USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1898-1901 > Part 21
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Further particulars are contained in the Superin- tendent's report to which your careful attention is specially invited.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Balance from last year,
$624 70
Appropriation, 4,275 00
Tuition from other towns,
273 43
$5,173 13
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Balance from last year,
$1,326 76
Appropriation, 15,900 00
Tuition from other towns,
15 00
-- $17,241 76
CONTINGENT SCHOOLS.
Balance from last year,
$44 96
Appropriation
4,250 00
Books, supplies, etc., sold,
101 60
Order overdrawn,
10.00
$4,406 56
122
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
APPARATUS.
Balance from last year,
$0 76
Appropriation,
250 00
$250 76
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Balance from last year,
$31 39
Appropriation, 650 00
$681 39
The committee have expended :
HIGH SCHOOLS.
Salaries of teachers,
$3,846 25
Janitor and fuel,
575 00
$4,421 25
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Salaries of superintendent and teachers,
$13,130 77
Care of buildings,
1,518 50
Fuel,
1,199 16
Tuition,
84 00
Transportation,
233 25
123
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Educational lectures,
55 87
$16,221 55
--
CONTINGENT SCHOOLS.
For books,
$825 15
For supplies,
485 66
For repairs,
2,046 52
For incidentals,
1,044 39
$4,401 72
APPARATUS.
For apparatus, chemicals and books of reference,
$171 66
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Teachers,
$403 25
Care of rooms,
54 95
Fuel and lights,
32 33
Rent,
35 00
Books and supplies,
57 50
Incidentals,
69 52
-
$652 55
Total expenditures,
$25,868 71
124
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Balance in hands of treasurer,
$1,884 87
Books and supplies on hand, not distributed,
$578 25
APPROPRIATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR
High School --
Teachers,
$4,000 00
Janitor and fuel,
575 00
$4,575 00
Common Schools-
Teachers and Superintendent,
$13,200 00
Janitors,
1,500 00
Fuel,
1,250 00
Tuitions,
100 00
Transportation,
300 00
- $16,350 00
Contingent Schools-
Books,
$900 00
Supplies,
800 00
Repairs,
700 00
Incidentals,
1,100 00
$3,500 00
Apparatus,
$250 00
Evening schools,
$650 00
Respectfully submitted in behalf of the Committee, SILVANUS HAYWARD, Chairman. Southbridge, March 7, 1901.
-
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF SOUTHBRIDGE:
Gentlemen: The report for the year 1900-1901 is hereby respectfully submitted. This is the sixteenth of the series of annual reports from this office and the fifteenth of the present Superintendent.
The part of the report relating to attendance covers the school year ending with June 1900; the part relating to the finances of the Department and all other matters are for the fiscal year.
To secure uniformity throughout the state-having reports cover the same period of time-attendance re- ports are now required for the regular school year.
The census of school children is required to be takon in September instead of in May.
-
126
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
STATISTICS.
POPULATION AND VALUATION.
Population of town, U. S. Census, 1900, 10,043
Assessed Valuation of the town, 1900, $4,000,895 00
Number of polls, 1,840
Rate of taxation,
$19 20
Valuation of School houses and lots,
$109,900 00
Valuation of other School prop-
erty, $6,180 00
-$116,080 00
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, Sept. 1899, 2,018
Number between 5 and 15, Sept. 1900, 2,065
ATTENDANCE.
SCHOOL YEAR ENDING WITH JUNE 1900
Number enrolled in public schools during the year 1,198
Number under 5 years of age, . .32
Number over 15 years of age, 123
Number between 5 and 15, 1043
Number between 7 and 14,. .692
Average number belonging, 903.91
127
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Average daily attendance, 826.03
Per cent. of attendance, 91.38
Per cent. of attendance,. . 91.38
Number of elected teachers employed
March 1, 1901,. 33
Number of helpers employed March 1, 1901, . . 4
Through the courtesy of the instructors we are able to give the following statistics of the parochial schools:
Number enrolled at the Notre Dame Par- ochial school, . 819
Average number belonging, 778
Average attendance, . 707
Per cent. of attendance, 90.86
Total enrolment at St. Mary's Parochial school, . 183
Average number belonging 155
Average attendance, . 143
Per cent of attendance, 90.22
COST PER PUPIL.
