USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1896-1898 > Part 5
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Prominent men, having every opportunity to know where- of they affirm, have recently said that in the last few years there has been a marked lowering of honor and integrity in bus- iness centers, [both East and West, and the suggestion has been made that it is largely due to increasing laxity of discipline in
118
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
schools. Certainly the character of the coming citizen, for whatever sphere of thought or action, is mainly determined by- the early years of school life. The importance of a wholesome and sturdy moral tone in education cannot be over-estimated. The steadfast maintenance of such an influence in the schools depends ultimately on the will of the parents. Your attention is specially invited to remarks on Moral Training in the Super- intendent's report herewith presented. This report with the following Financial Statement contains the important facts relating to our schools for the past year.
Financial Statement.
High School.
Balance from last year.
$225 95
Appropriation, Tuition from other towns,
3,100 00
220 09
¥3.546 04
Common Schools.
Balance from last year,
$540 65
Appropriation, Tuition from other towns.
11,275 00
9 00
$11.824 65
Contingent Schools.
Balance from last year.
$17 21
Appropriation, Books, supplies, etc .. sold.
2,450 00 34 88
$2.502 09
Apparatus.
Balance from last year. $9 56
Appropriation. 200 00
*209 56
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Evening Schools.
Balance from last year.
$3 39
Appropriation,
650 00
$653 39
The committee have expended :
High School.
Salaries of teachers,
$2,592 75
Janitor and fuel,
500 00
$3,092 75
Common Schools.
Salaries of teachers and superintendent, $9,843 70
Care of buildings,
738 25
Fuel.
556 84
Tuitions,
100 00
$11,238 79
Contingent Schools.
For books,
$804 75
For supplies,
591 91
For repairs,
459 20
For incidentals,
621 01
$2,476 87
Apparatus.
For apparatus and books of reference. $203 11
121
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Evening Schools.
Teachers.
$446 00
Care of rooms.
48 50
Fuel and lights.
02 12
Books and supplies.
42 54
Incidentals.
54 52
Rent.
35 00
8648 68
Total expenditures. $17.600 20
Balance in hands of treasurer. 1.075 53
Books and supplies on hand. not distributed. :19 70
Of the $600 appropriated in April. 1894. for plans and specifications for a new Grammar School builling. the Com- mittee have drawn $190.
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
Tuition.
100 00
- $11.375 00 -
Contingent schools -- Books. Supplies.
$600 00 000 00
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Repairs,
Incidentals,
$700 00 750 00
Apparatus,
Evening schools,
$2,650 00 $200 00 650 00
$17,975 00.
Respectfully submitted,
In behalf of the Committee.
SILVANUS HAYWARD, Chairman.
Southbridge, Mass., March 13, 1896.
Superintendent's Report.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
The school report for the year 1895-6 is herewith respect- fully presented. This report is the eleventh of the series of annual reports of the Superintendent, and presents the usual statistics and information relative to the administration of school affairs. The reports of the work of the same system of schools -under conditions varying little, having the same general out- line of studies, and, with few exceptions. the same corps of teach- ers-must necessarily show similarity from year to year. It has been a year of successful work, with nothing to seriously in- terrupt the quiet, orderly progress in all the schools.
Summary of Statistics.
Population of the Town, State census. 1895.
8,250
Valuation of the Town for 1895,
$2,558,457
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, 1,678
Number enrolled in public schools during the year, 1,125
Number under 5 years of age,
16
Number over 15 years of age,
97
Number between 5 and 15,
1,012
Number between 8 and 14,
555
Average number belonging.
752.40
Average daily attendance.
708.82
Per cent. of attendance, 94.21
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Cost Per Pupil.
Current expenses, including teaching, fuel and care of buildings, $14.331 54
Cost per pupil, based on total enrollment, 12 74
Cost per pupil, based on average enrollment. 19 04
Total expenditures, less permanent repairs,
16,820 28
Cost per pupil based on whole number,
14 95
Cost per pupil based on average enrollment,
22 35
Cost per pupil in High school.
35 14
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. 764
Average number belonging.
