USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oakham > Town annual reports of the officials of the town of Oakham, Massachusetts 1918 > Part 2
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To the School Committee, Town of Oakham :
In compiling my report of progress, criticisms and rec- ommendations of the Oakham schools for 1918, I was aided in my survey by the cordial co-operation and kindly assistance of your teachers.
The year has been an unusual one, due to unexpected outbreaks of illness, which has interfered with the attend- ance and educational advance of the schools.
C'entre School
Beginning with the opening of the schools in September, the pupils of the south building have been transported by school barge to the Centre. The change of transfer has been very beneficial, as the scholarship standard has been raised, and the new contact with a larger number of school children and more skillful and productive instruction has increased the desire to study and to accomplish better things.
Considering the increased cost of school maintenance and its kindred expenses, it would be more practicable and less costly to close the West Rural School in June, and at the re-opening of the schools in September bring the chil- dren from that district to the Centre building. and make the Centre School a larger consolidated school. Some of the advantages of consolidation. briefly, are: it insures
4.5
better attendance; secures better grade work, better re- turns for money spent ; school becomes social centre in the community; morals of pupils protected going from and coming to school; children of the farm have equal oppor- tunities with those of the town; enables the Superintend- ent not only to inspect but to supervise. I heartily rec- ommend this consolidation as soon as the Committee deem it expedient to carry out the change.
At the present time there are only two pupils in the ninth grade. I suggest that the ninth grade be dropped and the review work be introduced in the eighth year of elementary studies. I would suggest adding on or using another room in the Centre building so that the elementary course could be divided into three divisions, and three teachers be employed in carrying out a more intensive and richer course of instruction for the Oakham school chil- dren. The removal of the ninth grade enables the aver- age child to enter high school one year sooner. It would be advisable to raise the age of admission to the first grade to six years so that the age of completing the ele- mentary course would be fourteen. As a result of the reduction of grades, we have more emphasis on the grade subjects and higher averages of scholarship.
Tert-books
Text-books for the study of hygiene and "Americaniza- tion" should be provided at once for the intermediate and grammar grades. The study of keeping physically fit. of caring for the eyes and teeth, of the absolute necessity of abstaining from alcoholic beverages and narcotics, is extremely essential for the safe-guarding of our growing and sensitive school children. The wisdom of avoiding all physical excesses must be carefully and intensively
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presented to the children. Local conditions make it com- pulsory to emphasize weekly and when the occasion pre- sents itself for illustration and moralization the terrible evils that result from drinking intoxicating liquors and from the smoking habit. especially in reference to cigar- ettes. State law makes this program mandatory, and every public-spirited citizen of Oakham desires this pro- gram and the hastening of the time when such troubles will be stamped out. A text-book offering essential in- formation about our country, its laws, ideals and institu- tions, should be introduced.
Progress
New language books, new dictionaries and new geog- raphies have been added to present equipment, and as a result increased efficiency has been noticed. Further progress in penmanship could be hastened by the purchase of "Palmer" penmanship manuals. Additional sets of reading books should be provided for all grades.
The course in music under Supervisor Dwelley has been very satisfactory this year. The report of the School Physician shows a large number of decayed teeth, and some remedial measures should be taken on the part of the citizens to relieve the physical decay.
In patriotic campaigns such as the Red Cross, Liberty Bond, War Savings and Thrift Stamps, the children of the Oakham schools have done remarkably well. They have indeed been loyal and true, and deserve the praise of the community. See table of statistics.
A Home Economics Club under the direction of the Worcester County Farm Bureau has been started with a membership of twelve members, and is doing excellent work under the Junior Department Assistant. This prac-
47
ticable supplementary instruction is of no expense to the town.
Conclusion
The cost of living has risen 65% during the period of 1914-1918, but the teachers' salaries have increased only 4%. The question of providing a living thrift wage for our teachers is a pressing one.
In conclusion, I wish to say a word of praise for the fine attendance and serious desire of the Oakham pupils to acquire a good education; to thank the teachers for their cordial spirit and excellent accomplishments in a year of trying experiences, and to call the attention of the efficient Committee to some of the suggestions men- tioned in this report.
Respectfully submitted. GEORGE E. CASWELL.
Holden. Mass .. January 1. 1919.
SCHOOL STATISTICS, 1917-1918
School
Teacher
Educated al
Total Average Arerage Per cent. of Attend. Enroll. Member. Attend.
Grammar
Florence E. Bothwell
No. Brookfield High
27
27
23.33
86.39
Primary
Ethel M. Braman
Northfield Seminary
21
21
17.2
81.9
Coldbrook
Ruth E. Butterfield
Worcester Normal
21
21
20.58
98
West
Helena K. Rutherford
Northampton
11
11
9.2
83.6
Music
Ruth B. Dwelley
Northampton
80
80
70.31
87.5
PROMOTIONS-JUNE, 1918
Grade
School
I II III
IV
V VI
VII VIII IX
Centre
3
3
7
4
4
17
6
2
2 48
Coldbrook
4
4
4
1
4
3
1
. . 21
West
3
1
3
.
