USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1898-1901 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
A. Rebecca Rowley,
IV
29
20
36.99
34.66
93.60
2.75
32-3
Alice B. Aldrich,
ISI
17|
19
28.56
26 63
92 81
1.52
36-3
Nettie V. Stone,
181
17
29.15
27 46
94.20
1.94
36-4
Agnes M. Meagher,
I
27
19
31.06
28.65
92.24
1.15
36-4
River street.
Jane Farquhar,
II-III
16
13
24 65
23.30
94.56
1.49
37-
Mary A. Ellis, -
I
38
24
38.02
36.61
96 29
1.06
37-
Elm street.
Mary Page, -
IV
31
25
44.54
42.09
94.49
2.00
37-1
Mary E. McCabe,
I
36
35.44
33.17
93.59
1.00
37-1
Carpenter.
II-III
17
33
39.35
36.02
91.63
1.42
36-3
Margaret G. Butler,
1
34
44
46.35
43.24
93.28
3.10
36-3
Ida M. Plimpton.
Un'g'r.
23
25
37.22
34.31
92.10
.68
37-1
Sissie E. Morse,
9
8
13 82
12.80
92.64
2.71
36-4
Jennie Simpson,
12
11
18.28
15 50
84 62
.47
37-
595
650
946.03
880.90
93.12
2.28
37
1245.
-
ng.
anee.
ance.
1.50
36-4
18
32
35.64
34.18
98 71
:
Martha Cutting,
..
tered.
tered.
Laura E. Shepardson, -
131
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Membership and Attendance.
For Fiscal Year Ending March 2, 1900.
Grade.
Number of Boys Regis-
tered.
Number of Girls Regis-
Average number be-
Average daily attend-
Per cent. of attend-
Per cent. of tardiness to each pupil.
Number of weeks and days of school.
High School. Grammar -Marcy street,
IX
21
29
31 00
26 92 86.84
1.89
38-1
VIII
19
17
27.78
25.49 92.02
1.58
38 1
VII
20
20
41.94
38.45 91.67
1 57
38-1
..
. 4
VIb
14
24
34.77
30.88.88.59
2.34
38-1
Va
26
26
40.05
38 19190.50
2.00
38-1
Vb
16
22
37.67
33.63 93.10
1.71
38-1
Ungr.
33
25
33.37
28.97|87.30
1.08
38-1
Main street.
35.70 90.00
2.36
33-1
II
29
26
46.05
41 29 89 37
2.87
38-2
66
Ia
40
20
30.96
21.70 89.61
1.23
38-2
Ib
27
30
32.85
29.65 0.89
2.98
38-2
School street.
IV
30
12
32.27
29.99,92 93
1.92
38-1
. .
..
III
17
19
27.97
25.98 92 71
1.31
38-1 1-2
.6
I
36
33
34.06
29.97 87.99
98
38-1 1-2
River street.
II-III
14
14
22.99
21 79 94.96
1.46
38-2 1-2
I
43
29
36.23
34.37|94 86
1.70
38-1
Elm street.
37
25
43.43
39.15 89.86
1.00
38-2 1 2
..
16
I
45
34
36.27
33.06 91.14
.50
38-2 1-2
Carpenter,
II-III
26
31
35.87
37.70,95.15
1.50
38-2 1-2
Ammidown,
Ungr.
5
93
39.31
37.04 94.20
.87
38-0
Bacon,
Ungr.
8
8
14.93
13.20,88.41
3.87
38-2
Hooker.
Ungr.
14
9
13.20
10.89 82 50
.65
39-0
672
666
924.21
847.61,91.77
1.83
38-1.6
1338.
. .
.4
..
..
VIa
19
24
37.17
34 88.93.84
1.34
38-1
33
60
85.16
79.37 93.20
7.42
37-3
..
..
II
17
15
24.07
22.06 91.65
2.26
38-2 1-2
I
41
57
45.53
41.29 90.69
2.25. 38-1 1-2
22
33
39.21
tered.
longing.
ance.
ance.
132
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Corps of Teachers, March 1, 1900.
Name.
Salary.
Date of first
election.
Grade.
Educated.
J. T. Clarke,
$1,400 1886
Supt.
F. E. Corbin.
1,300 1SS6
700.18.9
Prin. H. S Assistant.
Elizabeth Perry.
650,1897
Laura B. Williams,
600,1899
* Blanche Wheeler, .
250 1898
College of Oratory.
Laura E. Shepardson, Alice Holmes,
520 1897 IX
520'1878 VII.
