USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1901-1904 > Part 5
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Physical exercise in the school room, if done with
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precision, is something more than rest from mental work and a development of the muscles. It is a de- velopment of the will power, and power of attention, and has an important bearing upon discipline. To perform bodily movements with accuracy necessarily causes activity of the mind. In our schools there is a higher standard and more uniformity in these exer- cises than heretofore.
WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
There is a tendency in these times, when there is so much to learn, to seek "a royal road" to learning, to make the acquisition of knowledge easy, losing sight of the clearly demonstrated fact that there is no way for one to become scholarly but by close application and persistent study. "There is a tendency to talk, to tell, to assist, to do for the child what he ought to be made to do for himself and thus to violate the first law of good teaching." President Eliot suggest that, "A complete education should train pupils to observe closely, to record correctly, to compare justly and to express cogenlty; that the fruit of an education is not knowledge nor learning, but a thirst for knowledge and a capacity for learning." This power can be ac- quired only by right training. With due allowance for defects and some unfavorable conditions, our schools are fairly meeting the demands of our chang- ing modern life, and are making commendable prog-
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ress in the right direction. If we may judge anything from pupils who come from other places, and from the rank our pupils take in entering schools elsewhere, our schools compare favorably with others having similar conditions.
The school curriculum of today calls for a much greater variety of subjects than formerly. While the additional subjects receive a share of time and atten- tion, stress is laid upon the most practical and useful. In Arithmetic, the essentials are well taught, and no time or energy wasted on subjects of no practical value. When the child can perform the fundamental processes with rapidity and accuracy, the later pocess- es come readily. All intricate, knotty problems are avoided. There is no merit in problems in the four rules with numbers of ten or more figures, or in frac- tions with large terms, or with any class of problems which are seldom if ever met with in practical life. In fixing principles much more is accomplished by using many problems with small numbers. There are those who delight in the intricacies and labyrinths of complicated problems, but these are not for the average pupil in the classroom. Emphasis is laid upon mental processes, the bulk of drill being along the line of sharp, rapid mental work in all processes pertaining to business methods.
There are some children who cannot make head- way in arithmetic. Number sense seems wholly wanting. In other subjects they make fair progress. If numberwork were made the sole test of advance- ment, they would never go above the primary grade.
.
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Persons have been known to survive the schools and become prosperous and useful members of society who never could grasp the ordinary principles of mathe- matics.
It has been, and is now to some extent, a common error to suppose that the teacher of 'east training and experience should be put in charge of the lowest grade, but happily the opinion is fast gaining ground that special skill is required to rightly introduce the little ones to school life. Reading and Language constitute the special work of the first steps, and the teacher of the best equipment finds abundant occasion for the scope of all her resources. Attention is given to the mechanics of reading, and to a clear, natural and forceful expression of the thought and feeling of the author. Our teachers are striving, with more or less success, to form habits of reading and research that will be of lasting value. Occasions constantly arise, in the higher grades, for suggesting helpful reading in connection with class work. A cultivated taste for books which are wholesome, instructive and sensible will have no place for the trashy kind. Good reading is an accomplishment to be attained only by persistent drill.
Our schools have been fortunate in retaining all but two of their regular teachers. Miss Perry who has done so acceptable and efficient work in the High School for nearly five years resigned at the close of the Fall term, and Miss Fullerton withdrew from the Bacon school at the end of June to take a course of training at a Normal school. In the report of last year, as in
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some previous reports, reference was made to features of our Massachusetts system of puplic school educa- tion which have not yet been made a part of our schools. Last year there were in the state 220 hinder- gurten Schools with 14,257 pupils and 423 teachers. The value of these schools, properly conducted, has been demonstrated beyond question. It is contended by those best qualified to express an opinion that they are, in the end, a saving of expense, in that the children on being transferred to the grades, progress much more rapidly, thereby saving one or more years of time.
A Commercial Course connected with the English department in the High school would be of great prac- tical value to a large number of our young people, and would serve to increase the attendance and hold pupils through the course with a well Managed Business Course. We should not be likely to repeat the experi- ence of this year, when of a class of twenty-three en- tering in 1898, only six remain to graduate.