11
Totals
10
8 13
4 5 21
12
5
2
80
Promotions 1917-79; promotions 1918-80; increase of 1
SCHOOL CENSUS-APRIL 1, 1918
Boys 5 to 7 years old
6
Girls 5 to 7 years old
10
Boys 7 to 14 years old
25
Girls 7 to 14 years old
35
Boys 14 to 16 years old
11
Girls 14 to 16 years old
9
Total 96
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Fall Term-September 3, 1918, to December 20, 1918 Winter Term-December 30, 1918, to February 14, 1919 Spring Term-March 24, 1919, to June 13, 1919
Fall Term-September 2, 1919, to December 19, 1919 Winter Term-December 29, 1919, to February 13, 1920 Spring Term-March 27, 1919, to June 11, 1920
Holidays-January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, Barre Fair, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following Christmas.
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-
ROLL OF HONOR
Four Years Alexina Labonte
One Year .1
Raymond Crawford Enolia Clifford (1/2 day absent) John Day (1 day absent )
Fall Term
Winter Term
Raymond Crawford
Franklin Briggs
John Briggs
Raymond Crawford
Roscoe Crawford
John Day Charles Ferrin (T. 1)
Dorothy Day Julia Weaver Enolia Clifford
Spring Term
Esther Briggs John Day
Raymond Crawford Enolia Clifford
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Sophia Bechan
Jennie Hall
Vera Hall
Marian Ferrin John Day Enolia Clifford
Report of Supervisor of Music
Mr. G. E. Caswell, Superintendent of Schools Dear Sir :
In compliance with your request, I submit my report as music supervisor.
In general, this course is modeled to give the student the power of appreciating the best in music. This is gained through ear training, voice culture, sight reading and learning of songs.
The first step in the child's musical education is to eradicate false tone estimate, to make his ear-tone perfect through watching or imitating right tones. All children who are without serious physical defects can become sing- ers if patiently trained along these lines at an early age. When tone-perfect he is ready to learn by rote, songs that are simple but artistic and valuable musically.
A little later there enters sight reading and enough technical work to make sight reading more rapid. I have found the children readily and eagerly grasping the tech- nical work suitable to their age, thereby gaining powers of concentration and real enjoyment of music. I have put especial emphasis on reading, both individually and as a class.
Throughout the schools there is a splendid spirit for real work, so that in spite of various handicaps, such as too many grades working together, I feel that we shall complete a well defined course of study.
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It is my desire to continue the work along the same lines as formerly, making changes only where they seem necessary to me. We shall study selections from best composers, combined with the Community songs which are of so much national importance today, with the object of assembly singing in view.
All of the teachers have both the native ability and the willing response needed to give the subject the time and care that is due them. The work is presented in very definite form, and it largely depends upon the reg- ular teacher to see this work properly carried out accord- ing to the original intention.
Respectfully submitted, RUTH B. DWELLEY, Supervisor of Music.
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Report of the School Physician
Mr. George E. Caswell, Superintendent of Schools Dear Sir:
Dr. Douglass reports for examination of pupils in the following schools: West District, South District, (June only), Centre School and Coldbrook Springs, in June, 1918, and December, 1918:
June
Dec.
Cases of defective teeth
30
21
Enlarged tonsils
4
5
Excessive wax in ears
10
8
Adenoids
0
2
Number of pupils examined
77
64
Number of pupils absent
5
21
Total number of cards sent out
36
25
Respectfully yours,
E. S. DOUGLASS, M.D.
Oakham, Mass., Dec. 27, 1918.
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REPORT OF SALES OF WAR SAVINGS AND THRIFT STAMPS
January 1 to December 31, 1918
Centre, Grades 6-9-Enrollment, 27; number of pupils holding stamps, 15; total amount of stamps (both kinds) in dollars and cents, $119.25.
Centre, Grades 1-5-Enrollment, 21; number of pupils holding stamps, 7; total amount of stamps (both kinds) in dollars and cents, $56.50.
Coldbrook, Grades 1-8-Enrollment, 21 ; number of pupils holding stamps, 18; total amount of stamps (both kinds) in dollars and cents, $173.25.
West, Grades 1-8-Enrollment, 11; number of pupils hold- ing stamps, 5; total amount of stamps (both kinds) in dollars and cents, $21.90.
Total enrollment, 80; total number of pupils holding stamps, 45: total amount of stamps (both kinds) in dollars and cents, $370.90.
Per cent. of ownership 56.2
Average holding per pupil $8.24
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CONTENTS
PAGE
Auditor
39
Births, Marriages and Deaths
11
Cemetery Committee
35
Fobes Memorial Library
31
Jurors, List of .
29 36
Librarian's Report
Overseers of the Poor
30
Road Commissioner .
26
School Statistics
49
School Committee
40
Superintendent of Schools
45
Selectmen's Report
17
Tax Collector
24
Town Officers .
3
Treasurer's Report
13
Warrant
7
1
Charlton Poor Farm
32
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