USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1894 > Part 2
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$176.92
The last named sum was not received from the County Treasurer until after the Town Treasurer's accounts had been audited and made ready for the printer. Therefore the said sum will not be shown in the Treasurer's settlement with the town of Harwich at the close of the past year.
Respectfully Submitted,
J. H. PAINE, TOWN CLERK.
Report of the School Committee.
The School Committee herewith present their report for the past year. In the report of the Superintendent will be found a detailed statement of the present condition of the schools as well as their future needs.
The work of the schools during the year has been fairly satisfactory ; as much so as can be expected under the present system. The fact, however, remains that the schools cannot be carried on to accomplish the best results or with such economy of finances as is possible under the plan of consolidation. It is a question that will continue to present itself to be solved; and more especially is it an important question from the fact that our school buildings are in such condition that under the present .laws they may be condemned at any time by state authorities.
The School Committee would suggest that a committee representing various sections of the town be appointed at Town Meeting, who acting in conjunction with the SchoolCom- mittee, shall thoroughly look into all details connected with the plan of consolidation and report at a future Town Meeting.
Another question of importance, and one which should receive the immediate attention of the voters, is the trans- portation of pupils from distant parts of the town to the High School. The cost of such transportation would be little and ought to be the last thing to be considered when the education, health, and lives even, of our boys and girls are in the balance. The cemetery in one section especially in this town contains more than one monument placed there no doubt by the tardiness of the town in dealing justly with this question.
The supervision of the schools under Mr. Cartwright has been very satisfactory. Mr. Cartwright came to us with a wide experience in educational work and the schools are showing the results of his labors. The frequent change in Superintendents is a matter of regret, but the change of towns in the district was an advantage to this town. We
30
receive much more time from the Superintendent and at a very small expense. The towns now constituting the dis- trict are Eastham, Orleans, Brewster and Harwich.
The question often arises in Town Meeting and elsewhere, why the schools cost more than they did years ago even though there are fewer pupils. It must be remembered that it costs just as much for a teacher, a janitor and fuel, for ten children in one room as it does for forty. But more than this, our common schools are run thirty-six weeks and our High School forty weeks. On account of the cranberry season they do not begin until October and this makes it necessary to run them through the entire winter and spring with but one short vacation. This increases the necessary expenses.
The committee wish to thank the citizens for their co- operation during the past year. The spirit of fault finding has been entirely lacking. We ask your criticism and your suggestions as to how we can improve our schools. We ask your assistance in the future. We realize that the true education of our boys and girls is not alone what they take from their text books, but is much more the developing and broadening of the power to choose between the right and the wrong, the false and the true. This neither teacher, superintendent nor school committee, can bring to pass without the co-operation of the home influence throughout the town.
SCHOOL ACCOUNTS.
JAN. 1, 1894-JAN. 1, 1895.
AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS' WAGES, JANITORS' WAGES AND FUEL.
General appropriation, $5000.00
One-half rebate from State on Superintendent's salary,
156.85
Dog Fund,
188.19
State School Fund,
233.54
$5578.58
31
Amount paid for Teachers' Wages, $5248.39
" Janitors' 66 533.65
1
66 66
" Fuel,
295.62
$6077.66
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Appropriation,
$300.00
Expended for Books and Supplies, 393.93
SUPPLIES AND REPAIRS, ETC.
Appropriation, $200.00
Expended for Supplies, Repairs, etc., 330.85
SUPERINTENDENT.
Appropriation, $300.00
One-half rebate from State on
Superintendent's salary, 156.85
$456.85
Paid C. W. Fearing, $156.85
" W. O. Cartwright, 450.00
$606.85
Under the present law the cost to town for Superintend- ent from June 1, 1894, to June 1, 1895, is as follows :
Amount paid to Supt. by Harwich, $780.00
to be received from State by Harwich, 650.00
Actual cost to town, $130.00
32 DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES.
TEACHERS' SALARIES.
W. H Powers,
$970.00
Ellen F. Gibson,
143.00
H. W. Hunt,
293.75
Sallie A. Bowen,
365.88
Lizzie D. Nickerson,
320.38
Tamson D. Eldridge,
323.75
Ella K. Crowell,
323.75
Allie A. Kelsey,
270.00
Annie Balch,
87.50
Maro B. Jones,
261.88.
C. H. Cahoon,
93.75
Harriet B. Bowdoin,
281.25
W. S. Pierce,
162.50
S. T. Sears,
252.50
Helen R. Ellis,
317.25
W. E. Davis,
11.25
W. E. Dixon,
456.25
Carrie Jackman,
318.75
$5248 39
JANITORS' SALARIES.