Education means the fullest development of all the powers. It is claimed that Manual Training has an educative power, intellectual and moral, as well as manual. It is not the teaching of trades, but so train- ing the hand and mind to accuracy and skill as to be helpful in any kind of mechanical work. Such train- ing would appeal to many who fail to become inter- ested in the ordinary work of the schools.
Attention is called to the following reports :
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
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the High School for the year 1901-1902.
There have been 103 pupils enrolled during the past year, 48 boys, 55 girls.
Of this number 23 have attended from out of town.
The small pox scare, while it has not directly af- fected the health of any of our pupils, has caused two or three of the pupils from out of town to leave us for the time being.
In accordance with the suggestion in my last re- port the walls of Miss Williams' room and the corridor leading thereto were tinted and I think our High School rooms will not require any especial outlay in the near future.
In December, 1901, Miss Elizabeth Perry, who had been with us some five years, resigned.
I have always considered Miss Perry as one of the most attentive and devoted teachers that has been connected with the school during my principalship and was exceedingly sorry to have her leave.
Her work steadily improved during her years of service here and illustrates the principle that it is bet- ter to retain efficient teachers even at an increased sal- ary than through false economy to experiment with continuous changes.
Miss Edith Cook, a graduate of Colby, and a teach- er of considerable experience, was engaged to fill Miss Perry's position, and is doing very acceptable work. I have given her a part of the classes in Greek as these classes are always small, and I have thought for some time that I should not be devoting my entire teaching
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to but a few scholars of the school.
In looking over the recods of the past fifteen years, the time of my principalship, I find there have graduated 152 pupils. Of this number 21 have entered college; 7 technical schools; 11 normal schools; 3 training schools; a total of 42, or 28 per cent.of the graduates.
While three have entered college, and one nor- mal school at the completion of their third year in the High school. This I believe is a relatively high per cent. creditable alike to the school and to the town. While the annual [number passes unnoticed, the aggregate is large.
Owing to the good work of our graduates our pupils are now received at all of the New England col- leges on certificate that admit by this method, which includes all except Harvard, Yale and Bow- doin; and our graduates are now numbered as graduates of all the leading New England colleges and universities except Yale.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. CORBIN.
REPORT OF DRAWING.
MR. J. T. CLARKE, SUPERINTENDENT.
Deir Sir:
"He who would proceed aright should begin in youth to study beautiful forms: out of these he should
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create fair thoughts, and soon he will perceive that the beauty of one form .is akin to the beauty of another, and he will soon become a lover of all beauti- ful forms. In the next stage he will consider that the beauty of the mind is more honorable than the beauty of outward forms, and he will see the beauty of insti- tutions and laws, and after laws and institutions he will go on to the sciences; and contemplating the vast sea of beauty, he will create many fair and noble thoughts and notions until he grows and waxes strong; and at last, the vision is revealed to him of beauty absolute, simple and everlasting."
[Plato, Greece, 5th century B. C.
Drawing is sometimes divided into three depart- ments-working drawings, object drawings and design. Object drawing includes the drawing of common objects and drawing from leaves, fruit and flowers Working drawings include the making of drawings from which objects could be constructed, and design includes the decorating of household furniture, such as designing wall papers, carpets, portieres, hinges and everything which tends to make our homes more beau- tiful. Therefore the making of good designs should enter into our course of drawing so that the children may understand the principles of design and be able to select artistic objects when buying things for their homes. The drawing and painting flowers and leaves, tend to increase the childs love for nature and children of all ages enjoy drawing them.
In the fall the brightness of the autumn colors render this work still more attractive and much good
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work has been done in getting the colorings true to nature.
The High School pupils made some very happy arrangements with their fall flowers and leaves. Fruit is easy to draw but difficult to paint, so that although fruit, vegetables and nuts have been drawn by the various classes, not much painting of these has been attempted beyond the coloring of some sprays of red barbaries with their dull green leaves. The seed pods of various plants, as the rose hips and the red berries, made suitable studies for youngest children. Some of the classes have drawn trees in ink from the blackboard, and tiny evergreen trees have been brought into the school room to serve as models. This led to landscape and some copied landscapes have been attempted in many of the grades and a little original work has been done in this line.