Current expenses, including teaching,
fuel and care of buildings,. $20,642 80
Cost per pupil, based od total enrolment. 17 23
Cost per pupil, based on average enrolment, . .22 83 Total expenditures, less permanent repairs, . . 24,057 34
Cost per pupil based on whole number,. 20 18
Cost per pupil based on average enrolment. 26 50 Cost per pupil in High school,,. 49 62
128
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE.
For School Year Ending June 23, 1900.
Grade.
istered.
istered.
Average Membership
Average Daily Attend-
ance.
Per Cent. of Attend-
Per Cent. of Tardiness
to Each Pupil.
Number of Weeks and Days of School.
High School,
40
71
89.09
80.43
90.28,
7.63
37.4 1-2
Grammar, Marcy street,
IX
13
14
21.07
20.39
93.50
1.85
38
VIII
19
17
27.05
24.57
90 82
2.08
38
..
VII
25
36
49.46
45 56
92.11
1.56
38
66
VIe
22
21
37.38
35.55
95.10
1.49
38
VIn
24
22
35.
31.56
90.10
1.32
38
..
Ve
35
15
36.22
32.60
90.
1.74
38
6 4
V1
23
23
36.01
33.80
93 881
1.50
38
Ungraded, -
Main street.
III
28
26
39.25
35.12
89.
2.41
38-1
66
IL
38
13
48.25
43.59
39.86
4 53
38-1
Ie
24
14
31.19
27.53
88.26
2.10
38-1
6 6
In
20
28
34.51
30.92
89.61
3.40
38-2
Elm street,
IV
26
28
43.99
40.32
91.67
.78
38-1
66
I
20
31
37.40
33.83
90.45
1.12
38-1
School street,
IV
17
15
30.62
28.30
92.29
3.09
38-1
66
II
15
10
21.07
19.27
91.45
1.96
38 1-2
66
I
27
29
33.14
29.18
88.05
1.73
38 1-2
River street.
II-III
15
15
19.72
18.93
95.99
1.101
38-2
66
I
34
21
33.67
32.23
95.72
1.53
38-2
Carpenter,
II-III
19
21
30.45
28.64
94.05
1.75
38-1 1-2
I
46
51
51.51
46.43
91.03
2.28
38-3
Ammidown,
Ungr.
25
22
39.63
36 80
92.18
3.14
38-4
Bacon,
9
6
13.04
11.70
89.72
5.27
38-2
Hooker,
66
11
9
11.18
10.20
91 23
.50
38-3
606
592 903.91 825.031
91.38
261
38-1
1198.
14
19
26.9:
24.02
88.99
1.82
38
III
17
15
26.46
24.50
92.23
3.25
38 1-2
1
ance.
1
Number of Boys Reg-
Number of Girls Reg-
129
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CORPS OF TEACHERS, MARCH 1, 1901.
NAME.
Salary.
Date of first
election.
Grade.
Educated.
J. T. Clarke,
$1,500 1886
Supt.
F. E. Corbin, .
1,500 1886 Prin. H. S.
Ernest M. Gleason,
600
1900 Assistant.
Elizabeth Perry,
700 1897
Laura B. Williams,
600 1899
Ada J. Murdock,
250
1900
College of Oratory.
Laura E. Shepardson, Alice Holmes,
520 1897 IX.
520 1878 VII.
Per
month
Isabel P. Taylo:
46 1890 VIII.
Southdridge H. S. Southbridge H. 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, *A. Rebecca Rowley,
44 1865 IV.
Mary Page, .
36 1899 LV.
Clara P. Chase,
40 1896 III.
*Jane Farquhar,
40 1887 II and III.
Jolinson Normal. Brimfield High Sc. Quincy Training. Southbridge H. S.
Martha Cutting,
40 1885 II and III.
Southbridge H. S.
*Nettie V. Stone,
36
1898 II and III.
Southbridge II. S.
Mary A Ellis,
40 1883 1.
Southbridge H. S.
* Agnes M. Meagher, Susan M. Knight,
40 1858 1.
Southbridge H. S.
Jennie Simpson,
36 1897|I.
Mary E. McCabe,
40 1890 I.
Margaret G. Butler, .
40 1893 I.
Winnifred M. Kinney,
36 1896 Ungraded.
Ethel E. Fullerton,
40 1900
Sarah P'. Haskell,
32,1901
6.
*Bertha Harwood,
24 19,00
Helper.
Mabel C. Teahan,
24|1900
* Annie M. Simpson, . Alice Sanders,
24 1900
Alice B. Aldrich
40 1889 Substitute.