Per Month
Isabel P. Taylor,
46 1890 VIII.
Southbridge H. S. Southbridge II. S.
* Mary E. Meagher,
44 1887 VI.
Margaret E. Dougherty,
40 1897 VI.
Framingham Norm'l
Louisa O. Twombly.
44 1892|V.
Salem Normal Sc.
*J. Eva Conner,
40 1898|V.
Worcester Normal.
Abigail C. Hitchcock,
40 1898|V.
*A. Rebecca Rowley,
44 1865
IIV.
Mary Page,
36|1899
IV.
Johnson Normal.
Alice B Aldrich,
40
1889
III.
Worcester Normal.
Clara P. Chase.
40 1896
III.
*Jane Farquhar,
40
1887
II and III.
Martha Cutting, .
40 1885
Il and III.
Mary L. Boardman,
40 1891 LI
*Nettie V. Stone,
36 1898 [I.
Southbridge H. S.
Mary A. Ellis,
40 1883 I.
Southbridge H. S.
* Agnes M. Meagher,
40/1886 I.
Southbridge II. S.
Susan M. Knight,
40 1858 I.
Southbridge H. S.
Mabel J. Newell,
40 1892|I,
Southbridge H. S.
Mary E. McCabe,
40 1890|I.
Margaret G. Butler,
40 1893 I.
Ida M. Plimpton,
40 1886 Ungraded.
Ethel E. Fullerton,
40 1900
*Jennie Simpson,
36.1897
Winnifred M. Kinney,
24 1896
Helper.
H. Genevieve Hyde,
24 1896
Southbridge H. S.
Ethel Seavey, .
16:1899
Southbridge H. S.
Alice Sanders.
12 1899
Southbridge II. S.
Marion E. Hirons,
40 1899 Substitute.
*Annie F. Eager,
yr. 500,1896
Drawing. Music.
New Haven Normal. Normal Art School.
Mrs. H. N. Carpenter,
Dartmouth College. Williams College Norwich & Brown U. Wellesley College. Normal & Boston U.
Jesse B. Mowry, .
Grammar.
Nichols Academy. Palmer High School.
Bridgewater Normal Southbridge H. S
Brimfield High Sc. Quincy Training. Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S.
Quincy Training. Southbridge H. S. Southbridge U. S. Wellesley College. Framingham Norm'l Southbridge II. S.
P. O. address, Globe Village, Mass.
133
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 sickness.
Joseph Ryan,
Everett A. Simmons,
George Lombard,
Annie Vincellette,
Elizabeth Hyde,
Louis Leduc,
Exildora Bonin,
Tellisfore Leduc,
Harry Hay,
Lydie Tetrault.
Perfect in attendance two terms:
Edith Newton,
Wilfred Dumas,
Katherine Flood,
George Tully,
William Flood,
Joseph Demers,
Gertrude Lamoureux,
Claride Chapdelaine,
Minnie May,
Bernadette St. Onge.
Arilda Robillard,
Mamie Thimblin,
Oliver Gagnon,
Amy Montville,
May Kelley,
Alguria Robillard,
Helen Rowley,
Gertrude Flood,
Frank Stevenson,
Harold Wyman,
Ella A. Vial,
Evelyn Gagnon,
Kathleen Clarke,
Ernest W. Hall,
Emma Breusseau,
Eugenie A. Tetrault,
Sadie Weld,
Mary Tully.
81 others have been perfect in attendance one terni.
The school census of 1899 was taken in September as required. The number of children between the ages of 5 and 15 was found to be 2,018, 333 more than by the enrolment of 1898. The total number of pupils
134
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
registered in the public schools is 37 more than in the previous year. The total number enroled in the par- ochial school is 994, making 314 more pupils than re- ported by the September enrolment. This is account- ed for by the entrance of new pupils and by the at- tendance of pupils a part of the time at the public schools and a part of the time at the parochial schools, thus causing a duplicate enrolment. The per cent. of attendance is lower than for several years. This was anticipated on account of the prevailing sickness of the last two months of the year.
The following table shows the statistics for the past seven years.
May En-Total En-|Average Per cent. rolment. rolment in number of attend- the schools belonging. ance.
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
1898-9,
1685
1301
995.42
92.22
1899-1900
2018 *
1338
924.21
91.77
Enrolment in September.
The financial statement shows a balance to the credit of each account.
From other towns the sum of $330.77 has been re- ceived for tuitions of pupils, and $81.00 has been paid for the tuition of children of the Dennison district. The total expenditures of the School Department for the
135
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
vear, not including permanent improvements and the Evening Schools, have been $22,871.07, an increase of $1,316.15 over the preceding year.