610
Average attendance, 554
Per cent. of attendance, 90.80
Total enrollment at St. Mary's Parochial school, 152
Average number belonging. 144
Average attendance, 137
Per cent. of attendance.
95.14
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Attendance by Schools.
SCHOOLS.
Whole Number
Enrolled.
Average Number
Belonging.
Average Attend-
Per cent. of Attend-
Per cent. of Tardi-
ness of each Pu-
Number of Weeks of School.
High School.
64.65
62.91
97.40
3.64
39.3
Higher Grammar-Main Street .
40
29.14
28.58
29.08
5.10
37.2
School street ...
18
17.06
16.64
97.54
.89
37.3
Lower Grammar-Main Street .
53
34.79
32.62
93.76
1.39
37.2
School street .. .
46
33.31
32.02
96.14
.65
37.2
Intermediate-Main street. .
74
46.60
42.25
90.66
.56
37.2
I'nion street
45
32.15
30.97
96.35
.80
37.3
River street
35
20.12
19.27
95.77
2.31
37.3
Town Hall.
35
25.50
23.96
93.65
2.22
37.0
Iligher Primary-Elm street.
67
47.85
41.25
92.48
6.09
37.2
School street
49
38.54
36.40
94.44
2.00
37.3
Carpenter.
57
32.41
34.80 40.00
37.10
92.75
3.69
37.3
Town Hall ..
42 35.19
33.82
96.11
1.78
37.2
School street
65
51.75
48.29
93.31
1.67
37.3
River street. .
58
28.72
27.76
96.65
2.17
37.3
Carpenter.
87
45.27
42.89
94.95
1.17
37.3
Mixed Primary-Sumner.
65
29.80
26.83
90.03
.82
37.3
Ammidown.
54
36.82
34.15
92.74
1.64
37.0
Ungraded-Bacon.
16
12.08
10.36
85.74
1.31
37.2
Hooker.
19
15.76
14.94
94.79
.89
37.3
1.125 752.40 708.82
94.21
2.08
37.3
pil.
1.73
37.3
Lower Primary-Elm street .
40
32.55
93.53
2.95
37.3
Main street .
72
30.26
93.36
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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 :
Frank Chipman, Bert Butterworth, Annie Vincelette,
Emily Haynes, Albert R. Blanchard, John Darling,
Charles Wood, Peter Caplette, Philip Tetrault,
Ernest Herron,
Florida Caplette, Lillie Macnie,
John J. Allman,
Carrie Irons, Flora Ferron,
Peter Perry.
Perfect in attendance two terms :
Alice Sanders, Ethel Seavey,
Eugene Tetrault.
Sarah Haskell,
J. Minnie Thompson, Martin Caplette,
Charles Reed, Sidney Haskell, Grace Comberbach,
Leo Dumas, Lienne Tetrault, Hector Leclair,
Emily Comberbach, Joseph Coggins.
· Calvin Brainard, Thomas Kelly,
Mary Thimblin, Peter Laplante,
Francis Morrissey. Carrie Comberbach, Robert Cooney,
Fannie Darling, Laura Gatineau, Cora Freeman,
Florence Vinton, Kittie Eccleston, George Lombard,
Willie Blair.
111 others have been perfect in attendance one term.
In the enrollment of the children of school age in May 1894, the number returned showed 52 less than in the preced- ing year. The enrollment of last May gave 53 less than in 1894. The number enrolled in the public schools is ten more than in the preceding year, and the per cent. of attendance is considerably higher, and is a near approach to the highest to be expected in any schools. Ordinarily, at least five per cent. must be allowed for necessary interruption of attendance.
The financial statement shows a balance to the credit of each account. $229.09 have been received for tuition of pupils from
127
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
other towns, and $100 has been paid for tuition. The total ex- penditures of the year are somewhat less than in the previous year, less having been done in repairs and improvements of buildings. The number of orders drawn during the year is 555. By the approval of the School Committee, to save time and avoid an unnecessary number of small bills and separate orders, the Superintendent has been accustomed to pay many small in- cidental expenses occurring in this department, mostly under contingent account, and occasionally to render an itemized bill of the same for approval of the Committee.
Evening Schools.