* Annie F. Eager,
550 yr 1896 Drawing.
Southbridge H. S. Worcester Normal. Normal Art School.
Mrs. H. N. Carpenter,
Music.
Dartmouth College. Williams College. Dartmouth College. Wellesley College. Normal & Boston U.
Grammar.
Nichols Academy. Palmer High School.
40|1898 V.
Bridgewater Normal. Southbridge H. S.
Mary L. Boardman,
40 1891 II.
40 1886 I.
Southbridge H. S.
Framingham Norm'l. Quincy Training. Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S. Wellesley College. Southbridge H. S. Southbridge H. S. Westfield Normal. Worcester Normal.
20 1899
* P. O. Address, Globe Village, Mass.
130
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.
Katherine Flood,
William Flood,
Gertrude Lamoureux,
Annie Vincillette,
Ernest Hall,
Amy Montville,
Leo Dumas,
Oscar Gatineau,
Philip Tetrault,
Everett Simmons,
Gertrude Flood,
John Brennan,
Kathleen Clarke,
Florida Caplette,
Bretna Morse,
Elzoid Senecal,
Lydia Tetrault.
Perfect in attendance two terms :
Margaret Keenan,
Edith Newton,
Harry Hay,
Alguria Robillard,
Armand Blair,
Helen Comberbach,
Howard Bracket,
Wilfred Dumas,
John Coggans,
Elizabeth Hyde,
Helen Rowley,
Ella A. Vial,
Evelyn Gagnon,
Tellesfore Leduc,
Melina Boucher,
Cecilia Murphy,
Herman Morse,
Thomas L. Olney,
Marion Simpson,
Eugenia Tetrault,
Fred Lombard, Louis Leduc,
Joseph Ryan,
Winnifred Tully.
85 others were perfect in attendance one term.
131
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The school census of 1900, taken in September, en- rolled 2,065 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years of age-47 more than the enrolment of 1899.
The whole number of pupils registered in the pub- lic schools is 1,198. The total number in the Parochial schools is 1,002, making the total enrolment in all the schools 2,200-135 more than the number given by the school census. The number under 5 years of age and over 15 registered in the public schools is 155, showing that nearly all the children of school age were in school.
The number of pupils registered in the public schools thus far during the first half of this school year is 1,082, with an average number belonging of 934.57; the number reported to be in the Parochial schools is 979; the average number belonging 936.
The following table shows the statistics for the past nine years.
May En-Total En-|Average'Per cent. rolment. rolment in the schools
number belonging.
of attend- 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
1895-5,
1678
1125
752.40
94.21
1896-7,
1651
1242
861.30
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
1900-1901
2065
1198
903.91
91.08
The financial statement shows a balance to the credit of each account.
132
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
From other towns the sum of $288.43 has been re- ceived for tuitions of pupils, and $84.00 has been paid for the tuition of children of the Dennison district. The total expenditures of the School Department for the year, not including permanent improvements, and the Evening Schools amounts to $25,216.16, an increase of $1,316.15 over the expenditures of the preceding year. This increase is cheifly due to a small increase in the salaries of teachers of certain grades.
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: 69
Number of visits to schools, .
Number of calls upon parents, 186
Boys taken to school, . 31
Number taken before the court, 3
Number sent to Truant School, 2
PETER CAPLETTE,
JOSEPH JAGGER,
ALBERT BACK,
Truant Officers.
133
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
The Evening Schools authorized and maintained at public expense are entitled to a share of public in- terest. The design of these schools is to afford supple- mentary schooling to those whom from necessity, or otherwise, do not continue in school as long as de- sirable, to furnish to those who desire it the oppor- tunity of raising themselves to a higher level of intel- ligence, thereby not only uplifting themselves in character and intelligence but the community of which they are a part.
The schools continued three months, closing December 28. The sessions were for one and one-half hours beginning at seven o'clock. The number in at- tendance was somewhat less than in previous years and included none of the disturbing element that heretofore has caused annoyance. Those who availed themselves of this opportunity for study and improve- ment deserve credit for excellent deportment and manifest desire to learn. There were undoubtedly others who ought to have attended but were not dis- posed to practice the self denial that such attendance requires. The practical usefulness of the evening schools is beyond question, and no effort on the part of employers should be spared to see that all illiterate minors in their employ avail themselves of this oppor- tunity for improvement.
Heretofore the work has been limited to reading, writing and language exercises with incidental in- struction correlative to these subjects; this season les- sons were given to some extent in arithmetic and his-
134
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
tory.
