and should not be allowed to attend entertainments during the evenings of school day sessions. The curfew bell, growing so
158
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
rapidly in favor in cities and towns in the West, might be a wise provision for preventing misspent evenings in Southbridge. No one can see the throng of boys that lounge upon our streets evenings without regretting that the "Devil's playground " should be so well patronized. .
The English or Business course in our High School would be made far more practical and valuable by the introduction of facilities for learning typewriting, shorthand and telegraphy. These branches are attractive features in very many of the High Schools of our Commonwealth.
A revised course of study in preparation is expected to be ready for the next school year. It requires no little time and study to prepare a course that shall cover the various topics that enter into the work of the several grades. Its pur- pose is to secure uniformity in the studies pursued in classes of the same grade, and to furnish suggestions and directions to aid teachers in their work.
The revised course will be on the basis of a nine years' course. Not one pupil in ten of ordinary capacity spends more than eight or nine years in the schools below the high school. Occasionally one completes the course in seven years.
Report of the High School.
MR. J. T. CLARKE, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir : I have the honor of presenting you the report of the High School for the year 1897-8.
There have been 110 pupils enrolled during the past year : 45 boys, 65 girls.
159
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Of this number 20 have attended from out of town, the largest number so attending in the school's history.
In accordance with the suggestion of my last report nine new desks were added at the beginning of the fall term, thus afford- ing a temporary relief.
The steady growth of the school will soon require the services of another assistant teacher. The longest recitation period is 45 minutes and some of the classes certainly need more time.
The fall term began with new assistants who brought to their work valuable experience gained in other schools, and their success proves how much better it is for the good of the school that teachers gain their experience elsewhere, rather than at our expense.
Our pupils are now admitted at all New England colleges on certificate, except at Harvard and Yale, which receive no pupils in that way. As stated on the term report this cer- tificate is given to all pupils desiring it who gain a rank of 85 per cent.
While our pupils have been entering college for the last six years of my principalship, on certificate, and obtaining high rank, yet it seems necessary to make the foregoing statement in view of the fact that some of our townspeople still wonder if the High School fits for college.
I believe there is no country High School in Massachusetts that does so much work along many lines as our own school.
Our graduates are numbered as graduates of, or now at- tending the following higher institutions : Harvard, Brown, Amherst, Massachusetts State College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Boston Uni- versity, Radcliffe, Smith, Colby, and Mt. Holyoke, certainly both a long and honorable list. The class of '98 as a token
160
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
of good will to their Alma Mater presented the school with copies of Bryant's Iliad and Odyssey and a bust of Homer.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. CORBIN.
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing.
The work in drawing this year has shown a gradual improvement, the children appearing to understand the forms studied, and the principles used in their representation, better than last year. The fall fruits, leaves, and dried weeds were drawn in connection with the regular nature work. This was followed by the drawing of models and objects and some simple groups were studied. Drawing from life formed an interesting feature and the upper grades have tested their ability in representing one of their own number or one of the primary pupils.
The study of celebrated paintings has been introduced as a new feature, and the children have been much interested in the dif- ferent artists, many of them buying copies of the noted pictures. As these can be obtained at a very small price, the children have been encouraged to make collections of them. Prominent educators have highly recommended these pictures as they lead to refinement of taste and give the child a love for what is really beautiful. William De Witt Hyde says : "It is not so much consequence what a boy knows when he leaves school, as what he loves. The greater part of what he knows he will speedily forget; what he loves he will feed on."
In the work in design, as well as in other departments of drawing, the practical side of the subject is considered ; so de- signs are made for book-covers, prints, cups and saucers, etc.
161
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In mechanical work, the geometric figures are studied, and the children are shown the use of such simple forms as the circle, square and oblong in the constructive arts. In two of the grades, mechanical drawings are made of different objects of use, and these objects are constructed in wood from the draw- ings. The boys are quite enthusiastic over their wood work and try hard to reach a high standard of workmanship. Mr. Larsson, principal of the Sloyd Training School, says : "Sloyd is tool work so arranged and employed as to stimulate and pro- mote vigorous, intelligent, self-activity for a purpose which the worker recognizes as good. The spontaneous exercise of the creative faculties for a useful and good end is a moral tonic. The mere acquisition of skill is not necessarily so."
In the High School the upper class is interested in char- coal work, drawing and shading the different models singly and in groups. The freshman class is making outline draw- ings. Some engravings from Turner's paintings, loaned us by a friend, proved a source of much enjoyment and profit.
Thanking the Superintendent and teachers for their hearty co-operation,
Respectfully submitted, ANNA F. EAGER.
The Schools.