The Evening Schools opened September 9 and continued 15 weeks, each of the four divisions having three evenings a week and, in all, from 40 to 42 sessions. The make-up of the schools showed the same general features as in previous years. Nearly all in attendance were of primary grade, thus limiting the instruction to the most elementary work. The majority manifested a desire to learn and appeared to appreciate the opportunity for improving their knowledge of the English lan- guage. A few have attended year after year, and have made such progress that they seem prepared to take up higher work than has thus far been attempted. There were a few who at- tended on compulsion and showed little interest in the work, and had to be followed up sharply to compel them to secure the required attendance. In some instances it became necessary to require delinquents to make up lost time by attending extra nights at one of the other schools. During the early part of the term the attendance and work were much interrupted by the several fairs near the center school.
The order in the classrooms was generally good, and no one, during the session, was dismissed for disorderly conduct, as has been the case each previous year.
128
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The law requires that during the sessions of the Evening Schools reports shall be made each week to the several employ- ers of the attendance of those pupils who are in their employ. To carry out the letter of the law would require much time each week in filling out as many notices as there are pupils, and for- ward the same to the several employers. To simplify this mat- ter and cause the least possible annoyance to employers, and at the same time, comply with the spirit of the law, notice is sent each week of all delinquents only. If no notice is received. employers understand that those in their employ are in regular attendance. Four members were present every evening : fifteen every evening but one: fourteen were absent twice; eighteen three times, and thirteen lost four nights. One-third of the whole number enrolled were absent not more than five evenings. Number of schools. 4
Number of teachers employed.
8
Number of pupils enrolled. boys 112. girls 96. total 208
Members, who attended 70 per cent. of the sessions. 160
Average number belonging.
158.37
Average attendance.
142.88
Per cent. of attendance. 90.22
Total cost of schools for the season.
$648.68
Cost per pupil. $3.12
Repairs.
In the line of repairs very little has been done during the year aside from keeping the building in ordinary condition. The repairing of damage caused by the lawlessness of street boys is, every year, not a small item of expense. The breaking of win- dow glass and other damage to the outside of the school-houses are the result of malicious mischief, usually done on days when the schools are not in session.
129
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The greater part of the blackboard surface in the class- rooms is upon plastered walls. This has to be re-slated each year to keep the surface in working condition.
During the summer the Bacon school-house was thoroughly repaired and painted outside and inside; the walls furnished with slate blackboards, and a jacketed stove, with required ar- rangements for pure air and ventilation, provided. The cost of these improvements was $119.24.
A new case was built in the principal's room at the High school, the one in the library room furnishing insufficient case- room for the books, supplies, apparatus and minerals. This cost $72.
It will be necessary, the coming year, to re-shingle the School-street building. This will cost about $150.
In several of the class-rooms of Primary and Intermediate grades there are large, backward children for whom the desks are altogether too small. These children are of the age and size for the Grammar classes, and cannot be suitably accommo- dated at the desks of the lower grade rooms. These rooms should be re-seated and a sufficient number of larger desks pro- vided to accommodate the larger pupils.
Four of the school-houses in use have not suitable means of heating and ventilation. The changes required to supply needful sanitary conditions in one or more of these buildings likely to be continued in use should be made the coming year.
The school at the Dennison district has been closed since December, 1894. Nearly all the children in that district live at Westville, near the small No. 10 school in Sturbridge. Ar- rangements were made with the School Committee of Stur- bridge to accommodate such of these pupils as cannot attend one of the group of schools at Globe Village. This adjustment has resulted in a more regular attendance; the children- with two or three exeeptions-are much better accommodated and at a considerable less expense than required to maintain
130
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the Dennison school. There are now seventeen children of school age in the district besides those who attend the village schools. The homes of these children are so widely separated that it is not practicable to arrange for transportation to the School-street schools.
Flags.
Before the passage of the act of March 1895, requiring school committees to provide a United States flag for every school house (see appendix), nearly all the buildings had al- ready been provided with flags, in most cases by contributions of pupils, teachers and friends. By direction of the School Committee a flag 22 ft. by 14 ft., was purchased for the High school, and others of smaller size to replace the worn-out flags of other buildings. There has been expended during the year for new flags $53.40; for repairs of old ones $3.95, a total of $57.35.