TRUANT OFFICERS
The Truant Officers have attended to their duties, responding to the calls of teachers to look after ab- sentees, visiting the homes of delinquents and return- ing boys to their places in school. The excuses gener- ally assigned for absence are illness or lack of cloth- ing.
They report: 73
Number of visits to schools,
Number of calls upon parents 206
Boys taken to school. 27
Number taken before the court. 0
Number sent to Truant School, 0
MONROE REYNOLDS,
JAMES BROWN,
PETER CAPLETTE.
Truant Officers.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Length of term 14 weeks. (Three nights per week.)
Number of schools .4
136
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Number of teachers employed. 9
Number of pupils enroled, boys 110, girls
77, total, 187
Average number belonging, 175.55
Average attendance, . 150 06
Per cent. of attendance, . 85.48
Total cost of the schools for the season, 648.03
Cost per pupil; .3.46
These schools were in session fourteen weeks clos- ing Dec. 23rd. The length of each session was one and one half hours, beginning at 7 o'clock. The two schools for boys were conducted by Mr Knowles; the center school for girls was in charge of Miss Holmes, and that at River street in charge of Miss Agnes M. Meagher.
In a manufacturing town like Southbridge where there is constant demand for the service of boys and girls and where, with a large number of children, regu- lar attendance at day school ceases at the age when employment is allowable, and where so many with little or no knowledge of the English language, are constantly coming to town, the evening school seems a necessity.
The experience of previous years adds each year to the efficiency in the management of these schools. Of the nine teachers employed all but three were regu- lar teachers in the public schools, bringing to the ser- vice experience and professional training. No one of them was allowed to work more than three evenings a week.
A majority of the pupils attended from choice and showed by diligent attention, an appreciation of the
137
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
opportunities afforded; a few attend to avoid conflict with labor laws, and show very little interest in the work.
Of the whole number of pupils registered tuo were present at every session, eleren all but one; eighteen were absent twice, eighteen were absent three times and tirenty, four evenings. Fifteen were present less than one half of the time, of whom four were not in town the whole of the time, and four others were excused on account of illness.
REPAIRS.
The appropriation for this department was largely used for unexpected repairs. Early in the spring the heater at the Ammidown school house became unsafe and unfit for further use. This was replaced by a Barstow jacketed heater which cost $45.00. The fur- naves at the Main street and School street buildings were furnished with new linings at an expense of $80.44. The wall in the rear of the Marcy street school lot fell down and was relaid and the grading of the lot completed, this at a cost of $210.86. At the Marcy street building the floor of the cold air rooms was cemented at an expense of $33.47.
The special appropriation for the addition to the High school department was exhausted in completing the new work and providing the required new fur- nit re. The re-dressing the original room, covering the steam pipes, adjusting the electric bell and sundry
138
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
other necessary work, costing $220.18, was charged to the account of general repairs. The total cost of these improvements was $589.95. So much of the appro- priation was required for work not provided for in the estimate of the years' expenses, that it seemed best to defer re-building the fence on the N. E. side of the Marcy street lot.
In the line of future necessary, or, at least, de- sirable improvements I would call your attention to the following: In the large recitation room and the smaller adjoining room of the High school department, there is not sufficient radiating surface to properly warm the rooms in severe weather. I would suggest that a radiator of much larger surface be placed in the large room and one of the present small radiators be moved to the smaller room.
The Marcy street building will not be considered completed until the walls and ceilings are tinted. It was the intention of the Building Committee to do this before handing it over to the School Committee, but they were advised that it would be better to wait one or two years. The estimated cost of this is about $500. It would be an improvement to the High school room and to the laboratory to have the walls and ceilings tinted, giving a uniform shade to the original, and new parts. The estimated cost of this is about $150.
The River street house requires re-shingling this season, otherwise the school houses of the town are generally in fair condition, and will require, for some time, only ordinary attention.
139
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The increased numbers in the high school in Sep- tember clearly demanded a stronger teaching force, and Miss Laura B. Williams, a lady of considerable ex- perience in educational work and well known in this vicinity, was added to the corps of teachers.
At the end of the school year, Mr Carey resigned in response to a call to a position in a college in Cala- fornia, and Mr Jesse B Mowry was elected to the po- sition of teacher of Science studies and higher Mathe- matics.
The school is now doing its work under more fav- orable conditions than ever before. The main room now accommodates the entire school, and is well warmed, ventilated and lighted. The additional teacher allows longer periods for recitation and a little time to the principal for supervision of the work of the several departments.