Working drawings were taken up for a month and we began with working drawings of the simple geometric solids. Then we made working drawings of objects, as books, tables, triangular shaped boxes, etc. The eight grade made several desigs for iron work; the sixth designed original spoons and vases, and the fifth escutcheons.
Object drawing began with much interést, for bė- sides drawing the hemisphere, came cylinder and cube in which the fundamental principles of perspective are plainly shown.
We have drawn the school plants with their flower pots and jardineres; books, boxes, vases, jars, umbrel- las, hats, boots, and some of the children's belongings
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which they very willingly bring to school, as dolls, drums and toy animals. Drawing from life is always difficult, and the first attempts are very crude, but the in this line is rapid. Pupils pose very willingly for their own grade or for a higher class in the same building and some very creditable work is the result of several lessons from the living model. The first spring buds and pussy willows always appear in the school room and are often utilized for a drawing lesson before the regular spring flowers begin to demand at- tention.
Color work is begun in the primary grades with the colored papers and the youngest children love the bright colors and are ready to tell the teacher the names of the colors upon the wall which are made by letting the sunlight shine through a glass prism. They make the spectrum of colored paper and designs by arranging squares, circles, triangles or oblongs in tints and shades in borders and rosettes. The second and third grades cut original shapes from plain paper and by using these as patterns make very pretty orig- inal designs.
One class in the High School has done very good work in building construction, and besides copying plans have made some original plans for houses and barns and one pupil has a very good plan for an art museum. The designs for wall papers showed much good taste and their charcoal work is taken up with interest. Much improvement is shown in the pupils ability to handle water colors and their original ar- rangements for nature studies show a good under-
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standing of the subject.
The teachers in all the schools have done much toward making the work in drawing successful as they have used their influence in making the children feel the importance of the subject.
Thanking the teachers and the superintendent for their hearty co-operation.
Respectfully, ANNA F. EAGER.
SCHOOL SIGNALS.
The school signal has been given six times during the year, once for no school in the primary grades, four times for no school in any grade, and once for one ses- sion. In every instance the day showed the propriety of the signal. The signals are as follows :-
SIGNALS.
Alarm at 8 a. m., one blow, no school for Primary grade.
Same signal repeated immediately, no school in any grade.
Alarm at 11.30 a. m., one blow, one session.
Alarm at 12.30, one blow, afternoon session for all schools.
The most vital interests of the town are centered in the well-being of the children, and nothing should
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be withheld which pertains to making their lives broad- . er and richer. I wish to acknowledge indebtedness to the teachers for loyal support and co-operation in our purpose to reach a higher plan of excellence. To the School Committee I would express obligation for the freedom allowed me administering the affairs of the schools, and for the support in the discharge of the work of this office.
Respectfully submitted,
J. T. CLARKE, March 11, 1902.
CESTSS OF 1901. Southbridge High School Tuesday Evening, June 25. + "Carpe Diem." +
PROGRAMME.
MAR H-"Trovernor Rom-eveit's Rongh Ri lers." ORCHESTRA PRAYER. REV. H. JEROME WHITE Popr -- "Mark the Merry Elves." Coleott. SCHOOL SALUTATORY AND E -- AY-"UnsIfishnes -. "
KATHERINE CELESTINE FLOOD ORATION- The Allvanteges of an Edlocation.
JOHN BER HMANN FITZPATRICK TRIO-"Sweet May." Barnby.
E-SAY-"Habits."
MISSES TIFFANY. JOHNSON AND BOWKER MABEL ESTELLA SIBLEY
ORATION-"Our Navy." JAMES LONSDALE PAIGE
SEMI- HOR -- "BirIs of Passage." Hoffmeter. ALTOS AND BASSES
GRAND SELECTION-"Orpheus." Catlin ORCHESTRA
ESSAY-"LerPIL of Flower -. " ETALL ELVIRA WHITTEMORE NELLIE GENEVIEVE EGAN E-SAY-"Culture."