Thus far the provision for evening schools has been entirely optional on the part of the town, a gratuity, but now, the population having increased to 10,000 and above, such schools are required, as will be seen by the following extract from the statutes:
Sec. 5. Any town or city may, and every tov n and city of ten thousand or more inhabitants shall, maintain annually evening schools for the instruction of persons over fourteen years of age, in orthography, reading, writing, the English language and grammar, geography, arithmetic, industrial drawing, both free- hand and mechanical, the history of the United States, physiology and hygiene and good behavior. Such other subjects may be taught in such schools as the school committee deem expedient. Sec. 5, chapter 496, Acts of 1898.
The statutes call for provision for a higher grade of work than the schools have thus far furnished, and yet no town can be expected to make such provision unless there is a reasonable demand for the same. Judging from the experiences of the past, my impres- sion is that there will be little demand at present for a school of higher grade. Still the school committee should be in position to hold themselves in readiness to open such a school as soon as a sufficient number of pupils manifest a desire to avail themselves of ad- vanced instruction, the school to be continued through a term, provided the attendance and interest war- rant it.
Length of term 14 weeks. (Three nights per week.)
135
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Number of schools . 4
Number of teachers employed. .9
Number of pupils enrolled, boys 107, girls 67, total. . 174
Average number belonging 142
Average attendance 125.59
Per cent. of attendance .88.44
Total cost of the schools for the season. $652.53
Cost per pupil $3.75
Of the whole number of pupils registered fire were present at every session, sia all but one; nine were ab- sent twice, twelve were absent three times and sixteen four evenings. Sixteen were present less than one- half of the time, of whom seven were not in town the whole of the time, and six others were excused on cer- tificate of a physician.
REPAIRS.
Repairs and improvements, more extensive than usual, were made at several of the school houses dur- ing the summer vacation. The appropriation for special improvements proved insufficient, for the reason that materials at the time the work was done were much higher than when the cost was estimated. The walls and ceilings throughout the rooms and halls of the High School department, the Marcy Street build- ing and the Bacon school house were tastefully tinted. A neat and durable fence was built on two sides of the Marcy street lot. The River street building was re-
136
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
shingled and otherwise repaired. A new and larger stack heater was placed in the Marcy street building, and an additional book case for the convenience of the teachers. Drinking fountains were set in the Main Street, School Street and Elm Street buildings, water was introduced into the School Street building.
Additional radiation was provided at the recita- tion rooms of the High school and at the office of the Marcy street building, making it possible to comforta- bly warm these rooms in the coldest weather. At the School street building the black-board accommoda- tions were greatly improved by extending the surface lower, to serve the convenience of the children of the lower primary rooms. Nearly all of this work was in the line of permanent improvements, and amounted to $1,811.37.
Our school buildings are now in excellent, or fair condition. Certain general repairs to buildings, heat- ing apparatus and furniture require attention each year. As a matter of economy, it is better to keen the buildings in good condition than to neglect them until forced to make extensive repairs.
Even new buildings require constant attention to keep them in excellent condition. One, at least, if not two of the school houses should be painted on the out- side this year.
At the Marcy street building one branch of the heating stack on each side has proved to be imperfect and must be replaced. It will proba- bly cost more to remove the imperfect castings and adjust the new ones than the price of the castings. The ordinary appropriation for general repairs will
137
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
probably meet the needs of this year.
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
It is obvious to everyone that the school popula- tion at the center of the town is largely on the in- crease. A great number of new houses within two or three years have been built and occupied. This is especially noticeable on lower Main Street and the streets leading from it, and also, on the north-easterly sile of the river on Worcester street and vicinity. This increase of population has so overcrowded the Carpenter and Main Street Schools as to demand im- me liate relief. There are now in these buildings, at least, 100 more pupils than there should be. To seat the children in these rooms additional desks have been placed, crowding the room to an unreasonable extent.
The contemplated new buildings in this section of the town promises to increase the school population. There is an imperative demand for increased school rooms. A school house so located as to accommodate the children in the neighborhood of the American Optical Plant, and also, many from north east of the river would so relieve the Main Street and Carpenter class rooms that no further additional room would be required for a number of years. The children from Worcester and Charlton Streets now attend at Main Street, those from the Flat, the Carpenter school. A substantial, plain brick building of four rooms can be erected and furnished for $12000, aside from the cost
138
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
of the lot. Were such a building now ready, two schools would be immediately organized in it, and probably a third room would be needed before the end of the next school year.
