USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1909-1912 > Part 15
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In the "Advanced Class," however, in which there were ten ten boys and girls, single and double entry book-keeping was taken up, also Latin and Rhetoric. In connection with the latter, Shakespeare was studied with much apparent interest by the pupils, who made good progress in all their studies.
It has always appeared to the writer that the advantages of this "Advanced Class" were not half realized or appreciated by the public for whose advance- ment it was instituted. Heat, light, all materials and instruction are furnished absolutely free ; so that one whose early education has been neglected is given an excellent opportunity for mental improvement. These opportunities are, of course, not restricted to any age, nationality or creed, but are free to all who care to avail themselves of its advantages. All that is required of the pupils is good behavior, observance of the rules of the school and fairly regular attendance.
183
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In all the departments of the school, discipline was consistently enforced; but was intended to be utterly devoid of any appearance of being harsh or arbitrary.
The result was that the pupils showed a proper and respectful attitude toward their teachers, so that all worked together in harmony, and much good was accomplished thereby.
In conclusion, your principal wishes to add that he was ably supported by excellent assistants; and that it was through their faithful, patient and pains- taking efforts that such good results were manifested by the pupils.
Very respectfully, E. I. KNOWLES, Principal.
REPORT OF DRAWING.
MR. F. E. CORBIN, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. Sir :
The Drawing this year has been varied by the ap- plication of the children's designs to useful things. For the past two years we have introduced more manual training than in former years. In the fourth year the children make hammocks, thus giving them some skill in making, and the pleasure of producing something which they have made themselves. A consideration which a child always values. Then this grade have been very succesful in their melon baskets and work with much enthusiasm. Sewing is begun in this grade, and it is evident the children need instruction in this most useful accomplishment, as some hardly knew how to handle a needle. But even the most backward
184
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ones showed creditable work at the end of the given number of sewing lessons, and the teachers felt that the time spent in teaching this part of the work was certainly well spent.
In the fifth grade the sloyd or simple whittling is begun, and in spite of a few cut fingers the boys did good work, and were sorry when the allotted number of lessons was over. The girls sew in the school room while the boys are busy at their woodwork in the base- ment which is fitted up for manual training. The bags made in the sewing time by the girls were very pretty.
All of the class in the sixth grades make designs for brass work, then, when the designs are ready, the boys go to the basement room to work out their de- signs in brass, and the girls settle down to sew under the regular grade teacher. This plan is fouud to work well. A few of the girls, being interested also in brass have worked out their own designs for trays and match safes. The sixth grade aprons, when finished, were very nicely done.
In the seventh grade the girls work on basketry, and the boys take up more advanced work in wood. The children all look forward to the time when they can have the manual training, and enter into it with much enthusiasm, but they still enjoy their regular drawing as the manual training part only occupies about twelve lessons for each pupil.
In the eighth grade the whole class study design as applied to cloth in stencil work, and it takes several lessons to make a design, color it, cut it from shellaced paper and apply it to the cloth by means of dyes. Very many pretty pillow tops, table scarfs etc., were made last year. After the stencilling is over the class is divided in the same way as the seventh grade, the boys working in wood and the girls sewing.
185
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The ninth grade has more advanced wood work for the boys, and the girls learn the most useful art of darning and patching. Also the girls spend a little time in learning fine hemstitching, and made some pretty handkerchiefs.
Samples of all this work was sent in the fall to the Sturbridge Fair, and won a prize of money which will be used for the benefit of the school.
This manual work interferes but little with the regular drawing, and we have our regular nature work and object drawing, the advantage being that now our designs are applied to useful objects instead of remain- ing simply on paper as in former years.
There is much less time allotted to drawing in the High School than in most schools of the kind so that not very much progress can be made. Still the pupils of the first and second years have a little time devoted to object drawing, and the boys mechanical class fits those who wish to enter technical schools to grasp the subject more intelligently. Design is taught and applied to leather work and some of the card cases and small purses made show very creditable work.
Thanking the superintendent and teachers for their helpfulness and hearty co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA F. EAGER,
MUSIC
MR. F. E. CORBIN, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Sir :
Music in our schools today consists of two func- tions, the developing of the emotional side in combina- tion with the mathematical.
186
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The two tests applied to a child's education are : first, that he shall sing the songs well and with proper expression ; second, that he shall read understandingly at sight.
The Normal system which we use emphasizes both these phases. Rote songs are taught in the first years of school as they precede the beginnings in technical instruction. The advantage of rote singing is that it helps to unify the voices and gives musical expression to the experiences of children thus developing the sense of rhythm and melody in preparation for the reading of music from the printed page.