F. H. Chase,
$82.50
L. Kelley,
62.50
W. H. Ellis,
60.00
P. Hall,
48.63
E. Doane, Jr.,
56.50
Ziba Cahoon,
62.25
C. L. Eldredge,
12.50
J. Ashley,
80.50
W. E. Dixon,
2.50
E. Doane,
65.77
$533.65
33
FUEL.
Kendrick and Bearse,
$108.50
W. B. Kelley & Co.,
95.32
J. Raymond & Co.,
45.50
B. F. Eldredge,
7.50
W. H. Ellis,
2.35
George F. Kelley,
2.50
H. B. Chase,
3.00
W. J. Nickerson,
12.50
J. F. Eldredge,
7.50
D. R. Ginn,
3.00
E. W. Berry,
7.95
$295.62
LOCAL SUPPLIES, LABOR, ETC.
B. F. Bee, Printing,
$ 3.75
W. H. Powers, Books,
9.31
P. Kelley, School Census,
5.00
H. W. Kibbe, Diplomas,
2.50
A. P. Goss, Printing,
8.75
C. E. Brett,
Supplies, .
10.40
W. E. Dixon,
1.75
E. Doane,
2.60
Mrs. M. Nickerson, Rent of Playground,
2.50
W. B. Kelley & Co., Supplies,
.53
H. B. Snow. Carting,
.25
Burgess & Hulse, Supplies,
5.25
E. Harris, Repairs,
2.00
J. Ashley, Repairs and Cleaning, _
4.67
O. E. Kelley, Supplies,
1.57
W. S. Pierce, Labor,
3.60
Mrs. E. Robbins, Cleaning,
8.00
J. O. Hulse, Supplies,
1.70
George D. Smalley, Repairs,
5.00
C. E. Hamer, Repairs and Supplies,
31.81
Ziba Cahoon, Repairs and Cleaning,
11.67
Sears Moore, Supplies,
6.02
T. Hall & Co., Apparatus,
9.17
34
M. E. Small, Mason, $ 15.76
W. J. Nickerson, Repairs,
8.00
F. Kennedy, Repairing Organs,
22.50
E Doane, Repairs and Cleaning,
14.59
Charles Tuttle, Labor,
7.50
W. F. Sears, Supplies,
2.31
P. Small, Repairs and Supplies,
41.92
Prince Hall, Repairs and Cleaning,
5.50
W. P. Baker, Carting,
2.00
Jasper Small, Carpenter,
11.75
F. H. Chase, Repairs,
.68
J. F. Tobey, Supplies,
7.90
George Ellis, Labor,
1.00
L. Kelley, Cleaning and Repairs,
5.28
Seth Paine, Mason,
3.00
Henry Baker. Labor,
5.00
J. L. Hammett, Slating,
6.60
John Allen, Paint and Labor,
21.13
H. W. Hunt, Supplies,
1
.38
W. I. Paine, Mason,
2.00
W. H. Ellis, Supplies and Cleaning,
8.25
$330.85
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
J. L. Hammett,
$ 65.39
University Publishing Co.,
1.92
Boston School Supply Co.,
113.12
George F. King & Merrill,
56.10
T. H. Castor & Co.,
3.15
American Book Co.,
45.00
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn,
15.62
Henry Holt & Co.,
1.73
Ginn & Co.,
78.83
Houghton Mifflin & Co.,
13.07
$393.93
35 SCHOOL BOOK ACCOUNT.
C. E. BRETT IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF HARWICH.
DR.
Stock on hand Jan. 1, 1894,
$94.41
Received from A. D. Long,
49.66
Books and Supplies purchased,
393.93
- - $538.00
CR.
Books and Supplies furnished : High,
$44.28
Centre Grammar,
42.31
Intermediate,
40.09
" Primary,
18.26
Pleasant Lake Mixed,
38.93
North Mixed,
22.82
South Mixed,
31.87
East Grammar,
22.52
Primary,
13.76
West Grammar,
42.53
66 . Primary,
24.41
Port Grammar,
23.59
Primary,
$418.77
Books sold for Cash,
3.77
Stock on hand Jan. 1, 1895,
115.46
$538.00
Paid C. E. Brett, care of books,
41.25
.. .. .. 66 freight and express, 11.78
53.40
36
STATEMENT BY SECTIONS.
HARWICH CENTRE.