" E -- AY AND VALEDETORY-"Epithet- in Homer."
CHARLES FRANCIS COREY
CHORDS - "A Starin." Gilchrist. NHOOL
Twilight at Sea." Felkamy.
OVERTURE -.. ETAlk. J. S. Berger. ORCHESTRA PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS. CHAIRMAN OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE BENEDICTION.
MARCH-"County Chb."
"Exen .ed.
ORCHESTRA
CLASS PROPHECY.
I
The evening breeze is sighing With murmurs faint around, Like a thousand dying voices, With a faint and echoing sound.
IL.
I sit beside my window In the fragant month of June, And gaze on the star-decked heaven And the beauteous white-orbed moon.
III.
And then Irecall a legend That I heard in days gone by: How the ancient Roman Sybils Read the future in the sky. IV. And I think I'll turn magician, Try the future to unfold
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Of the class of 1901, As was done in days of old. V.
Brave, generous, proud and loyal, Dashing officer in blue, James L. Paige, "I'm at your service," West Point graduate, I view.
VI.
To the strains of wedding music, With its grand and solemn sound, Steps Miss Whittemore, our classmate; She's with orange blossoms crowned.
VII.
In a great and busy city, On a building, "Mutual State", Reads the sign, "J. B. Fitzpatrick", He's a pleading advocate.
VIII .:
Now Miss Flood, petite and pretty, Very clever, so they say, Just the one to solve a problem, She's a teacher, by the way.
IX.
Also in the ranks of teachers, In Professor's cap and gown, From a lofty seat in Harvard, Carl F. Corey doth look down. X.
In a large Conservatory
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
177 1
Home of music and of art, Now I see our friend Miss Sibley; Music is her favorite part. XI.
For my self-I dare not venture Ask the stars the way that Fate Haş marked my feet to follow, Till I reach the Mystic gate. XII.
Now the stars are gleaming brighter, The night is growing chill And the fairy moon in heaven, Cast its silver on the hill. XIII.
I will drop my pen with wishes That our future lives may be,
Like the stars that shine on always Till the great Eternity.
NELLIE GENEVIEVE EGAN.
.
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CALANDAR FOR 1902-1903
40 WEEKS.
Spring term, 15 weeks, begins on Monday, March 3 ends on Friday, June 20. Recess of one week, ending April 12.
High school graduation; Thursday, June 19.
Fall term, 16 weeks, begins on Tuesday, Septem- ber 2; ends Friday, December 19.
Winter term, 9 weeks, begins on Monday, Decem- ber 29, 1902, ends on Friday, February 27, 1903.
Spring term, 15 weeks, begins on Monday, March 2; ends on Friday, June 19. Recess of one week, end- ing, April 11.
HOLIDAYS.
Every Saturday; Washington's Birthday; Patriots' Day; Memorial Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving and the day following.
APPENDIX.
SUMMARY OF EDUCATIONAL LAWS.
No child can be employed in a factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment under fourteen years of age.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
No child under sixteen can be employed in a fac- tory, workshop or mercantile establishment unless the employer (1) secures an age and schooling certificate for each child, (2) posts prominently at the entrance of his building a list of all such children employed, and (3) sends to the school superintendent a list of all minors in his employ (not simply those under sixteen, who cannot read at sight and write simple sentences in the English language.
The required certificate of age and schooling can be approved only by the superintendent of schools, or, in towns where there is no superintendent, by the school committee. It is also enacted that a child's certificate "shall not be approved unless satisfactory evidence is furnished by the last school census, the certificates of birth or baptism of such child, the regis- ter of birth, with a town or city clerk. or in some other manner, that such child is of age stated in the certifi- cate."
Before a child under sixteen can be granted an age and schooling certificate, he must present to the person authorized to issue the same, an employment ticket, duly filled out and signed. The certificate is to be surrendered to the child when he leaves the en- ployer's service; but if not claimed within thirty days from the ending of his service, it is to be returned by the employer to the superintendent of schools.