Moral Training.
PUBLIC STATUTES, CHAP. 44, SECT. 15.
"It shall be the duty of teachers to exert their best endeav- ors to impress on the minds of children and youth committed to their care and instruction the principles of piety and justice and a sacred regard to truth; love of country, humanity and universal benevolence; sobriety, industry and frugality ; chas- tity, moderation and temperance ; and those virtues which are an ornament of human society and the basis upon which a re- publican constitution is founded ; and it shall be the duty of teachers to lead their pupils, as their ages and capacities will admit, into a clear understanding of the tendency of the above-
131
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
mentioned virtues to preserve a republican constitution and secure the blessings of liberty as well as to promote their future happiness, and also to point out to them the evil tendency of the opposite vices."
The statutes bearing upon Moral Training in the schools are explicit in their directions and purpose. Teachers are to use their best endeavors to train the young entrusted to their care to the practice of every virtue as a basis of honorable char- acter and good citizenship. Training is becoming more and more to be recognized as the vital element of the teacher's work. To teach a child is to give him ideas, to train him is to . enable him to get ideas himself and to reduce ideas to practice. When the pupil has learned how to control himself and how to study, the work of the teacher is greatly reduced. To know how to study-to find information -- is the next best thing to possessing the desired information.
An essential element of school training is acquiring the habit of regularity in attendance. Without this no one can be interested and secure satisfactory results. This includes on time and every time. Children should be made to realize that school is their business, and regularity should be a controlling - purpose. This means more than being in place and on time. It includes promptness in every requirement, the resisting every impulse to loiter, or to allow anything to interfere with the work in hand. The training that secures habits of regular- ity and promptness in all one's relations is of lasting and prac- tical value. The lack of these acquirements is a serious obsta- cle to success.
Another element of school training is neat and orderly habits. This implies not only neatness of person and possess- ions, but a care for neat and orderly surroundings, and for neat and orderly work. The habit of neatness and order in one's work leads to self respect, and is suggestive of purity of thought and character.
Closely allied to the above is accuracy-exactness in
132
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
seeing, in hearing, in statement, in work and conduct. The expressions "near enough," " well enough" have no place in the school room vocabulary. Results are either right or wrong. Pupils should understand that nothing less than cor- rectness, or at least, best efforts can be accepted by the teacher. Careless, slovenly work is not admissable in a well ordered school. Accurate work requires attention and close applica- tion-indispensable elements of scholarly character.
No school can be successful without a ready, cheerful obedience on the part of its pupils. To inspire such obedience there must be respect for, and confidence in the controlling power. The teacher must show a complete self control, a full and fresh knowledge of and a lively interest in the subjects taught, if he would secure attention and awaken interest and confidence. However familiar one may be with a general sub- ject, there is need of fresh and daily preparation, to know just what is contained in each recitation, and just how to treat the lesson with this particular class, and to have a well-defined end to be reached in each recitation. No two classes are alike, and the instruction must be adapted to the one class of minds be- fore the teacher. The remark of Dr. Arnold should be con- stantly before the mind of every teacher. "I wish my boys to drink from a running stream and not from a stagnant pool." In reply to the remark, "I should think you would tire of teach- ing school, " another great teacher said, " I do not teach school, I teach boys." The habit of a prompt obedience to rightful authority is far-reaching as it lies at the foundation of social and civil order, and is a prime factor of character in the duties and obligations of honorable citizenship.
Other elements of character require the constant attention and thought of the teacher, as a sacred regard for truth which is the foundation of all virtues ; respect for the rights of others ; thoughtfulness, courtesy and kindness. To possess the moral element, conduct must be regulated by worthy motives-to do right because it is right. Fear of punishment may serve as a
133
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
restraint, and the hope of promised reward may serve a tempo- rary purpose, but these are lower motives lacking in moral ele- ment. The end of school training is the power of self control and self direction, guided by high and worthy motives. The vital factor in the schools is the teacher.
Attention is called to the following reports from the Princi- pal of the High school and the Supervisor of drawing.
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 1895-96.