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
The re-arrangement of the schools a year ago last September makes it practicable to avoid, in nearly every case, classes too large to be properly managed by one teacher. The laws relating to the education of children, requiring them to attend school between the ages of seven and fourteen, lose their force unless the conditions for successful work in the class rooms are favorable. If the classes are too small, there is want-
140
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ing that stimulus to activity, so desirable to both teacher and pupils for the best results. If the classes are too large, opportunity is wanting to meet the indi- vidual needs of pupils so essential to intelligent ad- vancement. A course of study for a system of graded schools is necessarily made on the basis of the capacity of the average pupil, but the capacities and powers of a class of forty pupils vary greatly, some doing the work of an ordinary lesson in much less time than others. That all may be kept busy during the entire period of study extra work is provided for the quicker pupils-those able to do more than the assigned les- son-extra examples in arithmetic or special topics in geography, history or language to be looked up and reported upon. This extra work is entirely optional, yet those able to do it show a readiness for additional work and obtain and report supplementary informa- tion. 1
The demands of the schools are constantly grow- ing more and more exacting and the teacher of today must be superior in equipment to the teacher of even a few years ago. In our schools it is the earnest pur- pose of the teaching force to meet the constantly in- creasing requirements-to attain a higher standard in teaching. To do this it is necessary to keep familiar with the best professional thought of the day through educational periodicals and papers presented at meet- ings of. educators.
Teachers must visit good schools to study methods and management in other conditions than their own and perhaps, gain new inspiration and increased efficiency by attendance at one of the many summer institutes.
141
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
All this costs money and cannot be done on a mere living salary. In recognition of this, at the beginning of the school year, an addition was made to the sala- ries of teachers in the lower grades, and to individual teachers having special responsibility in higher grades. The work of the schools has been carried on in an un- usually quiet and methodical manner, and nothing save the recent interruption by prevailing illness, has occurred to disturb the orderly progress.
DISCIPLINE
To succeed in discipline the teacher must have sufficient tact to understand the motives which actuate the pupil in causing annoyance, and not to impute mo- tives which are not his. Children have a keen sense of justice and resent being misjudged. The power to quell disorder is of less value than the power to forsee and prevent it. So the teacher is most successful in management who has the tact to prevent disorder. A commanding personality may secure the outward appearance of an orderly school, and yet not be a dis- ciplinarian in the higher sense of the term. Discipline implies a capacity for self control and effective work, the will of the pupils acting responsively to the will of the teacher. The most orderly school is not necessari- ly the most quiet. There must be the hum of business and something always on hand more interesting and important than mischief. The teacher who succeeds in keeping the children so busy during working hours
142
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
on the legitimate work of the classroom that there is no time to think of anything else, when pupils have learned the power of self control, have learned to work and to love work, is the real disciplinarian, and her school has a near approach to the ideal school.
The discipline in our schools is highly commend- able. In many class-rooms there is apparently no at- tention given to "keeping order." Everyone is dilli- gently employed in the work at hand and the occasion for attention to conduct does not appear. During the year, very few cases of discipline, in comparason with preceding years, have been referred to the Superin- tendent, and none have been referred to the Board.
READING.
The connection between the schools and the pub- lic library is growing closer every year. The teachers are interested in teaching their pupils not only how to read intelligently but what to read, and are constantly suggesting books for home reading. Every school has a variety of supplementary reading matter-books re- lating to the studies pursued, and others having a pur- pose to cultivate a taste for the best in literature. Not all that is desired is accomplished but an impulse is given in the right direction to many which cannot fail to influence in after life.
Our children are to be congratulated on the at- tractive character of the reading books now in their hands -- books beautiful in illustration and rich in va-
143
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
riety of interesting and instructive reading matter.
Love of Country is taught by the observance of Me- morial day, saluting the flag aud by lessons on the heroes, both civil and military, of our country's history not forgetting the real foundation of all true patriotism which is respect for and obedience to all rightful au- thority, whether of the home, or school, or laws of the land.
SCHOOL ROOM DECORATIONS.
Much interest has been manifested during the year by the teachers and pupils in school room decoration, and much has been done in that direction. From the proceeds of the musical entertainment given by the higher classes of the grammar schools last June under the direction of Mrs Carpenter, twenty large pictures- portraits and reproductions of the old masters-in frames, have been hung in the school rooms and halls of the Marcy street building.
Through the kindness of friends we have also placed in the same building seven other interesting re- productions.