"No minor who cannot read at sight and write simple sentences in the English languge shall be em- ployed while a public evening schoo! is maintained in
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the town or city in which he resides, unless he attends a day school or unless his teacher certifies each week that he is in regular attendance at such evening school."
Any person who employs an illiterate minor in violation of this law "shall forfeit for each offense not more than $100 for the use of the evening schools; the minor's parents or guardian shall forfeit not more than $20."
Truant officers, as well as inspectors of factories, are entitled to visit the factories, workshops, and mer- cantile establishments in their several towns, and as- certain whether any minor or any children under six- teen are there unlawfully employed.
"A failure to produce to a truant officer or an in- spector of factories any age and schooling certificate or list required by this act shall be prima facie evi- dence of the illegal employment of any person whose age and schooling certificate is not produced, or whose name is not so listed."
A fine of not more than $50 for each offense is en- tailed upon both the child's employer and his parents when a child under sixteen is employed unlawfully. Any employer who cantinues a child's illegal employ- ment after notification is to be fined from $5 to $20 for each day's offense.
From seven to fourteen children must attend school the entire school year.
The September school census must furnish the names of all persons between five and fifteen, and of all from fourteen to twenty-one who cannot read at
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sight and write legible sentences in English.
Children who are unmanageable in school or hab- itually absent, or who never attend school at all, but grow up neglected in idleness and ignorance, may be commtted for a period of not exceeding two years.
Any person having under his control a child be- tween seven and fourteen years of age who fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such control, to cause such child to attend school as required by section twelve of this act, the physical or mental condition of such child not being such as to render his attendance at school harmful or impracticable, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, shall forfeit, and pay a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Any person who induces or attempts to induce any child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors while school is in session any child absent un- lawfully from school, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
No child who has not been duly vaccinated shall be admitted to a public school except upon presenta- tion of a certificate signed by a regular practising phy- sician that such child is an unfit subject for vaccina- tion. No child, who is a member of a household in which a person is sick with smallpox, diphtheria, scar- let fever or measles, or of a household exposed to con- tagion from a household as aforesaid, shall attend any public school during such sickness or until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health of the town, or from the attending
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physician of such sick person, stating in a case of smallpox, diphtheria or scarlet fever, that a period of at least two weeks, and in a case of measles a period of at least three days, has elapsed since the recovery, removal or death of such person, and that danger of the conveying of such disease by such child has passed.
REPORT OF SCHOOL HOUSE
BUILDING COMMITTEE.
It is only possible to give a very brief report, as the building committee have only taken the prelimin- ary steps in building the new school house.
Great care has been taken in selecting heating ap- paratus. The committee have investigated heating and ventilating systems in Clinton, Everett, Malden and Worcester, and finally have decided upon the Magee system, and have awarded the contract to the Magee Furnace Co.
The bids for building the school house have been carefully considered and contract will be awarded in a few days, which will call for the completion of the building before the 1st of September, 1902.
SIGNED,
COMMITTEE.
ANNUAL REPORT
. ... OF THE .. . .
LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
LIBRARY OFFICERS,
LIBRARY OFFICERS.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
J. A. CARON,
Term Expires 1902
GEORGE GRANT.
Term Expires 1902
GEORGE M. LOVELL, Term Expires 1902
F. E. CORBIN,
- Term Expires 1903
JOSEPH JAGGER, Term Expires 1903
W. J. LAMOUREUX,
- Term Expires 1903
J. A. FREDETTE, (Resigned.)
Term Expires 1904
D. F, MULLINS,
- Term Expires 1904
J. A. WHITTAKER, Term Expires 1904
-
LIBRARIAN. ELLA E. MIERSCH.
- ASSISTANT. MABEL W. PLIMPTON. - JANITOR. JOHN COGGANS. -
LIBRARY HOURS. Week days except legal holidays, 10-12 a. m., 2-5; 6.30-9 p. m.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Balance March 1, 1901, $7 87
Appropriation at the annual town meeting, 2,000 00
Received from librarian, fines and subscriptions, 87 76
($5.00 Cash on hand from the above amount.)
Dog fund, 644 74
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