There have been eighty-eight pupils connected with this department during the past year against eighty-one of the pre- vious year. Of this number thirteen have attended from out of town, the largest number so attending in the school's history. The per cent. of attendance has increased from 96.65 to 97.40, while the per cent. of "times late" has dropped from 4.90 to 3.64. Of the three hundred twenty-one "times late " for the year, ninety are credited to three pupils. Pupils living four or five miles from school seemingly have no difficulty in attaining prompt and regular attendance, but the nearer we come to the school the higher the per cent. of absence and tardiness.
The graduating class numbered ten. Of this number one entered the Worcester Normal, two the Mass. Inst. of Technol- ogy, without conditions, and one Amherst on certificate of the school.
By arrangement with the faculty, pupils may now enter Dartmouth on certificate. The graduating class presented the school with an electric call bell, which is an hourly benefit to all.
134
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
I take this opportunity of publicly acknowledging the highly commendatory letters received from the faculty of the higher institutions concerning pupils recently entered from the school, in order that the friends of these faithful, students may know that their work has not only been appreciated here, but also in the higher institutions they have entered.
As our pupils, who have obtained the required standard, are now admitted at college on certificate, and when not so ad- mitted are examined in sight-reading in Latin and Greek, I have thought it best to devote all the time given to these branches, with the exception of the first year work, to advance work; this plan gains for the pupil greater fluency in translation, while there is no neglect of the regular grammatical drill.
All examinations for the last half of the year are on sight reading.
I believe this is the right course, and I find pupils more apt at sight translation than I would have thought possible but a a short time ago.
I wish during the coming year to enlarge the course in Literature so that the entering class may have as a reader " The Masterpieces of American Literature," the sophomores " The Masterpieces of British Literature," while the juniors as hereto- fore will read the college requirements and the seniors study A. S. Hill's "Rhetoric."
These studies are required of every pupil and I believe this is as good a course in Literature as we can expect with our limited corps of teachers.
I believe some standard works should be purchased for this department as a nucleus for a school library.
· Some twenty specimens have been added to the minera- logical cabinet from various sources. 4
Miss Goodrich, with the assistance of her class in Botany, added forty-five specimens to the herbarium.
Although the school began in September with new as- sistants, yet I believe the school work has moved along as pleas-
135
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
antly and there has been a more general devotion to study than in any year that I have been connected with the school.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. CORBIN.
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing.
In reporting the status of the drawing work, I would say that where the conditions are the same as last year, there is a steady progress in the quality of the work done. The aim of every true teacher is to cultivate habits which shall enable the pupil to become an intelligent and useful citizen-to teach the pupil how to learn. The aim of the drawing teacher is in no sense different. I have not found any ten talented pupils in my line-no one who will observe and draw anywhere, anyhow, and secure good results. Such are found only occasionally. I find, as usual, those who are doing the best work in all their studies are, almost invariably, doing the best work in drawing. A steady, careful application of principles taught and sugges- tions given brings the good results. I find the changing of teachers detrimental to my work, as, no doubt, it is to other work; also the fact that some of the desks are too small for the pupils.
The benefit from the "playing with colored paper " is some- times overlooked. The little ones learn not only harmony of color, but accuracy, neatness, care and patience. Let an older person try the paper-folding, mat-weaving, cutting from pat- terns, arranging and fastening in place, and such a one will · realize how much is taught by the pretty colored work. They learn wholes, halves, division, proportion, position, direction, etc., unconsciously, and, as they grow older, are required to
136
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
make their own patterns as well, which requires more mature carefulness.
I wish to most heartily thank the Board for the reading glasses so promptly furnished at my request. They have al- ready proved a great blessing, and will be more used as the sea- son advances. I wish pupils to observe the beautiful things about them, to make them a part of their lives. William Mor- ris has said, "To put the idea of beauty into labor, the idea must be instilled into the laborer from childhood." We wish to study nature not for facts only, but for the life, growth and spirit-the Divine influence back of it all. That is Art Edu- cation and our aim.
Thanking you for your unvarying kindness, and, through you, all the teachers who are working so hard for the common good,
Yours cordially, EVA BENHAM.
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