In the high school, from the same source we have placed eleven pictures consisting of classic reproduc- tions, portraits and landscapes. The class of '99 have presented a bust of Webster.
144
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
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 1899-1900.
There have been 137 pupils enrolled during the past year, 50 boys and 87 girls.
Of this number 26 have attended from out of town.
During the past year several important changes have been made.
In the summer vacation an addition of 30 feet was made to the High School department thus giving opportunity to seat all the pupils in the main room. This has been a great advantage in discipline and since the change no friction has arisen between pupils and teachers.
There are at present 117 desks in the main room with ample floor space for any additional desks that may be needed within the next few years.
Owing to the increased number of pupils another assistant was engaged in September, thus giving an opportunity to lengthen the time of the recitation period.
The school session was also changed from one to two sessions. Superintendent Leaver, of Boston, in a recent article in the Educational Review says that in the ideal school of the twentieth century "The solid five hours of school work will be broken up and spread over a longer part of the day. There will be ample time about mid-day for a substantial meal."
The percentage of attendance has decreased from 96.26 in 1898-9 to 93.2 for the past year. A part of
145
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
this decrease is because some pupils find a ready ex- cuse for not returning to the afternoon session.
Of the class of '99 .62 of the original entries gradu- ated and .38 of the graduates will attend higher in- stitutions.
The class at graduation presented the school with a bust of Daniel Webster.
An anonymous friend has recently presented the school with eleven photographs, part illustrative of ancient art and part representing typical works of the old masters,
They not only beautify the rooms but also by their silent influence tend to ennoble all.
It is inmpossible to heat two of the recitation rooms above 65 degrees in the coldest weather and the dif- ference of temperature in the various rooms has been the cause of frequent colds. More radiation should be placed in these rooms.
Respectfully submitted.
F. E. CORBIN.
REPORT OF DRAWING.
"No one will claim that any kind of training can produce a genuis nor that any great work of art can emanate from such a limited study of drawing as the time of the public schools affords; but we do know that the right kind of training will call forth the natural tendencies of the pupils and develop inherent ability; and who is to say where genius or ordinary ability
146
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
may be found, or what the possibilities of any mortal may be." Individuals develope differently and it is im- possible to say which of our children will develope genius or which one will adopt as his life work the study and practice of art, As time goes on our pupils show a gradual improvement in drawing and a greater ability to appreciate works of art brought to their notice.
The exhibit held in June was beneficial in many ways. The children were pleased to show their pa- rents what they had done and the parents gained a clearer idea of the work and by showing an interest in the work of the child incited him to further efforts. We were only sorry that more of the parents did not come to see the drawings and encourage the children in their efforts. A little interest on the part of the pa- rents goes much further than anything the teacher can say in encouraging the child in his studies. Mr Bailey of the State Board addressed the teachers for an hour last June, He spoke very favorably of the exhibit and was especially pleased with the children's drawings of plants in jars and their panels of flowers painted in their natural colors.
This fall we began with the study of leaves and twigs, painting the autumn leaves and the bright alder berries which were so plentiful. Nuts, fruit and vege- tables formed interesting studies and it was amusing to see the enthusiasm with which the children tugged big yellow pumpkins into the school room for a draw- ing lesson.
Toys have added interest in the fourth and fifth grades, and large toy horses posed as models, some .
147
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
good results being obtained from them. Tops and balls are also good subjects for the fourth grade pupils. We draw many different objects, including studies from life, finishing some in ink, some in color and others in pencil. Among other things in the sixth and seventh grades, the school flower pots with their plants were painted in colors, In the eighth and nineth grades much time has been spent in designing table covers, rugs, wall papers and book-covers; these latter being planned to be used as the covers to our essays on the different artists as we are studying Raphael, Michael, Angelo, Landseer, Hofman, Rosa Bonheur and many others. Each teacher has two artists to study during the year and she has the class write compositions about then. We have the Perry pictures to illustrate our papers on the lines of the artists and many of the children like to make collections of these pictures: they thus become familiar with many artists before they reach the high school.
Development of appreciation of the beautiful in form and color in nature and in works of art has so much to do with the highest enjoyment of life and its influence on character there can be no question as to the desirability of it as an element of education. We have been able to secure a good number of large pic- tures including several reproductions of the old mas- ters and we are hoping some of our good friends will help us to buy others for our school room walls. In many places the citizens have contributed largely for the decoration of the school houses. A large part of the child's life is spent in school and why compel him to gaze constantly at the bare walls and utter lack of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.