Scales are sung in various forms in all grades and and breathing exercises are taught.
Great care is taken as to tone placing and phrasing. Individual work is insisted upon and the confidence derived from this is very beneficial.
Every year each voice is tested in all schools, great care being exercised, so as not to misplace a voice in part-work.
The monotones are usually more prevalent in the first grades. These children are treated individually. Numerous devices are employed to overcome this difficulty and such treatment is succesful unless the child has some physical defect.
It has been my aim to acquaint myself with the latest devices and systems which shall enable the children to grasp the technical side of music in a simple and pleasing manner whereby the songs are rendered in a finished and artistic style.
Ear-training is one of the most important factors in our schools to-day and through its persistent use, sight singing is simplified. Oral and written tests are given during the year whereby the supervisor has an oppor- tunity to ascertain the extent of the pupils' knowledge.
187
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Cards containing a fac-simile of the key board have been used in each grade, thus acquainting the pupils with the principles of scale building and correct position of notes.
A quartette of High school boys has been formed and we hope this branch of the work will prove suc- cessful.
Notwithstanding the numerous absences during the year on account of contagious diseases, there has been a steady improvement in all grades and with the hearty co-operation of the Superintendent and teach- ers many difficulties have been overcome and much work accomplished.
Respectfully submitted, MARY ALICE CAREY.
MR. F. E. CORBIN, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Sir :
Despite the change of site and attendant delay, work in the Mechanics street school garden was contin- ued during season of 1909.
The forming of the Association and general work followed outline of previous years.
A new feature of the work was starting seeds in the school rooms in boxes. Children secured boxes which they measured and cut into flats, new bot- toms were made, holes bored for drainage, soil pre- pared and seeds planted.
Grade I, instead of boxes or flats used egg shells which were placed in sand table ; a few children used strawberry boxes for the seeds. The seeds were sown and when plants were ready for transplanting they were carried home and set into the earth without dis- turbing plant.
188
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
We tried several community gardens and experi- mental gardens with success.
Several children have had two years experience in garden work; they showed result of training in having well kept gardens.
The following donations were received : five dol- lars, seeds and chemical fertilizer with instructions for mixing and use, a valuable lesson for the children.
At the Worcester South Agricultural Fair held in Sturbridge the Mechanics street school garden was awarded first prize for School Gardens.
The little gardeners were able to furnish bouquets to the Visting Nurse for patients and had for home use the following vegetables : tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, beets, parsnip, corn, summer and winter squash, radish, lettuce, and carrots.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARET G. BUTLER.
APPENDIX
SCHOOL LAWS IN BRIEF
1. All children between 7 and 14, unless sick, feeble-minded, at an approved private school, or other- wise instructed in branches required by law, to the satisfaction of the School Committee, must attend the public school during the entire time of each school year. Penalty to parent or guardian for failure in attendance for five days' sessions within any period of six months, $20 .- Revised Laws Chap. 44, Sect. 1.
2. No child under 14 shall be employed "in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment." "No such child shall be employed in any work performed for wages or other compensation" during the hours
189
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
when the public school is in session, nor before six o'clock in the morning, nor after seven in the evening. -Chap. 106, Sect. 28.
3. No child under 16 shall be employed in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment without a certificate from the Superintendent of Schools. He must present an employment ticket from the person who wishes to employ him, on applying for a certificate. The father, if living, and a resident, must sign the certificate of age; if not, the mother; if neither, the guardian .- Chap. 106, Sects. 29, 30, 31, 32.
4. Children between seven and sixteen must either attend school or be regularly employed .- Chap. 46, Sect. 4.
Whenever a child is absent from school for the 5 whole or a part of a session a written excuse stating cause of absence, and signed by a parent or guardian, must be presented by the pupil on his return to school. - Chap 44, Sect. 1.
6. Children must be vaccinated before attending school, but a certificate from a regular physician say- ing a child is an unfit subject for vaccination, allows attendance.
No child can attend school from a household in which there is a case of smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or measles, or from a household exposed to a contagion from a household as aforesaid. Two weeks after the death, removal or recovery of the patient in a case of the first three mentioned, or three days after in a case of measles, the child may return, on presenta- tion of a certificate from the attending physician or from the Board of Health .- Chap. 44, Sect. 6.