Teacher's Salary, High,
$970.00
66
66 Grammar,
436.75
66
66
Intermediate,
365.88
66
. 66 Primary,
320.38
$2093.01
Fuel,
84.00
Janitor's Wages,
145.00
Supplies, Repairs and Cleaning,
126.50
$2448.51
PLEASANT LAKE®
Teacher's Salary,
$323.75
Janitor's Salary,
60.00
Fuel,
15.35
Supplies, Repairs and Cleaning,
15.98
$415.08
NORTH HARWICH.
Teaching,
$323.75
Janitor,
48.63
Fuel,
25.00
Repairs, Supplies and Cleaning,
14.51
$411.89
SOUTH HARWICH.
Teaching,
$357.50
Janitor,
56.50
Fuel,
22.25
Supplies, Repairs and Cleaning,
1
33.40
$469.65
1
37
EAST HARWICH.
Teachers' Salaries :
Grammar,
$355.63
Primary,
281.25
$636.88
Janitor's Wages,
84.75
58.75
Fuel, Supplies, Cleaning and Repairs,
52.15
$832.53
WEST HARWICH.
Teachers' Salaries :
Grammar,
$415.00
Primary,
317.25
$732.25
Janitor's Wages,
80.50
Fuel,
47.37
Supplies, Repairs and Cleaning,
32.04
$892.16
HARWICH PORT.
Teachers' Salaries :
Grammar,
$467.50
Primary,
318.75
$786.25
Janitor's Wages,
68.27
Fuel,
42.90
Supplies and Repairs,
7.38
$904.80
38 REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Harwich:
I have the honor to submit herewith the fourth annual report of the Superintendent of Schools.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
The first requisite of a good school is a suitable building, supplemented by proper and ample playgrounds ; if the æsthetic is to be cultivated in our pupils, there should be something of the beautiful in the arrangement and adorn- ment of the grounds, as well as in the architecture of the structure itself, and in the furnishings and decorations of its rooms. The modern school-house combines beauty with utility ; prime attention is given to hygienic laws ; the windows are grouped so that the light may be least injurious and most effective ; the heating apparatus is of such a character and so arranged that an equable temperature is maintained in every part of the building throughout the day ; the system of ventilation carries away the foul air and supplies to every child his proper portion of fresh air. Such a building contains good playrooms, where children may exercise in stormy weather, and where luncheons may be eaten. It is hardly necessary to say that no such school building exists in town. The present structures are kept in good repair, and are "good for the kind ;" but they are the buildings of fifty years ago. School architecture, as well as domestic, has taken rapid advancing strides in the last decade or two, and modern requirements demand a change. Under the present system of scattered schools in different sections of the town, no new buildings to replace those now in use can be hoped for. Where, then, must we look for relief? Evidently there is only one answer to the question ; that is, "To a centrally located building for the ' common use of all the pupils in town." Here lies, theu, the basic argument for the consolidation of the schools.
Under present conditions, much of the teacher's time is consumed (if it isn't, it ought to be) and her nervous energy exhausted in attention to light, heat, and ventilation ; this is especially true in the case of those schools where
39
most of the responsibility, if not the actual work, of the janitorship, falls on the teachers. Most of this strain on a teacher's powers would be released in the ideal building. Teachers are now requested to start with fresh air four times a day-at the opening of each session, and again at the close of each recess. But, even with this expedient, the air becomes vitiated within an hour; then the teacher must choose between the alternatives of permitting a draft of cold air to blow directly upon the children, or suffering them to breathe the noxious vapor for a half hour to an hour. If she decides to have fresh air-result : colds, illness, absence ; if she adopts the other plan she finds the children restless, inattentive, dull-and probably the poisoned blood will produce as many colds and as much absence as in the first case.
It has been a matter of surprise to your superintendent that the schools have not been furnished with more ample playgrounds, especially since land can be bought at so reasonable a price. If sufficient land contiguous to any school building is now owned by the town, so much of it should be cleared as to allow room for base-ball and foot- ball for the boys, and games admitting free exercise for the girls. No less an authority than Dr. Wm. T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education, declares, "I believe ball-play- ing secures normal growth of the body and at the same time that command of hand and eye for purposes of accuracy that makes the best preparation of the pupil for success in any manual employment in future life." It is highly important that children should have the widest opportunity to run and race during the recesses and noon intermissions, in order that blood and brain may be in the best possible state for subsequent mental application. The best playground used by pupils is rented for the purpose by the town ; in another case, private property has been used, by permission, by the school-children for purposes of recreation. The grounds in front of the High School building ought not to be used either for a pasture or a mowing field, but should be kept neat and trim. It is recommended, therefore, if the schools are to be maintained at their present locations for a term of years, that a small
40
appropriation be made annually for the enlargement, grading, and beautifying of school grounds.