Commendable progress has been made in our schools during the year. Our teachers are faithful, efficient and progressive. Their labors in the interest of their classes are not confined to the hours of the school sessions. Early and late they may be found busy at their work, and their industry and patience are worthy of high commendation. In these days of advancing thought the teacher must be progressive, must be ever on the
162
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
alert to cull from the mass of educational literature claiming attention, whatever of thought may be helpful in the best pros- ecution of her work. When the teacher ceases to advance, when she fails to find herself with better mental equipment -- a better teacher-at the end of the year than at the beginning, she will find that she is fast getting into the ruts, and should give place to one whose whole soul is in the work. The year has been one of more than ordinary healthfulness. No school has been seriously interrupted by the spread of contagious disease. This, no doubt, is in no small measure due to watchful care on the part of the teachers to sanitary details in the school rooms. Care is taken that each pupil has his own books and materials, and every precaution is taken to prevent interchanges. Many of the children have their own drinking cups, and parents are advised to furnish each child with his own cup, that another menace to health may be avoided.
The over-crowded condition of many of the lower schools has allowed very little time for systematic work in some im- portant lines. For this reason less attention than is desirable, has been given to nature study, to map drawing and map build- ing, to individual work, and the study of the individual child, although not a little has been accomplished in these directions. Those who examined our Exhibit of school work last June saw that these subjects were by no means wholly neglected, but that creditable work had been done-work that would compare not unfavorably with that seen elsewhere.
The re-organization of the schools next year under more favorable conditions should be the signal for marked advance in all lines.
So far as practicable, the schools should be organized with only one grade in a room. Under such conditions the classes can be arranged in half year grades, thereby greatly simplifying the matter of grading and promotions and saving time to many pupils. There should be one ungraded school to receive those
163
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
pupils who are not prepared to enter one of the regular classes. Such a class would prove a great advantage to those children who enter from other systems of schools, who may be well ad- vanced in some studies but deficient in others. Here special attention can be given to the matters in which they are defi- cient, so that in most cases, in a brief time they can be placed in the regular classes, and often, in grades higher than they could go without this special training.
However desirable Manual Training, Cooking Schools and a System of Kindergarten Schools may be, they should not be inaugurated without mature deliberation. Careful considera- tion should be given to the character of the schools and to the expense of establishing them. To insure success and satisfac- tion, they should be of high order, fully equipped with all needful appliances, and with skilled teachers.
It is fitting that I should, in closing, express heartiest thanks to all who by expressions of encouragement and confi- dence have lightened the labors of the year.
Respectfully Submitted,
J. T. CLARKE, Superintendent.
164
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Graduating Class of 1897.
" LOYAL EN TOUT."
CHARLES ARTHUR TETRAULT, ALLIE URSULA PUTNEY,
BERTHA FRANCES HYDE, FRANK SIBLEY CHIPMAN, HERBERT WILLIAM ELLAM. PROGRAMME OF GRADUATING EXERCISES.
MARCH. "Welcome Guest." ORCHESTRA
OVERTURE. "Poet and Peasant." - - Suppe
ORCHESTRA.
PRAYER.
-
-
REV. H. JEROME WHITE
CHORUS. "The Merry Mountaineers." - THE SCHOOL
SALUTATORY AND ESSAY. "Solidarity." CHARLES ARTHUR TETRAULT
Trio. "Down in the Dewy Dell."
ESSAY. "Existence - Its Possibilities." - BERTHA FRANCES HYDE -
SEMI-CHORUS. "The Wild White Thorn." THE SCHOOL
ESSAY. "Decision." FRANK SIBLEY CHIPMAN
OVERTURE. "Rival." Pettee
ORCHESTRA.
CHORUS. "The Red Scarf." THE SCHOOL
ESSAY. "Trifles." - - ALLIE URSULA PUTNEY
QUARTETTE. "Twilight Bells."
ESSAY AND VALEDICTORY. "The Development of Civilization."
HERBERT WILLIAM ELLAM
CHORUS. "Good Night."
THE SCHOOL
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS BY CHAIRMAN OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
OVERTURE. "Lila." - - -
- - Harris ORCHESTRA.
BENEDICTION.
MARCHI. "King Cotton. -
Sousa
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
" Vale."
Farewell! Farewell! The sunlight grows less golden. And creeping closer comes the year's dull night. ..
Oh, past short months with joy and song enfolden ; Oh, happy future, opening clear and bright.
Farewell! Farewell! The thrush note bell like ringing. No more the neighboring hills is heard among ; Yea, all the songsters that so late were singing, Are hushed, as now our parting song is sung.
Farewell! Farewell! The flowers their heads are drooping, And many a one lies withered on the sod, As parting now with trembling eyelids drooping, Our prayers arise beseechingly to God.
Farewell! Farewell! The sun is slowly sinking, Behind the mountains to the far off west ;
Some gorgeous clouds, the day and night are linking, But darkness comes, that rude unwelcome guest.
Farewell! Farewell! But still the stars are shining Which from the black hung heavens send their rays ; Those steadfast stars which bid us cease repining- For night-time ends with Future's opening day.
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