7. "The last regular session prior to Memorial
190
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Day, or a portion thereof, shall be devoted to exercises of a patriotic nature."-Chap. 42 Sect. 20.
8. A United States flag, not less than four feet in length, shall be displayed on the schoolhouse grounds or building every school day, when the weather will permit, and on the inside of the school- house on other school days. - Chap. 42, Sect 50.
Every child between seven and fourteen years of age, and every child under sixteen years of age who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language, shall attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides during the entire time the public day schools are in session, subject to such exceptions as to children, places of at- tendance and schools as are provided for in section three of chapter forty-two and section three, five and six of this chapter. Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause him to attend school as herein required; and if he fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such con- trol to cause such child, whose physical or mental con- dition is not such as to render his attendance at school harmful or impracticable, so to attend school, he shall, upon complaint of a truant officer and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Whoever induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or em- ploys or harbors a child who, while school is in session, is absent unlawfully from school shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
The school committee shall cause notice of the disease or defects, if any, from which any child is found to be suffering to be sent to his parent or guar- dian. Whenever a child shows symptoms of smallpox,
191
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
scarlet fever, measles, chickenpox, tuberculosis, diph- theria or influenza, tonsilitis, whooping cough, mumps, scabies or trachoma he shall be sent home immediate- ly, or as soon as safe and proper conveyance can be found, and the Board of Health shall at once be noti- fied .- Chap. 502, Sect. 4.
CALENDAR FOR 1910-1911.
Spring term, eleven weeks, begins Monday, April 11; ends Friday, June 24.
Fall term, sixteen weeks, begins Tuesday, Septem- ber 6; ends Friday, December 23.
Winter term, thirteen weeks, begins Tuesday, January 3; ends Friday, March 31.
Spring term, eleven weeks, begins Monday, April 10; ends Friday, June 23.
HOLIDAYS.
Every Saturday ; Washington's Birthday ; Patriot's Day ; Memorial Day ; Labor Day; Thanksgiving and the day following.
Patriotic exercises will be held in all the rooms the afternoon preceding Memorial Day.
192
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CLASS OF '09
SOUTHBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Thursday Evening, June 24. "VOLENS ET POTENS". -
A & PROGRAM
MARCH-"'Show Folks," PRAYER,
CHORUS-"Summer Fancies,"
SALUTATORY,
VERA EMMA ARNOLD ALFRED S. ROE
ADDRESS-"A Southbridge Boy,"
CHORUS-"O Native Land,"
SELECTION -- "Belle,"
THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA
VALEDICTORY,
LOUISE EVELINE GAGNON THE SCHOOL
CHORUS-"Away to the Fields,"
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS
BY CHAIRMAN OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
BENEDICTION.
FINALE-"Portly Major,"
ORCHESTRA
CLASS QF 1909
Harry James Angell, Myron Percy Baylies,
William Clifford Eaton, Harry Howes Hall, Thomas Crawford Mitchell,
Vera Emma Arnold,
Andrea Marion Bonnette, Annie Lora Cunneen, Louise Eveline Gagnon, Helene Frances Laycock, Emily Gertrude MacFarland, Amanda Evelyn Thompson, Bertha Louisa Wallace,
Joseph Henry Bagley, George Wilbert Dumas,
Colin Reuben Grant,
Philip Arnold Marsell,
Jay Larkin Upham, Ruth Carpenter Beecher,
Helen Louise Comberbach, Bertha Ellen Foley, Mary Irene Kelly, Louise Locke, Margie Bachelder Mckinstry, Mary Elizabeth Tully, Helen Mary Wyman.
BLANCHARD'S ORCHESTRA
REV. A. W. L. NELSON THE SCHOOL
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
LIBRARY COMMITTEE
LIBRARY OFFICERS.
J. A. WHITTAKER, - Term expires 1910
GEO. W. LAUGHNANE,
Term expires 1910
PITT H. HEBERT, -
DANIEL T. MORRILL,
- Term expires 1910 Term expires 1911
CARY C. BRADFORD, -
- Term expires 1911 Term expires 1911
JOSEPH METRAS,
-
F. E. CORBIN, -
Term expires 1912
GEO. M. CHENEY, Term expires 1918 -
ORIGENE J. PAQUETTE,
Term expires 1912
LIBRARIAN ELLA E. MIERSCH
ASSISTANT MABEL W. PLIMPTON
-
JANITOR JOHN. W. COGGANS
LIBRARY HOURS Week days, except legal holidays, 10 to 12 a m; 2 to 5.30; 6.30 to 9 p. m.