DISCIPLINE.
The second essential of a good school is orderly behavior. Other things being equal, that school will be the best school in which self-respect and regard for the rights of others are most marked. These desirable characteristics can usually be secured better in a well-appointed building and pleasant school-rooms than in a school-house wherein neglect of the physical and æsthetic needs of the child is prominent. There are some towns in this State where there are school- buildings far more antiquated in structure and equipment than any which exist in this town ; and it must be said that there are many superior. Differences may be discovered even without going outside of this District ; and even in this very town there are school-rooms adorned and school-rooms unadorned. The child is frequently typical of the room and building in which he passes much of his time during the formative period of life. Select two average children representing the two extremes in school environment referred to above, and the same difference would be noticed, though perhaps not in so marked a degree, as between the child who comes from the home (?) of ignorance and neglect, and the one who is nurtured in the circle of culture and refinement. How important is it, then, that the teacher should adorn and beautify her usually cheerless room with plants and pictures, so far as her slender purse may permit ! Yet much may be accomplished in this direction by the ambitious teacher with little or no expense.
... `The discipline is commendable throughout all the schools. Among the older pupils, especially, it may truthfully be said that many of the schools "govern themselves." A prev- alent fault in all the schools when your superintendent began his work therein was slouchiness- bad position in study- ing, and worse in recitation ; with this was frequently coupled an enunciation which was slovenly in the extreme. Meas- ures have been taken to correct these evils, and much progress has been made toward their eradication. ATTENDANCE.
Neither teacher, class, nor individual pupil can accomplish
41
the work desired and expected unless attendance upon school exercises is punctual and regular. If the parent would remember that every absence not only results in a loss to the individual child, but also retards the work of the whole class and detracts so much from the teacher's effect- iveness, many a contemplated absence would never occur.
The State law in regard to the compulsory attendance of children at school is now very rigid. Means have been adopted to acquaint every parent with its provisions. If the parent of any child between the ages of 8 and 14 years is still ignorant of its terms, he should familiarize himself with them without delay. At the rate at which many children of legal school age have been absenting themselves from school during the fall term without excuse by the Superintendent or School Committee, it will be strange if some cases do not occur during next term, and many before the close of the school year (in July), which will demand investigation and possible prosecution. A few cases pressed to a successful issue would no doubt deter other careless, or indifferent, or contemptuous parents from disregarding the law. One instance has already occurred since the opening of the school year in October, in which a pupil had been absent in excess of the amount allowed by law ; the child has been returned to school, and the com- plaint against the parent placed on file.
COURSE OF STUDY, AND TEXT-BOOKS.
No formal change has been made, nor is at present recommended, in the Course of Study. Any such Course must be, or ought to be, an elastic medium through which the individuality of the teacher may appear ; it should be a servant, not a master. No doubt some revision will be deemed advisable later. If proper methods of teaching History and Geography are to be adopted and followed, the present outline in the Course will require extensive modification. It is hoped that each teacher will work out, between now and the opening of the next school year, his or her own topical outline for teaching these branches. With that object in view, a variety of text-books in each of these studies is now being introduced into the schools. The Course of Study adopted two years ago calls for the use of
12
Supplementary Reading. This is well and in accord with the recommendation of the State Board of Education in its "Course of Study for Elementary Schools ;" but, if ever observed since the Course was published, it seems to have become a dead letter. Considerable supplementary reading matter (English Classics) has recently been introduced into the schools; it is purposed to have it regularly used. "'Read from several sets of different readers," says the State Board. It would be well if each school could have two or three different sets of each grade of Readers in use in that school ; but if this cannot be done, it would be advisable to have different sets of the same grade in the several schools and keep them circulating from school to school. As there are seven different schools using each grade of reader, this arrangement would permit the introduction of as many different kinds of each grade of reading-book into each school within a comparatively limited time.
With : few exceptions, there has been no attempt, at systematic instruction in drawing during the past year. Much more attention ought to be given to this branch of study, which trains alike the eye and the hand. President Hall of Clark University says that objective training affects three times the brain area that is influenced by the mechanical processes of the regulation studies, and that manual training affects five times the brain area. The EDUCATIONAL VALUE of drawing must be recognized, therefore, as of much importance. The teachers have been urged to make draw- ing a part of all work in Geography, History, Arithmetic, Physiology, Reading, Language, and Nature Study. In addition to this, however, regular instruction ought to be given in form drawing and in color.