The ungraded room at the Marcy street building under the charge of Miss Twombly has proved of great ad- vantage to the children. Sufficient time has elapsed to judge of its value. There are many children who, at times, either from absence, or failure to grasp the work of the class, need special help in some study, who require more personal attention than the regular teacher of a large class can give to individual pupils. These are sent, for a time, to this special room for the needed assistance. New pupils from other systems of schools are also received in this room and retained until they can be properly classed in one of the regular grades. The school is usually small, the number of pupils ranging from ten to twenty, giving the teacher time for individual work.
Few persons not immediately engaged in educa- tional work realize the great change that has taken place in the schools during the past few years. The college and technical school requirements are con- stantly being raised, requiring more and more of the high school, and the high school, in turn, requiring a higher preparation of the grammar schools. This forcing down the work upon the secondary schools makes a constantly increasing demand, calling for a broader educational equipment on the part of teachers.
No more important duty devolves upon those who have charge of school matters than the selection
139
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
and retention of good teachers, yet the best teacher may be hampered by unfavorable conditions. "Given a good teacher with the sympathy and hearty co-op- eration of parents who exercise a wise and sufficient control of their children at home, and who send then to school with a clear understanding of what is there expected of them in application and deportment-given these elements and any school will be successful. Let one of these be wanting and the best results cannot be achieved."
It has been the policy of the committee to give preference to local candidates for positions in our schools, especially to those who have recognized the obligation of a thorough equipment by a course of training at the normal school. With the increased number of professional schools, easy of access from any part of the state, our high school graduates should be encouraged to take this course before expecting a position. Neither a collegiate nor normal course of training will always insure success, but pro- fessional training added to native aptitude for the work gives high promise.
Since the first of January the work of the schools has been greatly interrupted by prevailing illness of teachers and pupils. Several of the regular teachers have been incapacitated at the same time, so that it has beeu no trivial task to keep all the schools in op- eration.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE
Under the direction of the State Board of Educa-
140
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
tion and in the immediate charge of Agent Mac- Donald, the Teachers' Institute held on October 12th at the rooms of the high school department was highly interesting and instructive. A varied and very helpful program was presented. Large delegations of teach- ers, superintendents, and school committees were present from several of the adjoining towns. It was the general verdict of the teachers that it was the best and most helpful Institute ever held in this section.
LECTURES.
The course of lectures under the auspices of the School Committee and the secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, given during the fall and win- ter at the hall of the Y. M. C. A. was of a high order. The lectures were on educational topics, the speakers prominent educators, representing different depart- ments of educational interests.
There are several features of our American sys- tem of public school education, which hold an import- . ant place in many of the cities and in some of the larger towns which have not yet been made a part of our schools. These matters have been presented in previous reports, but no action has been taken, nor movement made towards introducing them as an ele- ment of our schools.
141
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Reference is made to : - Kindergarten Schools; A commercial or business course in the high school; Manual training, including sewing for the girls; Cook- ing schools.
Of these the kindergarten seems most to be desired and should receive the first consideration. Frequent requests are made that children under five years be ad- mitted to the primary classes. The question of estab- lishing these schools has not been urged for lack of suitable rooms in localities where they would be most useful.
In a town of this character, with its varied and extensive husiness interests, a well conducted business course in the high school would be of great practical value. To introduce any one of these improvements would cost for the preliminary outfit and the salary of the special teachers.
Should the following bill now before the general court become a law, manual training would become obligatory, but, as in case of the higher grades of evening schools, the obligation would depend upon the de.rand.
Relative to Manual Training in the Public Schools.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
SECTION 1. Section four of chapter four hun- dred and ninety-six of the acts of the year eight- teen hundred and ninety-eight is hereby amended by striking out the word "twenty," in the first line, and inserting in place thereof the word :- ten-so as to read as follows:
142
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Section 4. Every town and city of ten thousand or more inhabitants shall maintain as part of both its ele- mentary and its high school system the teaching of manual training.
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Attention is called to the following reports:
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 1900-1901.
There have been 118 pupils enrolled during the past year, 51 boys, 67 girls.
Of this number 22 have attended from out of town.
In June, 1900, Mr. Jesse B. Mowry resigned, owing to ill health, and his position was filled by Mr. E. M. Gleason, a graduate of Dartmouth and an experienced teacher.
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