194
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
RECEIPTS.
Balance to credit of account Feb.
1,1909, $126 21
Appropriation at the annual town meeting, 2,000 00
Received from the Librarian, fines, etc., 135 Y3
826 28
Dog fund,
$3,083 22
EXPENDITURES.
Ella E. Miersch, librarian, salary and sundry expenses, $833 99
Mabel W. Plimpton, salary as assistant, 292 00
John Coggans, salary as janitor,
91 63
Mary Delehanty, salary as sub- stitute, 38 00
Margaret Butler, assistance, 10 10
Webster & Southbridge gas and
Electric Co., light, 216 71
H. P. Oldham, rent for extra rooms, 37 50
E. C. Ellis, coal, 85 50
Library Bureau, supplies, 12 15
Gaylord Bros., supplies, 16 09
Susan Sayles, cleaning, 19 68
R. A. Beckwith, stamped envelopes, 10 62
Southbridge Press, printing, 22 75
R. Wardle, window glass, 11 25
Hammond Typewriter Co., type- writer, 35 00
195
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Hammond Typewriter Co., type- writer supplies, $5 32
R. R. Nickerson, dustdown, 6 00
H. W. Wilson, Readers' guide, 1909, 6 75
Stone & Forsythe, paper, 5 00
Library art club, subscription, 6 00
A. D. Cornell, wood, 1 85
E. L. Gay, door-spring,
4 50
Alexis Boyer, repairs,
1 23
Southbridge Water Supply Co., water, 5 00
J. W. Barnes, tungsten lights, 10 46
Southbridge Electrical contract-
ing Co., repairs, 4 22
Louisville public library, Christ- mas lists,
1 78
Samuel Williams, repairing, . 6 25
$1,797 33
BOOK ACCOUNT
Charles E. Lauriat Co., books,
$425 99
Michelson Bros., binding, 115 25
Cedric Chivers Bookbinding Co., books, 35 32
H. R. Huntting Co., books,
42 78
Emile Terquem, books,
20 32
Caroline L. Himebaugh, books,
23 68
McDevitt-Wilson Co., books,
18 24
George E. Damon, Mass. year book, 2 00
G. E. Stechert, books, 5 21
Quinabaug historical society, leaflets, 3 60
J. B. Lippincott, books, 3 06
Arthur H. Clark, books, 3 15
196
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Balch Bros., book, $2 20
Home correspondence school, book, 2 50
C. A. Nichols, book, 3 50
Public school publishing Co., books,
1 50
Frank Pergande, book,
4 41
S. G. Wood, book,
2 00
Little, Brown Co., books,
2 33
E. F. Dakin, periodical and news- paper subscriptions, 169 70
H. A. Kent, binding, 12 00
Penn publishing Co., books, 2 29
$901 03
Total amount received for library,
$3,088 22
Amount expended, expense ac-
count,
$1,797 33
Amount expended, book account, 901 03
2,698 36
Balance to credit of account Feb. 1, 1910, $389 86
Above expenses are for eleven months. Bills for
January are not included in above statement.
MYNOTT FUND
RECEIPTS
Balance to credit of account Feb.
1, 1909, $1,001 62
Interest on fund to Jan. 1, 1910, 40 40
$1,042 02
EXPENDITURES
E. F. Dakin, periodical subscriptions, $4 15
197
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Penn publishing Co., Best selections, $10 65 Edgar S. Werner, Werner's selec- tions, 13 10
H. R. Huntting, Webster's inter- national dictionary, 10 80
$38 70
Balance to credit of account, Feb. 1, 1910, $1,003 32
LIBRARIANS' REPORT
The library has added during the past year 640 volumes. Of this number 443 were purchased, 67 were given, and 98 were periodicals which had been bound. During the year, the library exchanged a number of periodicals, which were not indexed in the periodical indexes and of which the library owned only a few scattered volumes, for 43 volumes of periodicals which were needed to fill out incomplete sets, which are indexed in the periodical indexes. Eighty volumes of duplicate, or specialized, public documents were re- turned to Washington. 126 wornout books were dis- carded and 158 new copies of wornout, or nearly worn- out, books were bought. There are now in the library 22,081 volumes.
Among the new books bought are Webster's "New International dictionary", sets of Shoemaker's and Werner's "Readings and recitations" in 26 and 27 volumes respectively. Trevelyan's "American revolu- tion was completed by the addition of two volumes ; Shackleton's "The heart of the Antarctic" is of es-
198
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
pecial interest. Five volumes of books on civil ser- vice to use in preparing for government examinations, a number of new books on optles and 11 volumes of the technical books published by the American school of correspondence are among the practical books pur- chased. There is a constantly increasing demand for technical books to which the library responds as rapid- ly and as freely as funds permit.