The day has gone by when it was necessary to advance ar- guments in behalf of the value of music in the public schools. No enlightened citizen looks upon it now simply as an amuse- ment. It ought to be taught in every school ; but, if taught at all, it should be by competent instructors and in a scientific manner. Some of the so-called "singing" in our schools is barbarous. and painful even to an untrained ear : but what is of more importance-the time given to it under present circumstances is usually wasted; and worse still, the children are receiving improper training. A skilled mu-
43
sician, who shall also be a competent instructor, ought to be employed to visit each school one hour every week to teach music ; then, during the interval between the visits of the music teacher, the regular teacher could conduct the prac- tice and give instruction for a few minutes each day in accordance with the former's directions. This is a really serious matter. One of two things ought to be done without delay ; either the plan above recommended should be adopted, or all attempts at singing in most of the schools ought to be at once abandoned.
Considerable material for busy work, at a comparatively small expense, has been placed in most of the primary schools-in all, in fact, whose teachers requested a supply. By means of such aids, in the hands of a painstaking and judicious teacher, much can be accomplished in proper instruction in form, color, number, and language ; while at the same time the little child's interest can be held through- out the otherwise tedious hours when not actively engaged in recitation. Some of the teachers are very ingenious in devising and producing their own material; some of this is superior to anything the market affords. CONSOLIDATION.
The subject of the consolidation of the schools has been presented so recently in public meetings and the local press, and in such a full and able manner, that it will not be further discussed in this report except by inviting your attention to the following table, compiled from the enrol- ment of the several schools at the close of the Fall term, Dec. 21, 1894, and by a few comments thereon :
NAME OF SCHOOL.
NUMBER OF GRADE. (I Lowest, IX Highest)
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
TOTAL ENROLMENT OF EACH SCHOOL.
Centre Grammar,
9
14
1 3
26
Centre Intermediate,
10
2
11
23
Centre Primary,
11
7
10
28
East Grammar,
4
4
9
17
East Primary,
4
2
5
4
4
19
South Mixed,
8
4
2
2
6
4
26
Port Grammar,
6
7.
5
7
25
Port Primary,
7
3
5
20
West Grammar,
5
8
7
8
28
West Primary,
10
11
7
9
37
North Mixed,
5
4
5
4
6
24
Pleasant Lake Mixed,
8
7
6
4
5
6
1-
43
TOTAL ENROLMENT IN EACH GRADE.
51
42
38
34
26
42
25
37
21
316
SUM OF TOTALS.
44
An examination of the above table will disclose the fact that there are no less than sixteen instances in which the number of pupils in the class does not exceed four. This presents serious difficulties in class instruction to the teach- er. No doubt the ungraded system has some advantages over the graded in the great possibilities for individual work which exist in the former ; but the opportunity for personal work with the child can always be found even when the classes are large ; while the benefit to be derived from class- instruction under best conditions cannot be obtained in small classes. With the schools consolidated and all the children of one grade in the same room, the evils resulting from classes consisting of two, three, or four pupils would be avoided. If, under the centralized system, the number in any grade should prove too unwieldy for proper class instruction as a unit, it could readily be divided into sections.
Again, consider the tremendous disadvantages under which both teacher and pupils labor in a mixed school with many grades and a large number of pupils-less time for instruction on the part of the teacher and less time for rec- itation ou the part of the pupil. Our children average four studies each. One school having seven different grades would thus have twenty-eight distinct classes. This would allow an average recitation (and instruction) period of less than twelve minutes. This same school has forty-three pupils ; cach child receives, on the average, therefore, less than eight minutes of the teacher's time each day. Com- pare these conditions with those which prevail in the school having three grades and seventeen pupils. There each rec- itation may average twenty-seven and one-half minutes in length, and each child may command twenty minutes of the teacher's time daily. Is it in accordance with the spirit of our American institutions, which proclaim EQUALITY for all, that there should be such wide differences as these be- tween different sections of our fair town? With the schools united, the one difficulty-a large number of recitations for the teacher-would be at once abolished ; while the other- widely varying numbers of pupils-would be more nearly equalized at first, and by judicious promotion and otherwise
45
the total number of children might soon be quite evenly distributed throughout the several grades.
This table shows a total enrolment of three hundred sixteen pupils-an average of thirty-five to each of the nine grades. It is supposed that a teacher onght, under perfect conditions, to discipline and teach fifty children in any single grade, although it is admitted at the same time that it would be better to reduce the number to forty. In most of the cities and large towns of our State, however, fifty children will be found in each room. It will be seen, then, that our teachers ought to be expected to do first-class work with thirty-five pupils each-under satisfactory conditions. This would enable the town to dispense with the services of three teachers, and the saving thus effected would go far toward paying the cost of transportation ..
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