268 volumes were rebound during the year.
38, 220 volumes were circulated for home use dur- ing the year, an increase of 2035 volumes, or 5.62 per cent. over the previous year. Fiction shows the larg- est increase in circulation ; 1495 more volumes of fic- tion were circulated in 1909-1910 than during 1908-9. Books for boys and girls show a very slight increase in circulation ; the prevalence of contagious diseases during the Fall caused the return of many children's cards temporarily to the library. All books coming from the homes in which there has been a conta- gious disease are burned as it is doubtful whether books can be successfully fumigated.
The circulation of French books was practically the same as during the previous year. The French books receive perhaps the hardest usage of any books in the library and many of these books are in very bad condition, being both soiled and worn. It will be nec- essary to replace with new copies as many as possible of these during the coming year.
Other sections of the library show an almost uni- form increase in circulation. 8400 volumes other than fiction-whether adult, children's French, or current periodicals-have been circulated during the past year, or about 22 per cent of all books circulated are pre- sumably taken out for more serious reading or study.
199
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
The Woman's education association loaned to us 25 volumes "of general religious interest", which we kept from January 1 to June 1. These were new books showing the trend of religious thought of the day and were of interest to the layman as well as to the clergy.
559 new names have been added to the registra- tion list, making 4309 names now registered at the library.
Through the Library art club the following exhi- bitions were given at the library : Famous pictures, March 1-22 ; Florence, March 23-April 12 ; New Bruns- wick, April 20-May 9 ; Fishes, May 10-June 7; Exam- ples of French art in Paris, June 7-28 ; Naples, June 28-July 19; English lakes, July 19-August 30; Ply- mouth, August 30-Sept. 20; Rise of architecture in Italy, Sept. 21-Oct. 18 ; Japanese color prints, Oct. 19- Nov. 8 : Babes in art, Nov. 9-29 ; Etchings by William Unger, Nov. 30-Dec 20; Yellowstone national park, Dec. 28-Jan. 24. These pictures are much appreciated by those who frequent the library, but it is unfortu- nate that more people do not avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing these, always interesting and sometimes unusual, collections of photographs and prints. The Woman's education association kindly loaned us pictures of "Naples to Paestum."
The Malcolm Ammidown Post, G. A. R2. 168, pre- sented to the library a medal of Abraham Lincoln. This medal was struck for the G. A. R. in commemora- tion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lincoln. Funk and Wagnalls Co. presented to the library a set of bird-plates, showing the successive impressions taken from twelve stones and illustrating the progres- sive stages of development leading up to the finished lithograph. Teachers should find these of interest for school-room use.
200
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Lectures pour tous, a French monthly, has been added to the reading-room, also the Elementary school teacher, Manual training and Technical world.
ELLA E. MIERSCH,
Librarian.
ACCESSIONS
Bound volumes in library Febru-
ary 1, 1909,
21,545
Added by purchase,
443
by gift,
67
by binding periodicals,
98
608
22,153
U. S. public documents returned,
80
Periodicals sold,
24
104
22,049
Worn out 126, replaced 158,
32
Bound volumes in library Feb. 1, 1910,
22,081
Pamphlets in library February 1, 1909, Added,
34
Pamphlets in library February 1, 1910,
1664
CIRCULATION
1630
Days library was open,
306
201
REPORT OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Volumes circulated,
38,220
Average daily use, 125
Smallest daily use, August 3,
52
Largest daily use, March 6,
280
Smallest monthly use, June, 2,654
Largest monthly use, March, 3,980
REGISTRATION OF READERS
Names registered February 1, 1909, 3,750
Names registered February 1, 1909-Feb-
ruary 1, 1910, 559
Names registered February 1, 1910, 4,309
ACCESSION AND CIRCULATION
Volumes added 1909-10.
Volumes now in Library.
Volumes circulated in 1908-9.
Volumes circulated İn 1909-10.
Per Cent. circulated in 1909-10.
Fiction,
140
2950
14502
15997
41.85
Children, Fiction,
64
910
8516
9026
23.62
Children, Non-fiction,
27
509
3699
3369
8.81
Philosophy,
3
321
95
111
29
Religion,
3
551
105
120
.32
Sociology,
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